el dorado-第79章
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would have smothered her pride and begged for news of her husband；
but Chauvelin did not wait。 He hurried out of the room； and
Armand and Marguerite could hear him ordering the soldiers to take
them forthwith back to the coach。
As they came out of the inn they saw the other coach some fifty
metres further up the street。 The horses that had done duty since
leaving Abbeville had been taken out； and two soldiers in ragged
shirts； and with crimson caps set jauntily over their left ear；
were leading the two fresh horses along。 The troopers were still
mounting guard round both the coaches； they would be relieved
presently。
Marguerite would have given ten years of her life at this moment
for the privilege of speaking to her husband； or even of seeing
himof seeing that he was well。 A quick； wild plan sprang up in
her mind that she would bribe the sergeant in command to grant her
wish while citizen Chauvelin was absent。 The man had not an
unkind face； and he must be very poorpeople in France were very
poor these days； though the rich had been robbed and luxurious
homes devastated ostensibly to help the poor。
She was about to put this sudden thought into execution when
Heron's hideous face； doubly hideous now with that bandage of
doubtful cleanliness cutting across his brow； appeared at the
carriage window。
He cursed violently and at the top of his voice。
〃What are those dd aristos doing out there？〃 he shouted。
〃Just getting into the coach； citizen；〃 replied the sergeant
promptly。
And Armand and Marguerite were immediately ordered back into the
coach。
Heron remained at the window for a few moments longer； he bad a
toothpick in his hand which he was using very freely。
〃How much longer are we going to wait in this cursed hole？〃 he
called out to the sergeant。
〃Only a few moments longer； citizen。 Citizen Chauvelin will be
back soon with the guard。〃
A quarter of an hour later the clatter of cavalry horses on the
rough； uneven pavement drew Marguerite's attention。 She lowered
the carriage window and looked out。 Chauvelin had just returned
with the new escort。 He was on horseback； his horse's bridle；
since he was but an indifferent horseman； was held by one of the
troopers。
Outside the inn he dismounted； evidently he had taken full command
of the expedition； and scarcely referred to Heron； who spent most
of his time cursing at the men or the weather when he was not
lying half…asleep and partially drunk in the inside of the
carriage。
The changing of the guard was now accomplished quietly and in
perfect order。 The new escort consisted of twenty mounted men；
including a sergeant and a corporal； and of two drivers； one for
each coach。 The cortege now was filed up in marching order； ahead
a small party of scouts； then the coach with Marguerite and Armand
closely surrounded by mounted men； and at a short distance the
second coach with citizen Heron and the prisoner equally well
guarded。
Chauvelin superintended all the arrangements himself。 He spoke for
some few moments with the sergeant； also with the driver of his
own coach。 He went to the window of the other carriage； probably
in order to consult with citizen Heron； or to take final
directions from the prisoner； for Marguerite； who was watching
him； saw him standing on the step and leaning well forward into
the interior； whilst apparently he was taking notes on a small
tablet which he had in his hand。
A small knot of idlers had congregated in the narrow street； men
in blouses and boys in ragged breeches lounged against the
verandah of the inn and gazed with inexpressive； stolid eyes on
the soldiers； the coaches； the citizen who wore the tricolour
scarf。 They had seen this sort of thing before nowaristos being
conveyed to Paris under arrest； prisoners on their way to or from
Amiens。 They saw Marguerite's pale face at the carriage window。
It was not the first woman's face they had seen under like
circumstances； and there was no special interest about this
aristo。 They were smoking or spitting； or just lounging idly
against the balustrade。 Marguerite wondered if none of them had
wife； sister； or mother； or child； if every sympathy； every kind
of feeling in these poor wretches had been atrophied by misery or
by fear。
At last everything was in order and the small party ready to
start。
〃Does any one here know the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre； close by
the park of the Chateau d'Ourde？〃 asked Chauvelin； vaguely
addressing the knot of gaffers that stood closest to him。
The men shook their heads。 Some had dimly heard of the Chateau
d'Ourde； it was some way in the interior of the forest of
Boulogne； but no one knew about a chapel； people did not trouble
about chapels nowadays。 With the indifference so peculiar to
local peasantry； these men knew no more of the surrounding country
than the twelve or fifteen league circle that was within a walk of
their sleepy little town。
One of the scouts on ahead turned in his saddle and spoke to
citizen Chauvelin：
〃I think I know the way pretty well； citizen Chauvelin；〃 he said；
〃at any rate； I know it as far as the forest of Boulogne。〃
Chauvelin referred to his tablets。
〃That's good；〃 he said； 〃then when you reach the mile…stone that
stands on this road at the confine of the forest； bear sharply to
your right and skirt the wood until you see the hamlet ofLe
something。 LeLeyesLe Crocqthat's it in the valley below。〃
〃I know Le Crocq； I think；〃 said the trooper。
〃Very well； then； at that point it seems that a wide road strikes
at right angles into the interior of the forest； you follow that
until a stone chapel with a colonnaded porch stands before you on
your left； and the walls and gates of a park on your right。 That
is so； is it not； Sir Percy？〃 he added； once more turning towards
the interior of the coach。
Apparently the answer satisfied him； for he gave the quick word of
command； 〃En avant！〃 then turned back towards his own coach and
finally entered it。
〃Do you know the Chateau d'Ourde； citizen St。 Just？〃 he asked
abruptly as soon as the carriage began to move。
Armand wokeas was habitual with him these daysfrom some gloomy
reverie。
〃Yes； citizen；〃 he replied。 〃I know it。〃
〃And the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre？〃
〃Yes。 I know it too。〃
Indeed； he knew the chateau well； and the little chapel in the
forest； whither the fisher…folk from Portel and Boulogne came on a
pilgrimage once a year to lay their nets on the miracle…working
relic。 The chapel was disused now。 Since the owner of the
chateau had fled no one had tended it； and the fisher…folk were
afraid to wander out； lest their superstitious faith be counted
against them by the authorities； who had abolished le bon Dieu。
But Armand had found refuge there eighteen months ago； on his way
to Calais； when Percy had risked his life in order to save
hiArmandfrom death。 He could have groaned aloud with the
anguish of this recollection。 But Marguerite's aching nerves had
thrilled at the name。
The Chateau d'Ourde！ The Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre！ That was
the place which Percy had mentioned in his letter； the place where
he had given rendezvous to de Batz。 Sir Andrew had said that the
Dauphin could not possibly be there； yet Percy was leading his
enemies thither； and had given the rendezvous there to de Batz。
And this despite that whatever plans； whatever hopes； had been
born in his mind when he was still immured in the Conciergerie
prison must have been set at naught by the clever counter plot of
Chauvelin and Heron。
〃At the merest suspicion that you have played us false； at a hint
that you have led us into an ambush； or if merely our hopes of
finding Capet at the end of the journey are frustrated； the lives
of your wife and of your friend are forfeit to us； and they will
both be shot before your eyes。〃
With these words； with this precaution； those cunning fiends had
effectually not only tied the schemer's hands； but forced him
either to deliver the child to them or to sacrifice his wife and
his friend。
The impasse was so horrible that she could not face it even in her
thoughts。 A strange； fever…li
