Chapter 3
"Maman, we're going to die, aren't we?" Annette asked. Her mother looked down at her oldest child and trembled with the hardest smile she had ever conjured. At only 7 years old, Annette D'Augne could not be lied to. A lie wouldn't help either, not in their situation. Madam D'Augne couldn't answer for a few moments, almost told her the horrible truth-their names were called out to be tried the next day. Within two days, they would both be dead.
"Not if I have anything to do with it," someone whispered outside their cell. Annette scurried to the door to see who it was as they unlocked and opened it. Annette was suddenly hidden as the figure swept her up into his arms. "Madame D'Augne, come we are here to save you." He handed her a paper with a red flower drawn on with red chalk and followed the man, who, in better light, she could see wore a soldier's dirty uniform. A moment of panic made her stop until she realized she was safe with a surety from the paper in her hand.
The soldier guided them through dark and dank passages in the prison maze. Madam D'Augne forlornly looked at the others she passed who were still trapped in their prisons, and felt how lucky she was to take the Scarlet Pimpernel's notice. Only once did another soldier pass by, and he only nodded to her rescuer and passed on. A door was left ajar, and the prisoners saw their first natural light in weeks. It first blinded Madam D'Augne and then she welcomed it, even though the air was not much less pungent outside than inside the prison. Annette was doing the same; she could hear her child's deep breaths in pleasure.
The man stopped by a cart hidden in the shadows. He handed Annette to the driver, a striking blonde-haired man with bright blue eyes. He wore plain clothes, but his air made her feel as if he was noble. He helped Madam D'Augne next to him on the driver's seat as Annette climbed into the back, where another child, a boy, played in the straw.
"Good work Hastings," the driver praised. "The plans for the rescue of Comte De Moncey goes unchanged." Then, the driver abruptly willed the horses to start down the cobblestone road.
Madam D'Augne stared in shock at the driver before saying,"You're him! Oh Dieu, thank you Monsieur-"
"Do not thank me yet Madam," he whispered,"Your performance at the gate will determine the fate of all of us. Here is a rag to remove some of the filth off." He handed her a ragged piece of cloth. She first wiped off her face, but could not get everything. "Do not bother," he advised,"No one is perfectly clean in Paris these days." She handed the rag to her daughter, who smiled at the possible idea of being cleansed again. The little boy scoffed at her efforts.
"Who is the boy?"
"An orphan I took pity on," he turned and looked back at the boy. "Both his parents perished from Madam la Guillotine two weeks ago."
"He is not a noble?"
"No, they were simple people. Someone wanted revenge on them for some matter, and betrayed them." The Pimpernel looked back at her with sorrow,"I hope you do not think I am trying to replace him with your son, but I hope that in England you will take him in."
Bitter tears stung Madam D'Augne's eyes, "I could not be angry with you, for saving Annette, even though you could not do the same for my husband and two boys.
"If I could have everything my way Madam, I would save everyone from the guillotine." Madam D'Augne smiled at him and then drew a quick breath. The city's west gate was visible, only a hundred yards away. "Do not panic Madam D'Augne. They will judge you by fear. Why fear if you do not have a reason to? I will protect you Madam. There is nothing to fear." He took her hand and squeezed it. Instead of giving in to the trembling quaking inside her, she pushed it down to the depths of her and tried to appear confident. The soldier at the gate scrutinized them from the moment he saw them.
"Papers?"
"Here captain," he bent to give away the fake passports. There were a few seconds of unnerved silence as he read the papers that could save her and Annette.
"Citizen Ramboyeane and his wife?"
"Yes captain, and our two children in the back. They are mentioned as well."
The grimy soldier shuffled through the packet until he found the information. "Ahh, Annette and Pierre." Both children popped their heads over the back at the mention of their names. He nodded toward them and then turned back to her and the Pimpernel. "What is your business for leaving town?"
"We live outside of Paris, and are farmers. We have sold all our produce today and have to go home to prepare for tomorrow."
"It is early in the day to be sold out already, wouldn't you say?"
"We do the best we can," the pimpernel put on a look as if his pride had been insulted. "We don't have much captain."
"I had no intention to offend citizen. Asking questions is my job. You may pass."
"Captain," the Pimpernel slightly bowed his head and took the papers back. The cart started up again, as did the beating of her heart. Within a few seconds, Madam D'Augne and her only living child were safe outside the imprisoned city.
