The Vicomte de Bragelonne

by Alexandre Dumas

  EPILOGUE.

  Four years after the scene we have just described, two horsemen, wellmounted, traversed Blois early in the morning, for the purpose ofarranging a birding party which the king intended to make in that unevenplain which the Loire divides in two, and which borders on the one sideon Meung, on the other on Amboise. These were the captain of the king'sharriers and the governor of the falcons, personages greatly respectedin the time of Louis XIII., but rather neglected by his successor. Thesetwo horsemen, having reconnoitered the ground, were returning, theirobservations made, when they perceived some little groups of soldiers,here and there, whom the sergeants were placing at distances at theopenings of the inclosures. These were the king's musketeers. Behindthem came, upon a good horse, the captain, known by his richlyembroidered uniform. His hair was gray, his beard was becoming so. Heappeared a little bent, although sitting and handling his horsegracefully. He was looking about him watchfully.

  "M. d'Artagnan does not get any older," said the captain of the harriersto his colleague the falconer: "with ten years more than either of us,he has the seat of a young man on horseback."

  "That is true," replied the falconer. "I don't see any change in him forthe last twenty years."

  But this officer was mistaken; D'Artagnan in the last four years hadlived twelve years. Age imprinted its pitiless claws at each angle ofhis eyes; his brow was bald; his hands, formerly brown and nervous, weregetting white, as if the blood began to chill there.

  D'Artagnan accosted the officers with the shade of affability whichdistinguishes superior men, and received in return for his courtesy twomost respectful bows.

  "Ah! what a lucky chance to see you here, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" criedthe falconer.

  "It is rather I who should say that, messieurs," replied the captain,"for, nowadays, the king makes more frequent use of his musketeers thanof his falcons."

  "Ah! it is not as it was in the good old times," sighed the falconer."Do you remember, Monsieur d'Artagnan, when the late king flew the piein the vineyards beyond Beaugence? Ah! dame! you were not captain of themusketeers at that time, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

  "And you were nothing but under-corporal of the tiercelets," repliedD'Artagnan, laughing. "Never mind that; it was a good time, seeing thatit is always a good time when we are young. Good day, monsieur thecaptain of the harriers."

  "You do me honor, Monsieur le Comte," said the latter. D'Artagnan madeno reply. The title of comte had not struck him; D'Artagnan had been acomte four years.

  "Are you not very much fatigued with the long journey you have had,Monsieur le Capitaine?" continued the falconer. "It must be full twohundred leagues from hence to Pignerol."

  "Two hundred and sixty to go, and as many to come back," saidD'Artagnan, quietly.

  "And," said the falconer, "is _he_ well?"

  "Who?" asked D'Artagnan.

  "Why, poor M. Fouquet," continued the falconer, still in a low voice.The captain of the harriers had prudently withdrawn.

  "No," replied D'Artagnan, "the poor man frets terribly; he cannotcomprehend how imprisonment can be a favor; he says that the parliamenthad absolved him by banishing him, and that banishment is liberty. Hecannot imagine that they had sworn his death, and that to save his lifefrom the claws of the parliament was to have too much obligation toGod."

  "Ah! yes; the poor man had a near chance of the scaffold," replied thefalconer; "it is said that M. Colbert had given orders to the governorof the Bastille, and that the execution was ordered."

  "Enough!" said D'Artagnan, pensively, and with a view of cutting shortthe conversation.

  "Yes," said the captain of the harriers, drawing toward them, "M.Fouquet is now at Pignerol; he has richly deserved it. He has had thegood fortune to be conducted there by you; he had robbed the Kingenough."

  D'Artagnan launched at the master of the dogs one of his evil looks, andsaid to him--"Monsieur, if any one told me that you had eaten your dogs'meat, not only would I refuse to believe it; but, still more, if youwere condemned to the whip or the jail for it, I should pity you, andwould not allow people to speak ill of you. And yet, monsieur, honestman as you may be, I assure you that you are not more so than poor M.Fouquet was."

  After having undergone this sharp rebuke, the captain of the harriershung his head, and allowed the falconer to get two steps in advance ofhim nearer to D'Artagnan.

  "He is content," said the falconer, in a low voice, to the musketeer;"we all know that harriers are in fashion nowadays; if he were afalconer he would not talk in that way."

  D'Artagnan smiled in a melancholy manner at seeing this great politicalquestion resolved by the discontent of such humble interests. He for amoment ran over in his mind the glorious existence of the surintendant,the crumbling away of his fortunes, and the melancholy death thatawaited him; and, to conclude, "Did M. Fouquet love falconry?" said he.

  "Oh, passionately, monsieur!" replied the falconer, with an accent ofbitter regret, and a sigh that was the funeral oration of Fouquet.

  D'Artagnan allowed the ill-humor of the one and the regrets of the otherto pass, and continued to advance into the plain. They could alreadycatch glimpses of the huntsmen at the issues of the wood, the feathersof the out-riders passing like shooting stars across the clearings, andthe white horses cutting with their luminous apparitions the darkthickets of the copses.

  "But," resumed D'Artagnan, "will the sport be long? Pray, give us a goodswift bird, for I am very tired. Is it a heron or a swan?"

  "Both, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the falconer; "but you need not bealarmed, the king is not much of a sportsman; he does not sport on hisown account, he only wishes to give amusement to the ladies."

  The words "to the ladies" were so strongly accented, that it setD'Artagnan listening.

  "Ah!" said he, looking at the falconer with surprise.

  The captain of the harriers smiled, no doubt with a view of making it upwith the musketeer.

  "Oh! you may safely laugh," said D'Artagnan; "I know nothing of currentnews; I only arrived yesterday, after a month's absence. I left thecourt mourning the death of the queen-mother. The king was not willingto take any amusement after receiving the last sigh of Anne of Austria;but everything has an end in this world. Well! then he is no longer sad?So much the better."

  "And everything commences as well as ends," said the captain of thedogs, with a coarse laugh.

  "Ah!" said D'Artagnan, a second time--he burned to know, but dignitywould not allow him to interrogate people below him--"there is somethingbeginning, then, it appears?"

  The captain gave him a significant wink; but D'Artagnan was unwilling tolearn anything from this man.

  "Shall we see the king early?" asked he of the falconer.

  "At seven o'clock, monsieur, I shall fly the birds."

  "Who comes with the king? How is Madame? How is the queen?"

  "Better, monsieur."

  "Has she been ill, then?"

  "Monsieur, since the last chagrin she had, her majesty has been unwell."

  "What chagrin? You need not fancy your news is old. I am but justreturned."

  "It appears that the queen, a little neglected since the death of hermother-in-law, complained to the king, who replied to her--'Do I notsleep with you every night, madame? What more do you want?'"

  "Ah!" said D'Artagnan--"poor woman! She must heartily hate Mademoisellede la Valliere."

  "Oh, no! not Mademoiselle de la Valliere," replied the falconer.

  "Who then?--" The horn interrupted this conversation. It summoned thedogs and the hawks. The falconer and his companion set off immediately,leaving D'Artagnan alone in the midst of the suspended sentence. Theking appeared at a distance, surrounded by ladies and horsemen. All thetroop advanced in beautiful order, at a foot's pace, the horns ofvarious sorts animating the dogs and the horses. It was a movement, anoise, a mirage of light, of which nothing now can give an idea, unlessit be the fictitious splendor or false majesty of a theatricalspectacle. D'Artagnan, with an eye a lit
tle weakened, distinguishedbehind the group three carriages. The first was intended for the queen:it was empty. D'Artagnan, who did not see Mademoiselle de la Valliere bythe king's side, on looking about for her, saw her in the secondcarriage. She was alone with two of her women, who seemed as dull astheir mistress. On the left hand of the king, upon a high-spiritedhorse, restrained by a bold and skillful hand, shone a lady of the mostdazzling beauty. The king smiled upon her, and she smiled upon the king.Loud laughter followed every word she spoke.

  "I must know that woman," thought the musketeer; "who can she be?" Andhe stooped toward his friend, the falconer, to whom he addressed thequestion he had put to himself. The falconer was about to reply, whenthe king, perceiving D'Artagnan, "Ah, comte!" said he, "you are returnedthen! why have I not seen you?"

  "Sire," replied the captain, "because your majesty was asleep when Iarrived; and not awake when I resumed my duties this morning."

  "Still the same!" said Louis, in a loud voice, denoting satisfaction."Take some rest, comte, I command you to do so. You will dine with meto-day."

  A murmur of admiration surrounded D'Artagnan like an immense caress.Every one was eager to salute him. Dining with the king was an honor hismajesty was not so prodigal of as Henry IV. had been. The king passed afew steps in advance, and D'Artagnan found himself in the midst of afresh group, among whom shone Colbert.

  "Good-day, M. d'Artagnan," said the minister, with affable politeness;"have you had a pleasant journey?"

  "Yes, monsieur," said D'Artagnan, bowing to the neck of his horse.

  "I heard the king invite you to his table for this evening," continuedthe minister; "you will meet an old friend there."

  "An old friend of mine?" asked D'Artagnan, plunging painfully into thedark waves of the past, which had swallowed up for him so manyfriendships and so many hatreds.

  "M. le Duc d'Almeda, who is arrived this morning from Spain."

  "The Duc d'Almeda?" said D'Artagnan, reflecting in vain.

  "I!" said an old man, white as snow, sitting bent in his carriage, whichhe caused to be thrown open to make room for the musketeer.

  "Aramis!" cried D'Artagnan, struck with perfect stupor. And he left,inert as it was, the thin arm of the old nobleman hanging round hisneck.

  Colbert, after having observed them in silence for a minute, put hishorse forward, and left the two old friends together.

  "And so," said the musketeer, taking the arm of Aramis, "you, the exile,the rebel, are again in France?"

  "Ah! and I shall dine with you at the king's table," said Aramis,smiling. "Yes; will you not ask yourself what is the use of fidelity inthis world? Stop! let us allow poor La Valliere's carriage to pass. Lookhow uneasy she is! How her eye, dimmed with tears, follows the king, whois riding on horseback yonder!"

  "With whom?"

  "With Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente, now become Madame de Montespan,"replied Aramis.

  "She is jealous; is she then deserted?"

  "Not quite yet, but it will not be long first."

  They chatted together, while following the sport, and Aramis' coachmandrove them so cleverly that they got up at the moment when the falcon,attacking the bird, beat him down, and fell upon him. The king alighted,Madame de Montespan followed his example. They were in front of anisolated chapel, concealed by large trees, already despoiled of theirleaves by the first winds of autumn. Behind this chapel was aninclosure, closed by a latticed gate. The falcon had beat down his preyin the inclosure belonging to this little chapel, and the king wasdesirous of going in, to take the first feather, according to custom.The cortege formed a circle round the building and the hedges, too smallto receive so many. D'Artagnan held back Aramis by the arm, as he wasabout, like the rest, to alight from his carriage, and in a hoarse,broken voice: "Do you know, Aramis," said he, "whither chance hasconducted us?"

  "No," replied the duke.

  "Here repose people I have known," said D'Artagnan, much agitated.

  Aramis, without divining anything, and with a trembling step, penetratedinto the chapel by a little door which D'Artagnan opened for him.

  "Where are they buried?" said he.

  "There, in the inclosure. There is a cross, you see, under that littlecypress. The little cypress is planted over their tomb; don't go to it;the king is going that way; the heron has fallen just there."

  Aramis stopped, and concealed himself in the shade. They then saw,without being seen, the pale face of La Valliere, who, neglected in hercarriage, had at first looked on, with a melancholy heart, from thedoor, and then, carried away by jealousy, she had advanced into thechapel, whence, leaning against a pillar, she contemplated in theinclosure the king smiling and making signs to Madame de Montespan toapproach, as there was nothing to be afraid of. Madame de Montespancomplied; she took the hand the king held out to her, and he, pluckingout the first feather from the heron, which the falconer had strangled,placed it in the hat of his beautiful companion. She, smiling in herturn, kissed the hand tenderly which made her this present. The kingblushed with pleasure; he looked at Madame de Montespan with all thefire of love.

  "What will you give me in exchange?" said he.

  She broke off a little branch of cypress and offered it to the king, wholooked intoxicated with hope.

  "Humph!" said Aramis to D'Artagnan; "the present is but a sad one, forthat cypress shades a tomb."

  "Yes, and the tomb is that of Raoul de Bragelonne," said D'Artagnanaloud; "of Raoul, who sleeps under that cross with his father."

  A groan resounded behind them. They saw a woman fall fainting to theground. Mademoiselle de la Valliere had seen all, and heard all.

  "Poor woman!" muttered D'Artagnan, as he helped the attendants to carryback to her carriage she who from that time was to suffer.

  That evening D'Artagnan was seated at the king's table, near M. Colbertand M. le Duc d'Almeda. The king was very gay. He paid a thousand littleattentions to the queen, a thousand kindnesses to Madame, seated at hisleft hand, and very sad. It might have been supposed to be that calmtime when the king used to watch the eyes of his mother for the avowalor disavowal of what he had just done.

  Of mistresses there was no question at this dinner. The king addressedAramis two or three times, calling him M. l'Ambassadeur, which increasedthe surprise already felt by D'Artagnan at seeing his friend the rebelso marvelously well received at court.

  The king, on rising from table, gave his hand to the queen, and made asign to Colbert, whose eye watched that of his master. Colbert tookD'Artagnan and Aramis on one side. The king began to chat with hissister, while Monsieur, very uneasy, entertained the queen with apreoccupied air, without ceasing to watch his wife and brother from thecorner of his eye. The conversation between Aramis, D'Artagnan, andColbert turned upon indifferent subjects. They spoke of precedingministers; Colbert related the feats of Mazarin, and required those ofRichelieu to be related to him. D'Artagnan could not overcome hissurprise at finding this man, with heavy eyebrows and a low forehead,contain so much sound knowledge and cheerful spirits. Aramis wasastonished at that lightness of character which permitted a serious manto retard with advantage the moment for a more important conversation,to which nobody made any allusion, although all three interlocutors feltthe imminence of it. It was very plain from the embarrassed appearanceof Monsieur how much the conversation of the king and Madame annoyedhim. The eyes of Madame were almost red; was she going to complain? Wasshe going to commit a little scandal in open court? The king took her onone side, and in a tone so tender that it must have reminded theprincess of the time when she was loved for herself--

  "Sister," said he, "why do I see tears in those beautiful eyes?"

  "Why--sire--" said she.

  "Monsieur is jealous, is he not, sister?"

  She looked toward Monsieur, an infallible sign that they were talkingabout him.

  "Yes," said she.

  "Listen to me," said the king; "if your friends compromise you, it isnot Monsieur's fault."

  He spoke
these words with so much kindness, that Madame, encouraged, shewho had had so many griefs for so long a time, was near bursting, sofull was her heart.

  "Come, come, dear little sister," said the king, "tell me your griefs;by the word of a brother, I pity them; by the word of a king, I willterminate them."

  She raised her fine eyes, and, in a melancholy tone--

  "It is not my friends who compromise me," said she; "they are eitherabsent or concealed; they have been brought into disgrace with yourmajesty; they, so devoted, so good, so loyal!"

  "You say this on account of Guiche, whom I have exiled, at the desire ofMonsieur?"

  "And who, since that unjust exile, has endeavored to get himself killedonce every day!"

  "Unjust, do you say, sister?"

  "So unjust, that if I had not had the respect mixed with friendshipthat I have always entertained for your majesty--"

  "Well?"

  "Well! I would have asked my brother Charles, upon whom I can always--"

  The king started. "What then?"

  "I would have asked him to have it represented to you that Monsieur andhis favorite, M. le Chevalier de Lorraine, ought not with impunity toconstitute themselves the executioners of my honor and my happiness."

  "The Chevalier de Lorraine," said the king; "that dismal face?"

  "Is my mortal enemy. While that man lives in my household, whereMonsieur retains him and delegates his powers to him, I shall be themost miserable woman in this kingdom."

  "So," said the king, slowly, "You call your brother of England a betterfriend than I am?"

  "Actions speak for themselves, sire."

  "And you would prefer going to ask assistance there--"

  "To my own country!" said she, with pride; "yes, sire."

  "You are the grandchild of Henry IV., as well as myself, my friend.Cousin and brother-in-law, does not that amount pretty well to the titleof brother-germain?"

  "Then," said Henrietta, "act!"

  "Let us form an alliance."

  "Begin."

  "I have, you say, unjustly exiled Guiche."

  "Oh! yes," said she blushing.

  "Guiche shall return."

  "So far, well."

  "And now you say that I am wrong in having in your household theChevalier de Lorraine, who gives Monsieur ill-advice respecting you?"

  "Remember well what I tell you, sire; the Chevalier de Lorraine someday--Observe, if ever I come to an ill end, I beforehand accuse theChevalier de Lorraine; he has a soul capable of any crime!"

  "The Chevalier de Lorraine shall no longer annoy you--I promise youthat."

  "Then that will be a true preliminary of alliance, sire--I sign; butsince you have done your part, tell me what shall be mine."

  THE DEATHBED OF ATHOS--"HERE I AM!"--_Page 532._]

  "Instead of embroiling me with your brother Charles, you must make himmy more intimate friend than ever."

  "That is very easy."

  "Oh! not quite so much so as you may think, for in ordinary friendshippeople embrace or exercise hospitality, and that only costs a kiss or areturn, easy expenses; but in political friendship--"

  "Ah! it's a political friendship, is it?"

  "Yes, my sister; and then, instead of embraces and feasts, it issoldiers, it is soldiers all living and well equipped, that we mustserve up to our friend; vessels we must offer, all armed with cannonsand stored with provisions. It hence results that we have not always ourcoffers in a fit state to form such friendships."

  "Ah! you are quite right," said Madame; "the coffers of the king ofEngland have been very sonorous for some time."

  "But you, my sister, who have so much influence over your brother, youcan obtain more than an ambassador could ever obtain."

  "To effect, that I must go to London, my dear brother."

  "I have thought so," replied the king, eagerly; "and I have said tomyself that such a voyage would do your spirits good."

  "Only," interrupted Madame, "it is possible I should fail. The king ofEngland has dangerous counselors."

  "Counselors, do you say?"

  "Precisely. If, by chance, your majesty had any intention--I am onlysupposing so--of asking Charles II. his alliance for a war--"

  "For a war?"

  "Yes, well! then the counselors of the king, who are to the number ofseven--Mademoiselle Stewart, Mademoiselle Wells, Mademoiselle Gwyn, MissOrchay, Mademoiselle Zunga, Miss Davies, and the proud Countess ofCastlemaine--will represent to the king that war costs a great deal ofmoney; that it is far better to give balls and suppers at Hampton Courtthan to equip vessels of the line at Portsmouth and Greenwich."

  "And then your negotiations will fail?"

  "Oh! those ladies cause all negotiations to fail that they don't makethemselves."

  "Do you know the idea that has struck me, sister?"

  "No; tell me what it is."

  "It is that by searching well around you, you might perhaps find afemale counselor to take with you to your brother whose eloquence mightparalyze the ill-will of the seven others."

  "That is really an idea, sire, and I will search."

  "You will find what you want."

  "I hope so."

  "A pretty person is necessary; an agreeable face is better than an uglyone, is it not?"

  "Most assuredly."

  "An animated, lively, audacious character."

  "Certainly."

  "Nobility; that is, enough to enable her to approach the king withoutawkwardness--little enough, so as not to trouble herself about thedignity of her race."

  "Quite just."

  "And who knows a little English."

  "Mon Dieu! why, some one," cried Madame, "like Mademoiselle deKeroualle, for instance!"

  "Oh! why, yes!" said Louis XIV.; "you have found--it is you who havefound, my sister."

  "I will take her; she will have no cause to complain, I suppose."

  "Oh! no; I will name her _seductrice plenipotentiaire_ at once, and willadd the dowry to the title."

  "That is well."

  "I fancy you already on your road, my dear little sister, and consoledfor all your griefs."

  "I will go, on two conditions. The first is, that I shall know what I amnegotiating about."

  "This is it. The Dutch, you know, insult me daily in their gazettes, andby their republican attitude. I don't like republics."

  "That may easily be conceived, sire."

  "I see with pain that these kings of the sea--they call themselvesso--keep trade from France in the Indies, and that their vessels willsoon occupy all the ports in Europe. Such a power is too near me,sister."

  "They are your allies, nevertheless."

  "That is why they were wrong in having the medal you have heard ofstruck; a medal which represents Holland stopping the sun, as Joshuadid, with this legend: _The sun has stopped before me._ There is notmuch fraternity in that, is there?"

  "I thought you had forgotten that miserable affair."

  "I never forget anything, my sister. And if my true friends, such asyour brother Charles, are willing to second me--" The princess remainedpensively silent.

  "Listen to me; there is the empire of the seas to be shared," said LouisXIV. "For this partition, which England submits to, could I notrepresent the second party as well as the Dutch?"

  "We have Mademoiselle de Keroualle to treat that question," repliedMadame.

  "Your second condition for going, if you please, sister?"

  "The consent of Monsieur, my husband."----"You shall have it."

  "Then consider me gone, my brother."

  On hearing these words, Louis XIV. turned round toward the corner of theroom in which D'Artagnan, Colbert, and Aramis stood, and made anaffirmative sign to his minister. Colbert then broke the conversation atthe point it happened to be at, and said to Aramis:

  "Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, shall we talk about business?"

  D'Artagnan immediately withdrew, from politeness. He directed his stepstoward the chimney, within hearing of what
the king was going to say toMonsieur, who, evidently uneasy, had gone to him. The face of the kingwas animated. Upon his brow was stamped a will, the redoubtableexpression of which already met with no more contradiction in France,and was soon to meet with no more in Europe.

  "Monsieur," said the king to his brother, "I am not pleased with M. leChevalier de Lorraine. You, who do him the honor to protect him, mustadvise him to travel for a few months." These words fell with the crushof an avalanche upon Monsieur, who adored this favorite, andconcentrated all his affections in him.

  "In what has the chevalier been able to displease your majesty?" criedhe, darting a furious look at Madame.

  "I will tell you that when he is gone," replied the impassible king."And also when Madame, here, shall have crossed over into England."

  "Madame! into England!" murmured Monsieur, in a perfect state of stupor.

  "In a week, my brother," continued the king, "while we two will gowhither I will tell you." And the king turned upon his heel after havingsmiled in his brother's face, to sweeten a little the bitter draught hehad given him.

  During this time, Colbert was talking with the Duc d'Almeda.

  "Monsieur," said Colbert to Aramis, "this is the moment for us to cometo an understanding. I have made your peace with the king, and I owedthat clearly to a man of your merit; but as you have often expressedfriendship for me, an opportunity presents itself for giving me a proofof it. You are, besides, more a Frenchman than Spaniard. Shall we have,answer me frankly, the neutrality of Spain, if we undertake anythingagainst the United Provinces?"

  "Monsieur," replied Aramis, "the interest of Spain is very clear. Toembroil Europe with the United Provinces, against which subsists theancient malice of their conquered liberty, is our policy, but the kingof France is allied with the United Provinces. You are not ignorant,besides, that it would be a maritime war, and that France is not in astate to make such a one with advantage."

  Colbert, turning round at this moment, saw D'Artagnan, who was seekingan interlocutor, during the "aside" of the king and Monsieur. He calledhim, at the same time saying in a low voice to Aramis. "We may talk withM. d'Artagnan. I suppose?"

  "Oh! certainly," replied the ambassador.

  "We were saying, M. d'Almeda and I," said Colbert, "that war with theUnited Provinces would be a maritime war."

  "That's evident enough," replied the musketeer.

  "And what do you think of it, Monsieur d'Artagnan?"

  "I think that to carry that war on successfully, you must have a verylarge land army."

  "What did you say?" said Colbert, thinking he had ill-understood him.

  "Why such a land army?" said Aramis.

  "Because the king will be beaten by sea if he has not the English withhim, and that when beaten by sea, he will be soon invaded, either by theDutch in his ports, or by the Spaniards by land."

  "And Spain neutral?" asked Aramis.

  "Neutral as long as the king shall be the stronger," rejoinedD'Artagnan.

  Colbert admired that sagacity which never touched a question withoutenlightening it thoroughly. Aramis smiled, as he had long known that indiplomacy D'Artagnan acknowledged no master. Colbert, who, like allproud men, dwelt upon his fantasy with a certainty of success, resumedthe subject, "Who told you, M. d'Artagnan, that the king had no navy?"

  "Oh! I have taken no heed of these details," replied the captain. "I ambut a middling sailor. Like all nervous people, I hate the sea; and yetI have an idea that with ships, France being a seaport with two hundredheads, we might have sailors."

  Colbert drew from his pocket a little oblong book, divided into twocolumns. On the first were the names of vessels, on the other thefigures recapitulating the number of cannon and men requisite to equipthese ships. "I have had the same idea as you," said he to D'Artagnan,"and I have had an account drawn up of the vessels we havealtogether--thirty-five ships."

  "Thirty-five ships! that is impossible!" cried D'Artagnan.

  "Something like two thousand pieces of cannon," said Colbert. "That iswhat the king possesses at this moment. With thirty-five vessels we canmake three squadrons, but I must have five."

  "Five!" cried Aramis.

  "They will be afloat before the end of the year, gentlemen; the kingwill have fifty ships of the line. We may venture on a contest withthem, may we not?"

  "To build vessels," said D'Artagnan, "is difficult, but possible. As toarming them, how is that to be done? In France there are neitherfoundries nor military docks."

  "Bah!" replied Colbert, with a gay tone, "I have instituted all thatthis year and a half past, did you not know it? Don't you know M.d'Imfreville?"

  "D'Imfreville!" replied D'Artagnan; "no."

  "He is a man I have discovered; he has a specialty; he is a man ofgenius--he knows how to set men to work. It is he who has founded cannonand cut the woods of Bourgogne. And then, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, youmay not believe what I am going to tell you, but I have a further idea."

  "Oh, monsieur!" said Aramis, civilly, "I always believe you."

  "Figure to yourself that, calculating upon the character of the Dutch,our allies, I said to myself, 'They are merchants, they are friends withthe king; they will be happy to sell to the king what they fabricate forthemselves; then the more we buy--Ah! I must add this: I have Forant--doyou know Forant, D'Artagnan?'"

  Colbert, in his warmth, forgot himself; he called the captain simply_D'Artagnan,_ as the king did. But the captain only smiled at it.

  "No," replied he, "I don't know him."

  "That is another man I have discovered, with a genius for buying. ThisForant has purchased for me 350,000 pounds of iron in balls, 200,000pounds of powder, twelve cargoes of Northern timber, matches, grenades,pitch, tar--I know not what! with a saving of seven per cent upon whatall those articles would cost me fabricated in France."

  "That is a good idea," replied D'Artagnan, "to have Dutch balls founded,which will return to the Dutch."

  "Is it not, with loss too?" And Colbert laughed aloud. He was delightedwith his own joke.

  "Still further," added he; "these same Dutch are building for the king,at this moment, six vessels after the model of the best of their marine.Destouches--Ah! perhaps you don't know Destouches?"

  "No, monsieur."

  "He is a man who has a glance singularly sure to discern, when a ship islaunched, what are the defects and qualities of that ship--that isvaluable, please to observe! Nature is truly whimsical. Well, thisDestouches appeared to me to be a man likely to be useful in a port, andhe is superintending the construction of six vessels of 78, which theProvinces are building for his majesty. It results from all this, mydear Monsieur d'Artagnan, that the king, if he wished to quarrel withthe Provinces, would have a very pretty fleet. Now, you know better thananybody else if the land army is good."

  D'Artagnan and Aramis looked at each other, wondering at the mysteriouslabors this man had effected in a few years. Colbert understood them,and was touched by this best of flatteries.

  "If we in France were ignorant of what was going on," said D'Artagnan,"out of France still less must be known."

  "That is why I told Monsieur l'Ambassadeur," said Colbert, "that Spainpromising its neutrality, England helping us--"

  "If England assists you," said Aramis, "I engage for the neutrality ofSpain."

  "I take you at your word," hastened Colbert to reply with his blunt_bonhomie_. "And, apropos of Spain, you have not the 'Golden Fleece,'Monsieur d'Almeda. I heard the king say the other day that he shouldlike to see you wear the _grand cordon_ of St. Michael."

  Aramis bowed. "Oh!" thought D'Artagnan, "and Porthos is no longer here!What ells of ribbon would there be for him in these _largesses_! GoodPorthos!"

  "Monsieur d'Artagnan," resumed Colbert, "between us two, you will have,I would wager, an inclination to lead your musketeers into Holland. Canyou swim?" And he laughed like a man in a very good humor.

  "Like an eel," replied D'Artagnan.

  "Ah! but there are some rou
gh passages of canals and marshes yonder,Monsieur d'Artagnan, and the best swimmers are sometimes drowned there."

  "It is my profession to die for his majesty," said the musketeer. "Onlyas it is seldom that in war much water is met with without a littlefire, I declare to you beforehand, that I will do my best to choosefire. I am getting old, water freezes me--fire warms, Monsieur Colbert."

  And D'Artagnan looked so handsome in juvenile vigor and pride, as hepronounced these words, that Colbert, in his turn, could not helpadmiring him. D'Artagnan perceived the effect he had produced. Heremembered that the best tradesman is he who fixes a high price upon hisgoods when they are valuable. He prepared, then, his price in advance.

  "So then," said Colbert, "we go into Holland?"

  "Yes," replied D'Artagnan: "only--"

  "Only?" said M. Colbert.

  "Only," repeated D'Artagnan, "there is in everything the question ofinterest and the question of self-love. It is a very fine title, that ofcaptain of the musketeers; but, observe this: we have now the king'sguards and the military household of the king. A captain of musketeersought either to command all that, and then he would absorb a hundredthousand livres a year for expenses of representation and table--"

  "Well! but do you suppose, by chance, that the king would haggle withyou?" said Colbert.

  "Eh! monsieur, you have not understood me," replied D'Artagnan, sure ofhaving carried the question of interest; "I was telling you that I, anold captain, formerly chief of the king's guard, having precedence ofthe marechaux of France--I saw myself one day in the trenches with twoother equals, the captain of the guards and the colonel commanding theSwiss. Now, at no price will I suffer that. I have old habits, I willstand to them."

  Colbert felt this blow, but he was prepared for it.

  "I have been thinking of what you said just now," replied he.

  "About what, monsieur?"

  "We were speaking of canals and marshes in which people are drowned."

  "Well!"

  "Well! if they are drowned, it is for want of a boat, a plank, or astick."

  "Of a stick, however short it may be," said D'Artagnan.

  "Exactly," said Colbert. "And, therefore, I never heard of an instanceof a marechal of France being drowned."

  D'Artagnan became pale with joy, and in not a very firm voice:--"Peoplewould be very proud of me in my country," said he, "if I were a marechalof France; but a man must have commanded an expedition in chief toobtain the baton."

  "Monsieur," said Colbert, "here is in this pocket-book, which you willstudy, a plan of a campaign you will have to lead a body of troops tocarry out in the next spring."

  D'Artagnan took the book, tremblingly, and his fingers meeting withthose of Colbert the minister pressed the hand of the musketeer loyally.

  "Monsieur," said he, "we had both a revenge to take, one over the other.I have begun: it is now your turn!"

  "I will do you justice, monsieur," replied D'Artagnan, "and implore youto tell the king that the first opportunity that shall offer, he maydepend upon a victory, or seeing me dead."

  "Then I will have the fleurs-de-lis for your marechal's baton preparedimmediately," said Colbert.

  On the morrow of this day, Aramis, who was setting out for Madrid, tonegotiate the neutrality of Spain, came to embrace D'Artagnan at hishotel.

  "Let us love each other for four," said D'Artagnan, "we are now buttwo."

  "And you will, perhaps, never see me again, dear D'Artagnan," saidAramis;--"if you knew how I have loved you! I am old, I am extinguished,I am dead."

  "My friend," said D'Artagnan, "you will live longer than I shall;diplomacy commands you to live; but, for my part, honor condemns me todie."

  "Bah! such men as we are, Monsieur le Marechal," said Aramis, "only diesatiated with joy or glory."

  "Ah!" replied D'Artagnan, with a melancholy smile, "I assure, you,Monsieur le Duc, I feel very little appetite for either."

  They once more embraced, and, two hours after, they were separated.

  THE DEATH OF D'ARTAGNAN.

  Contrary to what always happens, whether in politics or morals, eachkept his promise, and did honor to his engagements.

  The king recalled M. de Guiche, and banished M. le Chevalier deLorraine, so that Monsieur became ill in consequence. Madame set out forLondon, where she applied herself so earnestly to make her brother,Charles II., have a taste for the political councils of Mademoiselle deKeroualle, that the alliance between England and France was signed, andthe English vessels, ballasted by a few millions of French gold, made aterrible campaign against the fleets of the United Provinces. CharlesII. had promised Mademoiselle de Keroualle a little gratitude for hergood councils; he made her Duchess of Portsmouth. Colbert had promisedthe king vessels, munitions, and victories. He kept his word, as is wellknown. At length Aramis, upon whose promises there was least dependenceto be placed, wrote Colbert the following letter, on the subject of thenegotiations which he had undertaken at Madrid:

  "MONSIEUR COLBERT: I have the honor to expedite to you the R. P. d'Oliva, general ad interim of the Society of Jesus, my provisional successor. The reverend father will explain to you, Monsieur Colbert, that I preserve to myself the direction of all the affairs of the Order which concern France and Spain; but that I am not willing to retain the title of general, which would throw too much light upon the march of the negotiations with which his Catholic majesty wishes to intrust me. I shall resume that title by the command of his majesty, when the labors I have undertaken in concert with you, for the great glory of God and His Church, shall be brought to a good end. The R. P. d'Oliva will inform you likewise, monsieur, of the consent which his Catholic majesty gives to the signature of a treaty which assures the neutrality of Spain, in the event of a war between France and the United Provinces. This consent will be valid, even if England, instead of being active, should satisfy herself with remaining neutral. As to Portugal, of which you and I have spoken, monsieur, I can assure you it will contribute with all its resources to assist the Most Christian King in his war. I beg you, Monsieur Colbert, to preserve to me your friendship, as also to believe in my profound attachment, and to lay my respect at the feet of his Most Christian Majesty.

  "Signed, LE DUC DE ALMEDA."

  Aramis had then performed more than he had promised; it remained to beknown how the king, M. Colbert, and D'Artagnan would be faithful to eachother. In the spring, as Colbert had predicted, the land army entered onits campaign. It preceded, in magnificent order, the court of LouisXIV., who, setting out on horseback, surrounded by carriages filled withladies and courtiers, conducted the elite of his kingdom to thissanguinary fete. The officers of the army, it is true, had no othermusic but the artillery of the Dutch forts; but it was enough for agreat number, who found in this war honors, advancement, fortune, ordeath.

  M. D'Artagnan set out commanding a body of twelve thousand men, cavalryand infantry, with which he was ordered to take the different placeswhich form the knots of that strategic network which is called LaFrise. Never was an army conducted more gallantly to an expedition. Theofficers knew that their leader, prudent and skillful as he was brave,would not sacrifice a single man, nor yield an inch of ground, withoutnecessity. He had the old habits of war, to live upon the country, keephis soldiers singing and the enemy weeping. The captain of the king'smusketeers placed his coquetry in showing that he knew his business.Never were opportunities better chosen, _coups de main_ bettersupported, errors of the besieged taken better advantage of.

  The army commanded by D'Artagnan took twelve small places within amonth. He was engaged in besieging the thirteenth, which had held outfive days. D'Artagnan caused the trenches to be opened without appearingto suppose that these people would ever allow themselves to be taken.The pioneers and laborers were, in the army of this man, a body full ofemulation, ideas, and zeal, because he treated them like soldiers, k
newhow to render their work glorious, and never allowed them to be killedif he could prevent it. It should have been seen then, with whateagerness the marshy glebes of Holland were turned over. Those turfheaps, those mounds of potter's clay, melted at the words of thesoldiers like butter in the vast frying-pans of the Frieslandhousewives.

  M. d'Artagnan dispatched a courier to the king to give him an account ofthe last successes, which redoubled the good humor of his majesty andhis inclination to amuse the ladies. These victories of M. d'Artagnangave so much majesty to the prince, that Madame de Montespan no longercalled him anything but Louis the Invincible. So that Mademoiselle de laValliere, who only called the king Louis the Victorious, lost much ofhis majesty's favor. Besides, her eyes were frequently red, and for anInvincible nothing is more disagreeable than a mistress who weeps whileeverything is smiling around her. The star of Mademoiselle de laValliere was being drowned in the horizon in clouds and tears. But thegayety of Madame de Montespan redoubled with the successes of the king,and consoled him for every other unpleasant circumstance. It was toD'Artagnan the king owed this; and his majesty was anxious toacknowledge these services; he wrote to M. Colbert:

  "MONSIEUR COLBERT--We have a promise to fulfill with M. d'Artagnan, who so well keeps his. This is to inform you that the time is come for performing it. All provisions for this purpose you shall be furnished with in due time--LOUIS."

  In consequence of this, Colbert, who detained the envoy of D'Artagnan,placed in the hands of that messenger a letter from himself forD'Artagnan, and a small coffer of ebony inlaid with gold, which was notvery voluminous in appearance, but which, without doubt, was very heavy,as a guard of five men was given to the messenger, to assist him incarrying it. These people arrived before the place which D'Artagnan wasbesieging toward daybreak, and presented themselves at the lodgings ofthe general. They were told that M. d'Artagnan, annoyed by a sortiewhich the governor, an artful man, had made the evening before, and inwhich the works had been destroyed, seventy-seven men killed, and thereparation of the breaches commenced, had just gone with half a scorecompanies of grenadiers to reconstruct the works.

  M. Colbert's envoy had orders to go and seek M. d'Artagnan, wherever hemight be, or at whatever hour of the day or night. He directed hiscourse, therefore, toward the trenches, followed by his escort, all onhorseback. They perceived M. d'Artagnan in the open plain, with hisgold-laced hat, his long cane, and his large gilded cuffs. He was bitinghis white mustache, and wiping off, with his left hand, the dust whichthe passing balls threw up from the ground they plowed near him. Theyalso saw, amid this terrible fire, which filled the air with its hissingwhistle, officers handling the shovel, soldiers rolling barrows, andvast fascines, rising by being either carried or dragged by from ten totwenty men, cover the front of the trench, reopened to the center bythis extraordinary effort of the general animating his soldiers. Inthree hours all had been reinstated. D'Artagnan began to speak moremildly; and he became quite calm when the captain of the pioneersapproached him, hat in hand, to tell him that the trench was againlodgeable. This man had scarcely finished speaking when a ball took offone of his legs, and he fell into the arms of D'Artagnan. The latterlifted up his soldier, and quietly, with soothing words, carried himinto the trench, amid the enthusiastic applause of the regiments. Fromthat time, it was no longer ardor--it was delirium; two companies stoleaway up to the advanced posts, which they destroyed instantly.

  When their comrades, restrained with great difficulty by D'Artagnan, sawthem lodged upon the bastions, they rushed forward likewise; and soon afurious assault was made upon the counterscarp, upon which depended thesafety of the place. D'Artagnan perceived there was only one means leftof stopping his army, and that was to lodge it in the place. He directedall his force to two breaches, which the besieged were busy inrepairing. The shock was terrible; eighteen companies took part in it,and D'Artagnan went with the rest, within half cannon-shot of the place,to support the attack by echelons. The cries of the Dutch, who werebeing poniarded upon their guns by D'Artagnan's grenadiers, weredistinctly audible. The struggle grew fiercer with the despair of thegovernor, who disputed his position foot by foot. D'Artagnan, to put anend to the affair, and silence the fire, which was unceasing, sent afresh column, which penetrated like a wimble through the posts thatremained solid; and he soon perceived upon the ramparts, through thefire, the terrified flight of the besieged pursued by the besiegers.

  It was at this moment the general, breathing freely and full of joy,heard a voice behind him, saying, "Monsieur, if you please, from M.Colbert." He broke the seal of a letter which contained these words:

  "MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN--The king commands me to inform you that he has nominated you Marechal of France, as a reward of your good services, and the honor you do to his arms. The king is highly pleased, monsieur, with the captures you have made; he commands you, in particular, to finish the siege you have commenced, with good fortune to _you_, and success for him."

  D'Artagnan was standing with a heated countenance and a sparkling eye.He looked up to watch the progress of his troops upon the walls, stillenveloped in red and black volumes of smoke. "I have finished," repliedhe to the messenger; "the city will have surrendered in a quarter of anhour." He then resumed his reading:

  "The _coffret_, Monsieur d'Artagnan, is my own present. You will not be sorry to see that while you warriors are drawing the sword to defend the king, I am animating the pacific arts to ornament the recompenses worthy of you. I commend myself to your friendship, Monsieur le Marechal, and beg you to believe in all mine.--COLBERT."

  D'Artagnan, intoxicated with joy, made a sign to the messenger, whoapproached, with his _coffret_ in his hands. But at the moment themarechal was going to look at it a loud explosion resounded from theramparts, and called his attention toward the city. "It is strange,"said D'Artagnan, "that I don't yet see the king's flag upon the walls,or hear the drums beat the _chamade_." He launched three hundred freshmen, under a high-spirited officer, and ordered another breach to bebeaten. Then, being more tranquil, he turned toward the _coffret_, whichColbert's envoy held out to him.

  It was his treasure--he had won it.

  D'Artagnan was holding out his hand to open the _coffret_, when a ballfrom the city crushed the _coffret_ in the arms of the officer, struckD'Artagnan full in the chest, and knocked him down upon a sloping heapof earth, while the fleur-de-lised baton, escaping from the broken sidesof the box, came rolling under the powerless hand of the marechal.D'Artagnan endeavored to raise himself up. It was thought he had beenknocked down without being wounded. A terrible cry broke from the groupof his terrified officers: the marechal was covered with blood; thepaleness of death ascended slowly to his noble countenance. Leaning uponthe arms which were held out on all sides to receive him, he was ableonce more to turn his eyes toward the place, and to distinguish thewhite flag at the crest of the principal bastion: his ears, already deafto the sounds of life, caught feebly the rolling of the drum whichannounced the victory. Then, clasping in his nerveless hand the baton,ornamented with its fleurs-de-lis, he cast down upon it his eyes, whichhad no longer the power of looking upward toward heaven, and fell back,murmuring these strange words, which appeared to the soldiers cabalisticwords--words which had formerly represented so many things upon earth,and which none but the dying man longer comprehended:

  "Athos--Porthos, farewell till we meet again! Aramis, adieu forever!"

  Of the four valiant men whose history we have related, there now nolonger remained but one single body: God had resumed the souls.

  END OF "THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE."

 

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