the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第29章
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headlong cataract towards the steps。 Bezers was close to us at the time。
〃S'death！〃 he cried； swearing oaths which even his sovereign could
scarce have equalled。 〃They will snatch him from me yet； the hell…
hounds！〃
He whirled his horse round and spurred him in a dozen bounds to the
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stairs at our end of the gallery。 There he leaped from him； dropping the
bridle recklessly； and bounding up three steps at a time； he ran along the
gallery。 Half…a…dozen of the troopers about us stayed only to fling their
reins to one of their number； and then followed； their great boots clattering
on the planks。
My breath came fast and short； for I felt it was a crisis。 It was a race
between the two parties； or rather between the Vidame and the leaders of
the mob。 The latter had the shorter way to go。 But on the narrow steps
they were carried off their feet by the press behind them； and fell over and
hampered one another and lost time。 The Vidame； free from this
drawback； was some way along the gallery before they had set foot on it。
How I prayedamid a scene of the wildest uproar and excitement
that the mob might be first！ Let there be only a short conflict between
Bezers' men and the people； and in the confusion Pavannes might yet
escape。 Hope awoke in the turmoil。 Above the yells of the crowd a
score of deep voices about me thundered 〃a Wolf！ a Wolf！〃 And I too；
lost my head； and drew my sword； and screamed at the top of my voice； 〃a
Caylus！ a Caylus！〃 with the maddest。
Thousands of eyes besides mine were strained on the foremost figures
on either side。 They met as it chanced precisely at the door of the house。
The mob leader was a slender man； I saw； a priest apparently； though now
he was girt with unpriestly weapons； his skirts were tucked up； and his
head was bare。 So much my first glance showed me。 It was at the
second look it was when I saw the blood forsake his pale lowering face
and leave it whiter than ever； when horror sprang along with recognition to
his eyes； when borne along by the crowd behind he saw his position and
who was before himit was only then when his mean figure shrank； and
he quailed and would have turned but could not； that I recognized the
Coadjutor。
I was silent now； my mouth agape。 There are seconds which are
minutes； ay； and many minutes。 A man may die； a man may come into
life in such a second。 In one of these； it seemed to me； those two men
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paused； face to face； though in fact a pause was for one of them
impossible。 He was betweenand I think he knew itthe devil and the
deep sea。 Yet he seemed to pause； while all； even that yelling crowd
below； held their breath。 The next moment； glaring askance at one
another like two dogs unevenly coupled； he and Bezers shot shoulder to
shoulder into the doorway； and in another jot of time would have been out
of sight。 But then； in that instant； I saw something happen。 The Vidame's
hand flashed up above the priest's head； and the cross…hilt of his sheathed
sword crashed down with awful force； and still more awful passion； on the
other's tonsure！ The wretch went down like a log； without a word；
without a cry！ Amid a roar of rage from a thousand throats； a roar that
might have shaken the stoutest heart； and blanched the swarthiest cheek；
Bezers disappeared within！
It was then I saw the power of discipline and custom。 Few as were
the troopers who had followed hima mere handfulthey fell without
hesitation on the foremost of the crowd； who were already in confusion；
stumbling and falling over their leader's body； and hurled them back pell…
mell along the gallery。 The throng below had no firearms； and could give
no aid at the moment； the stage was narrow； in two minutes the Vidame's
people had swept it clear of the crowd and were in possession of it。 A tall
fellow took up the priest's body； dead or alive； I do not know which； and
flung it as if it had been a sack of corn over the rail。 It fell with a heavy
thud on the ground。 I heard a piercing scream that rose above that babel…
…one shrill scream！ and the mob closed round and hid the thing。
If the rascals had had the wit to make at once for the right…hand stairs；
where we stood with two or three of Bezers' men who had kept their
saddles； I think they might easily have disposed of us； encumbered as we
were； by the horses； and then they could have attacked the handful on the
gallery on both flanks。 But the mob had no leaders； and no plan of
operations。 They seized indeed two or three of the scattered troopers；
and tearing them from their horses； wreaked their passion upon them
horribly。 But most of the Switzers escaped； thanks to the attention the
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mob paid to the houses and what was going forward on the galleries； and
these； extricating themselves joined us one by one； so that gradually a little
ring of stern faces gathered about the stair… foot。 A moment's hesitation；
and seeing no help for it； we ranged ourselves with them； and； unchecked
as unbidden； sprang on three of the led horses。
All this passed more quickly than I can relate it： so that before our
feet were well in the stirrups a partial silence； then a mightier roar of anger
at once proclaimed and hailed the re… appearance of the Vidame。 Bigoted
beyond belief were the mob of Paris of that day； cruel； vengeful； and
always athirst for blood； and this man had killed not only their leader but a
priest。 He had committed sacrilege！ What would they do？ I could
just； by stooping forward； command a side view of the gallery； and the
scene passing there was such that I forgot in it our own peril。
For surely in all his reckless life Bezers had never been so
emphatically the man for the situationhad never shown to such
advantage as at this moment when he stood confronting the sea of faces；
the sneer on his lip； a smile in his eyes； and looked down unblenching； a
figure of scorn； on the men who were literally agape for his life。 The
calm defiance of his steadfast look fascinated even me。 Wonder and
admiration for the time took the place of dislike。 I could scarcely believe
that there was not some atom of good in this man so fearless。 And no
face but one no face I think in the world； but onecould have drawn my
eyes from him。 But that one face was beside him。 I clutched Marie's
arm； and pointed to the bareheaded figure at Bezers' right hand。
It was Louis himself： our Louis de Pavannes； But he was changed
indeed from the gay cavalier I remembered； and whom I had last seen
riding down the street at Caylus； smiling back at us； and waving his adieux
to his mistress！ Beside the Vidame he had the air of being slight； even
short。 The face which I had known so bright and winning； was now
white and set。 His fair； curling hairscarce darker than Croisette'shung
dank； bedabbled with blood which flowed from a wound in his head。 His
sword was gone； his dress was torn and disordered and covered with dust。
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His lips moved。 But he held up his head； he bore himself bravely with it
all； so bravely； that I choked； and my heart seemed bursting as I looked at
him standing there forlorn and now unarmed。 I knew that Kit seeing him
thus would gladly have died with him； and I thanked God she did not see
him。 Yet there was a quietness in his fortitude which made a great
difference between his air and that of Bezers。 He lacked； as became one
looking unarmed on certain death； the sneer and smile of the giant beside
him。
What was the Vidame about to do？ I shuddered as I asked myself。
Not surrender him； not fling him bodily to the people？ No not that： I
felt sure he would let no others share his vengeance that his pride would
not suffer that。 And even while I wondered the doubt was solved。 I saw
Bezers raise his hand in a peculiar fashion。 Simultaneously a cry rang
sharply out above the tumult； and down in headlong charge towards the
farther steps came the band of horsemen； who had got clear of the crowd
on that side。 They were but ten or twelve； but under his eye they charged；
as if they had been a thousand。 The rabble shrank from the collision； and
fled aside。 Quick as thought the riders swerved； and changing their
course； galloped through the looser part of the throng； and in a trice drew
rein side by side with us； a laugh and a jeer on their reckless lips。
It was neatly done： and while it was being done the Vidame and his
knot of men； with those who had been searching the building； hurried
down the gallery towards us； their rear cleared for the moment by the
troopers' feint。 The dismounted men came bundling down the steps； their
eyes aglow with the war…fire； and got horses as they could。 Among them
I lost sight of Louis； but perceived him presently； pale and bewildered；
mounted behind a trooper。 A man sprang up before each of us too；
greeting our appearance merely by a grunt of surprise。 For it was no ti
