twenty years after(二十年后)-第67部分

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leaving　Bazin；　Friquet　started　off　to　the　Palais　Royal；
where　he　arrived　at　the　moment　of　the　turning　out　of　the
regiment　of　guards；　and　as　he　had　only　gone　there　for　the
enjoyment　of　seeing　it　and　hearing　the　music；　he　took　his
place　at　their　head；　beating　the　drum　on　two　pieces　of　slate
and　passing　from　that　exercise　to　that　of　the　trumpet；　which
he　counterfeited　quite　naturally　with　his　mouth　in　a　manner
which　had　more　than　once　called　forth　the　praises　of
amateurs　of　imitative　harmony。
This　amusement　lasted　from　the　Barriere　des　Sergens　to　the
place　of　Notre　Dame；　and　Friquet　found　in　it　very　real
enjoyment；　but　when　at　last　the　regiment　separated；
penetrated　the　heart　of　the　city　and　placed　itself　at　the
extremity　of　the　Rue　Saint　Christophe；　near　the　Rue
Cocatrix；　in　which　Broussel　lived；　then　Friquet　remembered
that　he　had　not　had　breakfast；　and　after　thinking　in　which
direction　he　had　better　turn　his　steps　in　order　to
accomplish　this　important　act　of　the　day；　he　reflected
deeply　and　decided　that　Councillor　Broussel　should　bear　the
cost　of　this　repast。
In　consequence　he　took　to　his　heels；　arrived　breathlessly　at
the　councillor's　door；　and　knocked　violently。
His　mother；　the　councillor's　old　servant；　opened　it。
〃What　doest　thou　here；　good…for…nothing？〃　she　said；　〃and　why
art　thou　not　at　Notre　Dame？〃
〃I　have　been　there；　mother；〃　said　Friquet；　〃but　I　saw　things
happen　of　which　Master　Broussel　ought　to　be　warned；　and　so
with　Monsieur　Bazin's　permission　　you　know；　mother；
Monsieur　Bazin；　the　verger　　I　came　to　speak　to　Monsieur
Broussel。〃
〃And　what　hast　thou　to　say；　boy；　to　Monsieur　Broussel？〃
〃I　wish　to　tell　him；〃　replied　Friquet；　screaming　with　all
his　might；　〃that　there　is　a　whole　regiment　of　guards　coming
this　way。　And　as　I　hear　everywhere　that　at　the　court　they
are　ill…disposed　to　him；　I　wish　to　warn　him；　that　he　may　be
on　his　guard。〃
Broussel　heard　the　scream　of　the　young　oddity；　and；
enchanted　with　this　excess　of　zeal；　came　down　to　the　first
floor；　for　he　was；　in　truth；　working　in　his　room　on　the
second。
〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃friend；　what　matters　the　regiment　of
guards　to　us；　and　art　thou　not　mad　to　make　such　a
disturbance？　Knowest　thou　not　that　it　is　the　custom　of　these
soldiers　to　act　thus　and　that　it　is　usual　for　the　regiment
to　form　themselves　into　two　solid　walls　when　the　king　goes
by？〃
Friquet　counterfeited　surprise；　and　twisting　his　new　cap
around　in　his　fingers；　said：
〃It　is　not　astonishing　for　you　to　know　it；　Monsieur
Broussel；　who　knows　everything；　but　as　for　me；　by　holy
truth；　I　did　not　know　it　and　I　thought　I　would　give　you　good
advice；　you　must　not　be　angry　with　me　for　that；　Monsieur
Broussel。〃
〃On　the　contrary；　my　boy；　on　the　contrary；　I　am　pleased　with
your　zeal。　Dame　Nanette；　look　for　those　apricots　which
Madame　de　Longueville　sent　to　us　yesterday　from　Noisy　and
give　half　a　dozen　of　them　to　your　son；　with　a　crust　of　new
bread。〃
〃Oh；　thank　you；　sir；　thank　you；　Monsieur　Broussel；〃　said
Friquet；　〃I　am　so　fond　of　apricots！〃
Broussel　then　proceeded　to　his　wife's　room　and　asked　for
breakfast；　it　was　nine　o'clock。　The　councillor　placed
himself　at　the　window；　the　street　was　completely　deserted；
but　in　the　distance　was　heard；　like　the　noise　of　the　tide
rushing　in；　the　deep　hum　of　the　populous　waves　increasing
now　around　Notre　Dame。
This　noise　redoubled　when　D'Artagnan；　with　a　company　of
musketeers；　placed　himself　at　the　gates　of　Notre　Dame　to
secure　the　service　of　the　church。　He　had　instructed　Porthos
to　profit　by　this　opportunity　to　see　the　ceremony；　and
Porthos；　in　full　dress；　mounted　his　finest　horse；　taking　the
part　of　supernumerary　musketeer；　as　D'Artagnan　had　so　often
done　formerly。　The　sergeant　of　this　company；　a　veteran　of
the　Spanish　wars；　had　recognized　Porthos；　his　old　companion；
and　very　soon　all　those　who　served　under　him　were　placed　in
possession　of　startling　facts　concerning　the　honor　of　the
ancient　musketeers　of　Treville。　Porthos　had　not　only　been
well　received　by　the　company；　but　he　was　moreover　looked　on
with　great　admiration。
At　ten　o'clock　the　guns　of　the　Louvre　announced　the
departure　of　the　king；　and　then　a　movement；　similar　to　that
of　trees　in　a　stormy　wind　that　bend　and　writhe　with　agitated
tops；　ran　though　the　multitude；　which　was　compressed　behind
the　immovable　muskets　of　the　guard。　At　last　the　king
appeared　with　the　queen　in　a　gilded　chariot。　Ten　other
carriages　followed；　containing　the　ladies　of　honor；　the
officers　of　the　royal　household；　and　the　court。
〃God　save　the　king！〃　was　the　cry　in　every　direction；　the
young　monarch　gravely　put　his　head　out　of　the　window；　looked
sufficiently　grateful　and　even　bowed；　at　which　the　cries　of
the　multitude　were　renewed。
Just　as　the　court　was　settling　down　in　the　cathedral；　a
carriage；　bearing　the　arms　of　Comminges；　quitted　the　line　of
the　court　carriages　and　proceeded　slowly　to　the　end　of　the
Rue　Saint　Christophe；　now　entirely　deserted。　When　it　arrived
there；　four　guards　and　a　police　officer；　who　accompanied　it；
mounted　into　the　heavy　machine　and　closed　the　shutters；　then
through　an　opening　cautiously　made；　the　policeman　began　to
watch　the　length　of　the　Rue　Cocatrix；　as　if　he　was　waiting
for　some　one。
All　the　world　was　occupied　with　the　ceremony；　so　that
neither　the　chariot　nor　the　precautions　taken　by　those　who
were　within　it　had　been　observed。　Friquet；　whose　eye；　ever
on　the　alert；　could　alone　have　discovered　them；　had　gone　to
devour　his　apricots　upon　the　entablature　of　a　house　in　the
square　of　Notre　Dame。　Thence　he　saw　the　king；　the　queen　and
Monsieur　Mazarin；　and　heard　the　mass　as　well　as　if　he　had
been　on　duty。
Toward　the　end　of　the　service；　the　queen；　seeing　Comminges
standing　near　her；　waiting　for　a　confirmation　of　the　order
she　had　given　him　before　quitting　the　Louvre；　said　in　a
whisper：
〃Go；　Comminges；　and　may　God　aid　you！〃
Comminges　immediately　left　the　church　and　entered　the　Rue
Saint　Christophe。　Friquet；　seeing　this　fine　officer　thus
walk　away；　followed　by　two　guards；　amused　himself　by
pursuing　them　and　did　this　so　much　the　more　gladly　as　the
ceremony　ended　at　that　instant　and　the　king　remounted　his
carriage。
Hardly　had　the　police　officer　observed　Comminges　at　the　end
of　the　Rue　Cocatrix　when　he　said　one　word　to　the　coachman；
who　at　once　put　his　vehicle　into　motion　and　drove　up　before
Broussel's　door。　Comminges　knocked　at　the　door　at　the　same
moment；　and　Friquet　was　waiting　behind　Comminges　until　the
door　should　be　opened。
〃What　dost　thou　there；　rascal？〃　asked　Comminges。
〃I　want　to　go　into　Master　Broussel's　house；　captain；〃
replied　Friquet；　in　that　wheedling　way　the　〃gamins〃　of　Paris
know　so　well　how　to　assume　when　necessary。
〃And　on　what　floor　does　he　live？〃　asked　Comminges。
〃In　the　whole　house；〃　said　Friquet；　〃the　house　belongs　to
him；　he　occupies　the　second　floor　when　he　works　and　descends
to　the　first　to　take　his　meals；　he　must　be　at　dinner　now；　it
is　noon。〃
〃Good；〃　said　Comminges。
At　this　moment　the　door　was　opened；　and　having　questioned
the　servant　the　officer　learned　that　Master　Broussel　was　at
home　and　at　dinner。
Broussel　was　seated　at　the　table　with　his　family；　having　his
wife　opposite　to　him；　his　two　daughters　by　his　side；　and　his
son；　Louvieres；　whom　we　have　already　seen　when　the　accident
happened　to　the　councillor　　an　accident　from　which　he　had
quite　recovered　　at　the　bottom　of　the　table。　The　worthy
man；　restored　to　perfect　health；　was　tasting　the　fine　fruit
which　Madame　de　Longueville　had　sent　to　him。
At　sight　of　the　officer　Broussel　was　somewhat　moved；　but
seeing　him　bow　politely　he　rose　and　bowed　also。　Still；　in
spite　of　this　reciprocal　politeness；　the　countenances　of　the
women　betrayed　a　certain　amount　of　uneasiness；　Louvieres
became　very　pale　and　waited　impatiently　for　the　officer　to
explain　himself。
〃Sir；〃　said　Comminges；　〃I　am　the　bearer　of　an　order　from　the
king。〃
〃Very　well；　sir；〃　replied　Broussel；　〃what　is　this　order？〃
And　he　held　out　his　hand。
〃I　am　commissioned　to　seize　your　person；　sir；〃　said
Comminges；　in　the　same　tone　and　with　the　same　politeness；
〃and　if　you　will　believe　me　you　had　better　spare　yourself
the　trouble　of　reading　that　long　letter　and　follow　me。〃
A　thunderbolt　falling　in　the　midst　of　these　good　people；　so
peacefully　assembled　there；　would　not　have　produced　a　more
appalling　effect。　It　was　a　horrible　thing　at　that　period　to
be　imprisoned　by　the　enmity　of　the　king。　Louvieres　sprang
forward　to　snatch　his　sword；　which　stood　against　a　chair　in
a　corner　of　the　room；　but　a　glance　from　the　worthy　Broussel；
who　in　the　midst　of　It　all　did　not　lose　his　presence　of
mind；　checked　this　foolhardy　action　of　despair。　Madame
Broussel；　separated　by　the　width　of　the　table　from　her
husband；　burst　into　tears；　and　the　young　girls　clung　to
their　father's　arms。
〃Come；　sir；〃　said　Comminges；　〃make　haste；　you　must　obey　the
king。〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Broussel；　〃I　am　in　bad　health　and　cannot　give
myself　up　a　prisoner　in　this　state；　I　must　have　time。〃
〃It　is　impossible；〃　said　Comminges；　〃the　order　is　strict　and
must　be　put　into　execution　this　instant。〃
〃Impossible！〃　said　Louvieres；　〃sir；　beware　of　driving　us　to
despair。〃
〃Impossible！〃　cried　a　shrill　voice　from　the　end　of　the　room。
Comminges　turned　and　saw　Dame　Nanette；　her　eyes　flashing
with　anger　and　a　broom　in　her　hand。
〃My　good　Nanette；　be　quiet；　I　beseech　you；〃　said　Broussel。
〃Me！　keep　quiet　while　my　master　is　being　arrested！　he；　the
support；　the　liberator；　the　father　of　the　people！　Ah！　well；
yes；　you　have　to　know　me　yet。　Are　you　going？〃　added　she　to
Comminges。
The　latter　smiled。
〃Come；　sir；〃　said　he；　addressing　Broussel；　〃silence　that
woman　and　follow　me。〃
〃Silence　me！　me！　me！〃　said　Nanette。　〃Ah！　yet　one　wants　some
one　besides　you　for　that；　my　fine　king's　cockatoo！　You　shall
see。〃　And　Dame　Nanette　sprang　to　the　window；　threw　it　open；
and　in　such　a　piercing　voice　that　it　might　have　been　heard
in　the　square　of　Notre　Dame：
〃Help！〃　she　screamed；　〃my　master　is　being　arrested；　the
Councillor　Broussel　is　being　arrested！　Help！〃
〃Sir；〃　said　Comminges；　〃declare　yourself　at　once；　will　you
obey　or　do　you　intend　to　rebel　against　the　king？〃
〃I　obey；　I　obey；　sir！〃　cried　Broussel；　trying　to　disengage
himself　from　the　grasp