the house of the wolf(狼之家)-第43章
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to be Louis' fate？ I shrank with good reason from asking him these
questions。 There could be so little room for hope； even after that smile
which I had seen Bezers smile； that I dared not dwell upon them。 I
should but torture him and myself。
So it was he who first spoke about it。 Not at that time； but after
sunset； when the dusk had fallen upon us； and found us still plodding
southward with tired horses； a link outwardly like other links in the long
chain of riders； toiling onwards。 Then he said suddenly； 〃Do you know
whither we are going； Anne？〃
I started； and found myself struggling with a strange confusion before
I could reply。 〃Home；〃 I suggested at random。
〃Home？ No。 And yet nearly home。 To Cahors；〃 he answered with
an odd quietude。 〃Your home； my boy； I shall never see again； Nor Kit！
Nor my own Kit！〃 It was the first time I had heard him call her by the
fond name we used ourselves。 And the pathos in his tone as of the past；
not the present； as of pure memoryI was very thankful that I could not in
the dusk see his face shook my self…control。 I wept。 〃Nay； my lad；〃
he went on； speaking softly and leaning from his saddle so that he could
lay his hand on my shoulder 〃we are all men together。 We must be brave。
Tears cannot help us； so we should leave them to the women。〃
I cried more passionately at that。 Indeed his own voice quavered
over the last word。 But in a moment he was talking to me coolly and
quietly。 I had muttered something to the effect that the Vidame would
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not dareit would be too public。
〃There is no question of daring in it；〃 he replied。 〃And the more
public it is； the better he will like it。 They have dared to take thousands
of lives since yesterday。 There is no one to call him to account since the
kingour king forsooth！has declared every Huguenot an outlaw； to be
killed wherever he be met with。 No； when Bezers disarmed me yonder；〃
he pointed as he spoke to his wound； 〃I looked of course for instant death。
Anne！ I saw blood in his eyes！ But he did not strike。〃
〃Why not？〃 I asked in suspense。
〃I can only guess；〃 Louis answered with a sigh。 〃He told me that my
life was in his hands； but that he should take it at his own time。 Further
that if I would not give my word to go with him without trying to escape；
he would throw me to those howling dogs outside。 I gave my word。
We are on the road together。 And oh； Anne！ yesterday； only yesterday；
at this time I was riding home with Teligny from the Louvre； where we
had been playing at paume with the king！ And the worldthe world was
very fair。〃
〃I saw you； or rather Croisette did；〃 I muttered as his sorrow not for
himself； but his friendsforced him to stop。 〃Yet how； Louis； do you
know that we are going to Cahors？〃
〃He told me； as we passed through the gates； that he was appointed
Lieutenant…Governor of Quercy to carry out the edict against the religion。
Do you not see； Anne？〃 my companion added bitterly； 〃to kill me at
once were too small a revenge for him！ He must torture meor rather he
would if he couldby the pains of anticipation。
Besides； my execution will so finely open his bed of justice。 Bah！〃
and Pavannes raised his head proudly； 〃I fear him not！ I fear him not a
jot！〃
For a moment he forgot Kit； the loss of his friends； his own doom。
He snapped his fingers in derision of his foe。
But my heart sank miserably。 The Vidame's rage I remembered had
been directed rather against my cousin than her lover； and now by the light
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of his threats I read Bezers' purpose more clearly than Louis could。 His
aim was to punish the woman who had played with him。 To do so he was
bringing her lover from Paris that he might execute himAFTER GIVING
HER NOTICE！ That was it： after giving her notice； it might be in her
very presence！ He would lure her to Cahors； and then
I shuddered。 I well might feel that a precipice was opening at my feet。
There was something in the plan so devilish； yet so accordant with those
stories I had heard of the Wolf； that I felt no doubt of my insight。 I read
his evil mind； and saw in a moment why he had troubled himself with us。
He hoped to draw Mademoiselle to Cahors by our means。
Of course I said nothing of this to Louis。 I hid my feelings as well as
I could。 But I vowed a great vow that at the eleventh hour we would
baulk the Vidame。 Surely if all else failed we could kill him； and； though
we died ourselves； spare Kit this ordeal。 My tears were dried up as by a
fire。 My heart burned with a great and noble rage： or so it seemed to
me！
I do not think that there was ever any journey so strange as this one of
ours。 We met with the same incidents which had pleased us on the road
to Paris。 But their novelty was gone。 Gone too were the cosy chats
with old rogues of landlords and good…natured dames。 We were
travelling now in such force that our coming was rather a terror to the
innkeeper than a boon。 How much the Lieutenant…Governor of Quercy；
going down to his province； requisitioned in the king's name； and for how
much he paid； we could only judge from the gloomy looks which followed
us as we rode away each morning。 Such looks were not solely due I fear
to the news from Paris； although for some time we were the first bearers of
the tidings。
Presently； on the third day of our journey I think； couriers from the
Court passed us： and henceforth forestalled us。 One of these
messengerswho I learned from the talk about me was bound for Cahors
with letters for the Lieutenant…Governor and the Count…Bishopthe
Vidame interviewed and stopped。 How it was managed I do not know；
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but I fear the Count…Bishop never got his letters； which I fancy would have
given him some joint authority。 Certainly we left the messengera prudent
fellow with a care for his skinin comfortable quarters at Limoges；
whence I do not doubt he presently returned to Paris at his leisure。
The strangeness of the journey however arose from none of these
things； but from the relations of our party to one another。 After the first
day we four rode together； unmolested； so long as we kept near the centre
of the straggling cavalcade。 The Vidame always rode alone； and in front；
brooding with bent head and sombre face over his revenge； as I supposed。
He would ride in this fashion； speaking to no one and giving no orders； for
a day together。 At times I came near to pitying him。 He had loved Kit
in his masterful way； the way of one not wont to be
