twenty years after(二十年后)-第39节

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announced。　Every　one　arose。　Scarron　turned　his　chair　toward
the　door；　Raoul　blushed；　Athos　made　a　sign　to　Aramis；　who
went　and　hid　himself　in　the　enclosure　of　a　window。
In　the　midst　of　all　the　compliments　that　awaited　her　on　her
entrance；　the　duchess　seemed　to　be　looking　for　some　one；　at
last　she　found　out　Raoul　and　her　eyes　sparkled；　she
perceived　Athos　and　became　thoughtful；　she　saw　Aramis　in　the
seclusion　of　the　window　and　gave　a　start　of　surprise　behind
her　fan。
〃Apropos；〃　she　said；　as　if　to　drive　away　thoughts　that
pursued　her　in　spite　of　herself；　〃how　is　poor　Voiture；　do
you　know；　Scarron？〃
〃What；　is　Monsieur　Voiture　ill？〃　inquired　a　gentleman　who
had　spoken　to　Athos　in　the　Rue　Saint　Honore；　〃what　is　the
matter　with　him？〃
〃He　was　acting；　but　forgot　to　take　the　precaution　to　have　a
change　of　linen　ready　after　the　performance；〃　said　the
coadjutor；　〃so　he　took　cold　and　is　about　to　die。〃
〃Is　he　then　so　ill；　dear　Voiture？〃　asked　Aramis；　half　hidden
by　the　window　curtain。
〃Die！〃　cried　Mademoiselle　Paulet；　bitterly；　〃he！　Why；　he　is
surrounded　by　sultanas；　like　a　Turk。　Madame　de　Saintot　has
hastened　to　him　with　broth；　La　Renaudot　warms　his　sheets；
the　Marquise　de　Rambouillet　sends　him　his　tisanes。〃
〃You　don't　like　him；　my　dear　Parthenie；〃　said　Scarron。
〃What　an　injustice；　my　dear　invalid！　I　hate　him　so　little
that　I　should　be　delighted　to　order　masses　for　the　repose　of
his　soul。〃
〃You　are　not　called　‘Lionne'　for　nothing；〃　observed　Madame
de　Chevreuse；　〃your　teeth　are　terrible。〃
〃You　are　unjust　to　a　great　poet；　it　seems　to　me；〃　Raoul
ventured　to　say。
〃A　great　poet！　come；　one　may　easily　see；　vicomte；　that　you
are　lately　from　the　provinces　and　have　never　so　much　as　seen
him。　A　great　poet！　he　is　scarcely　five　feet　high。〃
〃Bravo　bravo！〃　cried　a　tall　man　with　an　enormous　mustache
and　a　long　rapier；　〃bravo；　fair　Paulet；　it　is　high　time　to
put　little　Voiture　in　his　right　place。　For　my　part；　I　always
thought　his　poetry　detestable；　and　I　think　I　know　something
about　poetry。〃
〃Who　is　this　officer；〃　inquired　Raoul　of　Athos；　〃who　is
speaking？〃
〃Monsieur　de　Scudery；　the　author　of　‘Clelie；'　and　of　‘Le
Grand　Cyrus；'　which　were　composed　partly　by　him　and　partly
by　his　sister；　who　is　now　talking　to　that　pretty　person
yonder；　near　Monsieur　Scarron。〃
Raoul　turned　and　saw　two　faces　just　arrived。　One　was
perfectly　charming；　delicate；　pensive；　shaded　by　beautiful
dark　hair；　and　eyes　soft　as　velvet；　like　those　lovely
flowers；　the　heartsease；　in　which　shine　out　the　golden
petals。　The　other；　of　mature　age；　seemed　to　have　the　former
one　under　her　charge；　and　was　cold；　dry　and　yellow　　the
true　type　of　a　duenna　or　a　devotee。
Raoul　resolved　not　to　quit　the　room　without　having　spoken　to
the　beautiful　girl　with　the　soft　eyes；　who　by　a　strange
fancy；　although　she　bore　no　resemblance；　reminded　him　of　his
poor　little　Louise；　whom　he　had　left　in　the　Chateau　de　la
Valliere　and　whom；　in　the　midst　of　all　the　party；　he　had
never　for　one　moment　quite　forgotten。　Meantime　Aramis　had
drawn　near　to　the　coadjutor；　who；　smiling　all　the　while；
contrived　to　drop　some　words　into　his　ear。　Aramis；
notwithstanding　his　self…control；　could　not　refrain　from　a
slight　movement　of　surprise。
〃Laugh；　then；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Retz；　〃they　are　looking　at
us。〃　And　leaving　Aramis　he　went　to　talk　with　Madame　de
Chevreuse；　who　was　in　the　midst　of　a　large　group。
Aramis　affected　a　laugh；　to　divert　the　attention　of　certain
curious　listeners；　and　perceiving　that　Athos　had　betaken
himself　to　the　embrasure　of　a　window　and　remained　there；　he
proceeded　to　join　him；　throwing　out　a　few　words　carelessly
as　he　moved　through　the　room。
As　soon　as　the　two　friends　met　they　began　a　conversation
which　was　emphasized　by　frequent　gesticulation。
Raoul　then　approached　them　as　Athos　had　directed　him　to　do。
〃'Tis　a　rondeau　by　Monsieur　Voiture　that　monsieur　l'abbe　is
repeating　to　me。〃　said　Athos　in　a　loud　voice；　〃and　I　confess
I　think　it　incomparable。〃
Raoul　stayed　only　a　few　minutes　near　them　and　then　mingled
with　the　group　round　Madame　de　Chevreuse。
〃Well；　then？〃　asked　Athos；　in　a　low　tone。
〃It　is　to　be　to…morrow；〃　said　Aramis　hastily。
〃At　what　time？〃
〃Six　o'clock。〃
〃Where？〃
〃At　Saint　Mande。〃
〃Who　told　you？〃
〃The　Count　de　Rochefort。〃
Some　one　drew　near。
〃And　then　philosophic　ideas　are　wholly　wanting　in　Voiture's
works；　but　I　am　of　the　same　opinion　as　the　coadjutor　　he
is　a　poet；　a　true　poet。〃　Aramis　spoke　so　as　to　be　heard　by
everybody。
〃And　I；　too；〃　murmured　the　young　lady　with　the　velvet　eyes。
〃I　have　the　misfortune　also　to　admire　his　poetry
exceedingly。〃
〃Monsieur　Scarron；　do　me　the　honor；〃　said　Raoul；　blushing；
〃to　tell　me　the　name　of　that　young　lady　whose　opinion　seems
so　different　from　that　of　others　of　the　company。〃
〃Ah！　my　young　vicomte；〃　replied　Scarron；　〃I　suppose　you　wish
to　propose　to　her　an　alliance　offensive　and　defensive。〃
Raoul　blushed　again。
〃You　asked　the　name　of　that　young　lady。　She　is　called　the
fair　Indian。〃
〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　returned　Raoul；　blushing　still　more
deeply；　〃I　know　no　more　than　I　did　before。　Alas！　I　am　from
the　country。〃
〃Which　means　that　you　know　very　little　about　the　nonsense
which　here　flows　down　our　streets。　So　much　the　better；　young
man！　so　much　the　better！　Don't　try　to　understand　it　　you
will　only　lose　your　time。〃
〃You　forgive　me；　then；　sir；〃　said　Raoul；　〃and　you　will　deign
to　tell　me　who　is　the　person　that　you　call　the　young
Indian？〃
〃Certainly；　one　of　the　most　charming　persons　that　lives　
Mademoiselle　Frances　d'Aubigne。〃
〃Does　she　belong　to　the　family　of　the　celebrated　Agrippa；
the　friend　of　Henry　IV。？〃
〃His　granddaughter。　She　comes　from　Martinique；　so　I　call　her
the　beautiful　Indian。〃
Raoul　looked　surprised　and　his　eyes　met　those　of　the　young
lady；　who　smiled。
The　company　went　on　speaking　of　the　poet　Voiture。
〃Monsieur；〃　said　Mademoiselle　d'Aubigne　to　Scarron；　as　if
she　wished　to　join　in　the　conversation　he　was　engaged　in
with　Raoul；　〃do　you　not　admire　Monsieur　Voiture's　friends？
Listen　how　they　pull　him　to　pieces　even　whilst　they　praise
him；　one　takes　away　from　him　all　claim　to　good　sense；
another　robs　him　of　his　poetry；　a　third　of　his　originality；
another　of　his　humor；　another　of　his　independence　of
character；　a　sixth　　but；　good　heavens！　what　will　they
leave　him？　as　Mademoiselle　de　Scudery　remarks。〃
Scarron　and　Raoul　laughed。　The　fair　Indian；　astonished　at
the　sensation　her　observation　produced；　looked　down　and
resumed　her　air　of　naivete。
Athos；　still　within　the　inclosure　of　the　window；　watched
this　scene　with　a　smile　of　disdain　on　his　lips。
〃Tell　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　to　come　to　me；〃　said　Madame　de
Chevreuse；　〃I　want　to　speak　to　him。〃
〃And　I；〃　said　the　coadjutor；　〃want　it　to　be　thought　that　I
do　not　speak　to　him。　I　admire；　I　love　him　　for　I　know　his
former　adventures　　but　I　shall　not　speak　to　him　until　the
day　after　to…morrow。〃
〃And　why　day　after　to…morrow？〃　asked　Madame　de　Chevreuse。
〃You　will　know　that　to…morrow　evening；〃　said　the　coadjutor；
smiling。
〃Really；　my　dear　Gondy；〃　said　the　duchess；　〃you　remind　one
of　the　Apocalypse。　Monsieur　d'Herblay；〃　she　added；　turning
toward　Aramis；　〃will　you　be　my　servant　once　more　this
evening？〃
〃How　can　you　doubt　it？〃　replied　Aramis；　〃this　evening；
to…morrow；　always；　command　me。〃
〃I　will；　then。　Go　and　look　for　the　Comte　de　la　Fere；　I　wish
to　speak　with　him。〃
Aramis　found　Athos　and　brought　him。
〃Monsieur　le　comte；〃　said　the　duchess；　giving　him　a　letter；
〃here　is　what　I　promised　you；　our　young　friend　will　be
extremely　well　received。〃
〃Madame；　he　is　very　happy　in　owing　any　obligation　to　you。〃
〃You　have　no　reason　to　envy　him　on　that　score；　for　I　owe　to
you　the　pleasure　of　knowing　him；〃　replied　the　witty　woman；
with　a　smile　which　recalled　Marie　Michon　to　Aramis　and　to
Athos。
As　she　uttered　that　bon　mot；　she　arose　and　asked　for　her
carriage。　Mademoiselle　Paulet　had　already　gone；　Mademoiselle
de　Scudery　was　going。
〃Vicomte；〃　said　Athos　to　Raoul；　〃follow　the　duchess；　beg　her
to　do　you　the　favor　to　take　your　arm　in　going　downstairs；
and　thank　her　as　you　descend。〃
The　fair　Indian　approached　Scarron。
〃You　are　going　already？〃　he　said。
〃One　of　the　last；　as　you　see；　if　you　hear　anything　of
Monsieur　Voiture；　be　so　kind　as　to　send　me　word　to…morrow。〃
〃Oh！〃　said　Scarron；　〃he　may　die　now。〃
〃Why？〃　asked　the　young　girl　with　the　velvet　eyes。
〃Certainly；　his　panegyric　has　been　uttered。〃
They　parted；　laughing；　she　turning　back　to　gaze　at　the　poor
paralytic　man　with　interest；　he　looking　after　her　with　eyes
of　love。
One　by　one　the　several　groups　broke　up。　Scarron　seemed　not
to　observe　that　certain　of　his　guests　had　talked
mysteriously；　that　letters　had　passed　from　hand　to　hand　and
that　the　assembly　had　seemed　to　have　a　secret　purpose　quite
apart　from　the　literary　discussion　carried　on　with　so　much
ostentation。　What　was　all　that　to　Scarron？　At　his　house
rebellion　could　be　planned　with　impunity；　for；　as　we　have
said；　since　that　morning　he　had　ceased　to　be　〃the　queen's
invalid。〃
As　to　Raoul；　he　had　attended　the　duchess　to　her　carriage；
where；　as　she　took　her　seat；　she　gave　him　her　hand　to　kiss；
then；　by　one　of　those　wild　caprices　which　made　her　so
adorable　and　at　the　same　time　so　dangerous；　s