twenty years after(二十年后)-第115部分

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according　to　the　annals　of　the　day；　bringing　with　him　his
high　bearing　and　his　long　and　beautiful　hair；　qualifications
which　gained　him　the　sovereignty　of　the　marketplaces。
The　Parisian　army　had　organized　with　the　promptness
characteristic　of　the　bourgeois　whenever　they　are　moved　by
any　sentiment　whatever　to　disguise　themselves　as　soldiers。
On　the　nineteenth　the　impromptu　army　had　attempted　a　sortie；
more　to　assure　itself　and　others　of　its　actual　existence
than　with　any　more　serious　intention。　They　carried　a　banner；
on　which　could　be　read　this　strange　device：　〃We　are　seeking
our　king。〃
The　next　following　days　were　occupied　in　trivial　movements
which　resulted　only　in　the　carrying　off　of　a　few　herds　of
cattle　and　the　burning　of　two　or　three　houses。
That　was　still　the　situation　of　affairs　up　to　the　early　days
of　February。　On　the　first　day　of　that　month　our　four
companions　had　landed　at　Boulogne；　and；　in　two　parties；　had
set　out　for　Paris。　Toward　the　end　of　the　fourth　day　of　the
journey　Athos　and　Aramis　reached　Nanterre；　which　place　they
cautiously　passed　by　on　the　outskirts；　fearing　that　they
might　encounter　some　troop　from　the　queen's　army。
It　was　against　his　will　that　Athos　took　these　precautions；
but　Aramis　had　very　judiciously　reminded　him　that　they　had
no　right　to　be　imprudent；　that　they　had　been　charged　by　King
Charles　with　a　supreme　and　sacred　mission；　which；　received
at　the　foot　of　the　scaffold；　could　be　accomplished　only　at
the　feet　of　Queen　Henrietta。　Upon　that；　Athos　yielded。
On　reaching　the　capital　Athos　and　Aramis　found　it　in　arms。
The　sentinel　at　the　gate　refused　even　to　let　them　pass；　and
called　his　sergeant。
The　sergeant；　with　the　air　of　importance　which　such　people
assume　when　they　are　clad　with　military　dignity；　said：
〃Who　are　you；　gentlemen？〃
〃Two　gentlemen。〃
〃And　where　do　you　come　from？〃
〃From　London。〃
〃And　what　are　you　going　to　do　in　Paris？〃
〃We　are　going　with　a　mission　to　Her　Majesty；　the　Queen　of
England。〃
〃Ah；　every　one　seems　to　be　going　to　see　the　queen　of
England。　We　have　already　at　the　station　three　gentlemen
whose　passports　are　under　examination；　who　are　on　their　way
to　her　majesty。　Where　are　your　passports？〃
〃We　have　none；　we　left　England；　ignorant　of　the　state　of
politics　here；　having　left　Paris　before　the　departure　of　the
king。〃
〃Ah！〃　said　the　sergeant；　with　a　cunning　smile；　〃you　are
Mazarinists；　who　are　sent　as　spies。〃
〃My　dear　friend；〃　here　Athos　spoke；　〃rest　assured；　if　we
were　Mazarinists　we　should　come　well　prepared　with　every
sort　of　passport。　In　your　situation　distrust　those　who　are
well　provided　with　every　formality。〃
〃Enter　the　guardroom；〃　said　the　sergeant；　〃we　will　lay　your
case　before　the　commandant　of　the　post。〃
The　guardroom　was　filled　with　citizens　and　common　people；
some　playing；　some　drinking；　some　talking。　In　a　corner；
almost　hidden　from　view；　were　three　gentlemen；　who　had
preceded　Athos　and　Aramis；　and　an　officer　was　examining
their　passports。　The　first　impulse　of　these　three；　and　of
those　who　last　entered；　was　to　cast　an　inquiring　glance　at
each　other。　The　first　arrivals　wore　long　cloaks；　in　whose
drapery　they　were　carefully　enveloped；　one　of　them；　shorter
than　the　rest；　remained　pertinaciously　in　the　background。
When　the　sergeant　on　entering　the　room　announced　that　in　all
probability　he　was　bringing　in　two　Mazarinists；　it　appeared
to　be　the　unanimous　opinion　of　the　officers　on　guard　that
they　ought　not　to　pass。
〃Be　it　so；〃　said　Athos；　〃yet　it　is　probable；　on　the
contrary；　that　we　shall　enter；　because　we　seem　to　have　to　do
with　sensible　people。　There　seems　to　be　only　one　thing　to
do；　which　is；　to　send　our　names　to　Her　Majesty　the　Queen　of
England；　and　if　she　engages　to　answer　for　us　I　presume　we
shall　be　allowed　to　enter。〃
On　hearing　these　words　the　shortest　of　the　other　three　men
seemed　more　attentive　than　ever　to　what　was　going　on；
wrapping　his　cloak　around　him　more　carefully　than　before。
〃Merciful　goodness！〃　whispered　Aramis　to　Athos；　〃did　you
see？〃
〃What？〃　asked　Athos。
〃The　face　of　the　shortest　of　those　three　gentlemen？〃
〃No。〃
〃He　looked　to　me　　but　'tis　impossible。〃
At　this　instant　the　sergeant；　who　had　been　for　his　orders；
returned；　and　pointing　to　the　three　gentlemen　in　cloaks；
said：
〃The　passports　are　in　order；　let　these　three　gentlemen
pass。〃
The　three　gentlemen　bowed　and　hastened　to　take　advantage　of
this　permission。
Aramis　looked　after　them；　and　as　the　last　of　them　passed
close　to　him　he　pressed　the　hand　of　Athos。
〃What　is　the　matter　with　you；　my　friend？〃　asked　the　latter。
〃I　have　　doubtless　I　am　dreaming；　tell　me；　sir；〃　he　said
to　the　sergeant；　〃do　you　know　those　three　gentlemen　who　are
just　gone　out？〃
〃Only　by　their　passports；　they　are　three　Frondists；　who　are
gone　to　rejoin　the　Duc　de　Longueville。〃
〃'Tis　strange；〃　said　Aramis；　almost　involuntarily；　〃I
fancied　that　I　recognized　Mazarin　himself。〃
The　sergeant　burst　into　a　fit　of　laughter。
〃He！〃　he　cried；　〃he　venture　himself　amongst　us；　to　be　hung！
Not　so　foolish　as　all　that。〃
〃Ah！〃　muttered　Athos；　〃I　may　be　mistaken；　I　haven't　the
unerring　eye　of　D'Artagnan。〃
〃Who　is　speaking　of　Monsieur　D'Artagnan？〃　asked　an　officer
who　appeared　at　that　moment　upon　the　threshold　of　the　room。
〃What！〃　cried　Aramis　and　Athos；　〃what！　Planchet！〃
〃Planchet；〃　added　Grimaud；　〃Planchet；　with　a　gorget；
indeed！〃
〃Ah；　gentlemen！〃　cried　Planchet；　〃so　you　are　back　again　in
Paris。　Oh；　how　happy　you　make　us！　no　doubt　you　come　to　join
the　princes！〃
〃As　thou　seest；　Planchet；〃　said　Aramis；　whilst　Athos　smiled
on　seeing　what　important　rank　was　held　in　the　city　militia
by　the　former　comrade　of　Musqueton；　Bazin　and　Grimaud。
〃And　Monsieur　d'Artagnan；　of　whom　you　spoke　just　now；
Monsieur　d'Herblay；　may　I　ask　if　you　have　any　news　of　him？〃
〃We　parted　from　him　four　days　ago　and　we　have　reason　to
believe　that　he　has　reached　Paris　before　us。〃
〃No；　sir；　I　am　sure　he　hasn't　yet　arrived。　But　then　he　may
have　stopped　at　Saint　Germain。〃
〃I　don't　think　so；　we　appointed　to　meet　at　La　Chevrette。〃
〃I　was　there　this　very　day。〃
〃And　had　the　pretty　Madeleine　no　news？〃　asked　Aramis；
smiling。
〃No；　sir；　and　it　must　be　admitted　that　she　seemed　very
anxious。〃
〃In　fact；〃　said　Aramis；　〃there　is　no　time　lost　and　we　made
our　journey　quickly。　Permit　me；　then；　my　dear　Athos；　without
inquiring　further　about　our　friend；　to　pay　my　respects　to　M。
Planchet。〃
〃Ah；　monsieur　le　chevalier；〃　said　Planchet；　bowing。
〃Lieutenant？〃　asked　Aramis。
〃Lieutenant；　with　a　promise　of　becoming　captain。〃
〃'Tis　capital；　and　pray；　how　did　you　acquire　all　these
honors？〃
〃In　the　first　place；　gentlemen；　you　know　that　I　was　the
means　of　Monsieur　de　Rochefort's　escape；　well；　I　was　very
near　being　hung　by　Mazarin　and　that　made　me　more　popular
than　ever。〃
〃So；　owing　to　your　popularity　　〃
〃No；　thanks　to　something　better。　You　know；　gentlemen；　that　I
served　the　Piedmont　regiment　and　had　the　honor　of　being　a
sergeant？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well；　one　day　when　no　one　could　drill　a　mob　of　citizens；
who　began　to　march；　some　with　the　right　foot；　others　with
the　left；　I　succeeded；　I　did；　in　making　them　all　begin　with
the　same　foot；　and　I　was　made　lieutenant　on　the　spot。〃
〃So　I　presume；〃　said　Athos；　〃that　you　have　a　large　number　of
the　nobles　with　you？〃
〃Certainly。　There　are　the　Prince　de　Conti；　the　Duc　de
Longueville；　the　Duc　de　Beaufort；　the　Duc　de　Bouillon；　the
Marechal　de　la　Mothe；　the　Marquis　de　Sevigne；　and　I　don't
know　who；　for　my　part。〃
〃And　the　Vicomte　Raoul　de　Bragelonne？〃　inquired　Athos；　in　a
tremulous　voice。　〃D'Artagnan　told　me　that　he　had　recommended
him　to　your　care；　in　parting。〃
〃Yes；　count；　nor　have　I　lost　sight　of　him　for　a　single
instant　since。〃
〃Then；〃　said　Athos　in　a　tone　of　delight；　〃he　is　well？　no
accident　has　happened　to　him？〃
〃None；　sir。〃
〃And　he　lives？〃
〃Still　at　the　Hotel　of　the　Great　Charlemagne。〃
〃And　passes　his　time？〃
〃Sometimes　with　the　queen　of　England；　sometimes　with　Madame
de　Chevreuse。　He　and　the　Count　de　Guiche　are　like　each
other's　shadows。〃
〃Thanks；　Planchet；　thanks！〃　cried　Athos；　extending　his　hand
to　the　lieutenant。
〃Oh；　sir！〃　Planchet　only　touched　the　tips　of　the　count's
fingers。
〃Well；　what　are　you　doing；　count　　to　a　former　lackey？
〃My　friend；〃　said　Athos；　〃he　has　given　me　news　of　Raoul。〃
〃And　now；　gentlemen；〃　said　Planchet；　who　had　not　heard　what
they　were　saying；　〃what　do　you　intend　to　do？〃
〃Re…enter　Paris；　if　you　will　let　us；　my　good　Planchet。〃
〃Let　you。　sir？　Now；　as　ever；　I　am　nothing　but　your　servant。〃
Then　turning　to　his　men：
〃Allow　these　gentlemen　to　pass；〃　he　said；　〃they　are　friends
of　the　Duc　de　Beaufort。〃
〃Long　live　the　Duc　de　Beaufort！〃　cried　the　sentinels。
The　sergeant　drew　near　to　Planchet。
〃What！　without　passports？〃　he　murmured。
〃Without　passports；〃　said　Planchet。
〃Take　notice；　captain；〃　he　continued；　giving　Planchet　his
expected　title；　〃take　notice　that　one　of　the　three　men　who
just　now　went　out　from　here　told　me　privately　to　distrust
these　gentlemen。〃
〃And　I；〃　said　Planchet；　with　dignity；　〃I　know　them　and　I
answer　for　them。〃
As　he　said　this；　he　pressed　Grimaud's　hand；　who　seemed
honored　by　the　distinction。
〃Farewell　till　we　meet　again；〃　said　Aramis；　as　they　took
leave　of　Planchet；　〃if　anything　happens　to　us　we　shall　blame
you　for　it。〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Planchet；　〃I　am　in　all　things　at　your　service。〃
〃That　fellow　is　no　fool；〃　said　Aramis；　as　he　got　on　his
horse。
〃How　should　he　be？〃　replied　Athos；　whilst　mounting　also；
〃seeing　he　was　used　so　long　to　brush　your　hats。〃

76
The　Ambassadors。

The　two　friends　rode　rapidly　down　the　declivity　of　the
Faubourg；　but　on　arriving　at　the　bottom　were　surprised　to
find　that　the　streets　of　Paris　had　become　rivers；　and　the
open　places　lakes；　after　the　great　rains　which　fell　in
January　the　Seine　had　overflowed　its　banks　and　the　river
inundated　half　the　capital。　The　two　gentlemen　were　obliged；
therefore；　to　get　off　their　horses　and　take　a　boat；　and　in
that　strange　manner　they　approached　the　Louvre。
Night　had　closed　in；　and　Paris；　seen　thus；　by　the　light　of
lanterns　flickering　on　the　pools　of　water；　crowded　with
ferry…boats　of　every　kind；　including　those　that　glittered
with　the　armed　patrols；　with　the　watchword；　passing　from
post　to　post　　Paris　presented　such　an　as