Then；　after　a　long　pause；　he　rose　and　laid　his　hand　on　the　feverish
  brow　of　the　boy。　〃You　have　addressed　me；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　name　of
  Queen　Marie　Antoinette。　You　demand　of　me　as　the　guardian　of　this
  poor　creature　that　I　give　him　to　you；　that　he　may　give　his　life　for
  his　king。　The　sons　and　daughters　of　my　house　have　always　been　ready
  and　glad　to　devote　their　possessions；　their　happiness；　their　lives；
  to　the　service　of　their　kings；　and　I　speak　simply　in　the　spirit　of
  my　sisterwho　ascended　the　scaffold　to　seal　her　fidelity　to　the
  royal　family　with　her　deathI　speak　in　the　spirit　of　all　my
  ancestors　when　I　say；　here　is　the　last　off…spring　of　the　Baroness　of
  Tardif；　here　is　the　son　of　my　sister；　take　him　and　let　him　live　or
  die　for　his　king；　Louis　XVII。；　the　prisoner　at　the　Temple。〃
  CHAPTER　XXVI。
  THE　CONSULTATION。
  During　the　night　which　followed　the　second　visit　of　Doctor　Naudin；
  Jeanne　Marie　Simon　had　a　long　and　earnest　conversation　with　her
  husband。　The　first　words　which　the　wife　uttered；　spoken　in　a　whisper
  though　they　were；　excited　the　cobbler　so　much　that　he　threatened　her
  with　his　clinched　fist。　She　looked　him　calmly　in　the　face；　however；
  and　said　to　him　softly；　〃And　so　you　mean　to　stay　perpetually　in　this
  hateful　prison？　You　want　to　remain　shut　up　here　like　a　criminal；　and
  get　no　more　satisfaction　out　of　life　than　what　comes　from　tormenting
  this　poor；　half…witted　boy　to　death？〃
  Simon　let　his　hand　fall；　and　said；　〃If　there　were　a　means　of
  escaping　from　this　infernal　prison；　it　would　certainly　be　most
  welcome　to　me；　for　I　am　heartily　tired　of　being　a　prisoner　here；
  after　having　prayed　for　freedom　so　long；　and　worked　for　it　so　much。
  So；　if　there　is　a　means〃
  〃There　is　such　a　means；〃　interrupted　his　wife。　〃Listen　to　me！〃
  And　Simon　did　listen；　and　the　moving　and　eloquent　words　of　his　wife
  at　length　found　a　willing　ear。　Simon's　face　gradually　lightened　up；
  and　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　now　able　to　release　his　wife　from
  an　oppressive；　burdensome　load。
  〃If　it　succeeds；〃　he　muttered〃if　it　succeeds；　I　shall　be　free　from
  the　mountainous　weight　which　presses　upon　me　day　and　night　and　shall
  become　a　healthy　man　again。〃
  〃And　if　it　does　not　succeed；〃　whispered　Jeanne　Marie；　〃the　worst
  that　can　happen　to　us　is　what　has　happened　to　thousands　before　us。
  We　shall　merely　feed　the　machine；　and　our　heads　will　tumble　into　the
  basket；　with　this　difference；　that　I　shall　not　be　able　to　make　any
  mark　in　my　stocking。　I　would　rather　die　all　at　once　on　the
  guillotine　and　have　it　over；　than　be　dying　here　day　after　day；　and
  hour　after　hour；　having　nothing　to　expect　from　life　but　pain　and
  ennui。〃
  〃And　I；　too；〃　said　Simon；　decidedly。　〃Rather　die；　than　go　on　leading
  such　a　dog's　life。　Let　your　doctor　come　to　me　to…morrow　morning。　I
  will　talk　with　him！〃
  Early　the　next　day　the　doctor　came　in　his　long；　black　cloak；　and
  with　his　peruke；　to　visit　the　sick　Mistress　Simon。　The　guards　at　the
  gate　leading　to　the　outer　court　quietly　let　him　pass　in；　and　did　not
  notice　that　another　face　appeared　in　the　peruke　from　that　which　had
  been　seen　the　day　before。　The　two　official　guards　above；　who　had
  just　completed　their　duties　in　the　upper　story；　and　met　the　doctor
  on　the　tower　stairs；　did　not　take　any　offence　at　his　figure。　The
  director　of　the　Hotel　Dieu　was　not　personally　known　to　them；　and
  they　were　familiar　with　but　little　about　him；　excepting　that　he　took
  the　liberty　of　going　about　in　his　old…fashioned　cloak；　without
  giving　offence　to　the　authorities；　and　that　he　had　permission　from
  those　authorities　to　come　to　the　Temple　for　the　purpose　of　visiting
  the　wife　of　Simon。
  〃You　will　find　two　patients　to…day　up　there；〃　said　one　of　the
  officials　as　he　passed　by。　〃We　empower　you；　doctor；　to　take　the
  second　one；　little　Capet；　under　your　charge。　The　boy　appears　to　be
  really　sick；　or　else　he　is　obstinate　and　mulish。　He　answers　no
  questions；　and　he　has　taken　no　nourishment；　Simon　tells　us；　since
  yesterday　noon。　Examine　into　the　case；　doctor；　and　then　tell　us　what
  your　opinion　is。　We　will　wait　for　you　down　in　the　council…room。　So
  make　as　much　haste　as　possible。〃
  They　passed　on；　and　the　doctor　did　really　make　haste　to　ascend　the
  staircase。　At　the　open　door　which　led　to　the　apartment　of　the　little
  Capet　and　his　〃guardian；〃　he　found　Simon。
  〃Did　you　hear；　citizen？〃　asked　the　doctor。　〃The　officials　are
  waiting　for　me　below。〃
  〃Yes；　I　heard；　doctor；〃　whispered　Simon。　〃We　have　not　much　time。
  Come！〃
  He　motioned　to　the　physician　to　pass　along　the　corridor　and　to　enter
  the　room；　while　he　bolted　and　locked　the　outer　door。　As　the　doctor
  entered；　Mistress　Simon　lay　upon　her　bed　and　looked　at　the　new…comer
  with　curious；　glowing　eyes。
  〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked；　rising　quickly　from　her　bed。　〃You　are　not
  Doctor　Naudin　whom　I　expected；　and　I　do　not　know　you！〃
  Meantime　the　doctor　walked　in　silence　to　her　bed；　and　stooped　over
  Jeanne　Marie；　who　sank　back　upon　the　pillow。
  〃I　am　the　one　who　is　to　help　you　escape　from　the　Temple；〃　he
  whispered。　〃Doctor　Naudin　has　sent　me；　to　work　in　union　with　him　and
  you　in　effecting　your　release　and　that　of　the　unfortunate　Capet。〃
  〃Husband；〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie　to　the　cobbler；　who　was　just　coming
  in；　〃this　is　the　man　who　is　going　to　deliver　us　from　this　hell！〃
  〃That　is　to　say；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　a　firm；　penetrating　voice；
  〃I　will　free　you　if　you　will　help　me　free　the　dauphin。〃
  〃Speak　softly；　for　God's　sake；　speak　softly；〃　said　Simon　anxiously。
  〃If　any　one　should　hear　you；　we　are　all　lost！　We　will　do　every　thing
  that　you　demand　of　us；　provided　that　we　can　in　that　way　escape　from
  this　miserable；　good…for…nothing　place。　The　air　here　is　like　poison；
  and　to　have　to　stay　here　is　like　being　buried　alive。〃
  〃And　then　the　dreams；　the　frightful　dreams；〃　muttered　Jeanne　Marie；
  with　a　shudder。　〃I　cannot　sleep　any　more　in　this　dreadful　prison；
  for　that　pale；　fearful　woman；　with　great；　fixed　eyes；　goes　walking
  about　through　the　Temple　every　night；　and　listens　at　the　doors　to
  see　whether　her　children　are　alive　yet；　and　whether　we　are　not
  killing　them。　Lately；　she　has　not　only　listened　at　the　doors；　but
  she　has　come　into　my　room；　and　passed　my　bed；　and　gone　into　the
  chamber　of　little　Capet。　Simon　was　asleep；　and　did　not　see　her。　I
  sprang　up；　however；　and　stole　softly　to　the　door；　for　I　thought
  somebody　had　crept　in　here　in　disguise；　possibly　Citizen　Toulan；　who
  had　already　twice　made　the　attempt　to　release　the　Austrian　and　her
  children；　and　whom　I　then　denounced　at　headquarters。　There　I　saw
  although　it　was　entirely　dark　in　the　hallthere　I　saw　little　Capet
  lying　asleep　on　his　mattress；　his　hands　folded　over　his　breast；　and
  with　an　expression　of　countenance　more　happy；　altogether　more　happy；
  than　it　ever　is　when　he　is　awake。　Near　the　mattress　kneeled　the
  figure　in　white；　and　it　seemed　as　if　a　radiance　streamed　out　from　it
  that　filled　the　whole　room。　Its　face　was　pale　and　white；　just　like　a
  lily；　and　it　seemed　as　if　the　fragrance　of　a　lily　was　in　the
  apartment。　Her　two　arms　were　raised；　as　if　she　would　utter　a
  benediction；　over　her　sleeping　boy；　around　her　half…opened　lips
  played　a　sweet　smile；　and　her　great　eyes；　which　had　the　aspect　of
  stars；　looked　up　toward　heaven。　But　while　I　was　there　in　a　maze；　and
  watched　the　figure　in　a；　transport　of　delight；　there　occurred；　all
  at　once；　something　wonderful；　something　dreadful。　The　figure　rose
  from　its　knees；　dropped　its　arms；　turned　itself　around；　and　advanced
  straight　toward　me。　The　eyes；　which　had　been　turned　so　purely
  heavenward　before；　were　directed　to　me；　with　a　look　which　pierced　my
  breast　like　the　thrust　of　a　knife。　I　recognized　that　look…that　sad；
  reproachful　glance。　It　was　the　same　that　Marie　Antoinette　gave　me；
  when　she　stood　on　the　scaffold。　I　was　sitting　in　the　front　row　of
  the　knitters；　and　I　was　just　going　to　make　the　double　stitch　for　her
  in　my　stocking；　when　that　look　met　me；　those　great；　sad　eyes　were
  turned　toward　me；　and　I　felt　that　she　had　recognized　me；　and　her
  eyes　bored　into　my　breast；　and　followed　me　even　after　the　axe　had
  taken　off　her　head。　The　eyes　did　not　fall　into　the　basket；　they　were
  not　buried；　bat　they　remain　in　my　breast；　they　have　been　piercing　me
  ever　since；　and　burning　me　like　glowing　coals。　But　that　night　I　saw
  them　again；　as　in　lifethose　dreadful　eyes；　and　as　the　figure
  advanced　toward　me；　it　raised　its　hand　and　threatened　me；　and　its
  eyes　spoke　to　me；　and　it　seemed　as　if　a　curse　of　God　were　going
  through　my　brain；　for　those　eyes　said　to　me'Murder！'spoke　it　so
  loudly；　so　horribly；　that　it　appeared　as　if　my　head　would　burst；　and
  I　could　not　cry；　and　could　not　move；　and　had　to　look　at　it；　till；　at
  last；　I　became　unconscious。〃
  〃There；　see　there；　doctor；〃　cried　Simon；　in　alarm；　as　his　wife　fell
  back　upon　the　pillow　with　a　loud　cry；　and　quivered　in　all　her　limbs；
  〃　now　she　has　convulsions　again；　and　then　she　will　be；　for　a　day　or
  two；　out　of　her　mind；　and　will　talk　strangely　about　the　pale　woman
  with　dreadful　eyes；　and　when　she　goes　on　so；　she　makes　even　me　sad；
  and　anxious；　and　timid；　and　I　grow　afraid　of　the　white　ghost　that
  she　says　is　always　with　us。　Ah！　doctor；　help　us！　See；　now；　how　the
  poor　woman　suffers　and　twists！〃