One good thrust, and Nankeen falls to earth a good body's length from where he started.

"Mind your elders ! " cries Vidocq. "Move along! "

With clinical attentiveness, he watches Nankeen reach for his toppled hat and, without a backward look, trot round the corner.

"This papa of yours," he says, peering off in the direction of the Val de Grace. "He never mentioned any dauphins, I don't suppose?"

"Never. He was-he was the son of a notary. Mother came from potato merchants. We weren't the type to mix with royalty."

"Ah, but you know the old saying, I'm sure. Strange times, strange bedfellows? And if there was ever a strange time, it was the Revolution."

He does something quite unexpected then: loops his hand round my elbow and, with a gentle pressure, pulls me along. We're strolling now through these narrow, gently decanting streets: gentlemen of leisure, fresh from the Theatre des Italiens.

"I was in Arras," says Vidocq, "when all the wheels were coming off. We had a woman there, I'll never forget her, Citizeness Lebon. Used to be a nun in the abbey at Vivier until the Jacobins forced her to marry the cure of Neuville. A real love match, as it turned out. She decided who the Republic's enemies were, he made sure they died for their sins. I was there the day they executed Monsieur de Vieux Pont on account of his parrot.

"Seems Citizeness Lebon had overheard said parrot crying, 'Vive le Roi! ' Before the week was out, the parrot's owner had been divorced from his head. The bird himself was pardoned and handed over to the citizeness for reeducation. She was still working on him, probably, when they came for her."

Half smiling, he tilts his head toward mine.

"You can see how things worked in those days," he says. "A woman of the cloth becomes a woman of the people and spends her waking hours with a royalist parrot. Three estates, rubbing shoulders under one Republic."

Without my realizing it, the Rue Neuve-Sainte-Genevieve has stolen up on us. Once more we stand on the corner. Once more I stare at the crackling plaster housefronts, the old well, the mud-blackened gutters . . . the street itself, falling away at such a pitch that horses rarely venture down it. Everything looms more real, somehow, through the departing fog-f loes.

"So you think my father might have rubbed shoulders with a Bourbon or two," I say.

"It's possible," he answers, shrugging. "The only problem- Doctor-is that everyone who can sort it out for us is dead. And unless you can figure out a way to make the dead speak, I'm afraid I must classify you as an official waste of my time."

And with that, he loosens his grip on my arm. He nods curtly, bids me good afternoon, and becomes once more that veteran of forgotten wars, marching down the Vieille Estrapade de Fourcy. Only two details mar the illusion: the right foot, dragging ever so slightly after him, more afterthought than wound-and the skewed smile that wrinkles his face as it turns back to me.

"Now might be a good time to get reacquainted with your father. Don't you think, Hector?"

28 Thermidor Year II Must speak w/ Barras & commissaries re restrictions. Am permitted to see Charles for only 1 hr in early a.m. Guard must be present at all times-conf idences of any kind btw patient & me impossible. If I wish to stay longer, I must petition Committee 3 days in advance.

For rest of time, Charles remains utterly alone in cell. No f ire, no candle. Only sounds he hears are bolts; sliding of earthenware plate thru wicket; voices commanding him to go to bed; voices waking him up, periodically, thruout night.

Before incarceration, boy was, by all reports, outgoing, good-natured. 6 mos. of conf inement have left him almost entirely w/o affect: eyes languid, expression f ixed & disinterested.

Food extremely poor. 2 daily portions of soup, watery, f lavorless. Morsels of beef. Loaf of black bread. Pitcher of water. Have explained to Barras that poor diet & long conf inement have substantially weakened patient. Have expressed desire to personally escort Charles out of cell for limited exercise. Must await decision of Committee of General Security.

This a.m., Charles asked why I was taking care of him. Because it is my duty, I said. But I thought you didn't like me, he said. Quite the contrary, I said.

3 Fructidor

It's clear he experiences far greater alarm at kindness than at ill usage. Must learn more about prior treatment.

Progress. Charles able to walk for greater distances w/o support. Still experiences great pain in knees, ankles.

Have just received word from Committee: Exercise request has been granted. Patient may leave cell for 10 minutes, no more. Must be escorted at all times by me + 2 guards.

Upon further consid, have made addit petition. Given patient's extreme sensitivity to light, wd like to schedule exercise for twilight. Am awaiting Committee's decision.

6 Fructidor

Request granted. We are now required to have 3 addit escorts.

7 Fructidor

Prospect of leaving cell did not appear to gladden Charles. Expressed serious doubt at idea. Agreed to join me only after I promised he might return as soon as he liked.

Platform here = gallery, offering views of Temple courtyard + streets outside. We stood there for some time bf Charles, w/o asking leave, removed bandage from eyes in single motion. Stood blinking in dusk. Able to keep eyes open for 510 seconds, no more.

As precaution, I tied linen bandage round eyes. Led him carefully out of cell. Guards followed at 10 ft. We approached stairs-1st stairs patient has undertaken in 1+ years. He leaned heavily on my arm. Climbing v. hard for him-legs gave way more than once-was breathing v. hard when we reached top of Tower. I sat him down until such time as he cd stand again.

Patient's attention gradually shifted toward sounds. Asked me what bird that was singing? I informed him it was nightingale. Yes, he said. That's right. One by one, he asked me to identify sounds: water carriers, crossing sweepers, hacks, stagecoaches, fruit carts, etc. One sound in particular. What's that? he asked. Whistling, I said. He begged to know who was doing whistling? Grp of children, coming down Blvd du Temple. Describe what they were doing? Chasing each other, somersaulting, laughing, rude noises, buying cakes at corner, etc.

Intelligence appeared to satisfy him. However, I observed alteration in demeanor. Asked if something was wrong. He shook head. Later, tho, as we descended stairs, he asked (in a whisper) if the children were coming to kill him.

17 Fructidor Have made repeated requests for assistant. 1 hr/day of care not suff icient. Guards refuse to carry out instructions. Lacking anyone to administer physics, salve & dress lesions, exercise limbs, etc., patient unlikely to recover. Have been told that Committee has it under consid.

20 Fructidor

No word. 22 Fructidor

Still no word. Delays v. frustrating.

23 Fructidor

Word reached me late a.m.: Committee has granted request. Assistant to begin work next week.