twenty years after(二十年后)-第15部分

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on　the　point　of　falling；　and　my　horse；　too；　through　fatigue；
unless；　indeed；　you　are　disposed　to　offer　me　a　supper　and　a
bed　in　the　neighborhood。〃
〃Rascal！〃
〃Eh！　monsieur！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　beg　you　will　have　a　care
what　you　say；　for　if　you　utter　another　word　like　that；　be
you　marquis；　duke；　prince　or　king；　I　will　thrust　it　down
your　throat！　do　you　hear？〃
〃Well；　well；〃　rejoined　the　leader；　〃there's　no　doubt　'tis　a
Gascon　who　is　speaking；　and　therefore　not　the　man　we　are
looking　for。　Our　blow　has　failed　for　to…night；　let　us
withdraw。　We　shall　meet　again；　Master　d'Artagnan；〃　continued
the　leader；　raising　his　voice。
〃Yes；　but　never　with　the　same　advantages；〃　said　D'Artagnan；
in　a　tone　of　raillery；　〃for　when　you　meet　me　again　you　will
perhaps　be　alone　and　there　will　be　daylight。〃
〃Very　good；　very　good；〃　said　the　voice。　〃En　route；
gentlemen。〃
And　the　troop；　grumbling　angrily；　disappeared　in　the
darkness　and　took　the　road　to　Paris。　D'Artagnan　and　Planchet
remained　for　some　moments　still　on　the　defensive；　then；　as
the　noise　of　the　horsemen　became　more　and　more　distant；　they
sheathed　their　swords。
〃Thou　seest；　simpleton；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　his　servant；
〃that　they　wished　no　harm　to　us。〃
〃But　to　whom；　then？〃
〃I'faith！　I　neither　know　nor　care。　What　I　do　care　for　now；
is　to　make　my　way　into　the　Jesuits'　convent；　so　to　horse　and
let　us　knock　at　their　door。　Happen　what　will；　the　devil　take
them；　they　can't　eat　us。〃
And　he　mounted　his　horse。　Planchet　had　just　done　the　same
when　an　unexpected　weight　fell　upon　the　back　of　the　horse；
which　sank　down。
〃Hey！　your　honor！〃　cried　Planchet；　〃I've　a　man　behind　me。〃
D'Artagnan　turned　around　and　plainly　saw　two　human　forms　on
Planchet's　horse。
〃'Tis　then　the　devil　that　pursues！〃　he　cried；　drawing　his
sword　and　preparing　to　attack　the　new　foe。
〃No；　no；　dear　D'Artagnan；〃　said　the　figure；　〃'tis　not　the
devil；　'tis　Aramis；　gallop　fast；　Planchet；　and　when　you　come
to　the　end　of　the　village　turn　swiftly　to　the　left。〃
And　Planchet；　with　Aramis　behind　him；　set　off　at　full
gallop；　followed　by　D'Artagnan；　who　began　to　think　he　was　in
the　merry　maze　of　some　fantastic　dream。

9
The　Abbe　D'Herblay。

At　the　extremity　of　the　village　Planchet　turned　to　the　left
in　obedience　to　the　orders　of　Aramis；　and　stopped　underneath
the　window　which　had　light　in　it。　Aramis　alighted　and
clapped　his　hands　three　times。　Immediately　the　window　was
opened　and　a　ladder　of　rope　was　let　down　from　it。
〃My　friend；〃　said　Aramis；　〃if　you　like　to　ascend　I　shall　be
delighted　to　receive　you。〃
〃Ah；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃is　that　the　way　you　return　to　your
apartment？〃
〃After　nine　at　night；　pardieu！〃　said　Aramis；　〃the　rule　of
the　convent　is　very　severe。〃
〃Pardon　me；　my　dear　friend；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　think　you
said　‘pardieu！'〃
〃Do　you　think　so？〃　said　Aramis；　smiling；　〃it　is　possible。
You　have　no　idea；　my　dear　fellow；　how　one　acquires　bad
habits　in　these　cursed　convents；　or　what　evil　ways　all　these
men　of　the　church　have；　with　whom　I　am　obliged　to　live。　But
will　you　not　go　up？〃
〃Pass　on　before　me；　I　beg　of　you。〃
〃As　the　late　cardinal　used　to　say　to　the　late　king；　‘only　to
show　you　the　way；　sire。'〃　And　Aramis　ascended　the　ladder
quickly　and　reached　the　window　in　an　instant。
D'Artagnan　followed；　but　less　nimbly；　showing　plainly　that
this　mode　of　ascent　was　not　one　to　which　he　was　accustomed。
〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Aramis；　noticing　his　awkwardness；
〃if　I　had　known　that　I　was　to　have　the　honor　of　your　visit　I
should　have　procured　the　gardener's　ladder；　but　for　me　alone
this　is　good　enough。〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Planchet　when　he　saw　D'Artagnan　on　the　summit　of
the　ladder；　〃this　way　is　easy　for　Monsieur　Aramis　and　even
for　you；　in　case　of　necessity　I　might　also　climb　up；　but　my
two　horses　cannot　mount　the　ladder。〃
〃Take　them　to　yonder　shed；　my　friend；〃　said　Aramis；　pointing
to　a　low　building　on　the　plain；　〃there　you　will　find　hay　and
straw　for　them；　then　come　back　here　and　clap　your　hands
three　times；　and　we　will　give　you　wine　and　food。　Marry；
forsooth；　people　don't　die　of　hunger　here。'
And　Aramis；　drawing　in　the　ladder；　closed　the　window。
D'Artagnan　then　looked　around　attentively。
Never　was　there　an　apartment　at　the　same　time　more　warlike
and　more　elegant。　At　each　corner　were　arranged　trophies；
presenting　to　view　swords　of　all　sorts；　and　on　the　walls
hung　four　great　pictures　representing　in　their　ordinary
military　costume　the　Cardinal　de　Lorraine；　the　Cardinal　de
Richelieu；　the　Cardinal　de　la　Valette；　and　the　Archbishop　of
Bordeaux。　Exteriorly；　nothing　in　the　room　showed　that　it　was
the　habitation　of　an　abbe。　The　hangings　were　of　damask；　the
carpets　from　Alencon；　and　the　bed；　especially；　had　more　the
look　of　a　fine　lady's　couch；　with　its　trimmings　of　fine　lace
and　its　embroidered　counterpane；　than　that　of　a　man　who　had
made　a　vow　that　he　would　endeavor　to　gain　Heaven　by　fasting
and　mortification。
〃You　are　examining　my　den；〃　said　Aramis。　〃Ah；　my　dear
fellow；　excuse　me；　I　am　lodged　like　a　Chartreux。　But　what
are　you　looking　for？〃
〃I　am　looking　for　the　person　who　let　down　the　ladder。　I　see
no　one　and　yet　the　ladder　didn't　come　down　of　itself。〃
〃No；　it　is　Bazin。〃
〃Ah！　ah！〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃But；〃　continued　Aramis；　〃Bazin　is　a　well　trained　servant；
and　seeing　that　I　was　not　alone　he　discreetly　retired。　Sit
down；　my　dear　friend；　and　let　us　talk。〃　And　Aramis　pushed
forward　a　large　easy…chair；　in　which　D'Artagnan　stretched
himself　out。
〃In　the　first　place；　you　will　sup　with　me；　will　you　not？〃
asked　Aramis。
〃Yes；　if　you　really　wish　it；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃and　even
with　great　pleasure；　I　confess；　the　journey　has　given　me　a
devil　of　an　appetite。〃
〃Ah；　my　poor　friend！〃　said　Aramis；　〃you　will　find　meagre
fare；　you　were　not　expected。〃
〃Am　I　then　threatened　with　the　omelet　of　Crevecoeur？〃
〃Oh；　let　us　hope；〃　said　Aramis；　〃that　with　the　help　of　God
and　of　Bazin　we　shall　find　something　better　than　that　in　the
larder　of　the　worthy　Jesuit　fathers。　Bazin；　my　friend；　come
here。〃
The　door　opened　and　Bazin　entered；　on　perceiving　the
musketeer　he　uttered　an　exclamation　that　was　almost　a　cry　of
despair。
〃My　dear　Bazin；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　am　delighted　to　see
with　what　wonderful　composure　you　can　tell　a　lie　even　in
church！〃
〃Sir；〃　replied　Bazin；　〃I　have　been　taught　by　the　good　Jesuit
fathers　that　it　is　permitted　to　tell　a　falsehood　when　it　is
told　in　a　good　cause。〃
〃So　far　well；〃　said　Aramis；　〃we　are　dying　of　hunger。　Serve
us　up　the　best　supper　you　can；　and　especially　give　us　some
good　wine。〃
Bazin　bowed　low；　sighed；　and　left　the　room。
〃Now　we　are　alone；　dear　Aramis；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃tell　me
how　the　devil　you　managed　to　alight　upon　the　back　of
Planchet's　horse。〃
〃I'faith！〃　answered　Aramis；　〃as　you　see；　from　Heaven。〃
〃From　Heaven；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　shaking　his　head；　〃you
have　no　more　the　appearance　of　coming　from　thence　than　you
have　of　going　there。〃
〃My　friend；〃　said　Aramis；　with　a　look　of　imbecility　on　his
face　which　D'Artagnan　had　never　observed　whilst　he　was　in
the　musketeers；　〃if　I　did　not　come　from　Heaven；　at　least　I
was　leaving　Paradise；　which　is　almost　the　same。〃
〃Here；　then；　is　a　puzzle　for　the　learned；〃　observed
D'Artagnan；　〃until　now　they　have　never　been　able　to　agree　as
to　the　situation　of　Paradise；　some　place　it　on　Mount　Ararat；
others　between　the　rivers　Tigris　and　Euphrates；　it　seems
that　they　have　been　looking　very　far　away　for　it；　while　it
was　actually　very　near。　Paradise　is　at　Noisy　le　Sec；　upon
the　site　of　the　archbishop's　chateau。　People　do　not　go　out
from　it　by　the　door；　but　by　the　window；　one　doesn't　descend
here　by　the　marble　steps　of　a　peristyle；　but　by　the　branches
of　a　lime…tree；　and　the　angel　with　a　flaming　sword　who
guards　this　elysium　seems　to　have　changed　his　celestial　name
of　Gabriel　into　that　of　the　more　terrestrial　one　of　the
Prince　de　Marsillac。〃
Aramis　burst　into　a　fit　of　laughter。
〃You　were　always　a　merry　companion；　my　dear　D'Artagnan；〃　he
said；　〃and　your　witty　Gascon　fancy　has　not　deserted　you。
Yes；　there　is　something　in　what　you　say；　nevertheless；　do
not　believe　that　it　is　Madame　de　Longueville　with　whom　I　am
in　love。〃
〃A　plague　on't！　I　shall　not　do　so。　After　having　been　so　long
in　love　with　Madame　de　Chevreuse；　you　would　hardly　lay　your
heart　at　the　feet　of　her　mortal　enemy！〃
〃Yes；〃　replied　Aramis；　with　an　absent　air；　〃yes；　that　poor
duchess！　I　once　loved　her　much；　and　to　do　her　justice；　she
was　very　useful　to　us。　Eventually　she　was　obliged　to　leave
France。　He　was　a　relentless　enemy；　that　damned　cardinal；〃
continued　Aramis；　glancing　at　the　portrait　of　the　old
minister。　〃He　had　even　given　orders　to　arrest　her　and　would
have　cut　off　her　head　had　she　not　escaped　with　her
waiting…maid　　poor　Kitty！　I　have　heard　that　she　met　with　a
strange　adventure　in　I　don't　know　what　village；　with　I　don't
know　what　cure；　of　whom　she　asked　hospitality　and　who；
having　but　one　chamber；　and　taking　her　for　a　cavalier；
offered　to　share　it　with　her。　For　she　had　a　wonderful　way　of
dressing　as　a　man；　that　dear　Marie；　I　know　only　one　other
woman　who　can　do　it　as　well。　So　they　made　this　song　about
her：　‘Laboissiere；　dis　moi。'　You　know　it；　don't　you？〃
〃No；　sing　it；　please。〃
Aramis　immediately　complied；　and　sang　the　song　in　a　very
lively　manner。
〃Bravo！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃you　sing　charmingly；　dear
Aramis。　I　do　not　perceive　that　singing　masses　has　spoiled
your　voice。〃
〃My　dear　D'Artagnan；〃　replied　Aramis；　〃you　understand；　when
I　was　a　musketeer　I　mounted　guard　as　seldom　as　I　could；　now
when　I　am　an　abbe　I　say　as　few　masses　as　I　can。　But　to
return　to　our　duchess。〃
〃Which　　the　Duchess　de　Chevreuse　or　the　Duchess　de
Longueville？〃
〃Have　I　not　already　told　you　that　there　is　nothing　between
me　and　the　Duchess　de　Longueville？　Little　flirtations；
perhaps；　and　that's　all。　No；　I　spoke　of　the　Duchess　de
Chevreuse；　did　you　see　her　after　her　return　from　Brussels；
after　the　king's　death？〃
〃Yes；　she　is　still　beautiful。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Aramis；　〃I　saw　her　also　at　that　time。　I　gave　her
good　advice；　by　which　she　did　not　profit。　I　ventured　to　tell
her　that　Mazarin　was　the　lover　of　Anne　of　Austria。　She
wouldn't　believe　me；　saying　that　she　knew　Anne　of　Austria；
who　was　too　proud　to　love　such　a　worthless　coxcomb。　Af