twenty years after(二十年后)-第45章

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〃Adieu；　gentlemen；〃　said　the　count；　〃I　am　going　to　sleep
twenty…four　hours；　I　am　just　falling　down　with　fatigue。〃
The　three　men　saluted　one　another；　whilst　exchanging　a　last
look。
Scarron　followed　their　movements　with　a　glance　from　the
corner　of　his　eye。
〃Not　one　of　them　will　do　as　he　says；〃　he　murmured；　with　his
little　monkey　smile；　〃but　they　may　do　as　they　please；　the
brave　gentlemen！　Who　knows　if　they　will　not　manage　to
restore　to　me　my　pension？　They　can　move　their　arms；　they
can；　and　that　is　much。　Alas；　I　have　only　my　tongue；　but　I
will　try　to　show　that　it　is　good　for　something。　Ho；　there；
Champenois！　here；　it　is　eleven　o'clock。　Come　and　roll　me　to
bed。　Really；　that　Demoiselle　d'Aubigne　is　very　charming！〃
So　the　invalid　disappeared　soon　afterward　and　went　into　his
sleeping…room；　and　one　by　one　the　lights　in　the　salon　of　the
Rue　des　Tournelles　were　extinguished。

22
Saint　Denis。

The　day　had　begun　to　break　when　Athos　arose　and　dressed
himself。　It　was　plain；　by　a　paleness　still　greater　than
usual；　and　by　those　traces　which　loss　of　sleep　leaves　on　the
face；　that　he　must　have　passed　almost　the　whole　of　the　night
without　sleeping。　Contrary　to　the　custom　of　a　man　so　firm
and　decided；　there　was　this　morning　in　his　personal
appearance　something　tardy　and　irresolute。
He　was　occupied　with　the　preparations　for　Raoul's　departure
and　was　seeking　to　gain　time。　In　the　first　place　he　himself
furbished　a　sword；　which　he　drew　from　its　perfumed　leather
sheath；　he　examined　it　to　see　if　its　hilt　was　well　guarded
and　if　the　blade　was　firmly　attached　to　the　hilt。　Then　he
placed　at　the　bottom　of　the　valise　belonging　to　the　young
man　a　small　bag　of　louis；　called　Olivain；　the　lackey　who　had
followed　him　from　Blois；　and　made　him　pack　the　valise　under
his　own　eyes；　watchful　to　see　that　everything　should　be　put
in　which　might　be　useful　to　a　young　man　entering　on　his
first　campaign。
At　length；　after　occupying　about　an　hour　in　these
preparations；　he　opened　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　the
vicomte　slept；　and　entered。
The　sun；　already　high；　penetrated　into　the　room　through　the
window；　the　curtains　of　which　Raoul　had　neglected　to　close
on　the　previous　evening。　He　was　still　sleeping；　his　head
gracefully　reposing　on　his　arm。
Athos　approached　and　hung　over　the　youth　in　an　attitude　full
of　tender　melancholy；　he　looked　long　on　this　young　man；
whose　smiling　mouth　and　half　closed　eyes　bespoke　soft　dreams
and　lightest　slumber；　as　if　his　guardian　angel　watched　over
him　with　solicitude　and　affection。　By　degrees　Athos　gave
himself　up　to　the　charms　of　his　reverie　in　the　proximity　of
youth；　so　pure；　so　fresh。　His　own　youth　seemed　to　reappear；
bringing　with　it　all　those　savoury　remembrances；　which　are
like　perfumes　more　than　thoughts。　Between　the　past　and　the
present　was　an　ineffable　abyss。　But　imagination　has　the
wings　of　an　angel　of　light　and　travels　safely　through　or
over　the　seas　where　we　have　been　almost　shipwrecked；　the
darkness　in　which　our　illusions　are　lost；　the　precipice
whence　our　happiness　has　been　hurled　and　swallowed　up。　He
remembered　that　all　the　first　part　of　his　life　had　been
embittered　by　a　woman　and　he　thought　with　alarm　of　the
influence　love　might　assume　over　so　fine；　and　at　the　same
time　so　vigorous　an　organization　as　that　of　Raoul。
In　recalling　all　he　had　been　through；　he　foresaw　all　that
Raoul　might　suffer；　and　the　expression　of　the　deep　and
tender　compassion　which　throbbed　in　his　heart　was　pictured
in　the　moist　eye　with　which　he　gazed　on　the　young　man。
At　this　moment　Raoul　awoke；　without　a　cloud　on　his　face
without　weariness　or　lassitude；　his　eyes　were　fixed　on　those
of　Athos　and　perhaps　he　comprehended　all　that　passed　in　the
heart　of　the　man　who　was　awaiting　his　awakening　as　a　lover
awaits　the　awakening　of　his　mistress；　for　his　glance；　in
return；　had　all　the　tenderness　of　love。
〃You　are　there；　sir？〃　he　said；　respectfully。
〃Yes；　Raoul；〃　replied　the　count。
〃And　you　did　not　awaken　me？〃
〃I　wished　to　leave　you　still　to　enjoy　some　moments　of　sleep；
my　child；　you　must　be　fatigued　from　yesterday。〃
〃Oh；　sir；　how　good　you　are！〃
Athos　smiled。
〃How　do　you　feel　this　morning？〃　he　inquired。
〃Perfectly　well；　quite　rested；　sir。〃
〃You　are　still　growing；〃　Athos　continued；　with　that　charming
and　paternal　interest　felt　by　a　grown　man　for　a　youth。
〃Oh；　sir；　I　beg　your　pardon！〃　exclaimed　Raoul；　ashamed　of　so
much　attention；　〃in　an　instant　I　shall　be　dressed。〃
Athos　then　called　Olivain。
〃Everything；〃　said　Olivain　to　Athos；　〃has　been　done
according　to　your　directions；　the　horses　are　waiting。〃
〃And　I　was　asleep；〃　cried　Raoul；　〃whilst　you；　sir；　you　had
the　kindness　to　attend　to　all　these　details。　Truly；　sir；　you
overwhelm　me　with　benefits！〃
〃Therefore　you　love　me　a　little；　I　hope；〃　replied　Athos；　in
a　tone　of　emotion。
〃Oh；　sir！　God　knows　how　much　I　love；　revere　you。〃
〃See　that　you　forget　nothing；〃　said　Athos；　appearing　to　look
about　him；　that　he　might　hide　his　emotion。
〃No；　indeed；　sir；〃　answered　Raoul。
The　servant　then　approached　Athos　and　said；　hesitatingly：
〃Monsieur　le　vicomte　has　no　sword。〃
〃'Tis　well；〃　said　Athos；　〃I　will　take　care　of　that。〃
They　went　downstairs；　Raoul　looking　every　now　and　then　at
the　count　to　see　if　the　moment　of　farewell　was　at　hand；　but
Athos　was　silent。　When　they　reached　the　steps　Raoul　saw
three　horses。
〃Oh；　sir！　then　you　are　going　with　me？〃
〃I　will　accompany　you　a　portion　of　the　way；〃　said　Athos。
Joy　shone　in　Raoul's　eyes　and　he　leaped　lightly　to　his
saddle。
Athos　mounted　more　slowly；　after　speaking　in　a　low　voice　to
the　lackey；　who；　instead　of　following　them　immediately；
returned　to　their　rooms。　Raoul；　delighted　at　the　count's
companionship；　perceived；　or　affected　to　perceive　nothing　of
this　byplay。
They　set　out；　passing　over　the　Pont　Neuf；　they　pursued　their
way　along　the　quay　then　called　L'Abreuvoir　Pepin；　and　went
along　by　the　walls　of　the　Grand　Chatelet。　They　proceeded　to
the　Rue　Saint　Denis。
After　passing　through　the　Porte　Saint　Denis；　Athos　looked　at
Raoul's　way　of　riding　and　observed：
〃Take　care；　Raoul！　I　have　already　often　told　you　of　this；
you　must　not　forget　it；　for　it　is　a　great　defect　in　a　rider。
See！　your　horse　is　tired　already；　he　froths　at　the　mouth；
whilst　mine　looks　as　if　he　had　only　just　left　the　stable。
You　hold　the　bit　too　tight　and　so　make　his　mouth　hard；　so
that　you　will　not　be　able　to　make　him　manoeuvre　quickly。　The
safety　of　a　cavalier　often　depends　on　the　prompt　obedience
of　his　horse。　In　a　week；　remember；　you　will　no　longer　be
performing　your　manoeuvres　for　practice；　but　on　a　field　of
battle。〃
Then　suddenly；　in　order　not　to　give　too　uncomfortable　an
importance　to　this　observation：
〃See；　Raoul！〃　he　resumed；　〃what　a　fine　plain　for　partridge
shooting。〃
The　young　man　stored　in　his　mind　the　admonition　whilst　he
admired　the　delicate　tenderness　with　which　it　was　bestowed。
〃I　have　remarked　also　another　thing；〃　said　Athos；　〃which　is；
that　in　firing　off　your　pistol　you　hold　your　arm　too　far
outstretched。　This　tension　lessens　the　accuracy　of　the　aim。
So　in　twelve　times　you　thrice　missed　the　mark。〃
〃Which　you；　sir；　struck　twelve　times；〃　answered　Raoul；
smiling。
〃Because　I　bent　my　arm　and　rested　my　hand　on　my　elbow　　so；
do　you　understand　what　I　mean？〃
〃Yes；　sir。　I　have　fired　since　in　that　manner　and　have　been
quite　successful。〃
〃What　a　cold　wind！〃　resumed　Athos；　〃a　wintry　blast。　Apropos；
if　you　fire　　and　you　will　do　so；　for　you　are　recommended
to　a　young　general　who　is　very　fond　of　powder　　remember
that　in　single　combat；　which　often　takes　place　in　the
cavalry；　never　to　fire　the　first　shot。　He　who　fires　the
first　shot　rarely　hits　his　man；　for　he　fires　with　the
apprehension　of　being　disarmed；　before　an　armed　foe；　then；
whilst　he　fires；　make　your　horse　rear；　that　manoeuvre　has
saved　my　life　several　times。〃
〃I　shall　do　so；　if　only　in　gratitude　　〃
〃Eh！〃　cried　Athos；　〃are　not　those　fellows　poachers　they　have
arrested　yonder？　They　are。　Then　another　important　thing；
Raoul：　should　you　be　wounded　in　a　battle；　and　fall　from　your
horse；　if　you　have　any　strength　left；　disentangle　yourself
from　the　line　that　your　regiment　has　formed；　otherwise；　it
may　be　driven　back　and　you　will　be　trampled