the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第19节
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other with one hand and dashed his head on the floor。 And it did not end
there。 I doubt if in craft the priest was his equal。 Behind a frank brutality
Bezersunless his reputation belied himconcealed an Italian intellect。
Under a cynical recklessness he veiled a rare cunning and a constant
suspicion； enjoying in that respect a combination of apparently opposite
qualities； which I have known no other man to possess in an equal degree；
unless it might be his late majesty； Henry the Great。 A child would have
suspected the priest； a veteran might have been taken in by the Vidame。
And indeed the priest's eyes presently sank。 〃Our bargain is to go for
nothing？〃 he muttered sullenly。
〃I know of no bargain；〃 quoth the Vidame。 〃And I have no time to
lose； splitting hairs here。 Set it down to what you like。 Say it is a whim
of mine； a fad； a caprice。 Only understand that Madame de Pavannes
stays。 We go。 And〃 he added this； as a sudden thought seemed to
strike him； 〃though I would not willingly use compulsion to a lady； I think
Madame d'O had better come too。〃
〃You speak masterfully；〃 the priest said with a sneer； forgetting the
tone he had himself used a few minutes before to Mirepoix。
〃Just so。 I have forty horsemen over the way；〃 was the dry answer。
〃for the moment； I am master of the legions； Coadjutor。〃
〃That is true；〃 Madame d'O said； so softly that I started。 She had
scarcely spoken since Bezers' entrance。 As she spoke now； she shook
back the hood from her face and disclosed the chestnut hair clinging about
her templesdeep blots of colour on the abnormal whiteness of her skin；
〃That is true； M。 de Bezers；〃 she said。 〃You have the legions。 You have
the power。 But you will not use it； I think； against an old friend。 You
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will not do us this hurt when IBut listen。〃
He would not。 In the very middle of her appeal he cut her short
brute that he was！ 〃No Madame！〃 he burst out violently； disregarding
the beautiful face； the supplicating glance； that might have moved a stone；
〃that is just what I will not do。 I will not listen！ We know one another。
Is not that enough？〃
She looked at him fixedly。 He returned her gaze； not smiling now；
but eyeing her with a curious watchfulness。
And after a long pause she turned from him。 〃Very well；〃 she said
softly； and drew a deep； quivering breath； the sound of which reached us。
〃Then let us go。〃 And withoutstrangest thing of allbestowing a word
or look on her sister； who was weeping bitterly in a chair； she turned to the
door and led the way out； a shrug of her shoulders the last thing I marked。
The poor lady heard her departing step however； and sprang up。 It
dawned upon her that she was being deserted。 〃Diane！ Diane！〃 she
cried distractedlyand I had to put my hand on Croisette to keep him quiet；
there was such fear and pain in her tone〃I will go！ I will not be left
behind in this dreadful place！ Do you hear？ Come back to me； Diane！〃
It made my blood run wildly。 But Diane did not come back。 Strange！
And Bezers too was unmoved。 He stood between the poor woman and
the door； and by a gesture bid Mirepoix and the priest pass out before him。
〃Madame；〃 he saidand his voice； stern and hard as ever； expressed no jot
of compassion for her； rather such an impatient contempt as a puling child
might elicit〃you are safe here。 And here you will stop！ Weep if you
please；〃 he added cynically； 〃you will have fewer tears to shed to…
morrow。〃
His last wordsthey certainly were odd onesarrested her attention。
She checked her sobs； being frightened I think； and looked up at him。
Perhaps he had spoken with this in view； for while she still stood at gaze；
her hands pressed to her bosom； he slipped quickly out and closed the door
behind him。 I heard a muttering for an instant outside； and then the
tramp of feet descending the stairs。 They were gone； and we were still
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undiscovered。
For Madame； she had clean forgotten our presenceof that I am sure
and the chance of escape we might afford。 On finding herself alone she
gazed a short time in alarmed silence at the door； and then ran to the
window and peered out； still trembling； terrified； silent。 So she remained
a while。
She had not noticed that Bezers on going out had omitted to lock the
door behind him。 I had。 But I was unwilling to move hastily。 Some
one might return to see to it before the Vidame left the house。 And
besides the door was not over strong； and if locked would be no obstacle
to the three of us when we had only Mirepoix to deal with。 So I kept the
others where they were by a nudge and a pinch； and held my breath a
moment； straining my ears to catch the closing of the door below。 I did
not hear that。 But I did catch a sound that otherwise might have escaped
me； but which now riveted my eyes to the door of our room。 Some one
in the silence； which followed the trampling on the stairs； had cautiously
laid a hand on the latch。
The light in the room was dim。 Mirepoix had taken one of the
candles with him； and the other wanted snuffing。 I could not see whether
the latch moved； whether or no it was rising。 But watching intently； I
made out that the door was being opened slowly； noiselessly。 I saw
someone entera furtive gliding shadow。
For a moment I felt nervousthen I recognised the dark hooded figure。
It was only Madame d'O。 Brave woman！ She had evaded the Vidame
and slipped back to the rescue。 Ha； ha！ We would defeat the Vidame
yet！ Things were going better！
But then something in her manneras she stood holding the door and
peering into the roomsomething in her bearing startled and frightened me。
As she came forward her movements were so stealthy that her footsteps
made no sound。 Her dark shadow； moving ahead of her across the floor；
was not more silent than she。 An undefined desire to make a noise； to
give the alarm； seized me。
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Half…way across the room she stopped to listen； and looked round；
startled herself； I think； by the silence。 She could not see her sister；
whose figure was blurred by the outlines of the curtain； and no doubt she
was puzzled to think what had become of her。 The suspense which I felt；
but did not understand； was so great that at last I moved； and the bed
creaked。
In a moment her face was turned our way； and she glided forwards； her
features still hidden by the hood of her cloak。 She was close to us now；
bending over us。 She raised her hand to her headto shade her eyes； as
she looked more closely； I supposed； and I was wondering whether she
saw uswhether she took the shapelessness in the shadow of the curtain
for her sister； or could not make it outI was thinking how we could best
apprise her of our presence without alarming herwhen Croisette dashed
my thoughts to the winds！ Croisette； with a tremendous whoop and a
crash； bounded over me on to the floor！
She uttered a gasping crya cry of intense； awful fear。 I have the
sound in my ears even now。 With that she staggered back； clutching the
air。 I heard the metallic clang and ring of something falling on the floor。
I heard an answering cry of alarm from the window； and then Madame de
Pavannes ran forward and caught her in her arms。
It was strange to find the room lately so silent become at once alive
with whispering forms； as we came hastily to light。 I cursed Croisette for
