twenty years after(二十年后)-第17节

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forsooth；　people　don't　die　of　hunger　here。'
And　Aramis；　drawing　in　the　ladder；　closed　the　window。
D'Artagnan　then　looked　around　attentively。
Never　was　there　an　apartment　at　the　same　time　more　warlike
and　more　elegant。　At　each　corner　were　arranged　trophies；
presenting　to　view　swords　of　all　sorts；　and　on　the　walls
hung　four　great　pictures　representing　in　their　ordinary
military　costume　the　Cardinal　de　Lorraine；　the　Cardinal　de
Richelieu；　the　Cardinal　de　la　Valette；　and　the　Archbishop　of
Bordeaux。　Exteriorly；　nothing　in　the　room　showed　that　it　was
the　habitation　of　an　abbe。　The　hangings　were　of　damask；　the
carpets　from　Alencon；　and　the　bed；　especially；　had　more　the
look　of　a　fine　lady's　couch；　with　its　trimmings　of　fine　lace
and　its　embroidered　counterpane；　than　that　of　a　man　who　had
made　a　vow　that　he　would　endeavor　to　gain　Heaven　by　fasting
and　mortification。
〃You　are　examining　my　den；〃　said　Aramis。　〃Ah；　my　dear
fellow；　excuse　me；　I　am　lodged　like　a　Chartreux。　But　what
are　you　looking　for？〃
〃I　am　looking　for　the　person　who　let　down　the　ladder。　I　see
no　one　and　yet　the　ladder　didn't　come　down　of　itself。〃
〃No；　it　is　Bazin。〃
〃Ah！　ah！〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃But；〃　continued　Aramis；　〃Bazin　is　a　well　trained　servant；
and　seeing　that　I　was　not　alone　he　discreetly　retired。　Sit
down；　my　dear　friend；　and　let　us　talk。〃　And　Aramis　pushed
forward　a　large　easy…chair；　in　which　D'Artagnan　stretched
himself　out。
〃In　the　first　place；　you　will　sup　with　me；　will　you　not？〃
asked　Aramis。
〃Yes；　if　you　really　wish　it；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃and　even
with　great　pleasure；　I　confess；　the　journey　has　given　me　a
devil　of　an　appetite。〃
〃Ah；　my　poor　friend！〃　said　Aramis；　〃you　will　find　meagre
fare；　you　were　not　expected。〃
〃Am　I　then　threatened　with　the　omelet　of　Crevecoeur？〃
〃Oh；　let　us　hope；〃　said　Aramis；　〃that　with　the　help　of　God
and　of　Bazin　we　shall　find　something　better　than　that　in　the
larder　of　the　worthy　Jesuit　fathers。　Bazin；　my　friend；　come
here。〃
The　door　opened　and　Bazin　entered；　on　perceiving　the
musketeer　he　uttered　an　exclamation　that　was　almost　a　cry　of
despair。
〃My　dear　Bazin；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　am　delighted　to　see
with　what　wonderful　composure　you　can　tell　a　lie　even　in
church！〃
〃Sir；〃　replied　Bazin；　〃I　have　been　taught　by　the　good　Jesuit
fathers　that　it　is　permitted　to　tell　a　falsehood　when　it　is
told　in　a　good　cause。〃
〃So　far　well；〃　said　Aramis；　〃we　are　dying　of　hunger。　Serve
us　up　the　best　supper　you　can；　and　especially　give　us　some
good　wine。〃
Bazin　bowed　low；　sighed；　and　left　the　room。
〃Now　we　are　alone；　dear　Aramis；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃tell　me
how　the　devil　you　managed　to　alight　upon　the　back　of
Planchet's　horse。〃
〃I'faith！〃　answered　Aramis；　〃as　you　see；　from　Heaven。〃
〃From　Heaven；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　shaking　his　head；　〃you
have　no　more　the　appearance　of　coming　from　thence　than　you
have　of　going　there。〃
〃My　friend；〃　said　Aramis；　with　a　look　of　imbecility　on　his
face　which　D'Artagnan　had　never　observed　whilst　he　was　in
the　musketeers；　〃if　I　did　not　come　from　Heaven；　at　least　I
was　leaving　Paradise；　which　is　almost　the　same。〃
〃Here；　then；　is　a　puzzle　for　the　learned；〃　observed
D'Artagnan；　〃until　now　they　have　never　been　able　to　agree　as
to　the　situation　of　Paradise；　some　place　it　on　Mount　Ararat；
others　between　the　rivers　Tigris　and　Euphrates；　it　seems
that　they　have　been　looking　very　far　away　for　it；　while　it
was　actually　very　near。　Paradise　is　at　Noisy　le　Sec；　upon
the　site　of　the　archbishop's　chateau。　People　do　not　go　out
from　it　by　the　door；　but　by　the　window；　one　doesn't　descend
here　by　the　marble　steps　of　a　peristyle；　but　by　the　branches
of　a　lime…tree；　and　the　angel　with　a　flaming　sword　who
guards　this　elysium　seems　to　have　changed　his　celestial　name
of　Gabriel　into　that　of　the　more　terrestrial　one　of　the
Prince　de　Marsillac。〃
Aramis　burst　into　a　fit　of　laughter。
〃You　were　always　a　merry　companion；　my　dear　D'Artagnan；〃　he
said；　〃and　your　witty　Gascon　fancy　has　not　deserted　you。
Yes；　there　is　something　in　what　you　say；　nevertheless；　do
not　believe　that　it　is　Madame　de　Longueville　with　whom　I　am
in　love。〃
〃A　plague　on't！　I　shall　not　do　so。　After　having　been　so　long
in　love　with　Madame　de　Chevreuse；　you　would　hardly　lay　your
heart　at　the　feet　of　her　mortal　enemy！〃
〃Yes；〃　replied　Aramis；　with　an　absent　air；　〃yes；　that　poor
duchess！　I　once　loved　her　much；　and　to　do　her　justice；　she
was　very　useful　to　us。　Eventually　she　was　obliged　to　leave
France。　He　was　a　relentless　enemy；　that　damned　cardinal；〃
continued　Aramis；　glancing　at　the　portrait　of　the　old
minister。　〃He　had　even　given　orders　to　arrest　her　and　would
have　cut　off　her　head　had　she　not　escaped　with　her
waiting…maid　　poor　Kitty！　I　have　heard　that　she　met　with　a
strange　adventure　in　I　don't　know　what　village；　with　I　don't
know　what　cure；　of　whom　she　asked　hospitality　and　who；
having　but　one　chamber；　and　taking　her　for　a　cavalier；
offered　to　share　it　with　her。　For　she　had　a　wonderful　way　of
dressing　as　a　man；　that　dear　Marie；　I　know　only　one　other
woman　who　can　do　it　as　well。　So　they　made　this　song　about
her：　‘Laboissiere；　dis　moi。'　You　know　it；　don't　you？〃
〃No；　sing　it；　please。〃
Aramis　immediately　complied；　and　sang　the　song　in　a　very
lively　manner。
〃Bravo！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃you　sing　charmingly；　dear
Aramis。　I　do　not　perceive　that　singing　masses　has　spoiled
your　voice。〃
〃My　dear　D'Artagnan；〃　replied　Aramis；　〃you　understand；　when
I　was　a　musketeer　I　mounted　guard　as　seldom　as　I　could；　now
when　I　am　an　abbe　I　say　as　few　masses　as　I　can。　But　to
return　to　our　duchess。〃
〃Which　　the　Duchess　de　Chevreuse　or　the　Duchess　de
Longueville？〃
〃Have　I　not　already　told　you　that　there　is　nothing　between
me　and　the　Duchess　de　Longueville？　Little　flirtations；
perhaps；　and　that's　all。　No；　I　spoke　of　the　Duchess　de
Chevreuse；　did　you　see　her　after　her　return　from　Brussels；
after　the　king's　death？〃
〃Yes；　she　is　still　beautiful。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Aramis；　〃I　saw　her　also　at　that　time。　I　gave　her
good　advice；　by　which　she　did　not　profit。　I　ventured　to　tell
her　that　Mazarin　was　the　lover　of　Anne　of　Austria。　She
wouldn't　believe　me；　saying　that　she　knew　Anne　of　Austria；
who　was　too　proud　to　love　such　a　worthless　coxcomb。　After
that　she　plunged　into　the　cabal　headed　by　the　Duke　of
Beaufort；　and　the　‘coxcomb'　arrested　De　Beaufort　and
banished　Madame　de　Chevreuse。〃
〃You　know；〃　resumed　D'Artagnan；　〃that　she　has　had　leave　to
return　to　France？〃
〃Yes　she　is　come　back　and　is　going　to　commit　some　fresh
folly　or　another。〃
〃Oh；　but　this　time　perhaps　she　will　follow　your　advice。〃
〃Oh；　this　time；〃　returned　Aramis；　〃I　haven't　seen　her；　she
is　much　changed。〃
〃In　that　respect　unlike　you；　my　dear　Aramis；　for　you　are
still　the　same；　you　have　still　your　beautiful　dark　hair；
still　your　elegant　figure；　still　your　feminine　hands；　which
are　admirably　suited　to　a　prelate。〃
〃Yes；〃　replied　Aramis；　〃I　am　extremely　careful　of　my
appearance。　Do　you　know　that　I　am　growing　old？　I　am　nearly
thirty…seven。〃
〃Mind；　Aramis〃　　D'Artagnan　smiled　as　he　spoke　　〃since　we
are　together　again；　let　us　agree　on　one　point：　what　age
shall　we　be　in　future？〃
〃How？〃
〃Formerly　I　was　your　junior　by　two　or　three　years；　and　if　I
am　not　mistaken　I　am　turned　forty　years　old。〃
〃Indeed！　Then　'tis　I　who　am　mistaken；　for　you　have　always
been　a　good　chronologist。　By　your　reckoning　I　must　be
forty…three　at　least。　The　devil　I　am！　Don't　let　it　out　at
the　Hotel　Rambouillet；　it　would　ruin　me；〃　replied　the　abbe。
〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃I　never　go　there。〃
〃Why；　what　in　the　world；〃　cried　Aramis；　〃is　that　animal
Bazin　doing？　Bazin！　Hurry　up　there；　you　rascal；　we　are　mad
with　hunger　and　thirst！〃
Bazin　entered　at　that　moment　carrying　a　bottle　in　each　hand。
〃At　last；〃　said　Aramis；　〃we　are　ready；　are　we？
〃Yes；　monsieur；　quite　ready；〃　said　Bazin；　〃but　it　took　me
some　time　to　bring　up　all　the　　〃
〃Because　you　always　think　you　have　on　your　shoulders　your
beadle's　robe；　and　spend　all　your　time　reading　your
breviary。　But　I　give　you　warning　that　if　in　polishing　your
chapel　utensils　you　forget　how　to　brighten　up　my　sword；　I
will　make　a　great　fire　of　your　blessed　images　and　will　see
that　you　are　roasted　on　it。〃
Bazin；　scandalized；　made　a　sign　of　the　cross　with　the　bottle
in　his　hand。　D'Artagnan；　more　surprised　than　ever　at　the
tone　and　manners　of　the　Abbe　d'Herblay；　which　contrasted　so
strongly　with　those　of　the　Musketeer　Aramis；　remained
staring　with　wide…open　eyes　at　the　face　of　his　friend。
Bazin　quickly　covered　the　table　with　a　damask　cloth　and
arranged　upon　it　so　many　things；　gilded；　perfumed；
appetizing；　that　D'Artagnan　was　quite　overcome。
〃But　you　expected　some　one　then？〃　asked　the　officer。
〃Oh；〃　said　Aramis；　〃I　always　try　to　be　prepared；　and　then　I
knew　you　were　seeking　me。〃
〃From　whom？〃
〃From　Master　Bazin；　to　be　sure；　he　took　you　for　the　devil；
my　dear　fellow；　and　hastened　to　warn　me　of　the　danger　that
threatened　my　soul　if　I　should　meet　again　a　companion　so
wicked　as　an　officer　of　musketeers。〃
〃Oh；　monsieur！〃　said　Bazin；　clasping　his　hands
supplicatingly。
〃Come；　no　hypocrisy！　you　know　that　I　don't　like　it。　You　will
do　much　better　to　open　the　window　and　let　down　some　bread；　a
chicken　and　a　bottle　of　wine　to　y