twenty years after(二十年后)-第95部分

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escort　were　no　longer　there。　I　spent　perhaps　an　hour　in
coming　from　the　yard　to　this　place；　then　my　strength　gave
out　and　I　fainted　again。〃
〃And　now　how　are　you　feeling？〃
〃Very　ill；〃　replied　the　wounded　man。
〃Can　we　do　anything　for　you？〃　asked　Athos。
〃Help　to　put　me　on　the　bed；　I　think　I　shall　feel　better
there。〃
〃Have　you　any　one　to　depend　on　for　assistance？〃
〃My　wife　is　at　Durham　and　may　return　at　any　moment。　But　you
　is　there　nothing　that　you　want？〃
〃We　came　here　with　the　intention　of　asking　for　something　to
eat。〃
〃Alas；　they　have　taken　everything；　there　isn't　a　morsel　of
bread　in　the　house。〃
〃You　hear；　D'Artagnan？〃　said　Athos；　〃we　shall　have　to　look
elsewhere　for　our　dinner。〃
〃It　is　all　one　to　me　now；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　am　no　longer
hungry。〃
〃Faith！　neither　am　I；〃　said　Porthos。
They　carried　the　man　to　his　bed　and　called　Grimaud　to　dress
the　wound。　In　the　service　of　the　four　friends　Grimaud　had
had　so　frequent　occasion　to　make　lint　and　bandages　that　he
had　become　something　of　a　surgeon。
In　the　meantime　the　fugitives　had　returned　to　the　first
room；　where　they　took　counsel　together。
〃Now；〃　said　Aramis；　〃we　know　how　the　matter　stands。　The　king
and　his　escort　have　gone　this　way；　we　had　better　take　the
opposite　direction；　eh？〃
Athos　did　not　reply；　he　reflected。
〃Yes；〃　said　Porthos；　〃let　us　take　the　opposite　direction；　if
we　follow　the　escort　we　shall　find　everything　devoured　and
die　of　hunger。　What　a　confounded　country　this　England　is！
This　is　the　first　time　I　have　gone　without　my　dinner　for　ten
years；　and　it　is　generally　my　best　meal。〃
〃What　do　you　think；　D'Artagnan？〃　asked　Athos。　〃Do　you　agree
with　Aramis？〃
〃Not　at　all；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　am　precisely　of　the
contrary　opinion。〃
〃What！　you　would　follow　the　escort？〃　exclaimed　Porthos；　in
dismay。
〃No；　I　would　join　the　escort。〃
Athos's　eyes　shone　with　joy。
〃Join　the　escort！〃　cried　Aramis。
〃Let　D'Artagnan　speak；〃　said　Athos；　〃you　know　he　always　has
wise　advice　to　give。〃
〃Clearly；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃we　must　go　where　they　will　not
look　for　us。　Now；　they　will　be　far　from　looking　for　us　among
the　Puritans；　therefore；　with　the　Puritans　we　must　go。〃
〃Good；　my　friend；　good！〃　said　Athos。　〃It　is　excellent
advice。　I　was　about　to　give　it　when　you　anticipated　me。〃
〃That；　then；　is　your　opinion？〃　asked　Aramis。
〃Yes。　They　will　think　we　are　trying　to　leave　England　and
will　search　for　us　at　the　ports；　meanwhile　we　shall　reach
London　with　the　king。　Once　in　London　we　shall　be　hard　to
find　　without　considering；〃　continued　Athos；　throwing　a
glance　at　Aramis；　〃the　chances　that　may　come　to　us　on　the
way。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Aramis；　〃I　understand。〃
〃I；　however；　do　not　understand；〃　said　Porthos。　〃But　no
matter；　since　it　is　at　the　same　time　the　opinion　of
D'Artagnan　and　of　Athos；　it　must　be　the　best。〃
〃But；〃　said　Aramis；　〃shall　we　not　be　suspected　by　Colonel
Harrison？〃
〃Egad！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃he's　just　the　man　I　count　upon。
Colonel　Harrison　is　one　of　our　friends。　We　have　met　him
twice　at　General　Cromwell's。　He　knows　that　we　were　sent　from
France　by　Monsieur　Mazarin；　he　will　consider　us　as　brothers。
Besides；　is　he　not　a　butcher's　son？　Well；　then；　Porthos
shall　show　him　how　to　knock　down　an　ox　with　a　blow　of　the
fist；　and　I　how　to　trip　up　a　bull　by　taking　him　by　the
horns。　That　will　insure　his　confidence。〃
Athos　smiled。　〃You　are　the　best　companion　that　I　know；
D'Artagnan；〃　he　said；　offering　his　hand　to　the　Gascon；　〃and
I　am　very　happy　in　having　found　you　again；　my　dear　son。〃
This　was；　as　we　have　seen；　the　term　which　Athos　applied　to
D'Artagnan　in　his　more　expansive　moods。
At　this　moment　Grimaud　came　in。　He　had　stanched　the　wound
and　the　man　was　better。
The　four　friends　took　leave　of　him　and　asked　if　they　could
deliver　any　message　for　him　to　his　brother。
〃Tell　him；〃　answered　the　brave　man；　〃to　let　the　king　know
that　they　have　not　killed　me　outright。　However　insignificant
I　am；　I　am　sure　that　his　majesty　is　concerned　for　me　and
blames　himself　for　my　death。〃
〃Be　easy；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃he　will　know　all　before　night。〃
The　little　troop　recommenced　their　march；　and　at　the　end　of
two　hours　perceived　a　considerable　body　of　horsemen　about
half　a　league　ahead。
〃My　dear　friends；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃give　your　swords　to
Monsieur　Mouston；　who　will　return　them　to　you　at　the　proper
time　and　place；　and　do　not　forget　you　are　our　prisoners。〃
It　was　not　long　before　they　joined　the　escort。　The　king　was
riding　in　front；　surrounded　by　troopers；　and　when　he　saw
Athos　and　Aramis　a　glow　of　pleasure　lighted　his　pale　cheeks。
D'Artagnan　passed　to　the　head　of　the　column；　and　leaving　his
friends　under　the　guard　of　Porthos；　went　straight　to
Harrison；　who　recognized　him　as　having　met　him　at　Cromwell's
and　received　him　as　politely　as　a　man　of　his　breeding　and
disposition　could。　It　turned　out　as　D'Artagnan　had　foreseen。
The　colonel　neither　had　nor　could　have　any　suspicion。
They　halted　for　the　king　to　dine。　This　time；　however；　due
precautions　were　taken　to　prevent　any　attempt　at　escape。　In
the　large　room　of　the　hotel　a　small　table　was　placed　for　him
and　a　large　one　for　the　officers。
〃Will　you　dine　with　me？〃　asked　Harrison　of　D'Artagnan。
〃Gad；　I　should　be　very　happy；　but　I　have　my　companion；
Monsieur　du　Vallon；　and　the　two　prisoners；　whom　I　cannot
leave。　Let　us　manage　it　better。　Have　a　table　set　for　us　in　a
corner　and　send　us　whatever　you　like　from　yours。〃
〃Good；〃　answered　Harrison。
The　matter　was　arranged　as　D'Artagnan　had　suggested；　and
when　he　returned　he　found　the　king　already　seated　at　his
little　table；　where　Parry　waited　on　him；　Harrison　and　his
officers　sitting　together　at　another　table；　and；　in　a
corner；　places　reserved　for　himself　and　his　companions。
The　table　at　which　the　Puritan　officers　were　seated　was
round；　and　whether　by　chance　or　coarse　intention；　Harrison
sat　with　his　back　to　the　king。
The　king　saw　the　four　gentlemen　come　in；　but　appeared　to
take　no　notice　of　them。
They　sat　down　in　such　a　manner　as　to　turn　their　backs　on
nobody。　The　officers；　table　and　that　of　the　king　were
opposite　to　them。
〃I'faith；　colonel；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃we　are　very　grateful
for　your　gracious　invitation；　for　without　you　we　ran　the
risk　of　going　without　dinner；　as　we　have　without　breakfast。
My　friend　here；　Monsieur　du　Vallon；　shares　my　gratitude；　for
he　was　particularly　hungry。〃
〃And　I　am　so　still；〃　said　Porthos　bowing　to　Harrison。
〃And　how；〃　said　Harrison；　laughing；　〃did　this　serious
calamity　of　going　without　breakfast　happen　to　you？〃
〃In　a　very　simple　manner；　colonel；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃I　was
in　a　hurry　to　join　you　and　took　the　road　you　had　already
gone　by。　You　can　understand　our　disappointment　when；
arriving　at　a　pretty　little　house　on　the　skirts　of　a　wood；
which　at　a　distance　had　quite　a　gay　appearance；　with　its　red
roof　and　green　shutters；　we　found　nothing　but　a　poor　wretch
bathed　　Ah！　colonel；　pay　my　respects　to　the　officer　of
yours　who　struck　that　blow。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Harrison；　laughing；　and　looking　over　at　one　of
the　officers　seated　at　his　table。　〃When　Groslow　undertakes
this　kind　of　thing　there's　no　need　to　go　over　the　ground　a
second　time。〃
〃Ah！　it　was　this　gentleman？〃　said　D'Artagnan；　bowing　to　the
officer。　〃I　am　sorry　he　does　not　speak　French；　that　I　might
tender　him　my　compliments。〃
〃I　am　ready　to　receive　and　return　them；　sir；〃　said　the
officer；　in　pretty　good　French；　〃for　I　resided　three　years
in　Paris。〃
〃Then；　sir；　allow　me　to　assure　you　that　your　blow　was　so
well　directed　that　you　have　nearly　killed　your　man。〃
〃Nearly？　I　thought　I　had　quite；〃　said　Groslow。
〃No。　It　was　a　very　near　thing；　but　he　is　not　dead。〃
As　he　said　this；　D'Artagnan　gave　a　glance　at　Parry；　who　was
standing　in　front　of　the　king；　to　show　him　that　the　news　was
meant　for　him。
The　king；　too；　who　had　listened　in　the　greatest　agony；　now
breathed　again。
〃Hang　it；〃　said　Groslow；　〃I　thought　I　had　succeeded　better。
If　it　were　not　so　far　from　here　to　the　house　I　would　return
and　finish　him。〃
〃And　you　would　do　well；　if　you　are　afraid　of　his　recovering；
for　you　know；　if　a　wound　in　the　head　does　not　kill　at　once；
it　is　cured　in　a　week。〃
And　D'Artagnan　threw　a　second　glance　toward　Parry；　on　whose
face　such　an　expression　of　joy　was　manifested　that　Charles
stretched　out　his　hand　to　him；　smiling。
Parry　bent　over　his　master's　hand　and　kissed　it
respectfully。
〃I've　a　great　desire　to　drink　the　king's　health；〃　said
Athos。
〃Let　me　propose　it；　then；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃Do；〃　said　Aramis。
Porthos　looked　at　D'Artagnan；　quite　amazed　at　the　resources
with　which　his　companion's　Gascon　sharpness　continually
supplied　him。　D'Artagnan　took　up　his　camp　tin　cup；　filled　it
with　wine　and　arose。
〃Gentlemen；〃　said　he；　〃let　us　drink　to　him　who　presides　at
the　repast。　Here's　to　our　colonel；　and　let　him　know　that　we
are　always　at　his　commands　as　far　as　London　and　farther。〃
And　as　D'Artagnan；　as　he　spoke；　looked　at　Harrison；　the
colonel　imagined　the　toast　was　for　himself。　He　arose　and
bowed　to　the　four　friends；　whose　eyes　were　fixed　on　Charles；
while　Harrison　emptied　his　glass　without　the　slightest
misgiving。
The　king；　in　return；　looked　at　the　four　gentlemen　and　drank
with　a　smile　full　of　nobility　and　gratitude。
〃Come；　gentlemen；〃　cried　Harrison；　regardless　of　his
illustrious　captive；　〃let　us　be　off。〃
〃Where　do　we　sleep；　colonel？〃
〃At　Thirsk；〃　replied　Harrison。
〃Parry；〃　said　the　king；　rising　too；　〃my　horse；　I　desire　to
go　to　Thirsk。〃
〃Egad！〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　Athos；　〃your　king　has　thoroughly
taken　me；　and　I　am　quite　at　his　service。〃
〃If　what　you　say　is　sincere；〃　replied　Athos；　〃he　will　never
reach　London。〃
〃How　so？〃
〃Because　before　then　we　shall　have　carried　him　off。〃
〃Well；　this　time；　Athos；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃upon　my　word；
you　are　mad。〃
〃Have　you　some　plan　in　your　head　then？〃　asked　Aramis。
〃Ay！〃　said　Porthos；　〃the　thing　would　not　be　impossible　with
a　good　plan。〃
〃I　have　none；〃　said　Athos；　〃but　D'Artagnan　will　discover
one。〃
D'Artagnan　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　they　proceeded。

61
D'Artagnan　hits　on　a　Plan。

As　night　closed　in　they　arrived　at　Thirsk。　The　four　friends
appeared　to　be　entire　strangers　to　one　another　and
indifferent　to　the　precautions　taken　for　guarding　the　king。
They　withdrew　to　a　private　house；　and　as　they