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！
… Page 56…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
throw some light upon ours。
〃I do not know； myself；〃 she said。 〃Yesterday； in the afternoon； I paid
a visit to the Abbess of the Ursulines。〃
〃Pardon me；〃 Croisette interposed quickly； 〃but are you not of the new
faith？ A Huguenot？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 she answered eagerly。 〃But the Abbess is a very dear
friend of mine； and no bigot。 Oh； nothing of that kind； I assure you。
When I am in Paris I visit her once a week。 Yesterday； when I left her；
she begged me to call here and deliver a message。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； 〃you know this house？〃
〃Very well； indeed；〃 she replied。 〃It is the sign of the 'Hand and
Glove；' one door out of the Rue Platriere。 I have been in Master
Mirepoix's shop more than once before。 I came here yesterday to deliver
the message； leaving my maid in the street； and I was asked to come up
stairs； and still up until I reached this room。 Asked to wait a moment； I
began to think it strange that I should be brought to so wretched a place；
when I had merely a message for Mirepoix's ear about some gauntlets。 I
tried the door； I found it locked。 Then I was terrified； and made a noise。〃
We all nodded。 We were busy building up theoriesor it might be
one and the same theoryto explain this。 〃Yes；〃 I said； eagerly。
〃Mirepoix came to me then。 'What does this mean？' I demanded。 He
looked ashamed of himself； but he barred my way。 'Only this；' he said at
last； 'that your ladyship must remain here a few hourstwo days at most。
No harm whatever is intended to you。 My wife will wait upon you； and
when you leave us； all shall be explained。' He would say no more； and it
was in vain I asked him if he did not take me for some one else； if he
thought I was mad。 To all he answered； No。 And when I dared him to
detain me he threatened force。 Then I succumbed。 I have been here
since； suspecting I know not what； but fearing everything。〃
〃That is ended； madame；〃 I answered； my hand on my breast； my soul
in arms for her。 Here； unless I was mistaken； was one more unhappy and
more deeply wronged even than Kit； one too who owed her misery to the
56
… Page 57…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
same villain。 〃Were there nine glovers on the stairs；〃 I declared roundly；
〃we would take you out and take you home！ Where are your husband's
apartments？〃
〃In the Rue de Saint Merri； close to the church。 We have a house
there。〃
〃M。 de Pavannes；〃 I suggested cunningly； 〃is doubtless distracted by
your disappearance。〃
〃Oh； surely；〃 she answered with earnest simplicity； while the tears
sprang to her eyes。 Her innocenceshe had not the germ of a suspicion
made me grind my teeth with wrath。 Oh； the base wretch！ The
miserable rascal！ What did the women see； I wonderedwhat had we all
seen in this man； this Pavannes； that won for him our hearts； when he had
only a stone to give in return？
I drew Croisette and Marie aside； apparently to consider how we might
force the door。 〃What is the meaning of this？〃 I said softly； glancing at
the unfortunate lady。 〃What do you think； Croisette？〃
I knew well what the answer would be。
〃Think！〃 he cried with fiery impatience。 〃What can any one think
except that that villain Pavannes has himself planned his wife's abduction？
Of course it is so！ His wife out of the way he is free to follow up his
intrigues at Caylus。 He may then marry Kit orCurse him！〃
〃No；〃 I said sternly； 〃cursing is no good。 We must do something
more。 And yetwe have promised Kit； you see； that we would save him…
…we must keep our word。 We must save him from Bezers at least。〃
Marie groaned。
But Croisette took up the thought with ardour。 〃From Bezers？〃 he
cried； his face aglow。 〃Ay； true！ So we must！ But then we will draw
lots； who shall fight him and kill him。〃
I extinguished him by a look。 〃We shall fight him in turn；〃 I said；
〃until one of us kill him。 There you are right。 But your turn comes last。
Lots indeed！ We have no need of lots to learn which is the eldest。〃
I was turning from himhaving very properly crushed himto look for
57
… Page 58…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
something which we could use to force the door； when he held up his hand
to arrest my attention。 We listened； looking at one another。 Through the
window came unmistakeable sounds of voices。 〃They have discovered our
flight；〃 I said； my heart sinking。
Luckily we had had the forethought to draw the curtain across the
casement。 Bezers' people could therefore； from their window； see no
more than ours； dimly lighted and indistinct。 Yet they would no doubt
guess the way we had escaped； and hasten to cut off our retreat below。
For a moment I looked at the door of our room； half…minded to attack it；
and fight our way out； taking the chance of reaching the street before
Bezers' folk should have recovered from their surprise and gone down。
But then I looked at Madame。 How could we ensure her safety in the
struggle？ While I hesitated the choice was taken from us。 We heard
voices in the house below； and heavy feet on the stairs。
We were between two fires。 I glanced irresolutely round the bare
garret； with its sloping roof； searching for a better weapon。 I had only
my dagger。 But in vain。 I saw nothing that would serve。 〃What will
you do？〃 Madame de Pavannes murmured； standing pale and trembling
by the hearth； and looking from one to another。 Croisette plucked my
sleeve before I could answer； and pointed to the box…bed with its scanty
curtains。 〃If they see us in the room；〃 he urged softly； 〃while they are
half in and half out； they will give the alarm。 Let us hide ourselves
yonder。 When they are insideyou understand？〃
He laid his hand on his dagger。