twenty years after(二十年后)-第25节

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period。
Through　the　gate　was　seen　kitchen…gardens；　carefully
attended　to；　a　spacious　courtyard；　in　which　neighed　several
horses　held　by　valets　in　various　liveries；　and　a　carriage；
drawn　by　two　horses　of　the　country。
〃We　are　mistaken；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃This　cannot　be　the
establishment　of　Athos。　Good　heavens！　suppose　he　is　dead　and
that　this　property　now　belongs　to　some　one　who　bears　his
name。　Alight；　Planchet；　and　inquire；　for　I　confess　that　I
have　scarcely　courage　so　to　do。〃
Planchet　alighted。
〃Thou　must　add；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃that　a　gentleman　who　is
passing　by　wishes　to　have　the　honor　of　paying　his　respects
to　the　Comte　de　la　Fere；　and　if　thou　art　satisfied　with　what
thou　hearest；　then　mention　my　name！〃
Planchet；　leading　his　horse　by　the　bridle；　drew　near　to　the
gate　and　rang　the　bell；　and　immediately　a　servant…man　with
white　hair　and　of　erect　stature；　notwithstanding　his　age；
presented　himself。
〃Does　Monsieur　le　Comte　de　la　Fere　live　here？〃　asked
Planchet。
〃Yes；　monsieur；　it　is　here　he　lives；〃　the　servant　replied　to
Planchet；　who　was　not　in　livery。
〃A　nobleman　retired　from　service；　is　he　not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And　who　had　a　lackey　named　Grimaud？〃　persisted　Planchet；
who　had　prudently　considered　that　he　couldn't　have　too　much
information。
〃Monsieur　Grimaud　is　absent　from　the　chateau　for　the　time
being；〃　said　the　servitor；　who；　little　used　as　he　was　to
such　inquiries；　began　to　examine　Planchet　from　head　to　foot。
〃Then；〃　cried　Planchet　joyously；　〃I　see　well　that　it　is　the
same　Comte　de　la　Fere　whom　we　seek。　Be　good　enough　to　open
to　me；　for　I　wish　to　announce　to　monsieur　le　comte　that　my
master；　one　of　his　friends；　is　here；　and　wishes　to　greet
him。〃
〃Why　didn't　you　say　so？〃　said　the　servitor；　opening　the
gate。　〃But　where　is　your　master？〃
〃He　is　following　me。〃
The　servitor　opened　the　gate　and　walked　before　Planchet；　who
made　a　sign　to　D'Artagnan。　The　latter；　his　heart　palpitating
more　than　ever；　entered　the　courtyard　without　dismounting。
Whilst　Planchet　was　standing　on　the　steps　before　the　house
he　heard　a　voice　say：
〃Well；　where　is　this　gentleman　and　why　do　they　not　bring　him
here？〃
This　voice；　the　sound　of　which　reached　D'Artagnan；
reawakened　in　his　heart　a　thousand　sentiments；　a　thousand
recollections　that　he　had　forgotten。　He　vaulted　hastily　from
his　horse；　whilst　Planchet；　with　a　smile　on　his　lips；
advanced　toward　the　master　of　the　house。
〃But　I　know　you；　my　lad；〃　said　Athos；　appearing　on　the
threshold。
〃Oh；　yes；　monsieur　le　comte；　you　know　me　and　I　know　you。　I
am　Planchet　　Planchet；　whom　you　know　well。〃　But　the　honest
servant　could　say　no　more；　so　much　was　he　overcome　by　this
unexpected　interview。
〃What；　Planchet；　is　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　here？〃
〃Here　I　am；　my　friend；　dear　Athos！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　in　a
faltering　voice　and　almost　staggering　from　agitation。
At　these　words　a　visible　emotion　was　expressed　on　the
beautiful　countenance　and　calm　features　of　Athos。　He　rushed
toward　D'Artagnan　with　eyes　fixed　upon　him　and　clasped　him
in　his　arms。　D'Artagnan；　equally　moved；　pressed　him　also
closely　to　him；　whilst　tears　stood　in　his　eyes。　Athos　then
took　him　by　the　hand　and　led　him　into　the　drawing…room；
where　there　were　several　people。　Every　one　arose。
〃I　present　to　you；〃　he　said；　〃Monsieur　le　Chevalier
D'Artagnan；　lieutenant　of　his　majesty's　musketeers；　a
devoted　friend　and　one　of　the　most　excellent；　brave
gentlemen　that　I　have　ever　known。〃
D'Artagnan　received　the　compliments　of　those　who　were
present　in　his　own　way；　and　whilst　the　conversation　became
general　he　looked　earnestly　at　Athos。
Strange！　Athos　was　scarcely　aged　at　all！　His　fine　eyes；　no
longer　surrounded　by　that　dark　line　which　nights　of
dissipation　pencil　too　infallibly；　seemed　larger；　more
liquid　than　ever。　His　face；　a　little　elongated；　had　gained
in　calm　dignity　what　it　had　lost　in　feverish　excitement。　His
hand；　always　wonderfully　beautiful　and　strong；　was　set　off
by　a　ruffle　of　lace；　like　certain　hands　by　Titian　and
Vandyck。　He　was　less　stiff　than　formerly。　His　long；　dark
hair；　softly　powdered　here　and　there　with　silver　tendrils；
fell　elegantly　over　his　shoulders　in　wavy　curls；　his　voice
was　still　youthful；　as　if　belonging　to　a　Hercules　of
twenty…five；　and　his　magnificent　teeth；　which　he　had
preserved　white　and　sound；　gave　an　indescribable　charm　to
his　smile。
Meanwhile　the　guests；　seeing　that　the　two　friends　were
longing　to　be　alone；　prepared　to　depart；　when　a　noise　of
dogs　barking　resounded　through　the　courtyard　and　many
persons　said　at　the　same　moment：
〃Ah！　'tis　Raoul；　who　is　come　home。〃
Athos；　as　the　name　of　Raoul　was　pronounced；　looked
inquisitively　at　D'Artagnan；　in　order　to　see　if　any
curiosity　was　painted　on　his　face。　But　D'Artagnan　was　still
in　confusion　and　turned　around　almost　mechanically　when　a
fine　young　man　of　fifteen　years　of　age；　dressed　simply；　but
in　perfect　taste；　entered　the　room；　raising；　as　he　came；　his
hat；　adorned　with　a　long　plume　of　scarlet　feathers。
Nevertheless；　D'Artagnan　was　struck　by　the　appearance　of
this　new　personage。　It　seemed　to　explain　to　him　the　change
in　Athos；　a　resemblance　between　the　boy　and　the　man
explained　the　mystery　of　this　regenerated　existence。　He
remained　listening　and　gazing。
〃Here　you　are；　home　again；　Raoul；〃　said　the　comte。
〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　the　youth；　with　deep　respect；　〃and　I
have　performed　the　commission　that　you　gave　me。〃
〃But　what's　the　matter；　Raoul？〃　said　Athos；　very　anxiously。
〃You　are　pale　and　agitated。〃
〃Sir；〃　replied　the　young　man；　〃it　is　on　account　of　an
accident　which　has　happened　to　our　little　neighbor。〃
〃To　Mademoiselle　de　la　Valliere？〃　asked　Athos；　quickly。
〃What　is　it？〃　cried　many　persons　present。
〃She　was　walking　with　her　nurse　Marceline；　in　the　place
where　the　woodmen　cut　the　wood；　when；　passing　on　horseback；
I　stopped。　She　saw　me　also　and　in　trying　to　jump　from　the
end　of　a　pile　of　wood　on　which　she　had　mounted；　the　poor
child　fell　and　was　not　able　to　rise　again。　I　fear　that　she
has　badly　sprained　her　ankle。〃
〃Oh；　heavens！〃　cried　Athos。　〃And　her　mother；　Madame　de
Saint…Remy；　have　they　yet　told　her　of　it？〃
〃No；　sir；　Madame　de　Saint…Remy　is　at　Blois　with　the　Duchess
of　Orleans。　I　am　afraid　that　what　was　first　done　was
unskillful；　if　not　worse　than　useless。　I　am　come；　sir；　to
ask　your　advice。〃
〃Send　directly　to　Blois；　Raoul；　or；　rather；　take　horse　and
ride　immediately　yourself。〃
Raoul　bowed。
〃But　where　is　Louise？〃　asked　the　comte。
〃I　have　brought　her　here；　sir；　and　I　have　deposited　her　in
charge　of　Charlotte；　who；　till　better　advice　comes；　has
bathed　the　foot　in　cold　well…water。〃
The　guests　now　all　took　leave　of　Athos；　excepting　the　old
Duc　de　Barbe；　who；　as　an　old　friend　of　the　family　of　La
Valliere；　went　to　see　little　Louise　and　offered　to　take　her
to　Blois　in　his　carriage。
〃You　are　right；　sir；〃　said　Athos。　〃She　will　be　the　sooner
with　her　mother。　As　for　you；　Raoul；　I　am　sure　it　is　your
fault；　some　giddiness　or　folly。〃
〃No；　sir；　I　assure　you；〃　muttered　Raoul；　〃it　is　not。〃
〃Oh；　no；　no；　I　declare　it　is　not！〃　cried　the　young　girl；
while　Raoul　turned　pale　at　the　idea　of　his　being　perhaps　the
cause　of　her　disaster。
〃Nevertheless；　Raoul；　you　must　go　to　Blois　and　you　must　make
your　excuses　and　mine　to　Madame　de　Saint…Remy。〃

The　youth　looked　pleased。　He　again　took　in　his　strong　arms
the　little　girl；　whose　pretty　golden　head　and　smiling　face
rested　on　his　shoulder；　and　placed　her　gently　in　the
carriage；　then　jumping　on　his　horse　with　the　elegance　of　a
first…rate　esquire；　after　bowing　to　Athos　and　D'Artagnan；　he
went　off　close　by　the　door　of　the　carriage；　on　somebody
inside　of　which　his　eyes　were　riveted。

14
The　Castle　of　Bragelonne。

Whilst　this　scene　was　going　on；　D'Artagnan　remained　with
open　mouth　and　a　confused　gaze。　Everything　had　turned　out　so
differently　from　what　he　expected　that　he　was　stupefied　with
wonder。
Athos；　who　had　been　observing　him　and　guessing　his　thoughts；
took　his　arm　and　led　him　into　the　garden。
〃Whilst　supper　is　being　prepared；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃you
will　not；　my　friend；　be　sorry　to　have　the　mystery　which　so
puzzles　you　cleared　up。〃
〃True；　monsieur　le　comte；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　who　felt　that
by　degrees　Athos　was　resuming　that　great　influence　which
aristocracy　had　over　him。
Athos　smiled。
〃First　and　foremost；　dear　D'Artagnan；　we　have　no　title　such
as　count　here。　When　I　call　you　‘chevalier；'　it　is　in
presenting　you　to　my　guests；　that　they　may　know　who　you　are。
But　to　you；　D'Artagnan；　I　am；　I　hope；　still　dear　Athos；　your
comrade；　your　friend。　Do　you　intend　to　stand　on　ceremony
because　you　are　less　attached　to　me　than　you　were？〃
〃Oh！　God　forbid！〃
〃Then　let　us　be　as　we　used　to　be；　let　us　be　open　with　each
other。　You　are　surprised　at　what　you　see　here？〃
〃Extremely。〃
〃But　above　all　things；　I　am　a　marvel　to　you？〃
〃I　confess　it。〃
〃I　am　still　young；　am　I　not？　Should　you　not　have　known　me
again；　in　spite　of　my　eight…and…forty　years　of　age？〃
〃On　the　contrary；　I　do　not　find　you　the　same　person　at　all。〃
〃I　understand；〃　cried　Athos；　with　a　gentle　blush。
〃Everything；　D'Artagnan；　even　folly；　has　its　limit。〃
〃Then　your　means；　it　appears；　are　improved；　you　have　a
capital　house　　your　own；　I　presume？　You　have　a　park；　and
horses；　se