me--be its contents
what they may--act in accordance with the letter, but send a copy of it
at once to Ffoulkes or to Marguerite.

Now everything seemed at once quite clear; his duty, his next actions,
every word that he would speak to Chauvelin. Those that Percy had
written to him were already indelibly graven on his memory.

Chauvelin had waited with his usual patience, silent and imperturbable,
while the young man read. Now when he saw that Armand had finished, he
said quietly:

"Just one question, citizen, and I need not detain you longer. But first
will you kindly give me back that letter? It is a precious document
which will for ever remain in the archives of the nation."

But even while he spoke Armand, with one of those quick intuitions
that come in moments of acute crisis, had done just that which he felt
Blakeney would wish him to do. He had held the letter close to the
candle. A corner of the thin crisp paper immediately caught fire, and
before Chauvelin could utter a word of anger, or make a movement to
prevent the conflagration, the flames had licked up fully one half of
the letter, and Armand had only just time to throw the remainder on the
floor and to stamp out the blaze with his foot.

"I am sorry, citizen," he said calmly; "an accident."

"A useless act of devotion," interposed Chauvelin, who already had
smothered the oath that had risen to his lips. "The Scarlet Pimpernel's
actions in the present matter will not lose their merited publicity
through the foolish destruction of this document."

"I had no thought, citizen," retorted the young man, "of commenting on
the actions of my chief, or of trying to deny them that publicity which
you seem to desire for them almost as much as I do."

"More, citizen, a great deal more! The impeccable Scarlet Pimpernel,
the noble and gallant English gentleman, has agreed to deliver into our
hands the uncrowned King of France--in exchange for his own life and
freedom. Methinks that even his worst enemy would not wish for a better
ending to a career of adventure, and a reputation for bravery unequalled
in Europe. But no more of this, time is pressing, I must help citizen
Heron with his final preparations for his journey. You, of course,
citizen St. Just, will act in accordance with Sir Percy Blakeney's
wishes?"

"Of course," replied Armand.

"You will present yourself at the main entrance of the house of Justice
at six o'clock this morning."

"I will n