Such a story I have striven to relate in _When a Cobbler Ruled the King_, endeavoring to present a picture, faithful as far as it goes, of the historical and political situation. It may add to the interest of the story to know that except for the persons of "Jean," "La Souris" and "Prevôt," who are pure fiction, there is not one character in the book but has a counterpart in history. These characters are in the main obscure enough to admit of much latitude in fictitious presentation. The Citizeness Clouet, of number 670 rue de Lille, was actually the laundress for the Temple Tower, and her little daughter was occasionally introduced into the prison by Commissary Barelle to play with the captive prince. Had there been schemes of escape concocted by the few friends remaining to royalty, as doubtless there were, it would be scarcely strange if the laundress had been involved in them. Be these things as they may, it is to be hoped that the history of the throneless, crownless, ill-used child-king, Louis XVII of France, will make its own appeal to the hearts of all childhood. A. H. S. RICHMOND HILL, L. I. February, 1911. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. IN THE DAUPHIN'S GARDEN 3 II. JEAN MEETS WITH A THIN YOUNG MAN 23 III. IN WHICH THE DAUPHIN WEARS THE RED CAP 41 IV. ON TERRIBLE AUGUST TENTH 59 V. A DOMICILIARY VISIT 81 VI. ENTER THE COBBLER--EXIT THE KING 101 VII. THE SCHEME OF THE BARON DE BATZ 117 VIII. THE COBBLER TAKES COMMAND 135 IX. HOW YVONNE SAW THE KING 155 X. THE BLOW FALLS 173 XI. EXIT THE COBBLER 193 XII. A FRIEND RE-ENTERS AND EVENTS MOVE ON 211 XIII. THE TENTH THERMIDOR 231 XIV. IN WHICH JEAN "FINDS CARON" 249 XV. LA SOURIS MEETS HIS MATCH 271 XVI. THE LAST MOVE 295 XVII. THE STAR OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 317 XVIII. AFTER LONG YEARS 341 ILLUSTRATIONS From drawings by George Wharton Edwards * * * * *