Vayenne

by Percy James Brebner

  CHAPTER XXII

  THE DWARF'S APPEAL

  Jean's face and manner were more sadly at variance with his gaudyattire than ever. He barely had a jest for anyone, and earned theopinion that he was a dull fool after all. He spent many lonely hourson the battlements of the West Tower, and for days he did not gooutside the castle. In the body he was in Vayenne, in spirit he waswith the Duke and his sturdy fighters on the frontier, and sometimeswith his bauble for sword he would make savage passes at an imaginaryenemy.

  It was not long before rumors, conflicting and uncertain, began tofind their way to Vayenne. It was whispered that many of the nobleshad gone to fight side by side with the Duke, but this was notgenerally believed. Father Bertrand had denied it, and was it not wellknown that the first and best information always came to the house inthe Rue St. Romain? Then came rumors of battles, of victory, anddefeat. The Duke had driven the enemy back, said one report; he hadbeen defeated with great loss, and was in full retreat, said another.Jean wondered where the truth lay, and noted that Vayenne waspreparing for the worst. The gates were shut, few were permitted topass in and out of the city, military discipline was everywhere. DeBornais was ready to resist a siege. Then for a while no news came. Itwas a time of anxious waiting in the city, and many there were whostarted at any unusual commotion in the streets or in the castle,their real hopes and fears known only to their own hearts. Suddenlycame news of fierce conflict in the vicinity of Larne. The Duke hadsuddenly attacked a stronghold there, on the other side of thefrontier; and that the men of Montvilliers had shown splendid courage,had proved themselves worthy of their forefathers, seemed certain, butthe issue was not known. Some said the Duke had fallen as he led theattack, and something of regret was in the hearts of those most readyto plot against him. At any rate he was a man.

  "Is it true that the Duke is dead?" asked Lucille, coming hastily intoChristine's room.

  "Who says so?" Christine asked, rising suddenly from her chair, thecolor going from her cheeks.

  "They are saying so in the court-yard, mademoiselle."

  "Go, Lucille, quickly, find de Bornais, and send him to me."

  De Bornais came presently.

  "Is it true?" she asked.

  "I know nothing certainly," was the answer, "beyond the fact thatthere has been heavy fighting. There is no doubt of that, and RogerHerrick is not the man to stay in a place of safety."

  "No. He would be in the front of it all. I am sure of that."

  "Mademoiselle, may I urge that you should no longer delay the schemewe have decided upon? The people are always fickle; it is well toplease them while they are in the humor."

  "A few hours can make no difference, de Bornais; I will decideeverything in a few hours."

  "Time is of value, mademoiselle. If Roger Herrick is not dead, if hehas been successful, in the flush of victory the people will beshouting his name in Vayenne. Our opportunity will have gone. Whydelay any longer, mademoiselle?"

  "Would not any victim delay the sacrifice if it could?" she asked."See me again in a few hours, to-night; I will decide then."

  And, left alone again, Christine was in spirit with the leader ofthose fighting men on the frontier, even as Jean was, sitting alone onthe battlements. Christine had no thought for the dwarf, but she cameinto all his visions. He did not go to her; he would not go unless shesent for him. He feared that he might be tempted to break his word tofriend Roger, that he might speak of things which he had been told tokeep secret.

  Buried in his own thoughts, concerned for the safety of Roger Herrickand the happiness of Christine de Liancourt, he had little spirit tojest, and took small notice of what was going on about him. The cityhad been left to the care of de Bornais, and it was quite evident thathe was watchful. Vayenne was prepared, and there had been no rioting.In the castle there was no slackness. If the Duke were driven backupon his capital, all was ready to stand a siege. Montvilliers couldnot be considered conquered while Vayenne held out, nor was RogerHerrick beaten while he held Vayenne. Jean found consolation in thethought, for he had prepared himself for the worst. He sat for hoursupon the battlements watching for the first stragglers of the retreat.

  Late one afternoon he came down from the tower, and was crossing thecourt-yard when he caught sight of a man hastening toward the posternby the great gate. Jean rubbed his eyes, thinking they must be playinghim a trick. The man was Count Felix, and the Count was not allowedwithin the castle! How had he got in, and why had he come? The dwarfhad taken a few hasty steps with the intention of going to inform deBornais at once, when he stopped, and turned suddenly into the nearestdoorway. Danger set his wits working, and it was well to hide until hehad decided what to believe and how to act. Was it possible that deBornais was a traitor? This was the sudden thought which had stoppedthe dwarf. Count Felix had just left the castle; he had made nopretence of concealing his presence there; others must have seen him,yet none had attempted to stop him. If de Bornais were a traitor, thenVayenne was not prepared as a stronghold for the Duke, but was closedagainst him.

  "What can I do?" Jean whispered. "They know I am faithful; that willbe enough to hang me if de Bornais is false. There is too much for meto do to run the risk of being hanged at present. I must get toMademoiselle. If she proclaims herself for the Duke, the curs will getafraid and fawn upon her. I must see her now, before they stop me."

  Few knew the castle as Jean did, and by many a passage in which hewould be least likely to meet anyone, he made his way in the directionof Christine's rooms. The last part of his journey must be along oneof the main corridors, and he waited until the way was clear, and thenwent forward hurriedly.

  A soldier came from a recess, and laid a heavy hand on his shoulder.

  "Where do you go, Master Fool, in such haste?"

  Jean's hand was upon the knife underneath his gay tunic, and for aninstant he debated whether it would not be wise to use it.

  "I came along a passage in which there were dark shadows," heanswered, "and sometimes I'm afraid of shadows."

  "Well, I'm no shadow," laughed the soldier; "and why go along suchpassages? You are being looked for. Mademoiselle has sent for you."

  "Ah, then I am happy again," said Jean. "I am all eagerness. Announceme. There are not many Mademoiselle sends for. I warrant she does notsend for you, for instance."

  "Think of your wonderful attractions, Jean," laughed the soldier.

  "True; it's unique men like myself that the women favor. But you're agood fellow, and I am sorry for you," said the dwarf as he strutted bythe side of the soldier.

  Christine was seated by the window, and Jean hurried across the room,and bent his knee to her.

  "You sent for me, mademoiselle."

  "Did I? Oh, yes, I remember; it was because I was dull and would beamused. And there was something else; I will speak of it presently."

  "I am in no humor to jest," said the dwarf.

  "Why not?"

  "Mademoiselle, listen. I fear the castle is in the hands of traitors."

  "Since when have you feared this?"

  "Not an hour since I saw Count Felix in the court-yard."

  "Well, Jean?"

  "He is not allowed in the castle. It was the Duke's strict command."

  "Foolish Jean, to be carried away by a man's boldness. At presentthere is no Duke of Montvilliers."

  "Ah, mademoiselle, listen to me," pleaded the dwarf. "I was coming toyou when the soldier found me in the corridor; I was coming secretlylest they should stop me, because they know I am faithful. I am not asother men, therefore you--everyone--treats me differently. I am toldsecrets which I keep, and I am of such small account that no one mindsme if I do overhear their words. I do not forget the night I came toyou in the Place Beauvoisin, nor the message you gave me to deliver."

  "He has played with us all, Jean."

  "No one has been so constantly near him as I have," the dwarf went onearnestly. "You have not understood him, I cannot tell you all, butyou have misjudged him. Yo
u have never been out of his thoughts sincethe day he came to you in Passey, came to fight for you and serve you.He is beset with difficulties, but all his actions have been honestones, and behind them all has been the thought of you."

  "Did he bid you tell me so? Surely you have learned your lesson well."

  "I should have run to do his bidding, but I had no command to speak toyou. I have kept away, mademoiselle, lest I should say too much. Allthe people love you, I love you, crooked-limbed and mean as I am. Doyou think I would lie to you when I speak of the Duke?"

  "Call him Roger Herrick, Jean; it offends me less."

  "We may call him what we will, mademoiselle, but yonder on thefrontier he has shown himself a man and a leader of men. He has foughtfor Montvilliers, the land you love, in the forefront of the battle.There have been rumors of victory and of defeat, all vague anduncertain, but there is no uncertainty about Roger Herrick. He is abrave man, even his enemies say so, and half regret that they are hisenemies."

  Christine had turned from him; memory held pictures for her. Theypassed slowly before her, and her eyes, looking through the window,were not conscious of the castle battlements sharply defined againstthe growing twilight of the sky.

  "If de Bornais is a traitor, and since Count Felix was here, how canhe be anything else? Vayenne will be shut against Roger Herrick. Thereis one way to make the curs afraid. Let it be known in the city thatyou are for Roger Herrick. If he is being driven back to the city youcan save him and the country by such a proclamation. Do it now, nowbefore it is too late, and I swear to you, mademoiselle, that inbelieving evil of the Duke you do him wrong."

  Christine turned upon him suddenly. "Can you bear other secrets,Jean?"

  "Command me, mademoiselle. I will not fail you," said the dwarfeagerly.

  "I love Roger Herrick," said Christine, "but I hate the Duke. Love andhate are in the scales; I have weighed them, and am persuaded that myduty compels me to hatred rather than to love. There is no Duke ofMontvilliers, and the country calls to me. I have answered that call.Count Felix came because I sent for him. I am to marry the Count atonce."

  "You! Then you are----"

  "Yes, Jean, a traitor to the man you call Duke."

  The dwarf shrank back with a little cry.

  "I quarrel not with your faith," Christine went on. "You are honest,and I, a Princess in Montvilliers, a Princess of that house whichthis Roger Herrick would depose, am honest too. Your faithfulness is adanger to us, so great a danger that some in the castle have suggestedthat the greatest safety lies in your death. That is why I sent foryou. You are my prisoner, Jean, and shall be tenderly treated. When Iam mistress of Montvilliers you shall have your freedom, and I willask you for your loyalty."

  "Ah, mademoiselle, that I, the poor fool, should have to call youtraitor," said the dwarf as two soldiers came at Christine's summons.

  "Soon I hope to hear you welcome me as Duchess, for such in my ownright I shall be," she answered.

  Jean stood between the two soldiers bewildered. They laid their handsgently on his shoulders. He was a prisoner.

  "Let it be known that he is to be gently treated," said Christine."The man who does not obey me implicitly in this matter shall surelysuffer for it."

  "I am to be petted like a spoiled child," said Jean sharply, lookingup first into one soldier's face, then into the face of the other.

  "Taken care of, Jean, as a foolish man," said Christine.

  "I'd rather be a child. I am tired of it all, and long to be carried."And he sank to the floor, his legs doubled under him. It was soludicrous that Christine laughed, but the next instant her laughterstopped short. Jean's movements were like lightning. With a suddenthrusting out of his foot, he had shot himself back as the soldiersstooped to lift him up, and had darted through the open door.

  The corridor was empty, and the dwarf ran swiftly along it, andturned into a narrow passage. The soldiers followed him shouting, butin the gathering twilight the shadows came early, and the soldiers didnot know the castle as Jean did. He dared not hide, the chase must notbe prolonged, or every man in the castle would be in his way. Probablyonly a few knew that he was to be arrested. The fact would serve himif he acted quickly. Jean could hear that others had already joined inthe chase; there were more than two men following him now. He mustreach the open--the terrace by the South Tower. As he ran across thecourt-yard men ran to intercept him, but not knowing the goal he wasmaking for, they ran wide, and Jean turned sharply, and dashed acrossone of the smaller yards. As he ran toward the south terrace he sawthere were four or five men there.

  "Stop him!" shouted those behind.

  Jean ran on. The men in front were evidently surprised at thecommotion, but they spread across the terrace to catch him. Could hiswit save him now? He shook his bauble as he ran forward.

  "I've made such a fool of the big soldier yonder that he thinks heought to have my clothes," Jean cried. "I'll let him catch mepresently, and show you some fun. I'll not run farther than the end ofthe terrace. See how the big fellow puffs already! Who would spoilsuch sport?"

  Not these men. They knew nothing of the dwarf's arrest, and a comrademade a fool of was always a good jest, so they let Jean through.

  "Stop him! He's a prisoner!"

  At the shout the men turned to catch him, but the momentary respitewas Jean's opportunity. He dashed to the low wall of the terrace, andthrew himself upon it. Two bullets chipped the stonework where he hadbeen the instant before, but he was gone.

  "Killed!" the men cried as they ran forward and jumped upon the wallto see where he had fallen. They were in time to see Jean let go ofthe rope and drop on to the dilapidated roof of the house below.