登陆注册
15512900000252

第252章 84(2)

The two friends then placed themselves as they had agreed, Porthos being completely hidden in an angle of the window.

"Good-evening, comrade," said D'Artagnan in his most fascinating voice and manner.

"Good-evening, sir," answered the soldier, in a strong provincial accent.

"'Tis not too warm to walk," resumed D'Artagnan.

"No, sir."

"And I think a glass of wine will not be disagreeable to you?"

"A glass of wine will be extremely welcome."

"The fish bites -- the fish bites!" whispered the Gascon to Porthos.

"I understand," said Porthos.

"A bottle, perhaps?"

"A whole bottle? Yes, sir."

"A whole bottle, if you will drink my health."

"Willingly," answered the soldier.

"Come, then, and take it, friend," said the Gascon.

"With all my heart. How convenient that there's a bench here. Egad! one would think it had been placed here on purpose."

"Get on it; that's it, friend."

And D'Artagnan coughed.

That instant the arm of Porthos fell. His hand of iron grasped, quick as lightning, firm as a pair of blacksmith's pincers, the soldier's throat. He raised him, almost stifling him as he drew him through the aperture, at the risk of flaying him in the passage. He then laid him down on the floor, where D'Artagnan, after giving him just time enough to draw his breath, gagged him with his long scarf; and the moment he had done so began to undress him with the promptitude and dexterity of a man who had learned his business on the field of battle. Then the soldier, gagged and bound, was placed upon the hearth, the fire of which had been previously extinguished by the two friends.

"Here's a sword and a dress," said Porthos.

"I take them," said D'Artagnan, "for myself. If you want another uniform and sword you must play the same trick over again. Stop! I see the other soldier issue from the guardroom and come toward us."

"I think," replied Porthos, "it would be imprudent to attempt the same manoeuvre again; it is said that no man can succeed twice in the same way, and a failure would be ruinous. No; I will go down, seize the man unawares and bring him to you ready gagged."

"That is better," said the Gascon.

"Be ready," said Porthos, as he slipped through the opening.

He did as he said. Porthos seized his opportunity, caught the next soldier by his neck, gagged him and pushed him like a mummy through the bars into the room, and entered after him. Then they undressed him as they had done the first, laid him on their bed and bound him with the straps which composed the bed -- the bedstead being of oak. This operation proved as great a success as the first.

"There," said D'Artagnan, "this is capital! Now let me try on the dress of yonder chap. Porthos, I doubt if you can wear it; but should it be too tight, never mind, you can wear the breastplate and the hat with the red feathers."

It happened, however, that the second soldier was a Swiss of gigantic proportions, so, save that some few of the seams split, his uniform fitted Porthos perfectly.

They then dressed themselves.

"'Tis done!" they both exclaimed at once. "As to you, comrades," they said to the men, "nothing will happen to you if you are discreet; but if you stir you are dead men."

The soldiers were complaisant; they had found the grasp of Porthos pretty powerful and that it was no joke to fight against it.

"Now," said D'Artagnan, "you wouldn't be sorry to understand the plot, would you, Porthos?"

"Well, no, not very."

"Well, then, we shall go down into the court."

"Yes."

"We shall take the place of those two fellows."

"Well?"

"We will walk back and forth."

"That's a good idea, for it isn't warm."

"In a moment the valet-de-chambre will call the guard, as he did yesterday and the day before."

"And we shall answer?"

"No, on the contrary, we shall not answer."

"As you please; I don't insist on answering."

"We will not answer, then; we will simply settle our hats on our heads and we will escort his eminence."

"Where shall we escort him?"

"Where he is going -- to visit Athos. Do you think Athos will be sorry to see us?"

"Oh!" cried Porthos, "oh! I understand."

"Wait a little, Porthos, before crying out; for, on my word, you haven't reached the end," said the Gascon, in a jesting tone.

"What is to happen?" said Porthos.

"Follow me," replied D'Artagnan. "The man who lives to see shall see."

And slipping through the aperture, he alighted in the court.

Porthos followed him by the same road, but with more difficulty and less diligence. They could hear the two soldiers shivering with fear, as they lay bound in the chamber.

同类推荐
  • MARIA

    MARIA

    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。
  • 解惑篇

    解惑篇

    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。
  • 鬼问目连经

    鬼问目连经

    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。
  • 济公诗词

    济公诗词

    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。
  • 删补文苑楂橘

    删补文苑楂橘

    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。
热门推荐
  • 繁花初剔透

    繁花初剔透

    极限挑战,看了久了。小曼非常喜欢,所以写了一些它的解析
  • 一代妖后:素月笙歌

    一代妖后:素月笙歌

    万物有灵,六界有序,笙歌散尽,天地归元。在人界粉饰太平的暗处自有黑暗势力在发芽,神话传说往往都是真的,你不信?!且看素月笙歌如何成就一代妖后!守护是最长情的告白,几世相依,生死相许,浮生若歌,便是笙歌。
  • 游戏都市

    游戏都市

    Game,每一个人对这个单词都有着自己的见解,在这个世界上没有绝对的对与错,有的只是胜利者对失败者的嘲笑与鄙视,但就在这样一个世界里,却有着真心享受名为“游戏”的东西给自己带的的乐趣的人,这是一个故事,一个打自心底里享受游戏的人的故事。
  • 御宅剑誓

    御宅剑誓

    “成为我的心脏吧。”那一天,一个男人挥舞着长枪从天而降,改变了另一个废柴宅男的生活。废柴归废柴,他中二却认清现实。他觉得这是自己做的一场梦,不料想看到了另一个世界。为了生存,互相残杀的世界。为了活下去,为了找机会醒来,他选择战斗。“不是你死就是我亡啊。”
  • 九尾噬骨

    九尾噬骨

    她,是这罪恶一族的末裔。他,是被族人寄予厚望的天生王者。她踏过尸山血海,走过无间地狱,灭情绝爱。他红衣翩跹,一抬手便是锦绣山河。本该至死不相遇的两人却阴差阳错在修罗战场相杀。在踏上黄泉路之前,她听到似是叹息的一句:“可惜。”
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 一世倾梦只浮沉如梦

    一世倾梦只浮沉如梦

    《一世倾梦之浮沉如梦》是梅子的第二本玄幻书籍,梅子相信会比第一本写的更好。
  • 黑阎都临

    黑阎都临

    一次学校的郊游,一场林中的邂逅,一次情感的考验……这一切的一切,仅仅只是外来者的华丽开篇。好奇、勇敢,使一名异国的勇士穿越时空来到本不属于她的世界,重新开始自己精彩的人生。神秘的身份,多重的性格,引人的魅力,摄人心魄的金瞳……这一层层面纱究竟由谁揭开?职业、学业、社交、科技……一切陌生的新事物她将如何面对?新世纪的暗色之花就此绽放!
  • 洪荒之孔宣崛起

    洪荒之孔宣崛起

    一个都市人在洪荒拼搏的故事,一步一步走向未来,一切尽在这里。想看一个直接就有了无敌的主角,本书没有,请到别处。想看一个有着无穷的作弊器的,请到另一个地方。在这可以看到一个真实的洪荒人,有血有肉。在这可以看到神话的传接,洪荒的精髓永垂不朽。在这可以看到主角一步一个脚印将自己的烙印镌刻在洪荒的洪流中。在这可以看到一个全新与传统相接合的洪荒。
  • 源谅我

    源谅我

    我知道你最讨厌欺骗,但我真的没办法。我也不是不爱你,如果爱了你,对彼此都不好