el dorado-第59部分

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once；　it　is　not　far；　and　there　are　five　golden　louis　waiting　for
the　messenger！〃

Five　golden　louis！　　The　poor；　hardworking　woman's　eyes　gleamed　at
the　thought。　　Five　louis　meant　food　for　at　least　two　months　if　one
was　careful；　and

〃Give　me　the　letter；　citizen；〃　she　said；　〃time　to　slip　on　a　warm
petticoat　and　a　shawl；　and　I'll　go　myself。　　It's　not　fit　for　the
boy　to　go　at　this　hour。〃

〃You　will　bring　me　back　a　line　from　my　sister　in　reply　to　this；〃
said　Armand；　whom　circumstances　had　at　last　rendered　cautious。
〃Bring　it　up　to　my　rooms　that　I　may　give　you　the　five　louis　in
exchange。〃

He　waited　while　the　woman　slipped　back　into　her　room。　She　heard
him　speaking　to　her　boy；　the　same　lad　who　a　fortnight　ago　had
taken　the　treacherous　letter　which　had　lured　Blakeney　to　the　house
into　the　fatal　ambuscade　that　had　been　prepared　for　him。
Everything　reminded　Armand　of　that　awful　night；　every　hour　that　he
had　since　spent　in　the　house　had　been　racking　torture　to　him。　Now
at　last　he　was　to　leave　it；　and　on　an　errand　which　might　help　to
ease　the　load　of　remorse　from　his　heart。

The　woman　was　soon　ready。　　Armand　gave　her　final　directions　as　to
how　to　find　the　house　；　then　she　took　the　letter　and　promised　to
be　very　quick；　and　to　bring　back　a　reply　from　the　lady。

Armand　accompanied　her　to　the　door。　　The　night　was　dark；　a　thin
drizzle　was　falling；　he　stood　and　watched　until　the　woman's
rapidly　walking　figure　was　lost　in　the　misty　gloom。

Then　with　a　heavy　sigh　he　once　more　went　within。



CHAPTER　XLI
WHEN　HOPE　WAS　DEAD

In　a　small　upstairs　room　in　the　Rue　de　Charonne；　above　the　shop　of
Lucas　the　old…clothes　dealer；　Marguerite　sat　with　Sir　Andrew
Ffoulkes。　　Armand's　letter；　with　its　message　and　its　warning；　lay
open　on　the　table　between　them；　and　she　had　in　her　hand　the　sealed
packet　which　Percy　had　given　her　just　ten　days　ago；　and　which　she
was　only　to　open　if　all　hope　seemed　to　be　dead；　if　nothing
appeared　to　stand　any　longer　between　that　one　dear　life　and
irretrievable　shame。

A　small　lamp　placed　on　the　table　threw　a　feeble　yellow　light　on
the　squalid；　ill…furnished　room；　for　it　lacked　still　an　hour　or　so
before　dawn。　　Armand's　concierge　had　brought　her　lodger's　letter；
and　Marguerite　had　quickly　despatched　a　brief　reply　to　him；　a
reply　that　held　love　and　also　encouragement。

Then　she　had　summoned　Sir　Andrew。　　He　never　had　a　thought　of
leaving　her　during　these　days　of　dire　trouble；　and　he　had　lodged
all　this　while　in　a　tiny　room　on　the　top…most　floor　of　this　house
in　the　Rue　de　Charonne。

At　her　call　he　had　come　down　very　quickly；　and　now　they　sat
together　at　the　table；　with　the　oil…lamp　illumining　their　pale；
anxious　faces；　she　the　wife　and　he　the　friend　holding　a
consultation　together　in　this　most　miserable　hour　that　preceded
the　cold　wintry　dawn。

Outside　a　thin；　persistent　rain　mixed　with　snow　pattered　against
the　small　window　panes；　and　an　icy　wind　found　out　all　the　crevices
in　the　worm…eaten　woodwork　that　would　afford　it　ingress　to　the
room。　　But　neither　Marguerite　nor　Ffoulkes　was　conscious　of　the
cold。　　They　had　wrapped　their　cloaks　round　their　shoulders；　and
did　not　feel　the　chill　currents　of　air　that　caused　the　lamp　to
flicker　and　to　smoke。

〃I　can　see　now；〃　said　Marguerite　in　that　calm　voice　which　comes　so
naturally　in　moments　of　infinite　despair〃I　can　see　now　exactly
what　Percy　meant　when　he　made　me　promise　not　to　open　this　packet
until　it　seemed　to　meto　me　and　to　you；　Sir　Andrewthat　he　was
about　to　play　the　part　of　a　coward。　　A　coward！　　Great　God！〃　She
checked　the　sob　that　had　risen　to　her　throat；　and　continued　in　the
same　calm　manner　and　quiet；　even　voice：

〃You　do　think　with　me；　do　you　not；　that　the　time　has　come；　and
that　we　must　open　this　packet？〃

〃Without　a　doubt；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　replied　Ffoulkes　with　equal
earnestness。　　〃I　would　stake　my　life　that　already　a　fortnight　ago
Blakeney　had　that　same　plan　in　his　mind　which　he　has　now　matured。
Escape　from　that　awful　Conciergerie　prison　with　all　the
precautions　so　carefully　taken　against　it　was　impossible。　　I　knew
that　alas！　from　the　first。　　But　in　the　open　all　might　yet　be
different。　　I'll　not　believe　it　that　a　man　like　Blakeney　is
destined　to　perish　at　the　hands　of　those　curs。〃

She　looked　on　her　loyal　friend　with　tear…dimmed　eyes　through　which
shone　boundless　gratitude　and　heart…broken　sorrow。

He　had　spoken　of　a　fortnight！　　It　was　ten　days　since　she　had　seen
Percy。　　It　had　then　seemed　as　if　death　had　already　marked　him　with
its　grim　sign。　　Since　then　she　had　tried　to　shut　away　from　her
mind　the　terrible　visions　which　her　anguish　constantly　conjured　up
before　her　of　his　growing　weakness；　of　the　gradual　impairing　of
that　brilliant　intellect；　the　gradual　exhaustion　of　that　mighty
physical　strength。

〃God　bless　you；　Sir　Andrew；　for　your　enthusiasm　and　for　your
trust；〃　she　said　with　a　sad　little　smile；　〃but　for　you　I　should
long　ago　have　lost　all　courage；　and　these　last　ten　dayswhat　a
cycle　of　misery　they　representwould　have　been　maddening　but　for
your　help　and　your　loyalty。　　God　knows　I　would　have　courage　for
everything　in　life；　for　everything　save　one；　but　just　that；　his
death；　that　would　be　beyond　my　strengthneither　reason　nor　body
could　stand　it。　　Therefore；　I　am　so　afraid；　Sir　Andrew；〃　she　added
piteously。

〃Of　what；　Lady　Blakeney？〃

〃That　when　he　knows　that　I　too　am　to　go　as　hostage；　as　Armand　says
in　his　letter；　that　my　life　is　to　be　guarantee　his；　I　am　afraid
that　he　will　draw　backthat　he　willmy　God！〃　she　cried　with
sudden　fervour；　〃tell　me　what　to　do！〃

〃Shall　we　open　the　packet？〃　asked　Ffoulkes　gently；　〃and　then　just
make　up　our　minds　to　act　exactly　as　Blakeney　has　enjoined　us　to
do；　neither　more　nor　less；　but　just　word　for　word；　deed　for　deed；
and　I　believe　that　that　will　be　rightwhatever　may　betidein　the
end。〃

Once　more　his　quiet　strength；　his　earnestness　and　his　faith
comforted　her。　　She　dried　her　eyes　and　broke　open　the　seal。　　There
were　two　separate　letters　in　the　packet；　one　unaddressed；
obviously　intended　for　her　and　Ffoulkes；　the　other　was　addressed
to　M。　le　baron　Jean　de　Batz；　15；　Rue　St。　Jean　de　Latran　a　Paris。

〃A　letter　addressed　to　that　awful　Baron　de　Batz；〃　said　Marguerite；
looking　with　puzzled　eyes　on　the　paper　as　she　turned　it　over　and
over　in　her　hand；　〃to　that　bombastic　windbag！　　I　know　him　and　his
ways　well！　　What　can　Percy　have　to　say　to　him？〃

Sir　Andrew　too　looked　puzzled。　　But　neither　of　them　had　the　mind
to　waste　time　in　useless　speculations。　　Marguerite　unfolded　the
letter　which　was　intended　for　her；　and　after　a　final　look　on　her
friend；　whose　kind　face　was　quivering　with　excitement；　she　began
slowly　to　read　aloud：



I　need　not　ask　either　of　you　two　to　trust　me；　knowing　that　you
will。　　But　I　could　not　die　inside　this　hole　like　a　rat　in　a
trapI　had　to　try　and　free　myself；　at　the　worst　to　die　in　the
open　beneath　God's　sky。　　You　two　will　understand；　and
understanding　you　will　trust　me　to　the　end。　　Send　the　enclosed
letter　at　once　to　its　address。　And　you；　Ffoulkes；　my　most　sincere
and　most　loyal　friend；　I　beg　with　all　my　soul　to　see　to　the　safety
of　Marguerite。　Armand　will　stay　by　mebut　you；　Ffoulkes；　do　not
leave　her；　stand　by　her。　　As　soon　as　you　read　this　letterand　you
will　not　read　it　until　both　she　and　you　have　felt　that　hope　has
fled　and　I　myself　am　about　to　throw　up　the　spongetry　and
persuade　her　to　make　for　the　coast　as　quickly　as　may　be。。。。　　At
Calais　you　can　open　up　communications　with　the　Day…Dream　in　the
usual　way；　and　embark　on　her　at　once。　　Let　no　member　of　the　League
remain　on　French　soil　one　hour　longer　after　that。　Then　tell　the
skipper　to　make　for　Le　Portalthe　place　which　he　knowsand　there
to　keep　a　sharp　outlook　for　another　three　nights。　　After　that　make
straight　for　home；　for　it　will　he　no　use　waiting　any　longer。　　I
shall　not　come。　These　measures　are　for　Marguerite's　safety；　and
for　you　all　who　are　in　France　at　this　moment。　　Comrade；　I　entreat
you　to　look　on　these　measures　as　on　my　dying　wish。　　To　de　Batz　I
have　given　rendezvous　at　the　Chapelle　of　the　Holy　Sepulchre；　just
outside　the　park　of　the　Chateau　d'Ourde。　　He　will　help　me　to　save
the　Dauphin；　and　if　by　good　luck　he　also　helps　me　to　save　myself　I
shall　be　within　seven　leagues　of　Le　Portal；　and　with　the　Liane
frozen　as　she　is　I　could　reach　the　coast。

But　Marguerite's　safety　I　leave　in　your　hands；　Ffoulkes。　Would
that　I　could　look　more　clearly　into　the　future；　and　know　that
those　devils　will　not　drag　her　into　danger。　　Beg　her　to　start　at
once　for　Calais　immediately　you　have　both　read　this。　　I　only　beg；
I　do　not　command。　　I　know　that　you；　Ffoulkes；　will　stand　by　her
whatever　she　may　wish　to　do。　God's　blessing　be　for　ever　on　you
both。



Marguerite's　voice　died　away　in　the　silence　that　still　lay　over
this　deserted　part　of　the　great　city　and　in　this　squalid　house
where　she　and　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes　had　found　shelter　these　last　ten
days。　　The　agony　of　mind　which　they　had　here　endured；　never
doubting；　but　scarcely　ever　hoping；　had　found　its　culmination　at
last　in　this　final　message；　which　almost　seemed　to　come　to　them
from　the　grave。

It　had　been　written　ten　days　ago。　　A　plan　had　then　apparently
formed　in　Percy's　mind　which　he　had　set　forth　during　the　brief
half…hour's　respite　which　those　fiends　had　once　given　him。　　Since
then　they　had　never　given　him　ten　consecutive　minutes'　peace；
since　then　ten　days　had　gone　by　how　much　power；　how　much　vitality
had　gone　by　too　on　the　leaden　wings　of　all　those　terrible　hours
spent　in　solitude　and　in　misery？

〃We　can　but　hope；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　said　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes　after　a
while；　〃that　you　will　be　allowed　out　of　Paris；　but　from　what
Armand　says〃

〃And　Percy　does　not　actually　send　me　away；〃　she　rejoined　with　a
pathetic　little　smile。

〃No。　　He　cannot　compel　you；　Lady　Blakeney。　　You　are　not　a　member
of　the　League。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　am！〃　she　retorted　firmly；　〃and　I　have　sworn　obedience；
just　as　all　of　you　have　done。　　I　will　go；　just　as　he　bids　me。　and
you；　Sir　Andrew；　you　will　obey　him　too？〃

〃My　orders　are　to　stand　by　you。　　That　is　an　easy　task。〃

〃You　know　where　this　place　is？〃　she　asked〃the　Chateau　d'Ourde？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　we　all　know　it！　　It　is　empty；　an