the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第46章
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could be lying。 I remembered that no tidings of our present plight or of
what had happened could have reached the Vicomte。 The hope faded out
of life as soon as despair had given it birth。 We must fend for ourselves
and for Kit。
That was my justification。 I leaned from my saddle towards
CroisetteI was riding by his sideand muttered； as I felt my horse's head
and settled myself firmly in the stirrups； 〃You remember what I said？
Are you ready？〃
He looked at me in a startled way； with a face showing white in the
shadow： and from me to the one solitary figure seated like a pillar a
score of paces in front with no one between us and it。 〃There need be but
two of us；〃 I muttered； loosening my sword。 〃Shall it be you or Marie？
The others must leap their horses out of the road in the confusion； cross
the river at the Arembal Ford if they are not overtaken； and make for
Caylus。〃
He hesitated。 I do not know whether it had anything to do with his
hesitation that at that moment the cathedral bell in the town below us
began to ring slowly for Vespers。 Yes； he hesitated。 Hea Caylus。
Turning to him again； I repeated my question impatiently。 〃Which shall
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it be？ A moment； and we shall be moving on； and it will be too late。〃
He laid his hand hurriedly on my bridle； and began a rambling answer。
Rambling as it was I gathered his meaning。 It was enough for me！ I cut
him short with one word of fiery indignation； and turned to Marie and
spoke quickly。 〃Will you； then？〃 I said。
But Marie shook his head in perplexity； and answering little； said the
same。 So it happened a second time。
Strange！ Yet strange as it seemed； I was not greatly surprised。 Under
other circumstances I should have been beside myself with anger at the
defection。 Now I felt as if I had half expected it； and without further
words of reproach I dropped my head and gave it up。 I passed again into
the stupor of endurance。 The Vidame was too strong for me。 It was
useless to fight against him。 We were under the spell。 When the troop
moved forward； I went with them； silent and apathetic。
We passed through the gate of Cahors； and no doubt the scene was
worthy of note； but I had only a listless eye for itmuch such an eye as a
man about to be broken on the wheel must have for that curious
instrument； supposing him never to have seen it before。 The whole
population had come out to line the streets through which we rode； and
stood gazing； with scarcely veiled looks of apprehension； at the procession
of troopers and the stern face of the new governor。
We dismounted passively in the courtyard of the castle； and were for
going in together； when Bure intervened。 〃M。 de Pavannes；〃 he said；
pushing rather rudely between us； 〃will sup alone to… night。 For you；
gentlemen； this way； if you please。〃
I went without remonstrance。 What was the use？ I was conscious
that the Vidame from the top of the stairs leading to the grand entrance
was watching us with a wolfish glare in his eyes。 I went quietly。 But I
heard Croisette urging something with passionate energy。
We were led through a low doorway to a room on the ground floor； a
place very like a cell。 Were we took our meal in silence。 When it was
over I flung myself on one of the beds prepared for us； shrinking from my
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companions rather in misery than in resentment。
No explanation had passed between us。 Still I knew that the other
two from time to time eyed me doubtfully。 I feigned therefore to be
asleep； but I heard Bure enter to bid us good… nightand see that we had
not escaped。 And I was conscious too of the question Croisette put to
him； 〃Does M。 de Pavannes lie alone to…night； Bure？〃
〃Not entirely；〃 the captain answered with gloomy meaning。 Indeed
he seemed in bad spirits himself； or tired。 〃The Vidame is anxious for his
soul's welfare； and sends a priest to him。〃
They sprang to their feet at that。 But the light and its bearer； who so
far recovered himself as to chuckle at his master's pious thought； had
disappeared。 They were left to pace the room； and reproach themselves
and curse the Vidame in an agony of late repentance。 Not even Marie
could find a loop…hole of escape from here。 The door was double…locked；
the windows so barred that a cat could scarcely pass through them； the
walls were of solid masonry。
Meanwhile I lay and feigned to sleep； and lay feigning through long；
long hours； though my heart like theirs throbbed in response to the dull
hammering that presently began without； and not far from us； and lasted
until daybreak。 From our windows； set low and facing a wall； we could
see nothing。 But we could guess what the noise meant； the dull； earthy
thuds when posts were set in the ground； the brisk； wooden clattering
when one plank was laid to another。 We could not see the progress of the
work； or hear the voices of the workmen； or catch the glare of their lights。
But we knew what they were doing。 They were raising the scaffold。
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CHAPTER XII。
JOY IN THE MORNING。
I was too weary with riding to go entirely without sleep。 And
moreover it is anxiety and the tremor of excitement which make the pillow
sleepless； not； heaven be thanked； sorrow。 God made man to lie awake
and hope： but never to lie awake and grieve。 An hour or two before
daybreak I fell asleep； utterly worn out。 When I awoke； the sun was high；
and shining slantwise on our window。 The room was gay with the
morning rays； and soft with the morning freshness； and I lay a while； my
cheek on my hand； drinking in the cheerful influence as I had done many
and many a day in our room at Caylus。 It was the touch of Marie's hand；
laid timidly on my arm； which roused me with a shock to consciousness。
The truth broke upon me。 I remembered where we were； and what was
before us。 〃Will you get up； Anne？〃 Croisette said。 〃The Vidame has
sent for us。〃
I got to my feet； and buckled on my sword。 Croisette was leaning
against the wall； pale and downcast。 Bure filled the open doorway； his
feathered cap in his hand； a queer smile on his face。 〃You are a good
sleeper； young gentleman；〃 he said。 〃You should have a good
conscience。〃
〃Better than yours； no doubt！〃 I retorted； 〃or your master's。〃
He shrugged his shoulders； and； bidding us by a sign to
