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二十年后-第168部分

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  〃He must be indeed a strange man。 Well; we will reflect and perhaps we will beg him。 Are you satisfied; sir?〃
  〃There is one thing the queen has not signed  her assent to the treaty。〃
  〃Of what use to…day? I will sign it to…morrow。〃
  〃I can assure her majesty that if she does not sign to…day she will not have time to sign to…morrow。 Consent; then; I beg you; madame; to write at the bottom of this schedule; which has been drawn up by Mazarin; as you see:
  〃‘I consent to ratify the treaty proposed by the Parisians。'〃
  Anne was caught; she could not draw back  she signed; but scarcely had she done so when pride burst forth and she began to weep。
  D'Artagnan started on seeing these tears。 Since that period of history queens have shed tears; like other women。
  The Gascon shook his head; these tears from royalty melted his heart。
  〃Madame;〃 he said; kneeling; 〃look upon the unhappy man at your feet。 He begs you to believe that at a gesture of your majesty everything will be possible to him。 He has faith in himself; he has faith in his friends; he wishes also to have faith in his queen。 And in proof that he fears nothing; that he counts on nothing; he will restore Monsieur de Mazarin to your majesty without conditions。 Behold; madame! here are the august signatures of your majesty's hand; if you think you are right in giving them to me; you shall do so; but from this very moment you are free from any obligation to keep them。〃
  And D'Artagnan; full of splendid pride and manly intrepidity; placed in Anne's hands; in a bundle; the papers that he had one by one won from her with so much difficulty。
  There are moments  for if everything is not good; everything in this world is not bad  in which the most rigid and the coldest soul is softened by the tears of strong emotion; heart…arraigning sentiment: one of these momentary impulses actuated Anne。 D'Artagnan; when he gave way to his own feelings  which were in accordance with those of the queen  had acplished more than the most astute diplomacy could have attempted。 He was therefore instantly repensed; either for his address or for his sensibility; whichever it might be termed。
  〃You were right; sir;〃 said Anne。 〃I misunderstood you。 There are the acts signed; I deliver them to you without pulsion。 Go and bring me back the cardinal as soon as possible。〃
  〃Madame;〃 faltered D'Artagnan; 〃'tis twenty years ago  I have a good memory  since I had the honor behind a piece of tapestry in the Hotel de Ville; of kissing one of those lovely hands。〃
  〃There is the other;〃 replied the queen; 〃and that the left hand should not be less liberal than the right;〃 she drew from her finger a diamond similar to the one formerly given to him; 〃take and keep this ring in remembrance of me。
  〃Madame;〃 said D'Artagnan; rising; 〃I have only one thing more to wish; which is; that the next thing you ask from me; shall be  my life。〃
  And with this conclusion  a way peculiar to himself  he rose and left the room。
  〃I never rightly understood those men;〃 said the queen; as she watched him retiring from her presence; 〃and it is now too late; for in a year the king will be of age。〃
  In twenty…four hours D'Artagnan and Porthos conducted Mazarin to the queen; and the one received his mission; the other his patent of nobility。
  On the same day the Treaty of Paris was signed; and it was everywhere announced that the cardinal had shut himself up for three days in order to draw it up with the greatest care。
  Here is what each of the parties concerned gained by that treaty:
  Monsieur de Conti received Damvilliers; and having made his proofs as general; he succeeded in remaining a soldier; instead of being made cardinal。 Moreover; something had been said of a marriage with Mazarin's niece。 The idea was weled by the prince; to whom it was of little importance whom he married; so long as he married some one。
  The Duc de Beaufort made his entrance at court; receiving ample reparation for the wrongs he had suffered; and all the honor due to his rank。 Full pardon was accorded to those who had aided in his escape。 He received also the office of admiral; which had been held by his father; the Duc de Vendome and an indemnity for his houses and castles; demolished by the Parliament of Bretagne。
  The Duc de Bouillon received domains of a value equal to that of his principality of Sedan; and the title of prince; granted to him and to those belonging to his house。
  The Duc de Longueville gained the government of Pont…de…l'Arche; five hundred thousand francs for his wife and the honor of seeing her son held at the baptismal font by the young king and Henrietta of England。
  Aramis stipulated that Bazin should officiate at that ceremony and that Planchet should furnish the christening sugar plums。
  The Duc d'Elbeuf obtained payment of certain sums due to his wife; one hundred thousand francs for his eldest son and twenty…five thousand for each of the three others。
  The coadjutor alone obtained nothing。 They promised; indeed; to negotiate with the pope for a cardinal's hat for him; but he knew how little reliance should be placed on such promises; made by the queen and Mazarin。 Quite contrary to the lot of Monsieur de Conti; unable to be cardinal; he was obliged to remain a soldier。
  And therefore; when all Paris was rejoicing in the expected return of the king; appointed for the next day; Gondy alone; in the midst of the general happiness; was dissatisfied; he sent for the two men whom he was wont to summon when in especially bad humor。 Those two men were the Count de Rochefort and the mendicant of Saint Eustache。 They came with their usual promptness; and the coadjutor spent with them a part of the night。
  In which it is shown that it is sometimes more difficult for Kings to return to the Capitals of their Kingdoms; than to make an Exit
  Whilst D'Artagnan and Porthos were engaged in conducting the cardinal to Saint Germain; Athos and Aramis returned to Paris。
  Each had his own particular visit to make。
  Aramis rushed to the Hotel de Ville; where Madame de Longueville was sojourning。 The duchess loudly lamented the announcement of peace。 War had made her a queen; peace brought her abdication。 She declared that she would never assent to the treaty and that she wished eternal war。
  But when Aramis had presented that peace to her in a true light  that is to say; with all its advantages; when he had pointed out to her; in exchange for the precarious and contested royalty of Paris; the viceroyalty of Font…de…l'Arche; in other words; of all Normandy; when he had rung in her ears the five hundred thousand francs promised by the cardinal; when he had dazzled her eyes with the honor bestowed on her by the king in holding her child at the baptismal font; Madame de Longueville contended no longer; except as is the custom with pretty women to contend; and defended herself only to surrender at last。
  Aramis made a presence of believing in the reality of her opposition and was unwilling to deprive himself in his own view of the credit of her conversion。
  〃Madame;〃 he said; 〃you have wished to conquer the prince your brother  that is to say; the greatest captain of the age; and when women of genius wish anything they always succeed in attaining it。 You have succeeded; the prince is beaten; since he can no longer fight。 Now attach him to our party。 Withdraw him gently from the queen; whom he does not like; from Mazarin; whom he despises。 The Fronde is a edy; of which the first act only is played。 Let us wait for a denouement  for the day when the prince; thanks to you; shall have turned against the court。〃
  Madame de Longueville was persuaded。 This Frondist duchess trusted so confidently to the power of her fine eyes; that she could not doubt their influence even over Monsieur de Conde; and the chronicles of the time aver that her confidence was justified。
  Athos; on quitting Aramis; went to Madame de Chevreuse。 Here was another frondeuse to persuade; and she was even less open to conviction than her younger rival。 There had been no stipulation in her favor。 Monsieur de Chevreuse had not been appointed governor of a provi
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