the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第12章
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so few； indeed； that I had no fear of being detected from below。 And yet
unless I was mistaken； a furtive step； a subdued whisper were borne to me
on every breeze； from every quarter。 And the night was full of phantoms。
Perhaps all this was mere nervousness； the outcome of my position。
At any rate I felt no more of it when Croisette joined me。 We had our
daggers； and that gave me some comfort。 If we could once gain entrance
to the house opposite； we had only to beg； or in the last resort force our
way downstairs and out； and then to hasten with what speed we might to
Pavannes' dwelling。 Clearly it was a question of time only now； whether
Bezers' band or we should first reach it。 And struck by this I whispered
Marie to be quick。 He seemed to be long in coming。
He scrambled down hand over hand at last； and then I saw that he had
not lingered above for nothing。 He had contrived after getting out of the
window to let down the shutter。 And more he had at some risk
lengthened our rope； and made a double line of it； so that it ran round a
hinge of the shutter； and when he stood beside us； he took it by one end
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and disengaged it。 Good； clever Marie！
〃Bravo！〃 I said softly； clapping him on the back。 〃Now they will
not know which way the birds have flown！〃
So there we all were； one of us； I confess； trembling。 We slid easily
enough along the beam to the opposite house。 But once there in a row
one behind the other with our faces to the wall； and the night air blowing
slantwisewell I am nervous on a height and I gasped。 The window was
a good six feet above the beam； The casementit was unglazedwas open；
veiled by a thin curtain； and alas！ protected by three horizontal bars
stout bars they looked。
Yet we were bound to get up； and to get in； and I was preparing to rise
to my feet on the giddy bridge as gingerly as I could； when Marie crawled
quickly over us； and swung himself up to the narrow sill； much as I should
mount a horse on the level。 He held out his foot to me； and making an
effort I reached the same dizzy perch。 Croisette for the time remained
below。
A narrow window…ledge sixty feet above the pavement； and three bars
to cling to！ I cowered to my holdfasts； envying even Croisette。 My legs
dangled airily； and the black chasm of the street seemed to yawn for me。
For a moment I turned sick。 I recovered from that to feel desperate。 I
remembered that go forward we must； bars or no bars。 We could not
regain our old prison if we would。
It was equally clear that we could not go forward if the inmates should
object。 On that narrow perch even Marie was helpless。 The bars of the
window were close together。 A woman； a child； could disengage our
hands； and thenI turned sick again。 I thought of the cruel stones。 I
glued my face to the bars； and pushing aside a corner of the curtain；
looked in。
There was only one person in the rooma woman； who was moving
about fully dressed； late as it was。 The room was a mere attic； the
counterpart of that we had left。 A box…bed with a canopy roughly nailed
over it stood in a corner。 A couple of chairs were by the hearth； and all
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seemed to speak of poverty and bareness。 Yet the woman whom we saw
was richly dressed； though her silks and velvets were disordered。 I saw a
jewel gleam in her hair； and others on her hands。 When she turned her
face towards usa wild； beautiful face； perplexed and tear…stainedI knew
her instantly for a gentlewoman； and when she walked hastily to the door；
and laid her hand upon it； and seemed to listen when she shook the latch
and dropped her hands in despair and went back to the hearth； I made
another discovery I knew at once； seeing her there； that we were likely but
to change one prison for another。 Was every house in Paris then a
dungeon？ And did each roof cover its tragedy？
〃Madame！〃 I said； speaking softly； to attract her attention。
〃Madame！〃
She started violently； not knowing whence the sound came； and looked
round； at the door first。 Then she moved towards the window； and with
an affrighted gesture drew the curtain rapidly aside。
Our eyes met。 What if she screamed and aroused the house？ What；
indeed？ 〃Madame；〃 I said again； speaking hurriedly； and striving to
reassure her by the softness of my voice； 〃we implore your help！ Unless
you assist us we are lost。〃
〃You！ Who are you？〃 she cried； glaring at us wildly； her hand to
her head。 And then she murmured to herself； 〃Mon Dieu！ what will
become of me？〃
〃We have been imprisoned in the house opposite；〃 I hastened to
explain； disjointedly I am afraid。 〃And we have escaped。 We cannot
get back if we would。 Unless you let us enter your room and give us
shelter〃
〃We shall be dashed to pieces on the pavement；〃 supplied Marie； with
perfect calmnessnay； with apparent enjoyment。
〃Let you in here？〃 she answered； starting back in new terror； 〃it is
impossible。〃
She reminded me of our cousin； being； like her pale and dark… haired。
She wore her hair in a coronet； disordered now。 But though she was still
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beautiful； she was older than Kit； and lacked her pliant grace。 I saw all
this； and judging her nature； I spoke out of my despair。 〃Madame；〃 I said
piteously； 〃we are only boys。 Croisette！ Come up！〃 Squeezing
myself still more tightly into my corner of the ledge； I made room for him
between us。 〃See； Madame；〃 I cried； craftily； 〃will you not have pity on
three boys？〃
St。 Crois's boyish face and fair hair arrested her attention； as I had
expected。 Her expression grew softer； and she murmured； 〃Poor boy！〃
I caught at the opportunity。 〃We do but seek a passage through your
room；〃 I said fervently。 Good heavens； what had we not at stake！ What
if she should remain obdurate？ 〃We are in trouble in despair；〃 I panted。
〃So； I believe； are you。 We will help you if you will first save us。 We
are boys； but we can fight for you。〃
〃Whom am I to trust？〃 she exclaimed； with a shudder。 〃But heaven
forbid；〃 she continued； her eyes on Croisette's face； 〃that； wanting help； I
should refuse to give it。 Come in； if you will。〃
I poured out my thanks； and had forced my head between the bars at
imminent risk of its remaining therebefore the words were well out of
her mouth。 But to enter was no easy task after all。 Croisette did； indeed；
squeeze through at last； and then by force pulled first one and then the
other of us after him。 But only necessity and that chasm behind could
have nerved us； I think； to go through a process so painful。 When I stood；
at length on the floor； I seemed to be one great abrasion from head to foot。
And before a lady； too！
But what a joy I felt； nevertheless。 A fig for Bezers now。 He had
called us boys； and we were boys。 But he should yet find that we could
thwart him。 It could be scarcely half…an…hour after midnight； we might
still be in time。 I stretched myself and trod the level door jubilantly； and
then noticed； while doing so； that our hostess had retreated to the door and
was eyeing us timidlyhalf…scared。
I advanced to her with my lowest bowsadly missing my sword。
〃Madame；〃 I said； 〃I am M。 Anne de Caylus； and these are my brothers。
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And we are at your service。〃
〃And I；〃 she replied； smiling faintlyI do not know why〃am
Madame de Pavannes； I gratefully accept your offers of service。〃
〃De Pavannes？〃 I exclaimed； amazed and overjoyed。 Madame de
Pavannes！ Why； she must be Louis' kinswoman！ No doubt she could
tell us where he was lodged； and so rid our task of half its difficulty。
Could anything have fallen out more happily？ 〃You know then M。 Louis
de Pavannes？〃 I continued eagerly。
〃Certainly；〃 she answered； smiling with a rare shy sweetness this time。
〃Very well indeed。 He is my husband。〃
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CHAPTER V。
A PRIEST AND A WOMAN。
〃He is my husband！〃
The statement was made in the purest innocence； yet never； as may
well be imagined； did words fall with more stunning force。 Not one of us
answered or； I believe； moved so much as a limb or an eyelid。 We only
stared； wanting time to take in the astonishing meaning of the words； and
then more time to think what they meant to us in particular。
Louis de Pavannes' wife！ Louis de Pavannes married！ If the
statement were trueand we could not doubt； looking in her face； that at
least she thought she was telling the truthit meant that we had been
fooled indeed！ That we had had this journey for nothing； and run this
risk for a villain。 It meant that the Louis de Pavannes who had won our
boyish admiration was the meanest； the vilest of court…gallants。 That
Mademoiselle de Caylus had been his sport and plaything。 And that we
in trying to be beforehand with Bezers had been striving
