from the memoirs of a minister of france-第35部分

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〃Yes；　sire；〃　I　said；　somewhat　surprised。

〃I　heard　a　great　roar；　and　something　struck　me　down；　and　I　found　myself　pinned　to　the　ground；　in　darkness；　with　my　mouth　full　of　dust；　and　an　immense　beam　on　my　chest。　　I　lay　for　a　time　in　agony；　fighting　for　breath；　and　then　my　brain　seemed　to　burst　in　my　head；　and　I　awoke。〃

〃I　have　had　such　a　dream；　sire；〃　I　said；　drily。

〃Last　night？〃

〃No；〃　I　said；　〃not　last　night。〃

He　saw　what　I　meant；　and　laughed；　and　being　by　this　time　quite　himself；　left　that　and　passed　to　discussing　the　strange　affair　of　La　Trape　and　the　milk。　　〃Have　you　found；　as　yet；　who　was　good　enough　to　supply　it？〃　　he　asked。

〃No；　sire；〃　I　answered。　　〃But　I　will　see　La　Trape；　and　as　soon　as　I　have　learned　anything；　your　majesty　shall　know　it。〃

〃I　suppose　he　is　not　far　off　now；〃　he　suggested。　　〃Send　for　him。　Ten　to　one　he　will　have　made　inquiries；　and　it　will　amuse　us。〃

I　went　to　the　door　and；　opening　it　a　trifle；　bade　the　page　who　waited　send　La　Trape。　　He　passed　on　the　message　to　a　crowd　of　sleepy　attendants；　and　quickly；　but　not　before　I　had　gone　back　to　the　King's　bedside；　La　Trape　entered。

Having　my　eyes　turned　the　other　way；　I　did　not　at　once　remark　anything。　　But　the　King　did；　and　his　look　of　astonishment；　no　less　than　the　exclamation　which　accompanied　it；　arrested　my　attention。　　〃St。　Gris；　man！〃　he　cried。　　〃What　is　the　matter？　Speak！〃

La　Trape；　who　had　stopped　just　within　the　door；　made　an　effort　to　do　so；　but　no　sound　passed　his　lips；　while　his　pallor　and　the　fixed　glare　of　his　eyes　filled　me　with　the　worst　apprehensions。　It　was　impossible　to　look　at　him　and　not　share　his　fright；　and　I　stepped　forward　and　cried　out　to　him　to　speak。　　〃Answer　the　King；　man；〃　I　said。　　〃What　is　it？〃

He　made　an　effort；　and　with　a　ghastly　grimace；　〃The　cat　is　dead！〃　he　said。

For　a　moment　we　were　all　silent。　　Then　I　looked　at　the　King；　and　he　at　me；　with　gloomy　meaning　in　our　eyes。　　He　was　the　first　to　speak。　　〃The　cat　to　whom　you　gave　the　milk？〃　　he　said。

〃Yes；　sire；〃　La　Trape　answered；　in　a　voice　that　seemed　to　come　from　his　heart。

〃But　still；　courage！〃　the　King　cried。　　〃Courage；　man！　　A　dose　that　would　kill　a　cat　may　not　kill　a　man。　　Do　you　feel　ill？〃

〃Oh；　yes；　sire；〃　La　Trape　moaned。

〃What　do　you　feel？〃

〃I　have　a　trembling　in　all　my　limbs；　and　ahah；　my　God；　I　am　a　dead　man！　　I　have　a　burning　herea　pain　like　hot　coals　in　my　vitals！〃　And；　leaning　against　the　wall；　the　unfortunate　man　clasped　his　arms　round　his　body　and　bent　himself　up　and　down　in　a　paroxysm　of　suffering。

〃A　doctor！　　a　doctor！〃　Henry　cried；　thrusting　one　leg　out　of　bed。　〃Send　for　Du　Laurens！〃　Then；　as　I　went　to　the　door　to　do　so；　〃Can　you　be　sick；　man？〃　　he　asked。　　〃Try！〃

〃No；　no；　it　is　impossible！〃

〃But　try；　try！　　when　did　this　cat　die？〃

〃It　is　outside；〃　La　Trape　groaned。　　He　could　say　no　more。

I　had　opened　the　door　by　this　time；　and　found　the　attendants；　whom　the　man's　cries　had　alarmed；　in　a　cluster　round　it。　Silencing　them　sternly；　I　bade　one　go　for　M。　Du　Laurens；　the　King's　physician；　while　another　brought　me　the　cat　that　was　dead。

The　page　who　had　spent　the　night　in　the　King's　chamber；　fetched　it。　　I　told　him　to　bring　it　in；　and　ordering　the　others　to　let　the　doctor　pass　when　he　arrived；　I　closed　the　door　upon　their　curiosity；　and　went　back　to　the　King。　　He　had　left　his　bed　and　was　standing　near　La　Trape；　endeavouring　to　hearten　him；　now　telling　him　to　tickle　his　throat　with　a　feather；　and　now　watching　his　sufferings　in　silence；　with　a　face　of　gloom　and　despondency　that　sufficiently　betrayed　his　reflections。　　At　sight　of　the　page；　however；　carrying　the　dead　cat；　he　turned　briskly；　and　we　both　examined　the　beast　which；　already　rigid；　with　staring　eyes　and　uncovered　teeth；　was　not　a　sight　to　cheer　anyone；　much　less　the　stricken　man。　　La　Trape；　however；　seemed　to　be　scarcely　aware　of　its　presence。　　He　had　sunk　upon　a　chest　which　stood　against　the　wall；　and；　with　his　body　strangely　twisted；　was　muttering　prayers；　while　he　rocked　himself　to　and　fro　unceasingly。

〃It's　stiff；〃　the　King　said　in　a　low　voice。　　〃It　has　been　dead　some　hours。〃

〃Since　midnight；〃　I　muttered。

〃Pardon；　sire；〃　the　page；　who　was　holding　the　cat；　said；　〃I　saw　it　after　midnight。　　It　was　alive　then。〃

〃You　saw　it！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃How？　　Where？〃

〃Here；　your　excellency；〃　the　boy　answered；　quailing　a　little。

〃What？　　In　this　room？〃

〃Yes；　excellency。　　I　heard　a　noise　aboutI　think　about　two　o'clockand　his　Majesty　breathing　very　heavily；　It　was　a　noise　like　a　cat　spitting。　　It　frightened　me；　and　I　rose　from　my　pallet　and　went　round　the　bed。　　I　was　just　in　time　to　see　the　cat　jump　down。〃

〃From　the　bed？〃

〃Yes；　your　excellency。　　From　his　Majesty's　chest；　I　think。〃

〃And　you　are　sure　that　it　was　this　cat？〃

〃Yes；　sire；　for　as　soon　as　it　was　on　the　floor　it　began　to　writhe　and　roll　and　bite　itself；　with　all　its　fur　on　end；　like　a　mad　cat。　　Then　it　flew　to　the　door　and　tried　to　get　out；　and　again　began　to　spit　furiously。　　I　thought　that　it　would　awaken　the　King；　and　I　let　it　out。〃

〃And　then　the　King　did　awake？〃

〃He　was　just　awaking；　your　excellency。〃

〃Well；　sire；〃　I　said；　smiling；　〃this　accounts；　I　think；　for　your　dream　of　the　house　that　fell；　and　the　beam　that　lay　on　your　chest。〃

It　would　have　been　difficult　to　say　whether　at　this　the　King　looked　more　foolish　or　more　relieved。　　Whichever　the　sentiment　he　entertained；　however；　it　was　quickly　cut　short　by　a　lamentable　cry　that　drove　the　blood　from　our　cheeks。　　La　Trape　was　in　another　paroxysm。　　〃Oh；　the　poor　man！〃　Henry　cried。

〃I　suppose　that　the　cat　came　in　unseen；〃　I　said；　〃with　him　last　night；　and　then　stayed　in　the　room？〃

〃Doubtless。〃

〃And　was　seized　with　a　paroxysm　here？〃

〃Such　as　he　has　now！〃　Henry　answered；　for　La　Trape　had　fallen　to　the　floor。　　〃Such　as　he　has　now！〃　he　repeated；　his　eyes　flaming；　his　face　pale。　　〃Oh；　my　friend；　this　is　too　much。　　Those　who　do　these　things　are　devils；　not　men。　　Where　is　Du　Laurens？　　Where　is　the　doctor？　　He　will　perish　before　our　eyes。〃

〃Patience；　sire；〃　I　said。　　〃He　will　come。〃

〃But　in　the　meantime　the　man　dies。〃

〃No；　no；〃　I　said；　going　to　La　Trape；　and　touching　his　hand。　〃Yet；　he　is　very　cold。〃　　And　turning；　I　sent　the　page　to　hasten　the　doctor。　　Then　I　begged　the　King　to　allow　me　to　have　the　man　conveyed　into　another　room。　　〃His　sufferings　distress　you；　sire；　and　you　do　him　no　good；〃　I　said。

〃No；　he　shall　not　go！〃　he　answered。　　〃Ventre　Saint　Gris！　　man；　he　is　dying　for　me！　　He　is　dying　in　my　place。　　He　shall　die　here。〃

Still　ill　satisfied；　I　was　about　to　press　him　farther；　when　La　Trape　raised　his　voice；　and　feebly　asked　for　me。　　A　page　who　had　taken　the　other's　place　was　supporting　his　head；　and　two　or　three　of　my　gentlemen；　who　had　come　in　unbidden；　were　looking　on　with　scared　faces。　　I　went　to　the　poor　fellow's　side；　and　asked　what　I　could　do　for　him。

〃I　am　dying！〃　he　muttered；　turning　up　his　eyes。　　〃The　doctor！　the　doctor！〃

I　feared　that　he　was　passing；　but　I　bade　him　have　courage。　　〃In　a　moment　he　will　be　here；〃　I　said；　while　the　King　in　distraction　sent　messenger　on　messenger。

〃He　will　come　too　late；〃　the　sinking　man　answered。　　〃Excellency？〃

〃Yes；　my　good　fellow；〃　I　said；　stooping　that　I　might　hear　him　the　better。

〃I　took　ten　pistoles　yesterday　from　a　man　to　get　him　a　scullion's　place；　and　there　is　none　vacant。〃

〃It　is　forgiven；〃　I　said；　to　soothe　him。

〃And　your　excellency's　favourite　hound；　Diane；〃　he　gasped。　　〃She　had　three　puppies；　not　two。　　I　sold　the　other。〃

〃Well；　it　is　forgiven；　my　friend。　　It　is　forgiven。　　Be　easy；〃　I　said　kindly。

〃Ah；　I　have　been　a　villain；〃　he　groaned。　　〃I　have　lived　loosely。　Only　last　night　I　kissed　the　butler's　wench；　and〃

〃Be　easy；　be　easy；〃　I　said。　　〃Here　is　the　doctor。　　He　will　save　you　yet。〃

And　I　made　way　for　M。　Du　Laurens；　who；　having　saluted　the　King；　knelt　down　by　the　sick　man；　and　felt　his　pulse；　while　we　all　stood　round；　looking　down　on　the　two　with　grave　faces。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　the　man's　eyes　were　growing　dim；　and　I　had　little　hope。　　The　King　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。　　〃You　have　hope？〃　　he　said。　　〃You　can　save　him？〃

〃Pardon；　sire；　a　moment；〃　the　physician　answered；　rising　from　his　knees。　　〃Where　is　the　cat？〃

Someone　brought　it；　and　M。　Du　Laurens；　after　looking　at　it；　said　curtly；　〃It　has　been　poisoned。〃

La　Trape　uttered　a　groan　of　despair。　　〃At　what　hour　did　it　take　the　milk？〃　　the　physician　asked。

〃A　little　before　ten　last　evening；〃　I　said；　seeing　that　La　Trape　was　too　far　gone　for　speech。

〃Ah！　　And　the　man？〃

〃An　hour　later。〃

Du　Laurens　shook　his　head；　and　was　preparing　to　lay　down　the　cat；　which　he　had　taken　in　his　hands；　when　some　appearance　led　him　to　examine　it　again　and　more　closely。　　〃Why　what　is　this？〃　　he　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　surprise；　as　he　took　the　body　to　the　window。　　〃There　is　a　large　swelling　under　its　chin。〃

No　one　answered。

〃Give　me　a　pair　of　scissors；〃　he　continued；　and　then；　after　a　minute；　when　they　had　been　handed　to　him　and　he　had　removed　the　fur；　〃Ha！〃　he　said　gravely；　〃this　is　not　so　simple　as　I　thought。　The　cat　has　been　poisoned；　but　by　a　prick　with　some　sharp　instrument。〃

The　King　uttered　an　exclamation　of　incredulity。　　〃But　it　drank　the　milk；〃　he　said。　　〃Some　milk　that〃

〃Pardon；　sire；〃　Du　Laurens　answered　positively。　　〃A　draught　of　milk；　however　drugged；　does　not　produce　an　external　swelling　with　a　small　blue　puncture　in　the　middle。〃

〃What　does？〃　　the　King　asked；　with　something　like　a　sneer。

〃Ah；　that　is　the　question；〃　the　physician　answered。　　〃A　ring；　perhaps；　with　a　poison…chamber　and　hollow　dart。〃

〃But　there　is　no　question　of　that　here；〃　I　said。　　〃Let　us　be　clear。　　Do　you　say　that　the　cat　did　not　die　of　the　milk？〃

〃I　see　no　proof　that　it　did；〃　he　answered。　　〃And　many　things　to　show　that　it　died　of　poison　administered　by　puncture。〃

〃But　then；〃　I　answered；　in　no　little　confusion　of　thought；　〃what　of　La　Trape？〃

He　turned；　and　with　him　all　eyes；　to　the　unfortunate　equerry；　who　still　lay　seemingly　moribund；　with　his　head　propped　on　some　cushions。　　M。　Du　Laurens　advanced　to　him　and　again　felt　his　pulse；　an　operation　which　appeared　to　bring　a　slight　tinge　of　colour　to　the　fading　cheeks。　　〃How　much　milk　did　he　drink？〃　　the　physician　asked