TWENTY YEARS AFTER

by Alexandre Dumas [Pere]

1. The Shade of Cardinal Richelieu. 

In a splendid chamber of the Palais Royal, formerly styled the PalaisCardinal, a man was sitting in deep reverie, his head supported onhis hands, leaning over a gilt and inlaid table which was covered withletters and papers. Behind this figure glowed a vast fireplace alivewith leaping flames; great logs of oak blazed and crackled on thepolished brass andirons whose flicker shone upon the superb habilimentsof the lonely tenant of the room, which was illumined grandly by twincandelabra rich with wax-lights. 

Any one who happened at that moment to contemplate that red simar--thegorgeous robe of office--and the rich lace, or who gazed on thatpale brow, bent in anxious meditation, might, in the solitude of thatapartment, combined with the silence of the ante-chambers and themeasured paces of the guards upon the landing-place, have fancied thatthe shade of Cardinal Richelieu lingered still in his accustomed haunt. 

It was, alas! the ghost of former greatness. France enfeebled, theauthority of her sovereign contemned, her nobles returning to theirformer turbulence and insolence, her enemies within her frontiers--allproved the great Richelieu no longer in existence. 

In truth, that the red simar which occupied the wonted place was hisno longer, was still more strikingly obvious from the isolation whichseemed, as we have observed, more appropriate to a phantom than a livingcreature--from the corridors deserted by courtiers, and courts crowdedwith guards--from that spirit of bitter ridicule, which, arising fromthe streets below, penetrated through the very casements of the room, which resounded with the murmurs of a whole city leagued against theminister; as well as from the distant and incessant sounds of gunsfiring--let off, happily, without other end or aim, except to show tothe guards, the Swiss troops and the military who surrounded the PalaisRoyal, that the people were possessed of arms. 

The shade of Richelieu was Mazarin. Now Mazarin was alone anddefenceless, as he well knew. 

"Foreigner!" he ejaculated, "Italian! that is their mean yet mightybyword of reproach--the watchword with which they assassinated, hanged, and made away with Concini; and if I gave them their way they wouldassassinate, hang, and make away with me in the same manner, althoughthey have nothing to complain of except a tax or two now and then. Idiots! ignorant of their real enemies, they do not perceive that itis not the Italian who speaks French badly, but those who can say finethings to them in the purest Parisian accent, who are their real foes. 

"Yes, yes, " Mazarin continued, whilst his wonted smile, full ofsubtlety, lent a strange expression to his pale lips; "yes, these noisesprove to me, indeed, that the destiny of favorites is precarious; but yeshall know I am no ordinary favorite. No! The Earl of Essex, 'tistrue, wore a splendid ring, set with diamonds, given him by his royalmistress, whilst I--I have nothing but a simple circlet of gold, with acipher on it and a date; but that ring has been blessed in the chapel ofthe Palais Royal, * so they will never ruin me, as they long to do, andwhilst they shout, 'Down with Mazarin!' I, unknown, and unperceived bythem, incite them to cry out, 'Long live the Duke de Beaufort' one day;another, 'Long live the Prince de Conde;' and again, 'Long live theparliament!'" And at this word the smile on the cardinal's lips assumedan expression of hatred, of which his mild countenance seemed incapable. "The parliament! We shall soon see how to dispose, " he continued, "ofthe parliament! Both Orleans and Montargis are ours. It will be a workof time, but those who have begun by crying out: Down with Mazarin! willfinish by shouting out, Down with all the people I have mentioned, eachin his turn. 

 * It is said that Mazarin, who, though a cardinal, had not taken such vows as to prevent it, was secretly married to Anne of Austria. --La Porte's Memoirs. 

"Richelieu, whom they hated during his lifetime and whom they now praiseafter his death, was even less popular than I am. Often he was drivenaway, oftener still had he a dread of being sent away. The queen willnever banish me, and even were I obliged to yield to the populace shewould yield with me; if I fly, she will fly; and then we shall see howthe rebels will get on without either king or queen. 

"Oh, were I not a foreigner! were I but a Frenchman! were I but ofgentle birth!"

The position of the cardinal was indeed critical, and recent events hadadded to his difficulties. Discontent had long pervaded the lower ranksof society in France. Crushed and impoverished by taxation--imposedby Mazarin, whose avarice impelled him to grind them down to the verydust--the people, as the Advocate-General Talon described it, hadnothing left to them except their souls; and as those could not be soldby auction, they began to murmur. Patience had in vain been recommendedto them by reports of brilliant victories gained by France; laurels, however, were not meat and drink, and the people had for some time beenin a state of discontent. 

Had this been all, it might not, perhaps, have greatly signified; forwhen the lower classes alone complained, the court of France, separatedas it was from the poor by the intervening classes of the gentry and thebourgeoisie, seldom listened to their voice; but unluckily, Mazarin hadhad the imprudence to attack the magistrates and had sold no less thantwelve appointments in the Court of Requests, at a high price; and asthe officers of that court paid very dearly for their places, and as theaddition of twelve new colleagues would necessarily lower the value ofeach place, the old functionaries formed a union amongst themselves, and, enraged, swore on the Bible not to allow of this addition to theirnumber, but to resist all the persecutions which might ensue; andshould any one of them chance to forfeit his post by this resistance, tocombine to indemnify him for his loss. 

Now the following occurrences had taken place between the two contendingparties. 

On the seventh of January between seven and eight hundred tradesmen hadassembled in Paris to discuss a new tax which was to be levied on houseproperty. They deputed ten of their number to wait upon the Duke ofOrleans, who, according to his custom, affected popularity. The dukereceived them and they informed him that they were resolved not to paythis tax, even if they were obliged to defend themselves against itscollectors by force of arms. They were listened to with great politenessby the duke, who held out hopes of easier measures, promised to speakin their behalf to the queen, and dismissed them with the ordinaryexpression of royalty, "We will see what we can do. "

Two days afterward these same magistrates appeared before the cardinaland their spokesman addressed Mazarin with so much fearlessness anddetermination that the minister was astounded and sent the deputationaway with the same answer as it had received from the Duke ofOrleans--that he would see what could be done; and in accordance withthat intention a council of state was assembled and the superintendentof finance was summoned. 

This man, named Emery, was the object of popular detestation, inthe first place because he was superintendent of finance, and everysuperintendent of finance deserved to be hated; in the second place, because he rather deserved the odium which he had incurred. 

He was the son of a banker at Lyons named Particelli, who, afterbecoming a bankrupt, chose to change his name to Emery; and CardinalRichelieu having discovered in him great financial aptitude, hadintroduced him with a strong recommendation to Louis XIII. Underhis assumed name, in order that he might be appointed to the post hesubsequently held. 

"You surprise me!" exclaimed the monarch. "I am rejoiced to hear youspeak of Monsieur d'Emery as calculated for a post which requires aman of probity. I was really afraid that you were going to force thatvillain Particelli upon me. "

"Sire, " replied Richelieu, "rest assured that Particelli, the man towhom your majesty refers, has been hanged. "

"Ah; so much the better!" exclaimed the king. "It is not for nothingthat I am styled Louis the Just. " and he signed Emery's appointment. 

This was the same Emery who became eventually superintendent of finance. 

He was sent for by the ministers and he came before them pale andtrembling, declaring that his son had very nearly been assassinated theday before, near the palace. The mob had insulted him on account of theostentatious luxury of his wife, whose house was hung with red velvetedged with gold fringe. This lady was the daughter of Nicholas de Camus, who arrived in Paris with twenty francs in his pocket, became secretaryof state, and accumulated wealth enough to divide nine millions offrancs among his children and to keep an income of forty thousand forhimself. 

The fact was that Emery's son had run a great chance of beingsuffocated, one of the rioters having proposed to squeeze him until hegave up all the gold he had swallowed. Nothing, therefore, was settledthat day, as Emery's head was not steady enough for business after suchan occurrence. 

On the next day Mathieu Mole, the chief president, whose courage atthis crisis, says the Cardinal de Retz, was equal to that of the Ducde Beaufort and the Prince de Conde--in other words, of the two men whowere considered the bravest in France--had been attacked in his turn. The people threatened to hold him responsible for the evils thathung over them. But the chief president had replied with his habitualcoolness, without betraying either disturbance or surprise, that shouldthe agitators refuse obedience to the king's wishes he would havegallows erected in the public squares and proceed at once to hang themost active among them. To which the others had responded that theywould be glad to see the gallows erected; they would serve for thehanging of those detestable judges who purchased favor at court at theprice of the people's misery. 

Nor was this all. On the eleventh the queen in going to mass at NotreDame, as she always did on Saturdays, was followed by more than twohundred women demanding justice. These poor creatures had no badintentions. They wished only to be allowed to fall on their knees beforetheir sovereign, and that they might move her to compassion; but theywere prevented by the royal guard and the queen proceeded on her way, haughtily disdainful of their entreaties. 

At length parliament was convoked; the authority of the king was to bemaintained. 

One day--it was the morning of the day my story begins--the king, LouisXIV. , then ten years of age, went in state, under pretext of returningthanks for his recovery from the small-pox, to Notre Dame. He tookthe opportunity of calling out his guard, the Swiss troops and themusketeers, and he had planted them round the Palais Royal, on thequays, and on the Pont Neuf. After mass the young monarch drove to theParliament House, where, upon the throne, he hastily confirmed not onlysuch edicts as he had already passed, but issued new ones, eachone, according to Cardinal de Retz, more ruinous than the others--aproceeding which drew forth a strong remonstrance from the chiefpresident, Mole--whilst President Blancmesnil and Councillor Brousselraised their voices in indignation against fresh taxes. 

The king returned amidst the silence of a vast multitude to the PalaisRoyal. All minds were uneasy, most were foreboding, many of the peopleused threatening language. 

At first, indeed, they were doubtful whether the king's visit to theparliament had been in order to lighten or increase their burdens; butscarcely was it known that the taxes were to be still further increased, when cries of "Down with Mazarin!" "Long live Broussel!" "Long liveBlancmesnil!" resounded through the city. For the people had learnedthat Broussel and Blancmesnil had made speeches in their behalf, and, although the eloquence of these deputies had been without avail, ithad none the less won for them the people's good-will. All attemptsto disperse the groups collected in the streets, or silence theirexclamations, were in vain. Orders had just been given to the royalguards and the Swiss guards, not only to stand firm, but to send outpatrols to the streets of Saint Denis and Saint Martin, where the peoplethronged and where they were the most vociferous, when the mayor ofParis was announced at the Palais Royal. 

He was shown in directly; he came to say that if these offensiveprecautions were not discontinued, in two hours Paris would be underarms. 

Deliberations were being held when a lieutenant in the guards, namedComminges, made his appearance, with his clothes all torn, his facestreaming with blood. The queen on seeing him uttered a cry of surpriseand asked him what was going on. 

As the mayor had foreseen, the sight of the guards had exasperatedthe mob. The tocsin was sounded. Comminges had arrested one of theringleaders and had ordered him to be hanged near the cross of DuTrahoir; but in attempting to execute this command the soldiery wereattacked in the market-place with stones and halberds; the delinquenthad escaped to the Rue des Lombards and rushed into a house. Theybroke open the doors and searched the dwelling, but in vain. Comminges, wounded by a stone which had struck him on the forehead, had left apicket in the street and returned to the Palais Royal, followed by amenacing crowd, to tell his story. 

This account confirmed that of the mayor. The authorities were not in acondition to cope with serious revolt. Mazarin endeavored to circulateamong the people a report that troops had only been stationed on thequays and on the Pont Neuf, on account of the ceremonial of the day, andthat they would soon withdraw. In fact, about four o'clock they wereall concentrated about the Palais Royal, the courts and ground floorsof which were filled with musketeers and Swiss guards, and there awaitedthe outcome of all this disturbance. 

Such was the state of affairs at the very moment we introduced ourreaders to the study of Cardinal Mazarin--once that of CardinalRichelieu. We have seen in what state of mind he listened to the murmursfrom below, which even reached him in his seclusion, and to the guns, the firing of which resounded through that room. All at once he raisedhis head; his brow slightly contracted like that of a man who has formeda resolution; he fixed his eyes upon an enormous clock that was about tostrike ten, and taking up a whistle of silver gilt that stood upon thetable near him, he shrilled it twice. 

A door hidden in the tapestry opened noiselessly and a man in blacksilently advanced and stood behind the chair on which Mazarin sat. 

"Bernouin, " said the cardinal, not turning round, for having whistled, he knew that it was his valet-de-chambre who was behind him; "whatmusketeers are now within the palace?"

"The Black Musketeers, my lord. "

"What company?"

"Treville's company. "

"Is there any officer belonging to this company in the ante-chamber?"

"Lieutenant d'Artagnan. "

"A man on whom we can depend, I hope. "

"Yes, my lord. "

"Give me a uniform of one of these musketeers and help me to put it on. "

The valet went out as silently as he had entered and appeared in a fewminutes bringing the dress demanded. 

The cardinal, in deep thought and in silence, began to take off therobes of state he had assumed in order to be present at the sitting ofparliament, and to attire himself in the military coat, which he worewith a certain degree of easy grace, owing to his former campaigns inItaly. When he was completely dressed he said:

"Send hither Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

The valet went out of the room, this time by the centre door, but stillas silently as before; one might have fancied him an apparition. 

When he was left alone the cardinal looked at himself in the glasswith a feeling of self-satisfaction. Still young--for he was scarcelyforty-six years of age--he possessed great elegance of form and wasabove the middle height; his complexion was brilliant and beautiful;his glance full of expression; his nose, though large, was wellproportioned; his forehead broad and majestic; his hair, of a chestnutcolor, was curled slightly; his beard, which was darker than his hair, was turned carefully with a curling iron, a practice that greatlyimproved it. After a short time the cardinal arranged his shoulder belt, then looked with great complacency at his hands, which were most elegantand of which he took the greatest care; and throwing on one side thelarge kid gloves tried on at first, as belonging to the uniform, he puton others of silk only. At this instant the door opened. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said the valet-de-chambre. 

An officer, as he spoke, entered the apartment. He was a man betweenthirty-nine and forty years of age, of medium height but a very wellproportioned figure; with an intellectual and animated physiognomy; hisbeard black, and his hair turning gray, as often happens when peoplehave found life either too gay or too sad, more especially when theyhappen to be of swart complexion. 

D'Artagnan advanced a few steps into the apartment. 

How perfectly he remembered his former entrance into that very room!Seeing, however, no one there except a musketeer of his own troop, hefixed his eyes upon the supposed soldier, in whose dress, nevertheless, he recognized at the first glance the cardinal. 

The lieutenant remained standing in a dignified but respectful posture, such as became a man of good birth, who had in the course of his lifebeen frequently in the society of the highest nobles. 

The cardinal looked at him with a cunning rather than serious glance, yet he examined his countenance with attention and after a momentarysilence said:

"You are Monsieur d'Artagnan?"

"I am that individual, " replied the officer. 

Mazarin gazed once more at a countenance full of intelligence, the playof which had been, nevertheless, subdued by age and experience; andD'Artagnan received the penetrating glance like one who had formerlysustained many a searching look, very different, indeed, from thosewhich were inquiringly directed on him at that instant. 

"Sir, " resumed the cardinal, "you are to come with me, or rather, I amto go with you. "

"I am at your command, my lord, " returned D'Artagnan. 

"I wish to visit in person the outposts which surround the Palais Royal;do you suppose that there is any danger in so doing?"

"Danger, my lord!" exclaimed D'Artagnan with a look of astonishment, "what danger?"

"I am told that there is a general insurrection. "

"The uniform of the king's musketeers carries a certain respect with it, and even if that were not the case I would engage with four of my men toput to flight a hundred of these clowns. "

"Did you witness the injury sustained by Comminges?"

"Monsieur de Comminges is in the guards and not in the musketeers----"

"Which means, I suppose, that the musketeers are better soldiers thanthe guards. " The cardinal smiled as he spoke. 

"Every one likes his own uniform best, my lord. "

"Myself excepted, " and again Mazarin smiled; "for you perceive that Ihave left off mine and put on yours. "

"Lord bless us! this is modesty indeed!" cried D'Artagnan. "Had I sucha uniform as your eminence possesses, I protest I should be mightilycontent, and I would take an oath never to wear any other costume----"

"Yes, but for to-night's adventure I don't suppose my dress would havebeen a very safe one. Give me my felt hat, Bernouin. "

The valet instantly brought to his master a regimental hat with a widebrim. The cardinal put it on in military style. 

"Your horses are ready saddled in their stables, are they not?" he said, turning to D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, my lord. "

"Well, let us set out. "

"How many men does your eminence wish to escort you?"

"You say that with four men you will undertake to disperse a hundred lowfellows; as it may happen that we shall have to encounter two hundred, take eight----"

"As many as my lord wishes. "

"I will follow you. This way--light us downstairs Bernouin. "

The valet held a wax-light; the cardinal took a key from his bureauand opening the door of a secret stair descended into the court of thePalais Royal. 

2. A Nightly Patrol. 

In ten minutes Mazarin and his party were traversing the street "LesBons Enfants" behind the theatre built by Richelieu expressly for theplay of "Mirame, " and in which Mazarin, who was an amateur of music, butnot of literature, had introduced into France the first opera that wasever acted in that country. 

The appearance of the town denoted the greatest agitation. Numberlessgroups paraded the streets and, whatever D'Artagnan might think of it, it was obvious that the citizens had for the night laid aside theirusual forbearance, in order to assume a warlike aspect. From time totime noises came in the direction of the public markets. The reportof firearms was heard near the Rue Saint Denis and occasionally churchbells began to ring indiscriminately and at the caprice of the populace. D'Artagnan, meantime, pursued his way with the indifference of a manupon whom such acts of folly made no impression. When he approached agroup in the middle of the street he urged his horse upon it without aword of warning; and the members of the group, whether rebels or not, as if they knew with what sort of a man they had to deal, at oncegave place to the patrol. The cardinal envied that composure, whichhe attributed to the habit of meeting danger; but none the less heconceived for the officer under whose orders he had for the momentplaced himself, that consideration which even prudence pays to carelesscourage. On approaching an outpost near the Barriere des Sergens, thesentinel cried out, "Who's there?" and D'Artagnan answered--havingfirst asked the word of the cardinal--"Louis and Rocroy. " After which heinquired if Lieutenant Comminges were not the commanding officer at theoutpost. The soldier replied by pointing out to him an officer who wasconversing, on foot, his hand upon the neck of a horse on which theindividual to whom he was talking sat. Here was the officer D'Artagnanwas seeking. 

"Here is Monsieur Comminges, " said D'Artagnan, returning to thecardinal. He instantly retired, from a feeling of respectful delicacy;it was, however, evident that the cardinal was recognized by bothComminges and the other officers on horseback. 

"Well done, Guitant, " cried the cardinal to the equestrian; "I seeplainly that, notwithstanding the sixty-four years that have passed overyour head, you are still the same man, active and zealous. What were yousaying to this youngster?"

"My lord, " replied Guitant, "I was observing that we live in troubloustimes and that to-day's events are very like those in the days of theLigue, of which I heard so much in my youth. Are you aware that the mobhave even suggested throwing up barricades in the Rue Saint Denis andthe Rue Saint Antoine?"

"And what was Comminges saying to you in reply, my good Guitant?"

"My lord, " said Comminges, "I answered that to compose a Ligue only oneingredient was wanting--in my opinion an essential one--a Duc de Guise;moreover, no generation ever does the same thing twice. "

"No, but they mean to make a Fronde, as they call it, " said Guitant. 

"And what is a Fronde?" inquired Mazarin. 

"My lord, Fronde is the name the discontented give to their party. "

"And what is the origin of this name?"

"It seems that some days since Councillor Bachaumont remarked atthe palace that rebels and agitators reminded him of schoolboysslinging--qui frondent--stones from the moats round Paris, young urchinswho run off the moment the constable appears, only to return to theirdiversion the instant his back is turned. So they have picked up theword and the insurrectionists are called 'Frondeurs, ' and yesterdayevery article sold was 'a la Fronde;' bread 'a la Fronde, ' hats 'a laFronde, ' to say nothing of gloves, pocket-handkerchiefs, and fans; butlisten----"

At that moment a window opened and a man began to sing:

 "A tempest from the Fronde Did blow to-day: I think 'twill blow Sieur Mazarin away. "

"Insolent wretch!" cried Guitant. 

"My lord, " said Comminges, who, irritated by his wounds, wished forrevenge and longed to give back blow for blow, "shall I fire off a ballto punish that jester, and to warn him not to sing so much out of tunein the future?"

And as he spoke he put his hand on the holster of his uncle'ssaddle-bow. 

"Certainly not! certainly not, " exclaimed Mazarin. "Diavolo! my dearfriend, you are going to spoil everything--everything is going onfamously. I know the French as well as if I had made them myself. Theysing--let them pay the piper. During the Ligue, about which Guitantwas speaking just now, the people chanted nothing except the mass, soeverything went to destruction. Come, Guitant, come along, and let's seeif they keep watch at the Quinze-Vingts as at the Barriere des Sergens. "

And waving his hand to Comminges he rejoined D'Artagnan, who instantlyput himself at the head of his troop, followed by the cardinal, Guitantand the rest of the escort. 

"Just so, " muttered Comminges, looking after Mazarin. "True, I forgot;provided he can get money out of the people, that is all he wants. "

The street of Saint Honore, when the cardinal and his party passedthrough it, was crowded by an assemblage who, standing in groups, discussed the edicts of that memorable day. They pitied the young king, who was unconsciously ruining his country, and threw all the odium ofhis proceedings on Mazarin. Addresses to the Duke of Orleans and toConde were suggested. Blancmesnil and Broussel seemed in the highestfavor. 

D'Artagnan passed through the very midst of this discontented mobjust as if his horse and he had been made of iron. Mazarin and Guitantconversed together in whispers. The musketeers, who had alreadydiscovered who Mazarin was, followed in profound silence. In the streetof Saint Thomas-du-Louvre they stopped at the barrier distinguished bythe name of Quinze-Vingts. Here Guitant spoke to one of the subalterns, asking how matters were progressing. 

"Ah, captain!" said the officer, "everything is quiet hereabout--if Idid not know that something is going on in yonder house!"

And he pointed to a magnificent hotel situated on the very spot whereonthe Vaudeville now stands. 

"In that hotel? it is the Hotel Rambouillet, " cried Guitant. 

"I really don't know what hotel it is; all I do know is that I observedsome suspicious looking people go in there----"

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Guitant, with a burst of laughter; "those men mustbe poets. "

"Come, Guitant, speak, if you please, respectfully of these gentlemen, "said Mazarin; "don't you know that I was in my youth a poet? I wroteverses in the style of Benserade----"

"You, my lord?"

"Yes, I; shall I repeat to you some of my verses?"

"Just as you please, my lord. I do not understand Italian. "

"Yes, but you understand French, " and Mazarin laid his hand uponGuitant's shoulder. "My good, my brave Guitant, whatsoever command I maygive you in that language--in French--whatever I may order you to do, will you not perform it?"

"Certainly. I have already answered that question in the affirmative;but that command must come from the queen herself. "

"Yes! ah yes!" Mazarin bit his lips as he spoke; "I know your devotionto her majesty. "

"I have been a captain in the queen's guards for twenty years, " was thereply. 

"En route, Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said the cardinal; "all goes well inthis direction. "

D'Artagnan, in the meantime, had taken the head of his detachmentwithout a word and with that ready and profound obedience which marksthe character of an old soldier. 

He led the way toward the hill of Saint Roche. The Rue Richelieu and theRue Villedot were then, owing to their vicinity to the ramparts, lessfrequented than any others in that direction, for the town was thinlyinhabited thereabout. 

"Who is in command here?" asked the cardinal. 

"Villequier, " said Guitant. 

"Diavolo! Speak to him yourself, for ever since you were deputed byme to arrest the Duc de Beaufort, this officer and I have been on badterms. He laid claim to that honor as captain of the royal guards. "

"I am aware of that, and I have told him a hundred times that he waswrong. The king could not give that order, since at that time he washardly four years old. "

"Yes, but I could give him the order--I, Guitant--and I preferred togive it to you. "

Guitant, without reply, rode forward and desired the sentinel to callMonsieur de Villequier. 

"Ah! so you are here!" cried the officer, in the tone of ill-humorhabitual to him; "what the devil are you doing here?"

"I wish to know--can you tell me, pray--is anything fresh occurring inthis part of the town?"

"What do you mean? People cry out, 'Long live the king! down withMazarin!' That's nothing new; no, we've been used to those acclamationsfor some time. "

"And you sing chorus, " replied Guitant, laughing. 

"Faith, I've half a mind to do it. In my opinion the people are right;and cheerfully would I give up five years of my pay--which I am neverpaid, by the way--to make the king five years older. "

"Really! And pray what would come to pass, supposing the king were fiveyears older than he is?"

"As soon as ever the king comes of age he will issue his commandshimself, and 'tis far pleasanter to obey the grandson of Henry IV. Thanthe son of Peter Mazarin. 'Sdeath! I would die willingly for the king, but supposing I happened to be killed on account of Mazarin, as yournephew came near being to-day, there could be nothing in Paradise, however well placed I might be there, that could console me for it. "

"Well, well, Monsieur de Villequier, " Mazarin interposed, "I shall makeit my care the king hears of your loyalty. Come, gentlemen, " addressingthe troop, "let us return. "

"Stop, " exclaimed Villequier, "so Mazarin was here! so much the better. I have been waiting for a long time to tell him what I think of him. Iam obliged to you Guitant, although your intention was perhaps not veryfavorable to me, for such an opportunity. "

He turned away and went off to his post, whistling a tune then popularamong the party called the "Fronde, " whilst Mazarin returned, in apensive mood, toward the Palais Royal. All that he had heard from thesethree different men, Comminges, Guitant and Villequier, confirmed him inhis conviction that in case of serious tumults there would be no oneon his side except the queen; and then Anne of Austria had so oftendeserted her friends that her support seemed most precarious. Duringthe whole of this nocturnal ride, during the whole time that he wasendeavoring to understand the various characters of Comminges, Guitantand Villequier, Mazarin was, in truth, studying more especially oneman. This man, who had remained immovable as bronze when menaced bythe mob--not a muscle of whose face was stirred, either at Mazarin'switticisms or by the jests of the multitude--seemed to the cardinal apeculiar being, who, having participated in past events similar tothose now occurring, was calculated to cope with those now on the eve oftaking place. 

The name of D'Artagnan was not altogether new to Mazarin, who, althoughhe did not arrive in France before the year 1634 or 1635, that is tosay, about eight or nine years after the events which we have related ina preceding narrative, * fancied he had heard it pronounced as that ofone who was said to be a model of courage, address and loyalty. 

 * "The Three Musketeers. "

Possessed by this idea, the cardinal resolved to know all aboutD'Artagnan immediately; of course he could not inquire from D'Artagnanhimself who he was and what had been his career; he remarked, however, in the course of conversation that the lieutenant of musketeers spokewith a Gascon accent. Now the Italians and the Gascons are too muchalike and know each other too well ever to trust what any one of themmay say of himself; so in reaching the walls which surrounded thePalais Royal, the cardinal knocked at a little door, and after thankingD'Artagnan and requesting him to wait in the court of the Palais Royal, he made a sign to Guitant to follow him. 

They both dismounted, consigned their horses to the lackey who hadopened the door, and disappeared in the garden. 

"My dear friend, " said the cardinal, leaning, as they walked throughthe garden, on his friend's arm, "you told me just now that you had beentwenty years in the queen's service. "

"Yes, it's true. I have, " returned Guitant. 

"Now, my dear Guitant, I have often remarked that in addition to yourcourage, which is indisputable, and your fidelity, which is invincible, you possess an admirable memory. "

"You have found that out, have you, my lord? Deuce take it--all theworse for me!"

"How?"

"There is no doubt but that one of the chief accomplishments of acourtier is to know when to forget. "

"But you, Guitant, are not a courtier. You are a brave soldier, one ofthe few remaining veterans of the days of Henry IV. Alas! how few to-dayexist!"

"Plague on't, my lord, have you brought me here to get my horoscope outof me?"

"No; I only brought you here to ask you, " returned Mazarin, smiling, "ifyou have taken any particular notice of our lieutenant of musketeers?"

"Monsieur d'Artagnan? I have had no occasion to notice him particularly;he's an old acquaintance. He's a Gascon. De Treville knows him andesteems him very highly, and De Treville, as you know, is one of thequeen's greatest friends. As a soldier the man ranks well; he did hiswhole duty and even more, at the siege of Rochelle--as at Suze andPerpignan. "

"But you know, Guitant, we poor ministers often want men with otherqualities besides courage; we want men of talent. Pray, was not Monsieurd'Artagnan, in the time of the cardinal, mixed up in some intrigue fromwhich he came out, according to report, quite cleverly?"

"My lord, as to the report you allude to"--Guitant perceived that thecardinal wished to make him speak out--"I know nothing but what thepublic knows. I never meddle in intrigues, and if I occasionally becomea confidant of the intrigues of others I am sure your eminence willapprove of my keeping them secret. "

Mazarin shook his head. 

"Ah!" he said; "some ministers are fortunate and find out all that theywish to know. "

"My lord, " replied Guitant, "such ministers do not weigh men in the samebalance; they get their information on war from warriors; on intrigues, from intriguers. Consult some politician of the period of which youspeak, and if you pay well for it you will certainly get to know all youwant. "

"Eh, pardieu!" said Mazarin, with a grimace which he always made whenspoken to about money. "They will be paid, if there is no way of gettingout of it. "

"Does my lord seriously wish me to name any one who was mixed up in thecabals of that day?"

"By Bacchus!" rejoined Mazarin, impatiently, "it's about an hour since Iasked you for that very thing, wooden-head that you are. "

"There is one man for whom I can answer, if he will speak out. "

"That's my concern; I will make him speak. "

"Ah, my lord, 'tis not easy to make people say what they don't wish tolet out. "

"Pooh! with patience one must succeed. Well, this man. Who is he?"

"The Comte de Rochefort. "

"The Comte de Rochefort!"

"Unfortunately he has disappeared these four or five years and I don'tknow where he is. "

"I know, Guitant, " said Mazarin. 

"Well, then, how is it that your eminence complained just now of want ofinformation?"

"You think, " resumed Mazarin, "that Rochefort----"

"He was Cardinal Richelieu's creature, my lord. I warn you, however, his services will cost you something. The cardinal was lavish to hisunderlings. "

"Yes, yes, Guitant, " said Mazarin; "Richelieu was a great man, a verygreat man, but he had that defect. Thanks, Guitant; I shall benefit byyour advice this very evening. "

Here they separated and bidding adieu to Guitant in the court of thePalais Royal, Mazarin approached an officer who was walking up and downwithin that inclosure. 

It was D'Artagnan, who was waiting for him. 

"Come hither, " said Mazarin in his softest voice; "I have an order togive you. "

D'Artagnan bent low and following the cardinal up the secret staircase, soon found himself in the study whence they had first set out. 

The cardinal seated himself before his bureau and taking a sheet ofpaper wrote some lines upon it, whilst D'Artagnan stood imperturbable, without showing either impatience or curiosity. He was like a soldierlyautomaton, or rather, like a magnificent marionette. 

The cardinal folded and sealed his letter. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " he said, "you are to take this dispatch to theBastile and bring back here the person it concerns. You must take acarriage and an escort, and guard the prisoner with the greatest care. "

D'Artagnan took the letter, touched his hat with his hand, turned roundupon his heel like a drill-sergeant, and a moment afterward was heard, in his dry and monotonous tone, commanding "Four men and an escort, acarriage and a horse. " Five minutes afterward the wheels of the carriageand the horses' shoes were heard resounding on the pavement of thecourtyard. 

3. Dead Animosities. 

D'Artagnan arrived at the Bastile just as it was striking half-pasteight. His visit was announced to the governor, who, on hearing that hecame from the cardinal, went to meet him and received him at the top ofthe great flight of steps outside the door. The governor of the Bastilewas Monsieur du Tremblay, the brother of the famous Capuchin, Joseph, that fearful favorite of Richelieu's, who went by the name of the GrayCardinal. 

During the period that the Duc de Bassompierre passed in theBastile--where he remained for twelve long years--when his companions, in their dreams of liberty, said to each other: "As for me, I shall goout of the prison at such a time, " and another, at such and such a time, the duke used to answer, "As for me, gentlemen, I shall leave only whenMonsieur du Tremblay leaves;" meaning that at the death of the cardinalDu Tremblay would certainly lose his place at the Bastile and DeBassompierre regain his at court. 

His prediction was nearly fulfilled, but in a very different way fromthat which De Bassompierre supposed; for after the death of Richelieueverything went on, contrary to expectation, in the same way as before;and Bassompierre had little chance of leaving his prison. 

Monsieur du Tremblay received D'Artagnan with extreme politeness andinvited him to sit down with him to supper, of which he was himselfabout to partake. 

"I should be delighted to do so, " was the reply; "but if I am notmistaken, the words 'In haste, ' are written on the envelope of theletter which I brought. "

"You are right, " said Du Tremblay. "Halloo, major! tell them to orderNumber 25 to come downstairs. "

The unhappy wretch who entered the Bastile ceased, as he crossed thethreshold, to be a man--he became a number. 

D'Artagnan shuddered at the noise of the keys; he remained on horseback, feeling no inclination to dismount, and sat looking at the bars, at thebuttressed windows and the immense walls he had hitherto only seen fromthe other side of the moat, but by which he had for twenty years beenawe-struck. 

A bell resounded. 

"I must leave you, " said Du Tremblay; "I am sent for to sign the releaseof a prisoner. I shall be happy to meet you again, sir. "

"May the devil annihilate me if I return thy wish!" murmured D'Artagnan, smiling as he pronounced the imprecation; "I declare I feel quite illafter only being five minutes in the courtyard. Go to! go to! I wouldrather die on straw than hoard up a thousand a year by being governor ofthe Bastile. "

He had scarcely finished this soliloquy before the prisoner arrived. Onseeing him D'Artagnan could hardly suppress an exclamation of surprise. The prisoner got into the carriage without seeming to recognize themusketeer. 

"Gentlemen, " thus D'Artagnan addressed the four musketeers, "I amordered to exercise the greatest possible care in guarding the prisoner, and since there are no locks to the carriage, I shall sit beside him. Monsieur de Lillebonne, lead my horse by the bridle, if you please. " Ashe spoke he dismounted, gave the bridle of his horse to the musketeerand placing himself by the side of the prisoner said, in a voiceperfectly composed, "To the Palais Royal, at full trot. "

The carriage drove on and D'Artagnan, availing himself of the darknessin the archway under which they were passing, threw himself into thearms of the prisoner. 

"Rochefort!" he exclaimed; "you! is it you, indeed? I am not mistaken?"

"D'Artagnan!" cried Rochefort. 

"Ah! my poor friend!" resumed D'Artagnan, "not having seen you for fouror five years I concluded you were dead. "

"I'faith, " said Rochefort, "there's no great difference, I think, between a dead man and one who has been buried alive; now I have beenburied alive, or very nearly so. "

"And for what crime are you imprisoned in the Bastile. "

"Do you wish me to speak the truth?"

"Yes. "

"Well, then, I don't know. "

"Have you any suspicion of me, Rochefort?"

"No! on the honor of a gentleman; but I cannot be imprisoned for thereason alleged; it is impossible. "

"What reason?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"For stealing. "

"For stealing! you, Rochefort! you are laughing at me. "

"I understand. You mean that this demands explanation, do you not?"

"I admit it. "

"Well, this is what actually took place: One evening after an orgyin Reinard's apartment at the Tuileries with the Duc d'Harcourt, Fontrailles, De Rieux and others, the Duc d'Harcourt proposed thatwe should go and pull cloaks on the Pont Neuf; that is, you know, adiversion which the Duc d'Orleans made quite the fashion. "

"Were you crazy, Rochefort? at your age!"

"No, I was drunk. And yet, since the amusement seemed to me rather tame, I proposed to Chevalier de Rieux that we should be spectators insteadof actors, and, in order to see to advantage, that we should mountthe bronze horse. No sooner said than done. Thanks to the spurs, whichserved as stirrups, in a moment we were perched upon the croupe; we werewell placed and saw everything. Four or five cloaks had already beenlifted, with a dexterity without parallel, and not one of the victimshad dared to say a word, when some fool of a fellow, less patient thanthe others, took it into his head to cry out, 'Guard!' and drew uponus a patrol of archers. Duc d'Harcourt, Fontrailles, and the othersescaped; De Rieux was inclined to do likewise, but I told him theywouldn't look for us where we were. He wouldn't listen, put his foot onthe spur to get down, the spur broke, he fell with a broken leg, and, instead of keeping quiet, took to crying out like a gallows-bird. I thenwas ready to dismount, but it was too late; I descended into the arms ofthe archers. They conducted me to the Chatelet, where I slept soundly, being very sure that on the next day I should go forth free. Thenext day came and passed, the day after, a week; I then wrote to thecardinal. The same day they came for me and took me to the Bastile. That was five years ago. Do you believe it was because I committed thesacrilege of mounting en croupe behind Henry IV. ?"

"No; you are right, my dear Rochefort, it couldn't be for that; but youwill probably learn the reason soon. "

"Ah, indeed! I forgot to ask you--where are you taking me?"

"To the cardinal. "

"What does he want with me?"

"I do not know. I did not even know that you were the person I was sentto fetch. "

"Impossible--you--a favorite of the minister!"

"A favorite! no, indeed!" cried D'Artagnan. "Ah, my poor friend! I amjust as poor a Gascon as when I saw you at Meung, twenty-two years ago, you know; alas!" and he concluded his speech with a deep sigh. 

"Nevertheless, you come as one in authority. "

"Because I happened to be in the ante-chamber when the cardinal calledme, by the merest chance. I am still a lieutenant in the musketeers andhave been so these twenty years. "

"Then no misfortune has happened to you?"

"And what misfortune could happen to me? To quote some Latin verses Ihave forgotten, or rather, never knew well, 'the thunderbolt never fallson the valleys, ' and I am a valley, dear Rochefort, --one of the lowliestof the low. "

"Then Mazarin is still Mazarin?"

"The same as ever, my friend; it is said that he is married to thequeen. "

"Married?"

"If not her husband, he is unquestionably her lover. "

"You surprise me. Rebuff Buckingham and consent to Mazarin!"

"Just like the women, " replied D'Artagnan, coolly. 

"Like women, not like queens. "

"Egad! queens are the weakest of their sex, when it comes to such thingsas these. "

"And M. De Beaufort--is he still in prison?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Oh, nothing, but that he might get me out of this, if he were favorablyinclined to me. "

"You are probably nearer freedom than he is, so it will be your businessto get him out. "

"And, " said the prisoner, "what talk is there of war with Spain?"

"With Spain, no, " answered D'Artagnan; "but Paris. "

"What do you mean?" cried Rochefort. 

"Do you hear the guns, pray? The citizens are amusing themselves in themeantime. "

"And you--do you really think that anything could be done with thesebourgeois?"

"Yes, they might do well if they had any leader to unite them in onebody. "

"How miserable not to be free!"

"Don't be downcast. Since Mazarin has sent for you, it is because hewants you. I congratulate you! Many a long year has passed since any onehas wanted to employ me; so you see in what a situation I am. "

"Make your complaints known; that's my advice. "

"Listen, Rochefort; let us make a compact. We are friends, are we not?"

"Egad! I bear the traces of our friendship--three slits or slashes fromyour sword. "

"Well, if you should be restored to favor, don't forget me. "

"On the honor of a Rochefort; but you must do the like for me. "

"There's my hand, --I promise. "

"Therefore, whenever you find any opportunity of saying something in mybehalf----"

"I shall say it, and you?"

"I shall do the same. "

"Apropos, are we to speak of your friends also, Athos, Porthos, andAramis? or have you forgotten them?"

"Almost. "

"What has become of them?"

"I don't know; we separated, as you know. They are alive, that's allthat I can say about them; from time to time I hear of them indirectly, but in what part of the world they are, devil take me if I know, No, onmy honor, I have not a friend in the world but you, Rochefort. "

"And the illustrious--what's the name of the lad whom I made a sergeantin Piedmont's regiment?"

"Planchet!"

"The illustrious Planchet. What has become of him?"

"I shouldn't wonder if he were at the head of the mob at this verymoment. He married a woman who keeps a confectioner's shop in the Ruedes Lombards, for he's a lad who was always fond of sweetmeats; he's nowa citizen of Paris. You'll see that that queer fellow will be a sheriffbefore I shall be a captain. "

"Come, dear D'Artagnan, look up a little! Courage! It is when oneis lowest on the wheel of fortune that the merry-go-round wheels andrewards us. This evening your destiny begins to change. "

"Amen!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, stopping the carriage. 

"What are you doing?" asked Rochefort. 

"We are almost there and I want no one to see me getting out of yourcarriage; we are supposed not to know each other. "

"You are right. Adieu. "

"Au revoir. Remember your promise. "

In five minutes the party entered the courtyard and D'Artagnan ledthe prisoner up the great staircase and across the corridor andante-chamber. 

As they stopped at the door of the cardinal's study, D'Artagnan wasabout to be announced when Rochefort slapped him on his shoulder. 

"D'Artagnan, let me confess to you what I've been thinking about duringthe whole of my drive, as I looked out upon the parties of citizens whoperpetually crossed our path and looked at you and your four men withfiery eyes. "

"Speak out, " answered D'Artagnan. 

"I had only to cry out 'Help!' for you and for your companions to be cutto pieces, and then I should have been free. "

"Why didn't you do it?" asked the lieutenant. 

"Come, come!" cried Rochefort. "Did we not swear friendship? Ah! had anyone but you been there, I don't say----"

D'Artagnan bowed. "Is it possible that Rochefort has become a better manthan I am?" he said to himself. And he caused himself to be announced tothe minister. 

"Let M. De Rochefort enter, " said Mazarin, eagerly, on hearing theirnames pronounced; "and beg M. D'Artagnan to wait; I shall have furtherneed of him. "

These words gave great joy to D'Artagnan. As he had said, it had been along time since any one had needed him; and that demand for his serviceson the part of Mazarin seemed to him an auspicious sign. 

Rochefort, rendered suspicious and cautious by these words, entered theapartment, where he found Mazarin sitting at the table, dressed in hisordinary garb and as one of the prelates of the Church, his costumebeing similar to that of the abbes in that day, excepting that his scarfand stockings were violet. 

As the door was closed Rochefort cast a glance toward Mazarin, which wasanswered by one, equally furtive, from the minister. 

There was little change in the cardinal; still dressed with sedulouscare, his hair well arranged and curled, his person perfumed, he looked, owing to his extreme taste in dress, only half his age. But Rochefort, who had passed five years in prison, had become old in the lapse ofa few years; the dark locks of this estimable friend of the defunctCardinal Richelieu were now white; the deep bronze of his complexion hadbeen succeeded by a mortal pallor which betokened debility. As he gazedat him Mazarin shook his head slightly, as much as to say, "This is aman who does not appear to me fit for much. "

After a pause, which appeared an age to Rochefort, Mazarin took from abundle of papers a letter, and showing it to the count, he said:

"I find here a letter in which you sue for liberty, Monsieur deRochefort. You are in prison, then?"

Rochefort trembled in every limb at this question. "But I thought, "he said, "that your eminence knew that circumstance better than anyone----"

"I? Oh no! There is a congestion of prisoners in the Bastile, who werecooped up in the time of Monsieur de Richelieu; I don't even know theirnames. "

"Yes, but in regard to myself, my lord, it cannot be so, for I wasremoved from the Chatelet to the Bastile owing to an order from youreminence. "

"You think you were. "

"I am certain of it. "

"Ah, stay! I fancy I remember it. Did you not once refuse to undertake ajourney to Brussels for the queen?"

"Ah! ah!" exclaimed Rochefort. "There is the true reason! Idiot thatI am, though I have been trying to find it out for five years, I neverfound it out. "

"But I do not say it was the cause of your imprisonment. I merely askyou, did you not refuse to go to Brussels for the queen, whilst you hadconsented to go there to do some service for the late cardinal?"

"That is the very reason I refused to go back to Brussels. I was thereat a fearful moment. I was sent there to intercept a correspondencebetween Chalais and the archduke, and even then, when I was discoveredI was nearly torn to pieces. How could I, then, return to Brussels? Ishould injure the queen instead of serving her. "

"Well, since the best motives are liable to misconstruction, the queensaw in your refusal nothing but a refusal--a distinct refusal she hadalso much to complain of you during the lifetime of the late cardinal;yes, her majesty the queen----"

Rochefort smiled contemptuously. 

"Since I was a faithful servant, my lord, to Cardinal Richelieu duringhis life, it stands to reason that now, after his death, I should serveyou well, in defiance of the whole world. "

"With regard to myself, Monsieur de Rochefort, " replied Mazarin, "I amnot, like Monsieur de Richelieu, all-powerful. I am but a minister, whowants no servants, being myself nothing but a servant of the queen's. Now, the queen is of a sensitive nature. Hearing of your refusal to obeyher she looked upon it as a declaration of war, and as she considers youa man of superior talent, and consequently dangerous, she desired meto make sure of you; that is the reason of your being shut up in theBastile. But your release can be managed. You are one of those men whocan comprehend certain matters and having understood them, can act withenergy----"

"Such was Cardinal Richelieu's opinion, my lord. "

"The cardinal, " interrupted Mazarin, "was a great politician and thereinshone his vast superiority over me. I am a straightforward, simple man;that's my great disadvantage. I am of a frankness of character quiteFrench. "

Rochefort bit his lips in order to prevent a smile. 

"Now to the point. I want friends; I want faithful servants. When Isay I want, I mean the queen wants them. I do nothing without hercommands--pray understand that; not like Monsieur de Richelieu, who wenton just as he pleased. So I shall never be a great man, as he was, butto compensate for that, I shall be a good man, Monsieur de Rochefort, and I hope to prove it to you. "

Rochefort knew well the tones of that soft voice, in which soundedsometimes a sort of gentle lisp, like the hissing of young vipers. 

"I am disposed to believe your eminence, " he replied; "though I have hadbut little evidence of that good-nature of which your eminence speaks. Do not forget that I have been five years in the Bastile and that nomedium of viewing things is so deceptive as the grating of a prison. "

"Ah, Monsieur de Rochefort! have I not told you already that I hadnothing to do with that? The queen--cannot you make allowances forthe pettishness of a queen and a princess? But that has passed away assuddenly as it came, and is forgotten. "

"I can easily suppose, sir, that her majesty has forgotten it amid thefetes and the courtiers of the Palais Royal, but I who have passed thoseyears in the Bastile----"

"Ah! mon Dieu! my dear Monsieur de Rochefort! do you absolutely thinkthat the Palais Royal is the abode of gayety? No. We have had greatannoyances there. As for me, I play my game squarely, fairly, and aboveboard, as I always do. Let us come to some conclusion. Are you one ofus, Monsieur de Rochefort?"

"I am very desirous of being so, my lord, but I am totally in the darkabout everything. In the Bastile one talks politics only with soldiersand jailers, and you have not an idea, my lord, how little is knownof what is going on by people of that sort; I am of Monsieur deBassompierre's party. Is he still one of the seventeen peers of France?"

"He is dead, sir; a great loss. His devotion to the queen was boundless;men of loyalty are scarce. "

"I think so, forsooth, " said Rochefort, "and when you find any of them, you march them off to the Bastile. However, there are plenty in theworld, but you don't look in the right direction for them, my lord. "

"Indeed! explain to me. Ah! my dear Monsieur de Rochefort, how much youmust have learned during your intimacy with the late cardinal! Ah! hewas a great man. "

"Will your eminence be angry if I read you a lesson?"

"I! never! you know you may say anything to me. I try to be beloved, notfeared. "

"Well, there is on the wall of my cell, scratched with a nail, aproverb, which says, 'Like master, like servant. '"

"Pray, what does that mean?"

"It means that Monsieur de Richelieu was able to find trusty servants, dozens and dozens of them. "

"He! the point aimed at by every poniard! Richelieu, who passed his lifein warding off blows which were forever aimed at him!"

"But he did ward them off, " said De Rochefort, "and the reason was, that though he had bitter enemies he possessed also true friends. I haveknown persons, " he continued--for he thought he might avail himself ofthe opportunity of speaking of D'Artagnan--"who by their sagacity andaddress have deceived the penetration of Cardinal Richelieu; who bytheir valor have got the better of his guards and spies; persons withoutmoney, without support, without credit, yet who have preserved to thecrowned head its crown and made the cardinal crave pardon. "

"But those men you speak of, " said Mazarin, smiling inwardly on seeingRochefort approach the point to which he was leading him, "those menwere not devoted to the cardinal, for they contended against him. "

"No; in that case they would have met with more fitting reward. They hadthe misfortune to be devoted to that very queen for whom just now youwere seeking servants. "

"But how is it that you know so much of these matters?"

"I know them because the men of whom I speak were at that time myenemies; because they fought against me; because I did them all the harmI could and they returned it to the best of their ability; because oneof them, with whom I had most to do, gave me a pretty sword-thrust, nowabout seven years ago, the third that I received from the same hand; itclosed an old account. "

"Ah!" said Mazarin, with admirable suavity, "could I but find such men!"

"My lord, there has stood for six years at your very door a man suchas I describe, and during those six years he has been unappreciated andunemployed by you. "

"Who is it?"

"It is Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

"That Gascon!" cried Mazarin, with well acted surprise. 

"'That Gascon' has saved a queen and made Monsieur de Richelieu confessthat in point of talent, address and political skill, to him he was onlya tyro. "

"Really?"

"It is as I have the honor of telling it to your excellency. "

"Tell me a little about it, my dear Monsieur de Rochefort. "

"That is somewhat difficult, my lord, " said Rochefort, with a smile. 

"Then he will tell it me himself. "

"I doubt it, my lord. "

"Why do you doubt it?"

"Because the secret does not belong to him; because, as I have told you, it has to do with a great queen. "

"And he was alone in achieving an enterprise like that?"

"No, my lord, he had three colleagues, three brave men, men such as youwere wishing for just now. "

"And were these four men attached to each other, true in heart, reallyunited?"

"As if they had been one man--as if their four hearts had pulsated inone breast. "

"You pique my curiosity, dear Rochefort; pray tell me the whole story. "

"That is impossible; but I will tell you a true story, my lord. "

"Pray do so, I delight in stories, " cried the cardinal. 

"Listen, then, " returned Rochefort, as he spoke endeavoring to read inthat subtle countenance the cardinal's motive. "Once upon a time therelived a queen--a powerful monarch--who reigned over one of the greatestkingdoms of the universe; and a minister; and this minister wished muchto injure the queen, whom once he had loved too well. (Do not try, mylord, you cannot guess who it is; all this happened long before you cameinto the country where this queen reigned. ) There came to the court anambassador so brave, so magnificent, so elegant, that every woman losther heart to him; and the queen had even the indiscretion to give himcertain ornaments so rare that they could never be replaced by any likethem. 

"As these ornaments were given by the king the minister persuaded hismajesty to insist upon the queen's appearing in them as part of herjewels at a ball which was soon to take place. There is no occasionto tell you, my lord, that the minister knew for a fact that theseornaments had sailed away with the ambassador, who was far away, beyond seas. This illustrious queen had fallen low as the least of hersubjects--fallen from her high estate. "

"Indeed!"

"Well, my lord, four men resolved to save her. These four men were notprinces, neither were they dukes, neither were they men in power; theywere not even rich. They were four honest soldiers, each with a goodheart, a good arm and a sword at the service of those who wanted it. They set out. The minister knew of their departure and had plantedpeople on the road to prevent them ever reaching their destination. Three of them were overwhelmed and disabled by numerous assailants; oneof them alone arrived at the port, having either killed or wounded thosewho wished to stop him. He crossed the sea and brought back the set ofornaments to the great queen, who was able to wear them on her shoulderon the appointed day; and this very nearly ruined the minister. What doyou think of that exploit, my lord?"

"It is magnificent!" said Mazarin, thoughtfully. 

"Well, I know of ten such men. "

Mazarin made no reply; he reflected. 

Five or six minutes elapsed. 

"You have nothing more to ask of me, my lord?" said Rochefort. 

"Yes. And you say that Monsieur d'Artagnan was one of those four men?"

"He led the enterprise. "

"And who were the others?"

"I leave it to Monsieur d'Artagnan to name them, my lord. They were hisfriends and not mine. He alone would have any influence with them; I donot even know them under their true names. "

"You suspect me, Monsieur de Rochefort; I want him and you and all toaid me. "

"Begin with me, my lord; for after five or six years of imprisonment itis natural to feel some curiosity as to one's destination. "

"You, my dear Monsieur de Rochefort, shall have the post of confidence;you shall go to Vincennes, where Monsieur de Beaufort is confined; youwill guard him well for me. Well, what is the matter?"

"The matter is that you have proposed to me what is impossible, " saidRochefort, shaking his head with an air of disappointment. 

"What! impossible? And why is it impossible?"

"Because Monsieur de Beaufort is one of my friends, or rather, I am oneof his. Have you forgotten, my lord, that it is he who answered for meto the queen?"

"Since then Monsieur de Beaufort has become an enemy of the State. "

"That may be, my lord; but since I am neither king nor queen norminister, he is not my enemy and I cannot accept your offer. "

"This, then, is what you call devotion! I congratulate you. Yourdevotion does not commit you too far, Monsieur de Rochefort. "

"And then, my lord, " continued Rochefort, "you understand that to emergefrom the Bastile in order to enter Vincennes is only to change one'sprison. "

"Say at once that you are on the side of Monsieur de Beaufort; that willbe the most sincere line of conduct, " said Mazarin. 

"My lord, I have been so long shut up, that I am only of one party--I amfor fresh air. Employ me in any other way; employ me even actively, butlet it be on the high roads. "

"My dear Monsieur de Rochefort, " Mazarin replied in a tone of raillery, "you think yourself still a young man; your spirit is that of thephoenix, but your strength fails you. Believe me, you ought now to takea rest. Here!"

"You decide, then, nothing about me, my lord?"

"On the contrary, I have come to a decision. "

Bernouin came into the room. 

"Call an officer of justice, " he said; "and stay close to me, " he added, in a low tone. 

The officer entered. Mazarin wrote a few words, which he gave to thisman; then he bowed. 

"Adieu, Monsieur de Rochefort, " he said. 

Rochefort bent low. 

"I see, my lord, I am to be taken back to the Bastile. "

"You are sagacious. "

"I shall return thither, my lord, but it is a mistake on your part notto employ me. "

"You? the friend of my greatest foes? Don't suppose that you are theonly person who can serve me, Monsieur de Rochefort. I shall find manymen as able as you are. "

"I wish you may, my lord, " replied De Rochefort. 

He was then reconducted by the little staircase, instead of passingthrough the ante-chamber where D'Artagnan was waiting. In the courtyardthe carriage and the four musketeers were ready, but he looked around invain for his friend. 

"Ah!" he muttered to himself, "this changes the situation, and if thereis still a crowd of people in the streets we will try to show Mazarinthat we are still, thank God, good for something else than keeping guardover a prisoner;" and he jumped into the carriage with the alacrity of aman of five-and-twenty. 

4. Anne of Austria at the Age of Forty-six. 

When left alone with Bernouin, Mazarin was for some minutes lost inthought. He had gained much information, but not enough. Mazarin was acheat at the card-table. This is a detail preserved to us by Brienne. Hecalled it using his advantages. He now determined not to begin the gamewith D'Artagnan till he knew completely all his adversary's cards. 

"My lord, have you any commands?" asked Bernouin. 

"Yes, yes, " replied Mazarin. "Light me; I am going to the queen. "

Bernouin took up a candlestick and led the way. 

There was a secret communication between the cardinal's apartments andthose of the queen; and through this corridor* Mazarin passed wheneverhe wished to visit Anne of Austria. 

*This secret passage is still to be seen in the Palais Royal. 

In the bedroom in which this passage ended, Bernouin encounteredMadame de Beauvais, like himself intrusted with the secret of thesesubterranean love affairs; and Madame de Beauvais undertook to prepareAnne of Austria, who was in her oratory with the young king, Louis XIV. , to receive the cardinal. 

Anne, reclining in a large easy-chair, her head supported by her hand, her elbow resting on a table, was looking at her son, who was turningover the leaves of a large book filled with pictures. This celebratedwoman fully understood the art of being dull with dignity. It was herpractice to pass hours either in her oratory or in her room, withouteither reading or praying. 

When Madame de Beauvais appeared at the door and announced the cardinal, the child, who had been absorbed in the pages of Quintus Curtius, enlivened as they were by engravings of Alexander's feats of arms, frowned and looked at his mother. 

"Why, " he said, "does he enter without first asking for an audience?"

Anne colored slightly. 

"The prime minister, " she said, "is obliged in these unsettled days toinform the queen of all that is happening from time to time, withoutexciting the curiosity or remarks of the court. "

"But Richelieu never came in this manner, " said the pertinacious boy. 

"How can you remember what Monsieur de Richelieu did? You were too youngto know about such things. "

"I do not remember what he did, but I have inquired and I have been toldall about it. "

"And who told you about it?" asked Anne of Austria, with a movement ofimpatience. 

"I know that I ought never to name the persons who answer my questions, "answered the child, "for if I do I shall learn nothing further. "

At this very moment Mazarin entered. The king rose immediately, tookhis book, closed it and went to lay it down on the table, near whichhe continued standing, in order that Mazarin might be obliged to standalso. 

Mazarin contemplated these proceedings with a thoughtful glance. Theyexplained what had occurred that evening. 

He bowed respectfully to the king, who gave him a somewhat cavalierreception, but a look from his mother reproved him for the hatred which, from his infancy, Louis XIV. Had entertained toward Mazarin, and heendeavored to receive the minister's homage with civility. 

Anne of Austria sought to read in Mazarin's face the occasion of thisunexpected visit, since the cardinal usually came to her apartment onlyafter every one had retired. 

The minister made a slight sign with his head, whereupon the queen saidto Madame Beauvais:

"It is time for the king to go to bed; call Laporte. "

The queen had several times already told her son that he ought to go tobed, and several times Louis had coaxingly insisted on staying wherehe was; but now he made no reply, but turned pale and bit his lips withanger. 

In a few minutes Laporte came into the room. The child went directly tohim without kissing his mother. 

"Well, Louis, " said Anne, "why do you not kiss me?"

"I thought you were angry with me, madame; you sent me away. "

"I do not send you away, but you have had the small-pox and I am afraidthat sitting up late may tire you. "

"You had no fears of my being tired when you ordered me to go to thepalace to-day to pass the odious decrees which have raised the people torebellion. "

"Sire!" interposed Laporte, in order to turn the subject, "to whom doesyour majesty wish me to give the candle?"

"To any one, Laporte, " the child said; and then added in a loud voice, "to any one except Mancini. "

Now Mancini was a nephew of Mazarin's and was as much hated by Louis asthe cardinal himself, although placed near his person by the minister. 

And the king went out of the room without either embracing his mother oreven bowing to the cardinal. 

"Good, " said Mazarin, "I am glad to see that his majesty has beenbrought up with a hatred of dissimulation. "

"Why do you say that?" asked the queen, almost timidly. 

"Why, it seems to me that the way in which he left us needs noexplanation. Besides, his majesty takes no pains to conceal how littleaffection he has for me. That, however, does not hinder me from beingentirely devoted to his service, as I am to that of your majesty. "

"I ask your pardon for him, cardinal, " said the queen; "he is a child, not yet able to understand his obligations to you. "

The cardinal smiled. 

"But, " continued the queen, "you have doubtless come for some importantpurpose. What is it, then?"

Mazarin sank into a chair with the deepest melancholy painted on hiscountenance. 

"It is likely, " he replied, "that we shall soon be obliged to separate, unless you love me well enough to follow me to Italy. "

"Why, " cried the queen; "how is that?"

"Because, as they say in the opera of 'Thisbe, ' 'The whole worldconspires to break our bonds. '"

"You jest, sir!" answered the queen, endeavoring to assume something ofher former dignity. 

"Alas! I do not, madame, " rejoined Mazarin. "Mark well what I say. Thewhole world conspires to break our bonds. Now as you are one of thewhole world, I mean to say that you also are deserting me. "

"Cardinal!"

"Heavens! did I not see you the other day smile on the Duke of Orleans?or rather at what he said?"

"And what was he saying?"

"He said this, madame: 'Mazarin is a stumbling-block. Send him away andall will then be well. '"

"What do you wish me to do?"

"Oh, madame! you are the queen!"

"Queen, forsooth! when I am at the mercy of every scribbler in thePalais Royal who covers waste paper with nonsense, or of every countrysquire in the kingdom. "

"Nevertheless, you have still the power of banishing from your presencethose whom you do not like!"

"That is to say, whom you do not like, " returned the queen. 

"I! persons whom I do not like!"

"Yes, indeed. Who sent away Madame de Chevreuse after she had beenpersecuted twelve years under the last reign?"

"A woman of intrigue, who wanted to keep up against me the spirit ofcabal she had raised against M. De Richelieu. "

"Who dismissed Madame de Hautefort, that friend so loyal that sherefused the favor of the king that she might remain in mine?"

"A prude, who told you every night, as she undressed you, that it was asin to love a priest, just as if one were a priest because one happensto be a cardinal. "

"Who ordered Monsieur de Beaufort to be arrested?"

"An incendiary the burden of whose song was his intention to assassinateme. "

"You see, cardinal, " replied the queen, "that your enemies are mine. "

"That is not enough madame, it is necessary that your friends should bealso mine. "

"My friends, monsieur?" The queen shook her head. "Alas, I have them nolonger!"

"How is it that you have no friends in your prosperity when you had manyin adversity?"

"It is because in my prosperity I forgot those old friends, monsieur;because I have acted like Queen Marie de Medicis, who, returning fromher first exile, treated with contempt all those who had suffered forher and, being proscribed a second time, died at Cologne abandoned byevery one, even by her own son. "

"Well, let us see, " said Mazarin; "isn't there still time to repair theevil? Search among your friends, your oldest friends. "

"What do you mean, monsieur?"

"Nothing else than I say--search. "

"Alas, I look around me in vain! I have no influence with any one. Monsieur is, as usual, led by his favorite; yesterday it was Choisy, to-day it is La Riviere, to-morrow it will be some one else. Monsieur lePrince is led by the coadjutor, who is led by Madame de Guemenee. "

"Therefore, madame, I ask you to look, not among your friends of to-day, but among those of other times. "

"Among my friends of other times?" said the queen. 

"Yes, among your friends of other times; among those who aided you tocontend against the Duc de Richelieu and even to conquer him. "

"What is he aiming at?" murmured the queen, looking uneasily at thecardinal. 

"Yes, " continued his eminence; "under certain circumstances, with thatstrong and shrewd mind your majesty possesses, aided by your friends, you were able to repel the attacks of that adversary. "

"I!" said the queen. "I suffered, that is all. "

"Yes. " said Mazarin, "as women suffer in avenging themselves. Come, letus come to the point. Do you know Monsieur de Rochefort?"

"One of my bitterest enemies--the faithful friend of CardinalRichelieu. "

"I know that, and we sent him to the Bastile, " said Mazarin. 

"Is he at liberty?" asked the queen. 

"No; still there, but I only speak of him in order that I may introducethe name of another man. Do you know Monsieur d'Artagnan?" he added, looking steadfastly at the queen. 

Anne of Austria received the blow with a beating heart. 

"Has the Gascon been indiscreet?" she murmured to herself, then saidaloud:

"D'Artagnan! stop an instant, the name seems certainly familiar. D'Artagnan! there was a musketeer who was in love with one of my women. Poor young creature! she was poisoned on my account. "

"That's all you know of him?" asked Mazarin. 

The queen looked at him, surprised. 

"You seem, sir, " she remarked, "to be making me undergo a course ofcross-examination. "

"Which you answer according to your fancy, " replied Mazarin. 

"Tell me your wishes and I will comply with them. "

The queen spoke with some impatience. 

"Well, madame, " said Mazarin, bowing, "I desire that you give me ashare in your friends, as I have shared with you the little industry andtalent that Heaven has given me. The circumstances are grave and it willbe necessary to act promptly. "

"Still!" said the queen. "I thought that we were finally quit ofMonsieur de Beaufort. "

"Yes, you saw only the torrent that threatened to overturn everythingand you gave no attention to the still water. There is, however, aproverb current in France relating to water which is quiet. "

"Continue, " said the queen. 

"Well, then, madame, not a day passes in which I do not suffer affrontsfrom your princes and your lordly servants, all of them automata who donot perceive that I wind up the spring that makes them move, nor do theysee that beneath my quiet demeanor lies the still scorn of an injured, irritated man, who has sworn to himself to master them one of thesedays. We have arrested Monsieur de Beaufort, but he is the leastdangerous among them. There is the Prince de Conde----"

"The hero of Rocroy. Do you think of him?"

"Yes, madame, often and often, but pazienza, as we say in Italy; next, after Monsieur de Conde, comes the Duke of Orleans. "

"What are you saying? The first prince of the blood, the king's uncle!"

"No! not the first prince of the blood, not the king's uncle, but thebase conspirator, the soul of every cabal, who pretends to lead thebrave people who are weak enough to believe in the honor of a prince ofthe blood--not the prince nearest to the throne, not the king's uncle, I repeat, but the murderer of Chalais, of Montmorency and of Cinq-Mars, who is playing now the same game he played long ago and who thinks thathe will win the game because he has a new adversary--instead of a manwho threatened, a man who smiles. But he is mistaken; I shall notleave so near the queen that source of discord with which the deceasedcardinal so often caused the anger of the king to rage above the boilingpoint. "

Anne blushed and buried her face in her hands. 

"What am I to do?" she said, bowed down beneath the voice of her tyrant. 

"Endeavor to remember the names of those faithful servants who crossedthe Channel, in spite of Monsieur de Richelieu, tracking the roads alongwhich they passed by their blood, to bring back to your majesty certainjewels given by you to Buckingham. "

Anne arose, full of majesty, and as if touched by a spring, and lookingat the cardinal with the haughty dignity which in the days of her youthhad made her so powerful: "You are insulting me!" she said. 

"I wish, " continued Mazarin, finishing, as it were, the speech thissudden movement of the queen had cut; "I wish, in fact, that you shouldnow do for your husband what you formerly did for your lover. "

"Again that accusation!" cried the queen. "I thought that calumny wasstifled or extinct; you have spared me till now, but since you speak ofit, once for all, I tell you----"

"Madame, I do not ask you to tell me, " said Mazarin, astounded by thisreturning courage. 

"I will tell you all, " replied Anne. "Listen: there were in truth, at that epoch, four devoted hearts, four loyal spirits, four faithfulswords, who saved more than my life--my honor----"

"Ah! you confess it!" exclaimed Mazarin. 

"Is it only the guilty whose honor is at the sport of others, sir? andcannot women be dishonored by appearances? Yes, appearances were againstme and I was about to suffer dishonor. However, I swear I was notguilty, I swear it by----"

The queen looked around her for some sacred object by which she couldswear, and taking out of a cupboard hidden in the tapestry, a smallcoffer of rosewood set in silver, and laying it on the altar:

"I swear, " she said, "by these sacred relics that Buckingham was not mylover. "

"What relics are those by which you swear?" asked Mazarin, smiling. "Iam incredulous. "

The queen untied from around her throat a small golden key which hungthere, and presented it to the cardinal. 

"Open, sir, " she said, "and look for yourself. "

Mazarin opened the coffer; a knife, covered with rust, and two letters, one of which was stained with blood, alone met his gaze. 

"What are these things?" he asked. 

"What are these things?" replied Anne, with queen-like dignity, extending toward the open coffer an arm, despite the lapse of years, still beautiful. "These two letters are the only ones I ever wrote tohim. This knife is the knife with which Felton stabbed him. Read theletters and see if I have lied or spoken the truth. "

But Mazarin, notwithstanding this permission, instead of reading theletters, took the knife which the dying Buckingham had snatched out ofthe wound and sent by Laporte to the queen. The blade was red, for theblood had become rust; after a momentary examination during which thequeen became as white as the cloth which covered the altar on which shewas leaning, he put it back into the coffer with an involuntary shudder. 

"It is well, madame, I believe your oath. "

"No, no, read, " exclaimed the queen, indignantly; "read, I command you, for I am resolved that everything shall be finished to-night and neverwill I recur to this subject again. Do you think, " she said, with aghastly smile, "that I shall be inclined to reopen this coffer to answerany future accusations?"

Mazarin, overcome by this determination, read the two letters. In onethe queen asked for the ornaments back again. This letter had beenconveyed by D'Artagnan and had arrived in time. The other was that whichLaporte had placed in the hands of the Duke of Buckingham, warning himthat he was about to be assassinated; that communication had arrived toolate. 

"It is well, madame, " said Mazarin; "nothing can gainsay suchtestimony. "

"Sir, " replied the queen, closing the coffer and leaning her hand uponit, "if there is anything to be said, it is that I have always beenungrateful to the brave men who saved me--that I have given nothing tothat gallant officer, D'Artagnan, you were speaking of just now, but myhand to kiss and this diamond. "

As she spoke she extended her beautiful hand to the cardinal and showedhim a superb diamond which sparkled on her finger. 

"It appears, " she resumed, "that he sold it---he sold it in order tosave me another time--to be able to send a messenger to the duke to warnhim of his danger--he sold it to Monsieur des Essarts, on whose finger Iremarked it. I bought it from him, but it belongs to D'Artagnan. Giveit back to him, sir, and since you have such a man in your service, makehim useful. "

"Thank you, madame, " said Mazarin. "I will profit by the advice. "

"And now, " added the queen, her voice broken by her emotion, "have youany other question to ask me?"

"Nothing, "--the cardinal spoke in his most conciliatory manner--"exceptto beg of you to forgive my unworthy suspicions. I love you so tenderlythat I cannot help being jealous, even of the past. "

A smile, which was indefinable, passed over the lips of the queen. 

"Since you have no further interrogations to make, leave me, I beseechyou, " she said. "I wish, after such a scene, to be alone. "

Mazarin bent low before her. 

"I will retire, madame. Do you permit me to return?"

"Yes, to-morrow. "

The cardinal took the queen's hand and pressed it with an air ofgallantry to his lips. 

Scarcely had he left her when the queen went into her son's room, andinquired from Laporte if the king was in bed. Laporte pointed to thechild, who was asleep. 

Anne ascended the steps side of the bed and softly kissed the placidforehead of her son; then she retired as silently as she had come, merely saying to Laporte:

"Try, my dear Laporte, to make the king more courteous to Monsieur leCardinal, to whom both he and I are under such important obligations. "

5. The Gascon and the Italian. 

Meanwhile the cardinal returned to his own room; and after askingBernouin, who stood at the door, whether anything had occurred duringhis absence, and being answered in the negative, he desired that hemight be left alone. 

When he was alone he opened the door of the corridor and then that ofthe ante-chamber. There D'Artagnan was asleep upon a bench. 

The cardinal went up to him and touched his shoulder. D'Artagnanstarted, awakened himself, and as he awoke, stood up exactly like asoldier under arms. 

"Here I am, " said he. "Who calls me?"

"I, " said Mazarin, with his most smiling expression. 

"I ask pardon of your eminence, " said D'Artagnan, "but I was sofatigued----"

"Don't ask my pardon, monsieur, " said Mazarin, "for you fatiguedyourself in my service. "

D'Artagnan admired Mazarin's gracious manner. "Ah, " said he, betweenhis teeth, "is there truth in the proverb that fortune comes while onesleeps?"

"Follow me, monsieur, " said Mazarin. 

"Come, come, " murmured D'Artagnan, "Rochefort has kept his promise, but where in the devil is he?" And he searched the cabinet even to thesmallest recesses, but there was no sign of Rochefort. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said the cardinal, sitting down on a fauteuil, "you have always seemed to me to be a brave and honorable man. "

"Possibly, " thought D'Artagnan, "but he has taken a long time to letme know his thoughts;" nevertheless, he bowed to the very ground ingratitude for Mazarin's compliment. 

"Well, " continued Mazarin, "the time has come to put to use your talentsand your valor. "

There was a sudden gleam of joy in the officer's eyes, which vanishedimmediately, for he knew nothing of Mazarin's purpose. 

"Order, my lord, " he said; "I am ready to obey your eminence. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " continued the cardinal, "you performed sundrysuperb exploits in the last reign. "

"Your eminence is too good to remember such trifles in my favor. It istrue I fought with tolerable success. "

"I don't speak of your warlike exploits, monsieur, " said Mazarin;"although they gained you much reputation, they were surpassed byothers. "

D'Artagnan pretended astonishment. 

"Well, you do not reply?" resumed Mazarin. 

"I am waiting, my lord, till you tell me of what exploits you speak. "

"I speak of the adventure--Eh, you know well what I mean. "

"Alas, no, my lord!" replied D'Artagnan, surprised. 

"You are discreet--so much the better. I speak of that adventure inbehalf of the queen, of the ornaments, of the journey you made withthree of your friends. "

"Aha!" thought the Gascon; "is this a snare or not? Let me be on myguard. "

And he assumed a look of stupidity which Mendori or Bellerose, two ofthe first actors of the day, might have envied. 

"Bravo!" cried Mazarin; "they told me that you were the man I wanted. Come, let us see what you will do for me. "

"Everything that your eminence may please to command me, " was the reply. 

"You will do for me what you have done for the queen?"

"Certainly, " D'Artagnan said to himself, "he wishes to make me speakout. He's not more cunning than De Richelieu was! Devil take him!" Thenhe said aloud:

"The queen, my lord? I don't comprehend. "

"You don't comprehend that I want you and your three friends to be ofuse to me?"

"Which of my friends, my lord?"

"Your three friends--the friends of former days. "

"Of former days, my lord! In former days I had not only three friends, Ihad thirty; at two-and-twenty one calls every man one's friend. "

"Well, sir, " returned Mazarin, "prudence is a fine thing, but to-day youmight regret having been too prudent. "

"My lord, Pythagoras made his disciples keep silence for five years thatthey might learn to hold their tongues. "

"But you have been silent for twenty years, sir. Speak, now the queenherself releases you from your promise. "

"The queen!" said D'Artagnan, with an astonishment which this time wasnot pretended. 

"Yes, the queen! And as a proof of what I say she commanded me to showyou this diamond, which she thinks you know. "

And so saying, Mazarin extended his hand to the officer, who sighed ashe recognized the ring so gracefully given to him by the queen on thenight of the ball at the Hotel de Ville and which she had repurchasedfrom Monsieur des Essarts. 

"'Tis true. I remember well that diamond, which belonged to the queen. "

"You see, then, that I speak to you in the queen's name. Answer mewithout acting as if you were on the stage; your interests are concernedin your so doing. "

"Faith, my lord, it is very necessary for me to make my fortune, youreminence has so long forgotten me. "

"We need only a week to amend all that. Come, you are accounted for, youare here, but where are your friends?"

"I do not know, my lord. We have parted company this long time; allthree have left the service. "

"Where can you find them, then?"

"Wherever they are, that's my business. "

"Well, now, what are your conditions, if I employ you?"

"Money, my lord, as much money as what you wish me to undertake willrequire. I remember too well how sometimes we were stopped for want ofmoney, and but for that diamond, which I was obliged to sell, we shouldhave remained on the road. "

"The devil he does! Money! and a large sum!" said Mazarin. "Pray, areyou aware that the king has no money in his treasury?"

"Do then as I did, my lord. Sell the crown diamonds. Trust me, don'tlet us try to do things cheaply. Great undertakings come poorly off withpaltry means. "

"Well, " returned Mazarin, "we will satisfy you. "

"Richelieu, " thought D'Artagnan, "would have given me five hundredpistoles in advance. "

"You will then be at my service?" asked Mazarin. 

"Yes, if my friends agree. "

"But if they refuse can I count on you?"

"I have never accomplished anything alone, " said D'Artagnan, shaking hishead. 

"Go, then, and find them. "

"What shall I say to them by way of inducement to serve your eminence?"

"You know them better than I. Adapt your promises to their respectivecharacters. "

"What shall I promise?"

"That if they serve me as well as they served the queen my gratitudeshall be magnificent. "

"But what are we to do?"

"Make your mind easy; when the time for action comes you shall be put infull possession of what I require from you; wait till that time arrivesand find out your friends. "

"My lord, perhaps they are not in Paris. It is even probable that Ishall have to make a journey. I am only a lieutenant of musketeers, verypoor, and journeys cost money. 

"My intention, " said Mazarin, "is not that you go with a greatfollowing; my plans require secrecy, and would be jeopardized by a tooextravagant equipment. "

"Still, my lord, I can't travel on my pay, for it is now three monthsbehind; and I can't travel on my savings, for in my twenty-two years ofservice I have accumulated nothing but debts. "

Mazarin remained some moments in deep thought, as if he were fightingwith himself; then, going to a large cupboard closed with a triple lock, he took from it a bag of silver, and weighing it twice in his handsbefore he gave it to D'Artagnan:

"Take this, " he said with a sigh, "'tis merely for your journey. "

"If these are Spanish doubloons, or even gold crowns, " thoughtD'Artagnan, "we shall yet be able to do business together. " He salutedthe cardinal and plunged the bag into the depths of an immense pocket. 

"Well, then, all is settled; you are to set off, " said the cardinal. 

"Yes, my lord. "

"Apropos, what are the names of your friends?"

"The Count de la Fere, formerly styled Athos; Monsieur du Vallon, whom we used to call Porthos; the Chevalier d'Herblay, now the Abbed'Herblay, whom we styled Aramis----"

The cardinal smiled. 

"Younger sons, " he said, "who enlisted in the musketeers under feignednames in order not to lower their family names. Long swords but lightpurses. Was that it?"

"If, God willing, these swords should be devoted to the service of youreminence, " said D'Artagnan, "I shall venture to express a wish, whichis, that in its turn the purse of your eminence may become light andtheirs heavy--for with these three men your eminence may rouse allEurope if you like. "

"These Gascons, " said the cardinal, laughing, "almost beat the Italiansin effrontery. "

"At all events, " answered D'Artagnan, with a smile almost as crafty asthe cardinal's, "they beat them when they draw their swords. "

He then withdrew, and as he passed into the courtyard he stopped near alamp and dived eagerly into the bag of money. 

"Crown pieces only--silver pieces! I suspected it. Ah! Mazarin! Mazarin!thou hast no confidence in me! so much the worse for thee, for harm maycome of it!"

Meanwhile the cardinal was rubbing his hands in great satisfaction. 

"A hundred pistoles! a hundred pistoles! for a hundred pistoles I havediscovered a secret for which Richelieu would have paid twenty thousandcrowns; without reckoning the value of that diamond"--he cast acomplacent look at the ring, which he had kept, instead of restoring toD'Artagnan--"which is worth, at least, ten thousand francs. "

He returned to his room, and after depositing the ring in a casketfilled with brilliants of every sort, for the cardinal was a connoisseurin precious stones, he called to Bernouin to undress him, regardless ofthe noises of gun-fire that, though it was now near midnight, continuedto resound through Paris. 

In the meantime D'Artagnan took his way toward the Rue Tiquetonne, wherehe lived at the Hotel de la Chevrette. 

We will explain in a few words how D'Artagnan had been led to choosethat place of residence. 

6. D'Artagnan in his Fortieth Year. 

Years have elapsed, many events have happened, alas! since, in ourromance of "The Three Musketeers, " we took leave of D'Artagnan at No. 12 Rue des Fossoyeurs. D'Artagnan had not failed in his career, butcircumstances had been adverse to him. So long as he was surrounded byhis friends he retained his youth and the poetry of his character. Hewas one of those fine, ingenuous natures which assimilate themselveseasily to the dispositions of others. Athos imparted to him hisgreatness of soul, Porthos his enthusiasm, Aramis his elegance. HadD'Artagnan continued his intimacy with these three men he would havebecome a superior character. Athos was the first to leave him, in orderthat he might retire to a little property he had inherited near Blois;Porthos, the second, to marry an attorney's wife; and lastly, Aramis, the third, to take orders and become an abbe. From that day D'Artagnanfelt lonely and powerless, without courage to pursue a career in whichhe could only distinguish himself on condition that each of his threecompanions should endow him with one of the gifts each had received fromHeaven. 

Notwithstanding his commission in the musketeers, D'Artagnan feltcompletely solitary. For a time the delightful remembrance of MadameBonancieux left on his character a certain poetic tinge, perishableindeed; for like all other recollections in this world, theseimpressions were, by degrees, effaced. A garrison life is fatal evento the most aristocratic organization; and imperceptibly, D'Artagnan, always in the camp, always on horseback, always in garrison, became (Iknow not how in the present age one would express it) a typical trooper. His early refinement of character was not only not lost, it grew evengreater than ever; but it was now applied to the little, instead ofto the great things of life--to the martial condition of thesoldier--comprised under the head of a good lodging, a rich table, acongenial hostess. These important advantages D'Artagnan found to hisown taste in the Rue Tiquetonne at the sign of the Roe. 

From the time D'Artagnan took quarters in that hotel, the mistress ofthe house, a pretty and fresh looking Flemish woman, twenty-five ortwenty-six years old, had been singularly interested in him; and aftercertain love passages, much obstructed by an inconvenient husband towhom a dozen times D'Artagnan had made a pretence of passing a swordthrough his body, that husband had disappeared one fine morning, afterfurtively selling certain choice lots of wine, carrying away with himmoney and jewels. He was thought to be dead; his wife, especially, whocherished the pleasing idea that she was a widow, stoutly maintainedthat death had taken him. Therefore, after the connection had continuedthree years, carefully fostered by D'Artagnan, who found his bed and hismistress more agreeable every year, each doing credit to the other, the mistress conceived the extraordinary desire of becoming a wife andproposed to D'Artagnan that he should marry her. 

"Ah, fie!" D'Artagnan replied. "Bigamy, my dear! Come now, you don'treally wish it?"

"But he is dead; I am sure of it. "

"He was a very contrary fellow and might come back on purpose to have ushanged. "

"All right; if he comes back you will kill him, you are so skillful andso brave. "

"Peste! my darling! another way of getting hanged. "

"So you refuse my request?"

"To be sure I do--furiously!"

The pretty landlady was desolate. She would have taken D'Artagnan notonly as her husband, but as her God, he was so handsome and had sofierce a mustache. 

Then along toward the fourth year came the expedition of Franche-Comte. D'Artagnan was assigned to it and made his preparations to depart. Therewere then great griefs, tears without end and solemn promises to remainfaithful--all of course on the part of the hostess. D'Artagnan was toogrand to promise anything; he purposed only to do all that he could toincrease the glory of his name. 

As to that, we know D'Artagnan's courage; he exposed himself freely todanger and while charging at the head of his company he received a ballthrough the chest which laid him prostrate on the field of battle. Hehad been seen falling from his horse and had not been seen to rise;every one, therefore, believed him to be dead, especially those to whomhis death would give promotion. One believes readily what he wishesto believe. Now in the army, from the division-generals who desire thedeath of the general-in-chief, to the soldiers who desire the death ofthe corporals, all desire some one's death. 

But D'Artagnan was not a man to let himself be killed like that. After he had remained through the heat of the day unconscious on thebattle-field, the cool freshness of the night brought him to himself. He gained a village, knocked at the door of the finest house and wasreceived as the wounded are always and everywhere received in France. Hewas petted, tended, cured; and one fine morning, in better health thanever before, he set out for France. Once in France he turned his coursetoward Paris, and reaching Paris went straight to Rue Tiquetonne. 

But D'Artagnan found in his chamber the personal equipment of a man, complete, except for the sword, arranged along the wall. 

"He has returned, " said he. "So much the worse, and so much the better!"

It need not be said that D'Artagnan was still thinking of the husband. He made inquiries and discovered that the servants were new and that themistress had gone for a walk. 

"Alone?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"With monsieur. "

"Monsieur has returned, then?"

"Of course, " naively replied the servant. 

"If I had any money, " said D'Artagnan to himself, "I would go away;but I have none. I must stay and follow the advice of my hostess, whilethwarting the conjugal designs of this inopportune apparition. "

He had just completed this monologue--which proves that in momentouscircumstances nothing is more natural than the monologue--when theservant-maid, watching at the door, suddenly cried out:

"Ah! see! here is madame returning with monsieur. "

D'Artagnan looked out and at the corner of Rue Montmartre saw thehostess coming along hanging to the arm of an enormous Swiss, whotiptoed in his walk with a magnificent air which pleasantly reminded himof his old friend Porthos. 

"Is that monsieur?" said D'Artagnan to himself. "Oh! oh! he has growna good deal, it seems to me. " And he sat down in the hall, choosing aconspicuous place. 

The hostess, as she entered, saw D'Artagnan and uttered a little cry, whereupon D'Artagnan, judging that he had been recognized, rose, ran toher and embraced her tenderly. The Swiss, with an air of stupefaction, looked at the hostess, who turned pale. 

"Ah, it is you, monsieur! What do you want of me?" she asked, in greatdistress. 

"Is monsieur your cousin? Is monsieur your brother?" said D'Artagnan, not in the slightest degree embarrassed in the role he was playing. And without waiting for her reply he threw himself into the arms of theHelvetian, who received him with great coldness. 

"Who is that man?" he asked. 

The hostess replied only by gasps. 

"Who is that Swiss?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Monsieur is going to marry me, " replied the hostess, between two gasps. 

"Your husband, then, is at last dead?"

"How does that concern you?" replied the Swiss. 

"It concerns me much, " said D'Artagnan, "since you cannot marry madamewithout my consent and since----"

"And since?" asked the Swiss. 

"And since--I do not give it, " said the musketeer. 

The Swiss became as purple as a peony. He wore his elegant uniform, D'Artagnan was wrapped in a sort of gray cloak; the Swiss was six feethigh, D'Artagnan was hardly more than five; the Swiss considered himselfon his own ground and regarded D'Artagnan as an intruder. 

"Will you go away from here?" demanded the Swiss, stamping violently, like a man who begins to be seriously angry. 

"I? By no means!" said D'Artagnan. 

"Some one must go for help, " said a lad, who could not comprehend thatthis little man should make a stand against that other man, who was solarge. 

D'Artagnan, with a sudden accession of wrath, seized the lad by the earand led him apart, with the injunction:

"Stay you where you are and don't you stir, or I will pull this ear off. As for you, illustrious descendant of William Tell, you will straightwayget together your clothes which are in my room and which annoy me, andgo out quickly to another lodging. "

The Swiss began to laugh boisterously. "I go out?" he said. "And why?"

"Ah, very well!" said D'Artagnan; "I see that you understand French. Come then, and take a turn with me and I will explain. "

The hostess, who knew D'Artagnan's skill with the sword, began to weepand tear her hair. D'Artagnan turned toward her, saying, "Then send himaway, madame. "

"Pooh!" said the Swiss, who had needed a little time to take inD'Artagnan's proposal, "pooh! who are you, in the first place, to ask meto take a turn with you?"

"I am lieutenant in his majesty's musketeers, " said D'Artagnan, "andconsequently your superior in everything; only, as the question now isnot of rank, but of quarters--you know the custom--come and seek foryours; the first to return will recover his chamber. "

D'Artagnan led away the Swiss in spite of lamentations on the part ofthe hostess, who in reality found her heart inclining toward her formerlover, though she would not have been sorry to give a lesson to thathaughty musketeer who had affronted her by the refusal of her hand. 

It was night when the two adversaries reached the field of battle. D'Artagnan politely begged the Swiss to yield to him the disputedchamber; the Swiss refused by shaking his head, and drew his sword. 

"Then you will lie here, " said D'Artagnan. "It is a wretched bed, butthat is not my fault, and it is you who have chosen it. " With thesewords he drew in his turn and crossed swords with his adversary. 

He had to contend against a strong wrist, but his agility was superiorto all force. The Swiss received two wounds and was not aware of it, by reason of the cold; but suddenly feebleness, occasioned by loss ofblood, obliged him to sit down. 

"There!" said: D'Artagnan, "what did I tell you? Fortunately, you won'tbe laid up more than a fortnight. Remain here and I will send you yourclothes by the boy. Good-by! Oh, by the way, you'd better take lodgingin the Rue Montorgueil at the Chat Qui Pelote. You will be well fedthere, if the hostess remains the same. Adieu. "

Thereupon he returned in a lively mood to his room and sent to theSwiss the things that belonged to him. The boy found him sitting whereD'Artagnan had left him, still overwhelmed by the coolness of hisadversary. 

The boy, the hostess, and all the house had the same regard forD'Artagnan that one would have for Hercules should he return to earth torepeat his twelve labors. 

But when he was alone with the hostess he said: "Now, pretty Madeleine, you know the difference between a Swiss and a gentleman. As for you, you have acted like a barmaid. So much the worse for you, for by suchconduct you have lost my esteem and my patronage. I have driven awaythe Swiss to humiliate you, but I shall lodge here no longer. I will notsleep where I must scorn. Ho, there, boy! Have my valise carried to theMuid d'Amour, Rue des Bourdonnais. Adieu, madame. "

In saying these words D'Artagnan appeared at the same time majestic andgrieved. The hostess threw herself at his feet, asked his pardon andheld him back with a sweet violence. What more need be said? The spitturned, the stove roared, the pretty Madeleine wept; D'Artagnan felthimself invaded by hunger, cold and love. He pardoned, and havingpardoned he remained. 

And this explains how D'Artagnan had quarters in the Rue Tiquetonne, atthe Hotel de la Chevrette. 

D'Artagnan then returned home in thoughtful mood, finding a somewhatlively pleasure in carrying Mazarin's bag of money and thinking of thatfine diamond which he had once called his own and which he had seen onthe minister's finger that night. 

"Should that diamond ever fall into my hands again, " he reflected, "Iwould turn it at once into money; I would buy with the proceeds certainlands around my father's chateau, which is a pretty place, well enough, but with no land to it at all, except a garden about the size of theCemetery des Innocents; and I should wait in all my glory till somerich heiress, attracted by my good looks, rode along to marry me. Then Ishould like to have three sons; I should make the first a nobleman, likeAthos; the second a good soldier, like Porthos; the third an excellentabbe, like Aramis. Faith! that would be a far better life than I leadnow; but Monsieur Mazarin is a mean wretch, who won't dispossess himselfof his diamond in my favor. "

On entering the Rue Tiquetonne he heard a tremendous noise and found adense crowd near the house. 

"Oho!" said he, "is the hotel on fire?" On approaching the hotel of theRoe he found, however, that it was in front of the next house the mobwas collected. The people were shouting and running about with torches. By the light of one of these torches D'Artagnan perceived men inuniform. 

He asked what was going on. 

He was told that twenty citizens, headed by one man, had attacked acarriage which was escorted by a troop of the cardinal's bodyguard; buta reinforcement having come up, the assailants had been put to flightand the leader had taken refuge in the hotel next to his lodgings; thehouse was now being searched. 

In his youth D'Artagnan had often headed the bourgeoisie againstthe military, but he was cured of all those hot-headed propensities;besides, he had the cardinal's hundred pistoles in his pocket, so hewent into the hotel without a word. There he found Madeleine alarmed forhis safety and anxious to tell him all the events of the evening, but hecut her short by ordering her to put his supper in his room and give himwith it a bottle of good Burgundy. 

He took his key and candle and went upstairs to his bedroom. He hadbeen contented, for the convenience of the house, to lodge in the fourthstory; and truth obliges us even to confess that his chamber was justabove the gutter and below the roof. His first care on entering it wasto lock up in an old bureau with a new lock his bag of money, and thenas soon as supper was ready he sent away the waiter who brought it upand sat down to table. 

Not to reflect on what had passed, as one might fancy. No, D'Artagnanconsidered that things are never well done when they are not reserved totheir proper time. He was hungry; he supped, he went to bed. Neither washe one of those who think that the necessary silence of the night bringscounsel with it. In the night he slept, but in the morning, refreshedand calm, he was inspired with his clearest views of everything. Itwas long since he had any reason for his morning's inspiration, but healways slept all night long. At daybreak he awoke and took a turn aroundhis room. 

"In '43, " he said, "just before the death of the late cardinal, Ireceived a letter from Athos. Where was I then? Let me see. Oh! at thesiege of Besancon I was in the trenches. He told me--let me think--whatwas it? That he was living on a small estate--but where? I was justreading the name of the place when the wind blew my letter away, Isuppose to the Spaniards; there's no use in thinking any more aboutAthos. Let me see: with regard to Porthos, I received a letter from him, too. He invited me to a hunting party on his property in the month ofSeptember, 1646. Unluckily, as I was then in Bearn, on account of myfather's death, the letter followed me there. I had left Bearn when itarrived and I never received it until the month of April, 1647; and asthe invitation was for September, 1646, I couldn't accept it. Let melook for this letter; it must be with my title deeds. "

D'Artagnan opened an old casket which stood in a corner of the room, andwhich was full of parchments referring to an estate during a periodof two hundred years lost to his family. He uttered an exclamationof delight, for the large handwriting of Porthos was discernible, andunderneath some lines traced by his worthy spouse. 

D'Artagnan eagerly searched for the heading of this letter; it was datedfrom the Chateau du Vallon. 

Porthos had forgotten that any other address was necessary; in his pridehe fancied that every one must know the Chateau du Vallon. 

"Devil take the vain fellow, " said D'Artagnan. "However, I had betterfind him out first, since he can't want money. Athos must have becomean idiot by this time from drinking. Aramis must have worn himself to ashadow of his former self by constant genuflexion. "

He cast his eyes again on the letter. There was a postscript:

"I write by the same courier to our worthy friend Aramis in hisconvent. "

"In his convent! What convent? There are about two hundred in Paris andthree thousand in France; and then, perhaps, on entering the conventhe changed his name. Ah! if I were but learned in theology I shouldrecollect what it was he used to dispute about with the curate ofMontdidier and the superior of the Jesuits, when we were at Crevecoeur;I should know what doctrine he leans to and I should glean from thatwhat saint he has adopted as his patron. 

"Well, suppose I go back to the cardinal and ask him for a passport intoall the convents one can find, even into the nunneries? It would bea curious idea, and maybe I should find my friend under the name ofAchilles. But, no! I should lose myself in the cardinal's opinion. Greatpeople only thank you for doing the impossible; what's possible, theysay, they can effect themselves, and they are right. But let us wait alittle and reflect. I received a letter from him, the dear fellow, in which he even asked me for some small service, which, in fact, Irendered him. Yes, yes; but now what did I do with that letter?"

D'Artagnan thought a moment and then went to the wardrobe in which hunghis old clothes. He looked for his doublet of the year 1648 and as hehad orderly habits, he found it hanging on its nail. He felt in thepocket and drew from it a paper; it was the letter of Aramis:

"Monsieur D'Artagnan: You know that I have had a quarrel with a certaingentleman, who has given me an appointment for this evening in thePlace Royale. As I am of the church, and the affair might injure me ifI should share it with any other than a sure friend like you, I write tobeg that you will serve me as second. 

"You will enter by the Rue Neuve Sainte Catherine; under the second lampon the right you will find your adversary. I shall be with mine underthe third. 

"Wholly yours, "Aramis. "

D'Artagnan tried to recall his remembrances. He had gone to therendezvous, had encountered there the adversary indicated, whose namehe had never known, had given him a pretty sword-stroke on the arm, thenhad gone toward Aramis, who at the same time came to meet him, havingalready finished his affair. "It is over, " Aramis had said. "I think Ihave killed the insolent fellow. But, dear friend, if you ever need meyou know that I am entirely devoted to you. " Thereupon Aramis had givenhim a clasp of the hand and had disappeared under the arcades. 

So, then, he no more knew where Aramis was than where Athos and Porthoswere, and the affair was becoming a matter of great perplexity, when hefancied he heard a pane of glass break in his room window. He thoughtdirectly of his bag and rushed from the inner room where he wassleeping. He was not mistaken; as he entered his bedroom a man wasgetting in by the window. 

"Ah! you scoundrel!" cried D'Artagnan, taking the man for a thief andseizing his sword. 

"Sir!" cried the man, "in the name of Heaven put your sword back intothe sheath and don't kill me unheard. I'm no thief, but an honestcitizen, well off in the world, with a house of my own. My name is--ah!but surely you are Monsieur d'Artagnan?"

"And thou--Planchet!" cried the lieutenant. 

"At your service, sir, " said Planchet, overwhelmed with joy; "if I werestill capable of serving you. "

"Perhaps so, " replied D'Artagnan. "But why the devil dost thou runabout the tops of houses at seven o'clock of the morning in the month ofJanuary?"

"Sir, " said Planchet, "you must know; but, perhaps you ought not toknow----"

"Tell us what, " returned D'Artagnan, "but first put a napkin against thewindow and draw the curtains. "

"Sir, " said the prudent Planchet, "in the first place, are you on goodterms with Monsieur de Rochefort?"

"Perfectly; one of my dearest friends. "

"Ah! so much the better!"

"But what has De Rochefort to do with this manner you have of invadingmy room?"

"Ah, sir! I must first tell you that Monsieur de Rochefort is----"

Planchet hesitated. 

"Egad, I know where he is, " said D'Artagnan. "He's in the Bastile. "

"That is to say, he was there, " replied Planchet. "But in returningthither last night, when fortunately you did not accompany him, as hiscarriage was crossing the Rue de la Ferronnerie his guards insultedthe people, who began to abuse them. The prisoner thought this a goodopportunity for escape; he called out his name and cried for help. I wasthere. I heard the name of Rochefort. I remembered him well. I said in aloud voice that he was a prisoner, a friend of the Duc de Beaufort, whocalled for help. The people were infuriated; they stopped the horses andcut the escort to pieces, whilst I opened the doors of the carriage andMonsieur de Rochefort jumped out and soon was lost amongst the crowd. Atthis moment a patrol passed by. I was obliged to sound a retreat towardthe Rue Tiquetonne; I was pursued and took refuge in the house next tothis, where I have been concealed between two mattresses. This morning Iventured to run along the gutters and----"

"Well, " interrupted D'Artagnan, "I am delighted that De Rochefort isfree, but as for thee, if thou shouldst fall into the hands of theking's servants they will hang thee without mercy. Nevertheless, Ipromise thee thou shalt be hidden here, though I risk by concealing theeneither more nor less than my lieutenancy, if it was found out that Igave one rebel an asylum. "

"Ah! sir, you know well I would risk my life for you. "

"Thou mayst add that thou hast risked it, Planchet. I have not forgottenall I owe thee. Sit down there and eat in security. I see thee castexpressive glances at the remains of my supper. "

"Yes, sir; for all I've had since yesterday was a slice of bread andbutter, with preserves on it. Although I don't despise sweet things inproper time and place, I found the supper rather light. "

"Poor fellow!" said D'Artagnan. "Well, come; set to. "

"Ah, sir, you are going to save my life a second time!" cried Planchet. 

And he seated himself at the table and ate as he did in the merry daysof the Rue des Fossoyeurs, whilst D'Artagnan walked to and fro andthought how he could make use of Planchet under present circumstances. While he turned this over in his mind Planchet did his best to make upfor lost time at table. At last he uttered a sigh of satisfaction andpaused, as if he had partially appeased his hunger. 

"Come, " said D'Artagnan, who thought that it was now a convenient timeto begin his interrogations, "dost thou know where Athos is?"

"No, sir, " replied Planchet. 

"The devil thou dost not! Dost know where Porthos is?"

"No--not at all. "

"And Aramis?"

"Not in the least. "

"The devil! the devil! the devil!"

"But, sir, " said Planchet, with a look of shrewdness, "I know whereBazin is. "

"Where is he?"

"At Notre Dame. "

"What has he to do at Notre Dame?"

"He is beadle. "

"Bazin beadle at Notre Dame! He must know where his master is!"

"Without a doubt he must. "

D'Artagnan thought for a moment, then took his sword and put on hiscloak to go out. 

"Sir, " said Planchet, in a mournful tone, "do you abandon me thus to myfate? Think, if I am found out here, the people of the house, who havenot seen me enter it, will take me for a thief. "

"True, " said D'Artagnan. "Let's see. Canst thou speak any patois?"

"I can do something better than that, sir, I can speak Flemish. "

"Where the devil didst thou learn it?"

"In Artois, where I fought for years. Listen, sir. Goeden morgen, mynheer, eth teen begeeray le weeten the ge sond heets omstand. "

"Which means?"

"Good-day, sir! I am anxious to know the state of your health. "

"He calls that a language! But never mind, that will do capitally. "

D'Artagnan opened the door and called out to a waiter to desireMadeleine to come upstairs. 

When the landlady made her appearance she expressed much astonishment atseeing Planchet. 

"My dear landlady, " said D'Artagnan, "I beg to introduce to you yourbrother, who is arrived from Flanders and whom I am going to take intomy service. "

"My brother?"

"Wish your sister good-morning, Master Peter. "

"Wilkom, suster, " said Planchet. 

"Goeden day, broder, " replied the astonished landlady. 

"This is the case, " said D'Artagnan; "this is your brother, Madeleine;you don't know him perhaps, but I know him; he has arrived fromAmsterdam. You must dress him up during my absence. When I return, whichwill be in about an hour, you must offer him to me as a servant, andupon your recommendation, though he doesn't speak a word of French, Itake him into my service. You understand?"

"That is to say, I guess your wishes, and that is all that's necessary, "said Madeleine. 

"You are a precious creature, my pretty hostess, and I am much obligedto you. "

The next moment D'Artagnan was on his way to Notre Dame. 

7. Touches upon the Strange Effects a Half-pistole may have upon aBeadle and a Chorister. 

D'Artagnan, as he crossed the Pont Neuf, congratulated himself onhaving found Planchet again, for at that time an intelligent servantwas essential to him; nor was he sorry that through Planchet and thesituation which he held in Rue des Lombards, a connection with thebourgeoisie might be commenced, at that critical period when that classwere preparing to make war with the court party. It was like havinga spy in the enemy's camp. In this frame of mind, grateful for theaccidental meeting with Planchet, pleased with himself, D'Artagnanreached Notre Dame. He ran up the steps, entered the church, andaddressing a verger who was sweeping the chapel, asked him if he knewMonsieur Bazin. 

"Monsieur Bazin, the beadle?" said the verger. "Yes. There he is, attending mass, in the chapel of the Virgin. "

D'Artagnan nearly jumped for joy; he had despaired of finding Bazin, butnow, he thought, since he held one end of the thread he would be prettysure to reach the other end. 

He knelt down just opposite the chapel in order not to lose sight of hisman; and as he had almost forgotten his prayers and had omitted to takea book with him, he made use of his time in gazing at Bazin. 

Bazin wore his dress, it may be observed, with equal dignity and saintlypropriety. It was not difficult to understand that he had gained thecrown of his ambition and that the silver-mounted wand he brandishedwas in his eyes as honorable a distinction as the marshal's batonwhich Conde threw, or did not throw, into the enemy's line of battle atFribourg. His person had undergone a change, analogous to the change inhis dress; his figure had grown rotund and, as it were, canonical. Thestriking points of his face were effaced; he had still a nose, but hischeeks, fattened out, each took a portion of it unto themselves; hischin had joined his throat; his eyes were swelled up with the puffinessof his cheeks; his hair, cut straight in holy guise, covered hisforehead as far as his eyebrows. 

The officiating priest was just finishing mass whilst D'Artagnan waslooking at Bazin; he pronounced the words of the holy Sacrament andretired, giving the benediction, which was received by the kneelingcommunicants, to the astonishment of D'Artagnan, who recognized in thepriest the coadjutor* himself, the famous Jean Francois Gondy, whoat that time, having a presentiment of the part he was to play, wasbeginning to court popularity by almsgiving. It was to this end that heperformed from time to time some of those early masses which the commonpeople, generally, alone attended. 

*A sacerdotal officer. 

D'Artagnan knelt as well as the rest, received his share of thebenediction and made the sign of the cross; but when Bazin passed in histurn, with his eyes raised to Heaven and walking, in all humility, thevery last, D'Artagnan pulled him by the hem of his robe. 

Bazin looked down and started, as if he had seen a serpent. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" he cried; "Vade retro Satanas!"

"So, my dear Bazin!" said the officer, laughing, "this is the way youreceive an old friend. "

"Sir, " replied Bazin, "the true friends of a Christian are those who aidhim in working out his salvation, not those who hinder him in doing so. "

"I don't understand you, Bazin; nor can I see how I can be astumbling-block in the way of your salvation, " said D'Artagnan. 

"You forget, sir, that you very nearly ruined forever that of my master;and that it was owing to you that he was very nearly being damnedeternally for remaining a musketeer, whilst all the time his truevocation was the church. "

"My dear Bazin, you ought to perceive, " said D'Artagnan, "from theplace in which you find me, that I am greatly changed in everything. Ageproduces good sense, and, as I doubt not but that your master is on theroad to salvation, I want you to tell me where he is, that he may helpme to mine. "

"Rather say, to take him back with you into the world. Fortunately, Idon't know where he is. "

"How!" cried D'Artagnan; "you don't know where Aramis is?"

"Formerly, " replied Bazin, "Aramis was his name of perdition. By Aramisis meant Simara, which is the name of a demon. Happily for him he hasceased to bear that name. "

"And therefore, " said D'Artagnan, resolved to be patient to the end, "itis not Aramis I seek, but the Abbe d'Herblay. Come, my dear Bazin, tellme where he is. "

"Didn't you hear me tell you, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that I don't knowwhere he is?"

"Yes, certainly; but to that I answer that it is impossible. "

"It is, nevertheless, the truth, monsieur--the pure truth, the truth ofthe good God. "

D'Artagnan saw clearly that he would get nothing out of this man, whowas evidently telling a falsehood in his pretended ignorance of theabode of Aramis, but whose lies were bold and decided. 

"Well, Bazin, " said D'Artagnan, "since you do not know where your masterlives, let us speak of it no more; let us part good friends. Accept thishalf-pistole to drink to my health. "

"I do not drink"--Bazin pushed away with dignity the officer'shand--"'tis good only for the laity. "

"Incorruptible!" murmured D'Artagnan; "I am unlucky;" and whilst he waslost in thought Bazin retreated toward the sacristy, and even therehe could not think himself safe until he had shut and locked the doorbehind him. 

D'Artagnan was still in deep thought when some one touched him on theshoulder. He turned and was about to utter an exclamation of surprisewhen the other made to him a sign of silence. 

"You here, Rochefort?" he said, in a low voice. 

"Hush!" returned Rochefort. "Did you know that I am at liberty?"

"I knew it from the fountain-head--from Planchet. And what brought youhere?"

"I came to thank God for my happy deliverance, " said Rochefort. 

"And nothing more? I suppose that is not all. "

"To take my orders from the coadjutor and to see if we cannot wake upMazarin a little. "

"A bad plan; you'll be shut up again in the Bastile. "

"Oh, as to that, I shall take care, I assure you. The air, the fresh, free air is so good; besides, " and Rochefort drew a deep breath as hespoke, "I am going into the country to make a tour. "

"Stop, " cried D'Artagnan; "I, too, am going. "

"And if I may without impertinence ask--where are you going?"

"To seek my friends. "

"What friends?"

"Those that you asked about yesterday. "

"Athos, Porthos and Aramis--you are looking for them?"

"Yes. "

"On honor?"

"What, then, is there surprising in that?"

"Nothing. Queer, though. And in whose behalf are you looking for them?"

"You are in no doubt on that score. "

"That is true. "

"Unfortunately, I have no idea where they are. "

"And you have no way to get news of them? Wait a week and I myself willgive you some. "

"A week is too long. I must find them within three days. "

"Three days are a short time and France is large. "

"No matter; you know the word must; with that word great things aredone. "

"And when do you set out?"

"I am now on my road. "

"Good luck to you. "

"And to you--a good journey. "

"Perhaps we shall meet on our road. "

"That is not probable. "

"Who knows? Chance is so capricious. Adieu, till we meet again! Apropos, should Mazarin speak to you about me, tell him that I should haverequested you to acquaint him that in a short time he will see whether Iam, as he says, too old for action. "

And Rochefort went away with one of those diabolical smiles which usedformerly to make D'Artagnan shudder, but D'Artagnan could now see itwithout alarm, and smiling in his turn, with an expression of melancholywhich the recollections called up by that smile could, perhaps, alonegive to his countenance, he said:

"Go, demon, do what thou wilt! It matters little now to me. There's nosecond Constance in the world. "

On his return to the cathedral, D'Artagnan saw Bazin, who was conversingwith the sacristan. Bazin was making, with his spare little short arms, ridiculous gestures. D'Artagnan perceived that he was enforcing prudencewith respect to himself. 

D'Artagnan slipped out of the cathedral and placed himself in ambuscadeat the corner of the Rue des Canettes; it was impossible that Bazinshould go out of the cathedral without his seeing him. 

In five minutes Bazin made his appearance, looking in every directionto see if he were observed, but he saw no one. Calmed by appearances heventured to walk on through the Rue Notre Dame. Then D'Artagnan rushedout of his hiding place and arrived in time to see Bazin turn down theRue de la Juiverie and enter, in the Rue de la Calandre, a respectablelooking house; and this D'Artagnan felt no doubt was the habitationof the worthy beadle. Afraid of making any inquiries at this house, D'Artagnan entered a small tavern at the corner of the street andasked for a cup of hypocras. This beverage required a good half-hour toprepare. And D'Artagnan had time, therefore, to watch Bazin unsuspected. 

He perceived in the tavern a pert boy between twelve and fifteen yearsof age whom he fancied he had seen not twenty minutes before under theguise of a chorister. He questioned him, and as the boy had no interestin deceiving, D'Artagnan learned that he exercised, from six o'clock inthe morning until nine, the office of chorister, and from nine o'clocktill midnight that of a waiter in the tavern. 

Whilst he was talking to this lad a horse was brought to the door ofBazin's house. It was saddled and bridled. Almost immediately Bazin camedownstairs. 

"Look!" said the boy, "there's our beadle, who is going a journey. "

"And where is he going?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Forsooth, I don't know. "

"Half a pistole if you can find out, " said D'Artagnan. 

"For me?" cried the boy, his eyes sparkling with joy, "if I can findout where Bazin is going? That is not difficult. You are not joking, areyou?"

"No, on the honor of an officer; there is the half-pistole;" and heshowed him the seductive coin, but did not give it him. 

"I shall ask him. "

"Just the very way not to know. Wait till he is set out and then, marry, come up, ask, and find out. The half-pistole is ready, " and he put itback again into his pocket. 

"I understand, " said the child, with that jeering smile which marksespecially the "gamin de Paris. " "Well, we must wait. "

They had not long to wait. Five minutes afterward Bazin set off on afull trot, urging on his horse by the blows of a parapluie, which he wasin the habit of using instead of a riding whip. 

Scarcely had he turned the corner of the Rue de la Juiverie when the boyrushed after him like a bloodhound on full scent. 

Before ten minutes had elapsed the child returned. 

"Well!" said D'Artagnan. 

"Well!" answered the boy, "the thing is done. "

"Where is he gone?"

"The half-pistole is for me?"

"Doubtless, answer me. "

"I want to see it. Give it me, that I may see it is not false. "

"There it is. "

The child put the piece of money into his pocket. 

"And now, where is he gone?" inquired D'Artagnan. 

"He is gone to Noisy. "

"How dost thou know?"

"Ah, faith! there was no great cunning necessary. I knew the horse herode; it belonged to the butcher, who lets it out now and then to M. Bazin. Now I thought that the butcher would not let his horse out likethat without knowing where it was going. And he answered 'that MonsieurBazin went to Noisy. ' 'Tis his custom. He goes two or three times aweek. "

"Dost thou know Noisy well?"

"I think so, truly; my nurse lives there. "

"Is there a convent at Noisy?"

"Isn't there a great and grand one--the convent of Jesuits?"

"What is thy name?"

"Friquet. "

D'Artagnan wrote the child's name in his tablets. 

"Please, sir, " said the boy, "do you think I can gain any morehalf-pistoles in any way?"

"Perhaps, " replied D'Artagnan. 

And having got out all he wanted, he paid for the hypocras, which he didnot drink, and went quickly back to the Rue Tiquetonne. 

8. How D'Artagnan, on going to a Distance to discover Aramis, discovershis old Friend on Horseback behind his own Planchet. 

On entering the hotel D'Artagnan saw a man sitting in a corner by thefire. It was Planchet, but so completely transformed, thanks to theold clothes that the departing husband had left behind, that D'Artagnanhimself could hardly recognize him. Madeleine introduced him in presenceof all the servants. Planchet addressed the officer with a fine Flemishphrase; the officer replied in words that belonged to no languageat all, and the bargain was concluded; Madeleine's brother enteredD'Artagnan's service. 

The plan adopted by D'Artagnan was soon perfected. He resolved not toreach Noisy in the day, for fear of being recognized; he had thereforeplenty of time before him, for Noisy is only three or four leagues fromParis, on the road to Meaux. 

He began his day by breakfasting substantially--a bad beginning when onewants to employ the head, but an excellent precaution when one wants towork the body; and about two o'clock he had his two horses saddled, andfollowed by Planchet he quitted Paris by the Barriere de la Villete. Amost active search was still prosecuted in the house near the Hotel dela Chevrette for the discovery of Planchet. 

At about a league and a half from the city, D'Artagnan, finding thatin his impatience he had set out too soon, stopped to give the horsesbreathing time. The inn was full of disreputable looking people, who seemed as if they were on the point of commencing some nightlyexpedition. A man, wrapped in a cloak, appeared at the door, but seeinga stranger he beckoned to his companions, and two men who were drinkingin the inn went out to speak to him. 

D'Artagnan, on his side, went up to the landlady, praised herwine--which was a horrible production from the country of Montreuil--andheard from her that there were only two houses of importance in thevillage; one of these belonged to the Archbishop of Paris, and was atthat time the abode of his niece the Duchess of Longueville; the otherwas a convent of Jesuits and was the property--a by no means unusualcircumstance--of these worthy fathers. 

At four o'clock D'Artagnan recommenced his journey. He proceeded slowlyand in deep reverie. Planchet also was lost in thought, but the subjectof their reflections was not the same. 

One word which their landlady had pronounced had given a particularturn to D'Artagnan's deliberations; this was the name of Madame deLongueville. 

That name was indeed one to inspire imagination and produce thought. Madame de Longueville was one of the highest ladies in the realm; shewas also one of the greatest beauties at court. She had formerly beensuspected of an intimacy of too tender a nature with Coligny, who, forher sake, had been killed in a duel, in the Place Royale, by the Ducde Guise. She was now connected by bonds of a political nature with thePrince de Marsillac, the eldest son of the old Duc de Rochefoucauld, whom she was trying to inspire with an enmity toward the Duc de Conde, her brother-in-law, whom she now hated mortally. 

D'Artagnan thought of all these matters. He remembered how at the Louvrehe had often seen, as she passed by him in the full radiance of herdazzling charms, the beautiful Madame de Longueville. He thought ofAramis, who, without possessing any greater advantages than himself, hadformerly been the lover of Madame de Chevreuse, who had been to a formercourt what Madame de Longueville was in that day; and he wondered how itwas that there should be in the world people who succeed in every wish, some in ambition, others in love, whilst others, either from chance, or from ill-luck, or from some natural defect or impediment, remain half-way upon the road toward fulfilment of their hopes andexpectations. 

He was confessing to himself that he belonged to the latter unhappyclass, when Planchet approached and said:

"I will lay a wager, your honor, that you and I are thinking of the samething. "

"I doubt it, Planchet, " replied D'Artagnan, "but what are you thinkingof?"

"I am thinking, sir, of those desperate looking men who were drinking inthe inn where we rested. "

"Always cautious, Planchet. "

"'Tis instinct, your honor. "

"Well, what does your instinct tell you now?"

"Sir, my instinct told me that those people were assembled there forsome bad purpose; and I was reflecting on what my instinct had told me, in the darkest corner of the stable, when a man wrapped in a cloak andfollowed by two other men, came in. "

"Ah ah!" said D'Artagnan, Planchet's recital agreeing with his ownobservations. "Well?"

"One of these two men said, 'He must certainly be at Noisy, or be comingthere this evening, for I have seen his servant. '

"'Art thou sure?' said the man in the cloak. 

"'Yes, my prince. '"

"My prince!" interrupted D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, 'my prince;' but listen. 'If he is here'--this is what the otherman said--'let's see decidedly what to do with him. '

"'What to do with him?' answered the prince. 

"'Yes, he's not a man to allow himself to be taken anyhow; he'll defendhimself. '

"'Well, we must try to take him alive. Have you cords to bind him withand a gag to stop his mouth?'

"'We have. '

"'Remember that he will most likely be disguised as a horseman. '

"'Yes, yes, my lord; don't be uneasy. '

"'Besides, I shall be there. '

"'You will assure us that justice----'

"'Yes, yes! I answer for all that, ' the prince said. 

"'Well, then, we'll do our best. ' Having said that, they went out of thestable. "

"Well, what matters all that to us?" said D'Artagnan. "This is one ofthose attempts that happen every day. "

"Are you sure that we are not its objects?"

"We? Why?"

"Just remember what they said. 'I have seen his servant, ' said one, andthat applies very well to me. "

"Well?"

"'He must certainly be at Noisy, or be coming there this evening, ' saidthe other; and that applies very well to you. "

"What else?"

"Then the prince said: 'Take notice that in all probability he will bedisguised as a cavalier;' which seems to me to leave no room for doubt, since you are dressed as a cavalier and not as an officer of musketeers. Now then, what do you say to that?"

"Alas! my dear Planchet, " said D'Artagnan, sighing, "we areunfortunately no longer in those times in which princes would care toassassinate me. Those were good old days; never fear--these people oweus no grudge. "

"Is your honor sure?"

"I can answer for it they do not. "

"Well, we won't speak of it any more, then;" and Planchet took his placein D'Artagnan's suite with that sublime confidence he had always had inhis master, which even fifteen years of separation had not destroyed. 

They had traveled onward about half a mile when Planchet came close upto D'Artagnan. 

"Stop, sir, look yonder, " he whispered; "don't you see in the darknesssomething pass by, like shadows? I fancy I hear horses' feet. "

"Impossible!" returned D'Artagnan. "The ground is soaking wet; yet Ifancy, as thou sayest, that I see something. "

At this moment the neighing of a horse struck his ear, coming throughdarkness and space. 

"There are men somewhere about, but that's of no consequence to us, "said D'Artagnan; "let us ride onward. "

At about half-past eight o'clock they reached the first houses in Noisy;every one was in bed and not a light was to be seen in the village. Theobscurity was broken only now and then by the still darker lines ofthe roofs of houses. Here and there a dog barked behind a door or anaffrighted cat fled precipitately from the midst of the pavement to takerefuge behind a pile of faggots, from which retreat her eyes would shinelike peridores. These were the only living creatures that seemed toinhabit the village. 

Toward the middle of the town, commanding the principal open space, rose a dark mass, separated from the rest of the world by two lanesand overshadowed in the front by enormous lime-trees. D'Artagnan lookedattentively at the building. 

"This, " he said to Planchet, "must be the archbishop's chateau, theabode of the fair Madame de Longueville; but the convent, where isthat?"

"The convent, your honor, is at the other end of the village; I know itwell. "

"Well, then, Planchet, gallop up to it whilst I tighten my horse'sgirth, and come back and tell me if there is a light in any of theJesuits' windows. "

In about five minutes Planchet returned. 

"Sir, " he said, "there is one window of the convent lighted up. "

"Hem! If I were a 'Frondeur, '" said D'Artagnan, "I should knock here andshould be sure of a good supper. If I were a monk I should knock yonderand should have a good supper there, too; whereas, 'tis very possiblethat between the castle and the convent we shall sleep on hard beds, dying with hunger and thirst. "

"Yes, " added Planchet, "like the famous ass of Buridan. Shall I knock?"

"Hush!" replied D'Artagnan; "the light no longer burns in yonderwindow. "

"Do you hear nothing?" whispered Planchet. 

"What is that noise?"

There came a sound like a whirlwind, at the same time two troops ofhorsemen, each composed of ten men, sallied forth from each of the laneswhich encompassed the house and surrounded D'Artagnan and Planchet. 

"Heyday!" cried D'Artagnan, drawing his sword and taking refuge behindhis horse; "are you not mistaken? is it really for us that you mean yourattack?"

"Here he is! we have him!" cried the horsemen, rushing on D'Artagnanwith naked swords. 

"Don't let him escape!" said a loud voice. 

"No, my lord; be assured we shall not. "

D'Artagnan thought it was now time for him to join in the conversation. 

"Halloo, gentlemen!" he called out in his Gascon accent, "what do youwant? what do you demand?"

"That thou shalt soon know, " shouted a chorus of horsemen. 

"Stop, stop!" cried he whom they had addressed as "my lord;" "'tis nothis voice. "

"Ah! just so, gentlemen! pray, do people get into a passion at randomat Noisy? Take care, for I warn you that the first man that comes withinthe length of my sword--and my sword is long--I rip him up. "

The chieftain of the party drew near. 

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a lofty tone, as that of oneaccustomed to command. 

"And you--what are you doing here?" replied D'Artagnan. 

"Be civil, or I shall beat you; for although one may not choose toproclaim oneself, one insists on respect suitable to one's rank. "

"You don't choose to discover yourself, because you are the leader ofan ambuscade, " returned D'Artagnan; "but with regard to myself, who amtraveling quietly with my own servant, I have not the same reasons asyou have to conceal my name. "

"Enough! enough! what is your name?"

"I shall tell you my name in order that you may know where to find me, my lord, or my prince, as it may suit you best to be called, " said ourGascon, who did not choose to seem to yield to a threat. "Do you knowMonsieur d'Artagnan?"

"Lieutenant in the king's musketeers?" said the voice; "you are Monsieurd'Artagnan?"

"I am. "

"Then you came here to defend him?"

"Him? whom?"

"The man we are seeking. "

"It seems, " said D'Artagnan, "that whilst I thought I was comingto Noisy I have entered, without suspecting it, into the kingdom ofmysteries. "

"Come, " replied the same lofty tone, "answer! Are you waiting for himunderneath these windows? Did you come to Noisy to defend him?"

"I am waiting for no one, " replied D'Artagnan, who was beginning to beangry. "I propose to defend no one but myself, and I shall defend myselfvigorously, I give you warning. "

"Very well, " said the voice; "go away from here and leave the place tous. "

"Go away from here!" said D'Artagnan, whose purposes were in conflictwith that order, "that is not so easy, since I am on the point offalling, and my horse, too, through fatigue; unless, indeed, you aredisposed to offer me a supper and a bed in the neighborhood. "

"Rascal!"

"Eh! monsieur!" said D'Artagnan, "I beg you will have a care what yousay; for if you utter another word like that, be you marquis, duke, prince or king, I will thrust it down your throat! do you hear?"

"Well, well, " rejoined the leader, "there's no doubt 'tis a Gascon whois speaking, and therefore not the man we are looking for. Our blowhas failed for to-night; let us withdraw. We shall meet again, Masterd'Artagnan, " continued the leader, raising his voice. 

"Yes, but never with the same advantages, " said D'Artagnan, in a toneof raillery; "for when you meet me again you will perhaps be alone andthere will be daylight. "

"Very good, very good, " said the voice. "En route, gentlemen. "

And the troop, grumbling angrily, disappeared in the darkness and tookthe road to Paris. D'Artagnan and Planchet remained for some momentsstill on the defensive; then, as the noise of the horsemen became moreand more distant, they sheathed their swords. 

"Thou seest, simpleton, " said D'Artagnan to his servant, "that theywished no harm to us. "

"But to whom, then?"

"I'faith! I neither know nor care. What I do care for now, is to makemy way into the Jesuits' convent; so to horse and let us knock at theirdoor. Happen what will, the devil take them, they can't eat us. "

And he mounted his horse. Planchet had just done the same when anunexpected weight fell upon the back of the horse, which sank down. 

"Hey! your honor!" cried Planchet, "I've a man behind me. "

D'Artagnan turned around and plainly saw two human forms on Planchet'shorse. 

"'Tis then the devil that pursues!" he cried; drawing his sword andpreparing to attack the new foe. 

"No, no, dear D'Artagnan, " said the figure, "'tis not the devil, 'tisAramis; gallop fast, Planchet, and when you come to the end of thevillage turn swiftly to the left. "

And Planchet, with Aramis behind him, set off at full gallop, followedby D'Artagnan, who began to think he was in the merry maze of somefantastic dream. 

9. The Abbe D'Herblay. 

At the extremity of the village Planchet turned to the left in obedienceto the orders of Aramis, and stopped underneath the window whichhad light in it. Aramis alighted and clapped his hands three times. Immediately the window was opened and a ladder of rope was let down fromit. 

"My friend, " said Aramis, "if you like to ascend I shall be delighted toreceive you. "

"Ah, " said D'Artagnan, "is that the way you return to your apartment?"

"After nine at night, pardieu!" said Aramis, "the rule of the convent isvery severe. "

"Pardon me, my dear friend, " said D'Artagnan, "I think you said'pardieu!'"

"Do you think so?" said Aramis, smiling; "it is possible. You haveno idea, my dear fellow, how one acquires bad habits in these cursedconvents, or what evil ways all these men of the church have, with whomI am obliged to live. But will you not go up?"

"Pass on before me, I beg of you. "

"As the late cardinal used to say to the late king, 'only to show youthe way, sire. '" And Aramis ascended the ladder quickly and reached thewindow in an instant. 

D'Artagnan followed, but less nimbly, showing plainly that this mode ofascent was not one to which he was accustomed. 

"I beg your pardon, " said Aramis, noticing his awkwardness; "if I hadknown that I was to have the honor of your visit I should have procuredthe gardener's ladder; but for me alone this is good enough. "

"Sir, " said Planchet when he saw D'Artagnan on the summit of the ladder, "this way is easy for Monsieur Aramis and even for you; in case ofnecessity I might also climb up, but my two horses cannot mount theladder. "

"Take them to yonder shed, my friend, " said Aramis, pointing to a lowbuilding on the plain; "there you will find hay and straw for them; thencome back here and clap your hands three times, and we will give youwine and food. Marry, forsooth, people don't die of hunger here. "

And Aramis, drawing in the ladder, closed the window. D'Artagnan thenlooked around attentively. 

Never was there an apartment at the same time more warlike and moreelegant. At each corner were arranged trophies, presenting to viewswords of all sorts, and on the walls hung four great picturesrepresenting in their ordinary military costume the Cardinal deLorraine, the Cardinal de Richelieu, the Cardinal de la Valette, and theArchbishop of Bordeaux. Exteriorly, nothing in the room showed that itwas the habitation of an abbe. The hangings were of damask, the carpetsfrom Alencon, and the bed, especially, had more the look of a finelady's couch, with its trimmings of fine lace and its embroideredcounterpane, than that of a man who had made a vow that he wouldendeavor to gain Heaven by fasting and mortification. 

"You are examining my den, " said Aramis. "Ah, my dear fellow, excuse me;I am lodged like a Chartreux. But what are you looking for?"

"I am looking for the person who let down the ladder. I see no one andyet the ladder didn't come down of itself. "

"No, it is Bazin. "

"Ah! ah!" said D'Artagnan. 

"But, " continued Aramis, "Bazin is a well trained servant, and seeingthat I was not alone he discreetly retired. Sit down, my dear friend, and let us talk. " And Aramis pushed forward a large easy-chair, in whichD'Artagnan stretched himself out. 

"In the first place, you will sup with me, will you not?" asked Aramis. 

"Yes, if you really wish it, " said D'Artagnan, "and even with greatpleasure, I confess; the journey has given me a devil of an appetite. "

"Ah, my poor friend!" said Aramis, "you will find meagre fare; you werenot expected. "

"Am I then threatened with the omelet of Crevecoeur?"

"Oh, let us hope, " said Aramis, "that with the help of God and of Bazinwe shall find something better than that in the larder of the worthyJesuit fathers. Bazin, my friend, come here. "

The door opened and Bazin entered; on perceiving the musketeer heuttered an exclamation that was almost a cry of despair. 

"My dear Bazin, " said D'Artagnan, "I am delighted to see with whatwonderful composure you can tell a lie even in church!"

"Sir, " replied Bazin, "I have been taught by the good Jesuit fathersthat it is permitted to tell a falsehood when it is told in a goodcause. "

"So far well, " said Aramis; "we are dying of hunger. Serve us up thebest supper you can, and especially give us some good wine. "

Bazin bowed low, sighed, and left the room. 

"Now we are alone, dear Aramis, " said D'Artagnan, "tell me how the devilyou managed to alight upon the back of Planchet's horse. "

"I'faith!" answered Aramis, "as you see, from Heaven. "

"From Heaven, " replied D'Artagnan, shaking his head; "you have no morethe appearance of coming from thence than you have of going there. "

"My friend, " said Aramis, with a look of imbecility on his face whichD'Artagnan had never observed whilst he was in the musketeers, "if I didnot come from Heaven, at least I was leaving Paradise, which is almostthe same. "

"Here, then, is a puzzle for the learned, " observed D'Artagnan, "untilnow they have never been able to agree as to the situation of Paradise;some place it on Mount Ararat, others between the rivers Tigris andEuphrates; it seems that they have been looking very far away for it, while it was actually very near. Paradise is at Noisy le Sec, upon thesite of the archbishop's chateau. People do not go out from it by thedoor, but by the window; one doesn't descend here by the marble stepsof a peristyle, but by the branches of a lime-tree; and the angel witha flaming sword who guards this elysium seems to have changed hiscelestial name of Gabriel into that of the more terrestrial one of thePrince de Marsillac. "

Aramis burst into a fit of laughter. 

"You were always a merry companion, my dear D'Artagnan, " he said, "andyour witty Gascon fancy has not deserted you. Yes, there is somethingin what you say; nevertheless, do not believe that it is Madame deLongueville with whom I am in love. "

"A plague on't! I shall not do so. After having been so long in lovewith Madame de Chevreuse, you would hardly lay your heart at the feet ofher mortal enemy!"

"Yes, " replied Aramis, with an absent air; "yes, that poor duchess! Ionce loved her much, and to do her justice, she was very useful to us. Eventually she was obliged to leave France. He was a relentless enemy, that damned cardinal, " continued Aramis, glancing at the portrait of theold minister. "He had even given orders to arrest her and would have cutoff her head had she not escaped with her waiting-maid--poor Kitty! Ihave heard that she met with a strange adventure in I don't know whatvillage, with I don't know what cure, of whom she asked hospitality andwho, having but one chamber, and taking her for a cavalier, offered toshare it with her. For she had a wonderful way of dressing as a man, that dear Marie; I know only one other woman who can do it as well. So they made this song about her: 'Laboissiere, dis moi. ' You know it, don't you?"

"No, sing it, please. "

Aramis immediately complied, and sang the song in a very lively manner. 

"Bravo!" cried D'Artagnan, "you sing charmingly, dear Aramis. I do notperceive that singing masses has spoiled your voice. "

"My dear D'Artagnan, " replied Aramis, "you understand, when I was amusketeer I mounted guard as seldom as I could; now when I am an abbe Isay as few masses as I can. But to return to our duchess. "

"Which--the Duchess de Chevreuse or the Duchess de Longueville?"

"Have I not already told you that there is nothing between me and theDuchess de Longueville? Little flirtations, perhaps, and that's all. No, I spoke of the Duchess de Chevreuse; did you see her after her returnfrom Brussels, after the king's death?"

"Yes, she is still beautiful. "

"Yes, " said Aramis, "I saw her also at that time. I gave her goodadvice, by which she did not profit. I ventured to tell her that Mazarinwas the lover of Anne of Austria. She wouldn't believe me, saying thatshe knew Anne of Austria, who was too proud to love such a worthlesscoxcomb. After that she plunged into the cabal headed by the Duke ofBeaufort; and the 'coxcomb' arrested De Beaufort and banished Madame deChevreuse. "

"You know, " resumed D'Artagnan, "that she has had leave to return toFrance?"

"Yes she is come back and is going to commit some fresh folly oranother. "

"Oh, but this time perhaps she will follow your advice. "

"Oh, this time, " returned Aramis, "I haven't seen her; she is muchchanged. "

"In that respect unlike you, my dear Aramis, for you are still the same;you have still your beautiful dark hair, still your elegant figure, still your feminine hands, which are admirably suited to a prelate. "

"Yes, " replied Aramis, "I am extremely careful of my appearance. Do youknow that I am growing old? I am nearly thirty-seven. "

"Mind, Aramis"--D'Artagnan smiled as he spoke--"since we are togetheragain, let us agree on one point: what age shall we be in future?"

"How?"

"Formerly I was your junior by two or three years, and if I am notmistaken I am turned forty years old. "

"Indeed! Then 'tis I who am mistaken, for you have always been a goodchronologist. By your reckoning I must be forty-three at least. Thedevil I am! Don't let it out at the Hotel Rambouillet; it would ruinme, " replied the abbe. 

"Don't be afraid, " said D'Artagnan. "I never go there. "

"Why, what in the world, " cried Aramis, "is that animal Bazin doing?Bazin! Hurry up there, you rascal; we are mad with hunger and thirst!"

Bazin entered at that moment carrying a bottle in each hand. 

"At last, " said Aramis, "we are ready, are we?"

"Yes, monsieur, quite ready, " said Bazin; "but it took me some time tobring up all the----"

"Because you always think you have on your shoulders your beadle's robe, and spend all your time reading your breviary. But I give you warningthat if in polishing your chapel utensils you forget how to brighten upmy sword, I will make a great fire of your blessed images and will seethat you are roasted on it. "

Bazin, scandalized, made a sign of the cross with the bottle in hishand. D'Artagnan, more surprised than ever at the tone and mannersof the Abbe d'Herblay, which contrasted so strongly with those of theMusketeer Aramis, remained staring with wide-open eyes at the face ofhis friend. 

Bazin quickly covered the table with a damask cloth and arranged upon itso many things, gilded, perfumed, appetizing, that D'Artagnan was quiteovercome. 

"But you expected some one then?" asked the officer. 

"Oh, " said Aramis, "I always try to be prepared; and then I knew youwere seeking me. "

"From whom?"

"From Master Bazin, to be sure; he took you for the devil, my dearfellow, and hastened to warn me of the danger that threatened my soul ifI should meet again a companion so wicked as an officer of musketeers. "

"Oh, monsieur!" said Bazin, clasping his hands supplicatingly. 

"Come, no hypocrisy! you know that I don't like it. You will do muchbetter to open the window and let down some bread, a chicken and abottle of wine to your friend Planchet, who has been this last hourkilling himself clapping his hands. "

Planchet, in fact, had bedded and fed his horses, and then coming backunder the window had repeated two or three times the signal agreed upon. 

Bazin obeyed, fastened to the end of a cord the three articlesdesignated and let them down to Planchet, who then went satisfied to hisshed. 

"Now to supper, " said Aramis. 

The two friends sat down and Aramis began to cut up fowls, partridgesand hams with admirable skill. 

"The deuce!" cried D'Artagnan; "do you live in this way always?"

"Yes, pretty well. The coadjutor has given me dispensations from fastingon the jours maigres, on account of my health; then I have engaged asmy cook the cook who lived with Lafollone--you know the man I mean?--thefriend of the cardinal, and the famous epicure whose grace after dinnerused to be, 'Good Lord, do me the favor to cause me to digest what Ihave eaten. '"

"Nevertheless he died of indigestion, in spite of his grace, " saidD'Artagnan. 

"What can you expect?" replied Aramis, in a tone of resignation. "Everyman that's born must fulfil his destiny. "

"If it be not an indelicate question, " resumed D'Artagnan, "have yougrown rich?"

"Oh, Heaven! no. I make about twelve thousand francs a year, withoutcounting a little benefice of a thousand crowns the prince gave me. "

"And how do you make your twelve thousand francs? By your poems?"

"No, I have given up poetry, except now and then to write a drinkingsong, some gay sonnet or some innocent epigram; I compose sermons, myfriend. "

"What! sermons? Do you preach them?"

"No; I sell them to those of my cloth who wish to become great orators. "

"Ah, indeed! and you have not been tempted by the hopes of reputationyourself?"

"I should, my dear D'Artagnan, have been so, but nature said 'No. ' WhenI am in the pulpit, if by chance a pretty woman looks at me, I look ather again: if she smiles, I smile too. Then I speak at random; insteadof preaching about the torments of hell I talk of the joys of Paradise. An event took place in the Church of St. Louis au Marais. A gentlemanlaughed in my face. I stopped short to tell him that he was a fool; thecongregation went out to get stones to stone me with, but whilst theywere away I found means to conciliate the priests who were present, sothat my foe was pelted instead of me. 'Tis true that he came the nextmorning to my house, thinking that he had to do with an abbe--like allother abbes. "

"And what was the end of the affair?"

"We met in the Place Royale--Egad! you know about it. "

"Was I not your second?" cried D'Artagnan. 

"You were; you know how I settled the matter. "

"Did he die?"

"I don't know. But, at all events, I gave him absolution in articulomortis. 'Tis enough to kill the body, without killing the soul. "

Bazin made a despairing sign which meant that while perhaps he approvedthe moral he altogether disapproved the tone in which it was uttered. 

"Bazin, my friend, " said Aramis, "you don't seem to be aware that Ican see you in that mirror, and you forget that once for all I haveforbidden all signs of approbation or disapprobation. You will do me thefavor to bring us some Spanish wine and then to withdraw. Besides, myfriend D'Artagnan has something to say to me privately, have you not, D'Artagnan?"

D'Artagnan nodded his head and Bazin retired, after placing on the tablethe Spanish wine. 

The two friends, left alone, remained silent, face to face. Aramisseemed to await a comfortable digestion; D'Artagnan, to be preparing hisexordium. Each of them, when the other was not looking, hazarded a slyglance. It was Aramis who broke the silence. 

"What are you thinking of, D'Artagnan?" he began. 

"I was thinking, my dear old friend, that when you were a musketeer youturned your thoughts incessantly to the church, and now that you are anabbe you are perpetually longing to be once more a musketeer. "

"'Tis true; man, as you know, " said Aramis, "is a strange animal, madeup of contradictions. Since I became an abbe I dream of nothing butbattles. "

"That is apparent in your surroundings; you have rapiers here of everyform and to suit the most exacting taste. Do you still fence well?"

"I--I fence as well as you did in the old time--better still, perhaps; Ido nothing else all day. "

"And with whom?"

"With an excellent master-at-arms that we have here. "

"What! here?"

"Yes, here, in this convent, my dear fellow. There is everything in aJesuit convent. "

"Then you would have killed Monsieur de Marsillac if he had come aloneto attack you, instead of at the head of twenty men?"

"Undoubtedly, " said Aramis, "and even at the head of his twenty men, ifI could have drawn without being recognized. "

"God pardon me!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "I believe he has becomemore Gascon than I am!" Then aloud: "Well, my dear Aramis, do you ask mewhy I came to seek you?"

"No, I have not asked you that, " said Aramis, with his subtle manner;"but I have expected you to tell me. "

"Well, I sought you for the single purpose of offering you a chance tokill Monsieur de Marsillac whenever you please, prince though he is. "

"Hold on! wait!" said Aramis; "that is an idea!"

"Of which I invite you to take advantage, my friend. Let us see; withyour thousand crowns from the abbey and the twelve thousand francs youmake by selling sermons, are you rich? Answer frankly. "

"I? I am as poor as Job, and were you to search my pockets and my boxesI don't believe you would find a hundred pistoles. "

"Peste! a hundred pistoles!" said D'Artagnan to himself; "he calls thatbeing as poor as Job! If I had them I should think myself as rich asCroesus. " Then aloud: "Are you ambitious?"

"As Enceladus. "

"Well, my friend, I bring you the means of becoming rich, powerful, andfree to do whatever you wish. "

The shadow of a cloud passed over Aramis's face as quickly as that whichin August passes over the field of grain; but quick as it was, it didnot escape D'Artagnan's observation. 

"Speak on, " said Aramis. 

"One question first. Do you take any interest in politics?"

A gleam of light shone in Aramis's eyes, as brief as the shadow thathad passed over his face, but not so brief but that it was seen byD'Artagnan. 

"No, " Aramis replied. 

"Then proposals from any quarter will be agreeable to you, since for themoment you have no master but God?"

"It is possible. "

"Have you, my dear Aramis, thought sometimes of those happy, happy, happy days of youth we passed laughing, drinking, and fighting eachother for play?"

"Certainly, and more than once regretted them; it was indeed a glorioustime. "

"Well, those splendidly wild days may chance to come again; I amcommissioned to find out my companions and I began by you, who were thevery soul of our society. "

Aramis bowed, rather with respect than pleasure at the compliment. 

"To meddle in politics, " he exclaimed, in a languid voice, leaning backin his easy-chair. "Ah! dear D'Artagnan! see how regularly I live andhow easy I am here. We have experienced the ingratitude of 'the great, 'as you well know. "

"'Tis true, " replied D'Artagnan. "Yet the great sometimes repent oftheir ingratitude. "

"In that case it would be quite another thing. Come! let's be mercifulto every sinner! Besides, you are right in another respect, which isin thinking that if we were to meddle in politics there could not be abetter time than the present. "

"How can you know that? You who never interest yourself in politics?"

"Ah! without caring about them myself, I live among those who are muchoccupied in them. Poet as I am, I am intimate with Sarazin, who isdevoted to the Prince de Conti, and with Monsieur de Bois-Robert, who, since the death of Cardinal Richelieu, is of all parties or any party;so that political discussions have not altogether been uninteresting tome. "

"I have no doubt of it, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Now, my dear friend, look upon all I tell you as merely the statementof a monk--of a man who resembles an echo--repeating simply what hehears. I understand that Mazarin is at this very moment extremely uneasyas to the state of affairs; that his orders are not respected like thoseof our former bugbear, the deceased cardinal, whose portrait as you seehangs yonder--for whatever may be thought of him, it must be allowedthat Richelieu was great. "

"I will not contradict you there, " said D'Artagnan. 

"My first impressions were favorable to the minister; I said to myselfthat a minister is never loved, but that with the genius this one wassaid to have he would eventually triumph over his enemies and would makehimself feared, which in my opinion is much more to be desired than tobe loved----"

D'Artagnan made a sign with his head which indicated that he entirelyapproved that doubtful maxim. 

"This, then, " continued Aramis, "was my first opinion; but as I am veryignorant in matters of this kind and as the humility which I professobliges me not to rest on my own judgment, but to ask the opinion ofothers, I have inquired--Eh!--my friend----"

Aramis paused. 

"Well? what?" asked his friend. 

"Well, I must mortify myself. I must confess that I was mistaken. Monsieur de Mazarin is not a man of genius, as I thought, he is a manof no origin--once a servant of Cardinal Bentivoglio, and he got on byintrigue. He is an upstart, a man of no name, who will only be the toolof a party in France. He will amass wealth, he will injure the king'srevenue and pay to himself the pensions which Richelieu paid to others. He is neither a gentleman in manner nor in feeling, but a sort ofbuffoon, a punchinello, a pantaloon. Do you know him? I do not. "

"Hem!" said D'Artagnan, "there is some truth in what you say. "

"Ah! it fills me with pride to find that, thanks to a common sort ofpenetration with which I am endowed, I am approved by a man like you, fresh from the court. "

"But you speak of him, not of his party, his resources. "

"It is true--the queen is for him. "

"Something in his favor. "

"But he will never have the king. "

"A mere child. "

"A child who will be of age in four years. Then he has neither theparliament nor the people with him--they represent the wealth of thecountry; nor the nobles nor the princes, who are the military power ofFrance. "

D'Artagnan scratched his ear. He was forced to confess to himself thatthis reasoning was not only comprehensive, but just. 

"You see, my poor friend, that I am sometimes bereft of my ordinarythoughtfulness; perhaps I am wrong in speaking thus to you, who haveevidently a leaning to Mazarin. "

"I!" cried D'Artagnan, "not in the least. "

"You spoke of a mission. "

"Did I? I was wrong then, no, I said what you say--there is a crisis athand. Well! let's fly the feather before the wind; let us join with thatside to which the wind will carry it and resume our adventurous life. Wewere once four valiant knights--four hearts fondly united; let us uniteagain, not our hearts, which have never been severed, but our courageand our fortunes. Here's a good opportunity for getting something betterthan a diamond. "

"You are right, D'Artagnan; I held a similar project, but as I had notnor ever shall have your fruitful, vigorous imagination, the idea wassuggested to me. Every one nowadays wants auxiliaries; propositions havebeen made to me and I confess to you frankly that the coadjutor has mademe speak out. "

"Monsieur de Gondy! the cardinal's enemy?"

"No; the king's friend, " said Aramis; "the king's friend, youunderstand. Well, it is a question of serving the king, the gentleman'sduty. "

"But the king is with Mazarin. "

"He is, but not willingly; in appearance, not heart; and that is exactlythe snare the king's enemies are preparing for the poor child. "

"Ah! but this is, indeed, civil war which you propose to me, dearAramis. "

"War for the king. "

"Yet the king will be at the head of the army on Mazarin's side. "

"But his heart will be in the army commanded by the Duc de Beaufort. "

"Monsieur de Beaufort? He is at Vincennes. "

"Did I say Monsieur de Beaufort? Monsieur de Beaufort or another. Monsieur de Beaufort or Monsieur le Prince. "

"But Monsieur le Prince is to set out for the army; he is entirelydevoted to the cardinal. "

"Oh oh!" said Aramis, "there are questions between them at thisvery moment. And besides, if it is not the prince, then Monsieur deGondy----"

"But Monsieur de Gondy is to be made a cardinal; they are soliciting thehat for him. "

"And are there no cardinals that can fight? Come now, recall the fourcardinals that at the head of armies have equalled Monsieur de Guebriantand Monsieur de Gassion. "

"But a humpbacked general!

"Under the cuirass the hump will not be seen. Besides, remember thatAlexander was lame and Hannibal had but one eye. "

"Do you see any great advantage in adhering to this party?" askedD'Artagnan. 

"I foresee in it the aid of powerful princes. "

"With the enmity of the government. "

"Counteracted by parliament and insurrections. "

"That may be done if they can separate the king from his mother. "

"That may be done, " said Aramis. 

"Never!" cried D'Artagnan. "You, Aramis, know Anne of Austria betterthan I do. Do you think she will ever forget that her son is hersafeguard, her shield, the pledge for her dignity, for her fortune andher life? Should she forsake Mazarin she must join her son and go overto the princes' side; but you know better than I do that there arecertain reasons why she can never abandon Mazarin. "

"Perhaps you are right, " said Aramis, thoughtfully; "therefore I shallnot pledge myself. "

"To them or to us, do you mean, Aramis?"

"To no one. I am a priest, " resumed Aramis. "What have I to do withpolitics? I am not obliged to read any breviary. I have a jolly littlecircle of witty abbes and pretty women; everything goes on smoothly, socertainly, dear friend, I shall not meddle in politics. "

"Well, listen, my dear Aramis, " said D'Artagnan; "your philosophyconvinces me, on my honor. I don't know what devil of an insect stungme and made me ambitious. I have a post by which I live; at the deathof Monsieur de Treville, who is old, I may be a captain, which is avery snug berth for a once penniless Gascon. Instead of running afteradventures I shall accept an invitation from Porthos; I shall go andshoot on his estate. You know he has estates--Porthos?"

"I should think so, indeed. Ten leagues of wood, of marsh land andvalleys; he is lord of the hill and the plain and is now carrying on asuit for his feudal rights against the Bishop of Noyon!"

"Good, " said D'Artagnan to himself. "That's what I wanted to know. Porthos is in Picardy. "

Then aloud:

"And he has taken his ancient name of Vallon?"

"To which he adds that of Bracieux, an estate which has been a barony, by my troth. "

"So that Porthos will be a baron. "

"I don't doubt it. The 'Baroness Porthos' will sound particularlycharming. "

And the two friends began to laugh. 

"So, " D'Artagnan resumed, "you will not become a partisan of Mazarin's?"

"Nor you of the Prince de Conde?"

"No, let us belong to no party, but remain friends; let us be neitherCardinalists nor Frondists. "

"Adieu, then. " And D'Artagnan poured out a glass of wine. 

"To old times, " he said. 

"Yes, " returned Aramis. "Unhappily, those times are past. "

"Nonsense! They will return, " said D'Artagnan. "At all events, if youwant me, remember the Rue Tiquetonne, Hotel de la Chevrette. "

"And I shall be at the convent of Jesuits; from six in the morning toeight at night come by the door. From eight in the evening until six inthe morning come in by the window. "

"Adieu, dear friend. "

"Oh, I can't let you go so! I will go with you. " And he took his swordand cloak. 

"He wants to be sure that I go away, " said D'Artagnan to himself. 

Aramis whistled for Bazin, but Bazin was asleep in the ante-chamber, andAramis was obliged to shake him by the ear to awake him. 

Bazin stretched his arms, rubbed his eyes, and tried to go to sleepagain. 

"Come, come, sleepy head; quick, the ladder!"

"But, " said Bazin, yawning portentously, "the ladder is still at thewindow. "

"The other one, the gardener's. Didn't you see that Monsieur d'Artagnanmounted with difficulty? It will be even more difficult to descend. "

D'Artagnan was about to assure Aramis that he could descend easily, whenan idea came into his head which silenced him. 

Bazin uttered a profound sigh and went out to look for the ladder. Presently a good, solid, wooden ladder was placed against the window. 

"Now then, " said D'Artagnan, "this is something like; this is a means ofcommunication. A woman could go up a ladder like that. "

Aramis's searching look seemed to seek his friend's thought even at thebottom of his heart, but D'Artagnan sustained the inquisition with anair of admirable simplicity. Besides, at that moment he put his foot onthe first step of the ladder and began his descent. In a moment he wason the ground. Bazin remained at the window. 

"Stay there, " said Aramis; "I shall return immediately. "

The two friends went toward the shed. At their approach Planchet cameout leading the two horses. 

"That is good to see, " said Aramis. "There is a servant active andvigilant, not like that lazy fellow Bazin, who is no longer good foranything since he became connected with the church. Follow us, Planchet;we shall continue our conversation to the end of the village. "

They traversed the width of the village, talking of indifferent things, then as they reached the last houses:

"Go, then, dear friend, " said Aramis, "follow your own career. Fortunelavishes her smiles upon you; do not let her flee from your embrace. Asfor me, I remain in my humility and indolence. Adieu!"

"Thus 'tis quite decided, " said D'Artagnan, "that what I have to offerto you does not tempt you?"

"On the contrary, it would tempt me were I any other man, " rejoinedAramis; "but I repeat, I am made up of contradictions. What I hateto-day I adore to-morrow, and vice versa. You see that I cannot, likeyou, for instance, settle on any fixed plan. "

"Thou liest, subtile one, " said D'Artagnan to himself. "Thou alone, on the contrary, knowest how to choose thy object and to gain itstealthily. "

The friends embraced. They descended into the plain by the ladder. Planchet met them hard by the shed. D'Artagnan jumped into the saddle, then the old companions in arms again shook hands. D'Artagnan andPlanchet spurred their steeds and took the road to Paris. 

But after he had gone about two hundred steps D'Artagnan stopped short, alighted, threw the bridle of his horse over the arm of Planchet andtook the pistols from his saddle-bow to fasten them to his girdle. 

"What's the matter?" asked Planchet. 

"This is the matter: be he ever so cunning he shall never say I was hisdupe. Stand here, don't stir, turn your back to the road and wait forme. "

Having thus spoken, D'Artagnan cleared the ditch by the roadside andcrossed the plain so as to wind around the village. He had observedbetween the house that Madame de Longueville inhabited and the conventof the Jesuits, an open space surrounded by a hedge. 

The moon had now risen and he could see well enough to retrace his road. 

He reached the hedge and hid himself behind it; in passing by the housewhere the scene which we have related took place, he remarked that thewindow was again lighted up and he was convinced that Aramis had notyet returned to his own apartment and that when he did it would not bealone. 

In truth, in a few minutes he heard steps approaching and low whispers. 

Close to the hedge the steps stopped. 

D'Artagnan knelt down near the thickest part of the hedge. 

Two men, to the astonishment of D'Artagnan, appeared shortly; soon, however, his surprise vanished, for he heard the murmurs of a soft, harmonious voice; one of these two men was a woman disguised as acavalier. 

"Calm yourself, dear Rene, " said the soft voice, "the same thing willnever happen again. I have discovered a sort of subterranean passagewhich runs beneath the street and we shall only have to raise one of themarble slabs before the door to open you an entrance and an outlet. "

"Oh!" answered another voice, which D'Artagnan instantly recognized asthat of Aramis. "I swear to you, princess, that if your reputation didnot depend on precautions and if my life alone were jeopardized----"

"Yes, yes! I know you are as brave and venturesome as any man in theworld, but you do not belong to me alone; you belong to all our party. Be prudent! sensible!"

"I always obey, madame, when I am commanded by so gentle a voice. "

He kissed her hand tenderly. 

"Ah!" exclaimed the cavalier with a soft voice. 

"What's the matter?" asked Aramis. 

"Do you not see that the wind has blown off my hat?"

Aramis rushed after the fugitive hat. D'Artagnan took advantage of thecircumstance to find a place in the hedge not so thick, where his glancecould penetrate to the supposed cavalier. At that instant, the moon, inquisitive, perhaps, like D'Artagnan, came from behind a cloud and byher light D'Artagnan recognized the large blue eyes, the golden hair andthe classic head of the Duchess de Longueville. 

Aramis returned, laughing, one hat on his head and the other in hishand; and he and his companion resumed their walk toward the convent. 

"Good!" said D'Artagnan, rising and brushing his knees; "now I havethee--thou art a Frondeur and the lover of Madame de Longueville. "

10. Monsieur Porthos du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds. 

Thanks to what Aramis had told him, D'Artagnan, who knew already thatPorthos called himself Du Vallon, was now aware that he styled himself, from his estate, De Bracieux; and that he was, on account of thisestate, engaged in a lawsuit with the Bishop of Noyon. It was, then, inthe neighborhood of Noyon that he must seek that estate. His itinerarywas promptly determined: he would go to Dammartin, from which place tworoads diverge, one toward Soissons, the other toward Compiegne; there hewould inquire concerning the Bracieux estate and go to the right or tothe left according to the information obtained. 

Planchet, who was still a little concerned for his safety after hisrecent escapade, declared that he would follow D'Artagnan even to theend of the world, either by the road to the right or by that to theleft; only he begged his former master to set out in the evening, forgreater security to himself. D'Artagnan suggested that he should sendword to his wife, so that she might not be anxious about him, butPlanchet replied with much sagacity that he was very sure his wife wouldnot die of anxiety through not knowing where he was, while he, Planchet, remembering her incontinence of tongue, would die of anxiety if she didknow. 

This reasoning seemed to D'Artagnan so satisfactory that he no furtherinsisted; and about eight o'clock in the evening, the time when thevapors of night begin to thicken in the streets, he left the Hotel de laChevrette, and followed by Planchet set forth from the capital by way ofthe Saint Denis gate. 

At midnight the two travelers were at Dammartin, but it was then toolate to make inquiries--the host of the Cygne de la Croix had gone tobed. 

The next morning D'Artagnan summoned the host, one of those sly Normanswho say neither yes nor no and fear to commit themselves by giving adirect answer. D'Artagnan, however, gathered from his equivocal repliesthat the road to the right was the one he ought to take, and on thatuncertain information he resumed his journey. At nine in the morninghe reached Nanteuil and stopped for breakfast. His host here was a goodfellow from Picardy, who gave him all the information he needed. TheBracieux estate was a few leagues from Villars-Cotterets. 

D'Artagnan was acquainted with Villars-Cotterets, having gone thitherwith the court on several occasions; for at that time Villars-Cotteretswas a royal residence. He therefore shaped his course toward thatplace and dismounted at the Dauphin d'Or. There he ascertained that theBracieux estate was four leagues distant, but that Porthos was not atBracieux. Porthos had, in fact, been involved in a dispute with theBishop of Noyon in regard to the Pierrefonds property, which adjoinedhis own, and weary at length of a legal controversy which was beyond hiscomprehension, he put an end to it by purchasing Pierrefonds and addedthat name to his others. He now called himself Du Vallon de Bracieux dePierrefonds, and resided on his new estate. 

The travelers were therefore obliged to stay at the hotel until the nextday; the horses had done ten leagues that day and needed rest. It istrue they might have taken others, but there was a great forest to passthrough and Planchet, as we have seen, had no liking for forests afterdark. 

There was another thing that Planchet had no liking for and that wasstarting on a journey with a hungry stomach. Accordingly, D'Artagnan, onawaking, found his breakfast waiting for him. It need not be saidthat Planchet in resuming his former functions resumed also his formerhumility and was not ashamed to make his breakfast on what was left byD'Artagnan. 

It was nearly eight o'clock when they set out again. Their course wasclearly defined: they were to follow the road toward Compiegne and onemerging from the forest turn to the right. 

The morning was beautiful, and in this early springtime the birds sangon the trees and the sunbeams shone through the misty glades, likecurtains of golden gauze. 

In other parts of the forest the light could scarcely penetrate throughthe foliage, and the stems of two old oak trees, the refuge of thesquirrel, startled by the travelers, were in deep shadow. 

There came up from all nature in the dawn of day a perfume of herbs, flowers and leaves, which delighted the heart. D'Artagnan, sick ofthe closeness of Paris, thought that when a man had three names of hisdifferent estates joined one to another, he ought to be very happy insuch a paradise; then he shook his head, saying, "If I were Porthos andD'Artagnan came to make me such a proposition as I am going to make tohim, I know what I should say to it. "

As to Planchet, he thought of little or nothing, but was happy as ahunting-hound in his old master's company. 

At the extremity of the wood D'Artagnan perceived the road that had beendescribed to him, and at the end of the road he saw the towers of animmense feudal castle. 

"Oh! oh!" he said, "I fancied this castle belonged to the ancientbranch of Orleans. Can Porthos have negotiated for it with the Duc deLongueville?"

"Faith!" exclaimed Planchet, "here's land in good condition; if itbelongs to Monsieur Porthos I wish him joy. "

"Zounds!" cried D'Artagnan, "don't call him Porthos, nor even Vallon;call him De Bracieux or De Pierrefonds; thou wilt knell out damnation tomy mission otherwise. "

As he approached the castle which had first attracted his eye, D'Artagnan was convinced that it could not be there that his frienddwelt; the towers, though solid and as if built yesterday, were openand broken. One might have fancied that some giant had cleaved them withblows from a hatchet. 

On arriving at the extremity of the castle D'Artagnan found himselfoverlooking a beautiful valley, in which, at the foot of a charminglittle lake, stood several scattered houses, which, humble in theiraspect, and covered, some with tiles, others with thatch, seemed toacknowledge as their sovereign lord a pretty chateau, built about thebeginning of the reign of Henry IV. , and surmounted by four stately, gilded weather-cocks. D'Artagnan no longer doubted that this wasPorthos's pleasant dwelling place. 

The road led straight up to the chateau which, compared to its ancestoron the hill, was exactly what a fop of the coterie of the Duc d'Engheinwould have been beside a knight in steel armor in the time of CharlesVII. D'Artagnan spurred his horse on and pursued his road, followed byPlanchet at the same pace. 

In ten minutes D'Artagnan reached the end of an alley regularly plantedwith fine poplars and terminating in an iron gate, the points andcrossed bars of which were gilt. In the midst of this avenue was anobleman, dressed in green and with as much gilding about him as theiron gate, riding on a tall horse. On his right hand and his left weretwo footmen, with the seams of their dresses laced. A considerablenumber of clowns were assembled and rendered homage to their lord. 

"Ah!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "can this be the Seigneur du Vallon deBracieux de Pierrefonds? Well-a-day! how he has shrunk since he gave upthe name of Porthos!"

"This cannot be Monsieur Porthos, " observed Planchet replying, as itwere, to his master's thoughts. "Monsieur Porthos was six feet high;this man is scarcely five. "

"Nevertheless, " said D'Artagnan, "the people are bowing very low to thisperson. "

As he spoke, he rode toward the tall horse--to the man of importance andhis valets. As he approached he seemed to recognize the features of thisindividual. 

"Jesu!" cried Planchet, "can it be?"

At this exclamation the man on horseback turned slowly and with a loftyair, and the two travelers could see, displayed in all theirbrilliancy, the large eyes, the vermilion visage, and the eloquent smileof--Mousqueton. 

It was indeed Mousqueton--Mousqueton, as fat as a pig, rolling aboutwith rude health, puffed out with good living, who, recognizingD'Artagnan and acting very differently from the hypocrite Bazin, slippedoff his horse and approached the officer with his hat off, so that thehomage of the assembled crowd was turned toward this new sun, whicheclipsed the former luminary. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan! Monsieur d'Artagnan!" cried Mousqueton, his fatcheeks swelling out and his whole frame perspiring with joy; "Monsieurd'Artagnan! oh! what joy for my lord and master, Du Vallon de Bracieuxde Pierrefonds!"

"Thou good Mousqueton! where is thy master?"

"You stand upon his property!"

"But how handsome thou art--how fat! thou hast prospered and grownstout!" and D'Artagnan could not restrain his astonishment at the changegood fortune had produced on the once famished one. 

"Hey, yes, thank God, I am pretty well, " said Mousqueton. 

"But hast thou nothing to say to thy friend Planchet?"

"How, my friend Planchet? Planchet--art thou there?" cried Mousqueton, with open arms and eyes full of tears. 

"My very self, " replied Planchet; "but I wanted first to see if thouwert grown proud. "

"Proud toward an old friend? never, Planchet! thou wouldst not havethought so hadst thou known Mousqueton well. "

"So far so well, " answered Planchet, alighting, and extending his armsto Mousqueton, the two servants embraced with an emotion which touchedthose who were present and made them suppose that Planchet was agreat lord in disguise, so highly did they estimate the position ofMousqueton. 

"And now, sir, " resumed Mousqueton, when he had rid himself of Planchet, who had in vain tried to clasp his hands behind his friend's fat back, "now, sir, allow me to leave you, for I could not permit my master tohear of your arrival from any but myself; he would never forgive me fornot having preceded you. "

"This dear friend, " said D'Artagnan, carefully avoiding to utter eitherthe former name borne by Porthos or his new one, "then he has notforgotten me?"

"Forgotten--he!" cried Mousqueton; "there's not a day, sir, that wedon't expect to hear that you were made marshal either instead ofMonsieur de Gassion, or of Monsieur de Bassompierre. "

On D'Artagnan's lips there played one of those rare and melancholysmiles which seemed to emanate from the depth of his soul--the lasttrace of youth and happiness that had survived life's disillusions. 

"And you--fellows, " resumed Mousqueton, "stay near Monsieur le Comted'Artagnan and pay him every attention in your power whilst I go toprepare my lord for his visit. "

And mounting his horse Mousqueton rode off down the avenue on the grassat a hand gallop. 

"Ah, there! there's something promising, " said D'Artagnan. "Nomysteries, no cloak to hide one's self in, no cunning policy here;people laugh outright, they weep for joy here. I see nothing but faces ayard broad; in short, it seems to me that nature herself wears a holidaygarb, and that the trees, instead of leaves and flowers, are coveredwith red and green ribbons as on gala days. "

"As for me, " said Planchet, "I seem to smell, from this place, even, amost delectable perfume of fine roast meat, and to see the scullionsin a row by the hedge, hailing our approach. Ah! sir, what a cook mustMonsieur Pierrefonds have, when he was so fond of eating and drinking, even whilst he was only called Monsieur Porthos!"

"Say no more!" cried D'Artagnan. "If the reality corresponds withappearances I am lost; for a man so well off will never change hishappy condition, and I shall fail with him, as I have already done withAramis. "

11. How D'Artagnan, in discovering the Retreat of Porthos, perceivesthat Wealth does not necessarily produce Happiness. 

D'Artagnan passed through the iron gate and arrived in front of thechateau. He alighted as he saw a species of giant on the steps. Let usdo justice to D'Artagnan. Independently of every selfish wish, his heartpalpitated with joy when he saw that tall form and martial demeanor, which recalled to him a good and brave man. 

He ran to Porthos and threw himself into his arms; the whole body ofservants, arranged in a semi-circle at a respectful distance, looked onwith humble curiosity. Mousqueton, at the head of them, wiped his eyes. Porthos linked his arm in that of his friend. 

"Ah! how delightful to see you again, dear friend!" he cried, in a voicewhich was now changed from a baritone into a bass, "you've not thenforgotten me?"

"Forget you! oh! dear Du Vallon, does one forget the happiest daysof flowery youth, one's dearest friends, the dangers we have daredtogether? On the contrary, there is not an hour we have passed togetherthat is not present to my memory. "

"Yes, yes, " said Porthos, trying to give to his mustache a curl which ithad lost whilst he had been alone. "Yes, we did some fine things in ourtime and we gave that poor cardinal a few threads to unravel. "

And he heaved a sigh. 

"Under any circumstances, " he resumed, "you are welcome, my dear friend;you will help me to recover my spirits; to-morrow we will hunt the hareon my plain, which is a superb tract of land, or pursue the deer in mywoods, which are magnificent. I have four harriers which are consideredthe swiftest in the county, and a pack of hounds which are unequalledfor twenty leagues around. "

And Porthos heaved another sigh. 

"But, first, " interposed D'Artagnan, "you must present me to Madame duVallon. "

A third sigh from Porthos. 

"I lost Madame du Vallon two years ago, " he said, "and you find me stillin affliction on that account. That was the reason why I left my Chateaudu Vallon near Corbeil, and came to my estate, Bracieux. Poor Madamedu Vallon! her temper was uncertain, but she came at last to accustomherself to my little ways and understand my little wishes. "

"So you are free now, and rich?"

"Alas!" groaned Porthos, "I am a widower and have forty thousand francsa year. Let us go to breakfast. "

"I shall be happy to do so; the morning air has made me hungry. "

"Yes, " said Porthos; "my air is excellent. "

They went into the chateau; there was nothing but gilding, high and low;the cornices were gilt, the mouldings were gilt, the legs and arms ofthe chairs were gilt. A table, ready set out, awaited them. 

"You see, " said Porthos, "this is my usual style. "

"Devil take me!" answered D'Artagnan, "I wish you joy of it. The kinghas nothing like it. "

"No, " answered Porthos, "I hear it said that he is very badly fed by thecardinal, Monsieur de Mazarin. Taste this cutlet, my dear D'Artagnan;'tis off one of my sheep. "

"You have very tender mutton and I wish you joy of it. " said D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, the sheep are fed in my meadows, which are excellent pasture. "

"Give me another cutlet. "

"No, try this hare, which I had killed yesterday in one of my warrens. "

"Zounds! what a flavor!" cried D'Artagnan; "ah! they are fed on thymeonly, your hares. "

"And how do you like my wine?" asked Porthos; "it is pleasant, isn'tit?"

"Capital!"

"It is nothing, however, but a wine of the country. "

"Really?"

"Yes, a small declivity to the south, yonder on my hill, gives me twentyhogsheads. "

"Quite a vineyard, hey?"

Porthos sighed for the fifth time--D'Artagnan had counted his sighs. Hebecame curious to solve the problem. 

"Well now, " he said, "it seems, my dear friend, that something vexesyou; you are ill, perhaps? That health, which----"

"Excellent, my dear friend; better than ever. I could kill an ox with ablow of my fist. "

"Well, then, family affairs, perhaps?"

"Family! I have, happily, only myself in the world to care for. "

"But what makes you sigh?"

"My dear fellow, " replied Porthos, "to be candid with you, I am nothappy. "

"You are not happy, Porthos? You who have chateau, meadows, mountains, woods--you who have forty thousand francs a year--you--are--not--happy?"

"My dear friend, all those things I have, but I am a hermit in the midstof superfluity. "

"Surrounded, I suppose, only by clodhoppers, with whom you could notassociate. "

Porthos turned rather pale and drank off a large glass of wine. 

"No; but just think, there are paltry country squires who have all sometitle or another and pretend to go back as far as Charlemagne, or atleast to Hugh Capet. When I first came here; being the last comer, itwas for me to make the first advances. I made them, but you know, mydear friend, Madame du Vallon----"

Porthos, in pronouncing these words, seemed to gulp down something. 

"Madame du Vallon was of doubtful gentility. She had, in her firstmarriage--I don't think, D'Artagnan, I am telling you anythingnew--married a lawyer; they thought that 'nauseous;' you can understandthat's a word bad enough to make one kill thirty thousand men. I havekilled two, which has made people hold their tongues, but has not mademe their friend. So that I have no society; I live alone; I am sick ofit--my mind preys on itself. "

D'Artagnan smiled. He now saw where the breastplate was weak, andprepared the blow. 

"But now, " he said, "that you are a widower, your wife's connectioncannot injure you. "

"Yes, but understand me; not being of a race of historic fame, like theDe Courcys, who were content to be plain sirs, or the Rohans, who didn'twish to be dukes, all these people, who are all either vicomtes orcomtes go before me at church in all the ceremonies, and I can saynothing to them. Ah! If I only were a----"

"A baron, don't you mean?" cried D'Artagnan, finishing his friend'ssentence. 

"Ah!" cried Porthos; "would I were but a baron!"

"Well, my friend, I am come to give you this very title which you wishfor so much. "

Porthos gave a start that shook the room; two or three bottles fell andwere broken. Mousqueton ran thither, hearing the noise. 

Porthos waved his hand to Mousqueton to pick up the bottles. 

"I am glad to see, " said D'Artagnan, "that you have still that honestlad with you. "

"He is my steward, " replied Porthos; "he will never leave me. Go awaynow, Mouston. "

"So he's called Mouston, " thought D'Artagnan; "'tis too long a word topronounce 'Mousqueton. '"

"Well, " he said aloud, "let us resume our conversation later, yourpeople may suspect something; there may be spies about. You can suppose, Porthos, that what I have to say relates to most important matters. "

"Devil take them; let us walk in the park, " answered Porthos, "for thesake of digestion. "

"Egad, " said D'Artagnan, "the park is like everything else and thereare as many fish in your pond as rabbits in your warren; you are a happyman, my friend since you have not only retained your love of the chase, but acquired that of fishing. "

"My friend, " replied Porthos, "I leave fishing to Mousqueton, --it is avulgar pleasure, --but I shoot sometimes; that is to say, when I am dull, and I sit on one of those marble seats, have my gun brought to me, myfavorite dog, and I shoot rabbits. "

"Really, how very amusing!"

"Yes, " replied Porthos, with a sigh, "it is amusing. "

D'Artagnan now no longer counted the sighs. They were innumerable. 

"However, what had you to say to me?" he resumed; "let us return to thatsubject. "

"With pleasure, " replied D'Artagnan; "I must, however, first franklytell you that you must change your mode of life. "

"How?"

"Go into harness again, gird on your sword, run after adventures, andleave as in old times a little of your fat on the roadside. "

"Ah! hang it!" said Porthos. 

"I see you are spoiled, dear friend; you are corpulent, your arm has nolonger that movement of which the late cardinal's guards have so manyproofs. "

"Ah! my fist is strong enough I swear, " cried Porthos, extending a handlike a shoulder of mutton. 

"So much the better. "

"Are we then to go to war?"

"By my troth, yes. "

"Against whom?"

"Are you a politician, friend?"

"Not in the least. "

"Are you for Mazarin or for the princes?"

"I am for no one. "

"That is to say, you are for us. Well, I tell you that I come to youfrom the cardinal. "

This speech was heard by Porthos in the same sense as if it had stillbeen in the year 1640 and related to the true cardinal. 

"Ho! ho! What are the wishes of his eminence?"

"He wishes to have you in his service. "

"And who spoke to him of me?"

"Rochefort--you remember him?"

"Yes, pardieu! It was he who gave us so much trouble and kept us onthe road so much; you gave him three sword-wounds in three separateengagements. "

"But you know he is now our friend?"

"No, I didn't know that. So he cherishes no resentment?"

"You are mistaken, Porthos, " said D'Artagnan. "It is I who cherish noresentment. "

Porthos didn't understand any too clearly; but then we know thatunderstanding was not his strong point. "You say, then, " he continued, "that the Count de Rochefort spoke of me to the cardinal?"

"Yes, and the queen, too. "

"The queen, do you say?"

"To inspire us with confidence she has even placed in Mazarin's handsthat famous diamond--you remember all about it--that I once sold toMonsieur des Essarts and of which, I don't know how, she has regainedpossession. "

"But it seems to me, " said Porthos, "that she would have done muchbetter if she had given it back to you. "

"So I think, " replied D'Artagnan; "but kings and queens are strangebeings and have odd fancies; nevertheless, since they are the ones whohave riches and honors, we are devoted to them. "

"Yes, we are devoted to them, " repeated Porthos; "and you--to whom areyou devoted now?"

"To the king, the queen, and to the cardinal; moreover, I have answeredfor your devotion also. "

"And you say that you have made certain conditions on my behalf?"

"Magnificent, my dear fellow, magnificent! In the first place you haveplenty of money, haven't you? forty thousand francs income, I think yousaid. "

Porthos began to be suspicious. "Eh! my friend, " said he, "one never hastoo much money. Madame du Vallon left things in much disorder; I am notmuch of a hand at figures, so that I live almost from hand to mouth. "

"He is afraid I have come to borrow money, " thought D'Artagnan. "Ah, myfriend, " said he, "it is all the better if you are in difficulties. "

"How is it all the better?"

"Yes, for his eminence will give you all that you want--land, money, andtitles. "

"Ah! ah! ah!" said Porthos, opening his eyes at that last word. 

"Under the other cardinal, " continued D'Artagnan, "we didn't know enoughto make our profits; this, however, doesn't concern you, with your fortythousand francs income, the happiest man in the world, it seems to me. "

Porthos sighed. 

"At the same time, " continued D'Artagnan, "notwithstanding your fortythousand francs a year, and perhaps even for the very reason that youhave forty thousand francs a year, it seems to me that a little coronetwould do well on your carriage, hey?"

"Yes indeed, " said Porthos. 

"Well, my dear friend, win it--it is at the point of your sword. Weshall not interfere with each other--your object is a title; mine, money. If I can get enough to rebuild Artagnan, which my ancestors, impoverished by the Crusades, allowed to fall into ruins, and to buythirty acres of land about it, that is all I wish. I shall retire anddie tranquilly--at home. "

"For my part, " said Porthos, "I desire to be made a baron. "

"You shall be one. "

"And have you not seen any of our other friends?"

"Yes, I have seen Aramis. "

"And what does he wish? To be a bishop?"

"Aramis, " answered D'Artagnan, who did not wish to undeceive Porthos, "Aramis, fancy, has become a monk and a Jesuit, and lives like a bear. My offers did not arouse him, --did not even tempt him. "

"So much the worse! He was a clever man. And Athos?"

"I have not yet seen him. Do you know where I shall find him?"

"Near Blois. He is called Bragelonne. Only imagine, my dear friend. Athos, who was of as high birth as the emperor and who inherits oneestate which gives him the title of comte, what is he to do with allthose dignities--the Comte de la Fere, Comte de Bragelonne?"

"And he has no children with all these titles?"

"Ah!" said Porthos, "I have heard that he had adopted a young man whoresembles him greatly. "

"What, Athos? Our Athos, who was as virtuous as Scipio? Have you seenhim?

"No. "

"Well, I shall see him to-morrow and tell him about you; but I'm afraid, entre nous, that his liking for wine has aged and degraded him. "

"Yes, he used to drink a great deal, " replied Porthos. 

"And then he was older than any of us, " added D'Artagnan. 

"Some years only. His gravity made him look older than he was. "

"Well then, if we can get Athos, all will be well. If we cannot, we willdo without him. We two are worth a dozen. "

"Yes, " said Porthos, smiling at the remembrance of his former exploits;"but we four, altogether, would be equal to thirty-six, more especiallyas you say the work will not be child's play. Will it last long?"

"By'r Lady! two or three years perhaps. "

"So much the better, " cried Porthos. "You have no idea, my friend, howmy bones ache since I came here. Sometimes on a Sunday, I take a ride inthe fields and on the property of my neighbours, in order to pick up anice little quarrel, which I am really in want of, but nothing happens. Either they respect or they fear me, which is more likely, but they letme trample down the clover with my dogs, insult and obstruct every one, and I come back still more weary and low-spirited, that's all. At anyrate, tell me: there's more chance of fighting in Paris, is there not?"

"In that respect, my dear friend, it's delightful. No more edicts, no more of the cardinal's guards, no more De Jussacs, nor otherbloodhounds. I'Gad! underneath a lamp in an inn, anywhere, they ask 'Areyou one of the Fronde?' They unsheathe, and that's all that is said. TheDuke de Guise killed Monsieur de Coligny in the Place Royale and nothingwas said of it. "

"Ah, things go on gaily, then, " said Porthos. 

"Besides which, in a short time, " resumed D'Artagnan, "We shall have setbattles, cannonades, conflagrations and there will be great variety. "

"Well, then, I decide. "

"I have your word, then?"

"Yes, 'tis given. I shall fight heart and soul for Mazarin; but----"

"But?"

"But he must make me a baron. "

"Zounds!" said D'Artagnan, "that's settled already; I will beresponsible for the barony. "

On this promise being given, Porthos, who had never doubted his friend'sassurance, turned back with him toward the castle. 

12. In which it is shown that if Porthos was discontented with hisCondition, Mousqueton was completely satisfied with his. 

As they returned toward the castle, D'Artagnan thought of the miseriesof poor human nature, always dissatisfied with what it has, everdesirous of what it has not. 

In the position of Porthos, D'Artagnan would have been perfectly happy;and to make Porthos contented there was wanting--what? five letters toput before his three names, a tiny coronet to paint upon the panels ofhis carriage!

"I shall pass all my life, " thought D'Artagnan, "in seeking for a manwho is really contented with his lot. "

Whilst making this reflection, chance seemed, as it were, to give himthe lie direct. When Porthos had left him to give some orders he sawMousqueton approaching. The face of the steward, despite one slightshade of care, light as a summer cloud, seemed a physiognomy of absolutefelicity. 

"Here is what I am looking for, " thought D'Artagnan; "but alas! the poorfellow does not know the purpose for which I am here. "

He then made a sign for Mousqueton to come to him. 

"Sir, " said the servant, "I have a favour to ask you. "

"Speak out, my friend. "

"I am afraid to do so. Perhaps you will think, sir, that prosperity hasspoiled me?"

"Art thou happy, friend?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"As happy as possible; and yet, sir, you may make me even happier than Iam. "

"Well, speak, if it depends on me. "

"Oh, sir! it depends on you only. "

"I listen--I am waiting to hear. "

"Sir, the favor I have to ask of you is, not to call me 'Mousqueton' but'Mouston. ' Since I have had the honor of being my lord's steward Ihave taken the last name as more dignified and calculated to make myinferiors respect me. You, sir, know how necessary subordination is inany large establishment of servants. "

D'Artagnan smiled; Porthos wanted to lengthen out his names, Mousquetonto cut his short. 

"Well, my dear Mouston, " he said, "rest satisfied. I will call theeMouston; and if it makes thee happy I will not 'tutoyer' you anylonger. "

"Oh!" cried Mousqueton, reddening with joy; "if you do me, sir, suchhonor, I shall be grateful all my life; it is too much to ask. "

"Alas!" thought D'Artagnan, "it is very little to offset the unexpectedtribulations I am bringing to this poor devil who has so warmly welcomedme. "

"Will monsieur remain long with us?" asked Mousqueton, with a serene andglowing countenance. 

"I go to-morrow, my friend, " replied D'Artagnan. 

"Ah, monsieur, " said Mousqueton, "then you have come here only to awakenour regrets. "

"I fear that is true, " said D'Artagnan, in a low tone. 

D'Artagnan was secretly touched with remorse, not at inducing Porthos toenter into schemes in which his life and fortune would be in jeopardy, for Porthos, in the title of baron, had his object and reward; but poorMousqueton, whose only wish was to be called Mouston--was it not cruelto snatch him from the delightful state of peace and plenty in which hewas?

He was thinking of these matters when Porthos summoned him to dinner. 

"What! to dinner?" said D'Artagnan. "What time is it, then?"

"Eh! why, it is after one o'clock. "

"Your home is a paradise, Porthos; one takes no note of time. I followyou, though I am not hungry. "

"Come, if one can't always eat, one can always drink--a maxim of poorAthos, the truth of which I have discovered since I began to be lonely. "

D'Artagnan, who as a Gascon, was inclined to sobriety, seemed not sosure as his friend of the truth of Athos's maxim, but he did his best tokeep up with his host. Meanwhile his misgivings in regard to Mousquetonrecurred to his mind and with greater force because Mousqueton, thoughhe did not himself wait on the table, which would have been beneath himin his new position, appeared at the door from time to time and evincedhis gratitude to D'Artagnan by the quality of the wine he directed tobe served. Therefore, when, at dessert, upon a sign from D'Artagnan, Porthos had sent away his servants and the two friends were alone:

"Porthos, " said D'Artagnan, "who will attend you in your campaigns?"

"Why, " replied Porthos, "Mouston, of course. "

This was a blow to D'Artagnan. He could already see the intendant'sbeaming smile change to a contortion of grief. "But, " he said, "Moustonis not so young as he was, my dear fellow; besides, he has grown fat andperhaps has lost his fitness for active service. "

"That may be true, " replied Porthos; "but I am used to him, and besides, he wouldn't be willing to let me go without him, he loves me so much. "

"Oh, blind self-love!" thought D'Artagnan. 

"And you, " asked Porthos, "haven't you still in your service your oldlackey, that good, that brave, that intelligent---what, then, is hisname?"

"Planchet--yes, I have found him again, but he is lackey no longer. "

"What is he, then?"

"With his sixteen hundred francs--you remember, the sixteen hundredfrancs he earned at the siege of La Rochelle by carrying a letter toLord de Winter--he has set up a little shop in the Rue des Lombards andis now a confectioner. "

"Ah, he is a confectioner in the Rue des Lombards! How does it happen, then, that he is in your service?"

"He has been guilty of certain escapades and fears he may be disturbed. "And the musketeer narrated to his friend Planchet's adventure. 

"Well, " said Porthos, "if any one had told you in the old times that theday would come when Planchet would rescue Rochefort and that you wouldprotect him in it----"

"I should not have believed him; but men are changed by events. "

"There is nothing truer than that, " said Porthos; "but what does notchange, or changes for the better, is wine. Taste of this; it is aSpanish wine which our friend Athos thought much of. "

At that moment the steward came in to consult his master upon theproceedings of the next day and also with regard to the shooting partywhich had been proposed. 

"Tell me, Mouston, " said Porthos, "are my arms in good condition?"

"Your arms, my lord--what arms?"

"Zounds! my weapons. "

"What weapons?"

"My military weapons. "

"Yes, my lord; at any rate, I think so. "

"Make sure of it, and if they want it, have them burnished up. Which ismy best cavalry horse?"

"Vulcan. "

"And the best hack?"

"Bayard. "

"What horse dost thou choose for thyself?"

"I like Rustaud, my lord; a good animal, whose paces suit me. "

"Strong, thinkest thou?"

"Half Norman, half Mecklenburger; will go night and day. "

"That will do for us. See to these horses. Polish up or make some oneelse polish my arms. Then take pistols with thee and a hunting-knife. "

"Are we then going to travel, my lord?" asked Mousqueton, rather uneasy. 

"Something better still, Mouston. "

"An expedition, sir?" asked the steward, whose roses began to changeinto lilies. 

"We are going to return to the service, Mouston, " replied Porthos, stilltrying to restore his mustache to the military curl it had long lost. 

"Into the service--the king's service?" Mousqueton trembled; even hisfat, smooth cheeks shook as he spoke, and he looked at D'Artagnan withan air of reproach; he staggered, and his voice was almost choked. 

"Yes and no. We shall serve in a campaign, seek out all sorts ofadventures--return, in short, to our former life. "

These last words fell on Mousqueton like a thunderbolt. It was thosevery terrible old days that made the present so excessively delightful, and the blow was so great he rushed out, overcome, and forgot to shutthe door. 

The two friends remained alone to speak of the future and to buildcastles in the air. The good wine which Mousqueton had placed beforethem traced out in glowing drops to D'Artagnan a fine perspective, shining with quadruples and pistoles, and showed to Porthos a blueribbon and a ducal mantle; they were, in fact, asleep on the table whenthe servants came to light them to their bed. 

Mousqueton was, however, somewhat consoled by D'Artagnan, who the nextday told him that in all probability war would always be carried on inthe heart of Paris and within reach of the Chateau du Vallon, which wasnear Corbeil, or Bracieux, which was near Melun, and of Pierrefonds, which was between Compiegne and Villars-Cotterets. 

"But--formerly--it appears, " began Mousqueton timidly. 

"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, "we don't now make war as we did formerly. To-dayit's a sort of diplomatic arrangement; ask Planchet. "

Mousqueton inquired, therefore, the state of the case of his old friend, who confirmed the statement of D'Artagnan. "But, " he added, "in this warprisoners stand a chance of being hung. "

"The deuce they do!" said Mousqueton; "I think I should like the siegeof Rochelle better than this war, then!"

Porthos, meantime, asked D'Artagnan to give him his instructions how toproceed on his journey. 

"Four days, " replied his friend, "are necessary to reach Blois; oneday to rest there; three or four days to return to Paris. Set out, therefore, in a week, with your suite, and go to the Hotel de laChevrette, Rue Tiquetonne, and there await me. "

"That's agreed, " said Porthos. 

"As to myself, I shall go around to see Athos; for though I don'tthink his aid worth much, one must with one's friends observe all duepoliteness, " said D'Artagnan. 

The friends then took leave of each other on the very border of theestate of Pierrefonds, to which Porthos escorted his friend. 

"At least, " D'Artagnan said to himself, as he took the road toVillars-Cotterets, "at least I shall not be alone in my undertaking. That devil, Porthos, is a man of prodigious strength; still, if Athosjoins us, well, we shall be three of us to laugh at Aramis, that littlecoxcomb with his too good luck. "

At Villars-Cotterets he wrote to the cardinal:

"My Lord, --I have already one man to offer to your eminence, and he iswell worth twenty men. I am just setting out for Blois. The Comte de laFere inhabits the Castle of Bragelonne, in the environs of that city. "

13. Two Angelic Faces. 

The road was long, but the horses upon which D'Artagnan and Planchetrode had been refreshed in the well supplied stables of the Lord ofBracieux; the master and servant rode side by side, conversing as theywent, for D'Artagnan had by degrees thrown off the master and Planchethad entirely ceased to assume the manners of a servant. He had beenraised by circumstances to the rank of a confidant to his master. Itwas many years since D'Artagnan had opened his heart to any one; ithappened, however, that these two men, on meeting again, assimilatedperfectly. Planchet was in truth no vulgar companion in these newadventures; he was a man of uncommonly sound sense. Without courtingdanger he never shrank from an encounter; in short, he had been asoldier and arms ennoble a man; it was, therefore, on the footing offriends that D'Artagnan and Planchet arrived in the neighborhood ofBlois. 

Going along, D'Artagnan, shaking his head, said:

"I know that my going to Athos is useless and absurd; but still I owethis courtesy to my old friend, a man who had in him material for themost noble and generous of characters. "

"Oh, Monsieur Athos was a noble gentleman, " said Planchet, "was henot? Scattering money round about him as Heaven sprinkles rain. Doyou remember, sir, that duel with the Englishman in the inclosure desCarmes? Ah! how lofty, how magnificent Monsieur Athos was that day, whenhe said to his adversary: 'You have insisted on knowing my name, sir;so much the worse for you, since I shall be obliged to kill you. ' I wasnear him, those were his exact words, when he stabbed his foe as hesaid he would, and his adversary fell without saying, 'Oh!' 'Tis a noblegentleman--Monsieur Athos. "

"Yes, true as Gospel, " said D'Artagnan; "but one single fault hasswallowed up all these fine qualities. "

"I remember well, " said Planchet, "he was fond of drinking--in truth, hedrank, but not as other men drink. One seemed, as he raised the wine tohis lips, to hear him say, 'Come, juice of the grape, and chase away mysorrows. ' And how he used to break the stem of a glass or the neck of abottle! There was no one like him for that. "

"And now, " replied D'Artagnan, "behold the sad spectacle that awaits us. This noble gentleman with his lofty glance, this handsome cavalier, sobrilliant in feats of arms that every one was surprised that he held inhis hand a sword only instead of a baton of command! Alas! we shall findhim changed into a broken down old man, with garnet nose and eyes thatslobber; we shall find him extended on some lawn, whence he will look atus with a languid eye and peradventure will not recognize us. God knows, Planchet, that I should fly from a sight so sad if I did not wish toshow my respect for the illustrious shadow of what was once the Comte dela Fere, whom we loved so much. "

Planchet shook his head and said nothing. It was evident that he sharedhis master's apprehensions. 

"And then, " resumed D'Artagnan, "to this decrepitude is probably addedpoverty, for he must have neglected the little that he had, and thedirty scoundrel, Grimaud, more taciturn than ever and still more drunkenthan his master--stay, Planchet, it breaks my heart to merely think ofit. "

"I fancy myself there and that I see him staggering and hear himstammering, " said Planchet, in a piteous tone, "but at all events weshall soon know the real state of things, for I imagine that those loftywalls, now turning ruby in the setting sun, are the walls of Blois. "

"Probably; and those steeples, pointed and sculptured, that we catch aglimpse of yonder, are similar to those that I have heard described atChambord. "

At this moment one of those heavy wagons, drawn by bullocks, which carrythe wood cut in the fine forests of the country to the ports of theLoire, came out of a byroad full of ruts and turned on that which thetwo horsemen were following. A man carrying a long switch with a nailat the end of it, with which he urged on his slow team, was walking withthe cart. 

"Ho! friend, " cried Planchet. 

"What's your pleasure, gentlemen?" replied the peasant, with a purity ofaccent peculiar to the people of that district and which might haveput to shame the cultured denizens of the Sorbonne and the Rue del'Universite. 

"We are looking for the house of Monsieur de la Fere, " said D'Artagnan. 

The peasant took off his hat on hearing this revered name. 

"Gentlemen, " he said, "the wood that I am carting is his; I cut it inhis copse and I am taking it to the chateau. "

D'Artagnan determined not to question this man; he did not wish to hearfrom another what he had himself said to Planchet. 

"The chateau!" he said to himself, "what chateau? Ah, I understand!Athos is not a man to be thwarted; he, like Porthos, has obliged hispeasantry to call him 'my lord, ' and to dignify his pettifogging placeby the name of chateau. He had a heavy hand--dear old Athos--afterdrinking. "

D'Artagnan, after asking the man the right way, continued his route, agitated in spite of himself at the idea of seeing once more thatsingular man whom he had so truly loved and who had contributed so muchby advice and example to his education as a gentleman. He checked bydegrees the speed of his horse and went on, his head drooping as if indeep thought. 

Soon, as the road turned, the Chateau de la Valliere appeared in view;then, a quarter of a mile beyond, a white house, encircled in sycamores, was visible at the farther end of a group of trees, which spring hadpowdered with a snow of flowers. 

On beholding this house, D'Artagnan, calm as he was in general, feltan unusual disturbance within his heart--so powerful during thewhole course of life are the recollections of youth. He proceeded, nevertheless, and came opposite to an iron gate, ornamented in the tasteof the period. 

Through the gate was seen kitchen-gardens, carefully attended to, aspacious courtyard, in which neighed several horses held by valets invarious liveries, and a carriage, drawn by two horses of the country. 

"We are mistaken, " said D'Artagnan. "This cannot be the establishmentof Athos. Good heavens! suppose he is dead and that this property nowbelongs to some one who bears his name. Alight, Planchet, and inquire, for I confess that I have scarcely courage so to do. "

Planchet alighted. 

"Thou must add, " said D'Artagnan, "that a gentleman who is passing bywishes to have the honor of paying his respects to the Comte de la Fere, and if thou art satisfied with what thou hearest, then mention my name!"

Planchet, leading his horse by the bridle, drew near to the gate andrang the bell, and immediately a servant-man with white hair and oferect stature, notwithstanding his age, presented himself. 

"Does Monsieur le Comte de la Fere live here?" asked Planchet. 

"Yes, monsieur, it is here he lives, " the servant replied to Planchet, who was not in livery. 

"A nobleman retired from service, is he not?"

"Yes. "

"And who had a lackey named Grimaud?" persisted Planchet, who hadprudently considered that he couldn't have too much information. 

"Monsieur Grimaud is absent from the chateau for the time being, " saidthe servitor, who, little used as he was to such inquiries, began toexamine Planchet from head to foot. 

"Then, " cried Planchet joyously, "I see well that it is the same Comtede la Fere whom we seek. Be good enough to open to me, for I wish toannounce to monsieur le comte that my master, one of his friends, ishere, and wishes to greet him. "

"Why didn't you say so?" said the servitor, opening the gate. "But whereis your master?"

"He is following me. "

The servitor opened the gate and walked before Planchet, who made a signto D'Artagnan. The latter, his heart palpitating more than ever, enteredthe courtyard without dismounting. 

Whilst Planchet was standing on the steps before the house he heard avoice say:

"Well, where is this gentleman and why do they not bring him here?"

This voice, the sound of which reached D'Artagnan, reawakened in hisheart a thousand sentiments, a thousand recollections that he hadforgotten. He vaulted hastily from his horse, whilst Planchet, with asmile on his lips, advanced toward the master of the house. 

"But I know you, my lad, " said Athos, appearing on the threshold. 

"Oh, yes, monsieur le comte, you know me and I know you. I amPlanchet--Planchet, whom you know well. " But the honest servant couldsay no more, so much was he overcome by this unexpected interview. 

"What, Planchet, is Monsieur d'Artagnan here?"

"Here I am, my friend, dear Athos!" cried D'Artagnan, in a falteringvoice and almost staggering from agitation. 

At these words a visible emotion was expressed on the beautifulcountenance and calm features of Athos. He rushed toward D'Artagnan witheyes fixed upon him and clasped him in his arms. D'Artagnan, equallymoved, pressed him also closely to him, whilst tears stood in his eyes. Athos then took him by the hand and led him into the drawing-room, wherethere were several people. Every one arose. 

"I present to you, " he said, "Monsieur le Chevalier D'Artagnan, lieutenant of his majesty's musketeers, a devoted friend and one of themost excellent, brave gentlemen that I have ever known. "

D'Artagnan received the compliments of those who were present in his ownway, and whilst the conversation became general he looked earnestly atAthos. 

Strange! Athos was scarcely aged at all! His fine eyes, no longersurrounded by that dark line which nights of dissipation pencil tooinfallibly, seemed larger, more liquid than ever. His face, a littleelongated, had gained in calm dignity what it had lost in feverishexcitement. His hand, always wonderfully beautiful and strong, was setoff by a ruffle of lace, like certain hands by Titian and Vandyck. Hewas less stiff than formerly. His long, dark hair, softly powdered hereand there with silver tendrils, fell elegantly over his shoulders inwavy curls; his voice was still youthful, as if belonging to a Herculesof twenty-five, and his magnificent teeth, which he had preserved whiteand sound, gave an indescribable charm to his smile. 

Meanwhile the guests, seeing that the two friends were longing tobe alone, prepared to depart, when a noise of dogs barking resoundedthrough the courtyard and many persons said at the same moment:

"Ah! 'tis Raoul, who is come home. "

Athos, as the name of Raoul was pronounced, looked inquisitively atD'Artagnan, in order to see if any curiosity was painted on hisface. But D'Artagnan was still in confusion and turned around almostmechanically when a fine young man of fifteen years of age, dressedsimply, but in perfect taste, entered the room, raising, as he came, hishat, adorned with a long plume of scarlet feathers. 

Nevertheless, D'Artagnan was struck by the appearance of thisnew personage. It seemed to explain to him the change in Athos; aresemblance between the boy and the man explained the mystery of thisregenerated existence. He remained listening and gazing. 

"Here you are, home again, Raoul, " said the comte. 

"Yes, sir, " replied the youth, with deep respect, "and I have performedthe commission that you gave me. "

"But what's the matter, Raoul?" said Athos, very anxiously. "You arepale and agitated. "

"Sir, " replied the young man, "it is on account of an accident which hashappened to our little neighbor. "

"To Mademoiselle de la Valliere?" asked Athos, quickly. 

"What is it?" cried many persons present. 

"She was walking with her nurse Marceline, in the place where thewoodmen cut the wood, when, passing on horseback, I stopped. She saw mealso and in trying to jump from the end of a pile of wood on which shehad mounted, the poor child fell and was not able to rise again. I fearthat she has badly sprained her ankle. "

"Oh, heavens!" cried Athos. "And her mother, Madame de Saint-Remy, havethey yet told her of it?"

"No, sir, Madame de Saint-Remy is at Blois with the Duchess of Orleans. I am afraid that what was first done was unskillful, if not worse thanuseless. I am come, sir, to ask your advice. "

"Send directly to Blois, Raoul; or, rather, take horse and rideimmediately yourself. "

Raoul bowed. 

"But where is Louise?" asked the comte. 

"I have brought her here, sir, and I have deposited her in charge ofCharlotte, who, till better advice comes, has bathed the foot in coldwell-water. "

The guests now all took leave of Athos, excepting the old Duc de Barbe, who, as an old friend of the family of La Valliere, went to see littleLouise and offered to take her to Blois in his carriage. 

"You are right, sir, " said Athos. "She will be the sooner with hermother. As for you, Raoul, I am sure it is your fault, some giddiness orfolly. "

"No, sir, I assure you, " muttered Raoul, "it is not. "

"Oh, no, no, I declare it is not!" cried the young girl, while Raoulturned pale at the idea of his being perhaps the cause of her disaster. 

"Nevertheless, Raoul, you must go to Blois and you must make yourexcuses and mine to Madame de Saint-Remy. "

The youth looked pleased. He again took in his strong arms the littlegirl, whose pretty golden head and smiling face rested on his shoulder, and placed her gently in the carriage; then jumping on his horsewith the elegance of a first-rate esquire, after bowing to Athos andD'Artagnan, he went off close by the door of the carriage, on somebodyinside of which his eyes were riveted. 

14. The Castle of Bragelonne. 

Whilst this scene was going on, D'Artagnan remained with open mouth anda confused gaze. Everything had turned out so differently from what heexpected that he was stupefied with wonder. 

Athos, who had been observing him and guessing his thoughts, took hisarm and led him into the garden. 

"Whilst supper is being prepared, " he said, smiling, "you will not, myfriend, be sorry to have the mystery which so puzzles you cleared up. "

"True, monsieur le comte, " replied D'Artagnan, who felt that by degreesAthos was resuming that great influence which aristocracy had over him. 

Athos smiled. 

"First and foremost, dear D'Artagnan, we have no title such as counthere. When I call you 'chevalier, ' it is in presenting you to my guests, that they may know who you are. But to you, D'Artagnan, I am, I hope, still dear Athos, your comrade, your friend. Do you intend to stand onceremony because you are less attached to me than you were?"

"Oh! God forbid!"

"Then let us be as we used to be; let us be open with each other. Youare surprised at what you see here?"

"Extremely. "

"But above all things, I am a marvel to you?"

"I confess it. "

"I am still young, am I not? Should you not have known me again, inspite of my eight-and-forty years of age?"

"On the contrary, I do not find you the same person at all. "

"I understand, " cried Athos, with a gentle blush. "Everything, D'Artagnan, even folly, has its limit. "

"Then your means, it appears, are improved; you have a capitalhouse--your own, I presume? You have a park, and horses, servants. "

Athos smiled. 

"Yes, I inherited this little property when I quitted the army, as Itold you. The park is twenty acres--twenty, comprising kitchen-gardensand a common. I have two horses, --I do not count my servant's bobtailednag. My sporting dogs consist of two pointers, two harriers and twosetters. But then all this extravagance is not for myself, " added Athos, laughing. 

"Yes, I see, for the young man Raoul, " said D'Artagnan. 

"You guess aright, my friend; this youth is an orphan, deserted byhis mother, who left him in the house of a poor country priest. I havebrought him up. It is Raoul who has worked in me the change you see;I was dried up like a miserable tree, isolated, attached to nothing onearth; it was only a deep affection that could make me take root againand drag me back to life. This child has caused me to recover what I hadlost. I had no longer any wish to live for myself, I have lived for him. I have corrected the vices that I had; I have assumed the virtues thatI had not. Precept something, but example more. I may be mistaken, but Ibelieve that Raoul will be as accomplished a gentleman as our degenerateage could display. "

The remembrance of Milady recurred to D'Artagnan. 

"And you are happy?" he said to his friend. 

"As happy as it is allowed to one of God's creatures to be on thisearth; but say out all you think, D'Artagnan, for you have not yet doneso. "

"You are too bad, Athos; one can hide nothing from you, " answeredD'Artagnan. "I wished to ask you if you ever feel any emotions of terrorresembling----"

"Remorse! I finish your phrase. Yes and no. I do not feel remorse, because that woman, I profoundly hold, deserved her punishment. Had sheone redeeming trait? I doubt it. I do not feel remorse, because had weallowed her to live she would have persisted in her work of destruction. But I do not mean, my friend that we were right in what we did. Perhapsall blood demands some expiation. Hers had been accomplished; itremains, possibly, for us to accomplish ours. "

"I have sometimes thought as you do, Athos. "

"She had a son, that unhappy woman?"

"Yes. "

"Have you ever heard of him?"

"Never. "

"He must be about twenty-three years of age, " said Athos, in a low tone. "I often think of that young man, D'Artagnan. "

"Strange! for I had forgotten him, " said the lieutenant. 

Athos smiled; the smile was melancholy. 

"And Lord de Winter--do you know anything about him?"

"I know that he is in high favor with Charles I. "

"The fortunes of that monarch now are at low water. He shed the bloodof Strafford; that confirms what I said just now--blood will have blood. And the queen?"

"What queen?"

"Madame Henrietta of England, daughter of Henry IV. "

"She is at the Louvre, as you know. "

"Yes, and I hear in bitter poverty. Her daughter, during the severestcold, was obliged for want of fire to remain in bed. Do you graspthat?" said Athos, shrugging his shoulders; "the daughter of Henry IV. Shivering for want of a fagot! Why did she not ask from any one of us ahome instead of from Mazarin? She should have wanted nothing. "

"Have you ever seen the queen of England?" inquired D'Artagnan. 

"No; but my mother, as a child, saw her. Did I ever tell you that mymother was lady of honor to Marie de Medici?"

"Never. You know, Athos, you never spoke much of such matters. "

"Ah, mon Dieu, yes, you are right, " Athos replied; "but then there mustbe some occasion for speaking. "

"Porthos wouldn't have waited for it so patiently, " said D'Artagnan, with a smile. 

"Every one according to his nature, my dear D'Artagnan. Porthos, inspite of a touch of vanity, has many excellent qualities. Have you seenhim?"

"I left him five days ago, " said D'Artagnan, and he portrayed withGascon wit and sprightliness the magnificence of Porthos in his Chateauof Pierrefonds; nor did he neglect to launch a few arrows of wit at theexcellent Monsieur Mouston. 

"I sometimes wonder, " replied Athos, smiling at that gayety whichrecalled the good old days, "that we could form an association of menwho would be, after twenty years of separation, still so closely boundtogether. Friendship throws out deep roots in honest hearts, D'Artagnan. Believe me, it is only the evil-minded who deny friendship; they cannotunderstand it. And Aramis?"

"I have seen him also, " said D'Artagnan; "but he seemed to me cold. "

"Ah, you have seen Aramis?" said Athos, turning on D'Artagnan asearching look. "Why, it is a veritable pilgrimage, my dear friend, thatyou are making to the Temple of Friendship, as the poets would say. "

"Why, yes, " replied D'Artagnan, with embarrassment. 

"Aramis, you know, " continued Athos, "is naturally cold, and then he isalways involved in intrigues with women. "

"I believe he is at this moment in a very complicated one, " saidD'Artagnan. 

Athos made no reply. 

"He is not curious, " thought D'Artagnan. 

Athos not only failed to reply, he even changed the subject ofconversation. 

"You see, " said he, calling D'Artagnan's attention to the fact that theyhad come back to the chateau after an hour's walk, "we have made a tourof my domains. "

"All is charming and everything savors of nobility, " replied D'Artagnan. 

At this instant they heard the sound of horses' feet. 

"'Tis Raoul who has come back, " said Athos; "and we can now hear how thepoor child is. "

In fact, the young man appeared at the gate, covered with dust, enteredthe courtyard, leaped from his horse, which he consigned to the chargeof a groom, and then went to greet the count and D'Artagnan. 

"Monsieur, " said Athos, placing his hand on D'Artagnan's shoulder, "monsieur is the Chevalier D'Artagnan of whom you have often heard mespeak, Raoul. "

"Monsieur, " said the young man, saluting again and more profoundly, "monsieur le comte has pronounced your name before me as an examplewhenever he wished to speak of an intrepid and generous gentleman. "

That little compliment could not fail to move D'Artagnan. He extended ahand to Raoul and said:

"My young friend, all the praises that are given me should be passed onto the count here; for he has educated me in everything and it is nothis fault that his pupil profited so little from his instructions. Buthe will make it up in you I am sure. I like your manner, Raoul, and yourpoliteness has touched me. "

Athos was more delighted than can be told. He looked at D'Artagnanwith an expression of gratitude and then bestowed on Raoul one of thosestrange smiles, of which children are so proud when they receive them. 

"Now, " said D'Artagnan to himself, noticing that silent play ofcountenance, "I am sure of it. "

"I hope the accident has been of no consequence?"

"They don't yet know, sir, on account of the swelling; but the doctor isafraid some tendon has been injured. "

At this moment a little boy, half peasant, half foot-boy, came toannounce supper. 

Athos led his guest into a dining-room of moderate size, the windows ofwhich opened on one side on a garden, on the other on a hot-house fullof magnificent flowers. 

D'Artagnan glanced at the dinner service. The plate was magnificent, old, and appertaining to the family. D'Artagnan stopped to look at asideboard on which was a superb ewer of silver. 

"That workmanship is divine!" he exclaimed. 

"Yes, a chef d'oeuvre of the great Florentine sculptor, BenvenutoCellini, " replied Athos. 

"What battle does it represent?"

"That of Marignan, just at the point where one of my forefathers isoffering his sword to Francis I. , who has broken his. It was on thatoccasion that my ancestor, Enguerrand de la Fere, was made a knightof the Order of St. Michael; besides which, the king, fifteen yearsafterward, gave him also this ewer and a sword which you may have seenformerly in my house, also a lovely specimen of workmanship. Men weregiants in those times, " said Athos; "now we are pigmies in comparison. Let us sit down to supper. Call Charles, " he added, addressing the boywho waited. 

"My good Charles, I particularly recommend to your care Planchet, thelaquais of Monsieur D'Artagnan. He likes good wine; now you have thekey of the cellar. He has slept a long time on a hard bed, so he won'tobject to a soft one; take every care of him, I beg of you. " Charlesbowed and retired. 

"You think of everything, " said D'Artagnan; "and I thank you forPlanchet, my dear Athos. "

Raoul stared on hearing this name and looked at the count to be quitesure that it was he whom the lieutenant thus addressed. 

"That name sounds strange to you, " said Athos, smiling; "it was my nomde guerre when Monsieur D'Artagnan, two other gallant friends and myselfperformed some feats of arms at the siege of La Rochelle, under thedeceased cardinal and Monsieur de Bassompierre. My friend is still sokind as to address me by that old and well beloved appellation, whichmakes my heart glad when I hear it. "

"'Tis an illustrious name, " said the lieutenant, "and had one daytriumphal honors paid to it. "

"What do you mean, sir?" inquired Raoul. 

"You have not forgotten St. Gervais, Athos, and the napkin which wasconverted into a banner?" and he then related to Raoul the story of thebastion, and Raoul fancied he was listening to one of those deeds ofarms belonging to days of chivalry, so gloriously recounted by Tasso andAriosto. 

"D'Artagnan does not tell you, Raoul, " said Athos, in his turn, "that hewas reckoned one of the finest swordsmen of his time--a knuckle ofiron, a wrist of steel, a sure eye and a glance of fire; that's whathis adversary met with. He was eighteen, only three years older than youare, Raoul, when I saw him set to work, pitted against tried men. "

"And did Monsieur D'Artagnan come off the conqueror?" asked the youngman, with glistening eye. 

"I killed one man, if I recollect rightly, " replied D'Artagnan, witha look of inquiry directed to Athos; "another I disarmed or wounded, Idon't remember which. "

"Wounded!" said Athos; "it was a phenomenon of skill. "

The young man would willingly have prolonged this conversation far intothe night, but Athos pointed out to him that his guest must need repose. D'Artagnan would fain have declared that he was not fatigued, but Athosinsisted on his retiring to his chamber, conducted thither by Raoul. 

15. Athos as a Diplomatist. 

D'Artagnan retired to bed--not to sleep, but to think over all he hadheard that evening. Being naturally goodhearted, and having had oncea liking for Athos, which had grown into a sincere friendship, he wasdelighted at thus meeting a man full of intelligence and moral strength, instead of a drunkard. He admitted without annoyance the continuedsuperiority of Athos over himself, devoid as he was of that jealousywhich might have saddened a less generous disposition; he was delightedalso that the high qualities of Athos appeared to promise favorably forhis mission. Nevertheless, it seemed to him that Athos was not in allrespects sincere and frank. Who was the youth he had adopted and whobore so striking a resemblance to him? What could explain Athos's havingre-entered the world and the extreme sobriety he had observed at table?The absence of Grimaud, whose name had never once been uttered by Athos, gave D'Artagnan uneasiness. It was evident either that he no longerpossessed the confidence of his friend, or that Athos was bound by someinvisible chain, or that he had been forewarned of the lieutenant'svisit. 

He could not help thinking of M. Rochefort, whom he had seen in NotreDame; could De Rochefort have forestalled him with Athos? Again, the moderate fortune which Athos possessed, concealed as it was, soskillfully, seemed to show a regard for appearances and to betray alatent ambition which might be easily aroused. The clear and vigorousintellect of Athos would render him more open to conviction than a lessable man would be. He would enter into the minister's schemes with themore ardor, because his natural activity would be doubled by necessity. 

Resolved to seek an explanation on all these points on the followingday, D'Artagnan, in spite of his fatigue, prepared for an attack anddetermined that it should take place after breakfast. He determined tocultivate the good-will of the youth Raoul and, either whilst fencingwith him or when out shooting, to extract from his simplicity someinformation which would connect the Athos of old times with the Athosof the present. But D'Artagnan at the same time, being a man of extremecaution, was quite aware what injury he should do himself, if by anyindiscretion or awkwardness he should betray has manoeuvering to theexperienced eye of Athos. Besides, to tell truth, whilst D'Artagnan wasquite disposed to adopt a subtle course against the cunning of Aramisor the vanity of Porthos, he was ashamed to equivocate with Athos, true-hearted, open Athos. It seemed to him that if Porthos and Aramisdeemed him superior to them in the arts of diplomacy, they would likehim all the better for it; but that Athos, on the contrary, woulddespise him. 

"Ah! why is not Grimaud, the taciturn Grimaud, here?" thoughtD'Artagnan, "there are so many things his silence would have told me;with Grimaud silence was another form of eloquence!"

There reigned a perfect stillness in the house. D'Artagnan had heard thedoor shut and the shutters barred; the dogs became in their turn silent. At last a nightingale, lost in a thicket of shrubs, in the midst ofits most melodious cadences had fluted low and lower into stillness andfallen asleep. Not a sound was heard in the castle, except of a footstepup and down, in the chamber above--as he supposed, the bedroom of Athos. 

"He is walking about and thinking, " thought D'Artagnan; "but of what? Itis impossible to know; everything else might be guessed, but not that. "

At length Athos went to bed, apparently, for the noise ceased. 

Silence and fatigue together overcame D'Artagnan and sleep overtook himalso. He was not, however, a good sleeper. Scarcely had dawn gildedhis window curtains when he sprang out of bed and opened the windows. Somebody, he perceived, was in the courtyard, moving stealthily. True tohis custom of never passing anything over that it was within his powerto know, D'Artagnan looked out of the window and perceived the close redcoat and brown hair of Raoul. 

The young man was opening the door of the stable. He then, withnoiseless haste, took out the horse that he had ridden on the previousevening, saddled and bridled it himself and led the animal into thealley to the right of the kitchen-garden, opened a side door whichconducted him to a bridle road, shut it after him, and D'Artagnansaw him pass by like a dart, bending, as he went, beneath the pendentflowery branches of maple and acacia. The road, as D'Artagnan hadobserved, was the way to Blois. 

"So!" thought the Gascon "here's a young blade who has already his loveaffair, who doesn't at all agree with Athos in his hatred to the fairsex. He's not going to hunt, for he has neither dogs nor arms; he's notgoing on a message, for he goes secretly. Why does he go in secret? Ishe afraid of me or of his father? for I am sure the count is his father. By Jove! I shall know about that soon, for I shall soon speak out toAthos. "

Day was now advanced; all the noises that had ceased the night beforereawakened, one after the other. The bird on the branch, the dog in hiskennel, the sheep in the field, the boats moored in the Loire, even, became alive and vocal. The latter, leaving the shore, abandonedthemselves gaily to the current. The Gascon gave a last twirl to hismustache, a last turn to his hair, brushed, from habit, the brim of hishat with the sleeve of his doublet, and went downstairs. Scarcely hadhe descended the last step of the threshold when he saw Athos bent downtoward the ground, as if he were looking for a crown-piece in the dust. 

"Good-morning, my dear host, " cried D'Artagnan. 

"Good-day to you; have you slept well?"

"Excellently, Athos, but what are you looking for? You are perhaps atulip fancier?"

"My dear friend, if I am, you must not laugh at me for being so. In thecountry people alter; one gets to like, without knowing it, all thosebeautiful objects that God causes to spring from the earth, whichare despised in cities. I was looking anxiously for some iris roots Iplanted here, close to this reservoir, and which some one has trampledupon this morning. These gardeners are the most careless people in theworld; in bringing the horse out to the water they've allowed him towalk over the border. "

D'Artagnan began to smile. 

"Ah! you think so, do you?"

And he took his friend along the alley, where a number of tracks likethose which had trampled down the flowerbeds, were visible. 

"Here are the horse's hoofs again, it seems, Athos, " he said carelessly. 

"Yes, indeed, the marks are recent. "

"Quite so, " replied the lieutenant. 

"Who went out this morning?" Athos asked, uneasily. "Has any horse gotloose?"

"Not likely, " answered the Gascon; "these marks are regular. "

"Where is Raoul?" asked Athos; "how is it that I have not seen him?"

"Hush!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, putting his finger on his lips; and herelated what he had seen, watching Athos all the while. 

"Ah, he's gone to Blois; the poor boy----"

"Wherefore?"

"Ah, to inquire after the little La Valliere; she has sprained her foot, you know. "

"You think he has?"

"I am sure of it, " said Athos; "don't you see that Raoul is in love?"

"Indeed! with whom--with a child seven years old?"

"Dear friend, at Raoul's age the heart is so expansive that it mustencircle one object or another, fancied or real. Well, his love is halfreal, half fanciful. She is the prettiest little creature in the world, with flaxen hair, blue eyes, --at once saucy and languishing. "

"But what say you to Raoul's fancy?"

"Nothing--I laugh at Raoul; but this first desire of the heart isimperious. I remember, just at his age, how deep in love I was witha Grecian statue which our good king, then Henry IV. , gave my father, insomuch that I was mad with grief when they told me that the story ofPygmalion was nothing but a fable. "

"It is mere want of occupation. You do not make Raoul work, so he takeshis own way of employing himself. "

"Exactly; therefore I think of sending him away from here. "

"You will be wise to do so. "

"No doubt of it; but it will break his heart. So long as three or fouryears ago he used to adorn and adore his little idol, whom he will someday fall in love with in right earnest if he remains here. The parentsof little La Valliere have for a long time perceived and been amused atit; now they begin to look concerned. "

"Nonsense! However, Raoul must be diverted from this fancy. Send himaway or you will never make a man of him. "

"I think I shall send him to Paris. "

"So!" thought D'Artagnan, and it seemed to him that the moment forattack had arrived. 

"Suppose, " he said, "we roughly chalk out a career for this young man. Iwish to consult you about some thing. "

"Do so. "

"Do you think it is time for us to enter the service?"

"But are you not still in the service--you, D'Artagnan?"

"I mean active service. Our former life, has it still no attractions foryou? would you not be happy to begin anew in my society and in that ofPorthos, the exploits of our youth?"

"Do you propose to me to do so, D'Artagnan?"

"Decidedly and honestly. "

"On whose side?" asked Athos, fixing his clear, benevolent glance on thecountenance of the Gascon. 

"Ah, devil take it, you speak in earnest----"

"And must have a definite answer. Listen, D'Artagnan. There is but oneperson, or rather, one cause, to whom a man like me can be useful--thatof the king. "

"Exactly, " answered the musketeer. 

"Yes, but let us understand each other, " returned Athos, seriously. "Ifby the cause of the king you mean that of Monsieur de Mazarin, we do notunderstand each other. "

"I don't say exactly, " answered the Gascon, confused. 

"Come, D'Artagnan, don't let us play a sidelong game; your hesitation, your evasion, tells me at once on whose side you are; for that party noone dares openly to recruit, and when people recruit for it, it is withaverted eyes and humble voice. "

"Ah! my dear Athos!"

"You know that I am not alluding to you; you are the pearl of brave, bold men. I speak of that spiteful and intriguing Italian--of the pedantwho has tried to put on his own head a crown which he stole from under apillow--of the scoundrel who calls his party the party of the king--whowants to send the princes of the blood to prison, not daring to killthem, as our great cardinal--our cardinal did--of the miser, who weighshis gold pieces and keeps the clipped ones for fear, though he is rich, of losing them at play next morning--of the impudent fellow who insultsthe queen, as they say--so much the worse for her--and who is goingin three months to make war upon us, in order that he may retain hispensions; is that the master whom you propose to me? I thank you, D'Artagnan. "

"You are more impetuous than you were, " returned D'Artagnan. "Age haswarmed, not chilled your blood. Who informed you this was the master Ipropose to you? Devil take it, " he muttered to himself, "don't let mebetray my secrets to a man not inclined to entertain them. "

"Well, then, " said Athos, "what are your schemes? what do you propose?"

"Zounds! nothing more than natural. You live on your estate, happy ingolden mediocrity. Porthos has, perhaps, sixty thousand francs income. Aramis has always fifty duchesses quarreling over the priest, as theyquarreled formerly over the musketeer; but I--what have I in the world?I have worn my cuirass these twenty years, kept down in this inferiorrank, without going forward or backward, hardly half living. In fact, I am dead. Well! when there is some idea of being resuscitated, you sayhe's a scoundrel, an impudent fellow, a miser, a bad master! By Jove!I am of your opinion, but find me a better one or give me the means ofliving. "

Athos was for a few moments thoughtful. 

"Good! D'Artagnan is for Mazarin, " he said to himself. 

From that moment he grew very guarded. 

On his side D'Artagnan became more cautious also. 

"You spoke to me, " Athos resumed, "of Porthos; have you persuaded him toseek his fortune? But he has wealth, I believe, already. "

"Doubtless he has. But such is man, we always want something more thanwe already have. "

"What does Porthos wish for?"

"To be a baron. "

"Ah, true! I forgot, " said Athos, laughing. 

"'Tis true!" thought the Gascon, "where has he heard it? Does hecorrespond with Aramis? Ah! if I knew that he did I should know all. "

The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Raoul. 

"Is our little neighbor worse?" asked D'Artagnan, seeing a look ofvexation on the face of the youth. 

"Ah, sir!" replied Raoul, "her fall is a very serious one, and withoutany ostensible injury, the physician fears she will be lame for life. "

"This is terrible, " said Athos. 

"And what makes me all the more wretched, sir, is, that I was the causeof this misfortune. "

"How so?" asked Athos. 

"It was to run to meet me that she leaped from that pile of wood. "

"There's only one remedy, dear Raoul--that is, to marry her as acompensation. " remarked D'Artagnan. 

"Ah, sir!" answered Raoul, "you joke about a real misfortune; that iscruel, indeed. "

The good understanding between the two friends was not in the leastaltered by the morning's skirmish. They breakfasted with a goodappetite, looking now and then at poor Raoul, who with moist eyes and afull heart, scarcely ate at all. 

After breakfast two letters arrived for Athos, who read them withprofound attention, whilst D'Artagnan could not restrain himself fromjumping up several times on seeing him read these epistles, in one ofwhich, there being at the time a very strong light, he perceived thefine writing of Aramis. The other was in a feminine hand, long, andcrossed. 

"Come, " said D'Artagnan to Raoul, seeing that Athos wished to be alone, "come, let us take a turn in the fencing gallery; that will amuse you. "

And they both went into a low room where there were foils, gloves, masks, breastplates, and all the accessories for a fencing match. 

In a quarter of an hour Athos joined them and at the same moment Charlesbrought in a letter for D'Artagnan, which a messenger had just desiredmight be instantly delivered. 

It was now Athos's turn to take a sly look. 

D'Artagnan read the letter with apparent calmness and said, shaking hishead:

"See, dear friend, what it is to belong to the army. Faith, you areindeed right not to return to it. Monsieur de Treville is ill, so mycompany can't do without me; there! my leave is at an end!"

"Do you return to Paris?" asked Athos, quickly. 

"Egad! yes; but why don't you come there also?"

Athos colored a little and answered:

"Should I go, I shall be delighted to see you there. "

"Halloo, Planchet!" cried the Gascon from the door, "we must set out inten minutes; give the horses some hay. "

Then turning to Athos he added:

"I seem to miss something here. I am really sorry to go away withouthaving seen Grimaud. "

"Grimaud!" replied Athos. "I'm surprised you have never so much as askedafter him. I have lent him to a friend----"

"Who will understand the signs he makes?" returned D'Artagnan. 

"I hope so. "

The friends embraced cordially; D'Artagnan pressed Raoul's hand. 

"Will you not come with me?" he said; "I shall pass by Blois. "

Raoul turned toward Athos, who showed him by a secret sign that he didnot wish him to go. 

"No, monsieur, " replied the young man; "I will remain with monsieur lecomte. "

"Adieu, then, to both, my good friends, " said D'Artagnan; "may Godpreserve you! as we used to say when we said good-bye to each other inthe late cardinal's time. "

Athos waved his hand, Raoul bowed, and D'Artagnan and Planchet set out. 

The count followed them with his eyes, his hands resting on theshoulders of the youth, whose height was almost equal to his own; but assoon as they were out of sight he said:

"Raoul, we set out to-night for Paris. "

"Eh?" cried the young man, turning pale. 

"You may go and offer your adieux and mine to Madame de Saint-Remy. Ishall wait for you here till seven. "

The young man bent low, with an expression of sorrow and gratitudemingled, and retired in order to saddle his horse. 

As to D'Artagnan, scarcely, on his side, was he out of sight when hedrew from his pocket a letter, which he read over again:

"Return immediately to Paris. --J. M----. "

"The epistle is laconic, " said D'Artagnan; "and if there had not been apostscript, probably I should not have understood it; but happily thereis a postscript. "

And he read that welcome postscript, which made him forget theabruptness of the letter. 

"P. S. --Go to the king's treasurer, at Blois; tell him your name andshow him this letter; you will receive two hundred pistoles. "

"Assuredly, " said D'Artagnan, "I admire this piece of prose. Thecardinal writes better than I thought. Come, Planchet, let us pay avisit to the king's treasurer and then set off. "

"Toward Paris, sir?"

"Toward Paris. "

And they set out at as hard a canter as their horses could maintain. 

16. The Duc de Beaufort. 

The circumstances that had hastened the return of D'Artagnan to Pariswere as follows:

One evening, when Mazarin, according to custom, went to visit the queen, in passing the guard-chamber he heard loud voices; wishing to know onwhat topic the soldiers were conversing, he approached with his wontedwolf-like step, pushed open the door and put his head close to thechink. 

There was a dispute among the guards. 

"I tell you, " one of them was saying, "that if Coysel predicted that, 'tis as good as true; I know nothing about it, but I have heard say thathe's not only an astrologer, but a magician. "

"Deuce take it, friend, if he's one of thy friends thou wilt ruin him insaying so. "

"Why?"

"Because he may be tried for it. "

"Ah! absurd! they don't burn sorcerers nowadays. "

"No? 'Tis not a long time since the late cardinal burnt Urban Grandier, though. "

"My friend, Urban Grandier wasn't a sorcerer, he was a learned man. He didn't predict the future, he knew the past--often a more dangerousthing. "

Mazarin nodded an assent, but wishing to know what this prediction was, about which they disputed, he remained in the same place. 

"I don't say, " resumed the guard, "that Coysel is not a sorcerer, butI say that if his prophecy gets wind, it's a sure way to prevent it'scoming true. "

"How so?"

"Why, in this way: if Coysel says loud enough for the cardinal to hearhim, on such or such a day such a prisoner will escape, 'tis plain thatthe cardinal will take measures of precaution and that the prisoner willnot escape. "

"Good Lord!" said another guard, who might have been thought asleep ona bench, but who had lost not a syllable of the conversation, "do yousuppose that men can escape their destiny? If it is written yonder, inHeaven, that the Duc de Beaufort is to escape, he will escape; and allthe precautions of the cardinal will not prevent it. "

Mazarin started. He was an Italian and therefore superstitious. Hewalked straight into the midst of the guards, who on seeing him weresilent. 

"What were you saying?" he asked with his flattering manner; "thatMonsieur de Beaufort had escaped, were you not?"

"Oh, no, my lord!" said the incredulous soldier. "He's well guarded now;we only said he would escape. "

"Who said so?"

"Repeat your story, Saint Laurent, " replied the man, turning to theoriginator of the tale. 

"My lord, " said the guard, "I have simply mentioned the prophecy Iheard from a man named Coysel, who believes that, be he ever soclosely watched and guarded, the Duke of Beaufort will escape beforeWhitsuntide. "

"Coysel is a madman!" returned the cardinal. 

"No, " replied the soldier, tenacious in his credulity; "he has foretoldmany things which have come to pass; for instance, that the queen wouldhave a son; that Monsieur Coligny would be killed in a duel with the Ducde Guise; and finally, that the coadjutor would be made cardinal. Well!the queen has not only one son, but two; then, Monsieur de Coligny waskilled, and----"

"Yes, " said Mazarin, "but the coadjutor is not yet made cardinal!"

"No, my lord, but he will be, " answered the guard. 

Mazarin made a grimace, as if he meant to say, "But he does not wear thecardinal's cap;" then he added:

"So, my friend, it's your opinion that Monsieur de Beaufort willescape?"

"That's my idea, my lord; and if your eminence were to offer to make meat this moment governor of the castle of Vincennes, I should refuse it. After Whitsuntide it would be another thing. "

There is nothing so convincing as a firm conviction. It has its owneffect upon the most incredulous; and far from being incredulous, Mazarin was superstitious. He went away thoughtful and anxious andreturned to his own room, where he summoned Bernouin and desired himto fetch thither in the morning the special guard he had placed overMonsieur de Beaufort and to awaken him whenever he should arrive. 

The guard had, in fact, touched the cardinal in the tenderest point. During the whole five years in which the Duc de Beaufort had been inprison not a day had passed in which the cardinal had not felt a secretdread of his escape. It was not possible, as he knew well, to confinefor the whole of his life the grandson of Henry IV. , especially whenthis young prince was scarcely thirty years of age. But however andwhensoever he did escape, what hatred he must cherish against him towhom he owed his long imprisonment; who had taken him, rich, brave, glorious, beloved by women, feared by men, to cut off his life's best, happiest years; for it is not life, it is merely existence, in prison!Meantime, Mazarin redoubled his surveillance over the duke. But likethe miser in the fable, he could not sleep for thinking of his treasure. Often he awoke in the night, suddenly, dreaming that he had been robbedof Monsieur de Beaufort. Then he inquired about him and had the vexationof hearing that the prisoner played, drank, sang, but that whilstplaying, drinking, singing, he often stopped short to vow that Mazarinshould pay dear for all the amusements he had forced him to enter intoat Vincennes. 

So much did this one idea haunt the cardinal even in his sleep, thatwhen at seven in the morning Bernouin came to arouse him, his firstwords were: "Well, what's the matter? Has Monsieur de Beaufort escapedfrom Vincennes?"

"I do not think so, my lord, " said Bernouin; "but you will hear abouthim, for La Ramee is here and awaits the commands of your eminence. "

"Tell him to come in, " said Mazarin, arranging his pillows, so that hemight receive the visitor sitting up in bed. 

The officer entered, a large fat man, with an open physiognomy. His airof perfect serenity made Mazarin uneasy. 

"Approach, sir, " said the cardinal. 

The officer obeyed. 

"Do you know what they are saying here?"

"No, your eminence. "

"Well, they say that Monsieur de Beaufort is going to escape fromVincennes, if he has not done so already. "

The officer's face expressed complete stupefaction. He opened at oncehis little eyes and his great mouth, to inhale better the joke hiseminence deigned to address to him, and ended by a burst of laughter, soviolent that his great limbs shook in hilarity as they would have donein an ague. 

"Escape! my lord--escape! Your eminence does not then know whereMonsieur de Beaufort is?"

"Yes, I do, sir; in the donjon of Vincennes. "

"Yes, sir; in a room, the walls of which are seven feet thick, withgrated windows, each bar as thick as my arm. "

"Sir, " replied Mazarin, "with perseverance one may penetrate through awall; with a watch-spring one may saw through an iron bar. "

"Then my lord does not know that there are eight guards about him, fourin his chamber, four in the antechamber, and that they never leave him. "

"But he leaves his room, he plays at tennis at the Mall?"

"Sir, those amusements are allowed; but if your eminence wishes it, wewill discontinue the permission. "

"No, no!" cried Mazarin, fearing that should his prisoner ever leavehis prison he would be the more exasperated against him if he thusretrenched his amusement. He then asked with whom he played. 

"My lord, either with the officers of the guard, with the otherprisoners, or with me. "

"But does he not approach the walls while playing?"

"Your eminence doesn't know those walls; they are sixty feet high and Idoubt if Monsieur de Beaufort is sufficiently weary of life to risk hisneck by jumping off. "

"Hum!" said the cardinal, beginning to feel more comfortable. "You meanto say, then, my dear Monsieur la Ramee----"

"That unless Monsieur de Beaufort can contrive to metamorphose himselfinto a little bird, I will continue answerable for him. "

"Take care! you assert a great deal, " said Mazarin. "Monsieur deBeaufort told the guards who took him to Vincennes that he had oftenthought what he should do in case he were put into prison, and that hehad found out forty ways of escaping. "

"My lord, if among these forty there had been one good way he would havebeen out long ago. "

"Come, come; not such a fool as I fancied!" thought Mazarin. 

"Besides, my lord must remember that Monsieur de Chavigny is governorof Vincennes, " continued La Ramee, "and that Monsieur de Chavigny is notfriendly to Monsieur de Beaufort. "

"Yes, but Monsieur de Chavigny is sometimes absent. "

"When he is absent I am there. "

"But when you leave him, for instance?"

"Oh! when I leave him, I place in my stead a bold fellow who aspires tobe his majesty's special guard. I promise you he keeps a good watch overthe prisoner. During the three weeks that he has been with me, I haveonly had to reproach him with one thing--being too severe with theprisoners. "

"And who is this Cerberus?"

"A certain Monsieur Grimaud, my lord. "

"And what was he before he went to Vincennes?"

"He was in the country, as I was told by the person who recommended himto me. "

"And who recommended this man to you?"

"The steward of the Duc de Grammont. "

"He is not a gossip, I hope?"

"Lord a mercy, my lord! I thought for a long time that he was dumb;he answers only by signs. It seems his former master accustomed him tothat. "

"Well, dear Monsieur la Ramee, " replied the cardinal "let him provea true and thankful keeper and we will shut our eyes upon his ruralmisdeeds and put on his back a uniform to make him respectable, andin the pockets of that uniform some pistoles to drink to the king'shealth. "

Mazarin was large in promises, --quite unlike the virtuous MonsieurGrimaud so bepraised by La Ramee; for he said nothing and did much. 

It was now nine o'clock. The cardinal, therefore, got up, perfumedhimself, dressed, and went to the queen to tell her what had detainedhim. The queen, who was scarcely less afraid of Monsieur de Beaufortthan the cardinal himself, and who was almost as superstitious as hewas, made him repeat word for word all La Ramee's praises of his deputy. Then, when the cardinal had ended:

"Alas, sir! why have we not a Grimaud near every prince?"

"Patience!" replied Mazarin, with his Italian smile; "that may happenone day; but in the meantime----"

"Well, in the meantime?"

"I shall still take precautions. "

And he wrote to D'Artagnan to hasten his return. 

17. Describes how the Duc de Beaufort amused his Leisure Hours in theDonjon of Vincennes. 

The captive who was the source of so much alarm to the cardinal andwhose means of escape disturbed the repose of the whole court, waswholly unconscious of the terror he caused at the Palais Royal. 

He had found himself so strictly guarded that he soon perceived thefruitlessness of any attempt at escape. His vengeance, therefore, consisted in coining curses on the head of Mazarin; he even tried tomake some verses on him, but soon gave up the attempt, for Monsieur deBeaufort had not only not received from Heaven the gift of versifying, he had the greatest difficulty in expressing himself in prose. 

The duke was the grandson of Henry VI. And Gabrielle d'Estrees--asgood-natured, as brave, as proud, and above all, as Gascon as hisancestor, but less elaborately educated. After having been for some timeafter the death of Louis XIII. The favorite, the confidant, the firstman, in short, at the court, he had been obliged to yield his place toMazarin and so became the second in influence and favor; and eventually, as he was stupid enough to be vexed at this change of position, thequeen had had him arrested and sent to Vincennes in charge of Guitant, who made his appearance in these pages in the beginning of this historyand whom we shall see again. It is understood, of course, that when wesay "the queen, " Mazarin is meant. 

During the five years of this seclusion, which would have improvedand matured the intellect of any other man, M. De Beaufort, had he notaffected to brave the cardinal, despise princes, and walk alone withoutadherents or disciples, would either have regained his liberty or madepartisans. But these considerations never occurred to the duke and everyday the cardinal received fresh accounts of him which were as unpleasantas possible to the minister. 

After having failed in poetry, Monsieur de Beaufort tried drawing. He drew portraits, with a piece of coal, of the cardinal; and as histalents did not enable him to produce a very good likeness, he wroteunder the picture that there might be little doubt regarding theoriginal: "Portrait of the Illustrious Coxcomb, Mazarin. " Monsieur deChavigny, the governor of Vincennes, waited upon the duke to requestthat he would amuse himself in some other way, or that at all events, ifhe drew likenesses, he would not put mottoes underneath them. The nextday the prisoner's room was full of pictures and mottoes. Monsieurde Beaufort, in common with many other prisoners, was bent upon doingthings that were prohibited; and the only resource the governor hadwas, one day when the duke was playing at tennis, to efface all thesedrawings, consisting chiefly of profiles. M. De Beaufort did not ventureto draw the cardinal's fat face. 

The duke thanked Monsieur de Chavigny for having, as he said, cleanedhis drawing-paper for him; he then divided the walls of his room intocompartments and dedicated each of these compartments to some incidentin Mazarin's life. In one was depicted the "Illustrious Coxcomb"receiving a shower of blows from Cardinal Bentivoglio, whose servant hehad been; another, the "Illustrious Mazarin" acting the part of IgnatiusLoyola in a tragedy of that name; a third, the "Illustrious Mazarin"stealing the portfolio of prime minister from Monsieur de Chavigny, whohad expected to have it; a fourth, the "Illustrious Coxcomb Mazarin"refusing to give Laporte, the young king's valet, clean sheets, andsaving that "it was quite enough for the king of France to have cleansheets every three months. "

The governor, of course, thought proper to threaten his prisoner that ifhe did not give up drawing such pictures he should be obliged to deprivehim of all the means of amusing himself in that manner. To this Monsieurde Beaufort replied that since every opportunity of distinguishinghimself in arms was taken from him, he wished to make himself celebratedin the arts; since he could not be a Bayard, he would become a Raphaelor a Michael Angelo. Nevertheless, one day when Monsieur de Beaufort waswalking in the meadow his fire was put out, his charcoal all removed, taken away; and thus his means of drawing utterly destroyed. 

The poor duke swore, fell into a rage, yelled, and declared that theywished to starve him to death as they had starved the Marechal Ornanoand the Grand Prior of Vendome; but he refused to promise that he wouldnot make any more drawings and remained without any fire in the room allthe winter. 

His next act was to purchase a dog from one of his keepers. With thisanimal, which he called Pistache, he was often shut up for hours alone, superintending, as every one supposed, its education. At last, whenPistache was sufficiently well trained, Monsieur de Beaufort invited thegovernor and officers of Vincennes to attend a representation which hewas going to have in his apartment. 

The party assembled, the room was lighted with waxlights, and theprisoner, with a bit of plaster he had taken out of the wall of hisroom, had traced a long white line, representing a cord, on the floor. Pistache, on a signal from his master, placed himself on this line, raised himself on his hind paws, and holding in his front paws a wandwith which clothes used to be beaten, he began to dance upon the linewith as many contortions as a rope-dancer. Having been several timesup and down it, he gave the wand back to his master and began withouthesitation to perform the same evolutions over again. 

The intelligent creature was received with loud applause. 

The first part of the entertainment being concluded Pistache was desiredto say what o'clock it was; he was shown Monsieur de Chavigny's watch;it was then half-past six; the dog raised and dropped his paw six times;the seventh he let it remain upraised. Nothing could be better done; asun-dial could not have shown the hour with greater precision. 

Then the question was put to him who was the best jailer in all theprisons in France. 

The dog performed three evolutions around the circle and laid himself, with the deepest respect, at the feet of Monsieur de Chavigny, who atfirst seemed inclined to like the joke and laughed long and loud, but afrown succeeded, and he bit his lips with vexation. 

Then the duke put to Pistache this difficult question, who was thegreatest thief in the world?

Pistache went again around the circle, but stopped at no one, and atlast went to the door and began to scratch and bark. 

"See, gentlemen, " said M. De Beaufort, "this wonderful animal, notfinding here what I ask for, seeks it out of doors; you shall, however, have his answer. Pistache, my friend, come here. Is not the greatestthief in the world, Monsieur (the king's secretary) Le Camus, who cameto Paris with twenty francs in his pocket and who now possesses tenmillions?"

The dog shook his head. 

"Then is it not, " resumed the duke, "the Superintendent Emery, who gavehis son, when he was married, three hundred thousand francs and a house, compared to which the Tuileries are a heap of ruins and the Louvre apaltry building?"

The dog again shook his head as if to say "no. "

"Then, " said the prisoner, "let's think who it can be. Can it be, can itpossibly be, the 'Illustrious Coxcomb, Mazarin de Piscina, ' hey?"

Pistache made violent signs that it was, by raising and lowering hishead eight or ten times successively. 

"Gentlemen, you see, " said the duke to those present, who dared not evensmile, "that it is the 'Illustrious Coxcomb' who is the greatest thiefin the world; at least, according to Pistache. "

"Let us go on to another of his exercises. "

"Gentlemen!"--there was a profound silence in the room when the dukeagain addressed them--"do you not remember that the Duc de Guise taughtall the dogs in Paris to jump for Mademoiselle de Pons, whom he styled'the fairest of the fair?' Pistache is going to show you how superiorhe is to all other dogs. Monsieur de Chavigny, be so good as to lend meyour cane. "

Monsieur de Chavigny handed his cane to Monsieur de Beaufort. Monsieurde Beaufort placed it horizontally at the height of one foot. 

"Now, Pistache, my good dog, jump the height of this cane for Madame deMontbazon. "

"But, " interposed Monsieur de Chavigny, "it seems to me that Pistache isonly doing what other dogs have done when they jumped for Mademoisellede Pons. "

"Stop, " said the duke, "Pistache, jump for the queen. " And he raised hiscane six inches higher. 

The dog sprang, and in spite of the height jumped lightly over it. 

"And now, " said the duke, raising it still six inches higher, "jump forthe king. "

The dog obeyed and jumped quickly over the cane. 

"Now, then, " said the duke, and as he spoke, lowered the cane almostlevel with the ground; "Pistache, my friend, jump for the 'IllustriousCoxcomb, Mazarin de Piscina. '"

The dog turned his back to the cane. 

"What, " asked the duke, "what do you mean?" and he gave him the caneagain, first making a semicircle from the head to the tail of Pistache. "Jump then, Monsieur Pistache. "

But Pistache, as at first, turned round on his legs and stood with hisback to the cane. 

Monsieur de Beaufort made the experiment a third time, but by this timePistache's patience was exhausted; he threw himself furiously upon thecane, wrested it from the hands of the prince and broke it with histeeth. 

Monsieur de Beaufort took the pieces out of his mouth and presentedthem with great formality to Monsieur de Chavigny, saying that for thatevening the entertainment was ended, but in three months it should berepeated, when Pistache would have learned a few new tricks. 

Three days afterward Pistache was found dead--poisoned. 

Then the duke said openly that his dog had been killed by a drug withwhich they meant to poison him; and one day after dinner he went tobed, calling out that he had pains in his stomach and that Mazarin hadpoisoned him. 

This fresh impertinence reached the ears of the cardinal and alarmedhim greatly. The donjon of Vincennes was considered very unhealthyand Madame de Rambouillet had said that the room in which the MarechalOrnano and the Grand Prior de Vendome had died was worth its weightin arsenic--a bon mot which had great success. So it was ordered theprisoner was henceforth to eat nothing that had not previously beentasted, and La Ramee was in consequence placed near him as taster. 

Every kind of revenge was practiced upon the duke by the governor inreturn for the insults of the innocent Pistache. De Chavigny, who, according to report, was a son of Richelieu's, and had been a creatureof the late cardinal's, understood tyranny. He took from the duke allthe steel knives and silver forks and replaced them with silver knivesand wooden forks, pretending that as he had been informed that the dukewas to pass all his life at Vincennes, he was afraid of his prisonerattempting suicide. A fortnight afterward the duke, going to the tenniscourt, found two rows of trees about the size of his little fingerplanted by the roadside; he asked what they were for and was told thatthey were to shade him from the sun on some future day. One morningthe gardener went to him and told him, as if to please him, that he wasgoing to plant a bed of asparagus for his especial use. Now, since, asevery one knows, asparagus takes four years in coming to perfection, this civility infuriated Monsieur de Beaufort. 

At last his patience was exhausted. He assembled his keepers, andnotwithstanding his well-known difficulty of utterance, addressed themas follows:

"Gentlemen! will you permit a grandson of Henry IV. To be overwhelmedwith insults and ignominy?

"Odds fish! as my grandfather used to say, I once reigned in Paris! doyou know that? I had the king and Monsieur the whole of one day in mycare. The queen at that time liked me and called me the most honest manin the kingdom. Gentlemen and citizens, set me free; I shall go to theLouvre and strangle Mazarin. You shall be my body-guard. I will make youall captains, with good pensions! Odds fish! On! march forward!"

But eloquent as he might be, the eloquence of the grandson of Henry IV. Did not touch those hearts of stone; not one man stirred, so Monsieurde Beaufort was obliged to be satisfied with calling them all kinds ofrascals underneath the sun. 

Sometimes, when Monsieur de Chavigny paid him a visit, the duke used toask him what he should think if he saw an army of Parisians, all fullyarmed, appear at Vincennes to deliver him from prison. 

"My lord, " answered De Chavigny, with a low bow, "I have on the rampartstwenty pieces of artillery and in my casemates thirty thousand guns. I should bombard the troops till not one grain of gunpowder wasunexploded. "

"Yes, but after you had fired off your thirty thousand guns they wouldtake the donjon; the donjon being taken, I should be obliged to let themhang you--at which I should be most unhappy, certainly. "

And in his turn the duke bowed low to Monsieur de Chavigny. 

"For myself, on the other hand, my lord, " returned the governor, "whenthe first rebel should pass the threshold of my postern doors I shouldbe obliged to kill you with my own hand, since you were confidedpeculiarly to my care and as I am obliged to give you up, dead oralive. "

And once more he bowed low before his highness. 

These bitter-sweet pleasantries lasted ten minutes, sometimes longer, but always finished thus:

Monsieur de Chavigny, turning toward the door, used to call out:"Halloo! La Ramee!"

La Ramee came into the room. 

"La Ramee, I recommend Monsieur le Duc to you, particularly; treat himas a man of his rank and family ought to be treated; that is, neverleave him alone an instant. "

La Ramee became, therefore, the duke's dinner guest by compulsion--aneternal keeper, the shadow of his person; but La Ramee--gay, frank, convivial, fond of play, a great hand at tennis, had one defect in theduke's eyes--his incorruptibility. 

Now, although La Ramee appreciated, as of a certain value, the honor ofbeing shut up with a prisoner of so great importance, still the pleasureof living in intimacy with the grandson of Henry IV. Hardly compensatedfor the loss of that which he had experienced in going from time to timeto visit his family. 

One may be a jailer or a keeper and at the same time a good father andhusband. La Ramee adored his wife and children, whom now he could onlycatch a glimpse of from the top of the wall, when in order to please himthey used to walk on the opposite side of the moat. 'Twas too brief anenjoyment, and La Ramee felt that the gayety of heart he had regardedas the cause of health (of which it was perhaps rather the result) wouldnot long survive such a mode of life. 

He accepted, therefore, with delight, an offer made to him by his friendthe steward of the Duc de Grammont, to give him a substitute; he alsospoke of it to Monsieur de Chavigny, who promised that he would notoppose it in any way--that is, if he approved of the person proposed. 

We consider it useless to draw a physical or moral portrait of Grimaud;if, as we hope, our readers have not wholly forgotten the first partof this work, they must have preserved a clear idea of that estimableindividual, who is wholly unchanged, except that he is twenty yearsolder, an advance in life that has made him only more silent; although, since the change that had been working in himself, Athos had givenGrimaud permission to speak. 

But Grimaud had for twelve or fifteen years preserved habitual silence, and a habit of fifteen or twenty years' duration becomes second nature. 

18. Grimaud begins his Functions. 

Grimaud thereupon presented himself with his smooth exterior at thedonjon of Vincennes. Now Monsieur de Chavigny piqued himself on hisinfallible penetration; for that which almost proved that he was the sonof Richelieu was his everlasting pretension; he examined attentively thecountenance of the applicant for place and fancied that the contractedeyebrows, thin lips, hooked nose, and prominent cheek-bones of Grimaudwere favorable signs. He addressed about twelve words to him; Grimaudanswered in four. 

"Here's a promising fellow and it is I who have found out his merits, "said Monsieur de Chavigny. "Go, " he added, "and make yourself agreeableto Monsieur la Ramee, and tell him that you suit me in all respects. "

Grimaud had every quality that could attract a man on duty who wishes tohave a deputy. So, after a thousand questions which met with only a wordin reply, La Ramee, fascinated by this sobriety in speech, rubbed hishands and engaged Grimaud. 

"My orders?" asked Grimaud. 

"They are these; never to leave the prisoner alone; to keep away fromhim every pointed or cutting instrument, and to prevent his conversingany length of time with the keepers. "

"Those are all?" asked Grimaud. 

"All now, " replied La Ramee. 

"Good, " answered Grimaud; and he went right to the prisoner. 

The duke was in the act of combing his beard, which he had allowedto grow, as well as his hair, in order to reproach Mazarin with hiswretched appearance and condition. But having some days previously seenfrom the top of the donjon Madame de Montbazon pass in her carriage, andstill cherishing an affection for that beautiful woman, he did not wishto be to her what he wished to be to Mazarin, and in the hope of seeingher again, had asked for a leaden comb, which was allowed him. Thecomb was to be a leaden one, because his beard, like that of most fairpeople, was rather red; he therefore dyed it thus whilst combing it. 

As Grimaud entered he saw this comb on the tea-table; he took it up, andas he took it he made a low bow. 

The duke looked at this strange figure with surprise. The figure put thecomb in its pocket. 

"Ho! hey! what's that?" cried the duke. "Who is this creature?"

Grimaud did not answer, but bowed a second time. 

"Art thou dumb?" cried the duke. 

Grimaud made a sign that he was not. 

"What art thou, then? Answer! I command thee!" said the duke. 

"A keeper, " replied Grimaud. 

"A keeper!" reiterated the duke; "there was nothing wanting in mycollection, except this gallows-bird. Halloo! La Ramee! some one!"

La Ramee ran in haste to obey the call. 

"Who is this wretch who takes my comb and puts it in his pocket?" askedthe duke. 

"One of your guards, my prince; a man of talent and merit, whom you willlike, as I and Monsieur de Chavigny do, I am sure. "

"Why does he take my comb?"

"Why do you take my lord's comb?" asked La Ramee. 

Grimaud drew the comb from his pocket and passing his fingers over thelargest teeth, pronounced this one word, "Pointed. "

"True, " said La Ramee. 

"What does the animal say?" asked the duke. 

"That the king has forbidden your lordship to have any pointedinstrument. "

"Are you mad, La Ramee? You yourself gave me this comb. "

"I was very wrong, my lord, for in giving it to you I acted inopposition to my orders. "

The duke looked furiously at Grimaud. 

"I perceive that this creature will be my particular aversion, " hemuttered. 

Grimaud, nevertheless, was resolved for certain reasons not at once tocome to a full rupture with the prisoner; he wanted to inspire, nota sudden repugnance, but a good, sound, steady hatred; he retired, therefore, and gave place to four guards, who, having breakfasted, couldattend on the prisoner. 

A fresh practical joke now occurred to the duke. He had asked forcrawfish for his breakfast on the following morning; he intended to passthe day in making a small gallows and hang one of the finest of thesefish in the middle of his room--the red color evidently conveying anallusion to the cardinal--so that he might have the pleasure of hangingMazarin in effigy without being accused of having hung anything moresignificant than a crawfish. 

The day was employed in preparations for the execution. Every onegrows childish in prison, but the character of Monsieur de Beaufort wasparticularly disposed to become so. In the course of his morning's walkhe collected two or three small branches from a tree and found a smallpiece of broken glass, a discovery that quite delighted him. When hecame home he formed his handkerchief into a loop. 

Nothing of all this escaped Grimaud, but La Ramee looked on with thecuriosity of a father who thinks that he may perhaps get a cheap ideaconcerning a new toy for his children. The guards looked on it withindifference. When everything was ready, the gallows hung in the middleof the room, the loop made, and when the duke had cast a glance upon theplate of crawfish, in order to select the finest specimen among them, helooked around for his piece of glass; it had disappeared. 

"Who has taken my piece of glass?" asked the duke, frowning. Grimaudmade a sign to denote that he had done so. 

"What! thou again! Why didst thou take it?"

"Yes--why?" asked La Ramee. 

Grimaud, who held the piece of glass in his hand, said: "Sharp. "

"True, my lord!" exclaimed La Ramee. "Ah! deuce take it! we have aprecious fellow here!"

"Monsieur Grimaud!" said the duke, "for your sake I beg of you, nevercome within the reach of my fist!"

"Hush! hush!" cried La Ramee, "give me your gibbet, my lord. I willshape it out for you with my knife. "

And he took the gibbet and shaped it out as neatly as possible. 

"That's it, " said the duke, "now make me a little hole in the floorwhilst I go and fetch the culprit. "

La Ramee knelt down and made a hole in the floor; meanwhile the dukehung the crawfish up by a thread. Then he placed the gibbet in themiddle of the room, bursting with laughter. 

La Ramee laughed also and the guards laughed in chorus; Grimaud, however, did not even smile. He approached La Ramee and showing him thecrawfish hung up by the thread:

"Cardinal, " he said. 

"Hung by order of his Highness the Duc de Beaufort!" cried the prisoner, laughing violently, "and by Master Jacques Chrysostom La Ramee, theking's commissioner. "

La Ramee uttered a cry of horror and rushed toward the gibbet, which hebroke at once and threw the pieces out of the window. He was going tothrow the crawfish out also, when Grimaud snatched it from his hands. 

"Good to eat!" he said, and put it in his pocket. 

This scene so enchanted the duke that at the moment he forgave Grimaudfor his part in it; but on reflection he hated him more and more, beingconvinced he had some evil motive for his conduct. 

But the story of the crab made a great noise through the interior of thedonjon and even outside. Monsieur de Chavigny, who at heart detested thecardinal, took pains to tell the story to two or three friends, who putit into immediate circulation. 

The prisoner happened to remark among the guards one man with a verygood countenance; and he favored this man the more as Grimaud became themore and more odious to him. One morning he took this man on one sideand had succeeded in speaking to him, when Grimaud entered and seeingwhat was going on approached the duke respectfully, but took the guardby the arm. 

"Go away, " he said. 

The guard obeyed. 

"You are insupportable!" cried the duke; "I shall beat you. "

Grimaud bowed. 

"I will break every bone in your body!" cried the duke. 

Grimaud bowed, but stepped back. 

"Mr. Spy, " cried the duke, more and more enraged, "I will strangle youwith my own hands. "

And he extended his hands toward Grimaud, who merely thrust the guardout and shut the door behind him. At the same time he felt the duke'sarms on his shoulders like two iron claws; but instead either of callingout or defending himself, he placed his forefinger on his lips and saidin a low tone:

"Hush!" smiling as he uttered the word. 

A gesture, a smile and a word from Grimaud, all at once, were so unusualthat his highness stopped short, astounded. 

Grimaud took advantage of that instant to draw from his vest a charminglittle note with an aristocratic seal, and presented it to the dukewithout a word. 

The duke, more and more bewildered, let Grimaud loose and took the note. 

"From Madame de Montbazon?" he cried. 

Grimaud nodded assent. 

The duke tore open the note, passed his hands over his eyes, for he wasdazzled and confused, and read:

"My Dear Duke, --You may entirely confide in the brave lad who will giveyou this note; he has consented to enter the service of your keeper andto shut himself up at Vincennes with you, in order to prepare and assistyour escape, which we are contriving. The moment of your deliverance isat hand; have patience and courage and remember that in spite of timeand absence all your friends continue to cherish for you the sentimentsthey have so long professed and truly entertained. 

"Yours wholly and most affectionately

"Marie de Montbazon. 

"P. S. --I sign my full name, for I should be vain if I could suppose thatafter five years of absence you would remember my initials. "

The poor duke became perfectly giddy. What for five years he had beenwanting--a faithful servant, a friend, a helping hand--seemed to havefallen from Heaven just when he expected it the least. 

"Oh, dearest Marie! she thinks of me, then, after five years ofseparation! Heavens! there is constancy!" Then turning to Grimaud, hesaid:

"And thou, my brave fellow, thou consentest thus to aid me?"

Grimaud signified his assent. 

"And you have come here with that purpose?"

Grimaud repeated the sign. 

"And I was ready to strangle you!" cried the duke. 

Grimaud smiled. 

"Wait, then, " said the duke, fumbling in his pocket. "Wait, " hecontinued, renewing his fruitless search; "it shall not be said thatsuch devotion to a grandson of Henry IV. Went without recompense. "

The duke's endeavors evinced the best intention in the world, but oneof the precautions taken at Vincennes was that of allowing prisoners tokeep no money. Whereupon Grimaud, observing the duke's disappointment, drew from his pocket a purse filled with gold and handed it to him. 

"Here is what you are looking for, " he said. 

The duke opened the purse and wanted to empty it into Grimaud's hands, but Grimaud shook his head. 

"Thank you, monseigneur, " he said, drawing back; "I am paid. "

The duke went from one surprise to another. He held out his hand. Grimaud drew near and kissed it respectfully. The grand manner of Athoshad left its mark on Grimaud. 

"What shall we do? and when? and how proceed?"

"It is now eleven, " answered Grimaud. "Let my lord at two o'clock askleave to make up a game at tennis with La Ramee and let him send two orthree balls over the ramparts. "

"And then?"

"Your highness will approach the walls and call out to a man who worksin the moat to send them back again. "

"I understand, " said the duke. 

Grimaud made a sign that he was going away. 

"Ah!" cried the duke, "will you not accept any money from me?"

"I wish my lord would make me one promise. "

"What! speak!"

"'Tis this: when we escape together, that I shall go everywhere and bealways first; for if my lord should be overtaken and caught, there'severy chance of his being brought back to prison, whereas if I am caughtthe least that can befall me is to be--hung. "

"True, on my honor as a gentleman it shall be as thou dost suggest. "

"Now, " resumed Grimaud, "I've only one thing more to ask--that yourhighness will continue to detest me. "

"I'll try, " said the duke. 

At this moment La Ramee, after the interview we have described with thecardinal, entered the room. The duke had thrown himself, as he was wontto do in moments of dullness and vexation, on his bed. La Ramee castan inquiring look around him and observing the same signs of antipathybetween the prisoner and his guardian he smiled in token of his inwardsatisfaction. Then turning to Grimaud:

"Very good, my friend, very good. You have been spoken of in a promisingquarter and you will soon, I hope, have news that will be agreeable toyou. "

Grimaud saluted in his politest manner and withdrew, as was his customon the entrance of his superior. 

"Well, my lord, " said La Ramee, with his rude laugh, "you still setyourself against this poor fellow?"

"So! 'tis you, La Ramee; in faith, 'tis time you came back again. Ithrew myself on the bed and turned my nose to the wall, that I mightn'tbreak my promise and strangle Grimaud. "

"I doubt, however, " said La Ramee, in sprightly allusion to the silenceof his subordinate, "if he has said anything disagreeable to yourhighness. "

"Pardieu! you are right--a mute from the East! I swear it was time foryou to come back, La Ramee, and I was eager to see you again. "

"Monseigneur is too good, " said La Ramee, flattered by the compliment. 

"Yes, " continued the duke, "really, I feel bored today beyond the powerof description. "

"Then let us have a match in the tennis court, " exclaimed La Ramee. 

"If you wish it. "

"I am at your service, my lord. "

"I protest, my dear La Ramee, " said the duke, "that you are a charmingfellow and that I would stay forever at Vincennes to have the pleasureof your society. "

"My lord, " replied La Ramee, "I think if it depended on the cardinalyour wishes would be fulfilled. "

"What do you mean? Have you seen him lately?"

"He sent for me to-day. "

"Really! to speak to you about me?"

"Of what else do you imagine he would speak to me? Really, my lord, youare his nightmare. "

The duke smiled with bitterness. 

"Ah, La Ramee! if you would but accept my offers! I would make yourfortune. "

"How? you would no sooner have left prison than your goods would beconfiscated. "

"I shall no sooner be out of prison than I shall be master of Paris. "

"Pshaw! pshaw! I cannot hear such things said as that; this is a fineconversation with an officer of the king! I see, my lord, I shall beobliged to fetch a second Grimaud!"

"Very well, let us say no more about it. So you and the cardinal havebeen talking about me? La Ramee, some day when he sends for you, you must let me put on your clothes; I will go in your stead; I willstrangle him, and upon my honor, if that is made a condition I willreturn to prison. "

"Monseigneur, I see well that I must call Grimaud. "

"Well, I am wrong. And what did the cuistre [pettifogger] say about me?"

"I admit the word, monseigneur, because it rhymes with ministre[minister]. What did he say to me? He told me to watch you. "

"And why so? why watch me?" asked the duke uneasily. 

"Because an astrologer had predicted that you would escape. "

"Ah! an astrologer predicted that?" said the duke, starting in spite ofhimself. 

"Oh, mon Dieu! yes! those imbeciles of magicians can only imagine thingsto torment honest people. "

"And what did you reply to his most illustrious eminence?"

"That if the astrologer in question made almanacs I would advise him notto buy one. "

"Why not?"

"Because before you could escape you would have to be turned into abird. "

"Unfortunately, that is true. Let us go and have a game at tennis, LaRamee. "

"My lord--I beg your highness's pardon--but I must beg for half anhour's leave of absence. "

"Why?"

"Because Monseigneur Mazarin is a prouder man than his highness, thoughnot of such high birth: he forgot to ask me to breakfast. "

"Well, shall I send for some breakfast here?"

"No, my lord; I must tell you that the confectioner who lived oppositethe castle--Daddy Marteau, as they called him----"

"Well?"

"Well, he sold his business a week ago to a confectioner from Paris, aninvalid, ordered country air for his health. "

"Well, what have I to do with that?"

"Why, good Lord! this man, your highness, when he saw me stop beforehis shop, where he has a display of things which would make your mouthwater, my lord, asked me to get him the custom of the prisoners in thedonjon. 'I bought, ' said he, 'the business of my predecessor on thestrength of his assurance that he supplied the castle; whereas, onmy honor, Monsieur de Chavigny, though I've been here a week, has notordered so much as a tartlet. ' 'But, ' I then replied, 'probably Monsieurde Chavigny is afraid your pastry is not good. ' 'My pastry not good!Well, Monsieur La Ramee, you shall judge of it yourself and at once. ' 'Icannot, ' I replied; 'it is absolutely necessary for me to return to thechateau. ' 'Very well, ' said he, 'go and attend to your affairs, sinceyou seem to be in a hurry, but come back in half an hour. ' 'In half anhour?' 'Yes, have you breakfasted?' 'Faith, no. ' 'Well, here is a patethat will be ready for you, with a bottle of old Burgundy. ' So, you see, my lord, since I am hungry, I would, with your highness's leave----" AndLa Ramee bent low. 

"Go, then, animal, " said the duke; "but remember, I only allow you halfan hour. "

"May I promise your custom to the successor of Father Marteau, my lord?"

"Yes, if he does not put mushrooms in his pies; thou knowest thatmushrooms from the wood of Vincennes are fatal to my family. "

La Ramee went out, but in five minutes one of the officers of the guardentered in compliance with the strict orders of the cardinal that theprisoner should never be left alone a moment. 

But during these five minutes the duke had had time to read again thenote from Madame de Montbazon, which proved to the prisoner that hisfriends were concerting plans for his deliverance, but in what way heknew not. 

But his confidence in Grimaud, whose petty persecutions he now perceivedwere only a blind, increased, and he conceived the highest opinion ofhis intellect and resolved to trust entirely to his guidance. 

19. In which the Contents of the Pates made by the Successor of FatherMarteau are described. 

In half an hour La Ramee returned, full of glee, like most men who haveeaten, and more especially drank to their heart's content. The pateswere excellent, the wine delicious. 

The weather was fine and the game at tennis took place in the open air. 

At two o'clock the tennis balls began, according to Grimaud'sdirections, to take the direction of the moat, much to the joy of LaRamee, who marked fifteen whenever the duke sent a ball into the moat;and very soon balls were wanting, so many had gone over. La Ramee thenproposed to send some one to pick them up, but the duke remarked thatit would be losing time; and going near the rampart himself and lookingover, he saw a man working in one of the numerous little gardens clearedout by the peasants on the opposite side of the moat. 

"Hey, friend!" cried the duke. 

The man raised his head and the duke was about to utter a cry ofsurprise. The peasant, the gardener, was Rochefort, whom he believed tobe in the Bastile. 

"Well? Who's up there?" said the man. 

"Be so good as to collect and throw us back our balls, " said the duke. 

The gardener nodded and began to fling up the balls, which were pickedup by La Ramee and the guard. One, however, fell at the duke's feet, andseeing that it was intended for him, he put it into his pocket. 

La Ramee was in ecstasies at having beaten a prince of the blood. 

The duke went indoors and retired to bed, where he spent, indeed, thegreater part of every day, as they had taken his books away. La Rameecarried off all his clothes, in order to be certain that the duke wouldnot stir. However, the duke contrived to hide the ball under his bolsterand as soon as the door was closed he tore off the cover of the ballwith his teeth and found underneath the following letter:

My Lord, --Your friends are watching over you and the hour of yourdeliverance is at hand. Ask day after to-morrow to have a pie suppliedyou by the new confectioner opposite the castle, and who is no otherthan Noirmont, your former maitre d'hotel. Do not open the pie till youare alone. I hope you will be satisfied with its contents. 

"Your highness's most devoted servant, "In the Bastile, as elsewhere, "Comte de Rochefort. "

The duke, who had latterly been allowed a fire, burned the letter, butkept the ball, and went to bed, hiding the ball under his bolster. LaRamee entered; he smiled kindly on the prisoner, for he was an excellentman and had taken a great liking for the captive prince. He endeavoredto cheer him up in his solitude. 

"Ah, my friend!" cried the duke, "you are so good; if I could but doas you do, and eat pates and drink Burgundy at the house of FatherMarteau's successor. "

"'Tis true, my lord, " answered La Ramee, "that his pates are famous andhis wine magnificent. "

"In any case, " said the duke, "his cellar and kitchen might easily excelthose of Monsieur de Chavigny. "

"Well, my lord, " said La Ramee, falling into the trap, "what is there toprevent your trying them? Besides, I have promised him your patronage. "

"You are right, " said the duke. "If I am to remain here permanently, as Monsieur Mazarin has kindly given me to understand, I must providemyself with a diversion for my old age, I must turn gourmand. "

"My lord, " said La Ramee, "if you will take a bit of good advice, don'tput that off till you are old. "

"Good!" said the Duc de Beaufort to himself, "every man in order that hemay lose his heart and soul, must receive from celestial bounty one ofthe seven capital sins, perhaps two; it seems that Master La Ramee's isgluttony. Let us then take advantage of it. " Then, aloud:

"Well, my dear La Ramee! the day after to-morrow is a holiday. "

"Yes, my lord--Pentecost. "

"Will you give me a lesson the day after to-morrow?"

"In what?"

"In gastronomy?"

"Willingly, my lord. "

"But tete-a-tete. Send the guards to take their meal in the canteen ofMonsieur de Chavigny; we'll have a supper here under your direction. "

"Hum!" said La Ramee. 

The proposal was seductive, but La Ramee was an old stager, acquaintedwith all the traps a prisoner was likely to set. Monsieur de Beauforthad said that he had forty ways of getting out of prison. Did thisproposed breakfast cover some stratagem? He reflected, but he rememberedthat he himself would have charge of the food and the wine and thereforethat no powder could be mixed with the food, no drug with the wine. Asto getting him drunk, the duke couldn't hope to do that, and he laughedat the mere thought of it. Then an idea came to him which harmonizedeverything. 

The duke had followed with anxiety La Ramee's unspoken soliloquy, reading it from point to point upon his face. But presently the exempt'sface suddenly brightened. 

"Well, " he asked, "that will do, will it not?"

"Yes, my lord, on one condition. "

"What?"

"That Grimaud shall wait on us at table. "

Nothing could be more agreeable to the duke, however, he had presence ofmind enough to exclaim:

"To the devil with your Grimaud! He will spoil the feast. "

"I will direct him to stand behind your chair, and since he doesn'tspeak, your highness will neither see nor hear him and with a littleeffort can imagine him a hundred miles away. "

"Do you know, my friend, I find one thing very evident in all this, youdistrust me. "

"My lord, the day after to-morrow is Pentecost. "

"Well, what is Pentecost to me? Are you afraid that the Holy Spirit willcome as a tongue of fire to open the doors of my prison?"

"No, my lord; but I have already told you what that damned magicianpredicted. "

"And what was it?"

"That the day of Pentecost would not pass without your highness beingout of Vincennes. "

"You believe in sorcerers, then, you fool?"

"I---I mind them no more than that----" and he snapped his fingers;"but it is my Lord Giulio who cares about them; as an Italian he issuperstitious. "

The duke shrugged his shoulders. 

"Well, then, " with well acted good-humor, "I allow Grimaud, but no oneelse; you must manage it all. Order whatever you like for supper--theonly thing I specify is one of those pies; and tell the confectionerthat I will promise him my custom if he excels this time in hispies--not only now, but when I leave my prison. "

"Then you think you will some day leave it?" said La Ramee. 

"The devil!" replied the prince; "surely, at the death of Mazarin. Iam fifteen years younger than he is. At Vincennes, 'tis true, one livesfaster----"

"My lord, " replied La Ramee, "my lord----"

"Or dies sooner, for it comes to the same thing. "

La Ramee was going out. He stopped, however, at the door for an instant. 

"Whom does your highness wish me to send to you?"

"Any one, except Grimaud. "

"The officer of the guard, then, with his chessboard?"

"Yes. "

Five minutes afterward the officer entered and the duke seemed to beimmersed in the sublime combinations of chess. 

A strange thing is the mind, and it is wonderful what revolutions may bewrought in it by a sign, a word, a hope. The duke had been five years inprison, and now to him, looking back upon them, those five years, whichhad passed so slowly, seemed not so long a time as were the two days, the forty-eight hours, which still parted him from the time fixed forhis escape. Besides, there was one thing that engaged his most anxiousthought--in what way was the escape to be effected? They had told himto hope for it, but had not told him what was to be hidden in themysterious pate. And what friends awaited him without? He had friends, then, after five years in prison? If that were so he was indeed a highlyfavored prince. He forgot that besides his friends of his own sex, awoman, strange to say, had remembered him. It is true that she had not, perhaps, been scrupulously faithful to him, but she had remembered him;that was something. 

So the duke had more than enough to think about; accordingly he faredat chess as he had fared at tennis; he made blunder upon blunder and theofficer with whom he played found him easy game. 

But his successive defeats did service to the duke in one way--theykilled time for him till eight o'clock in the evening; then would comenight, and with night, sleep. So, at least, the duke believed; but sleepis a capricious fairy, and it is precisely when one invokes her presencethat she is most likely to keep him waiting. The duke waited untilmidnight, turning on his mattress like St. Laurence on his gridiron. Finally he slept. 

But at daybreak he awoke. Wild dreams had disturbed his repose. Hedreamed that he was endowed with wings--he wished to fly away. For atime these wings supported him, but when he reached a certain heightthis new aid failed him. His wings were broken and he seemed to sinkinto a bottomless abyss, whence he awoke, bathed in perspiration andnearly as much overcome as if he had really fallen. He fell asleep againand another vision appeared. He was in a subterranean passage bywhich he was to leave Vincennes. Grimaud was walking before him witha lantern. By degrees the passage narrowed, yet the duke continued hiscourse. At last it became so narrow that the fugitive tried in vain toproceed. The sides of the walls seem to close in, even to pressagainst him. He made fruitless efforts to go on; it was impossible. Nevertheless, he still saw Grimaud with his lantern in front, advancing. He wished to call out to him but could not utter a word. Then at theother extremity he heard the footsteps of those who were pursuing him. These steps came on, came fast. He was discovered; all hope of flightwas gone. Still the walls seemed to be closing on him; they appeared tobe in concert with his enemies. At last he heard the voice of La Ramee. La Ramee took his hand and laughed aloud. He was captured again, andconducted to the low and vaulted chamber, in which Ornano, Puylaurens, and his uncle had died. Their three graves were there, rising above theground, and a fourth was also there, yawning for its ghastly tenant. 

The duke was obliged to make as many efforts to awake as he had doneto go to sleep; and La Ramee found him so pale and fatigued that heinquired whether he was ill. 

"In fact, " said one of the guards who had remained in the chamber andhad been kept awake by a toothache, brought on by the dampness of theatmosphere, "my lord has had a very restless night and two or threetimes, while dreaming, he called for help. "

"What is the matter with your highness?" asked La Ramee. 

"'Tis your fault, you simpleton, " answered the duke. "With your idlenonsense yesterday about escaping, you worried me so that I dreamed thatI was trying to escape and broke my neck in doing so. "

La Ramee laughed. 

"Come, " he said, "'tis a warning from Heaven. Never commit such animprudence as to try to escape, except in your dreams. "

"And you are right, my dear La Ramee, " said the duke, wiping away thesweat that stood on his brow, wide awake though he was; "after this Iwill think of nothing but eating and drinking. "

"Hush!" said La Ramee; and one by one he sent away the guards, onvarious pretexts. 

"Well?" asked the duke when they were alone. 

"Well!" replied La Ramee, "your supper is ordered. "

"Ah! and what is it to be? Monsieur, my majordomo, will there be a pie?"

"I should think so, indeed--almost as high as a tower. "

"You told him it was for me?"

"Yes, and he said he would do his best to please your highness. "

"Good!" exclaimed the duke, rubbing his hands. 

"Devil take it, my lord! what a gourmand you are growing; I haven't seenyou with so cheerful a face these five years. "

The duke saw that he had not controlled himself as he ought, but at thatmoment, as if he had listened at the door and comprehended the urgentneed of diverting La Ramee's ideas, Grimaud entered and made a sign toLa Ramee that he had something to say to him. 

La Ramee drew near to Grimaud, who spoke to him in a low voice. 

The duke meanwhile recovered his self-control. 

"I have already forbidden that man, " he said, "to come in here withoutmy permission. "

"You must pardon him, my lord, " said La Ramee, "for I directed him tocome. "

"And why did you so direct when you know that he displeases me?"

"My lord will remember that it was agreed between us that he should waitupon us at that famous supper. My lord has forgotten the supper. "

"No, but I have forgotten Monsieur Grimaud. "

"My lord understands that there can be no supper unless he is allowed tobe present. "

"Go on, then; have it your own way. "

"Come here, my lad, " said La Ramee, "and hear what I have to say. "

Grimaud approached, with a very sullen expression on his face. 

La Ramee continued: "My lord has done me the honor to invite me to asupper to-morrow en tete-a-tete. "

Grimaud made a sign which meant that he didn't see what that had to dowith him. 

"Yes, yes, " said La Ramee, "the matter concerns you, for you will havethe honor to serve us; and besides, however good an appetite we may haveand however great our thirst, there will be something left on the platesand in the bottles, and that something will be yours. "

Grimaud bowed in thanks. 

"And now, " said La Ramee, "I must ask your highness's pardon, but itseems that Monsieur de Chavigny is to be away for a few days and hehas sent me word that he has certain directions to give me before hisdeparture. "

The duke tried to exchange a glance with Grimaud, but there was noglance in Grimaud's eyes. 

"Go, then, " said the duke, "and return as soon as possible. "

"Does your highness wish to take revenge for the game of tennisyesterday?"

Grimaud intimated by a scarcely perceptible nod that he should consent. 

"Yes, " said the duke, "but take care, my dear La Ramee, for I propose tobeat you badly. "

La Ramee went out. Grimaud looked after him, and when the door wasclosed he drew out of his pocket a pencil and a sheet of paper. 

"Write, my lord, " he said. 

"And what?"

Grimaud dictated. 

"All is ready for to-morrow evening. Keep watch from seven to nine. Havetwo riding horses ready. We shall descend by the first window in thegallery. "

"What next?"

"Sign your name, my lord. "

The duke signed. 

"Now, my lord, give me, if you have not lost it, the ball--that whichcontained the letter. "

The duke took it from under his pillow and gave it to Grimaud. Grimaudgave a grim smile. 

"Well?" asked the duke. 

"Well, my lord, I sew up the paper in the ball and you, in your game oftennis, will send the ball into the ditch. "

"But will it not be lost?"

"Oh no; there will be some one at hand to pick it up. "

"A gardener?"

Grimaud nodded. 

"The same as yesterday?"

Another nod on the part of Grimaud. 

"The Count de Rochefort?"

Grimaud nodded the third time. 

"Come, now, " said the duke, "give some particulars of the plan for ourescape. "

"That is forbidden me, " said Grimaud, "until the last moment. "

"Who will be waiting for me beyond the ditch?"

"I know nothing about it, my lord. "

"But at least, if you don't want to see me turn crazy, tell what thatfamous pate will contain. "

"Two poniards, a knotted rope and a poire d'angoisse. " *

 *This poire d'angoisse was a famous gag, in the form of a pear, which, being thrust into the mouth, by the aid of a spring, dilated, so as to distend the jaws to their greatest width. 

"Yes, I understand. "

"My lord observes that there will be enough to go around. "

"We shall take to ourselves the poniards and the rope, " replied theduke. 

"And make La Ramee eat the pear, " answered Grimaud. 

"My dear Grimaud, thou speakest seldom, but when thou dost, one must dothee justice--thy words are words of gold. "

20. One of Marie Michon's Adventures. 

Whilst these projects were being formed by the Duc de Beaufort andGrimaud, the Comte de la Fere and the Vicomte de Bragelonne wereentering Paris by the Rue du Faubourg Saint Marcel. 

They stopped at the sign of the Fox, in the Rue du Vieux Colombier, atavern known for many years by Athos, and asked for two bedrooms. 

"You must dress yourself, Raoul, " said Athos, "I am going to present youto some one. "

"To-day, monsieur?" asked the young man. 

"In half an hour. "

The young man bowed. Perhaps, not being endowed with the endurance ofAthos, who seemed to be made of iron, he would have preferred a bath inthe river Seine of which he had heard so much, and afterward his bed;but the Comte de la Fere had spoken and he had no thought but to obey. 

"By the way, " said Athos, "take some pains with your toilet, Raoul; Iwant you to be approved. "

"I hope, sir, " replied the youth, smiling, "that there's no idea of amarriage for me; you know of my engagement to Louise?"

Athos, in his turn, smiled also. 

"No, don't be alarmed, although it is to a lady that I am going topresent you, and I am anxious that you should love her----"

The young man looked at the count with a certain uneasiness, but at asmile from Athos he was quickly reassured. 

"How old is she?" inquired the Vicomte de Bragelonne. 

"My dear Raoul, learn, once for all, that that is a question which isnever asked. When you can find out a woman's age by her face, it isuseless to ask it; when you cannot do so, it is indiscreet. "

"Is she beautiful?"

"Sixteen years ago she was deemed not only the prettiest, but the mostgraceful woman in France. "

This reply reassured the vicomte. A woman who had been a reigning beautya year before he was born could not be the subject of any scheme forhim. He retired to his toilet. When he reappeared, Athos received himwith the same paternal smile as that which he had often bestowed onD'Artagnan, but a more profound tenderness for Raoul was now visiblyimpressed upon his face. 

Athos cast a glance at his feet, hands and hair--those three marks ofrace. The youth's dark hair was neatly parted and hung in curls, forminga sort of dark frame around his face; such was the fashion of the day. Gloves of gray kid, matching the hat, well displayed the form of aslender and elegant hand; whilst his boots, similar in color to the hatand gloves, confined feet small as those of a boy twelve years old. 

"Come, " murmured Athos, "if she is not proud of him, she must be hard toplease. "

It was three o'clock in the afternoon. The two travelers proceeded tothe Rue Saint Dominique and stopped at the door of a magnificent hotel, surmounted with the arms of De Luynes. 

"'Tis here, " said Athos. 

He entered the hotel and ascended the front steps, and addressing afootman who waited there in a grand livery, asked if the Duchess deChevreuse was visible and if she could receive the Comte de la Fere?

The servant returned with a message to say, that, though the duchess hadnot the honor of knowing Monsieur de la Fere, she would receive him. 

Athos followed the footman, who led him through a long succession ofapartments and paused at length before a closed door. Athos made a signto the Vicomte de Bragelonne to remain where he was. 

The footman opened the door and announced Monsieur le Comte de la Fere. 

Madame de Chevreuse, whose name appears so often in our story "The ThreeMusketeers, " without her actually having appeared in any scene, wasstill a beautiful woman. Although about forty-four or forty-five yearsold, she might have passed for thirty-five. She still had her richfair hair; her large, animated, intelligent eyes, so often opened byintrigue, so often closed by the blindness of love. She had still hernymph-like form, so that when her back was turned she still was notunlike the girl who had jumped, with Anne of Austria, over the moatof the Tuileries in 1563. In all other respects she was the same madcreature who threw over her amours such an air of originality as to makethem proverbial for eccentricity in her family. 

She was in a little boudoir, hung with blue damask, adorned by redflowers, with a foliage of gold, looking upon a garden; and reclinedupon a sofa, her head supported on the rich tapestry which covered it. She held a book in her hand and her arm was supported by a cushion. 

At the footman's announcement she raised herself a little and peepedout, with some curiosity. 

Athos appeared. 

He was dressed in violet-tinted velvet, trimmed with silk of the samecolor. His shoulder-knots were of burnished silver, his mantle had nogold nor embroidery on it; a simple plume of violet feathers adorned hishat; his boots were of black leather, and at his girdle hung that swordwith a magnificent hilt that Porthos had so often admired in the RueFeron. Splendid lace adorned the falling collar of his shirt, and lacefell also over the top of his boots. 

In his whole person he bore such an impress of high degree, that Madamede Chevreuse half rose from her seat when she saw him and made him asign to sit down near her. 

Athos bowed and obeyed. The footman was withdrawing, but Athos stoppedhim by a sign. 

"Madame, " he said to the duchess, "I have had the boldness to presentmyself at your hotel without being known to you; it has succeeded, since you deign to receive me. I have now the boldness to ask you for aninterview of half an hour. "

"I grant it, monsieur, " replied Madame de Chevreuse with her mostgracious smile. 

"But that is not all, madame. Oh, I am very presuming, I am aware. Theinterview for which I ask is of us two alone, and I very earnestly wishthat it may not be interrupted. "

"I am not at home to any one, " said the Duchess de Chevreuse to thefootman. "You may go. "

The footman went out

There ensued a brief silence, during which these two persons, who atfirst sight recognized each other so clearly as of noble race, examinedeach other without embarrassment on either side. 

The duchess was the first to speak. 

"Well, sir, I am waiting with impatience to hear what you wish to say tome. "

"And I, madame, " replied Athos, "am looking with admiration. "

"Sir, " said Madame de Chevreuse, "you must excuse me, but I long to knowto whom I am talking. You belong to the court, doubtless, yet I havenever seen you at court. Have you, by any chance, been in the Bastile?"

"No, madame, I have not; but very likely I am on the road to it. "

"Ah! then tell me who you are, and get along with you upon yourjourney, " replied the duchess, with the gayety which made herso charming, "for I am sufficiently in bad odor already, withoutcompromising myself still more. "

"Who I am, madame? My name has been mentioned to you--the Comte de laFere; you do not know that name. I once bore another, which you knew, but you have certainly forgotten it. "

"Tell it me, sir. "

"Formerly, " said the count, "I was Athos. "

Madame de Chevreuse looked astonished. The name was not whollyforgotten, but mixed up and confused with ancient recollections. 

"Athos?" said she; "wait a moment. "

And she placed her hands on her brow, as if to force the fugitive ideasit contained to concentration in a moment. 

"Shall I help you, madame?" asked Athos. 

"Yes, do, " said the duchess. 

"This Athos was connected with three young musketeers, named Porthos, D'Artagnan, and----"

He stopped short. 

"And Aramis, " said the duchess, quickly. 

"And Aramis; I see you have not forgotten the name. "

"No, " she said; "poor Aramis; a charming man, elegant, discreet, anda writer of poetical verses. I am afraid he has turned out ill, " sheadded. 

"He has; he is an abbe. "

"Ah, what a misfortune!" exclaimed the duchess, playing carelessly withher fan. "Indeed, sir, I thank you; you have recalled one of the mostagreeable recollections of my youth. "

"Will you permit me, then, to recall another to you?"

"Relating to him?"

"Yes and no. "

"Faith!" said Madame de Chevreuse, "say on. With a man like you I fearnothing. "

Athos bowed. "Aramis, " he continued, "was intimate with a youngneedlewoman from Tours, a cousin of his, named Marie Michon. "

"Ah, I knew her!" cried the duchess. "It was to her he wrote fromthe siege of Rochelle, to warn her of a plot against the Duke ofBuckingham. "

"Exactly so; will you allow me to speak to you of her?"

"If, " replied the duchess, with a meaning look, "you do not say too muchagainst her. "

"I should be ungrateful, " said Athos, "and I regard ingratitude, not asa fault or a crime, but as a vice, which is much worse. "

"You ungrateful to Marie Michon, monsieur?" said Madame de Chevreuse, trying to read in Athos's eyes. "But how can that be? You never knewher. "

"Eh, madame, who knows?" said Athos. "There is a popular proverb to theeffect that it is only mountains that never meet; and popular proverbscontain sometimes a wonderful amount of truth. "

"Oh, go on, monsieur, go on!" said Madame de Chevreuse eagerly; "youcan't imagine how much this conversation interests me. "

"You encourage me, " said Athos, "I will continue, then. That cousin ofAramis, that Marie Michon, that needlewoman, notwithstanding herlow condition, had acquaintances in the highest rank; she called thegrandest ladies of the court her friend, and the queen--proud as sheis, in her double character as Austrian and as Spaniard--called her hersister. "

"Alas!" said Madame de Chevreuse, with a slight sigh and a littlemovement of her eyebrows that was peculiarly her own, "since that timeeverything has changed. "

"And the queen had reason for her affection, for Marie was devoted toher--devoted to that degree that she served her as medium of intercoursewith her brother, the king of Spain. "

"Which, " interrupted the duchess, "is now brought up against her as agreat crime. "

"And therefore, " continued Athos, "the cardinal--the true cardinal, theother one--determined one fine morning to arrest poor Marie Michonand send her to the Chateau de Loches. Fortunately the affair was notmanaged so secretly but that it became known to the queen. The case hadbeen provided for: if Marie Michon should be threatened with any dangerthe queen was to send her a prayer-book bound in green velvet. "

"That is true, monsieur, you are well informed. "

"One morning the green book was brought to her by the Prince deMarsillac. There was no time to lose. Happily Marie and a follower ofhers named Kitty could disguise themselves admirably in men's clothes. The prince procured for Marie Michon the dress of a cavalier and forKitty that of a lackey; he sent them two excellent horses, and thefugitives went out hastily from Tours, shaping their course towardSpain, trembling at the least noise, following unfrequented roads, andasking for hospitality when they found themselves where there was noinn. "

"Why, really, it was all exactly as you say!" cried Madame de Chevreuse, clapping her hands. "It would indeed be strange if----" she checkedherself. 

"If I should follow the two fugitives to the end of their journey?" saidAthos. "No, madame, I will not thus waste your time. We will accompanythem only to a little village in Limousin, lying between Tulle andAngouleme--a little village called Roche-l'Abeille. "

Madame de Chevreuse uttered a cry of surprise, and looked at Athos withan expression of astonishment that made the old musketeer smile. 

"Wait, madame, " continued Athos, "what remains for me to tell you iseven more strange than what I have narrated. "

"Monsieur, " said Madame de Chevreuse, "I believe you are a sorcerer; Iam prepared for anything. But really--No matter, go on. "

"The journey of that day had been long and wearing; it was a cold day, the eleventh of October, there was no inn or chateau in the village andthe homes of the peasants were poor and unattractive. Marie Michon wasa very aristocratic person; like her sister the queen, she had beenaccustomed to pleasing perfumes and fine linen; she resolved, therefore, to seek hospitality of the priest. "

Athos paused. 

"Oh, continue!" said the duchess. "I have told you that I am preparedfor anything. "

"The two travelers knocked at the door. It was late; the priest, who hadgone to bed, cried out to them to come in. They entered, for the doorwas not locked--there is much confidence among villagers. A lamp burnedin the chamber occupied by the priest. Marie Michon, who made the mostcharming cavalier in the world, pushed open the door, put her head inand asked for hospitality. 'Willingly, my young cavalier, ' said thepriest, 'if you will be content with the remains of my supper and withhalf my chamber. '

"The two travelers consulted for a moment. The priest heard a burst oflaughter and then the master, or rather, the mistress, replied: 'Thankyou, monsieur le cure, I accept. ' 'Sup, then, and make as little noiseas possible, ' said the priest, 'for I, too, have been on the go all dayand shall not be sorry to sleep to-night. '"

Madame de Chevreuse evidently went from surprise to astonishment, andfrom astonishment to stupefaction. Her face, as she looked at Athos, hadtaken on an expression that cannot be described. It could be seen thatshe had wished to speak, but she had remained silent through fear oflosing one of her companion's words. 

"What happened then?" she asked. 

"Then?" said Athos. "Ah, I have come now to what is most difficult. "

"Speak, speak! One can say anything to me. Besides, it doesn't concernme; it relates to Mademoiselle Marie Michon. "

"Ah, that is true, " said Athos. "Well, then, Marie Michon had supperwith her follower, and then, in accordance with the permission givenher, she entered the chamber of her host, Kitty meanwhile takingpossession of an armchair in the room first entered, where they hadtaken their supper. "

"Really, monsieur, " said Madame de Chevreuse, "unless you are the devilin person I don't know how you could become acquainted with all thesedetails. "

"A charming woman was that Marie Michon, " resumed Athos, "one of thosewild creatures who are constantly conceiving the strangest ideas. Now, thinking that her host was a priest, that coquette took it into her headthat it would be a happy souvenir for her old age, among the many happysouvenirs she already possessed, if she could win that of having damnedan abbe. "

"Count, " said the duchess, "upon my word, you frighten me. "

"Alas!" continued Athos, "the poor abbe was not a St. Ambroise, and Irepeat, Marie Michon was an adorable creature. "

"Monsieur!" cried the duchess, seizing Athos's hands, "tell me thismoment how you know all these details, or I will send to the convent ofthe Vieux Augustins for a monk to come and exorcise you. "

Athos laughed. "Nothing is easier, madame. A cavalier, charged withan important mission, had come an hour before your arrival, seekinghospitality, at the very moment that the cure, summoned to the bedsideof a dying person, left not only his house but the village, for theentire night. The priest having all confidence in his guest, who, besides, was a nobleman, had left to him his house, his supper and hischamber. And therefore Marie came seeking hospitality from the guest ofthe good abbe and not from the good abbe himself. "

"And that cavalier, that guest, that nobleman who arrived before shecame?"

"It was I, the Comte de la Fere, " said Athos, rising and bowingrespectfully to the Duchess de Chevreuse. 

The duchess remained a moment stupefied; then, suddenly bursting intolaughter:

"Ah! upon my word, " said she, "it is very droll, and that mad MarieMichon fared better than she expected. Sit down, dear count, and go onwith your story. "

"At this point I have to accuse myself of a fault, madame. I have toldyou that I was traveling on an important mission. At daybreak I leftthe chamber without noise, leaving my charming companion asleep. In thefront room the follower was also still asleep, her head leaning backon the chair, in all respects worthy of her mistress. Her pretty facearrested my attention; I approached and recognized that little Kittywhom our friend Aramis had placed with her. In that way I discoveredthat the charming traveler was----"

"Marie Michon!" said Madame de Chevreuse, hastily. 

"Marie Michon, " continued Athos. "Then I went out of the house; Iproceeded to the stable and found my horse saddled and my lackey ready. We set forth on our journey. "

"And have you never revisited that village?" eagerly asked Madame deChevreuse. 

"A year after, madame. "

"Well?"

"I wanted to see the good cure again. I found him much preoccupiedwith an event that he could not at all comprehend. A week before he hadreceived, in a cradle, a beautiful little boy three months old, witha purse filled with gold and a note containing these simple words:'11 October, 1633. '"

"It was the date of that strange adventure, " interrupted Madame deChevreuse. 

"Yes, but he couldn't understand what it meant, for he had spent thatnight with a dying person and Marie Michon had left his house before hisreturn. "

"You must know, monsieur, that Marie Michon, when she returned to Francein 1643, immediately sought for information about that child; as afugitive she could not take care of it, but on her return she wished tohave it near her. "

"And what said the abbe?" asked Athos. 

"That a nobleman whom he did not know had wished to take charge of it, had answered for its future, and had taken it away. "

"That was true. "

"Ah! I see! That nobleman was you; it was his father!"

"Hush! do not speak so loud, madame; he is there. "

"He is there! my son! the son of Marie Michon! But I must see himinstantly. "

"Take care, madame, " said Athos, "for he knows neither his father norhis mother. "

"You have kept the secret! you have brought him to see me, thinkingto make me happy. Oh, thanks! sir, thanks!" cried Madame de Chevreuse, seizing his hand and trying to put it to her lips; "you have a nobleheart. "

"I bring him to you, madame, " said Athos, withdrawing his hand, "hopingthat in your turn you will do something for him; till now I havewatched over his education and I have made him, I hope, an accomplishedgentleman; but I am now obliged to return to the dangerous and wanderinglife of party faction. To-morrow I plunge into an adventurous affairin which I may be killed. Then it will devolve on you to push him on inthat world where he is called on to occupy a place. "

"Rest assured, " cried the duchess, "I shall do what I can. I have butlittle influence now, but all that I have shall most assuredly be his. As to his title and fortune----"

"As to that, madame, I have made over to him the estate of Bragelonne, my inheritance, which will give him ten thousand francs a year and thetitle of vicomte. "

"Upon my soul, monsieur, " said the duchess, "you are a true nobleman!But I am eager to see our young vicomte. Where is he?"

"There, in the salon. I will have him come in, if you really wish it. "

Athos moved toward the door; the duchess held him back. 

"Is he handsome?" she asked. 

Athos smiled. 

"He resembles his mother. "

So he opened the door and beckoned the young man in. 

The duchess could not restrain a cry of joy on seeing so handsome ayoung cavalier, so far surpassing all that her maternal pride had beenable to conceive. 

"Vicomte, come here, " said Athos; "the duchess permits you to kiss herhand. "

The youth approached with his charming smile and his head bare, andkneeling down, kissed the hand of the Duchess de Chevreuse. 

"Sir, " he said, turning to Athos, "was it not in compassion to mytimidity that you told me that this lady was the Duchess de Chevreuse, and is she not the queen?"

"No, vicomte, " said Madame de Chevreuse, taking his hand and making himsit near her, while she looked at him with eyes sparkling with pleasure;"no, unhappily, I am not the queen. If I were I should do for you atonce the most that you deserve. But let us see; whatever I may be, " sheadded, hardly restraining herself from kissing that pure brow, "let ussee what profession you wish to follow. "

Athos, standing, looked at them both with indescribable pleasure. 

"Madame, " answered the youth in his sweet voice, "it seems to me thatthere is only one career for a gentleman--that of the army. I have beenbrought up by monsieur le comte with the intention, I believe, of makingme a soldier; and he gave me reason to hope that at Paris he wouldpresent me to some one who would recommend me to the favor of theprince. "

"Yes, I understand it well. Personally, I am on bad terms with him, onaccount of the quarrels between Madame de Montbazon, my mother-in-law, and Madame de Longueville. But the Prince de Marsillac! Yes, indeed, that's the right thing. The Prince de Marsillac--my old friend--willrecommend our young friend to Madame de Longueville, who will give him aletter to her brother, the prince, who loves her too tenderly not to dowhat she wishes immediately. "

"Well, that will do charmingly, " said the count; "but may I beg that thegreatest haste may be made, for I have reasons for wishing the vicomtenot to sleep longer than to-morrow night in Paris!"

"Do you wish it known that you are interested about him, monsieur lecomte?"

"Better for him in future that he should be supposed never to have seenme. "

"Oh, sir!" cried Raoul. 

"You know, Bragelonne, " said Athos, "I never speak without reflection. "

"Well, comte, I am going instantly, " interrupted the duchess, "to sendfor the Prince de Marsillac, who is happily, in Paris just now. What areyou going to do this evening?"

"We intend to visit the Abbe Scarron, for whom I have a letter ofintroduction and at whose house I expect to meet some of my friends. "

"'Tis well; I will go there also, for a few minutes, " said the duchess;"do not quit his salon until you have seen me. "

Athos bowed and prepared to leave. 

"Well, monsieur le comte, " said the duchess, smiling, "does one leave sosolemnly his old friends?"

"Ah, " murmured Athos, kissing her hand, "had I only sooner known thatMarie Michon was so charming a creature!" And he withdrew, sighing. 

21. The Abbe Scarron. 

There was once in the Rue des Tournelles a house known by all the sedanchairmen and footmen of Paris, and yet, nevertheless, this house wasneither that of a great lord nor of a rich man. There was neitherdining, nor playing at cards, nor dancing in that house. Nevertheless, it was the rendezvous of the great world and all Paris went there. Itwas the abode of the little Abbe Scarron. 

In the home of the witty abbe dwelt incessant laughter; there all theitems of the day had their source and were so quickly transformed, misrepresented, metamorphosed, some into epigrams, some into falsehoods, that every one was anxious to pass an hour with little Scarron, listening to what he said, reporting it to others. 

The diminutive Abbe Scarron, who, however, was an abbe only because heowned an abbey, and not because he was in orders, had formerly been oneof the gayest prebendaries in the town of Mans, which he inhabited. Ona day of the carnival he had taken a notion to provide an unusualentertainment for that good town, of which he was the life and soul. Hehad made his valet cover him with honey; then, opening a feather bed, he had rolled in it and had thus become the most grotesque fowl it ispossible to imagine. He then began to visit his friends of bothsexes, in that strange costume. At first he had been followed throughastonishment, then with derisive shouts, then the porters had insultedhim, then children had thrown stones at him, and finally he was obligedto run, to escape the missiles. As soon as he took to flight everyone pursued him, until, pressed on all sides, Scarron found no way ofescaping his escort, except by throwing himself into the river; but thewater was icy cold. Scarron was heated, the cold seized on him, and whenhe reached the farther bank he found himself crippled. 

Every means had been employed in vain to restore the use of his limbs. He had been subjected to a severe disciplinary course of medicine, atlength he sent away all his doctors, declaring that he preferred thedisease to the treatment, and came to Paris, where the fame of his withad preceded him. There he had a chair made on his own plan, and oneday, visiting Anne of Austria in this chair, she asked him, charmed asshe was with his wit, if he did not wish for a title. 

"Yes, your majesty, there is a title which I covet much, " repliedScarron. 

"And what is that?"

"That of being your invalid, " answered Scarron. 

So he was called the queen's invalid, with a pension of fifteen hundredfrancs. 

From that lucky moment Scarron led a happy life, spending both incomeand principal. One day, however, an emissary of the cardinal's gave himto understand that he was wrong in receiving the coadjutor so often. 

"And why?" asked Scarron; "is he not a man of good birth?"

"Certainly. "

"Agreeable?"

"Undeniably. "

"Witty?"

"He has, unfortunately, too much wit. "

"Well, then, why do you wish me to give up seeing such a man?"

"Because he is an enemy. "

"Of whom?"

"Of the cardinal. "

"What?" answered Scarron, "I continue to receive Monsieur GillesDespreaux, who thinks ill of me, and you wish me to give up seeing thecoadjutor, because he thinks ill of another man. Impossible!"

The conversation had rested there and Scarron, through sheer obstinacy, had seen Monsieur de Gondy only the more frequently. 

Now, the very morning of which we speak was that of his quarter-daypayment, and Scarron, as usual, had sent his servant to get his moneyat the pension-office, but the man had returned and said that thegovernment had no more money to give Monsieur Scarron. 

It was on Thursday, the abbe's reception day; people went there incrowds. The cardinal's refusal to pay the pension was known about thetown in half an hour and he was abused with wit and vehemence. 

In the Rue Saint Honore Athos fell in with two gentlemen whom he did notknow, on horseback like himself, followed by a lackey like himself, andgoing in the same direction that he was. One of them, hat in hand, saidto him:

"Would you believe it, monsieur? that contemptible Mazarin has stoppedpoor Scarron's pension. "

"That is unreasonable, " said Athos, saluting in his turn the twocavaliers. And they separated with courteous gestures. 

"It happens well that we are going there this evening, " said Athos tothe vicomte; "we will pay our compliments to that poor man. "

"What, then, is this Monsieur Scarron, who thus puts all Paris incommotion? Is he some minister out of office?"

"Oh, no, not at all, vicomte, " Athos replied; "he is simply a gentlemanof great genius who has fallen into disgrace with the cardinal throughhaving written certain verses against him. "

"Do gentlemen, then, make verses?" asked Raoul, naively, "I thought itwas derogatory. "

"So it is, my dear vicomte, " said Athos, laughing, "to make bad ones;but to make good ones increases fame--witness Monsieur de Rotrou. Nevertheless, " he continued, in the tone of one who gives wholesomeadvice, "I think it is better not to make them. "

"Then, " said Raoul, "this Monsieur Scarron is a poet?"

"Yes; you are warned, vicomte. Consider well what you do in that house. Talk only by gestures, or rather always listen. "

"Yes, monsieur, " replied Raoul. 

"You will see me talking with one of my friends, the Abbe d'Herblay, ofwhom you have often heard me speak. "

"I remember him, monsieur. "

"Come near to us from time to time, as if to speak; but do notspeak, and do not listen. That little stratagem may serve to keep offinterlopers. "

"Very well, monsieur; I will obey you at all points. "

Athos made two visits in Paris; at seven o'clock he and Raoul directedtheir steps to the Rue des Tournelles; it was stopped by porters, horsesand footmen. Athos forced his way through and entered, followed by theyoung man. The first person that struck him on his entrance was Aramis, planted near a great chair on castors, very large, covered with a canopyof tapestry, under which there moved, enveloped in a quilt of brocade, a little face, youngish, very merry, somewhat pallid, whilst its eyesnever ceased to express a sentiment at once lively, intellectual, and amiable. This was the Abbe Scarron, always laughing, joking, complimenting--yet suffering--and toying nervously with a small switch. 

Around this kind of rolling tent pressed a crowd of gentlemen andladies. The room was neatly, comfortably furnished. Large valances ofsilk, embroidered with flowers of gay colors, which were rather faded, fell from the wide windows; the fittings of the room were simple, but inexcellent taste. Two well trained servingmen were in attendance on thecompany. On perceiving Athos, Aramis advanced toward him, took him bythe hand and presented him to Scarron. Raoul remained silent, for he wasnot prepared for the dignity of the bel esprit. 

After some minutes the door opened and a footman announced MademoisellePaulet. 

Athos touched the shoulder of the vicomte. 

"Look at this lady, Raoul, she is an historic personage; it was to visither King Henry IV. Was going when he was assassinated. "

Every one thronged around Mademoiselle Paulet, for she was always verymuch the fashion. She was a tall woman, with a slender figure and aforest of golden curls, such as Raphael was fond of and Titian haspainted all his Magdalens with. This fawn-colored hair, or, perhaps thesort of ascendancy which she had over other women, gave her the name of"La Lionne. " Mademoiselle Paulet took her accustomed seat, but beforesitting down, she cast, in all her queen-like grandeur, a look aroundthe room, and her eyes rested on Raoul. 

Athos smiled. 

"Mademoiselle Paulet has observed you, vicomte; go and bow to her; don'ttry to appear anything but what you are, a true country youth; on noaccount speak to her of Henry IV. "

"When shall we two walk together?" Athos then said to Aramis. 

"Presently--there are not a sufficient number of people here yet; weshall be remarked. "

At this moment the door opened and in walked the coadjutor. 

At this name every one looked around, for his was already a verycelebrated name. Athos did the same. He knew the Abbe de Gondy only byreport. 

He saw a little dark man, ill made and awkward with his hands ineverything--except drawing a sword and firing a pistol--with somethinghaughty and contemptuous in his face. 

Scarron turned around toward him and came to meet him in his chair. 

"Well, " said the coadjutor, on seeing him, "you are in disgrace, then, abbe?"

This was the orthodox phrase. It had been said that evening a hundredtimes--and Scarron was at his hundredth bon mot on the subject; he wasvery nearly at the end of his humoristic tether, but one despairingeffort saved him. 

"Monsieur, the Cardinal Mazarin has been so kind as to think of me, " hesaid. 

"But how can you continue to receive us?" asked the coadjutor; "ifyour income is lessened I shall be obliged to make you a canon of NotreDame. "

"Oh, no!" cried Scarron, "I should compromise you too much. "

"Perhaps you have resources of which we are ignorant?"

"I shall borrow from the queen. "

"But her majesty has no property, " interposed Aramis. 

At this moment the door opened and Madame de Chevreuse was announced. Every one arose. Scarron turned his chair toward the door, Raoulblushed, Athos made a sign to Aramis, who went and hid himself in theenclosure of a window. 

In the midst of all the compliments that awaited her on her entrance, the duchess seemed to be looking for some one; at last she found outRaoul and her eyes sparkled; she perceived Athos and became thoughtful;she saw Aramis in the seclusion of the window and gave a start ofsurprise behind her fan. 

"Apropos, " she said, as if to drive away thoughts that pursued her inspite of herself, "how is poor Voiture, do you know, Scarron?"

"What, is Monsieur Voiture ill?" inquired a gentleman who had spoken toAthos in the Rue Saint Honore; "what is the matter with him?"

"He was acting, but forgot to take the precaution to have a change oflinen ready after the performance, " said the coadjutor, "so he took coldand is about to die. "

"Is he then so ill, dear Voiture?" asked Aramis, half hidden by thewindow curtain. 

"Die!" cried Mademoiselle Paulet, bitterly, "he! Why, he is surroundedby sultanas, like a Turk. Madame de Saintot has hastened to him withbroth; La Renaudot warms his sheets; the Marquise de Rambouillet sendshim his tisanes. "

"You don't like him, my dear Parthenie, " said Scarron. 

"What an injustice, my dear invalid! I hate him so little that I shouldbe delighted to order masses for the repose of his soul. "

"You are not called 'Lionne' for nothing, " observed Madame de Chevreuse, "your teeth are terrible. "

"You are unjust to a great poet, it seems to me, " Raoul ventured to say. 

"A great poet! come, one may easily see, vicomte, that you are latelyfrom the provinces and have never so much as seen him. A great poet! heis scarcely five feet high. "

"Bravo bravo!" cried a tall man with an enormous mustache and a longrapier, "bravo, fair Paulet, it is high time to put little Voiture inhis right place. For my part, I always thought his poetry detestable, and I think I know something about poetry. "

"Who is this officer, " inquired Raoul of Athos, "who is speaking?"

"Monsieur de Scudery, the author of 'Clelie, ' and of 'Le Grand Cyrus, 'which were composed partly by him and partly by his sister, who is nowtalking to that pretty person yonder, near Monsieur Scarron. "

Raoul turned and saw two faces just arrived. One was perfectly charming, delicate, pensive, shaded by beautiful dark hair, and eyes soft asvelvet, like those lovely flowers, the heartsease, in which shine outthe golden petals. The other, of mature age, seemed to have the formerone under her charge, and was cold, dry and yellow--the true type of aduenna or a devotee. 

Raoul resolved not to quit the room without having spoken to thebeautiful girl with the soft eyes, who by a strange fancy, although shebore no resemblance, reminded him of his poor little Louise, whom hehad left in the Chateau de la Valliere and whom, in the midst of all theparty, he had never for one moment quite forgotten. Meantime Aramis haddrawn near to the coadjutor, who, smiling all the while, contrived todrop some words into his ear. Aramis, notwithstanding his self-control, could not refrain from a slight movement of surprise. 

"Laugh, then, " said Monsieur de Retz; "they are looking at us. " Andleaving Aramis he went to talk with Madame de Chevreuse, who was in themidst of a large group. 

Aramis affected a laugh, to divert the attention of certain curiouslisteners, and perceiving that Athos had betaken himself to theembrasure of a window and remained there, he proceeded to join him, throwing out a few words carelessly as he moved through the room. 

As soon as the two friends met they began a conversation which wasemphasized by frequent gesticulation. 

Raoul then approached them as Athos had directed him to do. 

"'Tis a rondeau by Monsieur Voiture that monsieur l'abbe is repeatingto me. " said Athos in a loud voice, "and I confess I think itincomparable. "

Raoul stayed only a few minutes near them and then mingled with thegroup round Madame de Chevreuse. 

"Well, then?" asked Athos, in a low tone. 

"It is to be to-morrow, " said Aramis hastily. 

"At what time?"

"Six o'clock. "

"Where?"

"At Saint Mande. "

"Who told you?"

"The Count de Rochefort. "

Some one drew near. 

"And then philosophic ideas are wholly wanting in Voiture's works, butI am of the same opinion as the coadjutor--he is a poet, a true poet. "Aramis spoke so as to be heard by everybody. 

"And I, too, " murmured the young lady with the velvet eyes. "I have themisfortune also to admire his poetry exceedingly. "

"Monsieur Scarron, do me the honor, " said Raoul, blushing, "to tell methe name of that young lady whose opinion seems so different from thatof others of the company. "

"Ah! my young vicomte, " replied Scarron, "I suppose you wish to proposeto her an alliance offensive and defensive. "

Raoul blushed again. 

"You asked the name of that young lady. She is called the fair Indian. "

"Excuse me, sir, " returned Raoul, blushing still more deeply, "I know nomore than I did before. Alas! I am from the country. "

"Which means that you know very little about the nonsense which hereflows down our streets. So much the better, young man! so much thebetter! Don't try to understand it--you will only lose your time. "

"You forgive me, then, sir, " said Raoul, "and you will deign to tell mewho is the person that you call the young Indian?"

"Certainly; one of the most charming persons that lives--MademoiselleFrances d'Aubigne. "

"Does she belong to the family of the celebrated Agrippa, the friend ofHenry IV. ?"

"His granddaughter. She comes from Martinique, so I call her thebeautiful Indian. "

Raoul looked surprised and his eyes met those of the young lady, whosmiled. 

The company went on speaking of the poet Voiture. 

"Monsieur, " said Mademoiselle d'Aubigne to Scarron, as if she wishedto join in the conversation he was engaged in with Raoul, "do you notadmire Monsieur Voiture's friends? Listen how they pull him to pieceseven whilst they praise him; one takes away from him all claim to goodsense, another robs him of his poetry, a third of his originality, another of his humor, another of his independence of character, asixth--but, good heavens! what will they leave him? as Mademoiselle deScudery remarks. "

Scarron and Raoul laughed. The fair Indian, astonished at the sensationher observation produced, looked down and resumed her air of naivete. 

Athos, still within the inclosure of the window, watched this scene witha smile of disdain on his lips. 

"Tell the Comte de la Fere to come to me, " said Madame de Chevreuse, "Iwant to speak to him. "

"And I, " said the coadjutor, "want it to be thought that I do not speakto him. I admire, I love him--for I know his former adventures--but Ishall not speak to him until the day after to-morrow. "

"And why day after to-morrow?" asked Madame de Chevreuse. 

"You will know that to-morrow evening, " said the coadjutor, smiling. 

"Really, my dear Gondy, " said the duchess, "you remind one of theApocalypse. Monsieur d'Herblay, " she added, turning toward Aramis, "willyou be my servant once more this evening?"

"How can you doubt it?" replied Aramis; "this evening, to-morrow, always; command me. "

"I will, then. Go and look for the Comte de la Fere; I wish to speakwith him. "

Aramis found Athos and brought him. 

"Monsieur le comte, " said the duchess, giving him a letter, "here iswhat I promised you; our young friend will be extremely well received. "

"Madame, he is very happy in owing any obligation to you. "

"You have no reason to envy him on that score, for I owe to you thepleasure of knowing him, " replied the witty woman, with a smile whichrecalled Marie Michon to Aramis and to Athos. 

As she uttered that bon mot, she arose and asked for her carriage. Mademoiselle Paulet had already gone; Mademoiselle de Scudery was going. 

"Vicomte, " said Athos to Raoul, "follow the duchess; beg her to do youthe favor to take your arm in going downstairs, and thank her as youdescend. "

The fair Indian approached Scarron. 

"You are going already?" he said. 

"One of the last, as you see; if you hear anything of Monsieur Voiture, be so kind as to send me word to-morrow. "

"Oh!" said Scarron, "he may die now. "

"Why?" asked the young girl with the velvet eyes. 

"Certainly; his panegyric has been uttered. "

They parted, laughing, she turning back to gaze at the poor paralyticman with interest, he looking after her with eyes of love. 

One by one the several groups broke up. Scarron seemed not to observethat certain of his guests had talked mysteriously, that letters hadpassed from hand to hand and that the assembly had seemed to have asecret purpose quite apart from the literary discussion carried onwith so much ostentation. What was all that to Scarron? At his houserebellion could be planned with impunity, for, as we have said, sincethat morning he had ceased to be "the queen's invalid. "

As to Raoul, he had attended the duchess to her carriage, where, as shetook her seat, she gave him her hand to kiss; then, by one of those wildcaprices which made her so adorable and at the same time so dangerous, she had suddenly put her arm around his neck and kissed his forehead, saying:

"Vicomte, may my good wishes and this kiss bring you good fortune!"

Then she had pushed him away and directed the coachman to stop at theHotel de Luynes. The carriage had started, Madame de Chevreuse had madea parting gesture to the young man, and Raoul had returned in a state ofstupefaction. 

Athos surmised what had taken place and smiled. "Come, vicomte, " hesaid, "it is time for you to go to bed; you will start in the morningfor the army of monsieur le prince. Sleep well your last night ascitizen. "

"I am to be a soldier then?" said the young man. "Oh, monsieur, I thankyou with all my heart. "

"Adieu, count, " said the Abbe d'Herblay; "I return to my convent. "

"Adieu, abbe, " said the coadjutor, "I am to preach to-morrow and havetwenty texts to examine this evening. "

"Adieu, gentlemen, " said the count; "I am going to sleep twenty-fourhours; I am just falling down with fatigue. "

The three men saluted one another, whilst exchanging a last look. 

Scarron followed their movements with a glance from the corner of hiseye. 

"Not one of them will do as he says, " he murmured, with his littlemonkey smile; "but they may do as they please, the brave gentlemen! Whoknows if they will not manage to restore to me my pension? They can movetheir arms, they can, and that is much. Alas, I have only my tongue, butI will try to show that it is good for something. Ho, there, Champenois!here, it is eleven o'clock. Come and roll me to bed. Really, thatDemoiselle d'Aubigne is very charming!"

So the invalid disappeared soon afterward and went into hissleeping-room; and one by one the lights in the salon of the Rue desTournelles were extinguished. 

22. Saint Denis. 

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

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

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

The sun, already high, penetrated into the room through the window, thecurtains 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 tendermelancholy; he looked long on this young man, whose smiling mouth andhalf closed eyes bespoke soft dreams and lightest slumber, as if hisguardian angel watched over him with solicitude and affection. Bydegrees Athos gave himself up to the charms of his reverie in theproximity of youth, so pure, so fresh. His own youth seemed to reappear, bringing with it all those savoury remembrances, which are like perfumesmore than thoughts. Between the past and the present was an ineffableabyss. But imagination has the wings of an angel of light and travelssafely through or over the seas where we have been almost shipwrecked, the darkness in which our illusions are lost, the precipice whence ourhappiness has been hurled and swallowed up. He remembered that all thefirst part of his life had been embittered by a woman and he thoughtwith alarm of the influence love might assume over so fine, and at thesame time so vigorous an organization as that of Raoul. 

In recalling all he had been through, he foresaw all that Raoul mightsuffer; and the expression of the deep and tender compassion whichthrobbed in his heart was pictured in the moist eye with which he gazedon the young man. 

At this moment Raoul awoke, without a cloud on his face withoutweariness or lassitude; his eyes were fixed on those of Athos andperhaps he comprehended all that passed in the heart of the man who wasawaiting 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 andpaternal interest felt by a grown man for a youth. 

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

Athos then called Olivain. 

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

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

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

"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 tosee if the moment of farewell was at hand, but Athos was silent. Whenthey 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 toperceive nothing of this byplay. 

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

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

"Take care, Raoul! I have already often told you of this; you must notforget it, for it is a great defect in a rider. See! your horse is tiredalready, he froths at the mouth, whilst mine looks as if he had onlyjust left the stable. You hold the bit too tight and so make his mouthhard, so that you will not be able to make him manoeuvre quickly. Thesafety of a cavalier often depends on the prompt obedience of his horse. In a week, remember, you will no longer be performing your manoeuvresfor practice, but on a field of battle. "

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

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

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

"I have remarked also another thing, " said Athos, "which is, that infiring off your pistol you hold your arm too far outstretched. Thistension lessens the accuracy of the aim. So in twelve times you thricemissed the mark. "

"Which you, sir, struck twelve times, " answered Raoul, smiling. 

"Because I bent my arm and rested my hand on my elbow--so; do youunderstand what I mean?"

"Yes, sir. I have fired since in that manner and have been quitesuccessful. "

"What a cold wind!" resumed Athos; "a wintry blast. Apropos, if youfire--and you will do so, for you are recommended to a young generalwho is very fond of powder--remember that in single combat, which oftentakes place in the cavalry, never to fire the first shot. He who firesthe first shot rarely hits his man, for he fires with the apprehensionof being disarmed, before an armed foe; then, whilst he fires, make yourhorse rear; that manoeuvre has saved my life several times. "

"I shall do so, if only in gratitude----"

"Eh!" cried Athos, "are not those fellows poachers they have arrestedyonder? They are. Then another important thing, Raoul: should you bewounded in a battle, and fall from your horse, if you have any strengthleft, disentangle yourself from the line that your regiment has formed;otherwise, it may be driven back and you will be trampled to death bythe horses. At all events, should you be wounded, write to me thatvery instant, or get some one at once to write to me. We are judges ofwounds, we old soldiers, " Athos added, smiling. 

"Thank you, sir, " answered the young man, much moved. 

They arrived that very moment at the gate of the town, guarded by twosentinels. 

"Here comes a young gentleman, " said one of them, "who seems as if hewere going to join the army. "

"How do you make that out?" inquired Athos. 

"By his manner, sir, and his age; he's the second to-day. "

"Has a young man, such as I am, gone through this morning, then?" askedRaoul. 

"Faith, yes, with a haughty presence, a fine equipage; such as the sonof a noble house would have. "

"He will be my companion on the journey, sir, " cried Raoul. "Alas! hecannot make me forget what I shall have lost!"

Thus talking, they traversed the streets, full of people on account ofthe fete, and arrived opposite the old cathedral, where first mass wasgoing on. 

"Let us alight; Raoul, " said Athos. "Olivain, take care of our horsesand give me my sword. "

The two gentlemen then went into the church. Athos gave Raoul some ofthe holy water. A love as tender as that of a lover for his mistressdwells, undoubtedly, in some paternal hearts toward a son. 

Athos said a word to one of the vergers, who bowed and proceeded towardthe basement. 

"Come, Raoul, " he said, "let us follow this man. "

The verger opened the iron grating that guarded the royal tombs andstood on the topmost step, whilst Athos and Raoul descended. Thesepulchral depths of the descent were dimly lighted by a silver lamp onthe lowest step; and just below this lamp there was laid, wrapped in aflowing mantle of violet velvet, worked with fleurs-de-lis of gold, acatafalque resting on trestles of oak. The young man, prepared for thisscene by the state of his own feelings, which were mournful, and by themajesty of the cathedral which he had passed through, descended in aslow and solemn manner and stood with head uncovered before these mortalspoils of the last king, who was not to be placed by the side of hisforefathers until his successor should take his place there; and whoappeared to abide on that spot, that he might thus address human pride, so sure to be exalted by the glories of a throne: "Dust of the earth!Here I await thee!"

There was profound silence. 

Then Athos raised his hand and pointing to the coffin:

"This temporary sepulture is, " he said, "that of a man who was of feeblemind, yet one whose reign was full of great events; because over thisking watched the spirit of another man, even as this lamp keeps vigilover this coffin and illumines it. He whose intellect was thus supreme, Raoul, was the actual sovereign; the other, nothing but a phantom towhom he lent a soul; and yet, so powerful is majesty amongst us, thisman has not even the honor of a tomb at the feet of him in whose servicehis life was worn away. Remember, Raoul, this! If Richelieu made theking, by comparison, seem small, he made royalty great. The Palace ofthe Louvre contains two things--the king, who must die, and royalty, which never dies. The minister, so feared, so hated by his master, hasdescended into the tomb, drawing after him the king, whom he would notleave alone on earth, lest his work should be destroyed. So blindwere his contemporaries that they regarded the cardinal's death as adeliverance; and I, even I, opposed the designs of the great man whoheld the destinies of France within the hollow of his hand. Raoul, learnhow to distinguish the king from royalty; the king is but a man; royaltyis the gift of God. Whenever you hesitate as to whom you ought toserve, abandon the exterior, the material appearance for the invisibleprinciple, for the invisible principle is everything. Raoul, I seemto read your future destiny as through a cloud. It will be happier, Ithink, than ours has been. Different in your fate from us, you will havea king without a minister, whom you may serve, love, respect. Shouldthe king prove a tyrant, for power begets tyranny, serve, love, respectroyalty, that Divine right, that celestial spark which makes this duststill powerful and holy, so that we--gentlemen, nevertheless, of rankand condition--are as nothing in comparison with the cold corpse thereextended. "

"I shall adore God, sir, " said Raoul, "respect royalty and ever servethe king. And if death be my lot, I hope to die for the king, forroyalty and for God. Have I, sir, comprehended your instructions?"

Athos smiled. 

"Yours is a noble nature. " he said; "here is your sword. "

Raoul bent his knee to the ground. 

"It was worn by my father, a loyal gentleman. I have worn it in my turnand it has sometimes not been disgraced when the hilt was in my hand andthe sheath at my side. Should your hand still be too weak to use thissword, Raoul, so much the better. You will have the more time to learnto draw it only when it ought to be used. "

"Sir, " replied Raoul, putting the sword to his lips as he received itfrom the count, "I owe you everything and yet this sword is the mostprecious gift you have yet made me. I will wear it, I swear to you, as agrateful man should do. "

"'Tis well; arise, vicomte, embrace me. "

Raoul arose and threw himself with emotion into the count's arms. 

"Adieu, " faltered the count, who felt his heart die away within him;"adieu, and think of me. "

"Oh! for ever and ever!" cried the youth; "oh! I swear to you, sir, should any harm befall me, your name will be the last name that I shallutter, the remembrance of you my last thought. "

Athos hastened upstairs to conceal his emotion, and regained withhurried steps the porch where Olivain was waiting with the horses. 

"Olivain, " said Athos, showing the servant Raoul's shoulder-belt, "tighten the buckle of the sword, it falls too low. You will accompanymonsieur le vicomte till Grimaud rejoins you. You know, Raoul, Grimaudis an old and zealous servant; he will follow you. "

"Yes, sir, " answered Raoul. 

"Now to horse, that I may see you depart!"

Raoul obeyed. 

"Adieu, Raoul, " said the count; "adieu, my dearest boy!"

"Adieu, sir, adieu, my beloved protector. "

Athos waved his hand--he dared not trust himself to speak: and Raoulwent away, his head uncovered. Athos remained motionless, looking afterhim until he turned the corner of the street. 

Then the count threw the bridle of his horse into the hands of apeasant, remounted the steps, went into the cathedral, there to kneeldown in the darkest corner and pray. 

23. One of the Forty Methods of Escape of the Duc de Beaufort. 

Meanwhile time was passing on for the prisoner, as well as for those whowere preparing his escape; only for him it passed more slowly. Unlikeother men, who enter with ardor upon a perilous resolution and growcold as the moment of execution approaches, the Duc de Beaufort, whosebuoyant courage had become a proverb, seemed to push time before him andsought most eagerly to hasten the hour of action. In his escape alone, apart from his plans for the future, which, it must be admitted, werefor the present sufficiently vague and uncertain, there was a beginningof vengeance which filled his heart. In the first place his escape wouldbe a serious misfortune to Monsieur de Chavigny, whom he hated for thepetty persecutions he owed to him. It would be a still worse affair forMazarin, whom he execrated for the greater offences he had committed. It may be observed that there was a proper proportion in his sentimentstoward the governor of the prison and the minister--toward thesubordinate and the master. 

Then Monsieur de Beaufort, who was so familiar with the interior of thePalais Royal, though he did not know the relations existing between thequeen and the cardinal, pictured to himself, in his prison, all thatdramatic excitement which would ensue when the rumor should run fromthe minister's cabinet to the chamber of Anne of Austria: "Monsieurde Beaufort has escaped!" Whilst saying that to himself, Monsieurde Beaufort smiled pleasantly and imagined himself already outside, breathing the air of the plains and the forests, pressing a strong horsebetween his knees and crying out in a loud voice, "I am free!"

It is true that on coming to himself he found that he was still withinfour walls; he saw La Ramee twirling his thumbs ten feet from him, andhis guards laughing and drinking in the ante-chamber. The only thingthat was pleasant to him in that odious tableau--such is the instabilityof the human mind--was the sullen face of Grimaud, for whom he had atfirst conceived such a hatred and who now was all his hope. Grimaud seemed to him an Antinous. It is needless to say that thistransformation was visible only to the prisoner's feverish imagination. Grimaud was still the same, and therefore he retained the entireconfidence of his superior, La Ramee, who now relied upon him more thanhe did upon himself, for, as we have said, La Ramee felt at the bottomof his heart a certain weakness for Monsieur de Beaufort. 

And so the good La Ramee made a festivity of the little supper withhis prisoner. He had but one fault--he was a gourmand; he had found thepates good, the wine excellent. Now the successor of Pere Marteauhad promised him a pate of pheasant instead of a pate of fowl, andChambertin wine instead of Macon. All this, set off by the presence ofthat excellent prince, who was so good-natured, who invented so drolltricks against Monsieur de Chavigny and so fine jokes against Mazarin, made for La Ramee the approaching Pentecost one of the four great feastsof the year. He therefore looked forward to six o'clock with as muchimpatience as the duke himself. 

Since daybreak La Ramee had been occupied with the preparations, andtrusting no one but himself, he had visited personally the successorof Pere Marteau. The latter had surpassed himself; he showed La Ramee amonstrous pate, ornamented with Monsieur de Beaufort's coat-of-arms. Itwas empty as yet, but a pheasant and two partridges were lying near it. La Ramee's mouth watered and he returned to the duke's chamber rubbinghis hands. To crown his happiness, Monsieur de Chavigny had started on ajourney that morning and in his absence La Ramee was deputy-governor ofthe chateau. 

As for Grimaud, he seemed more sullen than ever. 

In the course of the forenoon Monsieur de Beaufort had a game of tenniswith La Ramee; a sign from Grimaud put him on the alert. Grimaud, goingin advance, followed the course which they were to take in the evening. The game was played in an inclosure called the little court of thechateau, a place quite deserted except when Monsieur de Beaufort wasplaying; and even then the precaution seemed superfluous, the wall wasso high. 

There were three gates to open before reaching the inclosure, each by adifferent key. When they arrived Grimaud went carelessly and sat down bya loophole in the wall, letting his legs dangle outside. It was evidentthat there the rope ladder was to be attached. 

This manoeuvre, transparent to the Duc de Beaufort, was quiteunintelligible to La Ramee. 

The game at tennis, which, upon a sign from Grimaud, Monsieur deBeaufort had consented to play, began in the afternoon. The duke was infull strength and beat La Ramee completely. 

Four of the guards, who were constantly near the prisoner, assisted inpicking up the tennis balls. When the game was over, the duke, laughingat La Ramee for his bad play, offered these men two louis d'or to go anddrink his health, with their four other comrades. 

The guards asked permission of La Ramee, who gave it to them, but nottill the evening, however; until then he had business and the prisonerwas not to be left alone. 

Six o'clock came and, although they were not to sit down to table untilseven o'clock, dinner was ready and served up. Upon a sideboard appearedthe colossal pie with the duke's arms on it, and seemingly cooked to aturn, as far as one could judge by the golden color which illuminatedthe crust. 

The rest of the dinner was to come. 

Every one was impatient, La Ramee to sit down to table, the guards to goand drink, the duke to escape. 

Grimaud alone was calm as ever. One might have fancied that Athos hadeducated him with the express forethought of such a great event. 

There were moments when, looking at Grimaud, the duke asked himself ifhe was not dreaming and if that marble figure was really at his serviceand would grow animated when the moment came for action. 

La Ramee sent away the guards, desiring them to drink to the duke'shealth, and as soon as they were gone shut all the doors, put thekeys in his pocket and showed the table to the prince with an air thatsignified:

"Whenever my lord pleases. "

The prince looked at Grimaud, Grimaud looked at the clock; it was hardlya quarter-past six. The escape was fixed to take place at seven o'clock;there was therefore three-quarters of an hour to wait. 

The duke, in order to pass away another quarter of an hour, pretendedto be reading something that interested him and muttered that he wishedthey would allow him to finish his chapter. La Ramee went up to him andlooked over his shoulder to see what sort of a book it was that had sosingular an influence over the prisoner as to make him put off takinghis dinner. 

It was "Caesar's Commentaries, " which La Ramee had lent him, contrary tothe orders of the governor; and La Ramee resolved never again to disobeythese injunctions. 

Meantime he uncorked the bottles and went to smell if the pie was good. 

At half-past six the duke arose and said very gravely:

"Certainly, Caesar was the greatest man of ancient times. "

"You think so, my lord?" answered La Ramee. 

"Yes. "

"Well, as for me, I prefer Hannibal. "

"And why, pray, Master La Ramee?" asked the duke. 

"Because he left no Commentaries, " replied La Ramee, with his coarselaugh. 

The duke vouchsafed no reply, but sitting down at the table made asign that La Ramee should seat himself opposite. There is nothing soexpressive as the face of an epicure who finds himself before a wellspread table, so La Ramee, when receiving his plate of soup fromGrimaud, presented a type of perfect bliss. 

The duke smiled. 

"Zounds!" he said; "I don't suppose there is a more contented man atthis moment in all the kingdom than yourself!"

"You are right, my lord duke, " answered the officer; "I don't know anypleasanter sight on earth than a well covered table; and when, added tothat, he who does the honors is the grandson of Henry IV. , you will, mylord duke, easily comprehend that the honor fairly doubles the pleasureone enjoys. "

The duke, in his turn, bowed, and an imperceptible smile appeared on theface of Grimaud, who kept behind La Ramee. 

"My dear La Ramee, " said the duke, "you are the only man to turn suchfaultless compliments. "

"No, my lord duke, " replied La Ramee, in the fullness of his heart; "Isay what I think; there is no compliment in what I say to you----"

"Then you are attached to me?" asked the duke. 

"To own the truth, I should be inconsolable if you were to leaveVincennes. "

"A droll way of showing your affliction. " The duke meant to say"affection. "

"But, my lord, " returned La Ramee, "what would you do if you got out?Every folly you committed would embroil you with the court and theywould put you into the Bastile, instead of Vincennes. Now, Monsieurde Chavigny is not amiable, I allow, but Monsieur du Tremblay isconsiderably worse. "

"Indeed!" exclaimed the duke, who from time to time looked at the clock, the fingers of which seemed to move with sickening slowness. 

"But what can you expect from the brother of a capuchin monk, broughtup in the school of Cardinal Richelieu? Ah, my lord, it is a greathappiness that the queen, who always wished you well, had a fancy tosend you here, where there's a promenade and a tennis court, good air, and a good table. "

"In short, " answered the duke, "if I comprehend you aright, La Ramee, Iam ungrateful for having ever thought of leaving this place?"

"Oh! my lord duke, 'tis the height of ingratitude; but your highness hasnever seriously thought of it?"

"Yes, " returned the duke, "I must confess I sometimes think of it. "

"Still by one of your forty methods, your highness?"

"Yes, yes, indeed. "

"My lord, " said La Ramee, "now we are quite at our ease and enjoyingourselves, pray tell me one of those forty ways invented by yourhighness. "

"Willingly, " answered the duke, "give me the pie!"

"I am listening, " said La Ramee, leaning back in his armchair andraising his glass of Madeira to his lips, and winking his eye that hemight see the sun through the rich liquid that he was about to taste. 

The duke glanced at the clock. In ten minutes it would strike seven. 

Grimaud placed the pie before the duke, who took a knife with a silverblade to raise the upper crust; but La Ramee, who was afraid of any harmhappening to this fine work of art, passed his knife, which had an ironblade, to the duke. 

"Thank you, La Ramee, " said the prisoner. 

"Well, my lord! this famous invention of yours?"

"Must I tell you, " replied the duke, "on what I most reckon and what Idetermine to try first?"

"Yes, that's the thing, my lord!" cried his custodian, gaily. 

"Well, I should hope, in the first instance, to have for keeper anhonest fellow like you. "

"And you have me, my lord. Well?"

"Having, then, a keeper like La Ramee, I should try also to haveintroduced to him by some friend or other a man who would be devoted tome, who would assist me in my flight. "

"Come, come, " said La Ramee, "that's not a bad idea. "

"Capital, isn't it? for instance, the former servingman of some bravegentleman, an enemy himself to Mazarin, as every gentleman ought to be. "

"Hush! don't let us talk politics, my lord. "

"Then my keeper would begin to trust this man and to depend upon him, and I should have news from those without the prison walls. "

"Ah, yes! but how can the news be brought to you?"

"Nothing easier; in a game of tennis, for example. "

"In a game of tennis?" asked La Ramee, giving more serious attention tothe duke's words. 

"Yes; see, I send a ball into the moat; a man is there who picks it up;the ball contains a letter. Instead of returning the ball to me when Icall for it from the top of the wall, he throws me another; that otherball contains a letter. Thus we have exchanged ideas and no one has seenus do it. "

"The devil it does! The devil it does!" said La Ramee, scratching hishead; "you are in the wrong to tell me that, my lord. I shall have towatch the men who pick up balls. "

The duke smiled. 

"But, " resumed La Ramee, "that is only a way of corresponding. "

"And that is a great deal, it seems to me. "

"But not enough. "

"Pardon me; for instance, I say to my friends, Be on a certain day, on acertain hour, at the other side of the moat with two horses. "

"Well, what then?" La Ramee began to be uneasy; "unless the horses havewings to mount the ramparts and come and fetch you. "

"That's not needed. I have, " replied the duke, "a way of descending fromthe ramparts. "

"What?"

"A rope ladder. "

"Yes, but, " answered La Ramee, trying to laugh, "a ladder of ropes can'tbe sent around a ball, like a letter. "

"No, but it may be sent in something else. "

"In something else--in something else? In what?"

"In a pate, for example. "

"In a pate?" said La Ramee. 

"Yes. Let us suppose one thing, " replied the duke "let us suppose, forinstance, that my maitre d'hotel, Noirmont, has purchased the shop ofPere Marteau----"

"Well?" said La Ramee, shuddering. 

"Well, La Ramee, who is a gourmand, sees his pates, thinks them moreattractive than those of Pere Marteau and proposes to me that I shalltry them. I consent on condition that La Ramee tries them with me. Thatwe may be more at our ease, La Ramee removes the guards, keeping onlyGrimaud to wait on us. Grimaud is the man whom a friend has sent tosecond me in everything. The moment for my escape is fixed--seveno'clock. Well, at a few minutes to seven----"

"At a few minutes to seven?" cried La Ramee, cold sweat upon his brow. 

"At a few minutes to seven, " returned the duke (suiting the action tothe words), "I raise the crust of the pie; I find in it two poniards, a ladder of rope, and a gag. I point one of the poniards at La Ramee'sbreast and I say to him, 'My friend, I am sorry for it, but if thoustirrest, if thou utterest one cry, thou art a dead man!'"

The duke, in pronouncing these words, suited, as we have said, theaction to the words. He was standing near the officer and he directedthe point of the poniard in such a manner, close to La Ramee's heart, that there could be no doubt in the mind of that individual as to hisdetermination. Meanwhile, Grimaud, still mute as ever, drew from the piethe other poniard, the rope ladder and the gag. 

La Ramee followed all these objects with his eyes, his alarm everymoment increasing. 

"Oh, my lord, " he cried, with an expression of stupefaction in his face;"you haven't the heart to kill me!"

"No; not if thou dost not oppose my flight. "

"But, my lord, if I allow you to escape I am a ruined man. "

"I will compensate thee for the loss of thy place. "

"You are determined to leave the chateau?"

"By Heaven and earth! This night I am determined to be free. "

"And if I defend myself, or call, or cry out?"

"I will kill thee, on the honor of a gentleman. "

At this moment the clock struck. 

"Seven o'clock!" said Grimaud, who had not spoken a word. 

La Ramee made one movement, in order to satisfy his conscience. Theduke frowned, the officer felt the point of the poniard, which, havingpenetrated through his clothes, was close to his heart. 

"Let us dispatch, " said the duke. 

"My lord, one last favor. "

"What? speak, make haste. "

"Bind my arms, my lord, fast. "

"Why bind thee?"

"That I may not be considered as your accomplice. "

"Your hands?" asked Grimaud. 

"Not before me, behind me. "

"But with what?" asked the duke. 

"With your belt, my lord!" replied La Ramee. 

The duke undid his belt and gave it to Grimaud, who tied La Ramee insuch a way as to satisfy him. 

"Your feet, too, " said Grimaud. 

La Ramee stretched out his legs, Grimaud took a table-cloth, tore itinto strips and tied La Ramee's feet together. 

"Now, my lord, " said the poor man, "let me have the poire d'angoisse. Iask for it; without it I should be tried in a court of justice becauseI did not raise the alarm. Thrust it into my mouth, my lord, thrust itin. "

Grimaud prepared to comply with this request, when the officer made asign as if he had something to say. 

"Speak, " said the duke. 

"Now, my lord, do not forget, if any harm happens to me on your account, that I have a wife and four children. "

"Rest assured; put the gag in, Grimaud. "

In a second La Ramee was gagged and laid prostrate. Two or three chairswere thrown down as if there had been a struggle. Grimaud then took fromthe pocket of the officer all the keys it contained and first opened thedoor of the room in which they were, then shut it and double-locked it, and both he and the duke proceeded rapidly down the gallery which ledto the little inclosure. At last they reached the tennis court. It wascompletely deserted. No sentinels, no one at any of the windows. Theduke ran to the rampart and perceived on the other side of the ditch, three cavaliers with two riding horses. The duke exchanged a signal withthem. It was indeed for him that they were there. 

Grimaud, meantime, undid the means of escape. 

This was not, however, a rope ladder, but a ball of silk cord, witha narrow board which was to pass between the legs, the ball to unwinditself by the weight of the person who sat astride upon the board. 

"Go!" said the duke. 

"First, my lord?" inquired Grimaud. 

"Certainly. If I am caught, I risk nothing but being taken back again toprison. If they catch thee, thou wilt be hung. "

"True, " replied Grimaud. 

And instantly, Grimaud, sitting upon the board as if on horseback, commenced his perilous descent. 

The duke followed him with his eyes, with involuntary terror. He hadgone down about three-quarters of the length of the wall when the cordbroke. Grimaud fell--precipitated into the moat. 

The duke uttered a cry, but Grimaud did not give a single moan. He musthave been dreadfully hurt, for he did not stir from the place where hefell. 

Immediately one of the men who were waiting slipped down into the moat, tied under Grimaud's shoulders the end of a cord, and the remaining two, who held the other end, drew Grimaud to them. 

"Descend, my lord, " said the man in the moat. "There are only fifteenfeet more from the top down here, and the grass is soft. "

The duke had already begun to descend. His task was the more difficult, as there was no board to support him. He was obliged to let himself downby his hands and from a height of fifty feet. But as we have said he wasactive, strong, and full of presence of mind. In less than five minuteshe arrived at the end of the cord. He was then only fifteen feet fromthe ground, as the gentlemen below had told him. He let go the rope andfell upon his feet, without receiving any injury. 

He instantly began to climb up the slope of the moat, on the top ofwhich he met De Rochefort. The other two gentlemen were unknown to him. Grimaud, in a swoon, was tied securely to a horse. 

"Gentlemen, " said the duke, "I will thank you later; now we have not amoment to lose. On, then! on! those who love me, follow me!"

And he jumped on his horse and set off at full gallop, snuffing thefresh air in his triumph and shouting out, with an expression of facewhich it would be impossible to describe:

"Free! free! free!"

24. The timely Arrival of D'Artagnan in Paris. 

At Blois, D'Artagnan received the money paid to him by Mazarin for anyfuture service he might render the cardinal. 

From Blois to Paris was a journey of four days for ordinary travelers, but D'Artagnan arrived on the third day at the Barriere Saint Denis. In turning the corner of the Rue Montmartre, in order to reach the RueTiquetonne and the Hotel de la Chevrette, where he had appointed Porthosto meet him, he saw at one of the windows of the hotel, that friendhimself dressed in a sky-blue waistcoat, embroidered with silver, andgaping, till he showed every one of his white teeth; whilst the peoplepassing by admiringly gazed at this gentleman, so handsome and so rich, who seemed to weary of his riches and his greatness. 

D'Artagnan and Planchet had hardly turned the corner when Porthosrecognized them. 

"Eh! D'Artagnan!" he cried. "Thank God you have come!"

"Eh! good-day, dear friend!" replied D'Artagnan. 

Porthos came down at once to the threshold of the hotel. 

"Ah, my dear friend!" he cried, "what bad stabling for my horses here. "

"Indeed!" said D'Artagnan; "I am most unhappy to hear it, on account ofthose fine animals. "

"And I, also--I was also wretchedly off, " he answered, moving backwardand forward as he spoke; "and had it not been for the hostess, " headded, with his air of vulgar self-complacency, "who is very agreeableand understands a joke, I should have got a lodging elsewhere. "

The pretty Madeleine, who had approached during this colloquy, steppedback and turned pale as death on hearing Porthos's words, for shethought the scene with the Swiss was about to be repeated. But to hergreat surprise D'Artagnan remained perfectly calm, and instead of beingangry he laughed, and said to Porthos:

"Yes, I understand, the air of La Rue Tiquetonne is not like that ofPierrefonds; but console yourself, I will soon conduct you to one muchbetter. "

"When will you do that?"

"Immediately, I hope. "

"Ah! so much the better!"

To that exclamation of Porthos's succeeded a groaning, low and profound, which seemed to come from behind a door. D'Artagnan, who had justdismounted, then saw, outlined against the wall, the enormous stomach ofMousqueton, whose down-drawn mouth emitted sounds of distress. 

"And you, too, my poor Monsieur Mouston, are out of place in this poorhotel, are you not?" asked D'Artagnan, in that rallying tone which mayindicate either compassion or mockery. 

"He finds the cooking detestable, " replied Porthos. 

"Why, then, doesn't he attend to it himself, as at Chantilly?"

"Ah, monsieur, I have not here, as I had there, the ponds of monsieur leprince, where I could catch those beautiful carp, nor the forests ofhis highness to provide me with partridges. As for the cellar, I havesearched every part and poor stuff I found. "

"Monsieur Mouston, " said D'Artagnan, "I should indeed condole with youhad I not at this moment something very pressing to attend to. "

Then taking Porthos aside:

"My dear Du Vallon, " he said, "here you are in full dress mostfortunately, for I am going to take you to the cardinal's. "

"Gracious me! really!" exclaimed Porthos, opening his great wonderingeyes. 

"Yes, my friend. "

"A presentation? indeed!"

"Does that alarm you?"

"No, but it agitates me. "

"Oh! don't be distressed; you have to deal with a cardinal of anotherkind. This one will not oppress you by his dignity. "

"'Tis the same thing--you understand me, D'Artagnan--a court. "

"There's no court now. Alas!"

"The queen!"

"I was going to say, there's no longer a queen. The queen! Rest assured, we shall not see her. "

"And you say that we are going from here to the Palais Royal?"

"Immediately. Only, that there may be no delay, I shall borrow one ofyour horses. "

"Certainly; all the four are at your service. "

"Oh, I need only one of them for the time being. "

"Shall we take our valets?"

"Yes, you may as well take Mousqueton. As to Planchet, he has certainreasons for not going to court. "

"And what are they?"

"Oh, he doesn't stand well with his eminence. "

"Mouston, " said Porthos, "saddle Vulcan and Bayard. "

"And for myself, monsieur, shall I saddle Rustaud?"

"No, take a more stylish horse, Phoebus or Superbe; we are going withsome ceremony. "

"Ah, " said Mousqueton, breathing more freely, "you are only going, then, to make a visit?"

"Oh! yes, of course, Mouston; nothing else. But to avoid risk, putthe pistols in the holsters. You will find mine on my saddle, alreadyloaded. "

Mouston breathed a sigh; he couldn't understand visits of ceremony madeunder arms. 

"Indeed, " said Porthos, looking complacently at his old lackey as hewent away, "you are right, D'Artagnan; Mouston will do; Mouston has avery fine appearance. "

D'Artagnan smiled. 

"But you, my friend--are you not going to change your dress?"

"No, I shall go as I am. This traveling dress will serve to show thecardinal my haste to obey his commands. "

They set out on Vulcan and Bayard, followed by Mousqueton on Phoebus, and arrived at the Palais Royal at about a quarter to seven. The streetswere crowded, for it was the day of Pentecost, and the crowd looked inwonder at these two cavaliers; one as fresh as if he had come out of abandbox, the other so covered with dust that he looked as if he had butjust come off a field of battle. 

Mousqueton also attracted attention; and as the romance of Don Quixotewas then the fashion, they said that he was Sancho, who, after havinglost one master, had found two. 

On reaching the palace, D'Artagnan sent to his eminence the letter inwhich he had been ordered to return without delay. He was soon orderedto the presence of the cardinal. 

"Courage!" he whispered to Porthos, as they proceeded. "Do not beintimidated. Believe me, the eye of the eagle is closed forever. We haveonly the vulture to deal with. Hold yourself as bolt upright as onthe day of the bastion of St. Gervais, and do not bow too low to thisItalian; that might give him a poor idea of you. "

"Good!" answered Porthos. "Good!"

Mazarin was in his study, working at a list of pensions and benefices, of which he was trying to reduce the number. He saw D'Artagnanand Porthos enter with internal pleasure, yet showed no joy in hiscountenance. 

"Ah! you, is it? Monsieur le lieutenant, you have been very prompt. 'Tiswell. Welcome to ye. "

"Thanks, my lord. Here I am at your eminence's service, as well asMonsieur du Vallon, one of my old friends, who used to conceal hisnobility under the name of Porthos. "

Porthos bowed to the cardinal. 

"A magnificent cavalier, " remarked Mazarin. 

Porthos turned his head to the right and to the left, and drew himselfup with a movement full of dignity. 

"The best swordsman in the kingdom, my lord, " said D'Artagnan. 

Porthos bowed to his friend. 

Mazarin was as fond of fine soldiers as, in later times, Frederick ofPrussia used to be. He admired the strong hands, the broad shoulders andthe steady eye of Porthos. He seemed to see before him the salvation ofhis administration and of the kingdom, sculptured in flesh and bone. Heremembered that the old association of musketeers was composed of fourpersons. 

"And your two other friends?" he asked. 

Porthos opened his mouth, thinking it a good opportunity to put in aword in his turn; D'Artagnan checked him by a glance from the corner ofhis eye. 

"They are prevented at this moment, but will join us later. "

Mazarin coughed a little. 

"And this gentleman, being disengaged, takes to the service willingly?"he asked. 

"Yes, my lord, and from pure devotion to the cause, for Monsieur deBracieux is rich. "

"Rich!" said Mazarin, whom that single word always inspired with a greatrespect. 

"Fifty thousand francs a year, " said Porthos. 

These were the first words he had spoken. 

"From pure zeal?" resumed Mazarin, with his artful smile; "from purezeal and devotion then?"

"My lord has, perhaps, no faith in those words?" said D'Artagnan. 

"Have you, Monsieur le Gascon?" asked Mazarin, supporting his elbows onhis desk and his chin on his hands. 

"I, " replied the Gascon, "I believe in devotion as a word at one'sbaptism, for instance, which naturally comes before one's proper name;every one is naturally more or less devout, certainly; but there shouldbe at the end of one's devotion something to gain. "

"And your friend, for instance; what does he expect to have at the endof his devotion?"

"Well, my lord, my friend has three magnificent estates: that ofVallon, at Corbeil; that of Bracieux, in the Soissonais; and that ofPierrefonds, in the Valois. Now, my lord, he would like to have one ofhis three estates erected into a barony. "

"Only that?" said Mazarin, his eyes twinkling with joy on seeing that hecould pay for Porthos's devotion without opening his purse; "only that?That can be managed. "

"I shall be baron!" explained Porthos, stepping forward. 

"I told you so, " said D'Artagnan, checking him with his hand; "and nowhis eminence confirms it. "

"And you, Monsieur D'Artagnan, what do you want?"

"My lord, " said D'Artagnan, "it is twenty years since Cardinal deRichelieu made me lieutenant. "

"Yes, and you would be gratified if Cardinal Mazarin should make youcaptain. "

D'Artagnan bowed. 

"Well, that is not impossible. We will see, gentlemen, we will see. Now, Monsieur de Vallon, " said Mazarin, "what service do you prefer, in thetown or in the country?"

Porthos opened his mouth to reply. 

"My lord, " said D'Artagnan, "Monsieur de Vallon is like me, he prefersservice extraordinary--that is to say, enterprises that are consideredmad and impossible. "

That boastfulness was not displeasing to Mazarin; he fell intomeditation. 

"And yet, " he said, "I must admit that I sent for you to appoint you toquiet service; I have certain apprehensions--well, what is the meaningof that?"

In fact, a great noise was heard in the ante-chamber; at the same timethe door of the study was burst open and a man, covered with dust, rushed into it, exclaiming:

"My lord the cardinal! my lord the cardinal!"

Mazarin thought that some one was going to assassinate him and he drewback, pushing his chair on the castors. D'Artagnan and Porthos moved soas to plant themselves between the person entering and the cardinal. 

"Well, sir, " exclaimed Mazarin, "what's the matter? and why do you rushin here, as if you were about to penetrate a crowded market-place?"

"My lord, " replied the messenger, "I wish to speak to your eminence insecret. I am Monsieur du Poins, an officer in the guards, on duty at thedonjon of Vincennes. "

Mazarin, perceiving by the paleness and agitation of the messenger thathe had something of importance to say, made a sign that D'Artagnan andPorthos should give place. 

D'Artagnan and Porthos withdrew to a corner of the cabinet. 

"Speak, monsieur, speak at once!" said Mazarin "What is the matter?"

"The matter is, my lord, that the Duc de Beaufort has contrived toescape from the Chateau of Vincennes. "

Mazarin uttered a cry and became paler than the man who had brought thenews. He fell back, almost fainting, in his chair. 

"Escaped? Monsieur de Beaufort escaped?"

"My lord, I saw him run off from the top of the terrace. "

"And you did not fire on him?"

"He was out of range. "

"Monsieur de Chavigny--where was he?"

"Absent. "

"And La Ramee?"

"Was found locked up in the prisoner's room, a gag in his mouth and aponiard near him. "

"But the man who was under him?"

"Was an accomplice of the duke's and escaped along with him. "

Mazarin groaned. 

"My lord, " said D'Artagnan, advancing toward the cardinal, "it seems tome that your eminence is losing precious time. It may still be possibleto overtake the prisoner. France is large; the nearest frontier is sixtyleagues distant. "

"And who is to pursue him?" cried Mazarin. 

"I, pardieu!"

"And you would arrest him?"

"Why not?"

"You would arrest the Duc de Beaufort, armed, in the field?"

"If your eminence should order me to arrest the devil, I would seize himby the horns and would bring him in. "

"So would I, " said Porthos. 

"So would you!" said Mazarin, looking with astonishment at those twomen. "But the duke will not yield himself without a furious battle. "

"Very well, " said D'Artagnan, his eyes aflame, "battle! It is a longtime since we have had a battle, eh, Porthos?"

"Battle!" cried Porthos. 

"And you think you can catch him?"

"Yes, if we are better mounted than he. "

"Go then, take what guards you find here, and pursue him. "

"You command us, my lord, to do so?"

"And I sign my orders, " said Mazarin, taking a piece of paper andwriting some lines; "Monsieur du Vallon, your barony is on the back ofthe Duc de Beaufort's horse; you have nothing to do but to overtake it. As for you, my dear lieutenant, I promise you nothing; but if you bringhim back to me, dead or alive, you may ask all you wish. "

"To horse, Porthos!" said D'Artagnan, taking his friend by the hand. 

"Here I am, " smiled Porthos, with his sublime composure. 

They descended the great staircase, taking with them all the guards theyfound on their road, and crying out, "To arms! To arms!" and immediatelyput spur to horse, which set off along the Rue Saint Honore with thespeed of the whirlwind. 

"Well, baron, I promise you some good exercise!" said the Gascon. 

"Yes, my captain. "

As they went, the citizens, awakened, left their doors and the streetdogs followed the cavaliers, barking. At the corner of the CimetiereSaint Jean, D'Artagnan upset a man; it was too insignificant anoccurrence to delay people so eager to get on. The troop continued itscourse as though their steeds had wings. 

Alas! there are no unimportant events in this world and we shall seethat this apparently slight incident came near endangering the monarchy. 

25. An Adventure on the High Road. 

The musketeers rode the whole length of the Faubourg Saint Antoine andof the road to Vincennes, and soon found themselves out of the town, then in a forest and then within sight of a village. 

The horses seemed to become more lively with each successive step; theirnostrils reddened like glowing furnaces. D'Artagnan, freely applyinghis spurs, was in advance of Porthos two feet at the most; Mousquetonfollowed two lengths behind; the guards were scattered according to thevarying excellence of their respective mounts. 

From the top of an eminence D'Artagnan perceived a group of peoplecollected on the other side of the moat, in front of that part of thedonjon which looks toward Saint Maur. He rode on, convinced that in thisdirection he would gain intelligence of the fugitive. In five minutes hehad arrived at the place, where the guards joined him, coming up one byone. 

The several members of that group were much excited. They looked at thecord, still hanging from the loophole and broken at about twenty feetfrom the ground. Their eyes measured the height and they exchangedconjectures. On the top of the wall sentinels went and came with afrightened air. 

A few soldiers, commanded by a sergeant, drove away idlers from theplace where the duke had mounted his horse. D'Artagnan went straight tothe sergeant. 

"My officer, " said the sergeant, "it is not permitted to stop here. "

"That prohibition is not for me, " said D'Artagnan. "Have the fugitivesbeen pursued?"

"Yes, my officer; unfortunately, they are well mounted. "

"How many are there?"

"Four, and a fifth whom they carried away wounded. "

"Four!" said D'Artagnan, looking at Porthos. "Do you hear, baron? Theyare only four!"

A joyous smile lighted Porthos's face. 

"How long a start have they?"

"Two hours and a quarter, my officer. "

"Two hours and a quarter--that is nothing; we are well mounted, are wenot, Porthos?"

Porthos breathed a sigh; he thought of what was in store for his poorhorses. 

"Very good, " said D'Artagnan; "and now in what direction did they setout?"

"That I am forbidden to tell. "

D'Artagnan drew from his pocket a paper. "Order of the king, " he said. 

"Speak to the governor, then. "

"And where is the governor?"

"In the country. "

Anger mounted to D'Artagnan's face; he frowned and his cheeks werecolored. 

"Ah, you scoundrel!" he said to the sergeant, "I believe you areimpudent to me! Wait!"

He unfolded the paper, presented it to the sergeant with one hand andwith the other took a pistol from his holsters and cocked it. 

"Order of the king, I tell you. Read and answer, or I will blow out yourbrains!"

The sergeant saw that D'Artagnan was in earnest. "The Vendomois road, "he replied. 

"And by what gate did they go out?"

"By the Saint Maur gate. "

"If you are deceiving me, rascal, you will be hanged to-morrow. "

"And if you catch up with them you won't come back to hang me, " murmuredthe sergeant. 

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders, made a sign to his escort andstarted. 

"This way, gentlemen, this way!" he cried, directing his course towardthe gate that had been pointed out. 

But, now that the duke had escaped, the concierge had seen fit to fastenthe gate with a double lock. It was necessary to compel him to open it, as the sergeant had been compelled to speak, and this took another tenminutes. This last obstacle having been overcome, the troop pursuedtheir course with their accustomed ardor; but some of the horses couldno longer sustain this pace; three of them stopped after an hour'sgallop, and one fell down. 

D'Artagnan, who never turned his head, did not perceive it. Porthos toldhim of it in his calm manner. 

"If only we two arrive, " said D'Artagnan, "it will be enough, since theduke's troop are only four in number. "

"That is true, " said Porthos

And he spurred his courser on. 

At the end of another two hours the horses had gone twelve leagueswithout stopping; their legs began to tremble, and the foam they shedwhitened the doublets of their masters. 

"Let us rest here an instant to give these poor creatures breathingtime, " said Porthos. 

"Let us rather kill them! yes, kill them!" cried D'Artagnan; "I seefresh tracks; 'tis not a quarter of an hour since they passed thisplace. "

In fact, the road was trodden by horses' feet, visible even in theapproaching gloom of evening. 

They set out; after a run of two leagues, Mousqueton's horse sank. 

"Gracious me!" said Porthos, "there's Phoebus ruined. "

"The cardinal will pay you a hundred pistoles. "

"I'm above that. "

"Let us set out again, at full gallop. "

"Yes, if we can. "

But at last the lieutenant's horse refused to go on; he could notbreathe; one last spur, instead of making him advance, made him fall. 

"The devil!" exclaimed Porthos; "there's Vulcan foundered. "

"Zounds!" cried D'Artagnan, "then we must stop! Give me your horse, Porthos. What the devil are you doing?"

"By Jove, I am falling, or rather, Bayard is falling, " answered Porthos. 

All three then cried: "All's over. "

"Hush!" said D'Artagnan. 

"What is it?"

"I hear a horse. "

"It belongs to one of our companions, who is overtaking us. "

"No, " said D'Artagnan, "it is in advance. "

"That is another thing, " said Porthos; and he listened toward thequarter indicated by D'Artagnan. 

"Monsieur, " said Mousqueton, who, abandoning his horse on the high road, had come on foot to rejoin his master, "Phoebus could no longer hold outand----"

"Silence!" said Porthos. 

In fact, at that moment a second neighing was borne to them on the nightwind. 

"It is five hundred feet from here, in advance, " said D'Artagnan. 

"True, monsieur, " said Mousqueton; "and five hundred feet from here is asmall hunting-house. "

"Mousqueton, thy pistols, " said D'Artagnan. 

"I have them at hand, monsieur. "

"Porthos, take yours from your holsters. "

"I have them. "

"Good!" said D'Artagnan, seizing his own; "now you understand, Porthos?"

"Not too well. "

"We are out on the king's service. "

"Well?"

"For the king's service we need horses. "

"That is true, " said Porthos. 

"Then not a word, but set to work!"

They went on through the darkness, silent as phantoms; they saw a lightglimmering in the midst of some trees. 

"Yonder is the house, Porthos, " said the Gascon; "let me do what Iplease and do you what I do. "

They glided from tree to tree till they arrived at twenty steps from thehouse unperceived and saw by means of a lantern suspended under a hut, four fine horses. A groom was rubbing them down; near them were saddlesand bridles. 

D'Artagnan approached quickly, making a sign to his two companions toremain a few steps behind. 

"I buy those horses, " he said to the groom. 

The groom turned toward him with a look of surprise, but made no reply. 

"Didn't you hear, fellow?"

"Yes, I heard. "

"Why, then, didn't you reply?"

"Because these horses are not to be sold, " was the reply. 

"I take them, then, " said the lieutenant. 

And he took hold of one within his reach; his two companions did thesame thing. 

"Sir, " cried the groom, "they have traversed six leagues and have onlybeen unsaddled half an hour. "

"Half an hour's rest is enough, " replied the Gascon. 

The groom cried aloud for help. A kind of steward appeared, just asD'Artagnan and his companions were prepared to mount. The stewardattempted to expostulate. 

"My dear friend, " cried the lieutenant, "if you say a word I will blowout your brains. "

"But, sir, " answered the steward, "do you know that these horses belongto Monsieur de Montbazon?"

"So much the better; they must be good animals, then. "

"Sir, I shall call my people. "

"And I, mine; I've ten guards behind me, don't you hear them gallop? andI'm one of the king's musketeers. Come, Porthos; come, Mousqueton. "

They all mounted the horses as quickly as possible. 

"Halloo! hi! hi!" cried the steward; "the house servants, with thecarbines!"

"On! on!" cried D'Artagnan; "there'll be firing! on!"

They all set off, swift as the wind. 

"Here!" cried the steward, "here!" whilst the groom ran to a neighboringbuilding. 

"Take care of your horses!" cried D'Artagnan to him. 

"Fire!" replied the steward. 

A gleam, like a flash of lightning, illumined the road, and with theflash was heard the whistling of balls, which were fired wildly in theair. 

"They fire like grooms, " said Porthos. "In the time of the cardinalpeople fired better than that, do you remember the road to Crevecoeur, Mousqueton?"

"Ah, sir! my left side still pains me!"

"Are you sure we are on the right track, lieutenant?"

"Egad, didn't you hear? these horses belong to Monsieur de Montbazon;well, Monsieur de Montbazon is the husband of Madame de Montbazon----"

"And----"

"And Madame de Montbazon is the mistress of the Duc de Beaufort. "

"Ah! I understand, " replied Porthos; "she has ordered relays of horses. "

"Exactly so. "

"And we are pursuing the duke with the very horses he has just left?"

"My dear Porthos, you are really a man of most superior understanding, "said D'Artagnan, with a look as if he spoke against his conviction. 

"Pooh!" replied Porthos, "I am what I am. "

They rode on for an hour, till the horses were covered with foam anddust. 

"Zounds! what is yonder?" cried D'Artagnan. 

"You are very lucky if you see anything such a night as this, " saidPorthos. 

"Something bright. "

"I, too, " cried Mousqueton, "saw them also. "

"Ah! ah! have we overtaken them?"

"Good! a dead horse!" said D'Artagnan, pulling up his horse, whichshied; "it seems their horses, too, are breaking down, as well as ours. "

"I seem to hear the noise of a troop of horsemen, " exclaimed Porthos, leaning over his horse's mane. 

"Impossible. "

"They appear to be numerous. "

"Then 'tis something else. "

"Another horse!" said Porthos. 

"Dead?"

"No, dying. "

"Saddled?"

"Yes, saddled and bridled. "

"Then we are upon the fugitives. "

"Courage, we have them!"

"But if they are numerous, " observed Mousqueton, "'tis not we who havethem, but they who have us. "

"Nonsense!" cried D'Artagnan, "they'll suppose us to be stronger thanthemselves, as we're in pursuit; they'll be afraid and will disperse. "

"Certainly, " remarked Porthos. 

"Ah! do you see?" cried the lieutenant. 

"The lights again! this time I, too, saw them, " said Porthos. 

"On! on! forward! forward!" cried D'Artagnan, in his stentorian voice;"we shall laugh over all this in five minutes. "

And they darted on anew. The horses, excited by pain and emulation, raced over the dark road, in the midst of which was now seen a movingmass, denser and more obscure than the rest of the horizon. 

26. The Rencontre. 

They rode on in this way for ten minutes. Suddenly two dark forms seemedto separate from the mass, advanced, grew in size, and as they loomed uplarger and larger, assumed the appearance of two horsemen. 

"Aha!" cried D'Artagnan, "they're coming toward us. "

"So much the worse for them, " said Porthos. 

"Who goes there?" cried a hoarse voice. 

The three horsemen made no reply, stopped not, and all that was heardwas the noise of swords drawn from the scabbards and the cocking of thepistols with which the two phantoms were armed. 

"Bridle in mouth!" said D'Artagnan. 

Porthos understood him and he and the lieutenant each drew with the lefthand a pistol from their bolsters and cocked it in their turn. 

"Who goes there?" was asked a second time. "Not a step forward, oryou're dead men. "

"Stuff!" cried Porthos, almost choked with dust and chewing his bridleas a horse chews his bit. "Stuff and nonsense; we have seen plenty ofdead men in our time. "

Hearing these words, the two shadows blockaded the road and by the lightof the stars might be seen the shining of their arms. 

"Back!" shouted D'Artagnan, "or you are dead!"

Two shots were the reply to this threat; but the assailants attackedtheir foes with such velocity that in a moment they were upon them;a third pistol-shot was heard, aimed by D'Artagnan, and one of hisadversaries fell. As for Porthos, he assaulted the foe with suchviolence that, although his sword was thrust aside, the enemy was thrownoff his horse and fell about ten steps from it. 

"Finish, Mouston, finish the work!" cried Porthos. And he darted onbeside his friend, who had already begun a fresh pursuit. 

"Well?" said Porthos. 

"I've broken my man's skull, " cried D'Artagnan. "And you----"

"I've only thrown the fellow down, but hark!"

Another shot of a carbine was heard. It was Mousqueton, who was obeyinghis master's command. 

"On! on!" cried D'Artagnan; "all goes well! we have the first throw. "

"Ha! ha!" answered Porthos, "behold, other players appear. "

And in fact, two other cavaliers made their appearance, detached, as itseemed, from the principal group; they again disputed the road. 

This time the lieutenant did not wait for the opposite party to speak. 

"Stand aside!" he cried; "stand off the road!"

"What do you want?" asked a voice. 

"The duke!" Porthos and D'Artagnan roared out both at once. 

A burst of laughter was the answer, but finished with a groan. D'Artagnan had, with his sword, cut in two the poor wretch who hadlaughed. 

At the same time Porthos and his adversary fired on each other andD'Artagnan turned to him. 

"Bravo! you've killed him, I think. "

"No, wounded his horse only. "

"What would you have, my dear fellow? One doesn't hit the bull's-eyeevery time; it is something to hit inside the ring. Ho! parbleau! whatis the matter with my horse?"

"Your horse is falling, " said Porthos, reining in his own. 

In truth, the lieutenant's horse stumbled and fell on his knees; then arattling in his throat was heard and he lay down to die. He had receivedin the chest the bullet of D'Artagnan's first adversary. D'Artagnanswore loud enough to be heard in the skies. 

"Does your honor want a horse?" asked Mousqueton. 

"Zounds! want one!" cried the Gascon. 

"Here's one, your honor----"

"How the devil hast thou two horses?" asked D'Artagnan, jumping on oneof them. 

"Their masters are dead! I thought they might be useful, so I tookthem. "

Meantime Porthos had reloaded his pistols. 

"Be on the qui vive!" cried D'Artagnan. "Here are two other cavaliers. "

As he spoke, two horsemen advanced at full speed. 

"Ho! your honor!" cried Mousqueton, "the man you upset is getting up. "

"Why didn't thou do as thou didst to the first man?" said Porthos. 

"I held the horses, my hands were full, your honor. "

A shot was fired that moment; Mousqueton shrieked with pain. 

"Ah, sir! I'm hit in the other side! exactly opposite the other! Thishurt is just the fellow of the one I had on the road to Amiens. "

Porthos turned around like a lion, plunged on the dismounted cavalier, who tried to draw his sword; but before it was out of the scabbard, Porthos, with the hilt of his had struck him such a terrible blow on thehead that he fell like an ox beneath the butcher's knife. 

Mousqueton, groaning, slipped from his horse, his wound not allowing himto keep the saddle. 

On perceiving the cavaliers, D'Artagnan had stopped and charged hispistol afresh; besides, his horse, he found, had a carbine on the bow ofthe saddle. 

"Here I am!" exclaimed Porthos. "Shall we wait, or shall we charge?"

"Let us charge them, " answered the Gascon. 

"Charge!" cried Porthos. 

They spurred on their horses; the other cavaliers were only twenty stepsfrom them. 

"For the king!" cried D'Artagnan. 

"The king has no authority here!" answered a deep voice, which seemedto proceed from a cloud, so enveloped was the cavalier in a whirlwind ofdust. 

"'Tis well, we will see if the king's name is not a passporteverywhere, " replied the Gascon. 

"See!" answered the voice. 

Two shots were fired at once, one by D'Artagnan, the other by theadversary of Porthos. D'Artagnan's ball took off his enemy's hat. Theball fired by Porthos's foe went through the throat of his horse, whichfell, groaning. 

"For the last time, where are you going?"

"To the devil!" answered D'Artagnan. 

"Good! you may be easy, then--you'll get there. "

D'Artagnan then saw a musket-barrel leveled at him; he had no time todraw from his holsters. He recalled a bit of advice which Athos had oncegiven him, and made his horse rear. 

The ball struck the animal full in front. D'Artagnan felt his horsegiving way under him and with his wonderful agility threw himself to oneside. 

"Ah! this, " cried the voice, the tone of which was at once polishedand jeering, "this is nothing but a butchery of horses and not a combatbetween men. To the sword, sir! the sword!"

And he jumped off his horse. 

"To the swords! be it so!" replied D'Artagnan; "that is exactly what Iwant. "

D'Artagnan, in two steps, was engaged with the foe, whom, according tocustom, he attacked impetuously, but he met this time with a skill and astrength of arm that gave him pause. Twice he was obliged to stepback; his opponent stirred not one inch. D'Artagnan returned and againattacked him. 

Twice or thrice thrusts were attempted on both sides, without effect;sparks were emitted from the swords like water spouting forth. 

At last D'Artagnan thought it was time to try one of his favorite feintsin fencing. He brought it to bear, skillfully executed it with therapidity of lightning, and struck the blow with a force which he fanciedwould prove irresistible. 

The blow was parried. 

"'Sdeath!" he cried, with his Gascon accent. 

At this exclamation his adversary bounded back and, bending his barehead, tried to distinguish in the gloom the features of the lieutenant. 

As to D'Artagnan, afraid of some feint, he still stood on the defensive. 

"Have a care, " cried Porthos to his opponent; "I've still two pistolscharged. "

"The more reason you should fire the first!" cried his foe. 

Porthos fired; the flash threw a gleam of light over the field ofbattle. 

As the light shone on them a cry was heard from the other twocombatants. 

"Athos!" exclaimed D'Artagnan. 

"D'Artagnan!" ejaculated Athos. 

Athos raised his sword; D'Artagnan lowered his. 

"Aramis!" cried Athos, "don't fire!"

"Ah! ha! is it you, Aramis?" said Porthos. 

And he threw away his pistol. 

Aramis pushed his back into his saddle-bags and sheathed his sword. 

"My son!" exclaimed Athos, extending his hand to D'Artagnan. 

This was the name which he gave him in former days, in their moments oftender intimacy. 

"Athos!" cried D'Artagnan, wringing his hands. "So you defend him! AndI, who have sworn to take him dead or alive, I am dishonored--and byyou!"

"Kill me!" replied Athos, uncovering his breast, "if your honor requiresmy death. "

"Oh! woe is me! woe is me!" cried the lieutenant; "there's only one manin the world who could stay my hand; by a fatality that very man bars myway. What shall I say to the cardinal?"

"You can tell him, sir, " answered a voice which was the voice of highcommand in the battle-field, "that he sent against me the only twomen capable of getting the better of four men; of fighting man to man, without discomfiture, against the Comte de la Fere and the Chevalierd'Herblay, and of surrendering only to fifty men!

"The prince!" exclaimed at the same moment Athos and Aramis, unmaskingas they addressed the Duc de Beaufort, whilst D'Artagnan and Porthosstepped backward. 

"Fifty cavaliers!" cried the Gascon and Porthos. 

"Look around you, gentlemen, if you doubt the fact, " said the duke. 

The two friends looked to the right, to the left; they were encompassedby a troop of horsemen. 

"Hearing the noise of the fight, " resumed the duke, "I fancied you hadabout twenty men with you, so I came back with those around me, tired ofalways running away, and wishing to draw my sword in my own cause; butyou are only two. "

"Yes, my lord; but, as you have said, two that are a match for twenty, "said Athos. 

"Come, gentlemen, your swords, " said the duke. 

"Our swords!" cried D'Artagnan, raising his head and regaining hisself-possession. "Never!"

"Never!" added Porthos. 

Some of the men moved toward them. 

"One moment, my lord, " whispered Athos, and he said something in a lowvoice. 

"As you will, " replied the duke. "I am too much indebted to you torefuse your first request. Gentlemen, " he said to his escort, "withdraw. Monsieur d'Artagnan, Monsieur du Vallon, you are free. "

The order was obeyed; D'Artagnan and Porthos then found themselves inthe centre of a large circle. 

"Now, D'Herblay, " said Athos, "dismount and come here. "

Aramis dismounted and went to Porthos, whilst Athos approachedD'Artagnan. 

All four once more together. 

"Friends!" said Athos, "do you regret you have not shed our blood?"

"No, " replied D'Artagnan; "I regret to see that we, hitherto united, areopposed to each other. Ah! nothing will ever go well with us hereafter!"

"Oh, Heaven! No, all is over!" said Porthos. 

"Well, be on our side now, " resumed Aramis. 

"Silence, D'Herblay!" cried Athos; "such proposals are not to be made togentlemen such as these. 'Tis a matter of conscience with them, as withus. "

"Meantime, here we are, enemies!" said Porthos. "Gramercy! who wouldever have thought it?"

D'Artagnan only sighed. 

Athos looked at them both and took their hands in his. 

"Gentlemen, " he said, "this is a serious business and my heart bleeds asif you had pierced it through and through. Yes, we are severed; there isthe great, the distressing truth! But we have not as yet declared war;perhaps we shall have to make certain conditions, therefore a solemnconference is indispensable. "

"For my own part, I demand it, " said Aramis. 

"I accept it, " interposed D'Artagnan, proudly. 

Porthos bowed, as if in assent. 

"Let us choose a place of rendezvous, " continued Athos, "and in a lastinterview arrange our mutual position and the conduct we are to maintaintoward each other. "

"Good!" the other three exclaimed. 

"Well, then, the place?"

"Will the Place Royale suit you?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"In Paris?"

"Yes. "

Athos and Aramis looked at each other. 

"The Place Royale--be it so!" replied Athos. 

"When?"

"To-morrow evening, if you like!"

"At what hour?"

"At ten in the evening, if that suits you; by that time we shall havereturned. "

"Good. "

"There, " continued Athos, "either peace or war will be decided; honor, at all events, will be maintained!"

"Alas!" murmured D'Artagnan, "our honor as soldiers is lost to usforever!"

"D'Artagnan, " said Athos, gravely, "I assure you that you do me wrong indwelling so upon that. What I think of is, that we have crossed swordsas enemies. Yes, " he continued, sadly shaking his head, "Yes, it is asyou said, misfortune, indeed, has overtaken us. Come, Aramis. "

"And we, Porthos, " said D'Artagnan, "will return, carrying our shame tothe cardinal. "

"And tell him, " cried a voice, "that I am not too old yet for a man ofaction. "

D'Artagnan recognized the voice of De Rochefort. 

"Can I do anything for you, gentlemen?" asked the duke. 

"Bear witness that we have done all that we could. "

"That shall be testified to, rest assured. Adieu! we shall meet soon, I trust, in Paris, where you shall have your revenge. " The duke, as hespoke, kissed his hand, spurred his horse into a gallop and disappeared, followed by his troop, who were soon lost in distance and darkness. 

D'Artagnan and Porthos were now alone with a man who held by the bridlestwo horses; they thought it was Mousqueton and went up to him. 

"What do I see?" cried the lieutenant. "Grimaud, is it thou?"

Grimaud signified that he was not mistaken. 

"And whose horses are these?" cried D'Artagnan. 

"Who has given them to us?" said Porthos. 

"The Comte de la Fere. "

"Athos! Athos!" muttered D'Artagnan; "you think of every one; you areindeed a nobleman! Whither art thou going, Grimaud?"

"To join the Vicomte de Bragelonne in Flanders, your honor. "

They were taking the road toward Paris, when groans, which seemed toproceed from a ditch, attracted their attention. 

"What is that?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"It is I--Mousqueton, " said a mournful voice, whilst a sort of shadowarose out of the side of the road. 

Porthos ran to him. "Art thou dangerously wounded, my dear Mousqueton?"he said. 

"No, sir, but I am severely. "

"What can we do?" said D'Artagnan; "we must return to Paris. "

"I will take care of Mousqueton, " said Grimaud; and he gave his arm tohis old comrade, whose eyes were full of tears, nor could Grimaud tellwhether the tears were caused by wounds or by the pleasure of seeing himagain. 

D'Artagnan and Porthos went on, meantime, to Paris. They were passed bya sort of courier, covered with dust, the bearer of a letter from theduke to the cardinal, giving testimony to the valor of D'Artagnan andPorthos. 

Mazarin had passed a very bad night when this letter was brought to him, announcing that the duke was free and that he would henceforth raise upmortal strife against him. 

"What consoles me, " said the cardinal after reading the letter, "isthat, at least, in this chase, D'Artagnan has done me one good turn--hehas destroyed Broussel. This Gascon is a precious fellow; even hismisadventures are of use. "

The cardinal referred to that man whom D'Artagnan upset at the cornerof the Cimetiere Saint Jean in Paris, and who was no other than theCouncillor Broussel. 

27. The four old Friends prepare to meet again. 

"Well, " said Porthos, seated in the courtyard of the Hotel de laChevrette, to D'Artagnan, who, with a long and melancholy face, hadreturned from the Palais Royal; "did he receive you ungraciously, mydear friend?"

"I'faith, yes! a brute, that cardinal. What are you eating there, Porthos?"

"I am dipping a biscuit in a glass of Spanish wine; do the same. "

"You are right. Gimblou, a glass of wine. "

"Well, how has all gone off?"

"Zounds! you know there's only one way of saying things, so I went inand said, 'My lord, we were not the strongest party. '

"'Yes, I know that, ' he said, 'but give me the particulars. '

"You know, Porthos, I could not give him the particulars without namingour friends; to name them would be to commit them to ruin, so I merelysaid they were fifty and we were two. 

"'There was firing, nevertheless, I heard, ' he said; 'and yourswords--they saw the light of day, I presume?'

"'That is, the night, my lord, ' I answered. 

"'Ah!' cried the cardinal, 'I thought you were a Gascon, my friend?'

"'I am a Gascon, ' said I, 'only when I succeed. ' The answer pleased himand he laughed. 

"'That will teach me, ' he said, 'to have my guards provided with betterhorses; for if they had been able to keep up with you and if each one ofthem had done as much as you and your friend, you would have kept yourword and would have brought him back to me dead or alive. '"

"Well, there's nothing bad in that, it seems to me, " said Porthos. 

"Oh, mon Dieu! no, nothing at all. It was the way in which he spoke. It is incredible how these biscuit soak up wine! They are veritablesponges! Gimblou, another bottle. "

The bottle was brought with a promptness which showed the degree ofconsideration D'Artagnan enjoyed in the establishment. He continued:

"So I was going away, but he called me back. 

"'You have had three horses foundered or killed?' he asked me. 

"'Yes, my lord. '

"'How much were they worth?'"

"Why, " said Porthos, "that was very good of him, it seems to me. "

"'A thousand pistoles, ' I said. "

"A thousand pistoles!" Porthos exclaimed. "Oh! oh! that is a large sum. If he knew anything about horses he would dispute the price. "

"Faith! he was very much inclined to do so, the contemptible fellow. He made a great start and looked at me. I also looked at him; thenhe understood, and putting his hand into a drawer, he took from it aquantity of notes on a bank in Lyons. "

"For a thousand pistoles?"

"For a thousand pistoles--just that amount, the beggar; not one toomany. "

"And you have them?"

"They are here. "

"Upon my word, I think he acted very generously. "

"Generously! to men who had risked their lives for him, and besides haddone him a great service?"

"A great service--what was that?"

"Why, it seems that I crushed for him a parliament councillor. "

"What! that little man in black that you upset at the corner of SaintJean Cemetery?"

"That's the man, my dear fellow; he was an annoyance to the cardinal. Unfortunately, I didn't crush him flat. It seems that he came to himselfand that he will continue to be an annoyance. "

"See that, now!" said Porthos; "and I turned my horse aside from goingplump on to him! That will be for another time. "

"He owed me for the councillor, the pettifogger!"

"But, " said Porthos, "if he was not crushed completely----"

"Ah! Monsieur de Richelieu would have said, 'Five hundred crowns forthe councillor. ' Well, let's say no more about it. How much were youranimals worth, Porthos?"

"Ah, if poor Mousqueton were here he could tell you to a fraction. "

"No matter; you can tell within ten crowns. "

"Why, Vulcan and Bayard cost me each about two hundred pistoles, andputting Phoebus at a hundred and fifty, we should be pretty near theamount. "

"There will remain, then, four hundred and fifty pistoles, " saidD'Artagnan, contentedly. 

"Yes, " said Porthos, "but there are the equipments. "

"That is very true. Well, how much for the equipments?"

"If we say one hundred pistoles for the three----"

"Good for the hundred pistoles; there remains, then, three hundred andfifty. "

Porthos made a sign of assent. 

"We will give the fifty pistoles to the hostess for our expenses, " saidD'Artagnan, "and share the three hundred. "

"We will share, " said Porthos. 

"A paltry piece of business!" murmured D'Artagnan crumpling his note. 

"Pooh!" said Porthos, "it is always that. But tell me----"

"What?"

"Didn't he speak of me in any way?"

"Ah! yes, indeed!" cried D'Artagnan, who was afraid of disheartening hisfriend by telling him that the cardinal had not breathed a word abouthim; "yes, surely, he said----"

"He said?" resumed Porthos. 

"Stop, I want to remember his exact words. He said, 'As to your friend, tell him he may sleep in peace. '"

"Good, very good, " said Porthos; "that signified as clear as daylightthat he still intends to make me a baron. "

At this moment nine o'clock struck. D'Artagnan started. 

"Ah, yes, " said Porthos, "there is nine o'clock. We have a rendezvous, you remember, at the Place Royale. "

"Ah! stop! hold your peace, Porthos, don't remind me of it; 'tis thatwhich has made me so cross since yesterday. I shall not go. "

"Why?" asked Porthos. 

"Because it is a grievous thing for me to meet again those two men whocaused the failure of our enterprise. "

"And yet, " said Porthos, "neither of them had any advantage over us. Istill had a loaded pistol and you were in full fight, sword in hand. "

"Yes, " said D'Artagnan; "but what if this rendezvous had some hiddenpurpose?"

"Oh!" said Porthos, "you can't think that, D'Artagnan!"

D'Artagnan did not believe Athos to be capable of a deception, but hesought an excuse for not going to the rendezvous. 

"We must go, " said the superb lord of Bracieux, "lest they should say wewere afraid. We who have faced fifty foes on the high road can well meettwo in the Place Royale. "

"Yes, yes, but they took part with the princes without apprising usof it. Athos and Aramis have played a game with me which alarms me. Wediscovered yesterday the truth; what is the use of going to-day to learnsomething else?"

"You really have some distrust, then?" said Porthos. 

"Of Aramis, yes, since he has become an abbe. You can't imagine, my dearfellow, the sort of man he is. He sees us on the road which leads him toa bishopric, and perhaps will not be sorry to get us out of his way. "

"Ah, as regards Aramis, that is another thing, " said Porthos, "and itwouldn't surprise me at all. "

"Perhaps Monsieur de Beaufort will try, in his turn, to lay hands onus. "

"Nonsense! He had us in his power and he let us go. Besides we can beon our guard; let us take arms, let Planchet post himself behind us withhis carbine. "

"Planchet is a Frondeur, " answered D'Artagnan. 

"Devil take these civil wars! one can no more now reckon on one'sfriends than on one's footmen, " said Porthos. "Ah! if Mousqueton werehere! there's a fellow who will never desert me!"

"So long as you are rich! Ah! my friend! 'tis not civil war thatdisunites us. It is that we are each of us twenty years older; it isthat the honest emotions of youth have given place to suggestions ofinterest, whispers of ambition, counsels of selfishness. Yes, you areright; let us go, Porthos, but let us go well armed; were we not to keepthe rendezvous, they would declare we were afraid. Halloo! Planchet!here! saddle our horses, take your carbine. "

"Whom are we going to attack, sir?"

"No one; a mere matter of precaution, " answered the Gascon. 

"You know, sir, that they wished to murder that good councillor, Broussel, the father of the people?"

"Really, did they?" said D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, but he has been avenged. He was carried home in the arms of thepeople. His house has been full ever since. He has received visits fromthe coadjutor, from Madame de Longueville, and the Prince de Conti;Madame de Chevreuse and Madame de Vendome have left their names at hisdoor. And now, whenever he wishes----"

"Well, whenever he wishes?"

Planchet began to sing:

 "Un vent de fronde S'est leve ce matin; Je crois qu'il gronde Contre le Mazarin. Un vent de fronde S'est leve ce matin. "

"It doesn't surprise me, " said D'Artagnan, in a low tone to Porthos, "that Mazarin would have been much better satisfied had I crushed thelife out of his councillor. "

"You understand, then, monsieur, " resumed Planchet, "that if it were forsome enterprise like that undertaken against Monsieur Broussel that youshould ask me to take my carbine----"

"No, don't be alarmed; but where did you get all these details?"

"From a good source, sir; I heard it from Friquet. "

"From Friquet? I know that name----"

"A son of Monsieur de Broussel's servant, and a lad that, I promise you, in a revolt will not give away his share to the dogs. "

"Is he not a singing boy at Notre Dame?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, that is the very boy; he's patronized by Bazin. "

"Ah, yes, I know. "

"Of what importance is this little reptile to you?" asked Porthos. 

"Gad!" replied D'Artagnan; "he has already given me good information andhe may do the same again. "

Whilst all this was going on, Athos and Aramis were entering Paris bythe Faubourg St. Antoine. They had taken some refreshment on the roadand hastened on, that they might not fail at the appointed place. Bazinwas their only attendant, for Grimaud had stayed behind to take care ofMousqueton. As they were passing onward, Athos proposed that they shouldlay aside their arms and military costume, and assume a dress moresuited to the city. 

"Oh, no, dear count!" cried Aramis, "is it not a warlike encounter thatwe are going to?"

"What do you mean, Aramis?"

"That the Place Royale is the termination to the main road to Vendomois, and nothing else. "

"What! our friends?"

"Are become our most dangerous enemies, Athos. Let us be on our guard. "

"Oh! my dear D'Herblay!"

"Who can say whether D'Artagnan may not have betrayed us to thecardinal? who can tell whether Mazarin may not take advantage of thisrendezvous to seize us?"

"What! Aramis, you think that D'Artagnan, that Porthos, would lend theirhands to such an infamy?"

"Among friends, my dear Athos, no, you are right; but among enemies itwould be only a stratagem. "

Athos crossed his arms and bowed his noble head. 

"What can you expect, Athos? Men are so made; and we are not alwaystwenty years old. We have cruelly wounded, as you know, that personalpride by which D'Artagnan is blindly governed. He has been beaten. Didyou not observe his despair on the journey? As to Porthos, his baronywas perhaps dependent on that affair. Well, he found us on his roadand will not be baron this time. Perhaps that famous barony willhave something to do with our interview this evening. Let us take ourprecautions, Athos. "

"But suppose they come unarmed? What a disgrace to us. "

"Oh, never fear! besides, if they do, we can easily make an excuse; wecame straight off a journey and are insurgents, too. "

"An excuse for us! to meet D'Artagnan with a false excuse! to have tomake a false excuse to Porthos! Oh, Aramis!" continued Athos, shakinghis head mournfully, "upon my soul, you make me the most miserableof men; you disenchant a heart not wholly dead to friendship. Go inwhatever guise you choose; for my part, I shall go unarmed. "

"No, for I will not allow you to do so. 'Tis not one man, not Athosonly, not the Comte de la Fere whom you will ruin by this amiableweakness, but a whole party to whom you belong and who depend upon you. "

"Be it so then, " replied Athos, sorrowfully. 

And they pursued their road in mournful silence. 

Scarcely had they reached by the Rue de la Mule the iron gate of thePlace Royale, when they perceived three cavaliers, D'Artagnan, Porthos, and Planchet, the two former wrapped up in their military cloaks underwhich their swords were hidden, and Planchet, his musket by his side. They were waiting at the entrance of the Rue Sainte Catharine, andtheir horses were fastened to the rings of the arcade. Athos, therefore, commanded Bazin to fasten up his horse and that of Aramis in the samemanner. 

They then advanced two and two, and saluted each other politely. 

"Now where will it be agreeable to you that we hold our conference?"inquired Aramis, perceiving that people were stopping to look at them, supposing that they were going to engage in one of those far-famedduels still extant in the memory of the Parisians, and especially theinhabitants of the Place Royale. 

"The gate is shut, " said Aramis, "but if these gentlemen like a coolretreat under the trees, and perfect seclusion, I will get the key fromthe Hotel de Rohan and we shall be well suited. "

D'Artagnan darted a look into the obscurity of the Place. Porthosventured to put his head between the railings, to try if his glancecould penetrate the gloom. 

"If you prefer any other place, " said Athos, in his persuasive voice, "choose for yourselves. "

"This place, if Monsieur d'Herblay can procure the key, is the best thatwe can have, " was the answer. 

Aramis went off at once, begging Athos not to remain alone within reachof D'Artagnan and Porthos; a piece of advice which was received with acontemptuous smile. 

Aramis returned soon with a man from the Hotel de Rohan, who was sayingto him:

"You swear, sir, that it is not so?"

"Stop, " and Aramis gave him a louis d'or. 

"Ah! you will not swear, my master, " said the concierge, shaking hishead. 

"Well, one can never say what may happen; at present we and thesegentlemen are excellent friends. "

"Yes, certainly, " added Athos and the other two. 

D'Artagnan had heard the conversation and had understood it. 

"You see?" he said to Porthos. 

"What do I see?"

"That he wouldn't swear. "

"Swear what?"

"That man wanted Aramis to swear that we are not going to the PlaceRoyale to fight. "

"And Aramis wouldn't swear?"

"No. "

"Attention, then!"

Athos did not lose sight of the two speakers. Aramis opened the gateand faced around in order that D'Artagnan and Porthos might enter. Inpassing through the gate, the hilt of the lieutenant's sword was caughtin the grating and he was obliged to pull off his cloak; in doing so heshowed the butt end of his pistols and a ray of the moon was reflectedon the shining metal. 

"Do you see?" whispered Aramis to Athos, touching his shoulder with onehand and pointing with the other to the arms which the Gascon wore underhis belt. 

"Alas! I do!" replied Athos, with a deep sigh. 

He entered third, and Aramis, who shut the gate after him, last. Thetwo serving-men waited without; but as if they likewise mistrusted eachother, they kept their respective distances. 

28. The Place Royale. 

They proceeded silently to the centre of the Place, but as at this verymoment the moon had just emerged from behind a cloud, they thought theymight be observed if they remained on that spot and therefore regainedthe shade of the lime-trees. 

There were benches here and there; the four gentlemen stopped near them;at a sign from Athos, Porthos and D'Artagnan sat down, the two othersstood in front of them. 

After a few minutes of silent embarrassment, Athos spoke. 

"Gentlemen, " he said, "our presence here is the best proof of formerfriendship; not one of us has failed the others at this rendezvous; notone has, therefore, to reproach himself. "

"Hear me, count, " replied D'Artagnan; "instead of making compliments toeach other, let us explain our conduct to each other, like men of rightand honest hearts. "

"I wish for nothing more; have you any cause of complaint against me orMonsieur d'Herblay? If so, speak out, " answered Athos. 

"I have, " replied D'Artagnan. "When I saw you at your chateau atBragelonne, I made certain proposals to you which you perfectlyunderstood; instead of answering me as a friend, you played with me asa child; the friendship, therefore, that you boast of was not brokenyesterday by the shock of swords, but by your dissimulation at yourcastle. "

"D'Artagnan!" said Athos, reproachfully. 

"You asked for candor and you have it. You ask what I have against you;I tell you. And I have the same sincerity to show you, if you wish, Monsieur d'Herblay; I acted in a similar way to you and you alsodeceived me. "

"Really, monsieur, you say strange things, " said Aramis. "You cameseeking me to make to me certain proposals, but did you make them? No, you sounded me, nothing more. Very well what did I say to you? thatMazarin was contemptible and that I wouldn't serve Mazarin. But that isall. Did I tell you that I wouldn't serve any other? On the contrary, Igave you to understand, I think, that I adhered to the princes. Weeven joked very pleasantly, if I remember rightly, on the very probablecontingency of your being charged by the cardinal with my arrest. Wereyou a party man? There is no doubt of that. Well, why should not we, too, belong to a party? You had your secret and we had ours; we didn'texchange them. So much the better; it proves that we know how to keepour secrets. "

"I do not reproach you, monsieur, " said D'Artagnan; "'tis only becauseMonsieur de la Fere has spoken of friendship that I question yourconduct. "

"And what do you find in it that is worthy of blame?" asked Aramis, haughtily. 

The blood mounted instantly to the temples of D'Artagnan, who arose, andreplied:

"I consider it worthy conduct of a pupil of Jesuits. "

On seeing D'Artagnan rise, Porthos rose also; these four men weretherefore all standing at the same time, with a menacing aspect, opposite to each other. 

Upon hearing D'Artagnan's reply, Aramis seemed about to draw his sword, when Athos prevented him. 

"D'Artagnan, " he said, "you are here to-night, still infuriated byyesterday's adventure. I believed your heart noble enough to enable afriendship of twenty years to overcome an affront of a quarter of anhour. Come, do you really think you have anything to say against me? Sayit then; if I am in fault I will avow the error. "

The grave and harmonious tones of that beloved voice seemed to havestill its ancient influence, whilst that of Aramis, which had becomeharsh and tuneless in his moments of ill-humor, irritated him. Heanswered therefore:

"I think, monsieur le comte, that you had something to communicate tome at your chateau of Bragelonne, and that gentleman"--he pointed toAramis--"had also something to tell me when I was in his convent. Atthat time I was not concerned in the adventure, in the course of whichyou have so successfully estopped me! However, because I was prudent youmust not take me for a fool. If I had wished to widen the breach betweenthose whom Monsieur d'Herblay chooses to receive with a rope ladder andthose whom he receives with a wooden ladder, I could have spoken out. "

"What are you meddling with?" cried Aramis, pale with anger, suspectingthat D'Artagnan had acted as a spy on him and had seen him with Madamede Longueville. 

"I never meddle save with what concerns me, and I know how to makebelieve that I haven't seen what does not concern me; but I hatehypocrites, and among that number I place musketeers who are abbes andabbes who are musketeers; and, " he added, turning to Porthos "here's agentleman who's of the same opinion as myself. "

Porthos, who had not spoken one word, answered merely by a word and agesture. 

He said "yes" and he put his hand on his sword. 

Aramis started back and drew his. D'Artagnan bent forward, ready eitherto attack or to stand on his defense. 

Athos at that moment extended his hand with the air of supreme commandwhich characterized him alone, drew out his sword and the scabbard atthe same time, broke the blade in the sheath on his knee and threw thepieces to his right. Then turning to Aramis:

"Aramis, " he said, "break your sword. "

Aramis hesitated. 

"It must be done, " said Athos; then in a lower and more gentle voice, headded. "I wish it. "

Then Aramis, paler than before, but subdued by these words, snappedthe serpent blade between his hands, and then folding his arms, stoodtrembling with rage. 

These proceedings made D'Artagnan and Porthos draw back. D'Artagnan didnot draw his sword; Porthos put his back into the sheath. 

"Never!" exclaimed Athos, raising his right hand to Heaven, "never! Iswear before God, who seeth us, and who, in the darkness of this nightheareth us, never shall my sword cross yours, never my eye expressa glance of anger, nor my heart a throb of hatred, at you. We livedtogether, we loved, we hated together; we shed, we mingled our bloodtogether, and too probably, I may still add, that there may be yet abond between us closer even than that of friendship; perhaps there maybe the bond of crime; for we four, we once did condemn, judge and slaya human being whom we had not any right to cut off from this world, although apparently fitter for hell than for this life. D'Artagnan, Ihave always loved you as my son; Porthos, we slept six years side byside; Aramis is your brother as well as mine, and Aramis has once lovedyou, as I love you now and as I have ever loved you. What can CardinalMazarin be to us, to four men who compelled such a man as Richelieu toact as we pleased? What is such or such a prince to us, who fixed thediadem upon a great queen's head? D'Artagnan, I ask your pardon forhaving yesterday crossed swords with you; Aramis does the same toPorthos; now hate me if you can; but for my own part, I shall ever, evenif you do hate me, retain esteem and friendship for you. I repeat mywords, Aramis, and then, if you desire it, and if they desire it, let usseparate forever from our old friends. "

There was a solemn, though momentary silence, which was broken byAramis. 

"I swear, " he said, with a calm brow and kindly glance, but in a voicestill trembling with recent emotion, "I swear that I no longer bearanimosity to those who were once my friends. I regret that I evercrossed swords with you, Porthos; I swear not only that it shall neveragain be pointed at your breast, but that in the bottom of my heartthere will never in future be the slightest hostile sentiment; now, Athos, come. "

Athos was about to retire. 

"Oh! no! no! do not go away!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, impelled by one ofthose irresistible impulses which showed the nobility of his nature, thenative brightness of his character; "I swear that I would give thelast drop of my blood and the last fragment of my limbs to preservethe friendship of such a friend as you, Athos--of such a man as you, Aramis. " And he threw himself into the arms of Athos. 

"My son!" exclaimed Athos, pressing him in his arms. 

"And as for me, " said Porthos, "I swear nothing, but I'm choked. Forsooth! If I were obliged to fight against you, I think I should allowmyself to be pierced through and through, for I never loved any onebut you in the wide world;" and honest Porthos burst into tears as heembraced Athos. 

"My friends, " said Athos, "this is what I expected from such heartsas yours. Yes, I have said it and I now repeat it: our destinies areirrevocably united, although we now pursue divergent roads. I respectyour convictions, and whilst we fight for opposite sides, let usremain friends. Ministers, princes, kings, will pass away like mountaintorrents; civil war, like a forest flame; but we--we shall remain; Ihave a presentiment that we shall. "

"Yes, " replied D'Artagnan, "let us still be musketeers, and let usretain as our battle-standard that famous napkin of the bastionSt. Gervais, on which the great cardinal had three fleurs-de-lisembroidered. "

"Be it so, " cried Aramis. "Cardinalists or Frondeurs, what mattersit? Let us meet again as capital seconds in a duel, devoted friends inbusiness, merry companions in our ancient pleasures. "

"And whenever, " added Athos, "we meet in battle, at this word, 'PlaceRoyale!' let us put our swords into our left hands and shake hands withthe right, even in the very lust and music of the hottest carnage. "

"You speak charmingly, " said Porthos. 

"And are the first of men!" added D'Artagnan. "You excel us all. "

Athos smiled with ineffable pleasure. 

"'Tis then all settled. Gentlemen, your hands; are we not pretty goodChristians?"

"Egad!" said D'Artagnan, "by Heaven! yes. "

"We should be so on this occasion, if only to be faithful to our oath, "said Aramis. 

"Ah, I'm ready to do what you will, " cried Porthos; "even to swear byMahomet. Devil take me if I've ever been so happy as at this moment. "

And he wiped his eyes, still moist. 

"Has not one of you a cross?" asked Athos. 

Aramis smiled and drew from his vest a cross of diamonds, which was hungaround his neck by a chain of pearls. "Here is one, " he said. 

"Well, " resumed Athos, "swear on this cross, which, in spite of itsmagnificent material, is still a cross; swear to be united in spite ofeverything, and forever, and may this oath bind us to each other, andeven, also, our descendants! Does this oath satisfy you?"

"Yes, " said they all, with one accord. 

"Ah, traitor!" muttered D'Artagnan, leaning toward Aramis and whisperingin his ear, "you have made us swear on the crucifix of a Frondeuse. "

29. The Ferry across the Oise. 

We hope that the reader has not quite forgotten the young traveler whomwe left on the road to Flanders. 

In losing sight of his guardian, whom he had quitted, gazing after himin front of the royal basilican, Raoul spurred on his horse, in ordernot only to escape from his own melancholy reflections, but also to hidefrom Olivain the emotion his face might betray. 

One hour's rapid progress, however, sufficed to disperse the gloomyfancies that had clouded the young man's bright anticipations; and thehitherto unfelt pleasure of freedom--a pleasure which is sweet even tothose who have never known dependence--seemed to Raoul to gild not onlyHeaven and earth, but especially that blue but dim horizon of life wecall the future. 

Nevertheless, after several attempts at conversation with Olivain heforesaw that many days passed thus would prove exceedingly dull; and thecount's agreeable voice, his gentle and persuasive eloquence, recurredto his mind at the various towns through which they journeyed and aboutwhich he had no longer any one to give him those interesting detailswhich he would have drawn from Athos, the most amusing and the bestinformed of guides. Another recollection contributed also to saddenRaoul: on their arrival at Sonores he had perceived, hidden behind ascreen of poplars, a little chateau which so vividly recalled that ofLa Valliere to his mind that he halted for nearly ten minutes to gaze atit, and resumed his journey with a sigh too abstracted even to reply toOlivain's respectful inquiry about the cause of so much fixed attention. The aspect of external objects is often a mysterious guide communicatingwith the fibres of memory, which in spite of us will arouse them attimes; this thread, like that of Ariadne, when once unraveled willconduct one through a labyrinth of thought, in which one loses one'sself in endeavoring to follow that phantom of the past which is calledrecollection. 

Now the sight of this chateau had taken Raoul back fifty leagueswestward and had caused him to review his life from the moment when hehad taken leave of little Louise to that in which he had seen her forthe first time; and every branch of oak, every gilded weathercock onroof of slates, reminded him that, instead of returning to the friendsof his childhood, every instant estranged him further and that perhapshe had even left them forever. 

With a full heart and burning head he desired Olivain to lead on thehorses to a wayside inn, which he observed within gunshot range, alittle in advance of the place they had reached. 

As for himself, he dismounted and remained under a beautiful group ofchestnuts in flower, amidst which were murmuring a multitude of happybees, and bade Olivain send the host to him with writing paper andink, to be placed on a table which he found there, conveniently ready. Olivain obeyed and continued on his way, whilst Raoul remained sitting, with his elbow leaning on the table, from time to time gently shakingthe flowers from his head, which fell upon him like snow, and gazingvaguely on the charming landscape spread out before him, dotted overwith green fields and groups of trees. Raoul had been there aboutten minutes, during five of which he was lost in reverie, when thereappeared within the circle comprised in his rolling gaze a man with arubicund face, who, with a napkin around his body, another under hisarm, and a white cap upon his head, approached him, holding paper, penand ink in hand. 

"Ha! ha!" laughed the apparition, "every gentleman seems to have thesame fancy, for not a quarter of an hour ago a young lad, well mountedlike you, as tall as you and of about your age, halted before this clumpof trees and had this table and this chair brought here, and dined here, with an old gentleman who seemed to be his tutor, upon a pie, of whichthey haven't left a mouthful, and two bottles of Macon wine, of whichthey haven't left a drop, but fortunately we have still some of the samewine and some of the same pies left, and if your worship will but giveyour orders----"

"No, friend, " replied Raoul, smiling, "I am obliged to you, but at thismoment I want nothing but the things for which I have asked--only Ishall be very glad if the ink prove black and the pen good; upon theseconditions I will pay for the pen the price of the bottle, and for theink the price of the pie. "

"Very well, sir, " said the host, "I'll give the pie and the bottle ofwine to your servant, and in this way you will have the pen and ink intothe bargain. "

"Do as you like, " said Raoul, who was beginning his apprenticeship withthat particular class of society, who, when there were robbers on thehighroads, were connected with them, and who, since highwaymen no longerexist, have advantageously and aptly filled their vacant place. 

The host, his mind at ease about his bill, placed pen, ink and paperupon the table. By a lucky chance the pen was tolerably good and Raoulbegan to write. The host remained standing in front of him, looking witha kind of involuntary admiration at his handsome face, combining bothgravity and sweetness of expression. Beauty has always been and alwayswill be all-powerful. 

"He's not a guest like the other one here just now, " observed mine hostto Olivain, who had rejoined his master to see if he wanted anything, "and your young master has no appetite. "

"My master had appetite enough three days ago, but what can one do? helost it the day before yesterday. "

And Olivain and the host took their way together toward the inn, Olivain, according to the custom of serving-men well pleased with theirplace, relating to the tavern-keeper all that he could say in favor ofthe young gentleman; whilst Raoul wrote on thus:

"Sir, --After a four hours' march I stop to write to you, for I miss youevery moment, and I am always on the point of turning my head as if toreply when you speak to me. I was so bewildered by your departure and soovercome with grief at our separation, that I am sure I was able to butvery feebly express all the affection and gratitude I feel toward you. You will forgive me, sir, for your heart is of such a generous naturethat you can well understand all that has passed in mine. I entreatyou to write to me, for you form a part of my existence, and, if I mayventure to tell you so, I also feel anxious. It seemed to me as if youwere yourself preparing for some dangerous undertaking, about whichI did not dare to question you, since you told me nothing. I have, therefore, as you see, great need of hearing from you. Now that you areno longer beside me I am afraid every moment of erring. You sustainedme powerfully, sir, and I protest to you that to-day I feel very lonely. Will you have the goodness, sir, should you receive news from Blois, tosend me a few lines about my little friend Mademoiselle de la Valliere, about whose health, when we left, so much anxiety was felt? You canunderstand, honored and dear guardian, how precious and indispensable tome is the remembrance of the years that I have passed with you. I hopethat you will sometimes, too, think of me, and if at certain hours youshould miss me, if you should feel any slight regret at my absence, I shall be overwhelmed with joy at the thought that you appreciate myaffection for and my devotion to yourself, and that I have been able toprove them to you whilst I had the happiness of living with you. "

After finishing this letter Raoul felt more composed; he looked wellaround him to see if Olivain and the host might not be watching him, whilst he impressed a kiss upon the paper, a mute and touching caress, which the heart of Athos might well divine on opening the letter. 

During this time Olivain had finished his bottle and eaten his pie;the horses were also refreshed. Raoul motioned to the host to approach, threw a crown upon the table, mounted his horse, and posted his letterat Senlis. The rest that had been thus afforded to men and horsesenabled them to continue their journey at a good round pace. AtVerberie, Raoul desired Olivain to make some inquiry about the young manwho was preceding them; he had been observed to pass only three-quartersof an hour previously, but he was well mounted, as the tavern-keeper hadalready said, and rode at a rapid pace. 

"Let us try and overtake this gentleman, " said Raoul to Olivain; "likeourselves he is on his way to join the army and may prove agreeablecompany. "

It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when Raoul arrived atCompiegne; there he dined heartily and again inquired about the younggentleman who was in advance of them. He had stopped, like Raoul, atthe Hotel of the Bell and Bottle, the best at Compiegne; and had startedagain on his journey, saying that he should sleep at Noyon. 

"Well, let us sleep at Noyon, " said Raoul. 

"Sir, " replied Olivain, respectfully, "allow me to remark that we havealready much fatigued the horses this morning. I think it would be wellto sleep here and to start again very early to-morrow. Eighteen leaguesis enough for the first stage. "

"The Comte de la Fere wished me to hasten on, " replied Raoul, "that Imight rejoin the prince on the morning of the fourth day; let us pushon, then, to Noyon; it will be a stage similar to those we traveled fromBlois to Paris. We shall arrive at eight o'clock. The horses will have along night's rest, and at five o'clock to-morrow morning we can be againon the road. "

Olivain dared offer no opposition to this determination but he followedhis master, grumbling. 

"Go on, go on, " said he, between his teeth, "expend your ardor the firstday; to-morrow, instead of journeying twenty leagues, you will travelten, the day after to-morrow, five, and in three days you will be inbed. There you must rest; young people are such braggarts. "

It was easy to see that Olivain had not been taught in the school of thePlanchets and the Grimauds. Raoul really felt tired, but he was desirousof testing his strength, and, brought up in the principles of Athosand certain of having heard him speak a thousand times of stages oftwenty-five leagues, he did not wish to fall far short of his model. D'Artagnan, that man of iron, who seemed to be made of nerve and muscleonly, had struck him with admiration. Therefore, in spite of Olivain'sremarks, he continued to urge his steed more and more, and following apleasant little path, leading to a ferry, and which he had been assuredshortened the journey by the distance of one league, he arrived at thesummit of a hill and perceived the river flowing before him. A littletroop of men on horseback were waiting on the edge of the stream, readyto embark. Raoul did not doubt this was the gentleman and his escort; hecalled out to him, but they were too distant to be heard; then, in spiteof the weariness of his beast, he made it gallop but the rising groundsoon deprived him of all sight of the travelers, and when he had againattained a new height, the ferryboat had left the shore and was makingfor the opposite bank. Raoul, seeing that he could not arrive in time tocross the ferry with the travelers, halted to wait for Olivain. At thismoment a shriek was heard that seemed to come from the river. Raoulturned toward the side whence the cry had sounded, and shaded his eyesfrom the glare of the setting sun with his hand. 

"Olivain!" he exclaimed, "what do I see below there?"

A second scream, more piercing than the first, now sounded. 

"Oh, sir!" cried Olivain, "the rope which holds the ferryboat has brokenand the boat is drifting. But what do I see in the water--somethingstruggling?"

"Oh, yes, " exclaimed Raoul, fixing his glance on one point in thestream, splendidly illumined by the setting sun, "a horse, a rider!"

"They are sinking!" cried Olivain in his turn. 

It was true, and Raoul was convinced that some accident had happened andthat a man was drowning; he gave his horse its head, struck his spursinto its sides, and the animal, urged by pain and feeling that he hadspace open before him, bounded over a kind of paling which inclosed thelanding place, and fell into the river, scattering to a distance wavesof white froth. 

"Ah, sir!" cried Olivain, "what are you doing? Good God!"

Raoul was directing his horse toward the unhappy man in danger. Thiswas, in fact, a custom familiar to him. Having been brought up on thebanks of the Loire, he might have been said to have been cradled on itswaves; a hundred times he had crossed it on horseback, a thousand timeshad swum across. Athos, foreseeing the period when he should makea soldier of the viscount, had inured him to all kinds of arduousundertakings. 

"Oh, heavens!" continued Olivain, in despair, "what would the count sayif he only saw you now!"

"The count would do as I do, " replied Raoul, urging his horse vigorouslyforward. 

"But I--but I, " cried Olivain, pale and disconsolate rushing about onthe shore, "how shall I cross?"

"Leap, coward!" cried Raoul, swimming on; then addressing the traveler, who was struggling twenty yards in front of him: "Courage, sir!" saidhe, "courage! we are coming to your aid. "

Olivain advanced, retired, then made his horse rear--turned it and then, struck to the core by shame, leaped, as Raoul had done, only repeating:

"I am a dead man! we are lost!"

In the meantime, the ferryboat had floated away, carried down by thestream, and the shrieks of those whom it contained resounded more andmore. A man with gray hair had thrown himself from the boat into theriver and was swimming vigorously toward the person who was drowning;but being obliged to go against the current he advanced but slowly. Raoul continued his way and was visibly gaining ground; but the horseand its rider, of whom he did not lose sight, were evidently sinking. The nostrils of the horse were no longer above water, and the rider, whohad lost the reins in struggling, fell with his head back and his armsextended. One moment longer and all would disappear. 

"Courage!" cried Raoul, "courage!"

"Too late!" murmured the young man, "too late!"

The water closed above his head and stifled his voice. 

Raoul sprang from his horse, to which he left the charge of its ownpreservation, and in three or four strokes was at the gentleman's side;he seized the horse at once by the curb and raised its head above water;the animal began to breathe again and, as if he comprehended that theyhad come to his aid, redoubled his efforts. Raoul at the same timeseized one of the young man's hands and placed it on the mane, which itgrasped with the tenacity of a drowning man. Thus, sure that the riderwould not release his hold, Raoul now only directed his attention to thehorse, which he guided to the opposite bank, helping it to cut throughthe water and encouraging it with words. 

All at once the horse stumbled against a ridge and then placed its footon the sand. 

"Saved!" exclaimed the man with gray hair, who also touched bottom. 

"Saved!" mechanically repeated the young gentleman, releasing the maneand sliding from the saddle into Raoul's arms; Raoul was but ten yardsfrom the shore; there he bore the fainting man, and laying him downupon the grass, unfastened the buttons of his collar and unhooked hisdoublet. A moment later the gray-headed man was beside him. Olivainmanaged in his turn to land, after crossing himself repeatedly; andthe people in the ferryboat guided themselves as well as they were abletoward the bank, with the aid of a pole which chanced to be in the boat. 

Thanks to the attentions of Raoul and the man who accompanied the younggentleman, the color gradually returned to the pale cheeks of the dyingman, who opened his eyes, at first entirely bewildered, but who soonfixed his gaze upon the person who had saved him. 

"Ah, sir, " he exclaimed, "it was you! Without you I was a deadman--thrice dead. "

"But one recovers, sir, as you perceive, " replied Raoul, "and we havebut had a little bath. "

"Oh! sir, what gratitude I feel!" exclaimed the man with gray hair. 

"Ah, there you are, my good D'Arminges; I have given you a great fright, have I not? but it is your own fault. You were my tutor, why did you notteach me to swim?"

"Oh, monsieur le comte, " replied the old man, "had any misfortunehappened to you, I should never have dared to show myself to the marshalagain. "

"But how did the accident happen?" asked Raoul. 

"Oh, sir, in the most natural way possible, " replied he to whom they hadgiven the title of count. "We were about a third of the way across theriver when the cord of the ferryboat broke. Alarmed by the cries andgestures of the boatmen, my horse sprang into the water. I cannotswim, and dared not throw myself into the river. Instead of aiding themovements of my horse, I paralyzed them; and I was just going to drownmyself with the best grace in the world, when you arrived just intime to pull me out of the water; therefore, sir, if you will agree, henceforward we are friends until death. "

"Sir, " replied Raoul, bowing, "I am entirely at your service, I assureyou. "

"I am called the Count de Guiche, " continued the young man; "my fatheris the Marechal de Grammont; and now that you know who I am, do me thehonor to inform me who you are. "

"I am the Viscount de Bragelonne, " answered Raoul, blushing at beingunable to name his father, as the Count de Guiche had done. 

"Viscount, your countenance, your goodness and your courage inclineme toward you; my gratitude is already due. Shake hands--I crave yourfriendship. "

"Sir, " said Raoul, returning the count's pressure of the hand, "Ilike you already, from my heart; pray regard me as a devoted friend, Ibeseech you. "

"And now, where are you going, viscount?" inquired De Guiche. 

"To join the army, under the prince, count. "

"And I, too!" exclaimed the young man, in a transport of joy. "Oh, somuch the better, we will fire the first shot together. "

"It is well; be friends, " said the tutor; "young as you both are, youwere perhaps born under the same star and were destined to meet. Andnow, " continued he, "you must change your clothes; your servants, towhom I gave directions the moment they had left the ferryboat, ought tobe already at the inn. Linen and wine are both being warmed; come. "

The young men had no objection to this proposition; on the contrary, they thought it very timely. 

They mounted again at once, whilst looks of admiration passed betweenthem. They were indeed two elegant horsemen, with figures slight andupright, noble faces, bright and proud looks, loyal and intelligentsmiles. 

De Guiche might have been about eighteen years of age, but he wasscarcely taller than Raoul, who was only fifteen. 

30. Skirmishing. 

The halt at Noyon was but brief, every one there being wrapped inprofound sleep. Raoul had desired to be awakened should Grimaud arrive, but Grimaud did not arrive. Doubtless, too, the horses on their partappreciated the eight hours of repose and the abundant stabling whichwas granted them. The Count de Guiche was awakened at five o'clock inthe morning by Raoul, who came to wish him good-day. They breakfasted inhaste, and at six o'clock had already gone ten miles. 

The young count's conversation was most interesting to Raoul, thereforehe listened much, whilst the count talked well and long. Brought upin Paris, where Raoul had been but once; at the court, which Raoul hadnever seen; his follies as page; two duels, which he had already foundthe means of fighting, in spite of the edicts against them and, moreespecially, in spite of his tutor's vigilance--these things excited thegreatest curiosity in Raoul. Raoul had only been at M. Scarron's house;he named to Guiche the people whom he had seen there. Guiche kneweverybody--Madame de Neuillan, Mademoiselle d'Aubigne, Mademoisellede Scudery, Mademoiselle Paulet, Madame de Chevreuse. He criticisedeverybody humorously. Raoul trembled, lest he should laugh among therest at Madame de Chevreuse, for whom he entertained deep and genuinesympathy, but either instinctively, or from affection for the duchess, he said everything in her favor. His praises increased Raoul'sfriendship twofold. Then came the question of gallantry and loveaffairs. Under this head, also, Bragelonne had much more to hear thanto tell. He listened attentively and fancied that he discovered throughthree or four rather frivolous adventures, that the count, like himself, had a secret to hide in the depths of his heart. 

De Guiche, as we have said before, had been educated at the court, andthe intrigues of this court were not unknown to him. It was the samecourt of which Raoul had so often heard the Comte de la Fere speak, except that its aspect had much changed since the period when Athos hadhimself been part of it; therefore everything which the Count de Guicherelated was new to his traveling companion. The young count, wittyand caustic, passed all the world in review; the queen herself was notspared, and Cardinal Mazarin came in for his share of ridicule. 

The day passed away as rapidly as an hour. The count's tutor, a man ofthe world and a bon vivant, up to his eyes in learning, as his pupildescribed him, often recalled the profound erudition, the witty andcaustic satire of Athos to Raoul; but as regarded grace, delicacy, and nobility of external appearance, no one in these points was to becompared to the Comte de la Fere. 

The horses, which were more kindly used than on the previous day, stopped at Arras at four o'clock in the evening. They were approachingthe scene of war; and as bands of Spaniards sometimes took advantage ofthe night to make expeditions even as far as the neighborhood of Arras, they determined to remain in the town until the morrow. The French armyheld all between Pont-a-Marc as far as Valenciennes, falling back uponDouai. The prince was said to be in person at Bethune. 

The enemy's army extended from Cassel to Courtray; and as there was nospecies of violence or pillage it did not commit, the poor people on thefrontier quitted their isolated dwellings and fled for refuge into thestrong cities which held out a shelter to them. Arras was encumberedwith fugitives. An approaching battle was much spoken of, the princehaving manoeuvred, until that movement, only in order to await areinforcement that had just reached him. 

The young men congratulated themselves on having arrived so opportunely. The evening was employed in discussing the war; the grooms polishedtheir arms; the young men loaded the pistols in case of a skirmish, andthey awoke in despair, having both dreamed that they had arrived toolate to participate in the battle. In the morning it was rumoredthat Prince de Conde had evacuated Bethune and fallen back on Carvin, leaving, however, a strong garrison in the former city. 

But as there was nothing positively certain in this report, the youngwarriors decided to continue their way toward Bethune, free on the roadto diverge to the right and march to Carvin if necessary. 

The count's tutor was well acquainted with the country; he consequentlyproposed to take a crossroad, which lay between that of Lens and that ofBethune. They obtained information at Ablain, and a statement of theirroute was left for Grimaud. About seven o'clock in the morning they setout. De Guiche, who was young and impulsive, said to Raoul, "Here weare, three masters and three servants. Our valets are well armed andyours seems to be tough enough. "

"I have never seen him put to the test, " replied Raoul, "but he is aBreton, which promises something. "

"Yes, yes, " resumed De Guiche; "I am sure he can fire a musket whenrequired. On my side I have two sure men, who have been in action withmy father. We therefore represent six fighting men; if we should meeta little troop of enemies, equal or even superior in number to our own, shall we charge them, Raoul?"

"Certainly, sir, " replied the viscount. 

"Holloa! young people--stop there!" said the tutor, joining in theconversation. "Zounds! how you manoeuvre my instructions, count! Youseem to forget the orders I received to conduct you safe and sound tohis highness the prince! Once with the army you may be killed at yourgood pleasure; but until that time, I warn you that in my capacity ofgeneral of the army I shall order a retreat and turn my back on thefirst red coat we come across. " De Guiche and Raoul glanced at eachother, smiling. 

They arrived at Ablain without accident. There they inquired and learnedthat the prince had in reality quitted Bethune and stationed himselfbetween Cambria and La Venthie. Therefore, leaving directions at everyplace for Grimaud, they took a crossroad which conducted the littletroop by the bank of a small stream flowing into the Lys. The countrywas beautiful, intersected by valleys as green as the emerald. Hereand there they passed little copses crossing the path which they werefollowing. In anticipation of some ambuscade in each of these littlewoods the tutor placed his two servants at the head of the band, thusforming the advance guard. Himself and the two young men represented thebody of the army, whilst Olivain, with his rifle upon his knee and hiseyes upon the watch, protected the rear. 

They had observed for some time before them, on the horizon, a ratherthick wood; and when they had arrived at a distance of a hundred stepsfrom it, Monsieur d'Arminges took his usual precautions and sent on inadvance the count's two grooms. The servants had just disappeared underthe trees, followed by the tutor, and the young men were laughing andtalking about a hundred yards off. Olivain was at the same distance inthe rear, when suddenly there resounded five or six musket-shots. Thetutor cried halt; the young men obeyed, pulling up their steeds, and atthe same moment the two valets were seen returning at a gallop. 

The young men, impatient to learn the cause of the firing, spurred ontoward the servants. The tutor followed them. 

"Were you stopped?" eagerly inquired the two youths. 

"No, " replied the servants, "it is even probable that we have not beenseen; the shots were fired about a hundred paces in advance of us, inthe thickest part of the wood, and we returned to ask your advice. "

"My advice is this, " said Monsieur d'Arminges, "and if needs be, mywill, that we beat a retreat. There may be an ambuscade concealed inthis wood. "

"Did you see nothing there?" asked the count. 

"I thought I saw, " said one of the servants, "horsemen dressed inyellow, creeping along the bed of the stream. 

"That's it, " said the tutor. "We have fallen in with a party ofSpaniards. Come back, sirs, back. "

The two youths looked at each other, and at this moment a pistol-shotand cries for help were heard. Another glance between the young menconvinced them both that neither had any wish to go back, and as thetutor had already turned his horse's head, they both spurred forward, Raoul crying: "Follow me, Olivain!" and the Count de Guiche: "Follow, Urban and Planchet!" And before the tutor could recover from hissurprise they had both disappeared into the forest. Whilst they spurredtheir steeds they held their pistols ready also. In five minutes theyarrived at the spot whence the noise had proceeded, and then restrainingtheir horses, they advanced cautiously. 

"Hush, " whispered De Guiche, "these are cavaliers. "

"Yes, three on horseback and three who have dismounted. "

"Can you see what they are doing?"

"Yes, they appear to be searching a wounded or dead man. "

"It is some cowardly assassination, " said De Guiche. 

"They are soldiers, though, " resumed De Bragelonne. 

"Yes, skirmishers; that is to say, highway robbers. "

"At them!" cried Raoul. "At them!" echoed De Guiche. 

"Oh! gentlemen! gentlemen! in the name of Heaven!" cried the poor tutor. 

But he was not listened to, and his cries only served to arouse theattention of the Spaniards. 

The men on horseback at once rushed at the two youths, leaving the threeothers to complete the plunder of the dead or wounded travelers; foron approaching nearer, instead of one extended figure, the young mendiscovered two. De Guiche fired the first shot at ten paces and missedhis man; and the Spaniard, who had advanced to meet Raoul, aimed in histurn, and Raoul felt a pain in the left arm, similar to that of a blowfrom a whip. He let off his fire at but four paces. Struck in the breastand extending his arms, the Spaniard fell back on the crupper, and theterrified horse, turning around, carried him off. 

Raoul at this moment perceived the muzzle of a gun pointed at him, and remembering the recommendation of Athos, he, with the rapidity oflightning, made his horse rear as the shot was fired. His horse boundedto one side, losing its footing, and fell, entangling Raoul's leg underits body. The Spaniard sprang forward and seized the gun by its muzzle, in order to strike Raoul on the head with the butt. In the position inwhich Raoul lay, unfortunately, he could neither draw his sword fromthe scabbard, nor his pistols from their holsters. The butt end of themusket hovered over his head, and he could scarcely restrain himselffrom closing his eyes, when with one bound Guiche reached the Spaniardand placed a pistol at his throat. "Yield!" he cried, "or you are adead man!" The musket fell from the soldier's hands, who yielded on theinstant. Guiche summoned one of his grooms, and delivering the prisonerinto his charge, with orders to shoot him through the head if heattempted to escape, he leaped from his horse and approached Raoul. 

"Faith, sir, " said Raoul, smiling, although his pallor betrayed theexcitement consequent on a first affair, "you are in a great hurryto pay your debts and have not been long under any obligation to me. Without your aid, " continued he, repeating the count's words "I shouldhave been a dead man--thrice dead. "

"My antagonist took flight, " replied De Guiche "and left me at libertyto come to your assistance. But are you seriously wounded? I see you arecovered with blood!"

"I believe, " said Raoul, "that I have got something like a scratch onthe arm. If you will help me to drag myself from under my horse I hopenothing need prevent us continuing our journey. "

Monsieur d'Arminges and Olivain had already dismounted and wereattempting to raise the struggling horse. At last Raoul succeeded indrawing his foot from the stirrup and his leg from under the animal, andin a second he was on his feet again. 

"Nothing broken?" asked De Guiche. 

"Faith, no, thank Heaven!" replied Raoul; "but what has become of thepoor wretches whom these scoundrels were murdering?"

"I fear we arrived too late. They have killed them, I think, and takenflight, carrying off their booty. My servants are examining the bodies. "

"Let us go and see whether they are quite dead, or if they can still behelped, " suggested Raoul. "Olivain, we have come into possession of twohorses, but I have lost my own. Take for yourself the better of the twoand give me yours. "

They approached the spot where the unfortunate victims lay. 

31. The Monk. 

Two men lay prone upon the ground, one bathed in blood and motionless, with his face toward the earth; this one was dead. The other leanedagainst a tree, supported there by the two valets, and was prayingfervently, with clasped hands and eyes raised to Heaven. He had receiveda ball in his thigh, which had broken the bone. The young men firstapproached the dead man. 

"He is a priest, " said Bragelonne, "he has worn the tonsure. Oh, thescoundrels! to lift their hands against a minister of God. "

"Come here, sir, " said Urban, an old soldier who had served under thecardinal duke in all his campaigns; "come here, there is nothing to bedone with him, whilst we may perhaps be able to save the other. "

The wounded man smiled sadly. "Save me! Oh, no!" said he, "but help meto die, if you can. "

"Are you a priest?" asked Raoul. 

"No sir. "

"I ask, as your unfortunate companion appeared to me to belong to thechurch. "

"He is the curate of Bethune, sir, and was carrying the holy vesselsbelonging to his church, and the treasure of the chapter, to a safeplace, the prince having abandoned our town yesterday; and as it wasknown that bands of the enemy were prowling about the country, no onedared to accompany the good man, so I offered to do so. 

"And, sir, " continued the wounded man, "I suffer much and would like, ifpossible, to be carried to some house. "

"Where you can be relieved?" asked De Guiche. 

"No, where I can confess. "

"But perhaps you are not so dangerously wounded as you think, " saidRaoul. 

"Sir, " replied the wounded man, "believe me, there is no time to lose;the ball has broken the thigh bone and entered the intestines. "

"Are you a surgeon?" asked De Guiche. 

"No, but I know a little about wounds, and mine, I know, is mortal. Try, therefore, either to carry me to some place where I may see a priestor take the trouble to send one to me here. It is my soul that must besaved; as for my body, it is lost. "

"To die whilst doing a good deed! It is impossible. God will help you. "

"Gentlemen, in the name of Heaven!" said the wounded man, collectingall his forces, as if to get up, "let us not lose time in uselesswords. Either help me to gain the nearest village or swear to me onyour salvation that you will send me the first monk, the first cure, thefirst priest you may meet. But, " he added in a despairing tone, "perhapsno one will dare to come for it is known that the Spaniards are rangingthrough the country, and I shall die without absolution. My God! my God!Good God! good God!" added the wounded man, in an accent of terror whichmade the young men shudder; "you will not allow that? that would be tooterrible!"

"Calm yourself, sir, " replied De Guiche. "I swear to you, you shallreceive the consolation that you ask. Only tell us where we shall find ahouse at which we can demand aid and a village from which we can fetch apriest. "

"Thank you, and God reward you! About half a mile from this, on the sameroad, there is an inn, and about a mile further on, after leaving theinn, you will reach the village of Greney. There you must find thecurate, or if he is not at home, go to the convent of the Augustines, which is the last house on the right, and bring me one of the brothers. Monk or priest, it matters not, provided only that he has received fromholy church the power of absolving in articulo mortis. "

"Monsieur d'Arminges, " said De Guiche, "remain beside this unfortunateman and see that he is removed as gently as possible. The vicomte andmyself will go and find a priest. "

"Go, sir, " replied the tutor; "but in Heaven's name do not exposeyourself to danger!"

"Do not fear. Besides, we are safe for to-day; you know the axiom, 'Nonbis in idem. '"

"Courage, sir, " said Raoul to the wounded man. "We are going to executeyour wishes. "

"May Heaven prosper you!" replied the dying man, with an accent ofgratitude impossible to describe. 

The two young men galloped off in the direction mentioned and in tenminutes reached the inn. Raoul, without dismounting, called to the hostand announced that a wounded man was about to be brought to his houseand begged him in the meantime to prepare everything needful. He desiredhim also, should he know in the neighborhood any doctor or chirurgeon, to fetch him, taking on himself the payment of the messenger. 

The host, who saw two young noblemen, richly clad, promised everythingthey required, and our two cavaliers, after seeing that preparationsfor the reception were actually begun, started off again and proceededrapidly toward Greney. 

They had gone rather more than a league and had begun to descry thefirst houses of the village, the red-tiled roofs of which stood out fromthe green trees which surrounded them, when, coming toward them mountedon a mule, they perceived a poor monk, whose large hat and gray worsteddress made them take him for an Augustine brother. Chance for onceseemed to favor them in sending what they were so assiduously seeking. He was a man about twenty-two or twenty-three years old, but whoappeared much older from ascetic exercises. His complexion was pale, not of that deadly pallor which is a kind of neutral beauty, but of abilious, yellow hue; his colorless hair was short and scarcely extendedbeyond the circle formed by the hat around his head, and his light blueeyes seemed destitute of any expression. 

"Sir, " began Raoul, with his usual politeness, "are you anecclesiastic?"

"Why do you ask me that?" replied the stranger, with a coolness whichwas barely civil. 

"Because we want to know, " said De Guiche, haughtily. 

The stranger touched his mule with his heel and continued his way. 

In a second De Guiche had sprung before him and barred his passage. "Answer, sir, " exclaimed he; "you have been asked politely, and everyquestion is worth an answer. "

"I suppose I am free to say or not to say who I am to two strangers whotake a fancy to ask me. "

It was with difficulty that De Guiche restrained the intense desire hehad of breaking the monk's bones. 

"In the first place, " he said, making an effort to control himself, "we are not people who may be treated anyhow; my friend there is theViscount of Bragelonne and I am the Count de Guiche. Nor was it fromcaprice we asked the question, for there is a wounded and dying man whodemands the succor of the church. If you be a priest, I conjure you inthe name of humanity to follow me to aid this man; if you be not, it isa different matter, and I warn you in the name of courtesy, of whichyou appear profoundly ignorant, that I shall chastise you for yourinsolence. "

The pale face of the monk became so livid and his smile so strange, thatRaoul, whose eyes were still fixed upon him, felt as if this smile hadstruck to his heart like an insult. 

"He is some Spanish or Flemish spy, " said he, putting his hand to hispistol. A glance, threatening and transient as lightning, replied toRaoul. 

"Well, sir, " said De Guiche, "are you going to reply?"

"I am a priest, " said the young man. 

"Then, father, " said Raoul, forcing himself to convey a respect byspeech that did not come from his heart, "if you are a priest you havean opportunity, as my friend has told you, of exercising your vocation. At the next inn you will find a wounded man, now being attended by ourservants, who has asked the assistance of a minister of God. "

"I will go, " said the monk. 

And he touched his mule. 

"If you do not go, sir, " said De Guiche, "remember that we have twosteeds able to catch your mule and the power of having you seizedwherever you may be; and then I swear your trial will be summary; onecan always find a tree and a cord. "

The monk's eye again flashed, but that was all; he merely repeated hisphrase, "I will go, "--and he went. 

"Let us follow him, " said De Guiche; "it will be the surest plan. "

"I was about to propose so doing, " answered De Bragelonne. 

In the space of five minutes the monk turned around to ascertain whetherhe was followed or not. 

"You see, " said Raoul, "we have done wisely. "

"What a horrible face that monk has, " said De Guiche. 

"Horrible!" replied Raoul, "especially in expression. "

"Yes, yes, " said De Guiche, "a strange face; but these monks are subjectto such degrading practices; their fasts make them pale, the blows ofthe discipline make them hypocrites, and their eyes become inflamedthrough weeping for the good things of this life we common folk enjoy, but they have lost. "

"Well, " said Raoul, "the poor man will get his priest, but, by Heaven, the penitent appears to me to have a better conscience than theconfessor. I confess I am accustomed to priests of a very differentappearance. "

"Ah!" exclaimed De Guiche, "you must understand that this is one ofthose wandering brothers, who go begging on the high road until someday a benefice falls down from Heaven on them; they are mostlyforeigners--Scotch, Irish or Danish. I have seen them before. "

"As ugly?"

"No, but reasonably hideous. "

"What a misfortune for the wounded man to die under the hands of such afriar!"

"Pshaw!" said De Guiche. "Absolution comes not from him who administersit, but from God. However, for my part, I would rather die unshriventhan have anything to say to such a confessor. You are of my opinion, are you not, viscount? and I see you playing with the pommel of yoursword, as if you had a great inclination to break the holy father'shead. "

"Yes, count, it is a strange thing and one which might astonish you, butI feel an indescribable horror at the sight of yonder man. Have you everseen a snake rise up on your path?"

"Never, " answered De Guiche. 

"Well, it has happened to me to do so in our Blaisois forests, and Iremember that the first time I encountered one with its eyes fixed uponme, curled up, swinging its head and pointing its tongue, I remainedfixed, pale and as though fascinated, until the moment when the Comte dela Fere----"

"Your father?" asked De Guiche. 

"No, my guardian, " replied Raoul, blushing. 

"Very well----"

"Until the moment when the Comte de la Fere, " resumed Raoul, "said, 'Come, Bragelonne, draw your sword;' then only I rushed upon the reptileand cut it in two, just at the moment when it was rising on its tailand hissing, ere it sprang upon me. Well, I vow I felt exactly the samesensation at sight of that man when he said, 'Why do you ask me that?'and looked so strangely at me. "

"Then you regret that you did not cut your serpent in two morsels?"

"Faith, yes, almost, " said Raoul. 

They had now arrived within sight of the little inn and could see onthe opposite side the procession bearing the wounded man and guided byMonsieur d'Arminges. The youths spurred on. 

"There is the wounded man, " said De Guiche, passing close to theAugustine brother. "Be good enough to hurry yourself a little, monsieurmonk. "

As for Raoul, he avoided the monk by the whole width of the road andpassed him, turning his head away in repulsion. 

The young men rode up to the wounded man to announce that they werefollowed by the priest. He raised himself to glance in the directionwhich they pointed out, saw the monk, and fell back upon the litter, hisface illumined by joy. 

"And now, " said the youths, "we have done all we can for you; and as weare in haste to rejoin the prince's army we must continue our journey. You will excuse us, sir, but we are told that a battle is expected andwe do not wish to arrive the day after it. "

"Go, my young sirs, " said the sick man, "and may you both be blessed foryour piety. You have done for me, as you promised, all that you coulddo. As for me I can only repeat, may God protect you and all dear toyou!"

"Sir, " said De Guiche to his tutor, "we will precede you, and you canrejoin us on the road to Cambrin. "

The host was at his door and everything was prepared--bed, bandages, andlint; and a groom had gone to Lens, the nearest village, for a doctor. 

"Everything, " said he to Raoul, "shall be done as you desire; but youwill not stop to have your wound dressed?"

"Oh, my wound--mine--'tis nothing, " replied the viscount; "it will betime to think about it when we next halt; only have the goodness, shouldyou see a cavalier who makes inquiries about a young man on a chestnuthorse followed by a servant, to tell him, in fact, that you haveseen me, but that I have continued my journey and intend to dine atMazingarbe and to stop at Cambrin. This cavalier is my attendant. "

"Would it not be safer and more certain if I should ask him his name andtell him yours?" demanded the host. 

"There is no harm in over-precaution. I am the Viscount de Bragelonneand he is called Grimaud. "

At this moment the wounded man arrived from one direction and the monkfrom the other, the latter dismounting from his mule and desiring thatit should be taken to the stables without being unharnessed. 

"Sir monk, " said De Guiche, "confess well that brave man; and be notconcerned for your expenses or for those of your mule; all is paid. "

"Thanks, monsieur, " said the monk, with one of those smiles that madeBragelonne shudder. 

"Come, count, " said Raoul, who seemed instinctively to dislike thevicinity of the Augustine; "come, I feel ill here, " and the two youngmen spurred on. 

The litter, borne by two servants, now entered the house. The host andhis wife were standing on the steps, whilst the unhappy man seemed tosuffer dreadful pain and yet to be concerned only to know if he wasfollowed by the monk. At sight of this pale, bleeding man, the wifegrasped her husband's arm. 

"Well, what's the matter?" asked the latter, "are you going to be illjust now?"

"No, but look, " replied the hostess, pointing to the wounded man; "I askyou if you recognize him?"

"That man--wait a bit. "

"Ah! I see you know him, " exclaimed the wife; "for you have become palein your turn. "

"Truly, " cried the host, "misfortune is coming on our house; it is theformer executioner of Bethune. "

"The former executioner of Bethune!" murmured the young monk, shrinkingback and showing on his countenance the feeling of repugnance which hispenitent inspired. 

Monsieur d'Arminges, who was at the door, perceived his hesitation. 

"Sir monk, " said he, "whether he is now or has been an executioner, thisunfortunate being is none the less a man. Render to him, then, the lastservice he can by any possibility ask of you, and your work will be allthe more meritorious. "

The monk made no reply, but silently wended his way to the room wherethe two valets had deposited the dying man on a bed. D'Arminges andOlivain and the two grooms then mounted their horses, and all fourstarted off at a quick trot to rejoin Raoul and his companion. Justas the tutor and his escort disappeared in their turn, a new travelerstopped on the threshold of the inn. 

"What does your worship want?" demanded the host, pale and tremblingfrom the discovery he had just made. 

The traveler made a sign as if he wished to drink, and then pointed tohis horse and gesticulated like a man who is brushing something. 

"Ah, diable!" said the host to himself; "this man seems dumb. And wherewill your worship drink?"

"There, " answered the traveler, pointing to the table. 

"I was mistaken, " said the host, "he's not quite dumb. And what elsedoes your worship wish for?"

"To know if you have seen a young man pass, fifteen years of age, mounted on a chestnut horse and followed by a groom?"

"The Viscount de Bragelonne?

"Just so. "

"Then you are called Monsieur Grimaud?"

The traveler made a sign of assent. 

"Well, then, " said the host, "your young master was here a quarter of anhour ago; he will dine at Mazingarbe and sleep at Cambrin. "

"How far is Mazingarbe?"

"Two miles and a half. "

"Thank you. "

Grimaud was drinking his wine silently and had just placed his glass onthe table to be filled a second time, when a terrific scream resoundedfrom the room occupied by the monk and the dying man. Grimaud sprang up. 

"What is that?" said he; "whence comes that cry?"

"From the wounded man's room, " replied the host. 

"What wounded man?"

"The former executioner of Bethune, who has just been brought inhere, assassinated by Spaniards, and who is now being confessed by anAugustine friar. "

"The old executioner of Bethune, " muttered Grimaud; "a man betweenfifty-five and sixty, tall, strong, swarthy, black hair and beard?"

"That is he, except that his beard has turned gray and his hair iswhite; do you know him?" asked the host. 

"I have seen him once, " replied Grimaud, a cloud darkening hiscountenance at the picture so suddenly summoned to the bar ofrecollection. 

At this instant a second cry, less piercing than the first, but followedby prolonged groaning, was heard. 

The three listeners looked at one another in alarm. 

"We must see what it is, " said Grimaud. 

"It sounds like the cry of one who is being murdered, " murmured thehost. 

"Mon Dieu!" said the woman, crossing herself. 

If Grimaud was slow in speaking, we know that he was quick to act; hesprang to the door and shook it violently, but it was bolted on theother side. 

"Open the door!" cried the host; "open it instantly, sir monk!"

No reply. 

"Unfasten it, or I will break it in!" said Grimaud. 

The same silence, and then, ere the host could oppose his design, Grimaud seized a pair of pincers he perceived in a corner and forced thebolt. The room was inundated with blood, dripping from the mattressesupon which lay the wounded man, speechless; the monk had disappeared. 

"The monk!" cried the host; "where is the monk?"

Grimaud sprang toward an open window which looked into the courtyard. 

"He has escaped by this means, " exclaimed he. 

"Do you think so?" said the host, bewildered; "boy, see if the mulebelonging to the monk is still in the stable. "

"There is no mule, " cried he to whom this question was addressed. 

The host clasped his hands and looked around him suspiciously, whilstGrimaud knit his brows and approached the wounded man, whose worn, hardfeatures awoke in his mind such awful recollections of the past. 

"There can be no longer any doubt but that it is himself, " said he. 

"Does he still live?" inquired the innkeeper. 

Making no reply, Grimaud opened the poor man's jacket to feel if theheart beat, whilst the host approached in his turn; but in a moment theyboth fell back, the host uttering a cry of horror and Grimaud becomingpallid. The blade of a dagger was buried up to the hilt in the left sideof the executioner. 

"Run! run for help!" cried Grimaud, "and I will remain beside him here. "

The host quitted the room in agitation, and as for his wife, she hadfled at the sound of her husband's cries. 

32. The Absolution. 

This is what had taken place: We have seen that it was not of hisown free will, but, on the contrary, very reluctantly, that the monkattended the wounded man who had been recommended to him in so strange amanner. Perhaps he would have sought to escape by flight had he seenany possibility of doing so. He was restrained by the threats of thetwo gentlemen and by the presence of their attendants, who doubtlesshad received their instructions. And besides, he considered it mostexpedient, without exhibiting too much ill-will, to follow to the endhis role as confessor. 

The monk entered the chamber and approached the bed of the wounded man. The executioner searched his face with the quick glance peculiar tothose who are about to die and have no time to lose. He made a movementof surprise and said:

"Father, you are very young. "

"Men who bear my robe have no age, " replied the monk, dryly. 

"Alas, speak to me more gently, father; in my last moments I need afriend. "

"Do you suffer much?" asked the monk. 

"Yes, but in my soul much more than in my body. "

"We will save your soul, " said the young man; "but are you really theexecutioner of Bethune, as these people say?"

"That is to say, " eagerly replied the wounded man, who doubtless fearedthat the name of executioner would take from him the last help that hecould claim--"that is to say, I was, but am no longer; it is fifteenyears since I gave up the office. I still assist at executions, but nolonger strike the blow myself--no, indeed. "

"You have, then, a repugnance to your profession?"

"So long as I struck in the name of the law and of justice my professionallowed me to sleep quietly, sheltered as I was by justice and law;but since that terrible night when I became an instrument of privatevengeance and when with personal hatred I raised the sword over one ofGod's creatures--since that day----"

The executioner paused and shook his head with an expression of despair. 

"Tell me about it, " said the monk, who, sitting on the foot of the bed, began to be interested in a story so strangely introduced. 

"Ah!" cried the dying man, with all the effusiveness of a grief declaredafter long suppression, "ah! I have sought to stifle remorse by twentyyears of good deeds; I have assuaged the natural ferocity of those whoshed blood; on every occasion I have exposed my life to save those whowere in danger, and I have preserved lives in exchange for that I tookaway. That is not all; the money gained in the exercise of my professionI have distributed to the poor; I have been assiduous in attendingchurch and those who formerly fled from me have become accustomed toseeing me. All have forgiven me, some have even loved me; but I thinkthat God has not pardoned me, for the memory of that execution pursuesme constantly and every night I see that woman's ghost rising beforeme. "

"A woman! You have assassinated a woman, then?" cried the monk. 

"You also!" exclaimed the executioner, "you use that word which soundsever in my ears--'assassinated!' I have assassinated, then, and notexecuted! I am an assassin, then, and not an officer of justice!" and heclosed his eyes with a groan. 

The monk doubtless feared that he would die without saying more, for heexclaimed eagerly:

"Go on, I know nothing, as yet; when you have finished your story, Godand I will judge. "

"Oh, father, " continued the executioner, without opening his eyes, asif he feared on opening them to see some frightful object, "it isespecially when night comes on and when I have to cross a river, thatthis terror which I have been unable to conquer comes upon me; it thenseems as if my hand grew heavy, as if the cutlass was still in itsgrasp, as if the water had the color of blood, and all the voices ofnature--the whispering of the trees, the murmur of the wind, the lappingof the wave--united in a voice tearful, despairing, terrible, crying tome, 'Place for the justice of God!'"

"Delirium!" murmured the monk, shaking his head. 

The executioner opened his eyes, turned toward the young man and graspedhis arm. 

"'Delirium, '" he repeated; "'delirium, ' do you say? Oh, no! I remembertoo well. It was evening; I had thrown the body into the river andthose words which my remorse repeats to me are those which I in my pridepronounced. After being the instrument of human justice I aspired to bethat of the justice of God. "

"But let me see, how was it done? Speak, " said the monk. 

"It was at night. A man came to me and showed me an order and I followedhim. Four other noblemen awaited me. They led me away masked. I reservedthe right of refusing if the office they required of me should seemunjust. We traveled five or six leagues, serious, silent, and almostwithout speaking. At length, through the window of a little hut, theyshowed me a woman sitting, leaning on a table, and said, 'there is theperson to be executed. '"

"Horrible!" said the monk. "And you obeyed?"

"Father, that woman was a monster. It was said that she had poisoned hersecond husband; she had tried to assassinate her brother-in-law; shehad just poisoned a young woman who was her rival, and before leavingEngland she had, it was believed, caused the favorite of the king to bemurdered. "

"Buckingham?" cried the monk. 

"Yes, Buckingham. "

"The woman was English, then?"

"No, she was French, but she had married in England. "

The monk turned pale, wiped his brow and went and bolted the door. Theexecutioner thought that he had abandoned him and fell back, groaning, upon his bed. 

"No, no; I am here, " said the monk, quickly coming back to him. "Go on;who were those men?"

"One of them was a foreigner, English, I think. The four others wereFrench and wore the uniform of musketeers. "

"Their names?" asked the monk. 

"I don't know them, but the four other noblemen called the Englishman'my lord. '"

"Was the woman handsome?"

"Young and beautiful. Oh, yes, especially beautiful. I see her now, ason her knees at my feet, with her head thrown back, she begged for life. I have never understood how I could have laid low a head so beautiful, with a face so pale. "

The monk seemed agitated by a strange emotion; he trembled all over; heseemed eager to put a question which yet he dared not ask. At length, with a violent effort at self-control:

"The name of that woman?" he said. 

"I don't know what it was. As I have said, she was twice married, oncein France, the second time in England. "

"She was young, you say?"

"Twenty-five years old. "

"Beautiful?"

"Ravishingly. "

"Blond?"

"Yes. "

"Abundance of hair--falling over her shoulders?"

"Yes. "

"Eyes of an admirable expression?"

"When she chose. Oh, yes, it is she!"

"A voice of strange sweetness?"

"How do you know it?"

The executioner raised himself on his elbow and gazed with a frightenedair at the monk, who became livid. 

"And you killed her?" the monk exclaimed. "You were the tool of thosecowards who dared not kill her themselves? You had no pity for thatyouthfulness, that beauty, that weakness? you killed that woman?"

"Alas! I have already told you, father, that woman, under that angelicappearance, had an infernal soul, and when I saw her, when I recalledall the evil she had done to me----"

"To you? What could she have done to you? Come, tell me!"

"She had seduced and ruined my brother, a priest. She had fled with himfrom her convent. "

"With your brother?"

"Yes, my brother was her first lover, and she caused his death. Oh, father, do not look in that way at me! Oh, I am guilty, then; you willnot pardon me?"

The monk recovered his usual expression. 

"Yes, yes, " he said, "I will pardon you if you tell me all. "

"Oh!" cried the executioner, "all! all! all!"

"Answer, then. If she seduced your brother--you said she seduced him, did you not?"

"Yes. "

"If she caused his death--you said that she caused his death?"

"Yes, " repeated the executioner. 

"Then you must know what her name was as a young girl. "

"Oh, mon Dieu!" cried the executioner, "I think I am dying. Absolution, father! absolution. "

"Tell me her name and I will give it. "

"Her name was----My God, have pity on me!" murmured the executioner; andhe fell back on the bed, pale, trembling, and apparently about to die. 

"Her name!" repeated the monk, bending over him as if to tear from himthe name if he would not utter it; "her name! Speak, or no absolution!"

The dying man collected all his forces. 

The monk's eyes glittered. 

"Anne de Bueil, " murmured the wounded man. 

"Anne de Bueil!" cried the monk, standing up and lifting his hands toHeaven. "Anne de Bueil! You said Anne de Bueil, did you not?"

"Yes, yes, that was her name; and now absolve me, for I am dying. "

"I, absolve you!" cried the priest, with a laugh which made the dyingman's hair stand on end; "I, absolve you? I am not a priest. "

"You are not a priest!" cried the executioner. "What, then, are you?"

"I am about to tell you, wretched man. "

"Oh, mon Dieu!"

"I am John Francis de Winter. "

"I do not know you, " said the executioner. 

"Wait, wait; you are going to know me. I am John Francis de Winter, " herepeated, "and that woman----"

"Well, that woman?"

"Was my mother!"

The executioner uttered the first cry, that terrible cry which had beenfirst heard. 

"Oh, pardon me, pardon me!" he murmured; "if not in the name of God, atleast in your own name; if not as priest, then as son. "

"Pardon you!" cried the pretended monk, "pardon you! Perhaps God willpardon you, but I, never!"

"For pity's sake, " said the executioner, extending his arms. 

"No pity for him who had no pity! Die, impenitent, die in despair, dieand be damned!" And drawing a poniard from beneath his robe he thrust itinto the breast of the wounded man, saying, "Here is my absolution!"

Then was heard that second cry, not so loud as the first and followed bya long groan. 

The executioner, who had lifted himself up, fell back upon his bed. Asto the monk, without withdrawing the poniard from the wound, he ran tothe window, opened it, leaped out into the flowers of a small garden, glided onward to the stable, took out his mule, went out by a back gate, ran to a neighbouring thicket, threw off his monkish garb, took fromhis valise the complete habiliment of a cavalier, clothed himself in it, went on foot to the first post, secured there a horse and continued witha loose rein his journey to Paris. 

33. Grimaud Speaks. 

Grimaud was left alone with the executioner, who in a few moments openedhis eyes. 

"Help, help, " he murmured; "oh, God! have I not a single friend in theworld who will aid me either to live or to die?"

"Take courage, " said Grimaud; "they are gone to find assistance. "

"Who are you?" asked the wounded man, fixing his half opened eyes onGrimaud. 

"An old acquaintance, " replied Grimaud. 

"You?" and the wounded man sought to recall the features of the personnow before him. 

"Under what circumstances did we meet?" he asked again. 

"One night, twenty years ago, my master fetched you from Bethune andconducted you to Armentieres. "

"I know you well now, " said the executioner; "you were one of the fourgrooms. "

"Just so. "

"Where do you come from now?"

"I was passing by and drew up at this inn to rest my horse. They toldme the executioner of Bethune was here and wounded, when you uttered twopiercing cries. At the first we ran to the door and at the second forcedit open. "

"And the monk?" exclaimed the executioner, "did you see the monk?"

"What monk?"

"The monk that was shut in with me. "

"No, he was no longer here; he appears to have fled by the window. Washe the man that stabbed you?"

"Yes, " said the executioner. 

Grimaud moved as if to leave the room. 

"What are you going to do?" asked the wounded man. 

"He must be apprehended. "

"Do not attempt it; he has revenged himself and has done well. Now I mayhope that God will forgive me, since my crime is expiated. "

"Explain yourself. " said Grimaud. 

"The woman whom you and your masters commanded me to kill----"

"Milady?"

"Yes, Milady; it is true you called her thus. "

"What has the monk to do with this Milady?"

"She was his mother. "

Grimaud trembled and stared at the dying man in a dull and leadenmanner. 

"His mother!" he repeated. 

"Yes, his mother. "

"But does he know this secret, then?"

"I mistook him for a monk and revealed it to him in confession. "

"Unhappy man!" cried Grimaud, whose face was covered with sweat at thebare idea of the evil results such a revelation might cause; "unhappyman, you named no one, I hope?"

"I pronounced no name, for I knew none, except his mother's, as a younggirl, and it was by this name that he recognized her, but he knows thathis uncle was among her judges. "

Thus speaking, he fell back exhausted. Grimaud, wishing to relieve him, advanced his hand toward the hilt of the dagger. 

"Touch me not!" said the executioner; "if this dagger is withdrawn Ishall die. "

Grimaud remained with his hand extended; then, striking his forehead, heexclaimed:

"Oh! if this man should ever discover the names of the others, my masteris lost. "

"Haste! haste to him and warn him, " cried the wounded man, "if he stilllives; warn his friends, too. My death, believe me, will not be the endof this atrocious misadventure. "

"Where was the monk going?" asked Grimaud. 

"Toward Paris. "

"Who stopped him?"

"Two young gentlemen, who were on their way to join the army and thename of one of whom I heard his companion mention--the Viscount deBragelonne. "

"And it was this young man who brought the monk to you? Then it was thewill of God that it should be so and this it is which makes it all soawful, " continued Grimaud. "And yet that woman deserved her fate; do younot think so?"

"On one's death-bed the crimes of others appear very small in comparisonwith one's own, " said the executioner; and falling back exhausted heclosed his eyes. 

Grimaud was reluctant to leave the man alone and yet he perceived thenecessity of starting at once to bear these tidings to the Comte de laFere. Whilst he thus hesitated the host re-entered the room, followednot only by a surgeon, but by many other persons, whom curiosity hadattracted to the spot. The surgeon approached the dying man, who seemedto have fainted. 

"We must first extract the steel from the side, " said he, shaking hishead in a significant manner. 

The prophecy which the wounded man had just uttered recurred to Grimaud, who turned away his head. The weapon, as we have already stated, wasplunged into the body to the hilt, and as the surgeon, taking it by theend, drew it forth, the wounded man opened his eyes and fixed themon him in a manner truly frightful. When at last the blade had beenentirely withdrawn, a red froth issued from the mouth of the wounded manand a stream of blood spouted afresh from the wound when he at lengthdrew breath; then, fixing his eyes upon Grimaud with a singularexpression, the dying man uttered the last death-rattle and expired. 

Then Grimaud, lifting the dagger from the pool of blood which wasgliding along the room, to the horror of all present, made a sign to thehost to follow him, paid him with a generosity worthy of his master andagain mounted his horse. Grimaud's first intention had been to return toParis, but he remembered the anxiety which his prolonged absence mightoccasion Raoul, and reflecting that there were now only two milesbetween the vicomte and himself and a quarter of an hour's riding wouldunite them, and that the going, returning and explanation would notoccupy an hour, he put spurs to his horse and a few minutes after hadreached the only inn of Mazingarbe. 

Raoul was seated at table with the Count de Guiche and his tutor, when all at once the door opened and Grimaud presented himself, travel-stained, dirty, and sprinkled with the blood of the unhappyexecutioner. 

"Grimaud, my good Grimaud!" exclaimed Raoul "here you are at last!Excuse me, sirs, this is not a servant, but a friend. How did you leavethe count?" continued he. "Does he regret me a little? Have you seenhim since I left him? Answer, for I have many things to tell you, too;indeed, the last three days some odd adventures have happened--but whatis the matter? how pale you are! and blood, too! What is this?"

"It is the blood of the unfortunate man whom you left at the inn and whodied in my arms. "

"In your arms?--that man! but know you who he was?"

"He used to be the headsman of Bethune. "

"You knew him? and he is dead?"

"Yes. "

"Well, sir, " said D'Arminges, "it is the common lot; even an executioneris not exempted. I had a bad opinion of him the moment I saw his wound, and since he asked for a monk you know that it was his opinion, too, that death would follow. "

At the mention of the monk, Grimaud became pale. 

"Come, come, " continued D'Arminges, "to dinner;" for like most men ofhis age and generation he did not allow sentiment or sensibility tointerfere with a repast. 

"You are right, sir, " said Raoul. "Come, Grimaud, order dinner foryourself and when you have rested a little we can talk. "

"No, sir, no, " said Grimaud. "I cannot stop a moment; I must start forParis again immediately. "

"What? You start for Paris? You are mistaken; it is Olivain who leavesme; you are to remain. "

"On the contrary, Olivain is to stay and I am to go. I have come fornothing else but to tell you so. "

"But what is the meaning of this change?"

"I cannot tell you. "

"Explain yourself. "

"I cannot explain myself. "

"Come, tell me, what is the joke?"

"Monsieur le vicomte knows that I never joke. "

"Yes, but I know also that Monsieur le Comte de la Fere arranged thatyou were to remain with me and that Olivain should return to Paris. Ishall follow the count's directions. "

"Not under present circumstances, monsieur. "

"Perhaps you mean to disobey me?"

"Yes, monsieur, I must. "

"You persist, then?"

"Yes, I am going; may you be happy, monsieur, " and Grimaud saluted andturned toward the door to go out. 

Raoul, angry and at the same time uneasy, ran after him and seized himby the arm. "Grimaud!" he cried; "remain; I wish it. "

"Then, " replied Grimaud, "you wish me to allow monsieur le comte to bekilled. " He saluted and made a movement to depart. 

"Grimaud, my friend, " said the viscount, "will you leave me thus, insuch anxiety? Speak, speak, in Heaven's name!" And Raoul fell backtrembling upon his chair. 

"I can tell you but one thing, sir, for the secret you wish to know isnot my own. You met a monk, did you not?"

"Yes. "

The young men looked at each other with an expression of fear. 

"You conducted him to the wounded man and you had time to observe him, and perhaps you would know him again were you to meet him. "

"Yes, yes!" cried both young men. 

"Very well; if ever you meet him again, wherever it may be, whether onthe high road or in the street or in a church, anywhere that he or youmay be, put your foot on his neck and crush him without pity, withoutmercy, as you would crush a viper or a scorpion! destroy him utterly andquit him not until he is dead; the lives of five men are not safe, in myopinion, as long as he is on the earth. "

And without adding another word, Grimaud, profiting by the astonishmentand terror into which he had thrown his auditors, rushed from the room. Two minutes later the thunder of a horse's hoofs was heard upon theroad; it was Grimaud, on his way to Paris. When once in the saddleGrimaud reflected on two things; first, that at the pace he was goinghis horse would not carry him ten miles, and secondly, that he had nomoney. But Grimaud's ingenuity was more prolific than his speech, and therefore at the first halt he sold his steed and with the moneyobtained from the purchase took post horses. 

34. On the Eve of Battle. 

Raoul was aroused from his sombre reflections by his host, who rushedinto the apartment crying out, "The Spaniards! the Spaniards!"

That cry was of such importance as to overcome all preoccupation. Theyoung men made inquiries and ascertained that the enemy was advancing byway of Houdin and Bethune. 

While Monsieur d'Arminges gave orders for the horses to be made readyfor departure, the two young men ascended to the upper windows of thehouse and saw in the direction of Marsin and of Lens a large bodyof infantry and cavalry. This time it was not a wandering troop ofpartisans; it was an entire army. There was therefore nothing for themto do but to follow the prudent advice of Monsieur d'Arminges and beata retreat. They quickly went downstairs. Monsieur d'Arminges was alreadymounted. Olivain had ready the horses of the young men, and the lackeysof the Count de Guiche guarded carefully between them the Spanishprisoner, mounted on a pony which had been bought for his use. As afurther precaution they had bound his hands. 

The little company started off at a trot on the road to Cambrin, wherethey expected to find the prince. But he was no longer there, havingwithdrawn on the previous evening to La Bassee, misled by falseintelligence of the enemy's movements. Deceived by this intelligence hehad concentrated his forces between Vieille-Chapelle and La Venthie; andafter a reconnoissance along the entire line, in company with Marshalde Grammont, he had returned and seated himself before a table, withhis officers around him. He questioned them as to the news they hadeach been charged to obtain, but nothing positive had been learned. Thehostile army had disappeared two days before and seemed to have gone outof existence. 

Now an enemy is never so near and consequently so threatening, as whenhe has completely disappeared. The prince was, therefore, contrary tohis custom, gloomy and anxious, when an officer entered and announced toMarshal de Grammont that some one wished to see him. 

The Duc de Grammont received permission from the prince by a glance andwent out. The prince followed him with his eyes and continued looking atthe door; no one ventured to speak, for fear of disturbing him. 

Suddenly a dull and heavy noise was heard. The prince leaped to hisfeet, extending his hand in the direction whence came the sound, therewas no mistaking it--it was the noise of cannon. Every one stood up. 

At that moment the door opened. 

"Monseigneur, " said Marshal de Grammont, with a radiant face, "will yourhighness permit my son, Count de Guiche, and his traveling companion, Viscount de Bragelonne, to come in and give news of the enemy, whom theyhave found while we were looking for him?"

"What!" eagerly replied the prince, "will I permit? I not only permit, Idesire; let them come in. "

The marshal introduced the two young men and placed them face to facewith the prince. 

"Speak, gentlemen, " said the prince, saluting them; "first speak; weshall have time afterward for the usual compliments. The most urgentthing now is to learn where the enemy is and what he is doing. "

It fell naturally to the Count de Guiche to make reply; not only washe the elder, but he had been presented to the prince by his father. Besides, he had long known the prince, whilst Raoul now saw him for thefirst time. He therefore narrated to the prince what they had seen fromthe inn at Mazingarbe. 

Meanwhile Raoul closely observed the young general, already made sofamous by the battles of Rocroy, Fribourg, and Nordlingen. 

Louis de Bourbon, Prince de Conde, who, since the death of his father, Henri de Bourbon, was called, in accordance with the custom of thatperiod, Monsieur le Prince, was a young man, not more than twenty-six ortwenty-seven years old, with the eye of an eagle--agl' occhi grifani, as Dante says--aquiline nose, long, waving hair, of medium height, well formed, possessed of all the qualities essential to the successfulsoldier--that is to say, the rapid glance, quick decision, fabulouscourage. At the same time he was a man of elegant manners and strongmind, so that in addition to the revolution he had made in war, byhis new contributions to its methods, he had also made a revolution atParis, among the young noblemen of the court, whose natural chief he wasand who, in distinction from the social leaders of the ancient court, modeled after Bassompierre, Bellegarde and the Duke d'Angouleme, werecalled the petits-maitres. 

At the first words of the Count de Guiche, the prince, having inmind the direction whence came the sound of cannon, had understoodeverything. The enemy was marching upon Lens, with the intention, doubtless, of securing possession of that town and separating fromFrance the army of France. But in what force was the enemy? Was ita corps sent out to make a diversion? Was it an entire army? To thisquestion De Guiche could not respond. 

Now, as these questions involved matters of gravest consequence, itwas these to which the prince had especially desired an answer, exact, precise, positive. 

Raoul conquered the very natural feeling of timidity he experienced andapproaching the prince:

"My lord, " he said, "will you permit me to hazard a few words on thatsubject, which will perhaps relieve you of your uncertainty?"

The prince turned and seemed to cover the young man with a singleglance; he smiled on perceiving that he was a child hardly fifteen yearsold. 

"Certainly, monsieur, speak, " he said, softening his stern, accentedtones, as if he were speaking to a woman. 

"My lord, " said Raoul, blushing, "might examine the Spanish prisoner. "

"Have you a Spanish prisoner?" cried the prince. 

"Yes, my lord. "

"Ah, that is true, " said De Guiche; "I had forgotten it. "

"That is easily understood; it was you who took him, count, " said Raoul, smiling. 

The old marshal turned toward the viscount, grateful for that praise ofhis son, whilst the prince exclaimed:

"The young man is right; let the prisoner be brought in. "

Meanwhile the prince took De Guiche aside and asked him how the prisonerhad been taken and who this young man was. 

"Monsieur, " said the prince, turning toward Raoul, "I know that you havea letter from my sister, Madame de Longueville; but I see that you havepreferred commending yourself to me by giving me good counsel. "

"My lord, " said Raoul, coloring up, "I did not wish to interrupt yourhighness in a conversation so important as that in which you wereengaged with the count. But here is the letter. "

"Very well, " said the prince; "give it to me later. Here is theprisoner; let us attend to what is most pressing. "

The prisoner was one of those military adventurers who sold their bloodto whoever would buy, and grew old in stratagems and spoils. Since hehad been taken he had not uttered a word, so that it was not known towhat country he belonged. The prince looked at him with unspeakabledistrust. 

"Of what country are you?" asked the prince. 

The prisoner muttered a few words in a foreign tongue. 

"Ah! ah! it seems that he is a Spaniard. Do you speak Spanish, Grammont?"

"Faith, my lord, but indifferently. "

"And I not at all, " said the prince, laughing. "Gentlemen, " he said, turning to those who were near him "can any one of you speak Spanish andserve me as interpreter?"

"I can, my lord, " said Raoul. 

"Ah, you speak Spanish?"

"Enough, I think, to fulfill your highness's wishes on this occasion. "

Meanwhile the prisoner had remained impassive and as if he had nounderstanding of what was taking place. 

"My lord asks of what country you are, " said the young man, in thepurest Castilian. 

"Ich bin ein Deutscher, " replied the prisoner. 

"What in the devil does he say?" asked the prince. "What new gibberishis that?"

"He says he is German, my lord, " replied Raoul; "but I doubt it, for hisaccent is bad and his pronunciation defective. "

"Then you speak German, also?" asked the prince. 

"Yes, my lord. "

"Well enough to question him in that language?"

"Yes, my lord. "

"Question him, then. "

Raoul began the examination, but the result justified his opinion. Theprisoner did not understand, or seemed not to understand, what Raoulsaid to him; and Raoul could hardly understand his replies, containinga mixture of Flemish and Alsatian. However, amidst all the prisoner'sefforts to elude a systematic examination, Raoul had recognized hisnatural accent. 

"Non siete Spagnuolo, " he said; "non siete Tedesco; siete Italiano. "

The prisoner started and bit his lips. 

"Ah, that, " said the prince, "I understand that language thoroughly; andsince he is Italian I will myself continue the examination. Thank you, viscount, " continued the prince, laughing, "and I appoint you from thismoment my interpreter. "

But the prisoner was not less unwilling to respond in Italian than inthe other languages; his aim was to elude the examination. Therefore, heknew nothing either of the enemy's numbers, or of those in command, orof the purpose of the army. 

"Very good, " said the prince, understanding the reason of thatignorance; "the man was caught in the act of assassination and robbery;he might have purchased his life by speaking; he doesn't wish to speak. Take him out and shoot him. "

The prisoner turned pale. The two soldiers who had brought him in tookhim, each by one arm, and led him toward the door, whilst the prince, turning to Marshal de Grammont, seemed to have already forgotten theorder he had given. 

When he reached the threshold of the door the prisoner stopped. Thesoldiers, who knew only their orders, attempted to force him along. 

"One moment, " said the prisoner, in French. "I am ready to speak, mylord. "

"Ah! ah!" said the prince, laughing, "I thought we should come to that. I have a sure method of limbering tongues. Young men, take advantage ofit against the time when you may be in command. "

"But on condition, " continued the prisoner, "that your highness willswear that my life shall be safe. "

"Upon my honor, " said the prince. 

"Question, then, my lord. "

"Where did the army cross the Lys?"

"Between Saint-Venant and Aire. "

"By whom is it commanded?"

"By Count de Fuonsaldagna, General Beck and the archduke. "

"Of how many does it consist?"

"Eighteen thousand men and thirty-six cannon. "

"And its aim is?"

"Lens. "

"You see; gentlemen!" said the prince, turning with a triumphant airtoward Marshal de Grammont and the other officers. 

"Yes, my lord, " said the marshal, "you have divined all that waspossible to human genius. "

"Recall Le Plessis, Bellievre, Villequier and D'Erlac, " said the prince, "recall all the troops that are on this side of the Lys. Let them holdthemselves in readiness to march to-night. To-morrow, according to allprobability, we shall attack the enemy. "

"But, my lord, " said Marshal de Grammont, "consider that when we havecollected all our forces we shall have hardly thirteen thousand men. "

"Monsieur le marechal, " said the prince, with that wonderful glance thatwas peculiar to him, "it is with small armies that great battles arewon. "

Then turning toward the prisoner, "Take away that man, " he said, "andkeep him carefully in sight. His life is dependent on the informationhe has given us; if it is true, he shall be free; if false, let him beshot. "

The prisoner was led away. 

"Count de Guiche, " said the prince, "it is a long time since you sawyour father, remain here with him. Monsieur, " he continued, addressingRaoul, "if you are not too tired, follow me. "

"To the end of the world, my lord!" cried Raoul, feeling an unknownenthusiasm for that young general, who seemed to him so worthy of hisrenown. 

The prince smiled; he despised flatterers, but he appreciatedenthusiasts. 

"Come, monsieur, " he said, "you are good in council, as we have alreadydiscovered; to-morrow we shall know if you are good in action. "

"And I, " said the marshal, "what am I to do?"

"Wait here to receive the troops. I shall either return for them myselfor shall send a courier directing you to bring them to me. Twentyguards, well mounted, are all that I shall need for my escort. "

"That is very few, " said the marshal. 

"It is enough, " replied the prince. "Have you a good horse, Monsieur deBragelonne?"

"My horse was killed this morning, my lord, and I am mountedprovisionally on my lackey's. "

"Choose for yourself in my stables the horse you like best. No falsemodesty; take the best horse you can find. You will need it thisevening, perhaps; you will certainly need it to-morrow. "

Raoul didn't wait to be told twice; he knew that with superiors, especially when those superiors are princes, the highest politeness isto obey without delay or argument; he went down to the stables, pickedout a pie-bald Andalusian horse, saddled and bridled it himself, forAthos had advised him to trust no one with those important offices ata time of danger, and went to rejoin the prince, who at that momentmounted his horse. 

"Now, monsieur, " he said to Raoul, "will you give me the letter you havebrought?"

Raoul handed the letter to the prince. 

"Keep near me, " said the latter. 

The prince threw his bridle over the pommel of the saddle, as he waswont to do when he wished to have both hands free, unsealed the letterof Madame de Longueville and started at a gallop on the road to Lens, attended by Raoul and his small escort, whilst messengers sent to recallthe troops set out with a loose rein in other directions. The princeread as he hastened on. 

"Monsieur, " he said, after a moment, "they tell me great things of you. I have only to say, after the little that I have seen and heard, that Ithink even better of you than I have been told. "

Raoul bowed. 

Meanwhile, as the little troop drew nearer to Lens, the noise of thecannon sounded louder. The prince kept his gaze fixed in the directionof the sound with the steadfastness of a bird of prey. One would havesaid that his gaze could pierce the branches of trees which limitedhis horizon. From time to time his nostrils dilated as if eager for thesmell of powder, and he panted like a horse. 

At length they heard the cannon so near that it was evident they werewithin a league of the field of battle, and at a turn of the road theyperceived the little village of Aunay. 

The peasants were in great commotion. The report of Spanish crueltyhad gone out and every one was frightened. The women had already fled, taking refuge in Vitry; only a few men remained. On seeing the princethey hastened to meet him. One of them recognized him. 

"Ah, my lord, " he said, "have you come to drive away those rascalSpaniards and those Lorraine robbers?"

"Yes, " said the prince, "if you will serve me as guide. "

"Willingly, my lord. Where does your highness wish to go?"

"To some elevated spot whence I can look down on Lens and thesurrounding country----"

"In that case, I'm your man. "

"I can trust you--you are a true Frenchman?"

"I am an old soldier of Rocroy, my lord. "

"Here, " said the prince, handing him a purse, "here is for Rocroy. Now, do you want a horse, or will you go afoot?"

"Afoot, my lord; I have served always in the infantry. Besides, I expectto lead your highness into places where you will have to walk. "

"Come, then, " said the prince; "let us lose no time. "

The peasant started off, running before the prince's horse; then, ahundred steps from the village, he took a narrow road hidden at thebottom of the valley. For a half league they proceeded thus, thecannon-shot sounding so near that they expected at each discharge tohear the hum of the balls. At length they entered a path which, goingout from the road, skirted the mountainside. The prince dismounted, ordered one of his aids and Raoul to follow his example, and directedthe others to await his orders, keeping themselves meanwhile on thealert. He then began to ascend the path. 

In about ten minutes they reached the ruins of an old chateau; thoseruins crowned the summit of a hill which overlooked the surroundingcountry. At a distance of hardly a quarter of a league they looked downon Lens, at bay, and before Lens the enemy's entire army. 

With a single glance the prince took in the extent of country that laybefore him, from Lens as far as Vimy. In a moment the plan of the battlewhich on the following day was to save France the second time frominvasion was unrolled in his mind. He took a pencil, tore a page fromhis tablets and wrote:

"My Dear Marshal, --In an hour Lens will be in the enemy's possession. Come and rejoin me; bring with you the whole army. I shall be at Vendinto place it in position. To-morrow we shall retake Lens and beat theenemy. "

Then, turning toward Raoul: "Go, monsieur, " he said; "ride fast and givethis letter to Monsieur de Grammont. "

Raoul bowed, took the letter, went hastily down the mountain, leapedon his horse and set out at a gallop. A quarter of an hour later he waswith the marshal. 

A portion of the troops had already arrived and the remainder wasexpected from moment to moment. Marshal de Grammont put himself at thehead of all the available cavalry and infantry and took the road toVendin, leaving the Duc de Chatillon to await and bring on the rest. Allthe artillery was ready to move, and started off at a moment's notice. 

It was seven o'clock in the evening when the marshal arrived at theappointed place. The prince awaited him there. As he had foreseen, Lens had fallen into the hands of the enemy immediately after Raoul'sdeparture. The event was announced by the cessation of the firing. 

As the shadows of night deepened the troops summoned by the princearrived in successive detachments. Orders were given that no drum shouldbe beaten, no trumpet sounded. 

At nine o'clock the night had fully come. Still a last ray of twilightlighted the plain. The army marched silently, the prince at the headof the column. Presently the army came in sight of Lens; two or threehouses were in flames and a dull noise was heard which indicated whatsuffering was endured by a town taken by assault. 

The prince assigned to every one his post. Marshal de Grammont wasto hold the extreme left, resting on Mericourt. The Duc de Chatilloncommanded the centre. Finally, the prince led the right wing, resting onAunay. The order of battle on the morrow was to be that of the positionstaken in the evening. Each one, on awaking, would find himself on thefield of battle. 

The movement was executed in silence and with precision. At ten o'clockevery one was in his appointed position; at half-past ten the princevisited the posts and gave his final orders for the following day. 

Three things were especially urged upon the officers, who were tosee that the soldiers observed them scrupulously: the first, that thedifferent corps should so march that cavalry and infantry should be onthe same line and that each body should protect its gaps; the second, togo to the charge no faster than a walk; the third, to let the enemy firefirst. 

The prince assigned the Count de Guiche to his father and keptBragelonne near his own person; but the two young men sought theprivilege of passing the night together and it was accorded them. A tentwas erected for them near that of the marshal. 

Although the day had been fatiguing, neither of them was inclined tosleep. And besides, even for old soldiers the evening before a battle isa serious time; it was so with greater reason to two young men who wereabout to witness for the first time that terrible spectacle. On theevening before a battle one thinks of a thousand things forgotten tillthen; those who are indifferent to one another become friends and thosewho are friends become brothers. It need not be said that if in thedepths of the heart there is a sentiment more tender, it reaches then, quite naturally, the highest exaltation of which it is capable. Somesentiment of this kind must have been cherished by each one of these twofriends, for each of them almost immediately sat down by himself at anend of the tent and began to write. 

The letters were long--the four pages were covered with closely writtenwords. The writers sometimes looked up at each other and smiled; theyunderstood without speaking, their organizations were so delicate andsympathetic. The letters being finished, each put his own into twoenvelopes, so that no one, without tearing the first envelope, coulddiscover to whom the second was addressed; then they drew near to eachother and smilingly exchanged their letters. 

"In case any evil should happen to me, " said Bragelonne. 

"In case I should be killed, " said De Guiche. 

They then embraced each other like two brothers, and each wrappinghimself in his cloak they soon passed into that kindly sleep of youthwhich is the prerogative of birds, flowers and infants. 

35. A Dinner in the Old Style. 

The second interview between the former musketeers was not so formal andthreatening as the first. Athos, with his superior understanding, wiselydeemed that the supper table would be the most complete and satisfactorypoint of reunion, and at the moment when his friends, in deferenceto his deportment and sobriety, dared scarcely speak of some of theirformer good dinners, he was the first to propose that they shouldall assemble around some well spread table and abandon themselvesunreservedly to their own natural character and manners--a freedom whichhad formerly contributed so much to that good understanding between themwhich gave them the name of the inseparables. For different reasons thiswas an agreeable proposition to them all, and it was therefore agreedthat each should leave a very exact address and that upon the requestof any of the associates a meeting should be convoked at a famous eatinghouse in the Rue de la Monnaie, of the sign of the Hermitage. The firstrendezvous was fixed for the following Wednesday, at eight o'clock inthe evening precisely. 

On that day, in fact, the four friends arrived punctually at the hour, each from his own abode or occupation. Porthos had been trying a newhorse; D'Artagnan was on guard at the Louvre; Aramis had been to visitone of his penitents in the neighborhood; and Athos, whose domicilewas established in the Rue Guenegaud, found himself close at hand. Theywere, therefore, somewhat surprised to meet altogether at the door ofthe Hermitage, Athos starting out from the Pont Neuf, Porthos by the Ruede la Roule, D'Artagnan by the Rue des Fosse Saint Germain l'Auxerrois, and Aramis by the Rue de Bethisy. 

The first words exchanged between the four friends, on account of theceremony which each of them mingled with their demonstration, weresomewhat forced and even the repast began with a kind of stiffness. Athos perceived this embarrassment, and by way of supplying an effectualremedy, called for four bottles of champagne. 

At this order, given in Athos's habitually calm manner, the face of theGascon relaxed and Porthos's brow grew smooth. Aramis was astonished. He knew that Athos not only never drank, but more, that he had a kind ofrepugnance to wine. This astonishment was doubled when Aramis sawAthos fill a bumper and toss it off with all his former enthusiasm. Hiscompanions followed his example. In a very few minutes the four bottleswere empty and this excellent specific succeeded in dissipating even theslightest cloud that might have rested on their spirits. Now the fourfriends began to speak loud, scarcely waiting till one had finishedbefore another began, and each assumed his favorite attitude on or atthe table. Soon--strange fact--Aramis undid two buttons of his doublet, seeing which, Porthos unfastened his entirely. 

Battles, long journeys, blows given and received, sufficed for the firstthemes of conversation, which turned upon the silent struggles sustainedagainst him who was now called the great cardinal. 

"Faith, " said Aramis, laughing, "we have praised the dead enough, letus revile the living a little; I should like to say something evil ofMazarin; is it permissible?"

"Go on, go on, " replied D'Artagnan, laughing heartily; "relate yourstory and I will applaud it if it is a good one. "

"A great prince, " said Aramis, "with whom Mazarin sought an alliance, was invited by him to send him a list of the conditions on which hewould do him the honor to negotiate with him. The prince, who had agreat repugnance to treat with such an ill-bred fellow, made out a list, against the grain, and sent it. In this list there were three conditionswhich displeased Mazarin and he offered the prince ten thousand crownsto renounce them. "

"Ah, ha, ha!" laughed the three friends, "not a bad bargain; and therewas no fear of being taken at his word; what did the prince do then?"

"The prince immediately sent fifty thousand francs to Mazarin, begginghim never to write to him again, and offered twenty thousand francsmore, on condition that he would never speak to him. What did Mazarindo?"

"Stormed!" suggested Athos. 

"Beat the messenger!" cried Porthos. 

"Accepted the money!" said D'Artagnan. 

"You have guessed it, " answered Aramis; and they all laughed so heartilythat the host appeared in order to inquire whether the gentlemen wantedanything; he thought they were fighting. 

At last their hilarity calmed down and:

"Faith!" exclaimed D'Artagnan to the two friends, "you may well wish illto Mazarin; for I assure you, on his side he wishes you no good. "

"Pooh! really?" asked Athos. "If I thought the fellow knew me by my nameI would be rebaptized, for fear it might be thought I knew him. "

"He knows you better by your actions than your name; he is quite awarethat there are two gentlemen who greatly aided the escape of Monsieur deBeaufort, and he has instigated an active search for them, I can answerfor it. "

"By whom?"

"By me; and this morning he sent for me to ask me if I had obtained anyinformation. "

"And what did you reply?"

"That I had none as yet; but that I was to dine to-day with twogentlemen, who would be able to give me some. "

"You told him that?" said Porthos, a broad smile spreading over hishonest face. "Bravo! and you are not afraid of that, Athos?"

"No, " replied Athos, "it is not the search of Mazarin that I fear. "

"Now, " said Aramis, "tell me a little what you do fear. "

"Nothing for the present; at least, nothing in good earnest. "

"And with regard to the past?" asked Porthos. 

"Oh! the past is another thing, " said Athos, sighing; "the past and thefuture. "

"Are you afraid for your young Raoul?" asked Aramis. 

"Well, " said D'Artagnan, "one is never killed in a first engagement. "

"Nor in the second, " said Aramis

"Nor in the third, " returned Porthos; "and even when one is killed, onerises again, the proof of which is, that here we are!"

"No, " said Athos, "it is not Raoul about whom I am anxious, for I trusthe will conduct himself like a gentleman; and if he is killed--well, he will die bravely; but hold--should such a misfortune happen--well--"Athos passed his hand across his pale brow. 

"Well?" asked Aramis. 

"Well, I shall look upon it as an expiation. "

"Ah!" said D'Artagnan; "I know what you mean. "

"And I, too, " added Aramis; "but you must not think of that, Athos; whatis past, is past. "

"I don't understand, " said Porthos. 

"The affair at Armentieres, " whispered D'Artagnan. 

"The affair at Armentieres?" asked he again. 

"Milady. "

"Oh, yes!" said Porthos; "true, I had forgotten it!"

Athos looked at him intently. 

"You have forgotten it, Porthos?" said he. 

"Faith! yes, it is so long ago, " answered Porthos. 

"This affair does not, then, weigh upon your conscience?"

"Faith, no. "

"And you, D'Artagnan?"

"I--I own that when my mind returns to that terrible period I have norecollection of anything but the rigid corpse of poor Madame Bonancieux. Yes, yes, " murmured he, "I have often felt regret for the victim, butnever the very slightest remorse for the assassin. "

Athos shook his dead doubtfully. 

"Consider, " said Aramis, "if you admit divine justice and itsparticipation in the things of this world, that woman was punished bythe will of heaven. We were but the instruments, that is all. "

"But as to free will, Aramis?"

"How acts the judge? He has a free will, yet he fearlessly condemns. What does the executioner? He is master of his arm, yet he strikeswithout remorse. "

"The executioner!" muttered Athos, as if arrested by some recollection. 

"I know that it is terrible, " said D'Artagnan; "but when I reflect thatwe have killed English, Rochellais, Spaniards, nay, even French, whonever did us any other harm but to aim at and to miss us, whose onlyfault was to cross swords with us and to be unable to ward off ourblows--I can, on my honor, find an excuse for my share in the murder ofthat woman. "

"As for me, " said Porthos, "now that you have reminded me of it, Athos, I have the scene again before me, as if I now were there. Milady wasthere, as it were, where you sit. " (Athos changed color. ) "I--Iwas where D'Artagnan stands. I wore a long sword which cut like aDamascus--you remember it, Aramis for you always called it Balizarde. Well, I swear to you, all three, that had the executioner ofBethune--was he not of Bethune?--yes, egad! of Bethune!--not been there, I would have cut off the head of that infamous being without thinking ofit, or even after thinking of it. She was a most atrocious woman. "

"And then, " said Aramis, with the tone of philosophical indifferencewhich he had assumed since he had belonged to the church and in whichthere was more atheism than confidence in God, "what is the use ofthinking of it all? At the last hour we must confess this action andGod knows better than we can whether it is a crime, a fault, or ameritorious deed. I repent of it? Egad! no. Upon my honor and by theholy cross; I only regret it because she was a woman. "

"The most satisfactory part of the matter, " said D'Artagnan, "is thatthere remains no trace of it. "

"She had a son, " observed Athos. 

"Oh! yes, I know that, " said D'Artagnan, "and you mentioned it to me;but who knows what has become of him? If the serpent be dead, why notits brood? Do you think his uncle De Winter would have brought up thatyoung viper? De Winter probably condemned the son as he had done themother. "

"Then, " said Athos, "woe to De Winter, for the child had done no harm. "

"May the devil take me, if the child be not dead, " said Porthos. "Thereis so much fog in that detestable country, at least so D'Artagnandeclares. "

Just as the quaint conclusion reached by Porthos was about to bring backhilarity to faces now more or less clouded, hasty footsteps were heardupon the stair and some one knocked at the door. 

"Come in, " cried Athos. 

"Please your honors, " said the host, "a person in a great hurry wishesto speak to one of you. "

"To which of us?" asked all the four friends. 

"To him who is called the Comte de la Fere. "

"It is I, " said Athos, "and what is the name of the person?"

"Grimaud. "

"Ah!" exclaimed Athos, turning pale. "Back already! What can havehappened, then, to Bragelonne?"

"Let him enter, " cried D'Artagnan; "let him come up. "

But Grimaud had already mounted the staircase and was waiting on thelast step; so springing into the room he motioned the host to leave it. The door being closed, the four friends waited in expectation. Grimaud'sagitation, his pallor, the sweat which covered his face, the dust whichsoiled his clothes, all indicated that he was the messenger of someimportant and terrible news. 

"Your honors, " said he, "that woman had a child; that child has becomea man; the tigress had a little one, the tiger has roused himself; he isready to spring upon you--beware!"

Athos glanced around at his friends with a melancholy smile. Porthosturned to look at his sword, which was hanging on the wall; Aramisseized his knife; D'Artagnan arose. 

"What do you mean, Grimaud?" he exclaimed. 

"That Milady's son has left England, that he is in France, on his roadto Paris, if he be not here already. "

"The devil he is!" said Porthos. "Are you sure of it?"

"Certain, " replied Grimaud. 

This announcement was received in silence. Grimaud was so breathless, soexhausted, that he had fallen back upon a chair. Athos filled a beakerwith champagne and gave it to him. 

"Well, after all, " said D'Artagnan, "supposing that he lives, that hecomes to Paris; we have seen many other such. Let him come. "

"Yes, " echoed Porthos, glancing affectionately at his sword, stillhanging on the wall; "we can wait for him; let him come. "

"Moreover, he is but a child, " said Aramis. 

Grimaud rose. 

"A child!" he exclaimed. "Do you know what he has done, this child?Disguised as a monk he discovered the whole history in confession fromthe executioner of Bethune, and having confessed him, after havinglearned everything from him, he gave him absolution by planting thisdagger into his heart. See, it is on fire yet with his hot blood, for itis not thirty hours since it was drawn from the wound. "

And Grimaud threw the dagger on the table. 

D'Artagnan, Porthos and Aramis rose and in one spontaneous motion rushedto their swords. Athos alone remained seated, calm and thoughtful. 

"And you say he is dressed as a monk, Grimaud?"

"Yes, as an Augustine monk. "

"What sized man is he?"

"About my height; thin, pale, with light blue eyes and tawny flaxenhair. "

"And he did not see Raoul?" asked Athos. 

"Yes, on the contrary, they met, and it was the viscount himself whoconducted him to the bed of the dying man. "

Athos, in his turn, rising without speaking, went and unhooked hissword. 

"Heigh, sir, " said D'Artagnan, trying to laugh, "do you know we lookvery much like a flock of silly, mouse-evading women! How is it that we, four men who have faced armies without blinking, begin to tremble at themention of a child?"

"It is true, " said Athos, "but this child comes in the name of Heaven. "

And very soon they left the inn. 

36. A Letter from Charles the First. 

The reader must now cross the Seine with us and follow us to the door ofthe Carmelite Convent in the Rue Saint Jacques. It is eleven o'clock inthe morning and the pious sisters have just finished saying mass for thesuccess of the armies of King Charles I. Leaving the church, a woman anda young girl dressed in black, the one as a widow and the other as anorphan, have re-entered their cell. 

The woman kneels on a prie-dieu of painted wood and at a short distancefrom her stands the young girl, leaning against a chair, weeping. 

The woman must have once been handsome, but traces of sorrow have agedher. The young girl is lovely and her tears only embellish her; the ladyappears to be about forty years of age, the girl about fourteen. 

"Oh, God!" prayed the kneeling suppliant, "protect my husband, guard myson, and take my wretched life instead!"

"Oh, God!" murmured the girl, "leave me my mother!"

"Your mother can be of no use to you in this world, Henrietta, " saidthe lady, turning around. "Your mother has no longer either throne orhusband; she has neither son, money nor friends; the whole world, mypoor child, has abandoned your mother!" And she fell back, weeping, intoher daughter's arms. 

"Courage, take courage, my dear mother!" said the girl. 

"Ah! 'tis an unfortunate year for kings, " said the mother. "And no onethinks of us in this country, for each must think about his own affairs. As long as your brother was with me he kept me up; but he is gone andcan no longer send us news of himself, either to me or to your father. I have pledged my last jewels, sold your clothes and my own to pay hisservants, who refused to accompany him unless I made this sacrifice. Weare now reduced to live at the expense of these daughters of Heaven; weare the poor, succored by God. "

"But why not address yourself to your sister, the queen?" asked thegirl. 

"Alas! the queen, my sister, is no longer queen, my child. Anotherreigns in her name. One day you will be able to understand how all thisis. "

"Well, then, to the king, your nephew. Shall I speak to him? You knowhow much he loves me, my mother. 

"Alas! my nephew is not yet king, and you know Laporte has told ustwenty times that he himself is in need of almost everything. "

"Then let us pray to Heaven, " said the girl. 

The two women who thus knelt in united prayer were the daughter andgrand-daughter of Henry IV. , the wife and daughter of Charles I. 

They had just finished their double prayer, when a nun softly tapped atthe door of the cell. 

"Enter, my sister, " said the queen. 

"I trust your majesty will pardon this intrusion on her meditations, but a foreign lord has arrived from England and waits in the parlor, demanding the honor of presenting a letter to your majesty. "

"Oh, a letter! a letter from the king, perhaps. News from your father, do you hear, Henrietta? And the name of this lord?"

"Lord de Winter. "

"Lord de Winter!" exclaimed the queen, "the friend of my husband. Oh, bid him enter!"

And the queen advanced to meet the messenger, whose hand she seizedaffectionately, whilst he knelt down and presented a letter to her, contained in a case of gold. 

"Ah! my lord!" said the queen, "you bring us three things which we havenot seen for a long time. Gold, a devoted friend, and a letter from theking, our husband and master. "

De Winter bowed again, unable to reply from excess of emotion. 

On their side the mother and daughter retired into the embrasure of awindow to read eagerly the following letter:

"Dear Wife, --We have now reached the moment of decision. I haveconcentrated here at Naseby camp all the resources Heaven has left me, and I write to you in haste from thence. Here I await the army of myrebellious subjects. I am about to struggle for the last time with them. If victorious, I shall continue the struggle; if beaten, I am lost. Ishall try, in the latter case (alas! in our position, one must providefor everything), I shall try to gain the coast of France. But can they, will they receive an unhappy king, who will bring such a sad storyinto a country already agitated by civil discord? Your wisdom and youraffection must serve me as guides. The bearer of this letter will tellyou, madame, what I dare not trust to pen and paper and the risks oftransit. He will explain to you the steps that I expect you to pursue. Icharge him also with my blessing for my children and with the sentimentsof my soul for yourself, my dearest sweetheart. "

The letter bore the signature, not of "Charles, King, " but of"Charles--still king. "

"And let him be no longer king, " cried the queen. "Let him be conquered, exiled, proscribed, provided he still lives. Alas! in these days thethrone is too dangerous a place for me to wish him to retain it. But mylord, tell me, " she continued, "hide nothing from me--what is, in truth, the king's position? Is it as hopeless as he thinks?"

"Alas! madame, more hopeless than he thinks. His majesty has so gooda heart that he cannot understand hatred; is so loyal that he does notsuspect treason! England is torn in twain by a spirit of disturbancewhich, I greatly fear, blood alone can exorcise. "

"But Lord Montrose, " replied the queen, "I have heard of his great andrapid successes of battles gained. I heard it said that he was marchingto the frontier to join the king. "

"Yes, madame; but on the frontier he was met by Lesly; he had triedvictory by means of superhuman undertakings. Now victory has abandonedhim. Montrose, beaten at Philiphaugh, was obliged to disperse theremains of his army and to fly, disguised as a servant. He is at Bergen, in Norway. "

"Heaven preserve him!" said the queen. "It is at least a consolation toknow that some who have so often risked their lives for us are safe. Andnow, my lord, that I see how hopeless the position of the king is, tellme with what you are charged on the part of my royal husband. "

"Well, then, madame, " said De Winter, "the king wishes you to try anddiscover the dispositions of the king and queen toward him. "

"Alas! you know that even now the king is but a child and the queen awoman weak enough. Here, Monsieur Mazarin is everything. "

"Does he desire to play the part in France that Cromwell plays inEngland?"

"Oh, no! He is a subtle, conscienceless Italian, who though he verylikely dreams of crime, dares not commit it; and unlike Cromwell, whodisposes of both Houses, Mazarin has had the queen to support him in hisstruggle with the parliament. "

"More reason, then, he should protect a king pursued by parliament. "

The queen shook her head despairingly. 

"If I judge for myself, my lord, " she said, "the cardinal will donothing, and will even, perhaps, act against us. The presence of mydaughter and myself in France is already irksome to him; much more sowould be that of the king. My lord, " added Henrietta, with a melancholysmile, "it is sad and almost shameful to be obliged to say that we havepassed the winter in the Louvre without money, without linen, almostwithout bread, and often not rising from bed because we wanted fire. "

"Horrible!" cried De Winter; "the daughter of Henry IV. , and the wifeof King Charles! Wherefore did you not apply, then, madame, to the firstperson you saw from us?"

"Such is the hospitality shown to a queen by the minister from whom aking demands it. "

"But I heard that a marriage between the Prince of Wales andMademoiselle d'Orleans was spoken of, " said De Winter. 

"Yes, for an instant I hoped it was so. The young people felt a mutualesteem; but the queen, who at first sanctioned their affection, changedher mind, and Monsieur, the Duc d'Orleans, who had encouraged thefamiliarity between them, has forbidden his daughter to think any moreabout the union. Oh, my lord!" continued the queen, without restrainingher tears, "it is better to fight as the king has done, and to die, asperhaps he will, than live in beggary like me. "

"Courage, madame! courage! Do not despair! The interests of the Frenchcrown, endangered at this moment, are to discountenance rebellion in aneighboring nation. Mazarin, as a statesman, will understand the politicnecessity. "

"Are you sure, " said the queen doubtfully, "that you have not beenforestalled?"

"By whom?"

"By the Joices, the Prinns, the Cromwells?"

"By a tailor, a coachmaker, a brewer! Ah! I hope, madame, that thecardinal will not enter into negotiations with such men!"

"Ah! what is he himself?" asked Madame Henrietta. 

"But for the honor of the king--of the queen. "

"Well, let us hope he will do something for the sake of their honor, "said the queen. "A true friend's eloquence is so powerful, my lord, thatyou have reassured me. Give me your hand and let us go to the minister;and yet, " she added, "suppose he should refuse and that the king losesthe battle?"

"His majesty will then take refuge in Holland, where I hear his highnessthe Prince of Wales now is. "

"And can his majesty count upon many such subjects as yourself for hisflight?"

"Alas! no, madame, " answered De Winter; "but the case is provided forand I am come to France to seek allies. "

"Allies!" said the queen, shaking her head. 

"Madame, " replied De Winter, "provided I can find some of my good oldfriends of former times I will answer for anything. "

"Come then, my lord, " said the queen, with the painful doubt that isfelt by those who have suffered much; "come, and may Heaven hear you. "

37. Cromwell's Letter. 

At the very moment when the queen quitted the convent to go to thePalais Royal, a young man dismounted at the gate of this royal abodeand announced to the guards that he had something of importance tocommunicate to Cardinal Mazarin. Although the cardinal was oftentormented by fear, he was more often in need of counsel and information, and he was therefore sufficiently accessible. The true difficulty ofbeing admitted was not to be found at the first door, and even thesecond was passed easily enough; but at the third watched, besides theguard and the doorkeepers, the faithful Bernouin, a Cerberus whom nospeech could soften, no wand, even of gold, could charm. 

It was therefore at the third door that those who solicited or werebidden to an audience underwent their formal interrogatory. 

The young man having left his horse tied to the gate in the court, mounted the great staircase and addressed the guard in the firstchamber. 

"Cardinal Mazarin?" said he. 

"Pass on, " replied the guard. 

The cavalier entered the second hall, which was guarded by themusketeers and doorkeepers. 

"Have you a letter of audience?" asked a porter, advancing to the newarrival. 

"I have one, but not one from Cardinal Mazarin. "

"Enter, and ask for Monsieur Bernouin, " said the porter, opening thedoor of the third room. Whether he only held his usual post or whetherit was by accident, Monsieur Bernouin was found standing behind the doorand must have heard all that had passed. 

"You seek me, sir, " said he. "From whom may the letter be you bear tohis eminence?"

"From General Oliver Cromwell, " said the new comer. "Be so good as tomention this name to his eminence and to bring me word whether he willreceive me--yes or no. "

Saying which, he resumed the proud and sombre bearing peculiar at thattime to Puritans. Bernouin cast an inquisitorial glance at the personof the young man and entered the cabinet of the cardinal, to whom hetransmitted the messenger's words. 

"A man bringing a letter from Oliver Cromwell?" said Mazarin. "And whatkind of a man?"

"A genuine Englishman, your eminence. Hair sandy-red--more red thansandy; gray-blue eyes--more gray than blue; and for the rest, stiff andproud. "

"Let him give in his letter. "

"His eminence asks for the letter, " said Bernouin, passing back into theante-chamber. 

"His eminence cannot see the letter without the bearer of it, " repliedthe young man; "but to convince you that I am really the bearer of aletter, see, here it is; and kindly add, " continued he, "that I am not asimple messenger, but an envoy extraordinary. "

Bernouin re-entered the cabinet, returning in a few seconds. "Enter, sir, " said he. 

The young man appeared on the threshold of the minister's closet, in onehand holding his hat, in the other the letter. Mazarin rose. "Have you, sir, " asked he, "a letter accrediting you to me?"

"There it is, my lord, " said the young man. 

Mazarin took the letter and read it thus:

"Mr. Mordaunt, one of my secretaries, will remit this letter ofintroduction to His Eminence, the Cardinal Mazarin, in Paris. He is alsothe bearer of a second confidential epistle for his eminence. 

"Oliver Cromwell. "

"Very well, Monsieur Mordaunt, " said Mazarin, "give me this secondletter and sit down. "

The young man drew from his pocket a second letter, presented it to thecardinal, and took his seat. The cardinal, however, did not unseal theletter at once, but continued to turn it again and again in his hand;then, in accordance with his usual custom and judging from experiencethat few people could hide anything from him when he began to questionthem, fixing his eyes upon them at the same time, he thus addressed themessenger:

"You are very young, Monsieur Mordaunt, for this difficult task ofambassador, in which the oldest diplomatists often fail. "

"My lord, I am twenty-three years of age; but your eminence is mistakenin saying that I am young. I am older than your eminence, althoughI possess not your wisdom. Years of suffering, in my opinion, countdouble, and I have suffered for twenty years. "

"Ah, yes, I understand, " said Mazarin; "want of fortune, perhaps. You are poor, are you not?" Then he added to himself: "These EnglishRevolutionists are all beggars and ill-bred. "

"My lord, I ought to have a fortune of six millions, but it has beentaken from me. "

"You are not, then, a man of the people?" said Mazarin, astonished. 

"If I bore my proper title I should be a lord. If I bore my name youwould have heard one of the most illustrious names of England. "

"What is your name, then?" asked Mazarin. 

"My name is Mordaunt, " replied the young man, bowing. 

Mazarin now understood that Cromwell's envoy desired to retain hisincognito. He was silent for an instant, and during that time he scannedthe young man even more attentively than he had done at first. Themessenger was unmoved. 

"Devil take these Puritans, " said Mazarin aside; "they are carved fromgranite. " Then he added aloud, "But you have relations left you?"

"I have one remaining. Three times I presented myself to ask his supportand three times he ordered his servants to turn me away. "

"Oh, mon Dieu! my dear Mr. Mordaunt, " said Mazarin, hoping by a displayof affected pity to catch the young man in a snare, "how extremely yourhistory interests me! You know not, then, anything of your birth--youhave never seen your mother?"

"Yes, my lord; she came three times, whilst I was a child, to my nurse'shouse; I remember the last time she came as well as if it were to-day. "

"You have a good memory, " said Mazarin. 

"Oh! yes, my lord, " said the young man, with such peculiar emphasis thatthe cardinal felt a shudder run through every vein. 

"And who brought you up?" he asked again. 

"A French nurse, who sent me away when I was five years old because noone paid her for me, telling me the name of a relation of whom she hadheard my mother often speak. "

"What became of you?"

"As I was weeping and begging on the high road, a minister from Kingstontook me in, instructed me in the Calvinistic faith, taught me all heknew himself and aided me in my researches after my family. "

"And these researches?"

"Were fruitless; chance did everything. "

"You discovered what had become of your mother?"

"I learned that she had been assassinated by my relation, aided by fourfriends, but I was already aware that I had been robbed of my wealth anddegraded from my nobility by King Charles I. "

"Oh! I now understand why you are in the service of Cromwell; you hatethe king. "

"Yes, my lord, I hate him!" said the young man. 

Mazarin marked with surprise the diabolical expression with which theyoung man uttered these words. Just as, ordinarily, faces are colored byblood, his face seemed dyed by hatred and became livid. 

"Your history is a terrible one, Mr. Mordaunt, and touches me keenly;but happily for you, you serve an all-powerful master; he ought to aidyou in your search; we have so many means of gaining information. "

"My lord, to a well-bred dog it is only necessary to show one end of atrack; he is certain to reach the other. "

"But this relation you mentioned--do you wish me to speak to him?" saidMazarin, who was anxious to make a friend about Cromwell's person. 

"Thanks, my lord, I will speak to him myself. He will treat me betterthe next time I see him. "

"You have the means, then, of touching him?"

"I have the means of making myself feared. "

Mazarin looked at the young man, but at the fire which shot from hisglance he bent his head; then, embarrassed how to continue such aconversation, he opened Cromwell's letter. 

The young man's eyes gradually resumed their dull and glassy appearanceand he fell into a profound reverie. After reading the first lines ofthe letter Mazarin gave a side glance at him to see if he was watchingthe expression of his face as he read. Observing his indifference, heshrugged his shoulders, saying:

"Send on your business those who do theirs at the same time! Let us seewhat this letter contains. "

We here present the letter verbatim:

"To his Eminence, Monseigneur le Cardinal Mazarini:

"I have wished, monseigneur, to learn your intentions relating to theexisting state of affairs in England. The two kingdoms are so near thatFrance must be interested in our situation, as we are interested in thatof France. The English are almost of one mind in contending against thetyranny of Charles and his adherents. Placed by popular confidence atthe head of that movement, I can appreciate better than any other itssignificance and its probable results. I am at present in the midst ofwar, and am about to deliver a decisive battle against King Charles. Ishall gain it, for the hope of the nation and the Spirit of the Lord arewith me. This battle won by me, the king will have no further resourcesin England or in Scotland; and if he is not captured or killed, he willendeavor to pass over into France to recruit soldiers and to refurnishhimself with arms and money. France has already received QueenHenrietta, and, unintentionally, doubtless, has maintained a centreof inextinguishable civil war in my country. But Madame Henrietta is adaughter of France and was entitled to the hospitality of France. As toKing Charles, the question must be viewed differently; in receiving andaiding him, France will censure the acts of the English nation, andthus so essentially harm England, and especially the well-being of thegovernment, that such a proceeding will be equivalent to pronouncedhostilities. "

At this moment Mazarin became very uneasy at the turn which the letterwas taking and paused to glance under his eyes at the young man. Thelatter continued in thought. Mazarin resumed his reading:

"It is important, therefore, monseigneur, that I should be informed asto the intentions of France. The interests of that kingdom and those ofEngland, though taking now diverse directions, are very nearly the same. England needs tranquillity at home, in order to consummate the expulsionof her king; France needs tranquillity to establish on solid foundationsthe throne of her young monarch. You need, as much as we do, thatinterior condition of repose which, thanks to the energy of ourgovernment, we are about to attain. 

"Your quarrels with the parliament, your noisy dissensions with theprinces, who fight for you to-day and to-morrow will fight against you, the popular following directed by the coadjutor, President Blancmesnil, and Councillor Broussel--all that disorder, in short, which pervades theseveral departments of the state, must lead you to view with uneasinessthe possibility of a foreign war; for in that event England, exaltedby the enthusiasm of new ideas, will ally herself with Spain, alreadyseeking that alliance. I have therefore believed, monseigneur, knowingyour prudence and your personal relation to the events of the presenttime, that you will choose to hold your forces concentrated in theinterior of the French kingdom and leave to her own the new governmentof England. That neutrality consists simply in excluding King Charlesfrom the territory of France and in refraining from helping him--astranger to your country--with arms, with money or with troops. 

"My letter is private and confidential, and for that reason I send itto you by a man who shares my most intimate counsels. It anticipates, through a sentiment which your eminence will appreciate, measures to betaken after the events. Oliver Cromwell considered it more expedient todeclare himself to a mind as intelligent as Mazarin's than to a queenadmirable for firmness, without doubt, but too much guided by vainprejudices of birth and of divine right. 

"Farewell, monseigneur; should I not receive a reply in the space offifteen days, I shall presume my letter will have miscarried. 

"Oliver Cromwell. "

"Mr. Mordaunt, " said the cardinal, raising his voice, as if to arousethe dreamer, "my reply to this letter will be more satisfactory toGeneral Cromwell if I am convinced that all are ignorant of my havinggiven one; go, therefore, and await it at Boulogne-sur-Mer, and promiseme to set out to-morrow morning. "

"I promise, my lord, " replied Mordaunt; "but how many days does youreminence expect me to await your reply?"

"If you do not receive it in ten days you can leave. "

Mordaunt bowed. 

"That is not all, sir, " continued Mazarin; "your private adventures havetouched me to the quick; besides, the letter from Mr. Cromwell makesyou an important person as ambassador; come, tell me, what can I do foryou?"

Mordaunt reflected a moment and, after some hesitation, was about tospeak, when Bernouin entered hastily and bending down to the ear of thecardinal, whispered:

"My lord, the Queen Henrietta Maria, accompanied by an English noble, isentering the Palais Royal at this moment. "

Mazarin made a bound from his chair, which did not escape the attentionof the young man and suppressed the confidence he was about to make. 

"Sir, " said the cardinal, "you have heard me? I fix on Boulogne becauseI presume that every town in France is indifferent to you; if you preferanother, name it; but you can easily conceive that, surrounded as I amby influences I can only muzzle by discretion, I desire your presence inParis to be unknown. "

"I go, sir, " said Mordaunt, advancing a few steps to the door by whichhe had entered. 

"No, not that way, I beg, sir, " quickly exclaimed the cardinal, "be sogood as to pass by yonder gallery, by which you can regain the hall. Ido not wish you to be seen leaving; our interview must be kept secret. "

Mordaunt followed Bernouin, who led him through the adjacent chamber andleft him with a doorkeeper, showing him the way out. 

38. Henrietta Maria and Mazarin. 

The cardinal rose, and advanced in haste to receive the queen ofEngland. He showed the more respect to this queen, deprived of everymark of pomp and stripped of followers, as he felt some self-reproachfor his own want of heart and his avarice. But supplicants for favorknow how to accommodate the expression of their features, and thedaughter of Henry IV. Smiled as she advanced to meet a man she hated anddespised. 

"Ah!" said Mazarin to himself, "what a sweet face; does she come toborrow money of me?"

And he threw an uneasy glance at his strong box; he even turned insidethe bevel of the magnificent diamond ring, the brilliancy of which drewevery eye upon his hand, which indeed was white and handsome. 

"Your eminence, " said the august visitor, "it was my first intention tospeak of the matters that have brought me here to the queen, my sister, but I have reflected that political affairs are more especially theconcern of men. "

"Madame, " said Mazarin, "your majesty overwhelms me with flatteringdistinction. "

"He is very gracious, " thought the queen; "can he have guessed myerrand?"

"Give, " continued the cardinal, "your commands to the most respectful ofyour servants. "

"Alas, sir, " replied the queen, "I have lost the habit of commandingand have adopted instead that of making petitions. I am here to petitionyou, too happy should my prayer be favorably heard. "

"I am listening, madame, with the greatest interest, " said Mazarin. 

"Your eminence, it concerns the war which the king, my husband, is nowsustaining against his rebellious subjects. You are perhaps ignorantthat they are fighting in England, " added she, with a melancholy smile, "and that in a short time they will fight in a much more decided fashionthan they have done hitherto. "

"I am completely ignorant of it, madame, " said the cardinal, accompanying his words with a slight shrug of the shoulders; "alas, ourown wars quite absorb the time and the mind of a poor, incapable, infirmold minister like me. "

"Well, then, your eminence, " said the queen, "I must inform you thatCharles I. , my husband, is on the eve of a decisive engagement. Incase of a check" (Mazarin made a slight movement), "one must foreseeeverything; in the case of a check, he desires to retire into France andto live here as a private individual. What do you say to this project?"

The cardinal had listened without permitting a single fibre of his faceto betray what he felt, and his smile remained as it ever was--false andflattering; and when the queen finished speaking, he said:

"Do you think, madame, that France, agitated and disturbed as it is, would be a safe retreat for a dethroned king? How will the crown, which is scarce firmly set on the head of Louis XIV. , support a doubleweight?"

"The weight was not so heavy when I was in peril, " interrupted thequeen, with a sad smile, "and I ask no more for my husband than has beendone for me; you see that we are very humble monarchs, sir. "

"Oh, you, madame, " the cardinal hastened to say, in order to cut shortthe explanation he foresaw was coming, "with regard to you, that isanother thing. A daughter of Henry IV. , of that great, that sublimesovereign----"

"All which does not prevent you refusing hospitality to his son-in-law, sir! Nevertheless, you ought to remember that that great, that sublimemonarch, when proscribed at one time, as my husband may be, demanded aidfrom England and England accorded it to him; and it is but just to saythat Queen Elizabeth was not his niece. "

"Peccato!" said Mazarin, writhing beneath this simple eloquence, "yourmajesty does not understand me; you judge my intentions wrongly, andthat is partly because, doubtless, I explain myself in French. "

"Speak Italian, sir. Ere the cardinal, your predecessor, sent ourmother, Marie de Medicis, to die in exile, she taught us that language. If anything yet remains of that great, that sublime king, Henry, of whomyou have just spoken, he would be much surprised at so little pity forhis family being united to such a profound admiration of himself. "

The perspiration stood in large drops on Mazarin's brow. 

"That admiration is, on the contrary, so great, so real, madame, "returned Mazarin, without noticing the change of language offered to himby the queen, "that if the king, Charles I. --whom Heaven protect fromevil!--came into France, I would offer him my house--my own house; but, alas! it would be but an unsafe retreat. Some day the people will burnthat house, as they burned that of the Marechal d'Ancre. Poor ConcinoConcini! And yet he but desired the good of the people. "

"Yes, my lord, like yourself!" said the queen, ironically. 

Mazarin pretended not to understand the double meaning of his ownsentence, but continued to compassionate the fate of Concino Concini. 

"Well then, your eminence, " said the queen, becoming impatient, "what isyour answer?"

"Madame, " cried Mazarin, more and more moved, "will your majesty permitme to give you counsel?"

"Speak, sir, " replied the queen; "the counsels of so prudent a man asyourself ought certainly to be available. "

"Madame, believe me, the king ought to defend himself to the last. "

"He has done so, sir, and this last battle, which he encounters withresources much inferior to those of the enemy, proves that he will notyield without a struggle; but in case he is beaten?"

"Well, madame, in that case, my advice--I know that I am very bold tooffer advice to your majesty--my advice is that the king should notleave his kingdom. Absent kings are very soon forgotten; if he passesover into France his cause is lost. "

"But, " persisted the queen, "if such be your advice and you have hisinterest at heart, send him help of men and money, for I can do nothingfor him; I have sold even to my last diamond to aid him. If I had hada single ornament left, I should have bought wood this winter to make afire for my daughter and myself. "

"Oh, madame, " said Mazarin, "your majesty knows not what you ask. On theday when foreign succor follows in the train of a king to replace himon his throne, it is an avowal that he no longer possesses the help andlove of his own subjects. "

"To the point, sir, " said the queen, "to the point, and answer me, yesor no; if the king persists in remaining in England will you send himsuccor? If he comes to France will you accord him hospitality? What doyou intend to do? Speak. "

"Madame, " said the cardinal, affecting an effusive frankness of speech, "I shall convince your majesty, I trust, of my devotion to you and mydesire to terminate an affair which you have so much at heart. Afterwhich your majesty will, I think, no longer doubt my zeal in yourbehalf. "

The queen bit her lips and moved impatiently on her chair. 

"Well, what do you propose to do?" she, said at length; "come, speak. "

"I will go this instant and consult the queen, and we will refer theaffair at once to parliament. "

"With which you are at war--is it not so? You will charge Broussel toreport it. Enough, sir, enough. I understand you or rather, I am wrong. Go to the parliament, for it was from this parliament, the enemy ofmonarchs, that the daughter of the great, the sublime Henry IV. , whomyou so much admire, received the only relief this winter which preventedher from dying of hunger and cold!"

And with these words Henrietta rose in majestic indignation, whilst thecardinal, raising his hands clasped toward her, exclaimed, "Ah, madame, madame, how little you know me, mon Dieu!"

But Queen Henrietta, without even turning toward him who made thesehypocritical pretensions, crossed the cabinet, opened the door forherself and passing through the midst of the cardinal's numerousguards, courtiers eager to pay homage, the luxurious show of a competingroyalty, she went and took the hand of De Winter, who stood apart inisolation. Poor queen, already fallen! Though all bowed before her, as etiquette required, she had now but a single arm on which she couldlean. 

"It signifies little, " said Mazarin, when he was alone. "It gave me painand it was an ungracious part to play, but I have said nothing either tothe one or to the other. Bernouin!"

Bernouin entered. 

"See if the young man with the black doublet and the short hair, who waswith me just now, is still in the palace. "

Bernouin went out and soon returned with Comminges, who was on guard. 

"Your eminence, " said Comminges, "as I was re-conducting the young manfor whom you have asked, he approached the glass door of the gallery, and gazed intently upon some object, doubtless the picture by Raphael, which is opposite the door. He reflected for a second and then descendedthe stairs. I believe I saw him mount a gray horse and leave the palacecourt. But is not your eminence going to the queen?"

"For what purpose?"

"Monsieur de Guitant, my uncle, has just told me that her majesty hadreceived news of the army. "

"It is well; I will go. "

Comminges had seen rightly, and Mordaunt had really acted as he hadrelated. In crossing the gallery parallel to the large glass gallery, he perceived De Winter, who was waiting until the queen had finished hernegotiation. 

At this sight the young man stopped short, not in admiration ofRaphael's picture, but as if fascinated at the sight of some terribleobject. His eyes dilated and a shudder ran through his body. One wouldhave said that he longed to break through the wall of glass whichseparated him from his enemy; for if Comminges had seen with what anexpression of hatred the eyes of this young man were fixed upon DeWinter, he would not have doubted for an instant that the Englishman washis eternal foe. 

But he stopped, doubtless to reflect; for instead of allowing his firstimpulse, which had been to go straight to Lord de Winter, to carry himaway, he leisurely descended the staircase, left the palace with hishead down, mounted his horse, which he reined in at the corner of theRue Richelieu, and with his eyes fixed on the gate, waited until thequeen's carriage had left the court. 

He had not long to wait, for the queen scarcely remained a quarter of anhour with Mazarin, but this quarter of an hour of expectation appeared acentury to him. At last the heavy machine, which was called a chariot inthose days, came out, rumbling against the gates, and De Winter, stillon horseback, bent again to the door to converse with her majesty. 

The horses started on a trot and took the road to the Louvre, which theyentered. Before leaving the convent of the Carmelites, Henriettahad desired her daughter to attend her at the palace, which she hadinhabited for a long time and which she had only left because theirpoverty seemed to them more difficult to bear in gilded chambers. 

Mordaunt followed the carriage, and when he had watched it drive beneaththe sombre arches he went and stationed himself under a wall over whichthe shadow was extended, and remained motionless, amidst the moldings ofJean Goujon, like a bas-relievo, representing an equestrian statue. 

39. How, sometimes, the Unhappy mistake Chance for Providence. 

"Well, madame, " said De Winter, when the queen had dismissed herattendants. 

"Well, my lord, what I foresaw has come to pass. "

"What? does the cardinal refuse to receive the king? France refusehospitality to an unfortunate prince? Ay, but it is for the first time, madame!"

"I did not say France, my lord; I said the cardinal, and the cardinal isnot even a Frenchman. "

"But did you see the queen?"

"It is useless, " replied Henrietta, "the queen will not say yes whenthe cardinal says no. Are you not aware that this Italian directseverything, both indoors and out? And moreover, I should not besurprised had we been forestalled by Cromwell. He was embarrassed whilstspeaking to me and yet quite firm in his determination to refuse. Thendid you not observe the agitation in the Palais Royal, the passing toand fro of busy people? Can they have received any news, my lord?"

"Not from England, madame. I made such haste that I am certain of nothaving been forestalled. I set out three days ago, passing miraculouslythrough the Puritan army, and I took post horses with my servant Tony;the horses upon which we were mounted were bought in Paris. Besides, the king, I am certain, awaits your majesty's reply before riskinganything. "

"You will tell him, my lord, " resumed the queen, despairingly, "that Ican do nothing; that I have suffered as much as himself--more than hehas--obliged as I am to eat the bread of exile and to ask hospitalityfrom false friends who smile at my tears; and as regards his royalperson, he must sacrifice it generously and die like a king. I shall goand die by his side. "

"Madame, madame, " exclaimed De Winter, "your majesty abandons yourselfto despair; and yet, perhaps, there still remains some hope. "

"No friends left, my lord; no other friends left in the wide worldbut yourself! Oh, God!" exclaimed the poor queen, raising her eyes toHeaven, "have You indeed taken back all the generous hearts that onceexisted in the world?"

"I hope not, madame, " replied De Winter, thoughtfully; "I once spoke toyou of four men. "

"What can be done with four?"

"Four devoted, resolute men can do much, assure yourself, madame; andthose of whom I speak performed great things at one time. "

"And where are these four men?"

"Ah, that is what I do not know. It is twenty years since I saw them, and yet whenever I have seen the king in danger I have thought of them. "

"And these men were your friends?"

"One of them held my life in his hands and gave it to me. I know notwhether he is still my friend, but since that time I have remained his. "

"And these men are in France, my lord?"

"I believe so. "

"Tell me their names; perhaps I may have heard them mentioned and mightbe able to aid you in finding them. "

"One of them was called the Chevalier d'Artagnan. "

"Ah, my lord, if I mistake not, the Chevalier d'Artagnan is lieutenantof royal guards; but take care, for I fear that this man is entirelydevoted to the cardinal. "

"That would be a misfortune, " said De Winter, "and I shall begin tothink that we are really doomed. "

"But the others, " said the queen, who clung to this last hope as ashipwrecked man clings to the hull of his vessel. "The others, my lord!"

"The second--I heard his name by chance; for before fighting us, thesefour gentlemen told us their names; the second was called the Comte dela Fere. As for the two others, I had so much the habit of calling themby nicknames that I have forgotten their real ones. "

"Oh, mon Dieu, it is a matter of the greatest urgency to find them out, "said the queen, "since you think these worthy gentlemen might be souseful to the king. "

"Oh, yes, " said De Winter, "for they are the same men. Listen, madame, and recall your remembrances. Have you never heard that Queen Anneof Austria was once saved from the greatest danger ever incurred by aqueen?"

"Yes, at the time of her relations with Monsieur de Buckingham; it hadto do in some way with certain studs and diamonds. "

"Well, it was that affair, madame; these men are the ones who savedher; and I smile with pity when I reflect that if the names of thosegentlemen are unknown to you it is because the queen has forgotten them, who ought to have made them the first noblemen of the realm. "

"Well, then, my lord, they must be found; but what can four men, orrather three men do--for I tell you, you must not count on Monsieurd'Artagnan. "

"It will be one valiant sword the less, but there will remain stillthree, without reckoning my own; now four devoted men around the kingto protect him from his enemies, to be at his side in battle, to aid himwith counsel, to escort him in flight, are sufficient, not to make theking a conqueror, but to save him if conquered; and whatever Mazarin maysay, once on the shores of France your royal husband may find as manyretreats and asylums as the seabird finds in a storm. "

"Seek, then, my lord, seek these gentlemen; and if they will consentto go with you to England, I will give to each a duchy the day that wereascend the throne, besides as much gold as would pave Whitehall. Seekthem, my lord, and find them, I conjure you. "

"I will search for them, madame, " said De Winter "and doubtless I shallfind them; but time fails me. Has your majesty forgotten that the kingexpects your reply and awaits it in agony?"

"Then indeed we are lost!" cried the queen, in the fullness of a brokenheart. 

At this moment the door opened and the young Henrietta appeared; thenthe queen, with that wonderful strength which is the privilege ofparents, repressed her tears and motioned to De Winter to change thesubject. 

But that act of self-control, effective as it was, did not escape theeyes of the young princess. She stopped on the threshold, breathed asigh, and addressing the queen:

"Why, then, do you always weep, mother, when I am away from you?" shesaid. 

The queen smiled, but instead of answering:

"See, De Winter, " she said, "I have at least gained one thing in beingonly half a queen; and that is that my children call me 'mother' insteadof 'madame. '"

Then turning toward her daughter:

"What do you want, Henrietta?" she demanded. 

"My mother, " replied the young princess, "a cavalier has just enteredthe Louvre and wishes to present his respects to your majesty; hearrives from the army and has, he says, a letter to remit to you, on thepart of the Marechal de Grammont, I think. "

"Ah!" said the queen to De Winter, "he is one of my faithful adherents;but do you not observe, my dear lord, that we are so poorly served thatit is left to my daughter to fill the office of doorkeeper?"

"Madame, have pity on me, " exclaimed De Winter; "you wring my heart!"

"And who is this cavalier, Henrietta?" asked the queen. 

"I saw him from the window, madame; he is a young man that appearsscarce sixteen years of age, and is called the Viscount de Bragelonne. "

The queen, smiling, made a sign with her head; the young princess openedthe door and Raoul appeared on the threshold. 

Advancing a few steps toward the queen, he knelt down. 

"Madame, " said he, "I bear to your majesty a letter from my friend theCount de Guiche, who told me he had the honor of being your servant;this letter contains important news and the expression of his respect. "

At the name of the Count de Guiche a blush spread over the cheeks ofthe young princess and the queen glanced at her with some degree ofseverity. 

"You told me that the letter was from the Marechal de Grammont, Henrietta!" said the queen. 

"I thought so, madame, " stammered the young girl. 

"It is my fault, madame, " said Raoul. "I did announce myself, in truth, as coming on the part of the Marechal de Grammont; but being wounded inthe right arm he was unable to write and therefore the Count de Guicheacted as his secretary. "

"There has been fighting, then?" asked the queen, motioning to Raoul torise. 

"Yes, madame, " said the young man. 

At this announcement of a battle having taken place, the princess openedher mouth as though to ask a question of interest; but her lips closedagain without articulating a word, while the color gradually faded fromher cheeks. 

The queen saw this, and doubtless her maternal heart translated theemotion, for addressing Raoul again:

"And no evil has happened to the young Count de Guiche?" she asked; "fornot only is he our servant, as you say, sir, but more--he is one of ourfriends. "

"No, madame, " replied Raoul; "on the contrary, he gained great gloryand had the honor of being embraced by his highness, the prince, on thefield of battle. "

The young princess clapped her hands; and then, ashamed of having beenbetrayed into such a demonstration of joy, she half turned away and bentover a vase of roses, as if to inhale their odor. 

"Let us see, " said the queen, "what the count says. " And she opened theletter and read:

"Madame, --Being unable to have the honor of writing to you myself, byreason of a wound I have received in my right hand, I have commanded myson, the Count de Guiche, who, with his father, is equally your humbleservant, to write to tell you that we have just gained the battle ofLens, and that this victory cannot fail to give great power to CardinalMazarin and to the queen over the affairs of Europe. If her majesty willhave faith in my counsels she ought to profit by this event to addressat this moment, in favor of her august husband, the court of France. TheVicomte de Bragelonne, who will have the honor of remitting this letterto your majesty, is the friend of my son, who owes to him his life; heis a gentleman in whom your majesty may confide entirely, in case yourmajesty may have some verbal or written order to remit to me. 

"I have the honor to be, with respect, etc. , "Marechal de Grammont. "

At the moment mention occurred of his having rendered a service tothe count, Raoul could not help turning his glance toward the youngprincess, and then he saw in her eyes an expression of infinitegratitude to the young man; he no longer doubted that the daughter ofKing Charles I. Loved his friend. 

"The battle of Lens gained!" said the queen; "they are lucky hereindeed; they can gain battles! Yes, the Marechal de Grammont is right;this will change the aspect of French affairs, but I much fear it willdo nothing for English, even if it does not harm them. This is recentnews, sir, " continued she, "and I thank you for having made such hasteto bring it to me; without this letter I should not have heard tillto-morrow, perhaps after to-morrow--the last of all Paris. "

"Madame, " said Raoul, "the Louvre is but the second palace this news hasreached; it is as yet unknown to all, and I had sworn to the Count deGuiche to remit this letter to your majesty before even I should embracemy guardian. "

"Your guardian! is he, too, a Bragelonne?" asked Lord de Winter. "I onceknew a Bragelonne--is he still alive?"

"No, sir, he is dead; and I believe it is from him my guardian, whosenear relation he was, inherited the estate from which I take my name. "

"And your guardian, sir, " asked the queen, who could not help feelingsome interest in the handsome young man before her, "what is his name?"

"The Comte de la Fere, madame, " replied the young man, bowing. 

De Winter made a gesture of surprise and the queen turned to him with astart of joy. 

"The Comte de la Fere!" she cried. "Have you not mentioned that name tome?"

As for De Winter he could scarcely believe that he had heard aright. "The Comte de la Fere!" he cried in his turn. "Oh, sir, reply, I entreatyou--is not the Comte de la Fere a noble whom I remember, handsome andbrave, a musketeer under Louis XIII. , who must be now about forty-sevenor forty-eight years of age?"

"Yes, sir, you are right in every particular!"

"And who served under an assumed name?"

"Under the name of Athos. Latterly I heard his friend, Monsieurd'Artagnan, give him that name. "

"That is it, madame, that is the same. God be praised! And he is inParis?" continued he, addressing Raoul; then turning to the queen: "Wemay still hope. Providence has declared for us, since I have foundthis brave man again in so miraculous a manner. And, sir, where does hereside, pray?"

"The Comte de la Fere lodges in the Rue Guenegaud, Hotel du Grand RoiCharlemagne. "

"Thanks, sir. Inform this dear friend that he may remain within, that Ishall go and see him immediately. "

"Sir, I obey with pleasure, if her majesty will permit me to depart. "

"Go, Monsieur de Bragelonne, " said the queen, "and rest assured of ouraffection. "

Raoul bent respectfully before the two princesses, and bowing to DeWinter, departed. 

The queen and De Winter continued to converse for some time in lowvoices, in order that the young princess should not overhear them;but the precaution was needless: she was in deep converse with her ownthoughts. 

Then, when De Winter rose to take leave:

"Listen, my lord, " said the queen; "I have preserved this diamond crosswhich came from my mother, and this order of St. Michael which came frommy husband. They are worth about fifty thousand pounds. I had sworn todie of hunger rather than part with these precious pledges; but now thatthis ornament may be useful to him or his defenders, everything must besacrificed. Take them, and if you need money for your expedition, sellthem fearlessly, my lord. But should you find the means of retainingthem, remember, my lord, that I shall esteem you as having rendered thegreatest service that a gentleman can render to a queen; and in the dayof my prosperity he who brings me this order and this cross shall beblessed by me and my children. "

"Madame, " replied De Winter, "your majesty will be served by a mandevoted to you. I hasten to deposit these two objects in a safe place, nor should I accept them if the resources of our ancient fortunewere left to us, but our estates are confiscated, our ready money isexhausted, and we are reduced to turn to service everything we possess. In an hour hence I shall be with the Comte de la Fere, and to-morrowyour majesty shall have a definite reply. "

The queen tendered her hand to Lord de Winter, who, kissing itrespectfully, went out and traversed alone and unconducted those large, dark and deserted apartments, brushing away tears which, blase as hewas by fifty years spent as a courtier, he could not withhold at thespectacle of royal distress so dignified, yet so intense. 

40. Uncle and Nephew. 

The horse and servant belonging to De Winter were waiting for him at thedoor; he proceeded toward his abode very thoughtfully, looking behindhim from time to him to contemplate the dark and silent frontage of theLouvre. It was then that he saw a horseman, as it were, detach himselffrom the wall and follow him at a little distance. In leaving the PalaisRoyal he remembered to have observed a similar shadow. 

"Tony, " he said, motioning to his groom to approach. 

"Here I am, my lord. "

"Did you remark that man who is following us?"

"Yes, my lord. "

"Who is he?"

"I do not know, only he has followed your grace from the Palais Royal, stopped at the Louvre to wait for you, and now leaves the Louvre withyou. "

"Some spy of the cardinal, " said De Winter to him, aside. "Let uspretend not to notice that he is watching us. "

And spurring on he plunged into the labyrinth of streets which led tohis hotel, situated near the Marais, for having for so long a time livednear the Place Royale, Lord de Winter naturally returned to lodge nearhis ancient dwelling. 

The unknown spurred his horse to a gallop. 

De Winter dismounted at his hotel and went up into his apartment, intending to watch the spy; but as he was about to place his gloves andhat on a table, he saw reflected in a glass opposite to him a figurewhich stood on the threshold of the room. He turned around and Mordauntstood before him. 

There was a moment of frozen silence between these two. 

"Sir, " said De Winter, "I thought I had already made you aware that I amweary of this persecution; withdraw, then, or I shall call and have youturned out as you were in London. I am not your uncle, I know you not. "

"My uncle, " replied Mordaunt, with his harsh and bantering tone, "youare mistaken; you will not have me turned out this time as you did inLondon--you dare not. As for denying that I am your nephew, you willthink twice about it, now that I have learned some things of which I wasignorant a year ago. "

"And how does it concern me what you have learned?" said De Winter. 

"Oh, it concerns you very closely, my uncle, I am sure, and you willsoon be of my opinion, " added he, with a smile which sent a shudderthrough the veins of him he thus addressed. "When I presented myselfbefore you for the first time in London, it was to ask you what hadbecome of my fortune; the second time it was to demand who had sulliedmy name; and this time I come before you to ask a question far moreterrible than any other, to say to you as God said to the firstmurderer: 'Cain, what hast thou done to thy brother Abel?' My lord, whathave you done with your sister--your sister, who was my mother?"

De Winter shrank back from the fire of those scorching eyes. 

"Your mother?" he said. 

"Yes, my lord, my mother, " replied the young man, advancing into theroom until he was face to face with Lord de Winter, and crossing hisarms. "I have asked the headsman of Bethune, " he said, his voice hoarseand his face livid with passion and grief. "And the headsman of Bethunegave me a reply. "

De Winter fell back in a chair as though struck by a thunderbolt and invain attempted a reply. 

"Yes, " continued the young man; "all is now explained; with this key Iopen the abyss. My mother inherited an estate from her husband, you haveassassinated her; my name would have secured me the paternal estate, you have deprived me of it; you have despoiled me of my fortune. I amno longer astonished that you knew me not. I am not surprised that yourefused to recognize me. When a man is a robber it is hard to call himnephew whom he has impoverished; when one is a murderer, to recognizethe man whom one has made an orphan. "

These words produced a contrary effect to that which Mordaunt hadanticipated. De Winter remembered the monster that Milady had been; herose, dignified and calm, restraining by the severity of his look thewild glance of the young man. 

"You desire to fathom this horrible secret?" said De Winter; "well, then, so be it. Know, then, what manner of woman it was for whom to-dayyou call me to account. That woman had, in all probability, poisoned mybrother, and in order to inherit from me she was about to assassinate mein my turn. I have proof of it. What say you to that?"

"I say that she was my mother. "

"She caused the unfortunate Duke of Buckingham to be stabbed by a manwho was, ere that, honest, good and pure. What say you to that crime, ofwhich I have the proof?"

"She was my mother. "

"On our return to France she had a young woman who was attached to oneof her opponents poisoned in the convent of the Augustines at Bethune. Will this crime persuade you of the justice of her punishment--for ofall this I have the proofs?"

"She was my mother!" cried the young man, who uttered these threesuccessive exclamations with constantly increasing force. 

"At last, charged with murders, with debauchery, hated by every oneand yet threatening still, like a panther thirsting for blood, she fellunder the blows of men whom she had rendered desperate, though they hadnever done her the least injury; she met with judges whom her hideouscrimes had evoked; and that executioner you saw--that executionerwho you say told you everything--that executioner, if he told youeverything, told you that he leaped with joy in avenging on her hisbrother's shame and suicide. Depraved as a girl, adulterous as a wife, an unnatural sister, homicide, poisoner, execrated by all who knewher, by every nation that had been visited by her, she died accursed byHeaven and earth. "

A sob which Mordaunt could not repress burst from his throat and hislivid face became suffused with blood; he clenched his fists, sweatcovered his face, his hair, like Hamlet's, stood on end, and racked withfury he cried out:

"Silence, sir! she was my mother! Her crimes, I know them not; herdisorders, I know them not; her vices, I know them not. But this I know, that I had a mother, that five men leagued against one woman, murderedher clandestinely by night--silently--like cowards. I know that you wereone of them, my uncle, and that you cried louder than the others: 'Shemust die. ' Therefore I warn you, and listen well to my words, that theymay be engraved upon your memory, never to be forgotten: this murder, which has robbed me of everything--this murder, which has deprived me ofmy name--this murder, which has impoverished me--this murder, which hasmade me corrupt, wicked, implacable--I shall summon you to accountfor it first and then those who were your accomplices, when I discoverthem!"

With hatred in his eyes, foaming at his mouth, and his fist extended, Mordaunt had advanced one more step, a threatening, terrible step, toward De Winter. The latter put his hand to his sword, and said, withthe smile of a man who for thirty years has jested with death:

"Would you assassinate me, sir? Then I shall recognize you as my nephew, for you would be a worthy son of such a mother. "

"No, " replied Mordaunt, forcing his features and the muscles of his bodyto resume their usual places and be calm; "no, I shall not kill you;at least not at this moment, for without you I could not discover theothers. But when I have found them, then tremble, sir. I stabbed to theheart the headsman of Bethune, without mercy or pity, and he was theleast guilty of you all. "

With these words the young man went out and descended the stairs withsufficient calmness to pass unobserved; then upon the lowest landingplace he passed Tony, leaning over the balustrade, waiting only for acall from his master to mount to his room. 

But De Winter did not call; crushed, enfeebled, he remained standing andwith listening ear; then only when he had heard the step of the horsegoing away he fell back on a chair, saying:

"My God, I thank Thee that he knows me only. "

41. Paternal Affection. 

Whilst this terrible scene was passing at Lord de Winter's, Athos, seated near his window, his elbow on the table and his head supported onhis hand, was listening intently to Raoul's account of the adventures hemet with on his journey and the details of the battle. 

Listening to the relation of those emotions so fresh and pure, the fine, noble face of Athos betrayed indescribable pleasure; he inhaled thetones of that young voice, as harmonious music. He forgot all that wasdark in the past and that was cloudy in the future. It almost seemedas if the return of this much loved boy had changed his fears to hopes. Athos was happy--happy as he had never been before. 

"And you assisted and took part in this great battle, Bragelonne!" criedthe former musketeer. 

"Yes, sir. "

"And it was a fierce one?"

"His highness the prince charged eleven times in person. "

"He is a great commander, Bragelonne. "

"He is a hero, sir. I did not lose sight of him for an instant. Oh! howfine it is to be called Conde and to be so worthy of such a name!"

"He was calm and radiant, was he not?"

"As calm as at parade, radiant as at a fete. When we went up to theenemy it was slowly; we were forbidden to draw first and we weremarching toward the Spaniards, who were on a height with loweredmuskets. When we arrived about thirty paces from them the prince turnedaround to the soldiers: 'Comrades, ' he said, 'you are about to suffera furious discharge; but after that you will make short work with thosefellows. ' There was such dead silence that friends and enemies couldhave heard these words; then raising his sword, 'Sound trumpets!' hecried. "

"Well, very good; you will do as much when the opportunity occurs, willyou, Raoul?"

"I know not, sir, but I thought it really very fine and grand!"

"Were you afraid, Raoul?" asked the count. 

"Yes, sir, " replied the young man naively; "I felt a great chill atmy heart, and at the word 'fire, ' which resounded in Spanish from theenemy's ranks, I closed my eyes and thought of you. "

"In honest truth, Raoul?" said Athos, pressing his hand. 

"Yes, sir; at that instant there was such a rataplan of musketry thatone might have imagined the infernal regions had opened. Those who werenot killed felt the heat of the flames. I opened my eyes, astonished tofind myself alive and even unhurt; a third of the squadron were lying onthe ground, wounded, dead or dying. At that moment I encountered the eyeof the prince. I had but one thought and that was that he was observingme. I spurred on and found myself in the enemy's ranks. "

"And the prince was pleased with you?"

"He told me so, at least, sir, when he desired me to return to Pariswith Monsieur de Chatillon, who was charged to carry the news to thequeen and to bring the colors we had taken. 'Go, ' said he; 'the enemywill not rally for fifteen days and until that time I have no need ofyour service. Go and see those whom you love and who love you, and tellmy sister De Longueville that I thank her for the present that she mademe of you. ' And I came, sir, " added Raoul, gazing at the count witha smile of real affection, "for I thought you would be glad to see meagain. "

Athos drew the young man toward him and pressed his lips to his brow, ashe would have done to a young daughter. 

"And now, Raoul, " said he, "you are launched; you have dukes forfriends, a marshal of France for godfather, a prince of the blood ascommander, and on the day of your return you have been received by twoqueens; it is not so bad for a novice. "

"Oh sir, " said Raoul, suddenly, "you recall something, which, in myhaste to relate my exploits, I had forgotten; it is that there was withHer Majesty the Queen of England, a gentleman who, when I pronouncedyour name, uttered a cry of surprise and joy; he said he was a friend ofyours, asked your address, and is coming to see you. "

"What is his name?"

"I did not venture to ask, sir; he spoke elegantly, although I thoughtfrom his accent he was an Englishman. "

"Ah!" said Athos, leaning down his head as if to remember who it couldbe. Then, when he raised it again, he was struck by the presence ofa man who was standing at the open door and was gazing at him with acompassionate air. 

"Lord de Winter!" exclaimed the count. 

"Athos, my friend!"

And the two gentlemen were for an instant locked in each other's arms;then Athos, looking into his friend's face and taking him by both hands, said:

"What ails you, my lord? you appear as unhappy as I am the reverse. "

"Yes, truly, dear friend; and I may even say the sight of you increasesmy dismay. "

And De Winter glancing around him, Raoul quickly understood that the twofriends wished to be alone and he therefore left the room unaffectedly. 

"Come, now that we are alone, " said Athos, "let us talk of yourself. "

"Whilst we are alone let us speak of ourselves, " replied De Winter. "Heis here. "

"Who?"

"Milady's son. "

Athos, again struck by this name, which seemed to pursue him like anecho, hesitated for a moment, then slightly knitting his brows, hecalmly said:

"I know it, Grimaud met him between Bethune and Arras and then came hereto warn me of his presence. "

"Does Grimaud know him, then?"

"No; but he was present at the deathbed of a man who knew him. "

"The headsman of Bethune?" exclaimed De Winter. 

"You know about that?" cried Athos, astonished. 

"He has just left me, " replied De Winter, "after telling me all. Ah! myfriend! what a horrible scene! Why did we not destroy the child with themother?"

"What need you fear?" said Athos, recovering from the instinctive fearhe had at first experienced, by the aid of reason; "are we not menaccustomed to defend ourselves? Is this young man an assassin byprofession--a murderer in cold blood? He has killed the executioner ofBethune in an access of passion, but now his fury is assuaged. "

De Winter smiled sorrowfully and shook his head. 

"Do you not know the race?" said he. 

"Pooh!" said Athos, trying to smile in his turn. "It must have lost itsferocity in the second generation. Besides, my friend, Providence haswarned us, that we may be on our guard. All we can now do is to wait. Let us wait; and, as I said before, let us speak of yourself. Whatbrings you to Paris?"

"Affairs of importance which you shall know later. But what is this thatI hear from Her Majesty the Queen of England? Monsieur d'Artagnan sideswith Mazarin! Pardon my frankness, dear friend. I neither hate nor blamethe cardinal, and your opinions will be held ever sacred by me. But doyou happen to belong to him?"

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " replied Athos, "is in the service; he is asoldier and obeys all constitutional authority. Monsieur d'Artagnan isnot rich and has need of his position as lieutenant to enable him tolive. Millionaires like yourself, my lord, are rare in France. "

"Alas!" said De Winter, "I am at this moment as poor as he is, if notpoorer. But to return to our subject. "

"Well, then, you wish to know if I am of Mazarin's party? No. Pardon myfrankness, too, my lord. "

"I am obliged to you, count, for this pleasing intelligence! You makeme young and happy again by it. Ah! so you are not a Mazarinist?Delightful! Indeed, you could not belong to him. But pardon me, are youfree? I mean to ask if you are married?"

"Ah! as to that, no, " replied Athos, laughing. 

"Because that young man, so handsome, so elegant, so polished----"

"Is a child I have adopted and who does not even know who was hisfather. "

"Very well; you are always the same, Athos, great and generous. Are youstill friends with Monsieur Porthos and Monsieur Aramis?"

"Add Monsieur d'Artagnan, my lord. We still remain four friends devotedto each other; but when it becomes a question of serving the cardinalor of fighting him, of being Mazarinists or Frondists, then we are onlytwo. "

"Is Monsieur Aramis with D'Artagnan?" asked Lord de Winter. 

"No, " said Athos; "Monsieur Aramis does me the honor to share myopinions. "

"Could you put me in communication with your witty and agreeable friend?Is he much changed?"

"He has become an abbe, that is all. "

"You alarm me; his profession must have made him renounce any greatundertakings. "

"On the contrary, " said Athos, smiling, "he has never been so much amusketeer as since he became an abbe, and you will find him a veritablesoldier. "

"Could you engage to bring him to me to-morrow morning at ten o'clock, on the Pont du Louvre?"

"Oh, oh!" exclaimed Athos, smiling, "you have a duel in prospect. "

"Yes, count, and a splendid duel, too; a duel in which I hope you willtake your part. "

"Where are we to go, my lord?"

"To Her Majesty the Queen of England, who has desired me to present youto her. "

"This is an enigma, " said Athos, "but it matters not; since you know thesolution of it I ask no further. Will your lordship do me the honor tosup with me?"

"Thanks, count, no, " replied De Winter. "I own to you that that youngman's visit has subdued my appetite and probably will rob me of mysleep. What undertaking can have brought him to Paris? It was not tomeet me that he came, for he was ignorant of my journey. This young manterrifies me, my lord; there lies in him a sanguinary predisposition. "

"What occupies him in England?"

"He is one of Cromwell's most enthusiastic disciples. "

"But what attached him to the cause? His father and mother wereCatholics, I believe?"

"His hatred of the king, who deprived him of his estates and forbade himto bear the name of De Winter. "

"And what name does he now bear?"

"Mordaunt. "

"A Puritan, yet disguised as a monk he travels alone in France. "

"Do you say as a monk?"

"It was thus, and by mere accident--may God pardon me if Iblaspheme--that he heard the confession of the executioner of Bethune. "

"Then I understand it all! he has been sent by Cromwell to Mazarin, andthe queen guessed rightly; we have been forestalled. Everything is clearto me now. Adieu, count, till to-morrow. "

"But the night is dark, " said Athos, perceiving that Lord de Winterseemed more uneasy than he wished to appear; "and you have no servant. "

"I have Tony, a safe if simple youth. "

"Halloo, there, Grimaud, Olivain, and Blaisois! call the viscount andtake the musket with you. "

Blaisois was the tall youth, half groom, half peasant, whom we saw atthe Chateau de Bragelonne, whom Athos had christened by the name of hisprovince. 

"Viscount, " said Athos to Raoul, as he entered, "you will conduct mylord as far as his hotel and permit no one to approach him. "

"Oh! count, " said De Winter, "for whom do you take me?"

"For a stranger who does not know Paris, " said Athos, "and to whom theviscount will show the way. "

De Winter shook him by the hand. 

"Grimaud, " said Athos, "put yourself at the head of the troop and bewareof the monk. "

Grimaud shuddered, and nodding, awaited the departure, regarding thebutt of his musket with silent eloquence. Then obeying the orders givenhim by Athos, he headed the small procession, bearing the torch in onehand and the musket in the other, until it reached De Winter's inn, when pounding on the portal with his fist, he bowed to my lord and facedabout without a word. 

The same order was followed in returning, nor did Grimaud's searchingglance discover anything of a suspicious appearance, save a dark shadow, as it were, in ambuscade, at the corner of the Rue Guenegaud and of theQuai. He fancied, also, that in going he had already observed the streetwatcher who had attracted his attention. He pushed on toward him, butbefore he could reach it the shadow had disappeared into an alley, intowhich Grimaud deemed it scarcely prudent to pursue it. 

The next day, on awaking, the count perceived Raoul by his bedside. The young man was already dressed and was reading a new book by M. Chapelain. 

"Already up, Raoul?" exclaimed the count. 

"Yes, sir, " replied Raoul, with slight hesitation; "I did not sleepwell. "

"You, Raoul, not sleep well! then you must have something on your mind!"said Athos. 

"Sir, you will perhaps think that I am in a great hurry to leave youwhen I have only just arrived, but----"

"Have you only two days of leave, Raoul?"

"On the contrary, sir, I have ten; nor is it to the camp I wish to go. "

"Where, then?" said Athos, smiling, "if it be not a secret. You are nowalmost a man, since you have made your first passage of arms, and haveacquired the right to go where you will without consulting me. "

"Never, sir, " said Raoul, "as long as I possess the happiness of havingyou for a protector, shall I deem I have the right of freeing myselffrom a guardianship so valuable to me. I have, however, a wish to go andpass a day at Blois. You look at me and you are going to laugh at me. "

"No, on the contrary, I am not inclined to laugh, " said Athos, suppressing a sigh. "You wish to see Blois again; it is but natural. "

"Then you permit me to go, you are not angry in your heart?" exclaimedRaoul, joyously. 

"Certainly; and why should I regret what gives you pleasure?"

"Oh! how kind you are, " exclaimed the young man, pressing his guardian'shand; "and I can set out immediately?"

"When you like, Raoul. "

"Sir, " said Raoul, as he turned to leave the room, "I have thought ofone thing, and that is about the Duchess of Chevreuse, who was so kindto me and to whom I owe my introduction to the prince. "

"And you ought to thank her, Raoul. Well, try the Hotel de Luynes, Raoul, and ask if the duchess can receive you. I am glad to see youpay attention to the usages of the world. You must take Grimaud andOlivain. "

"Both, sir?" asked Raoul, astonished. 

"Both. "

Raoul went out, and when Athos heard his young, joyous voice calling toGrimaud and Olivain, he sighed. 

"It is very soon to leave me, " he thought, "but he follows the commoncustom. Nature has made us thus; she makes the young look ever forward, not behind. He certainly likes the child, but will he love me less ashis affection grows for her?"

And Athos confessed to himself that, he was unprepared for so prompta departure; but Raoul was so happy that this reflection effacedeverything else from the consideration of his guardian. 

Everything was ready at ten o'clock for the departure, and as Athos waswatching Raoul mount, a groom rode up from the Duchess de Chevreuse. Hewas charged to tell the Comte de la Fere, that she had learned of thereturn of her youthful protege, and also the manner he had conductedhimself on the field, and she added that she should be very glad tooffer him her congratulations. 

"Tell her grace, " replied Athos, "that the viscount has just mounted hishorse to proceed to the Hotel de Luynes. "

Then, with renewed instructions to Grimaud, Athos signified to Raoulthat he could set out, and ended by reflecting that it was perhapsbetter that Raoul should be away from Paris at that moment. 

42. Another Queen in Want of Help. 

Athos had not failed to send early to Aramis and had given his letterto Blaisois, the only serving-man whom he had left. Blaisois found Bazindonning his beadle's gown, his services being required that day at NotreDame. 

Athos had desired Blaisois to try to speak to Aramis himself. Blaisois, a tall, simple youth, who understood nothing but what he was expresslytold, asked, therefore for the Abbe d'Herblay, and in spite of Bazin'sassurances that his master was not at home, he persisted in such amanner as to put Bazin into a passion. Blaisois seeing Bazin in clericalguise, was a little discomposed at his denials and wanted to pass at allrisks, believing too, that the man with whom he had to do was endowedwith the virtues of his cloth, namely, patience and Christian charity. 

But Bazin, still the servant of a musketeer, when once the blood mountedto his fat cheeks, seized a broomstick and began belaboring Blaisois, saying:

"You have insulted the church, my friend, you have insulted the church!"

At this moment Aramis, aroused by this unusual disturbance, cautiouslyopened the door of his room; and Blaisois, looking reproachfully at theCerberus, drew the letter from his pocket and presented it to Aramis. 

"From the Comte de la Fere, " said Aramis. "All right. " And he retiredinto his room without even asking the cause of so much noise. 

Blaisois returned disconsolate to the Hotel of the Grand Roi Charlemagneand when Athos inquired if his commission was executed, he related hisadventure. 

"You foolish fellow!" said Athos, laughing. "And you did not tell himthat you came from me?"

"No, sir. "

At ten o'clock Athos, with his habitual exactitude, was waiting on thePont du Louvre and was almost immediately joined by Lord de Winter. 

They waited ten minutes and then his lordship began to fear Aramis wasnot coming to join them. 

"Patience, " said Athos, whose eyes were fixed in the direction of theRue du Bac, "patience; I see an abbe cuffing a man, then bowing to awoman; it must be Aramis. "

It was indeed Aramis. Having run against a young shopkeeper who wasgaping at the crows and who had splashed him, Aramis with one blow ofhis fist had distanced him ten paces. 

At this moment one of his penitents passed, and as she was young andpretty Aramis took off his cap to her with his most gracious smile. 

A most affectionate greeting, as one can well believe took place betweenhim and Lord de Winter. 

"Where are we going?" inquired Aramis; "are we going to fight, perchance? I carry no sword this morning and cannot return home toprocure one. "

"No, " said Lord de Winter, "we are going to pay a visit to Her Majestythe Queen of England. "

"Oh, very well, " replied Aramis; then bending his face down to Athos'sear, "what is the object of this visit?" continued he. 

"Nay, I know not; some evidence required from us, perhaps. "

"May it not be about that cursed affair?" asked Aramis, "in which case Ido not greatly care to go, for it will be to pocket a lecture; and sinceit is my function to give them to others I am rather averse to receivingthem myself. "

"If it were so, " answered Athos, "we should not be taken there by Lordde Winter, for he would come in for his share; he was one of us. "

"You're right; yes, let us go. "

On arriving at the Louvre Lord de Winter entered first; indeed, therewas but one porter there to receive them at the gate. 

It was impossible in daylight for the impoverished state of thehabitation grudging charity had conceded to an unfortunate queen topass unnoticed by Athos, Aramis, and even the Englishman. Large rooms, completely stripped of furniture, bare walls upon which, here and there, shone the old gold moldings which had resisted time and neglect, windowswith broken panes (impossible to close), no carpets, neither guardsnor servants: this is what first met the eyes of Athos, to which he, touching his companion's elbow, directed his attention by his glances. 

"Mazarin is better lodged, " said Aramis. 

"Mazarin is almost king, " answered Athos; "Madame Henrietta is almost nolonger queen. "

"If you would condescend to be clever, Athos, " observed Aramis, "Ireally do think you would be wittier than poor Monsieur de Voiture. "

Athos smiled. 

The queen appeared to be impatiently expecting them, for at the firstslight noise she heard in the hall leading to her room she came herselfto the door to receive these courtiers in the corridors of Misfortune. 

"Enter. You are welcome, gentlemen, " she said. 

The gentlemen entered and remained standing, but at a motion from thequeen they seated themselves. Athos was calm and grave, but Aramis wasfurious; the sight of such royal misery exasperated him and his eyesexamined every new trace of poverty that presented itself. 

"You are examining the luxury I enjoy, " said the queen, glancing sadlyaround her. 

"Madame, " replied Aramis, "I must ask your pardon, but I know not how tohide my indignation at seeing how a daughter of Henry IV. Is treated atthe court of France. "

"Monsieur Aramis is not an officer?" asked the queen of Lord de Winter. 

"That gentleman is the Abbe d'Herblay, " replied he. 

Aramis blushed. "Madame, " he said, "I am an abbe, it is true, but I amso against my will. I never had a vocation for the bands; my cassock isfastened by one button only, and I am always ready to become a musketeeronce more. This morning, being ignorant that I should have the honor ofseeing your majesty, I encumbered myself with this dress, but youwill find me none the less a man devoted to your majesty's service, inwhatever way you may see fit to use me. "

"The Abbe d'Herblay, " resumed De Winter, "is one of those gallantmusketeers formerly belonging to His Majesty King Louis XIII. , of whomI have spoken to you, madame. " Then turning to Athos, he continued, "Andthis gentleman is that noble Comte de la Fere, whose high reputation isso well known to your majesty. "

"Gentlemen, " said the queen, "a few years ago I had around me ushers, treasures, armies; and by the lifting of a finger all these were busiedin my service. To-day, look around you, and it may astonish you, that inorder to accomplish a plan which is dearer to me than life I have onlyLord de Winter, the friend of twenty years, and you, gentlemen, whom Isee for the first time and whom I know but as my countrymen. "

"It is enough, " said Athos, bowing low, "if the lives of three men canpurchase yours, madame. "

"I thank you, gentlemen. But hear me, " continued she. "I am not onlythe most miserable of queens, but the most unhappy of mothers, the mostwretched of wives. My children, two of them, at least, the Duke of Yorkand the Princess Elizabeth, are far away from me, exposed to the blowsof the ambitious and our foes; my husband, the king, is leading inEngland so wretched an existence that it is no exaggeration to aver thathe seeks death as a thing to be desired. Hold! gentlemen, here is theletter conveyed to me by Lord de Winter. Read it. "

Obeying the queen, Athos read aloud the letter which we have alreadyseen, in which King Charles demanded to know whether the hospitality ofFrance would be accorded him. 

"Well?" asked Athos, when he had closed the letter. 

"Well, " said the queen, "it has been refused. "

The two friends exchanged a smile of contempt. 

"And now, " said Athos, "what is to be done? I have the honor to inquirefrom your majesty what you desire Monsieur d'Herblay and myself to do inyour service. We are ready. "

"Ah, sir, you have a noble heart!" exclaimed the queen, with a burst ofgratitude; whilst Lord de Winter turned to her with a glance which said, "Did I not answer for them?"

"But you, sir?" said the queen to Aramis. 

"I, madame, " replied he, "follow Monsieur de la Fere wherever he leads, even were it on to death, without demanding wherefore; but when itconcerns your majesty's service, then, " added he, looking at the queenwith all the grace of former days, "I precede the count. "

"Well, then, gentlemen, " said the queen, "since it is thus, and sinceyou are willing to devote yourselves to the service of a poor princesswhom the whole world has abandoned, this is what is required to be donefor me. The king is alone with a few gentlemen, whom he fears to loseevery day; surrounded by the Scotch, whom he distrusts, although hebe himself a Scotchman. Since Lord de Winter left him I am distracted, sirs. I ask much, too much, perhaps, for I have no title to requestit. Go to England, join the king, be his friends, protectors, march tobattle at his side, and be near him in his house, where conspiracies, more dangerous than the perils of war, are hatching every day. And inexchange for the sacrifice that you make, gentlemen, I promise--not toreward you, I believe that word would offend you--but to love you as asister, to prefer you, next to my husband and my children, to every one. I swear it before Heaven. "

And the queen raised her eyes solemnly upward. 

"Madame, " said Athos, "when must we set out?"

"You consent then?" exclaimed the queen, joyfully. 

"Yes, madame; only it seems to me that your majesty goes too far inengaging to load us with a friendship so far above our merit. We renderservice to God, madame, in serving a prince so unfortunate, a queen sovirtuous. Madame, we are yours, body and soul. "

"Oh, sirs, " said the queen, moved even to tears, "this is the first timefor five years I have felt the least approach to joy or hope. God, whocan read my heart, all the gratitude I feel, will reward you! Save myhusband! Save the king, and although you care not for the price that isplaced upon a good action in this world, leave me the hope that we shallmeet again, when I may be able to thank you myself. In the meantime, Iremain here. Have you anything to ask of me? From this moment I becomeyour friend, and since you are engaged in my affairs I ought to occupymyself in yours. "

"Madame, " replied Athos, "I have only to ask your majesty's prayers. "

"And I, " said Aramis, "I am alone in the world and have only yourmajesty to serve. "

The queen held out her hand, which they kissed, and she said in a lowtone to De Winter:

"If you need money, my lord, separate the jewels I have given you;detach the diamonds and sell them to some Jew. You will receive for themfifty or sixty thousand francs; spend them if necessary, but let thesegentlemen be treated as they deserve, that is to say, like kings. "

The queen had two letters ready, one written by herself, the otherby her daughter, the Princess Henrietta. Both were addressed to KingCharles. She gave the first to Athos and the other to Aramis, so thatshould they be separated by chance they might make themselves known tothe king; after which they withdrew. 

At the foot of the staircase De Winter stopped. 

"Not to arouse suspicions, gentlemen, " said he, "go your way and I willgo mine, and this evening at nine o'clock we will assemble again at theGate Saint Denis. We will travel on horseback as far as our horses cango and afterward we can take the post. Once more, let me thank you, mygood friends, both in my own name and the queen's. "

The three gentlemen then shook hands, Lord de Winter taking the RueSaint Honore, and Athos and Aramis remaining together. 

"Well, " said Aramis, when they were alone, "what do you think of thisbusiness, my dear count?"

"Bad, " replied Athos, "very bad. "

"But you received it with enthusiasm. "

"As I shall ever receive the defense of a great principle, mydear D'Herblay. Monarchs are only strong by the assistance of thearistocracy, but aristocracy cannot survive without the countenance ofmonarchs. Let us, then, support monarchy, in order to support ourselves. 

"We shall be murdered there, " said Aramis. "I hate the English--they arecoarse, like every nation that swills beer. "

"Would it be better to remain here, " said Athos, "and take a turn inthe Bastile or the dungeon of Vincennes for having favored the escape ofMonsieur de Beaufort? I'faith, Aramis, believe me, there is little leftto regret. We avoid imprisonment and we play the part of heroes; thechoice is easy. "

"It is true; but in everything, friend, one must always return to thesame question--a stupid one, I admit, but very necessary--have you anymoney?"

"Something like a hundred pistoles, that my farmer sent to me the daybefore I left Bragelonne; but out of that sum I ought to leave fiftyfor Raoul--a young man must live respectably. I have then about fiftypistoles. And you?"

"As for me, I am quite sure that after turning out all my pockets andemptying my drawers I shall not find ten louis at home. Fortunately Lordde Winter is rich. "

"Lord de Winter is ruined for the moment; Oliver Cromwell has annexedhis income resources. "

"Now is the time when Baron Porthos would be useful. "

"Now it is that I regret D'Artagnan. "

"Let us entice them away. "

"This secret, Aramis, does not belong to us; take my advice, then, andlet no one into our confidence. And moreover, in taking such a step weshould appear to be doubtful of ourselves. Let us regret their absenceto ourselves for our own sakes, but not speak of it. "

"You are right; but what are you going to do until this evening? I havetwo things to postpone. "

"And what are they?"

"First, a thrust with the coadjutor, whom I met last night at Madame deRambouillet's and whom I found particular in his remarks respecting me. "

"Oh, fie--a quarrel between priests, a duel between allies!"

"What can I do, friend? he is a bully and so am I; his cassock is aburden to him and I imagine I have had enough of mine; in fact, there isso much resemblance between us that I sometimes believe he is Aramisand I am the coadjutor. This kind of life fatigues and oppressesme; besides, he is a turbulent fellow, who will ruin our party. I amconvinced that if I gave him a box on the ear, such as I gave thismorning to the little citizen who splashed me, it would change theappearance of things. "

"And I, my dear Aramis, " quietly replied Athos, "I think it would onlychange Monsieur de Retz's appearance. Take my advice, leave things justas they are; besides, you are neither of you now your own masters; hebelongs to the Fronde and you to the queen of England. So, if the secondmatter which you regret being unable to attend to is not more importantthan the first----"

"Oh! that is of the first importance. "

"Attend to it, then, at once. "

"Unfortunately, it is a thing that I can't perform at any time I choose. It was arranged for the evening and no other time will serve. "

"I understand, " said Athos smiling, "midnight. "

"About that time. "

"But, my dear fellow, those are things that bear postponement and youmust put it off, especially with so good an excuse to give on yourreturn----"

"Yes, if I return. "

"If you do not return, how does it concern you? Be reasonable. Come, youare no longer twenty years old. "

"To my great regret, mordieu! Ah, if I were but twenty years old!"

"Yes, " said Athos, "doubtless you would commit great follies! But now wemust part. I have one or two visits to make and a letter yet to write. Call for me at eight o'clock or shall I wait supper for you at seven?"

"That will do very well, " said Aramis. "I have twenty visits to make andas many letters to write. "

They then separated. Athos went to pay a visit to Madame de Vendome, left his name at Madame de Chevreuse's and wrote the following letter toD'Artagnan:

"Dear Friend, --I am about to set off with Aramis on important business. I wished to make my adieux to you, but time does not permit. Rememberthat I write to you now to repeat how much affection for you I stillcherish. 

"Raoul is gone to Blois and is ignorant of my departure; watch over himin my absence as much as you possibly can; and if by chance you receiveno news of me three months hence, tell him to open a packet which hewill find addressed to him in my bronze casket at Blois, of which I sendyou now the key. 

"Embrace Porthos from Aramis and myself. Adieu, perhaps farewell. "

At the hour agreed upon Aramis arrived; he was dressed as an officer andhad the old sword at his side which he had drawn so often and which hewas more than ever ready to draw. 

"By-the-bye, " he said, "I think that we are decidedly wrong to departthus, without leaving a line for Porthos and D'Artagnan. "

"The thing is done, dear friend, " said Athos; "I foresaw that and haveembraced them both from you and myself. "

"You are a wonderful man, my dear count, " said Aramis; "you think ofeverything. "

"Well, have you made up your mind to this journey?"

"Quite; and now that I reflect about it, I am glad to leave Paris atthis moment. "

"And so am I, " replied Athos; "my only regret is not having seenD'Artagnan; but the rascal is so cunning, he might have guessed ourproject. "

When supper was over Blaisois entered. "Sir, " said he, "here is Monsieurd'Artagnan's answer. "

"But I did not tell you there would be an answer, stupid!" said Athos. 

"And I set off without waiting for one, but he called me back and gaveme this;" and he presented a little leather bag, plump and giving out agolden jingle. 

Athos opened it and began by drawing forth a little note, written inthese terms:

"My dear Count, --When one travels, and especially for three months, onenever has a superfluity of money. Now, recalling former times of mutualdistress, I send you half my purse; it is money to obtain which I madeMazarin sweat. Don't make a bad use of it, I entreat you. 

"As to what you say about not seeing you again, I believe not a word ofit; with such a heart as yours--and such a sword--one passes through thevalley of the shadow of death a dozen times, unscathed and unalarmed. Aurevoir, not farewell. 

"It is unnecessary to say that from the day I saw Raoul I loved him;nevertheless, believe that I heartily pray that I may not become to hima father, however much I might be proud of such a son. 

"Your

"D'Artagnan. 

"P. S. --Be it well understood that the fifty louis which I send areequally for Aramis as for you--for you as Aramis. "

Athos smiled, and his fine eye was dimmed by a tear. D'Artagnan, who hadloved him so tenderly, loved him still, although a Mazarinist. 

"There are the fifty louis, i'faith, " said Aramis, emptying the purse onthe table, all bearing the effigy of Louis XIII. "Well, what shall youdo with this money, count? Shall you keep it or send it back?"

"I shall keep it, Aramis, and even though I had no need of it I stillshould keep it. What is offered from a generous heart should be acceptedgenerously. Take twenty-five of them, Aramis, and give me the remainingtwenty-five. "

"All right; I am glad to see you are of my opinion. There now, shall westart?"

"When you like; but have you no groom?"

"No; that idiot Bazin had the folly to make himself verger, as you know, and therefore cannot leave Notre Dame. 

"Very well, take Blaisois, with whom I know not what to do, since Ialready have Grimaud. "

"Willingly, " said Aramis. 

At this moment Grimaud appeared at the door. "Ready, " said he, with hisusual curtness. 

"Let us go, then, " said Athos. 

The two friends mounted, as did their servants. At the corner of theQuai they encountered Bazin, who was running breathlessly. 

"Oh, sir!" exclaimed he, "thank Heaven I have arrived in time. MonsieurPorthos has just been to your house and has left this for you, sayingthat the letter was important and must be given to you before you left. "

"Good, " said Aramis, taking a purse which Bazin presented to him. "Whatis this?"

"Wait, your reverence, there is a letter. "

"You know I have already told you that if you ever call me anything butchevalier I will break every bone in your body. Give me the letter. "

"How can you read?" asked Athos, "it is as dark as a cold oven. "

"Wait, " said Bazin, striking a flint, and setting afire a twistedwax-light, with which he started the church candles. Thus illumined, Aramis read the following epistle:

"My dear D'Herblay, --I learned from D'Artagnan who has embraced me onthe part of the Comte de la Fere and yourself, that you are setting outon a journey which may perhaps last two or three months; as I know thatyou do not like to ask money of your friends I offer you some of my ownaccord. Here are two hundred pistoles, which you can dispose of as youwish and return to me when opportunity occurs. Do not fear that you putme to inconvenience; if I want money I can send for some to any of mychateaux; at Bracieux alone, I have twenty thousand francs in gold. So, if I do not send you more it is because I fear you would not accept alarger sum. 

"I address you, because you know, that although I esteem him from myheart I am a little awed by the Comte de la Fere; but it is understoodthat what I offer you I offer him at the same time. 

"I am, as I trust you do not doubt, your devoted

"Du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds. "

"Well, " said Aramis, "what do you say to that?"

"I say, my dear D'Herblay, that it is almost sacrilege to distrustProvidence when one has such friends, and therefore we will divide thepistoles from Porthos, as we divided the louis sent by D'Artagnan. "

The division being made by the light of Bazin's taper, the two friendscontinued their road and a quarter of an hour later they had joined DeWinter at the Porte Saint Denis. 

43. In which it is proved that first Impulses are oftentimes the best. 

The three gentlemen took the road to Picardy, a road so well known tothem and which recalled to Athos and Aramis some of the most picturesqueadventures of their youth. 

"If Mousqueton were with us, " observed Athos, on reaching the spotwhere they had had a dispute with the paviers, "how he would tremble atpassing this! Do you remember, Aramis, that it was here he received thatfamous bullet wound?"

"By my faith, 'twould be excusable in him to tremble, " replied Aramis, "for even I feel a shudder at the recollection; hold, just above thattree is the little spot where I thought I was killed. "

It was soon time for Grimaud to recall the past. Arriving before theinn at which his master and himself had made such an enormous repast, heapproached Athos and said, showing him the airhole of the cellar:

"Sausages!"

Athos began to laugh, for this juvenile escapade of his appeared to beas amusing as if some one had related it of another person. 

At last, after traveling two days and a night, they arrived at Boulognetoward the evening, favored by magnificent weather. Boulogne was astrong position, then almost a deserted town, built entirely on theheights; what is now called the lower town did not then exist. 

"Gentlemen, " said De Winter, on reaching the gate of the town, "let usdo here as at Paris--let us separate to avoid suspicion. I know an inn, little frequented, but of which the host is entirely devoted to me. Iwill go there, where I expect to find letters, and you go to the firsttavern in the town, to L'Epee du Grand Henri for instance, refreshyourselves, and in two hours be upon the jetty; our boat is waiting forus there. "

The matter being thus decided, the two friends found, about two hundredpaces further, the tavern indicated. Their horses were fed, but notunsaddled; the grooms supped, for it was already late, and their twomasters, impatient to return, appointed a place of meeting with themon the jetty and desired them on no account to exchange a word withany one. It is needless to say that this caution concerned Blaisoisalone--long enough since it had been a useless one to Grimaud. 

Athos and Aramis walked down toward the port. From their dress, coveredwith dust, and from a certain easy manner by means of which a manaccustomed to travel is always recognizable, the two friends excited theattention of a few promenaders. There was more especially one upon whomtheir arrival had produced a decided impression. This man, whom theyhad noticed from the first for the same reason they had themselves beenremarked by others, was walking in a listless way up and down the jetty. From the moment he perceived them he did not cease to look at them andseemed to burn with the wish to speak to them. 

On reaching the jetty Athos and Aramis stopped to look at a little boatmade fast to a pile and ready rigged as if waiting to start. 

"That is doubtless our boat, " said Athos. 

"Yes, " replied Aramis, "and the sloop out there making ready to sailmust be that which is to take us to our destination; now, " continued he, "if only De Winter does not keep us waiting. It is not at all amusinghere; there is not a single woman passing. "

"Hush!" said Athos, "we are overheard. "

In truth, the walker, who, during the observations of the two friends, had passed and repassed behind them several times, stopped at the nameof De Winter; but as his face betrayed no emotion at mention of thisname, it might have been by chance he stood so still. 

"Gentlemen, " said the man, who was young and pale, bowing with ease andcourtesy, "pardon my curiosity, but I see you come from Paris, or atleast that you are strangers at Boulogne. "

"We come from Paris, yes, " replied Athos, with the same courtesy; "whatis there we can do for you?"

"Sir, " said the young man, "will you be so good as to tell me if it betrue that Cardinal Mazarin is no longer minister?"

"That is a strange question, " said Aramis. 

"He is and he is not, " replied Athos; "that is to say, he is dismissedby one-half of France, but by intrigues and promises he makes the otherhalf sustain him; you will perceive that this may last a long time. "

"However, sir, " said the stranger, "he has neither fled nor is inprison?"

"No, sir, not at this moment at least. "

"Sirs, accept my thanks for your politeness, " said the young man, retreating. 

"What do you think of that interrogator?" asked Aramis. 

"I think he is either a dull provincial person or a spy in search ofinformation. "

"And you replied to him with that notion?"

"Nothing warranted me to answer him otherwise; he was polite to me and Iwas so to him. "

"But if he be a spy----"

"What do you think a spy would be about here? We are not living in thetime of Cardinal Richelieu, who would have closed the ports on baresuspicion. "

"It matters not; you were wrong to reply to him as you did, " continuedAramis, following with his eyes the young man, now vanishing behind thecliffs. 

"And you, " said Athos, "you forget that you committed a very differentkind of imprudence in pronouncing Lord de Winter's name. Did you not seethat at that name the young man stopped?"

"More reason, then, when he spoke to you, for sending him about hisbusiness. "

"A quarrel?" asked Athos. 

"And since when have you become afraid of a quarrel?"

"I am always afraid of a quarrel when I am expected at any place andwhen such a quarrel might possibly prevent my reaching it. Besides, letme own something to you. I am anxious to see that young man nearer. "

"And wherefore?"

"Aramis, you will certainly laugh at me, you will say that I amalways repeating the same thing, you will call me the most timorous ofvisionaries; but to whom do you see a resemblance in that young man?"

"In beauty or on the contrary?" asked Aramis, laughing. 

"In ugliness, in so far as a man can resemble a woman. "

"Ah! Egad!" cried Aramis, "you set me thinking. No, in truth you areno visionary, my dear friend, and now I think of it--you--yes, i'faith, you're right--those delicate, yet firm-set lips, those eyes which seemalways at the command of the intellect and never of the heart! Yes, itis one of Milady's bastards!"

"You laugh Aramis. "

"From habit, that is all. I swear to you, I like no better than yourselfto meet that viper in my path. "

"Ah! here is De Winter coming, " said Athos. 

"Good! one thing now is only awanting and that is, that our groomsshould not keep us waiting. "

"No, " said Athos. "I see them about twenty paces behind my lord. Irecognize Grimaud by his long legs and his determined slouch. Tonycarries our muskets. "

"Then we set sail to-night?" asked Aramis, glancing toward the west, where the sun had left a single golden cloud, which, dipping into theocean, appeared by degrees to be extinguished. 

"Probably, " said Athos. 

"Diable!" resumed Aramis, "I have little fancy for the sea by day, stillless at night; the sounds of wind and wave, the frightful movements ofthe vessel; I confess I prefer the convent of Noisy. "

Athos smiled sadly, for it was evident that he was thinking of otherthings as he listened to his friend and moved toward De Winter. 

"What ails our friend?" said Aramis, "he resembles one of Dante'sdamned, whose neck Apollyon has dislocated and who are ever looking attheir heels. What the devil makes him glower thus behind him?"

When De Winter perceived them, in his turn he advanced toward them withsurprising rapidity. 

"What is the matter, my lord?" said Athos, "and what puts you out ofbreath thus?"

"Nothing, " replied De Winter; "nothing; and yet in passing the heightsit seemed to me----" and he again turned round. 

Athos glanced at Aramis. 

"But let us go, " continued De Winter; "let us be off; the boat must bewaiting for us and there is our sloop at anchor--do you see it there? Iwish I were on board already, " and he looked back again. 

"He has seen him, " said Athos, in a low tone, to Aramis. 

They had reached the ladder which led to the boat. De Winter made thegrooms who carried the arms and the porters with the luggage descendfirst and was about to follow them. 

At this moment Athos perceived a man walking on the seashore parallel tothe jetty, and hastening his steps, as if to reach the other side of theport, scarcely twenty steps from the place of embarking. He fancied inthe darkness that he recognized the young man who had questioned him. Athos now descended the ladder in his turn, without losing sight of theyoung man. The latter, to make a short cut, had appeared on a sluice. 

"He certainly bodes us no good, " said Athos; "but let us embark; onceout at sea, let him come. "

And Athos sprang into the boat, which was immediately pushed off andwhich soon sped seawards under the efforts of four stalwart rowers. 

But the young man had begun to follow, or rather to advance before theboat. She was obliged to pass between the point of the jetty, surmountedby a beacon just lighted, and a rock which jutted out. They saw him inthe distance climbing the rock in order to look down upon the boat as itpassed. 

"Ay, but, " said Aramis, "that young fellow is decidedly a spy. "

"Which is the young man?" asked De Winter, turning around. 

"He who followed us and spoke to us awaits us there; behold!"

De Winter turned and followed the direction of Aramis's finger. Thebeacon bathed with light the little strait through which they wereabout to pass and the rock where the young man stood with bare head andcrossed arms. 

"It is he!" exclaimed De Winter, seizing the arm of Athos; "it is he! Ithought I recognized him and I was not mistaken. "

"Whom do you mean?" asked Aramis. 

"Milady's son, " replied Athos. 

"The monk!" exclaimed Grimaud. 

The young man heard these words and bent so forward over the rock thatone might have supposed he was about to precipitate himself from it. 

"Yes, it is I, my uncle--I, the son of Milady--I, the monk--I, thesecretary and friend of Cromwell--I know you now, both you and yourcompanions. "

In that boat sat three men, unquestionably brave, whose courage no manwould have dared dispute; nevertheless, at that voice, that accent andthose gestures, they felt a chill access of terror cramp their veins. Asfor Grimaud, his hair stood on end and drops of sweat ran down his brow. 

"Ah!" exclaimed Aramis, "that is the nephew, the monk, and the son ofMilady, as he says himself. "

"Alas, yes, " murmured De Winter. 

"Then wait, " said Aramis; and with the terrible coolness which onimportant occasions he showed, he took one of the muskets from Tony, shouldered and aimed it at the young man, who stood, like the accusingangel, upon the rock. 

"Fire!" cried Grimaud, unconsciously. 

Athos threw himself on the muzzle of the gun and arrested the shot whichwas about to be fired. 

"The devil take you, " said Aramis. "I had him so well at the point of mygun I should have sent a ball into his breast. "

"It is enough to have killed the mother, " said Athos, hoarsely. 

"The mother was a wretch, who struck at us all and at those dear to us. "

"Yes, but the son has done us no harm. "

Grimaud, who had risen to watch the effect of the shot, fell backhopeless, wringing his hands. 

The young man burst into a laugh. 

"Ah, it is certainly you!" he cried. "I know you even better now. "

His mocking laugh and threatening words passed over their heads, carried by the breeze, until lost in the depths of the horizon. Aramisshuddered. 

"Be calm, " exclaimed Athos, "for Heaven's sake! have we ceased to bemen?"

"No, " said Aramis, "but that fellow is a fiend; and ask the unclewhether I was wrong to rid him of his dear nephew. "

De Winter only replied by a groan. 

"It was all up with him, " continued Aramis; "ah I much fear that withall your wisdom such mercy yet will prove supernal folly. "

Athos took Lord de Winter's hand and tried to turn the conversation. 

"When shall we land in England?" he asked; but De Winter seemed not tohear his words and made no reply. 

"Hold, Athos, " said Aramis, "perhaps there is yet time. See if he isstill in the same place. "

Athos turned around with an effort; the sight of the young man wasevidently painful to him, and there he still was, in fact, on the rock, the beacon shedding around him, as it were, a doubtful aureole. 

"Decidedly, Aramis, " said Athos, "I think I was wrong not to let youfire. "

"Hold your tongue, " replied Aramis; "you would make me weep, if such athing were possible. "

At this moment they were hailed by a voice from the sloop and a fewseconds later men, servants and baggage were aboard. The captain wasonly waiting for his passengers; hardly had they put foot on deck ereher head was turned towards Hastings, where they were to disembark. Atthis instant the three friends turned, in spite of themselves, a lastlook on the rock, upon the menacing figure which pursued them and nowstood out with a distinctness still. Then a voice reached them oncemore, sending this threat: "To our next meeting, sirs, in England. "

44. Te Deum for the Victory of Lens. 

The bustle which had been observed by Henrietta Maria and for which shehad vainly sought to discover a reason, was occasioned by the battle ofLens, announced by the prince's messenger, the Duc de Chatillon, who hadtaken such a noble part in the engagement; he was, besides, charged tohang five and twenty flags, taken from the Lorraine party, as well asfrom the Spaniards, upon the arches of Notre Dame. 

Such news was decisive; it destroyed, in favor of the court, thestruggle commenced with parliament. The motive given for all the taxessummarily imposed and to which the parliament had made opposition, wasthe necessity of sustaining the honor of France and the uncertain hopeof beating the enemy. Now, since the affair of Nordlingen, they hadexperienced nothing but reverses; the parliament had a plea for callingMazarin to account for imaginary victories, always promised, everdeferred; but this time there really had been fighting, a triumph and acomplete one. And this all knew so well that it was a double victoryfor the court, a victory at home and abroad; so that even when the youngking learned the news he exclaimed, "Ah, gentlemen of the parliament, weshall see what you will say now!" Upon which the queen had pressed theroyal child to her heart, whose haughty and unruly sentiments were insuch harmony with her own. A council was called on the same evening, butnothing transpired of what had been decided on. It was only known thaton the following Sunday a Te Deum would be sung at Notre Dame in honorof the victory of Lens. 

The following Sunday, then, the Parisians arose with joy; at that perioda Te Deum was a grand affair; this kind of ceremony had not then beenabused and it produced a great effect. The shops were deserted, housesclosed; every one wished to see the young king with his mother, and thefamous Cardinal Mazarin whom they hated so much that no one wished to bedeprived of his presence. Moreover, great liberty prevailed throughoutthe immense crowd; every opinion was openly expressed and chorused, soto speak, of coming insurrection, as the thousand bells of all the Parischurches rang out the Te Deum. The police belonging to the city beingformed by the city itself, nothing threatening presented itself todisturb this concert of universal hatred or freeze the frequent scoffsof slanderous lips. 

Nevertheless, at eight o'clock in the morning the regiment of thequeen's guards, commanded by Guitant, under whom was his nephewComminges, marched publicly, preceded by drums and trumpets, filingoff from the Palais Royal as far as Notre Dame, a manoeuvre which theParisians witnessed tranquilly, delighted as they were with militarymusic and brilliant uniforms. 

Friquet had put on his Sunday clothes, under the pretext of having aswollen face which he had managed to simulate by introducing a handfulof cherry kernels into one side of his mouth, and had procured a wholeholiday from Bazin. On leaving Bazin, Friquet started off to the PalaisRoyal, where he arrived at the moment of the turning out of the regimentof guards; and as he had only gone there for the enjoyment of seeing itand hearing the music, he took his place at their head, beating the drumon two pieces of slate and passing from that exercise to that of thetrumpet, which he counterfeited quite naturally with his mouth in amanner which had more than once called forth the praises of amateurs ofimitative harmony. 

This amusement lasted from the Barriere des Sergens to the place ofNotre Dame, and Friquet found in it very real enjoyment; but when atlast the regiment separated, penetrated the heart of the city andplaced itself at the extremity of the Rue Saint Christophe, near the RueCocatrix, in which Broussel lived, then Friquet remembered that he hadnot had breakfast; and after thinking in which direction he had betterturn his steps in order to accomplish this important act of the day, hereflected deeply and decided that Councillor Broussel should bear thecost of this repast. 

In consequence he took to his heels, arrived breathlessly at thecouncillor's door, and knocked violently. 

His mother, the councillor's old servant, opened it. 

"What doest thou here, good-for-nothing?" she said, "and why art thounot at Notre Dame?"

"I have been there, mother, " said Friquet, "but I saw things happen ofwhich Master Broussel ought to be warned, and so with Monsieur Bazin'spermission--you know, mother, Monsieur Bazin, the verger--I came tospeak to Monsieur Broussel. "

"And what hast thou to say, boy, to Monsieur Broussel?"

"I wish to tell him, " replied Friquet, screaming with all his might, "that there is a whole regiment of guards coming this way. And as I heareverywhere that at the court they are ill-disposed to him, I wish towarn him, that he may be on his guard. "

Broussel heard the scream of the young oddity, and, enchanted with thisexcess of zeal, came down to the first floor, for he was, in truth, working in his room on the second. 

"Well, " said he, "friend, what matters the regiment of guards to us, andart thou not mad to make such a disturbance? Knowest thou not that itis the custom of these soldiers to act thus and that it is usual for theregiment to form themselves into two solid walls when the king goes by?"

Friquet counterfeited surprise, and twisting his new cap around in hisfingers, said:

"It is not astonishing for you to know it, Monsieur Broussel, whoknows everything; but as for me, by holy truth, I did not know it and Ithought I would give you good advice; you must not be angry with me forthat, Monsieur Broussel. "

"On the contrary, my boy, on the contrary, I am pleased with your zeal. Dame Nanette, look for those apricots which Madame de Longueville sentto us yesterday from Noisy and give half a dozen of them to your son, with a crust of new bread. "

"Oh, thank you, sir, thank you, Monsieur Broussel, " said Friquet; "I amso fond of apricots!"

Broussel then proceeded to his wife's room and asked for breakfast;it was nine o'clock. The councillor placed himself at the window; thestreet was completely deserted, but in the distance was heard, likethe noise of the tide rushing in, the deep hum of the populous wavesincreasing now around Notre Dame. 

This noise redoubled when D'Artagnan, with a company of musketeers, placed himself at the gates of Notre Dame to secure the service of thechurch. He had instructed Porthos to profit by this opportunity to seethe ceremony; and Porthos, in full dress, mounted his finest horse, taking the part of supernumerary musketeer, as D'Artagnan had so oftendone formerly. The sergeant of this company, a veteran of the Spanishwars, had recognized Porthos, his old companion, and very soon allthose who served under him were placed in possession of startling factsconcerning the honor of the ancient musketeers of Treville. Porthos hadnot only been well received by the company, but he was moreover lookedon with great admiration. 

At ten o'clock the guns of the Louvre announced the departure of theking, and then a movement, similar to that of trees in a stormy windthat bend and writhe with agitated tops, ran though the multitude, whichwas compressed behind the immovable muskets of the guard. At last theking appeared with the queen in a gilded chariot. Ten other carriagesfollowed, containing the ladies of honor, the officers of the royalhousehold, and the court. 

"God save the king!" was the cry in every direction; the young monarchgravely put his head out of the window, looked sufficiently grateful andeven bowed; at which the cries of the multitude were renewed. 

Just as the court was settling down in the cathedral, a carriage, bearing the arms of Comminges, quitted the line of the court carriagesand proceeded slowly to the end of the Rue Saint Christophe, nowentirely deserted. When it arrived there, four guards and a policeofficer, who accompanied it, mounted into the heavy machine and closedthe shutters; then through an opening cautiously made, the policemanbegan to watch the length of the Rue Cocatrix, as if he was waiting forsome one. 

All the world was occupied with the ceremony, so that neither thechariot nor the precautions taken by those who were within it hadbeen observed. Friquet, whose eye, ever on the alert, could alone havediscovered them, had gone to devour his apricots upon the entablature ofa house in the square of Notre Dame. Thence he saw the king, the queenand Monsieur Mazarin, and heard the mass as well as if he had been onduty. 

Toward the end of the service, the queen, seeing Comminges standing nearher, waiting for a confirmation of the order she had given him beforequitting the Louvre, said in a whisper:

"Go, Comminges, and may God aid you!"

Comminges immediately left the church and entered the Rue SaintChristophe. Friquet, seeing this fine officer thus walk away, followedby two guards, amused himself by pursuing them and did this so much themore gladly as the ceremony ended at that instant and the king remountedhis carriage. 

Hardly had the police officer observed Comminges at the end of the RueCocatrix when he said one word to the coachman, who at once put hisvehicle into motion and drove up before Broussel's door. Commingesknocked at the door at the same moment, and Friquet was waiting behindComminges until the door should be opened. 

"What dost thou there, rascal?" asked Comminges. 

"I want to go into Master Broussel's house, captain, " replied Friquet, in that wheedling way the "gamins" of Paris know so well how to assumewhen necessary. 

"And on what floor does he live?" asked Comminges. 

"In the whole house, " said Friquet; "the house belongs to him; heoccupies the second floor when he works and descends to the first totake his meals; he must be at dinner now; it is noon. "

"Good, " said Comminges. 

At this moment the door was opened, and having questioned the servantthe officer learned that Master Broussel was at home and at dinner. 

Broussel was seated at the table with his family, having his wifeopposite to him, his two daughters by his side, and his son, Louvieres, whom we have already seen when the accident happened to thecouncillor--an accident from which he had quite recovered--at the bottomof the table. The worthy man, restored to perfect health, was tastingthe fine fruit which Madame de Longueville had sent to him. 

At sight of the officer Broussel was somewhat moved, but seeing himbow politely he rose and bowed also. Still, in spite of this reciprocalpoliteness, the countenances of the women betrayed a certain amount ofuneasiness; Louvieres became very pale and waited impatiently for theofficer to explain himself. 

"Sir, " said Comminges, "I am the bearer of an order from the king. "

"Very well, sir, " replied Broussel, "what is this order?" And he heldout his hand. 

"I am commissioned to seize your person, sir, " said Comminges, in thesame tone and with the same politeness; "and if you will believe me youhad better spare yourself the trouble of reading that long letter andfollow me. "

A thunderbolt falling in the midst of these good people, so peacefullyassembled there, would not have produced a more appalling effect. It wasa horrible thing at that period to be imprisoned by the enmity of theking. Louvieres sprang forward to snatch his sword, which stood againsta chair in a corner of the room; but a glance from the worthy Broussel, who in the midst of it all did not lose his presence of mind, checkedthis foolhardy action of despair. Madame Broussel, separated by thewidth of the table from her husband, burst into tears, and the younggirls clung to their father's arms. 

"Come, sir, " said Comminges, "make haste; you must obey the king. "

"Sir, " said Broussel, "I am in bad health and cannot give myself up aprisoner in this state; I must have time. "

"It is impossible, " said Comminges; "the order is strict and must be putinto execution this instant. "

"Impossible!" said Louvieres; "sir, beware of driving us to despair. "

"Impossible!" cried a shrill voice from the end of the room. 

Comminges turned and saw Dame Nanette, her eyes flashing with anger anda broom in her hand. 

"My good Nanette, be quiet, I beseech you, " said Broussel. 

"Me! keep quiet while my master is being arrested! he, the support, theliberator, the father of the people! Ah! well, yes; you have to know meyet. Are you going?" added she to Comminges. 

The latter smiled. 

"Come, sir, " said he, addressing Broussel, "silence that woman andfollow me. "

"Silence me! me! me!" said Nanette. "Ah! yet one wants some one besidesyou for that, my fine king's cockatoo! You shall see. " And Dame Nanettesprang to the window, threw it open, and in such a piercing voice thatit might have been heard in the square of Notre Dame:

"Help!" she screamed, "my master is being arrested; the CouncillorBroussel is being arrested! Help!"

"Sir, " said Comminges, "declare yourself at once; will you obey or doyou intend to rebel against the king?"

"I obey, I obey, sir!" cried Broussel, trying to disengage himselffrom the grasp of his two daughters and by a look restrain his son, whoseemed determined to dispute authority. 

"In that case, " commanded Comminges, "silence that old woman. "

"Ah! old woman!" screamed Nanette. 

And she began to shriek more loudly, clinging to the bars of the window:

"Help! help! for Master Broussel, who is arrested because he hasdefended the people! Help!"

Comminges seized the servant around the waist and would have draggedher from her post; but at that instant a treble voice, proceeding from akind of entresol, was heard screeching:

"Murder! fire! assassins! Master Broussel is being killed! MasterBroussel is being strangled. "

It was Friquet's voice; and Dame Nanette, feeling herself supported, recommenced with all her strength to sound her shrilly squawk. 

Many curious faces had already appeared at the windows and the peopleattracted to the end of the street began to run, first men, then groups, and then a crowd of people; hearing cries and seeing a chariot theycould not understand it; but Friquet sprang from the entresol on to thetop of the carriage. 

"They want to arrest Master Broussel!" he cried; "the guards are in thecarriage and the officer is upstairs!"

The crowd began to murmur and approached the house. The two guards whohad remained in the lane mounted to the aid of Comminges; those who werein the chariot opened the doors and presented arms. 

"Don't you see them?" cried Friquet, "don't you see? there they are!"

The coachman turning around, gave Friquet a slash with his whip whichmade him scream with pain. 

"Ah! devil's coachman!" cried Friquet, "you're meddling too! Wait!"

And regaining his entresol he overwhelmed the coachman with everyprojectile he could lay hands on. 

The tumult now began to increase; the street was not able to containthe spectators who assembled from every direction; the crowd invadedthe space which the dreaded pikes of the guards had till then kept clearbetween them and the carriage. The soldiers, pushed back by these livingwalls, were in danger of being crushed against the spokes of the wheelsand the panels of the carriages. The cries which the police officerrepeated twenty times: "In the king's name, " were powerless against thisformidable multitude--seemed, on the contrary, to exasperate it stillmore; when, at the shout, "In the name of the king, " an officer ran up, and seeing the uniforms ill-treated, he sprang into the scuffle swordin hand, and brought unexpected help to the guards. This gentleman wasa young man, scarcely sixteen years of age, now white with anger. He leaped from his charger, placed his back against the shaft of thecarriage, making a rampart of his horse, drew his pistols from theirholsters and fastened them to his belt, and began to fight with the backsword, like a man accustomed to the handling of his weapon. 

During ten minutes he alone kept the crowd at bay; at last Commingesappeared, pushing Broussel before him. 

"Let us break the carriage!" cried the people. 

"In the king's name!" cried Comminges. 

"The first who advances is a dead man!" cried Raoul, for it was infact he, who, feeling himself pressed and almost crushed by a giganticcitizen, pricked him with the point of his sword and sent him howlingback. 

Comminges, so to speak, threw Broussel into the carriage and sprang inafter him. At this moment a shot was fired and a ball passed throughthe hat of Comminges and broke the arm of one of the guards. Commingeslooked up and saw amidst the smoke the threatening face of Louvieresappearing at the window of the second floor. 

"Very well, sir, " said Comminges, "you shall hear of this anon. "

"And you of me, sir, " said Louvieres; "and we shall see then who canspeak the loudest. "

Friquet and Nanette continued to shout; the cries, the noise of theshot and the intoxicating smell of powder produced their usual maddeningeffects. 

"Down with the officer! down with him!" was the cry. 

"One step nearer, " said Comminges, putting down the sashes, that theinterior of the carriage might be well seen, and placing his sword onhis prisoner's breast, "one step nearer, and I kill the prisoner; myorders were to carry him off alive or dead. I will take him dead, that'sall. "

A terrible cry was heard, and the wife and daughters of Broussel heldup their hands in supplication to the people; the latter knew that thisofficer, who was so pale, but who appeared so determined, would keep hisword; they continued to threaten, but they began to disperse. 

"Drive to the palace, " said Comminges to the coachman, who was by thenmore dead than alive. 

The man whipped his animals, which cleared a way through the crowd;but on arriving on the Quai they were obliged to stop; the carriage wasupset, the horses carried off, stifled, mangled by the crowd. Raoul, on foot, for he had not time to mount his horse again, tired, like theguards, of distributing blows with the flat of his sword, had recourseto its point. But this last and dreaded resource served only toexasperate the multitude. From time to time a shot from a musket or theblade of a rapier flashed among the crowd; projectiles continued tohail down from the windows and some shots were heard, the echo of which, though they were probably fired in the air, made all hearts vibrate. Voices, unheard except on days of revolution, were distinguished; faceswere seen that only appeared on days of bloodshed. Cries of "Death!death to the guards! to the Seine with the officer!" were heard aboveall the noise, deafening as it was. Raoul, his hat in ribbons, his facebleeding, felt not only his strength but also his reason going; ared mist covered his sight, and through this mist he saw a hundredthreatening arms stretched over him, ready to seize upon him when hefell. The guards were unable to help any one--each one was occupiedwith his self-preservation. All was over; carriages, horses, guards, andperhaps even the prisoner were about to be torn to shreds, when all atonce a voice well known to Raoul was heard, and suddenly a great swordglittered in the air; at the same time the crowd opened, upset, troddendown, and an officer of the musketeers, striking and cutting right andleft, rushed up to Raoul and took him in his arms just as he was aboutto fall. 

"God's blood!" cried the officer, "have they killed him? Woe to them ifit be so!"

And he turned around, so stern with anger, strength and threat, that themost excited rebels hustled back on one another, in order to escape, andsome of them even rolled into the Seine. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" murmured Raoul. 

"Yes, 'sdeath! in person, and fortunately it seems for you, my youngfriend. Come on, here, you others, " he continued, rising in hisstirrups, raising his sword, and addressing those musketeers who had notbeen able to follow his rapid onslaught. "Come, sweep away all that forme! Shoulder muskets! Present arms! Aim----"

At this command the mountain of populace thinned so suddenly thatD'Artagnan could not repress a burst of Homeric laughter. 

"Thank you, D'Artagnan, " said Comminges, showing half of his bodythrough the window of the broken vehicle, "thanks, my young friend; yourname--that I may mention it to the queen. "

Raoul was about to reply when D'Artagnan bent down to his ear. 

"Hold your tongue, " said he, "and let me answer. Do not lose time, Comminges, " he continued; "get out of the carriage if you can and makeanother draw up; be quick, or in five minutes the mob will be on usagain with swords and muskets and you will be killed. Hold! there's acarriage coming over yonder. "

Then bending again to Raoul, he whispered: "Above all things do notdivulge your name. "

"That's right. I will go, " said Comminges; "and if they come back, fire!"

"Not at all--not at all, " replied D'Artagnan; "let no one move. On thecontrary, one shot at this moment would be paid for dearly to-morrow. "

Comminges took his four guards and as many musketeers and ran to thecarriage, from which he made the people inside dismount, and broughtthem to the vehicle which had upset. But when it was necessary to conveythe prisoner from one carriage to the other, the people, catching sightof him whom they called their liberator, uttered every imaginable cryand knotted themselves once more around the vehicle. 

"Start, start!" said D'Artagnan. "There are ten men to accompany you. I will keep twenty to hold in check the mob; go, and lose not a moment. Ten men for Monsieur de Comminges. "

As the carriage started off the cries were redoubled and more thanten thousand people thronged the Quai and overflowed the Pont Neuf andadjacent streets. A few shots were fired and one musketeer was wounded. 

"Forward!" cried D'Artagnan, driven to extremities, biting hismoustache; and then he charged with his twenty men and dispersed them infear. One man alone remained in his place, gun in hand. 

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "it is thou who wouldst have him assassinated? Waitan instant. " And he pointed his gun at D'Artagnan, who was riding towardhim at full speed. D'Artagnan bent down to his horse's neck, the youngman fired, and the ball severed the feathers from the hat. The horsestarted, brushed against the imprudent man, who thought by his strengthalone to stay the tempest, and he fell against the wall. D'Artagnanpulled up his horse, and whilst his musketeers continued to charge, hereturned and bent with drawn sword over the man he had knocked down. 

"Oh, sir!" exclaimed Raoul, recognizing the young man as having seen himin the Rue Cocatrix, "spare him! it is his son!"

D'Artagnan's arm dropped to his side. "Ah, you are his son!" he said;"that is a different thing. "

"Sir, I surrender, " said Louvieres, presenting his unloaded musket tothe officer. 

"Eh, no! do not surrender, egad! On the contrary, be off, and quickly. If I take you, you will be hung!"

The young man did not wait to be told twice, but passing under thehorse's head disappeared at the corner of the Rue Guenegaud. 

"I'faith!" said D'Artagnan to Raoul, "you were just in time to stay myhand. He was a dead man; and on my honor, if I had discovered that itwas his son, I should have regretted having killed him. "

"Ah! sir!" said Raoul, "allow me, after thanking you for that poorfellow's life, to thank you on my own account. I too, sir, was almostdead when you arrived. "

"Wait, wait, young man; do not fatigue yourself with speaking. We cantalk of it afterward. "

Then seeing that the musketeers had cleared the Quai from the Pont Neufto the Quai Saint Michael, he raised his sword for them to double theirspeed. The musketeers trotted up, and at the same time the ten men whomD'Artagnan had given to Comminges appeared. 

"Halloo!" cried D'Artagnan; "has something fresh happened?"

"Eh, sir!" replied the sergeant, "their vehicle has broken down a secondtime; it really must be doomed. "

"They are bad managers, " said D'Artagnan, shrugging his shoulders. "Whena carriage is chosen, it ought to be strong. The carriage in which aBroussel is to be arrested ought to be able to bear ten thousand men. "

"What are your commands, lieutenant?"

"Take the detachment and conduct him to his place. "

"But you will be left alone?"

"Certainly. So you suppose I have need of an escort? Go. "

The musketeers set off and D'Artagnan was left alone with Raoul. 

"Now, " he said, "are you in pain?"

"Yes; my head is not only swimming but burning. "

"What's the matter with this head?" said D'Artagnan, raising thebattered hat. "Ah! ah! a bruise. "

"Yes, I think I received a flower-pot upon my head. "

"Brutes!" said D'Artagnan. "But were you not on horseback? you havespurs. "

"Yes, but I got down to defend Monsieur de Comminges and my horse wastaken away. Here it is, I see. "

At this very moment Friquet passed, mounted on Raoul's horse, waving hisparti-colored cap and crying, "Broussel! Broussel!"

"Halloo! stop, rascal!" cried D'Artagnan. "Bring hither that horse. "

Friquet heard perfectly, but he pretended not to do so and tried tocontinue his road. D'Artagnan felt inclined for an instant to pursueMaster Friquet, but not wishing to leave Raoul alone he contentedhimself with taking a pistol from the holster and cocking it. 

Friquet had a quick eye and a fine ear. He saw D'Artagnan's movement, heard the sound of the click, and stopped at once. 

"Ah! it is you, your honor, " he said, advancing toward D'Artagnan; "andI am truly pleased to meet you. "

D'Artagnan looked attentively at Friquet and recognized the littlechorister of the Rue de la Calandre. 

"Ah! 'tis thou, rascal!" said he, "come here: so thou hast changed thytrade; thou art no longer a choir boy nor a tavern boy; thou hast becomea horse stealer?"

"Ah, your honor, how can you say so?" exclaimed Friquet. "I was seekingthe gentleman to whom this horse belongs--an officer, brave and handsomeas a youthful Caesar;" then, pretending to see Raoul for the first time:

"Ah! but if I mistake not, " continued he, "here he is; you won't forgetthe boy, sir. "

Raoul put his hand in his pocket. 

"What are you about?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"To give ten francs to this honest fellow, " replied Raoul, taking apistole from his pocket. 

"Ten kicks on his back!" said D'Artagnan; "be off, you little villain, and forget not that I have your address. "

Friquet, who did not expect to be let off so cheaply, bounded off likea gazelle up the Quai a la Rue Dauphine, and disappeared. Raoul mountedhis horse, and both leisurely took their way to the Rue Tiquetonne. 

D'Artagnan watched over the youth as if he had been his own son. 

They arrived without accident at the Hotel de la Chevrette. 

The handsome Madeleine announced to D'Artagnan that Planchet hadreturned, bringing Mousqueton with him, who had heroically borne theextraction of the ball and was as well as his state would permit. 

D'Artagnan desired Planchet to be summoned, but he had disappeared. 

"Then bring some wine, " said D'Artagnan. "You are much pleased withyourself, " said he to Raoul when they were alone, "are you not?"

"Well, yes, " replied Raoul. "It seems to me I did my duty. I defendedthe king. "

"And who told you to defend the king?"

"The Comte de la Fere himself. "

"Yes, the king; but to-day you have not fought for the king, you havefought for Mazarin; which is not quite the same thing. "

"But you yourself?"

"Oh, for me; that is another matter. I obey my captain's orders. As foryou, your captain is the prince, understand that rightly; you have noother. But has one ever seen such a wild fellow, " continued he, "makinghimself a Mazarinist and helping to arrest Broussel! Breathe not a wordof that, or the Comte de la Fere will be furious. "

"You think the count will be angry with me?"

"Think it? I'm certain of it; were it not for that, I should thank you, for you have worked for us. However, I scold you instead of him, andin his place; the storm will blow over more easily, believe me. Andmoreover, my dear child, " continued D'Artagnan, "I am making use of theprivilege conceded to me by your guardian. "

"I do not understand you, sir, " said Raoul. 

D'Artagnan rose, and taking a letter from his writing-desk, presentedit to Raoul. The face of the latter became serious when he had cast hiseyes upon the paper. 

"Oh, mon Dieu!" he said, raising his fine eyes to D'Artagnan, moist withtears, "the count has left Paris without seeing me?"

"He left four days ago, " said D'Artagnan. 

"But this letter seems to intimate that he is about to incur danger, perhaps death. "

"He--he--incur danger of death! No, be not anxious; he is travelingon business and will return ere long. I hope you have no repugnance toaccept me as your guardian in the interim. "

"Oh, no, Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said Raoul, "you are such a bravegentleman and the Comte de la Fere has so much affection for you!"

"Eh! Egad! love me too; I will not torment you much, but only oncondition that you become a Frondist, my young friend, and a heartyFrondist, too. "

"But can I continue to visit Madame de Chevreuse?"

"I should say you could! and the coadjutor and Madame de Longueville;and if the worthy Broussel were there, whom you so stupidly helpedarrest, I should tell you to excuse yourself to him at once and kiss himon both cheeks. "

"Well, sir, I will obey you, although I do not understand you. "

"It is unnecessary for you to understand. Hold, " continued D'Artagnan, turning toward the door, which had just opened, "here is Monsieur duVallon, who comes with his coat torn. "

"Yes, but in exchange, " said Porthos, covered with perspiration andsoiled by dust, "in exchange, I have torn many skins. Those wretcheswanted to take away my sword! Deuce take 'em, what a popular commotion!"continued the giant, in his quiet manner; "but I knocked down more thantwenty with the hilt of Balizarde. A draught of wine, D'Artagnan. "

"Oh, I'll answer for you, " said the Gascon, filling Porthos's glass tothe brim; "but when you have drunk, give me your opinion. "

"Upon what?" asked Porthos. 

"Look here, " resumed D'Artagnan; "here is Monsieur de Bragelonne, whodetermined at all risks to aid the arrest of Broussel and whom I hadgreat difficulty to prevent defending Monsieur de Comminges. "

"The devil!" said Porthos; "and his guardian, what would he have said tothat?"

"Do you hear?" interrupted D'Artagnan; "become a Frondist, my friend, belong to the Fronde, and remember that I fill the count's place ineverything;" and he jingled his money. 

"Will you come?" said he to Porthos. 

"Where?" asked Porthos, filling a second glass of wine. 

"To present our respects to the cardinal. "

Porthos swallowed the second glass with the same grace with which hehad imbibed the first, took his beaver and followed D'Artagnan. Asfor Raoul, he remained bewildered with what he had seen, having beenforbidden by D'Artagnan to leave the room until the tumult was over. 

45. The Beggar of St. Eustache. 

D'Artagnan had calculated that in not going at once to the Palais Royalhe would give Comminges time to arrive before him, and consequentlyto make the cardinal acquainted with the eminent services which he, D'Artagnan, and his friend had rendered to the queen's party in themorning. 

They were indeed admirably received by Mazarin, who paid them numerouscompliments, and announced that they were more than half on their way toobtain what they desired, namely, D'Artagnan his captaincy, Porthos hisbarony. 

D'Artagnan would have preferred money in hand to all that fine talk, forhe knew well that to Mazarin it was easy to promise and hard to perform. But, though he held the cardinal's promises as of little worth, heaffected to be completely satisfied, for he was unwilling to discouragePorthos. 

Whilst the two friends were with the cardinal, the queen sent for him. Mazarin, thinking that it would be the means of increasing the zeal ofhis two defenders if he procured them personal thanks from the queen, motioned them to follow him. D'Artagnan and Porthos pointed to theirdusty and torn dresses, but the cardinal shook his head. 

"Those costumes, " he said, "are of more worth than most of those whichyou will see on the backs of the queen's courtiers; they are costumes ofbattle. "

D'Artagnan and Porthos obeyed. The court of Anne of Austria was fullof gayety and animation; for, after having gained a victory over theSpaniard, it had just gained another over the people. Broussel had beenconducted out of Paris without further resistance, and was at this timein the prison of Saint Germain; while Blancmesnil, who was arrestedat the same time, but whose arrest had been made without difficulty ornoise, was safe in the Castle of Vincennes. 

Comminges was near the queen, who was questioning him upon the detailsof his expedition, and every one was listening to his account, whenD'Artagnan and Porthos were perceived at the door, behind the cardinal. 

"Ah, madame, " said Comminges, hastening to D'Artagnan, "here is one whocan tell you better than myself, for he was my protector. Without himI should probably at this moment be a dead fish in the nets at SaintCloud, for it was a question of nothing less than throwing me into theriver. Speak, D'Artagnan, speak. "

D'Artagnan had been a hundred times in the same room with the queensince he had become lieutenant of the musketeers, but her majesty hadnever once spoken to him. 

"Well, sir, " at last said Anne of Austria, "you are silent, afterrendering such a service?"

"Madame, " replied D'Artagnan, "I have nought to say, save that my lifeis ever at your majesty's service, and that I shall only be happy theday I lose it for you. "

"I know that, sir; I have known that, " said the queen, "a long time;therefore I am delighted to be able thus publicly to mark my gratitudeand my esteem. "

"Permit me, madame, " said D'Artagnan, "to reserve a portion for myfriend; like myself" (he laid an emphasis on these words) "an ancientmusketeer of the company of Treville; he has done wonders. "

"His name?" asked the queen. 

"In the regiment, " said D'Artagnan, "he is called Porthos" (the queenstarted), "but his true name is the Chevalier du Vallon. "

"De Bracieux de Pierrefonds, " added Porthos. 

"These names are too numerous for me to remember them all, and I willcontent myself with the first, " said the queen, graciously. Porthosbowed. At this moment the coadjutor was announced; a cry of surprise ranthrough the royal assemblage. Although the coadjutor had preached thatsame morning it was well known that he leaned much to the side of theFronde; and Mazarin, in requesting the archbishop of Paris to makehis nephew preach, had evidently had the intention of administering toMonsieur de Retz one of those Italian kicks he so much enjoyed giving. 

The fact was, in leaving Notre Dame the coadjutor had learned the eventof the day. Although almost engaged to the leaders of the Fronde he hadnot gone so far but that retreat was possible should the court offer himthe advantages for which he was ambitious and to which the coadjutorshipwas but a stepping-stone. Monsieur de Retz wished to become archbishopin his uncle's place, and cardinal, like Mazarin; and the popular partycould with difficulty accord him favors so entirely royal. He thereforehastened to the palace to congratulate the queen on the battle ofLens, determined beforehand to act with or against the court, as hiscongratulations were well or ill received. 

The coadjutor possessed, perhaps, as much wit as all those put togetherwho were assembled at the court to laugh at him. His speech, therefore, was so well turned, that in spite of the great wish felt by thecourtiers to laugh, they could find no point on which to vent theirridicule. He concluded by saying that he placed his feeble influence ather majesty's command. 

During the whole time he was speaking, the queen appeared to be wellpleased with the coadjutor's harangue; but terminating as it did withsuch a phrase, the only one which could be caught at by the jokers, Anne turned around and directed a glance toward her favorites, whichannounced that she delivered up the coadjutor to their tender mercies. Immediately the wits of the court plunged into satire. Nogent-Beautin, the fool of the court, exclaimed that "the queen was very happy to havethe succor of religion at such a moment. " This caused a universal burstof laughter. The Count de Villeroy said that "he did not know how anyfear could be entertained for a moment, when the court had, to defenditself against the parliament and the citizens of Paris, his holinessthe coadjutor, who by a signal could raise an army of curates, churchporters and vergers. "

The Marechal de la Meilleraie added that in case the coadjutor shouldappear on the field of battle it would be a pity that he should not bedistinguished in the melee by wearing a red hat, as Henry IV. Had beendistinguished by his white plume at the battle of Ivry. 

During this storm, Gondy, who had it in his power to make it mostunpleasant for the jesters, remained calm and stern. The queen at lastasked him if he had anything to add to the fine discourse he had justmade to her. 

"Yes, madame, " replied the coadjutor; "I have to beg you to reflecttwice ere you cause a civil war in the kingdom. "

The queen turned her back and the laughing recommenced. 

The coadjutor bowed and left the palace, casting upon the cardinal sucha glance as is best understood by mortal foes. That glance was sosharp that it penetrated the heart of Mazarin, who, reading in it adeclaration of war, seized D'Artagnan by the arm and said:

"If occasion requires, monsieur, you will remember that man who has justgone out, will you not?"

"Yes, my lord, " he replied. Then, turning toward Porthos, "The devil!"said he, "this has a bad look. I dislike these quarrels among men of thechurch. "

Gondy withdrew, distributing benedictions on his way, and finding amalicious satisfaction in causing the adherents of his foes to prostratethemselves at his feet. 

"Oh!" he murmured, as he left the threshold of the palace: "ungratefulcourt! faithless court! cowardly court! I will teach you how to laughto-morrow--but in another manner. "

But whilst they were indulging in extravagant joy at the Palais Royal, to increase the hilarity of the queen, Mazarin, a man of sense, andwhose fear, moreover, gave him foresight, lost no time in making idleand dangerous jokes; he went out after the coadjutor, settled hisaccount, locked up his gold, and had confidential workmen to contrivehiding places in his walls. 

On his return home the coadjutor was informed that a young man had comein after his departure and was waiting for him; he started with delightwhen, on demanding the name of this young man, he learned that it wasLouvieres. He hastened to his cabinet. Broussel's son was there, stillfurious, and still bearing bloody marks of his struggle with theking's officers. The only precaution he had taken in coming to thearchbishopric was to leave his arquebuse in the hands of a friend. 

The coadjutor went to him and held out his hand. The young man gazed athim as if he would have read the secret of his heart. 

"My dear Monsieur Louvieres, " said the coadjutor, "believe me, I amtruly concerned for the misfortune which has happened to you. "

"Is that true, and do you speak seriously?" asked Louvieres. 

"From the depth of my heart, " said Gondy. 

"In that case, my lord, the time for words has passed and the hour foraction is at hand; my lord, in three days, if you wish it, my fatherwill be out of prison and in six months you may be cardinal. "

The coadjutor started. 

"Oh! let us speak frankly, " continued Louvieres, "and act in astraightforward manner. Thirty thousand crowns in alms is not given, asyou have done for the last six months, out of pure Christian charity;that would be too grand. You are ambitious--it is natural; you are a manof genius and you know your worth. As for me, I hate the court and havebut one desire at this moment--vengeance. Give us the clergy and thepeople, of whom you can dispose, and I will bring you the citizens andthe parliament; with these four elements Paris is ours in a week; andbelieve me, monsieur coadjutor, the court will give from fear what itwill not give from good-will. "

It was now the coadjutor's turn to fix his piercing eyes on Louvieres. 

"But, Monsieur Louvieres, are you aware that it is simply civil war youare proposing to me?"

"You have been preparing long enough, my lord, for it to be welcome toyou now. "

"Never mind, " said the coadjutor; "you must be well aware that thisrequires reflection. "

"And how many hours of reflection do you ask?"

"Twelve hours, sir; is it too long?"

"It is now noon; at midnight I will be at your house. "

"If I should not be in, wait for me. "

"Good! at midnight, my lord. "

"At midnight, my dear Monsieur Louvieres. "

When once more alone Gondy sent to summon all the curates with whom hehad any connection to his house. Two hours later, thirty officiatingministers from the most populous, and consequently the most disturbedparishes of Paris had assembled there. Gondy related to them the insultshe had received at the Palais Royal and retailed the jests of Beautin, the Count de Villeroy and Marechal de la Meilleraie. The curates askedhim what was to be done. 

"Simply this, " said the coadjutor. "You are the directors of allconsciences. Well, undermine in them the miserable prejudice of respectand fear of kings; teach your flocks that the queen is a tyrant; andrepeat often and loudly, so that all may know it, that the misfortunesof France are caused by Mazarin, her lover and her destroyer; begin thiswork to-day, this instant even, and in three days I shall expect theresult. For the rest, if any one of you have further or better counselto expound, I will listen to him with the greatest pleasure. "

Three curates remained--those of St. Merri, St. Sulpice and St. Eustache. The others withdrew. 

"You think, then, that you can help me more efficaciously than yourbrothers?" said Gondy. 

"We hope so, " answered the curates. 

"Let us hear. Monsieur de St. Merri, you begin. "

"My lord, I have in my parish a man who might be of the greatest use toyou. "

"Who and what is this man?"

"A shopkeeper in the Rue des Lombards, who has great influence upon thecommerce of his quarter. "

"What is his name?"

"He is named Planchet, who himself also caused a rising about six weeksago; but as he was searched for after this emeute he disappeared. "

"And can you find him?"

"I hope so. I think he has not been arrested, and as I am his wife'sconfessor, if she knows where he is I shall know it too. "

"Very well, sir, find this man, and when you have found him bring him tome. "

"We will be with you at six o'clock, my lord. "

"Go, my dear curate, and may God assist you!"

"And you, sir?" continued Gondy, turning to the curate of St. Sulpice. 

"I, my lord, " said the latter, "I know a man who has rendered greatservices to a very popular prince and who would make an excellent leaderof revolt. Him I can place at your disposal; it is Count de Rochefort. "

"I know him also, but unfortunately he is not in Paris. "

"My lord, he has been for three days at the Rue Cassette. "

"And wherefore has he not been to see me?"

"He was told--my lord will pardon me----"

"Certainly, speak. "

"That your lordship was about to treat with the court. "

Gondy bit his lips. 

"They are mistaken; bring him here at eight o'clock, sir, and may Heavenbless you as I bless you!"

"And now 'tis your turn, " said the coadjutor, turning to the last thatremained; "have you anything as good to offer me as the two gentlemenwho have left us?"

"Better, my lord. "

"Diable! think what a solemn engagement you are making; one has offereda wealthy shopkeeper, the other a count; you are going, then, to offer aprince, are you?"

"I offer you a beggar, my lord. "

"Ah! ah!" said Gondy, reflecting, "you are right, sir; some one whocould raise the legion of paupers who choke up the crossings of Paris;some one who would know how to cry aloud to them, that all France mighthear it, that it is Mazarin who has reduced them to poverty. "

"Exactly your man. "

"Bravo! and the man?"

"A plain and simple beggar, as I have said, my lord, who asks for alms, as he gives holy water; a practice he has carried on for six years onthe steps of St. Eustache. "

"And you say that he has a great influence over his compeers?"

"Are you aware, my lord, that mendacity is an organized body, a kind ofassociation of those who have nothing against those who have everything;an association in which every one takes his share; one that elects aleader?"

"Yes, I have heard it said, " replied the coadjutor. 

"Well, the man whom I offer you is a general syndic. "

"And what do you know of him?"

"Nothing, my lord, except that he is tormented with remorse. "

"What makes you think so?"

"On the twenty-eighth of every month he makes me say a mass for therepose of the soul of one who died a violent death; yesterday I saidthis mass again. "

"And his name?"

"Maillard; but I do not think it is his right one. "

"And think you that we should find him at this hour at his post?"

"Certainly. "

"Let us go and see your beggar, sir, and if he is such as you describehim, you are right--it will be you who have discovered the truetreasure. "

Gondy dressed himself as an officer, put on a felt cap with a redfeather, hung on a long sword, buckled spurs to his boots, wrappedhimself in an ample cloak and followed the curate. 

The coadjutor and his companion passed through all the streets lyingbetween the archbishopric and the St. Eustache Church, watchingcarefully to ascertain the popular feeling. The people were in anexcited mood, but, like a swarm of frightened bees, seemed not to knowat what point to concentrate; and it was very evident that if leaders ofthe people were not provided all this agitation would pass off in idlebuzzing. 

On arriving at the Rue des Prouvaires, the curate pointed toward thesquare before the church. 

"Stop!" he said, "there he is at his post. "

Gondy looked at the spot indicated and perceived a beggar seated in achair and leaning against one of the moldings; a little basin was nearhim and he held a holy water brush in his hand. 

"Is it by permission that he remains there?" asked Gondy. 

"No, my lord; these places are bought. I believe this man paid hispredecessor a hundred pistoles for his. "

"The rascal is rich, then?"

"Some of those men sometimes die worth twenty thousand and twenty-fiveand thirty thousand francs and sometimes more. "

"Hum!" said Gondy, laughing; "I was not aware my alms were so wellinvested. "

In the meantime they were advancing toward the square, and the momentthe coadjutor and the curate put their feet on the first church step themendicant arose and proffered his brush. 

He was a man between sixty-six and sixty-eight years of age, little, rather stout, with gray hair and light eyes. His countenance denoted thestruggle between two opposite principles--a wicked nature, subdued bydetermination, perhaps by repentance. 

He started on seeing the cavalier with the curate. The latter and thecoadjutor touched the brush with the tips of their fingers and made thesign of the cross; the coadjutor threw a piece of money into the hat, which was on the ground. 

"Maillard, " began the curate, "this gentleman and I have come to talkwith you a little. "

"With me!" said the mendicant; "it is a great honor for a poordistributor of holy water. "

There was an ironical tone in his voice which he could not quitedisguise and which astonished the coadjutor. 

"Yes, " continued the curate, apparently accustomed to this tone, "yes, we wish to know your opinion of the events of to-day and what you haveheard said by people going in and out of the church. "

The mendicant shook his head. 

"These are melancholy doings, your reverence, which always fall againupon the poor. As to what is said, everybody is discontented, everybodycomplains, but 'everybody' means 'nobody. '"

"Explain yourself, my good friend, " said the coadjutor. 

"I mean that all these cries, all these complaints, these curses, produce nothing but storms and flashes and that is all; but thelightning will not strike until there is a hand to guide it. "

"My friend, " said Gondy, "you seem to be a clever and a thoughtful man;are you disposed to take a part in a little civil war, should we haveone, and put at the command of the leader, should we find one, yourpersonal influence and the influence you have acquired over yourcomrades?"

"Yes, sir, provided this war were approved of by the church and wouldadvance the end I wish to attain--I mean, the remission of my sins. "

"The war will not only be approved of, but directed by the church. Asfor the remission of your sins, we have the archbishop of Paris, who hasthe very greatest power at the court of Rome, and even the coadjutor, who possesses some plenary indulgences; we will recommend you to him. "

"Consider, Maillard, " said the curate, "that I have recommended youto this gentleman, who is a powerful lord, and that I have made myselfresponsible for you. "

"I know, monsieur le cure, " said the beggar, "that you have always beenvery kind to me, and therefore I, in my turn, will be serviceable toyou. "

"And do you think your power as great with the fraternity as monsieur lecure told me it was just now?"

"I think they have some esteem for me, " said the mendicant with pride, "and that not only will they obey me, but wherever I go they will followme. "

"And could you count on fifty resolute men, good, unemployed, but activesouls, brawlers, capable of bringing down the walls of the Palais Royalby crying, 'Down with Mazarin, ' as fell those at Jericho?"

"I think, " said the beggar, "I can undertake things more difficult andmore important than that. "

"Ah, ah, " said Gondy, "you will undertake, then, some night, to throw upsome ten barricades?"

"I will undertake to throw up fifty, and when the day comes, to defendthem. "

"I'faith!" exclaimed Gondy, "you speak with a certainty that gives mepleasure; and since monsieur le cure can answer for you----"

"I answer for him, " said the curate. 

"Here is a bag containing five hundred pistoles in gold; make all yourarrangements, and tell me where I shall be able to find you this eveningat ten o'clock. "

"It must be on some elevated place, whence a given signal may be seen inevery part of Paris. "

"Shall I give you a line for the vicar of St. Jacques de la Boucherie?he will let you into the rooms in his tower, " said the curate. 

"Capital, " answered the mendicant. 

"Then, " said the coadjutor, "this evening, at ten o'clock, and if I ampleased with you another bag of five hundred pistoles will be at yourdisposal. "

The eyes of the mendicant dashed with cupidity, but he quicklysuppressed his emotion. 

"This evening, sir, " he replied, "all will be ready. "

46. The Tower of St. Jacques de la Boucherie. 

At a quarter to six o'clock, Monsieur de Gondy, having finished hisbusiness, returned to the archiepiscopal palace. 

At six o'clock the curate of St. Merri was announced. 

The coadjutor glanced rapidly behind and saw that he was followed byanother man. The curate then entered, followed by Planchet. 

"Your holiness, " said the curate, "here is the person of whom I had thehonor to speak to you. "

Planchet saluted in the manner of one accustomed to fine houses. 

"And you are disposed to serve the cause of the people?" asked Gondy. 

"Most undoubtedly, " said Planchet. "I am a Frondist from my heart. Yousee in me, such as I am, a person sentenced to be hung. "

"And on what account?"

"I rescued from the hands of Mazarin's police a noble lord whom theywere conducting back to the Bastile, where he had been for five years. "

"Will you name him?"

"Oh, you know him well, my lord--it is Count de Rochefort. "

"Ah! really, yes, " said the coadjutor, "I have heard this affairmentioned. You raised the whole district, so they told me!"

"Very nearly, " replied Planchet, with a self-satisfied air. 

"And your business is----"

"That of a confectioner, in the Rue des Lombards. "

"Explain to me how it happens that, following so peaceful a business, you had such warlike inclinations. "

"Why does my lord, belonging to the church, now receive me in the dressof an officer, with a sword at his side and spurs to his boots?"

"Not badly answered, i'faith, " said Gondy, laughing; "but I have, youmust know, always had, in spite of my bands, warlike inclinations. "

"Well, my lord, before I became a confectioner I myself was three yearssergeant in the Piedmontese regiment, and before I became sergeant I wasfor eighteen months the servant of Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

"The lieutenant of musketeers?" asked Gondy. 

"Himself, my lord. "

"But he is said to be a furious Mazarinist. "

"Phew!" whistled Planchet. 

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing, my lord; Monsieur d'Artagnan belongs to the service; Monsieurd'Artagnan makes it his business to defend the cardinal, who pays him, as much as we make it ours, we citizens, to attack him, whom he robs. "

"You are an intelligent fellow, my friend; can we count upon you?"

"You may count upon me, my lord, provided you want to make a completeupheaval of the city. "

"'Tis that exactly. How many men, think you, you could collect togetherto-night?"

"Two hundred muskets and five hundred halberds. "

"Let there be only one man in every district who can do as much and byto-morrow we shall have quite a powerful army. Are you disposed to obeyCount de Rochefort?"

"I would follow him to hell, and that is saying not a little, as Ibelieve him entirely capable of the descent. "

"Bravo!"

"By what sign to-morrow shall we be able to distinguish friends fromfoes?"

"Every Frondist must put a knot of straw in his hat. "

"Good! Give the watchword. "

"Do you want money?"

"Money never comes amiss at any time, my lord; if one has it not, one must do without it; with it, matters go on much better and morerapidly. "

Gondy went to a box and drew forth a bag. 

"Here are five hundred pistoles, " he said; "and if the action goes offwell you may reckon upon a similar sum to-morrow. "

"I will give a faithful account of the sum to your lordship, " saidPlanchet, putting the bag under his arm. 

"That is right; I recommend the cardinal to your attention. "

"Make your mind easy, he is in good hands. "

Planchet went out, the curate remaining for a moment. 

"Are you satisfied, my lord?" he asked. 

"Yes; he appears to be a resolute fellow. "

"Well, he will do more than he has promised. "

"He will do wonders then. "

The curate rejoined Planchet, who was waiting for him on the stairs. Tenminutes later the curate of St. Sulpice was announced. As soon as thedoor of Gondy's study was opened a man rushed in. It was the Count deRochefort. 

"'Tis you, then, my dear count, " cried Gondy, offering his hand. 

"You have made up your mind at last, my lord?" said Rochefort. 

"It has been made up a long time, " said Gondy. 

"Let us say no more on the subject; you tell me so, I believe you. Well, we are going to give a ball to Mazarin. "

"I hope so. "

"And when will the dance begin?"

"The invitations are given for this evening, " said the coadjutor, "butthe violins will not begin to play until to-morrow morning. "

"You may reckon upon me and upon fifty soldiers which the Chevalierd'Humieres has promised me whenever I need them. "

"Upon fifty soldiers?"

"Yes, he is making recruits and he will lend them to me; if any aremissing when the fete is over, I shall replace them. "

"Good, my dear Rochefort; but that is not all. What have you done withMonsieur de Beaufort?"

"He is in Vendome, where he will wait until I write to him to return toParis. "

"Write to him; now's the time. "

"You are sure of your enterprise?"

"Yes, but he must make haste; for hardly will the people of Paris haverevolted before we shall have a score of princes begging to lead them. If he defers he will find the place of honor taken. "

"Shall I send word to him as coming from you?"

"Yes certainly. "

"Shall I tell him that he can count on you?"

"To the end. "

"And you will leave the command to him?"

"Of the war, yes, but in politics----"

"You must know it is not his element. "

"He must leave me to negotiate for my cardinal's hat in my own fashion. "

"You care about it, then, so much?"

"Since they force me to wear a hat of a form which does not become me, "said Gondy, "I wish at least that the hat should be red. "

"One must not dispute matters of taste and colors, " said Rochefort, laughing. "I answer for his consent. "

"How soon can he be here?"

"In five days. "

"Let him come and he will find a change, I will answer for it. "

"Therefore, go and collect your fifty men and hold yourself inreadiness. "

"For what?"

"For everything. "

"Is there any signal for the general rally?"

"A knot of straw in the hat. "

"Very good. Adieu, my lord. "

"Adieu, my dear Rochefort. "

"Ah, Monsieur Mazarin, Monsieur Mazarin, " said Rochefort, leading offhis curate, who had not found an opportunity of uttering a single wordduring the foregoing dialogue, "you will see whether I am too old to bea man of action. "

It was half-past nine o'clock and the coadjutor required half an hourto go from the archbishop's palace to the tower of St. Jacques de laBoucherie. He remarked that a light was burning in one of the highestwindows of the tower. "Good, " said he, "our syndic is at his post. "

He knocked and the door was opened. The vicar himself awaited him, conducted him to the top of the tower, and when there pointed to alittle door, placed the light which he had brought with him in a cornerof the wall, that the coadjutor might be able to find it on his return, and went down again. Although the key was in the door the coadjutorknocked. 

"Come in, " said a voice which he recognized as that of the mendicant, whom he found lying on a kind of truckle bed. He rose on the entrance ofthe coadjutor, and at that moment ten o'clock struck. 

"Well, " said Gondy, "have you kept your word with me?"

"Not exactly, " replied the mendicant. 

"How is that?"

"You asked me for five hundred men, did you not? Well, I have tenthousand for you. "

"You are not boasting?"

"Do you wish for a proof?"

"Yes. "

There were three candles alight, each of which burnt before a window, one looking upon the city, the other upon the Palais Royal, and a thirdupon the Rue Saint Denis. 

The man went silently to each of the candles and blew them out one afterthe other. 

"What are you doing?" asked the coadjutor. 

"I have given the signal. "

"For what?"

"For the barricades. When you leave this you will behold my men at work. Only take care you do not break your legs in stumbling over some chainor your neck by falling in a hole. "

"Good! there is your money, the same sum as that you have receivedalready. Now remember that you are a general and do not go and drink. "

"For twenty years I have tasted nothing but water. "

The man took the bag from the hands of the coadjutor, who heard thesound of his fingers counting and handling the gold pieces. 

"Ah! ah!" said the coadjutor, "you are avaricious, my good fellow. "

The mendicant sighed and threw down the bag. 

"Must I always be the same?" said he, "and shall I never succeed inovercoming the old leaven? Oh, misery, oh, vanity!"

"You take it, however. "

"Yes, but I make hereby a vow in your presence, to employ all thatremains to me in pious works. "

His face was pale and drawn, like that of a man who had just undergonesome inward struggle. 

"Singular man!" muttered Gondy, taking his hat to go away; but onturning around he saw the beggar between him and the door. His firstidea was that this man intended to do him some harm, but on the contraryhe saw him fall on his knees before him with his hands clasped. 

"Your blessing, your holiness, before you go, I beseech you!" he cried. 

"Your holiness!" said Gondy; "my friend, you take me for some one else. "

"No, your holiness, I take you for what you are, that is to say, thecoadjutor; I recognized you at the first glance. "

Gondy smiled. "And you want my blessing?" he said. 

"Yes, I have need of it. "

The mendicant uttered these words in a tone of such humility, suchearnest repentance, that Gondy placed his hand upon him and gave him hisbenediction with all the unction of which he was capable. 

"Now, " said Gondy, "there is a communion between us. I have blessed youand you are sacred to me. Come, have you committed some crime, pursuedby human justice, from which I can protect you?"

The beggar shook his head. "The crime which I have committed, my lord, has no call upon human justice, and you can only deliver me from it byblessing me frequently, as you have just done. "

"Come, be candid, " said the coadjutor, "you have not all your lifefollowed the trade which you do now?"

"No, my lord. I have pursued it for six years only. "

"And previously, where were you?"

"In the Bastile. "

"And before you went to the Bastile?"

"I will tell you, my lord, on the day when you are willing to hear myconfession. "

"Good! At whatsoever hour of the day or night you may present yourself, remember that I shall be ready to give you absolution. "

"Thank you, my lord, " said the mendicant in a hoarse voice. "But I amnot yet ready to receive it. "

"Very well. Adieu. "

"Adieu, your holiness, " said the mendicant, opening the door and bendinglow before the prelate. 

47. The Riot. 

It was about eleven o'clock at night. Gondy had not walked a hundredsteps ere he perceived the strange change which had been made in thestreets of Paris. 

The whole city seemed peopled with fantastic beings; silent shadowswere seen unpaving the streets and others dragging and upsetting greatwagons, whilst others again dug ditches large enough to ingulf wholeregiments of horsemen. These active beings flitted here and there likeso many demons completing some unknown labor; these were the beggarsof the Court of Miracles--the agents of the giver of holy water in theSquare of Saint Eustache, preparing barricades for the morrow. 

Gondy gazed on these deeds of darkness, on these nocturnal laborers, with a kind of fear; he asked himself, if, after having called forththese foul creatures from their dens, he should have the power of makingthem retire again. He felt almost inclined to cross himself when one ofthese beings happened to approach him. He reached the Rue Saint Honoreand went up it toward the Rue de la Ferronnerie; there the aspectchanged; here it was the tradesmen who were running from shop to shop;their doors seemed closed like their shutters, but they were only pushedto in such a manner as to open and allow the men, who seemed fearful ofshowing what they carried, to enter, closing immediately. These men wereshopkeepers, who had arms to lend to those who had none. 

One individual went from door to door, bending under the weight ofswords, guns, muskets and every kind of weapon, which he deposited asfast as he could. By the light of a lantern the coadjutor recognizedPlanchet. 

The coadjutor proceeded onward to the quay by way of the Rue de laMonnaie; there he found groups of bourgeois clad in black cloaks orgray, according as they belonged to the upper or lower bourgeoisie. They were standing motionless, while single men passed from one groupto another. All these cloaks, gray or black, were raised behind by thepoint of a sword, or before by the barrel of an arquebuse or a musket. 

On reaching the Pont Neuf the coadjutor found it strictly guarded and aman approached him. 

"Who are you?" asked the man. "I do not know you for one of us. "

"Then it is because you do not know your friends, my dear MonsieurLouvieres, " said the coadjutor, raising his hat. 

Louvieres recognized him and bowed. 

Gondy continued his way and went as far as the Tour de Nesle. There hesaw a lengthy chain of people gliding under the walls. They might besaid to be a procession of ghosts, for they were all wrapped in whitecloaks. When they reached a certain spot these men appeared to beannihilated, one after the other, as if the earth had opened under theirfeet. Gondy, edged into a corner, saw them vanish from the first untilthe last but one. The last raised his eyes, to ascertain, doubtless, that neither his companions nor himself had been watched, and, in spiteof the darkness, he perceived Gondy. He walked straight up to him andplaced a pistol to his throat. 

"Halloo! Monsieur de Rochefort, " said Gondy, laughing, "are you a boy toplay with firearms?"

Rochefort recognized the voice. 

"Ah, it is you, my lord!" said he. 

"The very same. What people are you leading thus into the bowels of theearth?"

"My fifty recruits from the Chevalier d'Humieres, who are destined toenter the light cavalry and who have only received as yet for theirequipment their white cloaks. "

"And where are you going?"

"To the house of one of my friends, a sculptor, only we enter by thetrap through which he lets down his marble. "

"Very good, " said Gondy, shaking Rochefort by the hand, who descended inhis turn and closed the trap after him. 

It was now one o'clock in the morning and the coadjutor returnedhome. He opened a window and leaned out to listen. A strange, incomprehensible, unearthly sound seemed to pervade the whole city;one felt that something unusual and terrible was happening in all thestreets, now dark as ocean's most unfathomable caves. From time to timea dull sound was heard, like that of a rising tempest or a billow of thesea; but nothing clear, nothing distinct, nothing intelligible; it waslike those mysterious subterraneous noises that precede an earthquake. 

The work of revolt continued the whole night thus. The next morning, onawaking, Paris seemed to be startled at her own appearance. It waslike a besieged town. Armed men, shouldering muskets, watched over thebarricades with menacing looks; words of command, patrols, arrests, executions, even, were encountered at every step. Those bearing plumedhats and gold swords were stopped and made to cry, "Long live Broussel!""Down with Mazarin!" and whoever refused to comply with this ceremonywas hooted at, spat upon and even beaten. They had not yet begunto slay, but it was well felt that the inclination to do so was notwanting. 

The barricades had been pushed as far as the Palais Royal. From theRue de Bons Enfants to that of the Ferronnerie, from the Rue SaintThomas-du-Louvre to the Pont Neuf, from the Rue Richelieu to the PorteSaint Honore, there were more than ten thousand armed men; those whowere at the front hurled defiance at the impassive sentinels of theregiment of guards posted around the Palais Royal, the gates of whichwere closed behind them, a precaution which made their situationprecarious. Among these thousands moved, in bands numbering from onehundred to two hundred, pale and haggard men, clothed in rags, whobore a sort of standard on which was inscribed these words: "Behold themisery of the people!" Wherever these men passed, frenzied cries wereheard; and there were so many of these bands that the cries were to beheard in all directions. 

The astonishment of Mazarin and of Anne of Austria was great when itwas announced to them that the city, which the previous evening theyhad left entirely tranquil, had awakened to such feverish commotion; norwould either the one or the other believe the reports that were broughtto them, declaring they would rather rely on the evidence of their owneyes and ears. Then a window was opened and when they saw and heard theywere convinced. 

Mazarin shrugged his shoulders and pretended to despise the populace;but he turned visibly pale and ran to his closet, trembling all over, locked up his gold and jewels in his caskets and put his finest diamondson his fingers. As for the queen, furious, and left to her own guidance, she went for the Marechal de la Meilleraie and desired him to take asmany men as he pleased and to go and see what was the meaning of thispleasantry. 

The marshal was ordinarily very adventurous and was wont to hesitateat nothing; and he had that lofty contempt for the populace which armyofficers usually profess. He took a hundred and fifty men and attemptedto go out by the Pont du Louvre, but there he met Rochefort and hisfifty horsemen, attended by more than five hundred men. The marshal madeno attempt to force that barrier and returned up the quay. But atPont Neuf he found Louvieres and his bourgeois. This time the marshalcharged, but he was welcomed by musket shots, while stones fell likehail from all the windows. He left there three men. 

He beat a retreat toward the market, but there he met Planchet withhis halberdiers; their halberds were leveled at him threateningly. Heattempted to ride over those gray cloaks, but the gray cloaks held theirground and the marshal retired toward the Rue Saint Honore, leaving fourof his guards dead on the field of battle. 

The marshal then entered the Rue Saint Honore, but there he was opposedby the barricades of the mendicant of Saint Eustache. They were guarded, not only by armed men, but even by women and children. Master Friquet, the owner of a pistol and of a sword which Louvieres had given him, hadorganized a company of rogues like himself and was making a tremendousracket. 

The marshal thought this barrier not so well fortified as the othersand determined to break through it. He dismounted twenty men to makea breach in the barricade, whilst he and others, remaining on theirhorses, were to protect the assailants. The twenty men marchedstraight toward the barrier, but from behind the beams, from among thewagon-wheels and from the heights of the rocks a terrible fusilladeburst forth and at the same time Planchet's halberdiers appeared at thecorner of the Cemetery of the Innocents, and Louvieres's bourgeois atthe corner of the Rue de la Monnaie. 

The Marechal de la Meilleraie was caught between two fires, but he wasbrave and made up his mind to die where he was. He returned blow forblow and cries of pain began to be heard in the crowd. The guards, more skillful, did greater execution; but the bourgeois, more numerous, overwhelmed them with a veritable hurricane of iron. Men fell aroundhim as they had fallen at Rocroy or at Lerida. Fontrailles, hisaide-de-camp, had an arm broken; his horse had received a bullet inhis neck and he had difficulty in controlling him, maddened by pain. In short, he had reached that supreme moment when the bravest feel ashudder in their veins, when suddenly, in the direction of the Rue del'Arbre-Sec, the crowd opened, crying: "Long live the coadjutor!" andGondy, in surplice and cloak, appeared, moving tranquilly in the midstof the fusillade and bestowing his benedictions to the right and left, as undisturbed as if he were leading a procession of the Fete Dieu. 

All fell to their knees. The marshal recognized him and hastened to meethim. 

"Get me out of this, in Heaven's name!" he said, "or I shall leave mycarcass here and those of all my men. "

A great tumult arose, in the midst of which even the noise of thundercould not have been heard. Gondy raised his hand and demanded silence. All were still. 

"My children, " he said, "this is the Marechal de la Meilleraie, as towhose intentions you have been deceived and who pledges himself, onreturning to the Louvre, to demand of the queen, in your name, ourBroussel's release. You pledge yourself to that, marshal?" added Gondy, turning to La Meilleraie. 

"Morbleu!" cried the latter, "I should say that I do pledge myself toit! I had no hope of getting off so easily. "

"He gives you his word of honor, " said Gondy. 

The marshal raised his hand in token of assent. 

"Long live the coadjutor!" cried the crowd. Some voices even added:"Long live the marshal!" But all took up the cry in chorus: "Down withMazarin!"

The crowd gave place, the barricade was opened, and the marshal, withthe remnant of his company, retreated, preceded by Friquet and hisbandits, some of them making a presence of beating drums and othersimitating the sound of the trumpet. It was almost a triumphalprocession; only, behind the guards the barricades were closed again. The marshal bit his fingers. 

In the meantime, as we have said, Mazarin was in his closet, puttinghis affairs in order. He called for D'Artagnan, but in the midst of suchtumult he little expected to see him, D'Artagnan not being on service. In about ten minutes D'Artagnan appeared at the door, followed by theinseparable Porthos. 

"Ah, come in, come in, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" cried the cardinal, "andwelcome your friend too. But what is going on in this accursed Paris?"

"What is going on, my lord? nothing good, " replied D'Artagnan, shakinghis head. "The town is in open revolt, and just now, as I was crossingthe Rue Montorgueil with Monsieur du Vallon, who is here, and is yourhumble servant, they wanted in spite of my uniform, or perhaps becauseof my uniform, to make us cry 'Long live Broussel!' and must I tell you, my lord what they wished us to cry as well?"

"Speak, speak. "

"'Down with Mazarin!' I'faith, the treasonable word is out. "

Mazarin smiled, but became very pale. 

"And you did cry?" he asked. 

"I'faith, no, " said D'Artagnan; "I was not in voice; Monsieur du Vallonhas a cold and did not cry either. Then, my lord----"

"Then what?" asked Mazarin. 

"Look at my hat and cloak. "

And D'Artagnan displayed four gunshot holes in his cloak and two in hisbeaver. As for Porthos's coat, a blow from a halberd had cut it open onthe flank and a pistol shot had cut his feather in two. 

"Diavolo!" said the cardinal, pensively gazing at the two friends withlively admiration; "I should have cried, I should. "

At this moment the tumult was heard nearer. 

Mazarin wiped his forehead and looked around him. He had a great desireto go to the window, but he dared not. 

"See what is going on, Monsieur D'Artagnan, " said he. 

D'Artagnan went to the window with his habitual composure. "Oho!"said he, "what is this? Marechal de la Meilleraie returning withouta hat--Fontrailles with his arm in a sling--wounded guards--horsesbleeding; eh, then, what are the sentinels about? They are aiming--theyare going to fire!"

"They have received orders to fire on the people if the people approachthe Palais Royal!" exclaimed Mazarin. 

"But if they fire, all is lost!" cried D'Artagnan. 

"We have the gates. "

"The gates! to hold for five minutes--the gates, they will be torn down, twisted into iron wire, ground to powder! God's death, don't fire!"screamed D'Artagnan, throwing open the window. 

In spite of this recommendation, which, owing to the noise, couldscarcely have been heard, two or three musket shots resounded, succeededby a terrible discharge. The balls might be heard peppering the facadeof the Palais Royal, and one of them, passing under D'Artagnan's arm, entered and broke a mirror, in which Porthos was complacently admiringhimself. 

"Alack! alack!" cried the cardinal, "a Venetian glass!"

"Oh, my lord, " said D'Artagnan, quietly shutting the window, "it is notworth while weeping yet, for probably an hour hence there will notbe one of your mirrors remaining in the Palais Royal, whether they beVenetian or Parisian. "

"But what do you advise, then?" asked Mazarin, trembling. 

"Eh, egad, to give up Broussel as they demand! What the devil doyou want with a member of the parliament? He is of no earthly use toanybody. "

"And you, Monsieur du Vallon, is that your advice? What would you do?"

"I should give up Broussel, " said Porthos. 

"Come, come with me, gentlemen!" exclaimed Mazarin. "I will go anddiscuss the matter with the queen. "

He stopped at the end of the corridor and said:

"I can count upon you, gentlemen, can I not?"

"We do not give ourselves twice over, " said D'Artagnan; "we have givenourselves to you; command, we shall obey. "

"Very well, then, " said Mazarin; "enter this cabinet and wait till Icome back. "

And turning off he entered the drawing-room by another door. 

48. The Riot becomes a Revolution. 

The closet into which D'Artagnan and Porthos had been ushered wasseparated from the drawing-room where the queen was by tapestriedcurtains only, and this thin partition enabled them to hear all thatpassed in the adjoining room, whilst the aperture between the twohangings, small as it was, permitted them to see. 

The queen was standing in the room, pale with anger; her self-control, however, was so great that it might have been imagined that she wascalm. Comminges, Villequier and Guitant were behind her and the womenagain were behind the men. The Chancellor Sequier, who twenty yearspreviously had persecuted her so ruthlessly, stood before her, relatinghow his carriage had been smashed, how he had been pursued and hadrushed into the Hotel d'O----, that the hotel was immediately invaded, pillaged and devastated; happily he had time to reach a closet hiddenbehind tapestry, in which he was secreted by an old woman, together withhis brother, the Bishop of Meaux. Then the danger was so imminent, therioters came so near, uttering such threats, that the chancellor thoughthis last hour had come and confessed himself to his brother priest, so as to be all ready to die in case he was discovered. Fortunately, however, he had not been taken; the people, believing that he hadescaped by some back entrance, retired and left him at liberty toretreat. Then, disguised in he clothes of the Marquis d'O----, he hadleft the hotel, stumbling over the bodies of an officer and two guardswho had been killed whilst defending the street door. 

During the recital Mazarin entered and glided noiselessly up to thequeen to listen. 

"Well, " said the queen, when the chancellor had finished speaking; "whatdo you think of it all?"

"I think that matters look very gloomy, madame. "

"But what step would you propose to me?"

"I could propose one to your majesty, but I dare not. "

"You may, you may, sir, " said the queen with a bitter smile; "you werenot so timid once. "

The chancellor reddened and stammered some words. 

"It is not a question of the past, but of the present, " said the queen;"you said you could give me advice--what is it?"

"Madame, " said the chancellor, hesitating, "it would be to releaseBroussel. "

The queen, although already pale, became visibly paler and her face wascontracted. 

"Release Broussel!" she cried, "never!"

At this moment steps were heard in the ante-room and without anyannouncement the Marechal de la Meilleraie appeared at the door. 

"Ah, there you are, marechal, " cried Anne of Austria joyfully. "I trustyou have brought this rabble to reason. "

"Madame, " replied the marechal, "I have left three men on the Pont Neuf, four at the Halle, six at the corner of the Rue de l'Arbre-Sec and twoat the door of your palace--fifteen in all. I have brought away tenor twelve wounded. I know not where I have left my hat, and in allprobability I should have been left with my hat, had the coadjutor notarrived in time to rescue me. "

"Ah, indeed, " said the queen, "it would have much astonished me if thatlow cur, with his distorted legs, had not been mixed up with all this. "

"Madame, " said La Meilleraie, "do not say too much against him beforeme, for the service he rendered me is still fresh. "

"Very good, " said the queen, "be as grateful as you like, it does notimplicate me; you are here safe and sound, that is all I wished for; youare not only welcome, but welcome back. "

"Yes, madame; but I only came back on one condition--that I wouldtransmit to your majesty the will of the people. "

"The will!" exclaimed the queen, frowning. "Oh! oh! monsieur marechal, you must indeed have found yourself in wondrous peril to have undertakenso strange a commission!"

The irony with which these words were uttered did not escape themarechal. 

"Pardon, madame, " he said, "I am not a lawyer, I am a mere soldier, and probably, therefore, I do not quite comprehend the value of certainwords; I ought to have said the wishes, and not the will, of thepeople. As for what you do me the honor to say, I presume you mean I wasafraid?"

The queen smiled. 

"Well, then, madame, yes, I did feel fear; and though I have beenthrough twelve pitched battles and I cannot count how many charges andskirmishes, I own for the third time in my life I was afraid. Yes, andI would rather face your majesty, however threatening your smile, thanface those demons who accompanied me hither and who sprung from I knownot whence, unless from deepest hell. "

("Bravo, " said D'Artagnan in a whisper to Porthos; "well answered. ")

"Well, " said the queen, biting her lips, whilst her courtiers looked ateach other with surprise, "what is the desire of my people?"

"That Broussel shall be given up to them, madame. "

"Never!" said the queen, "never!"

"Your majesty is mistress, " said La Meilleraie, retreating a few steps. 

"Where are you going, marechal?" asked the queen. 

"To give your majesty's reply to those who await it. "

"Stay, marechal; I will not appear to parley with rebels. "

"Madame, I have pledged my word, and unless you order me to be arrestedI shall be forced to return. "

Anne of Austria's eyes shot glances of fire. 

"Oh! that is no impediment, sir, " said she; "I have had greater men thanyou arrested--Guitant!"

Mazarin sprang forward. 

"Madame, " said he, "if I dared in my turn advise----"

"Would it be to give up Broussel, sir? If so, you can spare yourself thetrouble. "

"No, " said Mazarin; "although, perhaps, that counsel is as good as anyother. "

"Then what may it be?"

"To call for monsieur le coadjuteur. "

"The coadjutor!" cried the queen, "that dreadful mischief maker! It ishe who has raised all this revolt. "

"The more reason, " said Mazarin; "if he has raised it he can put itdown. "

"And hold, madame, " suggested Comminges, who was near a window, out ofwhich he could see; "hold, the moment is a happy one, for there he isnow, giving his blessing in the square of the Palais Royal. "

The queen sprang to the window. 

"It is true, " she said, "the arch hypocrite--see!"

"I see, " said Mazarin, "that everybody kneels before him, although hebe but coadjutor, whilst I, were I in his place, though I am cardinal, should be torn to pieces. I persist, then, madame, in my wish" (helaid an emphasis on the word), "that your majesty should receive thecoadjutor. "

"And wherefore do you not say, like the rest, your will?" replied thequeen, in a low voice. 

Mazarin bowed. 

"Monsieur le marechal, " said the queen, after a moment's reflection, "goand find the coadjutor and bring him to me. "

"And what shall I say to the people?"

"That they must have patience, " said Anne, "as I have. "

The fiery Spanish woman spoke in a tone so imperative that the marechalmade no reply; he bowed and went out. 

(D'Artagnan turned to Porthos. "How will this end?" he said. 

"We shall soon see, " said Porthos, in his tranquil way. )

In the meantime Anne of Austria approached Comminges and conversed withhim in a subdued tone, whilst Mazarin glanced uneasily at the corneroccupied by D'Artagnan and Porthos. Ere long the door opened and themarechal entered, followed by the coadjutor. 

"There, madame, " he said, "is Monsieur Gondy, who hastens to obey yourmajesty's summons. "

The queen advanced a few steps to meet him, and then stopped, cold, severe, unmoved, with her lower lip scornfully protruded. 

Gondy bowed respectfully. 

"Well, sir, " said the queen, "what is your opinion of this riot?"

"That it is no longer a riot, madame, " he replied, "but a revolt. "

"The revolt is at the door of those who think my people can rebel, "cried Anne, unable to dissimulate before the coadjutor, whom she lookedupon, and probably with reason, as the promoter of the tumult. "Revolt!thus it is called by those who have wished for this demonstration andwho are, perhaps, the cause of it; but, wait, wait! the king's authoritywill put all this to rights. "

"Was it to tell me that, madame, " coldly replied Gondy, "that yourmajesty admitted me to the honor of entering your presence?"

"No, my dear coadjutor, " said Mazarin; "it was to ask your advice in theunhappy dilemma in which we find ourselves. "

"Is it true, " asked Gondy, feigning astonishment, "that her majestysummoned me to ask for my opinion?"

"Yes, " said the queen, "it is requested. "

The coadjutor bowed. 

"Your majesty wishes, then----"

"You to say what you would do in her place, " Mazarin hastened to reply. 

The coadjutor looked at the queen, who replied by a sign in theaffirmative. 

"Were I in her majesty's place, " said Gondy, coldly, "I should nothesitate; I should release Broussel. "

"And if I do not give him up, what think you will be the result?"exclaimed the queen. 

"I believe that not a stone in Paris will remain unturned, " put in themarechal. 

"It was not your opinion that I asked, " said the queen, sharply, withouteven turning around. 

"If it is I whom your majesty interrogates, " replied the coadjutorin the same calm manner, "I reply that I hold monsieur le marechal'sopinion in every respect. "

The color mounted to the queen's face; her fine blue eyes seemed tostart out of her head and her carmine lips, compared by all the poets ofthe day to a pomegranate in flower, were trembling with anger. Mazarinhimself, who was well accustomed to the domestic outbreaks of thisdisturbed household, was alarmed. 

"Give up Broussel!" she cried; "fine counsel, indeed. Upon my word! onecan easily see it comes from a priest. "

Gondy remained firm, and the abuse of the day seemed to glide over hishead as the sarcasms of the evening before had done; but hatred andrevenge were accumulating in his heart silently and drop by drop. Helooked coldly at the queen, who nudged Mazarin to make him say somethingin his turn. 

Mazarin, according to his custom, was thinking much and saying little. 

"Ho! ho!" said he, "good advice, advice of a friend. I, too, would giveup that good Monsieur Broussel, dead or alive, and all would be at anend. "

"If you yield him dead, all will indeed be at an end, my lord, but quiteotherwise than you mean. "

"Did I say 'dead or alive?'" replied Mazarin. "It was only a way ofspeaking. You know I am not familiar with the French language, whichyou, monsieur le coadjuteur, both speak and write so well. "

("This is a council of state, " D'Artagnan remarked to Porthos; "but weheld better ones at La Rochelle, with Athos and Aramis. "

"At the Saint Gervais bastion, " said Porthos. 

"There and elsewhere. ")

The coadjutor let the storm pass over his head and resumed, still withthe same tranquillity:

"Madame, if the opinion I have submitted to you does not please you itis doubtless because you have better counsels to follow. I know too wellthe wisdom of the queen and that of her advisers to suppose that theywill leave the capital long in trouble that may lead to a revolution. "

"Thus, then, it is your opinion, " said Anne of Austria, with a sneerand biting her lips with rage, "that yesterday's riot, which to-day isalready a rebellion, to-morrow may become a revolution?"

"Yes, madame, " replied the coadjutor, gravely. 

"But if I am to believe you, sir, the people seem to have thrown off allrestraint. "

"It is a bad year for kings, " said Gondy, shaking his head; "look atEngland, madame. "

"Yes; but fortunately we have no Oliver Cromwell in France, " replied thequeen. 

"Who knows?" said Gondy; "such men are like thunderbolts--one recognizesthem only when they have struck. "

Every one shuddered and there was a moment of silence, during which thequeen pressed her hand to her side, evidently to still the beatings ofher heart. 

("Porthos, " murmured D'Artagnan, "look well at that priest. "

"Yes, " said Porthos, "I see him. What then?"

"Well, he is a man. "

Porthos looked at D'Artagnan in astonishment. Evidently he did notunderstand his meaning. )

"Your majesty, " continued the coadjutor, pitilessly, "is about to takesuch measures as seem good to you, but I foresee that they will beviolent and such as will still further exasperate the rioters. "

"In that case, you, monsieur le coadjuteur, who have such powerover them and are at the same time friendly to us, " said the queen, ironically, "will quiet them by bestowing your blessing upon them. "

"Perhaps it will be too late, " said Gondy, still unmoved; "perhaps Ishall have lost all influence; while by giving up Broussel your majestywill strike at the root of the sedition and will gain the right topunish severely any revival of the revolt. "

"Have I not, then, that right?" cried the queen. 

"If you have it, use it, " replied Gondy. 

("Peste!" said D'Artagnan to Porthos. "There is a man after my ownheart. Oh! if he were minister and I were his D'Artagnan, instead ofbelonging to that beast of a Mazarin, mordieu! what fine things we woulddo together!"

"Yes, " said Porthos. )

The queen made a sign for every one, except Mazarin, to quit the room;and Gondy bowed, as if to leave with the rest. 

"Stay, sir, " said Anne to him. 

"Good, " thought Gondy, "she is going to yield. "

("She is going to have him killed, " said D'Artagnan to Porthos, "but atall events it shall not be by me. I swear to Heaven, on the contrary, that if they fall upon him I will fall upon them. "

"And I, too, " said Porthos. )

"Good, " muttered Mazarin, sitting down, "we shall soon see somethingstartling. "

The queen's eyes followed the retreating figures and when the last hadclosed the door she turned away. It was evident that she was makingunnatural efforts to subdue her anger; she fanned herself, smelled ather vinaigrette and walked up and down. Gondy, who began to feel uneasy, examined the tapestry with his eyes, touched the coat of mail which hewore under his long gown and felt from time to time to see if the handleof a good Spanish dagger, which was hidden under his cloak, was wellwithin reach. 

"And now, " at last said the queen, "now that we are alone, repeat yourcounsel, monsieur le coadjuteur. "

"It is this, madame: that you should appear to have reflected, andpublicly acknowledge an error, which constitutes the extra strength of astrong government; release Broussel from prison and give him back to thepeople. "

"Oh!" cried Anne, "to humble myself thus! Am I, or am I not, the queen?This screaming mob, are they, or are they not, my subjects? Have Ifriends? Have I guards? Ah! by Notre Dame! as Queen Catherine used tosay, " continued she, excited by her own words, "rather than give up thisinfamous Broussel to them I will strangle him with my own hands!"

And she sprang toward Gondy, whom assuredly at that moment she hatedmore than Broussel, with outstretched arms. The coadjutor remainedimmovable and not a muscle of his face was discomposed; only his glanceflashed like a sword in returning the furious looks of the queen. 

("He were a dead man" said the Gascon, "if there were still a Vitry atthe court and if Vitry entered at this moment; but for my part, beforehe could reach the good prelate I would kill Vitry at once; the cardinalwould be infinitely pleased with me. "

"Hush!" said Porthos; "listen. ")

"Madame, " cried the cardinal, seizing hold of Anne and drawing her back, "Madame, what are you about?"

Then he added in Spanish, "Anne, are you mad? You, a queen to quarrellike a washerwoman! And do you not perceive that in the person of thispriest is represented the whole people of Paris and that it is dangerousto insult him at this moment, and if this priest wished it, in an houryou would be without a crown? Come, then, on another occasion you can befirm and strong; but to-day is not the proper time; to-day, flatter andcaress, or you are only a common woman. "

(At the first words of this address D'Artagnan had seized Porthos's arm, which he pressed with gradually increasing force. When Mazarin ceasedspeaking he said to Porthos in a low tone:

"Never tell Mazarin that I understand Spanish, or I am a lost man andyou are also. "

"All right, " said Porthos. )

This rough appeal, marked by the eloquence which characterized Mazarinwhen he spoke in Italian or Spanish and which he lost entirely inspeaking French, was uttered with such impenetrable expression thatGondy, clever physiognomist as he was, had no suspicion of its beingmore than a simple warning to be more subdued. 

The queen, on her part, thus chided, softened immediately and sat down, and in an almost weeping voice, letting her arms fall by her side, said:

"Pardon me, sir, and attribute this violence to what I suffer. A woman, and consequently subject to the weaknesses of my sex, I am alarmed atthe idea of civil war; a queen, accustomed to be obeyed, I am excited atthe first opposition. "

"Madame, " replied Gondy, bowing, "your majesty is mistaken in qualifyingmy sincere advice as opposition. Your majesty has none but submissiveand respectful subjects. It is not the queen with whom the people aredispleased; they ask for Broussel and are only too happy, if you releasehim to them, to live under your government. "

Mazarin, who at the words, "It is not the queen with whom the people aredispleased, " had pricked up his ears, thinking that the coadjutor wasabout to speak of the cries, "Down with Mazarin, " and pleased withGondy's suppression of this fact, he said with his sweetest voice andhis most gracious expression:

"Madame, credit the coadjutor, who is one of the most able politicianswe have; the first available cardinal's hat seems to belong already tohis noble brow. "

"Ah! how much you have need of me, cunning rogue!" thought Gondy. 

("And what will he promise us?" said D'Artagnan. "Peste, if he is givingaway hats like that, Porthos, let us look out and both demand a regimentto-morrow. Corbleu! let the civil war last but one year and I will havea constable's sword gilt for me. "

"And for me?" put in Porthos. 

"For you? I will give you the baton of the Marechal de la Meilleraie, who does not seem to be much in favor just now. ")

"And so, sir, " said the queen, "you are seriously afraid of a publictumult. "

"Seriously, " said Gondy, astonished at not having further advanced;"I fear that when the torrent has broken its embankment it will causefearful destruction. "

"And I, " said the queen, "think that in such a case other embankmentsshould be raised to oppose it. Go; I will reflect. "

Gondy looked at Mazarin, astonished, and Mazarin approached the queento speak to her, but at this moment a frightful tumult arose from thesquare of the Palais Royal. 

Gondy smiled, the queen's color rose and Mazarin grew even paler. 

"What is that again?" he asked. 

At this moment Comminges rushed into the room. 

"Pardon, your majesty, " he cried, "but the people have dashed thesentinels against the gates and they are now forcing the doors; what areyour commands?"

"Listen, madame, " said Gondy. 

The moaning of waves, the noise of thunder, the roaring of a volcano, cannot be compared with the tempest of cries heard at that moment. 

"What are my commands?" said the queen. 

"Yes, for time presses. "

"How many men have you about the Palais Royal?"

"Six hundred. "

"Place a hundred around the king and with the remainder sweep away thismob for me. "

"Madame, " cried Mazarin, "what are you about?"

"Go!" said the queen. 

Comminges went out with a soldier's passive obedience. 

At this moment a monstrous battering was heard. One of the gates beganto yield. 

"Oh! madame, " cried Mazarin, "you have ruined us all--the king, yourselfand me. "

At this cry from the soul of the frightened cardinal, Anne becamealarmed in her turn and would have recalled Comminges. 

"It is too late, " said Mazarin, tearing his hair, "too late!"

The gale had given way. Hoarse shouts were heard from the excited mob. D'Artagnan put his hand to his sword, motioning to Porthos to follow hisexample. 

"Save the queen!" cried Mazarin to the coadjutor. 

Gondy sprang to the window and threw it open; he recognized Louvieres atthe head of a troop of about three or four thousand men. 

"Not a step further, " he shouted, "the queen is signing!"

"What are you saying?" asked the queen. 

"The truth, madame, " said Mazarin, placing a pen and a paper before her, "you must;" then he added: "Sign, Anne, I implore you--I command you. "

The queen fell into a chair, took the pen and signed. 

The people, kept back by Louvieres, had not made another step forward;but the awful murmuring, which indicates an angry people, continued. 

The queen had written, "The keeper of the prison at Saint Germain willset Councillor Broussel at liberty;" and she had signed it. 

The coadjutor, whose eyes devoured her slightest movements, seized thepaper immediately the signature had been affixed to it, returned to thewindow and waved it in his hand. 

"This is the order, " he said. 

All Paris seemed to shout with joy, and then the air resounded with thecries of "Long live Broussel!" "Long live the coadjutor!"

"Long live the queen!" cried De Gondy; but the cries which replied tohis were poor and few, and perhaps he had but uttered it to make Anne ofAustria sensible of her weakness. 

"And now that you have obtained what you want, go, " said she, "Monsieurde Gondy. "

"Whenever her majesty has need of me, " replied the coadjutor, bowing, "her majesty knows I am at her command. "

"Ah, cursed priest!" cried Anne, when he had retired, stretching outher arm to the scarcely closed door, "one day I will make you drink thedregs of the atrocious gall you have poured out on me to-day. "

Mazarin wished to approach her. "Leave me!" she exclaimed; "you are nota man!" and she went out of the room. 

"It is you who are not a woman, " muttered Mazarin. 

Then, after a moment of reverie, he remembered where he had leftD'Artagnan and Porthos and that they must have overheard everything. Heknit his brows and went direct to the tapestry, which he pushed aside. The closet was empty. 

At the queen's last word, D'Artagnan had dragged Porthos into thegallery. Thither Mazarin went in his turn and found the two friendswalking up and down. 

"Why did you leave the closet, Monsieur d'Artagnan?" asked the cardinal. 

"Because, " replied D'Artagnan, "the queen desired every one to leaveand I thought that this command was intended for us as well as for therest. "

"And you have been here since----"

"About a quarter of an hour, " said D'Artagnan, motioning to Porthos notto contradict him. 

Mazarin saw the sign and remained convinced that D'Artagnan had seen andheard everything; but he was pleased with his falsehood. 

"Decidedly, Monsieur d'Artagnan, you are the man I have been seeking. You may reckon upon me and so may your friend. " Then bowing to the twomusketeers with his most gracious smile, he re-entered his closet morecalmly, for on the departure of De Gondy the uproar had ceased as thoughby enchantment. 

49. Misfortune refreshes the Memory. 

Anne of Austria returned to her oratory, furious. 

"What!" she cried, wringing her beautiful hands, "What! the people haveseen Monsieur de Conde, a prince of the blood royal, arrested by mymother-in-law, Maria de Medicis; they saw my mother-in-law, their formerregent, expelled by the cardinal; they saw Monsieur de Vendome, that isto say, the son of Henry IV. , a prisoner at Vincennes; and whilst thesegreat personages were imprisoned, insulted and threatened, they saidnothing; and now for a Broussel--good God! what, then, is to become ofroyalty?"

The queen unconsciously touched here upon the exciting question. Thepeople had made no demonstration for the princes, but they had risenfor Broussel; they were taking the part of a plebeian and in defendingBroussel they instinctively felt they were defending themselves. 

During this time Mazarin walked up and down the study, glancingfrom time to time at his beautiful Venetian mirror, starred in everydirection. "Ah!" he said, "it is sad, I know well, to be forced toyield thus; but, pshaw! we shall have our revenge. What matters it aboutBroussel--it is a name, not a thing. "

Mazarin, clever politician as he was, was for once mistaken; Brousselwas a thing, not a name. 

The next morning, therefore, when Broussel made his entrance into Parisin a large carriage, having his son Louvieres at his side and Friquetbehind the vehicle, the people threw themselves in his way and cries of"Long live Broussel!" "Long live our father!" resounded from all partsand was death to Mazarin's ears; and the cardinal's spies brought badnews from every direction, which greatly agitated the minister, but wascalmly received by the queen. The latter seemed to be maturing in hermind some great stroke, a fact which increased the uneasiness of thecardinal, who knew the proud princess and dreaded much the determinationof Anne of Austria. 

The coadjutor returned to parliament more a monarch than king, queen, and cardinal, all three together. By his advice a decree fromparliament summoned the citizens to lay down their arms and demolish thebarricades. They now knew that it required but one hour to take up armsagain and one night to reconstruct the barricades. 

Rochefort had returned to the Chevalier d'Humieres his fifty horsemen, less two, missing at roll call. But the chevalier was himself at heart aFrondist and would hear nothing said of compensation. 

The mendicant had gone to his old place on the steps of Saint Eustacheand was again distributing holy water with one hand and asking alms withthe other. No one could suspect that those two hands had been engagedwith others in drawing out from the social edifice the keystone ofroyalty. 

Louvieres was proud and satisfied; he had taken revenge on Mazarin andhad aided in his father's deliverance from prison. His name had beenmentioned as a name of terror at the Palais Royal. Laughingly he said tothe councillor, restored to his family:

"Do you think, father, that if now I should ask for a company the queenwould give it to me?"

D'Artagnan profited by this interval of calm to send away Raoul, whom hehad great difficulty in keeping shut up during the riot, and who wishedpositively to strike a blow for one party or the other. Raoul hadoffered some opposition at first; but D'Artagnan made use of the Comtede la Fere's name, and after paying a visit to Madame de Chevreuse, Raoul started to rejoin the army. 

Rochefort alone was dissatisfied with the termination of affairs. He hadwritten to the Duc de Beaufort to come and the duke was about to arrive, and he world find Paris tranquil. He went to the coadjutor to consultwith him whether it would not be better to send word to the duke to stopon the road, but Gondy reflected for a moment, and then said:

"Let him continue his journey. "

"All is not then over?" asked Rochefort. 

"My dear count, we have only just begun. "

"What induces you to think so?"

"The knowledge that I have of the queen's heart; she will not restcontented beaten. "

"Is she, then, preparing for a stroke?"

"I hope so. "

"Come, let us see what you know. "

"I know that she has written to the prince to return in haste from thearmy. "

"Ah! ha!" said Rochefort, "you are right. We must let Monsieur deBeaufort come. "

In fact, the evening after this conversation the report was circulatedthat the Prince de Conde had arrived. It was a very simple, naturalcircumstance and yet it created a profound sensation. It was said thatMadame de Longueville, for whom the prince had more than a brother'saffection and in whom he had confided, had been indiscreet. Hisconfidence had unveiled the sinister project of the queen. 

Even on the night of the prince's return, some citizens, bolder than therest, such as the sheriffs, captains and the quartermaster, went fromhouse to house among their friends, saying:

"Why do we not take the king and place him in the Hotel de Ville? It isa shame to leave him to be educated by our enemies, who will give himevil counsel; whereas, brought up by the coadjutor, for instance, hewould imbibe national principles and love his people. "

That night the question was secretly agitated and on the morrow the grayand black cloaks, the patrols of armed shop-people, and the bands ofmendicants reappeared. 

The queen had passed the night in lonely conference with the prince, whohad entered the oratory at midnight and did not leave till five o'clockin the morning. 

At five o'clock Anne went to the cardinal's room. If she had not yettaken any repose, he at least was already up. Six days had alreadypassed out of the ten he had asked from Mordaunt; he was thereforeoccupied in revising his reply to Cromwell, when some one knockedgently at the door of communication with the queen's apartments. Anneof Austria alone was permitted to enter by that door. The cardinaltherefore rose to open it. 

The queen was in a morning gown, but it became her still; for, likeDiana of Poictiers and Ninon, Anne of Austria enjoyed the privilegeof remaining ever beautiful; nevertheless, this morning she lookedhandsomer than usual, for her eyes had all the sparkle inwardsatisfaction adds to expression. 

"What is the matter, madame?" said Mazarin, uneasily. "You seem secretlyelated. "

"Yes, Giulio, " she said, "proud and happy; for I have found the means ofstrangling this hydra. "

"You are a great politician, my queen, " said Mazarin; "let us hear themeans. " And he hid what he had written by sliding the letter under afolio of blank paper. 

"You know, " said the queen, "that they want to take the king away fromme?"

"Alas! yes, and to hang me. "

"They shall not have the king. "

"Nor hang me. "

"Listen. I want to carry off my son from them, with yourself. I wishthat this event, which on the day it is known will completely change theaspect of affairs, should be accomplished without the knowledge of anyothers but yourself, myself, and a third person. "

"And who is this third person?"

"Monsieur le Prince. "

"He has come, then, as they told me?"

"Last evening. "

"And you have seen him?"

"He has just left me. "

"And will he aid this project?"

"The plan is his own. "

"And Paris?"

"He will starve it out and force it to surrender at discretion. "

"The plan is not wanting in grandeur; I see but one impediment. "

"What is it?"

"Impossibility. "

"A senseless word. Nothing is impossible. "

"On paper. "

"In execution. We have money?"

"A little, " said Mazarin, trembling, lest Anne should ask to draw uponhis purse. 

"Troops?"

"Five or six thousand men. "

"Courage?"

"Plenty. "

"Then the thing is easy. Oh! do think of it, Giulio! Paris, thisodious Paris, waking up one morning without queen or king, surrounded, besieged, famished--having for its sole resource its stupid parliamentand their coadjutor with crooked limbs!"

"Charming! charming!" said Mazarin. "I can imagine the effect, I do notsee the means. "

"I will find the means myself. "

"You are aware it will be war, civil war, furious, devouring, implacable?"

"Oh! yes, yes, war, " said Anne of Austria. "Yes, I will reduce thisrebellious city to ashes. I will extinguish the fire with blood! Iwill perpetuate the crime and punishment by making a frightful example. Paris!; I--I detest, I loathe it!"

"Very fine, Anne. You are now sanguinary; but take care. We are not inthe time of Malatesta and Castruccio Castracani. You will get yourselfdecapitated, my beautiful queen, and that would be a pity. "

"You laugh. "

"Faintly. It is dangerous to go to war with a nation. Look at yourbrother monarch, Charles I. He is badly off, very badly. "

"We are in France, and I am Spanish. "

"So much the worse; I had much rather you were French and myself also;they would hate us both less. "

"Nevertheless, you consent?"

"Yes, if the thing be possible. "

"It is; it is I who tell you so; make preparations for departure. "

"I! I am always prepared to go, only, as you know, I never do go, andperhaps shall go this time as little as before. "

"In short, if I go, will you go too?"

"I will try. "

"You torment me, Giulio, with your fears; and what are you afraid of, then?"

"Of many things. "

"What are they?"

Mazarin's face, smiling as it was, became clouded. 

"Anne, " said he, "you are but a woman and as a woman you may insult menat your ease, knowing that you can do it with impunity. You accuse meof fear; I have not so much as you have, since I do not fly as you do. Against whom do they cry out? is it against you or against myself? Whomwould they hang, yourself or me? Well, I can weather the storm--I, whom, notwithstanding, you tax with fear--not with bravado, that is not myway; but I am firm. Imitate me. Make less hubbub and think more deeply. You cry very loud, you end by doing nothing; you talk of flying----"

Mazarin shrugged his shoulders and taking the queen's hand led her tothe window. 

"Look!" he said. 

"Well?" said the queen, blinded by her obstinacy. 

"Well, what do you see from this window? If I am not mistaken those arecitizens, helmeted and mailed, armed with good muskets, as in the timeof the League, and whose eyes are so intently fixed on this window thatthey will see you if you raise that curtain much; and now come tothe other side--what do you see? Creatures of the people, armed withhalberds, guarding your doors. You will see the same at every openingfrom this palace to which I should lead you. Your doors are guarded, theairholes of your cellars are guarded, and I could say to you, as thatgood La Ramee said to me of the Duc de Beaufort, you must be either birdor mouse to get out. "

"He did get out, nevertheless. "

"Do you think of escaping in the same way?"

"I am a prisoner, then?"

"Parbleu!" said Mazarin, "I have been proving it to you this last hour. "

And he quietly resumed his dispatch at the place where he had beeninterrupted. 

Anne, trembling with anger and scarlet with humiliation, left the room, shutting the door violently after her. Mazarin did not even turn around. When once more in her own apartment Anne fell into a chair and wept;then suddenly struck with an idea:

"I am saved!" she exclaimed, rising; "oh, yes! yes! I know a man whowill find the means of taking me from Paris, a man I have too longforgotten. " Then falling into a reverie, she added, however, with anexpression of joy, "Ungrateful woman that I am, for twenty years I haveforgotten this man, whom I ought to have made a marechal of France. Mymother-in-law expended gold, caresses, dignities on Concini, who ruinedher; the king made Vitry marechal of France for an assassination: whileI have left in obscurity, in poverty, the noble D'Artagnan, who savedme!"

And running to a table, on which were paper, pens and ink, she hastilybegan to write. 

50. The Interview. 

It had been D'Artagnan's practice, ever since the riots, to sleep in thesame room as Porthos, and on this eventful morning he was still there, sleeping, and dreaming that a yellow cloud had overspread the sky andwas raining gold pieces into his hat, which he held out till it wasoverflowing with pistoles. As for Porthos, he dreamed that the panels ofhis carriage were not capacious enough to contain the armorial bearingshe had ordered to be painted on them. They were both aroused at seveno'clock by the entrance of an unliveried servant, who brought a letterfor D'Artagnan. 

"From whom?" asked the Gascon. 

"From the queen, " replied the servant. 

"Ho!" said Porthos, raising himself in his bed; "what does she say?"

D'Artagnan requested the servant to wait in the next room and whenthe door was closed he sprang up from his bed and read rapidly, whilstPorthos looked at him with starting eyes, not daring to ask a singlequestion. 

"Friend Porthos, " said D'Artagnan, handing the letter to him, "thistime, at least, you are sure of your title of baron, and I of mycaptaincy. Read for yourself and judge. "

Porthos took the letter and with a trembling voice read the followingwords:

"The queen wishes to speak to Monsieur d'Artagnan, who must follow thebearer. "

"Well!" exclaimed Porthos; "I see nothing in that very extraordinary. "

"But I see much that is very extraordinary in it, " replied D'Artagnan. "It is evident, by their sending for me, that matters are becomingcomplicated. Just reflect a little what an agitation the queen's mindmust be in for her to have remembered me after twenty years. "

"It is true, " said Porthos. 

"Sharpen your sword, baron, load your pistols, and give some corn to thehorses, for I will answer for it, something lightning-like will happenere to-morrow. "

"But, stop; do you think it can be a trap that they are laying forus?" suggested Porthos, incessantly thinking how his greatness must beirksome to inferior people. 

"If it is a snare, " replied D'Artagnan, "I shall scent it out, beassured. If Mazarin is an Italian, I am a Gascon. "

And D'Artagnan dressed himself in an instant. 

Whilst Porthos, still in bed, was hooking on his cloak for him, a secondknock at the door was heard. 

"Come in, " exclaimed D'Artagnan; and another servant entered. 

"From His Eminence, Cardinal Mazarin, " presenting a letter. 

D'Artagnan looked at Porthos. 

"A complicated affair, " said Porthos; "where will you begin?"

"It is arranged capitally; his eminence expects me in half an hour. "

"Good. "

"My friend, " said D'Artagnan, turning to the servant, "tell his eminencethat in half an hour I shall be at his command. "

"It is very fortunate, " resumed the Gascon, when the valet had retired, "that he did not meet the other one. "

"Do you not think that they have sent for you, both for the same thing?"

"I do not think it, I am certain of it. "

"Quick, quick, D'Artagnan. Remember that the queen awaits you, and afterthe queen, the cardinal, and after the cardinal, myself. "

D'Artagnan summoned Anne of Austria's servant and signified that he wasready to follow him into the queen's presence. 

The servant conducted him by the Rue des Petits Champs and turning tothe left entered the little garden gate leading into the Rue Richelieu;then they gained the private staircase and D'Artagnan was ushered intothe oratory. A certain emotion, for which he could not account, madethe lieutenant's heart beat: he had no longer the assurance of youth;experience had taught him the importance of past events. Formerly hewould have approached the queen as a young man who bends before a woman;but now it was a different thing; he answered her summons as an humblesoldier obeys an illustrious general. 

The silence of the oratory was at last disturbed by the slight rustlingof silk, and D'Artagnan started when he perceived the tapestry raised bya white hand, which, by its form, its color and its beauty he recognizedas that royal hand which had one day been presented to him to kiss. Thequeen entered. 

"It is you, Monsieur d'Artagnan, " she said, fixing a gaze full ofmelancholy interest on the countenance of the officer, "and I know youwell. Look at me well in your turn. I am the queen; do you recognizeme?"

"No, madame, " replied D'Artagnan. 

"But are you no longer aware, " continued Anne, giving that sweetexpression to her voice which she could do at will, "that in former daysthe queen had once need of a young, brave and devoted cavalier--that shefound this cavalier--and that, although he might have thought that shehad forgotten him, she had kept a place for him in the depths of herheart?"

"No, madame, I was ignorant of that, " said the musketeer. 

"So much the worse, sir, " said Anne of Austria; "so much the worse, atleast for the queen, for to-day she has need of the same courage and thesame devotion. "

"What!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, "does the queen, surrounded as she is bysuch devoted servants, such wise counselors, men, in short, so greatby merit or position--does she deign to cast her eyes on an obscuresoldier?"

Anne understood this covert reproach and was more moved than irritatedby it. She had many a time felt humiliated by the self-sacrifice anddisinterestedness shown by the Gascon gentleman. She had allowed herselfto be exceeded in generosity. 

"All that you tell me of those by whom I am surrounded, Monsieurd'Artagnan, is doubtless true, " said the queen, "but I have confidencein you alone. I know that you belong to the cardinal, but belong to meas well, and I will take upon myself the making of your fortune. Come, will you do to-day what formerly the gentleman you do not know did forthe queen?"

"I will do everything your majesty commands, " replied D'Artagnan. 

The queen reflected for a moment and then, seeing the cautious demeanorof the musketeer:

"Perhaps you like repose?" she said. 

"I do not know, for I have never had it, madame. "

"Have you any friends?"

"I had three, two of whom have left Paris, to go I know not where. Onealone is left to me, but he is one of those known, I believe, to thecavalier of whom your majesty did me the honor to speak. "

"Very good, " said the queen; "you and your friend are worth an army. "

"What am I to do, madame?"

"Return at five o'clock and I will tell you; but do not breathe to aliving soul, sir, the rendezvous which I give you. "

"No, madame. "

"Swear it upon the cross. "

"Madame, I have never been false to my word; when I say I will not do athing, I mean it. "

The queen, although astonished at this language, to which she was notaccustomed from her courtiers, argued from it a happy omen of the zealwith which D'Artagnan would serve her in the accomplishment of herproject. It was one of the Gascon's artifices to hide his deep cunningoccasionally under an appearance of rough loyalty. 

"Has the queen any further commands for me now?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"No, sir, " replied Anne of Austria, "and you may retire until the timethat I mentioned to you. "

D'Artagnan bowed and went out. 

"Diable!" he exclaimed when the door was shut, "they seem to have thegreatest need of me just now. "

Then, as the half hour had already glided by, he crossed the gallery andknocked at the cardinal's door. 

Bernouin introduced him. 

"I come for your commands, my lord, " he said. 

And according to his custom D'Artagnan glanced rapidly around andremarked that Mazarin had a sealed letter before him. But it was soplaced on the desk that he could not see to whom it was addressed. 

"You come from the queen?" said Mazarin, looking fixedly at D'Artagnan. 

"I! my lord--who told you that?"

"Nobody, but I know it. "

"I regret infinitely to tell you, my lord, that you are mistaken, "replied the Gascon, impudently, firm to the promise he had just made toAnne of Austria. 

"I opened the door of the ante-room myself and I saw you enter at theend of the corridor. "

"Because I was shown up the private stairs. "

"How so?"

"I know not; it must have been a mistake. "

Mazarin was aware that it was not easy to make D'Artagnan revealanything he was desirous of hiding, so he gave up, for the time, thediscovery of the mystery the Gascon was concealing. 

"Let us speak of my affairs, " said Mazarin, "since you will tell menaught of yours. Are you fond of traveling?"

"My life has been passed on the high road. "

"Would anything retain you particularly in Paris?"

"Nothing but an order from a superior would retain me in Paris. "

"Very well. Here is a letter, which must be taken to its address. "

"To its address, my lord? But it has none. "

In fact, the side of the letter opposite the seal was blank. 

"I must tell you, " resumed Mazarin, "that it is in a double envelope. "

"I understand; and I am to take off the first one when I have reached acertain place?"

"Just so, take it and go. You have a friend, Monsieur du Vallon, whom Ilike much; let him accompany you. "

"The devil!" said D'Artagnan to himself. "He knows that we overheard hisconversation yesterday and he wants to get us away from Paris. "

"Do you hesitate?" asked Mazarin. 

"No, my lord, and I will set out at once. There is one thing only whichI must request. "

"What is it? Speak. "

"That your eminence will go at once to the queen. "

"What for?"

"Merely to say these words: 'I am going to send Monsieur d'Artagnan awayand I wish him to set out directly. '"

"I told you, " said Mazarin, "that you had seen the queen. "

"I had the honor of saying to your eminence that there had been somemistake. "

"What is the meaning of that?"

"May I venture to repeat my prayer to your eminence?"

"Very well; I will go. Wait here for me. " And looking attentively aroundhim, to see if he had left any of his keys in his closets, Mazarin wentout. Ten minutes elapsed, during which D'Artagnan made every effort toread through the first envelope what was written on the second. But hedid not succeed. 

Mazarin returned, pale, and evidently thoughtful. He seated himself athis desk and D'Artagnan proceeded to examine his face, as he hadjust examined the letter he held, but the envelope which covered hiscountenance appeared as impenetrable as that which covered the letter. 

"Ah!" thought the Gascon; "he looks displeased. Can it be with me? Hemeditates. Is it about sending me to the Bastile? All very fine, my lord, but at the very first hint you give of such a thing I willstrangle you and become Frondist. I should be carried home in triumphlike Monsieur Broussel and Athos would proclaim me the French Brutus. Itwould be exceedingly droll. "

The Gascon, with his vivid imagination, had already seen the advantageto be derived from his situation. Mazarin gave, however, no order of thekind, but on the contrary began to be insinuating. 

"You were right, " he said, "my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, and you cannotset out yet. I beg you to return me that dispatch. "

D'Artagnan obeyed, and Mazarin ascertained that the seal was intact. 

"I shall want you this evening, " he said "Return in two hours. "

"My lord, " said D'Artagnan, "I have an appointment in two hours which Icannot miss. "

"Do not be uneasy, " said Mazarin; "it is the same. "

"Good!" thought D'Artagnan; "I fancied it was so. "

"Return, then, at five o'clock and bring that worthy Monsieur du Vallonwith you. Only, leave him in the ante-room, as I wish to speak to youalone. "

D'Artagnan bowed, and thought: "Both at the same hour; both commandsalike; both at the Palais Royal. Monsieur de Gondy would pay a hundredthousand francs for such a secret!"

"You are thoughtful, " said Mazarin, uneasily. 

"Yes, I was thinking whether we ought to come armed or not. "

"Armed to the teeth!" replied Mazarin. 

"Very well, my lord; it shall be so. "

D'Artagnan saluted, went out and hastened to repeat to his friendMazarin's flattering promises, which gave Porthos an indescribablehappiness. 

51. The Flight. 

When D'Artagnan returned to the Palais Royal at five o'clock, itpresented, in spite of the excitement which reigned in the town, aspectacle of the greatest rejoicing. Nor was that surprising. The queenhad restored Broussel and Blancmesnil to the people and had thereforenothing to fear, since the people had nothing more just then to ask for. The return, also, of the conqueror of Lens was the pretext for givinga grand banquet. The princes and princesses were invited and theircarriages had crowded the court since noon; then after dinner the queenwas to have a play in her apartment. Anne of Austria had never appearedmore brilliant than on that day--radiant with grace and wit. Mazarindisappeared as they rose from table. He found D'Artagnan waiting for himalready at his post in the ante-room. 

The cardinal advanced to him with a smile and taking him by the hand ledhim into his study. 

"My dear M. D'Artagnan, " said the minister, sitting down, "I am aboutto give you the greatest proof of confidence that a minister can give anofficer. "

"I hope, " said D'Artagnan, bowing, "that you give it, my lord, withouthesitation and with the conviction that I am worthy of it. "

"More worthy than any one in Paris my dear friend; therefore I apply toyou. We are about to leave this evening, " continued Mazarin. "My dearM. D'Artagnan, the welfare of the state is deposited in your hands. " Hepaused. 

"Explain yourself, my lord, I am listening. "

"The queen has resolved to make a little excursion with the king toSaint Germain. "

"Aha!" said D'Artagnan, "that is to say, the queen wishes to leaveParis. "

"A woman's caprice--you understand. "

"Yes, I understand perfectly, " said D'Artagnan. 

"It was for this she summoned you this morning and that she told you toreturn at five o'clock. "

"Was it worth while to wish me to swear this morning that I wouldmention the appointment to no one?" muttered D'Artagnan. "Oh, women!women! whether queens or not, they are always the same. "

"Do you disapprove of this journey, my dear M. D'Artagnan?" askedMazarin, anxiously. 

"I, my lord?" said D'Artagnan; "why should I?"

"Because you shrug your shoulders. "

"It is a way I have of speaking to myself. I neither approve nordisapprove, my lord; I merely await your commands. "

"Good; it is you, accordingly, that I have pitched upon to conduct theking and the queen to Saint Germain. "

"Liar!" thought D'Artagnan. 

"You see, therefore, " continued the cardinal, perceiving D'Artagnan'scomposure, "that, as I have told you, the welfare of the state is placedin your hands. "

"Yes, my lord, and I feel the whole responsibility of such a charge. "

"You accept, however?"

"I always accept. "

"Do you think the thing possible?"

"Everything is possible. "

"Shall you be attacked on the road?"

"Probably. "

"And what will you do in that case?"

"I shall pass through those who attack me. "

"And suppose you cannot pass through them?"

"So much the worse for them; I shall pass over them. "

"And you will place the king and queen in safety also, at SaintGermain?"

"Yes. "

"On your life?"

"On my life. "

"You are a hero, my friend, " said Mazarin, gazing at the musketeer withadmiration. 

D'Artagnan smiled. 

"And I?" asked Mazarin, after a moment's silence. 

"How? and you, my lord?"

"If I wish to leave?"

"That would be much more difficult. "

"Why so?"

"Your eminence might be recognized. "

"Even under this disguise?" asked Mazarin, raising a cloak whichcovered an arm-chair, upon which lay a complete dress for an officer, ofpearl-gray and red, entirely embroidered with silver. 

"If your eminence is disguised it will be almost easy. "

"Ah!" said Mazarin, breathing more freely. 

"But it will be necessary for your eminence to do what the other day youdeclared you should have done in our place--cry, 'Down with Mazarin!'"

"I will: 'Down with Mazarin'"

"In French, in good French, my lord, take care of your accent; theykilled six thousand Angevins in Sicily because they pronounced Italianbadly. Take care that the French do not take their revenge on you forthe Sicilian vespers. "

"I will do my best. "

"The streets are full of armed men, " continued D'Artagnan. "Are you surethat no one is aware of the queen's project?"

Mazarin reflected. 

"This affair would give a fine opportunity for a traitor, my lord; thechance of being attacked would be an excuse for everything. "

Mazarin shuddered, but he reflected that a man who had the leastintention to betray would not warn first. 

"And therefore, " added he, quietly, "I have not confidence in every one;the proof of which is, that I have fixed upon you to escort me. "

"Shall you not go with the queen?"

"No, " replied Mazarin. 

"Then you will start after the queen?"

"No, " said Mazarin again. 

"Ah!" said D'Artagnan, who began to understand. 

"Yes, " continued the cardinal. "I have my plan. With the queen I doubleher risk; after the queen her departure would double mine; then, thecourt once safe, I might be forgotten. The great are often ungrateful. "

"Very true, " said D'Artagnan, fixing his eyes, in spite of himself, onthe queen's diamond, which Mazarin wore on his finger. Mazarin followedthe direction of his eyes and gently turned the hoop of the ring inside. 

"I wish, " he said, with his cunning smile, "to prevent them from beingungrateful to me. "

"It is but Christian charity, " replied D'Artagnan, "not to lead one'sneighbors into temptation. "

"It is exactly for that reason, " said Mazarin, "that I wish to startbefore them. "

D'Artagnan smiled--he was just the man to understand the astute Italian. Mazarin saw the smile and profited by the moment. 

"You will begin, therefore, by taking me first out of Paris, will younot, my dear M. D'Artagnan?"

"A difficult commission, my lord, " replied D'Artagnan, resuming hisserious manner. 

"But, " said Mazarin, "you did not make so many difficulties with regardto the king and queen. "

"The king and the queen are my king and queen, " replied the musketeer, "my life is theirs and I must give it for them. If they ask it what haveI to say?"

"That is true, " murmured Mazarin, in a low tone, "but as thy life is notmine I suppose I must buy it, must I not?" and sighing deeply he beganto turn the hoop of his ring outside again. D'Artagnan smiled. Thesetwo men met at one point and that was, cunning; had they been actuatedequally by courage, the one would have done great things for the other. 

"But, also, " said Mazarin, "you must understand that if I ask thisservice from you it is with the intention of being grateful. "

"Is it still only an intention, your eminence?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Stay, " said Mazarin, drawing the ring from his finger, "my dearD'Artagnan, there is a diamond which belonged to you formerly, it is butjust it should return to you; take it, I pray. "

D'Artagnan spared Mazarin the trouble of insisting, and after looking tosee if the stone was the same and assuring himself of the purity ofits water, he took it and passed it on his finger with indescribablepleasure. 

"I valued it much, " said Mazarin, giving a last look at it;"nevertheless, I give it to you with great pleasure. "

"And I, my lord, " said D'Artagnan, "accept it as it is given. Come, letus speak of your little affairs. You wish to leave before everybody andat what hour?"

"At ten o'clock. "

"And the queen, at what time is it her wish to start?"

"At midnight. "

"Then it is possible. I can get you out of Paris and leave you beyondthe barriere, and can return for her. "

"Capital; but how will you get me out of Paris?"

"Oh! as to that, you must leave it to me. "

"I give you absolute power, therefore; take as large an escort as youlike. "

D'Artagnan shook his head. 

"It seems to me, however, " said Mazarin, "the safest method. "

"Yes, for you, my lord, but not for the queen; you must leave it to meand give me the entire direction of the undertaking. "

"Nevertheless----"

"Or find some one else, " continued D'Artagnan, turning his back. 

"Oh!" muttered Mazarin, "I do believe he is going off with the diamond!M. D'Artagnan, my dear M. D'Artagnan, " he called out in a coaxing voice, "will you answer for everything?"

"I will answer for nothing. I will do my best. "

"Well, then, let us go--I must trust to you. "

"It is very fortunate, " said D'Artagnan to himself. 

"You will be here at half-past nine. "

"And I shall find your eminence ready?"

"Certainly, quite ready. "

"Well, then, it is a settled thing; and now, my lord, will you obtainfor me an audience with the queen?"

"For what purpose?"

"I wish to receive her majesty's commands from her own lips. "

"She desired me to give them to you. "

"She may have forgotten something. "

"You really wish to see her?"

"It is indispensable, my lord. "

Mazarin hesitated for one instant, but D'Artagnan was firm. 

"Come, then, " said the minister; "I will conduct you to her, butremember, not one word of our conversation. "

"What has passed between us concerns ourselves alone, my lord, " repliedD'Artagnan. 

"Swear to be mute. "

"I never swear, my lord, I say yes or no; and, as I am a gentleman, Ikeep my word. "

"Come, then, I see that I must trust unreservedly to you. "

"Believe me, my lord, it will be your best plan. "

"Come, " said Mazarin, conducting D'Artagnan into the queen's oratory anddesiring him to wait there. He did not wait long, for in five minutesthe queen entered in full gala costume. Thus dressed she scarcelyappeared thirty-five years of age. She was still exceedingly handsome. 

"It is you, Monsieur D'Artagnan, " she said, smiling graciously; "I thankyou for having insisted on seeing me. "

"I ought to ask your majesty's pardon, but I wished to receive yourcommands from your own mouth. "

"Do you accept the commission which I have intrusted to you?"

"With gratitude. "

"Very well, be here at midnight. "

"I will not fail. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " continued the queen, "I know yourdisinterestedness too well to speak of my own gratitude at such amoment, but I swear to you that I shall not forget this second serviceas I forgot the first. "

"Your majesty is free to forget or to remember, as it pleases you; and Iknow not what you mean, " said D'Artagnan, bowing. 

"Go, sir, " said the queen, with her most bewitching smile, "go andreturn at midnight. "

And D'Artagnan retired, but as he passed out he glanced at the curtainthrough which the queen had entered and at the bottom of the tapestry heremarked the tip of a velvet slipper. 

"Good, " thought he; "Mazarin has been listening to discover whetherI betrayed him. In truth, that Italian puppet does not deserve theservices of an honest man. "

D'Artagnan was not less exact to his appointment and at half-past nineo'clock he entered the ante-room. 

He found the cardinal dressed as an officer, and he looked very well inthat costume, which, as we have already said, he wore elegantly; only hewas very pale and trembled slightly. 

"Quite alone?" he asked. 

"Yes, my lord. "

"And that worthy Monsieur du Vallon, are we not to enjoy his society?"

"Certainly, my lord; he is waiting in his carriage at the gate of thegarden of the Palais Royal. "

"And we start in his carriage, then?"

"Yes, my lord. "

"And with us no other escort but you two?"

"Is it not enough? One of us would suffice. "

"Really, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said the cardinal, "your coolnessstartles me. "

"I should have thought, on the contrary, that it ought to have inspiredyou with confidence. "

"And Bernouin--do I not take him with me?"

"There is no room for him, he will rejoin your eminence. "

"Let us go, " said Mazarin, "since everything must be done as you wish. "

"My lord, there is time to draw back, " said D'Artagnan, "and youreminence is perfectly free. "

"Not at all, not at all, " said Mazarin; "let us be off. "

And so they descended the private stair, Mazarin leaning on the arm ofD'Artagnan a hand the musketeer felt trembling. At last, after crossingthe courts of the Palais Royal, where there still remained some of theconveyances of late guests, they entered the garden and reached thelittle gate. Mazarin attempted to open it by a key which he took fromhis pocket, but with such shaking fingers that he could not find thekeyhole. 

"Give it to me, " said D'Artagnan, who when the gate was open depositedthe key in his pocket, reckoning upon returning by that gate. 

The steps were already down and the door open. Mousqueton stood at thedoor and Porthos was inside the carriage. 

"Mount, my lord, " said D'Artagnan to Mazarin, who sprang into thecarriage without waiting for a second bidding. D'Artagnan followed him, and Mousqueton, having closed the door, mounted behind the carriage withmany groans. He had made some difficulties about going, under pretextthat he still suffered from his wound, but D'Artagnan had said to him:

"Remain if you like, my dear Monsieur Mouston, but I warn you thatParis will be burnt down to-night;" upon which Mousqueton had declared, without asking anything further, that he was ready to follow his masterand Monsieur d'Artagnan to the end of the world. 

The carriage started at a measured pace, without betraying by theslightest sign that it contained people in a hurry. The cardinal wipedhis forehead with his handkerchief and looked around him. On his leftwas Porthos, whilst D'Artagnan was on his right; each guarded a doorand served as a rampart to him on either side. Before him, on the frontseat, lay two pairs of pistols--one in front of Porthos and the other ofD'Artagnan. About a hundred paces from the Palais Royal a patrol stoppedthe carriage. 

"Who goes?" asked the captain. 

"Mazarin!" replied D'Artagnan, bursting into a laugh. The cardinal'shair stood on end. But the joke appeared an excellent one to thecitizens, who, seeing the conveyance without escort and unarmed, wouldnever have believed in the possibility of so great an imprudence. 

"A good journey to ye, " they cried, allowing it to pass. 

"Hem!" said D'Artagnan, "what does my lord think of that reply?"

"Man of talent!" cried Mazarin. 

"In truth, " said Porthos, "I understand; but now----"

About the middle of the Rue des Petits Champs they were stopped by asecond patrol. 

"Who goes there?" inquired the captain of the patrol. 

"Keep back, my lord, " said D'Artagnan. And Mazarin buried himself so farbehind the two friends that he disappeared, completely hidden betweenthem. 

"Who goes there?" cried the same voice, impatiently whilst D'Artagnanperceived that they had rushed to the horses' heads. But putting hishead out of the carriage:

"Eh! Planchet, " said he. 

The chief approached, and it was indeed Planchet; D'Artagnan hadrecognized the voice of his old servant. 

"How, sir!" said Planchet, "is it you?"

"Eh! mon Dieu! yes, my good friend, this worthy Porthos has justreceived a sword wound and I am taking him to his country house at SaintCloud. "

"Oh! really, " said Planchet. 

"Porthos, " said D'Artagnan, "if you can still speak, say a word, my dearPorthos, to this good Planchet. "

"Planchet, my friend, " said Porthos, in a melancholy voice, "I am veryill; should you meet a doctor you will do me a favor by sending him tome. "

"Oh! good Heaven, " said Planchet, "what a misfortune! and how did ithappen?"

"I will tell you all about it, " replied Mousqueton. 

Porthos uttered a deep groan. 

"Make way for us, Planchet, " said D'Artagnan in a whisper to him, "or hewill not arrive alive; the lungs are attacked, my friend. "

Planchet shook his head with the air of a man who says, "In that casethings look ill. " Then he exclaimed, turning to his men:

"Let them pass; they are friends. "

The carriage resumed its course, and Mazarin, who had held his breath, ventured to breathe again. 

"Bricconi!" muttered he. 

A few steps in advance of the gate of Saint Honore they met a thirdtroop; this latter party was composed of ill-looking fellows, whoresembled bandits more than anything else; they were the men of thebeggar of Saint Eustache. 

"Attention, Porthos!" cried D'Artagnan. 

Porthos placed his hand on the pistols. 

"What is it?" asked Mazarin. 

"My lord, I think we are in bad company. "

A man advanced to the door with a kind of scythe in his hand. "Quivive?" he asked. 

"Eh, rascal!" said D'Artagnan, "do you not recognize his highness theprince's carriage?"

"Prince or not, " said the man, "open. We are here to guard the gate, andno one whom we do not know shall pass. "

"What is to be done?" said Porthos. 

"Pardieu! pass, " replied D'Artagnan. 

"But how?" asked Mazarin. 

"Through or over; coachman, gallop on. "

The coachman raised his whip. 

"Not a step further, " said the man, who appeared to be the captain, "orI will hamstring your horses. "

"Peste!" said Porthos, "it would be a pity; animals which cost me ahundred pistoles each. "

"I will pay you two hundred for them, " said Mazarin. 

"Yes, but when once they are hamstrung, our necks will be strung next. "

"If one of them comes to my side, " asked Porthos, "must I kill him?"

"Yes, by a blow of your fist, if you can; we will not fire but at thelast extremity. "

"I can do it, " said Porthos. 

"Come and open, then!" cried D'Artagnan to the man with the scythe, taking one of the pistols up by the muzzle and preparing to strike withthe handle. And as the man approached, D'Artagnan, in order to havemore freedom for his actions, leaned half out of the door; his eyes werefixed upon those of the mendicant, which were lighted up by a lantern. Without doubt he recognized D'Artagnan, for he became deadly pale;doubtless the musketeer knew him, for his hair stood up on his head. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" he cried, falling back a step; "it is Monsieurd'Artagnan! let him pass. "

D'Artagnan was perhaps about to reply, when a blow, similar to that of amallet falling on the head of an ox, was heard. The noise was caused byPorthos, who had just knocked down his man. 

D'Artagnan turned around and saw the unfortunate man upon his back aboutfour paces off. 

"'Sdeath!" cried he to the coachman. "Spur your horses! whip! get on!"

The coachman bestowed a heavy blow of the whip upon his horses; thenoble animals bounded forward; then cries of men who were knocked downwere heard; then a double concussion was felt, and two of the wheelsseemed to pass over a round and flexible body. There was a moment'ssilence, then the carriage cleared the gate. 

"To Cours la Reine!" cried D'Artagnan to the coachman; then turning toMazarin he said, "Now, my lord, you can say five paters and five aves, in thanks to Heaven for your deliverance. You are safe--you are free. "

Mazarin replied only by a groan; he could not believe in such a miracle. Five minutes later the carriage stopped, having reached Cours la Reine. 

"Is my lord pleased with his escort?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Enchanted, monsieur, " said Mazarin, venturing his head out of one ofthe windows; "and now do as much for the queen. "

"It will not be so difficult, " replied D'Artagnan, springing to theground. "Monsieur du Vallon, I commend his eminence to your care. "

"Be quite at ease, " said Porthos, holding out his hand, which D'Artagnantook and shook in his. 

"Oh!" cried Porthos, as if in pain. 

D'Artagnan looked with surprise at his friend. 

"What is the matter, then?" he asked. 

"I think I have sprained my wrist, ' said Porthos. 

"The devil! why, you strike like a blind or a deaf man. "

"It was necessary; my man was going to fire a pistol at me; but you--howdid you get rid of yours?"

"Oh, mine, " replied D'Artagnan, "was not a man. "

"What was it then?"

"It was an apparition. "

"And----"

"I charmed it away. "

Without further explanation D'Artagnan took the pistols which were uponthe front seat, placed them in his belt, wrapped himself in his cloak, and not wishing to enter by the same gate as that through which they hadleft, he took his way toward the Richelieu gate. 

52. The Carriage of Monsieur le Coadjuteur. 

Instead of returning, then, by the Saint Honore gate, D'Artagnan, who had time before him, walked around and re-entered by the PorteRichelieu. He was approached to be examined, and when it was discoveredby his plumed hat and his laced coat, that he was an officer of themusketeers, he was surrounded, with the intention of making him cry, "Down with Mazarin!" The demonstration did not fail to make him uneasyat first; but when he discovered what it meant, he shouted it in such avoice that even the most exacting were satisfied. He walked down the RueRichelieu, meditating how he should carry off the queen in her turn, for to take her in a carriage bearing the arms of France was not to bethought of, when he perceived an equipage standing at the door of thehotel belonging to Madame de Guemenee. 

He was struck by a sudden idea. 

"Ah, pardieu!" he exclaimed; "that would be fair play. "

And approaching the carriage, he examined the arms on the panels and thelivery of the coachman on his box. This scrutiny was so much the moreeasy, the coachman being sound asleep. 

"It is, in truth, monsieur le coadjuteur's carriage, " said D'Artagnan;"upon my honor I begin to think that Heaven favors us. "

He mounted noiselessly into the chariot and pulled the silk cord whichwas attached to the coachman's little finger. 

"To the Palais Royal, " he called out. 

The coachman awoke with a start and drove off in the direction he wasdesired, never doubting but that the order had come from his master. The porter at the palace was about to close the gates, but seeing sucha handsome equipage he fancied that it was some visit of importance andthe carriage was allowed to pass and to stop beneath the porch. It wasthen only the coachman perceived the grooms were not behind the vehicle;he fancied monsieur le coadjuteur had sent them back, and withoutdropping the reins he sprang from his box to open the door. D'Artagnan, in his turn, sprang to the ground, and just at the moment when thecoachman, alarmed at not seeing his master, fell back a step, he seizedhim by his collar with the left, whilst with the right hand he placedthe muzzle of a pistol at his breast. 

"Pronounce one single word, " muttered D'Artagnan, "and you are a deadman. "

The coachman perceived at once, by the expression of the man who thusaddressed him, that he had fallen into a trap, and he remained with hismouth wide open and his eyes portentously staring. 

Two musketeers were pacing the court, to whom D'Artagnan called by theirnames. 

"Monsieur de Belliere, " said he to one of them, "do me the favor totake the reins from the hands of this worthy man, mount upon the box anddrive to the door of the private stair, and wait for me there; it is anaffair of importance on the service of the king. "

The musketeer, who knew that his lieutenant was incapable of jestingwith regard to the service, obeyed without a word, although he thoughtthe order strange. Then turning toward the second musketeer, D'Artagnansaid:

"Monsieur du Verger, help me to place this man in a place of safety. "

The musketeer, thinking that his lieutenant had just arrested someprince in disguise, bowed, and drawing his sword, signified that he wasready. D'Artagnan mounted the staircase, followed by his prisoner, who in his turn was followed by the soldier, and entered Mazarin'sante-room. Bernouin was waiting there, impatient for news of his master. 

"Well, sir?" he said. 

"Everything goes on capitally, my dear Monsieur Bernouin, but here is aman whom I must beg you to put in a safe place. "

"Where, then, sir?"

"Where you like, provided that the place which you shall choose has ironshutters secured by padlocks and a door that can be locked. "

"We have that, sir, " replied Bernouin; and the poor coachman wasconducted to a closet, the windows of which were barred and which lookedvery much like a prison. 

"And now, my good friend, " said D'Artagnan to him, "I must invite you todeprive yourself, for my sake, of your hat and cloak. "

The coachman, as we can well understand, made no resistance; in fact, he was so astonished at what had happened to him that he stammered andreeled like a drunken man; D'Artagnan deposited his clothes under thearm of one of the valets. 

"And now, Monsieur du Verger, " he said, "shut yourself up with thisman until Monsieur Bernouin returns to open the door. The duty will betolerably long and not very amusing, I know; but, " added he, seriously, "you understand, it is on the king's service. "

"At your command, lieutenant, " replied the musketeer, who saw thebusiness was a serious one. 

"By-the-bye, " continued D'Artagnan, "should this man attempt to fly orto call out, pass your sword through his body. "

The musketeer signified by a nod that these commands should be obeyedto the letter, and D'Artagnan went out, followed by Bernouin. Midnightstruck. 

"Lead me into the queen's oratory, " said D'Artagnan, "announce to her Iam here, and put this parcel, with a well-loaded musket, under the seatof the carriage which is waiting at the foot of the private stair. "

Bernouin conducted D'Artagnan to the oratory, where he sat downpensively. Everything had gone on as usual at the Palais Royal. As wesaid before, by ten o'clock almost all the guests had dispersed; thosewho were to fly with the court had the word of command and they wereeach severally desired to be from twelve o'clock to one at Cours laReine. 

At ten o'clock Anne of Austria had entered the king's room. Monsieur hadjust retired, and the youthful Louis, remaining the last, was amusinghimself by placing some lead soldiers in a line of battle, a game whichdelighted him much. Two royal pages were playing with him. 

"Laporte, " said the queen, "it is time for his majesty to go to bed. "

The king asked to remain up, having, he said, no wish to sleep; but thequeen was firm. 

"Are you not going to-morrow morning at six o'clock, Louis, to bathe atConflans? I think you wished to do so of your own accord?"

"You are right, madame, " said the king, "and I am ready to retire to myroom when you have kissed me. Laporte, give the light to Monsieur theChevalier de Coislin. "

The queen touched with her lips the white, smooth brow the royal childpresented to her with a gravity which already partook of etiquette. 

"Go to sleep soon, Louis, " said the queen, "for you must be awakenedvery early. "

"I will do my best to obey you, madame, " said the youthful king, "but Ihave no inclination to sleep. "

"Laporte, " said Anne of Austria, in an undertone, "find some very dullbook to read to his majesty, but do not undress yourself. "

The king went out, accompanied by the Chevalier de Coislin, bearingthe candlestick, and then the queen returned to her own apartment. Herladies--that is to say Madame de Bregy, Mademoiselle de Beaumont, Madamede Motteville, and Socratine, her sister, so called on account ofher sense--had just brought into her dressing-room the remains of thedinner, on which, according to her usual custom, she supped. The queenthen gave her orders, spoke of a banquet which the Marquis de Villequierwas to give to her on the day after the morrow, indicated the personsshe would admit to the honor of partaking of it, announced another visiton the following day to Val-de-Grace, where she intended to pay herdevotions, and gave her commands to her senior valet to accompany her. When the ladies had finished their supper the queen feigned extremefatigue and passed into her bedroom. Madame de Motteville, who was onespecial duty that evening, followed to aid and undress her. The queenthen began to read, and after conversing with her affectionately for afew minutes, dismissed her. 

It was at this moment D'Artagnan entered the courtyard of the palace, inthe coadjutor's carriage, and a few seconds later the carriages of theladies-in-waiting drove out and the gates were shut after them. 

A few minutes after twelve o'clock Bernouin knocked at the queen'sbedroom door, having come by the cardinal's secret corridor. Anne ofAustria opened the door to him herself. She was dressed, that is to say, in dishabille, wrapped in a long, warm dressing-gown. 

"It is you, Bernouin, " she said. "Is Monsieur d'Artagnan there?"

"Yes, madame, in your oratory. He is waiting till your majesty isready. "

"I am. Go and tell Laporte to wake and dress the king, and then pass onto the Marechal de Villeroy and summon him to me. "

Bernouin bowed and retired. 

The queen entered her oratory, which was lighted by a single lamp ofVenetian crystal, She saw D'Artagnan, who stood expecting her. 

"Is it you?" she said. 

"Yes, madame. "

"Are you ready?"

"I am. "

"And his eminence, the cardinal?"

"Has got off without any accident. He is awaiting your majesty at Coursla Reine. "

"But in what carriage do we start?"

"I have provided for everything; a carriage below is waiting for yourmajesty. "

"Let us go to the king. "

D'Artagnan bowed and followed the queen. The young Louis was alreadydressed, with the exception of his shoes and doublet; he had allowedhimself to be dressed, in great astonishment, overwhelming Laporte withquestions, who replied only in these words, "Sire, it is by the queen'scommands. "

The bedclothes were thrown back, exposing the king's bed linen, whichwas so worn that here and there holes could be seen. It was one of theresults of Mazarin's niggardliness. 

The queen entered and D'Artagnan remained at the door. As soon as thechild perceived the queen he escaped from Laporte and ran to meet her. Anne then motioned to D'Artagnan to approach, and he obeyed. 

"My son, " said Anne of Austria, pointing to the musketeer, calm, standing uncovered, "here is Monsieur d'Artagnan, who is as brave as oneof those ancient heroes of whom you like so much to hear from my women. Remember his name well and look at him well, that his face may not beforgotten, for this evening he is going to render us a great service. "

The young king looked at the officer with his large-formed eye, andrepeated:

"Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

"That is it, my son. "

The young king slowly raised his little hand and held it out to themusketeer; the latter bent on his knee and kissed it. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " repeated Louis; "very well, madame. "

At this moment they were startled by a noise as if a tumult wereapproaching. 

"What is that?" exclaimed the queen. 

"Oh, oh!" replied D'Artagnan, straining both at the same time his quickear and his intelligent glance, "it is the murmur of the populace inrevolution. "

"We must fly, " said the queen. 

"Your majesty has given me the control of this business; we had betterwait and see what they want. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!"

"I will answer for everything. "

Nothing is so catching as confidence. The queen, full of energy andcourage, was quickly alive to these two virtues in others. 

"Do as you like, " she said, "I rely upon you. "

"Will your majesty permit me to give orders in your name throughout thisbusiness?"

"Command, sir. "

"What do the people want this time?" demanded the king. 

"We are about to ascertain, sire, " replied D'Artagnan, as he rapidlyleft the room. 

The tumult continued to increase and seemed to surround the Palais Royalentirely. Cries were heard from the interior, of which they could notcomprehend the sense. It was evident that there was clamor and sedition. 

The king, half dressed, the queen and Laporte remained each in thesame state and almost in the same place, where they were listening andwaiting. Comminges, who was on guard that night at the Palais Royal, ranin. He had about two hundred men in the courtyards and stables, and heplaced them at the queen's disposal. 

"Well, " asked Anne of Austria, when D'Artagnan reappeared, "what does itmean?"

"It means, madame, that the report has spread that the queen has leftthe Palais Royal, carrying off the king, and the people ask to haveproof to the contrary, or threaten to demolish the Palais Royal. "

"Oh, this time it is too much!" exclaimed the queen, "and I will proveto them I have not left. "

D'Artagnan saw from the expression of the queen's face that she wasabout to issue some violent command. He approached her and said in a lowvoice:

"Has your majesty still confidence in me?"

This voice startled her. "Yes, sir, " she replied, "every confidence;speak. "

"Will the queen deign to follow my advice?"

"Speak. "

"Let your majesty dismiss M. De Comminges and desire him to shut himselfup with his men in the guardhouse and in the stables. "

Comminges glanced at D'Artagnan with the envious look with which everycourtier sees a new favorite spring up. 

"You hear, Comminges?" said the queen. 

D'Artagnan went up to him; with his usual quickness he caught theanxious glance. 

"Monsieur de Comminges, " he said, "pardon me; we both are servants ofthe queen, are we not? It is my turn to be of use to her; do not envy methis happiness. "

Comminges bowed and left. 

"Come, " said D'Artagnan to himself, "I have got one more enemy. "

"And now, " said the queen, addressing D'Artagnan, "what is to be done?for you hear that, instead of becoming calmer, the noise increases. "

"Madame, " said D'Artagnan, "the people want to see the king and theymust see him. "

"What! must see him! Where--on the balcony?"

"Not at all, madame, but here, sleeping in his bed. "

"Oh, your majesty, " exclaimed Laporte, "Monsieur d'Artagnan is right. "

The queen became thoughtful and smiled, like a woman to whom duplicityis no stranger. 

"Without doubt, " she murmured. 

"Monsieur Laporte, " said D'Artagnan, "go and announce to the peoplethrough the grating that they are going to be satisfied and that in fiveminutes they shall not only see the king, but they shall see him in bed;add that the king sleeps and that the queen begs that they will keepsilence, so as not to awaken him. "

"But not every one; a deputation of two or four people. "

"Every one, madame. "

"But reflect, they will keep us here till daybreak. "

"It shall take but a quarter of an hour, I answer for everything, madame; believe me, I know the people; they are like a great child, whoonly wants humoring. Before the sleeping king they will be mute, gentleand timid as lambs. "

"Go, Laporte, " said the queen. 

The young king approached his mother and said, "Why do as these peopleask?"

"It must be so, my son, " said Anne of Austria. 

"But if they say, 'it must be' to me, am I no longer king?"

The queen remained silent. 

"Sire, " said D'Artagnan, "will your majesty permit me to ask you aquestion?"

Louis XIV. Turned around, astonished that any one should dare to addresshim. But the queen pressed the child's hand. 

"Yes, sir. " he said. 

"Does your majesty remember, when playing in the park of Fontainebleau, or in the palace courts at Versailles, ever to have seen the sky growsuddenly dark and heard the sound of thunder?"

"Yes, certainly. "

"Well, then, this noise of thunder, however much your majesty may havewished to continue playing, has said, 'go in, sire. You must do so. '"

"Certainly, sir; but they tell me that the noise of thunder is the voiceof God. "

"Well then, sire, " continued D'Artagnan, "listen to the noise of thepeople; you will perceive that it resembles that of thunder. "

In truth at that moment a terrible murmur was wafted to them by thenight breeze; then all at once it ceased. 

"Hold, sire, " said D'Artagnan, "they have just told the people that youare asleep; you see, you still are king. "

The queen looked with surprise at this strange man, whose brilliantcourage made him the equal of the bravest, and who was, by his fine andquick intelligence, the equal of the most astute. 

Laporte entered. 

"Well, Laporte?" asked the queen. 

"Madame, " he replied, "Monsieur d'Artagnan's prediction has beenaccomplished; they are calm, as if by enchantment. The doors are aboutto be opened and in five minutes they will be here. "

"Laporte, " said the queen, "suppose you put one of your sons in theking's place; we might be off during the time. "

"If your majesty desires it, " said Laporte, "my sons, like myself, areat the queen's service. "

"Not at all, " said D'Artagnan; "should one of them know his majesty anddiscover but a substitute, all would be lost. "

"You are right, sir, always right, " said Anne of Austria. "Laporte, place the king in bed. "

Laporte placed the king, dressed as he was, in the bed and then coveredhim as far as the shoulders with the sheet. The queen bent over him andkissed his brow. 

"Pretend to sleep, Louis, " said she. 

"Yes, " said the king, "but I do not wish to be touched by any of thosemen. "

"Sire, I am here, " said D'Artagnan, "and I give you my word, that if asingle man has the audacity, his life shall pay for it. "

"And now what is to be done?" asked the queen, "for I hear them. "

"Monsieur Laporte, go to them and again recommend silence. Madame, waitat the door, whilst I shall be at the head of the king's bed, ready todie for him. "

Laporte went out; the queen remained standing near the hangings, whilstD'Artagnan glided behind the curtains. 

Then the heavy and collected steps of a multitude of men were heard, andthe queen herself raised the tapestry hangings and put her finger on herlips. 

On seeing the queen, the men stopped short, respectfully. 

"Enter, gentlemen, enter, " said the queen. 

There was then amongst that crowd a moment's hesitation, which lookedlike shame. They had expected resistance, they had expected to bethwarted, to have to force the gates, to overturn the guards. The gateshad opened of themselves, and the king, ostensibly at least, hadno other guard at his bed-head but his mother. The foremost of themstammered and attempted to fall back. 

"Enter, gentlemen, " said Laporte, "since the queen desires you so todo. "

Then one more bold than the rest ventured to pass the door and toadvance on tiptoe. This example was imitated by the rest, until the roomfilled silently, as if these men had been the humblest, most devotedcourtiers. Far beyond the door the heads of those who were not able toenter could be seen, all craning to their utmost height to try and see. 

D'Artagnan saw it all through an opening he had made in the curtain, andin the very first man who entered he recognized Planchet. 

"Sir, " said the queen to him, thinking he was the leader of the band, "you wished to see the king and therefore I determined to show him toyou myself. Approach and look at him and say if we have the appearanceof people who wish to run away. "

"No, certainly, " replied Planchet, rather astonished at the unexpectedhonor conferred upon him. 

"You will say, then, to my good and faithful Parisians, " continued Anne, with a smile, the expression of which did not deceive D'Artagnan, "thatyou have seen the king in bed, asleep, and the queen also ready toretire. "

"I shall tell them, madame, and those who accompany me will say the samething; but----"

"But what?" asked Anne of Austria. 

"Will your majesty pardon me, " said Planchet, "but is it really the kingwho is lying there?"

Anne of Austria started. "If, " she said, "there is one among you whoknows the king, let him approach and say whether it is really hismajesty lying there. "

A man wrapped in a cloak, in the folds of which his face was hidden, approached and leaned over the bed and looked. 

For one second, D'Artagnan thought the man had some evil design andhe put his hand to his sword; but in the movement made by the man instooping a portion of his face was uncovered and D'Artagnan recognizedthe coadjutor. 

"It is certainly the king, " said the man, rising again. "God bless hismajesty!"

"Yes, " repeated the leader in a whisper, "God bless his majesty!" andall these men, who had entered enraged, passed from anger to pity andblessed the royal infant in their turn. 

"Now, " said Planchet, "let us thank the queen. My friends, retire. "

They all bowed, and retired by degrees as noiselessly as they hadentered. Planchet, who had been the first to enter, was the last toleave. The queen stopped him. 

"What is your name, my friend?" she said. 

Planchet, much surprised at the inquiry, turned back. 

"Yes, " continued the queen, "I think myself as much honored to havereceived you this evening as if you had been a prince, and I wish toknow your name. "

"Yes, " thought Planchet, "to treat me as a prince. No, thank you. "

D'Artagnan trembled lest Planchet, seduced, like the crow in the fable, should tell his name, and that the queen, knowing his name, woulddiscover that Planchet had belonged to him. 

"Madame, " replied Planchet, respectfully, "I am called Dulaurier, atyour service. "

"Thank you, Monsieur Dulaurier, " said the queen; "and what is yourbusiness?"

"Madame, I am a clothier in the Rue Bourdonnais. "

"That is all I wished to know, " said the queen. "Much obliged to you, Monsieur Dulaurier. You will hear again from me. "

"Come, come, " thought D'Artagnan, emerging from behind the curtain, "decidedly Monsieur Planchet is no fool; it is evident he has beenbrought up in a good school. "

The different actors in this strange scene remained facing one another, without uttering a single word; the queen standing near the door, D'Artagnan half out of his hiding place, the king raised on his elbow, ready to fall down on his bed again at the slightest sound that wouldindicate the return of the multitude, but instead of approaching, thenoise became more and more distant and very soon it died entirely away. 

The queen breathed more freely. D'Artagnan wiped his damp forehead andthe king slid off his bed, saying, "Let us go. "

At this moment Laporte reappeared. 

"Well?" asked the queen

"Well, madame, " replied the valet, "I followed them as far as the gates. They announced to all their comrades that they had seen the king andthat the queen had spoken to them; and, in fact, they went away quiteproud and happy. "

"Oh, the miserable wretches!" murmured the queen, "they shall pay dearlyfor their boldness, and it is I who promise this. "

Then turning to D'Artagnan, she said:

"Sir, you have given me this evening the best advice I have everreceived. Continue, and say what we must do now. "

"Monsieur Laporte, " said D'Artagnan, "finish dressing his majesty. "

"We may go, then?" asked the queen. 

"Whenever your majesty pleases. You have only to descend by the privatestairs and you will find me at the door. "

"Go, sir, " said the queen; "I will follow you. "

D'Artagnan went down and found the carriage at its post and themusketeer on the box. D'Artagnan took out the parcel which he haddesired Bernouin to place under the seat. It may be remembered that itwas the hat and cloak belonging to Monsieur de Gondy's coachman. 

He placed the cloak on his shoulders and the hat on his head, whilst themusketeer got off the box. 

"Sir, " said D'Artagnan, "you will go and release your companion, who isguarding the coachman. You must mount your horse and proceed to the RueTiquetonne, Hotel de la Chevrette, whence you will take my horse andthat of Monsieur du Vallon, which you must saddle and equip as if forwar, and then you will leave Paris, bringing them with you to Cours laReine. If, when you arrive at Cours la Reine, you find no one, you mustgo on to Saint Germain. On the king's service. "

The musketeer touched his cap and went away to execute the orders thusreceived. 

D'Artagnan mounted the box, having a pair of pistols in his belt, amusket under his feet and a naked sword behind him. 

The queen appeared, and was followed by the king and the Duke d'Anjou, his brother. 

"Monsieur the coadjutor's carriage!" she exclaimed, falling back. 

"Yes, madame, " said D'Artagnan; "but get in fearlessly, for I myselfwill drive you. "

The queen uttered a cry of surprise and entered the carriage, and theking and monsieur took their places at her side. 

"Come, Laporte, " said the queen. 

"How, madame!" said the valet, "in the same carriage as your majesties?"

"It is not a matter of royal etiquette this evening, but of the king'ssafety. Get in, Laporte. "

Laporte obeyed. 

"Pull down the blinds, " said D'Artagnan. 

"But will that not excite suspicion, sir?" asked the queen. 

"Your majesty's mind may be quite at ease, " replied the officer; "I havemy answer ready. "

The blinds were pulled down and they started at a gallop by the RueRichelieu. On reaching the gate the captain of the post advanced at thehead of a dozen men, holding a lantern in his hand. 

D'Artagnan signed to them to draw near. 

"Do you recognize the carriage?" he asked the sergeant. 

"No, " replied the latter. 

"Look at the arms. "

The sergeant put the lantern near the panel. 

"They are those of monsieur le coadjuteur, " he said. 

"Hush; he is enjoying a ride with Madame de Guemenee. "

The sergeant began to laugh. 

"Open the gate, " he cried. "I know who it is!" Then putting his face tothe lowered blinds, he said:

"I wish you joy, my lord!"

"Impudent fellow!" cried D'Artagnan, "you will get me turned off. "

The gate groaned on its hinges, and D'Artagnan, seeing the way clear, whipped his horses, who started at a canter, and five minutes later theyhad rejoined the cardinal. 

"Mousqueton!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, "draw up the blinds of his majesty'scarriage. "

"It is he!" cried Porthos. 

"Disguised as a coachman!" exclaimed Mazarin. 

"And driving the coadjutor's carriage!" said the queen. 

"Corpo di Dio! Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said Mazarin, "you are worth yourweight in gold. "

53. How D'Artagnan and Porthos earned by selling Straw, the one TwoHundred and Nineteen, and the other Two Hundred and Fifteen Louis d'or. 

Mazarin was desirous of setting out instantly for Saint Germain, butthe queen declared that she should wait for the people whom she hadappointed to meet her. However, she offered the cardinal Laporte'splace, which he accepted and went from one carriage to the other. 

It was not without foundation that a report of the king's intention toleave Paris by night had been circulated. Ten or twelve persons hadbeen in the secret since six o'clock, and howsoever great their prudencemight be, they could not issue the necessary orders for the departurewithout suspicion being generated. Besides, each individual had one ortwo others for whom he was interested; and as there could be no doubtbut that the queen was leaving Paris full of terrible projects ofvengeance, every one had warned parents and friends of what was about totranspire; so that the news of the approaching exit ran like a train oflighted gunpowder along the streets. 

The first carriage which arrived after that of the queen was that ofthe Prince de Conde, with the princess and dowager princess. Both theseladies had been awakened in the middle of the night and did not knowwhat it all was about. The second contained the Duke and Duchess ofOrleans, the tall young Mademoiselle and the Abbe de la Riviere; andthe third, the Duke de Longueville and the Prince de Conti, brother andbrother-in-law of Conde. They all alighted and hastened to pay theirrespects to the king and queen in their coach. The queen fixed her eyesupon the carriage they had left, and seeing that it was empty, she said:

"But where is Madame de Longueville?"

"Ah, yes, where is my sister?" asked the prince. 

"Madame de Longueville is ill, " said the duke, "and she desired me toexcuse her to your majesty. "

Anne gave a quick glance to Mazarin, who answered by an almostimperceptible shake of his head. 

"What do you say of this?" asked the queen. 

"I say that she is a hostage for the Parisians, " answered the cardinal. 

"Why is she not come?" asked the prince in a low voice, addressing hisbrother. 

"Silence, " whispered the duke, "she has her reasons. "

"She will ruin us!" returned the prince. 

"She will save us, " said Conti. 

Carriages now arrived in crowds; those of the Marechal de Villeroy, Guitant, Villequier and Comminges came into the line. The two musketeersarrived in their turn, holding the horses of D'Artagnan and Porthos intheir hands. These two instantly mounted, the coachman of the latterreplacing D'Artagnan on the coach-box of the royal coach. Mousquetontook the place of the coachman, and drove standing, for reasons known tohimself, like Automedon of antiquity. 

The queen, though occupied by a thousand details, tried to catch theGascon's eye; but he, with his wonted prudence, had mingled with thecrowd. 

"Let us be the avant guard, " said he to Porthos, "and find good quartersat Saint Germain; nobody will think of us, and for my part I am greatlyfatigued. "

"As for me, " replied Porthos, "I am falling asleep, which is strange, considering we have not had any fighting; truly the Parisians areidiots. "

"Or rather, we are very clever, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Perhaps. "

"And how is your wrist?"

"Better; but do you think that we've got them this time?"

"Got what?"

"You your command, and I my title?"

"I'faith! yes--I should expect so; besides, if they forget, I shall takethe liberty of reminding them. "

"The queen's voice! she is speaking, " said Porthos; "I think she wantsto ride on horseback. "

"Oh, she would like it, but----"

"But what?"

"The cardinal won't allow it. Gentlemen, " he said, addressing the twomusketeers, "accompany the royal carriage, we are going forward to lookfor lodgings. "

D'Artagnan started off for Saint Germain, followed by Porthos. 

"We will go on, gentlemen, " said the queen. 

And the royal carriage drove on, followed by the other coaches and aboutfifty horsemen. 

They reached Saint German without any accident; on descending, the queenfound the prince awaiting her, bare-headed, to offer her his hand. 

"What an awakening for the Parisians!" said the queen, radiant. 

"It is war, " said the prince. 

"Well, then, let it be war! Have we not on our side the conqueror ofRocroy, of Nordlingen, of Lens?"

The prince bowed low. 

It was then three o'clock in the morning. The queen walked first, everyone followed her. About two hundred persons had accompanied her in herflight. 

"Gentlemen, " said the queen, laughing, "pray take up your abode in thechateau; it is large, and there will be no want of room for you all;but, as we never thought of coming here, I am informed that there are, in all, only three beds in the whole establishment, one for the king, one for me----"

"And one for the cardinal, " muttered the prince. 

"Am I--am I, then, to sleep on the floor?" asked Gaston d'Orleans, witha forced smile. 

"No, my prince, " replied Mazarin, "the third bed is intended for yourhighness. "

"But your eminence?" replied the prince. 

"I, " answered Mazarin, "I shall not sleep at all; I have work to do. "

Gaston desired that he should be shown into the room wherein he was tosleep, without in the least concerning himself as to where his wife anddaughter were to repose. 

"Well, for my part, I shall go to bed, " said D'Artagnan; "come, Porthos. "

Porthos followed the lieutenant with that profound confidence he everhad in the wisdom of his friend. They walked from one end of the chateauto the other, Porthos looking with wondering eyes at D'Artagnan, who wascounting on his fingers. 

"Four hundred, at a pistole each, four hundred pistoles. "

"Yes, " interposed Porthos, "four hundred pistoles; but who is to makefour hundred pistoles?"

"A pistole is not enough, " said D'Artagnan, "'tis worth a louis. "

"What is worth a louis?"

"Four hundred, at a louis each, make four hundred louis. "

"Four hundred?" said Porthos. 

"Yes, there are two hundred of them, and each of them will need two, which will make four hundred. "

"But four hundred what?"

"Listen!" cried D'Artagnan. 

But as there were all kinds of people about, who were in a state ofstupefaction at the unexpected arrival of the court, he whispered in hisfriend's ear. 

"I understand, " answered Porthos, "I understand you perfectly, on myhonor; two hundred louis, each of us, would be making a pretty thing ofit; but what will people say?"

"Let them say what they will; besides, how will they know that we aredoing it?"

"But who will distribute these things?" asked Porthos. 

"Isn't Mousqueton there?"

"But he wears my livery; my livery will be known, " replied Porthos. 

"He can turn his coat inside out. "

"You are always in the right, my dear friend, " cried Porthos; "but wherethe devil do you discover all the notions you put into practice?"

D'Artagnan smiled. The two friends turned down the first street theycame to. Porthos knocked at the door of a house to the right, whilstD'Artagnan knocked at the door of a house to the left. 

"Some straw, " they said. 

"Sir, we don't keep any, " was the reply of the people who opened thedoors; "but please ask at the hay dealer's. "

"Where is the hay dealer's?"

"At the last large door in the street. "

"Are there any other people in Saint Germain who sell straw?"

"Yes; there's the landlord of the Lamb, and Gros-Louis the farmer; theyboth live in the Rue des Ursulines. "

"Very well. "

D'Artagnan went instantly to the hay dealer and bargained with him fora hundred and fifty trusses of straw, which he obtained, at the rate ofthree pistoles each. He went afterward to the innkeeper and bought fromhim two hundred trusses at the same price. Finally, Farmer Louis soldthem eighty trusses, making in all four hundred and thirty. 

There was no more to be had in Saint Germain. This foraging did notoccupy more than half an hour. Mousqueton, duly instructed, was put atthe head of this sudden and new business. He was cautioned not to leta bit of straw out of his hands under a louis the truss, and theyintrusted to him straw to the amount of four hundred and thirty louis. D'Artagnan, taking with him three trusses of straw, returned to thechateau, where everybody, freezing with cold and more than half asleep, envied the king, the queen, and the Duke of Orleans, on their camp beds. The lieutenant's entrance produced a burst of laughter in the greatdrawing-room; but he did not appear to notice that he was the object ofgeneral attention, but began to arrange, with so much cleverness, nicetyand gayety, his straw bed, that the mouths of all these poor creatures, who could not go to sleep, began to water. 

"Straw!" they all cried out, "straw! where is there any to be found?"

"I can show you, " answered the Gascon. 

And he conducted them to Mousqueton, who freely distributed the trussesat the rate of a louis apiece. It was thought rather dear, but peoplewanted to sleep, and who would not give even two or three louis for afew hours of sound sleep?

D'Artagnan gave up his bed to any one who wanted it, making it overabout a dozen times; and since he was supposed to have paid, like theothers, a louis for his truss of straw, he pocketed in that way thirtylouis in less than half an hour. At five o'clock in the morning thestraw was worth eighty francs a truss and there was no more to be had. 

D'Artagnan had taken the precaution to set apart four trusses for hisown use. He put in his pocket the key of the room where he had hiddenthem, and accompanied by Porthos returned to settle with Mousqueton, who, naively, and like the worthy steward that he was, handed them fourhundred and thirty louis and kept one hundred for himself. 

Mousqueton, who knew nothing of what was going on in the chateau, wondered that the idea had not occurred to him sooner. D'Artagnanput the gold in his hat, and in going back to the chateau settled thereckoning with Porthos, each of them had cleared two hundred and fifteenlouis. 

Porthos, however, found that he had no straw left for himself. Hereturned to Mousqueton, but the steward had sold the last wisp. He thenrepaired to D'Artagnan, who, thanks to his four trusses of straw, was inthe act of making up and tasting, by anticipation, the luxury of a bedso soft, so well stuffed at the head, so well covered at the foot, thatit would have excited the envy of the king himself, if his majesty hadnot been fast asleep in his own. D'Artagnan could on no account consentto pull his bed to pieces again for Porthos, but for a consideration offour louis that the latter paid him for it, he consented that Porthosshould share his couch with him. He laid his sword at the head, hispistols by his side, stretched his cloak over his feet, placed his felthat on the top of his cloak and extended himself luxuriously on thestraw, which rustled under him. He was already enjoying the sweet dreamengendered by the possession of two hundred and nineteen louis, made ina quarter of an hour, when a voice was heard at the door of the hall, which made him stir. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" it cried. 

"Here!" cried Porthos, "here!"

Porthos foresaw that if D'Artagnan was called away he should remain thesole possessor of the bed. An officer approached. 

"I am come to fetch you, Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

"From whom?"

"His eminence sent me. "

"Tell my lord that I'm going to sleep, and I advise him, as a friend, todo the same. "

"His eminence is not gone to bed and will not go to bed, and wants youinstantly. "

"The devil take Mazarin, who does not know when to sleep at the propertime. What does he want with me? Is it to make me a captain? In thatcase I will forgive him. "

And the musketeer rose, grumbling, took his sword, hat, pistols, and cloak, and followed the officer, whilst Porthos, alone and solepossessor of the bed, endeavored to follow the good example of fallingasleep, which his predecessor had set him. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said the cardinal, on perceiving him, "I have notforgotten with what zeal you have served me. I am going to prove to youthat I have not. "

"Good, " thought the Gascon, "this is a promising beginning. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " he resumed, "do you wish to become a captain?"

"Yes, my lord. "

"And your friend still longs to be made a baron?"

"At this very moment, my lord, he no doubt dreams that he is onealready. "

"Then, " said Mazarin, taking from his portfolio the letter which he hadalready shown D'Artagnan, "take this dispatch and carry it to England. "

D'Artagnan looked at the envelope; there was no address on it. 

"Am I not to know to whom to present it?"

"You will know when you reach London; at London you may tear off theouter envelope. "

"And what are my instructions?"

"To obey in every particular the man to whom this letter is addressed. You must set out for Boulogne. At the Royal Arms of England you willfind a young gentleman named Mordaunt. "

"Yes, my lord; and what am I to do with this young gentleman?"

"Follow wherever he leads you. "

D'Artagnan looked at the cardinal with a stupefied air. 

"There are your instructions, " said Mazarin; "go!"

"Go! 'tis easy to say so, but that requires money, and I haven't any. "

"Ah!" replied Mazarin, "so you have no money?"

"None, my lord. "

"But the diamond I gave you yesterday?"

"I wish to keep it in remembrance of your eminence. "

Mazarin sighed. 

"'Tis very dear living in England, my lord, especially as envoyextraordinary. "

"Zounds!" replied Mazarin, "the people there are very sedate, and theirhabits, since the revolution, simple; but no matter. "

He opened a drawer and took out a purse. 

"What do you say to a thousand crowns?"

D'Artagnan pouted out his lower lip in a most extraordinary manner. 

"I reply, my lord, 'tis but little, as certainly I shall not go alone. "

"I suppose not. Monsieur du Vallon, that worthy gentleman, for, with theexception of yourself, Monsieur d'Artagnan, there's not a man in Francethat I esteem and love so much as him----"

"Then, my lord, " replied D'Artagnan, pointing to the purse which Mazarinstill held, "if you love and esteem him so much, you--understand me?"

"Be it so! on his account I add two hundred crowns. "

"Scoundrel!" muttered D'Artagnan. "But on our return, " he said aloud, "may we, that is, my friend and I, depend on having, he his barony, andI my promotion?"

"On the honor of Mazarin. "

"I should like another sort of oath better, " said D'Artagnan to himself;then aloud, "May I not offer my duty to her majesty the queen?"

"Her majesty is asleep and you must set off directly, " replied Mazarin;"go, pray, sir----"

"One word more, my lord; if there's any fighting where I'm going, must Ifight?"

"You are to obey the commands of the personage to whom I have addressedthe inclosed letter. "

"'Tis well, " said D'Artagnan, holding out his hand to receive the money. "I offer my best respects and services to you, my lord. "

D'Artagnan then, returning to the officer, said:

"Sir, have the kindness also to awaken Monsieur du Vallon and tosay 'tis by his eminence's order, and that I shall await him at thestables. "

The officer went off with an eagerness that showed the Gascon that hehad some personal interest in the matter. 

Porthos was snoring most musically when some one touched him on theshoulder. 

"I come from the cardinal, " said the officer. 

"Heigho!" said Porthos, opening his large eyes; "what have you got tosay?"

"That his eminence has ordered you to England and that Monsieurd'Artagnan is waiting for you in the stables. "

Porthos sighed heavily, arose, took his hat, his pistols, and his cloak, and departed, casting a look of regret upon the couch where he had hopedto sleep so well. 

No sooner had he turned his back than the officer laid himself down init, and he had scarcely crossed the threshold before his successor, inhis turn, was snoring immoderately. It was very natural, he being theonly person in the whole assemblage, except the king, the queen, and theDuke of Orleans, who slept gratuitously. 

54. In which we hear Tidings of Aramis. 

D'Artagnan went straight to the stables; day was just dawning. He foundhis horse and that of Porthos fastened to the manger, but to an emptymanger. He took pity on these poor animals and went to a corner of thestable, where he saw a little straw, but in doing so he struck hisfoot against a human body, which uttered a cry and arose on its knees, rubbing its eyes. It was Mousqueton, who, having no straw to lie upon, had helped himself to that of the horses. 

"Mousqueton, " cried D'Artagnan, "let us be off! Let us set off. "

Mousqueton, recognizing the voice of his master's friend, got upsuddenly, and in doing so let fall some louis which he had appropriatedto himself illegally during the night. 

"Ho! ho!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, picking up a louis and displaying it;"here's a louis that smells confoundedly of straw. "

Mousqueton blushed so confusedly that the Gascon began to laugh at himand said:

"Porthos would be angry, my dear Monsieur Mousqueton, but I pardonyou, only let us remember that this gold must serve us as a joke, so begay--come along. "

Mousqueton instantly assumed a jovial countenance, saddled the horsesquickly and mounted his own without making faces over it. 

Whilst this went on, Porthos arrived with a very cross look on his face, and was astonished to find the lieutenant resigned and Mousqueton almostmerry. 

"Ah, that's it!" he cried, "you have your promotion and I my barony. "

"We are going to fetch our brevets, " said D'Artagnan, "and when we comeback, Master Mazarin will sign them. "

"And where are we going?" asked Porthos. 

"To Paris first; I have affairs to settle. "

And they both set out for Paris. 

On arriving at its gates they were astounded to see the threateningaspect of the capital. Around a broken-down carriage the people wereuttering imprecations, whilst the persons who had attempted to escapewere made prisoners--that is to say, an old man and two women. On theother hand, as the two friends approached to enter, they showed themevery kind of civility, thinking them deserters from the royal party andwishing to bind them to their own. 

"What is the king doing?" they asked. 

"He is asleep. "

"And the Spanish woman?"

"Dreaming. "

"And the cursed Italian?"

"He is awake, so keep on the watch, as they are gone away; it's for somepurpose, rely on it. But as you are the strongest, after all, " continuedD'Artagnan, "don't be furious with old men and women, and keep yourwrath for more appropriate occasions. "

The people listened to these words and let go the ladies, who thankedD'Artagnan with an eloquent look. 

"Now! onward!" cried the Gascon. 

And they continued their way, crossing the barricades, getting thechains about their legs, pushed about, questioning and questioned. 

In the place of the Palais Royal D'Artagnan saw a sergeant, who wasdrilling six or seven hundred citizens. It was Planchet, who broughtinto play profitably the recollections of the regiment of Piedmont. 

In passing before D'Artagnan he recognized his former master. 

"Good-day, Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said Planchet proudly. 

"Good-day, Monsieur Dulaurier, " replied D'Artagnan. 

Planchet stopped short, staring at D'Artagnan. The first row, seeingtheir sergeant stop, stopped in their turn, and so on to the very last. 

"These citizens are dreadfully ridiculous, " observed D'Artagnan toPorthos and went on his way. 

Five minutes afterward he entered the hotel of La Chevrette, wherepretty Madeleine, the hostess, came to him. 

"My dear Mistress Turquaine, " said the Gascon, "if you happen to haveany money, lock it up quickly; if you happen to have any jewels, hidethem directly; if you happen to have any debtors, make them pay you, orany creditors, don't pay them. "

"Why, prithee?" asked Madeleine. 

"Because Paris is going to be reduced to dust and ashes like Babylon, ofwhich you have no doubt heard tell. "

"And are you going to leave me at such a time?"

"This very instant. "

"And where are you going?"

"Ah, if you could tell me that, you would be doing me a service. "

"Ah, me! ah, me!

"Have you any letters for me?" inquired D'Artagnan, wishing to signifyto the hostess that her lamentations were superfluous and that thereforeshe had better spare him demonstrations of her grief. 

"There's one just arrived, " and she handed the letter to D'Artagnan. 

"From Athos!" cried D'Artagnan, recognizing the handwriting. 

"Ah!" said Porthos, "let us hear what he says. "

D'Artagnan opened the letter and read as follows:

"Dear D'Artagnan, dear Du Vallon, my good friends, perhaps this may bethe last time that you will ever hear from me. Aramis and I are veryunhappy; but God, our courage, and the remembrance of our friendshipsustain us. Think often of Raoul. I intrust to you certain papers whichare at Blois; and in two months and a half, if you do not hear of us, take possession of them. 

"Embrace, with all your heart, the vicomte, for your devoted, friend, "ATHOS. "

"I believe, by Heaven, " said D'Artagnan, "that I shall embrace him, since he's upon our road; and if he is so unfortunate as to lose ourdear Athos, from that very day he becomes my son. "

"And I, " said Porthos, "shall make him my sole heir. "

"Let us see, what more does Athos say?"

"Should you meet on your journey a certain Monsieur Mordaunt, distrusthim, in a letter I cannot say more. "

"Monsieur Mordaunt!" exclaimed the Gascon, surprised. 

"Monsieur Mordaunt! 'tis well, " said Porthos, "we shall remember that;but see, there is a postscript from Aramis. "

"So there is, " said D'Artagnan, and he read:

"We conceal the place where we are, dear friends, knowing your brotherlyaffection and that you would come and die with us were we to reveal it. "

"Confound it, " interrupted Porthos, with an explosion of passion whichsent Mousqueton to the other end of the room; "are they in danger ofdying?"

D'Artagnan continued:

"Athos bequeaths to you Raoul, and I bequeath to you my revenge. If byany good luck you lay your hand on a certain man named Mordaunt, tellPorthos to take him into a corner and to wring his neck. I dare not saymore in a letter. 

"ARAMIS. "

"If that is all, it is easily done, " said Porthos. 

"On the contrary, " observed D'Artagnan, with a vexed look; "it would beimpossible. "

"How so?"

"It is precisely this Monsieur Mordaunt whom we are going to join atBoulogne and with whom we cross to England. "

"Well, suppose instead of joining this Monsieur Mordaunt we were to goand join our friends?" said Porthos, with a gesture fierce enough tohave frightened an army. 

"I did think of it, but this letter has neither date nor postmark. "

"True, " said Porthos. And he began to wander about the room like a manbeside himself, gesticulating and half drawing his sword out of thescabbard. 

As to D'Artagnan, he remained standing like a man in consternation, withthe deepest affliction depicted on his face. 

"Ah, this is not right; Athos insults us; he wishes to die alone; it isbad, bad, bad. "

Mousqueton, witnessing this despair, melted into tears in a corner ofthe room. 

"Come, " said D'Artagnan, "all this leads to nothing. Let us go on. Wewill embrace Raoul, and perhaps he will have news of Athos. "

"Stop--an idea!" cried Porthos; "indeed, my dear D'Artagnan, I don'tknow how you manage, but you are always full of ideas; let us go andembrace Raoul. "

"Woe to that man who should happen to contradict my master at thismoment, " said Mousqueton to himself; "I wouldn't give a farthing for hislife. "

They set out. On arriving at the Rue Saint Denis, the friends found avast concourse of people. It was the Duc de Beaufort, who was comingfrom the Vendomois and whom the coadjutor was showing to the Parisians, intoxicated with joy. With the duke's aid they already consideredthemselves invincible. 

The two friends turned off into a side street to avoid meeting theprince, and so reached the Saint Denis gate. 

"Is it true, " said the guard to the two cavaliers, "that the Duc deBeaufort has arrived in Paris?"

"Nothing more certain; and the best proof of it is, " said D'Artagnan, "that he has dispatched us to meet the Duc de Vendome, his father, whois coming in his turn. "

"Long live De Beaufort!" cried the guards, and they drew backrespectfully to let the two friends pass. Once across the barriers thesetwo knew neither fatigue nor fear. Their horses flew, and they neverceased speaking of Athos and Aramis. 

The camp had entered Saint Omer; the friends made a little detour andwent to the camp, and gave the army an exact account of the flight ofthe king and queen. They found Raoul near his tent, reclining on a trussof hay, of which his horse stole some mouthfuls; the young man's eyeswere red and he seemed dejected. The Marechal de Grammont and the Comtede Guiche had returned to Paris and he was quite lonely. And as soon ashe saw the two cavaliers he ran to them with open arms. 

"Oh, is it you, dear friends? Did you come here to fetch me? Will youtake me away with you? Do you bring me tidings of my guardian?"

"Have you not received any?" said D'Artagnan to the youth. 

"Alas! sir, no, and I do not know what has become of him; so that I amreally so unhappy that I weep. "

In fact, tears rolled down his cheeks. 

Porthos turned aside, in order not to show by his honest round face whatwas passing in his mind. 

"Deuce take it!" cried D'Artagnan, more moved than he had been fora long time, "don't despair, my friend, if you have not received anyletters from the count, we have received one. "

"Oh, really!" cried Raoul. 

"And a comforting one, too, " added D'Artagnan, seeing the delight thathis intelligence gave the young man. 

"Have you it?" asked Raoul

"Yes--that is, I had it, " repined the Gascon, making believe to find it. "Wait, it ought to be there in my pocket; it speaks of his return, doesit not, Porthos?"

All Gascon as he was, D'Artagnan could not bear alone the weight of thatfalsehood. 

"Yes, " replied Porthos, coughing. 

"Eh, give it to me!" said the young man. 

"Eh! I read it a little while since. Can I have lost it? Ah! confoundit! yes, my pocket has a hole in it. "

"Oh, yes, Monsieur Raoul!" said Mousqueton, "the letter was veryconsoling. These gentlemen read it to me and I wept for joy. "

"But at any rate, you know where he is, Monsieur d'Artagnan?" askedRaoul, somewhat comforted. 

"Ah! that's the thing!" replied the Gascon. "Undoubtedly I know it, butit is a mystery. "

"Not to me, I hope?"

"No, not to you, so I am going to tell you where he is. "

Porthos devoured D'Artagnan with wondering eyes. 

"Where the devil shall I say that he is, so that he cannot try to rejoinhim?" thought D'Artagnan. 

"Well, where is he, sir?" asked Raoul, in a soft and coaxing voice. 

"He is at Constantinople. "

"Among the Turks!" exclaimed Raoul, alarmed. "Good heavens! how can youtell me that?"

"Does that alarm you?" cried D'Artagnan. "Pooh! what are the Turks tosuch men as the Comte de la Fere and the Abbe d'Herblay?"

"Ah, his friend is with him?" said Raoul. "That comforts me a little. "

"Has he wit or not--this demon D'Artagnan?" said Porthos, astonished athis friend's deception. 

"Now, sir, " said D'Artagnan, wishing to change the conversation, "hereare fifty pistoles that the count has sent you by the same courier. Isuppose you have no more money and that they will be welcome. "

"I have still twenty pistoles, sir. "

"Well, take them; that makes seventy. "

"And if you wish for more, " said Porthos, putting his hand to hispocket----

"Thank you, sir, " replied Raoul, blushing; "thank you a thousand times. "

At this moment Olivain appeared. "Apropos, " said D'Artagnan, loud enoughfor the servant to hear him, "are you satisfied with Olivain?"

"Yes, in some respects, tolerably well. "

Olivain pretended to have heard nothing and entered the tent. 

"What fault do you find with the fellow?"

"He is a glutton. "

"Oh, sir!" cried Olivain, reappearing at this accusation. 

"And a little bit of a thief. "

"Oh, sir! oh!"

"And, more especially, a notorious coward. "

"Oh, oh! sir! you really vilify me!" cried Olivain. 

"The deuce!" cried D'Artagnan. "Pray learn, Monsieur Olivain, thatpeople like us are not to be served by cowards. Rob your master, eat hissweetmeats, and drink his wine; but, by Jove! don't be a coward, or Ishall cut off your ears. Look at Monsieur Mouston, see the honorablewounds he has received, observe how his habitual valor has given dignityto his countenance. "

Mousqueton was in the third heaven and would have embraced D'Artagnanhad he dared; meanwhile he resolved to sacrifice his life for him on thenext occasion that presented itself. 

"Send away that fellow, Raoul, " said the Gascon; "for if he's a cowardhe will disgrace thee some day. "

"Monsieur says I am coward, " cried Olivain, "because he wanted the otherday to fight a cornet in Grammont's regiment and I refused to accompanyhim. "

"Monsieur Olivain, a lackey ought never to disobey, " said D'Artagnan, sternly; then taking him aside, he whispered to him: "Thou hast doneright; thy master was in the wrong; here's a crown for thee, but shouldhe ever be insulted and thou dost not let thyself be cut in quarters forhim, I will cut out thy tongue. Remember that. "

Olivain bowed and slipped the crown into his pocket. 

"And now, Raoul, " said the Gascon, "Monsieur du Vallon and I are goingaway as ambassadors, where, I know not; but should you want anything, write to Madame Turquaine, at La Chevrette, Rue Tiquetonne and draw uponher purse as on a banker--with economy; for it is not so well filled asthat of Monsieur d'Emery. "

And having, meantime, embraced his ward, he passed him into the robustarms of Porthos, who lifted him up from the ground and held him a momentsuspended near the noble heart of the formidable giant. 

"Come, " said D'Artagnan, "let us go. "

And they set out for Boulogne, where toward evening they arrived, theirhorses flecked with foam and dark with perspiration. 

At ten steps from the place where they halted was a young man in black, who seemed waiting for some one, and who, from the moment he saw thementer the town, never took his eyes off them. 

D'Artagnan approached him, and seeing him stare so fixedly, said:

"Well, friend! I don't like people to quiz me!"

"Sir, " said the young man, "do you not come from Paris, if you please?"

D'Artagnan thought it was some gossip who wanted news from the capital. 

"Yes, sir, " he said, in a softened tone. 

"Are you not going to put up at the 'Arms of England'?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Are you not charged with a mission from his eminence, CardinalMazarin?"

"Yes, sir. "

"In that case, I am the man you have to do with. I am M. Mordaunt. "

"Ah!" thought D'Artagnan, "the man I am warned against by Athos. "

"Ah!" thought Porthos, "the man Aramis wants me to strangle. "

They both looked searchingly at the young man, who misunderstood themeaning of that inquisition. 

"Do you doubt my word?" he said. "In that case I can give you proofs. "

"No, sir, " said D'Artagnan; "and we place ourselves at your orders. "

"Well, gentlemen, " resumed Mordaunt, "we must set out without delay, to-day is the last day granted me by the cardinal. My ship is ready, andhad you not come I must have set off without you, for General Cromwellexpects my return impatiently. "

"So!" thought the lieutenant, "'tis to General Cromwell that ourdispatches are addressed. "

"Have you no letter for him?" asked the young man. 

"I have one, the seal of which I am not to break till I reach London;but since you tell me to whom it is addressed, 'tis useless to wait tillthen. "

D'Artagnan tore open the envelope of the letter. It was directed to"Monsieur Oliver Cromwell, General of the Army of the English Nation. "

"Ah!" said D'Artagnan; "a singular commission. "

"Who is this Monsieur Oliver Cromwell?" inquired Porthos. 

"Formerly a brewer, " replied the Gascon. 

"Perhaps Mazarin wishes to make a speculation in beer, as we did instraw, " said Porthos. 

"Come, come, gentlemen, " said Mordaunt, impatiently, "let us depart. "

"What!" exclaimed Porthos "without supper? Cannot Monsieur Cromwell waita little?"

"Yes, but I?" said Mordaunt. 

"Well, you, " said Porthos, "what then?"

"I cannot wait. "

"Oh! as to you, that is not my concern, and I shall sup either with orwithout your permission. "

The young man's eyes kindled in secret, but he restrained himself. 

"Monsieur, " said D'Artagnan, "you must excuse famished travelers. Besides, our supper can't delay you much. We will hasten on to the inn;you will meanwhile proceed on foot to the harbor. We will take a biteand shall be there as soon as you are. "

"Just as you please, gentlemen, provided we set sail, " he said. 

"The name of your ship?" inquired D'Artagnan. 

"The Standard. "

"Very well; in half an hour we shall be on board. "

And the friends, spurring on their horses, rode to the hotel, the "Armsof England. "

"What do you say of that young man?" asked D'Artagnan, as they hurriedalong. 

"I say that he doesn't suit me at all, " said Porthos, "and that I feel astrong itching to follow Aramis's advice. "

"By no means, my dear Porthos; that man is a messenger of GeneralCromwell; it would insure for us a poor reception, I imagine, should itbe announced to him that we had twisted the neck of his confidant. "

"Nevertheless, " said Porthos, "I have always noticed that Aramis givesgood advice. "

"Listen, " returned D'Artagnan, "when our embassy is finished----"

"Well?"

"If it brings us back to France----"

"Well?"

"Well, we shall see. "

At that moment the two friends reached the hotel, "Arms of England, "where they supped with hearty appetite and then at once proceeded to theport. 

There they found a brig ready to set sail, upon the deck of which theyrecognized Mordaunt walking up and down impatiently. 

"It is singular, " said D'Artagnan, whilst the boat was taking them tothe Standard, "it is astonishing how that young man resembles some one Imust have known, but who it was I cannot yet remember. "

A few minutes later they were on board, but the embarkation of thehorses was a longer matter than that of the men, and it was eighto'clock before they raised anchor. 

The young man stamped impatiently and ordered all sail to be spread. 

Porthos, completely used up by three nights without sleep and a journeyof seventy leagues on horseback, retired to his cabin and went to sleep. 

D'Artagnan, overcoming his repugnance to Mordaunt, walked with him uponthe deck and invented a hundred stories to make him talk. 

Mousqueton was seasick. 

55. The Scotchman. 

And now our readers must leave the Standard to sail peaceably, nottoward London, where D'Artagnan and Porthos believed they were going, but to Durham, whither Mordaunt had been ordered to repair by the letterhe had received during his sojourn at Boulogne, and accompany us to theroyalist camp, on this side of the Tyne, near Newcastle. 

There, placed between two rivers on the borders of Scotland, but stillon English soil, the tents of a little army extended. It was midnight. Some Highlanders were listlessly keeping watch. The moon, which waspartially obscured by heavy clouds, now and then lit up the muskets ofthe sentinels, or silvered the walls, the roofs, and the spires of thetown that Charles I. Had just surrendered to the parliamentary troops, whilst Oxford and Newark still held out for him in the hopes of comingto some arrangement. 

At one of the extremities of the camp, near an immense tent, in whichthe Scottish officers were holding a kind of council, presided over byLord Leven, their commander, a man attired as a cavalier lay sleeping onthe turf, his right hand extended over his sword. 

About fifty paces off, another man, also appareled as a cavalier, wastalking to a Scotch sentinel, and, though a foreigner, he seemed tounderstand without much difficulty the answers given in the broadPerthshire dialect. 

As the town clock of Newcastle struck one the sleeper awoke, and withall the gestures of a man rousing himself out of deep sleep he lookedattentively about him; perceiving that he was alone he rose and makinga little circuit passed close to the cavalier who was speaking to thesentinel. The former had no doubt finished his questions, for a momentlater he said good-night and carelessly followed the same path taken bythe first cavalier. 

In the shadow of a tent the former was awaiting him. 

"Well, my dear friend?" said he, in as pure French as has ever beenuttered between Rouen and Tours. 

"Well, my friend, there is not a moment to lose; we must let the kingknow immediately. "

"Why, what is the matter?"

"It would take too long to tell you, besides, you will hear it alldirectly and the least word dropped here might ruin all. We must go andfind Lord Winter. "

They both set off to the other end of the camp, but as it did not covermore than a surface of five hundred feet they quickly arrived at thetent they were looking for. 

"Tony, is your master sleeping?" said one of the two cavaliers to aservant who was lying in the outer compartment, which served as a kindof ante-room. 

"No, monsieur le comte, " answered the servant, "I think not; or at leasthe has not long been so, for he was pacing up and down for more than twohours after he left the king, and the sound of his footsteps has onlyceased during the last ten minutes. However, you may look and see, "added the lackey, raising the curtained entrance of the tent. 

Lord Winter was seated near an aperture, arranged as a window to let inthe night air, his eyes mechanically following the course of the moon, intermittently veiled, as we before observed, by heavy clouds. The twofriends approached Winter, who, with his head on his hands, was gazingat the heavens; he did not hear them enter and remained in the sameattitude till he felt a hand upon his shoulder. 

He turned around, recognized Athos and Aramis and held out his hand tothem. 

"Have you observed, " said he to them, "what a blood-red color the moonhas to-night?"

"No, " replied Athos; "I thought it looked much the same as usual. "

"Look, again, chevalier, " returned Lord Winter. 

"I must own, " said Aramis, "I am like the Comte de la Fere--I can seenothing remarkable about it. "

"My lord, " said Athos, "in a position so precarious as ours we mustexamine the earth and not the heavens. Have you studied our Scotchtroops and have you confidence in them?"

"The Scotch?" inquired Winter. "What Scotch?"

"Ours, egad!" exclaimed Athos. "Those in whom the king hasconfided--Lord Leven's Highlanders. "

"No, " said Winter, then he paused; "but tell me, can you not perceivethe russet tint which marks the heavens?"

"Not the least in the world, " said Aramis and Athos at once. 

"Tell me, " continued Winter, always possessed by the same idea, "isthere not a tradition in France that Henry IV. , the evening beforethe day he was assassinated, when he was playing at chess with M. DeBassompiere, saw clots of blood upon the chessboard?"

"Yes, " said Athos, "and the marechal has often told me so himself. "

"Then it was so, " murmured Winter, "and the next day Henry IV. Waskilled. "

"But what has this vision of Henry IV. To do with you, my lord?"inquired Aramis. 

"Nothing; and indeed I am mad to trouble you with such things, when yourcoming to my tent at such an hour announces that you are the bearers ofimportant news. "

"Yes, my lord, " said Athos, "I wish to speak to the king. "

"To the king! but the king is asleep. "

"I have something important to reveal to him. "

"Can it not be put off till to-morrow?"

"He must know it this moment, and perhaps it is already too late. "

"Come, then, " said Lord Winter. 

Lord Winter's tent was pitched by the side of the royal marquee, a kindof corridor communicating between the two. This corridor was guarded, not by a sentinel, but by a confidential servant, through whom, incase of urgency, Charles could communicate instantly with his faithfulsubject. 

"These gentlemen are with me, " said Winter. 

The lackey bowed and let them pass. As he had said, on a camp bed, dressed in his black doublet, booted, unbelted, with his felt hat besidehim, lay the king, overcome by sleep and fatigue. They advanced, andAthos, who was the first to enter, gazed a moment in silence on thatpale and noble face, framed in its long and now untidy, matted hair, theblue veins showing through the transparent temples, his eyes seeminglyswollen by tears. 

Athos sighed deeply; the sigh woke the king, so lightly did he sleep. 

He opened his eyes. 

"Ah!" said he, raising himself on his elbow, "is it you, Comte de laFere?"

"Yes, sire, " replied Athos. 

"You watch while I sleep and you have come to bring me some news?"

"Alas, sire, " answered Athos, "your majesty has guessed aright. "

"It is bad news?"

"Yes, sire. "

"Never mind; the messenger is welcome. You never come to me withoutconferring pleasure. You whose devotion recognizes neither countrynor misfortune, you who are sent to me by Henrietta; whatever news youbring, speak out. "

"Sire, Cromwell has arrived this night at Newcastle. "

"Ah!" exclaimed the king, "to fight?"

"No, sire, but to buy your majesty. "

"What did you say?"

"I said, sire, that four hundred thousand pounds are owing to theScottish army. "

"For unpaid wages; yes, I know it. For the last year my faithfulHighlanders have fought for honor alone. "

Athos smiled. 

"Well, sir, though honor is a fine thing, they are tired of fightingfor it, and to-night they have sold you for two hundred thousandpounds--that is to say, for half what is owing them. "

"Impossible!" cried the king, "the Scotch sell their king for twohundred thousand pounds! And who is the Judas who has concluded thisinfamous bargain?"

"Lord Leven. "

"Are you certain of it, sir?"

"I heard it with my own ears. "

The king sighed deeply, as if his heart would break, and then buried hisface in his hands. 

"Oh! the Scotch, " he exclaimed, "the Scotch I called 'my faithful, ' towhom I trusted myself when I could have fled to Oxford! the Scotch, mybrothers! But are you well assured, sir?"

"Lying behind the tent of Lord Leven, I raised it and saw all, heardall!"

"And when is this to be consummated?"

"To-day--this morning; so your majesty must perceive there is no time tolose!"

"To do what? since you say I am sold. "

"To cross the Tyne, reach Scotland and rejoin Lord Montrose, who willnot sell you. "

"And what shall I do in Scotland? A war of partisans, unworthy of aking. "

"The example of Robert Bruce will absolve you, sire. "

"No, no! I have fought too long; they have sold me, they shall give meup, and the eternal shame of treble treason shall fall on their heads. "

"Sire, " said Athos, "perhaps a king should act thus, but not a husbandand a father. I have come in the name of your wife and daughter andof the children you have still in London, and I say to you, 'Live, sire, '--it is the will of Heaven. "

The king raised himself, buckled on his belt, and passing hishandkerchief over his moist forehead, said:

"Well, what is to be done?"

"Sire, have you in the army one regiment on which you can implicitlyrely?"

"Winter, " said the king, "do you believe in the fidelity of yours?"

"Sire, they are but men, and men are become both weak and wicked. Iwill not answer for them. I would confide my life to them, but I shouldhesitate ere I trusted them with your majesty's. "

"Well!" said Athos, "since you have not a regiment, we are threedevoted men. It is enough. Let your majesty mount on horseback and placeyourself in the midst of us; we will cross the Tyne, reach Scotland, andyou will be saved. "

"Is this your counsel also, Winter?" inquired the king. 

"Yes, sire. "

"And yours, Monsieur d'Herblay?"

"Yes, sire. "

"As you wish, then. Winter, give the necessary orders. "

Winter then left the tent; in the meantime the king finished his toilet. The first rays of daybreak penetrated the aperture of the tent as Winterre-entered it. 

"All is ready, sire, " said he. 

"For us, also?" inquired Athos. 

"Grimaud and Blaisois are holding your horses, ready saddled. "

"In that case, " exclaimed Athos, "let us not lose an instant, but setoff. "

"Come, " added the king. 

"Sire, " said Aramis, "will not your majesty acquaint some of yourfriends of this?"

"Friends!" answered Charles, sadly, "I have but three--one of twentyyears, who has never forgotten me, and two of a week's standing, whom Ishall never forget. Come, gentlemen, come!"

The king quitted his tent and found his horse ready waiting for him. Itwas a chestnut that the king had ridden for three years and of which hewas very fond. 

The horse neighed with pleasure at seeing him. 

"Ah!" said the king, "I was unjust; here is a creature that loves me. You at least will be faithful to me, Arthur. "

The horse, as if it understood these words, bent its red nostrils towardthe king's face, and parting his lips displayed all its teeth, as ifwith pleasure. 

"Yes, yes, " said the king, caressing it with his hand, "yes, my Arthur, thou art a fond and faithful creature. "

After this little scene Charles threw himself into the saddle, andturning to Athos, Aramis and Winter, said:

"Now, gentlemen, I am at your service. "

But Athos was standing with his eyes fixed on a black line whichbordered the banks of the Tyne and seemed to extend double the length ofthe camp. 

"What is that line?" cried Athos, whose vision was still rather obscuredby the uncertain shades and demi-tints of daybreak. "What is that line?I did not observe it yesterday. "

"It must be the fog rising from the river, " said the king. 

"Sire, it is something more opaque than the fog. "

"Indeed!" said Winter, "it appears to me like a bar of red color. "

"It is the enemy, who have made a sortie from Newcastle and aresurrounding us!" exclaimed Athos. 

"The enemy!" cried the king. 

"Yes, the enemy. It is too late. Stop a moment; does not that sunbeamyonder, just by the side of the town, glitter on the Ironsides?"

This was the name given the cuirassiers, whom Cromwell had made hisbody-guard. 

"Ah!" said the king, "we shall soon see whether my Highlanders havebetrayed me or not. "

"What are you going to do?" exclaimed Athos. 

"To give them the order to charge, and run down these miserable rebels. "

And the king, putting spurs to his horse, set off to the tent of LordLeven. 

"Follow him, " said Athos. 

"Come!" exclaimed Aramis. 

"Is the king wounded?" cried Lord Winter. "I see spots of blood on theground. " And he set off to follow the two friends. 

He was stopped by Athos. 

"Go and call out your regiment, " said he; "I can foresee that we shallhave need of it directly. "

Winter turned his horse and the two friends rode on. It had taken buttwo minutes for the king to reach the tent of the Scottish commander; hedismounted and entered. 

The general was there, surrounded by the more prominent chiefs. 

"The king!" they exclaimed, as all rose in bewilderment. 

Charles was indeed in the midst of them, his hat on his head, his browsbent, striking his boot with his riding whip. 

"Yes, gentlemen, the king in person, the king who has come to ask forsome account of what has happened. "

"What is the matter, sire?" exclaimed Lord Leven. 

"It is this, sir, " said the king, angrily, "that General Cromwell hasreached Newcastle; that you knew it and I was not informed of it; thatthe enemy have left the town and are now closing the passages of theTyne against us; that our sentinels have seen this movement and I havebeen left unacquainted with it; that, by an infamous treaty you havesold me for two hundred thousand pounds to Parliament. Of this treaty, at least, I have been warned. This is the matter, gentlemen; answer andexculpate yourselves, for I stand here to accuse you. "

"Sire, " said Lord Leven, with hesitation, "sire, your majesty has beendeceived by false reports. "

"My own eyes have seen the enemy extend itself between myself andScotland; and I can almost say that with my own ears I have heard theclauses of the treaty debated. "

The Scotch chieftains looked at each other in their turn with frowningbrows. 

"Sire, " murmured Lord Leven, crushed by shame, "sire, we are ready togive you every proof of our fidelity. "

"I ask but one, " said the king; "put the army in battle array and facethe enemy. "

"That cannot be, sire, " said the earl. 

"How, cannot be? What hinders it?" exclaimed the king. 

"Your majesty is well aware that there is a truce between us and theEnglish army. "

"And if there is a truce the English army has broken it by quitting thetown, contrary to the agreement which kept it there. Now, I tell you, you must pass with me through this army across to Scotland, and ifyou refuse you may choose betwixt two names, which the contempt of allhonest men will brand you with--you are either cowards or traitors!"

The eyes of the Scotch flashed fire; and, as often happens on suchoccasions, from shame they passed to effrontery and two heads of clansadvanced upon the king. 

"Yes, " said they, "we have promised to deliver Scotland and England fromhim who for the last five-and-twenty years has sucked the blood and goldof Scotland and England. We have promised and we will keep our promise. Charles Stuart, you are our prisoner. "

And both extended their hands as if to seize the king, but before theycould touch him with the tips of their fingers, both had fallen, onedead, the other stunned. 

Aramis had passed his sword through the body of the first and Athos hadknocked down the other with the butt end of his pistol. 

Then, as Lord Leven and the other chieftains recoiled before thisunexpected rescue, which seemed to come from Heaven for the prince theyalready thought was their prisoner, Athos and Aramis dragged the kingfrom the perjured assembly into which he had so imprudently ventured, and throwing themselves on horseback all three returned at full gallopto the royal tent. 

On their road they perceived Lord Winter marching at the head of hisregiment. The king motioned him to accompany them. 

56. The Avenger. 

They all four entered the tent; they had no plan ready--they must thinkof one. 

The king threw himself into an arm-chair. "I am lost, " said he. 

"No, sire, " replied Athos. "You are only betrayed. "

The king sighed deeply. 

"Betrayed! yes betrayed by the Scotch, amongst whom I was born, whom Ihave always loved better than the English. Oh, traitors that ye are!"

"Sire, " said Athos, "this is not a moment for recrimination, but a timeto show yourself a king and a gentleman. Up, sire! up! for you have hereat least three men who will not betray you. Ah! if we had been five!"murmured Athos, thinking of D'Artagnan and Porthos. 

"What do you say?" inquired Charles, rising. 

"I say, sire, that there is now but one way open. Lord Winter answersfor his regiment, or at least very nearly so--we will not split strawsabout words--let him place himself at the head of his men, we will placeourselves at the side of your majesty, and we will mow a swath throughCromwell's army and reach Scotland. "

"There is another method, " said Aramis. "Let one of us put on thedress and mount the king's horse. Whilst they pursue him the king mightescape. "

"It is good advice, " said Athos, "and if the king will do one of us thehonor we shall be truly grateful to him. "

"What do you think of this counsel, Winter?" asked the king, lookingwith admiration at these two men, whose chief idea seemed to be how theycould take on their shoulders all the dangers that assailed him. 

"I think the only chance of saving your majesty has just been proposedby Monsieur d'Herblay. I humbly entreat your majesty to choose quickly, for we have not an instant to lose. "

"But if I accept, it is death, or at least imprisonment, for him whotakes my place. "

"He will have had the glory of having saved his king, " cried Winter. 

The king looked at his old friend with tears in his eyes; undid theOrder of the Saint Esprit which he wore, to honor the two Frenchmen whowere with him, and passed it around Winter's neck, who received on hisknees this striking proof of his sovereign's confidence and friendship. 

"It is right, " said Athos; "he has served your majesty longer than wehave. "

The king overheard these words and turned around with tears in his eyes. 

"Wait a moment, sir, " said he; "I have an order for each of you also. "

He turned to a closet where his own orders were locked up, and took outtwo ribbons of the Order of the Garter. 

"These cannot be for us, " said Athos. 

"Why not, sir?" asked Charles. 

"Such are for royalty, and we are simple commoners. "

"Speak not of crowns. I shall not find amongst them such great heartsas yours. No, no, you do yourselves injustice; but I am here to do youjustice. On your knees, count. "

Athos knelt down and the king passed the ribbon down from left to rightas usual, raised his sword, and instead of pronouncing the customaryformula, "I make you a knight. Be brave, faithful and loyal, " he said, "You are brave, faithful and loyal. I knight you, monsieur le comte. "

Then turning to Aramis, he said:

"It is now your turn, monsieur le chevalier. "

The same ceremony recommenced, with the same words, whilst Winterunlaced his leather cuirass, that he might disguise himself like theking. Charles, having proceeded with Aramis as with Athos, embraced themboth. 

"Sire, " said Winter, who in this trying emergency felt all his strengthand energy fire up, "we are ready. "

The king looked at the three gentlemen. "Then we must fly!" said he. 

"Flying through an army, sire, " said Athos, "in all countries in theworld is called charging. "

"Then I shall die, sword in hand, " said Charles. "Monsieur le comte, monsieur le chevalier, if ever I am king----"

"Sire, you have already done us more honor than simple gentlemen couldever aspire to, therefore gratitude is on our side. But we must not losetime. We have already wasted too much. "

The king again shook hands with all three, exchanged hats with Winterand went out. 

Winter's regiment was ranged on some high ground above the camp. Theking, followed by the three friends, turned his steps that way. TheScotch camp seemed as if at last awakened; the soldiers had come out oftheir tents and taken up their station in battle array. 

"Do you see that?" said the king. "Perhaps they are penitent andpreparing to march. "

"If they are penitent, " said Athos, "let them follow us. "

"Well!" said the king, "what shall we do?"

"Let us examine the enemy's army. "

At the same instant the eyes of the little group were fixed on the sameline which at daybreak they had mistaken for fog and which the morningsun now plainly showed was an army in order of battle. The air was softand clear, as it generally is at that early hour of the morning. Theregiments, the standards, and even the colors of the horses and uniformswere now clearly distinct. 

On the summit of a rising ground, a little in advance of the enemy, appeared a short and heavy looking man; this man was surrounded byofficers. He turned a spyglass toward the little group amongst which theking stood. 

"Does this man know your majesty personally?" inquired Aramis. 

Charles smiled. 

"That man is Cromwell, " said he. 

"Then draw down your hat, sire, that he may not discover thesubstitution. "

"Ah!" said Athos, "how much time we have lost. "

"Now, " said the king, "give the word and let us start. "

"Will you not give it, sire?" asked Athos. 

"No; I make you my lieutenant-general, " said the king. 

"Listen, then, Lord Winter. Proceed, sire, I beg. What we are going tosay does not concern your majesty. "

The king, smiling, turned a few steps back. 

"This is what I propose to do, " said Athos. "We will divide ourregiments into two squadrons. You will put yourself at the head of thefirst. We and his majesty will lead the second. If no obstacle occurswe will both charge together, force the enemy's line and throw ourselvesinto the Tyne, which we must cross, either by fording or swimming; if, on the contrary, any repulse should take place, you and your men mustfight to the last man, whilst we and the king proceed on our road. Oncearrived at the brink of the river, should we even find them three ranksdeep, as long as you and your regiment do your duty, we will look to therest. "

"To horse!" said Lord Winter. 

"To horse!" re-echoed Athos; "everything is arranged and decided. "

"Now, gentlemen, " cried the king, "forward! and rally to the old cry ofFrance, 'Montjoy and St. Denis!' The war cry of England is too often inthe mouths of traitors. "

They mounted--the king on Winter's horse and Winter on that of the king;then Winter took his place at the head of the first squadron, and theking, with Athos on his right and Aramis on his left, at the head of thesecond. 

The Scotch army stood motionless and silent, seized with shame at sightof these preparations. 

Some of the chieftains left the ranks and broke their swords in two. 

"There, " said the king, "that consoles me; they are not all traitors. "

At this moment Winter's voice was raised with the cry of "Forward!"

The first squadron moved off; the second followed, and descended fromthe plateau. A regiment of cuirassiers, nearly equal as to numbers, issued from behind the hill and came full gallop toward it. 

The king pointed this out. 

"Sire, " said Athos, "we foresaw this; and if Lord Winter's men but dotheir duty, we are saved, instead of lost. "

At this moment they heard above all the galloping and neighing of thehorses Winter's voice crying out:

"Sword in hand!"

At these words every sword was drawn, and glittered in the air likelightning. 

"Now, gentlemen, " said the king in his turn, excited by this sight, "come, gentlemen, sword in hand!"

But Aramis and Athos were the only ones to obey this command and theking's example. 

"We are betrayed, " said the king in a low voice. 

"Wait a moment, " said Athos, "perhaps they do not recognize yourmajesty's voice, and await the order of their captain. "

"Have they not heard that of their colonel? But look! look!" cried theking, drawing up his horse with a sudden jerk, which threw it on itshaunches, and seizing the bridle of Athos's horse. 

"Ah, cowards! traitors!" screamed Lord Winter, whose voice they heard, whilst his men, quitting their ranks, dispersed all over the plain. 

About fifteen men were ranged around him and awaited the charge ofCromwell's cuirassiers. 

"Let us go and die with them!" said the king. 

"Let us go, " said Athos and Aramis. 

"All faithful hearts with me!" cried out Winter. 

This voice was heard by the two friends, who set off, full gallop. 

"No quarter!" cried a voice in French, answering to that of Winter, which made them tremble. 

As for Winter, at the sound of that voice he turned pale, and was, as itwere, petrified. 

It was the voice of a cavalier mounted on a magnificent black horse, who was charging at the head of the English regiment, of which, in hisardor, he was ten steps in advance. 

"'Tis he!" murmured Winter, his eyes glazed and he allowed his sword tofall to his side. 

"The king! the king!" cried out several voices, deceived by the blueribbon and chestnut horse of Winter; "take him alive. "

"No! it is not the king!" exclaimed the cavalier. "Lord Winter, you arenot the king; you are my uncle. "

At the same moment Mordaunt, for it was he, leveled his pistol atWinter; it went off and the ball entered the heart of the old cavalier, who with one bound on his saddle fell back into the arms of Athos, murmuring: "He is avenged!"

"Think of my mother!" shouted Mordaunt, as his horse plunged and dartedoff at full gallop. 

"Wretch!" exclaimed Aramis, raising his pistol as he passed by him; butthe powder flashed in the pan and it did not go off. 

At this moment the whole regiment came up and they fell upon the fewmen who had held out, surrounding the two Frenchmen. Athos, after makingsure that Lord Winter was really dead, let fall the corpse and said:

"Come, Aramis, now for the honor of France!" and the two Englishmen whowere nearest to them fell, mortally wounded. 

At the same moment a fearful "hurrah!" rent the air and thirty bladesglittered about their heads. 

Suddenly a man sprang out of the English ranks, fell upon Athos, twinedarms of steel around him, and tearing his sword from him, said in hisear:

"Silence! yield--you yield to me, do you not?"

A giant had seized also Aramis's two wrists, who struggled in vain torelease himself from this formidable grasp. 

"D'Art----" exclaimed Athos, whilst the Gascon covered his mouth withhis hand. 

"I am your prisoner, " said Aramis, giving up his sword to Porthos. 

"Fire, fire!" cried Mordaunt, returning to the group surrounding the twofriends. 

"And wherefore fire?" said the colonel; "every one has yielded. "

"It is the son of Milady, " said Athos to D'Artagnan. 

"I recognize him. "

"It is the monk, " whispered Porthos to Aramis. 

"I know it. "

And now the ranks began to open. D'Artagnan held the bridle of Athos'shorse and Porthos that of Aramis. Both of them attempted to lead hisprisoner off the battle-field. 

This movement revealed the spot where Winter's body had fallen. Mordaunthad found it out and was gazing on his dead relative with an expressionof malignant hatred. 

Athos, though now cool and collected, put his hand to his belt, wherehis loaded pistols yet remained. 

"What are you about?" said D'Artagnan. 

"Let me kill him. "

"We are all four lost, if by the least gesture you discover that yourecognize him. "

Then turning to the young man he exclaimed:

"A fine prize! a fine prize, friend Mordaunt; we have both myself andMonsieur du Vallon, taken two Knights of the Garter, nothing less. "

"But, " said Mordaunt, looking at Athos and Aramis with bloodshot eyes, "these are Frenchmen, I imagine. "

"I'faith, I don't know. Are you French, sir?" said he to Athos. 

"I am, " replied the latter, gravely. 

"Very well, my dear sir, you are the prisoner of a fellow countryman. "

"But the king--where is the king?" exclaimed Athos, anxiously. 

D'Artagnan vigorously seized his prisoner's hand, saying:

"Eh! the king? We have secured him. "

"Yes, " said Aramis, "through an infamous act of treason. "

Porthos pressed his friend's hand and said to him:

"Yes, sir, all is fair in war, stratagem as well as force; look yonder!"

At this instant the squadron, that ought to have protected Charles'sretreat, was advancing to meet the English regiments. The king, who wasentirely surrounded, walked alone in a great empty space. He appearedcalm, but it was evidently not without a mighty effort. Drops ofperspiration trickled down his face, and from time to time he put ahandkerchief to his mouth to wipe away the blood that rilled from it. 

"Behold Nebuchadnezzar!" exclaimed an old Puritan soldier, whose eyesflashed at the sight of the man they called the tyrant. 

"Do you call him Nebuchadnezzar?" said Mordaunt, with a terrible smile;"no, it is Charles the First, the king, the good King Charles, whodespoils his subjects to enrich himself. "

Charles glanced a moment at the insolent creature who uttered this, butdid not recognize him. Nevertheless, the calm religious dignity of hiscountenance abashed Mordaunt. 

"Bon jour, messieurs!" said the king to the two gentlemen who were heldby D'Artagnan and Porthos. "The day has been unfortunate, but it is notyour fault, thank God! But where is my old friend Winter?"

The two gentlemen turned away their heads in silence. 

"In Strafford's company, " said Mordaunt, tauntingly. 

Charles shuddered. The demon had known how to wound him. The remembranceof Strafford was a source of lasting remorse to him, the shadow thathaunted him by day and night. The king looked around him. He saw acorpse at his feet. It was Winter's. He uttered not a word, nor sheda tear, but a deadly pallor spread over his face; he knelt down on theground, raised Winter's head, and unfastening the Order of the SaintEsprit, placed it on his own breast. 

"Lord Winter is killed, then?" inquired D'Artagnan, fixing his eyes onthe corpse. 

"Yes, " said Athos, "by his own nephew. "

"Come, he was the first of us to go; peace be to him! he was an honestman, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Charles Stuart, " said the colonel of the English regiment, approachingthe king, who had just put on the insignia of royalty, "do you yieldyourself a prisoner?"

"Colonel Tomlison, " said Charles, "kings cannot yield; the man alonesubmits to force. "

"Your sword. "

The king drew his sword and broke it on his knee. 

At this moment a horse without a rider, covered with foam, his nostrilsextended and eyes all fire, galloped up, and recognizing his master, stopped and neighed with pleasure; it was Arthur. 

The king smiled, patted it with his hand and jumped lightly into thesaddle. 

"Now, gentlemen, " said he, "conduct me where you will. "

Turning back again, he said, "I thought I saw Winter move; if he stilllives, by all you hold most sacred, do not abandon him. "

"Never fear, King Charles, " said Mordaunt, "the bullet pierced hisheart. "

"Do not breathe a word nor make the least sign to me or Porthos, " saidD'Artagnan to Athos and Aramis, "that you recognize this man, for Miladyis not dead; her soul lives in the body of this demon. "

The detachment now moved toward the town with the royal captive; buton the road an aide-de-camp, from Cromwell, sent orders that ColonelTomlison should conduct him to Holdenby Castle. 

At the same time couriers started in every direction over Englandand Europe to announce that Charles Stuart was the prisoner of OliverCromwell. 

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 raised 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 stealthe bread 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. 

58. Jesus Seigneur. 

Whilst Mordaunt was making his way to Cromwell's tent, D'Artagnan andPorthos had brought their prisoners to the house which had been assignedto them as their dwelling at Newcastle. 

The order given by Mordaunt to the sergeant had been heard byD'Artagnan, who accordingly, by an expressive glance, warned Athosand Aramis to exercise extreme caution. The prisoners, therefore, had remained silent as they marched along in company with theirconquerors--which they could do with the less difficulty since each ofthem had occupation enough in answering his own thoughts. 

It would be impossible to describe Mousqueton's astonishment when fromthe threshold of the door he saw the four friends approaching, followedby a sergeant with a dozen men. He rubbed his eyes, doubting if hereally saw before him Athos and Aramis; and forced at last to yield toevidence, he was on the point of breaking forth in exclamations when heencountered a glance from the eyes of Porthos, the repressive force ofwhich he was not inclined to dispute. 

Mousqueton remained glued to the door, awaiting the explanation of thisstrange occurrence. What upset him completely was that the four friendsseemed to have no acquaintance with one another. 

The house to which D'Artagnan and Porthos conducted Athos and Aramis wasthe one assigned to them by General Cromwell and of which they had takenpossession on the previous evening. It was at the corner of two streetsand had in the rear, bordering on the side street, stables and a sortof garden. The windows on the ground floor, according to a custom inprovincial villages, were barred, so that they strongly resembled thewindows of a prison. 

The two friends made the prisoners enter the house first, whilst theystood at the door, desiring Mousqueton to take the four horses to thestable. 

"Why don't we go in with them?" asked Porthos. 

"We must first see what the sergeant wishes us to do, " repliedD'Artagnan. 

The sergeant and his men took possession of the little garden. 

D'Artagnan asked them what they wished and why they had taken thatposition. 

"We have had orders, " answered the man, "to help you in taking care ofyour prisoners. "

There could be no fault to find with this arrangement; on the contrary, it seemed to be a delicate attention, to be gratefully received;D'Artagnan, therefore, thanked the man and gave him a crown piece todrink to General Cromwell's health. 

The sergeant answered that Puritans never drank, and put the crown piecein his pocket. 

"Ah!" said Porthos, "what a fearful day, my dear D'Artagnan!"

"What! a fearful day, when to-day we find our friends?"

"Yes; but under what circumstances?"

"'Tis true that our position is an awkward one; but let us go in and seemore clearly what is to be done. "

"Things look black enough, " replied Porthos; "I understand now whyAramis advised me to strangle that horrible Mordaunt. "

"Silence!" cried the Gascon; "do not utter that name. "

"But, " argued Porthos, "I speak French and they are all English. "

D'Artagnan looked at Porthos with that air of wonder which a cunning mancannot help feeling at displays of crass stupidity. 

But as Porthos on his side could not comprehend his astonishment, hemerely pushed him indoors, saying, "Let us go in. "

They found Athos in profound despondency; Aramis looked first at Porthosand then at D'Artagnan, without speaking, but the latter understood hismeaningful look. 

"You want to know how we came here? 'Tis easily guessed. Mazarin sent uswith a letter to General Cromwell. "

"But how came you to fall into company with Mordaunt, whom I bade youdistrust?" asked Athos. 

"And whom I advised you to strangle, Porthos, " said Aramis. 

"Mazarin again. Cromwell had sent him to Mazarin. Mazarin sent us toCromwell. There is a certain fatality in it. "

"Yes, you are right, D'Artagnan, a fatality that will separate andruin us! So, my dear Aramis, say no more about it and let us prepare tosubmit to destiny. "

"Zounds! on the contrary, let us speak about it; for it was agreed amongus, once for all, that we should always hold together, though engaged onopposing sides. "

"Yes, " added Athos, "I now ask you, D'Artagnan, what side you are on?Ah! behold for what end the wretched Mazarin has made use of you. Do youknow in what crime you are to-day engaged? In the capture of a king, hisdegradation and his murder. "

"Oh! oh!" cried Porthos, "do you think so?"

"You are exaggerating, Athos; we are not so far gone as that, " repliedthe lieutenant. 

"Good heavens! we are on the very eve of it. I say, why is the kingtaken prisoner? Those who wish to respect him as a master would not buyhim as a slave. Do you think it is to replace him on the throne thatCromwell has paid for him two hundred thousand pounds sterling? Theywill kill him, you may be sure of it. "

"I don't maintain the contrary, " said D'Artagnan. "But what's that tous? I am here because I am a soldier and have to obey orders--I havetaken an oath to obey, and I do obey; but you who have taken no suchoath, why are you here and what cause do you represent?"

"That most sacred in the world, " said Athos; "the cause of misfortune, of religion, royalty. A friend, a wife, a daughter, have done us thehonor to call us to their aid. We have served them to the best of ourpoor means, and God will recompense the will, forgive the want of power. You may see matters differently, D'Artagnan, and think otherwise. I willnot attempt to argue with you, but I blame you. "

"Heyday!" cried D'Artagnan, "what matters it to me, after all, ifCromwell, who's an Englishman, revolts against his king, who is aScotchman? I am myself a Frenchman. I have nothing to do with thesethings--why hold me responsible?"

"Yes, " said Porthos. 

"Because all gentlemen are brothers, because you are a gentleman, because the kings of all countries are the first among gentlemen, because the blind populace, ungrateful and brutal, always takes pleasurein pulling down what is above them. And you, you, D'Artagnan, a mansprung from the ancient nobility of France, bearing an honorable name, carrying a good sword, have helped to give up a king to beersellers, shopkeepers, and wagoners. Ah! D'Artagnan! perhaps you have doneyour duty as a soldier, but as a gentleman, I say that you are veryculpable. "

D'Artagnan was chewing the stalk of a flower, unable to reply andthoroughly uncomfortable; for when turned from the eyes of Athos heencountered those of Aramis. 

"And you, Porthos, " continued the count, as if in consideration forD'Artagnan's embarrassment, "you, the best heart, the best friend, thebest soldier that I know--you, with a soul that makes you worthy of abirth on the steps of a throne, and who, sooner or later, must receiveyour reward from an intelligent king--you, my dear Porthos, you, agentleman in manners, in tastes and in courage, you are as culpable asD'Artagnan. "

Porthos blushed, but with pleasure rather than with confusion; and yet, bowing his head, as if humiliated, he said:

"Yes, yes, my dear count, I feel that you are right. "

Athos arose. 

"Come, " he said, stretching out his hand to D'Artagnan, "come, don'tbe sullen, my dear son, for I have said all this to you, if not in thetone, at least with the feelings of a father. It would have been easierto me merely to have thanked you for preserving my life and not to haveuttered a word of all this. "

"Doubtless, doubtless, Athos. But here it is: you have sentiments, thedevil knows what, such as every one can't entertain. Who could supposethat a sensible man could leave his house, France, his ward--a charmingyouth, for we saw him in the camp--to fly to the aid of a rotten, worm-eaten royalty, which is going to crumble one of these days like anold hovel. The sentiments you air are certainly fine, so fine that theyare superhuman. "

"However that may be, D'Artagnan, " replied Athos, without falling intothe snare which his Gascon friend had prepared for him by an appeal tohis parental love, "however that may be, you know in the bottom ofyour heart that it is true; but I am wrong to dispute with my master. D'Artagnan, I am your prisoner--treat me as such. "

"Ah! pardieu!" said D'Artagnan, "you know you will not be my prisonervery long. "

"No, " said Aramis, "they will doubtless treat us like the prisoners ofthe Philipghauts. "

"And how were they treated?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Why, " said Aramis, "one-half were hanged and the other half were shot. "

"Well, I, " said D'Artagnan "I answer that while there remains a drop ofblood in my veins you will be neither hanged nor shot. Sang Diou! letthem come on! Besides--do you see that door, Athos?"

"Yes; what then?"

"Well, you can go out by that door whenever you please; for from thismoment you are free as the air. "

"I recognize you there, my brave D'Artagnan, " replied Athos; "but youare no longer our masters. That door is guarded, D'Artagnan; you knowthat. "

"Very well, you will force it, " said Porthos. "There are only a dozenmen at the most. "

"That would be nothing for us four; it is too much for us two. No, divided as we now are, we must perish. See the fatal example: on theVendomois road, D'Artagnan, you so brave, and you, Porthos, so valiantand so strong--you were beaten; to-day Aramis and I are beaten in ourturn. Now that never happened to us when we were four together. Letus die, then, as De Winter has died; as for me, I will fly only oncondition that we all fly together. "

"Impossible, " said D'Artagnan; "we are under Mazarin's orders. "

"I know it and I have nothing more to say; my arguments lead to nothing;doubtless they are bad, since they have not determined minds so just asyours. "

"Besides, " said Aramis, "had they taken effect it would be still betternot to compromise two excellent friends like D'Artagnan and Porthos. Beassured, gentlemen, we shall do you honor in our dying. As for myself, I shall be proud to face the bullets, or even the rope, in company withyou, Athos; for you have never seemed to me so grand as you are to-day. "

D'Artagnan said nothing, but, after having gnawed the flower stalk, hebegan to bite his nails. At last:

"Do you imagine, " he resumed, "that they mean to kill you? And whereforeshould they do so? What interest have they in your death? Moreover, youare our prisoners. "

"Fool!" cried Aramis; "knowest thou not, then, Mordaunt? I have butexchanged with him one look, yet that look convinced me that we weredoomed. "

"The truth is, I'm very sorry that I did not strangle him as you advisedme, " said Porthos. 

"Eh! I make no account of the harm Mordaunt can do!" cried D'Artagnan. "Cap de Diou! if he troubles me too much I will crush him, the insect!Do not fly, then. It is useless; for I swear to you that you are as safehere as you were twenty years, ago--you, Athos, in the Rue Ferou, andyou, Aramis, in the Rue de Vaugirard. "

"Stop, " cried Athos, extending his hand to one of the grated windows bywhich the room was lighted; "you will soon know what to expect, for herehe is. "

"Who?"

"Mordaunt. "

In fact, looking at the place to which Athos pointed, D'Artagnan saw acavalier coming toward the house at full gallop. 

It was Mordaunt. 

D'Artagnan rushed out of the room. 

Porthos wanted to follow him. 

"Stay, " said D'Artagnan, "and do not come till you hear me drum myfingers on the door. "

When Mordaunt arrived opposite the house he saw D'Artagnan on thethreshold and the soldiers lying on the grass here and there, with theirarms. 

"Halloo!" he cried, "are the prisoners still there?"

"Yes, sir, " answered the sergeant, uncovering. 

"'Tis well; order four men to conduct them to my lodging. "

Four men prepared to do so. 

"What is it?" said D'Artagnan, with that jeering manner which ourreaders have so often observed in him since they made his acquaintance. "What is the matter, if you please?"

"Sir, " replied Mordaunt, "I have ordered the two prisoners we made thismorning to be conducted to my lodging. "

"Wherefore, sir? Excuse curiosity, but I wish to be enlightened on thesubject. "

"Because these prisoners, sir, are at my disposal and I choose todispose of them as I like. "

"Allow me--allow me, sir, " said D'Artagnan, "to observe you are inerror. The prisoners belong to those who take them and not to those whoonly saw them taken. You might have taken Lord Winter--who, 'tis said, was your uncle--prisoner, but you preferred killing him; 'tis well; we, that is, Monsieur du Vallon and I, could have killed our prisoners--wepreferred taking them. "

Mordaunt's very lips grew white with rage. 

D'Artagnan now saw that affairs were growing worse and he beat theguard's march upon the door. At the first beat Porthos rushed out andstood on the other side of the door. 

This movement was observed by Mordaunt. 

"Sir!" he thus addressed D'Artagnan, "your resistance is useless; theseprisoners have just been given me by my illustrious patron, OliverCromwell. "

These words struck D'Artagnan like a thunderbolt. The blood mountedto his temples, his eyes became dim; he saw from what fountainhead theferocious hopes of the young man arose, and he put his hand to the hiltof his sword. 

As for Porthos, he looked inquiringly at D'Artagnan. 

This look of Porthos's made the Gascon regret that he had summonedthe brute force of his friend to aid him in an affair which seemed torequire chiefly cunning. 

"Violence, " he said to himself, "would spoil all; D'Artagnan, my friend, prove to this young serpent that thou art not only stronger, but moresubtle than he is. "

"Ah!" he said, making a low bow, "why did you not begin by saying that, Monsieur Mordaunt? What! are you sent by General Oliver Cromwell, themost illustrious captain of the age?"

"I have this instant left him, " replied Mordaunt, alighting, in order togive his horse to a soldier to hold. 

"Why did you not say so at once, my dear sir! all England is withCromwell; and since you ask for my prisoners, I bend, sir, to yourwishes. They are yours; take them. "

Mordaunt, delighted, advanced, Porthos looking at D'Artagnan withopen-mouthed astonishment. Then D'Artagnan trod on his foot and Porthosbegan to understand that this was merely acting. 

Mordaunt put his foot on the first step of the door and, with his hat inhand, prepared to pass by the two friends, motioning to the four men tofollow him. 

"But, pardon, " said D'Artagnan, with the most charming smile and puttinghis hand on the young man's shoulder, "if the illustrious GeneralOliver Cromwell has disposed of our prisoners in your favour, he has, ofcourse, made that act of donation in writing. "

Mordaunt stopped short. 

"He has given you some little writing for me--the least bit of paperwhich may show that you come in his name. Be pleased to give methat scrap of paper so that I may justify, by a pretext at least, myabandoning my countrymen. Otherwise, you see, although I am sure thatGeneral Oliver Cromwell can intend them no harm, it would have a badappearance. "

Mordaunt recoiled; he felt the blow and discharged a terrible lookat D'Artagnan, who responded by the most amiable expression that evergraced a human countenance. 

"When I tell you a thing, sir, " said Mordaunt, "you insult me bydoubting it. "

"I!" cried D'Artagnan, "I doubt what you say! God keep me from it, mydear Monsieur Mordaunt! On the contrary, I take you to be a worthy andaccomplished gentleman. And then, sir, do you wish me to speak freely toyou?" continued D'Artagnan, with his frank expression. 

"Speak out, sir, " said Mordaunt. 

"Monsieur du Vallon, yonder, is rich and has forty thousand francsyearly, so he does not care about money. I do not speak for him, but formyself. "

"Well, sir? What more?"

"Well--I--I'm not rich. In Gascony 'tis no dishonor, sir, nobodyis rich; and Henry IV. , of glorious memory, who was the king of theGascons, as His Majesty Philip IV. Is the king of the Spaniards, neverhad a penny in his pocket. "

"Go on, sir, I see what you wish to get at; and if it is simply what Ithink that stops you, I can obviate the difficulty. "

"Ah, I knew well, " said the Gascon, "that you were a man of talent. Well, here's the case, here's where the saddle hurts me, as we Frenchsay. I am an officer of fortune, nothing else; I have nothing but whatmy sword brings me in--that is to say, more blows than banknotes. Now, on taking prisoners, this morning, two Frenchmen, who seemed to me ofhigh birth--in short, two knights of the Garter--I said to myself, myfortune is made. I say two, because in such circumstances, Monsieur duVallon, who is rich, always gives me his prisoners. "

Mordaunt, completely deceived by the wordy civility of D'Artagnan, smiled like a man who understands perfectly the reasons given him, andsaid:

"I shall have the order signed directly, sir, and with it two thousandpistoles; meanwhile, let me take these men away. "

"No, " replied D'Artagnan; "what signifies a delay of half an hour? I ama man of order, sir; let us do things in order. "

"Nevertheless, " replied Mordaunt, "I could compel you; I command here. "

"Ah, sir!" said D'Artagnan, "I see that although we have had the honorof traveling in your company you do not know us. We are gentlemen; weare, both of us, able to kill you and your eight men--we two only. ForHeaven's sake don't be obstinate, for when others are obstinate I amobstinate likewise, and then I become ferocious and headstrong, andthere's my friend, who is even more headstrong and ferocious thanmyself. Besides, we are sent here by Cardinal Mazarin, and at thismoment represent both the king and the cardinal, and are, therefore, as ambassadors, able to act with impunity, a thing that General OliverCromwell, who is assuredly as great a politician as he is a general, isquite the man to understand. Ask him then, for the written order. Whatwill that cost you my dear Monsieur Mordaunt?"

"Yes, the written order, " said Porthos, who now began to comprehend whatD'Artagnan was aiming at, "we ask only for that. "

However inclined Mordaunt was to have recourse to violence, heunderstood the reasons D'Artagnan had given him; besides, completelyignorant of the friendship which existed between the four Frenchmen, allhis uneasiness disappeared when he heard of the plausible motive of theransom. He decided, therefore, not only to fetch the order, but the twothousand pistoles, at which he estimated the prisoners. He thereforemounted his horse and disappeared. 

"Good!" thought D'Artagnan; "a quarter of an hour to go to the tent, aquarter of an hour to return; it is more than we need. " Then turning, without the least change of countenance, to Porthos, he said, lookinghim full in the face: "Friend Porthos, listen to this; first, nota syllable to either of our friends of what you have heard; it isunnecessary for them to know the service we are going to render them. "

"Very well; I understand. "

"Go to the stable; you will find Mousqueton there; saddle your horses, put your pistols in your saddle-bags, take out the horses and lead themto the street below this, so that there will be nothing to do but mountthem; all the rest is my business. "

Porthos made no remark, but obeyed, with the sublime confidence he hadin his friend. 

"I go, " he said, "only, shall I enter the chamber where those gentlemenare?"

"No, it is not worth while. "

"Well, do me the kindness to take my purse, which I left on themantelpiece. "

"All right. "

He then proceeded, with his usual calm gait, to the stable and went intothe very midst of the soldiery, who, foreigner as he was, could not helpadmiring his height and the enormous strength of his great limbs. 

At the corner of the street he met Mousqueton and took him with him. 

D'Artagnan, meantime, went into the house, whistling a tune which he hadbegun before Porthos went away. 

"My dear Athos, I have reflected on your arguments and I am convinced. I am sorry to have had anything to do with this matter. As you say, Mazarin is a knave. I have resolved to fly with you, not a word--beready. Your swords are in the corner; do not forget them, they are inmany circumstances very useful; there is Porthos's purse, too. "

He put it into his pocket. The two friends were perfectly stupefied. 

"Well, pray, is there anything to be so surprised at?" he said. "I wasblind; Athos has made me see, that's all; come here. "

The two friends went near him. 

"Do you see that street? There are the horses. Go out by the door, turnto the right, jump into your saddles, all will be right; don't be uneasyat anything except mistaking the signal. That will be the signal when Icall out--Jesus Seigneur!"

"But give us your word that you will come too, D'Artagnan, " said Athos. 

"I swear I will, by Heaven. "

"'Tis settled, " said Aramis; "at the cry 'Jesus Seigneur' we go out, upset all that stands in our way, run to our horses, jump into oursaddles, spur them; is that all?"

"Exactly. "

"See, Aramis, as I have told you, D'Artagnan is first amongst us all, "said Athos. 

"Very true, " replied the Gascon, "but I always run away fromcompliments. Don't forget the signal: 'Jesus Seigneur!'" and he went outas he came in, whistling the self-same air. 

The soldiers were playing or sleeping; two of them were singing in acorner, out of tune, the psalm: "On the rivers of Babylon. "

D'Artagnan called the sergeant. "My dear friend, General Cromwell hassent Monsieur Mordaunt to fetch me. Guard the prisoners well, I beg ofyou. "

The sergeant made a sign, as much as to say he did not understandFrench, and D'Artagnan tried to make him comprehend by signs andgestures. Then he went into the stable; he found the five horsessaddled, his own amongst the rest. 

"Each of you take a horse by the bridle, " he said to Porthos andMousqueton; "turn to the left, so that Athos and Aramis may see youclearly from the window. "

"They are coming, then?" said Porthos. 

"In a moment. "

"You didn't forget my purse?"

"No; be easy. "

"Good. "

Porthos and Mousqueton each took a horse by the bridle and proceeded totheir post. 

Then D'Artagnan, being alone, struck a light and lighted a small bit oftinder, mounted his horse and stopped at the door in the midst of thesoldiers. There, caressing as he pretended, the animal with his hand, he put this bit of burning tinder in his ear. It was necessary to be asgood a horseman as he was to risk such a scheme, for no sooner had theanimal felt the burning tinder than he uttered a cry of pain and rearedand jumped as if he had been mad. 

The soldiers, whom he was nearly trampling, ran away. 

"Help! help!" cried D'Artagnan; "stop--my horse has the staggers. "

In an instant the horse's eyes grew bloodshot and he was white withfoam. 

"Help!" cried D'Artagnan. "What! will you let me be killed? JesusSeigneur!"

No sooner had he uttered this cry than the door opened and Athos andAramis rushed out. The coast, owing to the Gascon's stratagem, wasclear. 

"The prisoners are escaping! the prisoners are escaping!" cried thesergeant. 

"Stop! stop!" cried D'Artagnan, giving rein to his famous steed, who, darting forth, overturned several men. 

"Stop! stop!" cried the soldiers, and ran for their arms. 

But the prisoners were in their saddles and lost no time hastening tothe nearest gate. 

In the middle of the street they saw Grimaud and Blaisois, who werecoming to find their masters. With one wave of his hand Athos madeGrimaud, who followed the little troop, understand everything, and theypassed on like a whirlwind, D'Artagnan still directing them from behindwith his voice. 

They passed through the gate like apparitions, without the guardsthinking of detaining them, and reached the open country. 

All this time the soldiers were calling out, "Stop! stop!" and thesergeant, who began to see that he was the victim of an artifice, wasalmost in a frenzy of despair. Whilst all this was going on, a cavalierin full gallop was seen approaching. It was Mordaunt with the order inhis hand. 

"The prisoners!" he exclaimed, jumping off his horse. 

The sergeant had not the courage to reply; he showed him the open door, the empty room. Mordaunt darted to the steps, understood all, uttereda cry, as if his very heart was pierced, and fell fainting on the stonesteps. 

59. In which it is shown that under the most trying Circumstances nobleNatures never lose their Courage, nor good Stomachs their Appetites. 

The little troop, without looking behind them or exchanging a word, fledat a rapid gallop, fording a little stream, of which none of them knewthe name, and leaving on their left a town which Athos declared to beDurham. At last they came in sight of a small wood, and spurring theirhorses afresh, rode in its direction. 

As soon as they had disappeared behind a green curtain sufficientlythick to conceal them from the sight of any one who might be in pursuitthey drew up to hold a council together. The two grooms held the horses, that they might take a little rest without being unsaddled, and Grimaudwas posted as sentinel. 

"Come, first of all, " said Athos to D'Artagnan, "my friend, that I mayshake hands with you--you, our rescuer--you, the true hero of us all. "

"Athos is right--you have my adoration, " said Aramis, in his turnpressing his hand. "To what are you not equal, with your superiorintelligence, infallible eye, your arm of iron and your enterprisingmind!"

"Now, " said the Gascon, "that is all well, I accept for Porthos andmyself everything--thanks and compliments; we have plenty of time tospare. "

The two friends, recalled by D'Artagnan to what was also due to Porthos, pressed his hand in their turn. 

"And now, " said Athos, "it is not our plan to run anywhere and likemadmen, but we must map up our campaign. What shall we do?"

"What are we going to do, i'faith? It is not very difficult to say. "

"Tell us, then, D'Artagnan. "

"We are going to reach the nearest seaport, unite our little resources, hire a vessel and return to France. As for me I will give my last soufor it. Life is the greatest treasure, and speaking candidly, ours hangsby a thread. "

"What do you say to this, Du Vallon?"

"I, " said Porthos, "I am entirely of D'Artagnan's opinion; this is a'beastly' country, this England. "

"You are quite decided, then, to leave it?" asked Athos of D'Artagnan. 

"Egad! I don't see what is to keep me here. "

A glance was exchanged between Athos and Aramis. 

"Go, then, my friends, " said the former, sighing. 

"How, go then?" exclaimed D'Artagnan. "Let us go, you mean?"

"No, my friend, " said Athos, "you must leave us. "

"Leave you!" cried D'Artagnan, quite bewildered at this unexpectedannouncement. 

"Bah!" said Porthos, "why separate, since we are all together?"

"Because you can and ought to return to France; your mission isaccomplished, but ours is not. "

"Your mission is not accomplished?" exclaimed D'Artagnan, looking inastonishment at Athos. 

"No, my friend, " replied Athos, in his gentle but decided voice, "wecame here to defend King Charles; we have but ill defended him--itremains for us to save him!"

"To save the king?" said D'Artagnan, looking at Aramis as he had lookedat Athos. 

Aramis contented himself by making a sign with his head. 

D'Artagnan's countenance took an expression of the deepest compassion;he began to think he had to do with madmen. 

"You cannot be speaking seriously, Athos!" said he; "the king issurrounded by an army, which is conducting him to London. This armyis commanded by a butcher, or the son of a butcher--it matterslittle--Colonel Harrison. His majesty, I can assure you, will be triedon his arrival in London; I have heard enough from the lips of OliverCromwell to know what to expect. "

A second look was exchanged between Athos and Aramis. 

"And when the trial is ended there will be no delay in putting thesentence into execution, " continued D'Artagnan. 

"And to what penalty do you think the king will be condemned?" askedAthos. 

"The penalty of death, I greatly fear; they have gone too far for him topardon them, and there is nothing left to them but one thing, and thatis to kill him. Have you never heard what Oliver Cromwell said when hecame to Paris and was shown the dungeon at Vincennes where Monsieur deVendome was imprisoned?"

"What did he say?" asked Porthos. 

"'Princes must be knocked on the head. '"

"I remember it, " said Athos. 

"And you fancy he will not put his maxim into execution, now that he hasgot hold of the king?"

"On the contrary, I am certain he will do so. But then that is all themore reason why we should not abandon the august head so threatened. "

"Athos, you are becoming mad. "

"No, my friend, " Athos gently replied, "but De Winter sought us outin France and introduced us, Monsieur d'Herblay and myself, to MadameHenrietta. Her majesty did us the honor to ask our aid for her husband. We engaged our word; our word included everything. It was our strength, our intelligence, our life, in short, that we promised. It remains nowfor us to keep our word. Is that your opinion, D'Herblay?"

"Yes, " said Aramis, "we have promised. "

"Then, " continued Athos, "we have another reason; it is this--listen: InFrance at this moment everything is poor and paltry. We have a king tenyears old, who doesn't yet know what he wants; we have a queen blindedby a belated passion; we have a minister who governs France as he wouldgovern a great farm--that is to say, intent only on turning out all thegold he can by the exercise of Italian cunning and invention; we haveprinces who set up a personal and egotistic opposition, who will drawfrom Mazarin's hands only a few ingots of gold or some shreds of powergranted as bribes. I have served them without enthusiasm--God knows thatI estimated them at their real value, and that they are not high in myesteem--but on principle. To-day I am engaged in a different affair. I have encountered misfortune in a high place, a royal misfortune, aEuropean misfortune; I attach myself to it. If we can succeed in savingthe king it will be good; if we die for him it will be grand. "

"So you know beforehand you must perish!" said D'Artagnan. 

"We fear so, and our only regret is to die so far from both of you. "

"What will you do in a foreign land, an enemy's country?"

"I traveled in England when I was young, I speak English like anEnglishman, and Aramis, too, knows something of the language. Ah! if wehad you, my friends! With you, D'Artagnan, with you, Porthos--all fourreunited for the first time for twenty years--we would dare not onlyEngland, but the three kingdoms put together!"

"And did you promise the queen, " resumed D'Artagnan, petulantly, "tostorm the Tower of London, to kill a hundred thousand soldiers, to fightvictoriously against the wishes of the nation and the ambition of a man, and when that man is Cromwell? Do not exaggerate your duty. In Heaven'sname, my dear Athos, do not make a useless sacrifice. When I see youmerely, you look like a reasonable being; when you speak, I seem to haveto do with a madman. Come, Porthos, join me; say frankly, what do youthink of this business?"

"Nothing good, " replied Porthos. 

"Come, " continued D'Artagnan, who, irritated that instead of listeningto him Athos seemed to be attending to his own thoughts, "you have neverfound yourself the worse for my advice. Well, then, believe me, Athos, your mission is ended, and ended nobly; return to France with us. "

"Friend, " said Athos, "our resolution is irrevocable. "

"Then you have some other motive unknown to us?"

Athos smiled and D'Artagnan struck his hand together in anger andmuttered the most convincing reasons that he could discover; but to allthese reasons Athos contented himself by replying with a calm, sweetsmile and Aramis by nodding his head. 

"Very well, " cried D'Artagnan, at last, furious, "very well, sinceyou wish it, let us leave our bones in this beggarly land, where itis always cold, where fine weather is a fog, fog is rain, and rain adeluge; where the sun represents the moon and the moon a cream cheese;in truth, whether we die here or elsewhere matters little, since we mustdie. "

"Only reflect, my good fellow, " said Athos, "it is but dying rathersooner. "

"Pooh! a little sooner or a little later, it isn't worth quarrelingover. "

"If I am astonished at anything, " remarked Porthos, sententiously, "itis that it has not already happened. "

"Oh, it will happen, you may be sure, " said D'Artagnan. "So it isagreed, and if Porthos makes no objection----"

"I, " said Porthos, "I will do whatever you please; and besides, I thinkwhat the Comte de la Fere said just now is very good. "

"But your future career, D'Artagnan--your ambition, Porthos?"

"Our future, our ambition!" replied D'Artagnan, with feverishvolubility. "Need we think of that since we are to save the king? Theking saved--we shall assemble our friends together--we will headthe Puritans--reconquer England; we shall re-enter London--place himsecurely on his throne----"

"And he will make us dukes and peers, " said Porthos, whose eyes sparkledwith joy at this imaginary prospect. 

"Or he will forget us, " added D'Artagnan. 

"Oh!" said Porthos. 

"Well, that has happened, friend Porthos. It seems to me that we oncerendered Anne of Austria a service not much less than that which to-daywe are trying to perform for Charles I. ; but, none the less, Anne ofAustria has forgotten us for twenty years. "

"Well, in spite of that, D'Artagnan, " said Athos, "you are not sorrythat you were useful to her?"

"No, indeed, " said D'Artagnan; "I admit even that in my darkest momentsI find consolation in that remembrance. "

"You see, then, D'Artagnan, though princes often are ungrateful, Godnever is. "

"Athos, " said D'Artagnan, "I believe that were you to fall in with thedevil, you would conduct yourself so well that you would take him withyou to Heaven. "

"So, then?" said Athos, offering his hand to D'Artagnan. 

"'Tis settled, " replied D'Artagnan. "I find England a charming country, and I stay--but on one condition only. "

"What is it?"

"That I am not forced to learn English. "

"Well, now, " said Athos, triumphantly, "I swear to you, my friend, bythe God who hears us--I believe that there is a power watching over us, and that we shall all four see France again. "

"So be it!" said D'Artagnan, "but I--I confess I have a contraryconviction. "

"Our good D'Artagnan, " said Aramis, "represents among us the oppositionin parliament, which always says no, and always does aye. "

"But in the meantime saves the country, " added Athos. 

"Well, now that everything is decided, " cried Porthos, rubbing hishands, "suppose we think of dinner! It seems to me that in the mostcritical positions of our lives we have always dined. "

"Oh! yes, speak of dinner in a country where for a feast they eat boiledmutton, and as a treat drink beer. What the devil did you come to such acountry for, Athos? But I forgot, " added the Gascon, smiling, "pardon, I forgot you are no longer Athos; but never mind, let us hear your planfor dinner, Porthos. "

"My plan!"

"Yes, have you a plan?"

"No! I am hungry, that is all. "

"Pardieu, if that is all, I am hungry, too; but it is not everythingto be hungry, one must find something to eat, unless we browse on thegrass, like our horses----"

"Ah!" exclaimed Aramis, who was not quite so indifferent to thegood things of the earth as Athos, "do you remember, when we were atParpaillot, the beautiful oysters that we ate?"

"And the legs of mutton of the salt marshes, " said Porthos, smacking hislips. 

"But, " suggested D'Artagnan, "have we not our friend Mousqueton, whomanaged for us so well at Chantilly, Porthos?"

"Yes, " said Porthos, "we have Mousqueton, but since he has been steward, he has become very heavy; never mind, let us call him, and to make surethat he will reply agreeably----

"Here! Mouston, " cried Porthos. 

Mouston appeared, with a most piteous face. 

"What is the matter, my dear M. Mouston?" asked D'Artagnan. "Are youill?"

"Sir, I am very hungry, " replied Mouston. 

"Well, it is just for that reason that we have called you, my good M. Mouston. Could you not procure us a few of those nice little rabbits, and some of those delicious partridges, of which you used to makefricassees at the hotel----? 'Faith, I do not remember the name of thehotel. "

"At the hotel of----, " said Porthos; "by my faith--nor do I remember iteither. "

"It does not matter; and a few of those bottles of old Burgundy wine, which cured your master so quickly of his sprain!"

"Alas! sir, " said Mousqueton, "I much fear that what you ask for arevery rare things in this detestable and barren country, and I think weshould do better to go and seek hospitality from the owner of a littlehouse we see on the fringe of the forest. "

"How! is there a house in the neighborhood?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, sir, " replied Mousqueton. 

"Well, let us, as you say, go and ask a dinner from the master ofthat house. What is your opinion, gentlemen, and does not M. Mouston'ssuggestion appear to you full of sense?"

"Oh!" said Aramis, "suppose the master is a Puritan?"

"So much the better, mordioux!" replied D'Artagnan; "if he is a Puritanwe will inform him of the capture of the king, and in honor of the newshe will kill for us his fatted hens. "

"But if he should be a cavalier?" said Porthos. 

"In that case we will put on an air of mourning and he will pluck for ushis black fowls. "

"You are very happy, " exclaimed Athos, laughing, in spite of himself, at the sally of the irresistible Gascon; "for you see the bright side ofeverything. "

"What would you have?" said D'Artagnan. "I come from a land where thereis not a cloud in the sky. "

"It is not like this, then, " said Porthos stretching out his hand toassure himself whether a chill sensation he felt on his cheek was notreally caused by a drop of rain. 

"Come, come, " said D'Artagnan, "more reason why we should start on ourjourney. Halloo, Grimaud!"

Grimaud appeared. 

"Well, Grimaud, my friend, have you seen anything?" asked the Gascon. 

"Nothing!" replied Grimaud. 

"Those idiots!" cried Porthos, "they have not even pursued us. Oh! if wehad been in their place!"

"Yes, they are wrong, " said D'Artagnan. "I would willingly have saidtwo words to Mordaunt in this little desert. It is an excellent spot forbringing down a man in proper style. "

"I think, decidedly, " observed Aramis, "gentlemen, that the son hasn'this mother's energy. "

"What, my good fellow!" replied Athos, "wait awhile; we have scarcelyleft him two hours ago--he does not know yet in what direction we camenor where we are. We may say that he is not equal to his mother when weput foot in France, if we are not poisoned or killed before then. "

"Meanwhile, let us dine, " suggested Porthos. 

"I'faith, yes, " said Athos, "for I am hungry. "

"Look out for the black fowls!" cried Aramis. 

And the four friends, guided by Mousqueton, took up the way toward thehouse, already almost restored to their former gayety; for they werenow, as Athos had said, all four once more united and of single mind. 

60. Respect to Fallen Majesty. 

As our fugitives approached the house, they found the ground cut up, asif a considerable body of horsemen had preceded them. Before the doorthe traces were yet more apparent; these horsemen, whoever they mightbe, had halted there. 

"Egad!" cried D'Artagnan, "it's quite clear that the king and his escorthave been by here. "

"The devil!" said Porthos; "in that case they have eaten everything. "

"Bah!" said D'Artagnan, "they will have left a chicken, at least. " Hedismounted and knocked on the door. There was no response. 

He pushed open the door and found the first room empty and deserted. 

"Well?" cried Porthos. 

"I can see nobody, " said D'Artagnan. "Aha!"

"What?"

"Blood!"

At this word the three friends leaped from their horses and entered. D'Artagnan had already opened the door of the second room, and fromthe expression of his face it was clear that he there beheld someextraordinary object. 

The three friends drew near and discovered a young man stretched on theground, bathed in a pool of blood. It was evident that he had attemptedto regain his bed, but had not had sufficient strength to do so. 

Athos, who imagined that he saw him move, was the first to go up to him. 

"Well?" inquired D'Artagnan. 

"Well, if he is dead, " said Athos, "he has not been so long, for he isstill warm. But no, his heart is beating. Ho, there, my friend!"

The wounded man heaved a sigh. D'Artagnan took some water in the hollowof his hand and threw it upon his face. The man opened his eyes, made aneffort to raise his head, and fell back again. The wound was in the topof his skull and blood was flawing copiously. 

Aramis dipped a cloth into some water and applied it to the gash. Againthe wounded man opened his eyes and looked in astonishment at thesestrangers, who appeared to pity him. 

"You are among friends, " said Athos, in English; "so cheer up, and tellus, if you have the strength to do so, what has happened?"

"The king, " muttered the wounded man, "the king is a prisoner. "

"You have seen him?" asked Aramis, in the same language. 

The man made no reply. 

"Make your mind easy, " resumed Athos, "we are all faithful servants ofhis majesty. "

"Is what you tell me true?" asked the wounded man. 

"On our honor as gentlemen. "

"Then I may tell you all. I am brother to Parry, his majesty's lackey. "

Athos and Aramis remembered that this was the name by which De Winterhad called the man they had found in the passage of the king's tent. 

"We know him, " said Athos, "he never left the king. "

"Yes, that is he. Well, he thought of me, when he saw the king wastaken, and as they were passing before the house he begged in the king'sname that they would stop, as the king was hungry. They brought him intothis room and placed sentinels at the doors and windows. Parry knew thisroom, as he had often been to see me when the king was at Newcastle. Heknew that there was a trap-door communicating with a cellar, from whichone could get into the orchard. He made a sign, which I understood, butthe king's guards must have noticed it and held themselves on guard. Iwent out as if to fetch wood, passed through the subterranean passageinto the cellar, and whilst Parry was gently bolting the door, pushed upthe board and beckoned to the king to follow me. Alas! he would not. ButParry clasped his hands and implored him, and at last he agreed. I wenton first, fortunately. The king was a few steps behind me, when suddenlyI saw something rise up in front of me like a huge shadow. I wanted tocry out to warn the king, but that very moment I felt a blow as if thehouse was falling on my head, and fell insensible. When I came to myselfagain, I was stretched in the same place. I dragged myself as far as theyard. The king and his escort were no longer there. I spent perhaps anhour in coming from the yard to this place; then my strength gave outand I fainted again. "

"And now how are you feeling?"

"Very ill, " replied the wounded man. 

"Can we do anything for you?" asked Athos. 

"Help to put me on the bed; I think I shall feel better there. "

"Have you any one to depend on for assistance?"

"My wife is at Durham and may return at any moment. But you--is therenothing that you want?"

"We came here with the intention of asking for something to eat. "

"Alas, they have taken everything; there isn't a morsel of bread in thehouse. "

"You hear, D'Artagnan?" said Athos; "we shall have to look elsewhere forour dinner. "

"It is all one to me now, " said D'Artagnan; "I am no longer hungry. "

"Faith! neither am I, " said Porthos. 

They carried the man to his bed and called Grimaud to dress the wound. In the service of the four friends Grimaud had had so frequent occasionto make lint and bandages that he had become something of a surgeon. 

In the meantime the fugitives had returned to the first room, where theytook counsel together. 

"Now, " said Aramis, "we know how the matter stands. The king and hisescort have gone this way; we had better take the opposite direction, eh?"

Athos did not reply; he reflected. 

"Yes, " said Porthos, "let us take the opposite direction; if we followthe escort we shall find everything devoured and die of hunger. What aconfounded country this England is! This is the first time I have gonewithout my dinner for ten years, and it is generally my best meal. "

"What do you think, D'Artagnan?" asked Athos. "Do you agree withAramis?"

"Not at all, " said D'Artagnan; "I am precisely of the contrary opinion. "

"What! you would follow the escort?" exclaimed Porthos, in dismay. 

"No, I would join the escort. "

Athos's eyes shone with joy. 

"Join the escort!" cried Aramis. 

"Let D'Artagnan speak, " said Athos; "you know he always has wise adviceto give. "

"Clearly, " said D'Artagnan, "we must go where they will not look for us. Now, they will be far from looking for us among the Puritans; therefore, with the Puritans we must go. "

"Good, my friend, good!" said Athos. "It is excellent advice. I wasabout to give it when you anticipated me. "

"That, then, is your opinion?" asked Aramis. 

"Yes. They will think we are trying to leave England and will search forus at the ports; meanwhile we shall reach London with the king. Once inLondon we shall be hard to find--without considering, " continued Athos, throwing a glance at Aramis, "the chances that may come to us on theway. "

"Yes, " said Aramis, "I understand. "

"I, however, do not understand, " said Porthos. "But no matter; since itis at the same time the opinion of D'Artagnan and of Athos, it must bethe best. "

"But, " said Aramis, "shall we not be suspected by Colonel Harrison?"

"Egad!" cried D'Artagnan, "he's just the man I count upon. ColonelHarrison is one of our friends. We have met him twice at GeneralCromwell's. He knows that we were sent from France by Monsieur Mazarin;he will consider us as brothers. Besides, is he not a butcher's son?Well, then, Porthos shall show him how to knock down an ox with a blowof the fist, and I how to trip up a bull by taking him by the horns. That will insure his confidence. "

Athos smiled. "You are the best companion that I know, D'Artagnan, " hesaid, offering his hand to the Gascon; "and I am very happy in havingfound you again, my dear son. "

This was, as we have seen, the term which Athos applied to D'Artagnan inhis more expansive moods. 

At this moment Grimaud came in. He had stanched the wound and the manwas better. 

The four friends took leave of him and asked if they could deliver anymessage for him to his brother. 

"Tell him, " answered the brave man, "to let the king know that they havenot killed me outright. However insignificant I am, I am sure that hismajesty is concerned for me and blames himself for my death. "

"Be easy, " said D'Artagnan, "he will know all before night. "

The little troop recommenced their march, and at the end of two hoursperceived a considerable body of horsemen about half a league ahead. 

"My dear friends, " said D'Artagnan, "give your swords to MonsieurMouston, who will return them to you at the proper time and place, anddo not forget you are our prisoners. "

It was not long before they joined the escort. The king was riding infront, surrounded by troopers, and when he saw Athos and Aramis a glowof pleasure lighted his pale cheeks. 

D'Artagnan passed to the head of the column, and leaving his friendsunder the guard of Porthos, went straight to Harrison, who recognizedhim as having met him at Cromwell's and received him as politely as aman of his breeding and disposition could. It turned out as D'Artagnanhad foreseen. The colonel neither had nor could have any suspicion. 

They halted for the king to dine. This time, however, due precautionswere taken to prevent any attempt at escape. In the large room of thehotel a small table was placed for him and a large one for the officers. 

"Will you dine with me?" asked Harrison of D'Artagnan. 

"Gad, I should be very happy, but I have my companion, Monsieur duVallon, and the two prisoners, whom I cannot leave. Let us manage itbetter. Have a table set for us in a corner and send us whatever youlike from yours. "

"Good, " answered Harrison. 

The matter was arranged as D'Artagnan had suggested, and when hereturned he found the king already seated at his little table, whereParry waited on him, Harrison and his officers sitting together atanother table, and, in a corner, places reserved for himself and hiscompanions. 

The table at which the Puritan officers were seated was round, andwhether by chance or coarse intention, Harrison sat with his back to theking. 

The king saw the four gentlemen come in, but appeared to take no noticeof them. 

They sat down in such a manner as to turn their backs on nobody. Theofficers, table and that of the king were opposite to them. 

"I'faith, colonel, " said D'Artagnan, "we are very grateful for yourgracious invitation; for without you we ran the risk of going withoutdinner, as we have without breakfast. My friend here, Monsieur duVallon, shares my gratitude, for he was particularly hungry. "

"And I am so still, " said Porthos bowing to Harrison. 

"And how, " said Harrison, laughing, "did this serious calamity of goingwithout breakfast happen to you?"

"In a very simple manner, colonel, " said D'Artagnan. "I was in ahurry to join you and took the road you had already gone by. You canunderstand our disappointment when, arriving at a pretty little houseon the skirts of a wood, which at a distance had quite a gay appearance, with its red roof and green shutters, we found nothing but a poor wretchbathed--Ah! colonel, pay my respects to the officer of yours who struckthat blow. "

"Yes, " said Harrison, laughing, and looking over at one of the officersseated at his table. "When Groslow undertakes this kind of thing there'sno need to go over the ground a second time. "

"Ah! it was this gentleman?" said D'Artagnan, bowing to the officer. "I am sorry he does not speak French, that I might tender him mycompliments. "

"I am ready to receive and return them, sir, " said the officer, inpretty good French, "for I resided three years in Paris. "

"Then, sir, allow me to assure you that your blow was so well directedthat you have nearly killed your man. "

"Nearly? I thought I had quite, " said Groslow. 

"No. It was a very near thing, but he is not dead. "

As he said this, D'Artagnan gave a glance at Parry, who was standing infront of the king, to show him that the news was meant for him. 

The king, too, who had listened in the greatest agony, now breathedagain. 

"Hang it, " said Groslow, "I thought I had succeeded better. If it werenot so far from here to the house I would return and finish him. "

"And you would do well, if you are afraid of his recovering; for youknow, if a wound in the head does not kill at once, it is cured in aweek. "

And D'Artagnan threw a second glance toward Parry, on whose face such anexpression of joy was manifested that Charles stretched out his hand tohim, smiling. 

Parry bent over his master's hand and kissed it respectfully. 

"I've a great desire to drink the king's health, " said Athos. 

"Let me propose it, then, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Do, " said Aramis. 

Porthos looked at D'Artagnan, quite amazed at the resources with whichhis companion's Gascon sharpness continually supplied him. D'Artagnantook up his camp tin cup, filled it with wine and arose. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, "let us drink to him who presides at the repast. Here's to our colonel, and let him know that we are always at hiscommands as far as London and farther. "

And as D'Artagnan, as he spoke, looked at Harrison, the colonel imaginedthe toast was for himself. He arose and bowed to the four friends, whoseeyes were fixed on Charles, while Harrison emptied his glass without theslightest misgiving. 

The king, in return, looked at the four gentlemen and drank with a smilefull of nobility and gratitude. 

"Come, gentlemen, " cried Harrison, regardless of his illustriouscaptive, "let us be off. "

"Where do we sleep, colonel?"

"At Thirsk, " replied Harrison. 

"Parry, " said the king, rising too, "my horse; I desire to go toThirsk. "

"Egad!" said D'Artagnan to Athos, "your king has thoroughly taken me, and I am quite at his service. "

"If what you say is sincere, " replied Athos, "he will never reachLondon. "

"How so?"

"Because before then we shall have carried him off. "

"Well, this time, Athos, " said D'Artagnan, "upon my word, you are mad. "

"Have you some plan in your head then?" asked Aramis. 

"Ay!" said Porthos, "the thing would not be impossible with a goodplan. "

"I have none, " said Athos; "but D'Artagnan will discover one. "

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders and they proceeded. 

61. D'Artagnan hits on a Plan. 

As night closed in they arrived at Thirsk. The four friends appeared tobe entire strangers to one another and indifferent to the precautionstaken for guarding the king. They withdrew to a private house, and asthey had reason every moment to fear for their safety, they occupiedbut one room and provided an exit, which might be useful in case ofan attack. The lackeys were sent to their several posts, except thatGrimaud lay on a truss of straw across the doorway. 

D'Artagnan was thoughtful and seemed for the moment to have lost hisusual loquacity. Porthos, who could never see anything that was notself-evident, talked to him as usual. He replied in monosyllables andAthos and Aramis looked significantly at one another. 

Next morning D'Artagnan was the first to rise. He had been down to thestables, already taken a look at the horses and given the necessaryorders for the day, whilst Athos and Aramis were still in bed andPorthos snoring. 

At eight o'clock the march was resumed in the same order as the nightbefore, except that D'Artagnan left his friends and began to renew theacquaintance which he had already struck up with Monsieur Groslow. 

Groslow, whom D'Artagnan's praises had greatly pleased, welcomed himwith a gracious smile. 

"Really, sir, " D'Artagnan said to him, "I am pleased to find one withwhom to talk in my own poor tongue. My friend, Monsieur du Vallon, isof a very melancholy disposition, so much so, that one can scarcelyget three words out of him all day. As for our two prisoners, you canimagine that they are but little in the vein for conversation. "

"They are hot royalists, " said Groslow. 

"The more reason they should be sulky with us for having captured theStuart, for whom, I hope, you're preparing a pretty trial. "

"Why, " said Groslow, "that is just what we are taking him to Londonfor. "

"And you never by any chance lose sight of him, I presume?"

"I should think not, indeed. You see he has a truly royal escort. "

"Ay, there's no fear in the daytime; but at night?"

"We redouble our precautions. "

"And what method of surveillance do you employ?"

"Eight men remain constantly in his room. "

"The deuce, he is well guarded, then. But besides these eight men, youdoubtless place some guard outside?"

"Oh, no! Just think. What would you have two men without arms do againsteight armed men?"

"Two men--how do you mean?"

"Yes, the king and his lackey. "

"Oh! then they allow the lackey to remain with him?"

"Yes; Stuart begged this favor and Harrison consented. Under pretensethat he's a king it appears he cannot dress or undress withoutassistance. "

"Really, captain, " said D'Artagnan, determined to continue on thelaudatory tack on which he had commenced, "the more I listen to you themore surprised I am at the easy and elegant manner in which you speakFrench. You have lived three years in Paris? May I ask what you weredoing there?"

"My father, who is a merchant, placed me with his correspondent, who inturn sent his son to join our house in London. "

"Were you pleased with Paris, sir?"

"Yes, but you are much in want of a revolution like our own--not againstyour king, who is a mere child, but against that lazar of an Italian, the queen's favorite. "

"Ah! I am quite of your opinion, sir, and we should soon make an endof Mazarin if we had only a dozen officers like yourself, withoutprejudices, vigilant and incorruptible. "

"But, " said the officer, "I thought you were in his service and that itwas he who sent you to General Cromwell. "

"That is to say I am in the king's service, and that knowing he wantedto send some one to England, I solicited the appointment, so great wasmy desire to know the man of genius who now governs the three kingdoms. So that when he proposed to us to draw our swords in honor of oldEngland you see how we snapped up the proposition. "

"Yes, I know that you charged by the side of Mordaunt. "

"On his right and left, sir. Ah! there's another brave and excellentyoung man. "

"Do you know him?" asked the officer. 

"Yes, very well. Monsieur du Vallon and myself came from France withhim. "

"It appears, too, you kept him waiting a long time at Boulogne. "

"What would you have? I was like you, and had a king in keeping. "

"Aha!" said Groslow; "what king?"

"Our own, to be sure, the little one--Louis XIV. "

"And how long had you to take care of him?"

"Three nights; and, by my troth, I shall always remember those threenights with a certain pleasure. "

"How do you mean?"

"I mean that my friends, officers in the guards and mousquetaires, came to keep me company and we passed the night in feasting, drinking, dicing. "

"Ah true, " said the Englishman, with a sigh; "you Frenchmen are bornboon companions. "

"And don't you play, too, when you are on guard?"

"Never, " said the Englishman. 

"In that case you must be horribly bored, and have my sympathy. "

"The fact is, I look to my turn for keeping guard with horror. It'stiresome work to keep awake a whole night. "

"Yes, but with a jovial partner and dice, and guineas clinking on thecloth, the night passes like a dream. You don't like playing, then?"

"On the contrary, I do. "

"Lansquenet, for instance?"

"Devoted to it. I used to play almost every night in France. "

"And since your return to England?"

"I have not handled a card or dice-box. "

"I sincerely pity you, " said D'Artagnan, with an air of profoundcompassion. 

"Look here, " said the Englishman. 

"Well?"

"To-morrow I am on guard. "

"In Stuart's room?"

"Yes; come and pass the night with me. "

"Impossible!"

"Impossible! why so?"

"I play with Monsieur du Vallon every night. Sometimes we don't go tobed at all!"

"Well, what of that?"

"Why, he would be annoyed if I did not play with him. "

"Does he play well?"

"I have seen him lose as much as two thousand pistoles, laughing all thewhile till the tears rolled down. "

"Bring him with you, then. "

"But how about our prisoners?"

"Let your servants guard them. "

"Yes, and give them a chance of escaping, " said D'Artagnan. "Why, oneof them is a rich lord from Touraine and the other a knight of Malta, of noble family. We have arranged the ransom of each of them--2, 000 onarriving in France. We are reluctant to leave for a single moment menwhom our lackeys know to be millionaires. It is true we plundered them alittle when we took them, and I will even confess that it is their pursethat Monsieur du Vallon and I draw on in our nightly play. Still, theymay have concealed some precious stone, some valuable diamond; so thatwe are like those misers who are unable to absent themselves from theirtreasures. We have made ourselves the constant guardians of our men, andwhile I sleep Monsieur du Vallon watches. "

"Ah! ah!" said Groslow. 

"You see, then, why I must decline your polite invitation, which isespecially attractive to me, because nothing is so wearisome as to playnight after night with the same person; the chances always balance andat the month's end nothing is gained or lost. "

"Ah!" said Groslow, sighing; "there is something still more wearisome, and that is not to play at all. "

"I can understand that, " said D'Artagnan. 

"But, come, " resumed the Englishman, "are these men of yours dangerous?"

"In what respect?"

"Are they capable of attempting violence?"

D'Artagnan burst out laughing at the idea. 

"Jesus Dieu!" he cried; "one of them is trembling with fever, havingfailed to adapt himself to this charming country of yours, and the otheris a knight of Malta, as timid as a young girl; and for greater securitywe have taken from them even their penknives and pocket scissors. "

"Well, then, " said Groslow, "bring them with you. "

"But really----" said D'Artagnan. 

"I have eight men on guard, you know. Four of them can guard the kingand the other four your prisoners. I'll manage it somehow, you willsee. "

"But, " said D'Artagnan, "now I think of it--what is to prevent ourbeginning to-night?"

"Nothing at all, " said Groslow. 

"Just so. Come to us this evening and to-morrow we'll return yourvisit. "

"Capital! This evening with you, to-morrow at Stuart's, the next daywith me. "

"You see, that with a little forethought one can lead a merry lifeanywhere and everywhere, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, with Frenchmen, and Frenchmen like you. "

"And Monsieur du Vallon, " added the other. "You will see what a fellowhe is; a man who nearly killed Mazarin between two doors. They employhim because they are afraid of him. Ah, there he is calling me now. You'll excuse me, I know. "

They exchanged bows and D'Artagnan returned to his companions. 

"What on earth can you have been saying to that bulldog?" exclaimedPorthos. 

"My dear fellow, don't speak like that of Monsieur Groslow. He's one ofmy most intimate friends. "

"One of your friends!" cried Porthos, "this butcher of unarmed farmers!"

"Hush! my dear Porthos. Monsieur Groslow is perhaps rather hasty, it'strue, but at bottom I have discovered two good qualities in him--he isconceited and stupid. "

Porthos opened his eyes in amazement; Athos and Aramis looked at oneanother and smiled; they knew D'Artagnan, and knew that he did nothingwithout a purpose. 

"But, " continued D'Artagnan, "you shall judge of him for yourself. He iscoming to play with us this evening. "

"Oho!" said Porthos, his eyes glistening at the news. "Is he rich?"

"He's the son of one of the wealthiest merchants in London. "

"And knows lansquenet?"

"Adores it. "

"Basset?"

"His mania. "

"Biribi?"

"Revels in it. "

"Good, " said Porthos; "we shall pass an agreeable evening. "

"The more so, as it will be the prelude to a better. "

"How so?"

"We invite him to play to-night; he has invited us in return to-morrow. But wait. To-night we stop at Derby; and if there is a bottle of winein the town let Mousqueton buy it. It will be well to prepare a lightsupper, of which you, Athos and Aramis, are not to partake--Athos, because I told him you had a fever; Aramis, because you are a knight ofMalta and won't mix with fellows like us. Do you understand?"

"That's no doubt very fine, " said Porthos; "but deuce take me if Iunderstand at all. "

"Porthos, my friend, you know I am descended on the father's side fromthe Prophets and on the mother's from the Sybils, and that I only speakin parables and riddles. Let those who have ears hear and those who haveeyes see; I can tell you nothing more at present. "

"Go ahead, my friend, " said Athos; "I am sure that whatever you do iswell done. "

"And you, Aramis, are you of that opinion?"

"Entirely so, my dear D'Artagnan. "

"Very good, " said D'Artagnan; "here indeed are true believers; it isa pleasure to work miracles before them; they are not like thatunbelieving Porthos, who must see and touch before he will believe. "

"The fact is, " said Porthos, with an air of finesse, "I am ratherincredulous. "

D'Artagnan gave him playful buffet on the shoulder, and as they hadreached the station where they were to breakfast, the conversation endedthere. 

At five in the evening they sent Mousqueton on before as agreed upon. Blaisois went with him. 

In crossing the principal street in Derby the four friends perceivedBlaisois standing in the doorway of a handsome house. It was there alodging was prepared for them. 

At the hour agreed upon Groslow came. D'Artagnan received him as hewould have done a friend of twenty years' standing. Porthos scanned himfrom head to foot and smiled when he discovered that in spite of theblow he had administered to Parry's brother, he was not nearly sostrong as himself. Athos and Aramis suppressed as well as they could thedisgust they felt in the presence of such coarseness and brutality. 

In short, Groslow seemed to be pleased with his reception. 

Athos and Aramis kept themselves to their role. At midnight theywithdrew to their chamber, the door of which was left open on thepretext of kindly consideration. Furthermore, D'Artagnan went with them, leaving Porthos at play with Groslow. 

Porthos gained fifty pistoles from Groslow, and found him a moreagreeable companion than he had at first believed him to be. 

As to Groslow, he promised himself that on the following evening hewould recover from D'Artagnan what he had lost to Porthos, and onleaving reminded the Gascon of his appointment. 

The next day was spent as usual. D'Artagnan went from Captain Groslowto Colonel Harrison and from Colonel Harrison to his friends. To any onenot acquainted with him he seemed to be in his normal condition; but tohis friends--to Athos and Aramis--was apparent a certain feverishness inhis gayety. 

"What is he contriving?" asked Aramis. 

"Wait, " said Athos. 

Porthos said nothing, but he handled in his pocket the fifty pistoleshe had gained from Groslow with a degree of satisfaction which betrayeditself in his whole bearing. 

Arrived at Ryston, D'Artagnan assembled his friends. His face had lostthe expression of careless gayety it had worn like a mask the whole day. Athos pinched Aramis's hand. 

"The moment is at hand, " he said. 

"Yes, " returned D'Artagnan, who had overheard him, "to-night, gentlemen, we rescue the king. "

"D'Artagnan, " said Athos, "this is no joke, I trust? It would quite cutme up. "

"You are a very odd man, Athos, " he replied, "to doubt me thus. Whereand when have you seen me trifle with a friend's heart and a king'slife? I have told you, and I repeat it, that to-night we rescue CharlesI. You left it to me to discover the means and I have done so. "

Porthos looked at D'Artagnan with an expression of profound admiration. Aramis smiled as one who hopes. Athos was pale, and trembled in everylimb. 

"Speak, " said Athos. 

"We are invited, " replied D'Artagnan, "to pass the night with M. Groslow. But do you know where?"

"No. "

"In the king's room. "

"The king's room?" cried Athos. 

"Yes, gentlemen, in the king's room. Groslow is on guard there thisevening, and to pass the time away he has invited us to keep himcompany. "

"All four of us?" asked Athos. 

"Pardieu! certainly, all four; we couldn't leave our prisoners, couldwe?"

"Ah! ah!" said Aramis. 

"Tell us about it, " said Athos, palpitating. 

"We are going, then, we two with our swords, you with daggers. We fourhave got to master these eight fools and their stupid captain. MonsieurPorthos, what do you say to that?"

"I say it is easy enough, " answered Porthos. 

"We dress the king in Groslow's clothes. Mousqueton, Grimaud andBlaisois have our horses saddled at the end of the first street. Wemount them and before daylight are twenty leagues distant. "

Athos placed his two hands on D'Artagnan's shoulders, and gazed at himwith his calm, sad smile. 

"I declare, my friend, " said he, "that there is not a creature underthe sky who equals you in prowess and in courage. Whilst we thought youindifferent to our sorrows, which you couldn't share without crime, youalone among us have discovered what we were searching for in vain. Irepeat it, D'Artagnan, you are the best one among us; I bless and loveyou, my dear son. "

"And to think that I couldn't find that out, " said Porthos, scratchinghis head; "it is so simple. "

"But, " said Aramis, "if I understand rightly we are to kill them all, eh?"

Athos shuddered and turned pale. 

"Mordioux!" answered D'Artagnan, "I believe we must. I confess I candiscover no other safe and satisfactory way. "

"Let us see, " said Aramis, "how are we to act?"

"I have arranged two plans. Firstly, at a given signal, which shallbe the words 'At last, ' you each plunge a dagger into the heart of thesoldier nearest to you. We, on our side, do the same. That will be fourkilled. We shall then be matched, four against the remaining five. Ifthese five men give themselves up we gag them; if they resist, we killthem. If by chance our Amphitryon changes his mind and receives onlyPorthos and myself, why, then, we must resort to heroic measures andeach give two strokes instead of one. It will take a little longer timeand may make a greater disturbance, but you will be outside with swordsand will rush in at the proper time. "

"But if you yourselves should be struck?" said Athos. 

"Impossible!" said D'Artagnan; "those beer drinkers are too clumsy andawkward. Besides, you will strike at the throat, Porthos; it kills asquickly and prevents all outcry. "

"Very good, " said Porthos; "it will be a nice little throat cutting. "

"Horrible, horrible, " exclaimed Athos. 

"Nonsense, " said D'Artagnan; "you would do as much, Mr. Humanity, in abattle. But if you think the king's life is not worth what it must costthere's an end of the matter and I send to Groslow to say I am ill. "

"No, you are right, " said Athos. 

At this moment a soldier entered to inform them that Groslow was waitingfor them. 

"Where?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"In the room of the English Nebuchadnezzar, " replied the staunchPuritan. 

"Good, " replied Athos, whose blood mounted to his face at the insultoffered to royalty; "tell the captain we are coming. "

The Puritan then went out. The lackeys had been ordered to saddle eighthorses and to wait, keeping together and without dismounting, at thecorner of a street about twenty steps from the house where the king waslodged. 

It was nine o'clock in the evening; the sentinels had been relieved ateight and Captain Groslow had been on guard for an hour. D'Artagnan andPorthos, armed with their swords, and Athos and Aramis, each carryinga concealed poniard, approached the house which for the time being wasCharles Stuart's prison. The two latter followed their captors in thehumble guise of captives, without arms. 

"Od's bodikins, " said Groslow, as the four friends entered, "I hadalmost given you up. "

D'Artagnan went up to him and whispered in his ear:

"The fact is, we, that is, Monsieur du Vallon and I, hesitated alittle. "

"And why?"

D'Artagnan looked significantly toward Athos and Aramis. 

"Aha, " said Groslow; "on account of political opinions? No matter. Onthe contrary, " he added, laughing, "if they want to see their Stuartthey shall see him. 

"Are we to pass the night in the king's room?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"No, but in the one next to it, and as the door will remain open itcomes to the same thing. Have you provided yourself with money? I assureyou I intend to play the devil's game to-night. "

D'Artagnan rattled the gold in his pockets. 

"Very good, " said Groslow, and opened the door of the room. "I will showyou the way, " and he went in first. 

D'Artagnan turned to look at his friends. Porthos was perfectlyindifferent; Athos, pale, but resolute; Aramis was wiping a slightmoisture from his brow. 

The eight guards were at their posts. Four in the king's room, two atthe door between the rooms and two at that by which the friends hadentered. Athos smiled when he saw their bare swords; he felt it wasno longer to be a butchery, but a fight, and he resumed his usual goodhumor. 

Charles was perceived through the door, lying dressed upon his bed, atthe head of which Parry was seated, reading in a low voice a chapterfrom the Bible. 

A candle of coarse tallow on a black table lighted up the handsome andresigned face of the king and that of his faithful retainer, far lesscalm. 

From time to time Parry stopped, thinking the king, whose eyes wereclosed, was really asleep, but Charles would open his eyes and say witha smile:

"Go on, my good Parry, I am listening. "

Groslow advanced to the door of the king's room, replaced on his headthe hat he had taken off to receive his guests, looked for a momentcontemptuously at this simple, yet touching scene, then turning toD'Artagnan, assumed an air of triumph at what he had achieved. 

"Capital!" cried the Gascon, "you would make a distinguished general. "

"And do you think, " asked Groslow, "that Stuart will ever escape while Iam on guard?"

"No, to be sure, " replied D'Artagnan; "unless, forsooth, the sky rainsfriends upon him. "

Groslow's face brightened. 

It is impossible to say whether Charles, who kept his eyes constantlyclosed, had noticed the insolence of the Puritan captain, but the momenthe heard the clear tone of D'Artagnan's voice his eyelids rose, in spiteof himself. 

Parry, too, started and stopped reading. 

"What are you thinking about?" said the king; "go on, my good Parry, unless you are tired. "

Parry resumed his reading. 

On a table in the next room were lighted candles, cards, two dice-boxes, and dice. 

"Gentlemen, " said Groslow, "I beg you will take your places. I will sitfacing Stuart, whom I like so much to see, especially where he now is, and you, Monsieur d'Artagnan, opposite to me. "

Athos turned red with rage. D'Artagnan frowned at him. 

"That's it, " said D'Artagnan; "you, Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, tothe right of Monsieur Groslow. You, Chevalier d'Herblay, to his left. Du Vallon next me. You'll bet for me and those gentlemen for MonsieurGroslow. "

By this arrangement D'Artagnan could nudge Porthos with his knee andmake signs with his eyes to Athos and Aramis. 

At the names Comte de la Fere and Chevalier d'Herblay, Charles openedhis eyes, and raising his noble head, in spite of himself, threw aglance at all the actors in the scene. 

At that moment Parry turned over several leaves of his Bible and readwith a loud voice this verse in Jeremiah:

"God said, 'Hear ye the words of the prophets my servants, whom I havesent unto you. '"

The four friends exchanged glances. The words that Parry had readassured them that their presence was understood by the king and wasassigned to its real motive. D'Artagnan's eyes sparkled with joy. 

"You asked me just now if I was in funds, " said D'Artagnan, placing sometwenty pistoles upon the table. "Well, in my turn I advise you to keep asharp lookout on your treasure, my dear Monsieur Groslow, for I can tellyou we shall not leave this without robbing you of it. "

"Not without my defending it, " said Groslow. 

"So much the better, " said D'Artagnan. "Fight, my dear captain, fight. You know or you don't know, that that is what we ask of you. "

"Oh! yes, " said Groslow, bursting with his usual coarse laugh, "I knowyou Frenchmen want nothing but cuts and bruises. "

Charles had heard and understood it all. A slight color mounted to hischeeks. The soldiers then saw him stretch his limbs, little by little, and under the pretense of much heat throw off the Scotch plaid whichcovered him. 

Athos and Aramis started with delight to find that the king was lyingwith his clothes on. 

The game began. The luck had turned, and Groslow, having won somehundred pistoles, was in the merriest possible humor. 

Porthos, who had lost the fifty pistoles he had won the night beforeand thirty more besides, was very cross and questioned D'Artagnan with anudge of the knee as to whether it would not soon be time to changethe game. Athos and Aramis looked at him inquiringly. But D'Artagnanremained impassible. 

It struck ten. They heard the guard going its rounds. 

"How many rounds do they make a night?" asked D'Artagnan, drawing morepistoles from his pocket. 

"Five, " answered Groslow, "one every two hours. "

D'Artagnan glanced at Athos and Aramis and for the first time repliedto Porthos's nudge of the knee by a nudge responsive. Meanwhile, thesoldiers whose duty it was to remain in the king's room, attracted bythat love of play so powerful in all men, had stolen little by littletoward the table, and standing on tiptoe, lounged, watching the game, over the shoulders of D'Artagnan and Porthos. Those on the other sidehad followed their example, thus favoring the views of the four friends, who preferred having them close at hand to chasing them aboutthe chamber. The two sentinels at the door still had their swordsunsheathed, but they were leaning on them while they watched the game. 

Athos seemed to grow calm as the critical moment approached. Withhis white, aristocratic hands he played with the louis, bending andstraightening them again, as if they were made of pewter. Aramis, lessself-controlled, fumbled continually with his hidden poniard. Porthos, impatient at his continued losses, kept up a vigorous play with hisknee. 

D'Artagnan turned, mechanically looking behind him, and between thefigures of two soldiers he could see Parry standing up and Charlesleaning on his elbow with his hands clasped and apparently offering afervent prayer to God. 

D'Artagnan saw that the moment was come. He darted a preparatory glanceat Athos and Aramis, who slyly pushed their chairs a little back soas to leave themselves more space for action. He gave Porthos a secondnudge of the knee and Porthos got up as if to stretch his legs andtook care at the same time to ascertain that his sword could be drawnsmoothly from the scabbard. 

"Hang it!" cried D'Artagnan, "another twenty pistoles lost. Really, Captain Groslow, you are too much in fortune's way. This can't last, "and he drew another twenty from his pocket. "One more turn, captain;twenty pistoles on one throw--only one, the last. "

"Done for twenty, " replied Groslow. 

And he turned up two cards as usual, a king for D'Artagnan and an acefor himself. 

"A king, " said D'Artagnan; "it's a good omen, Master Groslow--look outfor the king. "

And in spite of his extraordinary self-control there was a strangevibration in the Gascon's voice which made his partner start. 

Groslow began turning the cards one after another. If he turned up anace first he won; if a king he lost. 

He turned up a king. 

"At last!" cried D'Artagnan. 

At this word Athos and Aramis jumped up. Porthos drew back a step. Daggers and swords were just about to shine, when suddenly the door wasthrown open and Harrison appeared in the doorway, accompanied by a manenveloped in a large cloak. Behind this man could be seen the glisteningmuskets of half a dozen soldiers. 

Groslow jumped up, ashamed at being surprised in the midst of wine, cards, and dice. But Harrison paid not the least attention to him, andentering the king's room, followed by his companion:

"Charles Stuart, " said he, "an order has come to conduct you to Londonwithout stopping day or night. Prepare yourself, then, to start atonce. "

"And by whom is this order given?" asked the king. 

"By General Oliver Cromwell. And here is Mr. Mordaunt, who has broughtit and is charged with its execution. "

"Mordaunt!" muttered the four friends, exchanging glances. 

D'Artagnan swept up the money that he and Porthos had lost and buriedit in his huge pocket. Athos and Aramis placed themselves behind him. At this movement Mordaunt turned around, recognized them, and uttered anexclamation of savage delight. 

"I'm afraid we are prisoners, " whispered D'Artagnan to his friend. 

"Not yet, " replied Porthos. 

"Colonel, colonel, " cried Mordaunt, "you are betrayed. These fourFrenchmen have escaped from Newcastle, and no doubt want to carry offthe king. Arrest them. "

"Ah! my young man, " said D'Artagnan, drawing his sword, "that is anorder sooner given than executed. Fly, friends, fly!" he added, whirlinghis sword around him. 

The next moment he darted to the door and knocked down two of thesoldiers who guarded it, before they had time to cock their muskets. Athos and Aramis followed him. Porthos brought up the rear, and beforesoldiers, officers, or colonel had time to recover their surprise allfour were in the street. 

"Fire!" cried Mordaunt; "fire upon them!"

Three or four shots were fired, but with no other result than to showthe four fugitives turning the corner of the street safe and sound. 

The horses were at the place fixed upon, and they leaped lightly intotheir saddles. 

"Forward!" cried D'Artagnan, "and spur for your dear lives!"

They galloped away and took the road they had come by in the morning, namely, in the direction toward Scotland. A few hundred yards beyond thetown D'Artagnan drew rein. 

"Halt!" he cried, "this time we shall be pursued. We must let them leavethe village and ride after us on the northern road, and when they havepassed we will take the opposite direction. "

There was a stream close by and a bridge across it. 

D'Artagnan led his horse under the arch of the bridge. The othersfollowed. Ten minutes later they heard the rapid gallop of a troop ofhorsemen. A few minutes more and the troop passed over their heads. 

62. London. 

As soon as the noise of the hoofs was lost in the distance D'Artagnanremounted the bank of the stream and scoured the plain, followed byhis three friends, directing their course, as well as they could guess, toward London. 

"This time, " said D'Artagnan, when they were sufficiently distant toproceed at a trot, "I think all is lost and we have nothing better to dothan to reach France. What do you say, Athos, to that proposition? Isn'tit reasonable?"

"Yes, dear friend, " Athos replied, "but you said a word the other daythat was more than reasonable--it was noble and generous. You said, 'Letus die here!' I recall to you that word. "

"Oh, " said Porthos, "death is nothing: it isn't death that can disquietus, since we don't know what it is. What troubles me is the idea ofdefeat. As things are turning out, I foresee that we must give battleto London, to the provinces, to all England, and certainly in the end wecan't fail to be beaten. "

"We ought to witness this great tragedy even to its last scene, " saidAthos. "Whatever happens, let us not leave England before the crisis. Don't you agree with me, Aramis?"

"Entirely, my dear count. Then, too, I confess I should not be sorry tocome across Mordaunt again. It appears to me that we have an account tosettle with him, and that it is not our custom to leave a place withoutpaying our debts, of this kind, at least. "

"Ah! that's another thing, " said D'Artagnan, "and I should not mindwaiting in London a whole year for a chance of meeting this Mordaunt inquestion. Only let us lodge with some one on whom we can count; for Iimagine, just now, that Noll Cromwell would not be inclined to triflewith us. Athos, do you know any inn in the whole town where one can findwhite sheets, roast beef reasonably cooked, and wine which is not madeof hops and gin?"

"I think I know what you want, " replied Athos. "De Winter took us tothe house of a Spaniard, who, he said, had become naturalized as anEnglishman by the guineas of his new compatriots. What do you say to it, Aramis?"

"Why, the idea of taking quarters with Senor Perez seems to mevery reasonable, and for my part I agree to it. We will invoke theremembrance of that poor De Winter, for whom he seemed to have a greatregard; we will tell him that we have come as amateurs to see what isgoing on; we will spend with him a guinea each per day; and I think thatby taking all these precautions we can be quite undisturbed. "

"You forget, Aramis, one precaution of considerable importance. "

"What is that?"

"The precaution of changing our clothes. "

"Changing our clothes!" exclaimed Porthos. "I don't see why; we are verycomfortable in those we wear. "

"To prevent recognition, " said D'Artagnan. "Our clothes have a cut whichwould proclaim the Frenchman at first sight. Now, I don't set sufficientstore on the cut of my jerkin to risk being hung at Tyburn or sent forchange of scene to the Indies. I shall buy a chestnut-colored suit. I'veremarked that your Puritans revel in that color. "

"But can you find your man?" said Aramis to Athos. 

"Oh! to be sure, yes. He lives at the Bedford Tavern, Greenhall Street. Besides, I can find my way about the city with my eyes shut. "

"I wish we were already there, " said D'Artagnan; "and my advice is thatwe reach London before daybreak, even if we kill our horses. "

"Come on, then, " said Athos, "for unless I am mistaken in mycalculations we have only eight or ten leagues to go. "

The friends urged on their horses and arrived, in fact, at about fiveo'clock in the morning. They were stopped and questioned at the gateby which they sought to enter the city, but Athos replied, in excellentEnglish, that they had been sent forward by Colonel Harrison to announceto his colleague, Monsieur Bridge, the approach of the king. Thatreply led to several questions about the king's capture, and Athosgave details so precise and positive that if the gatekeepers had anysuspicions they vanished completely. The way was therefore opened to thefour friends with all sorts of Puritan congratulations. 

Athos was right. He went direct to the Bedford Tavern, and the host, whorecognized him, was delighted to see him again with such a numerous andpromising company. 

Though it was scarcely daylight our four travelers found the town in agreat bustle, owing to the reported approach of Harrison and the king. 

The plan of changing their clothes was unanimously adopted. The landlordsent out for every description of garment, as if he wanted to fit up hiswardrobe. Athos chose a black coat, which gave him the appearance ofa respectable citizen. Aramis, not wishing to part with his sword, selected a dark-blue cloak of a military cut. Porthos was seduced by awine-colored doublet and sea-green breeches. D'Artagnan, who had fixedon his color beforehand, had only to select the shade, and looked in hischestnut suit exactly like a retired sugar dealer. 

"Now, " said D'Artagnan, "for the actual man. We must cut off our hair, that the populace may not insult us. As we no longer wear the sword ofthe gentleman we may as well have the head of the Puritan. This, as youknow, is the important point of distinction between the Covenanter andthe Cavalier. "

After some discussion this was agreed to and Mousqueton played the roleof barber. 

"We look hideous, " said Athos. 

"And smack of the Puritan to a frightful extent, " said Aramis. 

"My head feels actually cold, " said Porthos. 

"As for me, I feel anxious to preach a sermon, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Now, " said Athos, "that we cannot even recognize one another and havetherefore no fear of others recognizing us, let us go and see the king'sentrance. "

They had not been long in the crowd before loud cries announced theking's arrival. A carriage had been sent to meet him, and the giganticPorthos, who stood a head above the entire rabble, soon announced thathe saw the royal equipage approaching. D'Artagnan raised himself ontiptoe, and as the carriage passed, saw Harrison at one window andMordaunt at the other. 

The next day, Athos, leaning out of his window, which looked upon themost populous part of the city, heard the Act of Parliament, whichsummoned the ex-king, Charles I. , to the bar, publicly cried. 

"Parliament indeed!" cried Athos. "Parliament can never have passed suchan act as that. "

At this moment the landlord came in. 

"Did parliament pass this act?" Athos asked of him in English. 

"Yes, my lord, the pure parliament. "

"What do you mean by 'the pure parliament'? Are there, then, twoparliaments?"

"My friend, " D'Artagnan interrupted, "as I don't understand Englishand we all understand Spanish, have the kindness to speak to us in thatlanguage, which, since it is your own, you must find pleasure in usingwhen you have the chance. "

"Ah! excellent!" said Aramis. 

As to Porthos, all his attention was concentrated on the allurements ofthe breakfast table. 

"You were asking, then?" said the host in Spanish. 

"I asked, " said Athos, in the same language, "if there are twoparliaments, a pure and an impure?"

"Why, how extraordinary!" said Porthos, slowly raising his head andlooking at his friends with an air of astonishment, "I understandEnglish, then! I understand what you say!"

"That is because we are talking Spanish, my dear friend, " said Athos. 

"Oh, the devil!" said Porthos, "I am sorry for that; it would have beenone language more. "

"When I speak of the pure parliament, " resumed the host, "I mean the onewhich Colonel Bridge has weeded. "

"Ah! really, " said D'Artagnan, "these people are very ingenious. When Igo back to France I must suggest some such convenient course to CardinalMazarin and the coadjutor. One of them will weed the parliament in thename of the court, and the other in the name of the people; and thenthere won't be any parliament at all. "

"And who is this Colonel Bridge?" asked Aramis, "and how does he go towork to weed the parliament?"

"Colonel Bridge, " replied the Spaniard, "is a retired wagoner, a man ofmuch sense, who made one valuable observation whilst driving his team, namely, that where there happened to be a stone on the road, it was mucheasier to remove the stone than try and make the wheel pass over it. Now, of two hundred and fifty-one members who composed the parliament, there were one hundred and ninety-one who were in the way and might haveupset his political wagon. He took them up, just as he formerly used totake up the stones from the road, and threw them out of the house. "

"Neat, " remarked D'Artagnan. "Very!"

"And all these one hundred and ninety-one were Royalists?" asked Athos. 

"Without doubt, senor; and you understand that they would have saved theking. "

"To be sure, " said Porthos, with majestic common sense; "they were inthe majority. "

"And you think, " said Aramis, "he will consent to appear before such atribunal?"

"He will be forced to do so, " smiled the Spaniard. 

"Now, Athos!" said D'Artagnan, "do you begin to believe that it's aruined cause, and that what with your Harrisons, Joyces, Bridges andCromwells, we shall never get the upper hand?"

"The king will be delivered at the tribunal, " said Athos; "the verysilence of his supporters indicates that they are at work. "

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders. 

"But, " said Aramis, "if they dare to condemn their king, it can only beto exile or imprisonment. "

D'Artagnan whistled a little air of incredulity. 

"We shall see, " said Athos, "for we shall go to the sittings, Ipresume. "

"You will not have long to wait, " said the landlord; "they beginto-morrow. "

"So, then, they drew up the indictments before the king was taken?"

"Of course, " said D'Artagnan; "they began the day he was sold. "

"And you know, " said Aramis, "that it was our friend Mordaunt who made, if not the bargain, at least the overtures. "

"And you know, " added D'Artagnan, "that whenever I catch him I will killhim, this Mordaunt. "

"And I, too, " exclaimed Porthos. 

"And I, too, " added Aramis. 

"Touching unanimity!" cried D'Artagnan, "which well becomes goodcitizens like us. Let us take a turn around the town and imbibe a littlefog. "

"Yes, " said Porthos, "'twill be at least a little change from beer. "

63. The Trial. 

The next morning King Charles I. Was haled by a strong guard before thehigh court which was to judge him. All London was crowding to the doorsof the house. The throng was terrific, and it was not till after muchpushing and some fighting that our friends reached their destination. When they did so they found the three lower rows of benches alreadyoccupied; but being anxious not to be too conspicuous, all, with theexception of Porthos, who had a fancy to display his red doublet, werequite satisfied with their places, the more so as chance had broughtthem to the centre of their row, so that they were exactly opposite thearm-chair prepared for the royal prisoner. 

Toward eleven o'clock the king entered the hall, surrounded by guards, but wearing his head covered, and with a calm expression turned to everyside with a look of complete assurance, as if he were there topreside at an assembly of submissive subjects, rather than to meet theaccusations of a rebel court. 

The judges, proud of having a monarch to humiliate, evidently preparedto enjoy the right they had arrogated to themselves, and sent an officerto inform the king that it was customary for the accused to uncover hishead. 

Charles, without replying a single word, turned his head in anotherdirection and pulled his felt hat over it. Then when the officer wasgone he sat down in the arm-chair opposite the president and struckhis boots with a little cane which he carried in his hand. Parry, whoaccompanied him, stood behind him. 

D'Artagnan was looking at Athos, whose face betrayed all those emotionswhich the king, possessing more self-control, had banished from his own. This agitation in one so cold and calm as Athos, frightened him. 

"I hope, " he whispered to him, "that you will follow his majesty'sexample and not get killed for your folly in this den. "

"Set your mind at rest, " replied Athos. 

"Aha!" continued D'Artagnan, "it is clear that they are afraid ofsomething or other; for look, the sentinels are being reinforced. Theyhad only halberds before, now they have muskets. The halberds were forthe audience in the rear; the muskets are for us. "

"Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty-five men, " said Porthos, counting thereinforcements. 

"Ah!" said Aramis, "but you forget the officer. "

D'Artagnan grew pale with rage. He recognized Mordaunt, who with baresword was marshalling the musketeers behind the king and opposite thebenches. 

"Do you think they have recognized us?" said D'Artagnan. "In that case Ishould beat a retreat. I don't care to be shot in a box. "

"No, " said Aramis, "he has not seen us. He sees no one but the king. MonDieu! how he stares at him, the insolent dog! Does he hate his majestyas much as he does us?"

"Pardi, " answered Athos "we only carried off his mother; the king hasspoiled him of his name and property. "

"True, " said Aramis; "but silence! the president is speaking to theking. "

"Stuart, " Bradshaw was saying, "listen to the roll call of your judgesand address to the court any observations you may have to make. "

The king turned his head away, as if these words had not been intendedfor him. Bradshaw waited, and as there was no reply there was a momentof silence. 

Out of the hundred and sixty-three members designated there were onlyseventy-three present, for the rest, fearful of taking part in such anact, had remained away. 

When the name of Colonel Fairfax was called, one of those brief butsolemn silences ensued, which announced the absence of the members whohad no wish to take a personal part in the trial. 

"Colonel Fairfax, " repeated Bradshaw. 

"Fairfax, " answered a laughing voice, the silvery tone of which betrayedit as that of a woman, "is not such a fool as to be here. "

A loud laugh followed these words, pronounced with that boldness whichwomen draw from their own weakness--a weakness which removes them beyondthe power of vengeance. 

"It is a woman's voice, " cried Aramis; "faith, I would give a good dealif she is young and pretty. " And he mounted on the bench to try and geta sight of her. 

"By my soul, " said Aramis, "she is charming. Look D'Artagnan; everybodyis looking at her; and in spite of Bradshaw's gaze she has not turnedpale. "

"It is Lady Fairfax herself, " said D'Artagnan. "Don't you remember, Porthos, we saw her at General Cromwell's?"

The roll call continued. 

"These rascals will adjourn when they find that they are not insufficient force, " said the Comte de la Fere. 

"You don't know them. Athos, look at Mordaunt's smile. Is that the lookof a man whose victim is likely to escape him? Ah, cursed basilisk, itwill be a happy day for me when I can cross something more than a lookwith you. "

"The king is really very handsome, " said Porthos; "and look, too, thoughhe is a prisoner, how carefully he is dressed. The feather in his hat isworth at least five-and-twenty pistoles. Look at it, Aramis. "

The roll call finished, the president ordered them to read the act ofaccusation. Athos turned pale. A second time he was disappointed in hisexpectation. Notwithstanding the judges were so few the trial was tocontinue; the king then, was condemned in advance. 

"I told you so, Athos, " said D'Artagnan, shrugging his shoulders. "Nowtake your courage in both hands and hear what this gentleman in black isgoing to say about his sovereign, with full license and privilege. "

Never till then had a more brutal accusation or meaner insults tarnishedkingly majesty. 

Charles listened with marked attention, passing over the insults, notingthe grievances, and, when hatred overflowed all bounds and the accuserturned executioner beforehand, replying with a smile of lofty scorn. 

"The fact is, " said D'Artagnan, "if men are punished for imprudence andtriviality, this poor king deserves punishment. But it seems to me thatthat which he is just now undergoing is hard enough. "

"In any case, " Aramis replied, "the punishment should fall not on theking, but on his ministers; for the first article of the constitutionis, 'The king can do no wrong. '"

"As for me, " thought Porthos, giving Mordaunt his whole attention, "wereit not for breaking in on the majesty of the situation I would leap downfrom the bench, reach Mordaunt in three bounds and strangle him; Iwould then take him by the feet and knock the life out of these wretchedmusketeers who parody the musketeers of France. Meantime, D'Artagnan, who is full of invention, would find some way to save the king. I mustspeak to him about it. "

As to Athos, his face aflame, his fists clinched, his lips bitten tillthey bled, he sat there foaming with rage at that endless parliamentaryinsult and that long enduring royal patience; the inflexible arm andsteadfast heart had given place to a trembling hand and a body shaken byexcitement. 

At this moment the accuser concluded with these words: "The presentaccusation is preferred by us in the name of the English people. "

At these words there was a murmur along the benches, and a second voice, not that of a woman, but a man's, stout and furious, thundered behindD'Artagnan. 

"You lie!" it cried. "Nine-tenths of the English people are horrified atwhat you say. "

This voice was that of Athos, who, standing up with outstretched handand quite out of his mind, thus assailed the public accuser. 

King, judges, spectators, all turned their eyes to the bench wherethe four friends were seated. Mordaunt did the same and recognized thegentleman, around whom the three other Frenchmen were standing, pale andmenacing. His eyes glittered with delight. He had discovered those towhose death he had devoted his life. A movement of fury called to hisside some twenty of his musketeers, and pointing to the bench where hisenemies were: "Fire on that bench!" he cried. 

But with the rapidity of thought D'Artagnan seized Athos by the waist, and followed by Porthos with Aramis, leaped down from the benches, rushed into the passages, and flying down the staircase were lost inthe crowd without, while the muskets within were pointed on some threethousand spectators, whose piteous cries and noisy alarm stopped theimpulse already given to bloodshed. 

Charles also had recognized the four Frenchmen. He put one hand on hisheart to still its beating and the other over his eyes, that he mightnot witness the slaying of his faithful friends. 

Mordaunt, pale and trembling with anger, rushed from the hall sword inhand, followed by six pikemen, pushing, inquiring and panting in thecrowd; and then, having found nothing, returned. 

The tumult was indescribable. More than half an hour passed before anyone could make himself heard. The judges were looking for a new outbreakfrom the benches. The spectators saw the muskets leveled at them, anddivided between fear and curiosity, remained noisy and excited. 

Quiet was at length restored. 

"What have you to say in your defense?" asked Bradshaw of the king. 

Then rising, with his head still covered, in the tone of a judge ratherthan a prisoner, Charles began. 

"Before questioning me, " he said, "reply to my question. I was free atNewcastle and had there concluded a treaty with both houses. Instead ofperforming your part of this contract, as I performed mine, you boughtme from the Scotch, cheaply, I know, and that does honor to the economictalent of your government. But because you have paid the price of aslave, do you imagine that I have ceased to be your king? No. To answeryou would be to forget it. I shall only reply to you when you havesatisfied me of your right to question me. To answer you would beto acknowledge you as my judges, and I only acknowledge you as myexecutioners. " And in the middle of a deathlike silence, Charles, calm, lofty, and with his head still covered, sat down again in his arm-chair. 

"Why are not my Frenchmen here?" he murmured proudly and turning hiseyes to the benches where they had appeared for a moment; "they wouldhave seen that their friend was worthy of their defense while alive, andof their tears when dead. "

"Well, " said the president, seeing that Charles was determined to remainsilent, "so be it. We will judge you in spite of your silence. You areaccused of treason, of abuse of power, and murder. The evidence willsupport it. Go, and another sitting will accomplish what you havepostponed in this. "

Charles rose and turned toward Parry, whom he saw pale and with histemples dewed with moisture. 

"Well, my dear Parry, " said he, "what is the matter, and what can affectyou in this manner?"

"Oh, my king, " said Parry, with tears in his eyes and in a tone ofsupplication, "do not look to the left as we leave the hall. "

"And why, Parry?"

"Do not look, I implore you, my king. "

"But what is the matter? Speak, " said Charles, attempting to look acrossthe hedge of guards which surrounded him. 

"It is--but you will not look, will you?--it is because they have hadthe axe, with which criminals are executed, brought and placed there onthe table. The sight is hideous. "

"Fools, " said Charles, "do they take me for a coward, like themselves?You have done well to warn me. Thank you, Parry. "

When the moment arrived the king followed his guards out of the hall. Ashe passed the table on which the axe was laid, he stopped, and turningwith a smile, said:

"Ah! the axe, an ingenious device, and well worthy of those who know notwhat a gentleman is; you frighten me not, executioner's axe, " added he, touching it with the cane which he held in his hand, "and I strike younow, waiting patiently and Christianly for you to return the blow. "

And shrugging his shoulders with unaffected contempt he passed on. Whenhe reached the door a stream of people, who had been disappointed in notbeing able to get into the house and to make amends had collected to seehim come out, stood on each side, as he passed, many among them glaringon him with threatening looks. 

"How many people, " thought he, "and not one true friend. "

And as he uttered these words of doubt and depression within his mind, avoice beside him said:

"Respect to fallen majesty. "

The king turned quickly around, with tears in his eyes and heart. Itwas an old soldier of the guards who could not see his king pass captivebefore him without rendering him this final homage. But the next momentthe unfortunate man was nearly killed with heavy blows of sword-hilts, and among those who set upon him the king recognized Captain Groslow. 

"Alas!" said Charles, "that is a severe chastisement for a very triflingfault. "

He continued his walk, but he had scarcely gone a hundred paces, when afurious fellow, leaning between two soldiers, spat in the king's face, as once an infamous and accursed Jew spit in the face of Jesus ofNazareth. Loud roars of laughter and sullen murmurs arose together. Thecrowd opened and closed again, undulating like a stormy sea, and theking imagined that he saw shining in the midst of this living wave thebright eyes of Athos. 

Charles wiped his face and said with a sad smile: "Poor wretch, for halfa crown he would do as much to his own father. "

The king was not mistaken. Athos and his friends, again mingling withthe throng, were taking a last look at the martyr king. 

When the soldier saluted Charles, Athos's heart bounded for joy; andthat unfortunate, on coming to himself, found ten guineas that theFrench gentleman had slipped into his pocket. But when the cowardlyinsulter spat in the face of the captive monarch Athos grasped hisdagger. But D'Artagnan stopped his hand and in a hoarse voice cried, "Wait!"

Athos stopped. D'Artagnan, leaning on Athos, made a sign to Porthos andAramis to keep near them and then placed himself behind the man withthe bare arms, who was still laughing at his own vile pleasantry andreceiving the congratulations of several others. 

The man took his way toward the city. The four friends followed him. Theman, who had the appearance of being a butcher, descended a little steepand isolated street, looking on to the river, with two of his friends. Arrived at the bank of the river the three men perceived that they werefollowed, turned around, and looking insolently at the Frenchmen, passedsome jests from one to another. 

"I don't know English, Athos, " said D'Artagnan; "but you know it andwill interpret for me. "

Then quickening their steps they passed the three men, but turnedback immediately, and D'Artagnan walked straight up to the butcher andtouching him on the chest with the tip of his finger, said to Athos:

"Say this to him in English: 'You are a coward. You have insulted adefenseless man. You have befouled the face of your king. You mustdie. '"

Athos, pale as a ghost, repeated these words to the man, who, seeingthe bodeful preparations that were making, put himself in an attitude ofdefense. Aramis, at this movement, drew his sword. 

"No, " cried D'Artagnan, "no steel. Steel is for gentlemen. "

And seizing the butcher by the throat:

"Porthos, " said he, "kill this fellow for me with a single blow. "

Porthos raised his terrible fist, which whistled through the air likea sling, and the portentous mass fell with a smothered crash on theinsulter's skull and crushed it. The man fell like an ox beneath thepoleaxe. His companions, horror-struck, could neither move nor cry out. 

"Tell them this, Athos, " resumed D'Artagnan; "thus shall all die whoforget that a captive man is sacred and that a captive king doublyrepresents the Lord. "

Athos repeated D'Artagnan's words. 

The fellows looked at the body of their companion, swimming in blood, and then recovering voice and legs together, ran screaming off. 

"Justice is done, " said Porthos, wiping his forehead. 

"And now, " said D'Artagnan to Athos, "entertain no further doubts aboutme; I undertake all that concerns the king. "

64. Whitehall. 

The parliament condemned Charles to death, as might have been foreseen. Political judgments are generally vain formalities, for the samepassions which give rise to the accusation ordain to the condemnation. Such is the atrocious logic of revolutions. 

Although our friends were expecting that condemnation, it filled themwith grief. D'Artagnan, whose mind was never more fertile in resourcesthan in critical emergencies, swore again that he would try allconceivable means to prevent the denouement of the bloody tragedy. Butby what means? As yet he could form no definite plan; all must depend oncircumstances. Meanwhile, it was necessary at all hazards, in orderto gain time, to put some obstacle in the way of the execution on thefollowing day--the day appointed by the judges. The only way of doingthat was to cause the disappearance of the London executioner. Theheadsman out of the way, the sentence could not be executed. True, theycould send for the headsman of the nearest town, but at least aday would be gained, and a day might be sufficient for the rescue. D'Artagnan took upon himself that more than difficult task. 

Another thing, not less essential, was to warn Charles Stuart of theattempt to be made, so that he might assist his rescuers as much aspossible, or at least do nothing to thwart their efforts. Aramis assumedthat perilous charge. Charles Stuart had asked that Bishop Juxon mightbe permitted to visit him. Mordaunt had called on the bishop that veryevening to apprise him of the religious desire expressed by the kingand also of Cromwell's permission. Aramis determined to obtain from thebishop, through fear or by persuasion, consent that he should enterin the bishop's place, and clad in his sacerdotal robes, the prison atWhitehall. 

Finally, Athos undertook to provide, in any event, the means of leavingEngland--in case either of failure or of success. 

The night having come they made an appointment to meet at eleven o'clockat the hotel, and each started out to fulfill his dangerous mission. 

The palace of Whitehall was guarded by three regiments of cavalry and bythe fierce anxiety of Cromwell, who came and went or sent his generalsor his agents continually. Alone in his usual room, lighted by twocandles, the condemned monarch gazed sadly on the luxury of his pastgreatness, just as at the last hour one sees the images of life moremildly brilliant than of yore. 

Parry had not quitted his master, and since his condemnation had notceased to weep. Charles, leaning on a table, was gazing at a medallionof his wife and daughter; he was waiting first for Juxon, then formartyrdom. 

At times he thought of those brave French gentlemen who had appeared tohim from a distance of a hundred leagues fabulous and unreal, like theforms that appear in dreams. In fact, he sometimes asked himself if allthat was happening to him was not a dream, or at least the delirium ofa fever. He rose and took a few steps as if to rouse himself from historpor and went as far as the window; he saw glittering below him themuskets of the guards. He was thereupon constrained to admit that he wasindeed awake and that his bloody dream was real. 

Charles returned in silence to his chair, rested his elbow on the table, bowed his head upon his hand and reflected. 

"Alas!" he said to himself, "if I only had for a confessor one of thoselights of the church, whose soul has sounded all the mysteries of life, all the littlenesses of greatness, perhaps his utterance would overawethe voice that wails within my soul. But I shall have a priest of vulgarmind, whose career and fortune I have ruined by my misfortune. He willspeak to me of God and death, as he has spoken to many another dyingman, not understanding that this one leaves his throne to an usurper, his children to the cold contempt of public charity. "

And he raised the medallion to his lips. 

It was a dull, foggy night. A neighboring church clock slowly struckthe hour. The flickering light of the two candles showed fitful phantomshadows in the lofty room. These were the ancestors of Charles, standingback dimly in their tarnished frames. 

An awful sadness enveloped the heart of Charles. He buried his brow inhis hands and thought of the world, so beautiful when one is aboutto leave it; of the caresses of children, so pleasing and so sweet, especially when one is parting from his children never to see themagain; then of his wife, the noble and courageous woman who hadsustained him to the last moment. He drew from his breast the diamondcross and the star of the Garter which she had sent him by thosegenerous Frenchmen; he kissed it, and then, as he reflected, that shewould never again see those things till he lay cold and mutilated in thetomb, there passed over him one of those icy shivers which may be calledforerunners of death. 

Then, in that chamber which recalled to him so many royal souvenirs, whither had come so many courtiers, the scene of so much flatteringhomage, alone with a despairing servant, whose feeble soul could affordno support to his own, the king at last yielded to sorrow, and hiscourage sank to a level with that feebleness, those shadows, and thatwintry cold. That king, who was so grand, so sublime in the hour ofdeath, meeting his fate with a smile of resignation on his lips, nowin that gloomy hour wiped away a tear which had fallen on the table andquivered on the gold embroidered cloth. 

Suddenly the door opened, an ecclesiastic in episcopal robes entered, followed by two guards, to whom the king waved an imperious gesture. Theguards retired; the room resumed its obscurity. 

"Juxon!" cried Charles, "Juxon, thank you, my last friend; you come at afitting moment. "

The bishop looked anxiously at the man sobbing in the ingle-nook. 

"Come, Parry, " said the king, "cease your tears. "

"If it's Parry, " said the bishop, "I have nothing to fear; so allow meto salute your majesty and to tell you who I am and for what I am come. "

At this sight and this voice Charles was about to cry out, when Aramisplaced his finger on his lips and bowed low to the king of England. 

"The chevalier!" murmured Charles. 

"Yes, sire, " interrupted Aramis, raising his voice, "Bishop Juxon, thefaithful knight of Christ, obedient to your majesty's wishes. "

Charles clasped his hands, amazed and stupefied to find that theseforeigners, without other motive than that which their conscienceimposed on them, thus combated the will of a people and the destiny of aking. 

"You!" he said, "you! how did you penetrate hither? If they recognizeyou, you are lost. "

"Care not for me, sire; think only of yourself. You see, your friendsare wakeful. I know not what we shall do yet, but four determined mencan do much. Meanwhile, do not be surprised at anything that happens;prepare yourself for every emergency. "

Charles shook his head. 

"Do you know that I die to-morrow at ten o'clock?"

"Something, your majesty, will happen between now and then to make theexecution impossible. "

The king looked at Aramis with astonishment. 

At this moment a strange noise, like the unloading of a cart, andfollowed by a cry of pain, was heard beneath the window. 

"Do you hear?" said the king. 

"I hear, " said Aramis, "but I understand neither the noise nor the cryof pain. "

"I know not who can have uttered the cry, " said the king, "but the noiseis easily understood. Do you know that I am to be beheaded outside thiswindow? Well, these boards you hear unloaded are the posts and planksto build my scaffold. Some workmen must have fallen underneath them andbeen hurt. "

Aramis shuddered in spite of himself. 

"You see, " said the king, "that it is useless for you to resist. I amcondemned; leave me to my death. "

"My king, " said Aramis, "they well may raise a scaffold, but they cannotmake an executioner. "

"What do you mean?" asked the king. 

"I mean that at this hour the headsman has been got out of the way byforce or persuasion. The scaffold will be ready by to-morrow, but theheadsman will be wanting and they will put it off till the day afterto-morrow. "

"What then?" said the king. 

"To-morrow night we shall rescue you. "

"How can that be?" cried the king, whose face was lighted up, in spiteof himself, by a flash of joy. 

"Oh! sir, " cried Parry, "may you and yours be blessed!"

"How can it be?" repeated the king. "I must know, so that I may assistyou if there is any chance. "

"I know nothing about it, " continued Aramis, "but the cleverest, thebravest, the most devoted of us four said to me when I left him, 'Tellthe king that to-morrow at ten o'clock at night, we shall carry himoff. ' He has said it and will do it. "

"Tell me the name of that generous friend, " said the king, "that I maycherish for him an eternal gratitude, whether he succeeds or not. "

"D'Artagnan, sire, the same who had so nearly rescued you when ColonelHarrison made his untimely entrance. "

"You are, indeed, wonderful men, " said the king; "if such things hadbeen related to me I should not have believed them. "

"Now, sire, " resumed Aramis, "listen to me. Do not forget for a singleinstant that we are watching over your safety; observe the smallestgesture, the least bit of song, the least sign from any one near you;watch everything, hear everything, interpret everything. "

"Oh, chevalier!" cried the king, "what can I say to you? There is noword, though it should come from the profoundest depth of my heart, thatcan express my gratitude. If you succeed I do not say that you will savea king; no, in presence of the scaffold as I am, royalty, I assureyou, is a very small affair; but you will save a husband to his wife, afather to his children. Chevalier, take my hand; it is that of a friendwho will love you to his last sigh. "

Aramis stooped to kiss the king's hand, but Charles clasped his andpressed it to his heart. 

At this moment a man entered, without even knocking at the door. Aramistried to withdraw his hand, but the king still held it. The man was oneof those Puritans, half preacher and half soldier, who swarmed aroundCromwell. 

"What do you want, sir?" said the king. 

"I desire to know if the confession of Charles Stuart is at an end?"said the stranger. 

"And what is it to you?" replied the king; "we are not of the samereligion. "

"All men are brothers, " said the Puritan. "One of my brothers is aboutto die and I come to prepare him. "

"Bear with him, " whispered Aramis; "it is doubtless some spy. "

"After my reverend lord bishop, " said the king to the man, "I shall hearyou with pleasure, sir. "

The man retired, but not before examining the supposed Juxon with anattention which did not escape the king. 

"Chevalier, " said the king, when the door was closed, "I believe you areright and that this man only came here with evil intentions. Take carethat no misfortune befalls you when you leave. "

"I thank your majesty, " said Aramis, "but under these robes I have acoat of mail, a pistol and a dagger. "

"Go, then, sir, and God keep you!"

The king accompanied him to the door, where Aramis pronounced hisbenediction upon him, and passing through the ante-rooms, filled withsoldiers, jumped into his carriage and drove to the bishop's palace. Juxon was waiting for him impatiently. 

"Well?" said he, on perceiving Aramis. 

"Everything has succeeded as I expected; spies, guards, satellites, alltook me for you, and the king blesses you while waiting for you to blesshim. "

"May God protect you, my son; for your example has given me at the sametime hope and courage. "

Aramis resumed his own attire and left Juxon with the assurance that hemight again have recourse to him. 

He had scarcely gone ten yards in the street when he perceived that hewas followed by a man, wrapped in a large cloak. He placed his handon his dagger and stopped. The man came straight toward him. It wasPorthos. 

"My dear friend, " cried Aramis. 

"You see, we had each our mission, " said Porthos; "mine was to guard youand I am doing so. Have you seen the king?"

"Yes, and all goes well. "

"We are to meet our friends at the hotel at eleven. "

It was then striking half-past ten by St. Paul's. 

Arrived at the hotel it was not long before Athos entered. 

"All's well, " he cried, as he entered; "I have hired a cedar wherry, aslight as a canoe, as easy on the wing as any swallow. It is waiting forus at Greenwich, opposite the Isle of Dogs, manned by a captain and fourmen, who for the sum of fifty pounds sterling will keep themselves atour disposition three successive nights. Once on board we drop down theThames and in two hours are on the open sea. In case I am killed, the captain's name is Roger and the skiff is called the Lightning. Ahandkerchief, tied at the four corners, is to be the signal. "

Next moment D'Artagnan entered. 

"Empty your pockets, " said he; "I want a hundred pounds, and as for myown----" and he emptied them inside out. 

The sum was collected in a minute. D'Artagnan ran out and returneddirectly after. 

"There, " said he, "it's done. Ough! and not without a deal of trouble, too. "

"Has the executioner left London?" asked Athos. 

"Ah, you see that plan was not sure enough; he might go out by one gateand return by another. "

"Where is he, then?"

"In the cellar. "

"The cellar--what cellar?"

"Our landlord's, to be sure. Mousqueton is propped against the door andhere's the key. "

"Bravo!" said Aramis, "how did you manage it?"

"Like everything else, with money; but it cost me dear. "

"How much?" asked Athos. 

"Five hundred pounds. "

"And where did you get so much money?" said Athos. "Had you, then, thatsum?"

"The queen's famous diamond, " answered D'Artagnan, with a sigh. 

"Ah, true, " said Aramis. "I recognized it on your finger. "

"You bought it back, then, from Monsieur des Essarts?" asked Porthos. 

"Yes, but it was fated that I should not keep it. "

"So, then, we are all right as regards the executioner, " said Athos;"but unfortunately every executioner has his assistant, his man, orwhatever you call him. "

"And this one had his, " said D'Artagnan; "but, as good luck would haveit, just as I thought I should have two affairs to manage, our friendwas brought home with a broken leg. In the excess of his zeal he hadaccompanied the cart containing the scaffolding as far as the king'swindow, and one of the crossbeams fell on his leg and broke it. "

"Ah!" cried Aramis, "that accounts for the cry I heard. "

"Probably, " said D'Artagnan, "but as he is a thoughtful young man hepromised to send four expert workmen in his place to help those alreadyat the scaffold, and wrote the moment he was brought home to Master TomLowe, an assistant carpenter and friend of his, to go down to Whitehall, with three of his friends. Here's the letter he sent by a messenger, forsixpence, who sold it to me for a guinea. "

"And what on earth are you going to do with it?" asked Athos. 

"Can't you guess, my dear Athos? You, who speak English like JohnBull himself, are Master Tom Lowe, we, your three companions. Do youunderstand it now?"

Athos uttered a cry of joy and admiration, ran to a closet and drewforth workmen's clothes, which the four friends immediately put on; theythen left the hotel, Athos carrying a saw, Porthos a vise, Aramis an axeand D'Artagnan a hammer and some nails. 

The letter from the executioner's assistant satisfied the mastercarpenter that those were the men he expected. 

65. The Workmen. 

Toward midnight Charles heard a great noise beneath his window. It arosefrom blows of hammer and hatchet, clinking of pincers and cranching ofsaws. 

Lying dressed upon his bed, the noise awoke him with a start and found agloomy echo in his heart. He could not endure it, and sent Parry to askthe sentinel to beg the workmen to strike more gently and not disturbthe last slumber of one who had been their king. The sentinel wasunwilling to leave his post, but allowed Parry to pass. 

Arriving at the window Parry found an unfinished scaffold, over whichthey were nailing a covering of black serge. Raised to the height oftwenty feet, so as to be on a level with the window, it had two lowerstories. Parry, odious as was this sight to him, sought for those amongsome eight or ten workmen who were making the most noise; and fixed ontwo men, who were loosening the last hooks of the iron balcony. 

"My friends, " said Parry, mounting the scaffold and standing besidethem, "would you work a little more quietly? The king wishes to get asleep. "

One of the two, who was standing up, was of gigantic size and wasdriving a pick with all his might into the wall, whilst the other, kneeling beside him, was collecting the pieces of stone. The face of thefirst was lost to Parry in the darkness; but as the second turned aroundand placed his finger on his lips Parry started back in amazement. 

"Very well, very well, " said the workman aloud, in excellent English. "Tell the king that if he sleeps badly to-night he will sleep betterto-morrow night. "

These blunt words, so terrible if taken literally, were received by theother workmen with a roar of laughter. But Parry withdrew, thinking hewas dreaming. 

Charles was impatiently awaiting his return. At the moment here-entered, the sentinel who guarded the door put his head through theopening, curious as to what the king was doing. The king was lying onhis bed, resting on his elbow. Parry closed the door and approaching theking, his face radiant with joy:

"Sire, " he said, in a low voice, "do you know who these workmen are whoare making so much noise?"

"I? No; how would you have me know?"

Parry bent his head and whispered to the king: "It is the Comte de laFere and his friends. "

"Raising my scaffold!" cried the king, astounded. 

"Yes, and at the same time making a hole in the wall. "

The king clasped his hands and raised his eyes to Heaven; then leapingdown from his bed he went to the window, and pulling aside the curtaintried to distinguish the figures outside, but in vain. 

Parry was not wrong. It was Athos he had recognized, and Porthos who wasboring a hole through the wall. 

This hole communicated with a kind of loft--the space between the floorof the king's room and the ceiling of the one below it. Their plan wasto pass through the hole they were making into this loft and cut outfrom below a piece of the flooring of the king's room, so as to form akind of trap-door. 

Through this the king was to escape the next night, and, hidden by theblack covering of the scaffold, was to change his dress for that of aworkman, slip out with his deliverers, pass the sentinels, who wouldsuspect nothing, and so reach the skiff that was waiting for him atGreenwich. 

Day gilded the tops of the houses. The aperture was finished and Athospassed through it, carrying the clothes destined for the king wrappedin black cloth, and the tools with which he was to open a communicationwith the king's room. He had only two hours' work to do to opencommunication with the king and, according to the calculations ofthe four friends, they had the entire day before them, since, theexecutioner being absent, another must be sent for to Bristol. 

D'Artagnan returned to change his workman's clothes for hischestnut-colored suit, and Porthos to put on his red doublet. As forAramis, he went off to the bishop's palace to see if he could possiblypass in with Juxon to the king's presence. All three agreed to meet atnoon in Whitehall Place to see how things went on. 

Before leaving the scaffold Aramis had approached the opening whereAthos was concealed to tell him that he was about to make an attempt togain another interview with the king. 

"Adieu, then, and be of good courage, " said Athos. "Report to the kingthe condition of affairs. Say to him that when he is alone it will helpus if he will knock on the floor, for then I can continue my work insafety. Try, Aramis, to keep near the king. Speak loud, very loud, forthey will be listening at the door. If there is a sentinel within theapartment, kill him without hesitation. If there are two, let Parry killone and you the other. If there are three, let yourself be slain, butsave the king. "

"Be easy, " said Aramis; "I will take two poniards and give one to Parry. Is that all?"

"Yes, go; but urge the king strongly not to stand on false generosity. While you are fighting if there is a fight, he must flee. The trap oncereplaced over his head, you being on the trap, dead or alive, they willneed at least ten minutes to find the hole by which he has escaped. Inthose ten minutes we shall have gained the road and the king will besaved. "

"Everything shall be done as you say, Athos. Your hand, for perhaps weshall not see each other again. "

Athos put his arm around Aramis's neck and embraced him. 

"For you, " he said. "Now if I die, say to D'Artagnan that I love him asa son, and embrace him for me. Embrace also our good and brave Porthos. Adieu. "

"Adieu, " said Aramis. "I am as sure now that the king will be saved as Iam sure that I clasp the most loyal hand in the world. "

Aramis parted from Athos, went down from the scaffold in his turn andtook his way to the hotel, whistling the air of a song in praise ofCromwell. He found the other two friends sitting at table before a goodfire, drinking a bottle of port and devouring a cold chicken. Porthoswas cursing the infamous parliamentarians; D'Artagnan ate in silence, revolving in his mind the most audacious plans. 

Aramis related what had been agreed upon. D'Artagnan approved with amovement of the head and Porthos with his voice. 

"Bravo!" he said; "besides, we shall be there at the time of the flight. What with D'Artagnan, Grimaud and Mousqueton, we can manage to dispatcheight of them. I say nothing about Blaisois, for he is only fit to holdthe horses. Two minutes a man makes four minutes. Mousqueton will loseanother, that's five; and in five minutes we shall have galloped aquarter of a league. "

Aramis swallowed a hasty mouthful, gulped a glass of wine and changedhis clothes. 

"Now, " said he, "I'm off to the bishop's. Take care of the executioner, D'Artagnan. "

"All right. Grimaud has relieved Mousqueton and has his foot on thecellar door. "

"Well, don't be inactive. "

"Inactive, my dear fellow! Ask Porthos. I pass my life upon my legs. "

Aramis again presented himself at the bishop's. Juxon consented the morereadily to take him with him, as he would require an assistant priest incase the king should wish to communicate. Dressed as Aramis had beenthe night before, the bishop got into his carriage, and the former, moredisguised by his pallor and sad countenance than his deacon's dress, gotin by his side. The carriage stopped at the door of the palace. 

It was about nine o'clock in the morning. 

Nothing was changed. The ante-rooms were still full of soldiers, thepassages still lined by guards. The king was already sanguine, butwhen he perceived Aramis his hope turned to joy. He embraced Juxonand pressed the hand of Aramis. The bishop affected to speak in a loudvoice, before every one, of their previous interview. The king repliedthat the words spoken in that interview had borne their fruit, and thathe desired another under the same conditions. Juxon turned to thosepresent and begged them to leave him and his assistant alone with theking. Every one withdrew. As soon as the door was closed:

"Sire, " said Aramis, speaking rapidly, "you are saved; the Londonexecutioner has vanished. His assistant broke his leg last nightbeneath your majesty's window--the cry we heard was his--and there is noexecutioner nearer at hand than Bristol. "

"But the Comte de la Fere?" asked the king. 

"Two feet below you; take the poker from the fireplace and strike threetimes on the floor. He will answer you. "

The king did so, and the moment after, three muffled knocks, answeringthe given signal, sounded beneath the floor. 

"So, " said Charles, "he who knocks down there----"

"Is the Comte de la Fere, sire, " said Aramis. "He is preparing a wayfor your majesty to escape. Parry, for his part, will raise this slab ofmarble and a passage will be opened. "

"Oh, Juxon, " said the king, seizing the bishop's two hands in his own, "promise that you will pray all your life for this gentleman and forthe other that you hear beneath your feet, and for two others also, who, wherever they may be, are on the watch for my safety. "

"Sire, " replied Juxon, "you shall be obeyed. "

Meanwhile, the miner underneath was heard working away incessantly, whensuddenly an unexpected noise resounded in the passage. Aramis seized thepoker and gave the signal to stop; the noise came nearer and nearer. It was that of a number of men steadily approaching. The four men stoodmotionless. All eyes were fixed on the door, which opened slowly andwith a kind of solemnity. 

A parliamentary officer, clothed in black and with a gravity thataugured ill, entered, bowed to the king, and unfolding a parchment, readthe sentence, as is usually done to criminals before their execution. 

"What is this?" said Aramis to Juxon. 

Juxon replied with a sign which meant that he knew no more than Aramisabout it. 

"Then it is for to-day?" asked the king. 

"Was not your majesty warned that it was to take place this morning?"

"Then I must die like a common criminal by the hand of the Londonexecutioner?"

"The London executioner has disappeared, your majesty, but a man hasoffered his services instead. The execution will therefore only bedelayed long enough for you to arrange your spiritual and temporalaffairs. "

A slight moisture on his brow was the only trace of emotion that Charlesevinced, as he learned these tidings. But Aramis was livid. His heartceased beating, he closed his eyes and leaned upon the table. Charlesperceived it and took his hand. 

"Come, my friend, " said he, "courage. " Then he turned to the officer. "Sir, I am ready. There is but little reason why I should delay you. Firstly, I wish to communicate; secondly, to embrace my children and bidthem farewell for the last time. Will this be permitted me?"

"Certainly, " replied the officer, and left the room. 

Aramis dug his nails into his flesh and groaned aloud. 

"Oh! my lord bishop, " he cried, seizing Juxon's hands, "where isProvidence? where is Providence?"

"My son, " replied the bishop, with firmness, "you see Him not, becausethe passions of the world conceal Him. "

"My son, " said the king to Aramis, "do not take it so to heart. Youask what God is doing. God beholds your devotion and my martyrdom, andbelieve me, both will have their reward. Ascribe to men, then, what ishappening, and not to God. It is men who drive me to death; it is menwho make you weep. "

"Yes, sire, " said Aramis, "yes, you are right. It is men whom I shouldhold responsible, and I will hold them responsible. "

"Be seated, Juxon, " said the king, falling upon his knees. "I have nowto confess to you. Remain, sir, " he added to Aramis, who had moved toleave the room. "Remain, Parry. I have nothing to say that cannot besaid before all. "

Juxon sat down, and the king, kneeling humbly before him, began hisconfession. 

66. Remember!

The mob had already assembled when the confession terminated. The king'schildren next arrived--the Princess Charlotte, a beautiful, fair-hairedchild, with tears in her eyes, and the Duke of Gloucester, a boy eightor nine years old, whose tearless eyes and curling lip revealed agrowing pride. He had wept all night long, but would not show his griefbefore the people. 

Charles's heart melted within him at the sight of those two children, whom he had not seen for two years and whom he now met at the moment ofdeath. He turned to brush away a tear, and then, summoning up all hisfirmness, drew his daughter toward him, recommending her to be pious andresigned. Then he took the boy upon his knee. 

"My son, " he said to him, "you saw a great number of people in thestreets as you came here. These men are going to behead your father. Do not forget that. Perhaps some day they will want to make youking, instead of the Prince of Wales, or the Duke of York, your elderbrothers. But you are not the king, my son, and can never be so whilethey are alive. Swear to me, then, never to let them put a crownupon your head unless you have a legal right to the crown. For oneday--listen, my son--one day, if you do so, they will doom you todestruction, head and crown, too, and then you will not be able to diewith a calm conscience, as I die. Swear, my son. "

The child stretched out his little hand toward that of his father andsaid, "I swear to your majesty. "

"Henry, " said Charles, "call me your father. "

"Father, " replied the child, "I swear to you that they shall kill mesooner than make me king. "

"Good, my child. Now kiss me; and you, too, Charlotte. Never forget me. "

"Oh! never, never!" cried both the children, throwing their arms aroundtheir father's neck. 

"Farewell, " said Charles, "farewell, my children. Take them away, Juxon;their tears will deprive me of the courage to die. "

Juxon led them away, and this time the doors were left open. 

Meanwhile, Athos, in his concealment, waited in vain the signal torecommence his work. Two long hours he waited in terrible inaction. Adeathlike silence reigned in the room above. At last he determined todiscover the cause of this stillness. He crept from his hole and stood, hidden by the black drapery, beneath the scaffold. Peeping out from thedrapery, he could see the rows of halberdiers and musketeers around thescaffold and the first ranks of the populace swaying and groaning likethe sea. 

"What is the matter, then?" he asked himself, trembling more than thewind-swayed cloth he was holding back. "The people are hurrying on, thesoldiers under arms, and among the spectators I see D'Artagnan. What ishe waiting for? What is he looking at? Good God! have they allowed theheadsman to escape?"

Suddenly the dull beating of muffled drums filled the square. The soundof heavy steps was heard above his head. The next moment the very planksof the scaffold creaked with the weight of an advancing procession, and the eager faces of the spectators confirmed what a last hope at thebottom of his heart had prevented him till then believing. At the samemoment a well-known voice above him pronounced these words:

"Colonel, I want to speak to the people. "

Athos shuddered from head to foot. It was the king speaking on thescaffold. 

In fact, after taking a few drops of wine and a piece of bread, Charles, weary of waiting for death, had suddenly decided to go to meet it andhad given the signal for movement. Then the two wings of the windowfacing the square had been thrown open, and the people had seen silentlyadvancing from the interior of the vast chamber, first, a masked man, who, carrying an axe in his hand, was recognized as the executioner. Heapproached the block and laid his axe upon it. Behind him, pale indeed, but marching with a firm step, was Charles Stuart, who advanced betweentwo priests, followed by a few superior officers appointed to presideat the execution and attended by two files of partisans who took theirplaces on opposite sides of the scaffold. 

The sight of the masked man gave rise to a prolonged sensation. Everyone was full of curiosity as to who that unknown executioner couldbe who presented himself so opportunely to assure to the people thepromised spectacle, when the people believed it had been postponed untilthe following day. All gazed at him searchingly. 

But they could discern nothing but a man of middle height, dressed inblack, apparently of a certain age, for the end of a gray beard peepedout from the bottom of the mask that hid his features. 

The king's request had undoubtedly been acceded to by an affirmativesign, for in firm, sonorous accents, which vibrated in the depths ofAthos's heart, the king began his speech, explaining his conduct andcounseling the welfare of the kingdom. 

"Oh!" said Athos to himself, "is it indeed possible that I hear what Ihear and that I see what I see? Is it possible that God has abandonedHis representative on earth and left him to die thus miserably? And Ihave not seen him! I have not said adieu to him!"

A noise was heard like that the instrument of death would make if movedupon the block. 

"Do not touch the axe, " said the king, and resumed his speech. 

At the end of his speech the king looked tenderly around upon thepeople. Then unfastening the diamond ornament which the queen had senthim, he placed it in the hands of the priest who accompanied Juxon. Thenhe drew from his breast a little cross set in diamonds, which, like theorder, had been the gift of Henrietta Maria. 

"Sir, " said he to the priest, "I shall keep this cross in my hand tillthe last moment. Take it from me when I am--dead. "

"Yes, sire, " said a voice, which Athos recognized as that of Aramis. 

He then took his hat from his head and threw it on the ground. One byone he undid the buttons of his doublet, took it off and deposited it bythe side of his hat. Then, as it was cold, he asked for his gown, whichwas brought to him. 

All the preparations were made with a frightful calmness. One would havethought the king was going to bed and not to his coffin. 

"Will these be in your way?" he said to the executioner, raising hislong locks; "if so, they can be tied up. "

Charles accompanied these words with a look designed to penetrate themask of the unknown headsman. His calm, noble gaze forced the manto turn away his head. But after the searching look of the king heencountered the burning eyes of Aramis. 

The king, seeing that he did not reply, repeated his question. 

"It will do, " replied the man, in a tremulous voice, "if you separatethem across the neck. "

The king parted his hair with his hands, and looking at the block hesaid:

"This block is very low, is there no other to be had?"

"It is the usual block, " answered the man in the mask. 

"Do you think you can behead me with a single blow?" asked the king. 

"I hope so, " was the reply. There was something so strange in thesethree words that everybody, except the king, shuddered. 

"I do not wish to be taken by surprise, " added the king. "I shall kneeldown to pray; do not strike then. "

"When shall I strike?"

"When I shall lay my head on the block and say 'Remember!' then strikeboldly. "

"Gentlemen, " said the king to those around him, "I leave you to bravethe tempest; I go before you to a kingdom which knows no storms. Farewell. "

He looked at Aramis and made a special sign to him with his head. 

"Now, " he continued, "withdraw a little and let me say my prayer, Ibeseech you. You, also, stand aside, " he said to the masked man. "It isonly for a moment and I know that I belong to you; but remember that youare not to strike till I give the signal. "

Then he knelt down, made the sign of the cross, and lowering his faceto the planks, as if he would have kissed them, said in a low tone, inFrench, "Comte de la Fere, are you there?"

"Yes, your majesty, " he answered, trembling. 

"Faithful friend, noble heart!" said the king, "I should not have beenrescued. I have addressed my people and I have spoken to God; last ofall I speak to you. To maintain a cause which I believed sacred I havelost the throne and my children their inheritance. A million in goldremains; it is buried in the cellars of Newcastle Keep. You only knowthat this money exists. Make use of it, then, whenever you think it willbe most useful, for my eldest son's welfare. And now, farewell. "

"Farewell, saintly, martyred majesty, " lisped Athos, chilled withterror. 

A moment's silence ensued and then, in a full, sonorous voice, the kingexclaimed: "Remember!"

He had scarcely uttered the word when a heavy blow shook the scaffoldand where Athos stood immovable a warm drop fell upon his brow. Hereeled back with a shudder and the same moment the drops became acrimson cataract. 

Athos fell on his knees and remained some minutes as if bewildered orstunned. At last he rose and taking his handkerchief steeped it in theblood of the martyred king. Then as the crowd gradually dispersed heleaped down, crept from behind the drapery, glided between two horses, mingled with the crowd and was the first to arrive at the inn. 

Having gained his room he raised his hand to his face, and observingthat his fingers were covered with the monarch's blood, fell downinsensible. 

67. The Man in the Mask. 

The snow was falling thick and icy. Aramis was the next to come in andto discover Athos almost insensible. But at the first words he utteredthe comte roused himself from the kind of lethargy in which he had sunk. 

"Well, " said Aramis, "beaten by fate!"

"Beaten!" said Athos. "Noble and unhappy king!"

"Are you wounded?" cried Aramis. 

"No, this is his blood. "

"Where were you, then?"

"Where you left me--under the scaffold. "

"Did you see it all?"

"No, but I heard all. God preserve me from another such hour as I havejust passed. "

"Then you know that I did not leave him?"

"I heard your voice up to the last moment. "

"Here is the order he gave me and the cross I took from his hand; hedesired they should be returned to the queen. "

"Then here is a handkerchief to wrap them in, " replied Athos, drawingfrom his pocket the one he had steeped in the king's blood. 

"And what, " he continued, "has been done with the poor body?"

"By order of Cromwell royal honors will be accorded to it. The doctorsare embalming the corpse, and when it is ready it will be placed in alighted chapel. "

"Mockery, " muttered Athos, savagely; "royal honors to one whom they havemurdered!"

"Well, cheer up!" said a loud voice from the staircase, which Porthoshad just mounted. "We are all mortal, my poor friends. "

"You are late, my dear Porthos. "

"Yes, there were some people on the way who delayed me. The wretcheswere dancing. I took one of them by the throat and three-quartersthrottled him. Just then a patrol rode up. Luckily the man I had hadmost to do with was some minutes before he could speak, so I tookadvantage of his silence to walk off. "

"Have you seen D'Artagnan?"

"We got separated in the crowd and I could not find him again. "

"Oh!" said Athos, satirically, "I saw him. He was in the front row ofthe crowd, admirably placed for seeing; and as on the whole the sightwas curious, he probably wished to stay to the end. "

"Ah Comte de la Fere, " said a calm voice, though hoarse with running, "is it your habit to calumniate the absent?"

This reproof stung Athos to the heart, but as the impression producedby seeing D'Artagnan foremost in a coarse, ferocious crowd had been verystrong, he contented himself with replying:

"I am not calumniating you, my friend. They were anxious about you here;I simply told them where you were. You didn't know King Charles; to youhe was only a foreigner and you were not obliged to love him. "

So saying, he stretched out his hand, but the other pretended not to seeit and he let it drop again slowly by his side. 

"Ugh! I am tired, " cried D'Artagnan, sitting down. 

"Drink a glass of port, " said Aramis; "it will refresh you. "

"Yes, let us drink, " said Athos, anxious to make it up by hobnobbingwith D'Artagnan, "let us drink and get away from this hateful country. The felucca is waiting for us, you know; let us leave to-night, we havenothing more to do here. "

"You are in a hurry, sir count, " said D'Artagnan. 

"But what would you have us to do here, now that the king is dead?"

"Go, sir count, " replied D'Artagnan, carelessly; "you see nothingto keep you a little longer in England? Well, for my part, I, abloodthirsty ruffian, who can go and stand close to a scaffold, in orderto have a better view of the king's execution--I remain. "

Athos turned pale. Every reproach his friend uttered struck deeply inhis heart. 

"Ah! you remain in London?" said Porthos. 

"Yes. And you?"

"Hang it!" said Porthos, a little perplexed between the two, "I suppose, as I came with you, I must go away with you. I can't leave you alone inthis abominable country. "

"Thanks, my worthy friend. So I have a little adventure to propose toyou when the count is gone. I want to find out who was the man in themask, who so obligingly offered to cut the king's throat. "

"A man in a mask?" cried Athos. "You did not let the executioner escape, then?"

"The executioner is still in the cellar, where, I presume, he has had aninterview with mine host's bottles. But you remind me. Mousqueton!"

"Sir, " answered a voice from the depths of the earth. 

"Let out your prisoner. All is over. "

"But, " said Athos, "who is the wretch that has dared to raise his handagainst his king?"

"An amateur headsman, " replied Aramis, "who however, does not handle theaxe amiss. "

"Did you not see his face?" asked Athos. 

"He wore a mask. "

"But you, Aramis, who were close to him?"

"I could see nothing but a gray beard under the fringe of the mask. "

"Then it must be a man of a certain age. "

"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, "that matters little. When one puts on a mask, itis not difficult to wear a beard under it. "

"I am sorry I did not follow him, " said Porthos. 

"Well, my dear Porthos, " said D'Artagnan, "that's the very thing it cameinto my head to do. "

Athos understood all now. 

"Pardon me, D'Artagnan, " he said. "I have distrusted God; I could themore easily distrust you. Pardon me, my friend. "

"We will see about that presently, " said D'Artagnan, with a slightsmile. 

"Well, then?" said Aramis. 

"Well, while I was watching--not the king, as monsieur le comte thinks, for I know what it is to see a man led to death, and though I ought tobe accustomed to the sight it always makes me ill--while I was watchingthe masked executioner, the idea came to me, as I said, to find out whohe was. Now, as we are wont to complete ourselves each by all the restand to depend on one another for assistance, as one calls his other handto aid the first, I looked around instinctively to see if Porthos wasthere; for I had seen you, Aramis, with the king, and you, count, Iknew would be under the scaffold, and for that reason I forgive you, " headded, offering Athos his hand, "for you must have suffered much. Iwas looking around for Porthos when I saw near me a head which had beenbroken, but which, for better or worse, had been patched with plasterand with black silk. 'Humph!' thought I, 'that looks like my handiwork;I fancy I must have mended that skull somewhere or other. ' And, in fact, it was that unfortunate Scotchman, Parry's brother, you know, on whomGroslow amused himself by trying his strength. Well, this man was makingsigns to another at my left, and turning around I recognized thehonest Grimaud. 'Oh!' said I to him. Grimaud turned round with a jerk, recognized me, and pointed to the man in the mask. 'Eh!' said he, which meant, 'Do you see him?' 'Parbleu!' I answered, and we perfectlyunderstood one another. Well, everything was finished as you know. Themob dispersed. I made a sign to Grimaud and the Scotchman, and we allthree retired into a corner of the square. I saw the executioner returninto the king's room, change his clothes, put on a black hat and alarge cloak and disappear. Five minutes later he came down the grandstaircase. "

"You followed him?" cried Athos. 

"I should think so, but not without difficulty. Every few minutes heturned around, and thus obliged us to conceal ourselves. I might havegone up to him and killed him. But I am not selfish, and I thought itmight console you all a little to have a share in the matter. So wefollowed him through the lowest streets in the city, and in half anhour's time he stopped before a little isolated house. Grimaud drew outa pistol. 'Eh?' said he, showing it. I held back his arm. The man in themask stopped before a low door and drew out a key; but before he placedit in the lock he turned around to see if he was being followed. Grimaudand I got behind a tree, and the Scotchman having nowhere to hidehimself, threw himself on his face in the road. Next moment the dooropened and the man disappeared. "

"The scoundrel!" said Aramis. "While you have been returning hither hewill have escaped and we shall never find him. "

"Come, now, Aramis, " said D'Artagnan, "you must be taking me for someone else. "

"Nevertheless, " said Athos, "in your absence----"

"Well, in my absence haven't I put in my place Grimaud and theScotchman? Before he had taken ten steps beyond the door I had examinedthe house on all sides. At one of the doors, that by which he hadentered, I placed our Scotchman, making a sign to him to follow the manwherever he might go, if he came out again. Then going around the houseI placed Grimaud at the other exit, and here I am. Our game is beatenup. Now for the tally-ho. "

Athos threw himself into D'Artagnan's arms. 

"Friend, " he said, "you have been too good in pardoning me; I was wrong, a hundred times wrong. I ought to have known you better by this time;but we are all possessed of a malignant spirit, which bids us doubt. "

"Humph!" said Porthos. "Don't you think the executioner might be MasterCromwell, who, to make sure of this affair, undertook it himself?"

"Ah! just so. Cromwell is stout and short, and this man thin and lanky, rather tall than otherwise. "

"Some condemned soldier, perhaps, " suggested Athos, "whom they havepardoned at the price of regicide. "

"No, no, " continued D'Artagnan, "it was not the measured step of a footsoldier, nor was it the gait of a horseman. If I am not mistaken we haveto do with a gentleman. "

"A gentleman!" exclaimed Athos. "Impossible! It would be a dishonor toall the nobility. "

"Fine sport, by Jove!" cried Porthos, with a laugh that shook thewindows. "Fine sport!"

"Are you still bent on departure, Athos?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"No, I remain, " replied Athos, with a threatening gesture that promisedno good to whomsoever it was addressed. 

"Swords, then!" cried Aramis, "swords! let us not lose a moment. "

The four friends resumed their own clothes, girded on their swords, ordered Mousqueton and Blaisois to pay the bill and to arrangeeverything for immediate departure, and wrapped in their large cloaksleft in search of their game. 

The night was dark, snow was falling, the streets were silent anddeserted. D'Artagnan led the way through the intricate windings andnarrow alleys of the city and ere long they had reached the house inquestion. For a moment D'Artagnan thought that Parry's brother haddisappeared; but he was mistaken. The robust Scotchman, accustomed tothe snows of his native hills, had stretched himself against a post, andlike a fallen statue, insensible to the inclemency of the weather, hadallowed the snow to cover him. He rose, however, as they approached. 

"Come, " said Athos, "here's another good servant. Really, honest men arenot so scarce as I thought. "

"Don't be in a hurry to weave crowns for our Scotchman. I believe thefellow is here on his own account, for I have heard that these gentlemenborn beyond the Tweed are very vindictive. I should not like to beGroslow, if he meets him. "

"Well?" said Athos, to the man, in English. 

"No one has come out, " he replied. 

"Then, Porthos and Aramis, will you remain with this man while we goaround to Grimaud?"

Grimaud had made himself a kind of sentry box out of a hollow willow, and as they drew near he put his head out and gave a low whistle. 

"Soho!" cried Athos. 

"Yes, " said Grimaud. 

"Well, has anybody come out?"

"No, but somebody has gone in. "

"A man or a woman?"

"A man. "

"Ah! ah!" said D'Artagnan, "there are two of them, then!"

"I wish there were four, " said Athos; "the two parties would then beequal. "

"Perhaps there are four, " said D'Artagnan. 

"What do you mean?"

"Other men may have entered before them and waited for them. "

"We can find out, " said Grimaud. At the same time he pointed to awindow, through the shutters of which a faint light streamed. 

"That is true, " said D'Artagnan, "let us call the others. "

They returned around the house to fetch Porthos and Aramis. 

"Have you seen anything?" they asked. 

"No, but we are going to, " replied D'Artagnan, pointing to Grimaud, whohad already climbed some five or six feet from the ground. 

All four came up together. Grimaud continued to climb like a cat andsucceeded at last in catching hold of a hook, which served to keep oneof the shutters back when opened. Then resting his foot on a small ledgehe made a sign to show all was right. 

"Well?" asked D'Artagnan. 

Grimaud showed his closed hand, with two fingers spread out. 

"Speak, " said Athos; "we cannot see your signs. How many are there?"

"Two. One opposite to me, the other with his back to me. "

"Good. And the man opposite to you is----

"The man I saw go in. "

"Do you know him?"

"I thought I recognized him, and was not mistaken. Short and stout. "

"Who is it?" they all asked together in a low tone. 

"General Oliver Cromwell. "

The four friends looked at one another. 

"And the other?" asked Athos. 

"Thin and lanky. "

"The executioner, " said D'Artagnan and Aramis at the same time. 

"I can see nothing but his back, " resumed Grimaud. "But wait. He ismoving; and if he has taken off his mask I shall be able to see. Ah----"

And as if struck in the heart he let go the hook and dropped with agroan. 

"Did you see him?" they all asked. 

"Yes, " said Grimaud, with his hair standing on end. 

"The thin, spare man?"

"Yes. "

"The executioner, in short?" asked Aramis. 

"Yes. "

"And who is it?" said Porthos. 

"He--he--is----" murmured Grimaud, pale as a ghost and seizing hismaster's hand. 

"Who? He?" asked Athos. 

"Mordaunt, " replied Grimaud. 

D'Artagnan, Porthos and Aramis uttered a cry of joy. 

Athos stepped back and passed his hand across his brow. 

"Fatality!" he muttered. 

68. Cromwell's House. 

It was, in fact, Mordaunt whom D'Artagnan had followed, without knowingit. On entering the house he had taken off his mask and imitation beard, then, mounting a staircase, had opened a door, and in a room lightedby a single lamp found himself face to face with a man seated behind adesk. 

This man was Cromwell. 

Cromwell had two or three of these retreats in London, unknown except tothe most intimate of his friends. Mordaunt was among these. 

"It is you, Mordaunt, " he said. "You are late. "

"General, I wished to see the ceremony to the end, which delayed me. "

"Ah! I scarcely thought you were so curious as that. "

"I am always curious to see the downfall of your honor's enemies, andhe was not among the least of them. But you, general, were you not atWhitehall?"

"No, " said Cromwell. 

There was a moment's silence. 

"Have you had any account of it?"

"None. I have been here since the morning. I only know that there was aconspiracy to rescue the king. "

"Ah, you knew that?" said Mordaunt. 

"It matters little. Four men, disguised as workmen, were to get the kingout of prison and take him to Greenwich, where a vessel was waiting. "

"And knowing all that, your honor remained here, far from the city, tranquil and inactive. "

"Tranquil, yes, " replied Cromwell. "But who told you I was inactive?"

"But--if the plot had succeeded?"

"I wished it to do so. "

"I thought your excellence considered the death of Charles I. As amisfortune necessary to the welfare of England. "

"Yes, his death; but it would have been more seemly not upon thescaffold. "

"Why so?" asked Mordaunt. 

Cromwell smiled. "Because it could have been said that I had had himcondemned for the sake of justice and had let him escape out of pity. "

"But if he had escaped?"

"Impossible; my precautions were taken. "

"And does your honor know the four men who undertook to rescue him?"

"The four Frenchmen, of whom two were sent by the queen to her husbandand two by Mazarin to me. "

"And do you think Mazarin commissioned them to act as they have done?"

"It is possible. But he will not avow it. "

"How so?"

"Because they failed. "

"Your honor gave me two of these Frenchmen when they were only guilty offighting for Charles I. Now that they are guilty of a conspiracy againstEngland will your honor give me all four of them?"

"Take them, " said Cromwell. 

Mordaunt bowed with a smile of triumphant ferocity. 

"Did the people shout at all?" Cromwell asked. 

"Very little, except 'Long live Cromwell!'"

"Where were you placed?"

Mordaunt tried for a moment to read in the general's face if thiswas simply a useless question, or whether he knew everything. Buthis piercing eyes could by no means penetrate the sombre depths ofCromwell's. 

"I was so situated as to hear and see everything, " he answered. 

It was now Cromwell's turn to look fixedly at Mordaunt, and Mordaunt tomake himself impenetrable. 

"It appears, " said Cromwell, "that this improvised executioner did hisduty remarkably well. The blow, so they tell me at least, was struckwith a master's hand. "

Mordaunt remembered that Cromwell had told him he had had no detailedaccount, and he was now quite convinced that the general had beenpresent at the execution, hidden behind some screen or curtain. 

"In fact, " said Mordaunt, with a calm voice and immovable countenance, "a single blow sufficed. "

"Perhaps it was some one in that occupation, " said Cromwell. 

"Do you think so, sir? He did not look like an executioner. "

"And who else save an executioner would have wished to fill thathorrible office?"

"But, " said Mordaunt, "it might have been some personal enemy of theking, who had made a vow of vengeance and accomplished it in this way. Perhaps it was some man of rank who had grave reasons for hating thefallen king, and who, learning that the king was about to flee andescape him, threw himself in the way, with a mask on his face and an axein his hand, not as substitute for the executioner, but as an ambassadorof Fate. "

"Possibly. "

"And if that were the case would your honor condemn his action?"

"It is not for me to judge. It rests between his conscience and hisGod. "

"But if your honor knew this man?"

"I neither know nor wish to know him. Provided Charles is dead, it isthe axe, not the man, we must thank. "

"And yet, without the man, the king would have been rescued. "

Cromwell smiled. 

"They would have carried him to Greenwich, " he said, "and put him onboard a felucca with five barrels of powder in the hold. Once outto sea, you are too good a politician not to understand the rest, Mordaunt. "

"Yes, they would have all been blown up. "

"Just so. The explosion would have done what the axe had failed to do. Men would have said that the king had escaped human justice andbeen overtaken by God's. You see now why I did not care to know yourgentleman in the mask; for really, in spite of his excellent intentions, I could not thank him for what he has done. "

Mordaunt bowed humbly. "Sir, " he said, "you are a profound thinker andyour plan was sublime. "

"Say absurd, since it has become useless. The only sublime ideas inpolitics are those which bear fruit. So to-night, Mordaunt, go toGreenwich and ask for the captain of the felucca Lightning. Show hima white handkerchief knotted at the four corners and tell the crew todisembark and carry the powder back to the arsenal, unless, indeed----"

"Unless?" said Mordaunt, whose face was lighted by a savage joy asCromwell spoke:

"This skiff might be of use to you for personal projects. "

"Oh, my lord, my lord!"

"That title, " said Cromwell, laughing, "is all very well here, but takecare a word like that does not escape your lips in public. "

"But your honor will soon be called so generally. "

"I hope so, at least, " said Cromwell, rising and putting on his cloak. 

"You are going, sir?"

"Yes, " said Cromwell. "I slept here last night and the night before, andyou know it is not my custom to sleep three times in the same bed. "

"Then, " said Mordaunt, "your honor gives me my liberty for to-night?"

"And even for all day to-morrow, if you want it. Since last evening, " headded, smiling, "you have done enough in my service, and if you have anypersonal matters to settle it is just that I should give you time. "

"Thank you, sir; it will be well employed, I hope. "

Cromwell turned as he was going. 

"Are you armed?" he asked. 

"I have my sword. "

"And no one waiting for you outside?"

"No. "

"Then you had better come with me. "

"Thank you, sir, but the way by the subterranean passage would take toomuch time and I have none to lose. "

Cromwell placed his hand on a hidden handle and opened a door so wellconcealed by the tapestry that the most practiced eye could not havediscovered it. It closed after him with a spring. This door communicatedwith a subterranean passage, leading under the street to a grotto inthe garden of a house about a hundred yards from that of the futureProtector. 

It was just before this that Grimaud had perceived the two men seatedtogether. 

D'Artagnan was the first to recover from his surprise. 

"Mordaunt, " he cried. "Ah! by Heaven! it is God Himself who sent ushere. "

"Yes, " said Porthos, "let us break the door in and fall upon him. "

"No, " replied D'Artagnan, "no noise. Now, Grimaud, you come here, climbup to the window again and tell us if Mordaunt is alone and whether heis preparing to go out or go to bed. If he comes out we shall catch him. If he stays in we will break in the window. It is easier and less noisythan the door. "

Grimaud began to scale the wall again. 

"Keep guard at the other door, Athos and Aramis. Porthos and I will stayhere. "

The friends obeyed. 

"He is alone, " said Grimaud. 

"We did not see his companion come out. "

"He may have gone by the other door. "

"What is he doing?"

"Putting on his cloak and gloves. "

"He's ours, " muttered D'Artagnan. 

Porthos mechanically drew his dagger from the scabbard. 

"Put it up again, my friend, " said D'Artagnan. "We must proceed in anorderly manner. "

"Hush!" said Grimaud, "he is coming out. He has put out the lamp, I cansee nothing now. "

"Get down then and quickly. "

Grimaud leaped down. The snow deadened the noise of his fall. 

"Now go and tell Athos and Aramis to stand on each side of the door andclap their hands if they catch him. We will do the same. "

The next moment the door opened and Mordaunt appeared on the threshold, face to face with D'Artagnan. Porthos clapped his hands and the othertwo came running around. Mordaunt was livid, but he uttered no cry norcalled for assistance. D'Artagnan quietly pushed him in again, and bythe light of a lamp on the staircase made him ascend the steps backwardone by one, keeping his eyes all the time on Mordaunt's hands, who, however, knowing that it was useless, attempted no resistance. Atlast they stood face to face in the very room where ten minutes beforeMordaunt had been talking to Cromwell. 

Porthos came up behind, and unhooking the lamp on the staircase relitthat in the room. Athos and Aramis entered last and locked the doorbehind them. 

"Oblige me by taking a seat, " said D'Artagnan, pushing a chair towardMordaunt, who sat down, pale but calm. Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnandrew their chairs near him. Athos alone kept away and sat in thefurthest corner of the room, as if determined to be merely a spectatorof the proceedings. He seemed to be quite overcome. Porthos rubbed hishands in feverish impatience. Aramis bit his lips till the blood came. 

D'Artagnan alone was calm, at least in appearance. 

"Monsieur Mordaunt, " he said, "since, after running after one anotherso long, chance has at last brought us together, let us have a littleconversation, if you please. "

69. Conversational. 

Though Mordaunt had been so completely taken by surprise and had mountedthe stairs in such utter confusion, when once seated he recoveredhimself, as it were, and prepared to seize any possible opportunityof escape. His eye wandered to a long stout sword on his flank and heinstinctively slipped it around within reach of his right hand. 

D'Artagnan was waiting for a reply to his remark and said nothing. Aramis muttered to himself, "We shall hear nothing but the usualcommonplace things. "

Porthos sucked his mustache, muttering, "A good deal of ceremonyto-night about crushing an adder. " Athos shrunk into his corner, paleand motionless as a bas-relief. 

The silence, however, could not last forever. So D'Artagnan began:

"Sir, " he said, with desperate politeness, "it seems to me that youchange your costume almost as rapidly as I have seen the Italian mummersdo, whom the Cardinal Mazarin brought over from Bergamo and whom hedoubtless took you to see during your travels in France. "

Mordaunt did not reply. 

"Just now, " D'Artagnan continued, "you were disguised--I mean to say, attired--as a murderer, and now----"

"And now I look very much like a man who is going to be murdered. "

"Oh! sir, " said D'Artagnan, "how can you talk like that when you are inthe company of gentlemen and have such an excellent sword at your side?"

"No sword is excellent enough to be of use against four swords anddaggers. "

"Well, that is scarcely the question. I had the honor of asking you whyyou altered your costume. The mask and beard became you very well, andas to the axe, I do not think it would be out of keeping even at thismoment. Why, then, have you laid it aside?"

"Because, remembering the scene at Armentieres, I thought I should findfour axes for one, as I was to meet four executioners. "

"Sir, " replied D'Artagnan, in the calmest manner possible, "you arevery young; I shall therefore overlook your frivolous remarks. Whattook place at Armentieres has no connection whatever with the presentoccasion. We could scarcely have requested your mother to take a swordand fight us. "

"Aha! It is a duel, then?" cried Mordaunt, as if disposed to reply atonce to the provocation. 

Porthos rose, always ready for this kind of adventure. 

"Pardon me, " said D'Artagnan. "Do not let us do things in a hurry. Wewill arrange the matter rather better. Confess, Monsieur Mordaunt, thatyou are anxious to kill some of us. "

"All, " replied Mordaunt. 

"Then, my dear sir; I am convinced that these gentlemen return your kindwishes and will be delighted to kill you also. Of course they will do soas honorable gentlemen, and the best proof I can furnish is this----"

So saying, he threw his hat on the ground, pushed back his chair to thewall and bowed to Mordaunt with true French grace. 

"At your service, sir, " he continued. "My sword is shorter than yours, it's true, but, bah! I think the arm will make up for the sword. "

"Halt!" cried Porthos coming forward. "I begin, and without anyrhetoric. "

"Allow me, Porthos, " said Aramis. 

Athos did not move. He might have been taken for a statue. Even hisbreathing seemed to be arrested. 

"Gentlemen, " said D'Artagnan, "you shall have your turn. MonsieurMordaunt dislikes you sufficiently not to refuse you afterward. You cansee it in his eye. So pray keep your places, like Athos, whose calmnessis entirely laudable. Besides, we will have no words about it. I haveparticular business to settle with this gentleman and I shall and willbegin. "

Porthos and Aramis drew back, disappointed, and drawing his swordD'Artagnan turned to his adversary:

"Sir, I am waiting for you. "

"And for my part, gentlemen, I admire you. You are disputing which shallfight me first, but you do not consult me who am most concerned in thematter. I hate you all, but not equally. I hope to kill all four of you, but I am more likely to kill the first than the second, the second thanthe third, and the third than the last. I claim, then, the right tochoose my opponent. If you refuse this right you may kill me, but Ishall not fight. "

"It is but fair, " said Porthos and Aramis, hoping he would choose one ofthem. 

Athos and D'Artagnan said nothing, but their silence seemed to implyconsent. 

"Well, then, " said Mordaunt, "I choose for my adversary the man who, not thinking himself worthy to be called Comte de la Fere, calls himselfAthos. "

Athos sprang up, but after an instant of motionless silence he said, tothe astonishment of his friends, "Monsieur Mordaunt, a duel between usis impossible. Submit this honour to somebody else. " And he sat down. 

"Ah!" said Mordaunt, with a sneer, "there's one who is afraid. "

"Zounds!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, bounding toward him, "who says thatAthos is afraid?"

"Let him have his say, D'Artagnan, " said Athos, with a smile of sadnessand contempt. 

"Is it your decision, Athos?" resumed the Gascon. 

"Irrevocably. "

"You hear, sir, " said D'Artagnan, turning to Mordaunt. "The Comte de laFere will not do you the honor of fighting with you. Choose one of us toreplace the Comte de la Fere. "

"As long as I don't fight with him it is the same to me with whom Ifight. Put your names into a hat and draw lots. "

"A good idea, " said D'Artagnan. 

"At least that will conciliate us all, " said Aramis. 

"I should never have thought of that, " said Porthos, "and yet it is verysimple. "

"Come, Aramis, " said D'Artagnan, "write this for us in those neat littlecharacters in which you wrote to Marie Michon that the mother of thisgentleman intended to assassinate the Duke of Buckingham. "

Mordaunt sustained this new attack without wincing. He stood withhis arms folded, apparently as calm as any man could be in suchcircumstances. If he had not courage he had what is very like it, namely, pride. 

Aramis went to Cromwell's desk, tore off three bits of paper of equalsize, wrote on the first his own name and on the others those of his twocompanions, and presented them open to Mordaunt, who by a movement ofhis head indicated that he left the matter entirely to Aramis. Hethen rolled them separately and put them in a hat, which he handed toMordaunt. 

Mordaunt put his hand into the hat, took out one of the three papers anddisdainfully dropped it on the table without reading it. 

"Ah! serpent, " muttered D'Artagnan, "I would give my chance of acaptaincy in the mousquetaires for that to be my name. "

Aramis opened the paper, and in a voice trembling with hate andvengeance read "D'Artagnan. "

The Gascon uttered a cry of joy and turning to Mordaunt:

"I hope, sir, " said he, "you have no objection to make. "

"None, whatever, " replied the other, drawing his sword and resting thepoint on his boot. 

The moment that D'Artagnan saw that his wish was accomplished and hisman would not escape him, he recovered his usual tranquillity. He turnedup his cuffs neatly and rubbed the sole of his right boot on the floor, but did not fail, however, to remark that Mordaunt was looking about himin a singular manner. 

"Are you ready, sir?" he said at last. 

"I was waiting for you, sir, " said Mordaunt, raising his head andcasting at his opponent a look it would be impossible to describe. 

"Well, then, " said the Gascon, "take care of yourself, for I am not abad hand at the rapier. "

"Nor I either. "

"So much the better; that sets my mind at rest. Defend yourself. "

"One minute, " said the young man. "Give me your word, gentlemen, thatyou will not attack me otherwise than one after the other. "

"Is it to have the pleasure of insulting us that you say that, my littleviper?"

"No, but to set my mind at rest, as you observed just now. "

"It is for something else than that, I imagine, " muttered D'Artagnan, shaking his head doubtfully. 

"On the honor of gentlemen, " said Aramis and Porthos. 

"In that case, gentlemen, have the kindness to retire into the corners, so as to give us ample room. We shall require it. "

"Yes, gentlemen, " said D'Artagnan, "we must not leave this person theslightest pretext for behaving badly, which, with all due respect, Ifancy he is anxious still to do. "

This new attack made no impression on Mordaunt. The space was cleared, the two lamps placed on Cromwell's desk, in order that the combatantsmight have as much light as possible; and the swords crossed. 

D'Artagnan was too good a swordsman to trifle with his opponent. He madea rapid and brilliant feint which Mordaunt parried. 

"Aha!" he cried with a smile of satisfaction. 

And without losing a minute, thinking he saw an opening, he thrust hisright in and forced Mordaunt to parry a counter en quarte so fine thatthe point of the weapon might have turned within a wedding ring. 

This time it was Mordaunt who smiled. 

"Ah, sir, " said D'Artagnan, "you have a wicked smile. It must have beenthe devil who taught it you, was it not?"

Mordaunt replied by trying his opponent's weapon with an amount ofstrength which the Gascon was astonished to find in a form apparentlyso feeble; but thanks to a parry no less clever than that which Mordaunthad just achieved, he succeeded in meeting his sword, which slid alonghis own without touching his chest. 

Mordaunt rapidly sprang back a step. 

"Ah! you lose ground, you are turning? Well, as you please, I even gainsomething by it, for I no longer see that wicked smile of yours. Youhave no idea what a false look you have, particularly when you areafraid. Look at my eyes and you will see what no looking-glass has evershown you--a frank and honorable countenance. "

To this flow of words, not perhaps in the best taste, but characteristicof D'Artagnan, whose principal object was to divert his opponent'sattention, Mordaunt did not reply, but continuing to turn around hesucceeded in changing places with D'Artagnan. 

He smiled more and more sarcastically and his smile began to make theGascon anxious. 

"Come, come, " cried D'Artagnan, "we must finish with this, " and inhis turn he pressed Mordaunt hard, who continued to lose ground, butevidently on purpose and without letting his sword leave the line for amoment. However, as they were fighting in a room and had not space to goon like that forever, Mordaunt's foot at last touched the wall, againstwhich he rested his left hand. 

"Ah, this time you cannot lose ground, my fine friend!" exclaimedD'Artagnan. "Gentlemen, did you ever see a scorpion pinned to a wall?No. Well, then, you shall see it now. "

In a second D'Artagnan had made three terrible thrusts at Mordaunt, allof which touched, but only pricked him. The three friends looked on, panting and astonished. At last D'Artagnan, having got up too close, stepped back to prepare a fourth thrust, but the moment when, after afine, quick feint, he was attacking as sharply as lightning, the wallseemed to give way, Mordaunt disappeared through the opening, andD'Artagnan's blade, caught between the panels, shivered like a sword ofglass. D'Artagnan sprang back; the wall had closed again. 

Mordaunt, in fact, while defending himself, had manoeuvred so as toreach the secret door by which Cromwell had left, had felt for the knobwith his left hand, pressed it and disappeared. 

The Gascon uttered a furious imprecation, which was answered by a wildlaugh on the other side of the iron panel. 

"Help me, gentlemen, " cried D'Artagnan, "we must break in this door. "

"It is the devil in person!" said Aramis, hastening forward. 

"He escapes us, " growled Porthos, pushing his huge shoulder against thehinges, but in vain. "'Sblood! he escapes us. "

"So much the better, " muttered Athos. 

"I thought as much, " said D'Artagnan, wasting his strength in uselessefforts. "Zounds, I thought as much when the wretch kept moving aroundthe room. I thought he was up to something. "

"It's a misfortune, to which his friend, the devil, treats us, " saidAramis. 

"It's a piece of good fortune sent from Heaven, " said Athos, evidentlymuch relieved. 

"Really!" said D'Artagnan, abandoning the attempt to burst open thepanel after several ineffectual attempts, "Athos, I cannot imagine howyou can talk to us in that way. You cannot understand the positionwe are in. In this kind of game, not to kill is to let one's self bekilled. This fox of a fellow will be sending us a hundred iron-sidedbeasts who will pick us off like sparrows in this place. Come, come, wemust be off. If we stay here five minutes more there's an end of us. "

"Yes, you are right. "

"But where shall we go?" asked Porthos. 

"To the hotel, to be sure, to get our baggage and horses; and fromthere, if it please God, to France, where, at least, I understand thearchitecture of the houses. "

So, suiting the action to the word, D'Artagnan thrust the remnant ofhis sword into its scabbard, picked up his hat and ran down the stairs, followed by the others. 

70. The Skiff "Lightning. "

D'Artagnan had judged correctly; Mordaunt felt that he had no time tolose, and he lost none. He knew the rapidity of decision and action thatcharacterized his enemies and resolved to act with reference to that. This time the musketeers had an adversary who was worthy of them. 

After closing the door carefully behind him Mordaunt glided into thesubterranean passage, sheathing on the way his now useless sword, andthus reached the neighboring house, where he paused to examine himselfand to take breath. 

"Good!" he said, "nothing, almost nothing--scratches, nothing more; twoin the arm and one in the breast. The wounds that I make are better thanthat--witness the executioner of Bethune, my uncle and King Charles. Now, not a second to lose, for a second lost will perhaps save them. They must die--die all together--killed at one stroke by the thunderof men in default of God's. They must disappear, broken, scattered, annihilated. I will run, then, till my legs no longer serve, till myheart bursts in my bosom but I will arrive before they do. "

Mordaunt proceeded at a rapid pace to the nearest cavalry barracks, about a quarter of a league distant. He made that quarter of a leaguein four or five minutes. Arrived at the barracks he made himself known, took the best horse in the stables, mounted and gained the high road. Aquarter of an hour later he was at Greenwich. 

"There is the port, " he murmured. "That dark point yonder is the Isle ofDogs. Good! I am half an hour in advance of them, an hour, perhaps. Foolthat I was! I have almost killed myself by my needless haste. Now, " headded, rising in the stirrups and looking about him, "which, I wonder, is the Lightning?"

At this moment, as if in reply to his words, a man lying on a coilof cables rose and advanced a few steps toward him. Mordaunt drew ahandkerchief from his pocket, and tying a knot at each corner--thesignal agreed upon--waved it in the air and the man came up to him. Hewas wrapped in a large rough cape, which concealed his form and partlyhis face. 

"Do you wish to go on the water, sir?" said the sailor. 

"Yes, just so. Along the Isle of Dogs. "

"And perhaps you have a preference for one boat more than another. Youwould like one that sails as rapidly as----"

"Lightning, " interrupted Mordaunt. 

"Then mine is the boat you want, sir. I'm your man. "

"I begin to think so, particularly if you have not forgotten a certainsignal. "

"Here it is, sir, " and the sailor took from his coat a handkerchief, tied at each corner. 

"Good, quite right!" cried Mordaunt, springing off his horse. "There'snot a moment to lose; now take my horse to the nearest inn and conductme to your vessel. "

"But, " asked the sailor, "where are your companions? I thought therewere four of you. "

"Listen to me, sir. I'm not the man you take me for; you are in CaptainRogers's post, are you not? under orders from General Cromwell. Mine, also, are from him!"

"Indeed, sir, I recognize you; you are Captain Mordaunt. "

Mordaunt was startled. 

"Oh, fear nothing, " said the skipper, showing his face. "I am a friend. "

"Captain Groslow!" cried Mordaunt. 

"Himself. The general remembered that I had formerly been a navalofficer and he gave me the command of this expedition. Is there anythingnew in the wind?"

"Nothing. "

"I thought, perhaps, that the king's death----"

"Has only hastened their flight; in ten minutes they will perhaps behere. "

"What have you come for, then?"

"To embark with you. "

"Ah! ah! the general doubted my fidelity?"

"No, but I wish to have a share in my revenge. Haven't you some one whowill relieve me of my horse?"

Groslow whistled and a sailor appeared. 

"Patrick, " said Groslow, "take this horse to the stables of the nearestinn. If any one asks you whose it is you can say that it belongs to anIrish gentleman. "

The sailor departed without reply. 

"Now, " said Mordaunt, "are you not afraid that they will recognize you?"

"There is no danger, dressed as I am in this pilot coat, on a night asdark as this. Besides even you didn't recognize me; they will be muchless likely to. "

"That is true, " said Mordaunt, "and they will be far from thinking ofyou. Everything is ready, is it not?"

"Yes. "

"The cargo on board?"

"Yes. "

"Five full casks?"

"And fifty empty ones. "

"Good. "

"We are carrying port wine to Anvers. "

"Excellent. Now take me aboard and return to your post, for they willsoon be here. "

"I am ready. "

"It is important that none of your crew should see me. "

"I have but one man on board, and I am as sure of him as I am of myself. Besides, he doesn't know you; like his mates he is ready to obey ourorders knowing nothing of our plan. "

"Very well; let us go. "

They then went down to the Thames. A boat was fastened to the shore by achain fixed to a stake. Groslow jumped in, followed by Mordaunt, and infive minutes they were quite away from that world of houses which thencrowded the outskirts of London; and Mordaunt could discern the littlevessel riding at anchor near the Isle of Dogs. When they reachedthe side of this felucca, Mordaunt, dexterous in his eagerness forvengeance, seized a rope and climbed up the side of the vessel with acoolness and agility very rare among landsmen. He went with Groslow tothe captain's berth, a sort of temporary cabin of planks, for the chiefapartment had been given up by Captain Rogers to the passengers, whowere to be accommodated at the other end of the boat. 

"They will have nothing to do, then at this end?" said Mordaunt. 

"Nothing at all. "

"That's a capital arrangement. Return to Greenwich and bring them here. I shall hide myself in your cabin. You have a longboat?"

"That in which we came. "

"It appeared light and well constructed. "

"Quite a canoe. "

"Fasten it to the poop with a rope; put the oars into it, so that it mayfollow in the track and there will be nothing to do except to cut thecord. Put a good supply of rum and biscuit in it for the seamen; shouldthe night happen to be stormy they will not be sorry to find somethingto console themselves with. "

"Consider all this done. Do you wish to see the powder-room?"

"No. When you return I will set the fuse myself, but be careful toconceal your face, so that you cannot be recognized by them. "

"Never fear. "

"There's ten o'clock striking at Greenwich. "

Groslow, then, having given the sailor on duty an order to be on thewatch with more than usual vigilance, went down into the longboat andsoon reached Greenwich. The wind was chilly and the jetty was deserted, as he approached it; but he had no sooner landed than he heard a noiseof horses galloping upon the paved road. 

These horsemen were our friends, or rather, an avant garde, composed ofD'Artagnan and Athos. As soon as they arrived at the spot where Groslowstood they stopped, as if guessing that he was the man they wanted. Athos alighted and calmly opened the handkerchief tied at each corner, whilst D'Artagnan, ever cautious, remained on horseback, one hand uponhis pistol, leaning forward watchfully. 

On seeing the appointed signal, Groslow, who had at first crept behindone of the cannon planted on that spot, walked straight up to thegentlemen. He was so well wrapped up in his cloak that it would havebeen impossible to see his face even if the night had not been so darkas to render precaution superfluous; nevertheless, the keen glance ofAthos perceived at once it was not Rogers who stood before them. 

"What do you want with us?" he asked of Groslow. 

"I wish to inform you, my lord, " replied Groslow, with an Irish accent, feigned of course, "that if you are looking for Captain Rogers you willnot find him. He fell down this morning and broke his leg. But I'm hiscousin; he told me everything and desired me to watch instead of him, and in his place to conduct, wherever they wished to go, the gentlemenwho should bring me a handkerchief tied at each corner, like that onewhich you hold and one which I have in my pocket. "

And he drew out the handkerchief. 

"Was that all he said?" inquired Athos. 

"No, my lord; he said you had engaged to pay seventy pounds if I landedyou safe and sound at Boulogne or any other port you choose in France. "

"What do you think of all this?" said Athos, in a low tone toD'Artagnan, after explaining to him in French what the sailor had saidin English. 

"It seems a likely story to me. "

"And to me, too. "

"Besides, we can but blow out his brains if he proves false, " said theGascon; "and you, Athos, you know something of everything and can be ourcaptain. I dare say you know how to navigate, should he fail us. "

"My dear friend, you guess well. My father meant me for the navy and Ihave some vague notions about navigation. "

"You see!" cried D'Artagnan. 

They then summoned their friends, who, with Blaisois, Mousqueton andGrimaud, promptly joined them, leaving Parry behind them, who was totake back to London the horses of the gentlemen and of their lackeys, which had been sold to the host in settlement of their account with him. Thanks to this stroke of business the four friends were able to takeaway with them a sum of money which, if not large, was sufficient as aprovision against delays and accidents. 

Parry parted from his friends regretfully; they had proposed his goingwith them to France, but he had straightway declined. 

"It is very simple, " Mousqueton had said; "he is thinking of Groslow. "

It was Captain Groslow, the reader will remember, who had broken Parry'shead. 

D'Artagnan resumed immediately the attitude of distrust that washabitual with him. He found the wharf too completely deserted, the nighttoo dark, the captain too accommodating. He had reported to Aramis whathad taken place, and Aramis, not less distrustful than he, had increasedhis suspicions. A slight click of the tongue against his teeth informedAthos of the Gascon's uneasiness. 

"We have no time now for suspicions, " said Athos. "The boat is waitingfor us; come. "

"Besides, " said Aramis, "what prevents our being distrustful and goingaboard at the same time? We can watch the skipper. "

"And if he doesn't go straight I will crush him, that's all. "

"Well said, Porthos, " replied D'Artagnan. "Let us go, then. You first, Mousqueton, " and he stopped his friends, directing the valets to gofirst, in order to test the plank leading from the pier to the boat. 

The three valets passed without accident. Athos followed them, thenPorthos, then Aramis. D'Artagnan went last, still shaking his head. 

"What in the devil is the matter with you, my friend?" said Porthos. "Upon my word you would make Caesar afraid. "

"The matter is, " replied D'Artagnan, "that I can see upon this pierneither inspector nor sentinel nor exciseman. "

"And you complain of that!" said Porthos. "Everything goes as if inflowery paths. "

"Everything goes too well, Porthos. But no matter; we must trust inGod. "

As soon as the plank was withdrawn the captain took his place at thetiller and made a sign to one of the sailors, who, boat-hook in hand, began to push out from the labyrinth of boats in which they wereinvolved. The other sailor had already seated himself on the portside and was ready to row. As soon as there was room for rowing, hiscompanion rejoined him and the boat began to move more rapidly. 

"At last we are off!" exclaimed Porthos. 

"Alas, " said Athos, "we depart alone. "

"Yes; but all four together and without a scratch; which is aconsolation. "

"We are not yet at our destination, " observed the prudent D'Artagnan;"beware of misadventure. "

"Ah, my friend!" cried Porthos, "like the crows, you always bring badomens. Who could intercept us on such a night as this, pitch dark, whenone does not see more than twenty yards before one?"

"Yes, but to-morrow morning----"

"To-morrow we shall be at Boulogne. "

"I hope so, with all my heart, " said the Gascon, "and I confess myweakness. Yes, Athos, you may laugh, but as long as we were withingunshot of the pier or of the vessels lying by it I was looking for afrightful discharge of musketry which would crush us. "

"But, " said Porthos, with great wisdom, "that was impossible, for theywould have killed the captain and the sailors. "

"Bah! much Monsieur Mordaunt would care. You don't imagine he wouldconsider a little thing like that?"

"At any rate, " said Porthos, "I am glad to hear D'Artagnan admit that heis afraid. "

"I not only confess it, but am proud of it, " returned the Gascon; "I'mnot such a rhinoceros as you are. Oho! what's that?"

"The Lightning, " answered the captain, "our felucca. "

"So far, so good, " laughed Athos. 

They went on board and the captain instantly conducted them to the berthprepared for them--a cabin which was to serve for all purposes and forthe whole party; he then tried to slip away under pretext of givingorders to some one. 

"Stop a moment, " cried D'Artagnan; "pray how many men have you on board, captain?"

"I don't understand, " was the reply. 

"Explain it, Athos. "

Groslow, on the question being interpreted, answered, "Three, withoutcounting myself. "

D'Artagnan understood, for while replying the captain had raised threefingers. "Oh!" he exclaimed, "I begin to be more at my ease, however, whilst you settle yourselves, I shall make the round of the boat. "

"As for me, " said Porthos, "I will see to the supper. "

"A very good idea, Porthos, " said the Gascon. "Athos lend me Grimaud, who in the society of his friend Parry has perhaps picked up a littleEnglish, and can act as my interpreter. "

"Go, Grimaud, " said Athos. 

D'Artagnan, finding a lantern on the deck, took it up and with a pistolin his hand he said to the captain, in English, "Come, " (being, with theclassic English oath, the only English words he knew), and so saying hedescended to the lower deck. 

This was divided into three compartments--one which was covered by thefloor of that room in which Athos, Porthos and Aramis were to pass thenight; the second was to serve as the sleeping-room for the servants, the third, under the prow of the ship, was under the temporary cabin inwhich Mordaunt was concealed. 

"Oho!" cried D'Artagnan, as he went down the steps of the hatchway, preceded by the lantern, "what a number of barrels! one would think onewas in the cave of Ali Baba. What is there in them?" he added, puttinghis lantern on one of the casks. 

The captain seemed inclined to go upon deck again, but controllinghimself he answered:

"Port wine. "

"Ah! port wine! 'tis a comfort, " said the Gascon, "since we shall notdie of thirst. Are they all full?"

Grimaud translated the question, and Groslow, who was wiping theperspiration from off his forehead, answered:

"Some full, others empty. "

D'Artagnan struck the barrels with his hand, and having ascertained thathe spoke the truth, pushed his lantern, greatly to the captain's alarm, into the interstices between the barrels, and finding that there wasnothing concealed in them:

"Come along, " he said; and he went toward the door of the secondcompartment. 

"Stop!" said the Englishman, "I have the key of that door;" and heopened the door, with a trembling hand, into the second compartment, where Mousqueton and Blaisois were preparing supper. 

Here there was evidently nothing to seek or to apprehend and they passedrapidly to examine the third compartment. 

This was the room appropriated to the sailors. Two or three hammockshung upon the ceiling, a table and two benches composed the entirefurniture. D'Artagnan picked up two or three old sails hung on thewalls, and meeting nothing to suspect, regained by the hatchway the deckof the vessel. 

"And this room?" he asked, pointing to the captain's cabin. 

"That's my room, " replied Groslow. 

"Open the door. "

The captain obeyed. D'Artagnan stretched out his arm in which he heldthe lantern, put his head in at the half opened door, and seeing thatthe cabin was nothing better than a shed:

"Good, " he said. "If there is an army on board it is not here that it ishidden. Let us see what Porthos has found for supper. " And thanking thecaptain, he regained the state cabin, where his friends were. 

Porthos had found nothing, and with him fatigue had prevailed overhunger. He had fallen asleep and was in a profound slumber whenD'Artagnan returned. Athos and Aramis were beginning to close theireyes, which they half opened when their companion came in again. 

"Well!" said Aramis. 

"All is well; we may sleep tranquilly. "

On this assurance the two friends fell asleep; and D'Artagnan, who wasvery weary, bade good-night to Grimaud and laid himself down in hiscloak, with naked sword at his side, in such a manner that his bodybarricaded the passage, and it should be impossible to enter the roomwithout upsetting him. 

71. Port Wine. 

In ten minutes the masters slept; not so the servants---hungry, and morethirsty than hungry. 

Blaisois and Mousqueton set themselves to preparing their bed whichconsisted of a plank and a valise. On a hanging table, which swung toand fro with the rolling of the vessel, were a pot of beer and threeglasses. 

"This cursed rolling!" said Blaisois. "I know it will serve me as it didwhen we came over. "

"And to think, " said Mousqueton, "that we have nothing to fightseasickness with but barley bread and hop beer. Pah!"

"But where is your wicker flask, Monsieur Mousqueton? Have you lost it?"asked Blaisois. 

"No, " replied Mousqueton, "Parry kept it. Those devilish Scotchmen arealways thirsty. And you, Grimaud, " he said to his companion, who hadjust come in after his round with D'Artagnan, "are you thirsty?"

"As thirsty as a Scotchman!" was Grimaud's laconic reply. 

And he sat down and began to cast up the accounts of his party, whosemoney he managed. 

"Oh, lackadaisy! I'm beginning to feel queer!" cried Blaisois. 

"If that's the case, " said Mousqueton, with a learned air, "take somenourishment. "

"Do you call that nourishment?" said Blaisois, pointing to the barleybread and pot of beer upon the table. 

"Blaisois, " replied Mousqueton, "remember that bread is the truenourishment of a Frenchman, who is not always able to get bread, askGrimaud. "

"Yes, but beer?" asked Blaisois sharply, "is that their true drink?"

"As to that, " answered Mousqueton, puzzled how to get out of thedifficulty, "I must confess that to me beer is as disagreeable as wineis to the English. "

"What! Monsieur Mousqueton! The English--do they dislike wine?"

"They hate it. "

"But I have seen them drink it. "

"As a punishment. For example, an English prince died one day becausethey had put him into a butt of Malmsey. I heard the Chevalier d'Herblaysay so. "

"The fool!" cried Blaisois, "I wish I had been in his place. "

"Thou canst be, " said Grimaud, writing down his figures. 

"How?" asked Blaisois, "I can? Explain yourself. "

Grimaud went on with his sum and cast up the whole. 

"Port, " he said, extending his hand in the direction of the firstcompartment examined by D'Artagnan and himself. 

"Eh? eh? ah? Those barrels I saw through the door?"

"Port!" replied Grimaud, beginning a fresh sum. 

"I have heard, " said Blaisois, "that port is a very good wine. "

"Excellent!" exclaimed Mousqueton, smacking his lips. "Excellent; thereis port wine in the cellar of Monsieur le Baron de Bracieux. "

"Suppose we ask these Englishmen to sell us a bottle, " said the honestBlaisois. 

"Sell!" cried Mousqueton, about whom there was a remnant of his ancientmarauding character left. "One may well perceive, young man, that youare inexperienced. Why buy what one can take?"

"Take!" said Blaisois; "covet the goods of your neighbor? That isforbidden, it seems to me. "

"Where forbidden?" asked Mousqueton. 

"In the commandments of God, or of the church, I don't know which. Ionly know it says, 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods, nor yethis wife. '"

"That is a child's reason, Monsieur Blaisois, " said Mousqueton in hismost patronizing manner. "Yes, you talk like a child--I repeat the word. Where have you read in the Scriptures, I ask you, that the English areyour neighbors?"

"Where, that is true, " said Blaisois; "at least, I can't now recall it. "

"A child's reason--I repeat it, " continued Mousqueton. "If you had beenten years engaged in war, as Grimaud and I have been, my dear Blaisois, you would know the difference there is between the goods of others andthe goods of enemies. Now an Englishman is an enemy; this port winebelongs to the English, therefore it belongs to us. "

"And our masters?" asked Blaisois, stupefied by this harangue, deliveredwith an air of profound sagacity, "will they be of your opinion?"

Mousqueton smiled disdainfully. 

"I suppose that you think it necessary that I should disturb the reposeof these illustrious lords to say, 'Gentlemen, your servant, Mousqueton, is thirsty. ' What does Monsieur Bracieux care, think you, whether I amthirsty or not?"

"'Tis a very expensive wine, " said Blaisois, shaking his head. 

"Were it liquid gold, Monsieur Blaisois, our masters would not denythemselves this wine. Know that Monsieur de Bracieux is rich enough todrink a tun of port wine, even if obliged to pay a pistole for everydrop. " His manner became more and more lofty every instant; then hearose and after finishing off the beer at one draught he advancedmajestically to the door of the compartment where the wine was. "Ah!locked!" he exclaimed; "these devils of English, how suspicious theyare!"

"Locked!" said Blaisois; "ah! the deuce it is; unlucky, for my stomachis getting more and more upset. "

"Locked!" repeated Mousqueton. 

"But, " Blaisois ventured to say, "I have heard you relate, MonsieurMousqueton, that once on a time, at Chantilly, you fed your master andyourself by taking partridges in a snare, carp with a line, and bottleswith a slipnoose. "

"Perfectly true; but there was an airhole in the cellar and the wine wasin bottles. I cannot throw the loop through this partition nor movewith a pack-thread a cask of wine which may perhaps weigh two hundredpounds. "

"No, but you can take out two or three boards of the partition, "answered Blaisois, "and make a hole in the cask with a gimlet. "

Mousqueton opened his great round eyes to the utmost, astonished to findin Blaisois qualities for which he did not give him credit. 

"'Tis true, " he said; "but where can I get a chisel to take the planksout, a gimlet to pierce the cask?"

"Trousers, " said Grimaud, still squaring his accounts. 

"Ah, yes!" said Mousqueton. 

Grimaud, in fact, was not only the accountant, but the armorer ofthe party; and as he was a man full of forethought, these trousers, carefully rolled up in his valise, contained every sort of tool forimmediate use. 

Mousqueton, therefore, was soon provided with tools and he began histask. In a few minutes he had extracted three boards. He tried to passhis body through the aperture, but not being like the frog in the fable, who thought he was larger than he really was, he found he must take outthree or four more before he could get through. 

He sighed and set to work again. 

Grimaud had now finished his accounts. He arose and stood nearMousqueton. 

"I, " he said. 

"What?" said Mousqueton. 

"I can pass. "

"That is true, " said Mousqueton, glancing at his friend's long and thinbody, "you will pass easily. "

"And he knows the full casks, " said Blaisois, "for he has already beenin the hold with Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan. Let Monsieur Grimaudgo in, Monsieur Mouston. "

"I could go in as well as Grimaud, " said Mousqueton, a little piqued. 

"Yes, but that would take too much time and I am thirsty. I am gettingmore and more seasick. "

"Go in, then, Grimaud, " said Mousqueton, handing him the beer pot andgimlet. 

"Rinse the glasses, " said Grimaud. Then with a friendly gesture towardMousqueton, that he might forgive him for finishing an enterprise sobrilliantly begun by another, he glided like a serpent through theopening and disappeared. 

Blaisois was in a state of great excitement; he was in ecstasies. Ofall the exploits performed since their arrival in England by theextraordinary men with whom he had the honor to be associated, thisseemed without question to be the most wonderful. 

"You are about to see, " said Mousqueton, looking at Blaisois withan expression of superiority which the latter did not even think ofquestioning, "you are about to see, Blaisois, how we old soldiers drinkwhen we are thirsty. "

"My cloak, " said Grimaud, from the bottom of the hold. 

"What do you want?" asked Blaisois. 

"My cloak--stop up the aperture with it. "

"Why?" asked Blaisois. 

"Simpleton!" exclaimed Mousqueton; "suppose any one came into the room. "

"Ah, true, " cried Blaisois, with evident admiration; "but it will bedark in the cellar. "

"Grimaud always sees, dark or light, night as well as day, " answeredMousqueton. 

"That is lucky, " said Blaisois. "As for me, when I have no candle Ican't take two steps without knocking against something. "

"That's because you haven't served, " said Mousqueton. "Had you been inthe army you would have been able to pick up a needle on the floor of aclosed oven. But hark! I think some one is coming. "

Mousqueton made, with a low whistling sound, the sign of alarm wellknown to the lackeys in the days of their youth, resumed his place atthe table and made a sign to Blaisois to follow his example. 

Blaisois obeyed. 

The door of their cabin was opened. Two men, wrapped in their cloaks, appeared. 

"Oho!" said they, "not in bed at a quarter past eleven. That's againstall rules. In a quarter of an hour let every one be in bed and snoring. "

These two men then went toward the compartment in which Grimaud wassecreted; opened the door, entered and shut it after them. 

"Ah!" cried Blaisois, "he is lost!"

"Grimaud's a cunning fellow, " murmured Mousqueton. 

They waited for ten minutes, during which time no noise was heard thatmight indicate that Grimaud was discovered, and at the expiration ofthat anxious interval the two men returned, closed the door afterthem, and repeating their orders that the servants should go to bed andextinguish their lights, disappeared. 

"Shall we obey?" asked Blaisois. "All this looks suspicious. "

"They said a quarter of an hour. We still have five minutes, " repliedMousqueton. 

"Suppose we warn the masters. "

"Let's wait for Grimaud. "

"But perhaps they have killed him. "

"Grimaud would have cried out. "

"You know he is almost dumb. "

"We should have heard the blow, then. "

"But if he doesn't return?"

"Here he is. "

At that very moment Grimaud drew back the cloak which hid the apertureand came in with his face livid, his eyes staring wide open with terror, so that the pupils were contracted almost to nothing, with a largecircle of white around them. He held in his hand a tankard full of adark substance, and approaching the gleam of light shed by the lamphe uttered this single monosyllable: "Oh!" with such an expression ofextreme terror that Mousqueton started, alarmed, and Blaisois was nearfainting from fright. 

Both, however, cast an inquisitive glance into the tankard--it was fullof gunpowder. 

Convinced that the ship was full of powder instead of having a cargo ofwine, Grimaud hastened to awake D'Artagnan, who had no sooner beheld himthan he perceived that something extraordinary had taken place. Imposingsilence, Grimaud put out the little night lamp, then knelt down andpoured into the lieutenant's ear a recital melodramatic enough not torequire play of feature to give it pith. 

This was the gist of his strange story:

The first barrel that Grimaud had found on passing into the compartmenthe struck--it was empty. He passed on to another--it, also, was empty, but the third which he tried was, from the dull sound it gave out, evidently full. At this point Grimaud stopped and was preparing to makea hole with his gimlet, when he found a spigot; he therefore placed histankard under it and turned the spout; something, whatever it was thecask contained, fell silently into the tankard. 

Whilst he was thinking that he should first taste the liquor which thetankard contained before taking it to his companions, the door of thecellar opened and a man with a lantern in his hands and enveloped in acloak, came and stood just before the hogshead, behind which Grimaud, on hearing him come in, instantly crept. This was Groslow. He wasaccompanied by another man, who carried in his hand something long andflexible rolled up, resembling a washing line. His face was hidden underthe wide brim of his hat. Grimaud, thinking that they had come, as hehad, to try the port wine, effaced himself behind his cask and consoledhimself with the reflection that if he were discovered the crime was nota great one. 

"Have you the wick?" asked the one who carried the lantern. 

"Here it is, " answered the other. 

At the voice of this last speaker, Grimaud started and felt a shuddercreeping through his very marrow. He rose gently, so that his headwas just above the round of the barrel, and under the large hat herecognized the pale face of Mordaunt. 

"How long will this fuse burn?" asked this person. 

"About five minutes, " replied the captain. 

That voice also was known to Grimaud. He looked from one to the otherand after Mordaunt he recognized Groslow. 

"Then tell the men to be in readiness--don't tell them why now. When theclock strikes a quarter after midnight collect your men. Get down intothe longboat. "

"That is, when I have lighted the match?"

"I will undertake that. I wish to be sure of my revenge. Are the oars inthe boat?"

"Everything is ready. "

"'Tis well. "

Mordaunt knelt down and fastened one end of the train to the spigot, in order that he might have nothing to do but to set it on fire at theopposite end with the match. 

He then arose. 

"You hear me--at a quarter past midnight--in fact, in twenty minutes. "

"I understand all perfectly, sir, " replied Groslow; "but allow me to saythere is great danger in what you undertake; would it not be better tointrust one of the men to set fire to the train?"

"My dear Groslow, " answered Mordaunt, "you know the French proverb, 'Nothing one does not do one's self is ever well done. ' I shall abide bythat rule. "

Grimaud had heard all this, if he had not understood it. But what he sawmade good what he lacked in perfect comprehension of the language. Hehad seen the two mortal enemies of the musketeers, had seen Mordauntadjust the fuse; he had heard the proverb, which Mordaunt had given inFrench. Then he felt and felt again the contents of the tankard he heldin his hand; and, instead of the lively liquor expected by Blaisoisand Mousqueton, he found beneath his fingers the grains of some coarsepowder. 

Mordaunt went away with the captain. At the door he stopped to listen. 

"Do you hear how they sleep?" he asked. 

In fact, Porthos could be heard snoring through the partition. 

"'Tis God who gives them into our hands, " answered Groslow. 

"This time the devil himself shall not save them, " rejoined Mordaunt. 

And they went out together. 

72. End of the Port Wine Mystery. 

Grimaud waited till he heard the bolt grind in the lock and when he wassatisfied that he was alone he slowly rose from his recumbent posture. 

"Ah!" he said, wiping with his sleeve large drops of sweat from hisforehead, "how lucky it was that Mousqueton was thirsty!"

He made haste to pass out by the opening, still thinking himself in adream; but the sight of the gunpowder in the tankard proved to him thathis dream was a fatal nightmare. 

It may be imagined that D'Artagnan listened to these details withincreasing interest; before Grimaud had finished he rose without noiseand putting his mouth to Aramis's ear, and at the same time touching himon the shoulder to prevent a sudden movement:

"Chevalier, " he said, "get up and don't make the least noise. "

Aramis awoke. D'Artagnan, pressing his hand, repeated his call. Aramisobeyed. 

"Athos is near you, " said D'Artagnan; "warn him as I have warned you. "

Aramis easily aroused Athos, whose sleep was light, like that ofall persons of a finely organized constitution. But there was moredifficulty in arousing Porthos. He was beginning to ask full explanationof that breaking in on his sleep, which was very annoying to him, whenD'Artagnan, instead of explaining, closed his mouth with his hand. 

Then our Gascon, extending his arms, drew to him the heads of his threefriends till they almost touched one another. 

"Friends, " he said, "we must leave this craft at once or we are deadmen. "

"Bah!" said Athos, "are you still afraid?"

"Do you know who is captain of this vessel?"

"No. "

"Captain Groslow. "

The shudder of the three musketeers showed to D'Artagnan that his wordsbegan to make some impression on them. 

"Groslow!" said Aramis; "the devil!

"Who is this Groslow?" asked Porthos. "I don't remember him. "

"Groslow is the man who broke Parry's head and is now getting ready tobreak ours. "

"Oh! oh!"

"And do you know who is his lieutenant?"

"His lieutenant? There is none, " said Athos. "They don't havelieutenants in a felucca manned by a crew of four. "

"Yes, but Monsieur Groslow is not a captain of the ordinary kind; he hasa lieutenant, and that lieutenant is Monsieur Mordaunt. "

This time the musketeers did more than shudder--they almost cried out. Those invincible men were subject to a mysterious and fatal influencewhich that name had over them; the mere sound of it filled them withterror. 

"What shall we do?" said Athos. 

"We must seize the felucca, " said Aramis. 

"And kill him, " said Porthos. 

"The felucca is mined, " said D'Artagnan. "Those casks which I took forcasks of port wine are filled with powder. When Mordaunt finds himselfdiscovered he will destroy all, friends and foes; and on my word hewould be bad company in going either to Heaven or to hell. "

"You have some plan, then?" asked Athos. 

"Yes. "

"What is it?"

"Have you confidence in me?"

"Give your orders, " said the three musketeers. 

"Very well; come this way. "

D'Artagnan went toward a very small, low window, just large enough tolet a man through. He turned it gently on its hinges. 

"There, " he said, "is our road. "

"The deuce! it is a very cold one, my dear friend, " said Aramis. 

"Stay here, if you like, but I warn you 'twill be rather too warmpresently. "

"But we cannot swim to the shore. "

"The longboat is yonder, lashed to the felucca. We will take possessionof it and cut the cable. Come, my friends. "

"A moment's delay, " said Athos; "our servants?"

"Here we are!" they cried. 

Meantime the three friends were standing motionless before the awfulsight which D'Artagnan, in raising the shutters, had disclosed to themthrough the narrow opening of the window. 

Those who have once beheld such a spectacle know that there is nothingmore solemn, more striking, than the raging sea, rolling, with itsdeafening roar, its dark billows beneath the pale light of a wintrymoon. 

"Gracious Heaven, we are hesitating!" cried D'Artagnan; "if we hesitatewhat will the servants do?"

"I do not hesitate, you know, " said Grimaud. 

"Sir, " interposed Blaisois, "I warn you that I can only swim in rivers. "

"And I not at all, " said Mousqueton. 

But D'Artagnan had now slipped through the window. 

"You have decided, friend?" said Athos. 

"Yes, " the Gascon answered; "Athos! you, who are a perfect being, bidspirit triumph over body. Do you, Aramis, order the servants. Porthos, kill every one who stands in your way. "

And after pressing the hand of Athos, D'Artagnan chose a moment whenthe ship rolled backward, so that he had only to plunge into the water, which was already up to his waist. 

Athos followed him before the felucca rose again on the waves; the cablewhich tied the boat to the vessel was then seen plainly rising out ofthe sea. 

D'Artagnan swam to it and held it, suspending himself by this rope, hishead alone out of water. 

In one second Athos joined him. 

Then they saw, as the felucca turned, two other heads peeping, those ofAramis and Grimaud. 

"I am uneasy about Blaisois, " said Athos; "he can, he says, only swim inrivers. "

"When people can swim at all they can swim anywhere. To the boat! to theboat!"

"But Porthos, I do not see him. "

"Porthos is coming--he swims like Leviathan. "

In fact, Porthos did not appear; for a scene, half tragedy and halfcomedy, had been performed by him with Mousqueton and Blaisois, who, frightened by the noise of the sea, by the whistling of the wind, by thesight of that dark water yawning like a gulf beneath them, shrank backinstead of going forward. 

"Come, come!" said Porthos; "jump in. "

"But, monsieur, " said Mousqueton, "I can't swim; let me stay here. "

"And me, too, monsieur, " said Blaisois. 

"I assure you, I shall be very much in the way in that little boat, "said Mousqueton. 

"And I know I shall drown before reaching it, " continued Blaisois. 

"Come along! I shall strangle you both if you don't get out, " saidPorthos at last, seizing Mousqueton by the throat. "Forward, Blaisois!"

A groan, stifled by the grasp of Porthos, was all the reply of poorBlaisois, for the giant, taking him neck and heels, plunged him into thewater headforemost, pushing him out of the window as if he had been aplank. 

"Now, Mousqueton, " he said, "I hope you don't mean to desert yourmaster?"

"Ah, sir, " replied Mousqueton, his eyes filling with tears, "why did youre-enter the army? We were all so happy in the Chateau de Pierrefonds!"

And without any other complaint, passive and obedient, either from truedevotion to his master or from the example set by Blaisois, Mousquetonleaped into the sea headforemost. A sublime action, at all events, forMousqueton looked upon himself as dead. But Porthos was not a man toabandon an old servant, and when Mousqueton rose above the water, blindas a new-born puppy, he found he was supported by the large hand ofPorthos and that he was thus enabled, without having occasion even tomove, to advance toward the cable with the dignity of a very triton. 

In a few minutes Porthos had rejoined his companions, who were alreadyin the boat; but when, after they had all got in, it came to his turn, there was great danger that in putting his huge leg over the edge of theboat he would upset the little vessel. Athos was the last to enter. 

"Are you all here?" he asked. 

"Ah! have you your sword, Athos?" cried D'Artagnan. 

"Yes. "

"Cut the cable, then. "

Athos drew a sharp poniard from his belt and cut the cord. The feluccawent on, the boat continued stationary, rocked only by the swashingwaves. 

"Come, Athos!" said D'Artagnan, giving his hand to the count; "you aregoing to see something curious, " added the Gascon. 

73. Fatality. 

Scarcely had D'Artagnan uttered these words when a ringing and suddennoise was heard resounding through the felucca, which had now become dimin the obscurity of the night. 

"That, you may be sure, " said the Gascon, "means something. "

They then at the same instant perceived a large lantern carried on apole appear on the deck, defining the forms of shadows behind it. 

Suddenly a terrible cry, a cry of despair, was wafted through space; andas if the shrieks of anguish had driven away the clouds, the veil whichhid the moon was cleated away and the gray sails and dark shrouds of thefelucca were plainly visible beneath the silvery light. 

Shadows ran, as if bewildered, to and fro on the vessel, and mournfulcries accompanied these delirious walkers. In the midst of these screamsthey saw Mordaunt upon the poop with a torch in hand. 

The agitated figures, apparently wild with terror, consisted of Groslow, who at the hour fixed by Mordaunt had collected his men and the sailors. Mordaunt, after having listened at the door of the cabin to hear if themusketeers were still asleep, had gone down into the cellar, convincedby their silence that they were all in a deep slumber. Then he had runto the train, impetuous as a man who is excited by revenge, and full ofconfidence, as are those whom God blinds, he had set fire to the wick ofnitre. 

All this while Groslow and his men were assembled on deck. 

"Haul up the cable and draw the boat to us, " said Groslow. 

One of the sailors got down the side of the ship, seized the cable, anddrew it; it came without the least resistance. 

"The cable is cut!" he cried, "no boat!"

"How! no boat!" exclaimed Groslow; "it is impossible. "

"'Tis true, however, " answered the sailor; "there's nothing in the wakeof the ship; besides, here's the end of the cable. "

"What's the matter?" cried Mordaunt, who, coming up out of the hatchway, rushed to the stern, waving his torch. 

"Only that our enemies have escaped; they have cut the cord and gone offwith the boat. "

Mordaunt bounded with one step to the cabin and kicked open the door. 

"Empty!" he exclaimed; "the infernal demons!"

"We must pursue them, " said Groslow, "they can't be gone far, and wewill sink them, passing over them. "

"Yes, but the fire, " ejaculated Mordaunt; "I have lighted it. "

"Ten thousand devils!" cried Groslow, rushing to the hatchway; "perhapsthere is still time to save us. "

Mordaunt answered only by a terrible laugh, threw his torch into thesea and plunged in after it. The instant Groslow put his foot upon thehatchway steps the ship opened like the crater of a volcano. A burstof flame rose toward the skies with an explosion like that of a hundredcannon; the air burned, ignited by flaming embers, then the frightfullightning disappeared, the brands sank, one after another, into theabyss, where they were extinguished, and save for a slight vibrationin the air, after a few minutes had elapsed one would have thought thatnothing had happened. 

Only--the felucca had disappeared from the surface of the sea andGroslow and his three sailors were consumed. 

The four friends saw all this--not a single detail of this fearful sceneescaped them. At one moment, bathed as they were in a flood of brilliantlight, which illumined the sea for the space of a league, they mighteach be seen, each by his own peculiar attitude and manner expressingthe awe which, even in their hearts of bronze, they could not helpexperiencing. Soon a torrent of vivid sparks fell around them--then, at last, the volcano was extinguished--then all was dark and still--thefloating bark and heaving ocean. 

They sat silent and dejected. 

"By Heaven!" at last said Athos, the first to speak, "by this time, Ithink, all must be over. "

"Here, my lords! save me! help!" cried a voice, whose mournful accents, reaching the four friends, seemed to proceed from some phantom of theocean. 

All looked around; Athos himself stared. 

"'Tis he! it is his voice!"

All still remained silent, the eyes of all were turned in the directionwhere the vessel had disappeared, endeavoring in vain to penetrate thedarkness. After a minute or two they were able to distinguish a man, whoapproached them, swimming vigorously. 

Athos extended his arm toward him, pointing him out to his companions. 

"Yes, yes, I see him well enough, " said D'Artagnan. 

"He--again!" cried Porthos, who was breathing like a blacksmith'sbellows; "why, he is made of iron. "

"Oh, my God!" muttered Athos. 

Aramis and D'Artagnan whispered to each other. 

Mordaunt made several strokes more, and raising his arm in sign ofdistress above the waves: "Pity, pity on me, gentlemen, in Heaven'sname! my strength is failing me; I am dying. "

The voice that implored aid was so piteous that it awakened pity in theheart of Athos. 

"Poor fellow!" he exclaimed. 

"Indeed!" said D'Artagnan, "monsters have only to complain to gain yoursympathy. I believe he's swimming toward us. Does he think we are goingto take him in? Row, Porthos, row. " And setting the example he plowedhis oar into the sea; two strokes took the bark on twenty fathomsfurther. 

"Oh! you will not abandon me! You will not leave me to perish! You willnot be pitiless!" cried Mordaunt. 

"Ah! ah!" said Porthos to Mordaunt, "I think we have you now, my hero!and there are no doors by which you can escape this time but those ofhell. "

"Oh! Porthos!" murmured the Comte de la Fere. 

"Oh, pray, for mercy's sake, don't fly from me. For pity's sake!" criedthe young man, whose agony-drawn breath at times, when his head wentunder water, under the wave, exhaled and made the icy waters bubble. 

D'Artagnan, however, who had consulted with Aramis, spoke to the poorwretch. "Go away, " he said; "your repentance is too recent to inspireconfidence. See! the vessel in which you wished to fry us is stillsmoking; and the situation in which you are is a bed of roses comparedto that in which you wished to place us and in which you have placedMonsieur Groslow and his companions. "

"Sir!" replied Mordaunt, in a tone of deep despair, "my penitence issincere. Gentlemen, I am young, scarcely twenty-three years old. I wasdrawn on by a very natural resentment to avenge my mother. You wouldhave done what I did. "

Mordaunt wanted now only two or three fathoms to reach the boat, for theapproach of death seemed to give him supernatural strength. 

"Alas!" he said, "I am then to die? You are going to kill the son, asyou killed the mother! Surely, if I am culpable and if I ask for pardon, I ought to be forgiven. "

Then, as if his strength failed him, he seemed unable to sustain himselfabove the water and a wave passed over his head, which drowned hisvoice. 

"Oh! this is torture to me, " cried Athos. 

Mordaunt reappeared. 

"For my part, " said D'Artagnan, "I say this must come to an end;murderer, as you were, of your uncle! executioner, as you were, of KingCharles! incendiary! I recommend you to sink forthwith to the bottom ofthe sea; and if you come another fathom nearer, I'll stave your wickedhead in with this oar. "

"D'Artagnan! D'Artagnan!" cried Athos, "my son, I entreat you; thewretch is dying, and it is horrible to let a man die without extending ahand to save him. I cannot resist doing so; he must live. "

"Zounds!" replied D'Artagnan, "why don't you give yourself up directly, feet and hands bound, to that wretch? Ah! Comte de la Fere, you wish toperish by his hands! I, your son, as you call me--I will not let you!"

'Twas the first time D'Artagnan had ever refused a request from Athos. 

Aramis calmly drew his sword, which he had carried between his teeth ashe swam. 

"If he lays his hand on the boat's edge I will cut it off, regicide thathe is. "

"And I, " said Porthos. "Wait. "

"What are you going to do?" asked Aramis. 

"Throw myself in the water and strangle him. "

"Oh, gentlemen!" cried Athos, "be men! be Christians! See! death isdepicted on his face! Ah! do not bring on me the horrors of remorse!Grant me this poor wretch's life. I will bless you--I----"

"I am dying!" cried Mordaunt, "come to me! come to me!"

D'Artagnan began to be touched. The boat at this moment turned around, and the dying man was by that turn brought nearer Athos. 

"Monsieur the Comte de la Fere, " he cried, "I supplicate you! pity me!I call on you--where are you? I see you no longer--I am dying--help me!help me!"

"Here I am, sir!" said Athos, leaning and stretching out his arm toMordaunt with that air of dignity and nobility of soul habitual to him;"here I am, take my hand and jump into our boat. "

Mordaunt made a last effort--rose--seized the hand thus extended to himand grasped it with the vehemence of despair. 

"That's right, " said Athos; "put your other hand here. " And he offeredhim his shoulder as another stay and support, so that his head almosttouched that of Mordaunt; and these two mortal enemies were in as closean embrace as if they had been brothers. 

"Now, sir, " said the count, "you are safe--calm yourself. "

"Ah! my mother, " cried Mordaunt, with eyes on fire with a look of hateimpossible to paint, "I can only offer thee one victim, but it shall atany rate be the one thou wouldst thyself have chosen!"

And whilst D'Artagnan uttered a cry, Porthos raised the oar, andAramis sought a place to strike, a frightful shake given to the boatprecipitated Athos into the sea; whilst Mordaunt, with a shout oftriumph, grasped the neck of his victim, and in order to paralyze hismovements, twined arms and legs around the musketeer. For an instant, without an exclamation, without a cry for help, Athos tried to sustainhimself on the surface of the waters, but the weight dragged him down;he disappeared by degrees; soon nothing was to be seen except his long, floating hair; then both men disappeared and the bubbling of the water, which, in its turn, was soon effaced, alone indicated the spot wherethese two had sunk. 

Mute with horror, the three friends had remained open-mouthed, theireyes dilated, their arms extended like statues, and, motionless as theywere, the beating of their hearts was audible. Porthos was the first whocame to himself. He tore his hair. 

"Oh!" he cried, "Athos! Athos! thou man of noble heart; woe is me! Ihave let thee perish!"

At this instant, in the midst of the silver circle illumined by thelight of the moon the same whirlpool which had been made by the sinkingmen was again obvious, and first were seen, rising above the waves, awisp of hair, then a pale face with open eyes, yet, nevertheless, theeyes of death; then a body, which, after rising of itself even to thewaist above the sea, turned gently on its back, according to the capriceof the waves, and floated. 

In the bosom of this corpse was plunged a poniard, the gold hilt ofwhich shone in the moonbeams. 

"Mordaunt! Mordaunt!" cried the three friends; "'tis Mordaunt!"

"But Athos!" exclaimed D'Artagnan. 

Suddenly the boat leaned on one side beneath a new and unexpected weightand Grimaud uttered a shout of joy; every one turned around and beheldAthos, livid, his eyes dim and his hands trembling, supporting himselfon the edge of the boat. Eight vigorous arms lifted him up immediatelyand laid him in the boat, where directly Athos was warmed andreanimated, reviving with the caresses and cares of his friends, whowere intoxicated with joy. 

"You are not hurt?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"No, " replied Athos; "and he----"

"Oh, he! now we may say at last, thank Heaven! he is really dead. Look!"and D'Artagnan, obliging Athos to look in the direction he pointed, showed him the body of Mordaunt floating on its back, which, sometimessubmerged, sometimes rising, seemed still to pursue the four friendswith looks of insult and mortal hatred. 

At last he sank. Athos had followed him with a glance in which thedeepest melancholy and pity were expressed. 

"Bravo! Athos!" cried Aramis, with an emotion very rare in him. 

"A capital blow you gave!" cried Porthos. 

"I have a son. I wished to live, " said Athos. 

"In short, " said D'Artagnan, "this has been the will of God. "

"It was not I who killed him, " said Athos in a soft, low tone, "'twasdestiny. "

74. How Mousqueton, after being very nearly roasted, had a Narrow Escapeof being eaten. 

A deep silence reigned for a long time in the boat after the fearfulscene described. 

The moon, which had shone for a short time, disappeared behind theclouds; every object was again plunged in the obscurity that is so awfulin the deserts and still more so in that liquid desert, the ocean, andnothing was heard save the whistling of the west wind driving along thetops of the crested billows. 

Porthos was the first to speak. 

"I have seen, " he said, "many dreadful things, but nothing that everagitated me so much as what I have just witnessed. Nevertheless, even inmy present state of perturbation, I protest that I feel happy. I havea hundred pounds' weight less upon my chest. I breathe more freely. " Infact, Porthos breathed so loud as to do credit to the free play of hispowerful lungs. 

"For my part, " observed Aramis, "I cannot say the same as you do, Porthos. I am still terrified to such a degree that I scarcely believemy eyes. I look around the boat, expecting every moment to see that poorwretch holding between his hands the poniard plunged into his heart. "

"Oh! I feel easy, " replied Porthos. "The poniard was pointed at thesixth rib and buried up to the hilt in his body. I do not reproach you, Athos, for what you have done. On the contrary, when one aims a blowthat is the regulation way to strike. So now, I breathe again--I amhappy!"

"Don't be in haste to celebrate a victory, Porthos, " interposedD'Artagnan; "never have we incurred a greater danger than we are nowencountering. Men may subdue men--they cannot overcome the elements. Weare now on the sea, at night, without any pilot, in a frail bark; shoulda blast of wind upset the boat we are lost. "

Mousqueton heaved a deep sigh. 

"You are ungrateful, D'Artagnan, " said Athos; "yes, ungrateful toProvidence, to whom we owe our safety in the most miraculous manner. Let us sail before the wind, and unless it changes we shall be driftedeither to Calais or Boulogne. Should our bark be upset we are five of usgood swimmers, able enough to turn it over again, or if not, to hold onby it. Now we are on the very road which all the vessels betweenDover and Calais take, 'tis impossible but that we should meet with afisherman who will pick us up. "

"But should we not find any fisherman and should the wind shift to thenorth?"

"That, " said Athos, "would be quite another thing; and we shouldnevermore see land until we were upon the other side of the Atlantic. "

"Which implies that we may die of hunger, " said Aramis. 

"'Tis more than possible, " answered the Comte de la Fere. 

Mousqueton sighed again, more deeply than before. 

"What is the matter? what ails you?" asked Porthos. 

"I am cold, sir, " said Mousqueton. 

"Impossible! your body is covered with a coating of fat which preservesit from the cold air. "

"Ah! sir, 'tis this very coating of fat that makes me shiver. "

"How is that, Mousqueton?

"Alas! your honor, in the library of the Chateau of Bracieux there are alot of books of travels. "

"What then?"

"Amongst them the voyages of Jean Mocquet in the time of Henry IV. "

"Well?"

"In these books, your honor, 'tis told how hungry voyagers, drifting outto sea, have a bad habit of eating each other and beginning with----"

"The fattest among them!" cried D'Artagnan, unable in spite of thegravity of the occasion to help laughing. 

"Yes, sir, " answered Mousqueton; "but permit me to say I see nothinglaughable in it. However, " he added, turning to Porthos, "I should notregret dying, sir, were I sure that by doing so I might still be usefulto you. "

"Mouston, " replied Porthos, much affected, "should we ever see my castleof Pierrefonds again you shall have as your own and for your descendantsthe vineyard that surrounds the farm. "

"And you should call it 'Devotion, '" added Aramis; "the vineyard ofself-sacrifice, to transmit to latest ages the recollection of yourdevotion to your master. "

"Chevalier, " said D'Artagnan, laughing, "you could eat a piece ofMouston, couldn't you, especially after two or three days of fasting?"

"Oh, no, " replied Aramis, "I should much prefer Blaisois; we haven'tknown him so long. "

One may readily conceive that during these jokes which were intendedchiefly to divert Athos from the scene which had just taken place, the servants, with the exception of Grimaud, were not silent. SuddenlyMousqueton uttered a cry of delight, taking from beneath one of thebenches a bottle of wine; and on looking more closely in the same placehe discovered a dozen similar bottles, bread, and a monster junk ofsalted beef. 

"Oh, sir!" he cried, passing the bottle to Porthos, "we are saved--thebark is supplied with provisions. "

This intelligence restored every one save Athos to gayety. 

"Zounds!" exclaimed Porthos, "'tis astonishing how empty violentagitation makes the stomach. "

And he drank off half a bottle at a draught and bit great mouthfuls ofthe bread and meat. 

"Now, " said Athos, "sleep, or try to sleep, my friends, and I willwatch. "

In a few moments, notwithstanding their wet clothes, the icy blast thatblew and the previous scene of terror, these hardy adventurers, withtheir iron frames, inured to every hardship, threw themselves down, intending to profit by the advice of Athos, who sat at the helm, pensively wakeful, guiding the little bark the way it was to go, hiseyes fixed on the heavens, as if he sought to verify not only the roadto France, but the benign aspect of protecting Providence. After somehours of repose the sleepers were aroused by Athos. 

Dawn was shedding its pallid, placid glimmer on the purple ocean, whenat the distance of a musket shot from them was seen a dark gray mass, above which gleamed a triangular sail; then masters and servants joinedin a fervent cry to the crew of that vessel to hear them and to save. 

"A bark!" all cried together. 

It was, in fact, a small craft from Dunkirk bound for Boulogne. 

A quarter of an hour afterward the rowboat of this craft took them allaboard. Grimaud tendered twenty guineas to the captain, and at nineo'clock in the morning, having a fair wind, our Frenchmen set foot ontheir native land. 

"Egad! how strong one feels here!" said Porthos, almost burying hislarge feet in the sands. "Zounds! I could defy a nation!"

"Be quiet, Porthos, " said D'Artagnan, "we are observed. "

"We are admired, i'faith, " answered Porthos. 

"These people who are looking at us are only merchants, " said Athos, "and are looking more at the cargo than at us. "

"I shall not trust to that, " said the lieutenant, "and I shall make forthe Dunes* as soon as possible. "

*Sandy hills about Dunkirk, from which it derives its name. 

The party followed him and soon disappeared with him behind the hillocksof sand unobserved. Here, after a short conference, they proposed toseparate. 

"And why separate?" asked Athos. 

"Because, " answered the Gascon, "we were sent, Porthos and I, byCardinal Mazarin to fight for Cromwell; instead of fighting for Cromwellwe have served Charles I. --not the same thing by any means. In returningwith the Comte de la Fere and Monsieur d'Herblay our crime would beconfirmed. We have circumvented Cromwell, Mordaunt, and the sea, but weshall find a certain difficulty in circumventing Mazarin. "

"You forget, " replied Athos, "that we consider ourselves your prisonersand not free from the engagement we entered into. "

"Truly, Athos, " interrupted D'Artagnan, "I am vexed that such a manas you are should talk nonsense which schoolboys would be ashamed of. Chevalier, " he continued, addressing Aramis, who, leaning proudly on hissword, seemed to agree with his companion, "Chevalier, Porthos and I runno risk; besides, should any ill-luck happen to two of us, will it notbe much better that the other two should be spared to assist those whomay be apprehended? Besides, who knows whether, divided, we may notobtain a pardon--you from the queen, we from Mazarin--which, were we allfour together, would never be granted. Come, Athos and Aramis, go to theright; Porthos, come with me to the left; these gentlemen should fileoff into Normandy, whilst we, by the nearest road, reach Paris. "

He then gave his friends minute directions as to their route. 

"Ah! my dear friend, " exclaimed Athos, "how I should admire theresources of your mind did I not stop to adore those of your heart. "

And he gave him his hand. 

"Isn't this fox a genius, Athos?" asked the Gascon. "No! he knows how tocrunch fowls, to dodge the huntsman and to find his way home by day orby night, that's all. Well, is all said?"

"All. "

"Then let's count our money and divide it. Ah! hurrah! there's the sun!A merry morning to you, Sunshine. 'Tis a long time since I saw thee!"

"Come, come, D'Artagnan, " said Athos, "do not affect to bestrong-minded; there are tears in your eyes. Let us be open with eachother and sincere. "

"What!" cried the Gascon, "do you think, Athos, we can take leave, calmly, of two friends at a time not free from danger to you andAramis?"

"No, " answered Athos; "embrace me, my son. "

"Zounds!" said Porthos, sobbing, "I believe I'm crying; but how foolishall this is!"

Then they embraced. At that moment their fraternal bond of union wascloser than ever, and when they parted, each to take the route agreedon, they turned back to utter affectionate expressions, which the echoesof the Dunes repeated. At last they lost sight of each other. 

"Sacrebleu! D'Artagnan, " said Porthos, "I must out with it at once, forI can't keep to myself anything I have against you; I haven't been ableto recognize you in this matter. "

"Why not?" said D'Artagnan, with his wise smile. 

"Because if, as you say, Athos and Aramis are in real danger, this isnot the time to abandon them. For my part, I confess to you that I wasall ready to follow them and am still ready to rejoin them, in spite ofall the Mazarins in the world. "

"You would be right, Porthos, but for one thing, which may change thecurrent of your ideas; and that is, that it is not those gentlemen whoare in the greatest danger, it is ourselves; it is not to abandon themthat we have separated, but to avoid compromising them. "

"Really?" said Porthos, opening his eyes in astonishment. 

"Yes, no doubt. If they are arrested they will only be put in theBastile; if we are arrested it is a matter of the Place de Greve. "

"Oh! oh!" said Porthos, "there is quite a gap between that fate and thebaronial coronet you promised me, D'Artagnan. "

"Bah! perhaps not so great as you think, Porthos; you know the proverb, 'All roads lead to Rome. '"

"But how is it that we are incurring greater risks than Athos andAramis?" asked Porthos. 

"Because they have but fulfilled the mission confided to them by QueenHenrietta and we have betrayed that confided to us by Mazarin; because, going hence as emissaries to Cromwell, we became partisans of KingCharles; because, instead of helping cut off the royal head condemned bythose fellows called Mazarin, Cromwell, Joyce, Bridge, Fairfax, etc. , wevery nearly succeeded in saving it. "

"Upon my word that is true, " said Porthos; "but how can you suppose, my dear friend, that in the midst of his great preoccupations GeneralCromwell has had time to think----"

"Cromwell thinks of everything; Cromwell has time for everything; andbelieve me, dear friend, we ought not to lose our time--it is precious. We shall not be safe till we have seen Mazarin, and then----"

"The devil!" said Porthos; "what can we say to Mazarin?"

"Leave that to me--I have my plan. He laughs best who laughs last. Cromwell is mighty, Mazarin is tricky, but I would rather have to dowith them than with the late Monsieur Mordaunt. "

"Ah!" said Porthos, "it is very pleasant to be able to say 'the lateMonsieur Mordaunt. '"

"My faith, yes, " said D'Artagnan. "But we must be going. "

The two immediately started across country toward the road to Paris, followed by Mousqueton, who, after being too cold all night, at the endof a quarter of an hour found himself too warm. 

75. The Return. 

During the six weeks that Athos and Aramis had been absent from France, the Parisians, finding themselves one morning without either queen orking, were greatly annoyed at being thus deserted, and the absence ofMazarin, a thing so long desired, did not compensate for that of the twoaugust fugitives. 

The first feeling that pervaded Paris on hearing of the flight to SaintGermain, was that sort of affright which seizes children when they awakein the night and find themselves alone. A deputation was thereforesent to the queen to entreat her to return to Paris; but she not onlydeclined to receive the deputies, but sent an intimation by ChancellorSeguier, implying that if the parliament did not humble itself beforeher majesty by negativing all the questions that had been the cause ofthe quarrel, Paris would be besieged the very next day. 

This threatening answer, unluckily for the court, produced quite adifferent effect to that which was intended. It wounded the pride of theparliament, which, supported by the citizens, replied by declaring thatCardinal Mazarin was the cause of all the discontent; denounced him asthe enemy both of the king and the state, and ordered him to retirefrom the court that same day and from France within a week afterward;enjoining, in case of disobedience on his part, all the subjects of theking to pursue and take him. 

Mazarin being thus placed beyond the pale of the protection of thelaw, preparations on both sides were commenced--by the queen, to attackParis, by the citizens, to defend it. The latter were occupied inbreaking up the pavement and stretching chains across the streets, when, headed by the coadjutor, appeared the Prince de Conti (the brother ofthe Prince de Conde) and the Duc de Longueville, his brother-in-law. This unexpected band of auxiliaries arrived in Paris on the tenth ofJanuary and the Prince of Conti was named, but not until after a stormydiscussion, generalissimo of the army of the king, out of Paris. 

As for the Duc de Beaufort, he arrived from Vendome, according to theannals of the day, bringing with him his high bearing and his long andbeautiful hair, qualifications which gained him the sovereignty of themarketplaces. 

The Parisian army had organized with the promptness characteristicof the bourgeois whenever they are moved by any sentiment whatever todisguise themselves as soldiers. On the nineteenth the impromptu armyhad attempted a sortie, more to assure itself and others of its actualexistence than with any more serious intention. They carried a banner, on which could be read this strange device: "We are seeking our king. "

The next following days were occupied in trivial movements whichresulted only in the carrying off of a few herds of cattle and theburning of two or three houses. 

That was still the situation of affairs up to the early days ofFebruary. On the first day of that month our four companions had landedat Boulogne, and, in two parties, had set out for Paris. Toward theend of the fourth day of the journey Athos and Aramis reached Nanterre, which place they cautiously passed by on the outskirts, fearing thatthey might encounter some troop from the queen's army. 

It was against his will that Athos took these precautions, butAramis had very judiciously reminded him that they had no right to beimprudent, that they had been charged by King Charles with a supreme andsacred mission, which, received at the foot of the scaffold, couldbe accomplished only at the feet of Queen Henrietta. Upon that, Athosyielded. 

On reaching the capital Athos and Aramis found it in arms. The sentinelat the gate refused even to let them pass, and called his sergeant. 

The sergeant, with the air of importance which such people assume whenthey are clad with military dignity, said:

"Who are you, gentlemen?"

"Two gentlemen. "

"And where do you come from?"

"From London. "

"And what are you going to do in Paris?"

"We are going with a mission to Her Majesty, the Queen of England. "

"Ah, every one seems to be going to see the queen of England. Wehave already at the station three gentlemen whose passports are underexamination, who are on their way to her majesty. Where are yourpassports?"

"We have none; we left England, ignorant of the state of politics here, having left Paris before the departure of the king. "

"Ah!" said the sergeant, with a cunning smile, "you are Mazarinists, whoare sent as spies. "

"My dear friend, " here Athos spoke, "rest assured, if we wereMazarinists we should come well prepared with every sort of passport. In your situation distrust those who are well provided with everyformality. "

"Enter the guardroom, " said the sergeant; "we will lay your case beforethe commandant of the post. "

The guardroom was filled with citizens and common people, some playing, some drinking, some talking. In a corner, almost hidden from view, werethree gentlemen, who had preceded Athos and Aramis, and an officer wasexamining their passports. The first impulse of these three, and ofthose who last entered, was to cast an inquiring glance at eachother. The first arrivals wore long cloaks, in whose drapery theywere carefully enveloped; one of them, shorter than the rest, remainedpertinaciously in the background. 

When the sergeant on entering the room announced that in all probabilityhe was bringing in two Mazarinists, it appeared to be the unanimousopinion of the officers on guard that they ought not to pass. 

"Be it so, " said Athos; "yet it is probable, on the contrary, that weshall enter, because we seem to have to do with sensible people. Thereseems to be only one thing to do, which is, to send our names to HerMajesty the Queen of England, and if she engages to answer for us Ipresume we shall be allowed to enter. "

On hearing these words the shortest of the other three men seemed moreattentive than ever to what was going on, wrapping his cloak around himmore carefully than before. 

"Merciful goodness!" whispered Aramis to Athos, "did you see?"

"What?" asked Athos. 

"The face of the shortest of those three gentlemen?"

"No. "

"He looked to me--but 'tis impossible. "

At this instant the sergeant, who had been for his orders, returned, andpointing to the three gentlemen in cloaks, said:

"The passports are in order; let these three gentlemen pass. "

The three gentlemen bowed and hastened to take advantage of thispermission. 

Aramis looked after them, and as the last of them passed close to him hepressed the hand of Athos. 

"What is the matter with you, my friend?" asked the latter. 

"I have--doubtless I am dreaming; tell me, sir, " he said to thesergeant, "do you know those three gentlemen who are just gone out?"

"Only by their passports; they are three Frondists, who are gone torejoin the Duc de Longueville. "

"'Tis strange, " said Aramis, almost involuntarily; "I fancied that Irecognized Mazarin himself. "

The sergeant burst into a fit of laughter. 

"He!" he cried; "he venture himself amongst us, to be hung! Not sofoolish as all that. "

"Ah!" muttered Athos, "I may be mistaken, I haven't the unerring eye ofD'Artagnan. "

"Who is speaking of Monsieur D'Artagnan?" asked an officer who appearedat that moment upon the threshold of the room. 

"What!" cried Aramis and Athos, "what! Planchet!"

"Planchet, " added Grimaud; "Planchet, with a gorget, indeed!"

"Ah, gentlemen!" cried Planchet, "so you are back again in Paris. Oh, how happy you make us! no doubt you come to join the princes!"

"As thou seest, Planchet, " said Aramis, whilst Athos smiled on seeingwhat important rank was held in the city militia by the former comradeof Mousqueton, Bazin and Grimaud. 

"And Monsieur d'Artagnan, of whom you spoke just now, Monsieurd'Herblay; may I ask if you have any news of him?"

"We parted from him four days ago and we have reason to believe that hehas reached Paris before us. "

"No, sir; I am sure he hasn't yet arrived. But then he may have stoppedat Saint Germain. "

"I don't think so; we appointed to meet at La Chevrette. "

"I was there this very day. "

"And had the pretty Madeleine no news?" asked Aramis, smiling. 

"No, sir, and it must be admitted that she seemed very anxious. "

"In fact, " said Aramis, "there is no time lost and we made our journeyquickly. Permit me, then, my dear Athos, without inquiring further aboutour friend, to pay my respects to M. Planchet. "

"Ah, monsieur le chevalier, " said Planchet, bowing. 

"Lieutenant?" asked Aramis. 

"Lieutenant, with a promise of becoming captain. "

"'Tis capital; and pray, how did you acquire all these honors?"

"In the first place, gentlemen, you know that I was the means ofMonsieur de Rochefort's escape; well, I was very near being hung byMazarin and that made me more popular than ever. "

"So, owing to your popularity----"

"No; thanks to something better. You know, gentlemen, that I served thePiedmont regiment and had the honor of being a sergeant?"

"Yes. "

"Well, one day when no one could drill a mob of citizens, who began tomarch, some with the right foot, others with the left, I succeeded, I did, in making them all begin with the same foot, and I was madelieutenant on the spot. "

"So I presume, " said Athos, "that you have a large number of the nobleswith you?"

"Certainly. There are the Prince de Conti, the Duc de Longueville, theDuc de Beaufort, the Duc de Bouillon, the Marechal de la Mothe, theMarquis de Sevigne, and I don't know who, for my part. "

"And the Vicomte Raoul de Bragelonne?" inquired Athos, in a tremulousvoice. "D'Artagnan told me that he had recommended him to your care, inparting. "

"Yes, count; nor have I lost sight of him for a single instant since. "

"Then, " said Athos in a tone of delight, "he is well? no accident hashappened to him?"

"None, sir. "

"And he lives?"

"Still at the Hotel of the Great Charlemagne. "

"And passes his time?"

"Sometimes with the queen of England, sometimes with Madame deChevreuse. He and the Count de Guiche are like each other's shadows. "

"Thanks, Planchet, thanks!" cried Athos, extending his hand to thelieutenant. 

"Oh, sir!" Planchet only touched the tips of the count's fingers. 

"Well, what are you doing, count--to a former lackey?

"My friend, " said Athos, "he has given me news of Raoul. "

"And now, gentlemen, " said Planchet, who had not heard what they weresaying, "what do you intend to do?"

"Re-enter Paris, if you will let us, my good Planchet. "

"Let you, sir? Now, as ever, I am nothing but your servant. " Thenturning to his men:

"Allow these gentlemen to pass, " he said; "they are friends of the Ducde Beaufort. "

"Long live the Duc de Beaufort!" cried the sentinels. 

The sergeant drew near to Planchet. 

"What! without passports?" he murmured. 

"Without passports, " said Planchet. 

"Take notice, captain, " he continued, giving Planchet his expectedtitle, "take notice that one of the three men who just now went out fromhere told me privately to distrust these gentlemen. "

"And I, " said Planchet, with dignity, "I know them and I answer forthem. "

As he said this, he pressed Grimaud's hand, who seemed honored by thedistinction. 

"Farewell till we meet again, " said Aramis, as they took leave ofPlanchet; "if anything happens to us we shall blame you for it. "

"Sir, " said Planchet, "I am in all things at your service. "

"That fellow is no fool, " said Aramis, as he got on his horse. 

"How should he be?" replied Athos, whilst mounting also, "seeing he wasused so long to brush your hats. "

76. The Ambassadors. 

The two friends rode rapidly down the declivity of the Faubourg, but onarriving at the bottom were surprised to find that the streets of Parishad become rivers, and the open places lakes; after the great rainswhich fell in January the Seine had overflowed its banks and the riverinundated half the capital. The two gentlemen were obliged, therefore, to get off their horses and take a boat; and in that strange manner theyapproached the Louvre. 

Night had closed in, and Paris, seen thus, by the light of lanternsflickering on the pools of water, crowded with ferry-boats of everykind, including those that glittered with the armed patrols, with thewatchword, passing from post to post--Paris presented such an aspectas to strongly seize the senses of Aramis, a man most susceptible towarlike impressions. 

They reached the queen's apartments, but were compelled to stop in theante-chamber, since her majesty was at that moment giving audience togentlemen bringing her news from England. 

"We, too, " said Athos, to the footman who had given him that answer, "not only bring news from England, but have just come from there. "

"What? then, are your names, gentlemen?"

"The Comte de la Fere and the Chevalier d'Herblay, " said Aramis. 

"Ah! in that case, gentlemen, " said the footman, on hearing the nameswhich the queen had so often pronounced with hope, "in that case it isanother thing, and I think her majesty will pardon me for not keepingyou here a moment. Please follow me, " and he went on before, followed byAthos and Aramis. 

On arriving at the door of the room where the queen was receiving hemade a sign for them to wait and opening the door:

"Madame, " he said, "I hope your majesty will forgive me for disobeyingyour orders, when you learn that the gentlemen I have come to announceare the Comte de la Fere and the Chevalier d'Herblay. "

On hearing those two names the queen uttered a cry of joy, which the twogentlemen heard. 

"Poor queen!" murmured Athos. 

"Oh, let them come in! let them come in, " cried the young princess, bounding to the door. 

The poor child was constant in her attendance on her mother and soughtby her filial attentions to make her forget the absence of her two sonsand her other daughter. 

"Come in, gentlemen, " repeated the princess, opening the door herself. 

The queen was seated on a fauteuil and before her were standing two orthree gentlemen, and among them the Duc de Chatillon, the brother of thenobleman killed eight or nine years previously in a duel on account ofMadame de Longueville, on the Place Royale. All these gentlemen had beennoticed by Athos and Aramis in the guardhouse, and when the two friendswere announced they started and exchanged some words in a low tone. "Well, sirs!" cried the queen, on perceiving the two friends, "youhave come, faithful friends! But the royal couriers have been moreexpeditious than you, and here are Monsieur de Flamarens and Monsieur deChatillon, who bring me from Her Majesty the Queen Anne of Austria, thevery latest intelligence. "

Aramis and Athos were astounded by the calmness, even the gayety of thequeen's manner. 

"Go on with your recital, sirs, " said the queen, turning to the Duc deChatillon. "You said that His Majesty, King Charles, my august consort, had been condemned to death by a majority of his subjects!"

"Yes, madame, " Chatillon stammered out. 

Athos and Aramis were more and more astonished. 

"And that being conducted to the scaffold, " resumed the queen--"oh, mylord! oh, my king!--and that being led to the scaffold he had been savedby an indignant people. "

"Just so madame, " replied Chatillon, in so low a voice that thoughthe two friends were listening eagerly they could hardly hear thisaffirmation. 

The queen clasped her hands in enthusiastic gratitude, whilst herdaughter threw her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her--her owneyes streaming with tears. 

"Now, madame, nothing remains to me except to proffer my respectfulhomage, " said Chatillon, who felt confused and ashamed beneath the sterngaze of Athos. 

"One moment, yes, " answered the queen. "One moment--I beg--for hereare the Chevalier d'Herblay and the Comte de la Fere, just arrived fromLondon, and they can give you, as eye-witnesses, such details as youcan convey to the queen, my royal sister. Speak, gentlemen, speak--I amlistening; conceal nothing, gloss over nothing. Since his majesty stilllives, since the honor of the throne is safe, everything else is amatter of indifference to me. "

Athos turned pale and laid his hand on his heart. 

"Well!" exclaimed the queen, who remarked this movement and hispaleness. "Speak, sir! I beg you to do so. "

"I beg you to excuse me, madame; I wish to add nothing to the recitalof these gentlemen until they perceive themselves that they have perhapsbeen mistaken. "

"Mistaken!" cried the queen, almost suffocated by emotion; "mistaken!what has happened, then?"

"Sir, " interposed Monsieur de Flamarens to Athos, "if we are mistakenthe error has originated with the queen. I do not suppose you willhave the presumption to set it to rights--that would be to accuse HerMajesty, Queen Anne, of falsehood. "

"With the queen, sir?" replied Athos, in his calm, vibrating voice. 

"Yes, " murmured Flamarens, lowering his eyes. 

Athos sighed deeply. 

"Or rather, sir, " said Aramis, with his peculiar irritating politeness, "the error of the person who was with you when we met you in theguardroom; for if the Comte de la Fere and I are not mistaken, we sawyou in the company of a third gentleman. "

Chatillon and Flamarens started. 

"Explain yourself, count!" cried the queen, whose anxiety grew greaterevery moment. "On your brow I read despair--your lips falter ere youannounce some terrible tidings--your hands tremble. Oh, my God! my God!what has happened?"

"Lord!" ejaculated the young princess, falling on her knees, "have mercyon us!"

"Sir, " said Chatillon, "if you bring bad tidings it will be cruel in youto announce them to the queen. "

Aramis went so close to Chatillon as almost to touch him. 

"Sir, " said he, with compressed lips and flashing eyes, "you have notthe presumption to instruct the Comte de la Fere and myself what weought to say here?"

During this brief altercation Athos, with his hands on his heart, hishead bent low, approached the queen and in a voice of deepest sorrowsaid:

"Madame, princes--who by nature are above other men--receive from Heavencourage to support greater misfortunes than those of lower rank, fortheir hearts are elevated as their fortunes. We ought not, therefore, Ithink, to act toward a queen so illustrious as your majesty as we shouldact toward a woman of our lowlier condition. Queen, destined as you areto endure every sorrow on this earth, hear the result of our unhappymission. "

Athos, kneeling down before the queen, trembling and very cold, drewfrom his bosom, inclosed in the same case, the order set in diamondswhich the queen had given to Lord de Winter and the wedding ring whichCharles I. Before his death had placed in the hands of Aramis. Since themoment he had first received these two mementoes Athos had never partedwith them. 

He opened the case and offered them to the queen with deep and silentanguish. 

The queen stretched out her hand, seized the ring, pressed itconvulsively to her lips--and without being able to breathe a sigh, togive vent to a sob, she extended her arms, became deadly pale, and fellsenseless in the arms of her attendants and her daughter. 

Athos kissed the hem of the robe of the widowed queen and rising, with adignity that made a deep impression on those around:

"I, the Comte de la Fere, a gentleman who has never deceived any humanbeing, swear before God and before this unhappy queen, that all that waspossible to save the king of England was done whilst we were on Englishground. Now, chevalier, " he added, turning to Aramis, "let us go. Ourduty is fulfilled. "

"Not yet. " said Aramis; "we have still a word to say to thesegentlemen. "

And turning to Chatillon: "Sir, be so good as not to go away withoutgiving me an opportunity to tell you something I cannot say before thequeen. "

Chatillon bowed in token of assent and they all went out, stopping atthe window of a gallery on the ground floor. 

"Sir, " said Aramis, "you allowed yourself just now to treat us in a mostextraordinary manner. That would not be endurable in any case, andis still less so on the part of those who came to bring the queen themessage of a liar. "

"Sir!" cried De Chatillon. 

"What have you done with Monsieur de Bruy? Has he by any possibilitygone to change his face which was too like that of Monsieur de Mazarin?There is an abundance of Italian masks at the Palais Royal, fromharlequin even to pantaloon. "

"Chevalier! chevalier!" said Athos. 

"Leave me alone, " said Aramis impatiently. "You know well that I don'tlike to leave things half finished. "

"Conclude, then, sir, " answered De Chatillon, with as much hauteur asAramis. 

"Gentlemen, " resumed Aramis, "any one but the Comte de la Fere andmyself would have had you arrested--for we have friends in Paris--butwe are contented with another course. Come and converse with us for justfive minutes, sword in hand, upon this deserted terrace. "

"One moment, gentlemen, " cried Flamarens. "I know well that theproposition is tempting, but at present it is impossible to accept it. "

"And why not?" said Aramis, in his tone of raillery. "Is it Mazarin'sproximity that makes you so prudent?"

"Oh, you hear that, Flamarens!" said Chatillon. "Not to reply would be ablot on my name and my honor. "

"That is my opinion, " said Aramis. 

"You will not reply, however, and these gentlemen, I am sure, willpresently be of my opinion. "

Aramis shook his head with a motion of indescribable insolence. 

Chatillon saw the motion and put his hand to his sword. 

"Willingly, " replied De Chatillon. 

"Duke, " said Flamarens, "you forget that to-morrow you are to command anexpedition of the greatest importance, projected by the prince, assentedto by the queen. Until to-morrow evening you are not at your owndisposal. "

"Let it be then the day after to-morrow, " said Aramis. 

"To-morrow, rather, " said De Chatillon, "if you will take the trouble ofcoming so far as the gates of Charenton. "

"How can you doubt it, sir? For the pleasure of a meeting with you Iwould go to the end of the world. "

"Very well, to-morrow, sir. "

"I shall rely on it. Are you going to rejoin your cardinal? Swear first, on your honor, not to inform him of our return. "

"Conditions?"

"Why not?"

"Because it is for victors to make conditions, and you are not yetvictors, gentlemen. "

"Then let us draw on the spot. It is all one to us--to us who do notcommand to-morrow's expedition. "

Chatillon and Flamarens looked at each other. There was such ironyin the words and in the bearing of Aramis that the duke had greatdifficulty in bridling his anger, but at a word from Flamarens herestrained himself and contented himself with saying:

"You promise, sir--that's agreed--that I shall find you to-morrow atCharenton?"

"Oh, don't be afraid, sir, " replied Aramis; and the two gentlemenshortly afterward left the Louvre. 

"For what reason is all this fume and fury?" asked Athos. "What havethey done to you?"

"They--did you not see what they did?"

"No. "

"They laughed when we swore that we had done our duty in England. Now, if they believed us, they laughed in order to insult us; if they did notbelieve it they insulted us all the more. However, I'm glad not tofight them until to-morrow. I hope we shall have something better to doto-night than to draw the sword. "

"What have we to do?"

"Egad! to take Mazarin. "

Athos curled his lip with disdain. 

"These undertakings do not suit me, as you know, Aramis. "

"Why?"

"Because it is taking people unawares. "

"Really, Athos, you would make a singular general. You would fight onlyby broad daylight, warn your foe before an attack, and never attemptanything by night lest you should be accused of taking advantage of thedarkness. "

Athos smiled. 

"You know one cannot change his nature, " he said. "Besides, do you knowwhat is our situation, and whether Mazarin's arrest wouldn't be ratheran encumbrance than an advantage?"

"Say at once you disapprove of my proposal. "

"I think you ought to do nothing, since you exacted a promise from thesegentlemen not to let Mazarin know that we were in France. "

"I have entered into no engagement and consider myself quite free. Come, come. "

"Where?"

"Either to seek the Duc de Beaufort or the Duc de Bouillon, and to tellthem about this. "

"Yes, but on one condition--that we begin by the coadjutor. He is apriest, learned in cases of conscience, and we will tell him ours. "

It was then agreed that they were to go first to Monsieur de Bouillon, as his house came first; but first of all Athos begged that he might goto the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne, to see Raoul. 

They re-entered the boat which had brought them to the Louvre and thenceproceeded to the Halles; and taking up Grimaud and Blaisois, they wenton foot to the Rue Guenegaud. 

But Raoul was not at the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne. He had receiveda message from the prince, to whom he had hastened with Olivain theinstant he had received it. 

77. The three Lieutenants of the Generalissimo. 

The night was dark, but still the town resounded with those noises thatdisclose a city in a state of siege. Athos and Aramis did not proceeda hundred steps without being stopped by sentinels placed before thebarricades, who demanded the watchword; and on their saying that theywere going to Monsieur de Bouillon on a mission of importance a guidewas given them under pretext of conducting them, but in fact as a spyover their movements. 

On arriving at the Hotel de Bouillon they came across a little troop ofthree cavaliers, who seemed to know every possible password; for theywalked without either guide or escort, and on arriving at the barricadeshad nothing to do but to speak to those who guarded them, who instantlylet them pass with evident deference, due probably to their high birth. 

On seeing them Athos and Aramis stood still. 

"Oh!" cried Aramis, "do you see, count?"

"Yes, " said Athos. 

"Who do these three cavaliers appear to you to be?"

"What do you think, Aramis?"

"Why, they are our men. "

"You are not mistaken; I recognize Monsieur de Flamarens. "

"And I, Monsieur de Chatillon. "

"As to the cavalier in the brown cloak----"

"It is the cardinal. "

"In person. "

"How the devil do they venture so near the Hotel de Bouillon?"

Athos smiled, but did not reply. Five minutes afterward they knocked atthe prince's door. 

This door was guarded by a sentinel and there was also a guard placedin the courtyard, ready to obey the orders of the Prince de Conti'slieutenant. 

Monsieur de Bouillon had the gout, but notwithstanding his illness, which had prevented his mounting on horseback for the last month---thatis, since Paris had been besieged--he was ready to receive the Comte dela Fere and the Chevalier d'Herblay. 

He was in bed, but surrounded with all the paraphernalia of war. Everywhere were swords, pistols, cuirasses, and arquebuses, and it wasplain that as soon as his gout was better Monsieur de Bouillon wouldgive a pretty tangle to the enemies of the parliament to unravel. Meanwhile, to his great regret, as he said, he was obliged to keep hisbed. 

"Ah, gentlemen, " he cried, as the two friends entered, "you are veryhappy! you can ride, you can go and come and fight for the cause ofthe people. But I, as you see, am nailed to my bed--ah! this demon, gout--this demon, gout!"

"My lord, " said Athos, "we are just arrived from England and our firstconcern is to inquire after your health. "

"Thanks, gentlemen, thanks! As you see, my health is but indifferent. But you come from England. And King Charles is well, as I have justheard?"

"He is dead, my lord!" said Aramis. 

"Pooh!" said the duke, too much astonished to believe it true. 

"Dead on the scaffold; condemned by parliament. "

"Impossible!"

"And executed in our presence. "

"What, then, has Monsieur de Flamarens been telling me?"

"Monsieur de Flamarens?"

"Yes, he has just gone out. "

Athos smiled. "With two companions?" he said. 

"With two companions, yes, " replied the duke. Then he added with acertain uneasiness, "Did you meet them?"

"Why, yes, I think so--in the street, " said Athos; and he lookedsmilingly at Aramis, who looked at him with an expression of surprise. 

"The devil take this gout!" cried Monsieur de Bouillon, evidently ill atease. 

"My lord, " said Athos, "we admire your devotion to the cause you haveespoused, in remaining at the head of the army whilst so ill, in so muchpain. "

"One must, " replied Monsieur de Bouillon, "sacrifice one's comfort tothe public good; but I confess to you I am now almost exhausted. Myspirit is willing, my head is clear, but this demon, the gout, o'ercrowsme. I confess, if the court would do justice to my claims and give thehead of my house the title of prince, and if my brother De Turenne werereinstated in his command I would return to my estates and leave thecourt and parliament to settle things between themselves as they might. "

"You are perfectly right, my lord. "

"You think so? At this very moment the court is making overtures to me;hitherto I have repulsed them; but since such men as you assure me thatI am wrong in doing so, I've a good mind to follow your advice and toaccept a proposition made to me by the Duc de Chatillon just now. "

"Accept it, my lord, accept it, " said Aramis. 

"Faith! yes. I am even sorry that this evening I almost repulsed--butthere will be a conference to-morrow and we shall see. "

The two friends saluted the duke. 

"Go, gentlemen, " he said; "you must be much fatigued after your voyage. Poor King Charles! But, after all, he was somewhat to blame in all thatbusiness and we may console ourselves with the reflection that Francehas no cause of reproach in the matter and did all she could to servehim. "

"Oh! as to that, " said Aramis, "we are witnesses. Mazarinespecially----"

"Yes, do you know, I am very glad to hear you give that testimony; thecardinal has some good in him, and if he were not a foreigner--well, hewould be more justly estimated. Oh! the devil take this gout!"

Athos and Aramis took their leave, but even in the ante-chamber theycould still hear the duke's cries; he was evidently suffering thetortures of the damned. 

When they reached the street, Aramis said:

"Well, Athos, what do you think?"

"Of whom?"

"Pardieu! of Monsieur de Bouillon. "

"My friend, I think that he is much troubled with gout. "

"You noticed that I didn't breathe a word as to the purpose of ourvisit?"

"You did well; you would have caused him an access of his disease. Letus go to Monsieur de Beaufort. "

The two friends went to the Hotel de Vendome. It was ten o'clock whenthey arrived. The Hotel de Vendome was not less guarded than theHotel de Bouillon, and presented as warlike an appearance. There weresentinels, a guard in the court, stacks of arms, and horses saddled. Two horsemen going out as Athos and Aramis entered were obliged to giveplace to them. 

"Ah! ah! gentlemen, " said Aramis, "decidedly it is a night for meetings. We shall be very unfortunate if, after meeting so often this evening, weshould not succeed in meeting to-morrow. "

"Oh, as to that, sir, " replied Chatillon (for it was he who, withFlamarens, was leaving the Duc de Beaufort), "you may be assured; for ifwe meet by night without seeking each other, much more shall we meet byday when wishing it. "

"I hope that is true, " said Aramis. 

"As for me, I am sure of it, " said the duke. 

De Flamarens and De Chatillon continued on their way and Athos andAramis dismounted. 

Hardly had they given the bridles of their horses to their lackeys andrid themselves of their cloaks when a man approached them, and afterlooking at them for an instant by the doubtful light of the lantern hungin the centre of the courtyard he uttered an exclamation of joy and ranto embrace them. 

"Comte de la Fere!" the man cried out; "Chevalier d'Herblay! How does ithappen that you are in Paris?"

"Rochefort!" cried the two friends. 

"Yes! we arrived four or five days ago from the Vendomois, as you know, and we are going to give Mazarin something to do. You are still with us, I presume?"

"More than ever. And the duke?"

"Furious against the cardinal. You know his success--our dear duke? Heis really king of Paris; he can't go out without being mobbed by hisadmirers. "

"Ah! so much the better! Can we have the honor of seeing his highness?"

"I shall be proud to present you, " and Rochefort walked on. Every doorwas opened to him. Monsieur de Beaufort was at supper, but he rosequickly on hearing the two friends announced. 

"Ah!" he cried, "by Jove! you're welcome, sirs. You are coming to supwith me, are you not? Boisgoli, tell Noirmont that I have two guests. You know Noirmont, do you not? The successor of Father Marteau who makesthe excellent pies you know of. Boisgoli, let him send one of his best, but not such a one as he made for La Ramee. Thank God! we don't wanteither rope ladders or gag-pears now. "

"My lord, " said Athos, "do not let us disturb you. We came merely toinquire after your health and to take your orders. "

"As to my health, since it has stood five years of prison, with Monsieurde Chavigny to boot, 'tis excellent! As to my orders, since every onegives his own commands in our party, I shall end, if this goes on, bygiving none at all. "

"In short, my lord, " said Athos, glancing at Aramis, "your highness isdiscontented with your party?"

"Discontented, sir! say my highness is furious! To such a degree, Iassure you, though I would not say so to others, that if the queen, acknowledging the injuries she has done me, would recall my mother andgive me the reversion of the admiralty, which belonged to my father andwas promised me at his death, well! it would not be long before I shouldbe training dogs to say that there were greater traitors in France thanthe Cardinal Mazarin!"

At this Athos and Aramis could not help exchanging not only a look buta smile; and had they not known it for a fact, this would have told themthat De Chatillon and De Flamarens had been there. 

"My lord, " said Athos, "we are satisfied; we came here only to expressour loyalty and to say that we are at your lordship's service and hismost faithful servants. "

"My most faithful friends, gentlemen, my most faithful friends; you haveproved it. And if ever I am reconciled with the court I shall prove toyou, I hope, that I remain your friend, as well as that of--what thedevil are their names--D'Artagnan and Porthos?"

"D'Artagnan and Porthos. "

"Ah, yes. You understand, then, Comte de la Fere, you understand, Chevalier d'Herblay, that I am altogether and always at your service. "

Athos and Aramis bowed and went out. 

"My dear Athos, " cried Aramis, "I think you consented to accompany meonly to give me a lesson--God forgive me!"

"Wait a little, Aramis; it will be time for you to perceive my motivewhen we have paid our visit to the coadjutor. "

"Let us then go to the archiepiscopal palace, " said Aramis. 

They directed their horses to the city. On arriving at the cradle fromwhich Paris sprang they found it inundated with water, and it was againnecessary to take a boat. The palace rose from the bosom of the water, and to see the number of boats around it one would have fancied one'sself not in Paris, but in Venice. Some of these boats were dark andmysterious, others noisy and lighted up with torches. The friends slidin through this congestion of embarkation and landed in their turn. Thepalace was surrounded with water, but a kind of staircase had beenfixed to the lower walls; and the only difference was, that instead ofentering by the doors, people entered by the windows. 

Thus did Athos and Aramis make their appearance in the ante-chamber, where about a dozen noblemen were collected in waiting. 

"Good heavens!" said Aramis to Athos, "does the coadjutor intend toindulge himself in the pleasure of making us cool our hearts off in hisante-chamber?"

"My dear friend, we must take people as we find them. The coadjutor isat this moment one of the seven kings of Paris, and has a court. Let ussend in our names, and if he does not send us a suitable message wewill leave him to his own affairs or those of France. Let us call one ofthese lackeys, with a demi-pistole in the left hand. "

"Exactly so, " cried Aramis. "Ah! if I'm not mistaken here's Bazin. Comehere, fellow. "

Bazin, who was crossing the ante-chamber majestically in his clericaldress, turned around to see who the impertinent gentleman was who thusaddressed him; but seeing his friends he went up to them quickly andexpressed delight at seeing them. 

"A truce to compliments, " said Aramis; "we want to see the coadjutor, and instantly, as we are in haste. "

"Certainly, sir--it is not such lords as you are who are allowed towait in the ante-chamber, only just now he has a secret conference withMonsieur de Bruy. "

"De Bruy!" cried the friends, "'tis then useless our seeing monsieur thecoadjutor this evening, " said Aramis, "so we give it up. "

And they hastened to quit the palace, followed by Bazin, who was lavishof bows and compliments. 

"Well, " said Athos, when Aramis and he were in the boat again, "are youbeginning to be convinced that we should have done a bad turn to allthese people in arresting Mazarin?"

"You are wisdom incarnate, Athos, " Aramis replied. 

What had especially been observed by the two friends was the littleinterest taken by the court of France in the terrible events whichhad occurred in England, which they thought should have arrested theattention of all Europe. 

In fact, aside from a poor widow and a royal orphan who wept in thecorner of the Louvre, no one appeared to be aware that Charles I. Hadever lived and that he had perished on the scaffold. 

The two friends made an appointment for ten o'clock on the followingday; for though the night was well advanced when they reached the doorof the hotel, Aramis said that he had certain important visits to makeand left Athos to enter alone. 

At ten o'clock the next day they met again. Athos had been out since sixo'clock. 

"Well, have you any news?" Athos asked. 

"Nothing. No one has seen D'Artagnan and Porthos has not appeared. Haveyou anything?"

"Nothing. "

"The devil!" said Aramis. 

"In fact, " said Athos, "this delay is not natural; they took theshortest route and should have arrived before we did. "

"Add to that D'Artagnan's rapidity in action and that he is not the manto lose an hour, knowing that we were expecting him. "

"He expected, you will remember, to be here on the fifth. "

"And here we are at the ninth. This evening the margin of possible delayexpires. "

"What do you think should be done, " asked Athos, "if we have no news ofthem to-night?"

"Pardieu! we must go and look for them. "

"All right, " said Athos. 

"But Raoul?" said Aramis. 

A light cloud passed over the count's face. 

"Raoul gives me much uneasiness, " he said. "He received yesterday amessage from the Prince de Conde; he went to meet him at Saint Cloud andhas not returned. "

"Have you seen Madame de Chevreuse?"

"She was not at home. And you, Aramis, you were going, I think, to visitMadame de Longueville. "

"I did go there. "

"Well?"

"She was no longer there, but she had left her new address. "

"Where was she?"

"Guess; I give you a thousand chances. "

"How should I know where the most beautiful and active of the Frondistswas at midnight? for I presume it was when you left me that you went tovisit her. "

"At the Hotel de Ville, my dear fellow. "

"What! at the Hotel de Ville? Has she, then, been appointed provost ofmerchants?"

"No; but she has become queen of Paris, ad interim, and since she couldnot venture at once to establish herself in the Palais Royal or theTuileries, she is installed at the Hotel de Ville, where she is on thepoint of giving an heir or an heiress to that dear duke. "

"You didn't tell me of that, Aramis. "

"Really? It was my forgetfulness then; pardon me. "

"Now, " asked Athos, "what are we to do with ourselves till evening? Herewe are without occupation, it seems to me. "

"You forget, my friend, that we have work cut out for us in thedirection of Charenton; I hope to see Monsieur de Chatillon, whom I'vehated for a long time, there. "

"Why have you hated him?"

"Because he is the brother of Coligny. "

"Ah, true! he who presumed to be a rival of yours, for which he wasseverely punished; that ought to satisfy you. "

"'Yes, but it does not; I am rancorous--the only stigma that proves meto be a churchman. Do you understand? You understand that you are in noway obliged to go with me. "

"Come, now, " said Athos, "you are joking. "

"In that case, my dear friend, if you are resolved to accompany me thereis no time to lose; the drum beats; I observed cannon on the road; Isaw the citizens in order of battle on the Place of the Hotel de Ville;certainly the fight will be in the direction of Charenton, as the Duc deChatillon said. "

"I supposed, " said Athos, "that last night's conferences would modifythose warlike arrangements. "

"No doubt; but they will fight, none the less, if only to mask theconferences. "

"Poor creatures!" said Athos, "who are going to be killed, in order thatMonsieur de Bouillon may have his estate at Sedan restored to him, thatthe reversion of the admiralty may be given to the Duc de Beaufort, andthat the coadjutor may be made a cardinal. "

"Come, come, dear Athos, confess that you would not be so philosophicalif your Raoul were to be involved in this affair. "

"Perhaps you speak the truth, Aramis. "

"Well, let us go, then, where the fighting is, for that is the mostlikely place to meet with D'Artagnan, Porthos, and possibly even Raoul. Stop, there are a fine body of citizens passing; quite attractive, byJupiter! and their captain--see! he has the true military style. "

"What, ho!" said Grimaud. 

"What?" asked Athos. 

"Planchet, sir. "

"Lieutenant yesterday, " said Aramis, "captain to-day, colonel, doubtless, to-morrow; in a fortnight the fellow will be marshal ofFrance. "

"Question him about the fight, " said Athos. 

Planchet, prouder than ever of his new duties, deigned to explain to thetwo gentlemen that he was ordered to take up his position on the PlaceRoyale with two hundred men, forming the rear of the army of Paris, andto march on Charenton when necessary. 

"This day will be a warm one, " said Planchet, in a warlike tone. 

"No doubt, " said Aramis, "but it is far from here to the enemy. "

"Sir, the distance will be diminished, " said a subordinate. 

Aramis saluted, then turning toward Athos:

"I don't care to camp on the Place Royale with all these people, " hesaid. "Shall we go forward? We shall see better what is going on. "

"And then Monsieur de Chatillon will not come to the Place Royale tolook for you. Come, then, my friend, we will go forward. "

"Haven't you something to say to Monsieur de Flamarens on your ownaccount?"

"My friend, " said Athos, "I have made a resolution never to draw mysword save when it is absolutely necessary. "

"And how long ago was that?"

"When I last drew my poniard. "

"Ah! Good! another souvenir of Monsieur Mordaunt. Well, my friend, nothing now is lacking except that you should feel remorse for havingkilled that fellow. "

"Hush!" said Athos, putting a finger on his lips, with the sad smilepeculiar to him; "let us talk no more of Mordaunt--it will bring badluck. " And Athos set forward toward Charenton, followed closely byAramis. 

78. The Battle of Charenton. 

As Athos and Aramis proceeded, and passed different companies on theroad, they became aware that they were arriving near the field ofbattle. 

"Ah! my friend!" cried Athos, suddenly, "where have you brought us?I fancy I perceive around us faces of different officers in the royalarmy; is not that the Duc de Chatillon himself coming toward us with hisbrigadiers?"

"Good-day, sirs, " said the duke, advancing; "you are puzzled by what yousee here, but one word will explain everything. There is now a truce anda conference. The prince, Monsieur de Retz, the Duc de Beaufort, the Ducde Bouillon, are talking over public affairs. Now one of two things musthappen: either matters will not be arranged, or they will be arranged, in which last case I shall be relieved of my command and we shall stillmeet again. "

"Sir, " said Aramis, "you speak to the point. Allow me to ask you aquestion: Where are the plenipotentiaries?"

"At Charenton, in the second house on the right on entering from thedirection of Paris. "

"And was this conference arranged beforehand?"

"No, gentlemen, it seems to be the result of certain propositions whichMazarin made last night to the Parisians. "

Athos and Aramis exchanged smiles; for they well knew what thosepropositions were, to whom they had been made and who had made them. 

"And that house in which the plenipotentiaries are, " asked Athos, "belongs to----"

"To Monsieur de Chanleu, who commands your troops at Charenton. I sayyour troops, for I presume that you gentlemen are Frondeurs?"

"Yes, almost, " said Aramis. 

"We are for the king and the princes, " added Athos. 

"We must understand each other, " said the duke. "The king is with us andhis generals are the Duke of Orleans and the Prince de Conde, althoughI must add 'tis almost impossible now to know to which party any onebelongs. "

"Yes, " answered Athos, "but his right place is in our ranks, with thePrince de Conti, De Beaufort, D'Elbeuf, and De Bouillon; but, sir, supposing that the conference is broken off--are you going to try totake Charenton?"

"Such are my orders. "

"Sir, since you command the cavalry----"

"Pardon me, I am commander-in-chief. "

"So much the better. You must know all your officers--I mean those moredistinguished. "

"Why, yes, very nearly. "

"Will you then kindly tell me if you have in your command the Chevalierd'Artagnan, lieutenant in the musketeers?"

"No, sir, he is not with us; he left Paris more than six weeks ago andis believed to have gone on a mission to England. "

"I knew that, but I supposed he had returned. "

"No, sir; no one has seen him. I can answer positively on that point, for the musketeers belong to our forces and Monsieur de Cambon, thesubstitute for Monsieur d'Artagnan, still holds his place. "

The two friends looked at each other. 

"You see, " said Athos. 

"It is strange, " said Aramis. 

"It is absolutely certain that some misfortune has happened to them onthe way. "

"If we have no news of them this evening, to-morrow we must start. "

Athos nodded affirmatively, then turning:

"And Monsieur de Bragelonne, a young man fifteen years of age, attachedto the Prince de Conde--has he the honor of being known to you?"diffident in allowing the sarcastic Aramis to perceive how strong werehis paternal feelings. 

"Yes, surely, he came with the prince; a charming young man; he is oneof your friends then, monsieur le comte?"

"Yes, sir, " answered Athos, agitated; "so much so that I wish to see himif possible. "

"Quite possible, sir; do me the favor to accompany me and I will conductyou to headquarters. "

"Halloo, there!" cried Aramis, turning around; "what a noise behind us!"

"A body of cavaliers is coming toward us, " said Chatillon. 

"I recognize the coadjutor by his Frondist hat. "

"And I the Duc de Beaufort by his white plume of ostrich feathers. "

"They are coming, full gallop; the prince is with them--ah! he isleaving them!"

"They are beating the rappel!" cried Chatillon; "we must discover whatis going on. "

In fact, they saw the soldiers running to their arms; the trumpetssounded; the drums beat; the Duc de Beaufort drew his sword. On his sidethe prince sounded a rappel and all the officers of the royalist army, mingling momentarily with the Parisian troops, ran to him. 

"Gentlemen, " cried Chatillon, "the truce is broken, that is evident;they are going to fight; go, then, into Charenton, for I shall begin ina short time--there's a signal from the prince!"

The cornet of a troop had in fact just raised the standard of theprince. 

"Farewell, till the next time we meet, " cried Chatillon, and he set off, full gallop. 

Athos and Aramis turned also and went to salute the coadjutor and theDuc de Beaufort. As to the Duc de Bouillon, he had such a fit of goutas obliged him to return to Paris in a litter; but his place was wellfilled by the Duc d'Elbeuf and his four sons, ranged around him like astaff. Meantime, between Charenton and the royal army was left a spacewhich looked ready to serve as a last resting place for the dead. 

"Gentlemen, " cried the coadjutor, tightening his sash, which hewore, after the fashion of the ancient military prelates, over hisarchiepiscopal simar, "there's the enemy approaching. Let us save themhalf of their journey. "

And without caring whether he were followed or not he set off; hisregiment, which bore the name of the regiment of Corinth, from the nameof his archbishopric, darted after him and began the fight. Monsieur deBeaufort sent his cavalry, toward Etampes and Monsieur de Chanleu, whodefended the place, was ready to resist an assault, or if the enemy wererepulsed, to attempt a sortie. 

The battle soon became general and the coadjutor performed miraclesof valor. His proper vocation had always been the sword and he wasdelighted whenever he could draw it from the scabbard, no matter forwhom or against whom. 

Chanleu, whose fire at one time repulsed the royal regiment, thoughtthat the moment was come to pursue it; but it was reformed and led againto the charge by the Duc de Chatillon in person. This charge was sofierce, so skillfully conducted, that Chanleu was almost surrounded. Hecommanded a retreat, which began, step by step, foot by foot; unhappily, in an instant he fell, mortally wounded. De Chatillon saw him fall andannounced it in a loud voice to his men, which raised their spirits andcompletely disheartened their enemies, so that every man thought only ofhis own safety and tried to gain the trenches, where the coadjutor wastrying to reform his disorganized regiment. 

Suddenly a squadron of cavalry galloped up to encounter the royaltroops, who were entering, pele-mele, the intrenchments with thefugitives. Athos and Aramis charged at the head of their squadrons;Aramis with sword and pistol in his hands, Athos with his sword in hisscabbard, his pistol in his saddle-bags; calm and cool as if on theparade, except that his noble and beautiful countenance became sad as hesaw slaughtered so many men who were sacrificed on the one side to theobstinacy of royalty and on the other to the personal rancor of theprinces. Aramis, on the contrary, struck right and left and was almostdelirious with excitement. His bright eyes kindled, and his mouth, sofinely formed, assumed a wicked smile; every blow he aimed was sure, andhis pistol finished the deed--annihilated the wounded wretch who triedto rise again. 

On the opposite side two cavaliers, one covered with a gilt cuirass, theother wearing simply a buff doublet, from which fell the sleeves of avest of blue velvet, charged in front. The cavalier in the gilt cuirassfell upon Aramis and struck a blow that Aramis parried with his wontedskill. 

"Ah! 'tis you, Monsieur de Chatillon, " cried the chevalier; "welcome toyou--I expected you. "

"I hope I have not made you wait too long, sir, " said the duke; "at allevents, here I am. "

"Monsieur de Chatillon, " cried Aramis, taking from his saddle-bags asecond pistol, "I think if your pistols have been discharged you are adead man. "

"Thank God, sir, they are not!"

And the duke, pointing his pistol at Aramis, fired. But Aramis bent hishead the instant he saw the duke's finger press the trigger and the ballpassed without touching him. 

"Oh! you've missed me, " cried Aramis, "but I swear to Heaven! I will notmiss you. "

"If I give you time!" cried the duke, spurring on his horse and rushingupon him with his drawn sword. 

Aramis awaited him with that terrible smile which was peculiar to him onsuch occasions, and Athos, who saw the duke advancing toward Aramiswith the rapidity of lightning, was just going to cry out, "Fire! fire, then!" when the shot was fired. De Chatillon opened his arms and fellback on the crupper of his horse. 

The ball had entered his breast through a notch in the cuirass. 

"I am a dead man, " he said, and fell from his horse to the ground. 

"I told you this, I am now grieved I have kept my word. Can I be of anyuse to you?"

Chatillon made a sign with his hand and Aramis was about to dismountwhen he received a violent shock; 'twas a thrust from a sword, but hiscuirass turned aside the blow. 

He turned around and seized his new antagonist by the wrist, when hestarted back, exclaiming, "Raoul!"

"Raoul?" cried Athos. 

The young man recognized at the same instant the voices of his fatherand the Chevalier d'Herblay; two officers in the Parisian forces rushedat that instant on Raoul, but Aramis protected him with his sword. 

"My prisoner!" he cried. 

Athos took his son's horse by the bridle and led him forth out of themelee. 

At this crisis of the battle, the prince, who had been seconding DeChatillon in the second line, appeared in the midst of the fight; hiseagle eye made him known and his blows proclaimed the hero. 

On seeing him, the regiment of Corinth, which the coadjutor had not beenable to reorganize in spite of all his efforts, threw itself into themidst of the Parisian forces, put them into confusion and re-enteredCharenton flying. The coadjutor, dragged along with his fugitive forces, passed near the group formed by Athos, Raoul and Aramis. Aramis couldnot in his jealousy avoid being pleased at the coadjutor's misfortune, and was about to utter some bon mot more witty than correct, when Athosstopped him. 

"On, on!" he cried, "this is no moment for compliments; or rather, back, for the battle seems to be lost by the Frondeurs. "

"It is a matter of indifference to me, " said Aramis; "I came here onlyto meet De Chatillon; I have met him, I am contented; 'tis something tohave met De Chatillon in a duel!"

"And besides, we have a prisoner, " said Athos, pointing to Raoul. 

The three cavaliers continued their road on full gallop. 

"What were you doing in the battle, my friend?" inquired Athos of theyouth; "'twas not your right place, I think, as you were not equippedfor an engagement!"

"I had no intention of fighting to-day, sir; I was charged, indeed, with a mission to the cardinal and had set out for Rueil, when, seeingMonsieur de Chatillon charge, an invincible desire possessed me tocharge at his side. It was then that he told me two cavaliers of theParisian army were seeking me and named the Comte de la Fere. "

"What! you knew we were there and yet wished to kill your friend thechevalier?"

"I did not recognize the chevalier in armor, sir!" said Raoul, blushing;"though I might have known him by his skill and coolness in danger. "

"Thank you for the compliment, my young friend, " replied Aramis, "we cansee from whom you learned courtesy. Then you were going to Rueil?"

"Yes! I have a despatch from the prince to his eminence. "

"You must still deliver it, " said Athos. 

"No false generosity, count! the fate of our friends, to say nothing ofour own, is perhaps in that very despatch. "

"This young man must not, however, fail in his duty, " said Athos. 

"In the first place, count, this youth is our prisoner; you seem toforget that. What I propose to do is fair in war; the vanquished mustnot be dainty in the choice of means. Give me the despatch, Raoul. "

The young man hesitated and looked at Athos as if seeking to read in hiseyes a rule of conduct. 

"Give him the despatch, Raoul! you are the chevalier's prisoner. "

Raoul gave it up reluctantly; Aramis instantly seized and read it. 

"You, " he said, "you, who are so trusting, read and reflect that thereis something in this letter important for us to see. "

Athos took the letter, frowning, but an idea that he should findsomething in this letter about D'Artagnan conquered his unwillingness toread it. 

"My lord, I shall send this evening to your eminence in order toreinforce the troop of Monsieur de Comminges, the ten men you demand. They are good soldiers, fit to confront the two violent adversarieswhose address and resolution your eminence is fearful of. "

"Oh!" cried Athos. 

"Well, " said Aramis, "what think you about these two enemies whom itrequires, besides Comminges's troop, ten good soldiers to confront; arethey not as like as two drops of water to D'Artagnan and Porthos?"

"We'll search Paris all day long, " said Athos, "and if we have no newsthis evening we will return to the road to Picardy; and I feel no doubtthat, thanks to D'Artagnan's ready invention, we shall then find someclew which will solve our doubts. "

"Yes, let us search Paris and especially inquire of Planchet if he hasyet heard from his former master. "

"That poor Planchet! You speak of him very much at your ease, Aramis; hehas probably been killed. All those fighting citizens went out to battleand they have been massacred. "

It was, then, with a sentiment of uneasiness whether Planchet, whoalone could give them information, was alive or dead, that the friendsreturned to the Place Royale; to their great surprise they found thecitizens still encamped there, drinking and bantering each other, although, doubtless, mourned by their families, who thought they were atCharenton in the thickest of the fighting. 

Athos and Aramis again questioned Planchet, but he had seen nothing ofD'Artagnan; they wished to take Planchet with them, but he could notleave his troop, who at five o'clock returned home, saying that theywere returning from the battle, whereas they had never lost sight of thebronze equestrian statue of Louis XIII. 

79. The Road to Picardy. 

On leaving Paris, Athos and Aramis well knew that they would beencountering great danger; but we know that for men like these therecould be no question of danger. Besides, they felt that the denouementof this second Odyssey was at hand and that there remained but a singleeffort to make. 

Besides, there was no tranquillity in Paris itself. Provisions began tofail, and whenever one of the Prince de Conti's generals wished to gainmore influence he got up a little popular tumult, which he put downagain, and thus for the moment gained a superiority over his colleagues. 

In one of these risings, the Duc de Beaufort pillaged the house andlibrary of Mazarin, in order to give the populace, as he putit, something to gnaw at. Athos and Aramis left Paris after thiscoup-d'etat, which took place on the very evening of the day in whichthe Parisians had been beaten at Charenton. 

They quitted Paris, beholding it abandoned to extreme want, borderingon famine; agitated by fear, torn by faction. Parisians and Frondeursas they were, the two friends expected to find the same misery, thesame fears, the same intrigue in the enemy's camp; but what was theirsurprise, after passing Saint Denis, to hear that at Saint Germainpeople were singing and laughing, and leading generally cheerful lives. The two gentlemen traveled by byways in order not to encounter theMazarinists scattered about the Isle of France, and also to escape theFrondeurs, who were in possession of Normandy and who never failedto conduct captives to the Duc de Longueville, in order that he mightascertain whether they were friends or foes. Having escaped thesedangers, they returned by the main road to Boulogne, at Abbeville, andfollowed it step by step, examining every track. 

Nevertheless, they were still in a state of uncertainty. Several innswere visited by them, several innkeepers questioned, without a singleclew being given to guide their inquiries, when at Montreuil Athos feltupon the table that something rough was touching his delicate fingers. He turned up the cloth and found these hieroglyphics carved upon thewood with a knife:

"Port. . . . D'Art. . . . 2d February. "

"This is capital!" said Athos to Aramis, "we were to have slepthere, but we cannot--we must push on. " They rode forward and reachedAbbeville. There the great number of inns puzzled them; they could notgo to all; how could they guess in which those whom they were seekinghad stayed?

"Trust me, " said Aramis, "do not expect to find anything in Abbeville. If we had only been looking for Porthos, Porthos would have stationedhimself in one of the finest hotels and we could easily have traced him. But D'Artagnan is devoid of such weaknesses. Porthos would have found itvery difficult even to make him see that he was dying of hunger; he hasgone on his road as inexorable as fate and we must seek him somewhereelse. "

They continued their route. It had now become a weary and almosthopeless task, and had it not been for the threefold motives of honor, friendship and gratitude, implanted in their hearts, our two travelerswould have given up many a time their rides over the sand, theirinterrogatories of the peasantry and their close inspection of faces. 

They proceeded thus to Peronne. 

Athos began to despair. His noble nature felt that their ignorance wasa sort of reflection upon them. They had not looked carefully enough fortheir lost friends. They had not shown sufficient pertinacity in theirinquiries. They were willing and ready to retrace their steps, when, incrossing the suburb which leads to the gates of the town, upon a whitewall which was at the corner of a street turning around the rampart, Athos cast his eyes upon a drawing in black chalk, which represented, with the awkwardness of a first attempt, two cavaliers riding furiously;one of them carried a roll of paper on which were written these words:"They are following us. "

"Oh!" exclaimed Athos, "here it is, as clear as day; pursued as he was, D'Artagnan would not have tarried here five minutes had he been pressedvery closely, which gives us hopes that he may have succeeded inescaping. "

Aramis shook his head. 

"Had he escaped we should either have seen him or have heard him spokenof. "

"You are right, Aramis, let us travel on. "

To describe the impatience and anxiety of these two friends would beimpossible. Uneasiness took possession of the tender, constant heart ofAthos, and fearful forecasts were the torment of the impulsive Aramis. They galloped on for two or three hours as furiously as the cavalierson the wall. All at once, in a narrow pass, they perceived that the roadwas partially barricaded by an enormous stone. It had evidently beenrolled across the pass by some arm of giant strength. 

Aramis stopped. 

"Oh!" he said, looking at the stone, "this is the work of eitherHercules or Porthos. Let us get down, count, and examine this rock. "

They both alighted. The stone had been brought with the evidentintention of barricading the road, but some one having perceived theobstacle had partially turned it aside. 

With the assistance of Blaisois and Grimaud the friends succeeded inturning the stone over. Upon the side next the ground were scratched thefollowing words:

"Eight of the light dragoons are pursuing us. If we reach Compiegne weshall stop at the Peacock. It is kept by a friend of ours. "

"At last we have something definite, " said Athos; "let us go to thePeacock. "

"Yes, " answered Aramis, "but if we are to get there we must rest ourhorses, for they are almost broken-winded. "

Aramis was right; they stopped at the first tavern and made each horseswallow a double quantity of corn steeped in wine; they gave them threehours' rest and then set off again. The men themselves were almost deadwith fatigue, but hope supported them. 

In six hours they reached Compiegne and alighted at the Peacock. Thehost proved to be a worthy man, as bald as a Chinaman. They asked himif some time ago he had not received in his house two gentlemen who werepursued by dragoons; without answering he went out and brought in theblade of a rapier. 

"Do you know that?" he asked. 

Athos merely glanced at it. 

"'Tis D'Artagnan's sword, " he said. 

"Does it belong to the smaller or to the larger of the two?" asked thehost. 

"To the smaller. "

"I see that you are the friends of these gentlemen. "

"Well, what has happened to them?"

"They were pursued by eight of the light dragoons, who rode into thecourtyard before they had time to close the gate. "

"Eight!" said Aramis; "it surprises me that two such heroes as Porthosand D'Artagnan should have allowed themselves to be arrested by eightmen. "

"The eight men would doubtless have failed had they not been assisted bytwenty soldiers of the regiment of Italians in the king's service, whoare in garrison in this town so that your friends were overpowered bynumbers. "

"Arrested, were they?" inquired Athos; "is it known why?"

"No, sir, they were carried off instantly, and had not even time to tellme why; but as soon as they were gone I found this broken sword-blade, as I was helping to raise two dead men and five or six wounded ones. "

"'Tis still a consolation that they were not wounded, " said Aramis. 

"Where were they taken?" asked Athos. 

"Toward the town of Louvres, " was the reply. 

The two friends having agreed to leave Blaisois and Grimaud at Compiegnewith the horses, resolved to take post horses; and having snatched ahasty dinner they continued their journey to Louvres. Here they foundonly one inn, in which was consumed a liqueur which preserves itsreputation to our time and which is still made in that town. 

"Let us alight here, " said Athos. "D'Artagnan will not have let slip anopportunity of drinking a glass of this liqueur, and at the same timeleaving some trace of himself. "

They went into the town and asked for two glasses of liqueur, at thecounter--as their friends must have done before them. The counter wascovered with a plate of pewter; upon this plate was written with thepoint of a large pin: "Rueil. . . D. . "

"They went to Rueil, " cried Aramis. 

"Let us go to Rueil, " said Athos. 

"It is to throw ourselves into the wolf's jaws, " said Aramis. 

"Had I been as great a friend of Jonah as I am of D'Artagnan I shouldhave followed him even into the inside of the whale itself; and youwould have done the same, Aramis. "

"Certainly--but you make me out better than I am, dear count. Had I beenalone I should scarcely have gone to Rueil without great caution. Butwhere you go, I go. "

They then set off for Rueil. Here the deputies of the parliament hadjust arrived, in order to enter upon those famous conferences which wereto last three weeks, and produced eventually that shameful peace, atthe conclusion of which the prince was arrested. Rueil was crowded withadvocates, presidents and councillors, who came from the Parisians, and, on the side of the court, with officers and guards; it was thereforeeasy, in the midst of this confusion, to remain as unobserved as any onemight wish; besides, the conferences implied a truce, and to arrest twogentlemen, even Frondeurs, at this time, would have been an attack onthe rights of the people. 

The two friends mingled with the crowd and fancied that every one wasoccupied with the same thought that tormented them. They expected tohear some mention made of D'Artagnan or of Porthos, but every one wasengrossed by articles and reforms. It was the advice of Athos to gostraight to the minister. 

"My friend, " said Aramis, "take care; our safety lies in our obscurity. If we were to make ourselves known we should be sent to rejoin ourfriends in some deep ditch, from which the devil himself could nottake us out. Let us try not to find them out by accident, but from ournotions. Arrested at Compiegne, they have been carried to Rueil; atRueil they have been questioned by the cardinal, who has either keptthem near him or sent them to Saint Germain. As to the Bastile, they arenot there, though the Bastile is especially for the Frondeurs. They arenot dead, for the death of D'Artagnan would make a sensation. As forPorthos, I believe him to be eternal, like God, although less patient. Do not let us despond, but wait at Rueil, for my conviction is that theyare at Rueil. But what ails you? You are pale. "

"It is this, " answered Athos, with a trembling voice. 

"I remember that at the Castle of Rueil the Cardinal Richelieu had somehorrible 'oubliettes' constructed. "

"Oh! never fear, " said Aramis. "Richelieu was a gentleman, our equalin birth, our superior in position. He could, like the king, touch thegreatest of us on the head, and touching them make such heads shake ontheir shoulders. But Mazarin is a low-born rogue, who can at the mosttake us by the collar, like an archer. Be calm--for I am sure thatD'Artagnan and Porthos are at Rueil, alive and well. "

"But, " resumed Athos, "I recur to my first proposal. I know no bettermeans than to act with candor. I shall seek, not Mazarin, but the queen, and say to her, 'Madame, restore to us your two servants and our twofriends. '"

Aramis shook his head. 

"'Tis a last resource, but let us not employ it till it is imperativelycalled for; let us rather persevere in our researches. "

They continued their inquiries and at last met with a light dragoon whohad formed one of the guard which had escorted D'Artagnan to Rueil. 

Athos, however, perpetually recurred to his proposed interview with thequeen. 

"In order to see the queen, " said Aramis, "we must first see thecardinal; and when we have seen the cardinal--remember what I tell you, Athos--we shall be reunited to our friends, but not in the way you wish. Now, that way of joining them is not very attractive to me, I confess. Let us act in freedom, that we may act well and quickly. "

"I shall go, " he said, "to the queen. "

"Well, then, " answered Aramis, "pray tell me a day or two beforehand, that I may take that opportunity of going to Paris. "

"To whom?"

"Zounds! how do I know? perhaps to Madame de Longueville. She isall-powerful yonder; she will help me. But send me word should you bearrested, for then I will return directly. "

"Why do you not take your chance and be arrested with me?"

"No, I thank you. "

"Should we, by being arrested, be all four together again, we shouldnot, I am not sure, be twenty-four hours in prison without gettingfree. "

"My friend, since I killed Chatillon, adored of the ladies of SaintGermain, I am too great a celebrity not to fear a prison doubly. Thequeen is likely to follow Mazarin's counsels and to have me tried. "

"Do you think she loves this Italian so much as they say she does?"

"Did she not love an Englishman?"

"My friend, she is a woman. "

"No, no, you are deceived--she is a queen. "

"Dear friend, I shall sacrifice myself and go and see Anne of Austria. "

"Adieu, Athos, I am going to raise an army. "

"For what purpose?"

"To come back and besiege Rueil. "

"Where shall we meet again?"

"At the foot of the cardinal's gallows. "

The two friends departed--Aramis to return to Paris, Athos to takemeasures preparatory to an interview with the queen. 

80. The Gratitude of Anne of Austria. 

Athos found much less difficulty than he had expected in obtaining anaudience of Anne of Austria. It was granted, and was to take place afterher morning's "levee, " at which, in accordance with his rights of birth, he was entitled to be present. A vast crowd filled the apartments ofSaint Germain. Anne had never at the Louvre had so large a court; butthis crowd represented chiefly the second class of nobility, while thePrince de Conti, the Duc de Beaufort and the coadjutor assembled aroundthem the first nobility of France. 

The greatest possible gayety prevailed at court. The particularcharacteristic of this was that more songs were made than cannons firedduring its continuance. The court made songs on the Parisians and theParisians on the court; and the casualties, though not mortal, werepainful, as are all wounds inflicted by the weapon of ridicule. 

In the midst of this seeming hilarity, nevertheless, people's minds wereuneasy. Was Mazarin to remain the favorite and minister of the queen?Was he to be carried back by the wind which had blown him there? Everyone hoped so, so that the minister felt that all around him, beneath thehomage of the courtiers, lay a fund of hatred, ill disguised by fear andinterest. He felt ill at ease and at a loss what to do. 

Conde himself, whilst fighting for him, lost no opportunity ofridiculing, of humbling him. The queen, on whom he threw himself as solesupport, seemed to him now not much to be relied upon. 

When the hour appointed for the audience arrived Athos was obligedto stay until the queen, who was waited upon by a new deputation fromParis, had consulted with her minister as to the propriety and mannerof receiving them. All were fully engrossed with the affairs of theday; Athos could not therefore have chosen a more inauspicious moment tospeak of his friends--poor atoms, lost in that raging whirlwind. 

But Athos was a man of inflexible determination; he firmly adhered to apurpose once formed, when it seemed to him to spring from conscienceand to be prompted by a sense of duty. He insisted on being introduced, saying that although he was not a deputy from Monsieur de Conti, orMonsieur de Beaufort, or Monsieur de Bouillon, or Monsieur d'Elbeuf, orthe coadjutor, or Madame de Longueville, or Broussel, or the Parliament, and although he had come on his own private account, he nevertheless hadthings to say to her majesty of the utmost importance. 

The conference being finished, the queen summoned him to her cabinet. 

Athos was introduced and announced by name. It was a name that too oftenresounded in her majesty's ears and too often vibrated in her heart forAnne of Austria not to recognize it; yet she remained impassive, lookingat him with that fixed stare which is tolerated only in women who arequeens, either by the power of beauty or by the right of birth. 

"It is then a service which you propose to render us, count?" asked Anneof Austria, after a moment's silence. 

"Yes, madame, another service, " said Athos, shocked that the queen didnot seem to recognize him. 

Athos had a noble heart, and made, therefore, but a poor courtier. 

Anne frowned. Mazarin, who was sitting at a table folding up papers, asif he had only been a secretary of state, looked up. 

"Speak, " said the queen. 

Mazarin turned again to his papers. 

"Madame, " resumed Athos, "two of my friends, named D'Artagnanand Monsieur du Vallon, sent to England by the cardinal, suddenlydisappeared when they set foot on the shores of France; no one knowswhat has become of them. "

"Well?" said the queen. 

"I address myself, therefore, first to the benevolence of your majesty, that I may know what has become of my friends, reserving to myself, ifnecessary, the right of appealing hereafter to your justice. "

"Sir, " replied Anne, with a degree of haughtiness which to certainpersons became impertinence, "this is the reason that you trouble me inthe midst of so many absorbing concerns! an affair for the police! Well, sir, you ought to know that we no longer have a police, since we are nolonger at Paris. "

"I think your majesty will have no need to apply to the police to knowwhere my friends are, but that if you will deign to interrogate thecardinal he can reply without any further inquiry than into his ownrecollections. "

"But, God forgive me!" cried Anne, with that disdainful curl of the lipspeculiar to her, "I believe that you are yourself interrogating. "

"Yes, madame, here I have a right to do so, for it concerns Monsieurd'Artagnan---d'Artagnan, " he repeated, in such a manner as to bow theregal brow with recollections of the weak and erring woman. 

The cardinal saw that it was now high time to come to the assistance ofAnne. 

"Sir, " he said, "I can tell you what is at present unknown to hermajesty. These individuals are under arrest. They disobeyed orders. "

"I beg of your majesty, then, " said Athos, calmly and not replying toMazarin, "to quash these arrests of Messieurs d'Artagnan and du Vallon. "

"What you ask is merely an affair of discipline and does not concernme, " said the queen. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan never made such an answer as that when the serviceof your majesty was concerned, " said Athos, bowing with great dignity. He was going toward the door when Mazarin stopped him. 

"You, too, have been in England, sir?" he said, making a sign to thequeen, who was evidently going to issue a severe order. 

"I was a witness of the last hours of Charles I. Poor king! culpable, atthe most, of weakness, how cruelly punished by his subjects! Thrones areat this time shaken and it is to little purpose for devoted hearts toserve the interests of princes. This is the second time that Monsieurd'Artagnan has been in England. He went the first time to save the honorof a great queen; the second, to avert the death of a great king. "

"Sir, " said Anne to Mazarin, with an accent from which daily habits ofdissimulation could not entirely chase the real expression, "see if wecan do something for these gentlemen. "

"I wish to do, madame, all that your majesty pleases. "

"Do what Monsieur de la Fere requests; that is your name, is it not, sir?"

"I have another name, madame--I am called Athos. "

"Madame, " said Mazarin, with a smile, "you may rest easy; your wishesshall be fulfilled. "

"You hear, sir?" said the queen. 

"Yes, madame, I expected nothing less from the justice of your majesty. May I not go and see my friends?"

"Yes, sir, you shall see them. But, apropos, you belong to the Fronde, do you not?"

"Madame, I serve the king. "

"Yes, in your own way. "

"My way is the way of all gentlemen, and I know only one way, " answeredAthos, haughtily. 

"Go, sir, then, " said the queen; "you have obtained what you wish and weknow all we desire to know. "

Scarcely, however, had the tapestry closed behind Athos when she said toMazarin:

"Cardinal, desire them to arrest that insolent fellow before he leavesthe court. "

"Your majesty, " answered Mazarin, "desires me to do only what I wasgoing to ask you to let me do. These bravoes who resuscitate in ourepoch the traditions of another reign are troublesome; since there aretwo of them already there, let us add a third. "

Athos was not altogether the queen's dupe, but he was not a man to runaway on suspicion--above all, when distinctly told that he should seehis friends again. He waited, then, in the ante-chamber with impatience, till he should be conducted to them. 

He walked to the window and looked into the court. He saw the deputationfrom the Parisians enter it; they were coming to assign the definitiveplace for the conference and to make their bow to the queen. A veryimposing escort awaited them without the gates. 

Athos was looking on attentively, when some one touched him softly onthe shoulder. 

"Ah! Monsieur de Comminges, " he said. 

"Yes, count, and charged with a commission for which I beg of you toaccept my excuses. "

"What is it?"

"Be so good as to give me up your sword, count. "

Athos smiled and opened the window. 

"Aramis!" he cried. 

A gentleman turned around. Athos fancied he had seen him among thecrowd. It was Aramis. He bowed with great friendship to the count. 

"Aramis, " cried Athos, "I am arrested. "

"Good, " replied Aramis, calmly. 

"Sir, " said Athos, turning to Comminges and giving him politely hissword by the hilt, "here is my sword; have the kindness to keep itsafely for me until I quit my prison. I prize it--it was given tomy ancestor by King Francis I. In his time they armed gentlemen, notdisarmed them. Now, whither do you conduct me?"

"Into my room first, " replied Comminges; "the queen will ultimatelydecide your place of domicile. "

Athos followed Comminges without saying a single word. 

81. Cardinal Mazarin as King. 

The arrest produced no sensation, indeed was almost unknown, andscarcely interrupted the course of events. To the deputation it wasformally announced that the queen would receive it. 

Accordingly, it was admitted to the presence of Anne, who, silent andlofty as ever, listened to the speeches and complaints of the deputies;but when they had finished their harangues not one of them could say, socalm remained her face, whether or no she had heard them. 

On the other hand, Mazarin, present at that audience, heard very wellwhat those deputies demanded. It was purely and simply his removal, interms clear and precise. 

The discourse being finished, the queen remained silent. 

"Gentlemen, " said Mazarin, "I join with you in supplicating the queen toput an end to the miseries of her subjects. I have done all in my powerto ameliorate them and yet the belief of the public, you say, is thatthey proceed from me, an unhappy foreigner, who has been unable toplease the French. Alas! I have never been understood, and no wonder. Isucceeded a man of the most sublime genius that ever upheld the sceptreof France. The memory of Richelieu annihilates me. In vain--were I anambitious man--should I struggle against such remembrances as he hasleft; but that I am not ambitious I am going to prove to you. I ownmyself conquered. I shall obey the wishes of the people. If Paris hasinjuries to complain of, who has not some wrongs to be redressed? Parishas been sufficiently punished; enough blood has flowed, enough miseryhas humbled a town deprived of its king and of justice. 'Tis not for me, a private individual, to disunite a queen from her kingdom. Since youdemand my resignation, I retire. "

"Then, " said Aramis, in his neighbor's ear, "the conferences are over. There is nothing to do but to send Monsieur Mazarin to the most distantfrontier and to take care that he does not return even by that, nor anyother entrance into France. "

"One instant, sir, " said the man in a gown, whom he addressed; "a plagueon't! how fast you go! one may soon see that you're a soldier. There'sthe article of remunerations and indemnifications to be discussed andset to rights. "

"Chancellor, " said the queen, turning to Seguier, our old acquaintance, "you will open the conferences. They can take place at Rueil. Thecardinal has said several things which have agitated me, therefore Iwill not speak more fully now. As to his going or staying, I feel toomuch gratitude to the cardinal not to leave him free in all his actions;he shall do what he wishes to do. "

A transient pallor overspread the speaking countenance of the primeminister; he looked at the queen with anxiety. Her face was sopassionless, that he, as every one else present, was incapable ofreading her thoughts. 

"But, " added the queen, "in awaiting the cardinal's decision let therebe, if you please, a reference to the king only. "

The deputies bowed and left the room. 

"What!" exclaimed the queen, when the last of them had quitted theapartment, "you would yield to these limbs of the law--these advocates?"

"To promote your majesty's welfare, madame, " replied Mazarin, fixing hispenetrating eyes on the queen, "there is no sacrifice that I would notmake. "

Anne dropped her head and fell into one of those reveries so habitualwith her. A recollection of Athos came into her mind. His fearlessdeportment, his words, so firm, yet dignified, the shades which by oneword he had evoked, recalled to her the past in all its intoxication ofpoetry and romance, youth, beauty, the eclat of love at twenty yearsof age, the bloody death of Buckingham, the only man whom she had everreally loved, and the heroism of those obscure champions who had savedher from the double hatred of Richelieu and the king. 

Mazarin looked at her, and whilst she deemed herself alone and freedfrom the world of enemies who sought to spy into her secret thoughts, heread her thoughts in her countenance, as one sees in a transparent lakeclouds pass--reflections, like thoughts, of the heavens. 

"Must we, then, " asked Anne of Austria, "yield to the storm, buy peace, and patiently and piously await better times?"

Mazarin smiled sarcastically at this speech, which showed that she hadtaken the minister's proposal seriously. 

Anne's head was bent down--she had not seen the Italian's smile; butfinding that her question elicited no reply she looked up. 

"Well, you do not answer, cardinal, what do you think about it?"

"I am thinking, madame, of the allusion made by that insolent gentleman, whom you have caused to be arrested, to the Duke of Buckingham--to himwhom you allowed to be assassinated--to the Duchess de Chevreuse, whomyou suffered to be exiled--to the Duc de Beaufort, whom you imprisoned;but if he made allusion to me it was because he is ignorant of therelation in which I stand to you. "

Anne drew up, as she always did, when anything touched her pride. Sheblushed, and that she might not answer, clasped her beautiful hands tillher sharp nails almost pierced them. 

"That man has sagacity, honor and wit, not to mention likewise that heis a man of undoubted resolution. You know something about him, do younot, madame? I shall tell him, therefore, and in doing so I shall confera personal favor on him, how he is mistaken in regard to me. Whatis proposed to me would be, in fact, almost an abdication, and anabdication requires reflection. "

"An abdication?" repeated Anne; "I thought, sir, that it was kings alonewho abdicated!"

"Well, " replied Mazarin, "and am I not almost a king--king, indeed, ofFrance? Thrown over the foot of the royal bed, my simar, madame, looksnot unlike the mantle worn by kings. "

This was one of the humiliations which Mazarin made Anne undergo morefrequently than any other, and one that bowed her head with shame. QueenElizabeth and Catherine II. Of Russia are the only two monarchs of theirset on record who were at once sovereigns and lovers. Anne ofAustria looked with a sort of terror at the threatening aspect of thecardinal--his physiognomy in such moments was not destitute of a certaingrandeur. 

"Sir, " she replied, "did I not say, and did you not hear me say to thosepeople, that you should do as you pleased?"

"In that case, " said Mazarin, "I think it must please me best to remain;not only on account of my own interest, but for your safety. "

"Remain, then, sir; nothing can be more agreeable to me; only do notallow me to be insulted. "

"You are referring to the demands of the rebels and to the tone in whichthey stated them? Patience! They have selected a field of battle onwhich I am an abler general than they--that of a conference. No, weshall beat them by merely temporizing. They want food already. They willbe ten times worse off in a week. "

"Ah, yes! Good heavens! I know it will end in that way; but it is notthey who taunt me with the most wounding reproaches, but----"

"I understand; you mean to allude to the recollections perpetuallyrevived by these three gentlemen. However, we have them safe in prison, and they are just sufficiently culpable for us to keep them in prisonas long as we find it convenient. One only is still not in our power andbraves us. But, devil take him! we shall soon succeed in sending himto join his boon companions. We have accomplished more difficult thingsthan that. In the first place I have as a precaution shut up at Rueil, near me, under my own eyes, within reach of my hand, the two mostintractable ones. To-day the third will be there also. "

"As long as they are in prison all will be well, " said Anne, "but one ofthese days they will get out. "

"Yes, if your majesty releases them. "

"Ah!" exclaimed Anne, following the train of her own thoughts on suchoccasions, "one regrets Paris!"

"Why so?"

"On account of the Bastile, sir, which is so strong and so secure. "

"Madame, these conferences will bring us peace; when we have peace weshall regain Paris; with Paris, the Bastile, and our four bullies shallrot therein. "

Anne frowned slightly when Mazarin, in taking leave, kissed her hand. 

Mazarin, after this half humble, half gallant attention, went away. Annefollowed him with her eyes, and as he withdrew, at every step he took, adisdainful smile was seen playing, then gradually burst upon her lips. 

"I once, " she said, "despised the love of a cardinal who never said 'Ishall do, ' but, 'I have done so and so. ' That man knew of retreatsmore secure than Rueil, darker and more silent even than the Bastile. Degenerate world!"

82. Precautions. 

After quitting Anne, Mazarin took the road to Rueil, where he usuallyresided; in those times of disturbance he went about with numerousfollowers and often disguised himself. In military dress he was, indeed, as we have stated, a very handsome man. 

In the court of the old Chateau of Saint Germain he entered his coach, and reached the Seine at Chatou. The prince had supplied him with fiftylight horse, not so much by way of guard as to show the deputies howreadily the queen's generals dispersed their troops and to prove thatthey might be safely scattered at pleasure. Athos, on horseback, withouthis sword and kept in sight by Comminges, followed the cardinal insilence. Grimaud, finding that his master had been arrested, fell backinto the ranks near Aramis, without saying a word and as if nothing hadhappened. 

Grimaud had, indeed, during twenty-two years of service, seen his masterextricate himself from so many difficulties that nothing less thanAthos's imminent death was likely to make him uneasy. 

At the branching off of the road toward Paris, Aramis, who had followedin the cardinal's suite, turned back. Mazarin went to the right hand andAramis could see the prisoner disappear at the turning of the avenue. Athos, at the same moment, moved by a similar impulse, looked back also. The two friends exchanged a simple inclination of the head and Aramisput his finger to his hat, as if to bow, Athos alone comprehending bythat signal that he had some project in his head. 

Ten minutes afterward Mazarin entered the court of that chateau whichhis predecessor had built for him at Rueil; as he alighted, Commingesapproached him. 

"My lord, " he asked, "where does your eminence wish Monsieur Comte de laFere to be lodged?"

"In the pavilion of the orangery, of course, in front of the pavilionwhere the guard is. I wish every respect to be shown the count, althoughhe is the prisoner of her majesty the queen. "

"My lord, " answered Comminges, "he begs to be taken to the place whereMonsieur d'Artagnan is confined--that is, in the hunting lodge, oppositethe orangery. "

Mazarin thought for an instant. 

Comminges saw that he was undecided. 

"'Tis a very strong post, " he resumed, "and we have forty good men, tried soldiers, having no connection with Frondeurs nor any interest inthe Fronde. "

"If we put these three men together, Monsieur Comminges, " said Mazarin, "we must double the guard, and we are not rich enough in fighting men tocommit such acts of prodigality. "

Comminges smiled; Mazarin read and construed that smile. 

"You do not know these men, Monsieur Comminges, but I know them, firstpersonally, also by hearsay. I sent them to carry aid to King Charlesand they performed prodigies to save him; had it not been for an adversedestiny, that beloved monarch would this day have been among us. "

"But since they served your eminence so well, why are they, my lordcardinal, in prison?"

"In prison?" said Mazarin, "and when has Rueil been a prison?"

"Ever since there were prisoners in it, " answered Comminges. 

"These gentlemen, Comminges, are not prisoners, " returned Mazarin, withhis ironical smile, "only guests; but guests so precious that I have puta grating before each of their windows and bolts to their doors, thatthey may not refuse to continue my visitors. So much do I esteemthem that I am going to make the Comte de la Fere a visit, that I mayconverse with him tete-a-tete, and that we may not be disturbed at ourinterview you must conduct him, as I said before, to the pavilion of theorangery; that, you know, is my daily promenade. Well, while taking mywalk I will call on him and we will talk. Although he professes to be myenemy I have sympathy for him, and if he is reasonable perhaps we shallarrange matters. "

Comminges bowed, and returned to Athos, who was awaiting with apparentcalmness, but with real anxiety, the result of the interview. 

"Well?" he said to the lieutenant. 

"Sir, " replied Comminges, "it seems that it is impossible. "

"Monsieur de Comminges, " said Athos, "I have been a soldier all mylife and I know the force of orders; but outside your orders there is aservice you can render me. "

"I will do it with all my heart, " said Comminges; "for I know who youare and what service you once performed for her majesty; I know, too, how dear to you is the young man who came so valiantly to my aidwhen that old rogue of a Broussel was arrested. I am entirely at yourservice, except only for my orders. "

"Thank you, sir; what I am about to ask will not compromise you in anydegree. "

"If it should even compromise me a little, " said Monsieur de Comminges, with a smile, "still make your demand. I don't like Mazarin any betterthan you do. I serve the queen and that draws me naturally into theservice of the cardinal; but I serve the one with joy and the otheragainst my will. Speak, then, I beg of you; I wait and listen. "

"Since there is no harm, " said Athos, "in my knowing that D'Artagnan ishere, I presume there will be none in his knowing that I am here. "

"I have received no orders on that point. "

"Well, then, do me the kindness to give him my regards and tell himthat I am his neighbor. Tell him also what you have just told me--thatMazarin has placed me in the pavilion of the orangery in order to makeme a visit, and assure him that I shall take advantage of this honorhe proposes to accord to me to obtain from him some amelioration of ourcaptivity. "

"Which cannot last, " interrupted Comminges; "the cardinal said so; thereis no prison here. "

"But there are oubliettes!" replied Athos, smiling. 

"Oh! that's a different thing; yes, I know there are traditions of thatsort, " said Comminges. "It was in the time of the other cardinal, whowas a great nobleman; but our Mazarin--impossible! an Italian adventurerwould not dare to go such lengths with such men as ourselves. Oubliettesare employed as a means of kingly vengeance, and a low-born fellow suchas he is would not have recourse to them. Your arrest is known, that ofyour friends will soon be known; and all the nobility of France woulddemand an explanation of your disappearance. No, no, be easy on thatscore. I will, however, inform Monsieur d'Artagnan of your arrivalhere. "

Comminges then led the count to a room on the ground floor of apavilion, at the end of the orangery. They passed through a courtyard asthey went, full of soldiers and courtiers. In the centre of this court, in the form of a horseshoe, were the buildings occupied by Mazarin, andat each wing the pavilion (or smaller building), where D'Artagnan wasconfined, and that, level with the orangery, where Athos was to be. Fromthe ends of these two wings extended the park. 

Athos, when he reached his appointed room, observed through the gratingsof his window, walls and roofs; and was told, on inquiry, by Comminges, that he was looking on the back of the pavilion where D'Artagnan wasconfined. 

"Yes, 'tis too true, " said Comminges, "'tis almost a prison; but what asingular fancy this is of yours, count--you, who are the very flower ofour nobility--to squander your valor and loyalty amongst these upstarts, the Frondists! Really, count, if ever I thought that I had a friend inthe ranks of the royal army, it was you. A Frondeur! you, the Comte dela Fere, on the side of Broussel, Blancmesnil and Viole! For shame! you, a Frondeur!"

"On my word of honor, " said Athos, "one must be either a Mazarinist or aFrondeur. For a long time I had these words whispered in my ears, andI chose the latter; at any rate, it is a French word. And now, I am aFrondeur--not of Broussel's party, nor of Blancmesnil's, nor am I withViole; but with the Duc de Beaufort, the Ducs de Bouillon and d'Elbeuf;with princes, not with presidents, councillors and low-born lawyers. Besides, what a charming outlook it would have been to serve thecardinal! Look at that wall--without a single window--which tells youfine things about Mazarin's gratitude!"

"Yes, " replied De Comminges, "more especially if it could reveal howMonsieur d'Artagnan for this last week has been anathematizing him. "

"Poor D'Artagnan'" said Athos, with the charming melancholy that was oneof the traits of his character, "so brave, so good, so terrible to theenemies of those he loves. You have two unruly prisoners there, sir. "

"Unruly, " Comminges smiled; "you wish to terrify me, I suppose. Whenhe came here, Monsieur D'Artagnan provoked and braved the soldiers andinferior officers, in order, I suppose, to have his sword back. Thatmood lasted some time; but now he's as gentle as a lamb and sings Gasconsongs, which make one die of laughing. "

"And Du Vallon?" asked Athos. 

"Ah, he's quite another sort of person--a formidable gentleman, indeed. The first day he broke all the doors in with a single push of hisshoulder; and I expected to see him leave Rueil in the same way asSamson left Gaza. But his temper cooled down, like his friend's; he notonly gets used to his captivity, but jokes about it. "

"So much the better, " said Athos. 

"Do you think anything else was to be expected of them?" askedComminges, who, putting together what Mazarin had said of his prisonersand what the Comte de la Fere had said, began to feel a degree ofuneasiness. 

Athos, on the other hand, reflected that this recent gentleness ofhis friends most certainly arose from some plan formed by D'Artagnan. Unwilling to injure them by praising them too highly, he replied: "They?They are two hotheads--the one a Gascon, the other from Picardy; bothare easily excited, but they quiet down immediately. You have had aproof of that in what you have just related to me. "

This, too, was the opinion of Comminges, who withdrew somewhatreassured. Athos remained alone in the vast chamber, where, according tothe cardinal's directions, he was treated with all the courtesy due toa nobleman. He awaited Mazarin's promised visit to get some light on hispresent situation. 

83. Strength and Sagacity. 

Now let us pass the orangery to the hunting lodge. At the extremity ofthe courtyard, where, close to a portico formed of Ionic columns, werethe dog kennels, rose an oblong building, the pavilion of the orangery, a half circle, inclosing the court of honor. It was in this pavilion, onthe ground floor, that D'Artagnan and Porthos were confined, sufferinginterminable hours of imprisonment in a manner suitable to eachdifferent temperament. 

D'Artagnan was pacing to and fro like a caged tiger; with dilated eyes, growling as he paced along by the bars of a window looking upon the yardof servant's offices. 

Porthos was ruminating over an excellent dinner he had just demolished. 

The one seemed to be deprived of reason, yet he was meditating. Theother seemed to meditate, yet he was more than half asleep. But hissleep was a nightmare, which might be guessed by the incoherent mannerin which he sometimes snored and sometimes snorted. 

"Look, " said D'Artagnan, "day is declining. It must be nearly fouro'clock. We have been in this place nearly eighty-three hours. "

"Hem!" muttered Porthos, with a kind of pretense of answering. 

"Did you hear, eternal sleeper?" cried D'Artagnan, irritated that anyone could doze during the day, when he had the greatest difficulty insleeping during the night. 

"What?" said Porthos. 

"I say we have been here eighty-three hours. "

"'Tis your fault, " answered Porthos. 

"How, my fault?"

"Yes, I offered you escape. "

"By pulling out a bar and pushing down a door?"

"Certainly. "

"Porthos, men like us can't go out from here purely and simply. "

"Faith!" said Porthos, "as for me, I could go out with that purity andthat simplicity which it seems to me you despise too much. "

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders. 

"And besides, " he said, "going out of this chamber isn't all. "

"Dear friend, " said Porthos, "you appear to be in a somewhat betterhumor to-day than you were yesterday. Explain to me why going out ofthis chamber isn't everything. "

"Because, having neither arms nor password, we shouldn't take fiftysteps in the court without knocking against a sentinel. "

"Very well, " said Porthos, "we will kill the sentinel and we shall havehis arms. "

"Yes, but before we can kill him--and he will be hard to kill, thatSwiss--he will shriek out and the whole picket will come, and we shallbe taken like foxes, we, who are lions, and thrown into some dungeon, where we shall not even have the consolation of seeing this frightfulgray sky of Rueil, which no more resembles the sky of Tarbes than themoon is like the sun. Lack-a-day! if we only had some one to instructus about the physical and moral topography of this castle. Ah! when onethinks that for twenty years, during which time I did not know what todo with myself, it never occurred to me to come to study Rueil. "

"What difference does that make?" said Porthos. "We shall go out all thesame. "

"Do you know, my dear fellow, why master pastrycooks never work withtheir hands?"

"No, " said Porthos, "but I should be glad to be informed. "

"It is because in the presence of their pupils they fear that some oftheir tarts or creams may turn out badly cooked. "

"What then?"

"Why, then they would be laughed at, and a master pastrycook must neverbe laughed at. "

"And what have master pastrycooks to do with us?"

"We ought, in our adventures, never to be defeated or give any one achance to laugh at us. In England, lately, we failed, we were beaten, and that is a blemish on our reputation. "

"By whom, then, were we beaten?" asked Porthos. 

"By Mordaunt. "

"Yes, but we have drowned Monsieur Mordaunt. "

"That is true, and that will redeem us a little in the eyes ofposterity, if posterity ever looks at us. But listen, Porthos: thoughMonsieur Mordaunt was a man not to be despised, Mazarin is not lessstrong than he, and we shall not easily succeed in drowning him. Wemust, therefore, watch and play a close game; for, " he added with asigh, "we two are equal, perhaps, to eight others; but we are not equalto the four that you know of. "

"That is true, " said Porthos, echoing D'Artagnan's sigh. 

"Well, Porthos, follow my examples; walk back and forth till some newsof our friends reaches us or till we are visited by a good idea. Butdon't sleep as you do all the time; nothing dulls the intellect likesleep. As to what may lie before us, it is perhaps less serious thanwe at first thought. I don't believe that Monsieur de Mazarin thinksof cutting off our heads, for heads are not taken off without previoustrial; a trial would make a noise, and a noise would get the attentionof our friends, who would check the operations of Monsieur de Mazarin. "

"How well you reason!" said Porthos, admiringly. 

"Well, yes, pretty well, " replied D'Artagnan; "and besides, you see, if they put us on trial, if they cut off our heads, they must meanwhileeither keep us here or transfer us elsewhere. "

"Yes, that is inevitable, " said Porthos. 

"Well, it is impossible but that Master Aramis, that keen-scentedbloodhound, and Athos, that wise and prudent nobleman, will discover ourretreat. Then, believe me, it will be time to act. "

"Yes, we will wait. We can wait the more contentedly, that it is notabsolutely bad here, but for one thing, at least. "

"What is that?"

"Did you observe, D'Artagnan, that three days running they have broughtus braised mutton?"

"No; but if it occurs a fourth time I shall complain of it, so nevermind. "

"And then I feel the loss of my house, 'tis a long time since I visitedmy castles. "

"Forget them for a time; we shall return to them, unless Mazarin razesthem to the ground. "

"Do you think that likely?"

"No, the other cardinal would have done so, but this one is too mean afellow to risk it. "

"You reconcile me, D'Artagnan. "

"Well, then, assume a cheerful manner, as I do; we must joke with theguards, we must gain the good-will of the soldiers, since we can'tcorrupt them. Try, Porthos, to please them more than you are wont to dowhen they are under our windows. Thus far you have done nothing but showthem your fist; and the more respectable your fist is, Porthos, theless attractive it is. Ah, I would give much to have five hundred louis, only. "

"So would I, " said Porthos, unwilling to be behind D'Artagnan ingenerosity; "I would give as much as a hundred pistoles. "

The two prisoners were at this point of their conversation whenComminges entered, preceded by a sergeant and two men, who broughtsupper in a basket with two handles, filled with basins and plates. 

"What!" exclaimed Porthos, "mutton again?"

"My dear Monsieur de Comminges, " said D'Artagnan, "you will find thatmy friend, Monsieur du Vallon, will go to the most fatal lengths ifCardinal Mazarin continues to provide us with this sort of meat; muttonevery day. "

"I declare, " said Porthos, "I shall eat nothing if they do not take itaway. "

"Remove the mutton, " cried Comminges; "I wish Monsieur du Vallon to supwell, more especially as I have news to give him that will improve hisappetite. "

"Is Mazarin dead?" asked Porthos. 

"No; I am sorry to tell you he is perfectly well. "

"So much the worse, " said Porthos. 

"What is that news?" asked D'Artagnan. "News in prison is a fruitso rare that I trust, Monsieur de Comminges, you will excuse myimpatience--the more eager since you have given us to understand thatthe news is good. "

"Should you be glad to hear that the Comte de la Fere is well?" asked DeComminges. 

D'Artagnan's penetrating gray eyes were opened to the utmost. 

"Glad!" he cried; "I should be more than glad! Happy--beyond measure!"

"Well, I am desired by him to give you his compliments and to say thathe is in good health. "

D'Artagnan almost leaped with joy. A quick glance conveyed his thoughtto Porthos: "If Athos knows where we are, if he opens communication withus, before long Athos will act. "

Porthos was not very quick to understand the language of glances, butnow since the name of Athos had suggested to him the same idea, heunderstood. 

"Do you say, " asked the Gascon, timidly, "that the Comte de la Ferehas commissioned you to give his compliments to Monsieur du Vallon andmyself?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then you have seen him?"

"Certainly I have. "

"Where? if I may ask without indiscretion. "

"Near here, " replied De Comminges, smiling; "so near that if the windowswhich look on the orangery were not stopped up you could see him fromwhere you are. "

"He is wandering about the environs of the castle, " thought D'Artagnan. Then he said aloud:

"You met him, I dare say, in the park--hunting, perhaps?"

"No; nearer, nearer still. Look, behind this wall, " said De Comminges, knocking against the wall. 

"Behind this wall? What is there, then, behind this wall? I was broughthere by night, so devil take me if I know where I am. "

"Well, " said Comminges, "suppose one thing. "

"I will suppose anything you please. "

"Suppose there were a window in this wall. "

"Well?"

"From that window you would see Monsieur de la Fere at his. "

"The count, then, is in the chateau?"

"Yes. "

"For what reason?"

"The same as yourself. "

"Athos--a prisoner?"

"You know well, " replied De Comminges, "that there are no prisoners atRueil, because there is no prison. "

"Don't let us play upon words, sir. Athos has been arrested. "

"Yesterday, at Saint Germain, as he came out from the presence of thequeen. "

The arms of D'Artagnan fell powerless by his side. One might havesupposed him thunderstruck; a paleness ran like a cloud over his darkskin, but disappeared immediately. 

"A prisoner?" he reiterated. 

"A prisoner, " repeated Porthos, quite dejected. 

Suddenly D'Artagnan looked up and in his eyes there was a gleam whichscarcely even Porthos observed; but it died away and he appeared moresorrowful than before. 

"Come, come, " said Comminges, who, since D'Artagnan, on the day ofBroussel's arrest, had saved him from the hands of the Parisians, hadentertained a real affection for him, "don't be unhappy; I never thoughtof bringing you bad news. Laugh at the chance which has brought yourfriend near to you and Monsieur du Vallon, instead of being in thedepths of despair about it. "

But D'Artagnan was still in a desponding mood. 

"And how did he look?" asked Porthos, who, perceiving that D'Artagnanhad allowed the conversation to drop, profited by it to put in a word ortwo. 

"Very well, indeed, sir, " replied Comminges; "at first, like you, heseemed distressed; but when he heard that the cardinal was going to payhim a visit this very evening----"

"Ah!" cried D'Artagnan, "the cardinal is about to visit the Comte de laFere?"

"Yes; and the count desired me to tell you that he should take advantageof this visit to plead for you and for himself. "

"Ah! our dear count!" said D'Artagnan. 

"A fine thing, indeed!" grunted Porthos. "A great favor! Zounds!Monsieur the Comte de la Fere, whose family is allied to the Montmorencyand the Rohan, is easily the equal of Monsieur de Mazarin. "

"No matter, " said D'Artagnan, in his most wheedling tone. "Onreflection, my dear Du Vallon, it is a great honor for the Comte de laFere, and gives good reason to hope. In fact, it seems to me so greatan honor for a prisoner that I think Monsieur de Comminges must bemistaken. "

"What? I am mistaken?"

"Monsieur de Mazarin will not come to visit the Comte de la Fere, butthe Comte de la Fere will be sent for to visit him. "

"No, no, no, " said Comminges, who made a point of having the factsappear exactly as they were, "I clearly understood what the cardinalsaid to me. He will come and visit the Comte de la Fere. "

D'Artagnan tried to gather from the expression of his eyes whetherPorthos understood the importance of that visit, but Porthos did noteven look toward him. 

"It is, then, the cardinal's custom to walk in his orangery?" askedD'Artagnan. 

"Every evening he shuts himself in there. That, it seems, is where hemeditates on state affairs. "

"In that case, " said D'Artagnan, "I begin to believe that Monsieur de laFere will receive the visit of his eminence; he will, of course, have anescort. "

"Yes--two soldiers. "

"And will he talk thus of affairs in presence of two strangers?"

"The soldiers are Swiss, who understand only German. Besides, accordingto all probability they will wait at the door. "

D'Artagnan made a violent effort over himself to keep his face frombeing too expressive. 

"Let the cardinal take care of going alone to visit the Comte de laFere, " said D'Artagnan; "for the count must be furious. "

Comminges began to laugh. "Oh, oh! why, really, one would say that youfour were anthropaphagi! The count is an affable man; besides, he isunarmed; at the first word from his eminence the two soldiers about himwould run to his assistance. "

"Two soldiers, " said D'Artagnan, seeming to remember something, "twosoldiers, yes; that, then, is why I hear two men called every eveningand see them walking sometimes for half an hour, under my window. "

"That is it; they are waiting for the cardinal, or rather for Bernouin, who comes to call them when the cardinal goes out. "

"Fine-looking men, upon my word!" said D'Artagnan. 

"They belong to the regiment that was at Lens, which the prince assignedto the cardinal. "

"Ah, monsieur, " said D'Artagnan, as if to sum up in a word all thatconversation, "if only his eminence would relent and grant to Monsieurde la Fere our liberty. "

"I wish it with all my heart, " said Comminges. 

"Then, if he should forget that visit, you would find no inconveniencein reminding him of it?"

"Not at all. "

"Ah, that gives me more confidence. "

This skillful turn of the conversation would have seemed a sublimemanoeuvre to any one who could have read the Gascon's soul. 

"Now, " said D'Artagnan, "I've one last favor to ask of you, Monsieur deComminges. "

"At your service, sir. "

"You will see the count again?"

"To-morrow morning. "

"Will you remember us to him and ask him to solicit for me the samefavor that he will have obtained?"

"You want the cardinal to come here?"

"No; I know my place and am not so presumptuous. Let his eminence do methe honor to give me a hearing; that is all I want. "

"Oh!" muttered Porthos, shaking his head, "never should I have thoughtthis of him! How misfortune humbles a man!"

"I promise you it shall be done, " answered De Comminges. 

"Tell the count that I am well; that you found me sad, but resigned. "

"I am pleased, sir, to hear that. "

"And the same, also, for Monsieur du Vallon----"

"Not for me, " cried Porthos; "I am not by any means resigned. "

"But you will be resigned, my friend. "

"Never!"

"He will become so, monsieur; I know him better than he knows himself. Be silent, dear Du Vallon, and resign yourself. "

"Adieu, gentlemen, " said De Comminges; "sleep well!"

"We will try. "

De Comminges went away, D'Artagnan remaining apparently in the sameattitude of humble resignation; but scarcely had he departed when heturned and clasped Porthos in his arms with an expression not to bedoubted. 

"Oh!" cried Porthos; "what's the matter now? Have you gone mad, my dearfriend?"

"What is the matter?" returned D'Artagnan; "we are saved!"

"I don't see that at all, " answered Porthos. "I think we are all takenprisoners, except Aramis, and that our chances of getting out arelessened since one more of us is caught in Mazarin's mousetrap. "

"Which is far too strong for two of us, but not strong enough for threeof us, " returned D'Artagnan. 

"I don't understand, " said Porthos. 

"Never mind; let's sit down to table and take something to strengthen usfor the night. "

"What are we to do, then, to-night?"

"To travel--perhaps. "

"But----"

"Sit down, dear friend, to table. When one is eating, ideas flow easily. After supper, when they are perfected, I will communicate my plans toyou. "

So Porthos sat down to table without another word and ate with anappetite that did honor to the confidence that was ever inspired in himby D'Artagnan's inventive imagination. 

84. Strength and Sagacity--Continued. 

Supper was eaten in silence, but not in sadness; for from time to timeone of those sweet smiles which were habitual to him in moments ofgood-humor illumined the face of D'Artagnan. Not a scintilla of thesewas lost on Porthos; and at every one he uttered an exclamation whichbetrayed to his friend that he had not lost sight of the idea whichpossessed his brain. 

At dessert D'Artagnan reposed in his chair, crossed one leg over theother and lounged about like a man perfectly at his ease. 

Porthos rested his chin on his hands, placed his elbows on the table andlooked at D'Artagnan with an expression of confidence which imparted tothat colossus an admirable appearance of good-fellowship. 

"Well?" said D'Artagnan, at last. 

"Well!" repeated Porthos. 

"You were saying, my dear friend----"

"No; I said nothing. "

"Yes; you were saying you wished to leave this place. "

"Ah, indeed! the will was never wanting. "

"To get away you would not mind, you added, knocking down a door or awall. "

"'Tis true--I said so, and I say it again. "

"And I answered you, Porthos, that it was not a good plan; that wecouldn't go a hundred steps without being recaptured, because we werewithout clothes to disguise ourselves and arms to defend ourselves. "

"That is true; we should need clothes and arms. "

"Well, " said D'Artagnan, rising, "we have them, friend Porthos, and evensomething better. "

"Bah!" said Porthos, looking around. 

"Useless to look; everything will come to us when wanted. At about whattime did we see the two Swiss guards walking yesterday?"

"An hour after sunset. "

"If they go out to-day as they did yesterday we shall have the honor, then, of seeing them in half an hour?"

"In a quarter of an hour at most. "

"Your arm is still strong enough, is it not, Porthos?"

Porthos unbuttoned his sleeve, raised his shirt and looked complacentlyon his strong arm, as large as the leg of any ordinary man. 

"Yes, indeed, " said he, "I believe so. "

"So that you could without trouble convert these tongs into a hoop andyonder shovel into a corkscrew?"

"Certainly. " And the giant took up these two articles, and without anyapparent effort produced in them the metamorphoses suggested by hiscompanion. 

"There!" he cried. 

"Capital!" exclaimed the Gascon. "Really, Porthos, you are a giftedindividual!"

"I have heard speak, " said Porthos, "of a certain Milo of Crotona, whoperformed wonderful feats, such as binding his forehead with a cord andbursting it--of killing an ox with a blow of his fist and carrying ithome on his shoulders, et cetera. I used to learn all these feat byheart yonder, down at Pierrefonds, and I have done all that he didexcept breaking a cord by the corrugation of my temples. "

"Because your strength is not in your head, Porthos, " said his friend. 

"No; it is in my arms and shoulders, " answered Porthos with gratifiednaivete. 

"Well, my dear friend, let us approach the window and there you canmatch your strength against that of an iron bar. "

Porthos went to the window, took a bar in his hands, clung to it andbent it like a bow; so that the two ends came out of the sockets ofstone in which for thirty years they had been fixed. 

"Well! friend, the cardinal, although such a genius, could never havedone that. "

"Shall I take out any more of them?" asked Porthos. 

"No; that is sufficient; a man can pass through that. "

Porthos tried, and passed the upper portion of his body through. 

"Yes, " he said. 

"Now pass your arm through this opening. "

"Why?"

"You will know presently--pass it. "

Porthos obeyed with military promptness and passed his arm through theopening. 

"Admirable!" said D'Artagnan. 

"The scheme goes forward, it seems. "

"On wheels, dear friend. "

"Good! What shall I do now?"

"Nothing. "

"It is finished, then?"

"No, not yet. "

"I should like to understand, " said Porthos. 

"Listen, my dear friend; in two words you will know all. The door of theguardhouse opens, as you see. "

"Yes, I see. "

"They are about to send into our court, which Monsieur de Mazarincrosses on his way to the orangery, the two guards who attend him. "

"There they are, coming out. "

"If only they close the guardhouse door! Good! They close it. "

"What, then?"

"Silence! They may hear us. "

"I don't understand it at all. "

"As you execute you will understand. "

"And yet I should have preferred----"

"You will have the pleasure of the surprise. "

"Ah, that is true. "

"Hush!"

Porthos remained silent and motionless. 

In fact, the two soldiers advanced on the side where the window was, rubbing their hands, for it was cold, it being the month of February. 

At this moment the door of the guardhouse was opened and one of thesoldiers was summoned away. 

"Now, " said D'Artagnan, "I am going to call this soldier and talkto him. Don't lose a word of what I'm going to say to you, Porthos. Everything lies in the execution. "

"Good, the execution of plots is my forte. "

"I know it well. I depend on you. Look, I shall turn to the left, sothat the soldier will be at your right, as soon as he mounts on thebench to talk to us. "

"But supposing he doesn't mount?"

"He will; rely upon it. As soon as you see him get up, stretch out yourarm and seize him by the neck. Then, raising him up as Tobit raisedthe fish by the gills, you must pull him into the room, taking care tosqueeze him so tight that he can't cry out. "

"Oh!" said Porthos. "Suppose I happen to strangle him?"

"To be sure there would only be a Swiss the less in the world; but youwill not do so, I hope. Lay him down here; we'll gag him and tie him--nomatter where--somewhere. So we shall get from him one uniform and asword. "

"Marvelous!" exclaimed Porthos, looking at the Gascon with the mostprofound admiration. 

"Pooh!" replied D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, " said Porthos, recollecting himself, "but one uniform and onesword will not suffice for two. "

"Well; but there's his comrade. "

"True, " said Porthos. 

"Therefore, when I cough, stretch out your arm. "

"Good!"

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

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

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

"'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! onewould 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 aslightning, 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 thefloor, where D'Artagnan, after giving him just time enough to draw hisbreath, gagged him with his long scarf; and the moment he had done sobegan to undress him with the promptitude and dexterity of a man who hadlearned his business on the field of battle. Then the soldier, gaggedand bound, was placed upon the hearth, the fire of which had beenpreviously 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 uniformand sword you must play the same trick over again. Stop! I see the othersoldier issue from the guardroom and come toward us. "

"I think, " replied Porthos, "it would be imprudent to attempt the samemanoeuvre again; it is said that no man can succeed twice in the sameway, and a failure would be ruinous. No; I will go down, seize the manunawares 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 nextsoldier by his neck, gagged him and pushed him like a mummy through thebars into the room, and entered after him. Then they undressed him asthey had done the first, laid him on their bed and bound him with thestraps which composed the bed--the bedstead being of oak. This operationproved as great a success as the first. 

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

It happened, however, that the second soldier was a Swiss of giganticproportions, so, save that some few of the seams split, his uniformfitted Porthos perfectly. 

They then dressed themselves. 

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

The soldiers were complaisant; they had found the grasp of Porthospretty 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 didyesterday 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 headsand we will escort his eminence. "

"Where shall we escort him?"

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

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

"Wait a little, Porthos, before crying out; for, on my word, you haven'treached 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. Porthosfollowed him by the same road, but with more difficulty and lessdiligence. They could hear the two soldiers shivering with fear, as theylay bound in the chamber. 

Scarcely had the two Frenchmen touched the ground when a door opened andthe voice of the valet-de-chambre called out:

"Make ready!"

At the same moment the guardhouse was opened and a voice called out:

"La Bruyere and Du Barthois! March!"

"It seems that I am named La Bruyere, " remarked D'Artagnan. 

"And I, Du Barthois, " added Porthos. 

"Where are you?" asked the valet-de-chambre, whose eyes, dazzled by thelight, could not clearly distinguish our heroes in the gloom. 

"Here we are, " said the Gascon. 

"What say you to that, Monsieur du Vallon?" he added in a low tone toPorthos. 

"If it but lasts, most capital, " responded Porthos. 

These two newly enlisted soldiers marched gravely after thevalet-de-chambre, who opened the door of the vestibule, then anotherwhich seemed to be that of a waiting-room, and showing them two stools:

"Your orders are very simple, " he said; "don't allow anybody, exceptone person, to enter here. Do you hear--not a single creature! Obey thatperson implicitly. On your return you cannot make a mistake. You haveonly to wait here till I release you. "

D'Artagnan was known to this valet-de-chambre, who was no other thanBernouin, and he had during the last six or eight months introduced theGascon a dozen times to the cardinal. The Gascon, therefore, instead ofanswering, growled out "Ja! Ja!" in the most German and the least Gasconaccent possible. 

As for Porthos, on whom D'Artagnan had impressed the necessity ofabsolute silence and who did not even now begin to comprehend the schemeof his friend, which was to follow Mazarin in his visit to Athos, he wassimply mute. All that he was allowed to say, in case of emergencies, wasthe proverbial Der Teufel!

Bernouin shut the door and went away. When Porthos heard the key turnin the lock he began to be alarmed, lest they should only have exchangedone prison for another. 

"Porthos, my friend, " said D'Artagnan, "don't distrust Providence! Letme meditate and consider. "

"Meditate and consider as much as you like, " replied Porthos, who wasnow quite out of humor at seeing things take this turn. 

"We have walked eight paces, " whispered D'Artagnan, "and gone upsix steps, so hereabouts is the pavilion called the pavilion of theorangery. The Comte de la Fere cannot be far off, only the doors arelocked. "

"That is a slight difficulty, " said Porthos, "and a good push with theshoulders----"

"For God's sake, Porthos my friend, reserve your feats of strength, orthey will not have, when needed, the honor they deserve. Have you notheard that some one is coming here?"

"Yes. "

"Well, that some one will open the doors. "

"But, my dear fellow, if that some one recognizes us, if that some onecries out, we are lost; for you don't propose, I imagine, that I shallkill that man of the church. That might do if we were dealing withEnglishmen or Germans. "

"Oh, may God keep me from it, and you, too!" said D'Artagnan. "The youngking would, perhaps, show us some gratitude; but the queen would neverforgive us, and it is she whom we have to consider. And then, besides, the useless blood! never! no, never! I have my plan; let me carry it outand we shall laugh. "

"So much the better, " said Porthos; "I feel some need of it. "

"Hush!" said D'Artagnan; "the some one is coming. "

The sound of a light step was heard in the vestibule. The hinges of thedoor creaked and a man appeared in the dress of a cavalier, wrapped ina brown cloak, with a lantern in one hand and a large beaver hat pulleddown over his eyes. 

Porthos effaced himself against the wall, but he could not renderhimself invisible; and the man in the cloak said to him, giving him hislantern:

"Light the lamp which hangs from the ceiling. "

Then addressing D'Artagnan:

"You know the watchword?" he said. 

"Ja!" replied the Gascon, determined to confine himself to this specimenof the German tongue. 

"Tedesco!" answered the cavalier; "va bene. "

And advancing toward the door opposite to that by which he came in, heopened it and disappeared behind it, shutting it as he went. 

"Now, " asked Porthos, "what are we to do?"

"Now we shall make use of your shoulder, friend Porthos, if this doorproves to be locked. Everything in its proper time, and all comes rightto those who know how to wait patiently. But first barricade the firstdoor well; then we will follow yonder cavalier. "

The two friends set to work and crowded the space before the doorwith all the furniture in the room, as not only to make the passageimpassable, but so to block the door that by no means could it openinward. 

"There!" said D'Artagnan, "we can't be overtaken. Come! forward!"

85. The Oubliettes of Cardinal Mazarin. 

At first, on arriving at the door through which Mazarin had passed, D'Artagnan tried in vain to open it, but on the powerful shoulder ofPorthos being applied to one of the panels, which gave way, D'Artagnanintroduced the point of his sword between the bolt and the staple of thelock. The bolt gave way and the door opened. 

"As I told you, everything can be attained, Porthos, women and doors, byproceeding with gentleness. "

"You're a great moralist, and that's the fact, " said Porthos. 

They entered; behind a glass window, by the light of the cardinal'slantern, which had been placed on the floor in the midst of the gallery, they saw the orange and pomegranate trees of the Castle of Rueil, inlong lines, forming one great alley and two smaller side alleys. 

"No cardinal!" said D'Artagnan, "but only his lantern; where the devil, then, is he?"

Exploring, however, one of the side wings of the gallery, after making asign to Porthos to explore the other, he saw, all at once, at his left, a tub containing an orange tree, which had been pushed out of its placeand in its place an open aperture. 

Ten men would have found difficulty in moving that tub, but by somemechanical contrivance it had turned with the flagstone on which itrested. 

D'Artagnan, as we have said, perceived a hole in that place and in thishole the steps of a winding staircase. 

He called Porthos to look at it. 

"Were our object money only, " he said, "we should be rich directly. "

"How's that?"

"Don't you understand, Porthos? At the bottom of that staircase lies, probably, the cardinal's treasury of which folk tell such wonders, andwe should only have to descend, empty a chest, shut the cardinal up init, double lock it, go away, carrying off as much gold as we could, putback this orange-tree over the place, and no one in the world would everask us where our fortune came from--not even the cardinal. "

"It would be a happy hit for clowns to make, but as it seems to beunworthy of two gentlemen----" said Porthos. 

"So I think; and therefore I said, 'Were our object money only;' but wewant something else, " replied the Gascon. 

At the same moment, whilst D'Artagnan was leaning over the apertureto listen, a metallic sound, as if some one was moving a bag of gold, struck on his ear; he started; instantly afterward a door opened and alight played upon the staircase. 

Mazarin had left his lamp in the gallery to make people believe thathe was walking about, but he had with him a waxlight, to help him toexplore his mysterious strong box. 

"Faith, " he said, in Italian, as he was reascending the stepsand looking at a bag of reals, "faith, there's enough to pay fivecouncillors of parliament, and two generals in Paris. I am a greatcaptain--that I am! but I make war in my own way. "

The two friends were crouching down, meantime, behind a tub in the sidealley. 

Mazarin came within three steps of D'Artagnan and pushed a spring in thewall; the slab turned and the orange tree resumed its place. 

Then the cardinal put out the waxlight, slipped it into his pocket, andtaking up the lantern: "Now, " he said, "for Monsieur de la Fere. "

"Very good, " thought D'Artagnan, "'tis our road likewise; we will gotogether. "

All three set off on their walk, Mazarin taking the middle alley and thefriends the side ones. 

The cardinal reached a second door without perceiving he was beingfollowed; the sand with which the alleys were covered deadened the soundof footsteps. 

He then turned to the left, down a corridor which had escaped theattention of the two friends, but as he opened the door he paused, as ifin thought. 

"Ah! Diavolo!" he exclaimed, "I forgot the recommendation of DeComminges, who advised me to take a guard and place it at this door, inorder not to put myself at the mercy of that four-headed combinationof devils. " And with a movement of impatience he turned to retrace hissteps. 

"Do not give yourself the trouble, my lord, " said D'Artagnan, with hisright foot forward, his beaver in his hand, a smile on his face, "wehave followed your eminence step by step and here we are. "

"Yes--here we are, " said Porthos. 

And he made the same friendly salute as D'Artagnan. 

Mazarin gazed at each of them with an affrighted stare, recognized them, and let drop his lantern, uttering a cry of terror. 

D'Artagnan picked it up; by good luck it had not been extinguished. 

"Oh, what imprudence, my lord, " said D'Artagnan; "'tis not good tobe about just here without a light. Your eminence might knock againstsomething, or fall into a hole. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" muttered Mazarin, unable to recover from hisastonishment. 

"Yes, my lord, it is I. I have the honor to present to you Monsieur duVallon, that excellent friend of mine, in whom your eminence had thekindness to interest yourself formerly. "

And D'Artagnan held the lamp before the merry face of Porthos, whonow began to comprehend the affair and be very proud of the wholeundertaking. 

"You were going to visit Monsieur de la Fere?" said D'Artagnan. "Don'tlet us disarrange your eminence. Be so good as to show us the way and wewill follow you. "

Mazarin was by degrees recovering his senses. 

"Have you been long in the orangery?" he asked in a trembling voice, remembering the visits he had been paying to his treasury. 

Porthos opened his mouth to reply; D'Artagnan made him a sign, and hismouth, remaining silent, gradually closed. 

"This moment come, my lord, " said D'Artagnan. 

Mazarin breathed again. His fears were now no longer for his hoard, butfor himself. A sort of smile played on his lips. 

"Come, " he said, "you have me in a snare, gentlemen. I confess myselfconquered. You wish to ask for liberty, and--I give it you. "

"Oh, my lord!" answered D'Artagnan, "you are too good; as to ourliberty, we have that; we want to ask something else of you. "

"You have your liberty?" repeated Mazarin, in terror. 

"Certainly; and on the other hand, my lord, you have lost it, and now, in accordance with the law of war, sir, you must buy it back again. "

Mazarin felt a shiver run through him--a chill even to his heart's core. His piercing look was fixed in vain on the satirical face of the Gasconand the unchanging countenance of Porthos. Both were in shadow and theSybil of Cuma herself could not have read them. 

"To purchase back my liberty?" said the cardinal. 

"Yes, my lord. "

"And how much will that cost me, Monsieur d'Artagnan?"

"Zounds, my lord, I don't know yet. We must ask the Comte de la Fere thequestion. Will your eminence deign to open the door which leads to thecount's room, and in ten minutes all will be settled. "

Mazarin started. 

"My lord, " said D'Artagnan, "your eminence sees that we wish to act withall formality and due respect; but I must warn you that we have no timeto lose; open the door then, my lord, and be so good as to remember, once for all, that on the slightest attempt to escape or the faintestcry for help, our position being very critical indeed, you must not beangry with us if we go to extremities. "

"Be assured, " answered Mazarin, "that I shall attempt nothing; I giveyou my word of honor. "

D'Artagnan made a sign to Porthos to redouble his watchfulness; thenturning to Mazarin:

"Now, my lord, let us enter, if you please. "

86. Conferences. 

Mazarin turned the lock of a double door, on the threshold of which theyfound Athos ready to receive his illustrious guests according to thenotice Comminges had given him. 

On perceiving Mazarin he bowed. 

"Your eminence, " he said, "might have dispensed with your attendants;the honor bestowed on me is too great for me to be unmindful of it. "

"And so, my dear count, " said D'Artagnan, "his eminence didn't actuallyinsist on our attending him; it is Du Vallon and I who have insisted, and even in a manner somewhat impolite, perhaps, so great was ourlonging to see you. "

At that voice, that mocking tone, and that familiar gesture, accentingvoice and tone, Athos made a bound of surprise. 

"D'Artagnan! Porthos!" he exclaimed. 

"My very self, dear friend. "

"Me, also!" repeated Porthos. 

"What means this?" asked the count. 

"It means, " replied Mazarin, trying to smile and biting his lips inthe attempt, "that our parts are changed, and that instead of thesegentlemen being my prisoners I am theirs; but, gentlemen, I warn you, unless you kill me, your victory will be of very short duration; peoplewill come to the rescue. "

"Ah! my lord!" cried the Gascon, "don't threaten! 'tis a bad example. We are so good and gentle to your eminence. Come, let us put aside allrancor and talk pleasantly. "

"There's nothing I wish more, " replied Mazarin. "But don't thinkyourselves in a better position than you are. In ensnaring me you havefallen into the trap yourselves. How are you to get away from here?remember the soldiers and sentinels who guard these doors. Now, I amgoing to show you how sincere I am. "

"Good, " thought D'Artagnan; "we must look about us; he's going to playus a trick. "

"I offered you your liberty, " continued the minister; "will you take it?Before an hour has passed you will be discovered, arrested, obliged tokill me, which would be a crime unworthy of loyal gentlemen like you. "

"He is right, " thought Athos. 

And, like every other reflection passing in a mind that entertained nonebut noble thoughts, this feeling was expressed in his eyes. 

"And therefore, " said D'Artagnan, to clip the hope which Athos's tacitadhesion had imparted to Mazarin, "we shall not proceed to that violencesave in the last extremity. "

"If on the contrary, " resumed Mazarin, "you accept your liberty----"

"Why you, my lord, might take it away from us in less than five minutesafterward; and from my knowledge of you I believe you will so take itaway from us. "

"No--on the faith of a cardinal. You do not believe me?"

"My lord, I never believe cardinals who are not priests. "

"Well, on the faith of a minister. "

"You are no longer a minister, my lord; you are a prisoner. "

"Then, on the honor of a Mazarin, as I am and ever shall be, I hope, "said the cardinal. 

"Hem, " replied D'Artagnan. "I have heard speak of a Mazarin who had notmuch religion when his oaths were in question. I fear he may have beenan ancestor of your eminence. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, you are a great wit and I am really sorry to be onbad terms with you. "

"My lord, let us come to terms; I ask nothing better. "

"Very well, " said Mazarin, "if I place you in security, in a mannerevident, palpable----"

"Ah! that is another thing, " said Porthos. 

"Let us see, " said Athos. 

"Let us see, " said D'Artagnan. 

"In the first place, do you accept?" asked the cardinal. 

"Unfold your plan, my lord, and we will see. "

"Take notice that you are shut up--captured. "

"You well know, my lord, that there always remains to us a lastresource. "

"What?"

"That of dying together. "

Mazarin shuddered. 

"Listen, " he said; "at the end of yonder corridor is a door, of whichI have the key, it leads into the park. Go, and take this key with you;you are active, vigorous, and you have arms. At a hundred steps, onturning to the left, you will find the wall of the park; get over it, and in three leaps you will be on the road and free. "

"Ah! by Jove, my lord, " said D'Artagnan, "you have well said, but theseare only words. Where is the key you speak of?"

"Here it is. "

"Ah, my lord! You will conduct us yourself, then, to that door?"

"Very willingly, if it be necessary to reassure you, " answered theminister, and Mazarin, who was delighted to get off so cheaply, led theway, in high spirits, to the corridor and opened the door. 

It led into the park, as the three fugitives perceived by the nightbreeze which rushed into the corridor and blew the wind into theirfaces. 

"The devil!" exclaimed the Gascon, "'tis a dreadful night, my lord. We don't know the locality, and shall never find the wall. Since youreminence has come so far, come a few steps further; conduct us, my lord, to the wall. "

"Be it so, " replied the cardinal; and walking in a straight line hewent to the wall, at the foot of which they all four arrived at the sameinstant. 

"Are you satisfied, gentlemen?" asked Mazarin. 

"I think so, indeed; we should be hard to please if we were not. Deucetake it! three poor gentlemen escorted by a prince of the church! Ah!apropos, my lord! you remarked that we were all active, vigorous andarmed. "

"Yes. "

"You are mistaken. Monsieur du Vallon and I are the only two who arearmed. The count is not; and should we meet with one of your patrol wemust defend ourselves. "

"'Tis true. "

"Where can we find another sword?" asked Porthos. 

"My lord, " said D'Artagnan, "will lend his, which is of no use to him, to the Comte de la Fere. "

"Willingly, " said the cardinal; "I will even ask the count to keep itfor my sake. "

"I promise you, my lord, never to part with it, " replied Athos. 

"Well, well, " cried D'Artagnan, "this reconciliation is truly touching;have you not tears in your eyes, Porthos?"

"Yes, " said Porthos; "but I do not know if it is feeling or the windthat makes me weep; I think it is the wind. "

"Now climb up, Athos, quickly, " said D'Artagnan. Athos, assisted byPorthos, who lifted him up like a feather, arrived at the top. 

"Now, jump down, Athos. "

Athos jumped and disappeared on the other side of the wall. 

"Are you on the ground?" asked D'Artagnan. 

"Yes. "

"Without accident?"

"Perfectly safe and sound. "

"Porthos, whilst I get up, watch the cardinal. No, I don't want yourhelp, watch the cardinal. "

"I am watching, " said Porthos. "Well?"

"You are right; it is more difficult than I thought. Lend me yourback--but don't let the cardinal go. "

Porthos lent him his back and D'Artagnan was soon on the summit of thewall, where he seated himself. 

Mazarin pretended to laugh. 

"Are you there?" asked Porthos. 

"Yes, my friend; and now----"

"Now, what?" asked Porthos. 

"Now give me the cardinal up here; if he makes any noise stifle him. "

Mazarin wished to call out, but Porthos held him tight and passed himto D'Artagnan, who seized him by the neck and made him sit down by him;then in a menacing tone, he said:

"Sir! jump directly down, close to Monsieur de la Fere, or, on the honorof a gentleman, I'll kill you!"

"Monsieur, monsieur, " cried Mazarin, "you are breaking your word to me!"

"I--did I promise you anything, my lord?"

Mazarin groaned. 

"You are free, " he said, "through me; your liberty was my ransom. "

"Agreed; but the ransom of that immense treasure buried under thegallery, to which one descends on pushing a spring hidden in the wall, which causes a tub to turn, revealing a staircase--must not one speak ofthat a little, my lord?"

"Diavolo!" cried Mazarin, almost choked, and clasping his hands; "I am alost and ruined man!"

But without listening to his protestations of alarm, D'Artagnan slippedhim gently down into the arms of Athos, who stood immovable at thebottom of the wall. 

Porthos next made an effort which shook the solid wall, and by the aidof his friend's hand gained the summit. 

"I didn't understand it all, " he said, "but I understand now; how drollit is!"

"You think so? so much the better; but that it may prove laughter-worthyeven to the end, let us not lose time. " And he jumped off the wall. 

Porthos did the same. 

"Attend to monsieur le cardinal, gentlemen, " said D'Artagnan; "formyself, I will reconnoitre. "

The Gascon then drew his sword and marched as avant guard. 

"My lord, " he said, "which way do we go? Think well of your reply, forshould your eminence be mistaken, there might ensue most grave resultsfor all of us. "

"Along the wall, sir, " said Mazarin, "there will be no danger of losingyourselves. "

The three friends hastened on, but in a short time were obliged toslacken the pace. The cardinal could not keep up with them, though withevery wish to do so. 

Suddenly D'Artagnan touched something warm, which moved. 

"Stop! a horse!" he cried; "I have found a horse!"

"And I, likewise, " said Athos. 

"I, too, " said Porthos, who, faithful to the instructions, still heldthe cardinal's arm. 

"There's luck, my lord! just as you were complaining of being tired andobliged to walk. "

But as he spoke the barrel of a pistol was presented at his breast andthese words were pronounced:

"Touch it not!"

"Grimaud!" he cried; "Grimaud! what art thou about? Why, thou art postedhere by Heaven!"

"No, sir, " said the honest servant, "it was Monsieur Aramis who postedme here to take care of the horses. "

"Is Aramis here?"

"Yes, sir; he has been here since yesterday. "

"What are you doing?"

"On the watch----"

"What! Aramis here?" cried Athos. 

"At the lesser gate of the castle; he's posted there. "

"Are you a large party?"

"Sixty. "

"Let him know. "

"This moment, sir. "

And believing that no one could execute the commission better thanhimself, Grimaud set off at full speed; whilst, enchanted at being alltogether again, the friends awaited his return. 

There was no one in the whole group in a bad humor except CardinalMazarin. 

87. In which we begin to think that Porthos will be at last a Baron, andD'Artagnan a Captain. 

At the expiration of ten minutes Aramis arrived, accompanied by Grimaudand eight or ten followers. He was excessively delighted and threwhimself into his friends' arms. 

"You are free, my brothers! free without my aid! and I shall havesucceeded in doing nothing for you in spite of all my efforts. "

"Do not be unhappy, dear friend, on that account; if you have donenothing as yet, you will do something soon, " replied Athos. 

"I had well concerted my plans, " pursued Aramis; "the coadjutor gaveme sixty men; twenty guard the walls of the park, twenty the road fromRueil to Saint Germain, twenty are dispersed in the woods. Thus I wasable, thanks to the strategic disposition of my forces, to intercept twocouriers from Mazarin to the queen. "

Mazarin listened intently. 

"But, " said D'Artagnan, "I trust that you honorably sent them back tomonsieur le cardinal!"

"Ah, yes!" said Aramis, "toward him I should be very likely to practicesuch delicacy of sentiment! In one of the despatches the cardinaldeclares to the queen that the treasury is empty and that her majestyhas no more money. In the other he announces that he is about totransport his prisoners to Melun, since Rueil seemed to him notsufficiently secure. You can understand, dear friend, with what hope Iwas inspired by that last letter. I placed myself in ambuscade withmy sixty men; I encircled the castle; the riding horses I entrustedto Grimaud and I awaited your coming out, which I did not expect tillto-morrow, and I didn't hope to free you without a skirmish. You arefree to-night, without fighting; so much the better! How did you manageto escape that scoundrel Mazarin? You must have much reason to complainof him. "

"Not very much, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Really!"

"I might even say that we have some reason to praise him. "

"Impossible!"

"Yes, really; it is owing to him that we are free. "

"Owing to him?"

"Yes, he had us conducted into the orangery by Monsieur Bernouin, hisvalet-de-chambre, and from there we followed him to visit the Comte dela Fere. Then he offered us our liberty and we accepted it. He even wentso far as to show us the way out; he led us to the park wall, which weclimbed over without accident, and then we fell in with Grimaud. "

"Well!" exclaimed Aramis, "this will reconcile me to him; but I wish hewere here that I might tell him that I did not believe him capable of sonoble an act. "

"My lord, " said D'Artagnan, no longer able to contain himself, "allow meto introduce to you the Chevalier d'Herblay, who wishes--as you may haveheard--to offer his congratulations to your eminence. "

And he retired, discovering Mazarin, who was in great confusion, to theastonished gaze of Aramis. 

"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the latter, "the cardinal! a glorious prize! Halloo!halloo! friends! to horse! to horse!"

Several horsemen ran quickly to him. 

"Zounds!" cried Aramis, "I may have done some good; so, my lord, deignto receive my most respectful homage! I will lay a wager that 'twasthat Saint Christopher, Porthos, who performed this feat! Apropos!I forgot----" and he gave some orders in a low voice to one of thehorsemen. 

"I think it will be wise to set off, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Yes; but I am expecting some one, a friend of Athos. "

"A friend!" exclaimed the count. 

"And here he comes, by Jupiter! galloping through the bushes. "

"The count! the count!" cried a young voice that made Athos start. 

"Raoul! Raoul!" he ejaculated. 

For one moment the young man forgot his habitual respect--he threwhimself on his father's neck. 

"Look, my lord cardinal, " said Aramis, "would it not have been a pityto have separated men who love each other as we love? Gentlemen, " hecontinued, addressing the cavaliers, who became more and more numerousevery instant; "gentlemen, encircle his eminence, that you may show himthe greater honor. He will, indeed give us the favor of his company;you will, I hope, be grateful for it; Porthos, do not lose sight of hiseminence. "

Aramis then joined Athos and D'Artagnan, who were consulting together. 

"Come, " said D'Artagnan, after a conference of five minutes' duration, "let us begin our journey. "

"Where are we to go?" asked Porthos. 

"To your house, dear Porthos, at Pierrefonds; your fine chateau isworthy of affording its princely hospitality to his eminence; it is, likewise, well situated--neither too near Paris, nor too far from it;we can establish a communication between it and the capital with greatfacility. Come, my lord, you shall be treated like a prince, as youare. "

"A fallen prince!" exclaimed Mazarin, piteously. 

"The chances of war, " said Athos, "are many, but be assured we shalltake no improper advantage of them. "

"No, but we shall make use of them, " said D'Artagnan. 

The rest of the night was employed by these cavaliers in travelingwith the wonderful rapidity of former days. Mazarin, still sombre andpensive, permitted himself to be dragged along in this way; it looked arace of phantoms. At dawn twelve leagues had been passed without drawingrein; half the escort were exhausted and several horses fell down. 

"Horses, nowadays, are not what they were formerly, " observed Porthos;"everything degenerates. "

"I have sent Grimaud to Dammartin, " said Aramis. "He is to bring us fivefresh horses--one for his eminence, four for us. We, at least, must keepclose to monseigneur; the rest of the start will rejoin us later. Oncebeyond Saint Denis we shall have nothing to fear. "

Grimaud, in fact, brought back five horses. The nobleman to whom heapplied, being a friend of Porthos, was very ready, not to sell them, aswas proposed, but to lend them. Ten minutes later the escort stopped atErmenonville, but the four friends went on with well sustained ardor, guarding Mazarin carefully. At noon they rode into the avenue ofPierrefonds. 

"Ah!" said Mousqueton, who had ridden by the side of D'Artagnan withoutspeaking a word on the journey, "you may think what you will, sir, but Ican breathe now for the first time since my departure from Pierrefonds;"and he put his horse to a gallop to announce to the other servants thearrival of Monsieur du Vallon and his friends. 

"We are four of us, " said D'Artagnan; "we must relieve each other inmounting guard over my lord and each of us must watch three hours at atime. Athos is going to examine the castle, which it will be necessaryto render impregnable in case of siege; Porthos will see to theprovisions and Aramis to the troops of the garrison. That is to say, Athos will be chief engineer, Porthos purveyor-in-general, and Aramisgovernor of the fortress. "

Meanwhile, they gave up to Mazarin the handsomest room in the chateau. 

"Gentlemen, " he said, when he was in his room, "you do not expect, Ipresume, to keep me here a long time incognito?"

"No, my lord, " replied the Gascon; "on the contrary, we think ofannouncing very soon that we have you here. "

"Then you will be besieged. "

"We expect it. "

"And what shall you do?"

"Defend ourselves. Were the late Cardinal Richelieu alive he would tellyou a certain story of the Bastion Saint Gervais, which we four, withour four lackeys and twelve dead men, held out against a whole army. "

"Such feats, sir, are done once--and never repeated. "

"However, nowadays there's no need of so much heroism. To-morrow thearmy of Paris will be summoned, the day after it will be here! The fieldof battle, instead, therefore, of being at Saint Denis or at Charenton, will be near Compiegne or Villars-Cotterets. "

"The prince will vanquish you, as he has always done. "

"'Tis possible; my lord; but before an engagement ensues we shall moveyour eminence to another castle belonging to our friend Du Vallon, whohas three. We will not expose your eminence to the chances of war. "

"Come, " answered Mazarin, "I see it will be necessary for me tocapitulate. "

"Before a siege?"

"Yes; the conditions will be better than afterward. "

"Ah, my lord! as to conditions, you would soon see how moderate andreasonable we are!"

"Come, now, what are your conditions?"

"Rest yourself first, my lord, and we--we will reflect. "

"I do not need rest, gentlemen; I need to know whether I am amongenemies or friends. "

"Friends, my lord! friends!"

"Well, then, tell me at once what you want, that I may see if anyarrangement be possible. Speak, Comte de la Fere!"

"My lord, " replied Athos, "for myself I have nothing to demand. ForFrance, were I to specify my wishes, I should have too much. I beg youto excuse me and propose to the chevalier. "

And Athos, bowing, retired and remained leaning against the mantelpiece, a spectator of the scene. 

"Speak, then, chevalier!" said the cardinal. "What do you want? Nothingambiguous, if you please. Be clear, short and precise. "

"As for me, " replied Aramis, "I have in my pocket the very programmeof the conditions which the deputation--of which I formed one--wentyesterday to Saint Germain to impose on you. Let us consider first theancient rights. The demands in that programme must be granted. "

"We were almost agreed on those, " replied Mazarin; "let us pass on toprivate and personal stipulations. "

"You suppose, then, that there are some?" said Aramis, smiling. 

"I do not suppose that you will all be quite so disinterested asMonsieur de la Fere, " replied the cardinal, bowing to Athos. 

"My lord, you are right, and I am glad to see that you do justice tothe count at last. The count has a mind above vulgar desires and earthlypassions. He is a proud soul--he is a man by himself! You are right--heis worth us all, and we avow it to you!"

"Aramis, " said Athos, "are you jesting?"

"No, no, dear friend; I state only what we all know. You are right;it is not you alone this matter concerns, but my lord and his unworthyservant, myself. "

"Well, then, what do you require besides the general conditions beforerecited?"

"I require, my lord, that Normandy should be given to Madame deLongueville, with five hundred thousand francs and full absolution. Irequire that his majesty should deign to be godfather to the childshe has just borne; and that my lord, after having been present at thechristening, should go to proffer his homage to our Holy Father thePope. "

"That is, you wish me to lay aside my ministerial functions, to quitFrance and be an exile. "

"I wish his eminence to become pope on the first opportunity, allowingme then the right of demanding full indulgences for myself and myfriends. "

Mazarin made a grimace which was quite indescribable, and then turned toD'Artagnan. 

"And you, sir?" he said. 

"I, my lord, " answered the Gascon, "I differ from Monsieur d'Herblayentirely as to the last point, though I agree with him on the first. Far from wishing my lord to quit Paris, I hope he will stay there andcontinue to be prime minister, as he is a great statesman. I shalltry also to help him to down the Fronde, but on one condition--that hesometimes remembers the king's faithful servants and gives the firstvacant company of musketeers to a man that I could name. And you, Monsieur du Vallon----"

"Yes, you, sir! Speak, if you please, " said Mazarin. 

"As for me, " answered Porthos, "I wish my lord cardinal, in order to dohonor to my house, which gives him an asylum, would in remembrance ofthis adventure erect my estate into a barony, with a promise to conferthat order on one of my particular friends, whenever his majesty nextcreates peers. "

"You know, sir, that before receiving the order one must submit proofs. "

"My friends will submit them. Besides, should it be necessary, monseigneur will show him how that formality may be avoided. "

Mazarin bit his lips; the blow was direct and he replied rather dryly:

"All this appears to me to be ill conceived, disjointed, gentlemen; forif I satisfy some I shall displease others. If I stay in Paris I cannotgo to Rome; if I became pope I could not continue to be prime minister;and it is only by continuing prime minister that I can make Monsieurd'Artagnan a captain and Monsieur du Vallon a baron. "

"True, " said Aramis, "so, as I am in a minority, I withdrawmy proposition, so far as it relates to the voyage to Rome andmonseigneur's resignation. "

"I am to remain minister, then?" said Mazarin. 

"You remain minister; that is understood, " said D'Artagnan; "Franceneeds you. "

"And I desist from my pretensions, " said Aramis. "His eminence willcontinue to be prime minister and her majesty's favorite, if he willgrant to me and my friends what we demand for France and for ourselves. "

"Occupy yourselves with your own affairs, gentlemen, and let Francesettle matters as she will with me, " resumed Mazarin. 

"Ho! ho!" replied Aramis. "The Frondeurs will have a treaty and youreminence must sign it before us, promising at the same time to obtainthe queen's consent to it. "

"I can answer only for myself, " said Mazarin. "I cannot answer for thequeen. Suppose her majesty refuses?"

"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, "monseigneur knows very well that her majestyrefuses him nothing. "

"Here, monseigneur, " said Aramis, "is the treaty proposed by thedeputation of Frondeurs. Will your eminence please read and examine?"

"I am acquainted with it. "

"Sign it, then. "

"Reflect, gentlemen, that a signature given under circumstances like thepresent might be regarded as extorted by violence. "

"Monseigneur will be at hand to testify that it was freely given. "

"Suppose I refuse?"

"Then, " said D'Artagnan, "your eminence must expect the consequences ofa refusal. "

"Would you dare to touch a cardinal?"

"You have dared, my lord, to imprison her majesty's musketeers. "

"The queen will revenge me, gentlemen. "

"I do not think so, although inclination might lead her to do so, but weshall take your eminence to Paris, and the Parisians will defend us. "

"How uneasy they must be at this moment at Rueil and Saint Germain, "said Aramis. "How they must be asking, 'Where is the cardinal?' 'Whathas become of the minister?' 'Where has the favorite gone?' How theymust be looking for monseigneur in all corners! What comments must bemade; and if the Fronde knows that monseigneur has disappeared, how theFronde must triumph!"

"It is frightful, " murmured Mazarin. 

"Sign the treaty, then, monseigneur, " said Aramis. 

"Suppose the queen should refuse to ratify it?"

"Ah! nonsense!" cried D'Artagnan, "I can manage so that her majesty willreceive me well; I know an excellent method. "

"What?"

"I shall take her majesty the letter in which you tell her that thefinances are exhausted. "

"And then?" asked Mazarin, turning pale. 

"When I see her majesty embarrassed, I shall conduct her to Rueil, makeher enter the orangery and show her a certain spring which turns a box. "

"Enough, sir, " muttered the cardinal, "you have said enough; where isthe treaty?"

"Here it is, " replied Aramis. "Sign, my lord, " and he gave him a pen. 

Mazarin arose, walked some moments, thoughtful, but not dejected. 

"And when I have signed, " he said, "what is to be my guarantee?"

"My word of honor, sir, " said Athos. 

Mazarin started, turned toward the Comte de la Fere, and looking for aninstant at that grand and honest countenance, took the pen. 

"It is sufficient, count, " he said, and signed the treaty. 

"And now, Monsieur d'Artagnan, " he said, "prepare to set off for SaintGermain and take a letter from me to the queen. "

88. Shows how with Threat and Pen more is effected than by the Sword. 

D'Artagnan knew his part well; he was aware that opportunity has aforelock only for him who will take it and he was not a man to let it goby him without seizing it. He soon arranged a prompt and certain mannerof traveling, by sending relays of horses to Chantilly, so that he mightbe in Paris in five or six hours. But before setting out he reflectedthat for a lad of intelligence and experience he was in a singularpredicament, since he was proceeding toward uncertainty and leavingcertainty behind him. 

"In fact, " he said, as he was about to mount and start on his dangerousmission, "Athos, for generosity, is a hero of romance; Porthos hasan excellent disposition, but is easily influenced; Aramis has ahieroglyphic countenance, always illegible. What will come out ofthose three elements when I am no longer present to combine them?The deliverance of the cardinal, perhaps. Now, the deliverance of thecardinal would be the ruin of our hopes; and our hopes are thus far theonly recompense we have for labors in comparison with which those ofHercules were pygmean. "

He went to find Aramis. 

"You, my dear Chevalier d'Herblay, " he said, "are the Fronde incarnate. Mistrust Athos, therefore, who will not prosecute the affairs of anyone, even his own. Mistrust Porthos, especially, who, to please thecount whom he regards as God on earth, will assist him in contrivingMazarin's escape, if Mazarin has the wit to weep or play the chivalric. "

Aramis smiled; his smile was at once cunning and resolute. 

"Fear nothing, " he said; "I have my conditions to impose. My privateambition tends only to the profit of him who has justice on his side. "

"Good!" thought D'Artagnan: "in this direction I am satisfied. " Hepressed Aramis's hand and went in search of Porthos. 

"Friend, " he said, "you have worked so hard with me toward building upour fortune, that, at the moment when we are about to reap the fruits ofour labours, it would be a ridiculous piece of silliness in you to allowyourself to be controlled by Aramis, whose cunning you know--a cunningwhich, we may say between ourselves, is not always without egotism;or by Athos, a noble and disinterested man, but blase, who, desiringnothing further for himself, doesn't sympathize with the desires ofothers. What should you say if either of these two friends proposed toyou to let Mazarin go?"

"Why, I should say that we had too much trouble in taking him to let himoff so easily. "

"Bravo, Porthos! and you would be right, my friend; for in losing himyou would lose your barony, which you have in your grasp, to say nothingof the fact that, were he once out of this, Mazarin would have youhanged. "

"Do you think so?"

"I am sure of it. "

"Then I would kill him rather than let him go. "

"And you would act rightly. There is no question, you understand, provided we secure our own interests, of securing those of theFrondeurs; who, besides, don't understand political matters as we oldsoldiers do. "

"Never fear, dear friend, " said Porthos. "I shall see you through thewindow as you mount your horse; I shall follow you with my eyes as longas you are in sight; then I shall place myself at the cardinal's door--adoor with glass windows. I shall see everything, and at the leastsuspicious sign I shall begin to exterminate. "

"Bravo!" thought D'Artagnan; "on this side I think the cardinal will bewell guarded. " He pressed the hand of the lord of Pierrefonds and wentin search of Athos. 

"My dear Athos, " he said, "I am going away. I have only one thing tosay to you. You know Anne of Austria; the captivity of Mazarin aloneguarantees my life; if you let him go I am a dead man. "

"I needed nothing less than that consideration, my dear D'Artagnan, topersuade myself to adopt the role of jailer. I give you my word that youwill find the cardinal where you leave him. "

"This reassures me more than all the royal signatures, " thoughtD'Artagnan. "Now that I have the word of Athos I can set out. "

D'Artagnan started alone on his journey, without other escort than hissword, and with a simple passport from Mazarin to secure his admissionto the queen's presence. Six hours after he left Pierrefonds he was atSaint Germain. 

The disappearance of Mazarin was not as yet generally known. Anne ofAustria was informed of it and concealed her uneasiness from every one. In the chamber of D'Artagnan and Porthos the two soldiers had been foundbound and gagged. On recovering the use of their limbs and tongues theycould, of course, tell nothing but what they knew--that they had beenseized, stripped and bound. But as to what had been done by Porthos andD'Artagnan afterward they were as ignorant as all the inhabitants of thechateau. 

Bernouin alone knew a little more than the others. Bernouin, seeing thathis master did not return and hearing the stroke of midnight, hadmade an examination of the orangery. The first door, barricadedwith furniture, had aroused in him certain suspicions, but withoutcommunicating his suspicions to any one he had patiently worked his wayinto the midst of all that confusion. Then he came to the corridor, all the doors of which he found open; so, too, was the door of Athos'schamber and that of the park. From the latter point it was easy tofollow tracks on the snow. He saw that these tracks tended toward thewall; on the other side he found similar tracks, then footprints ofhorses and then signs of a troop of cavalry which had moved away inthe direction of Enghien. He could no longer cherish any doubt thatthe cardinal had been carried off by the three prisoners, since theprisoners had disappeared at the same time; and he had hastened to SaintGermain to warn the queen of that disappearance. 

Anne had enforced the utmost secrecy and had disclosed the event tono one except the Prince de Conde, who had sent five or six hundredhorsemen into the environs of Saint Germain with orders to bring in anysuspicious person who was going away from Rueil, in whatsoever directionit might be. 

Now, since D'Artagnan did not constitute a body of horsemen, since hewas alone, since he was not going away from Rueil and was going toSaint Germain, no one paid any attention to him and his journey was notobstructed in any way. 

On entering the courtyard of the old chateau the first person seenby our ambassador was Maitre Bernouin in person, who, standing on thethreshold, awaited news of his vanished master. 

At the sight of D'Artagnan, who entered the courtyard on horseback, Bernouin rubbed his eyes and thought he must be mistaken. But D'Artagnanmade a friendly sign to him with his head, dismounted, and throwing hisbridle to a lackey who was passing, he approached the valet-de-chambrewith a smile on his lips. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" cried the latter, like a man who has thenightmare and talks in his sleep, "Monsieur d'Artagnan!"

"Himself, Monsieur Bernouin. "

"And why have you come here?"

"To bring news of Monsieur de Mazarin--the freshest news there is. "

"What has become of him, then?"

"He is as well as you and I. "

"Nothing bad has happened to him, then?"

"Absolutely nothing. He felt the need of making a trip in the Ile deFrance, and begged us--the Comte de la Fere and Monsieur du Vallon--toaccompany him. We were too devoted servants to refuse him a request ofthat sort. We set out last evening and here we are. "

"Here you are. "

"His eminence had something to communicate to her majesty, somethingsecret and private--a mission that could be confided only to a sureman--and so has sent me to Saint Germain. And therefore, my dearMonsieur Bernouin, if you wish to do what will be pleasing to yourmaster, announce to her majesty that I have come, and tell her with whatpurpose. "

Whether he spoke seriously or in jest, since it was evident that underexisting circumstances D'Artagnan was the only man who could relieve thequeen's uneasiness, Bernouin went without hesitation to announce to herthis strange embassy; and as he had foreseen, the queen gave orders tointroduce Monsieur d'Artagnan at once. 

D'Artagnan approached the sovereign with every mark of profound respect, and having fallen on his knees presented to her the cardinal's letter

It was, however, merely a letter of introduction. The queen read it, recognized the writing, and, since there were no details in it of whathad occurred, asked for particulars. D'Artagnan related everything withthat simple and ingenuous air which he knew how to assume on occasions. The queen, as he went on, looked at him with increasing astonishment. She could not comprehend how a man could conceive such an enterprise andstill less how he could have the audacity to disclose it to her whoseinterest and almost duty it was to punish him. 

"How, sir!" she cried, as D'Artagnan finished, "you dare to tell me thedetails of your crime--to give me an account of your treason!"

"Pardon, madame, but I think that either I have expressed myself badlyor your majesty has imperfectly understood me. There is here no questionof crime or treason. Monsieur de Mazarin held us in prison, Monsieur duVallon and myself, because we could not believe that he had sent us toEngland to quietly look on while they cut off the head of Charles I. , brother-in-law of the late king, your husband, the consort of MadameHenrietta, your sister and your guest, and because we did all that wecould do to save the life of the royal martyr. We were then convinced, my friend and I, that there was some error of which we were thevictims, and that an explanation was called for between his eminence andourselves. Now, that an explanation may bear fruit, it is necessary thatit should be quietly conducted, far from noise and interruption. We havetherefore taken away monsieur le cardinal to my friend's chateau andthere we have come to an understanding. Well, madame, it proved to beas we had supposed; there was a mistake. Monsieur de Mazarin had thoughtthat we had rendered service to General Cromwell, instead of KingCharles, which would have been a disgrace, rebounding from us to him, and from him to your majesty--a dishonor which would have tainted theroyalty of your illustrious son. We were able to prove the contrary, andthat proof we are ready to give to your majesty, calling in support ofit the august widow weeping in the Louvre, where your royal munificencehas provided for her a home. That proof satisfied him so completelythat, as a sign of satisfaction, he has sent me, as your majesty maysee, to consider with you what reparation should be made to gentlemenunjustly treated and wrongfully persecuted. "

"I listen to you, and I wonder at you, sir, " said the queen. "In fact, Ihave rarely seen such excess of impudence. "

"Your majesty, on your side, " said D'Artagnan, "is as much mistaken asto our intentions as the Cardinal Mazarin has always been. "

"You are in error, sir, " answered the queen. "I am so little mistakenthat in ten minutes you shall be arrested, and in an hour I shall setoff at the head of my army to release my minister. "

"I am sure your majesty will not commit such an act of imprudence, first, because it would be useless and would produce the most disastrousresults. Before he could be possibly set free the cardinal would bedead; and indeed, so convinced is he of this, that he entreated me, should I find your majesty disposed to act in this way, to do all Icould to induce you to change your resolution. "

"Well, then, I will content myself with arresting you!"

"Madame, the possibility of my arrest has been foreseen, and shouldI not have returned by to-morrow, at a certain hour the next day thecardinal will be brought to Paris and delivered to the parliament. "

"It is evident, sir, that your position has kept you out of relationto men and affairs; otherwise you would know that since we left Parismonsieur le cardinal has returned thither five or six times; that he hasthere met De Beaufort, De Bouillon, the coadjutor and D'Elbeuf and thatnot one of them had any desire to arrest him. "

"Your pardon, madame, I know all that. And therefore my friends willconduct monsieur le cardinal neither to De Beaufort, nor to De Bouillon, nor to the coadjutor, nor to D'Elbeuf. These gentlemen wage war onprivate account, and in buying them up, by granting them what theywished, monsieur le cardinal has made a good bargain. He will bedelivered to the parliament, members of which can, of course, be bought, but even Monsieur de Mazarin is not rich enough to buy the whole body. "

"I think, " returned Anne of Austria, fixing upon him a glance, which inany woman's face would have expressed disdain, but in a queen's, spreadterror to those she looked upon, "nay, I perceive you dare to threatenthe mother of your sovereign. "

"Madame, " replied D'Artagnan, "I threaten simply and solely because Iam obliged to do so. Believe me, madame, as true a thing as it is that aheart beats in this bosom--a heart devoted to you--believe that youhave been the idol of our lives; that we have, as you well know--goodHeaven!--risked our lives twenty times for your majesty. Have you, then, madame, no compassion for your servants who for twenty years havevegetated in obscurity, without betraying in a single sigh the solemnand sacred secrets they have had the honor to share with you? Look atme, madame--at me, whom you accuse of speaking loud and threateningly. What am I? A poor officer, without fortune, without protection, withouta future, unless the eye of my queen, which I have sought so long, restson me for a moment. Look at the Comte de la Fere, a type of nobility, a flower of chivalry. He has taken part against his queen, or rather, against her minister. He has not been unreasonably exacting, it seems tome. Look at Monsieur du Vallon, that faithful soul, that arm of steel, who for twenty years has awaited the word from your lips which will makehim in rank what he is in sentiment and in courage. Consider, in short, your people who love you and who yet are famished, who have no otherwish than to bless you, and who, nevertheless--no, I am wrong, yoursubjects, madame, will never curse you; say one word to them andall will be ended--peace succeed war, joy tears, and happiness tomisfortune!"

Anne of Austria looked with wonderment on the warlike countenance ofD'Artagnan, which betrayed a singular expression of deep feeling. 

"Why did you not say all this before you took action, sir?" she said. 

"Because, madame, it was necessary to prove to your majesty one thing ofwhich you doubted---that is, that we still possess amongst us some valorand are worthy of some consideration at your hands. "

"And that valor would shrink from no undertaking, according to what Isee. "

"It has hesitated at nothing in the past; why, then, should it be lessdaring in the future?"

"Then, in case of my refusal, this valor, should a struggle occur, will even go the length of carrying me off in the midst of my court, todeliver me into the hands of the Fronde, as you propose to deliver myminister?"

"We have not thought about it yet, madame, " answered D'Artagnan, withthat Gascon effrontery which had in him the appearance of naivete; "butif we four had resolved upon it we should do it most certainly. "

"I ought, " muttered Anne to herself, "by this time to remember thatthese men are giants. "

"Alas, madame!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, "this proves to me that not tillto-day has your majesty had a just idea of us. "

"Perhaps, " said Anne; "but that idea, if at last I have it----"

"Your majesty will do us justice. In doing us justice you will no longertreat us as men of vulgar stamp. You will see in me an ambassador worthyof the high interests he is authorized to discuss with his sovereign. "

"Where is the treaty?"

"Here it is. "

Anne of Austria cast her eyes upon the treaty that D'Artagnan presentedto her. 

"I do not see here, " she said, "anything but general conditions; theinterests of the Prince de Conti or of the Ducs de Beaufort, de Bouillonand d'Elbeuf and of the coadjutor, are herein consulted; but with regardto yours?"

"We do ourselves justice, madame, even in assuming the high positionthat we have. We do not think ourselves worthy to stand near such greatnames. "

"But you, I presume, have decided to assert your pretensions viva voce?"

"I believe you, madame, to be a great and powerful queen, and that itwill be unworthy of your power and greatness if you do not recompensethe arms which will bring back his eminence to Saint Germain. "

"It is my intention so to do; come, let us hear you. Speak. "

"He who has negotiated these matters (forgive me if I begin by speakingof myself, but I must claim that importance which has been given to me, not assumed by me) he who has arranged matters for the return of thecardinal, ought, it appears to me, in order that his reward may notbe unworthy of your majesty, to be made commandant of the guards--anappointment something like that of captain of the musketeers. "

"'Tis the appointment Monsieur de Treville held, you ask of me. "

"The place, madame, is vacant, and although 'tis a year since Monsieurde Treville has left it, it has not been filled. "

"But it is one of the principal military appointments in the king'shousehold. "

"Monsieur de Treville was but a younger son of a simple Gascon family, like me, madame; he occupied that post for twenty years. "

"You have an answer ready for everything, " replied the queen, and shetook from her bureau a document, which she filled up and signed. 

"Undoubtedly, madame, " said D'Artagnan, taking the document and bowing, "this is a noble reward; but everything in the world is unstable, andthe man who happened to fall into disgrace with your majesty might losethis office to-morrow. "

"What more do you want?" asked the queen, coloring, as she found thatshe had to deal with a mind as subtle as her own. 

"A hundred thousand francs for this poor captain of musketeers, tobe paid whenever his services shall no longer be acceptable to yourmajesty. "

Anne hesitated. 

"To think of the Parisians, " soliloquized D'Artagnan, "offering only theother day, by an edict of the parliament, six hundred thousand francsto any man soever who would deliver up the cardinal to them, dead oralive--if alive, in order to hang him; if dead, to deny him the rites ofChristian burial!"

"Come, " said Anne, "'tis reasonable, since you only ask from a queen thesixth of what the parliament has proposed;" and she signed an order fora hundred thousand francs. 

"Now, then, " she said, "what next?"

"Madame, my friend Du Vallon is rich and has therefore nothing inthe way of fortune to desire; but I think I remember that there wasa question between him and Monsieur Mazarin as to making his estate abarony. Nay, it must have been a promise. "

"A country clown, " said Anne of Austria, "people will laugh. "

"Let them, " answered D'Artagnan. "But I am sure of one thing--that thosewho laugh at him in his presence will never laugh a second time. "

"Here goes the barony. " said the queen; she signed a patent. 

"Now there remains the chevalier, or the Abbe d'Herblay, as your majestypleases. "

"Does he wish to be a bishop?"

"No, madame, something easier to grant. "

"What?"

"It is that the king should deign to stand godfather to the son ofMadame de Longueville. "

The queen smiled. 

"Monsieur de Longueville is of royal blood, madame, " said D'Artagnan. 

"Yes, " said the queen; "but his son?"

"His son, madame, must be, since the husband of the son's mother is. "

"And your friend has nothing more to ask for Madame de Longueville?"

"No, madame, for I presume that the king, standing godfather to him, could do no less than present him with five hundred thousand francs, giving his father, also, the government of Normandy. "

"As to the government of Normandy, " replied the queen, "I think I canpromise; but with regard to the present, the cardinal is always tellingme there is no more money in the royal coffers. "

"We shall search for some, madame, and I think we can find a little, andif your majesty approves, we will seek for some together. "

"What next?"

"What next, madame?"

"Yes. "

"That is all. "

"Haven't you, then, a fourth companion?"

"Yes, madame, the Comte de la Fere. "

"What does he ask?"

"Nothing. "

"There is in the world, then, one man who, having the power to ask, asks--nothing!"

"There is the Comte de la Fere, madame. The Comte de la Fere is not aman. "

"What is he, then?"

"The Comte de la Fere is a demi-god. "

"Has he not a son, a young man, a relative, a nephew, of whom Commingesspoke to me as being a brave boy, and who, with Monsieur de Chatillon, brought the standards from Lens?"

"He has, as your majesty has said, a ward, who is called the Vicomte deBragelonne. "

"If that young man should be appointed to a regiment what would hisguardian say?"

"Perhaps he would accept. "

"Perhaps?"

"Yes, if your majesty herself should beg him to accept. "

"He must be indeed a strange man. Well, we will reflect and perhaps wewill beg him. Are you satisfied, sir?"

"There is one thing the queen has not signed--her assent to the treaty. "

"Of what use to-day? I will sign it to-morrow. "

"I can assure her majesty that if she does not sign to-day she will nothave time to sign to-morrow. Consent, then, I beg you, madame, to writeat the bottom of this schedule, which has been drawn up by Mazarin, asyou see:

"'I consent to ratify the treaty proposed by the Parisians. '"

Anne was caught, she could not draw back--she signed; but scarcely hadshe done so when pride burst forth and she began to weep. 

D'Artagnan started on seeing these tears. Since that period of historyqueens have shed tears, like other women. 

The Gascon shook his head, these tears from royalty melted his heart. 

"Madame, " he said, kneeling, "look upon the unhappy man at your feet. Hebegs you to believe that at a gesture of your majesty everything will bepossible to him. He has faith in himself; he has faith in his friends;he wishes also to have faith in his queen. And in proof that he fearsnothing, that he counts on nothing, he will restore Monsieur de Mazarinto your majesty without conditions. Behold, madame! here are the augustsignatures of your majesty's hand; if you think you are right in givingthem to me, you shall do so, but from this very moment you are free fromany obligation to keep them. "

And D'Artagnan, full of splendid pride and manly intrepidity, placed inAnne's hands, in a bundle, the papers that he had one by one won fromher with so much difficulty. 

There are moments--for if everything is not good, everything in thisworld is not bad--in which the most rigid and the coldest soul issoftened by the tears of strong emotion, heart-arraigning sentiment: oneof these momentary impulses actuated Anne. D'Artagnan, when he gaveway to his own feelings--which were in accordance with those of thequeen--had accomplished more than the most astute diplomacy couldhave attempted. He was therefore instantly recompensed, either for hisaddress or for his sensibility, whichever it might be termed. 

"You were right, sir, " said Anne. "I misunderstood you. There are theacts signed; I deliver them to you without compulsion. Go and bring meback the cardinal as soon as possible. "

"Madame, " faltered D'Artagnan, "'tis twenty years ago--I have a goodmemory--since I had the honor behind a piece of tapestry in the Hotel deVille, of kissing one of those lovely hands. "

"There is the other, " replied the queen; "and that the left hand shouldnot be less liberal than the right, " she drew from her finger a diamondsimilar to the one formerly given to him, "take and keep this ring inremembrance of me. 

"Madame, " said D'Artagnan, rising, "I have only one thing more to wish, which is, that the next thing you ask from me, shall be--my life. "

And with this conclusion--a way peculiar to himself--he rose and leftthe room. 

"I never rightly understood those men, " said the queen, as she watchedhim retiring from her presence; "and it is now too late, for in a yearthe king will be of age. "

In twenty-four hours D'Artagnan and Porthos conducted Mazarin to thequeen; and the one received his commission, the other his patent ofnobility. 

On the same day the Treaty of Paris was signed, and it was everywhereannounced that the cardinal had shut himself up for three days in orderto draw it up with the greatest care. 

Here is what each of the parties concerned gained by that treaty:

Monsieur de Conti received Damvilliers, and having made his proofs asgeneral, he succeeded in remaining a soldier, instead of being madecardinal. Moreover, something had been said of a marriage with Mazarin'sniece. The idea was welcomed by the prince, to whom it was of littleimportance whom he married, so long as he married some one. 

The Duc de Beaufort made his entrance at court, receiving amplereparation for the wrongs he had suffered, and all the honor due to hisrank. Full pardon was accorded to those who had aided in his escape. Hereceived also the office of admiral, which had been held by hisfather, the Duc de Vendome and an indemnity for his houses and castles, demolished by the Parliament of Bretagne. 

The Duc de Bouillon received domains of a value equal to that of hisprincipality of Sedan, and the title of prince, granted to him and tothose belonging to his house. 

The Duc de Longueville gained the government of Pont-de-l'Arche, fivehundred thousand francs for his wife and the honor of seeing her sonheld at the baptismal font by the young king and Henrietta of England. 

Aramis stipulated that Bazin should officiate at that ceremony and thatPlanchet should furnish the christening sugar plums. 

The Duc d'Elbeuf obtained payment of certain sums due to his wife, onehundred thousand francs for his eldest son and twenty-five thousand foreach of the three others. 

The coadjutor alone obtained nothing. They promised, indeed, tonegotiate with the pope for a cardinal's hat for him; but he knew howlittle reliance should be placed on such promises, made by the queen andMazarin. Quite contrary to the lot of Monsieur de Conti, unable to becardinal, he was obliged to remain a soldier. 

And therefore, when all Paris was rejoicing in the expected return ofthe king, appointed for the next day, Gondy alone, in the midst of thegeneral happiness, was dissatisfied; he sent for the two men whom hewas wont to summon when in especially bad humor. Those two men were theCount de Rochefort and the mendicant of Saint Eustache. They came withtheir usual promptness, and the coadjutor spent with them a part of thenight. 

89. In which it is shown that it is sometimes more difficult for Kingsto return to the Capitals of their Kingdoms, than to make an Exit. 

Whilst D'Artagnan and Porthos were engaged in conducting the cardinal toSaint Germain, Athos and Aramis returned to Paris. 

Each had his own particular visit to make. 

Aramis rushed to the Hotel de Ville, where Madame de Longueville wassojourning. The duchess loudly lamented the announcement of peace. Warhad made her a queen; peace brought her abdication. She declared thatshe would never assent to the treaty and that she wished eternal war. 

But when Aramis had presented that peace to her in a true light--thatis to say, with all its advantages; when he had pointed out to her, in exchange for the precarious and contested royalty of Paris, theviceroyalty of Font-de-l'Arche, in other words, of all Normandy; whenhe had rung in her ears the five hundred thousand francs promised by thecardinal; when he had dazzled her eyes with the honor bestowed on herby the king in holding her child at the baptismal font, Madame deLongueville contended no longer, except as is the custom with prettywomen to contend, and defended herself only to surrender at last. 

Aramis made a presence of believing in the reality of her opposition andwas unwilling to deprive himself in his own view of the credit of herconversion. 

"Madame, " he said, "you have wished to conquer the prince yourbrother--that is to say, the greatest captain of the age; and when womenof genius wish anything they always succeed in attaining it. You havesucceeded; the prince is beaten, since he can no longer fight. Nowattach him to our party. Withdraw him gently from the queen, whom hedoes not like, from Mazarin, whom he despises. The Fronde is a comedy, of which the first act only is played. Let us wait for a denouement--forthe day when the prince, thanks to you, shall have turned against thecourt. "

Madame de Longueville was persuaded. This Frondist duchess trusted soconfidently to the power of her fine eyes, that she could not doubttheir influence even over Monsieur de Conde; and the chronicles of thetime aver that her confidence was justified. 

Athos, on quitting Aramis, went to Madame de Chevreuse. Here was anotherfrondeuse to persuade, and she was even less open to conviction than heryounger rival. There had been no stipulation in her favor. Monsieurde Chevreuse had not been appointed governor of a province, and if thequeen should consent to be godmother it could be only of her grandsonor granddaughter. At the first announcement of peace Madame de Chevreusefrowned, and in spite of all the logic of Athos to show her that aprolonged war would have been impracticable, contended in favor ofhostilities. 

"My fair friend, " said Athos, "allow me to tell you that everybody istired of war. You will get yourself exiled, as you did in the time ofLouis XIII. Believe me, we have passed the time of success in intrigue, and your fine eyes are not destined to be eclipsed by regretting Paris, where there will always be two queens as long as you are there. "

"Oh, " cried the duchess, "I cannot make war alone, but I can avengemyself on that ungrateful queen and most ambitious favorite-on the honorof a duchess, I will avenge myself. "

"Madame, " replied Athos, "do not injure the Vicomte de Bragelonne--donot ruin his prospects. Alas! excuse my weakness! There are moments whena man grows young again in his children. "

The duchess smiled, half tenderly, half ironically. 

"Count, " she said, "you are, I fear, gained over to the court. I supposeyou have a blue ribbon in your pocket?"

"Yes, madame; I have that of the Garter, which King Charles I. Gave mesome days before he died. "

"Come, I am growing an old woman!" said the duchess, pensively. 

Athos took her hand and kissed it. She sighed, as she looked at him. 

"Count, " she said, "Bragelonne must be a charming place. You are a manof taste. You have water--woods--flowers there?"

She sighed again and leaned her charming head, gracefully reclined, onher hand, still beautiful in form and color. 

"Madame!" exclaimed Athos, "what were you saying just now about growingold? Never have I seen you look so young, so beautiful!"

The duchess shook her head. 

"Does Monsieur de Bragelonne remain in Paris?" she inquired. 

"What think you of it?" inquired Athos. 

"Leave him with me, " replied the duchess. 

"No, madame; if you have forgotten the history of Oedipus, I, at least, remember it. "

"Really, sir, you are delightful, and I should like to spend a month atBragelonne. "

"Are you not afraid of making people envious of me, duchess?" repliedAthos. 

"No, I shall go incognito, count, under the name of Marie Michon. "

"You are adorable, madame. "

"But do not keep Raoul with you. "

"Why not?"

"Because he is in love. "

"He! he is quite a child!"

"And 'tis a child he loves. "

Athos became thoughtful. 

"You are right, duchess. This singular passion for a child of seven maysome day make him very unhappy. There is to be war in Flanders. He shallgo thither. "

"And at his return you will send him to me. I will arm him againstlove. "

"Alas, madame!" exclaimed Athos, "to-day love is like war--thebreastplate is becoming useless. "

Raoul entered at this moment; he came to announce that the solemnentrance of the king, queen, and her ministers was to take place on theensuing day. 

The next day, in fact, at daybreak, the court made preparations to quitSaint Germain. 

Meanwhile, the queen every hour had been sending for D'Artagnan. 

"I hear, " she said, "that Paris is not quiet. I am afraid for the king'ssafety; place yourself close to the coach door on the right. "

"Reassure yourself, madame, I will answer for the king's safety. "

As he left the queen's presence Bernouin summoned him to the cardinal. 

"Sir, " said Mazarin to him "an emeute is spoken of in Paris. I shall beon the king's left and as I am the chief person threatened, remain atthe coach door to the left. "

"Your eminence may be perfectly easy, " replied D'Artagnan; "they willnot touch a hair of your head. "

"Deuce take it!" he thought to himself, "how can I take care of both?Ah! plague on't, I will guard the king and Porthos shall guard thecardinal. "

This arrangement pleased every one. The queen had confidence in thecourage of D'Artagnan, which she knew, and the cardinal in the strengthof Porthos, which he had experienced. 

The royal procession set out for Paris. Guitant and Comminges, at thehead of the guards, marched first; then came the royal carriage, withD'Artagnan on one side, Porthos on the other; then the musketeers, fortwo and twenty years staunch friends of D'Artagnan. During twenty he hadbeen lieutenant, their captain since the night before. 

The cortege proceeded to Notre Dame, where a Te Deum was chanted. AllParis were in the streets. The Swiss were drawn up along the road, butas the road was long, they were placed at six or eight feet distantfrom each other and one deep only. This force was therefore whollyinsufficient, and from time to time the line was broken through by thepeople and was formed again with difficulty. Whenever this occurred, although it proceeded only from goodwill and a desire to see the kingand queen, Anne looked at D'Artagnan anxiously. 

Mazarin, who had dispensed a thousand louis to make the people cry "Longlive Mazarin, " and who had accordingly no confidence in acclamationsbought at twenty pistoles each, kept one eye on Porthos; but thatgigantic body-guard replied to the look with his great bass voice, "Betranquil, my lord, " and Mazarin became more and more composed. 

At the Palais Royal, the crowd, which had flowed in from the adjacentstreet was still greater; like an impetuous mob, a wave of human beingscame to meet the carriage and rolled tumultuously into the Rue SaintHonore. 

When the procession reached the palace, loud cries of "Long live theirmajesties!" resounded. Mazarin leaned out of the window. One or twoshouts of "Long live the cardinal" saluted his shadow; but instantlyhisses and yells stifled them remorselessly. Mazarin turned pale andshrank back in the coach. 

"Low-born fellows!" ejaculated Porthos. 

D'Artagnan said nothing, but twirled his mustache with a peculiargesture which showed that his fine Gascon humor was awake. 

Anne of Austria bent down and whispered in the young king's ear:

"Say something gracious to Monsieur d'Artagnan, my son. "

The young king leaned toward the door. 

"I have not said good-morning to you, Monsieur d'Artagnan, " he said;"nevertheless, I have remarked you. It was you who were behind mybed-curtains that night the Parisians wished to see me asleep. "

"And if the king permits me, " returned the Gascon, "I shall be near himalways when there is danger to be encountered. "

"Sir, " said Mazarin to Porthos, "what would you do if the crowd fellupon us?"

"Kill as many as I could, my lord. "

"Hem! brave as you are and strong as you are, you could not kill themall. "

"'Tis true, " answered Porthos, rising on his saddle, in order that hemight appraise the immense crowd, "there are a lot of them. "

"I think I should like the other fellow better than this one, " saidMazarin to himself, and he threw himself back in his carriage. 

The queen and her minister, more especially the latter, had reason tofeel anxious. The crowd, whilst preserving an appearance of respect andeven of affection for the king and queen regent, began to be tumultuous. Reports were whispered about, like certain sounds which announce, asthey whistle from wave to wave, the coming storm--and when they passathwart a multitude, presage an emeute. 

D'Artagnan turned toward the musketeers and made a sign imperceptibleto the crowd, but very easily understood by that chosen regiment, theflower of the army. 

The ranks closed firmly in and a kind of majestic tremor ran from man toman. 

At the Barriere des Sergents the procession was obliged to stop. Comminges left the head of the escort and went to the queen's carriage. Anne questioned D'Artagnan by a look. He answered in the same language. 

"Proceed, " she said. 

Comminges returned to his post. An effort was made and the livingbarrier was violently broken through. 

Some complaints arose from the crowd and were addressed this time to theking as well as the minister. 

"Onward!" cried D'Artagnan, in a loud voice. 

"Onward!" cried Porthos. 

But as if the multitude had waited only for this demonstration toburst out, all the sentiments of hostility that possessed it explodedsimultaneously. Cries of "Down with Mazarin!" "Death to the cardinal!"resounded on all sides. 

At the same time through the streets of Grenelle, Saint Honore, and DuCoq, a double stream of people broke the feeble hedge of Swiss guardsand came like a whirlwind even to the very legs of Porthos's horse andthat of D'Artagnan. 

This new eruption was more dangerous than the others, being composed ofarmed men. It was plain that it was not the chance combination of thosewho had collected a number of the malcontents at the same spot, but aconcerted organized attack. 

Each of these mobs was led by a chief, one of whom appeared to belong, not to the people, but to the honorable corporation of mendicants, andthe other, notwithstanding his affected imitation of the people, mighteasily be discerned to be a gentleman. Both were evidently stimulated bythe same impulse. 

There was a shock which was perceived even in the royal carriage. Myriads of hoarse cries, forming one vast uproar, were heard, mingledwith guns firing. 

"Ho! Musketeers!" cried D'Artagnan. 

The escort divided into two files. One of them passed around to theright of the carriage, the other to the left. One went to supportD'Artagnan, the other Porthos. Then came a skirmish, the more terriblebecause it had no definite object; the more melancholy, because thoseengaged in it knew not for whom they were fighting. Like all popularmovements, the shock given by the rush of this mob was formidable. Themusketeers, few in number, not being able, in the midst of this crowd, to make their horses wheel around, began to give way. D'Artagnan offeredto lower the blinds of the royal carriage, but the young king stretchedout his arm, saying:

"No, sir! I wish to see everything. "

"If your majesty wishes to look out--well, then, look!" repliedD'Artagnan. And turning with that fury which made him so formidable, herushed toward the chief of the insurgents, a man who, with a huge swordin his hand, was trying to hew a passage to the coach door through themusketeers. 

"Make room!" cried D'Artagnan. "Zounds! give way!"

At these words the man with a pistol and sword raised his head, but itwas too late. The blow was sped by D'Artagnan; the rapier had piercedhis bosom. 

"Ah! confound it!" cried the Gascon, trying in vain, too late, toretract the thrust. "What the devil are you doing here, count?"

"Accomplishing my destiny, " replied Rochefort, falling on one knee. "Ihave already got up again after three stabs from you, I shall never riseafter this fourth. "

"Count!" said D'Artagnan, with some degree of emotion, "I struck withoutknowing that it was you. I am sorry, if you die, that you should diewith sentiments of hatred toward me. "

Rochefort extended his hand to D'Artagnan, who took it. The count wishedto speak, but a gush of blood stifled him. He stiffened in the lastconvulsions of death and expired. 

"Back, people!" cried D'Artagnan, "your leader is dead; you have nolonger any business here. "

Indeed, as if De Rochefort had been the very soul of the attack, thecrowd who had followed and obeyed him took to flight on seeing him fall. D'Artagnan charged, with a party of musketeers, up the Rue du Coq, andthe portion of the mob he assailed disappeared like smoke, dispersingnear the Place Saint Germain-l'Auxerrois and taking the direction of thequays. 

D'Artagnan returned to help Porthos, if Porthos needed help; butPorthos, for his part, had done his work as conscientiously asD'Artagnan. The left of the carriage was as well cleared as the right, and they drew up the blind of the window which Mazarin, less heroic thanthe king, had taken the precaution to lower. 

Porthos looked very melancholy. 

"What a devil of a face you have, Porthos! and what a strange air for avictor!"

"But you, " answered Porthos, "seem to me agitated. "

"There's a reason! Zounds! I have just killed an old friend. "

"Indeed!" replied Porthos, "who?"

"That poor Count de Rochefort. "

"Well! exactly like me! I have just killed a man whose face is notunknown to me. Unluckily, I hit him on the head and immediately his facewas covered with blood. "

"And he said nothing as he died?"

"Yes; he exclaimed, 'Oh!'"

"I suppose, " answered D'Artagnan, laughing, "if he only said that, itdid not enlighten you much. "

"Well, sir!" cried the queen. 

"Madame, the passage is quite clear and your majesty can continue yourroad. "

In fact, the procession arrived, in safety at Notre Dame, at the frontgate of which all the clergy, with the coadjutor at their head, awaitedthe king, the queen and the minister, for whose happy return theychanted a Te Deum. 

As the service was drawing to a close a boy entered the church in greatexcitement, ran to the sacristy, dressed himself quickly in the choirrobes, and cleaving, thanks to that uniform, the crowd that filledthe temple, approached Bazin, who, clad in his blue robe, was standinggravely in his place at the entrance to the choir. 

Bazin felt some one pulling his sleeve. He lowered to earth his eyes, beatifically raised to Heaven, and recognized Friquet. 

"Well, you rascal, what is it? How do you dare to disturb me in theexercise of my functions?" asked the beadle. 

"Monsieur Bazin, " said Friquet, "Monsieur Maillard--you know who he is, he gives holy water at Saint Eustache----"

"Well, go on. "

"Well, he received in the scrimmage a sword stroke on the head. Thatgreat giant who was there gave it to him. "

"In that case, " said Bazin, "he must be pretty sick. "

"So sick that he is dying, and he wants to confess to the coadjutor, who, they say, has power to remit great sins. "

"And does he imagine that the coadjutor will put himself out for him?"

"To be sure; the coadjutor has promised. "

"Who told you that?"

"Monsieur Maillard himself. "

"You have seen him, then?"

"Certainly; I was there when he fell. "

"What were you doing there?"

"I was shouting, 'Down with Mazarin!' 'Death to the cardinal!' 'TheItalian to the gallows!' Isn't that what you would have me shout?"

"Be quiet, you rascal!" said Bazin, looking uneasily around. 

"So that he told me, that poor Monsieur Maillard, 'Go find thecoadjutor, Friquet, and if you bring him to me you shall be my heir. 'Say, then, Father Bazin--the heir of Monsieur Maillard, the giver ofholy water at Saint Eustache! Hey! I shall have nothing to do but tofold my arms! All the same, I should like to do him that service--whatdo you say to it?"

"I will tell the coadjutor, " said Bazin. 

In fact, he slowly and respectfully approached the prelate and spoketo him privately a few words, to which the latter responded by anaffirmative sign. He then returned with the same slow step and said:

"Go and tell the dying man that he must be patient. Monseigneur will bewith him in an hour. "

"Good!" said Friquet, "my fortune is made. "

"By the way, " said Bazin, "where was he carried?"

"To the tower Saint Jacques la Boucherie;" and delighted with thesuccess of his embassy, Friquet started off at the top of his speed. 

When the Te Deum was over, the coadjutor, without stopping to changehis priestly dress, took his way toward that old tower which he knewso well. He arrived in time. Though sinking from moment to moment, thewounded man was not yet dead. The door was opened to the coadjutor ofthe room in which the mendicant was suffering. 

A moment later Friquet went out, carrying in his hand a large leatherbag; he opened it as soon as he was outside the chamber and to his greatastonishment found it full of gold. The mendicant had kept his word andmade Friquet his heir. 

"Ah! Mother Nanette!" cried Friquet, suffocating; "ah! Mother Nanette!"

He could say no more; but though he hadn't strength to speak he hadenough for action. He rushed headlong to the street, and like the Greekfrom Marathon who fell in the square at Athens, with his laurel in hishand, Friquet reached Councillor Broussel's threshold, and then fellexhausted, scattering on the floor the louis disgorged by his leatherbag. 

Mother Nanette began by picking up the louis; then she picked upFriquet. 

In the meantime the cortege returned to the Palais Royal. 

"That Monsieur d'Artagnan is a very brave man, mother, " said the youngking. 

"Yes, my son; and he rendered very important services to your father. Treat him kindly, therefore, in the future. "

"Captain, " said the young king to D'Artagnan, on descending from thecarriage, "the queen has charged me to invite you to dinner to-day--youand your friend the Baron du Vallon. "

That was a great honor for D'Artagnan and for Porthos. Porthos wasdelighted; and yet during the entire repast he seemed to be preoccupied. 

"What was the matter with you, baron?" D'Artagnan said to him as theydescended the staircase of the Palais Royal. "You seemed at dinner to beanxious about something. "

"I was trying, " said Porthos, "to recall where I had seen that mendicantwhom I must have killed. "

"And you couldn't remember?"

"No. "

"Well, search, my friend, search; and when you have found, you will tellme, will you not?"

"Pardieu!" said Porthos. 

90. Conclusion. 

On going home, the two friends found a letter from Athos, who desiredthem to meet him at the Grand Charlemagne on the following day. 

The friends went to bed early, but neither of them slept. When we arriveat the summit of our wishes, success has usually the power to drive awaysleep on the first night after the fulfilment of long cherished hopes. 

The next day at the appointed hour they went to see Athos and found himand Aramis in traveling costume. 

"What!" cried Porthos, "are we all going away, then? I, so, have made mypreparations this morning. "

"Oh, heavens! yes, " said Aramis. "There's nothing to do in Paris nowthere's no Fronde. The Duchess de Longueville has invited me to passa few days in Normandy, and has deputed me, while her son is beingbaptized, to go and prepare her residence at Rouen; after which, if nothing new occurs, I shall go and bury myself in my convent atNoisy-le-Sec. "

"And I, " said Athos, "am returning to Bragelonne. You know, dearD'Artagnan, I am nothing more than a good honest country gentleman. Raoul has no fortune other than I possess, poor child! and I must takecare of it for him, since I only lend him my name. "

"And Raoul--what shall you do with him?"

"I leave him with you, my friend. War has broken out in Flanders. Youshall take him with you there. I am afraid that remaining at Blois wouldbe dangerous to his youthful mind. Take him and teach him to be as braveand loyal as you are yourself. "

"Then, " replied D'Artagnan, "though I shall not have you, Athos, at allevents I shall have that dear fair-haired head by me; and though he'sbut a boy, yet, since your soul lives again in him, dear Athos, I shallalways fancy that you are near me, sustaining and encouraging me. "

The four friends embraced with tears in their eyes. 

Then they departed, without knowing whether they would ever see eachother again. 

D'Artagnan returned to the Rue Tiquetonne with Porthos, still possessedby the wish to find out who the man was that he had killed. On arrivingat the Hotel de la Chevrette they found the baron's equipage all reallyand Mousqueton on his saddle. 

"Come, D'Artagnan, " said Porthos, "bid adieu to your sword and gowith me to Pierrefonds, to Bracieux, or to Du Vallon. We will grow oldtogether and talk of our companions. "

"No!" replied D'Artagnan, "deuce take it, the campaign is going tobegin; I wish to be there, I expect to get something by it. "

"What do you expect to get?"

"Why, I expect to be made Marechal of France!"

"Ha! ha!" cried Porthos, who was not completely taken in by D'Artagnan'sGasconades. 

"Come my brother, go with me, " added D'Artagnan, "and I will see thatyou are made a duke!"

"No, " answered Porthos, "Mouston has no desire to fight; besides, theyhave erected a triumphal arch for me to enter my barony, which will killmy neighbors with envy. "

"To that I can say nothing, " returned D'Artagnan, who knew the vanity ofthe new baron. "Then, here's to our next merry meeting!"

"Adieu, dear captain, " said Porthos, "I shall always be happy to welcomeyou to my barony. "

"Yes, yes, when the campaign is over, " replied the Gascon. 

"His honor's equipage is waiting, " said Mousqueton. 

The two friends, after a cordial pressure of the hands, separated. D'Artagnan was standing at the door looking after Porthos with amournful gaze, when the baron, after walking scarcely more than twentypaces, returned--stood still--struck his forehead with his finger andexclaimed:

"I recollect!"

"What?" inquired D'Artagnan. 

"Who the beggar was that I killed. "

"Ah! indeed! and who was he?"

"'Twas that low fellow, Bonacieux. "

And Porthos, enchanted at having relieved his mind, rejoined Mousquetonand they disappeared around an angle of the street. D'Artagnan stood foran instant, mute, pensive and motionless; then, as he went in, he sawthe fair Madeleine, his hostess, standing on the threshold. 

"Madeleine, " said the Gascon, "give me your apartment on the firstfloor; now that I am a captain in the royal musketeers I must make anappearance; nevertheless, reserve my old room on the fifth story for me;one never knows what may happen. "