登陆注册
5287000000125

第125章 42(1)

Another Queen in Want of Help.

Athos had not failed to send early to Aramis and had given his letter to Blaisois, the only serving-man whom he had left. Blaisois found Bazin donning his beadle's gown, his services being required that day at Notre Dame.

Athos had desired Blaisois to try to speak to Aramis himself. Blaisois, a tall, simple youth, who understood nothing but what he was expressly told, asked, therefore for the Abbe d'Herblay, and in spite of Bazin's assurances that his master was not at home, he persisted in such a manner as to put Bazin into a passion. Blaisois seeing Bazin in clerical guise, was a little discomposed at his denials and wanted to pass at all risks, believing too, that the man with whom he had to do was endowed with the virtues of his cloth, namely, patience and Christian charity.

But Bazin, still the servant of a musketeer, when once the blood mounted to his fat cheeks, seized a broomstick and began belaboring Blaisois, saying:

"You have insulted the church, my friend, you have insulted the church!"

At this moment Aramis, aroused by this unusual disturbance, cautiously opened the door of his room; and Blaisois, looking reproachfully at the Cerberus, drew the letter from his pocket and presented it to Aramis.

"From the Comte de la Fere," said Aramis. "All right." And he retired into his room without even asking the cause of so much noise.

Blaisois returned disconsolate to the Hotel of the Grand Roi Charlemagne and when Athos inquired if his commission was executed, he related his adventure.

"You foolish fellow!" said Athos, laughing. "And you did not tell him that you came from me?"

"No, sir."

At ten o'clock Athos, with his habitual exactitude, was waiting on the Pont du Louvre and was almost immediately joined by Lord de Winter.

They waited ten minutes and then his lordship began to fear Aramis was not coming to join them.

"Patience," said Athos, whose eyes were fixed in the direction of the Rue du Bac, "patience; I see an abbe cuffing a man, then bowing to a woman; it must be Aramis."

It was indeed Aramis. Having run against a young shopkeeper who was gaping at the crows and who had splashed him, Aramis with one blow of his fist had distanced him ten paces.

At this moment one of his penitents passed, and as she was young and pretty Aramis took off his cap to her with his most gracious smile.

A most affectionate greeting, as one can well believe took place between him and Lord de Winter.

"Where are we going?" inquired Aramis; "are we going to fight, perchance? I carry no sword this morning and cannot return home to procure one."

"No," said Lord de Winter, "we are going to pay a visit to Her Majesty the Queen of England."

"Oh, very well," replied Aramis; then bending his face down to Athos's ear, "what is the object of this visit?" continued he.

"Nay, I know not; some evidence required from us, perhaps."

"May it not be about that cursed affair?" asked Aramis, "in which case I do not greatly care to go, for it will be to pocket a lecture; and since it is my function to give them to others I am rather averse to receiving them myself."

"If it were so," answered Athos, "we should not be taken there by Lord de Winter, for he would come in for his share; he was one of us."

"You're right; yes, let us go."

On arriving at the Louvre Lord de Winter entered first; indeed, there was but one porter there to receive them at the gate.

It was impossible in daylight for the impoverished state of the habitation grudging charity had conceded to an unfortunate queen to pass unnoticed by Athos, Aramis, and even the Englishman. Large rooms, completely stripped of furniture, bare walls upon which, here and there, shone the old gold moldings which had resisted time and neglect, windows with broken panes (impossible to close), no carpets, neither guards nor servants: this is what first met the eyes of Athos, to which he, touching his companion's elbow, directed his attention by his glances.

"Mazarin is better lodged," said Aramis.

"Mazarin is almost king," answered Athos; "Madame Henrietta is almost no longer queen."

"If you would condescend to be clever, Athos," observed Aramis, "I really do think you would be wittier than poor Monsieur de Voiture."

Athos smiled.

The queen appeared to be impatiently expecting them, for at the first slight noise she heard in the hall leading to her room she came herself to the door to receive these courtiers in the corridors of Misfortune.

"Enter. You are welcome, gentlemen," she said.

The gentlemen entered and remained standing, but at a motion from the queen they seated themselves. Athos was calm and grave, but Aramis was furious; the sight of such royal misery exasperated him and his eyes examined every new trace of poverty that presented itself.

"You are examining the luxury I enjoy," said the queen, glancing sadly around her.

"Madame," replied Aramis, "I must ask your pardon, but I know not how to hide my indignation at seeing how a daughter of Henry IV. is treated at the court of France."

"Monsieur Aramis is not an officer?" asked the queen of Lord de Winter.

"That gentleman is the Abbe d'Herblay," replied he.

Aramis blushed. "Madame," he said, "I am an abbe, it is true, but I am so against my will. I never had a vocation for the bands; my cassock is fastened by one button only, and I am always ready to become a musketeer once more. This morning, being ignorant that I should have the honor of seeing your majesty, I encumbered myself with this dress, but you will find me none the less a man devoted to your majesty's service, in whatever way you may see fit to use me."

"The Abbe d'Herblay," resumed De Winter, "is one of those gallant musketeers formerly belonging to His Majesty King Louis XIII., of whom I have spoken to you, madame." Then turning to Athos, he continued, "And this gentleman is that noble Comte de la Fere, whose high reputation is so well known to your majesty."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 万事不求人(古代文化集粹)

    万事不求人(古代文化集粹)

    《万事不求人》涉及到生活的各方各面,如解梦、识人术、住宅观测术、美容奇术等,内容翔实,指导性、实用性强,是居家过日子随手可查的顾问和好帮手。一书在手,万事不求人。
  • 酒中咏仙歌

    酒中咏仙歌

    从少年一路历经磨难成为仙人的故事!从红尘俗世一路向上修仙超圣。
  • 卡米来了

    卡米来了

    以主人公卡米成长为线索,通过卡米和季泽的人生相撞,相离,又相吸,最后,青梅竹马在一起的恋爱,成长故事。本书仅供娱乐,如有雷同,纯属爱情的伟大。
  • 珠江论丛(2018年第2辑/总第20辑)

    珠江论丛(2018年第2辑/总第20辑)

    《珠江论丛》是由吉林大学珠海学院主办的人文社科性学术理论刊物,主要内容有:研究人文及社会科学主要学科的理论问题、学术前沿问题;紧密结合中国改革开放实际,研究探讨政治、经济、社会发展中的理论问题、发展战略问题;对外交流问题;探讨国内外各项研究领域的新动态;开展对中国哲学、历史、文化、教育等方面的综合研究或比较研究。
  • 重生千金嫡女擒渣男

    重生千金嫡女擒渣男

    未出阁前她是相府尊贵无比的嫡长女,即使是嫁了人她也是一人之下万人之上的帝后。她为了他和家人反目,为了他充盈后宫,甚至为了他委身他人……卑微的低到尘埃里却只换来三尺白绫了此残生。她以为她无怨无悔,至少她轰轰烈烈的爱过,没想到换来的是无情的背叛。且看她如何重生步步复仇,这一次一定不要再后悔。
  • 末世之恶雾迷途

    末世之恶雾迷途

    要修仙?没有,要进化?没有,要霸图伟业?也没有。故事追求的就是真实,一场暗藏杀机的浓雾,将整个世界笼罩在死亡之中,一群侥幸活下来的普通人,没有超能力,没有进化,更没有黑科技。就是在真实的末日中挣扎着活下去,谁能看到明天的太阳?只有到了明天才知道。
  • 美丽的权利

    美丽的权利

    这是龙应台《野火集》之外的“三把火”。在这三次著名的风波事件中,龙应台就其所见社会即景有感而发,却一石激起千层浪,引起强烈的争议与回响。“龙卷风起”,各界人士纷纷加入论战;风过之后,深层的反思却没有息止。本书分为 “美丽的权利”、“星洲风波”和 “啊,上海男人!”三部分内容,并加上读者投函回应的各种文章和相关文字,集为一册。
  • 我的贵族忠犬男票

    我的贵族忠犬男票

    “喂!朱可可,干嘛躲得那么远?”“……”宫少超:“朱可可,你的发卡又掉了!”“……”平泽西:“哈!小妞儿,我们又见面了!”“……”拓跋磊,宫少超,平泽西:“喂,朱可可,你再跑一步试试!”朱可可:“拜托,我要赶班车!”三个酷帅狂霸拽的大帅哥异口同声:“班车?什么是班车?!别找借口!站住!”
  • 中国古代规模最大丛书:《四库全书》

    中国古代规模最大丛书:《四库全书》

    《中国文化知识读本·中国古代规模最大的丛书:<四库全书>》在深入挖掘和整理中华优秀传统文化成果的同时,结合社会发展,注入了时代精神。书中优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言,图文并茂的形式,把中国文化中的物态文化、制度文化、行为文化、精神文化等知识要点全面展示给读者。点点滴滴的文化知识仿佛颗颗繁星,组成了灿烂辉煌的中国文化的天穹。
  • 卿本红妆:凤城飞将

    卿本红妆:凤城飞将

    北方边境,狼烟四起,屠城之祸,迫在眉睫……金戈铁马、纵横天下,指挥百万大军笑傲沙场——如果,没有人知道她的身份,凤城飞帅是不是可以这样辉煌自在一辈子?可是,厚厚的盔甲遮挡不住绝世的风华和璀璨的容颜,她的归宿是青梅竹马的宰相之子还是半途结识的神秘教主?或者是窥测一旁的野心帝王?