the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第34节
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Switzers for the most part； who eyed the rabble about them with grim
disdain； and were by no means chary of their blows； were all in his colours
and armed to the teeth。 The order and discipline were of his making：
the revenge of his seeking。 A grasp as of steel had settled upon our friend；
and I felt that his last chance was gone。 Louis de Pavannes might as well
be lying on his threshold with his dead servant by his side； as be in hiding
within that ring of ordered swords。
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It was with despairing eyes we looked at the old wooden houses。 They
seemed to be bowing themselves towards us； their upper stories projected
so far； they were so decrepit。 Their roofs were a wilderness of gutters
and crooked gables； of tottering chimneys and wooden pinnacles and
rotting beams； Amongst these I judged Kit's lover was hiding。 Well； it
was a good place for hide and seek…with any other player than DEATH。
In the ground floors of the houses there were no windows and no doors； by
reason； I learned afterwards； of the frequent flooding of the river。 But a
long wooden gallery raised on struts ran along the front； rather more than
the height of a man from the ground； and access to this was gained by a
wooden staircase at each end。 Above this first gallery was a second； and
above that a line of windows set between the gables。 The blockit may
have run for seventy or eighty yards along the shorecontained four
houses； each with a door opening on to the lower gallery。 I saw indeed
that but for the Vidame's precautions Louis might well have escaped。
Had the mob once poured helter…skelter into that labyrinth of rooms and
passages he might with luck have mingled with them； unheeded and
unrecognized； and effected his escape when they retreated。
But now there were sentries on each gallery and more on the roof。
Whenever one of the latter moved or seemed to be looking inward where
a search party； I understood； were at workindeed； if he did but turn his
head； a thrill ran through the crowd and a murmur arose； which once or
twice swelled to a savage roar such as earlier had made me tremble。
When this happened the impulse came； it seemed to me； from the farther
end of the line。 There the rougher elements were collected； and there I
more than once saw Bezers' troopers in conflict with the mob。 In that
quarter too a savage chant was presently struck up； the whole gathering
joining in and yelling with an indescribably appalling effect：
〃Hau！ Hau！ Huguenots！ Faites place aux Papegots！〃
in derision of the old song said to be popular amongst the Protestants。
But in the Huguenot version the last words were of course transposed。
We had worked our way by this time to the front of the line； and
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looking into one another's eyes； mutely asked a question； but not even
Croisette had an answer ready。 There could be no answer but one。
What could we do？ Nothing。 We were too late。 Too late again！ And
yet how dreadful it was to stand still among the cruel； thoughtless mob and
see our friend； the touch of whose hand we knew so well； done to death
for their sport！ Done to death as the old woman had said like any rat； not
a soul save ourselves pitying him！ Not a soul to turn sick at his cry of
agony； or shudder at the glance of his dying eyes。 It was dreadful indeed。
〃Ah； well；〃 muttered a woman beside me to her companionthere
were many women in the crowd〃it is down with the Huguenots； say I！
It is Lorraine is the fine man！ But after all yon is a bonny fellow and a
proper； Margot！ I saw him leap from roof to roof over Love Lane； as if
the blessed saints had carried him。 And him a heretic！〃
〃It is the black art；〃 the other answered； crossing herself。
〃Maybe it is！ But he will need it all to give that big man the slip to…
day；〃 replied the first speaker comfortably。
〃That devil！〃 Margot exclaimed； pointing with a stealthy gesture of
hate at the Vidame。 And then in a fierce whisper； with inarticulate threats；
she told a story of him； which made me shudder。 〃He did！ And she in
religion too！〃 she concluded。 〃May our Lady of Loretto reward him。〃
The tale might be true for aught I knew； horrible as it was！ I had
heard similar ones attributing things almost as fiendish to him； times and
again； from that poor fellow lying dead on Pavannes' doorstep for one； and
from others besides。 As the Vidame in his pacing to and fro turned
towards us； I gazed at him fascinated by his grim visage and that story。
His eye rested on the crowd about us； and I trembled； lest even at that
distance he should recognise us。
And he did！ I had forgotten his keenness of sight。 His face flashed
suddenly into a grim smile。 The tail of his eye resting upon us； and
seeming to forbid us to move； he gave some orders。 The colour fled from
my face。 To escape indeed was impossible； for we were hemmed in by
the press and could scarcely stir a limb。 Yet I did make one effort。
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〃Croisette！〃 I muttered he was the rearmost〃stoop down。 He may
not have seen you。 Stoop down； lad！〃
But St。 Croix was obstinate and would not stoop。 Nay； when one of
the mounted men came； and roughly ordered us into the open； it was
Croisette who pushing past us stepped out first with a lordly air。 I；
following him； saw that his lips were firmly compressed and that there
was an eager light in his eyes。 As we emerged； the crowd in our wake
broke the line； and tried to pursue us； either hostilely or through eagerness
to see what it meant。 But a dozen blows of the long pikes drove them
back； howling and cursing to their places。
I expected to be taken to Bezers； and what would follow I could not
tell。 But he did always it seemed what we least expected； for he only
scowled at us now； a grim mockery on his lip； and cried； 〃See that they do
not escape again！ But do them no harm； sirrah； until I have the batch of
them！〃
He turned one way； and I another； my heart swelling with rage。 Would
he dare to harm us？ Would even the Vidame dare to murder a Caylus'
nephew openly and in cold blood？ I did not think so。 And yetand yet
Croisette interrupted the train of my thoughts。 I found that he was
not following me。 He had sprung away； and in a dozen strides reached
the Vidame's stirrup； and was clasping his knee when I turned。 I could
not hear at the distance at which I stood； what he said； and the horseman to
whom Bezers had committed us spurred between us。 But I heard the
Vidame's answer。
〃No！ no！ no！〃 he cried with a ring of restrained fury in his voice。
〃Let my plans alone！ What do you know of them？ And if you speak to
me again； M。 St。 CroixI think that is your name； boyI willno； I will
not kill you。 That might please you； you are stubborn； I can see。 But I
will have you stripped and lashed like the meanest of my scullions！ Now
go； and take care！〃
Impatience； hate and wild passion flamed in his face for the moment…
transfiguring it。 Croisette came back to us slowly； white…lipped and quiet。
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〃Never mind；〃 I said bitterly。 〃The third time may bring luck。〃
Not that I felt much indignation at the Vidame's insult； or any anger
with the lad for incurring it； as I had felt on that other occasion。 Life and
death seemed to be everything on this morning。 Wo
