the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第4节
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Croisettebrave lad！ had collared the foremost of the ruffians； and was
beating him with his sheathed sword； while the rest of the rabble stood
back； ashamed； yet sullen； and with anger in their eyes。 A dangerous
crew； I thought； not townsmen； most of them。
〃Down with the Huguenots！〃 cried one； as I appeared； one bolder
than the rest。
〃Down with the CANAILLE！〃 I retorted； sternly eyeing the ill…
looking ring。 〃Will you set yourselves above the king's peace； dirt that
you are？ Go back to your kennels！〃
The words were scarcely out of my mouth； before I saw that the fellow
whom Croisette was punishing had got hold of a dagger。 I shouted a
warning； but it came too late。 The blade fell； and thanks to God
striking the buckle of the lad's belt； glanced off harmless。 I saw the steel
flash up againsaw the spite in the man's eyes： but this time I was a step
nearer； and before the weapon fell； I passed my sword clean through the
wretch's body。 He went down like a log； Croisette falling with him； held
fast by his stiffening fingers。
I had never killed a man before； nor seen a man die； and if I had stayed
to think about it； I should have fallen sick perhaps。 But it was no time for
thought； no time for sickness。 The crowd were close upon us； a line of
flushed threatening faces from wall to wall。 A single glance downwards
told me that the man was dead； and I set my foot upon his neck。
〃Hounds！ Beasts！〃 I cried； not loudly this time； for though I was like
one possessed with rage； it was inward rage； 〃go to your kennels！ Will
you dare to raise a hand against a Caylus？ Goor when the Vicomte
returns； a dozen of you shall hang in the market…place！〃
I suppose I looked fierce enoughI know I felt no fear； only a strange
exaltationfor they slunk away。 Unwillingly； but with little delay the
group melted； Bezers' followingof whom I knew the dead man was one
the last to go。 While I still glared at them； lo！ the street was empty； the
last had disappeared round the bend。 I turned to find Gil and half…a…
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dozen servants standing with pale faces at my back。 Croisette seized my
hand with a sob。 〃Oh； my lord；〃 cried Gil； quaveringly。 But I shook
one off； I frowned at the other。
〃Take up this carrion！〃 I said； touching it with my foot； 〃And hang it
from the justice…elm。 And then close the gates！ See to it； knaves； and
lose no time。〃
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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
CHAPTER II。
THE VIDAME'S THREAT。
Croisette used to tell a story； of the facts of which I have no
remembrance； save as a bad dream。 He would have it that I left my pallet
that nightI had one to myself in the summer； being the eldest； while he
and Marie slept on another in the same room and came to him and awoke
him； sobbing and shaking and clutching him； and begging him in a fit of
terror not to let me go。 And that so I slept in his arms until morning。
But as I have said； I do not remember anything of this； only that I had an
ugly dream that night； and that when I awoke I was lying with him and
Marie； so I cannot say whether it really happened。
At any rate； if I had any feeling of the kind it did not last long； on the
contraryit would be idle to deny itI was flattered by the sudden respect；
Gil and the servants showed me。 What Catherine thought of the matter I
could not tell。 She had her letter and apparently found it satisfactory。
At any rate we saw nothing of her。 Madame Claude was busy boiling
simples； and tending the messenger's hurts。 And it seemed natural that I
should take command。
There could be no doubtat any rate we had none that the assault on
the courier had taken place at the Vidame's instance。 The only wonder
was that he had not simply cut his throat and taken the letter。 But looking
back now it seems to me that grown men mingled some childishness with
their cruelty in those daysdays when the religious wars had aroused our
worst passions。 It was not enough to kill an enemy。 It pleased people to
makeI speak literallya football of his head； to throw his heart to the
dogs。 And no doubt it had fallen in with the Vidame's grim humour that
the bearer of Pavannes' first love letter should enter his mistress's presence；
bleeding and plaistered with mud。 And that the riff…raff about our own
gates should have part in the insult。
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Bezers' wrath would be little abated by the issue of the affair； or the
justice I had done on one of his men。 So we looked well to bolts； and
bars； and windows； although the castle is well…nigh impregnable； the
smooth rock falling twenty feet at least on every side from the base of the
walls。 The gatehouse； Pavannes had shown us； might be blown up with
gunpowder indeed； but we prepared to close the iron grating which barred
the way half…way up the ramp。 This done； even if the enemy should
succeed in forcing an entrance he would only find himself caught in a
trap in a steep； narrow way exposed to a fire from the top of the flanking
walls； as well as from the front。 We had a couple of culverins； which the
Vicomte had got twenty years before； at the time of the battle of St。
Quentin。 We fixed one of these at the head of the ramp； and placed the
other on the terrace； where by moving it a few paces forward we could
train it on Bezers' house； which thus lay at our mercy；
Not that we really expected an attack。 But we did not know what to
expect or what to fear。 We had not ten servants； the Vicomte having
taken a score of the sturdiest lackeys and keepers to attend him at Bayonne。
And we felt immensely responsible。 Our main hope was that the Vidame
would at once go on to Paris； and postpone his vengeance。 So again and
again we cast longing glances at the House of the Wolf hoping that each
symptom of bustle heralded his departure。
Consequently it was a shock to me； and a great downfall of hopes；
when Gil with a grave face came to me on the terrace and announced that
M。 le Vidame was at the gate； asking to see Mademoiselle。
〃It is out of the question that he should see her；〃 the old servant added；
scratching his head in grave perplexity。
〃Most certainly。 I will see him instead；〃 I answered stoutly。 〃Do you
leave Francis and another at the gate； Gil。 Marie； keep within sight； lad。
And let Croisette stay with me。〃
These preparations madeand they took up scarcely a momentI met
the Vidame at the head of the ramp。 〃Mademoiselle de Caylus；〃 I said；
bowing； 〃is； I regret to say； indisposed to…day； Vidame。〃
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〃She will not see me？〃 he asked； eyeing me very unpleasantly。
〃Her indisposition deprives her of the pleasure；〃 I answered with an
effort。 He was certainly a wonderful man； for at sight of him； three…
fourths of my courage； and all my importance； oozed out at the heels of
my boots。
〃She will not see me。 Very well；〃 he replied； as if I had not spoken。
And the simple words sounded like a sentence of death。 〃Then； M。 Anne； I
have a crow to pick with you。 What compensation do you propose to
make for the death of my servant？ A decent； quiet fellow； whom you killed
yesterday； poor man； because his enthusiasm for the true faith carried him
away a little。〃
〃Whom I killed because he drew a dagger on M。 St。 Croix de Caylus at
the Vicomte's gate；〃 I answered steadily。 I had thought about this of
course and was ready for
