n his fleshy lips, then he turned back
towards the open door, solemnly spat twice on the threshold, and nodded
his gaunt head once or twice in a manner which apparently was understood
from within.

"No, sergeant, I don't want you," he said gruffly; "only the prisoner."

A second or two later Sir Percy Blakeney stood in the doorway; his hands
were behind his back, obviously hand-cuffed, but he held himself very
erect, though it was clear that this caused him a mighty effort. As soon
as he had crossed the threshold his quick glance had swept right round
the room.

He saw Armand, and his eyes lit up almost imperceptibly.

Then he caught sight of Marguerite, and his pale face took on suddenly a
more ashen hue.

Chauvelin was watching him with those keen, light-coloured eyes of his.
Blakeney, conscious of this, made no movement, only his lips tightened,
and the heavy lids fell over the hollow eyes, completely hiding their
glance.

But what even the most astute, most deadly enemy could not see was that
subtle message of understanding that passed at once between Marguerite
and the man she loved; it was a magnetic current, intangible, invisible
to all save to her and to him. She was prepared to see him, prepared to
see in him all that she had feared; the weakness, the mental exhaustion,
the submission to the inevitable. Therefore she had also schooled her
glance to express to him all that she knew she would not be allowed to
say--the reassurance that she had read his last letter, that she had
obeyed it to the last word, save where Fate and her enemy had interfered
with regard to herself.

With a slight, imperceptible movement--imperceptible to every one save
to him, she had seemed to handle a piece of paper in her kerchief, then
she had nodded slowly, with her eyes--steadfast, reassuring--fixed upon
him, and his glance gave answer that he had understood.

But Chauvelin and Heron had seen nothing of this. They were satisfied
that there had been no communication between the prisoner and his wife
and friend.

"You are no doubt surprised, Sir Percy," said Chauvelin after a while,
"to see Lady Blakeney here. She, as well as citizen St. Just, will
accompany our expedition to the place where you will lead us. We none
of us know where that place is--citizen Heron and myself are entirely in
your hands--you might be leading us to certain death, or again to a spot
where your own escape would be an easy matter to yourself. You w