The Devil on Horseback (32 page)

Sometimes I think she is still advising me. “

“Perhaps she is. Perhaps she told you to duck your head when you did so and saved your life.”

“Who knows?”

Margot said: “Minelle, you look exhausted. That’s not like you. You always have ten times more energy than the rest of us. You should go to bed and sleep and try not to see faces in the bushes.”

I did feel tired though I doubted whether I should sleep.

But I wanted to be alone so we said goodnight and she went to her room.

I lay in bed very tired yet sleepless. I could not stop myself going over every moment of that afternoon from the moment when I had said goodbye to Gabrielle to the time when I came riding into the chateau stables. I felt again the first uneasy tremor when I had fancied I was being watched and the mounting terror when I realized that someone was trying to kill me.

I started up in alarm when I heard a sound at my door. It was a sign of my state that my heart began to hammer against my side as I stared in fearful anticipation at the door. Margot came in. She was carrying a glass in her hand. Tor you, Mineue,” she said, setting it down by the bed.

“Nou-Nou’s special concoction, guaranteed to make you sleep.

I got it from her. “

I lowered my eyes. I thought of the Comte’s going into Ursule’s room, taking the bottle from Nou-Nou’s store. Was that what he had done? Had he given it to her before I saw him leaving by the terrace doors? But surely if he had she would not have been asleep so quickly, for she was almost asleep when I entered. And Nou-Nou could not have been far off. What had they said to each other during that last interview? Had she taken her own life and should I ever know? Was it possible that he . I would not let myself think it. But what did I really know of him? That potent spell which he cast over me lulled my common sense to sleep and I could only make excuses for him.

Margot was looking at me enquiringly. You’re dreaming. Still seeing faces? Drink this up and you’ll be all right by morning. “

“I’ll take it later I said.

“Stay and talk awhile.”

“You need sleep,” she said firmly and set the glass on the table by my bed. Then she sat down on the chair near my dressing-table on which stood three candles-only two of which were alight.

“Only two,” she said.

“It’s gloomy in here.”

“One was blown out when you opened the door.”

“As long as the three don’t go out. That’s a sign of death. One of ‘the servants said that on the night my mother died three candles in their room went out… one after the other.”

“You don’t believe such superstition, Margot!”

“None of us believe them until we prove them to be true, do we?”

“Some people are very superstitious.”

“It is usually those who have something to fear … people like sailors and miners. People who run certain hazards.”

“We all run hazards.”

“But not such obvious ones. Look, another candle has gone out.”

“You blew it.”

“I did not.”

“Light it again.”

“Oh no, that would be unlucky. We have to wait and see if the third goes out.”

There’s a draught coming from somewhere. “

“You always have to have a logical explanation for everything, don’t you!”

“It’s not a bad idea.”

“And you don’t believe in the candle legend?”

“Of course I don’t.”

There was silence for a few moments, then she said: “I have a feeling that something is going to happen soon. Do you think we can go and visit Chariot?”

“Of course we can’t. You have seen what disaster our first visit brought.”

“Disaster! When I found my baby! Oh, you’re thinking of that horrid Bessell. Well, I’ve settled him. Mimi is quite ashamed of him. She can’t do enough for me.”

“I don’t like it, Margot.”

“If only there wasn’t this waiting. It’s so silly. I don’t mourn my mother any more because my marriage has been postponed. These are not normal times, are they? That’s why we have to live dangerously … because we never really know how much longer we’ve got to live. You poor Minelle. You look so tired. I’m going to say goodnight now. Take your potion and sleep well.”

As she went out, shutting the door with a bang, the third candle went out. I had laughed at the superstition but I could not repress a shudder. For a moment I was in complete darkness but as my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, familiar objects began to take shape. I looked at the glass beside my bed. I picked it up but I did not put it to my lips.

The Comtesse had died from a draught. Someone had tried to kill me.

But it was Margot who had brought this and I knew she would never harm me.

I got out of bed and taking the glass with me went to the window. I threw out the contents. I would not want Margot to think I had been suspicious of a draught she had brought.

Now I was really wide awake. It was true I was very tired. My body needed rest but my mind was in no mood to grant it.

I lay down while thoughts chased themselves round and round in my head. I heard the tower clock striked twelve and one. Still I could not sleep.

Perhaps I should have taken the draught but it was too late for that now.

I dozed but I did not really sleep. My senses were too alert to allow me to. Then suddenly I was wide awake. I heard footsteps in the corridor footsteps which paused outside my door. Then my door was slowly opening.

At first I thought it was a ghost-so strange was the figure which came into my room. It was grey in the gloom hair streaming about the shoulders. A woman.

She came and stood by the bed looking down at me. She took the glass and smelt it. Then she leaned forward and saw that I was watching her.

“Nou-Nou,” I cried.

“What are you doing?”

She blinked and looked puzzled. She said: “What are you doing here?”

I rose from the bed and taking my robe wrapped it round me.

“Nou-Nou,” I said gently.

“What’s wrong? What do you want with me?”

My fingers were trembling as I lighted the three candles.

“She’s gone,” said Nou-Nou.

“She’ll never come back. Sometimes I think I hear her. I follow her voice. It leads me to odd places … but she’s never there.”

Poor Nou-Nou. The death of her beloved charge had indeed unbalanced her.

“You should go back to your bed,” I said.

“You should take ^ one of your sleeping draughts.”

“She died after taking one,” she said.

“Because she took too much. You must not brood. She was ill, wasn’t she? You know how ill.”

“She didn’t,” cried Nou-Nou shrilly.

“She didn’t know how ill she would become.”

“Perhaps she did … and that was why …”

“He killed her. Right from the time the little girl was born he started to kill her. He wanted her out of the way and she knew it. She hated him … and he hated her. I hated him too. There was a lot of hatred in this household … and in time it killed her.”

“Nou-Nou, you can do no good by brooding on this. Perhaps it was best for her …”

“Best for her!” Her laughter was a shrill cackle.

“Best for him.” Then she turned her piercing gaze on me.

“And best for you … so you think. But don’t be too sure. He’s the devil, he is. No good can come to you through him.”

“You are talking without understanding, Nou-Nou,” I said.

“Please go back to your room.”

“You were awake when I came in here,” she said suddenly, the wildness dropping from her and being replaced by a certain cunning shrewdness which was more terrifying than her hysteria.

I nodded.

“You ought to have been asleep.”

Then I shouldn’t have been able to talk to you. “

“I didn’t come here to talk to you.”

“Why did you come here, then?”

She didn’t answer. Then she said: “I’m looking for her. Where is she?

They buried her in the vault, but I don’t think she’s there. “

“She is at peace now, NouNou.”

She was silent and I saw the tears slowly flowing down her , cheeks.

“My little mignon ne my little bird.”

“Don’t fret any more. Try to be reconciled. She was ill. | She would have suffered a great deal of pain in time.”

“Who told you that?” she demanded, shrewd again.

“It was what I heard.”

“His tales … his excuses.”

“Nou-Nou, please go to your bed.”

“Three candles,” she said, and turning blew them out, onej after another. She turned to look at me before she blew out the last and I quailed before the venom in her face.

With that she went to the door, holding her hand before her as a sleep-walker does.

The door shut. I was out of bed and saw to my relief that I could lock the door. I did this and immediately felt safe.

Then I lay in bed wondering why she had come to me. If I had taken her draught I should have been asleep. What would have happened then?

Sleep! How I longed for it! How I wanted to escape from my tortuous thoughts that went round and round in my head reaching no conclusion.

My only inference was: There is danger close-and particularly close to me. From whom does it come? And why? “

I lay waiting for the dawn and only with the comfort of daylight could I rest.

in

Three days later the Comte sent for us. Margot and I were to leave for Paris without delay.

I was not sorry to go. The mounting tension in the chateau was becoming unbearable. I felt I was watched and would find myself looking furtively over my shoulder whenever I was alone. I noticed that the servants regarded me oddly. I felt very unsafe.

Therefore it was a great relief to receive the summons.

It was a hot June day when we set out. There was a stillness in the air which in itself seemed ominous. The weather was sultry and there was thunder about.

The city had lost none of its enchantment, though the heat was almost intolerable after the freshness of the country.

I immediately noticed that there were numerous soldiers in the streets-members of the Swiss and French Guards who formed the King’s bodyguard. People stood about at street corners but not in large numbers. They talked earnestly together. The cafes, from which came the delicious smell of roasting coffee, were crowded. People overflowed into the streets where tables under flowered sunshades were placed for their convenience. They chattered endlessly and excitedly.

In the Faubourg Saint-Honore the Comte was waiting for us with some impatience.

He took my hands and held them firmly.

“I heard what happened,” he said.

“It was horrifying. I sent for you immediately. You must not return to the chateau until I do.”
He seemed then to be aware of Margot.p>

“I have news for you,” he said.

“You are to be married next week.”

We were both too astounded to speak.

“In view of the state of-‘ the Comte waved his hands expressively’everything, the Grassevilles and I have come to the conclusion that the marriage should not be delayed. It will necessarily be a quiet wedding. A priest will officiate here. Then you will go to Grasseville and Minelle will go with you … temporarily … until something can be arranged.”

Margot was delightedly astonished and when we went to our rooms to wash off the stains of the journey she came to me at once.

“At last!” she cried. There was no point in waiting, was there? It was all so silly. Now we shall leave here. My father will no longer be able to command me. “

“Perhaps your husband will do that.”

She laughed slyly.

“Robert! Never. I think I shall get on very well with Robert. I have plans.”

I was a little uneasy; Margot’s plans were usually wild and dangerous.

The Comte asked me to go to him and I found him in the library.

He said: “When I heard what had happened I was overcome with anxiety.

I had to find some way of bringing you here. “

“So you arranged your daughter’s marriage?”

“It seemed as good an answer as any.”

“You use drastic measures to get your way.”

“Oh come. It is time Margot was married. She is the sort who needs a husband. The Grassevilles are a family who have always been popular with the people … though how long’ that popularity will last, who can say. Henri de Grasseville S was a father to his fiefs and for that reason it seems difficult” , to imagine their turning against him.

They might, though,”;

in their present mood. Fidelity is not a noticeable quality among people now. They bear grudges more readily than gratitude. But I should feel happier if you were there. “

“It is good of you to be so concerned.”

“As usual, I think of my own good,” he said soberly.

“Tell me exactly what happened in the lane.”

I told him and he said: “It was a peasant taking a pot shot at someone from the castle and it happened to be you. It’s a step in a new direction for them. And where did they get hold of the gun? That’s a mystery. We are making sure that no firearms get into the hands of the rabble. That would be fatal.”

Is the situation deteriorating? ” I asked.

“It is always deteriorating. Each day we step a little nearer to disaster.” He looked at me earnestly.

“I think of you all the time,” he said.

“I dream of the day when we shall be together. Nothing … nothing must stand in the way of that.”

“There is so much standing in the way,” I said.

Tell me what. “

“I don’t really know you,” I answered.

“Sometimes you seem like a stranger to me. Sometimes you amaze me and yet at others I know exactly how you will act.”

“That will make life exciting for you. A voyage of discovery. Now listen to my plans. Marguerite will marry and you will go with her. I shall visit you at Grasseville and in due course you shall be my wife.”

I did not answer. I kept thinking of Nou-Nou at my bedside, of, Gabrielle LeG rand insinuations. He had murdered Ursule, she had hinted, because he was tired of waiting to marry her, Gabrielle. He wanted a legitimate son. Gabrielle had already given him that son; all that was needed was his legitrmization which would be easy if they married. His idea according to her, was to lead me along so that I might slip into the re1e of scapegoat. She would probably suggest now that he had arranged that I should be removed from the scene. What if he had taken that shot at me . or arranged that it should be fired?