The Robbers
Jean and Jacques really meant to do, which was to steal Clotilde herself and keep her in their forest den until her people should pay an enormous ransom of gold and silver to get her back.
The robbers had slunk into Clotilde’s town that afternoon in disguise, to see what mischief there was afoot. And as luck would have it, they had stayed long enough to hear all the outcry upon the Queen’s disappearance. So they had put their wicked heads together, and had decided to try to find her, if she was to be found. They had hunted and prowled in vain, and were just about to give up the search in disgust, when by chance they had stumbled upon the poor little Queen, just as she was fleeing from Pierre’s house. And here they were now galloping away towards the Black Wood with Queen Clotilde and her famous doll,—which was better luck even than they had hoped for.
