el dorado-第35章
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for I am a younger； more vigorous man than you。〃
〃H'm！〃 said Chauvelin； who made pretence to ponder over this
difficult problem； 〃like you； citizen St。 Just； I wonder〃
〃It could easily be done； you know。〃
〃Fairly easily；〃 rejoined the other； 〃but there is the guard； it
is numerous and strong in this building； and〃
〃The gloom would help me； it is dark in the corridors； and a
desperate man takes risks； remember〃
〃Quite so！ And you； citizen St。 Just； are a desperate man just
now。〃
〃My sister Marguerite is not here； citizen Chauvelin。 You cannot
barter my life for that of your enemy。〃
〃No！ no！ no！〃 rejoined Chauvelin blandly； 〃not for that of my
enemy； I know； but〃
Armand caught at his words like a drowning man at a reed。
〃For hers！〃 he exclaimed。
〃For hers？〃 queried the other with obvious puzzlement。
〃Mademoiselle Lange；〃 continued Armand with all the egoistic
ardour of the lover who believes that the attention of the entire
world is concentrated upon his beloved。
〃Mademoiselle Lange！ You will set her free now that I am in your
power。〃
Chauvelin smiled； his usual suave； enigmatical smile。
〃Ah； yes！〃 he said。 〃Mademoiselle Lange。 I had forgotten。〃
〃Forgotten； man？forgotten that those murderous dogs have
arrested her？the best； the purest； this vile； degraded country
has ever produced。 She sheltered me one day just for an hour。 I
am a traitor to the RepublicI own it。 I'll make full confession；
but she knew nothing of this。 I deceived her； she is quite innocent；
you understand？ I'll make full confession； but you must set her free。〃
He had gradually worked himself up again to a state of feverish
excitement。 Through the darkness which hung about in this small
room he tried to peer in Chauvelin's impassive face。
〃Easy； easy； my young friend；〃 said the other placidly； 〃you seem
to imagine that I have something to do with the arrest of the lady
in whom you take so deep an interest。 You forget that now I am but
a discredited servant of the Republic whom I failed to serve in
her need。 My life is only granted me out of pity for my efforts；
which were genuine if not successful。 I have no power to set any
one free。〃
〃Nor to arrest me now； in that case！〃 retorted Armand。
Chauvelin paused a moment before he replied with a deprecating
smile：
〃Only to denounce you； perhaps。 I am still an agent of the
Committee of General Security。〃
〃Then all is for the best！〃 exclaimed St。 Just eagerly。 〃You shall
denounce me to the Committee。 They will be glad of my arrest； I
assure you。 I have been a marked man for some time。 I had
intended to evade arrest and to work for the rescue of
Mademoiselle Lange； but I will give tip all thought of thatI
will deliver myself into your hands absolutely； nay； more； I will
give you my most solemn word of honour that not only will I make
no attempt at escape； but that I will not allow any one to help me
to do so。 I will be a passive and willing prisoner if you； on the
other hand； will effect Mademoiselle Lange's release。〃
〃H'm！〃 mused Chauvelin again； 〃it sounds feasible。〃
〃It does！ it does！〃 rejoined Armand； whose excitement was at
fever…pitch。 〃My arrest； my condemnation； my death； will be of
vast deal more importance to you than that of a young and innocent
girl against whom unlikely charges would have to be tricked up；
and whose acquittal mayhap public feeling might demand。 As for
me； I shall be an easy prey； my known counter…revolutionary
principles； my sister's marriage with a foreigner〃
〃Your connection with the Scarlet Pimpernel；〃 suggested Chauvelin
blandly。
〃Quite so。 I should not defend myself〃
〃And your enigmatical friend would not attempt your rescue。 C'est
entendu；〃 said Chauvelin with his wonted blandness。 〃Then； my
dear； enthusiastic young friend； shall we adjourn to the office of
my colleague； citizen Heron； who is chief agent of the Committee
of General Security； and will receive yourdid you say
confession？and note the conditions under which you place
yourself absolutely in the hands of the Public Prosecutor and
subsequently of the executioner。 Is that it？〃
Armand was too full of schemes； too full of thoughts of Jeanne to
note the tone of quiet irony with which Chauvelin had been
speaking all along。 With the unreasoning egoism of youth he was
quite convinced that his own arrest； his own affairs were as
important to this entire nation in revolution as they were to
himself。 At moments like these it is difficult to envisage a
desperate situation clearly； and to a young man in love the fate
of the beloved never seems desperate whilst he himself is alive
and ready for every sacrifice for her sake。 〃My life for hers〃 is
the sublime if often foolish battle…cry that has so often resulted
in whole…sale destruction。 Armand at this moment； when he fondly
believed that he was making a bargain with the most astute； most
unscrupulous spy this revolutionary Government had in its
payArmand just then had absolutely forgotten his chief； his
friends； the league of mercy and help to which he belonged。
Enthusiasm and the spirit of self…sacrifice were carrying him
away。 He watched his enemy with glowing eyes as one who looks on
the arbiter of his fate。
Chauvelin； without another word； beckoned to him to follow。 He
led the way out of the lodge； then； turning sharply to his left；
he reached the wide quadrangle with the covered passage running
right round it； the same which de Batz had traversed two evenings
ago when he went to visit Heron。
Armand； with a light heart and springy step； followed him as if he
were going to a feast where he would meet Jeanne； where he would
kneel at her feet； kiss her hands； and lead her triumphantly to
freedom and to happiness。
CHAPTER XVIII
THE REMOVAL
Chauvelin no longer made any pretence to hold Armand by the arm。
By temperament as well as by profession a spy； there was one
subject at least which he had mastered thoroughly： that was the
study of human nature。 Though occasionally an exceptionally
complex mental organisation baffled himas in the case of Sir
Percy Blakeneyhe prided himself； and justly； too； on reading
natures like that of Armand St。 Just as he would an open book。
The excitable disposition of the Latin races he knew out and out；
he knew exactly how far a sentimental situation would lead a young
Frenchman like Armand； who was by disposition chivalrous； and by
temperament essentially passionate。 Above all things； he knew
when and how far he could trust a man to do either a sublime
action or an essentially foolish one。
Therefore he walked along contentedly now； not even looking back
to see whether St。 Just was following him。 He knew that he did。
His thoughts only dwelt on the young enthusiastin his mind he
called him the young foolin order to weigh in the balance the
mighty possibilities that would accrue from the present sequence
of events。 The fixed idea ever working in the man's scheming
brain had already transformed a vague belief into a certainty。
That the Scarlet Pimpernel was in Paris at the present moment
Chauvelin had now become convinced。 How far he could turn the
capture of Armand St。 Just to the triumph of his own ends remained
to be seen。
But this he did know： the Scarlet Pimpernelthe man whom he had
learned to know； to dread； and even in a grudging manner to
admirewas not like to leave one of his followers in the lurch。
Marguerite's brother in the Temple would be the surest decoy for
the elusive meddler who still； and in spite of all care and
precaution； continued to baffle the army of spies set upon his
track。
Chauvelin could hear Armand's light； elastic footsteps resounding
behind him on the flagstones。 A world of intoxicating
possibilities surged up before him。 Ambition； which two
successive dire failures had atrophied in his breast； once more
rose up buoyant and hopeful。 Once he had sworn to lay the Scarlet
Pimpernel by the heels； and that oath was not yet wholly
forgotten； it had lain dormant after the catastrophe of Boulogne；
but with the sight of Armand St。 Just it had re…awakened and
confronted him again with the strength of a
