As I felt two cold, hard hands fumbling with the knots of the gag, I managed to open my eyes, though the light still pained me, and saw the tall figure of the free-lance, his drawn sword in his hand, standing in the open doorway, and kneeling beside me was Babette. The hag caught the loathing in my glance, and laughed to herself as she wrenched at the knots, and de Gomeron, who was evidently in no mood to delay, hurried her efforts with a sharp "Quick!"
"It is done," she answered, and rose to her feet, swinging the silken bands of the gag she held in her hand.
"Then have the goodness to step back whilst Monsieur d"Auriac and I discuss the position."
Babette did as she was bidden, muttering something, and de Gomeron, advancing a pace, addressed me--
"Monsieur, I have come to make you an offer, and I will not waste words. I am playing to win a desperate game, and I shall not hesitate to play any card to win. My offer is this. I ask you to sign a formal doc.u.ment, which I shall bring to you, holding me guiltless of any design against either you or Madame de la Bidache. In return I will set you free in ten days after you sign this paper. During that time you must consider yourself my prisoner; but you will be better lodged than now. Should you refuse to accept this offer, there is nothing left for me but to leave you here to die."
He spoke in slow, measured accents, and the vault of the roof above me gave back the man"s words in a solemn echo. The light of the lantern stretched in a long yellow shaft up the spiral stairway beyond the door, and, half in this light and half in shadow, stood the witch-like figure of Babette, leaning a little forward as if striving to catch each word that was spoken.
In the silence that followed the free-lance"s speech I could almost hear the blood throbbing in my temples; and for the moment I was deprived of all power of words. It was not from fear, nor from any idea of accepting the offer, but a thought had come to my mind. I would oppose craft with craft, and meet the fox in the skin of a fox.
"Give me twenty-four hours to decide," I answered, "and free me from these cords. I cannot think for the pain of them."
"_Pardieu!_" he laughed. "The knots have been well tied; but twenty-four hours is a long time."
"Yet you are willing to accommodate me for ten days, better lodged.
_Ventrebleu!_ M. de Gomeron! Do you think I can scratch my way out of this?"
He did not answer me, but stood for a while biting at the ends of his thick moustache. Then he suddenly called to Babette, "Cut the cords."
She came forward and obeyed. Words cannot convey the sensation of relief as the cords fell from me, but for the time being so numbed was I that I was powerless to move.
"You have your desire, monsieur," said de Gomeron, "and I await your decision. It will save me trouble if you inform Babette whether you agree or not. In the former event we shall have the pleasure of meeting again; in the latter case I take the opportunity of wishing you as happy a time as a man may have--in the future life. In the meantime I will see that some refreshments are sent to you. _Adieu!_"
He turned and stepped out of the cell and stood for a moment whilst Babette picked up the lantern and followed him.
"Monsieur will not want the light to aid him to think," she laughed, and then the door was shut. I heard the sullen clank of the chain, the turning of the great keys, and I was alone and in darkness once more.
Dark it may have been, but, thank G.o.d! I was no longer like a trussed fowl, and betook myself to rubbing my numbed limbs until finally the chilled blood was warmed and I was able to stand, and then, in a little, I gained strength to grope my way backwards and forwards in the cell as an exercise. No thought of ever agreeing to de Gomeron"s terms ever crossed me. I had, however, resolved to make a dash for freedom when he came to me again. I should pretend to agree, and then win or lose all in the rush. Anyway, I would not die here like a rat in a trap. I almost chuckled to myself as I thought I was in a fair way to outwit the free-lance. He was a fool after all, though, at the same time, I could not but admit that his move to get me to admit his innocence was a skilful one. Still, it was a plot that might overreach itself. My captors had eased me of my belt, which was so well stuffed with pistoles. They had not, however, had time or opportunity to search me further, and had left my clasp-knife, which lay in my pocket, as I have said, together with a dozen or so of gold pieces I had kept there to be at hand. I pulled out the knife and, opening it, ran my fingers along the blade. It was three inches or so in length, but sharp as a razor, and with it one might inflict an ugly wound in a struggle. I mapped out my plan mentally. When de Gomeron came again I should fell him as he entered, arm myself, if possible, by s.n.a.t.c.hing his sword, and then cut my way out or be cut down. I had no doubt that I might be able to effect the first part of the programme. In those days I was as strong as a bull, and there were few men, especially if they were unprepared, who could have stood a blow from me. It was in act two that I might come to grief. At any rate, it would be a final and quick ending to the business, not the long-drawn-out agony I would otherwise have to endure. Now that I think of it, it was a poor enough plan, and it was lucky that, under Providence, another way was shown to me. Such as it was, however, it was the only thing that occurred to me at that time, and it would not be for want of effort on my part that it would fail. The more I thought over it, then the more I was convinced that it was my sole chance, and I grew impatient for the moment when I should put my design into execution. Twenty-four hours was long to wait, and I raved at myself for having fixed such a time.
_Morbleu!_ I might have had the sense to make it five, or three, or two hours! I little guessed, as I paced the cell impatiently, how many hours had pa.s.sed since de Gomeron left me, and that it was impossible to measure time in that loathsome dungeon. As I sat brooding, the profound silence was once more suddenly disturbed by the sudden jarring of a bolt. It was not, however, the door of my cell that was opened, but a little wicket about a foot square, and through this there flashed again a blinding light, and the face of Babette peered in. So malign was its aspect that I shuddered in spite of myself, and then, in a fury I could not control, shouted out:
"Out of my presence, hag! Begone!"
"Oh! ho!" she laughed. "A time will come when Monsieur will go on his two knees and pray to Babette--to good Babette--to kind Babette! In a day or so it will be thus," and she laughed shrilly. "But I go as you wish, to carry your refusal to the Captain."
She made a movement as if to go, but, cursing myself at very nearly having spoilt all, I burst out, "Stay!" and she looked back.
"Monsieur!" She grinned through the wicket.
"See here," and in my eagerness my voice was hoa.r.s.e and thick; "five hundred crowns if you free me from this, and a thousand more if you will do the same for Madame."
"Will Monsieur add a palace in the moon to this?"
"I give you the word of d"Auriac. Fifteen hundred crowns is a fortune.
They will be yours in six hours from the time you free us. Think of it--fifteen hundred crowns!"
Never have I seen avarice blaze so in a face as in hers. As I dropped out the last words, she shook her head from side to side with a swaying motion of a serpent. Her eyes glittered like those of an asp, and between her half-parted lips she hissed rather than spoke to herself:
"Fif-teen hun-dred crowns! It is the price of a barony! I, who have taken life for a half-pistole!"
"You will save two lives for this," I pleaded.
But the she-devil, though sorely tempted, was faithful. What de Gomeron"s power over her was I know not. I could add nothing to my offer; I had laid my all on the hazard, and it was not to be done.
"_Pouf!_" she mocked, "you do not go high enough. You do not promise the palace in the moon. But I waste my time. Is it "Yes," or "No," for the Captain?"
There was another chance, and I would risk that. I made a step nearer the opening.
"Give me something to drink, and I will answer at once."
"Ah! ha! Monsieur requires some courage. Here is a flask of Frontignac, but it is expensive, and Monsieur, I am afraid, has left his belt outside his room. The Frontignac is five crowns."
"You forgot my pockets," I answered. "Here are two pistoles; hand me the wine."
"The money first," and she stretched out her hand.
Like a flash I closed my fingers on her wrist, and drew in her hand to the full length of the arm.
"If you scream, if you utter a sound, I will tear your arm from its socket."
The answer was a shriek that might have been heard a half-mile away, and then a foul oath and a howl of pain. It was hardly a knightly deed, but there was too much at stake to mince matters; and on her scream I gave the prisoner arm I held a wrench strong enough to show that I could keep my word. As the shrill echoes of her cry died away, I could hear her breathing heavily on the opposite side of the door, and she struggled mutely and with surprising strength to free herself.
There was no answer to her call for help. There must have been many a shriek for help that had rung through that terrible dungeon, and died away answerless but for the mocking echoes! And Babette knew this, for she ceased to utter a sound after that one long scream, and fought in silence like a she-wolf at bay. At last she leaned exhausted against the door, and I felt that half my game was won. It had been an unexpected thought, and I had jumped at the opportunity Providence had thrown in my way.
"Do you hear?" I said; "open the door, or--" and I gave another half-turn to her arm.
She who could inflict such suffering on others was of those who were unable to bear the slightest pain herself. She moaned in agony and called out:
"Free me, and I promise--I promise anything."
I only laughed and repeated my order, relieving the strain on her arm, however, so that she could slip back a half-pace or so from the wicket. Then I heard the great lock open and the chain put down, and Babette"s voice trembling with anger and pain.
"It is open."
The door swung outwards, so that all I had to do was to fold my prisoner"s arm from the elbow along its face as I pushed it open. It kept her perfectly secure, and enabled me to take a precaution that, it turned out, was needed, for as I pushed the door I drove the death-hunter back with it, and the moment it was sufficiently open to let me pa.s.s, I sprang out and seized her left arm. Quick as I was, however, I was not quite quick enough to avoid the blow of her dagger, and received a flesh wound, which, however, was after all but slight.
Then there was another struggle, and affairs were adjusted between Babette and myself without any special harm being done to her.
"Now listen to me," I said. "Whatever happens, I will kill you first if there is any treachery. Take me straight to Madame."
"She is not here," was the sullen reply.
"Then I take you with me to the Hotel de Ville. Come--to your senses."
She broke into the most terrible imprecations; but time was precious, and I quenched this readily enough, and at last it was clear she was utterly cowed. Again I repeat that no harm was done, and it was only dire necessity that compelled me to use the violence I did.
"Come," and I shook her up. "Where is Madame?"