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you can； and be out of the house in a quarter of an hour。〃
He accompanied Armand through the ante…room； and finally closed
the door on him。 Then he went back to his room and walked up to
the window； which he threw open to the humid morning air。 Now
that he was alone the look of trouble on his face deepened to a
dark； anxious frown； and as he looked out across the river a sigh
of bitter impatience and disappointment escaped his lips。
CHAPTER XV
THE GATE OF LA VILLETTE
And now the shades of evening had long since yielded to those of
night。 The gate of La Villette； at the northeast corner of the
city； was about to close。 Armand； dressed in the rough clothes of
a labouring man； was leaning against a low wall at the angle of
the narrow street which abuts on the canal at its further end；
from this point of vantage he could command a view of the gate and
of the life and bustle around it。
He was dog…tired。 After the emotions of the past twenty…four
hours； a day's hard manual toil to which he was unaccustomed had
caused him to ache in every limb。 As soon as he had arrived at the
canal wharf in the early morning he had obtained the kind of
casual work that ruled about here； and soon was told off to unload
a cargo of coal which had arrived by barge overnight。 He had
set…to with a will； half hoping to kill his anxiety by dint of
heavy bodily exertion。 During the course of the morning he had
suddenly become aware of Sir Andrew Ffoulkes and of Lord Anthony
Dewhurst working not far away from him； and as fine a pair of
coalheavers as any shipper could desire。
It was not very difficult in the midst of the noise and activity
that reigned all about the wharf for the three men to exchange a
few words together； and Armand soon communicated the chief's new
instructions to my Lord Tony； who effectually slipped away from
his work some time during the day。 Armand did not even see him
go； it had all been so neatly done。
Just before five o'clock in the afternoon the labourers were paid
off。 It was then too dark to continue work。 Armand would have
liked to talk to Sir Andrew； if only for a moment。 He felt lonely
and desperately anxious。 He had hoped to tire out his nerves as
well as his body； but in this he had not succeeded。 As soon as he
had given up his tools； his brain began to work again more busily
than ever。 It followed Percy in his peregrinations through the
city； trying to discover where those brutes were keeping Jeanne。
That task had suddenly loomed up before Armand's mind with all its
terrible difficulties。 How could Percya marked man if ever
there was onego from prison to prison to inquire about Jeanne？
The very idea seemed preposterous。 Armand ought never to have
consented to such an insensate plan。 The more he thought of it；
the more impossible did it seem that Blakeney could find anything
out。
Sir Andrew Ffoulkes was nowhere to be seen。 St。 Just wandered
about in the dark； lonely streets of this outlying quarter vainly
trying to find the friend in whom he could confide； who； no doubt；
would reassure him as to Blakeney's probable movements in Paris。
Then as the hour approached for the closing of the city gates
Armand took up his stand at an angle of the street from whence he
could see both the gate on one side of him and the thin line of
the canal intersecting the street at its further end。
Unless Percy came within the next five minutes the gates would be
closed and the difficulties of crossing the barrier would be
increased a hundredfold。 The market gardeners with their covered
carts filed out of the gate one by one； the labourers on foot were
returning to their homes； there was a group of stonemasons； a few
road…makers； also a number of beggars； ragged and filthy； who
herded somewhere in the neighbourhood of the canal。
In every form； under every disguise； Armand hoped to discover
Percy。 He could not stand still for very long； but strode up and
down the road that skirts the fortifications at this point。
There were a good many idlers about at this hour； some men who had
finished their work； and meant to spend an hour or so in one of
the drinking shops that abounded in the neighbourhood of the
wharf； others who liked to gather a small knot of listeners around
them； whilst they discoursed on the politics of the day； or rather
raged against the Convention； which was all made up of traitors to
the people's welfare。
Armand； trying manfully to play his part； joined one of the groups
that stood gaping round a street orator。 He shouted with the best
of them； waved his cap in the air； and applauded or hissed in
unison with the majority。 But his eyes never wandered for long
away from the gate whence Percy must come now at any momentnow
or not at all。
At what precise moment the awful doubt took birth in his mind the
young man could not afterwards have said。 Perhaps it was when he
heard the roll of drums proclaiming the closing of the gates； and
witnessed the changing of the guard。
Percy had not come。 He could not come now； and he （Armand） would
have the night to face without news of Jeanne。 Something； of
course； had detained Percy； perhaps he had been unable to get
definite information about Jeanne； perhaps the information which
he had obtained was too terrible to communicate。
If only Sir Andrew Ffoulkes had been there； and Armand had had
some one to talk to； perhaps then he would have found sufficient
strength of mind to wait with outward patience； even though his
nerves were on the rack。
Darkness closed in around him； and with the darkness came the full
return of the phantoms that had assailed him in the house of the
Square du Roule when first he had heard of Jeanne's arrest。 The
open place facing the gate had transformed itself into the Place
de la Revolution； the tall rough post that held a flickering oil
lamp had become the gaunt arm of the guillotine； the feeble light
of the lamp was the knife that gleamed with the reflection of a
crimson light。
And Armand saw himself； as in a vision； one of a vast and noisy
throngthey were all pressing round him so that he could not
move； they were brandishing caps and tricolour flags； also
pitchforks and scythes。 He had seen such a crowd four years ago
rushing towards the Bastille。 Now they were all assembled here
around him and around the guillotine。
Suddenly a distant rattle caught his subconscious ear： the rattle
of wheels on rough cobble…stones。 Immediately the crowd began to
cheer and to shout； some sang the 〃Ca ira！〃 and others screamed：
〃Les aristos！ a la lanterne！ a mort！ a mort！ les aristos！〃
He saw it all quite plainly； for the darkness had vanished； and
the vision was more vivid than even reality could have been。 The
rattle of wheels grew louder； and presently the cart debouched on
the open place。
Men and women sat huddled up in the cart； but in the midst of them
a woman stood； and her eyes were fixed upon Armand。 She wore her
pale…grey satin gown； and a white kerchief was folded across her
bosom。 Her brown hair fell in loose soft curls all round her
head。 She looked exactly like the exquisite cameo which
Margue