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all the time； and as they moved she caught glimpses of that other
coach and of Chauvelin's ghostlike figure； walking rapidly through
the mist。 Just for one brief moment she saw the other coach； and
Heron's head and shoulders leaning out of the window。 If is
sugar…loaf hat was on his head； and the bandage across his brow
looked like a sharp； pale streak below it。
〃Do not doubt it； citizen Chauvelin；〃 he called out loudly in his
harsh； raucous voice； 〃I shall know what to do； the wolves will
have their meal to…night； and the guillotine will not be cheated
either。〃
Armand put his arm round his sister's shoulders and gently drew
her hack into the carriage。
〃Little mother；〃 he said； 〃if you can think of a way whereby my
life would redeem Percy's and yours； show me that way now。〃
But she replied quietly and firmly：
〃There is no way； Armand。 If there is； it is in the hands of
God。〃
CHAPTER XLVI
OTHERS IN THE PARK
Chauvelin and his picked escort had in the meanwhile detached
themselves from the main body of the squad。 Soon the dull thud of
their horses' hoofs treading the soft ground came more softly
then more softly still as they turned into the wood； and the
purple shadows seemed to enfold every sound and finally to swallow
them completely。
Armand and Marguerite from the depth of the carriage heard Heron's
voice ordering his own driver now to take the lead。 They sat
quite still and watched； and presently the other coach passed them
slowly on the road； its silhouette standing out ghostly and grim
for a moment against the indigo tones of the distant country。
Heron's head； with its battered sugar…loaf hat； and the soiled
bandage round the brow； was as usual out of the carriage window。
He leered across at Marguerite when he saw the outline of her face
framed by the window of the carriage。
〃Say all the prayers you have ever known； citizeness；〃 he said
with a loud laugh； 〃that my friend Chauvelin may find Capet at the
chateau； or else you may take a last look at the open country； for
you will not see the sun rise on it to…morrow。 It is one or the
other； you know。〃
She tried not to look at him； the very sight of him filled her
with horrorthat blotched； gaunt face of his； the fleshy lips；
that hideous bandage across his face that hid one of his eyes！
She tried not to see him and not to hear him laugh。
Obviously he too laboured under the stress of great excitement。
So far everything had gone well； the prisoner had made no attempt
at escape； and apparently did not mean to play a double game。 But
the crucial hour had come； and with it darkness and the mysterious
depths of the forest with their weird sounds and sudden flashes of
ghostly lights。 They naturally wrought on the nerves of men like
Heron； whose conscience might have been dormant； but whose ears
were nevertheless filled with the cries of innocent victims
sacrificed to their own lustful ambitions and their blind；
unreasoning hates。
He gave sharp orders to the men to close tip round the carriages；
and then gave the curt word of command：
〃En avant！〃
Marguerite could but strain her ears to listen。 All her senses；
all her faculties had merged into that of hearing； rendering it
doubly keen。 It seemed to her that she could distinguish the
faint soundthat even as she listened grew fainter and fainter
yetof Chauvelin and his squad moving away rapidly into the
thickness of the wood some distance already ahead。
Close to her there was the snorting of horses； the clanging and
noise of moving mounted men。 Heron's coach had taken the lead；
she could hear the creaking of its wheels； the calls of the driver
urging his beasts。
The diminished party was moving at foot…pace in the darkness that
seemed to grow denser at every step； and through that silence
which was so full of mysterious sounds。
The carriage rolled and rocked on its springs； Marguerite； giddy
and overtired； lay back with closed eyes； her hand resting in that
of Armand。 Time； space and distance had ceased to be； only Death；
the great Lord of all； had remained； he walked on ahead； scythe on
skeleton shoulder； and beckoned patiently； but with a sure； grim
hand。
There was another halt； the coach…wheels groaned and creaked on
their axles； one or two horses reared with the sudden drawing up
of the curb。
〃What is it now？〃 came Heron's hoarse voice through the darkness。
〃It is pitch…dark； citizen；〃 was the response from ahead。 The
drivers cannot see their horses' ears。 They wait to know if they
may light their lanthorns and then lead their horses。〃
〃They can lead their horses；〃 replied Heron roughly； 〃but I'll
have no lanthorns lighted。 We don't know what fools may be
lurking behind trees； hoping to put a bullet through my heador
yours； sergeantwe don't want to make a lighted target of
ourselveswhat？ But let the drivers lead their horses； and one
or two of you who are riding greys might dismount too and lead the
waythe greys would show up perhaps in this cursed blackness。〃
While his orders were being carried out； he called out once more：
〃Are we far now from that confounded chapel？〃
〃We can't be far； citizen； the whole forest is not more than six
leagues wide at any point； and we have gone two since we turned
into it。〃
〃Hush！〃 Heron's voice suddenly broke in hoarsely。 What was that？
Silence； I say。 Damn youcan't you hear？〃
There was a hushevery ear straining to listen； but the horses
were not stillthey continued to champ their bits； to paw the
ground； and to toss their heads； impatient to get on。 Only now
and again there would come a lull even through these soundsa
second or two； mayhap； of perfect； unbroken silenceand then it
seemed as if right through the darkness a mysterious echo sent
back those same soundsthe champing of bits； the pawing of soft
ground； the tossing and snorting of animals； human life that
breathed far out there among the trees。
〃It is citizen Chauvelin and his men；〃 said the sergeant after a
while； and speaking in a whisper。
〃SilenceI want to hear；〃 came the curt； hoarsely…whispered
command。
Once more every one listened； the men hardly daring to breathe；
clinging to their bridles and pulling on their horses' mouths；
trying to keep them still； and again through the night there came
like a faint echo which seemed to throw back those sounds that
indicated the presence of men and of horses not very far away。
〃Yes； it must be citizen Chauvelin；〃 said Heron at last； but the
tone of his voice sounded as if he were anxious and only half
convinced； 〃but I thought he would be at the chateau by now。〃
〃He may have had to go at foot…pace； it is very dark； citizen
Heron；〃 remarked the sergeant。
〃En avant； then；〃 quoth the other； 〃the sooner we come tip with
him the better。〃
And the squad of mounted men； the two coaches； the drivers and the
advance section who were leading their horses slowly restarted on
the way。 The horses snorted； the bits and stirrups clanged； and
the springs and wheels of the coaches creaked and groaned dismally
as the ramshackle vehicles began once more to plough the carpet of
pine…needles that lay thick upon t