el dorado-第34章

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〃I　went　into　Paris　and　ascertained　its　truth。〃

〃And　there　is　no　doubt　of　it？〃

〃Alas；　none！　　I　went　to　the　house　in　the　Rue　de　la　Croix　Blanche。
Armand　had　disappeared。　　I　succeeded　in　inducing　the　concierge　to
talk。　　She　seems　to　have　been　devoted　to　her　lodger。　　Amidst　tears
she　told　me　some　of　the　details　of　the　capture。　　Can　you　bear　to
hear　them；　Lady　Blakeney？〃

〃Yestell　me　everythingdon't　be　afraid；〃　she　reiterated　with
the　same　dull　monotony。

〃It　appears　that　early　on　the　Tuesday　morning　the　son　of　the
conciergea　lad　about　fifteenwas　sent　off　by　her　lodger　with　a
message　to　No。　9　Rue　St。　Germain　l'Auxerrois。　　That　was　the　house
where　Percy　was　staying　all　last　week；　where　he　kept　disguises　and
so　on　for　us　all；　and　where　some　of　our　meetings　were　held。　　Percy
evidently　expected　that　Armand　would　try　and　communicate　with　him
at　that　address；　for　when　the　lad　arrived　in　front　of　the　house　he
was　accostedso　he　saysby　a　big；　rough　workman；　who　browbeat
him　into　giving　up　the　lodger's　letter；　and　finally　pressed　a
piece　of　gold　into　his　hand。　　The　workman　was　Blakeney；　of　course。
I　imagine　that　Armand；　at　the　time　that　he　wrote　the　letter；　must
have　been　under　the　belief　that　Mademoiselle　Lange　was　still　in
prison；　he　could　not　know　then　that　Blakeney　had　already　got　her
into　comparative　safety。　　In　the　letter　he　must　have　spoken　of　the
terrible　plight　in　which　he　stood；　and　also　of　his　fears　for　the
woman　whom　he　loved。　　Percy　was　not　the　man　to　leave　a　comrade　in
the　lurch！　　He　would　not　be　the　man　whom　we　all　love　and　admire；
whose　word　we　all　obey；　for　whose　sake　we　would　gladly　all　of　us
give　our　lifehe　would　not　be　that　man　if　he　did　not　brave　even
certain　dangers　in　order　to　be　of　help　to　those　who　call　on　him。
Armand　called　and　Percy　went　to　him。　He　must　have　known　that
Armand　was　being　spied　upon；　for　Armand；　alas！　was　already　a
marked　man；　and　the　watch…dogs　of　those　infernal　committees　were
already　on　his　heels。　　Whether　these　sleuth…hounds　had　followed
the　son　of　the　concierge　and　seen　him　give　the　letter　to　the
workman　in　the　Rue　St。　Germain　l'Auxerrois；　or　whether　the
concierge　in　the　Rue　de　Ia　Croix　Blanche　was　nothing　but　a　spy　of
Heron's；　or；　again　whether　the　Committee　of　General　Security　kept
a　company　of　soldiers　in　constant　alert　in　that　house；　we　shall；
of　course；　never　know。　　All　that　I　do　know　is　that　Percy　entered
that　fatal　house　at　half…past　ten；　and　that　a　quarter　of　an　hour
later　the　concierge　saw　some　of　the　soldiers　descending　the
stairs；　carrying　a　heavy　burden。　　She　peeped　out　of　her　lodge；　and
by　the　light　in　the　corridor　she　saw　that　the　heavy　burden　was　the
body　of　a　man　bound　closely　with　ropes：　　his　eyes　were　closed；　his
clothes　were　stained　with　blood。　　He　was　seemingly　unconscious。
The　next　day　the　official　organ　of　the　Government　proclaimed　the
capture　of　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；　and　there　was　a　public　holiday
in　honour　of　the　event。〃

Marguerite　had　listened　to　this　terrible　narrative　dry…eyed　and
silent。　　Now　she　still　sat　there；　hardly　conscious　of　what　went　on
around　herof　Suzanne's　tears；　that　fell　unceasingly　upon　her
fingersof　Sir　Andrew；　who　had　sunk　into　a　chair；　and　buried　his
head　in　his　hands。　　She　was　hardly　conscious　that　she　lived；　the
universe　seemed　to　have　stood　still　before　this　awful；　monstrous
cataclysm。

But；　nevertheless；　she　was　the　first　to　return　to　the　active
realities　of　the　present。

〃Sir　Andrew；〃　she　said　after　a　while；　〃tell　me；　where　are　my　Lords
Tony　and　Hastings？〃

〃At　Calais；　madam；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　saw　them　there　on　my　way
hither。　　They　had　delivered　the　Dauphin　safely　into　the　hands　of
his　adherents　at　Mantes；　and　were　awaiting　Blakeney's　further
orders；　as　he　had　commanded　them　to　do。〃

〃Will　they　wait　for　us　there；　think　you？〃

〃For　us；　Lady　Blakeney？〃　he　exclaimed　in　puzzlement。

〃Yes；　for　us；　Sir　Andrew；〃　she　replied；　whilst　the　ghost　of　a
smile　flitted　across　her　drawn　face；　〃you　had　thought　of
accompanying　me　to　Paris；　had　you　not？〃

〃But　Lady　Blakeney〃

〃Ah！　　I　know　what　you　would　say；　Sir　Andrew。　　You　will　speak　of
dangers；　of　risks；　of　death；　mayhap；　you　will　tell　me　that　I　as　a
woman　can　do　nothing　to　help　my　husbandthat　I　could　be　but　a
hindrance　to　him；　just　as　I　was　in　Boulogne。　　But　everything　is　so
different　now。　　Whilst　those　brutes　planned　his　capture　he　was
clever　enough　to　outwit　them；　but　now　they　have　actually　got　him；
think　you　they'll　let　him　escape？　　They'll　watch　him　night　and
day；　my　friend；　just　as　they　watched　the　unfortunate　Queen；　but
they'll　not　keep　him　months；　weeks；　or　even　days　in　prisoneven
Chauvelin　now　will　no　longer　attempt　to　play　with　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel。　　They　have　him；　and　they　will　hold　him　until　such　time
as　they　take　him　to　the　guillotine。〃

Her　voice　broke　in　a　sob；　her　self…control　was　threatening　to
leave　her。　　She　was　but　a　woman；　young　and　passionately　in　love
with　the　man　who　was　about　to　die　an　ignominious　death；　far　away
from　his　country；　his　kindred；　his　friends。

〃I　cannot　let　him　die　alone；　Sir　Andrew；　he　will　be　longing　for
me；　andand；　after　all；　there　is　you；　and　my　Lord　Tony；　and　Lord
Hastings　and　the　others；　surelysurely　we　are　not　going　to　let
him　die；　not　like　that；　and　not　alone。〃

〃You　are　right；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　said　Sir　Andrew　earnestly；　〃we　are
not　going　to　let　him　die；　if　human　agency　can　do　aught　to　save
him。　　Already　Tony；　Hastings　and　I　have　agreed　to　return　to　Paris。
There　are　one　or　two　hidden　places　in　and　around　the　city　known
only　to　Percy　and　to　the　members　of　the　League　where　he　must　find
one　or　more　of　us　if　he　succeeds　in　getting　away。　　All　the　way
between　Paris　and　Calais　we　have　places　of　refuge；　places　where
any　of　us　can　hide　at　a　given　moment；　where　we　can　find　disguises
when　we　want　them；　or　horses　in　an　emergency。　　No！　no！　we　are　not
going　to　despair；　Lady　Blakeney；　there　are　nineteen　of　us　prepared
to　lay　down　our　lives　for　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel。　　Already　I；　as
his　lieutenant；　have　been　selected　as　the　leader　of　as　determined
a　gang　as　has　ever　entered　on　a　work　of　rescue　before。　　We　leave
for　Paris　to…morrow；　and　if　human　pluck　and　devotion　can　destroy
mountains　then　we'll　destroy　them。　　Our　watchword　is：　　'God　save
the　Scarlet　Pimpernel。'〃

He　knelt　beside　her　chair　and　kissed　the　cold　fingers　which；　with
a　sad　little　smile；　she　held　out　to　him。

〃And　God　bless　you　all！〃　she　murmured。

Suzanne　had　risen　to　her　feet　when　her　husband　knelt；　now　he　stood
up　beside　her。　　The　dainty　young　woman　hardly　more　than　a　child
was　doing　her　best　to　restrain　her　tears。

〃See　how　selfish　I　am；〃　said　Marguerite。　　〃I　talk　calmly　of　taking
your　husband　from　you；　when　I　myself　know　the　bitterness　of　such
partings。〃

〃My　husband　will　go　where　his　duty　calls　him；〃　said　Suzanne　with
charming　and　simple　dignity。　　〃I　love　him　with　all　my　heart；
because　he　is　brave　and　good。　　He　could　not　leave　his　comrade；　who
is　also　his　chief；　in　the　lurch。　God　will　protect　him；　I　know。　　I
would　not　ask　him　to　play　the　part　of　a　coward。〃

Her　brown　eyes　glowed　with　pride。　　She　was　the　true　wife　of　a
soldier；　and　with　all　her　dainty　ways　and　childlike　manners　she
was　a　splendid　woman　and　a　staunch　friend。　　Sir　Percy　Blakeney　bad
saved　her　entire　family　from　death；　the　Comte　and　Comtesse　de
Tournai；　the　Vicomte；　her　brother；　and　she　herself　all　owed　their
lives　to　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel。

This　she　was　not　like　to　forget。

〃There　is　but　little　danger　for　us；　I　fear　me；〃　said　Sir　Andrew
lightly；　〃the　revolutionary　Government　only　wants　to　strike　at　a
head；　it　cares　nothing　for　the　limbs。　Perhaps　it　feels　that
without　our　leader　we　are　enemies　not　worthy　of　persecution。　　If
there　are　any　dangers；　so　much　the　better；〃　he　added；　〃but　I　don't
anticipate　any；　unless　we　succeed　in　freeing　our　chief；　and　having
freed　him；　we　fear　nothing　more。〃

〃The　same　applies　to　me；　Sir　Andrew；〃　rejoined　Marguerite　earnestly。
〃Now　that　they　have　captured　Percy；　those　human　fiends　will　care
naught　for　me。　　If　you　succeed　in　freeing　Percy　I；　like　you；　will
have　nothing　more　to　fear；　and　if　you　fail〃

She　paused　and　put　her　small；　white　hand　on　Sir　Andrew's　arm。

〃Take　me　with　you；　Sir　Andrew；〃　she　entreated；　〃do　not　condemn　me
to　the　awful　torture　of　weary　waiting；　day　after　day；　wondering；
guessing；　never　daring　to　hope；　lest　hope　deferred　be　more　hard　to
bear　than　dreary　hopelessness。〃

Then　as　Sir　Andrew；　very　undecided；　yet　half　inclined　to　yield；
stood　silent　and　irresolute；　she　pressed　her　point；　gently　but
firmly　insistent。

〃I　would　not　he　in　the　way；　Sir　Andrew；　I　would　know　how　to　efface
myself　so　as　not　to　interfere　with　your　plans。　But；　oh！〃　she
added；　while　a　quivering　note　of　passion　trembled　in　her　voice；
〃can't　you　see　that　I　must　breathe　the　air　that　he　breathes　else　I
shall　stifle　or　mayhap　go　mad？〃

Sir　Andrew　turned　to　his　wife；　a　mute　query　in　his　eyes。

〃You　would　do　an　inhuman　and　a　cruel　act；〃　said　Suzanne　with
seriousness　that　sat　quaintly　on　her　baby　face；　〃if　you　did　not
afford　your　protection　to　Marguerite；　for　I　do　believe　that　if　you
did　not　take　her　with　you　to…morrow　she　would　go　to　Paris　alone。〃

Marguerite　thanked　her　friend　with　her　eyes。　　Suzanne　was　a　child
in　nature；　but　she　had　a　woman's　heart。　　She　loved　her　husband；
and；　therefore；　knew　and　understood　what　Marguerite　must　be
suffering　now。

Sir　Andrew　no　longer　could　resist　the　unfortunate　woman's　earnest
pleading。　　Frankly；　he　thought　that　if　she　remained　in　England
while　Percy　was　in　such　deadly　peril　she　ran　the　grave　risk　of
losing　her　reason　before　the　terrible　strain　of　suspense。　　He　knew
her　to　be　a　woman　of　courage；　and　one　capable　of　great　physical
endurance；　and　really　he　was　quite　honest　when　he　said　that　he　did
not　believe　there　would　be　much　danger　for　the　headless　League　of
the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　unless　they　succeeded　in　freeing　their
chief。　　And　if　they　did　succeed；　then　indeed　there　would　be
nothing　to　fear；　for　the　brave　and　loving　wife　who；　like　every
true　woman　does；　and　has　done　in　like　circumstances　since　the
beginning　of　time；　was　only　demanding　with　passionate　insistence
the　right　to　share　the　fate；　good　or　ill；　of　the　man　whom　she
loved。



CHAPTER　XXV
PARIS　ONCE　MORE

Sir　Andrew　had　just　come　in。　　He　was　trying　to　get　a　little　warmth
into　his　half…frozen　limbs；　for　the　cold　had　set　in　again；　and
this　time　with　renewed　vigour；　and　Marguerite　was　pouring　out　a
cup　of　hot　coffee　which　she　had　been　brewing　for　him。　　She　had　not
asked　for　news。　She　knew　that　he　had　none　to　give　her；　else　he　had
not　worn　that　wearied；　despondent　look　in　his　kind　face。

〃I'll　just　try　one　more　place　this　evening；〃　he　said　as　soon　as　he
had　swallowed　some　of　the　hot　coffee〃a　restaurant　in　the　Rue　de
la　Harpe；　the　members　of　the　Cordeliers'　Club　often　go　there　for
supper；　and　they　are　usually　well　informed。　　I　might　glean
something　definite　there。〃

〃It　seems　very　strange　that　they　are　so　slow　in　bringing　him　to
trial；〃　said　Marguerite　in　that　dull；　toneless　voice　which　had
become　habitual　to　her。　　〃When　you　first　brought　me　the　awful　news
that　。。。　I　made　sure　that　they　would　bring　him　to　trial　at　once；
and　was　in　terror　lest