twenty years after(二十年后)-第28节

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Henry　IV。；　gave　my　father；　insomuch　that　I　was　mad　with
grief　when　they　told　me　that　the　story　of　Pygmalion　was
nothing　but　a　fable。〃
〃It　is　mere　want　of　occupation。　You　do　not　make　Raoul　work；
so　he　takes　his　own　way　of　employing　himself。〃
〃Exactly；　therefore　I　think　of　sending　him　away　from　here。〃
〃You　will　be　wise　to　do　so。〃
〃No　doubt　of　it；　but　it　will　break　his　heart。　So　long　as
three　or　four　years　ago　he　used　to　adorn　and　adore　his
little　idol；　whom　he　will　some　day　fall　in　love　with　in
right　earnest　if　he　remains　here。　The　parents　of　little　La
Valliere　have　for　a　long　time　perceived　and　been　amused　at
it；　now　they　begin　to　look　concerned。〃
〃Nonsense！　However；　Raoul　must　be　diverted　from　this　fancy。
Send　him　away　or　you　will　never　make　a　man　of　him。〃
〃I　think　I　shall　send　him　to　Paris。〃
〃So！〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　the
moment　for　attack　had　arrived。
〃Suppose；〃　he　said；　〃we　roughly　chalk　out　a　career　for　this
young　man。　I　wish　to　consult　you　about　some　thing。〃
〃Do　so。〃
〃Do　you　think　it　is　time　for　us　to　enter　the　service？〃
〃But　are　you　not　still　in　the　service　　you；　D'Artagnan？〃
〃I　mean　active　service。　Our　former　life；　has　it　still　no
attractions　for　you？　would　you　not　be　happy　to　begin　anew　in
my　society　and　in　that　of　Porthos；　the　exploits　of　our
youth？〃
〃Do　you　propose　to　me　to　do　so；　D'Artagnan？〃
〃Decidedly　and　honestly。〃
〃On　whose　side？〃　asked　Athos；　fixing　his　clear；　benevolent
glance　on　the　countenance　of　the　Gascon。
〃Ah；　devil　take　it；　you　speak　in　earnest　　〃
〃And　must　have　a　definite　answer。　Listen；　D'Artagnan。　There
is　but　one　person；　or　rather；　one　cause；　to　whom　a　man　like
me　can　be　useful　　that　of　the　king。〃
〃Exactly；〃　answered　the　musketeer。
〃Yes；　but　let　us　understand　each　other；〃　returned　Athos；
seriously。　〃If　by　the　cause　of　the　king　you　mean　that　of
Monsieur　de　Mazarin；　we　do　not　understand　each　other。〃
〃I　don't　say　exactly；〃　answered　the　Gascon；　confused。
〃Come；　D'Artagnan；　don't　let　us　play　a　sidelong　game；　your
hesitation；　your　evasion；　tells　me　at　once　on　whose　side　you
are；　for　that　party　no　one　dares　openly　to　recruit；　and　when
people　recruit　for　it；　it　is　with　averted　eyes　and　humble
voice。〃
〃Ah！　my　dear　Athos！〃
〃You　know　that　I　am　not　alluding　to　you；　you　are　the　pearl
of　brave；　bold　men。　I　speak　of　that　spiteful　and　intriguing
Italian　　of　the　pedant　who　has　tried　to　put　on　his　own
head　a　crown　which　he　stole　from　under　a　pillow　　of　the
scoundrel　who　calls　his　party　the　party　of　the　king　　who
wants　to　send　the　princes　of　the　blood　to　prison；　not　daring
to　kill　them；　as　our　great　cardinal　　our　cardinal　did　
of　the　miser；　who　weighs　his　gold　pieces　and　keeps　the
clipped　ones　for　fear；　though　he　is　rich；　of　losing　them　at
play　next　morning　　of　the　impudent　fellow　who　insults　the
queen；　as　they　say　　so　much　the　worse　for　her　　and　who
is　going　in　three　months　to　make　war　upon　us；　in　order　that
he　may　retain　his　pensions；　is　that　the　master　whom　you
propose　to　me？　I　thank　you；　D'Artagnan。〃
〃You　are　more　impetuous　than　you　were；〃　returned　D'Artagnan。
〃Age　has　warmed；　not　chilled　your　blood。　Who　informed　you
this　was　the　master　I　propose　to　you？　Devil　take　it；〃　he
muttered　to　himself；　〃don't　let　me　betray　my　secrets　to　a
man　not　inclined　to　entertain　them。〃
〃Well；　then；〃　said　Athos；　〃what　are　your　schemes？　what　do
you　propose？〃
〃Zounds！　nothing　more　than　natural。　You　live　on　your　estate；
happy　in　golden　mediocrity。　Porthos　has；　perhaps；　sixty
thousand　francs　income。　Aramis　has　always　fifty　duchesses
quarreling　over　the　priest；　as　they　quarreled　formerly　over
the　musketeer；　but　I　　what　have　I　in　the　world？　I　have
worn　my　cuirass　these　twenty　years；　kept　down　in　this
inferior　rank；　without　going　forward　or　backward；　hardly
half　living。　In　fact；　I　am　dead。　Well！　when　there　is　some
idea　of　being　resuscitated；　you　say　he's　a　scoundrel；　an
impudent　fellow；　a　miser；　a　bad　master！　By　Jove！　I　am　of
your　opinion；　but　find　me　a　better　one　or　give　me　the　means
of　living。〃
Athos　was　for　a　few　moments　thoughtful。
〃Good！　D'Artagnan　is　for　Mazarin；〃　he　said　to　himself。
From　that　moment　he　grew　very　guarded。
On　his　side　D'Artagnan　became　more　cautious　also。
〃You　spoke　to　me；〃　Athos　resumed；　〃of　Porthos；　have　you
persuaded　him　to　seek　his　fortune？　But　he　has　wealth；　I
believe；　already。〃
〃Doubtless　he　has。　But　such　is　man；　we　always　want　something
more　than　we　already　have。〃
〃What　does　Porthos　wish　for？〃
〃To　be　a　baron。〃
〃Ah；　true！　I　forgot；〃　said　Athos；　laughing。
〃'Tis　true！〃　thought　the　Gascon；　〃where　has　he　heard　it？
Does　he　correspond　with　Aramis？　Ah！　if　I　knew　that　he　did　I
should　know　all。〃
The　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　Raoul。
〃Is　our　little　neighbor　worse？〃　asked　D'Artagnan；　seeing　a
look　of　vexation　on　the　face　of　the　youth。
〃Ah；　sir！〃　replied　Raoul；　〃her　fall　is　a　very　serious　one；
and　without　any　ostensible　injury；　the　physician　fears　she
will　be　lame　for　life。〃
〃This　is　terrible；〃　said　Athos。
〃And　what　makes　me　all　the　more　wretched；　sir；　is；　that　I
was　the　cause　of　this　misfortune。〃
〃How　so？〃　asked　Athos。
〃It　was　to　run　to　meet　me　that　she　leaped　from　that　pile　of
wood。〃
〃There's　only　one　remedy；　dear　Raoul　　that　is；　to　marry
her　as　a　compensation　〃　remarked　D'Artagnan。
〃Ah；　sir！〃　answered　Raoul；　〃you　joke　about　a　real
misfortune；　that　is　cruel；　indeed。〃
The　good　understanding　between　the　two　friends　was　not　in
the　least　altered　by　the　morning's　skirmish。　They
breakfasted　with　a　good　appetite；　looking　now　and　then　at
poor　Raoul；　who　with　moist　eyes　and　a　full　heart；　scarcely
ate　at　all。
After　breakfast　two　letters　arrived　for　Athos；　who　read　them
with　profound　attention；　whilst　D'Artagnan　could　not
restrain　himself　from　jumping　up　several　times　on　seeing　him
read　these　epistles；　in　one　of　which；　there　being　at　the
time　a　very　strong　light；　he　perceived　the　fine　writing　of
Aramis。　The　other　was　in　a　feminine　hand；　long；　and　crossed。
〃Come；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　Raoul；　seeing　that　Athos　wished
to　be　alone；　〃come；　let　us　take　a　turn　in　the　fencing
gallery；　that　will　amuse　you。〃
And　they　both　went　into　a　low　room　where　there　were　foils；
gloves；　masks；　breastplates；　and　all　the　accessories　for　a
fencing　match。
In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　Athos　joined　them　and　at　the　same
moment　Charles　brought　in　a　letter　for　D'Artagnan；　which　a
messenger　had　just　desired　might　be　instantly　delivered。
It　was　now　Athos's　turn　to　take　a　sly　look。
D'Artagnan　read　the　letter　with　apparent　calmness　and　said；
shaking　his　head：
〃See；　dear　friend；　what　it　is　to　belong　to　the　army。　Faith；
you　are　indeed　right　not　to　return　to　it。　Monsieur　de
Treville　is　ill；　so　my　company　can't　do　without　me；　there！
my　leave　is　at　an　end！〃
〃Do　you　return　to　Paris？〃　asked　Athos；　quickly。
〃Egad！　yes；　but　why　don't　you　come　there　also？〃
Athos　colored　a　little　and　answered：
〃Should　I　go；　I　shall　be　delighted　to　see　you　there。〃
〃Halloo；　Planchet！〃　cried　the　Gascon　from　the　door；　〃we　must
set　out　in　ten　minutes；　give　the　horses　some　hay。
Then　turning　to　Athos　he　added：
〃I　seem　to　miss　something　here。　I　am　really　sorry　to　go　away
without　having　seen　Grimaud。〃
〃Grimaud！〃　replied　Athos。　〃I'm　surprised　you　have　never　so
much　as　asked　after　him。　I　have　lent　him　to　a　friend　　〃
〃Who　will　understand　the　signs　he　makes？〃　returned
D'Artagnan。
〃I　hope　so。〃
The　friends　embraced　cordially；　D'Artagnan　pressed　Raoul's
hand。
〃Will　you　not　come　with　me？〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　pass　by
Blois。〃
Raoul　turned　toward　Athos；　who　showed　him　by　a　secret　sign
that　he　did　not　wish　him　to　go。
〃No；　monsieur；〃　replied　the　young　man；　〃I　will　remain　with
monsieur　le　comte。〃
〃Adieu；　then；　to　both；　my　good　friends；〃　said　D'Artagnan；
〃may　God　preserve　you！　as　we　used　to　say　when　we　said
good…bye　to　each　other　in　the　late　cardinal's　time。〃
Athos　waved　his　hand；　Raoul　bowed；　and　D'Artagnan　and
Planchet　set　out。
The　count　followed　them　with　his　eyes；　his　hands　resting　on
the　shoulders　of　the　youth；　whose　height　was　almost　equal　to
his　own；　but　as　soon　as　they　were　out　of　sight　he　said：
〃Raoul；　we　set　out　to…night　for　Paris。〃
〃Eh？〃　cried　the　young　man；　turning　pale。
〃You　may　go　and　offer　your　adieux　and　mine　to　Madame　de
Saint…Remy。　I　shall　wait　for　you　here　till　seven。〃
The　young　man　bent　low；　with　an　expression　of　sorrow　and
gratitude　mingled；　and　retired　in　order　to　saddle　his　horse。
As　to　D'Artagnan；　scarcely；　on　his　side；　was　he　out　of　sight
when　he　drew　from　his　pocket　a　letter；　which　he　read　over
again：

〃Return　immediately　to　Paris。　　J。　M　　。〃

〃The　epistle　is　laconic；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃and　if　there　had
not　been　a　postscript；　probably　I　should　not　have　understood
it；　but　happily　there　is　a　postscript。〃
And　he　read　that　welcome　postscript；　which　made　him　forget
the　abruptness　of　the　letter。

〃P。　S。　　Go　to　the　king's　treasurer；　at　Blois；　tell　him
your　name　and　show　him　this　letter；　you　will　receive　two
hundred　pistoles。〃

〃Assuredly；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　admire　this　piece　of　prose。
The　cardinal　writes　better　than　I　thought。　Come；　Planchet；
let　us　pay　a　visit　to　the　king's　treasurer　and　then　set
off。〃
〃Toward　Paris；　sir？〃
〃Toward　Paris。〃
And　they　set　out　at　as　hard　a　canter　as　their　h