登陆注册
5287000000119

第119章 39(3)

"The battle of Lens gained!" said the queen; "they are lucky here indeed; they can gain battles! Yes, the Marechal de Grammont is right; this will change the aspect of French affairs, but I much fear it will do nothing for English, even if it does not harm them. This is recent news, sir," continued she, "and I thank you for having made such haste to bring it to me; without this letter I should not have heard till to-morrow, perhaps after to-morrow -- the last of all Paris."

"Madame," said Raoul, "the Louvre is but the second palace this news has reached; it is as yet unknown to all, and I had sworn to the Count de Guiche to remit this letter to your majesty before even I should embrace my guardian."

"Your guardian! is he, too, a Bragelonne?" asked Lord de Winter. "I once knew a Bragelonne -- is he still alive?"

"No, sir, he is dead; and I believe it is from him my guardian, whose near relation he was, inherited the estate from which I take my name."

"And your guardian, sir," asked the queen, who could not help feeling some interest in the handsome young man before her, "what is his name?"

"The Comte de la Fere, madame," replied the young man, bowing.

De Winter made a gesture of surprise and the queen turned to him with a start of joy.

"The Comte de la Fere!" she cried. "Have you not mentioned that name to me?"

As for De Winter he could scarcely believe that he had heard aright. "The Comte de la Fere!" he cried in his turn. "Oh, sir, reply, I entreat you -- is not the Comte de la Fere a noble whom I remember, handsome and brave, a musketeer under Louis XIII., who must be now about forty-seven or forty-eight years of age?"

"Yes, sir, you are right in every particular!"

"And who served under an assumed name?"

"Under the name of Athos. Latterly I heard his friend, Monsieur d'Artagnan, give him that name."

"That is it, madame, that is the same. God be praised! And he is in Paris?" continued he, addressing Raoul; then turning to the queen: "We may still hope. Providence has declared for us, since I have found this brave man again in so miraculous a manner. And, sir, where does he reside, pray?"

"The Comte de la Fere lodges in the Rue Guenegaud, Hotel du Grand Roi Charlemagne."

"Thanks, sir. Inform this dear friend that he may remain within, that I shall go and see him immediately."

"Sir, I obey with pleasure, if her majesty will permit me to depart."

"Go, Monsieur de Bragelonne," said the queen, "and rest assured of our affection."

Raoul bent respectfully before the two princesses, and bowing to De Winter, departed.

The queen and De Winter continued to converse for some time in low voices, in order that the young princess should not overhear them; but the precaution was needless: she was in deep converse with her own thoughts.

Then, when De Winter rose to take leave:

"Listen, my lord," said the queen; "I have preserved this diamond cross which came from my mother, and this order of St. Michael which came from my husband. They are worth about fifty thousand pounds. I had sworn to die of hunger rather than part with these precious pledges; but now that this ornament may be useful to him or his defenders, everything must be sacrificed. Take them, and if you need money for your expedition, sell them fearlessly, my lord. But should you find the means of retaining them, remember, my lord, that I shall esteem you as having rendered the greatest service that a gentleman can render to a queen; and in the day of my prosperity he who brings me this order and this cross shall be blessed by me and my children."

"Madame," replied De Winter, "your majesty will be served by a man devoted to you. I hasten to deposit these two objects in a safe place, nor should I accept them if the resources of our ancient fortune were left to us, but our estates are confiscated, our ready money is exhausted, and we are reduced to turn to service everything we possess. In an hour hence I shall be with the Comte de la Fere, and to-morrow your majesty shall have a definite reply."

The queen tendered her hand to Lord de Winter, who, kissing it respectfully, went out and traversed alone and unconducted those large, dark and deserted apartments, brushing away tears which, blase as he was by fifty years spent as a courtier, he could not withhold at the spectacle of royal distress so dignified, yet so intense.

同类推荐
  • 甘泉先生续编大全

    甘泉先生续编大全

    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。
  • 衡曲麈谭

    衡曲麈谭

    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。
  • 姜氏秘史

    姜氏秘史

    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。
  • 杨家将传

    杨家将传

    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。
  • Sketches by Boz

    Sketches by Boz

    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
  • 实用合同文书写作大全

    实用合同文书写作大全

    合同,也称契约,是平等主体的自然人、法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权利义务关系的协议。合同具有如下法律特征:1.合同是一种民事法律行为。
  • 佛说转有经

    佛说转有经

    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。
  • 大棋圣

    大棋圣

    可姜凡已听不到外界的声音,唯一留在他心底的声音竟是苏玥那声“够了!”“够了?”一瞬间,姜凡的泪水和着汗水流下。只要够了,他就可以平凡的过完这一生。只要够了,他就能抛去所有负担,轻松自在。只要够了,甚至可以得到末途的帮助,所有人的怜悯。因为,他已经做得够了。可越是这样,姜凡的内心越涌出一种深深的悲伤。多少时候,就是这种够了,让我们变得平凡。多少时候,就是这种够了,让我们变得冷漠。多少时候,就是这种够了,让我们变得软弱。那个时候,我们还是真正的自己吗?【这是一本热血沸腾的围棋竞技小说】空明音书友群:434860648
  • 仙草供应商

    仙草供应商

    白云黄鹤道人家,一琴一剑一杯茶。羽衣常带烟霞色,不染人间桃李花。常世人间笑哈哈,周游四海你为啥。苦终受尽修正道,不染人间桃李花。山不在高,有仙则名,水不在深,有龙则灵。灵田在手,仙草我有!!修修仙种种田,其乐无穷!!-------------------------------ps:本文正统仙侠种田文,无系统,有节操!欢迎品阅!!
  • 喉科集腋

    喉科集腋

    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。
  • 玩家王座

    玩家王座

    腰悬长明灯壶,身披大师长袍,手握寂静之剑,魔术师从黑暗中漫步而来。射手,刺客,杀手,神偷,领主,智者……变幻莫测的身份,铸就了游戏之王的不朽传奇。上百亿的玩家在此同台竞技,高手,菜鸟,天才,庸才在这里都能占据一席之地。英雄的光辉撒遍文明,美人的容颜绽尽风华。当邪恶与善良的花朵同时绽放之时,王座显现。只是坐上王座的人注定带着血华和常人难以忍受的寂寞孤独……
  • 卫济宝书

    卫济宝书

    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。
  • 重生娱乐之我为王

    重生娱乐之我为王

    我的人生只为随心所欲四个字,所以妨碍我的要么自己滚,要么我让你滚。这就是一个女汉子,用女神的外表欺骗世人,欺世盗名的故事。
  • 萌妻归来:豪门隐婚新娘

    萌妻归来:豪门隐婚新娘

    “我现在已经是行尸走肉,没有心了。”我的心已经被那个叫叶小梦的女人偷走了,也随着她的离去,消亡了。三年后,两个人再度相遇时,她早已不认识他,她百般逃脱,他步步为营。她眨着一双无辜的眼睛魅惑的问:“先生,买了我这个无敌超人T,保证你夫妻生活和谐美满!“哦,是嘛,那你亲身示范下效果如何我在考虑买不买!”他霸道地把她禁锢在他的身边,摧毁着她所喜欢的东西,禁止她和任何除他之外的男人接触。为了救舅舅,她甘愿委身做黑白两道帝豪总裁楚怀秋的贴身“宠妻”,她失心,失去孩子,当她开口要他放了她时,却没想到他竟然真的答应了。
  • 游戏

    游戏

    什么时候开始?什么时候终结?在我身上发生了十分荒唐的事,起初看起来像是个意外,后来又像个玩笑,但最后我发现这事情其实非常严肃。第一次发生,是在地铁上。晚上10点40分,从天台路开往仁义广场的末班地铁驶出。车厢里空荡荡的,加上我一共七个人,镶嵌在天花板上的灯管奢侈地照亮了整个车厢,人们脚底下拖着长长的影子。大家仿佛都不乐意群聚,分散在车厢里的各个部位。两个看样子是刚下班的中年男人隔开一米的距离坐在我对面,一个扭头望着窗外,一个在专心发短信。一对年轻情侣紧靠在车厢尽头,互相之间做些小动作。