s of ill-health.

Both appeared to regard Heron with a certain amount of awe, and de Batz
with a vast measure of curiosity.

Suddenly the woman stood aside, and in the far corner of the room
there was displayed to the Gascon Royalist's cold, calculating gaze the
pathetic figure of the uncrowned King of France.

"How is it Capet is not yet in bed?" queried Heron as soon as he caught
sight of the child.

"He wouldn't say his prayers this evening," replied Simon with a coarse
laugh, "and wouldn't drink his medicine. Bah!" he added with a snarl,
"this is a place for dogs and not for human folk."

"If you are not satisfied, mon vieux," retorted Heron curtly, "you can
send in your resignation when you like. There are plenty who will be
glad of the place."

The ex-cobbler gave another surly growl and expectorated on the floor in
the direction where stood the child.

"Little vermin," he said, "he is more trouble than man or woman can
bear."

The boy in the meanwhile seemed to take but little notice of the vulgar
insults put upon him by his guardian. He stood, a quaint, impassive
little figure, more interested apparently in de Batz, who was a stranger
to him, than in the three others whom he knew. De Batz noted that the
child looked well nourished, and that he was warmly clad in a rough
woollen shirt and cloth breeches, with coarse grey stockings and thick
shoes; but he also saw that the clothes were indescribably filthy, as
were the child's hands and face. The golden curls, among which a young
and queenly mother had once loved to pass her slender perfumed fingers,
now hung bedraggled, greasy, and lank round the little face, from the
lines of which every trace of dignity and of simplicity had long since
been erased.

There was no look of the martyr about this child now, even though,
mayhap, his small back had often smarted under his vulgar tutor's
rough blows; rather did the pale young face wear the air of sullen
indifference, and an abject desire to please, which would have appeared
heart-breaking to any spectator less self-seeking and egotistic than was
this Gascon conspirator.

Madame Simon had called him to her while her man and the citizen Heron
were talking, and the child went readily enough, without any sign of
fear. She took the corner of her coarse dirty apron in her hand, and
wiped the boy's mouth and face with it.

"I can't keep him clean," she said with an apologetic shrug of the
shoulders and a look a