按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃There he goes！without horse； without money； without papers。 I could
not do morefor I was forbidden to do moreI was to act with as much
cunning as possible and preserve appearances。 Now every one will think
this soldier in the wrong。 I can at least answer for it； that he will
not continue his journey for some dayssince such great interests appear
to depend on his arrest； and that of the young girls。〃
A quarter of an hour after this reflection of the brute…tamer； Karl；
Goliath's comrade； left the hiding…place where his master had concealed
him during the evening； and set out for Leipsic； with a letter which
Morok had written in haste； and which Karl； on his arrival； was to put
immediately into the post。
The address of this letter was as follows：
〃A Monsieur Rodin； Rue du Milieu…des…Ursins； No； 11； A Paris； France。〃
CHAPTER XII。
THE BURGOMASTER。
Dagobert's anxiety increased every moment。 Certain that his horse had
not entered the shed of its own accord； he attributed the event which had
taken place to the spite of the brute…tamer； but he sought in vain for
the motive of this wretch's animosity； and he reflected with dismay； that
his cause； however just； would depend on the good or bad humor of a judge
dragged from his slumbers and who might be ready to condemn upon
fallacious appearances。
Fully determined to conceal； as long as possible； from the orphans the
fresh misfortunes； which had befallen them； he was proceeding to open the
door of their chamber； when he stumbled over Spoil…sportfor the dog had
run back to his post； after vainly trying to prevent the Prophet from
leading away Jovial。 〃Luckily the dog has returned； the poor little
things have been well guarded；〃 said the soldier； as he opened the door。
To his great surprise； the room was in utter darkness。
〃My children；〃 cried he； 〃why are you without a light？〃 There was no
answer。 In terror he groped his way to the bed； and took the hand of one
of the sisters； the hand was cold as ice。
〃Rose； my children！〃 cried he。 〃Blanche！ Give me some answer！ you
frighten me。〃 Still the same silence continued； the hand which he held
remained cold and powerless； and yielded passively to his touch。
Just then； the moon emerged from the black clouds that surrounded her；
and threw sufficient light into the little room； and upon the bed； which
faced the window； for the soldier to see that the two sisters had
fainted。 The bluish light of the moon added to the paleness of the
orphans； they held each other in a half embrace； and Rose had buried her
head on Blanche's bosom。
〃They must have fainted through fear；〃 exclaimed Dagobert； running to
fetch his gourd。 〃Poor things！ after a day of so much excitement； it is
not surprising。〃 And moistening the corner of a handkerchief with a few
drops of brandy； the soldier knelt beside the bed； gently chafed the
temples of the two sisters； and held the linen； wet with the spirituous
liquor； to their little pink nostrils。
Still on his knees； and bending his dark； anxious face over the orphans；
he waited some moments before again resorting to the only restorative in
his power。 A slight shiver of Rose gave him renewed hope； the young girl
turned her head on the pillow with a sigh； then she started； and opened
her eyes with an expression of astonishment and alarm； but； not
immediately recognizing Dagobert； she exclaimed： 〃Oh； sister！〃 and threw
herself into the arms of Blanche。
The latter also was beginning to experience the effect of the soldier's
care。 The exclamation of Rose completely roused her from her lethargy；
and she clung to her sister； again sharing the fright without knowing its
cause。
〃They've come tothat's the chief point；〃 said Dagobert； 〃now we shall
soon get rid of these foolish fears。〃 Then softening his voice； he
added： 〃Well； my children； courage？ You are better。 It is I who am
hereme； Dagobert！〃
The orphans made a hasty movement； and； turning towards the soldier their
sweet faces； which were still full of dismay and agitation； they both； by
a graceful impulse； extended their arms to him and cried： 〃It is you；
Dagobertthen we are safe！〃
〃Yes； my children； it is I；〃 said the veteran； taking their hands in his；
and pressing them joyfully。 〃So you have been much frightened during my
absence？〃
〃Oh； frightened to death！〃
〃If you knewoh； goodness！ if you knew〃
〃But the lamp is extinguishedwhy is that？〃
〃We did not do it。〃
〃Comerecover yourselves； poor children； and tell me all about it。 I
have no good opinion of this inn； but； luckily； we shall soon leave it。
It was an ill wind that blew me hitherthough； to be sure； there was no
other in the village。 But what has happened？〃
〃You were hardly gone； when the window flew open violently； and the lamp
and table fell together with a loud crash。〃
〃Then our courage failedwe screamed and clasped each other； for we
thought we could hear some one moving in the room。〃
〃And we were so frightened； that we fainted away。〃
Unfortunately； persuaded that it was the violence of the wind which had
already broken the glass； and shaken the window； Dagobert attributed this
second accident to the same cause as the first； thinking that he had not
properly secured the fastening and that the orphans had been deceived by
a false alarm。 〃Well； wellit is over now；〃 said he to them： 〃Calm
yourselves； and don't think of it any more。〃
〃But why did you leave us so hastily； Dagobert？〃
〃Yes； now I rememberdid we not hear a great noise； sister； and see
Dagobert run to the staircase； crying： 'My horse！ what are they doing to
my horse？'〃
〃It was then Jovial who neighed？〃
These questions renewed the anguish of the soldier； he feared to answer
them； and said； with a confused air： 〃YesJovial neighed …but it was
nothing。 By the by； we must have a light here。 Do you know where I put
my flint and steel last evening？ Well； I have lost my senses； it is here
in my pocket。 Luckily； too； we have a candle； which I am going to light；
I want to look in my knapsack for some papers I require。〃
Dagobert struck a few sparks； obtained a light； and saw that the window
was indeed open； the table thrown down； and the lamp lying by the side of
the knapsack。 He shut the window； set the little table on its feet
again； placed the knapsack upon it； and began to unbuckle this last in
order to take out his portfolio； which had been deposited along with his
cross and purse； in a kind of pocket between the outside and the lining。
The straps had been readjusted with so much care； that there was no
appearance of the knapsack having been disturbed； but when the soldier
plunged his hand into the pocket above…mentioned； he found it empty。
Struck with consternation； he grew pale； and retreated a step； crying：
〃How is this？Nothing！〃
〃What is the matter？〃 said Blanche。 He made her no answer。 Motionless；
he leaned against the table； with his hand still buried in the pocket。
Then； yielding to a vague hopefor so cruel a reality did not appear
possiblehe hastily emptied the contents of the knapsack on the table
his poor half…worn clotheshis old uniform…coat of the horse…gre