el dorado-第59章

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〃Did　you　turn　into　the　drive？〃

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

〃You　saw　no　one？〃

〃No　one。〃

〃The　chateau；　then；　lies　some　distance　from　the　gates？〃

〃A　league　or　more；　citizen。　　Close　to　the　gates　there　are
outhouses　and　stabling；　the　disused　buildings　of　the　home　farm；　I
should　say。〃

〃Good！　　We　are　on　the　right　road；　that　is　clear。　　Keep　ahead　with
your　men　now；　but　only　some　two　hundred　metres　or　so。　　Stay！〃　he
added；　as　if　on　second　thoughts。　〃Ride　down　to　the　other　coach　and
ask　the　prisoner　if　we　are　on　the　right　track。〃

The　rider　turned　his　horse　sharply　round。　　Marguerite　heard…the
clang　of　metal　and　the　sound　of　retreating　hoofs。

A　few　moments　later　the　man　returned。

〃Yes；　citizen；〃　he　reported；　〃the　prisoner　says　it　is　quite　right。
The　Chateau　d'Ourde　lies　a　full　league　from　its　gates。　　This　is
the　nearest　road　to　the　chapel　and　the　chateau。　　He　says　we　should
reach　the　former　in　half　an　hour。　　It　will　be　very　dark　in　there；〃
he　added　with　a　significant　nod　in　the　direction　of　the　wood。

Chauvelin　made　no　reply；　but　quietly　stepped　out　of　the　coach。
Marguerite　watched　him；　leaning　out　of　the　window；　following　his
small　trim　figure　as　he　pushed　his　way　past　the　groups　of　mounted
men；　catching　at　a　horse's　bit　now　and　then；　or　at　a　bridle；
making　a　way　for　himself　amongst　the　restless；　champing　animals；
without　the　slightest　hesitation　or　fear。

Soon　his　retreating　figure　lost　its　sharp　outline　silhouetted
against　the　evening　sky。　　It　was　enfolded　in　the　veil　of　vapour
which　was　blown　out　of　the　horses'　nostrils　or　rising　from　their
damp　cruppers；　it　became　more　vague；　almost　ghost…like；　through
the　mist　and　the　fast…gathering　gloom。

Presently　a　group　of　troopers　hid　him　entirely　from　her　view；　but
she　could　hear　his　thin；　smooth　voice　quite　clearly　as　he　called
to　citizen　Heron。

〃We　are　close　to　the　end　of　our　journey　now；　citizen；〃　she　heard
him　say。　　〃If　the　prisoner　has　not　played　us　false　little　Capet
should　be　in　our　charge　within　the　hour。〃

A　growl　not　unlike　those　that　came　from　out　the　mysterious　depths
of　the　forest　answered　him。

〃If　he　is　not；〃　and　Marguerite　recognised　the　harsh　tones　of
citizen　Heron〃if　he　is　not；　then　two　corpses　will　be　rotting　in
this　wood　tomorrow　for　the　wolves　to　feed　on；　and　the　prisoner
will　be　on　his　way　back　to　Paris　with　me。〃

Some　one　laughed。　　It　might　have　been　one　of　the　troopers；　more
callous　than　his　comrades；　but　to　Marguerite　the　laugh　had　a
strange；　familiar　ring　in　it；　the　echo　of　something　long　since
past　and　gone。

Then　Chauvelin's　voice　once　more　came　clearly　to　her　ear：

〃My　suggestion；　citizen；〃　he　was　saying；　〃is　that　the　prisoner
shall　now　give　me　an　ordercouched　in　whatever　terms　he　may　think
necessarybut　a　distinct　order　to　his　friends　to　give　up　Capet　to
me　without　any　resistance。　　I　could　then　take　some　of　the　men　with
me；　and　ride　as　quickly　as　the　light　will　allow　up　to　the　chateau；
and　take　possession　of　it；　of　Capet；　and　of　those　who　are　with
him。　We　could　get　along　faster　thus。　　One　man　can　give　up　his
horse　to　me　and　continue　the　journey　on　the　box　of　your　coach。
The　two　carriages　could　then　follow　at　foot　pace。　But　I　fear　that
if　we　stick　together　complete　darkness　will　overtake　us　and　we
might　find　ourselves　obliged　to　pass　a　very　uncomfortable　night　in
this　wood。〃

〃I　won't　spend　another　night　in　this　suspenseit　would　kill　me；〃
growled　Heron　to　the　accompaniment　of　one　of　his　choicest　oaths。
〃You　must　do　as　you　think　rightyou　planned　the　whole　of　this
affairsee　to　it　that　it　works　out　well　in　the　end。〃

〃How　many　men　shall　I　take　with　me？　　Our　advance　guard　is　here；　of
course。〃

〃I　couldn't　spare　you　more　than　four　more　menI　shall　want　the
others　to　guard　the　prisoners。〃

〃Four　men　will　be　quite　sufficient；　with　the　four　of　the　advance
guard。　　That　will　leave　you　twelve　men　for　guarding　your
prisoners；　and　you　really　only　need　to　guard　the　womanher　life
will　answer　for　the　others。〃

He　had　raised　his　voice　when　he　said　this；　obviously　intending
that　Marguerite　and　Armand　should　hear。

〃Then　I'll　ahead；〃　he　continued；　apparently　in　answer　to　an　assent
from　his　colleague。　　〃Sir　Percy；　will　you　be　so　kind　as　to
scribble　the　necessary　words　on　these　tablets？〃

There　was　a　long　pause；　during　which　Marguerite　heard　plainly　the
long　and　dismal　cry　of　a　night　bird　that；　mayhap；　was　seeking　its
mate。　　Then　Chauvelin's　voice　was　raised　again。

〃I　thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃this　certainly　should　be　quite　effectual。
And　now；　citizen　Heron；　I　do　not　think　that　under　the　circumstances
we　need　fear　an　ambuscade　or　any　kind　of　trickeryyou　hold　the
hostages。　　And　if　by　any　chance　I　and　my　men　are　attacked；　or　if
we　encounter　armed　resistance　at　the　chateau；　I　will　despatch　a
rider　back　straightway　to　you；　andwell；　you　will　know　what　to　do。〃

His　voice　died　away；　merged　in　the　soughing　of　the　wind；　drowned
by　the　clang　of　metal；　of　horses　snorting；　of　men　living　and
breathing。　　Marguerite　felt　that　beside　her　Armand　had　shuddered；
and　that　in　the　darkness　his　trembling　hand　had　sought　and　found
hers。

She　leaned　well　out　of　the　window；　trying　to　see。　　The　gloom　had
gathered　more　closely　in；　and　round　her　the　veil　of　vapour　from
the　horses'　steaming　cruppers　hung　heavily　in　the　misty　air。　　In
front　of　her　the　straight　lines　of　a　few　fir　trees　stood　out　dense
and　black　against　the　greyness　beyond；　and　between　these　lines
purple　tints　of　various　tones　and　shades　mingled　one　with　the
other；　merging　the　horizon　line　with　the　sky。　　Here　and　there　a
more　solid　black　patch　indicated　the　tiny　houses　of　the　hamlet　of
Le　Crocq　far　down　in　the　valley　below；　from　some　of　these　houses
small　lights　began　to　glimmer　like　blinking　yellow　eyes。
Marguerite's　gaze；　however；　did　not　rest　on　the　distant　landscape
it　tried　to　pierce　the　gloom　that　hid　her　immediate　surroundings；
the　mounted　men　were　all　round　the　coachmore　closely　round　her
than　the　trees　in　the　forest。　　But　the　horses　were　restless；　moving
all　the　time；　and　as　they　moved　she　caught　glimpses　of　that　other
coach　and　of　Chauvelin's　ghostlike　figure；　walking　rapidly　through
the　mist。　　Just　for　one　brief　moment　she　saw　the　other　coach；　and
Heron's　head　and　shoulders　leaning　out　of　the　window。　　If　is
sugar…loaf　hat　was　on　his　head；　and　the　bandage　across　his　brow
looked　like　a　sharp；　pale　streak　below　it。

〃Do　not　doubt　it；　citizen　Chauvelin；〃　he　called　out　loudly　in　his
harsh；　raucous　voice；　〃I　shall　know　what　to　do；　the　wolves　will
have　their　meal　to…night；　and　the　guillotine　will　not　be　cheated
either。〃

Armand　put　his　arm　round　his　sister's　shoulders　and　gently　drew
her　hack　into　the　carriage。

〃Little　mother；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　can　think　of　a　way　whereby　my
life　would　redeem　Percy's　and　yours；　show　me　that　way　now。〃

But　she　replied　quietly　and　firmly：

〃There　is　no　way；　Armand。　　If　there　is；　it　is　in　the　hands　of
God。〃



CHAPTER　XLVI
OTHERS　IN　THE　PARK

Chauvelin　and　his　picked　escort　had　in　the　meanwhile　detached
themselves　from　the　main　body　of　the　squad。　Soon　the　dull　thud　of
their　horses'　hoofs　treading　the　soft　ground　came　more　softly
then　more　softly　still　as　they　turned　into　the　wood；　and　the
purple　shadows　seemed　to　enfold　every　sound　and　finally　to　swallow
them　completely。

Armand　and　Marguerite　from　the　depth　of　the　carriage　heard　Heron's
voice　ordering　his　own　driver　now　to　take　the　lead。　　They　sat
quite　still　and　watched；　and　presently　the　other　coach　passed　them
slowly　on　the　road；　its　silhouette　standing　out　ghostly　and　grim
for　a　moment　against　the　indigo　tones　of　the　distant　country。

Heron's　head；　with　its　battered　sugar…loaf　hat；　and　the　soiled
bandage　round　the　brow；　was　as　usual　out　of　the　carriage　window。
He　leered　across　at　Marguerite　when　he　saw　the　outline　of　her　face
framed　by　the　window　of　the　carriage。

〃Say　all　the　prayers　you　have　ever　known；　citizeness；〃　he　said
with　a　loud　laugh；　〃that　my　friend　Chauvelin　may　find　Capet　at　the
chateau；　or　else　you　may　take　a　last　look　at　the　open　country；　for
you　will　not　see　the　sun　rise　on　it　to…morrow。　　It　is　one　or　the
other；　you　know。〃

She　tried　not　to　look　at　him；　the　very　sight　of　him　filled　her
with　horrorthat　blotched；　gaunt　face　of　his；　the　fleshy　lips；
that　hideous　bandage　across　his　face　that　hid　one　of　his　eyes！
She　tried　not　to　see　him　and　not　to　hear　him　laugh。

Obviously　he　too　laboured　under　the　stress　of　great　excitement。
So　far　everything　had　gone　well；　the　prisoner　had　made　no　attempt
at　escape；　and　apparently　did　not　mean　to　play　a　double　game。　　But
the　crucial　hour　had　come；　and　with　it　darkness　and　the　mysterious
depths　of　the　forest　with　their　weird　sounds　and　sudden　flashes　of
ghostly　lights。　　They　naturally　wrought　on　the　nerves　of　men　like
Heron；　whose　conscience　might　have　been　dormant；　but　whose　ears
were　nevertheless　filled　with　the　cries　of　innocent　victims
sacrificed　to　their　own　lustful　ambitions　and　their　blind；
unreasoning　hates。

He　gave　sharp　orders　to　the　men　to　close　tip　round　the　carriages；
and　then　gave　the　curt　word　of　command：

〃En　avant！〃

Marguerite　could　but　strain　her　ears　to　listen。　　All　her　senses；
all　her　faculties　had　merged　into　that　of　hearing；　rendering　it
doubly　keen。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　she　could　distinguish　the
faint　soundthat　even　as　she　listened　grew　fainter　and　fainter
yetof　Chauvelin　and　his　squad　moving　away　rapidly　into　the
thickness　of　the　wood　some　distance　already　ahead。

Close　to　her　there　was　the　snorting　of　horses；　the　clanging　and
noise　of　moving　mounted　men。　　Heron's　coach　had　taken　the　lead；
she　could　hear　the　creaking　of　its　wheels；　the　calls　of　the　driver
urging　his　beasts。

The　diminished　party　was　moving　at　foot…pace　in　the　darkness　that
seemed　to　grow　denser　at　every　step；　and　through　that　silence
which　was　so　full　of　mysterious　sounds。

The　carriage　rolled　and　rocked　on　its　springs；　Marguerite；　giddy
and　overtired；　lay　back　with　closed　eyes；　her　hand　resting　in　that
of　Armand。　　Time；　space　and　distance　had　ceased　to　be；　only　Death；
the　great　Lord　of　all；　had　remained；　he　walked　on　ahead；　scythe　on
skeleton　shoulder；　and　beckoned　patiently；　but　with　a　sure；　grim
hand。

There　was　another　halt；　the　coach…wheels　groaned　and　creaked　on
their　axles；　one　or　two　horses　reared　with　the　sudden　drawing　up
of　the　curb。

〃What　is　it　now？〃　came　Heron's　hoarse　voice　through　the　darkness。

〃It　is　pitch…dark；　citizen；〃　was　the　response　from　ahead。　The
drivers　cannot　see　their　horses'　ears。　　They　wait　to　know　if　they
may　light　their　lanthorns　and　then　lead　their　horses。〃

〃They　can　lead　their　horses；〃　replied　Heron　roughly；　〃but　I'll
have　no　lanthorns　lighted。　　We　don't　know　what　fools　may　be
lurking　behind　trees；　hoping　to　put　a　bullet　through　my　heador
yours；　sergeantwe　don't　want　to　make　a　lighted　target　of
ourselveswhat？　　But　let　the　drivers　lead　their　horses；　and　one
or　two　of　you　who　are　riding　greys　might　dismount　too　and　lead　the
waythe　greys　would　show　up　perhaps　in　this　cursed　blackness。〃

While　his　orders　were　being　carried　out；　he　called　out　once　more：

〃Are　we　far　now　from　that　confounded　chapel？〃