el dorado-第53章

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as　hostage　for　the　good　faith　of　your　chief。〃

〃I　quite　understand。〃

〃H'm！　　That's　brave！　　You　have　no　fear；　citizen　St。　Just？〃

〃Fear　of　what；　sir？

〃You　will　be　a　hostage　in　our　hands；　citizen；　your　life　a
guarantee　that　your　chief　has　no　thought　of　playing　us　false。　　Now
I　was　thinking　ofof　certain　eventswhich　led　to　the　arrest　of
Sir　Percy　Blakeney。〃

〃Of　my　treachery；　you　mean；〃　rejoined　the　young　man　calmly；　even
though　his　face　had　suddenly　become　pale　as　death。　　〃Of　the
damnable　lie　wherewith　you　cheated　me　into　selling　my　honour；　and
made　me　what　I　ama　creature　scarce　fit　to　walk　upon　this　earth。〃

〃Oh！〃　protested　Chauvelin　blandly。

〃The　damnable　lie；〃　continued　Armand　more　vehemently；　〃that　hath
made　me　one　with　Cain　and　the　Iscariot。　When　you　goaded　me　into
the　hellish　act；　Jeanne　Lange　was　already　free。〃

〃Freebut　not　safe。〃

〃A　lie；　man！　　A　lie！　　For　which　you　are　thrice　accursed。　　Great
God；　is　it　not　you　that　should　have　cause　for　fear？　　Methinks　were
I　to　strangle　you　now　I　should　suffer　less　of　remorse。〃

〃And　would　be　rendering　your　ex…chief　but　a　sorry　service；〃
interposed　Chauvelin　with　quiet　irony。　　〃Sir　Percy　Blakeney　is　a
dying　man；　citizen　St。　Just；　he'll　be　a　dead　man　at　dawn　if　I　do
not　put　in　an　appearance　by　six　o'clock　this　morning。　　This　is　a
private　understanding　between　citizen　Heron　and　myself。　　We　agreed
to　it　before　I　came　to　see　you。〃

〃Oh；　you　take　care　of　your　own　miserable　skin　well　enough！　　But
you　need　not　be　afraid　of　meI　take　my　orders　from　my　chief；　and
he　has　not　ordered　me　to　kill　you。〃

〃That　was　kind　of　him。　　Then　we　may　count　on　you？　You　are　not
afraid？〃

〃Afraid　that　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　would　leave　me　in　the　lurch
because　of　the　immeasurable　wrong　I　have　done　to　him？〃　retorted
Armand；　proud　and　defiant　in　the　name　of　his　chief。　　〃No；　sir；　I
am　not　afraid　of　that；　I　have　spent　the　last　fortnight　in　praying
to　God　that　my　life　might　yet　be　given　for　his。〃

〃H'm！　I　think　it　most　unlikely　that　your　prayers　will　be　granted；
citizen；　prayers；　I　imagine；　so　very　seldom　are；　but　I　don't　know；
I　never　pray　myself。　　In　your　case；　now；　I　should　say　that　you
have　not　the　slightest　chance　of　the　Deity　interfering　in　so
pleasant　a　manner。　　Even　were　Sir　Percy　Blakeney　prepared　to　wreak
personal　revenge　on　you；　he　would　scarcely　be　so　foolish　as　to
risk　the　other　life　which　we　shall　also　hold　as　hostage　for　his
good　faith。〃

〃The　other　life？〃

〃Yes。　　Your　sister；　Lady　Blakeney；　will　also　join　the　expedition
to…morrow。　　This　Sir　Percy　does　not　yet　know；　but　it　will　come　as
a　pleasant　surprise　for　him。　　At　the　slightest　suspicion　of　false
play　on　Sir　Percy's　part；　at　his　slightest　attempt　at　escape；　your
life　and　that　of　your　sister　are　forfeit；　you　will　both　be
summarily　shot　before　his　eyes。　I　do　not　think　that　I　need　be　more
precise；　eh；　citizen　St。　Just？〃

The　young　man　was　quivering　with　passion。　　A　terrible　loathing　for
himself；　for　his　crime　which　had　been　the　precursor　of　this
terrible　situation；　filled　his　soul　to　the　verge　of　sheer　physical
nausea。　　A　red　film　gathered　before　his　eyes；　and　through　it　he
saw　the　grinning　face　of　the　inhuman　monster　who　had　planned　this
hideous；　abominable　thing。　　It　seemed　to　him　as　if　in　the　silence
and　the　hush　of　the　night；　above　the　feeble；　flickering　flame　that
threw　weird　shadows　around；　a　group　of　devils　were　surrounding
him；　and　were　shouting；　〃Kill　him！　　Kill　him　now！　　Rid　the　earth
of　this　hellish　brute！〃

No　doubt　if　Chauvelin　had　exhibited　the　slightest　sign　of　fear；　if
he　had　moved　an　inch　towards　the　door；　Armand；　blind　with　passion；
driven　to　madness　by　agonising　remorse　more　even　than　by　rage；
would　have　sprung　at　his　enemy's　throat　and　crushed　the　life　out
of　him　as　he　would　out　of　a　venomous　beast。　　But　the　man's　calm；
his　immobility；　recalled　St。　Just　to　himself。　　Reason；　that　had
almost　yielded　to　passion　again；　found　strength　to　drive　the　enemy
back　this　time；　to　whisper　a　warning；　an　admonition；　even　a
reminder。　　Enough　harm；　God　knows；　had　been　done　by　tempestuous
passion　already。　　And　God　alone　knew　what　terrible　consequences
its　triumph　now　might　bring　in　its　trial；　and　striking　on　Armand's
buzzing　ears　Chauvelin's　words　came　back　as　a　triumphant　and
mocking　echo：

〃He'll　be　a　dead　man　at　dawn　if　I　do　not　put　in　an　appearance　by
six　o'clock。〃

The　red　film　lifted；　the　candle　flickered　low；　the　devils
vanished；　only　the　pale　face　of　the　Terrorist　gazed　with　gentle
irony　out　of　the　gloom。

〃I　think　that　I　need　not　detain　you　any　longer；　citizen；　St。
Just；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃you　can　get　three　or　four　hours'　rest　yet
before　you　need　make　a　start；　and　I　still　have　a　great　many　things
to　see　to。　　I　wish　you　good…night；　citizen。〃

〃Good…night；〃　murmured　Armand　mechanically。

He　took　the　candle　and　escorted　his　visitor　back　to　the　door。　　He
waited　on　the　landing；　taper　in　hand；　while　Chauvelin　descended
the　narrow；　winding　stairs。

There　was　a　light　in　the　concierge's　lodge。　　No　doubt　the　woman
had　struck　it　when　the　nocturnal　visitor　had　first　demanded
admittance。　　His　name　and　tricolour　scarf　of　office　had　ensured
him　the　full　measure　of　her　attention；　and　now　she　was　evidently
sitting　up　waiting　to　let　him　out。

St。　Just；　satisfied　that　Chauvelin　had　finally　gone；　now　turned
back　to　his　own　rooms。



CHAPTER　XL
GOD　HELP　US　ALL

He　carefully　locked　the　outer　door。　　Then　he　lit　the　lamp；　for　the
candle　gave　but　a　flickering　light；　and　he　had　some　important　work
to　do。

Firstly；　he　picked　up　the　charred　fragment　of　the　letter；　and
smoothed　it　out　carefully　and　reverently　as　he　would　a　relic。
Tears　had　gathered　in　his　eyes；　but　he　was　not　ashamed　of　them；
for　no　one　saw　them；　but　they　eased　his　heart；　and　helped　to
strengthen　his　resolve。　　It　was　a　mere　fragment　that　had　been
spared　by　the　flame；　but　Armand　knew　every　word　of　the　letter　by
heart。

He　had　pen；　ink　and　paper　ready　to　his　band；　and　from　memory　wrote
out　a　copy　of　it。　　To　this　he　added　a　covering　letter　from　himself
to　Marguerite：



Thiswhich　I　had　from　Percy　through　the　hands　of　ChauvelinI
neither　question　nor　understand。。。。　　He　wrote　the　letter；　and　I
have　no　thought　but　to　obey。　　In　his　previous　letter　to　me　he
enjoined　me；　if　ever　he　wrote　to　me　again；　to　obey　him　implicitly；
and　to　communicate　with　you。　To　both　these　commands　do　I　submit
with　a　glad　heart。　　But　of　this　must　I　give　you　warning；　little
motherChauvelin　desires　you　also　to　accompany　us　to…morrow。。。。
Percy　does　not　know　this　yet；　else　he　would　never　start。　　But
those　fiends　fear　that　his　readiness　is　a　blind　。。。　and　that　he
has　some　plan　in　his　head　for　his　own　escape　and　the　continued
safety　of　the　Dauphin。。。。　　This　plan　they　hope　to　frustrate
through　holding　you　and　me　as　hostages　for　his　good　faith。　　God
only　knows　how　gladly　I　would　give　my　life　for　my　chief　。。。　but
your　life；　dear　little　mother　。。。　is　sacred　above　all。。。。　　I　think
that　I　do　right　in　warning　you。　God　help　us　all。



Having　written　the　letter；　he　sealed　it；　together　with　the　copy　of
Percy's　letter　which　he　had　made。　　Then　he　took　up　the　candle　and
went　downstairs。

There　was　no　longer　any　light　in　the　concierge's　lodge；　and　Armand
had　some　difficulty　in　making　himself　heard。　At　last　the　woman
came　to　the　door。　　She　was　tired　and　cross　after　two　interruptions
of　her　night's　rest；　but　she　had　a　partiality　for　her　young
lodger；　whose　pleasant　ways　and　easy　liberality　had　been　like　a
pale　ray　of　sunshine　through　the　squalor　of　every…day　misery。

〃It　is　a　letter；　citoyenne；〃　said　Armand；　with　earnest　entreaty；
〃for　my　sister。　　She　lives　in　the　Rue　de　Charonne；　near　the
fortifications；　and　must　have　it　within　an　hour；　it　is　a　matter　of
life　and　death　to　her；　to　me；　and　to　another　who　is　very　dear　to
us　both。〃

The　concierge　threw　up　her　hands　in　horror。

〃Rue　de　Charonne；　near　the　fortifications；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃and
within　an　hour！　　By　the　Holy　Virgin；　citizen；　that　is　impossible。
Who　will　take　it？　　There　is　no　way。〃

〃A　way　must　be　found；　citoyenne；〃　said　Armand　firmly；　〃and　at
once；　it　is　not　far；　and　there　are　five　golden　louis　waiting　for
the　messenger！〃

Five　golden　louis！　　The　poor；　hardworking　woman's　eyes　gleamed　at
the　thought。　　Five　louis　meant　food　for　at　least　two　months　if　one
was　careful；　and

〃Give　me　the　letter；　citizen；〃　she　said；　〃time　to　slip　on　a　warm
petticoat　and　a　shawl；　and　I'll　go　myself。　　It's　not　fit　for　the
boy　to　go　at　this　hour。〃

〃You　will　bring　me　back　a　line　from　my　sister　in　reply　to　this；〃
said　Armand；　whom　circumstances　had　at　last　rendered　cautious。
〃Bring　it　up　to　my　rooms　that　I　may　give　you　the　five　louis　in
exchange。〃

He　waited　while　the　woman　slipped　back　into　her　room。　She　heard
him　speaking　to　her　boy；　the　same　lad　who　a　fortnight　ago　had
taken　the　treacherous　letter　which　had　lured　Blakeney　to　the　house
into　the　fatal　ambuscade　that　had　been　prepared　for　him。
Everything　reminded　Armand　of　that　awful　night；　every　hour　that　he
had　since　spent　in　the　house　had　been　racking　torture　to　him。　Now
at　last　he　was　to　leave　it；　and　on　an　errand　which　might　help　to
ease　the　load　of　remorse　from　his　heart。

The　woman　was　soon　ready。　　Armand　gave　her　final　directions　as　to
how　to　find　the　house　；　then　she　took　the　letter　and　promised　to
be　very　quick；　and　to　bring　back　a　reply　from　the　lady。

Armand　accompanied　her　to　the　door。　　The　night　was　dark；　a　thin
drizzle　was　falling；　he　stood　and　watched　until　the　woman's
rapidly　walking　figure　was　lost　in　the　misty　gloom。

Then　with　a　heavy　sigh　he　once　more　went　within。



CHAPTER　XLI
WHEN　HOPE　WAS　DEAD

In　a　small　upstairs　room　in　the　Rue　de　Charonne；　above　the　shop　of
Lucas　the　old…clothes　dealer；　Marguerite　sat　with　Sir　Andrew
Ffoulkes。　　Armand's　letter；　with　its　message　and　its　warning；　lay
open　on　the　table　between　them；　and　she　had　in　her　hand　the　sealed
packet　which　Percy　had　given　her　just　ten　days　ago；　and　which　she
was　only　to　open　if　all　hope　seemed　to　be　dead；　if　nothing
appeared　to　stand　any　longer　between　that　one　dear　life　and
irretrievable　shame。

A　small　lamp　placed　on　the　table　threw　a　feeble　yellow　light　on
the　squalid；　ill…furnished　room；　for　it　lacked　still　an　hour　or　so
before　dawn。　　Armand's　concierge　had　brought　her　lodger's　letter；
and　Marguerite　had　quickly　despatched　a　brief　reply　to　him；　a
reply　that　held　love　and　also　encouragement。

Then　she　had　summoned　Sir　Andrew。　　He　never　had　a　thought　of
leaving　her　during　these　days　of　dire　trouble；　and　he　had　lodged
all　this　while　in　a　tiny　room　on　the　top…most　floor　of　this　house
in　the　Rue　de　Charonne。

At　her　call　he　had　come　down　very　quickly；　and　now　they　sat
together　at　the　table；　with　the　oil…lamp　illumining　their　pale；
anxious　faces；　she　the　wife　and　he　the　friend　holding　a
consultation　together　in　this　most　miserable　hour　that　preceded
the　cold　wintry　dawn。

Outside　a　thin；　persistent　rain　mixed　with　snow　pattered　against
the　small　window　panes；　and　an　icy　wind　found　out　all　the　crevices
in　the　worm…eaten　woodwork　that　would　afford　it　ingress　to　the
room。　　But　neither　Marguerite　nor　Ffoulkes　was　conscious　of　the
cold。　　They　had　wrapped　their　cloaks　rou