Traitor and True: A RomanceBloundelle-Burton, John
History
Traitor and True: A Romance
Bloundelle-Burton, John
France -- History -- Louis XIV, 1643-1715 -- Fiction
But Jacquette's second knock was productive of no more response than
the first had been, whereon the girl--though turning somewhat white
with a feeling of apprehension in her mind, while recalling at the
same time her dreams of swords and rapiers and blood--whispered to
herself, "He has discovered all and he is gone. Gone to save one Louis
or the other, as he said. Madame," she cried, turning round to the
Duchess who still sat up in her bed listening intently now for some
sound from Humphrey's room, "he is not there. Or being there sleeps so
soundly that I cannot waken him."
"Doubtless," the Duchess said, "he has awakened before us, and,
knowing of what lies before us, has descended to make preparations for
the journey. That being so, he has done all we would have him do
without being bidden to do it. His is a brave, trustworthy heart. Yet
I do wonder if he has also bethought him of awakening La Truaumont.
The man is, may be, a heavy sleeper: each night he empties his wine
flask to the dregs ere seeking his bed. If Humphrey has not thought to
rouse him, I will dare to say he is still snoring as heavily as a
tired dog."
"It may be so," Jacquette said aloud, with reference to the Duchess's
opinion that Humphrey had already risen; yet to her heart she
whispered, "but not risen as you think. Instead, more like he has not
sought his bed at all but, overhearing much of the plots of those
conspirators, has set out hours ago. By now he has doubtless been long
in France, the frontier being so near. By now, also, 'tis certain he
is riding post-haste either to save De Beaurepaire or to warn the
King. Oh! Humphrey, Humphrey, my lover, may Heaven have and keep you."
"Call Suzanne," the Duchess said at this moment, since, always
self-indulgent in her tastes, she saw no reason why her cup of
chocolate should be longer delayed, no matter whether Humphrey West
still slumbered late or had risen betimes: "Call Suzanne and bid her
bring the morning drink. Likewise tell her to go and beat on La
Truaumont's door. 'Tis time he was out of bed. And, Jacquette," as she
always called the girl, "go out into the passage and beat yourself on
Humphrey's door as loud as may be, while, if he answers not, open it
if 'tis not locked and wake him."
Suzanne was now at hand and, receiving her instructions, set about
obeying them by first going to La Truaumont's room to summon him. At
the same time, and when she had departed on her two missions,
Jacquette going out into the corridor ran to the next room and began
another _tintamarre_ on the other door, calling loudly as she did so,
"Humphrey! Humphrey! Humphrey! Awake! Awake!"
But there was no more answer from within to this second summons than
there had been to the first.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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