el dorado-第13部分

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very　nose。

When　he　thought　of　that　the　Gascon　Royalist　felt　just　as
vindictive　as　did　the　chief　agent　of　the　Committee　of　General
Security。

While　these　thoughts　were　coursing　through　de　Batz'　head；　Heron
had　been　indulging　in　a　volley　of　vituperation。

〃If　that　little　vermin　escapes；〃　he　said；　〃my　life　will　not　be
worth　an　hour's　purchase。　　In　twenty…four　hours　I　am　a　dead　man；
thrown　to　the　guillotine　like　those　dogs　of　aristocrats！　　You　say
I　am　a　night…bird；　citizen。　　I　tell　you　that　I　do　not　sleep　night
or　day　thinking　of　that　brat　and　the　means　to　keep　him　safely
under　my　hand。　　I　have　never　trusted　those　Simons〃

〃Not　trusted　them！〃　exclaimed　de　Batz；　〃surely　you　could　not　find
anywhere　more　inhuman　monsters！〃

〃Inhuman　monsters？〃　snarled　Heron。　　〃Bah！　they　don't　do　their
business　thoroughly；　we　want　the　tyrant's　spawn　to　become　a　true
Republican　and　a　patriotaye！　to　make　of　him　such　an　one　that
even　if　you　and　your　cursed　confederates　got　him　by　some　hellish
chance；　he　would　be　no　use　to　you　as　a　king；　a　tyrant　to　set　above
the　people；　to　set　up　in　your　Versailles；　your　Louvre；　to　eat　off
golden　plates　and　wear　satin　clothes。　　You　have　seen　the　brat！　By
the　time　he　is　a　man　he　should　forget　how　to　eat　save　with　his
fingers；　and　get　roaring　drunk　every　night。　　That's　what　we
want！to　make　him　so　that　he　shall　be　no　use　to　you；　even　if　you
did　get　him　away；　but　you　shall　not！　You　shall　not；　not　if　I　have
to　strangle　him　with　my　own　hands。〃

He　picked　up　his　short…stemmed　pipe　and　pulled　savagely　at　it　for
awhile。　　De　Batz　was　meditating。

〃My　friend；〃　he　said　after　a　little　while；　〃you　are　agitating
yourself　quite　unnecessarily；　and　gravely　jeopardising　your
prospects　of　getting　a　comfortable　little　income　through　keeping
your　fingers　off　my　person。　　Who　said　I　wanted　to　meddle　with　the
child？〃

〃You　had　best　not；〃　growled　Heron。

〃Exactly。　　You　have　said　that　before。　　But　do　you　not　think　that
you　would　be　far　wiser；　instead　of　directing　your　undivided
attention　to　my　unworthy　self；　to　turn　your　thoughts　a　little　to
one　whom；　believe　me；　you　have　far　greater　cause　to　fear？〃

〃Who　is　that？〃

〃The　Englishman。〃

〃You　mean　the　man　they　call　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel？〃

〃Himself。　　Have　you　not　suffered　from　his　activity；　friend　Heron？
I　fancy　that　citizen　Chauvelin　and　citizen　Collot　would　have　quite
a　tale　to　tell　about　him。〃

〃They　ought　both　to　have　been　guillotined　for　that　blunder　last
autumn　at　Boulogne。〃

〃Take　care　that　the　same　accusation　be　not　laid　at　your　door　this
year；　my　friend；〃　commented　de　Batz　placidly。

〃Bah！〃

〃The　Scarlet　Pimpernel　is　in　Paris　even　now。〃

〃The　devil　he　is！〃

〃And　on　what　errand；　think　you？〃

There　was　a　moment's　silence；　and　then　de　Batz　continued　with　slow
and　dramatic　emphasis：

〃That　of　rescuing　your　most　precious　prisoner　from　the　Temple。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃　Heron　queried　savagely。

〃I　guessed。〃

〃How？〃

〃I　saw　a　man　in　the　Theatre　National　to…day　。。。〃

〃Well？〃

〃Who　is　a　member　of　the　League　of　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel。〃

〃D　him！　　Where　can　I　find　him？〃

〃Will　you　sign　a　receipt　for　the　three　thousand　five　hundred
livres；　which　I　am　pining　to　hand　over　to　you；　my　friend；　and　I
will　tell　you？〃

〃Where's　the　money？〃

〃In　my　pocket。〃

Without　further　words　Heron　dragged　the　inkhorn　and　a　sheet　of
paper　towards　him；　took　up　a　pen；　and　wrote　a　few　words　rapidly　in
a　loose；　scrawly　hand。　　He　strewed　sand　over　the　writing；　then
handed　it　across　the　table　to　de　Batz。

〃Will　that　do？〃　he　asked　briefly。

The　other　was　reading　the　note　through　carefully。

〃I　see　you　only　grant　me　a　fortnight；〃　he　remarked　casually。

〃For　that　amount　of　money　it　is　sufficient。　　If　you　want　an
extension　you　must　pay　more。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　assented　de　Batz　coolly；　as　he　folded　the　paper
across。　　〃On　the　whole　a　fortnight's　immunity　in　France　these　days
is　quite　a　pleasant　respite。　　And　I　prefer　to　keep　in　touch　with
you；　friend　Heron。　　I'll　call　on　you　again　this　day　fortnight。〃

He　took　out　a　letter…case　from　his　pocket。　　Out　of　this　he　drew　a
packet　of　bank…notes；　which　he　laid　on　the　table　in　front　of
Heron；　then　he　placed　the　receipt　carefully　into　the　letter…case；
and　this　back　into　his　pocket。

Heron　in　the　meanwhile　was　counting　over　the　banknotes。　　The　light
of　ferocity　had　entirely　gone　from　his　eyes；　momentarily　the　whole
expression　of　the　face　was　one　of　satisfied　greed。

〃Well！〃　he　said　at　last　when　he　had　assured　himself　that　the
number　of　notes　was　quite　correct；　and　he　had　transferred　the
bundle　of　crisp　papers　into　an　inner　pocket　of　his　coat〃well；
what　about　your　friend？〃

〃I　knew　him　years　ago；〃　rejoined　de　Batz　coolly；　〃he　is　a　kinsman
of　citizen　St。　Just。　　I　know　that　he　is　one　of　the　confederates　of
the　Scarlet　Pimpernel。〃

〃Where　does　he　lodge？〃

〃That　is　for　you　to　find　out。　　I　saw　him　at　the　theatre；　and
afterwards　in　the　green…room；　he　was　making　himself　agreeable　to
the　citizeness　Lange。　　I　heard　him　ask　for　leave　to　call　on　her
to…morrow　at　four　o'clock。　　You　know　where　she　lodges；　of　course！〃

He　watched　Heron　while　the　latter　scribbled　a　few　words　on　a　scrap
of　paper；　then　he　quietly　rose　to　go。　　He　took　up　his　cloak　and
once　again　wrapped　it　round　his　shoulders。　There　was　nothing　more
to　be　said；　and　he　was　anxious　to　go。

The　leave…taking　between　the　two　men　was　neither　cordial　nor　more
than　barely　courteous。　　De　Batz　nodded　to　Heron；　who　escorted　him
to　the　outside　door　of　his　lodging；　and　there　called　loudly　to　a
soldier　who　was　doing　sentinel　at　the　further　end　of　the　corridor。

〃Show　this　citizen　the　way　to　the　guichet；〃　he　said　curtly。
〃Good…night；　citizen；〃　he　added　finally；　nodding　to　de　Batz。

Ten　minutes　later　the　Gascon　once　more　found　himself　in　the　Rue　du
Temple　between　the　great　outer　walls　of　the　prison　and　the　silent
little　church　and　convent　of　St。　Elizabeth。　　He　looked　up　to　where
in　the　central　tower　a　small　grated　window　lighted　from　within
showed　the　place　where　the　last　of　the　Bourbons　was　being　taught
to　desecrate　the　traditions　of　his　race；　at　the　bidding　of　a
mender　of　shoesa　naval　officer　cashiered　for　misconduct　and
fraud。

Such　is　human　nature　in　its　self…satisfied　complacency　that　de
Batz；　calmly　ignoring　the　vile　part　which　he　himself　had　played　in
the　last　quarter　of　an　hour　of　his　interview　with　the　Committee's
agent；　found　it　in　him　to　think　of　Heron　with　loathing；　and　even
of　the　cobbler　Simon　with　disgust。

Then　with　a　self…righteous　sense　of　duty　performed；　and　an
indifferent　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　he　dismissed　Heron　from　his
mind。

〃That　meddlesome　Scarlet　Pimpernel　will　find　his　hands　over…full
to…morrow；　and　mayhap　will　not　interfere　in　my　affairs　for　some
time　to　come；〃　he　mused；　〃meseems　that　that　will　be　the　first　time
that　a　member　of　his　precious　League　has　come　within　the　clutches
of　such　unpleasant　people　as　the　sleuth…hounds　of　my　friend
Heron！〃



CHAPTER　IX
WHAT　LOVE　CAN　DO

〃Yesterday　you　were　unkind　and　ungallant。　　How　could　I　smile　when
you　seemed　so　stern？〃

〃Yesterday　I　was　not　alone　with　you。　　How　could　I　say　what　lay
next　my　heart；　when　indifferent　ears　could　catch　the　words　that
were　meant　only　for　you？〃

〃Ah；　monsieur；　do　they　teach　you　in　England　how　to　make　pretty
speeches？〃

〃No；　mademoiselle；　that　is　an　instinct　that　comes　into　birth　by
the　fire　of　a　woman's　eyes。〃

Mademoiselle　Lange　was　sitting　upon　a　small　sofa　of　antique
design；　with　cushions　covered　in　faded　silks　heaped　round　her
pretty　head。　　Armand　thought　that　she　looked　like　that　carved
cameo　which　his　sister　Marguerite　possessed。

He　himself　sat　on　a　low　chair　at　some　distance　from　her。　He　had
brought　her　a　large　bunch　of　early　violets；　for　he　knew　that　she
was　fond　of　flowers；　and　these　lay　upon　her　lap；　against　the
opalescent　grey　of　her　gown。

She　seemed　a　little　nervous　and　agitated；　his　obvious　admiration
bringing　a　ready　blush　to　her　cheeks。

The　room　itself　appeared　to　Armand　to　be　a　perfect　frame　for　the
charming　picture　which　she　presented。　　The　furniture　in　it　was
small　and　old；　tiny　tables　of　antique　Vernis…Martin；　softly　faded
tapestries；　a　pale…toned　Aubusson　carpet。　　Everything　mellow　and
in　a　measure　pathetic。　Mademoiselle　Lange；　who　was　an　orphan；
lived　alone　under　the　duennaship　of　a　middle…aged　relative；　a
penniless　hanger…on　of　the　successful　young　actress；　who　acted　as
her　chaperone；　housekeeper；　and　maid；　and　kept　unseemly　or
over…bold　gallants　at　bay。

She　told　Armand　all　about　her　early　life；　her　childhood　in　the
backshop　of　Maitre　Meziere；　the　jeweller；　who　was　a　relative　of
her　mother's；　of　her　desire　for　an　artistic　career；　her　struggles
with　the　middle…class　prejudices　of　her　relations；　her　bold
defiance　of　them；　and　final　independence。

She　made　no　secret　of　her　humble　origin；　her　want　of　education　in
those　days；　on　the　contrary；　she　was　proud　of　what　she　had
accomplished　for　herself。　　She　was　only　twenty　years　of　age；　and
already　held　a　leading　place　in　the　artistic　world　of　Paris。

Armand　listened　to　her　chatter；　interested　in　everything　she　said；
questioning　her　with　sympathy　and　discretion。　She　asked　him　a　good
deal　about　himself；　and　about　his　beautiful　sister　Marguerite；
who；　of　course；　had　been　the　most　brilliant　star　in　that　most
brilliant　constellation；　the　Comedie　Francaise。　　She　had　never
seen　Marguerite　St。　Just　act；　but；　of　course；　Paris　still　rang
with　her　praises；　and　all　art…lovers　regretted　that　she　should
have　married　and　left　them　to　mourn　for　her。

Thus　the　conversation　drifted　naturally　back　to　England。
Mademoiselle　professed　a　vast　interest　in　the　citizen's　country　of
adoption。

〃I　had　always；〃　she　said；　〃thought　it　an　ugly　country；　with　the
noise　and　bustle　of　industrial　life　going　on　everywhere；　and　smoke
and　fog　to　cover　the　landscape　and　to　stunt　the　trees。〃

〃Then；　in　future；　mademoiselle；〃　he　replied；　〃must　you　think　of　it
as　one　carpeted　with　verdure；　where　in　the　spring　the　orchard
trees　covered　with　delicate　blossom　would　speak　to　you　of
fairyland；　where　the　dewy　grass　stretches　its　velvety　surface　in
the　shadow　of　ancient　monumental　oaks；　and　ivy…covered　towers　rear
their　st