the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第3章
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from hers； and looked northwards also。
Caylus Castle stands on a rock in the middle of the narrow valley of
that name。 The town clusters about the ledges of the rock so closely that
when I was a boy I could fling a stone clear of the houses。 The hills are
scarcely five hundred yards distant on either side； rising in tamer colours
from the green fields about the brook。 It is possible from the terrace to
see the whole valley； and the road which passes through it lengthwise。
Catherine's eyes were on the northern extremity of the defile； where the
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highway from Cahors descends from the uplands。 She had been sitting
with her face turned that way all the afternoon。
I looked that way too。 A solitary horseman was descending the steep
track from the hills。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 cried the Vidame suddenly。 We all looked up。 His
tone was such that the colour fled from Kit's face。 There was something
in his voice she had never heard in any voice beforesomething that to a
woman was like a blow。 〃Mademoiselle；〃 he snarled； 〃is expecting news
from Cahors； from her lover。 I have the honour to congratulate M。 de
Pavannes on his conquest。〃
Ah！ he had guessed it！ As the words fell on the sleepy silence； an
insult in themselves； I sprang to my feet； amazed and angry； yet astounded
by his quickness of sight and wit。 He must have recognized the Pavannes
badge at that distance。 〃M。 le Vidame；〃 I said indignantlyCatherine
was white and voiceless〃M。 le Vidame〃 but there I stopped and faltered
stammering。 For behind him I could see Croisette； and Croisette gave
me no sign of encouragement or support。
So we stood face to face for a moment； the boy and the man of the
world； the stripling and the ROUE。 Then the Vidame bowed to me in
quite a new fashion。 〃M。 Anne de Caylus desires to answer for M。 de
Pavannes？〃 he asked smoothly； with a mocking smoothness。
I understood what he meant。 But something prompted meCroisette
said afterwards that it was a happy thought； though now I know the crisis
to have been less serious than he fancied to answer； 〃Nay； not for M。 de
Pavannes。 Rather for my cousin。〃 And I bowed。 〃I have the honour
on her behalf to acknowledge your congratulations； M。 le Vidame。 It
pleases her that our nearest neighbour should also be the first outside the
family to wish her well。 You have divined truly in supposing that she
will shortly be united to M。 de Pavannes。〃
I supposefor I saw the giant's colour change and his lip quiver as I
spokethat his previous words had been only a guess。 For a moment the
devil seemed to be glaring through his eyes； and he looked at Marie and
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me as a wild animal at its keepers。 Yet he maintained his cynical
politeness in part。 〃Mademoiselle desires my congratulations？〃 he said；
slowly； labouring with each word it seemed。 〃She shall have them on the
happy day。 She shall certainly have them then。 But these are troublous
times。 And Mademoiselle's betrothed is I think a Huguenot； and has
gone to Paris。 Pariswell； the air of Paris is not good for Huguenots； I
am told。〃
I saw Catherine shiver； indeed she was on the point of fainting； I broke
in rudely； my passion getting the better of my fears。 〃M。 de Pavannes can
take care of himself； believe me；〃 I said brusquely。
〃Perhaps so；〃 Bezers answered； his voice like the grating of steel on
steel。 〃But at any rate this will be a memorable day for Mademoiselle。
The day on which she receives her first congratulationsshe will
remember it as long as she lives！ Oh； yes； I will answer for that； M。
Anne；〃 he said looking brightly at one and another of us； his eyes more
oblique than ever； 〃Mademoiselle will remember it； I am sure！〃
It would be impossible to describe the devilish glance he flung at the
poor sinking girl as he withdrew； the horrid emphasis he threw into those
last words； the covert deadly threat they conveyed to the dullest ears。
That he went then； was small mercy。 He had done all the evil he could
do at present。 If his desire had been to leave fear behind him； he had
certainly succeeded。
Kit crying softly went into the house； her innocent coquetry more than
sufficiently punished already。 And we three looked at one another with
blank faces； It was clear that we had made a dangerous enemy； and an
enemy at our own gates。 As the Vidame had said； these were troublous
times when things were done to menay； and to women and children
which we scarce dare to speak of now。 〃I wish the Vicomte were here；〃
Croisette said uneasily after we had discussed several unpleasant
contingencies。
〃Or even Malines the steward；〃 I suggested。
〃He would not be much good；〃 replied Croisette。
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〃And he is at St。 Antonin； and will not be back this week。 Father Pierre
too is at Albi。〃
〃You do not think；〃 said Marie； 〃that he will attack us？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 Croisette retorted with contempt。 〃Even the
Vidame would not dare to do that in time of peace。 Besides； he has not
half a score of men here；〃 continued the lad； shrewdly； 〃and counting old
Gil and ourselves we have as many。 And Pavannes always said that three
men could hold the gate at the bottom of the ramp against a score。 Oh；
he will not try that！〃
〃Certainly not！〃 I agreed。 And so we crushed Marie。 〃But for
Louis de Pavannes〃
Catherine interrupted me。 She came out quickly looking a different
person； her face flushed with anger； her tears dried。
〃Anne！〃 she cried； imperiously； 〃what is the matter down below
will you see？〃
I had no difficulty in doing that。 All the sounds of town life came up
to us on the terrace。 Lounging there we could hear the chaffering over
the wheat measures in the cloisters of the market…square； the yell of a dog；
the voice of a scold； the church bell； the watchman's cry。 I had only to
step to the wall to overlook it all。 On this summer afternoon the town
had been for the most part very quiet。 If we had not been engaged in our
own affairs we should have taken the alarm before； remarking in the
silence the first beginnings of what was now a very respectable tumult。 It
swelled louder even as we stepped to the wall。
We could seea bend in the street laying it openpart of the Vidame's
house； the gloomy square hold which had come to him from his mother。
His own chateau of Bezers lay far away in Franche Comte； but of late he
had shown a preferenceCatherine could best account for it； perhapsfor
this mean house in Caylus。 It was the only house in the town which did
not belong to us。 It was known as the House of the Wolf； an
