按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fellow down。〃
Their guns had been discharged； but one of them； who had now completed
his reloading； levelled the carbine and fired。 The figure on the
gates seemed to leap up from his sitting posture； and then with a
scream he went over； back to his friends without。
The fired stables were burning gaily by now； and the cheeriest
bonfire man could have desired on a dark night； and in the courtyard
it was become as light as day。
The Marquis on the balcony was taking stock of his defences and
making rapid calculations in his mind。 He saw no reason why； so
well protected by those stout oaken gates they should not … if they
were but resolute … eventually beat back the mob。 And then； even as
his courage was rising at the thought； a deafening explosion seemed
to shake the entire Chateau； and the gates … their sole buckler；
upon whose shelter he had been so confidently building … crashed open；
half blown away by the gunpowder keg that had been fired against it。
He had a fleeting glimpse of a stream of black fiends pouring through
the dark gap and dashing with deafening yells into the crimson light
of the courtyard。 He saw his little handful of servants retreat
precipitately within the Chateau。 He heard the clang of the doors
that were swung to just as the foremost of the rabble reached the
threshold … With all this clearly stamped upon his mind； he turned；
and springing into the salon he drew his sword。
〃To the stairs； Messieurs！〃 he cried 〃To the stairs！〃
And to the stairs they went。 The extremity was now too great for
argument。 They dared not so much as look at their women…folk； lest
they should be unmanned by the sight of those huddled creatures …
their finery but serving to render them the more pitiable in their
sickly affright。 In a body the whole thirty of them swept from the
room； and with Bellecour at their head and Ombreval somewhere in the
rearmost rank； they made their way to the great staircase。
Here； armed with their swords and a brace of pistols to each man；
whilst for a few the Marquis had even found carbines； they waited；
with faces set and lips tight pressed for the end that they knew
approached。
Nor was their waiting long。 As the peasants had blown down the
gates so now did they blow down the doors of the Chateau； and in the
explosion three of Bellecour's servants … who had stood too near …
were killed。 Over the threshold they swarmed into the dark gulf of
the great hall to the foot of the staircase。 But here they were at
a disadvantage。 The light of the burning stables； shining through
the open doorway； revealed them to the defenders； whilst they
themselves looked up into the dark。 There was a sudden cracking of
pistols and a few louder reports from the guns； and the mob fled；
screaming； back into the yard； leaving a score of dead and wounded
on the polished floor of the hall。
Old M。 des Cadoux laughed in the dark； as with his sword hanging
rom his wrist he tapped his snuff…box。
〃Ma foi；〃 said he to his neighbour； 〃they are discovering that it is
not to be the triumphal march they had expected。 A pinch of rappee；
Stanislas？〃
But the respite was brief。 In a moment they saw the glare increase
at the door； and presently a half…dozen of the rabble entered with
torches； followed by some scores of their comrades。 They paused at
sight of that company ranged upon the stairs； as well they might；
for a more incongruous sight could scarcely be imagined。 Across the
bodies of the slain； and revealed by the lifting powder smoke； stood
that little band of thirty men； a blaze of gay colours； a sheen of
silken hose； their wigs curled and powdered； their costly ruffles
scintillant with jewels； calm； and supercilious； mocking to a man。
There was a momentary gasp of awe； and then the spell was broken by
the aristocrats themselves。 A pistol spoke； and a volley followed。
In the hall some stumbled forward； some hurtled backward； and some
sank down in nerveless heaps。 But those that remained did not again
retreat。 Reinforced by others； that crowded in behind； they charged
boldly up the stairs； headed by a ragged； red capped giant named
Souvestre … a man whom the Marquis had once irreparably wronged。
The sight of him was a revelation to Bellecour。 This assault was
Souvestre's work； the fellow had been inciting the people of
Bellecour for the past twelve months； long indeed before the outbreak
of the revolution proper； and at last he had roused them to the pitch
of accompanying him upon his errand of tardy but relentless vengeance。
With a growl the Marquis raised his pistol。 But Souvestre saw the
movement； and with a laugh he did the like。 Simultaneously there
were two reports； and Bellecour's arm fell shattered to his side。
Souvestre continued to advance； his smoking pistol in one hand and
brandishing a huge sabre with the other。 Behind him； howling and
roaring like the beasts of prey they were become； surged the tenantry
of Bellecour to pay the long…standing debt of hate to their seigneur。
〃Here；〃 said Des Cadoux； with a grimace； 〃endeth the chapter of our
lives。 I wonder； do they keep rappee in heaven？〃 He snapped down
the lid of his gold snuffbox … that faithful companion and consoler
of so many years … and cast it viciously at the head of one of the
oncoming peasants。 Then tossing back the lace from his wrist he
brought his sword into guard and turned aside a murderous stroke
which an assailant aimed at him。
〃Animal；〃 he snapped viciously； as he set to work； 〃it is the first
time that my chaste blade has been crossed with such dirty steel as
yours。 I hope； for the honour of Cadoux； that it may not be quite
the last。〃
Up； and ever up； swept that murderous tide。 The half of those that
had held the stairs lay weltering upon them as if in a last attempt
to barricade with their bodies what they could no longer defend with
their hands。 A bare half…score remained standing； and amongst these
that gallant old Cadoux； who had by now accounted for a； half…dozen
sans…culottes； and was hence in high glee； a man rejuvenesced。 His
sallies grew livelier and more barbed as the death…tide rose higher
about him。 His one regret was that he had been so hasty in casting
his snuff box from him； for he was missing its familiar stimulus。
At his side the Marquis was fighting desperately； fencing with his
left arm； and in the hot excitement seeming oblivious of the pain
his broken right must be occasioning。
〃It is ended； old friend；〃 he groaned at last； to Des Cadoux。 〃I
am losing strength； and I shall be done for in a moment。 The women；〃
he almost sobbed； 〃mon Dieu； the women！〃
Des Cadoux felt his old eyes grow moist； and the odd； fierce mirth
that seemed to have hitherto infected him went out like a candle
that is snuffed。 But suddenly before he could make any answer； a
new and unexpected sound； which dominated the din of combat； and
seemed to cause all … assailants and defenders alike … to pause that
they might listen； was wafted to their ears。
It was the roll of the drum。 Not the mere thudding that had beaten
the step for the mob； but the steady and vigorous tattoo of many
sticks