el dorado-第38章

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instrument　to　her　lips；　and　reverently　kissed　the　narrow　blade。

〃If　it　must　be！〃　she　murmured；　〃God　in　His　mercy　will　forgive！〃

She　sheathed　the　dagger；　and　this；　too；　she　hid　in　the　folds　of
her　gown。

〃Can　you　think　of　anything　else；　Sir　Andrew；　that　he　might　want？〃
she　asked。　　〃I　have　money　in　plenty；　in　case　those　soldiers〃

Sir　Andrew　sighed；　and　turned　away　from　her　so　as　to　hide　the
hopelessness　which　he　felt。　　Since　three　days　now　be　had　been
exhausting　every　conceivable　means　of　getting　at　the　prison　guard
with　bribery　and　corruption。　　But　Chauvelin　and　his　friends　had
taken　excellent　precautions。　The　prison　of　the　Conciergerie；
situated　as　it　was　in　the　very　heart　of　the　labyrinthine　and
complicated　structure　of　the　Chatelet　and　the　house　of　Justice；
and　isolated　from　every　other　group　of　cells　in　the　building；　was
inaccessible　save　from　one　narrow　doorway　which　gave　on　the
guard…room　first；　and　thence　on　the　inner　cell　beyond。　　Just　as
all　attempts　to　rescue　the　late　unfortunate　Queen　from　that　prison
had　failed；　so　now　every　attempt　to　reach　the　imprisoned　Scarlet
Pimpernel　was　equally　doomed　to　bitter　disappointment。

The　guard…room　was　filled　with　soldiers　day　and　night；　the　windows
of　the　inner　cell；　heavily　barred；　were　too　small　to　admit　of　the
passage　of　a　human　body；　and　they　were　raised　twenty　feet　from　the
corridor　below。　　Sir　Andrew　had　stood　in　the　corridor　two　days
ago；　he　bad　looked　on　the　window　behind　which　he　knew　that　his
friend　must　be　eating　out　his　noble　heart　in　a　longing　for
liberty；　and　he　had　realised　then　that　every　effort　at　help　from
the　outside　was　foredoomed　to　failure。

〃Courage；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　said　to　Marguerite；　when　anon　they
had　crossed　the　Pont　au　Change；　and　were　wending　their　way　slowly
along　the　Rue　de　la　Barillerie；　〃remember　our　proud　dictum：　the
Scarlet　Pimpernel　never　fails！　and　also　this；　that　whatever　messages
Blakeney　gives　you　for　us；　whatever　he　wishes　us　to　do；　we　are　to　a
man　ready　to　do　it；　and　to　give　our　lives　for　our　chief。　　Courage！
Something　tells　me　that　a　man　like　Percy　is　not　going　to　die　at　the
hands　of　such　vermin　as　Chauvelin　and　his　friends。〃

They　had　reached　the　great　iron　gates　of　the　house　of　Justice。
Marguerite；　trying　to　smile；　extended　her　trembling　band　to　this
faithful；　loyal　comrade。

〃I'll　not　be　far；〃　he　said。　　〃When　you　come　out　do　not　look　to　the
right　or　left；　but　make　straight　for　home；　I'll　not　lose　sight　of
you　for　a　moment；　and　as　soon　as　possible　will　overtake　you。　　God
bless　you　both。〃

He　pressed　his　lips　on　her　cold　little　hand；　and　watched　her　tall；
elegant　figure　as　she　passed　through　the　great　gates　until　the
veil　of　falling　snow　hid　her　from　his　gaze。　　Then　with　a　deep　sigh
of　bitter　anguish　and　sorrow　he　turned　away　and　was　soon　lost　in
the　gloom。

Marguerite　found　the　gate　at　the　bottom　of　the　monumental　stairs
open　when　she　arrived。　　Chauvelin　was　standing　immediately　inside
the　building　waiting　for　her。

〃We　are　prepared　for　your　visit；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　said；　〃and　the
prisoner　knows　that　you　are　coming。〃

He　led　the　way　down　one　of　the　numerous　and　interminable　corridors
of　the　building；　and　she　followed　briskly；　pressing　her　hand
against　her　bosom　there　where　the　folds　of　her　kerchief　hid　the
steel　files　and　the　precious　dagger。

Even　in　the　gloom　of　these　ill…lighted　passages　she　realised　that
she　was　surrounded　by　guards。　　There　were　soldiers　everywhere；　two
had　stood　behind　the　door　when　first　she　entered；　and　had
immediately　closed　it　with　a　loud　clang　behind　her；　and　all　the
way　down　the　corridors；　through　the　half…light　engendered　by
feebly　flickering　lamps；　she　caught　glimpses　of　the　white　facings
on　the　uniforms　of　the　town　guard；　or　occasionally　the　glint　of
steel　of　a　bayonet。　　Presently　Chauvelin　paused　beside　a　door；
which　he　had　just　reached。　　His　hand　was　on　the　latch；　for　it　did
not　appear　to　be　locked；　and　he　turned　toward　Marguerite。

〃I　am　very　sorry；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　said　in　simple；　deferential
tones；　〃that　the　prison　authorities；　who　at　my　request　are
granting　you　this　interview　at　such　an　unusual　hour；　have　made　a
slight　condition　to　your　visit。〃

〃A　condition？〃　she　asked。　　〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　must　forgive　me；〃　he　said；　as　if　purposely　evading　her
question；　〃for　I　give　you　my　word　that　I　had　nothing　to　do　with　a
regulation　that　you　might　justly　feel　was　derogatory　to　your
dignity。　　If　you　will　kindly　step　in　here　a　wardress　in　charge
will　explain　to　you　what　is　required。〃

He　pushed　open　the　door；　and　stood　aside　ceremoniously　in　order　to
allow　her　to　pass　in。　　She　looked　on　him　with　deep　puzzlement　and
a　look　of　dark　suspicion　in　her　eyes。　But　her　mind　was　too　much
engrossed　with　the　thought　of　her　meeting　with　Percy　to　worry　over
any　trifle　that　mightas　her　enemy　had　inferredoffend　her
womanly　dignity。

She　walked　into　the　room；　past　Chauvelin；　who　whispered　as　she
went　by：

〃I　will　wait　for　you　here。　And；　I　pray　you；　if　you　have　aught　to
complain　of　summon　me　at　once。〃

Then　he　closed　the　door　behind　her。　The　room　in　which　Marguerite
now　found　herself　was　a　small　unventilated　quadrangle；　dimly
lighted　by　a　hanging　lamp。　　A　woman　in　a　soiled　cotton　gown　and
lank　grey　hair　brushed　away　from　a　parchment…like　forehead　rose
from　the　chair　in　which　she　had　been　sitting　when　Marguerite
entered；　and　put　away　some　knitting　on　which　she　had　apparently
been　engaged。

〃I　was　to　tell　you；　citizeness；〃　she　said　the　moment　the　door　had
been　closed　and　she　was　alone　with　Marguerite；　〃that　the　prison
authorities　have　given　orders　that　I　should　search　you　before　you
visit　the　prisoner。〃

She　repeated　this　phrase　mechanically　like　a　child　who　has　been
taught　to　say　a　lesson　by　heart。　　She　was　a　stoutish　middle…aged
woman；　with　that　pasty；　flabby　skin　peculiar　to　those　who　live　in
want　of　fresh　air；　but　her　small；　dark　eyes　were　not　unkindly；
although　they　shifted　restlessly　from　one　object　to　another　as　if
she　were　trying　to　avoid　looking　the　other　woman　straight　in　the
face。

〃That　you　should　search　me！〃　reiterated　Marguerite　slowly；　trying
to　understand。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　woman。　　〃I　was　to　tell　you　to　take　off　your
clothes；　so　that　I　might　look　them　through　and　through。　　I　have
often　had　to　do　this　before　when　visitors　have　been　allowed　inside
the　prison；　so　it　is　no　use　your　trying　to　deceive　me　in　any　way。
I　am　very　sharp　at　finding　out　if　any　one　has　papers；　or　files　or
ropes　concealed　in　an　underpetticoat。　　Come；〃　she　added　more
roughly；　seeing　that　Marguerite　had　remained　motionless　in　the
middle　of　the　room；　〃the　quicker　you　are　about　it　the　sooner　you
will　be　taken　to　see　the　prisoner。〃

These　words　had　their　desired　effect。　　The　proud　Lady　Blakeney；
inwardly　revolting　at　the　outrage；　knew　that　resistance　would　be
worse　than　useless。　　Chauvelin　was　the　other　side　of　the　door。　　A
call　from　the　woman　would　bring　him　to　her　assistance；　and
Marguerite　was　only　longing　to　hasten　the　moment　when　she　could　be
with　her　husband。

She　took　off　her　kerchief　and　her　gown　and　calmly　submitted　to　the
woman's　rough　hands　as　they　wandered　with　sureness　and　accuracy　to
the　various　pockets　and　folds　that　might　conceal　prohibited
articles。　　The　woman　did　her　work　with　peculiar　stolidity；　she　did
not　utter　a　word　when　she　found　the　tiny　steel　files　and　placed
them　on　a　table　beside　her。　　In　equal　silence　she　laid　the　little
dagger　beside　them；　and　the　purse　which　contained　twenty　gold
pieces。　　These　she　counted　in　front　of　Marguerite　and　then
replaced　them　in　the　purse。　　Her　face　expressed　neither　surprise；
nor　greed　nor　pity。　　She　was　obviously　beyond　the　reach　of　bribery
just　a　machine　paid　by　the　prison　authorities　to　do　this　unpleasant
work；　and　no　doubt　terrorised　into　doing　it　conscientiously。

When　she　had　satisfied　herself　that　Marguerite　had　nothing　further
concealed　about　her　person；　she　allowed　her　to　put　her　dress　on
once　more。　　She　even　offered　to　help　her　on　with　it。　　When
Marguerite　was　fully　dressed　she　opened　the　door　for　her。
Chauvelin　was　standing　in　the　passage　waiting　patiently。　　At　sight
of　Marguerite；　whose　pale；　set　face　betrayed　nothing　of　the
indignation　which　she　felt；　he　turned　quick；　inquiring　eyes　on　the
woman。

〃Two　files；　a　dagger　and　a　purse　with　twenty　louis；〃　said　the
latter　curtly。

Chauvelin　made　no　comment。　　He　received　the　information　quite
placidly；　as　if　it　had　no　special　interest　for　him。　　Then　he　said
quietly：

〃This　way；　citizeness！〃

Marguerite　followed　him；　and　two　minutes　later　he　stood　beside　a
heavy　nail…studded　door　that　had　a　small　square　grating　let　into
one　of　the　panels；　and　said　simply：

〃This　is　it。〃

Two　soldiers　of　the　National　Guard　were　on　sentry　at　the　door；　two
more　were　pacing　up　and　down　outside　it；　arid　had　halted　when
citizen　Chauvelin　gave　his　name　and　showed　his　tricolour　scarf　of
office。　　From　behind　the　small　grating　in　the　door　a　pair　of　eyes
peered　at　the　newcomers。

〃Qui　va　la？〃　came　the　quick　challenge　from　the　guard…room　within。

〃Citizen　Chauvelin　of　the　Committee　of　Public　Safety；〃　was　the
prompt　reply。

There　was　the　sound　of　grounding　of　arms；　of　the　drawing　of　bolts
and　the　turning　of　a　key　in　a　complicated　lock。　The　prison　was
kept　locked　from　within；　and　very　heavy　bars　had　to　be　moved　ere
the　ponderous　door　slowly　swung　open　on　its　hinges。

Two　steps　led　up　into　the　guard…room。　　Marguerite　mounted　them
with　the　same　feeling　of　awe　and　almost　of　reverence　as　she　would
have　mounted　the　steps　of　a　sacrificial　altar。

The　guard…room　itself　was　more　brilliantly　lighted　than　the
corridor　outside。　　The　sudden　glare　of　two　or　three　lamps　placed
about　the　room　caused　her　momentarily　to　close　her　eyes　that　were
aching　with　many　shed　and　unshed　tears。　　The　air　was　rank　and
heavy　with　the　fumes　of　tobacco；　of　wine　and　stale　food。　　A　large
barred　window　gave　on　the　corridor　immediately　above　the　door。

When　Marguerite　felt　strong　enough　to　look　around　her；　she　saw
that　the　room　was　filled　with　soldiers。　　Some　were　sitting；　others
standing；　others　lay　on　rugs　against　the　wall；　apparently　asleep。
There　was　one　who　appeared　to　be　in　command；　for　with　a　word　he
checked　the　noise　that　was　going　on　in　the　room　when　she　entered；
and　then　he　said　curtly：

〃This　way；　citizeness！〃

He　turned　to　an　opening　in　the　wall　on　the　left；　the　stone…lintel
of　a　door；　from　which　the　door　itself　had　been　removed；　an　iron
bar　ran　across　the　opening；　and　this　the　sergeant　now　lifted；
nodding　to　Marguerite　to　go　within。

Instinctively　she　looked　round　for　Chauvelin。

But　he　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。



CHAPTER　XXVIII
THE　CAGED　LION

Was　there　some　instinct　of　humanity　left　in　the　soldier　who
allowed　Marguerite　through　the　barrier　into　the　prisoner's　cell？
Had　the　wan　face　of　this　beautiful　woman　stirred　within　his　heart
the　last　chord　of　gentleness　that　was　not　wholly　atrophied　by　the
constant　cruelties；　the　excesses；　the　mercilessness　which　his
service　under　this　fraternising　republic　constantly　demanded　of
him？

Perhaps　some　recollection　of　former　years；　when　first　he　served
his　King　and　country；　recollection　of　wife　or　sister　or　mother
pleaded　within　h