twenty years after(二十年后)-第16节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


fifteen　years　of　separation　had　not　destroyed。
They　had　traveled　onward　about　half　a　mile　when　Planchet
came　close　up　to　D'Artagnan。
〃Stop；　sir；　look　yonder；〃　he　whispered；　〃don't　you　see　in
the　darkness　something　pass　by；　like　shadows？　I　fancy　I　hear
horses'　feet。〃
〃Impossible！〃　returned　D'Artagnan。　〃The　ground　is　soaking
wet；　yet　I　fancy；　as　thou　sayest；　that　I　see　something。〃
At　this　moment　the　neighing　of　a　horse　struck　his　ear；
coming　through　darkness　and　space。
〃There　are　men　somewhere　about；　but　that's　of　no　consequence
to　us；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃let　us　ride　onward。〃
At　about　half…past　eight　o'clock　they　reached　the　first
houses　in　Noisy；　every　one　was　in　bed　and　not　a　light　was　to
be　seen　in　the　village。　The　obscurity　was　broken　only　now
and　then　by　the　still　darker　lines　of　the　roofs　of　houses。
Here　and　there　a　dog　barked　behind　a　door　or　an　affrighted
cat　fled　precipitately　from　the　midst　of　the　pavement　to
take　refuge　behind　a　pile　of　faggots；　from　which　retreat　her
eyes　would　shine　like　peridores。　These　were　the　only　living
creatures　that　seemed　to　inhabit　the　village。
Toward　the　middle　of　the　town；　commanding　the　principal　open
space；　rose　a　dark　mass；　separated　from　the　rest　of　the
world　by　two　lanes　and　overshadowed　in　the　front　by　enormous
lime…trees。　D'Artagnan　looked　attentively　at　the　building。
〃This；〃　he　said　to　Planchet；　〃must　be　the　archbishop's
chateau；　the　abode　of　the　fair　Madame　de　Longueville；　but
the　convent；　where　is　that？〃
〃The　convent；　your　honor；　is　at　the　other　end　of　the
village；　I　know　it　well。〃
〃Well；　then；　Planchet；　gallop　up　to　it　whilst　I　tighten　my
horse's　girth；　and　come　back　and　tell　me　if　there　is　a　light
in　any　of　the　Jesuits'　windows。〃
In　about　five　minutes　Planchet　returned。
〃Sir；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　one　window　of　the　convent　lighted
up。〃
〃Hem！　If　I　were　a　‘Frondeur；'〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　should
knock　here　and　should　be　sure　of　a　good　supper。　If　I　were　a
monk　I　should　knock　yonder　and　should　have　a　good　supper
there；　too；　whereas；　'tis　very　possible　that　between　the
castle　and　the　convent　we　shall　sleep　on　hard　beds；　dying
with　hunger　and　thirst。〃
〃Yes；〃　added　Planchet；　〃like　the　famous　ass　of　Buridan。
Shall　I　knock？〃
〃Hush！〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃the　light　no　longer　burns　in
yonder　window。〃
〃Do　you　hear　nothing？〃　whispered　Planchet。
〃What　is　that　noise？〃
There　came　a　sound　like　a　whirlwind；　at　the　same　time　two
troops　of　horsemen；　each　composed　of　ten　men；　sallied　forth
from　each　of　the　lanes　which　encompassed　the　house　and
surrounded　D'Artagnan　and　Planchet。
〃Heyday！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　drawing　his　sword　and　taking
refuge　behind　his　horse；　〃are　you　not　mistaken？　is　it　really
for　us　that　you　mean　your　attack？〃
〃Here　he　is！　we　have　him！〃　cried　the　horsemen；　rushing　on
D'Artagnan　with　naked　swords。
〃Don't　let　him　escape！〃　said　a　loud　voice。
〃No；　my　lord；　be　assured　we　shall　not。〃
D'Artagnan　thought　it　was　now　time　for　him　to　join　in　the
conversation。
〃Halloo；　gentlemen！〃　he　called　out　in　his　Gascon　accent；
〃what　do　you　want？　what　do　you　demand？〃
〃That　thou　shalt　soon　know；〃　shouted　a　chorus　of　horsemen。
〃Stop；　stop！〃　cried　he　whom　they　had　addressed　as　〃my　lord；〃
〃'tis　not　his　voice。〃
〃Ah！　just　so；　gentlemen！　pray；　do　people　get　into　a　passion
at　random　at　Noisy？　Take　care；　for　I　warn　you　that　the　first
man　that　comes　within　the　length　of　my　sword　　and　my　sword
is　long　　I　rip　him　up。〃
The　chieftain　of　the　party　drew　near。
〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　asked　in　a　lofty　tone；　as　that
of　one　accustomed　to　command。
〃And　you　　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　replied　D'Artagnan。
〃Be　civil；　or　I　shall　beat　you；　for　although　one　may　not
choose　to　proclaim　oneself；　one　insists　on　respect　suitable
to　one's　rank。〃
〃You　don't　choose　to　discover　yourself；　because　you　are　the
leader　of　an　ambuscade；〃　returned　D'Artagnan；　〃but　with
regard　to　myself；　who　am　traveling　quietly　with　my　own
servant；　I　have　not　the　same　reasons　as　you　have　to　conceal
my　name。〃
〃Enough！　enough！　what　is　your　name？〃
〃I　shall　tell　you　my　name　in　order　that　you　may　know　where
to　find　me；　my　lord；　or　my　prince；　as　it　may　suit　you　best
to　be　called；〃　said　our　Gascon；　who　did　not　choose　to　seem
to　yield　to　a　threat。　〃Do　you　know　Monsieur　d'Artagnan？〃
〃Lieutenant　in　the　king's　musketeers？〃　said　the　voice；　〃you
are　Monsieur　d'Artagnan？〃
〃I　am。〃
〃Then　you　came　here　to　defend　him？〃
〃Him？　whom？〃
〃The　man　we　are　seeking。〃
〃It　seems；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃that　whilst　I　thought　I　was
coming　to　Noisy　I　have　entered；　without　suspecting　it；　into
the　kingdom　of　mysteries。〃
〃Come；〃　replied　the　same　lofty　tone；　〃answer！　Are　you
waiting　for　him　underneath　these　windows？　Did　you　come　to
Noisy　to　defend　him？〃
〃I　am　waiting　for　no　one；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　who　was
beginning　to　be　angry。　〃I　propose　to　defend　no　one　but
myself；　and　I　shall　defend　myself　vigorously；　I　give　you
warning。〃
〃Very　well；〃　said　the　voice；　〃go　away　from　here　and　leave
the　place　to　us。〃
〃Go　away　from　here！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　whose　purposes　were　in
conflict　with　that　order；　〃that　is　not　so　easy；　since　I　am
on　the　point　of　falling；　and　my　horse；　too；　through　fatigue；
unless；　indeed；　you　are　disposed　to　offer　me　a　supper　and　a
bed　in　the　neighborhood。〃
〃Rascal！〃
〃Eh！　monsieur！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　beg　you　will　have　a　care
what　you　say；　for　if　you　utter　another　word　like　that；　be
you　marquis；　duke；　prince　or　king；　I　will　thrust　it　down
your　throat！　do　you　hear？〃
〃Well；　well；〃　rejoined　the　leader；　〃there's　no　doubt　'tis　a
Gascon　who　is　speaking；　and　therefore　not　the　man　we　are
looking　for。　Our　blow　has　failed　for　to…night；　let　us
withdraw。　We　shall　meet　again；　Master　d'Artagnan；〃　continued
the　leader；　raising　his　voice。
〃Yes；　but　never　with　the　same　advantages；〃　said　D'Artagnan；
in　a　tone　of　raillery；　〃for　when　you　meet　me　again　you　will
perhaps　be　alone　and　there　will　be　daylight。〃
〃Very　good；　very　good；〃　said　the　voice。　〃En　route；
gentlemen。〃
And　the　troop；　grumbling　angrily；　disappeared　in　the
darkness　and　took　the　road　to　Paris。　D'Artagnan　and　Planchet
remained　for　some　moments　still　on　the　defensive；　then；　as
the　noise　of　the　horsemen　became　more　and　more　distant；　they
sheathed　their　swords。
〃Thou　seest；　simpleton；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　his　servant；
〃that　they　wished　no　harm　to　us。〃
〃But　to　whom；　then？〃
〃I'faith！　I　neither　know　nor　care。　What　I　do　care　for　now；
is　to　make　my　way　into　the　Jesuits'　convent；　so　to　horse　and
let　us　knock　at　their　door。　Happen　what　will；　the　devil　take
them；　they　can't　eat　us。〃
And　he　mounted　his　horse。　Planchet　had　just　done　the　same
when　an　unexpected　weight　fell　upon　the　back　of　the　horse；
which　sank　down。
〃Hey！　your　honor！〃　cried　Planchet；　〃I've　a　man　behind　me。〃
D'Artagnan　turned　around　and　plainly　saw　two　human　forms　on
Planchet's　horse。
〃'Tis　then　the　devil　that　pursues！〃　he　cried；　drawing　his
sword　and　preparing　to　attack　the　new　foe。
〃No；　no；　dear　D'Artagnan；〃　said　the　figure；　〃'tis　not　the
devil；　'tis　Aramis；　gallop　fast；　Planchet；　and　when　you　come
to　the　end　of　the　village　turn　swiftly　to　the　left。〃
And　Planchet；　with　Aramis　behind　him；　set　off　at　full
gallop；　followed　by　D'Artagnan；　who　began　to　think　he　was　in
the　merry　maze　of　some　fantastic　dream。

9
The　Abbe　D'Herblay。

At　the　extremity　of　the　village　Planchet　turned　to　the　left
in　obedience　to　the　orders　of　Aramis；　and　stopped　underneath
the　window　which　had　light　in　it。　Aramis　alighted　and
clapped　his　hands　three　times。　Immediately　the　window　was
opened　and　a　ladder　of　rope　was　let　down　from　it。
〃My　friend；〃　said　Aramis；　〃if　you　like　to　ascend　I　shall　be
delighted　to　receive　you。〃
〃Ah；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃is　that　the　way　you　return　to　your
apartment？〃
〃After　nine　at　night；　pardieu！〃　said　Aramis；　〃the　rule　of
the　convent　is　very　severe。〃
〃Pardon　me；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　think　you
said　‘pardieu！'〃
〃Do　you　think　so？〃　said　Aramis；　smiling；　〃it　is　possible。
You　have　no　idea；　my　dear　fellow；　how　one　acquires　bad
habits　in　these　cursed　convents；　or　what　evil　ways　all　these
men　of　the　church　have；　with　whom　I　am　obliged　to　live。　But
will　you　not　go　up？〃
〃Pass　on　before　me；　I　beg　of　you。〃
〃As　the　late　cardinal　used　to　say　to　the　late　king；　‘only　to
show　you　the　way；　sire。'〃　And　Aramis　ascended　the　ladder
quickly　and　reached　the　window　in　an　instant。
D'Artagnan　followed；　but　less　nimbly；　showing　plainly　that
this　mode　of　ascent　was　not　one　to　which　he　was　accustomed。
〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Aramis；　noticing　his　awkwardness；
〃if　I　had　known　that　I　was　to　have　the　honor　of　your　visit　I
should　have　procured　the　gardener's　ladder；　but　for　me　alone
this　is　good　enough。〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Planchet　when　he　saw　D'Artagnan　on　the　summit　of
the　ladder；　〃this　way　is　easy　for　Monsieur　Aramis　and　even
for　you；　in　case　of　necessity　I　might　also　climb　up；　but　my
two　horses　cannot　mount　the　ladder。〃
〃Take　them　to　yonder　shed；　my　friend；〃　said　Aramis；　pointing
to　a　low　building　on　the　plain；　〃there　you　will　find　hay　and
straw　for　them；　then　come　back　here　and　clap　your　hands
three　times；　and　we　will　give　you　wine　and　food。　Marry；
forsooth；　people　don't　die　of　hunger　here。'
And　Aramis；　drawing　in　the　ladder；　closed　the　window。
D'A