In the morning the butler took the children a long, long way into the
woods, pretending that he had discovered a diamond mine; and, bidding
them stand in a certain place till he called, he went away and did not
return. Melisande began to weep, as usual, but Percival only laughed,
for he had dropped a pearl every little way as they entered the wood,
and the children found their way home without the least difficulty.
Their father was vexed by their cleverness, but their mamma smiled.
"It's fate, Reginald," she remarked. "They were born for the smart set,
and they may as well fulfill their destinies."
"Let us try once more," said the gentleman. "Give them another chance."
When the servant called the children the next morning Percival ran to
get another pearl necklace, but the jewel cellar was locked, and the
best he could do was to conceal a four-pound bunch of hothouse grapes
under his jacket. This time they were taken twice as far into the wood
in search of the diamond mine; and alas! when the butler deserted them
Percival found that the birds had eaten every grape he had dropped along
the way. They were now really lost, and wandered all day without coming
out anywhere, and at night they slept on a pile of leaves, which
Percival said was much more like camping out than their summer in the
Adirondacks. All next day they wandered, without seeing sign of a road
or a chateau, and Melisande wept bitterly.
"I am so hungry," exclaimed the poor child. "If we only could get a few
_marrons glaces_ for breakfast!"
"I could eat a few macaroons myself," said Percival.