Free The Chevalier De Maison Rouge by Alexandre Dumas Page A

gravel or perhaps soft clay. An acrid, pungent
    smell announced the presence of vegetable matter.
    Maurice fancied he was in a greenhouse, or some place
    very like it. He took a step or two, hit the wall, turned,
    and, groping with his hands, felt some garden tools. He
    uttered an exclamation of joy. With unparalleled exer-
    tion he began to examine these tools, one after another.
    His flight now became a question of time. If chance or
    Providence granted him five minutes, and if among these
    tools he found a sharp instrument, he was saved. He
    found a spade. From the way in which Maurice was
    bound, it required a great struggle to raise the spade a
    sufficient height for his purpose. He at length succeeded
    and, upon the iron of the spade, which he supported
    against the wall with his back, he at last cut, or, rather, wore away, the cord which confined his wrists. The
    operation was tedious ; the iron cut slowly. The perspira-
    tion streamed from his face ; he heard a noise as of some
    one approaching ; with a tremendous effort, the cord,
    rather worn, broke. This time it was a cry of joy he
    gave utterance to ; now, at least, he was sure to die in
    defending himself. Maurice tore the bandage from his
    eyes. He was not deceived, but found himself in a kind
    of, not greenhouse, but pavilion, used as a receptacle for
    the more delicate plants unable to outlive the winter in
    the open air. In a corner the gardening implements were
    stowed away, which had been the means of rendering him
    so important a service. Facing him was a window ; he
    glanced toward it, and saw it was grated, and a man armed
    with a carbine placed sentinel before it.
    On the other side of the garden, about thirty paces
    distant, perhaps rather less, rose a small turret, fellow
    58 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.
    to the one where Maurice remained prisoner. The blind
    was down, but through the blind a light was visible.
    He approached the door and listened ; another sentinel
    was placed before this door. These were the footsteps he
    had heard. But from the end of the corridor a confusion
    of voices resounded. The deliberation had evidently de-
    generated into disputation.
    Maurice could not hear distinctly what was said ; some
    words, however, reached him, and amid these words as if
    for them only the distance was short he distinguished
    plainly, " Spy ! Poniard! Death!" Maurice redoubled his attention; a door opened, and he heard more distinctly.
    " Yes," said one voice, " it is assuredly a spy ; he has discovered something, and is certainly sent to take us and
    our secret unawares. In freeing him we run the risk of
    his denouncing us."
    " But his word," said a voice.
    " His word he will give it only to betray it. Is he a
    gentleman, that we should trust his word ?"
    Maurice ground his teeth at the idea which some folks
    still retained, that only a gentleman could keep his
    oath.
    " But he does not know us ; how can he denounce us ? "
    " Xo, he does not know us, certainly, nor our occupa-
    tions ; but he knows the address, and will return ; this
    time he will be well accompanied."
    This argument appeared conclusive.
    " Then," said a voice, which several times already had struck Maurice as belonging to the chief, " it is then quite decided."
    " Yes, a hundred times, yes ; I do not comprehend you
    with your magnanimity. Mon clicr, if the Committee for
    the Public Safety caught us, you would see if they acted
    after this fashion."
    "You persist, then, in your decision, gentlemen ?"
    " Without doubt ; and you are not, we hope, going to
    oppose it ? "
    " I have only one voice, gentlemen , it has been in
    THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 59
    favor of his liberation ; you possess six, and they all vote for his death. Let it then be death."
    Maurice felt the "blood freeze in his veins.
    " Of course he will howl and cry ! " said the voice ;
    " but have you removed Madame Dixmer ? "
    " Madame Dixmer ! " murmured Maurice ; " I begin now to comprehend I am in the house of