CHAPTER XVII.
THE DUEL.
At the foot of the staircase Tignonville paused. The droning Normanvoices of the men on guard issued from an open door a few paces beforehim on the left. He caught a jest, the coarse chuckling laughter whichattended it, and the gurgle of applause which followed; and he knewthat at any moment one of the men might step out and discover him.Fortunately the door of the room with the shattered window was almostwithin reach of his hand on the right side of the passage, and hestepped softly to it. He stood an instant hesitating, his hand on thelatch; then, alarmed by a movement in the guard-room, as if some wererising, he pushed the door in a panic, slid into the room, and shutthe door behind him. He was safe, and he had made no noise; but at thetable, at supper, with his back to him and his face to the partlyclosed window, sat Count Hannibal!
The young man's heart stood still. For a long minute he gazed at theCount's back, spellbound and unable to stir. Then, as Tavannes ate onwithout looking round, he began to take courage. Possibly he hadentered so quietly that he had not been heard, or possibly hisentrance was taken for that of a servant. In either case, there was achance that he might retire after the same fashion; and he hadactually raised the latch, and was drawing the door to him withinfinite precaution, when Tavannes' voice struck him, as it were, inthe face.
"Pray do not admit the draught, M. de Tignonville," he said, withoutlooking round. "In your cowl you do not feel it, but it is otherwisewith me."
The unfortunate Tignonville stood transfixed, glaring at the back ofthe other's head. For an instant he could not find his voice. At last"Curse you!" he hissed in a transport of rage. "Curse you! You didknow, then? And she was right."
"If you mean that I expected you, to be sure, monsieur," CountHannibal answered. "See, your place is laid. You will not feel the airfrom without there. The very becoming dress which you have adoptedsecures you from cold. But--do you not find it somewhat oppressivethis summer weather?"
"Curse you!" the young man cried, trembling.
Tavannes turned and looked at him with a dark smile. "The curse mayfall," he said, "but I fancy it will not be in consequence of yourpetitions, monsieur. And now, were it not better you played the man?"
"If I were armed," the other cried passionately, "you would not insultme!"
"Sit down, sir, sit down," Count Hannibal answered sternly. "We willtalk of that presently. In the meantime I have something to say toyou. Will you not eat?"
But Tignonville would not.
"Very well," Count Hannibal answered; and he went on with his supper,"I am indifferent whether you eat or not. It is enough for me that youare one of the two things I lacked an hour ago; and that I have you,M. de Tignonville. And through you I look to obtain the other."
"What other?" Tignonville cried.
"A minister," Tavannes answered, smiling. "A minister. There are notmany left in Paris--of your faith. But you met one this morning, Iknow!"
"I? I met one?"
"Yes, monsieur, you! And can lay your hand on him in five minutes, youknow."
M. de Tignonville gasped. His face turned a shade paler. "You have aspy," he cried. "You have a spy upstairs!"
Tavannes raised his cup to his lips, and drank. When he had set itdown, "It may be," he said, and he shrugged his shoulders. "I know, itboots not how I know. It is my business to make the most of myknowledge--and of yours!"
M. de Tignonville laughed rudely. "Make the most of your own," hesaid; "you will have none of mine."
"That remains to be seen," Count Hannibal answered. "Carry your mindback two days, M. de Tignonville. Had I gone to Mademoiselle deVrillac last Saturday and said to her 'Marry me, or promise to marryme,' what answer would she have given?"
"She would have called you an insolent!" the young man replied hotly."And I----"
"No matter what you would have done!" Tavannes said. "Suffice it thatshe would have answered as you suggest. Yet to-day she has given meher promise."
"Yes," the young man retorted, "in circumstances in which no man ofhonour----"
"Let us say in peculiar circumstances."
"Well?"
"Which still exist! Mark me, M. de Tignonville," Count Hannibalcontinued, leaning forward and eyeing the young man with meaning,"_which still exist!_ And may have the same effect on another's willas on hers! Listen! Do you hear?" And rising from his seat with adarkening face, he pointed to the partly shuttered window, throughwhich the measured tramp of a body of men came heavily to the ear. "Doyou hear, monsieur? Do you understand? As it was yesterday it isto-day! They killed the President La Place this morning! And they aresearching! They are still searching! The river is not yet full, northe gibbet glutted! I have but to open that window and denounce you,and your life would hang by no stronger thread than the life of a maddog which they chase through the streets!"
The younger man had risen also. He stood confronting Tavannes, thecowl fallen back from his face, his eyes dilated. "You think tofrighten me!" he cried. "You think that I am craven enough tosacrifice her to save myself. You----"
"You were craven enough to draw back yesterday, when you stood at thiswindow and waited for death!" Count Hannibal answered brutally. "Youflinched then, and may flinch again!"
"Try me!" Tignonville retorted, trembling with passion. "Try me!" Andthen, as the other stared at him and made no movement, "But you darenot!" he cried. "You dare not!"
"No?"
"No! For if I die you lose her!" Tignonville replied in a voice oftriumph. "Ha, ha! I touch you there!" he continued. "You dare not, formy safety is part of the price, and is more to you than it is tomyself! You may threaten, M. de Tavannes, you may bluster, and shoutand point to the window"--and he mocked, with a disdainful mimicry,the other's gesture--"but my safety is more to you than to me! And'twill end there!"
"You believe that?"
"I know it!"
In two strides Count Hannibal was at the window. He seized a greatpiece of the boarding which closed one half of the opening; hewrenched it away. A flood of evening light burst in through theaperture, and fell on and heightened the flushed passion of hisfeatures, as he turned again to his opponent. "Then if you know it,"he cried vehemently, "in God's name act upon it!" And he pointed tothe window.
"Act upon it?"
"Ay, act upon it!" Tavannes repeated, with a glance of flame. "Theroad is open! If you would save your mistress, behold the way! If youwould save her from the embrace she abhors, from the eyes under whichshe trembles, from the hand of a master, there lies the way! And it isnot her glove only you will save, but herself, her soul, her body!So," he continued with a certain wildness and in a tone whereincontempt and bitterness were mingled, "to the lions, brave lover! Willyou your life for her honour? Will you death that she may live a maid?Will you your head to save her finger? Then, leap down! leap down! Thelists are open, the sand is strewed! Out of your own mouth I have itthat if you perish she is saved! Then out, monsieur! Cry 'I am aHuguenot!' And God's will be done!"
Tignonville was livid. "Rather, your will!" he panted. "Your will, youdevil! Nevertheless----"
"You will go! Ha! ha! You will go!"
For an instant it seemed that he would go. Stung by the challenge,wrought on by the contempt in which Tavannes held him, he shot a lookof hate at the tempter; he caught his breath, and laid his hand on theedge of the shuttering as if he would leap out.
But it goes hard with him who has once turned back from the foe. Theevening light, glancing cold on the burnished pike-points of a groupof archers who stood near, caught his eye and went chill to his heart.Death, not in the arena, not in the sight of shouting thousands, butin this darkening street, with an enemy laughing from the window,death with no revenge to follow, with no certainty that after all shewould be safe, such a death could be compassed only by pure love--thelove of a child for a parent, of a parent for a child, of a man forthe one woman in the world!
He recoiled. "You would no
t spare her!" he cried, his face damp withsweat--for he knew now that he would not go. "You want to be rid ofme! You would fool me, and then----"
"Out of your own mouth you are convict!" Count Hannibal retortedgravely. "It was you who said it! But still I swear it! Shall I swearit to you?"
But Tignonville recoiled another step and was silent.
"No? O _preux chevalier_, O gallant knight! I knew it! Do you thinkthat I did not know with whom I had to deal?" And Count Hannibal burstinto harsh laughter, turning his back on the other, as if he no longercounted. "You will neither die with her nor for her! You were betterin her petticoats and she in your breeches! Or no, you are best as youare, good father! Take my advice, M. de Tignonville, have done witharms; and with a string of beads, and soft words, and talk of HolyMother Church, you will fool the women as surely as the best of them!They are not all like my cousin, a flouting, gibing, jeeringwoman--you had poor fortune there, I fear?"
"If I had a sword!" Tignonville hissed, his face livid with rage. "Youcall me coward, because I will not die to please you. But give me asword, and I will show you if I am a coward!"
Tavannes stood still. "You are there, are you?" he said in an alteredtone. "I----"
"Give me a sword," Tignonville repeated, holding out his opentrembling hands. "A sword! A sword! 'Tis easy taunting an unarmed man,but----"
"You wish to fight?"
"I ask no more! No more! Give me a sword," he urged, his voicequivering with eagerness. "It is you who are the coward!"
Count Hannibal stared at him. "And what am I to get by fighting you?"he reasoned slowly. "You are in my power. I can do with you as Iplease. I can call from this window and denounce you, or I can summonmy men----"
"Coward! Coward!"
"Ay? Well, I will tell you what I will do," with a subtle smile. "Iwill give you a sword, M. de Tignonville, and I will meet you foot tofoot here, in this room, on a condition."
"What is it? What is it?" the young man cried with incredibleeagerness. "Name your condition!"
"That if I get the better of you, you find me a minister."
"I find you a----"
"A minister. Yes, that is it. Or tell me where I can find one."
The young man recoiled. "Never!" he said.
"You know where to find one."
"Never! Never!"
"You can lay your hand on one in five minutes, you know."
"I will not."
"Then I shall not fight you!" Count Hannibal answered coolly; and heturned from him, and back again. "You will pardon me if I say, M. deTignonville, that you are in as many minds about fighting as aboutdying! I do not think that you would have made your fortune at Court.Moreover, there is a thing which I fancy you have not considered. Ifwe fight you may kill me, in which case the condition will not help memuch. Or I--which is more likely--" he added with a harsh smile, "maykill you, and again I am no better placed."
The young man's, pallid features betrayed the conflict in his breast.To do him justice, his hand itched for the sword-hilt--he was braveenough for that; he hated, and only so could he avenge himself. Butthe penalty if he had the worse! And yet what of it? He was in hellnow, in a hell of humiliation, shame, defeat, tormented by this fiend!'Twas only to risk a lower hell.
At last, "I will do it!" he cried hoarsely. "Give me a sword and lookto yourself."
"You promise?"
"Yes, yes, I promise!"
"Good," Count Hannibal answered suavely; "but we cannot fight so, wemust have more light," and striding to the door he opened it, andcalling the Norman bade him move the table and bring caudles--a dozencandles; for in the narrow streets the light was waning, and in thehalf-shuttered room it was growing dusk. Tignonville, listening with athrobbing brain, wondered that the attendant expressed no surprise andsaid no word--until Tavannes added to his orders one for a pair ofswords.
Then, "Monsieur's sword is here," Bigot answered in hishalf-intelligible patois. "He left it here yester morning."
"You are a good fellow, Bigot," Tavannes answered, with a gaiety andgood-humour which astonished Tignonville. "And one of these days youshall marry Suzanne."
The Norman smiled sourly and went in search of the weapon.
"You have a poniard?" Count Hannibal continued in the same tone ofunusual good temper, which had already struck Tignonville. "Excellent!Will you strip, then, or--as we are? Very good, monsieur; in theunlikely event of fortune declaring for you, you will be in a bettercondition to take care of yourself. A man running through the streetsin his shirt is exposed to inconveniences!" And he laughed gaily.
While he laughed the other listened; and his rage began to give placeto wonder. A man who regarded as a pastime a sword and dagger conflictbetween four walls, who, having his adversary in his power, was readyto discard the advantage, to descend into the lists, and to risk lifefor a whim, a fancy--such a man was outside his experience, though inPoitou in those days of war were men reckoned brave. For what, heasked himself as he waited, had Tavannes to gain by fighting? Thepossession of Mademoiselle? But Mademoiselle, if his passion forher overwhelmed him, was in his power; and if his promise werea barrier--which seemed inconceivable in the light of hisreputation--he had only to wait, and to-morrow, or the next day, orthe next, a minister would be found, and without risk he could gainthat for which he was now risking all.
Tignonville did not know that it was in the other's nature to findpleasure in such utmost ventures. Nevertheless the recklessness towhich Tavannes' action bore witness had its effect upon him. By thetime the young man's sword arrived something of his passion for theconflict had evaporated; and though the touch of the hilt restored hisdetermination, the locked door, the confined space, and theunaccustomed light went a certain distance towards substitutingdespair for courage.
The use of the dagger in the duels of that day, however, rendereddespair itself formidable. And Tignonville, when he took his place,appeared anything but a mean antagonist. He had removed his robe andcowl, and lithe and active as a cat he stood as it were on springs,throwing his weight now on this foot and now on that, and wascontinually in motion. The table bearing the candles had been pushedagainst the window, the boarding of which had been replaced by Bigotbefore he left the room. Tignonville had this, and consequently thelights, on his dagger hand; and he plumed himself on the advantage,considering his point the more difficult to follow.
Count Hannibal did not seem to notice this, however. "Are you ready?"he asked. And then,
"On guard!" he cried, and he stamped the echo to the word. But, thatdone, instead of bearing the other down with a headlong rushcharacteristic of the man--as Tignonville feared--he held off warily,stooping low; and when his slow opening was met by one as cautious, hebegan to taunt his antagonist.
"Come!" he cried, and feinted half-heartedly. "Come, monsieur, are wegoing to fight, or play at fighting?"
"Fight yourself, then!" Tignonville answered, his breath quickened byexcitement and growing hope. "'Tis not I hold back!" And he lunged,but was put aside.
"Ca! ca!" Tavannes retorted; and he lunged and parried in his turn,but loosely and at a distance. After which the two moved nearer thedoor, their eyes glittering as they watched one another, their kneesbent, the sinews of their backs straining for the leap. SuddenlyTavannes thrust, and leapt away, and as his antagonist thrust inreturn the Count swept the blade aside with a strong parry, and for amoment seemed to be on the point of falling on Tignonville with theponiard. But Tignonville retired his right foot nimbly, which broughtthem front to front again. And the younger man laughed.
"Try again, M. le Comte!" he said. And, with the word, he dashed inhimself quick as light; for a second the blades ground on one another,the daggers hovered, the two suffused faces glared into one another;then the pair disengaged again. The blood trickled from a scratch onCount Hannibal's neck; half an inch to the right and the point hadfound his throat. And Tignonville, elated, laughed anew, and swayingfrom side to side on his hips, watched with growing confidence for
asecond chance. Lithe as one of the leopards Charles kept at theLouvre, he stooped lower and lower, and more and more with each momenttook the attitude of the assailant, watching for an opening; whileCount Hannibal, his face dark and his eyes vigilant, stoodincreasingly on the defence. The light was waning a little, the wicksof the caudles were burning long; but neither noticed it or dared toremove his eyes from the other's. Their laboured breathing found anecho on the farther side of the door, but this again neither observed.
"Well?" Count Hannibal said at last. "Are you coming?"
"When I please," Tignonville answered; and he feinted but drew back.The other did the same, and again they watched one another, theireyes seeming to grow smaller and smaller. Gradually a smile hadbirth on Tignonville's lips. He thrust! It was parried! He thrustagain--parried! Tavannes, grown still more cautious, gave a yard.Tignonville pushed on, but did not allow confidence to master caution.He began, indeed, to taunt his adversary; to flout and jeer him. Butit was with a motive.
For suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he repeated the peculiarthrust which had been successful before. This time, however, Tavanneswas ready. He put aside the blade with a quick parade, and instead ofmaking a riposte sprang within the other's guard. The two came face toface and breast to shoulder, and struck furiously with their daggers.Count Hannibal was outside his opponent's sword and had the advantage.Tignonville's dagger fell, but glanced off the metalwork of theother's hilt; Tavannes' fell swift and hard between the young man'seyes. The Huguenot flung up his hands and staggered back, falling hislength on the floor.
In an instant Count Hannibal was on his breast, and had knocked awayhis dagger. Then, "You own yourself vanquished?" he cried.
The young man, blinded by the blood which trickled down his face, madea sign with his hands. Count Hannibal rose to his feet again, andstood a moment looking at his foe without speaking. Presently heseemed to be satisfied. He nodded, and going to the table dipped anapkin in water. He brought it, and carefully supporting Tignonville'shead, laved his brow. "It is as I thought," he said, when he hadstanched the blood. "You are not hurt, man. You are stunned. It is nomore than a bruise."
The young man was coming to himself. "But I thought----" he muttered,and broke off to pass his hand over his face. Then he got up slowly,reeling a little, "I thought it was the point," he muttered.
"No, it was the pommel," Tavannes answered drily. "It would not haveserved me to kill you. I could have done that ten times."
Tignonville groaned, and, sitting down at the table, held the napkinto his aching head. One of the candles had been overturned in thestruggle and lay on the floor, flaring in a little pool of grease.Tavannes set his heel upon it; then, striding to the farther end ofthe room, he picked up Tignonville's dagger and placed it beside hissword on the table. He looked about to see if aught else remained todo, and, finding nothing, he returned to Tignonville's side.
"Now, monsieur," he said in a voice hard and constrained, "I must askyou to perform your part of the bargain."
A groan of anguish broke from the unhappy man. And yet he had set hislife on the cast; what more could he have done? "You will not harmhim?" he muttered.
"He shall go safe," Count Hannibal replied gravely.
"And----" he fought a moment with his pride, then blurted out thewords, "you will not tell her--that it was through me--you found him?"
"I will not," Tavannes answered in the same tone. He stooped andpicked up the other's robe and cowl, which had fallen from a chair--sothat as he spoke his eyes were averted. "She shall never know throughme," he said.
And Tignonville, his face hidden in his hands, told him.