el dorado-第53章
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prompt reply。
There was the sound of grounding of arms； of the drawing of bolts
and the turning of a key in a complicated lock。 The prison was
kept locked from within； and very heavy bars had to be moved ere
the ponderous door slowly swung open on its hinges。
Two steps led up into the guard…room。 Marguerite mounted them
with the same feeling of awe and almost of reverence as she would
have mounted the steps of a sacrificial altar。
The guard…room itself was more brilliantly lighted than the
corridor outside。 The sudden glare of two or three lamps placed
about the room caused her momentarily to close her eyes that were
aching with many shed and unshed tears。 The air was rank and
heavy with the fumes of tobacco； of wine and stale food。 A large
barred window gave on the corridor immediately above the door。
When Marguerite felt strong enough to look around her； she saw
that the room was filled with soldiers。 Some were sitting； others
standing； others lay on rugs against the wall； apparently asleep。
There was one who appeared to be in command； for with a word he
checked the noise that was going on in the room when she entered；
and then he said curtly：
〃This way； citizeness！〃
He turned to an opening in the wall on the left； the stone…lintel
of a door； from which the door itself had been removed； an iron
bar ran across the opening； and this the sergeant now lifted；
nodding to Marguerite to go within。
Instinctively she looked round for Chauvelin。
But he was nowhere to be seen。
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE CAGED LION
Was there some instinct of humanity left in the soldier who
allowed Marguerite through the barrier into the prisoner's cell？
Had the wan face of this beautiful woman stirred within his heart
the last chord of gentleness that was not wholly atrophied by the
constant cruelties； the excesses； the mercilessness which his
service under this fraternising republic constantly demanded of
him？
Perhaps some recollection of former years； when first he served
his King and country； recollection of wife or sister or mother
pleaded within him in favour of this sorely…stricken woman with
the look of unspeakable sorrow in her large blue eyes。
Certain it is that as soon as Marguerite passed the barrier he put
himself on guard against it with his back to the interior of the
cell and to her。
Marguerite had paused on the threshold。
After the glaring light of the guard…room the cell seemed dark；
and at first she could hardly see。 The whole length of the long；
narrow cubicle lay to her left； with a slight recess at its
further end； so that from the threshold of the doorway she could
not see into the distant corner。 Swift as a lightning flash the
remembrance came back to her of proud Marie Antoinette narrowing
her life to that dark corner where the insolent eyes of the rabble
soldiery could not spy her every movement。
Marguerite stepped further into the room。 Gradually by the dim
light of an oil lamp placed upon a table in the recess she began
to distinguish various objects： one or two chairs； another table；
and a small but very comfortable…looking camp bedstead。
Just for a few seconds she only saw these inanimate things； then
she became conscious of Percy's presence。
He sat on a chair； with his left arm half…stretched out upon the
table； his bead hidden in the bend of the elbow。
Marguerite did not utter a cry； she did not even tremble。 Just for
one brief instant she closed her eyes； so as to gather up all her
courage before she dared to look again。 Then with a steady and
noiseless step she came quite close to him。 She knelt on the
flagstones at his feet and raised reverently to her lips the hand
that hung nerveless and limp by his side。
He gave a start； a shiver seemed to go right through him； he half
raised his head and murmured in a hoarse whisper：
〃I tell you that I do not know； and if I did〃
She put her arms round him and pillowed her head upon his breast。
He turned his head slowly toward her； and now his eyeshollowed
and rimmed with purplelooked straight into hers。
〃My beloved；〃 he said； 〃I knew that you would come。〃 His arms
closed round her。 There was nothing of lifelessness or of
weariness in the passion of that embrace； and when she looked up
again it seemed to her as if that first vision which she had had
of him with weary head bent； and wan； haggard face was not
reality； only a dream born of her own anxiety for him； for now the
hot； ardent blood coursed just as swiftly as ever through his
veins； as if lifestrong； tenacious； pulsating lifethrobbed
with unabated vigour in those massive limbs； and behind that
square； clear brow as though the body； but half subdued； had
transferred its vanishing strength to the kind and noble heart
that was beating with the fervour of self…sacrifice。
〃Percy；〃 she said gently； 〃they will only give us a few moments
together。 They thought that my tears would break your spirit
where their devilry had failed。〃
He held her glance with his own； with that close； intent look
which binds soul to soul； and in his deep blue eyes there danced
the restless flames of his own undying mirth：
〃La！ little woman；〃 he said with enforced lightness； even whilst
his voice quivered with the intensity of passion engendered by her
presence； her nearness； the perfume of her hair； 〃how little they
know you； eh？ Your brave； beautiful； exquisite soul； shining now
through your glorious eyes； would defy the machinations of Satan
himself and his horde。 Close your dear eyes； my love。 I shall go
mad with joy if I drink their beauty in any longer。〃
He held her face between his two hands； and indeed it seemed as if
he could not satiate his soul with looking into her eyes。 In the
midst of so much sorrow； such misery and such deadly fear； never
had Marguerite felt quite so happy； never had she felt him so
completely her own。 The inevitable bodily weakness； which of
necessity had invaded even his splendid physique after a whole
week's privations； had made a severe breach in the invincible
barrier of self…control with which the soul of the inner man was
kept perpetually hidden behind a mask of indifference and of
irresponsibility。
And yet the agony of seeing the lines of sorrow so plainly writ on
the beautiful face of the woman he worshipped must have been the
keenest that the bold adventurer had ever experienced in the whole
course of his reckless life。 It was heand he alonewho was
making her suffer； her for whose sake he would gladly have shed
every drop of his blood； endured every torment； every misery and
every humiliation； her whom he worshipped only one degree less
than he worshipped his honour and the cause which he had made his
own。
Yet； in spite of that agony； in spite of the heartrending pathos
of her pale wan face； and through the anguish of seeing her tears；
the ruling passionstrong in deaththe spirit of adventure； the
mad； wild； devil…may…care irresponsibility was never wholly absent。
〃Dear heart；〃 he said with a quaint sigh； whilst he buried his
face in the soft masses of her hair； 〃until you came I was so dd
fatigued。〃
He was laughing； and the old look of boyish love of mischief
illumined his haggard face。
〃Is it not lucky； dear heart；〃 he said a moment or two later；
〃that those brutes do not leave me unshaved？ I could not have
faced you with a week's growth of beard round my chin。 By dint of
promises and bribery I have persuaded one of that rabble to come
and shave me every morning。 They will not allow me to handle a
razor my…self。 They are afraid I should cut my throator one of
theirs。 But mostly I am too dd sleepy to think of such a thing。〃
〃Percy！〃 she exclaimed with tender and passionate reproach。
〃I knowI know； dear；〃 he murmured； 〃what a brute I am！ Ah； God
did a cruel thing the day that He threw me in your path。 To think
that oncenot so very long agowe were drifting apart； you and
I。 You would have suffered less； dear heart； if we had continued
to drift。〃
Then as he saw that his bantering tone pained her； he covered her
hands with kisses； entreating her forgiveness。
〃Dear heart；〃 he said merrily； 〃I deserve tha
