la constantin-第7章

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he　joy　of　having　served　you；　will　be　my　consolation。〃

Angelique　raised　her　beautiful　eyes；　and　gave　the　chevalier　a　long　look　which　expressed　her　gratitude　more　eloquently　than　words。

〃May　I　be　hanged！〃　thought　Maitre　Quennebert；　〃if　the　baggage　isn't　making　eyes　at　him　already！　　But　one　who　is　drowning　clutches　at　a　straw。〃

〃Enough；　madam；〃　said　the　chevalier；　〃I　understand　all　you　would　say。　You　thank　me　in　his　name；　and　ask　me　to　leave　you：　I　obey…yes；　madame；　I　am　going；　at　the　risk　of　my　life　I　will　prevent　this　meeting；　I　will　stifle　this　fatal　revelation。　　But　grant　me　one　last　prayer…permit　me　to　look　forward　to　seeing　you　once　more　before　I　leave　this　city；　to　which　I　wish　I　had　never　come。　　But　I　shall　quit　it　in　a　day　or　two；　to…morrow　perhapsas　soon　as　I　know　that　your　happiness　is　assured。　　Oh！　　do　not　refuse　my　last　request；　let　the　light　of　your　eyes　shine　on　me　for　the　last　time；　after　that　I　shall　departI　shall　fly　far　away　for　ever。　　But　if　perchance；　in　spite　of　every　effort；　I　fail；　if　the　commander's　jealousy　should　make　him　impervious　to　my　entreatiesto　my　tears；　if　he　whom　you　love　should　come　and　overwhelm　you　with　reproaches　and　then　abandon　you；　would　you　drive　me　from　your　presence　if　I　should　then　say；　'I　love　you'？　Answer　me；　I　beseech　you。〃

〃Go！〃　said　she；　〃and　prove　worthy　of　my　gratitudeor　my　love。〃

Seizing　one　of　her　hands；　the　chevalier　covered　it　with　passionate　kisses。

〃Such　barefaced　impudence　surpasses　everything　I　could　have　imagined！〃　murmured　Quennebert：　〃fortunately；　the　play　is　over　for　to…night；　if　it　had　gone　on　any　longer；　I　should　have　done　something　foolish。　　The　lady　hardly　imagines　what　the　end　of　the　comedy　will　be。〃

Neither　did　Quennebert。　　It　was　an　evening　of　adventures。　　It　was　written　that　in　the　space　of　two　hours　Angelique　was　to　run　the　gamut　of　all　the　emotions；　experience　all　the　vicissitudes　to　which　a　life　such　as　she　led　is　exposed：　hope；　fear；　happiness；　mortification；　falsehood；　love　that　was　no　love；　intrigue　within　intrigue；　and；　to　crown　all；　a　totally　unexpected　conclusion。




CHAPTER　V

The　chevalier　was　still　holding　Angelique's　hand　when　a　step　resounded　outside；　and　a　voice　was　heard。

〃Can　it　be　that　he　has　come　back？〃　exclaimed　the　damsel；　hastily　freeing　herself　from　the　passionate　embrace　of　the　chevalier。　　〃It's　not　possible！　　Mon　Dieu！　　Mon　Dieu！　it's　his　voice！〃

She　grew　pale　to　the　lips；　and　stood　staring　at　the　door　with　outstretched　arms；　unable　to　advance　or　recede。

The　chevalier　listened；　but　felt　sure　the　approaching　voice　belonged　neither　to　the　commander　nor　to　the　treasurer。

〃'His　voice'？〃　thought　Quennebert　to　himself。　　〃Can　this　be　yet　another　aspirant　to　her　favour？〃

The　sound　came　nearer。

〃Hide　yourself！〃　said　Angelique；　pointing　to　a　door　opposite　to　the　partition　behind　which　the　widow　and　the　notary　were　ensconced。　〃Hide　yourself　there！there's　a　secret　staircaseyou　can　get　out　that　way。〃

〃I　hide　myself！〃　exclaimed　Moranges；　with　a　swaggering　air。　　〃What　are　you　thinking　of？　　I　remain。〃

It　would　have　been　better　for　him　to　have　followed　her　advice；　as　may　very　well　have　occurred　to　the　youth　two　minutes　later；　as　a　tall；　muscular　young　man　entered　in　a　state　of　intense　excitement。　Angelique　rushed　to　meet　him；　crying

〃Ah！　　Monsieur　le　duc；　is　it　you？〃

〃What　is　this　I　hear；　Angelique？〃　said　the　Duc　de　Vitry。　　〃I　was　told　below　that　three　men　had　visited　you　this　evening；　but　only　two　have　gone　outwhere　is　the　third　？　　Ha！　　I　do　not　need　long　to　find　him；〃　he　added；　as　he　caught　sight　of　the　chevalier；　who　stood　his　ground　bravely　enough。

〃In　Heaven's　name！〃　cried　Angelique；〃in　Heaven's　name；　listen　to　me！〃

〃No；　no；　not　a　word。　　Just　now　I　am　not　questioning　you。　　Who　are　you；　sir？〃

The　chevalier's　teasing　and　bantering　disposition　made　him　even　at　that　critical　moment　insensible　to　fear；　so　he　retorted　insolently

〃Whoever　I　please　to　be；　sir；　and　on　my　word　I　find　the　tone　in　which　you　put　your　question　delightfully　amusing。〃

The　duke　sprang　forward　in　a　rage；　laying　his　hand　on　his　sword。　Angelique　tried　in　vain　to　restrain　him。

〃You　want　to　screen　him　from　my　vengeance；　you　false　one！〃　said　he；　retreating　a　few　steps；　so　as　to　guard　the　door。　　〃Defend　your　life；　sir！〃

〃Do　you　defend　yours！〃

Both　drew　at　the　same　moment。

Two　shrieks　followed；　one　in　the　room；　the　other　behind　the　tapestry；　for　neither　Angelique　nor　the　widow　had　been　able　to　restrain　her　alarm　as　the　two　swords　flashed　in　air。　　In　fact　the　latter　had　been　so　frightened　that　she　fell　heavily　to　the　floor　in　a　faint。

This　incident　probably　saved　the　young　man's　life；　his　blood　had　already　begun　to　run　cold　at　the　sight　of　his　adversary　foaming　with　rage　and　standing　between　him　and　the　door；　when　the　noise　of　the　fall　distracted　the　duke's　attention。

〃What　was　that？〃　he　cried。　　〃Are　there　other　enemies　concealed　here　too？　　〃And　forgetting　that　he　was　leaving　a　way　of　escape　free；　he　rushed　in　the　direction　from　which　the　sound　came；　and　lunged　at　the　tapestry…covered　partition　with　his　sword。　　Meantime　the　chevalier；　dropping　all　his　airs　of　bravado；　sprang　from　one　end　of　the　room　to　the　other　like　a　cat　pursued　by　a　dog；　but　rapid　as　were　his　movements；　the　duke　perceived　his　flight；　and　dashed　after　him　at　the　risk　of　breaking　both　his　own　neck　and　the　chevalier's　by　a　chase　through　unfamiliar　rooms　and　down　stairs　which　were　plunged　in　darkness。

All　this　took　place　in　a　few　seconds；　like　a　flash　of　lightning。　Twice；　with　hardly　any　interval；　the　street　door　opened　and　shut　noisily；　and　the　two　enemies　were　in　the　street；　one　pursued　and　the　other　pursuing。

〃My　God！　　Just　to　think　of　all　that　has　happened　is　enough　to　make　one　die　of　fright！〃　said　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi。　　〃What　will　come　next；　I　should　like　to　know？　　And　what　shall　I　say　to　the　duke　when　he　comes　back？〃

Just　at　this　instant　a　loud　cracking　sound　was　heard　in　the　room。　Angelique　stood　still；　once　more　struck　with　terror；　and　recollecting　the　cry　she　had　heard。　　Her　hair；　which　was　already　loosened；　escaped　entirely　from　its　bonds；　and　she　felt　it　rise　on　her　head　as　the　figures　on　the　tapestry　moved　and　bent　towards　her。　　Falling　on　her　knees　and　closing　her　eyes；　she　began　to　invoke　the　aid　of　God　and　all　the　saints。　　But　she　soon　felt　herself　raised　by　strong　arms；　and　looking　round；　she　found　herself　in　the　presence　of　an　unknown　man；　who　seemed　to　have　issued　from　the　ground　or　the　walls；　and　who；　seizing　the　only　light　left　unextinguished　in　the　scuffle；　dragged　her　more　dead　than　alive　into　the　next　room。

This　man　was；　as　the　reader　will　have　already　guessed；　Maitre　Quennebert。　　As　soon　as　the　chevalier　and　the　duke　had　disappeared；　the　notary　had　run　towards　the　corner　where　the　widow　lay；　and　having　made　sure　that　she　was　really　unconscious；　and　unable　to　see　or　hear　anything；　so　that　it　would　be　quite　safe　to　tell　her　any　story　he　pleased　next　day；　he　returned　to　his　former　position；　and　applying　his　shoulder　to　the　partition；　easily　succeeded　in　freeing　the　ends　of　the　rotten　laths　from　the　nails　which　held　there；　and；　pushing　them　before　him；　made　an　aperture　large　enough　to　allow　of　his　passing　through　into　the　next　apartment。　　He　applied　himself　to　this　task　with　such　vigour；　and　became　so　absorbed　in　its　accomplishment；　that　he　entirely　forgot　the　bag　of　twelve　hundred　livres　which　the　widow　had　given　him。

〃Who　are　you？　　What　do　you　want　with　me？〃　cried　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi；　struggling　to　free　herself。

〃Silence！〃　was　Quennebert's　answer。

〃Don't　kill　me；　for　pity's　sake！〃

〃Who　wants　to　kill　you？　　But　be　silent；　I　don't　want　your　shrieks　to　call　people　here。　　I　must　be　alone　with　you　for　a　few　moments。　　Once　more　I　tell　you　to　be　quiet；　unless　you　want　me　to　use　violence。　　If　you　do　what　I　tell　you；　no　harm　shall　happen　to　you。〃

〃But　who　are　you；　monsieur？〃

〃I　am　neither　a　burglar　nor　a　murderer；　that's　all　you　need　to　know；　the　rest　is　no　concern　of　yours。　　Have　you　writing　materials　at　hand？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur；　there　they　are；　on　that　table。〃

〃Very　well。　　Now　sit　down　at　the　table。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Sit　down；　and　answer　my　questions。〃

〃The　first　man　who　visited　you　this　evening　was　M。　Jeannin；　was　he　not？〃

〃Yes；　M。　Jeannin　de　Castille。〃

〃The　king's　treasurer？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃All　right。　　The　second　was　Commander　de　Jars；　and　the　young　man　he　brought　with　him　was　his　nephew；　the　Chevalier　de　Moranges。　　The　last　comer　was　a　duke；　am　I　not　right？〃

〃The　Duc　de　Vitry。〃

〃Now　write　from　my　dictation。〃

He　spoke　very　slowly；　and　Mademoiselle　de　Guerchi；　obeying　his　commands；　took　up　her　pen。

〃'To…day；'〃　dictated　Quennebert；〃'to…day；　this　twentieth　day　of　the　month　of　November；　in　the　year　of　the　Lord　1658；　I

〃What　is　your　full　name？〃

〃Angelique…Louise　de　Guerchi。〃

〃Go　on！　　'I；　Angelique…Louise　de　Guerchi；　was　visited；　in　the　rooms　whichI　occupy；　in　the　mansion　of　the　Duchesse　d'Etampes；　corner　of　the　streets　Git…le…Coeur　and　du　Hurepoix；　about　half…past　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening；　in　the　first　place；　by　Messire　Jeannin　de　Castille；　King's　Treasurer；　in　the　second　place；　by　Commander　de　Jars；　who　was　accompanied　by　a　young　man；　his　nephew；　the　Chevalier　de　Moranges　；　in　the　third　place；　after　the　departure　of　Commander　de　Jars；　and　while　I　was　alone　with　the　Chevalier　de　Moranges；　by　the　Duc　de　Vitry；　who　drew　his　sword　upon　the　said　chevalier　and　forced　him　to　take　flight。'

〃Now　put　in　a　line　by　itself；　and　use　capitals

〃'DESCRIPTION　OF　THE　CHEVALIER　DE　MORANGES。〃

〃But　I　only　saw　him　for　an　instant；〃　said　Angelique；　〃and　I　can't　recall

〃Write；　and　don't　talk。　　I　can　recall　everything；　and　that　is　all　that　is　wanted。〃

〃'Height　about　five　feet。'　The　chevalier；〃　said　Quennebert；　interrupting　himself；　〃is　four　feet　eleven　inches　three　lines　and　a　half；　but　I　don't　need　absolute　exactness。〃　　Angelique　gazed　at　him　in　utter　stupefaction。

〃Do　you　know　him；　then？〃　she　asked。

〃I　saw　him　this　evening　for　the　first　time；　but　my　eye　is　very　accurate。

〃'Height　about　five　feet；　hair　black；　eyes　ditto；　nose　aquiline；　mouth　large；　lips　compressed；　forehead　high；　face　oval；　complexion　pale；　no　beard。'

〃　Now　another　line；　and　in　capitals

'SPECIAL　MARKS。'

〃'A　small　mole　on　the　neck　behind　the　right　ear；　a　smaller　mole　on　the　left　hand。'

〃Have　you　written　that？　　Now　sign　it　with　your　full　name。〃

〃What　use　are　you　going　to　make　of　this　paper？〃

〃I　should　have　told　you　before；　if　I　had　desired　you　to　know。　　Any　questions　are　quite　useless。　　I　don't　enjoin　secrecy　on　you；　however；〃　added　the　notary；　as　he　folded　the　paper　and　put　it　into　his　doublet　pocket。　　〃　You　are　quite　free　to　tell　anyone　you　like　that　you　have　written　the　description　of　the　Chevalier　de　Moranges　at　the　dictation　of　an　unknown　man；　who　got　into　your　room　you　don't　know　how；　by　the　chimney　or　through　the　ceiling　perhaps；　but　who　was　determined　to　leave　it　by　a　more　convenient　road。　　Is　there　not　a　secret　staircase？　　Show　me　where　it　is。　　I　don't　want　to　meet　anyone　on　my　way　out。〃

Angelique　pointed　out　a　door　to　him　hidden　by　a　damask　curtain；　and　Quennebert　saluting　her；　opened　it　and　disappeared；　leaving　Angelique　convinced　that　she　had　seen　the　devil　in　person。　　Not　u