But first will you kindly give me back that letter？ It is a
precious document which will for ever remain in the archives of
the nation。〃
But even while he spoke Armand； with one of those quick intuitions
that come in moments of acute crisis； had done just that which he
felt Blakeney would wish him to do。 He had held the letter close
to the candle。 A corner of the thin crisp paper immediately
caught fire； and before Chauvelin could utter a word of anger； or
make a movement to prevent the conflagration； the flames had
licked up fully one half of the letter； and Armand had only just
time to throw the remainder on the floor and to stamp out the
blaze with his foot。
〃I am sorry； citizen；〃 he said calmly； 〃an accident。〃
〃A useless act of devotion；〃 interposed Chauvelin； who already had
smothered the oath that had risen to his lips。 The Scarlet
Pimpernel's actions in the present matter will not lose their
merited publicity through the foolish destruction of this document。〃
〃I had no thought； citizen；〃 retorted the young man； 〃of
commenting on the actions of my chief； or of trying to deny them
that publicity which you seem to desire for them almost as much as
I do。〃
〃More； citizen； a great deal more！ The impeccable Scarlet
Pimpernel； the noble and gallant English gentleman； has agreed to
deliver into our hands the uncrowned King of Francein exchange
for his own life and freedom。 Methinks that even his worst enemy
would not wish for a better ending to a career of adventure； and a
reputation for bravery unequalled in Europe。 But no more of this；
time is pressing； I must help citizen Heron with his final
preparations for his journey。 You； of course； citizen St。 Just；
will act in accordance with Sir Percy Blakeney's wishes？〃
〃Of course；〃 replied Armand。
〃You will present yourself at the main entrance of the house of
Justice at six o'clock this morning。〃
〃I will not fail you。〃
〃A coach will be provided for you。 You will follow the expedition
as hostage for the good faith of your chief。〃
〃I quite understand。〃
〃H'm！ That's brave！ You have no fear； citizen St。 Just？〃
〃Fear of what； sir？
〃You will be a hostage in our hands； citizen； your life a
guarantee that your chief has no thought of playing us false。 Now
I was thinking ofof certain eventswhich led to the arrest of
Sir Percy Blakeney。〃
〃Of my treachery； you mean；〃 rejoined the young man calmly； even
though his face had suddenly become pale as death。 〃Of the
damnable lie wherewith you cheated me into selling my honour； and
made me what I ama creature scarce fit to walk upon this earth。〃
〃Oh！〃 protested Chauvelin blandly。
〃The damnable lie；〃 continued Armand more vehemently； 〃that hath
made me one with Cain and the Iscariot。 When you goaded me into
the hellish act； Jeanne Lange was already free。〃
〃Freebut not safe。〃
〃A lie； man！ A lie！ For which you are thrice accursed。 Great
God； is it not you that should have cause for fear？ Methinks were
I to strangle you now I should suffer less of remorse。〃
〃And would be rendering your ex…chief but a sorry service；〃
interposed Chauvelin with quiet irony。 〃Sir Percy Blakeney is a
dying man； citizen St。 Just； he'll be a dead man at dawn if I do
not put in an appearance by six o'clock this morning。 This is a
private understanding between citizen Heron and myself。 We agreed
to it before I came to see you。〃
〃Oh； you take care of your own miserable skin well enough！ But
you need not be afraid of meI take my orders from my chief； and
he has not ordered me to kill you。〃
〃That was kind of him。 Then we may count on you？ You are not
afraid？〃
〃Afraid that the Scarlet Pimpernel would leave me in the lurch
because of the immeasurable wrong I have done to him？〃 retorted
Armand； proud and defiant in the name of his chief。 〃No； sir； I
am not afraid of that； I have spent the last fortnight in praying
to God that my life might yet be given for his。〃
〃H'm！ I think it most unlikely that your prayers will be granted；
citizen； prayers； I imagine； so very seldom are； but I don't know；
I never pray myself。 In your case； now； I should say that you
have not the slightest chance of the Deity interfering in so
pleasant a manner。 Even were Sir Percy Blakeney prepared to wreak
personal revenge on you； he would scarcely be so foolish as to
risk the other life which we shall also hold as hostage for his
good faith。〃
〃The other life？〃
〃Yes。 Your sister； Lady Blakeney； will also join the expedition
to…morrow。 This Sir Percy does not yet know； but it will come as
a pleasant surprise for him。 At the slightest suspicion of false
play on Sir Percy's part； at his slightest attempt at escape； your
life and that of your sister are forfeit； you will both be
summarily shot before his eyes。 I do not think that I need be more
precise； eh； citizen St。 Just？〃
The young man was quivering with passion。 A terrible loathing for
himself； for his crime which had been the precursor of this
terrible situation； filled his soul to the verge of sheer physical
nausea。 A red film gathered before his eyes； and through it he
saw the grinning face of the inhuman monster who had planned this
hideous； abominable thing。 It seemed to him as if in the silence
and the hush of the night； above the feeble； flickering flame that
threw weird shadows around； a group of devils were surrounding
him； and were shouting； 〃Kill him！ Kill him now！ Rid the earth
of this hellish brute！〃
No doubt if Chauvelin had exhibited the slightest sign of fear； if
he had moved an inch towards the door； Armand； blind with passion；
driven to madness by agonising remorse more even than by rage；
would have sprung at his enemy's throat and crushed the life out
of him as he would out of a venomous beast。 But the man's calm；
his immobility； recalled St。 Just to himself。 Reason； that had
almost yielded to passion again； found strength to drive the enemy
back this time； to whisper a warning； an admonition； even a
reminder。 Enough harm； God knows； had been done by tempestuous
passion already。 And God alone knew what terrible consequences
its triumph now might bring in its trial； and striking on Armand's
buzzing ears Chauvelin's words came back as a triumphant and
mocking echo：
〃He'll be a dead man at dawn if I do not put in an appearance by
six o'clock。〃
The red film lifted； the candle flickered low； the devils
vanished； only the pale face of the Terrorist gazed with gentle
irony out of the gloom。
〃I think that I need not detain you any longer； citizen； St。
Just；〃 he said quietly； 〃you can get three or four hours' rest yet
before you need make a start； and I still have a great many things
to see to。 I wish you good…night； citizen。〃
〃Good…night；〃 murmured Armand mechanically。
He took the candle and escorted his visitor back to the door。 He
waited on the landing； taper in hand； while Chauvelin descended
the narrow； winding stairs。
There was a light in the concierge's lodge。 No doubt the woman
had struck it when the nocturnal visitor had first demanded
admittance。 His name and tricolour scarf of office had ensured
him the full measure of her attention； and now she was evidently
sitting up waiting to let him out。
St。 Just； satisfied that Chauvelin had finally gone； now turned
back to his own rooms。
CHAPTER XL
GOD HELP US ALL
He carefully locked the outer door。 Then he lit the lamp； for the
candle gave but a flickering light； and he had some important work
to do。
Firstly； he picked up the charred fragment of the letter； and
smoothed it out carefully and reverently as he would a relic。
Tears had gathered in his eyes； but he was not ashamed of them；
for no one saw them； but they eased his heart； and helped to
strengthen his resolve。 It was a mere fragment that had been
spared by the flame； but Armand knew every word of the letter by
heart。
He had pen； ink and paper ready to his band； and from memory wrote
out a copy of it。 To this he added a covering letter from himself
to Marguerite：
Thiswhich I had from Percy through the hands of ChauvelinI
neither question nor understand。。。。 He wrote the letter； and I
have no thought but to obey。 In his previous letter to me he
enjoined me； if ever he wrote to me again； to obey him implicitly；
and to communicate with you。 To both these commands do I submit
with a glad heart。 But of this must I give you warning； little
motherChauvelin desires you also to accompany us to…morrow。。。。
Percy does not know this yet； else he would never start。 But
those fiends fear that his readiness is a blind 。。。 and that he
has some plan in his head for his own escape and the continued
safety of the Dauphin。。。。 This plan they hope to frustrate
through holding you and me as hostages for his good faith。 God
only knows how gladly I would give my life for my chief 。。。 but
your life； dear little mother 。。。 is sacred above all。。。。 I think
that I do right in warning you。 God help us all。
Having written the letter； he sealed it； together with the copy of
Percy's letter which he had made。 Then he took up the candle and
went downstairs。
There was no longer any light in the concierge's lodge； and Armand
had some difficulty in making himself heard。 At last the woman
came to the door。 She was tired and cross after two interruptions
of her night's rest； but she had a partiality for her young
lodger； whose pleasant ways and easy liberality had been like a
pale ray of sunshine through the squalor of every…day misery。
〃It is a letter； citoyenne；〃 said Armand； with earnest entreaty；
〃for my sister。 She lives in the Rue de Charonne； near the
fortifications； and must have it within an hour； it is a matter of
life and death to her； to me； and to another who is very dear to
us both。〃
The concierge threw up her hands in horror。
〃Rue de Charonne； near the fortifications；〃 she exclaimed； 〃and
within an hour！ By the Holy Virgin； citizen； that is impossible。
Who will take it？ There is no way。〃
〃A way must be found； citoyenne；〃 said Armand firmly； 〃and at
once； it is not far； and there are five golden louis waiting for
the messenger！〃
Five golden louis！ The