el dorado-第30章

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if　Heron　had　remained　in　the　room　all　the　time；　if　Cochefer　had
had　two　looks　at　the　dummy　instead　of　onewell；　then；　something
else　would　have　helped　me；　something　would　have　occurred；
somethingI　know　not　whatbut　surely　something　which　Chance
meant　to　be　on　our　side；　if　only　we　were　quick　enough　to　seize
itand　so　you　see　how　simple　it　all　is。〃

So　simple；　in　fact；　that　it　was　sublime。　　The　daring；　the　pluck；
the　ingenuity　and；　above　all；　the　super…human　heroism　and
endurance　which　rendered　the　hearers　of　this　simple　narrative；
simply　told；　dumb　with　admiration。

Their　thoughts　now　were　beyond　verbal　expression。

〃How　soon　was　the　hue　and　cry　for　the　child　about　the　streets？〃
asked　Tony；　after　a　moment's　silence。

〃It　was　not　out　when　I　left　the　gates　of　Paris；〃　said　Blakeney
meditatively；　〃so　quietly　has　the　news　of　the　escape　been　kept；
that　I　am　wondering　what　devilry　that　brute　Heron　can　be　after。
And　now　no　more　chattering；〃　he　continued　lightly；　〃all　to　horse；
and　you；　Hastings；　have　a　care。　　The　destinies　of　France；　mayhap；
will　be　lying　asleep　in　your　arms。〃

〃But　you；　Blakeney？〃　exclaimed　the　three　men　almost
simultaneously。

〃I　am　not　going　with　you。　　I　entrust　the　child　to　you。　For　God's
sake　guard　him　well！　　Ride　with　him　to　Mantes。　You　should　arrive
there　at　about　ten　o'clock。　　One　of　you　then　go　straight　to　No。9
Rue　la　Tour。　　Ring　the　bell；　an　old　man　will　answer　it。　　Say　the
one　word　to　him；　'Enfant'；　he　will　reply；　'De　roi！'　　Give　him　the
child；　and　may　Heaven　bless　you　all　for　the　help　you　have　given　me
this　night！〃

〃But　you；　Blakeney？〃　reiterated　Tony　with　a　note　of　deep　anxiety
in　his　fresh　young　voice。

〃I　am　straight　for　Paris；〃　he　said　quietly。

〃Impossible！〃

〃Therefore　feasible。〃

〃But　why？　　Percy；　in　the　name　of　Heaven；　do　you　realise　what　you
are　doing？〃

〃Perfectly。〃

〃They'll　not　leave　a　stone　unturned　to　find　youthey　know　by　now；
believe　me；　that　your　hand　did　this　trick。〃

〃I　know　that。〃

〃And　yet　you　mean　to　go　back？〃

〃And　yet　I　am　going　back。〃

〃Blakeney！〃

〃It's　no　use；　Tony。　　Armand　is　in　Paris。　　I　saw　him　in　the
corridor　of　the　Temple　prison　in　the　company　of　Chauvelin。〃

〃Great　God！〃　exclaimed　Lord　Hastings。

The　others　were　silent。　　What　was　the　use　of　arguing？　One　of
themselves　was　in　danger。　　Armand　St。　Just；　the　brother　of
Marguerite　Blakeney！　　Was　it　likely　that　Percy　would　leave　him　in
the　lurch。

〃One　of　us　will　stay　with　you；　of　course？〃　asked　Sir　Andrew　after
awhile。

〃Yes！　I　want　Hastings　and　Tony　to　take　the　child　to　Mantes；　then
to　make　all　possible　haste　for　Calais；　and　there　to　keep　in　close
touch　with　the　Day…Dream；　the　skipper　will　contrive　to　open
communication。　　Tell　him　to　remain　in　Calais　waters。　　I　hope　I　may
have　need　of　him　soon。

〃And　now　to　horse；　both　of　you；〃　he　added　gaily。　　〃Hastings；　when
you　are　ready；　I　will　hand　up　the　child　to　you。　He　will　be　quite
safe　on　the　pillion　with　a　strap　round　him　and　you。〃

Nothing　more　was　said　after　that。　　The　orders　were　given；　there
was　nothing　to　do　but　to　obey；　and　the　uncrowned　King　of　France
was　not　yet　out　of　danger。　　Hastings　and　Tony　led　two　of　the
horses　out　of　the　spinney；　at　the　roadside　they　mounted；　and　then
the　little　lad　for　whose　sake　so　much　heroism；　such　selfless
devotion　had　been　expended；　was　hoisted　up；　still　half　asleep；　on
the　pillion　in　front　of　my　Lord　Hastings。

〃Keep　your　arm　round　him；〃　admonished　Blakeney；　〃your　horse　looks
quiet　enough。　　But　put　on　speed　as　far　as　Mantes；　and　may　Heaven
guard　you　both！〃

The　two　men　pressed　their　heels　to　their　horses'　flanks；　the
beasts　snorted　and　pawed　the　ground　anxious　to　start。　There　were　a
few　whispered　farewells；　two　loyal　hands　were　stretched　out　at　the
last；　eager　to　grasp　the　leader's　hand。

Then　horses　and　riders　disappeared　in　the　utter　darkness　which
comes　before　the　dawn。

Blakeney　and　Ffoulkes　stood　side　by　side　in　silence　for　as　long　as
the　pawing　of　hoofs　in　the　mud　could　reach　their　ears；　then
Ffoulkes　asked　abruptly：

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　Blakeney？〃

〃Well；　for　the　present；　my　dear　fellow；　I　want　you　to　take　one　of
the　three　horses　we　have　left　in　the　spinney；　and　put　him　into　the
shafts　of　our　old　friend　the　coal…cart；　then　I　am　afraid　that　you
must　go　back　the　way　we　came。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃Continue　to　heave　coal　on　the　canal　wharf　by　La　Villette；　it　is
the　best　way　to　avoid　attention。　　After　your　day's　work　keep　your
cart　and　horse　in　readiness　against　my　arrival；　at　the　same　spot
where　you　were　last　night。　　If　after　having　waited　for　me　like
this　for　three　consecutive　nights　you　neither　see　nor　hear
anything　from　me；　go　back　to　England　and　tell　Marguerite　that　in
giving　my　life　for　her　brother　I　gave　it　for　her！〃

〃Blakeney！〃

〃I　spoke　differently　to　what　I　usually　do；　is　that　it？〃　he
interposed；　placing　his　firm　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder。　　〃I　am
degenerating；　Ffoulkesthat's　what　it　is。　　Pay　no　heed　to　it。　　I
suppose　that　carrying　that　sleeping　child　in　my　arms　last　night
softened　some　nerves　in　my　body。　　I　was　so　infinitely　sorry　for
the　poor　mite；　and　vaguely　wondered　if　I　had　not　saved　it　from　one
misery　only　to　plunge　it　in　another。　　There　was　such　a　fateful
look　on　that　wan　little　face；　as　if　destiny　had　already　writ　its
veto　there　against　happiness。　　It　came　on　me　then　how　futile　were
our　actions；　if　God　chooses　to　interpose　His　will　between　us　and
our　desires。〃

Almost　as　he　left　off　speaking　the　rain　ceased　to　patter　down
against　the　puddles　in　the　road。　　Overhead　the　clouds　flew　by　at
terrific　speed；　driven　along　by　the　blustering　wind。　　It　was　less
dark　now；　and　Sir　Andrew；　peering　through　the　gloom；　could　see　his
leader's　face。　　It　was　singularly　pale　and　hard；　and　the　deep…set
lazy　eyes　had　in　them　just　that　fateful　look　which　he　himself　had
spoken　of　just　now。

〃You　are　anxious　about　Armand；　Percy？〃　asked　Ffoulkes　softly。

〃Yes。　　He　should　have　trusted　me；　as　I　had　trusted　him。　　He　missed
me　at　the　Villette　gate　on　Friday；　and　without　a　thought　left
meleft　us　all　in　the　lurch；　he　threw　himself　into　the　lion's
jaws；　thinking　that　he　could　help　the　girl　he　loved。　　I　knew　that
I　could　save　her。　　She　is　in　comparative　safety　even　now。　　The　old
woman；　Madame　Belhomme；　had　been　freely　released　the　day　after　her
arrest；　but　Jeanne　Lange　is　still　in　the　house　in　the　Rue　de
Charonne。　　You　know　it；　Ffoulkes。　　I　got　her　there　early　this
morning。　　It　was　easy　for　me；　of　course：　　'Hola；　Dupont！　my　boots；
Dupont！'　　'One　moment；　citizen；　my　daughter'　　'Curse　thy
daughter；　bring　me　my　boots！'　and　Jeanne　Lange　walked　out　of　the
Temple　prison　her　hand　in　that　of　that　lout　Dupont。〃

〃But　Armand　does　not　know　that　she　is　in　the　Rue　de　Charonne？〃

〃No。　　I　have　not　seen　him　since　that　early　morning　on　Saturday
when　he　came　to　tell　me　that　she　had　been　arrested。　　Having　sworn
that　he　would　obey　me；　he　went　to　meet　you　and　Tony　at　La
Villette；　but　returned　to　Paris　a　few　hours　later；　and　drew　the
undivided　attention　of　all　the　committees　on　Jeanne　Lange　by　his
senseless；　foolish　inquiries。　　But　for　his　action　throughout　the
whole　of　yesterday　I　could　have　smuggled　Jeanne　out　of　Paris；　got
her　to　join　you　at　Villette；　or　Hastings　in　St。　Germain。　　But　the
barriers　were　being　closely　watched　for　her；　and　I　had　the　Dauphin
to　think　of。　　She　is　in　comparative　safety；　the　people　in　the　Rue
de　Charonne　are　friendly　for　the　moment；　but　for　how　long？　　Who
knows？　　I　must　look　after　her　of　course。　　And　Armand！　　Poor　old
Armand！　　The　lion's　jaws　have　snapped　over　him；　and　they　hold　him
tight。　　Chauvelin　and　his　gang　are　using　him　as　a　decoy　to　trap　me；
of　course。　　All　that　had　not　happened　if　Armand　had　trusted　me。〃

He　sighed　a　quick　sigh　of　impatience；　almost　of　regret。　Ffoulkes
was　the　one　man　who　could　guess　the　bitter　disappointment　that
this　had　meant。　　Percy　had　longed　to　be　back　in　England　soon；　back
to　Marguerite；　to　a　few　days　of　unalloyed　happiness　and　a　few　days
of　peace。

Now　Armand's　actions　had　retarded　all　that；　they　were　a　deliberate
bar　to　the　future　as　it　had　been　mapped　out　by　a　man　who　foresaw
everything；　who　was　prepared　for　every　eventuality。

In　this　case；　too；　he　had　been　prepared；　but　not　for　the　want　of
trust　which　had　brought　on　disobedience　akin　to　disloyalty。　　That
absolutely　unforeseen　eventuality　had　changed　Blakeney's　usual
irresponsible　gaiety　into　a　consciousness　of　the　inevitable；　of
the　inexorable　decrees　of　Fate。

With　an　anxious　sigh；　Sir　Andrew　turned　away　from　his　chief　and
went　hack　to　the　spinney　to　select　for　his　own　purpose　one　of　the
three　horses　which　Hastings　and　Tony　had　unavoidably　left　behind。

〃And　you；　Blakeneyhow　will　you　go　back　to　that　awful　Paris？〃　he
said；　when　he　had　made　his　choice　and　was　once　more　back　beside
Percy。

〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　replied　Blakeney；　〃but　it　would　not　be　safe　to
ride。　　I'll　reach　one　of　the　gates　on　this　side　of　the　city　and
contrive　to　slip　in　somehow。　　I　have　a　certificate　of　safety　in　my
pocket　in　case　I　need　it。

〃We'll　leave　the　horses　here；〃　he　said　presently；　whilst　he　was
helping　Sir　Andrew　to　put　the　horse　in　the　shafts　of　the
coal…cart；　〃they　cannot　come　to　much　harm。　　Some　poor　devil　might
steal　them；　in　order　to　escape　from　those　vile　brutes　in　the　city。
If　so；　God　speed　him；　say　I。　　I'll　compensate　my　friend　the　farmer
of　St。　Germain　for　their　loss　at　an　early　opportunity。　　And　now；
good…bye；　my　dear　fellow！　　Some　time　to…night；　if　possible；　you
shall　hear　direct　news　of　meif　not；　then　to…morrow　or　the　day
after　that。　Good…bye；　and　Heaven　guard　you！〃

〃God　guard　you；　Blakeney！〃　said　Sir　Andrew　fervently。

He　jumped　into　the　cart　and　gathered　up　the　reins。　His　heart　was
heavy　as　lead；　and　a　strange　mist　had　gathered　in　his　eyes；
blurring　the　last　dim　vision　which　he　had　of　his　chief　standing
all　alone　in　the　gloom；　his　broad；　magnificent　figure　looking
almost　weirdly　erect　and　defiant；　his　head　thrown　back；　and　his
kind；　lazy　eyes　watching　the　final　departure　of　his　most　faithful
comrade　and　friend。



CHAPTER　XXII
OF　THAT　THERE　COULD　BE　NO　QUESTION

Blakeney　had　more　than　one　pied…a…terre　in　Paris；　and　never　stayed
longer　than　two　or　three　days　in　any　of　these。　It　was　not
difficult　for　a　single　man；　be　he　labourer　or　bourgeois；　to　obtain
a　night's　lodging；　even　in　these　most　troublous　times；　and　in　any
quarter　of　Paris；　provided　the　rentout　of　all　proportion　to　the
comfort　and　accommodation　givenwas　paid　ungrudgingly　and　in
advance。

Emigration　and；　above　all；　the　enormous　death…roll　of　the　past
eighteen　months；　had　emptied　the　apartment　houses　of　the　great
city；　and　those　who　had　rooms　to　let　were　only　too　glad　of　a
lodger；　always　providing　they　were　not　in　danger　of　being　worried
by　the　committees　of　their　section。

The　laws　framed　by　these　same　committees　now　demanded　that　all
keepers　of　lodging　or　apartment　houses　should　within　twenty…four
hours　give　notice　at　the　bureau　of　their　individual　sections　of
the　advent　of　new　lodgers；　together　with　a　description　of　the
personal　appearance　of　such　lodgers；　and　an　indication　of　their
presumed　civil　status　and　occupation。　　But　there　was　a　margin　of
twenty…four　hours；　which　could　on　pressure