the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第36节
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For surely in all his reckless life Bezers had never been so
emphatically the man for the situationhad never shown to such
advantage as at this moment when he stood confronting the sea of faces；
the sneer on his lip； a smile in his eyes； and looked down unblenching； a
figure of scorn； on the men who were literally agape for his life。 The
calm defiance of his steadfast look fascinated even me。 Wonder and
admiration for the time took the place of dislike。 I could scarcely believe
that there was not some atom of good in this man so fearless。 And no
face but one no face I think in the world； but onecould have drawn my
eyes from him。 But that one face was beside him。 I clutched Marie's
arm； and pointed to the bareheaded figure at Bezers' right hand。
It was Louis himself： our Louis de Pavannes； But he was changed
indeed from the gay cavalier I remembered； and whom I had last seen
riding down the street at Caylus； smiling back at us； and waving his adieux
to his mistress！ Beside the Vidame he had the air of being slight； even
short。 The face which I had known so bright and winning； was now
white and set。 His fair； curling hairscarce darker than Croisette'shung
dank； bedabbled with blood which flowed from a wound in his head。 His
sword was gone； his dress was torn and disordered and covered with dust。
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His lips moved。 But he held up his head； he bore himself bravely with it
all； so bravely； that I choked； and my heart seemed bursting as I looked at
him standing there forlorn and now unarmed。 I knew that Kit seeing him
thus would gladly have died with him； and I thanked God she did not see
him。 Yet there was a quietness in his fortitude which made a great
difference between his air and that of Bezers。 He lacked； as became one
looking unarmed on certain death； the sneer and smile of the giant beside
him。
What was the Vidame about to do？ I shuddered as I asked myself。
Not surrender him； not fling him bodily to the people？ No not that： I
felt sure he would let no others share his vengeance that his pride would
not suffer that。 And even while I wondered the doubt was solved。 I saw
Bezers raise his hand in a peculiar fashion。 Simultaneously a cry rang
sharply out above the tumult； and down in headlong charge towards the
farther steps came the band of horsemen； who had got clear of the crowd
on that side。 They were but ten or twelve； but under his eye they charged；
as if they had been a thousand。 The rabble shrank from the collision； and
fled aside。 Quick as thought the riders swerved； and changing their
course； galloped through the looser part of the throng； and in a trice drew
rein side by side with us； a laugh and a jeer on their reckless lips。
It was neatly done： and while it was being done the Vidame and his
knot of men； with those who had been searching the building； hurried
down the gallery towards us； their rear cleared for the moment by the
troopers' feint。 The dismounted men came bundling down the steps； their
eyes aglow with the war…fire； and got horses as they could。 Among them
I lost sight of Louis； but perceived him presently； pale and bewildered；
mounted behind a trooper。 A man sprang up before each of us too；
greeting our appearance merely by a grunt of surprise。 For it was no time
to ask or answer。 The mob was recovering itself； and each moment
brought it reinforcements； while its fury was augmented by the trick we
had played it； and the prospect of our escape。
We were under forty； all told； and some men were riding double。
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Bezers' eye glanced hastily over his array； and lit on us three。 He turned
and gave some order to his lieutenant。 The fellow spurred his horse； a
splendid grey； as powerful as his master's； alongside of Croisette； threw his
arm round the lad； and dragged him dexterously on to his own crupper。 I
did not understand the action； but I saw Croisette settle himself behind
Blaise Bure for he it wasand supposed no harm was intended。 The
next moment we had surged forward； and were swaying to and fro in the
midst of the crowd。
What ensued I cannot tell。 The outlook； so far as I was concerned；
was limited to wildly plunging horseswe were in the centre of the band
and riders swaying in the saddlewith a glimpse here and there of a fringe
of white scowling faces and tossing arms。 Once； a lane opening； I saw
the Vidame's charger he was in the vanstumble and fall among the
crowd and heard a great shout go up。 But Bezers by a mighty effort
lifted it to its legs again。 And once too； a minute later； those riding on my
right； swerved outwards； and I saw something I never afterwards forgot。
It was the body of the Coadjutor； lying face upwards； the eyes open
and the teeth bared in a last spasm。 Prostrate on it lay a woman； a young
woman； with hair like red gold falling about her neck； and skin like milk。
I did not know whether she was alive or dead； but I noticed that one arm
stuck out stiffly and the crowd flying before the sudden impact of the
horses must have passed over her； even if she had escaped the iron hoofs
which followed。 Still in the fleeting glance I had of her as my horse
bounded aside； I saw no wound or disfigurement。 Her one arm was cast
about the priest's breast； her face was hidden on it。 But for all that； I
knew herknew her； shuddering for the woman whose badges I was even
now wearing； whose gift I bore at my side； and I remembered the priest's
vaunt of a few hours before； made in her presence； 〃There is no man in
Paris shall thwart me to…night！〃
It had been a vain boast indeed！ No hand in all that host of thousands
was more feeble than his now： for good or ill！ No brain more dull； no
voice less heeded。 A righteous retribution indeed had overtaken him。
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He had died by the sword he had drawn died； a priest； by violence！ The
cross he had renounced had crushed him。 And all his schemes and
thoughts； and no doubt they had been many； had perished with him。 It
had come to this； only this； the sum of the whole matter； that there was one
wicked man the less in Parisone lump of breathless clay the more。
For herthe woman on his breastwhat man can judge a woman；
knowing her？ And not knowing her； how much less？ For the present I
put her out of my mind； feeling for the moment faint and cold。
We were clear of the crowd； and clattering unmolested down a paved
street before I fully recovered from the shock which this sight had caused
me。 Wonder whither we were going took its place。 To Bezers' house？
My heart sank at the prospect if that were so。 Before I thought of an
alternative； a gateway flanked by huge round towers appeared before us；
and we pulled up suddenly； a confused jostling mass in the narrow way；
while some words passed between the Vidame and the Captain of the
Guard。 A pause of several minutes followed； and then the gates rolled
slowly open； and two by two we passed under the arch。 Those gates
might have belonged to a fortress or a prison； a dungeon or a palace； for
all I knew。
They led； however； to none of these； but to an open space； dirty and
littered with rubbish； marked by a hundred ruts and tracks； and fringed
with disorderly cabins and make…shift booths。 And beyond thisoh； ye
gods！ the joy of it
