twenty years after(二十年后)-第86节

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bravado；　that　is　not　my　way；　but　I　am　firm。　Imitate　me。　Make
less　hubbub　and　think　more　deeply。　You　cry　very　loud；　you
end　by　doing　nothing；　you　talk　of　flying　　〃
Mazarin　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　taking　the　queen's　hand
led　her　to　the　window。
〃Look！〃　he　said。
〃Well？〃　said　the　queen；　blinded　by　her　obstinacy。
〃Well；　what　do　you　see　from　this　window？　If　I　am　not
mistaken　those　are　citizens；　helmeted　and　mailed；　armed　with
good　muskets；　as　in　the　time　of　the　League；　and　whose　eyes
are　so　intently　fixed　on　this　window　that　they　will　see　you
if　you　raise　that　curtain　much；　and　now　come　to　the　other
side　　what　do　you　see？　Creatures　of　the　people；　armed　with
halberds；　guarding　your　doors。　You　will　see　the　same　at
every　opening　from　this　palace　to　which　I　should　lead　you。
Your　doors　are　guarded；　the　airholes　of　your　cellars　are
guarded；　and　I　could　say　to　you；　as　that　good　La　Ramee　said
to　me　of　the　Duc　de　Beaufort；　you　must　be　either　bird　or
mouse　to　get　out。〃
〃He　did　get　out；　nevertheless。〃
〃Do　you　think　of　escaping　in　the　same　way？〃
〃I　am　a　prisoner；　then？〃
〃Parbleu！〃　said　Mazarin；　〃I　have　been　proving　it　to　you　this
last　hour。〃
And　he　quietly　resumed　his　dispatch　at　the　place　where　he
had　been　interrupted。
Anne；　trembling　with　anger　and　scarlet　with　humiliation；
left　the　room；　shutting　the　door　violently　after　her。
Mazarin　did　not　even　turn　around。　When　once　more　in　her　own
apartment　Anne　fell　into　a　chair　and　wept；　then　suddenly
struck　with　an　idea：
〃I　am　saved！〃　she　exclaimed；　rising；　〃oh；　yes！　yes！　I　know　a
man　who　will　find　the　means　of　taking　me　from　Paris；　a　man　I
have　too　long　forgotten。〃　Then　falling　into　a　reverie；　she
added；　however；　with　an　expression　of　joy；　〃Ungrateful　woman
that　I　am；　for　twenty　years　I　have　forgotten　this　man；　whom
I　ought　to　have　made　a　marechal　of　France。　My　mother…in…law
expended　gold；　caresses；　dignities　on　Concini；　who　ruined
her；　the　king　made　Vitry　marechal　of　France　for　an
assassination：　while　I　have　left　in　obscurity；　in　poverty；
the　noble　D'Artagnan；　who　saved　me！〃
And　running　to　a　table；　on　which　were　paper；　pens　and　ink；
she　hastily　began　to　write。

50
The　Interview。

It　had　been　D'Artagnan's　practice；　ever　since　the　riots；　to
sleep　in　the　same　room　as　Porthos；　and　on　this　eventful
morning　he　was　still　there；　sleeping；　and　dreaming　that　a
yellow　cloud　had　overspread　the　sky　and　was　raining　gold
pieces　into　his　hat；　which　he　held　out　till　it　was
overflowing　with　pistoles。　As　for　Porthos；　he　dreamed　that
the　panels　of　his　carriage　were　not　capacious　enough　to
contain　the　armorial　bearings　he　had　ordered　to　be　painted
on　them。　They　were　both　aroused　at　seven　o'clock　by　the
entrance　of　an　unliveried　servant；　who　brought　a　letter　for
D'Artagnan。
〃From　whom？〃　asked　the　Gascon。
〃From　the　queen；〃　replied　the　servant。
〃Ho！〃　said　Porthos；　raising　himself　in　his　bed；　〃what　does
she　say？〃
D'Artagnan　requested　the　servant　to　wait　in　the　next　room
and　when　the　door　was　closed　he　sprang　up　from　his　bed　and
read　rapidly；　whilst　Porthos　looked　at　him　with　starting
eyes；　not　daring　to　ask　a　single　question。
〃Friend　Porthos；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　handing　the　letter　to
him；　〃this　time；　at　least；　you　are　sure　of　your　title　of
baron；　and　I　of　my　captaincy。　Read　for　yourself　and　judge。〃
Porthos　took　the　letter　and　with　a　trembling　voice　read　the
following　words：
〃The　queen　wishes　to　speak　to　Monsieur　d'Artagnan；　who　must
follow　the　bearer。〃
〃Well！〃　exclaimed　Porthos；　〃I　see　nothing　in　that　very
extraordinary。〃
〃But　I　see　much　that　is　very　extraordinary　in　it；〃　replied
D'Artagnan。　〃It　is　evident；　by　their　sending　for　me；　that
matters　are　becoming　complicated。　Just　reflect　a　little　what
an　agitation　the　queen's　mind　must　be　in　for　her　to　have
remembered　me　after　twenty　years。〃
〃It　is　true；〃　said　Porthos。
〃Sharpen　your　sword；　baron；　load　your　pistols；　and　give　some
corn　to　the　horses；　for　I　will　answer　for　it；
something　lightning…like　will　happen　ere　to…morrow。〃
〃But；　stop；　do　you　think　it　can　be　a　trap　that　they　are
laying　for　us？〃　suggested　Porthos；　incessantly　thinking　how
his　greatness　must　be　irksome　to　inferior　people。
〃If　it　is　a　snare；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃I　shall　scent　it
out；　be　assured。　If　Mazarin　is　an　Italian；　I　am　a　Gascon。〃
And　D'Artagnan　dressed　himself　in　an　instant。
Whilst　Porthos；　still　in　bed；　was　hooking　on　his　cloak　for
him；　a　second　knock　at　the　door　was　heard。
〃Come　in；〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan；　and　another　servant
entered。
〃From　His　Eminence；　Cardinal　Mazarin；〃　presenting　a　letter。
D'Artagnan　looked　at　Porthos。
〃A　complicated　affair；〃　said　Porthos；　〃where　will　you
begin？〃
〃It　is　arranged　capitally；　his　eminence　expects　me　in　half
an　hour。〃
〃Good。〃
〃My　friend；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　turning　to　the　servant；　〃tell
his　eminence　that　in　half　an　hour　I　shall　be　at　his
command。〃
〃It　is　very　fortunate；〃　resumed　the　Gascon；　when　the　valet
had　retired；　〃that　he　did　not　meet　the　other　one。〃
〃Do　you　not　think　that　they　have　sent　for　you；　both　for　the
same　thing？〃
〃I　do　not　think　it；　I　am　certain　of　it。〃
〃Quick；　quick；　D'Artagnan。　Remember　that　the　queen　awaits
you；　and　after　the　queen；　the　cardinal；　and　after　the
cardinal；　myself。〃
D'Artagnan　summoned　Anne　of　Austria's　servant　and　signified
that　he　was　ready　to　follow　him　into　the　queen's　presence。
The　servant　conducted　him　by　the　Rue　des　Petits　Champs　and
turning　to　the　left　entered　the　little　garden　gate　leading
into　the　Rue　Richelieu；　then　they　gained　the　private
staircase　and　D'Artagnan　was　ushered　into　the　oratory。　A
certain　emotion；　for　which　he　could　not　account；　made　the
lieutenant's　heart　beat：　he　had　no　longer　the　assurance　of
youth；　experience　had　taught　him　the　importance　of　past
events。　Formerly　he　would　have　approached　the　queen　as　a
young　man　who　bends　before　a　woman；　but　now　it　was　a
different　thing；　he　answered　her　summons　as　an　humble
soldier　obeys　an　illustrious　general。
The　silence　of　the　oratory　was　at　last　disturbed　by　the
slight　rustling　of　silk；　and　D'Artagnan　started　when　he
perceived　the　tapestry　raised　by　a　white　hand；　which；　by　its
form；　its　color　and　its　beauty　he　recognized　as　that　royal
hand　which　had　one　day　been　presented　to　him　to　kiss。　The
queen　entered。
〃It　is　you；　Monsieur　d'Artagnan；〃　she　said；　fixing　a　gaze
full　of　melancholy　interest　on　the　countenance　of　the
officer；　〃and　I　know　you　well。　Look　at　me　well　in　your　turn。
I　am　the　queen；　do　you　recognize　me？〃

〃No；　madame；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。
〃But　are　you　no　longer　aware；〃　continued　Anne；　giving　that
sweet　expression　to　her　voice　which　she　could　do　at　will；
〃that　in　former　days　the　queen　had　once　need　of　a　young；
brave　and　devoted　cavalier　　that　she　found　this　cavalier
　and　that；　although　he　might　have　thought　that　she　had
forgotten　him；　she　had　kept　a　place　for　him　in　the　depths　of
her　heart？〃
〃No；　madame；　I　was　ignorant　of　that；〃　said　the　musketeer。
〃So　much　the　worse；　sir；〃　said　Anne　of　Austria；　〃so　much　the
worse；　at　least　for　the　queen；　for　to…day　she　has　need　of
the　same　courage　and　the　same　devotion。〃
〃What！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan；　〃does　the　queen；　surrounded　as
she　is　by　such　devoted　servants；　such　wise　counselors；　men；
in　short；　so　great　by　merit　or　position　　does　she　deign　to
cast　her　eyes　on　an　obscure　soldier？〃
Anne　understood　this　covert　reproach　and　was　more　moved　than
irritated　by　it。　She　had　many　a　time　felt　humiliated　by　the
self…sacrifice　and　disinterestedness　shown　by　the　Gascon
gentleman。　She　had　allowed　herself　to　be　exceeded　in
generosity。
〃All　that　you　tell　me　of　those　by　whom　I　am　surrounded；
Monsieur　d'Artagnan；　is　doubtless　true；〃　said　the　queen；
〃but　I　have　confidence　in　you　alone。　I　know　that　you　belong
to　the　cardinal；　but　belong　to　me　as　well；　and　I　will　take
upon　myself　the　making　of　your　fortune。　Come；　will　you　do
to…day　what　formerly　the　gentleman　you　do　not　know　did　for
the　queen？〃
〃I　will　do　everything　your　majesty　commands；〃　replied
D'Artagnan。
The　queen　reflected　for　a　moment　and　then；　seeing　the
cautious　demeanor　of　the　musketeer：
〃Perhaps　you　like　repose？〃　she　said。
〃I　do　not　know；　for　I　have　never　had　it；　madame。〃
〃Have　you　any　friends？〃
〃I　had　three；　two　of　whom　have　left　Paris；　to　go　I　know　not
where。　One　alone　is　left　to　me；　but　he　is　one　of　those
known；　I　believe；　to　the　cavalier　of　whom　your　majesty　did
me　the　honor　to　speak。〃
〃Very　good；〃　said　the　queen；　〃you　and　your　friend　are　worth
an　army。〃
〃What　am　I　to　do；　madame？〃
〃Return　at　five　o'clock　and　I　will　tell　you；　but　do　not
breathe　to　a　living　soul；　sir；　the　rendezvous　which　I　give
you。〃
〃No；　madame。〃
〃Swear　it　upon　the　cross。〃
〃Madame；　I　have　never　been　false　to　my　word；　when　I　say　I
will　not　do　a　thing；　I　mean　it。〃
The　queen；　although　astonished　at　this　language；　to　which
she　was　not　accustomed　from　her　courtiers；　argued　from　it　a
happy　omen　of　the　zeal　with　which　D'Artagnan　would　serve　her
in　the　accomplishment　of　her　project。　It　was　one　of　the
Gascon's　artifices　to　hide　his　deep　cunning　occasionally
under　an　appearance　of　rough　loyalty。
〃Has　the　queen　any　further　commands　for　me　now？〃　asked
D'Artagnan。
〃No；　sir；〃　replied　Anne　of　Austria；　〃and　you　may　retire
until　the　time　that　I　mentioned　to　y