the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第20节
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with whispering forms； as we came hastily to light。 I cursed Croisette for
his folly； and was immeasurably angry with him； but I had no time to
waste words on him then。 I hurried to the door to guard it。 I opened it a
hand's breadth and listened。 All was quiet below； the house still。 I took
the key out of the lock and put it in my pocket and went back。 Marie and
Croisette were standing a little apart from Madame de Pavannes； who；
hanging over her sister； was by turns bathing her face and explaining our
presence。
In a very few minutes Madame d'O seemed to recover； and sat up。 The
first shock of deadly terror had passed； but she was still pale。 She still
trembled； and shrank from meeting our eyes； though I saw her； when our
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attention was apparently directed elsewhere； glance at one and another of
us with a strange intentness； a shuddering curiosity。 No wonder； I
thought。 She must have had a terrible frightone that might have killed a
more timid woman！
〃What on earth did you do that for！〃 I asked Croisette presently； my
anger certainly not decreasing the more I looked at her beautiful face。
〃You might have killed her！〃
In charity I supposed his nerves had failed him； for he could not even
now give me a straightforward answer。 His only reply was； 〃Let us get
away！ Let us get away from this horrible house！〃 and this he kept
repeating with a shudder as he moved restlessly to and fro。
〃With all my heart！〃 I answered； looking at him with some contempt。
〃That is exactly what we are going to do！〃
But all the same his words reminded me of something which in the
excitement of the scene I had momentarily forgotten； and that was our
duty。 Pavannes must still be saved； though not for Kit； rather to answer
to us for his sins。 But he must be saved！ And now that the road was
open； every minute lost was reproach to us。 〃Yes；〃 I added roughly； my
thoughts turned into a more rugged channel； 〃you are right。 This is no
time for nursing。 We must be going。 Madame de Pavannes；〃 I went on；
addressing myself to her； 〃you know the way home from hereto your
house！〃 〃Oh； yes；〃 she cried。
〃That is well；〃 I answered。 〃Then we will start。 Your sister is
sufficiently recovered now； I think。 And we will not risk any further
delay。〃
I did not tell her of her husband's danger； or that we suspected him of
wronging her； and being in fact the cause of her detention。 I wanted her
services as a guide。 That was the main point； though I was glad to be
able to put her in a place of safety at the same time that we fulfilled our
own mission。
She rose eagerly。 〃You are sure that we can get out？〃 she said。
〃Sure；〃 I replied with a brevity worthy of Bezers himself。
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And I was right。 We trooped down stairs； making as little noise as
possible； with the result that Mirepoix only took the alarm； and came upon
us when we were at the outer door； bungling with the lock。 Then I made
short work of him； checking his scared words of remonstrance by flashing
my dagger before his eyes。 I induced him in the same fashionhe was
fairly taken by surprise to undo the fastenings himself； and so； bidding
him follow us at his peril； we slipped out one by one。 We softly closed
the door behind us。 And lo！ we were at last freefree and in the streets
of Paris； with the cool night air fanning our brows。 A church hard by
tolled the hour of two； and the strokes were echoed； before we had gone
many steps along the ill…paved way； by the solemn tones of the bell of
Notre Dame。
We were free and in the streets； with a guide who knew the way。 If
Bezers had not gone straight from us to his vengeance； we might thwart
him yet。 I strode along quickly； Madame d'O by my side the others a
little way in front。 Here and there an oil… lamp； swinging from a pulley
in the middle of the road； enabled us to avoid some obstacle more foul
than usual； or to leap over a pool which had formed in the kennel。 Even
in my excitement； my country…bred senses rebelled against the sights； and
smells； the noisome air and oppressive closeness of the streets。
The town was quiet； and very dark where the smoky lamps were not
hanging。 Yet I wondered if it ever slept； for more than once we had to
stand aside to give passage to a party of men； hurrying along with links
and arms。 Several times too； especially towards the end of our walk； I
was surprised by the flashing of bright lights in a courtyard； the door of
which stood half open to right or left。 Once I saw the glow of torches
reflected ruddily in the windows of a tall and splendid mansion； a little
withdrawn from the street。 The source of the light was in the fore…court；
hidden from us by a low wall； but I caught the murmur of voices and stir
of many feet。 Once a gate was stealthily opened and two armed men
looked out； the act and their manner of doing it； reminding me on the
instant of those who had peeped out to inspect us some hours before in
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Bezers' house。 And once； nay twice； in the mouth of a narrow alley I
discerned a knot of men standing motionless in the gloom。 There was an
air of mystery abroad； a feeling as of solemn stir and preparation going on
under cover of the darkness； which awed and unnerved me。
But I said nothing of this； and Madame d'O was equally silent。 Like
most countrymen I was ready to believe in any exaggeration of the city's
late hours； the more as she made no remark。 I supposedshaking off the
momentary impressionthat what I saw was innocent and normal。
Besides； I was thinking what I should say to Pavannes when I saw him…
in what terms I should warn him of his peril； and cast his perfidy in his
teeth。 We had hurried along in this wayand in absolute silence； save
when some obstacle or pitfall drew from us an exclamationfor about a
quarter of a mile； when my companion； turning into a slightly wider street；
slackened her speed； and indicated by a gesture that we had arrived。 A
lamp hung over the porch； to which she pointed； and showed the small
side gate half open。 We were close behind the other three now。 I saw
Croisette stoop to enter and as quickly fall back a pace。 Why？
In a moment it flashed across my mind that we were too late that the
Vidame had been before us。
And yet how quiet it all was。
Then I breathed freely again。 I saw that Croisette had only stepped
back to avoid some one who was coming outthe Coadjutor in fact。 The
moment the entrance was clear； the lad shot in； and the others after him；
the priest taking no notice of them； nor they of him。
I was for going in too； when I felt Madame d'O's hand tighten
suddenly on my arm； and then fall from it。 Apprised of something by this；
I glanced at the priest's face； catching sight of it by chance just as his eyes
met hers。 His face was whitenay it was ugly with disappointment and
rage； bitter snarling rage； that was hardly human。 He grasped her by the
arm roughly and twisted her round without ceremony； so as to draw her a
few paces aside； yet not so far that I could not hear what they said。
〃He is not here！〃 he hissed。 〃Do you understand？ He crossed the
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river to the Faubourg St。 Germain at nightfallsearching for her。 And he
has not come back！
