He was now putting in the rocks, and the rough steps leading down to the
beach.

"Had you any little brothers and sisters, Monsieur Maurice?" I asked next;
for my interest and curiosity were unbounded.

He shook his head.

"None," he said, "none whatever. I was an only child; and I am the last of
my name."

I longed to question him further, but did not dare to do so.

"You will go back there some day, Monsieur Maurice," I said hesitatingly,
"when--when--"

"When I am free, little Gretchen? Ah! who can tell? Besides the old place
is no longer mine. They have taken it from me, and given it to a stranger."

"Taken it from you, Monsieur Maurice!" I exclaimed indignantly.

"Ay; but--who knows? We see strange changes. Where a king reigns to-day, an
emperor, or a mob, may rule to-morrow."

He spoke more to himself than to me, but I had some dim understanding,
nevertheless, of what he meant.

He had by this time drawn the cliff, and the strip of sand, and the waste
of sea beyond; and now he was blotting in some boats and figures--figures