twenty years after(二十年后)-第122部分

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D'Artagnan；　finding　a　lantern　on　the　deck；　took　it　up　and
with　a　pistol　in　his　hand　he　said　to　the　captain；　in
English；　〃Come；〃　（being；　with　the　classic　English　oath；　the
only　English　words　he　knew）；　and　so　saying　he　descended　to
the　lower　deck。
This　was　divided　into　three　compartments　　one　which　was
covered　by　the　floor　of　that　room　in　which　Athos；　Porthos
and　Aramis　were　to　pass　the　night；　the　second　was　to　serve
as　the　sleeping…room　for　the　servants；　the　third；　under　the
prow　of　the　ship；　was　under　the　temporary　cabin　in　which
Mordaunt　was　concealed。
〃Oho！〃　cried　D'Artagnan；　as　he　went　down　the　steps　of　the
hatchway；　preceded　by　the　lantern；　〃what　a　number　of
barrels！　one　would　think　one　was　in　the　cave　of　Ali　Baba。
What　is　there　in　them？〃　he　added；　putting　his　lantern　on　one
of　the　casks。
The　captain　seemed　inclined　to　go　upon　deck　again；　but
controlling　himself　he　answered：
〃Port　wine。〃
〃Ah！　port　wine！　'tis　a　comfort；〃　said　the　Gascon；　〃since　we
shall　not　die　of　thirst。　Are　they　all　full？〃
Grimaud　translated　the　question；　and　Groslow；　who　was　wiping
the　perspiration　from　off　his　forehead；　answered：
〃Some　full；　others　empty。〃
D'Artagnan　struck　the　barrels　with　his　hand；　and　having
ascertained　that　he　spoke　the　truth；　pushed　his　lantern；
greatly　to　the　captain's　alarm；　into　the　interstices　between
the　barrels；　and　finding　that　there　was　nothing　concealed　in
them：
〃Come　along；〃　he　said；　and　he　went　toward　the　door　of　the
second　compartment。
〃Stop！〃　said　the　Englishman；　〃I　have　the　key　of　that　door；〃
and　he　opened　the　door；　with　a　trembling　hand；　into　the
second　compartment；　where　Musqueton　and　Blaisois　were
preparing　supper。
Here　there　was　evidently　nothing　to　seek　or　to　apprehend　and
they　passed　rapidly　to　examine　the　third　compartment。
This　was　the　room　appropriated　to　the　sailors。　Two　or　three
hammocks　hung　upon　the　ceiling；　a　table　and　two　benches
composed　the　entire　furniture。　D'Artagnan　picked　up　two　or
three　old　sails　hung　on　the　walls；　and　meeting　nothing　to
suspect；　regained　by　the　hatchway　the　deck　of　the　vessel。
〃And　this　room？〃　he　asked；　pointing　to　the　captain's　cabin。
〃That's　my　room；〃　replied　Groslow。
〃Open　the　door。〃
The　captain　obeyed。　D'Artagnan　stretched　out　his　arm　in
which　he　held　the　lantern；　put　his　head　in　at　the　half
opened　door；　and　seeing　that　the　cabin　was　nothing　better
than　a　shed：
〃Good；〃　he　said。　〃If　there　is　an　army　on　board　it　is　not
here　that　it　is　hidden。　Let　us　see　what　Porthos　has　found
for　supper。〃　And　thanking　the　captain；　he　regained　the　state
cabin；　where　his　friends　were。
Porthos　had　found　nothing；　and　with　him　fatigue　had
prevailed　over　hunger。　He　had　fallen　asleep　and　was　in　a
profound　slumber　when　D'Artagnan　returned。　Athos　and　Aramis
were　beginning　to　close　their　eyes；　which　they　half　opened
when　their　companion　came　in　again。
〃Well！〃　said　Aramis。
〃All　is　well；　we　may　sleep　tranquilly。〃
On　this　assurance　the　two　friends　fell　asleep；　and
D'Artagnan；　who　was　very　weary；　bade　good…night　to　Grimaud
and　laid　himself　down　in　his　cloak；　with　naked　sword　at　his
side；　in　such　a　manner　that　his　body　barricaded　the　passage；
and　it　should　be　impossible　to　enter　the　room　without
upsetting　him。

71
Port　Wine。

In　ten　minutes　the　masters　slept；　not　so　the　servants
…hungry；　and　more　thirsty　than　hungry。
Blaisois　and　Musqueton　set　themselves　to　preparing　their　bed
which　consisted　of　a　plank　and　a　valise。　On　a　hanging　table；
which　swung　to　and　fro　with　the　rolling　of　the　vessel；　were
a　pot　of　beer　and　three　glasses。
〃This　cursed　rolling！〃　said　Blaisois。　〃I　know　it　will　serve
me　as　it　did　when　we　came　over。〃
〃And　to　think；〃　said　Musqueton；　〃that　we　have　nothing　to
fight　seasickness　with　but　barley　bread　and　hop　beer。　Pah！〃
〃But　where　is　your　wicker　flask；　Monsieur　Musqueton？　Have
you　lost　it？〃　asked　Blaisois。
〃No；〃　replied　Musqueton；　〃Parry　kept　it。　Those　devilish
Scotchmen　are　always　thirsty。　And　you；　Grimaud；〃　he　said　to
his　companion；　who　had　just　come　in　after　his　round　with
D'Artagnan；　〃are　you　thirsty？〃
〃As　thirsty　as　a　Scotchman！〃　was　Grimaud's　laconic　reply。
And　he　sat　down　and　began　to　cast　up　the　accounts　of　his
party；　whose　money　he　managed。
〃Oh；　lackadaisy！　I'm　beginning　to　feel　queer！〃　cried
Blaisois。
〃If　that's　the　case；〃　said　Musqueton；　with　a　learned　air；
〃take　some　nourishment。〃
〃Do　you　call　that　nourishment？〃　said　Blaisois；　pointing　to
the　barley　bread　and　pot　of　beer　upon　the　table。
〃Blaisois；〃　replied　Musqueton；　〃remember　that　bread　is　the
true　nourishment　of　a　Frenchman；　who　is　not　always　able　to
get　bread；　ask　Grimaud。〃
〃Yes；　but　beer？〃　asked　Blaisois　sharply；　〃is　that　their　true
drink？〃
〃As　to　that；〃　answered　Musqueton；　puzzled　how　to　get　out　of
the　difficulty；　〃I　must　confess　that　to　me　beer　is　as
disagreeable　as　wine　is　to　the　English。〃
〃What！　Monsieur　Musqueton！　The　English　　do　they　dislike
wine？〃
〃They　hate　it。〃
〃But　I　have　seen　them　drink　it。〃
〃As　a　punishment。　For　example；　an　English　prince　died　one
day　because　they　had　put　him　into　a　butt　of　Malmsey。　I　heard
the　Chevalier　d'Herblay　say　so。〃
〃The　fool！〃　cried　Blaisois；　〃I　wish　I　had　been　in　his
place。〃
〃Thou　canst　be；〃　said　Grimaud；　writing　down　his　figures。
〃How？〃　asked　Blaisois；　〃I　can？　Explain　yourself。〃
Grimaud　went　on　with　his　sum　and　cast　up　the　whole。
〃Port；〃　he　said；　extending　his　hand　in　the　direction　of　the
first　compartment　examined　by　D'Artagnan　and　himself。
〃Eh？　eh？　ah？　Those　barrels　I　saw　through　the　door？〃
〃Port！〃　replied　Grimaud；　beginning　a　fresh　sum。
〃I　have　heard；〃　said　Blaisois；　〃that　port　is　a　very　good
wine。〃
〃Excellent！〃　exclaimed　Musqueton；　smacking　his　lips。
〃Excellent；　there　is　port　wine　in　the　cellar　of　Monsieur　le
Baron　de　Bracieux。〃
〃Suppose　we　ask　these　Englishmen　to　sell　us　a　bottle；〃　said
the　honest　Blaisois。
〃Sell！〃　cried　Musqueton；　about　whom　there　was　a　remnant　of
his　ancient　marauding　character　left。　〃One　may　well
perceive；　young　man；　that　you　are　inexperienced。　Why　buy
what　one　can　take？〃
〃Take！〃　said　Blaisois；　〃covet　the　goods　of　your　neighbor？
That　is　forbidden；　it　seems　to　me。〃
〃Where　forbidden？〃　asked　Musqueton。
〃In　the　commandments　of　God；　or　of　the　church；　I　don't　know
which。　I　only　know　it　says；　‘Thou　shalt　not　covet　thy
neighbor's　goods；　nor　yet　his　wife。'〃
〃That　is　a　child's　reason；　Monsieur　Blaisois；〃　said
Musqueton　in　his　most　patronizing　manner。　〃Yes；　you　talk
like　a　child　　I　repeat　the　word。　Where　have　you　read　in
the　Scriptures；　I　ask　you；　that　the　English　are　your
neighbors？〃
〃Where；　that　is　true；〃　said　Blaisois；　〃at　least；　I　can't　now
recall　it。〃
〃A　child's　reason　　I　repeat　it；〃　continued　Musqueton。　〃If
you　had　been　ten　years　engaged　in　war；　as　Grimaud　and　I　have
been；　my　dear　Blaisois；　you　would　know　the　difference　there
is　between　the　goods　of　others　and　the　goods　of　enemies。　Now
an　Englishman　is　an　enemy；　this　port　wine　belongs　to　the
English；　therefore　it　belongs　to　us。〃
〃And　our　masters？〃　asked　Blaisois；　stupefied　by　this
harangue；　delivered　with　an　air　of　profound　sagacity；　〃will
they　be　of　your　opinion？〃
Musqueton　smiled　disdainfully。
〃I　suppose　that　you　think　it　necessary　that　I　should　disturb
the　repose　of　these　illustrious　lords　to　say；　‘Gentlemen；
your　servant；　Musqueton；　is　thirsty。'　What　does　Monsieur
Bracieux　care；　think　you；　whether　I　am　thirsty　or　not？〃
〃'Tis　a　very　expensive　wine；〃　said　Blaisois；　shaking　his
head。
〃Were　it　liquid　gold；　Monsieur　Blaisois；　our　masters　would
not　deny　themselves　this　wine。　Know　that　Monsieur　de
Bracieux　is　rich　enough　to　drink　a　tun　of　port　wine；　even　if
obliged　to　pay　a　pistole　for　every　drop。〃　His　manner　became
more　and　more　lofty　every　instant；　then　he　arose　and　after
finishing　off　the　beer　at　one　draught　he　advanced
majestically　to　the　door　of　the　compartment　where　the　wine
was。　〃Ah！　locked！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃these　devils　of　English；
how　suspicious　they　are！〃
〃Locked！〃　said　Blaisois；　〃ah！　the　deuce　it　is；　unlucky；　for
my　stomach　is　getting　more　and　more　upset。〃
〃Locked！〃　repeated　Musqueton。
〃But；〃　Blaisois　ventured　to　say；　〃I　have　heard　you　relate；
Monsieur　Musqueton；　that　once　on　a　time；　at　Chantilly；　you
fed　your　master　and　yourself　by　taking　partridges　in　a
snare；　carp　with　a　line；　and　bottles　with　a　slipnoose。〃
〃Perfectly　true；　but　there　was　an　airhole　in　the　cellar　and
the　wine　was　in　bottles。　I　cannot　throw　the　loop　through
this　partition　nor　move　with　a　pack…thread　a　cask　of　wine
which　may　perhaps　weigh　two　hundred　pounds。〃
〃No；　but　you　can　take　out　two　or　three　boards　of　the
partition；〃　answered　Blaisois；　〃and　make　a　hole　in　the　cask
with　a　gimlet。〃
Musqueton　opened　his　great　round　eyes　to　the　utmost；
astonished　to　find　in　Blaisois　qualities　for　which　he　did
not　give　him　credit。
〃'Tis　true；〃　he　said；　〃but　where　can　I　get　a　chisel　to　take
the　planks　out；　a　gimlet　to　pierce　the　cask？〃
〃Trousers；〃　said　Grimaud；　still　squaring　his　accounts。
〃Ah；　yes！〃　said　Musqueton。
Grimaud；　in　fact；　was　not　only　the　accountant；　but　the
armorer　of　the　party；　and　as　he　was　a　man　full　of
forethought；　these　trousers；　carefully　rolled　up　in　his
valise；　contained　every　sort　of　tool　for　immediate　use。
Musqueton；　therefore；　was　soon　provided　with　tools　and　he