el dorado-第39章

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his　King　and　country；　recollection　of　wife　or　sister　or　mother
pleaded　within　him　in　favour　of　this　sorely…stricken　woman　with
the　look　of　unspeakable　sorrow　in　her　large　blue　eyes。

Certain　it　is　that　as　soon　as　Marguerite　passed　the　barrier　he　put
himself　on　guard　against　it　with　his　back　to　the　interior　of　the
cell　and　to　her。

Marguerite　had　paused　on　the　threshold。

After　the　glaring　light　of　the　guard…room　the　cell　seemed　dark；
and　at　first　she　could　hardly　see。　　The　whole　length　of　the　long；
narrow　cubicle　lay　to　her　left；　with　a　slight　recess　at　its
further　end；　so　that　from　the　threshold　of　the　doorway　she　could
not　see　into　the　distant　corner。　　Swift　as　a　lightning　flash　the
remembrance　came　back　to　her　of　proud　Marie　Antoinette　narrowing
her　life　to　that　dark　corner　where　the　insolent　eyes　of　the　rabble
soldiery　could　not　spy　her　every　movement。

Marguerite　stepped　further　into　the　room。　　Gradually　by　the　dim
light　of　an　oil　lamp　placed　upon　a　table　in　the　recess　she　began
to　distinguish　various　objects：　one　or　two　chairs；　another　table；
and　a　small　but　very　comfortable…looking　camp　bedstead。

Just　for　a　few　seconds　she　only　saw　these　inanimate　things；　then
she　became　conscious　of　Percy's　presence。

He　sat　on　a　chair；　with　his　left　arm　half…stretched　out　upon　the
table；　his　bead　hidden　in　the　bend　of　the　elbow。

Marguerite　did　not　utter　a　cry；　she　did　not　even　tremble。　Just　for
one　brief　instant　she　closed　her　eyes；　so　as　to　gather　up　all　her
courage　before　she　dared　to　look　again。　Then　with　a　steady　and
noiseless　step　she　came　quite　close　to　him。　　She　knelt　on　the
flagstones　at　his　feet　and　raised　reverently　to　her　lips　the　hand
that　hung　nerveless　and　limp　by　his　side。

He　gave　a　start；　a　shiver　seemed　to　go　right　through　him；　he　half
raised　his　head　and　murmured　in　a　hoarse　whisper：

〃I　tell　you　that　I　do　not　know；　and　if　I　did〃

She　put　her　arms　round　him　and　pillowed　her　head　upon　his　breast。
He　turned　his　head　slowly　toward　her；　and　now　his　eyeshollowed
and　rimmed　with　purplelooked　straight　into　hers。

〃My　beloved；〃　he　said；　〃I　knew　that　you　would　come。〃　His　arms
closed　round　her。　　There　was　nothing　of　lifelessness　or　of
weariness　in　the　passion　of　that　embrace；　and　when　she　looked　up
again　it　seemed　to　her　as　if　that　first　vision　which　she　had　had
of　him　with　weary　head　bent；　and　wan；　haggard　face　was　not
reality；　only　a　dream　born　of　her　own　anxiety　for　him；　for　now　the
hot；　ardent　blood　coursed　just　as　swiftly　as　ever　through　his
veins；　as　if　lifestrong；　tenacious；　pulsating　lifethrobbed
with　unabated　vigour　in　those　massive　limbs；　and　behind　that
square；　clear　brow　as　though　the　body；　but　half　subdued；　had
transferred　its　vanishing　strength　to　the　kind　and　noble　heart
that　was　beating　with　the　fervour　of　self…sacrifice。

〃Percy；〃　she　said　gently；　〃they　will　only　give　us　a　few　moments
together。　　They　thought　that　my　tears　would　break　your　spirit
where　their　devilry　had　failed。〃

He　held　her　glance　with　his　own；　with　that　close；　intent　look
which　binds　soul　to　soul；　and　in　his　deep　blue　eyes　there　danced
the　restless　flames　of　his　own　undying　mirth：

〃La！　little　woman；〃　he　said　with　enforced　lightness；　even　whilst
his　voice　quivered　with　the　intensity　of　passion　engendered　by　her
presence；　her　nearness；　the　perfume　of　her　hair；　〃how　little　they
know　you；　eh？　　Your　brave；　beautiful；　exquisite　soul；　shining　now
through　your　glorious　eyes；　would　defy　the　machinations　of　Satan
himself　and　his　horde。　　Close　your　dear　eyes；　my　love。　　I　shall　go
mad　with　joy　if　I　drink　their　beauty　in　any　longer。〃

He　held　her　face　between　his　two　hands；　and　indeed　it　seemed　as　if
he　could　not　satiate　his　soul　with　looking　into　her　eyes。　　In　the
midst　of　so　much　sorrow；　such　misery　and　such　deadly　fear；　never
had　Marguerite　felt　quite　so　happy；　never　had　she　felt　him　so
completely　her　own。　　The　inevitable　bodily　weakness；　which　of
necessity　had　invaded　even　his　splendid　physique　after　a　whole
week's　privations；　had　made　a　severe　breach　in　the　invincible
barrier　of　self…control　with　which　the　soul　of　the　inner　man　was
kept　perpetually　hidden　behind　a　mask　of　indifference　and　of
irresponsibility。

And　yet　the　agony　of　seeing　the　lines　of　sorrow　so　plainly　writ　on
the　beautiful　face　of　the　woman　he　worshipped　must　have　been　the
keenest　that　the　bold　adventurer　had　ever　experienced　in　the　whole
course　of　his　reckless　life。　It　was　heand　he　alonewho　was
making　her　suffer；　her　for　whose　sake　he　would　gladly　have　shed
every　drop　of　his　blood；　endured　every　torment；　every　misery　and
every　humiliation；　her　whom　he　worshipped　only　one　degree　less
than　he　worshipped　his　honour　and　the　cause　which　he　had　made　his
own。

Yet；　in　spite　of　that　agony；　in　spite　of　the　heartrending　pathos
of　her　pale　wan　face；　and　through　the　anguish　of　seeing　her　tears；
the　ruling　passionstrong　in　deaththe　spirit　of　adventure；　the
mad；　wild；　devil…may…care　irresponsibility　was　never　wholly　absent。

〃Dear　heart；〃　he　said　with　a　quaint　sigh；　whilst　he　buried　his
face　in　the　soft　masses　of　her　hair；　〃until　you　came　I　was　so　dd
fatigued。〃

He　was　laughing；　and　the　old　look　of　boyish　love　of　mischief
illumined　his　haggard　face。

〃Is　it　not　lucky；　dear　heart；〃　he　said　a　moment　or　two　later；
〃that　those　brutes　do　not　leave　me　unshaved？　　I　could　not　have
faced　you　with　a　week's　growth　of　beard　round　my　chin。　　By　dint　of
promises　and　bribery　I　have　persuaded　one　of　that　rabble　to　come
and　shave　me　every　morning。　　They　will　not　allow　me　to　handle　a
razor　my…self。　　They　are　afraid　I　should　cut　my　throator　one　of
theirs。　　But　mostly　I　am　too　dd　sleepy　to　think　of　such　a　thing。〃

〃Percy！〃　she　exclaimed　with　tender　and　passionate　reproach。

〃I　knowI　know；　dear；〃　he　murmured；　〃what　a　brute　I　am！　Ah；　God
did　a　cruel　thing　the　day　that　He　threw　me　in　your　path。　To　think
that　oncenot　so　very　long　agowe　were　drifting　apart；　you　and
I。　　You　would　have　suffered　less；　dear　heart；　if　we　had　continued
to　drift。〃

Then　as　he　saw　that　his　bantering　tone　pained　her；　he　covered　her
hands　with　kisses；　entreating　her　forgiveness。

〃Dear　heart；〃　he　said　merrily；　〃I　deserve　that　you　should　leave　me
to　rot　in　this　abominable　cage。　　They　haven't　got　me　yet；　little
woman；　you　know；　I　am　not　yet　deadonly　dd　sleepy　at　times。
But　I'll　cheat　them　even　now；　never　fear。〃

〃How；　Percyhow？〃　she　moaned；　for　her　heart　was　aching　with
intolerable　pain；　she　knew　better　than　he　did　the　precautions
which　were　being　taken　against　his　escape；　and　she　saw　more
clearly　than　he　realised　it　himself　the　terrible　barrier　set　up
against　that　escape　by　ever　encroaching　physical　weakness。

〃Well；　dear；〃　he　said　simply；　〃to　tell　you　the　truth　I　have　not
yet　thought　of　that　all…important　'how。'　　I　had　to　wait；　you　see；
until　you　came。　　I　was　so　sure　that　you　would　come！　　I　have
succeeded　in　putting　on　paper　all　my　instructions　for　Ffoulkes　and
the　others。　　I　will　give　them　to　you　anon。　　I　knew　that　you　would
come；　and　that　I　could　give　them　to　you；　until　then　I　had　but　to
think　of　one　thing；　and　that　was　of　keeping　body　and　soul　together。
My　chance　of　seeing　you　was　to　let　them　have　their　will　with　me。
Those　brutes　were　sure；　sooner　or　later；　to　bring　you　to　me；　that
you　might　see　the　caged　fox　worn　down　to　imbecility；　eh？　　That　you
might　add　your　tears　to　their　persuasion；　and　succeed　where　they
have　failed。〃

He　laughed　lightly　with　an　unstrained　note　of　gaiety；　only
Marguerite's　sensitive　ears　caught　the　faint　tone　of　bitterness
which　rang　through　the　laugh。

〃Once　I　know　that　the　little　King　of　France　is　safe；〃　he　said；　〃I
can　think　of　how　best　to　rob　those　dd　murderers　of　my　skin。〃

Then　suddenly　his　manner　changed。　　He　still　held　her　with　one　arm
closely　to；　him；　but　the　other　now　lay　across　the　table；　and　the
slender；　emaciated　hand　was　tightly　clutched。　　He　did　not　look　at
her；　but　straight　ahead；　the　eyes；　unnaturally　large　now；　with
their　deep　purple　rims；　looked　far　ahead　beyond　the　stone　walls　of
this　grim；　cruel　prison。

The　passionate　lover；　hungering　for　his　beloved；　had　vanished；
there　sat　the　man　with　a　purpose；　the　man　whose　firm　hand　had
snatched　men　and　women　and　children　from　death；　the　reckless
enthusiast　who　tossed　his　life　against　an　ideal。

For　a　while　he　sat　thus；　while　in　his　drawn　and　haggard　face　she
could　trace　every　line　formed　by　his　thoughtsthe　frown　of
anxiety；　the　resolute　setting　of　the　lips；　the　obstinate　look　of
will　around　the　firm　jaw。　　Then　he　turned　again　to　her。

〃My　beautiful　one；〃　he　said　softly；　〃the　moments　are　very
precious。　　God　knows　I　could　spend　eternity　thus　with　your　dear
form　nestling　against　my　heart。　　But　those　dd　murderers　will
only　give　us　half　an　hour；　and　I　want　your　help；　my　beloved；　now
that　I　am　a　helpless　cur　caught　in　their　trap。　　Will　you　listen
attentively；　dear　heart；　to　what　I　am　going　to　say？

〃Yes；　Percy；　I　will　listen；〃　she　replied。

〃And　have　you　the　courage　to　do　just　what　I　tell　you；　dear？〃

〃I　would　not　have　courage　to　do　aught　else；〃　she　said　simply。

〃It　means　going　from　hence　to…day；　dear　heart；　and　perhaps　not
meeting　again。　　Hush…sh…sh；　my　beloved；〃　he　said；　tenderly　placing
his　thin　hand　over　her　mouth；　from　which　a　sharp　cry　of　pain　had
well…nigh　escaped；　〃your　exquisite　soul　will　be　with　me　always。
Trytry　not　to　give　way　to　despair。　Why！　your　love　alone；　which　I
see　shining　from　your　dear　eyes；　is　enough　to　make　a　man　cling　to
life　with　all　his　might。　Tell　me！　will　you　do　as　I　ask　you？〃

And　she　replied　firmly　and　courageously：

〃I　will　do　just　what　you　ask；　Percy。〃

〃God　bless　you　for　your　courage；　dear。　　You　will　have　need　of　it。〃



CHAPTER　XXIX
FOR　THE　SAKE　OF　THAT　HELPLESS　INNOCENT

The　next　instant　he　was　kneeling　on　the　floor　and　his　hands　were
wandering　over　the　small；　irregular　flagstones　immediately
underneath　the　table。　　Marguerite　had　risen　to　her　feet；　she
watched　her　husband　with　intent　and　puzzled　eyes；　she　saw　him
suddenly　pass　his　slender　fingers　along　a　crevice　between　two
flagstones；　then　raise　one　of　these　slightly　and　from　beneath　it
extract　a　small　bundle　of　papers；　each　carefully　folded　and
sealed。　　Then　he　replaced　the　stone　and　once　more　rose　to　his
knees。

He　gave　a　quick　glance　toward　the　doorway。　　That　corner　of　his
cell；　the　recess　wherein　stood　the　table；　was　invisible　to　any　one
who　had　not　actually　crossed　the　threshold。　　Reassured　that　his
movements　could　not　have　been　and　were　not　watched；　he　drew
Marguerite　closer　to　him。

〃Dear　heart；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　want　to　place　these　papers　in　your
care。　　Look　upon　them　as　my　last　will　and　testament。　　I　succeeded
in　fooling　those　brutes　one　day　by　pretending　to　be　willing　to
accede　to　their　will。　　They　gave　me　pen　and　ink　and　paper　and　wax；
and　I　was　to　write　out　an　order　to　my　followers　to　bring　the
Dauphin　hither。　They　left　me　in　peace　for　one　quarter　of　an　hour；
which　gave　me　time　to　write　three　lettersone　for　Armand　and　the
other　two　for　Ffoulkes；　and　to　hide　them　under　the　flooring　of　my
cell。　　You　see；　dear；　I　knew　that　you　would　come　and　that　I　could
give　them　to　you　then。〃

He　paused；　and　that；　ghost　of　a　smile　once　more　hovered　round　his
lips。　　He　wa