the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第2节
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taken prisoner at Moncontour and held to ransom。 We were not； I think；
mere clownish yokels。
But we were shy。 We disliked and shunned strangers。 And when
old Gil appeared suddenly； while we were still chewing the melancholy
cud of Kit's announcement； and cried sepulchrally； 〃M。 le Vidame de
Bezers to pay his respects to Mademoiselle！〃Well； there was something
like a panic； I confess！
We scrambled to our feet； muttering； 〃The Wolf！〃 The entrance at
Caylus is by a ramp rising from the gateway to the level of the terrace。
This sunken way is fenced by low walls so that one may notwhen
walking on the terracefall into it。 Gil had spoken before his head had
well risen to view； and this gave us a moment； just a moment。 Croisette
made a rush for the doorway into the house； but failed to gain it； and drew
himself up behind a buttress of the tower； his finger on his lip。 I am slow
sometimes； and Marie waited for me； so that we had barely got to our legs…
…looking； I dare say； awkward and ungainly enough before the Vidame's
shadow fell darkly on the ground at Catherine's feet。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 he said； advancing to her through the sunshine； and
bending over her slender hand with a magnificent grace that was born of
his size and manner combined； 〃I rode in late last night from Toulouse；
and I go to…morrow to Paris。 I have but rested and washed off the stains
of travel that I may lay my ah！〃
He seemed to see us for the first time and negligently broke off in his
compliment； raising himself and saluting us。 〃Ah；〃 he continued
indolently； 〃two of the maidens of Caylus； I see。 With an odd pair of
hands apiece； unless I am mistaken； Why do you not set them spinning；
Mademoiselle？〃 and he regarded us with that smile whichwith other
things as evilhad made him famous。
Croisette pulled horrible faces behind his back。 We looked hotly at
him； but could find nothing to say。
〃You grow red！〃 he went on； pleasantlythe wretch！playing with
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us as a cat does with mice。 〃It offends your dignity； perhaps； that I bid
Mademoiselle set you spinning？ I now would spin at Mademoiselle's
bidding； and think it happiness！〃
〃We are not girls！〃 I blurted out； with the flush and tremor of a boy's
passion。 〃You had not called my godfather； Anne de Montmorenci a girl；
M。 le Vidame！〃 For though we counted it a joke among ourselves that
we all bore girls' names； we were young enough to be sensitive about it。
He shrugged his shoulders。 And how he dwarfed us all as he stood
there dominating our terrace！ 〃M。 de Montmorenci was a man；〃 he said
scornfully。 〃M。 Anne de Caylus is〃
And the villain deliberately turned his great back upon us； taking his
seat on the low wall near Catherine's chair。 It was clear even to our
vanity that he did not think us worth another wordthat we had passed
absolutely from his mind。 Madame Claude came waddling out at the
same moment； Gil carrying a chair behind her。 And wewell we slunk
away and sat on the other side of the terrace； whence we could still glower
at the offender。
Yet who were we to glower at him？ To this day I shake at the thought
of him。 It was not so much his height and bulk； though he was so big
that the clipped pointed fashion of his beard a fashion then new at court
seemed on him incongruous and effeminate； nor so much the sinister
glance of his grey eyeshe had a slight cast in them； nor the grim suavity
of his manner； and the harsh threatening voice that permitted of no
disguise。 It was the sum of these things； the great brutal presence of the
manthat was overpoweringthat made the great falter and the poor
crouch。 And then his reputation！ Though we knew little of the world's
wickedness； all we did know had come to us linked with his name。 We
had heard of him as a duellist； as a bully； an employer of bravos。 At
Jarnac he had been the last to turn from the shambles。 Men called him
cruel and vengeful even for those daysgone by now； thank God！and
whispered his name when they spoke of assassinations； saying commonly
of him that he would not blench before a Guise； nor blush before the
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Virgin。
Such was our visitor and neighbour； Raoul de Mar； Vidame de Bezers。
As he sat on the terrace； now eyeing us askance； and now paying
Catherine a compliment； I likened him to a great cat before which a
butterfly has all unwittingly flirted her prettiness。 Poor Catherine！ No
doubt she had her own reasons for uneasiness； more reasons I fancy than I
then guessed。 For she seemed to have lost her voice。 She stammered
and made but poor replies； and Madame Claude being deaf and stupid； and
we boys too timid after the rebuff we had experienced to fill the gap； the
conversation languished。 The Vidame was not for his part the man to put
himself out on a hot day。
It was after one of these pausesnot the first but the longest that I
started on finding his eyes fixed on mine。 More； I shivered。 It is hard
to describe； but there was a look in the Vidame's eyes at that moment
which I had never seen before。 A look of pain almost： of dumb savage
alarm at any rate。 From me they passed slowly to Marie and mutely
interrogated him。 Then the Vidame's glance travelled back to Catherine；
and settled on her。
Only a moment before she had been but too conscious of his presence。
Now； as it chanced by bad luck； or in the course of Providence； something
had drawn her attention elsewhere。 She was unconscious of his regard。
Her own eyes were fixed in a far…away gaze。 Her colour was high； her
lips were parted； her bosom heaved gently。
The shadow deepened on the Vidame's face。 Slowly he took his eyes
from hers； and looked northwards also。
Caylus Castle stands on a rock in the middle of the narrow valley of
that name。 The town clusters about the ledges of the rock so closely that
when I was a boy I could fling a stone clear of the houses。 The hills are
scarcely five hundred yards distant on either side； rising in tamer colours
from the green fields about the brook。 It is possible from the terrace to
see the whole valley； and the road which passes through it lengthwise。
Catherine's eyes were on the northern extremity of the defile； where the
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highway from Cahors descends from the uplands。 She had been sitting
with her face turned that way all the afternoon。
I looked that way too。 A solitary horseman was descending the steep
track from the hills。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 cried the Vidame suddenly。 We all looked up。 His
tone was such that the colour fled from Kit's face。 There was something
in his voice she had never heard in any voice beforesomething that to a
woman was like a blow。 〃Mademoiselle；〃 he snarled； 〃is expecting news
from Cahors； from her lover。 I have the honour to congratulate M。 de
Pavannes on his conquest。〃
Ah！ he had guessed it！ As the words fell on the sleepy silence； an
insult in themselves； I sprang to my feet； amazed and angry； yet astounded
by his quickness of sight and wit。 He must have recognized the Pavannes
badge at that distance。 〃M。 le Vidame；〃 I said indignantlyCatherine
was white and voiceless〃M。 le Vidame〃 but there I stopped and faltered
stammering。 For behind him I could see Croisette； and Croisette gave
me no sign of encouragement or support。
So we stood face to face for a moment； the boy and th
