Part 6 (1/2)
”It dropped out of your pocket just now It certainly does not seee!-I wonder when it got there? It is fro at the paper
Both stooped to try and decipher this last tiny scrap of paper on which a feords had been hastily scrawled, when suddenly a slight noise attracted their attention, which seee beyond
”What's that?” said both instinctively Lord Antony crossed the room towards the door, which he threw open quickly and suddenly; at that verybloeen the eyes, which threw hi, snake-like figure in the gloom had ju Sir Andrew, felling hiround
All this occurred within the short space of two or three seconds, and before either Lord Antony or Sir Andrew had tile They were each seized by two men, a muffler was quickly tied round the mouth of each, and they were pinioned to one another back to back, their ars securely fastened
One man had in the meanwhile quietly shut the door; he wore a mask and now stood motionless while the others completed their work
”All safe, citoyen!” said one of the men, as he took a final survey of the bonds which secured the two young men
”Good!” replied the ive me all the papers you find”
This was pro taken possession of all the papers, listened for a moment or two if there were any sound within ”The Fishere had remained unheard, he once more opened the door and pointed peree The four round, and as quietly, as noiselessly as they had coallants out of the inn and along the Dover Road into the gloom beyond
In the coffee-roolancing through the stolen papers
”Not a bad day's work on the whole,” he muttered, as he quietly took off his low of the fire ”Not a bad day's work”
He opened one or two letters from Sir Andrew Ffoulkes' pocket-book, noted the tiny scrap of paper which the two young men had only just had tined Are satisfaction
”Armand St Just a traitor after all,” he uerite Blakeney,” he added viciously between his clenched teeth, ”I think that you will help me to find the Scarlet Pimpernel”
CHAPTER X IN THE OPERA BOX
It was one of the gala nights at Covent Garden Theatre, the first of the auturace 1792
The house was packed, both in the smart orchestra boxes and in the pit, as well as in the alleries above Gluck's ORPHEUSappeal to the more intellectual portions of the house, whilst the fashi+onable wo, spoke to the eye of those who cared but little for this ”latest importation from Germany”
Selina Storace had been duly applauded after her grand ARIA by her nued favourite of the ladies, had received special gracious recognition frolorious finale to the second act, and the audience, which had hung spell-bound on the reat h of satisfaction, previous to letting loose its hundreds of waggish and frivolous tongues In the smart orchestra boxes hted with cares of state, was finding brief relaxation in to-night's musical treat; the Prince of Wales, jovial, rotund, somewhat coarse and co brief quarters of an hour with those of his more intimate friends
In Lord Grenville's box, too, a curious, interesting personality attracted everyone's attention; a thin, sure with shrewd, sarcastic face and deep-set eyes, attentive to the music, keenly critical of the audience, dressed in immaculate black, with dark hair free fron Secretary of State-paid hiid deference
Here and there, dotted about an faces stood out in hty aristocratic cast of countenance of the many French royalist EMIGRES who, persecuted by the relentless, revolutionary faction of their country, had found a peaceful refuge in England On these faces sorrow and care were deeply writ; the women especially paid but little heed, either to the hts were far aith husband, brother, son maybe, still in peril, or lately succu these the Comtesse de Tournay de Basserive, but lately arrived froure: dressed in deep, heavy black silk, with only a white lace kerchief to relieve the aspect ofabout her person, she sat beside Lady Portarles, as vainly trying by witty sallies and so a smile to the Comtesse's sad mouth Behind her sat little Suzanne and the Vicoers Suzanne's eyes seemed wistful; when she first entered the crowded house, she had looked eagerly all around, scanning every face, scrutinised every box Evidently the one face she wished to see was not there, for she settled herself quietly behind her mother, listened apathetically to the music, and took no further interest in the audience itself
”Ah, Lord Grenville,” said Lady Portarles, as following a discreet knock, the clever, interesting head of the Secretary of State appeared in the doorway of the box, ”you could not arrive more A PROPOS Here is Mada to hear the latest news frouished diplo hands with the ladies
”Alas!” he said sadly, ”it is of the very worst The massacres continue; Paris literally reeks with blood; and the guillotine claims a hundred victi back in her chair, listening horror-struck to this brief and graphic account of ent on in her own uided country
”Ah, lish, ”it is dreadful to hear all that-and my poor husband still in that awful country It is terrible forhere, in a theatre, all safe and in peace, whilst he is in such peril”
”Lud, Mada in a convent won't make your husband safe, and you have your children to consider: they are too young to be dosed with anxiety and preh her tears at the vehemence of her friend Lady Portarles, whose voice and old, and hid the entle kindliness, beneath the somewhat coarse manners affected by some ladies at that time
”Besides which, Madame,” added Lord Grenville, ”did you not tell ue of the Scarlet Pi M le Comte safely across the Channel?”
”Ah, yes!” replied the Cos yesterdayhe reassured ain”
”Then I aue have sworn, that they surely will accoh, ”if I were but a few years younger ”
”La,enough to turn your back on that French scarecrow that sits enthroned in your box to-night”
”I wish I couldbut your ladyshi+pour country we ent of his Government ”
”Odd's fish, man!” she retorted, ”you don't call those bloodthirsty ruffians over there a governht advisable as yet,” said the Minister, guardedly, ”for England to break off diplomatic relations with France, and we cannot therefore refuse to receive with courtesy the agent she wishes to send to us”
”Diplomatic relations be de but a spy, I'll warrant, and you'll find-an I'm much mistaken, that he'll concern hi to do ees-to our heroic Scarlet Piue”
”I a up her thin lips, ”that if this Chauvelin wishes to do us mischief, he will find a faithful ally in Lady Blakeney”
”Bless the woman!” ejaculated Lady Portarles, ”did ever anyone see such perversity? My Lord Grenville, you have the gift of gab, will you please explain to Mada like a fool In your position here in England, Mada a wrathful and resolute face towards the Comtesse, ”you cannot afford to put on the hoity-toity airs you French aristocrats are so fond of Lady Blakeney may or may not be in sympathy with those Ruffians in France; sheto do with the arrest and condemnation of St Cyr, or whatever the man's name is, but she is the leader of fashi+on in this country; Sir Percy Blakeney has ether, he is hand and glove with royalty, and your trying to snub Lady Blakeney will not harm her, but will make you look a fool Isn't that so, ht of this matter, or to what reflections this comely tirade of Lady Portarles led the Comtesse de Tournay, remained unspoken, for the curtain had just risen on the third act of ORPHEUS, and admonishments to silence came from every part of the house
Lord Grenville took a hasty farewell of the ladies and slipped back into his box, where M Chauvelin had sat through this ENTR'ACTE, with his eternal snuff-box in his hand, and with his keen pale eyes intently fixed upon a box opposite hihter and general stir of curiosity auerite Blakeney had just entered, acco divinely pretty beneath the wealth of her golden, reddish curls, slightly besprinkled with powder, and tied back at the nape of her graceful neck with a gigantic black boays dressed in the very latest vagary of fashi+on, Marguerite alone aht had discarded the crossover fichu and broad-lapelled over-dress, which had been in fashi+on for the last two or three years She wore the short-waisted classical-shaped gohich so soon was to become the approved al figure to perfection, co stuff which seeold embroidery
As she entered, she leant for astock of all those present whom she knew Many bowed to her as she did so, and froracious salute
Chauvelin watched her intently all through the commencement of the third act, as she sat enthralled with thewith a sal head, her throat, are husband who sprawled leisurely by her side
Marguerite was passionately fond ofrit plainly upon the sweet young face, it sparkled out of the merry blue eyes and lit up the smile that lurked around the lips She was after all but five-and-twenty, in the hey day of youth, the darling of a brilliant throng, adored, FETED, petted, cherished Two days ago the DAY DREAM had returned fro her news that her idolised brother had safely landed, that he thought of her, and would be prudent for her sake
What wonder for theto Gluck's iot her disillusionot even the lazy, good-humoured nonentity who hadworldly advantages upon her
He had stayed beside her in the box just as long as convention dehness, and for the host of ade to the queen of fashi+on Sir Percy had strolled away, to talk to uerite did not even wonder whither he had gone-she cared so little; she had had a little court round her, composed of the JEUNESSE DOREE of London, and had just dis to be alone with Gluck for a brief while
A discreet knock at the door roused her from her enjoyment
”Co to look at the intruder
Chauvelin, waiting for his opportunity, noted that she was alone, and noithout pausing for that impatient ”Come in,” he quietly slipped into the box, and the next uerite's chair