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his poor half…worn clotheshis old uniform…coat of the horse…grenadiers
of the Imperial Guard； a sacred relic for the soldiersbut； turn and
return them as he would； he found neither his purse； nor the portfolio
that contained his papers； the letters of General Simon； and his cross。
In vain； with that serious childishness which always accompanies a
hopeless search； he took the knapsack by the two ends； and shook it
vigorously； nothing came out。 The orphans looked on with uneasiness； not
understanding his silence or his movements； for his back was turned to
them。 Blanche ventured to say to him in a timid voice： 〃What ails you
you don't answer us。What is it you are looking for in your knapsack？〃
Still mute； Dagobert searched his own person； turned out all his pockets…
…nothing！For the first time in his life； perhaps； his two children； as
he called them； had spoken to him without receiving a reply。 Blanche and
Rose felt the big tears start into their eyes； thinking that the soldier
was angry； they darst not again address him。
〃No； no！ it is impossibleno！〃 said the veteran； pressing his hand to
his forehead； and seeking in his memory where he might have put those
precious objects； the loss of which he could not yet bring himself to
believe。 A sudden beam of joy flashed from his eyes。 He ran to a chair；
and took from it the portmanteau of the orphans； it contained a little
linen； two black dresses； and a small box of white wood； in which were a
silk handkerchief that had belonged to their mother； two locks of her
hair； and a black ribbon she had worn round her neck。 The little she
possessed had been seized by the Russian government； in pursuance of the
confiscation。 Dagobert searched and researched every articlepeeped
into all the corners of the portmanteaustill nothing！
This time； completely worn out； leaning against the table； the strong；
energetic man felt himself giving way。 His face was burning； yet bathed
in a cold sweat； his knees trembled under him。 It is a common saying；
that drowning men will catch at straws； and so it is with the despair
that still clings to some shred of hope。 Catching at a last chance
absurd； insane； impossiblehe turned abruptly towards the orphans； and
said to them； without considering the alteration in his voice and
features： 〃I did not give them to youto keep for me？speak？〃
Instead of answering； Rose and Blanche； terrified at his paleness and the
expression of his countenance； uttered a cry。 〃Good heavens！ what is the
matter with you？〃 murmured Rose。
〃Have you got themyes； or no？〃 cried in a voice of thunder the
unfortunate； distracted man。 〃If you have notI'll take the first knife
I meet with； and stick it into my body！〃
〃Alas！ You are so good： pardon us if we have done anything to afflict
you！ You love us so much； you would not do us any harm。〃 The orphans
began to weep； as they stretched forth their hands in supplication
towards the soldier。
He looked at them with haggard eye； without even seeing them； till； as
the delusion passed away； the reality presented itself to his mind with
all its terrible consequences。 Then he clasped his hands together； fell
on his knees before the bed of the orphans； leaned his forehead upon it；
and amid his convulsive sobsfor the man of iron sobbed like a child
these broken words were audible： 〃Forgive meforgive！I do not know how
it can be！ Oh！ what a misfortune！what a misfortune！Forgive me！〃
At this outbreak of grief； the cause of which they understood not； but
which in such a man was heart…rending； the two sisters wound their arms
about his old gray head； and exclaimed amid their tears： 〃Look at us！
Only tell us what is the matter with you？Is it our fault？〃
At this instant； the noise of footsteps resounded from the stairs；
mingled with the barking of Spoil…sport； who had remained outside the
door。 The nearer the steps approached； the more furious became the
barking； it was no doubt accompanied with hostile demonstrations； for the
host was heard to cry out in an angry tone： 〃Hollo！ you there！ Call off
your dog； or speak to him。 It is Mr。 Burgomaster who is coming up。〃
〃Dagobertdo you hear？it is the burgomaster；〃 said Rose。
〃They are coming upstairsa number of people；〃 resumed Blanche。
The word burgomaster recalled whatever had happened to the mind of
Dagobert； and completed； so to express it； the picture of his terrible
position。 His horse was dead； he had neither papers nor money； and a
day； a single day's detention； might defeat the last hope of the sisters；
and render useless this long and toilsome journey。
Men of strong minds； and the veteran was of the number； prefer great
perils； positions of danger accurately defined； to the vague anxieties
which precede a settled misfortune。 Guided by his good sense and
admirable devotion； Dagobert understood at once； that his only resource
was now in the justice of the burgomaster； and that all his efforts
should tend to conciliate the favor of that magistrate。 He therefore
dried his eyes with the sheet； rose from the ground； erect； calm； and
resolute； and said to the orphans： 〃Fear nothing； my children； it is our
deliverer who is at hand。〃
〃Will you call off your dog or no？〃 cried the host； still detained on the
stairs by Spoil…sport； who； as a vigilant sentinel； continued to dispute
the passage。 〃Is the animal mad； I say？ Why don't you tie him up？ Have
you not caused trouble enough in my house？ I tell you； that Mr。
Burgomaster is waiting to examine you in your turn； for he has finished
with Morok。〃
Dagobert drew his fingers through his gray locks and across his
moustache； clasped the collar of his top…coat； and brushed the sleeves
with his hand； in order to give himself the best appearance possible； for
he felt that the fate of the orphans must depend on his interview with
the magistrate。 It was not without a violent beating of the heart； that
he laid his hand upon the door…knob； saying to the young girls； who were
growing more and more frightened by such a succession of events： 〃Hide
yourselves in your bed； my children； if any one must needs enter； it
shall be the burgomaster alone。〃
Thereupon； opening the door； the soldier stepped out on the
landing place； and said： 〃Down； Spoil…sport！Here！〃
The dog obeyed； but with manifest repugnance。 His master had to speak
twice； before he would abstain from all hostile movements towards the
host。 This latter； with a lantern in one hand and his cap in the other；
respectfully preceded the burgomaster； whose magisterial proportions were
lost in the half shadows of the staircase。 Behind the judge； and a few
steps lower； the inquisitive faces of the people belonging to the inn
were dimly visible by the light of another lantern。
Dagobert； having turned the dog into the room； shut the door after him；
and advanced two steps on the landing…place； which was sufficiently
spacious to hold several persons； and had in one corner a wooden bench
with a back to it。 The burgomaster； as he ascended the last stair； was
surprised to see Dagobert close the door of the chamber； as though he
wished to forbid his entrance。 〃Why do you shut