二十年后-第93章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　him　with　threatening　looks。
　　〃How　many　people；〃　thought　he；　〃and　not　one　true　friend。〃
　　And　as　he　uttered　these　words　of　doubt　and　depression　within　his　mind；　a　voice　beside　him　said：
　　〃Respect　to　fallen　majesty。〃
　　The　king　turned　quickly　around；　with　tears　in　his　eyes　and　heart。　It　was　an　old　soldier　of　the　guards　who　could　not　see　his　king　pass　captive　before　him　without　rendering　him　this　final　homage。　But　the　next　moment　the　unfortunate　man　was　nearly　killed　with　heavy　blows　of　sword…hilts；　and　among　those　who　set　upon　him　the　king　recognized　Captain　Groslow。
　　〃Alas！〃　said　Charles；　〃that　is　a　severe　chastisement　for　a　very　trifling　fault。〃
　　He　continued　his　walk；　but　he　had　scarcely　gone　a　hundred　paces；　when　a　furious　fellow；　leaning　between　two　soldiers；　spat　in　the　king's　face；　as　once　an　infamous　and　accursed　Jew　spit　in　the　face　of　Jesus　of　Nazareth。　Loud　roars　of　laughter　and　sullen　murmurs　arose　together。　The　crowd　opened　and　closed　again；　undulating　like　a　stormy　sea；　and　the　king　imagined　that　he　saw　shining　in　the　midst　of　this　living　wave　the　bright　eyes　of　Athos。
　　Charles　wiped　his　face　and　said　with　a　sad　smile：　〃Poor　wretch；　for　half　a　crown　he　would　do　as　much　to　his　own　father。〃
　　The　king　was　not　mistaken。　Athos　and　his　friends；　again　mingling　with　the　throng；　were　taking　a　last　look　at　the　martyr　king。
　　When　the　soldier　saluted　Charles；　Athos's　heart　bounded　for　joy；　and　that　unfortunate；　on　ing　to　himself；　found　ten　guineas　that　the　French　gentleman　had　slipped　into　his　pocket。　But　when　the　cowardly　insulter　spat　in　the　face　of　the　captive　monarch　Athos　grasped　his　dagger。　But　D'Artagnan　stopped　his　hand　and　in　a　hoarse　voice　cried；　〃Wait！〃
　　Athos　stopped。　D'Artagnan；　leaning　on　Athos；　made　a　sign　to　Porthos　and　Aramis　to　keep　near　them　and　then　placed　himself　behind　the　man　with　the　bare　arms；　who　was　still　laughing　at　his　own　vile　pleasantry　and　receiving　the　congratulations　of　several　others。
　　The　man　took　his　way　toward　the　city。　The　four　friends　followed　him。　The　man；　who　had　the　appearance　of　being　a　butcher；　descended　a　little　steep　and　isolated　street；　looking　on　to　the　river；　with　two　of　his　friends。　Arrived　at　the　bank　of　the　river　the　three　men　perceived　that　they　were　followed；　turned　around；　and　looking　insolently　at　the　Frenchmen；　passed　some　jests　from　one　to　another。
　　〃I　don't　know　English；　Athos；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃but　you　know　it　and　will　interpret　for　me。〃
　　Then　quickening　their　steps　they　passed　the　three　men；　but　turned　back　immediately；　and　D'Artagnan　walked　straight　up　to　the　butcher　and　touching　him　on　the　chest　with　the　tip　of　his　finger；　said　to　Athos：
　　〃Say　this　to　him　in　English：　‘You　are　a　coward。　You　have　insulted　a　defenseless　man。　You　have　defouled　the　face　of　your　king。　You　must　die。'〃
　　Athos；　pale　as　a　ghost；　repeated　these　words　to　the　man；　who；　seeing　the　bodeful　preparations　that　were　making；　put　himself　in　an　attitude　of　defense。　Aramis；　at　this　movement；　drew　his　sword。
　　〃No；〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃no　steel。　Steel　is　for　gentlemen。〃
　　And　seizing　the　butcher　by　the　throat：
　　〃Porthos；〃　said　he；　〃kill　this　fellow　for　me　with　a　single　blow。〃
　　Porthos　raised　his　terrible　fist；　which　whistled　through　the　air　like　a　sling；　and　the　portentous　mass　fell　with　a　smothered　crash　on　the　insulter's　skull　and　crushed　it。　The　man　fell　like　an　ox　beneath　the　poleaxe。　His　panions；　horror…struck；　could　neither　move　nor　cry　out。
　　〃Tell　them　this；　Athos；〃　resumed　D'Artagnan；　〃thus　shall　all　die　who　forget　that　a　captive　man　is　sacred　and　that　a　captive　king　doubly　represents　the　Lord。〃
　　Athos　repeated　D'Artagnan's　words。
　　The　fellows　looked　at　the　body　of　their　panion；　swimming　in　blood；　and　then　recovering　voice　and　legs　together；　ran　screaming　off。
　　〃Justice　is　done；〃　said　Porthos；　wiping　his　forehead。
　　〃And　now；〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　Athos；　〃entertain　no　further　doubts　about　me；　I　undertake　all　that　concerns　the　king。〃
　　Whitehall
　　The　parliament　condemned　Charles　to　death；　as　might　have　been　foreseen。　Political　judgments　are　generally　vain　formalities；　for　the　same　passions　which　give　rise　to　the　accusation　ordain　to　the　condemnation。　Such　is　the　atrocious　logic　of　revolutions。
　　Although　our　friends　were　expecting　that　condemnation；　it　filled　them　with　grief。　D'Artagnan；　whose　mind　was　never　more　fertile　in　resources　than　in　critical　emergencies；　swore　again　that　he　would　try　all　conceivable　means　to　prevent　the　denouement　of　the　bloody　tragedy。　But　by　what　means？　As　yet　he　could　form　no　definite　plan；　all　must　depend　on　circumstances。　Meanwhile；　it　was　necessary　at　all　hazards；　in　order　to　gain　time；　to　put　some　obstacle　in　the　way　of　the　execution　on　the　following　day　　the　day　appointed　by　the　judges。　The　only　way　of　doing　that　was　to　cause　the　disappearance　of　the　London　executioner。　The　headsman　out　of　the　way；　the　sentence　could　not　be　executed。　True；　they　could　send　for　the　headsman　of　the　nearest　town；　but　at　least　a　day　would　be　gained；　and　a　day　might　be　sufficient　for　the　rescue。　D'Artagnan　took　upon　himself　that　more　than　difficult　task。
　　Another　thing；　not　less　essential；　was　to　warn　Charles　Stuart　of　the　attempt　to　be　made；　so　that　he　might　assist　his　rescuers　as　much　as　possible；　or　at　least　do　nothing　to　thwart　their　efforts。　Aramis　assumed　that　perilous　charge。　Charles　Stuart　had　asked　that　Bishop　Juxon　might　be　permitted　to　visit　him。　Mordaunt　had　called　on　the　bishop　that　very　evening　to　apprise　him　of　the　religious　desire　expressed　by　the　king　and　also　of　Cromwell's　permission。　Aramis　determined　to　obtain　from　the　bishop；　through　fear　or　by　persuasion；　consent　that　he　should　enter　in　the　bishop's　place；　and　clad　in　his　sacerdotal　robes；　the　prison　at　Whitehall。
　　Finally；　Athos　undertook　to　provide；　in　any　event；　the　means　of　leaving　England　　in　case　either　of　failure　or　of　success。
　　The　night　having　e　they　made　an　appointment　to　meet　at　eleven　o'clock　at　the　hotel；　and　each　started　out　to　fulfill　his　dangerous　mission。
　　The　palace　of　Whitehall　was　guarded　by　three　regiments　of　cavalry　and　by　the　fierce　anxiety　of　Cromwell；　who　came　and　went　or　sent　his　generals　or　his　agents　continually。　Alone　in　his　usual　room；　lighted　by　two　candles；　the　condemned　monarch　gazed　sadly　on　the　luxury　of　his　past　greatness；　just　as　at　the　last　hour　one　sees　the　images　of　life　more　mildly　brilliant　than　of　yore。
　　Parry　had　not　quitted　his　master；　and　since　his　condemnation　had　not　ceased　to　weep。　Charles；　leaning　on　a　table；　was　gazing　at　a　medallion　of　his　wife　and　daughter；　he　was　waiting　first　for　Juxon；　then　for　martyrdom。
　　At　times　he　thought　of　those　brave　French　gentlemen　who　had　appeared　to　him　from　a　distance　of　a　hundred　leagues　fabulous　and　unreal；　like　the　forms　that　appear　in　dreams。　In　fact；　he　sometimes　asked　himself　if　all　that　was　happening　to　him　was　not　a　dream；　or　at　least　the　delirium　of　a　fever。　He　rose　and　took　a　few　steps　as　if　to　rouse　himself　from　his　torpor　and　went　as　far　as　the　window；　he　saw　glittering　below　him　the　muskets　of　the　guards。　He　was　thereupon　constrained　to　admit　that　he　was　indeed　awake　and　that　his　bloody　dream　was　real。
　　Charles　returned　in　silence　to　his　chair；　rested　his　elbow　on　the　table；　bowed　his　head　upon　his　hand　and　reflected。
　　〃Alas！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃if　I　only　had　for　a　confessor　one　of　those　lights　of　the　church；　whose　soul　has　sounded　all　the　mysteries　of　life；　all　the　littlenesses　of　greatness；　perhaps　his　utterance　would　overawe　the　voice　that　wails　within　my　soul。　But　I　shall　have　a　priest　of　vulgar　mind；　whose　career　and　fortune　I　have　ruined　by　my　misfortune。　He　will　speak　to　me　of　God　and　death；　as　he　has　spoken　to　many　another　dying　man；　not　understanding　that　this　one　leaves　his　throne　to　an　usurper；　his　children　to　the　cold　contempt　of　public　charity。〃
　　And　he　raised　the　medallion　to　his　lips。
　　It　was　a　dull；　foggy　night。　A　neighboring　church　clock　slowly　struck　the　hour。　The　flickering　light　of　the　two　candles　showed　fitful　phantom　shadows　in　the　lofty　room。　These　were　the　ancestors　of　Charles；　standing　back　dimly　in　their　tarnished　frames。
　　An　awful　sadness　enveloped　the　heart　of　Charles。　He　buried　his　brow　in　his　hands　and　thought　of　the　world；　so　beautiful　when　one　is　about　to　leave　it；　of　the　caresses　of　children；　so　pleasing　and　so　sweet；　especially　when　one　is　parting　from　his　children　never　to　see　them　again；　then　of　his　wife；　the　noble　and　courageous　woman　who　had　sustained　him　to　the　last　moment。　He　drew　from　his　breast　the　diamond　cross　and　the　star　of　the　Garter　which　she　had　sent　him　by　those　generous　Frenchmen；　he　kissed　it；　and　then；　as　he　reflected；　that　she　would　never　again　see　those　things　till　he　lay　cold　and　mutilated　in　the　tomb；　there　passed　over　him　one　of　those　icy　shivers　which　may　be　called　forerunners　of　death。
　　Then；　in　that　chamber　which　recalled　to　him　so　many　royal　souvenirs；　whither　had　e　so　many　courtiers；　the　scene　of　so　much　flattering　homage；　alone　with　a　despairing　servant；　whose　feeble　soul　could　afford　no　support　to　his　own；　the　king　at　last　yielded　to　sorrow；　and　his　courage　sank　to　a　level　with　that　feebleness；　those　shadows；　and　that　wintry　cold。　That　king；　who　was　so　grand；　so　sublime　in　the　hour　of　death；　meeting　his　fate　with　a　smile　of　resignation　on　his　lips；　now　in　that　gloomy　hour　wiped　away　a　tear　which　had　fallen　on　the　table　and　quivered　on　the　gold　embroidered　cloth。
　　Suddenly　the　door　opened；　an　ecclesiastic　in　episcopal　robes　entered；　followed　by　two　guards；　to　whom　the　king　waved　an　imperious　gesture。　The　guards　retired；　the　room　resumed　its　obscurity。
　　〃Juxon！〃　cried　Charles；　〃Juxon；　thank　you；　my　last　friend；　you　e　at　a　fitting　moment。〃
　　The　bishop　looked　anxiously　at　the　man　sobbing　in　the　ingle…nook。
　　〃e；　Parry；〃　said　the　king；　〃cease　your　tears。〃
　　〃If　it's　Parry；〃　said　the　bishop；　〃I　have　nothing　to　fear；　so　allow　me　to　salute　your　majesty　and　to　tell　you　who　I　am　and　for　what　I　am　e。〃
　　At　this　sight　and　this　voice　Charles　was　about　to　cry　out；　when　Aramis　placed　his　finger　on　his　lips　and　bowed　low　to　the　king　of　England。
　　〃The　chevalier！〃　murmured　Charles。
　　〃Yes；　sire；〃　interrupted　Aramis；　raising　his　voice；　〃Bishop　Juxon；　the　faithful　knight　of　Christ；　obedient　to　your　majesty's　wishes。〃
　　Charles　clasped　his　hands；　amazed　and　stupefied　to　find　that　these　foreigners；　without　other　motive　than　that　which　their　conscience　imposed　on　them；　thus　bated　the　will　of　a　people　and　the　destiny　of　a　king。
　　〃You！〃　he　said；　〃you！　how　did　you　penetrate　hither？　If　they　recognize　you；　you　are　lost。〃
　　〃Care　not　for　me；　sire；　think　only　of　yourself。　You　see；　your　friends　are　wakeful。　I　know　not　what　we　shall　do　yet；　but　four　determined　men　can　do　much。　Meanwhile；　do　not　be　surprised　at　anything　that　happens；　prepare　yourself　for　every　emergency。〃
　　Charles　shook　his　head。
　　〃Do　you　know　that　I　die　to…morrow　at　ten　o'clock？〃
　　〃Something；　your　majesty；　will　happen　between　now　and　then　to　make　the　execution　impossible。〃
　　The　king　looked　at　Aramis　with　astonishment。
　　At　this　moment　a　strange　noise；　like　the　unloading　of　a　cart；　and　followed　by　a　cry　of　pain；　was　heard　beneath　the　wi