我的美母教师 | 乡村精品合集 | 乡村活寡 | 乡村欲爱 | 乡村春潮 | 乡村花医 | 欲望乡村（未删） | 乡村艳福 | 乡村春事 | 人妻四部曲

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　　And　the　king；　putting　spurs　to　his　horse；　set　off　to　the　tent　of　Lord　Leven。
　　〃Follow　him；〃　said　Athos。
　　〃e！〃　exclaimed　Aramis。
　　〃Is　the　king　wounded？〃　cried　Lord　Winter。　〃I　see　spots　of　blood　on　the　ground。〃　And　he　set　off　to　follow　the　two　friends。
　　He　was　stopped　by　Athos。
　　〃Go　and　call　out　your　regiment；〃　said　he；　〃I　can　foresee　that　we　shall　have　need　of　it　directly。〃
　　Winter　turned　his　horse　and　the　two　friends　rode　on。　It　had　taken　but　two　minutes　for　the　king　to　reach　the　tent　of　the　Scottish　mander；　he　dismounted　and　entered。
　　The　general　was　there；　surrounded　by　the　more　prominent　chiefs。
　　〃The　king！〃　they　exclaimed；　as　all　rose　in　bewilderment。
　　Charles　was　indeed　in　the　midst　of　them；　his　hat　on　his　head；　his　brows　bent；　striking　his　boot　with　his　riding　whip。
　　〃Yes；　gentlemen；　the　king　in　person；　the　king　who　has　e　to　ask　for　some　account　of　what　has　happened。〃
　　〃What　is　the　matter；　sire？〃　exclaimed　Lord　Leven。
　　〃It　is　this；　sir；〃　said　the　king；　angrily；　〃that　General　Cromwell　has　reached　Newcastle；　that　you　knew　it　and　I　was　not　informed　of　it；　that　the　enemy　have　left　the　town　and　are　now　closing　the　passages　of　the　Tyne　against　us；　that　our　sentinels　have　seen　this　movement　and　I　have　been　left　unacquainted　with　it；　that；　by　an　infamous　treaty　you　have　sold　me　for　two　hundred　thousand　pounds　to　Parliament。　Of　this　treaty；　at　least；　I　have　been　warned。　This　is　the　matter；　gentlemen；　answer　and　exculpate　yourselves；　for　I　stand　here　to　accuse　you。〃
　　〃Sire；〃　said　Lord　Leven；　with　hesitation；　〃sire；　your　majesty　has　been　deceived　by　false　reports。〃
　　〃My　own　eyes　have　seen　the　enemy　extend　itself　between　myself　and　Scotland；　and　I　can　almost　say　that　with　my　own　ears　I　have　heard　the　clauses　of　the　treaty　debated。〃
　　The　Scotch　chieftains　looked　at　each　other　in　their　turn　with　frowning　brows。
　　〃Sire；〃　murmured　Lord　Leven；　crushed　by　shame；　〃sire；　we　are　ready　to　give　you　every　proof　of　our　fidelity。〃
　　〃I　ask　but　one；〃　said　the　king；　〃put　the　army　in　battle　array　and　face　the　enemy。〃
　　〃That　cannot　be；　sire；〃　said　the　earl。
　　〃How；　cannot　be？　What　hinders　it？〃　exclaimed　the　king。
　　〃Your　majesty　is　well　aware　that　there　is　a　truce　between　us　and　the　English　army。〃
　　〃And　if　there　is　a　truce　the　English　army　has　broken　it　by　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　e　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　acpany　them。
　　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　moners。〃
　　〃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　te。〃
　　Then　turning　to　Aramis；　he　said：
　　〃It　is　now　your　turn；　monsieur　le　chevalier。〃
　　The　same　ceremony　remenced；　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　te；　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　e　out　of　their　tents　and　taken　up　their　station　in　battle　array。
　　〃Do　you　see　that？〃　said　the　king。　〃Perha