the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第4章
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succeed in forcing an entrance he would only find himself caught in a
trap in a steep； narrow way exposed to a fire from the top of the flanking
walls； as well as from the front。 We had a couple of culverins； which the
Vicomte had got twenty years before； at the time of the battle of St。
Quentin。 We fixed one of these at the head of the ramp； and placed the
other on the terrace； where by moving it a few paces forward we could
train it on Bezers' house； which thus lay at our mercy；
Not that we really expected an attack。 But we did not know what to
expect or what to fear。 We had not ten servants； the Vicomte having
taken a score of the sturdiest lackeys and keepers to attend him at Bayonne。
And we felt immensely responsible。 Our main hope was that the Vidame
would at once go on to Paris； and postpone his vengeance。 So again and
again we cast longing glances at the House of the Wolf hoping that each
symptom of bustle heralded his departure。
Consequently it was a shock to me； and a great downfall of hopes；
when Gil with a grave face came to me on the terrace and announced that
M。 le Vidame was at the gate； asking to see Mademoiselle。
〃It is out of the question that he should see her；〃 the old servant added；
scratching his head in grave perplexity。
〃Most certainly。 I will see him instead；〃 I answered stoutly。 〃Do you
leave Francis and another at the gate； Gil。 Marie； keep within sight； lad。
And let Croisette stay with me。〃
These preparations madeand they took up scarcely a momentI met
the Vidame at the head of the ramp。 〃Mademoiselle de Caylus；〃 I said；
bowing； 〃is； I regret to say； indisposed to…day； Vidame。〃
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〃She will not see me？〃 he asked； eyeing me very unpleasantly。
〃Her indisposition deprives her of the pleasure；〃 I answered with an
effort。 He was certainly a wonderful man； for at sight of him； three…
fourths of my courage； and all my importance； oozed out at the heels of
my boots。
〃She will not see me。 Very well；〃 he replied； as if I had not spoken。
And the simple words sounded like a sentence of death。 〃Then； M。 Anne； I
have a crow to pick with you。 What compensation do you propose to
make for the death of my servant？ A decent； quiet fellow； whom you killed
yesterday； poor man； because his enthusiasm for the true faith carried him
away a little。〃
〃Whom I killed because he drew a dagger on M。 St。 Croix de Caylus at
the Vicomte's gate；〃 I answered steadily。 I had thought about this of
course and was ready for it。 〃You are aware； M。 de Bezers；〃 I continued；
〃that the Vicomte has jurisdiction extending to life and death over all
persons within the valley？〃
〃My household excepted；〃 he rejoined quietly。
〃Precisely； while they are within the curtilage of your house；〃 I
retorted。 〃However as the punishment was summary； and the man had no
time to confess himself； I am willing to〃
〃Well？〃
〃To pay Father Pierre to say ten masses for his soul。〃
The way the Vidame received this surprised me。 He broke into
boisterous laughter。 〃By our Lady； my friend；〃 he cried with rough
merriment； 〃but you are a joker！ You are indeed。 Masses？ Why the
man was a Protestant！〃
And that startled me more than anything which had gone before； more
indeed than I can explain。 For it seemed to prove that this man； laughing
his unholy laugh was not like other men。 He did not pick and choose his
servants for their religion。 He was sure that the Huguenot would stone
his fellow at his bidding； the Catholic cry 〃Vive Coligny！〃 I was so
completely taken aback that I found no words to answer him； and it was
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Croisette who said smartly； 〃Then how about his enthusiasm for the true
faith； M。 le Vidame？〃
〃The true faith；〃 he answered〃for my servants is my faith。〃 Then a
thought seemed to strike him。 〃What is more。〃 he continued slowly；
〃that it is the true and only faith for all； thousands will learn before the
world is ten days older。 Bear my words in mind； boy！ They will come
back to you。 And now hear me；〃 he went on in his usual tone； 〃I am
anxious to accommodate a neighbour。 It goes without saying that I
would not think of putting you； M。 Anne； to any trouble for the sake of
that rascal of mine。 But my people will expect something。 Let the
plaguy fellow who caused all this disturbance be given up to me； that I
may hang him； and let us cry quits。〃
〃That is impossible！〃 I answered coolly。 I had no need to ask what
he meant。 Give up Pavannes' messenger indeed！ Never！
He regarded meunmoved by my refusalwith a smile under which I
chafed； while I was impotent to resent it。 〃Do not build too much on a
single blow； young gentleman；〃 he said； shaking his head waggishly。 〃I
had fought a dozen times when I was your age。 However； I understand that
you refuse to give me satisfaction？〃
〃In the mode you mention； certainly；〃 I replied。 〃But〃
〃Bah！〃 he exclaimed with a sneer； 〃business first and pleasure
afterwards！ Bezers will obtain satisfaction in his own way； I promise you
that！ And at his own time。 And it will not be on unfledged bantlings
like you。 But what is this for？〃 And he rudely kicked the culverin
which apparently he had not noticed before； 〃So！ so！ understand；〃 he
continued； casting a sharp glance at one and another of us。 〃You looked
to be besieged！ Why you； booby； there is the shoot of your kitchen midden；
twenty feet above the roof of old Fretis' store！ And open； I will be sworn！
Do you think that I should have come this way while there was a ladder in
Caylus！ Did you take the wolf for a sheep？〃
With that he turned on his heel； swaggering away in the full enjoyment
of his triumph。 For a triumph it was。 We stood stunned； ashamed to
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look one another in the face。 Of course the shoot was open。 We
remembered now that it was； and we were so sorely mortified by his
knowledge and our folly； that I failed in my courtesy； and did not see him
to the gate； as I should have done。 We paid for that later。
〃He is the devil in person！〃 I exclaimed angrily； shaking my fist at
the House of the Wolf； as I strode up and down impatiently。 〃I hate him
worse！〃
〃So do I！〃 said Croisette； mildly。 〃But that he hates us is a matter
of more importance。 At any rate we will close the shoot。〃
〃Wait a moment！〃 I replied； as after another volley of complaints
directed at our visitor； the lad was moving off to see to it。 What is going on
down there？〃
〃Upon my word； I believe he is leaving us！〃 Croisette rejoined
sharply。
For there was a noise of hoofs below us； clattering on the pavement。
Half…a…dozen horsemen were issuing from the House of the Wolf； the ring
of their bridles and the sound of their careless voices coming up to us
through the clear morning air Bezers' valet； whom we knew by sight； was
the last of them。 He had a pair of great saddle…bags before him； and at
sight of these we uttered a glad exclamation。 〃He is going！〃 I
murmured； hardly able to believe my eyes。 〃He is going after all！〃
〃Wait！〃 Croisette answered drily。
But I was right。 We had not to wait long。 He WAS going。 In
another moment he came out himself； riding a strong iron…grey horse：
and we could see that he had holsters to his saddle。 His steward was
running beside him； to take I suppose his last orders。 A cripple； whom
the bustle had attracted from his usual haunt； the church porch； held up his
hand for alms。 The Vidame as he passed； cut him savagely across the
face with his whip； and cursed him audibly。
〃May the devil take him！〃 exclaimed Croisette in just rage。 But I
said nothing； remembering that the cripple was a particular pet of
Catherine's。 I thought instead of an occasion； not so very long ago； when
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the Vicomte being at home； we had had a great hawking party。 Bezers
and Catherine had ridden up the street together； and Catherine giving the
cripple a piece of money； Bezers had flung to him all his share of the game。
And my heart sank。
Only for a moment； however。 The man was gone； or was going at
any rate。 We stood silent and motionless； all watching； until； after what
seemed a long interval； the little party of seven became visible on the
white road far below usto the northward； and moving in that direction。
Still we watched them； muttering a word to one another； now and again；
until presently the riders slackened their pace； and began to ascend the
winding track that led to the hills and Cahors； and to Paris also； if one
went far enough。
Then at length with a loud 〃Whoop！〃 we dashed across the terrace；
Croisette leading； and so through the courtyard to the parlour； where we
arrived breathless。 〃He is off！〃 Croisette cried shrilly。 〃He has started
for Paris！ And bad luck go with him！〃 And we all flung up our caps
and shouted。
But no answer； such as we expected； came from the wom
