s XVII of France."

"What proof can you give me?"

"First, sire, permit a man who has been made a wretched tool, to implore
forgiveness of his rightful sovereign, and a little help to reach a
warmer climate before the rigors of a northern winter begin."

"Bellenger, you are entrancing," I said. "Why did I ever take you
seriously? Ste. Pelagie was a grim joke, and tipping in the river merely
your playfulness. You had better take yourself off now, and keep on
walking until you come to a warmer climate."

He wrung his hands with a gesture that touched my natural softness to my
enemy.

"Talk, then. Talk, man. What have you to say?"

"This, first, sire. That was a splendid dash you made into France!"

"And what a splendid dash I made out of it again, with a gendarme at my
coat tails, and you behind the gendarme!"

"But it was the wrong time. If you were there now;--the French people
are so changeable--"

"I shall never be there again. His Majesty the eighteenth Louis is
welcome. What the blood stirs in me to know is, have I a right to the
throne?"

"Sire, the truth as I know it, I will tell you. You were the boy taken
from the Temple prison."

"Who did it?"

"Agents of the royalist party whose names would mean nothing to you if I
gave them."

"I was placed in your hands?"

"You were placed in my hands to be taken to America."

"I was with you in London, where two royalists who knew me, recognized
me?"

"The two De Ferriers."

"Did a woman named Madame Tank see me?"

Bellenger was startled.

"You were noticed on the ship by a court-lady of Holland; a very clever
courtier. I had trouble in evading her. She suspected too much, and
asked too many questions; and would have you to play with her baby on
the deck, though at that time you noticed nothing."

"But where does the idiot come into my story?"

"Sire, you have been unfortunate, but I have been a victim. When we
landed in New York I went directly and made myself known to the man who
was to act as purveyor of your majesty's pension. He astonished me by
declaring that the dauphin was already there, and had claimed the
pension for that year. The country and the language were unknown to me.
The agent spoke French, it is true, but we hardly understood each other.
I supposed I had nothing to do but present my credentials. Here was
another idiot--I crave your majesty's pardon--"

"Quite right--at the time, Bellenger."

--"drawing the annuity intended