Whilst this violent, noisy, and bloody scene was passing on the Greve,several men, barricaded behind the gate of communication with thegarden, replaced their swords in their sheaths, assisted one among themto mount a ready saddled horse which was waiting in the garden, and likea flock of startled birds, fled in all directions, some climbing thewalls, others rushing out at the gates with all the fury of a panic. Hewho mounted the horse, and gave him the spur so sharply that the animalwas near leaping the wall, this cavalier, we say, crossed the PlaceBaudoyer, passed like lightning before the crowd in the streets, ridingagainst, running over and knocking down all that came in his way, and,ten minutes after, arrived at the gates of the superintendent, more outof breath than his horse. The Abbe Fouquet, at the clatter of the hoofson the pavement, appeared at a window of the court, and before even thecavalier had set foot to the ground, "Well! Danecamp?" cried he, leaninghalf out of the window.
"Well, it is all over," replied the cavalier.
"All over!" cried the abbe. "Then they are saved?"
"No, monsieur," replied the cavalier, "they are hung."
"Hung!" repeated the abbe, turning pale. A lateral door suddenly opened,and Fouquet appeared in the chamber, pale, distracted, with lipshalf opened, breathing a cry of grief and anger. He stopped upon thethreshold to listen to what was addressed from the court to the window.
"Miserable wretches!" said the abbe, "you did not fight, then?"
"Like lions."
"Say like cowards."
"Monsieur!"
"A hundred men accustomed to war, sword in hand, are worth ten thousandarchers in a surprise. Where is Menneville, that boaster, that braggart,who was to come back either dead or a conqueror?"
"Well, monsieur, he has kept his word. He is dead!"
"Dead! Who killed him?"
"A demon disguised as a man, a giant armed with ten flaming swords--amadman, who at one blow extinguished the fire, put down the riot,and caused a hundred musketeers to rise up out of the pavement of theGreve."
Fouquet raised his brow, streaming with sweat, murmuring, "Oh! Lyodotand D'Eymeris! dead! dead! dead! and I dishonored."
The abbe turned round, and perceiving his brother, despairing and livid,"Come, come," said he, "it is a blow of fate, monsieur; we must notlament thus. Our attempt has failed, because God----"
"Be silent, abbe! be silent!" cried Fouquet; "your excuses areblasphemies. Order that man up here, and let him relate the details ofthis terrible event."
"But, brother----"
"Obey, monsieur!"
The abbe made a sign, and in half a minute the man's step was heard uponthe stairs. At the same time Gourville appeared behind Fouquet, like theguardian angel of the superintendent, pressing one finger on his lipsto enjoin observation even amidst the bursts of his grief. The ministerresumed all the serenity that human strength left at the disposal of aheart half broken with sorrow. Danecamp appeared. "Make your report,"said Gourville.
"Monsieur," replied the messenger, "we received orders to carry off theprisoners, and to cry 'Vive Colbert!' whilst carrying them off."
"To burn them alive, was it not, abbe?" interrupted Gourville.
"Yes, yes, the order was given to Menneville. Menneville knew what wasto be done, and Menneville is dead."
This news appeared rather to reassure Gourville than to sadden him.
"Yes, certainly to burn them alive," said the abbe, eagerly.
"Granted, monsieur, granted," said the man, looking into the eyesand the faces of the two interlocutors, to ascertain what there wasprofitable or disadvantageous to himself in telling the truth.
"Now, proceed," said Gourville.
"The prisoners," cried Danecamp, "were brought to the Greve, and thepeople, in a fury, insisted upon their being burnt instead of beinghung."
"And the people were right," said the abbe. "Go on."
"But," resumed the man, "at the moment the archers were broken, at themoment the fire was set to one of the houses of the Place destined toserve as a funeral-pile for the guilty, this fury, this demon, thisgiant of whom I told you, and who we had been informed, was theproprietor of the house in question, aided by a young man whoaccompanied him, threw out of the window those who kept up the fire,called to his assistance the musketeers who were in the crowd, leapthimself from the window of the first story into the Place, and plied hissword so desperately that the victory was restored to the archers, theprisoners were retaken, and Menneville killed. When once recaptured,the condemned were executed in three minutes." Fouquet, in spite of hisself-command, could not prevent a deep groan escaping him.
"And this man, the proprietor of the house, what is his name?" said theabbe.
"I cannot tell you, not having even been able to get sight of him; mypost had been appointed in the garden, and I remained at my post: onlythe affair was related to me as I repeat it. I was ordered, when oncethe affair was at an end, to come at best speed and announce to you themanner in which it finished. According to this order, I set out, fullgallop, and here I am."
"Very well, monsieur, we have nothing else to ask of you," said theabbe, more and more dejected, in proportion as the moment approached forfinding himself alone with his brother.
"Have you been paid?" asked Gourville.
"Partly, monsieur," replied Danecamp.
"Here are twenty pistoles. Begone, monsieur, and never forget to defend,as this time has been done, the true interests of the king."
"Yes, monsieur," said the man, bowing and pocketing the money. Afterwhich he went out. Scarcely had the door closed after him when Fouquet,who had remained motionless, advanced with a rapid step and stoodbetween the abbe and Gourville. Both of them at the same time openedtheir mouths to speak to him. "No excuses," said he, "no recriminationsagainst anybody. If I had not been a false friend I should not haveconfided to any one the care of delivering Lyodot and D'Eymeris. I aloneam guilty; to me alone are reproaches and remorse due. Leave me, abbe."
"And yet, monsieur, you will not prevent me," replied the latter, "fromendeavoring to find out the miserable fellow who has intervened to theadvantage of M. Colbert in this so well-arranged affair; for, if it isgood policy to love our friends dearly, I do not believe that is badwhich consists in obstinately pursuing our enemies."
"A truce to policy, abbe; begone, I beg of you, and do not let me hearany more of you till I send for you; what we most need is circumspectionand silence. You have a terrible example before you, gentlemen: noreprisals, I forbid them."
"There are no orders," grumbled the abbe, "which will prevent me fromavenging a family affront upon the guilty person."
"And I," cried Fouquet, in that imperative tone to which one feels thereis nothing to reply, "if you entertain one thought, one single thought,which is not the absolute expression of my will, I will have you castinto the Bastile two hours after that thought has manifested itself.Regulate your conduct accordingly, abbe."
The abbe colored and bowed. Fouquet made a sign to Gourville to followhim, and was already directing his steps towards his cabinet, when theusher announced with a loud voice: "Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan."
"Who is he?" said Fouquet, negligently, to Gourville.
"An ex-lieutenant of his majesty's musketeers," replied Gourville, inthe same tone. Fouquet did not even take the trouble to reflect, andresumed his walk. "I beg your pardon, monseigneur!" said Gourville, "butI have remembered, this brave man has quitted the king's service, andprobably comes to receive an installment of some pension or other."
"Devil take him!" said Fouquet, "why does he choose his opportunity soill?"
"Permit me then, monseigneur, to announce your refusal to him; for he isone of my acquaintance, and is a man whom, in our present circumstances,it would be better to have as a friend than an enemy."
"Answer him as you please," said Fouquet.
"Eh! good Lord!" said the abbe, still full of malice, like anegotistical man; "tell him there is no money, particularly formusketeers."
But scarcely had the abbe uttered this imprudent speech, when the partlyopen door was thrown back, and D'Artagnan appeared.
"Eh! Monsieur Fouquet," said he, "I was well aware there was no moneyfor musketeers here. Therefore I did not come to obtain any, but to haveit refused. That being done, receive my thanks. I give you good-day, andwill go and seek it at M. Colbert's." And he went out, making an easybow.
"Gourville," said Fouquet, "run after that man and bring him back."Gourville obeyed, and overtook D'Artagnan on the stairs.
D'Artagnan, hearing steps behind him, turned round and perceivedGourville. "Mordioux! my dear monsieur," said he, "these are sad lessonswhich you gentlemen of finance teach us; I come to M. Fouquet to receivea sum accorded by his majesty, and I am received like a mendicant whocomes to ask charity, or a thief who comes to steal a piece of plate."
"But you pronounced the name of M. Colbert, my dear M. d'Artagnan; yousaid you were going to M. Colbert's?"
"I certainly am going there, were it only to ask satisfaction of thepeople who try to burn houses, crying 'Vive Colbert!'"
Gourville pricked up his ears. "Oh, oh!" said he, "you allude to whathas just happened at the Greve?"
"Yes, certainly."
"And in what did that which has taken place concern you?"
"What! do you ask me whether it concerns me or does not concern me, ifM. Colbert pleases to make a funeral-pile of my house?"
"So ho, your house--was it your house they wanted to burn?"
"Pardieu! was it!"
"Is the cabaret of the Image-de-Notre-Dame yours, then?"
"It has been this week."
"Well, then, are you the brave captain, are you the valiant blade whodispersed those who wished to burn the condemned?"
"My dear Monsieur Gourville, put yourself in my place. I was an agentof the public force and a landlord, too. As a captain, it is my duty tohave the orders of the king accomplished. As a proprietor, it is to myinterest my house should not be burnt. I have at the same time attendedto the laws of interest and duty in replacing Messieurs Lyodot andD'Eymeris in the hands of the archers."
"Then it was you who threw the man out of the window?"
"It was I, myself," replied D'Artagnan, modestly
"And you who killed Menneville?"
"I had that misfortune," said D'Artagnan, bowing like a man who is beingcongratulated.
"It was you, then, in short, who caused the two condemned persons to behung?"
"Instead of being burnt, yes, monsieur, and I am proud of it. I savedthe poor devils from horrible tortures. Understand, my dear Monsieur deGourville, that they wanted to burn them alive. It exceeds imagination!"
"Go, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, go," said Gourville, anxious to spareFouquet the sight of the man who had just caused him such profoundgrief.
"No," said Fouquet, who had heard all from the door of the ante-chamber;"not so; on the contrary, Monsieur d'Artagnan, come in."
D'Artagnan wiped from the hilt of his sword a last bloody trace, whichhad escaped his notice, and returned. He then found himself face toface with these three men, whose countenances wore very differentexpressions. With the abbe it was anger, with Gourville stupor, withFouquet it was dejection.
"I beg your pardon, monsieur le ministre," said D'Artagnan, "but mytime is short; I have to go to the office of the intendant, to have anexplanation with Monsieur Colbert, and to receive my quarter's pension."
"But, monsieur," said Fouquet, "there is money here." D'Artagnanlooked at the superintendent with astonishment. "You have been answeredinconsiderately, monsieur, I know, because I heard it," said theminister; "a man of your merit ought to be known by everybody."D'Artagnan bowed. "Have you an order?" added Fouquet.
"Yes, monsieur."
"Give it me, I will pay you myself; come with me." He made a sign toGourville and the abbe, who remained in the chamber where they were.He led D'Artagnan into his cabinet. As soon as the door was shut,--"Howmuch is due to you, monsieur?"
"Why, something like five thousand livres, monseigneur."
"For arrears of pay?"
"For a quarter's pay."
"A quarter consisting of five thousand livres!" said Fouquet, fixingupon the musketeer a searching look. "Does the king, then, give youtwenty thousand livres a year?"
"Yes, monseigneur, twenty thousand livres a year. Do you think it is toomuch?"
"I?" cried Fouquet, and he smiled bitterly. "If I had any knowledge ofmankind, if I were--instead of being a frivolous, inconsequent, and vainspirit--of a prudent and reflective spirit; if, in a word, I had, ascertain persons have known how, regulated my life, you would not receivetwenty thousand livres a year, but a hundred thousand, and you would notbelong to the king, but to me."
D'Artagnan colored slightly. There is sometimes in the manner in whicha eulogium is given, in the voice, in the affectionate tone, a poison sosweet, that the strongest mind is intoxicated by it. The superintendentterminated his speech by opening a drawer, and taking from it fourrouleaux which he placed before D'Artagnan. The Gascon opened one."Gold!" said he.
"It will be less burdensome, monsieur."
"But then, monsieur, these make twenty thousand livres."
"No doubt they do."
"But only five are due to me."
"I wish to spare you the trouble of coming four times to my office."
"You overwhelm me, monsieur."
"I do only what I ought to do, monsieur le chevalier; and I hope youwill not bear me any malice on account of the rude reception my brothergave you. He is of a sour, capricious disposition."
"Monsieur," said D'Artagnan, "believe me, nothing would grieve me morethan an excuse from you."
"Therefore I will make no more, and will content myself with asking youa favor."
"Oh, monsieur."
Fouquet drew from his finger a ring worth about a thousand pistoles."Monsieur," said he, "this stone was given me by a friend of mychildhood, by a man to whom you have rendered a great service."
"A service--I?" said the musketeer, "I have rendered a service to one ofyour friends?"
"You cannot have forgotten it, monsieur, for it dates this very day."
"And that friend's name was----"
"M. d'Eymeris."
"One of the condemned?"
"Yes, one of the victims. Well! Monsieur d'Artagnan, in return for theservice you have rendered him, I beg you to accept this diamond. Do sofor my sake."
"Monsieur! you----"
"Accept it, I say. To-day is with me a day of mourning; hereafter youwill, perhaps, learn why; to-day I have lost one friend; well, I willtry to get another."
"But, Monsieur Fouquet----"
"Adieu! Monsieur d'Artagnan, adieu!" cried Fouquet, with much emotion;"or rather, au revoir." And the minister quitted the cabinet, leaving inthe hands of the musketeer the ring and the twenty thousand livres.
"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, after a moment's dark reflection. "How on eartham I to understand what this means? Mordioux! I can understand thismuch, only: he is a gallant man! I will go and explain matters to M.Colbert." And he went out.
CHAPTER 64. Of the Notable Difference D'Artagnan finds between Monsieurthe Intendant and Monsieur the Superintendent
Ten Years Later Page 68