二十年后-第38部分

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　　Then　the　count　threw　the　bridle　of　his　horse　into　the　hands　of　a　peasant；　remounted　the　steps；　went　into　the　cathedral；　there　to　kneel　down　in　the　darkest　corner　and　pray。
　　One　of　the　Forty　Methods　of　Escape　of　the　Duc　de　Beaufort
　　Meanwhile　time　was　passing　on　for　the　prisoner；　as　well　as　for　those　who　were　preparing　his　escape；　only　for　him　it　passed　more　slowly。　Unlike　other　men；　who　enter　with　ardor　upon　a　perilous　resolution　and　grow　cold　as　the　moment　of　execution　approaches；　the　Duc　de　Beaufort；　whose　buoyant　courage　had　bee　a　proverb；　seemed　to　push　time　before　him　and　sought　most　eagerly　to　hasten　the　hour　of　action。　In　his　escape　alone；　apart　from　his　plans　for　the　future；　which；　it　must　be　admitted；　were　for　the　present　sufficiently　vague　and　uncertain；　there　was　a　beginning　of　vengeance　which　filled　his　heart。　In　the　first　place　his　escape　would　be　a　serious　misfortune　to　Monsieur　de　Chavigny；　whom　he　hated　for　the　petty　persecutions　he　owed　to　him。　It　would　be　a　still　worse　affair　for　Mazarin；　whom　he　execrated　for　the　greater　offences　he　had　mitted。　It　may　be　observed　that　there　was　a　proper　proportion　in　his　sentiments　toward　the　governor　of　the　prison　and　the　minister　　toward　the　subordinate　and　the　master。
　　Then　Monsieur　de　Beaufort；　who　was　so　familiar　with　the　interior　of　the　Palais　Royal；　though　he　did　not　know　the　relations　existing　between　the　queen　and　the　cardinal；　pictured　to　himself；　in　his　prison；　all　that　dramatic　excitement　which　would　ensue　when　the　rumor　should　run　from　the　minister's　cabinet　to　the　chamber　of　Anne　of　Austria：　〃Monsieur　de　Beaufort　has　escaped！〃　Whilst　saying　that　to　himself；　Monsieur　de　Beaufort　smiled　pleasantly　and　imagined　himself　already　outside；　breathing　the　air　of　the　plains　and　the　forests；　pressing　a　strong　horse　between　his　knees　and　crying　out　in　a　loud　voice；　〃I　am　free！〃
　　It　is　true　that　on　ing　to　himself　he　found　that　he　was　still　within　four　walls；　he　saw　La　Ramee　twirling　his　thumbs　ten　feet　from　him；　and　his　guards　laughing　and　drinking　in　the　ante…chamber。　The　only　thing　that　was　pleasant　to　him　in　that　odious　tableau　　such　is　the　instability　of　the　human　mind　　was　the　sullen　face　of　Grimaud；　for　whom　he　had　at　first　conceived　such　a　hatred　and　who　now　was　all　his　hope。　Grimaud　seemed　to　him　an　Antinous。　It　is　needless　to　say　that　this　transformation　was　visible　only　to　the　prisoner's　feverish　imagination。　Grimaud　was　still　the　same；　and　therefore　he　retained　the　entire　confidence　of　his　superior；　La　Ramee；　who　now　relied　upon　him　more　than　he　did　upon　himself；　for；　as　we　have　said；　La　Ramee　felt　at　the　bottom　of　his　heart　a　certain　weakness　for　Monsieur　de　Beaufort。
　　And　so　the　good　La　Ramee　made　a　festivity　of　the　little　supper　with　his　prisoner。　He　had　but　one　fault　　he　was　a　gourmand；　he　had　found　the　pates　good；　the　wine　excellent。　Now　the　successor　of　Pere　Marteau　had　promised　him　a　pate　of　pheasant　instead　of　a　pate　of　fowl；　and　Chambertin　wine　instead　of　Macon。　All　this；　set　off　by　the　presence　of　that　excellent　prince；　who　was　so　good…natured；　who　invented　so　droll　tricks　against　Monsieur　de　Chavigny　and　so　fine　jokes　against　Mazarin；　made　for　La　Ramee　the　approaching　Pentecost　one　of　the　four　great　feasts　of　the　year。　He　therefore　looked　forward　to　six　o'clock　with　as　much　impatience　as　the　duke　himself。
　　Since　daybreak　La　Ramee　had　been　occupied　with　the　preparations；　and　trusting　no　one　but　himself；　he　had　visited　personally　the　successor　of　Pere　Marteau。　The　latter　had　surpassed　himself；　he　showed　La　Ramee　a　monstrous　pate；　ornamented　with　Monsieur　de　Beaufort's　coat…of…arms。　It　was　empty　as　yet；　but　a　pheasant　and　two　partridges　were　lying　near　it。　La　Ramee's　mouth　watered　and　he　returned　to　the　duke's　chamber　rubbing　his　hands。　To　crown　his　happiness；　Monsieur　de　Chavigny　had　started　on　a　journey　that　morning　and　in　his　absence　La　Ramee　was　deputy…governor　of　the　chateau。
　　As　for　Grimaud；　he　seemed　more　sullen　than　ever。
　　In　the　course　of　the　forenoon　Monsieur　de　Beaufort　had　a　game　of　tennis　with　La　Ramee；　a　sign　from　Grimaud　put　him　on　the　alert。　Grimaud；　going　in　advance；　followed　the　course　which　they　were　to　take　in　the　evening。　The　game　was　played　in　an　inclosure　called　the　little　court　of　the　chateau；　a　place　quite　deserted　except　when　Monsieur　de　Beaufort　was　playing；　and　even　then　the　precaution　seemed　superfluous；　the　wall　was　so　high。
　　There　were　three　gates　to　open　before　reaching　the　inclosure；　each　by　a　different　key。　When　they　arrived　Grimaud　went　carelessly　and　sat　down　by　a　loophole　in　the　wall；　letting　his　legs　dangle　outside。　It　was　evident　that　there　the　rope　ladder　was　to　be　attached。
　　This　manoeuvre；　transparent　to　the　Duc　de　Beaufort；　was　quite　unintelligible　to　La　Ramee。
　　The　game　at　tennis；　which；　upon　a　sign　from　Grimaud；　Monsieur　de　Beaufort　had　consented　to　play；　began　in　the　afternoon。　The　duke　was　in　full　strength　and　beat　La　Ramee　pletely。
　　Four　of　the　guards；　who　were　constantly　near　the　prisoner；　assisted　in　picking　up　the　tennis　balls。　When　the　game　was　over；　the　duke；　laughing　at　La　Ramee　for　his　bad　play；　offered　these　men　two　louis　d'or　to　go　and　drink　his　health；　with　their　four　other　rades。
　　The　guards　asked　permission　of　La　Ramee；　who　gave　it　to　them；　but　not　till　the　evening；　however；　until　then　he　had　business　and　the　prisoner　was　not　to　be　left　alone。
　　Six　o'clock　came　and；　although　they　were　not　to　sit　down　to　table　until　seven　o'clock；　dinner　was　ready　and　served　up。　Upon　a　sideboard　appeared　the　colossal　pie　with　the　duke's　arms　on　it；　and　seemingly　cooked　to　a　turn；　as　far　as　one　could　judge　by　the　golden　color　which　illuminated　the　crust。
　　The　rest　of　the　dinner　was　to　e。
　　Every　one　was　impatient；　La　Ramee　to　sit　down　to　table；　the　guards　to　go　and　drink；　the　duke　to　escape。
　　Grimaud　alone　was　calm　as　ever。　One　might　have　fancied　that　Athos　had　educated　him　with　the　express　forethought　of　such　a　great　event。
　　There　were　moments　when；　looking　at　Grimaud；　the　duke　asked　himself　if　he　was　not　dreaming　and　if　that　marble　figure　was　really　at　his　service　and　would　grow　animated　when　the　moment　came　for　action。
　　La　Ramee　sent　away　the　guards；　desiring　them　to　drink　to　the　duke's　health；　and　as　soon　as　they　were　gone　shut　all　the　doors；　put　the　keys　in　his　pocket　and　showed　the　table　to　the　prince　with　an　air　that　signified：
　　〃Whenever　my　lord　pleases。〃
　　The　prince　looked　at　Grimaud；　Grimaud　looked　at　the　clock；　it　was　hardly　a　quarter…past　six。　The　escape　was　fixed　to　take　place　at　seven　o'clock；　there　was　therefore　three…quarters　of　an　hour　to　wait。
　　The　duke；　in　order　to　pass　away　another　quarter　of　an　hour；　pretended　to　be　reading　something　that　interested　him　and　muttered　that　he　wished　they　would　allow　him　to　finish　his　chapter。　La　Ramee　went　up　to　him　and　looked　over　his　shoulder　to　see　what　sort　of　a　book　it　was　that　had　so　singular　an　influence　over　the　prisoner　as　to　make　him　put　off　taking　his　dinner。
　　It　was　〃Caesar's　mentaries；〃　which　La　Ramee　had　lent　him；　contrary　to　the　orders　of　the　governor；　and　La　Ramee　resolved　never　again　to　disobey　these　injunctions。
　　Meantime　he　uncorked　the　bottles　and　went　to　smell　if　the　pie　was　good。
　　At　half…past　six　the　duke　arose　and　said　very　gravely：
　　〃Certainly；　Caesar　was　the　greatest　man　of　ancient　times。〃
　　〃You　think　so；　my　lord？〃　answered　La　Ramee。
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Well；　as　for　me；　I　prefer　Hannibal。〃
　　〃And　why；　pray；　Master　La　Ramee？〃　asked　the　duke。
　　〃Because　he　left　no　mentaries；〃　replied　La　Ramee；　with　his　coarse　laugh。
　　The　duke　vouchsafed　no　reply；　but　sitting　down　at　the　table　made　a　sign　that　La　Ramee　should　seat　himself　opposite。　There　is　nothing　so　expressive　as　the　face　of　an　epicure　who　finds　himself　before　a　well　spread　table；　so　La　Ramee；　when　receiving　his　plate　of　soup　from　Grimaud；　presented　a　type　of　perfect　bliss。
　　The　duke　smiled。
　　〃Zounds！〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　suppose　there　is　a　more　contented　man　at　this　moment　in　all　the　kingdom　than　yourself！〃
　　〃You　are　right；　my　lord　duke；〃　answered　the　officer；　〃I　don't　know　any　pleasanter　sight　on　earth　than　a　well　covered　table；　and　when；　added　to　that；　he　who　does　the　honors　is　the　grandson　of　Henry　IV。；　you　will；　my　lord　duke；　easily　prehend　that　the　honor　fairly　doubles　the　pleasure　one　enjoys。〃
　　The　duke；　in　his　turn；　bowed；　and　an　imperceptible　smile　appeared　on　the　face　of　Grimaud；　who　kept　behind　La　Ramee。
　　〃My　dear　La　Ramee；〃　said　the　duke；　〃you　are　the　only　man　to　turn　such　faultless　pliments。〃
　　〃No；　my　lord　duke；〃　replied　La　Ramee；　in　the　fullness　of　his　heart；　〃I　say　what　I　think；　there　is　no　pliment　in　what　I　say　to　you　　〃
　　〃Then　you　are　attached　to　me？〃　asked　the　duke。
　　〃To　own　the　truth；　I　should　be　inconsolable　if　you　were　to　leave　Vincennes。〃
　　〃A　droll　way　of　showing　your　affliction。〃　The　duke　meant　to　say　〃affection。〃
　　〃But；　my　lord；〃　returned　La　Ramee；　〃what　would　you　do　if　you　got　out？　Every　folly　you　mitted　would　embroil　you　with　the　court　and　they　would　put　you　into　the　Bastile；　instead　of　Vincennes。　Now；　Monsieur　de　Chavigny　is　not　amiable；　I　allow；　but　Monsieur　du　Tremblay　is　considerably　worse。〃
　　〃Indeed！〃　exclaimed　the　duke；　who　from　time　to　time　looked　at　the　clock；　the　fingers　of　which　seemed　to　move　with　sickening　slowness。
　　〃But　what　can　you　expect　from　the　brother　of　a　capuchin　monk；　brought　up　in　the　school　of　Cardinal　Richelieu？　Ah；　my　lord；　it　is　a　great　happiness　that　the　queen；　who　always　wished　you　well；　had　a　fancy　to　send　you　here；　where　there's　a　promenade　and　a　tennis　court；　good　air；　and　a　good　table。〃
　　〃In　short；〃　answered　the　duke；　〃if　I　prehend　you　aright；　La　Ramee；　I　am　ungrateful　for　having　ever　thought　of　leaving　this　place？〃
　　〃Oh！　my　lord　duke；　'tis　the　height　of　ingratitude；　but　your　highness　has　never　seriously　thought　of　it？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　returned　the　duke；　〃I　must　confess　I　sometimes　think　of　it。〃
　　〃Still　by　one　of　your　forty　methods；　your　highness？〃
　　〃Yes；　yes；　indeed。〃
　　〃My　lord；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃now　we　are　quite　at　our　ease　and　enjoying　ourselves；　pray　tell　me　one　of　those　forty　ways　invented　by　your　highness。〃
　　〃Willingly；〃　answered　the　duke；　〃give　me　the　pie！〃