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！
〃What is to be done？〃 said Porthos。
〃Pardieu！ pass；〃 replied D'Artagnan。
〃But how？〃 asked Mazarin。
〃Through or over； coachman； gallop on。〃
The coachman raised his whip。
〃Not a step further；〃 said the man； who appeared to be the captain； 〃or I will hamstring your horses。〃
〃Peste！〃 said Porthos； 〃it would be a pity； animals which cost me a hundred pistoles each。〃
〃I will pay you two hundred for them；〃 said Mazarin。
〃Yes； but when once they are hamstrung； our necks will be strung next。〃
〃If one of them es to my side；〃 asked Porthos； 〃must I kill him？〃
〃Yes； by a blow of your fist； if you can； we will not fire but at the last extremity。〃
〃I can do it；〃 said Porthos。
〃e and open； then！〃 cried D'Artagnan to the man with the scythe； taking one of the pistols up by the muzzle and preparing to strike with the handle。 And as the man approached； D'Artagnan； in order to have more freedom for his actions； leaned half out of the door； his eyes were fixed upon those of the mendicant； which were lighted up by a lantern。 Without doubt he recognized D'Artagnan； for he became deadly pale； doubtless the musketeer knew him； for his hair stood up on his head。
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan！〃 he cried； falling back a step； 〃it is Monsieur d'Artagnan！ let him pass。〃
D'Artagnan was perhaps about to reply； when a blow； similar to that of a mallet falling on the head of an ox； was heard。 The noise was caused by Porthos； who had just knocked down his man。
D'Artagnan turned around and saw the unfortunate man upon his back about four paces off。
〃'Sdeath！〃 cried he to the coachman。 〃Spur your horses！ whip！ get on！〃
The coachman bestowed a heavy blow of the whip upon his horses； the noble animals bounded forward； then cries of men who were knocked down were heard； then a double concussion was felt； and two of the wheels seemed to pass over a round and flexible body。 There was a moment's silence； then the carriage cleared the gate。
〃To Cours la Reine！〃 cried D'Artagnan to the coachman； then turning to Mazarin he said； 〃Now； my lord； you can say five paters and five aves； in thanks to Heaven for your deliverance。 You are safe you are free。〃
Mazarin replied only by a groan； he could not believe in such a miracle。 Five minutes later the carriage stopped； having reached Cours la Reine。
〃Is my lord pleased with his escort？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃Enchanted； monsieur；〃 said Mazarin； venturing his head out of one of the windows； 〃and now do as much for the queen。〃
〃It will not be so difficult；〃 replied D'Artagnan； springing to the ground。 〃Monsieur du Vallon； I mend his eminence to your care。〃
〃Be quite at ease；〃 said Porthos； holding out his hand； which D'Artagnan took and shook in his。
〃Oh！〃 cried Porthos； as if in pain。
D'Artagnan looked with surprise at his friend。
〃What is the matter； then？〃 he asked。
〃I think I have sprained my wrist；' said Porthos。
〃The devil！ why； you strike like a blind or a deaf man。〃
〃It was necessary； my man was going to fire a pistol at me； but you how did you get rid of yours？〃
〃Oh； mine；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃was not a man。〃
〃What was it then？〃
〃It was an apparition。〃
〃And 〃
〃I charmed it away。〃
Without further explanation D'Artagnan took the pistols which were upon the front seat； placed them in his belt； wrapped himself in his cloak； and not wishing to enter by the same gate as that through which they had left； he took his way toward the Richelieu gate。
The Carriage of Monsieur le Coadjuteur
Instead of returning； then； by the Saint Honore gate； D'Artagnan； who had time before him； walked around and re…entered by the Porte Richelieu。 He was approached to be examined； and when it was discovered by his plumed hat and his laced coat； that he was an officer of the musketeers； he was surrounded； with the intention of making him cry； 〃Down with Mazarin！〃 The demonstration did not fail to make him uneasy at first； but when he discovered what it meant； he shouted it in such a voice that even the most exacting were satisfied。 He walked down the Rue Richelieu； meditating how he should carry off the queen in her turn； for to take her in a carriage bearing the arms of France was not to be thought of； when he perceived an equipage standing at the door of the hotel belonging to Madame de Guemenee。
He was struck by a sudden idea。
〃Ah； pardieu！〃 he exclaimed； 〃that would be fair play。〃
And approaching the carriage； he examined the arms on the panels and the livery of the coachman on his box。 This scrutiny was so much the more easy； the coachman being sound asleep。
〃It is； in truth； monsieur le coadjuteur's carriage；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃upon my honor I begin to think that Heaven favors us。〃
He mounted noiselessly into the chariot and pulled the silk cord which was attached to the coachman's little finger。
〃To the Palais Royal；〃 he called out。
The coachman awoke with a start and drove off in the direction he was desired； never doubting but that the order had e from his master。 The porter at the palace was about to close the gates； but seeing such a handsome equipage he fancied that it was some visit of importance and the carriage was allowed to pass and to stop beneath the porch。 It was then only the coachman perceived the grooms were not behind the vehicle； he fancied monsieur le coadjuteur had sent them back； and without dropping the reins he sprang from his box to open the door。 D'Artagnan； in his turn； sprang to the ground； and just at the moment when the coachman； alarmed at not seeing his master； fell back a step； he seized him by his collar with the left； whilst with the right hand he placed the muzzle of a pistol at his breast。
〃Pronounce one single word；〃 muttered D'Artagnan； 〃and you are a dead man。〃
The coachman perceived at once； by the expression of the man who thus addressed him； that he had fallen into a trap； and he remained with his mouth wide open and his eyes portentously staring。
Two musketeers were pacing the court； to whom D'Artagnan called by their names。
〃Monsieur de Belliere；〃 said he to one of them