the monk(僧侣)-第22章

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was　infinitely　older　than　the　Husband。

However；　in　spite　of　her　unwillingness；　Marguerite　began　to
prepare　the　supper；　while　the　Wood…man　conversed　gaily　on
different　subjects。　　The　Postillion；　who　had　been　furnished　with
a　bottle　of　spirits；　was　now　ready　to　set　out　for　Strasbourg；　and
enquired；　whether　I　had　any　further　commands。

'For　Strasbourg？'　interrupted　Baptiste；　'You　are　not　going
thither　tonight？'

'I　beg　your　pardon：　　If　I　do　not　fetch　Workmen　to　mend　the
Chaise；　How　is　Monsieur　to　proceed　tomorrow？'

'That　is　true；　as　you　say；　I　had　forgotten　the　Chaise。　　Well；　but
Claude；　You　may　at　least　eat　your　supper　here？　　That　can　make　you
lose　very　little　time；　and　Monsieur　looks　too　kind…hearted　to
send　you　out　with　an　empty　stomach　on　such　a　bitter　cold　night　as
this　is。'

To　this　I　readily　assented；　telling　the　Postillion　that　my
reaching　Strasbourg　the　next　day　an　hour　or　two　later　would　be
perfectly　immaterial。　　He　thanked　me；　and　then　leaving　the
Cottage　with　Stephano；　put　up　his　Horses　in　the　Wood…man's
Stable。　　Baptiste　followed　them　to　the　door；　and　looked　out　with
anxiety。

'　'Tis　a　sharp　biting　wind！'　said　He；　'I　wonder；　what　detains　my
Boys　so　long！　　Monsieur；　I　shall　show　you　two　of　the　finest　Lads；
that　ever　stept　in　shoe　of　leather。　The　eldest　is　three　and
twenty；　the　second　a　year　younger：　　Their　Equals　for　sense；
courage；　and　activity；　are　not　to　be　found　within　fifty　miles　of
Strasbourg。　　Would　They　were　back　again！　　I　begin　to　feel　uneasy
about　them。'

Marguerite　was　at　this　time　employed　in　laying　the　cloth。

'And　are　you　equally　anxious　for　the　return　of　your　Sons？'　said　I
to　her。

'Not　I！'　She　replied　peevishly；　'They　are　no　children　of　mine。'

'Come！　　Come；　Marguerite！'　said　the　Husband；　'Do　not　be　out　of
humour　with　the　Gentleman　for　asking　a　simple　question。　　Had　you
not　looked　so　cross；　He　would　never　have　thought　you　old　enough
to　have　a　Son　of　three　and　twenty：　　But　you　see　how　many　years
ill…temper　adds　to　you！Excuse　my　Wife's　rudeness；　Monsieur。　　A
little　thing　puts　her　out；　and　She　is　somewhat　displeased　at
your　not　thinking　her　to　be　under　thirty。　　That　is　the　truth；　is
it　not；　Marguerite？　　You　know；　Monsieur；　that　Age　is　always　a
ticklish　subject　with　a　Woman。　　Come！　come！　　Marguerite；　clear　up
a　little。　　If　you　have　not　Sons　as　old；　you　will　some　twenty
years　hence；　and　I　hope；　that　we　shall　live　to　see　them　just　such
Lads　as　Jacques　and　Robert。'

Marguerite　clasped　her　hands　together　passionately。

'God　forbid！'　said　She；　'God　forbid！　If　I　thought　it；　I　would
strangle　them　with　my　own　hands！'

She　quitted　the　room　hastily；　and　went　up　stairs。

I　could　not　help　expressing　to　the　Wood…man　how　much　I　pitied
him　for　being　chained　for　life　to　a　Partner　of　such　ill…humour。

'Ah！　　Lord！　　Monsieur；　Every　one　has　his　share　of　grievances；　and
Marguerite　has　fallen　to　mine。　　Besides；　after　all　She　is　only
cross；　and　not　malicious。　　The　worst　is；　that　her　affection　for
two　children　by　a　former　Husband　makes　her　play　the　Step…mother
with　my　two　Sons。　　She　cannot　bear　the　sight　of　them；　and　by　her
good…will　they　would　never　set　a　foot　within　my　door。　　But　on
this　point　I　always　stand　firm；　and　never　will　consent　to　abandon
the　poor　Lads　to　the　world's　mercy；　as　She　has　often　solicited　me
to　do。　　In　every　thing　else　I　let　her　have　her　own　way；　and　truly
She　manages　a　family　rarely；　that　I　must　say　for　her。'

We　were　conversing　in　this　manner；　when　our　discourse　was
interrupted　by　a　loud　halloo；　which　rang　through　the　Forest。

'My　Sons；　I　hope！'　exclaimed　the　Wood…man；　and　ran　to　open　the
door。

The　halloo　was　repeated：　　We　now　distinguished　the　trampling　of
Horses；　and　soon　after　a　Carriage；　attended　by　several　Cavaliers
stopped　at　the　Cottage　door。　　One　of　the　Horsemen　enquired　how
far　they　were　still　from　Strasbourg。　　As　He　addressed　himself　to
me；　I　answered　in　the　number　of　miles　which　Claude　had　told　me；
Upon　which　a　volley　of　curses　was　vented　against　the　Drivers　for
having　lost　their　way。　　The　Persons　in　the　Coach　were　now
informed　of　the　distance　of　Strasbourg；　and　also　that　the　Horses
were　so　fatigued　as　to　be　incapable　of　proceeding　further。　　A
Lady；　who　appeared　to　be　the　principal；　expressed　much　chagrin　at
this　intelligence；　But　as　there　was　no　remedy；　one　of　the
Attendants　asked　the　Wood…man；　whether　He　could　furnish　them　with
lodging　for　the　night。

He　seemed　much　embarrassed；　and　replied　in　the　negative；　Adding
that　a　Spanish　Gentleman　and　his　Servant　were　already　in
possession　of　the　only　spare　apartments　in　his　House。　　On　hearing
this；　the　gallantry　of　my　nation　would　not　permit　me　to　retain
those　accommodations；　of　which　a　Female　was　in　want。　　I　instantly
signified　to　the　Wood…man；　that　I　transferred　my　right　to　the
Lady；　He　made　some　objections；　But　I　overruled　them；　and
hastening　to　the　Carriage；　opened　the　door；　and　assisted　the　Lady
to　descend。　　I　immediately　recognized　her　for　the　same　person
whom　I　had　seen　at　the　Inn　at　Luneville。　　I　took　an　opportunity
of　asking　one　of　her　Attendants；　what　was　her　name？

'The　Baroness　Lindenberg；'　was　the　answer。

I　could　not　but　remark　how　different　a　reception　our　Host　had
given　these　newcomers　and　myself。　　His　reluctance　to　admit　them
was　visibly　expressed　on　his　countenance；　and　He　prevailed　on
himself　with　difficulty　to　tell　the　Lady　that　She　was　welcome。　
I　conducted　her　into　the　House；　and　placed　her　in　the
armed…chair；　which　I　had　just　quitted。　　She　thanked　me　very
graciously；　and　made　a　thousand　apologies　for　putting　me　to　an
inconvenience。　　Suddenly　the　Wood…man's　countenance　cleared　up。

'At　last　I　have　arranged　it！'　said　He；　interrupting　her　excuses；
'I　can　lodge　you　and　your　suite；　Madam；　and　you　will　not　be　under
the　necessity　of　making　this　Gentleman　suffer　for　his　politeness。

We　have　two　spare　chambers；　one　for　the　Lady；　the　other；
Monsieur；　for　you：　　My　Wife　shall　give　up　hers　to　the　two
Waiting…women；　As　for　the　Men…servants；　they　must　content
themselves　with　passing　the　night　in　a　large　Barn；　which　stands
at　a　few　yards　distance　from　the　House。　　There　they　shall　have　a
blazing　fire；　and　as　good　a　supper　as　we　can　make　shift　to　give
them。'

After　several　expressions　of　gratitude　on　the　Lady's　part；　and
opposition　on　mine　to　Marguerite's　giving　up　her　bed；　this
arrangement　was　agreed　to。　　As　the　Room　was　small；　the　Baroness
immediately　dismissed　her　Male　Domestics：　　Baptiste　was　on　the
point　of　conducting　them　to　the　Barn　which　He　had　mentioned　when
two　young　Men　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　Cottage。

'Hell　and　Furies！'　exclaimed　the　first　starting　back；　'Robert；
the　House　is　filled　with　Strangers！'

'Ha！　　There　are　my　Sons！'　cried　our　Host。　　'Why；　Jacques！　Robert！
whither　are　you　running；　Boys？　　There　is　room　enough　still　for
you。'

Upon　this　assurance　the　Youths　returned。　　The　Father　presented
them　to　the　Baroness　and　myself：　　After　which　He　withdrew　with
our　Domestics；　while　at　the　request　of　the　two　Waiting…women；
Marguerite　conducted　them　to　the　room　designed　for　their
Mistress。

The　two　new…comers　were　tall；　stout；　well…made　young　Men；
hard…featured；　and　very　much　sun…burnt。　　They　paid　their
compliments　to　us　in　few　words；　and　acknowledged　Claude；　who　now
entered　the　room；　as　an　old　acquaintance。　　They　then　threw　aside
their　cloaks　in　which　they　were　wrapped　up；　took　off　a　leathern
belt　to　which　a　large　Cutlass　was　suspended；　and　each　drawing　a
brace　of　pistols　from　his　girdle　laid　them　upon　a　shelf。

'You　travel　well…armed；'　said　I。

'True；　Monsieur；'　replied　Robert。　　'We　left　Strasbourg　late　this
Evening；　and　'tis　necessary　to　take　precautions　at　passing
through　this　Forest　after　dark。　　It　does　not　bear　a　good　repute；
I　promise　you。'

'How？'　said　the　Baroness；　'Are　there　Robbers　hereabout？'

'So　it　is　said；　Madame；　For　my　own　part；　I　have　travelled　through
the　wood　at　all　hours；　and　never　met　with　one　of　them。'

Here　Marguerite　returned。　　Her　Stepsons　drew　her　to　the　other
end　of　the　room；　and　whispered　her　for　some　minutes。　　By　the
looks　which　they　cast　towards　us　at　intervals；　I　conjectured　them
to　be　enquiring　our　business　in　the　Cottage。

In　the　mea