We were so fortunate,despite my fears,as to find the road nearly deserted--as,alas,was much of the country on either side--and to meet none but small parties travelling along it;who were glad enough,seeing the villainous looks of our outriders,to give us a wide berth,and be quit of us for the fright.We skirted Lusignan,shunning the streets,but passing near enough for me to point out to mademoiselle the site of the famous tower built,according to tradition,by the fairy Melusina,and rased thirteen years back by the Leaguers.She received my information so frigidly,however,that I offered no more,but fell back shrugging my shoulders,and rode in silence,until,some two hours after noon,the city of Poitiers came into sight,lying within its circle of walls and towers on a low hill in the middle of a country clothed in summer with rich vineyards,but now brown and bare and cheerless to the eye.
Fanchette turned and asked me abruptly if that were Poitiers.
I answered that it was,but added that for certain reasons Iproposed not to halt,but to lie at a village a league beyond the city,where there was a tolerable inn.
'We shall do very well here,'the woman answered rudely.'Any way,my lady will go no farther.She is tired and cold,and wet besides,and has gone far enough.'
'Still,'I answered,nettled by the woman's familiarity,'I think mademoiselle will change her mind when she hears my reasons for going farther.'
'Mademoiselle does not wish to hear them,sir,'the lady replied herself,and very sharply.
'Nevertheless,I think you had better hear them,'I persisted,turning to her respectfully.'You see,mademoiselle--'
'I see only one thing,sir,'she exclaimed,snatching off her mask and displaying a countenance beautiful indeed,but flushed for the moment with anger and impatience,'that,whatever betides,I stay at Poitiers to-night.'
'If it would content you to rest an hour?'I suggested gently.
'It will not content me!'she rejoined with spirit.'And let me tell you,sir,'she went on impetuously,'once for all,that you take too much upon yourself.You are here to escort me,and to give orders to these ragamuffins,for they are nothing better,with whom you have thought fit to disgrace our company;but not to give orders to me or to control my movements.Confine yourself for the future,sir,to your duties,if you please.'
'I desire only to obey you,'I answered,suppressing the angry feelings which rose in my breast,and speaking as coolly as lay in my power.'But,as the first of my duties is to provide for your safety,I am determined to omit nothing which can conduce to that end.You have not considered that,if a party in pursuit of us reaches Poitiers to-night,search will be made for us in the city,and we shall be taken.If,on the other hand,we are known to have passed through,the hunt may go no farther;certainly will go no farther to-night.Therefore we must not,mademoiselle,'I added firmly,'lie in Poitiers to-night.'
'Sir,'she exclaimed,looking at me,her face crimson with wonder and indignation,'do you dare to--?'
'I dare do my duty,mademoiselle,'I answered,plucking up a spirit,though my heart was sore.'I am a man old enough to be your father,and with little to lose,or I had not been here.Icare nothing what you think or what you say of me,provided I can do what I have undertaken to do and place you safely in the hands of your friends.But enough,mademoiselle,we are at the gate.
If you will permit me,I will ride through the streets beside you.We shall so attract less attention.'
Without waiting for a permission which she was very unlikely to give,I pushed my horse forward,and took my place beside her,signing to Fanchette to fall back.The maid obeyed,speechless with indignation;while mademoiselle flashed a scathing glance at me and looked round in helpless anger,as though it was in her mind to appeal against me even to the passers-by.But she thought better of it,and contenting herself with muttering the word 'Impertinent'put on her mask with fingers which trembled,Ifancy,not a little.
A small rain was falling and the afternoon was well advanced when we entered the town,but I noticed that,notwithstanding this,the streets presented a busy and animated appearance,being full of knots of people engaged in earnest talk.A bell was tolling somewhere,and near the cathedral a crowd of no little size was standing,listening to a man who seemed to be rending a placard or manifesto attached to the wall.In another place a soldier,wearing the crimson colours of the League,but splashed and stained as with recent travel,was holding forth to a breathless circle who seemed to hang upon his lips.A neighbouring corner sheltered a handful of priests who whispered together with gloomy faces.Many stared at us as we passed,and some would have spoken;but I rode steadily on,inviting no converse.
Nevertheless at the north gate I got a rare fright;for,though it wanted a full half-hour of sunset,the porter was in the act of closing it.Seeing us,he waited grumbling until we came up,and then muttered,in answer to my remonstrance,something about queer times and wilful people having their way.I took little notice of what he said,however,being anxious only to get through the gate and leave as few traces of our passage as might be.
As soon as we were outside the town I fell back,permitting Fanchette to take my place.For another league,a long and dreary one,we plodded on in silence,horses and men alike jaded and sullen,and the women scarcely able to keep their saddles for fatigue.At last,much to my relief,seeing that I began to fear I had taxed mademoiselle's strength too far,the long low buildings of the inn at which I proposed to stay came in sight,at the crossing of the road and river.The place looked blank and cheerless,for the dusk was thickening;but as we trailed one by one into the courtyard a stream of firelight burst on us from doors and windows,and a dozen sounds of life and comfort greeted our ears.
