Robert Tournay Part 13

"I have just arrived from Paris, where I have been in hiding for months," he stammered. "Upon seeing the doors all battered down and the frightful disorder in the lower halls, I thought the chateau must be deserted and that you had sought some place of refuge. Knowing that in times past the baron, your father, was in the habit of keeping money in this old secretary, I have been ransacking it from top to bottom. I have need of a considerable sum; but I find nothing here--not a sou."

Edme noticed that his dress was in great disorder and that his face was pale and haggard. Every few moments he put up his hand in an attempt to stop the nervous twitching of the mouth which he seemed unable to control.

"My nerves have been much shaken lately," he said, as she looked at him with wonder. And then he laughed discordantly. The sound of the mirthless laughter, accompanied by no change in the expression of his face, was painful to Edme's ears.

"I have been pursued," he said, "hunted in Paris like a dog, but I have given them the slip; they shall not overtake me now." The wild look in his eyes became more intense. "I am going to leave France; I have a friend whom I can trust waiting for me near at hand. Together in disguise we are going to the frontier--either to Belgium or Germany. We shall be safe there. But I must have some more money, money for our journey." His fear had so bereft him of his reason that he apparently forgot the presence of his cousin, the mistress of the house, and turned once more to the old writing-desk to recommence his search with feverish haste.

"To Germany!" cried Edme joyfully. "You are going to Germany? then you can take me with you. We can leave this unhappy blood-stained country for a land of law and order."

The marquis turned upon her sharply.

"Why did not your father take you with him to England?" he demanded.

"Why? You have no need to ask the question. He went upon some secret business for King Louis. He went away unexpectedly. When he left he imagined that I, a woman, living in quiet seclusion, would be perfectly safe, notwithstanding the disordered state of the country even at that time."

"Can you not find a place of refuge with some friend here in France?"

asked de Lacheville. "The journey I am about to undertake will be full of danger and fatigue."

"I am not afraid of danger," replied Edme, "and as for fatigue, I am strong and able to support it."

"But," persisted de Lacheville, "if you could find some suitable refuge here it would be so much better."

"I cannot," retorted Edme, in a decided tone of voice, "and I prefer to accompany you to Germany, although it seems to me that you offer your escort somewhat reluctantly."

"The fact is, Cousin Edme," replied the marquis, "I cannot take you with me. Alone, my escape will be difficult; with you it will be impossible."

Edme looked at him for a moment with open-eyed wonder, then she repeated the word. "Impossible! Do you mean to tell me that you, a kinsman, are going to leave me here to meet whatever fate may befall me, while you save yourself by flight?"

"No, no, you do not understand me," the marquis replied, his pale face flushing. "It is for your own sake that I cannot take you. It will mean almost certain capture. If, as I said before, you could remain in some place of safety in France for a little while"--

"I am ready to run whatever risk you do," replied the girl coolly. "When do you start?"

"Mademoiselle, this is madness," exclaimed de Lacheville, pacing the floor. "Can you not listen to reason?"

The sound of shouting in the distance caused him to stop suddenly and run to the window. The candle had burned down to the socket and went out with a few last feeble flickers. The cries of Gardin's ruffians were borne to him on the wind.

The slight composure which he had managed to regain during his talk with Edme left him again, and he turned toward her, the trembling, shaking coward that he was when she had first discovered him.

"Do you hear that?" he whispered, his hand shaking as he put it to his lips.

"I have heard it in this very room to-day," replied Edme, looking at him with disdain.

"They are coming here again," he whispered hoa.r.s.ely. "But they shall not find me," he exclaimed fiercely, clenching his fist and shaking it in a weak menace toward the spot whence the sound came. "I have a swift horse in the courtyard beneath. In an hour I shall be safe from them," and he prepared to leave the room.

The ordeal of the afternoon had told on Edme's nerves and the thought of being left alone again made her desperate.

"You shall not leave me here alone," she cried, seizing his arm. "You were born a man--behave like one. Devise some means to take me from this place at once. Do not leave me alone to face those wretches again, or I shall believe you are a coward."

De Lacheville roughly released himself from her grasp.

"I care not what you think of me," he snarled. "It is each for himself.

I cannot imperil my safety for a woman. I must escape." And he rushed from the room.

She heard the crunching of his horses' feet upon the gravel, and going to the window saw him ride rapidly away. The remembrance of the young Republican leader offering to risk his life for her, and the cowering figure of her cousin, indifferent to all but his own safety, flashed before her in quick contrast. She turned away from the window to find herself in the arms of Agatha, who had at that moment returned.

"Agatha," she exclaimed, "do your hear those hoof-beats? Monsieur de Lacheville is running away. He, a n.o.bleman, is a coward and flies from danger, while another man, a Republican--oh, Agatha, Agatha, what are we to do? whom are we to believe; in whom should we trust?"

"Calm yourself, mademoiselle," replied Agatha, "and think only of what I have to tell you. Listen to me closely. We must leave at once. I have a plan of flight. I have been making a few hurried preparations."

"True, Agatha, in my bewilderment and anger, I forgot for the moment the danger we incur by remaining here. Where are Father Ambrose and Matthieu?"

"Matthieu is here in the chateau; he says he will never desert you as long as you can have need of his poor services. Father Ambrose has disappeared, but I think he is in a place of safety. But now you are to be thought of. Will you trust me?"

"How can you ask that, Agatha? Have you not always proved faithful?"

"I mean, can you trust me to lead, and will you follow and be guided by my suggestions?"

"I will do just as you may direct. I know you have a wise head, Agatha."

"This is my plan, then," continued the maid; "listen carefully while I tell it to you."

An hour later the two women, dressed as peasants, with faces and hands brown from apparent exposure to the sun in the hayfield, left the park behind the chateau de Rochefort, and made their way along a hedge-bound lane that wound through the fields. As they reached the crest of a hill they stopped and looked back at the chateau. A red glow appeared in the eastern sky.

"Look, Agatha," said Edme, "morning is coming, the sun is about to rise."

Suddenly the glow leaped into a broad flame which lit up the whole sky.

"'Tis the chateau on fire!" cried both women in one breath, and clinging to each other they stood and watched it burn.

CHAPTER VII

GAILLARD GOES ON A JOURNEY

The first object that Robert Tournay saw as he rode into the inn yard at La Thierry was a horse reeking with sweat. The next moment he was greeted by the smiling face of Gaillard, who came out of the inn. "Have you brought the pa.s.sport?" cried Tournay eagerly, as he grasped his friend by the hand.

For reply Gaillard took a paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and disclosed the seal of the Committee of Public Safety. "Am I in time?" he asked. "I have ridden post haste to get here with it. Can I serve you further?"

"Come into the inn, and I'll tell you," replied Tournay. "I am almost exhausted and must have something to eat."

Ordering some supper and a bottle of wine, which were brought at once, Tournay helped Gaillard and himself bountifully. They ate and drank for a few minutes in silence, Gaillard waiting for him to speak.

Gaillard was rather short in stature, with a pair of broad, athletic shoulders. His face was freckled, and animated by a pair of particularly active blue eyes. A large mouth, instead of adding to his plainness, was rather attractive than otherwise, for on all occasions it would widen into the most encouraging, good-natured smile, showing two rows of regular, white teeth, firmly set in a strong jaw.

After he had partaken of a little food and drink, Tournay recounted to Gaillard the substance of what had taken place at the chateau, leaving out most of his final interview with Edme de Rochefort, but dwelling on her flat refusal to accept his escort to the frontier.