El Dorado: An Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel

  Having written the letter, he sealed it, together with the copy ofPercy's letter which he had made. Then he took up the candle and wentdownstairs.

  There was no longer any light in the concierge's lodge, and Armand hadsome difficulty in making himself heard. At last the woman came to thedoor. She was tired and cross after two interruptions of her night'srest, but she had a partiality for her young lodger, whose pleasant waysand easy liberality had been like a pale ray of sunshine through thesqualor of every-day misery.

  "It is a letter, citoyenne," said Armand, with earnest entreaty, "for mysister. She lives in the Rue de Charonne, near the fortifications, andmust have it within an hour; it is a matter of life and death to her, tome, and to another who is very dear to us both."

  The concierge threw up her hands in horror.

  "Rue de Charonne, near the fortifications," she exclaimed, "and withinan hour! By the Holy Virgin, citizen, that is impossible. Who will takeit? There is no way."

  "A way must be found, citoyenne," said Armand firmly, "and at once; itis not far, and there are five golden louis waiting for the messenger!"

  Five golden louis! The poor, hardworking woman's eyes gleamed at thethought. Five louis meant food for at least two months if one wascareful, and--

  "Give me the letter, citizen," she said, "time to slip on a warmpetticoat and a shawl, and I'll go myself. It's not fit for the boy togo at this hour."

  "You will bring me back a line from my sister in reply to this," saidArmand, whom circumstances had at last rendered cautious. "Bring it upto my rooms that I may give you the five louis in exchange."

  He waited while the woman slipped back into her room. She heard himspeaking to her boy; the same lad who a fortnight ago had taken thetreacherous letter which had lured Blakeney to the house into the fatalambuscade that had been prepared for him. Everything reminded Armand ofthat awful night, every hour that he had since spent in the house hadbeen racking torture to him. Now at last he was to leave it, and on anerrand which might help to ease the load of remorse from his heart.

  The woman was soon ready. Armand gave her final directions as to how tofind the house; then she took the letter and promised to be very quick,and to bring back a reply from the lady.

  Armand accompanied her to the door. The night was dark, a thin drizzlewas falling; he stood and watched until the woman's rapidly walkingfigure was lost in the misty gloom.

  Then with a heavy sigh he once more went within.