二十年后-第15章

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nger　that　threatened　my　soul　if　I　should　meet　again　a　panion　so　wicked　as　an　officer　of　musketeers。〃
　　〃Oh；　monsieur！〃　said　Bazin；　clasping　his　hands　supplicatingly。
　　〃e；　no　hypocrisy！　you　know　that　I　don't　like　it。　You　will　do　much　better　to　open　the　window　and　let　down　some　bread；　a　chicken　and　a　bottle　of　wine　to　your　friend　Planchet；　who　has　been　this　last　hour　killing　himself　clapping　his　hands。〃
　　Planchet；　in　fact；　had　bedded　and　fed　his　horses；　and　then　ing　back　under　the　window　had　repeated　two　or　three　times　the　signal　agreed　upon。
　　Bazin　obeyed；　fastened　to　the　end　of　a　cord　the　three　articles　designated　and　let　them　down　to　Planchet；　who　then　went　satisfied　to　his　shed。
　　〃Now　to　supper；〃　said　Aramis。
　　The　two　friends　sat　down　and　Aramis　began　to　cut　up　fowls；　partridges　and　hams　with　admirable　skill。
　　〃The　deuce！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃do　you　live　in　this　way　always？〃
　　〃Yes；　pretty　well。　The　coadjutor　has　given　me　dispensations　from　fasting　on　the　jours　maigres；　on　account　of　my　health；　then　I　have　engaged　as　my　cook　the　cook　who　lived　with　Lafollone　　you　know　the　man　I　mean？　　the　friend　of　the　cardinal；　and　the　famous　epicure　whose　grace　after　dinner　used　to　be；　‘Good　Lord；　do　me　the　favor　to　cause　me　to　digest　what　I　have　eaten。'〃
　　〃Nevertheless　he　died　of　indigestion；　in　spite　of　his　grace；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
　　〃What　can　you　expect？〃　replied　Aramis；　in　a　tone　of　resignation。　〃Every　man　that's　born　must　fulfil　his　destiny。〃
　　〃If　it　be　not　an　indelicate　question；〃　resumed　D'Artagnan；　〃have　you　grown　rich？〃
　　〃Oh；　Heaven！　no。　I　make　about　twelve　thousand　francs　a　year；　without　counting　a　little　benefice　of　a　thousand　crowns　the　prince　gave　me。〃
　　〃And　how　do　you　make　your　twelve　thousand　francs？　By　your　poems？〃
　　〃No；　I　have　given　up　poetry；　except　now　and　then　to　write　a　drinking　song；　some　gay　sonnet　or　some　innocent　epigram；　I　pose　sermons；　my　friend。〃
　　〃What！　sermons？　Do　you　preach　them？〃
　　〃No；　I　sell　them　to　those　of　my　cloth　who　wish　to　bee　great　orators。〃
　　〃Ah；　indeed！　and　you　have　not　been　tempted　by　the　hopes　of　reputation　yourself？〃
　　〃I　should；　my　dear　D'Artagnan；　have　been　so；　but　nature　said
　　‘No。'　When　I　am　in　the　pulpit；　if　by　chance　a　pretty　woman　looks　at　me；　I　look　at　her　again：　if　she　smiles；　I　smile　too。　Then　I　speak　at　random；　instead　of　preaching　about　the　torments　of　hell　I　talk　of　the　joys　of　Paradise。　An　event　took　place　in　the　Church　of　St。　Louis　au　Marais。　A　gentleman　laughed　in　my　face。　I　stopped　short　to　tell　him　that　he　was　a　fool；　the　congregation　went　out　to　get　stones　to　stone　me　with；　but　whilst　they　were　away　I　found　means　to　conciliate　the　priests　who　were　present；　so　that　my　foe　was　pelted　instead　of　me。　'Tis　true　that　he　came　the　next　morning　to　my　house；　thinking　that　he　had　to　do　with　an　abbe　　like　all　other　abbes。〃
　　〃And　what　was　the　end　of　the　affair？〃
　　〃We　met　in　the　Place　Royale　　Egad！　you　know　about　it。〃
　　〃Was　I　not　your　second？〃　cried　D'Artagnan。
　　〃You　were；　you　know　how　I　settled　the　matter。〃
　　〃Did　he　die？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　But；　at　all　events；　I　gave　him　absolution　in　articulo　mortis。　'Tis　enough　to　kill　the　body；　without　killing　the　soul。〃
　　Bazin　made　a　despairing　sign　which　meant　that　while　perhaps　he　approved　the　moral　he　altogether　disapproved　the　tone　in　which　it　was　uttered。
　　〃Bazin；　my　friend；〃　said　Aramis；　〃you　don't　seem　to　be　aware　that　I　can　see　you　in　that　mirror；　and　you　forget　that　once　for　all　I　have　forbidden　all　signs　of　approbation　or　disapprobation。　You　will　do　me　the　favor　to　bring　us　some　Spanish　wine　and　then　to　withdraw。　Besides；　my　friend　D'Artagnan　has　something　to　say　to　me　privately；　have　you　not；　D'Artagnan？〃
　　D'Artagnan　nodded　his　head　and　Bazin　retired；　after　placing　on　the　table　the　Spanish　wine。
　　The　two　friends；　left　alone；　remained　silent；　face　to　face。　Aramis　seemed　to　await　a　fortable　digestion；　D'Artagnan；　to　be　preparing　his　exordium。　Each　of　them；　when　the　other　was　not　looking；　hazarded　a　sly　glance。　It　was　Aramis　who　broke　the　silence。
　　〃What　are　you　thinking　of；　D'Artagnan？〃　he　began。
　　〃I　was　thinking；　my　dear　old　friend；　that　when　you　were　a　musketeer　you　turned　your　thoughts　incessantly　to　the　church；　and　now　that　you　are　an　abbe　you　are　perpetually　longing　to　be　once　more　a　musketeer。〃
　　〃'Tis　true；　man；　as　you　know；〃　said　Aramis；　〃is　a　strange　animal；　made　up　of　contradictions。　Since　I　became　an　abbe　I　dream　of　nothing　but　battles。〃
　　〃That　is　apparent　in　your　surroundings；　you　have　rapiers　here　of　every　form　and　to　suit　the　most　exacting　taste。　Do　you　still　fence　well？〃
　　〃I　　I　fence　as　well　as　you　did　in　the　old　time　　better　still；　perhaps；　I　do　nothing　else　all　day。〃
　　〃And　with　whom？〃
　　〃With　an　excellent　master…at…arms　that　we　have　here。〃
　　〃What！　here？〃
　　Yes；　here；　in　this　convent；　my　dear　fellow。　There　is　everything　in　a　Jesuit　convent。〃
　　〃Then　you　would　have　killed　Monsieur　de　Marsillac　if　he　had　e　alone　to　attack　you；　instead　of　at　the　head　of　twenty　men？〃
　　〃Undoubtedly；〃　said　Aramis；　〃and　even　at　the　head　of　his　twenty　men；　if　I　could　have　drawn　without　being　recognized。〃
　　〃God　pardon　me！〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　himself；　〃I　believe　he　has　bee　more　Gascon　than　I　am！〃　Then　aloud：　〃Well；　my　dear　Aramis；　do　you　ask　me　why　I　came　to　seek　you？〃
　　〃No；　I　have　not　asked　you　that；〃　said　Aramis；　with　his　subtle　manner；　〃but　I　have　expected　you　to　tell　me。〃
　　〃Well；　I　sought　you　for　the　single　purpose　of　offering　you　a　chance　to　kill　Monsieur　de　Marsillac　whenever　you　please；　prince　though　he　is。〃
　　〃Hold　on！　wait！〃　said　Aramis；　〃that　is　an　idea！〃
　　〃Of　which　I　invite　you　to　take　advantage；　my　friend。　Let　us　see；　with　your　thousand　crowns　from　the　abbey　and　the　twelve　thousand　francs　you　make　by　selling　sermons；　are　you　rich？　Answer　frankly。〃
　　〃I？　I　am　as　poor　as　Job；　and　were　you　to　search　my　pockets　and　my　boxes　I　don't　believe　you　would　find　a　hundred　pistoles。〃
　　〃Peste！　a　hundred　pistoles！〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　himself；　〃he　calls　that　being　as　poor　as　Job！　If　I　had　them　I　should　think　myself　as　rich　as　Croesus。〃　Then　aloud：　〃Are　you　ambitious？〃
　　〃As　Enceladus。〃
　　〃Well；　my　friend；　I　bring　you　the　means　of　being　rich；　powerful；　and　free　to　do　whatever　you　wish。〃
　　The　shadow　of　a　cloud　passed　over　Aramis's　face　as　quickly　as　that　which　in　August　passes　over　the　field　of　grain；　but　quick　as　it　was；　it　did　not　escape　D'Artagnan's　observation。
　　〃Speak　on；〃　said　Aramis。
　　〃One　question　first。　Do　you　take　any　interest　in　politics？〃
　　A　gleam　of　light　shone　in　Aramis's　eyes；　as　brief　as　the　shadow　that　had　passed　over　his　face；　but　not　so　brief　but　that　it　was　seen　by　D'Artagnan。
　　〃No；〃　Aramis　replied。
　　〃Then　proposals　from　any　quarter　will　be　agreeable　to　you；　since　for　the　moment　you　have　no　master　but　God？〃
　　〃It　is　possible。〃
　　〃Have　you；　my　dear　Aramis；　thought　sometimes　of　those　happy；　happy；　happy　days　of　youth　we　passed　laughing；　drinking；　and　fighting　each　other　for　play？〃
　　〃Certainly；　and　more　than　once　regretted　them；　it　was　indeed　a　glorious　time。〃
　　〃Well；　those　splendidly　wild　days　may　chance　to　e　again；　I　am　missioned　to　find　out　my　panions　and　I　began　by　you；　who　were　the　very　soul　of　our　society。〃
　　Aramis　bowed；　rather　with　respect　than　pleasure　at　the　pliment。
　　〃To　meddle　in　politics；〃　he　exclaimed；　in　a　languid　voice；　leaning　back　in　his　easy…chair。　〃Ah！　dear　D'Artagnan！　see　how　regularly　I　live　and　how　easy　I　am　here。　We　have　experienced　the　ingratitude　of　‘the　great；'　as　you　well　know。〃
　　〃'Tis　true；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。　〃Yet　the　great　sometimes　repent　of　their　ingratitude。〃
　　〃In　that　case　it　would　be　quite　another　thing。　e！　let's　be　merciful　to　every　sinner！　Besides；　you　are　right　in　another　respect；　which　is　in　thinking　that　if　we　were　to　meddle　in　politics　there　could　not　be　a　better　time　than　the　present。〃
　　〃How　can　you　know　that？　You　who　never　interest　yourself　in　politics？〃
　　〃Ah！　without　caring　about　them　myself；　I　live　among　those　who　are　much　occupied　in　them。　Poet　as　I　am；　I　am　intimate　with　Sarazin；　who　is　devoted　to　the　Prince　de　Conti；　and　with　Monsieur　de　Bois…Robert；　who；　since　the　death　of　Cardinal　Richelieu；　is　of　all　parties　or　any　party；　so　that　political　discussions　have　not　altogether　been　uninteresting　to　me。〃
　　〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
　　〃Now；　my　dear　friend；　look　upon　all　I　tell　you　as　merely　the　statement　of　a　monk　　of　a　man　who　resembles　an　echo　　repeating　simply　what　he　hears。　I　understand　that　Mazarin　is　at　this　very　moment　extremely　uneasy　as　to　the　state　of　affairs；　that　his　orders　are　not　respected　like　those　of　our　former　bugbear；　the　deceased　cardinal；　whose　portrait　as　you　see　hangs　yonder　　for　whatever　may　be　thought　of　him；　it　must　be　allowed　that　Richelieu　was　great。〃
　　〃I　will　not　contradict　you　there；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
　　〃My　first　impressions　were　favorable　to　the　minister；　I　said　to　myself　that　a　minister　is　never　loved；　but　that　with　the　genius　this　one　was　said　to　have　he　would　eventually　triumph　over　his　enemies　and　would　make　himself　feared；　which　in　my　opinion　is　much　more　to　be　desired　than　to　be　loved　　〃
　　D'Artagnan　made　a　sign　with　his　head　which　indicated　that　he　entirely　approved　that　doubtful　maxim。
　　〃This；　then；〃　continued　Aramis；　〃was　my　first　opinion；　but　as　I　am　very　ignorant　in　matters　of　this　kind　and　as　the　humility　which　I　profess　obliges　me　not　to　rest　on　my　own　judgment；　but　to　ask　the　opinion　of　others；　I　have　inquired　　Eh！　　my　friend　　〃
　　Aramis　paused。
　　〃Well？　what？〃　asked　his　friend。
　　〃Well；　I　must　mortify　myself。　I　must　confess　that　I　was　mistaken。　Monsieur　de　Mazarin　is　not　a　man　of　genius；　as　I　thought；　he　is　a　man　of　no　origin　　once　a　servant　of　Cardinal　Bentivoglio；　and　he　got　on　by　intrigue。　He　is　an　upstart；　a　man　of　no　name；　who　will　only　be　the　tool　of　a　party　in　France。　He　will　amass　wealth；　he　will　injure　the　king's　revenue　and　pay　to　himself　the　pensions　which　Richelieu　paid　to　others。　He　is　neither　a　gentleman　in　manner　nor　in　feeling；　but　a　sort　of　buffoon；　a　punchinello；　a　pantaloon。　Do　you　know　him？　I　do　not。〃
　　〃Hem！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃there　is　some　truth　in　what　you　say。〃
　　〃Ah！　it　fills　me　with　pride　to　find　that；　thanks　to　a　mon　sort　of　penetration　with　which　I　am　endowed；　I　am　approved　by　a　man　like　you；　fresh　from　the　court。〃
　　〃But　you　speak　of　him；　not　of　his　party；　his　resources。〃
　　〃It　is　true　　the　queen　is　for　him。〃
　　〃Something　in　his　favor。〃
　　〃But　he　will　never　have　the　king。〃
　　〃A　mere　child。〃
　　〃A　child　who　will　be　of　age　in　four　years。　Then　he　has　neither　the　parliament　nor　the　people　with　him　　they　represent　the　wealth　of　the　country；　nor　the　nobles　nor　the　princes；　who　are　the　military　power　of　France。〃
　　D'Artagnan　scratched　his　ear。　He　was　forced　to　confess　to　himself　that　this　reasoning　was　not　only　prehensive；　but　just。
　　〃You　see；　my　poor　friend；　that　I　am　sometimes　bereft　of　my　ordinary　thoughtfulness；　perhaps　I　am　wrong　in　speaking　thus　to　you；　who　have　evidently　a　leaning　to　Mazarin。〃
　　〃I！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃not　in　the　least。〃
　　〃You　spoke　of　a　mission。〃
　　〃Did　I？　I　was　wrong　then；　no；　I　said　what　you　say　　there　is