DEATH OF THE DAUPHIN 39

Lorrain answers :

‘Yes, your Royal Highness.’

And two great tears roll down his
sunburnt cheeks. At this moment
the Grand Almoner approaches the
little Dauphin, holding up the crucifix,
and speaks to him at some length in a
low voice. The little Dauphin listens
with an astonished air, and suddenly
interrupts him.

‘I understand what you tell me, my
lord, but cannot my little friend Beppo
die instead of me? He would be well
paid, of course.’

The Almoner goes on speaking in a
low voice, and the little Dauphin seems
more and more astonished. When the
Almoner has finished, the little Dauphin
replies with a deep sigh:

‘All that your Reverence tells me
is very sad; but I have one consola-
tion, and that is, that up above in
the starry paradise I shall still be
the Dauphin. I know that God
Almighty is my cousin, and that He