volume01-第16章

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I　could　not　help　expressing　to　the　Wood…man　how　much　I　pitied　him　for　being　chained　for　life　to　a　Partner　of　such　ill…humour。

'Ah！　　Lord！　　Monsieur；　Every　one　has　his　share　of　grievances；　and　Marguerite　has　fallen　to　mine。　　Besides；　after　all　She　is　only　cross；　and　not　malicious。　　The　worst　is；　that　her　affection　for　two　children　by　a　former　Husband　makes　her　play　the　Step…mother　with　my　two　Sons。　　She　cannot　bear　the　sight　of　them；　and　by　her　good…will　they　would　never　set　a　foot　within　my　door。　　But　on　this　point　I　always　stand　firm；　and　never　will　consent　to　abandon　the　poor　Lads　to　the　world's　mercy；　as　She　has　often　solicited　me　to　do。　　In　every　thing　else　I　let　her　have　her　own　way；　and　truly　She　manages　a　family　rarely；　that　I　must　say　for　her。'

We　were　conversing　in　this　manner；　when　our　discourse　was　interrupted　by　a　loud　halloo；　which　rang　through　the　Forest。

'My　Sons；　I　hope！'　exclaimed　the　Wood…man；　and　ran　to　open　the　door。

The　halloo　was　repeated：　　We　now　distinguished　the　trampling　of　Horses；　and　soon　after　a　Carriage；　attended　by　several　Cavaliers　stopped　at　the　Cottage　door。　　One　of　the　Horsemen　enquired　how　far　they　were　still　from　Strasbourg。　　As　He　addressed　himself　to　me；　I　answered　in　the　number　of　miles　which　Claude　had　told　me；　Upon　which　a　volley　of　curses　was　vented　against　the　Drivers　for　having　lost　their　way。　　The　Persons　in　the　Coach　were　now　informed　of　the　distance　of　Strasbourg；　and　also　that　the　Horses　were　so　fatigued　as　to　be　incapable　of　proceeding　further。　　A　Lady；　who　appeared　to　be　the　principal；　expressed　much　chagrin　at　this　intelligence；　But　as　there　was　no　remedy；　one　of　the　Attendants　asked　the　Wood…man；　whether　He　could　furnish　them　with　lodging　for　the　night。

He　seemed　much　embarrassed；　and　replied　in　the　negative；　Adding　that　a　Spanish　Gentleman　and　his　Servant　were　already　in　possession　of　the　only　spare　apartments　in　his　House。　　On　hearing　this；　the　gallantry　of　my　nation　would　not　permit　me　to　retain　those　accommodations；　of　which　a　Female　was　in　want。　　I　instantly　signified　to　the　Wood…man；　that　I　transferred　my　right　to　the　Lady；　He　made　some　objections；　But　I　overruled　them；　and　hastening　to　the　Carriage；　opened　the　door；　and　assisted　the　Lady　to　descend。　　I　immediately　recognized　her　for　the　same　person　whom　I　had　seen　at　the　Inn　at　Luneville。　　I　took　an　opportunity　of　asking　one　of　her　Attendants；　what　was　her　name？

'The　Baroness　Lindenberg；'　was　the　answer。

I　could　not　but　remark　how　different　a　reception　our　Host　had　given　these　newcomers　and　myself。　　His　reluctance　to　admit　them　was　visibly　expressed　on　his　countenance；　and　He　prevailed　on　himself　with　difficulty　to　tell　the　Lady　that　She　was　welcome。　　I　conducted　her　into　the　House；　and　placed　her　in　the　armed…chair；　which　I　had　just　quitted。　　She　thanked　me　very　graciously；　and　made　a　thousand　apologies　for　putting　me　to　an　inconvenience。　　Suddenly　the　Wood…man's　countenance　cleared　up。

'At　last　I　have　arranged　it！'　said　He；　interrupting　her　excuses；　'I　can　lodge　you　and　your　suite；　Madam；　and　you　will　not　be　under　the　necessity　of　making　this　Gentleman　suffer　for　his　politeness。

We　have　two　spare　chambers；　one　for　the　Lady；　the　other；　Monsieur；　for　you：　　My　Wife　shall　give　up　hers　to　the　two　Waiting…women；　As　for　the　Men…servants；　they　must　content　themselves　with　passing　the　night　in　a　large　Barn；　which　stands　at　a　few　yards　distance　from　the　House。　　There　they　shall　have　a　blazing　fire；　and　as　good　a　supper　as　we　can　make　shift　to　give　them。'

After　several　expressions　of　gratitude　on　the　Lady's　part；　and　opposition　on　mine　to　Marguerite's　giving　up　her　bed；　this　arrangement　was　agreed　to。　　As　the　Room　was　small；　the　Baroness　immediately　dismissed　her　Male　Domestics：　　Baptiste　was　on　the　point　of　conducting　them　to　the　Barn　which　He　had　mentioned　when　two　young　Men　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　Cottage。

'Hell　and　Furies！'　exclaimed　the　first　starting　back；　'Robert；　the　House　is　filled　with　Strangers！'

'Ha！　　There　are　my　Sons！'　cried　our　Host。　　'Why；　Jacques！　Robert！　whither　are　you　running；　Boys？　　There　is　room　enough　still　for　you。'

Upon　this　assurance　the　Youths　returned。　　The　Father　presented　them　to　the　Baroness　and　myself：　　After　which　He　withdrew　with　our　Domestics；　while　at　the　request　of　the　two　Waiting…women；　Marguerite　conducted　them　to　the　room　designed　for　their　Mistress。

The　two　new…comers　were　tall；　stout；　well…made　young　Men；　hard…featured；　and　very　much　sun…burnt。　　They　paid　their　compliments　to　us　in　few　words；　and　acknowledged　Claude；　who　now　entered　the　room；　as　an　old　acquaintance。　　They　then　threw　aside　their　cloaks　in　which　they　were　wrapped　up；　took　off　a　leathern　belt　to　which　a　large　Cutlass　was　suspended；　and　each　drawing　a　brace　of　pistols　from　his　girdle　laid　them　upon　a　shelf。

'You　travel　well…armed；'　said　I。

'True；　Monsieur；'　replied　Robert。　　'We　left　Strasbourg　late　this　Evening；　and　'tis　necessary　to　take　precautions　at　passing　through　this　Forest　after　dark。　　It　does　not　bear　a　good　repute；　I　promise　you。'

'How？'　said　the　Baroness；　'Are　there　Robbers　hereabout？'

'So　it　is　said；　Madame；　For　my　own　part；　I　have　travelled　through　the　wood　at　all　hours；　and　never　met　with　one　of　them。'

Here　Marguerite　returned。　　Her　Stepsons　drew　her　to　the　other　end　of　the　room；　and　whispered　her　for　some　minutes。　　By　the　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