Orrain: A Romance
CHAPTER VIII
THE ACTS OF PIERREBON
Leaving us to find our way upstairs Torquato Trotto went out into theporch where Piero the giant stood, cast a glance at the retreatingfigure of Pierrebon, who was leading the horses away, looked over hisshoulder like a cat, and, gripping Piero by the arm, shook withlaughter.
"_Maledetto_!" exclaimed Piero, who was of an evil temper, as he freedhimself from Trotto's clutches, and looked at the swaying figure beforehim. "Loose hold, signor! Have you been bitten by a tarantula?"
"Oh! I could sing, I could shout, I could dance. Man! that is thevery girl we want; and Monsieur the Vidame, who lies within, twistingin his chair, will pay a thousand fat, gold Henris for her when heknows. Ho! it will be rare news for him!"
"Are you sure?"
"As I live. Did I not watch her for a whole week at Saumur? 'Tis wellwe have not Aramon and the rest with us. The fewer there are thelarger the shares. Can Malsain deal with the lackey?"
Piero grinned for reply.
"Well! let him be his care, and you had better stay at hand here. Giveme the key of the gate, and, remember, a hundred crowns apiece to youand Malsain for this. And now for a word in the Vidame's ear."
With this he turned back into the house, leaving Piero looking afterhim.
"A hun--dred crowns apiece! _Diavolo_! Captain Torquato! If I knewthe money was here I would make the whole thousand mine; and then--heyfor Rome again! But a hundred crowns are a hundred crowns, and fill apurse rarely. Well, I go to warn Malsain!"
And the giant went slowly off, regretting in his heart what might havebeen.
In the meantime we found ourselves on a landing before an open door,disclosing a room brightly lit. There was a glimpse too of a tablelaid for supper, and near the table stood a tall woman, with black hairthat hung to her waist, with bare rounded arms and painted cheeks, anda face that was beautiful still, though she had come to be what she was.
She was holding a cup of red wine in her hand, but stopped in the actof lifting it to her lips as she caught sight of us, and setting downthe wine untasted advanced, saying:
"Enter, I pray you. La Marmotte bids you welcome."
"I thank you, madame," I replied bowing, with many misgivings in myheart, and inwardly cursing the folly that had made me yield and enterthis house. But who is there who does not make mistakes?--and I forone have never set claim to be infallible. I was wrong, and I admitit--that is enough.
And so we went in, and for the first time there was light enough to seemademoiselle's face, and as I looked there came to me a sting of regretfor the days that would never return. It was as if some devil hadflashed before me a mirror in which the past was reflected; and,believe me, when one has lived and regretted it is not necessary to bein love for such a lightning flash of bitter memory to come to a manwhen he sees beside him the purity of innocence.
And so it was too with La Marmotte, who had turned to us with a lightlaugh, and lighter words to her lips; but laugh and words died away asshe met the girl's look, and--I could read her like an openpage--awakened memory took the woman back to the time when she herselfwas as the girl before her. And so, because there were yet undefiledwells of good in her soul, there came upon her an unwonted timidity,and it was with a respectful hesitation that she pressed upon us seatsand refreshment. But even as she did so her eyes met mine with ahalf-imploring, half-defiant glance. She felt that I knew, though Ithanked her for her courtesy as if she were a princess of the land.
Mademoiselle sank weariedly into a chair; whilst La Marmotte, with allthe silent notes in her heart touched in some undefinable way, hoveredover her, fearing to approach her, and yet feeling as if she must.
For me, I remained standing, softly rubbing my wounded arm, over whichI had drawn my cloak, and looking around me here, there, andeverywhere, for I knew we were in a trap, and trapped by my own folly.As I looked I saw something white showing beneath the cushions of asettle, and taking the cup of wine that La Marmotte handed to me Imoved thereto, and, sitting down, looked more closely. It was a whitemask. Softly drawing it forth, and, unobserved, slipping it into thepocket of my cloak, I saw in doing so that it was stained with freshblood, and then I knew we were in the house of death.
At this moment Torquato Trotto appeared at the door with suaveapologies, and stepping forward, rubbing his hands together, he said:"I regret to have appeared so discourteous; I trust that monsieur andmadame will remain here for to-night."
"I am afraid, Signer Torquato Trotto, that is impossible."
"_Per Bacco_! You know me!" exclaimed the Italian in slight surprise.
"The name of Torquato Trotto is known in France," I said, and the browof the man darkened.
"Perhaps I too can return the compliment, monsieur. You are----"
"Bertrand Broussel, bourgeois, of the Rue des Lavandieres, Paris," Iinterrupted, and I caught a strange expression of disappointment inmademoiselle's eyes. "Hum!" I thought, "does the furrier's niece takeme for a prince of the blood in disguise?"
La Marmotte, however, cut in at this juncture, for she saw the storm inthe air, and I again said that we would go on at once, if MessireTrotto would of his kindness provide us with a guide; if not, we wouldgo without one.
And Trotto answered blandly:
"Impossible! My lieutenant is away with my men, and I have no one herewho knows the way. I am totally ignorant myself, or I would willinglyhelp you. Besides, to go now would be madness. The road is infestedby robbers--faith of a gentleman!"
"That is indeed true! I have just escaped them--thanks to the braveryof this gentleman here," exclaimed mademoiselle.
"Madame, you are lucky to have escaped; but you must tell us of youradventures as we sup," and he moved towards the table.
In the meantime Pierrebon, looking well to the right and left, led thehorses towards the stables. Every shadow in the winding walk, everyrecess in the over-grown privet, hid a secret enemy to him. He avoidedpassing near the ruined summer-house for fear of the ambush that mightbe within, and then, finding the hedges close in upon the road, boldlytook his beasts along the neglected parterres until at last he reachedthe stables. Here, near the open door he saw Malsain, tall and thin,but muscular and strong as whipcord, sitting down by the light of aguttering candle to a meagre repast of bread and cheese, washed downwith water--for Malsain never touched wine.
"An evil-looking man," Pierrebon thought, as he glanced at Malsainsitting on a stool; and evil-looking indeed he was, with his hawk'sface, thin cruel slit of a mouth, and one wicked eye that glowed withthe same sombre fire as the fuse of his arquebus, which leaned againstthe wall behind him. And then from the man himself Pierrebon glancedat the hermit's fare before him. "St. Siege!" he groaned, "bread andcheese and cold water--with a dagger-thrust to follow for digestion,perhaps."
But now Malsain heard him, his hand went out silently to the arquebus,and he turned a yellow, threatening face towards the visitor.
"Hola!" exclaimed Pierrebon. "It is I. I have brought monsieur'shorses for a feed and a rest."
"Ho! it is you." And Malsain, putting down his arquebus, returned tohis cheese again as he added: "There are two stalls vacant there, andyou will find oats in that barrel." He had not, of course, it will beunderstood, received Trotto's message as yet.
Pierrebon entered without further ceremony. There were already threehorses in the stables; but, as Malsain had said, there were still twostalls vacant, and here he put the nags. Whilst attending to them,however, he kept glancing uneasily at the supper before Malsain, whichwas diminishing at a frightful rate, for the thin man ate like acormorant. At last, unable to endure this more, he stopped rubbingdown the brown hackney, and, stepping up to the table, took a seat on astool opposite Malsain. Then, drawing his dagger, he helped himselfwithout further ceremony to some cheese and bread, and glanced somewhatruefully into the jug of water.
"_Diable_!" grumbled Malsain, "you are eating my supper."
&nb
sp; "Well," and Pierrebon looked at him, "am I not your guest, as my masteris your master's?"
Malsain said nothing, but scowled across the table at Pierrebon; andthe latter, who was as alert as a weasel when it came to the push, wenton: "But, _compere_, they feed you thinly here--and no wine!"
"I eat to my taste, and drink to my taste," growled Malsain; butPierrebon, not heeding his ill temper, continued:
"Now, with my master there is always a bottle of Rochecorbon, and a cutfrom a pasty, not to mention a crown-piece here and a crown-piecethere; and I wager that in the house yonder there is something morethan acid cheese and dry bread for hunger, or spring water for thirst."
"Be silent, fool! Take what you can get, or leave it," said Malsainsullenly, his hand slipping down to his side; but Pierrebon laughedcheerily as he cut another slice of cheese, his two blue Burgundianeyes steadily fixed on Malsain's sallow face, and as they looked ateach other there came a heavy footfall outside, and Piero called out inhis deep voice:
"Malsain! Here! A word with you!"
Malsain rose slowly, and went outside, and Pierrebon, following himwith his glance, saw Piero's huge figure in the moonlight, and a chillcame upon him.
"By St. Hugo! 'tis the ogre himself! And they consult together!" hemurmured, wishing himself a hundred miles away, and he watched thetwain moving off into the shadow, straining his ears to catch a word ifpossible, but at first he could hear nothing. Thus a minute or sopassed, whilst the evil pair outside stood in the shadow of a copperbeech whispering together. If Pierrebon could but hear a word to guidehim! He dared not attempt to approach them, but was forced to staywhere he was. At last he caught something. Malsain laughed out like ahyena: "I would slit their throats for fifty, and throw the Vidame intothat----" But Piero roughly bade him lower his voice, and thewhispering continued.
Pierrebon heard no more. That there was danger in the air he knew. Hehad not forgotten my warning pressure on his arm as we entered thegates of Le Jaquemart, and now his worst fears were confirmed. For amoment his heart sank, but for a moment only, for as he looked aroundhim his eyes fell on the arquebus, where it leaned against the wall.The fuse was still alight. There was no time to hesitate. Malsain wasalready returning; and if it were to be war Pierrebon thought he mightas well begin, and strike the first blow. Quick as thought he arose,and taking up the arquebus moved off near the horses, and he wasblowing on the match to hearten the fire when Malsain stepped in.
"Blood of a Jew! what are you doing with the arquebus, fool? Put itdown this instant, or I slit your throat." And Malsain, his poniard inhis hand, stood near the table, glaring savagely at Pierrebon.
"Pardon!" said Pierrebon. "I was but looking at it. 'Tis a nobleweapon. And one well suited to a soldier's hand."
"It could kill too, I wager," said Pierrebon, laughing, as he raisedthe weapon, and pointed it at Malsain, who went back the step he hadtaken, saying, with an oath,
"It is loaded, fool! Put it down at once."
"_Hein_! it is loaded. It would kill, then, if I fired--eh?" Andthen, with a sudden change of voice and manner: "Ah, bandit! move astep, utter the slightest cry, and you are a dead man! Throw down yourponiard!"
Malsain looked at the barrel of the arquebus. It was steady as a rock,and behind the little black muzzle the match burned bravely; whilstbehind the match was a red face with two blue eyes that looked as ifthey meant what their owner said. Malsain let his dagger drop with aclash.
Pierrebon then advanced a couple of paces nearer, still holding thearquebus at Malsain's breast.
"Now, my friend! Take that bridle from the peg at your hand and fastenyour ankles together. What!--you hesitate?"
Malsain hissed something between his teeth, and snatched the bridlefrom the peg.
"Go on! A running knot--lap it well round, and finish off! There!That is right! You are no novice, I see, _mon vieux_!"
Malsain made no answer, but stood bolt upright before Pierrebon, hisface grey, his one eye bloodshot, his lips livid. It is true that hehad tied himself as loosely as possible, but still he was terriblycrippled; and from his soul he regretted that he had not made a rush atPierrebon, and chanced his fortune; but now this was hopeless.
Worse, however, was to come, and it came at once.
"Now," said Pierrebon, "fasten your wrist to your ankle--your leftwrist."
"It is impossible," said Malsain thickly.
"Then I shall blow your brains out when I have counted three. One!"
Malsain looked about him with his red eye, and shuffled uneasily.
"Two!"
Malsain swore again, a nameless oath.
"Th----"
Malsain stooped down with the rapidity of lightning, and began fumblingwith the yard or so of trailing rein.
He tried to deceive Pierrebon; but the candle gave enough light to see,and Pierrebon was sharp. There was no help for it, and at last it wasdone, badly done, but enough to utterly cripple Malsain. The finalorder now came:
"Now lie down on your face."
This was difficult; but there are circumstances under which men do allbut impossible things, and Malsain performed the feat.
After this the worthy Pierrebon took a more active part in the bindingof Malsain. Still holding the arquebus in one hand he unhitchedanother bridle from its peg. Then, placing the arquebus at _his_ feet,he drew his dagger and approached Malsain, upon whom he sat, and with agentle prick or so reminded him it was unsafe to struggle or cry. Hefastened up his free arm, and finished off the work in an artisticmanner. When it was over Malsain was like a trussed fowl. Pierrebonstepped back, and surveyed his work with the satisfaction of one whoknows that he has done well.
"Ah, I had forgotten!" he exclaimed. Then he pulled from his pocket a'kerchief. A touch at Malsain's throat with his poniard was hintenough. Malsain opened his mouth, and the handkerchief, rolled into aball, was thrust inside.
Pierrebon fumbled once more in his pocket, and produced some stouttwine. He gave a little grunt of satisfaction as he lashed it aroundMalsain's jaws, and felt at last that victory was his.
"It is complete--eh, _mon vieux_?"
And so saying he dragged Malsain with no tender hand across thepavement of the stable. There was a black, vicious-looking cob in oneof the stalls. Pierrebon flung his victim on the straw near the beast."I should lie still," he said in warning; "the horse might kick."
Then he saddled up again, calmly selecting a third horse from thestable, from a stall where he saw some ladies' saddlery.
"This will do for mademoiselle," he muttered as he glanced around himwith satisfaction; "all is ready here. And now for the ogre." Takingup the arquebus he looked at the priming, and made his way cautiouslyto the house.