el dorado-第14章

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Paris　audiences　vastly　more　critical　than　the　good　Orleanese。　　Did
you　hear　him；　citizen；　declaiming　those　beautiful　verses　just　now？
He　was　murdering　them；　say　Iyes；　murdering　themthe　gaby！〃

Then　only　did　it　seem　as　if　she　realised　that　there　was　something
amiss；　that　citizen　Heron　had　come　to　visit　her；　not　as　an　admirer
of　her　talent　who　would　wish　to　pay　his　respects　to　a　successful
actress；　but　as　a　person　to　be　looked　on　with　dread。

She　gave　a　quaint；　nervous　little　laugh；　and　murmured　in　the　tones
of　a　frightened　child：

〃La；　citizen；　how　glum　you　look！　I　thought　you　had　come　to
compliment　me　on　my　latest　success。　　I　saw　you　at　the　theatre　last
night；　though　you　did　not　afterwards　come　to　see　me　in　the
green…room。　Why！　I　had　a　regular　ovation！　Look　at　my　flowers！〃　she
added　more　gaily；　pointing　to　several　bouquets　in　vases　about　the
room。　〃Citizen　Danton　brought　me　the　violets　himself；　and　citizen
Santerre　the　narcissi；　and　that　laurel　wreathis　it　not
charming？that　was　a　tribute　from　citizen　Robespierre　himself。〃

She　was　so　artless；　so　simple；　and　so　natural　that　Heron　was
completely　taken　off　his　usual　mental　balance。　　He　had　expected　to
find　the　usual　setting　to　the　dramatic　episodes　which　he　was　wont
to　conductscreaming　women；　a　man　either　at　bay；　sword　in　hand；
or　hiding　in　a　linen　cupboard　or　up　a　chimney。

Now　everything　puzzled　him。　De　Batzhe　was　quite　surehad　spoken
of　an　Englishman；　a　follower　of　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；　every
thinking　French　patriot　knew　that　all　the　followers　of　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel　were　Englishmen　with　red　hair　and　prominent　teeth；
whereas　this　man。。。。

Armandwho　deadly　danger　had　primed　in　his　improvised　rolewas
striding　up　and　down　the　room　declaiming　with　ever…varying
intonations：

　　　　　〃Joignez　tous　vos　efforts　contre　un　espoir　si　doux
　　　　　　Pour　en　venir　a　bout；　c'est　trop　peu　que　de　vous。〃

〃No！　no！〃　said　mademoiselle　impatiently；　〃you　must　not　make　that
ugly　pause　midway　in　the　last　line：　'pour　en　venir　a　bout；　c'est
trop　peu　que　de　vous！'〃

She　mimicked　Armand's　diction　so　quaintly；　imitating　his　stride；
his　awkward　gesture；　and　his　faulty　phraseology　with　such　funny
exaggeration　that　Heron　laughed　in　spite　of　himself。

〃So　that　is　a　cousin　from　Orleans；　is　it？〃　he　asked；　throwing　his
lanky　body　into　an　armchair；　which　creaked　dismally　under　his
weight。

〃Yes！　a　regular　gabywhat？〃　she　said　archly。　〃Now；　citizen　Heron；
you　must　stay　and　take　coffee　with　me。　　Aunt　Marie　will　be
bringing　it　in　directly。　　Hector；〃　she　added；　turning　to　Armand；
〃come　down　from　the　clouds　and　ask　Aunt　Marie　to　be　quick。〃

This　certainly　was　the　first　time　in　the　whole　of　his　experience
that　Heron　had　been　asked　to　stay　and　drink　coffee　with　the　quarry
he　was　hunting　down。　　Mademoiselle's　innocent　little　ways；　her
desire　for　the　prolongation　of　his　visit；　further　addled　his
brain。　　De　Batz　had　undoubtedly　spoken　of　an　Englishman；　and　the
cousin　from　Orleans　was　certainly　a　Frenchman　every　inch　of　him。

Perhaps　had　the　denunciation　come　from　any　one　else　but　de　Batz；
Heron　might　have　acted　and　thought　more　circumspectly；　but；　of
course；　the　chief　agent　of　the　Committee　of　General　Security　was
more　suspicious　of　the　man　from　whom　he　took　a　heavy　bribe　than　of
any　one　else　in　France。　　The　thought　had　suddenly　crossed　his　mind
that　mayhap　de　Batz　had　sent　him　on　a　fool's　errand　in　order　to
get　him　safely　out　of　the　way　of　the　Temple　prison　at　a　given　hour
of　the　day。

The　thought　took　shape；　crystallised；　caused　him　to　see　a　rapid
vision　of　de　Batz　sneaking　into　his　lodgings　and　stealing　his
keys；　the　guard　being　slack；　careless；　inattentive；　allowing　the
adventurer　to　pass　barriers　that　should　have　been　closed　against
all　comers。

Now　Heron　was　sure　of　it；　it　was　all　a　conspiracy　invented　by　de
Batz。　　He　had　forgotten　all　about　his　theories　that　a　man　under
arrest　is　always　safer　than　a　man　that　is　free。　　Had　his　brain
been　quite　normal；　and　not　obsessed；　as　it　always　was　now　by
thoughts　of　the　Dauphin's　escape　from　prison；　no　doubt　he　would
have　been　more　suspicious　of　Armand；　but　all　his　worst　suspicions
were　directed　against　de　Batz。　　Armand　seemed　to　him　just　a　fool；
an　actor　quoi？　and　so　obviously　not　an　Englishman。

He　jumped　to　his　feet；　curtly　declining　mademoiselle's　offers　of
hospitality。　　He　wanted　to　get　away　at　once。　Actors　and　actresses
were　always；　by　tacit　consent　of　the　authorities；　more　immune　than
the　rest　of　the　community。　　They　provided　the　only　amusement　in
the　intervals　of　the　horrible　scenes　around　the　scaffolds；　they
were　irresponsible；　harmless　creatures　who　did　not　meddle　in
politics。

Jeanne　the　while　was　gaily　prattling　on；　her　luminous　eyes　fixed
upon　the　all…powerful　enemy；　striving　to　read　his　thoughts；　to
understand　what　went　on　behind　those　cruel；　prominent　eyes；　the
chances　that　Armand　had　of　safety　and　of　life。

She　knew；　of　course；　that　the　visit　was　directed　against
Armandsome　one　had　betrayed　him；　that　odious　de　Batz　mayhapand
she　was　fighting　for　Armand's　safety；　for　his　life。　　Her　armoury
consisted　of　her　presence　of　mind；　her　cool　courage；　her
self…control；　she　used　all　these　weapons　for　his　sake；　though　at
times　she　felt　as　if　the　strain　on　her　nerves　would　snap　the
thread　of　life　in　her。　The　effort　seemed　more　than　she　could　bear。

But　she　kept　up　her　part；　rallying　Heron　for　the　shortness　of　his
visit；　begging　him　to　tarry　for　another　five　minutes　at　least；
throwing　outwith　subtle　feminine　intuitionjust　those　very
hints　anent　little　Capet's　safety　that　were　most　calculated　to
send　him　flying　back　towards　the　Temple。

〃I　felt　so　honoured　last　night；　citizen；〃　she　said　coquettishly；
〃that　you　even　forgot　little　Capet　in　order　to　come　and　watch　my
debut　as　Celimene。〃

〃Forget　him！〃　retorted　Heron；　smothering　a　curse；　〃I　never　forget
the　vermin。　　I　must　go　back　to　him；　there　are　too　many　cats　nosing
round　my　mouse。　　Good　day　to　you；　citizeness。　　I　ought　to　have
brought　flowers；　I　know；　but　I　am　a　busy　mana　harassed　man。〃

〃Je　te　crois；〃　she　said　with　a　grave　nod　of　the　head；　〃but　do　come
to　the　theatre　to…night。　　I　am　playing　Camillesuch　a　fine　part！
one　of　my　greatest　successes。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I'll　comemayhap；　mayhapbut　I'll　go　nowglad　to
have　seen　you；　citizeness。　　Where　does　your　cousin　lodge？〃　he
asked　abruptly。

〃Here；〃　she　replied　boldly；　on　the　spur　of　the　moment。

〃Good。　　Let　him　report　himself　to…morrow　morning　at　the
Conciergerie；　and　get　his　certificate　of　safety。　　It　is　a　new
decree；　and　you　should　have　one；　too。〃

〃Very　well；　then。　　Hector　and　I　will　come　together；　and　perhaps
Aunt　Marie　will　come　too。　　Don't　send　us　to　maman　guillotine　yet
awhile；　citizen；〃　she　said　lightly；　〃you　will　never　get　such
another　Camille；　nor　yet　so　good　a　Celimene。〃

She　was　gay；　artless　to　the　last。　　She　accompanied　Heron　to　the
door　herself；　chaffing　him　about　his　escort。

〃You　are　an　aristo；　citizen；〃　she　said；　gazing　with　well…feigned
admiration　on　the　two　sleuth…hounds　who　stood　in　wait　in　the
anteroom；　〃it　makes　me　proud　to　see　so　many　citizens　at　my　door。
Come　and　see　me　play　Camillecome　to…night；　and　don't　forget　the
green…room　doorit　will　always　be　kept　invitingly　open　for　you。〃

She　bobbed　him　a　curtsey；　and　he　walked　out；　closely　followed　by
his　two　men；　then　at　last　she　closed　the　door　behind　them。　　She
stood　there　for　a　while；　her　ear　glued　against　the　massive　panels；
listening　for　their　measured　tread　down　the　oak　staircase。　　At
last　it　rang　more　sharply　against　the　flagstones　of　the　courtyard
below；　then　she　was　satisfied　that　they　had　gone；　and　went　slowly
back　to　the　boudoir。



CHAPTER　X
SHADOWS

The　tension　on　her　nerves　relaxed；　there　was　the　inevitable
reaction。　　Her　knees　were　shaking　under　her；　and　she　literally
staggered　into　the　room。

But　Armand　was　already　near　her；　down　on　both　his　knees　this　time；
his　arms　clasping　the　delicate　form　that　swayed　like　the　slender
stems　of　narcissi　in　the　breeze。

〃Oh！　you　must　go　out　of　Paris　at　onceat　once；〃　she　said　through
sobs　which　no　longer　would　be　kept　back。

〃He'll　returnI　know　that　he　will　returnand　you　will　not　be
safe　until　you　are　back　in　England。〃

But　he　could　not　think　of　himself　or　of　anything　in　the　future。
He　had　forgotten　Heron；　Paris；　the　world；　he　could　only　think　of
her。

〃I　owe　my　life　to　you！〃　he　murmured。　　〃Oh；　how　beautiful　you
arehow　brave！　　How　I　love　you！〃

It　seemed　that　he　had　always　loved　her；　from　the　moment　that　first
in　his　boyish　heart　he　had　set　up　an　ideal　to　worship；　and　then；
last　night；　in　the　box　of　the　theatrehe　had　his　back　turned
toward　the　stage；　and　was　ready　to　goher　voice　had　called　him
back；　it　had　held　him　spellbound；　her　voice；　and　also　her　eyes。。。。
He　did　not　know　then　that　it　was　Love　which　then　and　there　had
enchained　him。　　Oh；　how　foolish　he　had　been！　for　now　he　knew　that
he　had　loved　her　with　all　his　might；　with　all　his　soul；　from　the
very　instant　that　his　eyes　had　rested　upon　her。

He　babbled　alongincoherentlyin　the　intervals　of　covering　her
hands　and　the　hem　of　her　gown　with　kisses。　He　stooped　right　down
to　the　ground　and　kissed　the　arch　of　her　instep；　he　had　become　a
devotee　worshipping　at　the　shrine　of　his　saint；　who　had　performed
a　great　and　a　wonderful　miracle。

Armand　the　idealist　had　found　his　ideal　in　a　woman。　That　was　the
great　miracle　which　the　woman　herself　had　performed　for　him。　　He
found　in　her　all　that　he　had　admired　most；　all　that　he　had　admired
in　the　leader　who　hitherto　had　been　the　only　personification　of
his　ideal。　　But　Jeanne　possessed　all　those　qualities　which　had
roused　his　enthusiasm　in　the　noble　hero　whom　he　revered。　　Her
pluck；　her　ingenuity；　her　calm　devotion　which　had　averted　the
threatened　danger　from　him！

What　had　he　done　that　she　should　have　risked　her　own　sweet　life
for　his　sake？

But　Jeanne　did　not　know。　　She　could　not　tell。　　Her　nerves　now　were
somewhat　unstrung；　and　the　tears　that　always　came　so　readily　to
her　eyes　flowed　quite　unchecked。　She　could　not　very　well　move；　for
he　held　her　knees　imprisoned　in　his　arms；　but　she　was　quite
content　to　remain　like　this；　and　to　yield　her　hands　to　him　so　that
he　might　cover　them　with　kisses。

Indeed；　she　did　not　know　at　what　precise　moment　love　for　him　had
been　born　in　her　heart。　　Last　night；　perhaps　。。。　she　could　not　say
。。。　but　when　they　parted　she　felt　that　she　must　see　him　again　。。。
and　then　today　。。。　perhaps　it　was　the　scent　of　the　violets　。。。
they　were　so　exquisitely　sweet　。。。　perhaps　it　was　his　enthusiasm
and　his　talk　about　England　。。。　but　when　Heron　came　she　knew　that
she　must　save　Armand's　life　at　all　cost　。。。　that　she　would　die　if
they　dragged　him　away　to　prison。

Thus　these　two　children　philosophised；　trying　to　understand　the
mystery　of　the　birth　of　Love。　　But　they　were　only　children；　they
did　not　really　understand。　　Passion　was　sweeping　them　off　their
feet；　because　a　common　danger　had　bound　them　irrevocably　to　one
another。　　The　womanly　instinct　to　save　and　to　protect　had　given
the　young　girl　strength　to　bear　a　difficult　part；　and　now　she
loved　him　for　the　dangers　from　which　she　had　rescued　him；　and　he
loved　her　because　she　had　risked　her　life　for　him。

The　hours