Such was the story given by this claimant to account for his escape
from the Temple; but such is the unfortunate habit of these pretenders,
in a subsequent account he materially altered the narrative, and
instead of being taken away in a bundle of linen, averred that he had
been removed in the toy horse itself, which Simon's wife made Ojardias
carry downstairs again after he had effected the exchange of children,
notwithstanding the remonstrance of some of the officials, under the
pretext that she would not have it brought into the room without her
husband's consent, and he, when appealed to, refused to allow of its
being introduced.
Resuming the story, as given in the _Mémoires_, we read, that when the
dauphin was removed from his very confined place of imprisonment he was
cleansed, purified from the unpleasantness of his Temple captivity, and
then put to bed. In the evening he was aroused, removed, and placed in
another artificial horse, but this time it was of life size. In the
interior of this animal, which in the company of two real horses was
harnessed to a cart filled with straw, were placed every convenience
and comfort for the rescued prince. This horse was covered with real
skin, and in every respect made to imitate a living animal, so that the
officers appointed to inspect all passing vehicles were in no way
suspectful of the deception, and permitted the conveyance and its
precious freight to pass without hindrance, so that the little Duke of
Normandy, after all his troubles and mishaps, arrived safely in
Belgium, and was delivered into the hands of the Prince de Condé.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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