the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第42章
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mere lads； hot…blooded； reckless nobles； ready for any wild brawl； without
forethought or prudence。 Of the four Frenchmen who it is thought took
the leading parts； one； the king； was twenty…two； Monsieur； his brother；
was only twenty； the Duke of Guise was twenty…one。 Only the Marshal
de Tavannes was of mature age。 For the other conspirators； for the
Queen…Mother； for her advisers Retz and Nevers and Birague； they were
Italians； and Italy may answer for them if Florence； Mantua and Milan
care to raise the glove。
To return to our journey。 A league from the town we halted at a large
inn； and some of us dismounted。 Horses were brought out to fill the
places of those lost or left behind； and Bure had food served to us。 We
were famished and exhausted； and ate it ravenously； as if we could never
have enough。
The Vidame sat his horse apart； served by his page； I stole a glance at
him； and it struck me that even on his iron nature the events of the night
had made some impression。 I read； or thought I read； in his countenance；
signs of emotions not quite in accordance with what I knew of him
emotions strange and varied。 I could almost have sworn that as he looked
at us a flicker of kindliness lit up his stern and cruel gloom； I could almost
have sworn he smiled with a curious sadness。 As for Louis； riding with a
squad who stood in a different part of the yard； he did not see us； had not
yet seen us at all。 His side face； turned towards me； was pale and sad； his
manner preoccupied； his mien rather sorrowful than downcast。 He was
thinking； I judged； as much of the many brave men who had yesterday
been his friends companions at board and play…tableas of his own fate。
When we presently； at a signal from Bure； took to the road again； I asked
no permission； but thrusting my horse forward； rode to his side as he
passed through the gateway。
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CHAPTER XI。
A NIGHT OF SORROW。
〃Louis！ Louis！〃
He turned with a start at the sound of my voice； joy and bewilderment…
…and no wonderin his countenance。 He had not supposed us to be
within a hundred leagues of him。 And lo！ here we were； knee to knee；
hand meeting hand in a long grasp； while his eyes； to which tears sprang
unbidden； dwelt on my face as though they could read in it the features of
his sweetheart。 Some one had furnished him with a hat； and enabled him
to put his dress in order； and wash his wound； which was very slight； and
these changes had improved his appearance； so that the shadow of grief
and despondency passing for a moment from him in the joy of seeing me；
he looked once more his former self： as he had looked in the old days at
Caylus on his return from hawking； or from some boyish escapade among
the hills。 Only； alas！ he wore no sword。
〃And now tell me all；〃 he cried； after his first exclamation of wonder
had found vent。 〃How on earth do you come here？ Here； of all places；
and by my side？ Is all well at Caylus？ Surely Mademoiselle is not〃
〃Mademoiselle is well！ perfectly well！ And thinking of you； I
swear！〃 I answered passionately。 〃For us；〃 I went on； eager for the
moment to escape that subjecthow could I talk of it in the daylight and
under strange eyes？〃Marie and Croisette are behind； We left Caylus eight
days ago。 We reached Paris yesterday evening。 We have not been to
bed！ We have passed； Louis； such a night as I never〃
He stopped me with a gesture。 〃Hush！〃 he said； raising his hand。
〃Don't speak of it； Anne！〃 and I saw that the fate of his friends was still
too recent； the horror of his awakening to those dreadful sights and sounds
was still too vivid for him to bear reference to them。 Yet after riding for a
time in silence though his lips movedhe asked me again what had
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brought us up。
〃We came to warn youof him；〃 I answered； pointing to the solitary；
moody figure of the Vidame； who was riding ahead of the party。 〃Hehe
said that Kit should never marry you； and boasted of what he would do to
you； and frightened her。 So； learning he was going to Paris； we followed
himto put you on your guard； you know。〃 And I briefly sketched our
adventures； and the strange circumstances and mistakes which had delayed
us hour after hour； through all that strange night； until the time had gone
by when we could do good。
His eyes glistened and his colour rose as I told the story。 He wrung
my hand warmly； and looked back to smile at Marie and Croisette。 〃It
was like you！〃 he ejaculated with emotion。 〃It was like her cousins！
Brave； brave lads！ The Vicomte will live to be proud of you！ Some day
you will all do great things！ I say it！〃
〃But oh； Louis！〃 I exclaimed sorrowfully； though my heart was
bounding with pride at his words； 〃if we had only been in time！ If we had
only come to you two hours earlier！〃
〃You would have spoken to little purpose then； I fear；〃 he replied；
shaking his head。 〃We were given over as a prey to the enemy。
Warnings？ We had warnings in plenty。 De Rosny warned us； and we
scoffed at him。 The king's eye warned us； and we trusted him。 But〃
and Louis' form dilated and his hand rose as he went on； and I thought of
his cousin's prediction〃it will never be so again in France； Anne！ Never！
No man will after this trust another！ There will be no honour； no faith；
no quarter； and no peace！ And for the Valois who has done this； the
sword will never depart from his house！ I believe it！ I do believe it！〃
How truly he spoke we know now。 For two…and…twenty years after
that twenty…fourth of August； 1572； the sword was scarcely laid aside in
France for a single month。 In the streets of Paris； at Arques； and Coutras；
and Ivry； blood flowed like water that the blood of the St。 Bartholomew
might be forgottenthat blood which； by the grace of God； Navarre saw
fall from the dice box on the eve of the massacre。 The last of the Valois
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passed to the vaults of St。 Denis： and a greater king； the first of all
Frenchmen； alive or dead； the bravest； gayest； wisest of the land；
succeeded him： yet even he had to fall by the knife； in a moment most
unhappy for his country； before France； horror… stricken； put away the
treachery and evil from her。
Talking with Louis as we rode； it was not unnaturalnay； it was the
natural result of the situationthat I should avoid one subject。 Yet that
subject was the uppermost in my thoughts。 What were the Vidame's
intentions？ What was the meaning of this strange journey？ What was
to be
