Part 27 (1/2)

”Cheat, lie,” he repeated. ”Sire, those words fling me from my fool's paradise. Kill me if I fail to win her, but I will tear this mask from my face, this falsehood from my heart.”

Louis grinned at him.

”Please yourself. Win her or swing. Either way contents me.”

As he spoke, he turned away. Katherine had descended the steps and was moving across the gra.s.s to greet her hero, who stood with clasped hands in the moonlight like a man struck dumb. Katherine was carrying in her hands a crimson scarf fringed with gold, and she lifted it to him as she spoke.

”Wear this with my prayers. With it, I give you my hand and heart.

You shall carry my plighted troth with you into the battle. Let me tell my love to all the world.”

Swiftly and lightly she threw it about his neck before he could find words, but now he spoke:

”Wait, wait! You must say no more until you know me.”

The girl's eyes widened with surprise.

”Do I not know you?”

Villon thrust his face forward very close to hers.

”Look into my face,” he said. ”Look well. Do you see nothing there that reminds you of other hours?”

Katherine smiled divinely.

”Of happy hours in this rose garden.”

Villon insisted fiercely:

”No, no! Of a dark night, a tavern, a cloaked woman, a sordid fellow dreaming sottishly by the fire, a prayer, a love-tale and a promise, a crowd of bullies and wantons, a quarrel, a fight with sword and lantern in the dark, a breast knot of ribbon flung from a gallery--”

Katherine recoiled a little, with a horror in her eyes.

”What are you trying to tell me?” she asked.

Villon dropped on his knees with a groan.

”Here is the knot of ribbon which you flung to me in the Fircone Tavern. Oh, pity me! I am Francois Villon.”

Katherine pressed her hands to her forehead.

”I can hear what you say, but it makes no mark on my brain.”

Villon's words ran fast from him:

”I am Francois Villon and yet no longer he, for my old evil self is dead. I am Francois Villon who served you with his sword, who praised you with his pen, and who loves you with all his soul.”

The girl's whole body shook with fear as she answered:

”It isn't true! It isn't true! I don't believe you.”