按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
advocates； presidents and councillors； who came from the
Parisians； and； on the side of the court； with officers and
guards； it was therefore easy； in the midst of this
confusion； to remain as unobserved as any one might wish；
besides； the conferences implied a truce； and to arrest two
gentlemen； even Frondeurs； at this time； would have been an
attack on the rights of the people。
The two friends mingled with the crowd and fancied that
every one was occupied with the same thought that tormented
them。 They expected to hear some mention made of D'Artagnan
or of Porthos； but every one was engrossed by articles and
reforms。 It was the advice of Athos to go straight to the
minister。
〃My friend；〃 said Aramis； 〃take care； our safety lies in our
obscurity。 If we were to make ourselves known we should be
sent to rejoin our friends in some deep ditch； from which
the devil himself could not take us out。 Let us try not to
find them out by accident； but from our notions。 Arrested at
Compiegne； they have been carried to Rueil； at Rueil they
have been questioned by the cardinal； who has either kept
them near him or sent them to Saint Germain。 As to the
Bastile； they are not there； though the Bastile is
especially for the Frondeurs。 They are not dead； for the
death of D'Artagnan would make a sensation。 As for Porthos；
I believe him to be eternal； like God； although less
patient。 Do not let us despond； but wait at Rueil； for my
conviction is that they are at Rueil。 But what ails you？ You
are pale。〃
〃It is this；〃 answered Athos； with a trembling voice。
〃I remember that at the Castle of Rueil the Cardinal
Richelieu had some horrible ‘oubliettes' constructed。〃
〃Oh！ never fear；〃 said Aramis。 〃Richelieu was a gentleman；
our equal in birth； our superior in position。 He could； like
the king； touch the greatest of us on the head； and touching
them make such heads shake on their shoulders。 But Mazarin
is a low…born rogue； who can at the most take us by the
collar； like an archer。 Be calm for I am sure that
D'Artagnan and Porthos are at Rueil； alive and well。〃
〃But；〃 resumed Athos； 〃I recur to my first proposal。 I know
no better means than to act with candor。 I shall seek； not
Mazarin； but the queen； and say to her； ‘Madame； restore to
us your two servants and our two friends。'〃
Aramis shook his head。
〃'Tis a last resource； but let us not employ it till it is
imperatively called for； let us rather persevere in our
researches。〃
They continued their inquiries and at last met with a light
dragoon who had formed one of the guard which had escorted
D'Artagnan to Rueil。
Athos； however； perpetually recurred to his proposed
interview with the queen。
〃In order to see the queen；〃 said Aramis； 〃we must first see
the cardinal； and when we have seen the cardinal remember
what I tell you； Athos we shall be reunited to our
friends； but not in the way you wish。 Now； that way of
joining them is not very attractive to me； I confess。 Let us
act in freedom； that we may act well and quickly。〃
〃I shall go；〃 he said； 〃to the queen。〃
〃Well； then；〃 answered Aramis； 〃pray tell me a day or two
beforehand； that I may take that opportunity of going to
Paris。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃Zounds！ how do I know？ perhaps to Madame de Longueville。
She is all…powerful yonder； she will help me。 But send me
word should you be arrested； for then I will return
directly。〃
〃Why do you not take your chance and be arrested with me？〃
〃No； I thank you。〃
〃Should we； by being arrested； be all four together again；
we should not； I am not sure； be twenty…four hours in prison
without getting free。〃
〃My friend； since I killed Chatillon； adored of the ladies
of Saint Germain； I am too great a celebrity not to fear a
prison doubly。 The queen is likely to follow Mazarin's
counsels and to have me tried。〃
〃Do you think she loves this Italian so much as they say she
does？〃
〃Did she not love an Englishman？〃
〃My friend； she is a woman。〃
〃No； no； you are deceived she is a queen。〃
〃Dear friend； I shall sacrifice myself and go and see Anne
of Austria。〃
〃Adieu； Athos； I am going to raise an army。〃
〃For what purpose？〃
〃To come back and besiege Rueil。〃
〃Where shall we meet again？〃
〃At the foot of the cardinal's gallows。〃
The two friends departed Aramis to return to Paris； Athos
to take measures preparatory to an interview with the queen。
80
The Gratitude of Anne of Austria。
Athos found much less difficulty than he had expected in
obtaining an audience of Anne of Austria。 It was granted；
and was to take place after her morning's 〃levee；〃 at which；
in accordance with his rights of birth； he was entitled to
be present。 A vast crowd filled the apartments of Saint
Germain。 Anne had never at the Louvre had so large a court；
but this crowd represented chiefly the second class of
nobility； while the Prince de Conti； the Duc de Beaufort and
the coadjutor assembled around them the first nobility of
France。
The greatest possible gayety prevailed at court。 The
particular characteristic of this was that more songs were
made than cannons fired during its continuance。 The court
made songs on the Parisians and the Parisians on the court；
and the casualties； though not mortal； were painful； as are
all wounds inflicted by the weapon of ridicule。
In the midst of this seeming hilarity； nevertheless；
people's minds were uneasy。 Was Mazarin to remain the
favorite and minister of the queen？ Was he to be carried
back by the wind which had blown him there？ Every one hoped
so； so that the minister felt that all around him； beneath
the homage of the courtiers； lay a fund of hatred； ill
disguised by fear and interest。 He felt ill at ease and at a
loss what to do。
Conde himself； whilst fighting for him； lost no opportunity
of ridiculing； of humbling him。 The queen； on whom he threw
himself as sole support； seemed to him now not much to be
relied upon。
When the hour appointed for the audience arrived Athos was
obliged to stay until the queen； who was waited upon by a
new deputation from Paris； had consulted with her minister
as to the propriety and manner of receiving them。 All were
fully engrossed with the affairs of the day； Athos could not
therefore have chosen a more inauspicious moment to speak of
his friends poor atoms； lost in that raging whirlwind。
But Athos was a man of inflexible determination； he firmly
adhered to a purpose once formed； when it seemed to him to
spring from conscience and to be prompted by a sense of
duty。 He insisted on being introduced； saying that although
he was not a deputy from Monsieur de Conti； or Monsieur de
Beaufort； or Monsieur de Bouillon； or Monsieur d'Elbeuf； or
the coadjutor； or Madame de Longueville； or Broussel； or the
Parliament； and although he had come on his own private
account； he nevertheless had things to say to her majesty of
the utmost importance。
The conference being finished； the queen summoned him to her
cabinet。
Athos was introduced and announced by name。 It was a name
that too often resounded in her majesty's ears and too often
vibrated in her heart for Anne of Austria not to recognize
it； yet she remained impassive； looking at him with that
fixed stare which i