el dorado-第13章
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He heard the other man's heavy footsteps cross and re…cross the
narrow room； and was conscious of the long curved shadow creeping
up the mildewed wall or retreating down upon the carpetless floor。
Suddenly； without any warning he felt a grip upon his shoulder。
He gave a start and almost uttered a cry of alarm which caused
Heron to laugh。 The Committee's agent was vastly amused at his
friend's obvious access of fear。 There was nothing that he liked
better than that he should inspire dread in the hearts of all
those with whom he came in contact
〃I am just going on my usual nocturnal round；〃 he said abruptly。
〃Come with me； citizen de Batz。〃
A certain grim humour was apparent in his face as he proffered
this invitation； which sounded like a rough command。 As de Batz
seemed to hesitate he nodded peremptorily to him to follow。
Already he had gone into the hall and picked up his lanthorn。
From beneath his waistcoat he drew forth a bunch of keys； which he
rattled impatiently； calling to his friend to come。
〃Come； citizen；〃 he said roughly。 〃I wish to show you the one
treasure in this house which your dd fingers must not touch。〃
Mechanically de Batz rose at last。 He tried to be master of the
terror which was invading his very bones。 He would not own to
himself even that he was afraid； and almost audibly he kept
murmuring to himself that he had no cause for fear。
Heron would never touch him。 The spy's avarice； his greed of
money were a perfect safeguard for any man who had the control of
millions； and Heron knew； of course； that he could make of this
inveterate plotter a comfortable source of revenue for himself。
Three weeks would soon be over； and fresh bargains could be made
time and again； while de Batz was alive and free。
Heron was still waiting at the door； even whilst de Batz wondered
what this nocturnal visitation would reveal to him of atrocity and
of outrage。 He made a final effort to master his nervousness；
wrapped his cloak tightly around him； and followed his host out of
the room。
CHAPTER VII
THE MOST PRECIOUS LIFE IN EUROPE
Once more he was being led through the interminable corridors of
the gigantic building。 Once more from the narrow； barred windows
close by him he heard the heart…breaking sighs； the moans； the
curses which spoke of tragedies that he could only guess。
Heron was walking on ahead of him； preceding him by some fifty
metres or so； his long legs covering the distances more rapidly
than de Batz could follow them。 The latter knew his way well
about the old prison。 Few men in Paris possessed that accurate
knowledge of its intricate passages and its network of cells and
halls which de Batz had acquired after close and persevering
study。
He himself could have led Heron to the doors of the tower where
the little Dauphin was being kept imprisoned； but unfortunately he
did not possess the keys that would open all the doors which led
to it。 There were sentinels at every gate； groups of soldiers at
each end of every corridor； the greatnow emptycourtyards；
thronged with prisoners in the daytime； were alive with soldiery
even now。 Some walked up and down with fixed bayonet on shoulder；
others sat in groups on the stone copings or squatted on the
ground； smoking or playing cards； but all of them were alert and
watchful。
Heron was recognised everywhere the moment he appeared； and though
in these days of equality no one presented arms； nevertheless
every guard stood aside to let him pass； or when necessary opened
a gate for the powerful chief agent of the Committee of General
Security。
Indeed； de Batz had no keys such as these to open the way for him
to the presence of the martyred little King。
Thus the two men wended their way on in silence； one preceding the
other。 De Batz walked leisurely； thought…fully； taking stock of
everything he sawthe gates； the barriers； the positions of
sentinels and warders； of everything in fact that might prove a
help or a hindrance presently； when the great enterprise would be
hazarded。 At laststill in the wake of Heronhe found himself
once more behind the main entrance gate； underneath the archway on
which gave the guichet of the concierge。
Here； too； there seemed to be an unnecessary number of soldiers：
two were doing sentinel outside the guichet； but there were others
in a file against the wall。
Heron rapped with his keys against the door of the concierge's
lodge； then； as it was not immediately opened from within； he
pushed it open with his foot。
〃The concierge？〃 he queried peremptorily。
From a corner of the small panelled room there came a grunt and a
reply：
〃Gone to bed； quoi！〃
The man who previously had guided de Batz to Heron's door slowly
struggled to his feet。 He had been squatting somewhere in the
gloom； and had been roused by Heron's rough command。 He slouched
forward now still carrying a boot in one hand and a blacking brush
in the other。
〃Take this lanthorn； then；〃 said the chief agent with a snarl
directed at the sleeping concierge； 〃and come along。 Why are you
still here？〃 he added； as if in after…thought。
〃The citizen concierge was not satisfied with the way I had done
his boots；〃 muttered the man； with an evil leer as he spat
contemptuously on the floor； 〃an aristo； quoi？ A hell of a place
this 。。。 twenty cells to sweep out every day 。。。 and boots to
clean for every aristo of a concierge or warder who demands it。。。。
Is that work for a free born patriot； I ask？〃
〃Well； if you are not satisfied； citoyen Dupont；〃 retorted Heron
dryly； 〃you may go when you like； you know there are plenty of
others ready to do your work。。。〃
〃Nineteen hours a day； and nineteen sous by way of payment。。。。 I
have had fourteen days of this convict work。。。〃
He continued to mutter under his breath； whilst Heron； paying no
further heed to him； turned abruptly towards a group of soldiers
stationed outside。
〃En avant； corporal！〃 he said； 〃bring four men with you 。。。 we go
up to the tower。〃
The small procession was formed。 On ahead the lanthorn…bearer；
with arched spine and shaking knees； dragging shuffling footsteps
along the corridor； then the corporal with two of his soldiers；
then Heron closely followed by de Batz； and finally two more
soldiers bringing up the rear。
Heron had given the bunch of keys to the man Dupont。 The latter；
on ahead； holding the lanthorn aloft； opened one gate after
another。 At each gate he waited for the little procession to file
through； then he re…locked the gate and passed on。
Up two or three flights of winding stairs set in the solid stone；
and the final heavy door was reached。
De Batz was meditating。 Heron's precautions for the safe…guarding
of the most precious life in Europe were more complete than he had
anticipated。 What lavish liberality would be required！ what
superhuman ingenuity and boundless courage in order to break down
all the barriers that had been set up round that young life that
flickered inside this grim tower！
Of these three requisites the corpulent； complacent intriguer
possessed only the first in a considerable degree。 He could be
exceedingly liberal with the foreign money which he had at his
disposal。 As for courage and ingenuity； he believed that he
possessed both； but these qualities had not served him in very
good stead in the attempts which he had made at different times to
rescue the unfortunate members of the Royal Family from prison。
His overwhelming egotism would not admit for a moment that in
ingenuity and pluck the Scarlet Pimpernel and his English
followers could outdo him； but he did wish to make quite sure that
they would not interfere with him in the highly remunerative work
of saving the Dauphin。
Heron's impatient call roused him from these meditations。 The
little party had come to a halt outside a massive iron…studded
door。
At a sign from the chief agent the soldiers stood at attention。
He then called de Batz and the lanthorn…bearer to him。
He took a key from his breeches pocket； and with his own hand
unlocked the massive door。 He curtly ordered the lanthorn…bearer
and de Batz to go through； then he himself we
