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as I lead you； my children； that we arrived at the poverty…stricken
village； where； three months after； you poor little things were born！〃
〃And our father？〃
〃It was impossible for him to return to Russia； impossible for your
mother to think of flight； with two children； impossible for the general
to write to her； as he knew not where she was。〃
〃So； since that time； you have had no news of him？〃
〃Yes； my childrenonce we had news。〃
〃And by whom？〃
After a moment's silence； Dagobert resumed with a singular expression of
countenance： 〃By whom？by one who is not like other men。 Yesthat you
may understand me better； I will relate to you an extraordinary
adventure； which happened to your father during his last French campaign。
He had been ordered by the Emperor to carry a battery； which was playing
heavily on our army； after several unsuccessful efforts； the general put
himself at the head of a regiment of cuirassiers； and charged the
battery； intending； as was his custom； to cut down the men at their guns。
He was on horseback； just before the mouth of a cannon； where all the
artillerymen had been either killed or wounded； when one of them still
found strength to raise himself upon one knee； and to apply the lighted
match to the touchholeand that when your father was about ten paces in
front of the loaded piece。〃
〃Oh！ what a peril for our father！〃
〃Never； he told me； had he run such imminent danger for he saw the
artilleryman apply the match； and the gun go offbut； at the very nick；
a man of tall stature； dressed as a peasant； and whom he had not before
remarked； threw himself in front of the cannon。〃
〃Unfortunate creature！ what a horrible death！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Dagobert； thoughtfully； 〃it should have been so。 He ought by
rights to have been blown into a thousand pieces。 But nonothing of the
kind！〃
〃What do you tell us？〃
〃What the general told me。 'At the moment when the gun went off；' as he
often repeated to me； 'I shut my eyes by an involuntary movement； that I
might not see the mutilated body of the poor wretch who had sacrificed
himself in my place。 When I again opened them； the first thing I saw in
the midst of the smoke； was the tall figure of this man； standing erect
and calm on the same spot； and casting a sad mild look on the
artilleryman； who； with one knee on the ground； and his body thrown
backward； gazed on him in as much terror as if he had been the devil。
Afterwards； I lost sight of this man in the tumult；' added your father。〃
〃Bless me Dagobert！ how can this be possible？〃
〃That is just what I said to the general。 He answered me that he had
never been able to explain to himself this event； which seemed as
incredible as it was true。 Moreover； your father must have been greatly
struck with the countenance of this man； who appeared； he said； about
thirty years of agefor he remarked； that his extremely black eyebrows
were joined together； and formed； as it were； one line from temple to
temple； so that he seemed to have a black streak across his forehead。
Remember this； my children； you will soon see why。〃
〃Oh； Dagobert！ we shall not forget it；〃 said the orphans； growing more
and more astonished as he proceeded。
〃Is it not strangethis man with a black seam on his forehead？〃
〃Well； you shall hear。 The general had； as I told you； been left for
dead at Waterloo。 During the night which he passed on the field of
battle； in a sort of delirium brought on by the fever of his wounds； he
saw； or fancied he saw； this same man bending over him； with a look of
great mildness and deep melancholy； stanching his wounds； and using every
effort to revive him。 But as your father； whose senses were still
wandering； repulsed his kindness saying； that after such a defeat； it
only remained to dieit appeared as if this man replied to him； 'You
must live for Eva！' meaning your mother； whom the general had left at
Warsaw； to join the Emperor； and make this campaign of France。〃
〃How strange； Dagobert！And since then； did our father never see this
man？〃
〃Yes； he saw himfor it was he who brought news of the general to your
poor mother。〃
〃When was that？ We never heard of it。〃
〃You remember that； on the day your mother died； you went to the pine…
forest with old Fedora？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Rose； mournfully； 〃to fetch some heath； of which our
mother was so fond。〃
〃Poor mother！〃 added Blanche； 〃she appeared so well that morning； that we
could not dream of the calamity which awaited us before night。〃
〃True； my children； I sang and worked that morning in the garden；
expecting； no more than you did； what was to happen。 Well； as I was
singing at my work； on a sudden I heard a voice ask me in French： 'Is
this the village of Milosk？'I turned round； and saw before me a
stranger； I looked at him attentively； and； instead of replying； fell
back two steps； quite stupefied。〃
〃Ah； why？〃
〃He was of tall stature； very pale； with a high and open forehead； but
his eyebrows met； and seemed to form one black streak across it。〃
〃Then it was the same man who had twice been with our father in battle？〃
〃Yesit was he。〃
〃But； Dagobert；〃 said Rose； thoughtfully； 〃is it not a long time since
these battles？〃
〃About sixteen years；〃
〃And of what age was this stranger？〃
〃Hardly more than thirty。〃
〃Then how can it be the same man； who sixteen years before； had been with
our father in the wars？〃
〃You are right；〃 said Dagobert； after a moment's silence； and shrugging
his shoulders： 〃I may have been deceived by a chance likenessand yet〃
〃Or； if it were the same； he could not have got older all that while。〃
〃But did you ask him； if he had not formerly relieved our father？〃
〃At first I was so surprised that I did not think of it； and afterwards；
he remained so short a time； that I had no opportunity。 Well； he asked
me for the village of Milosk。 'You are there； sir；' said I； ‘but how do
you know that I am a Frenchman？' 'I heard you singing as I passed；'
replied he； 'could you tell me the house of Madame Simon； the general's
wife？' 'She lives here； sir。' Then looking at me for some seconds in
silence； he took me by the hand and said： 'You are the friend of
General Simonhis best friend？' Judge of my astonishment； as I answered：
'But； sir； how do you know？' 'He has often spoken of you with gratitude。'
'You have seen the general then？' 'Yes； some time ago； in India。 I am
also his friend： I bring news of him to his wife； whom I knew to be
exiled in Siberia。 At Tobolsk； whence I come； I learned that she
inhabits this village。 Conduct me to her！'〃
〃The good travellerI love him already；〃 said Rose。
〃Yes； being father's friend。〃
〃I begged him to wait an instant； whilst I went to inform your mother； so
that the surprise might not do her harm； five minutes after； he was
beside her。〃
〃And what kind of man was this traveller； Dagobert？〃
〃He was very tall； he wore a dark pelisse； and a fur cap； and had long
black hair。〃
〃Was he handsome？〃
〃Yes； my childrenvery handsome； but with so mild and melancholy an air；
that it pained my heart to see him。〃
〃Poor man！ he had doubtless known some great sorr