Ten Years Later

by Alexandre Dumas

  Scarcely had D'Artagnan extinguished his taper, when Aramis, who hadwatched through his curtains the last glimmer of light in his friend'sapartment, traversed the corridor on tiptoe, and went to Porthos's room.The giant, who had been in bed nearly an hour and a half, lay grandlystretched out on the down bed. He was in that happy calm of the firstsleep, which, with Porthos, resisted the noise of bells or the report ofcannon; his head swam in that soft oscillation which reminds us of thesoothing movement of a ship. In a moment Porthos would have begun todream. The door of the chamber opened softly under the delicate pressureof the hand of Aramis. The bishop approached the sleeper. A thick carpetdeadened the sound of his steps, besides which Porthos snored in amanner to drown all noise. He laid one hand on his shoulder--"Rouse,"said he, "wake up, my dear Porthos." The voice of Aramis was soft andkind, but it conveyed more than a notice,--it conveyed an order. Hishand was light, but it indicated a danger. Porthos heard the voice andfelt the hand of Aramis, even in the depth of his sleep. He started up."Who goes there?" cried he, in his giant's voice.

  "Hush! hush! It is I," said Aramis.

  "You, my friend? And what the devil do you wake me for?"

  "To tell you that you must set off directly."

  "Set off?"

  "Yes."

  "Where for?"

  "For Paris."

  Porthos bounded up in his bed, and then sank back again, fixing hisgreat eyes in agitation upon Aramis.

  "For Paris?"

  "Yes."

  "A hundred leagues?" said he.

  "A hundred and four," replied the bishop.

  "Oh! mon Dieu!" sighed Porthos, lying down again, like children whocontend with their bonne to gain an hour or two more sleep.

  "Thirty hours' riding," said Aramis, firmly. "You know there are goodrelays."

  Porthos pushed out one leg, allowing a groan to escape him.

  "Come, come! my friend," insisted the prelate with a sort of impatience.

  Porthos drew the other leg out of the bed. "And is it absolutelynecessary that I should go, at once?"

  "Urgently necessary."

  Porthos got upon his feet, and began to shake both walls and floors withhis steps of a marble statue.

  "Hush! hush! for the love of Heaven, my dear Porthos!" said Aramis, "youwill wake somebody."

  "Ah! that's true," replied Porthos, in a voice of thunder, "I forgotthat; but be satisfied, I am on guard." And so saying, he let fall abelt loaded with his sword and pistols, and a purse, from which thecrowns escaped with a vibrating and prolonged noise. This noise made theblood of Aramis boil, whilst it drew from Porthos a formidable burst oflaughter. "How droll that is!" said he, in the same voice.

  "Not so loud, Porthos, not so loud."

  "True, true!" and he lowered his voice a half-note.

  "I was going to say," continued Porthos, "that it is droll that we arenever so slow as when we are in a hurry, and never make so much noise aswhen we wish to be silent."

  "Yes, that is true, but let us give the proverb the lie, Porthos; let usmake haste, and hold our tongue."

  "You see I am doing my best," said Porthos, putting on his haut dechausses.

  "Very well."

  "This is something in haste?"

  "It is more than that, it is serious, Porthos."

  "Oh, oh!"

  "D'Artagnan has questioned you, has he not?"

  "Questioned me?"

  "Yes, at Belle-Isle?"

  "Not the least in the world."

  "Are you sure of that, Porthos?"

  "Parbleu!"

  "It is impossible. Recollect yourself."

  "He asked me what I was doing, and I told him studying topography. Iwould have made use of another word which you employed one day."

  "'Castrametation'?"

  "Yes, that's it, but I never could recollect it."

  "All the better. What more did he ask you?"

  "Who M. Getard was."

  "Next?"

  "Who M. Jupenet was."

  "He did not happen to see our plan of fortifications, did he?"

  "Yes."

  "The devil he did!"

  "But don't be alarmed, I had rubbed out your writing with India-rubber.It was impossible for him to suppose you had given me any advice inthose works."

  "Ay, but our friend has phenomenally keen eyes."

  "What are you afraid of?"

  "I fear that everything is discovered, Porthos; the matter is, then, toprevent a great misfortune. I have given orders to my people to closeall the gates and doors. D'Artagnan will not be able to get out beforedaybreak. Your horse is ready saddled; you will gain the first relay;by five o'clock in the morning you will have traversed fifteen leagues.Come!"

  Aramis then assisted Porthos to dress, piece by piece, with as muchcelerity as the most skillful valet de chambre could have done. Porthos,half stupefied, let him do as he liked, and confounded himself inexcuses. When he was ready, Aramis took him by the hand, and led him,making him place his foot with precaution on every step of the stairs,preventing him running against doorframes, turning him this way andthat, as if Aramis had been the giant, and Porthos the dwarf. Soul setfire to and animated matter. A horse was waiting, ready saddled, in thecourtyard. Porthos mounted. Then Aramis himself took the horse by thebridle, and led him over some dung spread in the yard, with the evidentintention of suppressing noise. He, at the same time, held tight thehorse's nose, to prevent him neighing. When arrived at the outward gate,drawing Porthos towards him, who was going off without even asking himwhat for: "Now friend Porthos, now; without drawing bridle, till youget to Paris," whispered he in his ears; "eat on horseback, drink onhorseback, sleep on horseback, but lose not a minute."

  "That's enough, I will not stop."

  "This letter to M. Fouquet; cost what it may, he must have it to-morrowbefore mid-day."

  "He shall."

  "And do not forget one thing, my friend."

  "What is that?"

  "That you are riding out on a hunt for your brevet of duc and peer."

  "Oh! oh!" said Porthos, with his eyes sparkling; "I will do it intwenty-four hours, in that case."

  "Try."

  "Then let go the bridle--and forward, Goliath!"

  Aramis did let go, not the bridle, but the horse's nose. Porthosreleased his hand, clapped spurs to his horse, which set off at agallop. As long as he could distinguish Porthos through the darkness,Aramis followed him with his eyes: when he was completely out of sight,he re-entered the yard. Nothing had stirred in D'Artagnan's apartment.The valet placed on watch at the door had neither seen any light, norheard any noise. Aramis closed his door carefully, sent the lackey tobed, and quickly sought his own. D'Artagnan really suspected nothing,therefore thought he had gained everything, when he awoke in themorning, about halfpast four. He ran to the window in his shirt.The window looked out upon the court. Day was dawning. The court wasdeserted; the fowls, even, had not left their roosts. Not a servantappeared. Every door was closed.

  "Good! all is still," said D'Artagnan to himself. "Never mind: I amup first in the house. Let us dress; that will be so much done." AndD'Artagnan dressed himself. But, this time, he endeavored not to giveto the costume of M. Agnan that bourgeoise and almost ecclesiasticalrigidity he had affected before; he managed, by drawing his belttighter, by buttoning his clothes in a different fashion, and by puttingon his hat a little on one side, to restore to his person a little ofthat military character, the absence of which had surprised Aramis. Thisbeing done, he made free, or affected to make free with his host, andentered his chamber without ceremony. Aramis was asleep or feigned tobe so. A large book lay open upon his night-desk, a wax-light was stillburning in its silver sconce. This was more than enough to proveto D'Artagnan the quiescence of the prelate's night, and the goodintentions of his waking. The musketeer did to the bishop precisely asthe bishop had done to Porthos--he tapped him on the shoulder. EvidentlyAramis pretended to sleep; for, instead of waking suddenly, he who sleptso lightly requ
ired a repetition of the summons.

  "Ah! ah! is that you?" said he, stretching his arms. "What an agreeablesurprise! Ma foi! Sleep had made me forget I had the happiness topossess you. What o'clock is it?"

  "I do not know," said D'Artagnan, a little embarrassed. "Early, Ibelieve. But, you know, that devil of a habit of waking with the daysticks to me still."

  "Do you wish that we should go out so soon?" asked Aramis. "It appearsto me to be very early."

  "Just as you like."

  "I thought we had agreed not to get on horseback before eight."

  "Possibly; but I had so great a wish to see you, that I said to myself,the sooner the better."

  "And my seven hours, sleep!" said Aramis: "Take care; I had reckonedupon them, and what I lose of them I must make up."

  "But it seems to me that, formerly, you were less of a sleeper thanthat, dear friend; your blood was alive, and you were never to be foundin bed."

  "And it is exactly on account of what you tell me that I am so fond ofbeing there now."

  "Then you confess that it is not for the sake of sleeping that you haveput me off till eight o'clock."

  "I have been afraid you would laugh at me, if I told you the truth."

  "Tell me, notwithstanding."

  "Well, from six to eight, I am accustomed to perform my devotions."

  "Your devotions?"

  "Yes."

  "I did not believe a bishop's exercises were so severe."

  "A bishop, my friend, must sacrifice more to appearance than a simplecleric."

  "Mordioux! Aramis, that is a word which reconciles me with yourgreatness. To appearances! That is a musketeer's word, in good truth!Vivent les apparences, Aramis!"

  "Instead of felicitating me upon it, pardon me, D'Artagnan. It is a verymundane word which I had allowed to escape me."

  "Must I leave you, then?"

  "I want time to collect my thoughts, my friend, and for my usualprayers."

  "Well, I leave you to them; but on account of that poor pagan,D'Artagnan, abridge them for once, I beg; I thirst for speech with you."

  "Well, D'Artagnan, I promise you that within an hour and a half----"

  "An hour and a half of devotions! Eh! my friend, be as reasonable withme as you can. Let me have the best bargain possible."

  Aramis began to laugh.

  "Still agreeable, still young, still gay," said he. "You have come intomy diocese to set me quarrelling with grace."

  "Bah!"

  "And you know well that I was never able to resist your seductions; youwill cost me my salvation, D'Artagnan."

  D'Artagnan bit his lips.

  "Well," said he, "I will take the sin on my own head, favor me with onesimple Christian sign of the cross, favor me with one pater, and we willpart."

  "Hush!" said Aramis, "we are already no longer alone, I hear strangerscoming up."

  "Well, dismiss them."

  "Impossible, I made an appointment with them yesterday; it is theprincipal of the college of the Jesuits, and the superior of theDominicans."

  "Your staff? Well, so be it."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "I will go and wake Porthos, and remain in his company till you havefinished the conference."

  Aramis did not stir, his brow remained unbent, he betrayed himself by nogesture or word; "Go," said he, as D'Artagnan advanced to the door. "Apropos, do you know where Porthos sleeps?"

  "No, but I will inquire."

  "Take the corridor, and open the second door on the left."

  "Thank you! au revoir." And D'Artagnan departed in the direction pointedout by Aramis.

  Ten minutes had not passed away when he came back. He found Aramisseated between the superior of the Dominicans and the principal of thecollege of the Jesuits, exactly in the same situation as he had foundhim formerly in the auberge at Crevecoeur. This company did not at allterrify the musketeer.

  "What is it?" said Aramis, quietly. "You have apparently something tosay to me, my friend."

  "It is," replied D'Artagnan, fixing his eyes upon Aramis, "it is thatPorthos is not in his apartment."

  "Indeed," said Aramis, calmly; "are you sure?"

  "Pardieu! I came from his chamber."

  "Where can he be, then?"

  "That is what I am asking you."

  "And have not you inquired?"

  "Yes, I have."

  "And what answer did you get?"

  "That Porthos, often walking out in a morning, without saying anything,had probably gone out."

  "What did you do, then?"

  "I went to the stables," replied D'Artagnan, carelessly.

  "What to do?"

  "To see if Porthos had departed on horseback."

  "And?" interrogated the bishop.

  "Well, there is a horse missing, stall No. 3, Goliath."

  All this dialogue, it may be easily understood, was not exempt froma certain affectation on the part of the musketeer, and a perfectcomplaisance on the part of Aramis.

  "Oh! I guess how it is," said Aramis, after having considered for amoment, "Porthos is gone out to give us a surprise."

  "A surprise?"

  "Yes, the canal which goes from Vannes to the sea abounds in teal andsnipes; that is Porthos's favorite sport, and he will bring us back adozen for breakfast."

  "Do you think so?" said D'Artagnan.

  "I am sure of it. Where else can he be? I would lay a wager he took agun with him."

  "Well, that is possible," said D'Artagnan.

  "Do one thing, my friend. Get on horseback, and join him."

  "You are right," said D'Artagnan, "I will."

  "Shall I go with you?"

  "No, thank you; Porthos is a rather remarkable man: I will inquire as Igo along."

  "Will you take an arquebuse?"

  "Thank you."

  "Order what horse you like to be saddled."

  "The one I rode yesterday, on coming from Belle-Isle."

  "So be it: use the horse as your own."

  Aramis rang, and gave orders to have the horse M. d'Artagnan had chosen,saddled.

  D'Artagnan followed the servant charged with the execution of thisorder. When arrived at the door, the servant drew on one side to allowM. d'Artagnan to pass; and at that moment he caught the eye of hismaster. A knitting of the brow gave the intelligent spy to understandthat all should be given to D'Artagnan he wished. D'Artagnan got intothe saddle, and Aramis heard the steps of his horse on the pavement. Aninstant after, the servant returned.

  "Well?" asked the bishop.

  "Monseigneur, he has followed the course of the canal, and is goingtowards the sea," said the servant.

  "Very well!" said Aramis.

  In fact, D'Artagnan, dismissing all suspicion, hastened towards theocean, constantly hoping to see in the Landes, or on the beach, thecolossal profile of Porthos. He persisted in fancying he could trace ahorse's steps in every puddle. Sometimes he imagined he heard the reportof a gun. This illusion lasted three hours; during two of which he wentforward in search of his friend--in the last he returned to the house.

  "We must have crossed," said he, "and I shall find them waiting for meat table."

  D'Artagnan was mistaken. He no more found Porthos at the palace than hehad found him on the sea-shore. Aramis was waiting for him at the top ofthe stairs, looking very much concerned.

  "Did my people not find you, my dear D'Artagnan?" cried he, as soon ashe caught sight of the musketeer.

  "No; did you send any one after me?"

  "I am deeply concerned, my friend, deeply, to have induced you tomake such a useless search, but, about seven o'clock, the almoner ofSaint-Paterne came here. He had met Du Vallon, who was going away, andwho being unwilling to disturb anybody at the palace, had charged himto tell me that, fearing M. Getard would play him some ill turn in hisabsence, he was going to take advantage of the morning tide to make atour to Belle-Isle."

  "But tell me, Goliath has not crossed the four leagues of sea, I shouldthink."
/>
  "There are full six," said Aramis.

  "That makes it less probable still."

  "Therefore, my friend," said Aramis, with one of his blandest smiles,"Goliath is in the stable, well pleased, I will answer for it, thatPorthos is no longer on his back." In fact, the horse had been broughtback from the relay by the direction of the prelate, from whom no detailescaped. D'Artagnan appeared as well satisfied as possible with theexplanation. He entered upon a part of dissimulation which agreedperfectly with the suspicions that arose more and more strongly in hismind. He breakfasted between the Jesuit and Aramis, having the Dominicanin front of him, and smiling particularly at the Dominican, whose jolly,fat face pleased him much. The repast was long and sumptuous; excellentSpanish wine, fine Morbihan oysters, exquisite fish from the mouth ofthe Loire, enormous prawns from Paimboeuf, and delicious game from themoors, constituted the principal part of it. D'Artagnan ate much, anddrank but little. Aramis drank nothing, unless it was water. After therepast,--

  "You offered me an arquebuse," said D'Artagnan.

  "I did."

  "Lend it me, then."

  "Are you going shooting?"

  "Whilst waiting for Porthos, it is the best thing I can do, I think."

  "Take which you like from the trophy."

  "Will you not come with me?"

  "I would with great pleasure; but, alas! my friend, sporting isforbidden to bishops."

  "Ah!" said D'Artagnan, "I did not know that."

  "Besides," continued Aramis, "I shall be busy till mid-day."

  "I shall go alone, then?" said D'Artagnan.

  "I am sorry to say you must; but come back to dinner."

  "Pardieu! the eating at your house is too good to make me think of notcoming back." And thereupon D'Artagnan quitted his host, bowed to theguests, and took his arquebuse; but instead of shooting, went straightto the little port of Vannes. He looked in vain to observe if anybodysaw him; he could discern neither thing nor person. He engaged a littlefishing boat for twenty-five livres, and set off at half-past eleven,convinced that he had not been followed; and that was true, he had notbeen followed; only a Jesuit brother, placed in the top of the steepleof his church, had not, since the morning, by the help of an excellentglass, lost sight of one of his steps. At three-quarters past eleven,Aramis was informed that D'Artagnan was sailing towards Belle-Isle. Thevoyage was rapid; a good north north-east wind drove him towards theisle. As he approached, his eyes were constantly fixed upon the coast.He looked to see if, upon the shore or upon the fortifications thebrilliant dress and vast stature of Porthos should stand out against aslightly clouded sky; but his search was vain. He landed without havingseen anything; and learnt from the first soldier interrogated by him,that M. du Vallon had not yet returned from Vannes. Then, without losingan instant, D'Artagnan ordered his little bark to put its head towardsSarzeau. We know that the wind changes with the different hours of theday. The breeze had veered from the north north-east to the south-east:the wind, then, was almost as good for the return to Sarzeau, as it hadbeen for the voyage to Belle-Isle. In three hours D'Artagnan had touchedthe continent, two hours more sufficed for his ride to Vannes. In spiteof the rapidity of his passage, what D'Artagnan endured of impatienceand anger during that short passage, the deck alone of the vessel, uponwhich he stamped backwards and forwards for three hours, could testify.He made but one bound from the quay whereon he landed to the episcopalpalace. He thought to terrify Aramis by the promptitude of his return;he wished to reproach him with his duplicity, and yet with reserve;but with sufficient spirit, nevertheless, to make him feel all theconsequences of it, and force from him a part of his secret He hoped,in short--thanks to that heat of expression which is to secrets what thecharge with the bayonet is to redoubts--to bring the mysterious Aramisto some manifestation or other. But he found, in the vestibule of thepalace, the valet de chambre, who closed the passage, while smiling uponhim with a stupid air.

  "Monseigneur?" cried D'Artagnan, endeavoring to put him aside with hishand. Moved for an instant the valet resumed his station.

  "Monseigneur?" said he.

  "Yes, to be sure; do you not know me, imbecile?"

  "Yes, you are the Chevalier d'Artagnan."

  "Then let me pass."

  "It is of no use."

  "Why of no use?"

  "Because His Greatness is not at home."

  "What! His Greatness is not at home? where is he then?"

  "Gone."

  "Gone?"

  "Yes."

  "Whither?"

  "I don't know; but perhaps he tells monsieur le chevalier."

  "And how? where? in what fashion?"

  "In this letter, which he gave me for monsieur le chevalier." And thevalet de chambre drew a letter from his pocket.

  "Give it me, then, you rascal," said D'Artagnan, snatching it from hishand. "Oh, yes," continued he, at the first line, "yes, I understand;"and he read:--

  "Dear Friend,--An affair of the most urgent nature calls me to a distantparish of my diocese. I hoped to see you again before I set out; but Ilose that hope in thinking that you are going, no doubt, to remain twoor three days at Belle-Isle, with our dear Porthos. Amuse yourself aswell as you can; but do not attempt to hold out against him at table.This is a counsel I might have given even to Athos, in his mostbrilliant and best days. Adieu, dear friend; believe that I regretgreatly not having better, and for a longer time, profited by yourexcellent company."