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〃The knapsack was near the window； on a table； by the side of a lamp； I
could have reached it by stretching out my arm。〃
〃What did you hear said？〃
〃As you told me to think only of the knapsack； I can only remember what
concerns the knapsack。 The old man said he had some papers in itthe
letter of a generalhis moneyhis cross。〃
〃Goodwhat next？〃
〃As it was difficult for me to keep the pelisse away from the hole； it
slipped through my fingers。 In trying to get hold of it again； I put my
hand too much forward。 One of the lasses saw it； and screamed out；
pointing to the window。〃
〃Dolt！〃 exclaimed the Prophet； becoming pale with rage； 〃you have ruined
all。〃
〃Stop a bit！ there is nothing broken yet。 When I heard the scream； I
jumped down from my stool； and got back into the cellar； as the dog was
no longer about； I left the door ajar； so that I could hear them open the
window； and see； by the light； that the old man was looking out with the
lamp； but he could find no ladder； and the window was too high for any
man of common size to reach it！〃
〃He will have thought； like the first time； that it was the wind。 You
are less awkward than I imagined。〃
〃The wolf has become a fox； as you said。 Knowing where the knapsack was
to be found with the money and the papers； and not being able to do more
for the moment； I came awayand here I am。〃
〃Go upstairs and fetch me the longest pike。〃
〃Yes； master。〃
〃And the red blanket。〃
〃Yes； master。〃
〃Go！〃
Goliath began to mount the ladder； half…way up he stopped。 〃Master；〃
said he； 〃may I not bring down a bit of meat for Death？you will see
that she'll bear me malice； she puts it all down to my account； she never
forgets； and on the first occasion〃
〃The pike and the cloth！〃 repeated the Prophet； in an imperious tone。
And whilst Goliath； swearing to himself； proceeded to execute his
instructions； Morok opened the great door of the shed； looked out into
the yard； and listened。
〃Here's the pike and the cloth；〃 said the giant； as he descended the
ladder with the articles。 〃Now what must I do next？〃
〃Return to the cellar； mount once more by the window； and when the old
man leaves the room〃
〃Who will make him leave the room？〃
〃Never mind！ he will leave it。〃
〃What next？〃
〃You say the lamp is near the window？〃
〃Quite nearon the table next to the knapsack。〃
〃Well； then； as soon as the old man leaves the room； push open the
window； throw down the lamp； and if you accomplish cleverly what remains
to dothe ten florins are yoursyou remember it all？〃
〃Yes； yes。〃
〃The girls will be so frightened by the noise and darkness； that they
will remain dumb with terror。〃
〃Make yourself easy！ The wolf turned into a fox； why not a serpent？〃
〃There is yet something。〃
〃Well； what now？〃
〃The roof of this shed is not very high； the window of the loft is easy
of access； the night is darkinstead of returning by the door〃
〃I will come in at the window。〃
〃Ay； and without noise。〃
〃Like a regular snake！〃 and the giant departed。
〃Yes！〃 said the Prophet to himself； after a long silence； 〃these means
are sure。 It was not for me to hesitate。 A blind and obscure
instrument； I know not the motives of the orders I have received： but
from the recommendations which accompany thembut from the position of
him who sends themimmense interests must be involvedinterests
connected with all that is highest and greatest upon earth！ …And yet how
can these two girls； almost beggars； how can this wretched soldier
represent such interests？No matter；〃 added he； with humility； 〃I am the
arm which actsit is for the head； which thinks and orders； to answer
for its work。〃
Soon after the Prophet left the shed； carrying with him the red cloth；
and directed his steps towards the little stable that contained Jovial。
The crazy door； imperfectly secured by a latch； was easily opened。 At
sight of a stranger Spoil…sport threw himself upon him； but his teeth
encountered the iron leggings of the Prophet； who； in spite of the
efforts of the dog took Jovial by his halter； threw the blanket over his
head to prevent his either seeing or smelling； and led him from the
stable into the interior of the menagerie； of which he closed the door。
CHAPTER X。
THE SURPRISE。
The orphans； after reading the journal of their father； remained for some
moments silent； sad； and pensive； contemplating the leaves yellowed by
time。 Dagobert； also plunged in a reverie； thought of his wife and son；
from whom he had been so long separated； and hoped soon to see again。
The soldier was the first to break the silence； which had lasted for
several minutes。 Taking the leaves from the hand of Blanche； he folded
them carefully； put them into his pocket； and thus addressed the orphans：
〃Courage； my children！ you see what a brave father you have。 Think only
of the pleasure of greeting him； and remember always the name of the
gallant youth； to whom you will owe that pleasurefor without him your
father would have been killed in India。〃
〃Djalma！ we shall never forget him；〃 said Rose。
〃And if our guardian angel Gabriel should return；〃 added Blanche； 〃we
will ask him to watch over Djalma as over ourselves。〃
〃Very well； my children； I am sure that you will forget nothing that
concerns good feeling。 But to return to the traveller； who came to visit
your poor mother in Siberia； he had seen the general a month after the
events of which you have read； and at a moment when he was about to enter
on a new campaign against the English。 It was then that your father
entrusted him with the papers and medal。〃
〃But of what use will this medal be to us； Dagobert？〃
〃And what is the meaning of these words engraved upon it？〃 added Rose； as
she drew it from her bosom。
〃Why it means； my children； that on the 13th of February； 1832； we must
be at No。 3； Rue Saint Francois； Paris。〃
〃But what are we to do there？〃
〃Your poor mother was seized so quickly with her last illness； that she
was unable to tell me。 All I know is； that this medal came to her from
her parents； and that it had been a relic preserved in her family for
more than a century。〃
〃And how did our father get it？〃
〃Among the articles which had been hastily thrown into the coach； when he
was removed by force from Warsaw； was a dressing…case of your mother's；
in which was contained this medal。 Since that time the general had been
unable to send it back； having no means of communicating with us； and not
even knowing where we were。〃
〃This medal is； then； of great importance to us？〃
〃Unquestionably； for never； during fifteen years； had I seen your mother
so happy； as on the day the traveller brought it back to her。 'Now；'
said she to me； in the presence of the stranger； and with tears of joy in
her eyes； 'now may my children's future be brilliant as their life has
hitherto been miserable。 I will entreat of the governor of Siberia
permission to go to France with my daughters； it will perhaps be thought
I have been sufficiently punished； by fifteen years of exile； and the
confiscation of my property。 Should they refuse； I will remain here； but