the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第12章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
laughter came to us over the heads of the crowd。
While I was gazing at them； some movement of the throng drove back
Bure's horse against mine。 Bure himself uttered a savage oath； uncalled
for so far as I could see。 But my attention was arrested the next moment
by Croisette； who tapped my arm with his riding whip。 〃Look！〃 he
cried in some excitement； 〃is not that he？〃
I followed the direction of the lad's fingeras well as I could for the
plunging of my horse which Bure's had frightenedand scrutinized the last
pair of the troop。 They were crossing the street in which we stood； and I
37
… Page 38…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
had only a side view of them； or rather of the nearer rider。 He was a
singularly handsome man； in age about twenty…two or twenty…three with
long lovelocks falling on his lace collar and cloak of orange silk。 His
face was sweet and kindly and gracious to a marvel。 But he was a
stranger to me。
〃I could have sworn；〃 exclaimed Croisette； 〃that that was Louis
himselfM。 de Pavannes！〃
〃That？〃 I answered； as we began to move again； the crowd melting
before us。 〃Oh； dear； no！〃
〃No！ no！ The farther man！〃 he explained。
But I had not been able to get a good look at the farther of the two。
We turned in our saddles and peered after him。 His back in the dusk
certainly reminded me of Louis。 Bure； however； who said he knew M。 de
Pavannes by sight； laughed at the idea。 〃Your friend；〃 he said； 〃is a
wider man than that！〃 And I thought he was right therebut then it might
be the cut of the clothes。 〃They have been at the Louvre playing paume；
I'll be sworn！〃 he went on。 〃So the Admiral must be better。 The one
next us was M。 de Teligny； the Admiral's son…in…law。 And the other；
whom you mean； was the Comte de la Rochefoucault。〃
We turned as he spoke into a narrow street near the river； and could see
not far from us a mass of dark buildings which Bure told us was the
Louvrethe king's residence。 Out of this street we turned into a short
one； and here Bure drew rein and rapped loudly at some heavy gates。 It
was so dark that when； these being opened； he led the way into a courtyard；
we could see little more than a tall； sharp…gabled house； projecting over us
against a pale sky； and a group of men and horses in one corner。 Bure
spoke to one of the men； and begging us to dismount； said the footman
would show us to M。 de Pavannes。
The thought that we were at the end of our long journey； and in time to
warn Louis of his danger； made us forget all our exertions； our fatigue and
stiffness。 Gladly throwing the bridles to Jean we ran up the steps after
the servant。 The thing was done。 Hurrah！ the thing was done！
38
… Page 39…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
The houseas we passed through a long passage and up some steps
seemed full of people。 We heard voices and the ring of arms more than
once。 But our guide； without pausing； led us to a small room lighted by a
hanging lamp。 〃I will inform M。 de Pavannes of your arrival；〃 he said
respectfully； and passed behind a curtain； which seemed to hide the door
of an inner apartment。 As he did so the clink of glasses and the hum of
conversation reached us。
〃He has company supping with him；〃 I said nervously。 I tried to flip
some of the dust from my boots with my whip。 I remembered that this
was Paris。
〃He will be surprised to see us；〃 quoth Croisette； laughinga little
shyly； too； I think。 And so we stood waiting。
I began to wonder as minutes passed bythe gay company we had
seen putting it in my mind； I supposewhether M。 de Pavannes； of Paris；
might not turn out to be a very different person from Louis de Pavannes；
of Caylus； whether the king's courtier would be as friendly as Kit's lover。
And I was still thinking of this without having settled the point to my
satisfaction； when the curtain was thrust aside again。 A very tall man；
wearing a splendid suit of black and silver and a stiff trencher…like ruff；
came quickly in； and stood smiling at us； a little dog in his arms。 The
little dog sat up and snarled： and Croisette gasped。 It was not our old
friend Louis certainly！ It was not Louis de Pavannes at all。 It was no
old friend at all； It was the Vidame de Bezers！
〃Welcome； gentlemen！〃 he said； smiling at usand never had the
cast been so apparent in his eyes。 〃Welcome to Paris； M。 Anne！〃
39
… Page 40…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
CHAPTER IV。
ENTRAPPED！
There was a long silence。 We stood glaring at him； and he smiled
upon usas a cat smiles。 Croisette told me afterwards that he could have
died of mortificationof shame and anger that we had been so outwitted。
For myself I did not at once grasp the position。 I did not understand。 I
could not disentangle myself in a moment from the belief in which I had
entered the house that it was Louis de Pavannes' house。 But I seemed
vaguely to suspect that Bezers had swept him aside and taken his place。
My first impulse thereforeobeyed on the instantwas to stride to the
Vidame's side and grasp his arm。 〃What have you done？〃 I cried； my
voice sounding hoarsely even in my own ears。 〃What have you done
with M。 de Pavannes？ Answer me！〃
He showed just a little more of his sharp white teeth as he looked
down at my facea flushed and troubled face doubtless。 〃Nothingyet；〃
he replied very mildly。 And he shook me off。
〃Then；〃 I retorted； 〃how do you come here？〃
He glanced at Croisette and shrugged his shoulders； as if I had been a
spoiled child。 〃M。 Anne does not seem to understand；〃 he said with
mock courtesy； 〃that I have the honour to welcome him to my house the
Hotel Bezers； Rue de Platriere。〃
〃The Hotel Bezers！ Rue de Platriere！〃 I cried confusedly。 〃But
Blaise Bure told us that this was the Rue St。 Antoine！〃
〃Ah！〃 he replied as if slowly enlightenedthe hypocrite！ 〃Ah！ I
see！〃 and he smiled grimly。 〃So you have made the acquaintance of
Blaise Bure； my excellent master of the horse！ Worthy Blaise！ Indeed；
indeed； now I understand。 And you thought； you whelps；〃 he continued；
and as he spoke his tone changed strangely； and he fixed us suddenly with
angry eyes； 〃to play a rubber with me！ With me； you imbeciles！ You
40
… Page 41…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
thought the wolf of Bezers could be hunted down like any hare！ Then
listen； and I will tell you the end of it。 You are now in my house and
abso
