the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第3节
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So we stood face to face for a moment； the boy and the man of the
world； the stripling and the ROUE。 Then the Vidame bowed to me in
quite a new fashion。 〃M。 Anne de Caylus desires to answer for M。 de
Pavannes？〃 he asked smoothly； with a mocking smoothness。
I understood what he meant。 But something prompted meCroisette
said afterwards that it was a happy thought； though now I know the crisis
to have been less serious than he fancied to answer； 〃Nay； not for M。 de
Pavannes。 Rather for my cousin。〃 And I bowed。 〃I have the honour
on her behalf to acknowledge your congratulations； M。 le Vidame。 It
pleases her that our nearest neighbour should also be the first outside the
family to wish her well。 You have divined truly in supposing that she
will shortly be united to M。 de Pavannes。〃
I supposefor I saw the giant's colour change and his lip quiver as I
spokethat his previous words had been only a guess。 For a moment the
devil seemed to be glaring through his eyes； and he looked at Marie and
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me as a wild animal at its keepers。 Yet he maintained his cynical
politeness in part。 〃Mademoiselle desires my congratulations？〃 he said；
slowly； labouring with each word it seemed。 〃She shall have them on the
happy day。 She shall certainly have them then。 But these are troublous
times。 And Mademoiselle's betrothed is I think a Huguenot； and has
gone to Paris。 Pariswell； the air of Paris is not good for Huguenots； I
am told。〃
I saw Catherine shiver； indeed she was on the point of fainting； I broke
in rudely； my passion getting the better of my fears。 〃M。 de Pavannes can
take care of himself； believe me；〃 I said brusquely。
〃Perhaps so；〃 Bezers answered； his voice like the grating of steel on
steel。 〃But at any rate this will be a memorable day for Mademoiselle。
The day on which she receives her first congratulationsshe will
remember it as long as she lives！ Oh； yes； I will answer for that； M。
Anne；〃 he said looking brightly at one and another of us； his eyes more
oblique than ever； 〃Mademoiselle will remember it； I am sure！〃
It would be impossible to describe the devilish glance he flung at the
poor sinking girl as he withdrew； the horrid emphasis he threw into those
last words； the covert deadly threat they conveyed to the dullest ears。
That he went then； was small mercy。 He had done all the evil he could
do at present。 If his desire had been to leave fear behind him； he had
certainly succeeded。
Kit crying softly went into the house； her innocent coquetry more than
sufficiently punished already。 And we three looked at one another with
blank faces； It was clear that we had made a dangerous enemy； and an
enemy at our own gates。 As the Vidame had said； these were troublous
times when things were done to menay； and to women and children
which we scarce dare to speak of now。 〃I wish the Vicomte were here；〃
Croisette said uneasily after we had discussed several unpleasant
contingencies。
〃Or even Malines the steward；〃 I suggested。
〃He would not be much good；〃 replied Croisette。
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〃And he is at St。 Antonin； and will not be back this week。 Father Pierre
too is at Albi。〃
〃You do not think；〃 said Marie； 〃that he will attack us？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 Croisette retorted with contempt。 〃Even the
Vidame would not dare to do that in time of peace。 Besides； he has not
half a score of men here；〃 continued the lad； shrewdly； 〃and counting old
Gil and ourselves we have as many。 And Pavannes always said that three
men could hold the gate at the bottom of the ramp against a score。 Oh；
he will not try that！〃
〃Certainly not！〃 I agreed。 And so we crushed Marie。 〃But for
Louis de Pavannes〃
Catherine interrupted me。 She came out quickly looking a different
person； her face flushed with anger； her tears dried。
〃Anne！〃 she cried； imperiously； 〃what is the matter down below
will you see？〃
I had no difficulty in doing that。 All the sounds of town life came up
to us on the terrace。 Lounging there we could hear the chaffering over
the wheat measures in the cloisters of the market…square； the yell of a dog；
the voice of a scold； the church bell； the watchman's cry。 I had only to
step to the wall to overlook it all。 On this summer afternoon the town
had been for the most part very quiet。 If we had not been engaged in our
own affairs we should have taken the alarm before； remarking in the
silence the first beginnings of what was now a very respectable tumult。 It
swelled louder even as we stepped to the wall。
We could seea bend in the street laying it openpart of the Vidame's
house； the gloomy square hold which had come to him from his mother。
His own chateau of Bezers lay far away in Franche Comte； but of late he
had shown a preferenceCatherine could best account for it； perhapsfor
this mean house in Caylus。 It was the only house in the town which did
not belong to us。 It was known as the House of the Wolf； and was a grim
stone building surrounding a courtyard。 Rows of wolves' heads carved in
stone flanked the windows； whence their bare fangs grinned day and night
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at the church porch opposite。
The noise drew our eyes in this direction； and there lolling in a
window over the door； looking out on the street with a laughing eye； was
Bezers himself。 The cause of his merrimentwe had not far to look for
itwas a horseman who was riding up the street under difficulties。 He
was reining in his steedno easy task on that steep greasy pavementso as
to present some front to a score or so of ragged knaves who were
following close at his heels； hooting and throwing mud and pebbles at him。
The man had drawn his sword； and his oaths came up to us； mingled with
shrill cries of 〃VIVE LA MESSE！〃 and half drowned by the clattering of
the horse's hoofs。 We saw a stone strike him in the face； and draw blood；
and heard him swear louder than before。
〃Oh！〃 cried Catherine； clasping her hands with a sudden shriek of
indignation； 〃my letter！ They will get my letter！〃
〃Death！〃 exclaimed Croisette； 〃She is right！ It is M。 de Pavannes'
courier！ This must be stopped！ We cannot stand this； Anne！〃
〃They shall pay dearly for it； by our Lady！〃 I cried swearing myself。
〃And in peace time toothe villains！ Gil！ Francis！〃 I shouted； 〃where
are you？〃
And I looked round for my fowling piece； while Croisette jumped on
the wall； and forming a trumpet with his hands； shrieked at the top of his
voice； 〃Back！ he bears a letter from the Vicomte！〃
But the device did not succeed； and I could not find my gun。 For a
moment we were helpless； and before I could have fetched the gun from
the house； the horseman and the hooting rabble at his heels； had turned a
corner and were hidden by the roofs。
Another turn however would bring them out in front of the gateway；
and seeing this we hurried down the ramp to meet them。 I stayed a
moment to tell Gil to collect the servants； and； this keeping me； Croisette
reached the narrow street outside before me。 As I followed him I was
nearly knocked down by the rider； whose face was covered with； dirt and
blood； while fright had rendered his horse unmanageable。 Darting aside I
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let him pass he was blinded and could not see meand then found that
Croisettebrave lad！ had collared the foremost of the ruffians； and was
beating him with his
