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〃Poor beast！ he seems so glad when he licks our hands。 One would think
that he thanked us for our visit。〃
〃Luckily； Dagobert will have wished him good…night for us。〃
〃Good Dagobert！ he is always thinking of us。 How he spoils us！ We
remain idle； and he has all the trouble。〃
〃How can we prevent it？〃
〃What a pity that we are not rich； to give him a little rest。〃
〃We rich！ Alas； my sister！ we shall never be anything but poor orphans。〃
〃Oh； there's the medal！〃
〃Doubtless； there is some hope attached to it； else we should not have
made this long journey。〃
〃Dagobert has promised to tell us all； this evening。〃
She was prevented from continuing； for two of the windowpanes flew to
pieces with a loud crash。
The orphans； with a cry of terror； threw themselves into each other's
arms； whilst the dog rushed towards the window； barking furiously。
Pale； trembling； motionless with affright； clasping each other in a close
embrace； the two sisters held their breath； in their extreme fear； they
durst not even cast their eyes in the direction of the window。 The dog；
with his forepaws resting on the sill； continued to bark with violence。
〃Alas！ what can it be？〃 murmured the orphans。 〃And Dagobert not here！〃
〃Hark！〃 cried Rose； suddenly seizing Blanche by the arm； 〃hark！some one
coming up the stairs！〃
〃Good heaven！ it does not sound like the tread of Dagobert。 Do you not
hear what heavy footsteps？〃
〃Quick！ come； Spoil…sport； and defend us！〃 cried the two sisters at
once； in an agony of alarm。
The boards of the wooden staircase really creaked beneath the weight of
unusually heavy footsteps； and a singular kind of rustling was heard
along the thin partition that divided the chamber from the landing…place。
Then a ponderous mass； falling against the door of the room； shook it
violently； and the girls； at the very height of terror； looked at each
other without the power of speech。
The door opened。 It was Dagobert。
At the sight of him Rose and Blanche joyfully exchanged a kiss； as if
they had just escaped from a great danger。
〃What is the matter？ why are you afraid？〃 asked the soldier in surprise。
〃Oh； if you only knew！〃 said Rose； panting as she spoke； for both her
own heart and her sister's beat with violence。
〃If you knew what has just happened！ We did not recognize your
footstepsthey seemed so heavyand then that noise behind the
partition！〃
〃Little frightened doves that you are！ I could not run up the stairs
like a boy of fifteen； seeing that I carried my bed upon my backa straw
mattress that I have just flung down before your door； to sleep there as
usual。〃
〃Bless me！ how foolish we must be； sister； not to have thought of that！〃
said Rose； looking at Blanche。 And their pretty faces； which had
together grown pale； together resumed their natural color。
During this scene the dog； still resting against the window； did not
cease barking a moment。
〃What makes Spoil…sport bark in that direction； my children？〃 said the
soldier。
〃We do not know。 Two of our windowpanes have just been broken。 That is
what first frightened us so much。〃
Without answering a word Dagobert flew to the window； opened it quickly；
pushed back the shutter； and leaned out。
He saw nothing； it was a dark night。 He listened； but heard only the
moaning of the wind。
〃Spoil…sport；〃 said he to his dog； pointing to the open window； 〃leap
out； old fellow； and search！〃 The faithful animal took one mighty spring
and disappeared by the window； raised only about eight feet above the
ground。
Dagobert； still leaning over； encouraged his dog with voice and gesture：
〃Search； old fellow； search！ If there is any one there； pin himyour
fangs are strongand hold him fast till I come。〃
But Spoil…sport found no one。 They heard him go backwards and forwards；
snuffing on every side； and now and then uttering a low cry like a hound
at fault。
〃There is no one； my good dog； that's clear； or you would have had him by
the throat ere this。〃 Then； turning to the maidens； who listened to his
words and watched his movements with uneasiness： 〃My girls；〃 said he；
〃how were these panes broken？ Did you not remark？〃
〃No； Dagobert； we were talking together when we heard a great crash； and
then the glass fell into the room。〃
〃It seemed to me；〃 added Rose； 〃as if a shutter had struck suddenly
against the window。〃
Dagobert examined the shutter； and observed a long movable hook； designed
to fasten it on the inside。
〃It blows hard；〃 said he； 〃the wind must have swung round the shutter；
and this hook broke the window。 Yes； yes； that is it。 What interest
could anybody have to play such a sorry trick？〃 Then； speaking to Spoil…
sport； he asked； 〃Well； my good fellow； is there no one？〃
The dog answered by a bark； which the soldier no doubt understood as a
negative； for he continued： 〃Well； then； come back！ Make the roundyou
will find some door openyou are never at a loss。〃
The animal followed this advice。 After growling for a few seconds
beneath the window； he set off at a gallop to make the circuit of the
buildings； and come back by the court…yard。
〃Be quite easy； my children！〃 said the soldier； as he again drew near the
orphans； 〃it was only the wind。〃
〃We were a good deal frightened；〃 said Rose。
〃I believe you。 But now I think of it； this draught is likely to give
you cold。〃 And seeking to remedy this inconvenience； he took from a
chair the reindeer pelisse； and suspended it from the spring…catch of the
curtainless window； using the skirts to stop up as closely as possible
the two openings made by the breaking of the panes。
〃Thanks； Dagobert； how good you are！ We were very uneasy at not seeing
you。〃
〃Yes； you were absent longer than usual。 But what is the matter with
you？〃 added Rose； only just then perceiving that his countenance was
disturbed and pallid； for he was still under the painful influence of the
brawl with Morok； 〃how pale you are！〃
〃Me； my pets？Oh； nothing。〃
〃Yes； I assure you； your countenance is quite changed。 Rose is right。〃
〃I tell you there is nothing the matter；〃 answered the soldier； not
without some embarrassment； for he was little used to deceive； till；
finding an excellent excuse for his emotion； he added： 〃If I do look at
all uncomfortable； it is your fright that has made me so； for indeed it
was my fault。〃
〃Your fault！〃
〃Yes； for if I had not lost so much time at supper； I should have been
here when the window was broken； and have spared you the fright。〃
〃Anyhow； you are here now； and we think no more of it。〃
〃Why don't you sit down？〃
〃I will； my children； for we have to talk together；〃 said Dagobert； as he
drew a chair close to the head of the bed。
〃Now tell me； are you quite awake？〃 he added； trying to smile in order to
reassure them。 〃Are those large eyes properly open？〃
〃Look； Dagobert！〃 cried the two girls； smiling in their turn； and opening
their blue eyes to the utmost extent。
〃Well； well；〃 said the soldier； 〃they are yet far enough； from shutting；
besides； it is only nine o'clock。〃
〃We also have something to tell； Dagobert；〃 resumed Rose； after