el dorado-第66节

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your　help　and　your　loyalty。　　God　knows　I　would　have　courage　for
everything　in　life；　for　everything　save　one；　but　just　that；　his
death；　that　would　be　beyond　my　strengthneither　reason　nor　body
could　stand　it。　　Therefore；　I　am　so　afraid；　Sir　Andrew；〃　she　added
piteously。

〃Of　what；　Lady　Blakeney？〃

〃That　when　he　knows　that　I　too　am　to　go　as　hostage；　as　Armand　says
in　his　letter；　that　my　life　is　to　be　guarantee　his；　I　am　afraid
that　he　will　draw　backthat　he　willmy　God！〃　she　cried　with
sudden　fervour；　〃tell　me　what　to　do！〃

〃Shall　we　open　the　packet？〃　asked　Ffoulkes　gently；　〃and　then　just
make　up　our　minds　to　act　exactly　as　Blakeney　has　enjoined　us　to
do；　neither　more　nor　less；　but　just　word　for　word；　deed　for　deed；
and　I　believe　that　that　will　be　rightwhatever　may　betidein　the
end。〃

Once　more　his　quiet　strength；　his　earnestness　and　his　faith
comforted　her。　　She　dried　her　eyes　and　broke　open　the　seal。　　There
were　two　separate　letters　in　the　packet；　one　unaddressed；
obviously　intended　for　her　and　Ffoulkes；　the　other　was　addressed
to　M。　le　baron　Jean　de　Batz；　15；　Rue　St。　Jean　de　Latran　a　Paris。

〃A　letter　addressed　to　that　awful　Baron　de　Batz；〃　said　Marguerite；
looking　with　puzzled　eyes　on　the　paper　as　she　turned　it　over　and
over　in　her　hand；　〃to　that　bombastic　windbag！　　I　know　him　and　his
ways　well！　　What　can　Percy　have　to　say　to　him？〃

Sir　Andrew　too　looked　puzzled。　　But　neither　of　them　had　the　mind
to　waste　time　in　useless　speculations。　　Marguerite　unfolded　the
letter　which　was　intended　for　her；　and　after　a　final　look　on　her
friend；　whose　kind　face　was　quivering　with　excitement；　she　began
slowly　to　read　aloud：



I　need　not　ask　either　of　you　two　to　trust　me；　knowing　that　you
will。　　But　I　could　not　die　inside　this　hole　like　a　rat　in　a
trapI　had　to　try　and　free　myself；　at　the　worst　to　die　in　the
open　beneath　God's　sky。　　You　two　will　understand；　and
understanding　you　will　trust　me　to　the　end。　　Send　the　enclosed
letter　at　once　to　its　address。　And　you；　Ffoulkes；　my　most　sincere
and　most　loyal　friend；　I　beg　with　all　my　soul　to　see　to　the　safety
of　Marguerite。　Armand　will　stay　by　mebut　you；　Ffoulkes；　do　not
leave　her；　stand　by　her。　　As　soon　as　you　read　this　letterand　you
will　not　read　it　until　both　she　and　you　have　felt　that　hope　has
fled　and　I　myself　am　about　to　throw　up　the　spongetry　and
persuade　her　to　make　for　the　coast　as　quickly　as　may　be。。。。　　At
Calais　you　can　open　up　communications　with　the　Day…Dream　in　the
usual　way；　and　embark　on　her　at　once。　　Let　no　member　of　the　League
remain　on　French　soil　one　hour　longer　after　that。　Then　tell　the
skipper　to　make　for　Le　Portalthe　place　which　he　knowsand　there
to　keep　a　sharp　outlook　for　another　three　nights。　　After　that　make
straight　for　home；　for　it　will　he　no　use　waiting　any　longer。　　I
shall　not　come。　These　measures　are　for　Marguerite's　safety；　and
for　you　all　who　are　in　France　at　this　moment。　　Comrade；　I　entreat
you　to　look　on　these　measures　as　on　my　dying　wish。　　To　de　Batz　I
have　given　rendezvous　at　the　Chapelle　of　the　Holy　Sepulchre；　just
outside　the　park　of　the　Chateau　d'Ourde。　　He　will　help　me　to　save
the　Dauphin；　and　if　by　good　luck　he　also　helps　me　to　save　myself　I
shall　be　within　seven　leagues　of　Le　Portal；　and　with　the　Liane
frozen　as　she　is　I　could　reach　the　coast。

But　Marguerite's　safety　I　leave　in　your　hands；　Ffoulkes。　Would
that　I　could　look　more　clearly　into　the　future；　and　know　that
those　devils　will　not　drag　her　into　danger。　　Beg　her　to　start　at
once　for　Calais　immediately　you　have　both　read　this。　　I　only　beg；
I　do　not　command。　　I　know　that　you；　Ffoulkes；　will　stand　by　her
whatever　she　may　wish　to　do。　God's　blessing　be　for　ever　on　you
both。



Marguerite's　voice　died　away　in　the　silence　that　still　lay　over
this　deserted　part　of　the　great　city　and　in　this　squalid　house
where　she　and　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes　had　found　shelter　these　last　ten
days。　　The　agony　of　mind　which　they　had　here　endured；　never
doubting；　but　scarcely　ever　hoping；　had　found　its　culmination　at
last　in　this　final　message；　which　almost　seemed　to　come　to　them
from　the　grave。

It　had　been　written　ten　days　ago。　　A　plan　had　then　apparently
formed　in　Percy's　mind　which　he　had　set　forth　during　the　brief
half…hour's　respite　which　those　fiends　had　once　given　him。　　Since
then　they　had　never　given　him　ten　consecutive　minutes'　peace；
since　then　ten　days　had　gone　by　how　much　power；　how　much　vitality
had　gone　by　too　on　the　leaden　wings　of　all　those　terrible　hours
spent　in　solitude　and　in　misery？

〃We　can　but　hope；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　said　Sir　Andrew　Ffoulkes　after　a
while；　〃that　you　will　be　allowed　out　of　Paris；　but　from　what
Armand　says〃

〃And　Percy　does　not　actually　send　me　away；〃　she　rejoined　with　a
pathetic　little　smile。

〃No。　　He　cannot　compel　you；　Lady　Blakeney。　　You　are　not　a　member
of　the　League。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　am！〃　she　retorted　firmly；　〃and　I　have　sworn　obedience；
just　as　all　of　you　have　done。　　I　will　go；　just　as　he　bids　me。　and
you；　Sir　Andrew；　you　will　obey　him　too？〃

〃My　orders　are　to　stand　by　you。　　That　is　an　easy　task。〃

〃You　know　where　this　place　is？〃　she　asked〃the　Chateau　d'Ourde？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　we　all　know　it！　　It　is　empty；　and　the　park　is　a　wreck；
the　owner　fled　from　it　at　the　very　outbreak　of　the　revolution；　he
left　some　kind　of　steward　nominally　in　charge；　a　curious　creature；
half　imbecile；　the　chateau　and　the　chapel　in　the　forest　just
outside　the　grounds　have　oft　served　Blakeney　and　all　of　us　as　a
place　of　refuge　on　our　way　to　the　coast。〃

〃But　the　Dauphin　is　not　there？〃　she　said。

〃No。　　According　to　the　first　letter　which　you　brought　me　from
Blakeney　ten　days　ago；　and　on　which　I　acted；　Tony；　who　has　charge
of　the　Dauphin；　must　have　crossed　into　Holland　with　his　little
Majesty　to…day。〃

〃I　understand；〃　she　said　simply。　　〃But　thenthis　letter　to　de
Batz？〃

〃Ah；　there　I　am　completely　at　sea！　　But　I'll　deliver　it；　and　at
once　too；　only　I　don't　like　to　leave　you。　　Will　you　let　me　get　you
out　of　Paris　first？　　I　think　just　before　dawn　it　could　be　done。
We　can　get　the　cart　from　Lucas；　and　if　we　could　reach　St。　Germain
before　noon；　I　could　come　straight　back　then　and　deliver　the
letter　to　de　Batz。　　This；　I　feel；　I　ought　to　do　myself；　hut　at
Achard's　farm　I　would　know　that　you　were　safe　for　a　few　hours。〃

〃I　will　do　whatever　you　think　right；　Sir　Andrew；〃　she　said　simply；
〃my　will　is　bound　up　with　Percy's　dying　wish。　God　knows　I　would
rather　follow　him　now；　step　by　step；as　hostage；　as　prisonerany
way　so　long　as　I　can　see　him；　but〃

She　rose　and　turned　to　go；　almost　impassive　now　in　that　great　calm
born　of　despair。

A　stranger　seeing　her　now　had　thought　her　indifferent。　She　was
very　pale；　and　deep　circles　round　her　eyes　told　of　sleepless
nights　and　days　of　mental　misery；　but　otherwise　there　was　not　the
faintest　outward　symptom　of　that　terrible　anguish　which　was
rending　her　heartstrings。　　Her　lips　did　not　quiver；　and　the　source
of　her　tears　had　been　dried　up　ten　days　ago。

〃Ten　minutes　and　I'll　be　ready；　Sir　Andrew；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have
but　few　belongings。　　Will　you　the　while　see　Lucas　about　the　cart？〃

He　did　as　she　desired。　　Her　calm　in　no　way　deceived　him；　he　knew
that　she　must　be　suffering　keenly；　and　would　suffer　more　keenly
still　while　she　would　be　trying　to　efface　her　own　personal
feelings　all　through　that　coming　dreary　journey　to　Calais。

He　went　to　see　the　landlord　about　the　horse　and　cart；　and　a
quarter　of　an　hour　later　Marguerite　came　downstairs　ready　to
start。　　She　found　Sir　Andrew　in　close　converse　with　an　officer　of
the　Garde　de　Paris；　whilst　two　soldiers　of　the　same　regiment　were
standing　at　the　horse's　head。

When　she　appeared　in　the　doorway　Sir　Andrew　came　at　once　up　to　her。

〃It　is　just　as　I　feared；　Lady　Blakeney；〃　he　said；　〃this　man　has
been　sent　here　to　take　charge　of　you。　　Of　course；　he　knows　nothing
beyond　the　fact　that　his　orders　are　to　convey　you　at　once　to　the
guard…house　of　the　Rue　Ste。　Anne；　where　he　is　to　hand　you　over　to
citizen　Chauvelin　of　the　Committee　of　Public　Safety。〃

Sir　Andrew　could　not　fail　to　see　the　look　of　intense　relief　which；
in　the　midst　of　all　her　sorrow；　seemed　suddenly　to　have　lighted　up
the　whole　of　Marguerite's　wan　face。　The　thought　of　wending　her　own
way　to　safety　whilst　Percy；　mayhap；　was　fighting　an　uneven　fight
with　death　had　been　well…nigh　intolerable；　but　she　had　been　ready
to　okey　without　a　murmur。　　Now　Fate　and　the　enemy　himself　had
decided　otherwise。　　She　felt　as　if　a　load　had　been　lifted　from　her
heart。

〃I　will　at　once　go　and　find　de　Batz；〃　Sir　Andrew　contrived　to
whisper　hurriedly。　　〃As　soon　as　Percy's　letter　is　safely　in　his
hands　I　will　make　my　way　northwards　and　communicate　with　all　the
members　of　the　League；　on　whom　the　chief　has　so　strictly　enjoined
to　quit　French　soil　immediately。　　We　will　proceed　to　Calais　first
and　open　up　communication　with　the　Day…Dream　in　the　usual　way。
The　others　had　best　embark　on　board　her；　and　the　skipper　shall
then　make　for　the　known　spot　of　Le　Portel；　of　which　Percy　speaks
in　his　letter。　I　myself　will　go　by　land　to　Le　Portel；　and　thence；
if　I　have　no　news　of　you　or　of　the　expedition；　I　will　slowly　work
southwards　in　the　direction　of　the　Chateau　d'Ourde。　　T