the path of the king-第26节

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Their　horses；　rested　and　fed；　carried　them　well　on　the　north　road；　but　by　ten　o'clock　they　had　overtaken　no　travellers；　save　a　couple　of　servants；　on　sorry　nags；　who　wore　the　Vidame　of　Amiens'　livery。　They　were　well　beyond　Oise　ere　they　saw　in　the　bottom　of　a　grassy　vale　a　little　knot　of　men。

〃I　make　out　six；〃　said　Champernoun；　who　had　a　falcon's　eye。　〃Two　priests　and　four　men…at…arms。　Reasonable　odds；　such　as　I　love。　Faith；　that　monk　travels　fast！〃

〃I　do　not　think　there　will　be　much　fighting；〃　said　Gaspard。

Twenty　minutes　later　they　rode　abreast　of　the　party；　which　at　first　had　wheeled　round　on　guard；　and　then　had　resumed　its　course　at　the　sight　of　the　white　armlets。　It　was　as　Champernoun　had　said。　Four　lusty　arquebusiers　escorted　the　Jacobin。　But　the　sixth　man　was　no　priest。　He　was　a　Huguenot　minister　whom　Gaspard　remembered　with　Conde's　army；　an　elderly　frail　man　bound　with　cruel　thongs　to　a　horse's　back　and　his　legs　tethered　beneath　its　belly。

Recognition　awoke　in　the　Jacobin's　eye。　〃Ah；　my　lords　of　Spain！　What　brings　you　northward？〃

Gaspard　was　by　his　side；　while　Champernoun　a　pace　behind　was　abreast　the　minister。

〃To　see　the　completion　of　the　good　work　begun　this。　morning。〃

〃You　have　come　the　right　road。　I　go　to　kindle　the　north　to　a　holy　emulation。　That　heretic　dog　behind　is　a　Picard；　and　I　bring　him　to　Amiens　that　he　may　perish　there　as　a　warning　to　his　countrymen。〃

〃So？〃　said　Gaspard；　and　at　the　word　the　Huguenot's　horse；　pricked　stealthily　by　Champernoun's　sword；　leaped　forward　and　dashed　in　fright　up　the　hill；　its　rider　sitting　stiff　as　a　doll　in　his　bonds。　The　Jacobin　cried　out　and　the　soldiers　made　as　if　to　follow；　but　Gaspard's　voice　checked　them。　〃Let　be。　The　beast　will　not　go　far。　I　have　matters　of　importance　to　discuss　with　this　reverend　father。〃

The　priest's　face　sharpened　with　a　sudden　suspicion。　〃Your　manners　are　somewhat　peremptory；　sir　Spaniard。　But　speak　and　let　us　get　on。〃

〃I　have　only　the　one　word。　I　told　you　we　had　come　north　to　see　the　fruition　of　the　good　work；　and　you　approved。　We　do　not　mean　the　same。　By　good　work　I　mean　that　about　sunrise　I　slew　with　this　sword　the　man　Petrucci；　who　slew　the　Admiral。　By　its　fruition　I　mean　that　I　have　come　to　settle　with　you。〃

〃You　。　。　。？〃　the　other　stammered。

〃I　am　Gaspard　de　Laval；　a　kinsman　and　humble　follower　of　Goligny。〃

The　Jacobin　was　no　coward。　〃Treason！〃　he　cried。　〃A　Huguenot！　Cut　them　down；　my　men；〃　and　he　drew　a　knife　from　beneath　his　robe。

But　Gaspard's　eye　and　voice　checked　the　troopers。　He　held　in　his　hand　the　gold　trinket。　〃I　have　no　quarrel　with　you。　This　is　the　passport　of　your　leader；　the　Duke。　I　show　it　to　you；　and　if　you　are　questioned　about　this　day's　work　you　can　reply　that　you　took　your　orders　from　him　who　carried　Guise's　jewel。　Go　your　ways　back　to　Paris　if　you　would　avoid　trouble。〃

Two　of　the　men　seemed　to　waver；　but　the　maddened　cry　of　the　priest　detained　them。　〃They　seek　to　murder　me；〃　he　screamed。　〃Would　you　desert　God's　Church　and　burn　in　torment　for　ever？〃　He　hurled　himself　on　Gaspard；　who　caught　his　wrist　so　that　the　knife　tinkled　on　the　high　road　while　the　man　overbalanced　himself　and　fell。　The　next　second　the　mellay　had　begun。

It　did　not　last　long。　The　troopers　were　heavy　fellows；　cumbrously　armed；　who；　even　with　numbers　on　their　side；　stood　little　chance　against　two　swift　swordsmen；　who　had　been　trained　to　fight　together　against　odds。　One　Gaspard　pulled　from　the　saddle　so　that　he　lay　senseless　on　the　ground。　One　Champernoun　felled　with　a　sword　cut　of　which　no　morion　could　break　the　force。　The　two　others　turned　tail　and　fled；　and　the　last　seen　of　them　was　a　dust　cloud　on　the　road　to　Paris。

Gaspard　had　not　drawn　his　sword。　They　stood　by　the　bridge　of　a　little　river；　and　he　flung　Guise's　jewel　far　into　its　lilied　waters。

〃A　useful　bauble；〃　he　smiled；　〃but　its　purpose　is　served。〃

The　priest　stood　in　the　dust；　with　furious　eyes　burning　in　an　ashen　face。

〃What　will　you　do　with　me？〃

〃This　has　been　your　day　of　triumph；　father。　I　would　round　it　off　worthily　by　helping　you　to　a　martyr's　crown。　Gawain；〃　and　he　turned　to　his　companion；　〃go　up　the　road　and　fetch　me　the　rope　which　binds　the　minister。〃

The　runaway　was　feeding　peaceably　by　the　highway。　Champernoun　cut　the　old　man's　bonds；　and　laid　him　fainting　on　the　grass。　He　brought　back　with　him　a　length　of　stout　cord。

〃Let　the　brute　live；〃　he　said。　〃Duck　him　and　truss　him　up；　but　don't　dirty　your　hands　with　him。　I'd　as　lief　kill　a　woman　as　a　monk。〃

But　Gaspard's　smiling　face　was　a　rock。　〃This　is　no　Englishman's　concern。　To…day's　shame　is　France's　and　a　Frenchman　alone　can　judge　it。　Innocent　blood　is　on　this　man's　hands；　and　it　is　for　me　to　pay　the　first　instalment　of　justice。　The　rest　I　leave　to　God。〃

So　when　an　hour　later　the　stunned　troopers　recovered　their　senses　they　found　a　sight　which　sent　them　to　their　knees　to　patter　prayers。　For　over　the　arch　of　the　bridge　dangled　the　corpse　of　the　Jacobin。　And　on　its　breast　it　bore　a　paper　setting　forth　that　this　deed　had　been　done　by　Gaspard　de　Laval；　and　the　Latin　words　〃O　si　sic　omnes！〃

Meantime　far　up　in　the　folds　of　the　Santerre　a　little　party　was　moving　through　the　hot　afternoon。　The　old　Huguenot；　shaken　still　by　his　rough　handling；　rode　as　if　in　a　trance。　Once　he　roused　himself　and　asked　about　the　monk。

〃I　hanged　him　like　a　mad　dog；〃　said　Gaspard。

The　minister　shook　his　head。　〃Violence　will　not　cure　violence。〃

〃Nay；　but　justice　may　follow　crime。　I　am　no　Nicodemite。　This　day　I　have　made　public　confession　of　my　faith；　and　abide　the　consequences。　From　this　day　I　am　an　exile　from　France　so　long　as　it　pleases　God　to　make　His　Church　an　anvil　for　the　blows　of　His　enemies。〃

〃I；　too；　am　an　exile；〃　said　the　old　man。　〃If　I　come　safe　to　Calais　I　shall　take　ship　for　Holland　and　find　shelter　with　the　brethren　there。　You　have　preserved　my　life　for　a　few　more　years　in　my　blaster's　vineyard。

You　say　truly；　young　sir；　that　God's　Church　is　now　an　anvil；　but　remember　for　your　consolation　that　it　is　an　anvil　which　has　worn　out　many　hammers。〃

Late　in　the　evening　they　came　over　a　ridge　and　looked　down　on　a　shallow　valley　all　green　and　gold　in　the　last　light。　A　slender　river　twined　by　alder　and　willow　through　the　meadows。　Gaspard　reined　in　his　horse　and　gazed　on　the　place　with　a　hand　shading　his　eyes。

〃I　have　slain　a　man　to　my　hurt；〃　he　said。　〃See；　there　are　my　new　fishponds　half　made；　and　the　herb　garden；　and　the　terrace　that　gets　the　morning　sun。　There　is　the　lawn　which　I　called　my　quarter…deck；　the　place　to　walk　of　an　evening。　Farewell；　my　little　grey　dwelling。〃

Champernoun　laid　a　kindly　hand　on　his　shoulder。

〃We　will　find　you　the　mate　of　it　in　Devon；　old　friend；〃　he　said。

But　Gaspard　was　not　listening。　〃Eaucourt　by　the　waters；〃　he　repeated　like　the　refrain　of　a　song；　and　his　eyes　were　full　of　tears。



CHAPTER　8。　THE　HIDDEN　CITY

The　two　ports　of　the　cabin　were　discs　of　scarlet；　that　pure　translucent　colour　which　comes　from　the　reflection　of　sunset　in　leagues　of　still　water。　The　ship　lay　at　anchor　under　the　high　green　scarp　of　an　island；　but　on　the　side　of　the　ports　no　land　was　visibleonly　a　circle　in　which　sea　and　sky　melted　into　the　quintessence　of　light。　The　air　was　very　hot　and　very　quiet。　Inside　a　lamp　had　been　lit；　for　in　those　latitudes　night　descends　like　a　thunderclap。　Its　yellow　glow　joined　with　the　red　evening　to　cast　orange　shadows。　On　the　wall　opposite　the　ports　was　a　small　stand　of　arms；　and　beside　it　a　picture　of　the　Magdalen；　one　of　two　presented　to　the　ship　by　Lord　Huntingdon；　the　other　had　been　given　to　the　wife　of　the　Governor　of　Gomera　in　the　Canaries　when　she　sent　fruit　and　sugar　to　the　voyagers。　Underneath　on　a　couch　heaped　with　deerskins　lay　the　Admiral。

The　fantastic　light　revealed　every　line　of　the　man　as　cruelly　as　spring　sunshine。　It　showed　a　long　lean　face　cast　in　a　high　mould　of　pride。　The　jaw　and　cheekbones　were　delicate　and　hard；　the　straight　nose　and　the　strong　arch　of　the　brows　had　the　authority　of　one　who　all　his　days　had　been　used　to　command。　But　age　had　descended　on　this　pride；　age　and　sickness。　The　peaked　beard　was　snowy　white；　and　the　crisp　hair　had　thinned　from　the　forehead。　The　forehead　itself　was　high　and　broad；　crossed　with　an　infinity　of　small　furrows。　The　cheeks　were　sallow；　with　a　patch　of　faint　colour　showing　as　if　from　a　fever。　The　heavy　eyelids　were　grey　like　a　parrot's。　It　was　the　face　of　a　man　ailing　both　in　mind　and　body。　But　in　two　features　youth　still　lingered。　The　lips　under　their　thatch　of　white　moustache　were　full　and　red；　and　the　eyes；　of　some　colour　between　blue　and　grey；　had　for　all　their　sadness　a　perpetual　flicker　of　quick　fire。

He　shivered；　for　he　was　recovering　from　the　fifth　fever　he　had　had　since　he　left　Plymouth。　The　ailment　was　influenza；　and　he　called　it　a　calenture。　He　was　richly　dressed；　as　was　his　custom　even　in　outlandish　places；　and　the　furred　robe　which　he　drew　closer　round　his　shoulders　hid　a　doublet　of　fine　maroon　velvet。　For　comfort　he　wore　a　loose　collar　and　band　instead　of　his　usual　cut　ruff。　He　stretched　out　his　hand　to　the　table　at　his　elbow　where　lay　the　Latin　version　of　his　Discovery　of　Guiana；　of　which　he　had　been　turning　the　pages；　and　beside　it　a　glass　of　whisky；　almos