opinion of the world。 The cells of the Temple of La Force or the
Conciergerie held no secret inquisition with iron maidens and
racks and thumbscrews； but a few men had put their tortuous brains
together； and had said one to another： 〃We want to find out from
that man where we can lay our hands on little Capet； so we won't
let him sleep until he has told us。 It is not tortureoh； no！
Who would dare to say that we torture our prisoners？ It is only a
little horseplay； worrying to the prisoner； no doubt； but； after
all； he can end the unpleasantness at any moment。 He need but to
answer our question； and he can go to sleep as comfortably as a
little child。 The want of sleep is very trying； the want of
proper food and of fresh air is very weakening； the prisoner must
give way sooner or later〃
So these fiends had decided it between them； and they had put
their idea into execution for one whole week。 Marguerite looked at
Chauvelin as she would on some monstrous； inscrutable Sphinx；
marveling if Godeven in His angercould really have created
such a fiendish brain； or； having created it； could allow it to
wreak such devilry unpunished。
Even now she felt that he was enjoying the mental anguish which he
had put upon her； and she saw his thin； evil lips curled into a
smile。
〃So you came to…night to tell me all this？〃 she asked as soon as
she could trust herself to speak。 Her impulse was to shriek out
her indignation； her horror of him； into his face。 She longed to
call down God's eternal curse upon this fiend； but instinctively
she held herself in check。 Her indignation； her words of loathing
would only have added to his delight。
〃You have had your wish；〃 she added coldly； 〃now； I pray you； go。〃
〃Your pardon； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said with all his habitual
blandness； 〃my object in coming to see you tonight was twofold。
Methought that I was acting as your friend in giving you authentic
news of Sir Percy； and in suggesting the possibility of your
adding your persuasion to ours。〃
〃My persuasion？ You mean that I〃
〃You would wish to see your husband； would you not； Lady Blakeney？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then I pray you command me。 I will grant you the permission
whenever you wish to go。〃
〃You are in the hope； citizen；〃 she said； 〃that I will do my best
to break my husband's spirit by my tears or my prayersis that
it？〃
〃Not necessarily；〃 he replied pleasantly。 〃I assure you that we
can manage to do that ourselves； in time。〃
〃You devil！〃 The cry of pain and of horror was involuntarily
wrung from the depths of her soul。 〃Are you not afraid that God's
hand will strike you where you stand？〃
〃No；〃 he said lightly； 〃I am not afraid； Lady Blakeney。 You see； I
do not happen to believe in God。 Come！〃 he added more seriously；
〃have I not proved to you that my offer is disinterested？ Yet I
repeat it even now。 If you desire to see Sir Percy in prison；
command me； and the doors shall be open to you。〃
She waited a moment； looking him straight and quite dispassionately
in the face； then she said coldly：
〃Very well！ I will go。〃
〃When？〃 he asked。
〃This evening。〃
〃Just as you wish。 I would have to go and see my friend Heron
first； and arrange with him for your visit。〃
〃Then go。 I will follow in half an hour。〃
〃C'est entendu。 Will you be at the main entrance of the
Conciergerie at half…past nine？ You know it； perhapsno？ It is
in the Rue de la Barillerie； immediately on the right at the foot
of the great staircase of the house of Justice。〃
〃Of the house of Justice！〃 she exclaimed involuntarily； a world of
bitter contempt in her cry。 Then she added in her former
matter…of…fact tones：
〃Very good； citizen。 At half…past nine I will be at the entrance
you name。〃
〃And I will be at the door prepared to escort you。〃
He took up his hat and coat and bowed ceremoniously to her。 Then
he turned to go。 At the door a cry from herinvoluntarily
enough； God knows！made him pause。
〃My interview with the prisoner；〃 she said； vainly try mg； poor
soul！ to repress that quiver of anxiety in her voice； 〃it will be
private？〃
〃Oh； yes！ Of course；〃 he replied with a reassuring smile。 〃Au
revoir； Lady Blakeney！ Half…past nine； remember〃
She could no longer trust herself to look on him as he finally
took his departure。 She was afraidyes； absolutely afraid that
her fortitude would give waymeanly； despicably； uselessly give
way； that she would suddenly fling herself at the feet of that
sneering； inhuman wretch； that she would pray； imploreHeaven
above！ what might she not do in the face of this awful reality； if
the last lingering shred of vanishing reason； of pride； and of
courage did not hold her in check？
Therefore she forced herself not to look on that departing；
sable…clad figure； on that evil face； and those hands that held
Percy's fate in their cruel grip； but her ears caught the welcome
sound of his departurethe opening and shutting of the door； his
light footstep echoing down the stone stairs。
When at last she felt that she was really alone she uttered a loud
cry like a wounded doe； and falling on her knees she buried her
face in her hands in a passionate fit of weeping。 Violent sobs
shook her entire frame； it seemed as if an overwhelming anguish
was tearing at her heartthe physical pain of it was almost
unendurable。 And yet even through this paroxysm of tears her mind
clung to one root idea： when she saw Percy she must be brave and
calm； be able to help him if he wanted her； to do his bidding if
there was anything that she could do； or any message that she
could take to the others。 Of hope she had none。 The last lingering
ray of it had been extinguished by that fiend when he said； 〃We
need not fear that he will escape。 I doubt if he could walk very
steadily across this room now。〃
CHAPTER XXVII
IN THE CONCIERGERIE
Marguerite； accompanied by Sir Andrew Ffoulkes； walked rapidly
along the quay。 It lacked ten minutes to the half hour； the night
was dark and bitterly cold。 Snow was still falling in sparse；
thin flakes； and lay like a crisp and glittering mantle over the
parapets of the bridges and the grim towers of the Chatelet
prison。
They walked on silently now。 All that they had wanted to say to
one another had been said inside the squalid room of their
lodgings when Sir Andrew Ffoulkes had come home and learned that
Chauvelin had been。
〃They are killing him by inches； Sir Andrew；〃 had been the
heartrending cry which burst from Marguerite's oppressed heart as
soon as her hands rested in the kindly ones of her best friend。
〃Is there aught that we can do？〃
There was； of course； very little that could be done。 One or two
fine steel files which Sir Andrew gave her to conceal beneath the
folds of her kerchief； also a tiny dagger with sharp； poisoned
blade； which for a moment she held in her hand hesitating； her
eyes filling with tears； her heart throbbing with unspeakable
sorrow。
Then slowlyvery slowlyshe raised the small； death…dealing
instrument to her lips； and reverently kissed the narrow blade。
〃If it must be！〃 she murmured； 〃God in His mercy will forgive！〃
She sheathed the dagger； and this； too； she hid in the folds of
her gown。
〃Can you think of anything else； Sir Andrew； that he might want？〃
she asked。 〃I have money in plenty； in case those soldiers〃
Sir Andrew sighed； and turned away from her so as to hide the
hopelessness which he felt。 Since three days now be had been
exhausting every conceivable means of getting at the prison guard
with bribery and corruption。 But Chauvelin and his friends had
taken excellent precautions。 The prison of the Conciergerie；
situated as it was in the very heart of the labyrinthine and
complicated structure of the Chatelet and the house of Justice；
and isolated from every other group of cells in the building； was
inaccessible save from one narrow doorway which gave on the
guard…room first； and thence on the inner cell beyond。 Just as
all attempts to rescue the late unfortunate Queen from that prison
had failed； so now every attempt to reach the imprisoned Scarlet
Pimpernel was equally doomed to bitter disappointment。
The guard…room was filled with soldiers day and night； the windows
of the inner cell； heavily barred； were too small to admit of the
passage of a human body； and they were raised twenty feet from the
corridor below。 Sir Andrew had stood in the corridor two days
ago； he bad looked on the window behind which he knew that his
friend must be eating out his noble heart in a longing for
liberty； and he had realised then that every effort at help from
the outside was foredoomed to failure。
〃Courage； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said to Marguerite； when anon they
had crossed the Pont au Change； and were wending their way slowly
along the Rue de la Barillerie； 〃remember our proud dictum： the
Scarlet Pimpernel never fails！ and also this； that whatever messages
Blakeney gives you for us； whatever he wishes us to do； we are to a
man ready to do it； and to give our lives for our chief。 Courage！
Something tells me that a man like Percy is not going to die at the
hands of such vermin as Chauvelin and his friends。〃
They had reached the great iron gates of the house of Justice。
Marguerite； trying to smile； extended her trembling band to this
faithful； loyal comrade。
〃I'll not be far；〃 he said。 〃When you come out do not look to the
right or left； but make straight for home； I'll not lose sight of
you for a moment； and as soon as possible will overtake you。 God
bless you both。〃
He pressed his lips on her cold little hand； and watched her tall；
elegant figure as she passed through the great gates until the
veil of falling snow hid her from his gaze。 Then with a deep sigh
of bitter anguish and sorrow he turned away and was soon lost in
the gloom。
Marguerite found the gate at the bottom of the monumental stairs
open when she arrived。 Chauvelin was standing immediately inside
the building waiting for her。
〃We are prepared for your visit； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said； 〃and the
prisoner knows that you are coming。〃
He led the way down one of the numerous and interminable corridors
of the building； and s