el dorado-第11部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


hazarded。　　At　laststill　in　the　wake　of　Heronhe　found　himself
once　more　behind　the　main　entrance　gate；　underneath　the　archway　on
which　gave　the　guichet　of　the　concierge。

Here；　too；　there　seemed　to　be　an　unnecessary　number　of　soldiers：
two　were　doing　sentinel　outside　the　guichet；　but　there　were　others
in　a　file　against　the　wall。

Heron　rapped　with　his　keys　against　the　door　of　the　concierge's
lodge；　then；　as　it　was　not　immediately　opened　from　within；　he
pushed　it　open　with　his　foot。

〃The　concierge？〃　he　queried　peremptorily。

From　a　corner　of　the　small　panelled　room　there　came　a　grunt　and　a
reply：

〃Gone　to　bed；　quoi！〃

The　man　who　previously　had　guided　de　Batz　to　Heron's　door　slowly
struggled　to　his　feet。　　He　had　been　squatting　somewhere　in　the
gloom；　and　had　been　roused　by　Heron's　rough　command。　　He　slouched
forward　now　still　carrying　a　boot　in　one　hand　and　a　blacking　brush
in　the　other。

〃Take　this　lanthorn；　then；〃　said　the　chief　agent　with　a　snarl
directed　at　the　sleeping　concierge；　〃and　come　along。　Why　are　you
still　here？〃　he　added；　as　if　in　after…thought。

〃The　citizen　concierge　was　not　satisfied　with　the　way　I　had　done
his　boots；〃　muttered　the　man；　with　an　evil　leer　as　he　spat
contemptuously　on　the　floor；　〃an　aristo；　quoi？　　A　hell　of　a　place
this　。。。　twenty　cells　to　sweep　out　every　day　。。。　and　boots　to
clean　for　every　aristo　of　a　concierge　or　warder　who　demands　it。。。。
Is　that　work　for　a　free　born　patriot；　I　ask？〃

〃Well；　if　you　are　not　satisfied；　citoyen　Dupont；〃　retorted　Heron
dryly；　〃you　may　go　when　you　like；　you　know　there　are　plenty　of
others　ready　to　do　your　work。。。〃

〃Nineteen　hours　a　day；　and　nineteen　sous　by　way　of　payment。。。。　　I
have　had　fourteen　days　of　this　convict　work。。。〃

He　continued　to　mutter　under　his　breath；　whilst　Heron；　paying　no
further　heed　to　him；　turned　abruptly　towards　a　group　of　soldiers
stationed　outside。

〃En　avant；　corporal！〃　he　said；　〃bring　four　men　with　you　。。。　we　go
up　to　the　tower。〃

The　small　procession　was　formed。　　On　ahead　the　lanthorn…bearer；
with　arched　spine　and　shaking　knees；　dragging　shuffling　footsteps
along　the　corridor；　then　the　corporal　with　two　of　his　soldiers；
then　Heron　closely　followed　by　de　Batz；　and　finally　two　more
soldiers　bringing　up　the　rear。

Heron　had　given　the　bunch　of　keys　to　the　man　Dupont。　The　latter；
on　ahead；　holding　the　lanthorn　aloft；　opened　one　gate　after
another。　　At　each　gate　he　waited　for　the　little　procession　to　file
through；　then　he　re…locked　the　gate　and　passed　on。

Up　two　or　three　flights　of　winding　stairs　set　in　the　solid　stone；
and　the　final　heavy　door　was　reached。

De　Batz　was　meditating。　　Heron's　precautions　for　the　safe…guarding
of　the　most　precious　life　in　Europe　were　more　complete　than　he　had
anticipated。　　What　lavish　liberality　would　be　required！　what
superhuman　ingenuity　and　boundless　courage　in　order　to　break　down
all　the　barriers　that　had　been　set　up　round　that　young　life　that
flickered　inside　this　grim　tower！

Of　these　three　requisites　the　corpulent；　complacent　intriguer
possessed　only　the　first　in　a　considerable　degree。　He　could　be
exceedingly　liberal　with　the　foreign　money　which　he　had　at　his
disposal。　　As　for　courage　and　ingenuity；　he　believed　that　he
possessed　both；　but　these　qualities　had　not　served　him　in　very
good　stead　in　the　attempts　which　he　had　made　at　different　times　to
rescue　the　unfortunate　members　of　the　Royal　Family　from　prison。
His　overwhelming　egotism　would　not　admit　for　a　moment　that　in
ingenuity　and　pluck　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　and　his　English
followers　could　outdo　him；　but　he　did　wish　to　make　quite　sure　that
they　would　not　interfere　with　him　in　the　highly　remunerative　work
of　saving　the　Dauphin。

Heron's　impatient　call　roused　him　from　these　meditations。　The
little　party　had　come　to　a　halt　outside　a　massive　iron…studded
door。

At　a　sign　from　the　chief　agent　the　soldiers　stood　at　attention。
He　then　called　de　Batz　and　the　lanthorn…bearer　to　him。

He　took　a　key　from　his　breeches　pocket；　and　with　his　own　hand
unlocked　the　massive　door。　　He　curtly　ordered　the　lanthorn…bearer
and　de　Batz　to　go　through；　then　he　himself　went　in；　and　finally
once　more　re…locked　the　door　behind　him；　the　soldiers　remaining　on
guard　on　the　landing　outside。

Now　the　three　men　were　standing　in　a　square　antechamber；　dank　and
dark；　devoid　of　furniture　save　for　a　large　cupboard　that　filled
the　whole　of　one　wall；　the　others；　mildewed　and　stained；　were
covered　with　a　greyish　paper；　which　here　and　there　hung　away　in
strips。

Heron　crossed　this　ante…chamber；　and　with　his　knuckles　rapped
against　a　small　door　opposite。

〃Hola！〃　he　shouted；　〃Simon；　mon　vieux；　tu　es　la？〃

From　the　inner　room　came　the　sound　of　voices；　a　man's　and　a
woman's；　and　now；　as　if　in　response　to　Heron's　call；　the　shrill
tones　of　a　child。　　There　was　some　shuffling；　too；　of　footsteps；
and　some　pushing　about　of　furniture；　then　the　door　was　opened；　and
a　gruff　voice　invited　the　belated　visitors　to　enter。

The　atmosphere　in　this　further　room　was　so　thick　that　at　first　de
Batz　was　only　conscious　of　the　evil　smells　that　pervaded　it；
smells　which　were　made　up　of　the　fumes　of　tobacco；　of　burning
coke；　of　a　smoky　lamp；　and　of　stale　food；　and　mingling　through　it
all　the　pungent　odour　of　raw　spirits。

Heron　had　stepped　briskly　in；　closely　followed　by　de　Batz。　The　man
Dupont　with　a　mutter　of　satisfaction　put　down　his　lanthorn　and
curled　himself　up　in　a　corner　of　the　antechamber。　　His　interest　in
the　spectacle　so　favoured　by　citizen　Heron　had　apparently　been
exhausted　by　constant　repetition。

De　Batz　looked　round　him　with　keen　curiosity　with　which　disgust
was　ready　enough　to　mingle。

The　room　itself　might　have　been　a　large　one；　it　was　almost
impossible　to　judge　of　its　size；　so　crammed　was　it　with　heavy　and
light　furniture　of　every　conceivable　shape　and　type。　　There　was　a
monumental　wooden　bedstead　in　one　corner；　a　huge　sofa　covered　in
black　horsehair　in　another。　　A　large　table　stood　in　the　centre　of
the　room；　and　there　were　at　least　four　capacious　armchairs　round
it。　There　were　wardrobes　and　cabinets；　a　diminutive　washstand　and
a　huge　pier…glass；　there　were　innumerable　boxes　and　packing…cases；
cane…bottomed　chairs　and　what…nots　every…where。　　The　place　looked
like　a　depot　for　second…hand　furniture。

In　the　midst　of　all　the　litter　de　Batz　at　last　became　conscious　of
two　people　who　stood　staring　at　him　and　at　Heron。　He　saw　a　man
before　him；　somewhat　fleshy　of　build；　with　smooth；　mouse…coloured
hair　brushed　away　from　a　central　parting；　and　ending　in　a　heavy
curl　above　each　ear；　the　eyes　were　wide　open　and　pale　in　colour；
the　lips　unusually　thick　and　with　a　marked　downward　droop。　　Close
beside　him　stood　a　youngish…looking　woman；　whose　unwieldy　bulk；
however；　and　pallid　skin　revealed　the　sedentary　life　and　the
ravages　of　ill…health。

Both　appeared　to　regard　Heron　with　a　certain　amount　of　awe；　and　de
Batz　with　a　vast　measure　of　curiosity。

Suddenly　the　woman　stood　aside；　and　in　the　far　corner　of　the　room
there　was　displayed　to　the　Gascon　Royalist's　cold；　calculating
gaze　the　pathetic　figure　of　the　uncrowned　King　of　France。

〃How　is　it　Capet　is　not　yet　in　bed？〃　queried　Heron　as　soon　as　he
caught　sight　of　the　child。

〃He　wouldn't　say　his　prayers　this　evening；〃　replied　Simon　with　a
coarse　laugh；　〃and　wouldn't　drink　his　medicine。　　Bah！〃　he　added
with　a　snarl；　〃this　is　a　place　for　dogs　and　not　for　human　folk。〃

〃If　you　are　not　satisfied；　mon　vieux；〃　retorted　Heron　curtly；　〃you
can　send　in　your　resignation　when　you　like。　There　are　plenty　who
will　be　glad　of　the　place。〃

The　ex…cobbler　gave　another　surly　growl　and　expectorated　on　the
floor　in　the　direction　where　stood　the　child。

〃Little　vermin；〃　he　said；　〃he　is　more　trouble　than　man　or　woman
can　bear。〃

The　boy　in　the　meanwhile　seemed　to　take　but　little　notice　of　the
vulgar　insults　put　upon　him　by　his　guardian。　　He　stood；　a　quaint；
impassive　little　figure；　more　interested　apparently　in　de　Batz；
who　was　a　stranger　to　him；　than　in　the　three　others　whom　he　knew。
De　Batz　noted　that　the　child　looked　well　nourished；　and　that　he
was　warmly　clad　in　a　rough　woollen　shirt　and　cloth　breeches；　with
coarse　grey　stockings　and　thick　shoes；　but　he　also　saw　that　the
clothes　were　indescribably　filthy；　as　were　the　child's　hands　and
face。　The　golden　curls；　among　which　a　young　and　queenly　mother　had
once　loved　to　pass　her　slender　perfumed　fingers；　now　hung
bedraggled；　greasy；　and　lank　round　the　little　face；　from　the　lines
of　which　every　trace　of　dignity　and　of　simplicity　had　long　since
been　erased。

There　was　no　look　of　the　martyr　about　this　child　now；　even　though；
mayhap；　his　small　back　had　often　smarted　under　his　vulgar　tutor's
rough　blows；　rather　did　the　pale　young　face　wear　the　air　of　sullen
indifference；　and　an　abject　desire　to　please；　which　would　have
appeared　heart…breaking　to　any　spectator　less　self…seeking　and
egotistic　than　was　this　Gascon　conspirator。

Madame　Simon　had　called　him　to　her　while　her　man　and　the　citizen
Heron　were　talking；　and　the　child　went　readily　enough；　without　any
sign　of　fear。　　She　took　the　corner　of　her　coarse　dirty　apron　in
her　hand；　and　wiped　the　boy's　mouth　and　face　with　it。

〃I　can't　keep　him　clean；〃　she　said　with　an　apologetic　shrug　of　the
shoulders　and　a　look　at　de　Batz。　　〃There　now；〃　she　added；　speaking
once　more　to　the　child；　〃drink　like　a　good　boy；　and　say　your
lesson　to　please　maman；　and　then　you　shall　go　to　bed。〃

She　took　a　glass　from　the　table；　which　was　filled　with　a　clear
liquid　that　de　Batz　at　first　took　to　be　water；　and　held　it　to　the
boy's　lips。　　He　turned　his　head　away　and　began　to　whimper。

〃Is　the　medicine　very　nasty？〃　queried　de　Batz。

〃Mon　Dieu！　but　no；　citizen；〃　exclaimed　the　woman；　〃it　is　good
strong　eau　de　vie；　the　best　that　can　be　procured。　　Capet　likes　it
reallydon't　you；　Capet？　　It　makes　you　happy　and　cheerful；　and
sleep　well　of　nights。　　Why；　you　had　a　glassful　yesterday　and
enjoyed　it。　　Take　it　now；〃　she　added　in　a　quick　whisper；　seeing
that　Simon　and　Heron　were　in　close　conversation　together；　〃you
know　it　makes　papa　angry　if　you　don't　have　at　least　half　a　glass
now　and　then。〃

The　child　wavered　for　a　moment　longer；　making　a