the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第45章
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answer。 I should bitterly have rued the day。 Providence was good to me。
Such men and such women； we may believe have ceased to exist now。
They flourished in those miserable days of war and divisions； and passed
away with them like the foul night…birds of the battle… field。
To return to our journey。 In the morning sunshine one could not but
be cheerful； and think good things possible。 The worst trial I had came
with each sunset。 For thenwe generally rode late into the evening
Louis sought my side to talk to me of his sweetheart。 And how he would
talk of her！ How many thousand messages he gave me for her！ How
often he recalled old days among the hills； with each laugh and jest and
incident； when we five had been as children！ Until I would wonder
passionately； the tears running down my face in the darkness； how he
couldhow he could talk of her in that quiet voice which betrayed no
rebellion against fate； no cursing of Providence！ How he could plan for
her and think of her when she should be alone！
Now I understand it。 He was still labouring under the shock of his
friends' murder。 He was still partially stunned。 Death seemed natural
and familiar to him； as to one who had seen his allies and companions
perish without warning or preparation。 Death had come to be normal to
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him； life the exception； as I have known it seem to a child brought face to
face with a corpse for the first time。
One afternoon a strange thing happened。 We could see the Auvergne
hills at no great distance on our leftthe Puy de Dome above themand
we four were riding together。 We had fallenan unusual thingto the
rear of the party。 Our road at the moment was a mere track running
across moorland； sprinkled here and there with gorse and brushwood。
The main company had straggled on out of sight。 There were but half a
dozen riders to be seen an eighth of a league before us； a couple almost as
far behind。 I looked every way with a sudden surging of the heart。 For
the first time the possibility of flight occurred to me。 The rough
Auvergne hills were within reach。 Supposing we could get a lead of a
quarter of a league； we could hardly be caught before darkness came and
covered us。 Why should we not put spurs to our horses and ride off？
〃Impossible！〃 said Pavannes quietly； when I spoke。
〃Why？〃 I asked with warmth。
〃Firstly；〃 he replied； 〃because I have given my word to go with the
Vidame to Cahors。〃
My face flushed hotly。 But I cried； 〃What of that？ You were taken
by treachery！ Your safe conduct was disregarded。 Why should you be
scrupulous？ Your enemies are not。 This is folly？〃
〃I think not。 Nay；〃 Louis answered； shaking his head； 〃you would
not do it yourself in my place。〃
〃I think I should；〃 I stammered awkwardly。
〃No； you would not； lad；〃 he said smiling。 〃I know you too well。 But
if I would do it； it is impossible。〃 He turned in the saddle and； shading
his eyes with his hand from the level rays of the sun； looked back intently。
〃It is as I thought；〃 he continued。 〃One of those men is riding grey Margot；
which Bure said yesterday was the fastest mare in the troop。 And the
man on her is a light weight。 The other fellow has that Norman bay
horse we were looking at this morning。 It is a trap laid by Bezers； Anne。
If we turned aside a dozen yards； those two would be after us like the
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wind。〃
〃Do you mean；〃 I cried； 〃that Bezers has drawn his men forward on
purpose？〃
〃Precisely； was Louis's answer。 〃That is the fact。 Nothing would
please him better than to take my honour first； and my life afterwards。
But； thank God； only the one is in his power。〃
And when I came to look at the horsemen； immediately before us； they
confirmed Louis's view。 They were the best mounted of the party： all
men of light weight too。 One or other of them was constantly looking
back。 As night fell they closed in upon us with their usual care。 When
Bure joined us there was a gleam of intelligence in his bold eyes； a flash of
conscious trickery。 He knew that we had found him out； and cared
nothing for it。
And the others cared nothing。 But the thought that if left to myself I
should have fallen into the Vidame's cunning trap filled me with new
hatred towards him； such hatred and such fearfor there was humiliation
mingled with themas I had scarcely felt before。 I brooded over this；
barely noticing what passed in our company for hoursnay； not until the
next day when； towards evening； the cry arose round me that we were
within sight of Cahors。 Yes； there it lay below us； in its shallow basin；
surrounded by gentle hills。 The domes of the cathedral； the towers of the
Vallandre Bridge； the bend of the Lot； where its stream embraces the
townI knew them all。 Our long journey was over。
And I had but one idea。 I had some time before communicated to
Croisette the desperate design I had formedto fall upon Bezers and kill
him in the midst of his men in the last resort。 Now the time had come if
the thing was ever to be done： if we had not left it too long already。
And I looked about me。 There was some confusion and jostling as we
halted on the brow of the hill； while two men were despatched ahead to
announce the governor's arrival； and Bure； with half a dozen spears； rode
out as an advanced guard。
The road where we stood was narrow； a shallow cutting winding down
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the declivity of the hills。 The horses were tired； It was a bad time and
place for my design； and only the coming night was in my favour。 But I
was desperate。
Yet before I moved or gave a signal which nothing could recall； I
scanned the landscape eagerly； scrutinizing in turn the small； rich plain
below us； warmed by the last rays of the sun； the bare hills here glowing；
there dark； the scattered wood…clumps and spinneys that filled the angles
of the river； even the dusky line of helm…oaks that crowned the ridge
beyondCaylus way。 So near our own country there might be help！ If
the messenger whom we had despatched to the Vicomte before leaving
home had reached him； our uncle might have returned； and even be in
Cahors to meet us。
But no party appeared in sight： and I saw no place where an ambush
could be lying。 I remembered that no tidings of our present plight or of
what had happened coul
