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that lay； sunken and inert； against the table； with callous eyes
he gazed attentively on the face that was then revealed to him； he
looked on the waxen flesh； the hollow eyes； the bloodless lips；
then he shrugged his wide shoulders； and with a laugh that surely
must have caused joy in hell； he allowed the wearied head to fall
back against the outstretched arms； and turned once again to his
colleague。
〃I think you are right； citizen Chauvelin；〃 he said； 〃there is not
much supernatural power here。 Let me hear your advice。〃
CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAUVELIN'S ADVICE
Citizen Chauvelin had drawn his colleague with him to the end of
the cell that was farthest away from the recess； and the table at
which the prisoner was sitting。
Here the noise and hubbub that went on constantly in the guard
room would effectually drown a whispered conversation。 Chauvelin
called to the sergeant to hand him a couple of chairs over the
barrier。 These he placed against the wall opposite the opening；
and beckoning Heron to sit down； he did likewise； placing himself
close to his colleague。
From where the two men now sat they could see both into the
guard…room opposite them and into the recess at die furthermost
end of the cell。
〃First of all；〃 began Chauvelin after a while； and sinking his
voice to a whisper； 〃let me understand you thoroughly； citizen
Heron。 Do you want the death of the Englishman； either to…day or
to…morrow； either in this prison or on the guillotine？ For that
now is easy of accomplishment； or do you want； above all； to get
hold of little Capet？〃
〃It is Capet I want；〃 growled Heron savagely under his breath。
〃Capet！ Capet！ My own neck is dependent on my finding Capet。
Curse you； have I not told you that clearly enough？〃
〃You have told it me very clearly； citizen Heron； but I wished to
make assurance doubly sure； and also make you Understand that I；
too； want the Englishman to betray little Capet into your hands。
I want that more even than I do his death。〃
〃Then in the name of hell； citizen； give me your advice。〃
〃My advice to you； citizen Heron； is this： Give your prisoner now
just a sufficiency of food to revive himhe will have had a few
moments' sleepand when he has eaten； and； mayhap； drunk a glass
of wine； he will； no doubt； feel a recrudescence of strength； then
give him pen and ink and paper。 He must； as he says； write to one
of his followers； who； in his turn； I suppose； will communicate
with the others； bidding them to be prepared to deliver up little
Capet to us； the letter must make it clear to that crowd of
English gentlemen that their beloved chief is giving up the
uncrowned King of France to us in exchange for his own safety。 But
I think you will agree with me； citizen Heron； that it would not
be over…prudent on our part to allow that same gallant crowd to be
forewarned too soon of the pro…posed doings of their chief。
Therefore； I think； we'll explain to the prisoner that his
follower； whom he will first apprise of his intentions； shall
start with us to…morrow on our expedition； and accompany us until
its last stage； when； if it is found necessary； he may be sent on
ahead； strongly escorted of course； and with personal messages
from the gallant Scarlet Pimpernel to the members of his League。〃
〃What will be the good of that？〃 broke in Heron viciously。 〃Do
you want one of his accursed followers to be ready to give him a
helping hand on the way if he tries to slip through our fingers？
〃Patience； patience； my good Heron！〃 rejoined Chauvelin with a
placid smile。 〃Hear me out to the end。 Time is precious。 You
shall offer what criticism you will when I have finished； but not
before。〃
〃Go on； then。 I listen。〃
〃I am not only proposing that one member of the Scarlet Pimpernel
League shall accompany us to…morrow；〃 continued Chauvelin； 〃but I
would also force the prisoner's wifeMarguerite Blakeneyto
follow in our train。〃
〃A woman？ Bah！ What for？〃
〃I will tell you the reason of this presently。 In her case I
should not let the prisoner know beforehand that she too will form
a part of our expedition。 Let this come as a pleasing surprise for
him。 She could join us on our way out of Paris。〃
〃How will you get hold of her？〃
〃Easily enough。 I know where to find her。 I traced her myself a
few days ago to a house in the Rue de Charonne； and she is not
likely to have gone away from Paris while her husband was at the
Conciergerie。 But this is a digression； let me proceed more
consecutively。 The letter； as I have said； being written to…night
by the prisoner to one of his followers； I will myself see that it
is delivered into the right hands。 You； citizen Heron； will in the
meanwhile make all arrangements for the journey。 We ought to start
at dawn； and we ought to be prepared； especially during the first
fifty leagues of the way； against organised attack in case the
Englishman leads us into an ambush。〃
〃Yes。 He might even do that； curse him！〃 muttered Heron。
〃He might； but it is unlikely。 Still it is best to be prepared。
Take a strong escort； citizen； say twenty or thirty men； picked
and trained soldiers who would make short work of civilians；
however well…armed they might be。 There are twenty
membersincluding the chiefin that Scarlet Pimpernel League；
and I do not quite see how from this cell the prisoner could
organise an ambuscade against us at a given time。 Anyhow； that is
a matter for you to decide。 I have still to place before you a
scheme which is a measure of safety for ourselves and our men
against ambush as well as against trickery； and which I feel sure
you will pronounce quite adequate。〃
〃Let me hear it； then！〃
〃The prisoner will have to travel by coach； of course。 You can
travel with him； if you like； and put him in irons； and thus avert
all chances of his escaping on the road。 But〃and here Chauvelin
made a long pause； which had the effect of holding his colleague's
attention still more closely〃remember that we shall have his
wife and one of his friends with us。 Before we finally leave
Paris tomorrow we will explain to the prisoner that at the first
attempt to escape on his part； at the slightest suspicion that he
has tricked us for his own ends or is leading us into an ambush
at the slightest suspicion； I sayyou； citizen Heron； will order
his friend first； and then Marguerite Blakeney herself； to be
summarily shot before his eyes。〃
Heron gave a long； low whistle。 Instinctively he threw a furtive；
backward glance at the prisoner； then he raised his shifty eyes to
his colleague。
There was unbounded admiration expressed in them。 One blackguard
had met anothera greater one than himselfand was proud to
acknowledge him as his master。
〃By Lucifer； citizen Chauvelin；〃 he said at last； 〃I should never
have thought of such a thing myself。〃
Chauvelin put up his hand with a gesture of self…deprecation。
〃I certainly think that measure ought to be adequate；〃 he said
with a gentle air of assumed modesty； 〃unless you would prefer to
arrest the woman and lodge her here； keeping her here as an
hostage。〃
〃No； no！〃 said Heron with a gruff laugh； 〃that idea does not
appeal to m