twenty years after(二十年后)-第129节

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been　noticed　by　Athos　and　Aramis　in　the　guardhouse；　and　when
the　two　friends　were　announced　they　started　and　exchanged
some　words　in　a　low　tone。　〃Well；　sirs！〃　cried　the　queen；　on
perceiving　the　two　friends；　〃you　have　come；　faithful
friends！　But　the　royal　couriers　have　been　more　expeditious
than　you；　and　here　are　Monsieur　de　Flamarens　and　Monsieur　de
Chatillon；　who　bring　me　from　Her　Majesty　the　Queen　Anne　of
Austria；　the　very　latest　intelligence。〃
Aramis　and　Athos　were　astounded　by　the　calmness；　even　the
gayety　of　the　queen's　manner。
〃Go　on　with　your　recital；　sirs；〃　said　the　queen；　turning　to
the　Duc　de　Chatillon。　〃You　said　that　His　Majesty；　King
Charles；　my　august　consort；　had　been　condemned　to　death　by　a
majority　of　his　subjects！〃
〃Yes；　madame；〃　Chatillon　stammered　out。
Athos　and　Aramis　were　more　and　more　astonished。
〃And　that　being　conducted　to　the　scaffold；〃　resumed　the
queen　　〃oh；　my　lord！　oh；　my　king！　　and　that　being　led　to
the　scaffold　he　had　been　saved　by　an　indignant　people。〃
〃Just　so　madame；〃　replied　Chatillon；　in　so　low　a　voice　that
though　the　two　friends　were　listening　eagerly　they　could
hardly　hear　this　affirmation。
The　queen　clasped　her　hands　in　enthusiastic　gratitude；
whilst　her　daughter　threw　her　arms　around　her　mother's　neck
and　kissed　her　　her　own　eyes　streaming　with　tears。
〃Now；　madame；　nothing　remains　to　me　except　to　proffer　my
respectful　homage；〃　said　Chatillon；　who　felt　confused　and
ashamed　beneath　the　stern　gaze　of　Athos。
〃One　moment；　yes；〃　answered　the　queen。　〃One　moment　　I　beg
　for　here　are　the　Chevalier　d'Herblay　and　the　Comte　de　la
Fere；　just　arrived　from　London；　and　they　can　give　you；　as
eye…witnesses；　such　details　as　you　can　convey　to　the　queen；
my　royal　sister。　Speak；　gentlemen；　speak　　I　am　listening；
conceal　nothing；　gloss　over　nothing。　Since　his　majesty　still
lives；　since　the　honor　of　the　throne　is　safe；　everything
else　is　a　matter　of　indifference　to　me。〃
Athos　turned　pale　and　laid　his　hand　on　his　heart。
〃Well！〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　who　remarked　this　movement　and
his　paleness。　〃Speak；　sir！　I　beg　you　to　do　so。〃
〃I　beg　you　to　excuse　me；　madame；　I　wish　to　add　nothing　to
the　recital　of　these　gentlemen　until　they　perceive
themselves　that　they　have　perhaps　been　mistaken。〃
〃Mistaken！〃　cried　the　queen；　almost　suffocated　by　emotion；
〃mistaken！　what　has　happened；　then？〃
〃Sir；〃　interposed　Monsieur　de　Flamarens　to　Athos；　〃if　we　are
mistaken　the　error　has　originated　with　the　queen。　I　do　not
suppose　you　will　have　the　presumption　to　set　it　to　rights　
that　would　be　to　accuse　Her　Majesty；　Queen　Anne；　of
falsehood。〃
〃With　the　queen；　sir？〃　replied　Athos；　in　his　calm；　vibrating
voice。
〃Yes；〃　murmured　Flamarens；　lowering　his　eyes。
Athos　sighed　deeply。
〃Or　rather；　sir；〃　said　Aramis；　with　his　peculiar　irritating
politeness；　〃the　error　of　the　person　who　was　with　you　when
we　met　you　in　the　guardroom；　for　if　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　and
I　are　not　mistaken；　we　saw　you　in　the　company　of　a　third
gentleman。〃
Chatillon　and　Flamarens　started。
〃Explain　yourself；　count！〃　cried　the　queen；　whose　anxiety
grew　greater　every　moment。　〃On　your　brow　I　read　despair　
your　lips　falter　ere　you　announce　some　terrible　tidings　
your　hands　tremble。　Oh；　my　God！　my　God！　what　has　happened？〃
〃Lord！〃　ejaculated　the　young　princess；　falling　on　her　knees；
〃have　mercy　on　us！〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Chatillon；　〃if　you　bring　bad　tidings　it　will　be
cruel　in　you　to　announce　them　to　the　queen。〃
Aramis　went　so　close　to　Chatillon　as　almost　to　touch　him。
〃Sir；〃　said　he；　with　compressed　lips　and　flashing　eyes；　〃you
have　not　the　presumption　to　instruct　the　Comte　de　la　Fere
and　myself　what　we　ought　to　say　here？〃
During　this　brief　altercation　Athos；　with　his　hands　on　his
heart；　his　head　bent　low；　approached　the　queen　and　in　a
voice　of　deepest　sorrow　said：
〃Madame；　princes　　who　by　nature　are　above　other　men　
receive　from　Heaven　courage　to　support　greater　misfortunes
than　those　of　lower　rank；　for　their　hearts　are　elevated　as
their　fortunes。　We　ought　not；　therefore；　I　think；　to　act
toward　a　queen　so　illustrious　as　your　majesty　as　we　should
act　toward　a　woman　of　our　lowlier　condition。　Queen；　destined
as　you　are　to　endure　every　sorrow　on　this　earth；　hear　the
result　of　our　unhappy　mission。〃
Athos；　kneeling　down　before　the　queen；　trembling　and　very
cold；　drew　from　his　bosom；　inclosed　in　the　same　case；　the
order　set　in　diamonds　which　the　queen　had　given　to　Lord　de
Winter　and　the　wedding　ring　which　Charles　I。　before　his
death　had　placed　in　the　hands　of　Aramis。　Since　the　moment　he
had　first　received　these　two　mementoes　Athos　had　never
parted　with　them。
He　opened　the　case　and　offered　them　to　the　queen　with　deep
and　silent　anguish。
The　queen　stretched　out　her　hand；　seized　the　ring；　pressed
it　convulsively　to　her　lips　　and　without　being　able　to
breathe　a　sigh；　to　give　vent　to　a　sob；　she　extended　her
arms；　became　deadly　pale；　and　fell　senseless　in　the　arms　of
her　attendants　and　her　daughter。
Athos　kissed　the　hem　of　the　robe　of　the　widowed　queen　and
rising；　with　a　dignity　that　made　a　deep　impression　on　those
around：
〃I；　the　Comte　de　la　Fere；　a　gentleman　who　has　never　deceived
any　human　being；　swear　before　God　and　before　this　unhappy
queen；　that　all　that　was　possible　to　save　the　king　of
England　was　done　whilst　we　were　on　English　ground。　Now；
chevalier；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Aramis；　〃let　us　go。　Our
duty　is　fulfilled。〃
〃Not　yet。〃　said　Aramis；　〃we　have　still　a　word　to　say　to
these　gentlemen。〃
And　turning　to　Chatillon：　〃Sir；　be　so　good　as　not　to　go　away
without　giving　me　an　opportunity　to　tell　you　something　I
cannot　say　before　the　queen。〃
Chatillon　bowed　in　token　of　assent　and　they　all　went　out；
stopping　at　the　window　of　a　gallery　on　the　ground　floor。
〃Sir；〃　said　Aramis；　〃you　allowed　yourself　just　now　to　treat
us　in　a　most　extraordinary　manner。　That　would　not　be
endurable　in　any　case；　and　is　still　less　so　on　the　part　of
those　who　came　to　bring　the　queen　the　message　of　a　liar。〃
〃Sir！〃　cried　De　Chatillon。
〃What　have　you　done　with　Monsieur　de　Bruy？　Has　he　by　any
possibility　gone　to　change　his　face　which　was　too　like　that
of　Monsieur　de　Mazarin？　There　is　an　abundance　of　Italian
masks　at　the　Palais　Royal；　from　harlequin　even　to
pantaloon。〃
〃Chevalier！　chevalier！〃　said　Athos。
〃Leave　me　alone；〃　said　Aramis　impatiently。　〃You　know　well
that　I　don't　like　to　leave　things　half　finished。〃
〃Conclude；　then；　sir；〃　answered　De　Chatillon；　with　as　much
hauteur　as　Aramis。
〃Gentlemen；〃　resumed　Aramis；　〃any　one　but　the　Comte　de　la
Fere　and　myself　would　have　had　you　arrested　　for　we　have
friends　in　Paris　　but　we　are　contented　with　another
course。　Come　and　converse　with　us　for　just　five　minutes；
sword　in　hand；　upon　this　deserted　terrace。〃
〃One　moment；　gentlemen；〃　cried　Flamarens。　〃I　know　well　that
the　proposition　is　tempting；　but　at　present　it　is　impossible
to　accept　it。〃
〃And　why　not？〃　said　Aramis；　in　his　tone　of　raillery。　〃Is　it
Mazarin's　proximity　that　makes　you　so　prudent？〃
〃Oh；　you　hear　that；　Flamarens！〃　said　Chatillon。　〃Not　to
reply　would　be　a　blot　on　my　name　and　my　honor。〃
〃That　is　my　opinion；〃　said　Aramis。
〃You　will　not　reply；　however；　and　these　gentlemen；　I　am
sure；　will　presently　be　of　my　opinion。〃
Aramis　shook　his　head　with　a　motion　of　indescribable
insolence。
Chatillon　saw　the　motion　and　put　his　hand　to　his　sword。
〃Willingly；〃　replied　De　Chatillon。
〃Duke；〃　said　Flamarens；　〃you　forget　that　to…morrow　you　are
to　command　an　expedition　of　the　greatest　importance；
projected　by　the　prince；　assented　to　by　the　queen。　Until
to…morrow　evening　you　are　not　at　your　own　disposal。〃
〃Let　it　be　then　the　day　after　to…morrow；〃　said　Aramis。
〃To…morrow；　rather；〃　said　De　Chatillon；　〃if　you　will　take
the　trouble　of　coming　so　far　as　the　gates　of　Charenton。〃
〃How　can　you　doubt　it；　sir？　For　the　pleasure　of　a　meeting
with　you　I　would　go　to　the　end　of　the　world。〃
〃Very　well；　to…morrow；　sir。〃
〃I　shall　rely　on　it。　Are　you　going　to　rejoin　your　cardinal？
Swear　first；　on　your　honor；　not　to　inform　him　of　our
return。〃
〃Conditions？〃
〃Why　not？〃
〃Because　it　is　for　victors　to　make　conditions；　and　you　are
not　yet　victors；　gentlemen。〃
〃Then　let　us　draw　on　the　spot。　It　is　all　one　to　us　　to　us
who　do　not　command　to…morrow's　expedition。〃
Chatillon　and　Flamarens　looked　at　each　other。　There　was　such
irony　in　the　words　and　in　the　bearing　of　Aramis　that　the
duke　had　great　difficulty　in　bridling　his　anger；　but　at　a
word　from　Flamarens　he　restrained　himself　and　contented
himself　with　saying：
〃You　promise；　sir　　that's　agreed　　that　I　shall　find　you
to…morrow　at　Charenton？〃
〃Oh；　don't　be　afraid；　sir；〃　replied　Aramis；　and　the　two
gentlemen　shortly　afterward　left　the　Louvre。
〃For　what　reason　is　all　this　fume　and　fury？〃　asked　Athos。
〃What　have　they　done　to　you？〃
〃They　　did　you　not　see　what　they　did？〃
〃No。〃
〃They　laughed　when　we　swore　that　we　had　done　our　duty　in
England。　Now；　if　they　believed　us；　they　laughed　in　order　to
insult　us；　if　they　did　not　believe　it　they　insulted　us　all
the　more。　However；　I'm　glad　not　to　fight　them　until
to…morrow。　I　hope　we　shall　have　something　better　to　do
to…night　than　to　draw　the　sword。〃
〃What　have　we　to　do？〃
〃Egad！　to　take　Mazarin。〃
Athos　curled　his　lip　with　disdain。