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uppermost in his soul。 Therefore； though he did not share in the
consoling faith of the two sisters； he would have held as criminal any
attempt to weaken its influence。
Seeing them this downcast； he thus resumed： 〃That's right； my pretty
ones： I prefer to hear you chat as you did this morning and yesterday
laughing at times； and answering me when I speak； instead of being so
much engrossed with your own talk。 Yes； yes； my little ladies！ you seem
to have had famous secrets together these last two daysso； much the
better； if it amuses you。〃
The sisters colored； and exchanged a subdued smile； which contrasted with
the tears that yet filled their eyes； and Rose said to the soldier； with
a little embarrassment。 〃No； I assure you； Dagobert； we talk of nothing
in particular。〃
〃Well； well； I don't wish to know it。 Come； rest yourselves； a few
moments more； and then we must start again； for it grows late； and we
have to reach Mockern before night； so that we may be early on the road
to…morrow。〃
〃Have we still a long； long way to go？〃 asked Rose。
〃What； to reach Paris？ Yes； my children； some hundred days' march。 We
don't travel quick； but we get on； and we travel cheap； because we have a
light purse。 A closet for you； a straw mattress and a blanket at your
door for me； with Spoil…sport on my feet； and a clean litter for old
Jovial； these are our whole traveling expenses。 I say nothing about
food； because you two together don't eat more than a mouse； and I have
learnt in Egypt and Spain to be hungry only when it suits。〃
〃Not forgetting that； to save still more； you do all the cooking for us；
and will not even let us assist。〃
〃And to think； good Dagobert； that you wash almost every evening at our
resting…place。 As if it were not for us to〃
〃You！〃 said the soldier； interrupting Blanche； 〃I； allow you to chap your
pretty little hands in soap…suds！ Pooh！ don't a soldier on a campaign
always wash his own linen？ Clumsy as you see me； I was the best
washerwoman in my squadronand what a hand at ironing！ Not to make a
brag of it。〃
〃Yes； yesyou can iron wellvery well。〃
〃Only sometimes； there will be a little singe；〃 said Rose； smiling。
〃Hah！ when the iron is too hot。 Zounds！ I may bring it as near my cheek
as I please； my skin is so tough that I don't feel the heat；〃 said
Dagobert； with imperturbable gravity。
〃We are only jesting； good Dagobert！〃
〃Then； children； if you think that I know my trade as a washerwoman； let
me continue to have your custom： it is cheaper； and； on a journey； poor
people like us should save where we can； for we must； at all events； keep
enough to reach Paris。 Once there； our papers and the medal you wear
will do the restI hope so； at least。〃
〃This medal is sacred to us； mother gave it to us on her death…bed。〃
〃Therefore； take great care that you do not lose it： see； from time to
time； that you have it safe。〃
〃Here it is；〃 said Blanche； as she drew from her bosom a small bronze
medal； which she wore suspended from her neck by a chain of the same
material。 The medal bore on its faces the following inscriptions：
Victim
of
L。 C。 D。 J。
Pray for me！
…
Paris
February the； 13th； 1682。
At Paris。
Rue Saint Francois； No。 3；
In a century and a half
you will be。
February the 13th； 1832。
…
PRAY FOR ME！
〃What does it mean； Dagobert？〃 resumed Blanche； as she examined the
mournful inscriptions。 〃Mother was not able to tell us。〃
〃We will discuss all that this evening； at the place where we sleep；〃
answered Dagobert。 〃It grows late； let us be moving。 Put up the medal
carefully； and away！We have yet nearly an hour's march to arrive at
quarters。 Come； my poor pets； once more look at the mound where your
brave father felland thento horse！ to horse！〃
The orphans gave a last pious glance at the spot which had recalled to
their guide such painful recollections； and； with his aid； remounted
Jovial。
This venerable animal had not for one moment dreamed of moving； but； with
the consummate forethought of a veteran； he had made the best use of his
time； by taking from that foreign soil a large contribution of green and
tender grass； before the somewhat envious eyes of Spoil…sport； who had
comfortably established himself in the meadow； with his snout protruding
between his fore…paws。 On the signal of departure； the dog resumed his
post behind his master； and Dagobert； trying the ground with the end of
his long staff； led the horse carefully along by the bridle； for the
meadow was growing more and more marshy； indeed； after advancing a few
steps； he was obliged to turn off to the left； in order to regain the
high…road。
On reaching Mockern； Dagobert asked for the least expensive inn； and was
told there was only one in the villagethe White Falcon。
〃Let us go then to the White Falcon；〃 observed the soldier。
CHAPTER III。
THE ARRIVAL。
Already had Morok several times opened with impatience the window…
shutters of the loft； to look out upon the inn…yard； watching for the
arrival of the orphans and the soldier。 Not seeing them； he began once
more to walk slowly up and down； with his head bent forward； and his arms
folded on his bosom； meditating on the best means to carry out the plan
he had conceived。 The ideas which possessed his mind； were； doubtless；
of a painful character； for his countenance grew even more gloomy than
usual。
Notwithstanding his ferocious appearance； he was by no means deficient in
intelligence。 The courage displayed in his taming exercises （which he
gravely attributed to his recent conversion）； a solemn and mystical style
of speech； and a hypocritical affectation of austerity； had given him a
species of influence over the people he visited in his travels。 Long
before his conversion； as may well be supposed； Morok had been familiar
with the habits of wild beasts。 In fact born in the north of Siberia； he
had been； from his boyhood； one of the boldest hunters of bears and
reindeer； later； in 1810； he had abandoned this profession； to serve as
guide to a Russian engineer； who was charged with an exploring expedition
to the Polar regions。 He afterwards followed him to St。 Petersburg； and
there； after some vicissitudes of fortune； Morok became one of the
imperial couriersthese iron automata； that the least caprice of the
despot hurls in a frail sledge through the immensity of the empire； from
Persia to the Frozen Sea。 For these men； who travel night and day； with
the rapidity of lightning there are neither seasons nor obstacles；
fatigues nor danger； living projectiles； they must either be broken to
pieces； or reach the intended mark。 One may conceive the boldness； the
vigor； and the resignation； of men accustomed to such a life。
It i