twenty years after(二十年后)-第21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！


fancied　that　some　giant　had　cleaved　them　with　blows　from　a
hatchet。
On　arriving　at　the　extremity　of　the　castle　D'Artagnan　found
himself　overlooking　a　beautiful　valley；　in　which；　at　the
foot　of　a　charming　little　lake；　stood　several　scattered
houses；　which；　humble　in　their　aspect；　and　covered；　some
with　tiles；　others　with　thatch；　seemed　to　acknowledge　as
their　sovereign　lord　a　pretty　chateau；　built　about　the
beginning　of　the　reign　of　Henry　IV。；　and　surmounted　by　four
stately；　gilded　weather…cocks。　D'Artagnan　no　longer　doubted
that　this　was　Porthos's　pleasant　dwelling　place。
The　road　led　straight　up　to　the　chateau　which；　compared　to
its　ancestor　on　the　hill；　was　exactly　what　a　fop　of　the
coterie　of　the　Duc　d'Enghein　would　have　been　beside　a　knight
in　steel　armor　in　the　time　of　Charles　VII。　D'Artagnan
spurred　his　horse　on　and　pursued　his　road；　followed　by
Planchet　at　the　same　pace。
In　ten　minutes　D'Artagnan　reached　the　end　of　an　alley
regularly　planted　with　fine　poplars　and　terminating　in　an
iron　gate；　the　points　and　crossed　bars　of　which　were　gilt。
In　the　midst　of　this　avenue　was　a　nobleman；　dressed　in　green
and　with　as　much　gilding　about　him　as　the　iron　gate；　riding
on　a　tall　horse。　On　his　right　hand　and　his　left　were　two
footmen；　with　the　seams　of　their　dresses　laced。　A
considerable　number　of　clowns　were　assembled　and　rendered
homage　to　their　lord。
〃Ah！〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　himself；　〃can　this　be　the　Seigneur
du　Vallon　de　Bracieux　de　Pierrefonds？　Well…a…day！　how　he　has
shrunk　since　he　gave　up　the　name　of　Porthos！〃
〃This　cannot　be　Monsieur　Porthos；〃　observed　Planchet
replying；　as　it　were；　to　his　master's　thoughts。　〃Monsieur
Porthos　was　six　feet　high；　this　man　is　scarcely　five。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃the　people　are　bowing　very
low　to　this　person。〃
As　he　spoke；　he　rode　toward　the　tall　horse　　to　the　man　of
importance　and　his　valets。　As　he　approached　he　seemed　to
recognize　the　features　of　this　individual。
〃Jesu！〃　cried　Planchet；　〃can　it　be？〃
At　this　exclamation　the　man　on　horseback　turned　slowly　and
with　a　lofty　air；　and　the　two　travelers　could　see；　displayed
in　all　their　brilliancy；　the　large　eyes；　the　vermilion
visage；　and　the　eloquent　smile　of　　Musqueton。
It　was　indeed　Musqueton　　Musqueton；　as　fat　as　a　pig；
rolling　about　with　rude　health；　puffed　out　with　good　living；
who；　recognizing　D'Artagnan　and　acting　very　differently　from
the　hypocrite　Bazin；　slipped　off　his　horse　and　approached
the　officer　with　his　hat　off；　so　that　the　homage　of　the
assembled　crowd　was　turned　toward　this　new　sun；　which
eclipsed　the　former　luminary。
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan！　Monsieur　d'Artagnan！〃　cried　Musqueton；
his　fat　cheeks　swelling　out　and　his　whole　frame　perspiring
with　joy；　〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan！　oh！　what　joy　for　my　lord　and
master；　Du　Vallon　de　Bracieux　de　Pierrefonds！〃
〃Thou　good　Musqueton！　where　is　thy　master？〃
〃You　stand　upon　his　property！〃
〃But　how　handsome　thou　art　　how　fat！　thou　hast　prospered
and　grown　stout！〃　and　D'Artagnan　could　not　restrain　his
astonishment　at　the　change　good　fortune　had　produced　on　the
once　famished　one。
〃Hey；　yes；　thank　God；　I　am　pretty　well；〃　said　Musqueton。
〃But　hast　thou　nothing　to　say　to　thy　friend　Planchet？〃
〃How；　my　friend　Planchet？　Planchet　　art　thou　there？〃　cried
Musqueton；　with　open　arms　and　eyes　full　of　tears。
〃My　very　self；〃　replied　Planchet；　〃but　I　wanted　first　to　see
if　thou　wert　grown　proud。〃
〃Proud　toward　an　old　friend？　never；　Planchet！　thou　wouldst
not　have　thought　so　hadst　thou　known　Musqueton　well。〃
〃So　far　so　well；〃　answered　Planchet；　alighting；　and
extending　his　arms　to　Musqueton；　the　two　servants　embraced
with　an　emotion　which　touched　those　who　were　present　and
made　them　suppose　that　Planchet　was　a　great　lord　in
disguise；　so　highly　did　they　estimate　the　position　of
Musqueton。
〃And　now；　sir；〃　resumed　Musqueton；　when　he　had　rid　himself
of　Planchet；　who　had　in　vain　tried　to　clasp　his　hands　behind
his　friend's　fat　back；　〃now；　sir；　allow　me　to　leave　you；　for
I　could　not　permit　my　master　to　hear　of　your　arrival　from
any　but　myself；　he　would　never　forgive　me　for　not　having
preceded　you。〃
〃This　dear　friend；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　carefully　avoiding　to
utter　either　the　former　name　borne　by　Porthos　or　his　new
one；　〃then　he　has　not　forgotten　me？〃
〃Forgotten　　he！〃　cried　Musqueton；　〃there's　not　a　day；　sir；
that　we　don't　expect　to　hear　that　you　were　made　marshal
either　instead　of　Monsieur　de　Gassion；　or　of　Monsieur　de
Bassompierre。〃
On　D'Artagnan's　lips　there　played　one　of　those　rare　and
melancholy　smiles　which　seemed　to　emanate　from　the　depth　of
his　soul　　the　last　trace　of　youth　and　happiness　that　had
survived　life's　disillusions。
〃And　you　　fellows；〃　resumed　Musqueton；　〃stay　near　Monsieur
le　Comte　d'Artagnan　and　pay　him　every　attention　in　your
power　whilst　I　go　to　prepare　my　lord　for　his　visit。〃
And　mounting　his　horse　Musqueton　rode　off　down　the　avenue　on
the　grass　at　a　hand　gallop。
〃Ah；　there！　there's　something　promising；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃No　mysteries；　no　cloak　to　hide　one's　self　in；　no　cunning
policy　here；　people　laugh　outright；　they　weep　for　joy　here。
I　see　nothing　but　faces　a　yard　broad；　in　short；　it　seems　to
me　that　nature　herself　wears　a　holiday　garb；　and　that　the
trees；　instead　of　leaves　and　flowers；　are　covered　with　red
and　green　ribbons　as　on　gala　days。〃
〃As　for　me；〃　said　Planchet；　〃I　seem　to　smell；　from　this
place；　even；　a　most　delectable　perfume　of　fine　roast　meat；
and　to　see　the　scullions　in　a　row　by　the　hedge；　hailing　our
approach。　Ah！　sir；　what　a　cook　must　Monsieur　Pierrefonds
have；　when　he　was　so　fond　of　eating　and　drinking；　even
whilst　he　was　only　called　Monsieur　Porthos！〃
〃Say　no　more！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃If　the　reality　corresponds
with　appearances　I　am　lost；　for　a　man　so　well　off　will　never
change　his　happy　condition；　and　I　shall　fail　with　him；　as　I
have　already　done　with　Aramis。〃

11
How　D'Artagnan；　in　discovering　the　Retreat　of　Porthos；
perceives　that　Wealth　does　not　necessarily　produce
Happiness。

D'Artagnan　passed　through　the　iron　gate　and　arrived　in　front
of　the　chateau。　He　alighted　as　he　saw　a　species　of　giant　on
the　steps。　Let　us　do　justice　to　D'Artagnan。　Independently　of
every　selfish　wish；　his　heart　palpitated　with　joy　when　he
saw　that　tall　form　and　martial　demeanor；　which　recalled　to
him　a　good　and　brave　man。
He　ran　to　Porthos　and　threw　himself　into　his　arms；　the　whole
body　of　servants；　arranged　in　a　semi…circle　at　a　respectful
distance；　looked　on　with　humble　curiosity。　Musqueton；　at　the
head　of　them；　wiped　his　eyes。　Porthos　linked　his　arm　in　that
of　his　friend。
〃Ah！　how　delightful　to　see　you　again；　dear　friend！〃　he
cried；　in　a　voice　which　was　now　changed　from　a　baritone　into
a　bass；　〃you've　not　then　forgotten　me？〃
〃Forget　you！　oh！　dear　Du　Vallon；　does　one　forget　the
happiest　days　of　flowery　youth；　one's　dearest　friends；　the
dangers　we　have　dared　together？　On　the　contrary；　there　is
not　an　hour　we　have　passed　together　that　is　not　present　to
my　memory。〃
〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Porthos；　trying　to　give　to　his　mustache　a
curl　which　it　had　lost　whilst　he　had　been　alone。　〃Yes；　we
did　some　fine　things　in　our　time　and　we　gave　that　poor
cardinal　a　few　threads　to　unravel。〃
And　he　heaved　a　sigh。
〃Under　any　circumstances；〃　he　resumed；　〃you　are　welcome；　my
dear　friend；　you　will　help　me　to　recover　my　spirits；
to…morrow　we　will　hunt　the　hare　on　my　plain；　which　is　a
superb　tract　of　land；　or　pursue　the　deer　in　my　woods；　which
are　magnificent。　I　have　four　harriers　which　are　considered
the　swiftest　in　the　county；　and　a　pack　of　hounds　which　are
unequalled　for　twenty　leagues　around。〃
And　Porthos　heaved　another　sigh。
〃But；　first；〃　interposed　D'Artagnan；　〃you　must　present　me　to
Madame　du　Vallon。〃
A　third　sigh　from　Porthos。
〃I　lost　Madame　du　Vallon　two　years　ago；〃　he　said；　〃and　you
find　me　still　in　affliction　on　that　account。　That　was　the
reason　why　I　left　my　Chateau　du　Vallon　near　Corbeil；　and
came　to　my　estate；　Bracieux。　Poor　Madame　du　Vallon！　her
temper　was　uncertain；　but　she　came　at　last　to　accustom
herself　to　my　little　ways　and　understand　my　little　wishes。〃
〃So　you　are　free　now；　and　rich？〃
〃Alas！〃　groaned　Porthos；　〃I　am　a　widower　and　have　forty
thousand　francs　a　year。　Let　us　go　to　breakfast。〃
〃I　shall　be　happy　to　do　so；　the　morning　air　has　made　me
hungry。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Porthos；　〃my　air　is　excellent。〃
They　went　into　the　chateau；　there　was　nothing　but　gilding；
high　and　low；　the　cornices　were　gilt；　the　mouldings　were
gilt；　the　legs　and　arms　of　the　chairs　were　gilt。　A　table；
ready　set　out；　awaited　them。
〃You　see；〃　said　Porthos；　〃this　is　my　usual　style。〃
〃Devil　take　me！〃　answered　D'Artagnan；　〃I　wish　you　joy　of　it。
The　king　has　nothing　like　it。〃
〃No；〃　answered　Porthos；　〃I　hear　it　said　that　he　is　very
badly　fed　by　the　cardinal；　Monsieur　de　Mazarin。　Taste　this
cutlet；　my　dear　D'Artagnan；　'tis　off　one　of　my　sheep。〃
〃You　have　very　tender　mutton　and　I　wish　you　joy　of　it。〃　said
D'Artagnan。
〃Yes；　the　sheep　are　fed　in　my　meadows；　which　are　excellent
pasture。〃
〃Give　me　another　cutlet。〃
〃No；　try　this　hare；　which　I　had　killed　yesterday　in　one　of
my　warrens。〃
〃Zounds！　what　a　flavor！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃ah！　they　are　fed
on　thyme　only；　your　hares。〃
〃And　how　do　yo