Queen Isabeau was one of the most wicked women that ever lived, for she not only joined her brother-in-law, the Duke of Orleans, in stealing the revenues of the royal household, thus leaving her husband and children with no means of support, but she neglected them most criminally, and then, for a long time, deserted them. The poor king was insane, which fact in itself would have kept any true wife at his side, but his guilty, wretched consort deserved neither the title of wife nor mother, for she neglected her duty as both. Her daughters inherited her splendid, large, dark eyes, as veil as her clear, brilliant complexion, but, {264}fortunately for themselves and others, none of her wickedness. While at the Hôtel de St. Paul these poor little children were almost starved to death, and as their mother had left them without a change of linen they ran about in filthy rags. Some of the inferior attendants of the palace had compassion enough to give them a little food, but the servants of the royal family were left without money, consequently they neither could nor would provide for the children. Their condition must have been pitiable, indeed, but God watched over them, and as by a miracle their father's reason suddenly returned to him one day. For a long while he had been totally unconscious of the misery that surrounded him. What must have been the agony of the good man when he beheld his own plight and that of his innocent, forsaken little ones? It makes one shudder at the thought. But it had a different effect on the cruel, infamous Isabeau; for no sooner did she hear that her husband's reason was restored than she began to tremble for her own safety, as well she might. She therefore hurried away to Milan, and ordered her brother Louis, who was as bad as she, to bring the children to her. He obeyed, and not only carried off the five royal children but also those of the Duke of Burgundy. Their absence was soon discovered, and the duke sent a troop of armed men after them, who overtook them before they had got very far. After securing the children of both families the men turned respectfully to the Dauphin Louis, then only ten years old, and asked him "whither he would please to go." "I will return to my royal father," replied the boy. He was eagerly obeyed and carried back to Paris with his companions. Later, Isabeau got possession of the little Katherine, but her conduct became so infamous that she was imprisoned,{265} [Illustration: 0269] excellent education. At the age of ten he played the harp well, and was extremely fond of music. Later in life he performed on the organ and composed sacred airs. After his mother's death, Richard II. took possession of the boy, who then lived at the palace, until he was placed at Oxford to complete his studies.