twenty years after(二十年后)-第120部分

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order　that　the　combatants　might　have　as　much　light　as
possible；　and　the　swords　crossed。
D'Artagnan　was　too　good　a　swordsman　to　trifle　with　his
opponent。　He　made　a　rapid　and　brilliant　feint　which　Mordaunt
parried。
〃Aha！〃　he　cried　with　a　smile　of　satisfaction。
And　without　losing　a　minute；　thinking　he　saw　an　opening；　he
thrust　his　right　in　and　forced　Mordaunt　to　parry　a　counter
en　quarte　so　fine　that　the　point　of　the　weapon　might　have
turned　within　a　wedding　ring。
This　time　it　was　Mordaunt　who　smiled。
〃Ah；　sir；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　〃you　have　a　wicked　smile。　It
must　have　been　the　devil　who　taught　it　you；　was　it　not？〃
Mordaunt　replied　by　trying　his　opponent's　weapon　with　an
amount　of　strength　which　the　Gascon　was　astonished　to　find
in　a　form　apparently　so　feeble；　but　thanks　to　a　parry　no
less　clever　than　that　which　Mordaunt　had　just　achieved；　he
succeeded　in　meeting　his　sword；　which　slid　along　his　own
without　touching　his　chest。
Mordaunt　rapidly　sprang　back　a　step。
〃Ah！　you　lose　ground；　you　are　turning？　Well；　as　you　please；
I　even　gain　something　by　it；　for　I　no　longer　see　that　wicked
smile　of　yours。　You　have　no　idea　what　a　false　look　you　have；
particularly　when　you　are　afraid。　Look　at　my　eyes　and　you
will　see　what　no　looking…glass　has　ever　shown　you　　a　frank
and　honorable　countenance。〃
To　this　flow　of　words；　not　perhaps　in　the　best　taste；　but
characteristic　of　D'Artagnan；　whose　principal　object　was　to
divert　his　opponent's　attention；　Mordaunt　did　not　reply；　but
continuing　to　turn　around　he　succeeded　in　changing　places
with　D'Artagnan。
He　smiled　more　and　more　sarcastically　and　his　smile　began　to
make　the　Gascon　anxious。
〃Come；　come；〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃we　must　finish　with　this；〃
and　in　his　turn　he　pressed　Mordaunt　hard；　who　continued　to
lose　ground；　but　evidently　on　purpose　and　without　letting
his　sword　leave　the　line　for　a　moment。　However；　as　they　were
fighting　in　a　room　and　had　not　space　to　go　on　like　that
forever；　Mordaunt's　foot　at　last　touched　the　wall；　against
which　he　rested　his　left　hand。
〃Ah；　this　time　you　cannot　lose　ground；　my　fine　friend！〃
exclaimed　D'Artagnan。　〃Gentlemen；　did　you　ever　see　a
scorpion　pinned　to　a　wall？　No。　Well；　then；　you　shall　see　it
now。〃
In　a　second　D'Artagnan　had　made　three　terrible　thrusts　at
Mordaunt；　all　of　which　touched；　but　only　pricked　him。　The
three　friends　looked　on；　panting　and　astonished。　At　last
D'Artagnan；　having　got　up　too　close；　stepped　back　to　prepare
a　fourth　thrust；　but　the　moment　when；　after　a　fine；　quick
feint；　he　was　attacking　as　sharply　as　lightning；　the　wall
seemed　to　give　way；　Mordaunt　disappeared　through　the
opening；　and　D'Artagnan's　blade；　caught　between　the　panels；
shivered　like　a　sword　of　glass。　D'Artagnan　sprang　back；　the
wall　had　closed　again。
Mordaunt；　in　fact；　while　defending　himself；　had　manoeuvred
so　as　to　reach　the　secret　door　by　which　Cromwell　had　left；
had　felt　for　the　knob　with　his　left　hand；　pressed　it　and
disappeared。
The　Gascon　uttered　a　furious　imprecation；　which　was　answered
by　a　wild　laugh　on　the　other　side　of　the　iron　panel。
〃Help　me；　gentlemen；〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　〃we　must　break　in
this　door。〃
〃It　is　the　devil　in　person！〃　said　Aramis；　hastening　forward。
〃He　escapes　us；〃　growled　Porthos；　pushing　his　huge　shoulder
against　the　hinges；　but　in　vain。　〃'Sblood！　he　escapes　us。〃
〃So　much　the　better；〃　muttered　Athos。
〃I　thought　as　much；〃　said　D'Artagnan；　wasting　his　strength
in　useless　efforts。　〃Zounds；　I　thought　as　much　when　the
wretch　kept　moving　around　the　room。　I　thought　he　was　up　to
something。〃
〃It's　a　misfortune；　to　which　his　friend；　the　devil；　treats
us；〃　said　Aramis。
〃It's　a　piece　of　good　fortune　sent　from　Heaven；〃　said　Athos；
evidently　much　relieved。
〃Really！〃　said　D'Artagnan；　abandoning　the　attempt　to　burst
open　the　panel　after　several　ineffectual　attempts；　〃Athos；　I
cannot　imagine　how　you　can　talk　to　us　in　that　way。　You
cannot　understand　the　position　we　are　in。　In　this　kind　of
game；　not　to　kill　is　to　let　one's　self　be　killed。　This　fox
of　a　fellow　will　be　sending　us　a　hundred　iron…sided　beasts
who　will　pick　us　off　like　sparrows　in　this　place。　Come；
come；　we　must　be　off。　If　we　stay　here　five　minutes　more
there's　an　end　of　us。〃
〃Yes；　you　are　right。〃
〃But　where　shall　we　go？〃　asked　Porthos。
〃To　the　hotel；　to　be　sure；　to　get　our　baggage　and　horses；
and　from　there；　if　it　please　God；　to　France；　where；　at
least；　I　understand　the　architecture　of　the　houses。〃
So；　suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　D'Artagnan　thrust　the
remnant　of　his　sword　into　its　scabbard；　picked　up　his　hat
and　ran　down　the　stairs；　followed　by　the　others。


70
The　Skiff　〃Lightning。〃

D'Artagnan　had　judged　correctly；　Mordaunt　felt　that　he　had
no　time　to　lose；　and　he　lost　none。　He　knew　the　rapidity　of
decision　and　action　that　characterized　his　enemies　and
resolved　to　act　with　reference　to　that。　This　time　the
musketeers　had　an　adversary　who　was　worthy　of　them。
After　closing　the　door　carefully　behind　him　Mordaunt　glided
into　the　subterranean　passage；　sheathing　on　the　way　his　now
useless　sword；　and　thus　reached　the　neighboring　house；　where
he　paused　to　examine　himself　and　to　take　breath。
〃Good！〃　he　said；　〃nothing；　almost　nothing　　scratches；
nothing　more；　two　in　the　arm　and　one　in　the　breast。　The
wounds　that　I　make　are　better　than　that　　witness　the
executioner　of　Bethune；　my　uncle　and　King　Charles。　Now；　not
a　second　to　lose；　for　a　second　lost　will　perhaps　save　them。
They　must　die　　die　all　together　　killed　at　one　stroke　by
the　thunder　of　men　in　default　of　God's。　They　must　disappear；
broken；　scattered；　annihilated。　I　will　run；　then；　till　my
legs　no　longer　serve；　till　my　heart　bursts　in　my　bosom　but　I
will　arrive　before　they　do。〃
Mordaunt　proceeded　at　a　rapid　pace　to　the　nearest　cavalry
barracks；　about　a　quarter　of　a　league　distant。　He　made　that
quarter　of　a　league　in　four　or　five　minutes。　Arrived　at　the
barracks　he　made　himself　known；　took　the　best　horse　in　the
stables；　mounted　and　gained　the　high　road。　A　quarter　of　an
hour　later　he　was　at　Greenwich。
〃There　is　the　port；〃　he　murmured。　〃That　dark　point　yonder　is
the　Isle　of　Dogs。　Good！　I　am　half　an　hour　in　advance　of
them；　an　hour；　perhaps。　Fool　that　I　was！　I　have　almost
killed　myself　by　my　needless　haste。　Now；〃　he　added；　rising
in　the　stirrups　and　looking　about　him；　〃which；　I　wonder；　is
the　Lightning？〃
At　this　moment；　as　if　in　reply　to　his　words；　a　man　lying　on
a　coil　of　cables　rose　and　advanced　a　few　steps　toward　him。
Mordaunt　drew　a　handkerchief　from　his　pocket；　and　tying　a
knot　at　each　corner　　the　signal　agreed　upon　　waved　it　in
the　air　and　the　man　came　up　to　him。　He　was　wrapped　in　a
large　rough　cape；　which　concealed　his　form　and　partly　his
face。
〃Do　you　wish　to　go　on　the　water；　sir？〃　said　the　sailor。
〃Yes；　just　so。　Along　the　Isle　of　Dogs。〃
〃And　perhaps　you　have　a　preference　for　one　boat　more　than
another。　You　would　like　one　that　sails　as　rapidly　as　　〃
〃Lightning；〃　interrupted　Mordaunt。
〃Then　mine　is　the　boat　you　want；　sir。　I'm　your　man。〃
〃I　begin　to　think　so；　particularly　if　you　have　not　forgotten
a　certain　signal。〃
〃Here　it　is；　sir；〃　and　the　sailor　took　from　his　coat　a
handkerchief；　tied　at　each　corner。
〃Good；　quite　right！〃　cried　Mordaunt；　springing　off　his
horse。　〃There's　not　a　moment　to　lose；　now　take　my　horse　to
the　nearest　inn　and　conduct　me　to　your　vessel。〃
〃But；〃　asked　the　sailor；　〃where　are　your　companions？　I
thought　there　were　four　of　you。〃
〃Listen　to　me；　sir。　I'm　not　the　man　you　take　me　for；　you　are
in　Captain　Rogers's　post；　are　you　not？　under　orders　from
General　Cromwell。　Mine；　also；　are　from　him！〃
〃Indeed；　sir；　I　recognize　you；　you　are　Captain　Mordaunt。〃
Mordaunt　was　startled。
〃Oh；　fear　nothing；〃　said　the　skipper；　showing　his　face。　〃I
am　a　friend。〃
〃Captain　Groslow！〃　cried　Mordaunt。
〃Himself。　The　general　remembered　that　I　had　formerly　been　a
naval　officer　and　he　gave　me　the　command　of　this　expedition。
Is　there　anything　new　in　the　wind？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃I　thought；　perhaps；　that　the　king's　death　　〃
〃Has　only　hastened　their　flight；　in　ten　minutes　they　will
perhaps　be　here。〃
〃What　have　you　come　for；　then？〃
〃To　embark　with　you。〃
〃Ah！　ah！　the　general　doubted　my　fidelity？〃
〃No；　but　I　wish　to　have　a　share　in　my　revenge。　Haven't　you
some　one　who　will　relieve　me　of　my　horse？〃
Groslow　whistled　and　a　sailor　appeared。
〃Patrick；〃　said　Groslow；　〃take　this　horse　to　the　stables　of
the　nearest　inn。　If　any　one　asks　you　whose　it　is　you　can　say
that　it　belongs　to　an　Irish　gentleman。〃
The　sailor　departed　without　reply。
〃Now；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃are　you　not　afraid　that　they　will
recognize　you？〃
〃There　is　no　danger；　dressed　as　I　am　in　this　pilot　coat；　on
a　night　as　dark　as　this。　Besides　even　you　didn't　recognize
me；　they　will　be　much　less　likely　to。〃
〃That　is　true；〃　said　Mordaunt；　〃and　they　will　be　far　from
thinking　of　you。　Everything　is　ready；　is　it　not？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃The　cargo　on　board？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Five　full　casks？〃
〃And　fifty　empty　ones。〃
〃Good。〃
〃We　are　carrying　port　wine　to　Anvers。〃
〃Excellent。　Now　take　me　aboard　and　return　to　your　post；　for
they　will　soon　be　here。〃
〃I　am　ready。〃
〃It　is　important　that　none　of　your　crew　should　see　me。〃
〃I　have　but　one　man　on　board；　and　I　am　as　sure　of　him　as　I
am　of　mysel