I did so, of course, and just as we
entered a dark allee he fell upon his knees, called me majesty, said
he knew very well that I was the King of France, and that the noble
and loyal Prince de Conde had rescued me from prison."
"The devil!" muttered the prince to himself, "our dear friends are
always our worst enemies."
The boy paid no attention to the words of Conde, and went on: "The
general conjured me to confess to him that I was the son of King
Louis, and I should follow him, remain with his little army, which
would acknowledge me at once, and proclaim me King of France."
"And what did you answer?" asked Conde, eagerly.
"My lord," replied the boy, with proud, grave mien, "I told you
that, I gave my word to M. de Jarjayes to divulge nothing till you
should tell me that the right time had arrived. I could therefore
confess nothing to Charette, and told him that he had fallen into a
great error, and that I have and can lay claim to no other honor
than of being the nephew of the Prince de Conde."
"You said that?" asked Conde, in amazement.
The boy raised his head with a quick movement, and something of the
proud and fiery nature of Louis XIV. flashed in his eyes.
"I did not know then," he replied, "that my relationship to the
Prince de Conde was not agreeable to him.
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