twenty years after(二十年后)-第89节

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The　cardinal　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief　and
looked　around　him。　On　his　left　was　Porthos；　whilst
D'Artagnan　was　on　his　right；　each　guarded　a　door　and　served
as　a　rampart　to　him　on　either　side。　Before　him；　on　the　front
seat；　lay　two　pairs　of　pistols　　one　in　front　of　Porthos
and　the　other　of　D'Artagnan。　About　a　hundred　paces　from　the
Palais　Royal　a　patrol　stopped　the　carriage。
〃Who　goes？〃　asked　the　captain。
〃Mazarin！〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　bursting　into　a　laugh。　The
cardinal's　hair　stood　on　end。　But　the　joke　appeared　an
excellent　one　to　the　citizens；　who；　seeing　the　conveyance
without　escort　and　unarmed；　would　never　have　believed　in　the
possibility　of　so　great　an　imprudence。
〃A　good　journey　to　ye；〃　they　cried；　allowing　it　to　pass。
〃Hem！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃what　does　my　lord　think　of　that
reply？〃
〃Man　of　talent！〃　cried　Mazarin。
〃In　truth；〃　said　Porthos；　〃I　understand；　but　now　　〃
About　the　middle　of　the　Rue　des　Petits　Champs　they　were
stopped　by　a　second　patrol。
〃Who　goes　there？〃　inquired　the　captain　of　the　patrol。
〃Keep　back；　my　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　And　Mazarin　buried
himself　so　far　behind　the　two　friends　that　he　disappeared；
completely　hidden　between　them。
〃Who　goes　there？〃　cried　the　same　voice；　impatiently　whilst
D'Artagnan　perceived　that　they　had　rushed　to　the　horses'
heads。　But　putting　hid　head　out　of　the　carriage：
〃Eh！　Planchet；〃　said　he。
The　chief　approached；　and　it　was　indeed　Planchet；　D'Artagnan
had　recognized　the　voice　of　his　old　servant。
〃How；　sir！〃　said　Planchet；　〃is　it　you？〃
〃Eh！　mon　Dieu！　yes；　my　good　friend；　this　worthy　Porthos　has
just　received　a　sword　wound　and　I　am　taking　him　to　his
country　house　at　Saint　Cloud。〃
〃Oh！　really；〃　said　Planchet。
〃Porthos；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃if　you　can　still　speak；　say　a
word；　my　dear　Porthos；　to　this　good　Planchet。〃
〃Planchet；　my　friend；〃　said　Porthos；　in　a　melancholy　voice；
〃I　am　very　ill；　should　you　meet　a　doctor　you　will　do　me　a
favor　by　sending　him　to　me。〃
〃Oh！　good　Heaven；〃　said　Planchet；　〃what　a　misfortune！　and
how　did　it　happen？〃
〃I　will　tell　you　all　about　it；〃　replied　Musqueton。
Porthos　uttered　a　deep　groan。
〃Make　way　for　us；　Planchet；〃　said　D'Artagnan　in　a　whisper　to
him；　〃or　he　will　not　arrive　alive；　the　lungs　are　attacked；
my　friend。〃
Planchet　shook　his　head　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　says；　〃In
that　case　things　look　ill。〃　Then　he　exclaimed；　turning　to
his　men：
〃Let　them　pass；　they　are　friends。
The　carriage　resumed　its　course；　and　Mazarin；　who　had　held
his　breath；　ventured　to　breathe　again。
〃Bricconi！〃　muttered　he。
A　few　steps　in　advance　of　the　gate　of　Saint　Honore　they　met
a　third　troop；　this　latter　party　was　composed　of　ill…looking
fellows；　who　resembled　bandits　more　than　anything　else；　they
were　the　men　of　the　beggar　of　Saint　Eustache。
〃Attention；　Porthos！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。
Porthos　placed　his　hand　on　the　pistols。
〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Mazarin。
〃My　lord；　I　think　we　are　in　bad　company。〃
A　man　advanced　to　the　door　with　a　kind　of　scythe　in　his
hand。　〃Qui　vive？〃　he　asked。
〃Eh；　rascal！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃do　you　not　recognize　his
highness　the　prince's　carriage？〃
〃Prince　or　not；〃　said　the　man；　〃open。　We　are　here　to　guard
the　gate；　and　no　one　whom　we　do　not　know　shall　pass。〃
〃What　is　to　be　done？〃　said　Porthos。
〃Pardieu！　pass；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。
〃But　how？〃　asked　Mazarin。
〃Through　or　over；　coachman；　gallop　on。〃
The　coachman　raised　his　whip。
〃Not　a　step　further；〃　said　the　man；　who　appeared　to　be　the
captain；　〃or　I　will　hamstring　your　horses。〃
〃Peste！〃　said　Porthos；　〃it　would　be　a　pity；　animals　which
cost　me　a　hundred　pistoles　each。〃
〃I　will　pay　you　two　hundred　for　them；〃　said　Mazarin。
〃Yes；　but　when　once　they　are　hamstrung；　our　necks　will　be
strung　next。〃
〃If　one　of　them　comes　to　my　side；〃　asked　Porthos；　〃must　I
kill　him？〃
〃Yes；　by　a　blow　of　your　fist；　if　you　can；　we　will　not　fire
but　at　the　last　extremity。〃
〃I　can　do　it；〃　said　Porthos。
〃Come　and　open；　then！〃　cried　D'Artagnan　to　the　man　with　the
scythe；　taking　one　of　the　pistols　up　by　the　muzzle　and
preparing　to　strike　with　the　handle。　And　as　the　man
approached；　D'Artagnan；　in　order　to　have　more　freedom　for
his　actions；　leaned　half　out　of　the　door；　his　eyes　were
fixed　upon　those　of　the　mendicant；　which　were　lighted　up　by
a　lantern。　Without　doubt　he　recognized　D'Artagnan；　for　he
became　deadly　pale；　doubtless　the　musketeer　knew　him；　for
his　hair　stood　up　on　his　head。
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan！〃　he　cried；　falling　back　a　step；　〃it　is
Monsieur　d'Artagnan！　let　him　pass。〃
D'Artagnan　was　perhaps　about　to　reply；　when　a　blow；　similar
to　that　of　a　mallet　falling　on　the　head　of　an　ox；　was　heard。
The　noise　was　caused　by　Porthos；　who　had　just　knocked　down
his　man。
D'Artagnan　turned　around　and　saw　the　unfortunate　man　upon
his　back　about　four　paces　off。
〃'Sdeath！〃　cried　he　to　the　coachman。　〃Spur　your　horses！
whip！　get　on！〃
The　coachman　bestowed　a　heavy　blow　of　the　whip　upon　his
horses；　the　noble　animals　bounded　forward；　then　cries　of　men
who　were　knocked　down　were　heard；　then　a　double　concussion
was　felt；　and　two　of　the　wheels　seemed　to　pass　over　a　round
and　flexible　body。　There　was　a　moment's　silence；　then　the
carriage　cleared　the　gate。
〃To　Cours　la　Reine！〃　cried　D'Artagnan　to　the　coachman；　then
turning　to　Mazarin　he　said；　〃Now；　my　lord；　you　can　say　five
paters　and　five　aves；　in　thanks　to　Heaven　for　your
deliverance。　You　are　safe　　you　are　free。〃
Mazarin　replied　only　by　a　groan；　he　could　not　believe　in
such　a　miracle。　Five　minutes　later　the　carriage　stopped；
having　reached　Cours　la　Reine。
〃Is　my　lord　pleased　with　his　escort？〃　asked　D'Artagnan。
〃Enchanted；　monsieur；〃　said　Mazarin；　venturing　his　head　out
of　one　of　the　windows；　〃and　now　do　as　much　for　the　queen。〃
〃It　will　not　be　so　difficult；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　springing
to　the　ground。　〃Monsieur　du　Vallon；　I　commend　his　eminence
to　your　care。〃
〃Be　quite　at　ease；〃　said　Porthos；　holding　out　his　hand；
which　D'Artagnan　took　and　shook　in　his。
〃Oh！〃　cried　Porthos；　as　if　in　pain。
D'Artagnan　looked　with　surprise　at　his　friend。
〃What　is　the　matter；　then？〃　he　asked。
〃I　think　I　have　sprained　my　wrist；'　said　Porthos。
〃The　devil！　why；　you　strike　like　a　blind　or　a　deaf　man。〃
〃It　was　necessary；　my　man　was　going　to　fire　a　pistol　at　me；
but　you　　how　did　you　get　rid　of　yours？〃
〃Oh；　mine；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃was　not　a　man。〃
〃What　was　it　then？〃
〃It　was　an　apparition。〃
〃And　　〃
〃I　charmed　it　away。〃
Without　further　explanation　D'Artagnan　took　the　pistols
which　were　upon　the　front　seat；　placed　them　in　his　belt；
wrapped　himself　in　his　cloak；　and　not　wishing　to　enter　by
the　same　gate　as　that　through　which　they　had　left；　he　took
his　way　toward　the　Richelieu　gate。

52
The　Carriage　of　Monsieur　le　Coadjuteur。

Instead　of　returning；　then；　by　the　Saint　Honore　gate；
D'Artagnan；　who　had　time　before　him；　walked　around　and
re…entered　by　the　Porte　Richelieu。　He　was　approached　to　be
examined；　and　when　it　was　discovered　by　his　plumed　hat　and
his　laced　coat；　that　he　was　an　officer　of　the　musketeers；　he
was　surrounded；　with　the　intention　of　making　him　cry；　〃Down
with　Mazarin！〃　The　demonstration　did　not　fail　to　make　him
uneasy　at　first；　but　when　he　discovered　what　it　meant；　he
shouted　it　in　such　a　voice　that　even　the　most　exacting　were
satisfied。　He　walked　down　the　Rue　Richelieu；　meditating　how
he　should　carry　off　the　queen　in　her　turn；　for　to　take　her
in　a　carriage　bearing　the　arms　of　France　was　not　to　be
thought　of；　when　he　perceived　an　equipage　standing　at　the
door　of　the　hotel　belonging　to　Madame　de　Guemenee。
He　was　struck　by　a　sudden　idea。
〃Ah；　pardieu！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃that　would　be　fair　play。〃
And　approaching　the　carriage；　he　examined　the　arms　on　the
panels　and　the　livery　of　the　coachman　on　his　box。　This
scrutiny　was　so　much　the　more　easy；　the　coachman　being　sound
asleep。
〃It　is；　in　truth；　monsieur　le　coadjuteur's　carriage；〃　said
D'Artagnan；　〃upon　my　honor　I　begin　to　think　that　Heaven
favors　us。〃
He　mounted　noiselessly　into　the　chariot　and　pulled　the　silk
cord　which　was　attached　to　the　coachman's　little　finger。
〃To　the　Palais　Royal；〃　he　called　out。
The　coachman　awoke　with　a　start　and　drove　off　in　the
direction　he　was　desired；　never　doubting　but　that　the　order
had　come　from　his　master。　The　porter　at　the　palace　was　about
to　close　the　gates；　but　seeing　such　a　handsome　equipage　he
fancied　that　it　was　some　visit　of　importance　and　the
carriage　was　allowed　to　pass　and　to　stop　beneath　the　porch。
It　was　then　only　the　coachman　perceived　the　grooms　were　not
behind　the　vehicle；　he　fancied　monsieur　le　coadjuteur　had
sent　them　back；　and　without　dropping　the　reins　he　sprang
from　his　box　to　open　the　door。　D'Artagnan；　in　his　turn；
sprang　to　the　ground；　and　just　at　the　moment　when　the
coachman；　alarmed　at　not　seeing　his　master；　fell　back　a
step；　he　seized　him　by　his　collar　with　the　left；　whilst　with
the　right　hand　he　placed　the　muzzle　of　a　pistol　at　his
breast。
〃Pronounce　one　single　word；〃　muttered　D'Artagnan；　〃and　you
are　a　dead　man。〃
The　coachman　perceived　at　once；　by　the　expression　of　the　man
who　thus　addressed　him；　that　he　had　fallen　into　a　trap；　and
he　remained　with　his　mouth　wide　open　and　his　eyes
portentously　staring。
Two　musketeers　were　pacing　the　court；　to