el dorado-第14节

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！


cruelty　and　bloodthirsty　ferocity　personified　to　their　utmost
extent。　　At　thought　of　the　Bourbons；　or　of　all　those　whom　he
considered　had　been　in　the　past　the　oppressors　of　the　people；
Heron　was　nothing　but　a　wild　and　ravenous　beast；　hungering　for
revenge；　longing　to　bury　his　talons　and　his　fangs　into　the　body　of
those　whose　heels　had　once　pressed　on　his　own　neck。

And　de　Batz　knew　that　even　with　millions　or　countless　money　at　his
command　he　could　not　purchase　from　this　carnivorous　brute　the　life
and　liberty　of　the　son　of　King　Louis。　　No　amount　of　bribery　would
accomplish　that；　it　would　have　to　be　ingenuity　pitted　against
animal　force；　the　wiliness　of　the　fox　against　the　power　of　the
wolf。

Even　now　Heron　was　darting　savagely　suspicious　looks　upon　him。

〃I　shall　get　rid　of　the　Simons；〃　he　said；　〃there's　something　in
that　woman's　face　which　I　don't　trust。　　They　shall　go　within　the
next　few　hours；　or　as　soon　as　I　can　lay　my　hands　upon　a　better
patriot　than　that　mealy…mouthed　cobbler。　　And　it　will　be　better
not　to　have　a　woman　about　the　place。　　Let　me　seeto…day　is
Thursday；　or　else　Friday　morning。　　By　Sunday　I'll　get　those　Simons
out　of　the　place。　Methought　I　saw　you　ogling　that　woman；〃　he
added；　bringing　his　bony　fist　crashing　down　on　the　table　so　that
papers；　pen；　and　inkhorn　rattled　loudly；　〃and　if　I　thought　that
you〃

De　Batz　thought　it　well　at　this　point　to　finger　once　more
nonchalantly　the　bundle　of　crisp　paper　in　the　pocket　of　his　coat。

〃Only　on　that　one　condition；〃　reiterated　Heron　in　a　hoarse　voice；
〃if　you　try　to　get　at　Capet；　I'll　drag　you　to　the　Tribunal　with　my
own　hands。〃

〃Always　presuming　that　you　can　get　me；　my　friend；〃　murmured　de
Batz；　who　was　gradually　regaining　his　accustomed　composure。

Already　his　active　mind　was　busily　at　work。　　One　or　two　things
which　he　had　noted　in　connection　with　his　visit　to　the　Dauphin's
prison　had　struck　him　as　possibly　useful　in　his　schemes。　　But　he
was　disappointed　that　Heron　was　getting　rid　of　the　Simons。　　The
woman　might　have　been　very　useful　and　more　easily　got　at　than　a
man。　　The　avarice　of　the　French　bourgeoise　would　have　proved　a
promising　factor。　　But　this；　of　course；　would　now　be　out　of　the
question。　　At　the　same　time　it　was　not　because　Heron　raved　and
stormed　and　uttered　cries　like　a　hyena　that　he；　de　Batz；　meant　to
give　up　an　enterprise　which；　if　successful；　would　place　millions
into　his　own　pocket。

As　for　that　meddling　Englishman；　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel；　and　his
crack…brained　followers；　they　must　be　effectually　swept　out　of　the
way　first　of　all。　　De　Batz　felt　that　they　were　the　real；　the　most
likely　hindrance　to　his　schemes。　　He　himself　would　have　to　go　very
cautiously　to　work；　since　apparently　Heron　would　not　allow　him　to
purchase　immunity　for　himself　in　that　one　matter；　and　whilst　he
was　laying　his　plans　with　necessary　deliberation　so　as　to　ensure
his　own　safety；　that　accursed　Scarlet　Pimpernel　would　mayhap
snatch　the　golden　prize　from　the　Temple　prison　right　under　his
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　h