二十年后-第84章
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to replace him on the throne that Cromwell has paid for him two hundred thousand pounds sterling？ They will kill him； you may be sure of it。〃
〃I don't maintain the contrary；〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃But what's that to us？ I am here because I am a soldier and have to obey orders I have taken an oath to obey； and I do obey； but you who have taken no such oath； why are you here and what cause do you represent？〃
〃That most sacred in the world；〃 said Athos； 〃the cause of misfortune； of religion； royalty。 A friend； a wife； a daughter； have done us the honor to call us to their aid。 We have served them to the best of our poor means； and God will repense the will； forgive the want of power。 You may see matters differently； D'Artagnan； and think otherwise。 I will not attempt to argue with you； but I blame you。〃
〃Heyday！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃what matters it to me； after all； if Cromwell； who's an Englishman； revolts against his king； who is a Scotchman？ I am myself a Frenchman。 I have nothing to do with these things why hold me responsible？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos。
〃Because all gentlemen are brothers； because you are a gentleman； because the kings of all countries are the first among gentlemen； because the blind populace； ungrateful and brutal； always takes pleasure in pulling down what is above them。 And you； you； D'Artagnan； a man sprung from the ancient nobility of France； bearing an honorable name； carrying a good sword； have helped to give up a king to beersellers； shopkeepers； and wagoners。 Ah！ D'Artagnan！ perhaps you have done your duty as a soldier； but as a gentleman； I say that you are very culpable。〃
D'Artagnan was chewing the stalk of a flower； unable to reply and thoroughly unfortable； for when turned from the eyes of Athos he encountered those of Aramis。
〃And you； Porthos；〃 continued the count； as if in consideration for D'Artagnan's embarrassment； 〃you； the best heart； the best friend； the best soldier that I know you； with a soul that makes you worthy of a birth on the steps of a throne； and who； sooner or later； must receive your reward from an intelligent king you； my dear Porthos； you； a gentleman in manners； in tastes and in courage； you are as culpable as D'Artagnan。〃
Porthos blushed； but with pleasure rather than with confusion； and yet； bowing his head； as if humiliated； he said：
〃Yes； yes； my dear count； I feel that you are right。〃
Athos arose。
〃e；〃 he said； stretching out his hand to D'Artagnan； 〃e； don't be sullen； my dear son； for I have said all this to you； if not in the tone； at least with the feelings of a father。 It would have been easier to me merely to have thanked you for preserving my life and not to have uttered a word of all this。〃
〃Doubtless； doubtless； Athos。 But here it is： you have sentiments； the devil knows what； such as every one can't entertain。 Who could suppose that a sensible man could leave his house； France； his ward a charming youth； for we saw him in the camp to fly to the aid of a rotten； worm…eaten royalty； which is going to crumble one of these days like an old hovel。 The sentiments you air are certainly fine； so fine that they are superhuman。〃
〃However that may be； D'Artagnan；〃 replied Athos； without falling into the snare which his Gascon friend had prepared for him by an appeal to his parental love； 〃however that may be； you know in the bottom of your heart that it is true； but I am wrong to dispute with my master。 D'Artagnan； I am your prisoner treat me as such。〃
〃Ah！ pardieu！〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃you know you will not be my prisoner very long。〃
〃No；〃 said Aramis； 〃they will doubtless treat us like the prisoners of the Philipghauts。〃
〃And how were they treated？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃Why；〃 said Aramis； 〃one…half were hanged and the other half were shot。〃
〃Well； I；〃 said D'Artagnan 〃I answer that while there remains a drop of blood in my veins you will be neither hanged nor shot。 Sang Diou！ let them e on！ Besides do you see that door； Athos？〃
〃Yes； what then？〃
〃Well； you can go out by that door whenever you please； for from this moment you are free as the air。〃
〃I recognize you there； my brave D'Artagnan；〃 replied Athos； 〃but you are no longer our masters。 That door is guarded； D'Artagnan； you know that。〃
〃Very well； you will force it；〃 said Porthos。 〃There are only a dozen men at the most。〃
〃That would be nothing for us four； it is too much for us two。 No； divided as we now are； we must perish。 See the fatal example： on the Vendomois road； D'Artagnan； you so brave； and you； Porthos； so valiant and so strong you were beaten； to…day Aramis and I are beaten in our turn。 Now that never happened to us when we were four together。 Let us die； then； as De Winter has died； as for me； I will fly only on condition that we all fly together。〃
〃Impossible；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃we are under Mazarin's orders。〃
〃I know it and I have nothing more to say； my arguments lead to nothing； doubtless they are bad； since they have not determined minds so just as yours。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Aramis； 〃had they taken effect it would be still better not to promise two excellent friends like D'Artagnan and Porthos。 Be assured； gentlemen； we shall do you honor in our dying。 As for myself； I shall be proud to face the bullets； or even the rope； in pany with you； Athos； for you have never seemed to me so grand as you are to…day。〃
D'Artagnan said nothing； but； after having gnawed the flower stalk； he began to bite his nails。 At last：
〃Do you imagine；〃 he resumed； 〃that they mean to kill you？ And wherefore should they do so？ What interest have they in your death？ Moreover； you are our prisoners。〃
〃Fool！〃 cried Aramis； 〃knowest thou not； then； Mordaunt？ I have but exchanged with him one look； yet that look convinced me that we were doomed。〃
〃The truth is； I'm very sorry that I did not strangle him as you advised me；〃 said Porthos。
〃Eh！ I make no account of the harm Mordaunt can do！〃 cried D'Artagnan。 〃Cap de Diou！ if he troubles me too much I will crush him； the insect！ Do not fly； then。 It is useless； for I swear to you that you are as safe here as you were twenty years； ago you； Athos； in the Rue Ferou； and you； Aramis； in the Rue de Vaugirard。〃
〃Stop；〃 cried Athos； extending his hand to one of the grated windows by which the room was lighted； 〃you will soon know what to expect； for here he is。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Mordaunt。〃
In fact； looking at the place to which Athos pointed； D'Artagnan saw a cavalier ing toward the house at full gallop。
It was Mordaunt。
D'Artagnan rushed out of the room。
Porthos wanted to follow him。
〃Stay；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃and do not e till you hear me drum my fingers on the door。〃
When Mordaunt arrived opposite the house he saw D'Artagnan on the threshold and the soldiers lying on the grass here and there； with their arms。
〃Halloo！〃 he cried； 〃are the prisoners still there？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the sergeant； uncovering。
〃'Tis well； order four men to conduct them to my lodging。〃
Four men prepared to do so。
〃What is it？〃 said D'Artagnan； with that jeering manner which our readers have so often observed in him since they made his acquaintance。 〃What is the matter； if you please？〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Mordaunt； 〃I have ordered the two prisoners we made this morning to be conducted to my lodging。〃
〃Wherefore； sir？ Excuse curiosity； but I wish to be enlightened on the subject。〃
〃Because these prisoners； sir； are at my disposal and I choose to dispose of them as I like。〃
〃Allow me allow me； sir；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃to observe you are in error。 The prisoners belong to those who take them and not to those who only saw them taken。 You might have taken Lord Winter who； 'tis said； was your uncle prisoner； but you preferred killing him； 'tis well； we； that is； Monsieur du Vallon and I； could have killed our prisoners we preferred taking them。〃
Mordaunt's very lips grew white with rage。
D'Artagnan now saw that affairs were growing worse and he beat the guard's march upon the door。 At the first beat Porthos rushed out and stood on the other side of the door。
This movement was observed by Mordaunt。
〃Sir！〃 he thus addressed D'Artagnan； 〃your resistance is useless； these prisoners have just been given me by my illustrious patron； Oliver Cromwell。〃
These words struck D'Artagnan like a thunderbolt。 The blood mounted to his temples； his eyes became dim； he saw from what fountainhead the ferocious hopes of the young man arose； and he put his hand to the hilt of his sword。
As for Porthos； he looked inquiringly at D'Artagnan。
This look of Porthos's made the Gascon regret that he had summoned the brute force of his friend to aid him in an affair which seemed to require chiefly cunning。
〃Violence；〃 he said to himself； 〃would spoil all； D'Artagnan； my friend； prove to this young serpent that thou art not only stronger； but more subtle than he is。〃
〃Ah！〃 he said； making a low bow； 〃why did you not begin by saying that； Monsieur Mordaunt？ What！ are you sent by General Oliver Cromwell； the most illustrious captain of the age？〃
〃I have this instant left him；〃 replied Mordaunt； alighting； in order to give his horse to a soldier to hold。
〃Why did you not say so at once； my dear sir！ all England is with Cromwell； and since you ask for my prisoners； I bend； sir； to your wishes。 They are yours； take them。〃
Mordaunt； delighted； advanced； Porthos looking at D'Artagnan with open…mouthed astonishment。 Then D'Artagnan trod on his foot and Porthos began to understand that this was merely acting。
Mordaunt put his foot on the first step of the door and； with his hat in hand； prepared to pass by the two friends； motioning to the four men to follow him。
〃But； pardon；〃 said D'Artagnan； with the most charming smile and putting his hand on the young man's shoulder； 〃if the illustrious General Oliver Cromwell has disposed of our prisoners in your favour； he has； of course； made that act of donation in writing。〃
Mordaunt stopped short。
〃He has given you some little writing for me the least bit of paper which may show that you e in his name。 Be pleased to give me that scrap of paper so that I may justify； by a pretext at least； my abandoning my countrymen。 Otherwise； you see； although I am sure that General Oliver Cromwell can intend them no harm； it would have a bad appearance。〃
Mordaunt recoiled； he felt the blow and discharged a terrible look at D'Artagnan； who responded by the most amiable expression that ever graced a human countenance。
〃When I tell you a thing； sir；〃 said Mordaunt； 〃you insult me by doubting it。〃
〃I！〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃I doubt what you say！〃 God keep me from it； my dear Monsieur Mordaunt！ On the contrary； I take you to be a worthy and acplished gentleman。 And then； sir； do you wish me to speak freely to you？〃 continued D'Artagnan； with his frank expression。
〃Speak out； sir；〃 said Mordaunt。
〃Monsieur du Vallon； yonder； is rich and has forty thousand francs yearly； so he does not care about money。 I do not speak for him； but for myself。〃
〃Well； sir？ What more？〃
〃Well I I'm not rich。 In Gascony 'tis no dis
