el dorado-第53节

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awful　vision　of　Percy　in　the　long；　narrow　cell；　with　weary　head
bent　over　his　arm；　and　those　friends　shouting　persistently　in　his
ear：

〃Wake　up；　citizen！　　Tell　us；　where　is　Capet？〃

The　fear　obsessed　her　that　his　mind　might　give　way；　for　the　mental
agony　of　such　intense　weariness　must　be　well…nigh　impossible　to
bear。　　In　the　dark；　as　she　sat　hour　after　hour　at　the　open　window；
looking　out　in　the　direction　where　through　the　veil　of　snow　the
grey　walls　of　the　Chatelet　prison　towered　silent　and　grim；　she
seemed　to　see　his　pale；　drawn　face　with　almost　appalling　reality；
she　could　see　every　line　of　it；　and　could　study　it　with　the
intensity　born　of　a　terrible　fear。

How　long　would　the　ghostly　glimmer　of　merriment　still　linger　in
the　eyes？　　When　would　the　hoarse；　mirthless　laugh　rise　to　the
lips；　that　awful　laugh　that　proclaims　madness？　　Oh！　she　could　have
screamed　now　with　the　awfulness　of　this　haunting　terror。　　Ghouls
seemed　to　be　mocking　her　out　of　the　darkness；　every　flake　of　snow
that　fell　silently　on　the　window…sill　became　a　grinning　face　that
taunted　and　derided；　every　cry　in　the　silence　of　the　night；　every
footstep　on　the　quay　below　turned　to　hideous　jeers　hurled　at　her
by　tormenting　fiends。

She　closed　the　window　quickly；　for　she　feared　that　she　would　go
mad。　　For　an　hour　after　that　she　walked　up　and　down　the　room
making　violent　efforts　to　control　her　nerves；　to　find　a　glimmer　of
that　courage　which　she　promised　Percy　that　she　would　have。



CHAPTER　XXXII
SISTERS

The　morning　found　her　fagged　out；　but　more　calm。　Later　on　she
managed　to　drink　some　coffee；　and　having　washed　and　dressed；　she
prepared　to　go　out。

Sir　Andrew　appeared　in　time　to　ascertain　her　wishes。

〃I　promised　Percy　to　go　to　the　Rue　de　Charonne　in　the　late
afternoon；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　some　hours　to　spare；　and　mean　to
employ　them　in　trying　to　find　speech　with　Mademoiselle　Lange。〃

〃Blakeney　has　told　you　where　she　lives？〃

〃Yes。　　In　the　Square　du　Roule。　　I　know　it　well。　　I　can　be　there　in
half　an　hour。〃

He；　of　course；　begged　to　be　allowed　to　accompany　her；　and　anon
they　were　walking　together　quickly　up　toward　the　Faubourg　St。
Honore。　　The　snow　had　ceased　falling；　but　it　was　still　very　cold；
but　neither　Marguerite　nor　Sir　Andrew　were　conscious　of　the
temperature　or　of　any　outward　signs　around　them。　　They　walked　on
silently　until　they　reached　the　torn…down　gates　of　the　Square　du
Roule；　there　Sir　Andrew　parted　from　Marguerite　after　having
appointed　to　meet　her　an　hour　later　at　a　small　eating…house　he
knew　of　where　they　could　have　some　food　together；　before　starting
on　their　long　expedition　to　the　Rue　de　Charonne。

Five　minutes　later　Marguerite　Blakeney　was　shown　in　by　worthy
Madame　Belhomme；　into　the　quaint　and　pretty　drawing…room　with　its
soft…toned　hangings　and　old…world　air　of　faded　grace。
Mademoiselle　Lange　was　sitting　there；　in　a　capacious　armchair；
which　encircled　her　delicate　figure　with　its　frame…work　of　dull
old　gold。

She　was　ostensibly　reading　when　Marguerite　was　announced；　for　an
open　book　lay　on　a　table　beside　her；　but　it　seemed　to　the　visitor
that　mayhap　the　young　girl's　thoughts　had　played　truant　from　her
work；　for　her　pose　was　listless　and　apathetic；　and　there　was　a
look　of　grave　trouble　upon　the　childlike　face。

She　rose　when　Marguerite　entered；　obviously　puzzled　at　the
unexpected　visit；　and　somewhat　awed　at　the　appearance　of　this
beautiful　woman　with　the　sad　look　in　her　eyes。

〃I　must　crave　your　pardon；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Lady　Blakeney　as
soon　as　the　door　had　once　more　closed　on　Madame　Belhomme；　and　she
found　herself　alone　with　the　young　girl。　　〃This　visit　at　such　an
early　hour　must　seem　to　you　an　intrusion。　　But　I　am　Marguerite　St。
Just；　and〃

Her　smile　and　outstretched　hand　completed　the　sentence。

〃St。　Just！〃　exclaimed　Jeanne。

〃Yes。　　Armand's　sister！〃

A　swift　blush　rushed　to　the　girl's　pale　cheeks；　her　brown　eyes
expressed　unadulterated　joy。　　Marguerite；　who　was　studying　her
closely；　was　conscious　that　her　poor　aching　heart　went　out　to　this
exquisite　child；　the　far…off　innocent　cause　of　so　much　misery。

Jeanne；　a　little　shy；　a　little　confused　and　nervous　in　her　movements；
was　pulling　a　chair　close　to　the　fire；　begging　Marguerite　to　sit。
Her　words　came　out　all　the　while　in　short　jerky　sentences；　and　from
time　to　time　she　stole　swift　shy　glances　at　Armand's　sister。

〃You　will　forgive　me；　mademoiselle；〃　said　Marguerite；　whose　simple
and　calm　manner　quickly　tended　to　soothe　Jeanne　Lange's　confusion；
〃but　I　was　so　anxious　about　my　brotherI　do　not　know　where　to
find　him。〃

〃And　so　you　came　to　me；　madame？〃

〃Was　I　wrong？〃

〃Oh；　no！　　But　what　made　you　think　thatthat　I　would　know？〃

〃I　guessed；〃　said　Marguerite　with　a　smile。　〃You　had　heard　about　me
then？〃

〃Oh；　yes！〃

〃Through　whom？　　Did　Armand　tell　you　about　me？〃

〃No；　alas！　　I　have　not　seen　him　this　past　fortnight；　since　you；
mademoiselle；　came　into　his　life；　but　many　of　Armand's　friends　are
in　Paris　just　now；　one　of　them　knew；　and　he　told　me。〃

The　soft　blush　had　now　overspread　the　whole　of　the　girl's　face；
even　down　to　her　graceful　neck。　　She　waited　to　see　Marguerite
comfortably　installed　in　an　armchair；　then　she　resumed　shyly：

〃And　it　was　Armand　who　told　me　all　about　you。　　He　loves　you　so
dearly。〃

〃Armand　and　I　were　very　young　children　when　we　lost　our　parents；〃
said　Marguerite　softly；　〃and　we　were　all　in　all　to　each　other　then。
And　until　I　married　he　was　the　man　I　loved　best　in　all　the　world。〃

〃He　told　me　you　were　marriedto　an　Englishman。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃He　loves　England　too。　　At　first　he　always　talked　of　my　going
there　with　him　as　his　wife；　and　of　the　happiness　we　should　find
there　together。〃

〃Why　do　you　say　'at　first'？〃

〃He　talks　less　about　England　now。〃

〃Perhaps　he　feels　that　now　you　know　all　about　it；　and　that　you
understand　each　other　with　regard　to　the　future。〃

〃Perhaps。〃

Jeanne　sat　opposite　to　Marguerite　on　a　low　stool　by　the　fire。　　Her
elbows　were　resting　on　her　knees；　and　her　face　just　now　was
half…hidden　by　the　wealth　of　her　brown　curls。　She　looked　exquisitely
pretty　sitting　like　this；　with　just　the　suggestion　of　sadness　in　the
listless　pose。　　Marguerite　had　come　here　to…day　prepared　to　hate　this
young　girl；　who　in　a　few　brief　days　had　stolen　not　only　Armand's　heart；
but　his　allegiance　to　his　chief；　and　his　trust　in　him。　　Since　last
night；　when　she　had　seen　her　brother　sneak　silently　past　her　like　a
thief　in　the　night；　she　had　nurtured　thoughts　of　ill…will　and　anger
against　Jeanne。

But　hatred　and　anger　had　melted　at　the　sight　of　this　child。
Marguerite；　with　the　perfect　understanding　born　of　love　itself；
had　soon　realised　the　charm　which　a　woman　like　Mademoiselle　Lange
must　of　necessity　exercise　over　a　chivalrous；　enthusiastic　nature
like　Armand's。　　The　sense　of　protectionthe　strongest　perhaps
that　exists　in　a　good　man's　heartwould　draw　him　irresistibly　to
this　beautiful　child；　with　the　great；　appealing　eyes；　and　the　look
of　pathos　that　pervaded　the　entire　face。　　Marguerite；　looking　in
silence　on　thedainty　picture　before　her；　found　it　in　her　heart
to　forgive　Armand　for　disobeying　his　chief　when　those　eyes
beckoned　to　him　in　a　contrary　direction。

How　could　he；　how　could　any　chivalrous　man　endure　the　thought　of
this　delicate；　fresh　flower　lying　crushed　and　drooping　in　the
hands　of　monsters　who　respected　neither　courage　nor　purity？　　And
Armand　had　been　more　than　human；　or　mayhap　less；　if　he　had　indeed
consented　to　leave　the　fate　of　the　girl　whom　he　had　sworn　to　love
and　protect　in　other　hands　than　his　own。

It　seemed　almost　as　if　Jeanne　was　conscious　of　the　fixity　of
Marguerite's　gaze；　for　though　she　did　not　turn　to　look　at　her；　the
flush　gradually　deepened　in　her　cheeks。

〃Mademoiselle　Lange；〃　said　Marguerite　gently；　〃do　you　not　feel
that　you　can　trust　me？〃

She　held　out　her　two　hands　to　the　girl；　and　Jeanne　slowly　turned
to　her。　　The　next　moment　she　was　kneeling　at　Marguerite's　feet；
and　kissing　the　beautiful　kind　hands　that　had　been　stretched　out
to　her　with　such　sisterly　love。

〃Indeed；　indeed；　I　do　trust　you；〃　she　said；　and　looked　with
tear…dimmed　eyes　in　the　pale　face　above　her。　　〃I　have　longed　for
some　one　in　whom　I　could　confide。　　I　have　been　so　lonely　lately；
and　Armand〃

With　an　impatient　little　gesture　she　brushed　away　the　tears　which
had　gathered　in　her　eyes。

〃What　has　Armand　been　doing？〃　asked　Marguerite　with　an　encouraging
smile。

〃Oh；　nothing　to　grieve　me！〃　replied　the　young　girl　eagerly；　〃for
he　is　kind　and　good；　and　chivalrous　and　noble。　　Oh；　I　love　him
with　all　my　heart！　　I　loved　him　from　the　moment　that　I　set　eyes　on
him；　and　then　he　came　to　see　meperhaps　you　know！　　And　he　talked
so　beautiful　about　England；　and　so　nobly　about　his　leader　the
Scarlet　Pimpernelhave　you　heard　of　him？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Marguerite；　smiling。　　〃I　have　heard　of　him。〃

〃It　was　that　day　that　citizen　Heron　came　with　his　soldiers！　　Oh！
you　do　not　know　citizen　Heron。　　He　is　the　most　cruel　man　in
France。　　In　Paris　he　is　hated　by　every　one；　and　no　one　is　safe
from　his　spies。　　He　came　to　arrest　Armand；　but　I　was　able　to　fool
him　and　to　save　Armand。　And　after　that；〃　she　added　with　charming
naivete；