twenty years after(二十年后)-第118节

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〃Who？　He？〃　asked　Athos。
〃Mordaunt；〃　replied　Grimaud。
D'Artagnan；　Porthos　and　Aramis　uttered　a　cry　of　joy。
Athos　stepped　back　and　passed　his　hand　across　his　brow。
〃Fatality！〃　he　muttered。


68
Cromwell's　House。

It　was；　in　fact；　Mordaunt　whom　D'Artagnan　had　followed；
without　knowing　it。　On　entering　the　house　he　had　taken　off
his　mask　and　imitation　beard；　then；　mounting　a　staircase；
had　opened　a　door；　and　in　a　room　lighted　by　a　single　lamp
found　himself　face　to　face　with　a　man　seated　behind　a　desk。
This　man　was　Cromwell。
Cromwell　had　two　or　three　of　these　retreats　in　London；
unknown　except　to　the　most　intimate　of　his　friends。　Mordaunt
was　among　these。
〃It　is　you；　Mordaunt；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　late。〃
〃General；　I　wished　to　see　the　ceremony　to　the　end；　which
delayed　me。〃
〃Ah！　I　scarcely　thought　you　were　so　curious　as　that。〃
〃I　am　always　curious　to　see　the　downfall　of　your　honor's
enemies；　and　he　was　not　among　the　least　of　them。　But　you；
general；　were　you　not　at　Whitehall？〃
〃No；〃　said　Cromwell。
There　was　a　moment's　silence。
〃Have　you　had　any　account　of　it？〃
〃None。　I　have　been　here　since　the　morning。　I　only　know　that
there　was　a　conspiracy　to　rescue　the　king。〃
〃Ah；　you　knew　that？〃　said　Mordaunt。
〃It　matters　little。　Four　men；　disguised　as　workmen；　were　to
get　the　king　out　of　prison　and　take　him　to　Greenwich；　where
a　vessel　was　waiting。〃
〃And　knowing　all　that；　your　honor　remained　here；　far　from
the　city；　tranquil　and　inactive。〃
〃Tranquil；　yes；〃　replied　Cromwell。　〃But　who　told　you　I　was
inactive？〃
〃But　　if　the　plot　had　succeeded？〃
〃I　wished　it　to　do　so。〃
〃I　thought　your　excellence　considered　the　death　of　Charles
I。　as　a　misfortune　necessary　to　the　welfare　of　England。〃
〃Yes；　his　death；　but　it　would　have　been　more　seemly　not　upon
the　scaffold。〃
〃Why　so？〃　asked　Mordaunt。
Cromwell　smiled。　〃Because　it　could　have　been　said　that　I　had
had　him　condemned　for　the　sake　of　justice　and　had　let　him
escape　out　of　pity。〃
〃But　if　he　had　escaped？〃
〃Impossible；　my　precautions　were　taken。〃
〃And　does　your　honor　know　the　four　men　who　undertook　to
rescue　him？〃
〃The　four　Frenchmen；　of　whom　two　were　sent　by　the　queen　to
her　husband　and　two　by　Mazarin　to　me。〃
〃And　do　you　think　Mazarin　commissioned　them　to　act　as　they
have　done？〃
〃It　is　possible。　But　he　will　not　avow　it。〃
〃How　so？〃
〃Because　they　failed。〃
〃Your　honor　gave　me　two　of　these　Frenchmen　when　they　were
only　guilty　of　fighting　for　Charles　I。　Now　that　they　are
guilty　of　a　conspiracy　against　England　will　your　honor　give
me　all　four　of　them？〃
〃Take　them；〃　said　Cromwell。
Mordaunt　bowed　with　a　smile　of　triumphant　ferocity。
〃Did　the　people　shout　at　all？〃　Cromwell　asked。
〃Very　little；　except　‘Long　live　Cromwell！'〃
〃Where　were　you　placed？〃
Mordaunt　tried　for　a　moment　to　read　in　the　general's　face　if
this　was　simply　a　useless　question；　or　whether　he　knew
everything。　But　his　piercing　eyes　could　by　no　means
penetrate　the　sombre　depths　of　Cromwell's。
〃I　was　so　situated　as　to　hear　and　see　everything；〃　he
answered。
It　was　now　Cromwell's　turn　to　look　fixedly　at　Mordaunt；　and
Mordaunt　to　make　himself　impenetrable。
〃It　appears；〃　said　Cromwell；　〃that　this　improvised
executioner　did　his　duty　remarkably　well。　The　blow；　so　they
tell　me　at　least；　was　struck　with　a　master's　hand。〃
Mordaunt　remembered　that　Cromwell　had　told　him　he　had　had　no
detailed　account；　and　he　was　now　quite　convinced　that　the
general　had　been　present　at　the　execution；　hidden　behind
some　screen　or　curtain。
〃In　fact；〃　said　Mordaunt；　with　a　calm　voice　and　immovable
countenance；　〃a　single　blow　sufficed。〃
〃Perhaps　it　was　some　one　in　that　occupation；〃　said　Cromwell。
〃Do　you　think　so；　sir？　He　did　not　look　like　an　executioner。〃
〃And　who　else　save　an　executioner　would　have　wished　to　fill
that　horrible　office？〃
〃But；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃it　might　have　been　some　personal
enemy　of　the　king；　who　had　made　a　vow　of　vengeance　and
accomplished　it　in　this　way。　Perhaps　it　was　some　man　of　rank
who　had　grave　reasons　for　hating　the　fallen　king；　and　who；
learning　that　the　king　was　about　to　flee　and　escape　him；
threw　himself　in　the　way；　with　a　mask　on　his　face　and　an　axe
in　his　hand；　not　as　substitute　for　the　executioner；　but　as
an　ambassador　of　Fate。〃
〃Possibly。〃
〃And　if　that　were　the　case　would　your　honor　condemn　his
action？〃
〃It　is　not　for　me　to　judge。　It　rests　between　his　conscience
and　his　God。〃
〃But　if　your　honor　knew　this　man？〃
〃I　neither　know　nor　wish　to　know　him。　Provided　Charles　is
dead；　it　is　the　axe；　not　the　man；　we　must　thank。〃
〃And　yet；　without　the　man；　the　king　would　have　been
rescued。〃
Cromwell　smiled。
〃They　would　have　carried　him　to　Greenwich；〃　he　said；　〃and
put　him　on　board　a　felucca　with　five　barrels　of　powder　in
the　hold。　Once　out　to　sea；　you　are　too　good　a　politician　not
to　understand　the　rest；　Mordaunt。〃
〃Yes；　they　would　have　all　been　blown　up。〃
〃Just　so。　The　explosion　would　have　done　what　the　axe　had
failed　to　do。　Men　would　have　said　that　the　king　had　escaped
human　justice　and　been　overtaken　by　God's。　You　see　now　why　I
did　not　care　to　know　your　gentleman　in　the　mask；　for　really；
in　spite　of　his　excellent　intentions；　I　could　not　thank　him
for　what　he　has　done。〃
Mordaunt　bowed　humbly。　〃Sir；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　profound
thinker　and　your　plan　was　sublime。〃
〃Say　absurd；　since　it　has　become　useless。　The　only　sublime
ideas　in　politics　are　those　which　bear　fruit。　So　to…night；
Mordaunt；　go　to　Greenwich　and　ask　for　the　captain　of　the
felucca　Lightning。　Show　him　a　white　handkerchief　knotted　at
the　four　corners　and　tell　the　crew　to　disembark　and　carry
the　powder　back　to　the　arsenal；　unless；　indeed　　〃
〃Unless？〃　said　Mordaunt；　whose　face　was　lighted　by　a　savage
joy　as　Cromwell　spoke：
〃This　skiff　might　be　of　use　to　you　for　personal　projects。〃
〃Oh；　my　lord；　my　lord！〃
〃That　title；〃　said　Cromwell；　laughing；　〃is　all　very　well
here；　but　take　care　a　word　like　that　does　not　escape　your
lips　in　public。〃
〃But　your　honor　will　soon　be　called　so　generally。〃
〃I　hope　so；　at　least；〃　said　Cromwell；　rising　and　putting　on
his　cloak。
〃You　are　going；　sir？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Cromwell。　〃I　slept　here　last　night　and　the　night
before；　and　you　know　it　is　not　my　custom　to　sleep　three
times　in　the　same　bed。〃
〃Then；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃your　honor　gives　me　my　liberty　for
to…night？〃
〃And　even　for　all　day　to…morrow；　if　you　want　it。　Since　last
evening；〃　he　added；　smiling；　〃you　have　done　enough　in　my
service；　and　if　you　have　any　personal　matters　to　settle　it
is　just　that　I　should　give　you　time。〃
〃Thank　you；　sir；　it　will　be　well　employed；　I　hope。〃
Cromwell　turned　as　he　was　going。
〃Are　you　armed？〃　he　asked。
〃I　have　my　sword。〃
〃And　no　one　waiting　for　you　outside？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then　you　had　better　come　with　me。〃
〃Thank　you；　sir；　but　the　way　by　the　subterranean　passage
would　take　too　much　time　and　I　have　none　to　lose。〃
Cromwell　placed　his　hand　on　a　hidden　handle　and　opened　a
door　so　well　concealed　by　the　tapestry　that　the　most
practiced　eye　could　not　have　discovered　it。　It　closed　after
him　with　a　spring。　This　door　communicated　with　a
subterranean　passage；　leading　under　the　street　to　a　grotto
in　the　garden　of　a　house　about　a　hundred　yards　from　that　of
the　future　Protector。
It　was　just　before　this　that　Grimaud　had　perceived　the　two
men　seated　together。
D'Artagnan　was　the　first　to　recover　from　his　surprise。
〃Mordaunt；〃　he　cried。　〃Ah！　by　Heaven！　it　is　God　Himself　who
sent　us　here。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Porthos；　〃let　us　break　the　door　in　and　fall　upon
him。〃
〃No；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃no　noise。　Now；　Grimaud；　you　come
here；　climb　up　to　the　window　again　and　tell　us　if　Mordaunt
is　alone　and　whether　he　is　preparing　to　go　out　or　go　to　bed。
If　he　comes　out　we　shall　catch　him。　If　he　stays　in　we　will
break　in　the　window。　It　is　easier　and　less　noisy　than　the
door。〃
Grimaud　began　to　scale　the　wall　again。
〃Keep　guard　at　the　other　door；　Athos　and　Aramis。　Porthos　and
I　will　stay　here。〃
The　friends　obeyed。
〃He　is　alone；〃　said　Grimaud。
〃We　did　not　see　his　companion　come　out。〃
〃He　may　have　gone　by　the　other　door。〃
〃What　is　he　doing？〃
〃Putting　on　his　cloak　and　gloves。〃
〃He's　ours；〃　muttered　D'Artagnan。
Porthos　mechanically　drew　his　dagger　from　the　scabbard。
〃Put　it　up　again；　my　friend；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃We　must
proceed　in　an　orderly　manner。〃
〃Hush！〃　said　Grimaud；　〃he　is　coming　out。　He　has　put　out　the
lamp；　I　can　see　nothing　now。〃
〃Get　down　then　and　quickly。〃
Grimaud　leaped　down。　The　snow　deadened　the　noise　of　his
fall。
〃Now　go　and　tell　Athos　and　Aramis　to　stand　on　each　side　of
the　door　and　clap　their　hands　if　they　catch　him。　We　will　do
the　same。〃
The　next　moment　the　door　opened　and　Mordaunt　appeared　on　the
threshold；　face　to　face　with　D'Artagnan。　Porthos　clapped　his
hands　and　the　other　two　came　running　around。　Mordaunt　was
livid；　but　he　uttered　no　cry　nor　called　for　assistance。
D'Artagnan　quietly　pushed　him　in　again；　and　by　the　light　of
a　lamp　on　the　staircase　made　him　ascend　the　steps　backward
one　by　one；　keeping　his　eyes　all　the　time　on　Mordaunt's
hands；　who；　however；　knowing　that　it　was　useless；　attempted
no　resistance。　At　last　they　stood　face　to　face　in　the　very
room　where　ten　minutes　before　Mordaunt　had　been　talking　to
Cromwell。
Porthos　came　up　behind；　and　unho