The Bath Keepers Volume I Part 43

"It is the same thing. You are going there very late, my dear. Is your lover a market gardener, pray? has he his lair among the cabbages and carrots that cover the road toward Vincennes?"

"If you propose to begin your questions again, monsieur, I will leave you and try to find some more obliging cavalier."

"No! no!" cried the Gascon, detaining the girl, who had already started to leave him; "why, the child is like a train of powder! what a hothead!

If you were a man, we should have killed each other ten or twelve times before this. But I love this effervescent nature; it bears some resemblance to mine.--So you want to go to the Pont-aux-Choux? Take my arm, my love; I shall have the honor of escorting you thither."

Miretta decided to put her arm through the chevalier's; and he, overjoyed to have beside him the pretty girl of whom he was enamored, drew himself up and tossed his head, which made him appear even taller and diminished the stature of his companion.

They walked on for some time, the Gascon making his rusty spurs and Roland's scabbard ring on the stones; Miretta thinking of Giovanni and glancing all about at the slightest sound.

"Are we still far from the place to which I am going?" the girl asked her guide at last.

Pa.s.sedix did not reply for some seconds. Since he had felt Miretta's arm in his, his love for the dark maiden had made rapid progress; his heart beat violently beneath his patched doublet, his head burned, and his imagination indulged in a mult.i.tude of wild antics.

At last he argued the matter out with himself thus:

"Since my good star has caused me to meet my inhuman fair, I should be very stupid to take her to my rival, that knave who nearly made me lose Roland; should I not rather seize the opportunity which offers to avenge myself and to triumph over a cruel enslaver? The little one does not know her way; instead of taking her to her rendezvous, I will take her to the Place aux Chats, and tell her that it is the Pont-aux-Choux!

Then, by frightening her with tales of robbers, I will try to induce her to accept shelter in the Hotel du Sanglier; and once there!--Sandioux!

it's a daring plan, it has a suggestion of felony about it! But this girl is a demon, and I shall not vanquish her unless I resort to heroic means!"

"Well, monsieur le chevalier, you have not yet answered me; are we still far from the Pont-aux-Choux?"

"Why, yes, my sweet child, rather far. Oh! you had gone entirely astray, you were not going in the right direction."

"That is strange; I followed the directions that were given me."

"Some persons are so unkind! they take delight in making people go astray who ask them to point out their road.--Lean on me, tender blossom! Do not be afraid of wearying me; it is a joy to me to feel your round arm in mine. Ah! ye G.o.ds!"

"It would be a great joy to me to arrive. I cannot understand this; it seems to me that you are making me retrace my steps."

"As you were not going toward your destination, I must, of course, take you back. This is one of the most blissful evenings of my life!"

"Do not press my arm so tightly, I beg you."

"This loving pressure is a magnetic effect of the fire which consumes my heart, and which snaps devilishly so near to you!"

"Are you going to begin again to talk to me of your love? I thought that you were cured."

"Cured! I!--Better to die than to be cured! What would you have me talk about, sweet friend, when I am with you?"

"Have you forgotten, pray, that I am only a servant, upon whom you conferred too much honor simply by looking at her?"

"A man may say that when he is angry, my dear; but, in reality, he does not mean a word of it."

"Oh!" cried Miretta, suddenly stopping at a street corner; "I am sure now that it is you who have lost your way! I recognize this street perfectly; it runs into the street I live on; you have brought me back to the quarter I came from."

"Sandis! I am taking you where you want to go. Come, we shall soon be there."

"No!" cried the girl, as she withdrew her arm from the chevalier's, refusing to go any farther; "no! I will not go with you, for it is not possible that the Pont-aux-Choux is in this direction."

Pa.s.sedix tried to take Miretta's arm again; she resisted, but the Gascon was excited, and he was determined not to let the girl escape him anew.

Suddenly a new personage, whose approach neither of them had observed or heard, appeared on the scene and put an end to the contest by releasing Miretta from the chevalier's grasp.

The new-comer wore the costume of a citizen of the middle cla.s.s; his chin was cleanly shaven.

The girl had no sooner glanced at him than her face regained its serenity; and she hastened to take her place by his side, while the unknown said to the Gascon:

"How now, my master! Do you propose to make this young girl go with you against her will? For a chevalier who wears a helmet and sword, that is hardly chivalrous."

"Eh! where in the devil did this fellow spring from? I neither heard nor saw him coming. Do me the favor to go your way, my dear fellow; this young shepherdess is in my company, and we do not require your interference in our affairs."

"But it seemed to me that you were hardly in accord, and I always protect the ladies.--Tell me, my lovely child, did not this gentleman try to make you take a road which you did not wish to take?"

"He did indeed, monsieur; for I wished to go to the Pont-aux-Choux, and I am sure that he was not taking me there!"

"Oh, no! by no means! He was taking you to the Place aux Chats, to the Hotel du Sanglier; a most excellent hotel, i' faith! of which he proposed to do the honors for you, I doubt not."

"Sandioux! it seems that you know me! But whoever you are, I forbid you to take this girl's arm! Back, instantly!"

Pa.s.sedix tried to push away the stranger, who had already taken the girl's arm in his; but with his free hand the _soi-disant_ bourgeois seized the Gascon's wrist and pressed it with his fingers with such force that he cried:

"Oh! oh! That cursed grip again! Ah! it is the very same, I recognize it! You are the mechanic of the Place de Greve; you are the Bohemian of the Loup de Mer!"

"Search your memory--it is possible that I am still another person."

"Yes--those eyes, that expression! Ten thousand devils! it is the face of the Comte de Carvajal, the n.o.ble guest of Dame Cadichard! But whoever you may be, double, triple, or quadruple! even though you be the devil in person--if you are a man of heart, you will give me satisfaction like a gallant champion, sword in hand!"

"Ah! you wish to measure swords with me, do you, chevalier? Very good!

it shall be as you wish. On guard!--Have no fear, my girl! it is a matter of an instant."

As he spoke, the pretended bourgeois drew from beneath his cloak a short sword with a broad blade. Meanwhile, Pa.s.sedix had drawn Roland from the scabbard; but when he saw his adversary's weapon, he paused and exclaimed:

"What in the devil do you expect to do with that little cutla.s.s against my n.o.ble blade? Sandis! I have too great an advantage over you!"

"Let not that deter you, chevalier, but try to hold your long sword more firmly in your hand this time."

With that, the stranger attacked Roland with such vigor and dexterity, that in less than two minutes the long sword went flying through the air, and Pa.s.sedix, stepping back, put his foot in a hole, fell over, and rolled at the feet of his adversary, who placed the point of his short sword against the prostrate man's breast, saying:

"Well! do you think that my little cutla.s.s is worthy to measure itself against your ill.u.s.trious blade?"

"I cannot understand it! You have a way of fighting that bewilders one!

deceives one! Sandis! it is impossible; it must be that I have the gout in my right hand!--But, no matter! I am vanquished! Strike!"

"I should be very sorry to do so. Au revoir, Chevalier Pa.s.sedix! try to find your sword; it went in that direction. But take my advice and do not again lead young girls astray."

As he spoke, the victor joined Miretta, drew her arm through his, and walked rapidly off with her, paying no further heed to his adversary, who made a piteous face when he saw them go away together.

"Ah! what good fortune to have met you, Giovanni!" said Miretta, when they were far enough away to have no fear of being overheard. "I was not afraid for a single instant during the battle I have just been watching; I was perfectly sure that you would be the victor!"