el dorado-第40章

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give　them　to　you　then。〃

He　paused；　and　that；　ghost　of　a　smile　once　more　hovered　round　his
lips。　　He　was　thinking　of　that　day　when　he　had　fooled　Heron　and
Chauvelin　into　the　belief　that　their　devilry　had　succeeded；　and
that　they　had　brought　the　reckless　adventurer　to　his　knees。　　He
smiled　at　the　recollection　of　their　wrath　when　they　knew　that　they
had　been　tricked；　and　after　a　quarter　of　an　hour　s　anxious　waiting
found　a　few　sheets　of　paper　scribbled　over　with　incoherent　words
or　satirical　verse；　and　the　prisoner　having　apparently　snatched
ten　minutes'　sleep；　which　seemingly　had　restored　to　him　quite　a
modicum　of　his　strength。

But　of　this　he　told　Marguerite　nothing；　nor　of　the　insults　and　the
humiliation　which　he　had　had　to　bear　in　consequence　of　that　trick。
He　did　not　tell　her　that　directly　afterwards　the　order　went　forth
that　the　prisoner　was　to　be　kept　on　bread　and　water　in　the　future；
nor　that　Chauvelin　had　stood　by　laughing　and　jeering　while　。。。

No！　he　did　not　tell　her　all　that；　the　recollection　of　it　all　had
still　the　power　to　make　him　laugh；　was　it　not　all　a　part　and
parcel　of　that　great　gamble　for　human　lives　wherein　he　had　held
the　winning　cards　himself　for　so　long？

〃It　is　your　turn　now；〃　he　had　said　even　then　to　his　bitter　enemy。

〃Yes！〃　Chauvelin　had　replied；　〃our　turn　at　last。　　And　you　will　not
bend　my　fine　English　gentleman；　we'll　break　you　yet；　never　fear。〃

It　was　the　thought　of　it　all；　of　that　hand　to　hand；　will　to　will；
spirit　to　spirit　struggle　that　lighted　up　his　haggard　face　even
now；　gave　him　a　fresh　zest　for　life；　a　desire　to　combat　and　to
conquer　in　spite　of　all；　in　spite　of　the　odds　that　had　martyred
his　body　but　left　the　mind；　the　will；　the　power　still　unconquered。

He　was　pressing　one　of　the　papers　into　her　hand；　holding　her
fingers　tightly　in　his；　and　compelling　her　gaze　with　the　ardent
excitement　of　his　own。

〃This　first　letter　is　for　Ffoulkes；〃　he　said。　　〃It　relates　to　the
final　measures　for　the　safety　of　the　Dauphin。　　They　are　my
instructions　to　those　members　of　the　League　who　are　in　or　near
Paris　at　the　present　moment。　　Ffoulkes；　I　know；　must　be　with
youhe　was　not　likely；　God　bless　his　loyalty；　to　let　you　come　to
Paris　alone。　　Then　give　this　letter　to　him；　dear　heart；　at　once；
to…night；　and　tell　him　that　it　is　my　express　command　that　he　and
the　others　shall　act　in　minute　accordance　with　my　instructions。〃

〃But　the　Dauphin　surely　is　safe　now；〃　she　urged。　〃Ffoulkes　and　the
others　are　here　in　order　to　help　you。〃

〃To　help　me；　dear　heart？〃　he　interposed　earnestly。　〃God　alone　can
do　that　now；　and　such　of　my　poor　wits　as　these　devils　do　not
succeed　in　crushing　out　of　me　within　the　next　ten　days。〃

Ten　days！

〃I　have　waited　a　week；　until　this　hour　when　I　could　place　this
packet　in　your　hands；　another　ten　days　should　see　the　Dauphin　out
of　Franceafter　that；　we　shall　see。〃

〃Percy；〃　she　exclaimed　in　an　agony　of　horror；　〃you　cannot　endure
this　another　dayand　live！〃

〃Nay！〃　he　said　in　a　tone　that　was　almost　insolent　in　its　proud
defiance；　〃there　is　but　little　that　a　man　cannot　do　an　he　sets　his
mind　to　it。　　For　the　rest；　'tis　in　God's　hands！〃　he　added　more
gently。　　〃Dear　heart！　you　swore　that　you　would　be　brave。　　The
Dauphin　is　still　in　France；　and　until　he　is　out　of　it　he　will　not
really　be　safe；　his　friends　wanted　to　keep　him　inside　the　country。
God　only　knows　what　they　still　hope；　had　I　been　free　I　should　not
have　allowed　him　to　remain　so　long；　now　those　good　people　at
Mantes　will　yield　to　my　letter　and　to　Ffoulkes'　earnest　appeal
they　will　allow　one　of　our　League　to　convey　the　child　safely　out
of　France；　and　I'll　wait　here　until　I　know　that　he　is　safe。　　If　I
tried　to　get　away　now；　and　succeededwhy；　Heaven　help　us！　the　hue
and　cry　might　turn　against　the　child；　and　he　might　be　captured
before　I　could　get　to　him。　　Dear　heart！　dear；　dear　heart！　try　to
understand。　　The　safety　of　that　child　is　bound　with　mine　honour；
but　I　swear　to　you；　my　sweet　love；　that　the　day　on　which　I　feel
that　that　safety　is　assured　I　will　save　mine　own　skinwhat　there
is　left　of　itif　I　can！〃

〃Percy！〃　she　cried　with　a　sudden　outburst　of　passionate　revolt；
〃you　speak　as　if　the　safety　of　that　child　were　of　more　moment　than
your　own。　　Ten　days！but；　God　in　Heaven！　have　you　thought　how　I
shall　live　these　ten　days；　whilst　slowly；　inch　by　inch；　you　give
your　dear；　your　precious　life　for　a　forlorn　cause？

〃I　am　very　tough；　m'dear；〃　he　said　lightly；　〃'tis　not　a　question
of　life。　　I　shall　only　be　spending　a　few　more　very　uncomfortable
days　in　this　dd　hole；　but　what　of　that？〃

Her　eyes　spoke　the　reply；　her　eyes　veiled　with　tears；　that
wandered　with　heart…breaking　anxiety　from　the　hollow　circles　round
his　own　to　the　lines　of　weariness　about　the　firm　lips　and　jaw。　　He
laughed　at　her　solicitude。

〃I　can　last　out　longer　than　these　brutes　have　any　idea　of；〃　he
said　gaily。

〃You　cheat　yourself；　Percy；〃　she　rejoined　with　quiet　earnestness。
〃Every　day　that　you　spend　immured　between　these　walls；　with　that
ceaseless　nerve…racking　torment　of　sleeplessness　which　these
devils　have　devised　for　the　breaking　of　your　willevery　day　thus
spent　diminishes　your　power　of　ultimately　saving　yourself。　　You
see；　I　speak　calmlydispassionatelyI　do　not　even　urge　my　claims
upon　your　life。　But　what　you　must　weigh　in　the　balance　is　the
claim　of　all　those　for　whom　in　the　past　you　have　already　staked
your　life；　whose　lives　you　have　purchased　by　risking　your　own。
What；　in　comparison　with　your　noble　life；　is　that　of　the　puny
descendant　of　a　line　of　decadent　kings？　　Why　should　it　be
sacrificedruthlessly；　hopelessly　sacrificed　that　a　boy　might
live　who　is　as　nothing　to　the　world；　to　his　countryeven　to　his
own　people？〃

She　had　tried　to　speak　calmly；　never　raising　her　voice　beyond　a
whisper。　　Her　hands　still　clutched　that　paper；　which　seemed　to
sear　her　fingers；　the　paper　which　she　felt　held　writ　upon　its
smooth　surface　the　death…sentence　of　the　man　she　loved。

But　his　look　did　not　answer　her　firm　appeal；　it　was　fixed　far　away
beyond　the　prison　walls；　on　a　lonely　country　road　outside　Paris；
with　the　rain　falling　in　a　thin　drizzle；　and　leaden　clouds
overhead　chasing　one　another；　driven　by　the　gale。

〃Poor　mite；〃　he　murmured　softly；　〃he　walked　so　bravely　by　my　side；
until　the　little　feet　grew　weary；　then　he　nestled　in　my　arms　and
slept　until　we　met　Ffoulkes　waiting　with　the　cart。　　He　was　no　King
of　France　just　then；　only　a　helpless　innocent　whom　Heaven　aided　me
to　save。〃

Marguerite　bowed　her　head　in　silence。　　There　was　nothing　more　that
she　could　say；　no　plea　that　she　could　urge。　　Indeed；　she　had
understood；　as　he　had　begged　her　to　understand。　　She　understood
that　long　ago　he　had　mapped　out　the　course　of　his　life；　and　now
that　that　course　happened　to　lead　up　a　Calvary　of　humiliation　and
of　suffering　he　was　not　likely　to　turn　back；　even　though；　on　the
summit；　death　already　was　waiting　and　beckoning　with　no　uncertain
hand；　not　until　he　could　murmur；　in　the　wake　of　the　great　and
divine　sacrifice　itself；　the　sublime　words：

〃It　is　accomplished。〃

〃But　the　Dauphin　is　safe　enough　now；〃　was　all　that　she　said；　after
that　one　moment's　silence　when　her　heart；　too；　had　offered　up　to
God　the　supreme　abnegation　of　self；　and　calmly　faced　a　sorrow
which　threatened　to　break　it　at　last。

〃Yes！〃　he　rejoined　quietly；　〃safe　enough　for　the　moment。　　But　he
would　be　safer　still　if　he　were　out　of　France。　I　had　hoped　to　take
him　one　day　with　me　to　England。　　But　in　this　plan　damnable　Fate
has　interfered。　　His　adherents　wanted　to　get　him　to　Vienna；　and
their　wish　had　best　be　fulfilled　now。　　In　my　instructions　to
Ffoulkes　I　have　mapped　out　a　simple　way　for　accomplishing　the
journey。　Tony　will　be　the　one　best　suited　to　lead　the　expedition；
and　I　want　him　to　make　straight　for　Holland；　the　Northern
frontiers　are　not　so　closely　watched　as　are　the　Austrian　ones。
There　is　a　faithful　adherent　of　the　Bourbon　cause　who　lives　at
Delft；　and　who　will　give　the　shelter　of　his　name　and　home　to　the
fugitive　King　of　France　until　he　can　be　conveyed　to　Vienna。　　He
is　named　Nauudorff。　Once　I　feel　that　the　child　is　safe　in　his
hands　I　will　look　after　myself；　never　fear。〃

He　paused；　for　his　strength；　which　was　only　factitious；　born　of
the　excitement　that　Marguerite's　presence　had　called　forth；　was
threatening　to　give　way。　　His　voice；　though　he　had　spoken　in　a
whisper　all　along；　was　very　hoarse；　and　his　temples　were　throbbing
with　the　sustained　effort　to　speak。

〃If　those　friends　had　only　thought　of　denying　me　food　instead　of
sleep；〃　he　murmured　involuntarily；　〃I　could　have　held　out　until〃

Then　with　characteristic　swiftness　his　mood　changed　in　a　moment。
His　arms　closed　round　Marguerite　once　more　with　a　passion　of
self…reproach。

〃Heaven　forgive　me　for　a　selfish　brute；〃　he　said；　whilst　the　ghost
of　a　smile　once　more　lit　up　the　whole　of　his　face。　　〃Dear　soul；　I
must　have　forgotten　your　sweet　presence；　thus　brooding　over　my　own
troubles；　whilst　your　loving　heart　has　a　graver　burdenGod　help
me！than　it　can　possibly　bear。　　Listen；　my　beloved；　for　I　don't
know　how　many　minutes　longer　they　intend　to　give　us；　and　I　have
not　yet　spoken　to　you　about　Armand〃

〃Armand！〃　she　cried。

A　twinge　of　remorse　had　gripped　her。　　For　fully　ten　minutes　now
she　had　relegated　all　thoughts　of　her　brother　to　a　distant　cell　of
her　memory。

〃We　have　no　news　of　Armand；〃　she　said。　　〃Sir　Andrew　has　searched
all　the　prison　registers。　　Oh！　were　not　my　heart　atrophied　by　all
that　it　has　endured　this　past　sennight　it　would　feel　a　final　throb
of　agonising　pain　at　every　thought　of　Armand。〃

A　curious　look；　which　even　her　loving　eyes　failed　to　interpret；
passed　like　a　shadow　over　her　husband's　face。　But　the　shadow
lifted　in　a　moment；　and　it　was　with　a　reassuring　smile　that　he
said　to　her：

〃Dear　heart！　　Armand　is　comparatively　safe　for　the　moment。　　Tell
Ffoulkes　not　to　search　the　prison　registers　for　him；　rather　to
seek　out　Mademoiselle　Lange。　　She　will　know　where　to　find　Armand。〃

〃Jeanne　Lange！〃　she　exclaimed　with　a　world　of　bitterness　in　the
tone　of　her　voice；　〃the　girl　whom　Armand　loved；　it　seems；　with　a
passion　greater　than　his　loyalty。　　Oh！　Sir　Andrew　tried　to
disguise　my　brother's　folly；　but　I　guessed　what　he　did　not　choose
to　tell　me。　It　was　his　disobedience；　his　want　of　trust；　that
brought　this　unspeakable　misery　on　us　all。〃

〃Do　not　blame　him　overmuch；　dear　heart。　Armand　was　in　love；　and
love　excuses　every　sin　committed　in　its　name。　Jeanne　Lange　was
arrested　and　Armand　lost　his　reason　temporarily。　　The　very　day　on
which　I　rescued　the　Dauphin　from　the　Temple　I　had　the　good　fortune
to　drag　the　little　lady　out　of　prison。　　I　had　given　my　promise　to
Armand　that　she　should　he　safe；　and　I　kept　my　word。　　But　this
Armand　did　not　knowor　else〃

He　checked　himself　abruptly；　and　once　more　that　strange；
enigmatical　look　crept　into　his　eyes。

〃I　took　Jeanne　Lange　to　a　place　of　comparative　safety；〃　he　said
after　a　slight　pause；　〃but　since　then　she　has　been　set　entirely
free。〃

〃Free？〃

〃Yes。　　Chauvelin　himself　brought　me　the　news；〃　he　replied　with　a
quick；　mirthless　laugh；　wholly　unlike　his　usual　light…hearted
gaiety。　　〃He　had　to　ask　me　where　to　find　Jeanne；　for　I　alon