volume01-第17章

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dle；　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　embarrass　me　with　their　questions。　　I　strove　to　divert　my　attention　from　the　perils　which　surrounded　me；　by　conversing　on　different　subjects　with　the　Baroness。　　I　talked　of　Germany；　declaring　my　intention　of　visiting　it　immediately：　　God　knows；　that　I　little　thought　at　that　moment　of　ever　seeing　it！　　She　replied　to　me　with　great　ease　and　politeness；　professed　that　the　pleasure　of　making　my　acquaintance　amply　compensated　for　the　delay　in　her　journey；　and　gave　me　a　pressing　invitation　to　make　some　stay　at　the　Castle　of　Lindenberg。　　As　She　spoke　thus；　the　Youths　exchanged　a　malicious　smile；　which　declared　that　She　would　be　fortunate　if　She　ever　reached　that　Castle　herself。　　This　action　did　not　escape　me；　But　I　concealed　the　emotion　which　it　excited　in　my　breast。　　I　continued　to　converse　with　the　Lady；　But　my　discourse　was　so　frequently　incoherent；　that　as　She　has　since　informed　me；　She　began　to　doubt　whether　I　was　in　my　right　senses。　　The　fact　was；　that　while　my　conversation　turned　upon　one　subject；　my　thoughts　were　entirely　occupied　by　another。　　I　meditated　upon　the　means　of　quitting　the　Cottage；　finding　my　way　to　the　Barn；　and　giving　the　Domestics　information　of　our　Host's　designs。　　I　was　soon　convinced；　how　impracticable　was　the　attempt。　　Jacques　and　Robert　watched　my　every　movement　with　an　attentive　eye；　and　I　was　obliged　to　abandon　the　idea。　　All　my　hopes　now　rested　upon　Claude's　not　finding　the　Banditti：　　In　that　case；　according　to　what　I　had　overheard；　we　should　be　permitted　to　depart　unhurt。

I　shuddered　involuntarily　as　Baptiste　entered　the　room。　　He　made　many　apologies　for　his　long　absence；　but　'He　had　been　detained　by　affairs　impossible　to　be　delayed。'　　He　then　entreated　permission　for　his　family　to　sup　at　the　same　table　with　us；　without　which；　respect　would　not　authorize　his　taking　such　a　liberty。　　Oh！　how　in　my　heart　I　cursed　the　Hypocrite！　　How　I　loathed　his　presence；　who　was　on　the　point　of　depriving　me　of　an　existence；　at　that　time　infinitely　dear！　　I　had　every　reason　to　be　satisfied　with　life；　I　had　youth；　wealth；　rank；　and　education；　and　the　fairest　prospects　presented　themselves　before　me。　　I　saw　those　prospects　on　the　point　of　closing　in　the　most　horrible　manner：　　Yet　was　I　obliged　to　dissimulate；　and　to　receive　with　a　semblance　of　gratitude　the　false　civilities　of　him　who　held　the　dagger　to　my　bosom。

The　permission　which　our　Host　demanded；　was　easily　obtained。　　We　seated　ourselves　at　the　Table。　　The　Baroness　and　myself　occupied　one　side：　　The　Sons　were　opposite　to　us　with　their　backs　to　the　door。　　Baptiste　took　his　seat　by　the　Baroness　at　the　upper　end；　and　the　place　next　to　him　was　left　for　his　Wife。　　She　soon　entered　the　room；　and　placed　before　us　a　plain　but　comfortable　Peasant's　repast。　　Our　Host　thought　it　necessary　to　apologize　for　the　poorness　of　the　supper：　　'He　had　not　been　apprized　of　our　coming；　He　could　only　offer　us　such　fare　as　had　been　intended　for　his　own　family：'

'But；'　added　He；　'should　any　accident　detain　my　noble　Guests　longer　than　they　at　present　intend；　I　hope　to　give　them　a　better　treatment。'

The　Villain！　I　well　knew　the　accident　to　which　He　alluded；　I　shuddered　at　the　treatment　which　He　taught　us　to　expect！

My　Companion　in　danger　seemed　entirely　to　have　got　rid　of　her　chagrin　at　being　delayed。　　She　laughed；　and　conversed　with　the　family　with　infinite　gaiety。　　I　strove　but　in　vain　to　follow　her　example。　　My　spirits　were　evidently　forced；　and　the　constraint　which　I　put　upon　myself　escaped　not　Baptiste's　observation。

'Come；　come；　Monsieur；　cheer　up！'　said　He；　'You　seem　not　quite　recovered　from　your　fatigue。　　To　raise　your　spirits；　what　say　you　to　a　glass　of　excellent　old　wine　which　was　left　me　by　my　Father？　God　rest　his　soul；　He　is　in　a　better　world！　　I　seldom　produce　this　wine；　But　as　I　am　not　honoured　with　such　Guests　every　day；　this　is　an　occasion　which　deserves　a　Bottle。'

He　then　gave　his　Wife　a　Key；　and　instructed　her　where　to　find　the　wine　of　which　He　spoke。　　She　seemed　by　no　means　pleased　with　the　commission；　She　took　the　Key　with　an　embarrassed　air；　and　hesitated　to　quit　the　Table。

'Did　you　hear　me？'　said　Baptiste　in　an　angry　tone。

Marguerite　darted　upon　him　a　look　of　mingled　anger　and　fear；　and　left　the　chamber。　　His　eyes　followed　her　suspiciously；　till　She　had　closed　the　door。

She　soon　returned　with　a　bottle　sealed　with　yellow　wax。　　She　placed　it　upon　the　table；　and　gave　the　Key　back　to　her　Husband。　　I　suspected　that　this　liquor　was　not　presented　to　us　without　design；　and　I　watched　Marguerite's　movements　with　inquietude。　　She　was　employed　in　rinsing　some　small　horn　Goblets。　　As　She　placed　them　before　Baptiste；　She　saw　that　my　eye　was　fixed　upon　her；　and　at　the　moment　when　She　thought　herself　unobserved　by　the　Banditti；　She　motioned　to　me　with　her　head　not　to　taste　the　liquor；　She　then　resumed　her　place。

In　the　mean　while　our　Host　had　drawn　the　Cork；　and　filling　two　of　the　Goblets；　offered　them　to　the　Lady　and　myself。　　She　at　first　made　some　objections；　but　the　instances　of　Baptiste　were　so　urgent；　that　She　was　obliged　to　comply。　　Fearing　to　excite　suspicion；　I　hesitated　not　to　take　the　Goblet　presented　to　me。　　By　its　smell　and　colour　I　guessed　it　to　be　Champagne；　But　some　grains　of　powder　floating　upon　the　top　convinced　me　that　it　was　not　unadulterated。　　However；　I　dared　not　to　express　my　repugnance　to　drinking　it；　I　lifted　it　to　my　lips；　and　seemed　to　be　swallowing　it：　　Suddenly　starting　from　my　chair；　I　made　the　best　of　my　way　towards　a　Vase　of　water　at　some　distance；　in　which

Marguerite　had　been　rinsing　the　Goblets。　　I　pretended　to　spit　out　the　wine　with　disgust；　and　took　an　opportunity　unperceived　of　emptying　the　liquor　into　the　Vase。

The　Banditti　seemed　alarmed　at　my　action。　　Jacques　half　rose　from　his　chair；　put　his　hand　into　his　bosom；　and　I　discovered　the　haft　of　a　dagger。　　I　returned　to　my　seat　with　tranquillity；　and　affected　not　to　have　observed　their　confusion。

'You　have　not　suited　my　taste；　honest　Friend；'　said　I；　addressing　myself　to　Baptiste。　　'I　never　can　drink　Champagne　without　it