When a Cobbler Ruled a King

ast ten o'clock. He was in no special hurry, for he had many things to think over and he felt that he could do this better by himself and in the open. None of his thoug

ly more and more cruelly treated by the cobbler, whose already evil t

ing with "suspects," and the guillotine claimed daily a sickening array of victims. Robespierre ruled t

weighing on the boy's mind. Tison, with whom he had established quite a friendship since the spy's strange conversion, had come to him two days before with a request. It seemed that the Queen, before she was taken to La Conciergerie, had ent

ame to Jean and begged him to see that the book was in some way delivered, and had only that morning placed the precious parcel in the boy's keeping. This Jean felt to be a sacred trust, more so than ever

night when the plot of the Baron de Batz had failed. But of late the man was constant in his hovering about the tavern, and the very fact that he seemed to

ersed was alive with people and bright with the lights from many shop-windows. But presently he turned into one that was quite deserted, and almost pitch dark by contrast. He had not proceeded far in this black

e stealthy footfalls ceased for a moment, t

over a year ago!" Jean was astonished and not a little alarmed. He knew Prev?t to be an almost constant attendant of his enemy, La

you from the tavern, but I dared not address you till we came to this dark street, for fear of-him! He's a born spy! It's the sole ambition of his life to get someone into trouble,-you know whom I me

red Jean. "But how he

hat clever trick, he would only lie down and whine. It was plain that his heart was breaking. So, one night when he was out on some spying expedition, I quietly opened the door, and the little animal wa

h!" said Jean gladly. "We al

ith Tison, and saw Tison hand you something, secretly. Then he put two and two together, and became convinced that you were in some plot to aid those Capets. My lad, to-day he denounced you to the authorities! To-morrow morning you will be arrested and then off with you to La Conciergerie,-and you can imagine the rest! Tison is to be treated to the

blow, that when it fell his one thought was, "It has come at last!" He could not even command words in whic

one victim the less, thank heaven! I must return at once, for he will be missing me, and

re experienced mind. But turn and twist it as he would, the position admitted of one outcome only, for him. Did he take good Citizen Prev?t's advice and escape before morning, what would be the inevitable result? Simply this-that Mère Clouet and Yvonne would be suspected of complicity with him, and they would, without doubt, take his place in one of the overflowing prisons. That they should suffer while he went scot-free was unthinkabl

onne. No!-the longer he thought about it, the plainer his duty became. He must accept with the best grace possible what fate had in store for him, execute the mission that had been entrusted to him, and see that no harm came through him, to those who stood

s alarmed. Jean, however, told her nothing. He ate his late supper, fed Moufflet, and tried hard to act as though all were as

to-morrow with the laundry, and I want her to know nothing,

g must happen to you! We love you

but we must always be prepared. Now let me tell you what you must do. Here is the packet. You can

izen Barelle always tells

for me except of Barelle or Meunier,-he is also a friend,-for your own heads would not then be safe! Trust in God, Yvonne, to save me! I cannot think He will suffer me to come to harm.

vonne arrive with the laundry and leave after their usual stay. Yvonne looked frightened and was plainly trembling, but by the imperceptible nod she gave him, he guessed that her mission was accomplished. Noon came, an

journey from the Temple to the Palais de Justice, and the gendarmes said not a word all the way. The procession aroused little interest in the passers-by, for arrests were too common in those days to cause any excitement. Arriving at the Palais de Justice, they entered through the great Cour du Mai, and led the boy to a large of

kers, farmers, mechanics, sans-culottes even, and vagabonds, all rubbing elbows, existing in daily fear and trembling, and almost starved on the inadequate rations they received. That afternoon a crier came to

e grouped together in a corner, and from their actions they might have been safely at home enjoying each others' society without a thought of fear. Four of them were engaged in playing a stately game of cards. When the crier of the afternoon read, among others, the name of one of these players, Jean was astonished to see the man rise, a

a stretch, and a shriek of anguish from some doomed victim was no unusual occurrence. Others seemed frozen dumb with apprehension,

several savage dogs, and there was a great to-do while the roll of the victims was being called. A badly spelled, incorrect list was passed from hand to hand

and willingly handed it to him. Jean called off the names, while the person to whom each belonged marched before the guards and assured them of his or

ean found himself in a narrow cell in company with seven other persons completely unknown to him, and they all slept together on a f

y friend?" he deman

ator, and it has been commanded to keep y

we see the finger of La Souris in this pie!" And

THE C