twenty years after(二十年后)-第160章

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〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃you　have　me　in　a　snare；　gentlemen。　I
confess　myself　conquered。　You　wish　to　ask　for　liberty；　and
　I　give　it　you。〃
〃Oh；　my　lord！〃　answered　D'Artagnan；　〃you　are　too　good；　as　to
our　liberty；　we　have　that；　we　want　to　ask　something　else　of
you。〃
〃You　have　your　liberty？〃　repeated　Mazarin；　in　terror。
〃Certainly；　and　on　the　other　hand；　my　lord；　you　have　lost
it；　and　now；　in　accordance　with　the　law　of　war；　sir；　you
must　buy　it　back　again。〃
Mazarin　felt　a　shiver　run　through　him　　a　chill　even　to　his
heart's　core。　His　piercing　look　was　fixed　in　vain　on　the
satirical　face　of　the　Gascon　and　the　unchanging　countenance
of　Porthos。　Both　were　in　shadow　and　the　Sybil　of　Cuma
herself　could　not　have　read　them。
〃To　purchase　back　my　liberty？〃　said　the　cardinal。
〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
〃And　how　much　will　that　cost　me；　Monsieur　d'Artagnan？〃
〃Zounds；　my　lord；　I　don't　know　yet。　We　must　ask　the　Comte　de
la　Fere　the　question。　Will　your　eminence　deign　to　open　the
door　which　leads　to　the　count's　room；　and　in　ten　minutes　all
will　be　settled。〃
Mazarin　started。
〃My　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃your　eminence　sees　that　we　wish
to　act　with　all　formality　and　due　respect；　but　I　must　warn
you　that　we　have　no　time　to　lose；　open　the　door　then；　my
lord；　and　be　so　good　as　to　remember；　once　for　all；　that　on
the　slightest　attempt　to　escape　or　the　faintest　cry　for
help；　our　position　being　very　critical　indeed；　you　must　not
be　angry　with　us　if　we　go　to　extremities。〃
〃Be　assured；〃　answered　Mazarin；　〃that　I　shall　attempt
nothing；　I　give　you　my　word　of　honor。〃
D'Artagnan　made　a　sign　to　Porthos　to　redouble　his
watchfulness；　then　turning　to　Mazarin：
〃Now；　my　lord；　let　us　enter；　if　you　please。〃

86
Conferences。

Mazarin　turned　the　lock　of　a　double　door；　on　the　threshold
of　which　they　found　Athos　ready　to　receive　his　illustrious
guests　according　to　the　notice　Comminges　had　given　him。
On　perceiving　Mazarin　he　bowed。
〃Your　eminence；〃　he　said；　〃might　have　dispensed　with　your
attendants；　the　honor　bestowed　on　me　is　too　great　for　me　to
be　unmindful　of　it。〃
〃And　so；　my　dear　count；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃his　eminence
didn't　actually　insist　on　our　attending　him；　it　is　Du　Vallon
and　I　who　have　insisted；　and　even　in　a　manner　somewhat
impolite；　perhaps；　so　great　was　our　longing　to　see　you。〃
At　that　voice；　that　mocking　tone；　and　that　familiar　gesture；
accenting　voice　and　tone；　Athos　made　a　bound　of　surprise。
〃D'Artagnan！　Porthos！〃　he　exclaimed。
〃My　very　self；　dear　friend。〃
〃Me；　also！〃　repeated　Porthos。
〃What　means　this？〃　asked　the　count。
〃It　means；〃　replied　Mazarin；　trying　to　smile　and　biting　his
lips　in　the　attempt；　〃that　our　parts　are　changed；　and　that
instead　of　these　gentlemen　being　my　prisoners　I　am　theirs；
but；　gentlemen；　I　warn　you；　unless　you　kill　me；　your　victory
will　be　of　very　short　duration；　people　will　come　to　the
rescue。〃
〃Ah！　my　lord！〃　cried　the　Gascon；　〃don't　threaten！　'tis　a　bad
example。　We　are　so　good　and　gentle　to　your　eminence。　Come；
let　us　put　aside　all　rancor　and　talk　pleasantly。〃
〃There's　nothing　I　wish　more；〃　replied　Mazarin。　〃But　don't
think　yourselves　in　a　better　position　than　you　are。　In
ensnaring　me　you　have　fallen　into　the　trap　yourselves。　How
are　you　to　get　away　from　here？　remember　the　soldiers　and
sentinels　who　guard　these　doors。　Now；　I　am　going　to　show　you
how　sincere　I　am。〃
〃Good；〃　thought　D'Artagnan；　〃we　must　look　about　us；　he's
going　to　play　us　a　trick。〃
〃I　offered　you　your　liberty；〃　continued　the　minister；　〃will
you　take　it？　Before　an　hour　has　passed　you　will　be
discovered；　arrested；　obliged　to　kill　me；　which　would　be　a
crime　unworthy　of　loyal　gentlemen　like　you。〃
〃He　is　right；〃　thought　Athos。
And；　like　every　other　reflection　passing　in　a　mind　that
entertained　none　but　noble　thoughts；　this　feeling　was
expressed　in　his　eyes。
〃And　therefore；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　to　clip　the　hope　which
Athos's　tacit　adhesion　had　imparted　to　Mazarin；　〃we　shall
not　proceed　to　that　violence　save　in　the　last　extremity。〃
〃If　on　the　contrary；〃　resumed　Mazarin；　〃you　accept　your
liberty　　〃
〃Why　you；　my　lord；　might　take　it　away　from　us　in　less　than
five　minutes　afterward；　and　from　my　knowledge　of　you　I
believe　you　will　so　take　it　away　from　us。〃
〃No　　on　the　faith　of　a　cardinal。　You　do　not　believe　me？〃
〃My　lord；　I　never　believe　cardinals　who　are　not　priests。〃
〃Well；　on　the　faith　of　a　minister。〃
〃You　are　no　longer　a　minister；　my　lord；　you　are　a　prisoner。〃
〃Then；　on　the　honor　of　a　Mazarin；　as　I　am　and　ever　shall　be；
I　hope；〃　said　the　cardinal。
〃Hem；〃　replied　D'Artagnan。　〃I　have　heard　speak　of　a　Mazarin
who　had　not　much　religion　when　his　oaths　were　in　question。　I
fear　he　may　have　been　an　ancestor　of　your　eminence。〃
〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan；　you　are　a　great　wit　and　I　am　really
sorry　to　be　on　bad　terms　with　you。〃
〃My　lord；　let　us　come　to　terms；　I　ask　nothing　better。〃
〃Very　well；〃　said　Mazarin；　〃if　I　place　you　in　security；　in　a
manner　evident；　palpable　　〃
〃Ah！　that　is　another　thing；〃　said　Porthos。
〃Let　us　see；〃　said　Athos。
〃Let　us　see；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃In　the　first　place；　do　you　accept？〃　asked　the　cardinal。
〃Unfold　your　plan；　my　lord；　and　we　will　see。〃
〃Take　notice　that　you　are　shut　up　　captured。〃
〃You　well　know；　my　lord；　that　there　always　remains　to　us　a
last　resource。〃
〃What？〃
〃That　of　dying　together。〃
Mazarin　shuddered。
〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃at　the　end　of　yonder　corridor　is　a　door；
of　which　I　have　the　key；　it　leads　into　the　park。　Go；　and
take　this　key　with　you；　you　are　active；　vigorous；　and　you
have　arms。　At　a　hundred　steps；　on　turning　to　the　left；　you
will　find　the　wall　of　the　park；　get　over　it；　and　in　three
leaps　you　will　be　on　the　road　and　free。〃
〃Ah！　by　Jove；　my　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃you　have　well
said；　but　these　are　only　words。　Where　is　the　key　you　speak
of？〃
〃Here　it　is。〃
〃Ah；　my　lord！　You　will　conduct　us　yourself；　then；　to　that
door？〃
〃Very　willingly；　if　it　be　necessary　to　reassure　you；〃
answered　the　minister；　and　Mazarin；　who　was　delighted　to　get
off　so　cheaply；　led　the　way；　in　high　spirits；　to　the
corridor　and　opened　the　door。
It　led　into　the　park；　as　the　three　fugitives　perceived　by
the　night　breeze　which　rushed　into　the　corridor　and　blew　the
wind　into　their　faces。
〃The　devil！〃　exclaimed　the　Gascon；　〃'tis　a　dreadful　night；
my　lord。　We　don't　know　the　locality；　and　shall　never　find
the　wall。　Since　your　eminence　has　come　so　far；　come　a　few
steps　further；　conduct　us；　my　lord；　to　the　wall。〃
〃Be　it　so；〃　replied　the　cardinal；　and　walking　in　a　straight
line　he　went　to　the　wall；　at　the　foot　of　which　they　all　four
arrived　at　the　same　instant。
〃Are　you　satisfied；　gentlemen？〃　asked　Mazarin。
〃I　think　so；　indeed；　we　should　be　hard　to　please　if　we　were
not。　Deuce　take　it！　three　poor　gentlemen　escorted　by　a
prince　of　the　church！　Ah！　apropos；　my　lord！　you　remarked
that　we　were　all　active；　vigorous　and　armed。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You　are　mistaken。　Monsieur　du　Vallon　and　I　are　the　only　two
who　are　armed。　The　count　is　not；　and　should　we　meet　with　one
of　your　patrol　we　must　defend　ourselves。〃
〃'Tis　true。〃
〃Where　can　we　find　another　sword？〃　asked　Porthos。
〃My　lord；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃will　lend　his；　which　is　of　no
use　to　him；　to　the　Comte　de　la　Fere。〃
〃Willingly；〃　said　the　cardinal；　〃I　will　even　ask　the　count
to　keep　it　for　my　sake。〃
〃I　promise　you；　my　lord；　never　to　part　with　it；〃　replied
Athos。
〃Well；　well；〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃this　reconciliation　is
truly　touching；　have　you　not　tears　in　your　eyes；　Porthos？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　Porthos；　〃but　I　do　not　know　if　it　is　feeling　or
the　wind　that　makes　me　weep；　I　think　it　is　the　wind。〃
〃Now　climb　up；　Athos；　quickly；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　Athos；
assisted　by　Porthos；　who　lifted　him　up　like　a　feather；
arrived　at　the　top。
〃Now；　jump　down；　Athos。〃
Athos　jumped　and　disappeared　on　the　other　side　of　the　wall。
〃Are　you　on　the　ground？〃　asked　D'Artagnan。
〃Yes。〃
〃Without　accident？〃
〃Perfectly　safe　and　sound。〃
〃Porthos；　whilst　I　get　up；　watch　the　cardinal。　No；　I　don't
want　your　help；　watch　the　cardinal。〃
〃I　am　watching；〃　said　Porthos。　〃Well？〃
〃You　are　right；　it　is　more　difficult　than　I　thought。　Lend　me
your　back　　but　don't　let　the　cardinal　go。〃
Porthos　lent　him　his　back　and　D'Artagnan　was　soon　on　the
summit　of　the　wall；　where　he　seate