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Dagobert's position was the more distressing； as for a moment he had
indulged in sanguine hope。 The last blow was now added to all the
veteran had suffered since the commencement of this scene； which was a
cruel as well as dangerous trial； for a man of his characterupright；
but obstinatefaithful； but rough and absolutea man who； for a long
time a soldier； and a victorious one； had acquired a certain despotic
mariner of treating with civilians。
At these words〃your papers；〃 Dagobert became very pale； but he tried to
conceal his anguish beneath an air of assurance； which he thought best
calculated to gain the magistrate's good opinion。 〃I will tell you all
about it； Mr。 Burgomaster；〃 said he。 〃Nothing can be clearer。 Such a
thing might happen to any one。 I do not look like a beggar and a
vagabond； do I？ And yetyou will understand； that an honest man who
travels with two young girls〃
〃No more words！ Your papers！〃
At this juncture two powerful auxiliaries arrived to the soldier's aid。
The orphans； growing more and more uneasy； and hearing Dagobert still
talking upon the landing…place； had risen and dressed themselves； so that
just at the instant； when the magistrate said in a rough voice〃No more
words！ Your papers！〃Rose and Blanche holding each other by the hand；
came forth from the chamber。
At sight of those charming faces； which their poor mourning vestments
only rendered more interesting； the burgomaster rose from his seat；
struck with surprise and admiration。 By a spontaneous movement； each
sister took a hand of Dagobert； and pressed close to him； whilst they
regarded the magistrate with looks of mingled anxiety and candor。
It was so touching a picture； this of the old soldier presenting as it
were to his judge the graceful children； with countenances full of
innocence and beauty； that the burgomaster； by a sudden reaction； found
himself once more disposed to sentiments of pity。 Dagobert perceived it；
and； still holding the orphans by the hand； he advanced towards him； and
said in a feeling voice： 〃Look at these poor children； Mr。 Burgomaster！
Could I show you a better passport？〃 And； overcome by so many painful
sensationsrestrained； yet following each other in quick succession
Dagobert felt； in spite of himself； that the tears were starting to his
eyes。
Though naturally rough； and rendered still more testy by the interruption
of his sleep； the burgomaster was not quite deficient in sense of
feeling。 He perceived at once； that a man thus accompanied； ought not to
inspire any great distrust。 〃Poor dear children！〃 said he； as he
examined them with growing interest； 〃orphans so young； and they come
from far〃
〃From the heart of Siberia； Mr。 Burgomaster； where their mother was an
exile before their birth。 It is now more than five months that we have
been travelling on by short stageshard enough； you will say； for
children of their age。 It is for them that I ask your favor and support
for them against whom everything seems to combine to…day for； only just
now； when I went to look for my papers； I could not find in my knapsack
the portfolio in which they were； along with my purse and crossfor you
must know； Mr。 Burgomasterpardon me； if I say it'tis not from vain
glorybut I was decorated by the hand of the Emperor； and a man whom he
decorated with his own hand； you see； could not be so bad a fellow；
though he may have had the misfortune to lose his papersand his purse。
That's what has happened to me； and made me so pressing about the
damages。〃
〃How and where did you suffer this loss？〃
〃I do not know； Mr。 Burgomaster； I am sure that the evening before last；
at bed…time； I took a little money out of the purse； and saw the
portfolio in its place； yesterday I had small change sufficient； and did
not undo the knapsack。〃
〃And where then has the knapsack been kept？〃
〃In the room occupied by the children： but this night〃
Dagobert was here interrupted by the tread of some one mounting the
stairs： it was the Prophet。 Concealed in the shadow of the staircase； he
had listened to this conversation； and he dreaded lest the weakness of
the burgomaster should mar the complete success of his projects。
CHAPTER XIV。
THE DECISION。
Morok； who wore his left arm in a sling； having slowly ascended the
staircase； saluted the burgomaster respectfully。 At sight of the
repulsive countenance of the lion…tamer； Rose and Blanche； affrighted；
drew back a step nearer to the soldier。 The brow of the latter grew
dark； for he felt his blood boil against Morok； the cause of all his
difficultiesthough he was yet ignorant that Goliath； at the instigation
of the Prophet； had stolen his portfolio and papers。
〃What did you want； Morok？〃 said the burgomaster； with an air half
friendly and half displeased。 〃I told the landlord that I did not wish
to be interrupted。〃
〃I have come to render you a service； Mr。 Burgomaster。〃
〃A service？〃
〃Yes； a great service； or I should not have ventured to disturb you。 My
conscience reproaches me。〃
〃Your conscience。〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Burgomaster； it reproaches me for not having told you all that
I had to tell about this man； a false pity led me astray。〃
〃Yell； but what have you to tell？〃
Morok approached the judge； and spoke to him for sometime in a low voice。
At first apparently much astonished； the burgomaster became by degrees
deeply attentive and anxious； every now and then be allowed some
exclamation of surprise or doubt to escape him； whilst he glanced
covertly at the group formed by Dagobert and the two young girls。 By the
expression of his countenance； which grew every moment more unquiet；
severe； and searching； it was easy to perceive that the interest which
the magistrate had felt for the orphans and for the soldier； was
gradually changed； by the secret communications of the Prophet； into a
sentiment of distrust and hostility。
Dagobert saw this sudden revolution； and his fears； which had been
appeased for an instant； returned with redoubled force； Rose and Blanche；
confused； and not understanding the object of this mute scene； looked at
the soldier with increased perplexity。
〃The devil！〃 said the burgomaster； rising abruptly； 〃all of this never
occurred to me。 What could I have been thinking of？ …But you see； Morok；
when one is roused up in the middle of the night； one has not always
presence of mind。 You said well： it is a great service you came to render
me。〃
〃I assert nothing positively； but〃
〃No matter； 'tis a thousand to one that you are right。〃
〃It is only a suspicion founded upon divers circumstances； but even a
suspicion〃
〃May give you scent of the truth。 And here was I； going like a gull into
the snare！Once more； what could I have been thinking of？〃
〃It is so difficult to be on guard against certain appearances。〃
〃You need not tell me so； my dear Morok； you need not tell me so。〃
During this mysterious conversation； Dagobert was on thorns； he saw
vaguely that a violent storm was about to burst。 He thought only of how
he should still keep his anger within bounds。
Morok again approached the judge； and glancing at the orphans；
reco