el dorado-第21章

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with　the　sustained　effort　and　the　strain　of　the　past　half…hour；　he
leaned　against　the　wall；　striving　not　to　fall。

Then　the　well…known　firm　step　across　the　rooms　beyond；　the　open
door；　the　hand　upon　his　shoulder。

After　that　he　remembered　nothing　more。



CHAPTER　XIV
THE　CHIEF

He　had　not　actually　fainted；　but　the　exertion　of　that　long　run　had
rendered　him　partially　unconscious　　He　knew　now　that　be　was　safe；
that　he　was　sitting　in　Blakeney's　room；　and　that　something　hot　and
vivifying　was　being　poured　down　his　throat。

〃Percy；　they　have　arrested　her！〃　he　said；　panting；　as　soon　as
speech　returned　to　his　paralysed　tongue。

〃All　right。　　Don't　talk　now。　　Wait　till　you　are　better。〃

With　infinite　care　and　gentleness　Blakeney　arranged　some　cushions
under　Armand's　head；　turned　the　sofa　towards　the　fire；　and　anon
brought　his　friend　a　cup　of　hot　coffee；　which　the　latter　drank
with　avidity。

He　was　really　too　exhausted　to　speak。　　He　had　contrived　to　tell
Blakeney；　and　now　Blakeney　knew；　so　everything　would　be　all　right。
The　inevitable　reaction　was　asserting　itself；　the　muscles　had
relaxed；　the　nerves　were　numbed；　and　Armand　lay　back　on　the　sofa
with　eyes　half　closed；　unable　to　move；　yet　feeling　his　strength
gradually　returning　to　him；　his　vitality　asserting　itself；　all　the
feverish　excitement　of　the　past　twenty…four　hours　yielding　at　last
to　a　calmer　mood。

Through　his　half…closed　eyes　he　could　see　his　brother…in…law
moving　about　the　room。　　Blakeney　was　fully　dressed。　In　a　sleepy
kind　of　way　Armand　wondered　if　he　had　been　to　bed　at　aH；　certainly
his　clothes　set　on　him　with　their　usual　well…tailored　perfection；
and　there　was　no　suggestion　in　his　brisk　step　and　alert　movements
that　he　had　passed　a　sleepless　night。

Now　he　was　standing　by　the　open　window。　　Armand；　from　where　he
lay；　could　see　his　broad　shoulders　sharply　outlined　against　the
grey　background　of　the　hazy　winter　dawn。　　A　wan　light　was　just
creeping　up　from　the　east　over　the　city；　the　noises　of　the　streets
below　came　distinctly　to　Armand's　ear。

He　roused　himself　with　one　vigorous　effort　from　his　lethargy；
feeling　quite　ashamed　of　himself　and　of　this　breakdown　of　his
nervous　system。　　He　looked　with　frank　admiration　on　Sir　Percy；　who
stood　immovable　and　silent　by　the　windowa　perfect　tower　of
strength；　serene　and　impassive；　yet　kindly　in　distress。

〃Percy；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃I　ran　all　the　way　from　the　top　of
the　Rue　St。　Honore。　　I　was　only　breathless。　　I　am　quite　all　right。
May　I　tell　you　all　about　it？〃

Without　a　word　Blakeney　closed　the　window　and　came　across　to　the
sofa；　he　sat　down　beside　Armand；　and　to　all　outward　appearances　he
was　nothing　now　but　a　kind　and　sympathetic　listener　to　a　friend's
tale　of　woe。　　Not　a　line　in　his　face　or　a　look　in　his　eyes
betrayed　the　thoughts　of　the　leader　who　had　been　thwarted　at　the
outset　of　a　dangerous　enterprise；　or　of　the　man；　accustomed　to
command；　who　had　been　so　flagrantly　disobeyed。

Armand；　unconscious　of　all　save　of　Jeanne　and　of　her　immediate
need；　put　an　eager　hand　on　Percy's　arm。

〃Heron　and　his　hell…hounds　went　back　to　her　lodgings　last　night；〃
he　said；　speaking　as　if　he　were　still　a　little　out　of　breath。
〃They　hoped　to　get　me；　no　doubt；　not　finding　me　there；　they　took
her。　　Oh；　my　God！〃

It　was　the　first　time　that　he　had　put　the　whole　terrible
circumstance　into　words；　and　it　seemed　to　gain　in　reality　by　the
recounting。　　The　agony　of　mind　which　he　endured　was　almost
unbearable；　he　hid　his　face　in　his　hands　lest　Percy　should　see　how
terribly　he　suffered。

〃I　knew　that；〃　said　Blakeney　quietly。　Armand　looked　up　in
surprise。

〃How？　　When　did　you　know　it？〃　he　stammered。

〃Last　night　when　you　left　me。　　I　went　down　to　the　Square　du　Roule。
I　arrived　there　just　too　late。〃

〃Percy！〃　exclaimed　Armand；　whose　pale　face　had　suddenly　flushed
scarlet；　〃you　did　that？last　night　you〃

〃Of　course；〃　interposed　the　other　calmly；　〃had　I　not　promised　you
to　keep　watch　over　her？　　When　I　heard　the　news　it　was　already　too
late　to　make　further　inquiries；　but　when　you　arrived　just　now　I
was　on　the　point　of　starting　out；　in　order　to　find　out　in　what
prison　Mademoiselle　Lange　is　being　detained。　　I　shall　have　to　go
soon；　Armand；　before　the　guard　is　changed　at　the　Temple　and　the
Tuileries。　　This　is　the　safest　time；　and　God　knows　we　are　all　of
us　sufficiently　compromised　already。〃

The　flush　of　shame　deepened　in　St。　Just's　cheek。　　There　had　not
been　a　hint　of　reproach　in　the　voice　of　his　chief；　and　the　eyes
which　regarded　him　now　from　beneath　the　half…closed　lids　showed
nothing　but　lazy　bonhomie。

In　a　moment　now　Armand　realised　all　the　harm　which　his
recklessness　had　done；　was　still　doing　to　the　work　of　the　League。
Every　one　of　his　actions　since　his　arrival　in　Paris　two　days　ago
had　jeopardised　a　plan　or　endangered　a　life：　　his　friendship　with
de　Batz；　his　connection　with　Mademoiselle　Lange；　his　visit　to　her
yesterday　afternoon；　the　repetition　of　it　this　morning；
culminating　in　that　wild　run　through　the　streets　of　Paris；　when　at
any　moment　a　spy　lurking　round　a　corner　might　either　have　barred
his　way；　or；　worse　still；　have　followed　him　to　Blakeney's　door。
Armand；　without　a　thought　of　any　one　save　of　his　beloved；　might
easily　this　morning　have　brought　an　agent　of　the　Committee　of
General　Security　face　to　face　with　his　chief。

〃Percy；〃　he　murmured；　〃can　you　ever　forgive　me？〃

〃Pshaw；　man！〃　retorted　Blakeney　lightly；　〃there　is　naught　to
forgive；　only　a　great　deal　that　should　no　longer　be　forgotten；
your　duty　to　the　others；　for　instance；　your　obedience；　and　your
honour。〃

〃I　was　mad；　Percy。　　Oh！　if　you　only　could　understand　what　she
means　to　me！〃

Blakeney　laughed；　his　own　light…hearted　careless　laugh；　which　so
often　before　now　had　helped　to　hide　what　he　really　felt　from　the
eyes　of　the　indifferent；　and　even　from　those　of　his　friends。

〃No！　no！〃　he　said　lightly；　〃we　agreed　last　night；　did　we　not？　that
in　matters　of　sentiment　I　am　a　cold…blooded　fish。　　But　will　you　at
any　rate　concede　that　I　am　a　man　of　my　word？　　Did　I　not　pledge　it
last　night　that　Mademoiselle　Lange　would　be　safe？　　I　foresaw　her
arrest　the　moment　I　heard　your　story。　　I　hoped　that　I　might　reach
her　before　that　brute　Heron's　return；　unfortunately　he　forestalled
me　by　less　than　half　an　hour。　　Mademoiselle　Lange　has　been
arrested；　Armand；　but　why　should　you　not　trust　me　on　that　account？
Have　we　not　succeeded；　I　and　the　others；　in　worse　cases　than　this
one？　　They　mean　no　harm　to　Jeanne　Lange；〃　he　added　emphatically；
〃I　give　you　my　word　on　that。　　They　only　want　her　as　a　decoy。　　It
is　you　they　want。　You　through　her；　and　me　through　you。　　I　pledge
you　my　honour　that　she　will　be　safe。　　You　must　try　and　trust　me；
Armand。　　It　is　much　to　ask；　I　know；　for　you　will　have　to　trust　me
with　what　is　most　precious　in　the　world　to　you；　and　you　will　have
to　obey　me　blindly；　or　I　shall　not　he　able　to　keep　my　word。〃

〃What　do　you　wish　me　to　do？〃

〃Firstly；　you　must　be　outside　Paris　within　the　hour。　Every　minute
that　you　spend　inside　the　city　now　is　full　of　dangeroh；　no！　not
for　you；〃　added　Blakeney；　checking　with　a　good…humoured　gesture
Armand's　words　of　protestation；　〃danger　for　the　othersand　for
our　scheme　tomorrow。〃

〃How　can　I　go　to　St。　Germain；　Percy；　knowing　that　she〃

〃Is　under　my　charge？〃　interposed　the　other　calmly。　〃That　should
not　be　so　very　difficult。　　Come；〃　he　added；　placing　a　kindly　hand
on　the　other's　shoulder；　〃you　shall　not　find　me　such　an　inhuman
monster　after　all。　　But　I　must　think　of　the　others；　you　see；　and
of　the　child　whom　I　have　sworn　to　save。　　But　I　won't　send　you　as
far　as　St。　Germain。　　Go　down　to　the　room　below　and　find　a　good
bundle　of　rough　clothes　that　will　serve　you　as　a　disguise；　for　I
imagine　that　you　have　lost　those　which　you　had　on　the　landing　or
the　stairs　of　the　house　in　the　Square　du　Roule。　In　a　tin　box　with
the　clothes　downstairs　you　will　find　the　packet　of　miscellaneous
certificates　of　safety。　　Take　an　appropriate　one；　and　then　start
out　immediately　for　Villette。　You　understand？〃

〃Yes；　yes！〃　said　Armand　eagerly。　　〃You　want　me　to　join　Ffoulkes
and　Tony。〃

〃Yes！　　You'll　find　them　probably　unloading　coal　by　the　canal。　　Try
and　get　private　speech　with　them　as　early　as　may　be；　and　tell　Tony
to　set　out　at　once　for　St。　Germain；　and　to　join　Hastings　there；
instead　of　you；　whilst　you　take　his　place　with　Ffoulkes。〃

〃Yes；　I　understand；　but　how　will　Tony　reach　St。　Germain？〃

〃La；　my　good　fellow；〃　said　Blakeney　gaily；　〃you　may　safely　trust
Tony　to　go　where　I　send　him。　　Do　you　but　do　as　I　tell　you；　and
leave　him　to　look　after　himself。　　And　now；〃　he　added；　speaking
more　earnestly；　〃the　sooner　you　get　out　of　Paris　the　better　it
will　be　for　us　all。　　As　you　see；　I　am　only　sending　you　to　La
Villette；　because　it　is　not　so　far；　but　that　I　can　keep　in
personal　touch　with　you。　　Remain　close　to　the　gates　for　an　hour
after　nightfall。　　I　will　Contrive　before　they　close　to　bring　you
news　of　Mademoiselle　Lange。〃

Armand　said　no　more。　　The　sense　of　shame　in　him　deepened　with
every　word　spoken　by　his　chief。　　He　felt　how　untrustworthy　he　had
been；　how　undeserving　of　the　selfless　devotion　which　Percy　was
showing　him　even　now。　　The　words　of　gratitude　died　on　his　lips；　he
knew　that　they　would　be　unwelcome。　　These　Englishmen　were　so
devoid　of　sentiment；　he　thought；　and　his　brother…in…law；　with　all
his　unselfish　and　heroic　deeds；　was；　he　felt；　absolutely　callous
in　matters　of　the　heart。

But　Armand　was　a　noble…minded　man；　and　with　the　true　sporting
instinct　in　him；　despite　the　fact　that　he　was　a　creature　of
nerves；　highly　strung　and　imaginative。　　He　could　give　ungrudging
admiration　to　his　chief；　even　whilst　giving　himself　up　entirely　to
the　sentiment　for　Jeanne。

He　tried　to　imbue　himself　with　the　same　spirit　that　actuated　my
Lord　Tony　and　the　other　members　of　the　League。　　How　gladly　would
he　have　chaffed　and　made　senseless　schoolboy　jokes　like　those
whichin　face　of　their　hazardous　enterprise　and　the　dangers　which
they　all　ranhad　horrified　him　so　much　last　night。

But　somehow　he　knew　that　jokes　from　him　would　not　ring　true。　　How
could　he　smile　when　his　heart　was　brimming　over　with　his　love　for
Jeanne；　and　with　solicitude　on　her　account？　　He　felt　that　Percy
was　regarding　him　with　a　kind　of　indulgent　amusement；　there　was　a
look　of　suppressed　merriment　in　the　depths　of　those　lazy　blue
eyes。

So　he　braced　up　his　nerves；　trying　his　best　to　look　cool　and
unconcerned；　but　he　could　not　altogether　hide　from　his　friend　the
burning　anxiety　which　was　threatening　to　break　his　heart。

〃I　have　given　you　my　word；　Armand；〃　said　Blakeney　in　answer　to　the
unspoken　prayer；　〃cannot　you　try　and　trust　meas　the　others　do？
Then　with　sudden　transition　he　pointed　to　the　map　behind　him。

〃Remember　the　gate　of　Villette；　and　the　corner　by　the　towpath。
Join　Ffoulkes　as　soon　as　may　be　and　send　Tony　on　his　way；　and　wait
for　news　of　Mademoiselle　Lange　some　time　to…night。〃

〃God　bless　you；　Percy！〃　said　Armand　involuntarily。　〃Good…bye！〃

〃Good…bye；　my　dear　fellow。　　Slip　on　your　disguise　as　quickly　as
you　can；　and　be　out　of　the　house　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。〃

He　accompanied　Armand　through　the　ante…room；　and　finally　closed
the　door　on