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第80章

twenty years after(二十年后)-第80章

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our merit。 We render service to God; madame in serving a
prince so unfortunate; a queen so virtuous。 Madame; we are
yours; body and soul。〃
〃Oh; sirs;〃 said the queen; moved even to tears; 〃this is
the first time for five years I have felt the least approach
to joy or hope。 God; who can read my heart; all the
gratitude I feel; will reward you! Save my husband! Save the
king; and although you care not for the price that is placed
upon a good action in this world; leave me the hope that we
shall meet again; when I may be able to thank you myself。 In
the meantime; I remain here。 Have you anything to ask of me?
From this moment I become your friend; and since you are
engaged in my affairs I ought to occupy myself in yours。〃
〃Madame;〃 replied Athos; 〃I have only to ask your majesty's
prayers。〃
〃And I;〃 said Aramis; 〃I am alone in the world and have only
your majesty to serve。〃
The queen held out her hand; which they kissed; and she said
in a low tone to De Winter:
〃If you need money; my lord; separate the jewels I have
given you; detach the diamonds and sell them to some Jew。
You will receive for them fifty or sixty thousand francs;
spend them if necessary; but let these gentlemen be treated
as they deserve; that is to say; like kings。〃
The queen had two letters ready; one written by herself; the
other by her daughter; the Princess Henrietta。 Both were
addressed to King Charles。 She gave the first to Athos and
the other to Aramis; so that should they be separated by
chance they might make themselves known to the king; after
which they withdrew。
At the foot of the staircase De Winter stopped。
〃Not to arouse suspicions; gentlemen;〃 said he; 〃go your way
and I will go mine; and this evening at nine o'clock we will
assemble again at the Gate Saint Denis。 We will travel on
horseback as far as our horses can go and afterward we can
take the post。 Once more; let me thank you; my good friends;
both in my own name and the queen's。〃
The three gentlemen then shook hands; Lord de Winter taking
the Rue Saint Honore; and Athos and Aramis remaining
together。
〃Well;〃 said Aramis; when they were alone; 〃what do you
think of this business; my dear count?〃
〃Bad;〃 replied Athos; 〃very bad。〃
〃But you received it with enthusiasm。〃
〃As I shall ever receive the defense of a great principle;
my dear D'Herblay。 Monarchs are only strong by the
assistance of the aristocracy; but aristocracy cannot
survive without the countenance of monarchs。 Let us; then;
support monarchy; in order to support ourselves。
〃We shall be murdered there;〃 said Aramis。 〃I hate the
English  they are coarse; like every nation that swills
beer。〃
〃Would it be better to remain here;〃 said Athos; 〃and take a
turn in the Bastile or the dungeon of Vincennes for having
favored the escape of Monsieur de Beaufort? I'faith; Aramis;
believe me; there is little left to regret。 We avoid
imprisonment and we play the part of heroes; the choice is
easy。〃
〃It is true; but in everything; friend; one must always
return to the same question  a stupid one; I admit; but
very necessary  have you any money?〃
〃Something like a hundred pistoles; that my farmer sent to
me the day before I left Bragelonne; but out of that sum I
ought to leave fifty for Raoul  a young man must live
respectably。 I have then about fifty pistoles。 And you?〃
〃As for me; I am quite sure that after turning out all my
pockets and emptying my drawers I shall not find ten louis
at home。 Fortunately Lord de Winter is rich。〃
〃Lord de Winter is ruined for the moment; Oliver Cromwell
has annexed his income resources。〃
〃Now is the time when Baron Porthos would be useful。〃
〃Now it is that I regret D'Artagnan。〃
〃Let us entice them away。〃
〃This secret; Aramis; does not belong to us; take my advice;
then; and let no one into our confidence。 And moreover; in
taking such a step we should appear to be doubtful of
ourselves。 Let us regret their absence to ourselves for our
own sakes; but not speak of it。〃
〃You are right; but what are you going to do until this
evening? I have two things to postpone。〃
〃And what are they?〃
〃First; a thrust with the coadjutor; whom I met last night
at Madame de Rambouillet's and whom I found particular in
his remarks respecting me。〃
〃Oh; fie  a quarrel between priests; a duel between
allies!〃
〃What can I do; friend? he is a bully and so am I; his
cassock is a burden to him and I imagine I have had enough
of mine; in fact; there is so much resemblance between us
that I sometimes believe he is Aramis and I am the
coadjutor。 This kind of life fatigues and oppresses me;
besides; he is a turbulent fellow; who will ruin our party。
I am convinced that if I gave him a box on the ear; such as
I gave this morning to the little citizen who splashed me;
it would change the appearance of things。〃
〃And I; my dear Aramis;〃 quietly replied Athos; 〃I think it
would only change Monsieur de Retz's appearance。 Take my
advice; leave things just as they are; besides; you are
neither of you now your own masters; he belongs to the
Fronde and you to the queen of England。 So; if the second
matter which you regret being unable to attend to is not
more important than the first  〃
〃Oh! that is of the first importance。〃
〃Attend to it; then; at once。〃
〃Unfortunately; it is a thing that I can't perform at any
time I choose。 It was arranged for the evening and no other
time will serve。〃
〃I understand;〃 said Athos smiling; 〃midnight。〃
〃About that time。〃
〃But; my dear fellow; those are things that bear
postponement and you must put it off; especially with so
good an excuse to give on your return  〃
〃Yes; if I return。〃
〃If you do not return; how does it concern you? Be
reasonable。 Come; you are no longer twenty years old。〃
〃To my great regret; mordieu! Ah; if I were but twenty years
old!〃
〃Yes;〃 said Athos; 〃doubtless you would commit great
follies! But now we must part。 I have one or two visits to
make and a letter yet to write。 Call for me at eight o'clock
or shall I wait supper for you at seven?〃
〃That will do very well;〃 said Aramis。 〃I have twenty visits
to make and as many letters to write。〃
They then separated。 Athos went to pay a visit to Madame de
Vendome; left his name at Madame de Chevreuse's and wrote
the following letter to D'Artagnan:

〃Dear Friend;  I am about to set off with Aramis on
important business。 I wished to make my adieux to you; but
time does not permit。 Remember that I write to you now to
repeat how much affection for you I still cherish。
〃Raoul is gone to Blois and is ignorant of my departure;
watch over him in my absence as much as you possibly can;
and if by chance you receive no news of me three months
hence; tell him to open a packet which he will find
addressed to him in my bronze casket at Blois; of which I
send you now the key。
〃Embrace Porthos from Aramis and myself。 Adieu; perhaps
farewell。〃

At the hour agreed upon Aramis arrived; he was dressed as an
officer and had the old sword at his side which he had drawn
so often and which he was more than ever ready to draw。
〃By…the…bye;〃 he said; 〃I think that we are decidedly wrong
to depart thus; without leaving a line for Porthos and
D'Artagnan。〃
〃The thing is done; dear friend;〃 said Athos; 〃I foresaw
that and have embraced them both from you and myself。〃
〃You are a wonderful man; my dear count;〃 said Aramis; 〃you
think of everything。〃
〃Well; have you made up your mind to this journey?〃
〃Quite; and now that I reflect about it; I am glad to leave
Paris at this moment。〃
〃And so am I;〃 replied Athos; 〃my only regret is not having
seen D'Artagnan; but the rascal is so cunning; he might have
guessed our project。〃
When supper was over Blaisois entered。 〃Sir;〃 said he; 〃here
is Monsieur d'Artagnan's answer。〃
〃But I did not tell you there would be an answer; stupid!〃
said Athos。
〃And I set off without waiting for one; but he called me
back and gave me this;〃 and he presented a little leather
bag; plump and giving out a golden jingle。
Athos opened it and began by drawing forth a little note;
written in these terms:
〃My dear Count;  When one travels; and especially for
three months; one never has a superfluity of money。 Now;
re

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