二十年后-第104章

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　　〃Oh！　you　will　not　abandon　me！　You　will　not　leave　me　to　perish！　You　will　not　be　pitiless！〃　cried　Mordaunt。
　　〃Ah！　ah！〃　said　Porthos　to　Mordaunt；　〃I　think　we　have　you　now；　my　hero！　and　there　are　no　doors　by　which　you　can　escape　this　time　but　those　of　hell。〃
　　〃Oh！　Porthos！〃　murmured　the　te　de　la　Fere。
　　〃Oh；　pray；　for　mercy's　sake；　don't　fly　from　me。　For　pity's　sake！〃　cried　the　young　man；　whose　agony…drawn　breath　at　times；　when　his　head　went　under　water；　under　the　wave；　exhaled　and　made　the　icy　waters　bubble。
　　D'Artagnan；　however；　who　had　consulted　with　Aramis；　spoke　to　the　poor　wretch。　〃Go　away；〃　he　said；　〃your　repentance　is　too　recent　to　inspire　confidence。　See！　the　vessel　in　which　you　wished　to　fry　us　is　still　smoking；　and　the　situation　in　which　you　are　is　a　bed　of　roses　pared　to　that　in　which　you　wished　to　place　us　and　in　which　you　have　placed　Monsieur　Groslow　and　his　panions。〃
　　〃Sir！〃　replied　Mordaunt；　in　a　tone　of　deep　despair；　〃my　penitence　is　sincere。　Gentlemen；　I　am　young；　scarcely　twenty…three　years　old。　I　was　drawn　on　by　a　very　natural　resentment　to　avenge　my　mother。　You　would　have　done　what　I　did。〃
　　Mordaunt　wanted　now　only　two　or　three　fathoms　to　reach　the　boat；　for　the　approach　of　death　seemed　to　give　him　supernatural　strength。
　　〃Alas！〃　he　said；　〃I　am　then　to　die？　You　are　going　to　kill　the　son；　as　you　killed　the　mother！　Surely；　if　I　am　culpable　and　if　I　ask　for　pardon；　I　ought　to　be　forgiven。〃
　　Then；　as　if　his　strength　failed　him；　he　seemed　unable　to　sustain　himself　above　the　water　and　a　wave　passed　over　his　head；　which　drowned　his　voice。
　　〃Oh！　this　is　torture　to　me；〃　cried　Athos。
　　Mordaunt　reappeared。
　　〃For　my　part；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　say　this　must　e　to　an　end；　murderer；　as　you　were；　of　your　uncle！　executioner；　as　you　were；　of　King　Charles！　incendiary！　I　remend　you　to　sink　forthwith　to　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　and　if　you　e　another　fathom　nearer；　I'll　stave　your　wicked　head　in　with　this　oar。〃
　　〃D'Artagnan！　D'Artagnan！〃　cried　Athos；　〃my　son；　I　entreat　you；　the　wretch　is　dying；　and　it　is　horrible　to　let　a　man　die　without　extending　a　hand　to　save　him。　I　cannot　resist　doing　so；　he　must　live。〃
　　〃Zounds！〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃why　don't　you　give　yourself　up　directly；　feet　and　hands　bound；　to　that　wretch？　Ah！　te　de　la　Fere；　you　wish　to　perish　by　his　hands！　I；　your　son；　as　you　call　me　　I　will　not　let　you！〃
　　'Twas　the　first　time　D'Artagnan　had　ever　refused　a　request　from　Athos。
　　Aramis　calmly　drew　his　sword；　which　he　had　carried　between　his　teeth　as　he　swam。
　　〃If　he　lays　his　hand　on　the　boat's　edge　I　will　cut　it　off；　regicide　that　he　is。〃
　　〃And　I；〃　said　Porthos。　〃Wait。〃
　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　asked　Aramis。
　　〃Throw　myself　in　the　water　and　strangle　him。〃
　　〃Oh；　gentlemen！〃　cried　Athos；　〃be　men！　be　Christians！　See！　death　is　depicted　on　his　face！　Ah！　do　not　bring　on　me　the　horrors　of　remorse！　Grant　me　this　poor　wretch's　life。　I　will　bless　you　　I　　〃
　　〃I　am　dying！〃　cried　Mordaunt；　〃e　to　me！　e　to　me！〃
　　D'Artagnan　began　to　be　touched。　The　boat　at　this　moment　turned　around；　and　the　dying　man　was　by　that　turn　brought　nearer　Athos。
　　〃Monsieur　the　te　de　la　Fere；〃　he　cried；　〃I　supplicate　you！　pity　me！　I　call　on　you　　where　are　you？　I　see　you　no　longer　　I　am　dying　　help　me！　help　me！〃
　　〃Here　I　am；　sir！〃　said　Athos；　leaning　and　stretching　out　his　arm　to　Mordaunt　with　that　air　of　dignity　and　nobility　of　soul　habitual　to　him；　〃here　I　am；　take　my　hand　and　jump　into　our　boat。〃
　　Mordaunt　made　a　last　effort　　rose　　seized　the　hand　thus　extended　to　him　and　grasped　it　with　the　vehemence　of　despair。
　　〃That's　right；〃　said　Athos；　〃put　your　other　hand　here。　〃And　he　offered　him　his　shoulder　as　another　stay　and　support；　so　that　his　head　almost　touched　that　of　Mordaunt；　and　these　two　mortal　enemies　were　in　as　close　an　embrace　as　if　they　had　been　brothers。
　　〃Now；　sir；〃　said　the　count；　〃you　are　safe　　calm　yourself。〃
　　〃Ah！　my　mother；〃　cried　Mordaunt；　with　eyes　on　fire　with　a　look　of　hate　impossible　to　paint；　〃I　can　only　offer　thee　one　victim；　but　it　shall　at　any　rate　be　the　one　thou　wouldst　thyself　have　chosen！〃
　　And　whilst　D'Artagnan　uttered　a　cry；　Porthos　raised　the　oar；　and　Aramis　sought　a　place　to　strike；　a　frightful　shake　given　to　the　boat　precipitated　Athos　into　the　sea；　whilst　Mordaunt；　with　a　shout　of　triumph；　grasped　the　neck　of　his　victim；　and　in　order　to　paralyze　his　movements；　twined　arms　and　legs　around　the　musketeer。　For　an　instant；　without　an　exclamation；　without　a　cry　for　help；　Athos　tried　to　sustain　himself　on　the　surface　of　the　waters；　but　the　weight　dragged　him　down；　he　disappeared　by　degrees；　soon　nothing　was　to　be　seen　except　his　long；　floating　hair；　then　both　men　disappeared　and　the　bubbling　of　the　water；　which；　in　its　turn；　was　soon　effaced；　alone　indicated　the　spot　where　these　two　had　sunk。
　　Mute　with　horror；　the　three　friends　had　remained　open…mouthed；　their　eyes　dilated；　their　arms　extended　like　statues；　and；　motionless　as　they　were；　the　beating　of　their　hearts　was　audible。　Porthos　was　the　first　who　came　to　himself。　He　tore　his　hair。
　　〃Oh！〃　he　cried；　〃Athos！　Athos！　thou　man　of　noble　heart；　woe　is　me！　I　have　let　thee　perish！〃
　　At　this　instant；　in　the　midst　of　the　silver　circle　illumined　by　the　light　of　the　moon　the　same　whirlpool　which　had　been　made　by　the　sinking　men　was　again　obvious；　and　first　were　seen；　rising　above　the　waves；　a　wisp　of　hair；　then　a　pale　face　with　open　eyes；　yet；　nevertheless；　the　eyes　of　death；　then　a　body；　which；　after　rising　of　itself　even　to　the　waist　above　the　sea；　turned　gently　on　its　back；　according　to　the　caprice　of　the　waves；　and　floated。
　　In　the　bosom　of　this　corpse　was　plunged　a　poniard；　the　gold　hilt　of　which　shone　in　the　moonbeams。
　　〃Mordaunt！　Mordaunt！〃　cried　the　three　friends；　〃'tis　Mordaunt！〃
　　〃But　Athos！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan。
　　Suddenly　the　boat　leaned　on　one　side　beneath　a　new　and　unexpected　weight　and　Grimaud　uttered　a　shout　of　joy；　every　one　turned　around　and　beheld　Athos；　livid；　his　eyes　dim　and　his　hands　trembling；　supporting　himself　on　the　edge　of　the　boat。　Eight　vigorous　arms　lifted　him　up　immediately　and　laid　him　in　the　boat；　where　directly　Athos　was　warmed　and　reanimated；　reviving　with　the　caresses　and　cares　of　his　friends；　who　were　intoxicated　with　joy。
　　〃You　are　not　hurt？〃　asked　D'Artagnan。
　　〃No；〃　replied　Athos；　〃and　he　　〃
　　〃Oh；　he！　now　we　may　say　at　last；　thank　Heaven！　he　is　really　dead。　Look！〃　and　D'Artagnan；　obliging　Athos　to　look　in　the　direction　he　pointed；　showed　him　the　body　of　Mordaunt　floating　on　its　back；　which；　sometimes　submerged；　sometimes　rising；　seemed　still　to　pursue　the　four　friends　with　looks　of　insult　and　mortal　hatred。
　　At　last　he　sank。　Athos　had　followed　him　with　a　glance　in　which　the　deepest　melancholy　and　pity　were　expressed。
　　〃Bravo！　Athos！〃　cried　Aramis；　with　an　emotion　very　rare　in　him。
　　〃A　capital　blow　you　gave！〃　cried　Porthos。
　　〃I　have　a　son。　I　wished　to　live；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃In　short；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃this　has　been　the　will　of　God。〃
　　〃It　was　not　I　who　killed　him；〃　said　Athos　in　a　soft；　low　tone；　〃'twas　destiny。〃
　　How　Musqueton；　after　being　very　nearly　roasted；　had　a　Narrow　Escape　of　being　eaten
　　A　deep　silence　reigned　for　a　long　time　in　the　boat　after　the　fearful　scene　described。
　　The　moon；　which　had　shone　for　a　short　time；　disappeared　behind　the　clouds；　every　object　was　again　plunged　in　the　obscurity　that　is　so　awful　in　the　deserts　and　still　more　so　in　that　liquid　desert；　the　ocean；　and　nothing　was　heard　save　the　whistling　of　the　west　wind　driving　along　the　tops　of　the　crested　billows。
　　Porthos　was　the　first　to　speak。
　　〃I　have　seen；〃　he　said；　〃many　dreadful　things；　but　nothing　that　ever　agitated　me　so　much　as　what　I　have　just　witnessed。　Nevertheless；　even　in　my　present　state　of　perturbation；　I　protest　that　I　feel　happy。　I　have　a　hundred　pounds'　weight　less　upon　my　chest。　I　breathe　more　freely。〃　In　fact；　Porthos　breathed　so　loud　as　to　do　credit　to　the　free　play　of　his　powerful　lungs。
　　〃For　my　part；〃　observed　Aramis；　〃I　cannot　say　the　same　as　you　do；　Porthos。　I　am　still　terrified　to　such　a　degree　that　I　scarcely　believe　my　eyes。　I　look　around　the　boat；　expecting　every　moment　to　see　that　poor　wretch　holding　between　his　hands　the　poniard　plunged　into　his　heart。〃
　　〃Oh！　I　feel　easy；〃　replied　Porthos。　〃The　poniard　was　pointed　at　the　sixth　rib　and　buried　up　to　the　hilt　in　his　body。　I　do　not　reproach　you；　Athos；　for　what　you　have　done。　On　the　contrary；　when　one　aims　a　blow　that　is　the　regulation　way　to　strike。　So　now；　I　breathe　again　　I　am　happy！〃
　　〃Don't　be　in　haste　to　celebrate　a　victory；　Porthos；〃　interposed　D'Artagnan；　〃never　have　we　incurred　a　greater　danger　than　we　are　now　encountering。　Men　may　subdue　men　　they　cannot　overe　the　elements。　We　are　now　on　the　sea；　at　night；　without　any　pilot；　in　a　frail　bark；　should　a　blast　of　wind　upset　the　boat　we　are　lost。〃
　　Musqueton　heaved　a　deep　sigh。
　　〃You　are　ungrateful；　D'Artagnan；〃　said　Athos；　〃yes；　ungrateful　to　Providence；　to　whom　we　owe　our　safety　in　the　most　miraculous　manner。　Let　us　sail　before　the　wind；　and　unless　it　changes　we　shall　be　drifted　either　to　Calais　or　Boulogne。　Should　our　bark　be　upset　we　are　five　of　us　good　swimmers；　able　enough　to　turn　it　over　again；　or　if　not；　to　hold　on　by　it。　Now　we　are　on　the　very　road　which　all　the　vessels　between　Dover　and　Calais　take；　'tis　impossible　but　that　we　should　meet　with　a　fisherman　who　will　pick　us　up。〃
　　〃But　should　we　not　find　any　fisherman　and　should　the　wind　shift　to　the　north？〃
　　〃That；〃　said　Athos；　〃would　be　quite　another　thing；　and　we　should　nevermore　see　land　until　we　were　upon　the　other　side　of　the　Atlantic。〃
　　〃Which　implies　that　we　may　die　of　hunger；〃　said　Aramis。
　　〃'Tis　more　than　possible；〃　answered　the　te　de　la　Fere。
　　Musqueton　sighed　again；　more　deeply　than　before。
　　〃What　is　the　matter？　what　ails　you？〃　asked　Porthos。
　　〃I　am　cold；　sir；〃　said　Musqueton。
　　〃Impossible！　your　body　is　covered　with　a　coating　of　fat　which　preserves　it　from　the　cold　air。〃
　　〃Ah！　sir；　'tis　this　very　coating　of　fat　that　makes　me　shiver。〃
　　〃How　is　that；　Musqueton？
　　〃Alas！　your　honor；　in　the　library　of　the　Chateau　of　Bracieux　there　are　a　lot　of　books　of　travels。〃
　　〃What　then？〃
　　〃Amongst　them　the　voyages　of　Jean　Mocquet　in　the　time　of　Henry　IV。〃
　　〃Well？〃
　　〃In　these　books；　your　honor；　'tis　told　how　hungry　voyagers；　drifting　out　to　sea；　have　a　bad　habit　of　eating　each　other　and　beginning　with　　〃
　　〃The　fattest　among　them！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　unable　in　spite　of　the　gravity　of　the　occasion　to　help　laughing。
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　answered　Musqueton；　〃but　permit　me　to　say　I　see　nothing　laughable　in　it。　However；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Porthos；　〃I　should　not　regret　dying；　sir；　were　I　sure　that　by　doing　so　I　might　still　be　useful　to　you。〃
　　〃Mouston；〃　replied　Porthos；　much　affected；　〃should　we　ever　see　my　castle　of　Pierrefonds　again　you　shall　have　as　your　own　and　for　your　descendants　the　vineyard　that　surrounds　the　farm。〃
　　〃And　you　should　call　it　‘Devotion；'〃　added　Aramis；　〃the　vineyard　of　self…sacrifice；　to　transmit　to　latest　ages　the　recollection　of　your　devotion　to　your　master。〃
　　〃Chevalier；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　laughing；　〃you　cou