twenty years after(二十年后)-第53节

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granted　them。　The　Count　de　Guiche　was　awakened　at　five
o'clock　in　the　morning　by　Raoul；　who　came　to　wish　him
good…day。　They　breakfasted　in　haste；　and　at　six　o'clock　had
already　gone　ten　miles。
The　young　count's　conversation　was　most　interesting　to
Raoul；　therefore　he　listened　much；　whilst　the　count　talked
well　and　long。　Brought　up　in　Paris；　where　Raoul　had　been　but
once；　at　the　court；　which　Raoul　had　never　seen；　his　follies
as　page；　two　duels；　which　he　had　already　found　the　means　of
fighting；　in　spite　of　the　edicts　against　them　and；　more
especially；　in　spite　of　his　tutor's　vigilance　　these
things　excited　the　greatest　curiosity　in　Raoul。　Raoul　had
only　been　at　M。　Scarron's　house；　he　named　to　Guiche　the
people　whom　he　had　seen　there。　Guiche　knew　everybody　
Madame　de　Neuillan；　Mademoiselle　d'Aubigne；　Mademoiselle　de
Scudery；　Mademoiselle　Paulet；　Madame　de　Chevreuse。　He
criticised　everybody　humorously。　Raoul　trembled；　lest　he
should　laugh　among　the　rest　at　Madame　de　Chevreuse；　for　whom
he　entertained　deep　and　genuine　sympathy；　but　either
instinctively；　or　from　affection　for　the　duchess；　he　said
everything　in　her　favor。　His　praises　increased　Raoul's
friendship　twofold。　Then　came　the　question　of　gallantry　and
love　affairs。　Under　this　head；　also；　Bragelonne　had　much
more　to　hear　than　to　tell。　He　listened　attentively　and
fancied　that　he　discovered　through　three　or　four　rather
frivolous　adventures；　that　the　count；　like　himself；　had　a
secret　to　hide　in　the　depths　of　his　heart。
De　Guiche；　as　we　have　said　before；　had　been　educated　at　the
court；　and　the　intrigues　of　this　court　were　not　unknown　to
him。　It　was　the　same　court　of　which　Raoul　had　so　often　heard
the　Comte　de　la　Fere　speak；　except　that　its　aspect　had　much
changed　since　the　period　when　Athos　had　himself　been　part　of
it；　therefore　everything　which　the　Count　de　Guiche　related
was　new　to　his　traveling　companion。　The　young　count；　witty
and　caustic；　passed　all　the　world　in　review；　the　queen
herself　was　not　spared；　and　Cardinal　Mazarin　came　in　for　his
share　of　ridicule。
The　day　passed　away　as　rapidly　as　an　hour。　The　count's
tutor；　a　man　of　the　world　and　a　bon　vivant；　up　to　his　eyes
in　learning；　as　his　pupil　described　him；　often　recalled　the
profound　erudition；　the　witty　and　caustic　satire　of　Athos　to
Raoul；　but　as　regarded　grace；　delicacy；　and　nobility　of
external　appearance；　no　one　in　these　points　was　to　be
compared　to　the　Comte　de　la　Fere。
The　horses；　which　were　more　kindly　used　than　on　the　previous
day；　stopped　at　Arras　at　four　o'clock　in　the　evening。　They
were　approaching　the　scene　of　war；　and　as　bands　of　Spaniards
sometimes　took　advantage　of　the　night　to　make　expeditions
even　as　far　as　the　neighborhood　of　Arras；　they　determined　to
remain　in　the　town　until　the　morrow。　The　French　army　held
all　between　Pont…a…Marc　as　far　as　Valenciennes；　falling　back
upon　Douai。　The　prince　was　said　to　be　in　person　at　Bethune。
The　enemy's　army　extended　from　Cassel　to　Courtray；　and　as
there　was　no　species　of　violence　or　pillage　it　did　not
commit；　the　poor　people　on　the　frontier　quitted　their
isolated　dwellings　and　fled　for　refuge　into　the　strong
cities　which　held　out　a　shelter　to　them。　Arras　was
encumbered　with　fugitives。　An　approaching　battle　was　much
spoken　of；　the　prince　having　manoeuvred；　until　that
movement；　only　in　order　to　await　a　reinforcement　that　had
just　reached　him。
The　young　men　congratulated　themselves　on　having　arrived　so
opportunely。　The　evening　was　employed　in　discussing　the　war；
the　grooms　polished　their　arms；　the　young　men　loaded　the
pistols　in　case　of　a　skirmish；　and　they　awoke　in　despair；
having　both　dreamed　that　they　had　arrived　too　late　to
participate　in　the　battle。　In　the　morning　it　was　rumored
that　Prince　de　Conde　had　evacuated　Bethune　and　fallen　back
on　Carvin；　leaving；　however；　a　strong　garrison　in　the　former
city。
But　as　there　was　nothing　positively　certain　in　this　report；
the　young　warriors　decided　to　continue　their　way　toward
Bethune；　free　on　the　road　to　diverge　to　the　right　and　march
to　Carvin　if　necessary。
The　count's　tutor　was　well　acquainted　with　the　country；　he
consequently　proposed　to　take　a　crossroad；　which　lay　between
that　of　Lens　and　that　of　Bethune。　They　obtained　information
at　Ablain；　and　a　statement　of　their　route　was　left　for
Grimaud。　About　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning　they　set　out。　De
Guiche；　who　was　young　and　impulsive；　said　to　Raoul；　〃Here　we
are；　three　masters　and　three　servants。　Our　valets　are　well
armed　and　yours　seems　to　be　tough　enough。〃
〃I　have　never　seen　him　put　to　the　test；〃　replied　Raoul；　〃but
he　is　a　Breton；　which　promises　something。〃
〃Yes；　yes；〃　resumed　De　Guiche；　〃I　am　sure　he　can　fire　a
musket　when　required。　On　my　side　I　have　two　sure　men；　who
have　been　in　action　with　my　father。　We　therefore　represent
six　fighting　men；　if　we　should　meet　a　little　troop　of
enemies；　equal　or　even　superior　in　number　to　our　own；　shall
we　charge　them；　Raoul？〃
〃Certainly；　sir；〃　replied　the　viscount。
〃Holloa！　young　people　　stop　there！〃　said　the　tutor；
joining　in　the　conversation。　〃Zounds！　how　you　manoeuvre　my
instructions；　count！　You　seem　to　forget　the　orders　I
received　to　conduct　you　safe　and　sound　to　his　highness　the
prince！　Once　with　the　army　you　may　be　killed　at　your　good
pleasure；　but　until　that　time；　I　warn　you　that　in　my
capacity　of　general　of　the　army　I　shall　order　a　retreat　and
turn　my　back　on　the　first　red　coat　we　come　across。〃　De
Guiche　and　Raoul　glanced　at　each　other；　smiling。
They　arrived　at　Ablain　without　accident。　There　they　inquired
and　learned　that　the　prince　had　in　reality　quitted　Bethune
and　stationed　himself　between　Cambria　and　La　Venthie。
Therefore；　leaving　directions　at　every　place　for　Grimaud；
they　took　a　crossroad　which　conducted　the　little　troop　by
the　bank　of　a　small　stream　flowing　into　the　Lys。　The　country
was　beautiful；　intersected　by　valleys　as　green　as　the
emerald。　Here　and　there　they　passed　little　copses　crossing
the　path　which　they　were　following。　In　anticipation　of　some
ambuscade　in　each　of　these　little　woods　the　tutor　placed　his
two　servants　at　the　head　of　the　band；　thus　forming　the
advance　guard。　Himself　and　the　two　young　men　represented　the
body　of　the　army；　whilst　Olivain；　with　his　rifle　upon　his
knee　and　his　eyes　upon　the　watch；　protected　the　rear。
They　had　observed　for　some　time　before　them；　on　the　horizon；
a　rather　thick　wood；　and　when　they　had　arrived　at　a　distance
of　a　hundred　steps　from　it；　Monsieur　d'Arminges　took　his
usual　precautions　and　sent　on　in　advance　the　count's　two
grooms。　The　servants　had　just　disappeared　under　the　trees；
followed　by　the　tutor；　and　the　young　men　were　laughing　and
talking　about　a　hundred　yards　off。　Olivain　was　at　the　same
distance　in　the　rear；　when　suddenly　there　resounded　five　or
six　musket…shots。　The　tutor　cried　halt；　the　young　men
obeyed；　pulling　up　their　steeds；　and　at　the　same　moment　the
two　valets　were　seen　returning　at　a　gallop。
The　young　men；　impatient　to　learn　the　cause　of　the　firing；
spurred　on　toward　the　servants。　The　tutor　followed　them。
〃Were　you　stopped？〃　eagerly　inquired　the　two　youths。
〃No；〃　replied　the　servants；　〃it　is　even　probable　that　we
have　not　been　seen；　the　shots　were　fired　about　a　hundred
paces　in　advance　of　us；　in　the　thickest　part　of　the　wood；
and　we　returned　to　ask　your　advice。〃
〃My　advice　is　this；〃　said　Monsieur　d'Arminges；　〃and　if　needs
be；　my　will；　that　we　beat　a　retreat。　There　may　be　an
ambuscade　concealed　in　this　wood。〃
〃Did　you　see　nothing　there？〃　asked　the　count。
〃I　thought　I　saw；〃　said　one　of　the　servants；　〃horsemen
dressed　in　yellow；　creeping　along　the　bed　of　the　stream。
〃That's　it；〃　said　the　tutor。　〃We　have　fallen　in　with　a　party
of　Spaniards。　Come　back；　sirs；　back。〃
The　two　youths　looked　at　each　other；　and　at　this　moment　a
pistol…shot　and　cries　for　help　were　heard。　Another　glance
between　the　young　men　convinced　them　both　that　neither　had
any　wish　to　go　back；　and　as　the　tutor　had　already　turned　his
horse's　head；　they　both　spurred　forward；　Raoul　crying：
〃Follow　me；　Olivain！〃　and　the　Count　de　Guiche：　〃Follow；
Urban　and　Planchet！〃　And　before　the　tutor　could　recover　from
his　surprise　they　had　both　disappeared　into　the　forest。
Whilst　they　spurred　their　steeds　they　held　their　pistols
ready　also。　In　five　minutes　they　arrived　at　the　spot　whence
the　noise　had　proceeded；　and　then　restraining　their　horses；
they　advanced　cautiously。
〃Hush；〃　whispered　De　Guiche；　〃these　are　cavaliers。〃
〃Yes；　three　on　horseback　and　three　who　have　dismounted。〃
〃Can　you　see　what　they　are　doing？〃
〃Yes；　they　appear　to　be　searching　a　wounded　or　dead　man。〃
〃It　is　some　cowardly　assassination；〃　said　De　Guiche。
〃They　are　soldiers；　though；〃　resumed　De　Bragelonne。
〃Yes；　skirmishers；　that　is　to　say；　highway　robbers。〃
〃At　them！〃　cried　Raoul。　〃At　them！〃　echoed　De　Guiche。
〃Oh！　gentlemen！　gentlemen！　in　the　name　of　Heaven！〃　cried　the
poor　tutor。
But　he　was　not　listened　to；　and　his　cries　only　served　to
arouse　the　attention　of　the　Spaniards。
The　men　on　horseback　at　once　rushed　at　the　two　youths；
leaving　the　three　others　to　complete　the　plunder　of　the　dead
or　wounded　travelers；　for　on　approaching　nearer；　instead　of
one　extended　figure；　the　young　men　discovered　tw