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toil…stained clothes attracted no attention。
Suddenly a word reached his earjust a name flippantly spoken by
spiteful lipsand it changed the whole trend of his thoughts。
Since he had risen that morning he had thought of nothing but of
Jeanne； andin connection with herof Percy and his vain quest
of her。 Now that name spoken by some one unknown brought his mind
back to more definite thoughts of his chief。
〃Capet！〃 the nameintended as an insult； but actually merely
irrelevantwhereby the uncrowned little King of France was
designated by the revolutionary party。
Armand suddenly recollected that to…day was Sunday； the 19th of
January。 He had lost count of days and of dates lately； but the
name； 〃Capet；〃 had brought everything back： the child in the
Temple； the conference in Blakeney's lodgings； the plans for the
rescue of the boy。 That was to take place to…daySunday； the
19th。 The Simons would be moving from the Temple； at what hour
Blakeney did not know； but it would be today； and he would be
watching his opportunity。
Now Armand understood everything； a great wave of bitterness swept
over his soul。 Percy had forgotten Jeanne！ He was busy thinking
of the child in the Temple； and whilst Armand had been eating out
his heart with anxiety； the Scarlet Pimpernel； true only to his
mission； and impatient of all sentiment that interfered with his
schemes； had left Jeanne to pay with her life for the safety of
the uncrowned King。
But the bitterness did not last long； on the contrary； a kind of
wild exultation took its place。 If Percy had forgotten； then
Armand could stand by Jeanne alone。 It was better so！ He would
save the loved one； it was his duty and his right to work for her
sake。 Never for a moment did he doubt that he could save her；
that his life would be readily accepted in exchange for hers。
The crowd around him was moving up the monumental steps； and
Armand went with the crowd。 It lacked but a few minutes to ten
now； soon the court would begin to sit。 In the olden days； when he
was studying for the law； Armand had often wandered about at will
along the corridors of the house of Justice。 He knew exactly
where the different prisons were situated about the buildings； and
how to reach the courtyards where the prisoners took their daily
exercise。
To watch those aristos who were awaiting trial and death taking
their recreation in these courtyards had become one of the sights
of Paris。 Country cousins on a visit to the city were brought
hither for entertainment。 Tall iron gates stood between the
public and the prisoners； and a row of sentinels guarded these
gates； but if one was enterprising and eager to see； one could
glue one's nose against the ironwork and watch the ci…devant
aristocrats in threadbare clothes trying to cheat their horror of
death by acting a farce of light…heartedness which their wan faces
and tear…dimmed eyes effectually belied。
All this Armand knew； and on this he counted。 For a little while
he joined the crowd in the Salle des Pas Perdus； and wandered idly
up and down the majestic colonnaded hall。 He even at one time
formed part of the throng that watched one of those quick tragedies
that were enacted within the great chamber of the court。 A number
of prisoners brought in； in a batch； hurried interrogations；
interrupted answers； a quick indictment； monstrous in its flaring
injustice； spoken by Foucquier…Tinville； the public prosecutor；
and listened to in all seriousness by men who dared to call
themselves judges of their fellows。
The accused had walked down the Champs Elysees without wearing a
tricolour cockade； the other had invested some savings in an
English industrial enterprise； yet another had sold public funds；
causing them to depreciate rather suddenly in the market！
Sometimes from one of these unfortunates led thus wantonly to
butchery there would come an excited protest； or from a woman
screams of agonised entreaty。 But these were quickly silenced by
rough blows from the butt…ends of muskets； and condemnations
wholesale sentences of deathwere quickly passed amidst the
cheers of the spectators and the howls of derision from infamous
jury and judge。
Oh！ the mockery of it allthe awful； the hideous ignominy； the
blot of shame that would forever sully the historic name of
France。 Armand； sickened with horror； could not bear more than a
few minutes of this monstrous spectacle。 The same fate might even
now be awaiting Jeanne。 Among the next batch of victims to this
sacrilegious butchery he might suddenly spy his beloved with her
pale face and cheeks stained with her tears。
He fled from the great chamber； keeping just a sufficiency of
presence of mind to join a knot of idlers who were drifting
leisurely towards the corridors。 He followed in their wake and
soon found himself in the long Galerie des Prisonniers； along the
flagstones of which two days ago de Batz had followed his guide
towards the lodgings of Heron。
On his left now were the arcades shut off from the courtyard
beyond by heavy iron gates。 Through the ironwork Armand caught
sight of a number of women walking or sitting in the courtyard。
He heard a man next to him explaining to his friend that these
were the female prisoners who would be brought to trial that day；
and he felt that his heart must burst at the thought that mayhap
Jeanne would be among them。
He elbowed his way cautiously to the front rank。 Soon he found
himself beside a sentinel who； with a good…humoured jest； made way
for him that he might watch the aristos。 Armand leaned against
the grating； and his every sense was concentrated in that of
sight。
At first he could scarcely distinguish one woman from another
amongst the crowd that thronged the courtyard； and the close
ironwork hindered his view considerably。 The women looked almost
like phantoms in the grey misty air； gliding slowly along with
noiseless tread on the flag…stones。
Presently； however； his eyes； which mayhap were somewhat dim with
tears； became more accustomed to the hazy grey light and the
moving figures that looked so like shadows。 He could distinguish
isolated groups now； women and girls sitting together under the
colonnaded arcades； some reading； others busy； with trembling
fingers； patching and darning a poor； torn gown。 Then there were
others who were actually chatting and laughing together； andoh；
the pity of it！ the pity and the shame！a few children； shrieking
with delight； were playing hide and seek in and out amongst the
columns。
And； between them all； in and out like the children at play；
unseen； yet familiar to all； the spectre of Death； scythe and
hour…glass in hand； wandered； majestic and sure。
Armand's very soul was in his eyes。 So far he had not yet caught
sight of his beloved； and slowlyvery slowlya ray of hope was
filtering through the darkness of his despair。
The sentinel； who had stood aside for him； chaffed him for his
intentness。
〃Have you a sweetheart among these aristos； citizen？〃 he asked。
〃You seem to be devouring them with your eyes。〃
Armand； with his rough clothes soiled with coal…dust； his face
grimy and streaked w