prisoner knows that you are coming。〃
He led the way down one of the numerous and interminable corridors
of the building； and she followed briskly； pressing her hand
against her bosom there where the folds of her kerchief hid the
steel files and the precious dagger。
Even in the gloom of these ill…lighted passages she realised that
she was surrounded by guards。 There were soldiers everywhere； two
had stood behind the door when first she entered； and had
immediately closed it with a loud clang behind her； and all the
way down the corridors； through the half…light engendered by
feebly flickering lamps； she caught glimpses of the white facings
on the uniforms of the town guard； or occasionally the glint of
steel of a bayonet。 Presently Chauvelin paused beside a door；
which he had just reached。 His hand was on the latch； for it did
not appear to be locked； and he turned toward Marguerite。
〃I am very sorry； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said in simple； deferential
tones； 〃that the prison authorities； who at my request are
granting you this interview at such an unusual hour； have made a
slight condition to your visit。〃
〃A condition？〃 she asked。 〃What is it？〃
〃You must forgive me；〃 he said； as if purposely evading her
question； 〃for I give you my word that I had nothing to do with a
regulation that you might justly feel was derogatory to your
dignity。 If you will kindly step in here a wardress in charge
will explain to you what is required。〃
He pushed open the door； and stood aside ceremoniously in order to
allow her to pass in。 She looked on him with deep puzzlement and
a look of dark suspicion in her eyes。 But her mind was too much
engrossed with the thought of her meeting with Percy to worry over
any trifle that mightas her enemy had inferredoffend her
womanly dignity。
She walked into the room； past Chauvelin； who whispered as she
went by：
〃I will wait for you here。 And； I pray you； if you have aught to
complain of summon me at once。〃
Then he closed the door behind her。 The room in which Marguerite
now found herself was a small unventilated quadrangle； dimly
lighted by a hanging lamp。 A woman in a soiled cotton gown and
lank grey hair brushed away from a parchment…like forehead rose
from the chair in which she had been sitting when Marguerite
entered； and put away some knitting on which she had apparently
been engaged。
〃I was to tell you； citizeness；〃 she said the moment the door had
been closed and she was alone with Marguerite； 〃that the prison
authorities have given orders that I should search you before you
visit the prisoner。〃
She repeated this phrase mechanically like a child who has been
taught to say a lesson by heart。 She was a stoutish middle…aged
woman； with that pasty； flabby skin peculiar to those who live in
want of fresh air； but her small； dark eyes were not unkindly；
although they shifted restlessly from one object to another as if
she were trying to avoid looking the other woman straight in the
face。
〃That you should search me！〃 reiterated Marguerite slowly； trying
to understand。
〃Yes；〃 replied the woman。 〃I was to tell you to take off your
clothes； so that I might look them through and through。 I have
often had to do this before when visitors have been allowed inside
the prison； so it is no use your trying to deceive me in any way。
I am very sharp at finding out if any one has papers； or files or
ropes concealed in an underpetticoat。 Come；〃 she added more
roughly； seeing that Marguerite had remained motionless in the
middle of the room； 〃the quicker you are about it the sooner you
will be taken to see the prisoner。〃
These words had their desired effect。 The proud Lady Blakeney；
inwardly revolting at the outrage； knew that resistance would be
worse than useless。 Chauvelin was the other side of the door。 A
call from the woman would bring him to her assistance； and
Marguerite was only longing to hasten the moment when she could be
with her husband。
She took off her kerchief and her gown and calmly submitted to the
woman's rough hands as they wandered with sureness and accuracy to
the various pockets and folds that might conceal prohibited
articles。 The woman did her work with peculiar stolidity； she did
not utter a word when she found the tiny steel files and placed
them on a table beside her。 In equal silence she laid the little
dagger beside them； and the purse which contained twenty gold
pieces。 These she counted in front of Marguerite and then
replaced them in the purse。 Her face expressed neither surprise；
nor greed nor pity。 She was obviously beyond the reach of bribery
just a machine paid by the prison authorities to do this unpleasant
work； and no doubt terrorised into doing it conscientiously。
When she had satisfied herself that Marguerite had nothing further
concealed about her person； she allowed her to put her dress on
once more。 She even offered to help her on with it。 When
Marguerite was fully dressed she opened the door for her。
Chauvelin was standing in the passage waiting patiently。 At sight
of Marguerite； whose pale； set face betrayed nothing of the
indignation which she felt； he turned quick； inquiring eyes on the
woman。
〃Two files； a dagger and a purse with twenty louis；〃 said the
latter curtly。
Chauvelin made no comment。 He received the information quite
placidly； as if it had no special interest for him。 Then he said
quietly：
〃This way； citizeness！〃
Marguerite followed him； and two minutes later he stood beside a
heavy nail…studded door that had a small square grating let into
one of the panels； and said simply：
〃This is it。〃
Two soldiers of the National Guard were on sentry at the door； two
more were pacing up and down outside it； arid had halted when
citizen Chauvelin gave his name and showed his tricolour scarf of
office。 From behind the small grating in the door a pair of eyes
peered at the newcomers。
〃Qui va la？〃 came the quick challenge from the guard…room within。
〃Citizen Chauvelin of the Committee of Public Safety；〃 was the
prompt reply。
There was the sound of grounding of arms； of the drawing of bolts
and the turning of a key in a complicated lock。 The prison was
kept locked from within； and very heavy bars had to be moved ere
the ponderous door slowly swung open on its hinges。
Two steps led up into the guard…room。 Marguerite mounted them
with the same feeling of awe and almost of reverence as she would
have mounted the steps of a sacrificial altar。
The guard…room itself was more brilliantly lighted than the
corridor outside。 The sudden glare of two or three lamps placed
about the room caused her momentarily to close her eyes that were
aching with many shed and unshed tears。 The air was rank and
heavy with the fumes of tobacco； of wine and stale food。 A large
barred window gave on the corridor immediately above the door。
When Marguerite felt strong enough to look around her； she saw
that the room was filled with soldiers。 Some were sitting； others
standing； others lay on rugs against the wall； apparently asleep。
There was one who appeared to be in command； for with a word he
checked the noise that was going on in the room when she entered；
and then he said curtly：
〃This way； citizeness！〃
He turned to an opening in the wall on the left； the stone…lintel
of a door； from which the door itself had been removed； an iron
bar ran across the opening； and this the sergeant now lifted；
nodding to Marguerite to go within。
Instinctively she looked round for Chauvelin。
But he was nowhere to be seen。
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE CAGED LION
Was there some instinct of humanity left in the soldier who
allowed Marguerite through the barrier into the prisoner's cell？
Had the wan face of this beautiful woman stirred within his heart
the last chord of gentleness that was not wholly atrophied by the
constant cruelties； the excesses； the mercilessness which his
service under this fraternising republic constantly demanded of
him？
Perhaps some recollection of former years； when first he served
his King and country； recollection of wife or sister or mother
pleaded within him in favour of this sorely…stricken woman with
the look of unspeakable sorrow in her large blue eyes。
Certain it is that as soon as Marguerite passed the barrier he put
himself on guard against it with his back to the interior of the
cell and to her。
Marguerite had paused on the threshold。
After the glaring light of the guard…room the cell seemed dark；
and at first she could hardly see。 The whole length of the long；
narrow cubicle lay to her left； with a slight recess at its
further end； so that from the threshold of the doorway she could
not see into the distant corner。 Swift as a lightning flash the
remembrance came back to her of proud Marie Antoinette narrowing
her life to that dark corner where the insolent eyes of the rabble
soldiery could not spy her every movement。
Marguerite stepped further into the room。 Gradually by the dim
light of an oil lamp placed upon a table in the recess she began
to distinguish various objects： one or two chairs； another table；
and a small but very comfortable…looking camp bedstead。
Just for a few seconds she only saw these inanimate things； then
she became conscious of Percy's presence。
He sat on a chair； with his left arm half…stretched out upon the
table； his bead hidden in the bend of the elbow。
Marguerite did not utter a cry； she did not even tremble。 Just for
one brief instant she closed her eyes； so as to gather up all her
courage before she dared to look again。 Then with a steady and
noiseless step she came quite close to him。 She knelt on the
flagstones at his feet and raised reverently to her lips the hand
that hung nerveless and limp by his side。
He gave a start； a shiver seemed to go right through him； he half
raised his head and murmured in a hoarse whisper：
〃I tell you that I do not know； and if I did〃
She put her arms round him and pillowed her head upon his breast。
He turned his head slowly toward her； and now his eyeshollowed
and rimmed with purplelooked straight into hers。
〃My beloved；〃 he said； 〃I knew that you would come。