twenty years after(二十年后)-第68章

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was　endured　by　a　town　taken　by　assault。
The　prince　assigned　to　every　one　his　post。　Marshal　de
Grammont　was　to　hold　the　extreme　left；　resting　on　Mericourt。
The　Duc　de　Chatillon　commanded　the　centre。　Finally；　the
prince　led　the　right　wing；　resting　on　Aunay。　The　order　of
battle　on　the　morrow　was　to　be　that　of　the　positions　taken
in　the　evening。　Each　one；　on　awaking；　would　find　himself　on
the　field　of　battle。
The　movement　was　executed　in　silence　and　with　precision。　At
ten　o'clock　every　one　was　in　his　appointed　position；　at
half…past　ten　the　prince　visited　the　posts　and　gave　his
final　orders　for　the　following　day。
Three　things　were　especially　urged　upon　the　officers；　who
were　to　see　that　the　soldiers　observed　them　scrupulously：
the　first；　that　the　different　corps　should　so　march　that
cavalry　and　infantry　should　be　on　the　same　line　and　that
each　body　should　protect　its　gaps；　the　second；　to　go　to　the
charge　no　faster　than　a　walk；　the　third；　to　let　the　enemy
fire　first。
The　prince　assigned　the　Count　de　Guiche　to　his　father　and
kept　Bragelonne　near　his　own　person；　but　the　two　young　men
sought　the　privilege　of　passing　the　night　together　and　it
was　accorded　them。　A　tent　was　erected　for　them　near　that　of
the　marshal。
Although　the　day　had　been　fatiguing；　neither　of　them　was
inclined　to　sleep。　And　besides；　even　for　old　soldiers　the
evening　before　a　battle　is　a　serious　time；　it　was　so　with
greater　reason　to　two　young　men　who　were　about　to　witness
for　the　first　time　that　terrible　spectacle。　On　the　evening
before　a　battle　one　thinks　of　a　thousand　things　forgotten
till　then；　those　who　are　indifferent　to　one　another　become
friends　and　those　who　are　friends　become　brothers。　It　need
not　be　said　that　if　in　the　depths　of　the　heart　there　is　a
sentiment　more　tender；　it　reaches　then；　quite　naturally；　the
highest　exaltation　of　which　it　is　capable。　Some　sentiment　of
this　kind　must　have　been　cherished　by　each　one　of　these　two
friends；　for　each　of　them　almost　immediately　sat　down　by
himself　at　an　end　of　the　tent　and　began　to　write。
The　letters　were　long　　the　four　pages　were　covered　with
closely　written　words。　The　writers　sometimes　looked　up　at
each　other　and　smiled；　they　understood　without　speaking；
their　organizations　were　so　delicate　and　sympathetic。　The
letters　being　finished；　each　put　his　own　into　two　envelopes；
so　that　no　one；　without　tearing　the　first　envelope；　could
discover　to　whom　the　second　was　addressed；　then　they　drew
near　to　each　other　and　smilingly　exchanged　their　letters。
〃In　case　any　evil　should　happen　to　me；〃　said　Bragelonne。
〃In　case　I　should　be　killed；〃　said　De　Guiche。
They　then　embraced　each　other　like　two　brothers；　and　each
wrapping　himself　in　his　cloak　they　soon　passed　into　that
kindly　sleep　of　youth　which　is　the　prerogative　of　birds；
flowers　and　infants。

35
A　Dinner　in　the　Old　Style。

The　second　interview　between　the　former　musketeers　was　not
so　formal　and　threatening　as　the　first。　Athos；　with　his
superior　understanding；　wisely　deemed　that　the　supper　table
would　be　the　most　complete　and　satisfactory　point　of
reunion；　and　at　the　moment　when　his　friends；　in　deference　to
his　deportment　and　sobriety；　dared　scarcely　speak　of　some　of
their　former　good　dinners；　he　was　the　first　to　propose　that
they　should　all　assemble　around　some　well　spread　table　and
abandon　themselves　unreservedly　to　their　own　natural
character　and　manners　　a　freedom　which　had　formerly
contributed　so　much　to　that　good　understanding　between　them
which　gave　them　the　name　of　the　inseparables。　For　different
reasons　this　was　an　agreeable　proposition　to　them　all；　and
it　was　therefore　agreed　that　each　should　leave　a　very　exact
address　and　that　upon　the　request　of　any　of　the　associates　a
meeting　should　be　convoked　at　a　famous　eating　house　in　the
Rue　de　la　Monnaie；　of　the　sign　of　the　Hermitage。　The　first
rendezvous　was　fixed　for　the　following　Wednesday；　at　eight
o'clock　in　the　evening　precisely。
On　that　day；　in　fact；　the　four　friends　arrived　punctually　at
the　hour；　each　from　his　own　abode　or　occupation。　Porthos　had
been　trying　a　new　horse；　D'Artagnan　was　on　guard　at　the
Louvre；　Aramis　had　been　to　visit　one　of　his　penitents　in　the
neighborhood；　and　Athos；　whose　domicile　was　established　in
the　Rue　Guenegaud；　found　himself　close　at　hand。　They　were；
therefore；　somewhat　surprised　to　meet　altogether　at　the　door
of　the　Hermitage；　Athos　starting　out　from　the　Pont　Neuf；
Porthos　by　the　Rue　de　la　Roule；　D'Artagnan　by　the　Rue　des
Fosse　Saint　Germain　l'Auxerrois；　and　Aramis　by　the　Rue　de
Bethisy。
The　first　words　exchanged　between　the　four　friends；　on
account　of　the　ceremony　which　each　of　them　mingled　with
their　demonstration；　were　somewhat　forced　and　even　the
repast　began　with　a　kind　of　stiffness。　Athos　perceived　this
embarrassment；　and　by　way　of　supplying　an　effectual　remedy；
called　for　four　bottles　of　champagne。
At　this　order；　given　in　Athos's　habitually　calm　manner；　the
face　of　the　Gascon　relaxed　and　Porthos's　brow　grew　smooth。
Aramis　was　astonished。　He　knew　that　Athos　not　only　never
drank；　but　more；　that　he　had　a　kind　of　repugnance　to　wine。
This　astonishment　was　doubled　when　Aramis　saw　Athos　fill　a
bumper　and　toss　it　off　with　all　his　former　enthusiasm。　His
companions　followed　his　example。　In　a　very　few　minutes　the
four　bottles　were　empty　and　this　excellent　specific
succeeded　in　dissipating　even　the　slightest　cloud　that　might
have　rested　on　their　spirits。　Now　the　four　friends　began　to
speak　loud；　scarcely　waiting　till　one　had　finished　before
another　began；　and　each　assumed　his　favorite　attitude　on　or
at　the　table。　Soon　　strange　fact　　Aramis　undid　two
buttons　of　his　doublet；　seeing　which；　Porthos　unfastened　his
entirely。
Battles；　long　journeys；　blows　given　and　received；　sufficed
for　the　first　themes　of　conversation；　which　turned　upon　the
silent　struggles　sustained　against　him　who　was　now　called
the　great　cardinal。
〃Faith；〃　said　Aramis；　laughing；　〃we　have　praised　the　dead
enough；　let　us　revile　the　living　a　little；　I　should　like　to
say　something　evil　of　Mazarin；　is　it　permissible？〃
〃Go　on；　go　on；〃　replied　D'Artagnan；　laughing　heartily；
〃relate　your　story　and　I　will　applaud　it　if　it　is　a　good
one。〃
〃A　great　prince；〃　said　Aramis；　〃with　whom　Mazarin　sought　an
alliance；　was　invited　by　him　to　send　him　a　list　of　the
conditions　on　which　he　would　do　him　the　honor　to　negotiate
with　him。　The　prince；　who　had　a　great　repugnance　to　treat
with　such　an　ill…bred　fellow；　made　out　a　list；　against　the
grain；　and　sent　it。　In　this　list　there　were　three　conditions
which　displeased　Mazarin　and　he　offered　the　prince　ten
thousand　crowns　to　renounce　them。〃
〃Ah；　ha；　ha！〃　laughed　the　three　friends；　〃not　a　bad　bargain；
and　there　was　no　fear　of　being　taken　at　his　word；　what　did
the　prince　do　then？〃
〃The　prince　immediately　sent　fifty　thousand　francs　to
Mazarin；　begging　him　never　to　write　to　him　again；　and
offered　twenty　thousand　francs　more；　on　condition　that　he
would　never　speak　to　him。　What　did　Mazarin　do？〃
〃Stormed！〃　suggested　Athos。
〃Beat　the　messenger！〃　cried　Porthos。
〃Accepted　the　money！〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃You　have　guessed　it；〃　answered　Aramis；　and　they　all　laughed
so　heartily　that　the　host　appeared　in　order　to　inquire
whether　the　gentlemen　wanted　anything；　he　thought　they　were
fighting。
At　last　their　hilarity　calmed　down　and：
〃Faith！〃　exclaimed　D'Artagnan　to　the　two　friends；　〃you　may
well　wish　ill　to　Mazarin；　for　I　assure　you；　on　his　side　he
wishes　you　no　good。〃
〃Pooh！　really？〃　asked　Athos。　〃If　I　thought　the　fellow　knew
me　by　my　name　I　would　be　rebaptized；　for　fear　it　might　be
thought　I　knew　him。〃
〃He　knows　you　better　by　your　actions　than　your　name；　he　is
quite　aware　that　there　are　two　gentlemen　who　greatly　aided
the　escape　of　Monsieur　de　Beaufort；　and　he　has　instigated　an
active　search　for　them；　I　can　answer　for　it。〃
〃By　whom？〃
〃By　me；　and　this　morning　he　sent　for　me　to　ask　me　if　I　had
obtained　any　information。〃
〃And　what　did　you　reply？〃
〃That　I　had　none　as　yet；　but　that　I　was　to　dine　to…day　with
two　gentlemen；　who　would　be　able　to　give　me　some。〃
〃You　told　him　that？〃　said　Porthos；　a　broad　smile　spreading
over　his　honest　face。　〃Bravo！　and　you　are　not　afraid　of
that；　At