the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第34章
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instrument； supposing him never to have seen it before。 The whole
population had come out to line the streets through which we rode； and
stood gazing； with scarcely veiled looks of apprehension； at the procession
of troopers and the stern face of the new governor。
We dismounted passively in the courtyard of the castle； and were for
going in together； when Bure intervened。 〃M。 de Pavannes；〃 he said；
pushing rather rudely between us； 〃will sup alone to… night。 For you；
gentlemen； this way； if you please。〃
I went without remonstrance。 What was the use？ I was conscious
that the Vidame from the top of the stairs leading to the grand entrance
was watching us with a wolfish glare in his eyes。 I went quietly。 But I
heard Croisette urging something with passionate energy。
We were led through a low doorway to a room on the ground floor； a
place very like a cell。 Were we took our meal in silence。 When it was
over I flung myself on one of the beds prepared for us； shrinking from my
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companions rather in misery than in resentment。
No explanation had passed between us。 Still I knew that the other
two from time to time eyed me doubtfully。 I feigned therefore to be
asleep； but I heard Bure enter to bid us good… nightand see that we had
not escaped。 And I was conscious too of the question Croisette put to
him； 〃Does M。 de Pavannes lie alone to…night； Bure？〃
〃Not entirely；〃 the captain answered with gloomy meaning。 Indeed
he seemed in bad spirits himself； or tired。 〃The Vidame is anxious for his
soul's welfare； and sends a priest to him。〃
They sprang to their feet at that。 But the light and its bearer； who so
far recovered himself as to chuckle at his master's pious thought； had
disappeared。 They were left to pace the room； and reproach themselves
and curse the Vidame in an agony of late repentance。 Not even Marie
could find a loop…hole of escape from here。 The door was double…locked；
the windows so barred that a cat could scarcely pass through them； the
walls were of solid masonry。
Meanwhile I lay and feigned to sleep； and lay feigning through long；
long hours； though my heart like theirs throbbed in response to the dull
hammering that presently began without； and not far from us； and lasted
until daybreak。 From our windows； set low and facing a wall； we could
see nothing。 But we could guess what the noise meant； the dull； earthy
thuds when posts were set in the ground； the brisk； wooden clattering
when one plank was laid to another。 We could not see the progress of the
work； or hear the voices of the workmen； or catch the glare of their lights。
But we knew what they were doing。 They were raising the scaffold。
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CHAPTER XII。
JOY IN THE MORNING。
I was too weary with riding to go entirely without sleep。 And
moreover it is anxiety and the tremor of excitement which make the pillow
sleepless； not； heaven be thanked； sorrow。 God made man to lie awake
and hope： but never to lie awake and grieve。 An hour or two before
daybreak I fell asleep； utterly worn out。 When I awoke； the sun was high；
and shining slantwise on our window。 The room was gay with the
morning rays； and soft with the morning freshness； and I lay a while； my
cheek on my hand； drinking in the cheerful influence as I had done many
and many a day in our room at Caylus。 It was the touch of Marie's hand；
laid timidly on my arm； which roused me with a shock to consciousness。
The truth broke upon me。 I remembered where we were； and what was
before us。 〃Will you get up； Anne？〃 Croisette said。 〃The Vidame has
sent for us。〃
I got to my feet； and buckled on my sword。 Croisette was leaning
against the wall； pale and downcast。 Bure filled the open doorway； his
feathered cap in his hand； a queer smile on his face。 〃You are a good
sleeper； young gentleman；〃 he said。 〃You should have a good
conscience。〃
〃Better than yours； no doubt！〃 I retorted； 〃or your master's。〃
He shrugged his shoulders； and； bidding us by a sign to follow him；
led the way through several gloomy passages。 At the end of these； a
flight of stone steps leading upwards seemed to promise something better；
and true enough； the door at the top being opened； the murmur of a crowd
reached our ears； with a burst of sunlight and warmth。 We were in a lofty
room； with walls in some places painted； and elsewhere hung with tapestry；
well lighted by three old pointed windows reaching to the rush…covered
floor。 The room was large； set here and there with stands of arms； and had
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a dais with a raised carved chair at one end。 The ceiling was of blue；
with gold stars set about it。 Seeing this； I remembered the place。 I had
been in it once； years ago； when I had attended the Vicomte on a state visit
to the governor。 Ah！ that the Vicomte were here now！
I advanced to the middle window； which was open。 Then I started
back； for outside was the scaffold built level with the floor； and rush…
covered like it！ Two or three people were lounging on it。 My eyes
sought Louis among the group； but in vain。 He was not there： and
while I looked for him； I heard a noise behind me； and he came in；
guarded by four soldiers with pikes。
His face was pale and grave； but perfectly composed。 There was a
wistful look in his eyes indeed； as if he were thinking of something or
some one far awayKit's face on the sunny hills of Quercy where he had
ridden with her； perhaps； a look which seemed to say that the doings here
were nothing to him； and the parting was yonder where she was。 But his
bearing was calm and collected； his step firm and fearless。 When he saw
us； indeed his face lightened a moment and he greeted us cheerfully； even
acknowledging Bure's salutation with dignity and good temper。 Croisette
sprang towards him impulsively； and cried his name Croisette ever the
first to speak。 But before Louis could grasp his hand； the door at the
bottom of the hall was swung open； and the Vidame came hurriedly in。
He was alone。 He glanced round； his forbidding face； which was
somewhat flushed as if by haste； wearing a scowl。 Then he saw us； and；
nodding haughtily； strode up the floor； his spurs clanking heavily on the
boards。 We gave us no greeting； but by a short word dismissed Bure and
the soldiers to the lower end of the room。 And then he stood and looked
at us four； but principally at his rival； and looked； and looked with eyes of
smouldering hate。 And there was a silence； a long silence； while the
murmur of the crowd came almost cheerfully through the window； and the
sparrows under the eaves chirped and twittered； and the heart that
throbbed least painfully was； I do believe； Louis de Pavannes'！
At last Bezers broke the silence。
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〃M。 de Pavannes！〃 he began； speaking hoarsely； yet concealing all
passion under a cynical smile and a mock politeness； 〃M。 de Pavannes； I
hold the king's commission to put to death all the Huguenots within my
province of Quercy。 Have you anything to say； I beg； why I should not
begin with you？ Or do you wish to return to the Church？〃
Louis shrugged his shoulders as in contempt； and held his peace； I saw
his captor's great hands twitch convulsively at this； but still the Vidame
mastered himself； and when he spoke again he spoke slowly。 〃Very
well；〃 he continued； taking no heed of us； the silent witnesses of this
strange struggle between the two men； but eyeing Louis only。 〃You have
wronged me more than any man alive。 Alive or dead！ or dead！ You
have thwarted me； M。 de Pavannes； and taken from me the woman I loved。
Six days ago I might have killed you。 I had it in my power。 I had but to
leave you to the rabble； remember； and you would have been rotting at
Montfaucon to…day； M。 de Pavannes。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Louis quietly。 〃Why so many words？〃
But the Vidame went on as if he had not heard。 〃I did not leave you
to them；〃 he resumed； 〃and yet I hate youmore than I ever hated any man
yet； and I am not apt to forgive。 But now the time has come； sir； for my
revenge！ The oath I swore to your mistress a fortnight ago I will keep to
the letter。 ISilence； babe！〃 he thundered； turning suddenly； 〃or I will
keep my word with you too！〃
Croisette had muttered something； and this had drawn on him the glare
of Bezers' eyes。 But the threat was effectual。 Croisette was silent。
The two were left henceforth to one another。
Yet the Vidame seemed to be put out by the interruption。 Muttering a
string of oaths he strode from us to the window and back again。 The cool
cynicism； with which he was wont to veil his anger and impose on other
men； while it heightened the effect of his ruthless deeds； in part fell from
him。 He showed himself as he wasmasterful； and violent； hating； with
all the strength of a turbulent nature which had never known a check。
