登陆注册
5287000000246

第246章 82(1)

Precaution's.

After quitting Anne, Mazarin took the road to Rueil, where he usually resided; in those times of disturbance he went about with numerous followers and often disguised himself.

In military dress he was, indeed, as we have stated, a very handsome man.

In the court of the old Chateau of Saint Germain he entered his coach, and reached the Seine at Chatou. The prince had supplied him with fifty light horse, not so much by way of guard as to show the deputies how readily the queen's generals dispersed their troops and to prove that they might be safely scattered at pleasure. Athos, on horseback, without his sword and kept in sight by Comminges, followed the cardinal in silence. Grimaud, finding that his master had been arrested, fell back into the ranks near Aramis, without saying a word and as if nothing had happened.

Grimaud had, indeed, during twenty-two years of service, seen his master extricate himself from so many difficulties that nothing less than Athos's imminent death was likely to make him uneasy.

At the branching off of the road toward Paris, Aramis, who had followed in the cardinal's suite, turned back. Mazarin went to the right hand and Aramis could see the prisoner disappear at the turning of the avenue. Athos, at the same moment, moved by a similar impulse, looked back also. The two friends exchanged a simple inclination of the head and Aramis put his finger to his hat, as if to bow, Athos alone comprehending by that signal that he had some project in his head.

Ten minutes afterward Mazarin entered the court of that chateau which his predecessor had built for him at Rueil; as he alighted, Comminges approached him.

"My lord," he asked, "where does your eminence wish Monsieur Comte de la Fere to be lodged?"

"In the pavilion of the orangery, of course, in front of the pavilion where the guard is. I wish every respect to be shown the count, although he is the prisoner of her majesty the queen."

"My lord," answered Comminges, "he begs to be taken to the place where Monsieur d'Artagnan is confined -- that is, in the hunting lodge, opposite the orangery.

Mazarin thought for an instant.

Comminges saw that he was undecided.

"'Tis a very strong post," he resumed, "and we have forty good men, tried soldiers, having no connection with Frondeurs nor any interest in the Fronde."

"If we put these three men together, Monsieur Comminges," said Mazarin, "we must double the guard, and we are not rich enough in fighting men to commit such acts of prodigality."

Comminges smiled; Mazarin read and construed that smile.

"You do not know these men, Monsieur Comminges, but I know them, first personally, also by hearsay. I sent them to carry aid to King Charles and they performed prodigies to save him; had it not been for an adverse destiny, that beloved monarch would this day have been among us."

"But since they served your eminence so well, why are they, my lord cardinal, in prison?"

"In prison?" said Mazarin, "and when has Rueil been a prison?"

"Ever since there were prisoners in it," answered Comminges.

"These gentlemen, Comminges, are not prisoners," returned Mazarin, with his ironical smile, "only guests; but guests so precious that I have put a grating before each of their windows and bolts to their doors, that they may not refuse to continue my visitors. So much do I esteem them that I am going to make the Comte de la Fere a visit, that I may converse with him tete-a-tete, and that we may not be disturbed at our interview you must conduct him, as I said before, to the pavilion of the orangery; that, you know, is my daily promenade. Well, while taking my walk I will call on him and we will talk. Although he professes to be my enemy I have sympathy for him, and if he is reasonable perhaps we shall arrange matters."

Comminges bowed, and returned to Athos, who was awaiting with apparent calmness, but with real anxiety, the result of the interview.

"Well?" he said to the lieutenant.

"Sir," replied Comminges, "it seems that it is impossible."

"Monsieur de Comminges," said Athos, "I have been a soldier all my life and I know the force of orders; but outside your orders there is a service you can render me."

"I will do it with all my heart," said Comminges; "for I know who you are and what service you once performed for her majesty; I know, too, how dear to you is the young man who came so valiantly to my aid when that old rogue of a Broussel was arrested. I am entirely at your service, except only for my orders."

"Thank you, sir; what I am about to ask will not compromise you in any degree."

"If it should even compromise me a little," said Monsieur de Comminges, with a smile, "still make your demand. I don't like Mazarin any better than you do. I serve the queen and that draws me naturally into the service of the cardinal; but I serve the one with joy and the other against my will.

Speak, then, I beg of you; I wait and listen."

同类推荐
  • 媚幽阁文娱

    媚幽阁文娱

    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。
  • 洪武聖政記

    洪武聖政記

    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。
  • 医学课儿策

    医学课儿策

    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。
  • 演司空表圣诗品二十四首

    演司空表圣诗品二十四首

    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。
  • 润卿鲁望寒夜见访

    润卿鲁望寒夜见访

    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
  • 梅花道人遗墨

    梅花道人遗墨

    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。
  • 王永庆全传

    王永庆全传

    从米店老板到台湾经营之神(1916-2008)读透王永庆这个人,学做人做事做生意。将相本无种,男儿当自强。他从一家米店起家,创办了世界化工50强的台塑企业集团,他的投资遍布世界各地,涉及各行各业,半个多世纪以来,他的名字已经成为世人眼中成功者的代名词,被誉为“经营之神”。任何人只要从王永庆成功因素之中学到王永庆做事的理念、方法与毅力,也必定会有一番成就。
  • 想你的时候微微甜

    想你的时候微微甜

    安雁朵十一岁时,父母去世,大伯得到抚养权,但是他本意是霸占她的遗产。 在十八岁时,安雁朵考上大学,却被大伯撕了录取通知书,强迫结婚,于是,安雁朵离开了自己的家乡。六年后,安雁朵羽翼渐丰,决定回到家乡,找回原本属于自己的一切,包括爱情……也许她真的变了,但是每当想起过往的种种,还是会微微一笑,带着一丝甜蜜。
  • 废柴嫡女:特工邪妃要逆天

    废柴嫡女:特工邪妃要逆天

    她是天生废材四小姐,过着连下人都不如的生活,一朝生死人手,现代超级特工穿越而来,势必要讨回属于自己的一切,欺我者必百倍还之!废物?你见过九阶巅峰的废物?你见过身后万千九级魔兽跟随的废物?绝代风华现世,势必要掀起一阵惊涛骇浪……情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 记忆编织

    记忆编织

    一场无人能够破解的密室杀人案,涉案相关的人员记忆全被篡改。天才织忆师凌哲的介入,不料牵扯出了一系列更加黑暗的事件,一个让所有人都意想不到的结局,渐渐浮出水面……
  • 灵气(中篇小说)

    灵气(中篇小说)

    起初,美丽的仓北草原,阳光普照,鸟语花香,呈现出一派生机勃勃的景象。顷刻间,太阳落山,黑云覆盖了整个仓北草原的天空,紧接着,雷鸣电闪,狂风大作。突然,一条巨大的虫草,随着一声巨响,从草原的地平线,一节一节地破土而出。它疯狂地成长,不断地变大,矗立在仓北草原的中央。它愤怒的双眼,像电光般闪闪;它发怒的咆哮,像雷声般隆隆。在半空中,它的躯体一蠕动,大地震撼,山峦摇晃;它再一蠕动,整个仓北草原,天崩地裂,昏天暗地。此时,牛羊、帐篷、山河,被愤怒的巨大虫草一张口就吞噬得无影无踪。最后,草长莺飞,溪水流淌的仓北草原,就变得哀鸿遍野。
  • 比尔·盖茨如何做生意

    比尔·盖茨如何做生意

    “无农不稳,无工不活,无商不富。”自从盘古开天地,历史纵横百万年。人类从蓄毛饮血到文明开化,从钻木取火到现在高速发展的知识经济时代,商业的发展在起着决定性的作用。那么,什么是商业呢?说白了就是人和人之间做生意。由于做生意可以使一个不名一文的乞丐变成腰缠万贯的贵人,所以,对于那些执著于烟柳繁华地,温柔富贵乡的拜金者而言,成功的生意经就连他们在弥留之际也不忘记上下而求索。
  • 崇祯故事

    崇祯故事

    华裔士兵开着炮车穿越明末,去追寻一段历史,追求一个女人。QQ书友群:912093696(风清月莹)
  • 总裁毒爱小蜜

    总裁毒爱小蜜

    我要你知道,在这个世界上总有一个人是等着你的,不管在什么时候,不管在什么地方,反正你知道,总有这么个人。夏小北流年不利,应聘秘书不成,还在停车场被人莫名其妙的和谐了…四年后,身为寰宇首席秘书的她,一手牵着伶俐可爱的小男孩,一手为总裁大人张罗与温家千金的婚礼。寰宇公司,人人都传这男孩是夏小北和总裁的私生子,不然那双乌溜溜的大眼睛,怎么看怎么和总裁是一个模子刻出来的呢?一个关于爱与错过的故事:“小时候,看着满天的星星,当流星飞过的时候,却总是来不及许愿;长大了,遇见了自己喜欢的人,却还是来不及。”雷允泽:他以为那天只是一场梦。一低头,就瞥见车垫上的女式衬衫纽扣。那是他在激情之下扯落的,她一定是没法走出去,才拿走了他的外套。车厢里还弥留着淡淡的香味,是她的味道。在他醒来之前,她就消失了。就像是灰姑娘12点的魔法,在午夜的钟声敲响之前,仓皇的离去。四年来,这个24小时秘书默默无闻的身边忙碌着,他以为她是可有可无、又或是心怀不轨的,直到她巧笑嫣然,携着他弟弟的手盛装出现在他面前,他才明白自己心里竟然是嫉妒的。叶绍谦:风流多情是叶三。偏偏遇上她这个毒舌小冤家。“小北,”他第一次这样亲昵的叫她的名字,他有那么多的女朋友,每个都有一个昵称,可他从来没这么亲密的叫过她。他知道自己他妈的没救了,就是丢人他也要问出来,要死他也得死得瞑目不是?“小北,”他按捺不住,一遍一遍叫着她的名字,“让我照顾你好不好……啊?”*******************************************************新坑《豪门长媳》:【雷允晴VS陆子鸣】青梅竹马终是敌不过露水姻缘,一张医院的DNA证明,将她彻底打入了炼狱。============================推荐区:渺的完结文《贱妾》【5折】都市文新坑《毒宠妹妹》【禁忌虐恋】:非常好看的都市文:《前妻请乖乖就范》黑帮杀手和女警花的故事
  • 刺客信条:秘密圣战

    刺客信条:秘密圣战

    能改变人类历史进程的伊甸碎片究竟是何物?十字军东征为何处于失败的边缘?狮心王理查德如何逃脱刺客大师的暗杀?蒙古帝国究竟遭到了刺客组织怎样的狙击?在十字军东征、蒙古帝国的铁蹄席卷欧亚大陆的年代,跟随刺客组织伟大的大师阿泰尔的脚步,与狮心王理查德等历史上赫赫有名的人物共同见证历史真实的一面。冒险类游戏《刺客信条》指定授权官方小说中文版第二册,千万玩家和历史爱好者必备!马可·波罗的父亲,尼科洛·波罗终于道出其保守一生的秘密——阿泰尔的过去,兄弟会最为传奇的一位刺客的人生历程。阿泰尔接下了一项无比艰巨的任务——这不仅需要他走遍圣地每一个角落,还让他领悟到刺客信条的真正含义。想要重拾山河,阿泰尔必须击败九名圣殿骑士,其中甚至包括圣殿骑士领袖罗伯特·德·赛布尔。我们将在这里首次探视阿泰尔的传奇人生:一趟足以改变历史进程的旅行;一场刺客与圣殿骑士你来我往的较量;一段震撼而悲惨的家庭生活;一次来自旧识的无情背叛。