Vingt ans après. English
Page 20
20. One of Marie Michon's Adventures.
Whilst these projects were being formed by the Duc de Beaufort andGrimaud, the Comte de la Fere and the Vicomte de Bragelonne wereentering Paris by the Rue du Faubourg Saint Marcel.
They stopped at the sign of the Fox, in the Rue du Vieux Colombier, atavern known for many years by Athos, and asked for two bedrooms.
"You must dress yourself, Raoul," said Athos, "I am going to present youto some one."
"To-day, monsieur?" asked the young man.
"In half an hour."
The young man bowed. Perhaps, not being endowed with the endurance ofAthos, who seemed to be made of iron, he would have preferred a bath inthe river Seine of which he had heard so much, and afterward his bed;but the Comte de la Fere had spoken and he had no thought but to obey.
"By the way," said Athos, "take some pains with your toilet, Raoul; Iwant you to be approved."
"I hope, sir," replied the youth, smiling, "that there's no idea of amarriage for me; you know of my engagement to Louise?"
Athos, in his turn, smiled also.
"No, don't be alarmed, although it is to a lady that I am going topresent you, and I am anxious that you should love her----"
The young man looked at the count with a certain uneasiness, but at asmile from Athos he was quickly reassured.
"How old is she?" inquired the Vicomte de Bragelonne.
"My dear Raoul, learn, once for all, that that is a question which isnever asked. When you can find out a woman's age by her face, it isuseless to ask it; when you cannot do so, it is indiscreet."
"Is she beautiful?"
"Sixteen years ago she was deemed not only the prettiest, but the mostgraceful woman in France."
This reply reassured the vicomte. A woman who had been a reigning beautya year before he was born could not be the subject of any scheme forhim. He retired to his toilet. When he reappeared, Athos received himwith the same paternal smile as that which he had often bestowed onD'Artagnan, but a more profound tenderness for Raoul was now visiblyimpressed upon his face.
Athos cast a glance at his feet, hands and hair--those three marks ofrace. The youth's dark hair was neatly parted and hung in curls, forminga sort of dark frame around his face; such was the fashion of the day.Gloves of gray kid, matching the hat, well displayed the form of aslender and elegant hand; whilst his boots, similar in color to the hatand gloves, confined feet small as those of a boy twelve years old.
"Come," murmured Athos, "if she is not proud of him, she must be hard toplease."
It was three o'clock in the afternoon. The two travelers proceeded tothe Rue Saint Dominique and stopped at the door of a magnificent hotel,surmounted with the arms of De Luynes.
"'Tis here," said Athos.
He entered the hotel and ascended the front steps, and addressing afootman who waited there in a grand livery, asked if the Duchess deChevreuse was visible and if she could receive the Comte de la Fere?
The servant returned with a message to say, that, though the duchess hadnot the honor of knowing Monsieur de la Fere, she would receive him.
Athos followed the footman, who led him through a long succession ofapartments and paused at length before a closed door. Athos made a signto the Vicomte de Bragelonne to remain where he was.
The footman opened the door and announced Monsieur le Comte de la Fere.
Madame de Chevreuse, whose name appears so often in our story "The ThreeMusketeers," without her actually having appeared in any scene, wasstill a beautiful woman. Although about forty-four or forty-five yearsold, she might have passed for thirty-five. She still had her rich fairhair; her large, animated, intelligent eyes, so often opened byintrigue, so often closed by the blindness of love. She had still hernymph-like form, so that when her back was turned she still was notunlike the girl who had jumped, with Anne of Austria, over the moat ofthe Tuileries in 1563. In all other respects she was the same madcreature who threw over her amours such an air of originality as to makethem proverbial for eccentricity in her family.
She was in a little boudoir, hung with blue damask, adorned by redflowers, with a foliage of gold, looking upon a garden; and reclinedupon a sofa, her head supported on the rich tapestry which covered it.She held a book in her hand and her arm was supported by a cushion.
At the footman's announcement she raised herself a little and peepedout, with some curiosity.
Athos appeared.
He was dressed in violet-tinted velvet, trimmed with silk of the samecolor. His shoulder-knots were of burnished silver, his mantle had nogold nor embroidery on it; a simple plume of violet feathers adorned hishat; his boots were of black leather, and at his girdle hung that swordwith a magnificent hilt that Porthos had so often admired in the RueFeron. Splendid lace adorned the falling collar of his shirt, and lacefell also over the top of his boots.
In his whole person he bore such an impress of high degree, that Madamede Chevreuse half rose from her seat when she saw him and made him asign to sit down near her.
Athos bowed and obeyed. The footman was withdrawing, but Athos stoppedhim by a sign.
"Madame," he said to the duchess, "I have had the boldness to presentmyself at your hotel without being known to you; it has succeeded, sinceyou deign to receive me. I have now the boldness to ask you for aninterview of half an hour."
"I grant it, monsieur," replied Madame de Chevreuse with her mostgracious smile.
"But that is not all, madame. Oh, I am very presuming, I am aware. Theinterview for which I ask is of us two alone, and I very earnestly wishthat it may not be interrupted."
"I am not at home to any one," said the Duchess de Chevreuse to thefootman. "You may go."
The footman went out.
There ensued a brief silence, during which these two persons, who atfirst sight recognized each other so clearly as of noble race, examinedeach other without embarrassment on either side.
The duchess was the first to speak.
"Well, sir, I am waiting with impatience to hear what you wish to say tome."
"And I, madame," replied Athos, "am looking with admiration."
"Sir," said Madame de Chevreuse, "you must excuse me, but I long to knowto whom I am talking. You belong to the court, doubtless, yet I havenever seen you at court. Have you, by any chance, been in the Bastile?"
"No, madame, I have not; but very likely I am on the road to it."
"Ah! then tell me who you are, and get along with you upon yourjourney," replied the duchess, with the gayety which made her socharming, "for I am sufficiently in bad odor already, withoutcompromising myself still more."
"Who I am, madame? My name has been mentioned to you--the Comte de laFere; you do not know that name. I once bore another, which you knew,but you have certainly forgotten it."
"Tell it me, sir."
"Formerly," said the count, "I was Athos."
Madame de Chevreuse looked astonished. The name was not whollyforgotten, but mixed up and confused with ancient recollections.
"Athos?" said she; "wait a moment."
And she placed her hands on her brow, as if to force the fugitive ideasit contained to concentration in a moment.
"Shall I help you, madame?" asked Athos.
"Yes, do," said the duchess.
"This Athos was connected with three young musketeers, named Porthos,D'Artagnan, and----"
He stopped short.
"And Aramis," said the duchess, quickly.
"And Aramis; I see you have not forgotten the name."
"No," she said; "poor Aramis; a charming man, elegant, discreet, and awriter of poetical verses. I am afraid he has turned out ill," sheadded.
"He has; he is an abbe."
"Ah, what a misfortune!" exclaimed the duchess, playing carelessly withher fan. "Indeed, sir, I thank you; you have recalled one of the mostagreeable recollections of my youth."
"Will you permit me, then, to recall another to you?"
"Relating to him?"
"Yes and no
."
"Faith!" said Madame de Chevreuse, "say on. With a man like you I fearnothing."
Athos bowed. "Aramis," he continued, "was intimate with a youngneedlewoman from Tours, a cousin of his, named Marie Michon."
"Ah, I knew her!" cried the duchess. "It was to her he wrote from thesiege of Rochelle, to warn her of a plot against the Duke ofBuckingham."
"Exactly so; will you allow me to speak to you of her?"
"If," replied the duchess, with a meaning look, "you do not say too muchagainst her."
"I should be ungrateful," said Athos, "and I regard ingratitude, not asa fault or a crime, but as a vice, which is much worse."
"You ungrateful to Marie Michon, monsieur?" said Madame de Chevreuse,trying to read in Athos's eyes. "But how can that be? You never knewher."
"Eh, madame, who knows?" said Athos. "There is a popular proverb to theeffect that it is only mountains that never meet; and popular proverbscontain sometimes a wonderful amount of truth."
"Oh, go on, monsieur, go on!" said Madame de Chevreuse eagerly; "youcan't imagine how much this conversation interests me."
"You encourage me," said Athos, "I will continue, then. That cousin ofAramis, that Marie Michon, that needlewoman, notwithstanding her lowcondition, had acquaintances in the highest rank; she called thegrandest ladies of the court her friend, and the queen--proud as she is,in her double character as Austrian and as Spaniard--called her hersister."
"Alas!" said Madame de Chevreuse, with a slight sigh and a littlemovement of her eyebrows that was peculiarly her own, "since that timeeverything has changed."
"And the queen had reason for her affection, for Marie was devoted toher--devoted to that degree that she served her as medium of intercoursewith her brother, the king of Spain."
"Which," interrupted the duchess, "is now brought up against her as agreat crime."
"And therefore," continued Athos, "the cardinal--the true cardinal, theother one--determined one fine morning to arrest poor Marie Michon andsend her to the Chateau de Loches. Fortunately the affair was notmanaged so secretly but that it became known to the queen. The case hadbeen provided for: if Marie Michon should be threatened with any dangerthe queen was to send her a prayer-book bound in green velvet."
"That is true, monsieur, you are well informed."
"One morning the green book was brought to her by the Prince deMarsillac. There was no time to lose. Happily Marie and a follower ofhers named Kitty could disguise themselves admirably in men's clothes.The prince procured for Marie Michon the dress of a cavalier and forKitty that of a lackey; he sent them two excellent horses, and thefugitives went out hastily from Tours, shaping their course towardSpain, trembling at the least noise, following unfrequented roads, andasking for hospitality when they found themselves where there was noinn."
"Why, really, it was all exactly as you say!" cried Madame de Chevreuse,clapping her hands. "It would indeed be strange if----" she checkedherself.
"If I should follow the two fugitives to the end of their journey?" saidAthos. "No, madame, I will not thus waste your time. We will accompanythem only to a little village in Limousin, lying between Tulle andAngouleme--a little village called Roche-l'Abeille."
Madame de Chevreuse uttered a cry of surprise, and looked at Athos withan expression of astonishment that made the old musketeer smile.
"Wait, madame," continued Athos, "what remains for me to tell you iseven more strange than what I have narrated."
"Monsieur," said Madame de Chevreuse, "I believe you are a sorcerer; Iam prepared for anything. But really--No matter, go on."
"The journey of that day had been long and wearing; it was a cold day,the eleventh of October, there was no inn or chateau in the village andthe homes of the peasants were poor and unattractive. Marie Michon was avery aristocratic person; like her sister the queen, she had beenaccustomed to pleasing perfumes and fine linen; she resolved, therefore,to seek hospitality of the priest."
Athos paused.
"Oh, continue!" said the duchess. "I have told you that I am preparedfor anything."
"The two travelers knocked at the door. It was late; the priest, who hadgone to bed, cried out to them to come in. They entered, for the doorwas not locked--there is much confidence among villagers. A lamp burnedin the chamber occupied by the priest. Marie Michon, who made the mostcharming cavalier in the world, pushed open the door, put her head inand asked for hospitality. 'Willingly, my young cavalier,' said thepriest, 'if you will be content with the remains of my supper and withhalf my chamber.'
"The two travelers consulted for a moment. The priest heard a burst oflaughter and then the master, or rather, the mistress, replied: 'Thankyou, monsieur le cure, I accept.' 'Sup, then, and make as little noiseas possible,' said the priest, 'for I, too, have been on the go all dayand shall not be sorry to sleep to-night.'"
Madame de Chevreuse evidently went from surprise to astonishment, andfrom astonishment to stupefaction. Her face, as she looked at Athos, hadtaken on an expression that cannot be described. It could be seen thatshe had wished to speak, but she had remained silent through fear oflosing one of her companion's words.
"What happened then?" she asked.
"Then?" said Athos. "Ah, I have come now to what is most difficult."
"Speak, speak! One can say anything to me. Besides, it doesn't concernme; it relates to Mademoiselle Marie Michon."
"Ah, that is true," said Athos. "Well, then, Marie Michon had supperwith her follower, and then, in accordance with the permission givenher, she entered the chamber of her host, Kitty meanwhile takingpossession of an armchair in the room first entered, where they hadtaken their supper."
"Really, monsieur," said Madame de Chevreuse, "unless you are the devilin person I don't know how you could become acquainted with all thesedetails."
"A charming woman was that Marie Michon," resumed Athos, "one of thosewild creatures who are constantly conceiving the strangest ideas. Now,thinking that her host was a priest, that coquette took it into her headthat it would be a happy souvenir for her old age, among the many happysouvenirs she already possessed, if she could win that of having damnedan abbe."
"Count," said the duchess, "upon my word, you frighten me."
"Alas!" continued Athos, "the poor abbe was not a St. Ambroise, and Irepeat, Marie Michon was an adorable creature."
"Monsieur!" cried the duchess, seizing Athos's hands, "tell me thismoment how you know all these details, or I will send to the convent ofthe Vieux Augustins for a monk to come and exorcise you."
Athos laughed. "Nothing is easier, madame. A cavalier, charged with animportant mission, had come an hour before your arrival, seekinghospitality, at the very moment that the cure, summoned to the bedsideof a dying person, left not only his house but the village, for theentire night. The priest having all confidence in his guest, who,besides, was a nobleman, had left to him his house, his supper and hischamber. And therefore Marie came seeking hospitality from the guest ofthe good abbe and not from the good abbe himself."
"And that cavalier, that guest, that nobleman who arrived before shecame?"
"It was I, the Comte de la Fere," said Athos, rising and bowingrespectfully to the Duchess de Chevreuse.
The duchess remained a moment stupefied; then, suddenly bursting intolaughter:
"Ah! upon my word," said she, "it is very droll, and that mad MarieMichon fared better than she expected. Sit down, dear count, and go onwith your story."
"At this point I have to accuse myself of a fault, madame. I have toldyou that I was traveling on an important mission. At daybreak I left thechamber without noise, leaving my charming companion asleep. In thefront room the follower was also still asleep, her head leaning back onthe chair, in all respects worthy of her mistress. Her pretty facearrested my attention; I approached and recognized that little Kittywhom our friend Aramis had placed with her. In that way I discoveredthat the charming traveler was----"
"Marie Michon!" said Madame de Chevreuse, hastily.
"And have you never revisited that village?" eagerly asked Madame deChevreuse.
"A year after, madame."
"Well?"
"I wanted to see the good cure again. I found him much preoccupied withan event that he could not at all comprehend. A week before he hadreceived, in a cradle, a beautiful little boy three months old, with apurse filled with gold and a note containing these simple words: '11October, 1633.'"
"It was the date of that strange adventure," interrupted Madame deChevreuse.
"Yes, but he couldn't understand what it meant, for he had spent thatnight with a dying person and Marie Michon had left his house before hisreturn."
"You must know, monsieur, that Marie Michon, when she returned to Francein 1643, immediately sought for information about that child; as afugitive she could not take care of it, but on her return she wished tohave it near her."
"And what said the abbe?" asked Athos.
"That a nobleman whom he did not know had wished to take charge of it,had answered for its future, and had taken it away."
"That was true."
"Ah! I see! That nobleman was you; it was his father!"
"Hush! do not speak so loud, madame; he is there."
"He is there! my son! the son of Marie Michon! But I must see himinstantly."
"Take care, madame," said Athos, "for he knows neither his father norhis mother."
"You have kept the secret! you have brought him to see me, thinking tomake me happy. Oh, thanks! sir, thanks!" cried Madame de Chevreuse,seizing his hand and trying to put it to her lips; "you have a nobleheart."
"I bring him to you, madame," said Athos, withdrawing his hand, "hopingthat in your turn you will do something for him; till now I have watchedover his education and I have made him, I hope, an accomplishedgentleman; but I am now obliged to return to the dangerous and wanderinglife of party faction. To-morrow I plunge into an adventurous affair inwhich I may be killed. Then it will devolve on you to push him on inthat world where he is called on to occupy a place."
"Rest assured," cried the duchess, "I shall do what I can. I have butlittle influence now, but all that I have shall most assuredly be his.As to his title and fortune----"
"As to that, madame, I have made over to him the estate of Bragelonne,my inheritance, which will give him ten thousand francs a year and thetitle of vicomte."
"Upon my soul, monsieur," said the duchess, "you are a true nobleman!But I am eager to see our young vicomte. Where is he?"
"There, in the salon. I will have him come in, if you really wish it."
Athos moved toward the door; the duchess held him back.
"Is he handsome?" she asked.
Athos smiled.
"He resembles his mother."
So he opened the door and beckoned the young man in.
The duchess could not restrain a cry of joy on seeing so handsome ayoung cavalier, so far surpassing all that her maternal pride had beenable to conceive.
"Vicomte, come here," said Athos; "the duchess permits you to kiss herhand."
The youth approached with his charming smile and his head bare, andkneeling down, kissed the hand of the Duchess de Chevreuse.
"Sir," he said, turning to Athos, "was it not in compassion to mytimidity that you told me that this lady was the Duchess de Chevreuse,and is she not the queen?"
"No, vicomte," said Madame de Chevreuse, taking his hand and making himsit near her, while she looked at him with eyes sparkling with pleasure;"no, unhappily, I am not the queen. If I were I should do for you atonce the most that you deserve. But let us see; whatever I may be," sheadded, hardly restraining herself from kissing that pure brow, "let ussee what profession you wish to follow."
Athos, standing, looked at them both with indescribable pleasure.
"Madame," answered the youth in his sweet voice, "it seems to me thatthere is only one career for a gentleman--that of the army. I have beenbrought up by monsieur le comte with the intention, I believe, of makingme a soldier; and he gave me reason to hope that at Paris he wouldpresent me to some one who would recommend me to the favor of theprince."
"Yes, I understand it well. Personally, I am on bad terms with him, onaccount of the quarrels between Madame de Montbazon, my mother-in-law,and Madame de Longueville. But the Prince de Marsillac! Yes, indeed,that's the right thing. The Prince de Marsillac--my old friend--willrecommend our young friend to Madame de Longueville, who will give him aletter to her brother, the prince, who loves her too tenderly not to dowhat she wishes immediately."
"Well, that will do charmingly," said the count; "but may I beg that thegreatest haste may be made, for I have reasons for wishing the vicomtenot to sleep longer than to-morrow night in Paris!"
"Do you wish it known that you are interested about him, monsieur lecomte?"
"Better for him in future that he should be supposed never to have seenme."
"Oh, sir!" cried Raoul.
"You know, Bragelonne," said Athos, "I never speak without reflection."
"Well, comte, I am going instantly," interrupted the duchess, "to sendfor the Prince de Marsillac, who is happily, in Paris just now. What areyou going to do this evening?"
"We intend to visit the Abbe Scarron, for whom I have a letter ofintroduction and at whose house I expect to meet some of my friends."
"'Tis well; I will go there also, for a few minutes," said the duchess;"do not quit his salon until you have seen me."
Athos bowed and prepared to leave.
"Well, monsieur le comte," said the duchess, smiling, "does one leave sosolemnly his old friends?"
"Ah," murmured Athos, kissing her hand, "had I only sooner known thatMarie Michon was so charming a creature!" And he withdrew, sighing.