"Percy will arrive at his destination: unconscious of being followed he will seek out de Tournay and the others--among these is Armand St.Just my brother--he will seek them out, one after another, probably, not knowing that the sharpest eyes in the world are watching his every movement.When he has thus unconsciously betrayed those who blindly trust in him, when nothing can be gained from him, and he is ready to come back to England, with those whom he has gone so bravely to save, the doors of the trap will close upon him, and he will be sent to end his noble life upon the guillotine."Still Sir Andrew was silent.
"You do not trust me," she said passionately."Oh God!
cannot you see that I am in deadly earnest? Man, man," she added, while, with her tiny hands she seized the young man suddenly by the shoulders, forcing him to look straight at her, "tell me, do I look like that vilest thing on earth--a woman who would betray her own husband?""God forbid, Lady Blakeney," said the young man at last, "that I should attribute such evil motives to you, but...""But what?...tell me...Quick, man!...the very seconds are precious!""Will you tell me," he asked resolutely, and looking searchingly into her blue eyes, "whose hand helped to guide M.
Chauvelin to the knowledge which you say he possesses?""Mine," she said quietly, "I own it--I will not lie to you, for I wish you to trust me absolutely.But I had no idea--how COULDI have?--of the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel...and my brother's safety was to be my prize if I succeeded.""In helping Chauvelin to track the Scarlet Pimpernel?"She nodded.
"It is no use telling you how he forced my hand.Armand is more than a brother to me, and...and...how COULD I guess?...
But we waste time, Sir Andrew...every second is precious...in the name of God!...my husband is in peril...your friend!--your comrade!--Help me to save him."Sir Andrew felt his position to be a very awkward one.The oath he had taken before his leader and comrade was one of obedience and secrecy; and yet the beautiful woman, who was asking him to trust her, was undoubtedly in earnest; his friend and leader was equally undoubtedly in imminent danger and...
