the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第32章
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what is it？〃
I told him。 I hastily poured out some of the things which had
happened to me； and some which I feared were in store for others。
Naturally he was surprised and shocked by the latter； though his fears had
already been aroused。 But his joy and relief； when he heard the mystery
of Louis de Pavannes' marriage explained； were so great that they
swallowed up all other feelings。 He could not say enough about it。 He
pictured Louis again and again as Kit's lover； as our old friend； our
companion； as true； staunch； brave without fear； without reproach： and it
was long before his eyes ceased to sparkle； his tongue to run merrily； the
colour to mantle in his cheekslong that is as time is counted by minutes。
But presently the remembrance of Louis' danger and our own position
returned more vividly。 Our plan for rescuing him had failedfailed！
〃No！ no！〃 cried Croisette； stoutly。 He would not hear of it。 He
would not have it at any price。 〃No； we will not give up hope！ We will
go shoulder to shoulder and find him。 Louis is as brave as a lion and as
quick as a weasel。 We will find him in time yet。 We will go whenI
mean as soon as〃
He faltered； and paused。 His sudden silence as he looked round the
empty forecourt in which we stood was eloquent。 The cold light； faint
and uncertain yet； was stealing into the court； disclosing a row of stables
on either side； and a tiny porter's hutch by the gates； and fronting us a
noble house of four storys； tall； grey； grim…looking。
I assented； gloomily however。 〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃we will go when〃
And I too stopped。 The same thought was in my mind。 How could we
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leave these people？ How could we leave madame in her danger and
distress？ How could we return her kindness by desertion？ We could
not。 No； not for Kit's sake。 Because after all Louis； our Louis； was a
man； and must take his chance。 He must take his chance。 But I
groaned。
So that was settled。 I had already explained our plan to Croisette：
and now as we waited he began to tell me a story； a long； confused story
about Madame d'O。 I thought he was talking for the sake of talkingto
keep up our spiritsand I did not attend much to him； so that he had not
reached the gist of it； or at least I had not grasped it； when a noise without
stayed his tongue。 It was the tramp of footsteps； apparently of a large
party in the street。 It forced him to break off； and promptly drove us all
to our posts。
But before we separated a slight figure； hardly noticeable in that dim；
uncertain light； passed me quickly； laying for an instant a soft hand in
mine as I stood waiting by the gates。 I have said I scarcely saw the figure；
though I did see the kind timid eyes； and the pale cheeks under the hood；
but I bent over the hand and kissed it； and felt； truth to tell； no more regret
nor doubt where our duty lay。 But stood； waiting patiently。
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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
CHAPTER IX。
THE HEAD OF ERASMUS。
Waiting； and waiting alone！ The gates were almost down now。 The
gang of ruffians without； reinforced each moment by volunteers eager for
plunder； rained blows unceasingly on hinge and socket； and still hotter and
faster through a dozen rifts in the timbers came the fire of their threats and
curses。 Many grew tired； but others replaced them。 Tools broke； but
they brought more and worked with savage energy。 They had shown at
first a measure of prudence； looking to be fired on； and to be resisted by
men； surprised； indeed； but desperate； and the bolder of them only had
advanced。 But now they pressed round unchecked； meeting no resistance。
They would scarcely stand back to let the sledges have swing； but
hallooed and ran in on the creaking beams and beat them with their fists；
whenever the gates swayed under a blow。
One stout iron bar still held its place。 And this I watched as if
fascinated。 I was alone in the empty courtyard； standing a little aside；
sheltered by one of the stone pillars from which the gates hung。 Behind
me the door of the house stood ajar。 Candles； which the daylight rendered
garish； still burned in the rooms on the first floor； of which the tall narrow
windows were open。 On the wide stone sill of one of these stood
Croisette； a boyish figure； looking silently down at me； his hand on the
latticed shutter。 He looked pale； and I nodded and smiled at him。 I felt
rather anger than fear myself； remembering； as the fiendish cries half…
deafened me； old tales of the Jacquerie and its doings； and how we had
trodden it out。
Suddenly the din and tumult flashed to a louder note； as when hounds
on the scent give tongue at sight。 I turned quickly from the house；
recalled to a sense of the position and peril。 The iron bar was yielding to
the pressure。 Slowly the left wing of the gate was sinking inwards。
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Through the widening chasm I caught a glimpse of wild； grimy faces and
bloodshot eyes； and heard above the noise a sharp cry from Croisettea
cry of terror。 Then I turned and ran； with a defiant gesture and an
answering yell； right across the forecourt and up the steps to the door。
I ran the faster for the sharp report of a pistol behind me； and the whirr
of a ball past my ear。 But I was not scared by it： and as my feet alighted
with a bound on the topmost step； I glanced back。 The dogs were
halfway across the court。 I made a bungling attempt to shut and lock the
great doorfailed in this； and heard behind me a roar of coarse triumph。
I waited for no more。 I darted up the oak staircase four steps at a time； and
rushed into the great drawing…room on my left； banging the door behind
me。 The once splendid room was in a state of strange disorder。 Some
of the rich tapestry had been hastily torn down。 One window was closed
and shuttered； no doubt Croisette had done it。 The other two were open
as if there had not been time to close themand the cold light which they
admitted contrasted in ghastly fashion with the yellow rays of candles still
burning in the sconces。 The furniture had been huddled aside or piled into
a barricade； a CHEVAUX DE FRISE of chairs and tables stretching across
the width of the room； its interstices stuffed with； and its weakness partly
screened by； the torn…down hangings。 Behind this frail defence their
backs to a door which seemed to lead to an inner room； stood Marie and
Croisette； pale and defiant。 The former had a long pike； the latter
levelled a heavy； bel
