el dorado-第18章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


immediately。　　We　must　think　of　every　eventuality；　Armand。　　There
is　so　much　at　stake。〃

Armand　made　no　further　comment　just　then。　　But　the　others　looked
astonished。　　Armand　had　but　asked　a　simple　question；　and
Blakeney's　reply　seemed　almost　like　a　rebukeso　circumstantial
too；　and　so　explanatory。　　He　was　so　used　to　being　obeyed　at　a
word；　so　accustomed　that　the　merest　wish；　the　slightest　hint　from
him　was　understood　by　his　band　of　devoted　followers；　that　the　long
explanation　of　his　orders　which　he　gave　to　Armand　struck　them　all
with　a　strange　sense　of　unpleasant　surprise。

Hastings　was　the　first　to　break　the　spell　that　seemed　to　have
fallen　over　the　party。

〃We　leave　at　daybreak；　of　course；〃　he　said；　〃as　soon　as　the　gates
are　open。　　We　can；　I　know；　get　one　of　the　carriers　to　give　us　a
lift　as　far　as　St。　Germain。　　There；　how　do　we　find　Achard？〃

〃He　is　a　well…known　farmer；〃　replied　Blakeney。　〃You　have　but　to
ask。〃

〃Good。　　Then　we　bespeak　five　horses　for　the　next　day；　find
lodgings　in　the　village　that　night；　and　make　a　fresh　start　back
towards　Paris　in　the　evening　of　Sunday。　　Is　that　right？〃

〃Yes。　　One　of　you　will　have　two　horses　on　the　lead；　the　other　one。
Pack　some　fodder　on　the　empty　saddles　and　start　at　about　ten
o'clock。　　Ride　straight　along　the　main　road；　as　if　you　were　making
back　for　Paris；　until　you　come　to　four　cross…roads　with　a
sign…post　pointing　to　Courbevoie。　Turn　down　there　and　go　along　the
road　until　you　meet　a　close　spinney　of　fir…trees　on　your　right。
Make　for　the　interior　of　that。　　It　gives　splendid　shelter；　and　you
can　dismount　there　and　give　the　horses　a　feed。　　We'll　join　you　one
hour　after　midnight。　　The　night　will　be　dark；　I　hope；　and　the　moon
anyhow　will　be　on　the　wane。〃

〃I　think　I　understand。　　Anyhow；　it's　not　difficult；　and　we'll　be
as　careful　as　maybe。〃

〃You　will　have　to　keep　your　heads　clear；　both　of　you；〃　concluded
Blakeney。

He　was　looking　at　Armand　as　he　said　this；　but　the　young　man　had
not　made　a　movement　during　this　brief　colloquy　between　Hastings
and　the　chief。　　He　still　sat　with　arms　folded；　his　head　falling　on
his　breast。

Silence　had　fallen　on　them　all。　　They　all　sat　round　the　fire
buried　in　thought。　　Through　the　open　window　there　came　from　the
quay　beyond　the　hum　of　life　in　the　open…air　camp；　the　tramp　of　the
sentinels　around　it；　the　words　of　command　from　the　drill…sergeant；
and　through　it　all　the　moaning　of　the　wind　and　the　beating　of　the
sleet　against　the　window…panes。

A　whole　world　of　wretchedness　was　expressed　by　those　sounds！
Blakeney　gave　a　quick；　impatient　sigh；　and　going　to　the　window　he
pushed　it　further　open；　and　just　then　there　came　from　afar　the
muffled　roll　of　drums；　and　from　below　the　watchman's　cry　that
seemed　such　dire　mockery：

〃Sleep；　citizens！　　Everything　is　safe　and　peaceful。〃

〃Sound　advice；〃　said　Blakeney　lightly。　　〃Shall　we　also　go　to
sleep？　　What　say　you　alleh？〃

He　had　with　that　sudden　rapidity　characteristic　of　his　every
action；　already　thrown　off　the　serious　air　which　he　had　worn　a
moment　ago　when　giving　instructions　to　Hastings。　　His　usual
debonnair　manner　was　on　him　once　again；　his　laziness；　his　careless
insouciance。　　He　was　even　at　this　moment　deeply　engaged　in
flicking　off　a　grain　of　dust　from　the　immaculate　Mechlin　ruff　at
his　wrist。　　The　heavy　lids　had　fallen　over　the　tell…tale　eyes　as
if　weighted　with　fatigue；　the　mouth　appeared　ready　for　the　laugh
which　never　was　absent　from　it　very　long。

It　was　only　Ffoulkes's　devoted　eyes　that　were　sharp　enough　to
pierce　the　mask　of　light…hearted　gaiety　which　enveloped　the　soul
of　his　leader　at　the　present　moment。　He　sawfor　the　first　time　in
all　the　years　that　he　had　known　Blakeneya　frown　across　the
habitually　smooth　brow；　and　though　the　lips　were　parted　for　a
laugh；　the　lines　round　mouth　and　chin　were　hard　and　set。

With　that　intuition　born　of　whole…hearted　friendship　Sir　Andrew
guessed　what　troubled　Percy。　　He　had　caught　the　look　which　the
latter　had　thrown　on　Armand；　and　knew　that　some　explanation　would
have　to　pass　between　the　two　men　before　they　parted　to…night。
Therefore　he　gave　the　signal　for　the　breaking　up　of　the　meeting。

〃There　is　nothing　more　to　say；　is　there；　Blakeney？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　my　good　fellow；　nothing；〃　replied　Sir　Percy。　　〃I　do　not　know
how　you　all　feel；　but　I　am　demmed　fatigued。〃

〃What　about　the　rags　for　to…morrow？〃　queried　Hastings。

〃You　know　where　to　find　them。　　In　the　room　below。　Ffoulkes　has　the
key。　　Wigs　and　all　are　there。　　But　don't　use　false　hair　if　you　can
help　itit　is　apt　to　shift　in　a　scrimmage。〃

He　spoke　jerkily；　more　curtly　than　was　his　wont。　　Hastings　and
Tony　thought　that　he　was　tired。　　They　rose　to　say　good　night。
Then　the　three　men　went　away　together；　Armand　remaining　behind。



CHAPTER　XII
WHAT　LOVE　IS

〃Well；　now；　Armand；　what　is　it？〃　asked　Blakeney；　the　moment　the
footsteps　of　his　friends　had　died　away　down　the　stone　stairs；　and
their　voices　had　ceased　to　echo　in　the　distance。

〃You　guessed；　then；　that　there　was　。。。　something？〃　said　the
younger　man；　after　a　slight　hesitation。

〃Of　course。〃

Armand　rose；　pushing　the　chair　away　from　him　with　an　impatient
nervy　gesture。　　Burying　his　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　breeches；
he　began　striding　up　and　down　the　room；　a　dark；　troubled
expression　in　his　face；　a　deep　frown　between　his　eyes。

Blakeney　had　once　more　taken　up　his　favourite　position；　sitting　on
the　corner　of　the　table；　his　broad　shoulders　interposed　between
the　lamp　and　the　rest　of　the　room。　　He　was　apparently　taking　no
notice　of　Armand；　but　only　intent　on　the　delicate　operation　of
polishing　his　nails。

Suddenly　the　young　man　paused　in　his　restless　walk　and　stood　in
front　of　his　friendan　earnest；　solemn；　determined　figure。

〃Blakeney；〃　he　said；　〃I　cannot　leave　Paris　to…morrow。〃

Sir　Percy　made　no　reply。　　He　was　contemplating　the　polish　which　he
had　just　succeeded　in　producing　on　his　thumbnail。

〃I　must　stay　here　for　a　while　longer；〃　continued　Armand　firmly。
〃I　may　not　be　able　to　return　to　England　for　some　weeks。　　You　have
the　three　others　here　to　help　you　in　your　enterprise　outside
Paris。　　I　am　entirely　at　your　service　within　the　compass　of　its
walls。〃

Still　no　comment　from　Blakeney；　not　a　look　from　beneath　the　fallen
lids。　　Armand　continued；　with　a　slight　tone　of　impatience　apparent
in　his　voice：

〃You　must　want　some　one　to　help　you　here　on　Sunday。　I　am　entirely
at　your　service　。。。　here　or　anywhere　in　Paris　。。。　but　I　cannot
leave　this　city　。。。　at　any　rate；　not　just　yet。。。。〃

Blakeney　was　apparently　satisfied　at　last　with　the　result　of　his
polishing　operations。　　He　rose；　gave　a　slight　yawn；　and　turned
toward　the　door。

〃Good　night；　my　dear　fellow；〃　he　said　pleasantly；　〃it　is　time　we
were　all　abed。　　I　am　so　demmed　fatigued。〃

〃Percy！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man　hotly。

〃Eh？　　What　is　it？〃　queried　the　other　lazily。

〃You　are　not　going　to　leave　me　like　thiswithout　a　word？〃

〃I　have　said　a　great　many　words；　my　good　fellow。　　I　have　said
'good　night；'　and　remarked　that　I　was　demmed　fatigued。〃

He　was　standing　beside　the　door　which　led　to　his　bedroom；　and　now
he　pushed　it　open　with　his　hand。

〃Percy；　you　cannot　go　and　leave　me　like　this！〃　reiterated　Armand
with　rapidly　growing　irritation。

〃Like　what；　my　dear　fellow？〃　queried　Sir　Percy　with　good…humoured
impatience。

〃Without　a　wordwithout　a　sign。　　What　have　I　done　that　you　should
treat　me　like　a　child；　unworthy　even　of　attention？〃

Blakeney　had　turned　back　and　was　now　facing　him；　towering　above
the　slight　figure　of　the　younger　man。　　His　face　had　lost　none　of
its　gracious　air；　and　beneath　their　heavy　lids　his　eyes　looked
down　not　unkindly　on　his　friend。

〃Would　you　have　preferred　it；　Armand；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃if　I　had
said　the　word　that　your　ears　have　heard　even　though　my　lips　have
not　uttered　it？〃

〃I　don't　understand；〃　murmured　Armand　defiantly。

〃What　sign　would　you　have　had　me　make？〃　continued　Sir　Percy；　his
pleasant　voice　falling　calm　and　mellow　on　the　younger　man's
supersensitive　consciousness：　　〃That　of　branding　you；　Marguerite's
brother；　as　a　liar　and　a　cheat？〃

〃Blakeney！〃　retorted　the　other；　as　with　flaming　cheeks　and
wrathful　eyes　he　took　a　menacing　step　toward　his　friend；　〃had　any
man　but　you　dared　to　speak　such　words　to　me〃

〃I　pray　to　God；　Armand；　that　no　man　but　I　has　the　right　to　speak
them。〃

〃You　have　no　right。〃

〃Every　right；　my　friend。　　Do　I　not　hold　your　oath？　。。。　　Are　you
not　prepared　to　break　it？〃

〃I'll　not　break　my　oath　to　you。　　I'll　serve　and　help　you　in　every
way　you　can　command　。。。　my　life　I'll　give　to　the　cause　。。。　give　me
the　most　dangerousthe　most　difficult　task　to　perform。。。。　　I'll
do　itI'll　do　it　gladly。〃

〃I　have　given　you　an　over…difficult　and　dangerous　task。〃

〃Bah！　　To　leave　Paris　in　order　to　engage　horses；　while　you　and　the
others　do　all　the　work。　　That　is　neither　difficult　nor　dangerous。〃

〃It　will　be　difficult　for　you；　Armand；　because　your　head　Is　not
sufficiently　cool　to　foresee　serious　eventualities　and　to　prepare
against　them。　　It　is　dangerous；　because　you　are　a　man　in　love；　and
a　man　in　love　is　apt　to　run　his　headand　that　of　his　friends
blindly　into　a　noose。〃

〃Who　told　you　that　I　was　in　love？〃

〃You　yourself；　my　good　fellow。　　Had　you　not　told　me　so　at　the
outset；〃　he　continued；　still　speaking　very　quietly　and　deliberately
and　never　raising　his　voice；　〃I　would　even　now　be　standing　over　you；
dog…whip　in　hand；　to　thrash　you　as　a　defaulting　coward　and　a　perjurer
。。。。　　Bah！〃　he　added　with　a　return　to　his　habitual　bonhomie；　〃I　would
no　doubt　even　have　lost　my　temper　with　you。　　Which　would　have　been
purposeless　and　excessively　bad　form。　　Eh？〃

A　violent　retort　had　sprung　to　Armand's　lips。　　But　fortunately　at
that　very　moment　his　eyes；　glowing　with　anger；　caught　those　of
Blakeney　fixed　with　lazy　good…nature　upon　his。　　Something　of　that
irresistible　dignity　which　pervaded　the　whole　personality　of　the
man　checked　Armand's　hotheaded　words　on　his　lips。

〃I　cannot　leave　Paris　to…morrow；〃　he　reiterated　more　calmly。

〃Because　you　have　arranged　to　see　her　again？〃

〃Because　she　saved　my　life　to…day；　and　is　herself　in　danger。〃

〃She　is　in　no　danger；〃　said　Blakeney　simply；　〃since　she　saved　the
life　of　my　friend。〃

〃Percy！〃

The　cry　was　wrung　from　Armand　St。　Just's　very　soul。　Despite　the
tumult　of　passion　which　was　raging　in　his　heart；　he　was　conscious
again　of　the　magnetic　power　which　bound　so　many　to　this　man's
service。　　The　words　he　had　saidsimple　though　they　werehad　sent
a　thrill　through　Armand's　veins。　　He　felt　himself　disarmed。　　His
resistance　fell　before　the　subtle　strength　of　an　unbendable　will；
nothing　remained　in　his　heart　but　an　overwhelming　sense　of　shame
and　of　impotence。

He　sank　into　a　chair　and　rested　his　elbows　on　the　table；　burying
his　face　in　his　hands。　　Blakeney　went　up　to　him　and　placed　a
kindly　hand　upon　his　shoulder。

〃The　difficult　task；　Armand；〃　he　said　gently。

〃Percy；　cannot　you　release　me？　　She　saved　my　life。　　I　have　not
thanked　her　yet。〃

〃There　will　be　time　for　thanks　later；　Armand。　　Just　now　over
yonder　the　son　of　kings　is　being　done　to　death　by　savage　brutes。〃

〃I　would　not　hinder　you　if　I　stayed。〃

〃God　knows　you　have　hindered