Part 44 (2/2)
Jacques had already pa.s.sed one foot over her; but another face appeared, livid and surprised-that of a very tall man, enveloped in a cloak covered with snow. He again recoiled, and laughed a laugh of terror and rage. It was Laubardemont, followed by armed men; they looked at one another.
”Ah, com-r-a-d-e, yo-a ra-a-scal!” hiccuped Houmain, rising with difficulty; ”thou'rt a Royalist.”
But when he saw these two men, who seemed petrified by each other, he became silent, as conscious of his intoxication; and he reeled forward to raise up the madwoman, who was still lying between the judge and the Captain. The former spoke first.
”Are you not he we have been pursuing?”
”It is he!” said the armed men, with one voice; ”the other has escaped.”
Jacques receded to the split planks that formed the tottering wall of the hut; enveloping himself in his cloak, like a bear forced against a tree by the hounds, and, wis.h.i.+ng to gain a moment's respite for reflection, he said, firmly:
”The first who pa.s.ses that brazier and the body of that girl is a dead man.”
And he drew a long poniard from his cloak. At this moment Houmain, kneeling, turned the head of the girl. Her eyes were closed; he drew her toward the brazier, which lighted up her face.
”Ah, heavens!” cried Laubardemont, forgetting himself in his fright; ”Jeanne again!”
”Be calm, my lo-lord,” said Houmain, trying to open the eyelids, which closed again, and to raise her head, which fell back again like wet linen; ”be, be--calm! Do-n't ex-cite yourself; she's dead, decidedly.”
Jacques put his foot on the body as on a barrier, and, looking with a ferocious laugh in the face of Laubardemont, said to him in a low voice:
”Let me pa.s.s, and I will not compromise thee, courtier; I will not tell that she was thy niece, and that I am thy son.”
Laubardemont collected himself, looked at his men, who pressed around him with advanced carabines; and, signing them to retire a few steps, he answered in a very low voice:
”Give me the treaty, and thou shalt pa.s.s.”
”Here it is, in my girdle; touch it, and I will call you my father aloud. What will thy master say?”
”Give it me, and I will spare thy life.”
”Let me pa.s.s, and I will pardon thy having given me that life.”
”Still the same, brigand?”
”Ay, a.s.sa.s.sin.”
”What matters to thee that boy conspirator?” asked the judge.
”What matters to thee that old man who reigns?” answered the other.
”Give me that paper; I've sworn to have it.”
”Leave it with me; I've sworn to carry it back.”
”What can be thy oath and thy G.o.d?” demanded Laubardemont.
”And thine?” replied Jacques. ”Is't the crucifix of red-hot iron?”
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