el dorado-第71章
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or a sudden burst of laughtersounds； in fact； that betokened the
presence of a number of soldiers close by。
Chauvelin contented himself with a nod in the direction of the
guard…room。
〃The conditions are somewhat different now；〃 he said placidly；
〃from those that reigned in Boulogne。 But will you not sign your
letter； Sir Percy？〃
〃With pleasure； sir；〃 responded Blakeney； as with an elaborate
flourish of the pen he appended his name to the missive。
Chauvelin was watching him with eyes that would have shamed a lynx
by their keenness。 He took up the completed letter； read it
through very carefully； as if to find some hidden meaning behind
the very words which he himself had dictated； he studied the
signature； and looked vainly for a mark or a sign that might
convey a different sense to that which he had intended。 Finally；
finding none； he folded the letter up with his own hand； and at
once slipped it in the pocket of his coat。
〃Take care； M。 Chambertin；〃 said Blakeney lightly； 〃it will burn a
hole in that elegant vest of yours。〃
〃It will have no time to do that； Sir Percy；〃 retorted Chauvelin
blandly； 〃an you will furnish me with citizen St。 Just's present
address； I will myself convey the letter to him at once。〃
〃At this hour of the night？ Poor old Armand； he'll be abed。 But
his address； sir； is No。 32； Rue de la Croix Blanche； on the first
floor； the door on your right as you mount the stairs； you know
the room well； citizen Chauvelin； you have been in it before。 And
now；〃 he added with a loud and ostentatious yawn； 〃shall we all to
bed？ We start at dawn； you said； and I am so dd fatigued。〃
Frankly； he did not look it now。 Chauvelin himself； despite his
matured plans； despite all the precautions that be meant to take
for the success of this gigantic scheme； felt a sudden strange
sense of fear creeping into his bones。 Half an hour ago he had
seen a man in what looked like the last stage of utter physical
exhaustion； a hunched up figure； listless and limp； hands that
twitched nervously； the face as of a dying man。 Now those outward
symptoms were still there certainly； the face by the light of the
lamp still looked livid； the lips bloodless； the hands emaciated
and waxen； but the eyes！they were still hollow； with heavy lids
still purple； but in their depths there was a curious； mysterious
light； a look that seemed to see something that was hidden to
natural sight。
Citizen Chauvelin thought that Heron； too； must be conscious of
this； but the Committee's agent was sprawling on a chair； sucking
a short…stemmed pipe； and gazing with entire animal satisfaction
on the prisoner。
〃The most perfect piece of work we have ever accomplished； you and
I； citizen Chauvelin；〃 he said complacently。
〃You think that everything is quite satisfactory？〃 asked the other
with anxious stress on his words。
〃Everything； of course。 Now you see to the letter。 I will give
final orders for to…morrow； but I shall sleep in the guard…room。〃
〃And I on that inviting bed；〃 interposed the prisoner lightly； as
he rose to his feet。 〃Your servant； citizens！〃
He bowed his head slightly； and stood by the table whilst the two
men prepared to go。 Chauvelin took a final long look at the man
whom he firmly believed he had at last brought down to abject
disgrace。
Blakeney was standing erect； watching the two retreating figures
one slender hand was on the table。 Chauvelin saw that it was
leaning rather heavily； as if for support； and that even whilst a
final mocking laugh sped him and his colleague on their way； the
tall figure of the conquered lion swayed like a stalwart oak that
is forced to bend to the mighty fury of an all…compelling wind。
With a sigh of content Chauvelin took his colleague by the arm；
and together the two men walked out of the cell。
CHAPTER XXXIX
KILL HIM！
Two hours after midnight Armand St。 Just was wakened from sleep by
a peremptory pull at his hell。 In these days in Paris but one
meaning could as a rule be attached to such a summons at this hour
of the night； and Armand； though possessed of an unconditional
certificate of safety； sat up in bed； quite convinced that for
some reason which would presently be explained to him he had once
more been placed on the list of the 〃suspect；〃 and that his trial
and condemnation on a trumped…up charge would follow in due course。
Truth to tell； he felt no fear at the prospect； and only a very
little sorrow。 The sorrow was not for himself； he regretted
neither life nor happiness。 Life had become hateful to him since
happiness had fled with it on the dark wings of dishonour； sorrow
such as he felt was only for Jeanne！ She was very young； and
would weep bitter tears。 She would be unhappy； because she truly
loved him； and because this would be the first cup of bitterness
which life was holding out to her。 But she was very young； and
sorrow would not be eternal。 It was better so。 He； Armand St。
Just； though he loved her with an intensity of passion that had
been magnified and strengthened by his own overwhelming shame； had
never really brought his beloved one single moment of unalloyed
happiness。
From the very first day when he sat beside her in the tiny boudoir
of the Square du Roule； and the heavy foot fall of Heron and his
bloodhounds broke in on their first kiss； down to this hour which
he believed struck his own death…knell； his love for her had
brought more tears to her dear eyes than smiles to her exquisite
mouth。
Her he had loved so dearly； that for her sweet sake he had
sacrificed honour； friendship and truth； to free her； as he
believed； from the hands of impious brutes he had done a deed that
cried Cain…like for vengeance to the very throne of God。 For her
he had sinned； and because of that sin； even before it was
committed； their love had been blighted； and happiness had never
been theirs。
Now it was all over。 He would pass out of her life； up the steps
of the scaffold； tasting as he mounted them the most entire
happiness that he had known since that awful day when he became a
Judas。
The peremptory summons； once more repeated； roused him from his
meditations。 He lit a candle； and without troubling to slip any
of his clothes on； he crossed the narrow ante…chamber； and opened
the door that gave on the landing。
〃In the name of the people！〃
He had expected to hear not only those words； but also the
grounding of arms and the brief command to halt。 He had expected
to see before him the white facings of the uniform of the Garde de
Paris； and to feel himself roughly pushed back into his lodging
preparatory to the search being made of all his effects and the
placing of irons on his wrists。
Instead of this； it was a quiet； dry voice that said without undue
harshness：
〃In the name of the people！〃
And instead of the uniforms； the bayonets and the scarlet caps
with tricolour cockades； he was confronted by a slight； sable…clad
figure； whose face； lit by the flickering light of the tallow
candle； looked strangely pale and earnest。
〃Citizen Chauvelin！〃 gasped Armand； more surprised than frightened
at this unexpected apparition。
〃Himself； citizen； at your service；〃 replied Chauvelin with his
quiet； ironical manner。 〃I am the bearer of a letter for you from
Sir Percy Blakeney。 Have I your permission to enter？〃
Mechanically Armand stood aside； allowing the other man to pass
in。 He closed the door behind his nocturnal visitor； then； taper
in hand； he preceded him into the inner room。
It was the same one in which a fortnight ago a fighting lion had
been brought to his knees。 Now it lay wrapped in gloom； the
feeble light of the candle only lighting Armand's face and the
white frill of his shirt。 The young man put the taper down on the
table and turned to his visitor。
〃Shall I light the lamp？〃 he asked。
〃Quite unnecessary；〃 replied Chauvelin curtly。 〃I have only a
letter to deliver； and after that to ask you one brief question。〃
From the pocket of his coat he drew the letter which Blakeney had
written an hour ago。
〃The prisoner wrote this in my presence；〃 he said as he handed the
letter over to Arma
