el dorado-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hands and the hem of her gown with kisses。 He stooped right down
to the ground and kissed the arch of her instep； he had become a
devotee worshipping at the shrine of his saint； who had performed
a great and a wonderful miracle。
Armand the idealist had found his ideal in a woman。 That was the
great miracle which the woman herself had performed for him。 He
found in her all that he had admired most； all that he had admired
in the leader who hitherto had been the only personification of
his ideal。 But Jeanne possessed all those qualities which had
roused his enthusiasm in the noble hero whom he revered。 Her
pluck； her ingenuity； her calm devotion which had averted the
threatened danger from him！
What had he done that she should have risked her own sweet life
for his sake？
But Jeanne did not know。 She could not tell。 Her nerves now were
somewhat unstrung； and the tears that always came so readily to
her eyes flowed quite unchecked。 She could not very well move； for
he held her knees imprisoned in his arms； but she was quite
content to remain like this； and to yield her hands to him so that
he might cover them with kisses。
Indeed； she did not know at what precise moment love for him had
been born in her heart。 Last night； perhaps 。。。 she could not say
。。。 but when they parted she felt that she must see him again 。。。
and then today 。。。 perhaps it was the scent of the violets 。。。
they were so exquisitely sweet 。。。 perhaps it was his enthusiasm
and his talk about England 。。。 but when Heron came she knew that
she must save Armand's life at all cost 。。。 that she would die if
they dragged him away to prison。
Thus these two children philosophised； trying to understand the
mystery of the birth of Love。 But they were only children； they
did not really understand。 Passion was sweeping them off their
feet； because a common danger had bound them irrevocably to one
another。 The womanly instinct to save and to protect had given
the young girl strength to bear a difficult part； and now she
loved him for the dangers from which she had rescued him； and he
loved her because she had risked her life for him。
The hours sped on； there was so much to say； so much that was
exquisite to listen to。 The shades of evening were gathering
fast； the room； with its pale…toned hangings and faded tapestries；
was sinking into the arms of gloom。 Aunt Marie was no doubt too
terrified to stir out of her kitchen； she did not bring the lamps；
but the darkness suited Armand's mood； and Jeanne was glad that
the gloaming effectually hid the perpetual blush in her cheeks。
In the evening air the dying flowers sent their heady fragrance
around。 Armand was intoxicated with the perfume of violets that
clung to Jeanne's fingers； with the touch of her satin gown that
brushed his cheek； with the murmur of her voice that quivered
through her tears。
No noise from the ugly outer world reached this secluded spot。 In
the tiny square outside a street lamp had been lighted； and its
feeble rays came peeping in through the lace curtains at the
window。 They caught the dainty silhouette of the young girl；
playing with the loose tendrils of her hair around her forehead；
and outlining with a thin band of light the contour of neck and
shoulder； making the satin of her gown shimmer with an opalescent
glow。
Armand rose from his knees。 Her eyes were calling to him； her
lips were ready to yield。
〃Tu m'aimes？〃 he whispered。
And like a tired child she sank upon his breast。
He kissed her hair； her eyes； her lips； her skin was fragrant as
the flowers of spring； the tears on her cheeks glistened like
morning dew。
Aunt Marie came in at last； carrying the lamp。 She found them
sitting side by side； like two children； hand in hand； mute with
the eloquence which comes from boundless love。 They were under a
spell； forgetting even that they lived； knowing nothing except
that they loved。
The lamp broke the spell； and Aunt Marie's still trembling voice：
〃Oh； my dear！ how did you manage to rid yourself of those brutes？
But she asked no other question； even when the lamp showed up
quite clearly the glowing cheeks of Jeanne and the ardent eyes of
Armand。 In her heart； long since atrophied； there were a few
memories； carefully put away in a secret cell； and those memories
caused the old woman to understand。
Neither Jeanne nor Armand noticed what she did； the spell had been
broken； but the dream lingered on； they did not see Aunt Marie
putting the room tidy； and then quietly tiptoeing out by the door。
But through the dream； reality was struggling for recognition。
After Armand had asked for the hundredth time： 〃Tu m'aimes？〃 and
Jeanne for the hundredth time had replied mutely with her eyes；
her fears for him suddenly returned。
Something had awakened her from her trancea heavy footstep；
mayhap； in the street below； the distant roll of a drum； or only
the clash of steel saucepans in Aunt Marie's kitchen。 But
suddenly Jeanne was alert； and with her alertness came terror for
the beloved。
〃Your life；〃 she saidfor he had called her his life just then；
〃your lifeand I was forgetting that it is still in danger 。。。
your dear； your precious life！〃
〃Doubly dear now；〃 he replied； 〃since I owe it to you。〃
〃Then I pray you； I entreat you； guard it well for my sakemake
all haste to leave Paris 。。。 oh； this I beg of you！〃 she continued
more earnestly； seeing the look of demur in his eyes； 〃every hour
you spend in it brings danger nearer to your door。〃
〃I could not leave Paris while you are here。〃
〃But I am safe here；〃 she urged； 〃quite； quite safe； I assure you。
I am only a poor actress； and the Government takes no heed of us
mimes。 Men must be amused； even between the intervals of killing
one another。 Indeed； indeed； I should be far safer here now；
waiting quietly for awhile； while you make preparations to go 。。。
My hasty departure at this moment would bring disaster on us
both。〃
There was logic in what she said。 And yet how could he leave her？
now that he had found this perfect womanthis realisation of his
highest ideals； how could he go and leave her in this awful Paris；
with brutes like Heron forcing their hideous personality into her
sacred presence； threatening that very life he would gladly give
his own to keep inviolate？
〃Listen； sweetheart；〃 he said after awhile； when presently reason
struggled back for first place in his mind。 〃Will you allow me to
consult with my chief； with the Scarlet Pimpernel； who is in Paris
at the present moment？ I am under his orders； I could not leave
France just now。 My life； my entire person are at his disposal。 I
and my comrades are here under his orders； for a great undertaking
which he has not yet unfolded to us； but which I firmly believe is
framed for the rescue of the Dauphin from the Temple。〃
She gave an involuntary exclamation of horror。
〃No； no！〃 she said quickly and earnestly； 〃as far as you are
concerned； Armand； that has now become an impossibility。 Some one
has betrayed you； and you are henceforth a marked man。 I think
that odious de Batz had a hand in Heron's visit of this afternoon。
We succeeded in putting these spies off the scent； but only for a
moment 。。。 within a few hoursless perhapsHeron will repent him
of his carelessness； he'll come backI know that he will come
back。 He may leave me； personally； alone； but he will be on your
track； he'll drag you to the Conciergerie to report yourself； and
there your true name and history are bound to come to light。 If
you succeed in evading him； he will still be on your track。 If
the Scarlet Pimpernel keeps you in Paris now； your death will be
at his door。〃
Her voice had become quite hard and trenchant as she said these
last words； womanlike； she was already prepared to hate the man
whose mysterious personality she had hitherto admired； now that
the life and safety of Armand appeared to depend on the will of
that elusive hero。
〃You must not be afraid for me； Jeanne；〃 he urged。 〃The Scarlet
Pimpernel cares for all his followers； he would never allow me to
run unnecessary risks。〃
She was unconvinced； almost jealous now o
