el dorado-第15章

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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　sped　on；　there　was　so　much　to　say；　so　much　that　was
exquisite　to　listen　to。　　The　shades　of　evening　were　gathering
fast；　the　room；　with　its　pale…toned　hangings　and　faded　tapestries；
was　sinking　into　the　arms　of　gloom。　Aunt　Marie　was　no　doubt　too
terrified　to　stir　out　of　her　kitchen；　she　did　not　bring　the　lamps；
but　the　darkness　suited　Armand's　mood；　and　Jeanne　was　glad　that
the　gloaming　effectually　hid　the　perpetual　blush　in　her　cheeks。

In　the　evening　air　the　dying　flowers　sent　their　heady　fragrance
around。　　Armand　was　intoxicated　with　the　perfume　of　violets　that
clung　to　Jeanne's　fingers；　with　the　touch　of　her　satin　gown　that
brushed　his　cheek；　with　the　murmur　of　her　voice　that　quivered
through　her　tears。

No　noise　from　the　ugly　outer　world　reached　this　secluded　spot。　　In
the　tiny　square　outside　a　street　lamp　had　been　lighted；　and　its
feeble　rays　came　peeping　in　through　the　lace　curtains　at　the
window。　　They　caught　the　dainty　silhouette　of　the　young　girl；
playing　with　the　loose　tendrils　of　her　hair　around　her　forehead；
and　outlining　with　a　thin　band　of　light　the　contour　of　neck　and
shoulder；　making　the　satin　of　her　gown　shimmer　with　an　opalescent
glow。

Armand　rose　from　his　knees。　　Her　eyes　were　calling　to　him；　her
lips　were　ready　to　yield。

〃Tu　m'aimes？〃　he　whispered。

And　like　a　tired　child　she　sank　upon　his　breast。

He　kissed　her　hair；　her　eyes；　her　lips；　her　skin　was　fragrant　as
the　flowers　of　spring；　the　tears　on　her　cheeks　glistened　like
morning　dew。



Aunt　Marie　came　in　at　last；　carrying　the　lamp。　　She　found　them
sitting　side　by　side；　like　two　children；　hand　in　hand；　mute　with
the　eloquence　which　comes　from　boundless　love。　　They　were　under　a
spell；　forgetting　even　that　they　lived；　knowing　nothing　except
that　they　loved。

The　lamp　broke　the　spell；　and　Aunt　Marie's　still　trembling　voice：

〃Oh；　my　dear！　how　did　you　manage　to　rid　yourself　of　those　brutes？

But　she　asked　no　other　question；　even　when　the　lamp　showed　up
quite　clearly　the　glowing　cheeks　of　Jeanne　and　the　ardent　eyes　of
Armand。　　In　her　heart；　long　since　atrophied；　there　were　a　few
memories；　carefully　put　away　in　a　secret　cell；　and　those　memories
caused　the　old　woman　to　understand。

Neither　Jeanne　nor　Armand　noticed　what　she　did；　the　spell　had　been
broken；　but　the　dream　lingered　on；　they　did　not　see　Aunt　Marie
putting　the　room　tidy；　and　then　quietly　tiptoeing　out　by　the　door。

But　through　the　dream；　reality　was　struggling　for　recognition。
After　Armand　had　asked　for　the　hundredth　time：　　〃Tu　m'aimes？〃　and
Jeanne　for　the　hundredth　time　had　replied　mutely　with　her　eyes；
her　fears　for　him　suddenly　returned。

Something　had　awakened　her　from　her　trancea　heavy　footstep；
mayhap；　in　the　street　below；　the　distant　roll　of　a　drum；　or　only
the　clash　of　steel　saucepans　in　Aunt　Marie's　kitchen。　　But
suddenly　Jeanne　was　alert；　and　with　her　alertness　came　terror　for
the　beloved。

〃Your　life；〃　she　saidfor　he　had　called　her　his　life　just　then；
〃your　lifeand　I　was　forgetting　that　it　is　still　in　danger　。。。
your　dear；　your　precious　life！〃

〃Doubly　dear　now；〃　he　replied；　〃since　I　owe　it　to　you。〃

〃Then　I　pray　you；　I　entreat　you；　guard　it　well　for　my　sakemake
all　haste　to　leave　Paris　。。。　oh；　this　I　beg　of　you！〃　she　continued
more　earnestly；　seeing　the　look　of　demur　in　his　eyes；　〃every　hour
you　spend　in　it　brings　danger　nearer　to　your　door。〃

〃I　could　not　leave　Paris　while　you　are　here。〃

〃But　I　am　safe　here；〃　she　urged；　〃quite；　quite　safe；　I　assure　you。
I　am　only　a　poor　actress；　and　the　Government　takes　no　heed　of　us
mimes。　　Men　must　be　amused；　even　between　the　intervals　of　killing
one　another。　　Indeed；　indeed；　I　should　be　far　safer　here　now；
waiting　quietly　for　awhile；　while　you　make　preparations　to　go　。。。
My　hasty　departure　at　this　moment　would　bring　disaster　on　us
both。〃

There　was　logic　in　what　she　said。　　And　yet　how　could　he　leave　her？
now　that　he　had　found　this　perfect　womanthis　realisation　of　his
highest　ideals；　how　could　he　go　and　leave　her　in　this　awful　Paris；
with　brutes　like　Heron　forcing　their　hideous　personality　into　her
sacred　presence；　threatening　that　very　life　he　would　gladly　give
his　own　to　keep　inviolate？

〃Listen；　sweetheart；〃　he　said　after　awhile；　when　presently　reason
struggled　back　for　first　place　in　his　mind。　〃Will　you　allow　me　to
consult　with　my　chief；　with　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；　who　is　in　Paris
at　the　present　moment？　I　am　under　his　orders；　I　could　not　leave
France　just　now。　My　life；　my　entire　person　are　at　his　disposal。　　I
and　my　comrades　are　here　under　his　orders；　for　a　great　undertaking
which　he　has　not　yet　unfolded　to　us；　but　which　I　firmly　believe　is
framed　for　the　rescue　of　the　Dauphin　from　the　Temple。〃

She　gave　an　involuntary　exclamation　of　horror。

〃No；　no！〃　she　said　quickly　and　earnestly；　〃as　far　as　you　are
concerned；　Armand；　that　has　now　become　an　impossibility。　　Some　one
has　betrayed　you；　and　you　are　henceforth　a　marked　man。　　I　think
that　odious　de　Batz　had　a　hand　in　Heron's　visit　of　this　afternoon。
We　succeeded　in　putting　these　spies　off　the　scent；　but　only　for　a
moment　。。。　within　a　few　hoursless　perhapsHeron　will　repent　him
of　his　carelessness；　he'll　come　backI　know　that　he　will　come
back。　　He　may　leave　me；　personally；　alone；　but　he　will　be　on　your
track；　he'll　drag　you　to　the　Conciergerie　to　report　yourself；　and
there　your　true　name　and　history　are　bound　to　come　to　light。　　If
you　succeed　in　evading　him；　he　will　still　be　on　your　track。　　If
the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　keeps　you　in　Paris　now；　your　death　will　be
at　his　door。〃

Her　voice　had　become　quite　hard　and　trenchant　as　she　said　these
last　words；　womanlike；　she　was　already　prepared　to　hate　the　man
whose　mysterious　personality　she　had　hitherto　admired；　now　that
the　life　and　safety　of　Armand　appeared　to　depend　on　the　will　of
that　elusive　hero。

〃You　must　not　be　afraid　for　me；　Jeanne；〃　he　urged。　　〃The　Scarlet
Pimpernel　cares　for　all　his　followers；　he　would　never　allow　me　to
run　unnecessary　risks。〃

She　was　unconvinced；　almost　jealous　now　of　his　enthusiasm　for　that
unknown　man。　　Already　she　had　taken　full　possession　of　Armand；　she
had　purchased　his　life；　and　he　had　given　her　his　love。　　She　would
share　neither　treasure　with　that　nameless　leader　who　held　Armand's
allegiance。

〃It　is　only　for　a　little　while；　sweetheart；〃　he　reiterated　again
and　again。　　〃I　could　not；　anyhow；　leave　Paris　whilst　I　feel　that
you　are　here；　maybe　in　danger。　　The　thought　would　be　horrible。　　I
should　go　mad　if　I　had　to　leave　you。〃

Then　he　talked　again　of　England；　of　his　life　there；　of　the
happiness　and　peace　that　were　in　store　for　them　both。

〃We　will　go　to　England　together；〃　he　whispered；　〃and　there　we　will
be　happy　together；　you　and　I。　　We　will　have　a　tiny　house　among　the
Kentish　hills；　and　its　walls　will　be　covered　with　honeysuckle　and
roses。　　At　the　back　of　the　house　there　will　be　an　orchard；　and　in
May；　when　the　fruit…blossom　is　fading　and　soft　spring　breezes　blow
among　the　trees；　showers　of　sweet…scented　petals　will　envelop　us
as　we　walk　along；　falling　on　us　like　fragrant　snow。　　You　will
come；　sweetheart；　will　you　not？〃

〃If　you　still　wish　it；　Armand；〃　she　murmured。

Still　wish　it！　He　would　gladly　go　to…morrow　if　she　would　come　with
him。　　But；　of　course；　that　could　not　be　arranged。　　She　had　her
contract　to　fulfil　at　the　theatre；　then　there　would　be　her　house
and　furniture　to　dispose　of；　and　there　was　Aunt　Marie。。。。　　But；　of
course；　Aunt　Marie　would　come　too。。。。　　She　thought　that　she　could
get　away　some　time　before　the　spring；　and　he　swore　that　he　could
not　leave　Paris　until　she　came　with　him。

It　seemed　a　terrible　deadlock；　for　she　could　not　bear　to　think　of
him　alone　in　those　awful　Paris　streets；　where　she　knew　that　spies
would　always　be　tracking　him。　　She　had　no　illusions　as　to　the
impression　which　she　had　made　on　Heron；　she　knew　that　it　could
only　be　a　momentary　one；　and　that　Armand　would　henceforth　be　in
daily；　hourly　danger。

At　last　she　promised　him　that　she　would　take　the　advice　of　his
chief；　they　would　both　be　guided　by　what　he　said。　　Armand　would
confide　in　him　to…night；　and　if　it　could　be　arranged　she　would
hurry　on　her　preparations　and；　mayhap；　be　ready　to　join　him　in　a
week。

〃In　the　meanwhile；　that　cruel　man　must　not　risk　your　dear　life；〃
she　said。　　〃Remember；　Armand；　your　life　belongs　to　me。　　Oh；　I
could　hate　him　for　the　love　you　bear　him！〃

〃Shshsh！〃　he　said　earnestly。　　〃Dear　heart；　you　must　not　speak
like　that　of　the　man　whom；　next　to　your　perfect　self；　I　love　most
upon　earth。〃

〃You　think　of　him　more　than　of　me。　　I　shall　scarce　live　until　I
know　that　you　are　safely　out　of　Paris。〃

Though　it　was　horrible　to　part；　yet　it　was　best；　perhaps；　that　he
should　go　back　to　his　lodgings　now；　in　case　Heron　sent　his　spies
back　to　her　door；　and　since　he　meant　to　consult　with　his　chief。
She　had　a　vague　hope　that　if　the　mysterious　hero　was　indeed　the
noble…hearted　man　whom　Armand　represented　him　to　be；　surely　he
would　take　compassion　on　the　anxiety　of　a　sorrowing　woman；　and
release　the　man　she　loved　from　bondage。

This　thought　pleased　her　and　gave　her　hope。　　She　even　urged　Armand
now　to　go。

〃When　may　I　see　you　to…morrow？〃　he　asked。

〃But　it　will　be　so　dangerous　to　meet；〃　she　argued。

〃I　must　see　you。　　I　could　not　live　through　the　day　without　seeing
you。〃

〃The　theatre　is　the　safest　place。〃

〃I　could　not　wait　till　the　evening。　　May　I　not　come　here？〃

〃No；　no。　　Heron's　spies　may　be　about。〃

〃Where　then？〃

She　thought　it　over　for　a　moment。

〃At　the　stage…door　of　the　theatre　at　one　o'clock；〃she　said　at
last。　　〃We　shall　have　finished　rehearsal。　　Slip　into　the　guichet
of　the　concierge。　I　will　tell　him　to　admit　you；　and　send　my
dresser　to　meet　you　there；　she　will　bring　you　along　to　my　room；
where　we　shall　be　undisturbed　for　at　least　half　an　hour。〃

He　had　perforce　to　be　content　with　that；　though　he　would　so　much
rather　have　seen　her　here　again；　where　the　faded　tapestries　and
soft…toned　hangings　made　such　a　perfect　background　for　her
delicate　charm。　　He　had　every　intention　of　confiding　in　Blakeney；
and　of　asking　his　help　for　getting　Jeanne　out　of　Paris　as　quickly
as　may　be。

Thus　this　perfect　hour　was　past；　the　most　pure；　the　fullest　of　joy
that　these　two　young　people　were　ever　destined　to　know。　　Perhaps
they　felt　within　themselves　the　consciousness　that　their　great
love　would　rise　anon　to　yet　greater；　fuller　perfection　when　Fate
had　crowned　it　with　his　halo　of　sorrow。　　Perhaps；　too；　it　was　that
consciousness　that　gave　to　their　kisses　now　the　solemnity　of　a
last　farewell。



CHAPTER　XI
THE　LEAGUE　OF　THE　SCARLET　PIMPERNEL

Armand　never　could　say　definitely　afterwards　whither　he　went　when
he　left　the　Square　du　Roule　that　evening。　　No　doubt　he　wandered
about　the　streets　for　some　time　in　an　absent；　mechanical　way；
paying　no　heed　to　the　passers…by；　none　to　the　direction　in　which
he　was　going。

His　mind　was　full　of　Jeanne；　her　beauty；　her　courage；　her　attitude
in　face　of　the　hideous　bloodhound　who　had　come　to　pollute　that
charming　old…world　boudoir　by　his　loathsome　presence。　　He　recall