“Mycarefulexaminationofhiscasehasconvincedmethathehasbutashorttimetolive，andthathewillspendthelargerpartofthistimeinanidioticstate。OnthisaccountSimonoughttoberemovedfromtheTemple，inorderthathisenemiesmaynotbeabletocirculateareportaboutthiszealousandworthyservantoftherepublic，thatheisguiltyofthedeathoflittleCapet——thatSimon’smethodofbringinghimupkilledhim。Andbesides，inorderthatthesamechargeshouldnotbelaidtotheoneandgreatrepublic，anditbeaccusedofcrueltytoapoorsickchild，kindlyattentionsshouldbebestowedonhim。“
Petion’scountenanceclouded，andhiseyesrestedonthephysicianwithasinister，searchingexpression。
“Youhaveagreatdealofsensibility，doctor，andyouappeartoforgetthattheboyisacriminalbybirth，andthattherepubliccanhavenospecialsympathywithhim。“
“Forme，“answeredNaudin，withsimplicity，“everysickpersonatwhosebedIamcalledtostand，isapoor，pitiableIranianbeing，andIneverstoptothinkwhetherbeisacriminalornot，butmerelythatheisasufferer，andthenIendeavortodiscoverthemeanstoassisthim。Thehallowedandindivisiblerepublic，however，isanaltogethertoomagnanimousandexaltedmotherofallherchildrennottohavepityonthosewhoarereducedtoidiocy，andinsoresickness。Therepublicislikethesun，whichpoursitsbeamsevenintothedungeonofthecriminal，andshinesuponthejustandunjustalike。“
“Andwhatdoyoudesirethattherepublicshoulddofortheoffspringoftyrants？“askedPetion，peevishly。
“Idesirenotmuch，“answeredNaudin，withasmile。“Letmebepermittedtovisitthesickchildfromtimetotime，andinhishopelessconditiontoprocurehimalittlerelieffromhissufferingsatleast，andlethimbetreatedlikethechildheis。
Letalittlediversionbeallowedhim。Ifitisnotpossibleorpracticableforhimtoplaywithchildrenofhisage，lethimatleasthavesomeplaythingsforhisamusement。“
“Doyoudemandinearnestthattherepublicshouldcondescendtoprovideplaythingsforherimprisonedcriminals？“askedPetion，withascornfullaugh。
“YouhavecommandedmetovisitthesickboyintheTemple，toexaminehiscondition，andtoprescribethenecessaryremediesforhisrecovery。Icanoffernohopeofrecoverytothepatient，butI
canaffordhimsomerelieffromhissufferings。Someofmymedicinesarecalledplaythings!Itlieswithyoutodecidewhethertherepublicwillrefusethesemedicinestothesickone。“
“AndyousaythatthelittleCapetisincurable？“askedPetion，eagerly。
“Incurable，citizenrepresentative。“
“Well，then，“saidPetion，withacoldsmile，“therepubliccanaffordtoprovidethelastoftheCapetswithtoys。Theyhaveforcenturiestoyedfearlesslywiththehappinessofthepeople，andthelastthingwhichthepeopleofFrancegivebacktothetyrantsissometoywithwhichtheymayamusethemselvesonthewaytoeternity。Citizendoctor，yourdemandsshallbecompliedwith。ThefirstplacewhichshallbecomevacantshallbegiventoCitizenSimon，thathemaybereleasedfromprisonandenjoyhisfreedom。
ThelittleCapetwillbeprovidedwithplaythings，and，besides，youareempoweredtogivehimallneedfulremediesforhisrelief。Itisyourdutytocareforthesickchilduntilitsdeath。“
InaccordancewiththeinstructionsofPetion，playthingswereprocuredandcarriedintothegloomychamberoftheprinceontheverynextday，andsetbythesideofthesickboy。ButMistressSimonlaboredinvaintryingtoamusethelittleLouiswiththem。
Themendanced，thewoodencockscrowed，thedogsbarked，andtoallthesesoundsthechildpaidnoheed；itdidnotonceopenitseyes，norcareintheleastforthemany-coloredthingswhichtheofficialshadbroughthim。
“Wemusttrysomethingelse，“saidthecompassionateofficer。“DoyouknowanyplaythingwhichwouldbelikelytopleaselittleLouisCapet？“
“Givehimariding-horse，“criedSimon，withacoarselaugh。“Iamconvincediftheobstinateyoungstershouldhearthattherewasariding-horseoutside，andthathemightridethroughParis，hewouldbewellonthespotandgetup。Itispuredeceit，hislyingtheresopaleandwithoutinterestinanythingabouthim。“
“Youareverycruel，citizen，“mutteredtheofficial，withacompassionateglanceatthechild。
“Cruel？Yes，Iamcruel!“saidSimon，grimly。“Butitisthecursedprisonairthathasmademeso。IfIstayhereaweeklonger，JeanneMariewilldie，andIshallbecomecrazy。Thedirectorofthehospitaltoldusthis，andyouknow，citizen，thatheisthemostcleverdoctorinallFrance。Seeifyouwouldnotbecruelifyouhadsuchanideaasthatinyourhead!“
“Well，citizen，youhaveatleastthesatisfactionofknowingthatitwillnotlastlong，“answeredtheofficer，consolingly。“Thefirstvacancyistobegiventoyou。“
“Well，Ihopeitwillcomesoon，then，“saidSimon，withasigh。“I
willtakeavowtoyou。If，inaweek，Ishallbereleasedfromthisplace，andgetagoodsituation，IwillgivelittleCapetahorsetoremembermeby。Thatis，notahorseonwhichhemightrideoutofprison，butawoodenone，onwhichhecanrideinprison。Say，littleCapet，“calledSimon，stoopingoverthebedofthechild，“wouldyounotliketohaveanicewoodenhorsetoplaywith？“
Overthepalelipsoftheboyplayedthefainttintofasmile，andheopenedhiseyes。“Yes，“hesaid，softly“yes；Ishouldliketohaveawoodenhorse，andIshouldhaveagoodtimewithit。“
“Come，citizen，“saidSimon，solemnly，“Itakeyoutowitnessmyvow。IfIreceiveanotherplace，Igiveahobby-horsetolittleCapet。Yougrantmetheprivilege，citizen？“
“Iallowyou，CitizenSimon，andIwillreportthemattertothePublicWelfareCommittee，thatitshallsurprisenoonebyandby，andIamsurenoonewillgainsayyouinyourpraiseworthyoffer。
Foritcertainlyispraiseworthytoprepareapleasureforasickchild；andthegreatrepublic，whichisthegraciousmotherofallFrenchmen，willpitythepoorchild，too。Iwishyousuccess，citizen，inthefulfilmentofallyourhopes，andtrustthatyouwillspeedilybereleasedfromyourtryingimprisonment。“
And，infact，thisreleasedidnothavetobewaitedforlong。AfewdaysbroughttheaccomplishmentofDoctorNaudin’sprophecy，andtheofficialguard，whowasthensickattheHotelDieu，died。Thedirectorofthehospitalhastenedtoinformtheauthoritiesofthisevent，andonthesamedaySimonwasappointedhissuccessor。Thesameofficialwhohadbroughtthesickprincetheplaythings，cameagaintoinformSimon，ofhisrelease，andwasdelightedatthestormyoutbreakofrapturousjoywithwhichthetidingswerereceived。
“Wewillbeoffdirectly，“criedSimon。“Ourthingshaveallbeenpackedforthreedays，andeverythingisready。“
“Butyoumustwaitpatientlytillto-morrow，myfriends，“saidtheofficial，withasmile。“YoursuccessorcannotenteruponhisdutieshereintheTemplebeforetomorrowmorningatteno’clock，andtillthenyoumustbecontenttowaitquietly。“
“Thatissad，“sighedSimon。“Thetimebetweennowandteno’clockto-morrowmorning，willlielikeleaduponmyshoulders。Iassureyou，citizen，theTemplecouldgetalongwithoutmeforonenight。
ThetwoMissesCapetabovestairsarelockedup，andasforthelittleCapetdownhere，itisnotnecessarytolockhimup，forhewillnotrunaway，butliequietlyhereuponhismattress。“
“Sothechildisreallyverysick？“askedtheofficer，withfeeling。
“Notexactlyverysick，“answeredSimon，indifferently；“butDoctorNaudin，whovisitshimeveryday。thinksthattheyoungstermightnotbeallrightinthehead，andhehasordered，onthisaccount，thathislongthickhairshouldbecutoff，thathisheadmightbealittlecooler。SoJeanneMarieisgoingtocutitoff，andthatwillprobablybethelastservicethatshewillhavetodoforhim。Wearegoingtoclearoutofthis——wearegoingtoclearoutofthis!“
“AndhaveyoureallynothingmoretodoforthelittleCapet，thanmerelytocutoffhishair？“askedtheofficerwithafixed，searchinglook。
“No，“answeredSimon，withalaugh；“nothingbutthat。Oh!yes，thereissomethingelse。Ididnotthinkofthat。Myvowtoyou!I
forgotthat。Isworethat，ifIweretogetawayfromhere，IwouldgivelittleCapetahobby-horse。“
“Iamglad，CitizenSimon，thatyourememberyourpromise，“saidtheofficer，gravely。“ImusttellyouthatthePublicWelfareCommittee，towhichIcommunicatedyourintention，wasverycurioustoknowwhetherCitizenSimonwouldremembertocarryitintoeffect。ItisonthisaccountthatIwasinstructedtoinformyouofyourtransfer，andtoreporttothemwhetheryouintendedtokeepyourpromise。Yoursuperiorswillrejoicetolearnthatyouareamanofhonor，withwhomitisasacreddutytokeephisword；andwho，inprosperousdays，doesnotforgettodowhathepromisedtodoinlesspropitioustimes。So，goandbuyforlittleCapetthepromisedhobby-horse，andIwillinformtheWelfareCommitteethatitwasnotnecessaryformetoremindyouofyourvow，andthatyouarenotonlyagoodcitizen，butagoodmanaswell。Goandbuytheplaything，andmakeyourarrangementstoleavetheTempleto-morrowmorningatteno’clock，andtoenteruponyournewdutiesascollectorofcustomsatPorteMacon。“
“ThegreatbellofNotreDamewillnothavegrowledoutitstenstrokesto-morrowmorning，beforeJeanneMarieandI，withourgoods，willhavelefttheplace，“repliedSimon，withalaugh。“AndnowIwillrunandfulfilmypromise。“Heclappedhisred-flannelcapuponhisblack，thickhair，andlefttheTemplewithahurriedstep。Astheporteropenedthedoorofthecourtwhichledtothestreet，fortheworthycitizenand“manofhonor，“Simonstoppedamomenttochat，tellinghimofhisnewsituation，andofthevowwhichhewasabouttodischarge。