el dorado-第11章

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know　it　makes　papa　angry　if　you　don't　have　at　least　half　a　glass
now　and　then。〃

The　child　wavered　for　a　moment　longer；　making　a　quaint　little
grimace　of　distaste。　　But　at　last　he　seemed　to　make　up　his　mind
that　it　was　wisest　to　yield　over　so　small　a　matter；　and　he　took
the　glass　from　Madame　Simon。

And　thus　did　de　Batz　see　the　descendant　of　St。　Louis　quaffing　a
glass　of　raw　spirit　at　the　bidding　of　a　rough　cobbler's　wife；　whom
he　called　by　the　fond　and　foolish　name　sacred　to　childhood；　maman！

Selfish　egoist　though　he　was；　de　Batz　turned　away　in　loathing。

Simon　had　watched　the　little　scene　with　obvious　satisfaction。　　He
chuckled　audibly　when　the　child　drank　the　spirit；　and　called
Heron's　attention　to　him；　whilst　a　look　of　triumph　lit　tip　his
wide；　pale　eyes。

〃And　now；　mon　petit；〃　he　said　jovially；　〃let　the　citizen　hear　you
say　your　prayers！〃

He　winked　toward　de　Batz；　evidently　anticipating　a　good　deal　of
enjoyment　for　the　visitor　from　what　was　coming。　　From　a　heap　of
litter　in　a　corner　of　the　room　he　fetched　out　a　greasy　red　bonnet
adorned　with　a　tricolour　cockade；　and　a　soiled　and　tattered　flag；
which　had　once　been　white；　and　had　golden　fleur…de…lys　embroidered
upon　it。

The　cap　he　set　on　the　child's　head；　and　the　flag　he　threw　upon　the
floor。

〃Now；　Capetyour　prayers！〃　he　said　with　another　chuckle　of　amusement。

All　his　movements　were　rough；　and　his　speech　almost　ostentatiously
coarse。　　He　banged　against　the　furniture　as　he　moved　about　the
room；　kicking　a　footstool　out　of　the　way　or　knocking　over　a　chair。
De　Batz　instinctively　thought　of　the　perfumed　stillness　of　the
rooms　at　Versailles；　of　the　army　of　elegant　high…born　ladies　who
had　ministered　to　the　wants　of　this　child；　who　stood　there　now
before　him；　a　cap　on　his　yellow　hair；　and　his　shoulder　held　up　to
his　ear　with　that　gesture　of　careless　indifference　peculiar　to
children　when　they　are　sullen　or　uncared　for。

Obediently；　quite　mechanically　it　seemed；　the　boy　trod　on　the　flag
which　Henri　IV　had　borne　before　him　at　Ivry；　and　le　Roi　Soleil　had
flaunted　in　the　face　of　the　armies　of　Europe。　　The　son　of　the
Bourbons　was　spitting　on　their　flag；　and　wiping　his　shoes　upon　its
tattered　folds。　　With　shrill　cracked　voice　he　sang　the　Carmagnole；
〃Ca　ira！　ca　ira！　les　aristos　a　la　lanterne！〃　until　de　Batz　himself
felt　inclined　to　stop　his　ears　and　to　rush　from　the　place　in
horror。

Louis　XVII；　whom　the　hearts　of　many　had　proclaimed　King　of　France
by　the　grace　of　God；　the　child　of　the　Bourbons；　the　eldest　son　of
the　Church；　was　stepping　a　vulgar　dance　over　the　flag　of　St。　Louis；
which　he　had　been　taught　to　defile。　　His　pale　cheeks　glowed　as　he
danced；　his　eyes　shone　with　the　unnatural　light　kindled　in　them　by
the　intoxicating　liquor；　with　one　slender　hand　he　waved　the　red　cap
with　the　tricolour　cockade；　and　shouted　〃Vive　la　Republique！〃

Madame　Simon　was　clapping　her　hands；　looking　on　the　child　with
obvious　pride；　and　a　kind　of　rough　maternal　affection。　　Simon　was
gazing　on　Heron　for　approval；　and　the　latter　nodded　his　bead；
murmuring　words　of　encouragement　and　of　praise。

〃Thy　catechism　now；　Capetthy　catechism；〃　shouted　Simon　in　a
hoarse　voice。

The　boy　stood　at　attention；　cap　on　head；　hands　on　his　hips；　legs
wide　apart；　and　feet　firmly　planted　on　the　fleur…de…lys；　the　glory
of　his　forefathers。

〃Thy　name？〃　queried　Simon。

〃Louis　Capet；〃　replied　the　child　in　a　clear；　high…pitched　voice。

〃What　art　thou？〃

〃A　citizen　of　the　Republic　of　France。〃

〃What　was　thy　father？〃

〃Louis　Capet；　ci…devant　king；　a　tyrant　who　perished　by　the　will　of
the　people！〃

〃What　was　thy　mother？〃

〃A　〃

De　Batz　involuntarily　uttered　a　cry　of　horror。　　Whatever　the　man's
private　character　was；　he　had　been　born　a　gentleman；　and　his　every
instinct　revolted　against　what　he　saw　and　heard。　　The　scene　had
positively　sickened　him。　He　turned　precipitately　towards　the　door。

〃How　now；　citizen？〃　queried　the　Committee's　agent　with　a　sneer。
〃Are　you　not　satisfied　with　what　you　see？〃

〃Mayhap　the　citizen　would　like　to　see　Capet　sitting　in　a　golden
chair；〃　interposed　Simon　the　cobbler　with　a　sneer；　〃and　me　and　my
wife　kneeling　and　kissing　his　handwhat？〃

〃'Tis　the　heat　of　the　room；〃　stammered　de　Batz；　who　was　fumbling
with　the　lock　of　the　door；　〃my　head　began　to　swim。〃

〃Spit　on　their　accursed　flag；　then；　like　a　good　patriot；　like
Capet；〃　retorted　Simon　gruffly。　　〃Here；　Capet；　my　son；〃　he　added；
pulling　the　boy　by　the　arm　with　a　rough　gesture；　〃get　thee　to　bed；
thou　art　quite　drunk　enough　to　satisfy　any　good　Republican。〃

By　way　of　a　caress　he　tweaked　the　boy's　ear　and　gave　him　a　prod　in
the　back　with　his　bent　knee。　　He　was　not　wilfully　unkind；　for　just
now　he　was　not　angry　with　the　lad；　rather　was　he　vastly　amused
with　the　effect　Capet's　prayer　and　Capet's　recital　of　his
catechism　had　had　on　the　visitor。

As　to　the　lad；　the　intensity　of　excitement　in　him　was　immediately
followed　by　an　overwhelming　desire　for　sleep。　Without　any
preliminary　of　undressing　or　of　washing；　he　tumbled；　just　as　he
was；　on　to　the　sofa。　　Madame　Simon；　with　quite　pleasing
solicitude；　arranged　a　pillow　under　his　head；　and　the　very　next
moment　the　child　was　fast　asleep。

〃'Tis　well；　citoyen　Simon；〃　said　Heron　in　his　turn；　going　towards
the　door。　　〃I'll　report　favourably　on　you　to　the　Committee　of
Public　Security。　　As　for　the　citoyenne；　she　had　best　be　more
careful；〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　woman　Simon　with　a　snarl　on　his
evil　face。　　〃There　was　no　cause　to　arrange　a　pillow　under　the　head
of　that　vermin's　spawn。　Many　good　patriots　have　no　pillows　to　put
under　their　heads。　　Take　that　pillow　away；　and　I　don't　like　the
shoes　on　the　brat's　feet；　sabots　are　quite　good　enough。〃

Citoyenne　Simon　made　no　reply。　　Some　sort　of　retort　had　apparently
hovered　on　her　lips；　but　had　been　checked；　even　before　it　was
uttered；　by　a　peremptory　look　from　her　husband。　　Simon　the
cobbler；　snarling　in　speech　but　obsequious　in　manner；　prepared　to
accompany　the　citizen　agent　to　the　door。

De　Batz　was　taking　a　last　look　at　the　sleeping　child；　the
uncrowned　King　of　France　was　wrapped　in　a　drunken　sleep；　with　the
last　spoken　insult　upon　his　dead　mother　still　hovering　on　his
childish　lips。



CHAPTER　VIII
ARCADES　AMBO

〃That　is　the　way　we　conduct　our　affairs；　citizen；〃　said　Heron
gruffly；　as　he　once　more　led　his　guest　back　into　his　office。

It　was　his　turn　to　be　complacent　now。　　De　Batz；　for　once　in　his
life　cowed　by　what　he　had　seen；　still　wore　a　look　of　horror　and
disgust　upon　his　florid　face。

〃What　devils　you　all　are！〃　he　said　at　last。

〃We　are　good　patriots；〃　retorted　Heron；　〃and　the　tyrant's　spawn
leads　but　the　life　that　hundreds　of　thousands　of　children　led
whilst　his　father　oppressed　the　people。　　Nay！　what　am　I　saying？
He　leads　a　far　better；　far　happier　life。　He　gets　plenty　to　eat　and
plenty　of　warm　clothes。　　Thousands　of　innocent　children；　who　have
not　the　crimes　of　a　despot　father　upon　their　conscience；　have　to
starve　whilst　he　grows　fat。〃

The　leer　in　his　face　was　so　evil　that　once　more　de　Batz　felt　that
eerie　feeling　of　terror　creeping　into　his　bones。　　Here　were
cruelty　and　bloodthirsty　ferocity　personified　to　their　utmost
extent。　　At　thought　of　the　Bourbons；　or　of　all　those　whom　he
considered　had　been　in　the　past　the　oppressors　of　the　people；
Heron　was　nothing　but　a　wild　and　ravenous　beast；　hungering　for
revenge；　longing　to　bury　his　talons　and　his　fangs　into　the　body　of
those　whose　heels　had　once　pressed　on　his　own　neck。

And　de　Batz　knew　that　even　with　millions　or　countless　money　at　his
command　he　could　not　purchase　from　this　carnivorous　brute　the　life
and　liberty　of　the　son　of　King　Louis。　　No　amount　of　bribery　would
accomplish　that；　it　would　have　to　be　ingenuity　pitted　against
animal　force；　the　wiliness　of　the　fox　against　the　power　of　the
wolf。

Even　now　Heron　was　darting　savagely　suspicious　looks　upon　him。

〃I　shall　get　rid　of　the　Simons；〃　he　said；　〃there's　something　in
that　woman's　face　which　I　don't　trust。　　They　shall　go　within　the
next　few　hours；　or　as　soon　as　I　can　lay　my　hands　upon　a　better
patriot　than　that　mealy…mouthed　cobbler。　　And　it　will　be　better
not　to　have　a　woman　about　the　place。　　Let　me　seeto…day　is
Thursday；　or　else　Friday　morning。　　By　Sunday　I'll　get　those　Simons
out　of　the　place。　Methought　I　saw　you　ogling　that　woman；〃　he
added；　bringing　his　bony　fist　crashing　down　on　the　table　so　that
papers；　pen；　and　inkhorn　rattled　loudly；　〃and　if　I　thought　that
you〃

De　Batz　thought　it　well　at　this　point　to　finger　once　more
nonchalantly　the　bundle　of　crisp　paper　in　the　pocket　of　his　coat。

〃Only　on　that　one　condition；〃　reiterated　Heron　in　a　hoarse　voice；
〃if　you　try　to　get　at　Capet；　I'll　drag　you　to　the　Tribunal　with　my
own　hands。〃

〃Always　presuming　that　you　can　get　me；　my　friend；〃　murmured　de
Batz；　who　was　gradually　regaining　his　accustomed　composure。

Already　his　active　mind　was　busily　at　work。　　One　or　two　things
which　he　had　noted　in　connection　with　his　visit　to　the　Dauphin's
prison　had　struck　him　as　possibly　useful　in　his　schemes。　　But　he
was　disappointed　that　Heron　was　getting　rid　of　the　Simons。　　The
woman　might　have　been　very　useful　and　more　easily　got　at　than　a
man。　　The　avarice　of　the　French　bourgeoise　would　have　proved　a
promising　factor。　　But　this；　of　course；　would　now　be　out　of　the
question。　　At　the　same　time　it　was　not　because　Heron　raved　and
stormed　and　uttered　cries　like　a　hyena　that　he；　de　Batz；　meant　to
give　up　an　enterprise　which；　if　successful；　would　place　millions
into　his　own　pocket。

As　for　that　meddling　Englishman；　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；　and　his
crack…brained　followers；　they　must　be　effectually　swept　out　of　the
way　first　of　all。　　De　Batz　felt　that　they　were　the　real；　the　most
likely　hindrance　to　his　schemes。　　He　himself　would　have　to　go　very
cautiously　to　work；　since　apparently　Heron　would　not　allow　him　to
purchase　immunity　for　himself　in　that　one　matter；　and　whilst　he
was　laying　his　plans　with　necessary　deliberation　so　as　to　ensure
his　own　safety；　that　accursed　Scarlet　Pimpernel　would　mayhap
snatch　the　golden　prize　from　the　Temple　prison　right　under　his
very　nose。

When　he　thought　of　that　the　Gascon　Royalist　felt　just　as
vindictive　as　did　the　chief　agent　of　the　Committee　of　General
Security。

While　these　thoughts　were　coursing　through　de　Batz'　head；　Heron
had　been　indulging　in　a　volley　of　vituperation。

〃If　that　little　vermin　escapes；〃　he　said；　〃my　life　will　not　be
worth　an　hour's　purchase。　　In　twenty…four　hours　I　am　a　dead　man；
thrown　to　the　guillotine　like　those　dogs　of　aristocrats！　　You　say
I　am　a　night…bird；　citizen。　　I　tell　you　that　I　do　not　sleep　night
or　day　thinking　of　that　brat　and　the　means　to　keep　him　safely
under　my　hand。　　I　have　never　trusted　those　Simons〃

〃Not　trusted　them！〃　exclaimed　de　Batz；　〃surely　you　could　not　find
anywhere　more　inhuman　monsters！〃

〃Inhuman　monsters？〃　snarled　Heron。　　〃Bah！　they　don't　do　their
business　thoroughly；　we　want　the　tyrant's　spawn　to　become　a　true
Republican　and　a　patriotaye！　to　make　of　him　such　an　one　that
even　if　you　and　your　cursed　confederates　got　him　by　some　hellish
chance；　he　would　be　no　use　to　you　as　a　king；　a　tyrant　to　set　above
the　people；　to　set　up　in　your