CHAPTER XXXIV.
There is a certain spirit of impatience which not unfrequently carriesa particular class of readers on to the end of this volume of a talelike the present, before they have read the beginning; and anotherspirit--an evil spirit certainly-which leads a second class to do nomore than skim gently but swiftly through the pages, catching glimpsesof the story here and there, sufficient to satisfy the mind as to thefacts, but to give nothing but indistinct notions of what is calledthe plot itself, and no insight into the characters of the personsbrought upon the stage, no knowledge whatsoever of the work itself, inany of its higher qualities. Formerly it was not so. People travelledthrough a work, as through a country, remarking everything that wascurious and interesting by the way; the peculiarities of the peoplethat one met with, the beauty of the scenery displayed, the wit thatdiversified the day, the moral reflections that suggested themselvesfrom the objects passed--somewhat amused, somewhat instructed,somewhat improved. But this is an age of railroad, morally as well asphysically, and very little is thought of, but the end of the journey,and the easiness of the coach. To get over the greatest possible spacein the shortest possible time, is the end and object of every man;and, with books as with countries, we go through them at a pace offorty miles an hour. Probably in time, this may work its own cure; andas ere long nothing will be known of any land when thoroughlyrailroaded, but the nearest and the farthest points, and a mile oneach side of the road, and nothing known of books but the beginningand the end, and what a reviewer has pleased to say of the contents,people may, in time, feel a curiosity to learn more, and take trips ona post horse, or in a jaunting car, to see what is in the interior ofthe country, or in the heart of the book. But railroad is the spiritof the age; it is vain to strive against it; and if the truth must betold, an author feels the same influence, and, as he approaches thetermination of his tale, is nearly as much inclined to hurry on to theconclusion, to omit facts, to leap over difficulties, and to hastenthe catastrophe, as the reader. But this ought not to be; for then ifthat time should ever return when books are really read, it might befound out, that only half the story had been told, and that there wasa great deal unaccounted for.
I must therefore, very unwillingly, pause by the way, and ere Iproceed with all that was going on in the Ch?teau de Marzay and itsneighbourhood, go back to the old house of Maroles, where the readerwill recollect that we left the young Baron de Montigni, in no verypleasant situation.
Too few in number to keep their assailants at a distance, if withproper implements the enemy made a simultaneous attack upon two orthree of the different doors of the ch?teau, the little party, within,saw no prospect before them but that of being forced to surrender onthe following morning, or dying sword in hand. The latter alternativewas certainly not a very pleasant one; but we must recollect, that itseems much more terrible in our eyes, who are seldom called upon inthese days for such self-sacrifice, than it did to the eyes of menaccustomed daily to witness similar acts. De Montigni, however, hadstill much to live for; the light of hope was still unextinguishedbefore him; the cup of life's joy had been scarcely tasted; and allthe bright and warm expectations of youth were leading him forward bythe hand. To close the pleasant journey so soon, entered not into histhoughts; and yet perhaps he would sooner have died than yieldedhimself to the power of Nicholas de Chazeul and that bad man's mother.Of the former he knew little, for they had not met since his boyhood;but yet De Montigni was as much convinced that Chazeul was faithless,treacherous, and cruel, as if he could have seen all the innermostwinding of his heart; and, to trust himself a prisoner in his hands,the young nobleman felt would be consigning himself to a fate muchworse than an honourable death in arms.
What was to be done was the question; and, in the little council whichhe held with his attendants, every one gave his opinion, and adviceaccording to his character.
"We had better wait where we are," said one of them. "A thousand toone they get frightened or tired before the morning, or that someparty of our own people comes up and forces them to decamp."
"We are off the high road," replied De Montigni, with a shake of thehead.
"If we could but send tidings to the King," said the man, "he wouldsoon deliver us."
"I wonder if we could not make our escape by the wood behind." joinedin the servant, who had accompanied the young nobleman from Italy.
"It is worth the trial at all events," replied De Montigni. "They canbut drive us back again, at the worst; and we might contrive to cutour way through."
"If we had not lost the two horses," observed the guide, "it might bedone; but, as it is, we should soon be caught."
"The wood seems extensive," said De Montigni in return, "and we shouldhave a better chance of escape on foot than on horseback. They can butfollow the cart and bridle roads, while we could take the footpaths,and even force a way across the brush-wood. It seems to me the onlyfeasible plan, and I will try it. We will leave the horses behind, andan hour or two before daylight the attempt must be made. We may getsome sleep in the mean time. Two can lie down upon the floor, whiletwo keep watch, one on each side of the house, for the man whom we sawthem send away up the hill, may have been dispatched for tools, toforce the doors during the night. Thank heaven, there is a moon, sothat we can see their proceedings. But first, let us go round andascertain which door it will be best to use for our escape."
"We shall scarcely have light," replied the servant, "and we are notlikely to get lamps or candles here."
"Then, the sooner we go the better," said De Montigni; and, descendingto the hall where they found the other man on watch, they attempted togrope their way about the ch?teau, but to no purpose; for, as we havebefore said, all the windows on the lower story were strongly boardedup, so that even the faint light, which still lingered in the sky,could find no entrance.
A thought seemed suddenly to strike the guide, however. "I have a bitof rope," he said, "at the back of my saddle. I always carry a pieceto tie a prisoner with. We can rub a little gunpowder into it, andthen set fire to it, with a pistol flint."
This plan was adopted, and though the light obtained was not the mostsatisfactory, as may be well supposed, it served to guide them throughthe long passage of the ch?teau; and, by observations from above aswell as below, they found a door which apparently led into a littleherb garden, surrounded by walls, bordered by the road on one side,and by the forest on the other. The best reconnoissance that theycould make, both before and after the moon had risen, did not showthem any of the enemy on that side; though a party was to be seenround a fire which they had kindled in front of the ch?teau, andanother upon one of the paths in the rear. They therefore determinedto avail themselves of this means of exit; and, while two of the menlay down to rest, propping their heads with the saddles, which theyhad taken off the horses, De Montigni himself, and the stout soldierwho had served him as guide from Marzay, kept watch at the front andback of the house, perambulating the various rooms, from window towindow. Every now and then they met and conferred for a few moments,though neither had anything to tell. All was still and silent, except,indeed, when the wind wafted the voices from the enemy's watch-fire,or when a distant clock was heard to chime the hour.
It was just after nine had struck, that De Montigni, meeting hiscompanion at the angle of the building, inquired "Is that the clock ofHoudan that we hear?"
"No, Sir," replied the man, "It is Maroles. But do you know I was justthinking, that, if we try to escape, we had better do it at once, orat least not very late, for the clock that reaches our ears, willreach theirs too, and may put them in mind that there are axes andsaws to be procured at Maroles. Then by dividing their men, they mightbreak in without our being able to prevent them. In such a clear nightas this, the moon will give them quite light enough for their work."
"Or to see us make our escape," replied De Montigni.
"Ay, but in less than half an hour," said the man, "she will be roundon this side of the house; and then the whole shadow
of the ch?teauwill be cast over the garden, and the door that leads to it."
"True, true," answered De Montigni, "but a doubt has arisen in mymind, as to the escape by the garden. Shall we be able to get from itinto the wood?"
"There is a door," replied the guide, "I saw the mark of it plainlyupon the wall."
"But it may be locked," said De Montigni, "and I think we may concludeit is so by these people having placed no one within."
"Oh dear no, Sir," answered the man, who, it must be remembered, wasan old soldier. "You do not know how many things are always overlookedeven in a regular siege, where there are all the wits of the army towork. I do believe that, if those who are without a place did butattend to all its points of weakness, as well as those within, thereis scarce a town in all France that would hold out three days. Themistakes of the besiegers are at least as much in favour of a place,as all its defences. But the best plan will be, for one of us to goout first and see if the door can be opened, and then the rest tofollow. The lock must be in the inside, and it will be easily forcedwith a dagger."
"That will take time," rejoined De Montigni, "but I fear there is noresource; and so it must be done. We will wake these other two as soonas the garden is in shadow, and then put our plan in execution."
It was somewhat longer than they expected ere the shadow of thech?teau was thrown completely over the little garden; and the clockstruck eleven, as De Montigni and his guide woke their two companions.All that was necessary to carry with them, was taken from theirsaddle-bags; the little store of ammunition, which they possessed, wasdistributed equally amongst them; and, pistol in hand, they approachedthe door and quietly unlocked it.
The rusty bolts made some noise and resistance ere they would sufferthemselves to be withdrawn; but, it would seem, that this attracted noattention from those without, and the door was opened, showing themthe neglected garden, become quite a wilderness of weeds since last itwas trodden by the foot of man. It was now altogether in profoundshade, however; and, although the walls were not high, and they couldsee the glare of one of the watch-fire of the enemy flashing upon thebranches of the trees, yet, being situated upon the same level as thech?teau, the garden was commanded by no spot in the neighbourhood, andconsequently they determined to go on to the gate together.
As De Montigni had suspected, the door was locked and the key gone.The bolt, too, was firmly rusted in the staple, so that they could notforce it back; and the large nails which fastened the lock wereapparently clinched on the other side, and resisted every effort todraw them. Nothing remained then, but either, to scale the wall, toreturn to the ch?teau, or, by slow labour, to cut away the wood workround the staple, and then force it out. The first plan was tried,without success, for the wall was higher on the side of the wood thanon that of the road, and they consequently set to work to remove thestaple. It cost them near an hour to do so, and just as they hadsucceeded, the sound of a horse's feet in the gallop met their ear.Pausing to listen for a moment or two, the sounds were heard to comenearer and nearer, and then rose up the buzz of several voicesspeaking.
"Now or never," said De Montigni, pulling back the door, and the nextinstant he stood under the branches of the wood. The men followed himsilently, and after one glance to the right, where, through theleafless trees, they caught the faint glare of the fire upon the road,they crept silently away to the left, taking the narrowest paths theycould find, and looking anxiously round on every side, in expectationof seeing some party of the enemy. Ere they had proceeded far, theyheard a loud hollow sound, as of blows struck upon a door, and DeMontigni's servant whispered to his master "We must be quick, Sir, wemust be quick; for they have got axes, and are breaking in. Our flightwill soon be discovered."
De Montigni hurried on at a more rapid pace, and for near an hournothing indicated that they were pursued. At the end of that time,however, the young nobleman began to suspect that the path they werefollowing led them round, and was conducting them back towards thespot whence they had set out.
"I think so too," replied the guide to whom he expressed his doubts;"the moon is travelling that way, and yet you see we have not gotfurther on the left."
"More on the right," said De Montigni which would be the case if wewere coming nearer to the ch?teau again. "Let us direct our coursefrom her. That must take us to the edge of the wood." The attempt wasmore easy than the execution, for the paths were perplexed andintricate, formed apparently for the purposes of the chase, or perhapsby the beasts of the forest themselves, and, displayed littleconsideration of the direct line from one spot to another. Thus veryoften when they had followed one road, which led for some way in thedirection that they wished to pursue, it suddenly turned off to theright or left, flanked by thick and tangled underwood, without anyfresh path presenting itself to enable them to pursue their course. Inthis devious way they wandered on through the forest labyrinth, tillat length the sound of loud voices shouting, and horses galloping atno great distance, showed them that their escape was discovered, andthat they were pursued. At this moment they were in a narrow tangledpath up which it was impossible for a horse to force its way, and theguide putting his hand upon De Montigni's arm, whispered, "Halt here,Sir, and let them pass us."
The advice was good, and De Montigni followed it. In a few moments thesounds were lost again, and with cautious steps they resumed theircourse towards the edge of the wood. The moon had now, however, gonedown behind the neighbouring hill, and looking up into the sky to seeif they could fix on any star, by which to guide themselves, they sawa reddish light spreading overhead and increasing in intensity everymoment.
"Can it be yet dawn?" asked De Montigni.
"Oh no, Sir," replied the guide. "I don't know what that can be,unless they have set fire to the ch?teau to give them light to lookfor us."
"Just like Chazeul's people," said one of the others, "it is thatdepend upon it; but here is the open country."
And so it proved, for they had now reached the further side of thewood; and stretching out before them, lay a wide but gentle slope,descending towards the valley of the Eure, over which the flames ofthe castle shed a red and fearful light. Some trees, however,advancing from the rest of the forest, which had once been moreextensive than it now was, promised them some shelter from the eyes oftheir pursuers, while the spire of a small church was seen at thedistance of about a mile and a half; and, weary of wandering in thewood, gliding for some way under its edge, they approached thescattered trees, and began the descent into the valley.
Ere they had proceeded half a mile, however, the blast of a trumpetsounded, and a party consisting of three horsemen was seen riding downtowards them. It was now evident that they were discovered, but stillthe pursuers did not venture to approach too near. And, pistol inhand, determined to sell their lives dearly, the little body offugitives hurried on towards the church, hoping to find some villagenear, where they might obtain assistance or shelter. Still the trumpetsounded, however; and, in a few minutes, another party was seen comingrapidly round from the farther side of the wood, to join the cavalierswho were keeping them in sight.
The flames of the castle could now be distinguished; but the fire wasevidently decreasing, so that they had still some hope of darknessbefriending them once more; but as the east opened upon their sight,at the turn of the hill, the grey streaks of dawn were observeddepriving them of that chance. The church, too, which was now near athand, displayed no houses around it, and was little more than a chapelin the open country, erected for the benefit of the neighbouringpeasantry. A deep wide porch, however, or rather gateway, with a stoneseat on either side, presented itself as they hurried on, and there DeMontigni determined to make a stand, sheltered, as his men must be onthree sides, from the attack of the enemy.
The party who pursued now amounted to twelve, and were at the distanceof somewhat less than two hundred yards; but the rest of the troopwere seen riding rapidly down the hill, and the others halted, erethey made their attack, to let the whole force come up.
Suddenly the body in the rear, to the surprise of the young Baron andhis companions, halted, and one man at furious speed detached himselffrom the rest, and, galloping down to those below, seemed to make someannouncement, which changed the whole course of their operations.Instead of advancing against those whom they had so pertinaciouslypursued, every man turned his rein, and setting spurs to his horse'sflank sped up the hill towards his comrades.
"What can be the meaning of this?" exclaimed De Montigni.
"They see some party of our friends," replied the guide steppingforward; and De Montigni advancing likewise, and turning his eyestowards the Eure, perceived a confused group of forty or fifty personson horseback, followed by a number of others on foot, and some twentycouple of dogs. They were advancing at a slow and tranquil pace, sothat the young nobleman and his followers had full time to contemplatethem. At their head, rode a gentleman in a common hunting dress, witha large white plume in his hat, and a white scarf over his shoulder;and, after gazing for a minute, the guide touched De Montigni on thearm saying, "The white plume! the white plume!--It is the King!" and,rushing out, he cast his hat up into the air exclaiming, "Vive le Roy!Vive Henri Quatre!"