HUNTING FOR THE EQUIPMENTS
The most preoccupied1 of the four friends was certainly D'Artagnan, although he, in his quality of Guardsman, would be much more easily equipped than Messieurs the Musketeers, who were all of high rank; but our Gascon cadet was, as may have been observed, of a provident2 and almost avaricious3 character, and with that (explain the contradiction) so vain as almost to rival Porthos. To this preoccupation of his vanity, D'Artagnan at this moment joined an uneasiness much less selfish. Notwithstanding all his inquiries4 respecting Mme. Bonacieux, he could obtain no intelligence of her. M. de Treville had spoken of her to the queen. The queen was ignorant where the mercer's young wife was, but had promised to have her sought for; but this promise was very vague and did not at all reassure5 D'Artagnan.
Athos did not leave his chamber6; he made up his mind not to take a single step to equip himself.
"We have still fifteen days before us," said he to his friends. "well, if at the end of a fortnight I have found nothing, or rather if nothing has come to find me, as I a, too good a Catholic to kill myself with a pistol bullet, I will seek a good quarrel with four of his Eminence's Guards or with eight Englishmen, and I will fight until one of them has killed me, which, considering the number, cannot fail to happen. It will then be said of me that I died for the king; so that I shall have performed my duty without the expense of an outfit7."
Porthos continued to walk about with his hands behind him, tossing his head and repeating, "I shall follow up on my idea."
Aramis, anxious and negligently8 dressed, said nothing.
It may be seen by these disastrous9 details that desolation reigned10 in the community.
The lackeys11 on their part, like the coursers of Hippolytus, shared the sadness of their masters. Mousqueton collected a store of crusts; Bazin, who had always been inclined to devotion, never quit the churches; Planchet watched the flight of flies; and Grimaud, whom the general distress12 could not induce to break the silence imposed by his master, heaved sighs enough to soften13 the stones.
The three friends--for, as we have said, Athos had sworn not to stir a foot to equip himself--went out early in the morning, and returned late at night. They wandered about the streets, looking at the pavement a if to see whether the passengers had not left a purse behind them. They might have been supposed to be following tracks, so observant were they wherever they went. When they met they looked desolately14 at one another, as much as to say, "Have you found anything?"
However, as Porthos had first found an idea, and had thought of it earnestly afterward15, he was the first to act. He was a man of execution, this worthy16 Porthos. D'Artagnan perceived him one day walking toward the church of St. Leu, and followed him instinctively17. He entered, after having twisted his mustache and elongated18 his imperial, which always announced on his part the most triumphant19 resolutions. As D'Artagnan took some precautions to conceal20 himself, Porthos believed he had not been seen. D'Artagnan entered behind him. Porthos went and leaned against the side of a pillar. D'Artagnan, still unperceived, supported himself against the other side.
There happened to be a sermon, which made the church very full of people. Porthos took advantage of this circumstance to ogle21 the women. Thanks to the cares of Mousqueton, the exterior22 was for from announcing the distress of the interior. His hat was a little napless, his feather was a little faded, his gold lace was a little tarnished23, his laces were a trifle frayed24; but in the obscurity of the church these things were not seen, and Porthos was still the handsome Porthos.
D'Artagnan observed, on the bench nearest to the pillar against which Porthos leaned, sort of ripe beauty, rather yellow and rather dry, but erect25 and haughty26 under her black hood27. The eyes of Porthos were furtively28 cast upon this lady, and then roved about at large over the nave29.
On her side the lady, who from time to time blushed, darted30 with the rapidity of lightning a glance toward the inconstant Porthos; and then immediately the eyes of Porthos wandered anxiously. It was plain that this mode of proceeding31 piqued32 the lady in the black hood, for she bit her lips till they bled, scratched the end of her nose, and could not sit still in her seat.
Porthos, seeing this, retwisted his mustache, elongated his imperial a second time, and began to make signals to a beautiful lady who was near the choir33, and who not only was a beautiful lady, but still further, no doubt, a great lady--for she had behind her a Negro boy who had brought the cushion on which she knelt, and a female servant who held the emblazoned bag in which was placed the book from which she read the Mass.
The lady with the black hood followed through all their wanderings the looks of Porthos, and perceived that they rested upon the lady with the velvet34 cushion, the little Negro, and the maid-servant.
During this time Porthos played close. It was almost imperceptible motions of his eyes, fingers placed upon the lips, little assassinating35 smiles, which really did assassinate36 the disdained37 beauty.
Then she cried, "Ahem!" under cover of the MEA CULPA, striking her breast so vigorously that everybody, even the lady with the red cushion, turned round toward her. Porthos paid no attention. Nevertheless, he understood it all, but was deaf.
The lady with the red cushion produced a great effect--for she was very handsome--upon the lady with he black hood, who saw in her a rival really to be dreaded38; a great effect upon Porthos, who thought her much prettier than the lady with the black hood; a great effect upon D'Artagnan, who recognized in her the lady of Meung, of Calais, and of Dover, whom his persecutor39, the man with the scar, had saluted40 by the name of Milady.
D'Artagnan, without losing sight of the lady of the red cushion, continued to watch the proceedings41 of Porthos, which amused him greatly. He guessed that the lady of the black hood was the procurator's wife of the Rue42 aux Ours, which was the more probable from the church of St. Leu being not far from that locality.
He guessed, likewise, by induction43, that Porthos was taking his revenge for the defeat of Chantilly, when the procurator's wife had proved so refractory44 with respect to her purse.
Amid all this, D'Artagnan remarked also that not one countenance45 responded to the gallantries of Porthos. There were only chimeras47 and illusions; but for real love, for true jealousy48, is there any reality except illusions and chimeras?
The sermon over, the procurator's wife advanced toward the holy font. Porthos went before her, and instead of a finger, dipped his whole hand in. The procurator's wife smiled, thinking that it was for her Porthos had put himself to this trouble; but she was cruelly and promptly49 undeceived. When she was only about three steps from him, he turned his head round, fixing his eyes steadfastly50 upon the lady with the red cushion, who had risen and was approaching, followed by her black boy and her woman.
When the lady of the red cushion came close to Porthos, Porthos drew his dripping hand from the font. The fair worshipper touched the great hand of Porthos with her delicate fingers, smiled, made the sign of the cross, and left the church.
This was too much for the procurator's wife; she doubted not there was an intrigue51 between this lady and Porthos. If she had been a great lady she would have fainted; but as she was only a procurator's wife, she contented52 herself saying to the Musketeer with concentrated fury, "Eh, Monsieur Porthos, you don't offer me any holy water?"
Porthos, at the sound of that voice, started like a man awakened53 from a sleep of a hundred years.
"Ma-madame!" cried he; "is that you? How is your husband, our dear Monsieur Coquenard? Is he still as stingy as ever? Where can my eyes have been not to have seen you during the two hours of the sermon?"
"I was within two paces of you, monsieur," replied the procurator's wife; "but you did not perceive me because you had no eyes but for the pretty lady to whom you just now gave the holy water."
Porthos pretended to be confused. "Ah," said he, "you have remarked--"
"I must have been blind not to have seen."
"Yes," said Porthos, "that is a duchess of my acquaintance whim54 I have great trouble to meet on account of the jealousy of her husband, and who sent me word that she should come today to this poor church, buried in this vile55 quarter, solely56 for the sake of seeing me."
"Monsieur Porthos," said the procurator's wife, "will you have the kindness to offer me your arm for five minutes? I have something to say to you."
"Certainly, madame," said Porthos, winking57 to himself, as a gambler does who laughs at the dupe he is about to pluck.
At that moment D'Artagnan passed in pursuit of Milady; he cast a passing glance at Porthos, and beheld58 this triumphant look.
"Eh, eh!" said he, reasoning to himself according to the strangely easy morality of that gallant46 period, "there is one who will be equipped in good time!"
Porthos, yielding to the pressure of the arm of the procurator's wife, as a bark yields to the rudder, arrived at the cloister59 St. Magloire--a little-frequented passage, enclosed with a turnstile at each end. In the daytime nobody was seen there but mendicants devouring60 their crusts, and children at play.
"Ah, Monsieur Porthos," cried the procurator's wife, when she was assured that no one who was a stranger to the population of the locality could either see or hear her, "ah, Monsieur Porthos, you are a great conqueror61, as it appears!"
"I, madame?" said Porthos, drawing himself up proudly; "how so?"
"The signs just now, and the holy water! But that must be a princess, at least--that lady with her Negro boy and her maid!"
"My God! Madame, you are deceived," said Porthos; "she is simply a duchess."
"And that running footman who waited at the door, and that carriage with a coachman in grand livery who sat waiting on his seat?"
Porthos had seen neither the footman nor the carriage, but with he eye of a jealous woman, Mme. Coquenard had seen everything.
Porthos regretted that he had not at once made the lady of the red cushion a princess.
"Ah, you are quite the pet of the ladies, Monsieur Porthos!" resumed the procurator's wife, with a sigh.
"Well," responded Porthos, "you may imagine, with the physique with which nature has endowed me, I am not in want of good luck."
"Good Lord, how quickly men forget!" cried the procurator's wife, raising her eyes toward heaven.
"Less quickly than the women, it seems to me," replied Porthos; "for I, madame, I may say I was your victim, when wounded, dying, I was abandoned by the surgeons. I, the offspring of a noble family, who placed reliance upon your friendship--I was near dying of my wounds at first, and of hunger afterward, in a beggarly inn at Chantilly, without you ever deigning62 once to reply to the burning letters I addressed to you."
"But, Monsieur Porthos," murmured the procurator's wife, who began to feel that, to judge by the conduct of the great ladies of the time, she was wrong.
"I, who had sacrificed for you the Baronne de--"
"I know it well."
"The Comtesse de--"
"Monsieur Porthos, be generous!"
"You are right, madame, and I will not finish."
"But it was my husband who would not hear of lending."
"Madame Coquenard," said Porthos, "remember the first letter you wrote me, and which I preserve engraved63 in my memory."
The procurator's wife uttered a groan64.
"Besides," said she, "the sum you required me to borrow was rather large."
"Madame Coquenard, I gave you the preference. I had but to write to the Duchesse--but I won't repeat her name, for I am incapable65 of compromising a woman; but this I know, that I had but to write to her and she would have sent me fifteen hundred."
The procurator's wife shed a tear.
"Monsieur Porthos," said she, "I can assure you that you have severely66 punished me; and if in the time to come you should find yourself in a similar situation, you have but to apply to me."
"Fie, madame, fie!" said Porthos, as if disgusted. "Let us not talk about money, if you please; it is humiliating."
"Then you no longer love me!" said the procurator's wife, slowly and sadly.
Porthos maintained a majestic67 silence.
"And that is the only reply you make? Alas68, I understand."
"Think of the offense69 you have committed toward me, madame! It remains70 HERE!" said Porthos, placing his hand on his heart, and pressing it strongly.
"I will repair it, indeed I will, my dear Porthos."
"Besides, what did I ask of you?" resumed Porthos, with a movement of the shoulders full of good fellowship. "A loan, nothing more! After all, I am not an unreasonable71 man. I know you are not rich, Madame Coquenard, and that your husband is obliged to bleed his poor clients to squeeze a few paltry72 crowns from them. Oh! If you were a duchess, a marchioness, or a countess, it would be quite a different thing; it would be unpardonable."
The procurator's wife was piqued.
"Please to know, Monsieur Porthos," said she, "that my strongbox, the strongbox of a procurator's wife though if may be, is better filled than those of your affected73 minxes."
"The doubles the offense," said Porthos, disengaging his arm from that of the procurator's wife; "for if you are rich, Madame Coquenard, then there is no excuse for your refusal."
"When I said rich," replied the procurator's wife, who saw that she had gone too far, "you must not take the word literally74. I am not precisely75 rich, though I am pretty well off."
"Hold, madame," said Porthos, "let us say no more upon the subject, I beg of you. You have misunderstood me, all sympathy is extinct between us."
"Ah! I advise you to complain!" said Porthos.
"Begone, then, to your beautiful duchess; I will detain you no longer."
"And she is not to be despised, in my opinion."
"Now, Monsieur Porthos, once more, and this is the last! Do you love me still?"
"Ah, madame," said Porthos, in the most melancholy77 tone he could assume, "when we are about to enter upon a campaign--a campaign, in which my presentiments78 tell me I shall be killed--"
"Oh, don't talk of such things!" cried the procurator's wife, bursting into tears.
"Something whispers me so," continued Porthos, becoming more and more melancholy.
"Rather say that you have a new love."
"Not so; I speak frankly79 to you. No object affects me; and I even feel here, at the bottom of my heart, something which speaks for you. But in fifteen days, as you know, or as you do not know, this fatal campaign is to open. I shall be fearfully preoccupied with my outfit. Then I must make a journey to see my family, in the lower part of Brittany, to obtain the sum necessary for my departure."
Porthos observed a last struggle between love and avarice80.
"And as," continued he, "the duchess whom you saw at the church has estates near to those of my family, we mean to make the journey together. Journeys, you know, appear much shorter when we travel two in company."
"Have you no friends in Paris, then, Monsieur Porthos?" said the procurator's wife.
"I thought I had," said Porthos, resuming his melancholy air; "but I have been taught my mistake."
"You have some!" cried the procurator's wife, in a transport that surprised even herself. "Come to our house tomorrow. You are the son of my aunt, consequently my cousin; you come from Noyon, in Picardy; you have several lawsuits81 and no attorney. Can you recollect82 all that?"
"Very well."
"And be upon your guard before my husband, who is rather shrewd, notwithstanding his seventy-six years."
"Seventy-six years! PESTE! That's a fine age!" replied Porthos.
"A great age, you mean, Monsieur Porthos. Yes, the poor man may be expected to leave me a widow, any hour," continued she, throwing a significant glance at Porthos. "Fortunately, by our marriage contract, the survivor85 takes everything."
"All?"
"Yes, all."
"You are a woman of precaution, I see, my dear Madame Coquenard," said Porthos, squeezing the hand of the procurator's wife tenderly.
"We are then reconciled, dear Monsieur Porthos?" said she, simpering.
"For life," replied Porthos, in the same manner.
"Till we meet again, then, dear traitor86!"
"Till we meet again, my forgetful charmer!"
"Tomorrow, my angel!"
"Tomorrow, flame of my life!"
1 preoccupied | |
adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 provident | |
adj.为将来做准备的,有先见之明的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 avaricious | |
adj.贪婪的,贪心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 reassure | |
v.使放心,使消除疑虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 outfit | |
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 negligently | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 disastrous | |
adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 reigned | |
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 lackeys | |
n.听差( lackey的名词复数 );男仆(通常穿制服);卑躬屈膝的人;被待为奴仆的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 soften | |
v.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 desolately | |
荒凉地,寂寞地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 elongated | |
v.延长,加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 ogle | |
v.看;送秋波;n.秋波,媚眼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 exterior | |
adj.外部的,外在的;表面的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 tarnished | |
(通常指金属)(使)失去光泽,(使)变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 ); 玷污,败坏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 frayed | |
adj.磨损的v.(使布、绳等)磨损,磨破( fray的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 haughty | |
adj.傲慢的,高傲的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 hood | |
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 furtively | |
adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 nave | |
n.教堂的中部;本堂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 piqued | |
v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 );激起(好奇心) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 choir | |
n.唱诗班,唱诗班的席位,合唱团,舞蹈团;v.合唱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 assassinating | |
v.暗杀( assassinate的现在分词 );中伤;诋毁;破坏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 assassinate | |
vt.暗杀,行刺,中伤 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 disdained | |
鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 dreaded | |
adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 persecutor | |
n. 迫害者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 saluted | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 rue | |
n.懊悔,芸香,后悔;v.后悔,悲伤,懊悔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 induction | |
n.感应,感应现象 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 refractory | |
adj.倔强的,难驾驭的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 chimeras | |
n.(由几种动物的各部分构成的)假想的怪兽( chimera的名词复数 );不可能实现的想法;幻想;妄想 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 steadfastly | |
adv.踏实地,不变地;岿然;坚定不渝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 intrigue | |
vt.激起兴趣,迷住;vi.耍阴谋;n.阴谋,密谋 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 whim | |
n.一时的兴致,突然的念头;奇想,幻想 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 vile | |
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 solely | |
adv.仅仅,唯一地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 winking | |
n.瞬眼,目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 cloister | |
n.修道院;v.隐退,使与世隔绝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 devouring | |
吞没( devour的现在分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 conqueror | |
n.征服者,胜利者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 deigning | |
v.屈尊,俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 engraved | |
v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的过去式和过去分词 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 groan | |
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 majestic | |
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 offense | |
n.犯规,违法行为;冒犯,得罪 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 unreasonable | |
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 paltry | |
adj.无价值的,微不足道的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
76 ingrate | |
n.忘恩负义的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
77 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
78 presentiments | |
n.(对不祥事物的)预感( presentiment的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
79 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
80 avarice | |
n.贪婪;贪心 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
81 lawsuits | |
n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
82 recollect | |
v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
83 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
84 cone | |
n.圆锥体,圆锥形东西,球果 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
85 survivor | |
n.生存者,残存者,幸存者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
86 traitor | |
n.叛徒,卖国贼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |