el dorado-第49章
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engendered in human minds it is almost impossible to conceive； and
yet we know from no less important a witness than Madame Simon
herself that the child who died in the Temple a few weeks later
was a poor little imbecile； a deaf and dumb child brought hither
from one of the asylums and left to die in peace。 There was
nobody but kindly Death to take him out of his misery； for the
giant intellect that had planned and carried out the rescue of the
uncrowned King of France； and which alone might have had the power
to save him too； was being broken on the rack of enforced
sleeplessness。
CHAPTER XXVI
THE BITTEREST FOE
That same evening Sir Andrew Ffoulkes； having announced his
intention of gleaning further news of Armand； if possible； went
out shortly after seven o'clock； promising to be home again about
nine。
Marguerite； on the other hand； had to make her friend a solemn
promise that she would try and eat some supper which the landlady
of these miserable apartments had agreed to prepare for her。 So
far they had been left in peaceful occupation of these squalid
lodgings in a tumble…down house on the Quai de la Ferraille；
facing the house of Justice； the grim walls of which Marguerite
would watch with wide…open dry eyes for as long as the grey wintry
light lingered over them。
Even now； though the darkness had set in； and snow； falling in
close； small flakes； threw a thick white veil over the landscape；
she sat at the open window long after Sir Andrew had gone out；
watching the few small flicks of light that blinked across from
the other side of the river； and which came from the windows of
the Chatelet towers。 The windows of the Conciergerie she could not
see； for these gave on one of the inner courtyards； but there was
a melancholy consolation even in the gazing on those walls that
held in their cruel； grim embrace all that she loved in the world。
It seemed so impossible to think of Percythe laughter…loving；
irresponsible； light…hearted adventureras the prey of those
fiends who would revel in their triumph； who would crush him；
humiliate him； insult himye gods alive！ even torture him；
perhapsthat they might break the indomitable spirit that would
mock them even on the threshold of death。
Surely； surely God would never allow such monstrous infamy as the
deliverance of the noble soaring eagle into the hands of those
preying jackals！ Margueritethough her heart ached beyond what
human nature could endure； though her anguish on her husband's
account was doubled by that which she felt for her brothercould
not bring herself to give up all hope。 Sir Andrew said it
rightly； while there was life there was hope。 While there was
life in those vigorous limbs； spirit in that daring mind； how
could puny； rampant beasts gain the better of the immortal soul？
As for Armandwhy； if Percy were free she would have no cause to
fear for Armand。
She sighed a sigh of deep； of passionate regret and longing。 If
she could only see her husband； if she could only look for one
second into those laughing； lazy eyes； wherein she alone knew how
to fathom the infinity of passion that lay within their depths； if
she could but once feel hisardent kiss on her lips； she could
more easily endure this agonising suspense； and wait confidently
and courageously for the issue。
She turned away from the window； for the night was getting bitterly
cold。 From the tower of St。 Germain l'Auxerrois the clock slowly
struck eight。 Even as the last sound of the historic bell died away
in the distance she heard a timid knocking at the door。
〃Enter！〃 she called unthinkingly。
She thought it was her landlady； come up with more wood； mayhap；
for the fire； so she did not turn to the door when she heard it
being slowly opened； then closed again； and presently a soft tread
on the threadbare carpet。
〃May I crave your kind attention； Lady Blakeney？〃 said a harsh
voice； subdued to tones of ordinary courtesy。
She quickly repressed a cry of terror。 How well she knew that
voice！ When last she heard it it was at Boulogne； dictating that
infamous letterthe weapon wherewith Percy had so effectually
foiled his enemy。 She turned and faced the man who was her
bitterest foehers in the person of the man she loved。
〃Chauvelin！〃 she gasped。
〃Himself at your service； dear lady；〃 he said simply。
He stood in the full light of the lamp； his trim； small figure
boldly cut out against the dark wall beyond。 He wore the usual
sable…coloured clothes which he affected； with the primly…folded
jabot and cuffs edged with narrow lace。
Without waiting for permission from her he quietly and
deliberately placed his hat and cloak on a chair。 Then he turned
once more toward her； and made a movement as if to advance into
the room； but instinctively she put up a hand as if to ward off
the calamity of his approach。
He shrugged his shoulders； and the shadow of a smile； that had
neither mirth nor kindliness in it； hovered round the corners of
his thin lips。
〃Have I your permission to sit？〃 he asked。
〃As you will；〃 she replied slowly； keeping her wide…open eyes
fixed upon him as does a frightened bird upon the serpent whom it
loathes and fears。
〃And may I crave a few moments of your undivided attention； Lady
Blakeney？〃 he continued； taking a chair； and so placing it beside
the table that the light of the lamp when he sat remained behind
him and his face was left in shadow。
〃Is it necessary？〃 asked Marguerite。
〃It is；〃 he replied curtly； 〃if you desire to see and speak with
your husbandto be of use to him before it is too late。〃
〃Then； I pray you； speak； citizen； and I will listen。〃
She sank into a chair； not heeding whether the light of the lamp
fell on her face or not； whether the lines in her haggard cheeks；
or her tear…dimmed eyes showed plainly the sorrow and despair that
had traced them。 She had nothing to hide from this man； the cause
of all the tortures which she endured。 She knew that neither
courage nor sorrow would move him； and that hatred for Percy
personal deadly hatred for the man who had twice foiled him
had long crushed the last spark of humanity in his heart。
〃Perhaps； Lady Blakeney；〃 he began after a slight pause and in his
smooth； even voice； 〃it would interest you to hear how I succeeded
in procuring for myself this pleasure of an interview with you？〃
〃Your spies did their usual work； I suppose；〃 she said coldly。
〃Exactly。 We have been on your track for three days； and
yesterday evening an unguarded movement on the part of Sir Andrew
Ffoulkes gave us the final clue to your whereabouts。〃
〃Of Sir Andrew Ffoulkes？〃 she asked； greatly puzzled。
He was in an eating…house； cleverly disguised； I own； trying to
glean information； no doubt as to the probable fate of Sir Percy
Blakeney。 As chance would have it； my friend Heron； of the
Committee of General Security； chanced to be discussing with
reprehensible opennessercertainwhat shall I say？certain
measures which； at my advice； the Committee of Public Safety have
been forced to adopt with a view to〃
〃A truce on your smooth…tongued speeches； citizen Chauvelin；〃 she
interposed firmly。 〃Sir Andrew Ffoulkes has told me naught of
thisso I pray you speak plainly and to the point； if you can。〃
He bowed with marked irony。
〃As you please；〃 he said。 〃Sir Andrew Ffoulkes； hearing certain
matters of which I will tell you anon； made a movement which
betrayed him to one of our spies。 At a word from citizen Heron
this man followed on the heels of the young farrier who had shown
such interest in the conversation of the Chief Agent。 Sir Andrew；
I imagine； burning with indignation at what he had heard； was
perhaps not quite so cautious as he usually is。 Anyway； the man
on his track followed him to this door。 It was quite simple； as
you see。 As for me； I had guessed a week ago that we would see
the beautiful Lady Blakeney in Paris before long。 When I knew
where Sir Andrew Ffoulkes lodged； I had no difficulty in guessing
that Lady Blakeney would not be far off。〃
〃And what was there in citizen Heron's conversation last night；〃
she asked quietly； 〃that so aroused Sir Andrew's i
