the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第35节
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death seemed to be everything on this morning。 Words had ceased to
please and annoy； for what are words to the sheep in the shambles？ One
man's life and one woman's happiness outside ourselves we thought only
of these now。 And some day I reflected Croisette might remember even
with pleasure that he had； as a drowning man clutching at straws； stooped
to a last prayer for them。
We were placed in the middle of a knot of troopers who closed the line
to the right。 And presently Marie touched me。 He was gazing intently
at the sentry on the roof of the third house from us； the farthest but one。
The man's back was to the parapet； and he was gesticulating wildly。
〃He sees him！〃 Marie muttered。
I nodded almost in apathy。 But this passed away； and I started
involuntarily and shuddered； as a savage roar； breaking the silence； rang
along the front of the mob like a rolling volley of firearms。 What was it？
A man posted at a window on the upper gallery had dropped his pike's
point； and was levelling it at some one inside： we could see no more。
But those in front of the window could； they saw too much for the
Vidame's precautions； as a moment showed。 He had not laid his account
with the frenzy of a rabble； the passions of a mob which had tasted blood。
I saw the line at its farther end waver suddenly and toss to and fro。 Then
a hundred hands went up； and confused angry cries rose with them。 The
troopers struck about them； giving back slowly as they did so。 But their
efforts were in vain。 With a scream of triumph a wild torrent of people
broke through between them； leaving them stranded； and rushed in a
headlong cataract towards the steps。 Bezers was close to us at the time。
〃S'death！〃 he cried； swearing oaths which even his sovereign could
scarce have equalled。 〃They will snatch him from me yet； the hell…
hounds！〃
He whirled his horse round and spurred him in a dozen bounds to the
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stairs at our end of the gallery。 There he leaped from him； dropping the
bridle recklessly； and bounding up three steps at a time； he ran along the
gallery。 Half…a…dozen of the troopers about us stayed only to fling their
reins to one of their number； and then followed； their great boots clattering
on the planks。
My breath came fast and short； for I felt it was a crisis。 It was a race
between the two parties； or rather between the Vidame and the leaders of
the mob。 The latter had the shorter way to go。 But on the narrow steps
they were carried off their feet by the press behind them； and fell over and
hampered one another and lost time。 The Vidame； free from this
drawback； was some way along the gallery before they had set foot on it。
How I prayedamid a scene of the wildest uproar and excitement
that the mob might be first！ Let there be only a short conflict between
Bezers' men and the people； and in the confusion Pavannes might yet
escape。 Hope awoke in the turmoil。 Above the yells of the crowd a
score of deep voices about me thundered 〃a Wolf！ a Wolf！〃 And I too；
lost my head； and drew my sword； and screamed at the top of my voice； 〃a
Caylus！ a Caylus！〃 with the maddest。
Thousands of eyes besides mine were strained on the foremost figures
on either side。 They met as it chanced precisely at the door of the house。
The mob leader was a slender man； I saw； a priest apparently； though now
he was girt with unpriestly weapons； his skirts were tucked up； and his
head was bare。 So much my first glance showed me。 It was at the
second look it was when I saw the blood forsake his pale lowering face
and leave it whiter than ever； when horror sprang along with recognition to
his eyes； when borne along by the crowd behind he saw his position and
who was before himit was only then when his mean figure shrank； and
he quailed and would have turned but could not； that I recognized the
Coadjutor。
I was silent now； my mouth agape。 There are seconds which are
minutes； ay； and many minutes。 A man may die； a man may come into
life in such a second。 In one of these； it seemed to me； those two men
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paused； face to face； though in fact a pause was for one of them
impossible。 He was betweenand I think he knew itthe devil and the
deep sea。 Yet he seemed to pause； while all； even that yelling crowd
below； held their breath。 The next moment； glaring askance at one
another like two dogs unevenly coupled； he and Bezers shot shoulder to
shoulder into the doorway； and in another jot of time would have been out
of sight。 But then； in that instant； I saw something happen。 The Vidame's
hand flashed up above the priest's head； and the cross…hilt of his sheathed
sword crashed down with awful force； and still more awful passion； on the
other's tonsure！ The wretch went down like a log； without a word；
without a cry！ Amid a roar of rage from a thousand throats； a roar that
might have shaken the stoutest heart； and blanched the swarthiest cheek；
Bezers disappeared within！
It was then I saw the power of discipline and custom。 Few as were
the troopers who had followed hima mere handfulthey fell without
hesitation on the foremost of the crowd； who were already in confusion；
stumbling and falling over their leader's body； and hurled them back pell…
mell along the gallery。 The throng below had no firearms； and could give
no aid at the moment； the stage was narrow； in two minutes the Vidame's
people had swept it clear of the crowd and were in possession of it。 A tall
fellow took up the priest's body； dead or alive； I do not know which； and
flung it as if it had been a sack of corn over the rail。 It fell with a heavy
thud on the ground。 I heard a piercing scream that rose above that babel…
…one shrill scream！ and the mob closed round and hid the thing。
If the rascals had had the wit to make at once for the right…hand stairs；
where we stood with two or three of Bezers' men who had kept their
saddles； I think they might easily have disposed of us； encumbered as we
were； by the horses； and then they could have attacked the handful on the
gallery on both flanks。 But the mob had no leaders； and no plan of
operations。 They seized indeed two or three of the scattered troopers；
and tearing them from their horses； wreaked their passion upon them
horribly。 But most of the Switzers escaped； thanks to the attention the
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mob paid to the houses and what was going forward on the galleries； and
these； extricating themselves joined us one by one； so that gradually a little
ring of stern faces gathered about the stair… foot。 A moment's hesitation；
and seeing no help for it； we ranged ourselves with them； and； unchecked
as unbidden； sprang on three of the led horses。
All this passed more quickly than I can relate it： so that before our
feet were well in the stirrups a partial silence； then a mightier roar of anger
at once proclaimed and hailed the re… appearance of the Vidame。 Bigoted
beyond belief were the mob of Paris of that day； cruel； vengeful； and
always athirst for blood； and this man had killed not only their leader but a
priest。 He had committed sacrilege！ What would they do？ I could
just； by stooping forward； command a side view of the gallery； and the
scene passing there was such that I forgot in it our own peril。
For surely in all his reckless life Bezers had never been so
emphatically the man for the si
