二十年后-第85章
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ix； as if he was waiting for some one。
All the world was occupied with the ceremony； so that neither the chariot nor the precautions taken by those who were within it had been observed。 Friquet； whose eye； ever on the alert； could alone have discovered them； had gone to devour his apricots upon the entablature of a house in the square of Notre Dame。 Thence he saw the king； the queen and Monsieur Mazarin； and heard the mass as well as if he had been on duty。
Toward the end of the service； the queen； seeing minges standing near her； waiting for a confirmation of the order she had given him before quitting the Louvre； said in a whisper：
〃Go； minges； and may God aid you！〃
minges immediately left the church and entered the Rue Saint Christophe。 Friquet； seeing this fine officer thus walk away； followed by two guards； amused himself by pursuing them and did this so much the more gladly as the ceremony ended at that instant and the king remounted his carriage。
Hardly had the police officer observed minges at the end of the Rue Cocatrix when he said one word to the coachman； who at once put his vehicle into motion and drove up before Broussel's door。 minges knocked at the door at the same moment； and Friquet was waiting behind minges until the door should be opened。
〃What dost thou there； rascal？〃 asked minges。
〃I want to go into Master Broussel's house； captain；〃 replied Friquet； in that wheedling way the 〃gamins〃 of Paris know so well how to assume when necessary。
〃And on what floor does he live？〃 asked minges。
〃In the whole house；〃 said Friquet； 〃the house belongs to him； he occupies the second floor when he works and descends to the first to take his meals； he must be at dinner now； it is noon。〃
〃Good；〃 said minges。
At this moment the door was opened； and having questioned the servant the officer learned that Master Broussel was at home and at dinner。
Broussel was seated at the table with his family； having his wife opposite to him； his two daughters by his side； and his son； Louvieres； whom we have already seen when the accident happened to the councillor an accident from which he had quite recovered at the bottom of the table。 The worthy man； restored to perfect health； was tasting the fine fruit which Madame de Longueville had sent to him。
At sight of the officer Broussel was somewhat moved； but seeing him bow politely he rose and bowed also。 Still； in spite of this reciprocal politeness； the countenances of the women betrayed a certain amount of uneasiness； Louvieres became very pale and waited impatiently for the officer to explain himself。
〃Sir；〃 said minges； 〃I am the bearer of an order from the king。〃
〃Very well； sir；〃 replied Broussel； 〃what is this order？〃 And he held out his hand。
〃I am missioned to seize your person； sir；〃 said minges； in the same tone and with the same politeness； 〃and if you will believe me you had better spare yourself the trouble of reading that long letter and follow me。〃
A thunderbolt falling in the midst of these good people； so peacefully assembled there； would not have produced a more appalling effect。 It was a horrible thing at that period to be imprisoned by the enmity of the king。 Louvieres sprang forward to snatch his sword； which stood against a chair in a corner of the room； but a glance from the worthy Broussel； who in the midst of It all did not lose his presence of mind； checked this foolhardy action of despair。 Madame Broussel； separated by the width of the table from her husband； burst into tears； and the young girls clung to their father's arms。
〃e； sir；〃 said minges； 〃make haste； you must obey the king。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Broussel； 〃I am in bad health and cannot give myself up a prisoner in this state； I must have time。〃
〃It is impossible；〃 said minges； 〃the order is strict and must be put into execution this instant。〃
〃Impossible！〃 said Louvieres； 〃sir； beware of driving us to despair。〃
〃Impossible！〃 cried a shrill voice from the end of the room。
minges turned and saw Dame Nanette； her eyes flashing with anger and a broom in her hand。
〃My good Nanette； be quiet； I beseech you；〃 said Broussel。
〃Me！ keep quiet while my master is being arrested！ he； the support； the liberator； the father of the people！ Ah！ well； yes； you have to know me yet。 Are you going？〃 added she to minges。
The latter smiled。
〃e； sir；〃 said he； addressing Broussel； 〃silence that woman and follow me。〃
〃Silence me！ me！ me！〃 said Nanette。 〃Ah！ yet one wants some one besides you for that； my fine king's cockatoo！ You shall see。〃 And Dame Nanette sprang to the window； threw it open； and in such a piercing voice that it might have been heard in the square of Notre Dame：
〃Help！〃 she screamed； 〃my master is being arrested； the Councillor Broussel is being arrested！ Help！〃
〃Sir；〃 said minges； 〃declare yourself at once； will you obey or do you intend to rebel against the king？〃
〃I obey； I obey； sir！〃 cried Broussel； trying to disengage himself from the grasp of his two daughters and by a look restrain his son； who seemed determined to dispute authority。
〃In that case；〃 manded minges； 〃silence that old woman。〃
〃Ah！ old woman！〃 screamed Nanette。
And she began to shriek more loudly； clinging to the bars of the window：
〃Help！ help！ for Master Broussel； who is arrested because he has defended the people！ Help！〃
minges seized the servant around the waist and would have dragged her from her post； but at that instant a treble voice； proceeding from a kind of entresol； was heard screeching：
〃Murder！ fire！ assassins！ Master Broussel is being killed！ Master Broussel is being strangled。〃
It was Friquet's voice； and Dame Nanette； feeling herself supported； remenced with all her strength to sound her shrilly squawk。
Many curious faces had already appeared at the windows and the people attracted to the end of the street began to run； first men； then groups； and then a crowd of people； hearing cries and seeing a chariot they could not understand it； but Friquet sprang from the entresol on to the top of the carriage。
〃They want to arrest Master Broussel！〃 he cried； 〃the guards are in the carriage and the officer is upstairs！〃
The crowd began to murmur and approached the house。 The two guards who had remained in the lane mounted to the aid of minges； those who were in the chariot opened the doors and presented arms。
〃Don't you see them？〃 cried Friquet； 〃don't you see？ there they are！〃
The coachman turning around； gave Friquet a slash with his whip which made him scream with pain。
〃Ah！ devil's coachman！〃 cried Friquet； 〃you're meddling too！ Wait！〃
And regaining his entresol he overwhelmed the coachman with every projectile he could lay hands on。
The tumult now began to increase； the street was not able to contain the spectators who assembled from every direction； the crowd invaded the space which the dreaded pikes of the guards had till then kept clear between them and the carriage。 The soldiers； pushed back by these living walls； were in danger of being crushed against the spokes of the wheels and the panels of the carriages。 The cries which the police officer repeated twenty times： 〃In the king's name；〃 were powerless against this formidable multitude seemed； on the contrary； to exasperate it still more； when； at the shout； 〃In the name of the king；〃 an officer ran up； and seeing the uniforms ill…treated； he sprang into the scuffle sword in hand； and brought unexpected help to the guards。 This gentleman was a young man； scarcely sixteen years of age； now white with anger。 He leaped from his charger； placed his back against the shaft of the carriage； making a rampart of his horse； drew his pistols from their holsters and fastened them to his belt； and began to fight with the back sword； like a man accustomed to the handling of his weapon。
During ten minutes he alone kept the crowd at bay； at last minges appeared； pushing Broussel before him。
〃Let us break the carriage！〃 cried the people。
〃In the king's name！〃 cried minges。
〃The first who advances is a dead man！〃 cried Raoul； for it was in fact he； who； fe
