Thatlittlebottle，whichaqueenoncecarried，ismymostpreciouspossession，andyetIwouldpartwiththatifIcouldsavethelifeofherson，happyifIcouldbutretainthehallowedpaperonwhichthequeen’shandwrotetheword’Fidele。’Yes，youpoor，pitiablesonofkings，IamFidele，IamToulan，atwhomyouhavesooftenlaughedwhenheplayedwithyouinyourprison。“
Aflashlikethesunlightpassedoverthefaceofthechild，andasmileilluminedhisfeatures。
“Sheusedtolaugh，too，“hewhispered——“she，too，mymammaqueen。“
“Yes，shetoolaughedatourjests，“saidToulan，withavoicechokedwithtears；“and，believeme，shelooksdownfromheavenuponusandsmilesherblessing，forsheknowsthatToulanhascometofreeherdearson，andtodeliverhimfromtheexecutioner’shands。
Tellmenow，mykingandmydearly-lovedlord，willyoutrustme，willyougivetoyourmostdevotedservantandsubjecttheprivilegeofreleasingyou？DoyouconsenttoacceptfreedomatthehandsofyourFidele？“
Thechildthrewatimid，anxiousglanceatSimonandhiswife，andthen，withashudder，turnedhisheadtooneside。
“Youmakenoanswer，sire，“saidToulan，imploringly。“Oh!speak，myking，mayIsetyoufree？“
Theboyspokeafewwordsinreply，butsosoftlythatToulancouldnotunderstandhim。Hestoopeddownnearertohim，andputhisearclosetothelipsofthechild。Hethencouldhearthewords，inaudibletoallbuthim，“Hewilldiscloseyou；takecare，Toulan。Butdonotsayanything，elsehewillbeatmetodeath!“
Toulanmadenoreply；heonlyimpressedalong，tenderkissuponthetremblinghandofthechild。
“Didhespeak？“askedSimon。“Didyouunderstand，citizen，whathesaid？“
“Yes，Iunderstoodhim，“answeredToulan。“Heconsents；heallowsmetomakeeveryattempttofreehim，andispreparedtodoeverythingthatweaskofhim。AndnowIaskyoutoo，areyoupreparedtohelpmereleasetheprince？“
“Youknowalready，Toulan，“saidSimon，quickly，“thatwearepreparedforeverything，providedthatourconditionsarefulfilled。GivemeatolerablepositionoutsideoftheTemple；givemeagoodbitofmoney，sothatImaylivefreefromcare，andifthenewplaceshouldnotsuitme，thatIcouldgointothecountry，andnothavetoworkatall；givemyJeanneMarieherhealthandcheerfulnessagain，andIwillhelpyousetyoungCapetfree。“
“Throughmyassistance，andthatofDoctorNaudin，youshallhaveagoodplaceoutsideoftheTemple，“answeredToulan，eagerly。
“Besidesthis，atthemomentwhenyoudelivertheprinceintomyhands，outsideofthisprison，Iwillpayyouinreadymoneythesumoftwentythousandfrancs；andasforthethirdcondition，thataboutrestoringherhealthtoJeanneMarie，IamsurethatIcanfulfilthisconditiontoo。Doyounotknow，Simon，whatyourwifeissufferingfrom？Doyounotknowwhathersicknessis？“
“No，trulynot。Iamnodoctor。HowshouldIknowwhathersicknessis？“
“ThenIwilltellyou，CitizenSimon。Yourwifeissufferingfromtheworstofallcomplaints，abadconscience!Yes，itisabadconsciencethatrobsherofhersleepandrest；itisthatwhichmakesherseethewhite，paleformofthemartyredqueeninthenight，andreadtheword’murderer’inhereyes。“
“Heisright!-oh，heisright!“groanedJeanneMarie，fallingonherknees。“Iamtoblameforherdeath，forIdenouncedToulantotheauthoritiesjustwhenhewasonthepointofsavingher。Itorturedher!——oh，cruellytorturedher，andIlaughedwhensheascendedthescaffold，andIlaughedtoo，evenwhenshegavemethatdreadfullook。ButIhavebitterlyregretteditsince，andnowshegnawsatmelikeascorpion。Iwantedtodriveherawayfrommeatfirst，andthereforeIwascrueltoherson，forIwantedtoputanendtothefearfulremorsethatwastormentingme。Butitgrewevenmorepowerfulwithinme。ThemoreIbeattheboy，themorehistearsmovedme，andoftenIthoughtIshoulddiewhenIheardhimcryandmoan。Yes，yes，itisabadconsciencethathasmademesickandmiserable!ButIwilldorightafterthis。Irepent——oh，Irepent!
HereIlaymyhandontheheartofthischildandsweartohismurderedmotherIwilldorightagain!IswearthatIwillfreeherson!IswearbyallthatissacredinheavenandonearththatI
willdiemyself，unlesswesucceedinfreeingthischild!I*sweartoyou，MarieAntoinette，thatIwillfreehim。Butwillyouforgivemeeventhen？Willyouhaverestinyourpoorgrave，andnotcometomybedsideandcondemnmeandaccusemewithyoursad，dreadfuleyes？“
“Freeherson，JeanneMarie，“saidToulan，solemnly，“andhismotherwillforgiveyou，andherhallowedshadewillnolongerdisturbyoursleep，foryouwillthenhaverestoredtoherthepeaceofthegrave!Butyou，CitizenSimon，willyoutoonotswearthatyouwillfaithfullyassistinreleasingtheroyalprince？Doyounotknowthatconscienceisawakeinyourhearttoo，andcompelsyoutohavecompassiononthepoorboy？“
“Iknowit，yes，Iknowit，“mutteredSimon，confused。“Hisgentleeyesandhissadbearinghavemademeasweakandassoftasanoldwoman。ItishightimethatIshouldberidoftheyoungster，elseitwillbewithmejustasitiswithmywife，andIshallhaveconvulsionsandseeghostswithdaggersintheireyes。Andso，inordertoremainastrongmanandhaveagoodconscienceandabraveheart，Imustberidoftheboy，andmustknowthatIhavedonehimsomeservice，andhavebeenhisdeliverer。AndsoIswearbythesacredrepublic，andbyourhallowedfreedom，thatIwillhelpyouanddoallthatinmeliestoreleaselittleCapetandgethimawayfromhere。Ihopeyouwillbesatisfiedwithmyoath，Toulan，forthereisnothingformemoresacredthantherepublicandfreedom。“
“Iamsatisfied，Simon，andItrustyou。Andnowletustalkitalloverandconsiderit，mydearallies。Thewholeplanoftheescapeisformedinmyhead，allthepreparationsaremade，andifyouwillfaithfullyfollowallthatIbidyou，inoneweek’stimeyouwillbefreeandhappy。“
“Sosoonasaweek!“criedSimon，delightedly。“Yes，inaweek，forithappensfortunatelythatoneoftheofficialsofthePublicSafetyserviceisdangerouslysickandhasbeencarriedtotheHotelDien。DoctorNaudinsaysthathecanlivebutthreedayslonger，andthenthepostwillbevacant。Wemustbeactive，therefore，andtakemeasuresforyoutogaintheplace。Nowlistentome，andmarkmywords。“
Theyhadalongconversationbythebedsideofthelittleprince，andtheysawthatheperfectlyunderstoodthewholeplanwhichToulanunfoldedineloquentwords，forhislookstookonagreatdealofexpression；hefixedhiseyesconstantlyonToulan，andasmileplayedabouthislips。
SimonandSimon’swifewerealsoperfectlysatisfiedwithToulan’scommunication，andrepeatedtheirreadinesstodoeverythingtofurtherthereleaseoftheprince，iftheyinreturncouldonlyberemovedfromtheTemple。
“Iwillatoncetakethestepsnecessarytothesuccessofmyplan，“
saidToulan，takinghisleavewithafriendlynod，andkissingtheboy’shandrespectfully。
“Fidele，“whisperedLouis，“Fidele，doyoubelievethatIshallbesaved？“
“Iamsureofit，mydearprince。ThegraceofGodandtheblessingofyourexaltedparentswillbeourhelpersinbringingthisgoodworktoacompletion。Farewell，andpreserveaslongasyouremainherethesamemoodthatIfoundyouin。Showlittleinterestinwhatgoeson，andappearnumbandstupid。Ishallnotcomeagain，forafterthisImustworkforyououtsideoftheprison。ButDoctorNaudinwillcomeeverydaytoseeyou，andonthedayofyourflightIshallbebyyourside。Tillthen，Godblessyou，mydearprince!“
ToulanlefttheprisonofthelittleCapetandrepairedatoncetotheH6telDieu，wherehehadalongconversationwithDoctorNaudin。
Attheendofit，thedirectorofthehospitalenteredhiscarriageanddrovetothecityhall，inwhoselargestchamberacommitteeofthePublicSafetyofficialswereholdingapublicmeeting。WithearnestandurgentwordsthereveredanduniversallyvaluedphysiciangavethereportaboutthevisitswhichhehadmadeattheTempleforsomedaysatthecommandoftheauthorities，andabouttheconditionofaffairsthere。Petiontheelder，thepresidingofficerofthecommittee，listenedtothereportwithagraverepose，andthepictureofthelowhealthofthe“littleCapet，“
whilehepaidthemostmarkedattentiontothatpartofthereportwhichconcernedtheSimons。
“CitizenSimonhasdeservedmuchofthecountry，andheisoneofthemostfaithfulsupportersoftheoneandindivisiblerepublic，“
saidPetion，whenDoctorNaudinendedhisreport。“Therepublicmust，likeagratefulmother，showgratitudetoherloyalsons，andcareforthemtenderly。Sotellus，CitizenNaudin，whatmustbedoneinordertorestorehealthtoCitizenSimonandhiswife。“
“Theyarebothsickfromthesamecause，and，therefore，theybothrequirethesameremedy。Thatremedyis，achangeofairandachangeoflocation。LetSimonhaveanotherpost，whereheshallbeallowedtoexercisefreelyoutofdoors，andwhereheshallnotbecompelledtobreatheonlytheconfinedairofacell；andlethiswifenotbeforcedtolistentothewhiningandthegroaningofthelittlesickCapet。Inoneword，givetothembothlibertytomovearound，andthefreeair，andtheywill，withoutanydoubt，andwithinashorttime，regaintheirhealth。“
“Itistrue，“saidPetion，“thepoorpeopleleadasadlifeintheTemple，andarecompelledtobreathetheairthatthelastscionsoftyrannyhavecontaminatedwiththeirpoisonousbreaths。Weoweittothemtoreleasethemfromthisbadatmosphere，inconsiderationoftheirfaithfulandzealousservicetothecountry。CitizenSimonhasalwaystakenpainstorepairthegreatneglectinCapet’seducation，andtomaketheworthlessboyprovesomedayaworthysonoftherepublic。“
“ButevenifSimonshouldremainintheTemple，hewouldnotbeabletogoonmuchlongerwiththeeducationoftheboy，“saidthehospitaldirector，withashrug。
“Whatdoyoumeanbythat，citizendoctor？“askedPetion，withapleasantlightingupofhiseyes。
“Imeanthattheboyhasnotalongtimetolive，forheissufferingatoncefromconsumptionandsofteningofthebrain，andthelatterdiseasewillsoonreducehimtoanidiot，andrenderhimincapableofreceivinginstruction。“
“Youareconvincedthatthesonofthetyrantswillnotrecover？“
askedPetion，withastrained，eagerglance。