the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第13节
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night a short August night。 Yet the loneliest manor in Quercy could
scarcely have bristled with more pikes and musquetoons； on a winter's
night and in time of war。
No doubt these signs impressed us all； and Croisette not least。 For
suddenly I heard him stop； as he followed us up the narrow staircase； and
begin without warning to stumble down again as fast as he could。 I did
not know what he was about； but muttering something to Marie； I
followed the lad to see。 At the foot of the flight of stairs I looked back；
Marie and the servant were standing in suspense； where I had left them。 I
heard the latter bid us angrily to return。
But by this time Croisette was at the end of the corridor； and
reassuring the fellow by a gesture I hurried on； until brought to a standstill
by a man opening a door in my face。 He had heard our returning
footsteps； and eyed me suspiciously； but gave way after a moment with a
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grunt of doubt I hastened on； reaching the door of the room in which we
had supped in time to see something which filled me with grim
astonishment； so much so that I stood rooted where I was； too proud at any
rate to interfere。
Bezers was standing； the leering priest at his elbow。 And Croisette
was stooping forward； his hands stretched out in an attitude of
supplication。
〃Nay； but M。 le Vidame；〃 the lad cried； as I stood； the door in my hand；
〃it were better to stab her at once than break her heart！ Have pity on her！
If you kill him； you kill her！〃
The Vidame was silent； seeming to glower on the boy。 The priest
sneered。 〃Hearts are soon mendedespecially women's；〃 he said。
〃But not Kit's！〃 Croisette said passionatelyotherwise ignoring him。
〃Not Kit's！ You do not know her； Vidame！ Indeed you do not！〃
The remark was ill…timed。 I saw a spasm of anger distort Bezers' face。
〃Get up； boy！〃 he snarled； 〃I wrote to Mademoiselle what I would do；
and that I shall do！ A Bezers keeps his word。 By the God above usif
there be a God； and in the devil's name I doubt it to…night！I shall keep
mine！ Go！〃
His great face was full of rage。 He looked over Croisette's head as he
spoke； as if appealing to the Great Registrar of his vow； in the very
moment in which he all but denied Him。 I turned and stole back the way
I had come； and heard Croisette follow。
That little scene completed my misery。 After that I seemed to take no
heed of anything or anybody until I was aroused by the grating of our
gaoler's key in the lock； and became aware that he was gone； and that we
were alone in a small room under the tiles。 He had left the candle on the
floor； and we three stood round it。 Save for the long shadows we cast on
the walls and two pallets hastily thrown down in one corner； the place was
empty。 I did not look much at it； and I would not look at the others。 I
flung myself on one of the pallets and turned my face to the wall；
despairing。 I thought bitterly of the failure we had made of it； and of the
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Vidame's triumph。 I cursed St。 Croix especially for that last touch of
humiliation he had set to it。 Then； forgetting myself as my anger abated；
I thought of Kit so far away at Caylusof Kit's pale； gentle face； and her
sorrow。 And little by little I forgave Croisette。 After all he had not
begged for ushe had not stooped for our sakes； but for hers。
I do not know how long I lay at see…saw between these two moods。 Or
whether during that time the others talked or were silent； moved about the
room or lay still。 But it was Croisette's hand on my shoulder； touching
me with a quivering eagerness that instantly communicated itself to my
limbs； which recalled me to the room and its shadows。 〃Anne！〃 he
cried。 〃Anne！ Are you awake？〃
〃What is it？〃 I said； sitting up and looking at him。
〃Marie；〃 he began； 〃has〃
But there was no need for him to finish。 I saw that Marie was
standing at the far side of the room by the unglazed window； which； being
in a sloping part of the roof； inclined slightly also。 He had raised the
shutter which closed it； and on his tip… toesfor the sill was almost his
own height from the floorwas peering out。 I looked sharply at Croisette。
〃Is there a gutter outside？〃 I whispered； beginning to tingle all over as
the thought of escape for the first time occurred to me。
〃No；〃 he answered in the same tone。 〃But Marie says he can see a
beam below； which he thinks we can reach。〃
I sprang up； promptly displaced Marie； and looked out。 When my
eyes grew accustomed to the gloom I discerned a dark chaos of roofs and
gables stretching as far as I could see before me。 Nearer； immediately
under the window； yawned a chasma narrow street。 Beyond this was a
house rather lower than that in which we were； the top of its roof not quite
reaching the level of my eyes。
〃I see no beam；〃 I said。
〃Look below！〃 quoth Marie； stolidly；
I did so； and then saw that fifteen or sixteen feet below our window
there was a narrow beam which ran from our house to the opposite one
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for the support of both； as is common in towns。 In the shadow near the
far end of thisit was so directly under our window that I could only see
the other end of itI made out a casement； faintly illuminated from within。
I shook my head。
〃We cannot get down to it；〃 I said； measuring the distance to the beam
and the depth below it； and shivering。
〃Marie says we can； with a short rope；〃 Croisette replied。 His eyes
were glistening with excitement。
〃But we have no rope！〃 I retorted。 I was dullas usual。 Marie
made no answer。 Surely he was the most stolid and silent of brothers。 I
turned to him。 He was taking off his waistcoat and neckerchief。
〃Good！〃 I cried。 I began to see now。 Off came our scarves and
kerchiefs also； and fortunately they were of home make； long and strong。
And Marie had a hank of four…ply yarn in his pocket as it turned out； and I
had some stout new garters； and two or three yards of thin cord； which I
had brought to mend the girths； if need should arise。 In five minutes we
had fastened them cunningly together。
〃I am the lightest；〃 said Croisette。
〃But Marie has the steadiest head；〃 I objected。 We had learned that
long agothat Marie could walk the coping…stones of the battlements with
as little concern as we paced a plank set on the ground。
〃True；〃 Croisette had to admit。 〃But he must come last； because
whoever does so will have to let himself down。〃
I had not thought of that； and I nodded。 It seemed that the lead was
passing out of my hands and I might resign myself。 Still one thing I
would have。 As Marie was to come last； I would go first。 My weight
would best test the rope。 And accordingly it was so decided。
There was no time to be lost。 At any moment we might be
interrupted。 So the plan was no sooner conceived than carried out。 The
rope was made fast to my left wrist。 Then I mounted on Marie's
shoulders； and climbednot without quaveringthrough the window；
taking as little time over it as possible； for a bell was already proclaiming
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midnight。
All this I had done on the spur of the moment。 But outside； hanging
by my hands in the darkness； the strokes of t
