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！
been declared； the peace which in a day or two was to be solemnized； and；
as most Frenchmen hoped； to be cemented by the marriage of Henry of
Navarre with Margaret of Valois； the King's sister。 The Vicomte de
Caylus； Catherine's father and our guardian； was one of the governors
appointed to see the peace enforced； the respect in which he was held by
both partieshe was a Catholic； but no bigot； God rest his soul！
recommending him for this employment。 He had therefore gone a week
or two before to Bayonne； his province。 Most of our neighbours in
Quercy were likewise from home； having gone to Paris to be witnesses on
one side or the other of the royal wedding。 And consequently we young
people； not greatly checked by the presence of good…natured； sleepy
Madame Claude； Catherine's duenna； were disposed to make the most of
our liberty； and to celebrate the peace in our own fashion。
We were country…folk。 Not one of us had been to Pau； much less to
Paris。 The Vicomte held stricter views than were common then； upon
young people's education； and though we had learned to ride and shoot； to
use our swords and toss a hawk； and to read and write； we knew little
more than Catherine herself of the world； little more of the pleasures and
sins of court life； and not one… tenth as much as she did of its graces。
Still she had taught us to dance and make a bow。 Her presence had
softened our manners； and of late we had gained something from the frank
5
… Page 6…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
companionship of Louis de Pavannes； a Huguenot whom the Vicomte had
taken prisoner at Moncontour and held to ransom。 We were not； I think；
mere clownish yokels。
But we were shy。 We disliked and shunned strangers。 And when
old Gil appeared suddenly； while we were still chewing the melancholy
cud of Kit's announcement； and cried sepulchrally； 〃M。 le Vidame de
Bezers to pay his respects to Mademoiselle！〃Well； there was something
like a panic； I confess！
We scrambled to our feet； muttering； 〃The Wolf！〃 The entrance at
Caylus is by a ramp rising from the gateway to the level of the terrace。
This sunken way is fenced by low walls so that one may notwhen
walking on the terracefall into it。 Gil had spoken before his head had
well risen to view； and this gave us a moment； just a moment。 Croisette
made a rush for the doorway into the house； but failed to gain it； and drew
himself up behind a buttress of the tower； his finger on his lip。 I am slow
sometimes； and Marie waited for me； so that we had barely got to our legs…
…looking； I dare say； awkward and ungainly enough before the Vidame's
shadow fell darkly on the ground at Catherine's feet。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 he said； advancing to her through the sunshine； and
bending over her slender hand with a magnificent grace that was born of
his size and manner combined； 〃I rode in late last night from Toulouse；
and I go to…morrow to Paris。 I have but rested and washed off the stains
of travel that I may lay my ah！〃
He seemed to see us for the first time and negligently broke off in his
compliment； raising himself and saluting us。 〃Ah；〃 he continued
indolently； 〃two of the maidens of Caylus； I see。 With an odd pair of
hands apiece； unless I am mistaken； Why do you not set them spinning；
Mademoiselle？〃 and he regarded us with that smile whichwith other
things as evilhad made him famous。
Croisette pulled horrible faces behind his back。 We looked hotly at
him； but could find nothing to say。
〃You grow red！〃 he went on； pleasantlythe wretch！playing with
6
… Page 7…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
us as a cat does with mice。 〃It offends your dignity； perhaps； that I bid
Mademoiselle set you spinning？ I now would spin at Mademoiselle's
bidding； and think it happiness！〃
〃We are not girls！〃 I blurted out； with the flush and tremor of a boy's
passion。 〃You had not called my godfather； Anne de Montmorenci a girl；
M。 le Vidame！〃 For though we counted it a joke among ourselves that
we all bore girls' names； we were young enough to be sensitive about it。
He shrugged his shoulders。 And how he dwarfed us all as he stood
there dominating our terrace！ 〃M。 de Montmorenci was a man；〃 he said
scornfully。 〃M。 Anne de Caylus is〃
And the villain deliberately turned his great back upon us； taking his
seat on the low wall near Catherine's chair。 It was clear even to our
vanity that he did not think us worth another wordthat we had passed
absolutely from his mind。 Madame Claude came waddling out at the
same moment； Gil carrying a chair behind her。 And wewell we slunk
away and sat on the other side of the terrace； whence we could still glower
at the offender。
Yet who were we to glower at him？ To this day I shake at the thought
of him。 It was not so much his height and bulk； though he was so big
that the clipped pointed fashion of his beard a fashion then new at court
seemed on him incongruous and effeminate； nor so much the sinister
glance of his grey eyeshe had a slight cast in them； nor the grim suavity
of his manner； and the harsh threatening voice that permitted of no
disguise。 It was the sum of these things； the great brutal presence of the
manthat was overpoweringthat made the great falter and the poor
crouch。 And then his reputation！ Though we knew little of the world's
wickedness； all we did know had come to us linked with his name。 We
had heard of him as a duellist； as a bully； an employer of bravos。 At
Jarnac he had been the last to turn from the shambles。 Men called him
cruel and vengeful even for those daysgone by now； thank God！and
whispered his name when they spoke of assassinations； saying commonly
of him that he would not blench before a Guise； nor blush before the