the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第22章
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by this miserable mistake in identity。 If my companion's fears were well
founded； Louis would fall in the general massacre of the Huguenots；
probably before we could reach him。 If ill…founded； still we had small
reason to hope。 Bezers' vengeance would not wait。 I knew him too
well to think it。 A Guise might spare his foe； but the Vidamethe
Vidame never！ We had warned Madame de Pavannes it was true； but
that abnormal exercise of benevolence could only； I cynically thought；
have the more exasperated the devil within him； which now would be
ravening like a dog disappointed of its victuals。
I glanced up at the line of sky visible between the tall houses； and lo！
the dawn was coming。 It wanted scarcely half…an…hour of daylight；
though down in the dark streets about us the night still reigned。 Yes； the
morning was coming； bright and hopeful； and the city was quiet。 There
were no signs； no sounds of riot or disorder。 Surely； I thought； surely
Pavannes must be mistaken。 Either the plot had never existed； that was
most likely； or it had been abandoned； or perhapsCrack！
A pistol shot！ Short； sharp； ominous it rang out on the instant； a
solitary sound in the night！ It was somewhere near us； and I stopped。 I
had been speaking to my companion at the moment。 〃Where was it？〃 I
cried； looking behind me。
〃Close to us。 Near the Louvre；〃 he answered； listening intently。 〃See！
See！ Ah； heavens！〃 he continued in a voice of despair； 〃it was a
signal！〃
It was。 One； two； three！ Before I could count so far； lights sprang
into brightness in the windows of nine out of ten houses in the short street
where we stood； as if lighted by a single hand。 Before too I could count
as many more； or ask him what this meant； before indeed； we could speak
or stir from the spot； or think what we should do； with a hurried clang and
clash； as if brought into motion by furious frenzied hands； a great bell just
above our heads began to boom and whirr！ It hurled its notes into space；
it suddenly filled all the silence。 It dashed its harsh sounds down upon
the trembling city； till the air heaved； and the houses about us rocked。 It
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made in an instant a pandemonium of the quiet night。
We turned and hurried instinctively from the place； crouching and
amazed； looking upwards with bent shoulders and scared faces。 〃What is it？
What is it？〃 I cried； half in resentment； half in terror。 It deafened me。
〃The bell of St。 Germain l'Auxerrois！〃 he shouted in answer。 〃The
Church of the Louvre。 It is as I said。 We are doomed！〃
〃Doomed？ No！〃 I replied fiercely； for my courage seemed to rise
again on the wave of sound and excitement as if rebounding from the
momentary shock。 〃Never！ We wear the devil's livery； and he will look
after his own。 Draw； man； and let him that stops us look to himself。
You know the way。 Lead on！〃 I cried savagely。
He caught the infection and drew his sword。 So we started boldly；
and the result justified my confidence。 We looked； no doubt； as like
murderers as any who were abroad that night。 Moving in this desperate
guise we hastened up that street and into anotherstill pursued by the din
and clangour of the bell and then a short distance along a third。 We
were not stopped or addressed by anyone； though numbers； increasing
each moment as door after door opened； and we drew nearer to the heart
of the commotion； were hurrying in the same direction； side by side with
us； and though in front； where now and again lights gleamed on a mass of
weapons； or on white eager faces； filling some alley from wall to wall； we
heard the roar of voices rising and falling like the murmur of an angry sea。
All was blurr； hurry； confusion； tumult。 Yet I remember； as we
pressed onwards with the stream and part of it； certain sharp outlines。 I
caught here and there a glimpse of a pale scared face at a window； a half…
clad form at a door； of the big； wondering eyes of a child held up to see us
pass； of a Christ at a corner ruddy in the smoky glare of a link； of a woman
armed； and in man's clothes； who walked some distance side by side with
us； and led off a ribald song。 I retain a memory of these things： of brief
bursts of light and long intervals of darkness； and always； as we tramped
forwards； my hand on Pavannes' sleeve； of an ever…growing tumult in
frontan ever…rising flood of noise。
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At last we came to a standstill where a side street ran out of ours。
Into this the hurrying throng tried to wheel； and； unable to do so； halted；
and pressed about the head of the street； which was already full to
overflowing； and so sought with hungry eyes for places whence they
might look down it。 Pavannes and I struggled only to get through the
crowdto get on； but the efforts of those behind partly aiding and partly
thwarting our own； presently forced us to a position whence we could not
avoid seeing what was afoot。
The streetthis side street was ablaze with light。 From end to end
every gable； every hatchment was glowing； every window was flickering
in the glare of torches。 It was paved too with faces human faces； yet
scarcely humanall looking one way； all looking upward； and the noise； as
from time to time this immense crowd groaned or howled in unison； like a
wild beast in its fury； was so appalling； that I clutched Pavannes' arm and
clung to him in momentary terror。 I do not wonder now that I quailed；
though sometimes I have heard that sound since。 For there is nothing in
the world so dreadful as that brute beast we call the CANAILLE； when the
chain is off and its cowardly soul is roused。
Near our end of the street a group of horsemen rising island…like from
the sea of heads； sat motionless in their saddles about a gateway。 They
were silent； taking no notice of the rioting fiends shouting at their girths；
but watching in grim quiet what was passing within the gates。 They were
handsomely dressed； although some wore corslets over their satin coats or
lace above buff jerkins。 I could even at that distance see the jewels
gleam in the bonnet of one who seemed to be their leader。 He was in the
centre of the band； a very young man； perhaps twenty or twenty…one； of
most splendid presence； sitting his horse superbly。 He wore a grey
riding…coat； and was a head taller than any of his companions。 There was
pride in the very air with which his horse bore him。
I did not need to ask Pavannes who he was。 I KNEW that he was the
Duke of Guise； and that the house before which he stood was Coligny's。
I knew what was being done there。 And in the same moment I sickened
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with horror and rage。 I had a vision of grey hairs and blood and fury
scarcely human； And I rebelled。 I battled with the rabble about me。 I
forced my way through them tooth and nail after Pavannes； intent only on
escaping； only on getting away from there。 And so we neither halted nor
looked back until we were clear of the crowd and had left the blaze of
light and the work doing by it some way behind us。
We found ourselves then in the mouth of an obscure alley which my
companion whispered would bring us to his house； and here we paused to
take breath and look back。 The sky was red behind us； the air full of the
clash and din of the tocsin； and the flood of sounds which poured from
every tower and steeple。 From the eastward came the rattle of drums and
random shots； and shrieks of 〃A BAS COLIGNY！〃 〃A BAS LES
HUGUENOTS！〃 Meanwhile the city was rising as one man； pale at this
dread awakening。 From every window men and women； frightened by
the uproar； were craning their necks； asking or answering questions or
hurriedly calling for and kindling tapers。 But as yet the general populace
seemed to be taking no active part in the disorder。
Pavannes raised his hat an instant as we stood in the shadow of the
houses。 〃The noblest man in France is dead；〃 he said； softly and
reverently。 〃God rest his soul！ They have had their way with him and
killed him like a dog。 He was an old man and they did not spare him！
A noble； and they have called in the CANAILLE to tear him。 But be sure；
my friend〃and as the speaker's tone changed and grew full and proud； his
form seemed to swell with it〃be sure the cruel shall not live out half their
days！ No。 He that takes the knife shall perish by the knife！ And go to
his own place！ I shall not see it； but you will！〃
His words made no great impression on me then。 My hardihood was
returning。 I was throbbing with fierce excitement； and tingling for the
fight。 But years afterwards； when the two who stood highest in the group
about Coligny's threshold died； the one at thirty…eight； the other at thirty…
fivewhen Henry of Guise and Henry of Valois died within six months of
one another by the assassin's knifeI remembered Pavannes' augury。
