el dorado-第66章

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the　top　of　his　head　all　down　his　eyes　and　cheeks。　　He　shrugged　his
shoulders　with　a　look　of　benign　indulgence　directed　at　his　enemy；
who　had　fallen　back　into　his　chair　exhausted　with　the　effort。

Then　he　took　out　his　handkerchief　and　calmly　wiped　the　water　from
his　face。

〃Not　quite　so　straight　a　shot　as　you　used　to　be；　Sir　Percy；〃　he
said　mockingly。

〃No；　sirapparentlynot。〃

The　words　came　out　in　gasps。　　He　was　like　a　man　only　partly
conscious。　　The　lips　were　parted；　the　eyes　closed；　the　head
leaning　against　the　high　back　of　the　chair。　　For　the　space　of　one
second　Chauvelin　feared　that　his　zeal　had　outrun　his　prudence；
that　he　had　dealt　a　death…blow　to　a　man　in　the　last　stage　of
exhaustion；　where　he　had　only　wished　to　fan　the　flickering　flame
of　life。　　Hastilyfor　the　seconds　seemed　precioushe　ran　to　the
opening　that　led　into　the　guard…room。

〃Brandyquick！〃　he　cried。

Heron　looked　up；　roused　from　the　semi…somnolence　in　which　he　had
lain　for　the　past　half…hour。　　He　disentangled　his　long　limbs　from
out　the　guard…room　chair。

〃Eh？〃　he　queried。　　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Brandy；〃　reiterated　Chauvelin　impatiently；　〃the　prisoner　has
fainted。〃

〃Bah！〃　retorted　the　other　with　a　callous　shrug　of　the　shoulders；
〃you　are　not　going　to　revive　him　with　brandy；　I　imagine。〃

〃No。　　But　you　will；　citizen　Heron；〃　rejoined　the　other　dryly；　〃for
if　you　do　not　he'll　be　dead　in　an　hour！〃

〃Devils　in　hell！〃　exclaimed　Heron；　〃you　have　not　killed　him？
Youyou　dd　fool！〃

He　was　wide　awake　enough　now；　wide　awake　and　shaking　with　fury。
Almost　foaming　at　the　mouth　and　uttering　volleys　of　the　choicest
oaths；　he　elbowed　his　way　roughly　through　the　groups　of　soldiers
who　were　crowding　round　the　centre　table　of　the　guard…room；
smoking　and　throwing　dice　or　playing　cards。　　They　made　way　for　him
as　hurriedly　as　they　could；　for　it　was　not　safe　to　thwart　the
citizen　agent　when　he　was　in　a　rage。

Heron　walked　across　to　the　opening　and　lifted　the　iron　bar。　With
scant　ceremony　he　pushed　his　colleague　aside　arid　strode　into　the
cell；　whilst　Chauvelin；　seemingly　not　resenting　the　other's　ruffianly
manners　and　violent　language；　followed　close　upon　his　heel。

In　the　centre　of　the　room　both　men　paused；　and　Heron　turned　with　a
surly　growl　to　his　friend。

〃You　vowed　he　would　be　dead　in　an　hour；〃　he　said　reproachfully。

The　other　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃It　does　not　look　like　it　now　certainly；〃　he　said　dryly。

Blakeney　was　sittingas　was　his　wontclose　to　the　table；　with
one　arm　leaning　on　it；　the　other；　tightly　clenched；　resting　upon
his　knee。　　A　ghost　of　a　smile　hovered　round　his　lips。

〃Not　in　an　hour；　citizen　Heron；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　flow　was
scarce　above　a　whisper；　〃nor　yet　in　two。〃

〃You　are　a　fool；　man；〃　said　Heron　roughly。　〃You　have　had　seventeen
days　of　this。　　Are　you　not　sick　of　it？〃

〃Heartily；　my　dear　friend；〃　replied　Blakeney　a　little　more　firmly。

〃Seventeen　days；〃　reiterated　the　other；　nodding　his　shaggy　head；
〃you　came　here　on　the　2nd　of　Pluviose；　today　is　the　19th。〃

〃The　19th　Pluviose？〃　interposed　Sir　Percy；　and　a　strange　gleam
suddenly　flashed　in　his　eyes。　　〃Demn　it；　sir；　and　in　Christian
parlance　what　may　that　day　be？〃

〃The　7th　of　February　at　your　service；　Sir　Percy；〃　replied
Chauvelin　quietly。

〃I　thank　you；　sir。　　In　this　dd　hole　I　had　lost　count　of　time。〃

Chauvelin；　unlike　his　rough　and　blundering　colleague；　had　been
watching　the　prisoner　very　closely　for　the　last　moment　or　two；
conscious　of　a　subtle；　undefinable　change　that　had　come　over　the
man　during　those　few　seconds　while　he；　Chauvelin；　had　thought　him
dying。　　The　pose　was　certainly　the　old　familiar　one；　the　head
erect；　the　hand　clenched；　the　eyes　looking　through　and　beyond　the
stone　walls；　but　there　was　an　air　of　listlessness　in　the　stoop　of
the　shoulders；　andexcept　for　that　one　brief　gleam　just　nowa
look　of　more　complete　weariness　round　the　hollow　eyes！　To　the　keen
watcher　it　appeared　as　if　that　sense　of　living　power；　of
unconquered　will　and　defiant　mind　was　no　longer　there；　and　as　if
he　himself　need　no　longer　fear　that　almost　supersensual　thrill
which　had　a　while　ago　kindled　in　him　a　vague　sense　of
admirationalmost　of　remorse。

Even　as　he　gazed；　Blakeney　slowly　turned　his　eyes　full　upon　him。
Chauvelin's　heart　gave　a　triumphant　bound。

With　a　mocking　smile　he　met　the　wearied　look；　the　pitiable　appeal。
His　turn　had　come　at　lasthis　turn　to　mock　and　to　exult。　　He　knew
that　what　he　was　watching　now　was　no　longer　the　last　phase　of　a
long　and　noble　martyrdom；　it　was　the　endthe　inevitable　endthat
for　which　he　had　schemed　and　striven；　for　which　he　had　schooled
his　heart　to　ferocity　and　callousness　that　were　devilish　in　their
intensity。　　It　was　the　end　indeed；　the　slow　descent　of　a　soul　from
the　giddy　heights　of　attempted　self…sacrifice；　where　it　had
striven　to　soar　for　a　time；　until　the　body　and　the　will　both
succumbed　together　and　dragged　it　down　with　them　into　the　abyss　of
submission　and　of　irreparable　shame。



CHAPTER　XXXVI
SUBMISSION

Silence　reigned　in　the　narrow　cell　for　a　few　moments；　whilst　two
human　jackals　stood　motionless　over　their　captured　prey。

A　savage　triumph　gleamed　in　Chauvelin's　eyes；　and　even　Heron；　dull
and　brutal　though　he　was；　had　become　vaguely　conscious　of　the
great　change　that　had　come　over　the　prisoner。

Blakeney；　with　a　gesture　and　a　sigh　of　hopeless　exhaustion　had
once　more　rested　both　his　elbows　on　the　table；　his　head　fell　heavy
and　almost　lifeless　downward　in　his　arms。

〃Curse　you；　man！〃　cried　Heron　almost　involuntarily。　〃Why　in　the
name　of　hell　did　you　wait　so　long？〃

Then；　as　the　prisoner　made　no　reply；　but　only　raised　his　head
slightly；　and　looked　on　the　other　two　men　with　dulled；　wearied
eyes；　Chauvelin　interposed　calmly：

〃More　than　a　fortnight　has　been　wasted　in　useless　obstinacy；　Sir
Percy。　　Fortunately　it　is　not　too　late。〃

〃Capet？〃　said　Heron　hoarsely；　〃tell　us；　where　is　Capet？〃

He　leaned　across　the　table；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot　with　the
keenness　of　his　excitement；　his　voice　shook　with　the　passionate
desire　for　the　crowning　triumph。

〃If　you'll　only　not　worry　me；〃　murmured　the　prisoner；　and　the
whisper　came　so　laboriously　and　so　low　that　both　men　were　forced
to　bend　their　ears　close　to　the　scarcely　moving　lips；　〃if　you　will
let　me　sleep　and　rest；　and　leave　me　in　peace〃

〃The　peace　of　the　grave；　man；〃　retorted　Chauvelin　roughly；　〃if　you
will　only　speak。　　Where　is　Capet？〃

〃I　cannot　tell　you；　the　way　is　long；　the　roadintricate。〃

〃Bah！〃

〃I'll　lead　you　to　him；　if　you　will　give　me　rest。〃

〃We　don't　want　you　to　lead　us　anywhere；〃　growled　Heron　with　a
smothered　curse；　〃tell　us　where　Capet　is；　we'll　find　him　right
enough。〃

〃I　cannot　explain；　the　way　is　intricate；　the　place　off　the　beaten
track；　unknown　except　to　me　and　my　friends。〃

Once　more　that　shadow；　which　was　so　like　the　passing　of　the　hand
of　Death；　overspread　the　prisoner's　face；　his　head　rolled　back
against　the　chair。

〃He'll　die　before　he　can　speak；〃　muttered　Chauvelin　under　his
breath。　　〃You　usually　are　well　provided　with　brandy；　citizen
Heron。〃

The　latter　no　longer　demurred。　　He　saw　the　danger　as　clearly　as
did　his　colleague。　　It　had　been　hell's　own　luck　if　the　prisoner
were　to　die　now　when　he　seemed　ready　to　give　in。　　He　produced　a
flask　from　the　pocket　of　his　coat；　and　this　he　held　to　Blakeney's
lips。

〃Beastly　stuff；〃　murmured　the　latter　feebly。　　〃I　think　I'd　sooner
faintthan　drink。〃

〃Capet？　where　is　Capet？〃　reiterated　Heron　impatiently。　　〃Onetwo
three　hundred　leagues　from　here。　　I　must　let　one　of　my　friends　know；
he'll　communicate　with　the　others；　they　must　be　prepared；〃　replied
the　prisoner　slowly。

Heron　uttered　a　blasphemous　oath。

Where　is　Capet？　　Tell　us　where　Capet　is；　or〃

He　was　like　a　raging　tiger　that　bad　thought　to　hold　its　prey　and
suddenly　realised　that　it　was　being　snatched　from　him。　　He　raised
his　fist；　and　without　doubt　the　next　moment　he　would　Lave　silenced
forever　the　lips　that　held　the　precious　secret；　but　Chauvelin
fortunately　was　quick　enough　to　seize　his　wrist。

〃Have　a　care；　citizen；〃　he　said　peremptorily；　〃have　a　care！　　You
called　me　a　fool　just　now　when　you　thought　I　had　killed　the
pris