\'IhaveheardyousaymuchthesameoftheKingofFrance,\'I
saidderisively.
\'Youtrustinhim?\'heretorted,hiseyesgleaming.\'Youhavebeenupthere,andseenhiscrowdedchamber,andcountedhisforty-fivegentlemenandhisgrey-coatedSwiss?Itellyouthesplendouryousawwasadream,andwillvanishasadream.Theman\'sstrengthandhisgloryshallgofromhim,andthatsoon.
Haveyounoeyestoseethatheisbesidethequestion?TherearebuttwopowersinFrance——theHolyUnion,whichstillprevails,andtheaccursedHuguenot;andbetweenthemisthebattle.\'
\'Nowyouaretellingmemore,\'Isaid.
Hegrewsoberinamoment,lookingatmewithaviciousangerhardtodescribe.
\'Tuttut,\'hesaid,showinghisyellowteeth,\'thedeadtellnotales.AndforHenryofValois,hesolovesamonkthatyoumightbetteraccusehismistress.Butforyou,Ihaveonlytocry\"Ho!aHuguenotandaspy!\"andthoughhelovedyoumorethanhelovedQuelusorMaugiron,hedarenotstretchoutafingertosaveyou!\'
Iknewthathespokethetruth,andwithdifficultymaintainedtheairofindifferencewithwhichIhadenteredontheinterview.
\'ButwhatifIleaveBlois?\'Iventured,merelytoseewhathewouldsay.
Helaughed.\'Youcannot,\'heanswered.\'Thenetisroundyou,M.deMarsac,andtherearethoseateverygatewhoknowyouandhavetheirinstructions.Icandestroyyou,butIwouldfainhaveyourinformation,andforthatIwillpayyoufivehundredcrownsandletyougo.\'
\'TofallintothehandsoftheKingofNavarre?\'
\'Hewilldisownyou,inanycase,\'heansweredeagerly.\'Hehadthatinhismind,myfriend,whenheselectedanagentsoobscure.Hewilldisownyou.Ah,monDieu!hadIbeenanhourquickerIhadcaughtRosny——Rosnyhimself!\'
\'Thereisonethinglackingstill,\'Ireplied.\'HowamItobesurethat,whenIhavetoldyouwhatIknow,youwillpaymethemoneyorletmego?\'
\'Iwillsweartoit!\'heansweredearnestly,deceivedintothinkingIwasabouttosurrender.\'Iwillgiveyoumyoath,M.
deMarsac!\'
\'Iwouldassoonhaveyourshoe-lace!\'Iexclaimed,theindignationIcouldnotentirelyrepressfindingventinthatphrase.\'AChurchman\'svowisworthacandle——oracandleandahalf,isit?\'Icontinuedironically.\'Imusthavesomesecurityagreatdealmoresubstantialthanthat,father.\'
\'What?\'heasked,lookingatmegloomily.
Seeinganopening,Icudgelledmybrainstothinkofanyconditionwhich,beingfulfilled,mightturnthetableonhimandplacehiminmypower.Buthispositionwassostrong,ormywitssoweak,thatnothingoccurredtomeatthetime,andIsatlookingat,him,mymindgraduallypassingfromthepossibilityofescapetotheactualdangerinwhichIstood,andwhichencompassedalsoSimonFleix,and,inadegree,doubtless,M.deRambouillet.Infourorfivedays,too,MademoiselledelaVirewouldarrive.IwonderedifIcouldsendanywarningtoher;andthen,again,IdoubtedthewisdomofinterferingwithM.deRosny\'splans,themoreasMaignan,whohadgonetofetchmademoiselle,wasofakindtodisregardanyorderssavehismaster\'s.
\'Well!\'saidthemonk,impatientlyrecallingmetomyself,\'whatsecuritydoyouwant?\'
\'Iamnotquitesureatthismoment,\'Imadeanswerslowly.\'I
aminadifficultposition.Imusthavesometimetoconsider.\'
\'Andtoridyourselfofme,ifitbepossible,\'hesaidwithirony.\'Iquiteunderstand.ButIwarnyouthatyouarewatched;andthatwhereveryougoandwhateveryoudo,eyeswhicharemineareuponyou.\'
\'I,too,understand,\'Isaidcoolly.
Hestoodawhileuncertain,regardingmewithmingleddoubtandmalevolence,torturedontheonehandbyfearoflosingtheprizeifhegranteddelay,ontheotheroffailingasutterlyifheexertedhispoweranddidnotsucceedinsubduingmyresolution.
Iwatchedhim,too,andgauginghiseagernessandthevalueofthestakeforwhichhewasstrivingbythestrengthofhisemotions,drewsmallcomfortfromthesight.Morethanonceithadoccurredtome,andnowitoccurredtomeagain,toextricatemyselfbyablow.Butanaturalreluctancetostrikeanunarmedman,howevervileandknavish,andthebeliefthathehadnottrustedhimselfinmypowerwithouttakingthefullestprecautions,withheldme.Whenhegrudgingly,andwithmanydarkthreats,proposedtowaitthreedays——andnotanhourmore——formyanswer,Iaccepted;forIsawnootheralternativeopen.Andontheseterms,butnotwithoutsomeshortdiscussion,weparted,andIheardhisstealthyfootstepgosneakingdownthestairs.
CHAPTERXIX.
MENCALLITCHANCE.
IfIweretellingmorethanthetruth,orhaditinmymindtoembellishmyadventures,Icould,doubtless,bytheexerciseofalittleingenuitymakeitappearthatIowedmyescapefromFatherAntoine\'smeshestomyowncraft;andtell,infine,asprettyastoryofplotsandcounterplotsasM.deBrantomehaseverwoven.
Havingnodesire,however,tomagnifymyselfand,atthistimeofday,scarcelyanyreason,Iamfaintoconfessthatthereversewasthecase;andthatwhilenomaneverdidlesstofreehimselfthanIdid,myadversaryretainedhisgrasptotheend,andhadsurely,butforastrangeinterposition,effectedmyruin.Howreliefcame,andfromwhatquarter,Imightdefythemostingeniousperson,afterreadingmymemoirstothispoint,tosay;
andthisnotsomuchbyreasonofanysubtledevice,asbecausethehandofProvidencewasforoncedirectlymanifest.
ThethreedaysofgracewhichthepriesthadgrantedIpassedinanxiousbutfutilesearchforsomemeansofescape,everyplanI
conceiveddyingstillborn,andnottheleastofmymiserieslyinginthefactthatIcoulddiscernnobettercoursethanstilltositandthink,andseemeddoomedtoperpetualinaction.M.deRambouilletbeingastrictCatholic,thoughinallotherrespectsapatrioticman,Iknewbetterthantohaverecoursetohim;andthepriest\'sinfluenceoverM.d\'AgenIhadmyselfwitnessed.
ForsimilarreasonsIrejectedtheideaofapplyingtotheking;
andthisexhaustingthelistofthoseonwhomIhadanyclaim,I
foundmyselfthrownonmyownresources,whichseemedlimited——mywitsfailingmeatthispinch——tomyswordandSimonFleix.
AssuredthatImustbreakoutofBloisifIwouldsavenotmyselfonly,butothersmorepreciousbecauseentrustedtomycharge,I
thoughtitnodisgracetoappealtoSimon;describinginalivelyfashionthedangerwhichthreatenedus,andincitingtheladbyeveryargumentwhichIthoughtlikelytohaveweightwithhimtodevisesomewayofescape.
Nowisthetime,myfriend,\'Isaid,\'toshowyourwits,andprovethatM.deRosny,whosaidyouhadacunningabovetheordinary,wasright.Ifyourbraincaneversaveyourhead,nowisthetime!ForItellyouplainly,ifyoucannotfindsomewaytooutmanoeuvrethisvillainbeforeto-morrow,Iamspent.Youcanjudgeforyourselfwhatchanceyouwillhaveofgoingfree.\'
Ipausedatthat,waitingforhimtomakesomesuggestion.Tomychagrinheremainedsilent,leaninghisheadonhishand,andstudyingthetablewithhiseyesinasullenfashion;sothatI
begantoregretthecondescensionIhadevincedinlettinghimbeseated,andfounditnecessarytoremindhimthathehadtakenservicewithme,andmustdomybidding.
\'Well,\'hesaidmorosely,andwithoutlookingup,\'Iamreadytodoit.ButIdonotlikepriests,andthisoneleastofall.I
knowhim,andIwillnotmeddlewithhim.\'
\'Youwillnotmeddlewithhim?\'Icried,almostbesidemyselfwithdismay.
\'No,Iwon\'t,\'hereplied,retaininghislistlessattitude.\'I
knowhim,andIamafraidofhim.Iamnomatchforhim.\'
\'ThenM.deRosnywaswrong,washe?\'Isaid,givingwaytomyanger.
\'Ifitpleaseyou,\'heansweredpertly.
Thiswastoomuchforme.Myriding-switchlayhandy,andI
snatcheditup.BeforeheknewwhatIwouldbeat,Ifelluponhim,andgavehimsuchasoundwholesomedrubbingasspeedilybroughthimtohissenses.Whenhecriedformercy——whichhedidnotforagoodspace,beingstillpossessedbythepeevishdevilwhichhadriddenhimeversincehisdeparturefromRosny——IputittohimagainwhetherM.deRosnywasnotright.Whenheatlastadmittedthis,butnottillthen,Ithrewthewhipawayandlethimgo,butdidnotceasetoreproachhimashedeserved.
\'Didyouthink,\'Isaid,\'thatIwasgoingtoberuinedbecauseyouwouldnotuseyourlazybrains?ThatIwasgoingtositstill,andletyousulk,whilemademoisellewalkedblindfoldintothetoils?Notatall,myfriend!\'
\'Mademoiselle!\'heexclaimed,lookingatmewitha,suddenchangeofcountenance,endceasingtorubhimselfandscowl,ashehadbeendoing.\'Sheisnothere,andisinnodanger.\'
\'Shewillbehereto-morrow,orthenextday,\'Isaid.
Youdidnottellmethat!\'hereplied,hiseyesglittering.
\'DoesFatherAntoineknowit?\'
\'Hewillknowitthemomentsheentersthetown,\'Ianswered.
Notingthechangewhichtheintroductionofmademoiselle\'snameintotheaffairhadwroughtinhim,Ifeltsomethinglikehumiliation.ButatthemomentIhadnochoice;itwasmybusinesstousesuchinstrumentsascametomyhand,andnot,mademoiselle\'ssafetybeingatstake,topickandchoosetoonicely.Inafewminutesourpositionswerereversed.TheladhadgrownashotasIcold,askeenlyexcitedasIcritical.
Whenhepresentlycametoastandinfrontofme,Isawastrangelikenessbetweenhisfaceandthepriest\'s;norwasIastonishedwhenhepresentlymadejustsuchaproposalasIshouldhaveexpectedfromFatherAntoinehimself.
\'Thereisonlyonethingforit,\'hemuttered,tremblingallover.\'Hemustbegotridof!\'
\'Finetalking!\'Isaid,contemptuously.\'Ifhewereasoldierhemightbebroughttoit.Butheisapriest,myfriend,anddoesnotfight.\'
\'Fight?Whowantshimtofight?\'theladanswered,hisfacedark,hishandsmovingrestlessly.\'Itistheeasierdone.A
blowintheback,andhewilltroubleusnomore.\'
\'Whoistostrikeit?\'Iaskeddrily.
Simontrembledandhesitated;butpresently,heavingadeepsigh,hesaid,\'Iwill.\'
\'Itmightnotbedifficult,\'Imuttered,thinkingitover.
\'Itwouldbeeasy,\'heansweredunderhisbreath.Hiseyesshone,hislipswerewhite,andhislongdarkhairhungwetoverhisforehead.
Ireflected,andthelongerIdidsothemorefeasibleseemedthesuggestion.Asingleword,andImightsweepfrommypaththemanwhoseexistencethreatenedmine;whowouldnotmeetmefairly,but,workingagainstmedarklyandtreacherously,deservednobettertreatmentatmyhandsthanthatwhichadetectedspyreceives.Hehadwrongedmymother;hewouldfaindestroymyfriends!
And,doubtless,Ishallbeblamedbysomeandridiculedbymoreforindulginginscruplesatsuchatime.ButIhaveallmylifelongbeenprejudicedagainstthatformofunderhandviolencewhichIhaveheardoldmencontendcameintofashioninourcountryinmoderntimes,andwhichcertainlyseemstobealienfromtheFrenchcharacter.Withoutjudgingotherstooharshly,orsayingthattheponiardisneverexcusable——forthenmightsomewrongsdonetowomenandthehelplessgowithoutremedy——I
havesetmyfaceagainstitsuseasunworthyofasoldier.Atthetime,moreover,ofwhichIamnowwritingtheextenttowhichourenemieshadlatelyresortedtoittendedtofixthisfeelingwithpeculiarfirmnessinmymind;and,butfortheverydesperatedilemmainwhichIstoodatthemoment——andnotI
alone——IdonotthinkthatIshouldhaveentertainedSimon\'sproposalforaminute.
Asitwas,Ipresentlyansweredhiminawaywhichlefthiminnodoubtofmysentiments.\'Simon,myfriend,\'Isaid——andI
rememberIwasalittlemoved——\'youhavesomethingstilltolearn,bothasasoldierandaHuguenot.Neithertheonenortheotherstrikesattheback.\'
\'Butifhewillnotfight?\'theladretortedrebelliously.
\'Whatthen?\'
ItwassoclearthatouradversarygainedanunfairadvantageinthiswaythatIcouldnotanswerthequestion.Iletitpass,therefore,andmerelyrepeatingmyformerinjunction,badeSimonthinkoutanotherway.
Hepromisedreluctantlytodoso,and,afterspendingsomemomentsinthought,wentouttolearnwhetherthehousewasbeingwatched.
Whenhereturned,hiscountenanceworesonewanexpressionthatIsawatoncethatsomethinghadhappened.Hedidnotmeetmyeye,however,anddidnotexplain,butmadeasifhewouldgooutagain,withsomethingofconfusioninhismanner.Beforefinallydisappearing,however,heseemedtochangehismindoncemore;
for,marchinguptomewhereIstoodeyeinghimwiththeutmostastonishment,hestoppedbeforeme,andsuddenlydrawingouthishand,thrustsomethingintomine.
\'Whatisit,man?\'Isaidmechanically.
\'Look!\'heansweredrudely,breakingsilenceforthefirsttime.
\'Youshouldknow.Whyaskme?WhathaveItodowithit?\'
Ilookedthen,andsawthathehadgivenmeaknotofvelvetpreciselysimilarisshape,size,andmaterialtothatwell-
rememberedonewhichhadaidedmesoopportunelyinmysearchformademoiselle.Thisdifferedfromthatalittleincolour,butinnothingelse,thefashionofthebowbeingthesame,andonelappethearingtheinitials\'C.d.l.V.,\'whiletheotherhadthewords,\'Amoi.\'Igazedatitinwonder.\'But,Simon,\'I
said,\'whatdoesitmean?Wheredidyougetit?\'
\'WhereshouldIgetit?\'heansweredjealously.Then,seemingtorecollecthimself,hechangedhistone.\'Awomangaveittomeinthestreet,\'hesaid.
Iaskedhimwhatwoman.
\'HowshouldIknow?\'heanswered,hiseyesgleamingwithanger.
\'Itwasawomaninamask.\'
\'WasitFanchette?\'Isaidsternly.
\'Itmighthavebeen.Idonotknow,\'heresponded.
Iconcludedatfirstthatmademoiselleandherescorthadarrivedintheoutskirtsofthecity,andthatMaignanhadjustifiedhisreputationfordiscretionbysendingintolearnfrommewhetherthewaywasclearbeforeheentered.InthisnotionIwaspartlyconfirmedandpartlyshakenbytheaccompanyingmessage;whichSimon,fromwhomeveryscrapofinformationhadtobedraggedasbloodfromastone,presentlydelivered.
\'Youaretomeetthesenderhalfanhouraftersunsetto-morrowevening,\'hesaid,\'ontheParvisatthenorth-eastcornerofthecathedral.\'
\'To-morrowevening?\'
\'Yes,whenelse?\'theladansweredungraciously.\'Isaidto-
morrowevening.\'
Ithoughtthisstrange.IcouldunderstandwhyMaignanshouldprefertokeephischargeoutsidethewallsuntilheheardfromme,butnotwhyheshouldpostponeameetingsolong.Themessage,too,seemedunnecessarilymeagre,andIbegantothinkSimonwasstillwithholdingsomething.
\'Wasthatall?\'Iaskedhim.
\'Yes,all,\'heanswered,\'except——\'
\'Exceptwhat?\'Isaidsternly.
\'ExceptthatthewomanshowedmethegoldtokenMademoiselledelaVireusedtocarry,\'heansweredreluctantly,\'andsaid,ifyouwantedfurtherassurancethatwouldsatisfyyou.\'
\'Didyouseethecoin?\'Icriedeagerly.
\'Tobesure,\'heanswered.
\'Then,mondieu!\'Iretorted,\'eitheryouaredeceivingme,orthewomanyousawdeceivedyou.Formademoisellehasnotgotthetoken!Ihaveithere,inmypossession!Now,doyoustillsayyonsawit,man?\'
\'Isawonelikeit,\'heanswered,trembling,hisfacedamp.
\'ThatIwillswear.AndthewomantoldmewhatIhavetoldyou.
Andnomore.\'
\'Thenitisclear,\'Ianswered,\'thatmademoisellehasnothingtodowiththis,andisdoubtlessmanyaleagueaway.ThisisoneofM.deBruhl\'stricks.Fresnoygavehimthetokenhestolefromme.AndItoldhimthestoryofthevelvetknotmyself.
Thisisatrap;andhadIfallenintoit,andgonetotheParvisto-morrowevening,Ihadneverkeptanotherassignation,mylad.\'
Simonlookedthoughtful.Presentlyhesaid,withacrestfallenair,\'Youweretogoalone.Thewomansaidthat.\'
ThoughIknewwellwhyhehadsuppressedthisitem,Iforboretoblamehim.\'Whatwasthewomanlike?\'Isaid.
\'ShehadverymuchofFranchette\'sfigure,\'heanswered.Hecouldnotgobeyondthat.Blindedbytheideathatthewomanwasmademoiselle\'sattendant,andnooneelse,hehadtakenlittleheedofher,andcouldnotevensayforcertainthatshewasnotamaninwoman\'sclothes.
Ithoughtthematteroveranddiscusseditwithhim;andwasheartilymindedtopunishM.deBruhl,ifIcoulddiscoverawayofturninghistreacherousplotagainsthimself.Butthelackofanypreciseknowledgeofhisplanspreventedmestirringinthematter;themoreasIfeltnocertaintythatIshouldbemasterofmyactionswhenthetimecame.
StrangetosaythediscoveryofthismovementonthepartofBruhl,whohadsedulouslykepthimselfinthebackgroundsincethesceneintheking\'spresence,farfromincreasingmyanxieties,hadtheeffectofadministeringafilliptomyspirits;whichthecoldandunyieldingpressureoftheJacobinhadreducedtoalowpoint.HerewassomethingIcouldunderstand,resist,andguardagainst.ThefeelingthatIhadoncemoretodowithamanoflikeaimsandpassionswithmyselfquicklyrestoredmetotheuseofmyfaculties;asIhaveheardthataswordsmanopposedtothepowersofevilregainshisvigouronfindinghimselfengagedwithamortalfoe.ThoughIknewthatthehoursofgracewerefastrunningtoaclose,andthatonthemorrowthepriestwouldcallforananswer,Iexperiencedthateveningan,unreasonablelightnessandcheerfulness.Iretiredtorestwithconfidence,andsleptiscomfort,supportedinpart,perhaps,bytheassurancethatinthatroomwheremymotherdiedherpersecutorcouldhavenopowertoharmme.
UponSimonFleix,ontheotherhand,thediscoverythatBruhlwasmoving,andthatconsequentlyperilthreatenedusfromanewquarter,hadadifferenteffect.Hefellintoastateofextremeexcitement,andspenttheeveningandagreatpartofthenightinwalkingrestlesslyupanddowntheroom,wrestlingwiththefearsandanxietieswhichbesetus,andnowtalkingfasttohimself,nowbitinghisnailsinanagonyofimpatience.InvainIadjuredhimnottomeettroubleshalfway;or,pointingtothepalletwhichheoccupiedatthefootofmycouch,badehim,ifhecouldnotdeviseawayofescape,atleasttoletthematterrestuntilmorning.Hehadnopowertoobey,but,torturedbythevividanticipationswhichitwashisnaturetoentertain,hecontinuedtorambletoandfroinafeverofthenerves,andhadnosoonerlaindownthanbewasupagain.Remembering,however,howwellhehadbornehimselfonthenightofmademoiselle\'sescapefromBlois,Irefrainedfromcallinghimacoward;andcontentedmyselfinsteadwiththereflectionthatnothingsitsworseonafighting-manthantoomuchknowledge——except,perhaps,alivelyimagination.
IthoughtitpossiblethatmademoisellemightarrivenextdaybeforeFatherAntoinecalledtoreceivehisanswer.InthiseventIhopedtohavethesupportofMaignan\'sexperience.Butthepartydidnotarrive.Ihadtorelyonmyselfandmyownresources,and,thisbeingso,determinedtorefusethepriest\'soffer,butinallotherthingstobeguidedbycircumstances.
Aboutnoonhecame,attended,aswashispractice,bytwofriends,whomheleftoutside.Helookedpalerandmoreshadowythanbefore,Ithought,hishandsthinner,andhischeeksmoretransparent.Icoulddrawnogoodaugury,however,fromthese,signsoffrailty,forthebrightnessofhiseyesandtheunusualelationofhismannertoldplainlyofaspiritassuredofthemastery.Heenteredtheroomwithanairofconfidence,andaddressedmeinatoneofpatronagewhichleftmeinnodoubtofhisintentions;thefranknesswithwhichhenowlaidbarehisplansgoingfartoprovethatalreadyheconsideredmenobetterthanhistool.
Ididnotatonceundeceivehim,butallowedhimtoproceed,andeventobringoutthefivehundredcrownswhichhehadpromisedme,andthesightofwhichhedoubtlesssupposedwouldclenchthematter.
Seeingthishebecamestilllessreticent,andspokesolargelythatIpresentlyfeltmyselfimpelledtoaskhimifhewouldansweraquestion.
\'Thatisasmaybe,M.deMarsac,\'heansweredlightly.\'Youmayaskit.\'
\'Youhintatgreatschemeswhichyouhaveinhand,father,\'I
said.\'YouspeakofFranceandSpainandNavarre,andkingsandLeaguesandcardinals!Youtalkofsecretstrings,andwouldhavemebelievethatifIcomplywithyourwishesIshallfindyouaspowerfulapatronasM.deRosny.But——onemoment,ifyouplease,\'Icontinuedhastily,seeingthathewasabouttointerruptmewithsucheagerassurancesasIhadalreadyheard;
\'tellmethis.Withsomanyironsinthefire,whydidyouinterferewithoneoldgentlewoman——forthesakeofafewcrowns?\"
\'Iwilltellyoueventhat,\'heanswered,hisfaceflushingatmytone.\'Haveyoueverheardofanelephant?Yes.Well,ithasatrunk,youknow,withwhichitcaneitherdraganoakfromtheearthorliftagroatfromtheground.Itissowithme.Butagainyouask,\'hecontinuedwithanairygrimace,\'whyIwantedafewcrowns.EnoughthatIdid.Therearegoingtobetwothingsintheworld,andtwoonly,M.deMarsac:brainsandmoney.TheformerIhave,andhad:thelatterIneeded——andtook.\'
\'Moneyandbrains?\'Isaid,lookingathimthoughtfully.
\'Yes,\'heanswered,hiseyessparkling,histhinnostrilsbeginningtodilate.\'Givemethesetwo,andIwillruleFrance!\'
\'YouwillruleFrance?\'Iexclaimed,amazedbeyondmeasurebyhisaudacity.\'You,man?\'
\'Yes,I,\'heanswered,withabominablecoolness.\'I,priest,monk,Churchman,clerk.Youlooksurprised,butmarkyou,sir,thereisachangegoingon.Ourtimeiscoming,andyoursisgoing.WhathampersourlordthekingandshutshimupinBlois,whilerebellionsstalkthroughFrance?Lackofmen?No;butlackofmoney.Whocangetthemoneyforhim——youthesoldier,orItheclerk?Athousandtimes,I!Therefore,mytimeiscoming,andbeforeyoudieyouwillseeapriestruleFrance.\'
\'Godforbiditshouldbeyou,\'Iansweredscornfully.
\'Asyouplease,\'heanswered,shrugginghisshoulders,andassuminginabreathamaskofhumilitywhichsatasillonhismonstrousconceitasevernun\'sveilonatrooper.\'YetitmayevenbeI;bythefavouroftheHolyCatholicChurch,whosehumbleministerIam.\'
Isprangupwithagreatoathatthat,havingnostomachformoreofthestrangetransformations,inwhichthismandelighted,andwhereofthelasthadevertheairofbeingthemosthateful.
\'Youvillain!\'Icried,twistingmymoustaches,ahabitIhavewhenenraged.\'Andsoyouwouldmakemeastepping-stonetoyourgreatness.Youwouldbribeme——asoldierandagentleman.Go,beforeIdoyouamischief.ThatisallIhavetosaytoyou.
Go!Youhaveyouranswer.Iwilltellyounothing——notajotoratittle.Begonefrommyroom!\'
Hefellbackastepinhissurprise,andstoodagainstthetablebitinghisnailsandscowlingatme,fearandchagrincontendingwithhalfadozendevilsforthepossessionofhisface.\'Soyouhavebeendeceivingme,\'hesaidslowly,andatlast.
\'Ihaveletyoudeceiveyourself\'Ianswered,lookingathimwithscorn,butwithlittleofthefearwithwhichhehadforawhileinspiredme.\'Begone,anddoyourworst.\'
\'Youknowwhatyouaredoing,\'hesaid.\'Ihavethatwillhangyou,M.deMarsac——orworse.\'
\'Go!\'Icried.
\'Youhavethoughtofyourfriends,\'hecontinuedmockingly.
\'Go!\'Isaid.
\'OfMademoiselledelaVire,ifbyanychanceshefallintomyhands?Itwillnotbehangingforher.YourememberthetwoFoucauds?\'——andhelaughed.
Thevilethreat,whichIknewhehadusedtomymother,soworkeduponmethatIstrodeforwardunabletocontrolmyselflonger.
InanothermomentIhadcertainlytakenhimbythethroatandsqueezedthelifeoutofhismiserablecarcase,hadnotProvidenceinitsgoodnessintervenedtosaveme.Thedoor,onwhichhehadalreadylaidhishandinterror,openedsuddenly.
ItadmittedSimon,who,closingit;behindhim,stoodlookingfromonetotheotherofusinnervousdoubt;dividedbetweenthatrespectforthepriestwhichatrainingattheSorbonnehadinstilledintohim,andtheragewhichdespairarousesintheweakest.
Hispresence,whileitcheckedmeinmypurpose,seemedtogiveFatherAntoinecourage,fortheprieststoodhisground,andeventurnedtomeasecondtime,hisfacedarkwithspiteanddisappointment.\'Good,\'hesaidhoarsely.\'Destroyyourselfifyouwill!Iadviseyoutobaryourdoor,forinanhourtheguardswillbeheretofetchyoutothequestion.\'
Simoncriedoutatthethreat,sothatIturnedandlookedatthelad.Hiskneeswereshaking,hishairstoodonend.
Thepriestsawhisterrorandhisownopportunity.\'Ay,inanhour,\'hecontinuedslowly,lookingathimwithcrueleyes.\'Inanhour,lad!Youmustbefondofpaintocourtit,andoutofhumourwithlifetothrowitaway.Orstay,\'hecontinuedabruptly,afterconsideringSimon\'snarrowlyforamoment,anddoubtlessdeducingfromitalasthope,\'Iwillbemerciful.I
willgiveyouonemorechance.\'
\'Andyourself?\'Isaidwithasneer.
\'Asyouplease,\'heanswered,decliningtobedivertedfromthetremblinglad,whomhisgazeseemedtofascinate.\'Iwillgiveyouuntilhalfanhouraftersunsetthiseveningtoreconsiderthematter.Ifyoumakeupyourmindstoacceptmyterms,meetmethen.Ileaveto-nightforParis,andIwillgiveyouuntilthelastmoment.But,\'hecontinuedgrimly,\'ifyoudonotmeetme,or,meetingme,remainobstinate——Goddosotome,andmorealso,ifyouseethesunrisethrice.\'
Someimpulse,Iknownotwhat,seeingthatIhadnothoughtofacceptinghistermsormeetinghim,ledmetoaskbriefly,\'Where?\'
\'OntheParvisoftheCathedral,\'heansweredafteramoment\'scalculation.\'Atthenorth-eastcorner,halfanhouraftersunset.Itisaquietspot.\'
Simonutteredastifledexclamation.Andthenforamomenttherewassilenceintheroom,whiletheladbreathedhardandirregularly,andIstoodrootedtothespot,lookingsolongandsostrangelyatthepriestthatFatherAntoinelaidhishandagainonthedoorandglanceduneasilybehindhim.Norwashecontentuntilhehadhiton,ashefancied,thecauseofmystrangeregard.
\'Ha!\'hesaid,histhinlipcurlinginconceitathisastuteness,\'Iunderstandyouthinktokillmeto-night?Letmetellyou,thishouseiswatched.Ifyouleaveheretomeetmewithanycompanion——unlessitbeM.d\'Agen,whomIcantrust,I
shallbewarned,andbegonebeforeyoureachtherendezvous.
Andgone,mindyou,\'headded,withagrimsmile,\'tosignyourdeath-warrant.\'
Hewentoutwiththat,closingthedoorbehindhim;andweheardhisstepgosoftlydownthestaircase.IgazedatSimon,andheatme,withalltheastonishmentandawewhichitwasnaturalweshouldfeelinpresenceofsoremarkableacoincidence.
Forbyamarvelthepriesthadnamedthesamespotandthesametimeasthesenderofthevelvetknot!
\'Hewillgo,\'Simonsaid,hisfaceflushedandhisvoicetrembling,\'andtheywillgo.\'
\'Andinthedarktheywillnotknowhim,\'Imuttered.\'Heisaboutmyheight.Theywilltakehimforme!\'
\'Andkillhim!\'Simoncriedhysterically.\'Theywillkillhim!
Hegoestohisdeath,monsieur.ItisthefingerofGod.\'
CHAPTERXX.
THEKING\'SFACE.
ItseemedsonecessarytobringhomethecrimetoBruhlshouldthepriestreallyperishinthetraplaidforme,thatIcameneartofallingintooneofthosemistakestowhichmenofactionareprone.FormyfirstimpulsewastofollowthepriesttotheParvis,closelyenough,ifpossible,todetecttheassassinsintheact,andwithsufficientforce,ifIcouldmusterit,toarrestthem.ThecreditofdissuadingmefromthiscourselieswithSimon,whopointedoutitsdangersinsoconvincingamannerthatIwasbroughtwithlittledifficultytorelinquishit.
Instead,actingonhisadvice,IsenthimtoM.d\'Agen\'slodging,tobegthatyounggentlemantocalluponmebeforeevening.
Aftersearchingthelodgingandotherplacesinvain,SimonfoundM.d\'Ageninthetennis-courtattheCastle,and,inventingacraftyexcuse,broughthimtomylodgingafullhourbeforethetime.