二十年后-第124章

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e　a　gentleman。　Both　were　evidently　stimulated　by　the　same　impulse。
　　There　was　a　shock　which　was　perceived　even　in　the　royal　carriage。　Myriads　of　hoarse　cries；　forming　one　vast　uproar；　were　heard；　mingled　with　guns　firing。
　　〃Ho！　Musketeers！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。
　　The　escort　divided　into　two　files。　One　of　them　passed　around　to　the　right　of　the　carriage；　the　other　to　the　left。　One　went　to　support　D'Artagnan；　the　other　Porthos。　Then　came　a　skirmish；　the　more　terrible　because　it　had　no　definite　object；　the　more　melancholy；　because　those　engaged　in　it　knew　not　for　whom　they　were　fighting。　Like　all　popular　movements；　the　shock　given　by　the　rush　of　this　mob　was　formidable。　The　musketeers；　few　in　number；　not　being　able；　in　the　midst　of　this　crowd；　to　make　their　horses　wheel　around；　began　to　give　way。　D'Artagnan　offered　to　lower　the　blinds　of　the　royal　carriage；　but　the　young　king　stretched　out　his　arm；　saying：
　　〃No；　sir！　I　wish　to　see　everything。〃
　　〃If　your　majesty　wishes　to　look　out　　well；　then；　look！〃　replied　D'Artagnan。　And　turning　with　that　fury　which　made　him　so　formidable；　he　rushed　toward　the　chief　of　the　insurgents；　a　man　who；　with　a　huge　sword　in　his　hand；　was　trying　to　hew　a　passage　to　the　coach　door　through　the　musketeers。
　　〃Make　room！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃Zounds！　give　way！〃
　　At　these　words　the　man　with　a　pistol　and　sword　raised　his　head；　but　it　was　too　late。　The　blow　was　sped　by　D'Artagnan；　the　rapier　had　pierced　his　bosom。
　　〃Ah！　confound　it！〃　cried　the　Gascon；　trying　in　vain；　too　late；　to　retract　the　thrust。　〃What　the　devil　are　you　doing　here；　count？〃
　　〃Acplishing　my　destiny；〃　replied　Rochefort；　falling　on　one　knee。　〃I　have　already　got　up　again　after　three　stabs　from　you；　I　shall　never　rise　after　this　fourth。〃
　　〃Count！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　with　some　degree　of　emotion；　〃I　struck　without　knowing　that　it　was　you。　I　am　sorry；　if　you　die；　that　you　should　die　with　sentiments　of　hatred　toward　me。〃
　　Rochefort　extended　his　hand　to　D'Artagnan；　who　took　it。　The　count　wished　to　speak；　but　a　gush　of　blood　stifled　him。　He　stiffened　in　the　last　convulsions　of　death　and　expired。
　　〃Back；　people！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃your　leader　is　dead；　you　have　no　longer　any　business　here。〃
　　Indeed；　as　if　De　Rochefort　had　been　the　very　soul　of　the　attack；　the　crowd　who　had　followed　and　obeyed　him　took　to　flight　on　seeing　him　fall。　D'Artagnan　charged；　with　a　party　of　musketeers；　up　the　Rue　du　Coq；　and　the　portion　of　the　mob　he　assailed　disappeared　like　smoke；　dispersing　near　the　Place　Saint　Germain…l'Auxerrois　and　taking　the　direction　of　the　quays。
　　D'Artagnan　returned　to　help　Porthos；　if　Porthos　needed　help；　but　Porthos；　for　his　part；　had　done　his　work　as　conscientiously　as　D'Artagnan。　The　left　of　the　carriage　was　as　well　cleared　as　the　right；　and　they　drew　up　the　blind　of　the　window　which　Mazarin；　less　heroic　than　the　king；　had　taken　the　precaution　to　lower。
　　Porthos　looked　very　melancholy。
　　〃What　a　devil　of　a　face　you　have；　Porthos！　and　what　a　strange　air　for　a　victor！〃
　　〃But　you；〃　answered　Porthos；　〃seem　to　me　agitated。〃
　　〃There's　a　reason！　Zounds！　I　have　just　killed　an　old　friend。〃
　　〃Indeed！〃　replied　Porthos；　〃who？〃
　　〃That　poor　Count　de　Rochefort。〃
　　〃Well！　exactly　like　me！　I　have　just　killed　a　man　whose　face　is　not　unknown　to　me。　Unluckily；　I　hit　him　on　the　head　and　immediately　his　face　was　covered　with　blood。〃
　　〃And　he　said　nothing　as　he　died？〃
　　〃Yes；　he　exclaimed；　‘Oh！'〃
　　〃I　suppose；〃　answered　D'Artagnan；　laughing；　〃if　he　only　said　that；　it　did　not　enlighten　you　much。〃
　　〃Well；　sir！〃　cried　the　queen。
　　〃Madame；　the　passage　is　quite　clear　and　your　majesty　can　continue　your　road。〃
　　In　fact；　the　procession　arrived；　in　safety　at　Notre　Dame；　at　the　front　gate　of　which　all　the　clergy；　with　the　coadjutor　at　their　head；　awaited　the　king；　the　queen　and　the　minister；　for　whose　happy　return　they　chanted　a　Te　Deum。
　　As　the　service　was　drawing　to　a　close　a　boy　entered　the　church　in　great　excitement；　ran　to　the　sacristy；　dressed　himself　quickly　in　the　choir　robes；　and　cleaving；　thanks　to　that　uniform；　the　crowd　that　filled　the　temple；　approached　Bazin；　who；　clad　in　his　blue　robe；　was　standing　gravely　in　his　place　at　the　entrance　to　the　choir。
　　Bazin　felt　some　one　pulling　his　sleeve。　He　lowered　to　earth　his　eyes；　beatifically　raised　to　Heaven；　and　recognized　Friquet。
　　〃Well；　you　rascal；　what　is　it？　How　do　you　dare　to　disturb　me　in　the　exercise　of　my　functions？〃　asked　the　beadle。
　　〃Monsieur　Bazin；〃　said　Friquet；　〃Monsieur　Maillard　　you　know　who　he　is；　he　gives　holy　water　at　Saint　Eustache　　〃
　　〃Well；　go　on。〃
　　〃Well；　he　received　in　the　scrimmage　a　sword　stroke　on　the　head。　That　great　giant　who　was　there　gave　it　to　him。〃
　　〃In　that　case；〃　said　Bazin；　〃he　must　be　pretty　sick。〃
　　〃So　sick　that　he　is　dying；　and　he　wants　to　confess　to　the　coadjutor；　who；　they　say；　has　power　to　remit　great　sins。〃
　　〃And　does　he　imagine　that　the　coadjutor　will　put　himself　out　for　him？〃
　　〃To　be　sure；　the　coadjutor　has　promised。〃
　　〃Who　told　you　that？〃
　　〃Monsieur　Maillard　himself。〃
　　〃You　have　seen　him；　then？〃
　　〃Certainly；　I　was　there　when　he　fell。〃
　　〃What　were　you　doing　there？〃
　　〃I　was　shouting；　‘Down　with　Mazarin！'　‘Death　to　the　cardinal！'　‘The　Italian　to　the　gallows！'　Isn't　that　what　you　would　have　me　shout？〃
　　〃Be　quiet；　you　rascal！〃　said　Bazin；　looking　uneasily　around。
　　〃So　that　he　told　me；　that　poor　Monsieur　Maillard；　‘Go　find　the　coadjutor；　Friquet；　and　if　you　bring　him　to　me　you　shall　be　my　heir。'　Say；　then；　Father　Bazin　　the　heir　of　Monsieur　Maillard；　the　giver　of　holy　water　at　Saint　Eustache！　Hey！　I　shall　have　nothing　to　do　but　to　fold　my　arms！　All　the　same；　I　should　like　to　do　him　that　service　　what　do　you　say　to　it？〃
　　〃I　will　tell　the　coadjutor；〃　said　Bazin。
　　In　fact；　he　slowly　and　respectfully　approached　the　prelate　and　spoke　to　him　privately　a　few　words；　to　which　the　latter　responded　by　an　affirmative　sign。　He　then　returned　with　the　same　slow　step　and　said：
　　〃Go　and　tell　the　dying　man　that　he　must　be　patient。　Monseigneur　will　be　with　him　in　an　hour。〃
　　〃Good！〃　said　Friquet；　〃my　fortune　is　made。〃
　　〃By　the　way；〃　said　Bazin；　〃where　was　he　carried？〃
　　〃To　the　tower　Saint　Jacques　la　Boucherie；〃　and　delighted　with　the　success　of　his　embassy；　Friquet　started　off　at　the　top　of　his　speed。
　　When　the　Te　Deum　was　over；　the　coadjutor；　without　stopping　to　change　his　priestly　dress；　took　his　way　toward　that　old　tower　which　he　knew　so　well。　He　arrived　in　time。　Though　sinking　from　moment　to　moment；　the　wounded　man　was　not　yet　dead。　The　door　was　opened　to　the　coadjutor　of　the　room　in　which　the　mendicant　was　suffering。
　　A　moment　later　Friquet　went　out；　carrying　in　his　hand　a　large　leather　bag；　he　opened　it　as　soon　as　he　was　outside　the　chamber　and　to　his　great　astonishment　found　it　full　of　gold。　The　mendicant　had　kept　his　word　and　made　Friquet　his　heir。
　　〃Ah！　Mother　Nanette！〃　cried　Friquet；　suffocating；　〃ah！　Mother　Nanette！〃
　　He　could　say　no　more；　but　though　he　hadn't　strength　to　speak　he　had　enough　for　action。　He　rushed　headlong　to　the　street；　and　like　the　Greek　from　Marathon　who　fell　in　the　square　at　Athens；　with　his　laurel　in　his　hand；　Friquet　reached　Councillor　Broussel's　threshold；　and　then　fell　exhausted；　scattering　on　the　floor　the　louis　disgorged　by　his　leather　bag。
　　Mother　Nanette　began　by　picking　up　the　louis；　then　she　picked　up　Friquet。
　　In　the　meantime　the　cortege　returned　to　the　Palais　Royal。
　　〃That　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　is　a　very　brave　man；　mother；〃　said　the　young　king。
　　〃Yes；　my　son；　and　he　rendered　very　important　services　to　your　father。　Treat　him　kindly；　therefore；　in　the　future。〃
　　〃Captain；〃　said　the　young　king　to　D'Artagnan；　on　descending　from　the　carriage；　〃the　queen　has　charged　me　to　invite　you　to　dinner　to…day　　you　and　your　friend　the　Baron　du　Vallon。〃
　　That　was　a　great　honor　for　D'Artagnan　and　for　Porthos。　Porthos　was　delighted；　and　yet　during　the　entire　repast　he　seemed　to　be　preoccupied。
　　〃What　was　the　matter　with　you；　baron？〃　D'Artagnan　said　to　him　as　they　descended　the　staircase　of　the　Palais　Royal。　〃You　seemed　at　dinner　to　be　anxious　about　something。〃
　　〃I　was　trying；〃　said　Porthos；　〃to　recall　where　I　had　seen　that　mendicant　whom　I　must　have　killed。〃
　　〃And　you　couldn't　remember？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Well；　search；　my　friend；　search；　and　when　you　have　found；　you　will　tell　me；　will　you　not？〃
　　〃Pardieu！〃　said　Porthos。
　　Conclusion
　　On　going　home；　the　two　friends　found　a　letter　from　Athos；　who　desired　them　to　meet　him　at　the　Grand　Charlemagne　on　the　following　day。
　　The　friends　went　to　bed　early；　but　neither　of　them　slept。　When　we　arrive　at　the　summit　of　our　wishes；　success　has　usually　the　power　to　drive　away　sleep　on　the　first　night　after　the　fulfilment　of　long　cherished　hopes。
　　The　next　day　at　the　appointed　hour　they　went　to　see　Athos　and　found　him　and　Aramis　in　traveling　costume。
　　〃What！〃　cried　Porthos；　〃are　we　all　going　away；　then？　I；　so；　have　made　my　preparations　this　morning。〃
　　〃Oh；　heavens！　yes；〃　said　Aramis。　〃There's　nothing　to　do　in　Paris　now　there's　no　Fronde。　The　Duchess　de　Longueville　has　invited　me　to　pass　a　few　days　in　Normandy；　and　has　deputed　me；　while　her　son　is　being　baptized；　to　go　and　prepare　her　residence　at　Rouen；　after　which；　if　nothing　new　occurs；　I　shall　go　and　bury　myself　in　my　convent　at　Noisy…le…Sec。〃
　　〃And　I；〃　said　Athos；　〃am　returning　to　Bragelonne。　You　know；　dear　D'Artagnan；　I　am　nothing　more　than　a　good　honest　country　gentleman。　Raoul　has　no　fortune　other　than　I　possess；　poor　child！　and　I　must　take　care　of　it　for　him；　since　I　only　lend　him　my　name。〃
　　〃And　Raoul　　what　shall　you　do　with　him？〃
　　〃I　leave　him　with　you；　my　friend。　War　has　broken　out　in　Flanders。　You　shall　take　him　with　you　there。　I　am　afraid　that　remaining　at　Blois　would　be　dangerous　to　his　youthful　mind。　Take　him　and　teach　him　to　be　as　brave　and　loyal　as　you　are　yourself。〃
　　〃Then；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃though　I　shall　not　have　you；　Athos；　at　all　events　I　shall　have　that　dear　fair…haired　head　by　me；　and　though　he's　but　a　boy；　yet；　since　your　soul　lives　again　in　him；　dear　Athos；　I　shall　always　fancy　that　you　are　near　me；　sustaining　and　encouraging　me。〃
　　The　four　friends　embraced　with　tears　in　their　eyes。
　　Then　they　departed；　without　knowing　whether　they　would　ever　see　each　other　again。
　　D'Artagnan　returned　to　the　Rue　Tiquetonne　with　Porthos；　still　possessed　by　the　wish　to　find　out　who　the　man　was　that　he　had　killed。　On　arriving　at　the　Hotel　de　la　Chevrette　they　found　the　baron's　equipage　all　really　and　Musqueton　on　his　saddle。
　　〃e；　D'Artagnan；〃　said　Porthos；　〃bid　adieu　to　your　sword　and　go　with　me　to　Pierrefonds；　to　Bracieux；　or　to　Du　Vallon。　We　will　grow　old　together　and　talk　of　our　panions。〃
　　〃No！〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃deuce　take　it；　the　campaign　is　going　to　begin；　I　wish　to　be　there；　I　expect　to　get　something　by　it。〃
　　〃What　do　you　expect　to　get？〃
　　〃Why；　I　expect　to　be　made　Marechal　of　France！〃
　　〃Ha！　ha！〃　cried　Porthos；　who　was　not　pletely　taken　in　by　D'Artagnan's　Gasconades。
　　〃e　my　brother；　go　with　me；〃　added　D'Artagnan；　〃and　I　will　see　that　you　are　made　a　duke！〃
　　〃No；〃　answered　Porthos；　〃Mous