the monk(僧侣)-第17章

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looks　which　they　cast　towards　us　at　intervals；　I　conjectured　them
to　be　enquiring　our　business　in　the　Cottage。

In　the　meanwhile　the　Baroness　expressed　her　apprehensions；　that
her　Husband　would　be　suffering　much　anxiety　upon　her　account。　
She　had　intended　to　send　on　one　of　her　Servants　to　inform　the
Baron　of　her　delay；　But　the　account　which　the　young　Men　gave　of
the　Forest　rendered　this　plan　impracticable。　　Claude　relieved
her　from　her　embarrassment。　　He　informed　her　that　He　was　under
the　necessity　of　reaching　Strasbourg　that　night；　and　that　would
She　trust　him　with　a　letter；　She　might　depend　upon　its　being
safely　delivered。

'And　how　comes　it；'　said　I；　'that　you　are　under　no　apprehension
of　meeting　these　Robbers？'

'Alas！　Monsieur；　a　poor　Man　with　a　large　family　must　not　lose
certain　profit　because　'tis　attended　with　a　little　danger；　and
perhaps　my　Lord　the　Baron　may　give　me　a　trifle　for　my　pains。　
Besides；　I　have　nothing　to　lose　except　my　life；　and　that　will　not
be　worth　the　Robbers　taking。'

I　thought　his　arguments　bad；　and　advised　his　waiting　till　the
Morning；　But　as　the　Baroness　did　not　second　me；　I　was　obliged　to
give　up　the　point。　　The　Baroness　Lindenberg；　as　I　found
afterwards；　had　long　been　accustomed　to　sacrifice　the　interests
of　others　to　her　own；　and　her　wish　to　send　Claude　to　Strasbourg
blinded　her　to　the　danger　of　the　undertaking。　　Accordingly；　it
was　resolved　that　He　should　set　out　without　delay。　　The　Baroness
wrote　her　letter　to　her　Husband；　and　I　sent　a　few　lines　to　my
Banker；　apprising　him　that　I　should　not　be　at　Strasbourg　till　the
next　day。　　Claude　took　our　letters；　and　left　the　Cottage。

The　Lady　declared　herself　much　fatigued　by　her　journey：　　Besides
having　come　from　some　distance；　the　Drivers　had　contrived　to　lose
their　way　in　the　Forest。　　She　now　addressed　herself　to
Marguerite；　desiring　to　be　shown　to　her　chamber；　and　permitted　to
take　half　an　hour's　repose。　　One　of　the　Waiting…women　was
immediately　summoned；　She　appeared　with　a　light；　and　the　Baroness
followed　her　up　stairs。　　The　cloth　was　spreading　in　the　chamber
where　I　was；　and　Marguerite　soon　gave　me　to　understand　that　I
was　in　her　way。　　Her　hints　were　too　broad　to　be　easily　mistaken；
I　therefore　desired　one　of　the　young　Men　to　conduct　me　to　the
chamber　where　I　was　to　sleep；　and　where　I　could　remain　till
supper　was　ready。

'Which　chamber　is　it；　Mother？'　said　Robert。

'The　One　with　green　hangings；'　She　replied；　'I　have　just　been　at
the　trouble　of　getting　it　ready；　and　have　put　fresh　sheets　upon
the　Bed；　If　the　Gentleman　chooses　to　lollop　and　lounge　upon　it；
He　may　make　it　again　himself　for　me。'

'You　are　out　of　humour；　Mother；　but　that　is　no　novelty。　　Have　the
goodness　to　follow　me；　Monsieur。'

He　opened　the　door；　and　advanced　towards　a　narrow　staircase。

'You　have　got　no　light！'　said　Marguerite；　'Is　it　your　own　neck　or
the　Gentleman's　that　you　have　a　mind　to　break？'

She　crossed　by　me；　and　put　a　candle　into　Robert's　hand；　having
received　which；　He　began　to　ascend　the　staircase。　　Jacques　was
employed　in　laying　the　cloth；　and　his　back　was　turned　towards　me。

Marguerite　seized　the　moment；　when　we　were　unobserved。　　She
caught　my　hand；　and　pressed　it　strongly。

'Look　at　the　Sheets！'　said　She　as　She　passed　me；　and　immediately
resumed　her　former　occupation。

Startled　by　the　abruptness　of　her　action；　I　remained　as　if
petrified。　　Robert's　voice；　desiring　me　to　follow　him；　recalled
me　to　myself。　　I　ascended　the　staircase。　　My　conductor　ushered
me　into　a　chamber；　where　an　excellent　wood…fire　was　blazing　upon
the　hearth。　　He　placed　the　light　upon　the　Table；　enquired　whether
I　had　any　further　commands；　and　on　my　replying　in　the　negative；
He　left　me　to　myself。　　You　may　be　certain　that　the　moment　when　I
found　myself　alone　was　that　on　which　I　complied　with　Marguerite's
injunction。　　I　took　the　candle；　hastily　approached　the　Bed；　and
turned　down　the　Coverture。　　What　was　my　astonishment；　my　horror；
at　finding　the　sheets　crimsoned　with　blood！

At　that　moment　a　thousand　confused　ideas　passed　before　my
imagination。　　The　Robbers　who　infested　the　Wood；　Marguerite's
exclamation　respecting　her　Children；　the　arms　and　appearance　of
the　two　young　Men；　and　the　various　Anecdotes　which　I　had　heard
related；　respecting　the　secret　correspondence　which　frequently
exists　between　Banditti　and　Postillions；　all　these　circumstances
flashed　upon　my　mind；　and　inspired　me　with　doubt　and
apprehension。　　I　ruminated　on　the　most　probable　means　of
ascertaining　the　truth　of　my　conjectures。　　Suddenly　I　was　aware
of　Someone　below　pacing　hastily　backwards　and　forwards。　　Every
thing　now　appeared　to　me　an　object　of　suspicion。　　With　precaution
I　drew　near　the　window；　which；　as　the　room　had　been　long　shut　up；
was　left　open　in　spite　of　the　cold。　　I　ventured　to　look　out。　　The
beams　of　the　Moon　permitted　me　to　distinguish　a　Man；　whom　I　had
no　difficulty　to　recognize　for　my　Host。　　I　watched　his　movements。

He　walked　swiftly；　then　stopped；　and　seemed　to　listen：　　He
stamped　upon　the　ground；　and　beat　his　stomach　with　his　arms　as　if
to　guard　himself　from　the　inclemency　of　the　season。　　At　the　least
noise；　if　a　voice　was　heard　in　the　lower　part　of　the　House；　if　a
Bat　flitted　past　him；　or　the　wind　rattled　amidst　the　leafless
boughs；　He　started；　and　looked　round　with　anxiety。

'Plague　take　him！'　said　He　at　length　with　impatience；　'What　can
He　be　about！'

He　spoke　in　a　low　voice；　but　as　He　was　just　below　my　window；　I
had　no　difficulty　to　distinguish　his　words。

I　now　heard　the　steps　of　one　approaching。　　Baptiste　went　towards
the　sound；　He　joined　a　man；　whom　his　low　stature　and　the　Horn
suspended　from　his　neck；　declared　to　be　no　other　than　my　faithful
Claude；　whom　I　had　supposed　to　be　already　on　his　way　to
Strasbourg。　　Expecting　their　discourse　to　throw　some　light　upon
my　situation；　I　hastened　to　put　myself　in　a　condition　to　hear　it
with　safety。　　For　this　purpose　I　extinguished　the　candle；　which
stood　upon　a　table　near　the　Bed：　　The　flame　of　the　fire　was　not
strong　enough　to　betray　me；　and　I　immediately　resumed　my　place　at
the　window。

The　objects　of　my　curiosity　had　stationed　themselves　directly
under　it。　　I　suppose　that　during　my　momentary　absence　the
Wood…man　had　been　blaming　Claude　for　tardiness；　since　when　I
returned　to　the　window；　the　latter　was　endeavouring　to　excuse　his
fault。

'However；'　added　He；　'my　diligence　at　present　shall　make　up　for
my　past　delay。'

'On　that　condition；'　answered　Baptiste；　'I　shall　readily　forgive
you。　　But　in　truth　as　you　share　equally　with　us　in　our　prizes；
your　own　interest　will　make　you　use　all　possible　diligence。　
'Twould　be　a　shame　to　let　such　a　noble　booty　escape　us！　　You　say；
that　this　Spaniard　is　rich？'

'His　Servant　boasted　at　the　Inn；　that　the　effects　in　his　Chaise
were　worth　above　two　thousand　Pistoles。'

Oh！　how　I　cursed　Stephano's　imprudent　vanity！

'And　I　have　been　told；'　continued　the　Postillion；　'that　this
Baroness　carries　about　her　a　casket　of　jewels　of　immense　value。'

'May　be　so；　but　I　had　rather　She　had　stayed　away。　　The　Spaniard
was　a　secure　prey。　　The　Boys　and　myself　could　easily　have
mastered　him　and　his　Servant；　and　then　the　two　thousand　Pistoles
would　have　been　shared　between　us　four。　　Now　we　must　let　in　the
Band　for　a　share；　and　perhaps　the　whole　Covey　may　escape　us。
Should　our　Friends　have　betaken　themselves　to　their　different
posts　before　you　reach　the　Cavern；　all　will　be　lost。　　The　Lady's
Attendants　are　too　numerous　for　us　to　overpower　them：　　Unless
our　Associates　arrive　in　time；　we　must　needs　let　these　Travellers
set　out　tomorrow　without　damage　or　hurt。'

'　'Tis　plaguy　unlucky　that　my　Comrades　who　drove　the　Coach
should　be　those　unacquainted　with　our　Confederacy！　　But　never
fear；　Friend　Baptiste。　　An　hour　will　bring　me　to　the　Cavern；　It
is　now　but　ten　o'clock；　and　by　twelve　you　may　expect　the　arrival
of　the　Band。　　By　the　bye；　take　care　of　your　Wife：　　You　know　how
strong　is　her　repugnance　to　our　mode　of　life；　and　She　may　find
means　to　give　information　to　the　Lady's　Servants　of　our　design。'

'Oh！　I　am　secure　of　her　silence；　She　is　too　much　afraid　of　me；
and　fond　of　her　children；　to　dare　to　betray　my　secret。　　Besides；
Jacques　and　Robert　keep　a　strict　eye　over　her；　and　She　is　not
permitted　to　set　a　foot　out　of　the　Cottage。　　The　Servants　are
safely　lodged　in　the　Barn；　I　shall　endeavour　to　keep　all　quiet
till　the　arrival　of　our　Friends。　　Were　I　assured　of　your　finding
them；　the　Strangers　should　be　dispatched　this　instant；　But　as　it
is　possible　for　you　to　miss　the　Banditti；　I　am　fearful　of　being
summoned　to　produce　them　by　their　Domestics　in　the　Morning。'

'And　suppose　either　of　the　Travellers　should　discover　your
design？'

'Then　we　must　poignard　those　in　our　power；　and　take　our　chance
about　mastering　the　rest。　　However；　to　avoid　running　such　a
risque；　hasten　to　the　Cavern：　　The　Banditti　never　leave　it　before
eleven；　and　if　you　use　diligence；　you　may　reach　it　in　time　to
stop　them。'

'Tell　Robert　that　I　have　taken　his　Horse：　　My　own　has　broken　his
bridle；　and　escaped　into　the　Wood。　　What　is　the　watch…word？'

'The　reward　of　Courage。'

'　'Tis　sufficient。　　I　hasten　to　the　Cavern。'

'And　I　to　rejoin　my　Guests；　lest　my　absence　should　create
suspicion。　　Farewell；　and　be　diligent。'

These　worthy　Associates　now　separated：　　The　One　bent　his　course
towards　the　Stable；　while　the　Other　returned　to　the　House。

You　may　judge；　what　must　have　been　my　feelings　during　this
conversation；　of　which　I　lost　not　a　single　syllable。　　I　dared　not
trust　myself　to　my　reflections；　nor　did　any　means　present　itself
to　escape　the　dangers　which　threatened　me。　　Resistance；　I　knew　to
be　vain；　I　was　unarmed；　and　a　single　Man　against　Three：　　However；
I　resolved　at　least　to　sell　my　life　as　dearly　as　I　could。
Dreading　lest　Baptiste　should　perceive　my　absence；　and　suspect　me
to　have　overheard　the　message　with　which　Claude　was　dispatched；　I
hastily　relighted　my　candle　and　quitted　the　chamber。　　On
descending；　I　found　the　Table　spread　for　six　Persons。　　The
Baroness　sat　by　the　fireside：　Marguerite　was　employed　in
dressing　a　sallad；　and　her　Step…sons　were　whispering　together　at
the　further　end　of　the　room。　　Baptiste　having　the　round　of　the
Garden　to　make；　ere　He　could　reach　the　Cottage　door；　was　not　yet
arrived。　　I　seated　myself　quietly　opposite　to　the　Baroness。

A　glance　upon　Marguerite　told　her　that　her　hint　had　not　been
thrown　away　upon　me。　　How　different　did　She　now　appear　to　me！　
What　before　seemed　gloom　and　sullenness；　I　now　found　to　be
disgust　at　her　Associates；　and　compassion　for　my　danger。　　I
looked　up　to　her　as　to　my　only　resource；　Yet　knowing　her　to　be
watched　by　her　Husband　with　a　suspicious　eye；　I　could　place　but
little　reliance　on　the　exertions　of　her　good…will。

In　spite　of　all　my　endeavours　to　conceal　it；　my　agitation　was　but
too　visibly　expressed　upon　my　countenance。　I　was　pale；　and　both
my　words　and　actions　were　disordered　and　embarrassed。　　The　young
Men　observed　this；　and　enquired　the　cause。　　I　attributed　it　to
excess　of　fatigue；　and　the　violent　effect　produced　on　me　by　the
severity　of　the　season。　　Whether　they　believed　me　or　not；　I　will
not　pretend　to　say：　　They　at　least　ceased　to　emba