he returned to his room, and walked about for a long
time, but with a more quiet step. At last, I heard him throw himself on
his bed, and I came down about break of day. After that, all remained
tranquil."

"But whatever can be the matter with him, father?"

"I do not know. When I went up to him, I was astonished at the agitation
of his countenance, and the brilliancy of his eyes. He would have looked
much the same, had he been delirious, or in a burning fever--so that,
when I heard him say, he could have thrown himself out of the window,
had it been open, I thought it more prudent to remove the caps from his
pistols."

"I cannot understand it!" said Agricola. "So firm, intrepid, and cool a
man as the marshal, a prey to such violence!"

"I tell you that something very extraordinary is passing within him.
For two days, he has not been to see his children, which is always a bad
sign with him--to say nothing of the poor little angels themselves, who
are miserable at the notion that they have displeased their father. They
displease him! If you only knew the life they lead, dear creatures! a
walk or ride with me and their companion, for I never let them go
out alone, and, the rest of their time, at their studies, reading, or
needlework--always together--and then to bed. Yet their duenna, who is,
I think, a worthy woman, tells me that sometimes at night, she has seen
them shed tears in their sleep. Poor children! they have hitherto known
but little happiness," added the soldier, with a sigh.

At this moment, hearing some one walk hastily across the courtyard,
Dagobert raised his eyes, and saw Marshal Simon, with pale face and
bewildered air, holding in his two hands a letter, which he seemed to
read with devouring anxiety.

CHAPTER XLVII. THE GOLDEN CITY.

While Marshal Simon was crossing the little court with so agitated
an air, reading the anonymous letter, which he had received by
Spoil-sport's unexpected medium, Rose and Blanche were alone together,
in the sitting room they usually occupied, which had been entered for a
moment by Loony during their absence. The poor children seemed destined
to a succession of sorrows. At the moment their mourning for their
mother drew near its close, the tragical death of their grandfather had
again dressed them in funereal weeds. They were seated together upon a
couch, in front of their work-table. Grief often produces the effect of
years. Hence, in a few months, Rose and B