from the memoirs of a minister of france- 第11部分

The　young　man　proved　to　be　her　brother；　whom　she　commended　to　my　good　offices；　the　impoverishment　of　the　family　being　so　great　that　she　could　compass　no　more　regular　method　of　introducing　him　to　the　world；　though　the　house　of　St。　Mesmin　is　truly　respectable　and；　like　my　own；　allied　to　several　of　the　first　consequence。　Madame　de　Bray　recalled　our　old　TENDRESSE　to　my　mind；　and　conjured　me　so　movingly　by　itand　by　the　regard　which　her　family　had　always　entertained　for　methat　I　could　not　dismiss　the　application　with　the　hundred　others　of　like　tenor　that　at　that　time　came　to　me　with　each　year。　　That　I　might　do　nothing　in　the　dark；　however；　I　invited　the　young　fellow　to　walk　with　me　in　the　garden；　and　divined；　even　before　he　spoke；　from　the　absence　of　timidity　in　his　manner；　that　he　was　something　out　of　the　common。　〃So　you　have　come　to　Paris　to　make　your　fortune？〃　　I　said。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　answered。

〃And　what　are　the　tools　with　which　you　propose　to　do　it？〃　　I　continued；　between　jest　and　earnest。

〃That　letter；　sir；〃　he　answered　simply；　〃and；　failing　that；　two　horses；　two　suits　of　clothes；　and　two　hundred　crowns。〃

〃You　think　that　those　will　suffice？〃　　I　said；　laughing。

〃With　this；　sir；〃　he　answered；　touching　his　sword；　〃and　a　good　courage。〃

I　could　not　but　stand　amazed　at　his　coolness；　for　he　spoke　to　me　as　simply　as　to　a　brother；　and　looked　about　him　with　as　much　or　as　little　curiosity　as　Guise　or　Montpensier。　　It　was　evident　that　he　thought　a　St。　Mesmin　equal　to　any　man　under　the　King；　and　that　of　all　the　St。　Mesmins　he　did　not　value　himself　least。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　after　considering　him；　〃I　do　not　think　that　I　can　help　you　much　immediately。　　I　should　be　glad　to　know；　however；　what　plans　you　have　formed　for　yourself。〃

〃Frankly；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃I　thought　of　this　as　I　travelled；　and　I　decided　that　fortune　can　be　won　by　three　thingsby　gold；　by　steel；　and　by　love。　　The　first　I　have　not；　and　for　the　last　I　have　a　better　use。　　Only　the　second　is　left。　　I　shall　be　Crillon。〃

I　looked　at　him　in　astonishment；　for　the　assurance　of　his　manner　exceeded　that　of　his　words。　　But　I　did　not　betray　the　feeling。　〃Crillon　was　one　in　a　million；〃　I　said　drily。

〃So　am　I；〃　he　answered。

I　confess　that　the　audacity　of　this　reply　silenced　me。　　I　reflected　that　the　young　man　whobrought　up　in　the　depths　of　the　country；　and　without　experience；　training　or　fashioncould　so　speak　in　the　face　of　Paris　was　so　far　out　of　the　common　that　I　hesitated　to　dash　his　hopes　in　the　contemptuous　way　which　seemed　most　natural。　　I　was　content　to　remind　him　that　Crillon　had　lived　in　times　of　continual　war；　whereas　now　we　were　at　peace；　and；　bidding　him　come　to　me　in　a　week；　I　hinted　that　in　Paris　his　crowns　would　find　more　frequent　opportunities　of　leaving　his　pockets　than　his　sword　its　sheath。

He　parted　from　me　with　this；　seeming　perfectly　satisfied　with　his　reception；　and　marched　away　with　the　port　of　a　man　who　expected　adventures　at　every　corner；　and　was　prepared　to　make　the　most　of　them。　　Apparently　he　did　not　take　my　hint　greatly　to　heart；　however；　for　when　I　next　met　him；　within　the　week；　he　was　fashionably　dressed；　his　hair　in　the　mode；　and　his　company　as　noble　as　himself。　　I　made　him　a　sign　to　stop；　and　he　came　to　speak　to　me。

〃How　many　crowns　are　＇eft？〃　　I　said　jocularly。

〃Fifty；〃　he　answered；　with　perfect　readiness。

〃What！〃　　I　said；　pointing　to　his　equipment　with　something　of　the　indignation　I　felt；　〃has　this　cost　the　balance？

〃No；〃　he　answered。　　〃On　the　contrary；　I　have　paid　three　months'　rent　in　advance　and　a　month's　board　at　Zaton's；　I　have　added　two　suits　to　my　wardrobe；　and　I　have　lost　fifty　crowns　on　the　dice。〃

〃You　promise　well！〃　　I　said。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　quite　in　the　fashionable　manner。　〃Always　courage！〃　　he　said；　and　he　went　on；　smiling。

I　was　walking　at　the　time　with　M。　de　Saintonge；　and　be　muttered；　with　a　sneer；　that　it　was　not　difficult　to　see　the　end；　or　that　within　the　year　the　young　braggart　would　sink　to　be　a　gaming…　house　bully。　　I　said　nothing；　but　I　confess　that　I　thought　otherwise；　the　lad's　disposition　of　his　money　and　his　provision　for　the　future　seeming　to　me　so　remarkable　as　to　set　him　above　ordinary　rules。

From　this　time　I　began　to　watch　his　career　with　interest；　and　I　was　not　surprised　when；　in　less　than　a　month；　something　fell　out　that　led　the　whole　court　to　regard　him　with　a　mixture　of　amusement　and　expectancy。

One　evening；　after　leaving　the　King's　closet；　I　happened　to　pass　through　the　east　gallery　at　the　Louvre；　which　served　at　that　time　as　the　outer　antechamber；　and　was　the　common　resort　as　well　of　all　those　idlers　who；　with　some　pretensions　to　fashion；　lacked　the　ENTREE；　as　of　many　who　with　greater　claims　preferred　to　be　at　their　ease。　　My　passage　for　a　moment　stilled　the　babel　which　prevailed。　　But　I　had　no　sooner　reached　the　farther　door　than　the　noise　broke　out　again；　and　this　with　so　sudden　a　fury；　the　tumult　being　augmented　by　the　crashing　fall　of　a　table；　as　caused　me　at　the　last　moment　to　stand　and　turn。　　A　dozen　voices　crying　simultaneously；　〃Have　a　care！〃　　and　〃Not　here！　　not　here！〃　　and　all　looking　the　same　way；　I　was　able　to　detect　the　three　principals　in　the　FRACAS。　　They　were　no　other　than　M。　de　St。　Mesmin；　Barradasa　low　fellow；　still　remembered；　who　was　already　what　Saintonge　had　prophesied　that　the　former　would　becomeand　young　St。　Germain；　the　eldest　son　of　M。　de　Clan。

I　rather　guessed　than　heard　the　cause　of　the　quarrel；　and　that　St。　Mesmin；　putting　into　words　what　many　had　known　for　years　and　some　made　their　advantage　of；　had　accused　Barradas　of　cheating。　The　latter's　fury　was；　of　course；　proportioned　to　his　guilt；　an　instant　challenge　while　I　looked　was　his　natural　answer。　　This；　as　he　was　a　consummate　swordsman；　and　had　long　earned　his　living　as　much　by　fear　as　by　fraud；　should　have　been　enough　to　stay　the　greediest　stomach；　but　St。　Mesmin　was　not　content。　　Treating　the　knave；　the　word　once　passed；　as　so　much　dirt；　he　transferred　his　attack　to　St。　Germain；　and　called　on　him　to　return　the　money　he　had　won　by　betting　on　Barradas。

St。　Germain；　a　young　spark　as　proud　and　headstrong　as　St。　Mesmin　himself；　and　possessed　of　friends　equal　to　his　expectations；　flung　back　a　haughty　refusal。　　He　had　the　advantage　in　station　and　popularity；　and　by　far　the　larger　number　of　those　present　sided　with　him。　　I　lingered　a　moment　in　curiosity；　looking　to　see　the　accuser　with　all　his　boldness　give　way　before　the　almost　unanimous　expression　of　disapproval。　　But　my　former　judgment　of　him　had　been　correctly　formed；　so　far　from　being　browbeaten　or　depressed　by　his　position；　he　repeated　the　demand　with　a　stubborn　persistence　that　marvellously　reminded　me　of　Crillon；　and　continued　to　reiterate　it　until　all；　except　St。　Germain　himself；　were　silent。　　〃You　must　return　my　money！〃　　he　kept　on　saying　monotonously。　　〃You　must　return　my　money。　　This　man　cheated；　and　you　won　my　money。　　You　must　pay　or　fight。〃

〃With　a　dead　man？〃　　St。　Germain　replied；　gibing　at　him。

〃No；　with　me。〃

〃Barradas　will　spit　you！〃　　The　other　scoffed。　　〃Go　and　order　your　coffin；　and　do　not　trouble　me。〃

〃I　shall　trouble　you。　　If　you　did　not　know　that　he　cheated；　pay；　and　if　you　did　know；　fight。〃

〃I　know？〃　　St。　Germain　retorted　fiercely。　　〃You　madman！　　Do　you　mean　to　say　that　I　knew　that　he　cheated？〃

〃I　mean　what　I　say！〃　　St。　Mesmin　returned　stolidly。　　〃You　have　won　my　money。　　You　must　return　it。　　If　you　will　not　return　it；　you　must　fight。〃

I　should　have　heard　more；　but　at　that　moment　the　main　door　opened；　and　two　or　three　gentlemen　who　had　been　with　the　King　came　out。　　Not　wishing　to　be　seen　watching　the　brawl；　I　moved　away　and　descended　the　stairs；　and　Varenne　overtaking　me　a　moment　later；　and　entering　on　the　Biron　affairof　which　I　had　just　been　discussing　the　latest　developments　with　the　KingI　forgot　St。　Mesmin　for　the　time；　and　only　recalled　him　next　morning　when　Saintonge；　being　announced；　came　into　my　room　in　a　state　of　great　excitement；　and　almost　with　his　first　sentence　brought　out　his　name。

〃Barradas　has　not　killed　him　then？〃　　I　said；　reproaching　myself　in　a　degree　for　my　forgetfulness。

〃No！　　He；　Barradas！〃　　Saintonge　answered。

〃No？〃　　I　exclaimed。

〃Yes！〃　　he　said。　　〃I　tell　you；　M。　le　Marquis；　he　is　a　devil　of　a　fellowa　devil　of　a　fellow！　　He　fought；　I　am　told；　just　like　Crillon；　rushed　in　on　that　rascal　and　fairly　beat　down　his　guard；　and　had　him　pinned　to　the　ground　before　he　knew　that　they　had　crossed　swords！〃

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃there　is　one　scoundrel　the　less。　　That　is　all。〃

〃Ah；　but　that　is　not　all！〃　　my　visitor　replied　more　seriously。　〃It　should　be；　but　it　is　not；　and　it　is　for　that　reason　I　am　come　to　you。　　You　know　St。　Germain？〃

〃I　know　that　his　father　and　you　arewell；　that　you　take　opposite　sides；〃　I　said　smiling。

〃That　is　pretty　well　known；〃　he　answered　coldly。　　〃Anyway；　this　lad　is　to　fight　St。　Germain　to…morrow；　and　now　I　hear　that　M。　de　Clan；　St。　Germain's　father；　is　for　shutting　him　up。　　Getting　a　LETTRE　DE　CACHET　or　anything　else　you　please；　and　away　with　him。〃

〃What！　　St。　Germain？〃　　I　said。

〃No！〃　　M。　de　Saintonge　answered；　prolonging　the　sound　to　the　utmost。　　〃St。　Mesmin！〃

〃Oh；〃　I　said；　〃I　see。〃

〃Yes；〃　the　Marquis　retorted　pettishly；　〃but　I　don't。　　I　don't　see。　　And　I　beg　to　remind　you；　M。　de　Rosny；　that　this　lad　is　my　wife's　second　cousin　through　her　step…father；　and　that　I　shall　resent　any　interference　with　him。　　I　have　spent　enough　and　done　enough　in　the　King's　service　to　have　my　wishes　respected　in　a　small　matter　such　as　this；　and　I　shall　regard　any　severity　exercised　towards　my　kinsman　as　a　direct　offence　to　myself。　Whereas　M。　de　Clan；　who　will　doubtless　be　here　in　a　few　minutes；　is〃

〃But　stop；〃　I　said；　interrupting　him；　〃I　heard　you　speaking　of　this　young　fellow　the　other　day。　　You　did　not　tell　me　then　that　he　was　your　kinsman。〃

〃Nevertheless　he　is；　my　wife's　second　cousin；〃　he　answered　with　heat。

〃And　you　wish　him　to〃

〃Be　let　alone！〃　　he　replied　interrupting　me　in　his　turn　more　harshly　than　I　approved。　　〃I　wish　him　to　be　let　alone。　　If　he　will　fight　St。　Germain；　and　kill　or　be　killed；　is　that　the　King's　affair　that　he　need　interfere？　　I　ask　for　no　interference；〃　M。　de　Saintonge　continued　bitterly；　〃only　for　fair　play　and　no　favour。