twenty years after(二十年后)-第142节

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〃Faith；〃　he　said；　in　Italian；　as　he　was　reascending　the
steps　and　looking　at　a　bag　of　reals；　〃faith；　there's　enough
to　pay　five　councillors　of　parliament；　and　two　generals　in
Paris。　I　am　a　great　captain　　that　I　am！　but　I　make　war　in
my　own　way。〃
The　two　friends　were　crouching　down；　meantime；　behind　a　tub
in　the　side　alley。
Mazarin　came　within　three　steps　of　D'Artagnan　and　pushed　a
spring　in　the　wall；　the　slab　turned　and　the　orange　tree
resumed　its　place。
Then　the　cardinal　put　out　the　waxlight；　slipped　it　into　his
pocket；　and　taking　up　the　lantern：　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃for
Monsieur　de　la　Fere。〃
〃Very　good；〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　〃'tis　our　road　likewise；　we
will　go　together。〃
All　three　set　off　on　their　walk；　Mazarin　taking　the　middle
alley　and　the　friends　the　side　ones。
The　cardinal　reached　a　second　door　without　perceiving　he　was
being　followed；　the　sand　with　which　the　alleys　were　covered
deadened　the　sound　of　footsteps。
He　then　turned　to　the　left；　down　a　corridor　which　had
escaped　the　attention　of　the　two　friends；　but　as　he　opened
the　door　he　paused；　as　if　in　thought。
〃Ah！　Diavolo！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　forgot　the　recommendation　of
De　Comminges；　who　advised　me　to　take　a　guard　and　place　it　at
this　door；　in　order　not　to　put　myself　at　the　mercy　of　that
four…headed　combination　of　devils。〃　And　with　a　movement　of
impatience　he　turned　to　retrace　his　steps。
〃Do　not　give　yourself　the　trouble；　my　lord；〃　said
D'Artagnan；　with　his　right　foot　forward；　his　beaver　in　his
hand；　a　smile　on　his　face；　〃we　have　followed　your　eminence
step　by　step　and　here　we　are。〃
〃Yes　　here　we　are；〃　said　Porthos。
And　he　made　the　same　friendly　salute　as　D'Artagnan。
Mazarin　gazed　at　each　of　them　with　an　affrighted　stare；
recognized　them；　and　let　drop　his　lantern；　uttering　a　cry　of
terror。
D'Artagnan　picked　it　up；　by　good　luck　it　had　not　been
extinguished。
〃Oh；　what　imprudence；　my　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃'tis　not
good　to　be　about　just　here　without　a　light。　Your　eminence
might　knock　against　something；　or　fall　into　a　hole。〃
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan！〃　muttered　Mazarin；　unable　to　recover
from　his　astonishment。
〃Yes；　my　lord；　it　is　I。　I　have　the　honor　to　present　to　you
Monsieur　du　Vallon；　that　excellent　friend　of　mine；　in　whom
your　eminence　had　the　kindness　to　interest　yourself
formerly。〃
And　D'Artagnan　held　the　lamp　before　the　merry　face　of
Porthos；　who　now　began　to　comprehend　the　affair　and　be　very
proud　of　the　whole　undertaking。
〃You　were　going　to　visit　Monsieur　de　la　Fere？〃　said
D'Artagnan。　〃Don't　let　us　disarrange　your　eminence。　Be　so
good　as　to　show　us　the　way　and　we　will　follow　you。
Mazarin　was　by　degrees　recovering　his　senses。
〃Have　you　been　long　in　the　orangery？〃　he　asked　in　a
trembling　voice；　remembering　the　visits　he　had　been　paying
to　his　treasury。
Porthos　opened　his　mouth　to　reply；　D'Artagnan　made　him　a
sign；　and　his　mouth；　remaining　silent；　gradually　closed。
〃This　moment　come；　my　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
Mazarin　breathed　again。　His　fears　were　now　no　longer　for　his
hoard；　but　for　himself。　A　sort　of　smile　played　on　his　lips。
〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　me　in　a　snare；　gentlemen。　I
confess　myself　conquered。　You　wish　to　ask　for　liberty；　and
　I　give　it　you。〃
〃Oh；　my　lord！〃　answered　D'Artagnan；　〃you　are　too　good；　as　to
our　liberty；　we　have　that；　we　want　to　ask　something　else　of
you。〃
〃You　have　your　liberty？〃　repeated　Mazarin；　in　terror。
〃Certainly；　and　on　the　other　hand；　my　lord；　you　have　lost
it；　and　now；　in　accordance　with　the　law　of　war；　sir；　you
must　buy　it　back　again。〃
Mazarin　felt　a　shiver　run　through　him　　a　chill　even　to　his
heart's　core。　His　piercing　look　was　fixed　in　vain　on　the
satirical　face　of　the　Gascon　and　the　unchanging　countenance
of　Porthos。　Both　were　in　shadow　and　the　Sybil　of　Cuma
herself　could　not　have　read　them。
〃To　purchase　back　my　liberty？〃　said　the　cardinal。
〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
〃And　how　much　will　that　cost　me；　Monsieur　d'Artagnan？〃
〃Zounds；　my　lord；　I　don't　know　yet。　We　must　ask　the　Comte　de
la　Fere　the　question。　Will　your　eminence　deign　to　open　the
door　which　leads　to　the　count's　room；　and　in　ten　minutes　all
will　be　settled。〃
Mazarin　started。
〃My　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃your　eminence　sees　that　we　wish
to　act　with　all　formality　and　due　respect；　but　I　must　warn
you　that　we　have　no　time　to　lose；　open　the　door　then；　my
lord；　and　be　so　good　as　to　remember；　once　for　all；　that　on
the　slightest　attempt　to　escape　or　the　faintest　cry　for
help；　our　position　being　very　critical　indeed；　you　must　not
be　angry　with　us　if　we　go　to　extremities。〃
〃Be　assured；〃　answered　Mazarin；　〃that　I　shall　attempt
nothing；　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor。〃
D'Artagnan　made　a　sign　to　Porthos　to　redouble　his
watchfulness；　then　turning　to　Mazarin：
〃Now；　my　lord；　let　us　enter；　if　you　please。〃

86
Conferences。

Mazarin　turned　the　lock　of　a　double　door；　on　the　threshold
of　which　they　found　Athos　ready　to　receive　his　illustrious
guests　according　to　the　notice　Comminges　had　given　him。
On　perceiving　Mazarin　he　bowed。
〃Your　eminence；〃　he　said；　〃might　have　dispensed　with　your
attendants；　the　honor　bestowed　on　me　is　too　great　for　me　to
be　unmindful　of　it。〃
〃And　so；　my　dear　count；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃his　eminence
didn't　actually　insist　on　our　attending　him；　it　is　Du　Vallon
and　I　who　have　insisted；　and　even　in　a　manner　somewhat
impolite；　perhaps；　so　great　was　our　longing　to　see　you。〃
At　that　voice；　that　mocking　tone；　and　that　familiar　gesture；
accenting　voice　and　tone；　Athos　made　a　bound　of　surprise。
〃D'Artagnan！　Porthos！〃　he　exclaimed。
〃My　very　self；　dear　friend。〃
〃Me；　also！〃　repeated　Porthos。
〃What　means　this？〃　asked　the　count。
〃It　means；〃　replied　Mazarin；　trying　to　smile　and　biting　his
lips　in　the　attempt；　〃that　our　parts　are　changed；　and　that
instead　of　these　gentlemen　being　my　prisoners　I　am　theirs；
but；　gentlemen；　I　warn　you；　unless　you　kill　me；　your　victory
will　be　of　very　short　duration；　people　will　come　to　the
rescue。〃
〃Ah！　my　lord！〃　cried　the　Gascon；　〃don't　threaten！　'tis　a　bad
example。　We　are　so　good　and　gentle　to　your　eminence。　Come；
let　us　put　aside　all　rancor　and　talk　pleasantly。〃
〃There's　nothing　I　wish　more；〃　replied　Mazarin。　〃But　don't
think　yourselves　in　a　better　position　than　you　are。　In
ensnaring　me　you　have　fallen　into　the　trap　yourselves。　How
are　you　to　get　away　from　here？　remember　the　soldiers　and
sentinels　who　guard　these　doors。　Now；　I　am　going　to　show　you
how　sincere　I　am。〃
〃Good；〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　〃we　must　look　about　us；　he's
going　to　play　us　a　trick。〃
〃I　offered　you　your　liberty；〃　continued　the　minister；　〃will
you　take　it？　Before　an　hour　has　passed　you　will　be
discovered；　arrested；　obliged　to　kill　me；　which　would　be　a
crime　unworthy　of　loyal　gentlemen　like　you。〃
〃He　is　right；〃　thought　Athos。
And；　like　every　other　reflection　passing　in　a　mind　that
entertained　none　but　noble　thoughts；　this　feeling　was
expressed　in　his　eyes。
〃And　therefore；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　to　clip　the　hope　which
Athos's　tacit　adhesion　had　imparted　to　Mazarin；　〃we　shall
not　proceed　to　that　violence　save　in　the　last　extremity。〃
〃If　on　the　contrary；〃　resumed　Mazarin；　〃you　accept　your
liberty　　〃
〃Why　you；　my　lord；　might　take　it　away　from　us　in　less　than
five　minutes　afterward；　and　from　my　knowledge　of　you　I
believe　you　will　so　take　it　away　from　us。〃
〃No　　on　the　faith　of　a　cardinal。　You　do　not　believe　me？〃
〃My　lord；　I　never　believe　cardinals　who　are　not　priests。〃
〃Well；　on　the　faith　of　a　minister。〃
〃You　are　no　longer　a　minister；　my　lord；　you　are　a　prisoner。〃
〃Then；　on　the　honor　of　a　Mazarin；　as　I　am　and　ever　shall　be；
I　hope；〃　said　the　cardinal。
〃Hem；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。　〃I　have　heard　speak　of　a　Mazarin
who　had　not　much　religion　when　his　oaths　were　in　question。　I
fear　he　may　have　been　an　ancestor　of　your　eminence。〃
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan；　you　are　a　great　wit　and　I　am　really
sorry　to　be　on　bad　terms　with　you。〃
〃My　lord；　let　us　come　to　terms；　I　ask　nothing　better。〃
〃Very　well；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃if　I　place　you　in　security；　in　a
manner　evident；　palpable　　〃
〃Ah！　that　is　another　thing；〃　said　Porthos。
〃Let　us　see；〃　said　Athos。
〃Let　us　see；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃In　the　first　place；　do　you　accept？〃　asked　the　cardinal。
〃Unfold　your　plan；　my　lord；　and　we　will　see。〃
〃Take　notice　that　you　are　shut　up　　captured。〃
〃You　well　know；　my　lord；　that　there　always　remains　to　us　a
last　resource。〃
〃What？〃
〃That　of　dying　together。〃
Mazarin　shuddered。
〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃at　the　end　of　yonder　corridor　is　a　door；
of　which　I　have　the　key；　it　leads　into　the　park。　Go；　and
take　this　key　with　you；　you　are　active；　vigorous；　and　you
have　arms。　At　a　hundred　steps；　on　turning　to　the　left；　you
will　find　the　wall　of　the　park；　get　over　it；　and　in　three
leaps　you　will　be　on　the　road　and　free。〃
〃Ah！　by　Jove；　my　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃you　have　well
said；　but　these　are　only　words。　Where　is　the　key　you　speak
of？〃
〃Here　it　is。〃
〃Ah；　my　lord！　You　will　conduct　us　yourself；　then；　to　that
door？〃
〃Very　willingly；　if　it　be　necessary　to　reassure　you；〃
answered　the　minister；　and　Mazarin；　who　was　delighted　to　get
off　so　cheaply；　led　the　way；　in　high　spirits；　to　the
corridor　and　opened　the　door。
It　led　into　the　park；　as　the　three　fugitives　perceived　by
the　night　breeze　which　rushed　into　the　corridor