the path of the king-第23部分

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e！〃

〃Patience；〃　said　Gaspard；　his　eyes　hard　as　stones。　〃Cursed　be　he　that　putteth　his　hand　to　the　plough　and　then　turns　back。〃

They　passed　several　small　bodies　of　Catholic　horse；　which　they　greeted　with　cheers。　That　was　in　the　Rue　des　Poulies；　and　at　the　corner　where　it　abutted　on　the　quay　before　the　Hotel　de　Bourbon；　a　ferret…faced　man　ran　blindly　into　them。　Gaspard　caught　him　and　drew　him　to　his　horse's　side；　for　he　recognised　the　landlord　of　the　tavern　where　he　had　supped。

〃What　news；　friend？〃　he　asked。

The　man　was　in　an　anguish　of　terror；　but　he　recognised　his　former　guest。

〃There　is　a　band　on　the　quay；〃　he　stammered。　〃They　are　mad　and　do　not　know　a　Catholic　when　they　see　him。　They　would　have　killed　me；　had　not　the　good　Father　Antoine　held　them　till　I　made　off。〃

〃Who　leads　them？〃　Gaspard　asked；　having　a　premonition。

〃A　tall　man　in　crimson　with　a　broken　plume。〃

〃How　many？〃

〃Maybe　a　hundred；　and　at　least　half　are　men…at…arms。〃

Gaspard　turned　to　Champernoun。

〃We　have　found　our　quarry；〃　he　said。

Then　he　spoke　to　his　following；　and　noted　with　comfort　that　it　was　now　some　hundred　strong；　and　numbered　many　swords。　〃There　is　a　Huguenot　band　before　us；〃　he　cried。　〃They　wear　our　crosses；　and　this　honest　fellow　has　barely　escaped　from　them。　They　are　less　than　three　score。　On　them；　my　gallant　lads；　before　they　increase　their　strength；　and　mark　specially　the　long　man　in　red；　for　he　is　the　Devil。　It　may　be　Navarre　is　with　them。〃

The　mob　needed　no　second　bidding。　Their　chance　had　come；　and　they　swept　along　with　a　hoarse　mutter　more　fearful　than　any　shouting。

〃Knee　to　knee；　Gawain；〃　said　Gaspard；　〃as　at　St。　John　d'Ulloa。　Remember；　Petrucci　is　for　me。〃

The　Italian's　band；　crazy　with　drink　and　easy　slaying；　straggled　across　the　wide　quay　and　had　no　thought　of　danger　till　the　two　horsemen　were　upon　them。　The　songs　died　on　their　lips　as　they　saw　bearing　down　on　them　an　avenging　army。　The　scared　cries　of　〃The　Huguenots！〃　〃Montgomery！〃　were　to　Gaspard's　following　a　confirmation　of　their　treachery。　The　swords　of　the　bravos　and　the　axes　and　knives　of　the　Parisian　mob　made　havoc　with　the　civilian　rabble；　but　the　men…at…arms　recovered　themselves　and　in　knots　fought　a　stout　battle。　But　the　band　was　broken　at　the　start　by　the　two　grim　horsemen　who　rode　through　it　as　through　meadow　grass；　their　blades　falling　terribly；　and　then　turned　and　cut　their　way　back。　Yet　a　third　time　they　turned；　and　in　that　last　mowing　they　found　their　desire。　A　tall　man　in　crimson　appeared　before　them。　Gaspard　flung　his　reins　to　Champernoun　and　in　a　second　was　on　the　ground；　fighting　with　a　fury　that　these　long　hours　had　been　stifled。　Before　his　blade　the　Italian　gave　ground　till　he　was　pinned　against　the　wall　of　the　Bourbon　hotel。　His　eyes　were　staring　with　amazement　and　dawning　fear。　〃I　am　a　friend；〃　he　stammered　in　broken　French　and　was　answered　in　curt　Spanish。　Presently　his　guard　weakened　and　Gaspard　gave　him　the　point　in　his　heart。　As　he　drooped　to　the　ground；　his　conquetor　bent　over　him。　〃The　Admiral　is　avenged；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　your　master　in　hell　that　you　died　at　the　hands　of　Coligny's　kinsman。〃

Gaspard　remounted；　and；　since　the　fight　had　now　gone　eastward；　they　rode　on　to　the　main　gate　of　the　Louvre；　where　they　met　a　company　of　the　royal　Guards　coming　out　to　discover　the　cause　of　an　uproar　so　close　to　the　Palace。　He　told　his　tale　of　the　Spanish　Embassy　and　showed　Guise's　jewel。　〃The　streets　are　full　of　Huguenots　badged　as　Catholics。　His　Majesty　will　be　well　advised　to　quiet　the　rabble　or　he　will　lose　some　trusty　servants。〃

In　the　Rue　du　Coq；　now　almost　empty；　the　two；　horsemen　halted。

〃We　had　better　be　journeying；　Gawain。　Guise's　jewel　will　open　the　gates。　In　an　hour's　time　all　Paris　will　be　on　our　trail。〃

〃There　is　still　that　priest；〃　said　Champernoun　doggedly。　He　was　breathing　heavily；　and　his　eyes　were　light　and　daring。　Like　all　his　countrymen；　he　was　slow　to　kindle　but　slower　to　cool。

〃In　an　hour；　if　we　linger　here；　we　shall　be　at　his　mercy。　Let　us　head　for　the　St。　Antoine　gate。〃

The　jewel　made　their　way　easy；　for　through　that　gate　Henry　of　Guise　himself　had　passed　in　the　small　hours。　〃Half　an　hour　ago；〃　the　lieutenant　of　the　watch　told　them；　〃I　opened　to　another　party　which　bore　the　Duke's　credentials。　They　were　for　Amiens　to　spread　the　good　news。〃

〃Had　they　a　priest　with　them？〃

〃Ay；　a　Jacobin　monk；　who　cried　on　them　to　hasten　and　not　spare　their　horses。　He　said　there　was　much　to　do　in　the　north。〃

〃I　think　the　holy　man　spoke　truth；〃　said　Gaspard；　and　they　rode　into　open　country。

They　broke　their　fast　on　black　bread　and　a　cup　of　wine　at　the　first　inn；　where　a　crowd　of　frightened　countrymen　were　looking　in　the　direction　of　Paris。　It　was　now　about　seven　o'clock；　and　a　faint　haze；　which　promised　heat；　cloaked　the　ground。　From　it　rose　the　towers　and　high…peaked　roofs　of　the　city；　insubstantial　as　a　dream。

〃Eaucourt　by　the　waters！〃　sighed　Gaspard。　〃That　the　same　land　should　hold　that　treasure　and　this　foul　city！〃

Their　horses；　rested　and　fed；　carried　them　well　on　the　north　road；　but　by　ten　o'clock　they　had　overtaken　no　travellers；　save　a　couple　of　servants；　on　sorry　nags；　who　wore　the　Vidame　of　Amiens'　livery。　They　were　well　beyond　Oise　ere　they　saw　in　the　bottom　of　a　grassy　vale　a　little　knot　of　men。

〃I　make　out　six；〃　said　Champernoun；　who　had　a　falcon's　eye。　〃Two　priests　and　four　men…at…arms。　Reasonable　odds；　such　as　I　love。　Faith；　that　monk　travels　fast！〃

〃I　do　not　think　there　will　be　much　fighting；〃　said　Gaspard。

Twenty　minutes　later　they　rode　abreast　of　the　party；　which　at　first　had　wheeled　round　on　guard；　and　then　had　resumed　its　course　at　the　sight　of　the　white　armlets。　It　was　as　Champernoun　had　said。　Four　lusty　arquebusiers　escorted　the　Jacobin。　But　the　sixth　man　was　no　priest。　He　was　a　Huguenot　minister　whom　Gaspard　remembered　with　Conde's　army；　an　elderly　frail　man　bound　with　cruel　thongs　to　a　horse's　back　and　his　legs　tethered　beneath　its　belly。

Recognition　awoke　in　the　Jacobin's　eye。　〃Ah；　my　lords　of　Spain！　What　brings　you　northward？〃

Gaspard　was　by　his　side；　while　Champernoun　a　pace　behind　was　abreast　the　minister。

〃To　see　the　completion　of　the　good　work　begun　this。　morning。〃

〃You　have　come　the　right　road。　I　go　to　kindle　the　north　to　a　holy　emulation。　That　heretic　dog　behind　is　a　Picard；　and　I　bring　him　to　Amiens　that　he　may　perish　there　as　a　warning　to　his　countrymen。〃

〃So？〃　said　Gaspard；　and　at　the　word　the　Huguenot's　horse；　pricked　stealthily　by　Champernoun's　sword；　leaped　forward　and　dashed　in　fright　up　the　hill；　its　rider　sitting　stiff　as　a　doll　in　his　bonds。　The　Jacobin　cried　out　and　the　soldiers　made　as　if　to　follow；　but　Gaspard's　voice　checked　them。　〃Let　be。　The　beast　will　not　go　far。　I　have　matters　of　importance　to　discuss　with　this　reverend　father。〃

The　priest's　face　sharpened　with　a　sudden　suspicion。　〃Your　manners　are　somewhat　peremptory；　sir　Spaniard。　But　speak　and　let　us　get　on。〃

〃I　have　only　the　one　word。　I　told　you　we　had　come　north　to　see　the　fruition　of　the　good　work；　and　you　approved。　We　do　not　mean　the　same。　By　good　work　I　mean　that　about　sunrise　I　slew　with　this　sword　the　man　Petrucci；　who　slew　the　Admiral。　By　its　fruition　I　mean　that　I　have　come　to　settle　with　you。〃

〃You　。　。　。？〃　the　other　stammered。

〃I　am　Gaspard　de　Laval；　a　kinsman　and　humble　follower　of　Goligny。〃

The　Jacobin　was　no　coward。　〃Treason！〃　he　cried。　〃A　Huguenot！　Cut　them　down；　my　men；〃　and　he　drew　a　knife　from　beneath　his　robe。

But　Gaspard's　eye　and　voice　checked　the　troopers。　He　held　in　his　hand　the　gold　trinket。　〃I　have　no　quarrel　with　you。　This　is　the　passport　of　your　leader；　the　Duke。　I　show　it　to　you；　and　if　you　are　questioned　about　this　day's　work　you　can　reply　that　you　took　your　orders　from　him　who　carried　Guise's　jewel。　Go　your　ways　back　to　Paris　if　you　would　avoid　trouble。〃

Two　of　the　men　seemed　to　waver；　but　the　maddened　cry　of　the　priest　detained　them。　〃They　seek　to　murder　me；〃　he　screamed。　〃Would　you　desert　God's　Church　and　burn　in　torment　for　ever？〃　He　hurled　himself　on　Gaspard；　who　caught　his　wrist　so　that　the　knife　tinkled　on　the　high　road　while　the　man　overbalanced　himself　and　fell。　The　next　second　the　mellay　had　begun。

It　did　not　last　long。　The　troopers　were　heavy　fellows；　cumbrously　armed；　who；　even　with　numbers　on　their　side；　stood　little　chance　against　two　swift　swordsmen；　who　had　been　trained　to　fight　together　against　odds。　One　Gaspard　pulled　from　the　saddle　so　that　he　lay　senseless　on　the　ground。　One　Champernoun　felled　with　a　sword　cut　of　which　no　morion　could　break　the　force。　The　two　others　turned　tail　and　fled；　and　the　last　seen　of　them　was　a　dust　cloud　on　the　road　to　Paris。

Gaspard　had　not　drawn　his　sword。　They　stood　by　the　bridge　of　a　little　river；　and　he　flung　Guise's　jewel　far　into　its　lilied　waters。

〃A　useful　bauble；〃　he　smiled；　〃but　its　purpose　is　served。〃

The　priest　stood　in　the　dust；　with　furious　eyes　burning　in　an　ashen　face。

〃What　will　you　do　with　me？〃

〃This　has　been　your　day　of　triumph；　father。　I　would　round　it　off　worthily　by　helping　you　to　a　martyr's　crown。　Gawain；〃　and　he　turned　to　his　companion；　〃go　up　the　road　and　fetch　me　the　rope　which　binds　the　minister。〃

The　runaway　was　feeding　peaceably　by　the　highway。　Champernoun　cut　the　old　man's　bonds；　and　laid　him　fainting　on　the　grass。　He　brought　back　with　him　a　length　of　stout　cord。

〃Let　the　brute　live；〃　he　said。　〃Duck　him　and　truss　him　up；　but　don't　dirty　your　hands　with　him。　I'd　as　lief　kill　a　woman　as　a　monk。〃

But　Gaspard's　smiling　face　was　a　rock。　〃This　is　no　Englishman's　concern。　To…day's　shame　is　France's　and　a　Frenchman　alone　can　judge　it。　Innocent　blood　is　on　this　man's　hands；　and　it　is　for　me　to　pay　the　first　instalment　of　justice。　The　rest　I　leave　to　God。〃

So　when　an　hour　later　the　stunned　troopers　recovered　their　senses　they　found　a　sight　which　sent　them　to　their　knees　to　patter　prayers。　For　over　the　arch　of　the　bridge　dangled　the　corpse　of　the　Jacobin。　And　on　its　breast　it　bore　a　paper　setting　forth　that　this　deed　had　been　done　by　Gaspard　de　Laval；　and　the　Latin　words　〃O　si　sic　omnes！〃

Meantime　far　up　in　the　folds　of　the　Santerre　a　little　party　was　moving　through　the　hot　afternoon。　The　old　Huguenot；　shaken　still　by　his　rough　handling；