twenty years after(二十年后)-第65章

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it　was　the　will　of　God　that　it　should　be　so　and　this　it　is
which　makes　it　all　so　awful；〃　continued　Grimaud。　〃And　yet
that　woman　deserved　her　fate；　do　you　not　think　so？〃
〃On　one's　death…bed　the　crimes　of　others　appear　very　small
in　comparison　with　one's　own；〃　said　the　executioner；　and
falling　back　exhausted　he　closed　his　eyes。
Grimaud　was　reluctant　to　leave　the　man　alone　and　yet　he
perceived　the　necessity　of　starting　at　once　to　bear　these
tidings　to　the　Comte　de　la　Fere。　Whilst　he　thus　hesitated
the　host　re…entered　the　room；　followed　not　only　by　a
surgeon；　but　by　many　other　persons；　whom　curiosity　had
attracted　to　the　spot。　The　surgeon　approached　the　dying　man；
who　seemed　to　have　fainted。
〃We　must　first　extract　the　steel　from　the　side；〃　said　he；
shaking　his　head　in　a　significant　manner。
The　prophecy　which　the　wounded　man　had　just　uttered　recurred
to　Grimaud；　who　turned　away　his　head。　The　weapon；　as　we　have
already　stated；　was　plunged　into　the　body　to　the　hilt；　and
as　the　surgeon；　taking　it　by　the　end；　drew　it　forth；　the
wounded　man　opened　his　eyes　and　fixed　them　on　him　in　a
manner　truly　frightful。　When　at　last　the　blade　had　been
entirely　withdrawn；　a　red　froth　issued　from　the　mouth　of　the
wounded　man　and　a　stream　of　blood　spouted　afresh　from　the
wound　when　he　at　length　drew　breath；　then；　fixing　his　eyes
upon　Grimaud　with　a　singular　expression；　the　dying　man
uttered　the　last　death…rattle　and　expired。
Then　Grimaud；　lifting　the　dagger　from　the　pool　of　blood
which　was　gliding　along　the　room；　to　the　horror　of　all
present；　made　a　sign　to　the　host　to　follow　him；　paid　him
with　a　generosity　worthy　of　his　master　and　again　mounted　his
horse。　Grimaud's　first　intention　had　been　to　return　to
Paris；　but　he　remembered　the　anxiety　which　his　prolonged
absence　might　occasion　Raoul；　and　reflecting　that　there　were
now　only　two　miles　between　the　vicomte　and　himself　and　a
quarter　of　an　hour's　riding　would　unite　them；　and　that　the
going；　returning　and　explanation　would　not　occupy　an　hour；
he　put　spurs　to　his　horse　and　a　few　minutes　after　had
reached　the　only　inn　of　Mazingarbe。
Raoul　was　seated　at　table　with　the　Count　de　Guiche　and　his
tutor；　when　all　at　once　the　door　opened　and　Grimaud
presented　himself；　travel…stained；　dirty；　and　sprinkled　with
the　blood　of　the　unhappy　executioner。
〃Grimaud；　my　good　Grimaud！〃　exclaimed　Raoul　〃here　you　are　at
last！　Excuse　me；　sirs；　this　is　not　a　servant；　but　a　friend。
How　did　you　leave　the　count？〃　continued　he。　〃Does　he　regret
me　a　little？　Have　you　seen　him　since　I　left　him？　Answer；　for
I　have　many　things　to　tell　you；　too；　indeed；　the　last　three
days　some　odd　adventures　have　happened　　but　what　is　the
matter？　how　pale　you　are！　and　blood；　too！　What　is　this？〃
〃It　is　the　blood　of　the　unfortunate　man　whom　you　left　at　the
inn　and　who　died　in　my　arms。〃
〃In　your　arms？　　that　man！　but　know　you　who　he　was？〃
〃He　used　to　be　the　headsman　of　Bethune。〃
〃You　knew　him？　and　he　is　dead？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well；　sir；〃　said　D'Arminges；　〃it　is　the　common　lot；　even　an
executioner　is　not　exempted。　I　had　a　bad　opinion　of　him　the
moment　I　saw　his　wound；　and　since　he　asked　for　a　monk　you
know　that　it　was　his　opinion；　too；　that　death　would　follow。〃
At　the　mention　of　the　monk；　Grimaud　became　pale。
〃Come；　come；〃　continued　D'Arminges；　〃to　dinner；〃　for　like
most　men　of　his　age　and　generation　he　did　not　allow
sentiment　or　sensibility　to　interfere　with　a　repast。
〃You　are　right；　sir；〃　said　Raoul。　〃Come；　Grimaud；　order
dinner　for　yourself　and　when　you　have　rested　a　little　we　can
talk。〃
〃No；　sir；　no；〃　said　Grimaud。　〃I　cannot　stop　a　moment；　I　must
start　for　Paris　again　immediately。〃
〃What？　You　start　for　Paris？　You　are　mistaken；　it　is　Olivain
who　leaves　me；　you　are　to　remain。〃
〃On　the　contrary；　Olivain　is　to　stay　and　I　am　to　go。　I　have
come　for　nothing　else　but　to　tell　you　so。〃
〃But　what　is　the　meaning　of　this　change？〃
〃I　cannot　tell　you。〃
〃Explain　yourself。〃
〃I　cannot　explain　myself。〃
〃Come；　tell　me；　what　is　the　joke？〃
〃Monsieur　le　vicomte　knows　that　I　never　joke。〃
〃Yes；　but　I　know　also　that　Monsieur　le　Comte　de　la　Fere
arranged　that　you　were　to　remain　with　me　and　that　Olivain
should　return　to　Paris。　I　shall　follow　the　count's
directions。〃
〃Not　under　present　circumstances；　monsieur。〃
〃Perhaps　you　mean　to　disobey　me？〃
〃Yes；　monsieur；　I　must。〃
〃You　persist；　then？〃
〃Yes；　I　am　going；　may　you　be　happy；　monsieur；〃　and　Grimaud
saluted　and　turned　toward　the　door　to　go　out。
Raoul；　angry　and　at　the　same　time　uneasy；　ran　after　him　and
seized　him　by　the　arm。　〃Grimaud！〃　he　cried；　〃remain；　I　wish
it。〃
〃Then；〃　replied　Grimaud；　〃you　wish　me　to　allow　monsieur　le
comte　to　be　killed。〃　He　saluted　and　made　a　movement　to
depart。
〃Grimaud；　my　friend；〃　said　the　viscount；　〃will　you　leave　me
thus；　in　such　anxiety？　Speak；　speak；　in　Heaven's　name！〃　And
Raoul　fell　back　trembling　upon　his　chair。
〃I　can　tell　you　but　one　thing；　sir；　for　the　secret　you　wish
to　know　is　not　my　own。　You　met　a　monk；　did　you　not？〃
〃Yes。〃
The　young　men　looked　at　each　other　with　an　expression　of
fear。
〃You　conducted　him　to　the　wounded　man　and　you　had　time　to
observe　him；　and　perhaps　you　would　know　him　again　were　you
to　meet　him。〃
〃Yes；　yes！〃　cried　both　young　men。
〃Very　well；　if　ever　you　meet　him　again；　wherever　it　may　be；
whether　on　the　high　road　or　in　the　street　or　in　a　church；
anywhere　that　he　or　you　may　be；　put　your　foot　on　his　neck
and　crush　him　without　pity；　without　mercy；　as　you　would
crush　a　viper　or　a　scorpion！　destroy　him　utterly　and　quit
him　not　until　he　is　dead；　the　lives　of　five　men　are　not
safe；　in　my　opinion；　as　long　as　he　is　on　the　earth。〃
And　without　adding　another　word；　Grimaud；　profiting　by　the
astonishment　and　terror　into　which　he　had　thrown　his
auditors；　rushed　from　the　room。　Two　minutes　later　the
thunder　of　a　horse's　hoofs　was　heard　upon　the　road；　it　was
Grimaud；　on　his　way　to　Paris。　When　once　in　the　saddle
Grimaud　reflected　on　two　things；　first；　that　at　the　pace　he
was　going　his　horse　would　not　carry　him　ten　miles；　and
secondly；　that　he　had　no　money。　But　Grimaud's　ingenuity　was
more　prolific　than　his　speech；　and　therefore　at　the　first
halt　he　sold　his　steed　and　with　the　money　obtained　from　the
purchase　took　post　horses。

34
On　the　Eve　of　Battle。

Raoul　was　aroused　from　his　sombre　reflections　by　his　host；
who　rushed　into　the　apartment　crying　out；　〃The　Spaniards！
the　Spaniards！〃
That　cry　was　of　such　importance　as　to　overcome　all
preoccupation。　The　young　men　made　inquiries　and　ascertained
that　the　enemy　was　advancing　by　way　of　Houdin　and　Bethune。
While　Monsieur　d'Arminges　gave　orders　for　the　horses　to　be
made　ready　for　departure；　the　two　young　men　ascended　to　the
upper　windows　of　the　house　and　saw　in　the　direction　of
Marsin　and　of　Lens　a　large　body　of　infantry　and　cavalry。
This　time　it　was　not　a　wandering　troop　of　partisans；　it　was
an　entire　army。　There　was　therefore　nothing　for　them　to　do
but　to　follow　the　prudent　advice　of　Monsieur　d'Arminges　and
beat　a　retreat。　They　quickly　went　downstairs。　Monsieur
d'Arminges　was　already　mounted。　Olivain　had　ready　the　horses
of　the　young　men；　and　the　lackeys　of　the　Count　de　Guiche
guarded　carefully　between　them　the　Spanish　prisoner；　mounted
on　a　pony　which　had　been　bought　for　his　use。　As　a　further
precaution　they　had　bound　his　hands。
The　little　company　started　off　at　a　trot　on　the　road　to
Cambrin；　where　they　expected　to　find　the　prince。　But　he　was
no　longer　there；　having　withdrawn　on　the　previous　evening　to
La　Bassee；　misled　by　false　intelligence　of　the　enemy's
movements。　Deceived　by　this　intelligence　he　had　concentrated
his　forces　between　Vieille…Chapelle　and　La　Venthie；　and
after　a　reconnoissance　along　the　entire　line；　in　company
with　Marshal　de　Grammont；　he　had　returned　and　seated　himself
before　a　table；　with　his　officers　around　him。　He　questioned
them　as　to　the　news　they　had　each　been　charged　to　obtain；
but　nothing　positive　had　been　learned。　The　hostile　army　had
disappeared　two　days　before　and　seemed　to　have　gone　out　of
existence。
Now　an　enemy　is　never　so　near　and　consequently　so
threatening；　as　when　he　has　completely　disappeared。　The
prince　was；　therefore；　contrary　to　his　custom；　gloomy　and
anxious；　when　an　o