Story of Daniel

Part 5

"What's the matter with you?" asked Father Daniel as he entered the room.
The child could not stand it any longer; he leaped out of bed and threw himself at his father's feet. At the movement that he made the silver pieces rolled on the floor.
"What is all this? Have you been stealing?" demanded the old man, trembling.
Thereupon, without pausing for breath, little Daniel told him that he had been to the Prussian quarters and of what he had done there.
As he spoke, his heart felt freer; it relieved him to accuse himself. Father Daniel listened, with a terrible face. When it was at an end, he hid face in his hands and wept.
"Father, father—" the child began.
The old man pushed him away without replying, and picked up the money.
"Is this all?" he asked.
Little Daniel motioned that it was all. The old man took down his musket and cartridge box, and said as he put the money in his pocket:
"All right; I am going to return it to them."
And without another word, without even turning his head, he went down and joined the troops who were marching away in the darkness. He was never seen again.