volume01-第20节

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'Alas！　Monsieur；　a　poor　Man　with　a　large　family　must　not　lose　certain　profit　because　'tis　attended　with　a　little　danger；　and　perhaps　my　Lord　the　Baron　may　give　me　a　trifle　for　my　pains。　　Besides；　I　have　nothing　to　lose　except　my　life；　and　that　will　not　be　worth　the　Robbers　taking。'

I　thought　his　arguments　bad；　and　advised　his　waiting　till　the　Morning；　But　as　the　Baroness　did　not　second　me；　I　was　obliged　to　give　up　the　point。　　The　Baroness　Lindenberg；　as　I　found　afterwards；　had　long　been　accustomed　to　sacrifice　the　interests　of　others　to　her　own；　and　her　wish　to　send　Claude　to　Strasbourg　blinded　her　to　the　danger　of　the　undertaking。　　Accordingly；　it　was　resolved　that　He　should　set　out　without　delay。　　The　Baroness　wrote　her　letter　to　her　Husband；　and　I　sent　a　few　lines　to　my　Banker；　apprising　him　that　I　should　not　be　at　Strasbourg　till　the　next　day。　　Claude　took　our　letters；　and　left　the　Cottage。

The　Lady　declared　herself　much　fatigued　by　her　journey：　　Besides　having　come　from　some　distance；　the　Drivers　had　contrived　to　lose　their　way　in　the　Forest。　　She　now　addressed　herself　to　Marguerite；　desiring　to　be　shown　to　her　chamber；　and　permitted　to　take　half　an　hour's　repose。　　One　of　the　Waiting…women　was　immediately　summoned；　She　appeared　with　a　light；　and　the　Baroness　followed　her　up　stairs。　　The　cloth　was　spreading　in　the　chamber　where　I　was；　and　Marguerite　soon　gave　me　to　understand　that　I　was　in　her　way。　　Her　hints　were　too　broad　to　be　easily　mistaken；　I　therefore　desired　one　of　the　young　Men　to　conduct　me　to　the　chamber　where　I　was　to　sleep；　and　where　I　could　remain　till　supper　was　ready。

'Which　chamber　is　it；　Mother？'　said　Robert。

'The　One　with　green　hangings；'　She　replied；　'I　have　just　been　at　the　trouble　of　getting　it　ready；　and　have　put　fresh　sheets　upon　the　Bed；　If　the　Gentleman　chooses　to　lollop　and　lounge　upon　it；　He　may　make　it　again　himself　for　me。'

'You　are　out　of　humour；　Mother；　but　that　is　no　novelty。　　Have　the　goodness　to　follow　me；　Monsieur。'

He　opened　the　door；　and　advanced　towards　a　narrow　staircase。

'You　have　got　no　light！'　said　Marguerite；　'Is　it　your　own　neck　or　the　Gentleman's　that　you　have　a　mind　to　break？'

She　crossed　by　me；　and　put　a　candle　into　Robert's　hand；　having　received　which；　He　began　to　ascend　the　staircase。　　Jacques　was　employed　in　laying　the　cloth；　and　his　back　was　turned　towards　me。

Marguerite　seized　the　moment；　when　we　were　unobserved。　　She　caught　my　hand；　and　pressed　it　strongly。

'Look　at　the　Sheets！'　said　She　as　She　passed　me；　and　immediately　resumed　her　former　occupation。

Startled　by　the　abruptness　of　her　action；　I　remained　as　if　petrified。　　Robert's　voice；　desiring　me　to　follow　him；　recalled　me　to　myself。　　I　ascended　the　staircase。　　My　conductor　ushered　me　into　a　chamber；　where　an　excellent　wood…fire　was　blazing　upon　the　hearth。　　He　placed　the　light　upon　the　Table；　enquired　whether　I　had　any　further　commands；　and　on　my　replying　in　the　negative；　He　left　me　to　myself。　　You　may　be　certain　that　the　moment　when　I　found　myself　alone　was　that　on　which　I　complied　with　Marguerite's　injunction。　　I　took　the　candle；　hastily　approached　the　Bed；　and　turned　down　the　Coverture。　　What　was　my　astonishment；　my　horror；　at　finding　the　sheets　crimsoned　with　blood！

At　that　moment　a　thousand　confused　ideas　passed　before　my　imagination。　　The　Robbers　who　infested　the　Wood；　Marguerite's　exclamation　respecting　her　Children；　the　arms　and　appearance　of　the　two　young　Men；　and　the　various　Anecdotes　which　I　had　heard　related；　respecting　the　secret　correspondence　which　frequently　exists　between　Banditti　and　Postillions；　all　these　circumstances　flashed　upon　my　mind；　and　inspired　me　with　doubt　and　apprehension。　　I　ruminated　on　the　most　probable　means　of　ascertaining　the　truth　of　my　conjectures。　　Suddenly　I　was　aware　of　Someone　below　pacing　hastily　backwards　and　forwards。　　Every　thing　now　appeared　to　me　an　object　of　suspicion。　　With　precaution　I　drew　near　the　window；　which；　as　the　room　had　been　long　shut　up；　was　left　open　in　spite　of　the　cold。　　I　ventured　to　look　out。　　The　beams　of　the　Moon　permitted　me　to　distinguish　a　Man；　whom　I　had　no　difficulty　to　recognize　for　my　Host。　　I　watched　his　movements。

He　walked　swiftly；　then　stopped；　and　seemed　to　listen：　　He　stamped　upon　the　ground；　and　beat　his　stomach　with　his　arms　as　if　to　guard　himself　from　the　inclemency　of　the　season。　　At　the　least　noise；　if　a　voice　was　heard　in　the　lower　part　of　the　House；　if　a　Bat　flitted　past　him；　or　the　wind　rattled　amidst　the　leafless　boughs；　He　started；　and　looked　round　with　anxiety。

'Plague　take　him！'　said　He　at　length　with　impatience；　'What　can　He　be　about！'

He　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　but　as　He　was　just　below　my　window；　I　had　no　difficulty　to　distinguish　his　words。

I　now　heard　the　steps　of　one　approaching。　　Baptiste　went　towards　the　sound；　He　joined　a　man；　whom　his　low　stature　and　the　Horn　suspended　from　his　neck；　declared　to　be　no　other　than　my　faithful　Claude；　whom　I　had　supposed　to　be　already　on　his　way　to　Strasbourg。　　Expecting　their　discourse　to　throw　some　light　upon　my　situation；　I　hastened　to　put　myself　in　a　condition　to　hear　it　with　safety。　　For　this　purpose　I　extinguished　the　candle；　which　stood　upon　a　table　near　the　Bed：　　The　flame　of　the　fire　was　not　strong　enough　to　betray　me；　and　I　immediately　resumed　my　place　at　the　window。

The　objects　of　my　curiosity　had　stationed　themselves　directly　under　it。　　I　suppose　that　during　my　momentary　absence　the　Wood…man　had　been　blaming　Claude　for　tardiness；　since　when　I　returned　to　the　window；　the　latter　was　endeavouring　to　excuse　his　fault。

'However；'　added　He；　'my　diligence　at　present　shall　make　up　for　my　past　delay。'

'On　that　condition；'　answered　Baptiste；　'I　shall　readily　forgive　you。　　But　in　truth　as　you　share　equally　with　us　in　our　prizes；　your　own　interest　will　make　you　use　all　possible　diligence。　　'Twould　be　a　shame　to　let　such　a　noble　booty　escape　us！　　You　say；　that　this　Spaniard　is　rich？'

'His　Servant　boasted　at　the　Inn；　that　the　effects　in　his　Chaise　were　worth　above　two　thousand　Pistoles。'

Oh！　how　I　cursed　Stephano's　imprudent　vanity！

'And　I　have　been　told；'　continued　the　Postillion；　'that　this　Baroness　carries　about　her　a　casket　of　jewels　of　immense　value。'

'May　be　so；　but　I　had　rather　She　had　stayed　away。　　The　Spaniard　was　a　secure　prey。　　The　Boys　and　myself　could　easily　have　mastered　him　and　his　Servant；　and　then　the　two　thousand　Pistoles　would　have　been　shared　between　us　four。　　Now　we　must　let　in　the　Band　for　a　share；　and　perhaps　the　whole　Covey　may　escape　us。　Should　our　Friends　have　betaken　themselves　to　their　different　posts　before　you　reach　the　Cavern；　all　will　be　lost。　　The　Lady's　Attendants　are　too　numerous　for　us　to　overpower　them：　　Unless　our　Associates　arrive　in　time；　we　must　needs　let　these　Travellers　set　out　tomorrow　without　damage　or　hurt。'

'　'Tis　plaguy　unlucky　that　my　Comrades　who　drove　the　Coach　should　be　those　unacquainted　with　our　Confederacy！　　But　never　fear；　Friend　Baptiste。　　An　hour　will　bring　me　to　the　Cavern；　It　is　now　but　ten　o'clock；　and　by　twelve　you　may　expect　the　arrival　of　the　Band。　　By　the　bye；　take　care　of　your　Wife：　　You　know　how　strong　is　her　repugnance　to　our　mode　of　life；　and　She　may　find　means　to　give　information　to　the　Lady's　Servants　of　our　design。'

'Oh！　I　am　secure　of　her　silence；　She　is　too　much　afraid　of　me；　and　fond　of　her　children；　to　dare　to　betray　my　secret。　　Besides；　Jacques　and　Robert　keep　a　strict　eye　over　her；　and　She　is　not　permitted　to　set　a　foot　out　of　the　Cottage。　　The　Servants　are　safely　lodged　in　the　Barn；　I　shall　endeavour　to　keep　all　quiet　till　the　arrival　of　our　Friends。　　Were　I　assured　of　your　finding　them；　the　Strangers　should　be　dispatched　this　instant；　But　as　it　is　possible　for　you　to　miss　the　Banditti；　I　am　fearful　of　being　summoned　to　produce　them　by　their　Domestics　in　the　Morning。'

'And　suppose　either　of　the　Travellers　should　discover　your　design？'

'Then　we　must　poignard　those　in　our　power；　and　take　our　chance　about　mastering　the　rest。　　However；　to　avoid　running　such　a　risque；　hasten　to　the　Cavern：　　The　Banditti　never　leave　it　before　eleven；　and　if　you　use　diligence；　you　may　reach　it　in　time　to　stop　them。'

'Tell　Robert　that　I　have　taken　his　Horse：　　My　own　has　broken　his　bridle；　and　escaped　into　the　Wood。　　What　is　the　watch…word？'

'The　reward　of　Courage。'

'　'Tis　sufficient。　　I　hasten　to　the　Cavern。'

'And　I　to　rejoin　my　Guests；　lest　my　absence　should　create　suspicion。　　Farewell；　and　be　diligent。'

These　worthy　Associates　now　separated：　　The　One　bent　his　course　towards　the　Stable；　while　the　Other　returned　to　the　House。

You　may　judge；　what　must　have　been　my　feelings　during　this　conversation；　of　which　I　lost　not　a　single　syllable。　　I　dared　not　trust　myself　to　my　reflections；　nor　did　any　means　present　itself　to　escape　the　dangers　which　threatened　me。　　Resistance；　I　knew　to　be　vain；　I　was　unarmed；　and　a　single　Man　against　Three：　　However；　I　resolved　at　least　to　sell　my　life　as　dearly　as　I　could。　Dreading　lest　Baptiste　should　perceive　my　absence；　and　suspect　me　to　have　overheard　the　message　with　which　Claude　was　dispatched；　I　hastily　relighted　my　candle　and　quitted　the　chamber。　　On　descending；　I　found　the　Table　spread　for　six　Persons。　　The　Barone