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spoken； had he moved so much as an eyelid； or drawn back his foot； or
laid his hand on his hilt； I should have killed him there。 But he did not
stir and I could not do it。 My hand dropped。 〃Cowards！〃 I cried；
glancing bitterly from him to themthey had never failed me before。
〃Cowards！〃 I muttered； seeming to shrink into myself as I said the word。
And I flung my sword clattering on the floor。
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〃That is better！〃 he drawled quite unmoved； as if nothing more than
words had passed； as if he had not been in peril at all。 〃It was what I was
going to ask you to do。 If the other young gentlemen will follow your
example； I shall be obliged。 Thank you。 Thank you。〃
Croisette； and a minute later Marie； obeyed him to the letter！ I could
not understand it。 I folded my arms and gave up the game in despair； and
but for very shame I could have put my hands to my face and cried。 He
stood in the middle under the lamp； a head taller than the tallest of us； our
master。 And we stood round him trapped； beaten； for all the world like
children。 Oh； I could have cried！ This was the end of our long ride； our
aspirations； our knight…errantry！
〃Now perhaps you will listen to me；〃 he went on smoothly； 〃and hear
what I am going to do。 I shall keep you here； young gentlemen； until you
can serve me by carrying to mademoiselle； your cousin； some news of her
betrothed。 Oh； I shall not detain you long；〃 he added with an evil smile。
〃You have arrived in Paris at a fortunate moment。 There is going to be a…
…well； there is a little scheme on foot appointed for to…nightsingularly
lucky you are！for removing some objectionable people； some friends of
ours perhaps among them； M。 Anne。 That is all。 You will hear shots；
cries； perhaps screams。 Take no notice。 You will be in no danger。 For
M。 de Pavannes；〃 he continued； his voice sinking； 〃I think that by morning
I shall be able to give you aa more particular account of him to take to
Caylusto Mademoiselle； you understand。〃
For a moment the mask was off。 His face took a sombre brightness。
He moistened his lips with his tongue as though he saw his vengeance
worked out then and there before him； and were gloating over the picture。
The idea that this was so took such a hold upon me that I shrank back；
shuddering； reading too in Croisette's face the same thoughtand a late
repentance。 Nay； the malignity of Bezers' tone； the savage gleam of joy
in his eyes appalled me to such an extent that I fancied for a moment I saw
in him the devil incarnate！
He recovered his composure very quickly； however； and turned
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carelessly towards the door。 〃If you will follow me；〃 he said； 〃I will see
you disposed of。 You may have to complain of your lodgingI have
other things to think of to…night than hospitality； But you shall not need to
complain of your supper。〃
He drew aside the curtain as he spoke； and passed into the next room
before us； not giving a thought apparently to the possibility that we might
strike him from behind。 There certainly was an odd quality apparent in
him at times which seemed to contradict what we knew of him。
The room we entered was rather long than wide； hung with tapestry；
and lighted by silver lamps。 Rich plate； embossed； I afterwards learned；
by Cellini the Florentinewho died that year I rememberand richer glass
from Venice； with a crowd of meaner vessels filled with meats and drinks
covered the table； disordered as by the attacks of a numerous party。 But
save a servant or two by the distant dresser； and an ecclesiastic at the far
end of the table； the room was empty。
The priest rose as we entered； the Vidame saluting him as if they had
not met that day。 〃You are welcome M。 le Coadjuteur；〃 he said； saying it
coldly； however； I thought。 And the two eyed one another with little
favour； rather as birds of prey about to quarrel over the spoil； than as host
and guest。 Perhaps the Coadjutor's glittering eyes and great beak…like
nose made me think of this。
〃Ho！ ho！〃 he said； looking piercingly at usand no doubt we must
have seemed a miserable and dejected crew enough。 〃Who are these？
Not the first…fruits of the night； eh？〃
The Vidame looked darkly at him。 〃No；〃 he answered brusquely。
〃They are not。 I am not particular out of doors； Coadjutor； as you know；
but this is my house； and we are going to supper。 Perhaps you do not
comprehend the distinction。 Still it exists for me；〃 with a sneer。
This was as good as Greek to us。 But I so shrank from the priest's
malignant eyes； which would not quit us； and felt so much disgust mingled
with my anger that when Bezers by a gesture invited me to sit down； I
drew back。 〃I will not eat with you；〃 I said sullenly； speaking out of a
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kind of dull obstinacy； or perhaps a childish petulance。
It did not occur to me that this would pierce the Vidame's armour。
Yet a dull red showed for an instant in his cheek； and he eyed me with a
look； that was not all ferocity； though the veins in his great temples
swelled。 A moment； nevertheless； and he was himself again。
〃Armand；〃 he said quietly to the servant； 〃these gentlemen will not sup
with me。 Lay for them at the other end。〃
Men are odd。 The moment he gave way to me I repented of my
words。 It was almost with reluctance that I followed the servant to the
lower part of the table。 More than this； mingled with the hatred I felt for
the Vidame； there was now a strange sentiment towards himalmost of
admiration； that had its birth I think in the moment； when I held his life in
my hand； and he had not flinched。
We ate in silence； even after Croisette by grasping my hand under the
table had begged me not to judge him hastily。 The two at the upper end
talked fast； and from the litt