the path of the king-第23节

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But　lo　and　behold！　the　gates　of　Paris　were　locked　to　him；　and　he　found　himself　interned　in　the　sweltering　city。

He　did　not　like　it。　There　was　an　ugly　smack　of　intrigue　in　the　air；　puzzling　to　a　plain　soldier。　Nor　did　he　like　the　look　of　the　streets　now　dim　in　the　twilight。　On　his　way　to　the　gates　they　had　been　crammed　like　a　barrel　of　salt　fish；　and　in　the　throng　there　had　been　as　many　armed　men　as　if　an　enemy　made　a　leaguer　beyond　the　walls。　There　had　been；　too；　a　great　number　of　sallow　southern　faces；　as　if　the　Queen…mother　had　moved　bodily　thither　a　city　of　her　countrymen。　But　now　as　the　dark　fell　the　streets　were　almost　empty。　The　houses　were　packed　to　burstinga　blur　of　white　faces　could　be　seen　at　the　windows；　and　every　entry　seemed　to　be　alive　with　silent　men。　But　in　the　streets　there　was　scarcely　a　soul　except　priests；　flitting　from　door　to　door；　even　stumbling　against　his　horse　in　their　preoccupation。　Black；　brown；　and　grey　crows；　they　made　Paris　like　Cartagena。　The　man's　face　took　a　very　grim　set　as　he　watched　these　birds　of　ill　omen。　What　in　God's　name　had　befallen　his　honest　France？　。　。　。　He　was　used　to　danger；　but　this　secret　massing　chilled　even　his　stout　heart。　It　was　like　a　wood　he　remembered　in　Florida　where　every　bush　had　held　an　Indian　arrow；　but　without　sight　or　sound　of　a　bowman。　There　was　hell　brewing　in　this　foul　cauldron　of　a　city。

He　stabled　his　horse　in　the　yard　in　the　Rue　du　Coq；　behind　the　glover's　house　where　he　had　lain　the　night　before。　Then　he　set　out　to　find　supper。　The　first　tavern　served　his　purpose。　Above　the　door　was　a　wisp　of　red　wool；　which　he　knew　for　the　Guise　colours。　Inside　he　looked　to　find　a　crowd；　but　there　was　but　one　other　guest。　Paris　that　night　had　business；　it　seemed；　which　did　not　lie　in　the　taverns。

That　other　guest　was　a　man　as　big　as　himself；　clad　wholly　in　black；　save　for　a　stiff　cambric　ruff　worn　rather　fuller　than　the　fashion。　He　was　heavily　booted；　and　sat　sideways　on　a　settle　with　his　left　hand　tucked　in　his　belt　and　a　great　right　elbow　on　the　board。　Something　in　his　pose；　half　rustic；　half　braggart；　seemed　familiar　to　Gaspard。　The　next　second　the　two　were　in　each　other's　arms。

〃Gawain　Champernoun！〃　cried　Gaspard。　〃When　I　left　you　by　the　Isle　of　Pines　I　never　hoped　to　meet　you　again　in　a　Paris　inn？　What's　your　errand；　man；　in　this　den　of　thieves？〃

〃Business　of　state；〃　the　Englishman　laughed。　〃I　have　been　with　Walsingham；　her　Majesty's　Ambassador；　and　looked　to　start　home　to…night。　But　your　city　is　marvellous　unwilling　to　part　with　her　guests。　What's　toward；　Gaspard？〃

〃For　me；　supper；〃　and　he　fell　with　zest　to　the　broiled　fowl　he　had　ordered。　The　other　sent　for　another　flask　of　the　wine　of　Anjou；　observing　that　he　had　a　plaguy　thirst。

〃I　think；〃　said　Gaspard；　at　last　raising　his　eyes　from　his　food；　〃that　Paris　will　be　unwholesome　to…night　for　decent　folk。〃

〃There's　a　murrain　of　friars　about；〃　said　Champernoun；　leisurely　picking　his　teeth。

〃The　place　hums　like　a　bee…hive　before　swarming。　Better　get　back　to　your　Ambassador；　Gawain。　There's　sanctuary　for　you　under　his　cloak。〃

The　Englishman　made　a　pellet　of　bread　and　flicked　it　at　the　other's　face。　〃I　may　have　to　box　your　ears；　old　friend。　Since　when　have　I　taken　to　shirking　a　fracas？　We　were　together　at　St。　John　d'Ulloa；　and　you　should　know　me　better。〃

〃Are　you　armed？〃　was　Gaspard's　next　question。

Champernoun　patted　his　sword。　〃Also　there　are　pistols　in　my　holsters。〃

〃You　have　a　horse；　then？〃

〃Stabled　within　twenty　yards。　My　rascally　groom　carried　a　message　to　Sir　Francis；　and　as　he　has　been　gone　over　an　hour；　I　fear　he　may　have　come　to　an　untimely　end。〃

〃Then　it　will　be　well　this　night　for　us　two　to　hold　together。　I　know　our　Paris　mob　and　there　is　nothing　crueller　out　of　hell。　The　pistolling　of　the　Admiral　de　Coligny　has　given　them　a　taste　of　blood；　and　they　may　have　a　fancy　for　killing　Luteranos。　Two　such　as　you　and　I；　guarding　each　other's　backs；　may　see　sport　before　morning；　and　haply　rid　the　world　of　a　few　miscreants。　What　say　you；　camerado？〃

〃Good。　But　what　account　shall　we　give　of　ourselves　if　someone　questions　us？〃

〃Why；　we　are　Spanish　esquires　in　the　train　of　King　Philip's　Mission。　Our　clothes　are　dark　enough　for　the　dons'　fashion；　and　we　both　speak　their　tongue　freely。　Behold　in　me　the　Senor　Juan　Gonzalez　de　Mendoza；　a　poor　knight　of　Castile；　most　earnest　in　the　cause　of　Holy　Church。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　the　Englishman　with　the　gusto　of　a　boy　in　a　game；　〃am　named　Rodriguez　de　Bobadilla。　I　knew　the　man；　who　is　dead；　and　his　brother　owes　me　ten　crowns。。。。　But　if　we　fall　in　with　the　Spanish　Ambassador's　gentlemen？〃

〃We　will　outface　them。〃

〃But　if　they　detect　the　imposture？〃

〃Why；　wring　their　necks。　You　are　getting　as　cautious　as　an　apple…wife；　Gawain。〃

〃When　I　set　out　on　a　business　I　like　to　weigh　it；　that　I　may　know　how　much　is　to　be　charged　to　my　own　wits　and　how　much　I　must　leave　to　God。　To…night　it　would　appear　that　the　Almighty　must　hold　us　very　tight　by　the　hand。　Well；　I　am　ready　when　I　have　I　drunk　another　cup　of　wine。〃　He　drew　his　sword　and　lovingly　fingered　its　edge；　whistling　all　the　while。

Gaspard　went　to　the　door　and　looked　into　the　street。　The　city　was　still　strangely　quiet。　No　roysterers　swaggered　home　along　the　pavements；　no　tramp　of　cuirassiers　told　of　the　passage　of　a　great　man。　But　again　he　had　the　sense　that　hot　fires　were　glowing　under　these　cold　ashes。　The　mist　had　lifted　and　the　stars　were　clear；　and　over　the　dark　mass　of　the　Louvre　a　great　planet　burned。　The　air　was　warm　and　stifling；　and　with　a　gesture　of　impatience　he　slammed　the　door。　By　now　he　ought　to　have　been　drinking　the　cool　night　on　the　downs　beyond　Oise。

The　Englishman　had　called　for　another　bottle；　and　it　was　served　in　the　empty　tavern　by　the　landlord　himself。　As　the　wine　was　brought　in　the　two　fell　to　talking　Spanish；　at　the　sound　of　which　the　man　visibly　started。　His　furtive　sulky　face　changed　to　a　sly　friendliness。　〃Your　excellencies　have　come　to　town　for　the　good　work；〃　he　said；　sidling　and　bowing。

With　a　more　than　Spanish　gravity　Gaspard　inclined　his　head。

〃When　does　it　start？〃　he　asked。

〃Ah；　that　we　common　folk　do　not　know。　But　there　will　be　a　signal。　Father　Antoine　has　promised　us　a　signal。　But　messieurs　have　not　badges。　Perhaps　they　do　not　need　them　for　their　faces　will　be　known。　Nevertheless　for　better　security　it　might　be　well。　。　。　。〃　He　stopped　with　the　air　of　a　huckster　crying　his　wares。

Gaspard　spoke　a　word　to　Champernoun　in　Spanish。　Then　to　the　landlord：　〃We　are　strangers；　so　must　bow　to　the　custom　of　your　city。　Have　you　a　man　to　send　to　the　Hotel　de　Guise？〃

〃Why　trouble　the　Duke；　my　lord？〃　was　the　answer。　〃See；　I　will　make　you　badges。〃

He　tore　up　a　napkin；　and　bound　two　white　strips　crosswise　on　their　left　arms；　and　pinned　a　rag　to　their　bonnets。　〃There；　messieurs；　you　are　now　wearing　honest　colours　for　all　to　see。　It　is　well；　for　presently　blood　will　be　hot　and　eyes　blind。〃

Gaspard　flung　him　a　piece　of　gold；　and　he　bowed　himself　out。　〃Bonne　fortune；　lordships；〃　were　his　parting　words。　〃'Twill　be　a　great　night　for　our　Lord　Christ　and　our　Lord　King。〃

〃And　his　lord　the　Devil；〃　said　Champernoun。　〃What　madness　has　taken　your　good　France？　These　are　Spanish　manners；　and　they　sicken　me。　Cockades　and　signals　and　such…like　flummery！〃

The　other's　face　had　grown　sober。　〃For　certain　hell　is　afoot　to…night。　It　is　the　Admiral　they　seek。　The　Guisards　and　their　reiters　and　a　pack　of　'prentices　maddened　by　sermons。　I　would　to　God　he　were　in　the　Palace　with　the　King　of　Navarre　and　the　young　Conde。〃

〃But　he　is　well　guarded。　I　heard　that　a　hundred　Huguenots'　swords　keep　watch　by　his　house。〃

〃Maybe。　But　we　of　the　religion　are　too　bold　and　too　trustful。　We　are　not　match　for　the　Guises　and　their　Italian　tricks。　I　think　we　will　go　to　Coligny's　lodgings。　Mounted；　for　a　man　on　a　horse　has　an　advantage　if　the　mob　are　out！〃

The　two　left　the　tavern；　both　sniffing　the　air　as　if　they　found　it　tainted。　The　streets　were　filling　now；　and　men　were　running　as　if　to　a　rendezvous；　running　hot…foot　without　speech　and　without　lights。　Most　wore　white　crosses　on　their　left　sleeve。　The　horses　waited；　already　saddled；　in　stables　not　a　furlong　apart；　and　it　was　the　work　of　a　minute　to　bridle　and　mount。　The　two　as　if　by　a　common　impulse　halted　their　beasts　at　the　mouth　of　the　Rue　du　Coq；　and　listened。　The　city　was　quiet　on　the　surface；　but　there　was　a　low　deep　undercurrent　of　sound；　like　the　soft　purring　of　a　lion　before　he　roars。　The　sky　was　bright　with　stars。　There　was　no　moon；　but　over　the　Isle　was　a　faint　tremulous　glow。

〃It　is　long　past　midnight；〃　said　Gaspard；　〃in　a　little　it　will　be　dawn。〃

Suddenly　a　shot　cracked　out。　It　was　so　sharp　a　sound　among　the　muffled　noises　that　it　stung　the　ear　like　a　whip…lash。　It　came　from　the　dark　mass　of　the　Louvre；　from　somewhere　beyond　the　Grand　Jardin。　It　was　followed　instantly　by　a　hubbub　far　down　the　Rue　St。　Honore　and　a　glare　kindled　where　that　street　joined　the　Rue　d'Arbre　Sec。

〃That　way　lies　the　Admiral；〃　Gaspard　cried。　〃I　go　to　him；〃　and　he　clapped　spurs　to　his　horse。

But　as　his　beast　leapt　forward　another　sound　broke　out；　coming　apparently　from　above　their　heads。　It　was　the　clanging　of　a　great　bell。

There　is