"The South of France!" he muttered, "the South of France! _Sacre coeur
d'une bombe_! Why, the usurper, when he came from Elba, landed on that
coast somewhere near Cannes!"

"And went to Monsieur Maurice's house, father!" I cried, "and that is why
the King of France has taken Monsieur Maurice's house away from him, and
given it to a stranger! I am sure that's it! I see it all now!"

But my father only shook his head again, and looked still more grave.

"No, no, no," he said, "neither all--nor half--nor a quarter! There's more
behind. I don't understand it--I don't understand it. Thunder and Mars! Why
don't we hand him over to the French Government? That's what puzzles me."




6


The severity of the Winter had, I think, in some degree abated, and the
snowdrops were already above ground, when again a mounted orderly rode in
from Cologne, bringing another official letter for the Governor of Bruehl.

Now my father's duties as Governor of Bruehl were very light--so light that
he had not found it necessary to set apart any special room, or bureau,
for the transaction of such business as might be connected therewith.
When, therefore, letters had to be written or accounts made up, he wrote
those letters and made up those accounts at a certain large writing-table,
fitted with drawers, pigeon-holes, and a shelf for account-books, that