el dorado-第60章

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

〃Are　we　far　now　from　that　confounded　chapel？〃

〃We　can't　be　far；　citizen；　the　whole　forest　is　not　more　than　six
leagues　wide　at　any　point；　and　we　have　gone　two　since　we　turned
into　it。〃

〃Hush！〃　Heron's　voice　suddenly　broke　in　hoarsely。　What　was　that？
Silence；　I　say。　　Damn　youcan't　you　hear？〃

There　was　a　hushevery　ear　straining　to　listen；　but　the　horses
were　not　stillthey　continued　to　champ　their　bits；　to　paw　the
ground；　and　to　toss　their　heads；　impatient　to　get　on。　　Only　now
and　again　there　would　come　a　lull　even　through　these　soundsa
second　or　two；　mayhap；　of　perfect；　unbroken　silenceand　then　it
seemed　as　if　right　through　the　darkness　a　mysterious　echo　sent
back　those　same　soundsthe　champing　of　bits；　the　pawing　of　soft
ground；　the　tossing　and　snorting　of　animals；　human　life　that
breathed　far　out　there　among　the　trees。

〃It　is　citizen　Chauvelin　and　his　men；〃　said　the　sergeant　after　a
while；　and　speaking　in　a　whisper。

〃SilenceI　want　to　hear；〃　came　the　curt；　hoarsely…whispered
command。

Once　more　every　one　listened；　the　men　hardly　daring　to　breathe；
clinging　to　their　bridles　and　pulling　on　their　horses'　mouths；
trying　to　keep　them　still；　and　again　through　the　night　there　came
like　a　faint　echo　which　seemed　to　throw　back　those　sounds　that
indicated　the　presence　of　men　and　of　horses　not　very　far　away。

〃Yes；　it　must　be　citizen　Chauvelin；〃　said　Heron　at　last；　but　the
tone　of　his　voice　sounded　as　if　he　were　anxious　and　only　half
convinced；　〃but　I　thought　he　would　be　at　the　chateau　by　now。〃

〃He　may　have　had　to　go　at　foot…pace；　it　is　very　dark；　citizen
Heron；〃　remarked　the　sergeant。

〃En　avant；　then；〃　quoth　the　other；　〃the　sooner　we　come　tip　with
him　the　better。〃

And　the　squad　of　mounted　men；　the　two　coaches；　the　drivers　and　the
advance　section　who　were　leading　their　horses　slowly　restarted　on
the　way。　　The　horses　snorted；　the　bits　and　stirrups　clanged；　and
the　springs　and　wheels　of　the　coaches　creaked　and　groaned　dismally
as　the　ramshackle　vehicles　began　once　more　to　plough　the　carpet　of
pine…needles　that　lay　thick　upon　the　road。

But　inside　the　carriage　Armand　and　Marguerite　held　one　another
tightly　by　the　hand。

〃It　is　de　Batzwith　his　friends；〃　she　whispered　scarce　above　her
breath。

〃De　Batz？〃　he　asked　vaguely　and　fearfully；　for　in　the　dark　he
could　not　see　her　face；　and　as　he　did　not　understand　why　she
should　suddenly　be　talking　of　de　Batz　he　thought　with　horror　that
mayhap　her　prophecy　anent　herself　had　come　true；　and　that　her　mind
wearied　and　over…wroughthad　become　suddenly　unhinged。

〃Yes；　de　Batz；〃　she　replied。　　〃Percy　sent　him　a　message；　through
me；　to　meet　himhere。　　I　am　not　mad；　Armand；〃　she　added　more
calmly。　　〃Sir　Andrew　took　Percy's　letter　to　de　Batz　the　day　that
we　started　from　Paris。〃

〃Great　God！〃　exclaimed　Armand；　and　instinctively；　with　a　sense　of
protection；　he　put　his　arms　round　his　sister。　〃Then；　if　Chauvelin
or　the　squad　is　attackedif〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said　calmly；　〃if　de　Batz　makes　an　attack　on　Chauvelin；
or　if　he　reaches　the　chateau　first　and　tries　to　defend　it；　they
will　shoot　us　。。。　Armand；　and　Percy。〃

〃But　is　the　Dauphin　at　the　Chateau　d'Ourde？〃

〃No；　no！　　I　think　not。〃

〃Then　why　should　Percy　have　invoked　the　aid　of　de　Batz？　　Now；
when〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　murmured　helplessly。　　〃Of　course；　when　he
wrote　the　letter　he　could　not　guess　that　they　would　hold　us　as
hostages。　　He　may　have　thought　that　under　cover　of　darkness　and　of
an　unexpected　attack　he　might　have　saved　himself　had　he　been
alone；　but　nownow　that　you　and　I　are　here　　Oh！　it　is　all　so
horrible；　and　I　cannot　understand　it　all。〃

〃Hark！〃　broke　in　Armand；　suddenly　gripping　her　arm　more　tightly。

〃Halt　！〃　rang　the　sergeant's　voice　through　the　night。

This　time　there　was　no　mistaking　the　sound；　already　it　came　from
no　far　distance。　　It　was　the　sound　of　a　man　running　and　panting；
and　now　and　again　calling　out　as　he　ran。

For　a　moment　there　was　stillness　in　the　very　air；　the　wind　itself
was　hushed　between　two　gusts；　even　the　rain　had　ceased　its
incessant　pattering。　　Heron's　harsh　voice　was　raised　in　the
stillness。

〃What　is　it　now？〃　he　demanded。

〃A　runner；　citizen；〃　replied　the　sergeant；　〃coming　through　the
wood　from　the　right。〃

〃From　the　right？〃　and　the　exclamation　was　accompanied　by　a　volley
of　oaths；　〃the　direction　of　the　chateau？　Chauvelin　has　been
attacked；　he　is　sending　a　messenger　back　to　me。　　Sergeantsergeant；
close　up　round　that　coach；　guard　your　prisoners　as　you　value　your
life；　and〃

The　rest　of　his　words　were　drowned　in　a　yell　of　such　violent　fury
that　the　horses；　already　over…nervous　and　fidgety；　reared　in　mad
terror；　and　the　men　had　the　greatest　difficulty　in　holding　them
in。　　For　a　few　minutes　noisy　confusion　prevailed；　until　the　men
could　quieten　their　quivering　animals　with　soft　words　and　gentle
pattings。

Then　the　troopers　obeyed；　closing　up　round　the　coach　wherein
brother　and　sister　sat　huddled　against　one　another。

One　of　the　men　said　under　his　breath：

〃Ah！　but　the　citizen　agent　knows　how　to　curse！　　One　day　he　will
break　his　gullet　with　the　fury　of　his　oaths。〃

In　the　meanwhile　the　runner　had　come　nearer；　always　at　the　same
breathless　speed。

The　next　moment　he　was　challenged：

〃Qui　va　la？〃

〃A　friend！〃　he　replied；　panting　and　exhausted。　　〃Where　is　citizen
Heron？〃

〃Here！〃　came　the　reply　in　a　voice　hoarse　with　passionate　excitement。
〃Come　up；　damn　you。　　Be　quick！〃

〃A　lanthorn；　citizen；〃　suggested　one　of　the　drivers。

〃Nononot　now。　　Here！　　Where　the　devil　are　we？〃

〃We　are　close　to　the　chapel　on　our　left；　citizen；〃　said　the　sergeant。

The　runner；　whose　eyes　were　no　doubt　accustomed　to　the　gloom；　had
drawn　nearer　to　the　carriage。

〃The　gates　of　the　chateau；〃　he　said；　still　somewhat　breathlessly；
〃are　just　opposite　here　on　the　right；　citizen。　I　have　just　come
through　them。〃

〃Speak　up；　man！〃　and　Heron's　voice　now　sounded　as　if　choked　with
passion。　　〃Citizen　Chauvelin　sent　you？〃

〃Yes。　　He　bade　me　tell　you　that　he　has　gained　access　to　the
chateau；　and　that　Capet　is　not　there。〃

A　series　of　citizen　Heron's　choicest　oaths　interrupted　the　man's
speech。　　Then　he　was　curtly　ordered　to　proceed；　and　he　resumed　his
report。

〃Citizen　Chauvelin　rang　at　the　door　of　the　chateau；　after　a　while
he　was　admitted　by　an　old　servant；　who　appeared　to　be　in　charge；
but　the　place　seemed　otherwise　absolutely　desertedonly〃

〃Only　what？　　Go　on；　what　is　it？〃

〃As　we　rode　through　the　park　it　seemed　to　us　as　if　we　were　being
watched；　and　followed。　　We　heard　distinctly　the　sound　of　horses
behind　and　around　us；　but　we　could　see　nothing；　and　now；　when　I
ran　back；　again　I　heard。　　There　are　others　in　the　park　to…night
besides　us；　citizen。〃

There　was　silence　after　that。　　It　seemed　as　if　the　flood　of
Heron's　blasphemous　eloquence　had　spent　itself　at　last。

〃Others　in　the　park！〃　　And　now　his　voice　was　scarcely　above　a
whisper；　hoarse　and　trembling。　　〃How　many？　Could　you　see？〃

〃No；　citizen；　we　could　not　see；　but　there　are　horsemen　lurking
round　the　chateau　now。　　Citizen　Chauvelin　took　four　men　into　the
house　with　him　and　left　the　others　on　guard　outside。　　He　bade　me
tell　you　that　it　might　be　safer　to　send　him　a　few　more　men　if　you
could　spare　them。　　There　are　a　number　of　disused　farm　buildings
quite　close　to　the　gates；　and　he　suggested　that　all　the　horses　be
put　up　there　for　the　night；　and　that　the　men　come　up　to　the
chateau　on　foot；　it　would　be　quicker　and　safer；　for　the　darkness
is　intense。〃

Even　while　the　man　spoke　the　forest　in　the　distance　seemed　to　wake
from　its　solemn　silence；　the　wind　on　its　wings　brought　sounds　of
life　and　movement　different　from　the　prowling　of　beasts　or　the
screeching　of　night…birds。　　It　was　the　furtive　advance　of　men；　the
quick　whispers　of　command；　of　encouragement；　of　the　human　animal
preparing　to　attack　his　kind。　　But　all　in　the　distance　still；　all
muffled；　all　furtive　as　yet。

〃Sergeant！〃　　It　was　Heron's　voice；　but　it　too　was　subdued；　and
almost　calm　now；　〃can　you　see　the　chapel？〃

〃More　clearly；　citizen；〃　replied　the　sergeant。　　〃It　is　on　our
left；　quite　a　small　building；　I　think。〃

〃Then　dismount；　and　walk　all　round　it。　　See　that　there　are　no
windows　or　door　in　the　rear。〃

There　was　a　prolonged　silence；　during　which　those　distant　sounds
of　men　moving；　of　furtive　preparations　for　attack；　struck
distinctly　through　the　night。

Marguerite　and　Armand；　clinging　to　one　another；　not　knowing　what
to　think；　nor　yet　what　to　fear；　heard　the　sounds　mingling　with
those　immediately　round　them；　and　Marguerite　murmured　under　her
breath：

〃It　is　de　Batz　and　some　of　his　friends；　but　what　can　they　do？
What　can　Percy　hope　for　now？〃

But　of　Percy　she　could　hear　and　see　nothing。　　The　darkness　and　the
silence　had　drawn　their　impenetrable　veil　between　his　unseen
presence　and　her　own　consciousness。　　She　could　see　the　coach　in
which　he　was；　but　Heron's　hideous　personality；　his　head　with　its
battered　hat　and　soiled　bandage；　had　seemed　to　obtrude　itself
always　before　her　gaze；　blotting　out　from　her　mind　even　the
knowledge　that　Percy　was　there　not　fifty　yards　away　from　her。

So　strong　did　this　feeling　grow　in　her　that　presently　the　awful
dread　seized　upon　her　that　he　was　no　longer　there；　that　he　was
dead；　worn　out　with　fatigue　and　illness　brought　on　by　terrible
privations；　or　if　not　dead　that　he　had　swooned；　that　he　was
unconscioushis　spirit　absent　from　his　body。　She　remembered　that
frightful　yell　of　rage　and　hate　which　Heron　had　uttered　a　few
minutes　ago。　　Had　the　brute　vented　his　fury　on　his　helpless；
weakened　prisoner；　and　stilled　forever　those　lips　that；　mayhap；
had　mocked　him　to　the　last？

Marguerite　could　not　guess。　　She　hardly　knew　what　to　hope。
Vaguely；　when　the　thought　of　Percy　lying　dead　beside　his　enemy
floated　through　her　aching　brain；　she　was　almost　conscious　of　a
sense　of　relief　at　the　thought　that　at　least　he　would　be　spared
the　pain　of　the　final；　inevitable　cataclysm。



CHAPTER　XLVII
THE　CHAPEL　OF　THE　HOLY　SEPULCHRE

The　sergeant's　voice　broke　in　upon　her　misery。

The　man　had　apparently　done　as　the　citizen　agent　had　ordered；　and
had　closely　examined　the　little　building　that　stood　on　the　lefta
vague；　black　mass　more　dense　than　the　surrounding　gloom。

〃It　is　all　solid　stone；　citizen；〃　he　said；　〃iron　gates　in　front；
closed　but　not　locked；　rusty　key　in　the　lock；　which　turns　quite
easily；　no　windows　or　door　in　the　rear。〃

〃You　are　quite　sure？〃

〃Quite　certain；　citizen；　it　is　plain；　solid　stone　at　the　back；　and
the　only　possible　access　to　the　interior　is　through　the　iron　gate
in　front。〃

〃Good。〃

Marguerite　could　only　just　hear　Heron　speaking　to　the　sergeant。
Darkness　enveloped　every　form　and　deadened　every　sound。　　Even　the
harsh　voice　which　she　had　learned　to　loathe　and　to　dread　sounded
curiously　subdued　and　unfamiliar。　　Heron　no　longer　seemed　inclined
to　storm；　to　rage；　or　to　curse。　　The　momentary　danger；　the　thought
of　failure；　the　hope　of　revenge；　had　apparently　cooled　his　temper；
strengthened　his　determination；　and　forced　his　voice　down　to　a
little　above　a　whisper。　　He　gave　his　orders　clearly　and　firmly；
and　the　words　came　to　M