twenty years after(二十年后)-第57章

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all。〃
Athos　smiled　with　ineffable　pleasure。
〃'Tis　then　all　settled。　Gentlemen；　your　hands；　are　we　not
pretty　good　Christians？〃
〃Egad！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃by　Heaven！　yes。〃
〃We　should　be　so　on　this　occasion；　if　only　to　be　faithful　to
our　oath；〃　said　Aramis。
〃Ah；　I'm　ready　to　do　what　you　will；〃　cried　Porthos；　〃even　to
swear　by　Mahomet。　Devil　take　me　if　I've　ever　been　so　happy
as　at　this　moment。〃
And　he　wiped　his　eyes；　still　moist。
〃Has　not　one　of　you　a　cross？〃　asked　Athos。
Aramis　smiled　and　drew　from　his　vest　a　cross　of　diamonds；
which　was　hung　around　his　neck　by　a　chain　of　pearls。　〃Here
is　one；〃　he　said。
〃Well；〃　resumed　Athos；　〃swear　on　this　cross；　which；　in　spite
of　its　magnificent　material；　is　still　a　cross；　swear　to　be
united　in　spite　of　everything；　and　forever；　and　may　this
oath　bind　us　to　each　other；　and　even；　also；　our　descendants！
Does　this　oath　satisfy　you？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　they　all；　with　one　accord。
〃Ah；　traitor！〃　muttered　D'Artagnan；　leaning　toward　Aramis
and　whispering　in　his　ear；　〃you　have　made　us　swear　on　the
crucifix　of　a　Frondeuse。〃

29
The　Ferry　across　the　Oise。

We　hope　that　the　reader　has　not　quite　forgotten　the　young
traveler　whom　we　left　on　the　road　to　Flanders。
In　losing　sight　of　his　guardian；　whom　he　had　quitted；　gazing
after　him　in　front　of　the　royal　basilican；　Raoul　spurred　on
his　horse；　in　order　not　only　to　escape　from　his　own
melancholy　reflections；　but　also　to　hide　from　Olivain　the
emotion　his　face　might　betray。
One　hour's　rapid　progress；　however；　sufficed　to　disperse　the
gloomy　fancies　that　had　clouded　the　young　man's　bright
anticipations；　and　the　hitherto　unfelt　pleasure　of　freedom
　a　pleasure　which　is　sweet　even　to　those　who　have　never
known　dependence　　seemed　to　Raoul　to　gild　not　only　Heaven
and　earth；　but　especially　that　blue　but　dim　horizon　of　life
we　call　the　future。
Nevertheless；　after　several　attempts　at　conversation　with
Olivain　he　foresaw　that　many　days　passed　thus　would　prove
exceedingly　dull；　and　the　count's　agreeable　voice；　his
gentle　and　persuasive　eloquence；　recurred　to　his　mind　at　the
various　towns　through　which　they　journeyed　and　about　which
he　had　no　longer　any　one　to　give　him　those　interesting
details　which　he　would　have　drawn　from　Athos；　the　most
amusing　and　the　best　informed　of　guides。　Another
recollection　contributed　also　to　sadden　Raoul：　on　their
arrival　at　Sonores　he　had　perceived；　hidden　behind　a　screen
of　poplars；　a　little　chateau　which　so　vividly　recalled　that
of　La　Valliere　to　his　mind　that　he　halted　for　nearly　ten
minutes　to　gaze　at　it；　and　resumed　his　journey　with　a　sigh
too　abstracted　even　to　reply　to　Olivain's　respectful　inquiry
about　the　cause　of　so　much　fixed　attention。　The　aspect　of
external　objects　is　often　a　mysterious　guide　communicating
with　the　fibres　of　memory；　which　in　spite　of　us　will　arouse
them　at　times；　this　thread；　like　that　of　Ariadne；　when　once
unraveled　will　conduct　one　through　a　labyrinth　of　thought；
in　which　one　loses　one's　self　in　endeavoring　to　follow　that
phantom　of　the　past　which　is　called　recollection。
Now　the　sight　of　this　chateau　had　taken　Raoul　back　fifty
leagues　westward　and　had　caused　him　to　review　his　life　from
the　moment　when　he　had　taken　leave　of　little　Louise　to　that
in　which　he　had　seen　her　for　the　first　time；　and　every
branch　of　oak；　every　gilded　weathercock　on　roof　of　slates；
reminded　him　that；　instead　of　returning　to　the　friends　of
his　childhood；　every　instant　estranged　him　further　and　that
perhaps　he　had　even　left　them　forever。
With　a　full　heart　and　burning　head　he　desired　Olivain　to
lead　on　the　horses　to　a　wayside　inn；　which　he　observed
within　gunshot　range；　a　little　in　advance　of　the　place　they
had　reached。
As　for　himself；　he　dismounted　and　remained　under　a　beautiful
group　of　chestnuts　in　flower；　amidst　which　were　murmuring　a
multitude　of　happy　bees；　and　bade　Olivain　send　the　host　to
him　with　writing　paper　and　ink；　to　be　placed　on　a　table
which　he　found　there；　conveniently　ready。　Olivain　obeyed　and
continued　on　his　way；　whilst　Raoul　remained　sitting；　with
his　elbow　leaning　on　the　table；　from　time　to　time　gently
shaking　the　flowers　from　his　head；　which　fell　upon　him　like
snow；　and　gazing　vaguely　on　the　charming　landscape　spread
out　before　him；　dotted　over　with　green　fields　and　groups　of
trees。　Raoul　had　been　there　about　ten　minutes；　during　five
of　which　he　was　lost　in　reverie；　when　there　appeared　within
the　circle　comprised　in　his　rolling　gaze　a　man　with　a
rubicund　face；　who；　with　a　napkin　around　his　body；　another
under　his　arm；　and　a　white　cap　upon　his　head；　approached
him；　holding　paper；　pen　and　ink　in　hand。
〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　the　apparition；　〃every　gentleman　seems　to
have　the　same　fancy；　for　not　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago　a
young　lad；　well　mounted　like　you；　as　tall　as　you　and　of
about　your　age；　halted　before　this　clump　of　trees　and　had
this　table　and　this　chair　brought　here；　and　dined　here；　with
an　old　gentleman　who　seemed　to　be　his　tutor；　upon　a　pie；　of
which　they　haven't　left　a　mouthful；　and　two　bottles　of　Macon
wine；　of　which　they　haven't　left　a　drop；　but　fortunately　we
have　still　some　of　the　same　wine　and　some　of　the　same　pies
left；　and　if　your　worship　will　but　give　your　orders　　〃
〃No；　friend　〃　replied　Raoul；　smiling；　〃I　am　obliged　to　you；
but　at　this　moment　I　want　nothing　but　the　things　for　which　I
have　asked　　only　I　shall　be　very　glad　if　the　ink　prove
black　and　the　pen　good；　upon　these　conditions　I　will　pay　for
the　pen　the　price　of　the　bottle；　and　for　the　ink　the　price
of　the　pie。〃
〃Very　well；　sir；〃　said　the　host；　〃I'll　give　the　pie　and　the
bottle　of　wine　to　your　servant；　and　in　this　way　you　will
have　the　pen　and　ink　into　the　bargain。〃
〃Do　as　you　like；〃　said　Raoul；　who　was　beginning　his
apprenticeship　with　that　particular　class　of　society；　who；
when　there　were　robbers　on　the　highroads；　were　connected
with　them；　and　who；　since　highwaymen　no　longer　exist；　have
advantageously　and　aptly　filled　their　vacant　place。
The　host；　his　mind　at　ease　about　his　bill；　placed　pen；　ink
and　paper　upon　the　table。　By　a　lucky　chance　the　pen　was
tolerably　good　and　Raoul　began　to　write。　The　host　remained
standing　in　front　of　him；　looking　with　a　kind　of　involuntary
admiration　at　his　handsome　face；　combining　both　gravity　and
sweetness　of　expression。　Beauty　has　always　been　and　always
will　be　all…powerful。
〃He's　not　a　guest　like　the　other　one　here　just　now；〃
observed　mine　host　to　Olivain；　who　had　rejoined　his　master
to　see　if　he　wanted　anything；　〃and　your　young　master　has　no
appetite。〃
〃My　master　had　appetite　enough　three　days　ago；　but　what　can
one　do？　he　lost　it　the　day　before　yesterday。〃
And　Olivain　and　the　host　took　their　way　together　toward　the
inn；　Olivain；　according　to　the　custom　of　serving…men　well
pleased　with　their　place；　relating　to　the　tavern…keeper　all
that　he　could　say　in　favor　of　the　young　gentleman；　whilst
Raoul　wrote　on　thus：

〃Sir；　　After　a　four　hours'　march　I　stop　to　write　to　you；
for　I　miss　you　every　moment；　and　I　am　always　on　the　point　of
turning　my　head　as　if　to　reply　when　you　speak　to　me。　I　was
so　bewildered　by　your　departure　and　so　overcome　with　grief
at　our　separation；　that　I　am　sure　I　was　able　to　but　very
feebly　express　all　the　affection　and　gratitude　I　feel　toward
you。　You　will　forgive　me；　sir；　for　your　heart　is　of　such　a
generous　nature　that　you　can　well　understand　all　that　has
passed　in　mine。　I　entreat　you　to　write　to　me；　for　you　form　a
part　of　my　existence；　and；　if　I　may　venture　to　tell　you　so；
I　also　feel　anxious。　It　seemed　to　me　as　if　you　were　yourself
preparing　for　some　dangerous　undertaking；　about　which　I　did
not　dare　to　question　you；　since　you　told　me　nothing。　I　have；
therefore；　as　you　see；　great　need　of　hearing　from　you。　Now
that　you　are　no　longer　beside　me　I　am　afraid　every　moment　of
erring。　You　sustained　me　powerfully；　sir；　and　I　protest　to
you　that　to…day　I　feel　very　lonely。　Will　you　have　the
goodness；　sir；　should　you　receive　news　from　Blois；　to　send
me　a　few　lines　about　my　little　friend　Mademoiselle　de　la
Valliere；　about　whose　health；　when　we　left；　so　much　anxiety
was　felt？　You　can　understand；　honored　and　dear　guardian；　how
precious　and　indispensable　to　me　is　the　remembrance