el dorado-第36节

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〃No；　nonow！　while　Hastings　sees　to　the　horses。　　I　could　not
exist　long　without　knowing；　and　we　are　well　sheltered　from　the
rain　under　this　tree。〃

〃Well；　then；　since　you　will　have　it；〃　he　began　with　a　laugh；　which
despite　the　weariness　and　anxiety　of　the　past　twenty…four　hours
had　forced　itself　to　his　lips；　〃I　have　been　sweeper　and
man…of…all…work　at　the　Temple　for　the　past　few　weeks；　you　must
know〃

〃No！〃　ejaculated　my　Lord　Tony　lustily。　　〃By　gum！〃

〃Indeed；　you　old　sybarite；　whilst　you　were　enjoying　yourself
heaving　coal　on　the　canal　wharf；　I　was　scrubbing　floors；　lighting
fires；　and　doing　a　number　of　odd　jobs　for　a　lot　of　demmed
murdering　villains；　and　〃he　added　under　his　breath〃
incidentally；　too；　for　our　league。　　Whenever　I　had　an　hour　or　two
off　duty　I　spent　them　in　my　lodgings；　and　asked　you　all　to　come
and　meet　me　there。〃

〃By　Gad；　Blakeney！　　Then　the　day　before　yesterday？when　we　all
met〃

〃I　had　just　had　a　bathsorely　needed；　I　can　tell　you。　I　had　been
cleaning　boots　half　the　day；　but　I　had　heard　that　the　Simons　were
removing　from　the　Temple　on　the　Sunday；　and　had　obtained　an　order
from　them　to　help　them　shift　their　furniture。〃

〃Cleaning　boots！〃　murmured　my　Lord　Tony　with　a　chuckle。　　〃Well！
and　then？〃

〃Well；　then　everything　worked　out　splendidly。　　You　see　by　that
time　I　was　a　well…known　figure　in　the　Temple。　　Heron　knew　me　well。
I　used　to　be　his　lanthorn…bearer　when　at　nights　he　visited　that
poor　mite　in　his　prison。　　It　was　　'Dupont；　here！　　Dupont　there！'
all　day　long。　　'Light　the　fire　in　the　office；　Dupont！　　Dupont；
brush　my　coat！　　Dupont；　fetch　me　a　light！'　　When　the　Simons　wanted
to　move　their　household　goods　they　called　loudly　for　Dupont。　　I
got　a　covered　laundry　cart；　and　I　brought　a　dummy　with　me　to
substitute　for　the　child。　　Simon　himself　knew　nothing　of　this；　but
Madame　was　in　my　pay。　The　dummy　was　just　splendid；　with　real　hair
on　its　head；　Madame　helped　me　to　substitute　it　for　the　child；　we
laid　it　on　the　sofa　and　covered　it　over　with　a　rug；　even　while
those　brutes　Heron　and　Cochefer　were　on　the　landing　outside；　and
we　stuffed　His　Majesty　the　King　of　France　into　a　linen　basket。
The　room　was　badly　lighted；　and　any　one　would　have　been　deceived。
No　one　was　suspicious　of　that　type　of　trickery；　so　it　went　off
splendidly。　　I　moved　the　furniture　of　the　Simons　out　of　the　Tower。
His　Majesty　King　Louis　XVII　was　still　concealed　in　the　linen
basket。　I　drove　the　Simons　to　their　new　lodgingsthe　man　still
suspects　nothingand　there　I　helped　them　to　unload　the
furniturewith　the　exception　of　the　linen　basket；　of　course。
After　that　I　drove　my　laundry　cart　to　a　house　I　knew　of　and
collected　a　number　of　linen　baskets；　which　I　had　arranged　should
be　in　readiness　for　me。　　Thus　loaded　up　I　left　Paris　by　the
Vincennes　gate；　and　drove　as　far　as　Bagnolet；　where　there　is　no
road　except　past　the　octroi；　where　the　officials　might　have　proved
unpleasant。　　So　I　lifted　His　Majesty　out　of　the　basket　and　we
walked　on　hand　in　hand　in　the　darkness　and　the　rain　until　the　poor
little　feet　gave　out。　　Then　the　little　fellowwho　has　been
wonderfully　plucky　throughout；　indeed；　more　a　Capet　than　a
Bourbonsnuggled　up　in　my　arms　and　went　fast　asleep；
andandwell；　I　think　that's　all；　for　here　we　are；　you　see。〃

〃But　if　Madame　Simon　had　not　been　amenable　to　bribery？〃　suggested
Lord　Tony　after　a　moment's　silence。

〃Then　I　should　have　had　to　think　of　something　else。〃

〃If　during　the　removal　of　the　furniture　Heron　had　remained
resolutely　in　the　room？〃

〃Then；　again；　I　should　have　had　to　think　of　something　else；　but
remember　that　in　life　there　is　always　one　supreme　moment　when
Chancewho　is　credited　to　have　but　one　hair　on　her　headstands
by　you　for　a　brief　space　of　time；　sometimes　that　space　is
infinitesimalone　minute；　a　few　secondsjust　the　time　to　seize
Chance　by　that　one　hair。　　So　I　pray　you　all　give　me　no　credit　in
this　or　any　other　matter　in　which　we　all　work　together；　but　the
quickness　of　seizing　Chance　by　the　hair　during　the　brief　moment
when　she　stands　by　my　side。　　If　Madame　Simon　had　been　un…amenable；
if　Heron　had　remained　in　the　room　all　the　time；　if　Cochefer　had
had　two　looks　at　the　dummy　instead　of　onewell；　then；　something
else　would　have　helped　me；　something　would　have　occurred；
somethingI　know　not　whatbut　surely　something　which　Chance
meant　to　be　on　our　side；　if　only　we　were　quick　enough　to　seize
itand　so　you　see　how　simple　it　all　is。〃

So　simple；　in　fact；　that　it　was　sublime。　　The　daring；　the　pluck；
the　ingenuity　and；　above　all；　the　super…human　heroism　and
endurance　which　rendered　the　hearers　of　this　simple　narrative；
simply　told；　dumb　with　admiration。

Their　thoughts　now　were　beyond　verbal　expression。

〃How　soon　was　the　hue　and　cry　for　the　child　about　the　streets？〃
asked　Tony；　after　a　moment's　silence。

〃It　was　not　out　when　I　left　the　gates　of　Paris；〃　said　Blakeney
meditatively；　〃so　quietly　has　the　news　of　the　escape　been　kept；
that　I　am　wondering　what　devilry　that　brute　Heron　can　be　after。
And　now　no　more　chattering；〃　he　continued　lightly；　〃all　to　horse；
and　you；　Hastings；　have　a　care。　　The　destinies　of　France；　mayhap；
will　be　lying　asleep　in　your　arms。〃

〃But　you；　Blakeney？〃　exclaimed　the　three　men　almost
simultaneously。

〃I　am　not　going　with　you。　　I　entrust　the　child　to　you。　For　God's
sake　guard　him　well！　　Ride　with　him　to　Mantes。　You　should　arrive
there　at　about　ten　o'clock。　　One　of　you　then　go　straight　to　No。9
Rue　la　Tour。　　Ring　the　bell；　an　old　man　will　answer　it。　　Say　the
one　word　to　him；　'Enfant'；　he　will　reply；　'De　roi！'　　Give　him　the
child；　and　may　Heaven　bless　you　all　for　the　help　you　have　given　me
this　night！〃

〃But　you；　Blakeney？〃　reiterated　Tony　with　a　note　of　deep　anxiety
in　his　fresh　young　voice。

〃I　am　straight　for　Paris；〃　he　said　quietly。

〃Impossible！〃

〃Therefore　feasible。〃

〃But　why？　　Percy；　in　the　name　of　Heaven；　do　you　realise　what　you
are　doing？〃

〃Perfectly。〃

〃They'll　not　leave　a　stone　unturned　to　find　youthey　know　by　now；
believe　me；　that　your　hand　did　this　trick。〃

〃I　know　that。〃

〃And　yet　you　mean　to　go　back？〃

〃And　yet　I　am　going　back。〃

〃Blakeney！〃

〃It's　no　use；　Tony。　　Armand　is　in　Paris。　　I　saw　him　in　the
corridor　of　the　Temple　prison　in　the　company　of　Chauvelin。〃

〃Great　God！〃　exclaimed　Lord　Hastings。

The　others　were　silent。　　What　was　the　use　of　arguing？　One　of
themselves　was　in　danger。　　Armand　St。　Just；　the　brother　of
Marguerite　Blakeney！　　Was　it　likely　that　Percy　would　leave　him　in
the　lurch。

〃One　of　us　will　stay　with　you；　of　course？〃　asked　Sir　Andrew　after
awhile。

〃Yes！　I　want　Hastings　and　Tony　to　take　the　child　to　Mantes；　then
to　make　all　possible　haste　for　Calais；　and　there　to　keep　in　close
touch　with　the　Day…Dream；　the　skipper　will　contrive　to　open
communication。　　Tell　him　to　remain　in　Calais　waters。　　I　hope　I　may
have　need　of　him　soon。

〃And　now　to　horse；　both　of　you；〃　he　added　gaily。　　〃Hastings；　when
you　are　ready；　I　will　hand　up　the　child　to　you。　He　will　be　quite
safe　on　the　pillion　with　a　strap　round　him　and　you。〃

Nothing　more　was　said　after　that。　　The　orders　were　given；　there
was　nothing　to　do　but　to　obey；　and　the　uncrowned　King　of　France
was　not　yet　out　of　danger。　　Hastings　and　Tony　led　two　of　the
horses　out　of　the　spinney；　at　the　roadside　they　mounted；　and　then
the　little　lad　for　whose　sake　so　much　heroism；　such　selfless
devotion　had　been　expended；　was　hoisted　up；　still　half　asleep；　on
the　pillion　in　front　of　my　Lord　Hastings。

〃Keep　your　arm　round　him；〃　admonished　Blakeney；　〃your　horse　looks
quiet　enough。　　But　put　on　speed　as　far　as　Mantes；　and　may　Heaven
guard　you　both！〃

The　two　men　pressed　their　heels　to　their　horses'　flanks；　the
beasts　snorted　and　pawed　the　ground　anxious　to　start。　There　were　a
few　whispered　farewells；　two　loyal　hands　were　stretched　out　at　the
last；　eager　to　grasp　the　leader's　hand。

Then　horses　and　riders　disappeared　in　the　utter　darkness　which
comes　before　the　dawn。

Blakeney　and　Ffoulkes　stood　side　by　side　in　silence　for　as　long　as
the　pawing　of　hoofs　in　the　mud　could　reach　their　ears；　then
Ffoulkes　asked　abruptly：

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do；　Blakeney？〃

〃Well；　for　the　present；　my　dear　fellow；　I　want　you　to　take　one　of
the　three　horses　we　have　left　in　the　spinney；　and　put　him　into　the
shafts　of　our　old　friend　the　coal…cart；　then　I　am　afraid　that　you
must　go　back　the　way　we　came。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃Continue　to　heave　coal　on　the　canal　wharf　by　La　Villette；　it　is
the　best　way　to　avoid　attention。　　After　your　day's　work　keep　your
cart　and　horse　in　readiness　against　my　arrival；　at　the　same　spot
where　you　were　last　night。　　If　after　having　waited　for　me　like
this　for　three　consecutive　nights　you　neither　see　nor　hear
anything　from　me；　go　back　to　England　and　tell　Marguerite　that　in
giving　my　life　for　her　brother　I　gave　it　for　her！〃

〃Blakeney！〃

〃I　spoke　differently　to　what　I　usually　do；　is　that　it？〃　he
interposed；　placing　his　firm　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder。　　〃I　am
degenerating；　Ffoulkesthat's　what　it　is。　　Pay　no　heed　to　it。　　I
suppose　that　carrying　that　sleeping　child　in　my　arms　last　night
softened　some　nerves　in　my　body。　　I　was　so　infinitely　sorry　for
the　poor　mite；　and　vaguely　wondere