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his shoulders with a laugh of indifference； and turned on his
heel。
CHAPTER XIX
IT IS ABOUT THE DAUPHIN
Heron was not at his lodgings when； at last； after vigorous pulls
at the bell； a great deal of waiting and much cursing； Chauvelin；
closely followed by Armand； was introduced in the chief agent's
office。
The soldier who acted as servant said that citizen Heron had gone
out to sup； but would surely be home again by eight o'clock。
Armand by this time was so dazed with fatigue that he sank on a
chair like a log； and remained there staring into the fire；
unconscious of the flight of time。
Anon Heron came home。 He nodded to Chauvelin； and threw but a
cursory glance on Armand。
〃Five minutes； citizen；〃 he said； with a rough attempt at an
apology。 〃I am sorry to keep you waiting； but the new
commissaries have arrived who are to take charge of Capet。 The
Simons have just gone； and I want to assure myself that everything
is all right in the Tower。 Cochefer has been in charge； but I
like to cast an eye over the brat every day myself。〃
He went out again； slamming the door behind him。 His heavy
footsteps were heard treading the flagstones of the corridor； and
gradually dying away in the distance。 Armand had paid no heed
either to his entrance or to his exit。 He was only conscious of
an intense weariness； and would at this moment gladly have laid
his head on the scaffold if on it he could find rest。
A white…faced clock on the wall ticked off the seconds one by one。
From the street below came the muffled sounds of wheeled traffic
on the soft mud of the road； it was raining more heavily now； and
from time to time a gust of wind rattled the small windows in
their dilapidated frames； or hurled a shower of heavy drops
against the panes。
The heat from the stove had made Armand drowsy； his head fell
forward on his chest。 Chauvelin； with his hands held behind his
back； paced ceaselessly up and down the narrow room。
Suddenly Armand startedwide awake now。 Hurried footsteps on the
flagstones outside； a hoarse shout； a banging of heavy doors； and
the next moment Heron stood once more on the threshold of the
room。 Armand； with wide…opened eyes； gazed on him in wonder。 The
whole appearance of the man had changed。 He looked ten years
older； with lank； dishevelled hair hanging matted over a moist
forehead； the cheeks ashen…white； the full lips bloodless and
hanging； flabby and parted； displaying both rows of yellow teeth
that shook against each other。 The whole figure looked bowed； as
if shrunk within itself。
Chauvelin had paused in his restless walk； He gazed on his
colleague； a frown of puzzlement on his pale； set face。
〃Capet！〃 he exclaimed； as soon as he had taken in every detail of
Heron's altered appearance； and seen the look of wild terror that
literally distorted his face。
Heron could not speak； his teeth were chattering in his mouth； and
his tongue seemed paralysed。 Chauvelin went up to him。 He was
several inches shorter than his colleague； but at this moment he
seemed to be towering over him like an avenging spirit。 He placed
a firm hand on the other's bowed shoulders。
〃Capet has goneis that it？〃 he queried peremptorily。
The look of terror increased in Heron's eyes； giving its mute reply。
〃How？ When？〃
But for the moment the man was speechless。 An almost maniacal
fear seemed to hold him in its grip。 With an impatient oath
Chauvelin turned away from him。
〃Brandy！〃 he said curtly； speaking to Armand。
A bottle and glass were found in the cupboard。 It was St。 Just
who poured out the brandy and held it to Heron's lips。 Chauvelin
was once more pacing up and down the room in angry impatience。
〃Pull yourself together； man；〃 he said roughly after a while； 〃and
try and tell me what has occurred。〃
Heron had sunk into a chair。 He passed a trembling hand once or
twice over his forehead。
〃Capet has disappeared；〃 he murmured； 〃he must have been spirited
away while the Simons were moving their furniture。 That accursed
Cochefer was completely taken in。〃
Heron spoke in a toneless voice； hardly above a whisper； and like
one whose throat is dry and mouth parched。 But the brandy had
revived him somewhat； and his eyes lost their former glassy look。
〃How？〃 asked Chauvelin curtly。
〃I was just leaving the Tower when he arrived。 I spoke to him at
the door。 I had seen Capet safely installed in the room； and gave
orders to the woman Simon to let citizen Cochefer have a look at
him； too； and then to lock up the brat in the inner room and
install Cochefer in the antechamber on guard。 I stood talking to
Cochefer for a few moments in the antechamber。 The woman Simon
and the man…of…all…work； Dupontwhom I know wellwere busy with
the furniture。 There could not have been any one else concealed
about the placethat I'll swear。 Cochefer； after he took leave
of me； went straight into the room； he found the woman Simon in
the act of turning the key in the door of the inner chamber。 I
have locked Capet in there；' she said； giving the key to Cochefer；
'he will be quite safe until to…night； when the other commissaries
come。'
〃Didn't Cochefer go into the room and ascertain whether the woman
was lying？〃
〃Yes； he did！ He made the woman re…open the door and peeped in
over her shoulder。 She said the child was asleep。 He vows that
he saw the child lying fully dressed on a rug in the further
corner of the room。 The room； of course； was quite empty of
furniture and only lighted by one candle； but there was the rug
and the child asleep on it。 Cochefer swears he saw him； and
nowwhen I went up〃
〃Well？〃
〃The commissaries were all thereCochefer and Lasniere； Lorinet
and Legrand。 We went into the inner room； and I had a candle in
my hand。 We saw the child lying on the rug； just as Cochefer had
seen him； and for a while we took no notice of it。 Then some
oneI think it was Lorinetwent to have a closer look at the
brat。 He took up the candle and went up to the rug。 Then he gave
a cry； and we all gathered round him。 The sleeping child was only
a bundle of hair and of clothes； a dummywhat？〃
There was silence now in the narrow room； while the white…faced
clock continued to tick off each succeeding second of time。 Heron
had once more buried his head in his hands； a tremblinglike an
attack of agueshook his wide； bony shoulders。 Armand had
listened to the narrative with glowing eyes and a beating heart。
The details which the two Terrorists here could not probably
understand he had already added to the picture which his mind had
conjured up。
He was back in thought now in the small lodging in the rear of St。
Germain l'Auxerrois； Sir Andrew Ffoulkes was there； and my Lord
Tony and Hastings； and a man was striding up and down the room；
looking out into the great space beyond the river with the eyes of
a seer； and a firm voice said abruptly：
〃It is about the Dauphin！〃
〃Have you any suspicions？〃 asked Chauvelin now； pausing in his
walk beside Heron； and once more placing a firm； peremptory hand
on his colleague's shoulder。
〃Suspicions！〃 exclaimed the chief agent with a loud oath。
〃Susp