The Robbers
“Not so fast, little one, not so fast!” he cried in a gruff voice, and he laid a rough hand on Clotilde’s arm. The other man hurried up, and after a long stare at her whispered in his comrade’s ear,—“It is she, the Queen; we’re in luck, Jacques!” But aloud he said, “How now, my pretty one! Where are you going so late? Is it not time for little folks to be abed?”
The Queen was thoroughly frightened now, but she felt that she must not let these men see it. She drew herself up proudly.
“I am the Queen,” she said. “Hands off, fellows! And take me to my palace.” But she saw the short man wink at the other, and they both began to laugh.
“Hoity toity! The Queen, you say?” cried the tall one whose name was Jacques. “You can’t make us believe that the Queen would be out here so late, and alone. Tell us another story, child.” He drew Clotilde forward into the moonlight, though she held back as strongly as she could.
Suddenly the man’s eye caught the flash of the jewels on Mignon’s dress and crown. “What’s that you have there?” he said eagerly, at the57
