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！

　　‘rades；'　he　said；　‘you　are　about　to　suffer　a　furious　discharge；　but　after　that　you　will　make　short　work　with　those　fellows。'　There　was　such　dead　silence　that　friends　and　enemies　could　have　heard　these　words；　then　raising　his　sword；　‘Sound　trumpets！'　he　cried。〃
　　〃Well；　very　good；　you　will　do　as　much　when　the　opportunity　occurs；　will　you；　Raoul？〃
　　〃I　know　not；　sir；　but　I　thought　it　really　very　fine　and　grand！〃
　　〃Were　you　afraid；　Raoul？〃　asked　the　count。
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　the　young　man　naively；　〃I　felt　a　great　chill　at　my　heart；　and　at　the　word　‘fire；'　which　resounded　in　Spanish　from　the　enemy's　ranks；　I　closed　my　eyes　and　thought　of　you。〃
　　〃In　honest　truth；　Raoul？〃　said　Athos；　pressing　his　hand。
　　〃Yes；　sir；　at　that　instant　there　was　such　a　rataplan　of　musketry　that　one　might　have　imagined　the　infernal　regions　had　opened。　Those　who　were　not　killed　felt　the　heat　of　the　flames。　I　opened　my　eyes；　astonished　to　find　myself　alive　and　even　unhurt；　a　third　of　the　squadron　were　lying　on　the　ground；　wounded；　dead　or　dying。　At　that　moment　I　encountered　the　eye　of　the　prince。　I　had　but　one　thought　and　that　was　that　he　was　observing　me。　I　spurred　on　and　found　myself　in　the　enemy's　ranks。〃
　　〃And　the　prince　was　pleased　with　you？〃
　　〃He　told　me　so；　at　least；　sir；　when　he　desired　me　to　return　to　Paris　with　Monsieur　de　Chatillon；　who　was　charged　to　carry　the　news　to　the　queen　and　to　bring　the　colors　we　had　taken。　‘Go；'　said　he；　‘the　enemy　will　not　rally　for　fifteen　days　and　until　that　time　I　have　no　need　of　your　service。　Go　and　see　those　whom　you　love　and　who　love　you；　and　tell　my　sister　De　Longueville　that　I　thank　her　for　the　present　that　she　made　me　of　you。'　And　I　came；　sir；〃　added　Raoul；　gazing　at　the　count　with　a　smile　of　real　affection；　〃for　I　thought　you　would　be　glad　to　see　me　again。〃
　　Athos　drew　the　young　man　toward　him　and　pressed　his　lips　to　his　brow；　as　he　would　have　done　to　a　young　daughter。
　　〃And　now；　Raoul；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　launched；　you　have　dukes　for　friends；　a　marshal　of　France　for　godfather；　a　prince　of　the　blood　as　mander；　and　on　the　day　of　your　return　you　have　been　received　by　two　queens；　it　is　not　so　bad　for　a　novice。〃
　　〃Oh　sir；〃　said　Raoul；　suddenly；　〃you　recall　something；　which；　in　my　haste　to　relate　my　exploits；　I　had　forgotten；　it　is　that　there　was　with　Her　Majesty　the　Queen　of　England；　a　gentleman　who；　when　I　pronounced　your　name；　uttered　a　cry　of　surprise　and　joy；　he　said　he　was　a　friend　of　yours；　asked　your　address；　and　is　ing　to　see　you。〃
　　〃What　is　his　name？〃
　　〃I　did　not　venture　to　ask；　sir；　he　spoke　elegantly；　although　I　thought　from　his　accent　he　was　an　Englishman。〃
　　〃Ah！〃　said　Athos；　leaning　down　his　head　as　if　to　remember　who　it　could　be。　Then；　when　he　raised　it　again；　he　was　struck　by　the　presence　of　a　man　who　was　standing　at　the　open　door　and　was　gazing　at　him　with　a　passionate　air。
　　〃Lord　de　Winter！〃　exclaimed　the　count。
　　〃Athos；　my　friend！〃
　　And　the　two　gentlemen　were　for　an　instant　locked　in　each　other's　arms；　then　Athos；　looking　into　his　friend's　face　and　taking　him　by　both　hands；　said：
　　〃What　ails　you；　my　lord？　you　appear　as　unhappy　as　I　am　the　reverse。〃
　　〃Yes；　truly；　dear　friend；　and　I　may　even　say　the　sight　of　you　increases　my　dismay。〃
　　And　De　Winter　glancing　around　him；　Raoul　quickly　understood　that　the　two　friends　wished　to　be　alone　and　he　therefore　left　the　room　unaffectedly。
　　〃e；　now　that　we　are　alone；〃　said　Athos；　〃let　us　talk　of　yourself。〃
　　〃Whilst　we　are　alone　let　us　speak　of　ourselves；〃　replied　De　Winter。　〃He　is　here。〃
　　〃Who？〃
　　〃Milady's　son。〃
　　Athos；　again　struck　by　this　name；　which　seemed　to　pursue　him　like　an　echo；　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　slightly　knitting　his　brows；　he　calmly　said：
　　〃I　know　it；　Grimaud　met　him　between　Bethune　and　Arras　and　then　came　here　to　warn　me　of　his　presence。〃
　　〃Does　Grimaud　know　him；　then？〃
　　〃No；　but　he　was　present　at　the　deathbed　of　a　man　who　knew　him。〃
　　〃The　headsman　of　Bethune？〃　exclaimed　De　Winter。
　　〃You　know　about　that？〃　cried　Athos；　astonished。
　　〃He　has　just　left　me；〃　replied　De　Winter；　〃after　telling　me　all。　Ah！　my　friend！　what　a　horrible　scene！　Why　did　we　not　destroy　the　child　with　the　mother？〃
　　〃What　need　you　fear？〃　said　Athos；　recovering　from　the　instinctive　fear　he　had　at　first　experienced；　by　the　aid　of　reason；　〃are　we　not　men　accustomed　to　defend　ourselves？　Is　this　young　man　an　assassin　by　profession　　a　murderer　in　cold　blood？　He　has　killed　the　executioner　of　Bethune　in　an　access　of　passion；　but　now　his　fury　is　assuaged。〃
　　De　Winter　smiled　sorrowfully　and　shook　his　head。
　　〃Do　you　not　know　the　race？〃　said　he。
　　〃Pooh！〃　said　Athos；　trying　to　smile　in　his　turn。　〃It　must　have　lost　its　ferocity　in　the　second　generation。　Besides；　my　friend；　Providence　has　warned　us；　that　we　may　be　on　our　guard。　All　we　can　now　do　is　to　wait。　Let　us　wait；　and；　as　I　said　before；　let　us　speak　of　yourself。　What　brings　you　to　Paris？〃
　　〃Affairs　of　importance　which　you　shall　know　later。　But　what　is　this　that　I　hear　from　Her　Majesty　the　Queen　of　England？　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　sides　with　Mazarin！　Pardon　my　frankness；　dear　friend。　I　neither　hate　nor　blame　the　cardinal；　and　your　opinions　will　be　held　ever　sacred　by　me。　But　do　you　happen　to　belong　to　him？〃
　　〃Monsieur　d'Artagnan；〃　replied　Athos；　〃is　in　the　service；　he　is　a　soldier　and　obeys　all　constitutional　authority。　Monsieur　d'Artagnan　is　not　rich　and　has　need　of　his　position　as　lieutenant　to　enable　him　to　live。　Millionaires　like　yourself；　my　lord；　are　rare　in　France。〃
　　〃Alas！〃　said　De　Winter；　〃I　am　at　this　moment　as　poor　as　he　is；　if　not　poorer。　But　to　return　to　our　subject。〃
　　〃Well；　then；　you　wish　to　know　if　I　am　of　Mazarin's　party？　No。　Pardon　my　frankness；　too；　my　lord。〃
　　〃I　am　obliged　to　you；　count；　for　this　pleasing　intelligence！　You　make　me　young　and　happy　again　by　it。　Ah！　so　you　are　not　a　Mazarinist？　Delightful！　Indeed；　you　could　not　belong　to　him。　But　pardon　me；　are　you　free？　I　mean　to　ask　if　you　are　married？〃
　　〃Ah！　as　to　that；　no；〃　replied　Athos；　laughing。
　　〃Because　that　young　man；　so　handsome；　so　elegant；　so　polished　　〃
　　〃Is　a　child　I　have　adopted　and　who　does　not　even　know　who　was　his　father。〃
　　〃Very　well；　you　are　always　the　same；　Athos；　great　and　generous。　Are　you　still　friends　with　Monsieur　Porthos　and　Monsieur　Aramis？〃
　　〃Add　Monsieur　d'Artagnan；　my　lord。　We　still　remain　four　friends　devoted　to　each　other；　but　when　it　bees　a　question　of　serving　the　cardinal　or　of　fighting　him；　of　being　Mazarinists　or　Frondists；　then　we　are　only　two。〃
　　〃Is　Monsieur　Aramis　with　D'Artagnan？〃　asked　Lord　de　Winter。
　　〃No；〃　said　Athos；　〃Monsieur　Aramis　does　me　the　honor　to　share　my　opinions。〃
　　〃Could　you　put　me　in　munication　with　your　witty　and　agreeable　friend？　Is　he　much　changed？〃
　　〃He　has　bee　an　abbe；　that　is　all。〃
　　〃You　alarm　me；　his　profession　must　have　made　him　renounce　any　great　undertakings。〃
　　〃On　the　contrary；〃　said　Athos；　smiling；　〃he　has　never　been　so　much　a　musketeer　as　since　he　became　an　abbe；　and　you　will　find　him　a　veritable　soldier。〃
　　〃Could　you　engage　to　bring　him　to　me　to…morrow　morning　at　ten　o'clock；　on　the　Pont　du　Louvre？〃
　　〃Oh；　oh！〃　exclaimed　Athos；　smiling；　〃you　have　a　duel　in　prospect。〃
　　〃Yes；　count；　and　a　splendid　duel；　too；　a　duel　in　which　I　hope　you　will　take　your　part。〃
　　〃Where　are　we　to　go；　my　lord？〃
　　〃To　Her　Majesty　the　Queen　of　England；　who　has　desired　me　to　present　you　to　her。〃
　　〃This　is　an　enigma；〃　said　Athos；　〃but　it　matters　not；　since　you　know　the　solution　of　it　I　ask　no　further。　Will　your　lordship　do　me　the　honor　to　sup　with　me？〃
　　〃Thanks；　count；　no；〃　replied　De　Winter。　〃I　own　to　you　that　that　young　man's　visit　has　subdued　my　appetite　and　probably　will　rob　me　of　my　sleep。　What　undertaking　can　have　brought　him　to　Paris？　It　was　not　to　meet　me　that　he　came；　for　he　was　ignorant　of　my　journey。　This　young　man　terrifies　me；　my　lord；　there　lies　in　him　a　sanguinary　predisposition。〃
　　〃What　occupies　him　in　England？〃
　　〃He　is　one　of　Cromwell's　most　enthusiastic　disciples。〃
　　〃But　what　attached　him　to　the　cause？　His　father　and　mother　were　Catholics；　I　believe？〃
　　〃His　hatred　of　the　kin