Part 50 (1/2)

”Poor lamb of a Master Daniel!” said the governor.

”Ah, good sir, let it not be said that a wars.h.i.+p of the king, our master, refused a poor unfortunate merchant who asked only the protection of his flag, so long as he was able to follow it.”

Chemerant found it hard to refuse this request, which in nowise interfered with the maneuvers of the frigate, as Captain Daniel engaged to follow the course of the Thunderer or allow himself to be abandoned.

Nevertheless, De Chemerant refused. ”You know well,” he said to the captain, ”that if, in spite of our escort, a corsair attacked you, a king's s.h.i.+p could not leave you defenseless. Again, you will hinder the maneuvers of the frigate. It is impossible.”

”But, sir, my rich cargo----”

”You have guns, defend it. I will not allow you the convoy. It is impossible.”

”Alas! my good G.o.d! I, who have come expressly from St. Pierre to ask this favor from you!” said Daniel, in a dolorous tone.

”Well, you will wait for another chance. I cannot cover you with my flag.”

”However, good sir----”

”Enough!” said Chemerant, in a harsh and peremptory tone.

Captain Daniel made a last reverence, and, retreating slowly to the staircase, he disappeared.

”To see these merchants! To hear them one would think there were no interests in the world but those of their cargoes,” said De Chemerant.

”There are, however, very few circ.u.mstances in which one refuses an escort,” said the governor, with an air of astonishment.

”There are very few, indeed, baron, but there are some,” said Chemerant brusquely, while withdrawing.

Croustillac had been conducted to the finest apartment in the house.

When he awoke night had fallen, and the moon shone with so brilliant a light that it illuminated his chamber perfectly.

Croustillac looked out of his window; the two sentinels paced peacefully at the foot of the wall.

”The devil!” said the adventurer. ”It is decidedly impossible to make my escape on this side; there are at least twenty feet to descend just to fall on the backs of these sentinels, and they would find this manner of quitting the governor's house very singular. Let us look at the other side, then.”

Croustillac approached the door with a light step; but a bright light thrown on the floor showed him that the neighboring room was lighted and probably occupied.

By the aid of a tinder-box which he found on the mantel, he lighted a candle, and dressed himself in his old clothes, with a melancholy satisfaction. They exhaled the strong and aromatic odor of the plants and herbs of the surroundings through which Croustillac had so long walked in his wanderings in the forest around Devil's Cliff.

”Zounds! Chance is devilishly well named Chance,” said the Gascon to himself. ”It has always had a particular affection for me. If it was canonized, I would make it my patron saint. Chance--Polypheme, Sire de Croustillac! When, on board the Unicorn, I made a bet that I would marry Blue Beard, who could have foreseen that this foolish wager was almost won; for, after all, in the eyes of the man with the dagger and of De Chemerant, I pa.s.sed, I still pa.s.s, as the husband of the lady of Devil's Cliff. How all things hang together in fate! When I quitted the parsonage of Father Griffen, nose in air, shoulders squared, my switch in my hand to drive away the serpents, who the devil would have said that I left to go, not directly it is true, to incite the Cornwallers to revolt in favor of King James and Louis XIV! Zounds! One may well say that the ways of Providence are inscrutable. Who could have penetrated into this? Ah! now the critical moment approaches. I am sometimes tempted to disclose all to the good man Chemerant. Yes, but I think that each hour gained removes the duke and his wife three or four leagues further from Martinique. I think that here, on land, my trial might be carried out immediately and my gallows raised in the wink of an eye, while on the open sea there would perhaps be no persons present competent to judge me. I think, after all, that if Blue Beard has begged (as I suppose) Father Griffen to endeavor to withdraw me from the claws of Chemerant, that a sudden and imprudent revelation on my part would spoil all. Much better, then, to keep silence. Yes, all well considered,” resumed Croustillac after a moment of reflection, ”to let De Chemerant's mistake last as long as possible, that is the better part for me to take.”

During these reflections Croustillac had dressed himself. ”Now,” he said, ”let me see if there are any means of getting out of here secretly.”

So saying, he softly opened the door and beheld with disappointment the lackeys of the governor, who rose respectfully on seeing him. One went to seek the baron; the other said to Croustillac, ”Monsieur the governor forbade us to enter the chamber of your highness until called; he will come on the instant.”

”No matter, my boy, only show me the door to the garden. It is very warm; I wish to take the air for awhile--but no, there are undoubtedly trees in the garden; I prefer the open s.p.a.ce, the field----”

”That is very simple, your highness; in descending from the gallery you will find yourself in the garden, from which a gate opens into the fields.”

”Very well, then, my boy, conduct me there quickly. I long for the fields like a bird in a cage.”