saidmyfathertomeonthefifteenthday。’Ifitshouldbeinvainonthemorrow，thenIshallsellmycross，thatyou，Louis，maynotneedtobehungryanymore，andthenmayGodhavemercyuponus!’Sowewentthenextdaytothegalleryagain。Myfatherwasto-daypalerthanbefore，butheheldhisheaderect；hefixedhiseye，fullofanexpressionofdefianceandscorn，uponthetalkative，laughinggentlemenaroundhim，whostruttedintheirrichclothes，andoverlookedthepoorchevalierwhostoodnearthem，despisedandalone。Inmypoorboy’shearttherewasafearfulrageagainsttheseproud，superciliousmen，whothoughtthemselvessograndbecausetheyworebetterclothes，andbecausetheyhaddistinguishedacquaintancesandrelations，andyetwerenomorethanmyfather——nomorethansuppliantsandpetitioners；tearsofangerandofgrieffilledmyeyes，andthedepthofourpovertyexasperatedmysoulagainsttheinjusticeoffate。Allatoncethewhisperingandtalkingceased，——thekingandthequeenhadenteredthegallery。Thekingadvancedtothemiddleofthehall，thegrandalmonercalledthenames，andthefavoredonesapproachedtheking，toreceivefromhimthefulfilmentoftheirwishes，oratleastkeeptheirhopealive。Nearhimstoodtheyoungqueen，andwhileshewasconvergingwithsomegentlemenofthecourt，herbeautifuleyesglancedovertous，andlingereduponthenoblebutsadformofmyfather。Ihadnoticedthatonpreviousdays，andeverytimeitseemedtomeasifarayfromthesunhadwarmedmypoortremblingheart——asifnewblossomsofhopewereputtingforthinmysoul。To-daythissensation，whenthequeenlookedatus，wasmoreintensethanbefore。Myfatherlookedatthekingandwhisperedsoftly，’Iseehimto-dayforthelasttime!’ButIsawonlythequeen，andwhileI
pressedthecold，moisthandofmyfathertomylips，Iwhispered，’Courage，dearfather，courage!Thequeenhasseenus。’Shestoppedshortinherconversationwiththegentlemanandadvancedthroughthehallwithaquick，lightstepdirectlytous；herlargegray-
blueeyesbeamedwithkindness，aheavenlysmileplayedaroundherrosylips，hercheekswereflushedwithfeeling；shewassimplydressed，andyettherefloatedaroundheranatmosphereofgraceandnobleness。’Mydearchevalier，’saidshe，andhervoiceranglikethesweetestmusic，’mydearchevalier，haveyougivenapetitiontotheking？’’Yes，madame，’answeredmyfathertrembling，’fourteendaysagoIpresentedapetitiontotheking。’’Andhaveyoureceivednoansweryet？’sheaskedquickly。’Iseeyoueverydayherewiththeladthere，andconcludeyouarestillhopingforananswer。’’Soitis，madame，’answeredmyfather，’Iexpectananswer，thatisI
expectadecisioninvolvingmylifeordeath。’’Poorman!’saidthequeen，withatoneofdeepsympathy。’Fourteendaysofsuchwaitingmustbedreadful!Ipityyousincerely。Haveyounoonetopresentyourclaims？’’Madame，’answeredmyfather，’Ihavenooneelsetopresentmyclaimsthanthisemptysleevewhichlacksarightarm——nootherprotectionthanthejusticeofmycause。’’Poorman!’sighedthequeen，’youmustknowtheworldverylittleifyoubelievethatthisisenough。But，ifyouallowme，Iwillundertakeyourprotection，andbeyourintercessorwiththeking。Tellmeyournameandaddress。’Myfathergavethem，thequeenlistenedattentivelyandsmiledinfriendlyfashion。’Behereto-morrowatthishour——I
myselfwillbringyoutheking’sanswer。’Weleftthepalacewithnewcourage，withnewhope。Wefeltnolongerthatweweretiredandhungry，andheedednotthecomplaintsofourhost，whodeclaredthathehadnomorepatience，andthathewouldnolongergiveuscreditforthemiserablechamberwhichwehad。Hisscoldingandthreateningtroubledusthatdaynomore。Webeggedhimtohavepatiencewithustillto-morrow。Wetoldhimourhopesforthefuture，andwerejoicedinourowncheerfulexpectations。Atlengththenextdayarrived，thehouroftheaudiencecame，andwerepairedtothegreatgallery。MyheartbeatsoviolentlythatIcouldfeelituponmylips，andmyfather’sfacewaslightedupwithaglowofhope；hiseyehaditsoldfire，hiswholebeingwasfilledwithnewlife，hiscarriageerectasinourhappydays。Atlastthedoorsopenedandtheroyalcoupleentered。’Prayforme，myson，’myfatherwhispered——’prayformethatmyhopesbenotdisappointed，elseI