el dorado-第32章

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gloom　that　hung　at　the　corners　of　the　Pont　Neuf　immediately
Opposite。　Soon　he　assured　himself　that　for　the　present；　at　any
rate；　the　house　was　not　being　watched。

Armand　presumably　had　not　yet　left　a　message　for　him　here；　but　he
might　do　so　at　any　time　now　that　he　knew　that　his　chief　was　in
Paris　and　on　the　look…out　for　him。

Blakeney　made　up　his　mind　to　keep　this　house　in　sight。　This　art　of
watching　he　had　acquired　to　a　masterly　extent；　and　could　have
taught　Heron's　watch…dogs　a　remarkable　lesson　in　it。　　At　night；　of
course；　it　was　a　comparatively　easy　task。　　There　were　a　good　many
unlighted　doorways　along　the　quay；　whilst　a　street　lamp　was　fixed
on　a　bracket　in　the　wall　of　the　very　house　which　he　kept　in
observation。

Finding　temporary　shelter　under　various　doorways；　or　against　the
dank　walls　of　the　houses；　Blakeney　set　himself　resolutely　to　a　few
hours'　weary　waiting。　　A　thin；　drizzly　rain　fell　with　unpleasant
persistence；　like　a　damp　mist；　and　the　thin　blouse　which　he　wore
soon　became　wet　through　and　clung　hard　and　chilly　to　his
shoulders。

It　was　close　on　midnight　when　at　last　he　thought　it　best　to　give
up　his　watch　and　to　go　back　to　his　lodgings　for　a　few　hours'
sleep；　but　at　seven　o'clock　the　next　morning　he　was　back　again　at
his　post。

The　porte…cochere　of　his　former　lodging…house　was　not　yet　open；　he
took　up　his　stand　close　beside　it。　　His　woollen　cap　pulled　well
over　his　forehead；　the　grime　cleverly　plastered　on　his　hair　and
face；　his　lower　jaw　thrust　forward；　his　eyes　looking　lifeless　and
bleary；　all　gave　him　an　expression　of　sly　villainy；　whilst　the
short　clay　pipe　struck　at　a　sharp　angle　in　his　mouth；　his　hands
thrust　into　the　pockets　of　his　ragged　breeches；　and　his　bare　feet
in　the　mud　of　the　road；　gave　the　final　touch　to　his　representation
of　an　out…of…work；　ill…conditioned；　and　supremely　discontented
loafer。

He　had　not　very　long　to　wait。　　Soon　the　porte…cochere　of　the　house
was　opened；　and　the　concierge　came　out　with　his　broom；　making　a
show　of　cleaning　the　pavement　in　front　of　the　door。　　Five　minutes
later　a　lad；　whose　clothes　consisted　entirely　of　rags；　and　whose
feet　and　head　were　bare；　came　rapidly　up　the　street　from　the　quay；
and　walked　along　looking　at　the　houses　as　he　went；　as　if　trying　to
decipher　their　number。　　The　cold　grey　dawn　was　just　breaking；
dreary　and　damp；　as　all　the　past　days　had　been。　　Blakeney　watched
the　lad　as　he　approached；　the　small；　naked　feet　falling
noiselessly　on　the　cobblestones　of　the　road。　　When　the　boy　was
quite　close　to　him　and　to　the　house；　Blakeney　shifted　his　position
and　took　the　pipe　out　of　his　mouth。

〃Up　early；　my　son！〃　he　said　gruffly。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　pale…faced　little　creature；　〃I　have　a　message　to
deliver　at　No。　9　Rue　St。　Germain　l'Auxerrois。　　It　must　be
somewhere　near　here。〃

〃It　is。　　You　can　give　me　the　message。〃

〃Oh；　no；　citizen！〃　said　the　lad；　into　whose　pale；　circled　eyes　a
look　of　terror　had　quickly　appeared。　　〃It　is　for　one　of　the
lodgers　in　No。　9。　　I　must　give　it　to　him。〃

With　an　instinct　which　he　somehow　felt　could　not　err　at　this
moment；　Blakeney　knew　that　the　message　was　one　from　Armand　to
himself；　a　written　message；　too；　sinceinstinctively　when　he
spokethe　boy　clutched　at　his　thin　shirt；　as　if　trying　to　guard
something　precious　that　had　been　entrusted　to　him。

〃I　will　deliver　the　message　myself；　sonny；〃　said　Blakeney　gruffly。
〃I　know　the　citizen　for　whom　it　is　intended。　　He　would　not　like
the　concierge　to　see　it。〃

〃Oh！　　I　would　not　give　it　to　the　concierge；〃　said　the　boy。　　〃I
would　take　it　upstairs　myself。〃

〃My　son；〃　retorted　Blakeney；　〃let　me　tell　you　this。　　You　are　going
to　give　that　message　up　to　me　and　I　will　put　five　whole　livres
into　your　hand。〃

Blakeney；　with　all　his　sympathy　aroused　for　this　poor　pale…faced
lad；　put　on　the　airs　of　a　ruffianly　bully。　　He　did　not　wish　that
message　to　be　taken　indoors　by　the　lad；　for　the　concierge　might
get　hold　of　it；　despite　the　boy's　protests　and　tears；　and　after
that　Blakeney　would　perforce　have　to　disclose　himself　before　it
would　be　given　up　to　him。　　During　the　past　week　the　concierge　had
been　very　amenable　to　bribery。　　Whatever　suspicions　he　had　had
about　his　lodger　he　had　kept　to　himself　for　the　sake　of　the　money
which　he　received；　but　it　was　impossible　to　gauge　any　man's　trend
of　thought　these　days　from　one　hour　to　the　next。　Somethingfor
aught　Blakeney　knewmight　have　occurred　in　the　past　twenty…four
hours　to　change　an　amiable　and　accommodating　lodging…house　keeper
into　a　surly　or　dangerous　spy。

Fortunately；　the　concierge　had　once　more　gone　within；　there　was　no
one　abroad；　and　if　there　were；　no　one　probably　would　take　any
notice　of　a　burly　ruffian　brow…beating　a　child。

〃Allons！〃　he　said　gruffly；　〃give　me　the　letter；　or　that　five
livres　goes　back　into　my　pocket。〃

〃Five　livres！〃　exclaimed　the　child　with　pathetic　eagerness。　　〃Oh；
citizen！〃

The　thin　little　hand　fumbled　under　the　rags；　but　it　reappeared
again　empty；　whilst　a　faint　blush　spread　over　the　hollow　cheeks。

〃The　other　citizen　also　gave　me　five　livres；〃　he　said　humbly。　　〃He
lodges　in　the　house　where　my　mother　is　concierge。　　It　is　in　the
Rue　de　la　Croix　Blanche。　　He　has　been　very　kind　to　my　mother。　　I
would　rather　do　as　he　bade　me。〃

〃Bless　the　lad；〃　murmured　Blakeney　under　his　breath；　〃his　loyalty
redeems　many　a　crime　of　this　God…forsaken　city。　Now　I　suppose　I
shall　have　to　bully　him；　after　all。〃

He　took　his　hand　out　of　his　breeches　pocket；　between　two　very
dirty　fingers　he　held　a　piece　of　gold。　　The　other　hand　he　placed
quite　roughly　on　the　lad's　chest。

〃Give　me　the　letter；〃　he　said　harshly；　〃or〃

He　pulled　at　the　ragged　blouse；　and　a　scrap　of　soiled　paper　soon
fell　into　his　hand。　　The　lad　began　to　cry。

〃Here；〃　said　Blakeney；　thrusting　the　piece　of　gold　into　the　thin
small　palm；　〃take　this　home　to　your　mother；　and　tell　your　lodger
that　a　big；　rough　man　took　the　letter　away　from　you　by　force。　　Now
run；　before　I　kick　you　out　of　the　way。〃

The　lad；　terrified　out　of　his　poor　wits；　did　not　wait　for　further
commands；　he　took　to　his　heels　and　ran；　his　small　hand　clutching
the　piece　of　gold。　　Soon　he　had　disappeared　round　the　corner　of
the　street。

Blakeney　did　not　at　once　read　the　paper；　he　thrust　it　quickly　into
his　breeches　pocket　and　slouched　away　slowly　down　the　street；　and
thence　across　the　Place　du　Carrousel；　in　the　direction　of　his　new
lodgings　in　the　Rue　de　l'Arcade。

It　was　only　when　he　found　himself　alone　in　the　narrow；　squalid
room　which　he　was　occupying　that　he　took　the　scrap　of　paper　from
his　pocket　and　read　it　slowly　through。　It　said：



Percy；　you　cannot　forgive　me；　nor　can　I　ever　forgive　myself；　but
if　you　only　knew　what　I　have　suffered　for　the　past　two　days　you
would；　I　think；　try　and　forgive。　　I　am　free　and　yet　a　prisoner；　my
every　footstep　is　dogged。　What　they　ultimately　mean　to　do　with　me
I　do　not　know。　And　when　I　think　of　Jeanne　I　long　for　the　power　to
end　mine　own　miserable　existence。　　Percy！　she　is　still　in　the
hands　of　those　fiends。。。。　　I　saw　the　prison　register；　her　name
written　there　has　been　like　a　burning　brand　on　my　heart　ever
since。　She　was　still　in　prison　the　day　that　you　left　Paris；
to…morrow；　to…night　mayhap；　they　will　try　her；　condemn　her；
torture　her；　and　I　dare　not　go　to　see　you；　for　I　would　only　be
bringing　spies　to　your　door。　But　will　you　come　to　me；　Percy？　It
should　be　safe　in　the　hours　of　the　night；　and　the　concierge　is
devoted　to　me。　To…night　at　ten　o'clock　she　will　leave　the
porte…cochere　unlatched。　If　you　find　it　so；　and　if　on　the　ledge　of
the　window　immediately　on　your　left　as　you　enter　you　find　a　candle
alight；　and　beside　it　a　scrap　of　paper　with　your　initials　S。　P。
traced　on　it；　then　it　will　be　quite　safe　for　you　to　come　up　to　my
room。　　It　is　on　the　second　landinga　door　on　your　rightthat　too
I　will　leave　on　the　latch。　　But　in　the　name　of　the　woman　you　love
best　in　all　the　world　come　at　once　to　me　then；　and　hear　in　mind；
Percy；　that　the　woman　I　love　is　threatened　with　immediate　death；
and　that　I　am　powerless　to　save　her。　　Indeed；　believe　me；　I　would
gladly　die　even　now　hut　for　the　thought　of　Jeanne；　whom　I　should
be　leaving　in　the　hands　of　those　fiends。　　For　God's　sake；　Percy；
remember　that　Jeanne　is　all　the　world　to　me。



〃Poor　old　Armand；〃　　murmured　Blakeney　with　a　kindly　smile　directed
at　the　absent　friend；　〃he　won't　trust　me　even　now。　　He　won't　trust
his　Jeanne　in　my　hands。　Well；〃　he　added　after　a　while；　〃after　all；
I　would　not　entrust　Marguerite　to　anybody　else　either。〃



CHAPTER　XXIII
THE　OVERWHELMING　ODDS

At　half…past　ten　that　same　evening；　Blakeney；　still　clad　in　a
workman's　tattered　clothes；　his　feet　Bare　so　that　he　could　tread
the　streets　unheard；　turned　into　the　Rue　de　la　Croix　Blanche。

The　porte…cochere　of　the　house　where　Armand　lodged　had　been　left
on　the　latch；　not　a　soul　was　in　sight。　　Peering　cautiously　round；
he　slipped　into　the　house。　　On　the　ledge　of　the　window；
immediately　on　his　left　when　he　entered；　a　candle　was　left
burning；　and　beside　it　there　was　a　scrap　of　paper　with　the
initials　S。　P。　roughly　traced　in　pencil。　　No　one　challenged　him　as
he　noiselessly　glided　past　it；　and　up　the　narrow　stairs　that　led
to　the　upper　floor。　　Here；　too；　on　the　second　landing　the　door　on
the　right　had　been　left　on　the　latch。　　He　pushed　it　open　and
entered。

As　is　usual　even　in　the　meanest　lodgings　in　Paris　houses；　a　small
antechamber　gave　between　the　front　door　and　the　main　room。　　When
Percy　entered　the　antechamber　was　unlighted；　but　the　door　into　the
inner　room　beyond　was　ajar。　　Blakeney　approached　it　with　noiseless
tread；　and　gently　pushed　it　open。

That　very　instant　he　knew　that　the　game　was　up；　he　heard　the
footsteps　closing　up　behind　him；　saw　Armand；　deathly　pale；　leaning
against　the　wall　in　the　room　in　front　of　him；　and　Chauvelin　and
Heron　standing　guard　over　him。

The　next　moment　the　room　and　the　antechamber　were　literally　alive
with　soldierstwenty　of　them　to　arrest　one　man。

It　was　characteristic　of　that　man　that　when　hands　were　laid　on　him
from　every　side　he　threw　back　his　head　and　laughedlaughed
mirthfully；　light…heartedly；　and　the　first　words　that　escaped　his
lips　were：

〃Well；　I　am　dd！〃

〃The　odds　are　against　you；　Sir　Percy；〃　said　Chauvelin　to　him　in
English；　whilst　Heron　at　the　further　end　of　the　room　was　growling
like　a　contented　beast。

〃By　the　Lord；　sir；〃　said　Percy　with　perfect　sang…froid；　〃I　do
believe　that　for　the　moment　they　are。〃

〃Have　done；　my　menhave　done！〃　he　added；　turning　good…humouredly
to　the　soldiers　round　him。　　〃I　never　fight　against　overwhelming
odds。　　Twenty　to　one；　eh？　　I　could　lay　four　of　you　out　easily
enough；　perhaps　even　six；　but　what　then？〃

But　a　kind　of　savage　lust　seemed　to　have　rendered　these　men
temporarily　mad；　and　they　were　being　egged　on　by　Heron。　　The
mysterious　Englishman；　about　whom　so　many　eerie　tales　were　told！
Well；　he　had　supernatural　powers；　and　twenty　to　one　might　be
nothing　to　him　if　the　devil　was　on　his　side。　　Therefore　a　blow　on
his　forearm　with　the　butt…end　of　a　bayonet　was　useful　for
disabling　his　right　hand；　and　soon　the　left　arm　with　a　dislocated
shoulder　hung　limp　by　his　side。　　Then　he　was　bound　with　cords。

The　vei