The visitors took their places as they arrived, and the great room had just been closed when the clock struck twelve, the hour fixed11 for the reading of the important document. Porthos’s procureur — and that was naturally the successor of Master Coquenard — commenced by slowly unfolding the vast parchment upon which the powerful hand of Porthos had traced his sovereign will. The seal broken — the spectacles put on — the preliminary cough having sounded — every one pricked12 up his ears. Mousqueton had squatted13 himself in a corner, the better to weep and the better to hear. All at once the folding-doors of the great room, which had been shut, were thrown open as if by magic, and a warlike figure appeared upon the threshold, resplendent in the full light of the sun. This was D’Artagnan, who had come alone to the gate, and finding nobody to hold his stirrup, had tied his horse to the knocker and announced himself. The splendor14 of daylight invading the room, the murmur15 of all present, and, more than all, the instinct of the faithful dog, drew Mousqueton from his reverie; he raised his head, recognized the old friend of his master, and, screaming with grief, he embraced his knees, watering the floor with his tears. D’Artagnan raised the poor intendant, embraced him as if he had been a brother, and, having nobly saluted16 the assembly, who all bowed as they whispered to each other his name, he went and took his seat at the extremity17 of the great carved oak hall, still holding by the hand poor Mousqueton, who was suffocating18 with excess of woe19, and sank upon the steps. Then the procureur, who, like the rest, was considerably20 agitated21, commenced.
Porthos, after a profession of faith of the most Christian22 character, asked pardon of his enemies for all the injuries he might have done them. At this paragraph, a ray of inexpressible pride beamed from the eyes of D’Artagnan.
He recalled to his mind the old soldier; all those enemies of Porthos brought to earth by his valiant23 hand; he reckoned up the numbers of them, and said to himself that Porthos had acted wisely, not to enumerate24 his enemies or the injuries done to them, or the task would have been too much for the reader. Then came the following schedule of his extensive lands:
“I possess at this present time, by the grace of God —
“1. The domain25 of Pierrefonds, lands, woods, meadows, waters, and forests, surrounded by good walls.
“2. The domain of Bracieux, chateaux, forests, plowed26 lands, forming three farms.
“3. The little estate Du Vallon, so named because it is in the valley.” (Brave Porthos!)
“4. Fifty farms in Touraine, amounting to five hundred acres.
“5. Three mills upon the Cher, bringing in six hundred livres each.
“6. Three fish-pools in Berry, producing two hundred livres a year.
“As to my personal or movable property, so called because it can be moved, as is so well explained by my learned friend the bishop27 of Vannes —” (D’Artagnan shuddered28 at the dismal29 remembrance attached to that name)— the procureur continued imperturbably30 —“they consist —”
“1. In goods which I cannot detail here for want of room, and which furnish all my chateaux or houses, but of which the list is drawn31 up by my intendant.”
Every one turned his eyes towards Mousqueton, who was still lost in grief.
“2. In twenty horses for saddle and draught32, which I have particularly at my chateau of Pierrefonds, and which are called — Bayard, Roland, Charlemagne, Pepin, Dunois, La Hire, Ogier, Samson, Milo, Nimrod, Urganda, Armida, Flastrade, Dalilah, Rebecca, Yolande, Finette, Grisette, Lisette, and Musette.
“3. In sixty dogs, forming six packs, divided as follows: the first, for the stag; the second, for the wolf; the third, for the wild boar; the fourth, for the hare; and the two others, for setters and protection.
“4. In arms for war and the chase contained in my gallery of arms.
“5. My wines of Anjou, selected for Athos, who liked them formerly; my wines of Burgundy, Champagne33, Bordeaux, and Spain, stocking eight cellars and twelve vaults34, in my various houses.
“6. My pictures and statues, which are said to be of great value, and which are sufficiently35 numerous to fatigue36 the sight.
“7. My library, consisting of six thousand volumes, quite new, and have never been opened.
“8. My silver plate, which is perhaps a little worn, but which ought to weigh from a thousand to twelve hundred pounds, for I had great trouble in lifting the coffer that contained it and could not carry it more than six times round my chamber37.
“9. All these objects, in addition to the table and house linen38, are divided in the residences I liked the best.”
Here the reader stopped to take breath. Every one sighed, coughed, and redoubled his attention. The procureur resumed:
“I have lived without having any children, and it is probable I never shall have any, which to me is a cutting grief. And yet I am mistaken, for I have a son, in common with my other friends; that is, M. Raoul Auguste Jules de Bragelonne, the true son of M. le Comte de la Fere.
“This young nobleman appears to me extremely worthy39 to succeed the valiant gentleman of whom I am the friend and very humble40 servant.”
Here a sharp sound interrupted the reader. It was D’Artagnan’s sword, which, slipping from his baldric, had fallen on the sonorous41 flooring. Every one turned his eyes that way, and saw that a large tear had rolled from the thick lid of D’Artagnan, half-way down to his aquiline42 nose, the luminous43 edge of which shone like a little crescent moon.
“This is why,” continued the procureur, “I have left all my property, movable, or immovable, comprised in the above enumerations, to M. le Vicomte Raoul Auguste Jules de Bragelonne, son of M. le Comte de la Fere, to console him for the grief he seems to suffer, and enable him to add more luster44 to his already glorious name.”
A vague murmur ran through the auditory. The procureur continued, seconded by the flashing eye of D’Artagnan, which, glancing over the assembly, quickly restored the interrupted silence:
“On condition that M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne do give to M. le Chevalier d’Artagnan, captain of the king’s musketeers, whatever the said Chevalier d’Artagnan may demand of my property. On condition that M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne do pay a good pension to M. le Chevalier d’Herblay, my friend, if he should need it in exile. I leave to my intendant Mousqueton all of my clothes, of city, war, or chase, to the number of forty-seven suits, in the assurance that he will wear them till they are worn out, for the love of and in remembrance of his master. Moreover, I bequeath to M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne my old servant and faithful friend Mousqueton, already named, providing that the said vicomte shall so act that Mousqueton shall declare, when dying, he has never ceased to be happy.”
On hearing these words, Mousqueton bowed, pale and trembling; his shoulders shook convulsively; his countenance45, compressed by a frightful46 grief, appeared from between his icy hands, and the spectators saw him stagger and hesitate, as if, though wishing to leave the hall, he did not know the way.
“Mousqueton, my good friend,” said D’Artagnan, “go and make your preparations. I will take you with me to Athos’s house, whither I shall go on leaving Pierrefonds.”
Mousqueton made no reply. He scarcely breathed, as if everything in that hall would from that time be foreign. He opened the door, and slowly disappeared.
The procureur finished his reading, after which the greater part of those who had come to hear the last will of Porthos dispersed47 by degrees, many disappointed, but all penetrated48 with respect. As for D’Artagnan, thus left alone, after having received the formal compliments of the procureur, he was lost in admiration49 of the wisdom of the testator, who had so judiciously50 bestowed51 his wealth upon the most necessitous and the most worthy, with a delicacy52 that neither nobleman nor courtier could have displayed more kindly53. When Porthos enjoined54 Raoul de Bragelonne to give D’Artagnan all that he would ask, he knew well, our worthy Porthos, that D’Artagnan would ask or take nothing; and in case he did demand anything, none but himself could say what. Porthos left a pension to Aramis, who, if he should be inclined to ask too much, was checked by the example of D’Artagnan; and that word exile, thrown out by the testator, without apparent intention, was it not the mildest, most exquisite55 criticism upon that conduct of Aramis which had brought about the death of Porthos? But there was no mention of Athos in the testament56 of the dead. Could the latter for a moment suppose that the son would not offer the best part to the father? The rough mind of Porthos had fathomed57 all these causes, seized all these shades more clearly than law, better than custom, with more propriety58 than taste.
“Porthos had indeed a heart,” said D’Artagnan to himself with a sigh. As he made this reflection, he fancied he hard a groan59 in the room above him; and he thought immediately of poor Mousqueton, whom he felt it was a pleasing duty to divert from his grief. For this purpose he left the hall hastily to seek the worthy intendant, as he had not returned. He ascended60 the staircase leading to the first story, and perceived, in Porthos’s own chamber, a heap of clothes of all colors and materials, upon which Mousqueton had laid himself down after heaping them all on the floor together. It was the legacy61 of the faithful friend. Those clothes were truly his own; they had been given to him; the hand of Mousqueton was stretched over these relics62, which he was kissing with his lips, with all his face, and covered with his body. D’Artagnan approached to console the poor fellow.
“My God!” said he, “he does not stir — he has fainted!”
But D’Artagnan was mistaken. Mousqueton was dead! Dead, like the dog who, having lost his master, crawls back to die upon his cloak.
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1
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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2
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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4
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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nags
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| n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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6
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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7
furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
rivulets
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| n.小河，小溪( rivulet的名词复数 ) | |
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9
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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10
covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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11
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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12
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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13
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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14
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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15
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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16
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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17
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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18
suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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19
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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20
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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21
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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22
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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23
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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24
enumerate
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| v.列举，计算，枚举，数 | |
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25
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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26
plowed
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| v.耕( plow的过去式和过去分词 )；犁耕；费力穿过 | |
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27
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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28
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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29
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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30
imperturbably
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| adv.泰然地，镇静地，平静地 | |
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31
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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32
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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33
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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34
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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35
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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36
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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37
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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38
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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39
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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40
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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41
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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42
aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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43
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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44
luster
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| n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉 | |
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45
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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46
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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47
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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48
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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49
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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50
judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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51
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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53
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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54
enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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56
testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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57
fathomed
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| 理解…的真意( fathom的过去式和过去分词 )； 彻底了解； 弄清真相 | |
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58
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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59
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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60
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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62
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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