the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第9节
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〃Sharp masters make sharp scholars；〃 he replied； grinning。 And that
answer I had occasion to remember afterwards。
〃You are from Orleans； also？〃 I asked； as we prepared to go in。
〃Yes； from Orleans too； gentlemen。 But earlier in the day。 With
lettersletters of importance！〃 And bestowing something like a wink of
confidence on us； he drew himself up； looked sternly at the stable…folk；
patted himself twice on the chest； and finally twirled his moustaches； and
smirked at the girl above； who was chewing straws。
I thought it likely enough that we might find it hard to get rid of him。
But this was not so。 After listening with gratification to our repeated
thanks； he bowed with the same grotesque flourish； and marched off as
grave as a Spaniard； humming
〃Ce petit homme tant joli！ Qui toujours cause et toujours rit；
Qui toujours baise sa mignonne； Dieu gard' de mal ce petit homme！〃
On our going in； the landlord met us politely； but with curiosity； and a
simmering of excitement also in his manner。 〃From Paris； my lords？〃 he
asked； rubbing his hands and bowing low。 〃Or from the south？〃
〃From the south；〃 I answered。 〃From Orleans； and hungry and tired；
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Master Host。〃
〃Ah！〃 he replied； disregarding the latter part of my answer； while his
little eyes twinkled with satisfaction。 〃Then I dare swear； my lords； you
have not heard the news？〃 He halted in the narrow passage； and lifting
the candle he carried； scanned our faces closely； as if he wished to learn
something about us before he spoke。
〃News！〃 I answered brusquely； being both tired； and as I had told
him； hungry。 〃We have heard none； and the best you can give us will be
that our supper is ready to be served。〃
But even this snub did not check his eagerness to tell his news。 〃The
Admiral de Coligny；〃 he said； breathlessly； 〃you have not heard what has
happened to him？〃
〃To the admiral？ No； what？〃 I inquired rapidly。 I was interested
at last。
For a moment let me digress。 The few of my age will remember； and
the many younger will have been told； that at this time the Italian queen…
mother was the ruling power in France。 It was Catharine de' Medici's
first object to maintain her influence over Charles the Ninthher son； who；
ricketty； weak； and passionate； was already doomed to an early grave。
Her second； to support the royal power by balancing the extreme Catholics
against the Huguenots。 For the latter purpose she would coquet first with
one party； then with the other。 At the present moment she had committed
herself more deeply than was her wont to the Huguenots。 Their leaders；
the Admiral Gaspard de Coligny； the King of Navarre； and the Prince of
Conde； were supposed to be high in favour； while the chiefs of the other
party； the Duke of Guise； and the two Cardinals of his house； the Cardinal
of Lorraine and the Cardinal of Guise； were in disgrace； which； as it
seemed； even their friend at court； the queen's favourite son； Henry of
Anjou； was unable to overcome。
Such was the outward aspect of things in August； 1572； but there were
not wanting rumours that already Coligny； taking advantage of the footing
given him； had gained an influence over the young king； which threatened
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Catharine de' Medici herself。 The admiral； therefore； to whom the
Huguenot half of France had long looked as to its leader； was now the
object of the closest interest to all； the Guise faction； hating himas the
alleged assassin of the Duke of Guisewith an intensity which probably
was not to be found in the affection of his friends； popular with the latter
as he was。
Still； many who were not Huguenots had a regard for him as a great
Frenchman and a gallant soldier。 Wethough we were of the old faith；
and the other sidehad heard much of him； and much good。 The
Vicomte had spoken of him always as a great man； a man mistaken； but
brave； honest and capable in his error。 Therefore it was that when the
landlord mentioned him； I forgot even my hunger。
〃He was shot； my lords； as he passed through the Rue des Fosses；
yesterday；〃 the man declared with bated breath。 〃It is not known whether
he will live or die。 Paris is in an uproar； and there are some who fear the
worst。〃
〃But；〃 I said doubtfully； 〃who has dared to do this？ He had a safe
conduct from the king himself。〃
Our host did not answer； shrugging his shoulders instead； he opened
the door； and ushered us into the eating…room。
Some preparations for our meal had already been made at one end of
the long board。 At the other was seated a man past middle age； richly but
simply dressed。 His grey hair； cut short about a massive head； and his
grave； resolute face； square…jawed； and deeply…lined； marked him as one to
whom respect was due apart from his clothes。 We bowed to him as we
took our seats。
He acknowledged the salute； fixing us a moment with a penetrating
glance； and then resumed his meal。 I noticed that his sword and belt
were propped against a chair at his elbow； and a dag； apparently loaded；
lay close to his hand by the candlestick。 Two lackeys waited behind his
chair； wearing the badge we had remarked in the inn yard。
We began to talk； speaking in low tones that we might not disturb him。
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The attack on Coligny had； if true； its bearing on our own business。 For
if a Huguenot so great and famous and enjoying the king's special favour
still went in Paris in danger of his life； what must be the risk that such an
one as Pavannes ran？ We had hoped to find the city quiet。 If instead it
should be in a state of turmoil Bezers' chances were so much the better；
and ours and Kit's； poor Kit'sso much the worse。
Our companion had by this time finished his supper。 But he still sat
at table； and seemed to be regarding us with some curiosity。 At length he
spoke。 〃Are you going to Paris； young gentlemen？〃 he asked； his tone
harsh and high…pitched。
We answered in the affirmative。 〃To…morrow？〃 he questioned。
〃Yes；〃 we answered； and expected him to continue the conversation。
But instead he became silent； gazing abstractedly at the table； and what
with our meal； and our own talk we had almost forgotten him again； when
looking up； I found him at my elbow； holding out in silence a small piece
of paper。
I started his face was so grave。 But seeing that there were half…a…
dozen guests of a meaner sort at another table close by； I guessed that he
merely wished to make a private communication to us； and hastened to
take the paper and read it。 It contained a scrawl of four words only
〃Va chasser l'Idole。〃
No more。 I looked at him puzzled； able to make nothing out of it。
St。 Croix wrinkled his brow over it with the same result。 It was no good
handing it to Marie； therefore。
〃You do not understand？〃 the stranger continued； as he put the scrap
of paper back in his pouch。
〃No；〃 I answered； shaking my head。 We had all risen out of respect
to him； and were standing a little group about him。
〃Just so； it is all right then；〃 he answered； looking at us as it seemed to
me with grave good…nature。 〃It is nothing。 Go your way。 ButI have
a son yonder not much younger than you； young gentlemen。 And if you
had understood； I should have said to you； 'Do not go！ There are enough
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sheep for the shearer！'〃
He was turning away with this oracular saying
