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carriage window。
〃What is it？〃 he asked。
〃The scouts； citizen；〃 replied the sergeant； who had been riding
close to the coach door all this while； 〃they have returned。〃
〃Tell one man to come straight to me and report。〃
Marguerite sat quite still。 Indeed； she had almost ceased to live
momentarily； for her spirit was absent from her body； which felt
neither fatigue； nor cold； nor pain。 But she heard the snorting
of the horse close by as its rider pulled him up sharply beside
the carriage door。
〃Well？〃 said Chauvelin curtly。
〃This is the cross…road； citizen；〃 replied the man； 〃it strikes
straight into the wood； and the hamlet of Le Crocq lies down in
the valley on the right。〃
〃Did you follow the road in the wood？〃
〃Yes； citizen。 About two leagues from here there is a clearing
with a small stone chapel； more like a large shrine； nestling
among the trees。 Opposite to it the angle of a high wall with
large wrought…iron gates at the corner； and from these a wide
drive leads through a park。〃
〃Did you turn into the drive？〃
〃Only a little way； citizen。 We thought we had best report first
that all is safe。〃
〃You saw no one？〃
〃No one。〃
〃The chateau； then； lies some distance from the gates？〃
〃A league or more； citizen。 Close to the gates there are
outhouses and stabling； the disused buildings of the home farm； I
should say。〃
〃Good！ We are on the right road； that is clear。 Keep ahead with
your men now； but only some two hundred metres or so。 Stay！〃 he
added； as if on second thoughts。 〃Ride down to the other coach and
ask the prisoner if we are on the right track。〃
The rider turned his horse sharply round。 Marguerite heard…the
clang of metal and the sound of retreating hoofs。
A few moments later the man returned。
〃Yes； citizen；〃 he reported； 〃the prisoner says it is quite right。
The Chateau d'Ourde lies a full league from its gates。 This is
the nearest road to the chapel and the chateau。 He says we should
reach the former in half an hour。 It will be very dark in there；〃
he added with a significant nod in the direction of the wood。
Chauvelin made no reply； but quietly stepped out of the coach。
Marguerite watched him； leaning out of the window； following his
small trim figure as he pushed his way past the groups of mounted
men； catching at a horse's bit now and then； or at a bridle；
making a way for himself amongst the restless； champing animals；
without the slightest hesitation or fear。
Soon his retreating figure lost its sharp outline silhouetted
against the evening sky。 It was enfolded in the veil of vapour
which was blown out of the horses' nostrils or rising from their
damp cruppers； it became more vague； almost ghost…like； through
the mist and the fast…gathering gloom。
Presently a group of troopers hid him entirely from her view； but
she could hear his thin； smooth voice quite clearly as he called
to citizen Heron。
〃We are close to the end of our journey now； citizen；〃 she heard
him say。 〃If the prisoner has not played us false little Capet
should be in our charge within the hour。〃
A growl not unlike those that came from out the mysterious depths
of the forest answered him。
〃If he is not；〃 and Marguerite recognised the harsh tones of
citizen Heron〃if he is not； then two corpses will be rotting in
this wood tomorrow for the wolves to feed on； and the prisoner
will be on his way back to Paris with me。〃
Some one laughed。 It might have been one of the troopers； more
callous than his comrades； but to Marguerite the laugh had a
strange； familiar ring in it； the echo of something long since
past and gone。
Then Chauvelin's voice once more came clearly to her ear：
〃My suggestion； citizen；〃 he was saying； 〃is that the prisoner
shall now give me an ordercouched in whatever terms he may think
necessarybut a distinct order to his friends to give up Capet to
me without any resistance。 I could then take some of the men with
me； and ride as quickly as the light will allow up to the chateau；
and take possession of it； of Capet； and of those who are with
him。 We could get along faster thus。 One man can give up his
horse to me and continue the journey on the box of your coach。
The two carriages could then follow at foot pace。 But I fear that
if we stick together complete darkness will overtake us and we
might find ourselves obliged to pass a very uncomfortable night in
this wood。〃
〃I won't spend another night in this suspenseit would kill me；〃
growled Heron to the accompaniment of one of his choicest oaths。
〃You must do as you think rightyou planned the whole of this
affairsee to it that it works out well in the end。〃
〃How many men shall I take with me？ Our advance guard is here； of
course。〃
〃I couldn't spare you more than four more menI shall want the
others to guard the prisoners。〃
〃Four men will be quite sufficient； with the four of the advance
guard。 That will leave you twelve men for guarding your
prisoners； and you really only need to guard the womanher life
will answer for the others。〃
He had raised his voice when he said this； obviously intending
that Marguerite and Armand should hear。
〃Then I'll ahead；〃 he continued； apparently in answer to an assent
from his colleague。 〃Sir Percy； will you be so kind as to
scribble the necessary words on these tablets？〃
There was a long pause； during which Marguerite heard plainly the
long and dismal cry of a night bird that； mayhap； was seeking its
mate。 Then Chauvelin's voice was raised again。
〃I thank you；〃 he said； 〃this certainly should be quite effectual。
And now； citizen Heron； I do not think that under the circumstances
we need fear an ambuscade or any kind of trickeryyou hold the
hostages。 And if by any chance I and my men are attacked； or if
we encounter armed resistance at the chateau； I will despatch a
rider back straightway to you； andwell； you will know what to do。〃
His voice died away； merged in the soughing of the wind； drowned
by the clang of metal； of horses snorting； of men living and
breathing。 Marguerite felt that beside her Armand had shuddered；
and that in the darkness his trembling hand had sought and found
hers。
She leaned well out of the window； trying to see。 The gloom had
gathered more closely in； and round her the veil of vapour from
the horses' steaming cruppers hung heavily in the misty air。 In
front of her the straight lines of a few fir trees stood out dense
and black against the greyness beyond； and between these lines
purple tints of various tones and shades mingled one with the
other； merging the horizon line with the sky。 Here and there a
more solid black patch indicated the tiny houses of the hamlet of
Le Crocq far down in the valley below； from some of these houses
small lights began to glimmer like blinking yellow eyes。
Marguerite's gaze； however； did not rest on the distant landscape
it tried to pierce the gloom that hid her immediate surroundings；
the mounted men were all round the coachmore closely round her
than the trees in the forest。 But the horses were restless； moving
all the time； and as they moved she caught glimpses of that other
coach and of