the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第22节
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on her knees by me； fastening a white band of linen round my left sleeve。
Then she took my cap； and with the same precipitation fixed a fragment of
the stuff in it； in the form of a rough cross。
〃There；〃 she said。 〃Now； listen； M。 de Caylus。 There is more afoot
to…night than you know of。 Those badges will help you across to St。
Germain； but the moment you land tear them off： Tear them off； remember。
They will help you no longer。 You will come back by the same boat； and
will not need them。 If you are seen to wear them as you return； they will
command no respect； but on the contrary will bring youand perhaps me
into trouble。〃
〃I understand；〃 I said； 〃but〃
〃You must ask no questions；〃 she retorted； waving one snowy finger
before my eyes。 〃My knight…errant must have faith in me； as I have in
him； or he would not be here at this time of night； and alone with me。
But remember this also。 When you meet Pavannes do not say you come
from me。 Keep that in your mind； I will explain the reason afterwards。
Say merely that his wife is found； and is wild with anxiety about him。 If
you say anything as to his danger he may refuse to come。 Men are
obstinate。〃
I nodded a smiling assent； thinking I understood。 At the same time I
permitted myself in my own mind a little discretion。 Pavannes was not a
fool； and the name of the Vidamebut； however； I should see。 I had
more to say to him than she knew of。 Meanwhile she explained very
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carefully the three turnings I had to take to reach the river； and the wharf
where boats most commonly lay； and the name of the house in which I
should find M。 de Pavannes。
〃He is at the Hotel de Bailli；〃 she said。 〃And there； I think that is
all。〃
〃No； not all；〃 I said hardily。 〃There is one thing I have not got。 And
that is a sword！〃
She followed the direction of my eyes； started； and laugheda little
oddly。 But she fetched the weapon。 〃Take it； and do not；〃 she urged；
〃do not lose time。 Do not mention me to Pavannes。 Do not let the
white badges be seen as you return。 That is really all。 And now good
luck！〃 She gave me her hand to kiss。 〃Good luck； my knight…errant；
good luckand come back to me soon！〃
She smiled divinely； as it seemed to me； as she said these last words；
and the same smile followed me down stairs： for she leaned over the
stair…head with one of the lamps in her hand； and directed me how to draw
the bolts。 I took one backward glance as I did so at the fair stooping
figure above me； the shining eyes； and tiny outstretched hand； and then
darting into the gloom I hurried on my way。
I was in a strange mood。 A few minutes before I had been at
Pavannes' door； at the end of our journey； on the verge of success。 I had
been within an ace； as I supposed at least； of executing my errand。 I had
held the cup of success in my hand。 And it had slipped。 Now the conflict
had to be fought over again； the danger to be faced。 It would have been
no more than natural if I had felt the disappointment keenly： if I had
almost despaired。
But it was otherwisefar otherwise。 Never had my heart beat higher
or more proudly than as I now hurried through the streets； avoiding such
groups as were abroad in them； and intent only on observing the proper
turnings。 Never in any moment of triumph in after days； in love or war；
did anything like the exhilaration； the energy； the spirit； of those minutes
come back to me。 I had a woman's badge in my capfor the first time
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the music of her voice in my ears。 I had a magic ring on my finger： a
talisman on my arm。 My sword was at my side again。 All round me lay
a misty city of adventures； of danger and romance； full of the richest and
most beautiful possibilities； a city of real witchery； such as I had read of in
stories； through which those fairy gifts and my right hand should guide me
safely。 I did not even regret my brothers； or our separation。 I was the
eldest。 It was fitting that the cream of the enterprise should be reserved for
me； Anne de Caylus。 And to what might it not lead？ In fancy I saw
myself already a duke and peer of Francealready I held the baton。
Yet while I exulted boyishly； I did not forget what I was about。 I kept
my eyes open； and soon remarked that the number of people passing to
and fro in the dark streets had much increased within the last half hour。
The silence in which in groups or singly these figures stole by me was
very striking。 I heard no brawling； fighting or singing； yet if it were too
late for these things； why were so many people up and about？ I began to
count presently； and found that at least half of those I met wore badges in
their hats and on their arms； similar to mine； and that they all moved with
a businesslike air； as if bound for some rendezvous。
I was not a fool； though I was young； and in some matters less quick
than Croisette。 The hints which had been dropped by so many had not
been lost on me。 〃There is more afoot to…night than you know of！〃
Madame d'O had said。 And having eyes as well as ears I fully believed it。
Something was afoot。 Something was going to happen in Paris before
morning。 But what； I wondered。 Could it be that a rebellion was about to
break out？ If so I was on the king's service； and all was well。 I might
even be going and only eighteento make history！ Or was it only a
brawl on a great scale between two parties of nobles？ I had heard of
such things happening in Paris。 Thenwell I did not see how I could act
in that case。 I must be guided by events。
I did not imagine anything else which it could be。 That is the truth；
though it may need explanation。 I was accustomed only to the milder
religious differences； the more evenly balanced parties of Quercy； where
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the peace between the Catholics and Huguenots had been welcome to all
save a very few。 I could not gauge therefore the fanaticism of the
Parisian populace； and lost count of the factor； which made possible that
which was going to happenwas going to happen in Paris before daylight
as surely as the sun was going to rise！ I knew that the Huguenot nobles
were present in the city in great numbers； but it did not occur to me that
they could as a body be in danger。 They were many and powerful； and as
was said； in favour with the king。 They were under the protection of the
King of NavarreFrance's brother… in…law of a week； and the Prince of
Conde； and though these princes were young； Coligny the sagacious
admiral was old； and not much the worse I had learned for his wound。
He at least was high in royal favour； a trusted counsellor。 Had not the
king visited him on his sick…bed and sat by him for an hour together？
Surely； I thought； if there were danger； these men would know of it。
And then the Huguenots' main enemy； Henri le Balafre； the splendid Duke
of Guise； 〃our great man；〃 and 〃 Lorraine；〃 as the crowd called himhe； it
was rumoured； was in disgrace at court。 In a word these things； to say
nothing of the peaceful and joyous occasion which had brought the
Huguenots to Paris； and which seemed to put treachery out of the question；
were more than enough to prevent me forecasting the event。
If for a moment； indeed； as I hurried along towards the river； anything
like the truth
