The Elusive Pimpernel [84]
he stretched out one leg, turning the point of a dainty boot towards the ex- ambassador.
"Would you like to take hold of me by the leg, Monsieur Chaubertin?" he said gaily. "'Tis more effectual than a shoulder, and your picked guard of six stalwart fellows can have the other leg. ... Nay! I pray you, sir, do not look at me like that. ... I vow that it is myself and not my ghost. ... But if you still doubt me, I pray you call the guard ... ere I fly out again towards that fitful moon ..."
"Nay, Sir Percy," said Chauvelin, with a steady voice, "I have no thought that you will take flight just yet. ... Methinks you desire conversation with me, or you had not paid me so unexpected a visit."
"Nay, sir, the air is too oppressive for lengthy conversation ... I was strolling along these ramparts, thinking of our pleasant encounter at the hour of the Angelus to-morrow ... when this light attracted me. ... feared I had lost my way and climbed the window to obtain information."
"As to your way to the nearest prison cell, Sir Percy?" queried Chauvelin drily.
"As to anywhere, where I could sit more comfortably than on this demmed sill. ... It must be very dusty, and I vow 'tis terribly hard ..."
"I presume, Sir Percy, that you did my colleague and myself the honour of listening to our conversation?"
"An you desired to talk secrets, Monsieur ... er ... Chaubertin ... you should have shut this window ... and closed this avenue of trees against the chance passer-by."
"What we said was no secret, Sir Percy. It is all over the town to-night."
"Quite no ... you were only telling the devil your mind ... eh?"
"I had also been having conversation with Lady Blakeney. ... Pray did you hear any of that, sir?"
But Sir Percy had evidently not heard the question, for he seemed quite absorbed in the task of removing a speck of dust from his immaculate chapeau-bras.
"These hats are all the rage in England just now," he said airily, "but they have had their day, do you not think so, Monsieur? When I return to town, I shall have to devote my whole mind to the invention of a new headgear ..."
"When will you return to England, Sir Percy?" queried Chauvelin with good-natured sarcasm.
"At the turn of the tide to-morrow eve, Monsieur," replied Blakeney.
"In company with Lady Blakeney?"
"Certainly, sir ... and yours if you will honour us with your company."
"If you return to England to-morrow, Sir Percy, Lady Blakeney, I fear me, cannot accompany you."
"You astonish me, sir," rejoined Blakeney with an exclamation of genuine and unaffected surprise. "I wonder now what would prevent her?"
"All those whose death would be the result of her flight, if she succeeded in escaping from Boulogne ..."
But Sir Percy was staring at him, with wide open eyes expressive of utmost amazement.
"Dear, dear, dear. ... Lud! but that sounds most unfortunate ..."
"You have not heard of the measures which I have taken to prevent Lady Blakeney quitting this city without our leave?"
"No, Monsieur Chaubertin ... no ... I have heard nothing ..." rejoined Sir Percy blandly. "I lead a very retired life when I come abroad and ..."
"Would you wish to hear them now?"
"Quite unnecessary, sir, I assure you ... and the hour is getting late ..."
"Sir Percy, are you aware of the fact that unless you listen to what I have to say, your wife will be dragged before the Committee of Public Safety in Paris within the next twenty-four hours?" said Chauvelin firmly.
"What swift horses you must have, sir," quoth Blakeney pleasantly. "Lud! to think of it! ... I always heard that these demmed French horses would never beat ours across country."
But Chauvelin now would not allow himself to be ruffled by Sir Percy's apparent indifference. Keen reader of emotions as he was, he had not failed to note a distinct change in the drawly voice, a sound of something hard and trenchant in the flippant laugh, ever since Marguerite's name was first mentioned. Blakeney's attitude was apparently as careless, as audacious as before, but Chauvelin's
"Would you like to take hold of me by the leg, Monsieur Chaubertin?" he said gaily. "'Tis more effectual than a shoulder, and your picked guard of six stalwart fellows can have the other leg. ... Nay! I pray you, sir, do not look at me like that. ... I vow that it is myself and not my ghost. ... But if you still doubt me, I pray you call the guard ... ere I fly out again towards that fitful moon ..."
"Nay, Sir Percy," said Chauvelin, with a steady voice, "I have no thought that you will take flight just yet. ... Methinks you desire conversation with me, or you had not paid me so unexpected a visit."
"Nay, sir, the air is too oppressive for lengthy conversation ... I was strolling along these ramparts, thinking of our pleasant encounter at the hour of the Angelus to-morrow ... when this light attracted me. ... feared I had lost my way and climbed the window to obtain information."
"As to your way to the nearest prison cell, Sir Percy?" queried Chauvelin drily.
"As to anywhere, where I could sit more comfortably than on this demmed sill. ... It must be very dusty, and I vow 'tis terribly hard ..."
"I presume, Sir Percy, that you did my colleague and myself the honour of listening to our conversation?"
"An you desired to talk secrets, Monsieur ... er ... Chaubertin ... you should have shut this window ... and closed this avenue of trees against the chance passer-by."
"What we said was no secret, Sir Percy. It is all over the town to-night."
"Quite no ... you were only telling the devil your mind ... eh?"
"I had also been having conversation with Lady Blakeney. ... Pray did you hear any of that, sir?"
But Sir Percy had evidently not heard the question, for he seemed quite absorbed in the task of removing a speck of dust from his immaculate chapeau-bras.
"These hats are all the rage in England just now," he said airily, "but they have had their day, do you not think so, Monsieur? When I return to town, I shall have to devote my whole mind to the invention of a new headgear ..."
"When will you return to England, Sir Percy?" queried Chauvelin with good-natured sarcasm.
"At the turn of the tide to-morrow eve, Monsieur," replied Blakeney.
"In company with Lady Blakeney?"
"Certainly, sir ... and yours if you will honour us with your company."
"If you return to England to-morrow, Sir Percy, Lady Blakeney, I fear me, cannot accompany you."
"You astonish me, sir," rejoined Blakeney with an exclamation of genuine and unaffected surprise. "I wonder now what would prevent her?"
"All those whose death would be the result of her flight, if she succeeded in escaping from Boulogne ..."
But Sir Percy was staring at him, with wide open eyes expressive of utmost amazement.
"Dear, dear, dear. ... Lud! but that sounds most unfortunate ..."
"You have not heard of the measures which I have taken to prevent Lady Blakeney quitting this city without our leave?"
"No, Monsieur Chaubertin ... no ... I have heard nothing ..." rejoined Sir Percy blandly. "I lead a very retired life when I come abroad and ..."
"Would you wish to hear them now?"
"Quite unnecessary, sir, I assure you ... and the hour is getting late ..."
"Sir Percy, are you aware of the fact that unless you listen to what I have to say, your wife will be dragged before the Committee of Public Safety in Paris within the next twenty-four hours?" said Chauvelin firmly.
"What swift horses you must have, sir," quoth Blakeney pleasantly. "Lud! to think of it! ... I always heard that these demmed French horses would never beat ours across country."
But Chauvelin now would not allow himself to be ruffled by Sir Percy's apparent indifference. Keen reader of emotions as he was, he had not failed to note a distinct change in the drawly voice, a sound of something hard and trenchant in the flippant laugh, ever since Marguerite's name was first mentioned. Blakeney's attitude was apparently as careless, as audacious as before, but Chauvelin's