twenty years after(二十年后)-第71部分

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your　disposal；　it　is　Count　de　Rochefort。〃
〃I　know　him　also；　but　unfortunately　he　is　not　in　Paris。〃
〃My　lord；　he　has　been　for　three　days　at　the　Rue　Cassette。〃
〃And　wherefore　has　he　not　been　to　see　me？〃
〃He　was　told　　my　lord　will　pardon　me　　〃
〃Certainly；　speak。〃
〃That　your　lordship　was　about　to　treat　with　the　court。〃
Gondy　bit　his　lips。
〃They　are　mistaken；　bring　him　here　at　eight　o'clock；　sir；
and　may　Heaven　bless　you　as　I　bless　you！〃
〃And　now　'tis　your　turn；〃　said　the　coadjutor；　turning　to　the
last　that　remained；　〃have　you　anything　as　good　to　offer　me
as　the　two　gentlemen　who　have　left　us？〃
〃Better；　my　lord。〃
〃Diable！　think　what　a　solemn　engagement　you　are　making；　one
has　offered　a　wealthy　shopkeeper；　the　other　a　count；　you　are
going；　then；　to　offer　a　prince；　are　you？〃
〃I　offer　you　a　beggar；　my　lord。〃
〃Ah！　ah！〃　said　Gondy；　reflecting；　〃you　are　right；　sir；　some
one　who　could　raise　the　legion　of　paupers　who　choke　up　the
crossings　of　Paris；　some　one　who　would　know　how　to　cry　aloud
to　them；　that　all　France　might　hear　it；　that　it　is　Mazarin
who　has　reduced　them　to　poverty。〃
〃Exactly　your　man。〃
〃Bravo！　and　the　man？〃
〃A　plain　and　simple　beggar；　as　I　have　said；　my　lord；　who
asks　for　alms；　as　he　gives　holy　water；　a　practice　he　has
carried　on　for　six　years　on　the　steps　of　St。　Eustache。〃
〃And　you　say　that　he　has　a　great　influence　over　his
compeers？〃
〃Are　you　aware；　my　lord；　that　mendacity　is　an　organized
body；　a　kind　of　association　of　those　who　have　nothing
against　those　who　have　everything；　an　association　in　which
every　one　takes　his　share；　one　that　elects　a　leader？〃
〃Yes；　I　have　heard　it　said；〃　replied　the　coadjutor。
〃Well；　the　man　whom　I　offer　you　is　a　general　syndic。〃
〃And　what　do　you　know　of　him？〃
〃Nothing；　my　lord；　except　that　he　is　tormented　with
remorse。〃
〃What　makes　you　think　so？〃
〃On　the　twenty…eighth　of　every　month　he　makes　me　say　a　mass
for　the　repose　of　the　soul　of　one　who　died　a　violent　death；
yesterday　I　said　this　mass　again。〃
〃And　his　name？〃
〃Maillard；　but　I　do　not　think　it　is　his　right　one。〃
〃And　think　you　that　we　should　find　him　at　this　hour　at　his
post？〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃Let　us　go　and　see　your　beggar；　sir；　and　if　he　is　such　as
you　describe　him；　you　are　right　　it　will　be　you　who　have
discovered　the　true　treasure。〃
Gondy　dressed　himself　as　an　officer；　put　on　a　felt　cap　with
a　red　feather；　hung　on　a　long　sword；　buckled　spurs　to　his
boots；　wrapped　himself　in　an　ample　cloak　and　followed　the
curate。
The　coadjutor　and　his　companion　passed　through　all　the
streets　lying　between　the　archbishopric　and　the　St。　Eustache
Church；　watching　carefully　to　ascertain　the　popular　feeling。
The　people　were　in　an　excited　mood；　but；　like　a　swarm　of
frightened　bees；　seemed　not　to　know　at　what　point　to
concentrate；　and　it　was　very　evident　that　if　leaders　of　the
people　were　not　provided　all　this　agitation　would　pass　off
in　idle　buzzing。
On　arriving　at　the　Rue　des　Prouvaires；　the　curate　pointed
toward　the　square　before　the　church。
〃Stop！〃　he　said；　〃there　he　is　at　his　post。〃
Gondy　looked　at　the　spot　indicated　and　perceived　a　beggar
seated　in　a　chair　and　leaning　against　one　of　the　moldings；　a
little　basin　was　near　him　and　he　held　a　holy　water　brush　in
his　hand。
〃Is　it　by　permission　that　he　remains　there？〃　asked　Gondy。
〃No；　my　lord；　these　places　are　bought。　I　believe　this　man
paid　his　predecessor　a　hundred　pistoles　for　his。〃
〃The　rascal　is　rich；　then？〃
〃Some　of　those　men　sometimes　die　worth　twenty　thousand　and
twenty…five　and　thirty　thousand　francs　and　sometimes　more。〃
〃Hum！〃　said　Gondy；　laughing；　〃I　was　not　aware　my　alms　were
so　well　invested。〃
In　the　meantime　they　were　advancing　toward　the　square；　and
the　moment　the　coadjutor　and　the　curate　put　their　feet　on
the　first　church　step　the　mendicant　arose　and　proffered　his
brush。
He　was　a　man　between　sixty…six　and　sixty…eight　years　of　age；
little；　rather　stout；　with　gray　hair　and　light　eyes。　His
countenance　denoted　the　struggle　between　two　opposite
principles　　a　wicked　nature；　subdued　by　determination；
perhaps　by　repentance。
He　started　on　seeing　the　cavalier　with　the　curate。　The
latter　and　the　coadjutor　touched　the　brush　with　the　tips　of
their　fingers　and　made　the　sign　of　the　cross；　the　coadjutor
threw　a　piece　of　money　into　the　hat；　which　was　on　the
ground。
〃Maillard；〃　began　the　curate；　〃this　gentleman　and　I　have
come　to　talk　with　you　a　little。〃
〃With　me！〃　said　the　mendicant；　〃it　is　a　great　honor　for　a
poor　distributor　of　holy　water。〃
There　was　an　ironical　tone　in　his　voice　which　he　could　not
quite　disguise　and　which　astonished　the　coadjutor。
〃Yes；〃　continued　the　curate；　apparently　accustomed　to　this
tone；　〃yes；　we　wish　to　know　your　opinion　of　the　events　of
to…day　and　what　you　have　heard　said　by　people　going　in　and
out　of　the　church。〃
The　mendicant　shook　his　head。
〃These　are　melancholy　doings；　your　reverence；　which　always
fall　again　upon　the　poor。　As　to　what　is　said；　everybody　is
discontented；　everybody　complains；　but　‘everybody'　means
‘nobody。'〃
〃Explain　yourself；　my　good　friend；〃　said　the　coadjutor。
〃I　mean　that　all　these　cries；　all　these　complaints；　these
curses；　produce　nothing　but　storms　and　flashes　and　that　is
all；　but　the　lightning　will　not　strike　until　there　is　a　hand
to　guide　it。〃
〃My　friend；〃　said　Gondy；　〃you　seem　to　be　a　clever　and　a
thoughtful　man；　are　you　disposed　to　take　a　part　in　a　little
civil　war；　should　we　have　one；　and　put　at　the　command　of　the
leader；　should　we　find　one；　your　personal　influence　and　the
influence　you　have　acquired　over　your　comrades？〃
〃Yes；　sir；　provided　this　war　were　approved　of　by　the　church
and　would　advance　the　end　I　wish　to　attain　　I　mean；　the
remission　of　my　sins。〃
〃The　war　will　not　only　be　approved　of；　but　directed　by　the
church。　As　for　the　remission　of　your　sins；　we　have　the
archbishop　of　Paris；　who　has　the　very　greatest　power　at　the
court　of　Rome；　and　even　the　coadjutor；　who　possesses　some
plenary　indulgences；　we　will　recommend　you　to　him。〃
〃Consider；　Maillard；〃　said　the　curate；　〃that　I　have
recommended　you　to　this　gentleman；　who　is　a　powerful　lord；
and　that　I　have　made　myself　responsible　for　you。〃
〃I　know；　monsieur　le　cure；〃　said　the　beggar；　〃that　you　have
always　been　very　kind　to　me；　and　therefore　I；　in　my　turn；
will　be　serviceable　to　you。〃
〃And　do　you　think　your　power　as　great　with　the　fraternity　as
monsieur　le　cure　told　me　it　was　just　now？〃
〃I　think　they　have　some　esteem　for　me；〃　said　the　mendicant
with　pride；　〃and　that　not　only　will　they　obey　me；　but
wherever　I　go　they　will　follow　me。〃
〃And　could　you　count　on　fifty　resolute　men；　good；
unemployed；　but　active　souls；　brawlers；　capable　of　bringing
down　the　walls　of　the　Palais　Royal　by　crying；　‘Down　with
Mazarin；'　as　fell　those　at　Jericho？〃
〃I　think；〃　said　the　beggar；　〃I　can　undertake　things　more
difficult　and　more　important　than　that。〃
〃Ah；　ah；〃　said　Gondy；　〃you　will　undertake；　then；　some　night；
to　throw　up　some　ten　barricades？〃
〃I　will　undertake　to　throw　up　fifty；　and　when　the　day　comes；
to　defend　them。〃
〃I'faith！〃　exclaimed　Gondy；　〃you　speak　with　a　certainty　that
gives　me　pleasure；　and　since　monsieur　le　cure　can　answer　for
you　　〃
〃I　answer　for　him；〃　said　the　curate。
〃Here　is　a　bag　containing　five　hundred　pistoles　in　gold；
make　all　your　arrangements；　and　tell　me　where　I　shall　be
able　to　find　you　this　evening　at　ten　o'clock。〃
〃It　must　be　on　some　elevated　place；　whence　a　given　signal
may　be　seen　in　every　part　of　Paris。〃
〃Shall　I　give　you　a　line　for　the　vicar　of　St。　Jacques　de　la
Boucherie？　he　will　let　you　into　the　rooms　in　his　tower；〃
said　the　curate。
〃Capital；〃　answered　the　mendicant。
〃Then；〃　said　the　coadjutor；　〃this　evening；　at　ten　o'clock；
and　if　I　am　pleased　with　you　another　bag　of　five　hundred
pistoles　will　be　at　your　disposal。〃
The　eyes　of　the　mendicant　dashed　with　cupidity；　but　he
quickly　suppressed　his　emotion。
〃This　evening；　sir；〃　he　replied；　〃all　will　be　ready。〃


46
The　Tower　of　St。　Jacques　de　la　Boucherie。

At　a　quarter　to　six　o'clock；　Monsieur　de　Gondy；　having
finished　his　business；　returned　to　the　archiepiscopal
palace。
At　six　o'clock　the　curate　of　St。　Merri　was　announced。
The　coadjutor　glanced　rapidly　behind　and　saw　that　he　was
followed　by　another　man。　The　curate　then　entered；　followed
by　Planchet。
〃Your　holiness；〃　said　the　curate；　〃here　is　the　person　of
whom　I　had　the　honor　to　speak　to　you。〃
Planchet　saluted　in　the　manner　of　one　accustomed　to　fine
houses。
〃And　you　are　disposed　to　serve　the　cause　of　the　people？〃
asked　Gondy。
〃Most　undoubtedly；〃　said　Planchet。　〃I　am　a　Frondist　from　my
heart。　You　see　in　me；　such　as　I　am；　a　person　sentenced　to　be
hung。〃
〃And　on　what　account？〃
〃I　rescued　from　the　hands　of　Mazarin's　police　a　noble　lord
whom　they　were　conducting　back　to　the　Bastile；　where　he　had
been　for　five　years。〃
〃Will　you　name　him？〃
〃Oh；　you　know　him　well；　my　lord　　it　is　Count　de
Rochefort。〃
〃Ah！　really；　yes；〃　said　the　coadjutor；　〃I　have　heard　this
affair　mentioned。　You　raised　the　whole　district；　so　they
told　me！〃
〃Very　nearly；〃　replied　Planchet；　with　a　self…satisfied　air。
〃And　your　business　is　　〃
〃That　of　a　confectioner；　in　the　Rue　des　Lombards。〃
〃Explain　to　me　how　it　happens　that；　following　so　peaceful　a
business；　you　had　such　warlike　inclinations。〃
〃Why　does　my　lord；　belonging　to　the　church；　now　receive　me
in　the　dress　of　an　officer；　with　a　sword　at　his　side　and
spurs　to　his　boots？〃
〃Not　badly　answered；　i'faith；〃　said　Gondy；　laughing；　〃but　I
have；　you　must　know；　always　had；　in　spite　of　my　bands；
warlike　inclinations。〃
〃Well；　my　lord；　before　I　became　a　confectioner　I　myself　was
three　years　sergeant　in　the　Piedmontese　regiment；　and　before
I　became　sergeant　I　was　for　eighteen　months　the　servant　of
Monsieur　d'Artagnan。〃
〃The　lieutenant　of　musketeers？〃　asked　Gondy。
〃Himself；　my　lord。〃
〃But　he　is　said　to　be　a　furious　Mazarinist。〃
〃Phew！〃　whistled　Planchet。
〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃
〃Nothing；　my　lord；　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　belongs　to　the
service；　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　makes　it　his　business　to　defend
the　cardinal；　who　pays　him；　as　much　as　we　make　it　ours；　we
citizens；　to　attack　him；　whom　he　robs。〃
〃You　are　an　intelligent　fellow；　my　friend；　can　we　count　upon
you？〃
〃You　may　count　upon　me；　my　lord；　provided