silly nonsense； and making foolish jokes that would have shamed a
Frenchman in his teens。 Vaguely he wondered what fat； pompous de
Batz would think of this discussion if he could overhear it。 His
contempt； no doubt； for the Scarlet Pimpernel and his followers
would be increased tenfold。
Then at last the question of the disguise was effectually
dismissed。 Sir Andrew Ffoulkes and Lord Anthony Dewhurst had
settled their differences of opinion by solemnly agreeing to
represent two over…grimy and overheated coal…heavers。 They chose
two certificates of safety that were made out in the names of Jean
Lepetit and Achille Grospierre； labourers。
〃Though you don't look at all like an Achille； Tony；〃 was
Blakeney's parting shot to his friend。
Then without any transition from this schoolboy nonsense to the
serious business of the moment； Sir Andrew Ffoulkes said abruptly：
〃Tell us exactly； Blakeney； where you will want the cart to stand
on Sunday。〃
Blakeney rose and turned to the map against the wall； Ffoulkes and
Tony following him。 They stood close to his elbow whilst his
slender； nervy hand wandered along the shiny surface of the
varnished paper。 At last he placed his finger on one spot。
〃Here you see；〃 he said； 〃is the Villette gate。 Just outside it a
narrow street on the right leads down in the direction of the
canal。 It is just at the bottom of that narrow street at its
junction with the tow…path there that I want you two and the cart
to be。 It had better be a coal…car by the way； they will be
unloading coal close by there to…morrow；〃 he added with one of his
sudden irrepressible outbursts of merriment。 〃You and Tony can
exercise your muscles coal…heaving； and incidentally make
yourselves known in the neighbourhood as good if somewhat grimy
patriots。〃
〃We had better take up our parts at once then；〃 said Tony。 〃I'll
take a fond farewell of my clean shirt to…night。〃
〃Yes； you will not see one again for some time； my good Tony。
After your hard day's work to…morrow you will have to sleep either
inside your cart； if you have already secured one； or under the
arches of the canal bridge； if you have not。〃
〃I hope you have an equally pleasant prospect for Hastings；〃 was
my Lord Tony's grim comment。
It was easy to see that he was as happy as a schoolboy about to
start for a holiday。 Lord Tony was a true sportsman。 Perhaps
there was in him less sentiment for the heroic work which he did
under the guidance of his chief than an inherent passion for
dangerous adventures。 Sir Andrew Ffoulkes； on the other hand；
thought perhaps a little less of the adventure； but a great deal
of the martyred child in the Temple。 He was just as buoyant； just
as keen as his friend； but the leaven of sentiment raised his
sporting instincts to perhaps a higher plane of self…devotion。
〃Well； now； to recapitulate；〃 he said； in turn following with his
finger the indicated route on the map。 〃Tony and I and the
coal…cart will await you on this spot； at the corner of the
towpath on Sunday evening at nine o'clock。〃
〃And your signal； Blakeney？〃 asked Tony。
〃The usual one；〃 replied Sir Percy； 〃the seamew's cry thrice
repeated at brief intervals。 But now；〃 he continued； turning to
Armand and Hastings； who had taken no part in the discussion
hitherto； 〃I want your help a little further afield。〃
〃I thought so；〃 nodded Hastings。
〃The coal…cart； with its usual miserable nag； will carry us a
distance of fifteen or sixteen kilometres； but no more。 My purpose
is to cut along the north of the city； and to reach St。 Germain；
the nearest point where we can secure good mounts。 There is a
farmer just outside the commune； his name is Achard。 He has
excellent horses； which I have borrowed before now； we shall want
five； of course； and he has one powerful beast that will do for
me； as I shall have； in addition to my own weight； which is
considerable； to take the child with me on the pillion。 Now you；
Hastings and Armand； will have to start early to…morrow morning；
leave Paris by the Neuilly gate； and from there make your way to
St。 Germain by any conveyance you can contrive to obtain。 At St。
Germain you must at once find Achard's farm； disguised as
labourers you will not arouse suspicion by so doing。 You will
find the farmer quite amenable to money； and you must secure the
best horses you can get for our own use； and； if possible； the
powerful mount I spoke of just now。 You are both excellent
horse…men； therefore I selected you amongst the others for this
special errand； for you two； with the five horses； will have to
come and meet our coal…cart some seventeen kilometres out of St。
Germain； to where the first sign…post indicates the road to
Courbevoie。 Some two hundred metres down this road on the right
there is a small spinney； which will afford splendid shelter for
yourselves and your horses。 We hope to be there at about one
o'clock after midnight of Monday morning。 Now； is all that quite
clear； and are you both satisfied？〃
〃It is quite clear；〃 exclaimed Hastings placidly； 〃but I； for one；
am not at all satisfied。〃
〃And why not？〃
〃Because it is all too easy。 We get none of the danger。〃
〃Oho！ I thought that you would bring that argument forward； you
incorrigible grumbler；〃 laughed Sir Percy good…humouredly。 〃Let
me tell you that if you start to…morrow from Paris in that spirit
you will run your head and Armand's into a noose long before you
reach the gate of Neuilly。 I cannot allow either of you to cover
your faces with too much grime； an honest farm labourer should not
look over…dirty； and your chances of being discovered and detained
are； at the outset； far greater than those which Ffoulkes and Tony
will run〃
Armand had said nothing during this time。 While Blakeney was
unfolding his plan for him and for Lord Hastingsa plan which
practically was a commandhe had sat with his arms folded across
his chest； his head sunk upon his breast。 When Blakeney had asked
if they were satisfied； he had taken no part in Hastings' protest
nor responded to his leader's good…humoured banter。
Though he did not look up even now； yet he felt that Percy's eyes
were fixed upon him； and they seemed to scorch into his soul。 He
made a great effort to appear eager like the others； and yet from
the first a chill had struck at his heart。 He could not leave
Paris before he had seen Jeanne。
He looked up suddenly； trying to seem unconcerned； he even looked
his chief fully in the face。
〃When ought we to leave Paris？〃 he asked calmly。
〃You MUST leave at daybreak；〃 replied Blakeney with a slight；
almost imperceptible emphasis on the word of command。 〃When the
gates are first opened； and the work…people go to and fro at their
work； that is the safest hour。 And you must be at St。 Germain as
soon as may be； or the farmer may not have a sufficiency of horses
available at a moment's notice。 I want you to be spokesman with
Achard； so that Hastings' British accent should not betray you
both。 Also you might not get a conveyance for St。 Germain
immediately。 We must think of every eventuality； Armand。 There
is so much at stake。〃
Armand made no further comment just then。 But the others looked
astonished。 Armand had but asked a simple question； and
Blakeney's reply seemed almost like a rebukeso circumstantial
too； and so explanatory。 He was so used to being obeyed at a
word； so accustomed that the merest wish； the slightest hint from
him was understood by his band of devoted followers； that the long
explanation of his orders which he gave to Armand struck them all
with a strange sense of unpleasant surprise。
Hastings was the first to break the spell that seemed to have
fallen over the party。
〃We leave at daybreak； of course；〃 he said； 〃as soon as the gates
are open。 We can； I know； get one of the carriers to give us a
lift as far as St。 Germain。 There； how do we find Achard？〃
〃He is a well…known farmer；〃 replied Blakeney。 〃You have but to
ask。〃
〃Good。 Then we bespeak five horses for the next day； find
lodgings in the village that night； and make a fresh start back
towards Paris in the evening of Sunday。 Is that right？〃
〃Yes。 One of you will have two horses on the lead； the other one。
Pack some fodder on the empty saddles and start at about ten
o'clock。 Ride straight along the main road； as if you were making
back for Paris； until you come to four cross…roads with a
sign…post pointing to Courbevoie。 Turn down there and go along the
road until you meet a close spinney of fir…trees on your right。
Make for the interior of that。 It gives splendid shelter； and you
can dismount there and give the horses a feed。 We'll join you one
hour after midnight。 The night will be dark； I hope； and the moon
anyhow will be on the wane。〃
〃I think I understand。 Anyhow； it's not difficult； and we'll be
as careful as maybe。〃
〃You will have to keep your heads clear； both of you；〃 concluded
Blakeney。
He was looking at Armand as he said this； but the young man had
not made a movement during this brief colloquy between Hastings
and the chief。 He still sat with arms folded； his head falling on
his breast。
Silence had fallen on them all。 They all sat round the fire
buried in thought。 Through the open window there came from the
quay beyond the hum of life in the open…air camp； the tramp of the
sentinels around it； the words of command from the drill…sergeant；
and through it all the moaning of the wind and the beating of the
sleet against the window…panes。
A whole world of wretchedness was expressed by those sounds！
Blakeney gave a quick； impatient sigh； and going to the window he
pushed it further open； and just then there came from afar the
muffled roll of drums； and from below the watchman's cry that
seemed such dire mockery：
〃Sleep； citizens！ Everything is safe and peaceful。〃
〃Sound advice；〃 said Blakeney lightly。 〃Shall we also go to
sleep？ What say you alleh？〃
He had with that sudden rapidity characteristic of his every
action； already thrown off the serious air which he had worn a
moment ago when giving instructions to Hastings。 His usual
debonnair manner was on him once again；