el dorado-第69章
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Take a strong escort； citizen； say twenty or thirty men； picked
and trained soldiers who would make short work of civilians；
however well…armed they might be。 There are twenty
membersincluding the chiefin that Scarlet Pimpernel League；
and I do not quite see how from this cell the prisoner could
organise an ambuscade against us at a given time。 Anyhow； that is
a matter for you to decide。 I have still to place before you a
scheme which is a measure of safety for ourselves and our men
against ambush as well as against trickery； and which I feel sure
you will pronounce quite adequate。〃
〃Let me hear it； then！〃
〃The prisoner will have to travel by coach； of course。 You can
travel with him； if you like； and put him in irons； and thus avert
all chances of his escaping on the road。 But〃and here Chauvelin
made a long pause； which had the effect of holding his colleague's
attention still more closely〃remember that we shall have his
wife and one of his friends with us。 Before we finally leave
Paris tomorrow we will explain to the prisoner that at the first
attempt to escape on his part； at the slightest suspicion that he
has tricked us for his own ends or is leading us into an ambush
at the slightest suspicion； I sayyou； citizen Heron； will order
his friend first； and then Marguerite Blakeney herself； to be
summarily shot before his eyes。〃
Heron gave a long； low whistle。 Instinctively he threw a furtive；
backward glance at the prisoner； then he raised his shifty eyes to
his colleague。
There was unbounded admiration expressed in them。 One blackguard
had met anothera greater one than himselfand was proud to
acknowledge him as his master。
〃By Lucifer； citizen Chauvelin；〃 he said at last； 〃I should never
have thought of such a thing myself。〃
Chauvelin put up his hand with a gesture of self…deprecation。
〃I certainly think that measure ought to be adequate；〃 he said
with a gentle air of assumed modesty； 〃unless you would prefer to
arrest the woman and lodge her here； keeping her here as an
hostage。〃
〃No； no！〃 said Heron with a gruff laugh； 〃that idea does not
appeal to me nearly so much as the other。 I should not feel so
secure on the way。。。。 I should always be thinking that that
cursed woman had been allowed to escape。。。。 No！ no！ I would
rather keep her under my own eyejust as you suggest； citizen
Chauvelin 。。。 and under the prisoner's； too；〃 he added with a
coarse jest。 〃If he did not actually see her； he might be more
ready to try and save himself at her expense。 But； of course； he
could not see her shot before his eyes。 It is a perfect plan；
citizen； arid does you infinite credit； and if the Englishman
tricked us；〃 he concluded with a fierce and savage oath； 〃and we
did not find Capet at the end of the journey； I would gladly
strangle his wife and his friend with my own hands。〃
〃A satisfaction which I would not begrudge you； citizen；〃 said
Chauvelin dryly。 〃Perhaps you are right 。。。 the woman had best be
kept under your own eye 。。。 the prisoner will never risk her
safety on that； I would stake my life。 We'll deliver our final
'eitheror' the moment that she has joined our party； and before
we start further on our way。 Now； citizen Heron； you have heard
my advice； are you prepared to follow it？〃
〃To the last letter；〃 replied the other。
And their two hands met in a grasp of mutual understandingtwo
hands already indelibly stained with much innocent blood； more
deeply stained now with seventeen past days of inhumanity and
miserable treachery to come。
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CAPITULATION
What occurred within the inner cell of the Conciergerie prison
within the next half…hour of that 16th day of Pluviose in the year
II of the Republic is； perhaps； too well known to history to need
or bear overfull repetition。
Chroniclers intimate with the inner history of those infamous days
have told us how the chief agent of the Committee of General
Security gave orders one hour after midnight that hot soup； white
bread and wine be served to the prisoner； who for close on
fourteen days previously had been kept on short rations of black
bread and water； the sergeant in charge of the guard…room watch
for the night also received strict orders that that same prisoner
was on no account to be disturbed until the hour of six in the
morning； when he was to be served with anything in the way of
breakfast that he might fancy。
All this we know； and also that citizen Heron； having given all
necessary orders for the morning's expedition； returned to the
Conciergerie； and found his colleague Chauvelin waiting for him in
the guard…room。
〃Well？〃 he asked with febrile impatience〃 the prisoner？
〃He seems better and stronger；〃 replied Chauvelin。 〃Not too well；
I hope？〃
〃No； no； only just well enough。〃
〃You have seen himsince his supper？〃
〃Only from the doorway。 It seems he ate and drank hardly at all；
and the sergeant had some difficulty in keeping him awake until
you tame。〃
〃Well； now for the letter；〃 concluded Heron with the same marked
feverishness of manner which sat so curiously on his uncouth
personality。 〃Pen； ink and paper； sergeant！〃 he commanded。
〃On the table； in the prisoner's cell； citizen；〃 replied the
sergeant。
He preceded the two citizens across the guard…room to the doorway；
and raised for them the iron bar； lowering it back after them。
The next moment Heron and Chauvelin were once more face to face
with their prisoner。
Whether by accident or design the lamp had been so placed that as
the two men approached its light fell full upon their faces； while
that of the prisoner remained in shadow。 He was leaning forward
with both elbows on the table； his thin； tapering fingers toying
with the pen and ink…horn which had been placed close to his hand。
〃I trust that everything has been arranged for your comfort； Sir
Percy？〃 Chauvelin asked with a sarcastic little smile。
〃I thank you； sir；〃 replied Blakeney politely。
〃You feel refreshed； I hope？〃
〃Greatly so； I assure you。 But I am still demmed sleepy； and if
you would kindly be brief〃
〃You have not changed your mind； sir？〃 queried Chauvelin； and a
note of anxiety； which he vainly tried to conceal； quivered in his
voice。
〃No； my good M。 Chambertin；〃 replied Blakeney with the same urbane
courtesy； 〃I have not changed my mind。〃
A sigh of relief escaped the lips of both the men。 The prisoner
certainly had spoken in a clearer and firmer voice； but whatever
renewed strength wine and food had imparted to him he apparently
did not mean to employ in renewed obstinacy。 Chauvelin； after a
moment's pause； resumed more calmly：
〃You are prepared to direct us to the place where little Capet
lies hidden？〃
〃I am prepared to do anything； sir； to get out of this dd hole。〃
〃Very well。 My colleague； citizen Heron； has arranged for an
escort of twenty men picked from the best regiment of the Garde de
Paris to accompany usyourself； him and meto wherever you will
direct us。 Is that clear？〃
〃Perfectly； sir。〃
〃You must not imagine for a moment that we； on the other hand；
guarantee to give you your life and freedom even if this
expedition prove unsuccessful。〃
〃I would not venture on suggesting such a wild proposition； sir；〃
said Blakeney placidly。
Chauvelin looked keenly on him。 There was something in the tone
of that voice that he did not altogether likesomething that
reminded him of an evening at Calais； and yet again of a day at
Boulogne。 He could not read the expression in the eyes； so with a
quick gesture he pulled the lamp forward so that its light now
fell full on the face of the prisoner。
〃Ah！ that is certainly better； is it not； my dear M。 Chambertin？〃
said Sir Percy； beaming on his adversary with a pleasant smile。
His face； though still of the same ashen hue； looked serene if
hopelessly wearied； the eyes seemed to mock。 But this Chauvelin
decided in himself must have been a trick of his own overwrought
fancy。 After a brief moment's pause he resumed dryly：
〃If； however； the expedition turns out successful in every wayif
little Capet； without much trouble to our escort； falls safe and
sound into our hands
