twenty years after(二十年后)-第54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！


or　wounded　travelers；　for　on　approaching　nearer；　instead　of
one　extended　figure；　the　young　men　discovered　two。　De　Guiche
fired　the　first　shot　at　ten　paces　and　missed　his　man；　and
the　Spaniard；　who　had　advanced　to　meet　Raoul；　aimed　in　his
turn；　and　Raoul　felt　a　pain　in　the　left　arm；　similar　to　that
of　a　blow　from　a　whip。　He　let　off　his　fire　at　but　four
paces。　Struck　in　the　breast　and　extending　his　arms；　the
Spaniard　fell　back　on　the　crupper；　and　the　terrified　horse；
turning　around；　carried　him　off。
Raoul　at　this　moment　perceived　the　muzzle　of　a　gun　pointed
at　him；　and　remembering　the　recommendation　of　Athos；　he；
with　the　rapidity　of　lightning；　made　his　horse　rear　as　the
shot　was　fired。　His　horse　bounded　to　one　side；　losing　its
footing；　and　fell；　entangling　Raoul's　leg　under　its　body。
The　Spaniard　sprang　forward　and　seized　the　gun　by　its
muzzle；　in　order　to　strike　Raoul　on　the　head　with　the　butt。
In　the　position　in　which　Raoul　lay；　unfortunately；　he　could
neither　draw　his　sword　from　the　scabbard；　nor　his　pistols
from　their　holsters。　The　butt　end　of　the　musket　hovered　over
his　head；　and　he　could　scarcely　restrain　himself　from
closing　his　eyes；　when　with　one　bound　Guiche　reached　the
Spaniard　and　placed　a　pistol　at　his　throat。　〃Yield！〃　he
cried；　〃or　you　are　a　dead　man！〃　The　musket　fell　from　the
soldier's　hands；　who　yielded　on　the　instant。　Guiche　summoned
one　of　his　grooms；　and　delivering　the　prisoner　into　his
charge；　with　orders　to　shoot　him　through　the　head　if　he
attempted　to　escape；　he　leaped　from　his　horse　and　approached
Raoul。
〃Faith；　sir；〃　said　Raoul；　smiling；　although　his　pallor
betrayed　the　excitement　consequent　on　a　first　affair；　〃you
are　in　a　great　hurry　to　pay　your　debts　and　have　not　been
long　under　any　obligation　to　me。　Without　your　aid；〃
continued　he；　repeating　the　count's　words　〃I　should　have
been　a　dead　man　　thrice　dead。〃
〃My　antagonist　took　flight；〃　replied　De　Guiche　〃and　left　me
at　liberty　to　come　to　your　assistance。　But　are　you　seriously
wounded？　I　see　you　are　covered　with　blood！〃
〃I　believe；〃　said　Raoul；　〃that　I　have　got　something　like　a
scratch　on　the　arm。　If　you　will　help　me　to　drag　myself　from
under　my　horse　I　hope　nothing　need　prevent　us　continuing　our
journey。〃
Monsieur　d'Arminges　and　Olivain　had　already　dismounted　and
were　attempting　to　raise　the　struggling　horse。　At　last　Raoul
succeeded　in　drawing　his　foot　from　the　stirrup　and　his　leg
from　under　the　animal；　and　in　a　second　he　was　on　his　feet
again。
〃Nothing　broken？〃　asked　De　Guiche。
〃Faith；　no；　thank　Heaven！〃　replied　Raoul；　〃but　what　has
become　of　the　poor　wretches　whom　these　scoundrels　were
murdering？〃
〃I　fear　we　arrived　too　late。　They　have　killed　them；　I　think；
and　taken　flight；　carrying　off　their　booty。　My　servants　are
examining　the　bodies。〃
〃Let　us　go　and　see　whether　they　are　quite　dead；　or　if　they
can　still　be　helped；〃　suggested　Raoul。　〃Olivain；　we　have
come　into　possession　of　two　horses；　but　I　have　lost　my　own。
Take　for　yourself　the　better　of　the　two　and　give　me　yours。〃
They　approached　the　spot　where　the　unfortunate　victims　lay。

31
The　Monk。

Two　men　lay　prone　upon　the　ground；　one　bathed　in　blood　and
motionless；　with　his　face　toward　the　earth；　this　one　was
dead。　The　other　leaned　against　a　tree；　supported　there　by
the　two　valets；　and　was　praying　fervently；　with　clasped
hands　and　eyes　raised　to　Heaven。　He　had　received　a　ball　in
his　thigh；　which　had　broken　the　bone。　The　young　men　first
approached　the　dead　man。
〃He　is　a　priest；〃　said　Bragelonne；　〃he　has　worn　the　tonsure。
Oh；　the　scoundrels！　to　lift　their　hands　against　a　minister
of　God。〃
〃Come　here；　sir；〃　said　Urban；　an　old　soldier　who　had　served
under　the　cardinal　duke　in　all　his　campaigns；　〃come　here；
there　is　nothing　to　be　done　with　him；　whilst　we　may　perhaps
be　able　to　save　the　other。〃
The　wounded　man　smiled　sadly。　〃Save　me！　Oh；　no！〃　said　he；
〃but　help　me　to　die；　if　you　can。〃
〃Are　you　a　priest？〃　asked　Raoul。
〃No　sir。〃
〃I　ask；　as　your　unfortunate　companion　appeared　to　me　to
belong　to　the　church。〃
〃He　is　the　curate　of　Bethune；　sir；　and　was　carrying　the　holy
vessels　belonging　to　his　church；　and　the　treasure　of　the
chapter；　to　a　safe　place；　the　prince　having　abandoned　our
town　yesterday；　and　as　it　was　known　that　bands　of　the　enemy
were　prowling　about　the　country；　no　one　dared　to　accompany
the　good　man；　so　I　offered　to　do　so。
〃And；　sir；〃　continued　the　wounded　man；　〃I　suffer　much　and
would　like；　if　possible；　to　be　carried　to　some　house。〃
〃Where　you　can　be　relieved？〃　asked　De　Guiche。
〃No；　where　I　can　confess。〃
〃But　perhaps　you　are　not　so　dangerously　wounded　as　you
think；〃　said　Raoul。
〃Sir；〃　replied　the　wounded　man；　〃believe　me；　there　is　no
time　to　lose；　the　ball　has　broken　the　thigh　bone　and　entered
the　intestines。〃
〃Are　you　a　surgeon？〃　asked　De　Guiche。
〃No；　but　I　know　a　little　about　wounds；　and　mine；　I　know；　is
mortal。　Try；　therefore；　either　to　carry　me　to　some　place
where　I　may　see　a　priest　or　take　the　trouble　to　send　one　to
me　here。　It　is　my　soul　that　must　be　saved；　as　for　my　body；
it　is　lost。〃
〃To　die　whilst　doing　a　good　deed！　It　is　impossible。　God　will
help　you。〃
〃Gentlemen；　in　the　name　of　Heaven！〃　said　the　wounded　man；
collecting　all　his　forces；　as　if　to　get　up；　〃let　us　not　lose
time　in　useless　words。　Either　help　me　to　gain　the　nearest
village　or　swear　to　me　on　your　salvation　that　you　will　send
me　the　first　monk；　the　first　cure；　the　first　priest　you　may
meet。　But；〃　he　added　in　a　despairing　tone；　〃perhaps　no　one
will　dare　to　come　for　it　is　known　that　the　Spaniards　are
ranging　through　the　country；　and　I　shall　die　without
absolution。　My　God！　my　God！　Good　God！　good　God！〃　added　the
wounded　man；　in　an　accent　of　terror　which　made　the　young　men
shudder；　〃you　will　not　allow　that？　that　would　be　too
terrible！〃
〃Calm　yourself；　sir；〃　replied　De　Guiche。　〃I　swear　to　you；
you　shall　receive　the　consolation　that　you　ask。　Only　tell　us
where　we　shall　find　a　house　at　which　we　can　demand　aid　and　a
village　from　which　we　can　fetch　a　priest。〃
〃Thank　you；　and　God　reward　you！　About　half　a　mile　from　this；
on　the　same　road；　there　is　an　inn；　and　about　a　mile　further
on；　after　leaving　the　inn；　you　will　reach　the　village　of
Greney。　There　you　must　find　the　curate；　or　if　he　is　not　at
home；　go　to　the　convent　of　the　Augustines；　which　is　the　last
house　on　the　right；　and　bring　me　one　of　the　brothers。　Monk
or　priest；　it　matters　not；　provided　only　that　he　has
received　from　holy　church　the　power　of　absolving　in　articulo
mortis。〃
〃Monsieur　d'Arminges；〃　said　De　Guiche；　〃remain　beside　this
unfortunate　man　and　see　that　he　is　removed　as　gently　as
possible。　The　vicomte　and　myself　will　go　and　find　a　priest。〃
〃Go；　sir；〃　replied　the　tutor；　〃but　in　Heaven's　name　do　not
expose　yourself　to　danger！〃
〃Do　not　fear。　Besides；　we　are　safe　for　to…day；　you　know　the
axiom；　‘Non　bis　in　idem。'〃
〃Courage；　sir；〃　said　Raoul　to　the　wounded　man。　〃We　are　going
to　execute　your　wishes。〃
〃May　Heaven　prosper　you！〃　replied　the　dying　man；　with　an
accent　of　gratitude　impossible　to　describe。
The　two　young　men　galloped　off　in　the　direction　mentioned
and　in　ten　minutes　reached　the　inn。　Raoul；　without
dismounting；　called　to　the　host　and　announced　that　a　wounded
man　was　about　to　be　brought　to　his　house　and　begged　him　in
the　meantime　to　prepare　everything　needful。　He　desired　him
also；　should　he　know　in　the　neighborhood　any　doctor　or
chirurgeon；　to　fetch　him；　taking　on　himself　the　payment　of
the　messenger。
The　host；　who　saw　two　young　noblemen；　richly　clad；　promised
everything　they　required；　and　our　two　cavaliers；　after
seeing　that　preparations　for　the　reception　were　actually
begun；　started　off　again　and　proceeded　rapidly　toward
Greney。
They　had　gone　rather　more　than　a　league　and　had　begun　to
descry　the　first　houses　of　the　village；　the　red…tiled　roofs
of　which　stood　out　from　the　green　trees　which　surrounded
them；　when；　coming　toward　them　mounted　on　a　mule；　they
perceived　a　poor　monk；　whose　large　hat　and　gray　worsted
dress　made　them　take　him　for　an　Augustine　brother。　Chance
for　once　seemed　to　favor　them　in　sending　what　they　were　so
assiduously　seeking。　He　was　a　man　about　twenty…two　or
twenty…three　years　old；　but　who　appeared　much　older　from
ascetic　exercises。　His　complexion　was　pale；　not　of　that
deadly　pallor　which　is　a　kind　of　neutral　beauty；　but　of　a
bilious；　yellow　hue；　his　colorless　hair　was　short　and
scarcely　extended　beyond　the　circle　formed　by　the　hat　around
his　head；　and　his　light　blue　eyes　seemed　destitute　of　any
expression。
〃Sir；〃　began　Raoul；　with　his　usual　politeness；　〃are　you　an
ecclesiastic？〃
〃Why　do　you　ask　me　that？〃　replied　the　stranger；　with　a
coolness　which　was　barely　civil。
〃Because　we　want　to　know；〃　said　De　Guiche；　haughtily。
The　stranger　touched　his　mule　with　his　heel　and　continued
his　way。
In　a　second　De　Guiche　had　sprung　before　him　and　barred　his
passage。　〃Answer；　sir；〃　exclaimed　he；　〃you　have　been　asked
politely；　and　every　question　is　worth　an　answer。〃
〃I　suppose　I　am　free　to　say　or　not　to　say　who　I　am　to　two
strangers　who　take　a　fancy　to　ask　me。〃
It　was　with　difficulty　that　De　Guiche　restrained　the　intense
desire　he　had　of　breaking　the　monk's　bones。
〃In　the　first　place；〃　he　said；　making　an　eff