Orrain: A Romance

  CHAPTER IX

  THE WHITE MASK

  It is necessary to hark back a little now to the moment when TorquatoTrotto, having given his instructions to Piero, went into the house.The stairway was empty, for both I and my charge were with La Marmotte,and the Italian ran upstairs with a footfall as light as that of a cat.On reaching the landing he stopped for a second, glanced around him,with the same feline caution that marked all his movements, and then,creeping forward on tiptoe, went along a corridor leading to a wing ofthe house.

  At the extreme end of this gallery was a door, at which Trotto knockedsoftly. From within a strident voice said: "Come in!" Then followedan exclamation of pain, and a free oath.

  Trotto smiled, shrugged his shoulders, as only an Italian can, pushedopen the door, and entered the chamber. The spear-shaped flames of twotall candles but half lit the room, making a circle of wavering light.Beyond all was in uncertain gloom, through which one could dimly seethe old tapestry and massive furniture of bygone years.

  Where the light was brightest was an easy-chair, and there sat Simon ofOrrain, with his bandaged right arm resting on a cushion, placed on alow table drawn close to him. As Trotto entered he looked up with asnarl.

  "What is it? Did I not say I was to be left alone? Curse this arm!"

  "Ah, excellency," and Trotto glanced at the throbbing arm, "you shouldhave waited for Aramon's return, or taken us with you." But Simonbroke in: "I tell you, Trotto, the plan was perfect, and if it had notbeen for the accident of that villain's coming our bird would have beenhere by this. Even when he came, if La Crotte had but stood hisground--but there! Give me some of that wine. My blood is red hot,and my throat on fire with the pain of this wound!"

  Torquato Trotto filled a cup from a flagon that lay on the table nearthe Vidame. Simon took it from him with his left hand, drained it, andflung it from him, so that it struck the wainscoting of the wall, andfell with a crash on the floor.

  "La Crotte shall hang for this," he went on savagely. "The cur! thecoward!"

  "You will make your wound worse, excellency. Be calm! There is timefor things to mend."

  "Time! When the whole affair has been bungled--and by you."

  "By me, excellency?"

  "Yes; if you had given me Piero and Malsain instead of thoseserving-wenches Billot and La Crotte."

  Torquato lifted a deprecating hand. "They did well before, excellency;and Billot could not have done better, for he is dead, you say. And asfor La Crotte----"

  "He shall hang--hang to the first tree."

  "As your excellency pleases. He has, however, to be caught first. Butin the meantime I have intruded on you because I think we can yet savethe game."

  "Ugh!"

  "Your excellency, I have a plan; and I think we win the odd trick."

  "Well, what is your brilliant idea?"

  Trotto coughed. "But the risk, excellency, is greatly increased nowthat this man is mixed up in the affair."

  Simon straightened himself in his chair and looked at the captain.

  "I suppose you want more money. Well, what is your plan?"

  "With your excellency's permission I will keep that to myself, for aplan is a plan when one head holds it. But if I were to place yourprize in your hands by tomorrow morning?"

  "Impossible!"

  "But I say it is possible."

  "Then five hundred crowns the day you reach Paris."

  Trotto shook his head. "It could be done for a thousand,excellency--for certain."

  Simon's eyes seemed to sink back deeper into their hollow sockets, andhis face became paler, if possible.

  "A thousand devils! Impossible! It's a fortune!"

  "Your excellency is playing for a fortune; and this time we win--faithof a gentleman! Make it a thousand crowns, and your bonny bird isyours with the dawn, and I will myself perform the wedding ceremony ifyou like."

  "You?"

  "Yes, excellency," and Trotto put his hand to the crown of his head."My hair has grown, but, you will remember, I am none the less a priestfor all that."

  There was another silence. Simon knitted his brow, as if in thought.Then he cursed again at his wounded arm, and spoke:

  "It is an exorbitant sum; but I agree on one condition."

  "And that is?"

  "If you fail you get nothing; you have sucked enough from me already."

  "As your excellency pleases." And then, bending for an instant overthe wounded arm: "He must have been a rare swordsman to have beatenyou."

  Simon writhed in his chair. "Beaten me! I had the dog at my mercy,but was not quick enough in the last parry."

  "Ah, excellency, 'tis always that little delay that causes accidentslike this." And Trotto made a gesture towards the wounded arm; butSimon snarled at him:

  "Don't touch it, fool! Ugh! how it stings! There is one consolation,however--that he must be squirming himself with pain now."

  "Eh! Then you touched him?"

  "Twice, Trotto, twice!"

  "Ah! that accounts for his wearing his cloak so tightly over his leftshoulder."

  Simon started: "Wearing his cloak so tightly! Have you seen him?"

  Torquato nodded, and the Vidame went on impatiently: "Are you dreaming,or am I? You have not been out of the house."

  "But, excellency, benighted travellers might seek the house for restand a guide to the ford of the Mable." At these words a red flush cameover Simon's face, and he half rose from his chair.

  "Here, here!" he exclaimed, his voice almost cracking withexcitement--"here!--in Le Jaquemart! My sword, Trotto--quick!" And heshivered with pain as he attempted to stand; but Torquato made him sitback, and when he had succeeded told him what is already known.

  "And so," he concluded, "Malsain has by this time disposed of thelackey, and La Marmotte is keeping the other birds amused until myreturn. When it is all settled," and Trotto laughed, "your excellencymay make ready for the wedding, and La Marmotte will make a rarebridesmaid." With these words he bowed, and went to the door, butstopped at Simon's voice.

  "Trotto!"

  "Excellency!"

  "Be sure, and fail not!"

  "With a wounded man? Be happy, excellency! 'Twill be all over bymidnight. I will have it done before Aramon returns, to save sharingthe crowns. Good-night."

  "Trotto!"

  The captain put his head back through the door, and Simon said:

  "Call me when 'tis over. I would see the carrion ere we put it away."

  Trotto nodded, and closing the door left Simon of Orrain, full ofstinging pains in his body and burning evil thoughts in his soul, andreturning to us led the way to the supper-table. There, whilst we sat,mademoiselle told them of her peril, and how she was rescued, and asshe concluded Trotto set down the cup of wine he was tasting, andturning to me, said:

  "I congratulate you, monsieur. I trust, however, that your wounds donot hurt you?"

  "Wounds!" exclaimed mademoiselle. "You are hurt, and you have saidnever a word! Why did you not tell me? You must have them seen to atonce." And she rose from her seat. La Marmotte following her example,and Trotto added his voice to hers, and was thanked with a look.

  "It is nothing. There is some mistake. I have but a scratch that willkeep till the morning."

  "But I insist," said mademoiselle. And Trotto put in with his softvoice: "Mademoiselle, I am something of a leech, and will see tomonsieur's hurt at once." And then with a look at La Marmotte:"Perhaps mademoiselle would like to repose until my men return. Iexpect them every moment, and we could then arrange for your safepassage."

  And just at this moment, through the open window that looked out uponthe balcony, there came a scrambling noise, and the ivy outside shookand rustled, as though a heavy body were forcing its way through it.Trotto gave a quick glance over his shoulder, stepped out of thewindow, on to the balcony, and looked around him, whilst I took theopportunity to urge on mademoiselle to go and rest. I did so with theobject of having
Trotto alone for a little with me, and to test thesituation. As I spoke La Marmotte looked at me with warning in hereyes, and her lips, which had paled under their paint, moved as if shewere about to form some words, but could not speak. Ere matters couldproceed further, however, Trotto came in, with a laugh. "There isnothing there," he said. "It must have been a cat; the wild cats heregrow to enormous size." And then taking up a candlestick he continued:"I will myself see mademoiselle to her apartment." But La Marmottespoke now.

  "Mademoiselle comes to my room. There is none other ready."

  The captain bowed and smiled. "I will light you there then," he said,and led the way to the door. As they went out La Marmotte, who waslast, dropped her handkerchief, and stooping to recover it made awarning gesture to me; but I stared vacantly to my front.

  As soon, however, as the door closed behind them, and I heard theirfootsteps along the gallery, I pulled out the white mask, and liftingthe cover of a dish placed the mask within the dish and put back thecover. Then drawing my sword I laid it between my knees, and, resumingmy seat, poured out some wine, and awaited Messire Torquato Trotto'sreturn. It was a fortunate thing that the wild cats of Fontevraultwere so large and heavy; and it was equally fortunate that MessireTrotto, ex-priest, and now bandit or freelance, was aware of the fact,else, perhaps, he might have examined the ledge that projected belowthe parapet, and seen there an animal which, though large and heavy,was of a different kind to the grey, striped prowlers of the forest.He would, in fact, have seen Pierrebon, who after vainly trying to getat Piero unobserved had determined to warn me, and succeeded with muchdifficulty in making his way thus far.

  Through the screen of the ivy Pierrebon watched us in the room, andwhen I was alone he was about to step in at once, when he saw myactions, and guessed that I too was on the alert.

  "Good!" he thought, "he knows too. I had better wait here till I amwanted. Ah! that is just the place!" Rising slowly, he climbed overthe parapet, and, with his arquebus ready, leaned up against the wall,so that by moving his head slightly forward he could see into the room.

  The night was warm and clear. A light breeze stirred the ivy, andshook the leaves of the old lime, by whose aid Pierrebon had made hisascent. Within I sat at the table, my cloak unclasped, now sipping mywine, now gently touching with my finger the dark patch on my sleevenear my shoulder. Without, Pierrebon stood on guard in the blackshadow. Down below, Piero began to sing, as only men of his countrycan, and the deep bass voice, with all its liquid Italian words, pealedmelodiously into the night.

  I listened, murmuring to myself: "Strange! Here is one who can sing ofhis Alban hills and his Margarita one moment and cut a throat the next.But here they come!"

  For Trotto's voice had stopped the singer, and then I heard them comingupstairs. The heavy step of Piero halted, however, in the passage, andTrotto entered alone, rubbing his hands together as usual, his whiteteeth shining between their setting of red lip and short blackmoustache and beard. Of a truth Messire Torquato was a handsome man ifan evil one. He came in with a set smile on his face. "The ladies aresafely at rest, and----"

  "And we can while away the time with this wine, some more supper, and alittle talk."

  "But your wounds, monsieur! They must be attended to. I have toldPiero to bring up some salve and bandages."

  "Bah!" I laughed, "let them keep. My wound, not wounds, is but ascratch, and hurts far less than the one that lost you thatforefinger." And I pointed to his left hand, which wanted a forefinger.

  The captain's eyes flashed, and he dropped his hand to his side, thoughhe said, calmly enough:

  "I got that at Volterra. I was there with the Caraffa."

  "And I with Enghien. You see, we were comrades-in-arms without knowingit. 'Tis a pity we never met. We must fight our battles over again.Come, let us drink to the old days!"

  "With all my heart," was the reply. "A moment; and I will tell Pieroto wait." And he stepped to the door.

  "Tell him to go to the devil," I said, and Trotto laughed, and after aword or so exchanged with Piero he closed the door and came back to hisseat. "I have sent Piero off," he said, and pouring out a bumper foreach of us he raised his cup, saying: "Pledge me this toast, monsieur.Long life to the bride and bridegroom!"

  "Long life to the happy pair!" I clinked my cup with his, and drank,my mind working like a clock to find out what was meant, my eyes nevermoving from Trotto's face.

  "Now," I said, "it is my turn. The wine, messire captain. And here ismy toast: Confusion to the enemies of Bertrand Broussel!"

  There was, perhaps, some want of heartiness in the captain's voice ashe echoed the words but none in his manner of drinking, though he toobegan to look, as if seeking for a hidden meaning in my words, and hishand left his cup and dropped quietly to his side; but still I kept myeyes on his, as I said:

  "That wine of yours is a rare cordial, captain; it makes me ravenous.Do you remember how we starved before Volterra?" And I filled my cupagain.

  "Yes--well."

  "We were not birds of paradise exactly, and yet we had to live on airsometimes--and a thin enough diet it was. You will never guess what Ihad for supper once--try!"

  "I am bad at guessing, monsieur."

  "A mask."

  "A mask!"

  "Yes. It was not bad with a little olive oil and vinegar; but the verythought makes me hungry. What have you in that dish beside you?"

  "Something better than a crape mask, I assure you." And Trotto putaside the cover, only to let it fall with a little crash as he staredat the white thing, and glanced up to meet my eyes, and hear my gibe.

  "A little surprise I prepared for you--a delicate attention."

  Trotto knew he was discovered. He began to breathe quickly, and hishand once more went down.

  "Divide it, captain," I mocked; "there is just enough for two--ah!"And I caught his wrist as he made a sudden stab at me, and pulled himhalf over the table, springing backwards to my feet as I did so. Inhis confusion he pushed the table over, and fell sideways on the floor,dragging with him the tablecloth and the supper.

  He was at my mercy. It needed but a thrust, and his life was ended;but I gave him his chance.

  "Get up, and take your sword!"

  Trotto rose, his face white, his lips bleeding, and snatching his swordfrom its sheath thrust at me, with a strange smile on his face. He hadlied when he said Piero was gone. All unknown to me Piero hadremained, and opening the door stood at my back, his knife in his hand.I saw not the death behind me, and stiff as I was from my wound myattention was fully taken up by Trotto, who was no mean artist, andfought like a cat at bay. But Pierrebon saw, and raised his arquebus.The bravo behind me was about to strike, when there was a flash, a loudreport, and he rolled over a huge, limp, and lifeless mass. At theshot Trotto had sprung back with a gasp to the corner of the room, andcrouched there like a rat, staring through the smoke at us, forPierrebon had run to my side.

  "Keep the door, Pierrebon," I said, and I stepped forward; but theItalian was done.

  "I yield," he said; "I have lost." And he lowered his sword; butbetween us there could be no parley.

  "Put up your sword--put it up, or I run you through as you are!"

  And because there was no help for it, save to fight, Trotto did so, buthis hand shook, and his courage was gone. He made a little show ofresistance; but it was nothing, and at the third or fourth pass hethrust too high. He was late in the recovery, and I ran him throughthe side.

  "Jesus!" he screamed, "I am dead!"

  Then he fell forward on his face, his fingers working convulsively.

  "He is dead too!" said Pierrebon as he stooped over the body.

  "Not yet," I said, and then for the first time I saw the huge figure ofPiero lying stark, the knife still in his clutch, and I saw too what Iowed Pierrebon, and wrung the honest fellow's hand.

  "Come!" I said. "Now for mademoiselle, and we shall be off. There areothers who will attend to th
ese."

  "A moment, monsieur! The arquebus is not loaded, and this, perhaps,will be more useful." So saying Pierrebon stooped and picked upTrotto's sword. As he did so he noticed the keys at the Italian'sgirdle.

  "And this too," he added, as with a touch of the sharp sword he cut thelight leather strap, and taking the keys followed me out into thegallery.