and half-believing action of the child who straddles a

Moreau, deeply distressed in spite of his stern bearing, left the

household in the rue de la Cerisaie to its despair.

Three days later Oscar drew the number twenty-seven. In the interests

of the poor lad the former steward of Presles had the courage to go to

the Comte de Serizy and ask for his influence to get Oscar into the

cavalry. It happened that the count's son, having left the Ecole

Polytechnique rather low in his class, was appointed, as a favor, sub-

lieutenant in a regiment of cavalry commanded by the Duc de