table
at which Chauvelin had once more resumed his seat.

"Has the damned aristocrat gone at last?" queried a hoarse voice, as a
burly body clad in loose-fitting coat and mud-stained boots and breeches
appeared within the narrow circle of light.

"Yes," replied Chauvelin curtly.

"And a cursed long time you have been with the baggage," grunted the
other surlily. "Another five minutes and I'd have taken the matter in my
own hands.

"An assumption of authority," commented Chauvelin quietly, "to which
your position here does not entitle you, Citizen Collot."

Collot d'Herbois lounged lazily forward, and presently he threw his
ill-knit figure into the chair lately vacated by Marguerite. His heavy,
square face bore distinct traces of the fatigue endured in the past
twenty-four hours on horseback or in jolting market waggons. His temper
too appeared to have suffered on the way, and, at Chauvelin's curt and
dictatorial replies, he looked as surly as a chained dog.

"You were wasting your breath over that woman," he muttered, bringing a
large and grimy fist heavily down on the table, "and your measures are
not quite so sound as your fondly imagine, Citizen Chauvelin."

"They were mostly of your imagining, Citizen Collot," rejoined the other
quietly, "and of your suggestion."

"I added a touch of strength and determination to your mild
milk-and-water notions, Citizen," snarled Collot spitefully. "I'd have
knocked that intriguing woman's brains out at the very first possible
opportunity, had I been consulted earlier than this."

"Quite regardless of the fact that such violent measures would
completely damn all our chances of success as far as the capture of
the Scarlet Pimpernel is concerned," remarked Chauvelin drily, with
a contemptuous shrug of the shoulders. "Once his wife is dead, the
Englishman will never run his head into the noose which I have so
carefully prepared for him."

"So you say, Chauvelin; and therefore I suggested to you certain
measures to prevent the woman escaping which you will find adequate, I
hope."

"You need have no fear, Citizen Collot," said Chauvelin curtly, "this
woman will make no attempt at escape now."

"If she does..." and Collot d'Herbois swore an obscene oath.

"I think she understands that we mean to put our threat in execution."

"Threat?... It was no empty threat, Citizen.... Sacre tonnerre! if that
woman escapes now, by all the devils in hell I swear that I'll wield the