the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第1章
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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
THE HOUSE OF THE
WOLF
by STANLEY WEYMAN
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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
INTRODUCTION。
The following is a modern English version of a curious French memoir；
or fragment of autobiography； apparently written about the year 1620 by
Anne； Vicomte de Caylus； and brought to this countryif； in fact； the
original ever existed in Englandby one of his descendants after the
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes。 This Anne； we learn from other
sources； was a principal figure at the Court of Henry IV。； and； therefore； in
August； 1572； when the adventures here related took place； he and his two
younger brothers； Marie and Croisette； who shared with him the honour
and the danger； must have been little more than boys。 From the tone of his
narrative； it appears that； in reviving old recollections； the veteran renewed
his youth also； and though his story throws no fresh light upon the history
of the time； it seems to possess some human interest。
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CHAPTER I。
WARE WOLF！
I had afterwards such good reason to look back upon and remember
the events of that afternoon； that Catherine's voice seems to ring in my
brain even now。 I can shut my eyes and see again； after all these years；
what I saw thenjust the blue summer sky； and one grey angle of the keep；
from which a fleecy cloud was trailing like the smoke from a chimney。 I
could see no more because I was lying on my back； my head resting on my
hands。 Marie and Croisette； my brothers； were lying by me in exactly the
same posture； and a few yards away on the terrace； Catherine was sitting
on a stool Gil had brought out for her。 It was the second Thursday in
August； and hot。 Even the jackdaws were silent。 I had almost fallen
asleep； watching my cloud grow longer and longer； and thinner and
thinner； when Croisette； who cared for heat no more than a lizard； spoke
up sharply； 〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said； 〃why are you watching the Cahors
road？〃
I had not noticed that she was doing so。 But something in the
keenness of Croisette's tone； taken perhaps with the fact that Catherine did
not at once answer him； aroused me； and I turned to her。 And lo！ she
was blushing in the most heavenly way； and her eyes were full of tears；
and she looked at us adorably。 And we all three sat up on our elbows；
like three puppy dogs； and looked at her。 And there was a long silence。
And then she said quite simply to us； 〃Boys； I am going to be married to
M。 de Pavannes。〃
I fell flat on my back and spread out my arms。 〃Oh； Mademoiselle！〃
I cried reproachfully。
〃Oh； Mademoiselle！〃 cried Marie。 And he fell flat on his back； and
spread out his arms and moaned。 He was a good brother； was Marie； and
obedient。
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And Croisette cried； 〃Oh； mademoiselle！〃 too。 But he was always
ridiculous in his ways。 He fell flat on his back；and flopped his arms and
squealed like a pig。
Yet he was sharp。 It was he who first remembered our duty； and went
to Catherine； cap in hand； where she sat half angry and half confused； and
said with a fine redness in his cheeks； 〃Mademoiselle de Caylus； our
cousin； we give you joy； and wish you long life； and are your servants； and
the good friends and aiders of M。 de Pavannes in all quarrels； as〃
But I could not stand that。 〃Not so fast； St。 Croix de Caylus〃 I said；
pushing him asidehe was ever getting before me in those daysand
taking his place。 Then with my best bow I began； 〃Mademoiselle； we
give you joy and long life； and are your servants and the good friends and
aiders of M。 de Pavannes in all quarrels； asas〃
〃As becomes the cadets of your house；〃 suggested Croisette； softly。
〃As becomes the cadets of your house；〃 I repeated。 And then
Catherine stood up and made me a low bow and we all kissed her hand in
turn； beginning with me and ending with Croisette； as was becoming。
Afterwards Catherine threw her handkerchief over her faceshe was
cryingand we three sat down； Turkish fashion； just where we were； and
said 〃Oh； Kit！〃 very softly。
But presently Croisette had something to add。 〃What will the Wolf
say？〃 he whispered to me。
〃Ah！ To be sure！〃 I exclaimed aloud。 I had been thinking of
myself before； but this opened quite another window。 〃What will the
Vidame say； Kit？〃
She dropped her kerchief from her face； and turned so pale that I was
sorry I had spokenapart from the kick Croisette gave me。 〃Is M。 de
Bezers at his house？〃 she asked anxiously。
〃Yes〃 Croisette answered。 〃He came in last night from St。 Antonin；
with very small attendance。〃
〃The news seemed to set her fears at rest instead of augmenting them
as I should have expected。 I suppose they were rather for Louis de
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Pavannes； than for herself。 Not unnaturally； too； for even the Wolf could
scarcely have found it in his heart to hurt our cousin。 Her slight willowy
figure； her pale oval face and gentle brown eyes； her pleasant voice； her
kindness； seemed to us boys and in those days； to sum up all that was
womanly。 We could not remember； not even Croisette the youngest of
uswho was seventeen； a year junior to Marie and myselfwe were twins…
…the time when we had not been in love with her。
But let me explain how we four； whose united ages scarce exceeded
seventy years； came to be lounging on the terrace in the holiday stillness
of that afternoon。 It was the summer of 1572。 The great peace； it will
be remembered； between the Catholics and the Huguenots had not long
been declared； the peace which in a day or two was to be solemnized； and；
as most Frenchmen hoped； to be cemented by the marriage of Henry of
Navarre with Margaret of Valois； the King's sister。 The Vicomte de
Caylus； Catherine's father and our guardian； was one of the governors
appointed to see the peace enforced； the respect in which he was held by
both partieshe was a Catholic； but no bigot； God rest his soul！
recommending him for this employment。 He had therefore gone a week
or two before to Bayonne； his province。 Most of our neighbours in
Quercy were likewise from home； having gone to Paris to be witnesses on
one side or the other of the royal wedding。 And consequently we young
people； not greatly checked by the presence of good…natured； sleepy
Madame Claude； Catherine's duenna； were disposed to make the most of
our liberty； and to celebrate the peace in our own fashion。
We were country…folk。 Not one of us had been to Pau； much less to
Paris。 The Vicomte held stricter views than were common then； upon
young people's education； and though we had learned to ride and shoot； to
use our swords and toss a hawk； and to read and write； we knew little
more than Catherine herself of the world； little more of the pleasures and
sins of court life； and not one… tenth as much as she did of its graces。
Still she had taught us to dance and make a bow。 Her presence had
softened our manners； and of late we had gained something from the frank
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companionship of Louis de Pavannes； a Huguenot whom the Vicomte had
taken prisoner at Moncontour and held to ransom。 We were not； I think；
mere clownish yokels。
But we were shy。 We disliked and shunned strangers。 And when
old Gil appeared suddenly； while we were still chewing the melancholy
cud of Kit's announcement； and cried sepulchrally； 〃M。 le Vidame de
Bezers to pay his respects to Mademoiselle！〃Well； there was something
like a panic； I confess！
We scrambled to our feet； muttering； 〃The Wolf！〃 The entrance at
Caylus is by a ramp rising from the gateway to the level of the terrace。
This sunken way is fenced by low walls so that one may notwhen
walking on the terracefall into it。 Gil had spoken before his head had
well risen to view； and this gave us a moment； just a moment。 Croisette
made a rush for the doorway into the house； but failed to gain it； and drew
himself up behind a buttress of the tower； his finger on his lip。 I am slow
sometimes； and Marie waited for me； so that we had barely got to our legs…
…looking； I dare say； awkward and ungainly enough before the Vidame's
shadow fell darkly on the ground at Catherine's feet。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 he said； advancing to her through the sunshine； and
bending over her slender hand with a magnificent grace that was born of
his size and manner combined； 〃I rode in late last night from Toulouse；
and I go to…morrow to Paris。 I have but rested and washed off the stains
of travel that I may lay my ah！〃
He seemed to see us for the first time and negligently broke off in his
compliment； raising himself and saluting us。 〃Ah；〃 he continued
indolently； 〃two of the maidens of Caylus； I see。 With an odd pair of
hands apiece； unless I am mistaken； Why do you not set them spinning；
Mademoiselle？〃 and he regarded us with that
