twenty years after(二十年后)-第51节

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gentle　and　persuasive　eloquence；　recurred　to　his　mind　at　the
various　towns　through　which　they　journeyed　and　about　which
he　had　no　longer　any　one　to　give　him　those　interesting
details　which　he　would　have　drawn　from　Athos；　the　most
amusing　and　the　best　informed　of　guides。　Another
recollection　contributed　also　to　sadden　Raoul：　on　their
arrival　at　Sonores　he　had　perceived；　hidden　behind　a　screen
of　poplars；　a　little　chateau　which　so　vividly　recalled　that
of　La　Valliere　to　his　mind　that　he　halted　for　nearly　ten
minutes　to　gaze　at　it；　and　resumed　his　journey　with　a　sigh
too　abstracted　even　to　reply　to　Olivain's　respectful　inquiry
about　the　cause　of　so　much　fixed　attention。　The　aspect　of
external　objects　is　often　a　mysterious　guide　communicating
with　the　fibres　of　memory；　which　in　spite　of　us　will　arouse
them　at　times；　this　thread；　like　that　of　Ariadne；　when　once
unraveled　will　conduct　one　through　a　labyrinth　of　thought；
in　which　one　loses　one's　self　in　endeavoring　to　follow　that
phantom　of　the　past　which　is　called　recollection。
Now　the　sight　of　this　chateau　had　taken　Raoul　back　fifty
leagues　westward　and　had　caused　him　to　review　his　life　from
the　moment　when　he　had　taken　leave　of　little　Louise　to　that
in　which　he　had　seen　her　for　the　first　time；　and　every
branch　of　oak；　every　gilded　weathercock　on　roof　of　slates；
reminded　him　that；　instead　of　returning　to　the　friends　of
his　childhood；　every　instant　estranged　him　further　and　that
perhaps　he　had　even　left　them　forever。
With　a　full　heart　and　burning　head　he　desired　Olivain　to
lead　on　the　horses　to　a　wayside　inn；　which　he　observed
within　gunshot　range；　a　little　in　advance　of　the　place　they
had　reached。
As　for　himself；　he　dismounted　and　remained　under　a　beautiful
group　of　chestnuts　in　flower；　amidst　which　were　murmuring　a
multitude　of　happy　bees；　and　bade　Olivain　send　the　host　to
him　with　writing　paper　and　ink；　to　be　placed　on　a　table
which　he　found　there；　conveniently　ready。　Olivain　obeyed　and
continued　on　his　way；　whilst　Raoul　remained　sitting；　with
his　elbow　leaning　on　the　table；　from　time　to　time　gently
shaking　the　flowers　from　his　head；　which　fell　upon　him　like
snow；　and　gazing　vaguely　on　the　charming　landscape　spread
out　before　him；　dotted　over　with　green　fields　and　groups　of
trees。　Raoul　had　been　there　about　ten　minutes；　during　five
of　which　he　was　lost　in　reverie；　when　there　appeared　within
the　circle　comprised　in　his　rolling　gaze　a　man　with　a
rubicund　face；　who；　with　a　napkin　around　his　body；　another
under　his　arm；　and　a　white　cap　upon　his　head；　approached
him；　holding　paper；　pen　and　ink　in　hand。
〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　the　apparition；　〃every　gentleman　seems　to
have　the　same　fancy；　for　not　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago　a
young　lad；　well　mounted　like　you；　as　tall　as　you　and　of
about　your　age；　halted　before　this　clump　of　trees　and　had
this　table　and　this　chair　brought　here；　and　dined　here；　with
an　old　gentleman　who　seemed　to　be　his　tutor；　upon　a　pie；　of
which　they　haven't　left　a　mouthful；　and　two　bottles　of　Macon
wine；　of　which　they　haven't　left　a　drop；　but　fortunately　we
have　still　some　of　the　same　wine　and　some　of　the　same　pies
left；　and　if　your　worship　will　but　give　your　orders　　〃
〃No；　friend　〃　replied　Raoul；　smiling；　〃I　am　obliged　to　you；
but　at　this　moment　I　want　nothing　but　the　things　for　which　I
have　asked　　only　I　shall　be　very　glad　if　the　ink　prove
black　and　the　pen　good；　upon　these　conditions　I　will　pay　for
the　pen　the　price　of　the　bottle；　and　for　the　ink　the　price
of　the　pie。〃
〃Very　well；　sir；〃　said　the　host；　〃I'll　give　the　pie　and　the
bottle　of　wine　to　your　servant；　and　in　this　way　you　will
have　the　pen　and　ink　into　the　bargain。〃
〃Do　as　you　like；〃　said　Raoul；　who　was　beginning　his
apprenticeship　with　that　particular　class　of　society；　who；
when　there　were　robbers　on　the　highroads；　were　connected
with　them；　and　who；　since　highwaymen　no　longer　exist；　have
advantageously　and　aptly　filled　their　vacant　place。
The　host；　his　mind　at　ease　about　his　bill；　placed　pen；　ink
and　paper　upon　the　table。　By　a　lucky　chance　the　pen　was
tolerably　good　and　Raoul　began　to　write。　The　host　remained
standing　in　front　of　him；　looking　with　a　kind　of　involuntary
admiration　at　his　handsome　face；　combining　both　gravity　and
sweetness　of　expression。　Beauty　has　always　been　and　always
will　be　all…powerful。
〃He's　not　a　guest　like　the　other　one　here　just　now；〃
observed　mine　host　to　Olivain；　who　had　rejoined　his　master
to　see　if　he　wanted　anything；　〃and　your　young　master　has　no
appetite。〃
〃My　master　had　appetite　enough　three　days　ago；　but　what　can
one　do？　he　lost　it　the　day　before　yesterday。〃
And　Olivain　and　the　host　took　their　way　together　toward　the
inn；　Olivain；　according　to　the　custom　of　serving…men　well
pleased　with　their　place；　relating　to　the　tavern…keeper　all
that　he　could　say　in　favor　of　the　young　gentleman；　whilst
Raoul　wrote　on　thus：

〃Sir；　　After　a　four　hours'　march　I　stop　to　write　to　you；
for　I　miss　you　every　moment；　and　I　am　always　on　the　point　of
turning　my　head　as　if　to　reply　when　you　speak　to　me。　I　was
so　bewildered　by　your　departure　and　so　overcome　with　grief
at　our　separation；　that　I　am　sure　I　was　able　to　but　very
feebly　express　all　the　affection　and　gratitude　I　feel　toward
you。　You　will　forgive　me；　sir；　for　your　heart　is　of　such　a
generous　nature　that　you　can　well　understand　all　that　has
passed　in　mine。　I　entreat　you　to　write　to　me；　for　you　form　a
part　of　my　existence；　and；　if　I　may　venture　to　tell　you　so；
I　also　feel　anxious。　It　seemed　to　me　as　if　you　were　yourself
preparing　for　some　dangerous　undertaking；　about　which　I　did
not　dare　to　question　you；　since　you　told　me　nothing。　I　have；
therefore；　as　you　see；　great　need　of　hearing　from　you。　Now
that　you　are　no　longer　beside　me　I　am　afraid　every　moment　of
erring。　You　sustained　me　powerfully；　sir；　and　I　protest　to
you　that　to…day　I　feel　very　lonely。　Will　you　have　the
goodness；　sir；　should　you　receive　news　from　Blois；　to　send
me　a　few　lines　about　my　little　friend　Mademoiselle　de　la
Valliere；　about　whose　health；　when　we　left；　so　much　anxiety
was　felt？　You　can　understand；　honored　and　dear　guardian；　how
precious　and　indispensable　to　me　is　the　remembrance　of　the
years　that　I　have　passed　with　you。　I　hope　that　you　will
sometimes；　too；　think　of　me；　and　if　at　certain　hours　you
should　miss　me；　if　you　should　feel　any　slight　regret　at　my
absence；　I　shall　be　overwhelmed　with　joy　at　the　thought　that
you　appreciate　my　affection　for　and　my　devotion　to　yourself；
and　that　I　have　been　able　to　prove　them　to　you　whilst　I　had
the　happiness　of　diving　with　you。〃

After　finishing　this　letter　Raoul　felt　more　composed；　he
looked　well　around　him　to　see　if　Olivain　and　the　host　might
not　be　watching　him；　whilst　he　impressed　a　kiss　upon　the
paper；　a　mute　and　touching　caress；　which　the　heart　of　Athos
might　well　divine　on　opening　the　letter。
During　this　time　Olivain　had　finished　his　bottle　and　eaten
his　pie；　the　horses　were　also　refreshed。　Raoul　motioned　to
the　host　to　approach；　threw　a　crown　upon　the　table；　mounted
his　horse；　and　posted　his　letter　at　Senlis。　The　rest　that
had　been　thus　afforded　to　men　and　horses　enabled　them　to
continue　their　journey　at　a　good　round　pace。　At　Verberie；
Raoul　desired　Olivain　to　make　some　inquiry　about　the　young
man　who　was　preceding　them；　he　had　been　observed　to　pass
only　three…quarters　of　an　hour　previously；　but　he　was　well
mounted；　as　the　tavern…keeper　had　already　said；　and　rode　at
a　rapid　pace。
〃Let　us　try　and　overtake　this　gentleman；〃　said　Raoul　to
Olivain；　〃like　ourselves　he　is　on　his　way　to　join　the　army
and　may　prove　agreeable　company。〃
It　was　about　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　when　Raoul
arrived　at　Compiegne；　there　he　dined　heartily　and　again
inquired　about　the　young　gentleman　who　was　in　advance　of
them。　He　had　stopped；　like　Raoul；　at　the　Hotel　of　the　Bell
and　Bottle；　the　best　at　Compiegne；　and　had　started　again　on
his　journey；　saying　that　he　should　sleep　at　Noyon。
〃Well；　let　us　sleep　at　Noyon；〃　said　Raoul。
〃Sir；〃　replied　Olivain；　respectfully；　〃allow　me　to　remark
that　we　have　already　much　fatigued　the　horses　this　morning。
I　think　it　would　be　well　to　sleep　here　and　to　start　again
very　early　to…morrow。　Eighteen　leagues　is　enough　for　the
first　stage。〃
〃The　Comte　de　la　Fere　wished　me　to　hasten　on；〃　replied
Raoul；　〃that　I　might　rejoin　the　prince　on　the　morning　of　the
fourth　day；　let　us　push　on；　then；　to　Noyon；　it　will　be　a
stage　similar　to　those　we　traveled　from　Blois　to　Paris。　We
shall　arrive　at　eight　o'clock。　The　horses　will　have　a　long
night's　rest；　and　at　five　o'clock　to…morrow　morning　we　can
be　again　on　the　road。〃
Olivain　dared　offer　no　opposition　to　this　determination　but
he　followed　his　master；　grumbling。
〃Go　on；　go　on；〃　said　he；　between　his　teeth；　〃expend　your
ardor　the　first　day；　to…morrow；　instead　of　journeying　twenty
leagues；　you　will　travel　ten；　the　day　after　to…morrow；　five；
and　in　three　days　you　will　be　in　bed。　There　you　must　rest；
young　people　are　such　braggarts。〃
It　was　easy　to　see　that　Olivain　had　not　been　taught　in　the
school　of　the　Planchets　and　the　Grimauds。　Raoul　really　felt
tired；　but　he　was　desirous　of　testing　his　strength；　and；
brought　up　in　the　principles　of　Athos　and　ce