el dorado-第58章

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some　few　moments　with　the　sergeant；　also　with　the　driver　of　his
own　coach。　　He　went　to　the　window　of　the　other　carriage；　probably
in　order　to　consult　with　citizen　Heron；　or　to　take　final
directions　from　the　prisoner；　for　Marguerite；　who　was　watching
him；　saw　him　standing　on　the　step　and　leaning　well　forward　into
the　interior；　whilst　apparently　he　was　taking　notes　on　a　small
tablet　which　he　had　in　his　hand。

A　small　knot　of　idlers　had　congregated　in　the　narrow　street；　men
in　blouses　and　boys　in　ragged　breeches　lounged　against　the
verandah　of　the　inn　and　gazed　with　inexpressive；　stolid　eyes　on
the　soldiers；　the　coaches；　the　citizen　who　wore　the　tricolour
scarf。　　They　had　seen　this　sort　of　thing　before　nowaristos　being
conveyed　to　Paris　under　arrest；　prisoners　on　their　way　to　or　from
Amiens。　　They　saw　Marguerite's　pale　face　at　the　carriage　window。
It　was　not　the　first　woman's　face　they　had　seen　under　like
circumstances；　and　there　was　no　special　interest　about　this
aristo。　　They　were　smoking　or　spitting；　or　just　lounging　idly
against　the　balustrade。　　Marguerite　wondered　if　none　of　them　had
wife；　sister；　or　mother；　or　child；　if　every　sympathy；　every　kind
of　feeling　in　these　poor　wretches　had　been　atrophied　by　misery　or
by　fear。

At　last　everything　was　in　order　and　the　small　party　ready　to
start。

〃Does　any　one　here　know　the　Chapel　of　the　Holy　Sepulchre；　close　by
the　park　of　the　Chateau　d'Ourde？〃　asked　Chauvelin；　vaguely
addressing　the　knot　of　gaffers　that　stood　closest　to　him。

The　men　shook　their　heads。　　Some　had　dimly　heard　of　the　Chateau
d'Ourde；　it　was　some　way　in　the　interior　of　the　forest　of
Boulogne；　but　no　one　knew　about　a　chapel；　people　did　not　trouble
about　chapels　nowadays。　　With　the　indifference　so　peculiar　to
local　peasantry；　these　men　knew　no　more　of　the　surrounding　country
than　the　twelve　or　fifteen　league　circle　that　was　within　a　walk　of
their　sleepy　little　town。

One　of　the　scouts　on　ahead　turned　in　his　saddle　and　spoke　to
citizen　Chauvelin：

〃I　think　I　know　the　way　pretty　well；　citizen　Chauvelin；〃　he　said；
〃at　any　rate；　I　know　it　as　far　as　the　forest　of　Boulogne。〃

Chauvelin　referred　to　his　tablets。

〃That's　good；〃　he　said；　〃then　when　you　reach　the　mile…stone　that
stands　on　this　road　at　the　confine　of　the　forest；　bear　sharply　to
your　right　and　skirt　the　wood　until　you　see　the　hamlet　ofLe
something。　　LeLeyesLe　Crocqthat's　it　in　the　valley　below。〃

〃I　know　Le　Crocq；　I　think；〃　said　the　trooper。

〃Very　well；　then；　at　that　point　it　seems　that　a　wide　road　strikes
at　right　angles　into　the　interior　of　the　forest；　you　follow　that
until　a　stone　chapel　with　a　colonnaded　porch　stands　before　you　on
your　left；　and　the　walls　and　gates　of　a　park　on　your　right。　　That
is　so；　is　it　not；　Sir　Percy？〃　he　added；　once　more　turning　towards
the　interior　of　the　coach。

Apparently　the　answer　satisfied　him；　for　he　gave　the　quick　word　of
command；　〃En　avant！〃　then　turned　back　towards　his　own　coach　and
finally　entered　it。

〃Do　you　know　the　Chateau　d'Ourde；　citizen　St。　Just？〃　he　asked
abruptly　as　soon　as　the　carriage　began　to　move。

Armand　wokeas　was　habitual　with　him　these　daysfrom　some　gloomy
reverie。

〃Yes；　citizen；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　know　it。〃

〃And　the　Chapel　of　the　Holy　Sepulchre？〃

〃Yes。　　I　know　it　too。〃

Indeed；　he　knew　the　chateau　well；　and　the　little　chapel　in　the
forest；　whither　the　fisher…folk　from　Portel　and　Boulogne　came　on　a
pilgrimage　once　a　year　to　lay　their　nets　on　the　miracle…working
relic。　　The　chapel　was　disused　now。　　Since　the　owner　of　the
chateau　had　fled　no　one　had　tended　it；　and　the　fisher…folk　were
afraid　to　wander　out；　lest　their　superstitious　faith　be　counted
against　them　by　the　authorities；　who　had　abolished　le　bon　Dieu。

But　Armand　had　found　refuge　there　eighteen　months　ago；　on　his　way
to　Calais；　when　Percy　had　risked　his　life　in　order　to　save
hiArmandfrom　death。　　He　could　have　groaned　aloud　with　the
anguish　of　this　recollection。　But　Marguerite's　aching　nerves　had
thrilled　at　the　name。

The　Chateau　d'Ourde！　　The　Chapel　of　the　Holy　Sepulchre！　　That　was
the　place　which　Percy　had　mentioned　in　his　letter；　the　place　where
he　had　given　rendezvous　to　de　Batz。　　Sir　Andrew　had　said　that　the
Dauphin　could　not　possibly　be　there；　yet　Percy　was　leading　his
enemies　thither；　and　had　given　the　rendezvous　there　to　de　Batz。
And　this　despite　that　whatever　plans；　whatever　hopes；　had　been
born　in　his　mind　when　he　was　still　immured　in　the　Conciergerie
prison　must　have　been　set　at　naught　by　the　clever　counter　plot　of
Chauvelin　and　Heron。

〃At　the　merest　suspicion　that　you　have　played　us　false；　at　a　hint
that　you　have　led　us　into　an　ambush；　or　if　merely　our　hopes　of
finding　Capet　at　the　end　of　the　journey　are　frustrated；　the　lives
of　your　wife　and　of　your　friend　are　forfeit　to　us；　and　they　will
both　be　shot　before　your　eyes。〃

With　these　words；　with　this　precaution；　those　cunning　fiends　had
effectually　not　only　tied　the　schemer's　hands；　but　forced　him
either　to　deliver　the　child　to　them　or　to　sacrifice　his　wife　and
his　friend。

The　impasse　was　so　horrible　that　she　could　not　face　it　even　in　her
thoughts。　　A　strange；　fever…like　heat　coursed　through　her　veins；
yet　left　her　hands　icy…cold；　she　longed　for；　yet　dreaded；　the　end
of　the　journeythat　awful　grappling　with　the　certainty　of　coming
death。　　Perhaps；　after　all；　Percy；　too；　had　given　up　all　hope。
Long　ago　he　had　consecrated　his　life　to　the　attainment　of　his　own
ideals；　and　there　was　a　vein　of　fatalism　in　him；　perhaps　he　had
resigned　himself　to　the　inevitable；　and　his　only　desire　now　was　to
give　up　his　life；　as　he　had　said；　in　the　open；　beneath　God's　sky；
to　draw　his　last　breath　with　the　storm…clouds　tossed　through
infinity　above　him；　and　the　murmur　of　the　wind　in　the　trees　to
sing　him　to　rest。

Crecy　was　gradually　fading　into　the　distance；　wrapped　in　a　mantle
of　damp　and　mist。　　For　a　long　while　Marguerite　could　see　the　sloping
slate　roofs　glimmering　like　steel　in　the　grey　afternoon　light；　and
the　quaint　church　tower　with　its　beautiful　lantern；　through　the
pierced　stonework　of　which　shone　patches　of　the　leaden　sky。

Then　a　sudden　twist　of　the　road　hid　the　city　from　view；　only　the
outlying　churchyard　remained　in　sight；　with　its　white　monuments
and　granite　crosses；　over　which　the　dark　yews；　wet　with　the　rain
and　shaken　by　the　gale；　sent　showers　of　diamond…like　sprays。



CHAPTER　XLV
THE　FOREST　OF　BOULOGNE

Progress　was　not　easy；　and　very　slow　along　the　muddy　road；　the　two
coaches　moved　along　laboriously；　with　wheels　creaking　and　sinking
deeply　from　time　to　time　in　the　quagmire。

When　the　small　party　finally　reached　the　edge　of　the　wood　the
greyish　light　of　this　dismal　day　had　changed　in　the　west　to　a　dull
reddish　glowa　glow　that　had　neither　brilliance　nor　incandescence
in　it；　only　a　weird　tint　that　hung　over　the　horizon　and　turned　the
distance　into　lines　of　purple。

The　nearness　of　the　sea　made　itself　already　felt；　there　was　a
briny　taste　in　the　damp　atmosphere；　and　the　trees　all　turned　their
branches　away　in　the　same　direction　against　the　onslaught　of　the
prevailing　winds。

The　road　at　this　point　formed　a　sharp　fork；　skirting　the　wood　on
either　side；　the　forest　lying　like　a　black　close　mass　of　spruce
and　firs　on　the　left；　while　the　open　expanse　of　country　stretched
out　on　the　right。　　The　south…westerly　gale　struck　with　full
violence　against　the　barrier　of　forest　trees；　bending　the　tall
crests　of　the　pines　and　causing　their　small　dead　branches　to　break
and　fall　with　a　sharp；　crisp　sound　like　a　cry　of　pain。

The　squad　had　been　fresh　at　starting；　now　the　men　had　been　four
hours　in　the　saddle　under　persistent　rain　and　gusty　wind；　they
were　tired；　and　the　atmosphere　of　the　close；　black　forest　so　near
the　road　was　weighing　upon　their　spirits。

Strange　sounds　came　to　them　from　out　the　dense　network　of
treesthe　screeching　of　night…birds；　the　weird　call　of　the　owls；
the　swift　and　furtive　tread　of　wild　beasts　on　the　prowl。　　The　cold
winter　and　lack　of　food　had　lured　the　wolves　from　their
fastnesseshunger　had　emboldened　them；　and　now；　as　gradually　the
grey　light　fled　from　the　sky；　dismal　howls　could　be　heard　in　the
distance；　and　now　and　then　a　pair　of　eyes；　bright　with　the
reflection　of　the　lurid　western　glow；　would　shine　momentarily　out
of　the　darkness　like　tiny　glow…worms；　and　as　quickly　vanish　away。

The　men　shiveredmore　with　vague　superstitious　fear　than　with
cold。　　They　would　have　urged　their　horses　on；　but　the　wheels　of
the　coaches　stuck　persistently　in　the　mud；　and　now　and　again　a
halt　had　to　be　called　so　that　the　spokes　and　axles　might　he
cleared。

They　rode　on　in　silence。　　No　one　had　a　mind　to　speak；　and　the
mournful　soughing　of　the　wind　in　the　pine…trees　seemed　to　check
the　words　on　every　lip。　　The　dull　thud　of　hoofs　in　the　soft　road；
the　clang　of　steel　bits　and　buckles；　the　snorting　of　the　horses
alone　answered　the　wind；　and　also　the　monotonous　creaking　of　the
wheels　ploughing　through　the　ruts。

Soon　the　ruddy　glow　in　the　west　faded　into　soft…toned　purple　and
then　into　grey；　finally　that　too　vanished。　　Darkness　was　drawing
in　on　every　side　like　a　wide；　black　mantle　pulled　together　closer
and　closer　overhead　by　invisible　giant　hands。

The　rain　still　fell　in　a　thin　drizzle　that　soaked　through　caps　and
coats；　made　the　bridles　slimy　and　the　saddles　slippery　and　damp。
A　veil　of　vapour　hung　over　the　horses'　cruppers；　and　was　rendered
fuller　and　thicker　every　moment　with　the　breath　that　came　from
their　nostrils。　　The　wind　no　longer　blew　with　gusty　furyits
strength　seemed　to　have　been　spent　with　the　grey　light　of　day
but　now　and　then　it　would　still　come　sweeping　across　the　open
country；　and　dash　itself　upon　the　wall　of　forest　trees；　lashing
against　the　horses'　ears；　catching　the　corner　of　a　mantle　here；　an
ill…adjusted　cap　there；　and　wreaking　its　mischievous　freak　for　a
while；　then　with　a　sigh　of　satisfaction　die；　murmuring　among　the
pines。

Suddenly　there　was　a　halt；　much　shouting；　a　volley　of　oaths　from
the　drivers；　and　citizen　Chauvelin　thrust　his　head　out　of　the
carriage　window。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。

〃The　scouts；　citizen；〃　replied　the　sergeant；　who　had　been　riding
close　to　the　coach　door　all　this　while；　〃they　have　returned。〃

〃Tell　one　man　to　come　straight　to　me　and　report。〃

Marguerite　sat　quite　still。　　Indeed；　she　had　almost　ceased　to　live
momentarily；　for　her　spirit　was　absent　from　her　body；　which　felt
neither　fatigue；　nor　cold；　nor　pain。　　But　she　heard　the　snorting
of　the　horse　close　by　as　its　rider　pulled　him　up　sharply　beside
the　carriage　door。

〃Well？〃　said　Chauvelin　curtly。

〃This　is　the　cross…road；　citizen；〃　replied　the　man；　〃it　strikes
straight　into　the　wood；　and　the　hamlet　of　Le　Crocq　lies　down　in
the　valley　on　the　right。〃

〃Did　you　follow　the　road　in　the　wood？〃

〃Yes；　citizen。　　About　two　leagues　from　here　there　is　a　clearing
with　a　small　stone　chapel；　more　like　a　large　shrine；　nestling
among　the　trees。　　Opposite　to　it　the　angle　of　a　high　wall　with
large　wrought…iron　gates　at　the　corner；　and　from　these　a　wide
drive　leads　through　a　park。〃

〃Did　you　turn　into　the　drive？〃

〃Only　a　little　way；　citizen。　We　thought　we　had　best　report　first
that　all　is　safe。〃

〃You　saw