Part 143 (2/2)
CHAPTER Lx.x.xIX.
INTEREST AND CAPITAL.
As the king spoke and the conspirators listened, they pa.s.sed from astonishment to terror. Chicot I. relinquished his role of apparent terror, threw back his hood, crossed his arms, and, while Gorenflot fled at his utmost speed, sustained, firm and smiling, the first shock. It was a terrible moment, for the gentlemen, furious at the mystification of which they had been the dupes, advanced menacingly on the Gascon. But this unarmed man, his breast covered only by his arms--this laughing face, stopped them still more than the remonstrance of the cardinal, who said to them that Chicot's death could serve no end, but, on the contrary, would be terribly avenged by the king, who was the jester's accomplice in this scene of terrible buffoonery.
The result was, that daggers and rapiers were lowered before Chicot, who continued to laugh in their faces.
However, the king's menaces and Crillon's blows became more vehement, and it was evident that the door could not long resist such an attack. Thus, after a moment's deliberation, the Duc de Guise gave the order for retreat. This order made Chicot smile, for, during his nights with Gorenflot, he had examined the cave and found out the door, of which he had informed the king, who had placed there Torquenot, lieutenant of the Swiss guards. It was then evident that the leaguers, one after another, were about to throw themselves into the trap. The cardinal made off first, followed by about twenty gentlemen. Then Chicot saw the duke pa.s.s with about the same number, and afterwards Mayenne. When Chicot saw him go he laughed outright. Ten minutes pa.s.sed, during which he listened earnestly, thinking to hear the noise of the leaguers sent back into the cave, but to his astonishment, the sound continued to go further and further off. His laugh began to change into oaths. Time pa.s.sed, and the leaguers did not return; had they seen that the door was guarded and found another way out? Chicot was about to rush from the cell, when all at once the door was obstructed by a ma.s.s which fell at his feet, and began to tear its hair.
”Ah! wretch that I am!” cried the monk. ”Oh! my good M. Chicot, pardon me, pardon me!”
How did Gorenflot, who went first, return now alone? was the question that presented itself to Chicot's mind.
”Oh! my good M. Chicot!” he continued to cry, ”pardon your unworthy friend, who repents at your knees.”
”But how is it you have not fled with the others?”
”Because the Lord in His anger has struck me with obesity, and I could not pa.s.s where the others did. Oh! unlucky stomach! Oh!
miserable paunch!” cried the monk, striking with his two hands the part he apostrophized. ”Ah! why am not I thin like you, M.
Chicot?”
Chicot understood nothing of the lamentations of the monk.
”But the others are flying, then?” cried he, in a voice of thunder.
”Pardieu! what should they do? Wait to be hung? Oh! unlucky paunch!”
”Silence, and answer me.”
”Interrogate me, M. Chicot; you have the right.”
”How are the others escaping?”
”As fast as they can.”
”So I imagine; but where?”
”By the hole.”
”Mordieu! what hole?”
”The hole in the cemetery cellar.”
”Is that what you call the cave?”
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