Part 14 (2/2)
”Let me see your face,” she requested, but Villon denied her. He signed to Noel le Jolys, where he stood apart, and the young soldier came hurriedly to him.
”Captain,” he said, ”give this lady honourable conduct.”
He moved away and left the pair together--the mannish woman and the womanish man, looking at each other, the man in admiration and the woman in veiled disdain.
”You are a comely girl,” Noel affirmed roundly.
Huguette laughed.
”This is news from no-man's land.”
Noel spoke lower.
”Where do you lodge?”
Huguette was a woman of business in an instant. She flashed in Noel's face the ring the Grand Constable had given her as she answered:
”At the sign of the Golden Scull, hard by the Fircone. Will you visit me?”
Noel clapped his hands together.
”As I am a man, I will.”
A good understanding being thus established, the pair drifted away together and were soon lost to sight. Villon looking after them mused:
”Heaven forgive me, I am becoming a most pitiful loud preacher.
Every rogue there deserves the gallows, but so do I, no less, and I have not swallowed enough of this court air to make me a hypocrite.
Well, all this justice is thirsty work, and, mad or sane, sleeping or waking, let me drink while I can.”
He returned to the golden flagons, poured out a full cup of Burgundy, watched it glow in the sunlight, and lifted it to his lips.
”To the loveliest lady this side of heaven!” he said for a toast, but ere he touched his lips to the cup, he lowered it again.
Olivier le Dain had come on to the terrace, and with Olivier there came a lady.
”By heaven,” Villon cried, ”my eyes dazzle, for I believe I see her!”
CHAPTER VI
GARDEN LOVE
On the terrace the fair girl leaned and looked over at the garden and its golden occupant. To the eyes of Villon her beauty had never seemed rarer, and the wild pa.s.sion which had prompted him to spin his very soul into song burnt with a new, delicious strength of hope. He stared at her as a wors.h.i.+pper might stare at some sudden vision of a long dreamed of G.o.ddess, and as he stared, Olivier descended the steps, soft-footed, and came and stood before him.
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