Part 42 (1/2)
”What do you think of my situation?”
”I do not know”
”However, unless you have soainst me--”
”Your position is a difficult one”
”In what respect?”
”Because you are under your own roof”
”However difficult it may be, I understand it very well”
”Do you suppose that, with any one else but yourself, I should have shown so much frankness?”
”What! so much frankness, do you say? you, who refuse to tell ?”
”At all events, then, soto say in that respect”
”One neur: let me tell you how I should have behaved towards any one but yourself It uests or your friends had left you--or, if they had not gone yet, I should wait until they were leaving, and should then catch them one after the other, like rabbits; I should lock the the carpet of your corridor, and with one hand upon you, before you suspected the slightest thing amiss, I should keep you safely untilIn this way, I should just the same have avoided all publicity, all disturbance, all opposition; but there would also have been no warning for M Fouquet, no consideration for his feelings, none of those delicate concessions which are shown by persons who are essentially courteous in their natures, whenever the decisive moment may arrive Are you satisfied with the plan?”
”It ht you would not like it It would have been very disagreeable to have made my appearance to-morroithout any preparation, and to have asked you to deliver up your sword”
”Oh! er”
”Your gratitude is too eloquently expressed I have not done enough to deserve it, I assure you”
”Most certainly, et neur, if you are satisfied hat I have done, and have somewhat recovered from the shock which I prepared you for as much as I possibly could, let us allow the few hours that remain to pass away undisturbed You are harassed, and should arrange your thoughts; I beg you, therefore, go to sleep, or pretend to go to sleep, either on your bed, or in your bed; I will sleep in this armchair; and when I fall asleep, my rest is so sound that a cannon would not wake me”
Fouquet smiled ”I expect, however,” continued theopened, whether a secret door, or any other; or the case of any one going out of, or co like that my ear is as quick and sensitive as the ear of anoises make me start It arises, I suppose, fro of the kind Move about as much as you like; walk up and down in any part of the roo like that will prevent , but do not touch either the key or the handle of the door, for I should start up in a moment, and that would shake nan,” said Fouquet, ”you are certainly the most witty and the most courteous ret, that of having nan drew a deep sigh, which seemed to say, ”Alas! you have perhaps made it too soon” He then settled hi on his bed and leaning on his ar on histhe candles burning, awaited the first dawn of the day; and when Fouquet happened to sigh too loudly, D'Artagnan only snored the louder Not a single visit, not even from Aramis, disturbed their quietude: not a sound even was heard throughout the whole vast palace Outside, however, the guards of honor on duty, and the patrol of musketeers, paced up and down; and the sound of their feet could be heard on the gravel walks
It seemed to act as an additional soporific for the sleepers, while themusic of the fountains whose waters tumbled in the basin, still went on uninterruptedly, without being disturbed at the slight noises and items of little moment that constitute the life and death of hu
In vivid contrast to the sad and terrible destiny of the king i, in sheer despair, the bolts and bars of his dungeon, the rhetoric of the chroniclers of old would not fail to present, as a co asleep beneath the royal canopy We do not pretend to say that such rhetoric is always bad, and always scatters, in places where they have no right to grow, the flohich it embellishes and enlivens history But we shall, on the present occasion, carefully avoid polishi+ng the antithesis in question, but shall proceed to draw another picture as minutely as possible, to serve as foil and counterfoil to the one in the preceding chapter The young prince alighted fro had descended froradually and slowly sank down under Aramis's pressure, and Philippe stood beside the royal bed, which had ascended again after having deposited its prisoner in the secret depths of the subterranean passage Alone, in the presence of all the luxury which surrounded him; alone, in the presence of his power; alone, with the part he was about to be forced to act, Philippe for the first time felt his heart, and mind, and soul expand beneath the influence of a thousand 's heart He could not help changing color when he looked upon the empty bed, still tumbled by his brother's body Thiscompleted the work it had been destined to perforuilty author of that crie which an accouilt; for it spoke the truth
Philippe bent over the bed, and perceived a pocket-handkerchief lying on it, which was still damp from the cold shich had poured from Louis XIV's face This sweat-bestained handkerchief terrified Philippe, as the gore of Abel frightened Cain
”I am face to face with my destiny,” said Philippe, his eyes on fire, and his face a livid white ”Is it likely to be looh I an power and authority I have usurped, shall I cease to listen to the scruples ofhas lain on this bed; it is indeed his head that has left its impression on this pillow; his bitter tears that have stained this handkerchief: and yet, I hesitate to throw myself on the bed, or to press in my hand the handkerchief which is embroidered with my brother's arms Aith such weakness; let me imitate M d'Herblay, who asserts that a hts; let hts are of and for hi as he injures or betrays his enemies only I, I alone, should have occupied this bed, if Louis XIV had not, owing to my mother's criminal abandonment, stood in my way; and this handkerchief, eht and justice belong to me alone, if, as M d'Herblay observes, I had been left my royal cradle Philippe, son of France, take your place on that bed; Philippe, sole king of France, resume the blazonry that is yours!
Philippe, sole heir presumptive to Louis XIII, your father, show yourself without pity or mercy for the usurper who, at this ony of the remorse of all that you have had to sub an instinctive repugnance of feeling, and in spite of the shudder of terror which mastered his will, threw himself on the royal bed, and forced his muscles to press the still war face in the handkerchief still moistened by his brother's tears With his head thrown back and buried in the soft down of his pillow, Philippe perceived above hiels with outspread golden wings