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look which contrasted strangely with the weakness and petty greed
apparent in the mouth； which was flabby； with full； very red lips；
and chin that sloped away to the long thin neck。
Even at this moment as he gazed on de Batz the greed and the
cruelty in him were fighting one of those battles the issue of
which is always uncertain in men of his stamp。
〃I don't know；〃 he said slowly； 〃that I am prepared to treat with
you any longer。 You are an intolerable bit of vermin that has
annoyed the Committee of General Security for over two years now。
It would be excessively pleasant to crush you once and for all； as
one would a buzzing fly。〃
〃Pleasant； perhaps； but immeasurably foolish；〃 rejoined de Batz
coolly； 〃you would only get thirty…five livres for my head； and I
offer you ten times that amount for the self…same commodity。〃
〃I know； I know； but the whole thing has become too dangerous。〃
〃Why？ I am very modest。 I don't ask a great deal。 Let your
hounds keep off my scent。〃
〃You have too many dd confederates。〃
〃Oh！ Never mind about the others。 I am not bargaining about
them。 Let them look after themselves。〃
〃Every time we get a batch of them； one or the other denounces
you。〃
〃Under torture； I know；〃 rejoined de Batz placidly； holding his
podgy hands to the warm glow of the fire。 〃For you have started
torture in your house of Justice now； eh； friend Heron？ You and
your friend the Public Prosecutor have gone the whole gamut of
devilryeh？〃
〃What's that to you？〃 retorted the other gruffly。
〃Oh； nothing； nothing！ I was even proposing to pay you three
thousand five hundred livres for the privilege of taking no
further interest in what goes on inside this prison！〃
〃Three thousand five hundred！〃 ejaculated Heron involuntarily； and
this time even his eyes lost their cruelty； they joined issue with
the mouth in an expression of hungering avarice。
〃Two little zeros added to the thirty…five； which is all you would
get for handing me over to your accursed Tribunal；〃 said de Batz；
and； as if thoughtlessly； his hand wandered to the inner pocket of
his coat； and a slight rustle as of thin crisp paper brought drops
of moisture to the lips of Heron。
〃Leave me alone for three weeks and the money is yours；〃 concluded
de Batz pleasantly。
There was silence in the room now。 Through the narrow barred
window the steely rays of the moon fought with the dim yellow
light of the oil lamp； and lit up the pale face of the Committee's
agent with its lines of cruelty in sharp conflict with those of
greed。
〃Well！ is it a bargain？〃 asked de Batz at last in his usual
smooth； oily voice； as he half drew from out his pocket that
tempting little bundle of crisp printed paper。 〃You have only to
give me the usual receipt for the money and it is yours。〃
Heron gave a vicious snarl。
〃It is dangerous； I tell you。 That receipt； if it falls into some
cursed meddler's hands； would send me straight to the guillotine。〃
〃The receipt could only fall into alien hands；〃 rejoined de Batz
blandly； 〃if I happened to be arrested； and even in that case they
could but fall into those of the chief agent of the Committee of
General Security； and he hath name Heron。 You must take some
risks； my friend。 I take them too。 We are each in the other's
hands。 The bargain is quite fair。〃
For a moment or two longer Heron appeared to be hesitating whilst
de Batz watched him with keen intentness。 He had no doubt himself
as to the issue。 He had tried most of these patriots in his own
golden crucible； and had weighed their patriotism against Austrian
money； and had never found the latter wanting。
He had not been here to…night if he were not quite sure。 This
inveterate conspirator in the Royalist cause never took personal
risks。 He looked on Heron now； smiling to himself the while with
perfect satisfaction。
〃Very well；〃 said the Committee's agent with sudden decision；
〃I'll take the money。 But on one condition。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃That you leave little Capet alone。〃
〃The Dauphin！〃
〃Call him what you like；〃 said Heron； taking a step nearer to de
Batz； and from his great height glowering down in fierce hatred
and rage upon his accomplice； 〃call the young devil what you like；
but leave us to deal with him。〃
〃To kill him； you mean？ Well； how can I prevent it； my friend？〃
〃You and your like are always plotting to get him out of here。 I
won't have it。 I tell you I won't have it。 If the brat disappears
I am a dead man。 Robespierre and his gang have told me as much。
So you leave him alone； or I'll not raise a finger to help you； but
will lay my own hands on your accursed neck。〃
He looked so ferocious and so merciless then； that despite himself；
the selfish adventurer； the careless self…seeking intriguer； shuddered
with a quick wave of unreasoning terror。 He turned away from Heron's
piercing gaze； the gaze of a hyena whose prey is being snatched from
beneath its nails。 For a moment he stared thoughtfully into the fire。
He heard the other man's heavy footsteps cross and re…cross the
narrow room； and was conscious of the long curved shadow creeping
up the mildewed wall or retreating down upon the carpetless floor。
Suddenly； without any warning he felt a grip upon his shoulder。
He gave a start and almost uttered a cry of alarm which caused
Heron to laugh。 The Committee's agent was vastly amused at his
friend's obvious access of fear。 There was nothing that he liked
better than that he should inspire dread in the hearts of all
those with whom he came in contact
〃I am just going on my usual nocturnal round；〃 he said abruptly。
〃Come with me； citizen de Batz。〃
A certain grim humour was apparent in his face as he proffered
this invitation； which sounded like a rough command。 As de Batz
seemed to hesitate he nodded peremptorily to him to follow。
Already he had gone into the hall and picked up his lanthorn。
From beneath his waistcoat he drew forth a bunch of keys； which he
rattled impatiently； calling to his friend to come。
〃Come； citizen；〃 he said roughly。 〃I wish to show you the one
treasure in this house which your dd fingers must not touch。〃
Mechanically de Batz rose at last。 He tried to be master of the
terror which was invading his very bones。 He would not own to
himself even that he was afraid； and almost audibly he kept
murmuring to himself that he had no cause for fear。
Heron would never touch him。 The spy's avarice； his greed of
money were a perfect safeguard for any man who had the control of
millions； and Heron knew； of course； that he could make of this
inveterate plotter a comfortable source of revenue for himself。
Three weeks would soon be over； and fresh bargains could be made
time and again； while de Batz was alive and free。
Heron was still waiting at the door； even whilst de Batz wondered
what this nocturnal visitation would reveal to him of atrocity and
of outrage。 He made a final effort to master his nervousness；
wrapped his cloak tightly around him； and followed his host out of
the room。
CHAPTER VII
THE MOST PRECIOUS LIFE IN EUROPE
Once more he was being led through the interminabl