The Chevalier d'Auriac

by S. Levett Yeats

  CHAPTER XII

  MONSIEUR RAVAILLAC DOES NOT SUIT

  In the excitement attendant in my scuffle with d'Ayen and thesubsequent events, ending in my escape from the clutches of the watch,I had for the moment clean forgot Ravaillac's fit of frenzy. I sleptprofoundly, and towards morning was half awakened by an uneasy feelingthat there was someone in the room. This passed away; but a short timeafter I awoke with a start, and looking around saw Ravaillac bendingover some of my things which were lying in a corner of the room. As Ilooked at him the full recollection of his strange behaviour came backto me, and, a slight movement on my part attracting his attention, hebade me a civil good-morning. He made no mention, however, of hisillness, nor did he excuse himself in any way, but set about hisduties in a quiet, cat-like manner.

  Whilst he moved softly about, I began to piece together the noise ofthe stumble I had heard outside my door when about to set out withPalin, with Madame Pantin's warning and the scene in the loft. Itstruck me that his seizure might after all be a blind, and Idetermined to question the man, and, by watching the play of hisfeatures and noting his manner of reply, try and discover if there wasanything to show that my idea was correct.

  Pretending, therefore, to be unaware of what had passed, I asked:

  'How was it you were not in to receive me last night, Ravaillac?'

  There was a quick up-and-down movement of the long grey eyes, and heanswered:

  'I was ill, monsieur; I trust Monsieur le Chevalier is not hurt?'

  'Hurt! Why should I be?'

  'Monsieur will pardon me, but I thought it possible.'

  'How so?'

  'Monsieur's clothes were dripping wet when I first came in, and hisrapier stained full six inches from the point when I drew it out ofits sheath to clean it this morning. It looked like an arm-thrust, andI thought----'

  'Never mind what you thought. I had a slight affair last night, butwas not hurt.' It was clear to me that he was trying to carry the warinto my country, as it were, by counter-questions to mine. I thereforecut him short, and added:

  'Your illness came and went very suddenly. Are you often taken thatway?'

  'Then Monsieur knows----'

  'A great many things, perhaps; but kindly answer my question.'

  It may have been fancy or not; but it seemed to me that, as oncebefore, I saw the wraith of a smile flit stealthily along his thinlips. He was standing in front of me, holding my rapier, and his eyeswere bent down on the polished steel hilt as I spoke.

  At first he made no answer, and I repeated my question. This time helooked me full in the face, and the whole expression of the manchanged--his cheeks paled, his eyes dilated, his voice took a shrillpitch.

  'I cannot tell, monsieur. It comes and goes like the wind. There is aFear that falls on me--a Fear and something, I know not what, beside;but all before my eyes is red--red as if it rained blood--and then amyriad of devils are whispering in my ears, and there is no safety forme but the cross and prayer. It has passed now--God be thanked! WillMonsieur not take his sword?'

  His voice dropped again to its low, soft note as he ended, and handedme my rapier. I buckled it on, thinking to myself, 'My friend, you areeither a lunatic at large or a finished actor. In either case youwon't do for me.' I said no more, however, but when he gave me my hathe asked:

  'Will Monsieur require me in attendance?'

  'Yes. I go to the Hotel de Belin, and I trust this will be the last ofyour attacks whilst you are with me. The Compte told me you had been aFlagellant, but had recovered.'

  'I have been well for a long time, monsieur,' he answered, taking myhumour--'I will try and get ill no more.'

  'I am glad of that. Saddle Couronne. I go out at once--you can followon foot.'

  'Monsieur.'

  The next moment he was gone, and I heard him running down the stairs.It would take a few minutes to get Couronne ready, but I followed himdown at once, as I had an inquiry to make from Madame Pantin. I heardsomeone moving below in the kitchen, and, thinking it was dameAnnette, called down the winding stair:

  'Madame--Madame Pantin!'

  'Madame is out; but is there anything I can do for Monsieur?' And thenotary appeared below, a dim outline, clad in his dressing-gown, witha woollen cap on his head.

  I went down to him and asked:

  'Pantin, do you know if Ravaillac was out last night?'

  'I would have told Monsieur there and then when he came in from hisswim in the Seine. No, for I watched and saw him sleeping in the loft.'

  'Are you sure?'

  'As I am of being here.'

  'Thanks! Madame is out early?'

  'She has gone to the Rue Varenne; but, monsieur, be careful of thatRavaillac.'

  I nodded my head, and then, raising my voice: 'I dine at the Two Ecusas usual--good day!'

  'Good day, monsieur!'

  Couronne was at the door, Ravaillac at her head, and, mounting, I wentat a walking pace towards the Pont au Change, my servant a yard or sobehind. It was my intention to see de Belin, to ask him to find out ifI was in any danger owing to last night's folly or misadventure--callit what you will--and to beg his advice on the course I was to pursue.

  I had been recognised by d'Ayen. My name was known to those with him,and any trouble with the Hotel de Ville meant hopeless disaster. I hadalmost made up my mind to conceal myself somewhere until the day offlight; but, before taking any action, thought it advisable to consultmy friend, and to return Ravaillac to his service.

  On my way to the Rue de Bourdonnais, however, I began to turn thematter of Ravaillac over again in my mind, and found myself betweenthe hedge and the ditch. If I got rid of him, the man, if he was aspy, could watch me in secret; if I kept him with me, the same thinghappened. After all, whilst with me he had greater opportunities, andthe less of the two evils was to be rid of him--yes, it would bebetter so.

  Imagine my disappointment when reaching his hotel to find that Belinwas out! Vallon begged me to wait, explaining that his master had beenabsent for so long a time that his return would be but a matter ofminutes. He had supped out the night before with de Vitry, the Captainof the Scots Guards, and M. le Grand, had come back late, and goneforth very early in the morning, and it was now full time he was back.

  I determined therefore to wait, though every moment was of importanceto me, and, after a half-hour of patience in an easy chair, rose andwalked towards the window, to while away the time by watching what wasgoing on below. One of the heavy brocade curtains was half drawn, andwithout thinking of it I came up towards that side, and looked outfrom behind its cover. It struck me as strange that my horse waswithout the gate, instead of being within the courtyard, andRavaillac, with the reins thrown over his shoulder, was engaged inconverse with a cavalier whose back was turned to me, and whose headwas entirely concealed by his broad-brimmed hat and long plumes.

  But the tall, straight figure, with its stretch of shoulder, could notbe mistaken. It was de Gomeron to a certainty, and my doubts on thepoint were soon at rest. Keeping as far as possible within the shadowof the curtain, I watched them for full five minutes whilst theyconversed together earnestly, and then something changed hands betweenthem. Finally, the cavalier left Ravaillac with a nod to his salute,and crossed over to the other side of the road, where a mounted lackeywas holding his horse. As he gained the saddle, he turned his facetowards me for an instant. There was no shadow of doubt left. Itwas de Gomeron, and it was clear that there was more between thefree-lance and Ravaillac than there should be, and also I wasconvinced, I know not how, that what had passed between them touchedme, and was not for my good. What object the man had to play traitor Icannot say; but I do know that there are some natures to whom doubledealing is as their skin, and whom nothing can turn from falsehood andchicane.

  Be this as it may, I knew at any rate the grass where one viper lay,and made up my mind to blunt his fangs without any further delay. Igave de Belin another half-hour, and then, c
alling Vallon, left amessage with him, begging my friend to see me at my lodging on amatter of the utmost moment. As soon as I was in the saddle, I bentforwards, and, looking Ravaillac full in the face, said: 'My friend,you have too many acquaintances for my service; I return you from thismoment to Monsieur le Compte.'

  'I do not understand, monsieur,' he began to stammer; but I cut himshort.

  'I spoke clearly enough. I do not require your services further. Youare discharged. Take this,' and flinging him a couple of gold pieces,which the scoundrel swooped at like a hawk, I turned the mare's headand trotted off.

  I made a short cut down a side street, and, in so doing, had anopportunity of taking a last look at my man. He was standing talkingto Vallon, and moving his hands in my direction.

  'Reeling out lies by the dozen,' I muttered to myself. 'If I mistakenot, there will be another place lost to you by sundown.'

  I let myself in by the stable entrance, and, after attending toCouronne, entered the house. There was apparently not a soul within. Isought the lower apartments in the hope of finding either the notaryor his wife, to explain to them my action in regard to Ravaillac; butneither of them was visible. There was no answer to my call. Therecould not be a soul in the house.

  I determined, therefore, to go up to my room and await de Belin'scoming, and on my opening the door of my sitting-room saw, to mysurprise, a man apparently dozing in my armchair. The noise of myentrance awoke him. He jumped up, and I recognised my friend.

  'Belin! what good wind has blown you here? But how did you come in?There is no one in the house?'

  'There was when I came in, my friend. Do you know'--and he looked mein the face--'You have made a mess of things.'

  'You know already! Belin, I have just been to see you about it. Thewhole affair was forced on me.'

  'Partly. It was lucky I was there, and sober enough to think ofcutting the cord of the lamp. You vanished, as I thought you would,and I have been attending to your affairs since then; any other manwould have been laid by the heels ere this, but the stars fought foryou.'

  'Any other man who had not a friend like you, Lisois. But do youreally mean that I am safe from arrest?'

  'I think so, from any count under the Edict of Blois; but I had adevil of a dance. First of all, the catchpoles insisted upon turningtheir attentions towards me, and I only got off on the testimony of M.le Baron, who after all is but scratched, though spoiling for revenge.Then I rushed off to de Villeroi; but he, full of his new office asgovernor of the Hotel, hummed and hawed--would hear of nothing, hesaid, until you were provided with a lodging in Fort l'Eveque, andtalked big of the law and its course. However, I had an argument topersuade him: little birds twitter odd things into the ears of achamberlain, sometimes, and he agreed to hold over the matter for afew hours until I had seen the King.'

  'The King!'

  'Why not, _mon ami?_ With the first streak of light I went to see afriend who shall be nameless, but is a power in the land. An hourlater I was at the Louvre and at his Majesty's bedside. Henry was inhigh good humour. He had won nine thousand crowns last night from theinvincible Portuguese, de Pimental. Almost as great a victory asArques, he said. I related the whole of the circumstances withoutmentioning your name, and, pledging my word that d'Ayen would be aboutby this afternoon, begged for a pardon.'

  'But the King of course asked for my name.'

  'Of course he did, and, in reply, I said I would bring you in personto the Louvre this afternoon: then by good chance Sully himself camein. His lands of Muret march with mine, and Monseigneur is my verygood friend. The King began to put him the case, to which Sullylistened without a movement, except an occasional glance at a roll ofdocuments in his hand, and when Henry finished said, with a smile--

  "'A trifle, sire, that may well be left to M. de Villeroi; perhaps,however, sire, your Majesty might agree to de Belin's petition. Thereis a spice of mystery about it, which even interests me. I have,however, brought these papers on the Gabelle."

  "'_Diable!_ Salty, but hardly a relish--let it be as you wish, Belin;and now for my salt without any soup." I took the hint, as may beimagined, and went straight back to Villeroi, and the matter being nowin the hands of the King, he will of course take no action.'

  'You have been goodness itself.'

  'My dear fellow, let that rest! All that you have to do now is to comewith me this afternoon, put your case to the King, and I lay a hundredcrowns to a tester you hear no more--of the little affair of lastnight.'

  As he said this, looking me full in the face, with a peculiar stresson the last words of his speech, a sudden light came upon me. Sully'slands marched with those of de Belin. They were friends. Sully didnot, for reasons of his own, wish it known that he took an interest inmy mission, and the rest was easy to guess.

  '_Pardieu!_ That little thrust through the sword arm of M. le Baronis, after all, not so unlucky--eh! Belin? At least, for our very goodlord of Muret and Villebon.'

  But Lisois only laughed in reply, as he said: 'Add a cat falling onits feet from a church steeple to your scutcheon, d'Auriac. Shall Iget Rouge Croix to prick the new coat of arms?'

  'As you will; you have made my heart, which was heavy as lead, lightonce more--I feel now that I am not playing a hopeless game.'

  'The proper feeling to have, whatever the hazard be. With all yournorthern blood, d'Auriac, you should not have so many nerves.'

  'You forget my mother was of the south.'

  'True, of the Foix Candale. You will die a Huguenot. But I must begoing. Meet me at the Rue de Bourdonnais at one, exactly, and I willtake you to the Louvre, and now good-bye!' He rose and gave me hishand.

  'But, surely, there is no need for you to go now? Dine with me at myordinary; I have much to tell you.'

  _Tap_! _tap_! _tap!_ It was dame Annette's little knock at my door,and I knew it was something of import that had brought her to my room.

  'One moment, Belin!' and, opening the door, I saw Madame Pantinstanding there in breathless agitation.

  'What is it, madame? Come in, and speak freely; there is only myfriend the Compte de Belin here.'

  'It is nothing, monsieur,' she said loudly, and then, dropping hervoice to a whisper, 'Ravaillac was out last night. Pantin wasdeceived. I have come up to tell you so at once: be rid of him. I amasked to tell you this by a friend.'

  'A hundred thanks! I have parted with him, and he will not trouble usmore. But who is this friend who takes so great an interest in me?'

  'You have company, monsieur,' she answered, with a bobbing courtesy,'I will not intrude longer.' And, without another word, she turned andwent away.

  When I looked back, Belin was smoothing the plumes in his hat andlaughing. 'I heard every word, d'Auriac. So Ravaillac is a mouchard,is he? And you have sent him back to me.'

  'I have,' I answered, and then I told my friend what had happened.

  His face was grave enough when I ended.

  'So that explains one thing,' he muttered to himself, tapping thepoint of his boot with the end of his sheathed rapier, and then,looking up, said slowly, 'You were right, and he shall sleep in Fortl'Eveque to-night. No, I cannot stay. Be punctual--and see here.' Hecame close up to me, and rested his hand on my shoulder.

  'Though you do not know it, your game forms part of a bigger gameplayed for higher stakes. There are those who love France, and wouldhave no more madness such as that over poor Gabrielle--we are helpingyou with heart and soul. Be punctual--and adieu. No, I can go out bymyself; do not trouble to come down.'

  He was gone, and I paced up and down for a quarter of an hour, feelinglike a pawn that some unseen hand was moving hither and thither on thechessboard of intrigue. And then I went to my solitary dinner at theTwo Ecus.