el dorado-第57章
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distraught with grief； had yet the strength of mind not to call
for assistance。 She pillowed the loved one's head upon her
breast； she kissed the dear； tired eyes； the poor throbbing
temples。 The unutterable pathos of seeing this man； who was always
the personification of extreme vitality； energy； and boundless
endurance and pluck； lying thus helpless； like a tired child； in
her arms； was perhaps the saddest moment of this day of sorrow。
But in her trust she never wavered for one instant。 Much that he
had said had puzzled her； but the word 〃shame〃 coming from his own
lips as a comment on himself never caused her the slightest pang
of fear。 She had quickly hidden the tiny packet in her kerchief。
She would act point by point exactly as he had ordered her to do；
and she knew that Ffoulkes would never waver either。
Her heart ached well…nigh to breaking point。 That which she could
not understand had increased her anguish tenfold。 If she could
only have given way to tears she could have borne this final agony
more easily。 But the solace of tears was not for her； when those
loved eyes once more opened to consciousness they should see hers
glowing with courage and determination。
There had been silence for a few minutes in the little cell。 The
soldiery outside； inured to their hideous duty； thought no doubt
that the time had come for them to interfere。 The iron bar was
raised and thrown back with a loud crash； the butt…ends of muskets
were grounded against the floor； and two soldiers made noisy
irruption into the cell。
〃Hola； citizen！ Wake up；〃 shouted one of the men； 〃you have not
told us yet what you have done with Capet！〃
Marguerite uttered a cry of horror。 Instinctively her arms were
interposed between the unconscious man and these inhuman
creatures； with a beautiful gesture of protecting motherhood。
〃He has fainted；〃 she said； her voice quivering with indignation。
〃My God！ are you devils that you have not one spark of manhood in
you？〃
The men shrugged their shoulders； and both laughed brutally。 They
had seen worse sights than these； since they served a Republic
that ruled by bloodshed and by terror。 They were own brothers in
callousness and cruelty to those men who on this self…same spot a
few months ago had watched the daily agony of a martyred Queen； or
to those who had rushed into the Abbaye prison on that awful day
in September； and at a word from their infamous leaders had put
eighty defenceless prisonersmen； women； and childrento the
sword。
〃Tell him to say what he has done with Capet；〃 said one of the
soldiers now； and this rough command was accompanied with a coarse
jest that sent the blood flaring up into Marguerite's pale cheeks。
The brutal laugh； the coarse words which accompanied it； the
insult flung at Marguerite； had penetrated to Blakeney's slowly
returning consciousness。 With sudden strength； that appeared
almost supernatural； he jumped to his feet； and before any of the
others could interfere he had with clenched fist struck the
soldier a full blow on the mouth。
The man staggered back with a curse； the other shouted for help；
in a moment the narrow place swarmed with soldiers； Marguerite was
roughly torn away from the prisoner's side； and thrust into the
far corner of the cell； from where she only saw a confused mass of
blue coats and white belts； andtowering for one brief moment
above what seemed to her fevered fancy like a veritable sea of
headsthe pale face of her husband； with wide dilated eyes
searching the gloom for hers。
〃Remember！〃 he shouted； and his voice for that brief moment rang
out clear and sharp above the din。
Then he disappeared behind the wall of glistening bayonets； of
blue coats and uplifted arms； mercifully for her she remembered
nothing more very clearly。 She felt herself being dragged out of
the cell； the iron bar being thrust down behind her with a loud
clang。 Then in a vague； dreamy state of semi…unconsciousness she
saw the heavy bolts being drawn back from the outer door； heard
the grating of the key in the monumental lock； and the next moment
a breath of fresh air brought the sensation of renewed life into
her。
CHAPTER XXX
AFTERWARDS
〃I am sorry； Lady Blakeney；〃 said a harsh； dry voice close to
her； 〃the incident at the end of your visit was none of our
making； remember。〃
She turned away； sickened with horror at thought of contact with
this wretch。 She had heard the heavy oaken door swing to behind
her on its ponderous hinges； and the key once again turn in the
lock。 She felt as if she had suddenly been thrust into a coffin；
and that clods of earth were being thrown upon her breast；
oppressing her heart so that she could not breathe。
Had she looked for the last time on the man whom she loved beyond
everything else on earth； whom she worshipped more ardently day by
day？ Was she even now carrying within the folds of her kerchief a
message from a dying man to his comrades？
Mechanically she followed Chauvelin down the corridor and along
the passages which she had traversed a brief half…hour ago。 From
some distant church tower a clock tolled the hour of ten。 It had
then really only been little more than thirty brief minutes since
first she had entered this grim building； which seemed less stony
than the monsters who held authority within it ； to her it seemed
that centuries had gone over her head during that time。 She felt
like an old woman； unable to straighten her back or to steady her
limbs； she could only dimly see some few paces ahead the trim
figure of Chauvelin walking with measured steps； his hands held
behind his back； his head thrown up with what looked like
triumphant defiance。
At the door of the cubicle where she had been forced to submit to
the indignity of being searched by a wardress； the latter was now
standing； waiting with characteristic stolidity。 In her hand she
held the steel files； the dagger and the purse which； as
Marguerite passed； she held out to her。
〃Your property； citizeness；〃 she said placidly。
She emptied the purse into her own hand； and solemnly counted out
the twenty pieces of gold。 She was about to replace them all into
the purse； when Marguerite pressed one of them back into her
wrinkled hand。
〃Nineteen will be enough； citizeness；〃 she said； 〃keep one for
yourself； not only for me； but for all the poor women who come
here with their heart full of hope； and go hence with it full of
despair。〃
The woman turned calm； lack…lustre eyes on her； and silently
pocketed the gold piece with a grudgingly muttered word of thanks。
Chauvelin during this brief interlude； had walked thoughtlessly on
ahead。 Marguerite； peering down the length of the narrow
corridor； spied his sable…clad figure some hundred metres further
on as it crossed the dim circle of light thrown by one of the
lamps。
She was about to follow； when it seemed to her as if some one was
moving in the darkness close beside her。 The wardress was even
now in the act of closing the door of her cubicle； and there were
a couple of soldiers who were disappearing from view round one end
of the passage； whilst Chauvelin's retreating form was lost in the
gloom at the other。
There was no light close to where she herself was standing； and
the blackness around her was as impenetrable as a veil； the sound
of a human creature moving and breathing close to her in this
intense darkness acted weirdly on her overwrought nerves。
〃Qui va la？〃 she called。
There was a more distinct movement among the shadows this time； as
of a swift tread on the flagstones of the corridor。 All else was
silent round； and now she could plainly hear those footsteps
running rapidly down the passage away from her。 She strained her
eyes to see more clearly； and anon in one of the dim circles of
light on ahead she spied a man's figureslender and darkly
cladwalking quickly yet furtively like one pursued。 As he
crossed the light the man turned to look back。 It was her brother
Armand。
Her first instinct was to call to him； the second checked that
call upon her lips。
Percy had said that Armand was in no danger； then why should he be
sneaking al
