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Bezers might put it in this way: let M. de Pavannes resign his mistress and live, or die and lose her. "I see," I answered. "But Louis would not give her up. Not to him!" "He would lose her either way," Croisette answered in a low tone. "That is not however the worst of it. Louis is in his power.
The shock over, I was left face to face with a possibility of wickedness such as I could never have suspected of myself. I remembered Mirepoix's distress and the priest's eagerness. I re-called the gruff warning Bezers even Bezers, and there was something very odd in Bezers giving a warning! had given Madame de Pavannes when he told her that she would be better where she was.
What did the women see, I wondered what had we all seen in this man, this Pavannes, that won for him our hearts, when he had only a stone to give in return? I drew Croisette and Marie aside, apparently to consider how we might force the door. "What is the meaning of this?" I said softly, glancing at the unfortunate lady. "What do you think, Croisette?" I knew well what the answer would be.
But, seemingly, Madame de Pavannes had something of the same feeling towards him which I had myself; for she started at the sound of his voice, and disengaging herself from her sister's arms it seemed it was her sister shrank back from the pair. She bowed indeed in acknowledgment of his words. But there was little gratitude in the movement, and less warmth.
For M. de Pavannes," he continued, his voice sinking, "I think that by morning I shall be able to give you a a more particular account of him to take to Caylus to Mademoiselle, you understand." For a moment the mask was off. His face took a sombre brightness.
For if a Huguenot so great and famous and enjoying the king's special favour still went in Paris in danger of his life, what must be the risk that such an one as Pavannes ran? We had hoped to find the city quiet. If instead it should be in a state of turmoil Bezers' chances were so much the better; and ours and Kit's, poor Kit's so much the worse.
Why should we not put spurs to our horses and ride off? "Impossible!" said Pavannes quietly, when I spoke. "Why?" I asked with warmth. "Firstly," he replied, "because I have given my word to go with the Vidame to Cahors." My face flushed hotly. But I cried, "What of that? You were taken by treachery! Your safe conduct was disregarded. Why should you be scrupulous? Your enemies are not.
So we looked well to bolts, and bars, and windows, although the castle is well-nigh impregnable, the smooth rock falling twenty feet at least on every side from the base of the walls. The gatehouse, Pavannes had shown us, might be blown up with gunpowder indeed, but we prepared to close the iron grating which barred the way half-way up the ramp.
I supposed shaking off the momentary impression that what I saw was innocent and normal. Besides, I was thinking what I should say to Pavannes when I saw him in what terms I should warn him of his peril, and cast his perfidy in his teeth.
I feigned therefore to be asleep, but I heard Bure enter to bid us good-night and see that we had not escaped. And I was conscious too of the question Croisette put to him, "Does M. de Pavannes lie alone to-night, Bure?" "Not entirely," the captain answered with gloomy meaning. Indeed he seemed in bad spirits himself, or tired.
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