el dorado-第51部分

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message　to　Armand　had　reassured　her　just　as　he　had　intended　that
it　should　do。　Fate　had　dealt　over　harshly　with　her　as　it　was；　and
Blakeney's　remorse　for　the　sorrow　which　he　had　already　caused　her；
was　scarcely　less　keen　than　Armand's。　　He　did　not　wish　her　to　bear
the　intolerable　burden　of　hatred　against　her　brother；　and　by
binding　St。　Just　close　to　him　at　the　supreme　hour　of　danger　he
hoped　to　prove　to　the　woman　whom　he　loved　so　passionately　that
Armand　was　worthy　of　trust。



PART　III
CHAPTER　XXXV
THE　LAST　PHASE

〃Well？　How　is　it　now？〃

〃The　last　phase；　I　think。〃

〃He　will　yield？〃

〃He　must。〃

〃Bah！　you　have　said　it　yourself　often　enough；　those　English　are
tough。〃

〃It　takes　time　to　hack　them　to　pieces；　perhaps。　　In　this　case　even
you；　citizen　Chauvelin；　said　that　it　would　take　time。　　Well；　it
has　taken　just　seventeen　days；　and　now　the　end　is　in　sight。〃

It　was　close　on　midnight　in　the　guard…room　which　gave　on　the
innermost　cell　of　the　Conciergerie。　　Heron　had　just　visited　the
prisoner　as　was　his　wont　at　this　hour　of　the　night。　　He　had
watched　the　changing　of　the　guard；　inspected　the　night…watch；
questioned　the　sergeant　in　charge；　and　finally　he　had　been　on　the
point　of　retiring　to　his　own　new　quarters　in　the　house　of　Justice；
in　the　near　vicinity　of　the　Conciergerie；　when　citizen　Chauvelin
entered　the　guard…room　unexpectedly　and　detained　his　colleague
with　the　peremptory　question：

〃How　is　it　now？〃

〃If　you　are　so　near　the　end；　citizen　Heron；〃　he　now　said；　sinking
his　voice　to　a　whisper；　〃why　not　make　a　final　effort　and　end　it
to…night？〃

〃I　wish　I　could；　the　anxiety　is　wearing　me　out　more　n　him；〃　added
with　a　jerky　movement　of　the　head　in　direction　of　the　inner　cell。

〃Shall　I　try？〃　rejoined　Chauvelin　grimly。

〃Yes；　an　you　wish。〃

Citizen　Heron's　long　limbs　were　sprawling　on　a　guard…room　chair。
In　this　low　narrow　room　he　looked　like　some　giant　whose　body　had
been　carelessly　and　loosely　put　together　by　a　'prentice　hand　in
the　art　of　manufacture。　　His　broad　shoulders　were　bent；　probably
under　the　weight　of　anxiety　to　which　he　had　referred；　and　his
head；　with　the　lank；　shaggy　hair　overshadowing　the　brow；　was　sunk
deep　down　on　his　chest。

Chauvelin　looked　on　his　friend　and　associate　with　no　small　measure
of　contempt。　　He　would　no　doubt　have　preferred　to　conclude　the
present　difficult　transaction　entirely　in　his　own　way　and　alone；
but　equally　there　was　no　doubt　that　the　Committee　of　Public　Safety
did　not　trust　him　quite　so　fully　as　it　used　to　do　before　the
fiasco　at　Calais　and　the　blunders　of　Boulogne。　　Heron；　on　the
other　hand；　enjoyed　to　its　outermost　the　confidence　of　his
colleagues；　his　ferocious　cruelty　and　his　callousness　were　well
known；　whilst　physically；　owing　to　his　great　height　and　bulky　if
loosely　knit　frame；　he　had　a　decided　advantage　over　his　trim　and
slender　friend。

As　far　as　the　bringing　of　prisoners　to　trial　was　concerned；　the
chief　agent　of　the　Committee　of　General　Security　had　been　given　a
perfectly　free　hand　by　the　decree　of　the　27th　Nivose。　　At　first；
therefore；　he　had　experienced　no　difficulty　when　he　desired　to
keep　the　Englishman　in　close　confinement　for　a　time　without
hurrying　on　that　summary　trial　and　condemnation　which　the　populace
had　loudly　demanded；　and　to　which　they　felt　that　they　were
entitled　as　to　a　public　holiday。　　The　death　of　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel　on　the　guillotine　had　been　a　spectacle　promised　by　every
demagogue　who　desired　to　purchase　a　few　votes　by　holding　out
visions　of　pleasant　doings　to　come；　and　during　the　first　few　days
the　mob　of　Paris　was　content　to　enjoy　the　delights　of　expectation。

But　now　seventeen　days　had　gone　by　and　still　the　Englishman　was
not　being　brought　to　trial。　　The　pleasure…loving　public　was　waxing
impatient；　and　earlier　this　evening；　when　citizen　Heron　had　shown
himself　in　the　stalls　of　the　national　theatre；　he　was　greeted　by　a
crowded　audience　with　decided　expressions　of　disapproval　and　open
mutterings　of：

〃What　of　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel？〃

It　almost　looked　as　if　he　would　have　to　bring　that　accursed
Englishman　to　the　guillotine　without　having　wrested　from　him　the
secret　which　he　would　have　given　a　fortune　to　possess。　　Chauvelin；
who　had　also　been　present　at　the　theatre；　had　heard　the
expressions　of　discontent；　hence　his　visit　to　his　colleague　at
this　late　hour　of　the　night。

〃Shall　I　try？〃　he　had　queried　with　some　impatience；　and　a　deep
sigh　of　satisfaction　escaped　his　thin　lips　when　the　chief　agent；
wearied　and　discouraged；　had　reluctantly　agreed。

〃Let　the　men　make　as　much　noise　as　they　like；〃　he　added　with　an
enigmatical　smile。　〃The　Englishman　and　I　will　want　an
accompaniment　to　our　pleasant　conversation。〃

Heron　growled　a　surly　assent；　and　without　another　word　Chauvelin
turned　towards　the　inner　cell。　　As　he　stepped　in　he　allowed　the
iron　bar　to　fall　into　its　socket　behind　him。　Then　he　went　farther
into　the　room　until　the　distant　recess　was　fully　revealed　to　him。
His　tread　had　been　furtive　and　almost　noiseless。　　Now　he　paused；
for　he　had　caught　sight　the　prisoner。　　For　a　moment　he　stood　quite
still；　with　hands　clasped　behind　his　back　in　his　wonted
attitudestill　save　for　a　strange；　involuntary　twitching　of　his
mouth；　and　the　nervous　clasping　and　interlocking　of　his　fingers
behind　his　back。　　He　was　savouring　to　its　utmost　fulsomeness　the
supremest　joy　which　animal　man　can　ever　knowthe　joy　of　looking
on　a　fallen　enemy。

Blakeney　sat　at　the　table　with　one　arm　resting　on　it；　the
emaciated　hand　tightly　clutched；　the　body　leaning　forward；　the
eyes　looking　into　nothingness。

For　the　moment　he　was　unconscious　of　Chauvelin's　presence；　and　the
latter　could　gaze　on　him　to　the　full　content　of　his　heart。

Indeed；　to　all　outward　appearances　there　sat　a　man　whom　privations
of　every　sort　and　kind；　the　want　of　fresh　air；　of　proper　food；
above　all；　of　rest；　had　worn　down　physically　to　a　shadow。　There
was　not　a　particle　of　colour　in　cheeks　or　lips；　the　skin　was　grey
in　hue；　the　eyes　looked　like　deep　caverns；　wherein　the　glow　of
fever　was　all　that　was　left　of　life。

Chauvelin　looked　on　in　silence；　vaguely　stirred　by　something　that
he　could　not　define；　something　that　right　through　his　triumphant
satisfaction；　his　hatred　and　final　certainty　of　revenge；　had
roused　in　him　a　sense　almost　of　admiration。

He　gazed　on　the　noiseless　figure　of　the　man　who　had　endured　so
much　for　an　ideal；　and　as　he　gazed　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　the
spirit　no　longer　dwelt　in　the　body；　but　hovered　round　in　the　dank；
stuffy　air　of　the　narrow　cell　above　the　head　of　the　lonely
prisoner；　crowning　it　with　glory　that　was　no　longer　of　this　earth。

Of　this　the　looker…on　was　conscious　despite　himself；　of　that　and
of　the　fact　that　stare　as　he　might；　and　with　perception　rendered
doubly　keen　by　hate；　he　could　not；　in　spite　of　all；　find　the　least
trace　of　mental　weakness　in　that　far…seeing　gaze　which　seemed　to
pierce　the　prison　walls；　nor　could　he　see　that　bodily　weakness　had
tended　to　subdue　the　ruling　passions。

Sir　Percy　Blakeneya　prisoner　since　seventeen　days　in　close；
solitary　confinement；　half…starved；　deprived　of　rest；　and　of　that
mental　and　physical　activity　which　had　been　the　very　essence　of
life　to　him　hithertomight　be　outwardly　but　a　shadow　of　his
former　brilliant　self；　but　nevertheless　he　was　still　that　same
elegant　English　gentleman；　that　prince　of　dandies　whom　Chauvelin
had　first　met　eighteen　months　ago　at　the　most　courtly　Court　in
Europe。　　His　clothes；　despite　constant　wear　and　the　want　of
attention　from　a　scrupulous　valet；　still　betrayed　the　perfection
of　London　tailoring；　he　had　put　them　on　with　meticulous　care；　they
were　free　from　the　slightest　particle　of　dust；　and　the　filmy　folds
of　priceless　Mechlin　still　half…veiled　the　delicate　whiteness　of
his　shapely　hands。

And　in　the　pale；　haggard　face；　in　the　whole　pose　of　body　and　of
arm；　there　was　still　the　expression　of　that　indomitable　strength
of　will；　that　reckless　daring；　that　almost　insolent　challenge　to
Fate；　it　was　there　untamed；　uncrushed。　Chauvelin　himself　could　not
deny　to　himself　its　presence　or　its　force。　　He　felt　that　behind
that　smooth　brow；　which　looked　waxlike　now；　the　mind　was　still
alert；　scheming；　plotting；　striving　for　freedom；　for　conquest　and
for　power；　and　rendered　even　doubly　keen　and　virile　by　the　ardour
of　supreme　self…sacrifice。

Chauvelin　now　made　a　slight　movement　and　suddenly　Blakeney　became
conscious　of　his　presence；　and　swift　as　a　flash　a　smile　lit　up　his
wan　face。

〃Why！　if　it　is　not　my　engaging　friend　Monsieur　Chambertin；〃　he
said　gaily。

He　rose　and　stepped　forward　in　the　most　approved　fashion
prescribed　by　the　elaborate　etiquette　of　the　time。　　But　Chauvelin
smiled　grimly　and　a　look　of　almost　animal　lust　gleamed　in　his　pale
eyes；　for　he　had　noted　that　as　he　rose　Sir　Percy　had　to　seek　the
support　of　the　table；　even　whilst　a　dull　film　appeared　to　gather
over　his　eyes。

The　gesture　had　been　quick　and　cleverly　disguised；　but　it　had　been
there　neverthelessthat　and　the　livid　hue　that　overspread　the
face　as　if　consciousness　was　threatening　to　go。　　All　of　which　was
sufficient　still　further　to　assure　the　looker…on　that　that　mighty
physical　strength　was　giving　way　at　last；　that　strength　which　he
had　hated　in　his　enemy　almost　as　much　as　he　had　hated　the　thinly
veiled　insolence　of　his　manner。

〃And　what　procures　me；　sir；　the　honour　of　your　visit？〃　continued
Blakeney；　who　hadat　any　rate；　outwardly　soon　recovered　himself；
and　whose　voice；　though　distinctly　hoarse　and　spent；　rang　quite
cheerfully　across　the　dank　narrow　cell。

〃My　desire　for　your　welfare；　Sir　Percy；〃　replied　Chauvelin　with
equal　pleasantry。

〃La；　sir；　but　have　you　not　gratified　that　desire　already；　to　an
extent　which　leaves　no　room　for　further　solicitude？　　But　I　pray
you；　will　you　not　sit　down？〃　he　continued；　turning　back　toward　the
table。　　〃I　was　about　to　partake　of　the　lavish　supper　which　your
friends　have　provided　for　me。　　Will　you　not　share　it；　sir？　You　are
most　royally　welcome；　and　it　will　mayhap　remind　you　of　that　supper
we　shared　together　in　Calais；　eh？　when　you；　Monsieur　Chambertin；
were　temporarily　in　holy　orders。〃

He　laughed；　offering　his　enemy　a　chair；　and　pointed