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第35章

the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第35章

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war is war; and these were its victims; dying for the most part under God's 

heaven with arms in their hands:            not men and women fresh roused from 

their   sleep。   I   felt   on   those   occasions   no   such   horror;   I   have   never   felt 

such burning pity and indignation as on the morning I am describing; that 

long…past summer morning when I first saw the sun shining on the streets 

of Paris。     Croisette clung to me; sick and white; shutting his eyes and ears; 



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and   letting   me   guide   him   as   I   would。  Marie   strode   along   on   the   other 

side of him; his lips closed; his eyes sinister。           Once a soldier of the guard 

whose blood…stained hands betrayed the work he had done; came reeling 

he was drunk; as were many of the butchers across our path; and I gave 

way a little。      Marie did   not; but walked   stolidly on as if   he did not see 

him; as if the way were clear; and there were no ugly thing in God's image 

blocking it。 

     Only   his   hand   went   as   if   by   accident   to   the   haft   of   his   dagger。   The 

archerfortunately   for   himself   and   for   us   tooreeled   clear   of   us。     We 

escaped      that  danger。     But    to  see   women      killed   and   pass   byit   was 

horrible!     So horrible that if in those moments I had had the wishing…cap; 

I would have asked but for five thousand riders; and leave to charge with 

them   through   the   streets   of   Paris!    I   would   have   had   the   days   of   the 

Jacquerie back again; and my men…at…arms behind me! 

     For ourselves; though the orgy was at its height when we passed; we 

were not molested。         We were stopped indeed three timesonce in each of 

the   streets   we   traversedby   different   bands   of   murderers。        But   as   we 

wore   the   same   badges   as   themselves;   and   cried   〃VIVE   LA   MESSE!〃 

and gave our names; we were allowed to proceed。                    I can give no idea of 

the confusion and uproar; and I scarcely believe myself now that we saw 

some      of  the   things   we    witnessed。     Once      a  man    gaily   dressed;    and 

splendidly mounted; dashed past us; waving his naked sword and crying in 

a   frenzied   way  〃Bleed them!         Bleed   them!      Bleed   in   May;  as   good   to… 

day!〃 and never ceased crying out the same words until he passed beyond 

our hearing。       Once   we   came   upon   the   bodies   of   a   father   and   two   sons; 

which     lay   piled   together    in  the   kennel;    partly   stripped    already。    The 

youngest boy could not have been more than thirteen; I mention this group; 

not as surpassing others in pathos; but because it is well known now that 

this boy; Jacques Nompar de Caumont; was not dead; but lives to…day; my 

friend the Marshal de la Force。 

     This   reminds   me   too   of   the   single   act   of   kindness   we   were   able   to 

perform。      We found ourselves suddenly; on turning a corner; amid a gang 



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of seven or eight soldiers; who had stopped and surrounded a handsome 

boy; apparently about fourteen。          He wore a scholar's gown; and had some 

books under his arm; to which he clung firmly though only perhaps by 

instinctnotwithstanding the furious air of the men who were threatening 

him with   death。      They  were   loudly demanding   his name;  as   we   paused 

opposite them。       He either could not or would not give it; but said several 

times in his fright that he was going to the College of Burgundy。                Was he 

a Catholic?      they cried。     He was silent。      With an oath the man who had 

hold of his collar lifted up his pike; and naturally the lad raised the books 

to guard his face。      A cry broke from Croisette。 We rushed forward to stay 

the blow。 

     〃See!    see!〃    he exclaimed loudly; his voice arresting the man's arm 

in the very act of falling。      〃He has a Mass Book!           He has a Mass Book! 

He is not a heretic!      He is a Catholic!〃 

     The fellow lowered his weapon; and sullenly snatched the books。 He 

looked at them stupidly with bloodshot wandering eyes; the red cross on 

the vellum bindings; the only thing he understood。              But it was enough for 

him; he bid the boy begone; and released him with a cuff and an oath。 

     Croisette was not satisfied with this; though I did not understand his 

reason; only I saw him exchange a glance with the lad。                 〃Come; come!〃 

he said lightly。     〃Give him his books!        You do not want them!〃 

     But on that the men turned savagely upon us。              They did not thank us 

for the part we had already taken; and this they thought was going too far。 

They   were   half   drunk   and   quarrelsome;   and   being   two   to   one;   and   two 

over;    began   to  flourish   their  weapons     in  our   faces。   Mischief     would 

certainly   have   been   done;   and   very   quickly;   had   not   an   unexpected   ally 

appeared on our side。 

     〃Put   up!   put   up!〃   this   gentleman   cried   in   a   boisterous   voice   he 

was already in our midst。         〃What is all this about?         What is the use of 

fighting amongst ourselves; when there is many a bonny throat to cut; and 

heaven to be gained by it!        put up; I say!〃 

     〃Who are you?〃        they roared in chorus。 



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     〃The Duke of Guise!〃           he answered coolly。        〃Let the gentlemen go; 

and be hanged to you; you rascals!〃 

     The man's bearing was a stronger argument than his words; for I am 

sure   that   a stouter   or   more   reckless blade   never swaggered in   church   or 

street。    I knew him instantly; and even the crew of butchers seemed to see 

in   him   their   master。   They   hung   back   a   few   curses   at   him;   but   having 

nothing to gain they yielded。         They threw down the books with contempt… 

…showing   thereby   their   sense   of   true   religion;   and   trooped   off   roaring; 

〃TUES!       TUES!       Aux Huguenots!〃         at the top of their voices。 

     The newcomer thus left with us was BureBlaise Burethe same who 

only yesterday; though it seemed months and months back; had lured us 

into Bezers' power。        Since that moment we had not seen him。                 Now he 

had wiped off part of the debt; and we looked at him; uncertain whether to 

reproach      him   or  no。    He;    however;     was   not   one   whit   abashed;     but 

returned our regards with a not unkindly leer。 

     〃I bear no malice; young gentlemen;〃 he said impudently。 

     〃No; I should think not;〃 I answered。 

     〃And besides; we are quits now;〃 the knave continued。 

     〃You are very kind;〃 I said。 

     〃To be sure。       You did me a good turn once;〃 he answered; much to 

my surprise。      He seemed to be in earnest now。            〃You do not remember it; 

young   gentleman;   but   it   was   you   and   your   brother   here〃he   pointed   to 

Croisette〃did   it!     And   by   the   Pope   and   the   King   of   Spain   I   have   not 

forgotten it!〃 

     〃I have;〃 I said。 

     〃What!      You   have   forgotten   spitting   that   fellow   at   Caylus   ten   days 

ago?     CA!     SA!     You remember。         And very cleanly done; too! A pretty 

stroke!     Well;   M。 Anne;   that   was   a   clever   fellow;   a   very   clever   fellow。 

He   thought   so   and   I   thought   so;   and   what   was   more   to   the   purpose   the 

most noble Raoul de Bezers thought so too。 You

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