Vayenne

by Percy James Brebner

  CHAPTER XVIII

  THE PRICE OF SUCCESS

  As the moment after a catastrophe is ever one of silence, a hushbefore the piteous wail of anguish rises or the tempest thunders outits fury, so was it now. Herrick's words were followed by uttersilence.

  Then the tempest broke suddenly. With a hiss of rage, Felix raised hisarm to strike his adversary, but Herrick sprang up to him, and grippedit before the blow could fall.

  "I stand sponsor for this man's claim!" de Bornais cried, and the menwho had stood behind him drew their swords as their chief did, andranged themselves with him at the foot of the dais.

  Other swords leaped from their scabbards in a moment, and womenscreamed and scattered, fleeing to the side doors of the hall, menpressing back to let them go. Only Christine stood immovable, andCountess Elisabeth made a sudden step forward as though she would goto Felix's help. So round the dais men waited ready to attack or todefend, but no one moved to strike the first blow.

  At the end of the hall by the great doors it was different. There wasBarbier with his guard, and at a sharp command from the captain theybegan to move to Felix's rescue. At that moment Jean sprang to hisfeet in the embrasure of the window, a lighted torch, which splutteredand flared up, in his hand. There was the crash of broken glass, andas he flung the burning torch into the square below, he shouted in avoice that rang high above the tumult:

  "Long live Roger the Duke!"

  For one instant the cry seemed a solitary one, doomed to die in itsown echoes, but the next an answering roar came from the square below,such a rage of sound that even Barbier's men paused.

  "Cut down that grinning fool from the window," shouted Barbier, "andforward to the Duke!"

  Whatever his faults, Barbier was a brave man. Had Felix had more likehim, the situation might have been saved even at this eleventh hour.But his men hung back, and did not strive with a will against thepressure of the crowd. Barbier alone fought his way through allobstacles, and threw himself, sword in hand, upon de Bornais' men. Onestumbled, wounded slightly in this onslaught, and then Barbier's swordrattled to the floor, and with a catch in his breath he flung out hisarms and fell backward through the crowd which pressed aside to lethim go--dead.

  "So he pays for his attack on Maurice," whispered Herrick to the manwhose arm he still held.

  Few moments had elapsed since the Count had raised his arm to strike,and since Barbier had fought and fallen, other swords might well havebeen crossed in anger had not the roaring from the square held menback. There was a force around them which there was no withstanding,and the cry of "Roger the Duke" now rang in the castle itself, in thecourt-yards, and in the corridors. Armed men, shouting the cry, rushedinto the hall, headed by Gaspard Lemasle, and in the court-yard was acompact throng of men of Vayenne with Pierre Briant at their head.Barbier was dead in the hall, and one or two who had attempted todefend the castle had been struck down, killed or grievously hurt,that was all. The success of the conspirators was complete.

  "Treachery triumphant," Felix said as Herrick let go his arm. "The dayis to traitors, Christine."

  He had stepped from the dais, and stood beside her, but neither bylook nor movement did she show that she had heard his words. Her eyeswere fixed upon the place where Barbier had staggered back and fallenthrough the little lane that pressure on either side had formed forhim. It had closed up again immediately, but somewhere behind there helay, perhaps trampled underfoot. It is not to be supposed that theterrible suddenness of his death had not shocked her, but there was asense of relief that the whole hall was not full of fighting anddeath. Beyond this her thoughts were unable to focus themselves. Fearhad not held Roger Herrick back, but, as yet, she hardly realized whathad happened. She neither looked at Herrick standing on the steps ofthe dais, nor took in the words of Felix, who was standing beside her.

  The shouting was still loud in the court-yards, but in the hall therewas silence after the coming of Lemasle and his men.

  "Your claim must sound strange to many here," said Father Bertrand."Is it your will that I explain it?"

  "Speak, father," said Herrick.

  "So you, then, are chief conspirator, old fox?" sneered the Count."This farce tires me. Have I permission to retire while you prove tothese, my lords and loyal men of Vayenne, how false a claim is made bythis man?"

  "No. Stay," said Herrick.

  Felix glanced at the faces of those about him. A single sign wouldhave sufficed to make him their leader in an immediate attack upontheir enemies, but no sign was forthcoming. Even those who were hisfriends, whose hope of future advancement lay with the Count, wereafraid to move with those shouts from the court-yard and the squareringing in their ears.

  Speaking very deliberately, Father Bertrand recited the history of thelast Dukes of Montvilliers, even as he had explained it to Herrick inthe Rue St. Romain, showing that although the late Duke, havingdeposed his predecessor, had ascended the throne by the will of thepeople, even then there existed one with a prior claim.

  "This Roger Herrick was alive then, a child in England, the rightfulheir to the Dukedom," said Father Bertrand. "The descent of the lateDuke is known to you all, and all that I have said you can verify atyour will. Might, and the people's will, set the late Duke upon thethrone, and it is in your power to set Count Felix in his place, butnot by right of birth while this man Roger Herrick lives."

  While the priest had been speaking Christine turned to look atHerrick, but he would not meet her eyes. His glance wandered from faceto face in the hall as though he were absorbed in the thought of howfar the people were with him. To Christine it seemed that his ownambition possessed him entirely.

  "Is Vayenne gone mad that it will believe such a tale as this?" saidFelix.

  "Let the Duke speak!" cried a voice in the hall, the voice of Lemasle,and there was a shout of applause, which showed the Count how manythere were against him.

  Then Herrick looked at Christine, and their eyes met. Something heread in them showed him that what he had feared had happened in spiteof all his efforts to prevent it. The knowledge forced him to a suddendetermination. There were friends about him, but there were manyenemies, too. Any indecision would be his ruin; he saw that in thefaces which turned to him expectantly. Circumstances still drove himforward, and he dare not say all that it was within his heart tospeak. The occasion demanded strong measures.

  "Father Bertrand has told you my legal claim," Herrick said, "yet thatshould hardly suffice without the will of the people. For the momentlet might be my right, and understand why that right has beenexercised. That success has followed organized rebellion, shows howready the people were to do away, not with law and order, but with aman unfit to reign over them. For this reason I have pressed my claim,and for no other. Count Felix has friends amongst you, some innocent,some bought with his promises for the future, but the true value ofthat friendship rested on his becoming Duke. Those who were takenutterly into his confidence I believe to be few, but at all hazards hemeant to be Duke, and to achieve this the Duke's son Maurice must begot rid of. The manner in which this was done was clever, worthy ofthe man who conceived and carried out the treachery. An escort wassent with Mademoiselle de Liancourt to Passey to bring Maurice toVayenne, an escort that had only one honest man in it, Captain GaspardLemasle; the rest were the creatures of Count Felix, paid assassins.This escort on returning to Vayenne was attacked by a strongly armedband of robbers, who were no robbers, but other creatures of theCount, led by the man Barbier, who only a few minutes since so justlypaid the penalty of his crime. A mock skirmish took place in aclearing in the woods. The result you know. Maurice's body was foundand brought to Vayenne, and the Duke and his son were buried at thesame time in St. Etienne. My lords, is such a man a Duke you wouldwillingly have to reign over you?"

  "Is such a lie to be easily believed?" the Count burst out.

  "I fought beside Captain Lemasle in the young Duke's defence," Herrickcried, "and Mademoiselle de Liancourt can prove the truth of mywo
rds."

  All eyes turned to her.

  "They are true," she said, and then looking at Herrick, she asked: "Isthat all there is to tell?"

  It was not. The very tone in which she asked the question showed thatthere was more to be said, and that she knew it. All eyes were turnedto Herrick again expectantly.

  "There is no more to tell," said Herrick slowly and firmly, looking atChristine with a challenge in his glance. "What need to speak of thesilent and careful plotting which has resulted in this night'ssuccess? There has been no treachery against the state."

  "Long live Duke Roger!" cried Jean, who still stood in the embrasureof the window. "Long live the Duke!"

  The cry was taken up by Lemasle and his followers in the hall, andimmediately was roared along the corridors, now filled with the menwho had followed Pierre Briant into the court-yard. It was nouncertain sound, and not a dissentient voice made itself heard. EvenFelix remained silent, and he remembered with sudden fear how Jean hadspoken of a Count once who was hanged over the great gate.

  "It is the voice of the people," said Father Bertrand, standing bythe chair of state in which every Duke of Montvilliers had beencrowned. "Roger Herrick, I demand by what right you claim to ascendthis throne."

  "By right of birth," he answered, his eyes upon Christine.

  "Roger Herrick, I charge you, is there any reason known to you whichmakes your claim a false one?"

  "There is no reason," he answered, still with his eyes upon Christine.

  "Roger Herrick, do you swear to govern this land according to the samelaws of right and liberty by which it has heretofore been governed,and to hold the welfare of your people as a sacred trust?"

  "I swear to do this," said Herrick, and then facing the excited crowdhe cried: "Is there any here who would question me?"

  The sudden silence remained unbroken, and with a firm step Herrickascended the dais, and seated himself in the chair.

  "Roger Herrick, I crown you Duke of Montvilliers," said FatherBertrand in a loud voice, placing the golden circle upon his head."Presently in St. Etienne must you wear the iron crown, and therereceive Heaven's blessing upon this high estate to which you arecalled."

  Then once again the roar went up from a multitude of throats: "Longlive Roger the Duke! Long live the Duke!" And an instant later camethe first angry growl. "Down with Felix! Death to the Count!"

  The Countess Elisabeth with a sharp cry sprang to Felix's side.Christine did not move, but she looked at Herrick as though shewondered to what lengths he would go in the pursuit of his ambition.The Count's death seemed only the natural sequence to the events ofthat night.

  Herrick sprang to his feet.

  "Stop!" he cried, and he looked a leader of men as he stood there, hisarm outstretched in command. "Stop! No revenge shall have my sanction.Count Felix may yet live to make a good subject. All we need guardagainst is his becoming a dangerous rebel. You are free, Count, onlyfor a term you must limit your freedom to Vayenne. You are notpermitted to leave the city nor to enter the castle. Lemasle, see thatthe Count has safe conduct through the streets."

  The Countess touched Felix on the arm. Whether she believed what hadbeen said of him or not, this was not the time to desert him. Felixbowed his head, and they passed out of the hall together. It wouldhave gone hard with the Count in the corridors and court-yard but forthe men who marched beside him to the gate and presently escorted hiscarriage to the Place Beauvoisin.

  "My lords, I would not ask too much of you," said Herrick, when Felixand the Countess Elisabeth had gone. "Here is no trap to catch yourloyalty and obedience. You were not bid to my coronation; those whowill are free to depart. No harm shall be done you in Vayenne, onlywithin seven days shall you promise me service, or you will bereckoned amongst my enemies."

  There was a pause, and then an old man stepped forward.

  "My Lord Duke, I have ever been a loyal servant to my country. My nameis amongst the oldest in the land, and, therefore, it becomes me,perhaps, to give words to what many here must feel. This that hashappened to-night has come without warning. You are a stranger to us,and we cannot know whether all that we have heard to-night, either ofyourself or of Count Felix, is true, or whether there is not somethingheld back from our knowledge which might give a different complexionto this affair. It is only just, therefore, that we have time forconsideration, only just that no suspicion should fall upon us thoughwe do not bow the knee and take oaths upon us to-night."

  "Your contention is reasonable," Herrick answered. "I have given youseven days."

  "I would be the first to wish your Grace long life, and herewith Iproffer my service," said de Bornais, kneeling for a moment at thefoot of the dais.

  A few followed his example, some honestly enough, since they hated theCount, others making haste to put themselves forward prominently. Butthe greater number chose to take the seven days for consideration, andpassed from the hall without kneeling.

  De Bornais and his men, still with swords drawn, stood round the dais,the Duke's guard of honor, as the hall slowly emptied. Gaspard Lemaslehad cleared the corridors, with the promise that the Duke should comepresently on to the terrace above the court-yard and speak to hisloyal subjects. The nobles passed to their lodgings in the castle, orwaited in ante-rooms until they could be taken through the streets insafety. The murmur of the great crowd, like the distant ocean breakingon a rock-bound shore, could still be heard, but the excitement haddied down. The thing that these men had come to do was accomplished.

  Jean leaped from the embrasure of the window, and, waddling across thehall, seated himself on the lowest step of the dais, close to whereChristine still stood immovable.

  "Has Mademoiselle de Liancourt no word for us?" said Herrick, whenthe last of the nobles had gone.

  She started at the sound of her name, but she did not speak.

  "You gave us a certain promise, mademoiselle, which I warned you itwould be hard to fulfil."

  "So hard, sir, that it has already passed from my memory," she said.

  "I feared so," Herrick returned quietly. "Later, perhaps, you willunderstand. Mademoiselle, with you I make no bargain. Take time forconsideration, as long as you will. Though you hate me, I swear neverto number you among my enemies."

  "I understand," she said, turning to him quickly, "and I want no timefor consideration. I shall never recognize your title to sit on thethrone of Montvilliers. You have cleverly realized your ambition, andin a measure I have unwittingly helped you to it. Count me as youwill, but I make no secret of my enmity. It shall last to the end, andthose who plot against you shall find me a willing tool. It is not fornothing that I have loved this land, for the good of it I am preparedfor any sacrifice, and am I, Christine de Liancourt, to bend the kneeto an English adventurer, who, with the help of a fool and a mob andhis own mother-wit, seizes the throne? To-night madness has run riot,the reaction has to come, and be very sure it will come. What realvalue is the support of a mob? To-day it shouts for you, to-morrow itwill as easily shout for another. Live out your little dream, Ipromise you a rude awakening. To-night is yours, and I bow tocircumstances which give you power to-night. Have I your leave todepart?"

  "Whither, lady?"

  She looked at him defiantly.

  "Though we have sworn never to count you amongst our enemies, we arenot ignorant of the power of so fair a rebel. There was an orderissued by Count Felix that Mademoiselle de Liancourt was not to beallowed out of the castle, that order I endorse."

  "Am I a prisoner?" she asked.

  "No mademoiselle; an honored guest in my Castle of Vayenne. DeBornais, I deliver our guest into your keeping. And, Lemasle, see thatthe password is changed presently. 'Obedience and trust' have littlemeaning."

  Christine looked at Herrick once swiftly, and then passed out of thehall, followed by de Bornais and his men. Herrick, the golden circleupon his brow, leaned back in his chair like a tired man. FatherBertrand stood beside him. Lemasle stood at the foot of the dais, andJean sat on th
e lowest step. They were alone.

  "You look too glum for a successful man, friend Roger," said thedwarf.

  "Success leaves a bitter taste upon my lips."

  "It will pass with morning," said the priest.

  "It shall last to the end," said Herrick, repeating Christine's words.

  "I fear you have been too lenient," said Lemasle, letting his swordfall with a rattle into its scabbard.

  "He, at least, has found the payment sufficiently high," said Jean,and the bells on his bauble jingled as he pointed it at the dead bodyof Captain Barbier.