twenty years after(二十年后)-第76节

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recourse　to　its　point。　But　this　last　and　dreaded　resource
served　only　to　exasperate　the　multitude。　From　time　to　time　a
shot　from　a　musket　or　the　blade　of　a　rapier　flashed　among
the　crowd；　projectiles　continued　to　hail　down　from　the
windows　and　some　shots　were　heard；　the　echo　of　which；　though
they　were　probably　fired　in　the　air；　made　all　hearts
vibrate。　Voices；　unheard　except　on　days　of　revolution；　were
distinguished；　faces　were　seen　that　only　appeared　on　days　of
bloodshed。　Cries　of　〃Death！　death　to　the　guards！　to　the
Seine　with　the　officer！〃　were　heard　above　all　the　noise；
deafening　as　it　was。　Raoul；　his　hat　in　ribbons；　his　face
bleeding；　felt　not　only　his　strength　but　also　his　reason
going；　a　red　mist　covered　his　sight；　and　through　this　mist
he　saw　a　hundred　threatening　arms　stretched　over　him；　ready
to　seize　upon　him　when　he　fell。　The　guards　were　unable　to
help　any　one　　each　one　was　occupied　with　his
self…preservation。　All　was　over；　carriages；　horses；　guards；
and　perhaps　even　the　prisoner　were　about　to　be　torn　to
shreds；　when　all　at　once　a　voice　well　known　to　Raoul　was
heard；　and　suddenly　a　great　sword　glittered　in　the　air；　at
the　same　time　the　crowd　opened；　upset；　trodden　down；　and　an
officer　of　the　musketeers；　striking　and　cutting　right　and
left；　rushed　up　to　Raoul　and　took　him　in　his　arms　just　as　he
was　about　to　fall。
〃God's　blood！〃　cried　the　officer；　〃have　they　killed　him？　Woe
to　them　if　it　be　so！〃
And　he　turned　around；　so　stern　with　anger；　strength　and
threat；　that　the　most　excited　rebels　hustled　back　on　one
another；　in　order　to　escape；　and　some　of　them　even　rolled
into　the　Seine。
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan！〃　murmured　Raoul。
〃Yes；　'sdeath！　in　person；　and　fortunately　it　seems　for　you；
my　young　friend。　Come　on；　here；　you　others；〃　he　continued；
rising　in　his　stirrups；　raising　his　sword；　and　addressing
those　musketeers　who　had　not　been　able　to　follow　his　rapid
onslaught。　〃Come；　sweep　away　all　that　for　me！　Shoulder
muskets！　Present　arms！　Aim　　〃
At　this　command　the　mountain　of　populace　thinned　so　suddenly
that　D'Artagnan　could　not　repress　a　burst　of　Homeric
laughter。
〃Thank　you；　D'Artagnan；〃　said　Comminges；　showing　half　of　his
body　through　the　window　of　the　broken　vehicle；　〃thanks；　my
young　friend；　your　name　　that　I　may　mention　it　to　the
queen。〃
Raoul　was　about　to　reply　when　D'Artagnan　bent　down　to　his
ear。
〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　said　he；　〃and　let　me　answer。　Do　not　lose
time；　Comminges；〃　he　continued；　〃get　out　of　the　carriage　if
you　can　and　make　another　draw　up；　be　quick；　or　in　five
minutes　the　mob　will　be　on　us　again　with　swords　and　muskets
and　you　will　be　killed。　Hold！　there's　a　carriage　coming　over
yonder。〃
Then　bending　again　to　Raoul；　he　whispered：　〃Above　all　things
do　not　divulge　your　name。〃
〃That's　right。　I　will　go；〃　said　Comminges；　〃and　if　they　come
back；　fire！〃
〃Not　at　all　　not　at　all；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃let　no　one
move。　On　the　contrary；　one　shot　at　this　moment　would　be　paid
for　dearly　to…morrow。〃
Comminges　took　his　four　guards　and　as　many　musketeers　and
ran　to　the　carriage；　from　which　he　made　the　people　inside
dismount；　and　brought　them　to　the　vehicle　which　had　upset。
But　when　it　was　necessary　to　convey　the　prisoner　from　one
carriage　to　the　other；　the　people；　catching　sight　of　him
whom　they　called　their　liberator；　uttered　every　imaginable
cry　and　knotted　themselves　once　more　around　the　vehicle。
〃Start；　start！〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃There　are　ten　men　to
accompany　you。　I　will　keep　twenty　to　hold　in　check　the　mob；
go；　and　lose　not　a　moment。　Ten　men　for　Monsieur　de
Comminges。〃
As　the　carriage　started　off　the　cries　were　redoubled　and
more　than　ten　thousand　people　thronged　the　Quai　and
overflowed　the　Pont　Neuf　and　adjacent　streets。　A　few　shots
were　fired　and　one　musketeer　was　wounded。
〃Forward！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　driven　to　extremities；　biting
his　moustache；　and　then　he　charged　with　his　twenty　men　and
dispersed　them　in　fear。　One　man　alone　remained　in　his　place；
gun　in　hand。
〃Ah！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃it　is　thou　who　wouldst　have　him
assassinated？　Wait　an　instant。〃　And　he　pointed　his　gun　at
D'Artagnan；　who　was　riding　toward　him　at　full　speed。
D'Artagnan　bent　down　to　his　horse's　neck　the　young　man
fired；　and　the　ball　severed　the　feathers　from　the　hat。　The
horse　started；　brushed　against　the　imprudent　man；　who
thought　by　his　strength　alone　to　stay　the　tempest；　and　he
fell　against　the　wall。　D'Artagnan　pulled　up　his　horse；　and
whilst　his　musketeers　continued　to　charge；　he　returned　and
bent　with　drawn　sword　over　the　man　he　had　knocked　down。
〃Oh；　sir！〃　exclaimed　Raoul；　recognizing　the　young　man　as
having　seen　him　in　the　Rue　Cocatrix；　〃spare　him！　it　is　his
son！〃
D'Artagnan's　arm　dropped　to　his　side。　〃Ah；　you　are　his　son！〃
he　said；　〃that　is　a　different　thing。〃
〃Sir；　I　surrender；〃　said　Louvieres；　presenting　his　unloaded
musket　to　the　officer。
〃Eh；　no！　do　not　surrender；　egad！　On　the　contrary；　be　off；
and　quickly。　If　I　take　you；　you　will　be　hung！〃
The　young　man　did　not　wait　to　be　told　twice；　but　passing
under　the　horse's　head　disappeared　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue
Guenegaud。
〃I'faith！〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　Raoul；　〃you　were　just　in　time
to　stay　my　hand。　He　was　a　dead　man；　and　on　my　honor；　if　I
had　discovered　that　it　was　his　son；　I　should　have　regretted
having　killed　him。〃
〃Ah！　sir！〃　said　Raoul；　〃allow　me；　after　thanking　you　for
that　poor　fellow's　life；　to　thank　you　on　my　own　account。　I
too；　sir；　was　almost　dead　when　you　arrived。〃
〃Wait；　wait；　young　man；　do　not　fatigue　yourself　with
speaking。　We　can　talk　of　it　afterward。〃
Then　seeing　that　the　musketeers　had　cleared　the　Quai　from
the　Pont　Neuf　to　the　Quai　Saint　Michael；　he　raised　his　sword
for　them　to　double　their　speed。　The　musketeers　trotted　up；
and　at　the　same　time　the　ten　men　whom　D'Artagnan　had　given
to　Comminges　appeared。
〃Halloo！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃has　something　fresh　happened？〃
〃Eh；　sir！〃　replied　the　sergeant；　〃their　vehicle　has　broken
down　a　second　time；　it　really　must　be　doomed。〃
〃They　are　bad　managers；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　shrugging　his
shoulders。　〃When　a　carriage　is　chosen；　it　ought　to　be
strong。　The　carriage　in　which　a　Broussel　is　to　be　arrested
ought　to　be　able　to　bear　ten　thousand　men。〃
〃What　are　your　commands；　lieutenant？〃
〃Take　the　detachment　and　conduct　him　to　his　place。〃
〃But　you　will　be　left　alone？〃
〃Certainly。　So　you　suppose　I　have　need　of　an　escort？　Go。〃
The　musketeers　set　off　and　D'Artagnan　was　left　alone　with
Raoul。
〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃are　you　in　pain？〃
〃Yes；　my　head　is　not　only　swimming　but　burning。〃
〃What's　the　matter　with　this　head？〃　said　D'Artagnan；　raising
the　battered　hat。　〃Ah！　ah！　a　bruise。〃
〃Yes；　I　think　I　received　a　flower…pot　upon　my　head。〃
〃Brutes！〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃But　were　you　not　on　horseback？
you　have　spurs。〃
〃Yes；　but　I　got　down　to　defend　Monsieur　de　Comminges　and　my
horse　was　taken　away。　Here　it　is；　I　see。〃
At　this　very　moment　Friquet　passed；　mounted　on　Raoul's
horse；　waving　his　parti…colored　cap　and　crying；　〃Broussel！
Broussel！〃
〃Halloo！　stop；　rascal！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃Bring　hither　that
horse。〃
Friquet　heard　perfectly；　but　he　pretended　not　to　do　so　and
tried　to　continue　his　road。　D'Artagnan　felt　inclined　for　an
instant　to　pursue　Master　Friquet；　but　not　wishing　to　leave
Raoul　alone　he　contented　himself　with　taking　a　pistol　from
the　holster　and　cocking　it。
Friquet　had　a　quick　eye　and　a　fine　ear。　He　saw　D'Artagnan's
movement；　heard　the　sound　of　the　click；　and　stopped　at　once。
〃Ah！　it　is　you；　your　honor；〃　he　said；　advancing　toward
D'Artagnan；　〃and　I　am　truly　pleased　to　meet　you。〃
D'Artagnan　looked　attentively　at　Friquet　and　recognized　the
little　chorister　of　the　Rue　de　la　Calandre。
〃Ah！　'tis　thou；　rascal！〃　said　he；　〃come　here：　so　thou　hast
changed　thy　trade；　thou　art　no　longer　a　choir　boy　nor　a
tavern　boy；　thou　hast　become　a　horse　stealer？〃
〃Ah；　your　honor；　how　can　you　say　so？〃　exclaimed　Friquet。　〃I
was　seeking　the　gentleman　to　whom　this　horse　belongs　　an
officer；　brave　and　handsome　as　a　youthful　Caesar；　〃then；
pretending　to　see　Raoul　for　the　first　time：
〃Ah！　but　if　I　mistake　not；〃　continued　he；　〃here　he　is；　you
won't　forget　the　boy；　sir。〃
Raoul　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket。
〃What　are　you　about？〃　asked　D'Artagnan。
〃To　give　ten　francs　to　this　honest　fellow；〃　replied　Raoul；
taking　a　pistole　from　his　pocket。
〃Ten　kicks　on　his　back！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃be　off；　you
little　villain；　and　forget　not　that　I　have　your　address。〃
Friquet；　who　did　not　expect　to　be　let　off　so　cheaply；
bounded　off　like　a　gazelle　up　the　Quai　a　la　Rue　Dauphine；
and　disappeared。　Raoul　mounted　his　horse；　and　both　leisurely
took　their　way　to　the　Rue　Tiquetonne。
D'Artagnan　watched　over　the　youth　as　if　he　had　been　his　own
son。
They　arrived　without　accident　at　the　Hotel　de　la　Chevrette。
The　handsome　Madeleine　announced　to　D'Artagnan　that　Planchet
had　returned；　bringing　Musqueton　with　him；　who　had
heroically　borne　the　extraction　of　the　ball　and　was　as　well
as　his　state　would　permit。
D'Artagnan　desired　Planchet　to　be　summoned；　but　he　had
disappeared。
〃Then　bring　some　wine；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃You　are　much
pleased　with　yourself；〃　said　he　to　Raoul　when　they　were
alone；　〃are　you　not？〃
〃Well；　yes；〃　replied　Raoul。　〃It　seems　to　me　I　did　my　duty。　I
defended　t