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clothes。 And these gentlemen crowded in front of my father； shoved
him to the wall； hid him from the eye of the king； who passed
through the hall at the side of the queen； and with a pleasant face
received all the petitions which were handed to him。 Sadly we turned
home； but on the following day we repaired to the gallery again； and
I had the courage to crowd back some of the elegantly…dressed men
who wanted to press before my father； and to secure for him a place
in the front row。 I was rewarded for my boldness。 The king came； and
with a gracious smile took the petition from the hand of my father；
and laid it in the silver basket which the almoner near him
carried。〃
〃Thank God；〃 cried Margaret； with a sigh of relief； 〃thank God； you
were saved！〃
〃That we said too； Margaret； and that restored my father's hope and
made him again happy and well。 We went the next day to the gallery。
The king appeared； the grand almoner announced the names of those
who were to receive answers to their petitionsthe name of my
father was not among them！ But we comforted ourselves with the
thought； it was not possible to receive answers so quickly； and on
the next day we went to the gallery again； and so on for fourteen
successive days； but all in vain； the name of my father was never
called。 Still we went every day to the gallery and took our old
place there； only the countenance of my father was daily growing
paler； his step weaker； and his poor boy more trustless and weak。 We
had no longer the means of stilling our hunger； we had consumed
every thing； and my father's cross of St。 Louis was our last
possession。 But that we dared not part with； for it was our passport
to the palace； it opened to us the doors of the great gallery； and
there was still one last hope。 'We go to…morrow for the last time；'
said my father to me on the fifteenth day。 'If it should be in vain
on the morrow； then I shall sell my cross； that you； Louis； may not
need to be hungry any more； and then may God have mercy upon us！' So
we went the next day to the gallery again。 My father was to…day
paler than before； but he held his head erect； he fixed his eye；
full of an expression of defiance and scorn； upon the talkative；
laughing gentlemen around him； who strutted in their rich clothes；
and overlooked the poor chevalier who stood near them； despised and
alone。 In my poor boy's heart there was a fearful rage against these
proud； supercilious men； who thought themselves so grand because
they wore better clothes； and because they had distinguished
acquaintances and relations； and yet were no more than my fatherno
more than suppliants and petitioners； tears of anger and of grief
filled my eyes； and the depth of our poverty exasperated my soul
against the injustice of fate。 All at once the whispering and
talking ceased；the king and the queen had entered the gallery。 The
king advanced to the middle of the hall； the grand almoner called
the names； and the favored ones approached the king； to receive from
him the fulfilment of their wishes； or at least keep their hope
alive。 Near him stood the young queen； and while she was converging
with some gentlemen of the court； her beautiful eyes glanced over to
us； and lingered upon the noble but sad form of my father。 I had
noticed that on previous days； and every time it seemed to me as if
a ray from the sun had warmed my poor trembling heartas if new
blossoms of hope were putting forth in my soul。 To…day this
sensation； when the queen looked at us； was more intense than
before。 My father looked at the king and whispered softly； 'I see
him to…day for the last time！' But I saw only the queen； and while I
pressed the cold； moist hand of my father to my lips； I whispered；
'Courage； dear father； courage！ The queen has seen us。' She stopped
short in her conversation with the gentleman and advanced through
the hall with a quick； light step directly to us； her large gray…
blue eyes beamed with kindness； a heavenly smile played around her
rosy lips； her cheeks were flushed with feeling； she was simply
dressed； and yet there floated around her an atmosphere of grace and
nobleness。 'My dear chevalier；' said she； and her voice rang like
the sweetest music； 'my dear chevalier； have you given a petition to
the king？' 'Yes； madame；' answered my father trembling； 'fourteen
days ago I presented a petition to the king。' 'And have you received
no answer yet？' she asked quickly。 'I see you every day here with
the lad there； and conclude you are still hoping for an answer。' 'So
it is； madame；' answered my father； 'I expect an answer； that is I
expect a decision involving my life or death。' 'Poor man！' said the
queen； with a tone of deep sympathy。 'Fourteen days of such waiting
must be dreadful！ I pity you sincerely。 Have you no one to present
your claims？' 'Madame；' answered my father； 'I have no one else to
present my claims than this empty sleeve which lacks a right armno
other protection than the justice of my cause。' 'Poor man！' sighed
the queen； 'you must know the world very little if you believe that
this is enough。 But； if you allow me； I will undertake your
protection； and be your intercessor with the king。 Tell me your name
and address。' My father gave them； the queen listened attentively
and smiled in friendly fashion。 'Be here to…morrow at this hourI
myself will bring you the king's answer。' We left the palace with
new courage； with new hope。 We felt no longer that we were tired and
hungry； and heeded not the complaints of our host； who declared that
he had no more patience； and that he would no longer give us credit
for the miserable chamber which we had。 His scolding and threatening
troubled us that day no more。 We begged him to have patience with us
till to…morrow。 We told him our hopes for the future； and we
rejoiced in our own cheerful expectations。 At length the next day
arrived； the hour of the audience came； and we repaired to the great
gallery。 My heart beat so violently that I could feel it upon my
lips； and my father's face was lighted up with a glow of hope； his
eye had its old fire； his whole being was filled with new life； his
carriage erect as in our happy days。 At last the doors opened and
the royal couple entered。 'Pray for me； my son；' my father
whispered'pray for me that my hopes be not disappointed； else I
shall fall dead to the earth。' But I could not pray； I could not
think。 I could only gaze at the beautiful young queen； who seemed to
my eyes as if beaming in a golden cloud surrounded by all the stars
of heaven。 The eyes of the queen darted inquiringly through the
hall； at last she caught mine and smiled。 Oh that smile！ it shot
like a ray of sunlight through my soul； it filled my whole being
with rapture。 I sank upon my knee； folded my hands； and now I could
think； could pray： 'A blessing upon the queen！ she comes to save my
dear father's life； for she frees us from our sufferings。' The queen
approached； so beautiful； so lovely； with such a beaming eye。 She
held a sealed paper in her hand and gave it to my father with a
gentle inclination of her head。 'Here； sir；' she said； 'the king is
happy to be able to reward； in the name of France； one of his best
officers。 The king grants you a yearly pension of three hundred
louis…d'or； and I wish for you and your son that you may live yet
many years to enjoy happiness and health。 Go at once with this paper
to the treasury； and you will receive the first quarterly payment。'
Then； when she saw that my father was almost swooning； she summoned
with a loud voice some gentlemen of the court； and commanded them to
take care of my father； to take him out into the fresh air； and to
arrange that he be sent home in a carriage。 Now all these fine
gentlemen were busy in helping us。 Every one vied with the others in
being friendly to us； and the poor neglected invalid who had been
crowded to the wall； the overlooked officer Toulan； was now an
object of universal care and attention。 We rode home to our inn in a
royal carriage； and the host did not grumble any longer； he was
anxious to procure us food； and very active in caring for all our
needs。 The queen had saved us from misfortune； the queen had made us
happy and well to do。〃
〃A blessing upon the dear head of our queen！〃 cried Margaret；
raising her folded hands to heaven。 〃Now I shall doubly love her；
for she is the benefactor of him I love。 Oh； why have you waited
until now before telling me this beautiful； touching story？ Why have
I not enjoyed it before？ But I thank you from my heart for the good
which it has done me。〃
〃My dear one；〃 answered Toulan； gravely； 〃there are experiences in
the human soul that one may reveal only in the most momentous epochs
of lifejust as in the Jewish temple the Holy of Holies was
revealed only on the chief feast…days。 Such a time； my dear one； is
to…day； and I withdraw all veils from my heart； and let you see and
know what； besides you； only God sees and knows。 Since that day when
I returned with my father from the palace； and when the queen had
made us happy againsince that day my whole soul has belonged to
the queen。 I thanked her for all； for the contentment of my father；
for eve