el dorado-第26章

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other　hand；　will　effect　Mademoiselle　Lange's　release。〃

〃H'm！〃　mused　Chauvelin　again；　〃it　sounds　feasible。〃

〃It　does！　it　does！〃　rejoined　Armand；　whose　excitement　was　at
fever…pitch。　　〃My　arrest；　my　condemnation；　my　death；　will　be　of
vast　deal　more　importance　to　you　than　that　of　a　young　and　innocent
girl　against　whom　unlikely　charges　would　have　to　be　tricked　up；
and　whose　acquittal　mayhap　public　feeling　might　demand。　　As　for
me；　I　shall　be　an　easy　prey；　my　known　counter…revolutionary
principles；　my　sister's　marriage　with　a　foreigner〃

〃Your　connection　with　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；〃　suggested　Chauvelin
blandly。

〃Quite　so。　　I　should　not　defend　myself〃

〃And　your　enigmatical　friend　would　not　attempt　your　rescue。　　C'est
entendu；〃　said　Chauvelin　with　his　wonted　blandness。　　〃Then；　my
dear；　enthusiastic　young　friend；　shall　we　adjourn　to　the　office　of
my　colleague；　citizen　Heron；　who　is　chief　agent　of　the　Committee
of　General　Security；　and　will　receive　yourdid　you　say
confession？and　note　the　conditions　under　which　you　place
yourself　absolutely　in　the　hands　of　the　Public　Prosecutor　and
subsequently　of　the　executioner。　　Is　that　it？〃

Armand　was　too　full　of　schemes；　too　full　of　thoughts　of　Jeanne　to
note　the　tone　of　quiet　irony　with　which　Chauvelin　had　been
speaking　all　along。　　With　the　unreasoning　egoism　of　youth　he　was
quite　convinced　that　his　own　arrest；　his　own　affairs　were　as
important　to　this　entire　nation　in　revolution　as　they　were　to
himself。　　At　moments　like　these　it　is　difficult　to　envisage　a
desperate　situation　clearly；　and　to　a　young　man　in　love　the　fate
of　the　beloved　never　seems　desperate　whilst　he　himself　is　alive
and　ready　for　every　sacrifice　for　her　sake。　　〃My　life　for　hers〃　is
the　sublime　if　often　foolish　battle…cry　that　has　so　often　resulted
in　whole…sale　destruction。　　Armand　at　this　moment；　when　he　fondly
believed　that　he　was　making　a　bargain　with　the　most　astute；　most
unscrupulous　spy　this　revolutionary　Government　had　in　its
payArmand　just　then　had　absolutely　forgotten　his　chief；　his
friends；　the　league　of　mercy　and　help　to　which　he　belonged。

Enthusiasm　and　the　spirit　of　self…sacrifice　were　carrying　him
away。　　He　watched　his　enemy　with　glowing　eyes　as　one　who　looks　on
the　arbiter　of　his　fate。

Chauvelin；　without　another　word；　beckoned　to　him　to　follow。　　He
led　the　way　out　of　the　lodge；　then；　turning　sharply　to　his　left；
he　reached　the　wide　quadrangle　with　the　covered　passage　running
right　round　it；　the　same　which　de　Batz　had　traversed　two　evenings
ago　when　he　went　to　visit　Heron。

Armand；　with　a　light　heart　and　springy　step；　followed　him　as　if　he
were　going　to　a　feast　where　he　would　meet　Jeanne；　where　he　would
kneel　at　her　feet；　kiss　her　hands；　and　lead　her　triumphantly　to
freedom　and　to　happiness。



CHAPTER　XVIII
THE　REMOVAL

Chauvelin　no　longer　made　any　pretence　to　hold　Armand　by　the　arm。
By　temperament　as　well　as　by　profession　a　spy；　there　was　one
subject　at　least　which　he　had　mastered　thoroughly：　that　was　the
study　of　human　nature。　　Though　occasionally　an　exceptionally
complex　mental　organisation　baffled　himas　in　the　case　of　Sir
Percy　Blakeneyhe　prided　himself；　and　justly；　too；　on　reading
natures　like　that　of　Armand　St。　Just　as　he　would　an　open　book。

The　excitable　disposition　of　the　Latin　races　he　knew　out　and　out；
he　knew　exactly　how　far　a　sentimental　situation　would　lead　a　young
Frenchman　like　Armand；　who　was　by　disposition　chivalrous；　and　by
temperament　essentially　passionate。　　Above　all　things；　he　knew
when　and　how　far　he　could　trust　a　man　to　do　either　a　sublime
action　or　an　essentially　foolish　one。

Therefore　he　walked　along　contentedly　now；　not　even　looking　back
to　see　whether　St。　Just　was　following　him。　He　knew　that　he　did。

His　thoughts　only　dwelt　on　the　young　enthusiastin　his　mind　he
called　him　the　young　foolin　order　to　weigh　in　the　balance　the
mighty　possibilities　that　would　accrue　from　the　present　sequence
of　events。　　The　fixed　idea　ever　working　in　the　man's　scheming
brain　had　already　transformed　a　vague　belief　into　a　certainty。
That　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　was　in　Paris　at　the　present　moment
Chauvelin　had　now　become　convinced。　　How　far　he　could　turn　the
capture　of　Armand　St。　Just　to　the　triumph　of　his　own　ends　remained
to　be　seen。

But　this　he　did　know：　the　Scarlet　Pimpernelthe　man　whom　he　had
learned　to　know；　to　dread；　and　even　in　a　grudging　manner　to
admirewas　not　like　to　leave　one　of　his　followers　in　the　lurch。
Marguerite's　brother　in　the　Temple　would　be　the　surest　decoy　for
the　elusive　meddler　who　still；　and　in　spite　of　all　care　and
precaution；　continued　to　baffle　the　army　of　spies　set　upon　his
track。

Chauvelin　could　hear　Armand's　light；　elastic　footsteps　resounding
behind　him　on　the　flagstones。　　A　world　of　intoxicating
possibilities　surged　up　before　him。　　Ambition；　which　two
successive　dire　failures　had　atrophied　in　his　breast；　once　more
rose　up　buoyant　and　hopeful。　　Once　he　had　sworn　to　lay　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel　by　the　heels；　and　that　oath　was　not　yet　wholly
forgotten；　it　had　lain　dormant　after　the　catastrophe　of　Boulogne；
but　with　the　sight　of　Armand　St。　Just　it　had　re…awakened　and
confronted　him　again　with　the　strength　of　a　likely　fulfilment。

The　courtyard　looked　gloomy　and　deserted。　　The　thin　drizzle　which
still　fell　from　a　persistently　leaden　sky　effectually　held　every
outline　of　masonry；　of　column；　or　of　gate　hidden　as　beneath　a
shroud。　　The　corridor　which　skirted　it　all　round　was　ill…lighted
save　by　an　occasional　oil…lamp　fixed　in　the　wall。

But　Chauvelin　knew　his　way　well。　　Heron's　lodgings　gave　on　the
second　courtyard；　the　Square　du　Nazaret；　and　the　way　thither　led
past　the　main　square　tower；　in　the　top　floor　of　which　the
uncrowned　King　of　France　eked　out　his　miserable　existence　as　the
plaything　of　a　rough　cobbler　and　his　wife。

Just　beneath　its　frowning　bastions　Chauvelin　turned　back　towards
Armand。　　He　pointed　with　a　careless　hand　up…wards　to　the　central
tower。

〃We　have　got　little　Capet　in　there；〃　he　said　dryly。　〃Your
chivalrous　Scarlet　Pimpernel　has　not　ventured　in　these　precincts
yet；　you　see。〃

Armand　was　silent。　　He　had　no　difficulty　in　looking　unconcerned；
his　thoughts　were　so　full　of　Jeanne　that　he　cared　but　little　at
this　moment　for　any　Bourbon　king　or　for　the　destinies　of　France。

Now　the　two　men　reached　the　postern　gate。　　A　couple　of　sentinels
were　standing　by；　but　the　gate　itself　was　open；　and　from　within
there　came　the　sound　of　bustle　and　of　noise；　of　a　good　deal　of
swearing；　and　also　of　loud　laughter。

The　guard…room　gave　on　the　left　of　the　gate；　and　the　laughter　came
from　there。　　It　was　brilliantly　lighted；　and　Armand；　peering　in；
in　the　wake　of　Chauvelin；　could　see　groups　of　soldiers　sitting　and
standing　about。　　There　was　a　table　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　and
on　it　a　number　of　jugs　and　pewter　mugs；　packets　of　cards；　and
overturned　boxes　of　dice。

But　the　bustle　did　not　come　from　the　guard…room；　it　came　from　the
landing　and　the　stone　stairs　beyond。

Chauvelin；　apparently　curious；　had　passed　through　the　gate；　and
Armand　followed　him。　　The　light　from　the　open　door　of　the
guard…room　cut　sharply　across　the　landing；　making　the　gloom　beyond
appear　more　dense　and　almost　solid。　　From　out　the　darkness；
fitfully　intersected　by　a　lanthorn　apparently　carried　to　and　fro；
moving　figures　loomed　out　ghost…like　and　weirdly　gigantic。　　Soon
Armand　distinguished　a　number　of　large　objects　that　encumbered　the
landing；　and　as　he　and　Chauvelin　left　the　sharp　light　of　the
guard…room　'behind　them；　he　could　see　that　the　large　objects　were
pieces　of　furniture　of　every　shape　and　size；　a　wooden
bedsteaddismantledleaned　against　the　wall；　a　black　horsehair
sofa　blocked　the　way　to　the　tower　stairs；　and　there　were
numberless　chairs　and　several　tables　piled　one　on　the　top　of　the
other。

In　the　midst　of　this　litter　a　stout；　flabby…cheeked　man　stood；
apparently　giving　directions　as　to　its　removal　to　persons　at
present　unseen。

〃Hola；　Papa　Simon！〃　exclaimed　Chauvelin　jovially；　〃moving　out
to…day？　　What？〃

〃Yes；　thank　the　Lord！if　there　be　a　Lord！〃　retorted　the　other
curtly。　　〃Is　that　you；　citizen　Chauvelin？〃

〃In　person；　citizen。　　I　did　not　know　you　were　leaving　quite　so
soon。　　Is　citizen　Heron　anywhere　about？〃

〃Just　left；〃　replied　Simon。　　〃He　had　a　last　look　at　Capet　just
before　my　wife　locked　the　brat　up　in　the　inner　room。　　Now　he's
gone　back　to　his　lodgings。〃

A　man　carrying　a　chest；　empty　of　its　drawers；　on　his　back　now　came
stumbling　down　the　tower　staircase。　　Madame　Simon　followed　close
on　his　heels；　steadying　the　chest　with　one　hand。

〃We　had　better　begin　to　load　up　the　cart；〃　she　called　to　her
husband　in　a　high…pitched　querulous　voice；　〃the　corridor　is
getting　too　much　encumbered。〃

She　looked　suspiciously　at　Chauvelin　and　at　Armand；　and　when　she
encountered　the　former's　bland；　unconcerned　gaze　she　suddenly
shivered　and　drew　her　black　shawl　closer　round　her　shoulders。

〃Bah！〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　be　glad　to　get　out　of　this　God…forsaken
hole。　　I　hate　the　very　sight　of　these　walls。〃

〃Indeed；　the　citizeness　does　not　look　over　robust　in　health；〃　said
Chauvelin　with　studied　politeness。　　〃The　stay　in　the　tower　did
not；　mayhap；　bring　forth　all　the　fruits　of　prosperity　which　she
had　anticipated。〃

The　woman　eyed　him　with　dark　suspicion　lurking　in　her　hollow　eyes。

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　citizen；〃　she　said　with　a　shrug　of
her　wide　shoulders。

〃Oh！　I　meant　nothing；〃　rejoined　Chauvelin；　smiling。　　〃I　am　so
interested　in　your　removal；　busy　man　as　I　am；　it　has　amused　me　to
watch　you。　　Whom　have　you　got　to　help　you　with　the　furniture？〃

〃Dupont；　the　man…of…all…work；　from　the　concierge；〃　said　Simon
curtly。　　〃Citizen　Heron　would　not　allow　any　one　to　come　in　from
the　outside。〃

〃Rightly　too。　　Have　the　new　commissaries　come　yet？

〃Only　citizen　Cochefer。　　He　is　waiting　upstairs　for　the　others。〃

〃And　Capet？〃

〃He　is　all　safe。　　Citizen　Heron　came　to　see　him；　and　then　he　told
me　to　lock　the　little　vermin　up　in　the　inner　room。　Citizen
Cochefer　had　just　arrived　by　that　time；　and　he　has　remained　in
charge。〃

During　all　this　while　the　man　with　the　chest　on　his　back　was
waiting　for　orders。　　Bent　nearly　double；　he　was　grumbling　audibly
at　his　uncomfortable　position。

〃Does　the　citizen　want　to　break　my　back？〃　he　muttered。

〃We　had　best　get　alongquoi？〃

He　asked　if　he　should　begin　to　carry　the　furniture　out　into　the
street。

〃Two　sous　have　I　got　to　pay　every　ten　minutes　to　the　lad　who　holds
my　nag；〃　he　said；　muttering　under　his　breath；　〃we　shall　be　all
night　at　this　rate。〃

〃Begin　to　load　then；〃　commanded　Simon　gruffly。　〃Here！begin　with
this　sofa。〃

〃You'll　have　to　give　me　a　hand　with　that；〃　said　the　man。　　〃Wait　a
bit；　I'll　just　see　that　everything　is　all　right　in　the　cart。　　I'll
be　back　directly。〃

〃Take　something　with　you　then　as　you　are　going　down；〃　said　Madame
Simon　in　her　querulous　voice。

The　man　picked　up　a　basket　of　linen　that　stood　in　the　angle　by　the
door。　　He　hoisted　it　on　his　back　and　shuffled　away　with　it　across
the　landing　and　out　through　the　gate。

〃How　did　Capet　like　parting　from　his　papa　and　maman？〃　asked
Chauvelin　with　a　laugh。

〃H'm！〃　growled　Simon　laconically。　　〃He　will　fin