the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第43节
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us go。
My latest memory of that strange manstill fresh after a lapse of two
and fifty yearsis of a huge form towering in the gloom below the state
canopy； the sunlight which poured in through the windows and flooded us；
falling short of him； of a pair of fierce cross eyes； that seemed to glow as
they covered us； of a lip that curled as in the enjoyment of some cruel jest。
And so Iand I think each of us four saw the last of Raoul de Mar； Vidame
de Bezers； in this life。
He was a man whom we cannot judge by to…day's standard； for he was
such an one in his vices and his virtues as the present day does not know；
one who in his time did immense eviland if his friends be believed； little
good。 But the evil is forgotten； the good lives。 And if all that good save
one act were buried with him； this one act alone； the act of a French
gentleman； would be told of himay！ and will be toldas long as the
kingdom of France； and the gracious memory of the late king； shall
endure。
* * * * * *
I see again by the simple process of shutting my eyes； the little party of
fivefor Jean； our servant； had rejoined uswho on that summer day rode
over the hills to Caylus； threading the mazes of the holm…oaks； and
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galloping down the rides； and hallooing the hare from her form； but never
pursuing her； arousing the nestling farmhouses from their sleepy stillness
by joyous shout and laugh； and sniffing； as we climbed the hill…side again；
the scent of the ferns that died crushed under our horses' hoofsdied only
that they might add one little pleasure more to the happiness God had
given us。 Rare and sweet indeed are those few days in life； when it
seems that all creation lives only that we may have pleasure in it； and
thank God for it。 It is well that we should make the most of them； as we
surely did of that day。
It was nightfall when we reached the edge of the uplands； and looked
down on Caylus。 The last rays of the sun lingered with us； but the valley
below was dark； so dark that even the rock about which our homes
clustered would have been invisible save for the half…dozen lights that
were beginning to twinkle into being on its summit。 A silence fell upon
us as we slowly wended our way down the well…known path。
All day long we had ridden in great joy； if thoughtless； yet innocent； if
selfish； yet thankful； and always blithely； with a great exultation and relief
at heart； a great rejoicing for our own sakes and for Kit's。
Now with the nightfall and the darkness； now when we were near our
home； and on the eve of giving joy to another； we grew silent。 There
arose other thoughtsthoughts of all that had happened since we had last
ascended that track； and so our minds turned naturally back to him to
whom we owed our happinessto the giant left behind in his pride and
power and his loneliness。 The others could think of him with full hearts；
yet without shame。 But I reddened； reflecting how it would have been
with us if I had had my way； if I had resorted in my shortsightedness to
one last violent； cowardly deed； and killed him； as I had twice wished to
do。
Pavannes would then have been lost almost certainly。 Only the
Vidame with his powerful troopwe never knew whether he had gathered
them for that purpose or merely with an eye to his governmentcould
have saved him。 And few men however powerful perhaps Bezers only
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of all men in Paris would have dared to snatch him from the mob when
once it had sighted him。 I dwell on this now that my grandchildren may
take warning by it； though never will they see such days as I have seen。
And so we clattered up the steep street of Caylus with a pleasant
melancholy upon us； and passed； not without a more serious thought； the
gloomy； frowning portals； all barred and shuttered； of the House of the
Wolf； and under the very window； sombre and vacant； from which Bezers
had incited the rabble in their attack on Pavannes' courier。 We had gone
by day； and we came back by night。 But we had gone trembling； and we
came back in joy。
We did not need to ring the great bell。 Jean's cry； 〃Ho！ Gate there！
Open for my lords！〃 had scarcely passed his lips before we were
admitted。 And ere we could mount the ramp； one person outran those
who came forth to see what the matter was； one outran Madame Claude；
outran old Gil； outran the hurrying servants； and the welcome of the house。
I saw a slender figure all in white break away from the little crowd and
dart towards us； disclosing as it reached me a face that seemed still whiter
than its robes； and yet a face that seemed all eyeseyes that asked the
question the lips could not frame。
I stood aside with a low bow； my hat in my hand； and said simply it
was the great effect of my life〃VOILA Monsieur！〃
And then I saw the sun rise in a woman's face。
* * * * * *
The Vidame de Bezers died as he had lived。 He was still Governor of
Cahors when Henry the Great attacked it on the night of the 17th of June；
1580。 Taken by surprise and wounded in the first confusion of the
assault； he still defended himself and his charge with desperate courage；
fighting from street to street； and house to house for five nights and as
many days。 While he lived Henry's destiny and the fate of France
trembled in the balance。 But he fell at length； his brain pierced by the
ball of an arquebuse； and died an hour before sunset on the 22nd of June。
The garrison immediately surrendered。
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Marie and I were present in this action on the side of the King of
Navarre； and at the request of that prince hastened to pay such honours to
the body of the Vidame as were due to his renown and might serve to
evince our gratitude。 A year later his remains were removed from Cahors；
and laid where they now rest in his own Abbey Church of Bezers； under a
monument which very briefly tells of his stormy life and his valour。 No
matter。 He has small need of a monument whose name lives in the
history of his country； and whose epitaph is written in the lives of men。
NOTE。THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF VIDAME DE
BEZERS； AS THEY APPEAR IN THE ABOVE MEMOIR FIND A
PARALLEL IN AN ACCOUNT GIVEN BY DE THOU OF ONE OF
THE MOST REMARKABLE INCIDENTS IN THE MASSACRE OF ST。
BARTHOLOMEW： 〃AMID SUCH EXAMPLES；〃 HE WRITES； 〃OF
THE FEROCITY OF THE CITY； A THING HAPPENED WORTHY TO
BE RELATED； AND WHICH MAY PERHAPS IN SOME DEGREE
WEIGH AGAINST THESE ATROCITIES。 THERE WAS A DEADLY
HATRED； WHICH UP TO THIS TIME THE INTERVENTION OF
THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS HAD FAILED TO APPEASE；
BETWEEN TWO MENVEZINS； THE LIEUTENANT OF
HONORATUS OF SAVOY； MARSHAL VILLARS； A MAN NOTABLE
AMONG THE NOBILITY OF THE PROVINCE FOR HIS VALOUR；
BUT OBNOXIOUS TO MANY OWING TO HIS BRUTAL
DISPOSITION （ferina natura）； AND REGNIER； A YOUNG MAN OF
LIKE RANK AND VIGOUR； BUT OF MILDER CHARACTER。
WHEN REGNIER THEN； IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT GREAT
UPROAR； DEATH MEETING HIS EYE EVERYWHERE； WAS
MAKING UP HIS MIND TO THE WORST； HIS DOOR WAS
SUDDENLY BURST OPEN； AND VEZINS； WITH TWO OTHER MEN；
STOOD BEFORE HIM SWORD IN HAND。 UPON THIS REGNIER；
ASSURED OF DEATH； KNELT DOWN AND ASKED MERCY OF
HEAVEN： BUT VEZINS I
