twenty years after(二十年后)-第39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！


wished　to　fly　away。　For　a　time　these　wings　supported　him；
but　when　he　reached　a　certain　height　this　new　aid　failed
him。　His　wings　were　broken　and　he　seemed　to　sink　into　a
bottomless　abyss；　whence　he　awoke；　bathed　in　perspiration
and　nearly　as　much　overcome　as　if　he　had　really　fallen。　He
fell　asleep　again　and　another　vision　appeared。　He　was　in　a
subterranean　passage　by　which　he　was　to　leave　Vincennes。
Grimaud　was　walking　before　him　with　a　lantern。　By　degrees
the　passage　narrowed；　yet　the　duke　continued　his　course。　At
last　it　became　so　narrow　that　the　fugitive　tried　in　vain　to
proceed。　The　sides　of　the　walls　seem　to　close　in；　even　to
press　against　him。　He　made　fruitless　efforts　to　go　on；　it
was　impossible。　Nevertheless；　he　still　saw　Grimaud　with　his
lantern　in　front；　advancing。　He　wished　to　call　out　to　him
but　could　not　utter　a　word。　Then　at　the　other　extremity　he
heard　the　footsteps　of　those　who　were　pursuing　him。　These
steps　came　on；　came　fast。　He　was　discovered；　all　hope　of
flight　was　gone。　Still　the　walls　seemed　to　be　closing　on
him；　they　appeared　to　be　in　concert　with　his　enemies。　At
last　he　heard　the　voice　of　La　Ramee。　La　Ramee　took　his　hand
and　laughed　aloud。　He　was　captured　again；　and　conducted　to
the　low　and　vaulted　chamber；　in　which　Ornano；　Puylaurens；
and　his　uncle　had　died。　Their　three　graves　were　there；
rising　above　the　ground；　and　a　fourth　was　also　there；
yawning　for　its　ghastly　tenant。
The　duke　was　obliged　to　make　as　many　efforts　to　awake　as　he
had　done　to　go　to　sleep；　and　La　Ramee　found　him　so　pale　and
fatigued　that　he　inquired　whether　he　was　ill。
〃In　fact；〃　said　one　of　the　guards　who　had　remained　in　the
chamber　and　had　been　kept　awake　by　a　toothache；　brought　on
by　the　dampness　of　the　atmosphere；　〃my　lord　has　had　a　very
restless　night　and　two　or　three　times；　while　dreaming；　he
called　for　help。〃
〃What　is　the　matter　with　your　highness？〃　asked　La　Ramee。
〃'Tis　your　fault；　you　simpleton；〃　answered　the　duke。　〃With
your　idle　nonsense　yesterday　about　escaping；　you　worried　me
so　that　I　dreamed　that　I　was　trying　to　escape　and　broke　my
neck　in　doing　so。〃
La　Ramee　laughed。
〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃'tis　a　warning　from　Heaven。　Never　commit
such　an　imprudence　as　to　try　to　escape；　except　in　your
dreams。〃
〃And　you　are　right；　my　dear　La　Ramee；〃　said　the　duke；　wiping
away　the　sweat　that　stood　on　his　brow；　wide　awake　though　he
was；　〃after　this　I　will　think　of　nothing　but　eating　and
drinking。〃
〃Hush！〃　said　La　Ramee；　and　one　by　one　he　sent　away　the
guards；　on　various　pretexts。
〃Well？〃　asked　the　duke　when　they　were　alone。
〃Well！〃　replied　La　Ramee；　〃your　supper　is　ordered。〃
〃Ah！　and　what　is　it　to　be？　Monsieur；　my　majordomo；　will
there　be　a　pie？〃
〃I　should　think　so；　indeed　　almost　as　high　as　a　tower。〃
〃You　told　him　it　was　for　me？〃
〃Yes；　and　he　said　he　would　do　his　best　to　please　your
highness。〃
〃Good！〃　exclaimed　the　duke；　rubbing　his　hands。
〃Devil　take　it；　my　lord！　what　a　gourmand　you　are　growing；　I
haven't　seen　you　with　so　cheerful　a　face　these　five　years。〃
The　duke　saw　that　he　had　not　controlled　himself　as　he　ought；
but　at　that　moment；　as　if　he　had　listened　at　the　door　and
comprehended　the　urgent　need　of　diverting　La　Ramee's　ideas；
Grimaud　entered　and　made　a　sign　to　La　Ramee　that　he　had
something　to　say　to　him。
La　Ramee　drew　near　to　Grimaud；　who　spoke　to　him　in　a　low
voice。
The　duke　meanwhile　recovered　his　self…control。
〃I　have　already　forbidden　that　man；〃　he　said；　〃to　come　in
here　without　my　permission。〃
〃You　must　pardon　him；　my　lord；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃for　I
directed　him　to　come。〃
〃And　why　did　you　so　direct　when　you　know　that　he　displeases
me？〃
〃My　lord　will　remember　that　it　was　agreed　between　us　that　he
should　wait　upon　us　at　that　famous　supper。　My　lord　has
forgotten　the　supper。〃
〃No；　but　I　have　forgotten　Monsieur　Grimaud。〃
〃My　lord　understands　that　there　can　be　no　supper　unless　he
is　allowed　to　be　present。〃
〃Go　on；　then；　have　it　your　own　way。〃
〃Come　here；　my　lad；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃and　hear　what　I　have　to
say。〃
Grimaud　approached；　with　a　very　sullen　expression　on　his
face。
La　Ramee　continued：　〃My　lord　has　done　me　the　honor　to　invite
me　to　a　supper　to…morrow　en　tete…a…tete。〃
Grimaud　made　a　sign　which　meant　that　he　didn't　see　what　that
had　to　do　with　him。
〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃the　matter　concerns　you；　for　you
will　have　the　honor　to　serve　us；　and　besides；　however　good
an　appetite　we　may　have　and　however　great　our　thirst；　there
will　be　something　left　on　the　plates　and　in　the　bottles；　and
that　something　will　be　yours。〃
Grimaud　bowed　in　thanks。
〃And　now；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃I　must　ask　your　highness's
pardon；　but　it　seems　that　Monsieur　de　Chavigny　is　to　be　away
for　a　few　days　and　he　has　sent　me　word　that　he　has　certain
directions　to　give　me　before　his　departure。〃
The　duke　tried　to　exchange　a　glance　with　Grimaud；　but　there
was　no　glance　in　Grimaud's　eyes。
〃Go；　then；〃　said　the　duke；　〃and　return　as　soon　as　possible。〃
〃Does　your　highness　wish　to　take　revenge　for　the　game　of
tennis　yesterday？〃
Grimaud　intimated　by　a　scarcely　perceptible　nod　that　he
should　consent。
〃Yes；〃　said　the　duke；　〃but　take　care；　my　dear　La　Ramee；　for
I　propose　to　beat　you　badly。〃
La　Ramee　went　out。　Grimaud　looked　after　him；　and　when　the
door　was　closed　he　drew　out　of　his　pocket　a　pencil　and　a
sheet　of　paper。
〃Write；　my　lord；〃　he　said。
〃And　what？〃
Grimaud　dictated。
〃All　is　ready　for　to…morrow　evening。　Keep　watch　from　seven
to　nine。　Have　two　riding　horses　ready。　We　shall　descend　by
the　first　window　in　the　gallery。〃
〃What　next？〃
〃Sign　your　name；　my　lord。〃
The　duke　signed。
〃Now；　my　lord；　give　me；　if　you　have　not　lost　it；　the　ball　
that　which　contained　the　letter。〃
The　duke　took　it　from　under　his　pillow　and　gave　it　to
Grimaud。　Grimaud　gave　a　grim　smile。
〃Well？〃　asked　the　duke。
〃Well；　my　lord；　I　sew　up　the　paper　in　the　ball　and　you；　in
your　game　of　tennis；　will　send　the　ball　into　the　ditch。〃
〃But　will　it　not　be　lost？〃
〃Oh　no；　there　will　be　some　one　at　hand　to　pick　it　up。〃
〃A　gardener？〃
Grimaud　nodded。
〃The　same　as　yesterday？〃
Another　nod　on　the　part　of　Grimaud。
〃The　Count　de　Rochefort？〃
Grimaud　nodded　the　third　time。
〃Come；　now；〃　said　the　duke；　〃give　some　particulars　of　the
plan　for　our　escape。〃
〃That　is　forbidden　me；〃　said　Grimaud；　〃until　the　last
moment。〃
〃Who　will　be　waiting　for　me　beyond　the　ditch？〃
〃I　know　nothing　about　it；　my　lord。〃
〃But　at　least；　if　you　don't　want　to　see　me　turn　crazy；　tell
what　that　famous　pate　will　contain。〃
〃Two　poniards；　a　knotted　rope　and　a　poire　d'angoisse。〃*

*This　poire　d'angoisse　was　a　famous　gag；　in　the　form　of　a
pear；　which；　being　thrust　into　the　mouth；　by　the　aid　of　a
spring；　dilated；　so　as　to　distend　the　jaws　to　their　greatest
width。

〃Yes；　I　understand。〃
〃My　lord　observes　that　there　will　be　enough　to　go　around。〃
〃We　shall　take　to　ourselves　the　poniards　and　the　rope；〃
replied　the　duke。
〃And　make　La　Ramee　eat　the　pear；〃　answered　Grimaud。
〃My　dear　Grimaud；　thou　speakest　seldom；　but　when　thou　dost；
one　must　do　thee　justice　　thy　words　are　words　of　gold。〃

20
One　of　Marie　Michon's　Adventures。

Whilst　these　projects　were　being　formed　by　the　Duc　de
Beaufort　and　Grimaud；　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　and　the　Vicomte
de　Bragelonne　were　entering　Paris　by　the　Rue　du　Faubourg
Saint　Marcel。
They　stopped　at　the　sign　of　the　Fox；　in　the　Rue　du　Vieux
Colombier；　a　tavern　known　for　many　years　by　Athos；　and　asked
for　two　bedrooms。
〃You　must　dress　yourself；　Raoul；〃　said　Athos；　〃I　am　going　to
present　you　to　some　one。〃
〃To…day；　monsieur？〃　asked　the　young　man。
〃In　half　an　hour。〃
The　young　man　bowed。　Perhaps；　not　being　endowed　with　the
endurance　of　Athos；　who　seemed　to　be　made　of　iron；　he　would
have　preferred　a　bath　in　the　river　Seine　of　which　he　had
heard　so　much；　and　afterward　his　bed；　but　the　Comte　de　la
Fere　had　spoken　and　he　had　no　thought　but　to　obey。
〃By　the　way；〃　said　Athos；　〃take　some　pains　with　your　toilet；
Raoul；　I　want　you　to　be　approved。〃
〃I　hope；　sir；〃　replied　the　youth；　smiling；　〃that　there's　no
idea　of　a　marriage　for　me；　you　know　of　my　engagement　to
Louise？〃
Athos；　in　his　turn；　smiled　also。
〃No；　don't　be　alarmed；　although　it　is　to　a　lady　that　I　am
going　to　present　you；　and　I　am　anxious　that　you