twenty years after(二十年后)-第37节

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that　cannot　be　described。　It　could　be　seen　that　she　had
wished　to　speak；　but　she　had　remained　silent　through　fear　of
losing　one　of　her　companion's　words。
〃What　happened　then？〃　she　asked。
〃Then？〃　said　Athos。　〃Ah；　I　have　come　now　to　what　is　most
difficult。〃
〃Speak；　speak！　One　can　say　anything　to　me。　Besides；　it
doesn't　concern　me；　it　relates　to　Mademoiselle　Marie
Michon。〃
〃Ah；　that　is　true；〃　said　Athos。　〃Well；　then；　Marie　Michon
had　supper　with　her　follower；　and　then；　in　accordance　with
the　permission　given　her；　she　entered　the　chamber　of　her
host；　Kitty　meanwhile　taking　possession　of　an　armchair　in
the　room　first　entered；　where　they　had　taken　their　supper。〃
〃Really；　monsieur；〃　said　Madame　de　Chevreuse；　〃unless　you
are　the　devil　in　person　I　don't　know　how　you　could　become
acquainted　with　all　these　details。〃
〃A　charming　woman　was　that　Marie　Michon；〃　resumed　Athos；
〃one　of　those　wild　creatures　who　are　constantly　conceiving
the　strangest　ideas。　Now；　thinking　that　her　host　was　a
priest；　that　coquette　took　it　into　her　head　that　it　would　be
a　happy　souvenir　for　her　old　age；　among　the　many　happy
souvenirs　she　already　possessed；　if　she　could　win　that　of
having　damned　an　abbe。〃
〃Count；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃upon　my　word；　you　frighten　me。〃
〃Alas！〃　continued　Athos；　〃the　poor　abbe　was　not　a　St。
Ambroise；　and　I　repeat；　Marie　Michon　was　an　adorable
creature。〃
〃Monsieur！〃　cried　the　duchess；　seizing　Athos's　hands；　〃tell
me　this　moment　how　you　know　all　these　details；　or　I　will
send　to　the　convent　of　the　Vieux　Augustins　for　a　monk　to
come　and　exorcise　you。〃
Athos　laughed。　〃Nothing　is　easier；　madame。　A　cavalier；
charged　with　an　important　mission；　had　come　an　hour　before
your　arrival；　seeking　hospitality；　at　the　very　moment　that
the　cure；　summoned　to　the　bedside　of　a　dying　person；　left
not　only　his　house　but　the　village；　for　the　entire　night。
The　priest　having　all　confidence　in　his　guest；　who；　besides；
was　a　nobleman；　had　left　to　him　his　house；　his　supper　and
his　chamber。　And　therefore　Marie　came　seeking　hospitality
from　the　guest　of　the　good　abbe　and　not　from　the　good　abbe
himself。〃
〃And　that　cavalier；　that　guest；　that　nobleman　who　arrived
before　she　came？〃
〃It　was　I；　the　Comte　de　la　Fere；〃　said　Athos；　rising　and
bowing　respectfully　to　the　Duchess　de　Chevreuse。
The　duchess　remained　a　moment　stupefied；　then；　suddenly
bursting　into　laughter：
〃Ah！　upon　my　word；〃　said　she；　〃it　is　very　droll；　and　that
mad　Marie　Michon　fared　better　than　she　expected。　Sit　down；
dear　count；　and　go　on　with　your　story。〃
〃At　this　point　I　have　to　accuse　myself　of　a　fault；　madame。　I
have　told　you　that　I　was　traveling　on　an　important　mission。
At　daybreak　I　left　the　chamber　without　noise；　leaving　my
charming　companion　asleep。　In　the　front　room　the　follower
was　also　still　asleep；　her　head　leaning　back　on　the　chair；
in　all　respects　worthy　of　her　mistress。　Her　pretty　face
arrested　my　attention；　I　approached　and　recognized　that
little　Kitty　whom　our　friend　Aramis　had　placed　with　her。　In
that　way　I　discovered　that　the　charming　traveler　was　　〃
〃Marie　Michon！〃　said　Madame　de　Chevreuse；　hastily。
〃Marie　Michon；〃　continued　Athos。　〃Then　I　went　out　of　the
house；　I　proceeded　to　the　stable　and　found　my　horse　saddled
and　my　lackey　ready。　We　set　forth　on　our　journey。〃
〃And　have　you　never　revisited　that　village？〃　eagerly　asked
Madame　de　Chevreuse。
〃A　year　after；　madame。〃
〃Well？〃
〃I　wanted　to　see　the　good　cure　again。　I　found　him　much
preoccupied　with　an　event　that　he　could　not　at　all
comprehend。　A　week　before　he　had　received；　in　a　cradle；　a
beautiful　little　boy　three　months　old；　with　a　purse　filled
with　gold　and　a　note　containing　these　simple　words：　‘11
October；　1633。'〃
〃It　was　the　date　of　that　strange　adventure；〃　interrupted
Madame　de　Chevreuse。
〃Yes；　but　he　couldn't　understand　what　it　meant；　for　he　had
spent　that　night　with　a　dying　person　and　Marie　Michon　had
left　his　house　before　his　return。〃
〃You　must　know；　monsieur；　that　Marie　Michon；　when　she
returned　to　France　in　1643；　immediately　sought　for
information　about　that　child；　as　a　fugitive　she　could　not
take　care　of　it；　but　on　her　return　she　wished　to　have　it
near　her。〃
〃And　what　said　the　abbe？〃　asked　Athos。
〃That　a　nobleman　whom　he　did　not　know　had　wished　to　take
charge　of　it；　had　answered　for　its　future；　and　had　taken　it
away。〃
〃That　was　true。〃
〃Ah！　I　see！　That　nobleman　was　you；　it　was　his　father！〃
〃Hush！　do　not　speak　so　loud；　madame；　he　is　there。〃
〃He　is　there！　my　son！　the　son　of　Marie　Michon！　But　I　must
see　him　instantly。〃
〃Take　care；　madame；〃　said　Athos；　〃for　he　knows　neither　his
father　nor　his　mother。〃
〃You　have　kept　the　secret！　you　have　brought　him　to　see　me；
thinking　to　make　me　happy。　Oh；　thanks！　sir；　thanks！〃　cried
Madame　de　Chevreuse；　seizing　his　hand　and　trying　to　put　it
to　her　lips；　〃you　have　a　noble　heart。〃
〃I　bring　him　to　you；　madame；〃　said　Athos；　withdrawing　his
hand；　〃hoping　that　in　your　turn　you　will　do　something　for
him；　till　now　I　have　watched　over　his　education　and　I　have
made　him；　I　hope；　an　accomplished　gentleman；　but　I　am　now
obliged　to　return　to　the　dangerous　and　wandering　life　of
party　faction。　To…morrow　I　plunge　into　an　adventurous　affair
in　which　I　may　be　killed。　Then　it　will　devolve　on　you　to
push　him　on　in　that　world　where　he　is　called　on　to　occupy　a
place。〃
〃Rest　assured；〃　cried　the　duchess；　〃I　shall　do　what　I　can。　I
have　but　little　influence　now；　but　all　that　I　have　shall
most　assuredly　be　his。　As　to　his　title　and　fortune　　〃
〃As　to　that；　madame；　I　have　made　over　to　him　the　estate　of
Bragelonne；　my　inheritance；　which　will　give　him　ten　thousand
francs　a　year　and　the　title　of　vicomte。〃
〃Upon　my　soul；　monsieur；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃you　are　a　true
nobleman！　But　I　am　eager　to　see　our　young　vicomte。　Where　is
he？〃
〃There；　in　the　salon。　I　will　have　him　come　in；　if　you　really
wish　it。〃
Athos　moved　toward　the　door；　the　duchess　held　him　back。
〃Is　he　handsome？〃　she　asked。
Athos　smiled。
〃He　resembles　his　mother。〃
So　he　opened　the　door　and　beckoned　the　young　man　in。
The　duchess　could　not　restrain　a　cry　of　joy　on　seeing　so
handsome　a　young　cavalier；　so　far　surpassing　all　that　her
maternal　pride　had　been　able　to　conceive。
〃Vicomte；　come　here；〃　said　Athos；　〃the　duchess　permits　you
to　kiss　her　hand。〃
The　youth　approached　with　his　charming　smile　and　his　head
bare；　and　kneeling　down；　kissed　the　hand　of　the　Duchess　de
Chevreuse。
〃Sir；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Athos；　〃was　it　not　in　compassion
to　my　timidity　that　you　told　me　that　this　lady　was　the
Duchess　de　Chevreuse；　and　is　she　not　the　queen？〃
〃No；　vicomte；〃　said　Madame　de　Chevreuse；　taking　his　hand　and
making　him　sit　near　her；　while　she　looked　at　him　with　eyes
sparkling　with　pleasure；　〃no；　unhappily；　I　am　not　the　queen。
If　I　were　I　should　do　for　you　at　once　the　most　that　you
deserve。　But　let　us　see；　whatever　I　may　be；〃　she　added；
hardly　restraining　herself　from　kissing　that　pure　brow；　〃let
us　see　what　profession　you　wish　to　follow。〃
Athos；　standing；　looked　at　them　both　with　indescribable
pleasure。
〃Madame；〃　answered　the　youth　in　his　sweet　voice；　〃it　seems
to　me　that　there　is　only　one　career　for　a　gentleman　　that
of　the　army。　I　have　been　brought　up　by　monsieur　le　comte
with　the　intention；　I　believe；　of　making　me　a　soldier；　and
he　gave　me　reason　to　hope　that　at　Paris　he　would　present　me
to　some　one　who　would　recommend　me　to　the　favor　of　the
prince。〃
〃Yes；　I　understand　it　well。　Personally；　I　am　on　bad　terms
with　him；　on　account　of　the　quarrels　between　Madame　de
Montbazon；　my　mother…in…law；　and　Madame　de　Longueville。　But
the　Prince　de　Marsillac！　Yes；　indeed；　that's　the　right
thing。　The　Prince　de　Marsillac　　my　old　friend　　will
recommend　our　young　friend　to　Madame　de　Longueville；　who
will　give　him　a　letter　to　her　brother；　the　prince；　who　loves
her　too　tenderly　not　to　do　what　she　wishes　immediately。〃
〃Well；　that　will　do　charmingly；〃　said　the　count；　〃but　may　I
beg　that　the　greatest　haste　may　be　made；　for　I　have　reasons
for　wishing　the　vicomte　not　to　sleep　longer　than　to…morrow
night　in　Paris！〃
〃Do　you　wish　it　known　that　you　are　interested　about　him；
monsieur　le　comte？〃
〃Better　for　him　in　future　that　he　should　be　supposed　never
to　have　seen　me。〃
〃Oh；　sir！〃　cried　Raoul。
〃You　know；　Bragelonne；〃　said　Athos；　〃I　never　speak　without
reflection。〃
〃Well；　comte；　I　am　going　instantly；〃　interrupted　the
duchess；　〃to　send　for　the　Prince　de　Marsillac；　who　is
happily；　in　Paris　just　now。　What　are　you　going　to　do　this
evening？〃
〃We　intend　to　visit　the　Abbe　Scarron；　for　whom　I　have　a
letter　of　introduction　and　at　whose　house　I　expect　to　meet
some　of　my　friends。〃
〃'Tis　well；　I　will　go　there　also；　for　a　few　minutes；〃　said
the　duchess；　〃do　not　quit　his　salon　until　you　have　seen　me。〃
Athos　bowed　and　prepared　to　leave。
〃Well；　monsieur　le　comte；〃　said　the　duchess；　smiling；　〃does
one　leave　so　solemnly　his　old　friends？〃
〃Ah；〃　murmured　Athos；　kissing　her　hand；　〃had　I　only　sooner
known　that　Marie　Michon　was　so　charming　a　creature！〃　And　he
withdrew；　sighing。


21
The　Abbe　Scarron。

There　was　once　in　the　Rue　des　Tournelles　a　house　known　by
all　the　sedan　chairmen　and　footmen　of　Paris；　and　yet；
nevertheless；　this　house　was　neither　that　of　a　great　lord
no