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wearer of its most ancient crown； had spent the last days of his
brilliant life in abject shame； sorrow； and degradation。 The
memory had swiftly surged up before him of that night when he all
but rescued King Louis and his family from this same miserable
prison： the guard had been bribed； the keeper corrupted；
everything had been prepared； save the reckoning with the one
irresponsible factorchance！
He had failed then and had tried again； and again had failed； a
fortune had been his reward if he had succeeded。 He had failed；
but even now； when his footsteps echoed along the flagged
courtyard； over which an unfortunate King and Queen had walked on
their way to their last ignominious Calvary； he hugged himself
with the satisfying thought that where he had failed at least no
one else had succeeded。
Whether that meddlesome English adventurer； who called himself the
Scarlet Pimpernel； had planned the rescue of King Louis or of
Queen Marie Antoinette at any time or notthat he did not 'know；
but on one point at least he was more than ever determined； and
that was that no power on earth should snatch from him the golden
prize offered by Austria for the rescue of the little Dauphin。
〃I would sooner see the child perish； if I cannot save him myself；〃
was the burning thought in this man's tortuous brain。 〃And let
that accursed Englishman look to himself and to his dd confederates；〃
be added； muttering a fierce oath beneath his breath。
A winding； narrow stone stair； another length or two of corridor；
and his guide's shuffling footsteps paused beside a low
iron…studded door let into the solid stone。 De Batz dismissed his
ill…clothed guide and pulled the iron bell…handle which hung
beside the door。
The bell gave forth a dull and broken clang； which seemed like an
echo of the wails of sorrow that peopled the huge building with
their weird and monotonous sounds。
De Batza thoroughly unimaginative personwaited patiently
beside the door until it was opened from within； and he was
confronted by a tall stooping figure； wearing a greasy coat of
snuff…brown cloth； and holding high above his head a lanthorn that
threw its feeble light on de Batz' jovial face and form。
〃It is even I； citizen Heron；〃 he said； breaking in swiftly on the
other's ejaculation of astonishment； which threatened to send his
name echoing the whole length of corridors and passages； until
round every corner of the labyrinthine house of sorrow the murmur
would be borne on the wings of the cold night breeze： 〃Citizen
Heron is in parley with ci…devant Baron de Batz！〃
A fact which would have been equally unpleasant for both these
worthies。
〃Enter！〃 said Heron curtly。
He banged the heavy door to behind his visitor； and de Batz； who
seemed to know his way about the place； walked straight across the
narrow landing to where a smaller door stood invitingly open。
He stepped boldly in； the while citizen Heron put the lanthorn
down on the floor of the couloir； and then followed his nocturnal
visitor into the room。
CHAPTER VI
THE COMMITTEE'S AGENT
It was a narrow； ill…ventilated place； with but one barred window
that gave on the courtyard。 An evil…smelling lamp hung by a chain
from the grimy ceiling； and in a corner of the room a tiny iron
stove shed more unpleasant vapour than warm glow around。
There was but little furniture： two or three chairs； a table which
was littered with papers； and a corner…cupboardthe open doors of
which revealed a miscellaneous collectionbundles of papers； a
tin saucepan； a piece of cold sausage； and a couple of pistols。
The fumes of stale tobacco…smoke hovered in the air； and mingled
most unpleasantly with those of the lamp above； and of the mildew
that penetrated through the walls just below the roof。
Heron pointed to one of the chairs； and then sat down on the
other； close to the table； on which he rested his elbow。 He picked
up a short…stemmed pipe； which he had evidently laid aside at the
sound of the bell； and having taken several deliberate long…drawn
puffs from it； he said abruptly：
〃Well； what is it now？〃
In the meanwhile de Batz had made himself as much at home in this
uncomfortable room as he possibly could。 He had deposited his hat
and cloak on one rickety rush…bottomed chair； and drawn another
close to the fire。 He sat down with one leg crossed over the
other； his podgy be…ringed hand wandering with loving gentleness
down the length of his shapely calf。
He was nothing if not complacent； and his complacency seemed
highly to irritate his friend Heron。
〃Well； what is it？〃 reiterated the latter； drawing his visitor's
attention roughly to himself by banging his fist on the table。
〃Out with it！ What do you want？ Why have you come at this hour
of the night to compromise me； I supposebring your own dd neck
and mine into the same noosewhat？〃
〃Easy； easy； my friend；〃 responded de Batz imperturbably； 〃waste
not so much time in idle talk。 Why do I usually come to see you？
Surely you have had no cause to complain hitherto of the
unprofitableness of my visits to you？〃
〃They will have to be still more profitable to me in the future；〃
growled the other across the table。 〃I have more power now。〃
〃I know you have；〃 said de Batz suavely。 〃The new decree？ What？
You may denounce whom you please； search whom you please； arrest
whom you please； and send whom you please to the Supreme Tribunal
without giving them the slightest chance of escape。〃
〃Is it in order to tell me all this that you have come to see me
at this hour of the night？〃 queried Heron with a sneer。
〃No； I came at this hour of the night because I surmised that in
the future you and your hell…hounds would be so busy all day
'beating up game for the guillotine' that the only time you would
have at the disposal of your friends would be the late hours of
the night。 I saw you at the theatre a couple of hours ago； friend
Heron； I didn't think to find you yet abed。〃
〃Well； what do you want？〃
〃Rather；〃 retorted de Batz blandly； 〃shall we say； what do YOU
want； citizen Heron？〃
〃For what？
〃For my continued immunity at the hands of yourself and your pack？〃
Heron pushed his chair brusquely aside and strode across the
narrow room deliberately facing the portly figure of de Batz； who
with head slightly inclined on one side； his small eyes narrowed
till they appeared mere slits in his pockmarked face； was steadily
and quite placidly contemplating this inhuman monster who had this
very day been given uncontrolled power over hundreds of thousands
of human lives。
Heron was one of those tall men who look mean in spite of their
height。 His head was small and narrow； and his hair； which was
sparse and lank； fell in untidy strands across his forehead。 He
stooped slightly from the neck； and his chest； though wide； was
hollow between the shoulders。 But his legs were big and bony；
slightly bent at the knees； like those of an ill…conditioned
horse。
The face was thin and the cheeks sunken； the eyes； very large and
prominent； had a look in them of cold and ferocious cruelty； a
look which contrasted strangely with the weakness and petty greed