twenty years after(二十年后)-第133章

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Mordaunt　to　make　himself　impenetrable。
〃It　appears；〃　said　Cromwell；　〃that　this　improvised
executioner　did　his　duty　remarkably　well。　The　blow；　so　they
tell　me　at　least；　was　struck　with　a　master's　hand。〃
Mordaunt　remembered　that　Cromwell　had　told　him　he　had　had　no
detailed　account；　and　he　was　now　quite　convinced　that　the
general　had　been　present　at　the　execution；　hidden　behind
some　screen　or　curtain。
〃In　fact；〃　said　Mordaunt；　with　a　calm　voice　and　immovable
countenance；　〃a　single　blow　sufficed。〃
〃Perhaps　it　was　some　one　in　that　occupation；〃　said　Cromwell。
〃Do　you　think　so；　sir？　He　did　not　look　like　an　executioner。〃
〃And　who　else　save　an　executioner　would　have　wished　to　fill
that　horrible　office？〃
〃But；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃it　might　have　been　some　personal
enemy　of　the　king；　who　had　made　a　vow　of　vengeance　and
accomplished　it　in　this　way。　Perhaps　it　was　some　man　of　rank
who　had　grave　reasons　for　hating　the　fallen　king；　and　who；
learning　that　the　king　was　about　to　flee　and　escape　him；
threw　himself　in　the　way；　with　a　mask　on　his　face　and　an　axe
in　his　hand；　not　as　substitute　for　the　executioner；　but　as
an　ambassador　of　Fate。〃
〃Possibly。〃
〃And　if　that　were　the　case　would　your　honor　condemn　his
action？〃
〃It　is　not　for　me　to　judge。　It　rests　between　his　conscience
and　his　God。〃
〃But　if　your　honor　knew　this　man？〃
〃I　neither　know　nor　wish　to　know　him。　Provided　Charles　is
dead；　it　is　the　axe；　not　the　man；　we　must　thank。〃
〃And　yet；　without　the　man；　the　king　would　have　been
rescued。〃
Cromwell　smiled。
〃They　would　have　carried　him　to　Greenwich；〃　he　said；　〃and
put　him　on　board　a　felucca　with　five　barrels　of　powder　in
the　hold。　Once　out　to　sea；　you　are　too　good　a　politician　not
to　understand　the　rest；　Mordaunt。〃
〃Yes；　they　would　have　all　been　blown　up。〃
〃Just　so。　The　explosion　would　have　done　what　the　axe　had
failed　to　do。　Men　would　have　said　that　the　king　had　escaped
human　justice　and　been　overtaken　by　God's。　You　see　now　why　I
did　not　care　to　know　your　gentleman　in　the　mask；　for　really；
in　spite　of　his　excellent　intentions；　I　could　not　thank　him
for　what　he　has　done。〃
Mordaunt　bowed　humbly。　〃Sir；〃　he　said；　〃you　are　a　profound
thinker　and　your　plan　was　sublime。〃
〃Say　absurd；　since　it　has　become　useless。　The　only　sublime
ideas　in　politics　are　those　which　bear　fruit。　So　to…night；
Mordaunt；　go　to　Greenwich　and　ask　for　the　captain　of　the
felucca　Lightning。　Show　him　a　white　handkerchief　knotted　at
the　four　corners　and　tell　the　crew　to　disembark　and　carry
the　powder　back　to　the　arsenal；　unless；　indeed　　〃
〃Unless？〃　said　Mordaunt；　whose　face　was　lighted　by　a　savage
joy　as　Cromwell　spoke：
〃This　skiff　might　be　of　use　to　you　for　personal　projects。〃
〃Oh；　my　lord；　my　lord！〃
〃That　title；〃　said　Cromwell；　laughing；　〃is　all　very　well
here；　but　take　care　a　word　like　that　does　not　escape　your
lips　in　public。〃
〃But　your　honor　will　soon　be　called　so　generally。〃
〃I　hope　so；　at　least；〃　said　Cromwell；　rising　and　putting　on
his　cloak。
〃You　are　going；　sir？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Cromwell。　〃I　slept　here　last　night　and　the　night
before；　and　you　know　it　is　not　my　custom　to　sleep　three
times　in　the　same　bed。〃
〃Then；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃your　honor　gives　me　my　liberty　for
to…night？〃
〃And　even　for　all　day　to…morrow；　if　you　want　it。　Since　last
evening；〃　he　added；　smiling；　〃you　have　done　enough　in　my
service；　and　if　you　have　any　personal　matters　to　settle　it
is　just　that　I　should　give　you　time。〃
〃Thank　you；　sir；　it　will　be　well　employed；　I　hope。〃
Cromwell　turned　as　he　was　going。
〃Are　you　armed？〃　he　asked。
〃I　have　my　sword。〃
〃And　no　one　waiting　for　you　outside？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then　you　had　better　come　with　me。〃
〃Thank　you；　sir；　but　the　way　by　the　subterranean　passage
would　take　too　much　time　and　I　have　none　to　lose。〃
Cromwell　placed　his　hand　on　a　hidden　handle　and　opened　a
door　so　well　concealed　by　the　tapestry　that　the　most
practiced　eye　could　not　have　discovered　it。　It　closed　after
him　with　a　spring。　This　door　communicated　with　a
subterranean　passage；　leading　under　the　street　to　a　grotto
in　the　garden　of　a　house　about　a　hundred　yards　from　that　of
the　future　Protector。
It　was　just　before　this　that　Grimaud　had　perceived　the　two
men　seated　together。
D'Artagnan　was　the　first　to　recover　from　his　surprise。
〃Mordaunt；〃　he　cried。　〃Ah！　by　Heaven！　it　is　God　Himself　who
sent　us　here。〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Porthos；　〃let　us　break　the　door　in　and　fall　upon
him。〃
〃No；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　〃no　noise。　Now；　Grimaud；　you　come
here；　climb　up　to　the　window　again　and　tell　us　if　Mordaunt
is　alone　and　whether　he　is　preparing　to　go　out　or　go　to　bed。
If　he　comes　out　we　shall　catch　him。　If　he　stays　in　we　will
break　in　the　window。　It　is　easier　and　less　noisy　than　the
door。〃
Grimaud　began　to　scale　the　wall　again。
〃Keep　guard　at　the　other　door；　Athos　and　Aramis。　Porthos　and
I　will　stay　here。〃
The　friends　obeyed。
〃He　is　alone；〃　said　Grimaud。
〃We　did　not　see　his　companion　come　out。〃
〃He　may　have　gone　by　the　other　door。〃
〃What　is　he　doing？〃
〃Putting　on　his　cloak　and　gloves。〃
〃He's　ours；〃　muttered　D'Artagnan。
Porthos　mechanically　drew　his　dagger　from　the　scabbard。
〃Put　it　up　again；　my　friend；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃We　must
proceed　in　an　orderly　manner。〃
〃Hush！〃　said　Grimaud；　〃he　is　coming　out。　He　has　put　out　the
lamp；　I　can　see　nothing　now。〃
〃Get　down　then　and　quickly。〃
Grimaud　leaped　down。　The　snow　deadened　the　noise　of　his
fall。
〃Now　go　and　tell　Athos　and　Aramis　to　stand　on　each　side　of
the　door　and　clap　their　hands　if　they　catch　him。　We　will　do
the　same。〃
The　next　moment　the　door　opened　and　Mordaunt　appeared　on　the
threshold；　face　to　face　with　D'Artagnan。　Porthos　clapped　his
hands　and　the　other　two　came　running　around。　Mordaunt　was
livid；　but　he　uttered　no　cry　nor　called　for　assistance。
D'Artagnan　quietly　pushed　him　in　again；　and　by　the　light　of
a　lamp　on　the　staircase　made　him　ascend　the　steps　backward
one　by　one；　keeping　his　eyes　all　the　time　on　Mordaunt's
hands；　who；　however；　knowing　that　it　was　useless；　attempted
no　resistance。　At　last　they　stood　face　to　face　in　the　very
room　where　ten　minutes　before　Mordaunt　had　been　talking　to
Cromwell。
Porthos　came　up　behind；　and　unhooking　the　lamp　on　the
staircase　relit　that　in　the　room。　Athos　and　Aramis　entered
last　and　locked　the　door　behind　them。
〃Oblige　me　by　taking　a　seat；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　pushing　a
chair　toward　Mordaunt；　who　sat　down；　pale　but　calm。　Aramis；
Porthos　and　D'Artagnan　drew　their　chairs　near　him。　Athos
alone　kept　away　and　sat　in　the　furthest　corner　of　the　room；
as　if　determined　to　be　merely　a　spectator　of　the
proceedings。　He　seemed　to　be　quite　overcome。　Porthos　rubbed
his　hands　in　feverish　impatience。　Aramis　bit　his　lips　till
the　blood　came。
D'Artagnan　alone　was　calm；　at　least　in　appearance。
〃Monsieur　Mordaunt；〃　he　said；　〃since；　after　running　after
one　another　so　long；　chance　has　at　last　brought　us　together；
let　us　have　a　little　conversation；　if　you　please。〃

69
Conversational。

Though　Mordaunt　had　been　so　completely　taken　by　surprise　and
had　mounted　the　stairs　in　such　utter　confusion；　when　once
seated　he　recovered　himself；　as　it　were；　and　prepared　to
seize　any　possible　opportunity　of　escape。　His　eye　wandered
to　a　long　stout　sword　on　his　flank　and　he　instinctively
slipped　it　around　within　reach　of　his　right　hand。
D'Artagnan　was　waiting　for　a　reply　to　his　remark　and　said
nothing。　Aramis　muttered　to　himself；　〃We　shall　hear　nothing
but　the　usual　commonplace　things。〃
Porthos　sucked　his　mustache；　muttering；　〃A　good　deal　of
ceremony　to…night　about　crushing　an　adder。〃　Athos　shrunk
into　his　corner；　pale　and　motionless　as　a　bas…relief。
The　silence；　however；　could　not　last　forever。　So　D'Artagnan
began：
〃Sir；〃　he　said；　with　desperate　politeness；　〃it　seems　to　me
that　you　change　your　costume　almost　as　rapidly　as　I　have
seen　the　Italian　mummers　do；　whom　the　Cardinal　Mazarin
brought　over　from　Bergamo　and　whom　he　doubtless　took　you　to
see　during　your　travels　in　France。〃
Mordaunt　did　not　reply。
〃Just　now；〃　D'Artagnan　continued；　〃you　were　disguised　　I
mean　to　say；　attired　　as　a　murderer；　and　now　　〃
〃And　now　I　look　very　much　like　a　man　who　is　going　to　be
murdered。〃
〃Oh！　sir；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃how　can　you　talk　like　that　when
you　are　in　th