Stupidly, senselessly, now, sitting beneath the shade of an overhanging sycamore, she was looking at the plain gold shield, with the star-shaped little flower engraved2 upon it.
Bah! It was ridiculous! she was dreaming! her nerves were overwrought, and she saw signs and mysteries in the most trivial coincidences. Had not everybody about town recently made a point of affecting the device of that mysterious and heroic Scarlet3 Pimpernel?
Did she not herself wear it embroidered4 on her gowns? set in gems5 and enamel6 in her hair? What was there strange in the fact that Sir Percy should have chosen to use the device as a seal-ring? He might easily have done that . . . yes . . . quite easily . . . and . . . besides . . . what connection could there be between her exquisite7 dandy of a husband, with his fine clothes and refined, lazy ways, and the daring plotter who rescued French victims from beneath the very eyes of the leaders of a bloodthirsty revolution?
Her thoughts were in a whirl—her mind a blank . . . She did not see anything that was going on around her, and was quite startled when a fresh young voice called to her across the garden.
“Chérie!—chérie! where are you?” and little Suzanne, fresh as a rosebud8, with eyes dancing with glee, and brown curls fluttering in the soft morning breeze, came running across the lawn.
“They told me you were in the garden,” she went on prattling9 merrily, and throwing herself with pretty, girlish impulse into Marguerite's arms, “so I ran out to give you a surprise. You did not expect me quite so soon, did you, my darling little Margot chérie?”
Marguerite, who had hastily concealed10 the ring in the folds of her kerchief, tried to respond gaily11 and unconcernedly to the young girl's impulsiveness12.
“Indeed, sweet one,” she said with a smile, “it is delightful13 to have you all to myself, and for a nice whole long day. . . . You won't be bored?”
“Oh! bored! Margot, how can you say such a wicked thing. Why! when we were in the dear old convent together, we were always happy when we were allowed to be alone together.”
“And to talk secrets.”
The two young girls had linked their arms in one another's and began wandering round the garden.
“Oh! how lovely your home is, Margot, darling,” said little Suzanne, enthusiastically, “and how happy you must be!”
“Aye, indeed! I ought to be happy—oughtn't I, sweet one?” said Marguerite, with a wistful little sigh.
“How sadly you say it, chérie. . . . Ah, well, I suppose now that you are a married woman you won't care to talk secrets with me any longer. Oh! what lots and lots of secrets we used to have at school! Do you remember?—some we did not even confide14 to Sister Theresa of the Holy Angels—though she was such a dear.”
“And now you have one all-important secret, eh, little one?” said Marguerite, merrily, “which you are forthwith going to confide to me. Nay15, you need not blush, chérie,” she added, as she saw Suzanne's pretty little face crimson16 with blushes. “Faith, there's naught17 to be ashamed of! He is a noble and true man, and one to be proud of as a lover, and . . . as a husband.”
“Indeed, chérie, I am not ashamed,” rejoined Suzanne, softly; “and it makes me very, very proud to hear you speak so well of him. I think maman will consent,” she added thoughtfully, “and I shall be—oh! so happy—but, of course, nothing is to be thought of until papa is safe. . . .”
Marguerite started. Suzanne's father! the Comte de Tournay!—one of those whose life would be jeopardised if Chauvelin succeeded in establishing the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
She had understood all along from the Comtesse, and also from one or two of the members of the league, that their mysterious leader had pledged his honour to bring the fugitive18 Comte de Tournay safely out of France. Whilst little Suzanne—unconscious of all—save her own all-important little secret, went prattling on, Marguerite's thoughts went back to the events of the past night.
And then her own work in the matter, which should have culminated20 at one o'clock in Lord Grenville's dining-room, when the relentless21 agent of the French Government would finally learn who was this mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, who so openly defied an army of spies and placed himself so boldly, and for mere22 sport, on the side of the enemies of France.
Since then she had heard nothing from Chauvelin. She had concluded that he had failed, and yet, she had not felt anxious about Armand, because her husband had promised her that Armand would be safe.
But now, suddenly, as Suzanne prattled23 merrily along, an awful horror came upon her for what she had done. Chauvelin had told her nothing, it was true; but she remembered how sarcastic24 and evil he looked when she took final leave of him after the ball. Had he discovered something then? Had he already laid his plans for catching25 the daring plotter, red-handed, in France, and sending him to the guillotine without compunction or delay?
Marguerite turned sick with horror, and her hand convulsively clutched the ring in her dress.
“You are not listening, chérie,” said Suzanne, reproachfully, as she paused in her long, highly interesting narrative26.
“Yes, yes, darling—indeed I am,” said Marguerite with an effort, forcing herself to smile. “I love to hear you talking . . . and your happiness makes me so very glad. . . . Have no fear, we will manage to propitiate27 maman. Sir Andrew Ffoulkes is a noble English gentleman; he has money and position, the Comtesse will not refuse her consent. . . . But . . . now, little one . . . tell me . . . what is the latest news about your father?”
“Oh!” said Suzanne, with mad glee, “the best we could possibly hear. My Lord Hastings came to see maman early this morning. He said that all is now well with dear papa, and we may safely expect him here in England in less than four days.”
“Yes,” said Marguerite, whose glowing eyes were fastened on Suzanne's lips, as she continued merrily:
“Oh, we have no fear now! You don't know, chérie, that that great and noble Scarlet Pimpernel himself has gone to save papa. He has gone, chérie . . . actually gone . . .” added Suzanne excitedly. “He was in London this morning; he will be in Calais, perhaps, to-morrow . . . where he will meet papa . . . and then . . . and then . . .”
The blow had fallen. She had expected it all along, though she had tried for the last half-hour to delude28 herself and to cheat her fears. He had gone to Calais, had been in London this morning . . . he . . . the Scarlet Pimpernel . . . Percy Blakeney . . . her husband . . . whom she had betrayed last night to Chauvelin. . . .
Percy . . . Percy . . . her husband . . . the Scarlet Pimpernel. . . . Oh! how could she have been so blind? She understood it now—all at once . . . that part he played—the mask he wore . . . in order to throw dust in everybody's eyes.
And all for sheer sport and devilry of course!—saving men, women and children from death, as other men destroy and kill animals for the excitement, the love of the thing. The idle, rich man wanted some aim in life—he, and the few young bucks29 he enrolled30 under his banner, had amused themselves for months in risking their lives for the sake of an innocent few.
Perhaps he had meant to tell her when they were first married; and then the story of the Marquis de St. Cyr had come to his ears, and he had suddenly turned from her, thinking, no doubt, that she might some day betray him and his comrades, who had sworn to follow him; and so he had tricked her, as he tricked all others, whilst hundreds now owed their lives to him, and many families owed him both life and happiness.
The mask of the inane31 fop had been a good one, and the part consummately32 well played. No wonder that Chauvelin's spies had failed to detect, in the apparently33 brainless nincompoop, the man whose reckless daring and resourceful ingenuity34 had baffled the keenest French spies, both in France and in England. Even last night when Chauvelin went to Lord Grenville's dining-room to seek that daring Scarlet Pimpernel, he only saw that inane Sir Percy Blakeney fast asleep in a corner of the sofa.
Had his astute35 mind guessed the secret, then? Here lay the whole awful, horrible, amazing puzzle. In betraying a nameless stranger to his fate in order to save her brother, had Marguerite Blakeney sent her husband to his death?
No! no! no! a thousand times no! Surely Fate could not deal a blow like that: Nature itself would rise in revolt: her hand, when it held that tiny scrap36 of paper last night, would surely have been struck numb37 ere it committed a deed so appalling38 and so terrible.
“But what is it, chérie?” said little Suzanne, now genuinely alarmed, for Marguerite's colour had become dull and ashen39. “Are you ill, Marguerite? What is it?”
“Nothing, nothing, child,” she murmured, as in a dream. “Wait a moment . . . let me think . . . think! . . . You said . . . the Scarlet Pimpernel had gone to-day. . . . ?”
“Marguerite, chérie, what is it? You frighten me. . . .”
“It is nothing, child, I tell you . . . nothing. . . . I must be alone a minute—and—dear one . . . I may have to curtail40 our time together to-day. . . . I may have to go away—you'll understand?”
“I understand that something has happened, chérie, and that you want to be alone. I won't be a hindrance41 to you. Don't think of me. My maid, Lucile, has not yet gone . . . we will go back together . . . don't think of me.”
She threw her arms impulsively42 round Marguerite. Child as she was, she felt the poignancy43 of her friend's grief, and with the infinite tact44 of her girlish tenderness, she did not try to pry45 into it, but was ready to efface46 herself.
She kissed Marguerite again and again, then walked sadly back across the lawn. Marguerite did not move, she remained there, thinking . . . wondering what was to be done.
Just as little Suzanne was about to mount the terrace steps, a groom47 came running round the house towards his mistress. He carried a sealed letter in his hand. Suzanne instinctively48 turned back; her heart told her that here perhaps was further ill news for her friend, and she felt that her poor Margot was not in a fit state to bear any more.
The groom stood respectfully beside his mistress, then he handed her the sealed letter.
“What is that?” asked Marguerite.
“Just come by runner, my lady.”
Marguerite took the letter mechanically, and turned it over in her trembling fingers.
“Who sent it?” she said.
“The runner said, my lady,” replied the groom, “that his orders were to deliver this, and that your ladyship would understand from whom it came.”
Marguerite tore open the envelope. Already her instinct had told her what it contained, and her eyes only glanced at it mechanically.
It was a letter written by Armand St. Just to Sir Andrew Ffoulkes—the letter which Chauvelin's spies had stolen at “The Fisherman's Rest,” and which Chauvelin had held as a rod over her to enforce her obedience49.
Now he had kept his word—he had sent her back St. Just's compromising letter . . . for he was on the track of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Marguerite's senses reeled, her very soul seemed to be leaving her body; she tottered50, and would have fallen but for Suzanne's arm round her waist. With superhuman effort she regained51 control over herself—there was yet much to be done.
“Bring that runner here to me,” she said to the servant, with much calm. “He has not gone?”
“No, my lady.”
The groom went, and Marguerite turned to Suzanne.
“And you, child, run within. Tell Lucile to get ready. I fear I must send you home, child. And—stay, tell one of the maids to prepare a travelling dress and cloak for me.”
Suzanne made no reply. She kissed Marguerite tenderly, and obeyed without a word; the child was overawed by the terrible, nameless misery52 in her friend's face.
A minute later the groom returned, followed by the runner who had brought the letter.
“Who gave you this packet?” asked Marguerite.
“A gentleman, my lady,” replied the man, “at 'The Rose and Thistle' inn opposite Charing53 Cross. He said you would understand.”
“At 'The Rose and Thistle'? What was he doing?”
“He was waiting for the coach, your ladyship, which he had ordered.”
“The coach?”
“Yes, my lady. A special coach he had ordered. I understood from his man that he was posting straight to Dover.”
“That's enough. You may go.” Then she turned to the groom: “My coach and the four swiftest horses in the stables, to be ready at once.”
The groom and runner both went quickly off to obey. Marguerite remained standing54 for a moment on the lawn quite alone. Her graceful55 figure was as rigid56 as a statue, her eyes were fixed57, her hands were tightly clasped across her breast; her lips moved as they murmured with pathetic heart-breaking persistence,—
“What's to be done? What's to be done? Where to find him?—Oh, God! grant me light.”
But this was not the moment for remorse58 and despair. She had done—unwittingly—an awful and terrible thing—the very worst crime, in her eyes, that woman ever committed—she saw it in all its horror. Her very blindness in not having guessed her husband's secret seemed now to her another deadly sin. She ought to have known! she ought to have known!
How could she imagine that a man who could love with so much intensity59 as Percy Blakeney had loved her from the first—how could such a man be the brainless idiot he chose to appear? She, at least, ought to have known that he was wearing a mask, and having found that out, she should have torn it from his face, whenever they were alone together.
Her love for him had been paltry60 and weak, easily crushed by her own pride; and she, too, had worn a mask in assuming a contempt for him, whilst, as a matter of fact, she completely misunderstood him.
But there was no time now to go over the past. By her own blindness she had sinned; now she must repay, not by empty remorse, but by prompt and useful action.
Percy had started for Calais, utterly61 unconscious of the fact that his most relentless enemy was on his heels. He had set sail early that morning from London Bridge. Provided he had a favourable62 wind, he would no doubt be in France within twenty-four hours; no doubt he had reckoned on the wind and chosen this route.
Chauvelin, on the other hand, would post to Dover, charter a vessel63 there, and undoubtedly64 reach Calais much about the same time. Once in Calais, Percy would meet all those who were eagerly waiting for the noble and brave Scarlet Pimpernel, who had come to rescue them from horrible and unmerited death. With Chauvelin's eyes now fixed upon his every movement, Percy would thus not only be endangering his own life, but that of Suzanne's father, the old Comte de Tournay, and of those other fugitives65 who were waiting for him and trusting in him. There was also Armand, who had gone to meet de Tournay, secure in the knowledge that the Scarlet Pimpernel was watching over his safety.
All these lives, and that of her husband, lay in Marguerite's hands; these she must save, if human pluck and ingenuity were equal to the task.
Unfortunately, she could not do all this quite alone. Once in Calais she would not know where to find her husband, whilst Chauvelin, in stealing the papers at Dover, had obtained the whole itinerary66. Above everything, she wished to warn Percy.
She knew enough about him by now to understand that he would never abandon those who trusted in him, that he would not turn back from danger, and leave the Comte de Tournay to fall into the bloodthirsty hands that knew of no mercy. But if he were warned, he might form new plans, be more wary67, more prudent68. Unconsciously, he might fall into a cunning trap, but—once warned—he might yet succeed.
And if he failed—if indeed Fate, and Chauvelin, with all the resources at his command, proved too strong for the daring plotter after all—then at least she would be there by his side, to comfort, love and cherish, to cheat death perhaps at the last by making it seem sweet, if they died both together, locked in each other's arms, with the supreme69 happiness of knowing that passion had responded to passion, and that all misunderstandings were at an end.
Her whole body stiffened70 as with a great and firm resolution. This she meant to do, if God gave her wits and strength. Her eyes lost their fixed look; they glowed with inward fire at the thought of meeting him again so soon, in the very midst of most deadly perils71; they sparkled with the joy of sharing these dangers with him—of helping72 him perhaps—of being with him at the last—if she failed.
The childlike sweet face had become hard and set, the curved mouth was closed tightly over her clenched73 teeth. She meant to do or die, with him and for his sake. A frown, which spoke74 of an iron will and unbending resolution, appeared between the two straight brows; already her plans were formed. She would go and find Sir Andrew Ffoulkes first; he was Percy's best friend, and Marguerite remembered with a thrill, with what blind enthusiasm the young man always spoke of his mysterious leader.
He would help her where she needed help; her coach was ready. A change of raiment, and a farewell to little Suzanne, and she could be on her way.
Without haste, but without hesitation75, she walked quietly into the house.
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1
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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enamel
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| n.珐琅，搪瓷，瓷釉；(牙齿的)珐琅质 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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rosebud
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| n.蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女 | |
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prattling
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的现在分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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impulsiveness
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| n.冲动 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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prattled
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的过去式和过去分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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propitiate
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| v.慰解，劝解 | |
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delude
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| vt.欺骗；哄骗 | |
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bucks
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| n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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30
enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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inane
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| adj.空虚的，愚蠢的，空洞的 | |
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consummately
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| adv.完成地，至上地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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ashen
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| adj.灰的 | |
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curtail
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| vt.截短，缩短；削减 | |
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hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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poignancy
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| n.辛酸事，尖锐 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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45
pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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efface
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| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
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groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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50
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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51
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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52
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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53
charing
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| n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣 | |
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54
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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55
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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56
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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57
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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58
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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itinerary
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| n.行程表，旅行路线；旅行计划 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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