twenty years after(二十年后)-第35节

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so　that　I　dreamed　that　I　was　trying　to　escape　and　broke　my
neck　in　doing　so。〃
La　Ramee　laughed。
〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃'tis　a　warning　from　Heaven。　Never　commit
such　an　imprudence　as　to　try　to　escape；　except　in　your
dreams。〃
〃And　you　are　right；　my　dear　La　Ramee；〃　said　the　duke；　wiping
away　the　sweat　that　stood　on　his　brow；　wide　awake　though　he
was；　〃after　this　I　will　think　of　nothing　but　eating　and
drinking。〃
〃Hush！〃　said　La　Ramee；　and　one　by　one　he　sent　away　the
guards；　on　various　pretexts。
〃Well？〃　asked　the　duke　when　they　were　alone。
〃Well！〃　replied　La　Ramee；　〃your　supper　is　ordered。〃
〃Ah！　and　what　is　it　to　be？　Monsieur；　my　majordomo；　will
there　be　a　pie？〃
〃I　should　think　so；　indeed　　almost　as　high　as　a　tower。〃
〃You　told　him　it　was　for　me？〃
〃Yes；　and　he　said　he　would　do　his　best　to　please　your
highness。〃
〃Good！〃　exclaimed　the　duke；　rubbing　his　hands。
〃Devil　take　it；　my　lord！　what　a　gourmand　you　are　growing；　I
haven't　seen　you　with　so　cheerful　a　face　these　five　years。〃
The　duke　saw　that　he　had　not　controlled　himself　as　he　ought；
but　at　that　moment；　as　if　he　had　listened　at　the　door　and
comprehended　the　urgent　need　of　diverting　La　Ramee's　ideas；
Grimaud　entered　and　made　a　sign　to　La　Ramee　that　he　had
something　to　say　to　him。
La　Ramee　drew　near　to　Grimaud；　who　spoke　to　him　in　a　low
voice。
The　duke　meanwhile　recovered　his　self…control。
〃I　have　already　forbidden　that　man；〃　he　said；　〃to　come　in
here　without　my　permission。〃
〃You　must　pardon　him；　my　lord；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃for　I
directed　him　to　come。〃
〃And　why　did　you　so　direct　when　you　know　that　he　displeases
me？〃
〃My　lord　will　remember　that　it　was　agreed　between　us　that　he
should　wait　upon　us　at　that　famous　supper。　My　lord　has
forgotten　the　supper。〃
〃No；　but　I　have　forgotten　Monsieur　Grimaud。〃
〃My　lord　understands　that　there　can　be　no　supper　unless　he
is　allowed　to　be　present。〃
〃Go　on；　then；　have　it　your　own　way。〃
〃Come　here；　my　lad；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃and　hear　what　I　have　to
say。〃
Grimaud　approached；　with　a　very　sullen　expression　on　his
face。
La　Ramee　continued：　〃My　lord　has　done　me　the　honor　to　invite
me　to　a　supper　to…morrow　en　tete…a…tete。〃
Grimaud　made　a　sign　which　meant　that　he　didn't　see　what　that
had　to　do　with　him。
〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃the　matter　concerns　you；　for　you
will　have　the　honor　to　serve　us；　and　besides；　however　good
an　appetite　we　may　have　and　however　great　our　thirst；　there
will　be　something　left　on　the　plates　and　in　the　bottles；　and
that　something　will　be　yours。〃
Grimaud　bowed　in　thanks。
〃And　now；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃I　must　ask　your　highness's
pardon；　but　it　seems　that　Monsieur　de　Chavigny　is　to　be　away
for　a　few　days　and　he　has　sent　me　word　that　he　has　certain
directions　to　give　me　before　his　departure。〃
The　duke　tried　to　exchange　a　glance　with　Grimaud；　but　there
was　no　glance　in　Grimaud's　eyes。
〃Go；　then；〃　said　the　duke；　〃and　return　as　soon　as　possible。〃
〃Does　your　highness　wish　to　take　revenge　for　the　game　of
tennis　yesterday？〃
Grimaud　intimated　by　a　scarcely　perceptible　nod　that　he
should　consent。
〃Yes；〃　said　the　duke；　〃but　take　care；　my　dear　La　Ramee；　for
I　propose　to　beat　you　badly。〃
La　Ramee　went　out。　Grimaud　looked　after　him；　and　when　the
door　was　closed　he　drew　out　of　his　pocket　a　pencil　and　a
sheet　of　paper。
〃Write；　my　lord；〃　he　said。
〃And　what？〃
Grimaud　dictated。
〃All　is　ready　for　to…morrow　evening。　Keep　watch　from　seven
to　nine。　Have　two　riding　horses　ready。　We　shall　descend　by
the　first　window　in　the　gallery。〃
〃What　next？〃
〃Sign　your　name；　my　lord。〃
The　duke　signed。
〃Now；　my　lord；　give　me；　if　you　have　not　lost　it；　the　ball　
that　which　contained　the　letter。〃
The　duke　took　it　from　under　his　pillow　and　gave　it　to
Grimaud。　Grimaud　gave　a　grim　smile。
〃Well？〃　asked　the　duke。
〃Well；　my　lord；　I　sew　up　the　paper　in　the　ball　and　you；　in
your　game　of　tennis；　will　send　the　ball　into　the　ditch。〃
〃But　will　it　not　be　lost？〃
〃Oh　no；　there　will　be　some　one　at　hand　to　pick　it　up。〃
〃A　gardener？〃
Grimaud　nodded。
〃The　same　as　yesterday？〃
Another　nod　on　the　part　of　Grimaud。
〃The　Count　de　Rochefort？〃
Grimaud　nodded　the　third　time。
〃Come；　now；〃　said　the　duke；　〃give　some　particulars　of　the
plan　for　our　escape。〃
〃That　is　forbidden　me；〃　said　Grimaud；　〃until　the　last
moment。〃
〃Who　will　be　waiting　for　me　beyond　the　ditch？〃
〃I　know　nothing　about　it；　my　lord。〃
〃But　at　least；　if　you　don't　want　to　see　me　turn　crazy；　tell
what　that　famous　pate　will　contain。〃
〃Two　poniards；　a　knotted　rope　and　a　poire　d'angoisse。〃*

*This　poire　d'angoisse　was　a　famous　gag；　in　the　form　of　a
pear；　which；　being　thrust　into　the　mouth；　by　the　aid　of　a
spring；　dilated；　so　as　to　distend　the　jaws　to　their　greatest
width。

〃Yes；　I　understand。〃
〃My　lord　observes　that　there　will　be　enough　to　go　around。〃
〃We　shall　take　to　ourselves　the　poniards　and　the　rope；〃
replied　the　duke。
〃And　make　La　Ramee　eat　the　pear；〃　answered　Grimaud。
〃My　dear　Grimaud；　thou　speakest　seldom；　but　when　thou　dost；
one　must　do　thee　justice　　thy　words　are　words　of　gold。〃

20
One　of　Marie　Michon's　Adventures。

Whilst　these　projects　were　being　formed　by　the　Duc　de
Beaufort　and　Grimaud；　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　and　the　Vicomte
de　Bragelonne　were　entering　Paris　by　the　Rue　du　Faubourg
Saint　Marcel。
They　stopped　at　the　sign　of　the　Fox；　in　the　Rue　du　Vieux
Colombier；　a　tavern　known　for　many　years　by　Athos；　and　asked
for　two　bedrooms。
〃You　must　dress　yourself；　Raoul；〃　said　Athos；　〃I　am　going　to
present　you　to　some　one。〃
〃To…day；　monsieur？〃　asked　the　young　man。
〃In　half　an　hour。〃
The　young　man　bowed。　Perhaps；　not　being　endowed　with　the
endurance　of　Athos；　who　seemed　to　be　made　of　iron；　he　would
have　preferred　a　bath　in　the　river　Seine　of　which　he　had
heard　so　much；　and　afterward　his　bed；　but　the　Comte　de　la
Fere　had　spoken　and　he　had　no　thought　but　to　obey。
〃By　the　way；〃　said　Athos；　〃take　some　pains　with　your　toilet；
Raoul；　I　want　you　to　be　approved。〃
〃I　hope；　sir；〃　replied　the　youth；　smiling；　〃that　there's　no
idea　of　a　marriage　for　me；　you　know　of　my　engagement　to
Louise？〃
Athos；　in　his　turn；　smiled　also。
〃No；　don't　be　alarmed；　although　it　is　to　a　lady　that　I　am
going　to　present　you；　and　I　am　anxious　that　you　should　love
her　　〃
The　young　man　looked　at　the　count　with　a　certain　uneasiness；
but　at　a　smile　from　Athos　he　was　quickly　reassured。
〃How　old　is　she？〃　inquired　the　Vicomte　de　Bragelonne。
〃My　dear　Raoul；　learn；　once　for　all；　that　that　is　a　question
which　is　never　asked。　When　you　can　find　out　a　woman's　age　by
her　face；　it　is　useless　to　ask　it；　when　you　cannot　do　so；　it
is　indiscreet。〃
〃Is　she　beautiful？〃
〃Sixteen　years　ago　she　was　deemed　not　only　the　prettiest；
but　the　most　graceful　woman　in　France。〃
This　reply　reassured　the　vicomte。　A　woman　who　had　been　a
reigning　beauty　a　year　before　he　was　born　could　not　be　the
subject　of　any　scheme　for　him。　He　retired　to　his　toilet。
When　he　reappeared；　Athos　received　him　with　the　same
paternal　smile　as　that　which　he　had　often　bestowed　on
D'Artagnan；　but　a　more　profound　tenderness　for　Raoul　was　now
visibly　impressed　upon　his　face。
Athos　cast　a　glance　at　his　feet；　hands　and　hair　　those
three　marks　of　race。　The　youth's　dark　hair　was　neatly　parted
and　hung　in　curls；　forming　a　sort　of　dark　frame　around　his
face；　such　was　the　fashion　of　the　day。　Gloves　of　gray　kid；
matching　the　hat；　well　displayed　the　form　of　a　slender　and
elegant　hand；　whilst　his　boots；　similar　in　color　to　the　hat
and　gloves；　confined　feet　small　as　those　of　a　boy　twelve
years　old。
〃Come；〃　murmured　Athos；　〃if　she　is　not　proud　of　him；　she
must　be　hard　to　please。〃
It　was　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　The　two　travelers
proceeded　to　the　Rue　Saint　Dominique　and　stopped　at　the　door
of　a　magnificent　hotel；　surmounted　with　the　arms　of　De
Luynes。
〃'Tis　here；〃　said　Athos。
He　entered　the　hotel　and　ascended　the　front　steps；　and
addressing　a　footman　who　waited　there　in　a　grand　livery；
asked　if　the　Duchess　de　Chevreuse　was　visible　and　if　she
could　receive　the　Comte　de　la　Fere？
The　servant　returned　with　a　message　to　say；　that；　though　the
duchess　had　not　the　honor　of　knowing　Monsieur　de　la　Fere；
she　would　receive　him。
Athos　followed　the　footman；　who　led　him　through　a　long
succession　of　apartments　and　paused　at　length　before　a
closed　door。　Athos　made　a　sign　to　the　Vicomte　de　Bragelonne
to　remain　where　he　was。
The　footman　opened　the　door　and　announced　Monsieur　le　Comte
de　la　Fere。
Madame　de　Chevreuse；　whose　name　appears　so　often　in　our
story　〃The　Three　Musketeers；〃　without　her　actually　having
appeared　in　any　scene；　was　still　a　beautiful　woman。　Although
about　forty…four　or　forty…five　years　old；　she　might　have
passed　for　thirty…five。　She　still　had　her　rich　fair　hair；
her　large；　animated；　intelligent　eyes；　so　often　opened　by
intrigue；　so　often　closed　by　the　blindness　of　love。　She　had
still　her　nymph…like　form；　so　that　when　her　back　was　turned
she　still　was　not　unlike　the　girl　who　had　jumped；　with　Anne
of　Austria；　over　the　moat　of　the　Tuileries　in　1563。　In　all
other　respects　she　was　the　same　mad　creature　who　threw　over
her　amours　such　an　air　of　originality　as　to　make　them
proverbial　for　eccentricity　in　her　family。
She　was　in　a　little　boudoir；　hung　with　blue　damask；　adorned
by　red　flow