Part 23 (2/2)
La Mole, therefore, dashed into a small closet, which he bolted inside.
”Ah, coward!” cried Coconnas, furious, and striking at the door with the pommel of his sword; ”wait! wait! and I will make as many holes in your body as you have gained crowns of me to-night. I came up to prevent you from suffering! Oh, I came up to prevent you from being robbed and you pay me back by putting a bullet into my shoulder! Wait for me, coward, wait!”
While this was going on, Maitre la Huriere came up and with one blow with the b.u.t.t-end of his arquebuse smashed in the door.
Coconnas darted into the closet, but only bare walls met him. The closet was empty and the window was open.
”He must have jumped out,” said the landlord, ”and as we are on the fourth story, he is surely dead.”
”Or he has escaped by the roof of the next house,” said Coconnas, putting his leg on the window-sill and preparing to follow him over this narrow and slippery route; but Maurevel and La Huriere seized him and drew him back into the room.
”Are you mad?” they both exclaimed at once; ”you will kill yourself!”
”Bah!” said Coconnas, ”I am a mountaineer, and used to climbing glaciers; besides, when a man has once offended me, I would go up to heaven or descend to h.e.l.l with him, by whatever route he pleases. Let me do as I wish.”
”Well,” said Maurevel, ”he is either dead or a long way off by this time. Come with us; and if he escape you, you will find a thousand others to take his place.”
”You are right,” cried Coconnas. ”Death to the Huguenots! I want revenge, and the sooner the better.”
And the three rushed down the staircase, like an avalanche.
”To the admiral's!” shouted Maurevel.
”To the admiral's!” echoed La Huriere.
”To the admiral's, then, if it must be so!” cried Coconnas in his turn.
And all three, leaving the _Belle etoile_ in charge of Gregoire and the other waiters, hastened toward the admiral's hotel in the Rue de Bethizy; a bright light and the report of fire-arms guided them in that direction.
”Ah, who comes here?” cried Coconnas. ”A man without his doublet or scarf!”
”It is some one escaping,” said Maurevel.
”Fire! fire!” said Coconnas; ”you who have arquebuses.”
”Faith, not I,” replied Maurevel. ”I keep my powder for better game.”
”You, then, La Huriere!”
”Wait, wait!” said the innkeeper, taking aim.
”Oh, yes, wait,” cried Coconnas, ”and meantime he will escape.”
And he rushed after the unhappy wretch, whom he soon overtook, as he was wounded; but at the moment when, in order that he might not strike him behind, he exclaimed, ”Turn, will you! turn!” the report of an arquebuse was heard, a bullet whistled by Coconnas's ears, and the fugitive rolled over, like a hare in its swiftest flight struck by the shot of the sportsman.
A cry of triumph was heard behind Coconnas. The Piedmontese turned round and saw La Huriere brandis.h.i.+ng his weapon.
”Ah,” he exclaimed, ”I have handselled this time at any rate.”
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