登陆注册
5440900000008

第8章 CHAPTER II(4)

Shot through the head, the servant collapsed forward; then, as the horse reared and started off at a gallop, he toppled sideways and fell. The girl went down with him and lay in the road whilst he was dragged along, his head bumping horribly on the stones as faster and faster went the frightened horse.

With a shout that may have been either anger or dismay Jean reined in his horse, and sat for a second hesitating whether to begin by recovering the girl, or avenging his comrade. But his doubts were solved for him by La Boulaye, who took a deliberate aim at him.

"Begone!" cried the secretary, "unless you prefer to go by the road I've sent your fellow." And being a discreet youth, Jean made off in silence by the street down which poor Blaise had been dragged.

"Carom" cried Duhamel, in a frenzy of apprehension. "I tremble for you, my son. Fly from Bellecour at once - now, this very instant.

Go to my friends at Amiens; they will - "

But Caron had already left his side to repair to the spot where Marie was lying. The peasantry followed him, though leisurely, in their timid hesitation. They were asking themselves whether, even so remotely as by tending the girl, they dared participate in the violence La Boulaye had committed. That a swift vengeance would be the Seigneur's answer they were well assured, and a great fear possessed them that in that vengeance those of the Chateau might lack discrimination. Charlot was amongst them, and on his feet, but still too dazed to have a clear knowledge of the circumstances.

Presently, however, his faculties awakening and taking in the situation, he staggered forward, and came lurching towards La Boulaye, who was assisting the frightened Marie to rise. With a great sob the girl flung herself into her husband's arms.

"Charlot, mon Charlot!" she cried, and added a moment later: "It was he - this brave gentleman - who rescued me."

"Monsieur," said Charlot, "I shall remember it to my dying day."

He would have said more, but the peasants, stirred by fear, now roused themselves and plucked at his coat.

"Get you gone, Charlot, Get you gone quickly," they advised him.

"And if you are wise you will leave Bellecour without delay. It is not safe for you here."

"It is not safe for any of us," exclaimed one. "I have no mind to be caught when the Seigneur returns. There will be a vengeance. Ah Dieu! what a vengeance!"

The warning acted magically. There were hurried leave-takings, and then, like a parcel of scuttling rabbits, they made for their burrows to hide from the huntsman that would not be long in coming. And ere the last of them was out of sight there arose a stamping of hoofs and a chorus of angry voices. Down tine street thundered the Marquis's cavalcade, brought back by the servant who had escaped and who had ridden after them. Some anger there was - particularly in the heart of the Lord of Bellecour - but greater than their anger was their excitement at the prospect of a man-hunt, with which the chase on which they had been originally bent made but a poor comparison.

"There he is, Monseigneur" cried Jean, as he pointed to La Boulaye.

"And yonder are the girl and her husband."

"Ah! The secretary again, eh?" laughed the nobleman, grimly, as he came nearer. "Ma foi, life must have grown wearisome to him. Secure the woman, Jean."

Caron stood before him, pale in his impotent rage, which was directed as much against the peasants who had fled as against the nobles who approached. Had these clods but stood there, and defended themselves and their manhood with sticks and stones and such weapons as came to their hands, they might have taken pride in being trampled beneath the hoofs of the Seigneurie. Thus, at least, might they have proved themselves men. But to fly thus - some fifty of them from the approach of less than a score - was to confess unworthiness of a better fate than that of which their seigneurs rendered themselves the instruments.

Himself he could do no more than the single shot in his pistol would allow. That much, however, he would do, and like him whose resources are reduced, and yet who desires to spend the little that he has to best advantage, he levelled the weapon boldly at the advancing Marquis, and pulled the trigger. But Bellecour was an old campaigner, and by an old campaigner's trick he saved himself at the last moment.

At sight of that levelled barrel he pulled his horse suddenly on to its haunches, and received the charge in the animal's belly. With a shriek of pain the horse sought to recover its feet, then tumbled forward hurling the Marquis from the saddle. La Boulaye had an inspiration to fling himself upon the old roue and seek with his hands to kill him before they made an end of himself. But ere he could move to execute his design a horseman was almost on top of him.

He received a stunning blow on the head. The daylight faded in his eyes, he felt a sensation of sinking, and a reverberating darkness engulfed him.

同类推荐
  • The Vicomte de Bragelonne

    The Vicomte de Bragelonne

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金箓斋忏方仪

    金箓斋忏方仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 剧话

    剧话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说弥勒来时经

    佛说弥勒来时经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重订曲海总目

    重订曲海总目

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 洪荒之我为人祖

    洪荒之我为人祖

    周山之下,娲皇造人,我为人祖。人族诞生之后,绝不头铁,加入神庭,紧抱娲皇大腿,一步步往上爬,兢兢业业,发展人族。神庭崩塌之后,群雄逐鹿,趁势而起,广交朋友,带领人族成就真正的天地主角。道君时获取祖龙传承,以定海珠为基础,开辟无尽虚拟世界,练假成真,豪杰纷现。道祖时,以人族气运为基础,创造三皇五帝业位,引诱天下豪杰尽入彀中。
  • 门尊

    门尊

    混沌中有三门,门内各藏一物,无人得知;生灵体内亦有三门,门内锁有一魂,门开则魂现,三魂合一终为尊者。
  • 京剧大师梅兰芳

    京剧大师梅兰芳

    本书介绍了京剧大师梅兰芳的生平,内容包括:鸟贵有翼,人贵有志;铁杵磨绣针,功到自然成;青,取之于蓝,而青于蓝;艺术是全人类的精神财富等。
  • 暴君杠上刁蛮妻

    暴君杠上刁蛮妻

    终究还是来了啊,原来以为这一天会很远很远,没想到此刻真正来临的时候,自己却……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 我是当世大佬

    我是当世大佬

    当世大佬,在线跪求一败。无敌站在世界之巅,世界在颤抖。
  • 重生之唯我独仙

    重生之唯我独仙

    大修士萧焰,在渡劫之际被仇家暗算,却因此重生在少年时代,带着从前的雄厚积累,萧焰再踏仙途,逆天崛起!遗憾的,弥补!失去的,夺回!是兄弟的,再续情谊!是仇敌的,一概灭杀!王者临世,只手遮天,飞升不易,唯我独仙!书友群:128467830(旋风)
  • 大唐保大乙巳岁续贞元释教录

    大唐保大乙巳岁续贞元释教录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Divine Comedy

    The Divine Comedy

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 亲亲星星糖骑士

    亲亲星星糖骑士

    只要吃下这颗美味的糖果去亲吻心爱的人,就能与他心灵合一!齐若叶,为了你梦中的骑士,豁出去吧!咦?可是……我怎么好像吻错了人?而且……而且我怎么会突然变成了一个超级美少年?等等,这张脸好像熟悉……啊!他不就是那个冷得像冰块一样的高傲天才交换吗?缤纷校园的魔法乌龙恋曲,亲亲星星糖的甜蜜爱情法则,带来不一样的感动!
  • 你我好时光

    你我好时光

    《你我好时光》是小说家、翻译家于是短篇小说集。书中收录的六篇小说作品,其中《你我好时光》是她的知名小说篇目。本书收录备受喜爱的《你我好时光》《肉体标本》《夜泳馆》等小说作品。于是用凝练的文笔书写着那些不肯离去的情绪,被称作“尤擅于翻译的小说家”。