el dorado-第62章

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〃How　many　of　you　are　there　left；　then？〃　asked　the　same　voice　a
moment　later。

〃Only　two；　citizen；　if　one　whole　section　remains　with　me　at　the
chapel　door；　and　also　the　wounded　man。〃

〃Two　are　enough　for　me；　and　five　are　not　too　many　at　the　chapel
door。〃　　And　Heron's　coarse；　cruel　laugh　echoed　against　the　stone
walls　of　the　little　chapel。　　〃Now　then；　one　of　you　get　into　the
coach；　and　the　other　go　to　the　horses'　heads；　and　remember；
Corporal　Cassard；　that　you　and　your　men　who　stay　here　to　guard
that　chapel　door　are　answerable　to　the　whole　nation　with　your
lives　for　the　safety　of　the　Englishman。〃

The　carriage　door　was　thrown　open；　and　a　soldier　stepped　in　and
sat　down　opposite　Marguerite　and　Armand。　　Heron　in　the　meanwhile
was　apparently　scrambling　up　the　box。　Marguerite　could　hear　him
muttering　curses　as　he　groped　for　the　reins；　and　finally　gathered
them　into　his　hand。

The　springs　of　the　coach　creaked　and　groaned　as　the　vehicle　slowly
swung　round；　the　wheels　ploughed　deeply　through　the　soft　carpet　of
dead　leaves。

Marguerite　felt　Armand's　inert　body　leaning　heavily　against　her
shoulder。

〃Are　you　in　pain；　dear？〃　she　asked　softly。

He　made　no　reply；　and　she　thought　that　he　had　fainted。　It　was
better　so；　at　least　the　next　dreary　hours　would　flit　by　for　him　in
the　blissful　state　of　unconsciousness。　　Now　at　last　the　heavy
carriage　began　to　move　more　evenly。　　The　soldier　at　the　horses'
heads　was　stepping　along　at　a　rapid　pace。

Marguerite　would　have　given　much　even　now　to　look　back　once　more
at　the　dense　black　mass；　blacker　and　denser　than　any　shadow　that
had　ever　descended　before　on　God's　earth；　which　held　between　its
cold；　cruel　walls　all　that　she　loved　in　the　world。

But　her　wrists　were　fettered　by　the　irons；　which　cut　into　her
flesh　when　she　moved。　　She　could　no　longer　lean　out　of　the　window；
and　she　could　not　even　hear。　　The　whole　forest　was　hushed；　the
wind　was　lulled　to　rest；　wild　beasts　and　night…birds　were　silent
and　still。　　And　the　wheels　of　the　coach　creaked　in　the　ruts；
bearing　Marguerite　with　every　turn　further　and　further　away　from
the　man　who　lay　helpless　in　the　chapel　of　the　Holy　Sepulchre。



CHAPTER　XLVIII
THE　WANING　MOON

Armand　had　wakened　from　his　attack　of　faintness；　and　brother　and
sister　sat　close　to　one　another；　shoulder　touching　shoulder。　　That
sense　of　nearness　was　the　one　tiny　spark　of　comfort　to　both　of
them　on　this　dreary；　dreary　way。

The　coach　had　lumbered　on　unceasingly　since　all　eternityso　it
seemed　to　them　both。　　Once　there　had　been　a　brief　halt；　when
Heron's　rough　voice　had　ordered　the　soldier　at　the　horses'　heads
to　climb　on　the　box　beside　him；　and　onceit　had　been　a　very
little　while　agoa　terrible　cry　of　pain　and　terror　had　rung
through　the　stillness　of　the　night。　　Immediately　after　that　the
horses　had　been　put　at　a　more　rapid　pace；　but　it　had　seemed　to
Marguerite　as　if　that　one　cry　of　pain　had　been　repeated　by　several
others　which　sounded　more　feeble　and　soon　appeared　to　be　dying
away　in　the　distance　behind。

The　soldier　who　sat　opposite　to　them　must　have　heard　the　cry　too；
for　he　jumped　up；　as　if　wakened　from　sleep；　and　put　his　head　out
of　the　window。

〃Did　you　hear　that　cry；　citizen？〃　he　asked。

But　only　a　curse　answered　him；　and　a　peremptory　command　not　to
lose　sight　of　the　prisoners　by　poking　his　head　out　of　the　window。

〃Did　you　hear　the　cry？〃　asked　the　soldier　of　Marguerite　as　he　made
haste　to　obey。

〃Yes！　　What　could　it　be？〃　she　murmured。

〃It　seems　dangerous　to　drive　so　fast　in　this　darkness；〃　muttered
the　soldier。

After　which　remark　he；　with　the　stolidity　peculiar　to　his　kind；
figuratively　shrugged　his　shoulders；　detaching　himself；　as　it
were；　of　the　whole　affair。

〃We　should　be　out　of　the　forest　by　now；〃　he　remarked　in　an
undertone　a　little　while　later；　〃the　way　seemed　shorter　before。〃

Just　then　the　coach　gave　an　unexpected　lurch　to　one　side；　and
after　much　groaning　and　creaking　of　axles　and　springs　it　came　to　a
standstill；　and　the　citizen　agent　was　heard　cursing　loudly　and
then　scrambling　down　from　the　box。

The　next　moment　the　carriage…door　was　pulled　open　from　without；
and　the　harsh　voice　called　out　peremptorily：

〃Citizen　soldier；　herequick！quick！curse　you！we'll　have　one
of　the　horses　down　if　you　don't　hurry！〃

The　soldier　struggled　to　his　feet；　it　was　never　good　to　be　slow　in
obeying　the　citizen　agent's　commands。　　He　was　half…asleep　and　no
doubt　numb　with　cold　and　long　sitting　still；　to　accelerate　his
movements　he　was　suddenly　gripped　by　the　arm　and　dragged
incontinently　out　of　the　coach。

Then　the　door　was　slammed　to　again；　either　by　a　rough　hand　or　a
sudden　gust　of　wind；　Marguerite　could　not　tell；　she　heard　a　cry　of
rage　and　one　of　terror；　and　Heron's　raucous　curses。　　She　cowered
in　the　corner　of　the　carriage　with　Armand's　head　against　her
shoulder；　and　tried　to　close　her　ears　to　all　those　hideous　sounds。

Then　suddenly　all　the　sounds　were　hushed　and　all　around　everything
became　perfectly　calm　and　stillso　still　that　at　first　the
silence　oppressed　her　with　a　vague；　nameless　dread。　　It　was　as　if
Nature　herself　had　paused；　that　she　might　listen；　and　the　silence
became　more　and　more　absolute；　until　Marguerite　could　hear
Armand's　soft；　regular　breathing　close　to　her　ear。

The　window　nearest　to　her　was　open；　and　as　she　leaned　forward　with
that　paralysing　sense　of　oppression　a　breath　of　pure　air　struck
full　upon　her　nostrils　and　brought　with　it　a　briny　taste　as　if
from　the　sea。

It　was　not　quite　so　dark；　and　there　was　a　sense　as　of　open　country
stretching　out　to　the　limits　of　the　horizon。　Overhead　a　vague
greyish　light　suffused　the　sky；　and　the　wind　swept　the　clouds　in
great　rolling　banks　right　across　that　light。

Marguerite　gazed　upward　with　a　more　calm　feeling　that　was　akin　to
gratitude。　　That　pale　light；　though　so　wan　and　feeble；　was　thrice
welcome　after　that　inky　blackness　wherein　shadows　were　less　dark
than　the　lights。　　She　watched　eagerly　the　bank　of　clouds　driven　by
the　dying　gale。

The　light　grew　brighter　and　faintly　golden；　now　the　banks　of
cloudsstorm…tossed　and　fleecyraced　past　one　another；　parted
and　reunited　like　veils　of　unseen　giant　dancers　waved　by　hands
that　controlled　infinite　spaceadvanced　and　rushed　and　slackened
speed　againunited　and　finally　tore　asunder　to　reveal　the　waning
moon；　honey…coloured　and　mysterious；　rising　as　if　from　an
invisible　ocean　far　away。

The　wan　pale　light　spread　over　the　wide　stretch　of　country；
throwing　over　it　as　it　spread　dull　tones　of　indigo　and　of　blue。
Here　and　there　sparse；　stunted　trees　with　fringed　gaunt　arms
bending　to　prevailing　winds　proclaimed　the　neighbourhood　of　the
sea。

Marguerite　gazed　on　the　picture　which　the　waning　moon　had　so
suddenly　revealed；　but　she　gazed　with　eyes　that　knew　not　what　they
saw。　　The　moon　had　risen　on　her　rightthere　lay　the　eastand　the
coach　must　have　been　travelling　due　north；　whereas　Crecy　。。。

In　the　absolute　silence　that　reigned　she　could　perceive　from　far；
very　far　away；　the　sound　of　a　church　clock　striking　the　midnight
hour；　and　now　it　seemed　to　her　supersensitive　senses　that　a　firm
footstep　was　treading　the　soft　earth；　a　footstep　that　drew
nearerand　then　nearer　still。

Nature　did　pause　to　listen。　　The　wind　was　hushed；　the　night…birds
in　the　forest　had　gone　to　rest。　　Marguerite's　heart　beat　so　fast
that　its　throbbings　choked　her；　and　a　dizziness　clouded　her
consciousness。

But　through　this　state　of　torpor　she　heard　the　opening　of　the
carriage　door；　she　felt　the　onrush　of　that　pure；　briny　air；　and
she　felt　a　long；　burning　kiss　upon　her　hands。

She　thought　then　that　she　was　really　dead；　and　that　God　in　His
infinite　love　had　opened　to　her　the　outer　gates　of　Paradise。

〃My　love！〃　she　murmured。

She　was　leaning　back　in　the　carriage　and　her　eyes　were　closed；　but
she　felt　that　firm　fingers　removed　the　irons　from　her　wrists；　and
that　a　pair　of　warm　lips　were　pressed　there　in　their　stead。

〃There；　little　woman；　that's　better　sois　it　not？　　Now　let　me　get
hold　of　poor　old　Armand！〃

It　was　Heaven；　of　course；　else　how　could　earth　hold　such　heavenly
joy？

〃Percy！〃　exclaimed　Armand　in　an　awed　voice。

〃Hush；　dear！〃　murmured　Marguerite　feebly；　〃we　are　in　Heaven　you
and　I〃

Whereupon　a　ringing　laugh　woke　the　echoes　of　the　silent　night。

〃In　Heaven；　dear　heart！〃　　And　the　voice　had　a　delicious　earthly
ring　in　its　whole…hearted　merriment。　〃Please　God；　you'll　both　be
at　Portel　with　me　before　dawn。〃

Then　she　was　indeed　forced　to　believe。　　She　put　out　her　hands　and
groped　for　him；　for　it　was　dark　inside　the　carriage；　she　groped；
and　felt　his　massive　shoulders　leaning　across　the　body　of　the
coach；　while　his　fingers　busied　themselves　with　the　irons　on
Armand's　wrist。

〃Don't　touch　that　brute's　filthy　coat　with　your　dainty　fingers；
dear　heart；〃　he　said　gaily。　　〃Great　Lord！　I　have　worn　that
wretch's　clothes　for　over　two　hours；　I　feel　as　if　the　dirt　had
penetrated　to　my　bones。〃

Then　with　that　gesture　so　habitual　to　him　he　took　her　head　between
his　two　hands；　and　drawing　her　to　him　until　the　wan　light　from
without　lit　up　the　face　that　he　worshipped；　he　gazed　his　fill　into
her　eyes。

She　could　only　see　the　outline　of　his　head　silhouetted　against　the
wind…tossed　sky；　she　could　not　see　his　eyes；　nor　his　lips；　but　she
felt　his　nearness；　and　the　happiness　of　that　almost　caused　her　to
swoon。

〃Come　out　into　the　open；　my　lady　fair；〃　he　murmured；　and　though
she　could　not　see；　she　could　feel　that　he　smiled；　〃let　God's　pure
air　blow　through　your　hair　and　round　your　dear　head。　　Then；　if　you
can　walk　so　far；　there's　a　small　half…way　house　close　by　here。　　I
have　knocked　up　the　none　too　amiable　host。　　You　and　Armand　could
have　half　an　hour's　rest　there　before　we　go　further　on　our　way。〃

〃But　you；　Percy？are　you　safe？〃

〃Yes；　m'dear；　we　are　all　of　us　safe　until　morning…time　enough　to
reach　Le　Portel；　and　to　be　aboard　the　Day…Dream　before　mine
amiable　friend　M。　Chambertin　has　discovered　his　worthy　colleague
lying　gagged　and　bound　inside　the　chapel　of　the　Holy　Sepulchre。
By　Gad！　how　old　Heron　will　cursethe　moment　he　can　open　his
mouth！〃

He　half　helped；　half　lifted　her　out　of　the　carriage。　　The　strong
pure　air　suddenly　rushing　right　through　to　her　lungs　made　her　feel
faint；　and　she　almost　fell。　　But　it　was　good　to　feel　herself
falling；　when　one　pair　of　arms　amongst　the　millions　on　the　earth
were　there　to　receive　her。

〃Can　you　walk；　dear　heart？〃　he　asked。　　〃Lean　well　on　meit　is　not
far；　and　the　rest　will　do　you　good。〃

〃But　you；　Percy〃

He　laughed；　and　the　most　complete　joy　of　living　seemed　to　resound
through　that　laugh。　　Her　arm　was　in　his；　and　for　one　moment　he
stood　still　while　his　eyes　swept　the　far　reaches　of　the　country；
the　mellow　distance　still　wrapped　in　its　mantle　of　indigo；　still
untouched　by　the　mysterious　light　of　the　waning　moon。

He　pressed　her　arm　against　his　heart；　but　his　right　hand　was
stretched　out　towards　the　black　wall　of　the　forest　behind　him；
towards　the　dark　crests　of　the　pines　in　which　the　dying　wind　sent
its　last　mournful　sighs。

〃Dear　heart；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　quivered　with　the　intensity
of　his　excitement；　〃beyond　the　stretch　of　that　wood；　from　far　away
over　there；　there