the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第7节
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save a friend and make our mistress happy！
We gave our orders。 But we said nothing to Catherine or Madame
Claude； merely bidding Gil tell them after our departure。 We arranged
for the immediate despatch of a message to the Vicomte at Bayonne； and
charged Gil until he should hear from him to keep the gates closed； and
look well to the shoot of the kitchen midden。 Then； when all was ready；
we went to our pallets； but it was with hearts throbbing with excitement
and wakeful eyes。
〃Anne！ Anne！〃 said Croisette； rising on his elbow and speaking to
me some three hours later； 〃what do you think the Vidame meant this
morning when he said that about the ten days？〃
〃What about the ten days？〃 I asked peevishly。 He had roused me
just when I was at last falling asleep。
〃About the world seeing that his was the true faithin ten days？〃
〃I am sure I do not know。 For goodness' sake let us go to sleep；〃 I
replied。 For I had no patience with Croisette； talking such nonsense；
when we had our own business to think about。
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CHAPTER III。
THE ROAD TO PARIS。
The sun had not yet risen above the hills when we three with a single
servant behind us drew rein at the end of the valley； and easing our horses
on the ascent； turned in the saddle to take a last look at Caylusat the
huddled grey town； and the towers above it。 A little thoughtful we all
were； I think。 The times were rough and our errand was serious。 But
youth and early morning are fine dispellers of care； and once on the
uplands we trotted gaily forward； now passing through wide glades in the
sparse oak forest； where the trees all leaned one way； now over bare； wind…
swept downs； or once and again descending into a chalky bottom； where
the stream bubbled through deep beds of fern； and a lonely farmhouse
nestled amid orchards。
Four hours' riding； and we saw below us Cahors； filling the bend of the
river。 We cantered over the Vallandre Bridge； which there crosses the
Lot； and so to my uncle's house of call in the square。 Here we ordered
breakfast； and announced with pride that we were going to Paris。
Our host raised his hands。 〃Now there！〃 he exclaimed； regret in his
voice。 〃And if you had arrived yesterday you could have travelled up
with the Vidame de Bezers！ And you a small party saving your
lordships' presenceand the roads but so…so！〃
〃But the Vidame was riding with only half…a…dozen attendants also！〃
I answered； flicking my boot in a careless way。
The landlord shook his head。 〃Ah； M。 le Vidame knows the world！〃
he answered shrewdly。 〃He is not to be taken off his guard； not he！
One of his men whispered me that twenty staunch fellows would join him
at Chateauroux。 They say the wars are over； but〃 and the good man；
shrugging his shoulders； cast an expressive glance at some fine flitches of
bacon which were hanging in his chimney。 〃However； your lordships
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know better than I do；〃 he added briskly。 〃I am a poor man。 I only wish
to live at peace with my neighbours； whether they go to mass or sermon。〃
This was a sentiment so common in those days and so heartily echoed
by most men of substance both in town and country； that we did not stay to
assent to it； but having received from the worthy fellow a token which
would insure our obtaining fresh cattle at Limoges； we took to the road
again； refreshed in body； and with some food for thought。
Five…and…twenty attendants were more than even such a man as Bezers；
who had many enemies； travelled with in those days； unless accompanied
by ladies。 That the Vidame had provided such a reinforcement seemed to
point to a wider scheme than the one with which we had credited him。
But we could not guess what his plans were； since he must have ordered
his people before he heard of Catherine's engagement。 Either his
jealousy therefore had put him on the alert earlier； or his threatened attack
on Pavannes was only part of a larger plot。 In either case our errand
seemed more urgent； but scarcely more hopeful。
The varied sights and sounds however of the roadmany of them new
to uskept us from dwelling over much on this。 Our eyes were young；
and whether it was a pretty girl lingering behind a troop of gipsies； or a
pair of strollers from Valencia JONGLEURS they still called
themselvessinging in the old dialect of Provence； or a Norman horse…
dealer with his string of cattle tied head and tail； or the Puy de Dome to
the eastward over the Auvergne hills； or a tattered old soldier wounded in
the warsfighting for either side； according as their lordships inclinedwe
were pleased with all。
Yet we never forgot our errand。 We never I think rose in the
morningtoo often stiff and sorewithout thinking 〃To…day or to…morrow
or the next day〃 as the case might be〃we shall make all right for Kit！〃
For Kit！ Perhaps it was the purest enthusiasm we were ever to feel； the
least selfish aim we were ever to pursue。 For Kit！
Meanwhile we met few travellers of rank on the road。 Half the
nobility of France were still in Paris enjoying the festivities which were
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being held to mark the royal marriage。 We obtained horses where we
needed them without difficulty。 And though we had heard much of the
dangers of the way； infested as it was said to be by disbanded troopers； we
were not once stopped or annoyed。
But it is not my intention to chronicle all the events of this my first
journey； though I dwell on them with pleasure； or to say what I thought of
the towns； all new and strange to me； through which we passed。 Enough
that we went by way of Limoges； Chateauroux and Orleans； and that at
Chateauroux we learned the failure of one hope we had formed。 We had
thought that Bezers when joined there by his troopers would not be able to
get relays； and that on this account we might by travelling post overtake
him； and possibly slip by him between that place and Paris。 But we
learned at Chateauroux that his troop had received fresh orders to go to
Orleans and await him there； the result being that he was able to push
forward with relays so far。 He was evidently in hot haste。 For leaving
there with his horses fresh he passed through Angerville； forty miles short
of Paris； at noon； whereas we reached it on the evening of the same day
the sixth after leaving Caylus。
We rode into the yard of the inna large place； seeming larger in the
duskso tired that we could scarcely slip from our saddles。 Jean； our
servant； took the four horses； and led them across to the stables； the poor
beasts hanging their heads； and following meekly。 We stood a moment
stamping our feet； and stretching our legs。 The place seemed in a bustle；
the clatter of pans and dishes proceeding from the windows over the
entrance； with a glow of light and the sound of feet hurrying in the
passages。 There were men too； half…a…dozen or so standing at the doors
of the stables； while others leaned from the windows。 One or two
lanthorns just kindled glimmered here and there in the semi…darkness； and
in a corner two smiths were shoeing a horse。
We were turning from all this to go in； when we heard Jean's voice
raised in altercation； and thinking our rustic servant had fallen into trouble；
we walked across to the stables near which he and the horses were still
