Athos, who had been observing him and guessing his thoughts, took his arm and led him into the garden.
“Whilst supper is being prepared,” he said, smiling, “you will not, my friend, be sorry to have the mystery which so puzzles you cleared up.”
“True, monsieur le comte,” replied D’Artagnan, who felt that by degrees Athos was resuming that great influence which aristocracy had over him.
Athos smiled.
“First and foremost, dear D’Artagnan, we have no title such as count here. When I call you ‘chevalier,’ it is in presenting you to my guests, that they may know who you are. But to you, D’Artagnan, I am, I hope, still dear Athos, your comrade, your friend. Do you intend to stand on ceremony because you are less attached to me than you were?”
“Oh! God forbid!”
“Then let us be as we used to be; let us be open with each other. You are surprised at what you see here?”
“Extremely.”
“I confess it.”
“I am still young, am I not? Should you not have known me again, in spite of my eight-and-forty years of age?”
“On the contrary, I do not find you the same person at all.”
“I understand,” cried Athos, with a gentle blush. “Everything, D’Artagnan, even folly2, has its limit.”
“Then your means, it appears, are improved; you have a capital house--your own, I presume? You have a park, and horses, servants.”
Athos smiled.
“Yes, I inherited this little property when I quitted the army, as I told you. The park is twenty acres--twenty, comprising kitchen-gardens and a common. I have two horses,--I do not count my servant’s bobtailed nag3. My sporting dogs consist of two pointers, two harriers and two setters. But then all this extravagance is not for myself,” added Athos, laughing.
“Yes, I see, for the young man Raoul,” said D’Artagnan.
“You guess aright, my friend; this youth is an orphan4, deserted5 by his mother, who left him in the house of a poor country priest. I have brought him up. It is Raoul who has worked in me the change you see; I was dried up like a miserable6 tree, isolated7, attached to nothing on earth; it was only a deep affection that could make me take root again and drag me back to life. This child has caused me to recover what I had lost. I had no longer any wish to live for myself, I have lived for him. I have corrected the vices8 that I had; I have assumed the virtues9 that I had not. Precept10 something, but example more. I may be mistaken, but I believe that Raoul will be as accomplished11 a gentleman as our degenerate12 age could display.”
“And you are happy?” he said to his friend.
“As happy as it is allowed to one of God’s creatures to be on this earth; but say out all you think, D’Artagnan, for you have not yet done so.”
“You are too bad, Athos; one can hide nothing from you,” answered D’Artagnan. “I wished to ask you if you ever feel any emotions of terror resembling----”
“Remorse14! I finish your phrase. Yes and no. I do not feel remorse, because that woman, I profoundly hold, deserved her punishment. Had she one redeeming15 trait? I doubt it. I do not feel remorse, because had we allowed her to live she would have persisted in her work of destruction. But I do not mean, my friend that we were right in what we did. Perhaps all blood demands some expiation16. Hers had been accomplished; it remains17, possibly, for us to accomplish ours.”
“I have sometimes thought as you do, Athos.”
“She had a son, that unhappy woman?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever heard of him?”
“Never.”
“He must be about twenty-three years of age,” said Athos, in a low tone. “I often think of that young man, D’Artagnan.”
“Strange! for I had forgotten him,” said the lieutenant18.
Athos smiled; the smile was melancholy19.
“And Lord de Winter--do you know anything about him?”
“I know that he is in high favor with Charles I.”
“The fortunes of that monarch20 now are at low water. He shed the blood of Strafford; that confirms what I said just now--blood will have blood. And the queen?”
“What queen?”
“Madame Henrietta of England, daughter of Henry IV.”
“She is at the Louvre, as you know.”
“Yes, and I hear in bitter poverty. Her daughter, during the severest cold, was obliged for want of fire to remain in bed. Do you grasp that?” said Athos, shrugging his shoulders; “the daughter of Henry IV. shivering for want of a fagot! Why did she not ask from any one of us a home instead of from Mazarin? She should have wanted nothing.”
“Have you ever seen the queen of England?” inquired D’Artagnan.
“No; but my mother, as a child, saw her. Did I ever tell you that my mother was lady of honor to Marie de Medici?”
“Ah, mon Dieu, yes, you are right,” Athos replied; “but then there must be some occasion for speaking.”
“Porthos wouldn’t have waited for it so patiently,” said D’Artagnan, with a smile.
“Every one according to his nature, my dear D’Artagnan. Porthos, in spite of a touch of vanity, has many excellent qualities. Have you seen him?”
“I left him five days ago,” said D’Artagnan, and he portrayed22 with Gascon wit and sprightliness23 the magnificence of Porthos in his Chateau24 of Pierrefonds; nor did he neglect to launch a few arrows of wit at the excellent Monsieur Mouston.
“I sometimes wonder,” replied Athos, smiling at that gayety which recalled the good old days, “that we could form an association of men who would be, after twenty years of separation, still so closely bound together. Friendship throws out deep roots in honest hearts, D’Artagnan. Believe me, it is only the evil-minded who deny friendship; they cannot understand it. And Aramis?”
“I have seen him also,” said D’Artagnan; “but he seemed to me cold.”
“Ah, you have seen Aramis?” said Athos, turning on D’Artagnan a searching look. “Why, it is a veritable pilgrimage, my dear friend, that you are making to the Temple of Friendship, as the poets would say.”
“Why, yes,” replied D’Artagnan, with embarrassment25.
“Aramis, you know,” continued Athos, “is naturally cold, and then he is always involved in intrigues26 with women.”
“I believe he is at this moment in a very complicated one,” said D’Artagnan.
Athos made no reply.
“He is not curious,” thought D’Artagnan.
Athos not only failed to reply, he even changed the subject of conversation.
“You see,” said he, calling D’Artagnan’s attention to the fact that they had come back to the chateau after an hour’s walk, “we have made a tour of my domains27.”
At this instant they heard the sound of horses’ feet.
“‘Tis Raoul who has come back,” said Athos; “and we can now hear how the poor child is.”
In fact, the young man appeared at the gate, covered with dust, entered the courtyard, leaped from his horse, which he consigned29 to the charge of a groom30, and then went to greet the count and D’Artagnan.
“Monsieur,” said Athos, placing his hand on D’Artagnan’s shoulder, “monsieur is the Chevalier D’Artagnan of whom you have often heard me speak, Raoul.”
“Monsieur,” said the young man, saluting31 again and more profoundly, “monsieur le comte has pronounced your name before me as an example whenever he wished to speak of an intrepid32 and generous gentleman.”
That little compliment could not fail to move D’Artagnan. He extended a hand to Raoul and said:
“My young friend, all the praises that are given me should be passed on to the count here; for he has educated me in everything and it is not his fault that his pupil profited so little from his instructions. But he will make it up in you I am sure. I like your manner, Raoul, and your politeness has touched me.”
Athos was more delighted than can be told. He looked at D’Artagnan with an expression of gratitude33 and then bestowed34 on Raoul one of those strange smiles, of which children are so proud when they receive them.
“Now,” said D’Artagnan to himself, noticing that silent play of countenance35, “I am sure of it.”
“I hope the accident has been of no consequence?”
“They don’t yet know, sir, on account of the swelling36; but the doctor is afraid some tendon has been injured.”
At this moment a little boy, half peasant, half foot-boy, came to announce supper.
Athos led his guest into a dining-room of moderate size, the windows of which opened on one side on a garden, on the other on a hot-house full of magnificent flowers.
D’Artagnan glanced at the dinner service. The plate was magnificent, old, and appertaining to the family. D’Artagnan stopped to look at a sideboard on which was a superb ewer37 of silver.
“That workmanship is divine!” he exclaimed.
“What battle does it represent?”
“That of Marignan, just at the point where one of my forefathers39 is offering his sword to Francis I., who has broken his. It was on that occasion that my ancestor, Enguerrand de la Fere, was made a knight40 of the Order of St. Michael; besides which, the king, fifteen years afterward41, gave him also this ewer and a sword which you may have seen formerly42 in my house, also a lovely specimen43 of workmanship. Men were giants in those times,” said Athos; “now we are pigmies in comparison. Let us sit down to supper. Call Charles,” he added, addressing the boy who waited.
“My good Charles, I particularly recommend to your care Planchet, the laquais of Monsieur D’Artagnan. He likes good wine; now you have the key of the cellar. He has slept a long time on a hard bed, so he won’t object to a soft one; take every care of him, I beg of you.” Charles bowed and retired44.
“You think of everything,” said D’Artagnan; “and I thank you for Planchet, my dear Athos.”
Raoul stared on hearing this name and looked at the count to be quite sure that it was he whom the lieutenant thus addressed.
“That name sounds strange to you,” said Athos, smiling; “it was my nom de guerre when Monsieur D’Artagnan, two other gallant45 friends and myself performed some feats46 of arms at the siege of La Rochelle, under the deceased cardinal47 and Monsieur de Bassompierre. My friend is still so kind as to address me by that old and well beloved appellation48, which makes my heart glad when I hear it.”
“‘Tis an illustrious name,” said the lieutenant, “and had one day triumphal honors paid to it.”
“What do you mean, sir?” inquired Raoul.
“You have not forgotten St. Gervais, Athos, and the napkin which was converted into a banner?” and he then related to Raoul the story of the bastion, and Raoul fancied he was listening to one of those deeds of arms belonging to days of chivalry49, so gloriously recounted by Tasso and Ariosto.
“D’Artagnan does not tell you, Raoul,” said Athos, in his turn, “that he was reckoned one of the finest swordsmen of his time--a knuckle50 of iron, a wrist of steel, a sure eye and a glance of fire; that’s what his adversary51 met with. He was eighteen, only three years older than you are, Raoul, when I saw him set to work, pitted against tried men.”
“I killed one man, if I recollect54 rightly,” replied D’Artagnan, with a look of inquiry55 directed to Athos; “another I disarmed56 or wounded, I don’t remember which.”
“Wounded!” said Athos; “it was a phenomenon of skill.”
The young man would willingly have prolonged this conversation far into the night, but Athos pointed57 out to him that his guest must need repose58. D’Artagnan would fain have declared that he was not fatigued59, but Athos insisted on his retiring to his chamber60, conducted thither61 by Raoul.
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1
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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6
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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7
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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8
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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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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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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13
recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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14
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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expiation
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| n.赎罪，补偿 | |
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17
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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19
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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20
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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21
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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portrayed
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| v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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23
sprightliness
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| n.愉快，快活 | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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27
domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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28
savors
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| v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的第三人称单数 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝 | |
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29
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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30
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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31
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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32
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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34
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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36
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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ewer
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| n.大口水罐 | |
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38
sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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39
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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40
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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41
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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42
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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43
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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44
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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45
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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46
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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47
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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48
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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49
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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50
knuckle
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| n.指节；vi.开始努力工作；屈服，认输 | |
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51
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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52
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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53
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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54
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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55
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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56
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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57
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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58
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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59
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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60
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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61
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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