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第43章

twenty years after(二十年后)-第43章

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give up seeing the coadjutor; because he thinks ill of
another man。 Impossible!〃
The conversation had rested there and Scarron; through sheer
obstinacy; had seen Monsieur de Gondy only the more
frequently。
Now; the very morning of which we speak was that of his
quarter…day payment; and Scarron; as usual; had sent his
servant to get his money at the pension…office; but the man
had returned and said that the government had no more money
to give Monsieur Scarron。
It was on Thursday; the abbe's reception day; people went
there in crowds。 The cardinal's refusal to pay the pension
was known about the town in half an hour and he was abused
with wit and vehemence。
In the Rue Saint Honore Athos fell in with two gentlemen
whom he did not know; on horseback like himself; followed by
a lackey like himself; and going in the same direction that
he was。 One of them; hat in hand; said to him:
〃Would you believe it; monsieur? that contemptible Mazarin
has stopped poor Scarron's pension。〃
〃That is unreasonable;〃 said Athos; saluting in his turn the
two cavaliers。 And they separated with courteous gestures。
〃It happens well that we are going there this evening;〃 said
Athos to the vicomte; 〃we will pay our compliments to that
poor man。〃
〃What; then; is this Monsieur Scarron; who thus puts all
Paris in commotion? Is he some minister out of office?〃
〃Oh; no; not at all; vicomte;〃 Athos replied; 〃he is simply
a gentleman of great genius who has fallen into disgrace
with the cardinal through having written certain verses
against him。〃
〃Do gentlemen; then; make verses?〃 asked Raoul; naively; 〃I
thought it was derogatory。〃
〃So it is; my dear vicomte;〃 said Athos; laughing; 〃to make
bad ones; but to make good ones increases fame  witness
Monsieur de Rotrou。 Nevertheless;〃 he continued; in the tone
of one who gives wholesome advice; 〃I think it is better not
to make them。〃
〃Then;〃 said Raoul; 〃this Monsieur Scarron is a poet?〃
〃Yes; you are warned; vicomte。 Consider well what you do in
that house。 Talk only by gestures; or rather always listen。〃
〃Yes; monsieur;〃 replied Raoul。
〃You will see me talking with one of my friends; the Abbe
d'Herblay; of whom you have often heard me speak。〃
〃I remember him; monsieur。〃
〃Come near to us from time to time; as if to speak; but do
not speak; and do not listen。 That little stratagem may
serve to keep off interlopers。〃
〃Very well; monsieur; I will obey you at all points。〃
Athos made two visits in Paris; at seven o'clock he and
Raoul directed their steps to the Rue des Tournelles; it was
stopped by porters; horses and footmen。 Athos forced his way
through and entered; followed by the young man。 The first
person that struck him on his entrance was Aramis; planted
near a great chair on castors; very large; covered with a
canopy of tapestry; under which there moved; enveloped in a
quilt of brocade; a little face; youngish; very merry;
somewhat pallid; whilst its eyes never ceased to express a
sentiment at once lively; intellectual; and amiable。 This
was the Abbe Scarron; always laughing; joking; complimenting
 yet suffering  and toying nervously with a small
switch。
Around this kind of rolling tent pressed a crowd of
gentlemen and ladies。 The room was neatly; comfortably
furnished。 Large valances of silk; embroidered with flowers
of gay colors; which were rather faded; fell from the wide
windows; the fittings of the room were simple; but in
excellent taste。 Two well trained servingmen were in
attendance on the company。 On perceiving Athos; Aramis
advanced toward him; took him by the hand and presented him
to Scarron。 Raoul remained silent; for he was not prepared
for the dignity of the bel esprit。
After some minutes the door opened and a footman announced
Mademoiselle Paulet。
Athos touched the shoulder of the vicomte。
〃Look at this lady; Raoul; she is an historic personage; it
was to visit her King Henry IV。 was going when he was
assassinated。〃
Every one thronged around Mademoiselle Paulet; for she was
always very much the fashion。 She was a tall woman; with a
slender figure and a forest of golden curls; such as Raphael
was fond of and Titian has painted all his Magdalens with。
This fawn…colored hair; or; perhaps the sort of ascendancy
which she had over other women; gave her the name of 〃La
Lionne。〃 Mademoiselle Paulet took her accustomed seat; but
before sitting down; she cast; in all her queen…like
grandeur; a look around the room; and her eyes rested on
Raoul。
Athos smiled。
〃Mademoiselle Paulet has observed you; vicomte; go and bow
to her; don't try to appear anything but what you are; a
true country youth; on no account speak to her of Henry IV。〃
〃When shall we two walk together?〃 Athos then said to
Aramis。
〃Presently  there are not a sufficient number of people
here yet; we shall be remarked。〃
At this moment the door opened and in walked the coadjutor。
At this name every one looked around; for his was already a
very celebrated name。 Athos did the same。 He knew the Abbe
de Gondy only by report。
He saw a little dark man; ill made and awkward with his
hands in everything  except drawing a sword and firing a
pistol  with something haughty and contemptuous in his
face。
Scarron turned around toward him and came to meet him in his
chair。
〃Well;〃 said the coadjutor; on seeing him; 〃you are in
disgrace; then; abbe?〃
This was the orthodox phrase。 It had been said that evening
a hundred times  and Scarron was at his hundredth bon mot
on the subject; he was very nearly at the end of his
humoristic tether; but one despairing effort saved him。
〃Monsieur; the Cardinal Mazarin has been so kind as to think
of me;〃 he said。
〃But how can you continue to receive us?〃 asked the
coadjutor; 〃if your income is lessened I shall be obliged to
make you a canon of Notre Dame。〃
〃Oh; no!〃 cried Scarron; 〃I should compromise you too much。〃
〃Perhaps you have resources of which we are ignorant?〃
〃I shall borrow from the queen。〃
〃But her majesty has no property;〃 interposed Aramis。
At this moment the door opened and Madame de Chevreuse was
announced。 Every one arose。 Scarron turned his chair toward
the door; Raoul blushed; Athos made a sign to Aramis; who
went and hid himself in the enclosure of a window。
In the midst of all the compliments that awaited her on her
entrance; the duchess seemed to be looking for some one; at
last she found out Raoul and her eyes sparkled; she
perceived Athos and became thoughtful; she saw Aramis in the
seclusion of the window and gave a start of surprise behind
her fan。
〃Apropos;〃 she said; as if to drive away thoughts that
pursued her in spite of herself; 〃how is poor Voiture; do
you know; Scarron?〃
〃What; is Monsieur Voiture ill?〃 inquired a gentleman who
had spoken to Athos in the Rue Saint Honore; 〃what is the
matter with him?〃
〃He was acting; but forgot to take the precaution to have a
change of linen ready after the performance;〃 said the
coadjutor; 〃so he took cold and is about to die。〃
〃Is he then so ill; dear Voiture?〃 asked Aramis; half hidden
by the window curtain。
〃Die!〃 cried Mademoiselle Paulet; bitterly; 〃he! Why; he is
surrounded by sultanas; like a Turk。 Madame de Saintot has
hastened to him with broth; La Renaudot warms his sheets;
the Marquise de Rambouillet sends him his tisanes。〃
〃You don't like him; my dear Parthenie;〃 said Scarron。
〃What an injustice; my dear invalid! I hate him so little
that I should be delighted to order masses for the repose of
his soul。〃
〃You are not called ‘Lionne' for nothing;〃 observed Madame
de Chevreuse; 〃your teeth are terrible。〃
〃You are unjust to a great poet; it seems to me;〃 Raoul
ventured to say。
〃A great poet! come; one may easily see; vicomte; that you
are lately from the provinces and have never so much as seen
him。 A great poet! he is scarcely five feet high。〃
〃Bravo bravo!〃 cried a tall man with an enormous mustache
and a long rapier; 〃bravo; fair Paulet; it is high time to
put little Voiture in his right place。 For my part; I always
thought his poetry detestable; and I think I know something
about poetry。〃
〃Who is this officer;〃 inquired Raoul of Athos; 〃who is
speaking?〃
〃Monsieur de Scudery; the author

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