第24章

“Doubleyourguards，sire，forto-night——thatisall。IwillanswerfortheBastileandtheArsenal；andholdingtheseweholdParis。“ ButthereuponIfoundthatthekinghadcometoadecision，whichI feltittobemydutytocombatwithallmyinfluence。Hehadconceivedtheideaofbeingtheonetoaccompanymetotherendezvous。“Iamtiredofthedice，“hecomplained，“andsickoftennis，atwhichIknoweverybody’sstrength。MadamedeVerneuilisatFontainebleau，thequeenisunwell。Ah，Sully，IwouldtheolddayswerebackwhenwehadNeracforourParis，andknewthesaddlebetterthanthearmchair！“ “Akingmustthinkofhispeople，“Iremindedhim。 “Thefowlinthepot？Tobesure。SoIwill——to-morrow，“hereplied。Andintheendhewouldbeobeyed。Itookmyleaveofhimasifforthenight，andretired，leavinghimatplaywiththeDukeofEpernon。Butanhourlater，towardeighto’clock，hismajesty，whohadmadeanexcusetowithdrawtohiscloset，metmeoutsidetheeasterngateoftheLouvre。 Hewasmasked，andattendedonlybyCoquet，hismasterofthehousehold。ItooworeamaskandwasesquiredbyMaignan，underwhoseorderswerefourSwiss——whomIhadchosenbecausetheywereunabletospeakFrench——guardingtheprisonerAndrew。IbadeMaignanfollowtheinnkeeper’sdirections，andweproceededintwopartiesthroughthestreetsontheleftbankoftheriver，pasttheChateletandBastile，untilwereachedanobscurestreetnearthewater，sonarrowthatthedecrepitwoodenhousesshutoutwell-nighallviewofthesky。Heretheprisonerhaltedandcalleduponmetofulfillthetermsofmyagreement。IbadeMaignanthereforetokeepwiththeSwissatadistanceoffiftypaces，buttocomeupshouldIwhistleorotherwisegivethealarm；andmyselfwiththekingandAndrewproceededonwardinthedeepshadowofthehouses。 Ikeptmyhandonmypistol，whichIhadpreviouslyshowntotheprisoner，intimatingthatonthefirstsignoftreacheryIshouldblowouthisbrains。However，despiteprecaution，Ifeltuncomfortabletothelastdegree。Iblamedmyselfseverelyforallowingthekingtoexposehimselfandthecountrytothisunnecessarydanger；whilethemeannessofthelocality，thefetidair，thedarknessofthenight，whichwaswetandtempestuous，andtheuncertaintyoftheeventloweredmyspirits，andmadeeverysplashinthekennelandstumbleonthereeking，slipperypavements——mattersoverwhichthekinggrewmerry——seemnolighttroublestome。 Arrivingatahouse，which，ifwemightjudgeinthedarkness，seemedtobeofrathergreaterpretensionsthanitsfellows，ourguidestopped，andwhisperedtoustomountsomestepstoaraisedwoodengallery，whichintervenedbetweenthelaneandthedoorway。 Onthis，besidesthedoor，acoupleofunglazedwindowslookedout。 Theshutterofonewasajar，andshowedusalarge，bareroom，lightedbyacoupleofrushlights。Directingustoplaceourselvesclosetothisshutter，theinnkeeperknockedatthedoorinapeculiarfashion，andalmostimmediatelyentered，goingatonceintothelightedroom。Peeringcautiouslythroughthewindowweweresurprisedtofindthattheonlypersonwithin，savethenewcomer，wasayoungwoman，who，crouchingoverasmolderingfire，wascrooningalullabywhilesheattendedtoalargeblackpot。 “Goodevening，mistress！“saidtheinnkeeper，advancingtothefirewithafairshowofnonchalance。 “Goodevening，MasterAndrew，“thegirlreplied，lookingupandnodding，butshowingnosignofsurpriseathisappearance。 “Martinisaway，buthemayreturnatanymoment。“ “Ishestillofthesamemind？“ “Quite。“ “AndwhatofSully？Ishetodiethen？“heasked。 “Theyhavedecidedhemust，“thegirlansweredgloomily。ItmaybebelievedthatIlistenedwithallmyears，whilethekingbyanudgeinmysideseemedtorallymeonthedestinysocoollyarrangedforme。“Martinsaysitisnogoodkillingtheotherunlesshegoestoo——theyhavebeensolongtogether。Butitvexesmesadly，MasterAndrew，“sheaddedwithasuddenbreakinhervoice。“Sadlyitvexesme。Icouldnotsleeplastnightforthinkingofit，andtheriskMartinruns。AndIshallsleeplesswhenitisdone。“ “Pooh-pooh！“saidthatrascallyinnkeeper。“Thinklessaboutit。 Thingswillgrowworseandworseiftheyareletlive。TheKinghasdoneharmenoughalready。Andhegrowsoldbesides。“ “Thatistrue！“saidthegirl。“Andnodoubtthesoonerheisputoutofthewaythebetter。Heischangedsadly。Idonotsayawordforhim。Lethimdie。ItiskillingSullythattroublesme—— thatandtheriskMartinruns。“ AtthisItookthelibertyofgentlytouchingtheking。Heansweredbyanamusedgrimace；thenbyamotionofhishandheenjoinedsilence。Westoopedstillfartherforwardsoasbettertocommandtheroom。Thegirlwasrockingherselftoandfroinevidentdistressofmind。“IfwekilledtheKing，“shecontinued，“Martindeclaresweshouldbenobetteroff，aslongasSullylives。Bothorneither，hesays。ButIdonotknow。Icannotbeartothinkofit。ItwasasaddaywhenwebroughtEpernonhere，MasterAndrew；andoneIfearweshallrueaslongaswelive。“ Itwasnowtheking’sturntobemoved。HegraspedmywristsoforciblythatIrestrainedacrywithdifficulty。“Epernon！“hewhisperedharshlyinmyear。“TheyareEpernon’stools！Whereisyourguarantynow，Rosny？“ IconfessthatItrembled。Iknewwellthattheking，particularinsmallcourtesies，neverforgottocallhisservantsbytheircorrecttitles，saveintwocases；whenheindicatedbytheseemingerror，asonceinMarshalBiron’saffair，hisintentiontopromoteordegradethem；orwhenhewasmovedtothedepthsofhisnatureandfellintoanoldhabit。Ididnotdaretoreply，butlistenedgreedilyformoreinformation。 “Whenisittobedone？“askedtheinnkeeper，sinkinghisvoiceandglancinground，asifhewouldcallespecialattentiontothis。 “ThatdependsuponMasterlaRiviere，“thegirlanswered。“To- morrownight，Iunderstand，ifMasterlaRivierecanhavethestuffready。“ Imettheking’seyes。Theyshonefiercelyinthefaintlight，whichissuingfromthewindowfellonhim。Ofallthingshehatedtreacherymost，andLaRivierewashisfirstbodyphysician，andatthisverytime，asIwellknew，wastreatinghimforaslightderangementwhichthekinghadbroughtuponhimselfbyhisimprudence。ThisdoctorhadformerlybeenintheemploymentoftheBouillonfamily，whohadsurrenderedhisservicestotheking。 NeitherInorhismajestyhadtrustedtheDukeofBouillonforthelastyearpast，sothatwewerenotsurprisedbythishintthathewasprivytothedesign。 Despiteouranxietynottomissaword，anapproachingstepwarnedusatthismomenttodrawback。Morethanoncebeforewehaddonesotoescapethenoticeofawayfarerpassingupanddown。ButthistimeIhadadifficultyininducingthekingtoadopttheprecaution。YetitwaswellthatIsucceeded，forthepersonwhocamestumblingalongtowardusdidnotpass，but，mountingthesteps，walkedbywithintouchofusandenteredthehouse。 “Theplotthickens，“mutteredtheking。“Whoisthis？“ AtthemomentheaskedIwasrackingmybraintoremember。Ihaveagoodeyeandafairrecollectionforfaces，andthiswasoneI hadseenseveraltimes。ThefeaturesweresofamiliarthatI suspectedthemanofbeingacourtierindisguise，andIranoverthenamesofseveralpersonswhomIknewtobeBouillon’ssecretagents。Buthewasnoneofthese，andobeyingtheking’sgesture，Ibentmyselfagaintothetaskoflistening。 Thegirllookedupontheman’sentrance，butdidnotrise。“Youarelate，Martin，“shesaid。 “Alittle，“thenewcomeranswered。“Howdoyoudo，MasterAndrew？ Whatcheer？What，stillvexing，mistress？“headdedcontemptuouslytothegirl。“Youhavetoosoftaheartforthisbusiness！“ Shesighed，butmadenoanswer。 “Youhavemadeupyourmindtoit，Ihear？“saidtheinnkeeper。 “Thatisit。Needsmustwhenthedevildrives！“repliedthemanjauntily。Hehadadowncast，reckless，lucklessair，yetinhisfaceIthoughtIstillsawtracesofabetterspirit。 “ThedevilinthiscasewasEpernon，“quothAndrew。 “Aye，cursehim！IwouldIhadcuthisdaintythroatbeforehecrossedmythreshold，“criedthedesperado。“Butthere，itistoolatetosaythatnow。Whathastobedone，hastobedone。“ “Howareyougoingaboutit？Poison，themistresssays。“ “Yes；butifIhadmyway，“themangrowledfiercely，“Iwouldoutoneofthesenightsandcutthedogs’throatsinthekennel！“ “Youcouldneverescape，Martin！“thegirlcried，risinginexcitement。“Itwouldbehopeless。Itwouldmerelybethrowingawayyourownlife。“ “Well，itisnottobedonethatway，sothereisanendofit，“ quoththemanwearily。“Givememysupper。ThedeviltakethekingandSullytoo！Hewillsoonhavethem。“ OnthisMasterAndrewrose，andItookhismovementtowardthedoorforasignalforustoretire。Hecameoutatonce，shuttingthedoorbehindhimashebadethepairwithinaloudgoodnight。Hefoundusstandinginthestreetwaitingforhimandforthwithfellonhiskneesinthemudandlookedupatme，theperspirationstandingthickonhiswhiteface。“Mylord，“hecriedhoarsely，“I haveearnedmypardon！“ “Ifyougoon，“Isaidencouragingly，“asyouhavebegun，havenofear。“WithoutmoreadoIwhistleduptheSwissandbadeMaignangowiththemandarrestthemanandwomanwithaslittledisturbanceaspossible。Whilethiswasbeingdonewewaitedwithout，keepingasharpeyeupontheinformer，whoseterror，I notedwithsuspicion，seemedtobeinnodegreediminished。Hedidnot，however，trytoescape，andMaignanpresentlycametotellusthathehadexecutedthearrestwithoutdifficultyorresistance。 TheimportanceofarrivingatthetruthbeforeEpernonandthegreaterconspiratorsshouldtakethealarmwassovividlypresenttothemindsofthekingandmyself，thatwedidnothesitatetoexaminetheprisonersintheirhouse，ratherthanhazardthedelayandobservationwhichtheirremovaltoamorefitplacemustoccasion。Accordingly，takingtheprecautiontopostCoquetinthestreetoutside，andtoplantaburlySwissinthedoorway，thekingandIentered。IremovedmymaskasIdidso，beingawareofthenecessityofgainingtheprisoners’confidence，butIbeggedthekingtoretainhis。AsIhadexpected，themanimmediatelyrecognizedmeandfellonhisknees，anearerviewconfirmingthenotionIhadpreviouslyentertainedthathisfeatureswerefamiliartome，thoughIcouldnotrememberhisname。Ithoughtthisagoodstarting-pointformyexamination，andbiddingMaignanwithdraw，I assumedanairofmildnessandaskedthefellowhisname。 “Martin，only，pleaseyourlordship，“heanswered；adding，“onceI soldyoutwodogs，sir，forthechase，andtoyourladyalapdogcalledNinettenolargerthanherhand。“ Irememberedtheknave，then，asafashionabledogdealer，whohadbeenmuchaboutthecourtinthereignofHenrytheThirdandlater；andIsawatoncehowconvenientatoolhemightbemade，sincehecouldbeseeninconversewithpeopleofallrankswithoutarousingsuspicion。Theman’sfaceashespokeexpressedsomuchfearandsurprisethatIdeterminedtotrywhatIhadoftenfoundsuccessfulinthecaseofgreatercriminals，tosqueezehimforaconfessionwhilestillexcitedbyhisarrest，andbeforeheshouldhavehadtimetoconsiderwhathischancesofsupportatthehandsofhisconfederatesmightbe。Ichargedhimthereforesolemnlytotellthewholetruthashehopedfortheking’smercy。Heheardme，gazingatmepiteously；buthisonlyanswer，tomysurprise，wasthathehadnothingtoconfess。 “Come，come，“Irepliedsternly，“thiswillavailyounothing；ifyoudonotspeakquickly，rogue，andtothepoint，weshallfindmeanstocompelyou。Whocounseledyoutoattempthismajesty’slife？“ Onthishestaredsostupidlyatme，andexclaimedwithsorealanappearanceofhorror:“How？Iattempttheking’slife？Godforbid！“thatIdoubtedthatwehadbeforeusamoredangerousrascalthanIhadthought，andIhastenedtobringhimtothepoint。