二十年后-第85章

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m；　but　for　myself。〃
　　〃Well；　sir？　What　more？〃
　　〃Well　　I　　I'm　not　rich。　In　Gascony　'tis　no　dishonor；　sir；　nobody　is　rich；　and　Henry　IV。；　of　glorious　memory；　who　was　the　king　of　the　Gascons；　as　His　Majesty　Philip　IV。　is　the　king　of　the　Spaniards；　never　had　a　penny　in　his　pocket。〃
　　〃Go　on；　sir；　I　see　what　you　wish　to　get　at；　and　if　it　is　simply　what　I　think　that　stops　you；　I　can　obviate　the　difficulty。〃
　　〃Ah；　I　knew　well；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃that　you　were　a　man　of　talent。　Well；　here's　the　case；　here's　where　the　saddle　hurts　me；　as　we　French　say。　I　am　an　officer　of　fortune；　nothing　else；　I　have　nothing　but　what　my　sword　brings　me　in　　that　is　to　say；　more　blows　than　banknotes。　Now；　on　taking　prisoners；　this　morning；　two　Frenchmen；　who　seemed　to　me　of　high　birth　　in　short；　two　knights　of　the　Garter　　I　said　to　myself；　my　fortune　is　made。　I　say　two；　because　in　such　circumstances；　Monsieur　du　Vallon；　who　is　rich；　always　gives　me　his　prisoners。〃
　　Mordaunt；　pletely　deceived　by　the　wordy　civility　of　D'Artagnan；　smiled　like　a　man　who　understands　perfectly　the　reasons　given　him；　and　said：
　　〃I　shall　have　the　order　signed　directly；　sir；　and　with　it　two　thousand　pistoles；　meanwhile；　let　me　take　these　men　away。〃
　　〃No；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃what　signifies　a　delay　of　half　an　hour？　I　am　a　man　of　order；　sir；　let　us　do　things　in　order。〃
　　〃Nevertheless；〃　replied　Mordaunt；　〃I　could　pel　you；　I　mand　here。〃
　　〃Ah；　sir！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃I　see　that　although　we　have　had　the　honor　of　traveling　in　your　pany　you　do　not　know　us。　We　are　gentlemen；　we　are；　both　of　us；　able　to　kill　you　and　your　eight　men　　we　two　only。　For　Heaven's　sake　don't　be　obstinate；　for　when　others　are　obstinate　I　am　obstinate　likewise；　and　then　I　bee　ferocious　and　headstrong；　and　there's　my　friend；　who　is　even　more　headstrong　and　ferocious　than　myself。　Besides；　we　are　sent　here　by　Cardinal　Mazarin；　and　at　this　moment　represent　both　the　king　and　the　cardinal；　and　are；　therefore；　as　ambassadors；　able　to　act　with　impunity；　a　thing　that　General　Oliver　Cromwell；　who　is　assuredly　as　great　a　politician　as　he　is　a　general；　is　quite　the　man　to　understand。　Ask　him　then；　for　the　written　order。　What　will　that　cost　you　my　dear　Monsieur　Mordaunt？〃
　　〃Yes；　the　written　order；〃　said　Porthos；　who　now　began　to　prehend　what　D'Artagnan　was　aiming　at；　〃we　ask　only　for　that。〃
　　However　inclined　Mordaunt　was　to　have　recourse　to　violence；　he　understood　the　reasons　D'Artagnan　had　given　him；　besides；　pletely　ignorant　of　the　friendship　which　existed　between　the　four　Frenchmen；　all　his　uneasiness　disappeared　when　he　heard　of　the　plausible　motive　of　the　ransom。　He　decided；　therefore；　not　only　to　fetch　the　order；　but　the　two　thousand　pistoles；　at　which　he　estimated　the　prisoners。　He　therefore　mounted　his　horse　and　disappeared。
　　〃Good！〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　〃a　quarter　of　an　hour　to　go　to　the　tent；　a　quarter　of　an　hour　to　return；　it　is　more　than　we　need。〃　Then　turning；　without　the　least　change　of　countenance；　to　Porthos；　he　said；　looking　him　full　in　the　face：　〃Friend　Porthos；　listen　to　this；　first；　not　a　syllable　to　either　of　our　friends　of　what　you　have　heard；　it　is　unnecessary　for　them　to　know　the　service　we　are　going　to　render　them。〃
　　〃Very　well；　I　understand。〃
　　〃Go　to　the　stable；　you　will　find　Musqueton　there；　saddle　your　horses；　put　your　pistols　in　your　saddle…bags；　take　out　the　horses　and　lead　them　to　the　street　below　this；　so　that　there　will　be　nothing　to　do　but　mount　them；　all　the　rest　is　my　business。〃
　　Porthos　made　no　remark；　but　obeyed；　with　the　sublime　confidence　he　had　in　his　friend。
　　〃I　go；〃　he　said；　〃only；　shall　I　enter　the　chamber　where　those　gentlemen　are？〃
　　〃No；　it　is　not　worth　while。〃
　　〃Well；　do　me　the　kindness　to　take　my　purse。　which　I　left　on　the　mantelpiece。〃
　　〃All　right。〃
　　He　then　proceeded；　with　his　usual　calm　gait；　to　the　stable　and　went　into　the　very　midst　of　the　soldiery；　who；　foreigner　as　he　was；　could　not　help　admiring　his　height　and　the　enormous　strength　of　his　great　limbs。
　　At　the　corner　of　the　street　he　met　Musqueton　and　took　him　with　him。
　　D'Artagnan；　meantime；　went　into　the　house；　whistling　a　tune　which　he　had　begun　before　Porthos　went　away。
　　〃My　dear　Athos；　I　have　reflected　on　your　arguments　and　I　am　convinced。　I　am　sorry　to　have　had　anything　to　do　with　this　matter。　As　you　say；　Mazarin　is　a　knave。　I　have　resolved　to　fly　with　you；　not　a　word　　be　ready。　Your　swords　are　in　the　corner；　do　not　forget　them；　they　are　in　many　circumstances　very　useful；　there　is　Porthos's　purse；　too。〃
　　He　put　it　into　his　pocket。　The　two　friends　were　perfectly　stupefied。
　　〃Well；　pray；　is　there　anything　to　be　so　surprised　at？〃　he　said。　〃I　was　blind；　Athos　has　made　me　see；　that's　all；　e　here。〃
　　The　two　friends　went　near　him。
　　〃Do　you　see　that　street？　There　are　the　horses。　Go　out　by　the　door；　turn　to　the　right；　jump　into　your　saddles；　all　will　be　right；　don't　be　uneasy　at　anything　except　mistaking　the　signal。　That　will　be　the　signal　when　I　call　out　　Jesus　Seigneur！〃
　　〃But　give　us　your　word　that　you　will　e　too；　D'Artagnan；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃I　swear　I　will；　by　Heaven。〃
　　〃'Tis　settled；〃　said　Aramis；　〃at　the　cry　‘Jesus　Seigneur'　we　go　out；　upset　all　that　stands　in　our　way；　run　to　our　horses；　jump　into　our　saddles；　spur　them；　is　that　all？〃
　　〃Exactly。〃
　　〃See；　Aramis；　as　I　have　told　you；　D'Artagnan　is　first　amongst　us　all；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃Very　true；〃　replied　the　Gascon；　〃but　I　always　run　away　from　pliments。　Don't　forget　the　signal：　‘Jesus　Seigneur！'〃　and　he　went　out　as　he　came　in；　whistling　the　self…same　air。
　　The　soldiers　were　playing　or　sleeping；　two　of　them　were　singing　in　a　corner；　out　of　tune；　the　psalm：　〃On　the　rivers　of　Babylon。〃
　　D'Artagnan　called　the　sergeant。　〃My　dear　friend；　General　Cromwell　has　sent　Monsieur　Mordaunt　to　fetch　me。　Guard　the　prisoners　well；　I　beg　of　you。〃
　　The　sergeant　made　a　sign；　as　much　as　to　say　he　did　not　understand　French；　and　D'Artagnan　tried　to　make　him　prehend　by　signs　and　gestures。　Then　he　went　into　the　stable；　he　found　the　five　horses　saddled；　his　own　amongst　the　rest。
　　〃Each　of　you　take　a　horse　by　the　bridle；〃　he　said　to　Porthos　and　Musqueton；　〃turn　to　the　left；　so　that　Athos　and　Aramis　may　see　you　clearly　from　the　window。〃
　　〃They　are　ing；　then？〃　said　Porthos。
　　〃In　a　moment。〃
　　〃You　didn't　forget　my　purse？〃
　　〃No；　be　easy。〃
　　〃Good。〃
　　Porthos　and　Musqueton　each　took　a　horse　by　the　bridle　and　proceeded　to　their　post。
　　Then　D'Artagnan；　being　alone；　struck　a　light　and　lighted　a　small　bit　of　tinder；　mounted　his　horse　and　stopped　at　the　door　in　the　midst　of　the　soldiers。　There；　caressing　as　he　pretended；　the　animal　with　his　hand；　he　put　this　bit　of　burning　tinder　in　his　ear。　It　was　necessary　to　be　as　good　a　horseman　as　he　was　to　risk　such　a　scheme；　for　no　sooner　had　the　animal　felt　the　burning　tinder　than　he　uttered　a　cry　of　pain　and　reared　and　jumped　as　if　he　had　been　mad。
　　The　soldiers；　whom　he　was　nearly　trampling；　ran　away。
　　〃Help！　help！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃stop　　my　horse　has　the　staggers。〃
　　In　an　instant　the　horse's　eyes　grew　bloodshot　and　he　was　white　with　foam。
　　〃Help！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃What！　will　you　let　me　be　killed？　Jesus　Seigneur！〃
　　No　sooner　had　he　uttered　this　cry　than　the　door　opened　and　Athos　and　Aramis　rushed　out。　The　coast；　owing　to　the　Gascon's　stratagem；　was　clear。
　　〃The　prisoners　are　escaping！　the　prisoners　are　escaping！〃　cried　the　sergeant。
　　〃Stop！　stop！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　giving　rein　to　his　famous　steed；　who；　darting　forth；　overturned　several　men。
　　〃Stop！　stop！〃　cried　the　soldiers；　and　ran　for　their　arms。
　　But　the　prisoners　were　in　their　saddles　and　lost　no　time　hastening　to　the　nearest　gate。
　　In　the　middle　of　the　street　they　saw　Grimaud　and　Blaisois；　who　were　ing　to　find　their　masters。　With　one　wave　of　his　hand　Athos　made　Grimaud；　who　followed　the　little　troop；　understand　everything；　and　they　passed　on　like　a　whirlwind；　D'Artagnan　still　directing　them　from　behind　with　his　voice。
　　They　passed　through　the　gate　like　apparitions；　without　the　guards　thinking　of　detaining　them；　and　reached　the　open　country。
　　All　this　time　the　soldiers　were　calling　out；　〃Stop！　stop！〃　and　the　sergeant；　who　began　to　see　that　he　was　the　victim　of　an　artifice；　was　almost　in　a　frenzy　of　despair。　Whilst　all　this　was　going　on；　a　cavalier　in　full　gallop　was　seen　approaching。　It　was　Mordaunt　with　the　order　in　his　hand。
　　〃The　prisoners！〃　he　exclaimed；　jumping　off　his　horse。
　　The　sergeant　had　not　the　courage　to　reply；　he　showed　him　the　open　door；　the　empty　room。　Mordaunt　darted　to　the　steps；　understood　all；　uttered　a　cry；　as　if　his　very　heart　was　pierced；　and　fell　fainting　on　the　stone　steps。
　　In　which　it　is　shown　that　under　the　most　trying　Circumstances　noble　Natures　never　lose　their　Courage；　nor　good　Stomachs　their　Appetites
　　The　little　troop；　without　looking　behind　them　or　exchanging　a　word；　fled　at　a　rapid　gallop；　fording　a　little　stream；　of　which　none　of　them　knew　the　name；　and　leaving　on　their　left　a　town　which　Athos　declared　to　be　Durham。　At　last　they　came　in　sight　of　a　small　wood；　and　spurring　their　horses　afresh；　rode　in　its　direction。
　　As　soon　as　they　had　disappeared　behind　a　green　curtain　sufficiently　thick　to　conceal　them　from　the　sight　of　any　one　who　might　be　in　pursuit　they　drew　up　to　hold　a　council　together。　The　two　grooms　held　the　horses；　that　they　might　take　a　little　rest　without　being　unsaddled；　and　Grimaud　was　posted　as　sentinel。
　　〃e；　first　of　all；〃　said　Athos　to　D'Artagnan；　〃my　friend；　that　I　may　shake　hands　with　you　　you；　our　rescuer　　you；　the　true　hero　of　us　all。〃
　　〃Athos　is　right　　you　have　my　adoration；〃　said　Aramis；　in　his　turn　pressing　his　hand。　〃To　what　are　you　not　equal；　with　your　superior　intelligence；　infallible　eye；　your　arm　of　iron　and　your　enterprising　mind！〃
　　〃Now；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃that　is　all　well；　I　accept　for　Porthos　and　myself　everything　　thanks　and　pliments；　we　have　plenty　of　time　to　spare。〃
　　The　two　friends；　recalled　by　D'Artagnan　to　what　was　also　due　to　Porthos；　pressed　his　hand　in　their　turn。
　　〃And　now；〃　said　Athos；　〃it　is　not　our　plan　to　run　anywhere　and　like　madmen；　but　we　must　map　up　our　campaign。　What　shall　we　do？〃
　　〃What　are　we　going　to　do；　i'faith？　It　is　not　very　difficult　to　say。〃
　　〃Tell　us；　then；　D'Artagnan。〃
　　〃We　are　going　to　reach　the　nearest　seaport；　unite　our　little　resources；　hire　a　vessel　and　return　to　France。　As　for　me　I　will　give　my　last　sou　for　it。　Life　is　the　greatest　treasure；　and　speaking　candidly；　ours　hangs　by　a　thread。〃
　　〃What　do　you　say　to　this；　Du　Vallon？〃
　　〃I；〃　said　Porthos；　〃I　am　entirely　of　D'Artagnan's　opinion；　this　is　a　‘beastly'　country；　this　England。〃
　　〃You　are　quite　decided；　then；　to　leave　it？〃　asked　Athos　of　D'Artagnan。
　　〃Egad！　I　don't　see　what　is　to　keep　me　here。〃
　　A　glance　was　exchanged　between　Athos　and　Aramis。
　　〃Go；　then；　my　friends；〃　said　the　former；　sighing。
　　〃How；　go　then？〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan。　〃Let　us　go；　you　mean？〃
　　〃No；　my　friend；〃　said　Athos；　〃you　must　leave　us。〃
　　〃Leave　you！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　quite　bewildered　at　this　unexpected　announcement。
　　〃Bah！〃　said　Porthos；　〃why　separate；　since　we　are　all　together？〃
　　〃Because　you　can　and　ou