Part 9 (1/2)
Simon had watched the little scene with obvious satisfaction He chuckled audibly when the child drank the spirit, and called Heron's attention to him, whilst a look of triumph lit up his wide, pale eyes
”And now, mon petit,” he said jovially, ”let the citizen hear you say your prayers!”
He winked toward de Batz, evidently anticipating a good deal of enjoy Froreasy red bonnet adorned with a tricolour cockade, and a soiled and tattered flag, which had once been white, and had golden fleur-de-lys embroidered upon it
The cap he set on the child's head, and the flag he threw upon the floor
”Now, Capet--your prayers!” he said with another chuckle of ah, and his speech alainst the furniture as hea footstool out of the way or knocking over a chair De Batz instinctively thought of the perfuant high-born ladies who had ministered to the wants of this child, who stood there now before him, a cap on his yellow hair, and his shoulder held up to his ear with that gesture of careless indifference peculiar to children when they are sullen or uncared for
Obediently, quitewhich Henri IV had borne before him at Ivry, and le Roi Soleil had flaunted in the face of the ar on their flag, and wiping his shoes upon its tattered folds With shrill cracked voice he sang the Carnole, ”Ca ira! ca ira! les aristos a la lanterne!” until de Batz himself felt inclined to stop his ears and to rush from the place in horror
Louis XVII, whorace of God, the child of the Bourbons, the eldest son of the Church, was stepping a vulgar dance over the flag of St Louis, which he had been taught to defile His pale cheeks glowed as he danced, his eyes shone with the unnatural light kindled in the liquor; with one slender hand he waved the red cap with the tricolour cockade, and shouted ”Vive la Republique!”
Mada on the child with obvious pride, and a kind of roughon Heron for approval, and the latter nodded his head, ement and of praise
”Thy catechism now, Capet--thy catechism,” shouted Simon in a hoarse voice
The boy stood at attention, cap on head, hands on his hips, legs wide apart, and feet firlory of his forefathers
”Thy name?” queried Sih-pitched voice
”What art thou?”
”A citizen of the Republic of France”
”What was thy father?”
”Louis Capet, ci-devant king, a tyrant who perished by the will of the people!”
”What was thy mother?”
”A ----”
De Batz involuntarily uttered a cry of horror Whatever the entleainst what he saw and heard The scene had positively sickened him He turned precipitately towards the door
”Ho, citizen?” queried the Coent with a sneer ”Are you not satisfied hat you see?”
”Mayhap the citizen would like to see Capet sitting in a golden chair,”
interposed Si and kissing his hand--what?”
”'Tis the heat of the roo with the lock of the door; ”, then, like a good patriot, like Capet,”