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His wife meanwhile had left the Temple at early dawn with her
dreadful knitting…work。 〃I must be on the spot early if I want a
good place to…day；〃 she said； 〃and it would be a real misfortune for
me； if I should not see the miserable head of the she…wolf drop； and
not make a double stitch in my stocking。〃
〃But you forget； Jeanne Marie；〃 said Simon； with a grin； 〃you forget
that you lose your bet if you make the mark in your stocking。〃
〃I would rather lose all the bets that were ever made than not make
the mark in my stocking；〃 cried the knitter； grimly。 〃I would rather
lose my wedding…dress and my marriage…ring than win this bet。 Go up
to the platform with the young wolf； and wait for me there。 As soon
as I have made the mark in my stocking； I will run home and show it
to you。〃
〃It is too bad that I cannot go with you；〃 said Simon； sighing。 〃I
wish I had never undertaken the business of bringing up the little
Capet。 It is hateful work； for I can never leave the Temple； and I
am just as much a prisoner as he is。〃
〃The republic has done you a great honor；〃 said the knitter；
solemnly。 〃She has confidence that you will make out of the son of
the she…wolf； out of the worthless scion of tyrants； a son of the
republic； a useful citizen。〃
〃Good talk；〃 growled Simon； 〃and you have only the honor of the
affair； and the satisfaction besides of plaguing the son of our
tyrants a bit。〃
〃Of taking revenge；〃 struck in the knitter〃revenge for the misery
which my family has suffered from the tyrants。〃
〃But I；〃 continued Simon； 〃I have certainly the honor of the thing；
but I have also the burden。 In the first place； it is very hard to
make a strong and useful citizen； of the republic out of this
whining； tender； and sensitive urchin。 And then again it is very
unpleasant and disagreeable to have to live like a prisoner always。〃
〃Listen； Simon； hear what I promise you；〃 said Jeanne Marie； laying
her hard brown hand upon Simon's shoulder。 〃If the Austrian atones
to…day for her crimes； and the executioner shows her head to the
avenged people； I will give up my place at the guillotine as a
knitter； will remain with you here in the Temple； will take my share
in the bringing up of the little Capet； and you yourself shall make
the proposition to the supervisor； that your wife like yourself
shall not be allowed to leave the Temple。〃
〃That is something I like to hear；〃 cried Simon； delighted； 〃there
will then be at least two of us to bear the tedium of imprisonment。
So go； Jenne Marie； take your place for the last time at the
guillotine； for I tell you； you will lose your bet； you will have to
furnish brandy and cakes； and stay with me here at the Temple to
bring up the little Capet。 So go； I will go up to the platform with
the boy； and wait there for your return。〃
He called the little Louis Charles； who was sitting on the tottering
rush…chair in his room； and anxiously waiting to see whether 〃his
master〃 was going to take him that day out of the dismal； dark
prison。
〃Come； little Capet；〃 cried Simon； pushing the door open with his
foot〃 come； we will go up on the platform。 You can take your ball
along and play； and I advise you to be right merry to…day； for it is
a holiday for the republic； and I am going to teach you to be a good
republican。 So if you want to keep your back free from my straps； be
jolly to…day； and play with your ball〃
〃Oh！〃 cried the child； springing forward merrily with his ball〃
oh！ only be good； master； I will certainly be merry； for I like to
play with my ball； and I am ever so fond of holidays。 What kind of
one is it to…day？〃
〃No matter about your knowing that； you little toad！〃 growled Simon；
who in spite of himself had compassion on the pale face of the child
that looked up to him so innocently and inquiringly。 〃Up the
staircase quick； and play and laugh。〃
Louis obeyed with a smile； sprang up the high steps of the winding
stairway； jumped about on the platform； throwing his ball up in the
air； and shouting aloud when he caught it again with his little thin
hands。
Meanwhile Simon stood leaning on the iron railing that surrounded
the platform； looking with his searching eyes down into the street
which far below ran between the dark houses like a narrow ribbon。
The wind now brought the sustained notes of the drums to him； then
he saw the street below suddenly filled with a dark mass； as if the
ribbon were turning into crape that was filling all Paris。
〃The people are in motion by thousands；〃 cried Simon； delightedly；
〃and all rushing to the Place de la Revolution。 I shall win my bet。〃
And again he listened to the sound that came up to him； now
resembling the beat of drums； and now a loud cry of exultation。
〃Now I think Samson must be striking the head off the wolf！〃 growled
Simon to himself； 〃and the people are shouting with pleasure； and
Jeanne Marie is making a mark in her stocking； and I； poor fellow；
cannot be there to see the fine show！ And this miserable brat is to
blame for it；〃 he cried aloud； turning suddenly round to the child
who was playing behind him with his ball； and giving him a savage
blow with his fist。
〃You are the cause； stupid； that I cannot be there today！〃
〃Master；〃 said the child； beseechingly； lifting his great blue eyes；
in which the tears were standing； up to his tormentor〃 master； I
beg your forgiveness if I have troubled you。〃
〃Yes； you have troubled me；〃 growled Simon； 〃and you shall get your
thanks for it in a way you will not like。 Quick； away with your
tears； go on with your play if you do not want your back to make
acquaintance with my straps。 Merry； I say； little Capet； merry！〃
The boy hastily dried his tears； laughed aloud as a proof of his
merriment； and began to jump about again and to play with his ball。
Simon listened again； and looked down longingly into the streets；
which were now black with the surging masses of men。 Steps were now
heard upon the stairway； and Jeanne Marie presently appeared on the
platform。 With a grave； solemn air she walked up to her husband； and
gave him her stocking； on which three great drops of blood were
visible。
〃That is her blood；〃 she said； calmly。 〃Thank God； I have lost the
bet！〃
〃What sort of a bet was it？〃 asked the boy； with a smile； and giving
his ball a merry toss。
〃The bet is nothing to you；〃 answered Jeanne Marie； 〃but if you are
good you will get something by and by； and have a share in the
payment of the bet！〃
That evening there was a little feast prepared in the gloomy rooms
of the Simons。 The wife paid the wager； for the Queen of France had
really been executed； and she had lost。 She provided two bottles of
brandy and a plum cake； and the son of the murdered queen had a
share in the entertainment。 He ate a piece of the plum cake； and；
under the fear of being beaten if he refused； he drank some of the
brandy that was so offensive to him。
From this time the unhappy boy remained under the hands of the
cobbler and his cruel wife。 In vain his aunt and his sister implored
their keepers to be allowed to see and to talk with the prince。 They
were put off with abusive words； and only now and then could they
see him a moment through a crack in the door； as he passed by with
Simon； on his way to the winding staircase。 At times there came up
through the floor of their roomfor Simon； who was no longer
porter； had the rooms directly beneath these occupied by the
princessesthe crying and moaning of the little prince； filling
their hearts with pain and bitterness； for they knew that the
horrible keeper of the dauphin was giving his pitiable ward a
lesson； i。e。； he was beating and maltreating him。 〃Why？ For what
reason？ One day； perhaps； because he refused to drink brandy； the
next because he looked sad； or because he asked to be taken to his
mother or the princesses； or because he refused to sing the ribald
songs which Simon tried to teach him about Madame Veto or the
Austrian she…wolf。
In this one thing the boy remained immovable； neither threats；
abuse； nor blows would force him to sing scurrilous songs about his
mother。 Out of fear he did every thing else that his tormentor bade
him。 He sung the Marseillaise； and the Caira； he danced the
Carmagnole； uttered his loud hurrahs as Simon drank a glass of
brandy to the weal of the one and indivisible republic； but when he
was ordered to sing mocking songs about Madame Veto； he kept a
stubborn silence； and nothing was able to overcome what Simon called
the 〃obstinacy of the little viper。〃
Nothing； neither blows nor kicks； neither threats nor promises！ The
child no longer ventured to ask after its mother； or to beg to be
taken to his aunt and sister； but once in a while when he heard a
noise in the room above； he would fix his eyes upon the ceiling for
a long time； and with an expression of longing； and when he dropped
them； again the clear tears ran over his cheeks like transparent
pearls。
He did not speak about his mother； but he thought of her； and once
in the night he seemed to be dreaming of her； for he raised himself
up in bed； kneeled down upon the miserable； dirty mattress； folded
his hands and began to repeat