the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第37节
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gods！ the joy of itbeyond this； which we crossed at a rapid trot； lay the
open country！
The transition and relief were so wonderful that I shall never forget
them。 I gazed on the wide landscape before me； lying quiet and peaceful
in the sunlight； and could scarce believe in my happiness。 I drew the
fresh air into my lungs； I threw up my sheathed sword and caught it again
in a frenzy of delight； while the gloomy men about me smiled at my
enthusiasm。 I felt the horse beneath me move once more like a thing of
life。 No enchanter with his wand； not Merlin nor Virgil； could have made
a greater change in my world； than had the captain of the gate with his
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simple key！ Or so it seemed to me in the first moments of freedom； and
escapeof removal from those loathsome streets。
I looked back at Parisat the cloud of smoke which hung over the
towers and roofs； and it seemed to me the canopy of hell itself。 I fancied
that my head still rang with the cries and screams and curses； the sounds
of death。 In very fact； I could hear the dull reports of firearms near the
Louvre； and the jangle of the bells。 Country…folk were congregated at the
cross…roads； and in the villages； listening and gazing； asking timid
questions of the more good…natured among us； and showing that the
rumour of the dreadful work doing in the town had somehow spread
abroad。 And this though I learned afterwards that the keys of the city had
been taken the night before to the king； and that； except a party with the
Duke of Guise； who had left at eight in pursuit of Montgomery and some
of the Protestantslodgers； happily for themselves； in the Faubourg St。
Germainno one had left the town before ourselves。
While I am speaking of our departure from Paris； I may say what I
have to say of the dreadful excesses of those days； ay； and of the following
days； excesses of which France is now ashamed； and for which she
blushed even before the accession of his late Majesty。 I am sometimes
asked； as one who witnessed them； what I think； and I answer that it was
not our country which was to blame。 A something besides Queen
Catherine de' Medici had been brought from Italy forty years before； a
something invisible but very powerful； a spirit of cruelty and treachery。
In Italy it had done small harm。 But grafted on French daring and
recklessness； and the rougher and more soldierly manners of the north； this
spirit of intrigue proved capable of very dreadful things。 For a time； until
it wore itself out； it was the curse of France。 Two Dukes of Guise；
Francis and Henry； a cardinal of Guise； the Prince of Conde； Admiral
Coligny； King Henry the Third all these the foremost men of their day
died by assassination within little more than a quarter of a century； to say
nothing of the Prince of Orange； and King Henry the Great
Then marka most curious thingthe extreme youth of those who
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were in this business。 France； subject to the Queen…Mother； of course；
was ruled at the time by boys scarce out of their tutors' hands。 They were
mere lads； hot…blooded； reckless nobles； ready for any wild brawl； without
forethought or prudence。 Of the four Frenchmen who it is thought took
the leading parts； one； the king； was twenty…two； Monsieur； his brother；
was only twenty； the Duke of Guise was twenty…one。 Only the Marshal
de Tavannes was of mature age。 For the other conspirators； for the
Queen…Mother； for her advisers Retz and Nevers and Birague； they were
Italians； and Italy may answer for them if Florence； Mantua and Milan
care to raise the glove。
To return to our journey。 A league from the town we halted at a large
inn； and some of us dismounted。 Horses were brought out to fill the
places of those lost or left behind； and Bure had food served to us。 We
were famished and exhausted； and ate it ravenously； as if we could never
have enough。
The Vidame sat his horse apart； served by his page； I stole a glance at
him； and it struck me that even on his iron nature the events of the night
had made some impression。 I read； or thought I read； in his countenance；
signs of emotions not quite in accordance with what I knew of him
emotions strange and varied。 I could almost have sworn that as he looked
at us a flicker of kindliness lit up his stern and cruel gloom； I could almost
have sworn he smiled with a curious sadness。 As for Louis； riding with a
squad who stood in a different part of the yard； he did not see us； had not
yet seen us at all。 His side face； turned towards me； was pale and sad； his
manner preoccupied； his mien rather sorrowful than downcast。 He was
thinking； I judged； as much of the many brave men who had yesterday
been his friends companions at board and play…tableas of his own fate。
When we presently； at a signal from Bure； took to the road again； I asked
no permission； but thrusting my horse forward； rode to his side as he
passed through the gateway。
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CHAPTER XI。
A NIGHT OF SORROW。
〃Louis！ Louis！〃
He turned with a start at the sound of my voice； joy and bewilderment…
…and no wonderin his countenance。 He had not supposed us to be
within a hundred leagues of him。 And lo！ here we were； knee to knee；
hand meeting hand in a long grasp； while his eyes； to which tears sprang
unbidden； dwelt on my face as though they could read in it the features of
his sweetheart。 Some one had furnished him with a hat； and enabled him
to put his dress in order； and wash his wound； which was very slight； and
these changes had improved his appearance； so that the shadow of grief
and despondency passing for a moment from him in the joy of seeing me；
he looked once more his former self： as he had looked in the old days at
Caylus on his return from hawking； or from some boyish escapade among
the hills。 Only； alas！ he wore no sword。
〃And now tell me all；〃 he cried； after his first exclamation of wonder
had found vent。 〃How on earth do you come here？ Here； of all places；
and by my side？ Is all well at Caylus？ Surely Mademoiselle is not〃
〃Mademoiselle is well！ perfectly well！ And thinking of you； I
swear！〃 I answered passionately。 〃For us；〃 I went on； eager for the
moment to escape that subjecthow could I talk of it in the daylight and
under strange eyes？〃Marie and Croisette are behind； We left Caylus eight
days ago。 We reached Paris yesterday evening。 We have not been to
bed！ We have passed； Louis； such a night as I never〃
He stopped me with a gesture。 〃Hush！〃 he said； raising his hand。
〃Don't speak of it； Anne！〃 and I saw that the fate of his friends was still
too recent； the horror of his awakening to those dreadful sights and sounds
was still too vivid for him to bear reference to them。 Yet after riding for a
time in silence though his lips movedhe asked me again what had
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brought us up。
〃We came to warn youof him；〃 I answered； pointing to the solitary；
moody figure of the Vidame； who was riding ahead of the party。 〃Hehe
said that Kit should never marry you； and boasted of what he would do to
you； and frightened her。 So； learning he was going to Paris； we followed
himto put you on your guard； you know。〃 And I briefly sketched our
adventures； and the strange circumstances and mistakes which had delayed
us h
