stories by english authors in france(旅法英国作家的故事)-第27章
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evening grows cold； and as you are my prisoner I must have a care of you。
Kindly put on this cloak and precede me； M。 d'Entragues。 We return to
Fontainebleau by the Rock of the Serpents。〃
His eyes meeting mine； it seemed to me that for a second he held his
breath and hesitated； while a cold shadow fell and dwelt upon his sallow
face。 But the stern； gloomy countenances of La Trape and Boisrose； who
had ridden up to his rein； and were awaiting his answer with their swords
drawn； determined him。 With a loud laugh he took the cloak。 〃It is new； I
hope？〃 he said； lightly； as he threw it over his shoulders。
It was not； and I apologised； adding； however； that no one but the king
had worn it。 On this he settled it about him； and having heard me strictly
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charge the two guards who followed with their arquebuses ready； to fire on
him should he try to escape； he turned his horse's head into the path and
rode slowly along it； while we followed a few paces behind in double file。
The sun had set； and such light as remained fell cold and gray between
the trees。 The crackling of a stick under a horse's hoof； or the ring of a spur
against a scabbard； were the only sounds which broke the stillness of the
wood as we proceeded。 We had gone some little way when M。 Louis
halted； and； turning in his saddle； called to me。
〃M。 de Rosny；〃 he said；the light had so far failed that I could scarcely
see his face；〃I have a meeting with the Viscount de Caylus on Saturday
about a little matter of a lady's glove。 Should anything prevent my
appearance〃
〃I will see that a proper explanation is given；〃 I answered； bowing。
〃Or if M。 d'Entragues will permit me；〃 eagerly exclaimed the Gascon；
who was riding by my side； 〃M。 de Boisrose of St。 Palais； gently born；
through before unknown to him； I will appear in his place and make the
Viscount de Caylus swallow the glove。〃
〃You will？〃 said M。 Louis； with politeness。 〃You are a gentleman。 I am
obliged to you。〃
He waved his hand with a gesture which I afterward well remembered；
and； giving his horse the rein； went forward along the path at a brisk walk。
We followed； and I had just remarked that a plant of box was beginning
here and there to take the place of the usual undergrowth； when a sheet of
flame seemed to leap out through the dusk to meet him； and； his horse
rearing wildly； he fell headlong from the saddle without word or cry。 My
men would have sprung forward before the noise of the report had died
away； and might possibly have overtaken one or more of the assassins； but
I restrained them。 When La Trape dismounted and raised the fallen man；
the latter was dead。
Such were the circumstances； now for the first time made public；
which attended the discovery of this； the least known； yet one of the most
dangerous； of the many plots which were directed against the life of my
master。 The course which I adopted may be blamed by some； but it is
enough for me that after the lapse of years it is approved by my conscience
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and by the course of events。 For it was ever the misfortune of that great
king to treat those with leniency whom no indulgence could win； and I
bear with me to this day the bitter assurance that； had the fate which
overtook Louis d'Entragues embraced the whole of that family； the blow
which ten years later cut short Henry's career would never have been
struck。
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