Monk: A Romance (Version 2) — Chapter 3- Part 2
Upon this assurance the Youths returned.
The Father presented them to the Baroness and myself: After which He withdrew with our Domestics, while at the request of the two Waiting-women, Marguerite conducted them to the room designed for their Mistress.
The two new-comers were tall, stout, well-made young Men, hard-featured, and very much sun-burnt.
They paid their compliments to us in few words, and acknowledged Claude, who now entered the room, as an old acquaintance.
They then threw aside their cloaks in which they were wrapped up, took off a leathern belt to which a large Cutlass was suspended, and each drawing a brace of pistols from his girdle laid them upon a shelf.
“You travel well-armed,” said I. “True, Monsieur;” replied Robert.
“We left Strasbourg late this Evening, and ’tis necessary to take precautions at passing through this Forest after dark.
It does not bear a good repute, I promise you.
” “How?
” said the Baroness; “Are there Robbers hereabout?
” “So it is said, Madame; For my own part, I have travelled through the wood at all hours, and never met with one of them.
” Here Marguerite returned.
Her Stepsons drew her to the other end of the room, and whispered her for some minutes.
By the looks which they cast towards us at intervals, I conjectured them to be enquiring our business in the Cottage.
In the meanwhile the Baroness expressed her apprehensions, that her Husband would be suffering much anxiety upon her account.
She had intended to send on one of her Servants to inform the Baron of her delay; But the account which the young Men gave of the Forest rendered this plan impracticable.
Claude relieved her from her embarrassment.
He informed her that He was under the necessity of reaching Strasbourg that night, and that would She trust him with a letter, She might depend upon its being safely delivered.
“And how comes it,” said I, “that you are under no apprehension of meeting these Robbers?
” “Alas!
Monsieur, a poor Man with a large family must not lose certain profit because ’tis attended with a little danger, and perhaps my Lord the Baron may give me a trifle for my pains.
Besides, I have nothing to lose except my life, and that will not be worth the Robbers taking.
” I thought his arguments bad, and advised his waiting till the Morning;
But as the Baroness did not second me, I was obliged to give up the point.
The Baroness Lindenberg, as I found afterwards, had long been accustomed to sacrifice the interests of others to her own, and her wish to send Claude to Strasbourg blinded her to the danger of the undertaking.
Accordingly, it was resolved that He should set out without delay.
The Baroness wrote her letter to her Husband, and I sent a few lines to my Banker, apprising him that I should not be at Strasbourg till the next day.
Claude took our letters, and left the Cottage.
The Lady declared herself much fatigued by her journey: Besides having come from some distance, the Drivers had contrived to lose their way in the Forest.
She now addressed herself to Marguerite, desiring to be shown to her chamber, and permitted to take half an hour’s repose.
One of the Waiting-women was immediately summoned; She appeared with a light, and the Baroness followed her up stairs.
The cloth was spreading in the chamber where I was, and Marguerite soon gave me to understand that I was in her way.
Her hints were too broad to be easily mistaken;
I therefore desired one of the young Men to conduct me to the chamber where I was to sleep, and where I could remain till supper was ready.
“Which chamber is it, Mother?
” said Robert.
“The One with green hangings,” She replied; “I have just been at the trouble of getting it ready, and have put fresh sheets upon the Bed; If the Gentleman chooses to lollop and lounge upon it, He may make it again himself for me.
” “You are out of humour, Mother, but that is no novelty.
Have the goodness to follow me, Monsieur.
” He opened the door, and advanced towards a narrow staircase.
“You have got no light!
” said Marguerite; “Is it your own neck or the Gentleman’s that you have a mind to break?
” She crossed by me, and put a candle into Robert’s hand, having received which, He began to ascend the staircase.
Jacques was employed in laying the cloth, and his back was turned towards me.
Marguerite seized the moment, when we were unobserved.
She caught my hand, and pressed it strongly.
“Look at the Sheets!
” said She as She passed me, and immediately resumed her former occupation.
Startled by the abruptness of her action, I remained as if petrified.
Robert’s voice, desiring me to follow him, recalled me to myself.
I
ascended the staircase.
My conductor ushered me into a chamber, where an excellent wood-fire was blazing upon the hearth.
He placed the light upon the Table, enquired whether I had any further commands, and on my replying in the negative, He left me to myself.
You may be certain that the moment when I found myself alone was that on which I complied with Marguerite’s injunction.
I took the candle, hastily approached the Bed, and turned down the Coverture.
What was my astonishment, my horror, at finding the sheets crimsoned with blood!
At that moment a thousand confused ideas passed before my imagination.
The Robbers who infested the Wood, Marguerite’s exclamation respecting her Children, the arms and appearance of the two young Men, and the various Anecdotes which I had heard related, respecting the secret correspondence which frequently exists between Banditti and Postillions, all these circumstances flashed upon my mind, and inspired me with doubt and apprehension.
I ruminated on the most probable means of ascertaining the truth of my conjectures.
Suddenly I was aware of Someone below pacing hastily backwards and forwards.
Every thing now appeared to me an object of suspicion.
With precaution I drew near the window, which, as the room had been long shut up, was left open in spite of the cold.
I ventured to look out.
The beams of the Moon permitted me to distinguish a Man, whom I had no difficulty to recognize for my Host.
I watched his movements.
He walked swiftly, then stopped, and seemed to listen: He stamped upon the ground, and beat his stomach with his arms as if to guard himself from the inclemency of the season.
At the least noise, if a voice was heard in the lower part of the House, if a Bat flitted past him, or the wind rattled amidst the leafless boughs, He started, and looked round with anxiety.
“Plague take him!
” said He at length with impatience; “What can He be about!
” He spoke in a low voice; but as He was just below my window, I had no difficulty to distinguish his words.
I now heard the steps of one approaching.
Baptiste went towards the sound; He joined a man, whom his low stature and the Horn suspended from his neck, declared to be no other than my faithful Claude, whom I had supposed to be already on his way to Strasbourg.
Expecting their discourse to throw some light upon my situation, I hastened to put myself in a condition to hear it with safety.
For this purpose I extinguished the candle, which stood upon a table near the Bed: The flame of the fire was not strong enough to betray me, and I immediately resumed my place at the window.
The objects of my curiosity had stationed themselves directly under it.
I suppose that during my momentary absence the Wood-man had been blaming Claude for tardiness, since when I returned to the window, the latter was endeavouring to excuse his fault.
“However,” added He, “my diligence at present shall make up for my past delay.
” “On that condition,” answered Baptiste, “I shall readily forgive you.
But in truth as you share equally with us in our prizes, your own interest will make you use all possible diligence.
’Twould be a shame to let such a noble booty escape us!
You say, that this Spaniard is rich?
” “His Servant boasted at the Inn, that the effects in his Chaise were worth above two thousand Pistoles.
” Oh!
how I cursed Stephano’s imprudent vanity!
“And I have been told,” continued the Postillion, “that this Baroness carries about her a casket of jewels of immense value.
” “May be so, but I had rather She had stayed away.
The Spaniard was a secure prey.
The Boys and myself could easily have mastered him and his Servant, and then the two thousand Pistoles would have been shared between us four.
Now we must let in the Band for a share, and perhaps the whole Covey may escape us.
Should our Friends have betaken themselves to their different posts before you reach the Cavern, all will be lost.
The Lady’s Attendants are too numerous for us to overpower them: Unless our Associates arrive in time, we must needs let these Travellers set out tomorrow without damage or hurt.
” “’Tis plaguy unlucky that my Comrades who drove the Coach should be those unacquainted with our Confederacy!
But never fear, Friend Baptiste.
An hour will bring me to the Cavern; It is now but ten o’clock, and by twelve you may expect the arrival of the Band.
By the bye, take care of your Wife: You know how strong is her repugnance to our mode of life, and She may find means to give information to the Lady’s Servants of our design.
” “Oh!
I am secure of her silence; She is too much afraid of me, and fond of her children, to dare to betray my secret.
Besides, Jacques and Robert keep a strict eye over her, and She is not permitted to set a foot out of the Cottage.
The Servants are safely lodged in the Barn; I shall endeavour to keep all quiet till the arrival of our Friends.
Were I assured of your finding them, the Strangers should be dispatched this instant; But as it is possible for you to miss the Banditti, I am fearful of being summoned to produce them by their Domestics in the Morning.
” “And suppose either of the Travellers should discover your design?
” “Then we must poignard those in our power, and take our chance about mastering the rest.
However, to avoid running such a risque, hasten to the Cavern: The Banditti never leave it before eleven, and if you use diligence, you may reach it in time to stop them.
” “Tell Robert that I have taken his Horse: My own has broken his bridle, and escaped into the Wood.
What is the watch-word?
” “The reward of Courage.
” “’Tis sufficient.
I hasten to the Cavern.
” “And I to rejoin my Guests, lest my absence should create suspicion.
Farewell, and be diligent.
” These worthy Associates now separated: The One bent his course towards the Stable, while the Other returned to the House.
You may judge, what must have been my feelings during this conversation, of which I lost not a single syllable.
I dared not trust myself to my reflections, nor did any means present itself to escape the dangers which threatened me.
Resistance, I knew to be vain; I was unarmed, and a single Man against Three: However, I resolved at least to sell my life as dearly as I could.
Dreading lest Baptiste should perceive my absence, and suspect me to have overheard the message with which Claude was dispatched, I hastily relighted my candle and quitted the chamber.
On descending, I found the Table spread for six Persons.
The Baroness sat by the fireside: Marguerite was employed in dressing a sallad, and her Step-sons were whispering together at the further end of the room.
Baptiste having the round of the Garden to make, ere He could reach the Cottage door, was not yet arrived.
I seated myself quietly opposite to the Baroness.
A glance upon Marguerite told her that her hint had not been thrown away upon me.
How different did She now appear to me!
What before seemed gloom and sullenness, I now found to be disgust at her Associates, and compassion for my danger.
I looked up to her as to my only resource; Yet knowing her to be watched by her Husband with a suspicious eye, I could place but little reliance on the exertions of her good-will.
In spite of all my endeavours to conceal it, my agitation was but too visibly expressed upon my countenance.
I was pale, and both my words and actions were disordered and embarrassed.
The young Men observed this, and enquired the cause.
I attributed it to excess of fatigue, and the violent effect produced on me by the severity of the season.
Whether they believed me or not, I will not pretend to say: They at least ceased to embarrass me with their questions.
I strove to divert my attention from the perils which surrounded me, by conversing on different subjects with the Baroness.
I talked of Germany, declaring my intention of visiting it immediately: God knows, that I little thought at that moment of ever seeing it!
She replied to me with great ease and politeness, professed that the pleasure of making my acquaintance amply compensated for the delay in her journey, and gave me a pressing invitation to make some stay at the Castle of Lindenberg.
As She spoke thus, the Youths exchanged a malicious smile, which declared that She would be fortunate if She ever reached that Castle herself.
This action did not escape me; But I concealed the emotion which it excited in my breast.
I continued to converse with the Lady; But my discourse was so frequently incoherent, that as She has since informed me, She began to doubt whether I was in my right senses.
The fact was, that while my conversation turned upon one subject, my thoughts were entirely occupied by another.
I meditated upon the means of quitting the Cottage, finding my way to the Barn, and giving the Domestics information of our Host’s designs.
I was soon convinced, how impracticable was the attempt.
Jacques and Robert watched my every movement with an attentive eye, and I was obliged to abandon the idea.
All my hopes now rested upon Claude’s not finding the Banditti: In that case, according to what I had overheard, we should be permitted to depart unhurt.
I shuddered involuntarily as Baptiste entered the room.
He made many apologies for his long absence, but “He had been detained by affairs impossible to be delayed.
” He then entreated permission for his family to sup at the same table with us, without which, respect would not authorize his taking such a liberty.
Oh!
how in my heart I cursed the Hypocrite!
How I loathed his presence, who was on the point of depriving me of an existence, at that time infinitely dear!
I had every reason to be satisfied with life; I had youth, wealth, rank, and education; and the fairest prospects presented themselves before me.
I
saw those prospects on the point of closing in the most horrible manner: Yet was I obliged to dissimulate, and to receive with a semblance of gratitude the false civilities of him who held the dagger to my bosom.
The permission which our Host demanded, was easily obtained.
We seated ourselves at the Table.
The Baroness and myself occupied one side: The Sons were opposite to us with their backs to the door.
Baptiste took his seat by the Baroness at the upper end, and the place next to him was left for his Wife.
She soon entered the room, and placed before us a plain but comfortable Peasant’s repast.
Our Host thought it necessary to apologize for the poorness of the supper: “He had not been apprized of our coming; He could only offer us such fare as had been intended for his own family:” “But,” added He, “should any accident detain my noble Guests longer than they at present intend, I hope to give them a better treatment.
” The Villain!
I well knew the accident to which He alluded; I shuddered at the treatment which He taught us to expect!
My Companion in danger seemed entirely to have got rid of her chagrin at being delayed.
She laughed, and conversed with the family with infinite gaiety.
I strove but in vain to follow her example.
My spirits were evidently forced, and the constraint which I put upon myself escaped not Baptiste’s observation.
“Come, come, Monsieur, cheer up!
” said He; “You seem not quite recovered from your fatigue.
To raise your spirits, what say you to a glass of excellent old wine which was left me by my Father?
God rest his soul, He is in a better world!
I seldom produce this wine; But as I am not honoured with such Guests every day, this is an occasion which deserves a Bottle.
” He then gave his Wife a Key, and instructed her where to find the wine of which He spoke.
She seemed by no means pleased with the commission;
She took the Key with an embarrassed air, and hesitated to quit the Table.
“Did you hear me?
” said Baptiste in an angry tone.
Marguerite darted upon him a look of mingled anger and fear, and left the chamber.
His eyes followed her suspiciously, till She had closed the door.
She soon returned with a bottle sealed with yellow wax.
She placed it upon the table, and gave the Key back to her Husband.
I suspected that this liquor was not presented to us without design, and I watched Marguerite’s movements with inquietude.
She was employed in rinsing some small horn Goblets.
As She placed them before Baptiste, She saw that my eye was fixed upon her; and at the moment when She thought herself unobserved by the Banditti, She motioned to me with her head not to taste the liquor, She then resumed her place.
In the mean while our Host had drawn the Cork, and filling two of the Goblets, offered them to the Lady and myself.
She at first made some objections, but the instances of Baptiste were so urgent, that She was obliged to comply.
Fearing to excite suspicion, I hesitated not to take the Goblet presented to me.
By its smell and colour I guessed it to be Champagne; But some grains of powder floating upon the top convinced me that it was not unadulterated.
However, I dared not to express my repugnance to drinking it; I lifted it to my lips, and seemed to be swallowing it: Suddenly starting from my chair, I made the best of my way towards a Vase of water at some distance, in which Marguerite had been rinsing the Goblets.
I pretended to spit out the wine with disgust, and took an opportunity unperceived of emptying the liquor into the Vase.
The Banditti seemed alarmed at my action.
Jacques half rose from his chair, put his hand into his bosom, and I discovered the haft of a dagger.
I returned to my seat with tranquillity, and affected not to have observed their confusion.
“You have not suited my taste, honest Friend,” said I, addressing myself to Baptiste.
“I never can drink Champagne without its producing a violent illness.
I swallowed a few mouthfuls ere I was aware of its quality, and fear that I shall suffer for my imprudence.
” Baptiste and Jacques exchanged looks of distrust.
“Perhaps,” said Robert, “the smell may be disagreeable to you.
” He quitted his chair, and removed the Goblet.
I observed, that He examined, whether it was nearly empty.
“He must have drank sufficient,” said He to his Brother in a low voice, while He reseated himself.
Marguerite looked apprehensive, that I had tasted the liquor: A glance from my eye reassured her.
I waited with anxiety for the effects which the Beverage would produce upon the Lady.
I doubted not but the grains which I had observed were poisonous, and lamented that it had been impossible for me to warn her of the danger.
But a few minutes had elapsed before I perceived her eyes grow heavy; Her head sank upon her shoulder, and She fell into a deep sleep.
I affected not to attend to this circumstance, and continued my conversation with Baptiste, with all the outward gaiety in my power to assume.
But He no longer answered me without constraint.
He eyed me with distrust and astonishment, and I saw that the Banditti were frequently whispering among themselves.
My situation became every moment more painful; I sustained the character of confidence with a worse grace than ever.
Equally afraid of the arrival of their Accomplices and of their suspecting my knowledge of their designs, I knew not how to dissipate the distrust which the Banditti evidently entertained for me.
In this new dilemma the friendly Marguerite again assisted me.
She passed behind the Chairs of her Stepsons, stopped for a moment opposite to me, closed her eyes, and reclined her head upon her shoulder.
This hint immediately dispelled my incertitude.
It told me, that I ought to imitate the Baroness, and pretend that the liquor had taken its full effect upon me.
I did so, and in a few minutes seemed perfectly overcome with slumber.
“So!
” cried Baptiste, as I fell back in my chair; “At last He sleeps!
I
began to think that He had scented our design, and that we should have been forced to dispatch him at all events.
” “And why not dispatch him at all events?
” enquired the ferocious Jacques.
“Why leave him the possibility of betraying our secret?
Marguerite, give me one of my Pistols: A single touch of the trigger will finish him at once.
” “And supposing,” rejoined the Father, “Supposing that our Friends should not arrive tonight, a pretty figure we should make when the Servants enquire for him in the Morning!
No, no, Jacques; We must wait for our Associates.
If they join us, we are strong enough to dispatch the Domestics as well as their Masters, and the booty is our own; If Claude does not find the Troop, we must take patience, and suffer the prey to slip through our fingers.
Ah!
Boys, Boys, had you arrived but five minutes sooner, the Spaniard would have been done 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.
