IN THE GARRET.
Cautiously climbing the ladder that led up to the garret, Christian
found the stranger seated upon the sill of the narrow window that opened
upon the river. The moon, then on the wane, was rising in a sky studded
with stars, and shed her pale light upon the austere visage of the
unknown guest. Drawn from his absorbing thoughts, he turned towards
Christian:
"I thought I heard some noise toward the bridge. Has anything happened?"
"Some seigneurs, out on a carousal, attempted to do violence to a woman.
Several of our neighbors rushed to her aid with me and my
brother-in-law. Thanks be to God, Mary La Catelle is safe."
"What!" cried Monsieur John with deep concern, breaking in upon the
artisan's report. "Was that worthy widow, who is associated with John
Dubourg, the draper of St. Denis Street, with Etienne Laforge, the rich
bourgeois of Tournay, and the architect Poille in the charitable work of
gathering abandoned orphans, in peril? Poor woman, her charity, the
purity of her principles and her devotion to the little ones entitle
her to the esteem of all right-minded people."
"The task that she has imposed upon herself bristles with dangers. The
monks and friars of her quarter suspect her of partaking of the ideas
and hopes of the reformers. Already has she been locked up in the
Chatelet, and her school been closed. Thanks, however, to the
intervention of one of her relatives, who is in the service of Princess
Marguerite, a protector of the reform, Mary was set at liberty and her
school was re-opened. But the persecutions of the heretics are
redoubling, and I apprehend fresh dangers for our friend, whose faith is
unshakable."
"Yes, the persecutions are redoubling," rejoined Monsieur John
thoughtfully. "Monsieur Christian Lebrenn, I know I can unbosom myself
to you with all frankness. I am a stranger in Paris; you know the city.
Could I find within the walls, or even without, some secluded spot where
about a hundred persons could be gathered secretly and safely? I must
warn you, these persons belong to the Reformation."
The artisan reflected for a moment and answered: "It would be difficult
and dangerous to assemble so large a number of people within Paris.
Gainier, the chief spy of the Criminal Lieutenant, expends undefatigable
activity to discover and denounce all assemblages that he suspects. His
agents are spread everywhere. So considerable a gathering would
undoubtedly call their attention. Outside of Paris, however, we need not
apprehend the same watchfulness. I may be able to indicate some safe
place to you. But before proceeding farther, I should make a
confidential disclosure to you. A friend of mine and myself contemplate
printing secretly a few handbills intended to propagate the reform
movement. We are in the hope that, scattered through Paris, or posted
over night on the walls, these placards may stir public opinion. Only
one obstacle has, so far, held us back--the finding of some safe and
secluded place, where, without danger of being detected, we might set up
our little printing establishment. I understand from my friend that he
has at last found a suitable place for our purpose. It may turn out to
be suitable for yours also."
"Is the house outside the walls of Paris?"
"It is not a house; it is an abandoned quarry situated on Montmartre. My
friend was born in that suburb; his mother still lives there; he is
familiar with every nook and corner of that rocky hill. He is of the
opinion that a certain wide and deep grotto which he inspected will
guarantee to us the seclusion and safety that we are in search of. If he
is not mistaken, the meeting that you have mentioned to me might be held
at Montmartre. To-morrow evening I am to go with my friend to look the
place over. When I shall have done so, I shall acquaint you with the
circumstances, and if the place is fit, you may fix the day of your
gathering."
"Suppose that your excursion to Montmartre to-morrow evening satisfies
you that the quarry is suitable for my meeting, that it offers perfect
safety; in what manner could the people, whom I shall convoke, be
furnished with the necessary directions to find the place?"
"I think that would be an easy matter, after the locality had been
carefully inspected. I shall be able to furnish you to-morrow with the
full particulars."
"Monsieur Christian, could you also tell me where I could find some
trustworthy person whom I could commission to carry the letters of
convocation to certain persons, who, in their turn, would notify their
friends?"
"I shall carry those letters myself, if you will, monsieur. I realize
the gravity of such a mission."
"In the name of the Cause that we both serve, Monsieur Christian, I
thank you heartily for your generous offer," replied the stranger with
effusion. "Oh, the times bode evil. The conversation that we had this
evening with your brother-in-law was almost a revelation to me
concerning the singular man, the intrepid swordsman, the former runner
of gallant adventures, whose darksome dealings I was previously
acquainted with."
"Ignatius Loyola? And what may be his scheme?"
"Some slight overtures made by him to a man whom I hold worthy of all
credence, and whom he hoped to capture, were reported to me. I was
thereby enabled to penetrate the infernal project pursued by Ignatius
Loyola, and--"
Bridget's voice, sounding from the middle of the ladder that led up to
the garret, and cautiously calling her husband, interrupted the unknown.
Christian listened and heard his wife say:
"Come down quick; I heard Herve come out of his room; I hear him coming
upstairs; he may want to see us."
The artisan made a sign to his guest that he had nothing to fear, and
quickly descended the stairs into a dark closet, the only door of which
opened into the chamber occupied by himself and his wife. Christian had
just time to close noiselessly the door of the closet and to sit down,
when Herve rapped gently at his father's door and called him. Bridget
opened and said to her son:
"What do you want, my child?"
"Dear parents, grant me a few words with you."
"Gladly," responded Christian, "but let us go downstairs. Our poor
friend Mary La Catelle is sharing your sister's bed; the woman needs
rest; our conversation might disturb her sleep."