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.