the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第42节
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been in it once； years ago； when I had attended the Vicomte on a state visit
to the governor。 Ah！ that the Vicomte were here now！
I advanced to the middle window； which was open。 Then I started
back； for outside was the scaffold built level with the floor； and rush…
covered like it！ Two or three people were lounging on it。 My eyes
sought Louis among the group； but in vain。 He was not there： and
while I looked for him； I heard a noise behind me； and he came in；
guarded by four soldiers with pikes。
His face was pale and grave； but perfectly composed。 There was a
wistful look in his eyes indeed； as if he were thinking of something or
some one far awayKit's face on the sunny hills of Quercy where he had
ridden with her； perhaps； a look which seemed to say that the doings here
were nothing to him； and the parting was yonder where she was。 But his
bearing was calm and collected； his step firm and fearless。 When he saw
us； indeed his face lightened a moment and he greeted us cheerfully； even
acknowledging Bure's salutation with dignity and good temper。 Croisette
sprang towards him impulsively； and cried his name Croisette ever the
first to speak。 But before Louis could grasp his hand； the door at the
bottom of the hall was swung open； and the Vidame came hurriedly in。
He was alone。 He glanced round； his forbidding face； which was
somewhat flushed as if by haste； wearing a scowl。 Then he saw us； and；
nodding haughtily； strode up the floor； his spurs clanking heavily on the
boards。 We gave us no greeting； but by a short word dismissed Bure and
the soldiers to the lower end of the room。 And then he stood and looked
at us four； but principally at his rival； and looked； and looked with eyes of
smouldering hate。 And there was a silence； a long silence； while the
murmur of the crowd came almost cheerfully through the window； and the
sparrows under the eaves chirped and twittered； and the heart that
throbbed least painfully was； I do believe； Louis de Pavannes'！
At last Bezers broke the silence。
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〃M。 de Pavannes！〃 he began； speaking hoarsely； yet concealing all
passion under a cynical smile and a mock politeness； 〃M。 de Pavannes； I
hold the king's commission to put to death all the Huguenots within my
province of Quercy。 Have you anything to say； I beg； why I should not
begin with you？ Or do you wish to return to the Church？〃
Louis shrugged his shoulders as in contempt； and held his peace； I saw
his captor's great hands twitch convulsively at this； but still the Vidame
mastered himself； and when he spoke again he spoke slowly。 〃Very
well；〃 he continued； taking no heed of us； the silent witnesses of this
strange struggle between the two men； but eyeing Louis only。 〃You have
wronged me more than any man alive。 Alive or dead！ or dead！ You
have thwarted me； M。 de Pavannes； and taken from me the woman I loved。
Six days ago I might have killed you。 I had it in my power。 I had but to
leave you to the rabble； remember； and you would have been rotting at
Montfaucon to…day； M。 de Pavannes。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Louis quietly。 〃Why so many words？〃
But the Vidame went on as if he had not heard。 〃I did not leave you
to them；〃 he resumed； 〃and yet I hate youmore than I ever hated any man
yet； and I am not apt to forgive。 But now the time has come； sir； for my
revenge！ The oath I swore to your mistress a fortnight ago I will keep to
the letter。 ISilence； babe！〃 he thundered； turning suddenly； 〃or I will
keep my word with you too！〃
Croisette had muttered something； and this had drawn on him the glare
of Bezers' eyes。 But the threat was effectual。 Croisette was silent。
The two were left henceforth to one another。
Yet the Vidame seemed to be put out by the interruption。 Muttering a
string of oaths he strode from us to the window and back again。 The cool
cynicism； with which he was wont to veil his anger and impose on other
men； while it heightened the effect of his ruthless deeds； in part fell from
him。 He showed himself as he wasmasterful； and violent； hating； with
all the strength of a turbulent nature which had never known a check。 I
quailed before him myself。 I confess it。
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〃Listen！〃 he continued harshly； coming back and taking his place in
front of us at last； his manner more violent than before the interruption。
〃I might have left you to die in that hell yonder！ And I did not leave you。
I had but to hold my hand and you would have been torn to pieces！ The
wolf； however； does not hunt with the rats； and a Bezers wants no help in
his vengeance from king or CANAILLE！ When I hunt my enemy down
I will hunt him alone； do you hear？ And as there is a heaven above me〃
he paused a moment〃if I ever meet you face to face again； M。 de
Pavannes； I will kill you where you stand！〃
He paused； and the murmur of the crowd without came to my ears； but
mingled with and heightened by some confusion in my thoughts。 I
struggled feebly with this； seeing a rush of colour to Croisette's face； a
lightening in his eyes as if a veil had been raised from before them。
Some confusionfor I thought I grasped the Vidame's meaning； yet there
he was still glowering on his victim with the same grim visage； still
speaking in the same rough tone。 〃Listen； M。 de Pavannes；〃 he continued；
rising to his full height and waving his hand with a certain majesty
towards the windowno one had spoken。 〃The doors are open！ Your
mistress is at Caylus。 The road is clear； go to her； go to her； and tell her
that I have saved your life； and that I give it to you not out of love； but out
of hate！ If you had flinched I would have killed you； for so you would
have suffered most； M。 de Pavannes。 As it is； take your lifea gift！ and
suffer as I should if I were saved and spared by my enemy！〃
Slowly the full sense of his words came home to me。 Slowly； not in
its full completeness indeed until I heard Louis in broken phrases； phrases
half proud and half humble； thanking him for his generosity。 Even then I
almost lost the true and wondrous meaning of the thing when I heard his
answer。 For he cut Pavannes short with bitter caustic gibes； spurned his
proffered gratitude with insults； and replied to his acknowledgments with
threats。
〃Go！ go！〃 he continued to cry violently。 〃Have I brought you so
far safely that you will cheat me of my vengeance at the last； and provoke
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me to kill you？ Away！ and take these blind puppies with you！
Reckon me as much your enemy now as ever！ And if I meet you； be sure
you will meet a foe！ Begone； M。 de Pavannes； begone！〃
〃But； M。 de Bezers；〃 Louis persisted； 〃hear me。 It takes two to〃
〃Begone！ begone！ before we do one another a mischief！〃 cried
the Vidame furiously。 〃Every word you say in that strain is an injury to
me。 It robs me of my vengeance。 Go！ in God's name！〃
And we went； for there was no change； no promise of softening in his
malignant aspect as he spoke； nor any as he stood and watched us draw off
slowly from him。 We went one by one； each lingering after the other；
striving； out of a natural desire to thank him； to break through that stern
reserve。 But grim and unrelenting； a picture of scorn to the last； he saw
us go。
My latest memory of that strange manstill fresh after a lapse of two
and fifty yearsis of a huge form towering in
