I will entreat of the governor of Siberia permission to go to France with my daughters; it will perhaps be thought I have been sufficiently punished, by fifteen years of exile, and the confiscation of my property.

Should they refuse, I will remain here; but they will at least allow me to send my children to France, and you must accompany them, Dagobert.

You shall set out immediately, for much time has been already lost; and, if you were not to arrive before the 13th of next February, this cruel separation and toilsome journey would have been all in vain.'" "Suppose we were one day after ?" "Your mother told me that if we arrived the 14th instead of the 13th, it would be too late.

She also gave me a thick letter, to put into the post for France, in the first town we should pass through--which I have done." "And do you think we shall be at Paris in time ?" "I hope so; still, if you are strong enough, we must sometimes make forced marches--for, if we only travel our five leagues a day, and that without accident, we shall scarcely reach Paris until the beginning of February, and it is better to be a little beforehand." "But as father is in--India, and condemned to death if he return to France, when shall we see him ?" "And where shall we see him ?" "Poor children! there are so many things you have yet to learn.

When the traveller quitted him, the general could not return to France, but now he can do so." "And why is that ?" "Because the Bourbons, who had banished him, were themselves turned out last year.