Louis, satisfied with his success — Louis, more mild and affable as he felt himself more powerful — had not ceased for an instant to ride beside the carriage door of Mademoiselle de la Valliere. Everybody was anxious to amuse the two queens, so as to make them forget this abandonment by son and husband. Everything breathed the future, the past was nothing to anybody. Only that past was like a painful bleeding wound to the hearts of certain tender and devoted14 spirits. Scarcely was the king reinstalled in Paris, when he received a touching15 proof of this. Louis XIV. had just risen and taken his first repast when his captain of the musketeers presented himself before him. D’Artagnan was pale and looked unhappy. The king, at the first glance, perceived the change in a countenance16 generally so unconcerned. “What is the matter, D’Artagnan?” said he.
“Sire, a great misfortune has happened to me.”
“Good heavens! what is that?”
“Sire, I have lost one of my friends, M. du Vallon, in the affair of Belle–Isle.”
And, while speaking these words, D’Artagnan fixed17 his falcon18 eye upon Louis XIV., to catch the first feeling that would show itself.
“I knew it,” replied the king, quietly.
“You knew it, and did not tell me!” cried the musketeer.
“To what good? Your grief, my friend, was so well worthy19 of respect. It was my duty to treat it gently. To have informed you of this misfortune, which I knew would pain you so greatly, D’Artagnan, would have been, in your eyes, to have triumphed over you. Yes, I knew that M. du Vallon had buried himself beneath the rocks of Locmaria; I knew that M. d’Herblay had taken one of my vessels20 with its crew, and had compelled it to convey him to Bayonne. But I was willing you should learn these matters in a direct manner, in order that you might be convinced my friends are with me respected and sacred; that always in me the man will sacrifice himself to subjects, whilst the king is so often found to sacrifice men to majesty21 and power.”
“But, sire, how could you know?”
“How do you yourself know, D’Artagnan?”
“By this letter, sire, which M. d’Herblay, free and out of danger, writes me from Bayonne.”
“Look here,” said the king, drawing from a casket placed upon the table closet to the seat upon which D’Artagnan was leaning, “here is a letter copied exactly from that of M. d’Herblay. Here is the very letter, which Colbert placed in my hands a week before you received yours. I am well served, you may perceive.”
“Yes, sire,” murmured the musketeer, “you were the only man whose star was equal to the task of dominating the fortune and strength of my two friends. You have used your power, sire, you will not abuse it, will you?”
“D’Artagnan,” said the king, with a smile beaming with kindness, “I could have M. d’Herblay carried off from the territories of the king of Spain, and brought here, alive, to inflict22 justice upon him. But, D’Artagnan, be assured I will not yield to this first and natural impulse. He is free — let him continue free.”
“Oh, sire! you will not always remain so clement23, so noble, so generous as you have shown yourself with respect to me and M. d’Herblay; you will have about you counselors24 who will cure you of that weakness.”
“No, D’Artagnan, you are mistaken when you accuse my council of urging me to pursue rigorous measures. The advice to spare M. d’Herblay comes from Colbert himself.”
“Oh, sire!” said D’Artagnan, extremely surprised.
“As for you,” continued the king, with a kindness very uncommon25 to him, “I have several pieces of good news to announce to you; but you shall know them, my dear captain, the moment I have made my accounts all straight. I have said that I wish to make, and would make, your fortune; that promise will soon become reality.”
“A thousand times thanks, sire! I can wait. But I implore26 you, whilst I go and practice patience, that your majesty will deign27 to notice those poor people who have for so long a time besieged28 your ante-chamber29, and come humbly30 to lay a petition at your feet.”
“Who are they?”
“Enemies of your majesty.” The king raised his head.
“Friends of M. Fouquet,” added D’Artagnan.
“Their names?”
“M. Gourville, M. Pelisson, and a poet, M. Jean de la Fontaine.”
The king took a moment to reflect. “What do they want?”
“I do not know.”
“How do they appear?”
“In great affliction.”
“What do they say?”
“Nothing.”
“What do they do?”
“They weep.”
“Let them come in,” said the king, with a serious brow.
D’Artagnan turned rapidly on his heel, raised the tapestry31 which closed the entrance to the royal chamber, and directing his voice to the adjoining room, cried, “Enter.”
The three men D’Artagnan had named immediately appeared at the door of the cabinet in which were the king and his captain. A profound silence prevailed in their passage. The courtiers, at the approach of the friends of the unfortunate superintendent32 of finances, drew back, as if fearful of being affected33 by contagion34 with disgrace and misfortune. D’Artagnan, with a quick step, came forward to take by the hand the unhappy men who stood trembling at the door of the cabinet; he led them in front of the king’s fauteuil, who, having placed himself in the embrasure of a window, awaited the moment of presentation, and was preparing himself to give the supplicants a rigorously diplomatic reception.
The first of the friends of Fouquet’s to advance was Pelisson. He did not weep, but his tears were only restrained that the king might better hear his voice and prayer. Gourville bit his lips to check his tears, out of respect for the king. La Fontaine buried his face in his handkerchief, and the only signs of life he gave were the convulsive motions of his shoulders, raised by his sobs35.
The king preserved his dignity. His countenance was impassible. He even maintained the frown which appeared when D’Artagnan announced his enemies. He made a gesture which signified, “Speak;” and he remained standing36, with his eyes fixed searchingly on these desponding men. Pelisson bowed to the ground, and La Fontaine knelt as people do in churches. This dismal37 silence, disturbed only by sighs and groans39, began to excite in the king, not compassion40, but impatience41.
“Monsieur Pelisson,” said he, in a sharp, dry tone. “Monsieur Gourville, and you, Monsieur —” and he did not name La Fontaine, “I cannot, without sensible displeasure, see you come to plead for one of the greatest criminals it is the duty of justice to punish. A king does not allow himself to soften42 save at the tears of the innocent, the remorse43 of the guilty. I have no faith either in the remorse of M. Fouquet or the tears of his friends, because the one is tainted44 to the very heart, and the others ought to dread45 offending me in my own palace. For these reasons, I beg you, Monsieur Pelisson, Monsieur Gourville, and you, Monsieur — to say nothing that will not plainly proclaim the respect you have for my will.”
“Sire,” replied Pelisson, trembling at these words, “we are come to say nothing to your majesty that is not the most profound expression of the most sincere respect and love that are due to a king from all his subjects. Your majesty’s justice is redoubtable46; every one must yield to the sentences it pronounces. We respectfully bow before it. Far from us the idea of coming to defend him who has had the misfortune to offend your majesty. He who has incurred47 your displeasure may be a friend of ours, but he is an enemy to the state. We abandon him, but with tears, to the severity of the king.”
“Besides,” interrupted the king, calmed by that supplicating48 voice, and those persuasive49 words, “my parliament will decide. I do not strike without first having weighed the crime; my justice does not wield50 the sword without employing first a pair of scales.”
“Therefore we have every confidence in that impartiality51 of the king, and hope to make our feeble voices heard, with the consent of your majesty, when the hour for defending an accused friend strikes.”
“In that case, messieurs, what do you ask of me?” said the king, with his most imposing52 air.
“Sire,” continued Pelisson, “the accused has a wife and family. The little property he had was scarcely sufficient to pay his debts, and Madame Fouquet, since her husband’s captivity53, is abandoned by everybody. The hand of your majesty strikes like the hand of God. When the Lord sends the curse of leprosy or pestilence54 into a family, every one flies and shuns55 the abode56 of the leprous or plague-stricken. Sometimes, but very rarely, a generous physician alone ventures to approach the ill-reputed threshold, passes it with courage, and risks his life to combat death. He is the last resource of the dying, the chosen instrument of heavenly mercy. Sire, we supplicate57 you, with clasped hands and bended knees, as a divinity is supplicated58! Madame Fouquet has no longer any friends, no longer any means of support; she weeps in her deserted59 home, abandoned by all those who besieged its doors in the hour of prosperity; she has neither credit nor hope left. At least, the unhappy wretch60 upon whom your anger falls receives from you, however culpable61 he may be, his daily bread though moistened by his tears. As much afflicted62, more destitute63 than her husband, Madame Fouquet — the lady who had the honor to receive your majesty at her table — Madame Fouquet, the wife of the ancient superintendent of your majesty’s finances, Madame Fouquet has no longer bread.”
Here the mortal silence which had chained the breath of Pelisson’s two friends was broken by an outburst of sobs; and D’Artagnan, whose chest heaved at hearing this humble64 prayer, turned round towards the angle of the cabinet to bite his mustache and conceal65 a groan38.
The king had preserved his eye dry and his countenance severe; but the blood had mounted to his cheeks, and the firmness of his look was visibly diminished.
“What do you wish?” said he, in an agitated66 voice.
“We come humbly to ask your majesty,” replied Pelisson, upon whom emotion was fast gaining, “to permit us, without incurring67 the displeasure of your majesty, to lend to Madame Fouquet two thousand pistoles collected among the old friends of her husband, in order that the widow may not stand in need of the necessaries of life.”
At the word widow, pronounced by Pelisson whilst Fouquet was still alive, the king turned very pale; — his pride disappeared; pity rose from his heart to his lips; he cast a softened68 look upon the men who knelt sobbing69 at his feet.
“God forbid,” said he, “that I should confound the innocent with the guilty. They know me but ill who doubt my mercy towards the weak. I strike none but the arrogant70. Do, messieurs, do all that your hearts counsel you to assuage71 the grief of Madame Fouquet. Go, messieurs — go!”
The three now rose in silence with dry eyes. The tears had been scorched72 away by contact with their burning cheeks and eyelids73. They had not the strength to address their thanks to the king, who himself cut short their solemn reverences74 by entrenching75 himself suddenly behind the fauteuil.
D’Artagnan remained alone with the king.
“Well,” said he, approaching the young prince, who interrogated76 him with his look. “Well, my master! If you had not the device which belongs to your sun, I would recommend you one which M. Conrart might translate into eclectic Latin, ‘Calm with the lowly; stormy with the strong.’”
The king smiled, and passed into the next apartment, after having said to D’Artagnan, “I give you the leave of absence you must want to put the affairs of your friend, the late M. du Vallon, in order.”
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1
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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clouted
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| adj.缀补的，凝固的v.（尤指用手）猛击，重打( clout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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11
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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13
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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14
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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15
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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16
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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17
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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18
falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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19
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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20
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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21
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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22
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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23
clement
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| adj.仁慈的；温和的 | |
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counselors
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| n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师 | |
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25
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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27
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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28
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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30
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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31
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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32
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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34
contagion
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| n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延 | |
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35
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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36
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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38
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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39
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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40
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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41
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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42
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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43
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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44
tainted
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| adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏 | |
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45
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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46
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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47
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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48
supplicating
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
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49
persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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50
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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51
impartiality
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| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
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52
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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53
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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54
pestilence
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| n.瘟疫 | |
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55
shuns
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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57
supplicate
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| v.恳求；adv.祈求地，哀求地，恳求地 | |
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58
supplicated
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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60
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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61
culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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62
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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64
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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65
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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66
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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67
incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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68
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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69
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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70
arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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71
assuage
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| v.缓和，减轻，镇定 | |
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72
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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73
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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74
reverences
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| n.尊敬，崇敬( reverence的名词复数 )；敬礼 | |
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75
entrenching
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| v.用壕沟围绕或保护…( entrench的现在分词 )；牢固地确立… | |
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76
interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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