el dorado-第43章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


whether　to…morrow　I　should　be　in　a　fit　state　to　repeat　it。〃

〃As　you　please；〃　he　replied　urbanely。　　〃But　I　pray　you　to　remember
one　thing；　and　that　is〃

He　paused　a　moment　while　his　restless　eyes　wandered　rapidly　over
her　face；　trying；　as　it　were；　to　get　at　the　soul　of　this　woman；　at
her　innermost　thoughts；　which　he　felt　were　hidden　from　him。

〃Yes；　citizen；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃what　is　it　that　I　am　to　remember？〃

〃That　it　rests　with　you；　Lady　Blakeney；　to　put　an　end　to　the
present　situation。〃

〃How？〃

〃Surely　you　can　persuade　Sir　Percy's　friends　not　to　leave　their
chief　in　durance　vile。　　They　themselves　could　put　an　end　to　his
troubles　to…morrow。〃

〃By　giving　up　the　Dauphin　to　you；　you　mean？〃　she　retorted　coldly。

〃Precisely。〃

〃And　you　hopedyou　still　hope　that　by　placing　before　me　the
picture　of　your　own　fiendish　cruelty　against　my　husband　you　will
induce　me　to　act　the　part　of　a　traitor　towards　him　and　a　coward
before　his　followers？〃

〃Oh！〃　he　said　deprecatingly；　〃the　cruelty　now　is　no　longer　mine。
Sir　Percy's　release　is　in　your　hands；　Lady　Blakeneyin　that　of
his　followers。　　I　should　only　be　too　willing　to　end　the　present
intolerable　situation。　　You　and　your　friends　are　applying　the　last
turn　of　the　thumbscrew；　not　I〃

She　smothered　the　cry　of　horror　that　had　risen　to　her　lips。　　The
man's　cold…blooded　sophistry　was　threatening　to　make　a　breach　in
her　armour　of　self…control。

She　would　no　longer　trust　herself　to　speak；　but　made　a　quick
movement　towards　the　door。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　as　if　the　matter　were　now　entirely　out
of　his　control。　　Then　he　opened　the　door　for　her　to　pass　out；　and
as　her　skirts　brushed　against　him　he　bowed　with　studied　deference；
murmuring　a　cordial　〃Good…night！〃

〃And　remember；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　added　politely；　〃that　should　you
at　any　time　desire　to　communicate　with　me　at　my　rooms；　19；　Rue
Dupuy；　I　hold　myself　entirely　at　your　service。

Then　as　her　tall；　graceful　figure　disappeared　in　the　outside　gloom
he　passed　his　thin　hand　over　his　mouth　as　if　to　wipe　away　the　last
lingering　signs　of　triumphant　irony：

〃The　second　visit　will　work　wonders；　I　think；　my　fine　lady；〃　he
murmured　under　his　breath。



CHAPTER　XXXI
AN　INTERLUDE

It　was　close　on　midnight　now；　and　still　they　sat　opposite　one
another；　he　the　friend　and　she　the　wife；　talking　over　that　brief
half…hour　that　had　meant　an　eternity　to　her；

Marguerite　had　tried　to　tell　Sir　Andrew　everything；　bitter　as　it
was　to　put　into　actual　words　the　pathos　and　misery　which　she　had
witnessed；　yet　she　would　hide　nothing　from　the　devoted　comrade
whom　she　knew　Percy　would　trust　absolutely。　　To　him　she　repeated
every　word　that　Percy　had　uttered；　described　every　inflection　of
his　voice；　those　enigmatical　phrases　which　she　had　not　understood；
and　together　they　cheated　one　another　into　the　belief　that　hope
lingered　somewhere　hidden　in　those　words。

〃I　am　not　going　to　despair；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　said　Sir　Andrew
firmly；　〃and；　moreover；　we　are　not　going　to　disobey。　　I　would
stake　my　life　that　even　now　Blakeney　has　some　scheme　in　his　mind
which　is　embodied　in　the　various　letters　which　he　has　given　you；
and　whichHeaven　help　us　in　that　case！we　might　thwart　by
disobedience。　　Tomorrow　in　the　late　afternoon　I　will　escort　you　to
the　Rue　de　Charonne。　　It　is　a　house　that　we　all　know　well；　and
which　Armand；　of　course；　knows　too。　　I　had　already　inquired　there
two　days　ago　to　ascertain　whether　by　chance　St。　Just　was　not　in
hiding　there；　but　Lucas；　the　landlord　and　old…clothes　dealer；　knew
nothing　about　him。〃

Marguerite　told　him　about　her　swift　vision　of　Armand　in　the　dark
corridor　of　the　house　of　Justice。

〃Can　you　understand　it；　Sir　Andrew？〃　she　asked；　fixing　her　deep；
luminous　eyes　inquiringly　upon　him。

〃No；　I　cannot；〃　he　said；　after　an　almost　imperceptible　moment　of
hesitancy；　〃but　we　shall　see　him　to…morrow。　I　have　no　doubt　that
Mademoiselle　Lange　will　know　where　to　find　him；　and　now　that　we
know　where　she　is；　all　our　anxiety　about　him；　at　any　rate；　should
soon　be　at　an　end。〃

He　rose　and　made　some　allusion　to　the　lateness　of　the　hour。
Somehow　it　seemed　to　her　that　her　devoted　friend　was　trying　to
hide　his　innermost　thoughts　from　her。　　She　watched　him　with　an
anxious；　intent　gaze。

〃Can　you　understand　it　all；　Sir　Andrew？〃　she　reiterated　with　a
pathetic　note　of　appeal。

〃No；　no！〃　he　said　firmly。　　〃On　my　soul；　Lady　Blakeney；　I　know　no
more　of　Armand　than　you　do　yourself。　　But　I　am　sure　that　Percy　is
right。　　The　boy　frets　because　remorse　must　have　assailed　him　by
now。　　Had　he　but　obeyed　implicitly　that　day；　as　we　all　did〃

But　he　could　not　frame　the　whole　terrible　proposition　in　words。
Bitterly　as　he　himself　felt　on　the　subject　of　Armand；　he　would
not　add　yet　another　burden　to　this　devoted　woman's　heavy　load
of　misery。

〃It　was　Fate；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　said　after　a　while。　〃Fate！　a
damnable　fate　which　did　it　all。　　Great　God！　to　think　of　Blakeney
in　the　hands　of　those　brutes　seems　so　horrible　that　at　times　I
feel　as　if　the　whole　thing　were　a　nightmare；　and　that　the　next
moment　we　shall　both　wake　hearing　his　merry　voice　echoing　through
this　room。〃

He　tried　to　cheer　her　with　words　of　hope　that　he　knew　were　but
chimeras。　A　heavy　weight　of　despondency　lay　on　his　heart。　　The
letter　from　his　chief　was　hidden　against　his　breast；　he　would
study　it　anon　in　the　privacy　of　his　own　apartment　so　as　to　commit
every　word　to　memory　that　related　to　the　measures　for　the　ultimate
safety　of　the　child…King。　　After　that　it　would　have　to　be
destroyed；　lest　it　fell　into　inimical　hands。

Soon　he　bade　Marguerite　good…night。　　She　was　tired　out；　body　and
soul；　and　heher　faithful　friendvaguely　wondered　how　long　she
would　be　able　to　withstand　the　strain　of　so　much　sorrow；　such
unspeakable　misery。

When　at　last　she　was　alone　Marguerite　made　brave　efforts　to
compose　her　nerves　so　as　to　obtain　a　certain　modicum　of　sleep　this
night。　　But；　strive　how　she　might；　sleep　would　not　come。　　How
could　it；　when　before　her　wearied　brain　there　rose　constantly　that
awful　vision　of　Percy　in　the　long；　narrow　cell；　with　weary　head
bent　over　his　arm；　and　those　friends　shouting　persistently　in　his
ear：

〃Wake　up；　citizen！　　Tell　us；　where　is　Capet？〃

The　fear　obsessed　her　that　his　mind　might　give　way；　for　the　mental
agony　of　such　intense　weariness　must　be　well…nigh　impossible　to
bear。　　In　the　dark；　as　she　sat　hour　after　hour　at　the　open　window；
looking　out　in　the　direction　where　through　the　veil　of　snow　the
grey　walls　of　the　Chatelet　prison　towered　silent　and　grim；　she
seemed　to　see　his　pale；　drawn　face　with　almost　appalling　reality；
she　could　see　every　line　of　it；　and　could　study　it　with　the
intensity　born　of　a　terrible　fear。

How　long　would　the　ghostly　glimmer　of　merriment　still　linger　in
the　eyes？　　When　would　the　hoarse；　mirthless　laugh　rise　to　the
lips；　that　awful　laugh　that　proclaims　madness？　　Oh！　she　could　have
screamed　now　with　the　awfulness　of　this　haunting　terror。　　Ghouls
seemed　to　be　mocking　her　out　of　the　darkness；　every　flake　of　snow
that　fell　silently　on　the　window…sill　became　a　grinning　face　that
taunted　and　derided；　every　cry　in　the　silence　of　the　night；　every
footstep　on　the　quay　below　turned　to　hideous　jeers　hurled　at　her
by　tormenting　fiends。

She　closed　the　window　quickly；　for　she　feared　that　she　would　go
mad。　　For　an　hour　after　that　she　walked　up　and　down　the　room
making　violent　efforts　to　control　her　nerves；　to　find　a　glimmer　of
that　courage　which　she　promised　Percy　that　she　would　have。



CHAPTER　XXXII
SISTERS

The　morning　found　her　fagged　out；　but　more　calm。　Later　on　she
managed　to　drink　some　coffee；　and　having　washed　and　dressed；　she
prepared　to　go　out。

Sir　Andrew　appeared　in　time　to　ascertain　her　wishes。

〃I　promised　Percy　to　go　to　the　Rue　de　Charonne　in　the　late
afternoon；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　some　hours　to　spare；　and　mean　to
employ　them　in　trying　to　find　speech　with　Mademoiselle　Lange。〃

〃Blakeney　has　told　you　where　she　lives？〃

〃Yes。　　In　the　Square　du　Roule。　　I　know　it　well。　　I　can　be　there　in
half　an　hour。〃

He；　of　course；　begged　to　be　allowed　to　accompany　her；　and　anon
they　were　walking　together　quickly　up　toward　the　Faubourg　St。
Honore。　　The　snow　had　ceased　falling；　but　it　was　still　very　cold；
but　neither　Marguerite　nor　Sir　Andrew　were　conscious　of　the
temperature　or　of　any　outward　signs　around　them。　　They　walked　on
silently　until　they　reached　the　torn…down　gates　of　the　Square　du
Roule；　there　Sir　Andrew　parted　from　Marguerite　after　having
appointed　to　meet　her　an　hour　later　at　a　small　eating…house　he
knew　of　where　they　could　have　some　food　together；　before　starting
on　their　long　expedition　to　the　Rue　de　Charonne。

Five　minutes　later　Marguerite　Blakeney　was　shown　in　by　worthy
Madame　Belhomme；　into　the　quaint　and　pretty　drawing…room　with　its
soft…toned　hangings　and　old…world　air　of　faded　grace。
Mademoiselle　Lange　was　sitting　there；　in　a　capacious　armchair；
which　encircled　her　delicate　figure　with　its　frame…work　of　dull
old　gold。

She　was　ostensibly　reading　when　Marguerite　was　announced；　for　an
open　book　lay　on　a　table　beside　her；　but　it　seemed　to　the　visitor
that　mayhap　the　young　girl's　thoughts　had　played　truant　from　her
work；　for　her　pose　was　listless　and　apathetic；　and　there　was　a
look　of　grave　trouble　upon　the　childlike　face。

She　rose　when　Marguerite　entered；　obviously　puzzled　at　the
unexpected　visit；　and　somewhat　awed　at　the　appearance　of　this
beautiful　woman　with　the　sad　look　in　her　eyes。

〃I　must　crave　your　pardon；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Lady　Blakeney　as
soon　as　the　door　had　once　more　closed　on　Madame　Belhomme；　and　she
found　herself　alone　with　the　young　girl。　　〃This　visit　at　such　an
early　hour　must　seem　to　you　an　intrusion。　　But　I　am　Marguerite　St。
Just；　and〃

Her　smile　and　outstretched　hand　completed　the　sentence。

〃St。　Just！〃　exclaimed　Jeanne。

〃Yes。　　Armand's　sister！〃

A　swift　blush　rushed　to　the　girl's　pale　cheeks；　her　brown　eyes
expressed　unadulterated　joy。　　Marguerite；　who　was　studying　her
closely；　was　conscious　that　her　poor　aching　heart　went　out　to　this
exquisite　child；　the　far…off　innocent　cause　of　so　much　misery。

Jeanne；　a　little　shy；　a　little　confused　and　nervous　in　her　movements；
was　pulling　a　chair　close　to　the　fire；　begging　Marguerite　to　sit。
Her　words　came　out　all　the　while　in　short　jerky　sentences；　and　from
time　to　time　she　stole　swift　shy　glances　at　Armand's　sister。

〃You　will　forgive　me；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Marguerite；　whose　simple
and　calm　manner　quickly　tended　to　soothe　Jeanne　Lange's　confusion；
〃but　I　was　so　anxious　about　my　brotherI　do　not　know　where　to
find　him。〃

〃And　so　you　came　to　me；　madame？〃

〃Was　I　wrong？〃

〃Oh；　no！　　But　what　made　you　think　thatthat　I　would　know？〃

〃I　guessed；〃　said　Marguerite　with　a　smile。　〃You　had　heard　about　me
then？〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃

〃Through　whom？　　Did　Armand　tell　you　about　me？〃

〃No；　alas！　　I　have　not　seen　him　this　past　fortnight；　since　you；
mademoiselle；　came　into　his　life；　but　many　of　Armand's　friends　are
in　Paris　just　now；　one　of　them　knew；　and　he　told　me。〃

The　soft　blush　had　now　overspread　the　whole　of　the　girl's　face；
even　down　to　her　graceful　neck。　　She　waited　to　see　Marguerite
comfortably　installed　in