What Passed Between M. De Monsoreau and the Duke.
It is time to explain the duke’s sudden change of intention with regard to M. de Monsoreau. When he first received him, it was with dispositions1 entirely2 favorable to Bussy’s wishes.
“Your highness sent for me?” said Monsoreau.
“You have nothing to fear, you who have served me so well, and are so much attached to me. Often you have told me of the plots against me, have aided my enterprises forgetting your own interests, and exposing your life.”
“Your highness ——”
“Even lately, in this last unlucky adventure ——”
“What adventure, monseigneur?”
“This carrying off of Mademoiselle de Méridor — poor young creature!”
“Alas!” murmured Monsoreau.
“You pity her, do you not?” said the duke.
“Does not your highness?”
“I! you know how I have regretted this fatal caprice. And, indeed, it required all my friendship for you, and the remembrance of all your good services, to make me forget that without you I should not have carried off this young girl.”
Monsoreau felt the blow. “Monseigneur,” said he, “your natural goodness leads you to exaggerate, you no more caused the death of this young girl than I did.”
“How so?”
“You did not intend to use violence to Mademoiselle de Méridor.”
“Certainly not.”
“Then the intention absolves3 you; it is a misfortune, nothing more.”
“And besides,” said the duke, looking at him, “death has buried all in eternal silence.”
The tone of his voice and his look struck Monsoreau. “Monseigneur,” said he, after a moment’s pause, “shall I speak frankly4 to you?”
“Why should you hesitate?” said the prince, with astonishment5 mingled6 with hauteur7.
“Indeed, I do not know, but your highness has not thought fit to be frank with me.”
“Really!” cried the duke, with an angry laugh.
“Monseigneur, I know what your highness meant to say to me.”
“Speak, then.”
“Your highness wished to make me understand that perhaps Mademoiselle de Méridor was not dead, and that therefore those who believed themselves her murderers might be free from remorse8.”
“Oh, monsieur, you have taken your time before making this consoling reflection to me. You are a faithful servant, on my word; you saw me sad and afflicted9, you heard me speak of the wretched dreams I had since the death of this woman, and you let me live thus, when even a doubt might have spared me so much suffering. How must I consider this conduct, monsieur?”
“Monseigneur, is your highness accusing me?”
“Traitor!” cried the duke, “you have deceived me; you have taken from me this woman whom I loved ——”
Monsoreau turned pale, but did not lose his proud, calm look. “It is true,” said he.
“Please to speak lower, monseigneur; your highness forgets, that you speak to a gentleman and an old servant.”
The duke laughed.
“My excuse is,” continued he, “that I loved Mademoiselle de Méridor ardently11.”
“I, also,” replied Fran?ois, with dignity.
“It is true, monseigneur; but she did not love you.”
“And she loved you?”
“Perhaps.”
“You lie! you know you lie! You used force as I did; only I, the master, failed, while you, the servant, succeeded by treason.”
“Monseigneur, I loved her.”
“What do I care?”
“Monseigneur, take care. I loved her, and I am not a servant. My wife is mine, and no one can take her from me, not even the king. I wished to have her, and I took her.”
“You took her! Well! you shall give her up.”
“You are wrong, monseigneur. And do not call,” continue he, stopping him, “for if you call once — if you do me a public injury ——”
“You shall give up this woman.”
“Give her up! she is my wife before God ——”
“If she is your wife before God, you shall give her up before men. I know all, and I will break this marriage, I tell you. To-morrow, Mademoiselle de Méridor shall be restored to her father; you shall set off into the exile I impose on you; you shall have sold your place; these are my conditions, and take care, or I will break you as I break this glass.” And he threw down violently a crystal cup.
“I will not give up my wife, I will not give up my place, and I will remain in France,” replied Monsoreau.
“You will not?”
“No, I will ask my pardon of the King of France — of the king anointed at the Abbey of St. Geneviève; and this new sovereign will not, I am sure, refuse the first request proffered12 to him.” Fran?ois grew deadly pale, and nearly fell.
“Well, well,” stammered13 he, “this request, speak lower — I listen.”
“I will speak humbly14, as becomes the servant of your highness. A fatal love was the cause of all. Love is the most imperious of the passions. To make me forget that your highness had cast your eyes on Diana, I must have been no longer master of myself.”
“It was a treason.”
“Do not overwhelm me, monseigneur; I saw you rich, young and happy, the first Christian15 prince in the world. For you are so, and between you and supreme16 rank there is now only a shadow easy to dispel17. I saw all the splendor18 of your future, and, comparing your proud position with my humble19 one, I said, ‘Leave to the prince his brilliant prospects20 and splendid projects, scarcely will he miss the pearl that I steal from his royal crown.’”
“Comte! comte!”
“You pardon me, monseigneur, do you not?”
At this moment the duke raised his eyes, and saw Bussy’s portrait on the wall. It seemed to exhort21 him to courage, and he said, “No, I cannot pardon you; it is not for myself that I hold out, it is because a father in mourning — a father unworthily deceived — cries out for his daughter; because a woman, forced to marry you, cries for vengeance22 against you; because, in a word, the first duty of a prince is justice.”
“Monseigneur, if justice be a duty, gratitude23 is not less so; and a king should never forget those to whom he owes his crown. Now, monseigneur, you owe your crown to me.”
“Monsoreau!” cried the duke, in terror.
“But I cling to those only who cling to me.”
“I cannot — you are a gentleman, you know I cannot approve of what you have done. My dear count, this one more sacrifice; I will recompense you for it; I will give you all you ask.”
“Then your highness loves her still!” cried Monsoreau, pale with jealousy24.
“No, I swear I do not.”
“Then, why should I? I am a gentleman; who can enter into the secrets of my private life?”
“But she does not love you.”
“What matter?”
“Do this for me, Monsoreau.”
“I cannot.”
“Then ——” commenced the duke, who was terribly perplexed25.
“Reflect, sire.”
“You will denounce me?”
“To the king dethroned for you, yes; for if my new king destroyed my honor and happiness, I would return to the old.”
“True, sire; but I love enough to be infamous.”
“It is cowardly.”
“Yes, your majesty27, but I love enough to be cowardly. Come, monseigneur, do something for the man who has served you so well.”
“What do you want?”
“That you should pardon me.”
“I will.”
“That you should reconcile me with M. de Méridor.”
“I will try.”
“That you will sign my marriage contract with Mademoiselle de Méridor.”
“Yes,” said the prince, in a hoarse28 voice.
“And that you shall honor my wife with a smile when I shall present her to his majesty.”
“Yes; is that all?”
“All, monseigneur.”
“You have my word.”
“And you shall keep the throne to which I have raised you. — There remains29 now, only,” thought Monsoreau, “to find out who told the duke.”
收听单词发音 |
1
dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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absolves
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| 宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的第三人称单数 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责） | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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hauteur
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| n.傲慢 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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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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knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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15
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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18
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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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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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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exhort
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| v.规劝，告诫 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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23
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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