stories by english authors in france(旅法英国作家的故事)-第26章
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poor Boisrose； who took all for lunatics； and myself； who began to think
that perhaps the jest had been carried far enough。
My master presently saw this； and； collecting himself； turned to the
amazed Gascon。
〃Your complaint is one；〃 he said； 〃which should not be lightly made。
Do you know the Baron de Rosny？〃
Boisrose； by this time vastly mystified； said he did not。
〃Then；〃 said the king； 〃I will give you an opportunity of becoming
acquainted with him。 I shall refer your complaint to him； and he will
decide upon it。 More；〃 he continued； raising his hand for silence as
Boisrose； starting forward； would have appealed to him； 〃I will introduce
you to him now。 This is the Baron de Rosny。〃
The old soldier glared at me for a moment with starting eyeballs； and a
dreadful despair seemed to settle on his face。 He threw himself on his
knees before the king。
〃Then； sire；〃 said he； in a heartrending voice； 〃am I ruined！ My six
children must starve； and my young wife die by the roadside！〃
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〃That；〃 answered the king； gravely； 〃must be for the Baron de Rosny
to decide。 I leave you to your audience。〃
He made a sign to the others； and； followed by them； walked slowly
along the terrace； the while Boisrose； who had risen to his feet； stood
looking after him like one demented； shaking； and muttering that it was a
cruel jest； and that he had bled for the king； and the king made sport of
him。
Presently I touched him on the arm。
〃Come； have you nothing to say to me； M。 de Boisrose？〃 I asked；
quietly。 〃You are a brave soldier； and have done France service； why then
need you fear？ The Baron de Rosny is one man； the king's minister is
another。 It is the latter who speaks to you now。 The office of lieutenant…
general of the ordnance in Normandy is empty。 It is worth twelve thousand
livres by the year。 I appoint you to it。〃
He answered that I mocked him； and that he was going mad； so that it
was long before I could persuade him that I was in earnest。 When I at last
succeeded； his gratitude knew no bounds； and he thanked me again and
again with the tears running down his face。
〃What I have done for you；〃 I said； modestly； 〃is the reward of your
bravery。 I ask only that you will not another time think that they who rule
kingdoms are as those gay popinjays yonder。〃
In a transport of delight he reiterated his offers of service； and； feeling
sure that I had now gained him completely； I asked him on a sudden where
he had seen Louis d'Entragues before。 In two words the truth came out。 He
had observed him on the previous day in conference at the forest inn with
the three bullies whom I had remarked there。 I was not surprised at this；
D'Entragues's near kinship to the Count of Auvergne； and the mingled
feelings with which I knew that the family regarded Henry； preparing me
to expect treachery in that quarter。 Moreover； the nature of the ambush
was proof that its author resided in the neighbourhood and was intimately
acquainted with the forest。 I should have carried this information at once
to my master； but I learned that he had already started； and thus baffled；
and believing that his affection for Mademoiselle d'Entragues； if not for
her sister； would lead him to act with undue leniency； I conceived and
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arranged a plan of my own。
About noon； therefore； I set out as if for a ride； attended by La Trape
only； but at some distance from the palace we were joined by Boisrose；
whom I had bidden to be at that point well armed and mounted。 Thus
reinforced； for the Gascon was still strong； and in courage a Grillon； I
proceeded to Malesherbes by a circuitous route which brought me within
sight of the gates about the middle of the afternoon。 I then halted under
cover of the trees； and waited until I saw the king； attended by several
ladies and gentlemen； and followed by eight troopers； issue from the
chateau。 His Majesty was walking； his horse being led behind him； and
seeing this I rode out and approached the party as if I had that moment
arrived to meet the king。
It would not ill become me on this occasion to make some reflections
on the hollowness of court life； which has seldom been better exemplified
than in the scene before me。 The sun was low； but its warm beams； falling
aslant on the gaily dressed group at the gates and on the flowered terraces
and gray walls behind them； seemed to present a picture at once peaceful
and joyous。 Yet I knew that treachery and death were lurking in the midst；
and it was only by an effort that； as I rode up； I could make answer to the
thousand obliging things with which I was greeted； and of which not the
least polite were said by M。 d'Entragues and his son。 I took pains to
observe Mademoiselle Susette； a beautiful girl not out of her teens； but
noways comparable； as it seemed to me； in expression and vivacity； with
her famous sister。 She was walking beside the king； her hands full of
flowers； and her face flushed with excitement and timidity； and I came
quickly to the conclusion that she knew nothing of what was intended by
her family； who； having made the one sister the means of gratifying their
avarice； were now baiting the trap of their revenge with the other。
Henry parted from her at length； and mounted his horse amid a ripple
of laughter and compliments； D'Entragues holding the stirrup and his son
the cloak。 I observed that the latter； as I had expected； was prepared to
accompany us； which rendered my plan more feasible。 Our road lay for a
league in the direction of the Rock of the Serpents； the track which passed
the latter presently diverging from it。 For some distance we rode along in
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easy talk； but； on approaching the point of separation； the king looked at
me with a whimsical air； as though he would lay on me the burden of
finding an excuse for avoiding the shorter way home。 I had foreseen this；
and looked round to ascertain the position of our company。 I found that La
Varenne and D'Entragues were close behind us； while the troopers； with
La Trape and Boisrose； were a hundred paces farther to the rear； and Vitry
and Coquet had dropped out of sight。 This being so； I suddenly reined in
my horse so as to back it into that of D'Entragues； and then wheeled round
on the latter； taking care to be between him and the king。
〃M。 Louis d'Entragues；〃 I said； dropping the mask and addressing him
with all the scorn and detestation which I felt； and which he deserved；
〃your plot is discovered！ If you would save your life confess to his
Majesty here and now all you know； and throw yourself on his mercy！〃
I confess that I had failed to take into account the pitch to which his
nerves would be strung at such a time； and had expected to produce a
greater effect than followed my words。 His hand went indeed to his breast；
but it was hard to say which was the more discomposed； La Varenne or he。
And the manner in which； with scorn and defiance； he flung back my
accusation in my teeth； lacked neither vigour nor the semblance of
innocence。 While Henry was puzzled； La Varenne was appalled。 I saw that
I had gone too far； or not far enough； and at once calling into my face and
form all the sternness in my power； I bade the traitor remain where he was；
then turning to his Majesty I craved leave to speak to him apart。
He hesitated； looking from me to D'Entragues with an air of
displeasure which embraced us both； but in the end； without permitting M。
Louis to speak； he complied； and； going aside with me； bade me； with
coldness； speak out。
As soon； however； as I had repeated to him Boisrose's words； his face
underwent a change； for he； too； had remarked the discomfiture which the
latter's appearance had caused D'Entragues in the morning。
〃Ha！ the villain！〃 he said。 〃I do not now think you precipitate。 Arrest
him at once； but do him no harm！〃
〃If he resist； sire？〃 I asked。
〃He will not；〃 the king answered。 〃And in no case harm him！ You
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understand me？〃
I bowed； having my own thoughts on the subject； and the king； without
looking again at D'Entragues； rode quickly away。 M。 Louis tried to follow；
and cried loudly after him； but I thrust my horse in the way； and bade him
consider himself a prisoner； at the same time requesting La Varenne； with
Vitry and Coquet； who had come up and were looking on like men
thunderstruck； to take four of the guards and follow the king。
〃Then； sir； what do you intend to do with me？〃 D'Entragues asked； the
air of fierceness with which he looked from me to the six men who
remained barely disguising his apprehensions。
〃That depends； M。 Louis；〃 I replied； recurring to my usual tone of
politeness； 〃on your answers to three questions。〃
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃Ask them；〃 he said； curtly。
〃Do you deny that you have laid an ambush for the king on the road
which passes the Rock of the Serpents？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃Or that you were yesterday at an inn near here in converse with three
men？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃Do you deny that there is such an ambush laid？〃
〃Absolutely；〃 he repeated； with scorn。 〃It is an old wives' story。 I
would stake my life on it。〃
〃Enough；〃 I answered； slowly。 〃You have been your own judge。 The
evening grows cold； and as you are my prisoner I must have a care of you。
Kindl
