按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Boulaye assisted him in his labours with kicks and cuffs and a
tongue no less vituperative。
At last they were on their feet … a pale； bewildered； shamefaced
company … receiving from the infuriated Charlot the news that
whilst they had indulged themselves in their drunken slumbers their
prisoners had escaped and carried off the treasure with them。 The
news was received with a groan of dismay； and several turned to
the door to ascertain for themselves whether it was indeed exact。
The dreary emptiness of the rain…washed yard afforded them more than
ample confirmation。
〃Where is your pig of an ostler； Mother Capoulade？〃 demanded the
angry Captain。
Quivering with terror； she answered him that the rascal should be
in the shed by the stables； where it was his wont to sleep。 Out
into the rain； despite the scantiness of his attire； went Charlot；
followed closely by La Boulaye and one or two stragglers。 The
shed proved empty； as Caron could have told him … and so； too； did
the stables。 Here； at the spot where Madame de Bellecour's coachman
had been left bound； the Captain turned to La Boulaye and those
others that had followed him。
〃It is the ostler's work；〃 he announced。 〃There was knavery and
treachery writ large upon his ugly face。 I always felt it； and this
business proves how correct were my instincts。 The rogue was bribed
when he discovered how things were with you； you greasy sots。 But
you； La Boulaye；〃 he cried suddenly； 〃were you drunk； too？〃
〃Not I；〃 answered the Deputy。
〃Then； name of a name； how came that lumbering coach to leave the
yard without awakening you？〃
〃You ask me to explain too much；〃 was La Boulaye's cool evasion。
〃I have always accounted myself a light sleeper； and I could not
have believed that such a thing could really have taken place
without disturbing me。 But the fact remains that the coach has
gone； and I think that instead of standing here in idle speculation
as to how it went； you might find more profitable employment in
considering how it is to brought back again。 It cannot have gone
very far。〃
If any ray of suspicion had begun to glimmer in Charlot's brain；
that suggestion of La Boulaye's was enough to utterly extinguish it。
They returned indoors； and without more ado Tardivet set himself to
plan the pursuit。 He knew； he announced； that Prussia was their
destination。 He had discovered it at the time of their capture from
certain papers that he had found in a portmanteau of the Marquise's。
He discussed the matter with La Boulaye； and it was now that Caron
had occasion to congratulate himself upon his wisdom in having
elected to remain behind。
The Captain proposed to recall the fifty men that were watching the
roads from France； and to spread them along the River Sambre； as far
as Liege； to seek information of the way taken by the fugitives。 As
soon as any one of the parties struck the trail it was to send word
to the others； and start immediately in pursuit。
Now； had Charlot been permitted to spread such a net as this； the
Marquise must inevitably fall into it； and Caron had pledged his
word that she should have an open road to Prussia。 With a map
spread upon the table he now expounded to the Captain how little
necessity there was for so elaborate a scheme。 The nearest way to
Prussia was by Charleroi； Dinant； and Rochefort； into Luxembourg；
and … he contended … it was not only unlikely； but incredible； that
the Marquise should choose any but the shortest road to carry her
out of Belgium； seeing the dangers that must beset her until the
frontiers of Luxembourg were passed。
〃And so；〃argued La Boulaye； 〃why waste time in recalling your men？
Think of the captives you might miss by such an act！ It were
infinitely better advised。 to assume that the fugitives have taken
the Charleroi…Dinant road； and to despatch； at once； say；
half…a…dozen men in pursuit。〃
Tardivet pondered the matter for some moments。
〃Yom are right；〃 he agreed at last。 〃If they have resolved to
continue their journey； a half…dozen men should suffice to recapture
them。 I will despatch these at once。。。 〃
La Boulaye looked up at that。
〃If they have resolved to continue their journey？〃 he echoed。 〃What
else should they have resolved？〃
Tardivet stroked his reddish hair and smiled astutely。
〃In organising a pursuit；〃aid he； 〃the wise pursuer will always put
himself in the place of the fugitives； and seek to reason as they
would probably reason。 Now； what more likely than that these ladies；
or their coachman； or that rascally ostler； should have thought of
doubling back into France？ They might naturally argue that we；
should never think of pursuing them in that direction。 Similarly
placed； that is how I should reason； and that is the course I should
adopt； making for Prussia through Lorraine。 Perhaps I do their
intelligences too much honour … yet； to me； it seems such an obvious
course。〃'
La Boulaye grew cold with apprehension。 Yet impassively he asked：
〃But what of your men who are guarding the frontiers？〃
〃Pooh！ A detour might circumvent them。 The Marquise might go as
far north as Roubaix or Comines； or as fair south as Rocroy； or even
Charlemont。 Name of a name； but it is more than likely！〃 he
exclaimed； with sudden conviction。 〃What do you say； Caron？〃
〃That you rave；〃answered La Boulaye coldly。
〃Well； we shall see。 I will despatch a message to my men； bidding
them spread themselves as far north as Comiines and as far south as
Charlemont。 Should the fugitives have made such a detour as I
suggested there will be ample time to take them。〃
La Boulaye still contemned the notion with a fine show of
indifference； but Tardivet held to his purpose； and presently
despatched the messengers as he had proposed。 At that Caron felt
his pulses quickening with anxiety for Mademoiselle。 These astute
measures must inevitably result im her capture … for was it not at
Roubaix that he had bidden her await him？ There was but one thing
to be done； to ride out himself to meet her along the road from
Soignies to Oudenarde； and to escort her into France。 She should
go ostensibly as his prisoner； and he was confident that not all
the brigands of Captain Tardivet would suffice to take her from him。
Accordingly； he announced his intention of resuming his interrupted
journey； and ordered his men to saddle and make ready。 Meanwhile；
having taken measures to recapture the Marquise should she have
doubled back into France； Charlot was now organising an expedition
to scour the road to Prussia； against the possibility of her having
adhered to her original intention of journeying that way。 Thus he
was determined to take no risks； and leave her no loophole of escape。
Tardivet would have set himself at the head of the six horsemen of
this expedition； but that La Boulaye interfered； and this time to
some purpose。 He assured the Captain that he was still far from
recovered； and that to spend a day in the saddle might have the
gravest of consequences for him。
〃If the occasion demanded it；〃 he concluded； 〃I should myself urge
you to chance the matter of your health。 But the occasio