Part 9 (1/2)
”As myself, mademoiselle.”
”You have not told me your name,” she said.
”Richard Barrington,” he answered, and then he laughed a little. ”Why I trust you, I do not know. I may be putting it into your power to do me a great deal of harm.”
”If I have the power, I shall not use it,” she answered.
There was a moment coming when she would have to decide whether these words const.i.tuted a promise given without reservation, or whether the promise were contingent on his being honest, as now she believed him to be.
”For that I thank you,” he returned.
”And you have my thanks for coming to Beauvais. That you have been robbed only makes it clearer how bitter Lucien's enemies are. Have you any plan, Monsieur Barrington, by which I could reach Paris in safety?”
The question set his thoughts rus.h.i.+ng into a new channel. He felt suddenly responsible for her, knew that to prevent her going even into the shadow of harm he was prepared to face any danger. It was not her beauty which influenced him, a moment ago he had been ready to despise it if she were a deceitful woman; something more subtle than her beauty appealed to him, herself, the revelation of herself which was in her question.
”It is impossible for you to go to Paris, mademoiselle. The crowd of refugees in this chateau is proof enough that the danger is too great.
How any man, no matter what his need may be, could ask you to put yourself in such jeopardy, I cannot understand.”
”Yet you undertook to bring the message to Beauvais. Was it in your mind to advise that no notice should be taken of it?”
”Indeed, mademoiselle, I thought of little beyond fulfilling the oath I had taken, and to go my way again as quickly as possible.”
”The answer to the message must rest with me, Monsieur Barrington,” she said, quietly. ”It was not by my own will that I left Paris. I am not afraid to return. Will you help me?”
”Mademoiselle, I----”
”Please, Monsieur Barrington. It means life or death, perchance, to the man I love.”
”Curse him for asking you to face such a danger.”
”Hush, you cannot understand,” she said, putting her hand upon his arm.
”I know Lucien. From Beauvais you will journey to Paris. Will you let me go with you?”
”No. I will not help you to your destruction. I will carry whatever message you will to this man, but I will not do more.”
”Then take this message: Jeanne St. Clair is on her way to Paris; she asked my escort, but since I would not give it she has found another.
Tell him that, Monsieur Barrington.”
”Have you no fear, mademoiselle?”
”For myself--none.”
”Very well, I will try and see you safely into Paris. You will go most easily as a woman of the people, one who has some aristocrat enemy on whom she wishes to be avenged. Do you think you can play such a part?”
”I will do as you bid me.”
”Hide your hair, mademoiselle; wear some hideous cloak which may do something to spoil your beauty. If you will go, I may be a safer escort than any other. I claim friends.h.i.+p with Monsieur de Lafayette, so I am for the people. Even if we cause suspicion they will hardly prevent our going to Paris. Your return----”
”We need not arrange for that now, monsieur. When will you start?”