twenty years after(二十年后)-第99节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


gallop。
〃No　quarter！〃　cried　a　voice　in　French；　answering　to　that　of
Winter；　which　made　them　tremble。
As　for　Winter；　at　the　sound　of　that　voice　he　turned　pale；
and　was；　as　it　were；　petrified。
It　was　the　voice　of　a　cavalier　mounted　on　a　magnificent
black　horse；　who　was　charging　at　the　head　of　the　English
regiment；　of　which；　in　his　ardor；　he　was　ten　steps　in
advance。
〃'Tis　he！〃　murmured　Winter；　his　eyes　glazed　and　he　allowed
his　sword　to　fall　to　his　side。
〃The　king！　the　king！〃　cried　out　several　voices；　deceived　by
the　blue　ribbon　and　chestnut　horse　of　Winter；　〃take　him
alive。〃
〃No！　it　is　not　the　king！〃　exclaimed　the　cavalier。　〃Lord
Winter；　you　are　not　the　king；　you　are　my　uncle。〃
At　the　same　moment　Mordaunt；　for　it　was　he；　leveled　his
pistol　at　Winter；　it　went　off　and　the　ball　entered　the　heart
of　the　old　cavalier；　who　with　one　bound　on　his　saddle　fell
back　into　the　arms　of　Athos；　murmuring：　〃He　is　avenged！〃
〃Think　of　my　mother！〃　shouted　Mordaunt；　as　his　horse　plunged
and　darted　off　at　full　gallop。
〃Wretch！〃　exclaimed　Aramis；　raising　his　pistol　as　he　passed
by　him；　but　the　powder　flashed　in　the　pan　and　it　did　not　go
off。
At　this　moment　the　whole　regiment　came　up　and　they　fell　upon
the　few　men　who　had　held　out；　surrounding　the　two　Frenchmen。
Athos；　after　making　sure　that　Lord　Winter　was　really　dead；
let　fall　the　corpse　and　said：
〃Come；　Aramis；　now　for　the　honor　of　France！〃　and　the　two
Englishmen　who　were　nearest　to　them　fell；　mortally　wounded。
At　the　same　moment　a　fearful　〃hurrah！〃　rent　the　air　and
thirty　blades　glittered　about　their　heads。
Suddenly　a　man　sprang　out　of　the　English　ranks；　fell　upon
Athos；　twined　arms　of　steel　around　him；　and　tearing　his
sword　from　him；　said　in　his　ear：
〃Silence！　yield　　you　yield　to　me；　do　you　not？〃
A　giant　had　seized　also　Aramis's　two　wrists；　who　struggled
in　vain　to　release　himself　from　this　formidable　grasp。
〃D'Art　　〃　exclaimed　Athos；　whilst　the　Gascon　covered　his
mouth　with　his　hand。
〃I　am　your　prisoner；〃　said　Aramis；　giving　up　his　sword　to
Porthos。
〃Fire；　fire！〃　cried　Mordaunt；　returning　to　the　group
surrounding　the　two　friends。
〃And　wherefore　fire？〃　said　the　colonel；　〃every　one　has
yielded。〃
〃It　is　the　son　of　Milady；〃　said　Athos　to　D'Artagnan。
〃I　recognize　him。〃
〃It　is　the　monk；〃　whispered　Porthos　to　Aramis。
〃I　know　it。〃
And　now　the　ranks　began　to　open。　D'Artagnan　held　the　bridle
of　Athos's　horse　and　Porthos　that　of　Aramis。　Both　of　them
attempted　to　lead　his　prisoner　off　the　battle…field。
This　movement　revealed　the　spot　where　Winter's　body　had
fallen。　Mordaunt　had　found　it　out　and　was　gazing　on　his　dead
relative　with　an　expression　of　malignant　hatred。
Athos；　though　now　cool　and　collected；　put　his　hand　to　his
belt；　where　his　loaded　pistols　yet　remained。
〃What　are　you　about？〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃Let　me　kill　him。〃
〃We　are　all　four　lost；　if　by　the　least　gesture　you　discover
that　you　recognize　him。〃
Then　turning　to　the　young　man　he　exclaimed：
〃A　fine　prize！　a　fine　prize；　friend　Mordaunt；　we　have　both
myself　and　Monsieur　du　Vallon；　taken　two　Knights　of　the
Garter；　nothing　less。〃
〃But；〃　said　Mordaunt；　looking　at　Athos　and　Aramis　with
bloodshot　eyes；　〃these　are　Frenchmen；　I　imagine。〃
〃I'faith；　I　don't　know。　Are　you　French；　sir？〃　said　he　to
Athos。
〃I　am；〃　replied　the　latter；　gravely。
〃Very　well；　my　dear　sir；　you　are　the　prisoner　of　a　fellow
countryman。〃
〃But　the　king　　where　is　the　king？〃　exclaimed　Athos；
anxiously。
D'Artagnan　vigorously　seized　his　prisoner's　hand；　saying：
〃Eh！　the　king？　We　have　secured　him。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Aramis；　〃through　an　infamous　act　of　treason。〃
Porthos　pressed　his　friend's　hand　and　said　to　him：
〃Yes；　sir；　all　is　fair　in　war；　stratagem　as　well　as　force；
look　yonder！〃
At　this　instant　the　squadron；　that　ought　to　have　protected
Charles's　retreat；　was　advancing　to　meet　the　English
regiments。　The　king；　who　was　entirely　surrounded；　walked
alone　in　a　great　empty　space。　He　appeared　calm；　but　it　was
evidently　not　without　a　mighty　effort。　Drops　of　perspiration
trickled　down　his　face；　and　from　time　to　time　he　put　a
handkerchief　to　his　mouth　to　wipe　away　the　blood　that　rilled
from　it。
〃Behold　Nebuchadnezzar！〃　exclaimed　an　old　Puritan　soldier；
whose　eyes　flashed　at　the　sight　of　the　man　they　called　the
tyrant。
〃Do　you　call　him　Nebuchadnezzar？〃　said　Mordaunt；　with　a
terrible　smile；　〃no；　it　is　Charles　the　First；　the　king；　the
good　King　Charles；　who　despoils　his　subjects　to　enrich
himself。〃
Charles　glanced　a　moment　at　the　insolent　creature　who
uttered　this；　but　did　not　recognize　him。　Nevertheless；　the
calm　religious　dignity　of　his　countenance　abashed　Mordaunt。
〃Bon　jour；　messieurs！〃　said　the　king　to　the　two　gentlemen
who　were　held　by　D'Artagnan　and　Porthos。　〃The　day　has　been
unfortunate；　but　it　is　not　your　fault；　thank　God！　But　where
is　my　old　friend　Winter？〃
The　two　gentlemen　turned　away　their　heads　in　silence。
〃In　Strafford's　company；〃　said　Mordaunt；　tauntingly。
Charles　shuddered。　The　demon　had　known　how　to　wound　him。　The
remembrance　of　Strafford　was　a　source　of　lasting　remorse　to
him；　the　shadow　that　haunted　him　by　day　and　night。　The　king
looked　around　him。　He　saw　a　corpse　at　his　feet。　It　was
Winter's。　He　uttered　not　a　word；　nor　shed　a　tear；　but　a
deadly　pallor　spread　over　his　face；　he　knelt　down　on　the
ground；　raised　Winter's　head；　and　unfastening　the　Order　of
the　Saint　Esprit；　placed　it　on　his　own　breast。
〃Lord　Winter　is　killed；　then？〃　inquired　D'Artagnan；　fixing
his　eyes　on　the　corpse。
〃Yes；〃　said　Athos；　〃by　his　own　nephew。〃
〃Come；　he　was　the　first　of　us　to　go；　peace　be　to　him！　he　was
an　honest　man；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃Charles　Stuart；〃　said　the　colonel　of　the　English　regiment；
approaching　the　king；　who　had　just　put　on　the　insignia　of
royalty；　〃do　you　yield　yourself　a　prisoner？〃
〃Colonel　Tomlison；〃　said　Charles；　〃kings　cannot　yield；　the
man　alone　submits　to　force。〃
〃Your　sword。〃
The　king　drew　his　sword　and　broke　it　on　his　knee。
At　this　moment　a　horse　without　a　rider；　covered　with　foam；
his　nostrils　extended　and　eyes　all　fire；　galloped　up；　and
recognizing　his　master；　stopped　and　neighed　with　pleasure；
it　was　Arthur。
The　king　smiled；　patted　it　with　his　hand　and　jumped　lightly
into　the　saddle。
〃Now；　gentlemen；〃　said　he；　〃conduct　me　where　you　will。〃
Turning　back　again；　he　said；　〃I　thought　I　saw　Winter　move；
if　he　still　lives；　by　all　you　hold　most　sacred；　do　not
abandon　him。〃
〃Never　fear；　King　Charles；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃the　bullet
pierced　his　heart。〃
〃Do　not　breathe　a　word　nor　make　the　least　sign　to　me　or
Porthos；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　Athos　and　Aramis；　〃that　you
recognize　this　man；　for　Milady　is　not　dead；　her　soul　lives
in　the　body　of　this　demon。〃
The　detachment　now　moved　toward　the　town　with　the　royal
captive；　but　on　the　road　an　aide…de…camp；　from　Cromwell；
sent　orders　that　Colonel　Tomlison　should　conduct　him　to
Holdenby　Castle。
At　the　same　time　couriers　started　in　every　direction　over
England　and　Europe　to　announce　that　Charles　Stuart　was　the
prisoner　of　Oliver　Cromwell。


57
Oliver　Cromwell。

〃Have　you　been　to　the　general？〃　said　Mordaunt　to　D'Artagnan
and　Porthos；　〃you　know　he　sent　for　you　after　the　action。〃
〃We　want　first　to　put　our　prisoners　in　a　place　of　safety；〃
replied　D'Artagnan。　〃Do　you　know；　sir；　these　gentlemen　are
each　of　them　worth　fifteen　hundred　pounds？〃
〃Oh；　be　assured；〃　said　Mordaunt；　looking　at　them　with　an
expression　he　vainly　endeavoured　to　soften；　〃my　soldiers
will　guard　them；　and　guard　them　well；　I　promise　you。〃
〃I　shall　take　better　care　of　them　myself；〃　answered
D'Artagnan；　〃besides；　all　they　require　is　a　good　room；　with
sentinels；　or　their　simple　parole　that　they　will　not　attempt
escape。　I　will　go　and　see　about　that；　and　then　we　shall　have
the　honor　of　presenting　ourselves　to　the　general　and
receiving　his　commands　for　his　eminence。〃
〃You　think　of　starting　at　once；　then？〃　inquired　Mordaunt。
〃Our　mission　is　ended；　and　there　is　nothing　more　to　detain
us　now　but　the　good　pleasure　of　the　great　man　to　whom　we
were　sent。〃
The　young　man　bit　his　lips　and　whispered　to　his　sergeant：
〃You　will　follow　these　men　and　not　lose　sight　of　them；　when
you　have　discovered　where　they　lodge；　come　and　await　me　at
the　town　gate。〃
The　sergeant　made　a　sign　of　comprehension。
Instead　of　following　the　knot　of　prisoners　that　were　being
taken　into　the　town；　Mordaunt　turned　his　steps　toward　the
rising　ground　from　whence　Cromwell　had　witnessed　the　battle
and　on　which　he　had　just　had　his　tent　pitched。
Cromwell　had　given　orders　that　no　one　was　to　be　allowed
admission；　but　the　sentinel；　who　knew　that　Mordaunt　was　one
of　the　most　confidential　friends　of　the　general；　thought　the
order　did　not　extend　to　the　young　man。　Mordaunt；　therefore；
raised　the　canvas；　and　saw　Cromwell　seated　before　a　table；
his　head　buried　in　his　hands；　his　back　being　turned。
Whether　he　heard　Mordaunt　or　not　as　he　entered；　Cromwell　did
not　move。　Mordaunt　remained　standing　near　the　door。　At　last；
after　a　few　moments；　Cromwell　raised　his　head；　and；　as　if　he
divined　that　some　one　was　there；　turned　slowly　around。
〃I　said　I　wished　to　be　alone；〃　he　exclaimed；　on　seeing　the
young　man。
〃They　thought　this　order　did　not　concern　me；　sir；
nevertheless；　if　you　wish　it；　I　am　ready　t