按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
thoughts of the Dauphin's escape from prison； no doubt he would
have been more suspicious of Armand； but all his worst suspicions
were directed against de Batz。 Armand seemed to him just a fool；
an actor quoi？ and so obviously not an Englishman。
He jumped to his feet； curtly declining mademoiselle's offers of
hospitality。 He wanted to get away at once。 Actors and actresses
were always； by tacit consent of the authorities； more immune than
the rest of the community。 They provided the only amusement in
the intervals of the horrible scenes around the scaffolds； they
were irresponsible； harmless creatures who did not meddle in
politics。
Jeanne the while was gaily prattling on； her luminous eyes fixed
upon the all…powerful enemy； striving to read his thoughts； to
understand what went on behind those cruel； prominent eyes； the
chances that Armand had of safety and of life。
She knew； of course； that the visit was directed against
Armandsome one had betrayed him； that odious de Batz mayhapand
she was fighting for Armand's safety； for his life。 Her armoury
consisted of her presence of mind； her cool courage； her
self…control； she used all these weapons for his sake； though at
times she felt as if the strain on her nerves would snap the
thread of life in her。 The effort seemed more than she could bear。
But she kept up her part； rallying Heron for the shortness of his
visit； begging him to tarry for another five minutes at least；
throwing outwith subtle feminine intuitionjust those very
hints anent little Capet's safety that were most calculated to
send him flying back towards the Temple。
〃I felt so honoured last night； citizen；〃 she said coquettishly；
〃that you even forgot little Capet in order to come and watch my
debut as Celimene。〃
〃Forget him！〃 retorted Heron； smothering a curse； 〃I never forget
the vermin。 I must go back to him； there are too many cats nosing
round my mouse。 Good day to you； citizeness。 I ought to have
brought flowers； I know； but I am a busy mana harassed man。〃
〃Je te crois；〃 she said with a grave nod of the head； 〃but do come
to the theatre to…night。 I am playing Camillesuch a fine part！
one of my greatest successes。〃
〃Yes； yes； I'll comemayhap； mayhapbut I'll go nowglad to
have seen you； citizeness。 Where does your cousin lodge？〃 he
asked abruptly。
〃Here；〃 she replied boldly； on the spur of the moment。
〃Good。 Let him report himself to…morrow morning at the
Conciergerie； and get his certificate of safety。 It is a new
decree； and you should have one； too。〃
〃Very well； then。 Hector and I will come together； and perhaps
Aunt Marie will come too。 Don't send us to maman guillotine yet
awhile； citizen；〃 she said lightly； 〃you will never get such
another Camille； nor yet so good a Celimene。〃
She was gay； artless to the last。 She accompanied Heron to the
door herself； chaffing him about his escort。
〃You are an aristo； citizen；〃 she said； gazing with well…feigned
admiration on the two sleuth…hounds who stood in wait in the
anteroom； 〃it makes me proud to see so many citizens at my door。
Come and see me play Camillecome to…night； and don't forget the
green…room doorit will always be kept invitingly open for you。〃
She bobbed him a curtsey； and he walked out； closely followed by
his two men； then at last she closed the door behind them。 She
stood there for a while； her ear glued against the massive panels；
listening for their measured tread down the oak staircase。 At
last it rang more sharply against the flagstones of the courtyard
below； then she was satisfied that they had gone； and went slowly
back to the boudoir。
CHAPTER X
SHADOWS
The tension on her nerves relaxed； there was the inevitable
reaction。 Her knees were shaking under her； and she literally
staggered into the room。
But Armand was already near her； down on both his knees this time；
his arms clasping the delicate form that swayed like the slender
stems of narcissi in the breeze。
〃Oh！ you must go out of Paris at onceat once；〃 she said through
sobs which no longer would be kept back。
〃He'll returnI know that he will returnand you will not be
safe until you are back in England。〃
But he could not think of himself or of anything in the future。
He had forgotten Heron； Paris； the world； he could only think of
her。
〃I owe my life to you！〃 he murmured。 〃Oh； how beautiful you
arehow brave！ How I love you！〃
It seemed that he had always loved her； from the moment that first
in his boyish heart he had set up an ideal to worship； and then；
last night； in the box of the theatrehe had his back turned
toward the stage； and was ready to goher voice had called him
back； it had held him spellbound； her voice； and also her eyes。。。。
He did not know then that it was Love which then and there had
enchained him。 Oh； how foolish he had been！ for now he knew that
he had loved her with all his might； with all his soul； from the
very instant that his eyes had rested upon her。
He babbled alongincoherentlyin the intervals of covering her
hands and the hem of her gown with kisses。 He stooped right down
to the ground and kissed the arch of her instep； he had become a
devotee worshipping at the shrine of his saint； who had performed
a great and a wonderful miracle。
Armand the idealist had found his ideal in a woman。 That was the
great miracle which the woman herself had performed for him。 He
found in her all that he had admired most； all that he had admired
in the leader who hitherto had been the only personification of
his ideal。 But Jeanne possessed all those qualities which had
roused his enthusiasm in the noble hero whom he revered。 Her
pluck； her ingenuity； her calm devotion which had averted the
threatened danger from him！
What had he done that she should have risked her own sweet life
for his sake？
But Jeanne did not know。 She could not tell。 Her nerves now were
somewhat unstrung； and the tears that always came so readily to
her eyes flowed quite unchecked。 She could not very well move； for
he held her knees imprisoned in his arms； but she was quite
content to remain like this； and to yield her hands to him so that
he might cover them with kisses。
Indeed； she did not know at what precise moment love for him had
been born in her heart。 Last night； perhaps 。。。 she could not say
。。。 but when they parted she felt that she must see him again 。。。
and then today 。。。 perhaps it was the scent of the violets 。。。
they were so exquisitely sweet 。。。 perhaps it was his enthusiasm
and his talk about England 。。。 but when Heron came she knew that
she must save Armand's life at all cost 。。。 that she would die if
they dragged him away to prison。
Thus these two children philosophised； trying to understand the
mystery of the birth of Love。 But they were only children； they
did not really understand。 Passion was sweeping them off their
feet； because a common danger had bound them irrevocably to one
another。 The womanly instinct to save and to protect had given
the young girl strength to bear a difficult part； and now she
loved him for the dangers from which she had rescued him； and he
loved her because she