the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第13章
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in trying to be beforehand with Bezers had been striving to save a
scoundrel from his due。 It meant all that； as soon as we grasped it in the
least。
〃Madame；〃 said Croisette gravely； after a pause so prolonged that her
smile faded pitifully from her face； scared by our strange looks。 〃Your
husband has been some time away from you？ He only returned； I think；
a week or two ago？〃
〃That is so；〃 she answered； naively； and our last hope vanished。 〃But
what of that？ He was back with me again； and only yesterdayonly
yesterday！〃 she continued； clasping her hands； 〃we were so happy。〃
〃And now； madame？〃
She looked at me； not comprehending。
〃I mean；〃 I hastened to explain； 〃we do not understand how you come
to be here。 And a prisoner。〃 I was really thinking that her story might
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throw some light upon ours。
〃I do not know； myself；〃 she said。 〃Yesterday； in the afternoon； I paid
a visit to the Abbess of the Ursulines。〃
〃Pardon me；〃 Croisette interposed quickly； 〃but are you not of the new
faith？ A Huguenot？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 she answered eagerly。 〃But the Abbess is a very dear
friend of mine； and no bigot。 Oh； nothing of that kind； I assure you。
When I am in Paris I visit her once a week。 Yesterday； when I left her；
she begged me to call here and deliver a message。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； 〃you know this house？〃
〃Very well； indeed；〃 she replied。 〃It is the sign of the 'Hand and
Glove；' one door out of the Rue Platriere。 I have been in Master
Mirepoix's shop more than once before。 I came here yesterday to deliver
the message； leaving my maid in the street； and I was asked to come up
stairs； and still up until I reached this room。 Asked to wait a moment； I
began to think it strange that I should be brought to so wretched a place；
when I had merely a message for Mirepoix's ear about some gauntlets。 I
tried the door； I found it locked。 Then I was terrified； and made a noise。〃
We all nodded。 We were busy building up theoriesor it might be
one and the same theoryto explain this。 〃Yes；〃 I said； eagerly。
〃Mirepoix came to me then。 'What does this mean？' I demanded。 He
looked ashamed of himself； but he barred my way。 'Only this；' he said at
last； 'that your ladyship must remain here a few hourstwo days at most。
No harm whatever is intended to you。 My wife will wait upon you； and
when you leave us； all shall be explained。' He would say no more； and it
was in vain I asked him if he did not take me for some one else； if he
thought I was mad。 To all he answered； No。 And when I dared him to
detain me he threatened force。 Then I succumbed。 I have been here
since； suspecting I know not what； but fearing everything。〃
〃That is ended； madame；〃 I answered； my hand on my breast； my soul
in arms for her。 Here； unless I was mistaken； was one more unhappy and
more deeply wronged even than Kit； one too who owed her misery to the
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same villain。 〃Were there nine glovers on the stairs；〃 I declared roundly；
〃we would take you out and take you home！ Where are your husband's
apartments？〃
〃In the Rue de Saint Merri； close to the church。 We have a house
there。〃
〃M。 de Pavannes；〃 I suggested cunningly； 〃is doubtless distracted by
your disappearance。〃
〃Oh； surely；〃 she answered with earnest simplicity； while the tears
sprang to her eyes。 Her innocenceshe had not the germ of a suspicion
made me grind my teeth with wrath。 Oh； the base wretch！ The
miserable rascal！ What did the women see； I wonderedwhat had we all
seen in this man； this Pavannes； that won for him our hearts； when he had
only a stone to give in return？
I drew Croisette and Marie aside； apparently to consider how we might
force the door。 〃What is the meaning of this？〃 I said softly； glancing at
the unfortunate lady。 〃What do you think； Croisette？〃
I knew well what the answer would be。
〃Think！〃 he cried with fiery impatience。 〃What can any one think
except that that villain Pavannes has himself planned his wife's abduction？
Of course it is so！ His wife out of the way he is free to follow up his
intrigues at Caylus。 He may then marry Kit orCurse him！〃
〃No；〃 I said sternly； 〃cursing is no good。 We must do something
more。 And yetwe have promised Kit； you see； that we would save him…
…we must keep our word。 We must save him from Bezers at least。〃
Marie groaned。
But Croisette took up the thought with ardour。 〃From Bezers？〃 he
cried； his face aglow。 〃Ay； true！ So we must！ But then we will draw
lots； who shall fight him and kill him。〃
I extinguished him by a look。 〃We shall fight him in turn；〃 I said；
〃until one of us kill him。 There you are right。 But your turn comes last。
Lots indeed！ We have no need of lots to learn which is the eldest。〃
I was turning from himhaving very properly crushed himto look for
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something which we could use to force the door； when he held up his hand
to arrest my attention。 We listened； looking at one another。 Through the
window came unmistakeable sounds of voices。 〃They have discovered our
flight；〃 I said； my heart sinking。
Luckily we had had the forethought to draw the curtain across the
casement。 Bezers' people could therefore； from their window； see no
more than ours； dimly lighted and indistinct。 Yet they would no doubt
guess the way we had escaped； and hasten to cut off our retreat below。
For a moment I looked at the door of our room； half…minded to attack it；
and fight our way out； taking the chance of reaching the street before
Bezers' folk should have recovered from their surprise and gone down。
But then I looked at Madame。 How could we ensure her safety in the
struggle？ While I hesitated the choice was taken from us。 We heard
voices in the house below； and heavy feet on the stairs。
We were between two fires。 I glanced irresolutely round the bare
garret； with its sloping roof； searching for a better weapon。 I had only
my dagger。 But in vain。 I saw nothing that would serve。 〃What will
you do？〃 Madame de Pavannes murmured； standing pale and trembling
by the hearth； and looking from one to another。 Croisette plucked my
sleeve before I could answer； and pointed to the box…bed with its scanty
curtains。 〃If they see us in the room；〃 he urged softly； 〃while they are
half in and half out； they will give the alarm。 Let us hide ourselves
yonder。 When they are insideyou understand？〃
He laid his hand on his dagger。 The muscles of the lad's face grew
tense。 I did understand him。 〃Madame；〃 I said quickly； 〃you will not
betray us？〃
She shook her head。 The colour returned to her cheek； and the
brightness to her eyes。 She was a true woman。 The sense that she was
protecting others deprived her of fear for herself。
The footsteps were on the topmost stair now； and a key was thrust with
a rasping sound into the lock。 But before it could be turnedit
fortunately fitted illwe three had jumped on the bed and were crouching
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in a row at the head of it； where the curtains of the alcove concealed； and
only just concealed us； from any one standing at the end of the room near
the door。
I was the outermost； and through a chink could see what passed。 One；
two； three people came in； and the door was closed behind them。 Three
people； and one of them a woman！ My heartwhich had been in my
mouthreturned to its place； for the Vidame was not one。 I breathed
freely； only I dared not communicate my relief to the others； lest my voice
should be heard。 The first to come in was the woman closely cloaked
and hooded。 Madame de Pavannes cast on her a single doubtful glance；
and then to my astonishment threw herself into her arms； mingling her
sobs with little joyous cries of 〃Oh； Diane！ oh； Diane！〃
〃My poor little one！〃 the newcomer exclaimed； soothing her with
tender touches on hair and shoulder。 〃You are safe now。 Quite safe！〃
〃You have come to take me away？〃
〃Of course we have！〃 Diane answered cheerfully； still caressing her。
〃We have come to take you to your husband。 He has been searching for
you everywhere。 He is distracted with grief； little one。〃
〃Poor Louis！〃 ejaculated the wife。
〃Poor Louis； indeed！〃 the rescuer answered。 〃But you will see him
soon。 We only learned at midnight where you were。 You have to thank
M。 le Coadjuteur here for that。 He brought me the news； and at once
escorted me here to fetch you。〃
〃And to restore one sister to another；〃 said the priest silkily； as he
advanced a step。 He was the very same priest whom I had seen two
hours before with Bezers； and had so greatly disliked！ I hated his pale face
as much now as I had then。 Even the errand of good on which he had
come could not blind me to his thin… lipped mouth； to his mock humility
and crafty eyes。 〃I have had no task so pleasant for
