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！
temper by an effort and speaking with dignity。 〃You told me that by the
King's order no one could cross； and you arrested me because； having
urgent need to visit St。 Germain； I persisted。 Now what does this mean；
Captain Pallavicini？ Others are crossing。 I ask what this means？〃
〃Whatever you please； M。 de Pavannes；〃 the Italian retorted
contemptuously。 〃Explain it for yourself！〃
I started as the name struck my ear； and at once cried out in surprise；
〃M。 de Pavannes！〃 Had I heard aright？
Apparently I had； for the prisoner turned to me with a bow。 〃Yes； sir；〃
he said with dignity； 〃I am M。 de Pavannes。 I have not the honour of
knowing you； but you seem to be a gentleman。〃 He cast a withering glance
at the captain as he said this。 〃Perhaps you will explain to me why this
violence has been done to me。 If you can； I shall consider it a favour； if
not； pardon me。〃
I did not answer him at once； for a good reasonthat every faculty I
had was bent on a close scrutiny of the man himself。 He was fair； and of a
ruddy complexion。 His beard was cut in the short pointed fashion of the
court； and in these respects he bore a kind of likeness； a curious likeness；
to Louis de Pavannes。 But his figure was shorter and stouter。 He was less
martial in bearing； with more of the air of a scholar than a soldier。 〃You
are related to M。 Louis de Pavannes？〃 I said； my heart beginning to beat
with an odd excitement。 I think I foresaw already what was coming。
〃I am Louis de Pavannes；〃 he replied with impatience。
I stared at him in silence： thinkingthinkingthinking。 And then I
86
… Page 87…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
said slowly； 〃You have a cousin of the same name？〃
〃I have。〃
〃He fell prisoner to the Vicomte de Caylus at Moncontour？〃
〃He did；〃 he answered curtly。 〃But what of that； sir？〃
Again I did not answerat once。 The murder was out。 I
remembered； in the dim fashion in which one remembers such things after
the event； that I had heard Louis de Pavannes； when we first became
acquainted with him； mention this cousin of the same name； the head of a
younger branch。 But our Louis living in Provence and the other in
Normandy； the distance between their homes； and the troubles of the times
had loosened a tie which their common religion might have strengthened。
They had scarcely ever seen one another。 As Louis had spoken of his
namesake but once during his long stay with us； and I had not then
foreseen the connection to be formed between our families； it was no
wonder that in the course of months the chance word had passed out of my
head； and I had clean forgotten the subject of it。 Here however； he was
before my eyes； and seeing him； I saw too what the discovery meant。 It
meant a most joyful thing！ a most wonderful thing which I longed to tell
Croisette and Marie。 It meant that our Louis de Pavannesmy cheek
burned for my want of faith in himwas no villain after all； but such a
noble gentleman as we had always till this day thought him！ It meant
that he was no court gallant bent on breaking a country heart for sport； but
Kit's own true lover！ Andand it meant moreit meant that he was yet
in danger； and still ignorant of the vow that unchained fiend Bezers had
taken to have his life！ In pursuing his namesake we had been led astray；
how sadly I only knew now！ And had indeed lost most precious time。
〃Your wife； M。 de Pavannes〃I began in haste； seeing the necessity of
explaining matters with the utmost quickness。 〃Your wife is〃
〃Ah； my wife！〃 he cried interrupting me； with anxiety in his tone。
〃What of her？ You have seen her！〃
〃I have。 She is safe at your house in the Rue de St。 Merri。〃
〃Thank Heaven for that！〃 he replied fervently。 Before he could say
87
… Page 88…
THE HOUSE OF THE WOLF
more Captain Andrea interrupted us。 I could see that his suspicions were
aroused afresh。 He pushed rudely between us； and addressing me said；
〃Now； young sir； your boat is ready。〃
〃My boat？〃 I answered； while I rapidly considered the situation。 Of
course I did not want to cross the river now。 No doubt Pavannes…this
Pavannescould guide me to Louis' address。 〃My boat？〃
〃Yes； it is waiting；〃 the Italian replied； his black eyes roving from one
to the other of us。
〃Then let it wait！〃 I answered haughtily； speaking with an
assumption of anger。 〃Plague upon you for interrupting us！ I shall not
cross the river now。 This gentleman can give me the information I want。
I shall take him back with me。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃To whom？ To those who sent me； sirrah！〃
I thundered。 〃You do not seem to be much in the Duke's confidence；
captain；〃 I went on； 〃now take a word of advice from me！ There is
nothing： so easily cast off as an over…officious servant！ He goes too
farand he goes like an old glove！ An old glove；〃 I repeated grimly；
sneering in his face； 〃which saves the hand and suffers itself。 Beware of
too much zeal； Captain Pallavicini！ It is a dangerous thing！〃
He turned pale with anger at being thus treated by a beardless boy。
But he faltered all the same。 What I said was unpleasant； but the bravo
knew it was true。
I saw the impression I had made； and I turned to the soldiers standing
round。
〃Bring here； my friends；〃 I said； 〃M。 de Pavannes' sword！〃
One ran up to the guard house and brought it at once。 They were
townsfolk； burgher guards or such like； and for some reason betrayed so
evident a respect for me； that I soberly believe they would have turned on
their temporary leader at my bidding。 Pavannes took his sword； and placed
it under his arm。 We both bowed ceremoniously to Pallavicini； who
scowled in response； and slowly； for I was afraid to show any signs of