son's sake.

These events occurred about a year before Tiepoletta dragged herself to
the door of the chateau to die in Coursegol's arms, confiding her
daughter to his care.

After he had prayed for the departed, Coursegol rose, took up little
Dolores and went out into the court-yard, calling:

"Master Philip! Master Philip!"

The little fellow, who was playing in charge of one of the
servant-maids, came running to answer the summons. He was now four years
old. His pretty and rather delicate face was surrounded by a profusion
of brown curls, and his large eyes revealed an intelligence and
thoughtfulness unusual in a child of his age. He talked well enough to
make himself clearly understood, and understood all that was said to him
in reply.

"See this pretty baby!" said Coursegol, displaying Dolores.

"A doll!" exclaimed Philip, clapping his hands in rapture.

"Yes, in flesh and blood," replied Coursegol; "a doll that cries, that
will grow and talk to you and amuse you."

"When?" demanded Philip.

"When she grows up."

"Then make her grow up immediately," ordered the little autocrat.

Then, seizing Coursegol's hand, he dragged him to the kitchen, for he
wished to show every one his newfound treasure without delay. A crowd of
servants soon gathered around Philip and Coursegol. The latter was
explaining how the infant had come into his possession, and every one
was marvelling at the strangeness of the adventure, when the Marquise
suddenly appeared. The poor creature was always closely followed by a
woman who was ordered never to lose sight of her mistress. She wandered
about the chateau, never noisy or troublesome, but recognizing no one,
not even her husband or her own child. She now advanced towards the
little group which respectfully divided to make way for her. One could
scarcely imagine a more pitiable sight than that presented by this
beautiful young woman, whose haggard eyes, unbound hair and disordered
garments revealed her insanity in spite of her attendant's efforts to
keep her neatly dressed. At that moment, she was holding a piece of wood
tightly to her bosom, and was singing softly as she advanced with
measured steps as if trying to lull this supposed child to sleep.
Suddenly she paused, threw the fragment of wood far from her and burst
into tears.

All the spectators of this scene stood motionless, overcome with pity,
though they witnessed a similar spectacle each day and many times a day.
Litt