Orrain | Page 4

vessel and
securely bottled, was the Borgia venom, and to this there was no
antidote.
I made some remark of horror, and he laughed a dry, crackling laugh,
and rose from his seat.
"I will show you," he said, and was moving towards a press when we
were startled by a cry from the street--a cry for help:
"A moi! A moi!"
CHAPTER II
I BECOME THE OWNER OF A RING
I started from my seat, and Camus, with a turn and a step, reached the
window, where, resting his hands on the mullions, he leaned far out. I

was on his heels; but the window was narrow, a mere slit, and so I
could see nothing below. Late as it was the cry had, however, reached
other ears than ours as well. Here and there a dim light glowed for an
instant or so in an overhanging window. Here and there a shadowy
figure appeared at a balcony, only to vanish like a ghost after peering
for a moment in the direction of the sound. This was all the interest, all
the attention it excited, and this spoke for the times.
"What is it? Can you see anything?" I asked, craning over Camus'
shoulder; and, as if in answer to my question, the cry rang out again,
just below the window:
"A moi! Au secours!" Then came an oath, and the rasp of steel.
"They are killing someone there," said Camus; "killing with clumsy
steel. Well! 'tis an affair for the watch." And with a shrug of his lean
shoulders he turned back. But I waited to hear no more. Drawing my
sword I made all haste down the stairway and into the street, and there
before me, where the moonlight glistened on the mud and on the green
and slimy cobble stones of the Rue des Lavandières, two men, their
backs to the wall, fought for their lives against four, whilst a fifth, who
seemed to direct them, stood a little apart.
The odds were heavy against the two. All the heavier because one,
dressed in the bizarre attire of jester, had no sword but only a dagger
for defence. Nevertheless, with his short cloak wrapped over his left
arm, and the dagger in his right hand, he held his own with skill and
courage.
The attack, however, was chiefly directed upon his companion, a
fair-haired man, with a short moustache and beard. He had lost his hat.
There was a red line of blood on his face from a wound in the forehead,
and a twitching smile on his lips; but he fought silent as a wolf.
A thrust that would have found his heart was parried, but not by him.
Quick as thought, the swordless man by his side hit up the bravo's
rapier with his left arm, and the blade, stabbing the air, struck and bent
against the stones of the wall just over shoulder-height.

"Sus! sus!" cried the leader of the night-hawks; and he ran forward.
Clearly it was time that help came. So I passed my sword through one
of the bravos, and as the others, surprised and disconcerted, gave way a
little, I ranged myself beside the two.
"Courage!" I said, "affairs are more equal now."
Cursing and growling, spitting like so many cats, the villains came on
with a rush, their leader first. A long arm and a long sword are,
however, great advantages in affairs of this kind, and I took him on the
riposte. A cry and a gasp, a sword clattered on to the pavement, and the
stricken man spun round and, holding his hand to his side, tried to
stagger off, but after stumbling a few steps he fell in a heap in the
shadow.
This settled the matter. The others, seeing their leader hit, waited for no
more, but fled. There was no pursuit. For a few brief seconds we heard
the patter of running feet, and then all was still.
We stood, all three staring at each other, and then the fair-haired man
held out his hand, saying simply: "I thank you, monsieur!"
I met his grasp, expressing at the same time my concern for his wound.
"It is not much, I think--all due to a weak parry on my part." And he
strove with a gold-laced handkerchief to staunch the blood that was
flowing somewhat freely. I was about to offer what help I could when
the jester cut in.
"Faith of a fool!" he said, sheathing his dagger, "my gossip here is apt
to make light of these scratches; but I would give my cap and bells now
for a little salve."
"If you will come into my house, messieurs--'tis but a step--we will see
to the hurt."
I almost repented of my offer the