twenty years after(二十年后)-第27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！


〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃　inquired　Raoul。
〃You　have　not　forgotten　St。　Gervais；　Athos；　and　the　napkin
which　was　converted　into　a　banner？〃　and　he　then　related　to
Raoul　the　story　of　the　bastion；　and　Raoul　fancied　he　was
listening　to　one　of　those　deeds　of　arms　belonging　to　days　of
chivalry；　so　gloriously　recounted　by　Tasso　and　Ariosto。
〃D'Artagnan　does　not　tell　you；　Raoul；〃　said　Athos；　in　his
turn；　〃that　he　was　reckoned　one　of　the　finest　swordsmen　of
his　time　　a　knuckle　of　iron；　a　wrist　of　steel；　a　sure　eye
and　a　glance　of　fire；　that's　what　his　adversary　met　with。　He
was　eighteen；　only　three　years　older　than　you　are；　Raoul；
when　I　saw　him　set　to　work；　pitted　against　tried　men。〃
〃And　did　Monsieur　D'Artagnan　come　off　the　conqueror？〃　asked
the　young　man；　with　glistening　eye。
〃I　killed　one　man；　if　I　recollect　rightly；〃　replied
D'Artagnan；　with　a　look　of　inquiry　directed　to　Athos；
〃another　I　disarmed　or　wounded；　I　don't　remember　which。〃
〃Wounded！〃　said　Athos；　〃it　was　a　phenomenon　of　skill。〃
The　young　man　would　willingly　have　prolonged　this
conversation　far　into　the　night；　but　Athos　pointed　out　to
him　that　his　guest　must　need　repose。　D'Artagnan　would　fain
have　declared　that　he　was　not　fatigued；　but　Athos　insisted
on　his　retiring　to　his　chamber；　conducted　thither　by　Raoul。

15
Athos　as　a　Diplomatist。

D'Artagnan　retired　to　bed　　not　to　sleep；　but　to　think　over
all　he　had　heard　that　evening。　Being　naturally　goodhearted；
and　having　had　once　a　liking　for　Athos；　which　had　grown　into
a　sincere　friendship；　he　was　delighted　at　thus　meeting　a　man
full　of　intelligence　and　moral　strength；　instead　of　a
drunkard。　He　admitted　without　annoyance　the　continued
superiority　of　Athos　over　himself；　devoid　as　he　was　of　that
jealousy　which　might　have　saddened　a　less　generous
disposition；　he　was　delighted　also　that　the　high　qualities
of　Athos　appeared　to　promise　favorably　for　his　mission。
Nevertheless；　it　seemed　to　him　that　Athos　was　not　in　all
respects　sincere　and　frank。　Who　was　the　youth　he　had　adopted
and　who　bore　so　striking　a　resemblance　to　him？　What　could
explain　Athos's　having　re…entered　the　world　and　the　extreme
sobriety　he　had　observed　at　table？　The　absence　of　Grimaud；
whose　name　had　never　once　been　uttered　by　Athos；　gave
D'Artagnan　uneasiness。　It　was　evident　either　that　he　no
longer　possessed　the　confidence　of　his　friend；　or　that　Athos
was　bound　by　some　invisible　chain；　or　that　he　had　been
forewarned　of　the　lieutenant's　visit。
He　could　not　help　thinking　of　M。　Rochefort；　whom　he　had　seen
in　Notre　Dame；　could　De　Rochefort　have　forestalled　him　with
Athos？　Again；　the　moderate　fortune　which　Athos　possessed；
concealed　as　it　was；　so　skillfully；　seemed　to　show　a　regard
for　appearances　and　to　betray　a　latent　ambition　which　might
be　easily　aroused。　The　clear　and　vigorous　intellect　of　Athos
would　render　him　more　open　to　conviction　than　a　less　able
man　would　be。　He　would　enter　into　the　minister's　schemes
with　the　more　ardor；　because　his　natural　activity　would　be
doubled　by　necessity。
Resolved　to　seek　an　explanation　on　all　these　points　on　the
following　day；　D'Artagnan；　in　spite　of　his　fatigue；　prepared
for　an　attack　and　determined　that　it　should　take　place　after
breakfast。　He　determined　to　cultivate　the　good…will　of　the
youth　Raoul　and；　either　whilst　fencing　with　him　or　when　out
shooting；　to　extract　from　his　simplicity　some　information
which　would　connect　the　Athos　of　old　times　with　the　Athos　of
the　present。　But　D'Artagnan　at　the　same　time；　being　a　man　of
extreme　caution；　was　quite　aware　what　injury　he　should　do
himself；　if　by　any　indiscretion　or　awkwardness　he　should
betray　has　manoeuvering　to　the　experienced　eye　of　Athos。
Besides；　to　tell　truth；　whilst　D'Artagnan　was　quite　disposed
to　adopt　a　subtle　course　against　the　cunning　of　Aramis　or
the　vanity　of　Porthos；　he　was　ashamed　to　equivocate　with
Athos；　true…hearted；　open　Athos。　It　seemed　to　him　that　if
Porthos　and　Aramis　deemed　him　superior　to　them　in　the　arts
of　diplomacy；　they　would　like　him　all　the　better　for　it；　but
that　Athos；　on　the　contrary；　would　despise　him。
〃Ah！　why　is　not　Grimaud；　the　taciturn　Grimaud；　here？〃
thought　D'Artagnan；　〃there　are　so　many　things　his　silence
would　have　told　me；　with　Grimaud　silence　was　another　form　of
eloquence！〃
There　reigned　a　perfect　stillness　in　the　house。　D'Artagnan
had　heard　the　door　shut　and　the　shutters　barred；　the　dogs
became　in　their　turn　silent。　At　last　a　nightingale；　lost　in
a　thicket　of　shrubs；　in　the　midst　of　its　most　melodious
cadences　had　fluted　low　and　lower　into　stillness　and　fallen
asleep。　Not　a　sound　was　heard　in　the　castle；　except　of　a
footstep　up　and　down；　in　the　chamber　above　　as　he
supposed；　the　bedroom　of　Athos。
〃He　is　walking　about　and　thinking；〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　〃but
of　what？　It　is　impossible　to　know；　everything　else　might　be
guessed；　but　not　that。〃
At　length　Athos　went　to　bed；　apparently；　for　the　noise
ceased。
Silence　and　fatigue　together　overcame　D'Artagnan　and　sleep
overtook　him　also。　He　was　not；　however；　a　good　sleeper。
Scarcely　had　dawn　gilded　his　window　curtains　when　he　sprang
out　of　bed　and　opened　the　windows。　Somebody；　he　perceived；
was　in　the　courtyard；　moving　stealthily。　True　to　his　custom
of　never　passing　anything　over　that　it　was　within　his　power
to　know；　D'Artagnan　looked　out　of　the　window　and　perceived
the　close　red　coat　and　brown　hair　of　Raoul。
The　young　man　was　opening　the　door　of　the　stable。　He　then；
with　noiseless　haste；　took　out　the　horse　that　he　had　ridden
on　the　previous　evening；　saddled　and　bridled　it　himself　and
led　the　animal　into　the　alley　to　the　right　of　the
kitchen…garden；　opened　a　side　door　which　conducted　him　to　a
bridle　road；　shut　it　after　him；　and　D'Artagnan　saw　him　pass
by　like　a　dart；　bending；　as　he　went；　beneath　the　pendent
flowery　branches　of　maple　and　acacia。　The　road；　as
D'Artagnan　had　observed；　was　the　way　to　Blois。
〃So！〃　thought　the　Gascon　〃here's　a　young　blade　who　has
already　his　love　affair；　who　doesn't　at　all　agree　with　Athos
in　his　hatred　to　the　fair　sex。　He's　not　going　to　hunt；　for
he　has　neither　dogs　nor　arms；　he's　not　going　on　a　message；
for　he　goes　secretly。　Why　does　he　go　in　secret？　Is　he　afraid
of　me　or　of　his　father？　for　I　am　sure　the　count　is　his
father。　By　Jove！　I　shall　know　about　that　soon；　for　I　shall
soon　speak　out　to　Athos。〃
Day　was　now　advanced；　all　the　noises　that　had　ceased　the
night　before　reawakened；　one　after　the　other。　The　bird　on
the　branch；　the　dog　in　his　kennel；　the　sheep　in　the　field；
the　boats　moored　in　the　Loire；　even；　became　alive　and　vocal。
The　latter；　leaving　the　shore；　abandoned　themselves　gaily　to
the　current。　The　Gascon　gave　a　last　twirl　to　his　mustache；　a
last　turn　to　his　hair；　brushed；　from　habit；　the　brim　of　his
hat　with　the　sleeve　of　his　doublet；　and　went　downstairs。
Scarcely　had　he　descended　the　last　step　of　the　threshold
when　he　saw　Athos　bent　down　toward　the　ground；　as　if　he　were
looking　for　a　crown…piece　in　the　dust。
〃Good…morning；　my　dear　host；〃　cried　D'Artagnan。
〃Good…day　to　you；　have　you　slept　well？〃
〃Excellently；　Athos；　but　what　are　you　looking　for？　You　are
perhaps　a　tulip　fancier？〃
〃My　dear　friend；　if　I　am；　you　must　not　laugh　at　me　for　being
so。　In　the　country　people　alter；　one　gets　to　like；　without
knowing　it；　all　those　beautiful　objects　that　God　causes　to
spring　from　the　earth；　which　are　despised　in　cities。　I　was
looking　anxiously　for　some　iris　roots　I　planted　here；　close
to　this　reservoir；　and　which　some　one　has　trampled　upon　this
morning。　These　gardeners　are　the　most　careless　people　in　the
world；　in　bringing　the　horse　out　to　the　water　they've
allowed　him　to　walk　over　the　border。〃
D'Artagnan　began　to　smile。
〃Ah！　you　think　so；　do　you？〃
And　he　took　his　friend　along　the　alley；　where　a　number　of
tracks　like　those　which　had　trampled　down　the　flowerbeds；
were　visible。
〃Here　are　the　horse's　hoofs　again；　it　seems；　Athos；〃　he　said
carelessly。
〃Yes；　indeed；　the　marks　are　recent。〃
〃Quite　so；〃　replied　the　lieutenant。
〃Who　went　out　this　morning？〃　Athos　asked；　uneasily。　〃Has　any
horse　got　loose？〃
〃Not　likely；〃　answered　the　Gascon；　〃these　marks　are
regular。〃
〃Where　is　Raoul？〃　asked　Athos；　〃how　is　it　that　I　have　not
seen　him？〃
〃Hush！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan；　putting　his　finger　on　his
lips；　and　he　related　what　he　had　seen；　watching　Athos　all
the　while。
〃Ah；　he's　gone　to　Blois；　the　poor　boy　　〃
〃Wherefore？〃
〃Ah；　to　inquire　after　the　little　La　Valliere；　she　has
sprained　her　foot；　you　know。〃
〃You　think　he　has？〃
〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　said　Athos；　〃don't　you　see　that　Raoul　is
in　love？〃
〃Indeed！　with　whom　　with　a　child　seven　years　old？〃
〃Dear　friend；　at　Raoul's　age　the　heart　is　so　expansive　that
it　must　encircle　one　object　or　another；　fancied　or　real。
Well；　his　love　is　half　real；　half　fanciful。　She　is　the
prettiest　little　creature　in　the　world；　with　flaxen　hair；
blue　eyes；　　at　once　saucy　and　languishing。〃
〃But　what　say　you　to　Raoul's　fancy？〃
〃Nothing　　I　laugh　at　Raoul；　but　this　first　desire　of　the
heart　is　imperious。　I　remember；　just　at　his　age；　how　deep　in
love　I　was　with　a　Grecian　statue　which　our　good　king；　then
Henry　IV。；　gave　my　father；　insomuch　that　I　was　mad　with
grief　when　they　told　me　that　the　story　of　Pygmalion　was
n