I am also his friend: I bring news of him to his wife, whom I knew to be exiled in Siberia.

At Tobolsk, whence I come, I learned that she inhabits this village.

Conduct me to her!'" "The good traveller--I love him already," said Rose.
"Yes, being father's friend." "I begged him to wait an instant, whilst I went to inform your mother, so that the surprise might not do her harm; five minutes after, he was beside her." "And what kind of man was this traveller, Dagobert ?" "He was very tall; he wore a dark pelisse, and a fur cap, and had long black hair." "Was he handsome ?" "Yes, my children--very handsome; but with so mild and melancholy an air, that it pained my heart to see him." "Poor man! he had doubtless known some great sorrow." "Your mother had been closeted with him for some minutes, when she called me to her and said that she had just received good news of the general.

She was in tears, and had before her a large packet of papers; it was a kind of journal, which your father had written every evening to console himself; not being able to speak to her, he told the paper all that he would have told her." "Oh! where are these papers, Dagobert ?" "There, in the knapsack, with my cross and our purse.

One day I will give them to you: but I have picked out a few leaves here and there for you to read presently.