ip. He sat by and exercised me in Latin declensions while I
dressed. We had our supper together. I saw no member of the household
except the men, Pierre and Jean. Doctor Chantry ordered a mattress put
in my room and returned there with me.

We talked long on the approaching departure of the count and Madame de
Ferrier. He told me the latest details of preparation, and tremulously
explained how he must feel the loss of his sister.

"I have nothing left but you, Lazarre."

"My dear master," I said, patting one of his shriveled hands between
mine, "I am going to be open with you."

I sat on the side of my bed facing his arm-chair, and the dressing-glass
reflected his bald head and my young head drawn near together.

"Did you ever feel as if you were a prince?"

Doctor Chantry wagged a pathetic negative.

"Haven't you ever been ready to dare anything and everything, because
something in you said--I must!"

Again Doctor Chantry wagged a negative.

"Now I have to break bounds--I have to leave the manor and try my
fortune! I can't wait for times and seasons--to be certain of this--to
be certain of that!--I am going to leave the house to-night--and I am
going to France!"

"My God!" cried Doctor Chantry, springing up. "He is going to
France!--Rouse the servants!--Call De Chaumont!" He struck his gouty
foot against the chair and sat down nursing it in both hands. I
restrained him and added my sympathy to his groans.

"Have you as much as a Spanish real of your own, my lad?" he catechised
me, when the foot was easy.

I acknowledged that I had not.

"It costs dear to travel about the world. It is not like coming down the
trail from St. Regis to Lake George. How are you to travel without
money?"

I laughed at the very uncertainty, and answered that money would be
found.

"Found! It isn't found, I tell you! It is inherited by the idle, or
gathered by the unscrupulous, or sweated and toiled for! It costs days
and years, and comes in drops. You might as well expect to find a
kingdom, lad!"

"Maybe I shall find a kingdom, master!"

"Oh, what a thing it is to be young!" sighed Doctor Chantry.

I felt it myself, and hugged my youth.

"Do you know how to reach the sea-port?" he continued.

I said anybody could follow the Hudson to New York.

"You're bitten, my poor lad! It's plain what ails you. You might as well
try to swim the Atlantic. De Chaumont intends her for himself. And in
the unjust distribution of thi