twenty years after(二十年后)-第88节

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〃I　will　do　my　best。〃
〃The　streets　are　full　of　armed　men；〃　continued　D'Artagnan。
〃Are　you　sure　that　no　one　is　aware　of　the　queen's　project？〃
Mazarin　reflected。
〃This　affair　would　give　a　fine　opportunity　for　a　traitor；　my
lord；　the　chance　of　being　attacked　would　be　an　excuse　for
everything。〃
Mazarin　shuddered；　but　he　reflected　that　a　man　who　had　the
least　intention　to　betray　would　not　warn　first。
〃And　therefore；〃　added　he；　quietly；　〃I　have　not　confidence
in　every　one；　the　proof　of　which　is；　that　I　have　fixed　upon
you　to　escort　me。〃
〃Shall　you　not　go　with　the　queen？〃
〃No；〃　replied　Mazarin。
〃Then　you　will　start　after　the　queen？〃
〃No；〃　said　Mazarin　again。
〃Ah！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　who　began　to　understand。
〃Yes；〃　continued　the　cardinal。　〃I　have　my　plan。　With　the
queen　I　double　her　risk；　after　the　queen　her　departure　would
double　mine；　then；　the　court　once　safe；　I　might　be
forgotten。　The　great　are　often　ungrateful。〃
〃Very　true；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　fixing　his　eyes；　in　spite　of
himself；　on　the　queen's　diamond；　which　Mazarin　wore　on　his
finger。　Mazarin　followed　the　direction　of　his　eyes　and
gently　turned　the　hoop　of　the　ring　inside。
〃I　wish；〃　he　said；　with　his　cunning　smile；　〃to　prevent　them
from　being　ungrateful　to　me。〃
〃It　is　but　Christian　charity；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃not　to
lead　one's　neighbors　into　temptation。〃
〃It　is　exactly　for　that　reason；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃that　I　wish
to　start　before　them。〃
D'Artagnan　smiled　　he　was　just　the　man　to　understand　the
astute　Italian。　Mazarin　saw　the　smile　and　profited　by　the
moment。
〃You　will　begin；　therefore；　by　taking　me　first　out　of　Paris；
will　you　not；　my　dear　M。　d'Artagnan？〃
〃A　difficult　commission；　my　lord；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；
resuming　his　serious　manner。
〃But；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃you　did　not　make　so　many　difficulties
with　regard　to　the　king　and　queen。〃
〃The　king　and　the　queen　are　my　king　and　queen；〃　replied　the
musketeer；　〃my　life　is　theirs　and　I　must　give　it　for　them。
If　they　ask　it　what　have　I　to　say？〃
〃That　is　true；〃　murmured　Mazarin；　in　a　low　tone；　〃but　as　thy
life　is　not　mine　I　suppose　I　must　buy　it；　must　I　not？〃　and
sighing　deeply　he　began　to　turn　the　hoop　of　his　ring　outside
again。　D'Artagnan　smiled。　These　two　men　met　at　one　point　and
that　was；　cunning；　had　they　been　actuated　equally　by
courage；　the　one　would　have　done　great　things　for　the　other。
〃But；　also；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃you　must　understand　that　if　I
ask　this　service　from　you　it　is　with　the　intention　of　being
grateful。〃
〃Is　it　still　only　an　intention；　your　eminence？〃　asked
D'Artagnan。
〃Stay；〃　said　Mazarin；　drawing　the　ring　from　his　finger；　〃my
dear　D'Artagnan；　there　is　a　diamond　which　belonged　to　you
formerly；　it　is　but　just　it　should　return　to　you；　take　it；　I
pray。〃
D'Artagnan　spared　Mazarin　the　trouble　of　insisting；　and
after　looking　to　see　if　the　stone　was　the　same　and　assuring
himself　of　the　purity　of　its　water；　he　took　it　and　passed　it
on　his　finger　with　indescribable　pleasure。
〃I　valued　it　much；〃　said　Mazarin；　giving　a　last　look　at　it；
〃nevertheless；　I　give　it　to　you　with　great　pleasure。〃
〃And　I；　my　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃accept　it　as　it　is
given。　Come；　let　us　speak　of　your　little　affairs。　You　wish
to　leave　before　everybody　and　at　what　hour？〃
〃At　ten　o'clock。〃
〃And　the　queen；　at　what　time　is　it　her　wish　to　start？〃
〃At　midnight。〃
〃Then　it　is　possible。　I　can　get　you　out　of　Paris　and　leave
you　beyond　the　barriere；　and　can　return　for　her。〃
〃Capital；　but　how　will　you　get　me　out　of　Paris？〃
〃Oh！　as　to　that；　you　must　leave　it　to　me。〃
〃I　give　you　absolute　power；　therefore；　take　as　large　an
escort　as　you　like。〃
D'Artagnan　shook　his　head。
〃It　seems　to　me；　however；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃the　safest
method。〃
〃Yes；　for　you；　my　lord；　but　not　for　the　queen；　you　must
leave　it　to　me　and　give　me　the　entire　direction　of　the
undertaking。〃
〃Nevertheless　　〃
〃Or　find　some　one　else；〃　continued　D'Artagnan；　turning　his
back。
〃Oh！〃　muttered　Mazarin；　〃I　do　believe　he　is　going　off　with
the　diamond！　M。　d'Artagnan；　my　dear　M。　d'Artagnan；〃　he
called　out　in　a　coaxing　voice；　〃will　you　answer　for
everything？〃
〃I　will　answer　for　nothing。　I　will　do　my　best。〃
〃Well；　then；　let　us　go　　I　must　trust　to　you。〃
〃It　is　very　fortunate；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　himself。
〃You　will　be　here　at　half…past　nine。〃
〃And　I　shall　find　your　eminence　ready？〃
〃Certainly；　quite　ready。〃
〃Well；　then；　it　is　a　settled　thing；　and　now；　my　lord；　will
you　obtain　for　me　an　audience　with　the　queen？〃
〃For　what　purpose？〃
〃I　wish　to　receive　her　majesty's　commands　from　her　own
lips。〃
〃She　desired　me　to　give　them　to　you。〃
〃She　may　have　forgotten　something。〃
〃You　really　wish　to　see　her？〃
〃It　is　indispensable；　my　lord。〃
Mazarin　hesitated　for　one　instant；　but　D'Artagnan　was　firm。
〃Come；　then；〃　said　the　minister；　〃I　will　conduct　you　to　her；
but　remember；　not　one　word　of　our　conversation。〃
〃What　has　passed　between　us　concerns　ourselves　alone。　my
lord；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。
〃Swear　to　be　mute。〃
〃I　never　swear；　my　lord；　I　say　yes　or　no；　and；　as　I　am　a
gentleman；　I　keep　my　word。〃
〃Come；　then；　I　see　that　I　must　trust　unreservedly　to　you。〃
〃Believe　me；　my　lord；　it　will　be　your　best　plan。〃
〃Come；〃　said　Mazarin；　conducting　D'Artagnan　into　the　queen's
oratory　and　desiring　him　to　wait　there。　He　did　not　wait
long；　for　in　five　minutes　the　queen　entered　in　full　gala
costume。　Thus　dressed　she　scarcely　appeared　thirty…five
years　of　age。　She　was　still　exceedingly　handsome。
〃It　is　you；　Monsieur　D'Artagnan；〃　she　said；　smiling
graciously；　〃I　thank　you　for　having　insisted　on　seeing　me。〃
〃I　ought　to　ask　your　majesty's　pardon；　but　I　wished　to
receive　your　commands　from　your　own　mouth。〃
〃Do　you　accept　the　commission　which　I　have　intrusted　to
you？〃
〃With　gratitude。〃
〃Very　well；　be　here　at　midnight。〃
〃I　will　not　fail。〃
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan；〃　continued　the　queen；　〃I　know　your
disinterestedness　too　well　to　speak　of　my　own　gratitude　at
such　a　moment；　but　I　swear　to　you　that　I　shall　not　forget
this　second　service　as　I　forgot　the　first。〃
〃Your　majesty　is　free　to　forget　or　to　remember；　as　it
pleases　you；　and　I　know　not　what　you　mean；〃　said　D'Artagnan；
bowing。
〃Go；　sir；〃　said　the　queen；　with　her　most　bewitching　smile；
〃go　and　return　at　midnight。〃
And　D'Artagnan　retired；　but　as　he　passed　out　he　glanced　at
the　curtain　through　which　the　queen　had　entered　and　at　the
bottom　of　the　tapestry　he　remarked　the　tip　of　a　velvet
slipper。
〃Good；〃　thought　he；　〃Mazarin　has　been　listening　to　discover
whether　I　betrayed　him。　In　truth；　that　Italian　puppet　does
not　deserve　the　services　of　an　honest　man。〃
D'Artagnan　was　not　less　exact　to　his　appointment　and　at
half…past　nine　o'clock　he　entered　the　ante…room。
He　found　the　cardinal　dressed　as　an　officer；　and　he　looked
very　well　in　that　costume；　which；　as　we　have　already　said；
he　wore　elegantly；　only　he　was　very　pale　and　trembled
slightly。
〃Quite　alone？〃　he　asked。
〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
〃And　that　worthy　Monsieur　du　Vallon；　are　we　not　to　enjoy　his
society？〃
〃Certainly；　my　lord；　he　is　waiting　in　his　carriage　at　the
gate　of　the　garden　of　the　Palais　Royal。〃
〃And　we　start　in　his　carriage；　then？〃
〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
〃And　with　us　no　other　escort　but　you　two？〃
〃Is　it　not　enough？　One　of　us　would　suffice。〃
〃Really；　my　dear　Monsieur　d'Artagnan；〃　said　the　cardinal；
〃your　coolness　startles　me。〃
〃I　should　have　thought；　on　the　contrary；　that　it　ought　to
have　inspired　you　with　confidence。〃
〃And　Bernouin　　do　I　not　take　him　with　me？〃
〃There　is　no　room　for　him；　he　will　rejoin　your　eminence。〃
〃Let　us　go；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃since　everything　must　be　done　as
you　wish。〃
〃My　lord；　there　is　time　to　draw　back；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃and
your　eminence　is　perfectly　free。〃
〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃let　us　be　off。〃
And　so　they　descended　the　private　stair；　Mazarin　leaning　on
the　arm　of　D'Artagnan　a　hand　the　musketeer　felt　trembling。
At　last；　after　crossing　the　courts　of　the　Palais　Royal；
where　there　still　remained　some　of　the　conveyances　of　late
guests；　they　entered　the　garden　and　reached　the　little　gate。
Mazarin　attempted　to　open　it　by　a　key　which　he　took　from　his
pocket；　but　with　such　shaking　fingers　that　he　could　not　find
the　keyhole。
〃Give　it　to　me；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　who　when　the　gate　was　open
deposited　the　key　in　his　pocket；　reckoning　upon　returning　by
that　gate。
The　steps　were　already　down　and　the　door　open。　Musqueton
stood　at　the　door　and　Porthos　was　inside　the　carriage。
〃Mount；　my　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　Mazarin；　who　sprang
into　the　carriage　without　waiting　for　a　second　bidding。
D'Artagnan　followed　him；　and　Musqueton；　having　closed　the
door；　mounted　behind　the　carriage　with　many　groans。　He　had
made　some　difficulties　about　going；　under　pretext　that　he
still　suffered　from　his　wound；　but　D'Artagnan　had　said　to
him：
〃Remain　if　you　like；　my　dear　Monsieur　Mouston；　but　I　warn
you　that　Paris　will　be　burnt　down　to…night；〃　upon　which
Musqueton　had　declared；　without　asking　anything　further；
that　he　was　ready　to　follow　his　master　and　Monsieur
d'Artagnan　to　the　end　of　the　world。
The　carriage　started　at　a　measured　pace；　without　betraying
by　the　slightest　sign　that　it　contained　people　in　a　hurry。
The　cardinal　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief　and
looked　around　him。　On　his　left　was