the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第14章
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Yet a dull red showed for an instant in his cheek； and he eyed me with a
look； that was not all ferocity； though the veins in his great temples
swelled。 A moment； nevertheless； and he was himself again。
〃Armand；〃 he said quietly to the servant； 〃these gentlemen will not sup
with me。 Lay for them at the other end。〃
Men are odd。 The moment he gave way to me I repented of my
words。 It was almost with reluctance that I followed the servant to the
lower part of the table。 More than this； mingled with the hatred I felt for
the Vidame； there was now a strange sentiment towards himalmost of
admiration； that had its birth I think in the moment； when I held his life in
my hand； and he had not flinched。
We ate in silence； even after Croisette by grasping my hand under the
table had begged me not to judge him hastily。 The two at the upper end
talked fast； and from the little that reached us； I judged that the priest was
pressing some course on his host； which the latter declined to take。
Once Bezers raised his voice。 〃I have my own ends to serve！〃 he
broke out angrily； adding a fierce oath which the priest did not rebuke；
〃and I shall serve them。 But there I stop。 You have your own。 Well；
serve them； but do not talk to me of the cause！ The cause？ To hell with
the cause！ I have my cause； and you have yours； and my lord of Guise
has his！ And you will not make me believe that there is any other！〃
〃The king's？〃 suggested the priest； smiling sourly。
〃Say rather the Italian woman's！〃 the Vidame answered recklessly
meaning the queen…mother； Catherine de' Medici； I supposed。
〃Well； then； the cause of the Church？〃 the priest persisted。
〃Bah！ The Church？ It is you； my friend！〃 Bezers rejoined； rudely
tapping his companionat that moment in the act of crossing himselfon
the chest。 〃The Church？〃 he continued； 〃no； no； my friend。 I will tell
you what you are doing。 You want me to help you to get rid of your
branch； and you offer in return to aid me with mineand then； say you；
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there will be no stick left to beat either of us。 But you may understand
once for all〃and the Vidame struck his hand heavily down among the
glasses〃that I will have no interference with my work； master Clerk！
None！ Do you hear？ And as for yours； it is no business of mine。 That
is plain speaking； is it not？〃
The priest's hand shook as he raised a full glass to his lips； but he made
no rejoinder； and the Vidame； seeing we had finished； rose。 〃Armand！〃
he cried； his face still dark； 〃take these gentlemen to their chamber。 You
understand？〃
We stiffly acknowledged his salutethe priest taking no notice of us
and followed the servant from the room； going along a corridor and up a
steep flight of stairs； and seeing enough by the way to be sure that
resistance was hopeless。 Doors opened silently as we passed； and grim
fellows； in corslets and padded coats； peered out。 The clank of arms and
murmur of voices sounded continuously about us； and as we passed a
window the jingle of bits； and the hollow clang of a restless hoof on the
flags below； told us that the great house was for the time a fortress。 I
wondered much。 For this was Paris； a city with gates and guards； the
night a short August night。 Yet the loneliest manor in Quercy could
scarcely have bristled with more pikes and musquetoons； on a winter's
night and in time of war。
No doubt these signs impressed us all； and Croisette not least。 For
suddenly I heard him stop； as he followed us up the narrow staircase； and
begin without warning to stumble down again as fast as he could。 I did
not know what he was about； but muttering something to Marie； I
followed the lad to see。 At the foot of the flight of stairs I looked back；
Marie and the servant were standing in suspense； where I had left them。 I
heard the latter bid us angrily to return。
But by this time Croisette was at the end of the corridor； and
reassuring the fellow by a gesture I hurried on； until brought to a standstill
by a man opening a door in my face。 He had heard our returning
footsteps； and eyed me suspiciously； but gave way after a moment with a
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grunt of doubt I hastened on； reaching the door of the room in which we
had supped in time to see something which filled me with grim
astonishment； so much so that I stood rooted where I was； too proud at any
rate to interfere。
Bezers was standing； the leering priest at his elbow。 And Croisette
was stooping forward； his hands stretched out in an attitude of
supplication。
〃Nay； but M。 le Vidame；〃 the lad cried； as I stood； the door in my hand；
〃it were better to stab her at once than break her heart！ Have pity on her！
If you kill him； you kill her！〃
The Vidame was silent； seeming to glower on the boy。 The priest
sneered。 〃Hearts are soon mendedespecially women's；〃 he said。
〃But not Kit's！〃 Croisette said passionatelyotherwise ignoring him。
〃Not Kit's！ You do not know her； Vidame！ Indeed you do not！〃
The remark was ill…timed。 I saw a spasm of anger distort Bezers' face。
〃Get up； boy！〃 he snarled； 〃I wrote to Mademoiselle what I would do；
and that I shall do！ A Bezers keeps his word。 By the God above usif
there be a God； and in the devil's name I doubt it to…night！I shall keep
mine！ Go！〃
His great face was full of rage。 He looked over Croisette's head as he
spoke； as if appealing to the Great Registrar of his vow； in the very
moment in which he all but denied Him。 I turned and stole back the way
I had come； and heard Croisette follow。
That little scene completed my misery。 After that I seemed to take no
heed of anything or anybody until I was aroused by the grating of our
gaoler's key in the lock； and became aware that he was gone； and that we
were alone in a small room under the tiles。 He had left the candle on the
floor； and we three stood round it。 Save for the long shadows we cast on
the walls and two pallets hastily thrown down in one corner； the place was
empty。 I did not look much at it； and I would not look at the others。 I
flung myself on one of the pallets and turned my face to the wall；
despairing。 I thought bitterly of the failure we had made of it； and of the
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Vidame's triumph。 I cursed St。 Croix especially for that last touch of
humiliation he had set to it。 Then； forgetting myself as my anger abated；
I thought of Kit so far away a
