la constantin-第8章

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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　until　the　next　day　did　the　sight　of　the　displaced　partition　explain　the　apparition；　but　even　then　so　great　was　her　fright；　so　deep　was　the　terror　which　the　recollection　of　the　mysterious　man　inspired；　that　despite　the　permission　to　tell　what　had　happened　she　mentioned　her　adventure　to　no　one；　and　did　not　even　complain　to　her　neighbour；　Madame　Rapally；　of　the　inquisitiveness　which　had　led　the　widow　to　spy　on　her　actions。





CHAPTER　VI

We　left　de　Jars　and　Jeannin；　roaring　with　laughter；　in　the　tavern　in　the　rue　Saint　Andre…des…Arts。

〃What！〃　said　the　treasurer；　〃do　you　really　think　that　Angelique　thought　I　was　in　earnest　in　my　offer？that　she　believes　in　all　good　faith　I　intend　to　marry　her？〃

〃You　may　take　my　word　for　it。　　If　it　were　not　so；　do　you　imagine　she　would　have　been　in　such　desperation？　　Would　she　have　fainted　at　my　threat　to　tell　you　that　I　had　claims　on　her　as　well　as　you？　　To　get　married！　　Why；　that　is　the　goal　of　all　such　creatures；　and　there　is　not　one　of　them　who　can　understand　why　a　man　of　honour　should　blush　to　give　her　his　name。　　If　you　had　only　seen　her　terror；　her　tears！　They　would　have　either　broken　your　heart　or　killed　you　with　laughter。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Jeannin；　〃it　is　getting　late。　　Are　we　going　to　wait　for　the　chevalier？〃

〃Let　us　call；　for　him。〃

〃Very　well。　　Perhaps　he　has　made　up　his　mind　to　stay。　　If　so；　we　shall　make　a　horrible　scene；　cry　treachery　and　perjury；　and　trounce　your　nephew　well。　　Let's　settle　our　score　and　be　off。〃

They　left　the　wine…shop；　both　rather　the　worse　for　the　wine　they　had　so　largely　indulged　in。　　They　felt　the　need　of　the　cool　night　air；　so　instead　of　going　down　the　rue　Pavee　they　resolved　to　follow　the　rue　Saint…Andre…des…Arts　as　far　as　the　Pont　Saint…Michel；　so　as　to　reach　the　mansion　by　a　longer　route。

At　the　very　moment　the　commander　got　up　to　leave　the　tavern　the　chevalier　had　run　out　of　the　mansion　at　the　top　of　his　speed。　　It　was　not　that　he　had　entirely　lost　his　courage；　for　had　he　found　it　impossible　to　avoid　his　assailant　it　is　probable　that　he　would　have　regained　the　audacity　which　had　led　him　to　draw　his　sword。　　But　he　was　a　novice　in　the　use　of　arms；　had　not　reached　full　physical　development；　and　felt　that　the　chances　were　so　much　against　him　that　he　would　only　have　faced　the　encounter　if　there　were　no　possible　way　of　escape。　　On　leaving　the　house　he　had　turned　quickly　into　the　rue　Git…le…Coeur；　but　on　hearing　the　door　close　behind　his　pursuer　he　disappeared　down　the　narrow　and　crooked　rue　de　l'Hirondelle；　hoping　to　throw　the　Duc　de　Vitry　off　the　scent。　　The　duke；　however；　though　for　a　moment　in　doubt；　was　guided　by　the　sound　of　the　flying　footsteps。　　The　chevalier；　still　trying　to　send　him　off　on　a　false　trail；　turned　to　the　right；　and　so　regained　the　upper　end　of　the　rue　Saint…Andre；　and　ran　along　it　as　far　as　the　church；　the　site　of　which　is　occupied　by　the　square　of　the　same　name　to…day。　　Here　he　thought　he　would　be　safe；　for；　as　the　church　was　being　restored　and　enlarged；　heaps　of　stone　stood　all　round　the　old　pile。　　He　glided　in　among　these；　and　twice　heard　Vitry　searching　quite　close　to　him；　and　each　time　stood　on　guard　expecting　an　onslaught。　　This　marching　and　counter…marching　lasted　for　some　minutes；　the　chevalier　began　to　hope　he　had　escaped　the　danger；　and　eagerly　waited　for　the　moment　when　the　moon　which　had　broken　through　the　clouds　should　again　withdraw　behind　them；　in　order　to　steal　into　some　of　the　adjacent　streets　under　cover　of　the　darkness。　　Suddenly　a　shadow　rose　before　him　and　a　threatening　voice　cried

〃　Have　I　caught　you　at　last；　you　coward？〃

The　danger　in　which　the　chevalier　stood　awoke　in　him　a　flickering　energy；　a　feverish　courage；　and　he　crossed　blades　with　his　assailant。　A　strange　combat　ensued；　of　which　the　result　was　quite　uncertain；　depending　entirely　on　chance；　for　no　science　was　of　any　avail　on　a　ground　so　rough　that　the　combatants　stumbled　at　every　step；　or　struck　against　immovable　masses；　which　were　one　moment　clearly　lit　up；　and　the　next　in　shadow。　　Steel　clashed　on　steel；　the　feet　of　the　adversaries　touched　each　other；　several　times　the　cloak　of　one　was　pierced　by　the　sword　of　the　other；　more　than　once　the　words　〃Die　then！〃　rang　out。　　But　each　time　the　seemingly　vanquished　combatant　sprang　up　unwounded；　as　agile　and　as　lithe　and　as　quick　as　ever；　while　he　in　his　turn　pressed　the　enemy　home。　　There　was　neither　truce　nor　pause；　no　clever　feints　nor　fencer's　tricks　could　be　employed　on　either　side；　it　was　a　mortal　combat；　but　chance；　not　skill；　would　deal　the　death…blow。　　Sometimes　a　rapid　pass　encountered　only　empty　air；　sometimes　blade　crossed　blade　above　the　wielders'　heads；　sometimes　the　fencers　lunged　at　each　other's　breast；　and　yet　the　blows　glanced　aside　at　the　last　moment　and　the　blades　met　in　air　once　more。　　At　last；　however；　one　of　the　two；　making　a　pass　to　the　right　which　left　his　breast　unguarded；　received　a　deep　wound。　　Uttering　a　loud　cry；　he　recoiled　a　step　or　two；　but；　exhausted　by　the　effort；　tripped　arid　fell　backward　over　a　large　stone；　and　lay　there　motionless；　his　arms　extended　in　the　form　of　a　cross。

The　other　turned　and　fled。

〃Hark；　de　Jars！〃　said　Jeannin；　stopping；　〃There's　fighting　going　on　hereabouts；　I　hear　the　clash　of　swords。〃

Both　listened　intently。

〃I　hear　nothing　now。〃

〃Hush！　　there　it　goes　again。　　It's　by　the　church。〃

〃What　a　dreadful　cry！〃

They　ran　at　full　speed　towards　the　place　whence　it　seemed　to　come；　but　found　only　solitude；　darkness；　and　silence。　　They　looked　in　every　direction。

〃I　can't　see　a　living　soul；〃　said　Jeannin；　〃and　I　very　much　fear　that　the　poor　devil　who　gave　that　yell　has　mumbled　his　last　prayer；〃

〃I　don't　know　why　I　tremble　so；〃　replied　de　Jars；　〃that　heart…rending　cry　made　me　shiver　from　head　to　foot。　　Was　it　not　something　like　the　chevalier's　voice？〃

〃The　chevalier　is　with　La　Guerchi；　and　even　if　he　had　left　her　this　would　not　have　been　his　way　to　rejoin　us。　　Let　us　go　on　and　leave　the　dead　in　peace。〃

〃Look；　Jeannin！　　what　is　that　in　front　of　us？〃

〃On　that　stone？　　A　man　who　has　fallen！〃

〃Yes；　and　bathed　in　blood；〃　exclaimed　de　Jars；　who　had　darted　to　his　side。　　〃Ah！　it's　he！　it's　he！　　Look；　his　eyes　are　closed；　his　hands　cold！　　My　child　he　does　not　hear　me！　　Oh；　who　has　murdered　him？〃

He　fell　on　his　knees；　and　threw　himself　on　the　body　with　every　mark　of　the　most　violent　despair。

〃Come；　come；〃　said　Jeannin；　surprised　at　such　an　explosion　of　grief　from　a　man　accustomed　to　duels；　and　who　on　several　similar　occasions　had　been　far　from　displaying　much　tenderness　of　heart；　〃collect　yourself；　and　don't　give　way　like　a　woman。　　Perhaps　the　wound　is　not　mortal。　　Let　us　try　to　stop　the　bleeding　and　call　for　help。〃

〃No；　no〃

〃Are　you　mad？〃

〃Don't　call；　for　Heaven's　sake！　　The　wound　is　here；　near　the　heart。　Your　handkerchief；　Jeannin；　to　arrest　the　flow　of　blood。　　Therenow　help　me　to　lift　him。〃

〃What　does　that　mean？〃　cried　Jeannin；　who　had　just　laid　his　hand　on　the　chevalier。　　〃I　don't　know　whether　I'm　awake　or　asleep！　　Why；　it's　a…〃

〃Be　silent；　on　your　life！　　I　shall　explain　everythingbut　now　be　silent；　there　is　someone　looking　at　us。〃

There　was　indeed　a　man　wrapped　in　a　mantle　standing　motionless　some　steps　away。

〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　asked　de　Jars。

〃May　I　ask　what　you　are　doing；　gentlemen？〃　retorted　Maitre　Quennebert；　in　a　calm　and　steady　voice。

〃Your　curiosity　may　cost　you　dear；　monsieur；　we　are　not　in　the　habit　of　allowing　our　actions　to　be　spied　on。〃

〃And　I　am　not　in　the　habit　of　running　useless　risks；　most　noble　cavaliers。　　You　are；　it　is　true；　two　against　one；　but；〃　he　added；　throwing　back　his　cloak　and　grasping　the　hilts　of　a　pair　of　pistols　tucked　in　his　belt；　〃these　will　make　us　equal。　　You　are　mistaken　as　to　my　intentions。　　I　had　no　thought　of　playing　the　spy；　it　was　chance　alone　that　led　me　here；　and　you　must　acknowledge　that　finding　you　in　this　lonely　spot；　engaged　as　you　are　at　this　hour　of　the　night；　was　quite　enough　to　awake　the　curiosity　of　a　man　as　little　disposed　to　provoke　a　quarrel　as　to　submit　to　threats。〃

〃It　was　chance　also　that　brought　us　here。　　We　were　crossing　the　square；　my　friend　and　I；　when　we　heard　groans。　　We　followed　the　sound；　and　found　this　young　gallant；　who　is　a　stranger　to　us；　lying　here；　with　a　wound　in　his　breast。〃

As　the　moon　at　that　moment　gleamed　doubtfully　forth；　Maitre　Quennebert　bent　for　an　instant　over　the　body　of　the　wounded　man；　and　said：

〃I　know　him　more　than　you。　　But　supposing　someone　were　to　come　upon　us　here；　we　might　easily　be　taken　for　three　assassins　holding　a　consultation　over　the　corpse　of　our　victim。　　What　were　you　going　to　do？〃

〃Take　him　to　a　doctor。　　It　would　be　inhuman　to　leave　him　here；　and　while　we　are　talking　precious　time　is　being　lost。〃

〃Do　you　belong　to　this　neighbourhood？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　treasurer。

〃Neither　do　I；〃　said　Quennebert。　　〃but　I　believe　I　have　heard　the　name　of　a　surgeon　who　lives　close　by；　in　the　rue　Hauteville。〃

〃I　also　know　of　one；〃　interposed　de　Jars；　〃a　very　skilful　man。〃

〃You　may　command　me。〃

〃Gladly；　monsieur；　for　he　lives　some　distance　from　here。〃

〃I　am　at　your　service。〃

De　Jars　and　Jeannin　raised　the　chevalier's　shoulders；　and　the　stranger　supported　his　legs；　and　carrying　their　burden　in　this　order；　they　set　off。

They　walked　slowly；　looking　about　them　carefully；　a　precaution　rendered　necessary　by　the　fact　that　the　moon　now　rode　in　a　cloudless　sky。　　They　glided　over　the　Pont　Saint…Michel　between　the　houses　that　lined　both　sides；　and；　turning　to　the　right；　entered　one　of　the　narrow　streets　of　the　Cite；　and　after　many　turnings；　during　which　they　met　no　one；　they　stopped　at　the　door　of　a　house　situated　behind　the　Hotel…de…Ville。

〃Many　thanks；　monsieur；〃　said　de　Jars；〃many　thanks；　we　need　no　further　help。〃

As　the　commander　spoke；　Maitre　Quennebert　let　the　feet　of　the　chevalier　fall　abruptly　on　the　pavement；　while　de　Jars　and　the　treasurer　still　supported　his　body；　and；　stepping　back　two　paces；　he　drew　his　pistols　from　his　belt；　and　placing　a　finger　on　each　trigger；　said

〃Do　not　stir；　messieurs；　or　you　are　dead　men。〃　　Both；　although　encumbered　by　their　burden；　laid　their　hands　upon　their　swords。

〃Not　a　movement；　not　a　sound；　or　I　shoot。〃

There　was　no　reply　to　this　argument；　it　being　a　convincing　one　even　for　two　duellists。　　The　bravest　man　turns　pale　when　he　finds　himself　face　to　face　with　sudden　inevitable　death；　and　he　who　threatened　seemed　to　be　one　who　would；　without　hesitation；　carry　out　his　threats。　　There　was　nothing　for　it　but　obedience；　or　a　ball　through　them　as　they　stood。

〃What　do　you　want　with　us；　sir？〃　asked　Jeannin。

Quennebert；　without　changing　hiS　attitude；　replied

〃Commander　de　Jars；　and　you；　Messire　Jeannin　de　Castille；　king's　treasurer；you　see；　my　gentles；　that　besides　the　advantage　of　arms　which　strike　swiftly　and　surely；　I　have　the　further　advantage　of　knowing　who　you　are；　whilst　I　am　myself　unknown；you　will　carry　the　wounded　man　into　this　house；　into　which　I　will　not　enter；　for　I　have　nothing　to　do　within；　but　I　shall　remain　here；　to　await　you