the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第6节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Fools！〃 my cousin repeated with exceeding bitterness； her foot
tapping the parquet unceasingly。 〃Do you think he would have stooped
to avenge himself on YOU？ On you！ Or that he could hurt me one
hundredth part as much here asas〃 She broke off stammering。 Her
20
… Page 21…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
scorn faltered for an instant。 〃Bah！ he is a man！ He knows！〃 she
exclaimed superbly； her chin in the air； 〃but you are boys。 You do not
understand！〃
I looked amazedly at this angry woman。 I had a difficulty in
associating her with my cousin。 As for Croisette； he stepped forward
abruptly； and picked up a white object which was lying at her feet。
〃Yes； read it！〃 she cried； 〃read it！ Ah！〃 and she clenched her little
hand； and in her passion struck the oak table beside her； so that a stain of
blood sprang out on her knuckles。 Why did you not kill him？ Why did
you not do it when you had the chance？ You were three to one；〃 she hissed。
〃You had him in your power！ You could have killed him； and you did not！
Now he will kill me！〃
Madame Claude muttered something tearfully； something about
Pavannes and the saints。 I looked over Croisette's shoulder； and read the
letter。 It began abruptly without any term of address； and ran thus； 〃I
have a mission in Paris； Mademoiselle； which admits of no delay； your
mission； as well as my ownto see Pavannes。 You have won his heart。
It is yours； and I will bring it you； or his right hand in token that he has
yielded up his claim to yours。 And to this I pledge myself。〃
The thing bore no signature。 It was written in some red fluid blood
perhapsa mean and sorry trick！ On the outside was scrawled a direction
to Mademoiselle de Caylus。 And the packet was sealed with the
Vidame's crest； a wolfs head。
〃The coward！ the miserable coward！〃 Croisette cried。 He was the
first to read the meaning of the thing。 And his eyes were full of tears
tears of rage。
For me I was angry exceedingly。 My veins seemed full of fire； as I
comprehended the mean cruelty which could thus torture a girl。
〃Who delivered this？〃 I thundered。 〃Who gave it to Mademoiselle？
How did it reach her hands？ Speak； some one！〃
A maid； whimpering in the background； said that Francis had given it
to her to hand to Mademoiselle。
21
… Page 22…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
I ground my teeth together； while Marie； unbidden； left the room to
seek Francisand a stirrup leather。 The Vidame had brought the note in
his pocket no doubt； rightly expecting that he would not get an audience of
my cousin。 Returning to the gate alone he had seen his opportunity； and
given the note to Francis； probably with a small fee to secure its
transmission。
Croisette and I looked at one another； apprehending all this。 〃He will
sleep at Cahors to…night；〃 I said sullenly。
The lad shook his head and answered in a low voice； 〃I am afraid not。
His horses are fresh。 I think he will push on。 He always travels quickly。
And now you know〃
I nodded； understanding only too well。
Catherine had flung herself into a chair。 Her arms lay nerveless on
the table。 Her face was hidden in them。 But now； overhearing us； or
stung by some fresh thought； she sprang to her feet in anguish。 Her face
twitched； her form seemed to stiffen as she drew herself up like one in
physical pain。 〃Oh； I cannot bear it！〃 she cried to us in dreadful tones。
〃Oh； will no one do anything？ I will go to him！ I will tell him I will
give him up！ I will do whatever he wishes if he will only spare him！〃
Croisette went from the room crying。 It was a dreadful sight for us
this girl in agony。 And it was impossible to reassure her！ Not one of us
doubted the horrible meaning of the note； its covert threat。 Civil wars
and religious hatred； and I fancy Italian modes of thought； had for the time
changed our countrymen to beasts。 Far more dreadful things were done
then than this which Bezers threatenedeven if he meant it literallyfar
more dreadful things were suffered。 But in the fiendish ingenuity of his
vengeance on her； the helpless； loving woman； I thought Raoul de Bezers
stood alone。 Alas！ it fares ill with the butterfly when the cat has struck
it down。 Ill indeed！
Madame Claude rose and put her arms round the girl； dismissing me
by a gesture。 I went out； passing through two or three scared servants；
and made at once for the terrace。 I felt as if I could only breathe there。
22
… Page 23…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
I found Marie and St。 Croix together； silent； the marks of tears on their
faces。 Our eyes met and they told one tale。
We all spoke at the same time。 〃When？〃 we said。 But the others
looked to me for an answer。
I was somewhat sobered by that； and paused to consider before I
replied。 〃At daybreak to…morrow；〃 I decided presently。 〃It is an hour
after noon already。 We want money； and the horses are out。 It will take
an hour to bring them in。 After that we might still reach Cahors to…night；
perhaps； but more haste less speed you know No。 At daybreak to…
morrow we will start〃
They nodded assent。
It was a great thing we meditated。 No less than to go to Paris the
unknown city so far beyond the hillsand seek out M。 de Pavannes； and
warn him。 It would be a race between the Vidame and ourselves； a race
for the life of Kit's suitor。 Could we reach Paris first； or even within
twenty…four hours of Bezers' arrival； we should in all probability be in
time； and be able to put Pavannes on his guard。 It had been the first
thought of all of us； to take such men as we could get together and fall
upon Bezers wherever we found him； making it our simple object to kill
him。 But the lackeys M。 le Vicomte had left with us； the times being
peaceful and the neighbours friendly； were poor…spirited fellows。 Bezers'
handful； on the contrary； were reckless Swiss riderslike master； like men。
We decided that it would be wiser simply to warn Pavannes； and then
stand by him if necessary。
We might have despatched a messenger。 But our servantsGil
excepted； and he was too old to bear the journeywere ignorant of Paris。
Nor could any one of them be trusted with a mission so delicate。 We
thought of Pavannes' courier indeed。 But he was a Rochellois； and a
stranger to the capital。 There was nothing for it but to go ourselves。
Yet we did not determine on this adventure with light hearts； I
remember。 Paris loomed big and awesome in the eyes of all of us。 The
glamour of the court rather frightened than allured us。 We felt that
23
… Page 24…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
shrinking from contact with the world which a country life engenders； as
well as that dread of seeming unlike other people which is peculiar to
youth。 It was a great plunge； and a dangerous which we meditated。
And we trembled。 If we had known moreespecially of the futurewe
should have trembled more。
But we were young； and with our fears mingled a delicious excitement。
We were going on an adventure of knight errantry in which we might win
our spurs。 We were going to see the world and play men's parts in it！ to
save a friend and make our mistress happy！
We gave our orders。 But we said nothing to Catherine
