The Duke's Motto: A Melodrama Read online

  VII

  BROTHERS-IN-ARMS

  He had not long to wait. In a few moments the window above him turnedsoftly on its hinges, and a head appeared in the open space. The chamberfrom which the window opened was unilluminated, and the light in the moatwas so dim that Lagardere could only perceive the vague outline of awoman's head and shoulders leaning forward into the darkness. Even inthat moment of tension he felt himself stirred by a sharp regret that heshould not be able to judge for himself as to the beauty of the lady whomthe world called Gabrielle de Caylus, but whom he knew to be the Duchessde Nevers. A very low, sweet voice called to him through the darkness,speaking the Christian name of Nevers.

  "Louis!" the woman said, and Lagardere immediately answered, "I am here."He spoke very low, that his voice might not be recognized, and because hehad the mimic's trick he made his voice as like as he could to the voiceof Nevers.

  Evidently his voice was not recognized, evidently the lady took him forher lord, for she immediately went on speaking very low and clear, herwords falling rapidly from above on the ears of the waiting Lagardere.

  "Do not speak, Louis," she said; "do not linger. I am watched; I feardanger. Take our dear Gabrielle."

  As she spoke she leaned her body a little farther forward into the nightand extended her arms towards her hearer.

  Lagardere tingled with a sudden thrill as he realized that this beautifulwoman was nearer to him, that she was seeking him, that she believed himto be her lover. And he realized with a pang that he, impudent in hislibertinism, had entertained with a light heart the light hope in someaudacious way to take by storm the love of this unknown woman. It hadseemed, in Paris, an insolently boyishly possible, plausible adventure;but now, in his new knowledge and in this distant, lonely place, hisenterprise, that, after all, was little more than an impish vision,seemed no other than a tragi-comical impertinence. All that he had knownof Gabrielle de Caylus was that she was reported fair, and that she wasloved by his enemy. All that he knew of her now was that she was hisenemy's wife, that she had a gracious voice, and that she loved his enemyvery dearly; yet this was enough for Lagardere, this, and to know thatthe woman was all unconsciously trusting to his honor, to his courage, tohis truth. And it was with an unfamiliar exaltation of the spirit thatLagardere swore to himself that the unwitting confidence of Gabrielle deCaylus should not be misplaced, and that all his hand, his heart, hissword could do for her service should cheerfully and faithfully be done.

  Lagardere could see that she was holding something in the nature of abundle in her out-stretched arms. This was the child, no doubt, of whomthe masked shadow had spoken. Lagardere took the bundle cautiously in hishands and lowered it to a secure resting-place in his left arm. Then theDuchess de Nevers spoke again, and he saw that she was holding anotherand smaller object in her hand.

  "This packet," she said, "contains the papers recording our marriage,torn from the register of the chapel. I feared they would be destroyed ifI did not save them."

  As she spoke she put the packet into Lagardere's extended right hand, andas his fingers closed upon it the horn that he had heard before was woundagain in the distance, but this time it seemed to his keen ears that thesound was nearer than before.

  The woman in the window gave a shiver. "There is much to say," shesighed, "but no time to say it now. That may be a signal. Go, go, Louis.I love you."

  In another moment her head was drawn back into the darkness of theapartment, the window closed, and the old castle was as silent andobscure as before. If it were not for the bundle in his left arm and thepacket in his right hand, Lagardere might well have been tempted tobelieve that the whole episode was no more than the fancy of a dream. Hethrust the packet into his breast, and then moved slowly towards thecentre of the moat, tenderly cradling his precious charge. Peeringclosely down at the bundle, he could dimly discern what seemed to be ababy face among the encircling folds of silk which wrapped the child. Itwas sleeping soundly; the transition from its mother's arms to the armsof the soldier of fortune had not wakened it, and now, as Lagarderegently rocked it in his arms, it continued to sleep.

  The whimsicality of the adventure began to tickle Lagardere's fancy. Heseemed to be destined to play many parts that night. A few minutes backhe had masqueraded as a bravo to deceive the mysterious shadows. Then hehad pretended to be a husband to deceive the Duchess de Nevers. Now heimitated a nurse in order that Nevers's child might sleep soundly. Helooked again at the quiet morsel of humanity, and his heart was stirredwith strange desires and melancholy imaginings. Raising his hand to hishat, he uncovered solemnly and made the baby a sweeping salute.

  "Mademoiselle de Nevers," he whispered, "your loyal servant salutes you!Sleep in peace, pretty sweetheart."

  Then he began to sing softly beneath his breath the burden of an oldFrench lullaby which he remembered from his childhood days, with itsburden of "Do, do, l'enfant do, l'enfant dormira tantot," and as he sangthe horn again sounded the same dreary, prolonged note as before, but nowmore clearly, and therefore plainly nearer.

  "That must be the last signal," Lagardere thought, and on the moment heheard the sound of footsteps on the bridge, and out of the darknessbeyond a man slowly descended into the darkness of the moat. In anotherinstant Lagardere heard the well-known voice of Nevers calling out:"Halloo! Is any one here?"

  Lagardere advanced to meet his appointed enemy. "This way, duke!" hecried. Then he added, reprovingly: "You would have been wiser to carry alantern."

  Nevers moved swiftly towards him along the kind of path that Lagarderehad made in the bundle of hay, and as he came he spoke, and his tone wasmenacing and imperious. "Let me feel your blade. I can kill in thedark."

  Lagardere answered him, ironically: "Gifted gentleman! But I want a talkfirst."

  He had scarcely finished when a flash like lightning stabbed the darknessand came very near to stabbing him. It was the sword of Nevers, who wasthrusting wildly before him into the gloom, while he cried: "Not a word!You have insulted a woman!"

  Lagardere beat a rapid retreat for a few paces, and called to him: "Iapologize humbly, abjectly. I kneel for forgiveness."

  Nevers's only answer was to follow up and thrust rapidly at Lagardere'sretreating figure, while he cried, fiercely: "Too late."

  There was nothing for Lagardere to do but to defend himself in order togain time with this passionate madman. Therefore, Lagardere drew hissword and parried the attack which Nevers was now making at closequarters. It was so dark in the moat that the two antagonists couldscarcely see each other, and even the brightness of the blades was withdifficulty distinguished. In a voice that was at once anxious andmocking, Lagardere cried to the duke: "Unnatural parent, do you wish tokill your child?"

  The last word stopped Nevers like a blow. He lowered his sword and spokewonderingly: "My child! What do you mean?"

  Lagardere answered him, gravely: "At this moment Mademoiselle de Neversis nestled in my arms."

  Nevers echoed him, astonished: "My daughter, in your arms?"

  Lagardere came quite close to the duke and showed him the bundle cradledin his elbow. "See for yourself; but step gently, for the young lady'ssleep must be respected."

  Nevers gave a gasp of surprise. "What has happened?"

  Lagardere answered him, slowly: "Madame de Nevers gave this little ladyto me just now from yonder window, taking me for you. There is a plot tokill the child, to kill you."

  Nevers gave a groan. "This is the hate of the Marquis de Caylus."

  "I don't know who is doing the job," Lagardere answered, "but what I doknow is that the night is alive with assassins. I think I have got rid ofsome of them, but there may be others, wherefore prudence advises us tobe off."

  He could see Nevers stiffen himself in the darkness as he answered,proudly: "A Nevers fly?"

  Lagardere shrugged his shoulders. "Even I have no passion for flight, butwith a sweet young lady to defend--"

  Nevers seemed to accept his correction. "You are right. Forgi
ve me. Letus go."

  The two men turned to leave the moat, but as they did so they werestopped by the sound of fresh footsteps on the bridge, and in anotherinstant Nevers's page had descended the steps and ran to join them.

  "My lord!" he cried to the duke as soon as he reached the pair--"my lord,my lord, you are surrounded!"

  Nevers gave an angry cry: "Too late!"

  Lagardere answered him with a laugh. "Nonsense! There are but ninerascals."

  But the laugh died away upon his lips when the page hurriedlyinterrupted: "Twenty at least."

  Lagardere was staggered but emphatic. "Nine, duke, nine. I saw them,counted them, know them."

  The page was equally emphatic. "They have got help since you came. Thereare smugglers hereabouts, and they have recruited their ranks fromthem."

  Lagardere grunted. "Ungentlemanly," he protested, and then addressedNevers: "Well, duke, we can manage ten apiece easily." He turned to theboy and gave him some quick instructions. "Creep through the wood behindthe castle to the highway. Run like the devil to the cross-roads, wheremy men wait. Tell them Lagardere is in danger. They may be here in aquarter of an hour."

  The boy answered him, decisively: "They shall be."

  Lagardere patted him on the back. "Good lad," he said, and the boy dartedfrom his side and disappeared into the darkness.

  Lagardere turned to the duke. "There is no chance of escaping now withouta scuffle," he said; "we must fight it out as well as we can. You and I,duke, ought not to think it a great matter to handle ten rascals apiecein this fighting-place, if only we intrench ourselves properly."

  As he spoke he laid his precious bundle reverently in the hay-cart, whereit seemed to sleep as peacefully as if it were in its native cradle, andbegan piling up the great masses of the bundles of hay in front of him toform a kind of rampart.

  Nevers looked at him in astonishment. "Do you stand by me?"

  Lagardere answered him cheerfully. "I came here to fight with you. I stayhere to fight for you. I must fight somebody. I lose by the change, forit is a greater honor to fight Monsieur de Nevers than a battalion ofbravos, but there is no help for it."

  There was a little silence, and then Nevers said, slowly: "You are asplendid gentleman."

  "There is nothing to make a fuss about," Lagardere said, lightly. "I amthis little lady's soldier. I came here in a cutthroat humor enough, butsince I dandled her daintiness in my arms I've taken a fine liking forher father."

  Nevers reached out his hand to Lagardere. "Henceforward we arecomrades--brothers."

  Lagardere clasped the extended hand. "Heart and hand, for life and death,brother."