el dorado-第44章

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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　an　armchair；　then　she　resumed　shyly：

〃And　it　was　Armand　who　told　me　all　about　you。　　He　loves　you　so
dearly。〃

〃Armand　and　I　were　very　young　children　when　we　lost　our　parents；〃
said　Marguerite　softly；　〃and　we　were　all　in　all　to　each　other　then。
And　until　I　married　he　was　the　man　I　loved　best　in　all　the　world。〃

〃He　told　me　you　were　marriedto　an　Englishman。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃He　loves　England　too。　　At　first　he　always　talked　of　my　going
there　with　him　as　his　wife；　and　of　the　happiness　we　should　find
there　together。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　'at　first'？〃

〃He　talks　less　about　England　now。〃

〃Perhaps　he　feels　that　now　you　know　all　about　it；　and　that　you
understand　each　other　with　regard　to　the　future。〃

〃Perhaps。〃

Jeanne　sat　opposite　to　Marguerite　on　a　low　stool　by　the　fire。　　Her
elbows　were　resting　on　her　knees；　and　her　face　just　now　was
half…hidden　by　the　wealth　of　her　brown　curls。　She　looked　exquisitely
pretty　sitting　like　this；　with　just　the　suggestion　of　sadness　in　the
listless　pose。　　Marguerite　had　come　here　to…day　prepared　to　hate　this
young　girl；　who　in　a　few　brief　days　had　stolen　not　only　Armand's　heart；
but　his　allegiance　to　his　chief；　and　his　trust　in　him。　　Since　last
night；　when　she　had　seen　her　brother　sneak　silently　past　her　like　a
thief　in　the　night；　she　had　nurtured　thoughts　of　ill…will　and　anger
against　Jeanne。

But　hatred　and　anger　had　melted　at　the　sight　of　this　child。
Marguerite；　with　the　perfect　understanding　born　of　love　itself；
had　soon　realised　the　charm　which　a　woman　like　Mademoiselle　Lange
must　of　necessity　exercise　over　a　chivalrous；　enthusiastic　nature
like　Armand's。　　The　sense　of　protectionthe　strongest　perhaps
that　exists　in　a　good　man's　heartwould　draw　him　irresistibly　to
this　beautiful　child；　with　the　great；　appealing　eyes；　and　the　look
of　pathos　that　pervaded　the　entire　face。　　Marguerite；　looking　in
silence　on　thedainty　picture　before　her；　found　it　in　her　heart
to　forgive　Armand　for　disobeying　his　chief　when　those　eyes
beckoned　to　him　in　a　contrary　direction。

How　could　he；　how　could　any　chivalrous　man　endure　the　thought　of
this　delicate；　fresh　flower　lying　crushed　and　drooping　in　the
hands　of　monsters　who　respected　neither　courage　nor　purity？　　And
Armand　had　been　more　than　human；　or　mayhap　less；　if　he　had　indeed
consented　to　leave　the　fate　of　the　girl　whom　he　had　sworn　to　love
and　protect　in　other　hands　than　his　own。

It　seemed　almost　as　if　Jeanne　was　conscious　of　the　fixity　of
Marguerite's　gaze；　for　though　she　did　not　turn　to　look　at　her；　the
flush　gradually　deepened　in　her　cheeks。

〃Mademoiselle　Lange；〃　said　Marguerite　gently；　〃do　you　not　feel
that　you　can　trust　me？〃

She　held　out　her　two　hands　to　the　girl；　and　Jeanne　slowly　turned
to　her。　　The　next　moment　she　was　kneeling　at　Marguerite's　feet；
and　kissing　the　beautiful　kind　hands　that　had　been　stretched　out
to　her　with　such　sisterly　love。

〃Indeed；　indeed；　I　do　trust　you；〃　she　said；　and　looked　with
tear…dimmed　eyes　in　the　pale　face　above　her。　　〃I　have　longed　for
some　one　in　whom　I　could　confide。　　I　have　been　so　lonely　lately；
and　Armand〃

With　an　impatient　little　gesture　she　brushed　away　the　tears　which
had　gathered　in　her　eyes。

〃What　has　Armand　been　doing？〃　asked　Marguerite　with　an　encouraging
smile。

〃Oh；　nothing　to　grieve　me！〃　replied　the　young　girl　eagerly；　〃for
he　is　kind　and　good；　and　chivalrous　and　noble。　　Oh；　I　love　him
with　all　my　heart！　　I　loved　him　from　the　moment　that　I　set　eyes　on
him；　and　then　he　came　to　see　meperhaps　you　know！　　And　he　talked
so　beautiful　about　England；　and　so　nobly　about　his　leader　the
Scarlet　Pimpernelhave　you　heard　of　him？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Marguerite；　smiling。　　〃I　have　heard　of　him。〃

〃It　was　that　day　that　citizen　Heron　came　with　his　soldiers！　　Oh！
you　do　not　know　citizen　Heron。　　He　is　the　most　cruel　man　in
France。　　In　Paris　he　is　hated　by　every　one；　and　no　one　is　safe
from　his　spies。　　He　came　to　arrest　Armand；　but　I　was　able　to　fool
him　and　to　save　Armand。　And　after　that；〃　she　added　with　charming
naivete；　〃I　felt　as　if；　having　saved　Armand's　life；　he　belonged　to
meand　his　love　for　me　had　made　me　his。〃

〃Then　I　was　arrested；〃　she　continued　after　a　slight　pause；　and　at
the　recollection　of　what　she　had　endured　then　her　fresh　voice
still　trembled　with　horror。

〃They　dragged　me　to　prison；　and　I　spent　two　days　in　a　dark　cell；
where〃

She　hid　her　face　in　her　hands；　whilst　a　few　sobs　shook　her　whole
frame；　then　she　resumed　more　calmly：

〃I　had　seen　nothing　of　Armand。　　I　wondered　where　he　was；　and　I
knew　that　he　would　be　eating　out　his　heart　with　anxiety　for　me。
But　God　was　watching　over　me。　　At　first　I　was　transferred　to　the
Temple　prison；　and　there　a　kind　creaturea　sort　of　man…of…all
work　in　the　prison　took　compassion　on　me。　　I　do　not　know　how　he
contrived　it；　but　one　morning　very　early　he　brought　me　some　filthy
old　rags　which　he　told　me　to　put　on　quickly；　and　when　I　had　done
that　he　bade　me　follow　him。　　Oh！　he　was　a　very　dirty；　wretched　man
himself；　but　he　must　have　had　a　kind　heart。　　He　took　me　by　the
hand　and　made　me　carry　his　broom　and　brushes。　　Nobody　took　much
notice　of　us；　the　dawn　was　only　just　breaking；　and　the　passages
were　very　dark　and　deserted；　only　once　some　soldiers　began　to
chaff　him　about　me：　'C'est　ma　fillequoi？'　he　said　roughly。　　I
very　nearly　laughed　then；　only　I　had　the　good　sense　to　restrain
myself；　for　I　knew　that　my　freedom；　and　perhaps　my　life；　depended
on　my　not　betraying　myself。　　My　grimy；　tattered　guide　took　me　with
him　right　through　the　interminable　corridors　of　that　awful　building；
whilst　I　prayed　fervently　to　God　for　him　and　for　myself。　　We　got　out
by　one　of　the　service　stairs　and　exit；　and　then　he　dragged　me　through
some　narrow　streets　until　we　came　to　a　corner　where　a　covered　cart
stood　waiting。　　My　kind　friend　told　me　to　get　into　the　cart；　and　then
he　bade　the　driver　on　the　box　take　me　straight　to　a　house　in　the　Rue
St。　Germain　l'Auxerrois。　　Oh！　I　was　infinitely　grateful　to　the　poor
creature　who　had　helped　me　to　get　out　of　that　awful　prison；　and　I
would　gladly　have　given　him　some　money；　for　I　am　sure　he　was　very
poor；　but　I　had　none　by　me。　　He　told　me　that　I　should　be　quite　safe
in　the　house　in　the　Rue　St。　Germain　l'Auxerrois；　and　begged　me　to
wait　there　patiently　for　a　few　days　until　I　heard　from　one　who　had
my　welfare　at　heart；　and　who　would　further　arrange　for　my　safety。〃

Marguerite　had　listened　silently　to　this　narrative　so　naively　told
by　this　child；　who　obviously　had　no　idea　to　whom　she　owed　her
freedom　and　her　life。　　While　the　girl　talked；　her　mind　could
follow　with　unspeakable　pride　and　happiness　every　phase　of　that
scene　in　the　early　dawn；　when　that　mysterious；　ragged
man…of…all…work；　unbeknown　even　to　the　woman　whom　he　was　saving；
risked　his　own　noble　life　for　the　sake　of　her　whom　his　friend　and
comrade　loved。

〃And　did　you　never　see　again　the　kind　man　to　whom　you　owe　your
life？〃　she　asked。

〃No！〃　replied　Jeanne。　　〃I　never　saw　him　since；　but　when　I　arrived
at　the　Rue　St。　Germain　l'Auxerrois　I　was　told　by　the　good　people
who　took　charge　of　me　that　the　ragged　man…of…all…work　had　been
none　other　than　the　mysterious　Englishman　whom　Armand　reveres；　he
whom　they　call　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel。〃

〃But　you　did　not　stay　very　long　in　the　Rue　St。　Germain
l'Auxerrois；　did　you？〃

〃No。　Only　three　days。　The　third　day　I　received　a　communique　from
the　Committee　of　General　Security；　together　with　an　unconditional
certificate　of　safety。　　It　meant　that　I　was　freequite　free。　　Oh！
I　could　scarcely　believe　it。　　I　laughed　and　I　cried　until　the
people　in　the　house　thought　that　I　had　gone　mad。　　The　past　few
days　had　been　such　a　horrible　nightmare。〃

〃And　then　you　saw　Armand　again？〃

〃Yes。　　They　told　him　that　I　was　free。　　And　he　came　here　to　see　me。
He　often　comes；　he　will　be　here　anon。〃

〃But　are　you　not　afraid　on　his　account　and　your　own？　He　ishe
must　be　still'suspect'；　a　well…known　adherent　of　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel；　he　would　be　safer　out　of　Paris。〃

〃No！　oh；　no！　　Armand　is　in　no　danger。　　He；　too；　has　an　unconditional
certificate　of　safety。〃

〃An　unconditional　certificate　of　safety？〃　asked　Marguerite；　whilst
a　deep　frown　of　grave　puzzlement　appeared　between　her　brows。
〃What　does　that　mean？

〃It　means　that　he　is　free　to　come　and　go　as　he　likes；　that　neither
he　nor　I　have　anything　to　fear　from　Heron　and　his　awful　spies。
Oh！　but　for　that　sad　and　careworn　look　on　Armand's　face　we　could
be　so　happy；　but　he　is　so　unlike　himself。　　He　is　Armand　and　yet
another；　his　look　at　times　quite　frightens　me。〃

〃Yet　you　know　why　he　is　so　sad；〃　said　Marguerite　in　a　strange；
toneless　voice　which　she　seemed　quite　unable　to　control；　for　that
tonelessness　came　from　a　terrible　sense　of　suffocation；　of　a
feeling　as　if　her　heart…strings　were　being　gripped　by　huge；　hard
hands。

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Jeanne　half　hesitatingly；　as　if　knowing；　she
was　still　unconvinced。

〃His　chief；　his　comrade；　the　friend　of　whom　you　speak；　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel；　who　risked　his　life　in　order　to　save　yours；
mademoiselle；　is　a　prisoner　in　the　hands　of　those　that　hate　him。〃

Marguerite　had　spoken　with　sudden　vehemence。　　There　was　almost　an
appeal　in　her　voice　now；　as　if　she　were　trying　not　to　convince
Jeanne　only；　but　also　herself；　of　something　that　was　quite　simple；
quite　straightforward；　and　yet　which　appeared　to　be　receding　from
her；　an　intangible　something；　a　spirit　that　was　gradually　yielding
to　a　force　as　yet　unborn；　to　a　phantom　that　had　not　yet　emerged
from　out　chaos。

But　Jeanne　seemed　unconscious　of　all　this。　　Her　mind　was　absorbed
in　Armand；　the　man　whom　she　loved　in　her　simple；　whole…hearted
way；　and　who　had　seemed　so　different　of　late。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　she　said　with　a　deep；　sad　sigh；　whilst　the　ever…ready
tears　once　more　gathered　in　her　eyes；　〃Armand　is　very　unhappy
because　of　him。　　The　Scarlet　Pimpernel　was　his　friend；　Armand
loved　and　revered　him。　　Did　you　know；〃　added　the　girl；　turning
large；　horror…filled　eyes　on　Marguerite；　〃that　they　want　some
information　from　him　about　the　Dauphin；　and　to　force　him　to　give
it　theythey〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Marguerite。

〃Can　you　wonder；　then；　that　Armand　is　unhappy。　　Oh！　last　night；
after　he　went　from　me；　I　cried　for　hours；　just　because　he　had
looked　so　sad。　　He　no　longer　talks　of　happy　England；　of　the
cottage　we　were　to　have；　and　of　the　Kentish　orchards　in　May。　　He
has　not　ceased　to　love　me；　for　at　times　his　love　seems　so　great
that　I　tremble　with　a　delicious　sense　of　fear。　　But　oh！　his　love
for　me　no　longer　makes　him　happy。〃

Her　head　had　gradually　sunk　lower　and　lower　on　her　breast；　her
voice　died　down　in　a　murmur　broken　by　heartrending　sighs。　　Every
generous　impulse　in　Marguerite's　noble　nature　prompted　her　to　take
that　sorrowing　child　in　her　arms；　to　comfort　her　if　she　could；　to
reassure　her　if　she　had　the　power。　　But　a　strange　icy　feeling　had
gradually　invaded　her　heart；　even　whilst　she　listened　to　the　simple
unsophisticated　talk　of　Jeanne　Lange。　　Her　hands　felt　numb　and
clammy；　and　instinctively　she　withdrew　away　from　the　near　vicinity
of　the　girl。　　S