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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
CHAPTER VI。
MADAME'S FRIGHT。
And we breathed again。 The agony of suspense； which Bezers' pause
had created； passed away。 But the night already seemed to us as a week
of nights。 An age of experience； an aeon of adventures cut us offas we
lay shaking behind the curtainfrom Caylus and its life。 Paris had
proved itself more treacherous than we had even expected to find it。
Everything and everyone shifted； and wore one face one minute； and one
another。 We had come to save Pavannes' life at the risk of our own； we
found him to be a villain！ Here was Mirepoix owning himself a
treacherous wretch； a conspirator against a woman； we sympathised with
him。 The priest had come upon a work of charity and rescue； we loathed
the sound of his voice； and shrank from him； we knew not why； seeming
only to read a dark secret； a gloomy threat in each doubtful word he
uttered。 He was the strangest enigma of all。 Why did we fear him？
Why did Madame de Pavannes； who apparently had known him before；
shudder at the touch of his hand？ Why did his shadow come even
between her and her sister； and estrange them？ so that from the moment
Pavannes' wife saw him standing by Diane's side； she forgot that the latter
had come to save； and looked on her in doubt and sorrow； almost with
repugnance。
We left the Vidame going back to the fireplace。 He stooped to set
down the candle by the hearth。 〃They are not here；〃 he said； as he
straightened himself again； and looked curiously at his companions。 He
had apparently been too much taken up with the pursuit to notice them
before。 〃That is certain； so I have the less time to lose；〃 he continued。
〃But I wouldyes； my dear Coadjutor； I certainly would like to know
before I go； what you are doing here。 MirepoixMirepoix is an honest
man。 I did not expect to find you in HIS house。 And two ladies？ Two！
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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
Fie； Coadjutor。 Ha！ Madame d'O； is it？ My dear lady；〃 he continued；
addressing her in a whimsical tone； 〃do not start at the sound of your own
name！ It would take a hundred hoods to hide your eyes； or bleach your
lips to the common colour； I should have known you at once； had I looked
at you。 And your companion？ Pheugh！〃
He broke off； whistling softly。 It was clear that he recognised
Madame de Pavannes； and recognised her with astonishment。 The bed
creaked as I craned my neck to see what would follow。 Even the priest
seemed to think that some explanation was necessary； for he did not wait
to be questioned。
〃Madame de Pavannes；〃 he said in a dry； husky voice； and without
looking up； 〃was spirited hither yesterday； and detained against her will by
this good man； who will have to answer for it。 Madame d'O discovered her
whereabouts； and asked me to escort her here without loss of time to
enforce her sister's release。〃
〃And her restoration to her distracted husband？〃
〃Just so；〃 the priest assented； acquiring confidence； I thought。
〃And Madame desires to go？〃
〃Surely！ Why not？〃
〃Well；〃 the Vidame drawled； his manner such as to bring the blood to
Madame de Pavannes' cheek； 〃it depends on the person whoto use your
phrase； M。 le Coadjuteurspirited her hither。〃
〃And that；〃 Madame herself retorted； raising her head； while her voice
quivered with indignation and anger； 〃was the Abbess of the Ursulines。
Your suspicions are base； worthy of you and unworthy of me； M。 le
Vidame！ Diane！〃 she continued sharply； taking her sister's arm； and
casting a disdainful glance at Bezers； 〃let us go。 I want to be with； my
husband。 I am stifled in this room。〃
〃We are going； little one；〃 Diane murmured reassuringly。 But I
noticed that the speaker's animation； which had been as a soul to her
beauty when she entered the room； was gone。 A strange stillness was it
fear of the Vidame？ had taken its place。
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THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
〃The Abbess of the Ursulines？〃 Bezers continued thoughtfully。 〃SHE
brought you here； did she？〃 There was surprise； genuine surprise； in his
voice。 〃A good soul； and； I think I have heard； a friend of yours。
Umph！〃
〃A very dear friend；〃 Madame answered stiffly。 〃Now； Diane！〃
〃A dear friend！ And she spirited you hither yesterday！〃 commented
the Vidame； with the air of one solving an anagram。 〃And Mirepoix
detained you； respectable Mirepoix； who is said to have a well…filled
stocking under his pallet； and stands well with the bourgeoisie。 He is in
the plot。 Then at a very late hour； your affectionate sister； and my good
friend the Coadjutor； enter to save you。 From what？〃
No one spoke。 The priest looked down； his cheek。 livid with anger。
〃From what？〃 Bezers continued with grim playfulness。 〃There is
the mystery。 From the clutches of this profligate Mirepoix； I suppose。
From the dangerous Mirepoix。 Upon my honour；〃 with a sudden ring of
resolution in his tone； 〃I think you are safer here； I think you had better
stay where you are； Madame； until morning！ And risk Mirepoix！〃
〃Oh； no！ no！〃 Madame cried vehemently。
〃Oh； yes！ yes！〃 he replied。 〃What do you say； Coadjutor？ Do
you not think so？〃
The priest looked down sullenly。 His voice shook as he murmured in
answer； 〃Madame will please herself。 She has a character； M。 le Vidame。
But if she prefer to stay herewell！〃
〃Oh； she has a character； has she？〃 rejoined the giant； his eyes
twinkling with evil mirth； 〃and she should go home with you； and my old
friend Madame d'O； to save it！ That is it； is it？ No； no；〃 he cont