twenty years after(二十年后)-第95节

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〃How　so？〃
〃It　is　precisely　this　Monsieur　Mordaunt　whom　we　are　going　to
join　at　Boulogne　and　with　whom　we　cross　to　England。〃
〃Well；　suppose　instead　of　joining　this　Monsieur　Mordaunt　we
were　to　go　and　join　our　friends？〃　said　Porthos；　with　a
gesture　fierce　enough　to　have　frightened　an　army。
〃I　did　think　of　it；　but　this　letter　has　neither　date　nor
postmark。〃
〃True；〃　said　Porthos。　And　he　began　to　wander　about　the　room
like　a　man　beside　himself；　gesticulating　and　half　drawing
his　sword　out　of　the　scabbard。
As　to　D'Artagnan；　he　remained　standing　like　a　man　in
consternation；　with　the　deepest　affliction　depicted　on　his
face。
〃Ah；　this　is　not　right；　Athos　insults　us；　he　wishes　to　die
alone；　it　is　bad；　bad；　bad。〃
Musqueton；　witnessing　this　despair；　melted　into　tears　in　a
corner　of　the　room。
〃Come；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃all　this　leads　to　nothing。　Let　us
go　on。　We　will　embrace　Raoul；　and　perhaps　he　will　have　news
of　Athos。〃
〃Stop　　an　idea！〃　cried　Porthos；　〃indeed；　my　dear
D'Artagnan；　I　don't　know　how　you　manage；　but　you　are　always
full　of　ideas；　let　us　go　and　embrace　Raoul。〃
〃Woe　to　that　man　who　should　happen　to　contradict　my　master
at　this　moment；〃　said　Musqueton　to　himself；　〃I　wouldn't　give
a　farthing　for　his　life。〃
They　set　out。　On　arriving　at　the　Rue　Saint　Denis；　the
friends　found　a　vast　concourse　of　people。　It　was　the　Duc　de
Beaufort；　who　was　coming　from　the　Vendomois　and　whom　the
coadjutor　was　showing　to　the　Parisians；　intoxicated　with
joy。　With　the　duke's　aid　they　already　considered　themselves
invincible。
The　two　friends　turned　off　into　a　side　street　to　avoid
meeting　the　prince；　and　so　reached　the　Saint　Denis　gate。
〃Is　it　true；〃　said　the　guard　to　the　two　cavaliers；　〃that　the
Duc　de　Beaufort　has　arrived　in　Paris？〃
〃Nothing　more　certain；　and　the　best　proof　of　it　is；〃　said
D'Artagnan；　〃that　he　has　dispatched　us　to　meet　the　Duc　de
Vendome；　his　father；　who　is　coming　in　his　turn。〃
〃Long　live　De　Beaufort！〃　cried　the　guards；　and　they　drew
back　respectfully　to　let　the　two　friends　pass。　Once　across
the　barriers　these　two　knew　neither　fatigue　nor　fear。　Their
horses　flew；　and　they　never　ceased　speaking　of　Athos　and
Aramis。
The　camp　had　entered　Saint　Omer；　the　friends　made　a　little
detour　and　went　to　the　camp；　and　gave　the　army　an　exact
account　of　the　flight　of　the　king　and　queen。　They　found
Raoul　near　his　tent；　reclining　on　a　truss　of　hay；　of　which
his　horse　stole　some　mouthfuls；　the　young　man's　eyes　were
red　and　he　seemed　dejected。　The　Marechal　de　Grammont　and　the
Comte　de　Guiche　had　returned　to　Paris　and　he　was　quite
lonely。　And　as　soon　as　he　saw　the　two　cavaliers　he　ran　to
them　with　open　arms。
〃Oh；　is　it　you；　dear　friends？　Did　you　come　here　to　fetch　me？
Will　you　take　me　away　with　you？　Do　you　bring　me　tidings　of
my　guardian？〃
〃Have　you　not　received　any？〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　the　youth。
〃Alas！　sir；　no；　and　I　do　not　know　what　has　become　of　him；　so
that　I　am　really　so　unhappy　that　I　weep。〃
In　fact；　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。
Porthos　turned　aside；　in　order　not　to　show　by　his　honest
round　face　what　was　passing　in　his　mind。
〃Deuce　take　it！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　more　moved　than　he　had
been　for　a　long　time；　〃don't　despair；　my　friend；　if　you　have
not　received　any　letters　from　the　count；　we　have　received
one。〃
〃Oh；　really！〃　cried　Raoul。
〃And　a　comforting　one；　too；〃　added　D'Artagnan；　seeing　the
delight　that　his　intelligence　gave　the　young　man。
〃Have　you　it？〃　asked　Raoul
〃Yes　　that　is；　I　had　it；〃　repined　the　Gascon；　making
believe　to　find　it。　〃Wait；　it　ought　to　be　there　in　my
pocket；　it　speaks　of　his　return；　does　it　not；　Porthos？〃
All　Gascon　as　he　was；　D'Artagnan　could　not　bear　alone　the
weight　of　that　falsehood。
〃Yes；〃　replied　Porthos；　coughing。
〃Eh；　give　it　to　me！〃　said　the　young　man。
〃Eh！　I　read　it　a　little　while　since。　Can　I　have　lost　it？　Ah！
confound　it！　yes；　my　pocket　has　a　hole　in　it。〃
〃Oh；　yes；　Monsieur　Raoul！〃　said　Musqueton；　〃the　letter　was
very　consoling。　These　gentlemen　read　it　to　me　and　I　wept　for
joy。〃
〃But　at　any　rate；　you　know　where　he　is；　Monsieur
d'Artagnan？〃　asked　Raoul；　somewhat　comforted。
〃Ah！　that's　the　thing！〃　replied　the　Gascon。　〃Undoubtedly　I
know　it；　but　it　is　a　mystery。〃
〃Not　to　me；　I　hope？〃
〃No；　not　to　you；　so　I　am　going　to　tell　you　where　he　is。〃
Porthos　devoured　D'Artagnan　with　wondering　eyes。
〃Where　the　devil　shall　I　say　that　he　is；　so　that　he　cannot
try　to　rejoin　him？〃　thought　D'Artagnan。
〃Well；　where　is　he；　sir？〃　asked　Raoul；　in　a　soft　and　coaxing
voice。
〃He　is　at　Constantinople。〃
〃Among　the　Turks！〃　exclaimed　Raoul；　alarmed。　〃Good　heavens！
how　can　you　tell　me　that？〃
〃Does　that　alarm　you？〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃Pooh！　what　are　the
Turks　to　such　men　as　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　and　the　Abbe
d'Herblay？〃
〃Ah；　his　friend　is　with　him？〃　said　Raoul。　〃That　comforts　me
a　little。〃
〃Has　he　wit　or　not　　this　demon　D'Artagnan？〃　said　Porthos；
astonished　at　his　friend's　deception。
〃Now；　sir；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　wishing　to　change　the
conversation；　〃here　are　fifty　pistoles　that　the　count　has
sent　you　by　the　same　courier。　I　suppose　you　have　no　more
money　and　that　they　will　be　welcome。〃
〃I　have　still　twenty　pistoles；　sir。〃
〃Well；　take　them；　that　makes　seventy。〃
〃And　if　you　wish　for　more；〃　said　Porthos；　putting　his　hand
to　his　pocket　
〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　replied　Raoul；　blushing；　〃thank　you　a
thousand　times。〃
At　this　moment　Olivain　appeared。　〃Apropos；〃　said　D'Artagnan；
loud　enough　for　the　servant　to　hear　him；　〃are　you　satisfied
with　Olivain？〃
〃Yes；　in　some　respects；　tolerably　well。〃
Olivain　pretended　to　have　heard　nothing　and　entered　the
tent。
〃What　fault　do　you　find　with　the　fellow？〃
〃He　is　a　glutton。〃
〃Oh；　sir！〃　cried　Olivain；　reappearing　at　this　accusation。
〃And　a　little　bit　of　a　thief。〃
〃Oh；　sir！　oh！〃
〃And；　more　especially；　a　notorious　coward。〃
〃Oh；　oh！　sir！　you　really　vilify　me！〃　cried　Olivain。
〃The　deuce！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃Pray　learn；　Monsieur
Olivain；　that　people　like　us　are　not　to　be　served　by
cowards。　Rob　your　master；　eat　his　sweetmeats；　and　drink　his
wine；　but；　by　Jove！　don't　be　a　coward；　or　I　shall　cut　off
your　ears。　Look　at　Monsieur　Mouston；　see　the　honorable
wounds　he　has　received；　observe　how　his　habitual　valor　has
given　dignity　to　his　countenance。〃
Musqueton　was　in　the　third　heaven　and　would　have　embraced
D'Artagnan　had　he　dared；　meanwhile　he　resolved　to　sacrifice
his　life　for　him　on　the　next　occasion　that　presented　itself。
〃Send　away　that　fellow；　Raoul；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃for　if
he's　a　coward　he　will　disgrace　thee　some　day。〃
〃Monsieur　says　I　am　coward；〃　cried　Olivain；　〃because　he
wanted　the　other　day　to　fight　a　cornet　in　Grammont's
regiment　and　I　refused　to　accompany　him。〃
〃Monsieur　Olivain；　a　lackey　ought　never　to　disobey；〃　said
D'Artagnan；　sternly；　then　taking　him　aside；　he　whispered　to
him：　〃Thou　hast　done　right；　thy　master　was　in　the　wrong；
here's　a　crown　for　thee；　but　should　he　ever　be　insulted　and
thou　cost　not　let　thyself　be　cut　in　quarters　for　him；　I　will
cut　out　thy　tongue。　Remember　that。〃
Olivain　bowed　and　slipped　the　crown　into　his　pocket。
〃And　now；　Raoul；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃Monsieur　du　Vallon　and　I
are　going　away　as　ambassadors；　where；　I　know　not；　but　should
you　want　anything；　write　to　Madame　Turquaine；　at　La
Chevrette；　Rue　Tiquetonne　and　draw　upon　her　purse　as　on　a
banker　　with　economy；　for　it　is　not　so　well　filled　as　that
of　Monsieur　d'Emery。〃
And　having；　meantime；　embraced　his　ward；　he　passed　him　into
the　robust　arms　of　Porthos；　who　lifted　him　up　from　the
ground　and　held　him　a　moment　suspended　near　the　noble　heart
of　the　formidable　giant。
〃Come；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃let　us　go。〃
And　they　set　out　for　Boulogne；　where　toward　evening　they
arrived；　their　horses　flecked　with　foam　and　dark　with
perspiration。
At　ten　steps　from　the　place　where　they　halted　was　a　young
man　in　black；　who　seemed　waiting　for　some　one；　and　who；　from
the　moment　he　saw　them　enter　the　town；　never　took　his　eyes
off　them。
D'Artagnan　approached　him；　and　seeing　him　stare　so　fixedly；
said：
〃Well；　friend！　I　don't　like　people　to　quiz　me！〃
〃Sir；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃do　you　not　come　from　Paris；　if
you　please？〃
D'Artagnan　thought　it　was　some　gossip　who　wanted　news　from
the　capital。
〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said；　in　a　softened　tone。
〃Are　you　not　going　to　put　up　at　the　‘Arms　of　England'？〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
〃Are　you　not　charged　with　a　mission　from　his　eminence；
Cardinal　Mazarin？〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
〃In　that　case；　I　am　the　man　you　have　to　do　with。　I　am　M。
Mordaunt。〃
〃Ah！〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　〃the　man　I　am　warned　against　by
Athos。〃
〃Ah！〃　thought　Porthos；　〃the　man　Aramis　wants　me　to
strangle。〃
They　both　looked　searchingly　at　the　young　man；　who
misunderstood　the　meaning　of　that　inquisition。
〃Do　you　doubt　my　word？〃　he　said。　〃In　that　case　I　can　give
you　proofs。〃
〃No；　sir；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃and　we　place　ourselves　at　your
orders。〃
〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　resumed　Mordaunt；　〃we　must　set　out
without　delay；　to…day　is　the　last　day　granted　me　by　the
cardinal。　My　ship　is　ready；　and　had　you　not　come　I　must　have
set　off　without　you；　for　General　Cromwell　expects　my　return
impatiently。〃
〃So！〃　thought　the　lieutenant；　〃'tis　to　General　Cromwell　that
our　dispatches　are　addressed。〃
〃Have　you　no　letter　for　him？〃　asked　the　young　man。
〃I　have　one；