el dorado-第29章

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moment　have　given　half　his　fortune　for　knowledge　of　the　exact
time。

But　through　all　this　weary　waiting　he　was　never　for　a　moment　in
doubt。　　Unlike　Armand　St。　Just；　he　had　the　simplest；　most　perfect
faith　in　his　chief。　　He　had　been　Blakeney's　constant　companion　in
all　these　adventures　for　close　upon　four　years　now；　the　thought　of
failure；　however　vague；　never　once　entered　his　mind。

He　was　only　anxious　for　his　chief's　welfare。　　He　knew　that　he
would　succeed；　but　he　would　have　liked　to　have　spared　him　much　of
the　physical　fatigue　and　the　nerve…racking　strain　of　these　hours
that　lay　between　the　daring　deed　and　the　hope　of　safety。
Therefore　he　was　conscious　of　an　acute　tingling　of　his　nerves；
which　went　on　even　during　the　brief　patches　of　fitful　sleep；　and
through　the　numbness　that　invaded　his　whole　body　while　the　hours
dragged　wearily　and　slowly　along。

Then；　quite　suddenly；　he　felt　wakeful　and　alert；　quite　a
whileeven　before　he　heard　the　welcome　signalhe　knew；　with　a
curious；　subtle　sense　of　magnetism；　that　the　hour　had　come；　and
that　his　chief　was　somewhere　near　by；　not　very　far。

Then　he　heard　the　crya　seamew's　callrepeated　thrice　at
intervals；　and　five　minutes　later　something　loomed　out　of　the
darkness　quite　close　to　the　hind　wheels　of　the　cart。

〃Hist！　　Ffoulkes！〃　came　in　a　soft　whisper；　scarce　louder　than　the
wind。

〃Present！〃　came　in　quick　response。

〃Here；　help　me　to　lift　the　child　into　the　cart。　　He　is　asleep；　and
has　been　a　dead　weight　on　my　arm　for　close　on　an　hour　now。　　Have
you　a　dry　bit　of　sacking　or　something　to　lay　him　on？〃

〃Not　very　dry；　I　am　afraid。〃

With　tender　care　the　two　men　lifted　the　sleeping　little　King　of
France　into　the　rickety　cart。　　Blakeney　laid　his　cloak　over　him；
and　listened　for　awhile　to　the　slow　regular　breathing　of　the
child。

〃St。　Just　is　not　hereyou　know　that？〃　said　Sir　Andrew　after　a
while。

〃Yes；　I　knew　it；〃　replied　Blakeney　curtly。

It　was　characteristic　of　these　two　men　that　not　a　word　about　the
adventure　itself；　about　the　terrible　risks　and　dangers　of　the　past
few　hours；　was　exchanged　between　them。　　The　child　was　here　and　was
safe；　and　Blakeney　knew　the　whereabouts　of　St。　Justthat　was
enough　for　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes；　the　most　devoted　follower；　the
most　perfect　friend　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　would　ever　know。

Ffoulkes　now　went　to　the　horse；　detached　the　nose…bag；　and　undid
the　nooses　of　the　hobble　and　of　the　tether。

〃Will　you　get　in　now；　Blakeney？〃　he　said；　〃we　are　ready。〃

And　in　unbroken　silence　they　both　got　into　the　cart；　Blakeney
sitting　on　its　floor　beside　the　child；　and　Ffoulkes　gathering　the
reins　in　his　hands。

The　wheels　of　the　cart　and　the　slow　jog…trot　of　the　horse　made
scarcely　any　noise　in　the　mud　of　the　roads；　what　noise　they　did
make　was　effectually　drowned　by　the　soughing　of　the　wind　in　the
bare　branches　of　the　stunted　acacia　trees　that　edged　the　towpath
along　the　line　of　the　canal。

Sir　Andrew　had　studied　the　topography　of　this　desolate
neighbourhood　well　during　the　past　twenty…four　hours；　he　knew　of　a
detour　that　would　enable　him　to　avoid　the　La　Villette　gate　and　the
neighbourhood　of　the　fortifications；　and　yet　bring　him　out　soon　on
the　road　leading　to　St。　Germain。

Once　he　turned　to　ask　Blakeney　the　time。

〃It　must　be　close　on　ten　now；〃　replied　Sir　Percy。　〃Push　your　nag
along；　old　man。　　Tony　and　Hastings　will　be　waiting　for　us。〃

It　was　very　difficult　to　see　clearly　even　a　metre　or　two　ahead；
but　the　road　was　a　straight　one；　and　the　old　nag　seemed　to　know　it
almost　as　well　and　better　than　her　driver。　She　shambled　along　at
her　own　pace；　covering　the　ground　very　slowly　for　Ffoulkes's
burning　impatience。　　Once　or　twice　he　had　to　get　down　and　lead　her
over　a　rough　piece　of　ground。　　They　passed　several　groups　of
dismal；　squalid　houses；　in　some　of　which　a　dim　light　still　burned；
and　as　they　skirted　St。　Ouen　the　church　clock　slowly　tolled　the
hour　of　midnight。

But　for　the　greater　part　of　the　way　derelict；　uncultivated　spaces
of　terrains　vagues；　and　a　few　isolated　houses　lay　between　the　road
and　the　fortifications　of　the　city。　　The　darkness　of　the　night；
the　late　hour；　the　soughing　of　the　wind；　were　all　in　favour　of　the
adventurers；　and　a　coal…cart　slowly　trudging　along　in　this
neighbourhood；　with　two　labourers　sitting　in　it；　was　the　least
likely　of　any　vehicle　to　attract　attention。

Past　Clichy；　they　had　to　cross　the　river　by　the　rickety　wooden
bridge　that　was　unsafe　even　in　broad　daylight。　They　were　not　far
from　their　destination　now。　　Half　a　dozen　kilometres　further　on
they　would　be　leaving　Courbevoie　on　their　left；　and　then　the
sign…post　would　come　in　sight。　　After　that　the　spinney　just　off
the　road；　and　the　welcome　presence　of　Tony；　Hastings；　and　the
horses。　Ffoulkes　got　down　in　order　to　make　sure　of　the　way。　　He
walked　at　the　horse's　head　now；　fearful　lest　he　missed　the
cross…roads　and　the　sign…post。

The　horse　was　getting　over…tired；　it　had　covered　fifteen
kilometres；　and　it　was　close　on　three　o'clock　of　Monday　morning。

Another　hour　went　by　in　absolute　silence。　　Ffoulkes　and　Blakeney
took　turns　at　the　horse's　head。　　Then　at　last　they　reached　the
cross…roads；　even　through　the　darkness　the　sign…post　showed　white
against　the　surrounding　gloom。

〃This　looks　like　it；〃　murmured　Sir　Andrew。　　He　turned　the　horse's
head　sharply　towards　the　left；　down　a　narrower　road；　and　leaving
the　sign…post　behind　him。　　He　walked　slowly　along　for　another
quarter　of　an　hour；　then　Blakeney　called　a　halt。

〃The　spinney　must　be　sharp　on　our　right　now；〃　he　said。

He　got　down　from　the　cart；　and　while　Ffoulkes　remained　beside　the
horse；　he　plunged　into　the　gloom。　　A　moment　later　the　cry　of　the
seamew　rang　out　three　times　into　the　air。　It　was　answered　almost
immediately。

The　spinney　lay　on　the　right　of　the　road。　　Soon　the　soft　sounds
that　to　a　trained　ear　invariably　betray　the　presence　of　a　number
of　horses　reached　Ffoulkes'　straining　senses。　　He　took　his　old　nag
out　of　the　shafts；　and　the　shabby　harness　from　off　her；　then　he
turned　her　out　on　the　piece　of　waste　land　that　faced　the　spinney。
Some　one　would　find　her　in　the　morning；　her　and　the　cart　with　the
shabby　harness　laid　in　it；　and；　having　wondered　if　all　these
things　had　perchance　dropped　down　from　heaven；　would　quietly
appropriate　them；　and　mayhap　thank　much…maligned　heaven　for　its
gift。

Blakeney　in　the　meanwhile　had　lifted　the　sleeping　child　out　of　the
cart。　　Then　he　called　to　Sir　Andrew　and　led　the　way　across　the
road　and　into　the　spinney。

Five　minutes　later　Hastings　received　the　uncrowned　King　of　France
in　his　arms。

Unlike　Ffoulkes；　my　Lord　Tony　wanted　to　hear　all　about　the
adventure　of　this　afternoon。　　A　thorough　sportsman；　he　loved　a
good　story　of　hairbreadth　escapes；　of　dangers　cleverly　avoided；
risks　taken　and　conquered。

〃Just　in　ten　words；　Blakeney；〃　he　urged　entreatingly；　〃how　did　you
actually　get　the　boy　away？〃

Sir　Percy　laugheddespite　himselfat　the　young　man's　eagerness。

〃Next　time　we　meet；　Tony；〃　he　begged；　〃I　am　so　demmed　fatigued；
and　there's　this　beastly　rain〃

〃No；　nonow！　while　Hastings　sees　to　the　horses。　　I　could　not
exist　long　without　knowing；　and　we　are　well　sheltered　from　the
rain　under　this　tree。〃

〃Well；　then；　since　you　will　have　it；〃　he　began　with　a　laugh；　which
despite　the　weariness　and　anxiety　of　the　past　twenty…four　hours
had　forced　itself　to　his　lips；　〃I　have　been　sweeper　and
man…of…all…work　at　the　Temple　for　the　past　few　weeks；　you　must
know〃

〃No！〃　ejaculated　my　Lord　Tony　lustily。　　〃By　gum！〃

〃Indeed；　you　old　sybarite；　whilst　you　were　enjoying　yourself
heaving　coal　on　the　canal　wharf；　I　was　scrubbing　floors；　lighting
fires；　and　doing　a　number　of　odd　jobs　for　a　lot　of　demmed
murdering　villains；　and　〃he　added　under　his　breath〃
incidentally；　too；　for　our　league。　　Whenever　I　had　an　hour　or　two
off　duty　I　spent　them　in　my　lodgings；　and　asked　you　all　to　come
and　meet　me　there。〃

〃By　Gad；　Blakeney！　　Then　the　day　before　yesterday？when　we　all
met〃

〃I　had　just　had　a　bathsorely　needed；　I　can　tell　you。　I　had　been
cleaning　boots　half　the　day；　but　I　had　heard　that　the　Simons　were
removing　from　the　Temple　on　the　Sunday；　and　had　obtained　an　order
from　them　to　help　them　shift　their　furniture。〃

〃Cleaning　boots！〃　murmured　my　Lord　Tony　with　a　chuckle。　　〃Well！
and　then？〃

〃Well；　then　everything　worked　out　splendidly。　　You　see　by　that
time　I　was　a　well…known　figure　in　the　Temple。　　Heron　knew　me　well。
I　used　to　be　his　lanthorn…bearer　when　at　nights　he　visited　that
poor　mite　in　his　prison。　　It　was　　'Dupont；　here！　　Dupont　there！'
all　day　long。　　'Light　the　fire　in　the　office；　Dupont！　　Dupont；
brush　my　coat！　　Dupont；　fetch　me　a　light！'　　When　the　Simons　wanted
to　move　their　household　goods　they　called　loudly　for　Dupont。　　I
got　a　covered　laundry　cart；　and　I　brought　a　dummy　with　me　to
substitute　for　the　child。　　Simon　himself　knew　nothing　of　this；　but
Madame　was　in　my　pay。　The　dummy　was　just　splendid；　with　real　hair
on　its　head；　Madame　helped　me　to　substitute　it　for　the　child；　we
laid　it　on　the　sofa　and　covered　it　over　with　a　rug；　even　while
those　brutes　Heron　and　Cochefer　were　on　the　landing　outside；　and
we　stuffed　His　Majesty　the　King　of　France　into　a　linen　basket。
The　room　was　badly　lighted；　and　any　one　would　have　been　deceived。
No　one　was　suspicious　of　that　type　of　trickery；　so　it　went　off
splendidly。　　I　moved　the　furniture　of　the　Simons　out　of　the　Tower。
His　Majesty　King　Louis　XVII　was　still　concealed　in　the　linen
basket。　I　drove　the　Simons　to　their　new　lodgingsthe　man　still
suspects　nothingand　there　I　helped　them　to　unload　the
furniturewith　the　exception　of　the　linen　basket；　of　course。
After　that　I　drove　my　laundry　cart　to　a　house　I　knew　of　and
collected　a　number　of　linen　baskets；　which　I　had　arranged　should
be　in　readiness　for　me。　　Thus　loaded　up　I　left　Paris　by　the
Vincennes　gate；　and　drove　as　far　as　Bagnolet；　where　there　is　no
road　except　past　the　octroi；　where　the　officials　might　have　proved
unpleasant。　　So　I　lifted　His　Majesty　out　of　the　basket　and　we
walked　on　hand　in　hand　in　the　darkness　and　the　rain　until　the　poor
little　feet　gave　out。　　Then　the　little　fellowwho　has　been
wonderfully　plucky　throughout；　indeed；　more　a　Capet　than　a
Bourbonsnuggled　up　in　my　arms　and　went　fast　asleep；
andandwell；　I　think　that's　all；　for　here　we　are；　you　see。〃

〃But　if　Madame　Simon　had　not　been　amenable　to　bribery？〃　suggested
Lord　Tony　after　a　moment's　silence。

〃Then　I　should　have　had　to　think　of　something　else。〃

〃If　during　the　removal　of　the　furniture　Heron　had　remained
resolutely　in　the　room？〃

〃Then；　again；　I　should　have　had　to　think　of　something　else；　but
remember　that　in　life　there　is　always　one　supreme　moment　when
Chancewho　is　credited　to　have　but　one　hair　on　her　headstands
by　you　for　a　brief　space　of　time；　sometimes　that　space　is
infinitesimalone　minute；　a　few　secondsjust　the　time　to　seize
Chance　by　that　one　hair。　　So　I　pray　you　all　give　me　no　credit　in
this　or　any　other　matter　in　which　we　all　work　together；　but　the
quickness　of　seizing　Chance　by　the　hair　during　the　brief　moment
when　she　stands　by　my　side。　　If　Madame　Simon　had　been　un…amenable；
if　Heron　had　remained　in　the　room　all　the　time；　if　Cochefer　had
had　two　l