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balance out of gear。 This blow came at a moment when he was least
able to bear it。
Jeanne had been arrested！ Jeanne was in the hands of those
brutes； whom he； Armand； had regarded yesterday with
insurmountable loathing！ Jeanne was in prisonshe was
arrestedshe would be tried； condemned； and all because of him！
The thought was so awful that it brought him to the verge of
mania。 He watched as in a dream the form of the concierge
shuffling his way down the oak staircase； his portly figure
assumed Gargantuan proportions； the candle which he carried looked
like the dancing flames of hell； through which grinning faces；
hideous and contortioned； mocked at him and leered。
Then suddenly everything was dark。 The light had disappeared
round the bend of the stairs； grinning faces and ghoulish visions
vanished； he only saw Jeanne； his dainty； exquisite Jeanne； in the
hands of those brutes。 He saw her as he had seen a year and a
half ago the victims of those bloodthirsty wretches being dragged
before a tribunal that was but a mockery of justice； he heard the
quick interrogatory； and the responses from her perfect lips； that
exquisite voice of hers veiled by tones of anguish。 He heard the
condemnation； the rattle of the tumbril on the ill…paved streets
saw her there with hands clasped together； her eyes
Great God！ he was really going mad！
Like a wild creature driven forth he started to run down the
stairs； past the concierge； who was just entering his lodge； and
who now turned in surly anger to watch this man running away like
a lunatic or a fool； out by the front door and into the street。
In a moment he was out of the little square； then like a hunted
hare he still ran down the Rue St。 Honore； along its narrow；
interminable length。 His hat had fallen from his head； his hair
was wild all round his face； the rain weighted the cloak upon his
shoulders； but still he ran。
His feet made no noise on the muddy pavement。 He ran on and on；
his elbows pressed to his sides； panting； quivering； intent but
upon one thingthe goal which he had set himself to reach。
Jeanne was arrested。 He did not know where to look for her； but
he did know whither he wanted to go now as swiftly as his legs
would carry him。
It was still dark； but Armand St。 Just was a born Parisian； and he
knew every inch of this quarter； where he and Marguerite had years
ago lived。 Down the Rue St。 Honore； he had reached the bottom of
the interminably long street at last。 He had kept just a
sufficiency of reasonor was it merely blind instinct？to avoid
the places where the night patrols of the National Guard might be
on the watch。 He avoided the Place du Carrousel； also the quay；
and struck sharply to his right until he reached the facade of St。
Germain l'Auxerrois。
Another effort； round the corner； and there was the house at last。
He was like the hunted creature now that has run to earth。 Up the
two flights of stone stairs； and then the pull at the bell； a
moment of tense anxiety； whilst panting； gasping； almost choked
with the sustained effort and the strain of the past half…hour； he
leaned against the wall； striving not to fall。
Then the well…known firm step across the rooms beyond； the open
door； the hand upon his shoulder。
After that he remembered nothing more。
CHAPTER XIV
THE CHIEF
He had not actually fainted； but the exertion of that long run had
rendered him partially unconscious He knew now that be was safe；
that he was sitting in Blakeney's room； and that something hot and
vivifying was being poured down his throat。
〃Percy； they have arrested her！〃 he said； panting； as soon as
speech returned to his paralysed tongue。
〃All right。 Don't talk now。 Wait till you are better。〃
With infinite care and gentleness Blakeney arranged some cushions
under Armand's head； turned the sofa towards the fire； and anon
brought his friend a cup of hot coffee； which the latter drank
with avidity。
He was really too exhausted to speak。 He had contrived to tell
Blakeney； and now Blakeney knew； so everything would be all right。
The inevitable reaction was asserting itself； the muscles had
relaxed； the nerves were numbed； and Armand lay back on the sofa
with eyes half closed； unable to move； yet feeling his strength
gradually returning to him； his vitality asserting itself； all the
feverish excitement of the past twenty…four hours yielding at last
to a calmer mood。
Through his half…closed eyes he could see his brother…in…law
moving about the room。 Blakeney was fully dressed。 In a sleepy
kind of way Armand wondered if he had been to bed at aH； certainly
his clothes set on him with their usual well…tailored perfection；
and there was no suggestion in his brisk step and alert movements
that he had passed a sleepless night。
Now he was standing by the open window。 Armand； from where he
lay； could see his broad shoulders sharply outlined against the
grey background of the hazy winter dawn。 A wan light was just
creeping up from the east over the city； the noises of the streets
below came distinctly to Armand's ear。
He roused himself with one vigorous effort from his lethargy；
feeling quite ashamed of himself and of this breakdown of his
nervous system。 He looked with frank admiration on Sir Percy； who
stood immovable and silent by the windowa perfect tower of
strength； serene and impassive； yet kindly in distress。
〃Percy；〃 said the young man； 〃I ran all the way from the top of
the Rue St。 Honore。 I was only breathless。 I am quite all right。
May I tell you all about it？〃
Without a word Blakeney closed the window and came across to the
sofa； he sat down beside Armand； and to all outward appearances he
was nothing now but a kind and sympathetic listener to a friend's
tale of woe。 Not a line in his face or a look in his eyes
betrayed the thoughts of the leader who had been thwarted at the
outset of a dangerous enterprise； or of the man； accustomed to
command； who had been so flagrantly disobeyed。
Armand； unconscious of all save of Jeanne and of her immediate
need； put an eager hand on Percy's arm。
〃Heron and his hell…hounds went back to her lodgings last night；〃
he said； speaking as if he were still a little out of breath。
〃They hoped to get me； no doubt； not finding me there； they took
her。 Oh； my God！〃
It was the first time that he had put the whole terrible
circumstance into words； and it seemed to gain in reality by the
recounting。 The agony of mind which he endured was almost
unbearable； he hid his face in his hands lest Percy should see how
terribly he suffered。
〃I knew that；〃 said Blakeney quietly。 Armand looked up in
surprise。
〃How？ When did you know it？〃 he stammered。
〃Last night when you left me。 I went down to the Square du Roule。
I arrived there just too late。〃
〃Percy！〃 exclaimed Armand； whose pale face had suddenly flushed
scarlet； 〃you did that？last night you〃
〃Of course；〃 interposed the other calmly； 〃had I not promised you
to keep watch over her？ When I heard the news it was already too
late to make further inquiries； but when you arrived just now I
was on the point of starting out； in order to