Prisoners of Chance Page 8

  CHAPTER VII

  THE CHEVALIER DE NOYAN

  It seems strange any man should deliberately venture life for one hehad never seen; one whom, moreover, he hated with an intensity ofpassion seldom experienced between man and man. I have not been ofrevengeful disposition, nor often indulged in grave personal dislike,yet it would be wrong in this simple narrative for me to attemptconcealment of my own impulses. So it is impossible to deny that, fromthe first moment when she called Charles de Noyan husband, I felttoward him a degree of animosity deeper than I had before supposed itpossible for me to entertain relative to any human being. It wasbitter memory of the past, a belief that I had once won the heart ofthis fair girl, only to be balked of reward by spectral hands ofreligion, which swayed me thus strongly. To my thought this strangerwas one who had purchased, from priests at the altar, what was mine bydivine decree; what would remain mine forever from the mandate of loveunchangeable, eternally sealed by higher power than any priestly ritual.

  Yet I had already passed through a day and night of intense excitement,of grave peril, endeavoring to preserve the life of this man whom Iwould more gladly see die than any one I ever knew. I stood now in theopen jaws of my own destruction, where the slightest false movement, orill-judged word, upon his part or my own, must mean betrayal; where anawakening of suspicion in the simple mind of the sentry without, or ofhis captain in the corridor; the return to consciousness, or chancediscovery, of the bound priest upon the upper deck, would ruin everyhope, sentencing me to a fate no less speedy or certain than that whichnow awaited him I sought to serve. All this had I risked that I mightaid in the escape of the one and only man in all the wide world whostood between me and the woman I loved.

  It was an odd position, a heartless caprice of fate. I felt the fullmeasure of its strangeness, yet the thought never occurred to me ofshrinking back from duty, nor slightest dream of realizing a personalvictory through any act of baseness. I was not there for his sake, ormy own, but to redeem my pledged word to her whose slightest wish waslaw, whose pleading face forever rose before me. Nevertheless, as Istood fronting him for the first time, there was little except bitterhatred in my heart--hatred which, no doubt, burned for the instantwithin my eyes,--but a hatred which never returned, to curse my memory,from that day unto this. I may have found much to test my patience,much to dislike about him in those weary weeks which followed, much ofweakness and of fickle spirit, but naught ever gave birth anew to thedeep resentment I buried there.

  The room in which I found myself was long and narrow, dimly lighted byan oil lamp screwed fast into a blackened beam overhead. Along oneside was the bare wall, unrelieved in its plain planking except for asmall cracked mirror and a highly colored picture of the Virgin in arude frame. Opposite, two berths were arranged one above the other,both partially concealed by a dingy red curtain extending from ceilingto floor. The only other furniture I noted in my hasty surveyconsisted of a rough stool chair, and a huge iron-bound, woodensea-chest, the last so bulky as almost completely to block the narrowspace between the lower berth and the opposite wall. Seated upon thestool, which was tilted back upon two legs, his shoulders restingcomfortably on a pillow pressed against the wall, his long limbsextended in posture of supreme contentment and laziness, upon thechest, was the man of my desperate search, the gallant soldier ofFrance, the leader of rebellion, condemned to die before the rifleswithin four short hours.

  I have never greatly feared death, have witnessed it often and in manyhideous forms, yet always believed it would test my nerves to theuttermost to face it as a certainty under guard of enemies. Yet herewas one, young in years, strong of limb, vigorous of hope, with all thejoy of life just opening before him; a man of wealth, of fashion, andof ease, who was seemingly awaiting the inevitable hour of his doomwith as calm indifference as if it meant no more than the pleasantsummons to a Creole ball. With one glance I made a mental picture ofhim--a young, high-bred face, marred somewhat by dissipation and latehours, yet beneath that dim light appearing almost boyishly fresh, andbearing upon its every feature the plain impress of reckless humor, andindolent content. It was the face of a youth rather than a man; of onemore accustomed to looking upon gay companions at the club than on thehorrors of a battlefield; one who could justly be expected to boast offair conquests, yet who might prove somewhat slow at drawing sword tofront a warrior of mettle, unless his blood were heated with wine.

  Such were my first impressions, until I noted a certain manlinessimparted thereto by the heavy moustaches adorning the upper lip, almostyellow in color, curled sharply upward, so heavily waxed at the ends asnearly to reach the ears, or rather to lose themselves amid theluxuriant growth of hair. This latter, of the same unusual tinge,swept low over the shoulders, and was trimmed squarely across theforehead according to a fashion then prevalent among young Frenchcavaliers. His dress was not a uniform, but that of the latest mode inthe province, somewhat exaggerated, I thought, as to length of thebronze shoes and glaring color of the waistcoat. All these details Inoted, as he turned somewhat indolently in my direction, calmlyflipping the ash from off a cigarette, and permitting a spiral of thinblue smoke to curl slowly upward from his lips into the air.

  "So it is you, you miserable, drunken reprobate!" he exclaimed, a touchof temper tingling in a voice I felt must naturally be soft and low."Have you dared come back to pester me with your abominableconsolations? Sacre! did I not bid you this afternoon to let me alone?I care nothing for your tipsy paternosters. Faith, man, it will bepleasanter to face that firing squad to-morrow than your drunkenprayers to-night. Come, get out of the room before I lay unregeneratehands upon your shaven poll. I am but giving you fair warning, priest,for I am quick of blow when my blood is heated, nor care I greatly forthe curses of Mother Church."

  I stepped quickly forward, coming as directly before him as the greatsea-chest would permit, fearful lest his loud words might bedistinguishable beyond the closed door. Then, with silent gesture ofwarning, I flung aside the heavy cowl which had concealed my features.

  "You, I presume, are Charles de Noyan," I said gravely. "I am notFather Cassati, nor drunken priest of any Order of Holy Church."

  The prisoner was thoroughly astounded. This I could perceive by thesudden gleam leaping into his eyes, but that he retained marvellouscontrol over every muscle was abundantly proven by the fact that nochange of attitude, or of voice, gave slightest evidence of emotion.

  "Well, Mother of God preserve me!" he exclaimed, with a short, recklesslaugh. "'Tis some small comfort to know even that much. Yet may Ipolitely inquire who the devil you are, to invade thus coolly thebedchamber of a gentleman, without so much as asking leave, at thisunholy hour of the morning? _Pardieu_, man, are you aware that this isthe last night on earth I have?"

  He was staring at me through blue rings of tobacco smoke, very much asone might observe some peculiar animal seen for the first time.

  "Had it been otherwise you might rest assured I should never havetroubled you," I replied, some constraint in my voice, his boyishbravado of speech rasping harshly upon my nerves. "But time presses,Chevalier; there remains small space for useless exchange ofcompliment, nor does indifference appear becoming to those in suchgrave peril as you and I."

  "_Sacre_! are you also one of us? Surely, I have no recollection ofyour face."

  "I am one in so far as I now face the same fate at the hands of theSpaniards, although, it is true, I had no part in your uprising. I amnot of your race."

  He laughed easily, passing one slender, white hand carelessly throughhis long hair.

  "Pah! you scarcely need tell me that, for the taste of the Frenchtongue seems ill-suited to your lips. Yet I would have you speak outmore plainly! I play not easily into the hands of strangers."

  "Why not? You could hardly be worse off than you are now."

  "_Pardieu_! you are not so far wrong in your philosophy, friend. StillI stick to my text, and if you care to hold further speech with me itwill
be well to declare yourself. I have ever been a bit careful as tomy associates."

  "It makes small odds, Chevalier, who I am; nor will it greatly aid youto learn my name, which is plain Geoffrey Benteen, without even ahandle of any kind to it, nor repute, save that of an honest hunteralong the upper river. I say who I am makes small odds, for I come notwith application for membership into your social circle, nor with cardof introduction from some mutual friend."

  His expressive eyebrows uplifted in surprise.

  "Then, Monsieur, pray relieve my natural curiosity, and tell me why Iam thus honored by your presence?"

  "To aid your escape from this hole, God willing. That is, provided yourouse up from lethargy, and bear your part as becomes a man."

  I spoke with heat, for his indifference irritated me; yet I failed tonote that my words made the slightest impression on him, for I didmerely mark a slight shrugging of the shoulders, while he crossed hislegs more comfortably, rolling some fresh tobacco, before he tooktrouble to reply.

  "You are evidently of a choleric temper, friend Benteen. GreatHeavens, what names have you English!" he exclaimed. "And you needgreatly to practise better control over yourself, as such weakness isapt to lead one into just such scrapes as this of ours. _Sacre_! ithath been my failing also, otherwise would I now be a fat Major of theLine instead of a poor devil condemned to the volley, for no worsecrime than an over-hot head. But seriously, Monsieur, and I am trulyof a most grave disposition, it is not so easy to accomplish that whichyou propose with so glib a tongue. Imagine you I have lain here, undertender Spanish care, all these weeks, where, as I do most solemnlyaffirm, not so much as a glass of decent wine has found way down mythroat, nor have I possessed a bit of pomade for the proper arrangementof my locks--which will account for their present dishevelment--SaintCecilia! but that moon-faced Moor who commands the guard merely laughedat me when I did request a comb;--think you, I say, I have been throughall this without calculating chances for escape? But, _pardieu_! whatuse? A man of sense will not dream such fool dreams. This I know,there are three sentries yonder in the passageway, a good dozen moreunder arms in the guard-room beyond, with still others vigilantlypacing the deck above. What use, I say, for did not poor Villere tryit, and, before he had covered twenty feet, had three bullets in hisbrain? Nay, Master Benteen, to endeavor running such a gantlet wouldonly give me my fill of Spanish lead before the hour set, which, theytell me, comes with the sunrise."

  He arose languidly to his feet, paused a moment in front of the crackedmirror to recurl his long moustaches, and then, turning about, extendeda white hand toward me, smiling pleasantly as he did so.

  "Faith, I fear I shall not look my best when it is all over, but if soit will be the fault of the Dons--they seem most careless as torequirements of the toilet. Yet I would not have you deem meungrateful, and I thank you heartily, Monsieur. But if it be my turnto die, and I doubt it not,--for who ever heard of mercy in the blackheart of a Spaniard?--then it is best I front it as becomes a gentlemanof France, not with a bullet in my back, as though I fled from fatewith the faint heart of a coward. Nay, good friend, if death is to bemy portion, I prefer meeting it with a smile, and thus prove, at theending, worthy of my race."

  There was a certain dignified manliness in his speech and manner whichfor the moment caused me to doubt my earlier reading of his character.There might be steel beneath the velvet glove of this fair courtier.

  "Do you mean you deliberately choose to remain here, rather than acceptthe chance I offer you?"

  "Sacre! I have as yet heard of no chance," he replied easily, sinkingindolently back into his old seat against the wall. "I shall be fairlycomfortable here for the while, though I must say I have used a bettergrade of tobacco than this furnished me."

  For the moment I was in despair as to the outcome of my mission, nordid I accept the proffered hand of the prisoner. Here was a totallydifferent order of man from what had ever come my way before, nor did Iknow how best to meet him. How much of his vain and reckless speechcame from the heart, and how much of it was merely a mask with which totest my purpose, I could not determine, yet I remained resoluteregarding my own duty, and accordingly sat coolly down upon the chest,determined to play out his own game with him to the bitter end.

  "Quite true, Chevalier," I said, smiling pleasantly, as if I enteredfully into his reckless spirit. "Doubtless you are right--needs mustwhen the devil drives. Could you spare me a morsel of that sametobacco, until I test the quality of which you complain?" I produced apipe from the recesses of my monk's habit, knocking the ashes outcarelessly against the chest.

  He passed over his pouch in silence.

  "When one resteth between His Satanic Majesty and the deep sea it makessmall odds at the best which direction he turns. It becomes merely amatter of taste. Death," I continued musingly as I deliberately rammedhome a charge into the bowl, "must be about the same to one man as toanother, except for matter of temperament; so if you can afford to sithere and welcome its coming, so can I."

  "Do you mean you are sufficiently crazy to remain deliberately and diewith me?"

  "Certainly. I pledged your devoted wife I would rescue you, or neverreturn alive myself. As you stubbornly refuse to listen to reason,this seems to be all that is left me. Opinions might differ as towhich was crazed, but as to that we will probably neither of us everknow. May I trouble you for a light?"

  I leaned forward, coolly helping myself to the burning cigarette heheld forth doubtingly between his fingers, and, puffing vigorously,silently resumed my seat.

  "My wife, say you?" A fresh interest appeared to sweep over him at theword, overcoming his indifference. "Did Eloise de Noyan send you hereseeking to succor me?"

  "It was at her request I came; at her wish I stay," I answered firmly.

  "You knew her?"

  "Several years since, when she was scarcely more than a girl; yet sheretained sufficient faith to call upon me in extremity."

  He sat staring at me as if he would like to question further.

  "The Lord love us, you are a cool fish," he finally exclaimed, bringinghis hand down upon his knee, and speaking with fresh animation in hissoft voice. "What is more, I rather like you. So Eloise really wishesme to desert the Dons? Queer choice that, for she would make a lovelywidow. Oh, well, what's the odds? 'Tis only the question of a ball inthe back to-night, or a ball in the front to-morrow. If you chance tohave a tuck ready for my hand, friend, I 'll try a dash at the deckjust for the sport of it."

  I shook my head emphatically.

  "We will attempt passage without flashing of weapons, or not at all. Igrant a quick stroke might win us the open, yet would only serve torouse the ship; neither of us would ever lift head above the riversurface without a bullet in the brain."

  "It is the only way fit for a gentleman."

  "Confound your gentlemen!" I cried, now thoroughly aroused at thisill-chosen trifling with time. "Either you do as I bid you, or else wesettle down without any more ado, to wait the file to-morrow. Howoften does the Commandant look in?"

  "On the stroke of the ship's bell."

  "Then, Monsieur, the sooner you arrive at some decision the better. Ifindifference is your game, I play it out with you to the end." As Ispoke I leaned carelessly back against the lower bunk, puffing away atmy pipe to get it fairly alight once more.

  I could note from the corner of my eye he was watching me closely, andwith no slight degree of aroused interest, but I would have restedthere without further speech until the guard came, had he not firstbroken silence.

  "And she sent you?"

  "So I said."

  "To me, not Lafreniere, her father?"

  "There was a possible chance to save one, not two."

  "_Sacre_! yes, I understand that; yet it doth puzzle me why she shouldhave chosen as she did. Know you just why it was De Noyan instead ofLafreniere?"

  "Madame selected me for action, not advice," I answered shortly, nowthoroughly ti
red of his questioning. "Lafreniere, I understood,positively refused opportunity to escape, from scruples of conscience.Besides, the father must be near the end of his days, while you wereyet young, with long life before you. No doubt this also had weightwith her decision. As for myself I sincerely wish it might have beensome other, so I could have brought my aid to a man of sense."

  He rose up, shrugging his shoulders.

  "You are not especially choice in speech, yet your purpose harmonizessomewhat with my present humor. I will risk the effort; so now tell meyour plan?"

  I permitted no sign of pleasure at his decision to appear in my face.

  "I did intend dressing you in this cassock so you might play priest,and slip safely past the guard beneath its gray cover," I said quietly."I purposed remaining behind, arranging for myself as best I might; butnow that we have met, to be perfectly frank about it, I retain noconfidence in your discretion which will warrant the risk. I thereforedecide we had better abide together until this venture be done."

  He smiled, apparently in rare good humor at my words.

  "No doubt it will prove best, my friend. Your wider knowledge shouldsupplement my boyish enthusiasm," he responded with mocking bow. "Irather suspect, from outward appearance, you may be some years myjunior, yet in life experience I readily yield you the palm. So leadon, most noble Captain; from henceforth command me as your devotedfollower. And now, your excellency, I trust you will pardon if Iventure the inquiry, what would you have your humble servant do?"

  I permitted him to ramble along as he pleased. Now I had won hispledge I cared little for the nature of his raillery. While he talkedI flung open the great chest upon which I had been sitting, anddiscovering it packed with clothing, hastily dragged the variousarticles forth, flinging them into the lower berth, covering the pilewith blankets in such a manner that they resembled the sleeping figureof a man. Then I turned toward him.

  "My first order, Monsieur, is that you get in here."

  "_Sacre_! not I--"

  There came a quick, firm footstep sounding along the passagewaywithout; then a hand fell heavily upon the latch of the door.