按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he and his wife were therefore pushed onward to the door by the
pressure of the multitude behind them。 The husband tried to pass out
first； dragging the lady by the arm； but at that instant he was pulled
vigorously into the street； and his wife was torn from him by a
stranger。 The terrible hunchback saw at once that he had fallen into a
trap that was cleverly prepared。 Repenting himself for having slept；
he collected his whole strength； seized his wife once more by the
sleeve of her gown； and strove with his other hand to cling to the
gate of the church； but the ardor of love carried the day against
jealous fury。 The young man took his mistress round the waist； and
carried her off so rapidly； with the strength of despair； that the
brocaded stuff of silk and gold tore noisily apart； and the sleeve
alone remained in the hand of the old man。 A roar like that of a lion
rose louder than the shouts of the multitude； and a terrible voice
howled out the words：
〃To me； Poitiers！ Servants of the Comte de Saint…Vallier； here！ Help！
help！〃
And the Comte Aymar de Poitiers； sire de Saint…Vallier； attempted to
draw his sword and clear a space around him。 But he found himself
surrounded and pressed upon by forty or fifty gentlemen whom it would
be dangerous to wound。 Several among them； especially those of the
highest rank； answered him with jests as they dragged him along the
cloisters。
With the rapidity of lightning the abductor carried the countess into
an open chapel and seated her behind the confessional on a wooden
bench。 By the light of the tapers burning before the saint to whom the
chapel was dedicated； they looked at each other for a moment in
silence； clasping hands； and amazed at their own audacity。 The
countess had not the cruel courage to reproach the young man for the
boldness to which they owed this perilous and only instant of
happiness。
〃Will you fly with me into the adjoining States？〃 said the young man；
eagerly。 〃Two English horses are awaiting us close by； able to do
thirty leagues at a stretch。〃
〃Ah！〃 she cried； softly； 〃in what corner of the world could you hide a
daughter of King Louis XI。？〃
〃True；〃 replied the young man； silenced by a difficulty he had not
foreseen。
〃Why did you tear me from my husband？〃 she asked in a sort of terror。
〃Alas！〃 said her lover； 〃I did not reckon on the trouble I should feel
in being near you； in hearing you speak to me。 I have made plans；two
or three plans；and now that I see you all seems accomplished。〃
〃But I am lost！〃 said the countess。
〃We are saved！〃 the young man cried in the blind enthusiasm of his
love。 〃Listen to me carefully！〃
〃This will cost me my life！〃 she said； letting the tears that rolled
in her eyes flow down her cheeks。 〃The count will kill me；to…night；
perhaps！ But go to the king； tell him the tortures that his daughter
has endured these five years。 He loved me well when I was little； he
called me 'Marie…full…of…grace；' because I was ugly。 Ah！ if he knew
the man to whom he gave me； his anger would be terrible。 I have not
dared complain； out of pity for the count。 Besides； how could I reach
the king？ My confessor himself is a spy of Saint…Vallier。 That is why
I have consented to this guilty meeting； to obtain a defender；some
one to tell the truth to the king。 Can I rely on Oh！〃 she cried；
turning pale and interrupting herself； 〃here comes the page！〃
The poor countess put her hands before her face as if to veil it。
〃Fear nothing；〃 said the young seigneur； 〃he is won！ You can safely
trust him； he belongs to me。 When the count contrives to return for
you he will warn us of his coming。 In the confessional；〃 he added； in
a low voice； 〃is a priest； a friend of mine； who will tell him that he
drew you for safety out of the crowd； and placed you under his own
protection in this chapel。 Therefore； everything is arranged to
deceive him。〃
At these words the tears of the poor woman stopped； but an expression
of sadness settled down on her face。
〃No one can deceive him；〃 she said。 〃To…night he will know all。 Save
me from his blows！ Go to Plessis； see the king； tell him〃 she
hesitated； then； some dreadful recollection giving her courage to
confess the secrets of her marriage； she added： 〃Yes； tell him that to
master me the count bleeds me in both armsto exhaust me。 Tell him
that my husband drags me about by the hair of my head。 Say that I am a
prisoner； that〃
Her heart swelled； sobs choked her throat； tears fell from her eyes。
In her agitation she allowed the young man； who was muttering broken
words； to kiss her hands。
〃Poor darling！ no one can speak to the king。 Though my uncle is grand…
master of his archers； I could not gain admission to Plessis。 My dear
lady！ my beautiful sovereign！ oh； how she has suffered！ Marie； let
yourself say but two words； or we are lost！〃
〃What will become of us？〃 she murmured。 Then； seeing on the dark wall
a picture of the Virgin； on which the light from the lamp was falling；
she cried out：
〃Holy Mother of God； give us counsel！〃
〃To…night；〃 said the young man； 〃I shall be with you in your room。〃
〃How？〃 she asked naively。
They were in such great peril that their tenderest words were devoid
of love。
〃This evening；〃 he replied； 〃I shall offer myself as apprentice to
Maitre Cornelius； the king's silversmith。 I have obtained a letter of
recommendation to him which will make him receive me。 His house is
next to yours。 Once under the roof of that old thief； I can soon find
my way to your apartment by the help of a silken ladder。〃
〃Oh！〃 she said； petrified with horror； 〃if you love me don't go to
Maitre Cornelius。〃
〃Ah！〃 he cried； pressing her to his heart with all the force of his
youth； 〃you do indeed love me！〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃are you not my hope？ You are a gentleman； and I
confide to you my honor。 Besides；〃 she added； looking at him with
dignity； 〃I am so unhappy that you would never betray my trust。 But
what is the good of all this？ Go； let me die； sooner than that you
should enter that house of Maitre Cornelius。 Do you not know that all
his apprentices〃
〃Have been hanged；〃 said the young man； laughing。
〃Oh； don't go； you will be made the victim of some sorcery。〃
〃I cannot pay too dearly for the joy of serving you；〃 he said； with a
look that made her drop her eyes。
〃But my husband？〃 she said。
〃Here is something to put him to sleep；〃 replied her lover； drawing
from his belt a little vial。
〃Not for always？〃 said the countess； trembling。
For all answer the young seigneur made a gesture of horror。
〃I would long ago have defied him to mortal combat if he were not so
old；〃 he said。 〃God preserve me from ridding you of him in any other
way。〃
〃Forgive me；〃 said the countess； blushing。 〃I am cruelly punished for
my sins。 In a moment of despair I thought of killing him； and I feared
you