CHAPTER XVI
THE ORDERS FOR RELEASE
On the terrace below the western tower the sentry slowly paced hisappointed round, looking down over the city at intervals, and once ortwice glancing up at the tower above him, where, clad in his motley ofscarlet and green, Jean sat perched upon the battlements. The dawn wastwo hours old now, and for full two hours the dwarf had sat there, hisgrave face sadly at variance with his gay dress, and grinning baublefurnished with jingling bells, which he had stuck under his arm. Fromthis western tower was the widest view of Vayenne, and Jean lookedover the city and beyond it to the far hills as though he wouldimprint the picture upon his memory. Only that morning he had put onhis motley for the first time. "The Duke's gift, Jean," Felix had saidlast night. "Who hurts the fool shall henceforth have to reckon withthe Duke." And it would almost seem that the dwarf had come to thisexalted spot to show himself to the new day. The sentry smiled at thefool's pride; and some sensation of showing himself to the earth andsky of a new dawn may have passed through the dwarf's mind, but therewas no pride in it. He played a part; under the motley was the sameJean, wise, cunning, and alert. He had climbed to the battlements fora purpose, and thoughts had come into his mind as he sat there whichhad made his face grave as he looked over the city, and to the distanthills, which shut in all the world he had ever known.
It was the third day since Christine de Liancourt had come to thecastle, and twice Jean had had speech with her. She had questioned himconcerning Roger Herrick, but he could tell her nothing, becauseHerrick had commanded silence. The hours had been busy for the dwarf,and fortunately for Count Felix also. Jean had not been wanted, andcould go about his own affairs unmolested. His work lay in alldirections in Vayenne; in the smaller streets and alleys behind St.Etienne, where men lived poorly and nursed discontent in their hearts;in the network of narrow ways about the old markets; in mean cafes andtaverns; and in some houses of a better sort where grievancessheltered. Some work, too, there was in the castle itself among thesoldiers, who found it unnatural to speak of Felix as the Duke, or whowere more than ordinarily superstitious and still marvelled who thespy who had escaped might be, or were suspicious concerning the deathof the young scholar of Passey. For each there was differenttreatment, wisdom here, cunning there; and hardly had Jean slept thesefew nights past. Last night, indeed, many in Vayenne had not slept,for all signs of mourning had to be folded away, and the city must bedecked with wreaths, and colored bunting, and flags, and prepareitself to shout "Long life to the Duke!" So workmen were busy allthrough the night, and the sounds of hammering faintly ascended toJean's ears now. He had been in and out among these workers lastnight, and whatever else he told them, he whispered this in theirears:
"To-morrow! To-morrow! Justice shall be born to-morrow, towardevening, when the Duke mounts the steps of the throne. Then be readyto shout what you have been bidden to shout. All else shall happen asI have told you. I play my part, a mean part, the part of a fool, cladin gaudy coloring with jingling cap and bells. Look for me at dawn atthe summit of the western tower. There shall you see me, and whatmanner of part it is I play. It is the sign that all things are as Ihave told you."
Thus it was that the dwarf sat long upon the battlements, knowing wellthat many hundred eyes had turned to look in his direction sincedaybreak. He had looked down into the streets to see men stop andstare upward; he had looked to this side and that where he knew menwere waiting eagerly for light; he had looked toward the high-pitchedroof of the great hall of the castle, running lengthways to the greatsquare, and he pictured the scene that a few short hours must bring,the climax to the work with which he had been busy night and day.Still he sat there, looking now to the distant hills, which wrappedthemselves about the city, and instead of eager expectation in hisface, there was grave contemplation, even the look that he might haveworn when in St. Etienne he saw visions. The dawn would break againto-morrow. The morning star would pale in the quivering, golden beamsup-springing from behind those sheltering hills. What would anothernew day lighten in Vayenne?
"Failure," murmured Jean, "and then swift death for us all. Success,and even that must mean rebellion and carnage in her streets oncemore."
He rose suddenly, and with an impassioned gesture spread wide his armsas if he blessed the city that he loved, a strange, uncouth littlefigure, ugly as an ancient gargoyle of some great Gothic church. Whoshall chronicle all the thoughts that were in him as he stood there?Then he swung himself from the battlement to the roof of the tower,and slowly descended to the court-yard, where busy men greeted himwith roars of laughter.
"Your commands, my Lord Fool! Your will, Sir Jester!" they shouted.
"You shall know through your captains, my good fellows," said Jeangrandiloquently as he passed on his way to Count Felix.
There was much coming and going in the corridors of the castle, andthe dwarf had to run the gauntlet of much chaff, good-natured banterfor the most part; and for every one he had an answer, which if notwitty passed for such and drew its measure of laughter. It is easy tosee humor even in the commonplaces of a licensed jester. No onequestioned Jean's right to go where he would, and he passed throughthe ante-rooms, where many were awaiting an audience, and entered theCount's private apartment unannounced.
Felix looked up, and then burst out laughing, the first time he hadlaughed since he had returned from the Place Beauvoisin with his handbound up; and Barbier, who was standing by the Count's table, arrayedin his new uniform as Captain of the Duke's Guard, laughed too.
"So we are three gossips, but only two of us are dressed in our newclothes yet," said Jean. "Haven't they sent yours home yet, friendFelix? Grant they may not come too late."
"Little fear of that now," said Felix, but he became solemn again, andturned to Barbier. "There is nothing more, captain. See that thesentries are doubled everywhere. See that a special guard of honor isgiven Mademoiselle de Liancourt to-night, and make it clear thatneither she nor any of her suite has permission to leave the castle.And remember no priest may enter the Castle of Vayenne but FatherBertrand."
"Had I my will, I would keep him out, too," said Barbier.
"That is impossible," Felix answered. "Every detail of ancient custommust be observed. Go, Barbier, I depend upon you."
"We trust you, Barbier," said Jean. "You are earning your new dressvery creditably."
The captain shrugged his shoulders contemptuously at the dwarf as hewent out. Barbier had little appreciation of such humor, and perhapshe was not so comfortable in his new uniform as he pretended to be.The Count's wounded hand troubled the Captain of the Guard. Somewhere,undetected, in their midst was a man who knew their secrets.
The wounded hand also troubled the Count. Who was his adversary? Whathad he to do with Christine de Liancourt?
"No more visions, Jean?" he said, turning to the dwarf, who had seatedhimself on the floor beside his chair.
"None."
"We travel swiftly to the goal."
"Ay; straight to the goal," Jean answered. "I saw carpenters andservants putting the final touches to the great hall as I passed. Itwill be a grand spectacle."
"I would it were over," said Felix, "or that we could do without it."
"Why so? The Duke is dead, young Maurice is dead, and Montvilliersmust have a duke."
"I have enemies, Jean, and they trouble me. What can I do with them?"
"Bury them quickly, just as we buried the old Duke and his son," thedwarf answered.
"That would be easy could I find these enemies," answered Felix, "butthey are secret foes, striking in the dark."
"At your hand," was the quick retort; "your heart is whole. It puzzlesme why your enemy did not run you through the heart the other night."
"It puzzles me, too, Jean."
"It would have saved a lot of trouble," the dwarf went on in a musingmanner, "and you would have gone to your account proclaimed as amartyr. There would have been pilgrimages to your tomb in St Etienne,and Vayenne would have become fa
mous."
"Since he did not kill me, he must mean other mischief," murmuredFelix, following his own train of thoughts and paying little attentionto the dwarf.
"Ay; you will lose much by being a duke instead of a martyr," saidJean.
Count Felix roused himself with a sudden effort. This was not the timefor fears or dismal forebodings, and he struck the gong upon histable. He had much to do, many persons to see, many things to arrange;and Jean sat there while all this business was transacted, welcomingand dismissing each person with a little musical shake of his fool'sbauble. Most of them laughed at him, a few were angry, but it made nodifference to the dwarf.
Presently the Count rose.
"Play the fool where you will, Jean, until evening; I go to see theCountess Elisabeth, and I will not take you with me."
"Are you jealous?" asked the dwarf.
"No."
"I'll go and see Christine de Liancourt," said Jean. "I warrant Ishall have a hearty welcome. Art jealous now?"
"A little, perhaps."
"She might have liked you as a martyr," chuckled the dwarf. "Oh, Igrant you, being a fool has its advantages." And he shook his baubleas the Count passed out of the room.
Then Jean seated himself thoughtfully on the corner of the Count'stable, and for a few moments was busy with his seals and wax.
"Since the sentries are doubled, we must take double precaution," hemurmured. "Chance is a very useful mistress sometimes, but it does notpay to leave too much to her."
Count Felix went quickly to the suite of rooms Countess Elisabethoccupied for the time being in the castle. He had requested her not toreturn to the Place Beauvoisin until after he was crowned Duke. Hewanted his talisman beside him, he said; and the Countess, perhapshoping that she would never permanently return to the PlaceBeauvoisin, remained.
She received him now, as she always did, with a smile of welcome, andhe bent over her hand in silence before seating himself beside her.
"I would it were well over, Elisabeth."
"To-morrow at this time it will be," she answered.
"Had I dared to do so, I would have altered the ceremony," he went on;"I would have curtailed some of these absurd customs, and made mycoronation far more simple and direct. It should have been swiftlydone, and I would have had the reins firmly in my hands before any hadtime to question me."
"Who can question you?"
"I fear even the voice of one starveling about the court, or even ofsome soldier who mayhap has begun his revelling too early."
"Your fears are groundless, Felix."
"Are they?" And he held out his bound-up hand to her.
"That was but the stroke of a lover mad with jealousy," Elisabethanswered. "When I sent you to Christine that night I little thoughtyou would find her lover there."
"Who is this lover?"
"Indeed, I cannot tell; but being a woman I read another woman easily.As I told you, I thought she loved this Captain Lemasle; in that I wasmistaken, but I was not at fault when I said she was in love. That youmust know now."
Felix was silent. A lover of Christine's this sham priest might wellbe, but he was something more--he was the man who knew his secret.This he could not tell to the Countess without betraying himself.
"Would you still marry her, Felix?" she asked.
"Only for the good of Montvilliers," he answered.
"She will hate you, Felix, even though she be your wife. They are herown words."
"I must risk even that for the good of Montvilliers."
"Ah, your love is a small thing beside your ambition," she said,turning away from him.
"Your love is the dearest thing I have in life, Elisabeth," he saidquickly. "Do not turn from me, even for a moment, in such a time asthis. I am like a child stepping in the dark who holds out its handsfor guidance and protection. After to-morrow, who can tell what actionof mine may be best for Montvilliers? If Christine hates me so much,she may show it now, and give strength to my enemies; she has thatpower, I cannot rob her of it. Let me once feel that I am firm withouther, and then----"
"Well, Felix?"
Her face was raised to his, and he bent and kissed her lips.
"For the present know that I love you," he whispered, "and give mestrength for the ordeal through which I have to pass."
"You ask so much and give so little."
"Wait," he answered. "After to-morrow, I may give all."
"Yours are, indeed, a child's fears," she said. "Come, tell me themone by one, and like some good nurse I will try and show you howfoolish they are."
All his fears he could not tell her, perhaps she recognized that hedid not, but many he could talk to her about, and she comforted andstrengthened him. All the ghosts that conscience sent to harass himwere powerless to annul the Countess Elisabeth's work altogether, andit was with firm step and steady eye that presently the Count met hisfriends and foes.
Meanwhile Jean went about his work, but it did not include a visit toMademoiselle de Liancourt. He passed slowly through the ante-rooms,where men were still waiting.
"The audience is at an end," he said. "We have too much to attend toto-day to see any more of you. The Count is tired; and has gone torest a little."
"My Lord Misshapen, won't you attend to us?" said one.
"My unique limbs also require rest; still, what would you have? Weknow nothing against you."
"A high place at court, to which my love for you entitles me," saidthe man.
"What say you to a rope over the great gate?" said Jean. "It is themost prominent place I can think of."
The man's hand went suddenly to his sword hilt.
"If you draw sword on me," said Jean, tapping him on the arm with hisbauble, making the bells jingle, "you are likely to earn your highplace rather easily."
The laugh was turned against the man, and the dwarf passed on.
"It is very well to jest," mused Jean as he crossed the court-yard,"but I'm likely to hang yonder over the gate myself if anything goeswrong in the next few hours."
He entered a low doorway, and going slowly along a dark passage, waschallenged at the end of it by a sentry. There were two sentriesstanding there.
"I have come to see the prisoner."
"We have no orders," answered the sentry.
"I go everywhere under a general order," said Jean. "You should knowthat, blockhead; it has been shouted loud enough in every corner ofthe castle."
"It does not apply to-day, Jean."
"Who has been telling you fairy tales, that cocksparrow Barbier?"
The sentry smiled. The new Captain of the Guard was no great friend ofhis.
"We shall have to cut his feathers," said the dwarf. "Did he tell youthat all prisoners were likely to be released to-morrow in honor ofthe Duke's coronation?"
"No; he did not tell us that."
"And I'm a fool," said the dwarf, "for I was told to keep it secretwhen I was ordered to bring this release to one of the prisonersto-day." And Jean held out to the sentry a paper, an order of releaseforthwith, signed and sealed by Count Felix. "You see the name,Pierre Briant, the jailer who let the spy escape. Now, blockheads, areyou going to let me pass?"
There was no disputing that order, the sentries stood aside, and oneof them proceeded to unlock the cell door.
Pierre Briant looked at the paper and then at the dwarf.
"You are free, jailer Briant," said Jean, "but you are dismissed theDuke's service. You'll have to turn 'prentice to some pedler in thetown."
"I'm sorry for that," said the sentry.
"I'll see you on your way to the gate," said the dwarf, and then, whenthey were out of hearing of the sentries, he went on quickly: "Allgoes well. Those in the square to-night will follow you. You know whatyou have to do. Here, put this order of your release in your pocket,walk boldly to the gate, you will not be questioned. Say 'Obedienceand trust,' that's your password, and make all speed you can to theCheval Noir in the Rue de la Grosse Horloge. You will find friendsthere."
"That's one deed that would serve to hang me," he muttered. "Barbieris no fool; it is well I had the papers."
He entered the castle again, taking a different direction this time,but again before the door of Gaspard Lemasle's cell two sentriesbarred his way. Not until he had produced another order of releasewould they let him pass.
Lemasle walked away with the dwarf in silence.
"What now, Jean?" he whispered when they had passed out of earshot ofthe sentries.
"Lie low until dark. Then make for guard-room C. They will be allfriends there, stout men, captain, that wait their stout leader.'Obedience and trust' is our password to-night. You understand whatyou have to do?"
"Never fear, Jean; and grant there's a skirmish of some sort, for Ihave several scores outstanding."
"We had better both hasten to cover then."
"I know a likely hole," Lemasle answered, and he turned quickly into aside passage, and was gone.
"I'll hide, too," muttered the dwarf. "I have no great desire to meetBarbier until I see him to-night in the great hall." And he, too,turned into a dark corridor and silently disappeared.
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