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thin flakes； and lay like a crisp and glittering mantle over the
parapets of the bridges and the grim towers of the Chatelet
prison。
They walked on silently now。 All that they had wanted to say to
one another had been said inside the squalid room of their
lodgings when Sir Andrew Ffoulkes had come home and learned that
Chauvelin had been。
〃They are killing him by inches； Sir Andrew；〃 had been the
heartrending cry which burst from Marguerite's oppressed heart as
soon as her hands rested in the kindly ones of her best friend。
〃Is there aught that we can do？〃
There was； of course； very little that could be done。 One or two
fine steel files which Sir Andrew gave her to conceal beneath the
folds of her kerchief； also a tiny dagger with sharp； poisoned
blade； which for a moment she held in her hand hesitating； her
eyes filling with tears； her heart throbbing with unspeakable
sorrow。
Then slowlyvery slowlyshe raised the small； death…dealing
instrument to her lips； and reverently kissed the narrow blade。
〃If it must be！〃 she murmured； 〃God in His mercy will forgive！〃
She sheathed the dagger； and this； too； she hid in the folds of
her gown。
〃Can you think of anything else； Sir Andrew； that he might want？〃
she asked。 〃I have money in plenty； in case those soldiers〃
Sir Andrew sighed； and turned away from her so as to hide the
hopelessness which he felt。 Since three days now be had been
exhausting every conceivable means of getting at the prison guard
with bribery and corruption。 But Chauvelin and his friends had
taken excellent precautions。 The prison of the Conciergerie；
situated as it was in the very heart of the labyrinthine and
complicated structure of the Chatelet and the house of Justice；
and isolated from every other group of cells in the building； was
inaccessible save from one narrow doorway which gave on the
guard…room first； and thence on the inner cell beyond。 Just as
all attempts to rescue the late unfortunate Queen from that prison
had failed； so now every attempt to reach the imprisoned Scarlet
Pimpernel was equally doomed to bitter disappointment。
The guard…room was filled with soldiers day and night； the windows
of the inner cell； heavily barred； were too small to admit of the
passage of a human body； and they were raised twenty feet from the
corridor below。 Sir Andrew had stood in the corridor two days
ago； he bad looked on the window behind which he knew that his
friend must be eating out his noble heart in a longing for
liberty； and he had realised then that every effort at help from
the outside was foredoomed to failure。
〃Courage； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said to Marguerite； when anon they
had crossed the Pont au Change； and were wending their way slowly
along the Rue de la Barillerie； 〃remember our proud dictum： the
Scarlet Pimpernel never fails！ and also this； that whatever messages
Blakeney gives you for us； whatever he wishes us to do； we are to a
man ready to do it； and to give our lives for our chief。 Courage！
Something tells me that a man like Percy is not going to die at the
hands of such vermin as Chauvelin and his friends。〃
They had reached the great iron gates of the house of Justice。
Marguerite； trying to smile； extended her trembling band to this
faithful； loyal comrade。
〃I'll not be far；〃 he said。 〃When you come out do not look to the
right or left； but make straight for home； I'll not lose sight of
you for a moment； and as soon as possible will overtake you。 God
bless you both。〃
He pressed his lips on her cold little hand； and watched her tall；
elegant figure as she passed through the great gates until the
veil of falling snow hid her from his gaze。 Then with a deep sigh
of bitter anguish and sorrow he turned away and was soon lost in
the gloom。
Marguerite found the gate at the bottom of the monumental stairs
open when she arrived。 Chauvelin was standing immediately inside
the building waiting for her。
〃We are prepared for your visit； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said； 〃and the
prisoner knows that you are coming。〃
He led the way down one of the numerous and interminable corridors
of the building； and she followed briskly； pressing her hand
against her bosom there where the folds of her kerchief hid the
steel files and the precious dagger。
Even in the gloom of these ill…lighted passages she realised that
she was surrounded by guards。 There were soldiers everywhere； two
had stood behind the door when first she entered； and had
immediately closed it with a loud clang behind her； and all the
way down the corridors； through the half…light engendered by
feebly flickering lamps； she caught glimpses of the white facings
on the uniforms of the town guard； or occasionally the glint of
steel of a bayonet。 Presently Chauvelin paused beside a door；
which he had just reached。 His hand was on the latch； for it did
not appear to be locked； and he turned toward Marguerite。
〃I am very sorry； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said in simple； deferential
tones； 〃that the prison authorities； who at my request are
granting you this interview at such an unusual hour； have made a
slight condition to your visit。〃
〃A condition？〃 she asked。 〃What is it？〃
〃You must forgive me；〃 he said； as if purposely evading her
question； 〃for I give you my word that I had nothing to do with a
regulation that you might justly feel was derogatory to your
dignity。 If you will kindly step in here a wardress in charge
will explain to you what is required。〃
He pushed open the door； and stood aside ceremoniously in order to
allow her to pass in。 She looked on him with deep puzzlement and
a look of dark suspicion in her eyes。 But her mind was too much
engrossed with the thought of her meeting with Percy to worry over
any trifle that mightas her enemy had inferredoffend her
womanly dignity。
She walked into the room； past Chauvelin； who whispered as she
went by：
〃I will wait for you here。 And； I pray you； if you have aught to
complain of summon me at once。〃
Then he closed the door behind her。 The room in which Marguerite
now found herself was a small unventilated quadrangle； dimly
lighted by a hanging lamp。 A woman in a soiled cotton gown and
lank grey hair brushed away from a parchment…like forehead rose
from the chair in which she had been sitting when Marguerite
entered； and put away some knitting on which she had apparently
been engaged。
〃I was to tell you； citizeness；〃 she said the moment the door had
been closed and she was alone with Marguerite； 〃that the prison
authorities have given orders that I should search you before you
visit the prisoner。〃
She repeated this phrase mechanically like a child who has been
taught to say a lesson by heart。 She was a stoutish middle…aged
woman； with that pasty； flabby skin peculiar to those who live in
want of fresh air； but her small； dark eyes were not unkindly；
although they shifted restlessly from one object to another as if
she were trying to avoid looking the other woman straight in the
face。
〃That you should search me！〃 reiterated Marguerite slowly； trying
to understand。
〃Yes；〃 replied the woman。 〃I was to tell you to take off your
clothes；