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〃Indeed； indeed； I do trust you；〃 she said； and looked with
tear…dimmed eyes in the pale face above her。 〃I have longed for
some one in whom I could confide。 I have been so lonely lately；
and Armand〃
With an impatient little gesture she brushed away the tears which
had gathered in her eyes。
〃What has Armand been doing？〃 asked Marguerite with an encouraging
smile。
〃Oh； nothing to grieve me！〃 replied the young girl eagerly； 〃for
he is kind and good； and chivalrous and noble。 Oh； I love him
with all my heart！ I loved him from the moment that I set eyes on
him； and then he came to see meperhaps you know！ And he talked
so beautiful about England； and so nobly about his leader the
Scarlet Pimpernelhave you heard of him？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Marguerite； smiling。 〃I have heard of him。〃
〃It was that day that citizen Heron came with his soldiers！ Oh！
you do not know citizen Heron。 He is the most cruel man in
France。 In Paris he is hated by every one； and no one is safe
from his spies。 He came to arrest Armand； but I was able to fool
him and to save Armand。 And after that；〃 she added with charming
naivete； 〃I felt as if； having saved Armand's life； he belonged to
meand his love for me had made me his。〃
〃Then I was arrested；〃 she continued after a slight pause； and at
the recollection of what she had endured then her fresh voice
still trembled with horror。
〃They dragged me to prison； and I spent two days in a dark cell；
where〃
She hid her face in her hands； whilst a few sobs shook her whole
frame； then she resumed more calmly：
〃I had seen nothing of Armand。 I wondered where he was； and I
knew that he would be eating out his heart with anxiety for me。
But God was watching over me。 At first I was transferred to the
Temple prison； and there a kind creaturea sort of man…of…all
work in the prison took compassion on me。 I do not know how he
contrived it； but one morning very early he brought me some filthy
old rags which he told me to put on quickly； and when I had done
that he bade me follow him。 Oh！ he was a very dirty； wretched man
himself； but he must have had a kind heart。 He took me by the
hand and made me carry his broom and brushes。 Nobody took much
notice of us； the dawn was only just breaking； and the passages
were very dark and deserted； only once some soldiers began to
chaff him about me： 'C'est ma fillequoi？' he said roughly。 I
very nearly laughed then； only I had the good sense to restrain
myself； for I knew that my freedom； and perhaps my life； depended
on my not betraying myself。 My grimy； tattered guide took me with
him right through the interminable corridors of that awful building；
whilst I prayed fervently to God for him and for myself。 We got out
by one of the service stairs and exit； and then he dragged me through
some narrow streets until we came to a corner where a covered cart
stood waiting。 My kind friend told me to get into the cart； and then
he bade the driver on the box take me straight to a house in the Rue
St。 Germain l'Auxerrois。 Oh！ I was infinitely grateful to the poor
creature who had helped me to get out of that awful prison； and I
would gladly have given him some money； for I am sure he was very
poor； but I had none by me。 He told me that I should be quite safe
in the house in the Rue St。 Germain l'Auxerrois； and begged me to
wait there patiently for a few days until I heard from one who had
my welfare at heart； and who would further arrange for my safety。〃
Marguerite had listened silently to this narrative so naively told
by this child； who obviously had no idea to whom she owed her
freedom and her life。 While the girl talked； her mind could
follow with unspeakable pride and happiness every phase of that
scene in the early dawn； when that mysterious； ragged
man…of…all…work； unbeknown even to the woman whom he was saving；
risked his own noble life for the sake of her whom his friend and
comrade loved。
〃And did you never see again the kind man to whom you owe your
life？〃 she asked。
〃No！〃 replied Jeanne。 〃I never saw him since； but when I arrived
at the Rue St。 Germain l'Auxerrois I was told by the good people
who took charge of me that the ragged man…of…all…work had been
none other than the mysterious Englishman whom Armand reveres； he
whom they call the Scarlet Pimpernel。〃
〃But you did not stay very long in the Rue St。 Germain
l'Auxerrois； did you？〃
〃No。 Only three days。 The third day I received a communique from
the Committee of General Security； together with an unconditional
certificate of safety。 It meant that I was freequite free。 Oh！
I could scarcely believe it。 I laughed and I cried until the
people in the house thought that I had gone mad。 The past few
days had been such a horrible nightmare。〃
〃And then you saw Armand again？〃
〃Yes。 They told him that I was free。 And he came here to see me。
He often comes； he will be here anon。〃
〃But are you not afraid on his account and your own？ He ishe
must be still'suspect'； a well…known adherent of the Scarlet
Pimpernel； he would be safer out of Paris。〃
〃No！ oh； no！ Armand is in no danger。 He； too； has an unconditional
certificate of safety。〃
〃An unconditional certificate of safety？〃 asked Marguerite； whilst
a deep frown of grave puzzlement appeared between her brows。
〃What does that mean？
〃It means that he is free to come and go as he likes； that neither
he nor I have anything to fear from Heron and his awful spies。
Oh！ but for that sad and careworn look on Armand's face we could
be so happy； but he is so unlike himself。 He is Armand and yet
another； his look at times quite frightens me。〃
〃Yet you know why he is so sad；〃 said Marguerite in a strange；
toneless voice which she seemed quite unable to control； for that
tonelessness came from a terrible sense of suffocation； of a
feeling as if her heart…strings were being gripped by huge； hard
hands。
〃Yes； I know；〃 said Jeanne half hesitatingly； as if knowing； she
was still unconvinced。
〃His chief； his comrade； the friend of whom you speak； the Scarlet
Pimpernel； who risked his life in order to save yours；
mademoiselle； is a prisoner in the hands of those that hate him。〃
Marguerite had spoken with sudden vehemence。 There was almost an
appeal in her voice now； as if she were trying not to convince
Jeanne only； but also herself； of something that was quite simple；
quite straightforward； and yet which appeared to be receding from
her； an intangible something； a spirit that was gradually yielding
to a force as yet unborn； to a phantom that had not yet emerged
from out chaos。
But Jeanne seemed unconscious of all this。 Her mind was absorbed
in Armand； the man whom she loved in her simple； whole…hearted
way； and who had seemed so different of late。
〃Oh； yes！〃 she said with a deep； sad sigh； whilst the ever…ready
tears once more gathered in her eyes； 〃Armand is very unhappy
because of him。 The Scarlet Pimpernel was his friend； Armand
loved and revered him。 Did you know；〃 added the girl； turning
large； horror…filled eyes on Marguerite； 〃that they want some
information from him about the Dauphin； and to force him to give
it they