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all the while aware that he should certainly take it。 But where is the
man who； in a crisis of his life； does not willingly listen to
presentiments as he hangs above the precipice？ A lover worthy of being
loved； the young man feared to die before he had been received for
love's sake by the countess。
This mental deliberation was so painfully interesting that he did not
feel the cold wind as it whistled round the corner of the building；
and chilled his legs。 On entering that house； he must lay aside his
name； as already he had laid aside the handsome garments of nobility。
In case of mishap； he could not claim the privileges of his rank nor
the protection of his friends without bringing hopeless ruin on the
Comtesse de Saint…Vallier。 If her husband suspected the nocturnal
visit of a lover； he was capable of roasting her alive in an iron
cage； or of killing her by degrees in the dungeons of a fortified
castle。 Looking down at the shabby clothing in which he had disguised
himself； the young nobleman felt ashamed。 His black leather belt； his
stout shoes； his ribbed socks； his linsey…woolsey breeches； and his
gray woollen doublet made him look like the clerk of some poverty…
stricken justice。 To a noble of the fifteenth century it was like
death itself to play the part of a beggarly burgher； and renounce the
privileges of his rank。 Butto climb the roof of the house where his
mistress wept； to descend the chimney； or creep along from gutter to
gutter to the window of her room； to risk his life to kneel beside her
on a silken cushion before a glowing fire； during the sleep of a
dangerous husband； whose snores would double their joy； to defy both
heaven and earth in snatching the boldest of all kisses； to say no
word that would not lead to death or at least to sanguinary combat if
overheard；all these voluptuous images and romantic dangers decided
the young man。 However slight might be the guerdon of his enterprise；
could he only kiss once more the hand of his lady； he still resolved
to venture all； impelled by the chivalrous and passionate spirit of
those days。 He never supposed for a moment that the countess would
refuse him the soft happiness of love in the midst of such mortal
danger。 The adventure was too perilous； too impossible not to be
attempted and carried out。
Suddenly all the bells in the town rang out the curfew；a custom
fallen elsewhere into desuetude； but still observed in the provinces；
where venerable habits are abolished slowly。 Though the lights were
not put out； the watchmen of each quarter stretched the chains across
the streets。 Many doors were locked； the steps of a few belated
burghers； attended by their servants； armed to the teeth and bearing
lanterns； echoed in the distance。 Soon the town； garroted as it were；
seemed to be asleep； and safe from robbers and evil…doers； except
through the roofs。 In those days the roofs of houses were much
frequented after dark。 The streets were so narrow in the provincial
towns； and even in Paris； that robbers could jump from the roofs on
one side to those on the other。 This perilous occupation was long the
amusement of King Charles IX。 in his youth； if we may believe the
memoirs of his day。
Fearing to present himself too late to the old silversmith； the young
nobleman now went up to the door of the Malemaison intending to knock；
when； on looking at it； his attention was excited by a sort of vision；
which the writers of those days would have called 〃cornue；〃perhaps
with reference to horns and hoofs。 He rubbed his eyes to clear his
sight； and a thousand diverse sentiments passed through his mind at
the spectacle before him。 On each side of the door was a face framed
in a species of loophole。 At first he took these two faces for
grotesque masks carved in stone； so angular； distorted； projecting；
motionless； discolored were they； but the cold air and the moonlight
presently enabled him to distinguish the faint white mist which living
breath sent from two purplish noses； then he saw in each hollow face；
beneath the shadow of the eyebrows； two eyes of porcelain blue casting
clear fire； like those of a wolf crouching in the brushwood as it
hears the baying of the hounds。 The uneasy gleam of those eyes was
turned on him so fixedly that； after receiving it for fully a minute；
during which he examined the singular sight； he felt like a bird at
which a setter points； a feverish tumult rose in his soul； but he
quickly repressed it。 The two faces； strained and suspicious； were
doubtless those of Cornelius and his sister。
The young man feigned to be looking about him to see where he was； and
whether this were the house named on a card which he drew from his
pocket and pretended to read in the moonlight； then he walked straight
to the door and struck three blows upon it； which echoed within the
house as if it were the entrance to a cave。 A faint light crept
beneath the threshold； and an eye appeared at a small and very strong
iron grating。
〃Who is there？〃
〃A friend； sent by Oosterlinck； of Brussels。〃
〃What do you want？〃
〃To enter。〃
〃Your name？〃
〃Philippe Goulenoire。〃
〃Have you brought credentials？〃
〃Here they are。〃
〃Pass them through the box。〃
〃Where is it？〃
〃To your left。〃
Philippe Goulenoire put the letter through the slit of an iron box
above which was a loophole。
〃The devil！〃 thought he； 〃plainly the king comes here； as they say he
does； he couldn't take more precautions at Plessis。〃
He waited for more than a quarter of an hour in the street。 After that
lapse of time； he heard Cornelius saying to his sister； 〃Close the
traps of the door。〃
A clinking of chains resounded from within。 Philippe heard the bolts
run； the locks creak； and presently a small low door； iron…bound；
opened to the slightest distance through which a man could pass。 At
the risk of tearing off his clothing； Philippe squeezed himself rather
than walked into La Malemaison。 A toothless old woman with a hatchet
face； the eyebrows projecting like the handles of a cauldron； the nose
and chin so near together that a nut could scarcely pass between them；
a pallid； haggard creature； her hollow temples composed apparently
of only bones and nerves；guided the 〃soi…disant〃 foreigner silently
into a lower room； while Cornelius followed prudently behind him。
〃Sit there；〃 she said to Philippe； showing him a three…legged stool
placed at the corner of a carved stone fireplace； where there was no
fire。
On the other side of the chimney…piece was a walnut table with twisted
legs； on which was an egg in a plate and ten or a dozen little bread…
sops； hard and dry and cut with studied parsimony。 Two stools placed
beside the table； on one of which the old woman sat down； showed that
the miserly pair were eating their suppers。 Cornelius went to the door
and pushed two iron shutters into their place； closing； no doubt； the
loopholes th