第74章

AlbertMalvoisinbowedandretired，——nottogivedirectionsforpreparingthehall，buttoseekoutBriandeBois-Guilbert，andcommunicatetohimhowmatterswerelikelytoterminate。Itwasnotlongerehefoundhim，foamingwithindignationatarepulsehehadanewsustainedfromthefairJewess。``Theunthinking，’’hesaid，``theungrateful，toscornhimwho，amidstbloodandflames，wouldhavesavedherlifeattheriskofhisown！

ByHeaven，Malvoisin！Iabodeuntilroofandrafterscrackledandcrashedaroundme。Iwasthebuttofahundredarrows；theyrattledonminearmourlikehailstonesagainstalatticedcasement，andtheonlyuseImadeofmyshieldwasforherprotection。ThisdidIendureforher；andnowtheself-willedgirlupbraidsmethatIdidnotleavehertoperish，andrefusesmenotonlytheslightestproofofgratitude，buteventhemostdistanthopethatevershewillbebroughttograntany。Thedevil，thatpossessedherracewithobstinacy，hasconcentrateditsfullforceinhersingleperson！’’

``Thedevil，’’saidthePreceptor，``Ithink，possessedyouboth。HowofthaveIpreachedtoyoucaution，ifnotcontinence?DidInottellyouthattherewereenoughwillingChristiandamselstobemetwith，whowouldthinkitsintorefusesobraveaknight_ledond’amoureuxmerci_，andyoumustneedsanchoryouraffectiononawilful，obstinateJewess！Bythemass，IthinkoldLucasBeaumanoirguessesright，whenhemaintainsshehathcastaspelloveryou。’’

``LucasBeaumanoir！’’——saidBois-Guilbertreproachfully——``Aretheseyourprecautions，Malvoisin?

HastthousufferedthedotardtolearnthatRebeccaisinthePreceptory?’’

``HowcouldIhelpit?’’saidthePreceptor。``I

neglectednothingthatcouldkeepsecretyourmystery；

butitisbetrayed，andwhetherbythedevilorno，thedevilonlycantell。ButIhaveturnedthematterasIcould；youaresafeifyourenounceRebecca。Youarepitied——thevictimofmagicaldelusion。Sheisasorceress，andmustsufferassuch。’’

``Sheshallnot，byHeaven！’’saidBois-Guilbert。

``ByHeaven，shemustandwill！’’saidMalvoisin。

``Neitheryounoranyoneelsecansaveher。

LucasBeaumanoirhathsettledthatthedeathofaJewesswillbeasin-offeringsufficienttoatoneforalltheamorousindulgencesoftheKnightsTemplars；

andthouknowesthehathboththepowerandwilltoexecutesoreasonableandpiousapurpose。’’

``Willfutureagesbelievethatsuchstupidbigotryeverexisted！’’saidBois-Guilbert，stridingupanddowntheapartment。

``Whattheymaybelieve，Iknownot，’’saidMalvoisin，calmly；``butIknowwell，thatinthisourday，clergyandlaymen，takeninety-ninetothehundred，willcry_amen_totheGrandMaster’ssentence。’’

``Ihaveit，’’saidBois-Guilbert。``Albert，thouartmyfriend。Thoumustconniveatherescape，Malvoisin，andIwilltransporthertosomeplaceofgreatersecurityandsecrecy。’’

``Icannot，ifIwould，’’repliedthePreceptor；

``themansionisfilledwiththeattendantsoftheGrandMaster，andotherswhoaredevotedtohim。

And，tobefrankwithyou，brother，Iwouldnotembarkwithyouinthismatter，evenifIcouldhopetobringmybarktohaven。Ihaveriskedenoughalreadyforyoursake。Ihavenomindtoencounterasentenceofdegradation，oreventolosemyPreceptory，forthesakeofapaintedpieceofJewishfleshandblood。Andyou，ifyouwillbeguidedbymycounsel，willgiveupthiswild-goosechase，andflyyourhawkatsomeothergame。