volume01-第20部分

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　for；　and　two　thousand　Pistoles　our　own。　　But　you　are　always　out　of　the　way　when　you　are　most　wanted。

You　are　the　most　unlucky　Rogues！'

'Well；　well；　Father！'　answered　Jacques；　'Had　you　been　of　my　mind；　all　would　have　been　over　by　this　time。　You；　Robert；　Claude；　and　myself；　why　the　Strangers　were　but　double　the　number；　and　I　warrant　you　we　might　have　mastered　them。　　However；　Claude　is　gone；　'Tis　too　late　to　think　of　it　now。　　We　must　wait　patiently

for　the　arrival　of　the　Gang；　and　if　the　Travellers　escape　us　tonight；　we　must　take　care　to　waylay　them　tomorrow。'

'True！　　True！'　said　Baptiste；　'Marguerite；　have　you　given　the　sleeping…draught　to　the　Waiting…women？'

She　replied　in　the　affirmative。

'All　then　is　safe。　　Come；　come；　Boys；　Whatever　falls　out；　we　have　no　reason　to　complain　of　this　adventure。　We　run　no　danger；　may　gain　much；　and　can　lose　nothing。'

At　this　moment　I　heard　a　trampling　of　Horses。　　Oh！　how　dreadful　was　the　sound　to　my　ears。　　A　cold　sweat　flowed　down　my　forehead；　and　I　felt　all　the　terrors　of　impending　death。　　I　was　by　no　means　reassured　by　hearing　the　compassionate　Marguerite　exclaim　in　the　accents　of　despair；

'Almighty　God！　They　are　lost！'

Luckily　the　Wood…man　and　his　Sons　were　too　much　occupied　by　the　arrival　of　their　Associates　to　attend　to　me；　or　the　violence　of　my　agitation　would　have　convinced　them　that　my　sleep　was　feigned。

'Open！　　Open！'　exclaimed　several　voices　on　the　outside　of　the　Cottage。

'Yes！　　Yes！'　cried　Baptiste　joyfully；　'They　are　our　Friends　sure　enough！　　Now　then　our　booty　is　certain。　　Away！　Lads；　Away！　　Lead　them　to　the　Barn；　You　know　what　is　to　be　done　there。'

Robert　hastened　to　open　the　door　of　the　Cottage。

'But　first；'　said　Jacques；　taking　up　his　arms；　'first　let　me　dispatch　these　Sleepers。'

'No；　no；　no！'　replied　his　Father；　'Go　you　to　the　Barn；　where　your　presence　is　wanted。　　Leave　me　to　take　care　of　these　and　the　Women　above。'

Jacques　obeyed；　and　followed　his　Brother。　　They　seemed　to　converse　with　the　New…Comers　for　a　few　minutes：　　After　which　I　heard　the　Robbers　dismount；　and　as　I　conjectured；　bend　their　course　towards　the　Barn。

'So！　That　is　wisely　done！'　muttered　Baptiste；　'They　have　quitted　their　Horses；　that　They　may　fall　upon　the　Strangers　by　surprise。　　Good！　Good！　and　now　to　business。'

I　heard　him　approach　a　small　Cupboard　which　was　fixed　up　in　a　distant　part　of　the　room；　and　unlock　it。　　At　this　moment　I　felt　myself　shaken　gently。

'Now！　Now！'　whispered　Marguerite。

I　opened　my　eyes。　　Baptiste　stood　with　his　back　towards　me。　　No　one　else　was　in　the　room　save　Marguerite　and　the　sleeping　Lady。　　The　Villain　had　taken　a　dagger　from　the　Cupboard　and　seemed　examining　whether　it　was　sufficiently　sharp。　　I　had　neglected　to　furnish　myself　with　arms；　But　I　perceived　this　to　be　my　only　chance　of　escaping；　and　resolved　not　to　lose　the　opportunity。　　I　sprang　from　my　seat；　darted　suddenly　upon　Baptiste；　and　clasping　my　hands　round　his　throat；　pressed　it　so　forcibly　as　to　prevent　his　uttering　a　single　cry。　　You　may　remember　that　I　was　remarkable　at　Salamanca　for　the　power　of　my　arm：　　It　now　rendered　me　an　essential　service。　　Surprised；　terrified；　and　breathless；　the　Villain　was　by　no　means　an　equal　Antagonist。　　I　threw　him　upon　the　ground；　I　grasped　him　still　tighter；　and　while　I　fixed　him　without　motion　upon　the　floor；　Marguerite；　wresting　the　dagger　from　his　hand；　plunged　it　repeatedly　in　his　heart　till　He　expired。

No　sooner　was　this　horrible　but　necessary　act　perpetrated　than　Marguerite　called　on　me　to　follow　her。

'Flight　is　our　only　refuge！'　said　She；　'Quick！　Quick！　Away！'

I　hesitated　not　to　obey　her：　but　unwilling　to　leave　the　Baroness　a　victim　to　the　vengeance　of　the　Robbers；　I　raised　her　in　my　arms　still　sleeping；　and　hastened　after　Marguerite。　　The　Horses　of　the　Banditti　were　fastened　near　the　door：　　My　Conductress　sprang　upon　one　of　them。　　I　followed　her　example；　placed　the　Baroness　before　me；　and　spurred　on　my　Horse。　　Our　only　hope　was　to　reach　Strasbourg；　which　was　much　nearer　than　the　perfidious　Claude　had　assured　me。　　Marguerite　was　well　acquainted　with　the　road；　and　galloped　on　before　me。　　We　were　obliged　to　pass　by　the　Barn；　where　the　Robbers　were　slaughtering　our　Domestics。　　The　door　was　open：　　We　distinguished　the　shrieks　of　the　dying　and　imprecations　of　the　Murderers！　　What　I　felt　at　that　moment　language　is　unable　to　describe！

Jacques　heard　the　trampling　of　our　Horses　as　we　rushed　by　the　Barn。　　He　flew　to　the　Door　with　a　burning　Torch　in　his　hand；　and　easily　recognised　the　Fugitives。

'Betrayed！　Betrayed！'　He　shouted　to　his　Companions。

Instantly　they　left　their　bloody　work；　and　hastened　to　regain　their　Horses。　　We　heard　no　more。　　I　buried　my　spurs　in　the　sides　of　my　Courser；　and　Marguerite　goaded　on　hers　with　the　poignard；　which　had　already　rendered　us　such　good　service。　　We　flew　like　lightning；　and　gained　the　open　plains。　　Already　was　Strasbourg's　Steeple　in　sight；　when　we　heard　the　Robbers　pursuing　us。　　Marguerite　looked　back；　and　distinguished　our　followers　descending　a　small　Hill　at　no　great　distance。　　It　was　in　vain　that　we　urged　on　our　Horses；　The　noise　approached　nearer　with　every　moment。

'We　are　lost！'　She　exclaimed；　'The　Villains　gain　upon　us！'

'On！　On！'　replied　I；　'I　hear　the　trampling　of　Horses　coming　from　the　Town。'

We　redoubled　our　exertions；　and　were　soon　aware　of　a　numerous　band　of　Cavaliers；　who　came　towards　us　at　full　speed。　　They　were　on　the　point　of　passing　us。

'Stay！　　Stay！'　shrieked　Marguerite；　'Save　us！　　For　God's　sake；　save　us！'

The　Foremost；　who　seemed　to　act　as　Guide；　immediately　reined　in　his　Steed。

'　'Tis　She！　'Tis　She！'　exclaimed　He；　springing　upon　the　ground；　'Stop；　my　Lord；　stop！　They　are　safe！　'Tis　my　Mother！'

At　the　same　moment　Marguerite　threw　herself　from　her　Horse；　clasped　him　in　her　arms；　and　covered　him　with　Kisses。　　The　other　Cavaliers　stopped　at　the　exclamation。

'The　Baroness　Lindenberg？'　cried　another　of　the　Strangers　eagerly；　'Where　is　She？　　Is　She　not　with　you？'

He　stopped　on　beholding　her　lying　senseless　in　my　arms。　　Hastily　He　caught　her　from　me。　　The　profound　sleep　in　which　She　was　plunged　made　him　at　first　tremble　for　her　life；　but　the　beating　of　her　heart　soon　reassured　him。

'God　be　thanked！'　said　He；　'She　has　escaped　unhurt。'

I　interrupted　his　joy　by　pointing　out　the　Brigands；　who　continued　to　approach。　　No　sooner　had　I　mentioned　them　than　the　greatest　part　of　the　Company；　which　appeared　to　be　chiefly　composed　of　soldiers；　hastened　forward　to　meet　them。　　The　Villains　stayed　not　to　receive　their　attack：　　Perceiving　their　danger　they　turned　the　heads　of　their　Horses；　and　fled　into　the　wood；　whither　they　were　followed　by　our　Preservers。　　In　the　mean　while　the　Stranger；　whom　I　guessed　to　be　the　Baron　Lindenberg；　after　thanking　me　for　my　care　of　his　Lady；　proposed　our　returning　with　all　speed　to　the　Town。　　The　Baroness；　on　whom　the　effects　of　the　opiate　had　not　ceased　to　operate；　was　placed　before　him；　Marguerite　and　her　Son　remounted　their　Horses；　the　Baron's　Domestics　followed；　and　we　soon　arrived　at　the　Inn；　where　He　had　taken　his　apartments。

This　was　at　the　Austrian　Eagle；　where　my　Banker；　whom　before　my　quitting　Paris　I　had　apprised　of　my　intention　to　visit　Strasbourg；　had　prepared　Lodgings　for　me。　　I　rejoiced　at　this　circumstance。　　It　gave　me　an　opportunity　of　cultivating　the　Baron's　acquaintance；　which　I　foresaw　would　be　of　use　to　me　in　Germany。　　Immediately　upon　our　arrival　the　Lady　was　conveyed　to　bed；　A　Physician　was　sent　for；　who　prescribed　a　medicine　likely　to　counteract　the　effects　of　the　sleepy　potion；　and　after　it　had　been　poured　down　her　throat；　She　was　committed　to　the　care　of　the　Hostess。　　The　Baron　then　addressed　himself　to　me；　and　entreated　me　to　recount　the　particulars　of　this　adventure。　　I　complied　with　his　request　instantaneously；　for　in　pain　respecting　Stephano's　fate；　whom　I　had　been　compelled　to　abandon　to　the　cruelty　of　the　Banditti；　I　found　it　impossible　for　me　to　repose；　till　I　had　some　news　of　him。　　I　received　but　too　soon　the　intelligence；　that　my　trusty　Servant　had　perished。　　The　Soldiers　who　had　pursued　the　Brigands　returned　while　I　was　employed　in　relating　my　adventure　to　the　Baron。　By　their　account　I　found　that　the　Robbers　had　been　overtaken：　　Guilt　and　true　courage　are　incompatible；　They　had　thrown　themselves　at　the　feet　of　their　Pursuers；　had　surrendered　themselves　without　striking　a　blow；　had　discovered　their　secret　retreat；　made　known　their　signals　by　which　the　rest　of　the　Gang　might　be　seized；　and　in　short　had　betrayed　ever　mark　of　cowardice　and　baseness。　　By　this　means　the　whole　of　the　Band；　consisting　of　near　sixty　persons；　had　been　made　Prisoners；　bound；　and　conducted　to　Strasbourg。　　Some　of　the　Soldiers　hastened　to　the　Cottage；　One　of　the　Banditti　serving　them　as　Guide。　　Their　first　visit　was　to　the　fatal　Barn；　where　they　were　fortunate　enough　to　find　two　of　the　Baron's　Servants　still　alive；　though　desperately　wounded。　　The　rest　had　expired　beneath　the　swords　of　the　Robbers；　and　of　these　my　unhappy　Stephano　was　one。

Alarmed　at　our　escape；　the　Robbers　in　their　haste　to　overtake　us；　had　neglected　to　visit　the　Cottage。　　In　consequence；　the　Soldiers　found　the　two　Waiting…women　unhurt；　and　buried　in　the　same　death…like　slumber　which　had　overpowered　their　Mistress。　　There　was　nobody　else　found　in　the　Cottage；　except　a　child　not　above　four　years　old；　which　the　Soldiers　brought　away　with　them。　We　were　busying　ourselves　with　conjectures　respecting　the　birth　of　this　little　unfortunate；　when　Marguerite　rushed　into　the　room　with　the　Baby　in　her　arms。　　She　fell　at　the　feet　of　the　Officer　who　was　making　us　this　report；　and　blessed　him　a　thousand　times　for　the　preservation　of　her　Child。

When　the　first　burst　of　maternal　tenderness　was　over；　I　besought　her　to　declare；　by　what　means　She　had　been　united　to　a　Man　whose　principles　seemed　so　totally　discordant　with　her　own。　　She　bent　her　eyes　downwards；　and　wiped　a　few　tears　from　her　cheek。

'Gentlemen；'　said　She　after　a　silence　of　some　minutes；　'I　would　request　a　favour　of　you：　　You　have　a　right　to　know　on　whom　you　confer　an　obligation。　　I　will　not　therefore　stifle　a　confession　which　covers　me　with　shame；　But　permit　me　to　comprise　it　in　as　few　words　as　possible。

'