the Smithfield alehouse. Instead of being smooth shaven, he wore a very
long mustache which dropped its ends below his chin.

A court painter, attached to his patrons, ought to have fallen into
straits during the Revolution. Philippe exclaimed with astonishment--

"Why, it's Bellenger! Look at him!"

Bellenger took off his cap and made a deep reverence.

"My uncle is weeping over the dead English, Bellenger," said Philippe.
"It always moves him to tears to see how few of them die."

"We can make no such complaint against Frenchmen in these days,
monsieur," the court painter answered. "I see you have my young charge
here, enjoying the gravestones with you;--a pleasing change after the
unmarked trenches of France. With your permission I will take him away."

"Have I the honor, Monsieur Bellenger, of saluting the man who brought
the king out of prison?" the old man inquired.

Again Bellenger made the marquis a deep reverence, which modestly
disclaimed any exploit.

"When was this done?--Who were your helpers? Where are you taking him?"

Bellenger lifted his eyebrows at the fanatical royalist.

"I wish I had had a hand in it!" spoke Philippe de Ferrier.

"I am taking this boy to America, monsieur the marquis," the painter
quietly answered.

"But why not to one of his royal uncles?"

"His royal uncles," repeated Bellenger. "Pardon, monsieur the marquis,
but did I say he had any royal uncles?"

"Come!" spoke Philippe de Ferrier. "No jokes with us, Bellenger. Honest
men of every degree should stand together in these times."

Eagle sat down on a flat gravestone, and looked at the boy who seemed to
be an object of dispute between the men of her family and the other man.
He neither saw nor heard what passed. She said to herself--

"It would make no difference to me! It is the same, whether he is the
king or not."

Bellenger's eyes half closed their lids as if for protection from the
sun.

"Monsieur de Ferrier may rest assured that I am not at present occupied
with jokes. I will again ask permission to take my charge away."

"You may not go until you have answered some questions."

"That I will do as far as I am permitted."

"Do Monsieur and his brother know that the king is here?" inquired the
elder De Ferrier, taking the lead.

"What reason have you to believe," responded Bellenger, "that the Count
de Provence and the Count d'Artois have any interest in this boy?"

Philippe laughed, and kicked the turf