beating so strongly and so rapidly that he could not have trusted
himself to speak。 He fumbled in his pocket； and without unnecessary
preliminaries he produced a small piece of silver； and pushed it
towards the clerk； then he seized on the register marked 〃Femmes〃
with voracious avidity。
The clerk had with stolid indifference pocketed the half…livre； he
looked on Armand over a pair of large bone…rimmed spectacles； with
the air of an old hawk that sees a helpless bird and yet is too
satiated to eat。 He was apparently vastly amused at Armand's
trembling hands； and the clumsy； aimless way with which he fingered
the book and held up the tallow candle。
〃What date？〃 he asked curtly in a piping voice。
〃What date？〃 reiterated Armand vaguely。
〃What day and hour was she arrested？〃 said the man； thrusting his
beak…like nose closer to Armand's face。 Evidently the piece of
silver had done its work well； he meant to be helpful to this
country lout。
〃On Friday evening；〃 murmured the young man。
The clerk's hands did not in character gainsay the rest of his
appearance； they were long and thin； with nails that resembled the
talons of a hawk。 Armand watched them fascinated as from above
they turned over rapidly the pages of the book； then one long；
grimy finger pointed to a row of names down a column。
〃If she is here；〃 said the man curtly； 〃her name should be amongst
these。〃
Armand's vision was blurred。 He could scarcely see。 The row of
names was dancing a wild dance in front of his eyes； perspiration
stood out on his forehead； and his breath came in quick；
stertorous gasps。
He never knew afterwards whether he actually saw Jeanne's name
there in the book； or whether his fevered brain was playing his
aching senses a cruel and mocking trick。 Certain it is that
suddenly amongst a row of indifferent names hers suddenly stood
clearly on the page； and to him it seemed as if the letters were
writ out in blood。
582。 Belhomme； Louise； aged sixty。 Discharged。
And just below； the other entry：
583。 Lange； Jeanne； aged twenty； actress。 Square du Roule
No。5。 Suspected of harbouring traitors and ci…devants。
Transferred 29th Nivose to the Temple； cell 29。
He saw nothing more； for suddenly it seemed to him as if some one
held a vivid scarlet veil in front of his eyes； whilst a hundred
claw…like hands were tearing at his heart and at his throat。
〃Clear out now！ it is my turnwhat？ Are you going to stand there
all night？〃
A rough voice seemed to be speaking these words； rough hands
apparently were pushing him out of the way； and some one snatched
the candle out of his hand； but nothing was real。 He stumbled
over a corner of a loose flagstone； and would have fallen； but
something seemed to catch bold of him and to lead him away for a
little distance； until a breath of cold air blew upon his face。
This brought him back to his senses。
Jeanne was a prisoner in the Temple； then his place was in the
prison of the Temple； too。 It could not be very difficult to run
one's head into the noose that caught so many necks these days。 A
few cries of 〃Vive le roi！〃 or 〃A bas la republique！〃 and more
than one prison door would gape invitingly to receive another
guest。
The hot blood had rushed into Armand's head。 He did not see
clearly before him； nor did he hear distinctly。 There was a
buzzing in his ears as of myriads of mocking birds' wings； and
there was a veil in front of his eyesa veil through which he saw
faces and forms flitting ghost…like in the gloom； men and women
jostling or being jostled； soldiers； sentinels； then long；
interminable corridors； more crowd and more soldiers； winding
stairs； courtyards and gates； finally the open street； the quay；
and the river beyond。
An incessant hammering went on in his temples； and that veil never
lifted from before his eyes。 Now it was lurid and red； as if
stained with blood； anon it was white like a shroud but it was
always there。
Through it he saw the Pont…au…Change； which he crossed； then far
down on the Quai de l'Ecole to the left the corner house behind
St。 Germain l'Auxerrois； where Blakeney lodgedBlakeney； who for
the sake of a stranger had forgotten all about his comrade and
Jeanne。
Through it he saw the network of streets which separated him from
the neighbourhood of the Temple； the gardens of ruined
habitations； the closely…shuttered and barred windows of ducal
houses； then the mean streets； the crowded drinking bars； the
tumble…down shops with their dilapidated awnings。
He saw with eyes that did not see； heard the tumult of daily life
round him with ears that did not hear。 Jeanne was in the Temple
prison； and when its grim gates closed finally for the night；
heArmand； her chevalier； her lover； her defenderwould be
within its walls as near to cell No。 29 as bribery； entreaty；
promises would help him to attain。
Ah！ there at last loomed the great building； the pointed bastions
cut through the surrounding gloom as with a sable knife。
Armand reached the gate； the sentinels challenged him； he replied：
〃Vive le roi！〃 shouting wildly like one who is drunk。
He was hatless； and his clothes were saturated with moisture。 He
tried to pass； but crossed bayonets barred the way。 Still he
shouted：
〃Vive le roi！〃 and 〃A bas la republique！〃
〃Allons！ the fellow is drunk！〃 said one of the soldiers。
Armand fought like a madman； he wanted to reach that gate。 He
shouted； he laughed； and he cried； until one of the soldiers in a
fit of rage struck him heavily on the head。
Armand fell backwards； stunned by the blow； his foot slipped on
the wet pavement。 Was he indeed drunk； or was he dreaming？ He
put his hand up to his forehead； it was wet； but whether with the
rain or with blood he did not know； but for the space of one
second he tried to collect his scattered wits。
〃Citizen St。 Just！〃 said a quiet voice at his elbow。
Then； as he looked round dazed； feeling a firm； pleasant grip on
his arm； the same quiet voice continued calmly：
〃Perhaps you do not remember me； citizen St。 Just。 I had not the
honour of the same close friendship with you as I had with your
charming sister。 My name is Chauvelin。 Can I be of any service to
you？〃
CHAPTER XVII
CHAUVELIN
Chauvelin！ The presence of this man here at this moment made the
events of the past few days seem more absolutely like a dream。
Chauvelin！the most deadly enemy he； Armand； and his sister
Marguerite had in the world。 Chauvelin！the evil genius that
presided over the Secret Service of the Republic。 Chauvelinthe
aristocrat turned revolutionary； the diplomat turned spy； the
baffled enemy of the Scarlet Pimpernel。
He stood there vaguely outlined in the gloom by the feeble rays of
an oil lamp fixed into the wall just above。 The moisture on his
sable clothes glistened in the flickering light like a thin veil
of crystal； it clung to the rim of his hat； to the folds of his
cloak； the ruffles at his throat and wrist hung limp and soiled。
He had released Armand's arm； and held his hands now underneath
his cloak； his pale； deep…set eyes rested gravely on the younger
man's face。
〃I had an idea； somehow；〃 continued Chauvelin calmly； 〃that you
and I would meet during your sojourn in Paris。 I heard from my
friend Heron that you had been in the city； he； unfortunately；
lost your track almost as soon as he had found it； and I； too； had
begun to fear that our mutual and ever enigmatical friend； the
Scarlet Pimpernel； had spirited you away； which would have been a
great disappointment to me。〃
Now he once more took hold of Armand by the elbow； but quite
gently； more like a comrade who is glad to have met another； and
is preparing to enjoy a pleasant conversation for a while。 He led
the way back to the gate； the sentinel saluting at sight of the
tricolour scarf which was visible underneath his cloak。 Under the
stone rampart Chauvelin paused。
It was quiet and private here。 The group of soldiers stood at the
further end of the archway； but they were out of hearing； and
their forms were only vaguely discernible in the surrounding
darkness。
Armand had followed his enemy mechanically like one bewitched and
irresponsible for his actions。 When Chauvelin paused he too stood
still； not because of the grip on his arm； but because of that
curious numbing of his will。
Vague； confused thoughts were floating through his brain； the most
dominant one among them being that Fate had effectually ordained
everything for the best。 Here was Chauvelin； a man who hated him；
who； of course； would wish to see him dead。 Well； surely it must
be an easier matter now to barter his own life for that of Jeanne；
she had only been arrested on suspicion of harbouring him； who was
a known traitor to the Republic； then； with his capture and speedy
death； her supposed guilt would； he hoped； be forgiven。 These
people could have no ill…will against her； and actors and
actresses were always leniently dealt with when possible。 Then
surely； surely； he could serve Jeanne best by his own arrest and
condemnation； than by working to rescue her from prison。
In the meanwhile Chauvelin shook the damp from off his cloak；
talking all the time in his own peculiar； gently ironical manner。
〃Lady Blakeney？〃 he was saying〃 I hope that she is well！〃
〃I thank you； sir；〃 murmured Armand mechanically。
〃And my dear friend； Sir Percy Blakeney？ I had hoped to meet him
in Paris。 Ah！ but no doubt he has been busy very busy； but I live
in hopesI live in hopes。 See how kindly Chance has treated me；〃
he continued in the same bland and mocking tones。 〃I was taking a
stroll in these parts； scarce hoping to meet a friend； when；
passing the postern…gate of this charming hostelry； whom should I
see but my amiable friend St。 Just striving to gain admission。
But； la！ here am I talking of myself； and I am not re…assured as
to your state of health。 You felt faint just now； did you not？
The air about this building is very dank and close。 I hope you
feel better now。 Command me； pray； if I can be of service to you
in any way。〃
Whilst Chauvelin talked he had drawn Armand after him into the
lodg