twenty years after(二十年后)-第73节

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me　if　it　be　true　that　Cardinal　Mazarin　is　no　longer
minister？〃
〃That　is　a　strange　question；〃　said　Aramis。
〃He　is　and　he　is　not；〃　replied　Athos；　〃that　is　to　say；　he　is
dismissed　by　one…half　of　France；　but　by　intrigues　and
promises　he　makes　the　other　half　sustain　him；　you　will
perceive　that　this　may　last　a　long　time。〃
〃However；　sir；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃he　has　neither　fled　nor
is　in　prison？〃
〃No；　sir；　not　at　this　moment　at　least。〃
〃Sirs；　accept　my　thanks　for　your　politeness；〃　said　the　young
man；　retreating。
〃What　do　you　think　of　that　interrogator？〃　asked　Aramis。
〃I　think　he　is　either　a　dull　provincial　person　or　a　spy　in
search　of　information。〃
〃And　you　replied　to　him　with　that　notion？〃
〃Nothing　warranted　me　to　answer　him　otherwise；　he　was　polite
to　me　and　I　was　so　to　him。〃
〃But　if　he　be　a　spy　　〃
〃What　do　you　think　a　spy　would　be　about　here？　We　are　not
living　in　the　time　of　Cardinal　Richelieu；　who　would　have
closed　the　ports　on　bare　suspicion。〃
〃It　matters　not；　you　were　wrong　to　reply　to　him　as　you　did；〃
continued　Aramis；　following　with　his　eyes　the　young　man；　now
vanishing　behind　the　cliffs。
〃And　you；〃　said　Athos；　〃you　forget　that　you　committed　a　very
different　kind　of　imprudence　in　pronouncing　Lord　de　Winter's
name。　Did　you　not　see　that　at　that　name　the　young　man
stopped？〃
〃More　reason；　then；　when　he　spoke　to　you；　for　sending　him
about　his　business。〃
〃A　quarrel？〃　asked　Athos。
〃And　since　when　have　you　become　afraid　of　a　quarrel？〃
〃I　am　always　afraid　of　a　quarrel　when　I　am　expected　at　any
place　and　when　such　a　quarrel　might　possibly　prevent　my
reaching　it。　Besides；　let　me　own　something　to　you。　I　am
anxious　to　see　that　young　man　nearer。〃
〃And　wherefore？〃
〃Aramis；　you　will　certainly　laugh　at　me；　you　will　say　that　I
am　always　repeating　the　same　thing；　you　will　call　me　the
most　timorous　of　visionaries；　but　to　whom　do　you　see　a
resemblance　in　that　young　man？〃
〃In　beauty　or　on　the　contrary？〃　asked　Aramis；　laughing。
〃In　ugliness；　in　so　far　as　a　man　can　resemble　a　woman。〃
〃Ah！　Egad！〃　cried　Aramis；　〃you　set　me　thinking。　No；　in　truth
you　are　no　visionary；　my　dear　friend；　and　now　I　think　of　it
　you　　yes；　i'faith；　you're　right　　those　delicate；　yet
firm…set　lips；　those　eyes　which　seem　always　at　the　command
of　the　intellect　and　never　of　the　heart！　Yes；　it　is　one　of
Milady's　bastards！〃
〃You　laugh　Aramis。〃
〃From　habit；　that　is　all。　I　swear　to　you；　I　like　no　better
than　yourself　to　meet　that　viper　in　my　path。〃
〃Ah！　here　is　De　Winter　coming；〃　said　Athos。
〃Good！　one　thing　now　is　only　awanting　and　that　is；　that　our
grooms　should　not　keep　us　waiting。〃
〃No；〃　said　Athos。　〃I　see　them　about　twenty　paces　behind　my
lord。　I　recognize　Grimaud　by　his　long　legs　and　his
determined　slouch。　Tony　carries　our　muskets。〃
〃Then　we　set　sail　to…night？〃　asked　Aramis；　glancing　toward
the　west；　where　the　sun　had　left　a　single　golden　cloud；
which；　dipping　into　the　ocean；　appeared　by　degrees　to　be
extinguished。
〃Probably；〃　said　Athos。
〃Diable！〃　resumed　Aramis；　〃I　have　little　fancy　for　the　sea
by　day；　still　less　at　night；　the　sounds　of　wind　and　wave；
the　frightful　movements　of　the　vessel；　I　confess　I　prefer
the　convent　of　Noisy。〃
Athos　smiled　sadly；　for　it　was　evident　that　he　was　thinking
of　other　things　as　he　listened　to　his　friend　and　moved
toward　De　Winter。
〃What　ails　our　friend？〃　said　Aramis；　〃he　resembles　one　of
Dante's　damned；　whose　neck　Apollyon　has　dislocated　and　who
are　ever　looking　at　their　heels。　What　the　devil　makes　him
glower　thus　behind　him？〃
When　De　Winter　perceived　them；　in　his　turn　he　advanced
toward　them　with　surprising　rapidity。
〃What　is　the　matter；　my　lord？〃　said　Athos；　〃and　what　puts
you　out　of　breath　thus？〃
〃Nothing；〃　replied　De　Winter；　〃nothing；　and　yet　in　passing
the　heights　it　seemed　to　me　　〃　and　he　again　turned
round。
Athos　glanced　at　Aramis。
〃But　let　us　go；〃　continued　De　Winter；　〃let　us　be　off；　the
boat　must　be　waiting　for　us　and　there　is　our　sloop　at　anchor
　do　you　see　it　there？　I　wish　I　were　on　board　already；〃　and
he　looked　back　again。
〃He　has　seen　him；〃　said　Athos；　in　a　low　tone；　to　Aramis。
They　had　reached　the　ladder　which　led　to　the　boat。　De　Winter
made　the　grooms　who　carried　the　arms　and　the　porters　with
the　luggage　descend　first　and　was　about　to　follow　them。
At　this　moment　Athos　perceived　a　man　walking　on　the　seashore
parallel　to　the　jetty；　and　hastening　his　steps；　as　if　to
reach　the　other　side　of　the　port；　scarcely　twenty　steps　from
the　place　of　embarking。　He　fancied　in　the　darkness　that　he
recognized　the　young　man　who　had　questioned　him。　Athos　now
descended　the　ladder　in　his　turn；　without　losing　sight　of
the　young　man。　The　latter；　to　make　a　short　cut；　had　appeared
on　a　sluice。
〃He　certainly　bodes　us　no　good；〃　said　Athos；　〃but　let　us
embark；　once　out　at　sea；　let　him　come。〃
And　Athos　sprang　into　the　boat；　which　was　immediately　pushed
off　and　which　soon　sped　seawards　under　the　efforts　of　four
stalwart　rowers。
But　the　young　man　had　begun　to　follow；　or　rather　to　advance
before　the　boat。　She　was　obliged　to　pass　between　the　point
of　the　jetty；　surmounted　by　a　beacon　just　lighted；　and　a
rock　which　jutted　out。　They　saw　him　in　the　distance　climbing
the　rock　in　order　to　look　down　upon　the　boat　as　it　passed。
〃Ay；　but；〃　said　Aramis；　〃that　young　fellow　is　decidedly　a
spy。〃
〃Which　is　the　young　man？〃　asked　De　Winter；　turning　around。
〃He　who　followed　us　and　spoke　to　us　awaits　us　there；
behold！〃
De　Winter　turned　and　followed　the　direction　of　Aramis's
finger。　The　beacon　bathed　with　light　the　little　strait
through　which　they　were　about　to　pass　and　the　rock　where　the
young　man　stood　with　bare　head　and　crossed　arms。
〃It　is　he！〃　exclaimed　De　Winter；　seizing　the　arm　of　Athos；
〃it　is　he！　I　thought　I　recognized　him　and　I　was　not
mistaken。〃
〃Whom　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Aramis。
〃Milady's　son；〃　replied　Athos。
〃The　monk！〃　exclaimed　Grimaud。
The　young　man　heard　these　words　and　bent　so　forward　over　the
rock　that　one　might　have　supposed　he　was　about　to
precipitate　himself　from　it。
〃Yes；　it　is　I；　my　uncle　　I；　the　son　of　Milady　　I；　the
monk　　I；　the　secretary　and　friend　of　Cromwell　　I　know
you　now；　both　you　and　your　companions。〃
In　that　boat　sat　three　men；　unquestionably　brave；　whose
courage　no　man　would　have　dared　dispute；　nevertheless；　at
that　voice；　that　accent　and　those　gestures；　they　felt　a
chill　access　of　terror　cramp　their　veins。　As　for　Grimaud；
his　hair　stood　on　end　and　drops　of　sweat　ran　down　his　brow。
〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Aramis；　〃that　is　the　nephew；　the　monk；　and
the　son　of　Milady；　as　he　says　himself。〃
〃Alas；　yes；〃　murmured　De　Winter。
〃Then　wait；〃　said　Aramis；　and　with　the　terrible　coolness
which　on　important　occasions　he　showed；　he　took　one　of　the
muskets　from　Tony；　shouldered　and　aimed　it　at　the　young　man；
who　stood；　like　the　accusing　angel；　upon　the　rock。
〃Fire！〃　cried　Grimaud；　unconsciously。
Athos　threw　himself　on　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　and　arrested
the　shot　which　was　about　to　be　fired。
〃The　devil　take　you；〃　said　Aramis。　〃I　had　him　so　well　at　the
point　of　my　gun　I　should　have　sent　a　ball　into　his　breast。〃
〃It　is　enough　to　have　killed　the　mother；〃　said　Athos；
hoarsely。
〃The　mother　was　a　wretch；　who　struck　at　us　all　and　at　those
dear　to　us。〃
〃Yes；　but　the　son　has　done　us　no　harm。〃
Grimaud；　who　had　risen　to　watch　the　effect　of　the　shot；　fell
back　hopeless；　wringing　his　hands。
The　young　man　burst　into　a　laugh。
〃Ah；　it　is　certainly　you！〃　he　cried。　〃I　know　you　even　better
now。〃
His　mocking　laugh　and　threatening　words　passed　over　their
heads；　carried　by　the　breeze；　until　lost　in　the　depths　of
the　horizon。　Aramis　shuddered。
〃Be　calm；〃　exclaimed　Athos；　〃for　Heaven's　sake！　have　we
ceased　to　be　men？〃
〃No；〃　said　Aramis；　〃but　that　fellow　is　a　fiend；　and　ask　the
uncle　whether　I　was　wrong　to　rid　him　of　his　dear　nephew。〃
De　Winter　only　replied　by　a　groan。
〃It　was　all　up　with　him；〃　continued　Aramis；　〃ah　I　much　fear
that　with　all　your　wisdom　such　mercy　yet　will　prove　supernal
folly。〃
Athos　took　Lord　de　Winter's　hand　and　tried　to　turn　the
conversation。
〃When　shall　we　land　in　England？〃　he　asked；　but　De　Winter
seemed　not　to　hear　his　words　and　made　no　reply。
〃Hold；　Athos；〃　said　Aramis；　〃perhaps　there　is　yet　time。　See
if　he　is　still　in　the　same　place。〃
Athos　turned　around　with　an　effort；　the　sight　of　the　young
man　was　evidently　painful　to　him；　and　there　he　still　was；　in
fact；　on　the　rock；　the　beacon　shedding　around　him；　as　it
were；　a　doubtful　aureole。
〃Decidedly；　Aramis；〃　said　Athos；　〃I　think　I　was　wrong　not　to
let　you　fire。〃
〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　replied　Aramis；　〃you　would　make　me　weep；
if　such　a　thing　were　possible。〃
At　this　moment　they　were　hailed　by　a　voice　from　the　sloop
and　a　few　seconds　later　men；　servants　and　baggage　were
aboard。　The　captain　was　only　waiting　for　his　passengers；
hardly　had　they　put　foot　on　deck　ere　her　head　was　turned
towards　Hastings；　where　they　were　to　disembark。　At　this
instant　the　three　friends　turned；　in　spite　of　themselves；　a
last　look　on　the　rock；　upon　the　menacing　figure　which
pursued　them　and　now　stood　out　with　a　distinctness　still。
Then　a　voice　reached　them　once　more；　sending　this　threat：
〃To　our　next　meeting；　sirs；　in　England。〃

44
Te　Deum　for　the　Victory　of　Lens。

The　bustle　whi