twenty years after(二十年后)-第86部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d'Artagnan？〃　asked　Raoul；　somewhat　comforted。
〃Ah！　that's　the　thing！〃　replied　the　Gascon。　〃Undoubtedly　I
know　it；　but　it　is　a　mystery。〃
〃Not　to　me；　I　hope？〃
〃No；　not　to　you；　so　I　am　going　to　tell　you　where　he　is。〃
Porthos　devoured　D'Artagnan　with　wondering　eyes。
〃Where　the　devil　shall　I　say　that　he　is；　so　that　he　cannot
try　to　rejoin　him？〃　thought　D'Artagnan。
〃Well；　where　is　he；　sir？〃　asked　Raoul；　in　a　soft　and　coaxing
voice。
〃He　is　at　Constantinople。〃
〃Among　the　Turks！〃　exclaimed　Raoul；　alarmed。　〃Good　heavens！
how　can　you　tell　me　that？〃
〃Does　that　alarm　you？〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃Pooh！　what　are　the
Turks　to　such　men　as　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　and　the　Abbe
d'Herblay？〃
〃Ah；　his　friend　is　with　him？〃　said　Raoul。　〃That　comforts　me
a　little。〃
〃Has　he　wit　or　not　　this　demon　D'Artagnan？〃　said　Porthos；
astonished　at　his　friend's　deception。
〃Now；　sir；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　wishing　to　change　the
conversation；　〃here　are　fifty　pistoles　that　the　count　has
sent　you　by　the　same　courier。　I　suppose　you　have　no　more
money　and　that　they　will　be　welcome。〃
〃I　have　still　twenty　pistoles；　sir。〃
〃Well；　take　them；　that　makes　seventy。〃
〃And　if　you　wish　for　more；〃　said　Porthos；　putting　his　hand
to　his　pocket　
〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　replied　Raoul；　blushing；　〃thank　you　a
thousand　times。〃
At　this　moment　Olivain　appeared。　〃Apropos；〃　said　D'Artagnan；
loud　enough　for　the　servant　to　hear　him；　〃are　you　satisfied
with　Olivain？〃
〃Yes；　in　some　respects；　tolerably　well。〃
Olivain　pretended　to　have　heard　nothing　and　entered　the
tent。
〃What　fault　do　you　find　with　the　fellow？〃
〃He　is　a　glutton。〃
〃Oh；　sir！〃　cried　Olivain；　reappearing　at　this　accusation。
〃And　a　little　bit　of　a　thief。〃
〃Oh；　sir！　oh！〃
〃And；　more　especially；　a　notorious　coward。〃
〃Oh；　oh！　sir！　you　really　vilify　me！〃　cried　Olivain。
〃The　deuce！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃Pray　learn；　Monsieur
Olivain；　that　people　like　us　are　not　to　be　served　by
cowards。　Rob　your　master；　eat　his　sweetmeats；　and　drink　his
wine；　but；　by　Jove！　don't　be　a　coward；　or　I　shall　cut　off
your　ears。　Look　at　Monsieur　Mouston；　see　the　honorable
wounds　he　has　received；　observe　how　his　habitual　valor　has
given　dignity　to　his　countenance。〃
Musqueton　was　in　the　third　heaven　and　would　have　embraced
D'Artagnan　had　he　dared；　meanwhile　he　resolved　to　sacrifice
his　life　for　him　on　the　next　occasion　that　presented　itself。
〃Send　away　that　fellow；　Raoul；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃for　if
he's　a　coward　he　will　disgrace　thee　some　day。〃
〃Monsieur　says　I　am　coward；〃　cried　Olivain；　〃because　he
wanted　the　other　day　to　fight　a　cornet　in　Grammont's
regiment　and　I　refused　to　accompany　him。〃
〃Monsieur　Olivain；　a　lackey　ought　never　to　disobey；〃　said
D'Artagnan；　sternly；　then　taking　him　aside；　he　whispered　to
him：　〃Thou　hast　done　right；　thy　master　was　in　the　wrong；
here's　a　crown　for　thee；　but　should　he　ever　be　insulted　and
thou　cost　not　let　thyself　be　cut　in　quarters　for　him；　I　will
cut　out　thy　tongue。　Remember　that。〃
Olivain　bowed　and　slipped　the　crown　into　his　pocket。
〃And　now；　Raoul；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃Monsieur　du　Vallon　and　I
are　going　away　as　ambassadors；　where；　I　know　not；　but　should
you　want　anything；　write　to　Madame　Turquaine；　at　La
Chevrette；　Rue　Tiquetonne　and　draw　upon　her　purse　as　on　a
banker　　with　economy；　for　it　is　not　so　well　filled　as　that
of　Monsieur　d'Emery。〃
And　having；　meantime；　embraced　his　ward；　he　passed　him　into
the　robust　arms　of　Porthos；　who　lifted　him　up　from　the
ground　and　held　him　a　moment　suspended　near　the　noble　heart
of　the　formidable　giant。
〃Come；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃let　us　go。〃
And　they　set　out　for　Boulogne；　where　toward　evening　they
arrived；　their　horses　flecked　with　foam　and　dark　with
perspiration。
At　ten　steps　from　the　place　where　they　halted　was　a　young
man　in　black；　who　seemed　waiting　for　some　one；　and　who；　from
the　moment　he　saw　them　enter　the　town；　never　took　his　eyes
off　them。
D'Artagnan　approached　him；　and　seeing　him　stare　so　fixedly；
said：
〃Well；　friend！　I　don't　like　people　to　quiz　me！〃
〃Sir；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃do　you　not　come　from　Paris；　if
you　please？〃
D'Artagnan　thought　it　was　some　gossip　who　wanted　news　from
the　capital。
〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　said；　in　a　softened　tone。
〃Are　you　not　going　to　put　up　at　the　‘Arms　of　England'？〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
〃Are　you　not　charged　with　a　mission　from　his　eminence；
Cardinal　Mazarin？〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
〃In　that　case；　I　am　the　man　you　have　to　do　with。　I　am　M。
Mordaunt。〃
〃Ah！〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　〃the　man　I　am　warned　against　by
Athos。〃
〃Ah！〃　thought　Porthos；　〃the　man　Aramis　wants　me　to
strangle。〃
They　both　looked　searchingly　at　the　young　man；　who
misunderstood　the　meaning　of　that　inquisition。
〃Do　you　doubt　my　word？〃　he　said。　〃In　that　case　I　can　give
you　proofs。〃
〃No；　sir；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃and　we　place　ourselves　at　your
orders。〃
〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　resumed　Mordaunt；　〃we　must　set　out
without　delay；　to…day　is　the　last　day　granted　me　by　the
cardinal。　My　ship　is　ready；　and　had　you　not　come　I　must　have
set　off　without　you；　for　General　Cromwell　expects　my　return
impatiently。〃
〃So！〃　thought　the　lieutenant；　〃'tis　to　General　Cromwell　that
our　dispatches　are　addressed。〃
〃Have　you　no　letter　for　him？〃　asked　the　young　man。
〃I　have　one；　the　seal　of　which　I　am　not　to　break　till　I
reach　London；　but　since　you　tell　me　to　whom　it　is　addressed；
'tis　useless　to　wait　till　then。〃
D'Artagnan　tore　open　the　envelope　of　the　letter。　It　was
directed　to　〃Monsieur　Oliver　Cromwell；　General　of　the　Army
of　the　English　Nation。〃
〃Ah！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃a　singular　commission。〃
〃Who　is　this　Monsieur　Oliver　Cromwell？〃　inquired　Porthos。
〃Formerly　a　brewer；〃　replied　the　Gascon。
〃Perhaps　Mazarin　wishes　to　make　a　speculation　in　beer；　as　we
did　in　straw；〃　said　Porthos。
〃Come；　come；　gentlemen；〃　said　Mordaunt；　impatiently；　〃let　us
depart。〃
〃What！〃　exclaimed　Porthos　〃without　supper？　Cannot　Monsieur
Cromwell　wait　a　little？〃
〃Yes；　but　I？〃　said　Mordaunt。
〃Well；　you；〃　said　Porthos；　〃what　then？〃
〃I　cannot　wait。〃
〃Oh！　as　to　you；　that　is　not　my　concern；　and　I　shall　sup
either　with　or　without　your　permission。〃
The　young　man's　eyes　kindled　in　secret；　but　he　restrained
himself。
〃Monsieur；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃you　must　excuse　famished
travelers。　Besides；　our　supper　can't　delay　you　much。　We　will
hasten　on　to　the　inn；　you　will　meanwhile　proceed　on　foot　to
the　harbor。　We　will　take　a　bite　and　shall　be　there　as　soon
as　you　are。〃
〃Just　as　you　please；　gentlemen；　provided　we　set　sail；〃　he
said。
〃The　name　of　your　ship？〃　inquired　D'Artagnan。
〃The　Standard。〃
〃Very　well；　in　half　an　hour　we　shall　be　on　board。〃
And　the　friends；　spurring　on　their　horses；　rode　to　the
hotel；　the　〃Arms　of　England。〃
〃What　do　you　say　of　that　young　man？〃　asked　D'Artagnan；　as
they　hurried　along。
〃I　say　that　he　doesn't　suit　me　at　all；〃　said　Porthos；　〃and
that　I　feel　a　strong　itching　to　follow　Aramis's　advice。〃
〃By　no　means；　my　dear　Porthos；　that　man　is　a　messenger　of
General　Cromwell；　it　would　insure　for　us　a　poor　reception；　I
imagine；　should　it　be　announced　to　him　that　we　had　twisted
the　neck　of　his　confidant。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃　said　Porthos；　〃I　have　always　noticed　that
Aramis　gives　good　advice。〃
〃Listen；〃　returned　D'Artagnan；　〃when　our　embassy　is　finished
　〃
〃Well？〃
〃If　it　brings　us　back　to　France　　〃
〃Well？〃
〃Well；　we　shall　see。〃
At　that　moment　the　two　friends　reached　the　hotel；　〃Arms　of
England；〃　where　they　supped　with　hearty　appetite　and　then　at
once　proceeded　to　the　port。
There　they　found　a　brig　ready　to　set　sail；　upon　the　deck　of
which　they　recognized　Mordaunt　walking　up　and　down
impatiently。
〃It　is　singular；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　whilst　the　boat　was
taking　them　to　the　Standard；　〃it　is　astonishing　how　that
young　man　resembles　some　one　I　must　have　known；　but　who　it
was　I　cannot　yet　remember。〃
A　few　minutes　later　they　were　on　board；　but　the　embarkation
of　the　horses　was　a　longer　matter　than　that　of　the　men；　and
it　was　eight　o'clock　before　they　raised　anchor。
The　young　man　stamped　impatiently　and　ordered　all　sail　to　be
spread。
Porthos；　completely　used　up　by　three　nights　without　sleep
and　a　journey　of　seventy　leagues　on　horseback；　retired　to
his　cabin　and　went　to　sleep。
D'Artagnan；　overcoming　his　repugnance　to　Mordaunt；　walked
with　him　upon　the　deck　and　invented　a　hundred　stories　to
make　him　talk。
Musqueton　was　seasick。

55
The　Scotchman。

And　now　our　readers　must　leave　the　Standard　to　sail
peaceably；　not　toward　London；　where　D'Artagnan　and　Porthos
believed　they　were　going；　but　to　Durham；　whither　Mordaunt
had　been　ordered　to　repair　by　the　letter　he　had　received
during　his　sojourn　at　Boulogne；　and　accompany　us　to　the
royalist　camp；　on　this　side　of　the　Tyne；　near　Newcastle。
There；　placed　between　two　rivers　on　the　borders　of　Scotland；
but　still　on　English　soil；　the　tents　of　a　little　army
extended。　It　was　midnight。　Some　Highlanders　were　listlessly
keeping　watch。　The　moon；　which　was　partially　obscured　by
heavy　clouds；　now　and　then　lit　up　the　muskets　of　the
sentinels；　or　silvered　the　walls；　the　roofs；　and　the　spires
of　the　town　that　Charles　I。　had　just　surrendered　to　the
parliamentary　troops；　whilst　Oxford　and　Newark　still　held
out　for　him　in　the　hopes　of　coming　to　some　arrangement。
At　one　of　the　extremities　of　the　camp；　near　an　immense　tent；
in　which　the　Scottish　officers　were　holding　a　kind　of
council；　presided　over　by　Lord　Leven；　their　commander；　a　man
attired　as　a　cavalier　lay　sleeping　on　the　turf；　his　right
hand　extended　over　his　sword。
About　fifty　paces　off；　another　man；　also　appareled　as　a
cavalier；　was　talking　to　a　Scotch　sentinel；　and；　though　a
foreigner；　he　seemed　to　understand　without　much　difficulty
the　answers　given　in　the　broad　Perthshire　dialect。
As　the　town　clock　of　Newcastle　struck　one　the　sleeper　awoke；
and　with　all　the　gestures　of　a　man　rousing　himself　out　of
deep　sleep　he　looked　attentively　about　him；　perceiving　that
he　was　alone　he　rose　and　making　a　little　circuit　passed
close　to　the　cavalier　who　was　speaking　to　the　sentinel。　The
former　had　no　doubt　finished　his　questions；　for　a　moment
later　he　said　good…night　and　carelessly　followed　the　same
path　taken　by　the　first　cavalier。
In　the　shadow　of　a　tent　the　former　was　awaiting　him。
〃Well；　my　dear　friend？〃　said　he；　in　as　pure　French　as　has
ever　been　uttered　between　Rouen