the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第34章
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for us。 Will you swear to let us go safe and untouched； if we give you
passage？〃
A dozen voices shrieked assent。 But I looked at the butcher only。
He seemed to be an honest man； out of his profession。
〃Ay； I swear it！〃 he cried with a nod。
〃By the Mass？〃
〃By the Mass。〃
I twitched Croisette's sleeve； and he tore the fuse from his weapon； and
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flung the guntoo heavy to be of use to us longer to the ground。 It was
done in a moment。 While the mob swept over the barricade； and
smashed the rich furniture of it in wanton malice； we filed aside； and
nimbly slipped under it one by one。 Then we hurried in single file to the
end of the room； no one taking much notice of us。 All were pressing on；
intent on their prey。 We gained the door as the butcher struck his first
blow on that which we had guardedon that which we had given up。 We
sprang down the stairs with bounding hearts； heard as we reached the
outer door the roar of many voices； but stayed not to look behindpaused
indeed for nothing。 Fear； to speak candidly； lent us wings。 In three
seconds we had leapt the prostrate gates； and were in the street。 A cripple；
two or three dogs； a knot of women looking timidly yet curiously in； a
horse tethered to the staplewe saw nothing else。 No one stayed us。
No one raised a hand； and in another minute we had turned a corner； and
were out of sight of the house。
〃They will take a gentleman's word another time；〃 I said with a quiet
smile as I put up my sword。
〃I would like to see her face at this moment；' Croisette replied。 〃You
saw Madame d'O？〃
I shook my head； not answering。 I was not sure； and I had a queer；
sickening dread of the subject。 If I had seen her； I had seen oh！ it was
too horrible； too unnatural！ Her own sister！ Her own brother in…law！
I hastened to change the subject。 〃The Pavannes；〃 I made shift to say；
〃must have had five minutes' start。〃
〃More；〃 Croisette answered； 〃if Madame and he got away at once。 If
all has gone well with them； and they have not been stopped in the streets
they should be at Mirepoix's by now。 They seemed to be pretty sure that
he would take them in。〃
〃Ah！〃 I sighed。 〃What fools we were to bring madame from that
place！ If we had not meddled with her affairs we might have reached
Louis long ago our Louis； I mean。〃
〃True；〃 Croisette answered softly； 〃but remember that then we should
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not have saved the other Louis as I trust we have。 He would still be in
Pallavicini's hands。 Come； Anne； let us think it is all for the best；〃 he
added； his face shining with a steady courage that shamed me。 〃To the
rescue！ Heaven will help us to be in time yet！〃
〃Ay； to the rescue！〃 I replied； catching his spirit。 〃First to the right；
I think； second to the left； first on the right again。 That was the direction
given us； was it not？ The house opposite a book…shop with the sign of
the Head of Erasmus。 Forward； boys！ We may do it yet。〃
But before I pursue our fortunes farther let me explain。 The room we
had guarded so jealously was empty！ The plan had been mine and I was
proud of it。 For once Croisette had fallen into his rightful place。 My
flight from the gate； the vain attempt to close the house； the barricade
before the inner doorthese were all designed to draw the assailants to one
spot。 Pavannes and his wifethe latter hastily disguised as a boyhad
hidden behind the door of the hutch by the gatesthe porter's hutch； and
had slipped out and fled in the first confusion of the attack。
Even the servants； as we learned afterwards； who had hidden
themselves in the lower parts of the house got away in the same manner；
though some of themthey were but few in all were stopped as Huguenots
and killed before the day ended。 I had the more reason to hope that
Pavannes and his wife would get clear off； inasmuch as I had given the
Duke's ring to him； thinking it might serve him in a strait； and believing
that we should have little to fear ourselves once clear of his house； unless
we should meet the Vidame indeed。
We did not meet him as it turned out； but before we had traversed a
quarter of the distance we had to go we found that fears based on reason
were not the only terrors we had to resist。 Pavannes' house； where we
had hitherto been； stood at some distance from the centre of the blood…
storm which was enwrapping unhappy Paris that morning。 It was several
hundred paces from the Rue de Bethisy where the Admiral lived； and what
with this comparative remoteness and the excitement of our own little
drama； we had not attended much to the fury of the bells； the shots and
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cries and uproar which proclaimed the state of the city。 We had not
pictured the scenes which were happening so near。 Now in the streets the
truth broke upon us； and drove the blood from our cheeks。 A hundred
yards； the turning of a corner； sufficed。 We who but yesterday left the
country； who only a week before were boys； careless as other boys； not
recking of death at all； were plunged now into the midst of horrors I
cannot describe。 And the awful contrast between the sky above and the
things about us！ Even now the lark was singing not far from us； the
sunshine was striking the topmost storeys of the houses； the fleecy clouds
were passing overhead； the freshness of a summer morning was
Ah！ where was it？ Not here in the narrow lanes surely； that echoed
and re…echoed with shrieks and curses and frantic prayers： in which bands
of furious men rushed up and down； and where archers of the guard and
the more cruel rabble were breaking in doors and windows； and hurrying
with bloody weapons from house to house； seeking； pursuing； and at last
killing in some horrid corner； some place of darknesskilling with blow
on blow dealt on writhing bodies！ Not here； surely； where each minute a
child； a woman died silently； a man snarling like a wolfhappy if he had
snatched his weapon and got his back to the wall： where foul corpses
dammed the very blood that ran down the kennel； and childrenlittle
childrenplayed with them！
I was at Cahors in 1580 in the great street fight； and there women were
killed； I was with Chatillon nine years later； when he rode through the
Faubourgs of Paris； with this very day and his father Coligny in his mind；
and gave no quarter。 I was at Courtas and Ivry； and more than once have
seen prisoners led out to be piked in batchesay； and by hundreds！ But
war is war； and these were its victims； dying for the most part under God's
