Marianne

'You saw? The Emperor is still there!' 'That is his carriage, are you sure?'

'Those were certainly the mounted chasseurs of the Imperial Guard. I don't know who else they could be waiting for. They are fine lads, Prince Eugene's cavalry. They are not many but I wonder if we should not let them deal with the conspirators.'

'Are you mad? They are a dozen at the most—'

'But equal to thirty! Never mind, you are right. A surprise attack can come suddenly – ah, and I think we too have come.'

The carriage was indeed slowing down. Some little way past the gates of the chateau the road made a slight bend and there they could leave the carriage without risk of being seen. Jason sprang down from the box to open the door and help Marianne out. They stood in a road enclosed between high walls overhung with trees. The bare branches were etched as though in Indian ink against a sky that was hardly lighter, while the sides of the road and the tops of the walls were lightly outlined in snow.

'We must be quick,' the American said, leading her to the left hand wall. 'The Emperor's coach is still outside but it is not far off midnight and he will surely be leaving soon.'

'Why did you come past the chateau? You should have stopped before—'

'So that the watch which the conspirators will certainly have posted could oversee our movements? One can tell you are not used to this kind of thing. Now, we have to get inside—'

Marianne thought privately that he, apparently, was quite used to this kind of thing but she said nothing and only asked: 'How are we going to do that? Do you think the guards will let us past?'

She saw the American's white teeth gleam for an instant in the darkness and heard his stifled laugh.

'We shan't try. It would be so much waste of time. You, sweet Marianne, are going to show me how a well-brought up young lady can climb walls. After that, we can only pray to God we don't meet a patrol before we reach the house – at which point we can relax and get ourselves arrested.'

'Arrested! What do you mean?'

'That the only way of attracting the Emperor's attention will be to make as much noise as possible. Once outside the chateau we'll kick up such a rumpus that someone is bound to ask questions. Those splendid horsemen kicking their heels in the snow so quietly will be only too delighted to have it out with us.'

It was wholly insane but, as put by Jason, the audacious plan sounded simplicity itself. After all, all that Marianne wanted to do was warn Napoleon of the danger lying in wait for him. After that, she did not care if they did send them to prison, her and Beaufort – even to St Lazare.

'You are wonderful!' she said and meant it. 'Let's go!'

'Excuse me,' Jolival's voice said politely, 'but what is my part in all this?'

'The ladder, my friend. If you feel strong enough to bear me. After that, keep our coachman company. It will be best to have someone on watch outside.'

'By the by, the coachman, are you sure of him?'

'As sure as one can be of anyone who has been well paid. It was young Pioche who found him for me. He's as deaf as a post. I'm afraid you won't have a very chatty time, Jolival, although he can lip-read quite well. But we've wasted enough time. Quick now. And I'd as soon he didn't see us get over the wall. He might start wondering.'

Without answering, Arcadius set his back against the wall, clasped his hands and waited. Setting the toe of his boot in the clasped hand, Jason moved with cat-like agility. The next instant he was sitting astride the top of the wall.

'Now you, Marianne,' he called softly. 'Unless you'd rather let me go alone?'

'Not for all the tea in China!'

Her ascent was a matter of infinitely less ease than his had been. Weakened by her recent illness and hampered by her dress, she found herself a lot less agile than she had been in those days when she used to climb the great trees of Selton like a squirrel. But she was also lighter than the American and, half pushed by Jolival and half pulled by Jason from above, she found herself on top of the wall at last.

'If we have not returned in two hours,' the American called down to Arcadius in a low voice, 'go back to Paris. Where do you live?'

'Nowhere. I had been evicted from my lodgings when Fanchon-Fleur-de-lis took me under her wing.'

'Then go and wait for me in my room at the Hôtel de l'Empire. The coachman has been paid.'

'One way or another,' Jolival muttered, 'you'd better get out. I prefer to wait. Good luck!'

For answer, Jason jumped down into the park and held out his arms to Marianne.

'Jump! Don't be afraid, I'll catch you.'

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and jumped. She landed in Beaufort's arms and, for a second, before he let her slip gently to the ground, he held her against him, perhaps to feel for a moment longer the kiss of her loose hair against his face.

'Marianne,' he whispered in a voice he could not altogether control, 'you will go with me tomorrow, truly?'

She freed herself, not roughly, but with some impatience.

'I had already told you so. And now is not the time to talk of that. We must run! He may be leaving—'

All her agony of mind was in those words. The park was well wooded at this point and a thick belt of trees hid the chateau. Only a few lights shone twinkling between the trunks of the leafless oaks.

'Make as little noise as you can,' Jason breathed.

Hand in hand, like two lost children, they began to run towards the pin-points of light that showed where the chateau lay. Wet branches smacked their faces and their feet sank deeply into a slush of rotten leaves and melted snow. Marianne's were soon frozen but she was unconscious alike of the icy water and the scratching branches.

The curtain of trees thinned out and Marianne and Jason came out abruptly into the open. Before them, rose the chateau, gleaming white under its steep tiled roofs. In the centre of the building, a glazed entry porch was lit up like a huge lantern. The coach was still there but a curt command had just sent the troop of chasseurs into the saddle.

'The Emperor is coming out,' Jason breathed. 'Quickly—'

Between them and the house lay a large garden in the English style, laid out in lawns and flower beds. Even as Jason spoke they could see figures moving in the porch, one of which made Marianne's heart beat faster. That grey form in the midst of all the colourful dresses and resplendent uniforms, that must be him.

But scarcely had the two of them left the heavy shadow of the trees and started running towards the brilliantly lit chateau than a command came sharply from behind them.

'Halt! Halt or we fire!'

At the same time, the dogs began barking furiously behind the chateau.

Marianne turned and saw some soldiers who must have been patrolling along the edge of the wood and recognized the yellow plumes of the Corsican tirailleurs. She let out a wail of despair. They were still a long way from the house. She gripped Jason's hand tightly. Ahead of them, the horses were stamping restlessly.

Lackeys in powdered wigs were opening the doors of the berlin. There were people outside, men and women muffled in thick cloaks.

'Run!' She gasped. 'Never mind if they fire!'

'Marianne, this is madness!'

She did not listen to him. She was already racing forward. Jason followed.

They had hesitated barely an instant. With one accord, they began to run on. Behind them they could hear the click of weapons being cocked.

'Halt!' The voice commanded once again. 'Stop, by thunder, will you!'

There was a shot, quickly followed by another. Marianne felt fear in the pit of her stomach and commended her soul to God. She saw nothing but the lighted chateau coming rapidly nearer. She felt nothing but Jason's hand supporting her. The horsemen around the berlin had dismounted hurriedly and now formed a barrier blocking their way. At the top of his voice, that powerful voice which could rise above the storm on board his ship, Jason shouted: