joan of naples-第14章

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ganising　for　the　20th　of　August；　adding　that　such　a　kindness　on　her　part　would　be　for　him　a　sure　pledge　of　their　reconciliation　and　complete　forgetfulness　of　the　past。　　Joan　promised　with　a　charming　grace；　and　the　prince　retired　fully　satisfied　with　the　interview；　carrying　with　him　the　conviction　that　he　had　only　to　threaten　to　strike　a　blow　at　the　queen's　favourite　to　ensure　her　obedience；　perhaps　even　her　love。

But　on　the　eve　of　the　20th　of　August　a　strange　and　terrible　scene　was　being　enacted　in　the　basement　storey　of　one　of　the　lateral　towers　of　Castel　Nuovo。　　Charles　of　Durazzo；　who　had　never　ceased　to　brood　secretly　over　his　infernal　plans；　had　been　informed　by　the　notary　whom　he　had　charged　to　spy　upon　the　conspirators；　that　on　that　particular　evening　they　were　about　to　hold　a　decisive　meeting；　and　therefore；　wrapped　in　a　black　cloak；　he　glided　into　the　underground　corridor　and　hid　himself　behind　a　pillar；　there　to　await　the　issue　of　the　conference。　　After　two　dreadful　hours　of　suspense；　every　second　marked　out　by　the　beating　of　his　heart；　Charles　fancied　he　heard　the　sound　of　a　door　very　carefully　opened；　the　feeble　ray　of　a　lantern　in　the　vault　scarcely　served　to　dispel　the　darkness；　but　a　man　coining　away　from　the　wall　approached　him　walking　like　a　living　statue。　Charles　gave　a　slight　cough；　the　sign　agreed　upon。　　The　man　put　out　hid　light　and　hid　away　the　dagger　he　had　drawn　in　case　of　a　surprise。

〃Is　it　you；　Master　Nicholas？〃　asked　the　duke　in　a　low　voice。

〃It　is　I；　my　lord。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃They　have　just　fixed　the　prince's　death　for　tomorrow；　on　his　way　to　the　hunt。〃

〃Did　you　recognise　every　conspirator？〃

〃Every　one；　though　their　faces　were　masked；　when　they　gave　their　vote　for　death；　I　knew　them　by　their　voices。〃

〃Could　you　point　out　to　me　who　they　are？〃

〃Yes；　this　very　minute；　they　are　going　to　pass　along　at　the　end　of　this　corridor。　　And　see；　here　is　Tommaso　Pace　walking　in　front　of　them　to　light　their　way。〃

Indeed；　a　tall　spectral　figure；　black　from　head　to　foot；　his　face　carefully　hidden　under　a　velvet　mask；　walked　at　the　end　of　the　corridor；　lamp　in　hand；　and　stopped　at　the　first　step　of　a　staircase　which　led　to　the　upper　floors。　　The　conspirators　advanced　slowly；　two　by　two；　like　a　procession　of　ghosts；　appeared　for　one　moment　in　the　circle　of　light　made　by　the　torch；　and　again　disappeared　into　shadow。

〃See；　there　are　Charles　and　Bertrand　of　'Artois；〃　said　the　notary；　〃　there　are　the　Counts　of　Terlizzi　and　Catanzaro；　the　grand　admiral　and　grand　seneschal；　Godfrey　of　Marsan；　Count　of　Squillace；　and　Robert　of　Cabane；　Count　of　Eboli；　the　two　women　talking　in　a　low　voice　with　the　eager　gesticulations　are　Catherine　of　Tarentum；　Empress　of　Constantinople；　and　Philippa　the　Catanese；　the　queen's　governess　and　chief　lady；　there　is　Dona　Cancha；　chamberwoman　and　confidante　of　Joan；　and　there　is　the　Countess　of　Morcone。〃

The　notary　stopped　on　beholding　a　shadow　alone；　its　head　bowed；　with　arms　hanging　loosely；　choking　back　her　sobs　beneath　a　hood　of　black。

〃Who　is　the　woman　who　seems　to　drag　herself　so　painfully　along　in　their　train？〃　asked　the　duke；　pressing　his　companion's　arm。

That　woman；〃　said　the　notary；　〃is　the　queen。〃　　〃Ah；　now　I　see；〃　thought　Charles；　breathing　freely；　with　the　same　sort　of　satisfaction　that　Satan　no　doubt　feels　when　a　long　coveted　soul　falls　at　length　into　his　power。

〃And　now；　my　lord；〃　continued　Master　Nicholas；　when　all　had　returned　once　more　into　silence　and　darkness；　〃if　you　have　bidden　me　spy　on　these　conspirators　with　a　view　to　saving　the　young　prince　you　are　protecting　with　love　and　vigilance；　you　must　hurry　forward；　for　to…　morrow　maybe　it　will　be　too　late。〃

〃Follow　me；〃　cried　the　duke　imperiously；　〃it　is　time　you　should　know　my　real　intention；　and　then　carry　out　my　orders　with　scrupulous　exactness。〃

With　these　words　he　drew　him　aside　to　a　place　opposite　to　where　the　conspirators　had　just　disappeared。　　The　notary　mechanically　followed　through　a　labyrinth　of　dark　corridors　and　secret　staircases；　quite　at　a　loss　how　to　account　for　the　sudden　change　that　had　come　over　his　mastercrossing　one　of　the　ante…chambers　in　the　castle；　they　came　upon　Andre；　who　joyfully　accosted　them；　grasping　the　hand　of　his　cousin　Duras　in　his　affectionate　manner；　he　asked　him　in　a　pressing　way　that　would　brook　no　refusal；　〃Will　you　be　of　our　hunting　party　to…morrow；　duke？〃

〃Excuse　me；　my　lord；〃　said　Charles；　bowing　down　to　the　ground；　〃it　will　be　impossible　for　me　to　go　to…morrow；　for　my　wife　is　very　unwell；　but　I　entreat　you　to　accept　the　best　falcon　I　have。〃

And　here　he　cast　upon　the　notary　a　petrifying　glance。

The　morning　of　the　20th　of　August　was　fine　and　calmthe　irony　of　nature　contrasting　cruelly　with　the　fate　of　mankind。　　From　break　of　day　masters　and　valets；　pages　and　knights；　princes　and　courtiers；　all　were　on　foot；　cries　of　joy　were　heard　on　every　side　when　the　queen　arrived；　on　a　snow…white　horse；　at　the　head　of　the　young　and　brilliant　throng。　　Joan　was　perhaps　paler　than　usual；　but　that　might　be　because　she　had　been　obliged　to　rise　very　early。　　Andre；　mounted　on　one　of　the　most　fiery　of　all　the　steeds　he　had　tamed；　galloped　beside　his　wife；　noble　and　proud；　happy　in　his　own　powers；　his　youth；　and　the　thousand　gilded　hopes　that　a　brilliant　future　seemed　to　offer。　　Never　had　the　court　of　Naples　shown　so　brave　an　aspect：　every　feeling　of　distrust　and　hatred　seemed　entirely　forgotten；　Friar　Robert　himself；　suspicious　as　he　was　by　nature；　when　he　saw　the　joyous　cavalcade　go　by　under　his　window；　looked　out　with　pride；　and　stroking　his　beard；　laughed　at　his　own　seriousness。

Andre's　intention　was　to　spend　several　days　hunting　between　Capua　and　Aversa；　and　only　to　return　to　Naples　when　all　was　in　readiness　for　his　coronation。　　Thus　the　first　day　they　hunted　round　about　Melito；　and　went　through　two　or　three　villages　in　the　land　of　Labore。　Towards　evening　the　court　stopped　at　Aversa；　with　a　view　to　passing　the　night　there；　and　since　at　that　period　there　was　no　castle　in　the　place　worthy　of　entertaining　the　queen　with　her　husband　and　numerous　court；　the　convent　of　St。　Peter's　at　Majella　was　converted　into　a　royal　residence：　this　convent　had　been　built　by　Charles　II　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　1309。

While　the　grand　seneschal　was　giving　orders　for　supper　and　the　preparation　of　a　room　for　Andre　and　his　wife；　the　prince；　who　during　the　whole　day　had　abandoned　himself　entirely　to　his　favourite　amusement；　went　up　on　the　terrace　to　enjoy　the　evening　air；　accompanied　by　the　good　Isolda；　his　beloved　nurse；　who　loved　him　more　even　than　his　mother；　and　would　not　leave　his　side　for　a　moment。　Never　had　the　prince　appeared　so　animated　and　happy：　he　was　in　ecstasies　over　the　beauty　of　the　country；　the　clear　air；　the　scent　of　the　trees　around；　he　besieged　his　nurse　with　a　thousand　queries；　never　waiting　for　an　answer；　and　they　were　indeed　long　in　coming；　for　poor　Isolda　was　gazing　upon　him　with　that　appearance　of　fascination　which　makes　a　mother　absent…minded　when　her　child　is　talking：　Andre　was　eagerly　telling　her　about　a　terrible　boar　he　had　chased　that　morning　across　the　woods；　how　it　had　lain　foaming　at　his　feet；　and　Isolda　interrupted　him　to　say　he　had　a　grain　of　dust　in　his　eye。　Then　Andre　was　full　of　his　plans　for　the　future；　and　Isolda　stroked　his　fair　hair；　remarking　that　he　must　be　feeling　very　tired。　　Then；　heeding　nothing　but　his　own　joy　and　excitement；　the　young　prince　hurled　defiance　at　destiny；　calling　by　all　his　gods　on　dangers　to　come　forward；　so　that　he　might　have　the　chance　of　quelling　them；　and　the　poor　nurse　exclaimed；　in　a　flood　of　tears；　〃My　child；　you　love　me　no　longer。〃

Out　of　all　patience　with　these　constant　interruptions；　Andre　scolded　her　kindly　enough；　and　mocked　at　her　childish　fears。　　Then；　paying　no　attention　to　a　sort　of　melancholy　that　was　coming　over　him；　he　bade　her　tell　him　old　tales　of　his　childhood；　and　had　a　long　talk　about　his　brother　Louis；　his　absent　mother；　and　tears　were　in　his　eyes　when　he　recalled　her　last　farewell。　　Isolda　listened　joyfully；　and　answered　all　he　asked；　but　no　fell　presentiment　shook　her　heart：　the　poor　woman　loved　Andre　with　all　the　strength　of　her　soul；　for　him　she　would　have　given　up　her　life　in　this　world