The Cardiff Times

CHAPTER XIX. The Departure of the Rats. The wood-ash on the hearth had sank lower Ij own whiter. The last flame that had down Mack aides of the great pot had died the ] amonK the expiring embers. Only under e argost log glowed a tiny cavern, carbuncle- the anC* Claude walked restlessly from jn Wlndow to the door, or listened with a frown- t*»o h 6 at t^le *cot t'le ata'rs ^ne ho"r, tu hoars had passed since the Syndic's depar- With • and still Anne remained SD mother and made no sign. Once, Oii/h6 u by anxiety and the thought that he mo, f U8e> Claude had taken on himself to his an^ soe' £ ^er but half-way up the stairs 8 C°Ura"6 had failed, he had recoiled from a "oen6 ten^er an^ so sacred. He had de- *nfl af- an^ fallen again to moving to and fro, ''stening, ant* staring remorsefully at the fl P°*-it lay where he had dropped it, on the T that had failed him in his need. jv ■' ftnd by—he had their threats in his ears— *a u rror inaction, the horror of sitting still fold VT and awaiting the worst with Dla ^aa<^s< overcame bim and in a pani-j •j flight for them all, flight, however bed f68' however desperate, he harried into his >) ,c °s.et and began to pack his possessions. He bulb H 'PU^ively until even the fat text-books lif • *n bundle, and the folly of flying for atl? a Caesar and MeJancthon on his back flfto *"m- ^-ken he turne^ a,l out agsin on the ju- r. ln fear lest she should surprise him, and Qfc that he had it in his mind to desert her. it aJ)k- he went oil that to the living-room with the an(* lengthening shadows and lav i*10 resume^ his Rolitarv pacing. The room the house lav silent; even the rampart U which the biting wind kept clear of He tried to reason on the position, to J^'e what would happen, what stops Basterga tF*1 Blondel would take, how the blow they g'ea5ened would fall. Would the officers of the enter and seize the two helpless women etd drag them to the guard house ? And in that what should he himself do, what could he ?• since it was most unlikely that he would be lowed to go with them or see them ? For a ji016 the desperate notion of bolting and barring house and holding it against the Jaw pos- ^BBed hia mind only to be quickly dismissed. was not yet mad enough for tbat. In the was there anyone to whom he could ? Any course he could adopt ? Any -Ihe sound of the latch rising in its socket his eyes to the outer door. It opened he th 3 GentiJis on the threshold. Holding _.6.door ajar, the young man peered in. Meeting Jaude's eyes, he looked round, as if to seek the protection of Anne's presence; failing to find her 6 made for an instant as if he would shut the th°r a?a'n' anc' K°- Apparently, however, he saw Claude, thoroughly disspirited, was making v° potion to carry out his threats of vengeance • thought bettor of it; coming slowly in, he <n'08uC' t'le door him. Turning his cap in 8 hand he crossed the floor, and. with his eyes l:'ily fixed on Claude, made without a word for bed-closet, entered it and closed the door TT-n<*k'm' His silence was strange, and something in his look and his manner impressed Claude P'.easAntly. They seemed to mask a meaning °d imply a knowledge that boded no good nor was the impression they had made weakened eu. two minutes later, the closet door opened ,a]n, and he came out. tj" What is it?" Claude asked .speaking sharply. *0rtWaS n0t ^°'n^ t0 P11' UP with mystery of this jJ^or answer Louis' eyes met his a moment en the young man,without speaking,slid across room to a chair on which Jay a book. He took P the volume —it was his after another glance fn k deprecated Claude's wrath, he took blither stock of the room. He discovered another W»88esaion— or so it seemed—approached it and »"°u 3e's'n 't in^the same dnmb way and so loftb- auot^er an<5 another. Then, blinking and iiri askance, he passed his eyes from side to to learn if he had overlooked anything. But Claude's patience, though prolonged by j*ri08ity, wa? now at an end. He took a step Orward, and had the satisfaction of seeing Louis "top hie air of mystery, and recoil two paces. If You don't speak," Claude cried, I will break "Is- bone in yonr body. Do you hear, you sneak- rogue ? Do you forget that you are in my already ? Tell me in two words what this "htob show means, or I will have payment for aU." Gris made a sign as be passed her. I ■faster L^uis wincel,divided between the desire flee and the fear of losing his property. Yon be foolish if you make any fuss here," he IfSttered, his arm-half raised to ward off a blow. besides, I'm going," he continued, swallowing ^(tvouely as he spoke. Let me go. .i Soin,? (• *°s- Do you mean," Claudeexclaimed in astonish- .l:1t, that you are going for good ?" .*es, and "—with a look of sinister meaning fcni-8 Winking eyes—" if you take my advice you tY.Ko too. That is all." Why ? Why ?" Claude repeated. a#011'8' °aly answer was a shudder, real or which told Claude that if the other did know all he knew much. Dismayed and Q ounded, Claude stepped back, and, with a c*et grin of satisfaction, Louis turned again to j.,s taBk of nsarching the room. He found at last for which he had been looking—his cloaJr. wrntan"llI18St- with a peculiar look, from a Oman's hood, contact with which he avoided fcoJk ScrHPDlons care, he cast it over bis arm, and back into his closet. Claude heard him i\Ing there,'and presently he emerged a second e. j/^eciselv as he did so Claude heard a light /•^tstep on the stairs, the stair door opened, and her face weary, but composed, came in. first glance fell on Louis, who, with his sack th c'oa,k on his arm, was in the ,act of closing c, 6 closet door. Habit carried her second look to hearth. iL Ott have let the fire go out," she amid. And Ij611, turning to Louis, in a voice cold and free 0ernotion, I- You are going ?" she continued. lea. e muttered that he WRS, his face a medley of 9.nd spite and shame. Ohe nodded, but to Claude's astonishment ex- J no surprise. Meanwhile, Louis, after jjn°Pping first bis cloak and then liis sack, in his Rftinly haste to be gone,shuffled his way to the iD0r The two looked on, without moving or *nna w^e opened it, carried out his tag, «$,a' turning a bout,closed ths door upon himself. e.V heard bis footsteps move away. |_ last Claude spoke. The rats, I sea—are «cVl^pi" he muttered. in,.e9> the rats," she echoed, and carried for a her eyes to his. Then she knelt I 6 ^eartb, and uncovering the under side of u • wh0ie a little fire still smouldered, she *^with two or three fir-cones, and, 3tooping steadily on them until they caught blazed. He stood looking down at her that if Worfe-marvelling at the strength of mind a'lowed her to stoop to trifles, or to think of i8 of at such a time aa this. He forgot that habit tt JL a'l stays the strongest, and that to women ?Qsand trifles make up—God reward them Hj0 the work of life a work which instinct them to pursue, though the heavens fall. fOot r8 had elapsed since he had entered hot. t° see her and the day was beginning to bxujjj" The flames of the blazing fir-cones, a la]at +.ime8 reflected in the rows of pewter and the surface of the old oaken dressers, *telv (t0rner3 of the room in shadow. Immeci- T^'thin the windows the daylicht held ita back' nt when she rose and turned to him her that v8,8 Awards the casement, and the firelight left h UP her face flickered uncertainly, and • ym in doobt whsther she wer6 moved or not. ttood ?,n eatan nothing," she said—while he foqt _Pondering what she would say. And it is sha^ y°ck. I am sorry." Her tone,which took ^efself, gave him a new surprise. '1 Stopped her as she turned to the dresser. js Detter, I hope ?" he said, gently. 'Jet8elf again now, she replied, with Atifj quaver, and witLout looking at him. t>id rtent about her work. 8 kno« ? Did she understand ? In his only one fact, in bis mind only one thel* rift*-0? overpowering thought the fact of thejj t*ie thought of their isolation, of '16r treattnont of Louis, she had as ^i j to Bhow knowledge and a comprehension Ills oftn. But if she knew all, would she bs thus calm ? Could she go about her daily tasks ? Could she cut and lay and fetch with busy fingers, and all in silence ? He thought not and I bough he longed to con- sult her,to assure her and comfort her, to tell her J that the very isolation, the very peril in which they stood were a happiness and a joy to him, whatever the issue, because be shared them with her, he would not, by reason of that doubt,. He did not yet know the courage that underlies the gentlest natures nor did he guess that even as I it was a joy to him to stand beside her in peril, I so it was a joy to her, even in that hour, to come and go for him, to cut his bread and lay for him, to draw his wine from the great cask under the stairs, and pour for him in the tall horn mug. And little said. By him, because he shrank from opening her eyes to the danger of their position by her, because her mind was full and she could not trust herself to speak calmly. But he knew that she, too, had fasted since morning. j a.nd he made her eat with him and it was in the I thoughts of each that they had never eaten to- gether before for commonly Anne: took her tea with her mother, or a.te as the women of her time often ate, standing, alone, when others had finished. There are moments when the simplest, things put on the beauty and significance of rites, and this first eating together at the one small table on the fire-lit hearth, was one of such moments to them. He saw that she did eat and this care for her, and the reverence of his manner, so moved her, that at last tears rose and choked her, and to give her time and to hide his own feelings,he rose and affected to get some- thing from the fireside. Before he turned again the latch rattled and the door opened. The freezing draught that entered, arrested him midway between the table and the fire. The intruder was Grio. He stood an instant scowling on them, then he entered and cloised the door noisily. He eyed the two with a sneering laugh, and, turning, flung his cloak on a chair. It was ill-aimed and foil to the ground. Why the devil don't you light ?" he cried violentlv. Eh And he added something in which the words: Old hag's devilry I" were alone audible. Do you hear ? he continued, more coherently. Why don't you light ? What black games are you playing, I'd like to know ? I want my things." Claude's fingers tingled, but danger and responsibility are sure teachers, and herestraioed himself. Neither of them answered, but Anne fetched the lamp, and kindling a splinter of wood lighted it. and placed it on the table. Then bringing the Spaniard's rushlight from the three or four that stood on the dresser, she lighted it and held it oat to him. Set it down he said, with tipsy insolence. He was not quite sober. Set it down. I am not going to—hie I-risk my salvation. Avaunt Satan I It is possible to palm the evil one— like a card I am told, and—hie !—soul lost easy as candle goes out." He had taken his candle with an unsteady hand, and had blown it out. She restrained Claude by a. look, and patiently taking ihe rushlight from Grio, she re-lit it and set on the table for him to take. As a candle goes out 1" he repeated, eyeing it with drunken wisdom. Candle out, devil in, soul lost, there you have it in three words— clever as any of your long-winded preachers. But I want my things. I'm going before it is too late. Advise vou to go too, young man," he hiccoughed, before you are overlooked. She is a witch. She's the devil's mark on her— I tell you. I'd like to have the finding it." And with an ugly leer he advanced a step as if he would lay hands on her. She shrank back then, and Claude's eyes blazed. Fortunately, the bully's mind passed to the first object of his coming or, perhaps, he was sober enough to read a warning in the younger man's face. Oh time enough," he said. You are not so nice always, I'll be bound. And things come —hie—to those who wait. I don't belong to your Sabbaths I suppose, or you'd be freer. But I want my thmglt. and I am going to have them I defy thee, Satan And all thy works." Still growling under his breath he burst open the staircase door, and stumbled nosiily upstairs, the light wavering in his hand. Anne's eyes followed him anxiously—she had advanced to the foot of the stairs, and Claude understood the apprehension that held her. But tbe sounds did not penetrate to the room on the upper floor, or Madame Royaume did not take the alarm perhaps she slept. And after assuring herself that Grio had entered his room the girl returned to tbe table. The Spaniard had spoken with brutal plain- ness it was impossible to ignore what he had said, or to be under any further illusion as to gill's knowledge of her peril. Claude's eyes met hen and for a moment the anguished hum&n soul peered through the mask of constancy, for a moment the woman in her shrinking from the ordeal and the fire, from shame and death, thrust aside the veil, and held out quivering, piteous hands to I him. But it was for a moment only. Before he could speak she was brave as before, quiet as he had ever seen her, patient, mistress of hersolf. It is as you said," she muttered, smiling wanly, the rats are leaving us." Vermin he whispered. He could not trust himself to say more. His voice shook and bis eyes were full, "'They have not—lost time," she continued in a low tone. She did not cease to listen, nor did her eyes leave I be stairease door. Louis first, and now Grio. How has it reached them so quickly, do you think ?" Louis is hand and glove with the Syndic," he murmured. And Grio ?" With Basterga. She nodded. What do yon think they will dor-first ?" she whispered. And agaln-it went to his heart—the woman's face, distorted and fear-drawn showed as it were beneath the mask with which love and faith and a noble resigna- tion had armed her. Do you think they will denounce us at once ?" He shook his head in sheer inability to foresee anything and then, seeing that she continued to look anxiously for his answer, that answer which he knew to be of no value, for minute by minute the sense of his helplessness was weigh- ing upon him. It may be," he muttered. God knows. When Grio is gone we will talk about it." She began, but always with a listening ear and an eye to the open door, to remove from the table the remains of their meal. Midway in her task, she glanced askance at the window, under the impression that someone had looked through it; and in any case now the lamp was lit it exposed them to the curiosity of the rampart. She was going to close the shutters when Claude interposed, raised the heavy shutters and bolted and barred them. He was turning from them when Grio's heavy step was heard descending. Strange to say the Spaniard's first glance was at the windows, and he looked genuinely taken aback when he saw that they were closed. Why the devil did you shut?" he exclaimed, in a rage and passing Anne with a sidelong movement, he fiung a heavy bundle on the floor by the door. As he turned to go up again he met her eyes, and backing from her he made with two of his fingers the ancient sign which southern peoples still use to ward off the evil eye. Then, half shamefacedly, half recklessly, he blundered upstairs again. A moment, and he came stumbling down but this time he was careful to keep the great bundle he bore between himself and her eyes nntil he had got the door open. That precaution taken, as it he thought the free cold air which entered would protect him from spells, he showed himself at his ease, threw down his bundle, and faced her with an air of bravado. I need not have feared," he said with a tipsy grin, but I had forgotten what I carry. I have a hocus pocus here "—he touched his breast —" written bv a wise man in Ravenna, and sealed with a dead Goth's hand. that is proof against devil or dam. And I defy thee, mistress." Why ?" she cried. Why ?"' aud the note of indignation in her voice, the passionate challenge of her eyes, enforced the question. In the human mind is adesire for justice that will not he denied; and even from this drunken ruffian a sudden im- pulse bade ber demand it. Why should you defy me or fear me V What ha.ve I done to you, what have I done to anyone ?" she continued, with waxing resentment, "that you should spread this of me ? You have eaten and drunk of my hand a hundred times have I poironed or in- jured you ? I have looked at you a hundred times have I overlooked you ? You have lain down under this roof by night a hundred times have I harmed you sleeping or waking, full moon or no moon ?" For answer he leered at her slyly. "MOta whit," he said. No." "No?' Her colour rose. "No; but you see"—with a grin—it never leaves me, my girl." He touched his breast. While I wear that She asped. Do you mean she began. I I do not know what you would have done but for that he retorted. Maimed me or wizened me, perhaps. Or, may be, aae me waste away as you did the child that died three doors away last Sunday." I Her face changed slowly. Prepared as she bad been for the worst, prepared by majoy an hou of vigil oeside her mother's bed with the soun of her ravings in her ears, the horror of this precise accusation—and such an accusation overcame her. "What?" she cried hoarsely. You dare to say that I-that 1- she could not finish. But her eyes lightened, her form dilated WIth passion and tipsy, ignorant, brutish as he was, the Spaniard could not be blind to the indigna- tion, the outraged innocence, the very wonci which stopped her breath and chckea ber utterance At the sight some touch of shame, some touch of pity, made itself; felt in the dull recesses even of that brain. I don t say It he muttered awkwardly. It is what they are saying in the street." In the street ?" Ay, where else ?" He knew who said it, tor he knew whence his orders came: but he was not going to tell her. Yet the spark ot km nesB which she had kindled still lived how cou it be otherwise in presence of her youth. Rn gentleness 1 Aud," If you'll take my auvicei he continued roughly, you'll not show yourself I in the streets unless you wish to be mishandled, my girl. It will be time enough when the time comes. Even now, if you left your old witch of a mother and got good protectiqu, there is no know- ing but you might be got clear. You are a fair bit of red and white," with a grin. "And it in not far to Savoy. Will you come if I risk it ?" A gesture, half refusal, half loathing, answered him. Oh, very well he said. The short-lived fit of pity passed from him he scowled. You'll think differently when they have the handling of you. I'm glad to be going, for where there's one fire there's apt to be more and 1 am a Christian, no matter who's not Let who will burn, I won t.' He picked up one bandle. and, carrying it out, raised his voice, A man, who had shrunk, it would seem, from entering the bouse, showed his face in the light which streamed from the door. To this fellow he gave one bundle, and, shoulder- ing the other, he went Ileavily out, leaving the door wide open behind him. Claude atroile to it and closed it angrily but not so quickly that he had not had a glimpse ^f three or four pairs of eyes sfariog in out of the darkness eyes so curious so fearful, so quickly and noiselessly withdrawn-for even while he looked, they were gone—that he went back to the hearth with a shiver of apprehension. Fortunately, she had not seen them. She stood where he had left her, in the same attitude of amazement into which Grio's accusation had cast her. As she met hia g-aze--then, at last, she melted. The lamplight showed her eyes brim- ming over with tears; her lips quivered, her breast heaved, with the storm of resentment. How dare they say it ?'' she cried. How dare they ? That I—should harm a child ? A helpless child ?" And, unable to go on, she held: out protesting hands to him. And my mother ? My mother, who never injured anyone or harmed Wait until daylight," pleaded Claude. a hair of anyone's head I That she—that they should say that-of her I That they 'should set that—to her But I will go now, now, this instant, to the mothec. She will|hear me. She will know and believe me. A mother ? Yes, I will go to ber Not now." he said. Anne, listen 1" Yes, now," she persisted, deaf to his voice. And she snatched up her hood from the ground on which it had fallen, and began to put it on. He seized her arm. "No not now," be said firmly. "You shall not go now. Wait until daylight—she will listen to you—more cooly then." She resisted him. Why ?" she said. I am sure of it," he urged. People fancy things at night. I know it is so. If she saw you enter out of' the darkness the girl, with her burning tears, her wet eyes, her disordered hair, looked wild enough-" she might refuse to believe you. Besides——" Wbat ?" I will not have you go now, he said hrmly. That instant it had flashed upon him that one of the faces he had seen outside was the face of the dead child's mother. I will not let you go," he repeated. "Go in the daylight. Go to morrow morning. Go then if you will I" He did not choose to tell her that be feared for her instant safety, if she went now and that if he had his will, the streets would see her no more. She gave way. She took off her hood, and !aid it on the table. But for several minutes she stood, brooding darkly and stormily, her hands fingering the strings. To foresee is not always to be forearmed. She haa lived for months in daily and hourly expectation of the blow which had fallen bit not the more easily for that could she brook the concrete charge. Her heart burned, her soul was on fire. Justice, give us justice though the heavens fall, is an instinct planted deep in man's nature I Of the Mvsterious Passion of our Lord our finite minds find no part worse than the anguish of innocence condemned. A child ? She to hurt a child ? And her mother ? Her mother, so harmless, so ignorant, so tormented She-to hurt a child ? After time, nevertheless, the storm began to subside. But with it died much of the hope which is inherent in revolt; and in proportion, as she grew more calm, the hopelessness of her situa- tion rose more clearly before her. That had happened at last which she had so long expected to happen. The thing was known, Soon the full consequences would be upon her, the conse- quences on which she dared not dwell. Shud- deringly she tried to close her eyes to the things that might lie before her, the things at which Grio had hinted, the things of which she bad lain thinking—even while they were distant and uncertain—through many a night of bitter fear and fevered anticipation. They were at hand now,and, tbough she averted her thoughts, she knew it. But the wind is tem- pered to the shorn. Even as the prospect of future ill can dominate the present, embitter the sweetest cup, and render thorny the softest bed, so, sometimes, present good has the power to obscure the future evil. As Anne sank back on the settle, her trembling limbs almost declining to bearher, her eyes fell on her companion. Failing to rouse her, he had seated himself on the other side of the hearth, bis elbows on his knees, his chin on his hands, in an attitude of deep thought. And little by little, as she looked at him, her cheeks grew, if not red, less pale, her eyes lost their tense and hopeless gaze. She heaved a quivering sigh; and slowly carried her look round the room, Its homely comfort, augmented by the hour and the firelight, seemed to lap them round. The door was locked, the shutters were closed, the lamp burned cheerfully. And she sat opposite- sat as if they had been long married. The colour grew deeper in her face as she gazed; she breathed more quickly, her eyes shone with a. soft radiance. What evil cannot be softened, what misfortune cannot be lightened W a woman bv the know- ledge that she is loved by the man she loves ? That where all have fled. he remains, and that neither fear of death nor word of man can keep him from her 3ide ? He looked up in the end, and caught the look on her face, the look that a woman bestows on one man only in her life. In a moment he was on his knees beside her, holding her hands, covering them with kisses, vowing to save her, to save her-or to die with her. (To be continued.)