el dorado-第61章
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〃No！〃 replied Jeanne。 〃I never saw him since； but when I arrived
at the Rue St。 Germain l'Auxerrois I was told by the good people
who took charge of me that the ragged man…of…all…work had been
none other than the mysterious Englishman whom Armand reveres； he
whom they call the Scarlet Pimpernel。〃
〃But you did not stay very long in the Rue St。 Germain
l'Auxerrois； did you？〃
〃No。 Only three days。 The third day I received a communique from
the Committee of General Security； together with an unconditional
certificate of safety。 It meant that I was freequite free。 Oh！
I could scarcely believe it。 I laughed and I cried until the
people in the house thought that I had gone mad。 The past few
days had been such a horrible nightmare。〃
〃And then you saw Armand again？〃
〃Yes。 They told him that I was free。 And he came here to see me。
He often comes； he will be here anon。〃
〃But are you not afraid on his account and your own？ He ishe
must be still'suspect'； a well…known adherent of the Scarlet
Pimpernel； he would be safer out of Paris。〃
〃No！ oh； no！ Armand is in no danger。 He； too； has an unconditional
certificate of safety。〃
〃An unconditional certificate of safety？〃 asked Marguerite； whilst
a deep frown of grave puzzlement appeared between her brows。
〃What does that mean？
〃It means that he is free to come and go as he likes； that neither
he nor I have anything to fear from Heron and his awful spies。
Oh！ but for that sad and careworn look on Armand's face we could
be so happy； but he is so unlike himself。 He is Armand and yet
another； his look at times quite frightens me。〃
〃Yet you know why he is so sad；〃 said Marguerite in a strange；
toneless voice which she seemed quite unable to control； for that
tonelessness came from a terrible sense of suffocation； of a
feeling as if her heart…strings were being gripped by huge； hard
hands。
〃Yes； I know；〃 said Jeanne half hesitatingly； as if knowing； she
was still unconvinced。
〃His chief； his comrade； the friend of whom you speak； the Scarlet
Pimpernel； who risked his life in order to save yours；
mademoiselle； is a prisoner in the hands of those that hate him。〃
Marguerite had spoken with sudden vehemence。 There was almost an
appeal in her voice now； as if she were trying not to convince
Jeanne only； but also herself； of something that was quite simple；
quite straightforward； and yet which appeared to be receding from
her； an intangible something； a spirit that was gradually yielding
to a force as yet unborn； to a phantom that had not yet emerged
from out chaos。
But Jeanne seemed unconscious of all this。 Her mind was absorbed
in Armand； the man whom she loved in her simple； whole…hearted
way； and who had seemed so different of late。
〃Oh； yes！〃 she said with a deep； sad sigh； whilst the ever…ready
tears once more gathered in her eyes； 〃Armand is very unhappy
because of him。 The Scarlet Pimpernel was his friend； Armand
loved and revered him。 Did you know；〃 added the girl； turning
large； horror…filled eyes on Marguerite； 〃that they want some
information from him about the Dauphin； and to force him to give
it theythey〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 said Marguerite。
〃Can you wonder； then； that Armand is unhappy。 Oh！ last night；
after he went from me； I cried for hours； just because he had
looked so sad。 He no longer talks of happy England； of the
cottage we were to have； and of the Kentish orchards in May。 He
has not ceased to love me； for at times his love seems so great
that I tremble with a delicious sense of fear。 But oh！ his love
for me no longer makes him happy。〃
Her head had gradually sunk lower and lower on her breast； her
voice died down in a murmur broken by heartrending sighs。 Every
generous impulse in Marguerite's noble nature prompted her to take
that sorrowing child in her arms； to comfort her if she could； to
reassure her if she had the power。 But a strange icy feeling had
gradually invaded her heart； even whilst she listened to the simple
unsophisticated talk of Jeanne Lange。 Her hands felt numb and
clammy； and instinctively she withdrew away from the near vicinity
of the girl。 She felt as if the room； the furniture in it； even the
window before her were dancing a wild and curious dance； and that
from everywhere around strange whistling sounds reached her ears；
which caused her head to whirl and her brain to reel。
Jeanne had buried her head in her hands。 She was cryingsoftly；
almost humbly at first； as if half ashamed of her grief； then；
suddenly it seemed； as if she could not contain herself any
longer； a heavy sob escaped her throat and shook her whole
delicate frame with its violence。 Sorrow no longer would be
gainsaid； it insisted on physical expressionthat awful tearing
of the heart…strings which leaves the body numb and panting with
pain。
In a moment Marguerite had forgotten； the dark and shapeless
phantom that had knocked at the gate of her soul was relegated
back into chaos。 It ceased to be； it was made to shrivel and to
burn in the great seething cauldron of womanly sympathy。 What
part this child had played in the vast cataclysm of misery which
had dragged a noble…hearted enthusiast into the dark torture…chamber；
whence the only outlet led to the guillotine； sheMarguerite Blakeney
did not know； what part Armand； her brother； had played in it； that
she would not dare to guess； all that she knew was that here was a
loving heart that was filled with paina young； inexperienced soul
that was having its first tussle with the grim realities of life
and every motherly instinct in Marguerite was aroused。
She rose and gently drew the young girl up from her knees； and then
closer to her； she pillowed the grief…stricken head against her
shoulder； and murmured gentle； comforting words into the tiny ear。
〃I have news for Armand；〃 she whispered； 〃that will comfort him； a
messagea letter from his friend。 You will see； dear； that when
Armand reads it he will become a changed man； you see； Armand
acted a little foolishly a few days ago。 His chief had given him
orders which he disregardedhe was so anxious about youhe
should have obeyed； and now； mayhap； he feels that his disobedience
may have been thethe innocent cause of much misery to others； that
is； no doubt； the reason why he is so sad。 The letter from his friend
will cheer him； you will see。〃
〃Do you really think so； madame？〃 murmured Jeanne； in whose
tear…stained eyes the indomitable hopefulness of youth was already
striving to shine。
〃I am sure of it；〃 assented Marguerite。
And for the moment she was absolutely sincere。 The phantom had
entirely vanished。 She would even； had he dared to re…appear；
have mocked and derided him for his futile attempt at turning the
sorrow in her heart to a veritable hell of bitterness。
CHAPTER XXXIII
LITTLE MOTHER
The two women； both so young still； but each of them with a mark
of sorrow already indelibly graven in her heart； were clinging to
one another； bound together by the strong bond of sympathy。 And
but for the sadness of it all it were difficult to conjure up a
more beautiful picture than that which they presented as they
stood side by side； Marguerite； tall and stately as an exquisite
lily； with the crown of her ardent hair and the glory of her deep
blue eyes； and Jeanne Lange； dainty and delicate； with the brown
curls and the child…like droop of the soft； moist lips。
Thus Armand saw them when； a moment or two later； entered
unannounced。 He had pushed open the door and looked on the two
women silently for a second or two； on the girl whom he loved so
dearly； for whose sake he had committed the great； the unpardonable
sin which would send him forever henceforth； Cain…like； a wanderer
on the face of the earth； and the other； his sister； her whom a
Judas act would condemn to lonely sorrow and widowhood。
He could have cried out in an agony of remorse； and it was the
groan of acute soul anguish which escaped his lips that drew
Marguerite's attention to his presence。
Even though many things that Jeanne Lange had said had prepared
her for a change in her brother； she was immeasurably shocked by
his appeara
