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THE GENTLE ROBBER
without boasting, it derives most of its supplies from me," and he looked wistfully for approval.
"Its supplies of orphans?" demanded Louis of Lamont, with his stern young lip curved in scorn; but the face of the other was as the face of a man who has failed to teach a great lesson of good.
As the lad rode on through the forest, his head was bent as if a hand had struck it and had laid it low, but coming into the open, he saw far off, across the valley, the spires of the capital city, Mertoun, and its many red roofs gleaming by the blue river, and his heart throbbed within him for thankfulness and joy.
"Hasten!" he cried to the beast that bore him. "Yonder in that strong city
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