el dorado-第24章
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leave Paris by the Neuilly gate； and from there make your way to
St。 Germain by any conveyance you can contrive to obtain。 At St。
Germain you must at once find Achard's farm； disguised as
labourers you will not arouse suspicion by so doing。 You will
find the farmer quite amenable to money； and you must secure the
best horses you can get for our own use； and； if possible； the
powerful mount I spoke of just now。 You are both excellent
horse…men； therefore I selected you amongst the others for this
special errand； for you two； with the five horses； will have to
come and meet our coal…cart some seventeen kilometres out of St。
Germain； to where the first sign…post indicates the road to
Courbevoie。 Some two hundred metres down this road on the right
there is a small spinney； which will afford splendid shelter for
yourselves and your horses。 We hope to be there at about one
o'clock after midnight of Monday morning。 Now； is all that quite
clear； and are you both satisfied？〃
〃It is quite clear；〃 exclaimed Hastings placidly； 〃but I； for one；
am not at all satisfied。〃
〃And why not？〃
〃Because it is all too easy。 We get none of the danger。〃
〃Oho！ I thought that you would bring that argument forward； you
incorrigible grumbler；〃 laughed Sir Percy good…humouredly。 〃Let
me tell you that if you start to…morrow from Paris in that spirit
you will run your head and Armand's into a noose long before you
reach the gate of Neuilly。 I cannot allow either of you to cover
your faces with too much grime； an honest farm labourer should not
look over…dirty； and your chances of being discovered and detained
are； at the outset； far greater than those which Ffoulkes and Tony
will run〃
Armand had said nothing during this time。 While Blakeney was
unfolding his plan for him and for Lord Hastingsa plan which
practically was a commandhe had sat with his arms folded across
his chest； his head sunk upon his breast。 When Blakeney had asked
if they were satisfied； he had taken no part in Hastings' protest
nor responded to his leader's good…humoured banter。
Though he did not look up even now； yet he felt that Percy's eyes
were fixed upon him； and they seemed to scorch into his soul。 He
made a great effort to appear eager like the others； and yet from
the first a chill had struck at his heart。 He could not leave
Paris before he had seen Jeanne。
He looked up suddenly； trying to seem unconcerned； he even looked
his chief fully in the face。
〃When ought we to leave Paris？〃 he asked calmly。
〃You MUST leave at daybreak；〃 replied Blakeney with a slight；
almost imperceptible emphasis on the word of command。 〃When the
gates are first opened； and the work…people go to and fro at their
work； that is the safest hour。 And you must be at St。 Germain as
soon as may be； or the farmer may not have a sufficiency of horses
available at a moment's notice。 I want you to be spokesman with
Achard； so that Hastings' British accent should not betray you
both。 Also you might not get a conveyance for St。 Germain
immediately。 We must think of every eventuality； Armand。 There
is so much at stake。〃
Armand made no further comment just then。 But the others looked
astonished。 Armand had but asked a simple question； and
Blakeney's reply seemed almost like a rebukeso circumstantial
too； and so explanatory。 He was so used to being obeyed at a
word； so accustomed that the merest wish； the slightest hint from
him was understood by his band of devoted followers； that the long
explanation of his orders which he gave to Armand struck them all
with a strange sense of unpleasant surprise。
Hastings was the first to break the spell that seemed to have
fallen over the party。
〃We leave at daybreak； of course；〃 he said； 〃as soon as the gates
are open。 We can； I know； get one of the carriers to give us a
lift as far as St。 Germain。 There； how do we find Achard？〃
〃He is a well…known farmer；〃 replied Blakeney。 〃You have but to
ask。〃
〃Good。 Then we bespeak five horses for the next day； find
lodgings in the village that night； and make a fresh start back
towards Paris in the evening of Sunday。 Is that right？〃
〃Yes。 One of you will have two horses on the lead； the other one。
Pack some fodder on the empty saddles and start at about ten
o'clock。 Ride straight along the main road； as if you were making
back for Paris； until you come to four cross…roads with a
sign…post pointing to Courbevoie。 Turn down there and go along the
road until you meet a close spinney of fir…trees on your right。
Make for the interior of that。 It gives splendid shelter； and you
can dismount there and give the horses a feed。 We'll join you one
hour after midnight。 The night will be dark； I hope； and the moon
anyhow will be on the wane。〃
〃I think I understand。 Anyhow； it's not difficult； and we'll be
as careful as maybe。〃
〃You will have to keep your heads clear； both of you；〃 concluded
Blakeney。
He was looking at Armand as he said this； but the young man had
not made a movement during this brief colloquy between Hastings
and the chief。 He still sat with arms folded； his head falling on
his breast。
Silence had fallen on them all。 They all sat round the fire
buried in thought。 Through the open window there came from the
quay beyond the hum of life in the open…air camp； the tramp of the
sentinels around it； the words of command from the drill…sergeant；
and through it all the moaning of the wind and the beating of the
sleet against the window…panes。
A whole world of wretchedness was expressed by those sounds！
Blakeney gave a quick； impatient sigh； and going to the window he
pushed it further open； and just then there came from afar the
muffled roll of drums； and from below the watchman's cry that
seemed such dire mockery：
〃Sleep； citizens！ Everything is safe and peaceful。〃
〃Sound advice；〃 said Blakeney lightly。 〃Shall we also go to
sleep？ What say you alleh？〃
He had with that sudden rapidity characteristic of his every
action； already thrown off the serious air which he had worn a
moment ago when giving instructions to Hastings。 His usual
debonnair manner was on him once again； his laziness； his careless
insouciance。 He was even at this moment deeply engaged in
flicking off a grain of dust from the immaculate Mechlin ruff at
his wrist。 The heavy lids had fallen over the tell…tale eyes as
if weighted with fatigue； the mouth appeared ready for the laugh
which never was absent from it very long。
It was only Ffoulkes's devoted eyes that were sharp enough to
pierce the mask of light…hearted gaiety which enveloped the soul
of his leader at the present moment。 He sawfor the first time in
all the years that he had known Blakeneya frown across the
habitually smooth brow； and though the lips were parted for a
laugh； the lines round mouth and chin were hard and set。
With that intuition born of whole…hearted friendship Sir Andrew
guessed what troubled Percy。 He had caught the look which the
latter had thrown on Armand； and knew that some explanation would
have to pass between the two men before they parted to…night。
Therefore he gave the signal for the breaking up of the meeting。
〃There is nothing more to say； is there； Blakeney？〃 he asked。
〃No； my good fellow； nothing；〃 replied Sir Percy。 〃I do not know
how you all feel； but I am demmed fatigued。〃
〃What about the rags for to…morrow？〃 queried Hastings。
〃You know where to find them。 In the room below。 Ffoulkes has the
key。 Wigs and all are there。 But don't use false hair if you can
help itit is apt to shift in a scrimmage。〃
He spoke jerkily； more curtly than was his wont。 Hastings and
Tony thought that he was tired。 They rose to say good night。
Then the three men went away together； Armand remaining behind。
CHAPTER XII
WHAT LOVE IS
〃Well； now； Armand； what is it？〃 asked Blakeney； the moment the
footsteps of his friends had died away down the stone stairs； and
their voices had ceased to echo in the distance。
〃You guessed； then； that there was 。。。 something？〃 said the
younger man； after a slight hesitation。
〃Of course。〃
Armand rose； pushing the chair away from him with an
