twenty years after(二十年后)-第43节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃Nothing　easier；　in　a　game　of　tennis；　for　example。〃
〃In　a　game　of　tennis？〃　asked　La　Ramee；　giving　more　serious
attention　to　the　duke's　words。
〃Yes；　see；　I　send　a　ball　into　the　moat；　a　man　is　there　who
picks　it　up；　the　ball　contains　a　letter。　Instead　of
returning　the　ball　to　me　when　I　call　for　it　from　the　top　of
the　wall；　he　throws　me　another；　that　other　ball　contains　a
letter。　Thus　we　have　exchanged　ideas　and　no　one　has　seen　us
do　it。〃
〃The　devil　it　does！　The　devil　it　does！〃　said　La　Ramee；
scratching　his　head；　〃you　are　in　the　wrong　to　tell　me　that；
my　lord。　I　shall　have　to　watch　the　men　who　pick　up　balls。〃
The　duke　smiled。
〃But；〃　resumed　La　Ramee；　〃that　is　only　a　way　of
corresponding。〃
〃And　that　is　a　great　deal；　it　seems　to　me。〃
〃But　not　enough。〃
〃Pardon　me；　for　instance；　I　say　to　my　friends；　Be　on　a
certain　day；　on　a　certain　hour；　at　the　other　side　of　the
moat　with　two　horses。〃
〃Well；　what　then？〃　La　Ramee　began　to　be　uneasy；　〃unless　the
horses　have　wings　to　mount　the　ramparts　and　come　and　fetch
you。〃
〃That's　not　needed。　I　have；〃　replied　the　duke；　〃a　way　of
descending　from　the　ramparts。〃
〃What？〃
〃A　rope　ladder。〃
〃Yes；　but；〃　answered　La　Ramee；　trying　to　laugh；　〃a　ladder　of
ropes　can't　be　sent　around　a　ball；　like　a　letter。〃
〃No；　but　it　may　be　sent　in　something　else。〃
〃In　something　else　　in　something　else？　In　what？〃
〃In　a　pate；　for　example。〃
〃In　a　pate？〃　said　La　Ramee。
〃Yes。　Let　us　suppose　one　thing；〃　replied　the　duke　〃let　us
suppose；　for　instance；　that　my　maitre　d'hotel；　Noirmont；　has
purchased　the　shop　of　Pere　Marteau　　〃
〃Well？〃　said　La　Ramee；　shuddering。
〃Well；　La　Ramee；　who　is　a　gourmand；　sees　his　pates；　thinks
them　more　attractive　than　those　of　Pere　Marteau　and　proposes
to　me　that　I　shall　try　them。　I　consent　on　condition　that　La
Ramee　tries　them　with　me。　That　we　may　be　more　at　our　ease；
La　Ramee　removes　the　guards；　keeping　only　Grimaud　to　wait　on
us。　Grimaud　is　the　man　whom　a　friend　has　sent　to　second　me
in　everything。　The　moment　for　my　escape　is　fixed　　seven
o'clock。　Well；　at　a　few　minutes　to　seven　　〃
〃At　a　few　minutes　to　seven？〃　cried　La　Ramee；　cold　sweat　upon
his　brow。
〃At　a　few　minutes　to　seven；〃　returned　the　duke　（suiting　the
action　to　the　words）；　〃I　raise　the　crust　of　the　pie；　I　find
in　it　two　poniards；　a　ladder　of　rope；　and　a　gag。　I　point　one
of　the　poniards　at　La　Ramee's　breast　and　I　say　to　him；　‘My
friend；　I　am　sorry　for　it；　but　if　thou　stirrest；　if　thou
utterest　one　cry；　thou　art　a　dead　man！'〃
The　duke；　in　pronouncing　these　words；　suited；　as　we　have
said；　the　action　to　the　words。　He　was　standing　near　the
officer　and　he　directed　the　point　of　the　poniard　in　such　a
manner；　close　to　La　Ramee's　heart；　that　there　could　be　no
doubt　in　the　mind　of　that　individual　as　to　his
determination。　Meanwhile；　Grimaud；　still　mute　as　ever；　drew
from　the　pie　the　other　poniard；　the　rope　ladder　and　the　gag。
La　Ramee　followed　all　these　objects　with　his　eyes；　his　alarm
every　moment　increasing。
〃Oh；　my　lord；〃　he　cried；　with　an　expression　of　stupefaction
in　his　face；　〃you　haven't　the　heart　to　kill　me！〃
〃No；　not　if　thou　dost　not　oppose　my　flight。〃
〃But；　my　lord；　if　I　allow　you　to　escape　I　am　a　ruined　man。〃
〃I　will　compensate　thee　for　the　loss　of　thy　place。〃
〃You　are　determined　to　leave　the　chateau？〃
〃By　Heaven　and　earth！　This　night　I　am　determined　to　be
free。〃
〃And　if　I　defend　myself；　or　call；　or　cry　out？〃
〃I　will　kill　thee；　on　the　honor　of　a　gentleman。〃
At　this　moment　the　clock　struck。
〃Seven　o'clock！〃　said　Grimaud；　who　had　not　spoken　a　word。
La　Ramee　made　one　movement；　in　order　to　satisfy　his
conscience。　The　duke　frowned；　the　officer　felt　the　point　of
the　poniard；　which；　having　penetrated　through　his　clothes；
was　close　to　his　heart。
〃Let　us　dispatch；〃　said　the　duke。
〃My　lord；　one　last　favor。〃
〃What？　speak；　make　haste。〃
〃Bind　my　arms；　my　lord；　fast。〃
〃Why　bind　thee？〃
〃That　I　may　not　be　considered　as　your　accomplice。〃
〃Your　hands？〃　asked　Grimaud。
〃Not　before　me；　behind　me。〃
〃But　with　what？〃　asked　the　duke。
〃With　your　belt；　my　lord！〃　replied　La　Ramee。
The　duke　undid　his　belt　and　gave　it　to　Grimaud；　who　tied　La
Ramee　in　such　a　way　as　to　satisfy　him。
〃Your　feet；　too；〃　said　Grimaud。
La　Ramee　stretched　out　his　legs；　Grimaud　took　a　table…cloth；
tore　it　into　strips　and　tied　La　Ramee's　feet　together。
〃Now；　my　lord；〃　said　the　poor　man；　〃let　me　have　the　poire
d'angoisse。　I　ask　for　it；　without　it　I　should　be　tried　in　a
court　of　justice　because　I　did　not　raise　the　alarm。　Thrust
it　into　my　mouth；　my　lord；　thrust　it　in。〃
Grimaud　prepared　to　comply　with　this　request；　when　the
officer　made　a　sign　as　if　he　had　something　to　say。
〃Speak；〃　said　the　duke。
〃Now；　my　lord；　do　not　forget；　if　any　harm　happens　to　me　on
your　account；　that　I　have　a　wife　and　four　children。〃
〃Rest　assured；　put　the　gag　in；　Grimaud。〃
In　a　second　La　Ramee　was　gagged　and　laid　prostrate。　Two　or
three　chairs　were　thrown　down　as　if　there　had　been　a
struggle。　Grimaud　then　took　from　the　pocket　of　the　officer
all　the　keys　it　contained　and　first　opened　the　door　of　the
room　in　which　they　were；　then　shut　it　and　double…locked　it；
and　both　he　and　the　duke　proceeded　rapidly　down　the　gallery
which　led　to　the　little　inclosure。　At　last　they　reached　the
tennis　court。　It　was　completely　deserted。　No　sentinels；　no
one　at　any　of　the　windows。　The　duke　ran　to　the　rampart　and
perceived　on　the　other　side　of　the　ditch；　three　cavaliers
with　two　riding　horses。　The　duke　exchanged　a　signal　with
them。　It　was　indeed　for　him　that　they　were　there。
Grimaud；　meantime；　undid　the　means　of　escape。
This　was　not；　however；　a　rope　ladder；　but　a　ball　of　silk
cord；　with　a　narrow　board　which　was　to　pass　between　the
legs；　the　ball　to　unwind　itself　by　the　weight　of　the　person
who　sat　astride　upon　the　board。
〃Go！〃　said　the　duke。
〃First；　my　lord？〃　inquired　Grimaud。
〃Certainly。　If　I　am　caught；　I　risk　nothing　but　being　taken
back　again　to　prison。　If　they　catch　thee；　thou　wilt　be
hung。〃
〃True；〃　replied　Grimaud。
And　instantly；　Grimaud；　sitting　upon　the　board　as　if　on
horseback；　commenced　his　perilous　descent。
The　duke　followed　him　with　his　eyes；　with　involuntary
terror。　He　had　gone　down　about　three…quarters　of　the　length
of　the　wall　when　the　cord　broke。　Grimaud　fell　
precipitated　into　the　moat。
The　duke　uttered　a　cry；　but　Grimaud　did　not　give　a　single
moan。　He　must　have　been　dreadfully　hurt；　for　he　did　not　stir
from　the　place　where　he　fell。
Immediately　one　of　the　men　who　were　waiting　slipped　down
into　the　moat；　tied　under　Grimaud's　shoulders　the　end　of　a
cord；　and　the　remaining　two；　who　held　the　other　end；　drew
Grimaud　to　them。
〃Descend；　my　lord；〃　said　the　man　in　the　moat。　〃There　are
only　fifteen　feet　more　from　the　top　down　here；　and　the　grass
is　soft。〃
The　duke　had　already　begun　to　descend。　His　task　was　the　more
difficult；　as　there　was　no　board　to　support　him。　He　was
obliged　to　let　himself　down　by　his　hands　and　from　a　height
of　fifty　feet。　But　as　we　have　said　he　was　active；　strong；
and　full　of　presence　of　mind。　In　less　than　five　minutes　he
arrived　at　the　end　of　the　cord。　He　was　then　only　fifteen
feet　from　the　ground；　as　the　gentlemen　below　had　told　him。
He　let　go　the　rope　and　fell　upon　his　feet；　without　receiving
any　injury。
He　instantly　began　to　climb　up　the　slope　of　the　moat；　on　the
top　of　which　he　met　De　Rochefort。　The　other　two　gentlemen
were　unknown　to　him。　Grimaud；　in　a　swoon；　was　tied　securely
to　a　horse。
〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　duke；　〃I　will　thank　you　later；　now　we
have　not　a　moment　to　lose。　On；　then！　on！　those　who　love　me；
follow　me！〃
And　he　jumped　on　his　horse　and　set　off　at　full　gallop；
snuffing　the　fresh　air　in　his　triumph　and　shouting　out；　with
an　expression　of　face　which　it　would　be　impossible　to
describe：
〃Free！　free！　free！〃

24
The　timely　Arrival　of　D'Artagnan　in　Paris。

At　Blois；　D'Artagnan　received　the　money　paid　to　him　by
Mazarin　for　any　future　service　he　might　render　the　cardinal。
From　Blois　to　Paris　was　a　journey　of　four　days　for　ordinary
travelers；　but　D'Artagnan　arrived　on　the　third　day　at　the
Barriere　Saint　Denis。　In　turning　the　corner　of　the　Rue
Montmartre；　in　order　to　reach　the　Rue　Tiquetonne　and　the
Hotel　de　la　Chevrette；　where　he　had　appointed　Porthos　to
meet　him；　he　saw　at　one　of　the　windows　of　the　hotel；　that
friend　himself　dressed　in　a　sky…blue　waistcoat；　embroidered
with　silver；　and　gaping；　till　he　showed　every　one　of　his
white　teeth；　whilst　the　people　passing　by　admiringly　gazed
at　this　gentleman；　so　handsome　and　so　rich；　who　seemed　to
weary　of　his　riches　and　his　greatness。
D'Artagnan　and　Planchet　had　hardly　turned　the　corner　when
Porthos　recognized　them。
〃Eh！　D'Artagnan！〃　he　cried。　〃Thank　God　you　have　come！〃
〃Eh！　good…day；　dear　friend！〃　replied　D'Artagnan。
Porthos　came　down　at　once　to　the　threshold　of　the　hotel。
〃Ah；　my　dear　friend！〃　he　cried；　〃what　bad　stabling　for　my
horses　here。〃
〃Indeed！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　am　most　unhappy　to　hear　it；　on
account　of　those　fine　animals。〃
〃And　I；　also　　I　was　also　wretchedly　off；〃　he　answered；
moving　backward　and　forward　as　he　spoke；　〃and　had　it　not
been　for　the　hostess；〃　he　added；　with　his　air　of　vulgar
self…complacency；　〃who　is　very　agreeable　and　understands　a
joke；　I　should　have　got　a　lodging　elsewh