el dorado-第52章
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had failed； so now every attempt to reach the imprisoned Scarlet
Pimpernel was equally doomed to bitter disappointment。
The guard…room was filled with soldiers day and night； the windows
of the inner cell； heavily barred； were too small to admit of the
passage of a human body； and they were raised twenty feet from the
corridor below。 Sir Andrew had stood in the corridor two days
ago； he bad looked on the window behind which he knew that his
friend must be eating out his noble heart in a longing for
liberty； and he had realised then that every effort at help from
the outside was foredoomed to failure。
〃Courage； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said to Marguerite； when anon they
had crossed the Pont au Change； and were wending their way slowly
along the Rue de la Barillerie； 〃remember our proud dictum： the
Scarlet Pimpernel never fails！ and also this； that whatever messages
Blakeney gives you for us； whatever he wishes us to do； we are to a
man ready to do it； and to give our lives for our chief。 Courage！
Something tells me that a man like Percy is not going to die at the
hands of such vermin as Chauvelin and his friends。〃
They had reached the great iron gates of the house of Justice。
Marguerite； trying to smile； extended her trembling band to this
faithful； loyal comrade。
〃I'll not be far；〃 he said。 〃When you come out do not look to the
right or left； but make straight for home； I'll not lose sight of
you for a moment； and as soon as possible will overtake you。 God
bless you both。〃
He pressed his lips on her cold little hand； and watched her tall；
elegant figure as she passed through the great gates until the
veil of falling snow hid her from his gaze。 Then with a deep sigh
of bitter anguish and sorrow he turned away and was soon lost in
the gloom。
Marguerite found the gate at the bottom of the monumental stairs
open when she arrived。 Chauvelin was standing immediately inside
the building waiting for her。
〃We are prepared for your visit； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said； 〃and the
prisoner knows that you are coming。〃
He led the way down one of the numerous and interminable corridors
of the building； and she followed briskly； pressing her hand
against her bosom there where the folds of her kerchief hid the
steel files and the precious dagger。
Even in the gloom of these ill…lighted passages she realised that
she was surrounded by guards。 There were soldiers everywhere； two
had stood behind the door when first she entered； and had
immediately closed it with a loud clang behind her； and all the
way down the corridors； through the half…light engendered by
feebly flickering lamps； she caught glimpses of the white facings
on the uniforms of the town guard； or occasionally the glint of
steel of a bayonet。 Presently Chauvelin paused beside a door；
which he had just reached。 His hand was on the latch； for it did
not appear to be locked； and he turned toward Marguerite。
〃I am very sorry； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said in simple； deferential
tones； 〃that the prison authorities； who at my request are
granting you this interview at such an unusual hour； have made a
slight condition to your visit。〃
〃A condition？〃 she asked。 〃What is it？〃
〃You must forgive me；〃 he said； as if purposely evading her
question； 〃for I give you my word that I had nothing to do with a
regulation that you might justly feel was derogatory to your
dignity。 If you will kindly step in here a wardress in charge
will explain to you what is required。〃
He pushed open the door； and stood aside ceremoniously in order to
allow her to pass in。 She looked on him with deep puzzlement and
a look of dark suspicion in her eyes。 But her mind was too much
engrossed with the thought of her meeting with Percy to worry over
any trifle that mightas her enemy had inferredoffend her
womanly dignity。
She walked into the room； past Chauvelin； who whispered as she
went by：
〃I will wait for you here。 And； I pray you； if you have aught to
complain of summon me at once。〃
Then he closed the door behind her。 The room in which Marguerite
now found herself was a small unventilated quadrangle； dimly
lighted by a hanging lamp。 A woman in a soiled cotton gown and
lank grey hair brushed away from a parchment…like forehead rose
from the chair in which she had been sitting when Marguerite
entered； and put away some knitting on which she had apparently
been engaged。
〃I was to tell you； citizeness；〃 she said the moment the door had
been closed and she was alone with Marguerite； 〃that the prison
authorities have given orders that I should search you before you
visit the prisoner。〃
She repeated this phrase mechanically like a child who has been
taught to say a lesson by heart。 She was a stoutish middle…aged
woman； with that pasty； flabby skin peculiar to those who live in
want of fresh air； but her small； dark eyes were not unkindly；
although they shifted restlessly from one object to another as if
she were trying to avoid looking the other woman straight in the
face。
〃That you should search me！〃 reiterated Marguerite slowly； trying
to understand。
〃Yes；〃 replied the woman。 〃I was to tell you to take off your
clothes； so that I might look them through and through。 I have
often had to do this before when visitors have been allowed inside
the prison； so it is no use your trying to deceive me in any way。
I am very sharp at finding out if any one has papers； or files or
ropes concealed in an underpetticoat。 Come；〃 she added more
roughly； seeing that Marguerite had remained motionless in the
middle of the room； 〃the quicker you are about it the sooner you
will be taken to see the prisoner。〃
These words had their desired effect。 The proud Lady Blakeney；
inwardly revolting at the outrage； knew that resistance would be
worse than useless。 Chauvelin was the other side of the door。 A
call from the woman would bring him to her assistance； and
Marguerite was only longing to hasten the moment when she could be
with her husband。
She took off her kerchief and her gown and calmly submitted to the
woman's rough hands as they wandered with sureness and accuracy to
the various pockets and folds that might conceal prohibited
articles。 The woman did her work with peculiar stolidity； she did
not utter a word when she found the tiny steel files and placed
them on a table beside her。 In equal silence she laid the little
dagger beside them； and the purse which contained twenty gold
pieces。 These she counted in front of Marguerite and then
replaced them in the purse。 Her face expressed neither surprise；
nor greed nor pity。 She was obviously beyond the reach of bribery
just a machine paid by the prison authorities to do this unpleasant
work； and no doubt terrorised into doing it conscientiously。
When she had satisfied herself that Marguerite had nothing further
concealed about her person； she allowed her to put her dress on
once more。 She even offered to help her on with it。 When
Marguerite was fully dressed she opened the door for her。
Chauvelin was standing in the passage waiting patiently。 At sight
of Marguerite； whose pale； set face betrayed nothing of the
indignation which she felt； he turned quick； inquiring eyes on the
woman。
〃Two files； a dagger and a purse with twenty louis；〃 said the
latter curtly。
Chauvelin made no comment。 He received the information quite
placidly； as if it had no special interest for him。 Then he said
quietly：
〃This way； citizeness！〃
Marguerite followed him； and two minutes later he stood beside a
heavy nail…studded door that had a small square grating let into
one of the panels； and said simply：
〃This is it。〃
Two soldiers of the National Guard were on sentry at the door； two
more were pacing up and down outside it； arid had halted when
citizen Chauvelin gave his name and showed his tricolour scarf of
office。 From behind the small grating in the door a pair of eyes
peered at the newcomers。
〃Qui va la？〃 came the quick challenge from the guard…room within。
〃Citizen Chauvelin of the Committee of Public Safety；〃 was the
prompt reply。
There was the sound of grounding of arms； of the drawing of bolts
and the turning of
