el dorado- 第49部分

〃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　people
who　took　charge　of　me　that　the　ragged　man…of…all…work　had　been
none　other　than　the　mysterious　Englishman　whom　Armand　reveres；　he
whom　they　call　the　Scarlet　Pimpernel。〃

〃But　you　did　not　stay　very　long　in　the　Rue　St。　Germain
l'Auxerrois；　did　you？〃

〃No。　Only　three　days。　The　third　day　I　received　a　communique　from
the　Committee　of　General　Security；　together　with　an　unconditional
certificate　of　safety。　　It　meant　that　I　was　freequite　free。　　Oh！
I　could　scarcely　believe　it。　　I　laughed　and　I　cried　until　the
people　in　the　house　thought　that　I　had　gone　mad。　　The　past　few
days　had　been　such　a　horrible　nightmare。〃

〃And　then　you　saw　Armand　again？〃

〃Yes。　　They　told　him　that　I　was　free。　　And　he　came　here　to　see　me。
He　often　comes；　he　will　be　here　anon。〃

〃But　are　you　not　afraid　on　his　account　and　your　own？　He　ishe
must　be　still'suspect'；　a　well…known　adherent　of　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel；　he　would　be　safer　out　of　Paris。〃

〃No！　oh；　no！　　Armand　is　in　no　danger。　　He；　too；　has　an　unconditional
certificate　of　safety。〃

〃An　unconditional　certificate　of　safety？〃　asked　Marguerite；　whilst
a　deep　frown　of　grave　puzzlement　appeared　between　her　brows。
〃What　does　that　mean？

〃It　means　that　he　is　free　to　come　and　go　as　he　likes；　that　neither
he　nor　I　have　anything　to　fear　from　Heron　and　his　awful　spies。
Oh！　but　for　that　sad　and　careworn　look　on　Armand's　face　we　could
be　so　happy；　but　he　is　so　unlike　himself。　　He　is　Armand　and　yet
another；　his　look　at　times　quite　frightens　me。〃

〃Yet　you　know　why　he　is　so　sad；〃　said　Marguerite　in　a　strange；
toneless　voice　which　she　seemed　quite　unable　to　control；　for　that
tonelessness　came　from　a　terrible　sense　of　suffocation；　of　a
feeling　as　if　her　heart…strings　were　being　gripped　by　huge；　hard
hands。

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Jeanne　half　hesitatingly；　as　if　knowing；　she
was　still　unconvinced。

〃His　chief；　his　comrade；　the　friend　of　whom　you　speak；　the　Scarlet
Pimpernel；　who　risked　his　life　in　order　to　save　yours；
mademoiselle；　is　a　prisoner　in　the　hands　of　those　that　hate　him。〃

Marguerite　had　spoken　with　sudden　vehemence。　　There　was　almost　an
appeal　in　her　voice　now；　as　if　she　were　trying　not　to　convince
Jeanne　only；　but　also　herself；　of　something　that　was　quite　simple；
quite　straightforward；　and　yet　which　appeared　to　be　receding　from
her；　an　intangible　something；　a　spirit　that　was　gradually　yielding
to　a　force　as　yet　unborn；　to　a　phantom　that　had　not　yet　emerged
from　out　chaos。

But　Jeanne　seemed　unconscious　of　all　this。　　Her　mind　was　absorbed
in　Armand；　the　man　whom　she　loved　in　her　simple；　whole…hearted
way；　and　who　had　seemed　so　different　of　late。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　she　said　with　a　deep；　sad　sigh；　whilst　the　ever…ready
tears　once　more　gathered　in　her　eyes；　〃Armand　is　very　unhappy
because　of　him。　　The　Scarlet　Pimpernel　was　his　friend；　Armand
loved　and　revered　him。　　Did　you　know；〃　added　the　girl；　turning
large；　horror…filled　eyes　on　Marguerite；　〃that　they　want　some
information　from　him　about　the　Dauphin；　and　to　force　him　to　give
it　theythey〃

〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Marguerite。

〃Can　you　wonder；　then；　that　Armand　is　unhappy。　　Oh！　last　night；
after　he　went　from　me；　I　cried　for　hours；　just　because　he　had
looked　so　sad。　　He　no　longer　talks　of　happy　England；　of　the
cottage　we　were　to　have；　and　of　the　Kentish　orchards　in　May。　　He
has　not　ceased　to　love　me；　for　at　times　his　love　seems　so　great
that　I　tremble　with　a　delicious　sense　of　fear。　　But　oh！　his　love
for　me　no　longer　makes　him　happy。〃

Her　head　had　gradually　sunk　lower　and　lower　on　her　breast；　her
voice　died　down　in　a　murmur　broken　by　heartrending　sighs。　　Every
generous　impulse　in　Marguerite's　noble　nature　prompted　her　to　take
that　sorrowing　child　in　her　arms；　to　comfort　her　if　she　could；　to
reassure　her　if　she　had　the　power。　　But　a　strange　icy　feeling　had
gradually　invaded　her　heart；　even　whilst　she　listened　to　the　simple
unsophisticated　talk　of　Jeanne　Lange。　　Her　hands　felt　numb　and
clammy；　and　instinctively　she　withdrew　away　from　the　near　vicinity
of　the　girl。　　She　felt　as　if　the　room；　the　furniture　in　it；　even　the
window　before　her　were　dancing　a　wild　and　curious　dance；　and　that
from　everywhere　around　strange　whistling　sounds　reached　her　ears；
which　caused　her　head　to　whirl　and　her　brain　to　reel。

Jeanne　had　buried　her　head　in　her　hands。　　She　was　cryingsoftly；
almost　humbly　at　first；　as　if　half　ashamed　of　her　grief；　then；
suddenly　it　seemed；　as　if　she　could　not　contain　herself　any
longer；　a　heavy　sob　escaped　her　throat　and　shook　her　whole
delicate　frame　with　its　violence。　　Sorrow　no　longer　would　be
gainsaid；　it　insisted　on　physical　expressionthat　awful　tearing
of　the　heart…strings　which　leaves　the　body　numb　and　panting　with
pain。

In　a　moment　Marguerite　had　forgotten；　the　dark　and　shapeless
phantom　that　had　knocked　at　the　gate　of　her　soul　was　relegated
back　into　chaos。　　It　ceased　to　be；　it　was　made　to　shrivel　and　to
burn　in　the　great　seething　cauldron　of　womanly　sympathy。　　What
part　this　child　had　played　in　the　vast　cataclysm　of　misery　which
had　dragged　a　noble…hearted　enthusiast　into　the　dark　torture…chamber；
whence　the　only　outlet　led　to　the　guillotine；　sheMarguerite　Blakeney
did　not　know；　what　part　Armand；　her　brother；　had　played　in　it；　that
she　would　not　dare　to　guess；　all　that　she　knew　was　that　here　was　a
loving　heart　that　was　filled　with　paina　young；　inexperienced　soul
that　was　having　its　first　tussle　with　the　grim　realities　of　life
and　every　motherly　instinct　in　Marguerite　was　aroused。

She　rose　and　gently　drew　the　young　girl　up　from　her　knees；　and　then
closer　to　her；　she　pillowed　the　grief…stricken　head　against　her
shoulder；　and　murmured　gentle；　comforting　words　into　the　tiny　ear。

〃I　have　news　for　Armand；〃　she　whispered；　〃that　will　comfort　him；　a
messagea　letter　from　his　friend。　　You　will　see；　dear；　that　when
Armand　reads　it　he　will　become　a　changed　man；　you　see；　Armand
acted　a　little　foolishly　a　few　days　ago。　　His　chief　had　given　him
orders　which　he　disregardedhe　was　so　anxious　about　youhe
should　have　obeyed；　and　now；　mayhap；　he　feels　that　his　disobedience
may　have　been　thethe　innocent　cause　of　much　misery　to　others；　that
is；　no　doubt；　the　reason　why　he　is　so　sad。　　The　letter　from　his　friend
will　cheer　him；　you　will　see。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　so；　madame？〃　murmured　Jeanne；　in　whose
tear…stained　eyes　the　indomitable　hopefulness　of　youth　was　already
striving　to　shine。

〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　assented　Marguerite。

And　for　the　moment　she　was　absolutely　sincere。　　The　phantom　had
entirely　vanished。　　She　would　even；　had　he　dared　to　re…appear；
have　mocked　and　derided　him　for　his　futile　attempt　at　turning　the
sorrow　in　her　heart　to　a　veritable　hell　of　bitterness。



CHAPTER　XXXIII
LITTLE　MOTHER

The　two　women；　both　so　young　still；　but　each　of　them　with　a　mark
of　sorrow　already　indelibly　graven　in　her　heart；　were　clinging　to
one　another；　bound　together　by　the　strong　bond　of　sympathy。　　And
but　for　the　sadness　of　it　all　it　were　difficult　to　conjure　up　a
more　beautiful　picture　than　that　which　they　presented　as　they
stood　side　by　side；　Marguerite；　tall　and　stately　as　an　exquisite
lily；　with　the　crown　of　her　ardent　hair　and　the　glory　of　her　deep
blue　eyes；　and　Jeanne　Lange；　dainty　and　delicate；　with　the　brown
curls　and　the　child…like　droop　of　the　soft；　moist　lips。

Thus　Armand　saw　them　when；　a　moment　or　two　later；　entered
unannounced。　　He　had　pushed　open　the　door　and　looked　on　the　two
women　silently　for　a　second　or　two；　on　the　girl　whom　he　loved　so
dearly；　for　whose　sake　he　had　committed　the　great；　the　unpardonable
sin　which　would　send　him　forever　henceforth；　Cain…like；　a　wanderer
on　the　face　of　the　earth；　and　the　other；　his　sister；　her　whom　a
Judas　act　would　condemn　to　lonely　sorrow　and　widowhood。

He　could　have　cried　out　in　an　agony　of　remorse；　and　it　was　the
groan　of　acute　soul　anguish　which　escaped　his　lips　that　drew
Marguerite's　attention　to　his　presence。

Even　though　many　things　that　Jeanne　Lange　had　said　had　prepared
her　for　a　change　in　her　brother；　she　was　immeasurably　shocked　by
his　appearance。　　He　had　always　been　slim　and　rather　below　the
average　in　height；　but　now　his　usually　upright　and　trim　figure
seemed　to　have　shrunken　within　itself；　his　clothes　hung　baggy　on
his　shoulders；　his　hands　appeared　waxen　and　emaciated；　but　the
greatest　change　was　in　his　face；　in　the　wide　circles　round　the
eyes；　that　spoke　of　wakeful　nights；　in　the　hollow　cheeks；　and　the
mouth　that　had　wholly　forgotten　how　to　smile。

Percy　after　a　week's　misery　immured　in　a　dark　and　miserable
prison；　deprived　of　food　and　rest；　did　not　look　such　a　physical
wreck　as　did　Armand　St。　Just；　who　was　free。

Marguerite's　heart　reproached　her　for　what　she　felt　had　been
neglect；　callousness　on　her　part。　　Mutely；　within　herself；　she
craved　his　forgiveness　for　the　appearance　of　that　phantom　which
should　never　have　come　forth　from　out　that　chaotic　hell　which　had
engendered　it。

〃Armand！〃　she　cried。

And　the　loving　arms　that　had　guided　his　baby　footsteps　long　ago；
the　tender　hands　that　had　wiped　his　boyish　tears；　were　stretched
out　with　unalterable　love　toward　him。

〃I　have　a　message　for　you；　dear；〃　she　said　gently〃a　letter　from
him。　　Mademoiselle　Jeanne　allowed　me　to　wait　here　for　you　until
you　came。〃

Silently；　like　a　little　shy　mouse；　Jeanne　had　slipped　out　of　the
room。　　Her　pure　love　for　Armand　had　ennobled　every　one　of　her
thoughts；　and　her　innate　kindliness　and　refinement　had　already
suggested　that　brother　and　sister　would　wish　to　be　alone。　　At　the
door　she　had　turned　and　met　Armand's　look。　　That　look　had
satisfied　her；　she　felt　that　in　it　she　had　read　the　expression　of
his　love；　and　to　it　she　had　responded　with　a　glance　that　spoke　of
hope　for　a　future　meeting。

As　soon　as　the　door　had　closed　on　Jeanne　Lange；　Armand；　with　an
impulse　that　refused　to　be　checked；　threw　himself　into　his
sister's　arms。　　The　present；　with　all　its　sorrows；　its　remorse　and
its　shame；　had　sunk　away；　only　the　past　remainedthe　unforgettable
past；　when　Marguerite　was　〃little　mother〃the　soother；　the　comforter；
the　healer；　the　eve