twenty years after(二十年后)-第114节

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〃Bravo！〃　said　Aramis；　〃how　did　you　manage　it？〃
〃Like　everything　else；　with　money；　but　it　cost　me　dear。〃
〃How　much？〃　asked　Athos。
〃Five　hundred　pounds。〃
〃And　where　did　you　get　so　much　money？〃　said　Athos。　〃Had　you；
then；　that　sum？〃
〃The　queen's　famous　diamond；〃　answered　D'Artagnan；　with　a
sigh。
〃Ah；　true；〃　said　Aramis。　〃I　recognized　it　on　your　finger。〃
〃You　bought　it　back；　then；　from　Monsieur　des　Essarts？〃　asked
Porthos。
〃Yes；　but　it　was　fated　that　I　should　not　keep　it。〃
〃So；　then；　we　are　all　right　as　regards　the　executioner；〃
said　Athos；　〃but　unfortunately　every　executioner　has　his
assistant；　his　man；　or　whatever　you　call　him。〃
〃And　this　one　had　his；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃but；　as　good　luck
would　have　it；　just　as　I　thought　I　should　have　two　affairs
to　manage；　our　friend　was　brought　home　with　a　broken　leg。　In
the　excess　of　his　zeal　he　had　accompanied　the　cart
containing　the　scaffolding　as　far　as　the　king's　window；　and
one　of　the　crossbeams　fell　on　his　leg　and　broke　it。〃
〃Ah！〃　cried　Aramis；　〃that　accounts　for　the　cry　I　heard。〃
〃Probably；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃but　as　he　is　a　thoughtful
young　man　he　promised　to　send　four　expert　workmen　in　his
place　to　help　those　already　at　the　scaffold；　and　wrote　the
moment　he　was　brought　home　to　Master　Tom　Lowe；　an　assistant
carpenter　and　friend　of　his；　to　go　down　to　Whitehall；　with
three　of　his　friends。　Here's　the　letter　he　sent　by　a
messenger；　for　sixpence；　who　sold　it　to　me　for　a　guinea。〃
〃And　what　on　earth　are　you　going　to　do　with　it？〃　asked
Athos。
〃Can't　you　guess；　my　dear　Athos？　You；　who　speak　English　like
John　Bull　himself；　are　Master　Tom　Lowe；　we；　your　three
companions。　Do　you　understand　it　now？〃
Athos　uttered　a　cry　of　joy　and　admiration；　ran　to　a　closet
and　drew　forth　workmen's　clothes；　which　the　four　friends
immediately　put　on；　they　then　left　the　hotel；　Athos　carrying
a　saw；　Porthos　a　vise；　Aramis　an　axe　and　D'Artagnan　a　hammer
and　some　nails。
The　letter　from　the　executioner's　assistant　satisfied　the
master　carpenter　that　those　were　the　men　he　expected。

65
The　Workmen。

Toward　midnight　Charles　heard　a　great　noise　beneath　his
window。　It　arose　from　blows　of　hammer　and　hatchet；　clinking
of　pincers　and　cranching　of　saws。
Lying　dressed　upon　his　bed；　the　noise　awoke　him　with　a　start
and　found　a　gloomy　echo　in　his　heart。　He　could　not　endure
it；　and　sent　Parry　to　ask　the　sentinel　to　beg　the　workmen　to
strike　more　gently　and　not　disturb　the　last　slumber　of　one
who　had　been　their　king。　The　sentinel　was　unwilling　to　leave
his　post；　but　allowed　Parry　to　pass。
Arriving　at　the　window　Parry　found　an　unfinished　scaffold；
over　which　they　were　nailing　a　covering　of　black　serge。
Raised　to　the　height　of　twenty　feet；　so　as　to　be　on　a　level
with　the　window；　it　had　two　lower　stories。　Parry；　odious　as
was　this　sight　to　him；　sought　for　those　among　some　eight　or
ten　workmen　who　were　making　the　most　noise；　and　fixed　on　two
men；　who　were　loosening　the　last　hooks　of　the　iron　balcony。
〃My　friends；〃　said　Parry；　mounting　the　scaffold　and　standing
beside　them；　〃would　you　work　a　little　more　quietly？　The　king
wishes　to　get　a　sleep。〃
One　of　the　two；　who　was　standing　up；　was　of　gigantic　size
and　was　driving　a　pick　with　all　his　might　into　the　wall；
whilst　the　other；　kneeling　beside　him；　was　collecting　the
pieces　of　stone。　The　face　of　the　first　was　lost　to　Parry　in
the　darkness；　but　as　the　second　turned　around　and　placed　his
finger　on　his　lips　Parry　started　back　in　amazement。
〃Very　well；　very　well；〃　said　the　workman　aloud；　in　excellent
English。　〃Tell　the　king　that　if　he　sleeps　badly　to…night　he
will　sleep　better　to…morrow　night。〃
These　blunt　words；　so　terrible　if　taken　literally；　were
received　by　the　other　workmen　with　a　roar　of　laughter。　But
Parry　withdrew；　thinking　he　was　dreaming。
Charles　was　impatiently　awaiting　his　return。　At　the　moment
he　re…entered；　the　sentinel　who　guarded　the　door　put　his
head　through　the　opening；　curious　as　to　what　the　king　was
doing。　The　king　was　lying　on　his　bed；　resting　on　his　elbow。
Parry　closed　the　door　and　approaching　the　king；　his　face
radiant　with　joy：
〃Sire；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃do　you　know　who　these
workmen　are　who　are　making　so　much　noise？〃
〃I？　No；　how　would　you　have　me　know？〃
Parry　bent　his　head　and　whispered　to　the　king：　〃It　is　the
Comte　de　la　Fere　and　his　friends。〃
〃Raising　my　scaffold！〃　cried　the　king；　astounded。
〃Yes；　and　at　the　same　time　making　a　hole　in　the　wall。〃
The　king　clasped　his　hands　and　raised　his　eyes　to　Heaven；
then　leaping　down　from　his　bed　he　went　to　the　window；　and
pulling　aside　the　curtain　tried　to　distinguish　the　figures
outside；　but　in　vain。
Parry　was　not　wrong。　It　was　Athos　he　had　recognized；　and
Porthos　who　was　boring　a　hole　through　the　wall。
This　hole　communicated　with　a　kind　of　loft　　the　space
between　the　floor　of　the　king's　room　and　the　ceiling　of　the
one　below　it。　Their　plan　was　to　pass　through　the　hole　they
were　making　into　this　loft　and　cut　out　from　below　a　piece　of
the　flooring　of　the　king's　room；　so　as　to　form　a　kind　of
trap…door。
Through　this　the　king　was　to　escape　the　next　night；　and；
hidden　by　the　black　covering　of　the　scaffold；　was　to　change
his　dress　for　that　of　a　workman；　slip　out　with　his
deliverers；　pass　the　sentinels；　who　would　suspect　nothing；
and　so　reach　the　skiff　that　was　waiting　for　him　at
Greenwich。
Day　gilded　the　tops　of　the　houses。　The　aperture　was　finished
and　Athos　passed　through　it；　carrying　the　clothes　destined
for　the　king　wrapped　in　black　cloth；　and　the　tools　with
which　he　was　to　open　a　communication　with　the　king's　room。
He　had　only　two　hours'　work　to　do　to　open　communication　with
the　king　and；　according　to　the　calculations　of　the　four
friends；　they　had　the　entire　day　before　them；　since；　the
executioner　being　absent；　another　must　be　sent　for　to
Bristol。
D'Artagnan　returned　to　change　his　workman's　clothes　for　his
chestnut…colored　suit；　and　Porthos　to　put　on　his　red
doublet。　As　for　Aramis；　he　went　off　to　the　bishop's　palace
to　see　if　he　could　possibly　pass　in　with　Juxon　to　the　king's
presence。　All　three　agreed　to　meet　at　noon　in　Whitehall
Place　to　see　how　things　went　on。
Before　leaving　the　scaffold　Aramis　had　approached　the
opening　where　Athos　was　concealed　to　tell　him　that　he　was
about　to　make　an　attempt　to　gain　another　interview　with　the
king。
〃Adieu；　then；　and　be　of　good　courage；〃　said　Athos。　〃Report
to　the　king　the　condition　of　affairs。　Say　to　him　that　when
he　is　alone　it　will　help　us　if　he　will　knock　on　the　floor；
for　then　I　can　continue　my　work　in　safety。　Try；　Aramis；　to
keep　near　the　king。　Speak　loud；　very　loud；　for　they　will　be
listening　at　the　door。　If　there　is　a　sentinel　within　the
apartment；　kill　him　without　hesitation。　If　there　are　two；
let　Parry　kill　one　and　you　the　other。　If　there　are　three；
let　yourself　be　slain；　but　save　the　king。〃
〃Be　easy；〃　said　Aramis；　〃I　will　take　two　poniards　and　give
one　to　Parry。　Is　that　all？〃
〃Yes；　go；　but　urge　the　king　strongly　not　to　stand　on　false
generosity。　While　you　are　fighting　if　there　is　a　fight；　he
must　flee。　The　trap　once　replaced　over　his　head；　you　being
on　the　trap；　dead　or　alive；　they　will　need　at　least　ten
minutes　to　find　the　hole　by　which　he　has　escaped。　In　those
ten　minutes　we　shall　have　gained　the　road　and　the　king　will
be　saved。〃
〃Everything　shall　be　done　as　you　say；　Athos。　Your　hand；　for
perhaps　we　shall　not　see　each　other　again。〃
Athos　put　his　arm　around　Aramis's　neck　and　embraced　him。
〃For　you；〃　he　said。　〃Now　if　I　die；　say　to　D'Artagnan　that　I
love　him　as　a　son；　and　embrace　him　for　me。　Embrace　also　our
good　and　brave　Porthos。　Adieu。〃
〃Adieu；〃　said　Aramis。　〃I　am　as　sure　now　that　the　king　will
be　saved　as　I　am　sure　that　I　clasp　the　most　loyal　hand　in
the　world。〃
Aramis　parted　from　Athos；　went　down　from　the　scaffold　in　his
turn　and　took　his　way　to　the　hotel；　whistling　the　air　of　a
song　in　praise　of　Cromwell。　He　found　the　other　two　friends
sitting　at　table　before　a　good　fire；　drinking　a　bottle　of
port　and　devouring　a　cold　chicken。　Porthos　was　cursing　the
infamous　parliamentarians；　D'Artagnan　ate　in　silence；
revolving　in　his　mind　the　most　audacious　plans。
Aramis　related　what　had　been　agreed　upon。　D'Artagnan
approved　with　a　movement　of　the　head　and　Porthos　with　his
voice。
〃Bravo！〃　he　said；　〃besides；　we　shall　be　there　at　the　time　of
the　flight。　What　with　D'Artagnan；　Grimaud　and　Musqueton；　we
can　manage　to　dispatch　eight　of　them。　I　say　nothing　about
Blaisois；　for　he　is　only　fit　to　hold　the　horses。　Two　minutes
a　man　makes　four　minutes。　Musqueton　will　lose　another；
that's　five；　and　in　five　minutes　we　shall　have　galloped　a
quarter　of　a　league。〃
Aramis　swallowed　a　hasty　mouthful；　gulped　a　glass　of　wine
and　changed　his　clothes。
〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃I'm　off　to　the　bishop's。　Take　care　of　the
executioner；　D'Artagnan。〃
〃All　right。　Grimaud　has　relieved　Musqueton　and　has　his　foot
on　the　cellar　door。〃
〃Well；　don't　be　inactive。〃
〃Inactive；　my　dear　fellow！　Ask　Porthos。　I　pass　my　life　upon
my　legs。〃
Aramis　again　presented　himself　at　the　bishop's。　Juxon
consented　the　more　readily　to　take　him　with　him；　as　he　would
require　an　assistant　priest　in　case　the　king　should　wish　to
communicate。　Dressed　as　Aramis　had　been　the　night　before；
the