登陆注册
5170200000004

第4章

The Messenger.

Mademoiselle de Montalais was right; the young cavalier was goodly to look upon.

He was a young man of from twenty-four to twenty-five years of age, tall and slender, wearing gracefully the picturesque military costume of the period.His large boots contained a foot which Mademoiselle de Montalais might not have disowned if she had been transformed into a man.With one of his delicate but nervous hands he checked his horse in the middle of the court, and with the other raised his hat, whose long plumes shaded his at once serious and ingenuous countenance.

The guards, roused by the steps of the horse, awoke and were on foot in a minute.The young man waited till one of them was close to his saddle-bow: then stooping towards him, in a clear, distinct voice, which was perfectly audible at the window where the two girls were concealed, "A message for his royal highness," he said.

"Ah, ah!" cried the soldier."Officer, a messenger!"But this brave guard knew very well that no officer would appear, seeing that the only one who could have appeared dwelt at the other side of the castle, in an apartment looking into the gardens.So he hastened to add: "The officer, monsieur, is on his rounds, but in his absence, M.

de Saint-Remy, the maitre d'hotel shall be informed.""M.de Saint-Remy?" repeated the cavalier, slightly blushing.

"Do you know him?"

"Why, yes; but request him, if you please, that my visit be announced to his royal highness as soon as possible.""It appears to be pressing," said the guard, as if speaking to himself, but really in the hope of obtaining an answer.

The messenger made an affirmative sign with his head.

"In that case," said the guard, "I will go and seek the maitre d'hotel myself."The young man, in the meantime, dismounted; and whilst the others were making their remarks upon the fine horse the cavalier rode, the soldier returned.

"Your pardon, young gentleman; but your name, if you please?""The Vicomte de Bragelonne, on the part of his highness M.

le Prince de Conde."

The soldier made a profound bow, and, as if the name of the conqueror of Rocroy and Sens had given him wings, he stepped lightly up the steps leading to the ante-chamber.

M.de Bragelonne had not had time to fasten his horse to the iron bars of the perron, when M.de Saint-Remy came running, out of breath, supporting his capacious body with one hand, whilst with the other he cut the air as a fisherman cleaves the waves with his oar.

"Ah, Monsieur le Vicomte! You at Blois!" cried he."Well, that is a wonder.Good-day to you -- good-day, Monsieur Raoul.""I offer you a thousand respects, M.de Saint-Remy.""How Madame de la Vall -- I mean, how delighted Madame de Saint-Remy will be to see you! But come in.His royal highness is at breakfast -- must he be interrupted? Is the matter serious?""Yes, and no, Monsieur de Saint-Remy.A moment's delay, however, would be disagreeable to his royal highness.""If that is the case, we will force the consigne, Monsieur le Vicomte.Come in.Besides, Monsieur is in an excellent humor to-day.And then you bring news, do you not?""Great news, Monsieur de Saint-Remy."

"And good, I presume?"

"Excellent."

"Come quickly, come quickly then!" cried the worthy man, putting his dress to rights as he went along.

Raoul followed him, hat in hand, and a little disconcerted at the noise made by his spurs in these immense salons.

As soon as he had disappeared in the interior of the palace, the window of the court was repeopled, and an animated whispering betrayed the emotion of the two girls.They soon appeared to have formed a resolution, for one of the two faces disappeared from the window.This was the brunette;the other remained behind the balcony, concealed by the flowers, watching attentively through the branches the perron by which M.de Bragelonne had entered the castle.

In the meantime the object of so much laudable curiosity continued his route, following the steps of the maitre d'hotel.The noise of quick steps, an odor of wine and viands, a clinking of crystal and plates, warned them that they were coming to the end of their course.

The pages, valets and officers, assembled in the office which led up to the refectory, welcomed the newcomer with the proverbial politeness of the country; some of them were acquainted with Raoul, and all knew that he came from Paris.

It might be said that his arrival for a moment suspended the service.In fact, a page, who was pouring out wine for his royal highness, on hearing the jingling of spurs in the next chamber, turned round like a child, without perceiving that he was continuing to pour out, not into the glass, but upon the tablecloth.

Madame, who was not so preoccupied as her glorious spouse was, remarked this distraction of the page.

"Well?" exclaimed she.

"Well!" repeated Monsieur; "what is going on then?"M.de Saint-Remy, who had just introduced his head through the doorway, took advantage of the moment.

"Why am I to be disturbed?" said Gaston, helping himself to a thick slice of one of the largest salmon that had ever ascended the Loire to be captured between Painboeuf and Saint-Nazaire.

"There is a messenger from Paris.Oh! but after monseigneur has breakfasted will do; there is plenty of time.""From Paris!" cried the prince, letting his fork fall."Amessenger from Paris, do you say? And on whose part does this messenger come?""On the part of M.le Prince," said the maitre d'hotel promptly.

Every one knows that the Prince de Conde was so called.

"A messenger from M.le Prince!" said Gaston, with an inquietude that escaped none of the assistants, and consequently redoubled the general curiosity.

同类推荐
  • 通天逸叟高禅师语录

    通天逸叟高禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上清灵宝大法

    上清灵宝大法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东林始末

    东林始末

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 王文恪公笔记

    王文恪公笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 何耶揭唎婆像法

    何耶揭唎婆像法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 欢迎来到实力至上的的世界

    欢迎来到实力至上的的世界

    2056年,游戏产业的飞快发展,不只是2020年大火的的RPG系列或是STG。GHDintelligence宣布四月一日《Theotherside》游戏的首发,而这…是真正的“身临其境”!本应让全世界狂热的四月一日,却因登录游戏者无法再退出游戏,真正的面临“实力至上”你在现实里生活,却注定在这里死去……1.欢迎来到被烧掉的成玉小学.2.欢迎来到被遗忘的楼兰古国.3.欢迎来到被摧毁的食人部落.本文含有捎带的言情部分,男女主双强,主剧情,不主言情。
  • 世界商之道

    世界商之道

    一个资源小国,战后从废墟中重建,如今商品充塞优选,独占美国大半市场,一度把美国公司逼到绝境,欧亚各国的情况亦无二致,一跃成为世界最大债国和经济援助国。日本人的绝招是什么?品质的商道。日本人有一种“求道精神”,茶道、花道、剑道、柔道、空手道、书道、装道、琴道……从一技一艺到百艺百能各具流派,“技”和“美”各臻最高境界,“质”和“善”各达最高领域。
  • 风定江山

    风定江山

    两个不属于江湖的人,却相遇在江湖,并同行江湖间!一次江湖行,一段倾城恋,一场兄弟情!一场又一场的刺杀,是什么人指使?爱恨交织的几个女子,谁能陪伴一生!对敌者,杀无赦!即使千万人,也不留一个祸根!局中局,迷里迷!既是布局者,也是别人手里的棋子!血与泪汇江湖,刀和剑成武林!在血泪刀剑中本欲随风,却无奈逃不出万丈红尘!
  • 修真十书黄庭内景五脏六腑图卷

    修真十书黄庭内景五脏六腑图卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 左少的麻辣鲜妻

    左少的麻辣鲜妻

    生于军人家庭的秦思灵,是个简单直白的女孩,军校毕业后成了一名隐秘工作者。一次休假,哥哥秦铭威带她去酒吧参加情趣派对,本想让她脑袋开点儿窍,顺便把她介绍给左司宸认识。谁知秦思灵初次见面就将左司宸打成了猪头,而左思宸反而对她越来越感兴趣。
  • 玫瑰之翼

    玫瑰之翼

    艾麦缇转学到贵族学校璀璨碧汐后,因为来自小城市而受尽欺负,常被同学用“满清十大酷刑”伺候,无论是她有理还是同学们狡辩,按照国际惯例,她总是错的,被罚关小黑屋更是每天的必修课……
  • 女总裁的修罗保镖

    女总裁的修罗保镖

    什么?总裁是那方面冷淡?销售总监被渣男抛弃过?财务总监被安排相亲不喜欢的男人?NONONO,这些都不是事,我叶子轩的女人谁都碰不了,有想法的,我会送你一趟开往天堂的列车。
  • 萋萋余泪

    萋萋余泪

    她是凶狠手辣的杀手,冷若冰霜的靓寡妇,却也是甜美七妹。他是永带面具的大哥,杀手交易的接头人,却也是痴心一片。如果,那一年,一切都没有发生,他们的娃娃亲会不会实现?一场阴谋,一次阴差阳错,一个故作迷局。三个家族,七个孩子,是至亲,还是仇敌?当血海深仇遇上真心爱意,谁能坚持?
  • 太平洋战场的胜利(中卷):轰炸日本

    太平洋战场的胜利(中卷):轰炸日本

    1942年4月18日,美军按照事先拟定的对日本实施空袭的报复计划,派出杜立特尔中校,率领B-25型轰炸机组,首次轰炸了东京,揭开了美国对日本实施战略轰炸的序幕。在整个报复计划中,轰炸机成为了战场上的主角。珍珠港事件之后,美国空军怀念部就计划开发多种超远距离的远程轰炸机。在时间紧,任务重的情况下,多家飞机制造商们通力合作终于成功开发出新型B-29等多种战机。本书所载资料对军事研究者、战机爱好者来说,极具史料价值。
  • 探索极地荒原(小小探索者系列)

    探索极地荒原(小小探索者系列)

    本书向读者介绍了极地的知识。极地是地球上人类尚未涉足、涉足甚少、渴望征服的未知领域或环境极其恶劣甚至无生物的地域。如地球的最高点、世界最高峰珠穆朗玛峰,地球的最深点、世界最深海沟马里亚纳海沟等。《探索极地荒原》揭开了蒙在他们身上的神秘的面纱。