the monk(僧侣)-第25章

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the　Goblets；　offered　them　to　the　Lady　and　myself。　　She　at　first
made　some　objections；　but　the　instances　of　Baptiste　were　so
urgent；　that　She　was　obliged　to　comply。　　Fearing　to　excite
suspicion；　I　hesitated　not　to　take　the　Goblet　presented　to　me。　
By　its　smell　and　colour　I　guessed　it　to　be　Champagne；　But　some
grains　of　powder　floating　upon　the　top　convinced　me　that　it　was
not　unadulterated。　　However；　I　dared　not　to　express　my　repugnance
to　drinking　it；　I　lifted　it　to　my　lips；　and　seemed　to　be
swallowing　it：　　Suddenly　starting　from　my　chair；　I　made　the　best
of　my　way　towards　a　Vase　of　water　at　some　distance；　in　which

Marguerite　had　been　rinsing　the　Goblets。　　I　pretended　to　spit　out
the　wine　with　disgust；　and　took　an　opportunity　unperceived　of
emptying　the　liquor　into　the　Vase。

The　Banditti　seemed　alarmed　at　my　action。　　Jacques　half　rose　from
his　chair；　put　his　hand　into　his　bosom；　and　I　discovered　the　haft
of　a　dagger。　　I　returned　to　my　seat　with　tranquillity；　and
affected　not　to　have　observed　their　confusion。

'You　have　not　suited　my　taste；　honest　Friend；'　said　I；　addressing
myself　to　Baptiste。　　'I　never　can　drink　Champagne　without　its
producing　a　violent　illness。　　I　swallowed　a　few　mouthfuls　ere　I
was　aware　of　its　quality；　and　fear　that　I　shall　suffer　for　my
imprudence。'

Baptiste　and　Jacques　exchanged　looks　of　distrust。

'Perhaps；'　said　Robert；　'the　smell　may　be　disagreeable　to　you。'

He　quitted　his　chair；　and　removed　the　Goblet。　　I　observed；　that
He　examined；　whether　it　was　nearly　empty。

'He　must　have　drank　sufficient；'　said　He　to　his　Brother　in　a　low
voice；　while　He　reseated　himself。

Marguerite　looked　apprehensive；　that　I　had　tasted　the　liquor：　　A
glance　from　my　eye　reassured　her。

I　waited　with　anxiety　for　the　effects　which　the　Beverage　would
produce　upon　the　Lady。　　I　doubted　not　but　the　grains　which　I　had
observed　were　poisonous；　and　lamented　that　it　had　been
impossible　for　me　to　warn　her　of　the　danger。　　But　a　few　minutes
had　elapsed　before　I　perceived　her　eyes　grow　heavy；　Her　head
sank　upon　her　shoulder；　and　She　fell　into　a　deep　sleep。　　I
affected　not　to　attend　to　this　circumstance；　and　continued　my
conversation　with　Baptiste；　with　all　the　outward　gaiety　in　my
power　to　assume。　　But　He　no　longer　answered　me　without
constraint。　　He　eyed　me　with　distrust　and　astonishment；　and　I　saw
that　the　Banditti　were　frequently　whispering　among　themselves。　
My　situation　became　every　moment　more　painful；　I　sustained　the
character　of　confidence　with　a　worse　grace　than　ever。　　Equally
afraid　of　the　arrival　of　their　Accomplices　and　of　their
suspecting　my　knowledge　of　their　designs；　I　knew　not　how　to
dissipate　the　distrust　which　the　Banditti　evidently　entertained
for　me。　　In　this　new　dilemma　the　friendly　Marguerite　again
assisted　me。　　She　passed　behind　the　Chairs　of　her　Stepsons；
stopped　for　a　moment　opposite　to　me；　closed　her　eyes；　and
reclined　her　head　upon　her　shoulder。　　This　hint　immediately
dispelled　my　incertitude。　　It　told　me；　that　I　ought　to　imitate
the　Baroness；　and　pretend　that　the　liquor　had　taken　its　full
effect　upon　me。　　I　did　so；　and　in　a　few　minutes　seemed　perfectly
overcome　with　slumber。

'So！'　cried　Baptiste；　as　I　fell　back　in　my　chair；　'At　last　He
sleeps！　　I　began　to　think　that　He　had　scented　our　design；　and
that　we　should　have　been　forced　to　dispatch　him　at　all　events。'

'And　why　not　dispatch　him　at　all　events？'　enquired　the　ferocious
Jacques。　　'Why　leave　him　the　possibility　of　betraying　our　secret？
Marguerite；　give　me　one　of　my　Pistols：　　A　single　touch　of　the
trigger　will　finish　him　at　once。'

'And　supposing；'　rejoined　the　Father；　'Supposing　that　our　Friends
should　not　arrive　tonight；　a　pretty　figure　we　should　make　when
the　Servants　enquire　for　him　in　the　Morning！　　No；　no；　Jacques；　We
must　wait　for　our　Associates。　　If　they　join　us；　we　are　strong
enough　to　dispatch　the　Domestics　as　well　as　their　Masters；　and
the　booty　is　our　own；　If　Claude　does　not　find　the　Troop；　we　must
take　patience；　and　suffer　the　prey　to　slip　through　our　fingers。　
Ah！　Boys；　Boys；　had　you　arrived　but　five　minutes　sooner；　the
Spaniard　would　have　been　done　for；　and　two　thousand　Pistoles　our
own。　　But　you　are　always　out　of　the　way　when　you　are　most　wanted。

You　are　the　most　unlucky　Rogues！'

'Well；　well；　Father！'　answered　Jacques；　'Had　you　been　of　my　mind；
all　would　have　been　over　by　this　time。　You；　Robert；　Claude；　and
myself；　why　the　Strangers　were　but　double　the　number；　and　I
warrant　you　we　might　have　mastered　them。　　However；　Claude　is
gone；　'Tis　too　late　to　think　of　it　now。　　We　must　wait　patiently

for　the　arrival　of　the　Gang；　and　if　the　Travellers　escape　us
tonight；　we　must　take　care　to　waylay　them　tomorrow。'

'True！　　True！'　said　Baptiste；　'Marguerite；　have　you　given　the
sleeping…draught　to　the　Waiting…women？'

She　replied　in　the　affirmative。

'All　then　is　safe。　　Come；　come；　Boys；　Whatever　falls　out；　we　have
no　reason　to　complain　of　this　adventure。　We　run　no　danger；　may
gain　much；　and　can　lose　nothing。'

At　this　moment　I　heard　a　trampling　of　Horses。　　Oh！　how　dreadful
was　the　sound　to　my　ears。　　A　cold　sweat　flowed　down　my　forehead；
and　I　felt　all　the　terrors　of　impending　death。　　I　was　by　no　means
reassured　by　hearing　the　compassionate　Marguerite　exclaim　in　the
accents　of　despair；

'Almighty　God！　They　are　lost！'

Luckily　the　Wood…man　and　his　Sons　were　too　much　occupied　by　the
arrival　of　their　Associates　to　attend　to　me；　or　the　violence　of
my　agitation　would　have　convinced　them　that　my　sleep　was
feigned。

'Open！　　Open！'　exclaimed　several　voices　on　the　outside　of　the
Cottage。

'Yes！　　Yes！'　cried　Baptiste　joyfully；　'They　are　our　Friends　sure
enough！　　Now　then　our　booty　is　certain。　　Away！　Lads；　Away！　　Lead
them　to　the　Barn；　You　know　what　is　to　be　done　there。'

Robert　hastened　to　open　the　door　of　the　Cottage。

'But　first；'　said　Jacques；　taking　up　his　arms；　'first　let　me
dispatch　these　Sleepers。'

'No；　no；　no！'　replied　his　Father；　'Go　you　to　the　Barn；　where　your
presence　is　wanted。　　Leave　me　to　take　care　of　these　and　the　Women
above。'

Jacques　obeyed；　and　followed　his　Brother。　　They　seemed　to
converse　with　the　New…Comers　for　a　few　minutes：　　After　which　I
heard　the　Robbers　dismount；　and　as　I　conjectured；　bend　their
course　towards　the　Barn。

'So！　That　is　wisely　done！'　muttered　Baptiste；　'They　have　quitted
their　Horses；　that　They　may　fall　upon　the　Strangers　by　surprise。　
Good！　Good！　and　now　to　business。'

I　heard　him　approach　a　small　Cupboard　which　was　fixed　up　in　a
distant　part　of　the　room；　and　unlock　it。　　At　this　moment　I　felt
myself　shaken　gently。

'Now！　Now！'　whispered　Marguerite。

I　opened　my　eyes。　　Baptiste　stood　with　his　back　towards　me。　　No
one　else　was　in　the　room　save　Marguerite　and　the　sleeping　Lady。　
The　Villain　had　taken　a　dagger　from　the　Cupboard　and　seemed
examining　whether　it　was　sufficiently　sharp。　　I　had　neglected　to
furnish　myself　with　arms；　But　I　perceived　this　to　be　my　only
chance　of　escaping；　and　resolved　not　to　lose　the　opportunity。　　I
sprang　from　my　seat；　darted　suddenly　upon　Baptiste；　and　clasping
my　hands　round　his　throat；　pressed　it　so　forcibly　as　to　prevent
his　uttering　a　single　cry。　　You　may　remember　that　I　was
remarkable　at　Salamanca　for　the　power　of　my　arm：　　It　now　rendered
me　an　essential　service。　　Surprised；　terrified；　and　breathless；
the　Villain　was　by　no　means　an　equal　Antagonist。　　I　threw　him
upon　the　ground；　I　grasped　him　still　tighter；　and　while　I　fixed
him　without　motion　upon　the　floor；　Marguerite；　wresting　the
dagger　from　his　hand；　plunged　it　repeatedly　in　his　heart　till　He
expired。

No　sooner　was　this　horrible　but　necessary　act　perpetrated　than
Marguerite　called　on　me　to　follow　her。

'Flight　is　our　only　refuge！'　said　She；　'Quick！　Quick！　Away！'

I　hesitated　not　to　obey　her：　but　unwilling　to　leave　the　Baroness
a　victim　to　the　vengeance　of　the　Robbers；　I　raised　her　in　my　arms
still　sleeping；　and　hastened　after　Marguerite。　　The　Horses　of　the
Banditti　were　fastened　near　the　door：　　My　Conductress　sprang　upon
one　of　them。　　I　followed　her　example；　placed　the　Baroness　before
me；　and　spurred　on　my　Horse。　　Our　only　hope　was　to　reach
Strasbourg；　which　was　much　neare