二十年后-第42章

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　　〃I　swear；〃　he　said；　with　a　calm　brow　and　kindly　glance；　but　in　a　voice　still　trembling　with　recent　emotion；　〃I　swear　that　I　no　longer　bear　animosity　to　those　who　were　once　my　friends。　I　regret　that　I　ever　crossed　swords　with　you；　Porthos；　I　swear　not　only　that　it　shall　never　again　be　pointed　at　your　breast；　but　that　in　the　bottom　of　my　heart　there　will　never　in　future　be　the　slightest　hostile　sentiment；　now；　Athos；　e。〃
　　Athos　was　about　to　retire。
　　〃Oh！　no！　no！　do　not　go　away！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan；　impelled　by　one　of　those　irresistible　impulses　which　showed　the　nobility　of　his　nature；　the　native　brightness　of　his　character；　〃I　swear　that　I　would　give　the　last　drop　of　my　blood　and　the　last　fragment　of　my　limbs　to　preserve　the　friendship　of　such　a　friend　as　you；　Athos　　of　such　a　man　as　you；　Aramis。〃　And　he　threw　himself　into　the　arms　of　Athos。
　　〃My　son！〃　exclaimed　Athos；　pressing　him　in　his　arms。
　　〃And　as　for　me；〃　said　Porthos；　〃I　swear　nothing；　but　I'm　choked。　Forsooth！　If　I　were　obliged　to　fight　against　you；　I　think　I　should　allow　myself　to　be　pierced　through　and　through；　for　I　never　loved　any　one　but　you　in　the　wide　world；〃　and　honest　Porthos　burst　into　tears　as　he　embraced　Athos。
　　〃My　friends；〃　said　Athos；　〃this　is　what　I　expected　from　such　hearts　as　yours。　Yes；　I　have　said　it　and　I　now　repeat　it：　our　destinies　are　irrevocably　united；　although　we　now　pursue　divergent　roads。　I　respect　your　convictions；　and　whilst　we　fight　for　opposite　sides；　let　us　remain　friends。　Ministers；　princes；　kings；　will　pass　away　like　mountain　torrents；　civil　war；　like　a　forest　flame；　but　we　　we　shall　remain；　I　have　a　presentiment　that　we　shall。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃let　us　still　be　musketeers；　and　let　us　retain　as　our　battle…standard　that　famous　napkin　of　the　bastion　St。　Gervais；　on　which　the　great　cardinal　had　three　fleurs…de…lis　embroidered。〃
　　〃Be　it　so；〃　cried　Aramis。　〃Cardinalists　or　Frondeurs；　what　matters　it？　Let　us　meet　again　as　capital　seconds　in　a　duel；　devoted　friends　in　business；　merry　panions　in　our　ancient　pleasures。〃
　　〃And　whenever；〃　added　Athos；　〃we　meet　in　battle；　at　this　word；　‘Place　Royale！'　let　us　put　our　swords　into　our　left　hands　and　shake　hands　with　the　right；　even　in　the　very　lust　and　music　of　the　hottest　carnage。〃
　　〃You　speak　charmingly；〃　said　Porthos。
　　〃And　are　the　first　of　men！〃　added　D'Artagnan。　〃You　excel　us　all。〃
　　Athos　smiled　with　ineffable　pleasure。
　　〃'Tis　then　all　settled。　Gentlemen；　your　hands；　are　we　not　pretty　good　Christians？〃
　　〃Egad！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃by　Heaven！　yes。〃
　　〃We　should　be　so　on　this　occasion；　if　only　to　be　faithful　to　our　oath；〃　said　Aramis。
　　〃Ah；　I'm　ready　to　do　what　you　will；〃　cried　Porthos；　〃even　to　swear　by　Mahomet。　Devil　take　me　if　I've　ever　been　so　happy　as　at　this　moment。〃
　　And　he　wiped　his　eyes；　still　moist。
　　〃Has　not　one　of　you　a　cross？〃　asked　Athos。
　　Aramis　smiled　and　drew　from　his　vest　a　cross　of　diamonds；　which　was　hung　around　his　neck　by　a　chain　of　pearls。　〃Here　is　one；〃　he　said。
　　〃Well；〃　resumed　Athos；　〃swear　on　this　cross；　which；　in　spite　of　its　magnificent　material；　is　still　a　cross；　swear　to　be　united　in　spite　of　everything；　and　forever；　and　may　this　oath　bind　us　to　each　other；　and　even；　also；　our　descendants！　Does　this　oath　satisfy　you？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　they　all；　with　one　accord。
　　〃Ah；　traitor！〃　muttered　D'Artagnan；　leaning　toward　Aramis　and　whispering　in　his　ear；　〃you　have　made　us　swear　on　the　crucifix　of　a　Frondeuse。〃
　　The　Ferry　across　the　Oise
　　We　hope　that　the　reader　has　not　quite　forgotten　the　young　traveler　whom　we　left　on　the　road　to　Flanders。
　　In　losing　sight　of　his　guardian；　whom　he　had　quitted；　gazing　after　him　in　front　of　the　royal　basilican；　Raoul　spurred　on　his　horse；　in　order　not　only　to　escape　from　his　own　melancholy　reflections；　but　also　to　hide　from　Olivain　the　emotion　his　face　might　betray。
　　One　hour's　rapid　progress；　however；　sufficed　to　disperse　the　gloomy　fancies　that　had　clouded　the　young　man's　bright　anticipations；　and　the　hitherto　unfelt　pleasure　of　freedom　　a　pleasure　which　is　sweet　even　to　those　who　have　never　known　dependence　　seemed　to　Raoul　to　gild　not　only　Heaven　and　earth；　but　especially　that　blue　but　dim　horizon　of　life　we　call　the　future。
　　Nevertheless；　after　several　attempts　at　conversation　with　Olivain　he　foresaw　that　many　days　passed　thus　would　prove　exceedingly　dull；　and　the　count's　agreeable　voice；　his　gentle　and　persuasive　eloquence；　recurred　to　his　mind　at　the　various　towns　through　which　they　journeyed　and　about　which　he　had　no　longer　any　one　to　give　him　those　interesting　details　which　he　would　have　drawn　from　Athos；　the　most　amusing　and　the　best　informed　of　guides。　Another　recollection　contributed　also　to　sadden　Raoul：　on　their　arrival　at　Sonores　he　had　perceived；　hidden　behind　a　screen　of　poplars；　a　little　chateau　which　so　vividly　recalled　that　of　La　Valliere　to　his　mind　that　he　halted　for　nearly　ten　minutes　to　gaze　at　it；　and　resumed　his　journey　with　a　sigh　too　abstracted　even　to　reply　to　Olivain's　respectful　inquiry　about　the　cause　of　so　much　fixed　attention。　The　aspect　of　external　objects　is　often　a　mysterious　guide　municating　with　the　fibres　of　memory；　which　in　spite　of　us　will　arouse　them　at　times；　this　thread；　like　that　of　Ariadne；　when　once　unraveled　will　conduct　one　through　a　labyrinth　of　thought；　in　which　one　loses　one's　self　in　endeavoring　to　follow　that　phantom　of　the　past　which　is　called　recollection。
　　Now　the　sight　of　this　chateau　had　taken　Raoul　back　fifty　leagues　westward　and　had　caused　him　to　review　his　life　from　the　moment　when　he　had　taken　leave　of　little　Louise　to　that　in　which　he　had　seen　her　for　the　first　time；　and　every　branch　of　oak；　every　gilded　weathercock　on　roof　of　slates；　reminded　him　that；　instead　of　returning　to　the　friends　of　his　childhood；　every　instant　estranged　him　further　and　that　perhaps　he　had　even　left　them　forever。
　　With　a　full　heart　and　burning　head　he　desired　Olivain　to　lead　on　the　horses　to　a　wayside　inn；　which　he　observed　within　gunshot　range；　a　little　in　advance　of　the　place　they　had　reached。
　　As　for　himself；　he　dismounted　and　remained　under　a　beautiful　group　of　chestnuts　in　flower；　amidst　which　were　murmuring　a　multitude　of　happy　bees；　and　bade　Olivain　send　the　host　to　him　with　writing　paper　and　ink；　to　be　placed　on　a　table　which　he　found　there；　conveniently　ready。　Olivain　obeyed　and　continued　on　his　way；　whilst　Raoul　remained　sitting；　with　his　elbow　leaning　on　the　table；　from　time　to　time　gently　shaking　the　flowers　from　his　head；　which　fell　upon　him　like　snow；　and　gazing　vaguely　on　the　charming　landscape　spread　out　before　him；　dotted　over　with　green　fields　and　groups　of　trees。　Raoul　had　been　there　about　ten　minutes；　during　five　of　which　he　was　lost　in　reverie；　when　there　appeared　within　the　circle　prised　in　his　rolling　gaze　a　man　with　a　rubicund　face；　who；　with　a　napkin　around　his　body；　another　under　his　arm；　and　a　white　cap　upon　his　head；　approached　him；　holding　paper；　pen　and　ink　in　hand。
　　〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　the　apparition；　〃every　gentleman　seems　to　have　the　same　fancy；　for　not　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago　a　young　lad；　well　mounted　like　you；　as　tall　as　you　and　of　about　your　age；　halted　before　this　clump　of　trees　and　had　this　table　and　this　chair　brought　here；　and　dined　here；　with　an　old　gentleman　who　seemed　to　be　his　tutor；　upon　a　pie；　of　which　they　haven't　left　a　mouthful；　and　two　bottles　of　Macon　wine；　of　which　they　haven't　left　a　drop；　but　fortunately　we　have　still　some　of　the　same　wine　and　some　of　the　same　pies　left；　and　if　your　worship　will　but　give　your　orders　　〃
　　〃No；　friend　〃　replied　Raoul；　smiling；　〃I　am　obliged　to　you；　but　at　this　moment　I　want　nothing　but　the　things　for　which　I　have　asked　　only　I　shall　be　very　glad　if　the　ink　prove　black　and　the　pen　good；　upon　these　conditions　I　will　pay　for　the　pen　the　price　of　the　bottle；　and　for　the　ink　the　price　of　the　pie。〃
　　〃Very　well；　sir；〃　said　the　host；　〃I'll　give　the　pie　and　the　bottle　of　wine　to　your　servant；　and　in　this　way　you　will　have　the　pen　and　ink　into　the　bargain。〃
　　〃Do　as　you　like；〃　said　Raoul；　who　was　beginning　his　apprenticeship　with　that　particular　class　of　society；　who；　when　there　were　robbers　on　the　highroads；　were　connected　with　them；　and　who；　since　highwaymen　no　longer　exist；　have　advantageously　and　aptly　filled　their　vacant　place。
　　The　host；　his　mind　at　ease　about　his　bill；　placed　pen；　ink　and　paper　upon　the　table。　By　a　lucky　chance　the　pen　was　tolerably　good　and　Raoul　began　to　write。　The　host　remained　standing　in　front　of　him；　looking　with　a　kind　of　involuntary　admiration　at　his　handsome　face；　bining　both　gravity　and　sweetness　of　expression。　Beauty　has　always　been　and　always　will　be　all…powerful。
　　〃He's　not　a　guest　like　the　other　one　here　just　now；〃　observed　mine　host　to　Olivain；　who　had　rejoined　his　master　to　see　if　he　wanted　anything；　〃and　your　young　master　has　no　appetite。〃
　　〃My　master　had　appetite　enough　three　days　ago；　but　what　can　one　do？　he　lost　it　the　day　before　yesterday。〃
　　And　Olivain　and　the　host　took　their　way　together　toward　the　inn；　Olivain；　according　to　the　custom　of　serving…men　well　pleased　with　their　place；　relating　to　the　tavern…keeper　all　that　he　could　say　in　favor　of　the　young　gentleman；　whilst　Raoul　wrote　on　thus：
　　〃Sir；　　After　a　four　hours'　march　I　stop　to　write　to　you；　for　I　miss　you　every　moment；　and　I　am　always　on　the　point　of　turning　my　head　as　if　to　reply　when　you　speak　to　me。　I　was　so　bewildered　by　your　departure　and　so　overe　with　grief　at　our　separation；　that　I　am　sure　I　was　able　to　but　very　feebly　express　all　the　affection　and　gratitude　I　feel　toward　you。　You　will　forgive　me；　sir；　for　your　heart　is　of　such　a　generous　nature　that　you　can　well　understand　all　that　has　passed　in　mine。　I　entreat　you　to　write　to　me；　for　you　form　a　part　of　my　existence；　and；　if　I　may　venture　to　tell　you　so；　I　also　feel　anxious。　It　seemed　to　me　as　if　you　were　yourself　preparing　for　some　dangerous　undertaking；　about　which　I　did　not　dare　to　question　you；　since　you　told　me　nothing。　I　have；　therefore；　as　you　see；　great　need　of　hearing　from　you。　Now　that　you　are　no　longer　beside　me　I　am　afraid　every　moment　of　erring。　You　sustained　me　powerfully；　sir；　and　I　protest　to　you　that　to…day　I　feel　very　lonely。　Will　you　have　the　goodness；　sir；　should　you　receive　news　from　Blois；　to　send　me　a　few　lines　about　my　little　friend　Mademoiselle　de　la　Valliere；　about　whose　health；　when　we　left；　so　much　anxiety　was　felt？　You　can　understand；　honored　and　dear　guardian；　how　precious　and　indispensable　to　me　is　the　remembrance　of　the　years　that　I　have　passed　with　you。　I　hope　that　you　will　sometimes；　too；　think　of　me；　and　if　at　certain　hours　you　should　miss　me；　if　you　should　feel　any　slight　regret　at　my　absence；　I　shall　be　overwhelmed　with　joy　at　the　thought　that　you　appreciate　my　affection　for　and　my　devotion　to　yourself；　and　that　I　have　been　able　to　prove　them　to　you　whilst　I　had　the　happiness　of　diving　with　you。〃
　　After　finishing　this　letter　Raoul　felt　more　posed；　he　looked　well　around　him　to　see　if　Olivain　and　the　host　might　not　be　watching　him；　whilst　he　impressed　a　kiss　upon　the　paper；　a　mute　and　touching　caress；　which　the　heart　of　Athos　might　well　divine　on　opening　the　letter。
　　During　this　time　Oliv