realise how it is being fooled by a set of men who have only their
own power and their own advancement in view； and who imagine that
the only way to that power is over the dead bodies of those who
stand in their way。 Once the nation is sickened by these orgies
of ambition and of hate； it will turn against these savage brutes；
and gladly acclaim the restoration of all that they are striving
to destroy。 This is our only hope for the future； and； believe
me； friend； that every head snatched from the guillotine by your
romantic hero； the Scarlet Pimpernel； is a stone laid for the
consolidation of this infamous Republic。〃
〃I'll not believe it；〃 protested St。 Just emphatically。
De Batz； with a gesture of contempt indicative also of complete
self…satisfaction and unalterable self…belief； shrugged his broad
shoulders。 His short fat fingers； covered with rings； beat a
tattoo upon the ledge of the box。
Obviously； he was ready with a retort。 His young friend's
attitude irritated even more than it amused him。 But he said
nothing for the moment； waiting while the traditional three knocks
on the floor of the stage proclaimed the rise of the curtain。 The
growing impatience of the audience subsided as if by magic at the
welcome call； everybody settled down again comfortably in their
seats； they gave up the contemplation of the fathers of the
people； and turned their full attention to the actors on the
boards。
CHAPTER II
WIDELY DIVERGENT AIMS
This was Armand S。 Just's first visit to Paris since that
memorable day when first he decided to sever his connection from
the Republican party； of which he and his beautiful sister
Marguerite had at one time been amongst the most noble； most
enthusiastic followers。 Already a year and a half ago the
excesses of the party had horrified him； and that was long before
they had degenerated into the sickening orgies which were
culminating to…day in wholesale massacres and bloody hecatombs of
innocent victims。
With the death of Mirabeau the moderate Republicans； whose sole
and entirely pure aim had been to free the people of France from
the autocratic tyranny of the Bourbons； saw the power go from
their clean hands to the grimy ones of lustful demagogues； who
knew no law save their own passions of bitter hatred against all
classes that were not as self…seeking； as ferocious as themselves。
It was no longer a question of a fight for political and religious
liberty only； but one of class against class； man against man； and
let the weaker look to himself。 The weaker had proved himself to
be； firstly； the man of property and substance； then the
law…abiding citizen； lastly the man of action who had obtained for
the people that very same liberty of thought and of belief which
soon became so terribly misused。
Armand St。 Just； one of the apostles of liberty； fraternity； and
equality； soon found that the most savage excesses of tyranny were
being perpetrated in the name of those same ideals which he had
worshipped。
His sister Marguerite； happily married in England； was the final
temptation which caused him to quit the country the destinies of
which he no longer could help to control。 The spark of enthusiasm
which he and the followers of Mirabeau had tried to kindle in the
hearts of an oppressed people had turned to raging tongues of
unquenchable flames。 The taking of the Bastille had been the
prelude to the massacres of September； and even the horror of
these had since paled beside the holocausts of to…day。
Armand； saved from the swift vengeance of the revolutionaries by
the devotion of the Scarlet Pimpernel； crossed over to England and
enrolled himself tinder the banner of the heroic chief。 But he
had been unable hitherto to be an active member of the League。
The chief was loath to allow him to run foolhardy risks。 The St。
Justsboth Marguerite and Armandwere still very well…known in
Paris。 Marguerite was not a woman easily forgotten； and her
marriage with an English 〃aristo〃 did not please those republican
circles who had looked upon her as their queen。 Armand's secession
from his party into the ranks of the emigres had singled him out
for special reprisals； if and whenever he could be got hold of；
and both brother and sister had an unusually bitter enemy in their
cousin Antoine St。 Justonce an aspirant to Marguerite's hand；
and now a servile adherent and imitator of Robespierre； whose
ferocious cruelty he tried to emulate with a view to ingratiating
himself with the most powerful man of the day。
Nothing would have pleased Antoine St。 Just more than the
opportunity of showing his zeal and his patriotism by denouncing
his own kith and kin to the Tribunal of the Terror； and the
Scarlet Pimpernel； whose own slender fingers were held on the
pulse of that reckless revolution； had no wish to sacrifice
Armand's life deliberately； or even to expose it to unnecessary
dangers。
Thus it was that more than a year had gone by before Armand St。
Justan enthusiastic member of the League of the Scarlet
Pimpernelwas able to do aught for its service。 He had chafed
under the enforced restraint placed upon him by the prudence of
his chief； when； indeed； he was longing to risk his life with the
comrades whom he loved and beside the leader whom he revered。
At last； in the beginning of '94 he persuaded Blakeney to allow
him to join the next expedition to France。 What the principal aim
of that expedition was the members of the League did not know as
yet； but what they did know was that perilsgraver even than
hithertowould attend them on their way。
The circumstances had become very different of late At first the
impenetrable mystery which had surrounded the personality of the
chief had been a full measure of safety； but now one tiny corner
of that veil of mystery had been lifted by two rough pairs of
hands at least； Chauvelin； ex…ambassador at the English Court； was
no longer in any doubt as to the identity of the Scarlet
Pimpernel； whilst Collot d'Herbois had seen him at Boulogne； and
had there been effectually foiled by him。
Four months had gone by since that day； and the Scarlet Pimpernel
was hardly ever out of France now； the massacres in Paris and in
the provinces had multiplied with appalling rapidity； the
necessity for the selfless devotion of that small band of heroes
had become daily； hourly more pressing。 They rallied round their
chief with unbounded enthusiasm； and let it be admitted at once
that the sporting instinctinherent in these English gentlemen
made them all the more keen； all the more eager now that the
dangers which beset their expeditions were increased tenfold。
At a word from the beloved leader； these young menthe spoilt
darlings of societywould leave the gaieties； the pleasures； the
luxuries of London or of Bath； and； taking their lives tn their
hands； they placed them； together with their fortunes； and even
their good names； at the service of the innocent and helpless
victims of merciless tyranny。 The married menFfoulkes； my Lord
Hastings； Sir Jeremiah Wallescourtleft wife and children at a
call from the chief； at the cry of the wretched。 Armand
unattached and enthusiastichad the right to demand that he
should no longer be left behind。
He had only been away a little over fifteen months； and yet he
found Paris a different city from the one he had left immediately
after the terrible massacres of September。 An air of grim
loneliness seemed to hang over her despite the crowds that
thronged her streets； the men whom he was wont to meet in public
places fifteen months agofriends and political allieswere no
longer to be seen； strange faces surrounded him on every side
sullen； glowering faces； all wearing a certain air of horrified
surprise and of vague； terrified wonder； as if life had become
one awful puzzle； the answer to which must be found in the brief
interval between the swift passages of death。
Armand St。 Just； having settled his few simple belongings in the
squalid lodgings which had been assigned to him； had started out
after dark to wander somewhat aimlessly through the streets。
Instinctively he seemed to be searching for a familiar face； some
one who would come to him out of that merry past which he had
spent with Marguerite in their pretty apartment in the Rue St。
Honore。
For an hour he wandered thus and met no one whom he knew。 At times
it appeared to him as if he did recognise a face or figure that
passed him swiftly by in the gloom； but even before he could fully
make up his mind to that； the face or figure had already disappeared；
gliding furtively down some narrow unlighted by…street； without
turning to look to right or left； as if dreading fuller recognition。
Armand felt a total stranger in his own native city。
The terrible hours of the execution on the Place de la Revolution
were fortunately over； the tumbrils no longer rattled along the
uneven pavements； nor did the death…cry of the unfortunate victims
resound through the deserted streets。 Armand was； on this first
day of his arrival； spared the sight of this degradation of the
once lovely city； but her desolation； her general appearance of
shamefaced indigence and of cruel aloofness struck a chill in the
young man's heart。
It was no wonder； therefore； when anon he was wending his way
slowly back to his lodging he was accosted by a pleasant； cheerful
voice； that he responded to it with alacrity。 The voice； of a
smooth； oily timbre； as if the owner kept it well greased for
purposes of amiable speech； was like an echo of the past； when
jolly； irresponsible Baron de Batz； erst…while officer of the
Guard in the service of the late King； and since then known to be
the most inveterate conspirator for the restoration of the
monarchy； used to amuse Marguerite by his vapid； senseless plans
for the overthrow of the newly…risen power of the people。
Armand was quite glad to meet him； and when de Batz suggested that
a good talk over old times would be vastly agreeable； the younger
man gladly acceded； The two men； though certainly not mistrustful
of one another； did not seem to care to reveal to each other the
place where they lodged。 De Batz at once proposed th