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mocking Death with his tongue in his cheek； about his laugh that
appeared to find its echo in a widely yawning grave。
〃In the name of God； Sir Percy；〃 he said roughly； as he brought
his clenched fist crashing down upon the table； 〃this situation is
intolerable。 Bring it to an end to…night！〃
〃Why； sir？〃 retorted Blakeney； 〃methought you and your kind did
not believe in God。〃
〃No。 But you English do。〃
〃We do。 But we do not care to hear His name on your lips。〃
〃Then in the name of the wife whom you love〃
But even before the words had died upon his lips； Sir Percy； too；
had risen to his feet。
〃Have done； manhave done；〃 he broke in hoarsely； and despite
weakness； despite exhaustion and weariness； there was such a
dangerous look in his hollow eyes as he leaned across the table
that Chauvelin drew back a step or two； andvaguely fearful
looked furtively towards the opening into the guard…room。 〃Have
done；〃 he reiterated for the third time； 〃do not name her； or by
the living God whom you dared to invoke I'll find strength yet to
smite you in the face。〃
But Chauvelin； after that first moment of almost superstitious
fear； had quickly recovered his sang…froid。
〃Little Capet； Sir Percy；〃 he said； meeting the other's
threatening glance with an imperturbable smile； 〃tell me where to
find him； and you may yet live to savour the caresses of the most
beautiful woman in England。〃
He had meant it as a taunt； the final turn of the thumb…screw
applied to a dying man； and he had in that watchful； keen mind of
his well weighed the full consequences of the taunt。
The next moment he had paid to the full the anticipated price。
Sir Percy had picked up the pewter mug from the tableit was
half…filled with brackish waterand with a hand that trembled but
slightly he hurled it straight at his opponent's face。
The heavy mug did not hit citizen Chauvelin； it went crashing
against the stone wall opposite。 But the water was trickling from
the top of his head all down his eyes and cheeks。 He shrugged his
shoulders with a look of benign indulgence directed at his enemy；
who had fallen back into his chair exhausted with the effort。
Then he took out his handkerchief and calmly wiped the water from
his face。
〃Not quite so straight a shot as you used to be； Sir Percy；〃 he
said mockingly。
〃No； sirapparentlynot。〃
The words came out in gasps。 He was like a man only partly
conscious。 The lips were parted； the eyes closed； the head
leaning against the high back of the chair。 For the space of one
second Chauvelin feared that his zeal had outrun his prudence；
that he had dealt a death…blow to a man in the last stage of
exhaustion； where he had only wished to fan the flickering flame
of life。 Hastilyfor the seconds seemed precioushe ran to the
opening that led into the guard…room。
〃Brandyquick！〃 he cried。
Heron looked up； roused from the semi…somnolence in which he had
lain for the past half…hour。 He disentangled his long limbs from
out the guard…room chair。
〃Eh？〃 he queried。 〃What is it？〃
〃Brandy；〃 reiterated Chauvelin impatiently； 〃the prisoner has
fainted。〃
〃Bah！〃 retorted the other with a callous shrug of the shoulders；
〃you are not going to revive him with brandy； I imagine。〃
〃No。 But you will； citizen Heron；〃 rejoined the other dryly； 〃for
if you do not he'll be dead in an hour！〃
〃Devils in hell！〃 exclaimed Heron； 〃you have not killed him？
Youyou dd fool！〃
He was wide awake enough now； wide awake and shaking with fury。
Almost foaming at the mouth and uttering volleys of the choicest
oaths； he elbowed his way roughly through the groups of soldiers
who were crowding round the centre table of the guard…room；
smoking and throwing dice or playing cards。 They made way for him
as hurriedly as they could； for it was not safe to thwart the
citizen agent when he was in a rage。
Heron walked across to the opening and lifted the iron bar。 With
scant ceremony he pushed his colleague aside arid strode into the
cell； whilst Chauvelin； seemingly not resenting the other's ruffianly
manners and violent language； followed close upon his heel。
In the centre of the room both men paused； and Heron turned with a
surly growl to his friend。
〃You vowed he would be dead in an hour；〃 he said reproachfully。
The other shrugged his shoulders。
〃It does not look like it now certainly；〃 he said dryly。
Blakeney was sittingas was his wontclose to the table； with
one arm leaning on it； the other； tightly clenched； resting upon
his knee。 A ghost of a smile hovered round his lips。
〃Not in an hour； citizen Heron；〃 he said； and his voice flow was
scarce above a whisper； 〃nor yet in two。〃
〃You are a fool； man；〃 said Heron roughly。 〃You have had seventeen
days of this。 Are you not sick of it？〃
〃Heartily； my dear friend；〃 replied Blakeney a little more firmly。
〃Seventeen days；〃 reiterated the other； nodding his shaggy head；
〃you came here on the 2nd of Pluviose； today is the 19th。〃
〃The 19th Pluviose？〃 interposed Sir Percy； and a strange gleam
suddenly flashed in his eyes。 〃Demn it； sir； and in Christian
parlance what may that day be？〃
〃The 7th of February at your service； Sir Percy；〃 replied
Chauvelin quietly。
〃I thank you； sir。 In this dd hole I had lost count of time。〃
Chauvelin； unlike his rough and blundering colleague； had been
watching the prisoner very closely for the last moment or two；
conscious of a subtle； undefinable change that had come over the
man during those few seconds while he； Chauvelin； had thought him
dying。 The pose was certainly the old familiar one； the head
erect； the hand clenched； the eyes looking through and beyond the
stone walls； but there was an air of listlessness in the stoop of
the shoulders； andexcept for that one brief gleam just nowa
look of more complete weariness round the hollow eyes！ To the keen
watcher it appeared as if that sense of living power； of
unconquered will and defiant mind was no longer there； and as if
he himself need no longer fear that almost supersensual thrill
which had a while ago kindled in him a vague sense of
admirationalmost of remorse。
Even as he gazed； Blakeney slowly turned his eyes full upon him。
Chauvelin's heart gave a triumphant bound。
With a mocking smile he met the wearied look； the pitiable appeal。
His turn had come at lasthis turn to mock and to exult。 He knew
that what he was watching now was no longer the last phase of a
long and noble martyrdom； it was the endthe inevitable endthat
for which he had schemed and striven； for which he had schooled
his heart to ferocity and callousness that were devilish in their
intensity。 It was the end indeed； the slow descent of a soul from
the giddy heights of attempted self…sacrifice； where it had
striven to soar for a time； until the body and the will both
succumbed together and dragged it down with them into the abyss of
submission and of irreparable shame。
CHAPTER XXXVI
SUBMISSION
Silence reigned in the narrow cell for a few moments； whilst two
human jackals stood motionless over their captured prey。
A savage triumph gleamed in Chauvelin's eyes； and even Heron； dull
an