the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第11节
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I'll be sworn！〃 he went on。 〃So the Admiral must be better。 The one
next us was M。 de Teligny； the Admiral's son…in…law。 And the other；
whom you mean； was the Comte de la Rochefoucault。〃
We turned as he spoke into a narrow street near the river； and could see
not far from us a mass of dark buildings which Bure told us was the
Louvrethe king's residence。 Out of this street we turned into a short
one； and here Bure drew rein and rapped loudly at some heavy gates。 It
was so dark that when； these being opened； he led the way into a courtyard；
we could see little more than a tall； sharp…gabled house； projecting over us
against a pale sky； and a group of men and horses in one corner。 Bure
spoke to one of the men； and begging us to dismount； said the footman
would show us to M。 de Pavannes。
The thought that we were at the end of our long journey； and in time to
warn Louis of his danger； made us forget all our exertions； our fatigue and
stiffness。 Gladly throwing the bridles to Jean we ran up the steps after
the servant。 The thing was done。 Hurrah！ the thing was done！
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The houseas we passed through a long passage and up some steps
seemed full of people。 We heard voices and the ring of arms more than
once。 But our guide； without pausing； led us to a small room lighted by a
hanging lamp。 〃I will inform M。 de Pavannes of your arrival；〃 he said
respectfully； and passed behind a curtain； which seemed to hide the door
of an inner apartment。 As he did so the clink of glasses and the hum of
conversation reached us。
〃He has company supping with him；〃 I said nervously。 I tried to flip
some of the dust from my boots with my whip。 I remembered that this
was Paris。
〃He will be surprised to see us；〃 quoth Croisette； laughinga little
shyly； too； I think。 And so we stood waiting。
I began to wonder as minutes passed bythe gay company we had
seen putting it in my mind； I supposewhether M。 de Pavannes； of Paris；
might not turn out to be a very different person from Louis de Pavannes；
of Caylus； whether the king's courtier would be as friendly as Kit's lover。
And I was still thinking of this without having settled the point to my
satisfaction； when the curtain was thrust aside again。 A very tall man；
wearing a splendid suit of black and silver and a stiff trencher…like ruff；
came quickly in； and stood smiling at us； a little dog in his arms。 The
little dog sat up and snarled： and Croisette gasped。 It was not our old
friend Louis certainly！ It was not Louis de Pavannes at all。 It was no
old friend at all； It was the Vidame de Bezers！
〃Welcome； gentlemen！〃 he said； smiling at usand never had the
cast been so apparent in his eyes。 〃Welcome to Paris； M。 Anne！〃
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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
CHAPTER IV。
ENTRAPPED！
There was a long silence。 We stood glaring at him； and he smiled
upon usas a cat smiles。 Croisette told me afterwards that he could have
died of mortificationof shame and anger that we had been so outwitted。
For myself I did not at once grasp the position。 I did not understand。 I
could not disentangle myself in a moment from the belief in which I had
entered the house that it was Louis de Pavannes' house。 But I seemed
vaguely to suspect that Bezers had swept him aside and taken his place。
My first impulse thereforeobeyed on the instantwas to stride to the
Vidame's side and grasp his arm。 〃What have you done？〃 I cried； my
voice sounding hoarsely even in my own ears。 〃What have you done
with M。 de Pavannes？ Answer me！〃
He showed just a little more of his sharp white teeth as he looked
down at my facea flushed and troubled face doubtless。 〃Nothingyet；〃
he replied very mildly。 And he shook me off。
〃Then；〃 I retorted； 〃how do you come here？〃
He glanced at Croisette and shrugged his shoulders； as if I had been a
spoiled child。 〃M。 Anne does not seem to understand；〃 he said with
mock courtesy； 〃that I have the honour to welcome him to my house the
Hotel Bezers； Rue de Platriere。〃
〃The Hotel Bezers！ Rue de Platriere！〃 I cried confusedly。 〃But
Blaise Bure told us that this was the Rue St。 Antoine！〃
〃Ah！〃 he replied as if slowly enlightenedthe hypocrite！ 〃Ah！ I
see！〃 and he smiled grimly。 〃So you have made the acquaintance of
Blaise Bure； my excellent master of the horse！ Worthy Blaise！ Indeed；
indeed； now I understand。 And you thought； you whelps；〃 he continued；
and as he spoke his tone changed strangely； and he fixed us suddenly with
angry eyes； 〃to play a rubber with me！ With me； you imbeciles！ You
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thought the wolf of Bezers could be hunted down like any hare！ Then
listen； and I will tell you the end of it。 You are now in my house and
absolutely at my mercy。 I have two score men within call who would cut
the throats of three babes at the breast； if I bade them！ Ay；〃 he； added； a
wicked exultation shining in his eyes； 〃they would； and like the job！〃
He was going on to say more； but I interrupted him。 The rage I felt；
caused as much by the thought of our folly as by his arrogance； would let
me be silent no longer。 〃First； M。 de Bezers； first；〃 I broke out fiercely；
my words leaping over one another in my haste； 〃a word with you！ Let
me tell you what I think of you！ You are a treacherous hound； Vidame！
A cur！ a beast！ And I spit upon you！ Traitor and assassin！〃 I
shouted； 〃is that not enough？ Will nothing provoke you？ If you call
yourself a gentleman； draw！〃
He shook his head； he was still smiling； still unmoved。 〃I do not do
my own dirty work；〃 he said quietly； 〃nor stint my footmen of their sport；
boy。〃
〃Very well！〃 I retorted。 And with the words I drew my sword； and
sprang as quick as lightning to the curtain by which he had entered。
〃Very well； we will kill you first！〃 I cried wrathfully； my eye on his eye；
and every savage passion in my breast aroused； 〃and take our chance with
the lackeys afterwards！ Marie！ Croisette！〃 I cried shrilly； 〃on him；
lads！〃
But they did not answer！ They did not move or draw。 For the
moment indeed the man was in my power。 My wrist was raised； and I
had my point at his breast； I could have run him through by a single thrust。
And I hated him。 Oh； how I hated him！ But he did not stir。 Had he
spoken； had he moved so much as an eyelid； or drawn back his foot； or
laid his hand on his hilt； I should have killed him there。 But he did not
stir and I could not do it。 My hand dropped。 〃Cowards！〃 I cried；
glancing bitterly from him to themthey had never failed me before。
〃Cowards！〃 I muttered； seeming to shrink into myself as I said the word。
And I flung my sword clattering on the floor。
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〃That is better！〃 he drawled quite unmoved； as if nothing more than
words had passed； as if he had not been in peril at all。 〃It was what I was
going to ask you to do。 If the other young gentlemen will follow your
example； I shall be obliged。 Thank you。 Thank you。〃
Croisette； and a minute later Marie； obeyed him to the letter！ I could
not understand it。 I folded my arms and gave up the game in despair； and
but for very shame I could have put my hands to my
