twenty years after(二十年后)-第13节

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entering　the　convent　he　changed　his　name。　Ah！　if　I　were　but
learned　in　theology　I　should　recollect　what　it　was　he　used
to　dispute　about　with　the　curate　of　Montdidier　and　the
superior　of　the　Jesuits；　when　we　were　at　Crevecoeur；　I
should　know　what　doctrine　he　leans　to　and　I　should　glean
from　that　what　saint　he　has　adopted　as　his　patron。
〃Well；　suppose　I　go　back　to　the　cardinal　and　ask　him　for　a
passport　into　all　the　convents　one　can　find；　even　into　the
nunneries？　It　would　be　a　curious　idea；　and　maybe　I　should
find　my　friend　under　the　name　of　Achilles。　But；　no！　I　should
lose　myself　in　the　cardinal's　opinion。　Great　people　only
thank　you　for　doing　the　impossible；　what's　possible；　they
say；　they　can　effect　themselves；　and　they　are　right。　But　let
us　wait　a　little　and　reflect。　I　received　a　letter　from　him；
the　dear　fellow；　in　which　he　even　asked　me　for　some　small
service；　which；　in　fact；　I　rendered　him。　Yes；　yes；　but　now
what　did　I　do　with　that　letter？〃
D'Artagnan　thought　a　moment　and　then　went　to　the　wardrobe　in
which　hung　his　old　clothes。　He　looked　for　his　doublet　of　the
year　1648　and　as　he　had　orderly　habits；　he　found　it　hanging
on　its　nail。　He　felt　in　the　pocket　and　drew　from　it　a　paper；
it　was　the　letter　of　Aramis：

〃Monsieur　D'Artagnan：　You　know　that　I　have　had　a　quarrel
with　a　certain　gentleman；　who　has　given　me　an　appointment
for　this　evening　in　the　Place　Royale。　As　I　am　of　the　church；
and　the　affair　might　injure　me　if　I　should　share　it　with　any
other　than　a　sure　friend　like　you；　I　write　to　beg　that　you
will　serve　me　as　second。
〃You　will　enter　by　the　Rue　Neuve　Sainte　Catherine；　under　the
second　lamp　on　the　right　you　will　find　your　adversary。　I
shall　be　with　mine　under　the　third。
〃Wholly　yours；
〃Aramis。〃

D'Artagnan　tried　to　recall　his　remembrances。　He　had　gone　to
the　rendezvous；　had　encountered　there　the　adversary
indicated；　whose　name　he　had　never　known；　had　given　him　a
pretty　sword…stroke　on　the　arm；　then　had　gone　toward　Aramis；
who　at　the　same　time　came　to　meet　him；　having　already
finished　his　affair。　〃It　is　over；〃　Aramis　had　said。　〃I　think
I　have　killed　the　insolent　fellow。　But；　dear　friend；　if　you
ever　need　me　you　know　that　I　am　entirely　devoted　to　you。〃
Thereupon　Aramis　had　given　him　a　clasp　of　the　hand　and　had
disappeared　under　the　arcades。
So；　then；　he　no　more　knew　where　Aramis　was　than　where　Athos
and　Porthos　were；　and　the　affair　was　becoming　a　matter　of
great　perplexity；　when　he　fancied　he　heard　a　pane　of　glass
break　in　his　room　window。　He　thought　directly　of　his　bag　and
rushed　from　the　inner　room　where　he　was　sleeping。　He　was　not
mistaken；　as　he　entered　his　bedroom　a　man　was　getting　in　by
the　window。
〃Ah！　you　scoundrel！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　taking　the　man　for　a
thief　and　seizing　his　sword。
〃Sir！〃　cried　the　man；　〃in　the　name　of　Heaven　put　your　sword
back　into　the　sheath　and　don't　kill　me　unheard。　I'm　no
thief；　but　an　honest　citizen；　well　off　in　the　world；　with　a
house　of　my　own。　My　name　is　　ah！　but　surely　you　are
Monsieur　d'Artagnan？〃
〃And　thou　　Planchet！〃　cried　the　lieutenant。
〃At　your　service；　sir；〃　said　Planchet；　overwhelmed　with　joy；
〃if　I　were　still　capable　of　serving　you。〃
〃Perhaps　so；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。　〃But　why　the　devil　dost
thou　run　about　the　tops　of　houses　at　seven　o'clock　of　the
morning　in　the　month　of　January？〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Planchet；　〃you　must　know；　but；　perhaps　you　ought
not　to　know　　〃
〃Tell　us　what；〃　returned　D'Artagnan；　〃but　first　put　a　napkin
against　the　window　and　draw　the　curtains。〃
〃Sir；〃　said　the　prudent　Planchet；　〃in　the　first　place；　are
you　on　good　terms　with　Monsieur　de　Rochefort？〃
〃Perfectly；　one　of　my　dearest　friends。〃
〃Ah！　so　much　the　better！〃
〃But　what　has　De　Rochefort　to　do　with　this　manner　you　have
of　invading　my　room？〃
〃Ah；　sir！　I　must　first　tell　you　that　Monsieur　de　Rochefort
is　　〃
Planchet　hesitated。
〃Egad；　I　know　where　he　is；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃He's　in　the
Bastile。〃
〃That　is　to　say；　he　was　there；〃　replied　Planchet。　〃But　in
returning　thither　last　night；　when　fortunately　you　did　not
accompany　him；　as　his　carriage　was　crossing　the　Rue　de　la
Ferronnerie　his　guards　insulted　the　people；　who　began　to
abuse　them。　The　prisoner　thought　this　a　good　opportunity　for
escape；　he　called　out　his　name　and　cried　for　help。　I　was
there。　I　heard　the　name　of　Rochefort。　I　remembered　him　well。
I　said　in　a　loud　voice　that　he　was　a　prisoner；　a　friend　of
the　Duc　de　Beaufort；　who　called　for　help。　The　people　were
infuriated；　they　stopped　the　horses　and　cut　the　escort　to
pieces；　whilst　I　opened　the　doors　of　the　carriage　and
Monsieur　de　Rochefort　jumped　out　and　soon　was　lost　amongst
the　crowd。　At　this　moment　a　patrol　passed　by。　I　was　obliged
to　sound　a　retreat　toward　the　Rue　Tiquetonne；　I　was　pursued
and　took　refuge　in　the　house　next　to　this；　where　I　have　been
concealed　between　two　mattresses。　This　morning　I　ventured　to
run　along　the　gutters　and　　〃
〃Well；〃　interrupted　D'Artagnan；　〃I　am　delight　that　De
Rochefort　is　free；　but　as　for　thee；　if　thou　shouldst　fall
into　the　hands　of　the　king's　servants　they　will　hang　thee
without　mercy。　Nevertheless；　I　promise　thee　thou　shalt　be
hidden　here；　though　I　risk　by　concealing　thee　neither　more
nor　less　than　my　lieutenancy；　if　it　was　found　out　that　I
gave　one　rebel　an　asylum。〃
〃Ah！　sir；　you　know　well　I　would　risk　my　life　for　you。〃
〃Thou　mayst　add　that　thou　hast　risked　it；　Planchet。　I　have
not　forgotten　all　I　owe　thee。　Sit　down　there　and　eat　in
security。　I　see　thee　cast　expressive　glances　at　the　remains
of　my　supper。〃
〃Yes；　sir；　for　all　I've　had　since　yesterday　was　a　slice　of
bread　and　butter；　with　preserves　on　it。　Although　I　don't
despise　sweet　things　in　proper　time　and　place；　I　found　the
supper　rather　light。〃
〃Poor　fellow！〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃Well；　come；　set　to。〃
〃Ah；　sir；　you　are　going　to　save　my　life　a　second　time！〃
cried　Planchet。
And　he　seated　himself　at　the　table　and　ate　as　he　did　in　the
merry　days　of　the　Rue　des　Fossoyeurs；　whilst　D'Artagnan
walked　to　and　fro　and　thought　how　he　could　make　use　of
Planchet　under　present　circumstances。　While　he　turned　this
over　in　his　mind　Planchet　did　his　best　to　make　up　for　lost
time　at　table。　At　last　he　uttered　a　sigh　of　satisfaction　and
paused；　as　if　he　had　partially　appeased　his　hunger。
〃Come；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　who　thought　that　it　was　now　a
convenient　time　to　begin　his　interrogations；　〃dost　thou　know
where　Athos　is？〃
〃No；　sir；〃　replied　Planchet。
〃The　devil　thou　cost　not！　Dost　know　where　Porthos　is？〃：
〃No　　not　at　all。〃
〃And　Aramis？〃
〃Not　in　the　least。〃
〃The　devil！　the　devil！　the　devil！〃
〃But；　sir；〃　said　Planchet；　with　a　look　of　shrewdness；　〃I
know　where　Bazin　is。〃
〃Where　is　he？〃
〃At　Notre　Dame。〃
〃What　has　he　to　do　at　Notre　Dame？〃
〃He　is　beadle。〃
〃Bazin　beadle　at　Notre　Dame！　He　must　know　where　his　master
is！〃
〃Without　a　doubt　he　must。〃
D'Artagnan　thought　for　a　moment；　then　took　his　sword　and　put
on　his　cloak　to　go　out。
〃Sir；〃　said　Planchet；　in　a　mournful　tone；　〃do　you　abandon　me
thus　to　my　fate？　Think；　if　I　am　found　out　here；　the　people
of　the　house；　who　have　not　seen　me　enter　it；　will　take　me
for　a　thief。〃
〃True；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃Let's　see。　Canst　thou　speak　any
patois？〃
〃I　can　do　something　better　than　that；　sir；　I　can　speak
Flemish。〃
〃Where　the　devil　didst　thou　learn　it？〃
〃In　Artois；　where　I　fought　for　years。　Listen；　sir。　Goeden
morgen；　mynheer；　eth　teen　begeeray　le　weeten　the　ge　sond
heets　omstand。〃
〃Which　means？〃
〃Good…day；　sir！　I　am　anxious　to　know　the　state　of　your
health。〃
〃He　calls　that　a　language！　But　never　mind；　that　will　do
capitally。〃
D'Artagnan　opened　the　door　and　called　out　to　a　waiter　to
desire　Madeleine　to　come　upstairs。
When　the　landlady　made　her　appearance　she　expressed　much
astonishment　at　seeing　Planchet。
〃My　dear　landlady；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　beg　to　introduce　to
you　your　brother；　who　is　arrived　from　Flanders　and　whom　I　am
going　to　take　into　my　service。〃
〃My　brother？〃
〃Wish　your　sister　good…morning；　Master　Peter。〃
〃Wilkom；　suster；〃　said　Planchet。
〃Goeden　day；　broder；〃　replied　the　astonished　landlady。
〃This　is　the　case；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃this　is　your　brother；
Madeleine；　you　don't　know　him　perhaps；　but　I　know　him；　he
has　arrived　from　Amsterdam。　You　must　dress　him　up　during　my
absence。　When　I　return；　which　will　be　in　about　an　hour；　you
must　offer　him　to　me　as　a　servant；　and　upon　your
recommendation；　though　he　doesn't　speak　a　word　of　French；　I
take　him　into　my　service。　You　understand？〃
〃That　is　to　say；　I　guess　your　wishes；　and　that　is　all　that's
necessary；〃　said　Madeleine。
〃You　are　a　precious　creature；　my　pretty　hostess；　and　I　am
much　obliged　to　you。〃
The　next　moment　D'Artagnan　was　on　his　way　to　Notre　Dame。


7
Touches　upon　the　Strange　Effects　a　Half…pistole　may　have
upon　a　Beadle　and　a　Chorister。

D'Artagnan；　as　he　crossed　the　Pont　Neuf；　congratulated
himself　on　having　found　Planchet　again；　for　at　that　time　an
intelligent　servant　was　essential　to　him；　nor　was　he　sorry
that　through　Planchet　and　the　situation　which　he　held　in　Rue
des　Lombards；　a　connection　with　the　bourgeoisie　might　be
commenced；　at　that　critical　period　when　that　class　were
preparing　to　make　war　with　the　court　party。　It　was　like
having　a　spy　in　the　enemy's　camp。　In　this　frame