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第148节

twenty years after(二十年后)-第148节

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care。
Here is what each of the parties concerned gained by that
treaty:
Monsieur de Conti received Damvilliers; and having made his
proofs as general; he succeeded in remaining a soldier;
instead of being made cardinal。 Moreover; something had been
said of a marriage with Mazarin's niece。 The idea was
welcomed by the prince; to whom it was of little importance
whom he married; so long as he married some one。
The Duc de Beaufort made his entrance at court; receiving
ample reparation for the wrongs he had suffered; and all the
honor due to his rank。 Full pardon was accorded to those who
had aided in his escape。 He received also the office of
admiral; which had been held by his father; the Duc de
Vendome and an indemnity for his houses and castles;
demolished by the Parliament of Bretagne。
The Duc de Bouillon received domains of a value equal to
that of his principality of Sedan; and the title of prince;
granted to him and to those belonging to his house。
The Duc de Longueville gained the government of
Pont…de…l'Arche; five hundred thousand francs for his wife
and the honor of seeing her son held at the baptismal font
by the young king and Henrietta of England。
Aramis stipulated that Bazin should officiate at that
ceremony and that Planchet should furnish the christening
sugar plums。
The Duc d'Elbeuf obtained payment of certain sums due to his
wife; one hundred thousand francs for his eldest son and
twenty…five thousand for each of the three others。
The coadjutor alone obtained nothing。 They promised; indeed;
to negotiate with the pope for a cardinal's hat for him; but
he knew how little reliance should be placed on such
promises; made by the queen and Mazarin。 Quite contrary to
the lot of Monsieur de Conti; unable to be cardinal; he was
obliged to remain a soldier。
And therefore; when all Paris was rejoicing in the expected
return of the king; appointed for the next day; Gondy alone;
in the midst of the general happiness; was dissatisfied; he
sent for the two men whom he was wont to summon when in
especially bad humor。 Those two men were the Count de
Rochefort and the mendicant of Saint Eustache。 They came
with their usual promptness; and the coadjutor spent with
them a part of the night。


89
In which it is shown that it is sometimes more difficult for
Kings to return to the Capitals of their Kingdoms; than to
make an Exit。

Whilst D'Artagnan and Porthos were engaged in conducting the
cardinal to Saint Germain; Athos and Aramis returned to
Paris。
Each had his own particular visit to make。
Aramis rushed to the Hotel de Ville; where Madame de
Longueville was sojourning。 The duchess loudly lamented the
announcement of peace。 War had made her a queen; peace
brought her abdication。 She declared that she would never
assent to the treaty and that she wished eternal war。
But when Aramis had presented that peace to her in a true
light  that is to say; with all its advantages; when he
had pointed out to her; in exchange for the precarious and
contested royalty of Paris; the viceroyalty of
Font…de…l'Arche; in other words; of all Normandy; when he
had rung in her ears the five hundred thousand francs
promised by the cardinal; when he had dazzled her eyes with
the honor bestowed on her by the king in holding her child
at the baptismal font; Madame de Longueville contended no
longer; except as is the custom with pretty women to
contend; and defended herself only to surrender at last。
Aramis made a presence of believing in the reality of her
opposition and was unwilling to deprive himself in his own
view of the credit of her conversion。
〃Madame;〃 he said; 〃you have wished to conquer the prince
your brother  that is to say; the greatest captain of the
age; and when women of genius wish anything they always
succeed in attaining it。 You have succeeded; the prince is
beaten; since he can no longer fight。 Now attach him to our
party。 Withdraw him gently from the queen; whom he does not
like; from Mazarin; whom he despises。 The Fronde is a
comedy; of which the first act only is played。 Let us wait
for a denouement  for the day when the prince; thanks to
you; shall have turned against the court。〃
Madame de Longueville was persuaded。 This Frondist duchess
trusted so confidently to the power of her fine eyes; that
she could not doubt their influence even over Monsieur de
Conde; and the chronicles of the time aver that her
confidence was justified。
Athos; on quitting Aramis; went to Madame de Chevreuse。 Here
was another frondeuse to persuade; and she was even less
open to conviction than her younger rival。 There had been no
stipulation in her favor。 Monsieur de Chevreuse had not been
appointed governor of a province; and if the queen should
consent to be godmother it could be only of her grandson or
granddaughter。 At the first announcement of peace Madame de
Chevreuse frowned; and in spite of all the logic of Athos to
show her that a prolonged war would have been impracticable;
contended in favor of hostilities。
〃My fair friend;〃 said Athos; 〃allow me to tell you that
everybody is tired of war。 You will get yourself exiled; as
you did in the time of Louis XIII。 Believe me; we have
passed the time of success in intrigue; and your fine eyes
are not destined to be eclipsed by regretting Paris; where
there will always be two queens as long as you are there。〃
〃Oh;〃 cried the duchess; 〃I cannot make war alone; but I can
avenge myself on that ungrateful queen and most ambitious
favorite…on the honor of a duchess; I will avenge myself。〃
〃Madame;〃 replied Athos; 〃do not injure the Vicomte de
Bragelonne  do not ruin his prospects。 Alas! excuse my
weakness! There are moments when a man grows young again in
his children。〃
The duchess smiled; half tenderly; half ironically。
〃Count;〃 she said; 〃you are; I fear; gained over to the
court。 I suppose you have a blue ribbon in your pocket?〃
〃Yes; madame; I have that of the Garter; which King Charles
I。 gave me some days before he died。〃
〃Come; I am growing an old woman!〃 said the duchess;
pensively。
Athos took her hand and kissed it。 She sighed; as she looked
at him。
〃Count;〃 she said; 〃Bragelonne must be a charming place。 You
are a man of taste。 You have water  woods  flowers
there?〃
She sighed again and leaned her charming head; gracefully
reclined; on her hand; still beautiful in form and color。
〃Madame!〃 exclaimed Athos; 〃what were you saying just now
about growing old? Never have I seen you look so young; so
beautiful!〃
The duchess shook her head。
〃Does Monsieur de Bragelonne remain in Paris?〃 she inquired。
〃What think you of it?〃 inquired Athos。
〃Leave him with me;〃 replied the duchess。
〃No; madame; if you have forgotten the history of Oedipus;
I; at least; remember it。〃
〃Really; sir; you are delightful; and I should like to spend
a month at Bragelonne。〃
〃Are you not afraid of making people envious of me;
duchess?〃 replied Athos。
〃No; I shall go incognito; count; under the name of Marie
Michon。〃
〃You are adorable; madame。〃
〃But do not keep Raoul with you。〃
〃Why not?〃
〃Because he is in love。〃
〃He! he is quite a child!〃
〃And 'tis a child he loves。〃
Athos became thoughtful。
〃You are right; duchess。 This singular passion for a child
of seven may some day make him very unhappy。 There is to be
war in Flanders。 He shall go thither。〃
〃And at his return you will send him to me。 I will arm him
against love。〃
〃Alas; madame!〃 exclaimed Athos; 〃to…day love is like war 
the breastplate is becoming useless。〃
Raoul entered at this moment; he came to announce that the
solemn entrance of the king; queen; and her ministers was to
take place on the ensuing day。
The next day; in fact; at daybreak; the court made
preparations to quit Saint Germain。
Meanwhile; the queen every hour had been sending for
D'Artagnan。
〃I hear;〃 she said; 〃that Paris is not quiet。 I am afraid
for the king's safety; place yourself close to the coach
door on the right。〃
〃Reassure yourself; madame; I will answer for the king's
safety。〃
As he left the queen's presence Bernouin summoned him to the
cardinal。
〃Sir;〃 said Mazarin to him 〃an emeute is spoken of in Paris。
I shall be on the king's left and as I am the chief person
threatened; remain at the coach door to the left。〃
〃Your eminence may be perfectly easy;〃 replied D'Artagnan;
〃they will not touch a hair of your head。〃
〃Deuce take it!〃 he thought to himself; 〃how can I take care
of both? Ah! plague on't; I will guard the king and Porthos
shall guard the cardinal。〃
This arrangement pleased every one。 The queen had confidence
in the courage of D'Artagnan; which she knew; and the
cardinal in the strength of Porthos; which he had
experienced。
The royal procession set out for Paris。 Guitant and
Comminges; at the head of the guards; marched first; then
came the royal carriage; with D'Artagnan on one side;
Porthos on the other; then the musketeers; for two and
twenty years staunch friends of D'Artagnan。 During twenty he
had been lieutenant; their captain since the night before。
The cortege proceeded to Notre Dame; where a Te Deum was
chanted。 All Paris were in the streets。 The Swiss were drawn
up along the road; but as the road was long; they 

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