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on his colleague's shoulder。
〃Suspicions！〃 exclaimed the chief agent with a loud oath。
〃Suspicions！ Certainties； you mean。 The man sat here but two
days ago； in that very chair； and bragged of what he would do。 I
told him then that if he interfered with Capet I would wring his
neck with my own hands。〃
And his long； talon…like fingers； with their sharp； grimy nails；
closed and unclosed like those of feline creatures when they hold
the coveted prey。
〃Of whom do you speak？〃 queried Chauvelin curtly。
〃Of whom？ Of whom but that accursed de Batz？ His pockets are
bulging with Austrian money； with which； no doubt； he has bribed
the Simons and Cochefer and the sentinels〃
〃And Lorinet and Lasniere and you；〃 interposed Chauvelin dryly。
〃It is false！〃 roared Heron； who already at the suggestion was
foaming at the mouth； and had jumped up from his chair； standing
at bay as if prepared to fight for his life。
〃False； is it？〃 retorted Chauvelin calmly； 〃then be not so quick；
friend Heron； in slashing out with senseless denunciations right
and left。 You'll gain nothing by denouncing any one just now。
This is too intricate a matter to be dealt with a sledge…hammer。
Is any one up in the Tower at this moment？〃 he asked in quiet；
business…like tones。
〃Yes。 Cochefer and the others are still there。 They are making
wild schemes to cover their treachery。 Cochefer is aware of his
own danger； and Lasniere and the others know that they arrived at
the Tower several hours too late。 They are all at fault； and they
know it。 As for that de Batz；〃 he continued with a voice rendered
raucous with bitter passion； 〃I swore to him two days ago that he
should not escape me if he meddled with Capet。 I'm on his track
already。 I'll have him before the hour of midnight； and I'll
torture himyes！ I'll torture himthe Tribunal shall give me
leave。 We have a dark cell down below here where my men know how
to apply tortures worse than the rackwhere they know just how to
prolong life long enough to make it unendurable。 I'll torture
him！ I'll torture him！〃
But Chauvelin abruptly silenced the wretch with a curt command；
then； without another word； he walked straight out of the room。
In thought Armand followed him。 The wild desire was suddenly born
in him to run away at this moment； while Heron； wrapped in his own
meditations； was paying no heed to him。 Chauvelin's footsteps had
long ago died away in the distance； it was a long way to the upper
floor of the Tower； and some time would be spent； too； in
interrogating the commissaries。 This was Armand's opportunity。
After all； if he were free himself he might more effectually help
to rescue Jeanne。 He knew； too； now where to join his leader。
The corner of the street by the canal； where Sir Andrew Ffoulkes
would be waiting with the coal…cart； then there was the spinney on
the road to St。 Germain。 Armand hoped that； with good luck； he
might yet overtake his comrades； tell them of Jeanne's plight； and
entreat them to work for her rescue。
He had forgotten that now he had no certificate of safety； that
undoubtedly he would be stopped at the gates at this hour of the
night； that his conduct proving suspect he would in all probability
he detained； and； mayhap； be brought back to this self…same place
within an hour。 He had forgotten all that； for the primeval
instinct for freedom had suddenly been aroused。 He rose softly
from his chair and crossed the room。 Heron paid no attention to
him。 Now he had traversed the antechamber and unlatched the outer door。
Immediately a couple of bayonets were crossed in front of him； two
more further on ahead scintillated feebly in the flickering light。
Chauvelin had taken his precautions。 There was no doubt that
Armand St。 Just was effectually a prisoner now。
With a sigh of disappointment he went back to his place beside the
fire。 Heron had not even moved whilst he had made this futile
attempt at escape。 Five minutes later Chauvelin re…entered the
room。
CHAPTER XX
THE CERTIFICATE OF SAFETY
〃You can leave de Batz and his gang alone； citizen Heron；〃 said
Chauvelin； as soon as he had closed the door behind him； 〃he had
nothing to do with the escape of the Dauphin。〃
Heron growled out a few words of incredulity。 But Chauvelin
shrugged his shoulders and looked with unutterable contempt on his
colleague。 Armand； who was watching him closely； saw that in his
hand he held a small piece of paper； which he had crushed into a
shapeless mass。
〃Do not waste your time； citizen；〃 he said； 〃in raging against an
empty wind…bag。 Arrest de Batz if you like； or leave him alone an
you pleasewe have nothing to fear from that braggart。〃
With nervous； slightly shaking fingers he set to work to smooth
out the scrap of paper which he held。 His hot hands had soiled it
and pounded it until it was a mere rag and the writing on it
illegible。 But； such as it was； he threw it down with a
blasphemous oath on the desk in front of Heron's eyes。
〃It is that accursed Englishman who has been at work again；〃 he
said more calmly； 〃I guessed it the moment I heard your story。
Set your whole army of sleuth…hounds on his track； citizen； you'll
need them all。〃
Heron picked up the scrap of torn paper and tried to decipher the
writing on it by the light from the lamp。 He seemed almost dazed
now with the awful catastrophe that had befallen him； and the fear
that his own wretched life would have to pay the penalty for the
disappearance of the child。
As for Armandeven in the midst of his own troubles； and of his
own anxiety for Jeanne； he felt a proud exultation in his heart。
The Scarlet Pimpernel had succeeded； Percy had not failed in his
self…imposed undertaking。 Chauvelin； whose piercing eyes were
fixed on him at that moment； smiled with contemptuous irony。
〃As you will find your hands overfull for the next few hours；
citizen Heron；〃 he said； speaking to his colleague and nodding in
the direction of Armand； 〃I'll not trouble you with the voluntary
confession this young citizen desired to make to you。 All I need
tell you is that he is an adherent of the Scarlet PimpernelI
believe one of his most faithful； most trusted officers。〃
Heron roused himself from the maze of gloomy thoughts that were
again paralysing his tongue。 He turned bleary； wild eyes on
Armand。
〃We have got one of them； then？〃 he murmured incoherently；
babbling like a drunken man。
〃M'yes！〃 replied Chauvelin lightly； 〃but it is too late now for a
formal denunciation and arrest。 He cannot leave Paris anyhow； and
all that your men need to do is to keep a close look…out on him。
But I should send him home to…night if I were you。〃
Heron muttered something more； which； however； Armand did not
understand。 Chauvelin's words were still ringing in his ear。 Was
he； then； to be set free to…night？ Free in a measure； of course；
since spies were to be set to watch himbut free； nevertheless？
He could not understand Chauvelin's attitude； and his own
self…love was not a little wounded at the thought that he was of
such little account that these men could afford to give him even
this provisional freedom