twenty years after(二十年后)-第38节

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nevertheless；　this　house　was　neither　that　of　a　great　lord
nor　of　a　rich　man。　There　was　neither　dining；　nor　playing　at
cards；　nor　dancing　in　that　house。　Nevertheless；　it　was　the
rendezvous　of　the　great　world　and　all　Paris　went　there。　It
was　the　abode　of　the　little　Abbe　Scarron。
In　the　home　of　the　witty　abbe　dwelt　incessant　laughter；
there　all　the　items　of　the　day　had　their　source　and　were　so
quickly　transformed；　misrepresented；　metamorphosed；　some
into　epigrams；　some　into　falsehoods；　that　every　one　was
anxious　to　pass　an　hour　with　little　Scarron；　listening　to
what　he　said；　reporting　it　to　others。
The　diminutive　Abbe　Scarron；　who；　however；　was　an　abbe　only
because　he　owned　an　abbey；　and　not　because　he　was　in　orders；
had　formerly　been　one　of　the　gayest　prebendaries　in　the　town
of　Mans；　which　he　inhabited。　On　a　day　of　the　carnival　he　had
taken　a　notion　to　provide　an　unusual　entertainment　for　that
good　town；　of　which　he　was　the　life　and　soul。　He　had　made
his　valet　cover　him　with　honey；　then；　opening　a　feather　bed；
he　had　rolled　in　it　and　had　thus　become　the　most　grotesque
fowl　it　is　possible　to　imagine。　He　then　began　to　visit　his
friends　of　both　sexes；　in　that　strange　costume。　At　first　he
had　been　followed　through　astonishment；　then　with　derisive
shouts；　then　the　porters　had　insulted　him；　then　children　had
thrown　stones　at　him；　and　finally　he　was　obliged　to　run；　to
escape　the　missiles。　As　soon　as　he　took　to　flight　every　one
pursued　him；　until；　pressed　on　all　sides；　Scarron　found　no
way　of　escaping　his　escort；　except　by　throwing　himself　into
the　river；　but　the　water　was　icy　cold。　Scarron　was　heated；
the　cold　seized　on　him；　and　when　he　reached　the　farther　bank
he　found　himself　crippled。
Every　means　had　been　employed　in　vain　to　restore　the　use　of
his　limbs。　He　had　been　subjected　to　a　severe　disciplinary
course　of　medicine；　at　length　he　sent　away　all　his　doctors；
declaring　that　he　preferred　the　disease　to　the　treatment；
and　came　to　Paris；　where　the　fame　of　his　wit　had　preceded
him。　There　he　had　a　chair　made　on　his　own　plan；　and　one　day；
visiting　Anne　of　Austria　in　this　chair；　she　asked　him；
charmed　as　she　was　with　his　wit；　if　he　did　not　wish　for　a
title。
〃Yes；　your　majesty；　there　is　a　title　which　I　covet　much；〃
replied　Scarron。
〃And　what　is　that？〃
〃That　of　being　your　invalid；〃　answered　Scarron。
So　he　was　called　the　queen's　invalid；　with　a　pension　of
fifteen　hundred　francs。
From　that　lucky　moment　Scarron　led　a　happy　life；　spending
both　income　and　principal。　One　day；　however；　an　emissary　of
the　cardinal's　gave　him　to　understand　that　he　was　wrong　in
receiving　the　coadjutor　so　often。
〃And　why？〃　asked　Scarron；　〃is　he　not　a　man　of　good　birth？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Agreeable？〃
〃Undeniably。〃
〃Witty？〃
〃He　has；　unfortunately；　too　much　wit。〃
〃Well；　then；　why　do　you　wish　me　to　give　up　seeing　such　a
man？〃
〃Because　he　is　an　enemy。〃
〃Of　whom？〃
〃Of　the　cardinal。〃
〃What？〃　answered　Scarron；　〃I　continue　to　receive　Monsieur
Gilles　Despreaux；　who　thinks　ill　of　me；　and　you　wish　me　to
give　up　seeing　the　coadjutor；　because　he　thinks　ill　of
another　man。　Impossible！〃
The　conversation　had　rested　there　and　Scarron；　through　sheer
obstinacy；　had　seen　Monsieur　de　Gondy　only　the　more
frequently。
Now；　the　very　morning　of　which　we　speak　was　that　of　his
quarter…day　payment；　and　Scarron；　as　usual；　had　sent　his
servant　to　get　his　money　at　the　pension…office；　but　the　man
had　returned　and　said　that　the　government　had　no　more　money
to　give　Monsieur　Scarron。
It　was　on　Thursday；　the　abbe's　reception　day；　people　went
there　in　crowds。　The　cardinal's　refusal　to　pay　the　pension
was　known　about　the　town　in　half　an　hour　and　he　was　abused
with　wit　and　vehemence。
In　the　Rue　Saint　Honore　Athos　fell　in　with　two　gentlemen
whom　he　did　not　know；　on　horseback　like　himself；　followed　by
a　lackey　like　himself；　and　going　in　the　same　direction　that
he　was。　One　of　them；　hat　in　hand；　said　to　him：
〃Would　you　believe　it；　monsieur？　that　contemptible　Mazarin
has　stopped　poor　Scarron's　pension。〃
〃That　is　unreasonable；〃　said　Athos；　saluting　in　his　turn　the
two　cavaliers。　And　they　separated　with　courteous　gestures。
〃It　happens　well　that　we　are　going　there　this　evening；〃　said
Athos　to　the　vicomte；　〃we　will　pay　our　compliments　to　that
poor　man。〃
〃What；　then；　is　this　Monsieur　Scarron；　who　thus　puts　all
Paris　in　commotion？　Is　he　some　minister　out　of　office？〃
〃Oh；　no；　not　at　all；　vicomte；〃　Athos　replied；　〃he　is　simply
a　gentleman　of　great　genius　who　has　fallen　into　disgrace
with　the　cardinal　through　having　written　certain　verses
against　him。〃
〃Do　gentlemen；　then；　make　verses？〃　asked　Raoul；　naively；　〃I
thought　it　was　derogatory。〃
〃So　it　is；　my　dear　vicomte；〃　said　Athos；　laughing；　〃to　make
bad　ones；　but　to　make　good　ones　increases　fame　　witness
Monsieur　de　Rotrou。　Nevertheless；〃　he　continued；　in　the　tone
of　one　who　gives　wholesome　advice；　〃I　think　it　is　better　not
to　make　them。〃
〃Then；〃　said　Raoul；　〃this　Monsieur　Scarron　is　a　poet？〃
〃Yes；　you　are　warned；　vicomte。　Consider　well　what　you　do　in
that　house。　Talk　only　by　gestures；　or　rather　always　listen。〃
〃Yes；　monsieur；〃　replied　Raoul。
〃You　will　see　me　talking　with　one　of　my　friends；　the　Abbe
d'Herblay；　of　whom　you　have　often　heard　me　speak。〃
〃I　remember　him；　monsieur。〃
〃Come　near　to　us　from　time　to　time；　as　if　to　speak；　but　do
not　speak；　and　do　not　listen。　That　little　stratagem　may
serve　to　keep　off　interlopers。〃
〃Very　well；　monsieur；　I　will　obey　you　at　all　points。〃
Athos　made　two　visits　in　Paris；　at　seven　o'clock　he　and
Raoul　directed　their　steps　to　the　Rue　des　Tournelles；　it　was
stopped　by　porters；　horses　and　footmen。　Athos　forced　his　way
through　and　entered；　followed　by　the　young　man。　The　first
person　that　struck　him　on　his　entrance　was　Aramis；　planted
near　a　great　chair　on　castors；　very　large；　covered　with　a
canopy　of　tapestry；　under　which　there　moved；　enveloped　in　a
quilt　of　brocade；　a　little　face；　youngish；　very　merry；
somewhat　pallid；　whilst　its　eyes　never　ceased　to　express　a
sentiment　at　once　lively；　intellectual；　and　amiable。　This
was　the　Abbe　Scarron；　always　laughing；　joking；　complimenting
　yet　suffering　　and　toying　nervously　with　a　small
switch。
Around　this　kind　of　rolling　tent　pressed　a　crowd　of
gentlemen　and　ladies。　The　room　was　neatly；　comfortably
furnished。　Large　valances　of　silk；　embroidered　with　flowers
of　gay　colors；　which　were　rather　faded；　fell　from　the　wide
windows；　the　fittings　of　the　room　were　simple；　but　in
excellent　taste。　Two　well　trained　servingmen　were　in
attendance　on　the　company。　On　perceiving　Athos；　Aramis
advanced　toward　him；　took　him　by　the　hand　and　presented　him
to　Scarron。　Raoul　remained　silent；　for　he　was　not　prepared
for　the　dignity　of　the　bel　esprit。
After　some　minutes　the　door　opened　and　a　footman　announced
Mademoiselle　Paulet。
Athos　touched　the　shoulder　of　the　vicomte。
〃Look　at　this　lady；　Raoul；　she　is　an　historic　personage；　it
was　to　visit　her　King　Henry　IV。　was　going　when　he　was
assassinated。〃
Every　one　thronged　around　Mademoiselle　Paulet；　for　she　was
always　very　much　the　fashion。　She　was　a　tall　woman；　with　a
slender　figure　and　a　forest　of　golden　curls；　such　as　Raphael
was　fond　of　and　Titian　has　painted　all　his　Magdalens　with。
This　fawn…colored　hair；　or；　perhaps　the　sort　of　ascendancy
which　she　had　over　other　women；　gave　her　the　name　of　〃La
Lionne。〃　Mademoiselle　Paulet　took　her　accustomed　seat；　but
before　sitting　down；　she　cast；　in　all　her　queen…like
grandeur；　a　look　around　the　room；　and　her　eyes　rested　on
Raoul。
Athos　smiled。
〃Mademoiselle　Paulet　has　observed　you；　vicomte；　go　and　bow
to　her；　don't　try　to　appear　anything　but　what　you　are；　a
true　country　youth；　on　no　account　speak　to　her　of　Henry　IV。〃
〃When　shall　we　two　walk　together？〃　Athos　then　said　to
Aramis。
〃Presently　　there　are　not　a　sufficient　number　of　people
here　yet；　we　shall　be　remarked。〃
At　this　moment　the　door　opened　and　in　walked　the　coadjutor。
At　this　name　every　one　looked　around；　for　his　was　already　a
very　celebrated　name。　Athos　did　the　same。　He　knew　the　Abbe
de　Gondy　only　by　report。
He　saw　a　little　dark　man；　ill　made　and　awkward　with　his
hands　in　everything　　except　drawing　a　sword　and　firing　a
pistol　　with　something　haughty　and　contemptuous　in　his
face。
Scarron　turned　around　toward　him　and　came　to　meet　him　in　his
chair。
〃Well；〃　said　the　coadjutor；　on　seeing　him；　〃you　are　in
disgrace；　then；　abbe？〃
This　was　the　orthodox　phrase。　It　had　been　said　that　evening
a　hundred　times　　and　Scarron　was　at　his　hundredth　bon　mot
on　the　subject；　he　was　very　nearly　at　the　end　of　his
humoristic　tether；　but　one　despairing　effort　saved　him。
〃Monsieur；　the　Cardinal　Mazarin　has　been　so　kind　as　to　think
of　me；〃　he　said。
〃But　how　can　you　continue　to　receive　us？〃　asked　the
coadjutor；　〃if　your　income　is　lessened　I　shall　be　obliged　to
make　you　a　canon　of　Notre　Dame。〃
〃Oh；　no！〃　cried　Scarron；　〃I　should　compromise　you　too　much。〃
〃Perhaps　you　have　resources　of　which　we　are　ignorant？〃
〃I　shall　borrow　from　the　queen。〃
〃But　her　majesty　has　no　property；〃　interposed　Aramis。
At　this　moment　the　door　opened　and　Madame　de　Chevreuse　was
announced。　Every　one　arose。　Scarron　turned　his　chair　toward
the　door；　Raoul　blushed；　Athos　made　a　s