el dorado-第23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！


an　hour　he　was　dressed；　looking　a　fairly　good　imitation　of　a
labourer　out　of　work。

He　went　to　a　humble　eating　house　of　which　he　knew；　and　there；
having　ordered　some　hot　coffee　with　a　hunk　of　bread；　he　set
himself　to　think。

It　was　quite　a　usual　thing　these　days　for　relatives　and　friends　of
prisoners　to　go　wandering　about　from　prison　to　prison　to　find　out
where　the　loved　ones　happened　to　be　detained。　　The　prisons　were
over　full　just　now；　convents；　monasteries；　and　public　institutions
had　all　been　requisitioned　by　the　Government　for　the　housing　of
the　hundreds　of　so…called　traitors　who　had　been　arrested　on　the
barest　suspicion；　or　at　the　mere　denunciation　of　an　evil…wisher。

There　were　the　Abbaye　and　the　Luxembourg；　the　erstwhile　convents
of　the　Visitation　and　the　Sacre…Coeur；　the　cloister　of　the
Oratorians；　the　Salpetriere；　and　the　St。　Lazare　hospitals；　and
there　was；　of　course；　the　Temple；　and；　lastly；　the　Conciergerie；
to　which　those　prisoners　were　brought　whose　trial　would　take　place
within　the　next　few　days；　and　whose　condemnation　was　practically
assured。

Persons　under　arrest　at　some　of　the　other　prisons　did　sometimes
come　out　of　them　alive；　but　the　Conciergerie　was　only　the
ante…chamber　of　the　guillotine。

Therefore　Armand's　idea　was　to　visit　the　Conciergerie　first。　　The
sooner　he　could　reassure　himself　that　Jeanne　was　not　in　immediate
danger　the　better　would　he　be　able　to　endure　the　agony　of　that
heart…breaking　search；　that　knocking　at　every　door　in　the　hope　of
finding　his　beloved。

If　Jeanne　was　not　in　the　Conciergerie；　then　there　might　be　some
hope　that　she　was　only　being　temporarily　detained；　and　through
Armand's　excited　brain　there　had　already　flashed　the　thought　that
mayhap　the　Committee　of　General　Security　would　release　her　if　he
gave　himself　up。

These　thoughts；　and　the　making　of　plans；　fortified　him　mentally
and　physically；　he　even　made　a　great　effort　to　eat　and　drink；
knowing　that　his　bodily　strength　must　endure　if　it　was　going　to　he
of　service　to　Jeanne。

He　reached　the　Quai　de　l'Horloge　soon　after　nine。　　The　grim；
irregular　walls　of　the　Chatelet　and　the　house　of　Justice　loomed
from　out　the　mantle　of　mist　that　lay　on　the　river　banks。　　Armand
skirted　the　square　clock…tower；　and　passed　through　the　monumental
gateways　of　the　house　of　Justice。

He　knew　that　his　best　way　to　the　prison　would　be　through　the　halls
and　corridors　of　the　Tribunal；　to　which　the　public　had　access
whenever　the　court　was　sitting。　　The　sittings　began　at　ten；　and
already　the　usual　crowd　of　idlers　were　assemblingmen　and　women
who　apparently　had　no　other　occupation　save　to　come　day　after　day
to　this　theatre　of　horrors　and　watch　the　different　acts　of　the
heartrending　dramas　that　were　enacted　here　with　a　kind　of　awful
monotony。

Armand　mingled　with　the　crowd　that　stood　about　the　courtyard；　and
anon　moved　slowly　up　the　gigantic　flight　of　stone　steps；　talking
lightly　on　indifferent　subjects。　There　was　quite　a　goodly
sprinkling　of　workingmen　amongst　this　crowd；　and　Armand　in　his
toil…stained　clothes　attracted　no　attention。

Suddenly　a　word　reached　his　earjust　a　name　flippantly　spoken　by
spiteful　lipsand　it　changed　the　whole　trend　of　his　thoughts。
Since　he　had　risen　that　morning　he　had　thought　of　nothing　but　of
Jeanne；　andin　connection　with　herof　Percy　and　his　vain　quest
of　her。　　Now　that　name　spoken　by　some　one　unknown　brought　his　mind
back　to　more　definite　thoughts　of　his　chief。

〃Capet！〃　the　nameintended　as　an　insult；　but　actually　merely
irrelevantwhereby　the　uncrowned　little　King　of　France　was
designated　by　the　revolutionary　party。

Armand　suddenly　recollected　that　to…day　was　Sunday；　the　19th　of
January。　　He　had　lost　count　of　days　and　of　dates　lately；　but　the
name；　〃Capet；〃　had　brought　everything　back：　　the　child　in　the
Temple；　the　conference　in　Blakeney's　lodgings；　the　plans　for　the
rescue　of　the　boy。　　That　was　to　take　place　to…daySunday；　the
19th。　　The　Simons　would　be　moving　from　the　Temple；　at　what　hour
Blakeney　did　not　know；　but　it　would　be　today；　and　he　would　be
watching　his　opportunity。

Now　Armand　understood　everything；　a　great　wave　of　bitterness　swept
over　his　soul。　　Percy　had　forgotten　Jeanne！　　He　was　busy　thinking
of　the　child　in　the　Temple；　and　whilst　Armand　had　been　eating　out
his　heart　with　anxiety；　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；　true　only　to　his
mission；　and　impatient　of　all　sentiment　that　interfered　with　his
schemes；　had　left　Jeanne　to　pay　with　her　life　for　the　safety　of
the　uncrowned　King。

But　the　bitterness　did　not　last　long；　on　the　contrary；　a　kind　of
wild　exultation　took　its　place。　　If　Percy　had　forgotten；　then
Armand　could　stand　by　Jeanne　alone。　　It　was　better　so！　　He　would
save　the　loved　one；　it　was　his　duty　and　his　right　to　work　for　her
sake。　　Never　for　a　moment　did　he　doubt　that　he　could　save　her；
that　his　life　would　be　readily　accepted　in　exchange　for　hers。

The　crowd　around　him　was　moving　up　the　monumental　steps；　and
Armand　went　with　the　crowd。　　It　lacked　but　a　few　minutes　to　ten
now；　soon　the　court　would　begin　to　sit。　In　the　olden　days；　when　he
was　studying　for　the　law；　Armand　had　often　wandered　about　at　will
along　the　corridors　of　the　house　of　Justice。　　He　knew　exactly
where　the　different　prisons　were　situated　about　the　buildings；　and
how　to　reach　the　courtyards　where　the　prisoners　took　their　daily
exercise。

To　watch　those　aristos　who　were　awaiting　trial　and　death　taking
their　recreation　in　these　courtyards　had　become　one　of　the　sights
of　Paris。　　Country　cousins　on　a　visit　to　the　city　were　brought
hither　for　entertainment。　　Tall　iron　gates　stood　between　the
public　and　the　prisoners；　and　a　row　of　sentinels　guarded　these
gates；　but　if　one　was　enterprising　and　eager　to　see；　one　could
glue　one's　nose　against　the　ironwork　and　watch　the　ci…devant
aristocrats　in　threadbare　clothes　trying　to　cheat　their　horror　of
death　by　acting　a　farce　of　light…heartedness　which　their　wan　faces
and　tear…dimmed　eyes　effectually　belied。

All　this　Armand　knew；　and　on　this　he　counted。　　For　a　little　while
he　joined　the　crowd　in　the　Salle　des　Pas　Perdus；　and　wandered　idly
up　and　down　the　majestic　colonnaded　hall。　He　even　at　one　time
formed　part　of　the　throng　that　watched　one　of　those　quick　tragedies
that　were　enacted　within　the　great　chamber　of　the　court。　　A　number
of　prisoners　brought　in；　in　a　batch；　hurried　interrogations；
interrupted　answers；　a　quick　indictment；　monstrous　in　its　flaring
injustice；　spoken　by　Foucquier…Tinville；　the　public　prosecutor；
and　listened　to　in　all　seriousness　by　men　who　dared　to　call
themselves　judges　of　their　fellows。

The　accused　had　walked　down　the　Champs　Elysees　without　wearing　a
tricolour　cockade；　the　other　had　invested　some　savings　in　an
English　industrial　enterprise；　yet　another　had　sold　public　funds；
causing　them　to　depreciate　rather　suddenly　in　the　market！

Sometimes　from　one　of　these　unfortunates　led　thus　wantonly　to
butchery　there　would　come　an　excited　protest；　or　from　a　woman
screams　of　agonised　entreaty。　　But　these　were　quickly　silenced　by
rough　blows　from　the　butt…ends　of　muskets；　and　condemnations
wholesale　sentences　of　deathwere　quickly　passed　amidst　the
cheers　of　the　spectators　and　the　howls　of　derision　from　infamous
jury　and　judge。

Oh！　the　mockery　of　it　allthe　awful；　the　hideous　ignominy；　the
blot　of　shame　that　would　forever　sully　the　historic　name　of
France。　　Armand；　sickened　with　horror；　could　not　bear　more　than　a
few　minutes　of　this　monstrous　spectacle。　　The　same　fate　might　even
now　be　awaiting　Jeanne。　　Among　the　next　batch　of　victims　to　this
sacrilegious　butchery　he　might　suddenly　spy　his　beloved　with　her
pale　face　and　cheeks　stained　with　her　tears。

He　fled　from　the　great　chamber；　keeping　just　a　sufficiency　of
presence　of　mind　to　join　a　knot　of　idlers　who　were　drifting
leisurely　towards　the　corridors。　　He　followed　in　their　wake　and
soon　found　himself　in　the　long　Galerie　des　Prisonniers；　along　the
flagstones　of　which　two　days　ago　de　Batz　had　followed　his　guide
towards　the　lodgings　of　Heron。

On　his　left　now　were　the　arcades　shut　off　from　the　courtyard
beyond　by　heavy　iron　gates。　　Through　the　ironwork　Armand　caught
sight　of　a　number　of　women　walking　or　sitting　in　the　courtyard。
He　heard　a　man　next　to　him　explaining　to　his　friend　that　these
were　the　female　prisoners　who　would　be　brought　to　trial　that　day；
and　he　felt　that　his　heart　must　burst　at　the　thought　that　mayhap
Jeanne　would　be　among　them。

He　elbowed　his　way　cautiously　to　the　front　rank。　　Soon　he　found
himself　beside　a　sentinel　who；　with　a　good…humoured　jest；　made　way
for　him　that　he　might　watch　the　aristos。　　Armand　leaned　against
the　grating；　and　his　every　sense　was　concentrated　in　that　of
sight。

At　first　he　could　scarcely　distinguish　one　woman　from　another
amongst　the　crowd　that　thronged　the　courtyard；　and　the　close
ironwork　hindered　his　view　considerably。　The　women　looked　almost
like　phantoms　in　the　grey　misty　air；　gliding　slowly　along　with
noiseless　tread　on　the　flag…stones。

Presently；　however；　his　eyes；　which　mayhap　were　somewhat　dim　with
tears；　became　more　accustomed　to　the　hazy　grey　light　and　the
moving　figures　that　looked　so　like　shadows。　　He　could　distinguish
isolated　groups　now；　women　and　girls　sitting　together　under　the
colonnaded　arcades；　some　reading；　others　busy；　with　trembling
fingers；　patching　and　darning　a　poor；　torn　gown。　　Then　there　were
others　who　were　actually　chatting　and　laughing　together；　andoh；
the　pity　of　it！　the　pity　and　the　shame！a　few　children；　shrieking
with　delight；　were　playing　hide　and　seek　in　and　out　amongst　the
columns。

And；　between　them　all；　in　and　out　like　the　children　at　play；
unseen；　yet　familiar　to　all；　the　spectre　of　Death；　scythe　and
hour…glass　in　hand；　wandered；　majestic　and　sure。

Armand's　very　soul　was　in　his　eyes。　　So　far　he　had　not　yet　caught
sight　of　his　beloved；　and　slowlyvery　slowlya　ray　of　hope　was
filtering　through　the　darkness　of　his　despair。

The　sentinel；　who　had　stood　aside　for　him；　chaffed　him　for　his
intentness。

〃Have　you　a　sweetheart　among　these　aristos；　citizen？〃　he　asked。
〃You　seem　to　be　devouring　them　with　your　eyes。〃

Armand；　with　his　rough　clothes　soiled　with　coal…dust；　his　face
grimy　and　streaked　with　sweat；　certainly　looked　to　have　but　little
in　common　with　the　ci…devant　aristos　who　formed　the　hulk　of　the
groups　in　the　courtyard。　　He　looked　up；　the　soldier　was　regarding
him　with　obvious　amusement；　and　at　sight　of　Armand's　wild；　anxious
eyes　he　gave　vent　to　a　coarse　jest。

〃Have　I　made　a　shrewd　guess；　citizen？〃　he　said。　　〃Is　she　among
that　lot？〃

〃I　do　not　know　where　she　is；〃　said　Armand　almost　involuntarily。

〃Then　why　don't　you　find　out？〃　queried　the　soldier。

The　man　was　not　speaking　altogether　unkindly。　Armand；　devoured
with　the　maddening　desire　to　know；　threw　the　last　fragment　of
prudence　to　the　wind。　　He　assumed　a　more　careless　air；　trying　to
look　as　like　a　country　bumpkin　in　love　as　he　could。

〃I　would　like　to　find　out；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　don't　know　where　to
inquire。　　My　sweetheart　has　certainly　left　her　home；〃　he　added
lightly；　〃some　say　that　she　has　been　false　to　me；　but　I　think
that；　mayhap；　she　has　been　arrested。〃

〃Well；　then；　you　gaby；〃　said　the　soldier　good…humouredl