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outside the park of the Chateau d'Ourde。 He will help me to save
the Dauphin； and if by good luck he also helps me to save myself I
shall be within seven leagues of Le Portal； and with the Liane
frozen as she is I could reach the coast。
But Marguerite's safety I leave in your hands； Ffoulkes。 Would
that I could look more clearly into the future； and know that
those devils will not drag her into danger。 Beg her to start at
once for Calais immediately you have both read this。 I only beg；
I do not command。 I know that you； Ffoulkes； will stand by her
whatever she may wish to do。 God's blessing be for ever on you
both。
Marguerite's voice died away in the silence that still lay over
this deserted part of the great city and in this squalid house
where she and Sir Andrew Ffoulkes had found shelter these last ten
days。 The agony of mind which they had here endured； never
doubting； but scarcely ever hoping； had found its culmination at
last in this final message； which almost seemed to come to them
from the grave。
It had been written ten days ago。 A plan had then apparently
formed in Percy's mind which he had set forth during the brief
half…hour's respite which those fiends had once given him。 Since
then they had never given him ten consecutive minutes' peace；
since then ten days had gone by how much power； how much vitality
had gone by too on the leaden wings of all those terrible hours
spent in solitude and in misery？
〃We can but hope； Lady Blakeney；〃 said Sir Andrew Ffoulkes after a
while； 〃that you will be allowed out of Paris； but from what
Armand says〃
〃And Percy does not actually send me away；〃 she rejoined with a
pathetic little smile。
〃No。 He cannot compel you； Lady Blakeney。 You are not a member
of the League。〃
〃Oh； yes； I am！〃 she retorted firmly； 〃and I have sworn obedience；
just as all of you have done。 I will go； just as he bids me。 and
you； Sir Andrew； you will obey him too？〃
〃My orders are to stand by you。 That is an easy task。〃
〃You know where this place is？〃 she asked〃the Chateau d'Ourde？〃
〃Oh； yes； we all know it！ It is empty； and the park is a wreck；
the owner fled from it at the very outbreak of the revolution； he
left some kind of steward nominally in charge； a curious creature；
half imbecile； the chateau and the chapel in the forest just
outside the grounds have oft served Blakeney and all of us as a
place of refuge on our way to the coast。〃
〃But the Dauphin is not there？〃 she said。
〃No。 According to the first letter which you brought me from
Blakeney ten days ago； and on which I acted； Tony； who has charge
of the Dauphin； must have crossed into Holland with his little
Majesty to…day。〃
〃I understand；〃 she said simply。 〃But thenthis letter to de
Batz？〃
〃Ah； there I am completely at sea！ But I'll deliver it； and at
once too； only I don't like to leave you。 Will you let me get you
out of Paris first？ I think just before dawn it could be done。
We can get the cart from Lucas； and if we could reach St。 Germain
before noon； I could come straight back then and deliver the
letter to de Batz。 This； I feel； I ought to do myself； hut at
Achard's farm I would know that you were safe for a few hours。〃
〃I will do whatever you think right； Sir Andrew；〃 she said simply；
〃my will is bound up with Percy's dying wish。 God knows I would
rather follow him now； step by step；as hostage； as prisonerany
way so long as I can see him； but〃
She rose and turned to go； almost impassive now in that great calm
born of despair。
A stranger seeing her now had thought her indifferent。 She was
very pale； and deep circles round her eyes told of sleepless
nights and days of mental misery； but otherwise there was not the
faintest outward symptom of that terrible anguish which was
rending her heartstrings。 Her lips did not quiver； and the source
of her tears had been dried up ten days ago。
〃Ten minutes and I'll be ready； Sir Andrew；〃 she said。 〃I have
but few belongings。 Will you the while see Lucas about the cart？〃
He did as she desired。 Her calm in no way deceived him； he knew
that she must be suffering keenly； and would suffer more keenly
still while she would be trying to efface her own personal
feelings all through that coming dreary journey to Calais。
He went to see the landlord about the horse and cart； and a
quarter of an hour later Marguerite came downstairs ready to
start。 She found Sir Andrew in close converse with an officer of
the Garde de Paris； whilst two soldiers of the same regiment were
standing at the horse's head。
When she appeared in the doorway Sir Andrew came at once up to her。
〃It is just as I feared； Lady Blakeney；〃 he said； 〃this man has
been sent here to take charge of you。 Of course； he knows nothing
beyond the fact that his orders are to convey you at once to the
guard…house of the Rue Ste。 Anne； where he is to hand you over to
citizen Chauvelin of the Committee of Public Safety。〃
Sir Andrew could not fail to see the look of intense relief which；
in the midst of all her sorrow； seemed suddenly to have lighted up
the whole of Marguerite's wan face。 The thought of wending her own
way to safety whilst Percy； mayhap； was fighting an uneven fight
with death had been well…nigh intolerable； but she had been ready
to okey without a murmur。 Now Fate and the enemy himself had
decided otherwise。 She felt as if a load had been lifted from her
heart。
〃I will at once go and find de Batz；〃 Sir Andrew contrived to
whisper hurriedly。 〃As soon as Percy's letter is safely in his
hands I will make my way northwards and communicate with all the
members of the League； on whom the chief has so strictly enjoined
to quit French soil immediately。 We will proceed to Calais first
and open up communication with the Day…Dream in the usual way。
The others had best embark on board her； and the skipper shall
then make for the known spot of Le Portel； of which Percy speaks
in his letter。 I myself will go by land to Le Portel； and thence；
if I have no news of you or of the expedition； I will slowly work
southwards in the direction of the Chateau d'Ourde。 That is all
that I can do。 If you can contrive to let Percy or even Armand
know my movements； do so by all means。 I know that I shall be
doing right； for； in a way； I shall be watching over you and
arranging for your safety； as Blakeney begged me to do。 God bless
you； Lady Blakeney； and God save the Scarlet Pimpernel！〃
He stooped and kissed her hand； and she intimated to the officer
that she was ready。 He had a hackney coach waiting for her lower
down the street。 To it she walked with a firm step； and as she
entered it she waved a last farewell to Sir Andrew Ffoulkes。
CHAPTER XLII
THE GUARD…HOUSE OF THE RUE STE。 ANNE
The little cortege was turning out of the great gates of the house
of Justice。 It was intensely cold； a bitter north…easterly gale
was blowing from across the heights of Montmartre； driving sleet
and snow and half…frozen rain into the faces of the men； and
finding its way up their sleeves； down their collars and round the
knees of their threadbare breeches。
Armand； whose fingers were