el dorado-第7章

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here　do　I　meet　monsieur；　who　actually　knows　him　（so　he　says）；　and
he　is　so　ungallant　that　he　even　refuses　to　satisfy　the　first
cravings　of　my　just　curiosity。〃

〃Citizen　St。　Just　will　tell　you　nothing　now；　mademoiselle；〃
rejoined　de　Batz　with　his　good…humoured　laugh；　〃it　is　my　presence；
I　assure　you；　which　is　setting　a　seal　upon　his　lips。　　He　is；
believe　me；　aching　to　confide　in　you；　to　share　in　your　enthusiasm；
and　to　see　your　beautiful　eyes　glowing　in　response　to　his　ardour
when　he　describes　to　you　the　exploits　of　that　prince　of　heroes。
En　tete…a…tete　one　day；　you　will；　I　know；　worm　every　secret　out
of　my　discreet　friend　Armand。〃

Mademoiselle　made　no　comment　on　thisthat　is　to　say；　no　audible
commentbut　she　buried　the　whole　of　her　face　for　a　few　seconds
among　the　flowers；　and　Armand　from　amongst　those　flowers　caught
sight　of　a　pair　of　very　bright　brown　eyes　which　shone　on　him　with
a　puzzled　look。

She　said　nothing　more　about　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel　or　about　England
just　then；　but　after　awhile　she　began　talking　of　more　indifferent
subjects：　the　state　of　the　weather；　the　price　of　food；　the
discomforts　of　her　own　house；　now　that　the　servants　had　been　put
on　perfect　equality　with　their　masters。

Armand　soon　gathered　that　the　burning　questions　of　the　day；　the
horrors　of　massacres；　the　raging　turmoil　of　politics；　had　not
affected　her　very　deeply　as　yet。　　She　had　not　troubled　her　pretty
head　very　much　about　the　social　and　humanitarian　aspect　of　the
present　seething　revolution。　She　did　not　really　wish　to　think
about　it　at　all。　　An　artiste　to　her　finger…tips；　she　was　spending
her　young　life　in　earnest　work；　striving　to　attain　perfection　in
her　art；　absorbed　in　study　during　the　day；　and　in　the　expression
of　what　she　had　learnt　in　the　evenings。

The　terrors　of　the　guillotine　affected　her　a　little；　but　somewhat
vaguely　still。　　She　had　not　realised　that　any　dangers　could　assail
her　whilst　she　worked　for　the　artistic　delectation　of　the　public。

It　was　not　that　she　did　not　understand　what　went　on　around　her；
but　that　her　artistic　temperament　and　her　environment　had　kept　her
aloof　from　it　all。　　The　horrors　of　the　Place　de　la　Revolution　made
her　shudder；　but　only　in　the　same　way　as　the　tragedies　of　M。
Racine　or　of　Sophocles　which　she　had　studied　caused　her　to
shudder；　and　she　had　exactly　the　same　sympathy　for　poor　Queen
Marie　Antoinette　as　she　had　for　Mary　Stuart；　and　shed　as　many
tears　for　King　Louis　as　she　did　for　Polyeucte。

Once　de　Batz　mentioned　the　Dauphin；　but　mademoiselle　put　up　her
hand　quickly　and　said　in　a　trembling　voice；　whilst　the　tears
gathered　in　her　eyes：

〃Do　not　speak　of　the　child　to　me；　de　Batz。　　What　can　I；　a　lonely；
hard…working　woman；　do　to　help　him？　　I　try　not　to　think　of　him；
for　if　I　did；　knowing　my　own　helplessness；　I　feel　that　I　could
hate　my　countrymen；　and　speak　my　bitter　hatred　of　them　across　the
footlights；　which　would　be　more　than　foolish；〃　she　added　naively；
〃for　it　would　not　help　the　child；　and　I　should　be　sent　to　the
guillotine。　But　oh　sometimes　I　feel　that　I　would　gladly　die　if
only　that　poor　little　child…martyr　were　restored　to　those　who　love
him　and　given　back　once　more　to　joy　and　happiness。　But　they　would
not　take　my　life　for　his；　I　am　afraid；〃　she　concluded；　smiling
through　her　tears。　　〃My　life　is　of　no　value　in　comparison　with
his。〃

Soon　after　this　she　dismissed　her　two　visitors。　　De　Batz；　well
content　with　the　result　of　this　evening's　entertainment；　wore　an
urbane；　bland　smile　on　his　rubicund　face。　Armand；　somewhat　serious
and　not　a　little　in　love；　made　the　hand…kiss　with　which　he　took
his　leave　last　as　long　as　he　could。

〃You　will　come　and　see　me　again；　citizen　St。　Just？〃　she　asked
after　that　preliminary　leave…taking。

〃At　your　service；　mademoiselle；〃　he　replied　with　alacrity。

〃How　long　do　you　stay　in　Paris？〃

〃I　may　be　called　away　at　any　time。〃

〃Well；　then；　come　to…morrow。　　I　shall　be　free　towards　four
o'clock。　　Square　du　Roule。　　You　cannot　miss　the　house。　　Any　one
there　will　tell　you　where　lives　citizeness　Lange。〃

〃At　your　service；　mademoiselle；〃　he　replied。

The　words　sounded　empty　and　meaningless；　but　his　eyes；　as　they
took　final　leave　of　her；　spoke　the　gratitude　and　the　joy　which　he
felt。



CHAPTER　V
THE　TEMPLE　PRISON

It　was　close　on　midnight　when　the　two　friends　finally　parted
company　outside　the　doors　of　the　theatre。　　The　night　air　struck
with　biting　keenness　against　them　when　they　emerged　from　the
stuffy；　overheated　building；　and　both　wrapped　their　caped　cloaks
tightly　round　their　shoulders。　　Armandmore　than　ever　nowwas
anxious　to　rid　himself　of　de　Batz。　　The　Gascon's　platitudes
irritated　him　beyond　the　bounds　of　forbearance；　and　he　wanted　to
be　alone；　so　that　he　might　think　over　the　events　of　this　night；
the　chief　event　being　a　little　lady　with　an　enchanting　voice　and
the　most　fascinating　brown　eyes　he　had　ever　seen。

Self…reproach；　too；　was　fighting　a　fairly　even　fight　with　the
excitement　that　had　been　called　up　by　that　same　pair　of　brown
eyes。　　Armand　for　the　past　four　or　five　hours　had　acted　in　direct
opposition　to　the　earnest　advice　given　to　him　by　his　chief；　he　had
renewed　one　friendship　which　had　been　far　better　left　in　oblivion；
and　he　had　made　an　acquaintance　which　already　was　leading　him
along　a　path　that　he　felt　sure　his　comrade　would　disapprove。　　But
the　path　was　so　profusely　strewn　with　scented　narcissi　that
Armand's　sensitive　conscience　was　quickly　lulled　to　rest　by　the
intoxicating　fragrance。

Looking　neither　to　right　nor　left；　he　made　his　way　very　quickly　up
the　Rue　Richelieu　towards　the　Montmartre　quarter；　where　he　lodged。

De　Batz　stood　and　watched　him　for　as　long　as　the　dim　lights　of　the
street　lamps　illumined　his　slim；　soberly…clad　figure；　then　he
turned　on　his　heel　and　walked　off　in　the　opposite　direction。

His　florid；　pock…marked　face　wore　an　air　of　contentment　not
altogether　unmixed　with　a　kind　of　spiteful　triumph。

〃So；　my　pretty　Scarlet　Pimpernel；〃　he　muttered　between　his　closed
lips；　〃you　wish　to　meddle　in　my　affairs；　to　have　for　yourself　and
your　friends　the　credit　and　glory　of　snatching　the　golden　prize
from　the　clutches　of　these　murderous　brutes。　　Well；　we　shall　see！
We　shall　see　which　is　the　wiliestthe　French　ferret　or　the
English　fox。〃

He　walked　deliberately　away　from　the　busy　part　of　the　town；
turning　his　back　on　the　river；　stepping　out　briskly　straight
before　him；　and　swinging　his　gold…beaded　cane　as　he　walked。

The　streets　which　he　had　to　traverse　were　silent　and　deserted；
save　occasionally　where　a　drinking　or　an　eating　house　had　its
swing…doors　still　invitingly　open。　　From　these　places；　as　de　Batz
strode　rapidly　by；　came　sounds　of　loud　voices；　rendered　raucous　by
outdoor　oratory；　volleys　of　oaths　hurled　irreverently　in　the　midst
of　impassioned　speeches；　interruptions　from　rowdy　audiences　that
vied　with　the　speaker　in　invectives　and　blasphemies；　wordy
war…fares　that　ended　in　noisy　vituperations；　accusations　hurled
through　the　air　heavy　with　tobacco　smoke　and　the　fumes　of　cheap
wines　and　of　raw　spirits。

De　Batz　took　no　heed　of　these　as　he　passed；　anxious　only　that　the
crowd　of　eating…house　politicians　did　not；　as　often　was　its　wont；
turn　out　pele…mele　into　the　street；　and　settle　its　quarrel　by　the
weight　of　fists。　　He　did　not　wish　to　be　embroiled　in　a　street
fight；　which　invariably　ended　in　denunciations　and　arrests；　and
was　glad　when　presently　he　had　left　the　purlieus　of　the　Palais
Royal　behind　him；　and　could　strike　on　his　left　toward　the　lonely
Faubourg　du　Temple。

From　the　dim　distance　far　away　came　at　intervals　the　mournful
sound　of　a　roll　of　muffled　drums；　half　veiled　by　the　intervening
hubbub　of　the　busy　night　life　of　the　great　city。　　It　proceeded
from　the　Place　de　la　Revolution；　where　a　company　of　the　National
Guard　were　on　night　watch　round　the　guillotine。　　The　dull；
intermittent　notes　of　the　drum　came　as　a　reminder　to　the　free
people　of　France　that　the　watchdog　of　a　vengeful　revolution　was
alert　night　and　day；　never　sleeping；　ever　wakeful；　〃beating　up
game　for　the　guillotine；〃　as　the　new　decree　framed　to…day　by　the
Government　of　the　people　had　ordered　that　it　should　do。

From　time　to　time　now　the　silence　of　this　lonely　street　was　broken
by　a　sudden　cry　of　terror；　followed　by　the　clash　of　arms；　the
inevitable　volley　of　oaths；　the　call　for　help；　the　final　moan　of
anguish。　　They　were　the　ever…recurring　brief　tragedies　which　told
of　denunciations；　of　domiciliary　search；　of　sudden　arrests；　of　an
agonising　desire　for　life　and　for　freedomfor　life　under　these
same　horrible　conditions　of　brutality　and　of　servitude；　for
freedom　to　breathe；　if　only　a　day　or　two　longer；　this　air；
polluted　by　filth　and　by　blood。

De　Batz；　hardened　to　these　scenes；　paid　no　heed　to　them。　He　had
heard　it　so　often；　that　cry　in　the　night；　followed　by　death…like
silence；　it　came　from　comfortable　bourgeois　houses；　from　squalid
lodgings；　or　lonely　cul…de…sac；　wherever　some　hunted　quarry　was
run　to　earth　by　the　newly…organised　spies　of　the　Committee　of
General　Security。

Five　and　thirty　livres　for　every　head　that　falls　trunkless　into
the　basket　at　the　foot　of　the　guillotine！　　Five　and　thirty　pieces
of　silver；　now　as　then；　the　price　of　innocent　blood。　　Every　cry　in
the　night；　every　call　for　help；　meant　game　for　the　guillotine；　and
five　and　thirty　livres　in　the　hands　of　a　Judas。

And　de　Batz　walked　on　unmoved　by　what　he　saw　and　heard；　swinging
his　cane　and　looking　satisfied。　　Now　he　struck　into　the　Place　de
la　Victoire；　and　looked　on　one　of　the　open…air　camps　that　had
recently　been　established　where　men；　women；　and　children　were
working　to　provide　arms　and　accoutrements　for　the　Republican　army
that　was　fighting　the　whole　of　Europe。

The　people　of　France　were　up　in　arms　against　tyranny；　and　on　the
open　places　of　their　mighty　city　they　were　encamped　day　and　night
forging　those　arms　which　were　destined　to　make　them　free；　and　in
the　meantime　were　bending　under　a　yoke　of　tyranny　more　complete；
more　grinding　and　absolute　than　any　that　the　most　despotic　kings
had　ever　dared　to　inflict。

Here　by　the　light　of　resin　torches；　at　this　late　hour　of　the
night；　raw　lads　were　being　drilled　into　soldiers；　half…naked　under
the　cutting　blast　of　the　north　wind；　their　knees　shaking　tinder
them；　their　arms　and　legs　blue　with　cold；　their　stomachs　empty；
and　their　teeth　chattering　with　fear；　women　were　sewing　shirts　for
the　great　improvised　army；　with　eyes　straining　to　see　the　stitches
by　the　flickering　light　of　the　torches；　their　throats　parched　with
the　continual　inhaling　of　smoke…laden　air；　even　children；　with
weak；　clumsy　little　fingers；　were　picking　rags　to　be　woven　into
cloth　again　all；　all　these　slaves　were　working　far　into　the　night；
tired；　hungry；　and　cold；　but　working　unceasingly；　as　the　country
had　demanded　it：　　〃the　people　of　France　in　arms　against　tyranny！〃
The　people　of　France　had　to　set　to　work　to　make　arms；　to　clothe
the　soldiers；　the　defenders　of　the　people's　liberty。

And　from　this　crowd　of　peoplemen；　women；　and　childrenthere
came　scarcely　a　sound；　save　raucous　whispers；　a　moan　or　a　sigh
quickly　suppressed。　　A　grim　silence　reigned　in　this　thickly…peopled
camp；　only　the　crackling　of　the　torc