登陆注册
5174500000018

第18章 VI(2)

"Come,come,"said Jeannin,surprised at such an explosion of grief from a man accustomed to duels,and who on several similar occasions had been far from displaying much tenderness of heart,"collect yourself,and don't give way like a woman.Perhaps the wound is not mortal.Let us try to stop the bleeding and call for help.""No,no--"

"Are you mad?"

"Don't call,for Heaven's sake!The wound is here,near the heart.

Your handkerchief,Jeannin,to arrest the flow of blood.There--now help me to lift him.""What does that mean?"cried Jeannin,who had just laid his hand on the chevalier."I don't know whether I'm awake or asleep!Why,it's a---""Be silent,on your life!I shall explain everything--but now be silent;there is someone looking at us."There was indeed a man wrapped in a mantle standing motionless some steps away.

"What are you doing here?"asked de Jars.

"May I ask what you are doing,gentlemen?"retorted Maitre Quennebert,in a calm and steady voice.

"Your curiosity may cost you dear,monsieur;we are not in the habit of allowing our actions to be spied on.""And I am not in the habit of running useless risks,most noble cavaliers.You are,it is true,two against one;but,"he added,throwing back his cloak and grasping the hilts of a pair of pistols tucked in his belt,"these will make us equal.You are mistaken as to my intentions.I had no thought of playing the spy;it was chance alone that led me here;and you must acknowledge that finding you in this lonely spot,engaged as you are at this hour of the night,was quite enough to awake the curiosity of a man as little disposed to provoke a quarrel as to submit to threats.""It was chance also that brought us here.We were crossing the square,my friend and I,when we heard groans.We followed the sound,and found this young gallant,who is a stranger to us,lying here,with a wound in his breast."As the moon at that moment gleamed doubtfully forth,Maitre Quennebert bent for an instant over the body of the wounded man,and said:

"I know him more than you.But supposing someone were to come upon us here,we might easily be taken for three assassins holding a consultation over the corpse of our victim.What were you going to do?""Take him to a doctor.It would be inhuman to leave him here,and while we are talking precious time is being lost.""Do you belong to this neighbourhood?"

"No,"said the treasurer.

"Neither do I,"said Quennebert."but I believe I have heard the name of a surgeon who lives close by,in the rue Hauteville.""I also know of one,"interposed de Jars,"a very skilful man.""You may command me."

"Gladly,monsieur;for he lives some distance from here.""I am at your service."

De Jars and Jeannin raised the chevalier's shoulders,and the stranger supported his legs,and carrying their burden in this order,they set off.

They walked slowly,looking about them carefully,a precaution rendered necessary by the fact that the moon now rode in a cloudless sky.They glided over the Pont Saint-Michel between the houses that lined both sides,and,turning to the right,entered one of the narrow streets of the Cite,and after many turnings,during which they met no one,they stopped at the door of a house situated behind the Hotel-de-Ville.

"Many thanks,monsieur,"said de Jars,--"many thanks;we need no further help."As the commander spoke,Maitre Quennebert let the feet of the chevalier fall abruptly on the pavement,while de Jars and the treasurer still supported his body,and,stepping back two paces,he drew his pistols from his belt,and placing a finger on each trigger,said--"Do not stir,messieurs,or you are dead men."Both,although encumbered by their burden,laid their hands upon their swords.

"Not a movement,not a sound,or I shoot."

There was no reply to this argument,it being a convincing one even for two duellists.The bravest man turns pale when he finds himself face to face with sudden inevitable death,and he who threatened seemed to be one who would,without hesitation,carry out his threats.There was nothing for it but obedience,or a ball through them as they stood.

"What do you want with us,sir?"asked Jeannin.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 理想国与哲人王

    理想国与哲人王

    《理想国与哲人王》是王小波杂文的精编,同时收录了他与爱人李银河恋爱时期的部分情书。作家祝勇先生说:王小波的杂文大多涉及文化状态与知识分子命运,自然少不了尴尬与苦涩,所以读王小波杂文,是不能笑笑就了事的。他的幽默为我们展示了一个神秘幽黑的洞口,是浅尝辄止还是深入其中,就全看我们个人的兴趣了。王小波的幽默,点到为止,却是一枚余味无穷的橄榄,常嚼常新。
  • 名医童养媳

    名医童养媳

    同是穿越,沈妍的穿越之旅可谓巧妙到极致,混乱到精彩。出身寒门的亲爹中状元,娶公主,抛妻弃子,当了陈世美,为了养活亲娘幼弟,沈妍无奈之下,决定卖身为奴。头顶刚插上稻草,就有人说她一脸旺夫相,被人选去做了童养媳。她果然旺夫,刚做童养媳半年,她的小相公先考中童生,又认祖归宗。沈妍狂晕,没想到她那拈酸古怪的小相公竟然有这么显赫的家势。……怂恿亲娘改嫁,在妯娌成排、妻妾成群的夫家站稳脚,帮婆婆争权贵之家的一席之地,为相公谋夺嫡子名份,还要面对一个有权有势的亲爹、金尊玉贵的公主继母。混乱,非一般混乱。不怕,咱有半吊子医术傍身,中医养生食疗、经络穴位皆通。她多方周旋、八面玲珑,亲疏远近,应付得体。很快,名满京城,令人侧目。……小相公高中状元,公主的绣球抛来了,她将何去何从?步了老娘的后尘,她高声叫好,没有丝毫悲哀,孰不知等她垂青候选的公子王孙早已排到城门口了。白马王子一抓一大把,想选一个好相公还不容易?皇子、世子、贵公子,外加一个金光闪闪的财神爷,海选、复试、决赛,就你吧!本姑娘将就些。
  • 不在回忆里错过你

    不在回忆里错过你

    本是职场精英的高语岚遭人陷害,居然被人诬告成女同性恋,惨被公司解雇。当务之急,她得赶紧找个男人证明自己的清白。没想到,她却不小心招了“狼”。处于人生低谷的高语岚,每次遇到犀利大厨尹则,都能刷新她的倒霉记录,却在对方花样百出的爱情追跑中,收获了爱情和全新的生活。软萌受气包“小白兔”×麻辣厨神“大灰狼”擦出萌爱火花 !看情话大厨奉上妙趣横生的美食情话语录!
  • 资阳郡中咏怀

    资阳郡中咏怀

    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。
  • 尘世风华:逆天除魔师

    尘世风华:逆天除魔师

    天才除魔师因一时失足穿越变成废柴二小姐,当天才变废柴一切变得不同。那些欺她,骗她,之人将一一被她寻找,能力,美男也将因她的能力不断升起更逐渐出现,当能力为主时,一切又变得不同,家族的明争暗斗更让她铁心的把这个世界颠覆……(情节虚构,切勿模仿)
  • 玄天修仙录

    玄天修仙录

    在韩立飞升仙界无数万年之后,原本称霸小灵天的人族因为内战不断,而衰败下去,其他各异族却蠢蠢欲动。一个被逐出家族,身怀幻灵根的小修士,凭借自己的毅力跟智慧,在修仙界履历奇缘,从练气,筑基,一直到元婴期,最后凭借自己的神通,生生震慑住一干异族,重新确立了人族在此界的霸主地位,而通过韩立遗留在此界的空间通道,飞到到灵界之后。只是如今的灵界,在不负昔日的辉煌,主人公能否重镇灵界人族盛威,拭目以待。
  • 轩王的宠妃逆天大小姐

    轩王的宠妃逆天大小姐

    她,圣河冰雅,杀手界第一女皇,意外获得了世人为之疯狂的宝藏,却也因此使她心灰意冷跌入深渊。他,南陵国战神,轩王夜冥轩,幽冥宫宫主却对她一见钟情,愣是黏在她身边,他曾说:月儿,上穷碧落下黄泉,你我同在!当冰月心中的冰冷融化之际,他得到了,轩,你若不离不弃,我必生死相依!
  • 解码大前研:箴言录

    解码大前研:箴言录

    本书不仅仅从经营管理、工作经验、思维方式谈大前研一那种从高处俯瞰社会的种种经验,还从社会理念、政治态度、民众情绪来谈论他的对当今社会上各种现象的观点,甚至还谈到他对待家庭与教育、休闲与享受的各方面的体验。
  • 仙途修罗

    仙途修罗

    仙路茫茫不可见,神州浩土纷争乱,万古遗谜何人览?古来三十帝,尽赴烟尘间,看那血染的画卷,可惜复可叹!铁一般的少年,血海深仇恨难眠,修罗般杀意绵绵。至宝道戟惹人馋,帝族的追杀,圣地欲望无止歇。金戈画戟间,圣地崩,神坻灭。道法非自然,凌云而上,抬手间,天道改换。仙路现,尸骨成山,唯我为仙!
  • Jack and Jill

    Jack and Jill

    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。