Vingt ans après. English

by Alexandre Dumas

  57. Oliver Cromwell.

  Have you been to the general?" said Mordaunt to D'Artagnan and Porthos;"you know he sent for you after the action."

  "We want first to put our prisoners in a place of safety," repliedD'Artagnan. "Do you know, sir, these gentlemen are each of them worthfifteen hundred pounds?"

  "Oh, be assured," said Mordaunt, looking at them with an expression hevainly endeavoured to soften, "my soldiers will guard them, and guardthem well, I promise you."

  "I shall take better care of them myself," answered D'Artagnan;"besides, all they require is a good room, with sentinels, or theirsimple parole that they will not attempt escape. I will go and see aboutthat, and then we shall have the honor of presenting ourselves to thegeneral and receiving his commands for his eminence."

  "You think of starting at once, then?" inquired Mordaunt.

  "Our mission is ended, and there is nothing more to detain us now butthe good pleasure of the great man to whom we were sent."

  The young man bit his lips and whispered to his sergeant:

  "You will follow these men and not lose sight of them; when you havediscovered where they lodge, come and await me at the town gate."

  The sergeant made a sign of comprehension.

  Instead of following the knot of prisoners that were being taken intothe town, Mordaunt turned his steps toward the rising ground from whenceCromwell had witnessed the battle and on which he had just had his tentpitched.

  Cromwell had given orders that no one was to be allowed admission; butthe sentinel, who knew that Mordaunt was one of the most confidentialfriends of the general, thought the order did not extend to the youngman. Mordaunt, therefore, raised the canvas, and saw Cromwell seatedbefore a table, his head buried in his hands, his back being turned.

  Whether he heard Mordaunt or not as he entered, Cromwell did not move.Mordaunt remained standing near the door. At last, after a few moments,Cromwell raised his head, and, as if he divined that some one was there,turned slowly around.

  "I said I wished to be alone," he exclaimed, on seeing the young man.

  "They thought this order did not concern me, sir; nevertheless, if youwish it, I am ready to go."

  "Ah! is it you, Mordaunt?" said Cromwell, the cloud passing away fromhis face; "since you are here, it is well; you may remain."

  "I come to congratulate you."

  "To congratulate me--what for?"

  "On the capture of Charles Stuart. You are now master of England."

  "I was much more really so two hours ago."

  "How so, general?"

  "Because England had need of me to take the tyrant, and now the tyrantis taken. Have you seen him?"

  "Yes, sir." said Mordaunt.

  "What is his bearing?"

  Mordaunt hesitated; but it seemed as though he was constrained to tellthe truth.

  "Calm and dignified," said he.

  "What did he say?"

  "Some parting words to his friends."

  "His friends!" murmured Cromwell. "Has he any friends?" Then he addedaloud, "Did he make any resistance?"

  "No, sir, with the exception of two or three friends every one desertedhim; he had no means of resistance."

  "To whom did he give up his sword?"

  "He did not give it up; he broke it."

  "He did well; but instead of breaking it, he might have used it to stillmore advantage."

  There was a momentary pause.

  "I heard that the colonel of the regiment that escorted Charles waskilled," said Cromwell, staring very fixedly at Mordaunt.

  "Yes, sir."

  "By whom?" inquired Cromwell.

  "By me."

  "What was his name?"

  "Lord Winter."

  "Your uncle?" exclaimed Cromwell.

  "My uncle," answered Mordaunt; "but traitors to England are no longermembers of my family."

  Cromwell observed the young man a moment in silence, then, with thatprofound melancholy Shakespeare describes so well:

  "Mordaunt," he said, "you are a terrible servant."

  "When the Lord commands," said Mordaunt, "His commands are not to bedisputed. Abraham raised the knife against Isaac, and Isaac was hisson."

  "Yes," said Cromwell, "but the Lord did not suffer that sacrifice to beaccomplished."

  "I have looked around me," said Mordaunt, "and I have seen neither goatnor kid caught among the bushes of the plain."

  Cromwell bowed. "You are strong among the strong, Mordaunt," he said;"and the Frenchmen, how did they behave?"

  "Most fearlessly."

  "Yes, yes," murmured Cromwell; "the French fight well; and if my glasswas good and I mistake not, they were foremost in the fight."

  "They were," replied Mordaunt.

  "After you, however," said Cromwell.

  "It was the fault of their horses, not theirs."

  Another pause.

  "And the Scotch?"

  "They kept their word and never stirred," said Mordaunt.

  "Wretched men!"

  "Their officers wish to see you, sir."

  "I have no time to see them. Are they paid?"

  "Yes, to-night."

  "Let them be off and return to their own country, there to hide theirshame, if its hills are high enough; I have nothing more to do with themnor they with me. And now go, Mordaunt."

  "Before I go," said Mordaunt, "I have some questions and a favor to askyou, sir."

  "A favor from me?"

  Mordaunt bowed.

  "I come to you, my leader, my head, my father, and I ask you, master,are you contented with me?"

  Cromwell looked at him with astonishment. The young man remainedimmovable.

  "Yes," said Cromwell; "you have done, since I knew you, not only yourduty, but more than your duty; you have been a faithful friend, acautious negotiator, a brave soldier."

  "Do you remember, sir it was my idea, the Scotch treaty, for giving upthe king?"

  "Yes, the idea was yours. I had no such contempt for men before."

  "Was I not a good ambassador in France?"

  "Yes, for Mazarin has granted what I desire."

  "Have I not always fought for your glory and interests?"

  "Too ardently, perhaps; it is what I have just reproached you for. Butwhat is the meaning of all these questions?"

  "To tell you, my lord, that the moment has now arrived when, with asingle word, you may recompense all these services."

  "Oh!" said Oliver, with a slight curl of his lip, "I forgot that everyservice merits some reward and that up to this moment you have not beenpaid."

  "Sir, I can take my pay at this moment, to the full extent of mywishes."

  "How is that?"

  "I have the payment under my hand; I almost possess it."

  "What is it? Have they offered you money? Do you wish a step, or someplace in the government?"

  "Sir, will you grant me my request?"

  "Let us hear what it is, first."

  "Sir, when you have told me to obey an order did I ever answer, 'Let mesee that order'?"

  "If, however, your wish should be one impossible to fulfill?"

  "When you have cherished a wish and have charged me with itsfulfillment, have I ever replied, 'It is impossible'?"

  "But a request preferred with so much preparation----"

  "Ah, do not fear, sir," said Mordaunt, with apparent simplicity: "itwill not ruin you."

  "Well, then," said Cromwell, "I promise, as far as lies in my power, togrant your request; proceed."

  "Sir, two prisoners were taken this morning, will you let me have them?"

  "For their ransom? have they then offered a large one?" inquiredCromwell.

  "On the contrary, I think they are poor, sir."

  "They are friends of yours, then?"

  "Yes, sir," exclaimed Mordaunt, "they are friends, dear friends of mine,and I would lay down my life for them."

  "Very well, Mordaunt," exclaimed Cromwell, pleased at having his opinionof the young man raise
d once more; "I will give them to you; I will noteven ask who they are; do as you like with them."

  "Thank you, sir!" exclaimed Mordaunt, "thank you; my life is always atyour service, and should I lose it I should still owe you something;thank you; you have indeed repaid me munificently for my services."

  He threw himself at the feet of Cromwell, and in spite of the efforts ofthe Puritan general, who did not like this almost kingly homage, he tookhis hand and kissed it.

  "What!" said Cromwell, arresting him for a moment as he arose; "is therenothing more you wish? neither gold nor rank?"

  "You have given me all you can give me, and from to-day your debt ispaid."

  And Mordaunt darted out of the general's tent, his heart beating and hiseyes sparkling with joy.

  Cromwell gazed a moment after him.

  "He has slain his uncle!" he murmured. "Alas! what are my servants?Possibly this one, who asks nothing or seems to ask nothing, has askedmore in the eyes of Heaven than those who tax the country and steal thebread of the poor. Nobody serves me for nothing. Charles, who is myprisoner, may still have friends, but I have none!"

  And with a deep sigh he again sank into the reverie that had beeninterrupted by Mordaunt.