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！
friend Madame d'O； to save it！ That is it； is it？ No； no；〃 he continued
when he had had his silent laugh out； 〃Madame de Pavannes will do very
well herevery well here until morning。 We have work to do。 Come。
Let us go and do it。〃
〃Do you mean it？〃 said the priest； starting and looking up with a
subtle challengealmost a threatin his tone。
〃Yes； I do。〃
66
… Page 67…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
Their eyes met： and seeing their looks； I chuckled； nudging Croisette。
No fear of their discovering us now。 I recalled the old proverb which
says that when thieves fall out； honest men come by their own； and
speculated on the chance of the priest freeing us once for all from M。 de
Bezers。
But the two were ill…matched。 The Vidame could have taken up the
other with one hand and dashed his head on the floor。 And it did not end
there。 I doubt if in craft the priest was his equal。 Behind a frank brutality
Bezersunless his reputation belied himconcealed an Italian intellect。
Under a cynical recklessness he veiled a rare cunning and a constant
suspicion； enjoying in that respect a combination of apparently opposite
qualities； which I have known no other man to possess in an equal degree；
unless it might be his late majesty； Henry the Great。 A child would have
suspected the priest； a veteran might have been taken in by the Vidame。
And indeed the priest's eyes presently sank。 〃Our bargain is to go for
nothing？〃 he muttered sullenly。
〃I know of no bargain；〃 quoth the Vidame。 〃And I have no time to
lose； splitting hairs here。 Set it down to what you like。 Say it is a whim
of mine； a fad； a caprice。 Only understand that Madame de Pavannes
stays。 We go。 And〃 he added this； as a sudden thought seemed to
strike him； 〃though I would not willingly use compulsion to a lady； I think
Madame d'O had better come too。〃
〃You speak masterfully；〃 the priest said with a sneer； forgetting the
tone he had himself used a few minutes before to Mirepoix。
〃Just so。 I have forty horsemen over the way；〃 was the dry answer。
〃for the moment； I am master of the legions； Coadjutor。〃
〃That is true；〃 Madame d'O said； so softly that I started。 She had
scarcely spoken since Bezers' entrance。 As she spoke now； she shook
back the hood from her face and disclosed the chestnut hair clinging about
her templesdeep blots of colour on the abnormal whiteness of her skin；
〃That is true； M。 de Bezers；〃 she said。 〃You have the legions。 You have
the power。 But you will not use it； I think； against an old friend。 You
67
… Page 68…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
will not do us this hurt when IBut listen。〃
He would not。 In the very middle of her appeal he cut her short
brute that he was！ 〃No Madame！〃 he burst out violently； disregarding
the beautiful face； the supplicating glance； that might have moved a stone；
〃that is just what I will not do。 I will not listen！ We know one another。
Is not that enough？〃
She looked at him fixedly。 He returned her gaze； not smiling now；
but eyeing her with a curious watchfulness。
And after a long pause she turned from him。 〃Very well；〃 she said
softly； and drew a deep； quivering breath； the sound of which reached us。
〃Then let us go。〃 And withoutstrangest thing of allbestowing a word
or look on her sister； who was weeping bitterly in a chair； she turned to the
door and led the way out； a shrug of her shoulders the last thing I marked。
The poor lady heard her departing step however； and sprang up。 It
dawned upon her that she was being deserted。 〃Diane！ Diane！〃 she
cried distractedlyand I had to put my hand on Croisette to keep him quiet；
there was such fear and pain in her tone〃I will go！ I will not be left
behind in this dreadful place！ Do you hear？ Come back to me； Diane！〃
It made my blood run wildly。 But Diane did not come back。 Strange！
And Bezers too was unmoved。 He stood between the poor woman and
the door； and by a gesture bid Mirepoix and the priest pass out before him。
〃Madame；〃 he saidand his voice； stern and hard as ever； expressed no jot
of compassion for her； rather such an impatient contempt as a puling child
might elicit〃you are safe here。 And here you will stop！ Weep if you
please；〃 he added cynically； 〃you will have fewer tears to shed to…
morrow。〃
His last wordsthey certainly were odd onesarrested her attention。
She checked her sobs； being frightened I think； and looked up at him。
Perhaps he had spoken with this in view； for while she still stood at gaze；
her hands pressed to her bosom； he slipped quickly out and closed the door
behind him。 I heard a muttering for an instant outside； and then the
tramp of feet descending the stairs。 They were gone； and we were still
68
… Page 69…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
undiscovered。
For Madame； she had clean forgotten our presenceof that I am sure
and the chance of escape we might afford。 On finding herself alone she
gazed a short time in alarmed silence at the door； and then ran to the
window and peered out； still trembling； terrified； silent。 So she remained
a while。
She had not noticed that Bezers on going out had omitted to lock the
door behind him。 I had。 But I was unwilling to move hastily。 Some
one might return to see to it before the Vidame left the house。 And
besides the door was not over strong； and if locked would be no obstacle
to the three of us when we had only Mirepoix to deal with。 So I kept the
others where they were by a nudge and a pinch； and held my breath a
moment； straining my ears to catch the closing of the door below。 I did
not hear that。 But I did catch a sound that otherwise might have escaped
me； but which now riveted my eyes to the door of our room。 Some one
in the silence； which fol