"No," answered Simon, with a laugh; "nothing but that. Oh! yes,
there is something else. I did not think of that. My vow to you! I
forgot that. I swore that, if I were to get away from here, I would
give little Capet a hobby-horse."
"I am glad, Citizen Simon, that you remember your promise," said the
officer, gravely. "I must tell you that the Public Welfare
Committee, to which I communicated your intention, was very curious
to know whether Citizen Simon would remember to carry it into
effect. It is on this account that I was instructed to inform you of
your transfer, and to report to them whether you intended to keep
your promise. Your superiors will rejoice to learn that you are a
man of honor, with whom it is a sacred duty to keep his word; and
who, in prosperous days, does not forget to do what he promised to
do in less propitious times. So, go and buy for little Capet the
promised hobby-horse, and I will inform the Welfare Committee that
it was not necessary for me to remind you of your vow, and that you
are not only a good citizen, but a good man as well. Go and buy the
plaything, and make your arrangements to leave the Temple to-morrow
morning at ten o'clock, and to enter upon your new duties as
collector of customs at Porte Macon."
"The great bell of Notre Dame will not have growled out its ten
strokes to-morrow morning, before Jeanne Marie and I, with our
goods, will have left the place," replied Simon, with a laugh.
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