the path of the king-第24节

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　was　the　clanging　of　a　great　bell。

There　is　no　music　so　dominant　as　bells。　Their　voice　occupies　sky　as　well　as　earth；　and　they　overwhelm　the　senses；　so　that　a　man's　blood　must　keep　pace　with　their　beat。　They　can　suit　every　part；　jangling　in　wild　joy；　or　copying　the　slow　pace　of　sorrow；　or　pealing　in　ordered　rhythm；　blithe　but　with　a　warning　of　mortality　in　their　cadence。　But　this　bell　played　dance　music。　It　summoned　to　an　infernal　jig。　Blood　and　fever　were　in　its　broken　fall；　hate　and　madness　and　death。

Gaspard　checked　his　plunging　horse。　〃By　God；　it　is　from　St。　Germains　l'Auxerrois！　The　Palace　church。　The　King　is　in　it。　It　is　a　plot　against　our　faith。　They　have　got　the　pick　of　us　in　their　trap　and　would　make　an　end　of　us。〃

》From　every　house　and　entry　men　and　women　and　priests　were　pouring　to　swell　the　army　that　pressed　roaring　eastwards。　No　one　heeded　the　two　as　they　sat　their　horses　like　rocks　in　the　middle　of　a　torrent。

〃The　Admiral　is　gone；〃　said　Gaspard　with　a　sob　in　his　voice。　〃Our　few　hundred　spears　cannot　stand　against　the　King's　army。　It　remains　for　us　to　die　with　him。〃

Champernoun　was　cursing　steadily　in　a　mixture　of　English　and　Spanish；　good　mouth…filling　oaths　delivered　without　heat。　〃Die　we　doubtless　shall；　but　not　before　we　have　trounced　this　bloody　rabble。〃

Still　Gaspard　did　not　move。　〃After　to…night　there　will　be　no　gentlemen　left　in　France；　for　we　of　the　religion　had　all　the　breeding。　Then　he　laughed　bitterly。　〃I　mind　Ribaut's　last　words；　when　Menendez　slew　him。　'We　are　of　earth；'　says　he；　'and　to　earth　we　must　return；　and　twenty　years　more　or　less　can　matter　little！'　That　is　our　case　to…night；　old　friend。〃

〃Maybe；〃　said　the　Englishman。　〃But　why　talk　of　dying？　You　and　I　are　Spanish　caballeros。　Walsingham　told　me　that　the　King　hated　that　nation；　and　that　the　Queen…mother　loved　it　not；　but　it　would　appear　that　now　we　are　very　popular　in　Paris。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　this　is　no　time　to　play　the　Nicodemite。　It　is　the　hour　for　public　confession　〃I'm　off　to　the　dead　Admiral　to　avenge　him　on　his　assassins。〃

〃Softly；　Gaspard。　You　and　I　are　old　companions　in　war；　and　we　do　not　ride　against　a　stone　wall　if　there　be　a　gate。　It　was　not　thus　that　Gourgues　avenged　Ribaut　at　St。　John's。　Let　us　thank　God　that　we　hold　a　master　card　in　this　game。　We　are　two　foxes　in　a　flock　of　angry　roosters；　and　by　the　Lord's　grace　we　will　take　our　toll　of　them。　Cunning；　my　friend。　A　stratagem　of　war！　We　stand　outside　this　welter　and；　having　only　the　cold　passion　of　revenge；　can　think　coolly。　God's　truth；　man；　have　we　fought　the　Indian　and　the　Spaniard　for　nothing？　Wily　is　the　word。　｜　Are　we　two　gentlemen；　who　fear　God；　to　be　worsted　by　a　rabble　of　Papegots　and　Marannes？〃

It　was　the　word　〃Marannes；〃　or；　as　we　say；　〃halfcastes；〃　which　brought　conviction　to　Gaspard。　Suddenly　he　saw　his　enemies　as　less　formidable；　as　something　contemptiblethings　of　a　lower　breed；　dupers　who　might　themselves　be　duped。

〃Faith；　Gawain；　you　are　the　true　campaigner。　Let　us　forward；　and　trust　to　Heaven　to　show　us　a　road。〃

They　galloped　down　the　Rue　St。　Honore；　finding　an　open　space　in　the　cobbles　of　the　centre；　but　at　the　turning　into　the　Rue　d'Arbre　Sec　they　met　a　block。　A　great　throng　with　torches　was　coming　in　on　the　right　from　the　direction　of　the　Bourbon　and　d'Alencon　hotels。　Yet　by　pressing　their　horses　with　whip　and　spur；　and　by　that　awe　which　the　two　tall　dark　cavaliers　inspired　even　in　a　mob　which　had　lost　its　wits；　they　managed　to　make　their　way　to　the　entrance　of　the　Rue　de　Bethisy。　There　they　came　suddenly　upon　quiet。

The　crowd　was　held　back　by　mounted　men　who　made　a　ring　around　the　gate　of　a　high　dark　building。　Inside　its　courtyard　there　were　cries　and　the　rumour　of　fighting；　but　out　in　the　street　there　was　silence。　Every　eye　was　turned　to　the　archway；　which　was　bright　as　day　with　the　glare　of　fifty　lanterns。

The　two　rode　straight　to　the　ring　of　soldiers。

〃Make　way；〃　Gaspard　commanded；　speaking　with　a　foreign　accent。

〃For　whom；　monsieur？〃　one　asked　who　seemed　to　be　of　a　higher　standing　than　the　rest。

〃For　the　Ambassador　of　the　King　of　Spain。〃

The　man　touched　his　bonnet　and　opened　up　a　road　by　striking　the　adjacent　horses　with　the　flat　of　his　sword；　and　the　two　rode　into　the　ring　so　that　they　faced　the　archway。　They　could　see　a　little　way　inside　the　courtyard；　where　the　light　gleamed　on　armour。　The　men　there　were　no　rabble；　but　Guise's　Swiss。

A　priest　came　out；　wearing　the　Jacobin　habit；　one　of　those　preaching　friars　who　had　been　fevering　the　blood　of　Paris。　The　crowd　behind　the　men…at…arms　knew　him；　for　even　in　its　absorption　it　sent　up　shouts　of　greeting。　He　flitted　like　a　bat　towards　Gaspard　and　Champernoun　and　peered　up　at　them。　His　face　was　lean　and　wolfish；　with　cruel　arrogant　eyes。

〃Hail；　father！〃　said　Gaspard　in　Spanish。　〃How　goes　the　good　work？〃

He　replied　in　the　same　tongue。　〃Bravely；　my　children。　But　this　is　but　the　beginning。　Are　you　girt　and　ready　for　the　harvesting？〃

〃We　are　ready；〃　said　Gaspard。　His　voice　shook　with　fury；　but　the　Jacobin　took　it　for　enthusiasm。　He　held　up　his　hand　in　blessing　and　fluttered　back　to　the　archway。

》From　inside　the　courtyard　came　the　sound　of　something　falling；　and　then　a　great　shout。　The　mob　had　jumped　to　a　conclusion。　〃That　is　the　end　of　old　Toothpick；〃　a　voice　cried；　using　the　Admiral's　nickname　There　was　a　wild　surge　round　the　horsemen；　but　the　ring　held。　A　body　of　soldiers　poured　out　of　the　gate；　with　blood　on　their　bare　swords。　Among　them　was　one　tall　fellow　all　in　armour；　with　a　broken　plume　on　his　bonnet。　His　face　was　torn　and　disfigured　and　he　was　laughing　horribly。　The　Jacobin　rushed　to　embrace　him；　and　the　man　dropped　on　his　knees　to　receive　a　blessing。

〃Behold　our　hero；〃　the　friar　cried。　〃His　good　blade　has　rid　us　of　the　arch…heretic；〃　and　the　mob　took　up　the　shout。

Gaspard　was　cool　now。　His　fury　had　become　a　cold　thing　like　a　glacier。

〃I　know　him！〃　he　whispered　to　Champernoun。　He　is　the　Italian　Petrucci。　He　is　our　first　quarry。〃

The　second　will　be　that　damned　friar；〃　was　the　Englishman's　answer。

Suddenly　the　ring　of　men…at…arms　drew　inward　as　a　horseman　rode　out　of　the　gate　followed　by　half　a　dozen　attendants。　He　was　a　tall　young　man；　very　noble　to　look　upon；　with　a　flushed　face　like　a　boy　warm　from　the　game　of　paume。　His　long　satin　coat　was　richly　embroidered；　and　round　his　neck　hung　the　thick　gold　collar　of　some　Order。　He　was　wiping　a　stain　from　his　sleeve　with　a　fine　lawn　handkerchief。

What　is　that　thing　gilt　like　a　chalice？〃　whispered　Champernoun。

〃Henry　of　Guise；〃　said　Gaspard。

The　Duke　caught　sight　of　the　two　men　in　the　centre　of　the　ring。　The　lanterns　made　the　whole　place　bright　and　he　could　see　every　detail　of　their　dress　and　bearing。　He　saluted　them　courteously。

〃We　make　your　Grace　our　compliments；〃　said　Gaspard。　〃We　are　of　the　household　of　the　Ambassador　of　Spain；　and　could　not　rest　indoors　when　great　deeds　were　being　done　in　the　city。〃

The　young　man　smiled　pleasantly。　There　was　a　boyish　grace　in　his　gesture。

〃You　are　welcome；　gentlemen。　I　would　have　every　good　Catholic　in　Europe　see　with　his　own　eyes　the　good　work　of　this　Bartholomew's　day。　I　would　ask　you　to　ride　with　me；　but　I　leave　the　city　in　pursuit　of　the　Count　of　Montgomery；　who　is　rumoured　to　have　escaped。　There　will　be　much　for　you　to　see　on　this　happy　Sunday。　But　stay！　You　are　not　attended；　and　our　streets　are　none　too　safe　for　strangers。　Presently　the　Huguenots　will　counterfeit　our　white　cross；　and　blunders　may　be　made　by　the　overzealous。〃

He　unclasped　the　jewel　which　hung　at　the　end　of　his　chain。　It　was　a　little　Agnus　of　gold　and　enamel；　surmounting　a　lozenge…shaped　shield　charged　with　an　eagle。

〃Take　this；〃　he　said；　〃and　return　it　to　me　when　the　work　is　over。　Show　it　if　any　man　dares　to　question　you。　It　is　a　passport　from　Henry　of　Guise。。。。　And　now　forward；〃　he　cried　to　his　followers。　〃Forward　for　Montgomery　and　the　Vidame。〃

The　two　looked　after　the　splendid　figure。　〃That　bird　is　in　fine　feather；〃　said　Champernoun。

Gaspard's　jaw　was　very　grim。　〃Some　day　he　will　lie　huddled　under　the　assassin's　knife。　He　will　die　as　he　has　made　my　chief　die；　and　his　body　will　be　cast　to　the　dog's。。。。

But　he　has　given　me　a　plan；〃　and　he　spoke　in　his　companion's　ear。

The　Englishman　laughed。　His　stolidity　had　been　slow　to　quicken；　but　his　eyes　were　now　hot　and　he　had　altogether　ceased　to　swear。

〃First　let　me　get　back　to　Walsingham's　lodging。　I　have　a　young　kinsman　there；　they　call　him　Walter　Raleigh；　who　would　dearly　love　this　venture。〃

〃Tut；　man；　be　serious。　We　play　a　desperate　game；　and　there　is　no　place　for　boys　in　it。　We　have　Guise's　jewel；　and　by　the　living　God　we　will　use　it。　My　mark　is　Petrucci。〃

〃And　the　priest；〃　said　Champernoun。

The　crowd　in　the　Rue　de　Bethisy　was　thinning；　as　bands　of　soldiers；　each　with　its　tail　of　rabble；　moved　off　to　draw　other　coverts。　There　was　fighting　still　in　many　houses；　and　on　the　roof…tops　as　the　pale　dawn　spread　could　be　seen　the　hunt　for　fugitives。　Torches　and　lanterns　still　flickered　obscenely；　and　the　blood　in　the　gutters　shone　sometimes　golden　in　their　glare　and　sometimes　spread　drab　and　horrid　in　the　waxing　daylight。

The　Jacobin　stood　at　their　elbow。　〃Follow　me；　my　lords　of　Spain；〃　he　cried。　〃N