"Now tell us, father," whispered Charlot, "where did you find him?" The charcoal man sat down by the fire. The two boys stood at his knees, and his wife sat at his side. "I will tell you," he said. "I had carried some charcoal to the queen's kitchen and was just starting home. I took the shortest way through the little park behind the palace. You know where the fountain is?" "Yes, yes!" said Blondel. "It is quite near the park gate." "Well, as I was hurrying along, I heard a great splash, as though something had fallen into the pool by the fountain. I looked and saw this little fellow struggling in the water. I ran and pulled him out. He was almost drowned." "Did he say anything, father?" asked Charlot. "Oh, no! He was senseless; but I knew he wasn't drowned. I thought of the big fire in the queen's kitchen, and knew that the cook would never allow a half-drowned child to be carried into that fine place. Then I thought of our own warm little house, and how snug we could make him until he came to his senses again. So I took him in my arms and ran home as fast as I could." "The poor, dear child!" said Mrs. Jacquot. "I wonder who he is." "He shall be our little brother," said Blondel; and both the boys clapped their hands very softly. In a little while the child awoke. He seemed to feel quite well and strong. He sat up in the bed and looked around. "You want your mother, don't you?" said Mrs. Jacquot. "She must be very uneasy about you. Tell us who she is, and we will carry you to her." "There is no hurry about that," said the child. "But they will be looking for you." "So much the better, let them look. My mother will not be worried. She has other things to do, and no time to attend to me." "What! Your own mother, and no time to attend to her child?" "Yes, madam. But she has servants to attend to me." "Servants! Yes, I think so," said Jacquot. "They let you fall into the water, and you would have been drowned, if it hadn't been for me. But come, children, let us have our supper." They sat down at the table. The mother gave each a tin plate and a wooden spoon, and then helped them all to boiled beans. The father cut slices from a loaf of brown bread. The little stranger came and sat with them. But he would not eat anything. "You must tell us who your mother is," said Mrs. Jacquot. "We must let her know that you are safe." "Of course she will be glad to know that," said the boy; "but she has no time to bother about me to-night." "Is she like our mother?" asked Chariot. "She is handsomer." "But ours is better. She is always doing something for us," said Blondel. "Mine gives me fine clothes and plenty of money to spend," said the stranger. "Ours gives us kisses," said Charlot. "Ha! that's nothing. Mine makes the servants wait on me and do as I tell them." "But our dear mother waits on us herself."