el dorado-第11章
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tall； frowning walls of the Temple prison； the grim guardian of so
many secrets； such terrible despair； such unspeakable tragedies。
Here； too； as in the Place de la Revolution； an intermittent roll
of muffled drums proclaimed the ever…watchful presence of the
National Guard。 But with that exception not a sound stirred round
the grim and stately edifice； there were no cries； no calls； no
appeals around its walls。 All the crying and wailing was shut in
by the massive stone that told no tales。
Dim and flickering lights shone behind several of the small
windows in the facade of the huge labyrinthine building。 Without
any hesitation de Batz turned down the Rue du Temple； and soon
found himself in front of the main gates which gave on the
courtyard beyond。 The sentinel challenged him； but he had the
pass…word； and explained that he desired to have speech with
citizen Heron。
With a surly gesture the guard pointed to the heavy bell…pull up
against the gate； and de Batz pulled it with all his might。 The
long clang of the brazen bell echoed and re…echoed round the solid
stone walls。 Anon a tiny judas in the gate was cautiously pushed
open； and a peremptory voice once again challenged the midnight
intruder。
De Batz； more peremptorily this time； asked for citizen Heron；
with whom he had immediate and important business； and a glimmer
of a piece of silver which he held up close to the judas secured
him the necessary admittance。
The massive gates slowly swung open on their creaking hinges； and
as de Batz passed beneath the archway they closed again behind him。
The concierge's lodge was immediately on his left。 Again he was
challenged； and again gave the pass…word。 But his face was
apparently known here； for no serious hindrance to proceed was put
in his way。
A man； whose wide； lean frame was but ill…covered by a threadbare
coat and ragged breeches； and with soleless shoes on his feet； was
told off to direct the citoyen to citizen Heron's rooms。 The man
walked slowly along with bent knees and arched spine； and shuffled
his feet as he walked； the bunch of keys which he carried rattled
ominously in his long； grimy hands； the passages were badly
lighted； and he also carried a lanthorn to guide himself on the
way。
Closely followed by de Batz； he soon turned into the central
corridor； which is open to the sky above； and was spectrally
alight now with flag…stones and walls gleaming beneath the silvery
sheen of the moon； and throwing back the fantastic elongated
shadows of the two men as they walked。
On the left； heavily barred windows gave on the corridor； as did
here and there the massive oaken doors； with their gigantic hinges
and bolts； on the steps of which squatted groups of soldiers
wrapped in their cloaks； with wild； suspicious eyes beneath their
capotes； peering at the midnight visitor as he passed。
There was no thought of silence here。 The very walls seemed alive
with sounds； groans and tears； loud wails and murmured prayers；
they exuded from the stones and trembled on the frost…laden air。
Occasionally at one of the windows a pair of white hands would
appear； grasping the heavy iron bar； trying to shake it in its
socket； and mayhap； above the hands； the dim vision of a haggard
face； a man's or a woman's； trying to get a glimpse of the outside
world； a final look at the sky； before the last journey to the
place of death to…morrow。 Then one of the soldiers； with a loud；
angry oath； would struggle to his feet； and with the butt…end of
his gun strike at the thin； wan fingers till their hold on the
iron bar relaxed； and the pallid face beyond would sink back into
the darkness with a desperate cry of pain。
A quick； impatient sigh escaped de Batz' lips。 He had skirted the
wide courtyard in the wake of his guide； and from where he was he
could see the great central tower； with its tiny windows lighted
from within； the grim walls behind which the descendant of the
world's conquerors； the bearer of the proudest name in Europe； and
wearer of its most ancient crown； had spent the last days of his
brilliant life in abject shame； sorrow； and degradation。 The
memory had swiftly surged up before him of that night when he all
but rescued King Louis and his family from this same miserable
prison： the guard had been bribed； the keeper corrupted；
everything had been prepared； save the reckoning with the one
irresponsible factorchance！
He had failed then and had tried again； and again had failed； a
fortune had been his reward if he had succeeded。 He had failed；
but even now； when his footsteps echoed along the flagged
courtyard； over which an unfortunate King and Queen had walked on
their way to their last ignominious Calvary； he hugged himself
with the satisfying thought that where he had failed at least no
one else had succeeded。
Whether that meddlesome English adventurer； who called himself the
Scarlet Pimpernel； had planned the rescue of King Louis or of
Queen Marie Antoinette at any time or notthat he did not 'know；
but on one point at least he was more than ever determined； and
that was that no power on earth should snatch from him the golden
prize offered by Austria for the rescue of the little Dauphin。
〃I would sooner see the child perish； if I cannot save him myself；〃
was the burning thought in this man's tortuous brain。 〃And let
that accursed Englishman look to himself and to his dd confederates；〃
be added； muttering a fierce oath beneath his breath。
A winding； narrow stone stair； another length or two of corridor；
and his guide's shuffling footsteps paused beside a low
iron…studded door let into the solid stone。 De Batz dismissed his
ill…clothed guide and pulled the iron bell…handle which hung
beside the door。
The bell gave forth a dull and broken clang； which seemed like an
echo of the wails of sorrow that peopled the huge building with
their weird and monotonous sounds。
De Batza thoroughly unimaginative personwaited patiently
beside the door until it was opened from within； and he was
confronted by a tall stooping figure； wearing a greasy coat of
snuff…brown cloth； and holding high above his head a lanthorn that
threw its feeble light on de Batz' jovial face and form。
〃It is even I； citizen Heron；〃 he said； breaking in swiftly on the
other's ejaculation of astonishment； which threatened to send his
name echoing the whole length of corridors and passages； until
round every corner of the labyrinthine house of sorrow the murmur
would be borne on the wings of the cold night breeze： 〃Citizen
Heron is in parley with ci…devant Baron de Batz！〃
A fact which would have been equally unpleasant for both these
worthies。
〃Enter！〃 said Heron curtly。
He banged the heavy door to behind his visitor； and de Batz； who
seemed to know his way about the place； walked straight across the
narrow landing to where a smaller door stood invitingly open。
He stepped boldly in； the while citizen Heron put the lanthorn
down on the floor of the couloir； and then followed his nocturnal
visitor into the room。
CHAPTER VI
THE COMMITTEE'S AGENT
It was a narrow； ill…ventilated place； with but one barred window
that gave on the courtyard。 An evil…smelling lamp hung by a chain
from the grimy ceiling； and in a corner of the room a tiny iron
stove shed more unpleasant vapour than warm glow around。
There was but little furniture： two or three chairs； a table which
was littered with papers； and a corner…cupboardthe open doors of
which revealed a miscellaneous collectionbundles of papers； a
tin saucepan； a piece of cold sausage； and a couple of pistols。
The fumes of stale tobacco…smoke hovered in the air； and mingled
most unpleasantly with those of the lamp above； and of the mildew
that penetrated through the walls just below the roof。
Heron pointed to one of the chairs； and then sat down on the
other； close to the table； on which he rested his elbow。 He picked
up a short…stemmed pipe； which he had evidently laid aside at the
sound of the bell； and having taken several deliberate long…drawn
puffs from it； he said abruptly：
〃Well； what is it now？〃
In the meanwhile de Batz had made himself a
