Part 39 (1/2)
”Yes, Percy,” she replied ”I will go; I have promised”
”Ffoulkes has some certificates of safety by hiuises; he has a covered cart which he uses for his business, and which you can borrow from him Ffoulkes will drive the little party to Achard's farue should be in waiting for the final journey to England Ffoulkes will kno to arrange for everything; he was always anised he can appoint Hastings to lead the party But you, dear heart, must do as you wish
Achard's farm would be a safe retreat for you and for Ffoulkes: if
I know--I know, dear,” he added with infinite tenderness ”See I do not even suggest that you should leave me Ffoulkes will be with you, and I know that neither he nor you would go even if I commanded Either Achard's farm, or even the house in the Rue de Charonne, would be quite safe for you, dear, under Ffoulkes's protection, until the time when I land in mine own arms, or until Hush-sh-sh, dear heart,” he entreated, s with a passionate kiss the low moan of pain which had escaped her lips; ”it is all in God's hands now; I ahter than ever I have been before; but I am not dead yet, and those brutes have not yet paid the full price for my life Tell me, dear heart, that you have understood--that you will do all that I asked Tell ain, my dear, dear love; it is the very essence of life to hear your sweet lips murmur this promise now”
And for the third time she reiterated firmly:
”I have understood every word that you said to me, Percy, and I prohed a deep sigh of satisfaction, and even at that uard-roo pereeant; 'tis time you interfered”
”Three minutes more, citizen,” was the curt reply
”Three minutes, you devils,” ht which even Marguerite's keen gaze failed to interpret leapt into his eyes Then he pressed the third letter into her hand
Once aze compelled hers; their faces were close one to the other, so near to hihtly did he hold her to hiers were pressed firmly on hers
”Put this in your kerchief, my beloved,” he whispered ”Let it rest on your exquisite bosom where I so love to pillow my head Keep it there until the last hour when it see more can come between me and shame Hush-sh-sh, dear,” he added with passionate tenderness, checking the hot protest that at the word ”sha to her lips, ”I cannot explain more fully now I do not knohat may happen I am only a ht not devise for bringing the untamed adventurer to his knees For the next ten days the Dauphin will be on the high roads of France, on his way to safety Every stage of his journey will be known to me I can from between these four walls follow him and his escort step by step
Well, dear, I aht to shameful weakness by mere physical discomfort--the want of sleep--such a trifle after all; but in case ive this packet to Ffoulkes--it contains my final instructions--and he will kno to act Promise me, dear heart, that you will not open the packet unless--unless mine own dishonour seems to you imminent--unless I have yielded to these brutes in this prison, and sent Ffoulkes or one of the others orders to exchange the Dauphin's life forhath proclaiive this packet to Ffoulkes Promise me that, and also that when you and he have mastered its contents you will act exactly as I have commanded
Promise me that, dear, in your oeet name, which may God bless, and in that of Ffoulkes, our loyal friend”
Through the sobs that well-nigh choked her she rown hoarser andand sustained effort, but the vigour of the spirit was untouched, the fervour, the enthusiasm
”Dear heart,” he murmured, ”do not look on ht that puzzles you in what I said, try and trust er Remember, I must save the Dauphin at all costs; mine honour is bound with his safety What happens to me after that matters but little, yet I wish to live for your dear sake”
He drew a long breath which had naught of weariness in it The haggard look had cohted up froaiety illumined his whole personality
”Do not look so sad, little woe and sudden recrudescence of power; ”those d--d ot
The effort had been too prolonged--weakened nature reasserted her rights and he lost consciousness Marguerite, helpless and alth of mind not to call for assistance
She pillowed the loved one's head upon her breast, she kissed the dear, tired eyes, the poor throbbing te this man, as always the personification of extre thus helpless, like a tired child, in her arms, was perhaps the saddest moment of this day of sorrow But in her trust she never wavered for one instant Much that he had said had puzzled her; but the word ”sha from his own lips as a co of fear She had quickly hidden the tiny packet in her kerchief She would act point by point exactly as he had ordered her to do, and she knew that Ffoulkes would never waver either
Her heart ached well-nigh to breaking point That which she could not understand had increased her anguish tenfold If she could only have given way to tears she could have borne this final agony more easily
But the solace of tears was not for her; when those loved eyes oncewith courage and determination
There had been silence for a few minutes in the little cell The soldiery outside, inured to their hideous duty, thought no doubt that the time had come for them to interfere The iron bar was raised and thrown back with a loud crash, the butt-ends of ainst the floor, and two soldiers made noisy irruption into the cell