the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第24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！
84
… Page 85…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
Apparently the craft had been secured with more care than skill； for to
loosen it seemed to be a work of time。 Meanwhile I stood waiting in the
midst of the group； anxious and yet exultant； an object of curiosity； and yet
curious myself。 I heard the guards whisper together； and caught such
phrases as 〃It is the Duc d'Aumale。〃
〃No； it is not D'Aumale。 It is nothing like him。〃
〃Well； he has the Duke's ring； fool！〃
〃The Duke's？〃
〃Ay。〃
〃Then it is all right； God bless him！〃 This last was uttered with
extreme fervour。
I was conscious too of being the object of many respectful glances；
and had just bidden the men on the steps below me to be quick； when I
discovered with alarm three figures moving across the open space towards
us； and coming apparently from the same point from which Pallavicini and
his men had emerged。
In a moment I foresaw danger。 〃Now be quick there！〃 I cried again。
But scarcely had I spoken before I saw that it was impossible to get afloat
before these others came up； and I prepared to stand my ground resolutely。
The first words； however； with which Pallavicini saluted the new…
comers scattered my fears。 〃Well； what the foul fiend do you want？〃
he exclaimed rudely； and he rapped out half…a…dozen CORPOS before they
could answer him。 〃What have you brought him here for； when I left him
in the guard…house？ Imbeciles！〃
〃Captain Pallavicini；〃 interposed the midmost of the three； speaking
with patiencehe was a man of about thirty； dressed with some richness；
though his clothes were now disordered as though by a struggle〃I have
induced these good men to bring me down〃
〃Then；〃 cried the captain； brutally interrupting him； 〃you have lost
your labour； Monsieur。〃
〃You do not know me；〃 replied the prisoner with sternnessa prisoner
he seemed to be。 〃You do not understand that I am a friend of the Prince
85
… Page 86…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
of Conde； and that〃
He would have said more； but the Italian again cut him short。 〃A fig
for the Prince of Conde！〃 he cried； 〃I understand my duty。 You may as
well take things easily。 You cannot cross； and you cannot go home； and
you cannot have any explanation； except that it is the King's will！
Explanation？〃 he grumbled； in a lower tone； 〃you will get it soon
enough； I warrant！ Before you want it！〃
〃But there is a boat going to cross；〃 said the other； controlling his
temper by an effort and speaking with dignity。 〃You told me that by the
King's order no one could cross； and you arrested me because； having
urgent need to visit St。 Germain； I persisted。 Now what does this mean；
Captain Pallavicini？ Others are crossing。 I ask what this means？〃
〃Whatever you please； M。 de Pavannes；〃 the Italian retorted
contemptuously。 〃Explain it for yourself！〃
I started as the name struck my ear； and at once cried out in surprise；
〃M。 de Pavannes！〃 Had I heard aright？
Apparently I had； for the prisoner turned to me with a bow。 〃Yes； sir；〃
he said with dignity； 〃I am M。 de Pavannes。 I have not the honour of
knowing you； but you seem to be a gentleman。〃 He cast a withering glance
at the captain as he said this。 〃Perhaps you will explain to me why this
violence has been done to me。 If you can； I shall consider it a favour； if
not； pardon me。〃
I did not answer him at once； for a good reasonthat every faculty I
had was bent on a close scrutiny of the man himself。 He was fair； and of a
ruddy complexion。 His beard was cut in the short pointed fashion of the
court； and in these respects he bore a kind of likeness； a curious likeness；
to Louis de Pavannes。 But his figure was shorter and stouter。 He was less
martial in bearing； with more of the air of a scholar than a soldier。 〃You
are related to M。 Louis de Pavannes？〃 I said； my heart beginning to beat
with an odd excitement。 I think I foresaw already what was coming。
〃I am Louis de Pavannes；〃 he replied with impatience。
I stared at him in silence： thinkingthinkingthinking。 And then I
86
… Page 87…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
said slowly； 〃You have a cousin of the same name？〃
〃I have。〃
〃He fell prisoner to the Vicomte de Caylus at Moncontour？〃
〃He did；〃 he answered curtly。 〃But what of that； sir？〃
Again I did not answerat once。 The murder was out。 I
remembered； in the dim fashion in which one remembers such things after
the event； that I had heard Louis de Pavannes； when we first became
acquainted with him； mention this cousin of the same name； the head of a
younger branch。 But our Louis living in Provence and the other in
Normandy； the distance between their homes； and the troubles of the times
had loosened a tie which their common religion might have strengthened。
They had scarcely ever seen one another。 As Louis had spoken of his
namesake but once during his long stay with us； and I had not then
foreseen the connection to be formed between our families； it was no
wonder that in the course of months the chance word had passed out of my
head； and I had clean forgotten the subject of it。 Here however； he was
before my eyes； and seeing him； I saw too what the discovery meant。 It
meant a most joyful thing！ a most wonderful thing which I longed to tell
Croisette and Marie。 It meant that our Louis de Pavannesmy cheek
burned for my want of faith in himwas no villain after all； but such a
noble gentleman as we had always till this day thought him！ It meant
that he was no court gallant bent on breaking a country heart for sport； but
Kit's own true lover！ Andand it meant moreit meant that he was yet
in danger； and still ignorant of the vow that unchained fiend Bezers had
taken to have his life！ In pursuing his namesake we had been led astray；
how sadly I only knew now！ And had indeed lost most precious time。
〃Your wife； M。 de Pavannes〃I began in haste； seeing the necessity of
explaining matters with the utmost quickness。 〃Your wife is〃
〃Ah； my wife！〃 he cried interrupting me； with anxiety in his tone。
〃What of her？ You have seen her！〃
〃I have。 She is safe at your house in the Rue de St。 Merri。〃
〃Thank Heaven for that！〃 he replied fervently。 Before he could say
87
… Page 88…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
more Captain Andrea interrupted us。 I could see that his suspicions were
aroused afresh。 He pushed rudely between us； and addressing me said；
〃Now； young sir； your boat is ready。〃
〃My boat？〃 I answered； while I rapidly considered the situation。 Of
course I did not want to cross the river now。 No doubt Pavannes…this
Pavannescould guide me to Louis' address。 〃My boat？〃
〃Yes； it is waiting；〃 the Italian replied； his black eyes roving from one
to the other of us。
〃Then let it wait！〃 I answered haughtily； speaking with an
assumption of anger。 〃Plague upon you for interrupting us！ I shall not
cross the river now。 This gentleman can give me the information I want。
I shall take him back with me。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃To whom？ To those who sent me； sirrah！〃
I thundered。 〃You do not seem to be much in the Duke's confidence；
captain；〃 I went on； 〃now take a word of advice from me！ There is
nothing： so easily cast off as an over…officious servant！ He goes too
farand he goes like an old glove！ An old glove；〃 I repeated grimly；
sneering in h
