el dorado-第34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！


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　that　he　is　an　adherent　of　the　Scarlet　PimpernelI
believe　one　of　his　most　faithful；　most　trusted　officers。〃

Heron　roused　himself　from　the　maze　of　gloomy　thoughts　that　were
again　paralysing　his　tongue。　　He　turned　bleary；　wild　eyes　on
Armand。

〃We　have　got　one　of　them；　then？〃　he　murmured　incoherently；
babbling　like　a　drunken　man。

〃M'yes！〃　replied　Chauvelin　lightly；　〃but　it　is　too　late　now　for　a
formal　denunciation　and　arrest。　　He　cannot　leave　Paris　anyhow；　and
all　that　your　men　need　to　do　is　to　keep　a　close　look…out　on　him。
But　I　should　send　him　home　to…night　if　I　were　you。〃

Heron　muttered　something　more；　which；　however；　Armand　did　not
understand。　　Chauvelin's　words　were　still　ringing　in　his　ear。　　Was
he；　then；　to　be　set　free　to…night？　　Free　in　a　measure；　of　course；
since　spies　were　to　be　set　to　watch　himbut　free；　nevertheless？
He　could　not　understand　Chauvelin's　attitude；　and　his　own
self…love　was　not　a　little　wounded　at　the　thought　that　he　was　of
such　little　account　that　these　men　could　afford　to　give　him　even
this　provisional　freedom。　　And；　of　course；　there　was　still　Jeanne。

〃I　must；　therefore；　bid　you　good…night；　citizen；〃　Chauvelin　was
saying　in　his　bland；　gently　ironical　manner。　　〃You　will　be　glad　to
return　to　your　lodgings。　　As　you　see；　the　chief　agent　of　the
Committee　of　General　Security　is　too　much　occupied　just　now　to
accept　the　sacrifice　of　your　life　which　you　were　prepared　so
generously　to　offer　him。〃

〃I　do　not　understand　you；　citizen；〃　retorted　Armand　coldly；　〃nor
do　I　desire　indulgence　at　your　hands。　　You　have　arrested　an
innocent　woman　on　the　trumped…up　charge　that　she　was　harbouring
me。　　I　came　here　to…night　to　give　myself　up　to　justice　so　that　she
might　be　set　free。〃

〃But　the　hour　is　somewhat　late；　citizen；〃　rejoined　Chauvelin
urbanely。　　〃The　lady　in　whom　you　take　so　fervent　an　interest　is　no
doubt　asleep　in　her　cell　at　this　hour。　　It　would　not　be　fitting　to
disturb　her　now。　　She　might　not　find　shelter　before　morning；　and
the　weather　is　quite　exceptionally　unpropitious。〃

〃Then；　sir；〃　said　Armand；　a　little　bewildered；　〃am　I　to　understand
that　if　I　hold　myself　at　your　disposition　Mademoiselle　Lange　will
be　set　free　as　early　to…morrow　morning　as　may　be？〃

〃No　doubt；　sirno　doubt；〃　replied　Chauvelin　with　more　than　his
accustomed　blandness；　〃if　you　will　hold　yourself　entirely　at　our
disposition；　Mademoiselle　Lange　will　be　set　free　to…morrow。　　I
think　that　we　can　safely　promise　that；　citizen　Heron；　can　we　not？〃
he　added；　turning　to　his　colleague。

But　Heron；　overcome　with　the　stress　of　emotions；　could　only　murmur
vague；　unintelligible　words。

〃Your　word　on　that；　citizen　Chauvelin？〃　asked　Armand。

〃My　word　on　it　an　you　will　accept　it。〃

〃No；　I　will　not　do　that。　　Give　me　an　unconditional　certificate　of
safety　and　I　will　believe　you。〃

〃Of　what　use　were　that　to　you？〃　asked　Chauvelin。

〃I　believe　my　capture　to　be　of　more　importance　to　you　than　that　of
Mademoiselle　Lange；〃　said　Armand　quietly。

〃I　will　use　the　certificate　of　safety　for　myself　or　one　of　my
friends　if　you　break　your　word　to　me　anent　Mademoiselle　Lange。〃

〃H'm！　the　reasoning　is　not　illogical；　citizen；〃　said　Chauvelin；
whilst　a　curious　smile　played　round　the　corners　of　his　thin　lips。
〃You　are　quite　right。　　You　are　a　more　valuable　asset　to　us　than
the　charming　lady　who；　I　hope；　will　for　many　a　day　and　year　to
come　delight　pleasure…loving　Paris　with　her　talent　and　her　grace。〃

〃Amen　to　that；　citizen；〃　said　Armand　fervently。

〃Well；　it　will　all　depend　on　you；　sir！　　Here；〃　he　added；　coolly
running　over　some　papers　on　Heron's　desk　until　he　found　what　he
wanted；　〃is　an　absolutely　unconditional　certificate　of　safety。
The　Committee　of　General　Security　issue　very　few　of　these。　　It　is
worth　the　cost　of　a　human　life。　　At　no　barrier　or　gate　of　any　city
can　such　a　certificate　be　disregarded；　nor　even　can　it　be
detained。　　Allow　me　to　hand　it　to　you；　citizen；　as　a　pledge　of　my
own　good　faith。〃

Smiling；　urbane；　with　a　curious　look　that　almost　expressed
amusement　lurking　in　his　shrewd；　pale　eyes；　Chauvelin　handed　the
momentous　document　to　Armand。

The　young　man　studied　it　very　carefully　before　he　slipped　it　into
the　inner　pocket　of　his　coat。

〃How　soon　shall　I　have　news　of　Mademoiselle　Lange？〃　he　asked
finally。

〃In　the　course　of　to…morrow。　　I　myself　will　call　on　you　and　redeem
that　precious　document　in　person。　　You；　on　the　other　hand；　will
hold　yourself　at　my　disposition。　　That's　understood；　is　it　not？〃

〃I　shall　not　fail　you。　　My　lodgings　are〃

〃Oh！　do　not　trouble；〃　interposed　Chauvelin；　with　a　polite　bow；　〃we
can　find　that　out　for　ourselves。〃

Heron　had　taken　no　part　in　this　colloquy。　　Now　that　Armand
prepared　to　go　he　made　no　attempt　to　detain　him；　or　to　question
his　colleague's　actions。　　He　sat　by　the　table　like　a　log；　his　mind
was　obviously　a　blank　to　all　else　save　to　his　own　terrors
engendered　by　the　events　of　this　night。

With　bleary；　half…veiled　eyes　he　followed　Armand's　progress
through　the　room；　and　seemed　unaware　of　the　loud　slamming　of　the
outside　door。　　Chauvelin　had　escorted　the　young　man　past　the　first
line　of　sentry；　then　he　took　cordial　leave　of　him。

〃Your　certificate　will；　you　will　find；　open　every　gate　to　you。
Good…night；　citizen。　　A　demain。〃

〃Good…night。〃

Armand's　slim　figure　disappeared　in　the　gloom。　Chauvelin　watched
him　for　a　few　moments　until　even　his　footsteps　had　died　away　in
the　distance；　then　he　turned　back　towards　Heron's　lodgings。

〃A　nous　deux；〃　he　muttered　between　tightly　clenched　teeth；　〃a　nous
deux　once　more；　my　enigmatical　Scarlet　Pimpernel。〃



CHAPTER　XXI
BACK　TO　PARIS

It　was　an　exceptionally　dark　night；　and　the　rain　was　falling　in
torrents。　　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes；　wrapped　in　a　piece　of　sacking；　had
taken　shelter　right　underneath　the　coal…cart；　even　then　he　was
getting　wet　through　to　the　skin。

He　had　worked　hard　for　two　days　coal…heaving；　and　the　night　before
he　had　found　a　cheap；　squalid　lodging　where　at　any　rate　he　was
protected　from　the　inclemencies　of　the　weather；　but　to…night　he
was　expecting　Blakeney