Part 45 (1/2)
”Sir Percy,” he resumed quietly, ”no doubt it affords you a certain amount of pleasure to aie you that pleasure; in your present position, sir, your shafts have little or no sting”
”And I shall have but few chances left to ai self,” interposed Blakeney, who had drawn another chair close to the table and was now sitting opposite his ene full on his own face, as if he wished his eneht, no hope, no fear
”Exactly,” said Chauvelin dryly ”That being the case, Sir Percy, what say you to no longer wasting the few chances which are left to you for safety? The tiine, quite as hopeful as you were even a week ago, you have never been over-comfortable in this cell, why not end this unpleasant state of affairs now--once and for all? You'll not have cause to regret it My word on it”
Sir Percy leaned back in his chair He yawned loudly and ostentatiously
”I pray you, sir, forgive ued I have not slept for ht's rest would do you a world of good”
”A night, sir?” exclaimed Blakeney hat seeh ”La! I should want a week”
”I areatly refresh you”
”You are right, sir, you are right; but those d--d fellows in the next rooive strict orders that perfect quietude reigned in the guard-roo softly, and there was a gentle purr in his voice, ”and that you were left undisturbed for several hours I would give orders that a co be done to , sir Why did you not suggest this before?”
”You were so--what shall I say--so obstinate, Sir Percy?”
”Call it pig-headed, aily, ”truly you would obligein direct opposition to your own interests”
”Therefore you caood Samaritan to take coht away to coood supper and a downy bed”
”Admirably put, Sir Percy,” said Chauvelin blandly; ”that is exactly my mission”
”Hoill you set to work, Monsieur Chambertin?”
”Quite easily, if you, Sir Percy, will yield to the persuasion of my friend citizen Heron”
”Ah!”
”Why, yes! He is anxious to knohere little Capet is A reasonable whi that the disappearance of the child is causing hirave anxiety”
”And you, Monsieur Chambertin?” queried Sir Percy with that suspicion of insolence in his manner which had the power to irritate his enemy even now ”And yourself, sir; what are your wishes in the matter?”
”Mine, Sir Percy?” retorted Chauvelin ”Mine? Why, to tell you the truth, the fate of little Capet interests me but little Let him rot in Austria or in our prisons, I care not which He'll never trouble France overs of old Si out of the puny brat who My wishes, sir, are the annihilation of your accursed League, and the lasting disgrace, if not the death, of its chief”
He had spoken e of the past eighteen ne, had all surged up again in his mind, because despite the closeness of these prison walls, despite the grim shadow of starvation and of death that beckoned so close at hand, he still encountered a pair ofeyes, fixed with relentless insolence upon him
Whilst he spoke Blakeney had oncehis elbows upon the table Now he drew nearer to hi piece of dry bread With solemn intentness he proceeded to break the bread into pieces; then he offered the platter to Chauvelin
”I am sorry,” he said pleasantly, ”that I cannot offer you more dainty fare, sir, but this is all that your friends have supplied me with to-day”
He cruers, then startedthe crumbs with apparent relish He poured out soht laugh:
”Even the vinegar which that ruffian Brogard served us at Calais was preferable to this, do you not iood Monsieur Chambertin?”