el dorado-第38章
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prolong life long enough to make it unendurable。 I'll torture
him！ I'll torture him！〃
But Chauvelin abruptly silenced the wretch with a curt command；
then； without another word； he walked straight out of the room。
In thought Armand followed him。 The wild desire was suddenly born
in him to run away at this moment； while Heron； wrapped in his own
meditations； was paying no heed to him。 Chauvelin's footsteps had
long ago died away in the distance； it was a long way to the upper
floor of the Tower； and some time would be spent； too； in
interrogating the commissaries。 This was Armand's opportunity。
After all； if he were free himself he might more effectually help
to rescue Jeanne。 He knew； too； now where to join his leader。
The corner of the street by the canal； where Sir Andrew Ffoulkes
would be waiting with the coal…cart； then there was the spinney on
the road to St。 Germain。 Armand hoped that； with good luck； he
might yet overtake his comrades； tell them of Jeanne's plight； and
entreat them to work for her rescue。
He had forgotten that now he had no certificate of safety； that
undoubtedly he would be stopped at the gates at this hour of the
night； that his conduct proving suspect he would in all probability
he detained； and； mayhap； be brought back to this self…same place
within an hour。 He had forgotten all that； for the primeval
instinct for freedom had suddenly been aroused。 He rose softly
from his chair and crossed the room。 Heron paid no attention to
him。 Now he had traversed the antechamber and unlatched the outer door。
Immediately a couple of bayonets were crossed in front of him； two
more further on ahead scintillated feebly in the flickering light。
Chauvelin had taken his precautions。 There was no doubt that
Armand St。 Just was effectually a prisoner now。
With a sigh of disappointment he went back to his place beside the
fire。 Heron had not even moved whilst he had made this futile
attempt at escape。 Five minutes later Chauvelin re…entered the
room。
CHAPTER XX
THE CERTIFICATE OF SAFETY
〃You can leave de Batz and his gang alone； citizen Heron；〃 said
Chauvelin； as soon as he had closed the door behind him； 〃he had
nothing to do with the escape of the Dauphin。〃
Heron growled out a few words of incredulity。 But Chauvelin
shrugged his shoulders and looked with unutterable contempt on his
colleague。 Armand； who was watching him closely； saw that in his
hand he held a small piece of paper； which he had crushed into a
shapeless mass。
〃Do not waste your time； citizen；〃 he said； 〃in raging against an
empty wind…bag。 Arrest de Batz if you like； or leave him alone an
you pleasewe have nothing to fear from that braggart。〃
With nervous； slightly shaking fingers he set to work to smooth
out the scrap of paper which he held。 His hot hands had soiled it
and pounded it until it was a mere rag and the writing on it
illegible。 But； such as it was； he threw it down with a
blasphemous oath on the desk in front of Heron's eyes。
〃It is that accursed Englishman who has been at work again；〃 he
said more calmly； 〃I guessed it the moment I heard your story。
Set your whole army of sleuth…hounds on his track； citizen； you'll
need them all。〃
Heron picked up the scrap of torn paper and tried to decipher the
writing on it by the light from the lamp。 He seemed almost dazed
now with the awful catastrophe that had befallen him； and the fear
that his own wretched life would have to pay the penalty for the
disappearance of the child。
As for Armandeven in the midst of his own troubles； and of his
own anxiety for Jeanne； he felt a proud exultation in his heart。
The Scarlet Pimpernel had succeeded； Percy had not failed in his
self…imposed undertaking。 Chauvelin； whose piercing eyes were
fixed on him at that moment； smiled with contemptuous irony。
〃As you will find your hands overfull for the next few hours；
citizen Heron；〃 he said； speaking to his colleague and nodding in
the direction of Armand； 〃I'll not trouble you with the voluntary
confession this young citizen desired to make to you。 All I need
tell you is that he is an adherent of the Scarlet PimpernelI
believe one of his most faithful； most trusted officers。〃
Heron roused himself from the maze of gloomy thoughts that were
again paralysing his tongue。 He turned bleary； wild eyes on
Armand。
〃We have got one of them； then？〃 he murmured incoherently；
babbling like a drunken man。
〃M'yes！〃 replied Chauvelin lightly； 〃but it is too late now for a
formal denunciation and arrest。 He cannot leave Paris anyhow； and
all that your men need to do is to keep a close look…out on him。
But I should send him home to…night if I were you。〃
Heron muttered something more； which； however； Armand did not
understand。 Chauvelin's words were still ringing in his ear。 Was
he； then； to be set free to…night？ Free in a measure； of course；
since spies were to be set to watch himbut free； nevertheless？
He could not understand Chauvelin's attitude； and his own
self…love was not a little wounded at the thought that he was of
such little account that these men could afford to give him even
this provisional freedom。 And； of course； there was still Jeanne。
〃I must； therefore； bid you good…night； citizen；〃 Chauvelin was
saying in his bland； gently ironical manner。 〃You will be glad to
return to your lodgings。 As you see； the chief agent of the
Committee of General Security is too much occupied just now to
accept the sacrifice of your life which you were prepared so
generously to offer him。〃
〃I do not understand you； citizen；〃 retorted Armand coldly； 〃nor
do I desire indulgence at your hands。 You have arrested an
innocent woman on the trumped…up charge that she was harbouring
me。 I came here to…night to give myself up to justice so that she
might be set free。〃
〃But the hour is somewhat late； citizen；〃 rejoined Chauvelin
urbanely。 〃The lady in whom you take so fervent an interest is no
doubt asleep in her cell at this hour。 It would not be fitting to
disturb her now。 She might not find shelter before morning； and
the weather is quite exceptionally unpropitious。〃
〃Then； sir；〃 said Armand； a little bewildered； 〃am I to understand
that if I hold myself at your disposition Mademoiselle Lange will
be set free as early to…morrow morning as may be？〃
〃No doubt； sirno doubt；〃 replied Chauvelin with more than his
accustomed blandness； 〃if you will hold yourself entirely at our
disposition； Mademoiselle Lange will be set free to…morrow。 I
think that we can safely promise that； citizen Heron； can we not？〃
he added； turning to his colleague。
But Heron； overcome with the stress of emotions； could only murmur
vague； unintelligible words。
〃Your word on that； citizen Chauvelin？〃 asked Armand。
〃My word on it an you will accept it。〃
〃No； I will not do that。 Give me an unconditional certificate of
safety and I will believe you。〃
〃Of what use were that to you？〃 asked Chauvelin。
〃I believe my capture to be of more importance to you than that of
Mademoiselle Lange；〃 said Armand quietly。
〃I will use the certificate of safety for myself or one of my
friends if you break your word to me anent Mademoiselle Lange。〃
〃H'm！ the reasoning is not illogical； citizen；〃 said Chauvelin；
whilst a curious smile played round the corners of his thin lips。
〃You are quite right。 You are a more valuable asset to us than
the charming lady who； I hope； will for many a day and year to
come delight pleasure…loving Paris with her talent and her grace。〃
〃Amen to that； citizen；〃 said Armand fervently。
〃Well； it will all depend on you； sir！ Here；〃 he added； coolly
running over some papers on Heron's desk until he found what he
wanted； 〃is an absolutely unconditional certificate of safety。
The Committee of General Security issue very few of these。 It is
worth the cost of a human life。 At no barrier or gate of any city
can such a certificate be disregarded； nor even can it be
detained。 Allow me to hand it to you； citizen； as a pledge of my
own good faith。〃
Smiling； urbane； with a curious look that almost expressed
amusement lurking in his shrewd； pale eyes； C
