第6章

courses.Alowdooropeningfromthelaneintothegardennaturallyattractedmyattention;butitprovedtobeofabnormalstrength,andboltedbothatthetopandbottom.

Assuredthatnothingcouldbedoneonthatside,andbeingunwillingtoremainlongerintheneighbourhood,lestIshouldattractattention,Ireturnedtothestreet,andtwicewalkedpastthefrontofthehouse,seeingallIcouldwithaslittleappearanceofseeinganythingasIcouldcompass.Thefrontretreatedsomewhatfromthelineofthestreet,andwasflankedonthefarthersidebystables.Onlyonechimneysmoked,andthatsparely.Threestepsleduptoimposingdoubledoors,whichstoodhalfopen,andaffordedaglimpseofaspacioushallandastatestaircase.Twomen,apparentlyservants,loungedonthesteps,eatingchestnuts,andjestingwithoneanother;andabovethedoorwerethreeshieldsblazonedincolours.Isawwithsatisfaction,asIpassedthesecondtime,thatthemiddlecoatwasthatofTurenneimpalingonewhichIcouldnotread——whichthoroughlysatisfiedmethatthebowofvelvethadnotlied;sothat,withoutmoreado,Iturnedhomewards,formulatingmyplansasIwent.

IfoundallasIhadleftit;andmymotherstilllyinginahalf-consciousstate,Iwassparedthepainofmakingexcusesforpastabsence,orexplainingthatwhichIdesigned.I

communicatedtheplanIhadformedtoSimonFleix,whosawnodifficultyinprocuringarespectablepersontostaywithMadamedeBonne.Butforsometimehewouldcomenofartherintothebusiness.Helistened,hismouthopenandhiseyesglittering,tomyplanuntilIcametohisshareinit;andthenhefellintoaviolentfitoftrembling.

"Youwantmetofight,monsieur,"hecriedreproachfully,shakingalloverlikeoneinthepalsy."Yousaidsotheothernight.

Youwanttogetmekilled!That"sit."

"Nonsense!"Iansweredsharply."Iwantyoutoholdthehorses!"

Helookedatmewildly,withakindofresentmentinhisface,andyetasifhewerefascinated.

"Youwilldragmeintoit!"hepersisted."Youwill!"

"Iwon"t,"Isaid.

"Youwill!Youwill!AndtheendIknow.Ishallhavenochance.Iamaclerk,andnotbredtofighting.Youwanttobethedeathofme!"hecriedexcitedly.

"Idon"twantyoutofight,"Iansweredwithsomecontempt."I

wouldratherthatyoukeptoutofitformymother"ssake.I

onlywantyoutostayinthelaneandholdthehorses.Youwillrunlittlemoreriskthanyoudosittingbythehearthhere."

AndintheendIpersuadedhimtodowhatIwished;thoughstill,wheneverhethoughtofwhatwasinfrontofhim,hefella-

tremblingagain,andmanytimesduringtheafternoongotupandwalkedtoandfrobetweenthewindowandthehearth,hisfaceworkingandhishandsclenchedlikethoseofamaninafever.I

putthisdownatfirsttosheerchicken-heartedness,andthoughtitauguredillformyenterprise;butpresentlyremarkingthathemadenoattempttodrawback,andthatthoughthesweatstoodonhisbrowhesetaboutsuchpreparationsaswerenecessary——rememberingalsohowlongandkindly,andwithoutpayorguerdon,hehadservedmymother,Ibegantoseethatherewassomethingphenomenal;amanstrangeandbeyondtheordinary,ofwhomitwasimpossibletopredicatewhathewoulddowhenhecametobetried.

Formyself,Ipassedtheafternooninastatealmostofapathy.

Ithoughtitmydutytomakethisattempttofreemademoiselle,andtomakeitatonce,sinceitwasimpossibletosaywhatharmmightcomeofdelay,weresheinsuchhandsasFresnoy"s;butI

hadsolittlehopeofsuccessthatIregardedtheenterpriseasdesperate.Thecertainlossofmymother,however,andthelowebbofmyfortunes,withtheever-presentsenseoffailure,contributedtorendermeindifferenttorisks;andevenwhenwewereonourway,throughby-streetsknowntoSimon,tothefartherendoftheRuelled"Arcy,andtheredandfrostysunsetshoneinourfaces,andgildedforamomentthedulleavesandgreytowersaboveus,Ifeltnosoftening.Whatevertheend,therewasbutoneintheworldwhomIshouldregret,orwhowouldregretme;andshehung,herself,onthevergeofeternity.

SothatIwasabletogiveSimonFleixhislastdirectionswithasmuchcoolnessasIeverfeltinmylife.Istationedhimwiththethreehorsesinthelane——whichseemedasquietandlittlefrequentedasinthemorning——neartheendofit,andaboutahundredpacesormorefromthehouse.

"Turntheirheadstowardstheramparts,"Isaid,wheelingthemroundmyself,"andthentheywillbereadytostart.Theyareallquietenough.YoucanlettheCidloose.Andnowlistentome,Simon,"Icontinued."Waithereuntilyouseemereturn,oruntilyouseeyouaregoingtobeattacked.Inthefirstcase,stayforme,ofcourse;inthesecond,saveyourselfasyouplease.Lastly,ifneithereventoccursbeforehalf-pastfive——

youwillheartheconvent-bellyonderringatthehalf-hour——

begone,andtakethehorses;theyareyours,Andonewordmore,"

Iaddedhurriedly."Ifyoucanonlygetawaywithonehorse,Simon,taketheCid.Itisworthmorethanmostmen,andwillnotfailyouatapinch."

AsIturnedaway,Igavehimonelooktoseeifheunderstood.

ItwasnotwithouthesitationthatafterthatlookIlefthim.

Thelad"sfacewasflushed,hewasbreathinghard,hiseyesseemedtobealmoststartingfromhishead.Hesathishorseshakingineverylimb,andhadalltheairofamaninafit.I

expectedhimtocallmeback;buthedidnot,andreflectingthatImusttrusthim,orgiveuptheattempt,Iwentupthelanewithmyswordundermyarm,andmycloaklooseonmyshoulders.Imetamandrivingadonkeyladenwithfaggots.Isawnooneelse.

Itwasalreadyduskbetweenthewalls,thoughlightenoughintheopencountry;butthatwasinmyfavour,myonlyregret;beingthatasthetowngatesclosedshortlyafterhalf-pastfive,I

couldnotdefermyattemptuntilastilllaterhour.

Pausingintheshadowofthehousewhileamanmightcountten,I

impressedonmymemorythepositionoftheparticularwindowwhichboretheknot;thenIpassedquicklyintothestreet,whichwasstillfullofmovement,andforasecond,feelingmyselfsafefromobservationinthecrowd,Istoodlookingatthefrontofthehouse.Thedoorwasshut.MyheartsankwhenIsawthis,forIhadlookedtofinditstillopen.

Thefeeling,however,thatIcouldnotwait,thoughtimemightpresentmorethanoneopportunity,spurredmeon.WhatIcoulddoImustdonow,atonce.Thesensethatthiswassobeingheavyuponme,Isawnothingforitbuttousetheknockerandgainadmission,byfraudifIcould,andifnot,byforce.

AccordinglyIsteppedbrisklyacrossthekennel,andmadefortheentrance.

WhenIwaswithintwopacesofthesteps,however,someoneabruptlythrewthedooropenandsteppedout.Themandidnotnoticeme,andIstoodquicklyaside,hopingthatatthelastminutemychancehadcome.Twomen,whohadapparentlyattendedthisfirstpersondownstairs,stoodrespectfullybehindhim,holdinglights.Hepausedamomentonthestepstoadjusthiscloak,andwithmorethanalittlesurpriseIrecognisedmyacquaintanceofthemorning,M.deBruhl.

Ihadscarcelytimetoidentifyhimbeforehewalkeddownthestepsswinginghiscane,brushedcarelesslypastme,andwasgone.Thetwomenlookedafterhimawhile,shadingtheirlightsfromthewind,andonesayingsomething,theotherlaughedcoarsely.Thenextmomenttheythrewthedoortoandwent,asI

sawbythepassageoftheirlight,intotheroomontheleftofthehall.

Nowwasmytime.Icouldhavehopedfor,prayedfor,expectednobetterfortunethanthis.Thedoorhadreboundedslightlyfromthejamb,andstoodopenaninchormore.InasecondIpusheditfrommegently,slidintothehall,andcloseditbehindme.

Thedooroftheroomontheleftwaswideopen,andthelightwhichshonethroughthedoorway——otherwisethehallwasdark——aswellasthevoicesofthetwomenIhadseen,warnedmetobecareful.Istood,scarcelydaringtobreathe,andlookedaboutme.Therewasnomattingonthefloor,nofireonthehearth.

Thehallfeltcold,damp,anduninhabited.Thestatestaircaseroseinfrontofme,andpresentlybifurcating,formedagalleryroundtheplace.Ilookedup,andup,andfaraboveme,inthedimheightsofthesecondfloor,Iespiedafaintlight——perhaps,thereflectionofalight.

AmovementintheroomonmyleftwarnedmethatIhadnotimetolose,ifImeanttoact.Atanyminuteoneofthemenmightcomeoutanddiscoverme.WiththeutmostcareIstartedonmyjourney.Istoleacrossthestonefloorofthehalleasilyandquietlyenough,butIfoundtherealdifficultybeginwhenIcametothestairs.Theywereofwood,andcreakedandgroanedundermetosuchanextentthat,witheachstepItrod,Iexpectedthementotakethealarm.FortunatelyallwentwelluntilIpassedthefirstcorner——Ichose,ofcourse,theleft-handflight——thenaboardjumpedundermyfootwithacrackwhichsoundedintheemptyhall,andtomyexcitedears,asloudasapistol-shot.I

wasintwomindswhetherIshouldnotontheinstantmakearushforit,buthappilyIstoodstill.Oneofthemencameoutandlistened,andIheardtheotherask,withanoath,whatitwas.

Ileantagainstthewall,holdingmybreath.

"Onlythatwenchinoneofhertantrums!"themanwhohadcomeoutanswered,applyinganepithettoherwhichIwillnotsetdown,butwhichIcarriedtohisaccountintheeventofourcomingfacetofacepresently."Sheisquietnow.Shemayhammerandhammer,but——"

TherestIlost,ashepassedthroughthedoorwayandwentbacktohisplacebythefire.Butinonewayhiswordswereofadvantagetome.IconcludedthatIneednotbesoverycautiousnow,seeingthattheywouldsetdownanythingtheyheardtothesamecause;andIspedonmorequickly,Ihadjustgainedthesecondfloorlandingwhenaloudnoisebelow——theopeningofthestreetdoorandtheheavytreadoffeetinthehall——broughtmetoatemporarystandstill.Ilookedcautiouslyoverthebalustrade,andsawtwomengoacrosstotheroomontheleft.

Oneofthemspokeasheentered,chidingtheotherknaves,I

fancied,forleavingthedoorunbarred;andthetone,thoughnotthewords,echoingsullenlyupthestaircase,struckafamiliarchordinmymemory.ThevoicewasFresnoy"s!

CHAPTERX.

THEFIGHTONTHESTAIRS.

Thecertainty,whichthissoundgaveme,thatIwasintherighthouse,andthatitheldalsothevillaintowhomIowedallmymisfortunes——forwhobutFresnoycouldhavefurnishedthebrokencoinwhichhaddeceivedmademoiselle?——hadasingularlyinspiritingeffectuponme.Ifelteverymuscleinmybodygrowontheinstant;hardassteel,myeyesmorekeen,myearssharper——allmysensesmoreaptandvigorous.Istoleofflikeacatfromthebalustrade,overwhichIhadbeenlooking,andwithoutasecond"sdelaybeganthesearchformademoiselle"sroom;reflectingthatthoughthegarrisonnowamountedtofour,I

hadnoneedtodespair.IfIcouldreleasetheprisonerswithoutnoise——whichwouldbeeasywerethekeyinthelock——wemighthopetopassthroughthehallbyatourdeforceofonekindoranother.Andachurch-clockatthismomentstrikingFive,andremindingmethatwehadonlyhalfanhourinwhichtodoallandreachthehorses,Iwasthemoreinclinedtorisksomething.

ThelightwhichIhadseenfrombelowhunginaflat-bottomedlanternjustbeyondtheheadofthestairs,andoutsidetheentrancetooneoftwopassageswhichappearedtoleadtothebackpartofthehouse.SuspectingthatM.deBruhl"sbusinesshadlainwithmademoiselle,Iguessedthatthelighthadbeenplacedforhisconvenience.Withthisclueandthepositionofthewindowtoguideme,Ifixedonadoorontherightofthispassage,andscarcelyfourpacesfromtheheadofthestairs.

BeforeImadeanysign,however,Ikneltdownandascertainedthattherewasalightintheroom,andalsothatthekeywasnotinthelock.

Sofarsatisfied,Iscratchedonthedoorwithmyfinger-nails,atfirstsoftly,thenwithgreaterforce,andpresentlyIheardsomeoneintheroomrise.Ifeltsurethatthepersonwhoeveritwashadtakenthealarmandwaslistening,andputtingmylipstothekeyholeIwhisperedmademoiselle"sname.

Afootstepcrossedtheroomsharply,andIheardmutteringjustwithinthedoor.IthoughtIdetectedtwovoices.ButIwasimpatient,and,gettingnoanswer,whisperedinthesamemannerasbefore,"MademoiselledelaVire,areyouthere?"

Stillnoanswer.Themuttering,too,hadstopped,andallwasstill——intheroom,andinthesilenthouse.Itriedagain."ItisI,GastondeMarsac,"Isaid."Doyouhear?Iamcometoreleaseyou."IspokeasloudlyasIdared,butmostofthesoundseemedtocomebackonmeandwanderinsuspiciousmurmuringsdownthestaircase.

Thistime,however,anexclamationofsurpriserewardedme,andavoice,whichIrecognisedatonceasmademoiselle"s,answeredsoftly:

"Whatisit?Whoisthere?"

"GastondeMarsac,"Ianswered."Doyouneedmyhelp?"

Theverybrevityofherreply;thejoyfulsobwhichaccompaniedit,andwhichIdetectedeventhroughthedoor;thewildcryofthankfulness——almostanoath——ofhercompanion——all.theseassuredmeatoncethatIwaswelcome——welcomeasIhadneverbeenbefore——and,soassuringme,bracedmetotheheightofanyoccasionwhichmightbefall.

"Canyouopenthedoor?Imuttered.AllthetimeIwasonmyknees,myattentiondividedbetweentheinsideoftheroomandthestraysoundswhichnowandthencameuptomefromthehallbelow."Haveyouthekey?"

"No;wearelockedin,"mademoiselleanswered.

Iexpectedthis."Ifthedoorisboltedinside,"Iwhispered,"unfastenit,ifyouplease!"

Theyansweredthatitwasnot,sobiddingthemstandbackalittlefromit,Iroseandsetmyshoulderagainstit.Ihopedtobeabletoburstitinwithonlyonecrash,whichbyitself,asinglesound,mightnotalarmthemendownstairs.Butmyweightmadenoimpressionuponthelock,andtheoppositewallbeingtoofardistanttoallowmetogetanypurchaseformyfeet,I

presentlydesisted.Theclosenessofthedoortothejambswarnedmethatanattempttopriseitopenwouldbeequallyfutile;andforamomentIstoodgazinginperplexityatthesolidplanks,whichbidfairtobafflemetotheend.

Thepositionwas,indeed,oneofgreatdifficulty,norcanInowthinkofanywayoutofitbetterorotherthanthatwhichI

adopted.AgainstthewallneartheheadofthestairsIhadnoticed,asIcameup,astoutwoodenstool.Istoleoutandfetchedthis,andsettingitagainsttheoppositewall,endeavouredinthiswaytogetsufficientpurchaseformyfeet.

Thelockstillheld;but,asIthrewmywholeweightonthedoor,thepanelagainstwhichIleanedgavewayandbrokeinwardswithaloud,crashingsound,whichechoedthroughtheemptyhouse,andmightalmosthavebeenbeardinthestreetoutside.

Itreachedtheears,atanyrate,ofthemensittingbelow,andI

heardthemtroopnoisilyoutandstandinthehall,nowtalkingloudly,andnowlistening.Aminuteofbreathlesssuspensefollowed——itseemedalongminute;andthen,tomyrelief,theytrampedbackagain,andIwasfreetoreturntomytask.Anotherthrust,directedalittlelower,would,Ihoped,dothebusiness;

buttomakethisthemorecertainIkneltdownandsecuredthestoolfirmlyagainstthewall.AsIroseaftersettlingit,somethingelse,withoutsoundorwarning,rosealso,takingmecompletelybysurprise——aman"sheadabovethetopstair,which,asithappened,facedme.Hiseyesmetmine,andIknewIwasdiscovered.

Heturnedandbundleddownstairsagainwithascaredface,goingsoquicklythatIcouldnothavecaughthimifIwould,orhadhadthewittotry.Ofsilencetherewassolongerneed.Inafewsecondsthealarmwouldberaised.Ihadsmalltimeforthought.Layingmyselfbodilyagainstthedoor,Iheavedandpressedwithallmystrength;butwhetherIwascarelessinmyhaste,orthecausewasother,thelockdidnotgive.Insteadthestoolslipped,andIfellwithacrashonthefloorattheverymomentthealarmreachedthemenbelow.

Irememberthatthecrashofmyunluckyfallseemedtoreleasealltheprisonednoisesofthehouse.Afaintscreamwithintheroomwasbutaprelude,lostthenextmomentintheroarofdismay,theclatterofweapons,andvolleyofoathsandcriesandcurseswhich,rollingupfrombelow,echoedhollowlyaboutme,asthestartledknavesrushedtotheirweapons,andchargedacrosstheflagsandupthestaircase.Ihadspaceforonedesperateeffort.Pickingmyselfup,Iseizedthestoolbytwoofitslegsanddashedittwiceagainstthedoor,drivinginthepanelIhadbeforesplintered.Butthatwasall.Thelockheld,andIhadnotimeforathirdblow.Themenwerealreadyhalfwayupthestairs.Inabreathalmosttheywouldbeuponme.Iflungdowntheuselessstoolandsnatchedupmysword,whichlayunsheathedbesideme.Sofarthematterhadgoneagainstus,butitwastimeforachangeofweaponsnow,andtheendwasnotyet.I

sprangtotheheadofthestairsandstoodthere,myarmbymysideandmypointrestingonthefloor,insuchanattitudeofpreparednessasIcouldcompassatthemoment.

ForIhadnotbeeninthehouseallthistime,asmaywellbesupposed,withoutdecidingwhatIwoulddoincaseofsurprise,andexactlywhereIcouldbeststandonthedefensive.Theflatbottomofthelampwhichhungoutsidethepassagethrewadeepshadowonthespotimmediatelybelowit,whilethelightfellbrightlyonthestepsbeyond.StandingintheshadowIcouldreachtheedgeofthestairswithmypoint,andswingthebladefreely,withoutfearofthebalustrade;andhereIpostedmyselfwithacertaingrimsatisfactionasFresnoy,withhisthreecomradesbehindhim,cameboundingupthelastflight.

Theywerefourtoone,butIlaughedtoseehow,notabruptly,butshamefacedlyandbydegrees,theycametoastandhalfwayuptheflight,andlookedatme,measuringthestepsandtheadvantagewhichthelightshiningintheireyesgaveme.

Fresnoy"suglyfacewasrendereduglierbyagreatstripofplaisterwhichmarkedtheplacewherethehiltofmyswordhadstruckhiminourlastencounteratChize;andthisandthehatredheboretomegaveapeculiarmalevolencetohislook.

ThedeafmanMatthew,whosesavagestolidityhadmorethanonceexcitedmyangeronourjourney,camenexttohim,thetwostrangerswhomIhadseeninthehallbringinguptherear.Ofthefour,theselastseemedthemostanxioustocometoblows,andhadFresnoynotbarredthewaywithhishandweshouldhavecrossedswordswithoutparley.

"Halt,willyou!"hecried,withanoath,thrustingoneofthemback.Andthentomehesaid,"So,so,myfriend!Itisyou,isit?"

Ilookedathiminsilence,withascornwhichknewnobounds,anddidnotsomuchashonourhimbyraisingmysword,thoughI

watchedhimheedfully.

"Whatareyoudoinghere?hecontinued,withanattemptatbluster.

StillIwouldnotanswerhim,ormove,butstoodlookingdownathim.Afteramomentofthis,hegrewrestive,histemperbeingchurlishandimpatientatthebest.Besides,Ithinkheretainedjustsomuchofagentleman"sfeelingsasenabledhimtounderstandmycontemptandsmartunderit.Hemovedastepupward,hisbrowdarkwith###第7章.

"Youbeggarlysonofascarecrow!"hebrokeoutonasudden,addingastringoffoulimprecations,"willyouspeak,orareyougoingtowaittobespittedwhereyoustand?Ifweoncebegin,mybantam,weshallnotstopuntilwehavedoneyourbusiness!

Ifyouhaveanythingtosay,sayit,and——"ButIomittherestofhisspeech,whichwasfoulbeyondtheordinary.

StillIdidnotmoveorspeak,butlookedathimunwavering,thoughitpainedmetothinkthewomenheard.Hemadealastattempt."Come,oldfriend,"hesaid,swallowinghisangeragain,orpretendingtodoso,andspeakingwithavilebonhomiewhichIknewtobetreacherous,"ifwecometoblowsweshallgiveyounoquarter.Butonechanceyoushallhave,forthesakeofolddayswhenwefollowedConde.Go!Takethechance,andgo.Wewillletyoupass,andthatbrokendoorshallbetheworstofit.Thatismore,"headdedwithacurse,"thanIwoulddoforanyothermaninyourplace,M.deMarsac."

Asuddenmovementandalowexclamationintheroombehindmeshowedthathiswordswereheardthere;andthesesoundsbeingfollowedimmediatelybyanoiseasofrivingwood,mingledwiththequickbreathingofsomeonehardatwork,Ijudgedthatthewomenwerestrivingwiththedoor——enlargingtheopeningitmightbe.Idarednotlookround,however,toseewhatprogresstheymade,nordidIanswerFresnoy,savebythesamesilentcontempt,butstoodwatchingthemenbeforemewiththeeyeofafencerabouttoengage.AndIknownothingmorekeen,morevigilant,moresteadfastthanthat.

ItwaswellIdid,forwithoutsignalorwarningthegroupwaveredamoment,asthoughretreating,andthenextinstantprecipitateditselfuponme.Fortunately,onlytwocouldengagemeatonce,andFresnoy,Inoticed,wasnotofthetwowhodashedforwardupthesteps.Oneofthestrangersforcedhimselftothefront,and,takingthelead,pressedmebriskly,Matthewsecondinghiminappearance,whilereallywatchingforanopportunityofrunninginandstabbingmeatclosequarters,amanoeuvreIwasnotslowtodetect.

Thatfirstboutlastedhalfaminuteonly.Afierceexultantjoyranthroughmeasthesteelrangandgrated,andIfoundthatI

hadnotmistakenthestrengthofwristorposition.Themenweremine.Theyhamperedoneanotheronthestairs,andfoughtinfetters,beingunabletoadvanceorretreat,tolungewithfreedom,orgivebackwithoutfear.IapprehendedgreaterdangerfromMatthewthanfrommyactualopponent,andpresently,watchingmyopportunity,disarmedthelatterbyastrongparade,andsweepingMatthew"sswordasidebythesamemovement,slashedhimacrosstheforehead;then,drawingbackastep,gavemyfirstopponentthepoint.Hefellinaheaponthefloor,asgoodasdead,andMatthew,droppinghissword,staggeredbackwardsanddownwardsintoFresnoy"sarms.