He still wore the black and silver suit； but it was half hidden now under a
dark riding cloak which just disclosed the glitter of his weapons。 He was
booted and spurred and gloved as for a journey。
〃Is that so？〃 he repeated mockingly； as his gaze rested in turn on
each of the four； and then travelled sharply round the room。 〃So you will
not be thwarted by any man in Paris； to…night； eh？ Have you considered；
my dear Coadjutor； what a large number of people there are in Paris？ It
would amuse me very greatly now and I'm sure it would the ladies too；
who must pardon my abrupt entranceto see you put to the test； pitted
againstshall we say the Duke of Anjou？ Or M。 de Guise； our great man？
Or the Admiral？ Say the Admiral foot to foot？〃
Rage and fearrage at the intrusion； fear of the intruder struggled in
the priest's face。 〃How do you come here； and what do you want？〃 he
inquired hoarsely。 If looks and tones could kill； we three； trembling
behind our flimsy screen； had been freed at that moment from our enemy。
〃I have come in search of the young birds whose necks you were for
62
… Page 63…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
stretching； my friend！〃 was Bezers' answer。 〃They have vanished。
Birds they must be； for unless they have come into this house by that
window； they have flown away with wings。〃
〃They have not passed this way；〃 the priest declared stoutly； eager only
to get rid of the other and I blessed him for the words！ 〃I have been here
since I left you。〃
But the Vidame was not one to accept any man's statement。 〃Thank
you； I think I will see for myself；〃 he answered coolly。 〃Madame；〃 he
continued； speaking to Madame de Pavannes as he passed her； 〃permit
me。〃
He did not look at her； or see her emotion； or I think he must have
divined our presence。 And happily the others did not suspect her of
knowing more than they did。 He crossed the floor at his leisure；and
sauntered to the window； watched by them with impatience。 He drew
aside the curtain； and tried each of the bars； and peered through the
opening both up and down； An oath and an expression of wonder escaped
him。 The bars were standing； and firm and strong； and it did not occur to
him that we could have passed between them。 I am afraid to say how
few inches they were apart。
As he turned； he cast a casual glance at the bedat us； and hesitated。
He had the candle in his hand； having taken it to the window the better to
examine the bars； and it obscured his sight。 He did not see us。 The three
crouching forms； the strained white faces； the starting eyes； that lurked in
the shadow of the curtain escaped him。 The wild beating of our hearts
did not reach his ears。 And it was well for him that it was so。 If he had
come up to the bed I think that we should have killed him； I know that we
should have tried。 All the blood in me had gone to my head； and I saw
him through a hazelarger than life。 The exact spot near the buckle of
his cloak where I would strike him； downwards and inwards； an inch
above the collar…bone；this only I saw clearly。 I could not have missed it。
But he turned away； his face darkening； and went back to the group near
the door； and never knew the risk he had run。
63
… Page 64…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
CHAPTER VI。
MADAME'S FRIGHT。
And we breathed again。 The agony of suspense； which Bezers' pause
had created； passed away。 But the night already seemed to us as a week
of nights。 An age of experience； an aeon of adventures cut us offas we
lay shaking behind the curtainfrom Caylus and its life。 Paris had
proved itself more treacherous than we had even expected to find it。
Everything and everyone shifted； and wore one face one minute； and one
another。 We had come to save Pavannes' life at the risk of our own； we
found him to be a villain！ Here was Mirepoix owning himself a
treacherous wretch； a conspirator against a woman； we sympathised with
him。 The priest had come upon a work of charity and rescue； we loathed
the sound of his voice； and shrank from him； we knew not why； seeming
only to read a dark secret； a gloomy threat in each doubtful word he
uttered。 He was the strangest enigma of all。 Why did we fear him？
Why did Madame de Pavannes； who apparently had known him before；
shudder at the touch of his hand？ Why did his shadow come even
between her and her sister； and estrange them？ so that from the moment
Pavannes' wife saw him standing by Diane's side； she forgot that the latter
had come to save； and looked on her in doubt and sorrow； almost with
repugnance。
We left the Vidame going back to the fireplace。 He stooped to set
down the candle by the hearth。 〃They are not here；〃 he said； as he
straightened himself again； and looked curiously at his companions。 He
had apparently been too much taken up with the pursuit to notice them
before。 〃That is certain； so I have the less time to lose；〃 he continued。
〃But I wouldyes； my dear Coadjutor； I certainly would like to know
before I go； what you are doing here。 MirepoixMirepoix is an honest
man。 I did not expect to find you in HIS house。 And two ladies？ Two！
64
… Page 65…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
Fie； Coadjutor。 Ha！ Madame d'O； is it？ My dear lady；〃 he continued；
addressing her in a whimsical tone； 〃do not start at the sound of your own
name！ It would take a hundred hoods to hide your eyes； or bleach your
lips to the common colour； I should have known you at once； had I looked
at you。 And your companion？ Pheugh！〃
He broke off； whistling softly。 It was clear that he recognised
Madame de Pavannes； and recognised her with astonishment。 The bed
creaked as I craned my neck to see what would follow。 Even the priest
seemed to think that some explanation was necessary； for he did not wait
to be questioned。
〃Madame de Pavannes；〃 he said in a dry； husky voice； and without
looking up； 〃was spirited hither yesterday； and detained against her will by
this good man； who will have to answer for it。 Madame d'O discovered her
whereabouts； and asked me to escort her here without loss of time to
enforce her sister's release。〃
〃And her restoration to her distracted husband？〃
〃Just so；〃 the priest assented； acquiring confidence； I thought。
〃And Madame desires to go？〃
〃Surely！ Why not？〃
〃Well；〃 the Vidame drawled； his manner such as to bring the blood to
Madame de Pavannes' cheek； 〃it depends on the person whoto use your
phrase； M。 le Coadjuteurspirited her hither。〃
〃And that；〃 Madame herself retorted； raising her head； while her voice
quivered with indignation and anger； 〃was the Abbess of the Ursulines。
Your suspicions are base； worthy of you and unworthy of me； M。 le
Vidame！ Diane！〃 she continued sharply； taking her sister's arm； and
casting a disdainful glance at Bezers； 〃let us go。 I want to be with； my
husband。 I am stifled in this room。〃
〃We are going； little one；〃 Diane murmured reassuringly。 But I
noticed that the speaker's animation； which had been as a soul to her
beauty when she entered the room； was gone。 A strange stillness was it
fear of the Vidame？ had taken its place。
65
… Page 66…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
〃The Abbess of the Ursulines？〃 Bezers continued thoughtfully。 〃SHE
brought you here； did she？〃 There was surprise； genuine surprise； in his
voice。 〃A good soul； and； I think I have heard； a friend of yours。
Umph！〃
〃A very dear friend；〃 Madame answered stiffly。 〃Now； Diane！〃
〃A dear friend！ And she spirited you hither yesterday！〃 commented
the Vidame； with the air of one solving an anagram。 〃And Mirepoix
detained you； respectable Mirepoix； who is said to have a well…filled
stocking under his pallet； and stands well with the bourgeoisie。 He is in
the plot。 Then at a very late hour； your affectionate sister； and my good
friend the Coadjutor； enter to save you。 From what？〃
No one spoke。 The priest looked down； his cheek。 livid with anger。
〃From what？〃 Bezers continued with grim playfulness。 〃There is
the mys
小提示：按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目，按 ← 键 返回上一页， 按 → 键 进入下一页。
赞一下
添加书签加入书架