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couched in terms of worthy indignation； and all hearts were stirred
with righteous anger at the story of the automaton that sang the
royal aria； and of the living bird that wore the badge of an order
about its neck。 They were convinced that the secret royalists were
connected with this thing； and it was registered in the communal
acts as 〃the conspiracy of the canary…bird。〃
The little winged conspirators； the automaton as well as the living
birds； were of course instantly removed from the Temple； and Simon
had the double vexation of receiving a reprimand from the
authorities； and then the losing his little merry companions from
the prison。 It was all the fault of this little； good…for…nothing
boy； who knew how to make long faces； and allowed himself to waken
and disturb his master in the night by his crying and sobbing。
〃The worthless viper has spoiled my sleep for me；〃 growled Simon the
next morning。 〃My head is as heavy as a bomb； and I shall have to
take a foot…bath； to draw the blood away from my ears。〃
Jeanne Marie silently carried her husband the leaden foot…bath； with
the steaming water； and then drew back into the corner； in whose
dismal shadow she often sat for hours； gazing idly at her 〃calendar
of the revolution；〃 the long stocking； on which traces of the blood
of the queen were still visible。
Meanwhile； Simon took his foot…bath； and while he did so； his
wicked； malicious eyes now fell upon his wife； who had once been so
cheerful and resolute； and who now had grown so sad and broken； now
upon the boy； who； since yesterday； when his canaries had been taken
from him； had spoken not a word； or made a sound； and who sat
motionless upon the rush…chair； folding his hands in his lap； and
gazing at the place where his dead bird lay yesterday。
〃This life would make one crazy；〃 growled Simon； with the tone of a
hyena。 〃Capet；〃 he cried aloud； 〃take the towel and warm it at the
chimney…fire； so as to wipe my feet。〃
Louis rose slowly from his chair； took the towel and crept to the
chimney…fire to spread it out and warm it； but the glow of the coals
burned his little thin hands so badly； that he let the cloth fall
into the fire； and before the trembling； frightened child had time
to draw it back； the towel had kindled and was burning brightly。
Simon uttered a howl of rage； and； as with his feet in the water he
was not able to reach the boy； he heaped curses and abuse upon him；
and not alone on him； but on his father and mother； till his voice
was hoarse； and he was exhausted with this outpouring of his wrath。
Deceived by the quiet which followed； little Louis took another
towel； warmed it carefully at the chimney； and then cautiously
approached his master； to wipe his feet。 Simon extended them to the
boy and let himself he served as if by a little slave； but just as
soon as his feet were dry he kicked the boy's head with such force
that without a cry Louis fell down； striking his head violently on
the floor。 Perhaps it was this pitiful spectacle that exasperated
the cobbler still more。 He beat the unconscious boy； roused him with
kicks and with the noise of his curses； raised his clinched fists
and swore that he would now dash the viper in pieces； when he
suddenly felt his hands grasped as in iron clamps； and to his
boundless astonishment saw before him the pale； grim face of his
wife； who had come out from her corner and fixed her black；
glistening eyes upon him； while she held his hands firmly。
〃What is it； Jeanne Marie？〃 said Simon； surprised！ 〃why are you
holding me so？〃
〃Because I do not want you to beat him to death；〃 she said； with a
hoarse； rough voice。
He broke out into loud laughter。 〃I really believe that the knitter
of the guillotine has pity on the son of the she…wolf。〃
A convulsive quiver passed through her whole frame。 A singular；
gurgling sound came from her chest； she put both her hands to her
neck and tore the little kerchief off； as if it were tied tight
enough to strangle her。
〃No；〃 she said； in a suppressed tone； 〃no compassion on the wolf's
brood！ But if you beat him to death； they will have to bring you to
the guillotine； that it may not appear as if they had ordered you to
kill the little Capet。〃
〃True；〃 said Simon； 〃you are right； and I thank you； Jeanne Marie；
that you may remind me of it。 It shows that you love me still；
although you are always so quiet。 Yes； yes； I will be more careful；
I will take care to beat the little serpent only so much that it may
not bite； but cannot die。〃
Jeanne Marie made no reply； but sat down in the corner again； and
took up her stocking； without touching the needles； however； and
going on with her work。
〃Get up； you cursed snake！〃 growled Simon； 〃get up and go out of my
sight； and do not stir me up again。〃
The child rose slowly from the floor； crept to the wash…basin and
with his trembling； bruised hands wiped away the blood that was
flowing out of his nose and mouth。 A loud； gurgling sound came from
the corner where Jeanne Marie sat。 It seemed half like a cry； half
like a sob。 When Simon looked around； his wife lay pale and
motionless on the floor； she had sunk from her chair in a swoon。
Simon grasped her in his strong arms and carried her to the bed；
laid her gently and carefully down； and busied himself about her；
showing a manifest anxiety。
〃She must not die；〃 he murmured； rubbing her temples with salt
water； 〃she must not leave me alone in this horrible prison and with
this dreadful child。Jeanne Marie； wake up； come to yourself！〃 She
opened her eyes； and gazed at her husband with wild； searching
looks。
〃What is the matter； Jeanne Marie？〃 he asked。 〃Have you pain？ Are
you sick？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃I am sick； I am in pain。〃
〃I will go to bring you a physician； you shall not die！ No； no； you
shall not die； you shall have a physician。 The Hotel Dieu is very
near； they will certainly allow me to go as far as there； and bring
a doctor for my dear Jeanne。〃
He was on the point of hastening away； but Jeanne Marie held him
fast。 〃Remain here；〃 she murmured； 〃do not let me be alone with him…
…I am afraid of him！〃
〃Of whom？〃 asked Simon； astonished； and as he followed the looks of
his wife； they rested on the boy； who was still busy in checking the
blood that was flowing freely from his swollen nose。
〃Of him！〃 asked Simon； in amazement。
Jeanne Marie nodded。 〃Yes；〃 she whispered； 〃I am afraid of him； and
I do not want to remain alone with him； for he would kill me。〃 Simon
burst into a loud； hoarse laugh。 〃Now I see that you are really
sick； and the doctor shall come at once。 But they certainly will not
let me leave this place； for this despicable brat has made us both
prisoners； the miserable； good…for…nothing thing！〃
〃Send him away； let him go into his own room；〃 whispered Jeanne
Marie。 〃I cannot bear to see him； he poisons my blood。 Send him
away； for I shall be crazy if I have to look at him longer。〃
〃Away with you； you viper！〃 roared Simon； and the boy； who knew that
he was meantthat the term viper was applied only to himhastily
dried his tears； and slipped through the open door into his little
dark apartment。
〃Now I will run and call the porter；〃 said Simon； hurriedly； 〃he
shall send some one to the Hotel Dieu； and bring a physician for my
poor； dear； sick Jeanne Marie。〃
He hastened out； and turned back； after a few minutes； with the
report that the porter himself had gone to bring a doctor； and that
help would come at once。
〃Nonsense！〃 cried Jeanne Marie； 〃no doctor can help me； and there is
nothing at all that I want。 Only give me something to drink； Simon；
for my throat burns like fire； and then call little Capet in； for in
his dark room his eyes glisten like stars； and I cannot bear them。〃
Simon shook his head sadly； and； while holding a glass of cold water
to her lips； he said to himself： 〃Jeanne Marie is really sick！ She
has a fever！ But we must do what she orders； else it will come to
delirium； and she might become insane。〃
And with a loud voice he called； 〃Capet； Capet！ come here； come
here！ you viper； you wolf's cub； come here！〃
The boy obeyed the command； slowly crept into the room； and sat down
in the rush…chair in the corner。 〃He shall not look at me；〃 shrieked
Jeanne Marie； 〃he shall not look into my heart with his dreadful
blue eyes； it hurts meoh！ so much； so much！〃
〃Turn around； you viper！〃 said Simon。 〃Look round this way again； or
I'll tear your eyes out of your head！ I〃
The door leading to the corridor now opened； and an old man； leaning
on a cane； entered； wearing on his head a powdered peruke； his bent
form covered with a black satin coat； beneath which a satin vest was
seen； on his feet； silk stockings and buckled shoes； in his lace…
encircled hand； a cane with a gold head。
〃Well；〃 cried Simon； with a laugh； 〃what sort of an old scarecrow is
that？ And what does it want here？〃
〃The scarecrow wants nothing of you；〃 said the old man； in a kindly
way； 〃but you want something of it； citizen。 You have sent for me。〃
〃Ah！ so you are the doctor from the Hotel Dieu。〃
〃Yes； my friend； I am Citizen Naudin。〃
〃Naudin； the chief physician at the Hotel