twenty years after(二十年后)-第93节

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radiant。
〃It　is　war；〃　said　the　prince。
〃Well；　then；　let　it　be　war！　Have　we　not　on　our　side　the
conqueror　of　Rocroy；　of　Nordlingen；　of　Lens？〃
The　prince　bowed　low。
It　was　then　three　o'clock　in　the　morning。　The　queen　walked
first；　every　one　followed　her。　About　two　hundred　persons　had
accompanied　her　in　her　flight。
〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　queen；　laughing；　〃pray　take　up　your
abode　in　the　chateau；　it　is　large；　and　there　will　be　no　want
of　room　for　you　all；　but；　as　we　never　thought　of　coming
here；　I　am　informed　that　there　are；　in　all；　only　three　beds
in　the　whole　establishment；　one　for　the　king；　one　for　me
　〃
〃And　one　for　the　cardinal；〃　muttered　the　prince。
〃Am　I　　am　I；　then；　to　sleep　on　the　floor？〃　asked　Gaston
d'Orleans；　with　a　forced　smile。
〃No；　my　prince；〃　replied　Mazarin；　〃the　third　bed　is　intended
for　your　highness。〃
〃But　your　eminence？〃　replied　the　prince。
〃I；〃　answered　Mazarin；　〃I　shall　not　sleep　at　all；　I　have
work　to　do。〃
Gaston　desired　that　he　should　be　shown　into　the　room　wherein
he　was　to　sleep；　without　in　the　least　concerning　himself　as
to　where　his　wife　and　daughter　were　to　repose。
〃Well；　for　my　part；　I　shall　go　to　bed；〃　said　D'Artagnan；
〃come；　Porthos。〃
Porthos　followed　the　lieutenant　with　that　profound
confidence　he　ever　had　in　the　wisdom　of　his　friend。　They
walked　from　one　end　of　the　chateau　to　the　other；　Porthos
looking　with　wondering　eyes　at　D'Artagnan；　who　was　counting
on　his　fingers。
〃Four　hundred；　at　a　pistole　each；　four　hundred　pistoles。〃
〃Yes；〃　interposed　Porthos；　〃four　hundred　pistoles；　but　who
is　to　make　four　hundred　pistoles？〃
〃A　pistole　is　not　enough；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃'tis　worth　a
louis。〃
〃What　is　worth　a　louis？〃
〃Four　hundred；　at　a　louis　each；　make　four　hundred　louis。〃
〃Four　hundred？〃　said　Porthos。
〃Yes；　there　are　two　hundred　of　them；　and　each　of　them　will
need　two；　which　will　make　four　hundred。〃
〃But　four　hundred　what？〃
〃Listen！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。
But　as　there　were　all　kinds　of　people　about；　who　were　in　a
state　of　stupefaction　at　the　unexpected　arrival　of　the
court；　he　whispered　in　his　friend's　ear。
〃I　understand；〃　answered　Porthos；　〃I　understand　you
perfectly；　on　my　honor；　two　hundred　louis；　each　of　us；　would
be　making　a　pretty　thing　of　it；　but　what　will　people　say？〃
〃Let　them　say　what　they　will；　besides；　how　will　they　know
that　we　are　doing　it？〃
〃But　who　will　distribute　these　things？〃　asked　Porthos。
〃Isn't　Musqueton　there？〃
〃But　he　wears　my　livery；　my　livery　will　be　known；〃　replied
Porthos。
〃He　can　turn　his　coat　inside　out。〃
〃You　are　always　in　the　right；　my　dear　friend；〃　cried
Porthos；　〃but　where　the　devil　do　you　discover　all　the
notions　you　put　into　practice？〃
D'Artagnan　smiled。　The　two　friends　turned　down　the　first
street　they　came　to。　Porthos　knocked　at　the　door　of　a　house
to　the　right；　whilst　D'Artagnan　knocked　at　the　door　of　a
house　to　the　left。
〃Some　straw；〃　they　said。
〃Sir；　we　don't　keep　any；〃　was　the　reply　of　the　people　who
opened　the　doors；　〃but　please　ask　at　the　hay　dealer's。〃
〃Where　is　the　hay　dealer's？〃
〃At　the　last　large　door　in　the　street。〃
〃Are　there　any　other　people　in　Saint　Germain　who　sell
straw？〃
〃Yes；　there's　the　landlord　of　the　Lamb；　and　Gros…Louis　the
farmer；　they　both　live　in　the　Rue　des　Ursulines。〃
〃Very　well。〃
D'Artagnan　went　instantly　to　the　hay　dealer　and　bargained
with　him　for　a　hundred　and　fifty　trusses　of　straw；　which　he
obtained；　at　the　rate　of　three　pistoles　each。　He　went
afterward　to　the　innkeeper　and　bought　from　him　two　hundred
trusses　at　the　same　price。　Finally；　Farmer　Louis　sold　them
eighty　trusses；　making　in　all　four　hundred　and　thirty。
There　was　no　more　to　be　had　in　Saint　Germain。　This　foraging
did　not　occupy　more　than　half　an　hour。　Musqueton；　duly
instructed；　was　put　at　the　head　of　this　sudden　and　new
business。　He　was　cautioned　not　to　let　a　bit　of　straw　out　of
his　hands　under　a　louis　the　truss；　and　they　intrusted　to　him
straw　to　the　amount　of　four　hundred　and　thirty　louis。
D'Artagnan；　taking　with　him　three　trusses　of　straw；　returned
to　the　chateau；　where　everybody；　freezing　with　cold　and　more
than　half　asleep；　envied　the　king；　the　queen；　and　the　Duke
of　Orleans；　on　their　camp　beds。　The　lieutenant's　entrance
produced　a　burst　of　laughter　in　the　great　drawing…room；　but
he　did　not　appear　to　notice　that　he　was　the　object　of
general　attention；　but　began　to　arrange；　with　so　much
cleverness；　nicety　and　gayety；　his　straw　bed；　that　the
mouths　of　all　these　poor　creatures；　who　could　not　go　to
sleep；　began　to　water。
〃Straw！〃　they　all　cried　out；　〃straw！　where　is　there　any　to
be　found？〃
〃I　can　show　you；〃　answered　the　Gascon。
And　he　conducted　them　to　Musqueton；　who　freely　distributed
the　trusses　at　the　rate　of　a　louis　apiece。　It　was　thought
rather　dear；　but　people　wanted　to　sleep；　and　who　would　not
give　even　two　or　three　louis　for　a　few　hours　of　sound　sleep？
D'Artagnan　gave　up　his　bed　to　any　one　who　wanted　it；　making
it　over　about　a　dozen　times；　and　since　he　was　supposed　to
have　paid；　like　the　others；　a　louis　for　his　truss　of　straw；
he　pocketed　in　that　way　thirty　louis　in　less　than　half　an
hour。　At　five　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　straw　was　worth
eighty　francs　a　truss　and　there　was　no　more　to　be　had。
D'Artagnan　had　taken　the　precaution　to　set　apart　four
trusses　for　his　own　use。　He　put　in　his　pocket　the　key　of　the
room　where　he　had　hidden　them；　and　accompanied　by　Porthos
returned　to　settle　with　Musqueton；　who；　naively；　and　like
the　worthy　steward　that　he　was；　handed　them　four　hundred　and
thirty　louis　and　kept　one　hundred　for　himself。
Musqueton；　who　knew　nothing　of　what　was　going　on　in　the
chateau；　wondered　that　the　idea　had　not　occurred　to　him
sooner。　D'Artagnan　put　the　gold　in　his　hat；　and　in　going
back　to　the　chateau　settled　the　reckoning　with　Porthos；　each
of　them　had　cleared　two　hundred　and　fifteen　louis。
Porthos；　however；　found　that　he　had　no　straw　left　for
himself。　He　returned　to　Musqueton；　but　the　steward　had　sold
the　last　wisp。　He　then　repaired　to　D'Artagnan；　who；　thanks
to　his　four　trusses　of　straw；　was　in　the　act　of　making　up
and　tasting；　by　anticipation；　the　luxury　of　a　bed　so　soft；
so　well　stuffed　at　the　head；　so　well　covered　at　the　foot；
that　it　would　have　excited　the　envy　of　the　king　himself；　if
his　majesty　had　not　been　fast　asleep　in　his　own。　D'Artagnan
could　on　no　account　consent　to　pull　his　bed　to　pieces　again
for　Porthos；　but　for　a　consideration　of　four　louis　that　the
latter　paid　him　for　it；　he　consented　that　Porthos　should
share　his　couch　with　him。　He　laid　his　sword　at　the　head；　his
pistols　by　his　side；　stretched　his　cloak　over　his　feet；
placed　his　felt　hat　on　the　top　of　his　cloak　and　extended
himself　luxuriously　on　the　straw；　which　rustled　under　him。
He　was　already　enjoying　the　sweet　dream　engendered　by　the
possession　of　two　hundred　and　nineteen　louis；　made　in　a
quarter　of　an　hour；　when　a　voice　was　heard　at　the　door　of
the　hall；　which　made　him　stir。
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan！〃　it　cried。
〃Here！〃　cried　Porthos；　〃here！〃
Porthos　foresaw　that　if　D'Artagnan　was　called　away　he　should
remain　the　sole　possessor　of　the　bed。　An　officer　approached。
〃I　am　come　to　fetch　you；　Monsieur　d'Artagnan。〃
〃From　whom？〃
〃His　eminence　sent　me。〃
〃Tell　my　lord　that　I'm　going　to　sleep；　and　I　advise　him；　as
a　friend；　to　do　the　same。〃
〃His　eminence　is　not　gone　to　bed　and　will　not　go　to　bed；　and
wants　you　instantly。〃
〃The　devil　take　Mazarin；　who　does　not　know　when　to　sleep　at
the　proper　time。　What　does　he　want　with　me？　Is　it　to　make　me
a　captain？　In　that　case　I　will　forgive　him。〃
And　the　musketeer　rose；　grumbling；　took　his　sword；　hat；
pistols；　and　cloak；　and　followed　the　officer；　whilst
Porthos；　alone　and　sole　possessor　of　the　bed；　endeavored　to
follow　the　good　example　of　falling　asleep；　which　his
predecessor　had　set　him。
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan；〃　said　the　cardinal；　on　perceiving　him；
〃I　have　not　forgotten　with　what　zeal　you　have　served　me。　I
am　going　to　prove　to　you　that　I　have　not。〃
〃Good；〃　thought　the　Gascon；　〃this　is　a　promising　beginning。〃
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan；〃　he　resumed；　〃do　you　wish　to　become　a
captain？〃
〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
〃And　your　friend　still　longs　to　be　made　a　baron？〃
〃At　this　very　moment；　my　lord；　he　no　doubt　dreams　that　he　is
one　already。〃
〃Then；〃　said　Mazarin；　taking　from　his　portfolio　the　letter
which　he　had　already　shown　D'Artagnan；　〃take　this　dispatch
and　carry　it　to　England。〃
D'Artagnan　looked　at　the　envelope；　there　was　no　address　on
it。
〃Am　I　not　to　know　to　whom　to　present　it？〃
〃You　will　know　when　you　reach　London；　at　London　you　may　tear
off　the　outer　envelope。〃
〃And　what　are　my　instructions？〃
〃To　obey　in　every　particular　the　man　to　whom　this　letter　is
addressed。　You　must　set　out　for　Boulogne。　At　the　Royal　Arms
of　England　you　will　find　a　young　gentleman　named　Mordaunt。〃
〃Yes；　my　lord；　and　what　am　I　to　do　with　this　young
gentleman？〃
〃Follow　wherever　he　leads　you。〃
D'Artagnan　looked　at　the　cardinal　with　a　stupefied　air。
〃There　are　your　instructions；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃go！〃
〃Go！　'tis　easy　to　say　so；　but　that　requires　money；　and　I
haven't　any。〃
〃Ah！〃　replied　Mazarin；　〃so　you　have　no　money？〃
〃None；　my　lord。〃
〃But　the　diamond　I　gave　you　yesterday？〃
〃I　wish　to　keep　it　in　remembrance　of　your　eminence。〃
Mazarin　sighed