Part 3 (2/2)

The moment these words fell on Huguette's ears, they stung her into life and activity. She leaped to her feet in a flash.

”What do you say?” she raged, and then, seeing a woman's form a few feet away from her, she rushed towards the stranger furiously while the others rose in cages expectation of some new excitement.

”What do you seek here?” she asked fiercely of the old woman, and then as she saw the pitiful wrinkled face staring up at her, she started back in surprise.

The old woman, misinterpreting the s.e.x of her questioner from the dress that Huguette wore, began apologetically.

”Asking your pardon, young gentleman,” and for a moment her words were drowned in a shout of delighted laughter, as the listening rogues appreciated the blunder she had made.

”Asking your pardon, young gentleman, I seek Master Francois Villon.”

Huguette snapped at her impatiently, ”Seek him and find him.” Then turning to Rene, she cried, ”Montigny, you beast!” and with her hand on her dagger, made hotly for him.

Montigny, grinning like a delighted monkey, skipped for safety, dodging her around the table, while the others perceiving a victim in the bewildered old woman, joined hands in a ring and began dancing wildly around her, singing a ribald song. The old woman, as frightened and timid as a mouse might be if it suddenly found itself the centre of a circle of dancing cats, stood still.

At this moment the cellar door opened, and Francois reappeared, carrying in his arms a large jug of wine. Perceiving that the landlord still lay in his heavy sleep, he smiled delightedly to himself, closed the cellar door softly and placed his booty in the corner of the fireplace nearest to the settle. The noise of the tumult attracted him from his successful plunder, and looking up, he became aware of what was happening. In a second his contented mien changed, and das.h.i.+ng into the dancing crowd, he struck Jehan le Loup a heavy blow with the bunch of keys, which felled him to the ground like a log. In a moment the cl.u.s.ter of rascals dissipated, and Villon caught the old woman in his arms.

”d.a.m.n you, chubs!” he shouted at them. ”It's my mother.” Then as he drew the trembling old woman towards the fireplace, he whispered in her ears, ”Don't be frightened, mammy, they meant no harm.”

A certain hang-dog air of contrition was on the faces of most of the members of the gang as they stood apart and eyed the mother and son shame-facedly. Guy Tabarie, who had a wholesome dislike to quarrels, slipped quietly into the cool street to seek pleasure in some place where the atmosphere might be less stormy.

Robin Turgis wakened from his heavy sleep, clapped his hand instinctively to his girdle and found that his keys were missing.

”My keys! my keys!” he shouted--”where are my keys?” And then, catching sight of them where they lay by the prostrate form of Jehan le Loup, he rushed forward and secured them greedily.

By this time Jehan le Loup had recovered the senses which Villon's swinging blow had knocked out of him and was crawling slowly into a sitting posture. He glared ferociously at Master Francois and his evil right hand stole to the pommel of his dagger.

”You have cracked my crown, curse you,” he grunted, and then swiftly sprang to his feet with the bare blade in his hand and rushed at his a.s.sailant. But Villon was too alert to be taken unawares. He had not time to draw his sword, but in a second he had s.n.a.t.c.hed a spit from the fire and extending it scientifically kept Jehan le Loup at arm's length. Huguette seized Jehan by the dagger arm.

”She is his mother!” she said angrily. ”You all had mothers, I suppose? Let him alone!”

Jehan le Loup unwillingly sheathed his weapon; Huguette dragged him back to the table; Villon replaced the spit, which had somewhat burned his fingers, and sat down by his mother's side on the settle, in peace.

”Did they frighten you, mammy?” he whispered. ”But they meant no harm. Boys and girls, girls and boys.”

The old woman put her arms tightly about him. Villon grimaced. Her loving touch was as painful as a hostile one to his bruised body, but he made no attempt to repress her embrace.

”Come home, Francois,” she said. ”Come home. Where have you been these three days?”

Villon caressed the old woman very tenderly, as he answered:

”Very busy, mammy--state secrets. Mum's the word. How did you find me out?”

”They told me at the Unicorn,” the old woman said, ”that I might find you here.”

Villon made a gesture of contempt.

”Oh, the Unicorn is no longer fas.h.i.+onable. They want payment on the nail there, confound them! Besides, this is nearer the walls and we can hear the Burgundians shouting. It is as good as a relish with our wine.”

Mother Villon shook her grey head sadly.

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