el dorado-第30部分

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several　inches　shorter　than　his　colleague；　but　at　this　moment　he
seemed　to　be　towering　over　him　like　an　avenging　spirit。　　He　placed
a　firm　hand　on　the　other's　bowed　shoulders。

〃Capet　has　goneis　that　it？〃　he　queried　peremptorily。

The　look　of　terror　increased　in　Heron's　eyes；　giving　its　mute　reply。

〃How？　When？〃

But　for　the　moment　the　man　was　speechless。　　An　almost　maniacal
fear　seemed　to　hold　him　in　its　grip。　　With　an　impatient　oath
Chauvelin　turned　away　from　him。

〃Brandy！〃　he　said　curtly；　speaking　to　Armand。

A　bottle　and　glass　were　found　in　the　cupboard。　　It　was　St。　Just
who　poured　out　the　brandy　and　held　it　to　Heron's　lips。　　Chauvelin
was　once　more　pacing　up　and　down　the　room　in　angry　impatience。

〃Pull　yourself　together；　man；〃　he　said　roughly　after　a　while；　〃and
try　and　tell　me　what　has　occurred。〃

Heron　had　sunk　into　a　chair。　　He　passed　a　trembling　hand　once　or
twice　over　his　forehead。

〃Capet　has　disappeared；〃　he　murmured；　〃he　must　have　been　spirited
away　while　the　Simons　were　moving　their　furniture。　　That　accursed
Cochefer　was　completely　taken　in。〃

Heron　spoke　in　a　toneless　voice；　hardly　above　a　whisper；　and　like
one　whose　throat　is　dry　and　mouth　parched。　　But　the　brandy　had
revived　him　somewhat；　and　his　eyes　lost　their　former　glassy　look。

〃How？〃　asked　Chauvelin　curtly。

〃I　was　just　leaving　the　Tower　when　he　arrived。　　I　spoke　to　him　at
the　door。　　I　had　seen　Capet　safely　installed　in　the　room；　and　gave
orders　to　the　woman　Simon　to　let　citizen　Cochefer　have　a　look　at
him；　too；　and　then　to　lock　up　the　brat　in　the　inner　room　and
install　Cochefer　in　the　antechamber　on　guard。　　I　stood　talking　to
Cochefer　for　a　few　moments　in　the　antechamber。　　The　woman　Simon
and　the　man…of…all…work；　Dupontwhom　I　know　wellwere　busy　with
the　furniture。　　There　could　not　have　been　any　one　else　concealed
about　the　placethat　I'll　swear。　　Cochefer；　after　he　took　leave
of　me；　went　straight　into　the　room；　he　found　the　woman　Simon　in
the　act　of　turning　the　key　in　the　door　of　the　inner　chamber。　　I
have　locked　Capet　in　there；'　she　said；　giving　the　key　to　Cochefer；
'he　will　be　quite　safe　until　to…night；　when　the　other　commissaries
come。'

〃Didn't　Cochefer　go　into　the　room　and　ascertain　whether　the　woman
was　lying？〃

〃Yes；　he　did！　　He　made　the　woman　re…open　the　door　and　peeped　in
over　her　shoulder。　　She　said　the　child　was　asleep。　　He　vows　that
he　saw　the　child　lying　fully　dressed　on　a　rug　in　the　further
corner　of　the　room。　　The　room；　of　course；　was　quite　empty　of
furniture　and　only　lighted　by　one　candle；　but　there　was　the　rug
and　the　child　asleep　on　it。　　Cochefer　swears　he　saw　him；　and
nowwhen　I　went　up〃

〃Well？〃

〃The　commissaries　were　all　thereCochefer　and　Lasniere；　Lorinet
and　Legrand。　　We　went　into　the　inner　room；　and　I　had　a　candle　in
my　hand。　　We　saw　the　child　lying　on　the　rug；　just　as　Cochefer　had
seen　him；　and　for　a　while　we　took　no　notice　of　it。　　Then　some
oneI　think　it　was　Lorinetwent　to　have　a　closer　look　at　the
brat。　　He　took　up　the　candle　and　went　up　to　the　rug。　　Then　he　gave
a　cry；　and　we　all　gathered　round　him。　　The　sleeping　child　was　only
a　bundle　of　hair　and　of　clothes；　a　dummywhat？〃

There　was　silence　now　in　the　narrow　room；　while　the　white…faced
clock　continued　to　tick　off　each　succeeding　second　of　time。　　Heron
had　once　more　buried　his　head　in　his　hands；　a　tremblinglike　an
attack　of　agueshook　his　wide；　bony　shoulders。　　Armand　had
listened　to　the　narrative　with　glowing　eyes　and　a　beating　heart。
The　details　which　the　two　Terrorists　here　could　not　probably
understand　he　had　already　added　to　the　picture　which　his　mind　had
conjured　up。

He　was　back　in　thought　now　in　the　small　lodging　in　the　rear　of　St。
Germain　l'Auxerrois；　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes　was　there；　and　my　Lord
Tony　and　Hastings；　and　a　man　was　striding　up　and　down　the　room；
looking　out　into　the　great　space　beyond　the　river　with　the　eyes　of
a　seer；　and　a　firm　voice　said　abruptly：

〃It　is　about　the　Dauphin！〃

〃Have　you　any　suspicions？〃　asked　Chauvelin　now；　pausing　in　his
walk　beside　Heron；　and　once　more　placing　a　firm；　peremptory　hand
on　his　colleague's　shoulder。

〃Suspicions！〃　exclaimed　the　chief　agent　with　a　loud　oath。
〃Suspicions！　　Certainties；　you　mean。　　The　man　sat　here　but　two
days　ago；　in　that　very　chair；　and　bragged　of　what　he　would　do。　　I
told　him　then　that　if　he　interfered　with　Capet　I　would　wring　his
neck　with　my　own　hands。〃

And　his　long；　talon…like　fingers；　with　their　sharp；　grimy　nails；
closed　and　unclosed　like　those　of　feline　creatures　when　they　hold
the　coveted　prey。

〃Of　whom　do　you　speak？〃　queried　Chauvelin　curtly。

〃Of　whom？　　Of　whom　but　that　accursed　de　Batz？　　His　pockets　are
bulging　with　Austrian　money；　with　which；　no　doubt；　he　has　bribed
the　Simons　and　Cochefer　and　the　sentinels〃

〃And　Lorinet　and　Lasniere　and　you；〃　interposed　Chauvelin　dryly。

〃It　is　false！〃　roared　Heron；　who　already　at　the　suggestion　was
foaming　at　the　mouth；　and　had　jumped　up　from　his　chair；　standing
at　bay　as　if　prepared　to　fight　for　his　life。

〃False；　is　it？〃　retorted　Chauvelin　calmly；　〃then　be　not　so　quick；
friend　Heron；　in　slashing　out　with　senseless　denunciations　right
and　left。　　You'll　gain　nothing　by　denouncing　any　one　just　now。
This　is　too　intricate　a　matter　to　be　dealt　with　a　sledge…hammer。
Is　any　one　up　in　the　Tower　at　this　moment？〃　he　asked　in　quiet；
business…like　tones。

〃Yes。　　Cochefer　and　the　others　are　still　there。　　They　are　making
wild　schemes　to　cover　their　treachery。　　Cochefer　is　aware　of　his
own　danger；　and　Lasniere　and　the　others　know　that　they　arrived　at
the　Tower　several　hours　too　late。　　They　are　all　at　fault；　and　they
know　it。　As　for　that　de　Batz；〃　he　continued　with　a　voice　rendered
raucous　with　bitter　passion；　〃I　swore　to　him　two　days　ago　that　he
should　not　escape　me　if　he　meddled　with　Capet。　　I'm　on　his　track
already。　　I'll　have　him　before　the　hour　of　midnight；　and　I'll
torture　himyes！　　I'll　torture　himthe　Tribunal　shall　give　me
leave。　　We　have　a　dark　cell　down　below　here　where　my　men　know　how
to　apply　tortures　worse　than　the　rackwhere　they　know　just　how　to
prolong　life　long　enough　to　make　it　unendurable。　　I'll　torture
him！　　I'll　torture　him！〃

But　Chauvelin　abruptly　silenced　the　wretch　with　a　curt　command；
then；　without　another　word；　he　walked　straight　out　of　the　room。

In　thought　Armand　followed　him。　　The　wild　desire　was　suddenly　born
in　him　to　run　away　at　this　moment；　while　Heron；　wrapped　in　his　own
meditations；　was　paying　no　heed　to　him。　　Chauvelin's　footsteps　had
long　ago　died　away　in　the　distance；　it　was　a　long　way　to　the　upper
floor　of　the　Tower；　and　some　time　would　be　spent；　too；　in
interrogating　the　commissaries。　　This　was　Armand's　opportunity。
After　all；　if　he　were　free　himself　he　might　more　effectually　help
to　rescue　Jeanne。　　He　knew；　too；　now　where　to　join　his　leader。
The　corner　of　the　street　by　the　canal；　where　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes
would　be　waiting　with　the　coal…cart；　then　there　was　the　spinney　on
the　road　to　St。　Germain。　　Armand　hoped　that；　with　good　luck；　he
might　yet　overtake　his　comrades；　tell　them　of　Jeanne's　plight；　and
entreat　them　to　work　for　her　rescue。

He　had　forgotten　that　now　he　had　no　certificate　of　safety；　that
undoubtedly　he　would　be　stopped　at　the　gates　at　this　hour　of　the
night；　that　his　conduct　proving　suspect　he　would　in　all　probability
he　detained；　and；　mayhap；　be　brought　back　to　this　self…same　place
within　an　hour。　　He　had　forgotten　all　that；　for　the　primeval
instinct　for　freedom　had　suddenly　been　aroused。　　He　rose　softly
from　his　chair　and　crossed　the　room。　　Heron　paid　no　attention　to
him。　　Now　he　had　traversed　the　antechamber　and　unlatched　the　outer　door。

Immediately　a　couple　of　bayonets　were　crossed　in　front　of　him；　two
more　further　on　ahead　scintillated　feebly　in　the　flickering　light。
Chauvelin　had　taken　his　precautions。　There　was　no　doubt　that
Armand　St。　Just　was　effectually　a　prisoner　now。

With　a　sigh　of　disappointment　he　went　back　to　his　place　beside　the
fire。　　Heron　had　not　even　moved　whilst　he　had　made　this　futile
attempt　at　escape。　　Five　minutes　later　Chauvelin　re…entered　the
room。



CHAPTER　XX
THE　CERTIFICATE　OF　SAFETY

〃You　can　leave　de　Batz　and　his　gang　alone；　citizen　Heron；〃　said
Chauvelin；　as　soon　as　he　had　closed　the　door　behind　him；　〃he　had
nothing　to　do　with　the　escape　of　the　Dauphin。〃

Heron　growled　out　a　few　words　of　incredulity。　　But　Chauvelin
shrugged　his　shoulders　and　looked　with　unutterable　contempt　on　his
colleague。　　Armand；　who　was　watching　him　closely；　saw　that　in　his
hand　he　held　a　small　piece　of　paper；　which　he　had　crushed　into　a
shapeless　mass。

〃Do　not　waste　your　time；　citizen；〃　he　said；　〃in　raging　against　an
empty　wind…bag。　　Arrest　de　Batz　if　you　like；　or　leave　him　alone　an
you　pleasewe　have　nothing　to　fear　from　that　braggart。〃

With　nervous；　slightly　shaking　fingers　he　set　to　work　to　smooth
out　the　scrap　of　paper　which　he　held。　　His　hot　hands　had　soiled　it
and　pounded　it　until　it　was　a　mere　rag　and　the　writing　on　it
illegible。　　But；　such　as　it　was；　he　threw　it　down　with　a
blasphemous　oath　on　the　desk　in　front　of　Heron's　eyes。

〃It　is　that　accursed　Englishman　who　has　been　at　work　again；〃　he
said　more　calmly；　〃I　guessed　it　the　moment　I　heard　your　story。
Set　your　whole　army　of　sleuth…hounds　on　his　track；　citizen；　you'll
need　them　all。〃

Heron　picked　up　the　scrap　of　torn　paper　and　tried　to　decipher　the
writing　on　it　by　the　light　from　the　lamp。　　He　seemed　almost　dazed
now　with　the　awful　catastrophe　that　had　befallen　him；　and　the　fear
that　his　own　wretched　life　would　have　to　pay　the　penalty　for　the
disappearance　of　the　child。

As　for　Armandeven　in　the　midst　of　his　own　troubles；　and　of　his
own　anxiety　for　Jeanne；　he　felt　a　proud　exultation　in　his　heart。
The　Scarlet　Pimpernel　had　succeeded；　Percy　had　not　failed　in　his
self…imposed　undertaking。　Chauvelin；　whose　piercing　eyes　were
fixed　on　him　at　that　moment；　smiled　with　contemptuous　irony。

〃As　you　will　find　your　hands　overfull　for　the　next　few　hours；
citizen　Heron；〃　he　said；　speaking　to　his　colleague　and　nodding　in
the　direction　of　Armand；　〃I'll　not　trouble　you　with　the　voluntary
confession　this　young　citizen　desired　to　make　to　you。　　All　I　need
tell　you　is　tha