the path of the king-第22部分

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They　galloped　down　the　Rue　St。　Honore；　finding　an　open　space　in　the　cobbles　of　the　centre；　but　at　the　turning　into　the　Rue　d'Arbre　Sec　they　met　a　block。　A　great　throng　with　torches　was　coming　in　on　the　right　from　the　direction　of　the　Bourbon　and　d'Alencon　hotels。　Yet　by　pressing　their　horses　with　whip　and　spur；　and　by　that　awe　which　the　two　tall　dark　cavaliers　inspired　even　in　a　mob　which　had　lost　its　wits；　they　managed　to　make　their　way　to　the　entrance　of　the　Rue　de　Bethisy。　There　they　came　suddenly　upon　quiet。

The　crowd　was　held　back　by　mounted　men　who　made　a　ring　around　the　gate　of　a　high　dark　building。　Inside　its　courtyard　there　were　cries　and　the　rumour　of　fighting；　but　out　in　the　street　there　was　silence。　Every　eye　was　turned　to　the　archway；　which　was　bright　as　day　with　the　glare　of　fifty　lanterns。

The　two　rode　straight　to　the　ring　of　soldiers。

〃Make　way；〃　Gaspard　commanded；　speaking　with　a　foreign　accent。

〃For　whom；　monsieur？〃　one　asked　who　seemed　to　be　of　a　higher　standing　than　the　rest。

〃For　the　Ambassador　of　the　King　of　Spain。〃

The　man　touched　his　bonnet　and　opened　up　a　road　by　striking　the　adjacent　horses　with　the　flat　of　his　sword；　and　the　two　rode　into　the　ring　so　that　they　faced　the　archway。　They　could　see　a　little　way　inside　the　courtyard；　where　the　light　gleamed　on　armour。　The　men　there　were　no　rabble；　but　Guise's　Swiss。

A　priest　came　out；　wearing　the　Jacobin　habit；　one　of　those　preaching　friars　who　had　been　fevering　the　blood　of　Paris。　The　crowd　behind　the　men…at…arms　knew　him；　for　even　in　its　absorption　it　sent　up　shouts　of　greeting。　He　flitted　like　a　bat　towards　Gaspard　and　Champernoun　and　peered　up　at　them。　His　face　was　lean　and　wolfish；　with　cruel　arrogant　eyes。

〃Hail；　father！〃　said　Gaspard　in　Spanish。　〃How　goes　the　good　work？〃

He　replied　in　the　same　tongue。　〃Bravely；　my　children。　But　this　is　but　the　beginning。　Are　you　girt　and　ready　for　the　harvesting？〃

〃We　are　ready；〃　said　Gaspard。　His　voice　shook　with　fury；　but　the　Jacobin　took　it　for　enthusiasm。　He　held　up　his　hand　in　blessing　and　fluttered　back　to　the　archway。

》From　inside　the　courtyard　came　the　sound　of　something　falling；　and　then　a　great　shout。　The　mob　had　jumped　to　a　conclusion。　〃That　is　the　end　of　old　Toothpick；〃　a　voice　cried；　using　the　Admiral's　nickname　There　was　a　wild　surge　round　the　horsemen；　but　the　ring　held。　A　body　of　soldiers　poured　out　of　the　gate；　with　blood　on　their　bare　swords。　Among　them　was　one　tall　fellow　all　in　armour；　with　a　broken　plume　on　his　bonnet。　His　face　was　torn　and　disfigured　and　he　was　laughing　horribly。　The　Jacobin　rushed　to　embrace　him；　and　the　man　dropped　on　his　knees　to　receive　a　blessing。

〃Behold　our　hero；〃　the　friar　cried。　〃His　good　blade　has　rid　us　of　the　arch…heretic；〃　and　the　mob　took　up　the　shout。

Gaspard　was　cool　now。　His　fury　had　become　a　cold　thing　like　a　glacier。

〃I　know　him！〃　he　whispered　to　Champernoun。　He　is　the　Italian　Petrucci。　He　is　our　first　quarry。〃

The　second　will　be　that　damned　friar；〃　was　the　Englishman's　answer。

Suddenly　the　ring　of　men…at…arms　drew　inward　as　a　horseman　rode　out　of　the　gate　followed　by　half　a　dozen　attendants。　He　was　a　tall　young　man；　very　noble　to　look　upon；　with　a　flushed　face　like　a　boy　warm　from　the　game　of　paume。　His　long　satin　coat　was　richly　embroidered；　and　round　his　neck　hung　the　thick　gold　collar　of　some　Order。　He　was　wiping　a　stain　from　his　sleeve　with　a　fine　lawn　handkerchief。

What　is　that　thing　gilt　like　a　chalice？〃　whispered　Champernoun。

〃Henry　of　Guise；〃　said　Gaspard。

The　Duke　caught　sight　of　the　two　men　in　the　centre　of　the　ring。　The　lanterns　made　the　whole　place　bright　and　he　could　see　every　detail　of　their　dress　and　bearing。　He　saluted　them　courteously。

〃We　make　your　Grace　our　compliments；〃　said　Gaspard。　〃We　are　of　the　household　of　the　Ambassador　of　Spain；　and　could　not　rest　indoors　when　great　deeds　were　being　done　in　the　city。〃

The　young　man　smiled　pleasantly。　There　was　a　boyish　grace　in　his　gesture。

〃You　are　welcome；　gentlemen。　I　would　have　every　good　Catholic　in　Europe　see　with　his　own　eyes　the　good　work　of　this　Bartholomew's　day。　I　would　ask　you　to　ride　with　me；　but　I　leave　the　city　in　pursuit　of　the　Count　of　Montgomery；　who　is　rumoured　to　have　escaped。　There　will　be　much　for　you　to　see　on　this　happy　Sunday。　But　stay！　You　are　not　attended；　and　our　streets　are　none　too　safe　for　strangers。　Presently　the　Huguenots　will　counterfeit　our　white　cross；　and　blunders　may　be　made　by　the　overzealous。〃

He　unclasped　the　jewel　which　hung　at　the　end　of　his　chain。　It　was　a　little　Agnus　of　gold　and　enamel；　surmounting　a　lozenge…shaped　shield　charged　with　an　eagle。

〃Take　this；〃　he　said；　〃and　return　it　to　me　when　the　work　is　over。　Show　it　if　any　man　dares　to　question　you。　It　is　a　passport　from　Henry　of　Guise。。。。　And　now　forward；〃　he　cried　to　his　followers。　〃Forward　for　Montgomery　and　the　Vidame。〃

The　two　looked　after　the　splendid　figure。　〃That　bird　is　in　fine　feather；〃　said　Champernoun。

Gaspard's　jaw　was　very　grim。　〃Some　day　he　will　lie　huddled　under　the　assassin's　knife。　He　will　die　as　he　has　made　my　chief　die；　and　his　body　will　be　cast　to　the　dog's。。。。

But　he　has　given　me　a　plan；〃　and　he　spoke　in　his　companion's　ear。

The　Englishman　laughed。　His　stolidity　had　been　slow　to　quicken；　but　his　eyes　were　now　hot　and　he　had　altogether　ceased　to　swear。

〃First　let　me　get　back　to　Walsingham's　lodging。　I　have　a　young　kinsman　there；　they　call　him　Walter　Raleigh；　who　would　dearly　love　this　venture。〃

〃Tut；　man；　be　serious。　We　play　a　desperate　game；　and　there　is　no　place　for　boys　in　it。　We　have　Guise's　jewel；　and　by　the　living　God　we　will　use　it。　My　mark　is　Petrucci。〃

〃And　the　priest；〃　said　Champernoun。

The　crowd　in　the　Rue　de　Bethisy　was　thinning；　as　bands　of　soldiers；　each　with　its　tail　of　rabble；　moved　off　to　draw　other　coverts。　There　was　fighting　still　in　many　houses；　and　on　the　roof…tops　as　the　pale　dawn　spread　could　be　seen　the　hunt　for　fugitives。　Torches　and　lanterns　still　flickered　obscenely；　and　the　blood　in　the　gutters　shone　sometimes　golden　in　their　glare　and　sometimes　spread　drab　and　horrid　in　the　waxing　daylight。

The　Jacobin　stood　at　their　elbow。　〃Follow　me；　my　lords　of　Spain；〃　he　cried。　〃No　friends　of　God　and　the　Duke　dare　be　idle　this　happy　morn。　Follow；　and　I　will　show　you　wonders。〃

He　led　them　east　to　where　a　broader　street　ran　to　the　river。

〃Somewhere　here　lies　Teligny；〃　he　croaked。　〃Once　he　is　dead　the　second　head　is　lopped　from　the　dragon　of　Babylon。　Oh　that　God　would　show　us　where　Conde　and　Navarre　are　hid；　for　without　them　our　task　is　incomplete。

There　was　a　great　crowd　about　the　door　of　one　house；　and　into　it　the　Jacobin　fought　his　way　with　prayers　and　threats。　Some　HuguenotTeligny　it　might　bewas　cornered　there；　but　in　the　narrow　place　only　a　few　could　join　in　the　hunt；　and　the　hunters；　not　to　be　impeded　by　the　multitude；　presently　set　a　guard　at　the　street　door。　The　mob　below　was　already　drunk　with　blood；　and　found　waiting　intolerable；　but　it　had　no　leader　and　foamed　aimlessly　about　the　causeway。　There　were　women　in　it　with　flying　hair　like　Maenads；　who　shrilled　obscenities；　and　drunken　butchers　and　watermen　and　grooms　who　had　started　out　for　loot　and　ended　in　sheer　lust　of　slaying；　and　dozens　of　broken　desperadoes　and　led…captains　who　looked　on　the　day　as　their　carnival。　But　to　the　mob　had　come　one　of　those　moments　of　indecision　when　it　halted　and　eddied　like　a　whirlpool。

Suddenly　in　its　midst　appeared　two　tall　horsemen。

〃Men　of　Paris；〃　cried　Gaspard　with　that　masterful　voice　which　is　born　of　the　deep　seas。　〃You　see　this　jewel。　It　was　given　me　an　hour　back　by　Henry　of　Guise。〃

A　ruffian　examined　it。　〃Ay；〃　he　murmured　with　reverence；　〃it　is　our　Duke's。　I　saw　it　on　his　breast　before　Coligny's　house。〃

The　mob　was　all　ears。　〃I　have　the　Duke's　command；〃　Gaspard　went　on。　〃He　pursues　Montgomery　and　the　Vidame　of　Chartres。　Coligny　is　dead。　Teliguy　in　there　is　about　to　die。　But　where　are　all　the　others？　Where　is　La　Rochefoucault？　Where　is　Rosny？　Where　is　Grammont？　Where；　above　all；　are　the　young　Conde　and　the　King　of　Navarre？〃

The　names　set　the　rabble　howling。　Every　eye　was　on　the　speaker。

Gaspard　commanded　silence。　〃I　will　tell　you。　The　Huguenots　are　cunning　as　foxes。　They　planned　this　very　day　to　seize　the　King　and　make　themselves　masters　of　France。　They　have　copied　your　badge；〃　and　he　glanced　towards　his　left　arm。　〃Thousands　of　them　are　waiting　for　revenge；　and　before　it　is　full　day　they　will　be　on　you。　You　will　not　know　them；　you　will　take　them　for　your　friends；　and　you　will　have　your　throats　cut　before　you　find　out　your　error。〃

A　crowd　may　be　wolves　one　moment　and　chickens　the　next；　for　cruelty　and　fear　are　cousins。　A　shiver　of　apprehension　went　through　the　soberer　part。　One　drunkard　who　shouted　was　clubbed　on　the　head　by　his　neighbour。　Gaspard　saw　his　chance。

〃My　word　to　youthe　Duke's　wordis　to　forestall　this　devilry。　Follow　me；　and　strike　down　every　band　of　white…badged　Huguenots。　For　among　them　be　sure　is　the　cub　of　Navarre。〃

It　was　the　leadership　which　the　masterless　men　wanted。　Fifty　swords　were　raised；　and　a　shout　went　up　which　shook　the　windows　of　that　lodging　where　even　now　Teliguy　was　being　done　to　death。　With　the　two　horsemen　at　their　head　the　rabble　poured　westwards　towards　the　Rue　d'Arbre　Sec　and　the　Louvre；　for　there　in　the　vicinity　of　the　Palace　were　the　likeliest　coverts。

〃Now　Heaven　send　us　Petrucci；〃　said　Gaspard。　〃Would　that　the　Little　Man　had　been　alive　and　with　us！　This　would　have　been　a　ruse　after　his　own　heart；〃

〃I　think　the　great　Conde　would　have　specially　misliked　yon　monk；〃　said　the　Englishman。

〃Patience；　Gawain。　One　foe　at　a　time。　My　heart　tells　me　that　you　will　get　your　priest。〃

The　streets；　still　dim　in　the　dawn；　were　thickly　carpeted　with　dead。　The　mob　kicked　and　befouled　the　bodies；　and　the　bravos　in　sheer　wantonness　spiked　them　with　their　swords。　There　were　women　there；　and　children；　lying　twisted　on　the　causeway。　Once　a　fugitive　darted　out　of　an　entry；　to　be　brought　down　by　a　butcher's　axe。

〃I　have　never　seen　worse　in　the　Indies；〃　and　Champernoun　shivered。　〃My　stomach　turns。　For　heaven's　sake　let　us　ride　down　this　rabble！〃

〃Patience；〃　said　Gaspard；　his　eyes　hard　as　stones。　〃Cursed　be　he　that　putteth　h