twenty years after(二十年后)-第105部分

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come　in　and　to　discover　Athos　almost　insensible。　But　at　the
first　words　he　uttered　the　comte　roused　himself　from　the
kind　of　lethargy　in　which　he　had　sunk。
〃Well；〃　said　Aramis；　〃beaten　by　fate！〃
〃Beaten！〃　said　Athos。　〃Noble　and　unhappy　king！〃
〃Are　you　wounded？〃　cried　Aramis。
〃No；　this　is　his　blood。〃
〃Where　were　you；　then？〃
〃Where　you　left　me　　under　the　scaffold。〃
〃Did　you　see　it　all？〃
〃No；　but　I　heard　all。　God　preserve　me　from　another　such　hour
as　I　have　just　passed。〃
〃Then　you　know　that　I　did　not　leave　him？〃
〃I　heard　your　voice　up　to　the　last　moment。〃
〃Here　is　the　order　he　gave　me　and　the　cross　I　took　from　his
hand；　he　desired　they　should　be　returned　to　the　queen。〃
〃Then　here　is　a　handkerchief　to　wrap　them　in；〃　replied
Athos；　drawing　from　his　pocket　the　one　he　had　steeped　in　the
king's　blood。
〃And　what；〃　he　continued；　〃has　been　done　with　the　poor
body？〃
〃By　order　of　Cromwell　royal　honors　will　be　accorded　to　it。
The　doctors　are　embalming　the　corpse；　and　when　it　is　ready
it　will　be　placed　in　a　lighted　chapel。〃
〃Mockery；〃　muttered　Athos；　savagely；　〃royal　honors　to　one
whom　they　have　murdered！〃
〃Well；　cheer　up！〃　said　a　loud　voice　from　the　staircase；
which　Porthos　had　just　mounted。　〃We　are　all　mortal；　my　poor
friends。〃
〃You　are　late；　my　dear　Porthos。〃
〃Yes；　there　were　some　people　on　the　way　who　delayed　me。　The
wretches　were　dancing。　I　took　one　of　them　by　the　throat　and
three…quarters　throttled　him。　Just　then　a　patrol　rode　up。
Luckily　the　man　I　had　had　most　to　do　with　was　some　minutes
before　he　could　speak；　so　I　took　advantage　of　his　silence　to
walk　off。〃
〃Have　you　seen　D'Artagnan？〃
〃We　got　separated　in　the　crowd　and　I　could　not　find　him
again。〃
〃Oh！〃　said　Athos；　satirically；　〃I　saw　him。　He　was　in　the
front　row　of　the　crowd；　admirably　placed　for　seeing；　and　as
on　the　whole　the　sight　was　curious；　he　probably　wished　to
stay　to　the　end。〃
〃Ah　Comte　de　la　Fere；〃　said　a　calm　voice；　though　hoarse　with
running；　〃is　it　your　habit　to　calumniate　the　absent？〃
This　reproof　stung　Athos　to　the　heart；　but　as　the　impression
produced　by　seeing　D'Artagnan　foremost　in　a　coarse；
ferocious　crowd　had　been　very　strong；　he　contented　himself
with　replying：
〃I　am　not　calumniating　you；　my　friend。　They　were　anxious
about　you　here；　I　simply　told　them　where　you　were。　You
didn't　know　King　Charles；　to　you　he　was　only　a　foreigner　and
you　were　not　obliged　to　love　him。〃
So　saying；　he　stretched　out　his　hand；　but　the　other
pretended　not　to　see　it　and　he　let　it　drop　again　slowly　by
his　side。
〃Ugh！　I　am　tired；〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　sitting　down。
〃Drink　a　glass　of　port；〃　said　Aramis；　〃it　will　refresh　you。〃
〃Yes；　let　us　drink；〃　said　Athos；　anxious　to　make　it　up　by
hobnobbing　with　D'Artagnan；　〃let　us　drink　and　get　away　from
this　hateful　country。　The　felucca　is　waiting　for　us；　you
know；　let　us　leave　to…night；　we　have　nothing　more　to　do
here。〃
〃You　are　in　a　hurry；　sir　count；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃But　what　would　you　have　us　to　do　here；　now　that　the　king　is
dead？〃
〃Go；　sir　count；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　carelessly；　〃you　see
nothing　to　keep　you　a　little　longer　in　England？　Well；　for　my
part；　I；　a　bloodthirsty　ruffian；　who　can　go　and　stand　close
to　a　scaffold；　in　order　to　have　a　better　view　of　the　king's
execution　　I　remain。〃
Athos　turned　pale。　Every　reproach　his　friend　uttered　struck
deeply　in　his　heart。
〃Ah！　you　remain　in　London？〃　said　Porthos。
〃Yes。　And　you？〃
〃Hang　it！〃　said　Porthos；　a　little　perplexed　between　the　two；
〃I　suppose；　as　I　came　with　you；　I　must　go　away　with　you。　I
can't　leave　you　alone　in　this　abominable　country。〃
〃Thanks；　my　worthy　friend。　So　I　have　a　little　adventure　to
propose　to　you　when　the　count　is　gone。　I　want　to　find　out
who　was　the　man　in　the　mask；　who　so　obligingly　offered　to
cut　the　king's　throat。〃
〃A　man　in　a　mask？〃　cried　Athos。　〃You　did　not　let　the
executioner　escape；　then？〃
〃The　executioner　is　still　in　the　cellar；　where；　I　presume；
he　has　had　an　interview　with　mine　host's　bottles。　But　you
remind　me。　Musqueton！〃
〃Sir；〃　answered　a　voice　from　the　depths　of　the　earth。
〃Let　out　your　prisoner。　All　is　over。〃
〃But；〃　said　Athos；　〃who　is　the　wretch　that　has　dared　to
raise　his　hand　against　his　king？〃
〃An　amateur　headsman；〃　replied　Aramis；　〃who　however；　does
not　handle　the　axe　amiss。〃
〃Did　you　not　see　his　face？〃　asked　Athos。
〃He　wore　a　mask。〃
〃But　you；　Aramis；　who　were　close　to　him？〃
〃I　could　see　nothing　but　a　gray　beard　under　the　fringe　of
the　mask。〃
〃Then　it　must　be　a　man　of　a　certain　age。〃
〃Oh！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃that　matters　little。　When　one　puts
on　a　mask；　it　is　not　difficult　to　wear　a　beard　under　it。〃
〃I　am　sorry　I　did　not　follow　him；〃　said　Porthos。
〃Well；　my　dear　Porthos；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃that's　the　very
thing　it　came　into　my　head　to　do。〃
Athos　understood　all　now。
〃Pardon　me；　D'Artagnan；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　distrusted　God；　I
could　the　more　easily　distrust　you。　Pardon　me；　my　friend。〃
〃We　will　see　about　that　presently；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　with　a
slight　smile。
〃Well；　then？〃　said　Aramis。
〃Well；　while　I　was　watching　　not　the　king；　as　monsieur　le
comte　thinks；　for　I　know　what　it　is　to　see　a　man　led　to
death；　and　though　I　ought　to　be　accustomed　to　the　sight　it
always　makes　me　ill　　while　I　was　watching　the　masked
executioner；　the　idea　came　to　me；　as　I　said；　to　find　out　who
he　was。　Now；　as　we　are　wont　to　complete　ourselves　each　by
all　the　rest　and　to　depend　on　one　another　for　assistance；　as
one　calls　his　other　hand　to　aid　the　first；　I　looked　around
instinctively　to　see　if　Porthos　was　there；　for　I　had　seen
you；　Aramis；　with　the　king；　and　you；　count；　I　knew　would　be
under　the　scaffold；　and　for　that　reason　I　forgive　you；〃　he
added；　offering　Athos　his　hand；　〃for　you　must　have　suffered
much。　I　was　looking　around　for　Porthos　when　I　saw　near　me　a
head　which　had　been　broken；　but　which；　for　better　or　worse；
had　been　patched　with　plaster　and　with　black　silk。　‘Humph！'
thought　I；　‘that　looks　like　my　handiwork；　I　fancy　I　must
have　mended　that　skull　somewhere　or　other。'　And；　in　fact；　it
was　that　unfortunate　Scotchman；　Parry's　brother；　you　know；
on　whom　Groslow　amused　himself　by　trying　his　strength。　Well；
this　man　was　making　signs　to　another　at　my　left；　and　turning
around　I　recognized　the　honest　Grimaud。　‘Oh！'　said　I　to　him。
Grimaud　turned　round　with　a　jerk；　recognized　me；　and　pointed
to　the　man　in　the　mask。　‘Eh！'　said　he；　which　meant；　‘Do　you
see　him？'　‘Parbleu！'　I　answered；　and　we　perfectly　understood
one　another。　Well；　everything　was　finished　as　you　know。　The
mob　dispersed。　I　made　a　sign　to　Grimaud　and　the　Scotchman；
and　we　all　three　retired　into　a　corner　of　the　square。　I　saw
the　executioner　return　into　the　king's　room；　change　his
clothes；　put　on　a　black　hat　and　a　large　cloak　and　disappear。
Five　minutes　later　he　came　down　the　grand　staircase。〃
'You　followed　him？〃　cried　Athos。
〃I　should　think　so；　but　not　without　difficulty。　Every　few
minutes　he　turned　around；　and　thus　obliged　us　to　conceal
ourselves。　I　might　have　gone　up　to　him　and　killed　him。　But　I
am　not　selfish；　and　I　thought　it　might　console　you　all　a
little　to　have　a　share　in　the　matter。　So　we　followed　him
through　the　lowest　streets　in　the　city；　and　in　half　an
hour's　time　he　stopped　before　a　little　isolated　house。
Grimaud　drew　out　a　pistol。　‘Eh？'　said　he；　showing　it。　I　held
back　his　arm。　The　man　in　the　mask　stopped　before　a　low　door
and　drew　out　a　key；　but　before　he　placed　it　in　the　lock　he
turned　around　to　see　if　he　was　being　followed。　Grimaud　and　I
got　behind　a　tree；　and　the　Scotchman　having　nowhere　to　hide
himself；　threw　himself　on　his　face　in　the　road。　Next　moment
the　door　opened　and　the　man　disappeared。〃
〃The　scoundrel！〃　said　Aramis。　〃While　you　have　been　returning
hither　he　will　have　escaped　and　we　shall　never　find　him。〃
〃Come；　now；　Aramis；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃you　must　be　taking　me
for　some　one　else。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃　said　Athos；　〃in　your　absence　　〃
〃Well；　in　my　absence　haven't　I　put　in　my　place　Grimaud　and
the　Scotchman？　Before　he　had　taken　ten　steps　beyond　the　door
I　had　examined　the　house　on　all　sides。　At　one　of　the　doors；
that　by　which　he　had　entered；　I　placed　our　Scotchman；　making
a　sign　to　him　to　follow　the　man　wherever　he　might　go；　if　he
came　out　again。　Then　going　around　the　house　I　placed　Grimaud
at　the　other　exit；　and　here　I　am。　Our　game　is　beaten　up。　Now
for　the　tally…ho。〃
Athos　threw　himself　into　D'Artagnan's　arms。
〃Friend；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　been　too　good　in　pardoning　me；
I　was　wrong；　a　hundred　times　wrong。　I　ought　to　have　known
you　better　by　this　time；　but　we　are　all　possessed　of　a
malignant　spirit；　which　bids　us　doubt。〃
〃Humph！〃　said　Porthos。　〃Don't　you　think　the　executioner
might　be　Master　Cromwell；　who；　to　make　sure　of　this　affair；
undertook　it　himself？〃
〃Ah！　just　so。　Cromwell　is　stout　and　short；　and　this　man　thin
and　lanky；　rather　tall　than　otherwise。〃
〃Some　condemned　soldier；　perhaps；〃　suggested　Athos；　〃whom
they　have　pardoned　at　the　price　of　regicide。〃
〃No；　no；〃　continued　D'Artagnan；　〃it　was　not　the　measured
step　of　a　foot　soldier；　nor　was　it　the　gait　of　a　horseman。
If　I　am　not　mistaken　we　have　to　do　with　a　gentleman。〃
〃A　gentleman！〃　exclaimed　Athos。　〃Impossible！　It　would　be　a
dishonor　to　all　the　nobility。〃
〃Fine　sport；　by　Jove！〃　cried　Porthos；　with　a　laugh　that
shook　the　windows。　〃Fine　sport！〃
〃Are　you　still　bent　on　departure；　Athos？〃　asked　D'Artagnan。
〃No；　I　remain；〃　replied　Athos；　with　a　threatening　gesture
that　promised　no　good　to　whomsoever　it　was　addressed。
〃Swords；　then！〃　cried　Aramis；　〃swords！　let　us　not　lose　a
moment。〃
The　four　friends　resumed　their　own　clothes；　girded　on　their
swords；　ordered　Musqueton　and　Blaisois　to　pay　the　bill　and
to　arrange　everything　for　immediate　departure；　and　wrapped
in　their　large　cloaks　left　in　search　of　their　game。
The　night　was　dark；　snow　was　falling；　the　streets　were
silent　and　deserted。　D'Artagnan　led　the　way　through　the
intricate　windings　and　narrow　alleys　of　the　city　and　ere
long　they　had　reached　the　house　in　question。　For　a　moment
D'Artagnan　thought　that　Parry's　brother　had　disappeared；　but
he　was　mistaken。　The　robust　Scotchman；　accustomed　to　the
snows　of　his　native　hills；　had　stretched　himself　against　a
post；　and　like　a　fallen　statue；　insensible　to　the　inclemency
of　the　weather；　ha