二十年后-第95章
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！
er side； evidently to still the beatings of her heart。
（〃Porthos；〃 murmured D'Artagnan； 〃look well at that priest。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos； 〃I see him。 What then？〃
〃Well； he is a man。〃
Porthos looked at D'Artagnan in astonishment。 Evidently he did not understand his meaning。）
〃Your majesty；〃 continued the coadjutor； pitilessly； 〃is about to take such measures as seem good to you； but I foresee that they will be violent and such as will still further exasperate the rioters。〃
〃In that case； you； monsieur le coadjuteur； who have such power over them and are at the same time friendly to us；〃 said the queen； ironically； 〃will quiet them by bestowing your blessing upon them。〃
〃Perhaps it will be too late；〃 said Gondy； still unmoved； 〃perhaps I shall have lost all influence； while by giving up Broussel your majesty will strike at the root of the sedition and will gain the right to punish severely any revival of the revolt。〃
〃Have I not； then； that right？〃 cried the queen。
〃If you have it； use it；〃 replied Gondy。
（〃Peste！〃 said D'Artagnan to Porthos。 〃There is a man after my own heart。 Oh！ if he were minister and I were his D'Artagnan； instead of belonging to that beast of a Mazarin； mordieu！ what fine things we would do together！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos。）
The queen made a sign for every one； except Mazarin； to quit the room； and Gondy bowed； as if to leave with the rest。
〃Stay； sir；〃 said Anne to him。
〃Good；〃 thought Gondy； 〃she is going to yield。〃
（〃She is going to have him killed；〃 said D'Artagnan to Porthos； 〃but at all events it shall not be by me。 I swear to Heaven； on the contrary； that if they fall upon him I will fall upon them。〃
〃And I； too；〃 said Porthos。）
〃Good；〃 muttered Mazarin； sitting down； 〃we shall soon see something startling。〃
The queen's eyes followed the retreating figures and when the last had closed the door she turned away。 It was evident that she was making unnatural efforts to subdue her anger； she fanned herself； smelled at her vinaigrette and walked up and down。 Gondy； who began to feel uneasy； examined the tapestry with his eyes； touched the coat of mail which he wore under his long gown and felt from time to time to see if the handle of a good Spanish dagger； which was hidden under his cloak； was well within reach。
〃And now；〃 at last said the queen； 〃now that we are alone； repeat your counsel； monsieur le coadjuteur。〃
〃It is this； madame： that you should appear to have reflected； and publicly acknowledge an error； which constitutes the extra strength of a strong government； release Broussel from prison and give him back to the people。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Anne； 〃to humble myself thus！ Am I； or am I not； the queen？ This screaming mob； are they； or are they not； my subjects？ Have I friends？ Have I guards？ Ah！ by Notre Dame！ as Queen Catherine used to say；〃 continued she； excited by her own words； 〃rather than give up this infamous Broussel to them I will strangle him with my own hands！〃
And she sprang toward Gondy； whom assuredly at that moment she hated more than Broussel； with outstretched arms。 The coadjutor remained immovable and not a muscle of his face was disposed； only his glance flashed like a sword in returning the furious looks of the queen。
（〃He were a dead man）〃 said the Gascon； 〃if there were still a Vitry at the court and if Vitry entered at this moment； but for my part； before he could reach the good prelate I would kill Vitry at once； the cardinal would be infinitely pleased with me。〃
〃Hush！〃 said Porthos； 〃listen。〃）
〃Madame；〃 cried the cardinal； seizing hold of Anne and drawing her back； 〃Madame； what are you about？〃
Then he added in Spanish； 〃Anne； are you mad？ You； a queen to quarrel like a washerwoman！ And do you not perceive that in the person of this priest is represented the whole people of Paris and that it is dangerous to insult him at this moment； and if this priest wished it； in an hour you would be without a crown？ e； then； on another occasion you can be firm and strong； but to…day is not the proper time； to…day； flatter and caress； or you are only a mon woman。〃
（At the first words of this address D'Artagnan had seized Porthos's arm； which he pressed with gradually increasing force。 When Mazarin ceased speaking he said to Porthos in a low tone：
〃Never tell Mazarin that I understand Spanish； or I am a lost man and you are also。〃
〃All right；〃 said Porthos。）
This rough appeal； marked by the eloquence which characterized Mazarin when he spoke in Italian or Spanish and which he lost entirely in speaking French； was uttered with such impenetrable expression that Gondy； clever physiognomist as he was； had no suspicion of its being more than a simple warning to be more subdued。
The queen； on her part； thus chided； softened immediately and sat down； and in an almost weeping voice； letting her arms fall by her side； said：
〃Pardon me； sir； and attribute this violence to what I suffer。 A woman； and consequently subject to the weaknesses of my sex； I am alarmed at the idea of civil war； a queen； accustomed to be obeyed； I am excited at the first opposition。〃
〃Madame；〃 replied Gondy； bowing； 〃your majesty is mistaken in qualifying my sincere advice as opposition。 Your majesty has none but submissive and respectful subjects。 It is not the queen with whom the people are displeased； they ask for Broussel and are only too happy； if you release him to them； to live under your government。〃
Mazarin； who at the words； 〃It is not the queen with whom the people are displeased；〃 had pricked up his ears； thinking that the coadjutor was about to speak of the cries； 〃Down with Mazarin；〃 and pleased with Gondy's suppression of this fact； he said with his sweetest voice and his most gracious expression：
〃Madame； credit the coadjutor； who is one of the most able politicians we have； the first available cardinal's hat seems to belong already to his noble brow。〃
〃Ah！ how much you have need of me； cunning rogue！〃 thought Gondy。
（〃And what will he promise us？〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Peste； if he is giving away hats like that； Porthos； let us look out and both demand a regiment to…morrow。 Corbleu！ let the civil war last but one year and I will have a constable's sword gilt for me。〃
〃And for me？〃 put in Porthos。
〃For you？ I will give you the baton of the Marechal de la Meilleraie； who does not seem to be much in favor just now。〃）
〃And so； sir；〃 said the queen； 〃you are seriously afraid of a public tumult。〃
〃Seriously；〃 said Gondy； astonished at not having further advanced； 〃I fear that when the torrent has broken its embankment it will cause fearful destruction。〃
〃And I；〃 said the queen； 〃think that in such a case other embankments should be raised to oppose it。 Go； I will reflect。〃
Gondy looked at Mazarin； astonished； and Mazarin approached the queen to speak to her； but at this moment a frightful tumult arose from the square of the Palais Royal。
Gondy smiled； the queen's color rose and Mazarin grew even paler。
〃What is that again？〃 he asked。
At this moment minges rushed into the room。
〃Pardon； your majesty；〃 he cried； 〃but the people have dashed the sentinels against the gates and they are now forcing the doors； what are your mands？〃
〃Listen； madame；〃 said Gondy。
The moaning of waves； the noise of thunder； the roaring of a volcano； cannot be pared with the tempest of cries heard at that moment。
〃What are my mands？〃 said the queen。
〃Yes； for time presses。〃
〃How many men have you about the Palais Royal？〃
〃Six hundred。〃
〃Place a hundred around the king and with the remainder sweep away this mob for me。〃
〃Madame；〃 cried Mazarin； 〃what are you about？〃
〃Go！〃 said the queen。
minges went out with a soldier's passive obedience。
At this moment a monstrous battering was heard。 One of the gates began to yield。
〃Oh！ madame；〃 cried Mazarin； 〃you have ruined us all the king； yourself and me。〃
At this cry from the soul of the frightened cardinal； Anne became alarmed in her turn and would have recalled minges。
〃It is too late；〃 said Mazarin； tearing his h
