二十年后-第66部分

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e　to　any　of　my　chateaux；　at　Bracieux　alone；　I　have　twenty　thousand　francs　in　gold。　So；　if　I　do　not　send　you　more　it　is　because　I　fear　you　would　not　accept　a　larger　sum。
　　〃I　address　you；　because　you　know；　that　although　I　esteem　him　from　my　heart　I　am　a　little　awed　by　the　te　de　la　Fere；　but　it　is　understood　that　what　I　offer　you　I　offer　him　at　the　same　time。
　　〃I　am；　as　I　trust　you　do　not　doubt；　your　devoted
　　〃Du　Vallon　de　Bracieux　de　Pierrefonds。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Aramis；　〃what　do　you　say　to　that？〃
　　〃I　say；　my　dear　D'Herblay；　that　it　is　almost　sacrilege　to　distrust　Providence　when　one　has　such　friends；　and　therefore　we　will　divide　the　pistoles　from　Porthos；　as　we　divided　the　louis　sent　by　D'Artagnan。〃
　　The　division　being　made　by　the　light　of　Bazin's　taper；　the　two　friends　continued　their　road　and　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later　they　had　joined　De　Winter　at　the　Porte　Saint　Denis。
　　In　which　it　is　proved　that　first　Impulses　are　oftentimes　the　best
　　The　three　gentlemen　took　the　road　to　Picardy；　a　road　so　well　known　to　them　and　which　recalled　to　Athos　and　Aramis　some　of　the　most　picturesque　adventures　of　their　youth。
　　〃If　Musqueton　were　with　us；〃　observed　Athos；　on　reaching　the　spot　where　they　had　had　a　dispute　with　the　paviers；　〃how　he　would　tremble　at　passing　this！　Do　you　remember；　Aramis；　that　it　was　here　he　received　that　famous　bullet　wound？〃
　　〃By　my　faith；　'twould　be　excusable　in　him　to　tremble；〃　replied　Aramis；　〃for　even　I　feel　a　shudder　at　the　recollection；　hold；　just　above　that　tree　is　the　little　spot　where　I　thought　I　was　killed。〃
　　It　was　soon　time　for　Grimaud　to　recall　the　past。　Arriving　before　the　inn　at　which　his　master　and　himself　had　made　such　an　enormous　repast；　he　approached　Athos　and　said；　showing　him　the　airhole　of　the　cellar：
　　〃Sausages！〃
　　Athos　began　to　laugh；　for　this　juvenile　escapade　of　his　appeared　to　be　as　amusing　as　if　some　one　had　related　it　of　another　person。
　　At　last；　after　traveling　two　days　and　a　night；　they　arrived　at　Boulogne　toward　the　evening；　favored　by　magnificent　weather。　Boulogne　was　a　strong　position；　then　almost　a　deserted　town；　built　entirely　on　the　heights；　what　is　now　called　the　lower　town　did　not　then　exist。
　　〃Gentlemen；〃　said　De　Winter；　on　reaching　the　gate　of　the　town；　〃let　us　do　here　as　at　Paris　　let　us　separate　to　avoid　suspicion。　I　know　an　inn；　little　frequented；　but　of　which　the　host　is　entirely　devoted　to　me。　I　will　go　there；　where　I　expect　to　find　letters；　and　you　go　to　the　first　tavern　in　the　town；　to　L'Epee　du　Grand　Henri　for　instance；　refresh　yourselves；　and　in　two　hours　be　upon　the　jetty；　our　boat　is　waiting　for　us　there。〃
　　The　matter　being　thus　decided；　the　two　friends　found；　about　two　hundred　paces　further；　the　tavern　indicated。　Their　horses　were　fed；　but　not　unsaddled；　the　grooms　supped；　for　it　was　already　late；　and　their　two　masters；　impatient　to　return；　appointed　a　place　of　meeting　with　them　on　the　jetty　and　desired　them　on　no　account　to　exchange　a　word　with　any　one。　It　is　needless　to　say　that　this　caution　concerned　Blaisois　alone　　long　enough　since　it　had　been　a　useless　one　to　Grimaud。
　　Athos　and　Aramis　walked　down　toward　the　port。　From　their　dress；　covered　with　dust；　and　from　a　certain　easy　manner　by　means　of　which　a　man　accustomed　to　travel　is　always　recognizable；　the　two　friends　excited　the　attention　of　a　few　promenaders。　There　was　more　especially　one　upon　whom　their　arrival　had　produced　a　decided　impression。　This　man；　whom　they　had　noticed　from　the　first　for　the　same　reason　they　had　themselves　been　remarked　by　others；　was　walking　in　a　listless　way　up　and　down　the　jetty。　From　the　moment　he　perceived　them　he　did　not　cease　to　look　at　them　and　seemed　to　burn　with　the　wish　to　speak　to　them。
　　On　reaching　the　jetty　Athos　and　Aramis　stopped　to　look　at　a　little　boat　made　fast　to　a　pile　and　ready　rigged　as　if　waiting　to　start。
　　〃That　is　doubtless　our　boat；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Aramis；　〃and　the　sloop　out　there　making　ready　to　sail　must　be　that　which　is　to　take　us　to　our　destination；　now；〃　continued　he；　〃if　only　De　Winter　does　not　keep　us　waiting。　It　is　not　at　all　amusing　here；　there　is　not　a　single　woman　passing。〃
　　〃Hush！〃　said　Athos；　〃we　are　overheard。〃
　　In　truth；　the　walker；　who；　during　the　observations　of　the　two　friends；　had　passed　and　repassed　behind　them　several　times；　stopped　at　the　name　of　De　Winter；　but　as　his　face　betrayed　no　emotion　at　mention　of　this　name；　it　might　have　been　by　chance　he　stood　so　still。
　　〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　man；　who　was　young　and　pale；　bowing　with　ease　and　courtesy；　〃pardon　my　curiosity；　but　I　see　you　e　from　Paris；　or　at　least　that　you　are　strangers　at　Boulogne。〃
　　〃We　e　from　Paris；　yes；〃　replied　Athos；　with　the　same　courtesy；　〃what　is　there　we　can　do　for　you？〃
　　〃Sir；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃will　you　be　so　good　as　to　tell　me　if　it　be　true　that　Cardinal　Mazarin　is　no　longer　minister？〃
　　〃That　is　a　strange　question；〃　said　Aramis。
　　〃He　is　and　he　is　not；〃　replied　Athos；　〃that　is　to　say；　he　is　dismissed　by　one…half　of　France；　but　by　intrigues　and　promises　he　makes　the　other　half　sustain　him；　you　will　perceive　that　this　may　last　a　long　time。〃
　　〃However；　sir；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃he　has　neither　fled　nor　is　in　prison？〃
　　〃No；　sir；　not　at　this　moment　at　least。〃
　　〃Sirs；　accept　my　thanks　for　your　politeness；〃　said　the　young　man；　retreating。
　　〃What　do　you　think　of　that　interrogator？〃　asked　Aramis。
　　〃I　think　he　is　either　a　dull　provincial　person　or　a　spy　in　search　of　information。〃
　　〃And　you　replied　to　him　with　that　notion？〃
　　〃Nothing　warranted　me　to　answer　him　otherwise；　he　was　polite　to　me　and　I　was　so　to　him。〃
　　〃But　if　he　be　a　spy　　〃
　　〃What　do　you　think　a　spy　would　be　about　here？　We　are　not　living　in　the　time　of　Cardinal　Richelieu；　who　would　have　closed　the　ports　on　bare　suspicion。〃
　　〃It　matters　not；　you　were　wrong　to　reply　to　him　as　you　did；〃　continued　Aramis；　following　with　his　eyes　the　young　man；　now　vanishing　behind　the　cliffs。
　　〃And　you；〃　said　Athos；　〃you　forget　that　you　mitted　a　very　different　kind　of　imprudence　in　pronouncing　Lord　de　Winter's　name。　Did　you　not　see　that　at　that　name　the　young　man　stopped？〃
　　〃More　reason；　then；　when　he　spoke　to　you；　for　sending　him　about　his　business。〃
　　〃A　quarrel？〃　asked　Athos。
　　〃And　since　when　have　you　bee　afraid　of　a　quarrel？〃
　　〃I　am　always　afraid　of　a　quarrel　when　I　am　expected　at　any　place　and　when　such　a　quarrel　might　possibly　prevent　my　reaching　it。　Besides；　let　me　own　something　to　you。　I　am　anxious　to　see　that　young　man　nearer。〃
　　〃And　wherefore？〃
　　〃Aramis；　you　will　certainly　laugh　at　me；　you　will　say　that　I　am　always　repeating　the　same　thing；　you　will　call　me　the　most　timorous　of　visionaries；　but　to　whom　do　you　see　a　resemblance　in　that　young　man？〃
　　〃In　beauty　or　on　the　contrary？〃　asked　Aramis；　laughing。
　　〃In　ugliness；　in　so　far　as　a　man　can　resemble　a　woman。〃
　　〃Ah！　Egad！〃　cried　Aramis；　〃you　set　me　thinking。　No；　in　truth　you　are　no　visionary；　my　dear　friend；　and　now　I　think　of　it　　you　　yes；　i'faith；　you're　right　　those　delicate；　yet　firm…set　lips；　those　eyes　which　seem　always　at　the　mand　of　the　intellect　and　never　of　the　heart！　Yes；　it　is　one　of　Milady's　bastards！〃
　　〃You　laugh　Aramis。〃
　　〃From　habit；　that　is　all。　I　swear　to　you；　I　like　no　better　than　yourself　to　meet　that　viper　in　my　path。〃
　　〃Ah！　here　is　De　Winter　ing；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃Good！　one　thing　now　is　only　awanting　and　that　is；　that　our　grooms　should　not　keep　us　waiting。〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Athos。　〃I　see　them　about　twenty　paces　behind　my　lord。　I　recognize　Grimaud　by　his　long　legs　and　his　determined　slouch。　Tony　carries　our　muskets。〃
　　〃Then　we　set　sail　to…night？〃　asked　Aramis；　glancing　toward　the　west；　where　the　sun　had　left　a　single　golden　cloud；　which；　dipping　into　the　ocean；　appeared　by　degrees　to　be　extinguished。
　　〃Probably；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃Diable！〃　resumed　Aramis；　〃I　have　little　fancy　for　the　sea　by　day；　still　less　at　night；　the　sounds　of　wind　and　wave；　the　frightful　movements　of　the　vessel；　I　confess　I　prefer　the　convent　of　Noisy。〃
　　Athos　smiled　sadly；　for　it　was　evident　that　he　was　thinking　of　other　things　as　he　listened　to　his　friend　and　moved　toward　De　Winter。
　　〃What　ails　our　friend？〃　said　Aramis；　〃he　resembles　one　of　Dante's　damned；　whose　neck　Apollyon　has　dislocated　and　who　are　ever　looking　at　their　heels。　What　the　devil　makes　him　glower　thus　behind　him？〃
　　When　De　Winter　perceived　them；　in　his　turn　he　advanced　toward　them　with　surprising　rapidity。
　　〃What　is　the　matter；　my　lord？〃　said　Athos；　〃and　what　puts　you　out　of　breath　thus？〃
　　〃Nothing；〃　replied　De　Winter；　〃nothing；　and　yet　in　passing　the　heights　it　seemed　to　me　　〃　and　he　again　turned　round。
　　Athos　glanced　at　Aramis。
　　〃But　let　us　go；〃　continued　De　Winter；　〃let　us　be　off；　the　boat　must　be　waiting　for　us　and　there　is　our　sloop　at　anchor　　do　you　see　it　there？　I　wish　I　were　on　board　already；〃　and　he　looked　back　again。
　　〃He　has　seen　him；〃　said　Athos；　in　a　low　tone；　to　Aramis。
　　They　had　reached　the　ladder　which　led　to　the　boat。　De　Winter　made　the　grooms　who　carried　the　arms　and　the　porters　with　the　luggage　descend　first　and　was　about　to　follow　them。
　　At　this　moment　Athos　perceived　a　man　walking　on　the　seashore　parallel　to　the　jetty；　and　hastening　his　steps；　as　if　to　reach　the　other　side　of　the　port；　scarcely　twenty　steps　from　the　place　of　embarking。　He　fancied　in　the　darkness　that　he　recognized　the　young　man　who　had　questioned　him。　Athos　now　descended　the　ladder　in　his　turn；　without　losing　sight　of　the　young　man。　The　latter；　to　make　a　short　cut；　had　appeared　on　a　sluice。
　　〃He　certainly　bodes　us　no　good；〃　said　Athos；　〃but　let　us　embark；　once　out　at　sea；　let　him　e。〃
　　And　Athos　sprang　into　the　boat；　which　was　immediately　pushed　off　and　which　soon　sped　seawards　under　the　efforts　of　four　stalwart　rowers。
　　But　the　young　man　had　begun　to　follow；　or　rather　to　advance　before　the　boat。　She　was　obliged　to　pass　between　the　point　of　the　jetty；　surmounted　by　a　beacon　just　lighted；　and　a　rock　which　jutted　out。　They　saw　him　in　the　distance　climbing　the　rock　in　order　to　look　down　upon　the　boat　as　it　passed。
　　〃Ay；　but；〃　said　Aramis；　〃that　young　fellow　is　decidedly　a　spy。〃