twenty years after(二十年后)-第110章

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quitting　the　town；　contrary　to　the　agreement　which　kept　it
there。　Now；　I　tell　you；　you　must　pass　with　me　through　this
army　across　to　Scotland；　and　if　you　refuse　you　may　choose
betwixt　two　names；　which　the　contempt　of　all　honest　men　will
brand　you　with　　you　are　either　cowards　or　traitors！〃
The　eyes　of　the　Scotch　flashed　fire；　and；　as　often　happens
on　such　occasions；　from　shame　they　passed　to　effrontery　and
two　heads　of　clans　advanced　upon　the　king。
〃Yes；〃　said　they；　〃we　have　promised　to　deliver　Scotland　and
England　from　him　who　for　the　last　five…and…twenty　years　has
sucked　the　blood　and　gold　of　Scotland　and　England。　We　have
promised　and　we　will　keep　our　promise。　Charles　Stuart；　you
are　our　prisoner。〃
And　both　extended　their　hands　as　if　to　seize　the　king；　but
before　they　could　touch　him　with　the　tips　of　their　fingers；
both　had　fallen；　one　dead；　the　other　stunned。
Aramis　had　passed　his　sword　through　the　body　of　the　first
and　Athos　had　knocked　down　the　other　with　the　butt　end　of
his　pistol。
Then；　as　Lord　Leven　and　the　other　chieftains　recoiled　before
this　unexpected　rescue；　which　seemed　to　come　from　Heaven　for
the　prince　they　already　thought　was　their　prisoner；　Athos
and　Aramis　dragged　the　king　from　the　perjured　assembly　into
which　he　had　so　imprudently　ventured；　and　throwing
themselves　on　horseback　all　three　returned　at　full　gallop　to
the　royal　tent。
On　their　road　they　perceived　Lord　Winter　marching　at　the
head　of　his　regiment。　The　king　motioned　him　to　accompany
them。

56
The　Avenger。

They　all　four　entered　the　tent；　they　had　no　plan　ready　
they　must　think　of　one。
The　king　threw　himself　into　an　arm…chair。　〃I　am　lost；〃　said
he。
〃No；　sire；〃　replied　Athos。　〃You　are　only　betrayed。〃
The　king　sighed　deeply。
〃Betrayed！　yes　betrayed　by　the　Scotch；　amongst　whom　I　was
born；　whom　I　have　always　loved　better　than　the　English。　Oh；
traitors　that　ye　are！〃
〃Sire；〃　said　Athos；　〃this　is　not　a　moment　for　recrimination；
but　a　time　to　show　yourself　a　king　and　a　gentleman。　Up；
sire！　up！　for　you　have　here　at　least　three　men　who　will　not
betray　you。　Ah！　if　we　had　been　five！〃　murmured　Athos；
thinking　of　D'Artagnan　and　Porthos。
〃What　do　you　say？〃　inquired　Charles；　rising。
〃I　say；　sire；　that　there　is　now　but　one　way　open。　Lord
Winter　answers　for　his　regiment；　or　at　least　very　nearly　so
　we　will　not　split　straws　about　words　　let　him　place
himself　at　the　head　of　his　men；　we　will　place　ourselves　at
the　side　of　your　majesty；　and　we　will　mow　a　swath　through
Cromwell's　army　and　reach　Scotland。〃
〃There　is　another　method；〃　said　Aramis。　〃Let　one　of　us　put
on　the　dress　and　mount　the　king's　horse。　Whilst　they　pursue
him　the　king　might　escape。〃
〃It　is　good　advice；〃　said　Athos；　〃and　if　the　king　will　do
one　of　us　the　honor　we　shall　be　truly　grateful　to　him。〃
〃What　do　you　think　of　this　counsel；　Winter？〃　asked　the　king；
looking　with　admiration　at　these　two　men；　whose　chief　idea
seemed　to　be　how　they　could　take　on　their　shoulders　all　the
dangers　that　assailed　him。
〃I　think　the　only　chance　of　saving　your　majesty　has　just
been　proposed　by　Monsieur　d'Herblay。　I　humbly　entreat　your
majesty　to　choose　quickly；　for　we　have　not　an　instant　to
lose。〃
〃But　if　I　accept；　it　is　death；　or　at　least　imprisonment；　for
him　who　takes　my　place。〃
〃He　will　have　had　the　glory　of　having　saved　his　king；〃　cried
Winter。
The　king　looked　at　his　old　friend　with　tears　in　his　eyes；
undid　the　Order　of　the　Saint　Esprit　which　he　wore；　to　honor
the　two　Frenchmen　who　were　with　him；　and　passed　it　around
Winter's　neck；　who　received　on　his　knees　this　striking　proof
of　his　sovereign's　confidence　and　friendship。
〃It　is　right；〃　said　Athos；　〃he　has　served　your　majesty
longer　than　we　have。〃
The　king　overheard　these　words　and　turned　around　with　tears
in　his　eyes。
〃Wait　a　moment；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　an　order　for　each　of
you　also。〃
He　turned　to　a　closet　where　his　own　orders　were　locked　up；
and　took　out　two　ribbons　of　the　Order　of　the　Garter。
〃These　cannot　be　for　us；〃　said　Athos。
〃Why　not；　sir？〃　asked　Charles。
〃Such　are　for　royalty；　and　we　are　simple　commoners。〃
〃Speak　not　of　crowns。　I　shall　not　find　amongst　them　such
great　hearts　as　yours。　No；　no；　you　do　yourselves　injustice；
but　I　am　here　to　do　you　justice。　On　your　knees；　count。〃
Athos　knelt　down　and　the　king　passed　the　ribbon　down　from
left　to　right　as　usual；　raised　his　sword；　and　instead　of
pronouncing　the　customary　formula；　〃I　make　you　a　knight。　Be
brave；　faithful　and　loyal；〃　he　said；　〃You　are　brave；
faithful　and　loyal。　I　knight　you；　monsieur　le　comte。〃
Then　turning　to　Aramis；　he　said：
〃It　is　now　your　turn；　monsieur　le　chevalier。〃
The　same　ceremony　recommenced；　with　the　same　words；　whilst
Winter　unlaced　his　leather　cuirass；　that　he　might　disguise
himself　like　the　king。　Charles；　having　proceeded　with　Aramis
as　with　Athos；　embraced　them　both。
〃Sire；〃　said　Winter；　who　in　this　trying　emergency　felt　all
his　strength　and　energy　fire　up；　〃we　are　ready。〃
The　king　looked　at　the　three　gentlemen。　〃Then　we　must　fly！〃
said　he。
〃Flying　through　an　army；　sire；〃　said　Athos；　〃in　all
countries　in　the　world　is　called　charging。〃
〃Then　I　shall　die；　sword　in　hand；〃　said　Charles。　〃Monsieur
le　comte；　monsieur　le　chevalier；　if　ever　I　am　king　　〃
〃Sire；　you　have　already　done　us　more　honor　than　simple
gentlemen　could　ever　aspire　to；　therefore　gratitude　is　on
our　side。　But　we　must　not　lose　time。　We　have　already　wasted
too　much。〃
The　king　again　shook　hands　with　all　three；　exchanged　hats
with　Winter　and　went　out。
Winter's　regiment　was　ranged　on　some　high　ground　above　the
camp。　The　king；　followed　by　the　three　friends；　turned　his
steps　that　way。　The　Scotch　camp　seemed　as　if　at　last
awakened；　the　soldiers　had　come　out　of　their　tents　and　taken
up　their　station　in　battle　array。
〃Do　you　see　that？〃　said　the　king。　〃Perhaps　they　are　penitent
and　preparing　to　march。〃
〃If　they　are　penitent；〃　said　Athos；　〃let　them　follow　us。〃
〃Well！〃　said　the　king；　〃what　shall　we　do？〃
〃Let　us　examine　the　enemy's　army。〃
At　the　same　instant　the　eyes　of　the　little　group　were　fixed
on　the　same　line　which　at　daybreak　they　had　mistaken　for　fog
and　which　the　morning　sun　now　plainly　showed　was　an　army　in
order　of　battle。　The　air　was　soft　and　clear；　as　it　generally
is　at　that　early　hour　of　the　morning。　The　regiments；　the
standards；　and　even　the　colors　of　the　horses　and　uniforms
were　now　clearly　distinct。
On　the　summit　of　a　rising　ground；　a　little　in　advance　of　the
enemy；　appeared　a　short　and　heavy　looking　man；　this　man　was
surrounded　by　officers。　He　turned　a　spyglass　toward　the
little　group　amongst　which　the　king　stood。
〃Does　this　man　know　your　majesty　personally？〃　inquired
Aramis。
Charles　smiled。
〃That　man　is　Cromwell；〃　said　he。
〃Then　draw　down　your　hat；　sire；　that　he　may　not　discover　the
substitution。〃
〃Ah！〃　said　Athos；　〃how　much　time　we　have　lost。〃
〃Now；〃　said　the　king；　〃give　the　word　and　let　us　start。〃
〃Will　you　not　give　it；　sire？〃　asked　Athos。
〃No；　I　make　you　my　lieutenant…general；〃　said　the　king。
〃Listen；　then；　Lord　Winter。　Proceed；　sire；　I　beg。　What　we
are　going　to　say　does　not　concern　your　majesty。〃
The　king；　smiling；　turned　a　few　steps　back。
〃This　is　what　I　propose　to　do；〃　said　Athos。　〃We　will　divide
our　regiments　into　two　squadrons。　You　will　put　yourself　at
the　head　of　the　first。　We　and　his　majesty　will　lead　the
second。　If　no　obstacle　occurs　we　will　both　charge　together；
force　the　enemy's　line　and　throw　ourselves　into　the　Tyne；
which　we　must　cross；　either　by　fording　or　swimming；　if；　on
the　contrary；　any　repulse　should　take　place；　you　and　your
men　must　fight　to　the　last　man；　whilst　we　and　the　king
proceed　on　our　road。　Once　arrived　at　the　brink　of　the　river；
should　we　even　find　them　three　ranks　deep；　as　long　as　you
and　your　regiment　do　your　duty；　we　will　look　to　the　rest。〃
〃To　horse！〃　said　Lord　Winter。
〃To　horse！〃　re…echoed　Athos；　〃everything　is　arranged　and
decided。〃
〃Now；　gentlemen；〃　cried　the　king；　〃forward！　and　rally　to　the
old　cry　of　France；　‘Montjoy　and　St。　Denis！'　The　war　cry　of
England　is　too　often　in　the　mouths　of　traitors。〃
They　mounted　　the　king　on　Winter's　horse　and　Winter　on
that　of　the　king；　then　Winter　took　his　place　at　the　head　of
the　first　squadron；　an