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citizen； prayers； I imagine； so very seldom are； but I don't know；
I never pray myself。 In your case； now； I should say that you
have not the slightest chance of the Deity interfering in so
pleasant a manner。 Even were Sir Percy Blakeney prepared to wreak
personal revenge on you； he would scarcely be so foolish as to
risk the other life which we shall also hold as hostage for his
good faith。〃
〃The other life？〃
〃Yes。 Your sister； Lady Blakeney； will also join the expedition
to…morrow。 This Sir Percy does not yet know； but it will come as
a pleasant surprise for him。 At the slightest suspicion of false
play on Sir Percy's part； at his slightest attempt at escape； your
life and that of your sister are forfeit； you will both be
summarily shot before his eyes。 I do not think that I need be more
precise； eh； citizen St。 Just？〃
The young man was quivering with passion。 A terrible loathing for
himself； for his crime which had been the precursor of this
terrible situation； filled his soul to the verge of sheer physical
nausea。 A red film gathered before his eyes； and through it he
saw the grinning face of the inhuman monster who had planned this
hideous； abominable thing。 It seemed to him as if in the silence
and the hush of the night； above the feeble； flickering flame that
threw weird shadows around； a group of devils were surrounding
him； and were shouting； 〃Kill him！ Kill him now！ Rid the earth
of this hellish brute！〃
No doubt if Chauvelin had exhibited the slightest sign of fear； if
he had moved an inch towards the door； Armand； blind with passion；
driven to madness by agonising remorse more even than by rage；
would have sprung at his enemy's throat and crushed the life out
of him as he would out of a venomous beast。 But the man's calm；
his immobility； recalled St。 Just to himself。 Reason； that had
almost yielded to passion again； found strength to drive the enemy
back this time； to whisper a warning； an admonition； even a
reminder。 Enough harm； God knows； had been done by tempestuous
passion already。 And God alone knew what terrible consequences
its triumph now might bring in its trial； and striking on Armand's
buzzing ears Chauvelin's words came back as a triumphant and
mocking echo：
〃He'll be a dead man at dawn if I do not put in an appearance by
six o'clock。〃
The red film lifted； the candle flickered low； the devils
vanished； only the pale face of the Terrorist gazed with gentle
irony out of the gloom。
〃I think that I need not detain you any longer； citizen； St。
Just；〃 he said quietly； 〃you can get three or four hours' rest yet
before you need make a start； and I still have a great many things
to see to。 I wish you good…night； citizen。〃
〃Good…night；〃 murmured Armand mechanically。
He took the candle and escorted his visitor back to the door。 He
waited on the landing； taper in hand； while Chauvelin descended
the narrow； winding stairs。
There was a light in the concierge's lodge。 No doubt the woman
had struck it when the nocturnal visitor had first demanded
admittance。 His name and tricolour scarf of office had ensured
him the full measure of her attention； and now she was evidently
sitting up waiting to let him out。
St。 Just； satisfied that Chauvelin had finally gone； now turned
back to his own rooms。
CHAPTER XL
GOD HELP US ALL
He carefully locked the outer door。 Then he lit the lamp； for the
candle gave but a flickering light； and he had some important work
to do。
Firstly； he picked up the charred fragment of the letter； and
smoothed it out carefully and reverently as he would a relic。
Tears had gathered in his eyes； but he was not ashamed of them；
for no one saw them； but they eased his heart； and helped to
strengthen his resolve。 It was a mere fragment that had been
spared by the flame； but Armand knew every word of the letter by
heart。
He had pen； ink and paper ready to his band； and from memory wrote
out a copy of it。 To this he added a covering letter from himself
to Marguerite：
Thiswhich I had from Percy through the hands of ChauvelinI
neither question nor understand。。。。 He wrote the letter； and I
have no thought but to obey。 In his previous letter to me he
enjoined me； if ever he wrote to me again； to obey him implicitly；
and to communicate with you。 To both these commands do I submit
with a glad heart。 But of this must I give you warning； little
motherChauvelin desires you also to accompany us to…morrow。。。。
Percy does not know this yet； else he would never start。 But
those fiends fear that his readiness is a blind 。。。 and that he
has some plan in his head for his own escape and the continued
safety of the Dauphin。。。。 This plan they hope to frustrate
through holding you and me as hostages for his good faith。 God
only knows how gladly I would give my life for my chief 。。。 but
your life； dear little mother 。。。 is sacred above all。。。。 I think
that I do right in warning you。 God help us all。
Having written the letter； he sealed it； together with the copy of
Percy's letter which he had made。 Then he took up the candle and
went downstairs。
There was no longer any light in the concierge's lodge； and Armand
had some difficulty in making himself heard。 At last the woman
came to the door。 She was tired and cross after two interruptions
of her night's rest； but she had a partiality for her young
lodger； whose pleasant ways and easy liberality had been like a
pale ray of sunshine through the squalor of every…day misery。
〃It is a letter； citoyenne；〃 said Armand； with earnest entreaty；
〃for my sister。 She lives in the Rue de Charonne； near the
fortifications； and must have it within an hour； it is a matter of
life and death to her； to me； and to another who is very dear to
us both。〃
The concierge threw up her hands in horror。
〃Rue de Charonne； near the fortifications；〃 she exclaimed； 〃and
within an hour！ By the Holy Virgin； citizen； that is impossible。
Who will take it？ There is no way。〃
〃A way must be found； citoyenne；〃 said Armand firmly； 〃and at
once； it is not far； and there are five golden louis waiting for
the messenger！〃
Five golden louis！ The poor； hardworking woman's eyes gleamed at
the thought。 Five louis meant food for at least two months if one
was careful； and
〃Give me the letter； citizen；〃 she said； 〃time to slip on a warm
petticoat and a shawl； and I'll go myself。 It's not fit for the
boy to go at this hour。〃
〃You will bring me back a line from my sister in reply to this；〃
said Armand； whom circumstances had at last rendered cautious。
〃Bring it up to my rooms that I may give you the five louis in
exchange。〃
He waited while the woman slipped back into her room。 She heard
him speaking to her boy； the same lad who a fortnight ago had
taken the treacherous letter which had lured Blakeney to the house
into the fatal ambuscade that had been prepared for him。
Everything reminded Armand of that awful night； every hour that he
had since spent in the house had been racking torture to him。 Now
at last he was to leave it； and on an errand which might help to
ease the load of remorse from his heart。
The woman wa