Orrain: A Romance

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE TWELVE ROSE PETALS

  Whether it were the effect of the candlelight, or whether it were dueto the exertion of the day, I know not, but it seemed to me as Ientered the room that mademoiselle looked pale and worn, and there wasa reserve and constraint in her manner that had been absent before. Imade some vapid remark about the warmth of the weather, hoping it hadnot added to her fatigue, to which she answered that she was tired, butthat a night's rest would, doubtless, see her as well as ever bymorning. The landlord at this moment announcing supper as served wewent to table. At first my companion played with her food, but,yielding to my pressure, began to eat, and in a little the colour cameback to her cheeks, the brightness returned to her eyes, and thecoldness in her manner wore off. The landlord himself personallyattended to us, and I observed that, whilst his manner towardsmademoiselle was deferential and respectful in the extreme, his tonetowards me was that of sulky obedience. This was so different from myfirst reception that, with my suspicions already aroused, it wasimpossible for me not to see it, and so I took the chance of a shot inthe dark, saying:

  "We have seen nothing of our fellow-guest, mademoiselle. It seemsthat, like the mole, he dislikes light. I have been thinking that,perhaps, it would be well to unearth him."

  Whilst saying this I kept my eyes on an ornament on the table, but as Ifinished I glanced up swiftly. The landlord was at the time engaged inhanding some fruit to mademoiselle, but at my remark he almost droppedthe plate, and mademoiselle said, with a laugh: "You will have toarrest everyone we meet on the road, monsieur, if your suspicions arearoused so easily." Nevertheless, I was certain that a glance ofunderstanding had passed between her and the landlord, and I felt surethat it would be well to pay a little attention to the retiringstranger.

  As I expected, the landlord shortly after retired, leaving us alone.The room we were in was long and low, with a window opening into thegarden. Mademoiselle was sitting facing this window, which lay openbecause of the warmth of the night, whilst my back was turned towardsit. I said something about the landlord's manner, and mademoisellereplied:

  "He is of lower Poitou, monsieur. Men there are like theircountry--sullen and sad." And then she stopped suddenly, her eyesfixed on the window, whilst her colour came and went. She had not thegift that cynics assert is a special attribute of the sex, and was abad dissembler; and I here venture to say such women make the best ofwives, even though life's passage with them may be at times a littlestormy.

  "Is there anything there?" I asked, making a movement as if to turnround; but she said hastily:

  "No, nothing; I thought I saw a figure passing--that is all."

  "One of my men, no doubt," I said carelessly. "We may rest secureto-night, for they will keep good watch."

  To this she made no answer, but taking a rose from out of a vase nearher began to pluck the petals in an absent manner and lay them besideher. When a woman's wits are pitted against those of a man it is wellfor him to disregard nothing, and, slight as this action was, I tooknote of it. I counted the petals as she plucked them. They weretwelve in all. Then she cast the rose aside, and picked up the petalsone after another, counting them aloud, and when she came to thetwelfth she put them in a heap beside her plate.

  "Twelve," I said. "Is that a magic number?"

  "No, monsieur; but it is my lucky number." And rising she moved to thewindow and, sitting thereon, looked forth. The night was dark, and allthe stars were out. From the open window, a pennon of light streamedout into the garden, heavy with the scent of roses. Mademoiselle tooka deep breath, and then pointing to the twinkling lights above us,asked:

  "Are you learned in the stars, Monsieur Broussel?"

  I looked out too, for I was standing at the window, and laughed.

  "No, mademoiselle; all I know is that the star I was born under has notdone much for me. I remember, some years ago, when I was in Italy, anastrologer made a horoscope for me; but I have lost it."

  "You do not believe in the stars, then?"

  "Who can tell, mademoiselle! But a man's life is mostly of his ownmaking, and a woman's too for the matter of that. There is aninvariable law of Nature or of God. It is that the breaker pays, andsooner or later all learn this."

  "_Ciel_! how serious you are!" And her brown eyes met mine.

  "The stars should never laugh, mademoiselle."

  "They cried over me when my fortune was told."

  "May I ask----"

  "Oh yes!--but fortune for fortune. If I tell you mine will you tell meyours?"

  "Certainly."

  "Well, mine was short: it was simply to beware of a church under theground and a woman in black and white. I have never seen such a churchnor ever met such a woman."

  I thought of Diane of Valentinois and her favourite colours, and asudden chill came over me. For a moment I stood silent.

  "Now for yours, monsieur," she said gaily.

  "Mine! Well, it was wrapped up in long names, and I never could makeaught of it. As far as I remember, Aquarius, Mars, and Mercury are inthe ascendant, and the face of Venus is from me. In the second houseSol is in Pisces. In the fifth Luna in Gemini, and Jupiter----"

  She put her hands to her ears. "Enough, monsieur! I almost fear tolook out, lest I should see a cauldron of burning sulphur, and witchesdancing around it."

  And as she spoke there came to us the distant echoes of hoarselaughter. I recognised the voices of the landlord and Capus, myman-at-arms.

  "'Tis not Capus' business to hob-nob with the host at this hour,mademoiselle. I had better go and see that he keeps stricter watch."

  With this I made a half movement to go, but she stayed me with a littlegesture of command.

  "Monsieur Broussel, I have a favour to ask of you; will you grant it?"

  "Mademoiselle, all that is in my power I will do. What is it?"

  For answer she stood up and placed a hand on my shoulder, her eyeslooking straight into mine. "Monsieur, a brave man like you should notbe a gaoler of women. Let me free!"

  I made no reply; but as her eyes, soft and imploring, met mine all thelove in my heart rose within me. For her sake no Roman constancy wouldhave held me to any vow; but I knew that Montluc had spoken the truth,I knew the danger she was in, and that the one chance of her safety layin her being under the Queen's protection.

  "Mademoiselle!" I stammered; but she broke in on me.

  "Yes! You will let me go, will you not? Monsieur, I hate the thoughtof Paris and its dark intrigues; and the fate of those who belong to myfaith is ever with me, like a horrible dream. I dread, I fear, eachhour that brings me nearer to what I know will be my death. Monsieur,as you are a gentleman, let me free. Take me to Chatillon, and leaveme there with the Cardinal. Odet de Coligny, prince of the Churchthough he is, is of my faith. I shall be safe there--a thousand timessafer than a prisoner in Paris. Oh, say you will!"

  I took her hand in mine, caressing it as that of a child, and strove toexplain, but she would not listen. "Say you will; do not refuse!" sherepeated; and, feeling like a hangman, I blurted out that it wasimpossible. And then she snatched her hand from my grasp, and stood amoment, her face half averted from me. There was an awkward silence,and collecting myself I again pointed out the danger she was in, andthat in Paris alone could there be safety for her. I might have spokento stone walls; but at my words she turned, and there were angry lightsin the brown eyes, and her lips were tightly set.

  "I shall not trespass further on your good nature, monsieur. I feelyou have cancelled the debt I owed you, and henceforth you willunderstand that I look upon you as my gaoler and nothing more."

  I bowed, and she continued: "And further, I do not desire to havespeech with you. I travel as your prisoner; and"--with a trulyfeminine outburst--"I shall escape--there are friends who will see tothat."

  I was so full of wrath at the manner in which I had been treated that Iwas about to answer back hotly that, friend or no friend,
she wouldride into Paris by my side; but I restrained myself with an effort, andwith another look of anger at me mademoiselle turned, and began toascend the stairway. I watched her as she went up, with head erect andshining eyes, and stood where I was for some little time utterlydejected and cast down. Even if I had a shadow of a chance it was goneby this. I felt like one who was condemned to execute himself. Aftera little I moved towards the supper-table, and sitting down therestared aimlessly before me. My eyes fell on the little heap of pluckedrose leaves that had been left on the table, and I began, at first halfunconsciously, to try and read the meaning of the signal, for such itwas I was sure. In the light of her last words, the sting of whichstill remained with me, I was certain that she had not played with therose petals idly. I began to go back. She had told Montluc she wouldescape at the first chance. She had made the attempt this very day,but had apparently accepted defeat. Shortly after coming to the innthere had been a decided change in her manner. Then she had grownfriendly again, and finding this fail her had broken out into opendefiance. I put all this with the little incident of the window, andher open statement, made in heat, that she had friends who would helpher to escape--an escape that would lead her into the jaws of the wolf,if she would but understand. Nevertheless, I could make nothing of it,and so for the present gave up guessing, determining to do all I couldto protect her, and to leave the rest in the hands of Fate. Thelandlord coming in at this moment I requested him to send Pierrebon tome, and to show me the way to my chamber. Taking up one of the candlesfrom the table he led me across the room, and along a narrow passage,on one side of which my room was, and then, saying he would sendPierrebon, and wishing me "good-night" with a sulky civility, the manwent. Shortly after I heard steps along the passage, there was a knockat my door, and Pierrebon entered. He wore his cloak thrown over hisshoulder so as to conceal his left arm and hand, and I could see fromthe expression of his face that he had news of some kind.

  "What is it, Pierrebon?" I asked.

  For answer he shut the door carefully, and placing his cloak on thefloor put beneath it a small dark lantern, saying as he did so: "I havemade free to borrow this, monsieur, as I think, perhaps, it may beneeded."

  "Then you have found out something?"

  "I think so, monsieur." And he dropped his voice. "After your warningI set about trying to discover our stranger, but could find no trace ofhim. Capus and Poltrot, however, had seen him, and told me he had ahorse; but there was no horse in the stables, and at first I thoughtthat he might have gone."

  "What about our horses?" I interrupted. "Does anyone watch them?"

  "Yes, monsieur; we have old soldiers with us, and Poltrot and Bahuzetwatch them, whilst Capus and the Hainaulter Cuyp watch the house--allfour turn and turn about.

  "Capus, however, was drinking with the landlord, and his watch seemslax."

  "No, monsieur! The landlord was drinking with Capus, whom he had paidfive gold Henris to cut all our saddlery to-night, especially thereins; the only saddlery to be spared is that of mademoiselle."

  I whistled low, and Pierrebon, diving into his pocket, pulled out fivegold pieces, saying: "Here is the money, monsieur, which Capus begs toinquire if he may keep."

  "And five more besides, Pierrebon, and I beg his pardon for doubtinghim. But what about the stranger?"

  "That too is known, monsieur, and I was about to tell you. Whilst thelandlord was drinking with Capus I made my way to the kitchen, where myreception was chill, so I took myself out into the garden, andwandering down a pathway heard a whinny. 'Soh!' said I to myself,'that is a nag there!' Sure enough there was, and I was about to stepup to it when I heard a sound behind me, and heard someone coming up,and saw the light of a lantern. It is dark, as you know, monsieur, andI stepped back into the shadow, and lay there concealed. Presently themen--there were two of them--came up. One was the ostler, and theother the Vicomte de Ganache, to whom you, monsieur, lent your horsethis morning."

  "Are you sure?" I asked with a breath.

  "Perfectly, monsieur. I saw the light on his face; and there was thebrown horse----"

  "Did they say anything?"

  "Nothing of import, monsieur. M. le Vicomte, like a good soldier, wasseeing to his beast. When they had attended to him they went back, Ifollowing slowly. There is a door leading into the kitchen, and theyentered by this, the ostler, however, shutting the slide of hislantern, and leaving it in the angle of the wall. It was careless ofhim, monsieur, and it is here now." And Pierrebon smiled.

  "Now, Pierrebon, think again: are you sure that nothing of importpassed between the two?"

  "Nothing, monsieur; they spoke of the horse--not a word about us. Allthat the Vicomte said, as they were leaving, was that he would make allarrangements at midnight; he means, perhaps, to start then. If so, hewill need his lantern."

  But I scarce heard Pierrebon's last words. The key of the rose petalshad come to my hand. De Ganache had either arranged to meet, or toescape with, mademoiselle at twelve. This was the secret of it all, Iwas sure.