the jacket (the star-rover)-第16章

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steel。　　I　sit　here　in　my　cell；　and　cease　from　writing　a　space；　while

I　consider　the　matter。　　And　I　have　considered　it　often；　that

moonlight　night　in　France　of　long　ago；　when　I　taught　the　Italian

hound　quick　and　brilliant。　　It　was　so　easy　a　thing；　that　perforation

of　a　torso。　　One　would　have　expected　more　resistance。　　There　would

have　been　resistance　had　my　rapier　point　touched　bone。　　As　it　was；

it　encountered　only　the　softness　of　flesh。　　Still　it　perforated　so

easily。　　I　have　the　sensation　of　it　now；　in　my　hand；　my　brain；　as　I

write。　　A　woman's　hat…pin　could　go　through　a　plum　pudding　not　more

easily　than　did　my　blade　go　through　the　Italian。　　Oh；　there　was

nothing　amazing　about　it　at　the　time　to　Guillaume　de　Sainte…Maure；

but　amazing　it　is　to　me；　Darrell　Standing；　as　I　recollect　and　ponder

it　across　the　centuries。　　It　is　easy；　most　easy；　to　kill　a　strong；

live；　breathing　man　with　so　crude　a　weapon　as　a　piece　of　steel。

Why；　men　are　like　soft…shell　crabs；　so　tender；　frail；　and　vulnerable

are　they。



But　to　return　to　the　moonlight　on　the　grass。　　My　thrust　made　home；

there　was　a　perceptible　pause。　　Not　at　once　did　Fortini　fall。　　Not

at　once　did　I　withdraw　the　blade。　　For　a　full　second　we　stood　in

pauseI；　with　legs　spread；　and　arched　and　tense；　body　thrown

forward；　right　arm　horizontal　and　straight　out；　Fortini；　his　blade

beyond　me　so　far　that　hilt　and　hand　just　rested　lightly　against　my

left　breast；　his　body　rigid；　his　eyes　open　and　shining。



So　statuesque　were　we　for　that　second　that　I　swear　those　about　us

were　not　immediately　aware　of　what　had　happened。　　Then　Fortini

gasped　and　coughed　slightly。　　The　rigidity　of　his　pose　slackened。

The　hilt　and　hand　against　my　breast　wavered；　then　the　arm　drooped　to

his　side　till　the　rapier　point　rested　on　the　lawn。　　By　this　time

Pasquini　and　de　Goncourt　had　sprung　to　him　and　he　was　sinking　into

their　arms。　　In　faith；　it　was　harder　for　me　to　withdraw　the　steel

than　to　drive　it　in。　　His　flesh　clung　about　it　as　if　jealous　to　let

it　depart。　　Oh；　believe　me；　it　required　a　distinct　physical　effort

to　get　clear　of　what　I　had　done。



But　the　pang　of　the　withdrawal　must　have　stung　him　back　to　life　and

purpose；　for　he　shook　off　his　friends；　straightened　himself；　and

lifted　his　rapier　into　position。　　I；　too；　took　position；　marvelling

that　it　was　possible　I　had　spitted　him　heart…high　and　yet　missed　any

vital　spot。　　Then；　and　before　his　friends　could　catch　him；　his　legs

crumpled　under　him　and　he　went　heavily　to　grass。　　They　laid　him　on

his　back；　but　he　was　already　dead；　his　face　ghastly　still　under　the

moon；　his　right　hand　still　a…clutch　of　the　rapier。



Yes；　it　is　indeed　a　marvellous　easy　thing　to　kill　a　man。



We　saluted　his　friends　and　were　about　to　depart；　when　Felix　Pasquini

detained　me。



〃Pardon　me；〃　I　said。　　〃Let　it　be　to…morrow。〃



〃We　have　but　to　move　a　step　aside；〃　he　urged；　〃where　the　grass　is

still　dry。〃



〃Let　me　then　wet　it　for　you；　Sainte…Maure；〃　Lanfranc　asked　of　me；

eager　himself　to　do　for　an　Italian。



I　shook　my　head。



〃Pasquini　is　mine；〃　I　answered。　　〃He　shall　be　first　to…morrow。〃



〃Are　there　others？〃　Lanfranc　demanded。



〃Ask　de　Goncourt；〃　I　grinned。　　〃I　imagine　he　is　already　laying　claim

to　the　honour　of　being　the　third。〃



At　this；　de　Goncourt　showed　distressed　acquiescence。　　Lanfranc

looked　inquiry　at　him；　and　de　Goncourt　nodded。



〃And　after　him　I　doubt　not　comes　the　cockerel；〃　I　went　on。



And　even　as　I　spoke　the　red…haired　Guy　de　Villehardouin；　alone；

strode　to　us　across　the　moonlit　grass。



〃At　least　I　shall　have　him；〃　Lanfranc　cried；　his　voice　almost

wheedling；　so　great　was　his　desire。



〃Ask　him；〃　I　laughed；　then　turned　to　Pasquini。　　〃To…morrow；〃　I　said。

〃Do　you　name　time　and　place；　and　I　shall　be　there。〃



〃The　grass　is　most　excellent；〃　he　teased；　〃the　place　is　most

excellent；　and　I　am　minded　that　Fortini　has　you　for　company　this

night。〃



〃'Twere　better　he　were　accompanied　by　a　friend；〃　I　quipped。　　〃And

now　your　pardon；　for　I　must　go。〃



But　he　blocked　my　path。



〃Whoever　it　be；〃　he　said；　〃let　it　be　now。〃



For　the　first　time；　with　him；　my　anger　began　to　rise。



〃You　serve　your　master　well；〃　I　sneered。



〃I　serve　but　my　pleasure；〃　was　his　answer。　　〃Master　I　have　none。〃



〃Pardon　me　if　I　presume　to　tell　you　the　truth；〃　I　said。



〃Which　is？〃　he　queried　softly。



〃That　you　are　a　liar；　Pasquini；　a　liar　like　all　Italians。〃



He　turned　immediately　to　Lanfranc　and　Bohemond。



〃You　heard；〃　he　said。　　〃And　after　that　you　cannot　deny　me　him。〃



They　hesitated　and　looked　to　me　for　counsel　of　my　wishes。　　But

Pasquini　did　not　wait。



〃And　if　you　still　have　any　scruples；〃　he　hurried　on；　〃then　allow　me

to　remove　them　。　。　。　thus。〃



And　he　spat　in　the　grass　at　my　feet。　　Then　my　anger　seized　me　and

was　beyond　me。　　The　red　wrath　I　call　itan　overwhelming；　all…

mastering　desire　to　kill　and　destroy。　　I　forgot　that　Philippa　waited

for　me　in　the　great　hall。　　All　I　knew　was　my　wrongsthe

unpardonable　interference　in　my　affairs　by　the　gray　old　man；　the

errand　of　the　priest；　the　insolence　of　Fortini；　the　impudence　of

Villehardouin；　and　here　Pasquini　standing　in　my　way　and　spitting　in

the　grass。　　I　saw　red。　　I　thought　red。　　I　looked　upon　all　these

creatures　as　rank　and　noisome　growths　that　must　be　hewn　out　of　my

path；　out　of　the　world。　　As　a　netted　lion　may　rage　against　the

meshes；　so　raged　I　against　these　creatures。　　They　were　all　about　me。

In　truth；　I　was　in　the　trap。　　The　one　way　out　was　to　cut　them　down；

to　crush　them　into　the　earth　and　stamp　upon　them。



〃Very　well；〃　I　said；　calmly　enough；　although　my　passion　was　such

that　my　frame　shook。　　〃You　first；　Pasquini。　　And　you　next；　de

Goncourt？　　And　at　the　end；　de　Villehardouin？〃



Each　nodded　in　turn　and　Pasquini　and　I　prepared　to　step　aside。



〃Since　you　are　in　haste；〃　Henry　Bohemond　proposed　to　me；　〃and　since

there　are　three　of　them　and　three　of　us；　why　not　settle　it　at　the

one　time？〃



〃Yes；　yes；〃　was　Lanfranc's　eager　cry。　　〃Do　you　take　de　Goncourt。　　De

Villehardouin　for　mine。〃



But　I　waved　my　good　friends　back。



〃They　are　here　by　command；〃　I　explained。　　〃It　is　I　they　desire　so

strongly　that　by　my　faith　I　have　caught　the　contagion　of　their

desire；　so　that　now　I　want　them　and　will　have　them　for　myself。〃



I　had　observed　that　Pasquini　fretted　at　my　delay　of　speech…making；

and　I　resolved　to　fret　him　further。



〃You；　Pasquini；〃　I　announced；　〃I　shall　settle　with　in　short　account。

I　would　not　that　you　tarried　while　Fortini　waits　your　companionship。

You；　Raoul　de　Goncourt；　I　shall　punish　as　you　deserve　for　being　in

such　bad　company。　　You　are　getting　fat　and　wheezy。　　I　shall　take　my

time　with　you　until　your　fat　melts　and　your　lungs　pant　and　wheeze

like　leaky　bellows。　　You；　de　Villehardouin；　I　have　not　decided　in

what　manner　I　shall　kill。〃



And　then　I　saluted　Pasquini；　and　we　were　at　it。　　Oh；　I　was　minded　to

be　rarely　devilish　this　night。　　Quick　and　brilliantthat　was　the

thing。　　Nor　was　I　unmindful　of　that　deceptive　moonlight。　　As　with

Fortini　would　I　settle　with　him　if　he　dared　the　time　attack。　　If　he

did　not；　and　quickly；　then　I　would　dare　it。



Despite　the　fret　I　had　put　him　in；　he　was　cautious。　　Nevertheless　I

compelled　the　play　to　be　rapid；　and　in　the　dim　light；　depending　less

than　usual　on　sight　and　more　than　usual　on　feel；　our　blades　were　in

continual　touch。



Barely　was　the　first　minute　of　play　past　when　I　did　the　trick。　　I

feigned　a　slight　slip　of　the　foot；　and；　in　the　recovery；　feigned

loss　of　touch　with　Pasquini's　blade。　　He　thrust　tentatively；　and

again　I　feigned；　this　time　making　a　needlessly　wide　parry。　　The

consequent　exposure　of　myself　was　the　bait　I　had　purposely　dangled

to　draw　him　on。　　And　draw　him　on　I　did。　　Like　a　flash　he　took

advantage　of　what　he　deemed　an　involuntary　exposure。　　Straight　and

true　was　his　thrust；　and　all　his　will　and　body　were　heartily　in　the

weight　of　the　lunge　he　made。　　And　all　had　been　feigned　on　my　part

and　I　was　ready　for　him。　　Just　lightly　did　my　steel　meet　his　as　our

blades　slithered。　　And　just　firmly　enough　and　no　more　did　my　wrist

twist　and　deflect　his　blade　on　my　basket　hilt。　　Oh；　such　a　slight

deflection；　a　matter　of　inches；　just　barely　sufficient　to　send　his

point　past　me　so　that　it　pierced　a　fold　of　my　satin　doublet　in

passing。　　Of　course；　his　body　followed　his　rapier　in　the　lunge；

while；　heart…high；　right　side；　my　rapier　point　met　his　body。　　And　my

outstretched　arm　was　stiff　and　straight　as　the　steel　into　which　it

elongated；　and　behind　the　arm　and　the　steel　my　body　was　braced　and

solid。



Heart…high；　I　say；　my　rapier　entered　Pasquini's　side　on　the　right；

but　it　did　not　emerge；　on　the　left；　for；　well…nigh　through　him；　it

met　a　rib　（oh；　man…killing　is　butcher's　work！）　with　such　a　will　that

the　forcing　overbalanced　him；　so　that　he　fell　part　backward　and　part

sidewise　to　the　ground。　　And　even　as　he　fell；　and　ere　he　struck；

with　jerk　and　wrench　I　cleared　my　weapon　of　him。



De　Goncourt　was　to　him；　but　he　waved　de　Goncourt　to　attend　on　me。

Not　so　swiftly　as　Fortini　did　Pasquini　pass。　　He　coughed　and　spat；

and；　helped　by　de　Villehardouin；　propped　his　elbow　under　him；　rested

his　head　on　hand；　and　coughed　and　spat　again。



〃A　pleasant　journey；　Pasquini；〃　I　laughed　to　him　in　my　red　anger。

〃Pray　hasten；　for　the　grass　where　you　lie　is　become　suddenly　wet　and

if　you　linger　you　will　catch　your　death　of　cold。〃



When　I　made　immediately　to　begin　with　de　Goncourt；　Bohemond

protested　that　I　should　rest　a　space。



〃Nay；〃　I　said。　　〃I　have　not　properly　warmed　up。〃　　And　to　de

Goncourt；　〃Now　will　we　have　you　dance　and　wheezeSalute！〃



De　Goncourt's　heart　was　not　in　the　work。　　It　was　patent　that　he

fought　under　the　compulsion　of　command。　　His　play　was　old…fashioned；

as　any　middle…aged　man's　is　apt　to　be；　but　he　was　not　an　indifferent

swordsman。　　He　was　cool；　determined；　dogged。　　But　he　was　not

brilliant；　and　he　was　oppressed　with　foreknowledge　of　defeat。　　A

score　of　times；　by　quick　and　brilliant；　he　was　mine。　　But　I

refrained。　　I　have　said　that　I　was　devilish…minded。　　Indeed　I　was。

I　wore　him　down。　　I　backed　him　away　from　the　moon　so　that　he　could

see　little　of　me　because　I　fought　in　my　own　shadow。　　And　while　I

wore　him　down　until　he　began　to　wheeze　as　I　had　predicted；　Pasquini；

head　on　hand　and　watching；　coughed　and　spat　out　his　life。



〃Now；　de　Goncourt；〃　I　announced　finally。　　〃You　see　I　have　you　quite

helpless。　　You　are　mine　in　any　of　a　dozen　ways。　　Be　ready；　brace

yourself；　for　this　is　the　way　I　will。〃



And；　so　saying；　I　merely　went　from　carte　to　tierce；　and　as　he

recovered　wildly　and　parried　widely　I　returned　to　carte；　took　the

opening；　and　drove　home　heart…high　and　through　and　through。　　And　at

sight　of　the　conclusion　Pasquini　let　go　his　hold　on　life；　buried　his

face　in　the　grass；　quivered　a　moment；　and　lay