el dorado-第59节

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cell；　whilst　Chauvelin；　seemingly　not　resenting　the　other's　ruffianly
manners　and　violent　language；　followed　close　upon　his　heel。

In　the　centre　of　the　room　both　men　paused；　and　Heron　turned　with　a
surly　growl　to　his　friend。

〃You　vowed　he　would　be　dead　in　an　hour；〃　he　said　reproachfully。

The　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃It　does　not　look　like　it　now　certainly；〃　he　said　dryly。

Blakeney　was　sittingas　was　his　wontclose　to　the　table；　with
one　arm　leaning　on　it；　the　other；　tightly　clenched；　resting　upon
his　knee。　　A　ghost　of　a　smile　hovered　round　his　lips。

〃Not　in　an　hour；　citizen　Heron；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　flow　was
scarce　above　a　whisper；　〃nor　yet　in　two。〃

〃You　are　a　fool；　man；〃　said　Heron　roughly。　〃You　have　had　seventeen
days　of　this。　　Are　you　not　sick　of　it？〃

〃Heartily；　my　dear　friend；〃　replied　Blakeney　a　little　more　firmly。

〃Seventeen　days；〃　reiterated　the　other；　nodding　his　shaggy　head；
〃you　came　here　on　the　2nd　of　Pluviose；　today　is　the　19th。〃

〃The　19th　Pluviose？〃　interposed　Sir　Percy；　and　a　strange　gleam
suddenly　flashed　in　his　eyes。　　〃Demn　it；　sir；　and　in　Christian
parlance　what　may　that　day　be？〃

〃The　7th　of　February　at　your　service；　Sir　Percy；〃　replied
Chauvelin　quietly。

〃I　thank　you；　sir。　　In　this　dd　hole　I　had　lost　count　of　time。〃

Chauvelin；　unlike　his　rough　and　blundering　colleague；　had　been
watching　the　prisoner　very　closely　for　the　last　moment　or　two；
conscious　of　a　subtle；　undefinable　change　that　had　come　over　the
man　during　those　few　seconds　while　he；　Chauvelin；　had　thought　him
dying。　　The　pose　was　certainly　the　old　familiar　one；　the　head
erect；　the　hand　clenched；　the　eyes　looking　through　and　beyond　the
stone　walls；　but　there　was　an　air　of　listlessness　in　the　stoop　of
the　shoulders；　andexcept　for　that　one　brief　gleam　just　nowa
look　of　more　complete　weariness　round　the　hollow　eyes！　To　the　keen
watcher　it　appeared　as　if　that　sense　of　living　power；　of
unconquered　will　and　defiant　mind　was　no　longer　there；　and　as　if
he　himself　need　no　longer　fear　that　almost　supersensual　thrill
which　had　a　while　ago　kindled　in　him　a　vague　sense　of
admirationalmost　of　remorse。

Even　as　he　gazed；　Blakeney　slowly　turned　his　eyes　full　upon　him。
Chauvelin's　heart　gave　a　triumphant　bound。

With　a　mocking　smile　he　met　the　wearied　look；　the　pitiable　appeal。
His　turn　had　come　at　lasthis　turn　to　mock　and　to　exult。　　He　knew
that　what　he　was　watching　now　was　no　longer　the　last　phase　of　a
long　and　noble　martyrdom；　it　was　the　endthe　inevitable　endthat
for　which　he　had　schemed　and　striven；　for　which　he　had　schooled
his　heart　to　ferocity　and　callousness　that　were　devilish　in　their
intensity。　　It　was　the　end　indeed；　the　slow　descent　of　a　soul　from
the　giddy　heights　of　attempted　self…sacrifice；　where　it　had
striven　to　soar　for　a　time；　until　the　body　and　the　will　both
succumbed　together　and　dragged　it　down　with　them　into　the　abyss　of
submission　and　of　irreparable　shame。



CHAPTER　XXXVI
SUBMISSION

Silence　reigned　in　the　narrow　cell　for　a　few　moments；　whilst　two
human　jackals　stood　motionless　over　their　captured　prey。

A　savage　triumph　gleamed　in　Chauvelin's　eyes；　and　even　Heron；　dull
and　brutal　though　he　was；　had　become　vaguely　conscious　of　the
great　change　that　had　come　over　the　prisoner。

Blakeney；　with　a　gesture　and　a　sigh　of　hopeless　exhaustion　had
once　more　rested　both　his　elbows　on　the　table；　his　head　fell　heavy
and　almost　lifeless　downward　in　his　arms。

〃Curse　you；　man！〃　cried　Heron　almost　involuntarily。　〃Why　in　the
name　of　hell　did　you　wait　so　long？〃

Then；　as　the　prisoner　made　no　reply；　but　only　raised　his　head
slightly；　and　looked　on　the　other　two　men　with　dulled；　wearied
eyes；　Chauvelin　interposed　calmly：

〃More　than　a　fortnight　has　been　wasted　in　useless　obstinacy；　Sir
Percy。　　Fortunately　it　is　not　too　late。〃

〃Capet？〃　said　Heron　hoarsely；　〃tell　us；　where　is　Capet？〃

He　leaned　across　the　table；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot　with　the
keenness　of　his　excitement；　his　voice　shook　with　the　passionate
desire　for　the　crowning　triumph。

〃If　you'll　only　not　worry　me；〃　murmured　the　prisoner；　and　the
whisper　came　so　laboriously　and　so　low　that　both　men　were　forced
to　bend　their　ears　close　to　the　scarcely　moving　lips；　〃if　you　will
let　me　sleep　and　rest；　and　leave　me　in　peace〃

〃The　peace　of　the　grave；　man；〃　retorted　Chauvelin　roughly；　〃if　you
will　only　speak。　　Where　is　Capet？〃

〃I　cannot　tell　you；　the　way　is　long；　the　roadintricate。〃

〃Bah！〃

〃I'll　lead　you　to　him；　if　you　will　give　me　rest。〃

〃We　don't　want　you　to　lead　us　anywhere；〃　growled　Heron　with　a
smothered　curse；　〃tell　us　where　Capet　is；　we'll　find　him　right
enough。〃

〃I　cannot　explain；　the　way　is　intricate；　the　place　off　the　beaten
track；　unknown　except　to　me　and　my　friends。〃

Once　more　that　shadow；　which　was　so　like　the　passing　of　the　hand
of　Death；　overspread　the　prisoner's　face；　his　head　rolled　back
against　the　chair。

〃He'll　die　before　he　can　speak；〃　muttered　Chauvelin　under　his
breath。　　〃You　usually　are　well　provided　with　brandy；　citizen
Heron。〃

The　latter　no　longer　demurred。　　He　saw　the　danger　as　clearly　as
did　his　colleague。　　It　had　been　hell's　own　luck　if　the　prisoner
were　to　die　now　when　he　seemed　ready　to　give　in。　　He　produced　a
flask　from　the　pocket　of　his　coat；　and　this　he　held　to　Blakeney's
lips。

〃Beastly　stuff；〃　murmured　the　latter　feebly。　　〃I　think　I'd　sooner
faintthan　drink。〃

〃Capet？　where　is　Capet？〃　reiterated　Heron　impatiently。　　〃Onetwo
three　hundred　leagues　from　here。　　I　must　let　one　of　my　friends　know；
he'll　communicate　with　the　others；　they　must　be　prepared；〃　replied
the　prisoner　slowly。

Heron　uttered　a　blasphemous　oath。

Where　is　Capet？　　Tell　us　where　Capet　is；　or〃

He　was　like　a　raging　tiger　that　bad　thought　to　hold　its　prey　and
suddenly　realised　that　it　was　being　snatched　from　him。　　He　raised
his　fist；　and　without　doubt　the　next　moment　he　would　Lave　silenced
forever　the　lips　that　held　the　precious　secret；　but　Chauvelin
fortunately　was　quick　enough　to　seize　his　wrist。

〃Have　a　care；　citizen；〃　he　said　peremptorily；　〃have　a　care！　　You
called　me　a　fool　just　now　when　you　thought　I　had　killed　the
prisoner。　　It　is　his　secret　we　want　first；　his　death　can　follow
afterwards。〃

〃Yes；　but　not　in　this　dd　hole；〃　murmured　Blakeney。

〃On　the　guillotine　if　you'll　speak；〃　cried　Heron；　whose　exasperation
was　getting　the　better　of　his　self…interest；　〃but　if　you'll　not　speak
then　it　shall　be　starvation　in　this　holeyes；　starvation；〃　he　growled；
showing　a　row　of　large　and　uneven　teeth　like　those　of　some　mongrel　cur；
〃for　I'll　have　that　door　walled　in　to…night；　and　not　another　living
soul　shall　cross　this　threshold　again　until　your　flesh　has　rotted　on
your　bones　and　the　rats　have　had　their　fill　of　you。〃

The　prisoner　raised　his　head　slowly；　a　shiver　shook　him　as　if
caused　by　ague；　and　his　eyes；　that　appeared　almost　sightless；　now
looked　with　a　strange　glance　of　horror　on　his　enemy。

〃I'll　die　in　the　open；〃　he　whispered；　〃not　in　this　dd　hole。〃

〃Then　tell　us　where　Capet　is。〃

〃I　cannot；　I　wish　to　God　I　could。　　But　I'll　take　you　to　him；　I
swear　I　will。　　I'll　make　my　friends　give　him　up　to　you。　　Do　you
think　that　I　would　not　tell　you　now；　if　I　could。〃

Heron；　whose　every　instinct　of　tyranny　revolted　against　this
thwarting　of　his　will；　would　have　continued　to　heckle　the　prisoner
even　now；　had　not　Chauvelin　suddenly　interposed　with　an
authoritative　gesture。

〃You'll　gain　nothing　this　way；　citizen；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃the
man's　mind　is　wandering；　he　is　probably　quite　unable　to　give　you
clear　directions　at　this　moment。〃

〃What　am　I　to　do；　then？〃　muttered　the　other　roughly。

〃He　cannot　live　another　twenty…four　hours　now；　and　would　only　grow
more　and　more　helpless　as　time　went　on。〃

〃Unless　you　relax　your　strict　regime　with　him。〃

〃And　if　I　do　we'll　only　prolong　this　situation　indefinitely；　and
in　the　meanwhile　how　do　we　know　that　the　brat　is　not　being
spirited　away　out　of　the　country？〃

The　prisoner；　with　his　head　once　more　buried　in　his　arms；　had
fallen　into　a　kind　of　torpor；　the　only　kind　of　sleep　that　the
exhausted　system　would　allow。　　With　a　brutal　gesture　Heron　shook
him　by　the　shoulder。

〃He；〃　he　shouted；　〃none　of　that；　you　know。　　We　have　not　settled
the　matter　of　young　Capet　yet。〃

Then；　as　the　prisoner　made　no　movement；　and　the　chief　agent
indulged　in　one　of　his　favourite　volleys　of　oaths；　Chauvelin
placed　a　peremptory　hand　on　his　colleague's　shoulder。

〃I　tell　you；　citizen；　that　this　is　no　use；〃　he　said　firmly。
〃Unless　you　are　prepared　to　give　up　all　thoughts　of　finding　Capet；
you　must　try　and　curb　your　temper；　and　try　diplomacy　where　force
is　sure　to　fail。〃

〃Diplomacy？〃　retorted　the　other　with　a　sneer。　　〃Bah！　it　served　you
well　at　Boulogne　last　autumn；　did　it　not；　citizen　Chauvelin？〃

〃It　has　served　me　better　now；〃　rejoined　the　other　imperturbably。
〃You　will　own；　citizen；　that　it　is　my　diplomacy　which　has　placed
within　your　reach　the　ultimate　hope　of　finding　Capet。〃

〃H'm！〃　muttered　the　other；　〃you　advised　us　to　starve　the　prisoner。
Are　we　any　nearer　to　knowing　his　secret？〃

〃Yes。　　By　a　fortnight　of　weariness；　of　exhaustion　and　of　starvation；
you　are　nearer　to　it　by　the