had seen worse sights than these； since they served a Republic
that ruled by bloodshed and by terror。 They were own brothers in
callousness and cruelty to those men who on this self…same spot a
few months ago had watched the daily agony of a martyred Queen； or
to those who had rushed into the Abbaye prison on that awful day
in September； and at a word from their infamous leaders had put
eighty defenceless prisonersmen； women； and childrento the
sword。
〃Tell him to say what he has done with Capet；〃 said one of the
soldiers now； and this rough command was accompanied with a coarse
jest that sent the blood flaring up into Marguerite's pale cheeks。
The brutal laugh； the coarse words which accompanied it； the
insult flung at Marguerite； had penetrated to Blakeney's slowly
returning consciousness。 With sudden strength； that appeared
almost supernatural； he jumped to his feet； and before any of the
others could interfere he had with clenched fist struck the
soldier a full blow on the mouth。
The man staggered back with a curse； the other shouted for help；
in a moment the narrow place swarmed with soldiers； Marguerite was
roughly torn away from the prisoner's side； and thrust into the
far corner of the cell； from where she only saw a confused mass of
blue coats and white belts； andtowering for one brief moment
above what seemed to her fevered fancy like a veritable sea of
headsthe pale face of her husband； with wide dilated eyes
searching the gloom for hers。
〃Remember！〃 he shouted； and his voice for that brief moment rang
out clear and sharp above the din。
Then he disappeared behind the wall of glistening bayonets； of
blue coats and uplifted arms； mercifully for her she remembered
nothing more very clearly。 She felt herself being dragged out of
the cell； the iron bar being thrust down behind her with a loud
clang。 Then in a vague； dreamy state of semi…unconsciousness she
saw the heavy bolts being drawn back from the outer door； heard
the grating of the key in the monumental lock； and the next moment
a breath of fresh air brought the sensation of renewed life into
her。
CHAPTER XXX
AFTERWARDS
〃I am sorry； Lady Blakeney；〃 said a harsh； dry voice close to
her； 〃the incident at the end of your visit was none of our
making； remember。〃
She turned away； sickened with horror at thought of contact with
this wretch。 She had heard the heavy oaken door swing to behind
her on its ponderous hinges； and the key once again turn in the
lock。 She felt as if she had suddenly been thrust into a coffin；
and that clods of earth were being thrown upon her breast；
oppressing her heart so that she could not breathe。
Had she looked for the last time on the man whom she loved beyond
everything else on earth； whom she worshipped more ardently day by
day？ Was she even now carrying within the folds of her kerchief a
message from a dying man to his comrades？
Mechanically she followed Chauvelin down the corridor and along
the passages which she had traversed a brief half…hour ago。 From
some distant church tower a clock tolled the hour of ten。 It had
then really only been little more than thirty brief minutes since
first she had entered this grim building； which seemed less stony
than the monsters who held authority within it ； to her it seemed
that centuries had gone over her head during that time。 She felt
like an old woman； unable to straighten her back or to steady her
limbs； she could only dimly see some few paces ahead the trim
figure of Chauvelin walking with measured steps； his hands held
behind his back； his head thrown up with what looked like
triumphant defiance。
At the door of the cubicle where she had been forced to submit to
the indignity of being searched by a wardress； the latter was now
standing； waiting with characteristic stolidity。 In her hand she
held the steel files； the dagger and the purse which； as
Marguerite passed； she held out to her。
〃Your property； citizeness；〃 she said placidly。
She emptied the purse into her own hand； and solemnly counted out
the twenty pieces of gold。 She was about to replace them all into
the purse； when Marguerite pressed one of them back into her
wrinkled hand。
〃Nineteen will be enough； citizeness；〃 she said； 〃keep one for
yourself； not only for me； but for all the poor women who come
here with their heart full of hope； and go hence with it full of
despair。〃
The woman turned calm； lack…lustre eyes on her； and silently
pocketed the gold piece with a grudgingly muttered word of thanks。
Chauvelin during this brief interlude； had walked thoughtlessly on
ahead。 Marguerite； peering down the length of the narrow
corridor； spied his sable…clad figure some hundred metres further
on as it crossed the dim circle of light thrown by one of the
lamps。
She was about to follow； when it seemed to her as if some one was
moving in the darkness close beside her。 The wardress was even
now in the act of closing the door of her cubicle； and there were
a couple of soldiers who were disappearing from view round one end
of the passage； whilst Chauvelin's retreating form was lost in the
gloom at the other。
There was no light close to where she herself was standing； and
the blackness around her was as impenetrable as a veil； the sound
of a human creature moving and breathing close to her in this
intense darkness acted weirdly on her overwrought nerves。
〃Qui va la？〃 she called。
There was a more distinct movement among the shadows this time； as
of a swift tread on the flagstones of the corridor。 All else was
silent round； and now she could plainly hear those footsteps
running rapidly down the passage away from her。 She strained her
eyes to see more clearly； and anon in one of the dim circles of
light on ahead she spied a man's figureslender and darkly
cladwalking quickly yet furtively like one pursued。 As he
crossed the light the man turned to look back。 It was her brother
Armand。
Her first instinct was to call to him； the second checked that
call upon her lips。
Percy had said that Armand was in no danger； then why should he be
sneaking along the dark corridors of this awful house of Justice
if he was free and safe？
Certainly； even at a distance； her brother's movements suggested
to Marguerite that he was in danger of being seen。 He cowered in
the darkness； tried to avoid the circles of light thrown by the
lamps in the passage。 At all costs Marguerite felt that she must
warn him that the way he was going now would lead him straight
into Chauvelin's arms； and she longed to let him know that she was
close by。
Feeling sure that he would recognise her voice； she made pretence
to turn back to the cubicle through the door of which the wardress
had already disappeared； and called out as loudly as she dared：
〃Good…night； citizeness！〃
But Armandwho surely must have hearddid not pause at the
sound。 Rather was he walking on now more rapidly than before。 In
less than a minute he would be reaching the spot where Chauvelin
stood waiting for Marguerite。 That end of the corridor； however；
received no light from any of the lamps； strive how she might；
Marguerite could see nothing now either of Chauvelin or of Armand。
Blindly； instinctively； she ran forward； thinking only to reach
Armand； and to warn him to turn back before it was too late；
before he found himself face to face with the most bitter enemy he
and his nearest and dearest had ever had。 But as she at last came
to a halt at the end of the corridor； panting with the exertion of
running and the fear for Armand； she almost fell up against
Chauvelin； who was standing there alone and imperturbable；
seemingly having waited patiently for her。 She could only dimly
distinguish his face； the sharp features and thin cruel mouth； but
she feltmore than she actually sawhis cold steely eyes fixed
with a strange expression of mockery upon her。
But of Armand there was no sign； and shepoor soul！had
difficulty in not betraying the anxiety which she felt for her
brother。 Had the flagstones swallowed him up？ A door on the
right was the only one that gave on the corridor at this point； it
led to the concierge's lodge； and thence out into the courtyard。
Had Chauvelin been dreaming； sleeping with his eyes open； whilst
he stood waiting for her； and had Armand succeeded in slipping
past him under cover of the darkness and through that door to
safety that lay beyond these prison walls？
Marguerite； miserably agitated； not knowing what to think； looked
somewhat wild…eyed on Chauvelin； he smiled； that inscrutable；
mirthless smile of his； and said blandly：
〃Is there aught else that I can do for you； citizeness？ This is
your nearest way out。 No doubt Sir Andrew will be waiting to
escort you home。〃
Then as shenot daring either to reply or to questionwalked
straight up to the door； he hurried forward； prepared to open it
for her。 But before he did so he turned to her once again：
〃I trust that your visit has pleased you； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said
suavely。 〃At what hour do you desire to repeat it to…morrow？〃
〃To…morrow？〃 she reiterated in a vague； absent manner； for she was
still dazed with the strange incident of Armand's appearance and
his flight。
〃Yes。 You would like to see Sir Percy again to…morrow； would you
not？ I myself would gladly pay him a visit from time to time； but
he does not care for my company。 My colleague； citizen Heron； on
the other hand； calls on him four times in every twenty…four
hours； he does so a few moments before the changing of the guard；
and stays chatting with Sir Percy until after the guard is
changed； when he inspects the men and satisfies himself that no
traitor has crept in among them。 All the men are personally known
to him； you see。 These hours are at five in the morning and again
at eleven； and then again at five and eleven in the evening。 My
friend Heron； as you see； is zealous and assiduous； and； strangely
enough； Sir Percy does not seem to view his visit with any
displeasure。 Now at any other hour of the day； Lady Blakeney； I
pray you command me and I will arrange that citizen Heron grant
you a second interview with the prisoner。〃
Margue