volume01-第24章

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ntended　for　his　own　family：'

'But；'　added　He；　'should　any　accident　detain　my　noble　Guests　longer　than　they　at　present　intend；　I　hope　to　give　them　a　better　treatment。'

The　Villain！　I　well　knew　the　accident　to　which　He　alluded；　I　shuddered　at　the　treatment　which　He　taught　us　to　expect！

My　Companion　in　danger　seemed　entirely　to　have　got　rid　of　her　chagrin　at　being　delayed。　　She　laughed；　and　conversed　with　the　family　with　infinite　gaiety。　　I　strove　but　in　vain　to　follow　her　example。　　My　spirits　were　evidently　forced；　and　the　constraint　which　I　put　upon　myself　escaped　not　Baptiste's　observation。

'Come；　come；　Monsieur；　cheer　up！'　said　He；　'You　seem　not　quite　recovered　from　your　fatigue。　　To　raise　your　spirits；　what　say　you　to　a　glass　of　excellent　old　wine　which　was　left　me　by　my　Father？　God　rest　his　soul；　He　is　in　a　better　world！　　I　seldom　produce　this　wine；　But　as　I　am　not　honoured　with　such　Guests　every　day；　this　is　an　occasion　which　deserves　a　Bottle。'

He　then　gave　his　Wife　a　Key；　and　instructed　her　where　to　find　the　wine　of　which　He　spoke。　　She　seemed　by　no　means　pleased　with　the　commission；　She　took　the　Key　with　an　embarrassed　air；　and　hesitated　to　quit　the　Table。

'Did　you　hear　me？'　said　Baptiste　in　an　angry　tone。

Marguerite　darted　upon　him　a　look　of　mingled　anger　and　fear；　and　left　the　chamber。　　His　eyes　followed　her　suspiciously；　till　She　had　closed　the　door。

She　soon　returned　with　a　bottle　sealed　with　yellow　wax。　　She　placed　it　upon　the　table；　and　gave　the　Key　back　to　her　Husband。　　I　suspected　that　this　liquor　was　not　presented　to　us　without　design；　and　I　watched　Marguerite's　movements　with　inquietude。　　She　was　employed　in　rinsing　some　small　horn　Goblets。　　As　She　placed　them　before　Baptiste；　She　saw　that　my　eye　was　fixed　upon　her；　and　at　the　moment　when　She　thought　herself　unobserved　by　the　Banditti；　She　motioned　to　me　with　her　head　not　to　taste　the　liquor；　She　then　resumed　her　place。

In　the　mean　while　our　Host　had　drawn　the　Cork；　and　filling　two　of　the　Goblets；　offered　them　to　the　Lady　and　myself。　　She　at　first　made　some　objections；　but　the　instances　of　Baptiste　were　so　urgent；　that　She　was　obliged　to　comply。　　Fearing　to　excite　suspicion；　I　hesitated　not　to　take　the　Goblet　presented　to　me。　　By　its　smell　and　colour　I　guessed　it　to　be　Champagne；　But　some　grains　of　powder　floating　upon　the　top　convinced　me　that　it　was　not　unadulterated。　　However；　I　dared　not　to　express　my　repugnance　to　drinking　it；　I　lifted　it　to　my　lips；　and　seemed　to　be　swallowing　it：　　Suddenly　starting　from　my　chair；　I　made　the　best　of　my　way　towards　a　Vase　of　water　at　some　distance；　in　which

Marguerite　had　been　rinsing　the　Goblets。　　I　pretended　to　spit　out　the　wine　with　disgust；　and　took　an　opportunity　unperceived　of　emptying　the　liquor　into　the　Vase。

The　Banditti　seemed　alarmed　at　my　action。　　Jacques　half　rose　from　his　chair；　put　his　hand　into　his　bosom；　and　I　discovered　the　haft　of　a　dagger。　　I　returned　to　my　seat　with　tranquillity；　and　affected　not　to　have　observed　their　confusion。

'You　have　not　suited　my　taste；　honest　Friend；'　said　I；　addressing　myself　to　Baptiste。　　'I　never　can　drink　Champagne　without　its　producing　a　violent　illness。　　I　swallowed　a　few　mouthfuls　ere　I　was　aware　of　its　quality；　and　fear　that　I　shall　suffer　for　my　imprudence。'

Baptiste　and　Jacques　exchanged　looks　of　distrust。

'Perhaps；'　said　Robert；　'the　smell　may　be　disagreeable　to　you。'

He　quitted　his　chair；　and　removed　the　Goblet。　　I　observed；　that　He　examined；　whether　it　was　nearly　empty。

'He　must　have　drank　sufficient；'　said　He　to　his　Brother　in　a　low　voice；　while　He　reseated　himself。

Marguerite　looked　apprehensive；　that　I　had　tasted　the　liquor：　　A　glance　from　my　eye　reassured　her。

I　waited　with　anxiety　for　the　effects　which　the　Beverage　would　produce　upon　the　Lady。　　I　doubted　not　but　the　grains　which　I　had　observed　were　poisonous；　and　lamented　that　it　had　been　impossible　for　me　to　warn　her　of　the　danger。　　But　a　few　minutes　had　elapsed　before　I　perceived　her　eyes　grow　heavy；　Her　head　sank　upon　her　shoulder；　and　She　fell　into　a　deep　sleep。　　I　affected　not　to　attend　to　this　circumstance；　and　continued　my　conversation　with　Baptiste；　with　all　the　outward　gaiety　in　my　power　to　assume。　　But　He　no　longer　answered　me　without　constraint。　　He　eyed　me　with　distrust　and　astonishment；　and　I　saw　that　the　Banditti　were　frequently　whispering　among　themselves。　　My　situation　became　every　moment　more　painful；　I　sustained　the　character　of　confidence　with　a　worse　grace　than　ever。　　Equally　afraid　of　the　arrival　of　their　Accomplices　and　of　their　suspecting　my　knowledge　of　their　designs；　I　knew　not　how　to　dissipate　the　distrust　which　the　Banditti　evidently　entertained　for　me。　　In　this　new　dilemma　the　friendly　Marguerite　again　assisted　me。　　She　passed　behind　the　Chairs　of　her　Stepsons；　stopped　for　a　moment　opposite　to　me；　closed　her　eyes；　and　reclined　her　head　upon　her　shoulder。　　This　hint　immediately　dispelled　my　incertitude。　　It　told　me；　that　I　ought　to　imitate　the　Baroness；　and　pretend　that　the　liquor　had　taken　its　full　effect　upon　me。　　I　did　so；　and　in　a　few　minutes　seemed　perfectly　overcome　with　slumber。

'So！'　cried　Baptiste；　as　I　fell　back　in　my　chair；　'At　last　He　sleeps！　　I　began　to　think　that　He　had　scented　our　design；　and　that　we　should　have　been　forced　to　dispatch　him　at　all　events。'

'And　why　not　dispatch　him　at　all　events？'　enquired　the　ferocious　Jacques。　　'Why　leave　him　the　possibility　of　betraying　our　secret？　Marguerite；　give　me　one　of　my　Pistols：　　A　single　touch　of　the　trigger　will　finish　him　at　once。'

'And　supposing；'　rejoined　the　Father；　'Supposing　that　our　Friends　should　not　arrive　tonight；　a　pretty　figure　we　should　make　when　the　Servants　enquire　for　him　in　the　Morning！　　No；　no；　Jacques；　We　must　wait　for　our　Associates。　　If　they　join　us；　we　are　strong　enough　to　dispatch　the　Domestics　as　well　as　their　Masters；　and　the　booty　is　our　own；　If　Claude　does　not　find　the　Troop；　we　must　take　patience；　and　suffer　the　prey　to　slip　through　our　fingers。　　Ah！　Boys；　Boys；　had　you　arrived　but　five　minutes　sooner；　the　Spaniard　would　have　been　done　for；　and　two　thousand　Pistoles　our　own。　　But　you　are　always　out　of　the　way　when　you　are　most　wanted。

You　are　the　most　unlucky　Rogues！'

'Well；　well；　Father！'　answered　Jacques；　'Had　you　been　of　my　mind；　all　would　have　been　over　by　this　time。　You；　Robert；　Claude；　and　myself；　why　the　Strangers　were　but　double　the　number；　and　I　warrant　you　we　might　have　mastered　them。　　However；　Claude　is　gone；　'Tis　too　late　to　think　of　it　now。　　We　must　wait　patiently

for　the　arrival　of　the　Gang；　and　if　the　Travellers　escape　us　tonight；　we　must　take　care　to　waylay　them　tomorrow。'

'True！　　True！'　said　Baptiste；　'Marguerite；　have　you　given　the　sleeping…draught　to　the　Waiting…women？'

She　replied　in　the　affirmative。

'All　then　is　safe。　　Come；　come；　Boys；　Whatever　falls　out；　we　have　no　reason　to　complain　of　this　adventure。　We　run　no　danger；　may　gain　much；　and　can　lose　nothing。'

At　this　moment　I　heard　a　trampling　of　Horses。　　Oh！　how　dreadful　was　the　sound　to　my　ears。　　A　cold　sweat　flowed　down　my　forehead；　and　I　felt　all　the　terrors　of　impending　death。　　I　was　by　no　means　reassured　by　hearing　the　compassionate　Marguerite　exclaim　in　the　accents　of　despair；

'Almighty　God！　They　are　lost！'

Luckily　the　Wood…man　and　his　Sons　were　too　much　occupied　by　the　arrival　of　their　Associates　to　attend　to　me；　or　the　violence　of　my　agitation　would　have　convinced　them　that　my　sleep　was　feigned。

'Open！　　Open！'　exclaimed　several　voices　on　the　outside　of　the　Cottage。

'Yes！　　Yes！'　cried　Baptiste　joyfully；　'They　are　our　Friends　sure　enough！　　Now　then　our　booty　is　certain。　　Away！　Lads；　Away！　　Lead　them　to　the　Barn；　You　know　what　is　to　be　done　there。'

Robert　hastened　to　open　the　door　of　the　Cottage。

'But　first；'　said　Jacques；　taking　up　his　arms；　'first　let　me　dispatch　these　Sleepers。'

'No；　no；　no！'　replied　his　Father；　'Go　you　to　the　Barn；　where　your　presence　is　wanted。　　Leave　me　to　take　care　of　these　and　the　Women　above。'

Jacques　obeyed；　and　followed　his　Brother。　　They　seemed　to　converse　with　the　New…Comers　for　a　few　minutes：　　After　which　I　heard　the　Robbers　dismount；　and　as　I　conjectured；　bend　their　course　towards　the　Barn