The Vicomte de Bragelonne

by Alexandre Dumas

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  WHEREIN D'ARTAGNAN PERCEIVES THAT IT WAS HE WHO WAS MISTAKEN, ANDMANICAMP WHO WAS RIGHT.

  The king, determined to be satisfied that no one was listening, wenthimself to the door, and then returned precipitately and placed himselfopposite to Manicamp. "And now we are alone, Monsieur de Manicamp,explain yourself?"

  "With the greatest frankness, sire," replied the young man.

  "And, in the first place, pray understand," added the king, "that thereis nothing to which I personally attach a greater importance than thehonor of any lady."

  "That is the very reason, sire, why I endeavored to study your delicacyof sentiment and feeling."

  "Yes, I understand it all now. You say that it was one of the maids ofhonor of my sister-in-law who was the subject of dispute, and that theperson in question, Guiche's adversary, the man, in point of fact, whomyou will not name--"

  "But whom M. de Saint-Aignan will name, monsieur."

  "Yes; you say, however, that this man has insulted some one belonging tothe household of Madame."

  "Yes, sire, Mademoiselle de la Valliere."

  "Ah!" said the king, as if he had expected the name, and yet as if itsannouncement had caused him a sudden pang; "ah! it was Mademoiselle dela Valliere who was insulted."

  "I do not say precisely that she was insulted, sire."

  "But at all events--"

  "I merely say that she was spoken of in terms far from respectful."

  "A man dares to speak in disrespectful terms of Mademoiselle de laValliere, and yet you refuse to tell me the name of the insulter."

  "Sire, I thought it was quite understood that your majesty had abandonedthe idea of making me denounce him."

  "Perfectly true, monsieur," returned the king, controlling his anger:"besides, I shall always know in sufficient time the name of the manwhom I shall feel it my duty to punish."

  Manicamp perceived that they had returned to the question again. As forthe king, he saw he had allowed himself to be hurried away a little toofar, and he therefore continued: "And I will punish him--not becausethere is any question of Mademoiselle de La Valliere, although I esteemher very highly--but because a lady was the object of the quarrel. And Iintend that ladies shall be respected at my court, and that quarrelsshall be put a stop to altogether."

  Manicamp bowed.

  "And now, Monsieur de Manicamp," continued the king, "what was saidabout Mademoiselle de la Valliere?"

  "Cannot your majesty guess?"

  "I?"

  "Your majesty can imagine the character of the jests in which young menpermit themselves to indulge."

  "They very probably said that she was in love with some one?" the kingventured to remark.

  "Probably so."

  "But Mademoiselle de la Valliere has a perfect right to love any one shepleases," said the king.

  "That is the very point De Guiche maintained."

  "And on account of which he fought, do you mean?"

  "Yes, sire, the very sole cause."

  The king colored. "And you do not know anything more, then?"

  "In what respect, sire?"

  "In the very interesting respect which you are now referring to."

  "What does your majesty wish to know?"

  "Why, the name of the man with whom La Valliere is in love, and whom DeGuiche's adversary disputed her right to love."

  "Sire, I know nothing--I have heard nothing--and have learned nothing,even accidentally; but De Guiche is a noble-hearted fellow, and if,momentarily, he substituted himself in the place or stead of LaValliere's protector, it was because that protector was himself of tooexalted a position to undertake her defense."

  These words were more than transparent; they made the king blush, butthis time with pleasure. He struck Manicamp gently on the shoulder.

  "Well, well, Monsieur de Manicamp, you are not only a ready, wittyfellow, but a brave gentleman besides, and your friend De Guiche is apaladin quite after my own heart; you will express that to him from me."

  "Your majesty forgives me, then?"

  "Completely."

  "And I am free?"

  The king smiled and held out his hand to Manicamp, which he took andkissed respectfully. "And then," added the king, "you relate stories socharmingly."

  "I, sire!"

  "You told me in the most admirable manner the particulars of theaccident which happened to Guiche. I can see the wild boar rushing outof the wood--I can see the horse fall down, and the boar rush from thehorse to the rider. You do not simply relate a story well, but youpositively paint its incidents."

  "Sire, I think your majesty deigns to laugh at my expense."

  "On the contrary," said Louis, seriously, "I have so little intention oflaughing, Monsieur de Manicamp, that I wish you to relate this adventureto every one."

  "The adventure of the hunt?"

  "Yes; in the same manner you told it to me, without changing a singleword--you understand."

  "Perfectly, sire."

  "And you will relate it, then?"

  "Without losing a minute."

  "Very well! and now summon M. d'Artagnan: I hope you are no longerafraid of him."

  "Oh! sire, from the very moment I am sure of your majesty's kinddispositions, I no longer fear anything!"

  "Call him, then," said the king.

  Manicamp opened the door, and said, "Gentlemen, the king wishes you toreturn." D'Artagnan, Saint-Aignan and Valot entered.

  "Gentlemen," said the king, "I summoned you for the purpose of sayingthat Monsieur de Manicamp's explanation has entirely satisfied me."

  D'Artagnan glanced at Valot and Saint-Aignan, as much as to say, "Well!did I not tell you so?"

  The king led Manicamp to the door, and then in a low tone of voice,said, "See that M. de Guiche takes good care of himself, and,particularly that he recovers as soon as possible; I am very desirous ofthanking him in the name of every lady, but let him take special carethat he does not begin again."

  "Were he to die a hundred times, sire, he would begin again if yourmajesty's honor were in any way called in question."

  This remark was direct enough. But we have already said that the incenseof flattery was very pleasing to the king, and, provided he received it,he was not very particular as to its quality.

  "Very well, very well," he said, as he dismissed Manicamp, "I will seeDe Guiche myself, and make him listen to reason." And as Manicamp leftthe apartment, the king turned round toward the three spectators of thisscene, and said, "Tell me, Monsieur d'Artagnan, how does it happen thatyour sight is so imperfect?--you, whose eyes are generally so verygood."

  "My sight bad, sire?"

  "Certainly."

  "It must be the case, since your majesty says so; but in what respect,may I ask?"

  "Why, with regard to what occurred in the Bois-Rochin."

  "Ah! ah!"

  "Certainly. You pretend to have seen the tracks of two horses, to havedetected the foot-prints of two men; and have described the particularsof an engagement, which you assert took place. Nothing of the sortoccurred; pure illusion on your part."

  "Ah! ah!" said D'Artagnan.

  "Exactly the same thing with the galloping to and fro of the horses, andthe other indications of a struggle. It was the struggle of De Guicheagainst the wild boar, and absolutely nothing else; only the strugglewas a long and a terrible one, it seems."

  "Ah! ah!" continued D'Artagnan.

  "And when I think that I almost believed it for a moment; but, then, youspeak with such confidence."

  "I admit, sire, that I must have been very short-sighted," saidD'Artagnan, with a readiness of humor which delighted the king.

  "You do admit, then?"

  "Admit it, sire, most assuredly I do."

  "So that now you see the thing--"

  "In quite a different light to what I saw it half an hour ago."

  "And to what, then, do you attribute this difference in your opinion?"

  "Oh! a very simple thing, si
re; half an hour ago I returned from theBois-Rochin, where I had nothing to light me but a stupid stablelantern--"

  "While now?"

  "While now, I have all the wax-lights of your cabinet, and more thanthat, your majesty's own eyes, which illuminate everything, like theblazing sun at noon-day."

  The king began to laugh, and Saint-Aignan broke out into convulsions ofmerriment.

  "It is precisely like M. Valot," said D'Artagnan, resuming theconversation where the king had left off; "he has been imagining allalong, that, not only was M. de Guiche wounded by a bullet, but stillmore, that he extracted it even from his chest."

  "Upon my word," said Valot, "I assure you--"

  "Now, did you not believe that?" continued D'Artagnan.

  "Yes," said Valot, "not only did I believe it, but at this very moment Iwould swear it."

  "Well, my dear doctor, you have dreamed it."

  "I have dreamed it!"

  "M. de Guiche's wound--a mere dream; the bullet a dream. So take myadvice, and say no more about it."

  "Well said," returned the king; "M. d'Artagnan's advice is very good. Donot speak of your dream to any one, M. Valot, and upon the word of agentleman, you will have no occasion to repent it. Good evening,gentlemen; a very sad affair indeed is a wild-boar hunt!"

  "A very serious thing indeed," repeated D'Artagnan, in a loud voice, "isa wild-boar hunt!" and he repeated it in every room through which hepassed, and left the chateau, taking Valot with him.

  "And now we are alone," said the king to Saint-Aignan, "what is the nameof De Guiche's adversary?" Saint-Aignan looked at the king.

  "Oh! do not hesitate," said the king: "you know that I must forgive."

  "De Wardes," said Saint-Aignan.

  "Very good," said Louis XIV.; and then hastily retiring to his own room,added to himself, "To forgive is not to forget."