登陆注册
15512900000068

第68章 22(1)

Saint Denis.

The day had begun to break when Athos arose and dressed himself. It was plain, by a paleness still greater than usual, and by those traces which loss of sleep leaves on the face, that he must have passed almost the whole of the night without sleeping. Contrary to the custom of a man so firm and decided, there was this morning in his personal appearance something tardy and irresolute.

He was occupied with the preparations for Raoul's departure and was seeking to gain time. In the first place he himself furbished a sword, which he drew from its perfumed leather sheath; he examined it to see if its hilt was well guarded and if the blade was firmly attached to the hilt. Then he placed at the bottom of the valise belonging to the young man a small bag of louis, called Olivain, the lackey who had followed him from Blois, and made him pack the valise under his own eyes, watchful to see that everything should be put in which might be useful to a young man entering on his first campaign.

At length, after occupying about an hour in these preparations, he opened the door of the room in which the vicomte slept, and entered.

The sun, already high, penetrated into the room through the window, the curtains of which Raoul had neglected to close on the previous evening. He was still sleeping, his head gracefully reposing on his arm.

Athos approached and hung over the youth in an attitude full of tender melancholy; he looked long on this young man, whose smiling mouth and half closed eyes bespoke soft dreams and lightest slumber, as if his guardian angel watched over him with solicitude and affection. By degrees Athos gave himself up to the charms of his reverie in the proximity of youth, so pure, so fresh. His own youth seemed to reappear, bringing with it all those savoury remembrances, which are like perfumes more than thoughts. Between the past and the present was an ineffable abyss. But imagination has the wings of an angel of light and travels safely through or over the seas where we have been almost shipwrecked, the darkness in which our illusions are lost, the precipice whence our happiness has been hurled and swallowed up. He remembered that all the first part of his life had been embittered by a woman and he thought with alarm of the influence love might assume over so fine, and at the same time so vigorous an organization as that of Raoul.

In recalling all he had been through, he foresaw all that Raoul might suffer; and the expression of the deep and tender compassion which throbbed in his heart was pictured in the moist eye with which he gazed on the young man.

At this moment Raoul awoke, without a cloud on his face without weariness or lassitude; his eyes were fixed on those of Athos and perhaps he comprehended all that passed in the heart of the man who was awaiting his awakening as a lover awaits the awakening of his mistress, for his glance, in return, had all the tenderness of love.

"You are there, sir?" he said, respectfully.

"Yes, Raoul," replied the count.

"And you did not awaken me?"

"I wished to leave you still to enjoy some moments of sleep, my child; you must be fatigued from yesterday."

"Oh, sir, how good you are!"

Athos smiled.

"How do you feel this morning?" he inquired.

"Perfectly well; quite rested, sir."

"You are still growing," Athos continued, with that charming and paternal interest felt by a grown man for a youth.

"Oh, sir, I beg your pardon!" exclaimed Raoul, ashamed of so much attention; "in an instant I shall be dressed."

Athos then called Olivain.

"Everything," said Olivain to Athos, "has been done according to your directions; the horses are waiting."

"And I was asleep," cried Raoul, "whilst you, sir, you had the kindness to attend to all these details. Truly, sir, you overwhelm me with benefits!"

"Therefore you love me a little, I hope," replied Athos, in a tone of emotion.

"Oh, sir! God knows how much I love, revere you."

"See that you forget nothing," said Athos, appearing to look about him, that he might hide his emotion.

"No, indeed, sir," answered Raoul.

The servant then approached Athos and said, hesitatingly:

"Monsieur le vicomte has no sword."

"'Tis well," said Athos, "I will take care of that."

They went downstairs, Raoul looking every now and then at the count to see if the moment of farewell was at hand, but Athos was silent. When they reached the steps Raoul saw three horses.

"Oh, sir! then you are going with me?"

"I will accompany you a portion of the way," said Athos.

Joy shone in Raoul's eyes and he leaped lightly to his saddle.

Athos mounted more slowly, after speaking in a low voice to the lackey, who, instead of following them immediately, returned to their rooms. Raoul, delighted at the count's companionship, perceived, or affected to perceive nothing of this byplay.

They set out, passing over the Pont Neuf; they pursued their way along the quay then called L'Abreuvoir Pepin, and went along by the walls of the Grand Chatelet. They proceeded to the Rue Saint Denis.

After passing through the Porte Saint Denis, Athos looked at Raoul's way of riding and observed:

"Take care, Raoul! I have already often told you of this; you must not forget it, for it is a great defect in a rider.

See! your horse is tired already, he froths at the mouth, whilst mine looks as if he had only just left the stable.

You hold the bit too tight and so make his mouth hard, so that you will not be able to make him manoeuvre quickly. The safety of a cavalier often depends on the prompt obedience of his horse. In a week, remember, you will no longer be performing your manoeuvres for practice, but on a field of battle."

Then suddenly, in order not to give too uncomfortable an importance to this observation:

"See, Raoul!" he resumed; "what a fine plain for partridge shooting."

The young man stored in his mind the admonition whilst he admired the delicate tenderness with which it was bestowed.

同类推荐
  • 比目鱼

    比目鱼

    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。
  • 炮炙大法

    炮炙大法

    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。
  • 轻重丁

    轻重丁

    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。
  • 佛说大乘大方广佛冠经

    佛说大乘大方广佛冠经

    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。
  • 云麓漫钞

    云麓漫钞

    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
  • 斗魂

    斗魂

    这是一个斗灵魂兽的世界,曾经的强者,穿越之后却因为觉醒的灵魂兽乃是斗魂大陆最最低等的猪,陷入到绝境,难道这一切都无法改变......主金的金刚王、主木的夜叉王、主水的修罗王、主火的毁灭明王、主土的罗刹王又将发生怎样的巨变......
  • 废材绝世七小姐

    废材绝世七小姐

    她是现代杀手女王血弑,因为一次背叛她不愿相信别人且看她如何登上巅峰,傲世天下成就一生一世一双人。(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿,谢谢)
  • 你就从了我吧

    你就从了我吧

    遇见的那一份悸动,她不知道是什么,可她只想靠近他。她,暗恋五年,知道那份悸动是什么之后,终于鼓起勇气告白时,天不时地不利人不和,追了半年后。某女爆发“谁说女追男隔成纱?出来!我要揍死他”。。。。。当她放弃后,“他是我表哥!”“所以你一开始接近我。。。”某女满脸黑线盯着面前得意的女孩。。。她被拉去打台球,“我不是自愿的”“嗯,你是跟着我来的”某男笑笑“。。。。”她沉默。
  • 富兰克林

    富兰克林

    由于1928年以后每张百元美钞上都印有本杰明·富兰克林的肖像,再加上美元身为世界主要流通货币的重要性,导致本杰明·富兰克林的形象广为世界各地不少人所熟悉。美国总统乔治·华盛顿这样评价他:“因为善行而受景仰,因为才华而获崇拜,因为爱国而受尊敬,因为仁慈而得到爱戴,这一切将唤起人们对你的亲切爱戴。你可以得到最大的欣慰,就是知道自己没有虚度一生。”
  • 南月吟

    南月吟

    她本是无忧无虑的小姐,却因家庭变故而迁往小镇,为了找到哥哥,前往南月门........
  • 一眼一世情

    一眼一世情

    当一个秘书不是一件容易的事,更何况遇到一个不好的老板老刁难她,不过所幸还好的是这个老板有时候会关心她,只是时间过得久了,她觉得老板在她心里的位置渐渐发生了变化,有时候跟他四目相对,她会觉得自己像一个花瓶……
  • 神术师

    神术师

    当巫师时代渐渐退出历史的舞台,一个全新的领域出现并替代。穆雷意外获得上个时代巫神遗留之物《安烈拉笔记》——新时代的序幕被此拉开!※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※2015年萌汗药全新力作《神术师》,希望大家喜欢,为本书投上推荐票点击和打赏,拜谢。
  • 都市的升斗小民

    都市的升斗小民

    人生若只如初见,刹那便是永远!手绢??定情信物?不!那只是以前懵懂的少年!现在成长了,虽然并不是很帅,但是我成熟啊!不会做饭!没关系你会就OK啊。什么,你问我会什么!告诉你,我只会抓抓鬼,和牛头马面,黑白无常聊聊天。偶尔钓钓鱼,吟吟诗。所以啊我还是个文艺青年呢。像我们这样的升斗小民,才不会关心什么国家大事呢~在说了我还只是一个大学生。好不好!!马蛋,R国的阴阳人你们捞过界了这TM是我照得!我告诉你们啊,苍井空是世界的,钓鱼岛是中国的。NO逼逼,单挑啊!这就是我,一个道士,一个闲人!
  • 正牌王妃

    正牌王妃

    嶙云峰上雪霏霏。那一夜她执一把七弦琴,欲将满腹心事付瑶琴。却发现一切不过黄粱一梦。一片痴心换来一场欺骗。岚岚风雪中,当他找到她时,她却已遍体鳞伤……
  • tfboys缘

    tfboys缘

    tfboystfboystfboys重要的事情说三遍