el dorado-第32章
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up and down the majestic colonnaded hall。 He even at one time
formed part of the throng that watched one of those quick tragedies
that were enacted within the great chamber of the court。 A number
of prisoners brought in； in a batch； hurried interrogations；
interrupted answers； a quick indictment； monstrous in its flaring
injustice； spoken by Foucquier…Tinville； the public prosecutor；
and listened to in all seriousness by men who dared to call
themselves judges of their fellows。
The accused had walked down the Champs Elysees without wearing a
tricolour cockade； the other had invested some savings in an
English industrial enterprise； yet another had sold public funds；
causing them to depreciate rather suddenly in the market！
Sometimes from one of these unfortunates led thus wantonly to
butchery there would come an excited protest； or from a woman
screams of agonised entreaty。 But these were quickly silenced by
rough blows from the butt…ends of muskets； and condemnations
wholesale sentences of deathwere quickly passed amidst the
cheers of the spectators and the howls of derision from infamous
jury and judge。
Oh！ the mockery of it allthe awful； the hideous ignominy； the
blot of shame that would forever sully the historic name of
France。 Armand； sickened with horror； could not bear more than a
few minutes of this monstrous spectacle。 The same fate might even
now be awaiting Jeanne。 Among the next batch of victims to this
sacrilegious butchery he might suddenly spy his beloved with her
pale face and cheeks stained with her tears。
He fled from the great chamber； keeping just a sufficiency of
presence of mind to join a knot of idlers who were drifting
leisurely towards the corridors。 He followed in their wake and
soon found himself in the long Galerie des Prisonniers； along the
flagstones of which two days ago de Batz had followed his guide
towards the lodgings of Heron。
On his left now were the arcades shut off from the courtyard
beyond by heavy iron gates。 Through the ironwork Armand caught
sight of a number of women walking or sitting in the courtyard。
He heard a man next to him explaining to his friend that these
were the female prisoners who would be brought to trial that day；
and he felt that his heart must burst at the thought that mayhap
Jeanne would be among them。
He elbowed his way cautiously to the front rank。 Soon he found
himself beside a sentinel who； with a good…humoured jest； made way
for him that he might watch the aristos。 Armand leaned against
the grating； and his every sense was concentrated in that of
sight。
At first he could scarcely distinguish one woman from another
amongst the crowd that thronged the courtyard； and the close
ironwork hindered his view considerably。 The women looked almost
like phantoms in the grey misty air； gliding slowly along with
noiseless tread on the flag…stones。
Presently； however； his eyes； which mayhap were somewhat dim with
tears； became more accustomed to the hazy grey light and the
moving figures that looked so like shadows。 He could distinguish
isolated groups now； women and girls sitting together under the
colonnaded arcades； some reading； others busy； with trembling
fingers； patching and darning a poor； torn gown。 Then there were
others who were actually chatting and laughing together； andoh；
the pity of it！ the pity and the shame！a few children； shrieking
with delight； were playing hide and seek in and out amongst the
columns。
And； between them all； in and out like the children at play；
unseen； yet familiar to all； the spectre of Death； scythe and
hour…glass in hand； wandered； majestic and sure。
Armand's very soul was in his eyes。 So far he had not yet caught
sight of his beloved； and slowlyvery slowlya ray of hope was
filtering through the darkness of his despair。
The sentinel； who had stood aside for him； chaffed him for his
intentness。
〃Have you a sweetheart among these aristos； citizen？〃 he asked。
〃You seem to be devouring them with your eyes。〃
Armand； with his rough clothes soiled with coal…dust； his face
grimy and streaked with sweat； certainly looked to have but little
in common with the ci…devant aristos who formed the hulk of the
groups in the courtyard。 He looked up； the soldier was regarding
him with obvious amusement； and at sight of Armand's wild； anxious
eyes he gave vent to a coarse jest。
〃Have I made a shrewd guess； citizen？〃 he said。 〃Is she among
that lot？〃
〃I do not know where she is；〃 said Armand almost involuntarily。
〃Then why don't you find out？〃 queried the soldier。
The man was not speaking altogether unkindly。 Armand； devoured
with the maddening desire to know； threw the last fragment of
prudence to the wind。 He assumed a more careless air； trying to
look as like a country bumpkin in love as he could。
〃I would like to find out；〃 he said； 〃but I don't know where to
inquire。 My sweetheart has certainly left her home；〃 he added
lightly； 〃some say that she has been false to me； but I think
that； mayhap； she has been arrested。〃
〃Well； then； you gaby；〃 said the soldier good…humouredly； 〃go
straight to La Tournelle； you know where it is？
Armand knew well enough； but thought it more prudent to keep up
the air of the ignorant lout。
〃Straight down that first corridor on your right；〃 explained the
other； pointing in the direction which he had indicated； 〃you will
find the guichet of La Tournelle exactly opposite to you。 Ask the
concierge for the register of female prisonersevery freeborn
citizen of the Republic has the right to inspect prison registers。
It is a new decree framed for safeguarding the liberty of the
people。 But if you do not press half a livre in the hand of the
concierge；〃 he added； speaking confidentially； 〃you will find that
the register will not be quite ready for your inspection。〃
〃Half a livre！〃 exclaimed Armand； striving to play his part to the
end。 〃How can a poor devil of a labourer have half a livre to
give away？〃
〃Well！ a few sous will do in that case； a few sous are always
welcome these hard times。〃
Armand took the hint； and as the crowd had drifted away
momentarily to a further portion of the corridor； he contrived to
press a few copper coins into the hand of the obliging soldier。
Of course； he knew his way to La Tournelle； and he would have
covered the distance that separated him from the guichet there
with steps flying like the wind； but； commending himself for his
own prudence； he walked as slowly as he could along the
interminable corridor； past the several minor courts of justice；
and skirting the courtyard where the male prisoners took their
exercise。
At last； having struck sharply to his left and ascended a short
flight of stairs； he found himself in front of the guicheta
narrow wooden box； wherein the clerk in charge of the prison
registers sat nominally at the disposal of the citizens of this
free republic。
But to Armand's almost overwhelming chagrin he found the place
entirely deserted。 The guichet was closed down； there was not a
soul in sight。 The disappointment was doubly keen； coming as it
did in the wake of hope that had refused to be gainsaid。 Armand
himself did not realise how sanguine he had been until he
discovered that he must wait and wait againwait for hours； all
day mayhap； before he could get definite news of Jeanne。
He wandered aimlessly in the vicinity of that silent； deserted；
cruel spot； where a closed trapdoor seemed to shut off all his
hopes of a speedy sight of Jeanne。 He inquired of the first
sentinels whom he came across at what hour the clerk of the
registers would be back at his post； the soldiers shrugged their
shoulders and could give no information。 Then began Armand's
aimless wanderings round La Tournelle； his fruitless inquiries；
his wild； excited search for the hide…bound official who was
keeping from him the knowledge of Jeanne。
He went back to his sentinel well…wisher by the women's courtyard；
but found neither consolation nor encouragement there。
〃It is not the hourquoi？〃 the soldier remarked with laconic
philosophy。
It apparently was not the hour when the prison registers were
pl
