twenty years after(二十年后)-第70节
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exclaimed Raoul; joyously。
〃Certainly; and why should I regret what gives you
pleasure?〃
〃Oh! how kind you are;〃 exclaimed the young man; pressing
his guardian's hand; 〃and I can set out immediately?〃
〃When you like; Raoul。〃
〃Sir;〃 said Raoul; as he turned to leave the room; 〃I have
thought of one thing; and that is about the Duchess of
Chevreuse; who was so kind to me and to whom I owe my
introduction to the prince。〃
〃And you ought to thank her; Raoul。 Well; try the Hotel de
Luynes; Raoul; and ask if the duchess can receive you。 I am
glad to see you pay attention to the usages of the world。
You must take Grimaud and Olivain。〃
〃Both; sir?〃 asked Raoul; astonished。
〃Both。〃
Raoul went out; and when Athos heard his young; joyous voice
calling to Grimaud and Olivain; he sighed。
〃It is very soon to leave me;〃 he thought; 〃but he follows
the common custom。 Nature has made us thus; she makes the
young look ever forward; not behind。 He certainly likes the
child; but will he love me less as his affection grows for
her?〃
And Athos confessed to himself that; he was unprepared for
so prompt a departure; but Raoul was so happy that this
reflection effaced everything else from the consideration of
his guardian。
Everything was ready at ten o'clock for the departure; and
as Athos was watching Raoul mount; a groom rode up from the
Duchess de Chevreuse。 He was charged to tell the Comte de la
Fere; that she had learned of the return of her youthful
protege; and also the manner he had conducted himself on the
field; and she added that she should be very glad to offer
him her congratulations。
〃Tell her grace;〃 replied Athos; 〃that the viscount has just
mounted his horse to proceed to the Hotel de Luynes。〃
Then; with renewed instructions to Grimaud; Athos signified
to Raoul that he could set out; and ended by reflecting that
it was perhaps better that Raoul should be away from Paris
at that moment。
42
Another Queen in Want of Help。
Athos had not failed to send early to Aramis and had given
his letter to Blaisois; the only serving…man whom he had
left。 Blaisois found Bazin donning his beadle's gown; his
services being required that day at Notre Dame。
Athos had desired Blaisois to try to speak to Aramis
himself。 Blaisois; a tall; simple youth; who understood
nothing but what he was expressly told; asked; therefore for
the Abbe d'Herblay; and in spite of Bazin's assurances that
his master was not at home; he persisted in such a manner as
to put Bazin into a passion。 Blaisois seeing Bazin in
clerical guise; was a little discomposed at his denials and
wanted to pass at all risks; believing too; that the man
with whom he had to do was endowed with the virtues of his
cloth; namely; patience and Christian charity。
But Bazin; still the servant of a musketeer; when once the
blood mounted to his fat cheeks; seized a broomstick and
began belaboring Blaisois; saying:
〃You have insulted the church; my friend; you have insulted
the church!〃
At this moment Aramis; aroused by this unusual disturbance;
cautiously opened the door of his room; and Blaisois;
looking reproachfully at the Cerberus; drew the letter from
his pocket and presented it to Aramis。
〃From the Comte de la Fere;〃 said Aramis。 〃All right。〃 And
he retired into his room without even asking the cause of so
much noise。
Blaisois returned disconsolate to the Hotel of the Grand Roi
Charlemagne and when Athos inquired if his commission was
executed; he related his adventure。
〃You foolish fellow!〃 said Athos; laughing。 〃And you did not
tell him that you came from me?〃
〃No; sir。〃
At ten o'clock Athos; with his habitual exactitude; was
waiting on the Pont du Louvre and was almost immediately
joined by Lord de Winter。
They waited ten minutes and then his lordship began to fear
Aramis was not coming to join them。
〃Patience;〃 said Athos; whose eyes were fixed in the
direction of the Rue du Bac; 〃patience; I see an abbe
cuffing a man; then bowing to a woman; it must be Aramis。〃
It was indeed Aramis。 Having run against a young shopkeeper
who was gaping at the crows and who had splashed him; Aramis
with one blow of his fist had distanced him ten paces。
At this moment one of his penitents passed; and as she was
young and pretty Aramis took off his cap to her with his
most gracious smile。
A most affectionate greeting; as one can well believe took
place between him and Lord de Winter。
〃Where are we going?〃 inquired Aramis; 〃are we going to
fight; perchance? I carry no sword this morning and cannot
return home to procure one。〃
〃No;〃 said Lord de Winter; 〃we are going to pay a visit to
Her Majesty the Queen of England。〃
〃Oh; very well;〃 replied Aramis; then bending his face down
to Athos's ear; 〃what is the object of this visit?〃
continued he。
〃Nay; I know not; some evidence required from us; perhaps。〃
〃May it not be about that cursed affair?〃 asked Aramis; 〃in
which case I do not greatly care to go; for it will be to
pocket a lecture; and since it is my function to give them
to others I am rather averse to receiving them myself。〃
〃If it were so;〃 answered Athos; 〃we should not be taken
there by Lord de Winter; for he would come in for his share;
he was one of us。〃
〃You're right; yes; let us go。〃
On arriving at the Louvre Lord de Winter entered first;
indeed; there was but one porter there to receive them at
the gate。
It was impossible in daylight for the impoverished state of
the habitation grudging charity had conceded to an
unfortunate queen to pass unnoticed by Athos; Aramis; and
even the Englishman。 Large rooms; completely stripped of
furniture; bare walls upon which; here and there; shone the
old gold moldings which had resisted time and neglect;
windows with broken panes (impossible to close); no carpets;
neither guards nor servants: this is what first met the eyes
of Athos; to which he; touching his companion's elbow;
directed his attention by his glances。
〃Mazarin is better lodged;〃 said Aramis。
〃Mazarin is almost king;〃 answered Athos; 〃Madame Henrietta
is almost no longer queen。〃
〃If you would condescend to be clever; Athos;〃 observed
Aramis; 〃I really do think you would be wittier than poor
Monsieur de Voiture。〃
Athos smiled。
The queen appeared to be impatiently expecting them; for at
the first slight noise she heard in the hall leading to her
room she came herself to the door to receive these courtiers
in the corridors of Misfortune。
〃Enter。 You are welcome; gentlemen;〃 she said。
The gentlemen entered and remained standing; but at a motion
from the queen they seated themselves。 Athos was calm and
grave; but Aramis was furious; the sight of such royal
misery exasperated him and his eyes examined every new trace
of poverty that presented itself。
〃You are examining the luxury I enjoy;〃 said the queen;
glancing sadly around her。
〃Madame;〃 replied Aramis; 〃I must ask your pardon; but I
know not how to hide my indignation at seeing how a daughter
of Henry IV。 is treated at the court of France。〃
〃Monsieur Aramis is not an officer?〃 asked the queen of Lord
de Winter。
〃That gentleman is the Abbe d'Herblay;〃 replied he。
Aramis blushed。 〃Madame;〃 he said; 〃I am an abbe; it is
true; but I am so against my will。 I never had a vocation
for the bands; my cassock is fastened by one button only;
and I am always ready to become a musketeer once more。 This
morning; being ignorant that I should have the honor of
seeing your majesty; I encumbered myself with this dress;
but you will find me none the less a man devoted to your
majesty's service; in whatever way you may see fit to use
me。〃
〃The Abbe d'Herblay;〃 resumed De Winter; 〃is one of those
gallant musketeers formerly belonging to His Majesty King
Louis XIII。; of whom I have spoken to you; madame。〃 Then
turning to Athos; he continued; 〃And this gentleman is that
noble Comte de la Fere; whose high reputation is so well
known to your majesty。〃
〃Gentlemen;〃 said the queen; 〃a few years ago I had around
me ushers; treasures; armies; and by the lifting of a finger
all these were busied in my service。 To…day; look around
you; and it may astonish you; that in order to accomplish a
plan which is dearer to me than life I have only Lord de
Winter; the friend of twenty years; and you; gentlemen; whom
I see for the first time and whom I know but as my
countrymen。〃
〃It is enough;〃 said Athos; bowing low; 〃if the lives of
three men can purchase yours; madame。〃
〃I thank you; gentlemen。 But hear me;〃 continued she。 〃I am
not only the most miserable of queens; but the most unhappy
of mothers; the most wretched of wives。 My children; two of
them; at least; the Duke of York and the Princess Elizabeth;
are far away from me; exposed to the blows of the ambitious
and our foes; my husband; the king; is leading in England so
wretched an existence that it is no exaggeration to aver
that he seeks death as a thing to be desired。 Hold!
gentlemen; here is the letter conveyed to me by Lord de
Winter。 Read it。〃
Obeying the queen; Athos read aloud the letter which we have
already seen; in which King Charles demanded to know whether
the hospitality of France would be accorded him。
〃Well?〃 asked Athos; when he had closed the letter。
〃W