twenty years after(二十年后)-第86章

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Guenegaud。
〃I'faith！〃　said　D'Artagnan　to　Raoul；　〃you　were　just　in　time
to　stay　my　hand。　He　was　a　dead　man；　and　on　my　honor；　if　I
had　discovered　that　it　was　his　son；　I　should　have　regretted
having　killed　him。〃
〃Ah！　sir！〃　said　Raoul；　〃allow　me；　after　thanking　you　for
that　poor　fellow's　life；　to　thank　you　on　my　own　account。　I
too；　sir；　was　almost　dead　when　you　arrived。〃
〃Wait；　wait；　young　man；　do　not　fatigue　yourself　with
speaking。　We　can　talk　of　it　afterward。〃
Then　seeing　that　the　musketeers　had　cleared　the　Quai　from
the　Pont　Neuf　to　the　Quai　Saint　Michael；　he　raised　his　sword
for　them　to　double　their　speed。　The　musketeers　trotted　up；
and　at　the　same　time　the　ten　men　whom　D'Artagnan　had　given
to　Comminges　appeared。
〃Halloo！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃has　something　fresh　happened？〃
〃Eh；　sir！〃　replied　the　sergeant；　〃their　vehicle　has　broken
down　a　second　time；　it　really　must　be　doomed。〃
〃They　are　bad　managers；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　shrugging　his
shoulders。　〃When　a　carriage　is　chosen；　it　ought　to　be
strong。　The　carriage　in　which　a　Broussel　is　to　be　arrested
ought　to　be　able　to　bear　ten　thousand　men。〃
〃What　are　your　commands；　lieutenant？〃
〃Take　the　detachment　and　conduct　him　to　his　place。〃
〃But　you　will　be　left　alone？〃
〃Certainly。　So　you　suppose　I　have　need　of　an　escort？　Go。〃
The　musketeers　set　off　and　D'Artagnan　was　left　alone　with
Raoul。
〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃are　you　in　pain？〃
〃Yes；　my　head　is　not　only　swimming　but　burning。〃
〃What's　the　matter　with　this　head？〃　said　D'Artagnan；　raising
the　battered　hat。　〃Ah！　ah！　a　bruise。〃
〃Yes；　I　think　I　received　a　flower…pot　upon　my　head。〃
〃Brutes！〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃But　were　you　not　on　horseback？
you　have　spurs。〃
〃Yes；　but　I　got　down　to　defend　Monsieur　de　Comminges　and　my
horse　was　taken　away。　Here　it　is；　I　see。〃
At　this　very　moment　Friquet　passed；　mounted　on　Raoul's
horse；　waving　his　parti…colored　cap　and　crying；　〃Broussel！
Broussel！〃
〃Halloo！　stop；　rascal！〃　cried　D'Artagnan。　〃Bring　hither　that
horse。〃
Friquet　heard　perfectly；　but　he　pretended　not　to　do　so　and
tried　to　continue　his　road。　D'Artagnan　felt　inclined　for　an
instant　to　pursue　Master　Friquet；　but　not　wishing　to　leave
Raoul　alone　he　contented　himself　with　taking　a　pistol　from
the　holster　and　cocking　it。
Friquet　had　a　quick　eye　and　a　fine　ear。　He　saw　D'Artagnan's
movement；　heard　the　sound　of　the　click；　and　stopped　at　once。
〃Ah！　it　is　you；　your　honor；〃　he　said；　advancing　toward
D'Artagnan；　〃and　I　am　truly　pleased　to　meet　you。〃
D'Artagnan　looked　attentively　at　Friquet　and　recognized　the
little　chorister　of　the　Rue　de　la　Calandre。
〃Ah！　'tis　thou；　rascal！〃　said　he；　〃come　here：　so　thou　hast
changed　thy　trade；　thou　art　no　longer　a　choir　boy　nor　a
tavern　boy；　thou　hast　become　a　horse　stealer？〃
〃Ah；　your　honor；　how　can　you　say　so？〃　exclaimed　Friquet。　〃I
was　seeking　the　gentleman　to　whom　this　horse　belongs　　an
officer；　brave　and　handsome　as　a　youthful　Caesar；　〃then；
pretending　to　see　Raoul　for　the　first　time：
〃Ah！　but　if　I　mistake　not；〃　continued　he；　〃here　he　is；　you
won't　forget　the　boy；　sir。〃
Raoul　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket。
〃What　are　you　about？〃　asked　D'Artagnan。
〃To　give　ten　francs　to　this　honest　fellow；〃　replied　Raoul；
taking　a　pistole　from　his　pocket。
〃Ten　kicks　on　his　back！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃be　off；　you
little　villain；　and　forget　not　that　I　have　your　address。〃
Friquet；　who　did　not　expect　to　be　let　off　so　cheaply；
bounded　off　like　a　gazelle　up　the　Quai　a　la　Rue　Dauphine；
and　disappeared。　Raoul　mounted　his　horse；　and　both　leisurely
took　their　way　to　the　Rue　Tiquetonne。
D'Artagnan　watched　over　the　youth　as　if　he　had　been　his　own
son。
They　arrived　without　accident　at　the　Hotel　de　la　Chevrette。
The　handsome　Madeleine　announced　to　D'Artagnan　that　Planchet
had　returned；　bringing　Musqueton　with　him；　who　had
heroically　borne　the　extraction　of　the　ball　and　was　as　well
as　his　state　would　permit。
D'Artagnan　desired　Planchet　to　be　summoned；　but　he　had
disappeared。
〃Then　bring　some　wine；〃　said　D'Artagnan。　〃You　are　much
pleased　with　yourself；〃　said　he　to　Raoul　when　they　were
alone；　〃are　you　not？〃
〃Well；　yes；〃　replied　Raoul。　〃It　seems　to　me　I　did　my　duty。　I
defended　the　king。〃
〃And　who　told　you　to　defend　the　king？〃
〃The　Comte　de　la　Fere　himself。〃
〃Yes；　the　king；　but　to…day　you　have　not　fought　for　the　king；
you　have　fought　for　Mazarin；　which　is　not　quite　the　same
thing。〃
〃But　you　yourself？〃
〃Oh；　for　me；　that　is　another　matter。　I　obey　my　captain's
orders。　As　for　you；　your　captain　is　the　prince；　understand
that　rightly；　you　have　no　other。　But　has　one　ever　seen　such
a　wild　fellow；〃　continued　he；　〃making　himself　a　Mazarinist
and　helping　to　arrest　Broussel！　Breathe　not　a　word　of　that；
or　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　will　be　furious。〃
〃You　think　the　count　will　be　angry　with　me？〃
〃Think　it？　I'm　certain　of　it；　were　it　not　for　that；　I　should
thank　you；　for　you　have　worked　for　us。　However；　I　scold　you
instead　of　him；　and　in　his　place；　the　storm　will　blow　over
more　easily；　believe　me。　And　moreover；　my　dear　child；〃
continued　D'Artagnan；　〃I　am　making　use　of　the　privilege
conceded　to　me　by　your　guardian。〃
〃I　do　not　understand　you；　sir；〃　said　Raoul。
D'Artagnan　rose；　and　taking　a　letter　from　his　writing…desk；
presented　it　to　Raoul。　The　face　of　the　latter　became　serious
when　he　had　cast　his　eyes　upon　the　paper。
〃Oh；　mon　Dieu！〃　he　said；　raising　his　fine　eyes　to
D'Artagnan；　moist　with　tears；　〃the　count　has　left　Paris
without　seeing　me？〃
〃He　left　four　days　ago；〃　said　D'Artagnan。
〃But　this　letter　seems　to　intimate　that　he　is　about　to　incur
danger；　perhaps　death。〃
〃He　　he　　incur　danger　of　death！　No；　be　not　anxious；　he
is　traveling　on　business　and　will　return　ere　long。　I　hope
you　have　no　repugnance　to　accept　me　as　your　guardian　in　the
interim。〃
〃Oh；　no；　Monsieur　d'Artagnan；〃　said　Raoul；　〃you　are　such　a
brave　gentleman　and　the　Comte　de　la　Fere　has　so　much
affection　for　you！〃
〃Eh！　Egad！　love　me　too；　I　will　not　torment　you　much；　but
only　on　condition　that　you　become　a　Frondist；　my　young
friend；　and　a　hearty　Frondist；　too。〃
〃But　can　I　continue　to　visit　Madame　de　Chevreuse？〃
〃I　should　say　you　could！　and　the　coadjutor　and　Madame　de
Longueville；　and　if　the　worthy　Broussel　were　there；　whom　you
so　stupidly　helped　arrest；　I　should　tell　you　to　excuse
yourself　to　him　at　once　and　kiss　him　on　both　cheeks。〃
〃Well；　sir；　I　will　obey　you；　although　I　do　not　understand
you。
〃It　is　unnecessary　for　you　to　understand。　Hold；〃　continued
D'Artagnan；　turning　toward　the　door；　which　had　just　opened；
〃here　is　Monsieur　du　Vallon；　who　comes　with　his　coat　torn。〃
〃Yes；　but　in　exchange；〃　said　Porthos；　covered　with
perspiration　and　soiled　by　dust；　〃in　exchange；　I　have　torn
many　skins。　Those　wretches　wanted　to　take　away　my　sword！
Deuce　take　'em；　what　a　popular　commotion！〃　continued　the
giant；　in　his　quiet　manner；　〃but　I　knocked　down　more　than
twenty　with　the　hilt　of　Balizarde。　A　draught　of　wine；
D'Artagnan。〃
〃Oh〃　I'll　aswer　for　you；〃　said　the　Gascon；　filling　Porthos's
glass　to　the　brim；　〃but　when　you　have　drunk；　give　me　your
opinion。〃
〃Upon　what？〃　asked　Porthos。
〃Look　here；〃　resumed　D'Artagnan；　〃here　is　Monsieur　de
Bragelonne；　who　determined　at　all　risks　to　aid　the　arrest　of
Broussel　and　whom　I　had　great　difficulty　to　prevent
defending　Monsieur　de　Comminges。〃
〃The　devil！〃　said　Porthos；　〃and　his　guardian；　what　would　he
have　said　to　that？〃
〃Do　you　hear？〃　interrupted　D'Artagnan；　〃become　a　Frondist；
my　friend；　belong　to　the　Fronde；　and　remember　that　I　fill
the　count's　place　in　everything；〃　and　he　jingled　his　money。
〃Will　you　come？〃　said　he　to　Porthos。
〃Where？〃　asked　Porthos；　filling　a　second　glass　of　wine。
〃To　present　our　respects　to　the　cardinal。〃
Porthos　swallowed　the　second　glass　with　the　same　grace　with
which　he　had　imbibed　the　first；　took　his　beaver　and　followed
D'Artagnan。　As　for　Raoul；　he　remained　bewildered　with　what
he　had　seen；　having　been　forbidden　by　D'Artagnan　to　leave
the　room　until　the　tumult　was　over。


45
The　Beggar　of　St。　Eustache。

D'Artagnan　had　calculated　that　in　not　going　at　once　to　the
Palais　Royal　he　would　give　Comminges　time　to　arrive　before
him；　and　consequently　to　make　the　cardinal　acquainted　with
the　eminent　services　which　he；　D'Artagnan；　and　his　frien