a　scornful　laugh。
  〃You　have　commanded　me　to　visit　the　sick　boy　in　the　Temple；　to
  examine　his　condition；　and　to　prescribe　the　necessary　remedies　for
  his　recovery。　I　can　offer　no　hope　of　recovery　to　the　patient；　but　I
  can　afford　him　some　relief　from　his　sufferings。　Some　of　my　medicines
  are　called　playthings！　It　lies　with　you　to　decide　whether　the
  republic　will　refuse　these　medicines　to　the　sick　one。〃
  〃And　you　say　that　the　little　Capet　is　incurable？〃　asked　Petion；
  eagerly。
  〃Incurable；　citizen　representative。〃
  〃Well；　then；〃　said　Petion；　with　a　cold　smile；　〃the　republic　can
  afford　to　provide　the　last　of　the　Capets　with　toys。　They　have　for
  centuries　toyed　fearlessly　with　the　happiness　of　the　people；　and　the
  last　thing　which　the　people　of　France　give　back　to　the　tyrants　is
  some　toy　with　which　they　may　amuse　themselves　on　the　way　to
  eternity。　Citizen　doctor；　your　demands　shall　be　complied　with。　The
  first　place　which　shall　become　vacant　shall　be　given　to　Citizen
  Simon；　that　he　may　be　released　from　prison　and　enjoy　his　freedom。
  The　little　Capet　will　be　provided　with　playthings；　and；　besides；　you
  are　empowered　to　give　him　all　needful　remedies　for　his　relief。　It　is
  your　duty　to　care　for　the　sick　child　until　its　death。〃
  CHAPTER　XXVII。
  THE　HOBBY…HORSE。
  In　accordance　with　the　instructions　of　Petion；　playthings　were
  procured　and　carried　into　the　gloomy　chamber　of　the　prince　on　the
  very　next　day；　and　set　by　the　side　of　the　sick　boy。　But　Mistress
  Simon　labored　in　vain　trying　to　amuse　the　little　Louis　with　them。
  The　men　danced；　the　wooden　cocks　crowed；　the　dogs　barked；　and　to　all
  these　sounds　the　child　paid　no　heed；　it　did　not　once　open　its　eyes；
  nor　care　in　the　least　for　the　many…colored　things　which　the
  officials　had　brought　him。
  〃We　must　try　something　else；〃　said　the　compassionate　officer。　〃Do
  you　know　any　plaything　which　would　be　likely　to　please　little　Louis
  Capet？〃
  〃Give　him　a　riding…horse；〃　cried　Simon；　with　a　coarse　laugh。　〃I　am
  convinced　if　the　obstinate　youngster　should　hear　that　there　was　a
  riding…horse　outside；　and　that　he　might　ride　through　Paris；　he　would
  be　well　on　the　spot　and　get　up。　It　is　pure　deceit；　his　lying　there
  so　pale　and　without　interest　in　any　thing　about　him。〃
  〃You　are　very　cruel；　citizen；〃　muttered　the　official；　with　a
  compassionate　glance　at　the　child。
  〃Cruel？　Yes；　I　am　cruel！〃　said　Simon；　grimly。　〃But　it　is　the　cursed
  prison　air　that　has　made　me　so。　If　I　stay　here　a　week　longer；　Jeanne
  Marie　will　die；　and　I　shall　become　crazy。　The　director　of　the
  hospital　told　us　this；　and　you　know；　citizen；　that　he　is　the　most
  clever　doctor　in　all　France。　See　if　you　would　not　be　cruel　if　you
  had　such　an　idea　as　that　in　your　head！〃
  〃Well；　citizen；　you　have　at　least　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　that
  it　will　not　last　long；〃　answered　the　officer；　consolingly。　〃The
  first　vacancy　is　to　be　given　to　you。〃
  〃Well；　I　hope　it　will　come　soon；　then；〃　said　Simon；　with　a　sigh。　〃I
  will　take　a　vow　to　you。　If；　in　a　week；　I　shall　be　released　from　this
  place；　and　get　a　good　situation；　I　will　give　little　Capet　a　horse　to
  remember　me　by。　That　is；　not　a　horse　on　which　he　might　ride　out　of
  prison；　but　a　wooden　one；　on　which　he　can　ride　in　prison。　Say；
  little　Capet；〃　called　Simon；　stooping　over　the　bed　of　the　child；
  〃would　you　not　like　to　have　a　nice　wooden　horse　to　play　with？〃
  Over　the　pale　lips　of　the　boy　played　the　faint　tint　of　a　smile；　and
  he　opened　his　eyes。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　softly〃　yes；　I　should　like　to
  have　a　wooden　horse；　and　I　should　have　a　good　time　with　it。〃
  〃Come；　citizen；〃　said　Simon；　solemnly；　〃I　take　you　to　witness　my
  vow。　If　I　receive　another　place；　I　give　a　hobby…horse　to　little
  Capet。　You　grant　me　the　privilege；　citizen？〃
  〃I　allow　you；　Citizen　Simon；　and　I　will　report　the　matter　to　the
  Public　Welfare　Committee；　that　it　shall　surprise　no　one　by　and　by；
  and　I　am　sure　no　one　will　gainsay　you　in　your　praiseworthy　offer。
  For　it　certainly　is　praiseworthy　to　prepare　a　pleasure　for　a　sick
  child；　and　the　great　republic；　which　is　the　gracious　mother　of　all
  Frenchmen；　will　pity　the　poor　child；　too。　I　wish　you　success；
  citizen；　in　the　fulfilment　of　all　your　hopes；　and　trust　that　you
  will　speedily　be　released　from　your　trying　imprisonment。〃
  And；　in　fact；　this　release　did　not　have　to　be　waited　for　long。　A　few
  days　brought　the　accomplishment　of　Doctor　Naudin's　prophecy；　and　the
  official　guard；　who　was　then　sick　at　the　Hotel　Dieu；　died。　The
  director　of　the　hospital　hastened　to　inform　the　authorities　of　this
  event；　and　on　the　same　day　Simon　was　appointed　his　successor。　The
  same　official　who　had　brought　the　sick　prince　the　playthings；　came
  again　to　inform　Simon；　of　his　release；　and　was　delighted　at　the
  stormy　outbreak　of　rapturous　joy　with　which　the　tidings　were
  received。
  〃We　will　be　off　directly；〃　cried　Simon。　〃Our　things　have　all　been
  packed　for　three　days；　and　every　thing　is　ready。〃
  〃But　you　must　wait　patiently　till　to…morrow；　my　friends；〃　said　the
  official；　with　a　smile。　〃Your　successor　cannot　enter　upon　his　duties
  here　in　the　Temple　before　tomorrow　morning　at　ten　o'clock；　and　till
  then　you　must　be　content　to　wait　quietly。〃
  〃That　is　sad；〃　sighed　Simon。　〃The　time　between　now　and　ten　o'clock
  to…morrow　morning；　will　lie　like　lead　upon　my　shoulders。　I　assure
  you；　citizen；　the　Temple　could　get　along　without　me　for　one　night。
  The　two　Misses　Capet　above　stairs　are　locked　up；　and　as　for　the
  little　Capet　down　here；　it　is　not　necessary　to　lock　him　up；　for　he
  will　not　run　away；　but　lie　quietly　here　upon　his　mattress。〃
  〃So　the　child　is　really　very　sick？〃　asked　the　officer；　with　feeling。
  〃Not　exactly　very　sick；〃　answered　Simon；　indifferently；　〃but　Doctor
  Naudin；　who　visits　him　every　day。　thinks　that　the　youngster　might
  not　be　all　right　in　the　head；　and　he　has　ordered；　on　this　account；
  that　his　long　thick　hair　should　be　cut　off；　that　his　head　might　be　a
  little　cooler。　So　Jeanne　Marie　is　going　to　cut　it　off；　and　that　will
  probably　be　the　last　service　that　she　will　have　to　do　for　him。　We
  are　going　to　clear　out　of　thiswe　are　going　to　clear　out　of　this！〃
  〃And　have　you　really　nothing　more　to　do　for　the　little　Capet；　than
  merely　to　cut　off　his　hair？〃　asked　the　officer　with　a　fixed；
  searching　look。
  〃No；〃　answered　Simon；　with　a　laugh；　〃nothing　but　that。　Oh！　yes；
  there　is　something　else。　I　did　not　think　of　that。　My　vow　to　you！　I
  forgot　that。　I　swore　that；　if　I　were　to　get　away　from　here；　I　would
  give　little　Capet　a　hobby…horse。〃
  〃I　am　glad；　Citizen　Simon；　that　you　remember　your　promise；〃　said　the
  officer；　gravely。　〃I　must　tell　you　that　the　Public　Welfare
  Committee；　to　which　I　communicated　your　intention；　was　very　curious
  to　know　whether　Citizen　Simon　would　remember　to　carry　it　into
  effect。　It　is　on　this　account　that　I　was　instructed　to　inform　you　of
  your　transfer；　and　to　report　to　them　whether　you　intended　to　keep
  your　promise。　Your　superiors　will　rejoice　to　learn　that　you　are　a
  man　of　honor；　with　whom　it　is　a　sacred　duty　to　keep　his　word；　and
  who；　in　prosperous　days；　does　not　forget　to　do　what　he　promised　to
  do　in　less　propitious　times。　So；　go　and　buy　for　little　Capet　the
  promised　hobby…horse；　and　I　will　inform　the　Welfare　Committee　that
  it　was　not　necessary　for　me　to　remind　you　of　your　vow；　and　that　you
  are　not　only　a　good　citizen；　but　a　good　man　as　well。　Go　and　buy　the
  plaything；　and　make　your　arrangements　to　leave　the　Temple　to…morrow
  morning　at　ten　o'clock；　and　to　enter　upon　your　new　duties　as
  collector　of　customs　at　Porte　Macon。〃
  〃The　great　bell　of　Notre　Dame　will　not　have　growled　out　its　ten
  strokes　to…morrow　morning；　before　Jeanne　Marie　and　I；　with　our
  goods；　will　have　left　the　place；〃　replied　Simon；　with　a　laugh。　〃And
  now　I　will　run　and　fulfil　my　promise。〃　He　clapped　his　red…flannel
  cap　upon　his　black；　thick　hair；　and　left　the　Temple　with　a　hurried
  step。　As　the　porter　opened　the　door　of　the　court　which　led　to　the
  street；　for　the　worthy　citizen　and　〃man　of　honor；〃　Simon　stopped　a
  moment　to　chat；　telling　him　of　his　new　situation；　and　of　the　vow
  which　he　was　about　to　discharge。
  〃Do　not　wonder；　therefore；　citizen；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　see　me　come
  back；　by…and…by；　with　a　horsewith　this　distinction；　that　it　will
  not　be　the　horse　that　carries　me；　but　that　it　will　be　I　that　will
  carry　the　horse。　I　was　such　a　fool　as　to　promise　little　Capet　a
  horse；　and　I　must　keep　my　word；　particularly　as　the　Committee　of
  Safety　allows　it。〃
  〃Well；　if　that　is　so；〃　said　the　porter；　with　mock　gravity；　〃I　shall
  let　you　in；　even　if　you　do　not　make　your　appearance　until　night。
  With　the　permission　of　the　Safety　Committee；　every　thing；　without
  it；　nothingfor　I　want　to　keep　my　head　a　little　longer　on　my
  shoulders。〃
  〃And　I　do　not　grudge　you　the　privilege；〃　said　Simon；　with　a　broad
  grin。　〃We　know　very　little　about　what　we　have　here；　but　much　less
  about　the　place　where　the　dear　machine　takes　us。　But；　if　you　like；
  you　can　ask　Roger；　the　official　guard；　whether　I　have　permission　to
  bring　the　wooden　horse　into　the　Temple。　He　is　inside；　and　will
  probably　be　there　when　I　come　back。〃
  He　nodded　to　the　porter；　and　went　out　into　the　street。　As　the　door
  closed　behind　him；　Simon　stopped　a　moment；　and　cast　a　quick　g