The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy (the little red hen read aloud .txt) 📗

can see him, citoyenne, there that you can spread your nets for him; from thence that you can lure him to France in your train, like you lured citizen Tallien to obey your every whim in Bordeaux. Once a man hath fallen a victim to the charms of beautiful Theresia Cabarrus,” added the young demagogue gallantly, “she need only to beckon and he will follow, as does citizen Tallien, as did Bertrand Moncrif, as do so many others. Bring the Scarlet Pimpernel to your feet, here in Paris, citoyenne, and we will do the rest.”

While his young devotee spoke thus vehemently, Robespierre had relapsed into his usual pose of affected detachment. His head was bent, his arms were folded across his chest. He appeared to be asleep. When St. Just paused, Theresia waiting awhile, her dark eyes fixed on the great man who had conceived this monstrous project. Monstrous, because of the treachery that it demanded.

Theresia Cabarrus had in truth identified herself with the Revolutionary government. She had promised to marry Tallien, who outwardly at least was as bloodthirsty and ruthless as was Robespierre himself; but she was a woman and not a demon. She had refused to sell Bertrand Moncrif in order to pander to Tallien’s fear of Robespierre. To entice a man⁠—whoever he was⁠—into making love to her, and then to betray him to his death, was in itself an abhorrent idea. What she might do if actual danger of death threatened her, she did not know. No human soul can with certainty say, “I would not do this or that, under any circumstances whatever!” Circumstance and impulse are the only two forces that create cowards or heroes. Principles, willpower, virtue, are really subservient to those two. If they prove the stronger, everything in man must yield to them.

And Theresia Cabarrus had not yet been tried by force of circumstance or driven by force of impulse. Self-preservation was her dominant law, and she had not yet been in actual fear of death.

This is not a justification on the part of this veracious chronicle of Theresia’s subsequent actions; it is an explanation. Faced with this demand upon her on the part of the most powerful despot in France, she hesitated, even though she did not altogether dare to refuse. Womanlike, she tried to temporise.

She appeared puzzled; frowned. Then asked vaguely:

“Is it then that you wish me to go to England?”

St. Just nodded.

“But,” she continued, in the same indeterminate manner, “meseems that you talk very glibly of my⁠—what shall I say?⁠—my proposed dalliance with the mysterious Englishman. Suppose he⁠—he does not respond?”

“Impossible!” Couthon broke in quickly.

“Oh!” she protested. “Impossible? Englishmen are known to be prudish⁠—moral⁠—what? And if the man is married⁠—what then?”

“The citoyenne Cabarrus underrates her powers,” St. Just riposted glibly.

“Theresia, I entreat!” Tallien put in dolefully.

He felt that the interview, from which he had hoped so much, was proving a failure⁠—nay, worse! For he realised that Robespierre, thwarted in this desire, would bitterly resent Theresia’s positive refusal to help him.

“Eh, what?” she riposted lightly. “And it is you, citizen Tallien, who would push me into this erotic adventure? I’ faith, your trust in me is highly flattering! Have you not thought that in the process I might fall in love with the Scarlet Pimpernel myself? He is young, they say, handsome, adventurous; and I am to try and capture his fancy⁠ ⁠… the butterfly is to dance around the flame⁠ ⁠… No, no! I am too much afraid that I may singe my wings!”

“Does that mean,” Robespierre put in coldly, “that you refuse us your help, citoyenne Cabarrus?”

“Yes⁠—I refuse,” she replied calmly. “The project does not please me, I confess⁠—”

“Not even if we guaranteed immunity to your lover, Bertrand Moncrif?”

She gave a slight shudder. Her lips felt dry, and she passed her tongue rapidly over them.

“I have no lover, except citizen Tallien,” she said steadily, and placed her fingers, which had suddenly become ice-cold, upon the clasped hands of her future lord. Then she rose, thereby giving the signal for the breaking-up of the little party.

In truth, she knew as well as Tallien that the meeting had been a failure. Tallien was looking sallow and terribly worried. Robespierre, taciturn and sullen, gave her one threatening glance before he took his leave.

“You know, citoyenne,” he said coldly, “that the nation has means at its disposal for compelling its citizens to do their duty.”

“Ah, bah!” retorted the fair Spaniard, shrugging her shoulders. “I am not a citizen of France. And even your unerring Public Prosecutor would find it difficult to frame an accusation against me.”

Again she laughed, determined to appear gay and inconsequent through it all.

“Think how the accusation would sound, citizen Robespierre!” she went on mockingly. “ ‘The citoyenne Cabarrus, for refusing to make amorous overtures to the mysterious Englishman known as the Scarlet Pimpernel, and for refusing to administer a love-philtre to him as prepared by Mother Théot at the bidding of citizen Robespierre!’ Confess! Confess!” she added, and her rippling laugh had a genuine note of merriment in it at last, “that we none of us would survive such ridicule!”

Theresia Cabarrus was a clever woman, and by speaking the word “ridicule,” she had touched the one weak chink in the tyrant’s armour. But it is not always safe to prod a tiger, even with a child’s cane, or even from behind protecting bars. Tallien knew this well enough. He was on tenterhooks, longing to see the others depart so that he might throw himself once again at Theresia’s feet and implore her to obey the despot’s commands.

But Theresia appeared unwilling to give him such another chance. She professed intense fatigue, bade him “good night” with such obvious finality, that he dared not outstay his welcome. A few moments later they had all gone. Their gracious hostess accompanied them to the door, since Pepita had by this time certainly gone to bed. The little procession was formed, with St. Just and Chauvelin supporting their