half an hour。〃
He； of course； begged to be allowed to accompany her； and anon
they were walking together quickly up toward the Faubourg St。
Honore。 The snow had ceased falling； but it was still very cold；
but neither Marguerite nor Sir Andrew were conscious of the
temperature or of any outward signs around them。 They walked on
silently until they reached the torn…down gates of the Square du
Roule； there Sir Andrew parted from Marguerite after having
appointed to meet her an hour later at a small eating…house he
knew of where they could have some food together； before starting
on their long expedition to the Rue de Charonne。
Five minutes later Marguerite Blakeney was shown in by worthy
Madame Belhomme； into the quaint and pretty drawing…room with its
soft…toned hangings and old…world air of faded grace。
Mademoiselle Lange was sitting there； in a capacious armchair；
which encircled her delicate figure with its frame…work of dull
old gold。
She was ostensibly reading when Marguerite was announced； for an
open book lay on a table beside her； but it seemed to the visitor
that mayhap the young girl's thoughts had played truant from her
work； for her pose was listless and apathetic； and there was a
look of grave trouble upon the childlike face。
She rose when Marguerite entered； obviously puzzled at the
unexpected visit； and somewhat awed at the appearance of this
beautiful woman with the sad look in her eyes。
〃I must crave your pardon； mademoiselle；〃 said Lady Blakeney as
soon as the door had once more closed on Madame Belhomme； and she
found herself alone with the young girl。 〃This visit at such an
early hour must seem to you an intrusion。 But I am Marguerite St。
Just； and〃
Her smile and outstretched hand completed the sentence。
〃St。 Just！〃 exclaimed Jeanne。
〃Yes。 Armand's sister！〃
A swift blush rushed to the girl's pale cheeks； her brown eyes
expressed unadulterated joy。 Marguerite； who was studying her
closely； was conscious that her poor aching heart went out to this
exquisite child； the far…off innocent cause of so much misery。
Jeanne； a little shy； a little confused and nervous in her movements；
was pulling a chair close to the fire； begging Marguerite to sit。
Her words came out all the while in short jerky sentences； and from
time to time she stole swift shy glances at Armand's sister。
〃You will forgive me； mademoiselle；〃 said Marguerite； whose simple
and calm manner quickly tended to soothe Jeanne Lange's confusion；
〃but I was so anxious about my brotherI do not know where to
find him。〃
〃And so you came to me； madame？〃
〃Was I wrong？〃
〃Oh； no！ But what made you think thatthat I would know？〃
〃I guessed；〃 said Marguerite with a smile。 〃You had heard about me
then？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃
〃Through whom？ Did Armand tell you about me？〃
〃No； alas！ I have not seen him this past fortnight； since you；
mademoiselle； came into his life； but many of Armand's friends are
in Paris just now； one of them knew； and he told me。〃
The soft blush had now overspread the whole of the girl's face；
even down to her graceful neck。 She waited to see Marguerite
comfortably installed in an armchair； then she resumed shyly：
〃And it was Armand who told me all about you。 He loves you so
dearly。〃
〃Armand and I were very young children when we lost our parents；〃
said Marguerite softly； 〃and we were all in all to each other then。
And until I married he was the man I loved best in all the world。〃
〃He told me you were marriedto an Englishman。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃He loves England too。 At first he always talked of my going
there with him as his wife； and of the happiness we should find
there together。〃
〃Why do you say 'at first'？〃
〃He talks less about England now。〃
〃Perhaps he feels that now you know all about it； and that you
understand each other with regard to the future。〃
〃Perhaps。〃
Jeanne sat opposite to Marguerite on a low stool by the fire。 Her
elbows were resting on her knees； and her face just now was
half…hidden by the wealth of her brown curls。 She looked exquisitely
pretty sitting like this； with just the suggestion of sadness in the
listless pose。 Marguerite had come here to…day prepared to hate this
young girl； who in a few brief days had stolen not only Armand's heart；
but his allegiance to his chief； and his trust in him。 Since last
night； when she had seen her brother sneak silently past her like a
thief in the night； she had nurtured thoughts of ill…will and anger
against Jeanne。
But hatred and anger had melted at the sight of this child。
Marguerite； with the perfect understanding born of love itself；
had soon realised the charm which a woman like Mademoiselle Lange
must of necessity exercise over a chivalrous； enthusiastic nature
like Armand's。 The sense of protectionthe strongest perhaps
that exists in a good man's heartwould draw him irresistibly to
this beautiful child； with the great； appealing eyes； and the look
of pathos that pervaded the entire face。 Marguerite； looking in
silence on thedainty picture before her； found it in her heart
to forgive Armand for disobeying his chief when those eyes
beckoned to him in a contrary direction。
How could he； how could any chivalrous man endure the thought of
this delicate； fresh flower lying crushed and drooping in the
hands of monsters who respected neither courage nor purity？ And
Armand had been more than human； or mayhap less； if he had indeed
consented to leave the fate of the girl whom he had sworn to love
and protect in other hands than his own。
It seemed almost as if Jeanne was conscious of the fixity of
Marguerite's gaze； for though she did not turn to look at her； the
flush gradually deepened in her cheeks。
〃Mademoiselle Lange；〃 said Marguerite gently； 〃do you not feel
that you can trust me？〃
She held out her two hands to the girl； and Jeanne slowly turned
to her。 The next moment she was kneeling at Marguerite's feet；
and kissing the beautiful kind hands that had been stretched out
to her with such sisterly love。
〃Indeed； indeed； I do trust you；〃 she said； and looked with
tear…dimmed eyes in the pale face above her。 〃I have longed for
some one in whom I could confide。 I have been so lonely lately；
and Armand〃
With an impatient little gesture she brushed away the tears which
had gathered in her eyes。
〃What has Armand been doing？〃 asked Marguerite with an encouraging
smile。
〃Oh； nothing to grieve me！〃 replied the young girl eagerly； 〃for
he is kind and good； and chivalrous and noble。 Oh； I love him
with all my heart！ I loved him from the moment that I set eyes on
him； and then he came to see meperhaps you know！ And he talked
so beautiful about England； and so nobly about his leader the
Scarlet Pimpernelhave you heard of him？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Marguerite； smiling。 〃I have heard of him。〃
〃It was that day that citizen Heron came with his soldiers！ Oh！
you do not know citizen Heron。 He is the most cruel man in
France。 In Paris he is hated by every one； and no one is safe
from his spies。 He came to arrest Armand； but I was able to fool
him and to save Armand。 And after that；〃 she added with charming
naivete； 〃I felt as if； having saved Armand's life； he belonged to
meand his love for me had made me his。〃
〃Then I was arrested；〃 she continued after a slight pause； and at
the recollection of what she had endured then her fresh voice
still trembled with horror。
〃They dragged me to prison； and I spent two days in a dark cell；
where〃
She hid her face in her hands； whilst a few sobs shook her whole
frame； then she resumed more calmly：
〃I had seen nothing of Armand。 I wondered where he was； and I
knew that he would be eating out his heart with anxiety for me。
But God was watching over me。 At first I was transferred to the
Temple prison； and there a kind creaturea sort of man…of…all
work in the prison took compassion on me。 I do not know how he
contrived it； but one morning very early he brought me some filthy
old rags which he told me to put on quickly； and when I had done
that he bade me follow him。 Oh！ he was a very dirty； wretched man
himself； but he must have had a kind heart。 He took me by the
hand and made me carry his broom and brushes。 Nobody took much
notice of us； the dawn was only just breaking； and the passages
were very dark and deserted； only once some soldiers began to
chaff him about me： 'C'est ma fillequoi？' he said roughly。 I
very nearly laughed then； only I had the good sense to restrain
myself； for I knew that my freedom； and perhaps my life； depended
on my not betraying myself。 My grimy； tattered guide took me with
him right through the interminable corridors of that awful building；
whilst I prayed fervently to God for him and for myself。 We got out
by one of the service stairs and exit； and then he dragged me through
some narrow streets until we came to a corner where a covered cart
stood waiting。 My kind friend told me to get into the cart； and then
he bade the driver on the box take me straight to a house in the Rue
St。 Germain l'Auxerrois。 Oh！ I was infinitely grateful to the poor
creature who had helped me to get out of that awful prison； and I
would gladly have given him some money； for I am sure he was very
poor； but I had none by me。 He told me that I should be quite safe
in the house in the Rue St。 Germain l'Auxerrois； and begged me to
wait there patiently for a few days until I heard from one who had
my welfare at heart； and who would further arrange for my safety。〃
Marguerite had listened silently to this narrative so naively told
by this child； who obviously had no idea to whom she owed her
freedom and her life。 While the girl talked； her mind could
follow with unspeakable pride and happiness every phase of that
scene in the early dawn； when that mysterious； ragged
man…of…all…work； unbeknown even to the woman whom he was saving；
risked his own noble life for the sake of her whom his friend and
comrade loved。
〃And did you never see again the kind man to whom you owe your
life？〃 she asked。
〃No！〃 replied Jeanne。 〃I never saw him since； but when I arrived
at the Rue St。 Germain l'Auxerrois I was told by the good p