"You make no answer, sire," said Toulan, imploringly. "Oh! speak, my
king, may I set you free?"
The boy spoke a few words in reply, but so softly that Toulan could
not understand him. He stooped down nearer to him, and put his ear
close to the lips of the child. He then could hear the words,
inaudible to all but him,
"He will disclose you; take care, Toulan. But do not say any thing,
else he will beat me to death!"
Toulan made no reply; he only impressed a long, tender kiss upon the
trembling hand of the child.
"Did he speak?" asked Simon. "Did you understand, citizen, what he
said?"
"Yes, I understood him," answered Toulan. "He consents; he allows me
to make every attempt to free him, and is prepared to do every thing
that we ask of him. And now I ask you too, are you prepared to help
me release the prince?"
"You know already, Toulan," said Simon, quickly, "that we are
prepared for every thing, provided that our conditions are
fulfilled. Give me a tolerable position outside of the Temple; give
me a good bit of money, so that I may live free from care, and if
the new place should not suit me, that I could go into the country,
and not have to work at all; give my Jeanne Marie her health and
cheerfulness again, and I will help you set young Capet free."
"Through my assistance, and that of Doctor Naudin, you shall have a
good place outside of the Temple," answered Toulan, eagerly.
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