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love could do。
He had been away three months now； during which time her starving
heart had fed on its memories； and the happiness of a brief visit
from him six weeks ago； whenquite unexpectedlyhe had appeared
before her 。。。 home between two desperate adventures that had
given life and freedom to a number of innocent people； and nearly
cost him hisand she had lain in his arms in a swoon of perfect
happiness。
But be had gone away again as suddenly as he had come； and for six
weeks now she had lived partly in anticipation of the courier with
messages from him； and partly on the fitful joy engendered by
these messages。 To…day she had not even that； and the disappointment
seemed just now more than she could bear。
She felt unaccountably restless； and could she but have analysed
her feelingshad she dared so to doshe would have realised that
the weight which oppressed her heart so that she could hardly
breathe； was one of vague yet dark foreboding。
She closed the window and returned to her seat by the fire； taking
up her hook with the strong resolution not to allow her nerves to
get the better of her。 But it was difficult to pin one's
attention down to the adventures of Master Tom Jones when one's
mind was fully engrossed with those of Sir Percy Blakeney。
The sound of carriage wheels on the gravelled forecourt in the
front of the house suddenly awakened her drowsy senses。 She threw
down the book； and with trembling hands clutched the arms of her
chair； straining her ears to listen。 A carriage at this hourand
on this damp winter's evening！ She racked her mind wondering who
it could be。
Lady Ffoulkes was in London； she knew。 Sir Andrew； of course； was
in Paris。 His Royal Highness； ever a faithful visitor； would
surely not venture out to Richmond in this inclement weatherand
the courier always came on horseback。
There was a murmur of voices； that of Edwards； mechanical and
placid； could be heard quite distinctly saying：
〃I'm sure that her ladyship will be at home for you； m'lady。 But
I'll go and ascertain。〃
Marguerite ran to the door and with joyful eagerness tore it open。
〃Suzanne！〃 she called 〃my little Suzanne！ I thought you were in
London。 Come up quickly！ In the boudoiryes。 Oh！ what good
fortune hath brought you？〃
Suzanne flew into her arms； holding the friend whom she loved so
well close and closer to her heart； trying to hide her face； which
was wet with tears； in the folds of Marguerite's kerchief。
〃Come inside； my darling；〃 said Marguerite。 〃Why； how cold your
little hands are！〃
She was on the point of turning back to her boudoir； drawing Lady
Ffoulkes by the hand； when suddenly she caught sight of Sir Andrew；
who stood at a little distance from her； at the top of the stairs。
〃Sir Andrew！〃 she exclaimed with unstinted gladness。
Then she paused。 The cry of welcome died on her lips； leaving
them dry and parted。 She suddenly felt as if some fearful talons
had gripped her heart and were tearing at it with sharp； long
nails； the blood flew from her cheeks and from her limbs； leaving
her with a sense of icy numbness。
She backed into the room； still holding Suzanne's hand； and
drawing her in with her。 Sir Andrew followed them； then closed
the door behind him。 At last the word escaped Marguerite's
parched lips：
〃Percy！ Something has happened to him！ He is dead？〃
〃No； no！〃 exclaimed Sir Andrew quickly。
Suzanne put her loving arms round her friend and drew her down
into the chair by the fire。 She knelt at her feet on the
hearthrug； and pressed her own burning lips on Marguerite's
icy…cold hands。 Sir Andrew stood silently by； a world of loving
friendship； of heart…broken sorrow； in his eyes。
There was silence in the pretty white…panelled room for a while。
Marguerite sat with her eyes closed； bringing the whole armoury of
her will power to bear her up outwardly now。
〃Tell me！〃 she said at last； and her voice was toneless and dull；
like one that came from the depths of a grave〃tell meexactly
everything。 Don't be afraid。 I can bear it。 Don't be afraid。〃
Sir Andrew remained standing； with bowed head and one hand resting
on the table。 In a firm； clear voice he told her the events of
the past few days as they were known to him。 All that he tried to
hide was Armand's disobedience； which； in his heart； he felt was
the primary cause of the catastrophe。 He told of the rescue of
the Dauphin from the Temple； the midnight drive in the coal…cart；
the meeting with Hastings and Tony in the spinney。 He only gave
vague explanations of Armand's stay in Paris which caused Percy to
go back to the city； even at the moment when his most daring plan
had been so successfully carried through。
〃Armand； I understand； has fallen in love with a beautiful woman
in Paris； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said； seeing that a strange； puzzled
look had appeared in Marguerite's pale face。 〃She was arrested
the day before the rescue of the Dauphin from the Temple。 Armand
could not join us。 He felt that he could not leave her。 I am sure
that you will understand。〃
Then as she made no comment； he resumed his narrative：
〃I had been ordered to go back to La Villette； and there to resume
my duties as a labourer in the day…time； and to wait for Percy
during the night。 The fact that I had received no message from
him for two days had made me somewhat worried； but I have such
faith in him； such belief in his good luck and his ingenuity； that
I would not allow myself to be really anxious。 Then on the third
day I heard the news。〃
〃What news？〃 asked Marguerite mechanically。
〃That the Englishman who was known as the Scarlet Pimpernel had
been captured in a house in the Rue de Ia Croix Blanche； and had
been imprisoned in the Conciergerie。〃
〃The Rue de la Croix Blanche？ Where is that？〃
〃In the Montmartre quarter。 Armand lodged there。 Percy； I
imagine； was working to get him away； and those brutes captured
him。〃
〃Having heard the news； Sir Andrew； what did you do？〃
〃I went into Paris and ascertained its truth。〃
〃And there is no doubt of it？〃
〃Alas； none！ I went to the house in the Rue de la Croix Blanche。
Armand had disappeared。 I succeeded in inducing the concierge to
talk。 She seems to have been devoted to her lodger。 Amidst tears
she told me some of the details of the capture。 Can you bear to
hear them； Lady Blakeney？〃
〃Yestell me everythingdon't be afraid；〃 she reiterated with
the same dull monotony。
〃It appears that early on the Tuesday morning the son of the
conciergea lad about fifteenwas sent off by her lodger with a
message to No。 9 Rue St。 Germain l'Auxerrois。 That was the house
where Percy was staying all last week； where he kept disguises and
so on for us all； and where some of our meetings were held。 Percy
evidently expected that Armand would try and communicate with him
at that address； for when the lad arrived in front of the house he
was accostedso he saysby a big； rough workman； who browbeat
him into giving up the lodger's letter； and finally pressed a
piece of gold into his hand。 The workman was Blakeney； of course。
I imagine that Armand； at the time that he wr