the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第25章
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stair…head with one of the lamps in her hand； and directed me how to draw
the bolts。 I took one backward glance as I did so at the fair stooping
figure above me； the shining eyes； and tiny outstretched hand； and then
darting into the gloom I hurried on my way。
I was in a strange mood。 A few minutes before I had been at
Pavannes' door； at the end of our journey； on the verge of success。 I had
been within an ace； as I supposed at least； of executing my errand。 I had
held the cup of success in my hand。 And it had slipped。 Now the conflict
had to be fought over again； the danger to be faced。 It would have been
no more than natural if I had felt the disappointment keenly： if I had
almost despaired。
But it was otherwisefar otherwise。 Never had my heart beat higher
or more proudly than as I now hurried through the streets； avoiding such
groups as were abroad in them； and intent only on observing the proper
turnings。 Never in any moment of triumph in after days； in love or war；
did anything like the exhilaration； the energy； the spirit； of those minutes
come back to me。 I had a woman's badge in my capfor the first time
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the music of her voice in my ears。 I had a magic ring on my finger： a
talisman on my arm。 My sword was at my side again。 All round me lay
a misty city of adventures； of danger and romance； full of the richest and
most beautiful possibilities； a city of real witchery； such as I had read of in
stories； through which those fairy gifts and my right hand should guide me
safely。 I did not even regret my brothers； or our separation。 I was the
eldest。 It was fitting that the cream of the enterprise should be reserved for
me； Anne de Caylus。 And to what might it not lead？ In fancy I saw
myself already a duke and peer of Francealready I held the baton。
Yet while I exulted boyishly； I did not forget what I was about。 I kept
my eyes open； and soon remarked that the number of people passing to
and fro in the dark streets had much increased within the last half hour。
The silence in which in groups or singly these figures stole by me was
very striking。 I heard no brawling； fighting or singing； yet if it were too
late for these things； why were so many people up and about？ I began to
count presently； and found that at least half of those I met wore badges in
their hats and on their arms； similar to mine； and that they all moved with
a businesslike air； as if bound for some rendezvous。
I was not a fool； though I was young； and in some matters less quick
than Croisette。 The hints which had been dropped by so many had not
been lost on me。 〃There is more afoot to…night than you know of！〃
Madame d'O had said。 And having eyes as well as ears I fully believed it。
Something was afoot。 Something was going to happen in Paris before
morning。 But what； I wondered。 Could it be that a rebellion was about to
break out？ If so I was on the king's service； and all was well。 I might
even be going and only eighteento make history！ Or was it only a
brawl on a great scale between two parties of nobles？ I had heard of
such things happening in Paris。 Thenwell I did not see how I could act
in that case。 I must be guided by events。
I did not imagine anything else which it could be。 That is the truth；
though it may need explanation。 I was accustomed only to the milder
religious differences； the more evenly balanced parties of Quercy； where
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the peace between the Catholics and Huguenots had been welcome to all
save a very few。 I could not gauge therefore the fanaticism of the
Parisian populace； and lost count of the factor； which made possible that
which was going to happenwas going to happen in Paris before daylight
as surely as the sun was going to rise！ I knew that the Huguenot nobles
were present in the city in great numbers； but it did not occur to me that
they could as a body be in danger。 They were many and powerful； and as
was said； in favour with the king。 They were under the protection of the
King of NavarreFrance's brother… in…law of a week； and the Prince of
Conde； and though these princes were young； Coligny the sagacious
admiral was old； and not much the worse I had learned for his wound。
He at least was high in royal favour； a trusted counsellor。 Had not the
king visited him on his sick…bed and sat by him for an hour together？
Surely； I thought； if there were danger； these men would know of it。
And then the Huguenots' main enemy； Henri le Balafre； the splendid Duke
of Guise； 〃our great man；〃 and 〃 Lorraine；〃 as the crowd called himhe； it
was rumoured； was in disgrace at court。 In a word these things； to say
nothing of the peaceful and joyous occasion which had brought the
Huguenots to Paris； and which seemed to put treachery out of the question；
were more than enough to prevent me forecasting the event。
If for a moment； indeed； as I hurried along towards the river； anything
like the truth occurred to me； I put it from me。 I say with pride I put it
from me as a thing impossible。 For God forbidone may speak out the
truth these forty years backGod forbid； say I； that all Frenchmen should
bear the blood guiltiness which came of other than French brains； though
French were the hands that did the work。
I was not greatly troubled by my forebodings therefore： and the state
of exaltation to which Madame d'O's confidence had raised my spirits
lasted until one of the narrow streets by the Louvre brought me suddenly
within sight of the river。 Here faint moonlight bursting momentarily
through the clouds was shining on the placid surface of the water。 The
fresh air played upon； and cooled my temples。 And this with the quiet
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scene so abruptly presented to me； gave check to my thoughts； and
somewhat sobered me。
At some distance to my left I could distinguish in the middle of the
river the pile of buildings which crowd the Ile de la Cite； and could follow
the nearer arm of the stream as it swept landwards of these； closely
hemmed in by houses； but unbroken as yet by the arches of the Pont Neuf
which I have lived to see built。 Not far from me on my rightindeed
within a stone's throwthe bulky mass of the Louvre rose dark and
shapeless against the sky。 Only a narrow open spacethe foreshore
separated me from the water； beyond which I could see an irregular line of
buildings； that no doubt formed the Faubourg St。 Germain。
I had been told that I should find stairs leading down to the water； and
boats moored at the foo
