"It strikes me we have caught a crow instead of a pigeon!""How comes this?" the Italian asked harshly, addressing me.
"Who are you? And why do you wish to cross the river at this time of night, young sir?"I acted on the inspiration of the moment. "Play the man boldly!"Madame had said. I would: and I did with a vengeance. I sprang forward and seizing the captain by the clasp of his cloak, shook him violently, and flung him off with all my force, so that he reeled. "Dog!" I exclaimed, advancing, as if I would seize him again. "Learn how to speak to your betters! Am I to be stopped by such sweepings as you? Hark ye, I am on the King's service!"He fairly spluttered with rage. "More like the devil's!" he exclaimed, pronouncing his words abominably, and fumbling vainly for his weapon. "King's service or no service you do not insult Andrea Pallavicini!"I could only vindicate my daring by greater daring, and I saw this even as, death staring me in the face, my heart seemed to stop. The man had his mouth open and his hand raised to give an order which would certainly have sent Anne de Caylus from the world, when I cried passionately--it was my last chance, and Inever wished to live more strongly than at that moment--I cried passionately, "Andrea Pallavicini, if such be your name, look at that! Look at that!" I repeated, shaking my open hand with the ring on it before his face, "and then hinder me if you dare! To-morrow if you have quarterings enough, I will see to your quarrel! Now send me on my way, or your fate be on your own head! Disobey--ay, do but hesitate--and I will call on these very men of yours to cut you down!"It was a bold throw, for I staked all on a talisman of which Idid not know the value! To me it was the turn of a die, for Ihad had no leisure to look at the ring, and knew no more than a babe whose it was. But the venture was as happy as desperate.
Andrea Pallavicini's expression--no pleasant one at the best of times--changed on the instant. His face fell as he seized my hand, and peered at the ring long and intently. Then he cast a quick glance of suspicion at his men, of hatred at me. But Icared nothing for his glance, or his hatred. I saw already that he had made up his mind to obey the charm: and that for me was everything. "If you had shown that to me a little earlier, young sir, it would, maybe, have been better for both of us," he said, a surly menace in his voice. And cursing his men for their stupidity he ordered two of them to unmoor a boat.
Apparently the craft had been secured with more care than skill, for to loosen it seemed to be a work of time. Meanwhile I stood waiting in the midst of the group, anxious and yet exultant; an object of curiosity, and yet curious myself. I heard the guards whisper together, and caught such phrases as "It is the Duc d'Aumale.""No, it is not D'Aumale. It is nothing like him.""Well, he has the Duke's ring, fool!"
"The Duke's?"
"Ay."
"Then it is all right, God bless him!" This last was uttered with extreme fervour.
I was conscious too of being the object of many respectful glances; and had just bidden the men on the steps below me to be quick, when I discovered with alarm three figures moving across the open space towards us, and coming apparently from the same point from which Pallavicini and his men had emerged.
In a moment I foresaw danger. "Now be quick there!" I cried again. But scarcely had I spoken before I saw that it was impossible to get afloat before these others came up, and Iprepared to stand my ground resolutely.
The first words, however, with which Pallavicini saluted the new-comers scattered my fears. "Well, what the foul fiend do you want?" he exclaimed rudely; and he rapped out half-a-dozen CORPOS before they could answer him. "What have you brought him here for, when I left him in the guard-house? Imbeciles!""Captain Pallavicini," interposed the midmost of the three, speaking with patience--he was a man of about thirty, dressed with some richness, though his clothes were now disordered as though by a struggle--"I have induced these good men to bring me down--""Then," cried the captain, brutally interrupting him, "you have lost your labour, Monsieur.""You do not know me," replied the prisoner with sternness--a prisoner he seemed to be. "You do not understand that I am a friend of the Prince of Conde, and that--"He would have said more, but the Italian again cut him short. "Afig for the Prince of Conde!" he cried; "I understand my duty.
You may as well take things easily. You cannot cross, and you cannot go home, and you cannot have any explanation; except that it is the King's will! Explanation?" he grumbled, in a lower tone, "you will get it soon enough, I warrant! Before you want it!""But there is a boat going to cross," said the other, controlling his temper by an effort and speaking with dignity. "You told me that by the King's order no one could cross; and you arrested me because, having urgent need to visit St. Germain, I persisted.
Now what does this mean, Captain Pallavicini? Others are crossing. I ask what this means?""Whatever you please, M. de Pavannes," the Italian retorted contemptuously. "Explain it for yourself!"I started as the name struck my ear, and at once cried out in surprise, "M. de Pavannes!" Had I heard aright?
Apparently I had, for the prisoner turned to me with a bow.
"Yes, sir," he said with dignity, "I am M. de Pavannes. I have not the honour of knowing you, but you seem to be a gentleman."He cast a withering glance at the captain as he said this.
"Perhaps you will explain to me why this violence has been done to me. If you can, I shall consider it a favour; if not, pardon me."I did not answer him at once, for a good reason--that every faculty I had was bent on a close scrutiny of the man himself.
He was fair, and of a ruddy complexion. His beard was cut in the short pointed fashion of the court; and in these respects he bore a kind of likeness, a curious likeness, to Louis de Pavannes.
