el dorado-第17章

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and　that　is　that　His　Majesty　King　Louis　XVII　will　come　out　of　that
ugly　house　in　my　company　next　Sunday；　the　nineteenth　day　of
January　in　this　year　of　grace　seventeen　hundred　and　ninety…four；
and　this；　too；　do　I　knowthat　those　murderous　blackguards　shall
not　lay　hands　on　me　whilst　that　precious　burden　is　in　my　keeping。
So　I　pray　you；　my　good　Armand；　do　not　look　so　glum；〃　he　added　with
his　pleasant；　merry　laugh；　〃you'll　need　all　your　wits　about　you　to
help　us　in　our　undertaking。〃

〃What　do　you　wish　me　to　do；　Percy？〃　said　the　young　man　simply。

〃In　one　moment　I　will　tell　you。　　I　want　you　all　to　understand　the
situation　first。　　The　child　will　be　out　of　the　Temple　on　Sunday；
but　at　what　hour　I　know　not。　　The　later　it　will　be　the　better
would　it　suit　my　purpose；　for　I　cannot　get　him　out　of　Paris　before
evening　with　any　chance　of　safety。　　Here　we　must　risk　nothing；　the
child　is　far　better　off　as　he　is　now　than　he　would　be　if　he　were
dragged　back　after　an　abortive　attempt　at　rescue。　　But　at　this
hour　of　the　night；　between　nine　and　ten　o'clock；　I　can　arrange　to
get　him　out　of　Paris　by　the　Villette　gate；　and　that　is　where　I
want　you；　Ffoulkes；　and　you；　Tony；　to　be；　with　some　kind　of
covered　cart；　yourselves　in　any　disguise　your　ingenuity　will
suggest。　　Here　are　a　few　certificates　of　safety；　I　have　been
making　a　collection　of　them　for　some　time；　as　they　are　always
useful。〃

He　dived　into　the　wide　pocket　of　his　coat　and　drew　forth　a　number
of　cards；　greasy；　much…fingered　documents　of　the　usual　pattern
which　the　Committee　of　General　Security　delivered　to　the　free
citizens　of　the　new　republic；　and　without　which　　no　one　could
enter　or　leave　any　town　or　country　commune　without　being　detained
as　〃suspect。〃　　He　glanced　at　them　and　handed　them　over　to
Ffoulkes。

〃Choose　your　own　identity　for　the　occasion；　my　good　friend；〃　he
said　lightly；　〃and　you　too；　Tony。　　You　may　be　stonemasons　or
coal…carriers；　chimney…sweeps　or　farm…labourers；　I　care　not　which
so　long　as　you　look　sufficiently　grimy　and　wretched　to　be
unrecognisable；　and　so　long　as　you　can　procure　a　cart　without
arousing　suspicions；　and　can　wait　for　me　punctually　at　the
appointed　spot。〃

Ffoulkes　turned　over　the　cards；　and　with　a　laugh　handed　them　over
to　Lord　Tony。　　The　two　fastidious　gentlemen　discussed　for　awhile
the　respective　merits　of　a　chimney…sweep's　uniform　as　against　that
of　a　coal…carrier。

〃You　can　carry　more　grime　if　you　are　a　sweep；〃　suggested　Blakeney；
〃and　if　the　soot　gets　into　your　eyes　it　does　not　make　them　smart
like　coal　does。〃

〃But　soot　adheres　more　closely；〃　argued　Tony　solemnly；　〃and　I　know
that　we　shan't　get　a　bath　for　at　least　a　week　afterwards。〃

〃Certainly　you　won't；　you　sybarite！〃　asserted　Sir　Percy　with　a
laugh。

〃After　a　week　soot　might　become　permanent；〃　mused　Sir　Andrew；
wondering　what；　under　the　circumstance；　my　lady　would　say　to　him。

〃If　you　are　both　so　fastidious；〃　retorted　Blakeney；　shrugging　his
broad　shoulders；　〃I'll　turn　one　of　you　into　a　reddleman；　and　the
other　into　a　dyer。　　Then　one　of　you　will　be　bright　scarlet　to　the
end　of　his　days；　as　the　reddle　never　comes　off　the　skin　at　all；
and　the　other　will　have　to　soak　in　turpentine　before　the　dye　will
consent　to　move。。。。　　In　either　case　。。。　oh；　my　dear　Tony！　。。。　the
smell。。。。〃

He　laughed　like　a　schoolboy　in　anticipation　of　a　prank；　and　held
his　scented　handkerchief　to　his　nose。　　My　Lord　Hastings　chuckled
audibly；　and　Tony　punched　him　for　this　unseemly　display　of　mirth。

Armand　watched　the　little　scene　in　utter　amazement。　　He　had　been
in　England　over　a　year；　and　yet　he　could　not　understand　these
Englishmen。　　Surely　they　were　the　queerest；　most　inconsequent
people　in　the　world；　　Here　were　these　men；　who　were　engaged　at
this　very　moment　in　an　enterprise　which　for　cool…headed　courage
and　foolhardy　daring　had　probably　no　parallel　in　history。　　They
were　literally　taking　their　lives　in　their　hands；　in　all
probability　facing　certain　death；　and　yet　they　now　sat　chaffing
and　fighting　like　a　crowd　of　third…form　schoolboys；　talking　utter；
silly　nonsense；　and　making　foolish　jokes　that　would　have　shamed　a
Frenchman　in　his　teens。　　Vaguely　he　wondered　what　fat；　pompous　de
Batz　would　think　of　this　discussion　if　he　could　overhear　it。　　His
contempt；　no　doubt；　for　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　and　his　followers
would　be　increased　tenfold。

Then　at　last　the　question　of　the　disguise　was　effectually
dismissed。　　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes　and　Lord　Anthony　Dewhurst　had
settled　their　differences　of　opinion　by　solemnly　agreeing　to
represent　two　over…grimy　and　overheated　coal…heavers。　　They　chose
two　certificates　of　safety　that　were　made　out　in　the　names　of　Jean
Lepetit　and　Achille　Grospierre；　labourers。

〃Though　you　don't　look　at　all　like　an　Achille；　Tony；〃　was
Blakeney's　parting　shot　to　his　friend。

Then　without　any　transition　from　this　schoolboy　nonsense　to　the
serious　business　of　the　moment；　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes　said　abruptly：

〃Tell　us　exactly；　Blakeney；　where　you　will　want　the　cart　to　stand
on　Sunday。〃

Blakeney　rose　and　turned　to　the　map　against　the　wall；　Ffoulkes　and
Tony　following　him。　　They　stood　close　to　his　elbow　whilst　his
slender；　nervy　hand　wandered　along　the　shiny　surface　of　the
varnished　paper。　　At　last　he　placed　his　finger　on　one　spot。

〃Here　you　see；〃　he　said；　〃is　the　Villette　gate。　　Just　outside　it　a
narrow　street　on　the　right　leads　down　in　the　direction　of　the
canal。　　It　is　just　at　the　bottom　of　that　narrow　street　at　its
junction　with　the　tow…path　there　that　I　want　you　two　and　the　cart
to　be。　　It　had　better　be　a　coal…car　by　the　way；　they　will　be
unloading　coal　close　by　there　to…morrow；〃　he　added　with　one　of　his
sudden　irrepressible　outbursts　of　merriment。　　〃You　and　Tony　can
exercise　your　muscles　coal…heaving；　and　incidentally　make
yourselves　known　in　the　neighbourhood　as　good　if　somewhat　grimy
patriots。〃

〃We　had　better　take　up　our　parts　at　once　then；〃　said　Tony。　　〃I'll
take　a　fond　farewell　of　my　clean　shirt　to…night。〃

〃Yes；　you　will　not　see　one　again　for　some　time；　my　good　Tony。
After　your　hard　day's　work　to…morrow　you　will　have　to　sleep　either
inside　your　cart；　if　you　have　already　secured　one；　or　under　the
arches　of　the　canal　bridge；　if　you　have　not。〃

〃I　hope　you　have　an　equally　pleasant　prospect　for　Hastings；〃　was
my　Lord　Tony's　grim　comment。

It　was　easy　to　see　that　he　was　as　happy　as　a　schoolboy　about　to
start　for　a　holiday。　　Lord　Tony　was　a　true　sportsman。　　Perhaps
there　was　in　him　less　sentiment　for　the　heroic　work　which　he　did
under　the　guidance　of　his　chief　than　an　inherent　passion　for
dangerous　adventures。　　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes；　on　the　other　hand；
thought　perhaps　a　little　less　of　the　adventure；　but　a　great　deal
of　the　martyred　child　in　the　Temple。　　He　was　just　as　buoyant；　just
as　keen　as　his　friend；　but　the　leaven　of　sentiment　raised　his
sporting　instincts　to　perhaps　a　higher　plane　of　self…devotion。

〃Well；　now；　to　recapitulate；〃　he　said；　in　turn　following　with　his
finger　the　indicated　route　on　the　map。　　〃Tony　and　I　and　the
coal…cart　will　await　you　on　this　spot；　at　the　corner　of　the
towpath　on　Sunday　evening　at　nine　o'clock。〃

〃And　your　signal；　Blakeney？〃　asked　Tony。

〃The　usual　one；〃　replied　Sir　Percy；　〃the　seamew's　cry　thrice
repeated　at　brief　intervals。　　But　now；〃　he　continued；　turning　to
Armand　and　Hastings；　who　had　taken　no　part　in　the　discussion
hitherto；　〃I　want　your　help　a　little　further　afield。〃

〃I　thought　so；〃　nodded　Hastings。

〃The　coal…cart；　with　its　usual　miserable　nag；　will　carry　us　a
distance　of　fifteen　or　sixteen　kilometres；　but　no　more。　My　purpose
is　to　cut　along　the　north　of　the　city；　and　to　reach　St。　Germain；
the　nearest　point　where　we　can　secure　good　mounts。　　There　is　a
farmer　just　outside　the　commune；　his　name　is　Achard。　　He　has
excellent　horses；　which　I　have　borrowed　before　now；　we　shall　want
five；　of　course；　and　he　has　one　powerful　beast　that　will　do　for
me；　as　I　shall　have；　in　addition　to　my　own　weight；　which　is
considerable；　to　take　the　child　with　me　on　the　pillion。　　Now　you；
Hastings　and　Armand；　will　have　to　start　early　to…morrow　morning；
leave　Paris　by　the　Neuilly　gate；　and　from　there　make　your　way　to
St。　Germain　by　any　conveyance　you　can　contrive　to　obtain。　　At　St。
Germain　you　must　at　once　find　Achard's　farm；　disguised　as
labourers　you　will　not　arouse　suspicion　by　so　doing。　　You　will
find　the　farmer　quite　amenable　to　money；　and　you　must　secure　the
best　horses　you　can　get　for　our　own　use；　and；　if　possible；　the
powerful　mount　I　spoke　of　just　now。　　You　are　both　excellent
horse…men；　therefore　I　selected　you　amongst　the　others　for　this
special　errand；　for　you　two；　with　the　five　horses；　will　have　to
come　and　meet　our　coal…cart　some　seventeen　kilometres　out　of　St。
Germain；　to　where　the　first　sign…post　indicates　the　road　to
Courbevoie。　　Some　two　hundred　metres　down　this　road　on　the　right
there　is　a　small　spinney；　which　will　afford　splendid　shelter　for
yourselves　and　your　horses。　　We　hope　to　be　there　at　about　one
o'clock　after　midnight　of　Monday　morning。　　Now；　is　all　that　quite
clear；　and　are　you　both　satisfied？〃

〃It　is　quite　clear；〃　exclaimed　Hastings　placidly；　〃but　I；　for　one；
am　not　at　all　satisfied。〃

〃And　why　not？〃

〃Because　it　is　all　too　easy。　　We　get　none　of　the　danger。〃

〃Oho！　　I　thought　that　you　would　bring　that　argument　forward；　you
incorrigible　grumbler；〃　laughed　Sir　Percy　good…humouredly。　　〃Let
me　tell　you　that　if　you　start　to…morrow　from　Paris　in　that　spirit
you　will　run　your　head　and　Armand's　into　a　noose　long　before　you
reach　the　gate　of　Neuilly。　　I　cannot　allow　either　of　you　to　cover
your　faces　with　too　much　grime；　an　honest　farm　labourer　should　not
look　over…dirty；　and　your　chances　of　being　discovered　and　detained
are；　at　the　outset；　far　greater　than　those　which　Ffoulkes　and　Tony
will　run〃

Armand　had　said　nothing　during　this　time。　　While　Blakeney　was
unfolding　his　plan　for　him　and　for　Lord　Hastingsa　plan　which
practically　was　a　commandhe　had　sat　with　his　arms　folded　across
his　chest；　his　head　sunk　upon　his　breast。　　When　Blakeney　had　asked
if　they　were　satisfied；　he　had　taken　no　part　in　Hastings'　protest
nor　responded　to　his　leader's　good…humoured　banter。

Though　he　did　not　look　up　even　now；　yet　he　felt　that　Percy's　eyes
were　fixed　upon　him；　and　they　seemed　to　scorch　into　his　soul。　　He
made　a　great　effort　to　appear　eager　like　the　others；　and　yet　from
the　first　a　chill　had　struck　at　his　heart。　　He　could　not　leave
Paris　before　he　had　seen　Jeanne。

He　looked　up　suddenly；　trying　to　seem　unconcerned；　he　even　looked
his　chief　fully　in　the　face。

〃When　ought　we　to　leave　Paris？〃　he　asked　calmly。

〃You　MUST　leave　at　daybreak；〃　replied　Blakeney　with　a　slight；
almost　imperceptible　emphasis　on　the　word　of　command。　　〃When　the
gates　are　first　opened；　and　the　work…people　go　to　and　fro　at　their
work；　that　is　the　safest　hour。　And　you　must　be　at　St。　Germain　as
soon　as　may　be；　or　the　farmer　may　not　have　a　sufficiency　of　horses
available　at　a　moment's　notice。　　I　want　you　to　be　spokesman　with
Achard；　so　that　Hastings'　British　accent　should　not　betray　you
both。　　Also　you　might　not　get　a　conveyance　for　St。　Germain
immediately。　　We　must　think　of　every　eventuality；　Armand。　　There
is　so　much　at　stak