twenty years after(二十年后)-第149节
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chanted。 All Paris were in the streets。 The Swiss were drawn
up along the road; but as the road was long; they were
placed at six or eight feet distant from each other and one
deep only。 This force was therefore wholly insufficient; and
from time to time the line was broken through by the people
and was formed again with difficulty。 Whenever this
occurred; although it proceeded only from goodwill and a
desire to see the king and queen; Anne looked at D'Artagnan
anxiously。
Mazarin; who had dispensed a thousand louis to make the
people cry 〃Long live Mazarin;〃 and who had accordingly no
confidence in acclamations bought at twenty pistoles each;
kept one eye on Porthos; but that gigantic body…guard
replied to the look with his great bass voice; 〃Be tranquil;
my lord;〃 and Mazarin became more and more composed。
At the Palais Royal; the crowd; which had flowed in from the
adjacent street was still greater; like an impetuous mob; a
wave of human beings came to meet the carriage and rolled
tumultuously into the Rue Saint Honore。
When the procession reached the palace; loud cries of 〃Long
live their majesties!〃 resounded。 Mazarin leaned out of the
window。 One or two shouts of 〃Long live the cardinal〃
saluted his shadow; but instantly hisses and yells stifled
them remorselessly。 Mazarin turned pale and shrank back in
the coach。
〃Low…born fellows!〃 ejaculated Porthos。
D'Artagnan said nothing; but twirled his mustache with a
peculiar gesture which showed that his fine Gascon humor was
awake。
Anne of Austria bent down and whispered in the young king's
ear:
〃Say something gracious to Monsieur d'Artagnan; my son。〃
The young king leaned toward the door。
〃I have not said good…morning to you; Monsieur d'Artagnan;〃
he said; 〃nevertheless; I have remarked you。 It was you who
were behind my bed…curtains that night the Parisians wished
to see me asleep。〃
〃And if the king permits me;〃 returned the Gascon; 〃I shall
be near him always when there is danger to be encountered。〃
〃Sir;〃 said Mazarin to Porthos; 〃what would you do if the
crowd fell upon us?〃
〃Kill as many as I could; my lord。〃
〃Hem! brave as you are and strong as you are; you could not
kill them all。〃
〃'Tis true;〃 answered Porthos; rising on his saddle; in
order that he might appraise the immense crowd; 〃there are a
lot of them。〃
〃I think I should like the other fellow better than this
one;〃 said Mazarin to himself; and he threw himself back in
his carriage。
The queen and her minister; more especially the latter; had
reason to feel anxious。 The crowd; whilst preserving an
appearance of respect and even of affection for the king and
queen regent; began to be tumultuous。 Reports were whispered
about; like certain sounds which announce; as they whistle
from wave to wave; the coming storm and when they pass
athwart a multitude; presage an emeute。
D'Artagnan turned toward the musketeers and made a sign
imperceptible to the crowd; but very easily understood by
that chosen regiment; the flower of the army。
The ranks closed firmly in and a kind of majestic tremor ran
from man to man。
At the Barriere des Sergents the procession was obliged to
stop。 Comminges left the head of the escort and went to the
queen's carriage。 Anne questioned D'Artagnan by a look。 He
answered in the same language。
〃Proceed;〃 she said。
Comminges returned to his post。 An effort was made and the
living barrier was violently broken through。
Some complaints arose from the crowd and were addressed this
time to the king as well as the minister。
〃Onward!〃 cried D'Artagnan; in a loud voice。
〃Onward!〃 cried Porthos。
But as if the multitude had waited only for this
demonstration to burst out; all the sentiments of hostility
that possessed it exploded simultaneously。 Cries of 〃Down
with Mazarin!〃 〃Death to the cardinal!〃 resounded on all
sides。
At the same time through the streets of Grenelle; Saint
Honore; and Du Coq; a double stream of people broke the
feeble hedge of Swiss guards and came like a whirlwind even
to the very legs of Porthos's horse and that of D'Artagnan。
This new eruption was more dangerous than the others; being
composed of armed men。 It was plain that it was not the
chance combination of those who had collected a number of
the malcontents at the same spot; but a concerted organized
attack。
Each of these mobs was led by a chief; one of whom appeared
to belong; not to the people; but to the honorable
corporation of mendicants; and the other; notwithstanding
his affected imitation of the people; might easily be
discerned to be a gentleman。 Both were evidently stimulated
by the same impulse。
There was a shock which was perceived even in the royal
carriage。 Myriads of hoarse cries; forming one vast uproar;
were heard; mingled with guns firing。
〃Ho! Musketeers!〃 cried D'Artagnan。
The escort divided into two files。 One of them passed around
to the right of the carriage; the other to the left。 One
went to support D'Artagnan; the other Porthos。 Then came a
skirmish; the more terrible because it had no definite
object; the more melancholy; because those engaged in it
knew not for whom they were fighting。 Like all popular
movements; the shock given by the rush of this mob was
formidable。 The musketeers; few in number; not being able;
in the midst of this crowd; to make their horses wheel
around; began to give way。 D'Artagnan offered to lower the
blinds of the royal carriage; but the young king stretched
out his arm; saying:
〃No; sir! I wish to see everything。〃
〃If your majesty wishes to look out well; then; look!〃
replied D'Artagnan。 And turning with that fury which made
him so formidable; he rushed toward the chief of the
insurgents; a man who; with a huge sword in his hand; was
trying to hew a passage to the coach door through the
musketeers。
〃Make room!〃 cried D'Artagnan。 〃Zounds! give way!〃
At these words the man with a pistol and sword raised his
head; but it was too late。 The blow was sped by D'Artagnan;
the rapier had pierced his bosom。
〃Ah! confound it!〃 cried the Gascon; trying in vain; too
late; to retract the thrust。 〃What the devil are you doing
here; count?〃
〃Accomplishing my destiny;〃 replied Rochefort; falling on
one knee。 〃I have already got up again after three stabs
from you; I shall never rise after this fourth。〃
〃Count!〃 said D'Artagnan; with some degree of emotion; 〃I
struck without knowing that it was you。 I am sorry; if you
die; that you should die with sentiments of hatred toward
me。〃
Rochefort extended his hand to D'Artagnan; who took it。 The
count wished to speak; but a gush of blood stifled him。 He
stiffened in the last convulsions of death and expired。
〃Back; people!〃 cried D'Artagnan; 〃your leader is dead; you
have no longer any business here。〃
Indeed; as if De Rochefort had been the very soul of the
attack; the crowd who had followed and obeyed him took to
flight on seeing him fall。 D'Artagnan charged; with a party
of musketeers; up the Rue du Coq; and the portion of the mob
he assailed disappeared like smoke; dispersing near the
Place Saint Germain…l'Auxerrois and taking the direction of
the quays。
D'Artagnan returned to help Porthos; if Porthos needed help;
but Porthos; for his part; had done his work as
conscientiously as D'Artagnan。 The left of the carriage was
as well cleared as the right; and they drew up the blind of
the window which Mazarin; less heroic than the king; had
taken the precaution to lower。
Porthos looked very melancholy。
〃What a devil of a face you have; Porthos! and what a
strange air for a victor!〃
〃But you;〃 answered Porthos; 〃seem to me agitated。〃
〃There's a reason! Zounds! I have just killed an old
friend。〃
〃Indeed!〃 replied Porthos; 〃who?〃
〃That poor Count de Rochefort。〃
〃Well! exactly like me! I have just killed a man whose face
is not unknown to me。 Unluckily; I hit him on the head and
immediately his face was covered with blood。〃
〃And he said nothing as he died?〃
〃Yes; he exclaimed; ‘Oh!'〃
〃I suppose;〃 answered D'Artagnan; laughing; 〃if he only said
that; it did not enlighten you much。〃
〃Well; sir!〃 cried the queen。
〃Madame; the passage is quite clear and your majesty can
continue your road。〃
In fact; the procession arrived; in safety at Notre Dame; at
the front gate of which all the clergy; with the coadjutor
at their head; awaited the king; the queen and the minister;
for whose happy return they chanted a Te Deum。
As the service was drawing to a close a boy entered the
church in great excitement; ran to the sacristy; dressed
himself quickly in the choir robes; and cleaving; thanks to
that uniform; the crowd that filled the temple; approached
Bazin; who; clad in his blue robe; was standing gravely in
his place at the entrance to the choir。
Bazin felt some one pulling his sleeve。 He lowered to earth
his eyes; beatifically raised to Heaven; and recognized
Friquet。
〃Well; you rascal; what is it? How do you dare to disturb me
in the exercise of my functions?〃 asked the beadle。
〃Monsieur Bazin;〃 said Friquet; 〃Monsieur Maillard you
know who he is; he gives holy water at Saint Eustache 〃
〃Well; go on。〃
〃Well; he received in the scrimmage a sword stroke on the
head。 That great giant who was there ga