moment ago when giving instructions to Hastings。 His usual
debonnair manner was on him once again； his laziness； his careless
insouciance。 He was even at this moment deeply engaged in
flicking off a grain of dust from the immaculate Mechlin ruff at
his wrist。 The heavy lids had fallen over the tell…tale eyes as
if weighted with fatigue； the mouth appeared ready for the laugh
which never was absent from it very long。
It was only Ffoulkes's devoted eyes that were sharp enough to
pierce the mask of light…hearted gaiety which enveloped the soul
of his leader at the present moment。 He sawfor the first time in
all the years that he had known Blakeneya frown across the
habitually smooth brow； and though the lips were parted for a
laugh； the lines round mouth and chin were hard and set。
With that intuition born of whole…hearted friendship Sir Andrew
guessed what troubled Percy。 He had caught the look which the
latter had thrown on Armand； and knew that some explanation would
have to pass between the two men before they parted to…night。
Therefore he gave the signal for the breaking up of the meeting。
〃There is nothing more to say； is there； Blakeney？〃 he asked。
〃No； my good fellow； nothing；〃 replied Sir Percy。 〃I do not know
how you all feel； but I am demmed fatigued。〃
〃What about the rags for to…morrow？〃 queried Hastings。
〃You know where to find them。 In the room below。 Ffoulkes has the
key。 Wigs and all are there。 But don't use false hair if you can
help itit is apt to shift in a scrimmage。〃
He spoke jerkily； more curtly than was his wont。 Hastings and
Tony thought that he was tired。 They rose to say good night。
Then the three men went away together； Armand remaining behind。
CHAPTER XII
WHAT LOVE IS
〃Well； now； Armand； what is it？〃 asked Blakeney； the moment the
footsteps of his friends had died away down the stone stairs； and
their voices had ceased to echo in the distance。
〃You guessed； then； that there was 。。。 something？〃 said the
younger man； after a slight hesitation。
〃Of course。〃
Armand rose； pushing the chair away from him with an impatient
nervy gesture。 Burying his hands in the pockets of his breeches；
he began striding up and down the room； a dark； troubled
expression in his face； a deep frown between his eyes。
Blakeney had once more taken up his favourite position； sitting on
the corner of the table； his broad shoulders interposed between
the lamp and the rest of the room。 He was apparently taking no
notice of Armand； but only intent on the delicate operation of
polishing his nails。
Suddenly the young man paused in his restless walk and stood in
front of his friendan earnest； solemn； determined figure。
〃Blakeney；〃 he said； 〃I cannot leave Paris to…morrow。〃
Sir Percy made no reply。 He was contemplating the polish which he
had just succeeded in producing on his thumbnail。
〃I must stay here for a while longer；〃 continued Armand firmly。
〃I may not be able to return to England for some weeks。 You have
the three others here to help you in your enterprise outside
Paris。 I am entirely at your service within the compass of its
walls。〃
Still no comment from Blakeney； not a look from beneath the fallen
lids。 Armand continued； with a slight tone of impatience apparent
in his voice：
〃You must want some one to help you here on Sunday。 I am entirely
at your service 。。。 here or anywhere in Paris 。。。 but I cannot
leave this city 。。。 at any rate； not just yet。。。。〃
Blakeney was apparently satisfied at last with the result of his
polishing operations。 He rose； gave a slight yawn； and turned
toward the door。
〃Good night； my dear fellow；〃 he said pleasantly； 〃it is time we
were all abed。 I am so demmed fatigued。〃
〃Percy！〃 exclaimed the young man hotly。
〃Eh？ What is it？〃 queried the other lazily。
〃You are not going to leave me like thiswithout a word？〃
〃I have said a great many words； my good fellow。 I have said
'good night；' and remarked that I was demmed fatigued。〃
He was standing beside the door which led to his bedroom； and now
he pushed it open with his hand。
〃Percy； you cannot go and leave me like this！〃 reiterated Armand
with rapidly growing irritation。
〃Like what； my dear fellow？〃 queried Sir Percy with good…humoured
impatience。
〃Without a wordwithout a sign。 What have I done that you should
treat me like a child； unworthy even of attention？〃
Blakeney had turned back and was now facing him； towering above
the slight figure of the younger man。 His face had lost none of
its gracious air； and beneath their heavy lids his eyes looked
down not unkindly on his friend。
〃Would you have preferred it； Armand；〃 he said quietly； 〃if I had
said the word that your ears have heard even though my lips have
not uttered it？〃
〃I don't understand；〃 murmured Armand defiantly。
〃What sign would you have had me make？〃 continued Sir Percy； his
pleasant voice falling calm and mellow on the younger man's
supersensitive consciousness： 〃That of branding you； Marguerite's
brother； as a liar and a cheat？〃
〃Blakeney！〃 retorted the other； as with flaming cheeks and
wrathful eyes he took a menacing step toward his friend； 〃had any
man but you dared to speak such words to me〃
〃I pray to God； Armand； that no man but I has the right to speak
them。〃
〃You have no right。〃
〃Every right； my friend。 Do I not hold your oath？ 。。。 Are you
not prepared to break it？〃
〃I'll not break my oath to you。 I'll serve and help you in every
way you can command 。。。 my life I'll give to the cause 。。。 give me
the most dangerousthe most difficult task to perform。。。。 I'll
do itI'll do it gladly。〃
〃I have given you an over…difficult and dangerous task。〃
〃Bah！ To leave Paris in order to engage horses； while you and the
others do all the work。 That is neither difficult nor dangerous。〃
〃It will be difficult for you； Armand； because your head Is not
sufficiently cool to foresee serious eventualities and to prepare
against them。 It is dangerous； because you are a man in love； and
a man in love is apt to run his headand that of his friends
blindly into a noose。〃
〃Who told you that I was in love？〃
〃You yourself； my good fellow。 Had you not told me so at the
outset；〃 he continued； still speaking very quietly and deliberately
and never raising his voice； 〃I would even now be standing over you；
dog…whip in hand； to thrash you as a defaulting coward and a perjurer
。。。。 Bah！〃 he added with a return to his habitual bonhomie； 〃I would
no doubt even have lost my temper with you。 Which would have been
purposeless and excessively bad form。 Eh？〃
A violent retort had sprung to Armand's lips。 But fortunately at
that very moment his eyes； glowing with anger； caught those of
Blakeney fixed with lazy good…nature upon his。 Something of that
irresistible dignity which pervaded the whole personality of the
man checked Armand's hotheaded words on his lips。
〃I cannot leave Paris to…morrow；〃 he reiterated more calmly。
〃Because you have arranged to see her again？〃
〃Because she saved my life to…day； and is herself in danger。〃
〃She is in no danger；〃 said Blakeney simply； 〃since she saved the
life of my friend。〃
〃Percy！〃
The cry was wrung from Armand St。 Just's very soul。 Despite the
tumult of passion which was raging in his heart； he was conscious
again of the magnetic power which bound so many to this man's
service。 The words he had saidsimple though they werehad sent
a thrill through Armand's veins。 He felt himself disarmed。 His
resistance fell before the subtle strength of an unbendable will；
nothing remained in his heart but an overwhelming sense of shame
and of impotence。
He sank into a chair and rested his elbows on the table； burying
his face in his hands。 Blakeney went up to him and placed a
kindly hand upon his shoulder。
〃The difficult task； Armand；〃 he said gently。
〃Percy； cannot you release me？ She saved my life。 I have not
thanked her yet。〃
〃There will be time for thanks later； Armand。 Just now over
yonder the son of kings is being done to death by savage brutes。〃
〃I would not hinder you if I stayed。〃
〃God knows you have hindered us enough already。〃
〃How？〃
〃You say she saved your life 。。。 then you were in danger 。。。 Heron
and his spies have been on your track your track leads to mine；
and I have sworn to save the Dauphin from the hands of thieves。。。。
A man in love； Armand； is a deadly danger among us。。。。 Therefore
at daybreak you must leave Paris with Hastings on your difficult
and dangerous task。〃
〃And if I refuse？〃 retorted Armand。
〃My good fellow；〃 said Blakeney earnestly； 〃in that admirable
lexicon which the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel has compiled for
itself there is no such word as refuse。〃
〃But if I do refuse？〃 persisted the other。
〃You would be offering a tainted name and tarnished honour to the
woman you pretend to love。〃
〃And you insist upon my obedience？〃
〃By the oath which I hold from you。〃
〃But this is cruelinhuman！〃
〃Honour； my good Armand； is often cruel and seldom human。 He is a
godlike taskmaster； and we who call ourselves men are all of us
his slaves。〃
〃The tyranny comes from you alone。 You could release me an you
would。〃
〃And to gratify the selfish desire of immature passion； you would
wish to see me jeopardise the life of those who place infinite
trust in me。〃
〃God knows how you have gained their allegiance； Blakeney。 To me
now you are selfish and callous。〃
〃There is the difficult task you craved for； Armand；〃 was all the
answer that Blakeney made to the taunt〃 to obey a leader whom
you no longer trust。〃
But this Armand could not brook。 He had spoken hotly；
impetuously； smarting under the discipline which thwarted his
desire； but his heart was loyal to the chief whom he had
reverenced for so long。
〃Forgive me； Percy；〃 he said humbly； 〃I am distracted。 I don't
think I quite realised what I was saying。 I trust you； of course
。。。 implicitly 。。。 and you need not even fear 。。。 I shall not
break my oath； though your orders now seem to me needlessly
callous and selfish。。。。 I will obey 。。。 you need not be afraid。〃
〃I was not afraid of that； m