el dorado-第57章

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〃heyouyou　are　not　keeping　him　in　irons？〃

〃No！　　Oh　no！〃　replied　Chauvelin　with　perfect　urbanity。　〃You　see；
now　that　we　have　you；　Lady　Blakeney；　and　citizen　St。　Just　with　us
we　have　no　reason　to　fear　that　that　elusive　Pimpernel　will　spirit
himself　away。〃

A　hot　retort　had　risen　to　Armand's　lips。　　The　warm　Latin　blood　in
him　rebelled　against　this　intolerable　situation；　the　man's　sneers
in　the　face　of　Marguerite's　anguish。　　But　her　restraining；　gentle
hand　had　already　pressed　his。　　What　was　the　use　of　protesting；　of
insulting　this　brute；　who　cared　nothing　for　the　misery　which　he
had　caused　so　long　as　he　gained　his　own　ends？

And　Armand　held　his　tongue　and　tried　to　curb　his　temper；　tried　to
cultivate　a　little　of　that　fatalism　which　Chauvelin　had　said　was
characteristic　of　the　English。　　He　sat　beside　his　sister；　longing
to　comfort　her；　yet　feeling　that　his　very　presence　near　her　was　an
outrage　and　a　sacrilege。　She　spoke　so　seldom　to　him；　even　when
they　were　alone；　that　at　times　the　awful　thought　which　had　more
than　once　found　birth　in　his　weary　brain　became　crystallised　and
more　real。　　Did　Marguerite　guess？　　Had　she　the　slightest　suspicion
that　the　awful　cataclysm　to　which　they　were　tending　with　every
revolution　of　the　creaking　coach…wheels　had　been　brought　about　by
her　brother's　treacherous　hand？

And　when　that　thought　had　lodged　itself　quite　snugly　in　his　mind
he　began　to　wonder　whether　it　would　not　be　far　more　simple；　far
more　easy；　to　end　his　miserable　life　in　some　manner　that　might
suggest　itself　on　the　way。　When　the　coach　crossed　one　of　those
dilapidated；　parapetless　bridges；　over　abysses　fifty　metres　deep；
it　might　be　so　easy　to　throw　open　the　carriage　door　and　to　take
one　final　jump　into　eternity。

So　easybut　so　damnably　cowardly。

Marguerite's　near　presence　quickly　brought　him　back　to　himself。
His　life　was　no　longer　his　own　to　do　with　as　he　pleased；　it
belonged　to　the　chief　whom　he　had　betrayed；　to　the　sister　whom　he
must　endeavour　to　protect。

Of　Jeanne　now　he　thought　but　little。　　He　had　put　even　the　memory
of　her　bytenderly；　like　a　sprig　of　lavender　pressed　between　the
faded　leaves　of　his　own　happiness。　　His　hand　was　no　longer　fit　to
hold　that　of　any　pure　womanhis　hand　had　on　it　a　deep　stain；
immutable；　like　the　brand　of　Cain。

Yet　Marguerite　beside　him　held　his　hand　and　together　they　looked
out　on　that　dreary；　dreary　road　and　listened　to　of　the　patter　of
the　rain　and　the　rumbling　of　the　wheels　of　that　other　coach　on
aheadand　it　was　all　so　dismal　and　so　horrible；　the　rain；　the
soughing　of　the　wind　in　the　stunted　trees；　this　landscape　of　mud
and　desolation；　this　eternally　grey　sky。



CHAPTER　XLIV
THE　HALT　AT　CRECY

〃Now；　then；　citizen；　don't　go　to　sleep；　this　is　Crecy；　our　last
halt！〃

Armand　woke　up　from　his　last　dream。　　They　had　been　moving　steadily
on　since　they　left　Abbeville　soon　after　dawn；　the　rumble　of　the
wheels；　the　swaying　and　rocking　of　the　carriage；　the　interminable
patter　of　the　rain　had　lulled　him　into　a　kind　of　wakeful　sleep。

Chauvelin　had　already　alighted　from　the　coach。　　He　was　helping
Marguerite　to　descend。　　Armand　shook　the　stiffness　from　his　limbs
and　followed　in　the　wake　of　his　sister。　　Always　those　miserable
soldiers　round　them；　with　their　dank　coats　of　rough　blue　cloth；
and　the　red　caps　on　their　heads！　　Armand　pulled　Marguerite's　hand
through　his　arm；　and　dragged　her　with　him　into　the　house。

The　small　city　lay　damp　and　grey　before　them；　the　rough　pavement
of　the　narrow　street　glistened　with　the　wet；　reflecting　the　dull；
leaden　sky　overhead；　the　rain　beat　into　the　puddles；　the
slate…roofs　shone　in　the　cold　wintry　light。

This　was　Crecy！　　The　last　halt　of　the　journey；　so　Chauvelin　had
said。　　The　party　had　drawn　rein　in　front　of　a　small　one…storied
building　that　had　a　wooden　verandah　running　the　whole　length　of
its　front。

The　usual　low　narrow　room　greeted　Armand　and　Marguerite　as　they
entered；　the　usual　mildewed　walls；　with　the　colour　wash　flowing
away　in　streaks　from　the　unsympathetic　beam　above；　the　same
device；　〃Liberte；　Egalite；　Fraternite！〃　scribbled　in　charcoal
above　the　black　iron　stove；　the　usual　musty；　close　atmosphere；　the
usual　smell　of　onion　and　stale　cheese；　the　usual　hard　straight
benches　and　central　table　with　its　soiled　and　tattered　cloth。

Marguerite　seemed　dazed　and　giddy；　she　had　been　five　hours　in　that
stuffy　coach　with　nothing　to　distract　her　thoughts　except　the
rain…sodden　landscape；　on　which　she　had　ceaselessly　gazed　since
the　early　dawn。

Armand　led　her　to　the　bench；　and　she　sank　down　on　it；　numb　and
inert；　resting　her　elbows　on　the　table　and　her　head　in　her　hands。

〃If　it　were　only　all　over！〃　she　sighed　involuntarily。　Armand；　at
times　now　I　feel　as　if　I　were　not　really　saneas　if　my　reason　had
already　given　way！　　Tell　me；　do　I　seem　mad　to　you　at　times？〃

He　sat　down　beside　her　and　tried　to　chafe　her　little　cold　hands。

There　was　a　knock　at　the　door；　and　without　waiting　for　permission
Chauvelin　entered　the　room。

〃My　humble　apologies　to　you；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　said　in　his　usual
suave　manner；　〃but　our　worthy　host　informs　me　that　this　is　the
only　room　in　which　he　can　serve　a　meal。　Therefore　I　am　forced　to
intrude　my　presence　upon　you。〃

Though　he　spoke　with　outward　politeness；　his　tone　had　become　more
peremptory；　less　bland；　and　he　did　not　await　Marguerite's　reply
before　he　sat　down　opposite　to　her　and　continued　to　talk　airily。

〃An　ill…conditioned　fellow；　our　host；〃　he　said〃quite　reminds　me
of　our　friend　Brogard　at　the　Chat　Gris　in　Calais。　　You　remember
him；　Lady　Blakeney？〃

〃My　sister　is　giddy　and　over…tired；〃　interposed　Armand　firmly。　　〃I
pray　you；　citizen；　to　have　some　regard　for　her。〃

〃All　regard　in　the　world；　citizen　St。　Just；〃　protested　Chauvelin
jovially。　　〃Methought　that　those　pleasant　reminiscences　would
cheer　her。　　Ah！　here　comes　the　soup；〃　he　added；　as　a　man　in　blue
blouse　and　breeches；　with　sabots　on　his　feet；　slouched　into　the
room；　carrying　a　tureen　which　he　incontinently　placed　upon　the
table。　　〃I　feel　sure　that　in　England　Lady　Blakeney　misses　our
excellent　croutes…au…pot；　the　glory　of　our　bourgeois　cookeryLady
Blakeney；　a　little　soup？〃

〃I　thank　you；　sir；〃　she　murmured。

〃Do　try　and　eat　something；　little　mother；〃　Armand　whispered　in　her
ear；　〃try　and　keep　up　your　strength　for　his　sake；　if　not　for
mine。〃

She　turned　a　wan；　pale　face　to　him；　and　tried　to　smile。

〃I'll　try；　dear；〃　she　said。

〃You　have　taken　bread　and　meat　to　the　citizens　in　the　coach？〃
Chauvelin　called　out　to　the　retreating　figure　of　mine　host。

〃H'm！〃　grunted　the　latter　in　assent。

〃And　see　that　the　citizen　soldiers　are　well　fed；　or　there　will　be
trouble。〃

〃H'm！〃　grunted　the　man　again。　　After　which　he　banged　the　door　to
behind　him。

〃Citizen　Heron　is　loath　to　let　the　prisoner　out　of　his　sight；〃
explained　Chauvelin　lightly；　〃now　that　we　have　reached　the　last；
most　important　stage　of　our　journey；　so　he　is　sharing　Sir　Percy's
mid…day　meal　in　the　interior　of　the　coach。〃

He　ate　his　soup　with　a　relish；　ostentatiously　paying　many　small
attentions　to　Marguerite　all　the　time。　　He　ordered　meat　for
herbread；　butterasked　if　any　dainties　could　be　got。　　He　was
apparently　in　the　best　of　tempers。

After　he　had　eaten　and　drunk　he　rose　and　bowed　ceremoniously　to
her。

〃Your　pardon；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　must　confer　with　the
prisoner　now；　and　take　from　him　full　directions　for　the
continuance　of　our　journey。　　After　that　I　go　to　the　guard…house；
which　is　some　distance　from　here；　right　at　the　other　end　of　the
city。　　We　pick　up　a　fresh　squad　here；　twenty　hardened　troopers
from　a　cavalry　regiment　usually　stationed　at　Abbeville。　　They　have
had　work　to　do　in　this　town；　which　is　a　hot…bed　of　treachery。　　I
must　go　inspect　the　men　and　the　sergeant　who　will　be　in　command。
Citizen　Heron　leaves　all　these　inspections　to　me；　he　likes　to　stay
by　his　prisoner。　　In　the　meanwhile　you　will　be　escorted　back　to
your　coach；　where　I　pray　you　to　await　my　arrival；　when　we　change
guard　first；　then　proceed　on　our　way。〃

Marguerite　was　longing　to　ask　him　many　questions；　once　again　she
would　have　smothered　her　pride　and　begged　for　news　of　her　husband；
but　Chauvelin　did　not　wait。　　He　hurried　out　of　the　room；　and
Armand　and　Marguerite　could　hear　him　ordering　the　soldiers　to　take
them　forthwith　back　to　the　coach。

As　they　came　out　of　the　inn　they　saw　the　other　coach　some　fifty
metres　further　up　the　street。　　The　horses　that　had　done　duty　since
leaving　Abbeville　had　been　taken　out；　and　two　soldiers　in　ragged
shirts；　and　with　crimson　caps　set　jauntily　over　their　left　ear；
were　leading　the　two　fresh　horses　along。　　The　troopers　were　still
mounting　guard　round　both　the　coaches；　they　would　be　relieved
presently。

Marguerite　would　have　given　ten　years　of　her　life　at　this　moment
for　the　privilege　of　speaking　to　her　husband；　or　even　of　seeing
himof　seeing　that　he　was　well。　　A　quick；　wild　plan　sprang　up　in
her　mind　that　she　would　bribe　the　sergeant　in　command　to　grant　her
wish　while　citizen　Chauvelin　was　absent。　　The　man　had　not　an
unkind　face；　and　he　must　be　very　poorpeople　in　France　were　very
poor　these　days；　though　the　rich　had　been　robbed　and　luxurious
homes　devastated　ostensibly　to　help　the　poor。

She　was　about　to　put　this　sudden　thought　into　execution　when
Heron's　hideous　face；　doubly　hideous　now　with　that　bandage　of
doubtful　cleanliness　cutting　across　his　brow；　appeared　at　the
carriage　window。

He　cursed　violently　and　at　the　top　of　his　voice。

〃What　are　those　dd　aristos　doing　out　there？〃　he　shouted。

〃Just　getting　into　the　coach；　citizen；〃　replied　the　sergeant
promptly。

And　Armand　and　Marguerite　were　immediately　ordered　back　into　the
coach。

Heron　remained　at　the　window　for　a　few　moments　longer；　he　bad　a
toothpick　in　his　hand　which　he　was　using　very　freely。

〃How　much　longer　are　we　going　to　wait　in　this　cursed　hole？〃　he
called　out　to　the　sergeant。

〃Only　a　few　moments　longer；　citizen。　　Citizen　Chauvelin　will　be
back　soon　with　the　guard。〃

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　the　clatter　of　cavalry　horses　on　the
rough；　uneven　pavement　drew　Marguerite's　attention。　　She　lowered
the　carriage　window　and　looked　out。　Chauvelin　had　just　returned
with　the　new　escort。　　He　was　on　horseback；　his　horse's　bridle；
since　he　was　but　an　indifferent　horseman；　was　held　by　one　of　the
troopers。

Outside　the　inn　he　dismounted；　evidently　he　had　taken　full　command
of　the　expedition；　and　scarcely　referred　to　Heron；　who　spent　most
of　his　time　cursing　at　the　men　or　the　weather　when　he　was　not
lying　half…asleep　and　partially　drunk　in　the　inside　of　the
carriage。

The　changing　of　the　guard　was　now　accomplished　quietly　and　in
perfect　order。　　The　new　escort　consisted　of　twenty　mounted　men；
including　a　sergeant　and　a　corporal；　and　of　two　drivers；　one　for
each　coach。　　The　cortege　now　was　filed　up　in　marching　order；　ahead
a　small　party　of　scouts；　then　the　coach　with　Marguerite　and　Armand
closely　surrounded　by　mounted　men；　and　at　a　short　distance　the
second　coach　with　citizen　Heron　and　the　prisoner　equally　well
guarded。

Chauvelin　superintended　all　the　arrangements　himself。　He　spoke　for
some　few　moments　with　the　sergeant；　also　with　the　driver　of　his
own　c