run unnecessary risks。〃
She was unconvinced； almost jealous now of his enthusiasm for that
unknown man。 Already she had taken full possession of Armand； she
had purchased his life； and he had given her his love。 She would
share neither treasure with that nameless leader who held Armand's
allegiance。
〃It is only for a little while； sweetheart；〃 he reiterated again
and again。 〃I could not； anyhow； leave Paris whilst I feel that
you are here； maybe in danger。 The thought would be horrible。 I
should go mad if I had to leave you。〃
Then he talked again of England； of his life there； of the
happiness and peace that were in store for them both。
〃We will go to England together；〃 he whispered； 〃and there we will
be happy together； you and I。 We will have a tiny house among the
Kentish hills； and its walls will be covered with honeysuckle and
roses。 At the back of the house there will be an orchard； and in
May； when the fruit…blossom is fading and soft spring breezes blow
among the trees； showers of sweet…scented petals will envelop us
as we walk along； falling on us like fragrant snow。 You will
come； sweetheart； will you not？〃
〃If you still wish it； Armand；〃 she murmured。
Still wish it！ He would gladly go to…morrow if she would come with
him。 But； of course； that could not be arranged。 She had her
contract to fulfil at the theatre； then there would be her house
and furniture to dispose of； and there was Aunt Marie。。。。 But； of
course； Aunt Marie would come too。。。。 She thought that she could
get away some time before the spring； and he swore that he could
not leave Paris until she came with him。
It seemed a terrible deadlock； for she could not bear to think of
him alone in those awful Paris streets； where she knew that spies
would always be tracking him。 She had no illusions as to the
impression which she had made on Heron； she knew that it could
only be a momentary one； and that Armand would henceforth be in
daily； hourly danger。
At last she promised him that she would take the advice of his
chief； they would both be guided by what he said。 Armand would
confide in him to…night； and if it could be arranged she would
hurry on her preparations and； mayhap； be ready to join him in a
week。
〃In the meanwhile； that cruel man must not risk your dear life；〃
she said。 〃Remember； Armand； your life belongs to me。 Oh； I
could hate him for the love you bear him！〃
〃Shshsh！〃 he said earnestly。 〃Dear heart； you must not speak
like that of the man whom； next to your perfect self； I love most
upon earth。〃
〃You think of him more than of me。 I shall scarce live until I
know that you are safely out of Paris。〃
Though it was horrible to part； yet it was best； perhaps； that he
should go back to his lodgings now； in case Heron sent his spies
back to her door； and since he meant to consult with his chief。
She had a vague hope that if the mysterious hero was indeed the
noble…hearted man whom Armand represented him to be； surely he
would take compassion on the anxiety of a sorrowing woman； and
release the man she loved from bondage。
This thought pleased her and gave her hope。 She even urged Armand
now to go。
〃When may I see you to…morrow？〃 he asked。
〃But it will be so dangerous to meet；〃 she argued。
〃I must see you。 I could not live through the day without seeing
you。〃
〃The theatre is the safest place。〃
〃I could not wait till the evening。 May I not come here？〃
〃No； no。 Heron's spies may be about。〃
〃Where then？〃
She thought it over for a moment。
〃At the stage…door of the theatre at one o'clock；〃she said at
last。 〃We shall have finished rehearsal。 Slip into the guichet
of the concierge。 I will tell him to admit you； and send my
dresser to meet you there； she will bring you along to my room；
where we shall be undisturbed for at least half an hour。〃
He had perforce to be content with that； though he would so much
rather have seen her here again； where the faded tapestries and
soft…toned hangings made such a perfect background for her
delicate charm。 He had every intention of confiding in Blakeney；
and of asking his help for getting Jeanne out of Paris as quickly
as may be。
Thus this perfect hour was past； the most pure； the fullest of joy
that these two young people were ever destined to know。 Perhaps
they felt within themselves the consciousness that their great
love would rise anon to yet greater； fuller perfection when Fate
had crowned it with his halo of sorrow。 Perhaps； too； it was that
consciousness that gave to their kisses now the solemnity of a
last farewell。
CHAPTER XI
THE LEAGUE OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL
Armand never could say definitely afterwards whither he went when
he left the Square du Roule that evening。 No doubt he wandered
about the streets for some time in an absent； mechanical way；
paying no heed to the passers…by； none to the direction in which
he was going。
His mind was full of Jeanne； her beauty； her courage； her attitude
in face of the hideous bloodhound who had come to pollute that
charming old…world boudoir by his loathsome presence。 He recalled
every word she uttered； every gesture she made。
He was a man in love for the first timewholly； irremediably in
love。
I suppose that it was the pangs of hunger that first recalled him
to himself。 It was close on eight o'clock now； and he had fed on
his imaginingsfirst on anticipation； then on realisation； and
lastly on memoryduring the best part of the day。 Now he awoke
from his day…dream to find himself tired and hungry； hut
fortunately not very far from that quarter of Paris where food is
easily obtainable。
He was somewhere near the Madeleinea quarter he knew well。 Soon
he saw in front of him a small eating…house which looked fairly
clean and orderly。 He pushed open its swing…door； and seeing an
empty table in a secluded part of the room； he sat down and
ordered some supper。
The place made no impression upon his memory。 He could not have
told you an hour later where it was situated； who had served him；
what he had eaten； or what other persons were present in the
dining…room at the time that he himself entered it。
Having eaten； however； he felt more like his normal selfmore
conscious of his actions。 When he finally left the eating…house；
he realised； for instance； that it was very colda fact of which
he had for the past few hours been totally unaware。 The snow was
falling in thin close flakes； and a biting north…easterly wind was
blowing those flakes into his face and down his collar。 He
wrapped his cloak tightly around him。 It was a good step yet to
Blakeney's lodgings； where he knew that he was expected。
He struck quickly into the Rue St。 Honore； avoiding the great open
places where the grim horrors of this magnificent city in revolt
against civilisation were displayed in all their grim
nakednesson the Place de la Revolution the guillotine； on the
Carrousel the open…air camps of workers under the lash of
slave…drivers more cruel than the uncivilised brutes of the Far
West。
And Armand had to think of Jeanne in the midst of all these
horrors。 She was still a petted actress to…day； but who could
tell if on the morrow the terrible law of the 〃suspect〃 would not
reach her in order to drag her before a tribunal that knew no
mercy； and whose sole justice was a condemnation？
The young man hurried on； he was anxious to be among his own
comrades； to hear his chief's pleasant voice； to feel assured that
by all the sacred laws of friendship Jeanne henceforth would
become the special care of the Scarlet Pimpernel and his league。
Blakeney lodged in a small house situated on the Quai de l'Ecole；
at the back of St。 Germain l'Auxerrois； from whence he had a clear
and uninterrupted view across the river； as far as the irregular
block of buildings of the Chatelet prison and the house of
Justice。
The same tower…clock that two centuries ago had tolled the signal
for the massacre of the Huguenots was even now striking nine。
Armand slipped through the half…open porte cochere； crossed the
narrow dark courtyard； and ran up two flights of winding stone
stairs。 At the top of these； a door on his right allowed a thin
streak of light to filtrate between its two folds。 An iron bell
handle hung beside it； Armand gave it a pull。
Two minutes later he was amongst his friends。 He heaved a great
sigh of content and relief。 The very atmosphere here seemed to be
different。 As far as the lodging itself was concerned； it was as
bare； as devoid of comfort as those sort of placesso…called
chambres garniesusually were in these days。 The chairs looked
rickety and uninviting； the sofa was of black horsehair； the
carpet was threadbare； and in places in actual holes； but there
was a certain something in the air which revealed； in the midst of
all this squalor； the presence of a man of fastidious taste。
To begin with； the place was spotlessly clean； the stove； highly
polished； gave forth a pleasing warm glow； even whilst the window；
slightly open； allowed a modicum of fresh air to enter the room。
In a rough earthenware jug on the table stood a large bunch of
Christmas roses； and to the educated nostril the slight scent of
perfumes that hovered in the air was doubly pleasing after the
fetid air of the narrow streets。
Sir Andrew Ffoulkes was there； also my Lord Tony； and Lord
Hastings。 They greeted Armand with whole…hearted cheeriness。
〃Where is Blakeney？〃 asked the young man as soon as he had shaken
his friends by the hand。
〃Present！〃 came in loud； pleasant accents from the door of an
inner room on the right。
And there he stood under the lintel of the door； the man against
whom was raised the giant hand of an entire nationthe man for
whose head the revolutionary government of France would gladly pay
out all the savings of its Treasurythe man whom human
bloodhounds were tracking； hot on the scentfor whom the nets of
a bitter revenge and relentless reprisals were constantly being
spread。
Was he unconscious of it； or merely careless？ His closest friend；
Sir Andrew Ffoulkes； could not say。 Certain it is that； as he now
appeared before Armand； picturesque as