twenty years after(二十年后)-第3节

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intelligence；　the　play　of　which　had　been；　nevertheless；
subdued　by　age　and　experience；　and　D'Artagnan　received　the
penetrating　glance　like　one　who　had　formerly　sustained　many
a　searching　look；　very　different；　indeed；　from　those　which
were　inquiringly　directed　on　him　at　that　instant。
〃Sir；〃　resumed　the　cardinal；　〃you　are　to　come　with　me；　or
rather；　I　am　to　go　with　you。〃
〃I　am　at　your　command；　my　lord；〃　returned　D'Artagnan。
〃I　wish　to　visit　in　person　the　outposts　which　surround　the
Palais　Royal；　do　you　suppose　that　there　is　any　danger　in　so
doing？〃
〃Danger；　my　lord！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan　with　a　look　of
astonishment；　〃what　danger？〃
〃I　am　told　that　there　is　a　general　insurrection。〃
〃The　uniform　of　the　king's　musketeers　carries　a　certain
respect　with　it；　and　even　if　that　were　not　the　case　I　would
engage　with　four　of　my　men　to　put　to　flight　a　hundred　of
these　clowns。〃
〃Did　you　witness　the　injury　sustained　by　Comminges？〃
〃Monsieur　de　Comminges　is　in　the　guards　and　not　in　the
musketeers　　〃
〃Which　means；　I　suppose；　that　the　musketeers　are　better
soldiers　than　the　guards。〃　The　cardinal　smiled　as　he　spoke。
〃Every　one　likes　his　own　uniform　best；　my　lord。〃
〃Myself　excepted；〃　and　again　Mazarin　smiled；　〃for　you
perceive　that　I　have　left　off　mine　and　put　on　yours。〃
〃Lord　bless　us！　this　is　modesty　indeed！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。
〃Had　I　such　a　uniform　as　your　eminence　possesses；　I　protest
I　should　be　mightily　content；　and　I　would　take　an　oath　never
to　wear　any　other　costume　　〃
〃Yes；　but　for　to…night's　adventure　I　don't　suppose　my　dress
would　have　been　a　very　safe　one。　Give　me　my　felt　hat；
Bernouin。〃
The　valet　instantly　brought　to　his　master　a　regimental　hat
with　a　wide　brim。　The　cardinal　put　it　on　in　military　style。
〃Your　horses　are　ready　saddled　in　their　stables；　are　they
not？〃　he　said；　turning　to　D'Artagnan。
〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
〃Well；　let　us　set　out。〃
〃How　many　men　does　your　eminence　wish　to　escort　you？〃
〃You　say　that　with　four　men　you　will　undertake　to　disperse　a
hundred　low　fellows；　as　it　may　happen　that　we　shall　have　to
encounter　two　hundred；　take　eight　　〃
〃As　many　as　my　lord　wishes。〃
〃I　will　follow　you。　This　way　　light　us　downstairs　Bernouin。
The　valet　held　a　wax…light；　the　cardinal　took　a　key　from　his
bureau　and　opening　the　door　of　a　secret　stair　descended　into
the　court　of　the　Palais　Royal。

2
A　Nightly　Patrol。

In　ten　minutes　Mazarin　and　his　party　were　traversing　the
street　〃Les　Bons　Enfants〃　behind　the　theatre　built　by
Richelieu　expressly　for　the　play　of　〃Mirame；〃　and　in　which
Mazarin；　who　was　an　amateur　of　music；　but　not　of　literature；
had　introduced　into　France　the　first　opera　that　was　ever
acted　in　that　country。
The　appearance　of　the　town　denoted　the　greatest　agitation。
Numberless　groups　paraded　the　streets　and；　whatever
D'Artagnan　might　think　of　it；　it　was　obvious　that　the
citizens　had　for　the　night　laid　aside　their　usual
forbearance；　in　order　to　assume　a　warlike　aspect。　From　time
to　time　noises　came　in　the　direction　of　the　public　markets。
The　report　of　firearms　was　heard　near　the　Rue　Saint　Denis
and　occasionally　church　bells　began　to　ring　indiscriminately
and　at　the　caprice　of　the　populace。　D'Artagnan；　meantime；
pursued　his　way　with　the　indifference　of　a　man　upon　whom
such　acts　of　folly　made　no　impression。　When　he　approached　a
group　in　the　middle　of　the　street　he　urged　his　horse　upon　it
without　a　word　of　warning；　and　the　members　of　the　group；
whether　rebels　or　not；　as　if　they　knew　with　what　sort　of　a
man　they　had　to　deal；　at　once　gave　place　to　the　patrol。　The
cardinal　envied　that　composure；　which　he　attributed　to　the
habit　of　meeting　danger；　but　none　the　less　he　conceived　for
the　officer　under　whose　orders　he　had　for　the　moment　placed
himself；　that　consideration　which　even　prudence　pays　to
careless　courage。　On　approaching　an　outpost　near　the
Barriere　des　Sergens；　the　sentinel　cried　out；　〃Who's　there？〃
and　D'Artagnan　answered　　having　first　asked　the　word　of
the　cardinal　　〃Louis　and　Rocroy。〃　After　which　he　inquired
if　Lieutenant　Comminges　were　not　the　commanding　officer　at
the　outpost。　The　soldier　replied　by　pointing　out　to　him　an
officer　who　was　conversing；　on　foot；　his　hand　upon　the　neck
of　a　horse　on　which　the　individual　to　whom　he　was　talking
sat。　Here　was　the　officer　D'Artagnan　was　seeking。
〃Here　is　Monsieur　Comminges；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　returning　to
the　cardinal。　He　instantly　retired；　from　a　feeling　of
respectful　delicacy；　it　was；　however；　evident　that　the
cardinal　was　recognized　by　both　Comminges　and　the　other
officers　on　horseback。
〃Well　done；　Guitant；〃　cried　the　cardinal　to　the　equestrian；
〃I　see　plainly　that；　notwithstanding　the　sixty…four　years
that　have　passed　over　your　head；　you　are　still　the　same　man；
active　and　zealous。　What　were　you　saying　to　this　youngster？〃
〃My　lord；〃　replied　Guitant；　〃I　was　observing　that　we　live　in
troublous　times　and　that　to…day's　events　are　very　like　those
in　the　days　of　the　Ligue；　of　which　I　heard　so　much　in　my
youth。　Are　you　aware　that　the　mob　have　even　suggested
throwing　up　barricades　in　the　Rue　Saint　Denis　and　the　Rue
Saint　Antoine？〃
〃And　what　was　Comminges　saying　to　you　in　reply；　my　good
Guitant？〃
〃My　lord；〃　said　Comminges；　〃I　answered　that　to　compose　a
Ligue　only　one　ingredient　was　wanting　　in　my　opinion　an
essential　one　　a　Duc　de　Guise；　moreover；　no　generation
ever　does　the　same　thing　twice。〃
〃No；　but　they　mean　to　make　a　Fronde；　as　they　call　it；〃　said
Guitant。
〃And　what　is　a　Fronde？〃　inquired　Mazarin。
〃My　lord；　Fronde　is　the　name　the　discontented　give　to　their
party。〃
〃And　what　is　the　origin　of　this　name？〃
〃It　seems　that　some　days　since　Councillor　Bachaumont
remarked　at　the　palace　that　rebels　and　agitators　reminded
him　of　schoolboys　slinging　　qui　frondent　　stones　from
the　moats　round　Paris；　young　urchins　who　run　off　the　moment
the　constable　appears；　only　to　return　to　their　diversion　the
instant　his　back　is　turned。　So　they　have　picked　up　the　word
and　the　insurrectionists　are　called　‘Frondeurs；'　and
yesterday　every　article　sold　was　‘a　la　Fronde；'　bread　‘a　la
Fronde；'　hats　‘a　la　Fronde；'　to　say　nothing　of　gloves；
pocket…handkerchiefs；　and　fans；　but　listen　　〃
At　that　moment　a　window　opened　and　a　man　began　to　sing：

〃A　tempest　from　the　Fronde
Did　blow　to…day：
I　think　'twill　blow
Sieur　Mazarin　away。〃

〃Insolent　wretch！〃　cried　Guitant。
〃My　lord；〃　said　Comminges；　who；　irritated　by　his　wounds；
wished　for　revenge　and　longed　to　give　back　blow　for　blow；
〃shall　I　fire　off　a　ball　to　punish　that　jester；　and　to　warn
him　not　to　sing　so　much　out　of　tune　in　the　future？〃
And　as　he　spoke　he　put　his　hand　on　the　holster　of　his
uncle's　saddle…bow。
〃Certainly　not！　certainly　not；〃　exclaimed　Mazarin。　〃Diavolo！
my　dear　friend；　you　are　going　to　spoil　everything　
everything　is　going　on　famously。　I　know　the　French　as　well
as　if　I　had　made　them　myself。　They　sing　　let　them　pay　the
piper。　During　the　Ligue；　about　which　Guitant　was　speaking
just　now；　the　people　chanted　nothing　except　the　mass；　so
everything　went　to　destruction。　Come；　Guitant；　come　along；
and　let's　see　if　they　keep　watch　at　the　Quinze…Vingts　as　at
the　Barriere　des　Sergens。〃
And　waving　his　hand　to　Comminges　he　rejoined　D'Artagnan；　who
instantly　put　himself　at　the　head　of　his　troop；　followed　by
the　cardinal；　Guitant　and　the　rest　of　the　escort。
〃Just　so；〃　muttered　Comminges；　looking　after　Mazarin。　〃True；
I　forgot；　provided　he　can　get　money　out　of　the　people；　that
is　all　he　wants。〃
The　street　of　Saint　Honore；　when　the　cardinal　and　his　party
passed　through　it；　was　crowded　by　an　assemblage　who；
standing　in　groups；　discussed　the　edicts　of　that　memorable
day。　They　pitied　the　young　king；　who　was　unconsciously
ruining　his　country；　and　threw　all　the　odium　of　his
proceedings　on　Mazarin。　Addresses　to　the　Duke　of　Orleans　and
to　Conde　were　suggested。　Blancmesnil　and　Broussel　seemed　in
the　highest　favor。
D'Artagnan　passed　through　the　very　midst　of　this
discontented　mob　just　as　if　his　horse　and　he　had　been　made
of　iron。　Mazarin　and　Guitant　conversed　together　in　whispers。
The　musketeers；　who　had　already　discovered　who　Mazarin　was；
followed　in　profound　silence。　In　the　street　of　Saint
Thomas…du…Louvre　they　stopped　at　the　barrier　distinguished
by　the　name　of　Quinze…Vingts。　Here　Guitant　spoke　to　one　of
the　subalterns；　asking　how　matters　were　progressing。
〃Ah；　captain！〃　said　the　officer；　〃everything　is　quiet
hereabout　　if　I　did　not　know　that　something　is　going　on　in
yonder　house！〃
And　he　pointed　to　a　magnificent　hotel　situated　on　the　very
spot　whereon　the　Vaudeville　now　stands。
〃In　that　hotel？　it　is　the　Hotel　Rambouillet；〃　cried　Guitant。
〃I　really　don't　know　what　hotel　it　is；　all　I　do　know　is　that
I　observed　some　suspicious　looking　people　go　in　there　　〃
〃Nonsense！〃　exclaimed　Guitant；　with　a　burst　of　laughter；
〃those　men　must　be　poets。〃
〃Come；　Guitant；　speak；　if　you　please；　respectfully　of　these
gentlemen；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃don't　you　know　that　I　was　in　my
youth　a　poet？　I　wrote　verses　in　the　style　of　Benserade　
〃
〃You；　my　lord？〃
〃Yes；　I；　shall　I　repeat　to　you　some　of　my　verses？〃
〃Just　as　you　please；　my　lord。　I　do　not　understand　Italian。〃
〃Yes；　but　you　understand　French；〃　and　Mazarin　laid　his　hand
upon　Guitant's　shoulder。