Les trois mousquetaires. English

by Alexandre Dumas

  40 A TERRIBLE VISION

  The cardinal leaned his elbow on his manuscript, his cheek upon hishand, and looked intently at the young man for a moment. No one had amore searching eye than the Cardinal de Richelieu, and d'Artagnan feltthis glance run through his veins like a fever.

  He however kept a good countenance, holding his hat in his hand andawaiting the good pleasure of his Eminence, without too much assurance,but also without too much humility.

  "Monsieur," said the cardinal, "are you a d'Artagnan from Bearn?"

  "Yes, monseigneur," replied the young man.

  "There are several branches of the d'Artagnans at Tarbes and in itsenvirons," said the cardinal; "to which do you belong?"

  "I am the son of him who served in the Religious Wars under the greatKing Henry, the father of his gracious Majesty."

  "That is well. It is you who set out seven or eight months ago from yourcountry to seek your fortune in the capital?"

  "Yes, monseigneur."

  "You came through Meung, where something befell you. I don't very wellknow what, but still something."

  "Monseigneur," said d'Artagnan, "this was what happened to me--"

  "Never mind, never mind!" resumed the cardinal, with a smile whichindicated that he knew the story as well as he who wished to relate it."You were recommended to Monsieur de Treville, were you not?"

  "Yes, monseigneur; but in that unfortunate affair at Meung--"

  "The letter was lost," replied his Eminence; "yes, I know that. ButMonsieur de Treville is a skilled physiognomist, who knows men at firstsight; and he placed you in the company of his brother-in-law, MonsieurDessessart, leaving you to hope that one day or other you should enterthe Musketeers."

  "Monseigneur is correctly informed," said d'Artagnan.

  "Since that time many things have happened to you. You were walking oneday behind the Chartreux, when it would have been better if you had beenelsewhere. Then you took with your friends a journey to the waters ofForges; they stopped on the road, but you continued yours. That is allvery simple: you had business in England."

  "Monseigneur," said d'Artagnan, quite confused, "I went--"

  "Hunting at Windsor, or elsewhere--that concerns nobody. I know, becauseit is my office to know everything. On your return you were received byan august personage, and I perceive with pleasure that you preserve thesouvenir she gave you."

  D'Artagnan placed his hand upon the queen's diamond, which he wore, andquickly turned the stone inward; but it was too late.

  "The day after that, you received a visit from Cavois," resumed thecardinal. "He went to desire you to come to the palace. You have notreturned that visit, and you were wrong."

  "Monseigneur, I feared I had incurred disgrace with your Eminence."

  "How could that be, monsieur? Could you incur my displeasure by havingfollowed the orders of your superiors with more intelligence and couragethan another would have done? It is the people who do not obey that Ipunish, and not those who, like you, obey--but too well. As a proof,remember the date of the day on which I had you bidden to come to me,and seek in your memory for what happened to you that very night."

  That was the very evening when the abduction of Mme. Bonacieux tookplace. D'Artagnan trembled; and he likewise recollected that during thepast half hour the poor woman had passed close to him, without doubtcarried away by the same power that had caused her disappearance.

  "In short," continued the cardinal, "as I have heard nothing of you forsome time past, I wished to know what you were doing. Besides, you oweme some thanks. You must yourself have remarked how much you have beenconsidered in all the circumstances."

  D'Artagnan bowed with respect.

  "That," continued the cardinal, "arose not only from a feeling ofnatural equity, but likewise from a plan I have marked out with respectto you."

  D'Artagnan became more and more astonished.

  "I wished to explain this plan to you on the day you received my firstinvitation; but you did not come. Fortunately, nothing is lost by thisdelay, and you are now about to hear it. Sit down there, before me,d'Artagnan; you are gentleman enough not to listen standing." And thecardinal pointed with his finger to a chair for the young man, who wasso astonished at what was passing that he awaited a second sign from hisinterlocutor before he obeyed.

  "You are brave, Monsieur d'Artagnan," continued his Eminence; "you areprudent, which is still better. I like men of head and heart. Don't beafraid," said he, smiling. "By men of heart I mean men of courage. Butyoung as you are, and scarcely entering into the world, you havepowerful enemies; if you do not take great heed, they will destroy you."

  "Alas, monseigneur!" replied the young man, "very easily, no doubt, forthey are strong and well supported, while I am alone."

  "Yes, that's true; but alone as you are, you have done much already, andwill do still more, I don't doubt. Yet you have need, I believe, to beguided in the adventurous career you have undertaken; for, if I mistakenot, you came to Paris with the ambitious idea of making your fortune."

  "I am at the age of extravagant hopes, monseigneur," said d'Artagnan.

  "There are no extravagant hopes but for fools, monsieur, and you are aman of understanding. Now, what would you say to an ensign's commissionin my Guards, and a company after the campaign?"

  "Ah, monseigneur."

  "You accept it, do you not?"

  "Monseigneur," replied d'Artagnan, with an embarrassed air.

  "How? You refuse?" cried the cardinal, with astonishment.

  "I am in his Majesty's Guards, monseigneur, and I have no reason to bedissatisfied."

  "But it appears to me that my Guards--mine--are also his Majesty'sGuards; and whoever serves in a French corps serves the king."

  "Monseigneur, your Eminence has ill understood my words."

  "You want a pretext, do you not? I comprehend. Well, you have thisexcuse: advancement, the opening campaign, the opportunity which I offeryou--so much for the world. As regards yourself, the need of protection;for it is fit you should know, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that I have receivedheavy and serious complaints against you. You do not consecrate yourdays and nights wholly to the king's service."

  D'Artagnan colored.

  "In fact," said the cardinal, placing his hand upon a bundle of papers,"I have here a whole pile which concerns you. I know you to be a man ofresolution; and your services, well directed, instead of leading you toill, might be very advantageous to you. Come; reflect, and decide."

  "Your goodness confounds me, monseigneur," replied d'Artagnan, "and I amconscious of a greatness of soul in your Eminence that makes me mean asan earthworm; but since Monseigneur permits me to speak freely--"

  D'Artagnan paused.

  "Yes; speak."

  "Then, I will presume to say that all my friends are in the king'sMusketeers and Guards, and that by an inconceivable fatality my enemiesare in the service of your Eminence; I should, therefore, be illreceived here and ill regarded there if I accepted what Monseigneuroffers me."

  "Do you happen to entertain the haughty idea that I have not yet madeyou an offer equal to your value?" asked the cardinal, with a smile ofdisdain.

  "Monseigneur, your Eminence is a hundred times too kind to me; and onthe contrary, I think I have not proved myself worthy of your goodness.The siege of La Rochelle is about to be resumed, monseigneur. I shallserve under the eye of your Eminence, and if I have the good fortune toconduct myself at the siege in such a manner as merits your attention,then I shall at least leave behind me some brilliant action to justifythe protection with which you honor me. Everything is best in its time,monseigneur. Hereafter, perhaps, I shall have the right of givingmyself; at present I shall appear to sell myself."

  "That is to say, you refuse to serve me, monsieur," said the cardinal,with a tone of vexation, through which, however, might be seen a sort ofesteem; "remain free, then, and guard your hatreds and your sympathies."

  "Monseigneur--"

  "Well, well," said the cardinal, "I
don't wish you any ill; but you mustbe aware that it is quite trouble enough to defend and recompense ourfriends. We owe nothing to our enemies; and let me give you a piece ofadvice; take care of yourself, Monsieur d'Artagnan, for from the momentI withdraw my hand from behind you, I would not give an obolus for yourlife."

  "I will try to do so, monseigneur," replied the Gascon, with a nobleconfidence.

  "Remember at a later period and at a certain moment, if any mischanceshould happen to you," said Richelieu, significantly, "that it was I whocame to seek you, and that I did all in my power to prevent thismisfortune befalling you."

  "I shall entertain, whatever may happen," said d'Artagnan, placing hishand upon his breast and bowing, "an eternal gratitude toward yourEminence for that which you now do for me."

  "Well, let it be, then, as you have said, Monsieur d'Artagnan; we shallsee each other again after the campaign. I will have my eye upon you,for I shall be there," replied the cardinal, pointing with his finger toa magnificent suit of armor he was to wear, "and on our return, well--wewill settle our account!"

  "Young man," said Richelieu, "if I shall be able to say to you atanother time what I have said to you today, I promise you to do so."

  This last expression of Richelieu's conveyed a terrible doubt; italarmed d'Artagnan more than a menace would have done, for it was awarning. The cardinal, then, was seeking to preserve him from somemisfortune which threatened him. He opened his mouth to reply, but witha haughty gesture the cardinal dismissed him.

  D'Artagnan went out, but at the door his heart almost failed him, and hefelt inclined to return. Then the noble and severe countenance of Athoscrossed his mind; if he made the compact with the cardinal which herequired, Athos would no more give him his hand--Athos would renouncehim.

  It was this fear that restrained him, so powerful is the influence of atruly great character on all that surrounds it.

  D'Artagnan descended by the staircase at which he had entered, and foundAthos and the four Musketeers waiting his appearance, and beginning togrow uneasy. With a word, d'Artagnan reassured them; and Planchet ran toinform the other sentinels that it was useless to keep guard longer, ashis master had come out safe from the Palais-Cardinal.

  Returned home with Athos, Aramis and Porthos inquired eagerly the causeof the strange interview; but d'Artagnan confined himself to tellingthem that M. de Richelieu had sent for him to propose to him to enterinto his guards with the rank of ensign, and that he had refused.

  "And you were right," cried Aramis and Porthos, with one voice.

  Athos fell into a profound reverie and answered nothing. But when theywere alone he said, "You have done that which you ought to have done,d'Artagnan; but perhaps you have been wrong."

  D'Artagnan sighed deeply, for this voice responded to a secret voice ofhis soul, which told him that great misfortunes awaited him.

  The whole of the next day was spent in preparations for departure.D'Artagnan went to take leave of M. de Treville. At that time it wasbelieved that the separation of the Musketeers and the Guards would bebut momentary, the king holding his Parliament that very day andproposing to set out the day after. M. de Treville contented himselfwith asking d'Artagnan if he could do anything for him, but d'Artagnananswered that he was supplied with all he wanted.

  That night brought together all those comrades of the Guards of M.Dessessart and the company of Musketeers of M. de Treville who had beenaccustomed to associate together. They were parting to meet again whenit pleased God, and if it pleased God. That night, then, was somewhatriotous, as may be imagined. In such cases extreme preoccupation is onlyto be combated by extreme carelessness.

  At the first sound of the morning trumpet the friends separated; theMusketeers hastening to the hotel of M. de Treville, the Guards to thatof M. Dessessart. Each of the captains then led his company to theLouvre, where the king held his review.

  The king was dull and appeared ill, which detracted a little from hisusual lofty bearing. In fact, the evening before, a fever had seized himin the midst of the Parliament, while he was holding his Bed of Justice.He had, not the less, decided upon setting out that same evening; and inspite of the remonstrances that had been offered to him, he persisted inhaving the review, hoping by setting it at defiance to conquer thedisease which began to lay hold upon him.

  The review over, the Guards set forward alone on their march, theMusketeers waiting for the king, which allowed Porthos time to go andtake a turn in his superb equipment in the Rue aux Ours.

  The procurator's wife saw him pass in his new uniform and on his finehorse. She loved Porthos too dearly to allow him to part thus; she madehim a sign to dismount and come to her. Porthos was magnificent; hisspurs jingled, his cuirass glittered, his sword knocked proudly againsthis ample limbs. This time the clerks evinced no inclination to laugh,such a real ear clipper did Porthos appear.

  The Musketeer was introduced to M. Coquenard, whose little gray eyessparkled with anger at seeing his cousin all blazing new. Nevertheless,one thing afforded him inward consolation; it was expected by everybodythat the campaign would be a severe one. He whispered a hope to himselfthat this beloved relative might be killed in the field.

  Porthos paid his compliments to M. Coquenard and bade him farewell. M.Coquenard wished him all sorts of prosperities. As to Mme. Coquenard,she could not restrain her tears; but no evil impressions were takenfrom her grief as she was known to be very much attached to herrelatives, about whom she was constantly having serious disputes withher husband.

  But the real adieux were made in Mme. Coquenard's chamber; they wereheartrending.

  As long as the procurator's wife could follow him with her eyes, shewaved her handkerchief to him, leaning so far out of the window as tolead people to believe she wished to precipitate herself. Porthosreceived all these attentions like a man accustomed to suchdemonstrations, only on turning the corner of the street he lifted hishat gracefully, and waved it to her as a sign of adieu.

  On his part Aramis wrote a long letter. To whom? Nobody knew. Kitty, whowas to set out that evening for Tours, was waiting in the next chamber.

  Athos sipped the last bottle of his Spanish wine.

  In the meantime d'Artagnan was defiling with his company. Arriving atthe Faubourg St. Antoine, he turned round to look gaily at the Bastille;but as it was the Bastille alone he looked at, he did not observeMilady, who, mounted upon a light chestnut horse, designated him withher finger to two ill-looking men who came close up to the ranks to takenotice of him. To a look of interrogation which they made, Miladyreplied by a sign that it was he. Then, certain that there could be nomistake in the execution of her orders, she started her horse anddisappeared.

  The two men followed the company, and on leaving the Faubourg St.Antoine, mounted two horses properly equipped, which a servant withoutlivery had waiting for them.