Vingt ans après. English

by Alexandre Dumas

  52. The Carriage of Monsieur le Coadjuteur.

  Instead of returning, then, by the Saint Honore gate, D'Artagnan, whohad time before him, walked around and re-entered by the PorteRichelieu. He was approached to be examined, and when it was discoveredby his plumed hat and his laced coat, that he was an officer of themusketeers, he was surrounded, with the intention of making him cry,"Down with Mazarin!" The demonstration did not fail to make him uneasyat first; but when he discovered what it meant, he shouted it in such avoice that even the most exacting were satisfied. He walked down the RueRichelieu, meditating how he should carry off the queen in her turn, forto take her in a carriage bearing the arms of France was not to bethought of, when he perceived an equipage standing at the door of thehotel belonging to Madame de Guemenee.

  He was struck by a sudden idea.

  "Ah, pardieu!" he exclaimed; "that would be fair play."

  And approaching the carriage, he examined the arms on the panels and thelivery of the coachman on his box. This scrutiny was so much the moreeasy, the coachman being sound asleep.

  "It is, in truth, monsieur le coadjuteur's carriage," said D'Artagnan;"upon my honor I begin to think that Heaven favors us."

  He mounted noiselessly into the chariot and pulled the silk cord whichwas attached to the coachman's little finger.

  "To the Palais Royal," he called out.

  The coachman awoke with a start and drove off in the direction he wasdesired, never doubting but that the order had come from his master. Theporter at the palace was about to close the gates, but seeing such ahandsome equipage he fancied that it was some visit of importance andthe carriage was allowed to pass and to stop beneath the porch. It wasthen only the coachman perceived the grooms were not behind the vehicle;he fancied monsieur le coadjuteur had sent them back, and withoutdropping the reins he sprang from his box to open the door. D'Artagnan,in his turn, sprang to the ground, and just at the moment when thecoachman, alarmed at not seeing his master, fell back a step, he seizedhim by his collar with the left, whilst with the right hand he placedthe muzzle of a pistol at his breast.

  "Pronounce one single word," muttered D'Artagnan, "and you are a deadman."

  The coachman perceived at once, by the expression of the man who thusaddressed him, that he had fallen into a trap, and he remained with hismouth wide open and his eyes portentously staring.

  Two musketeers were pacing the court, to whom D'Artagnan called by theirnames.

  "Monsieur de Belliere," said he to one of them, "do me the favor to takethe reins from the hands of this worthy man, mount upon the box anddrive to the door of the private stair, and wait for me there; it is anaffair of importance on the service of the king."

  The musketeer, who knew that his lieutenant was incapable of jestingwith regard to the service, obeyed without a word, although he thoughtthe order strange. Then turning toward the second musketeer, D'Artagnansaid:

  "Monsieur du Verger, help me to place this man in a place of safety."

  The musketeer, thinking that his lieutenant had just arrested someprince in disguise, bowed, and drawing his sword, signified that he wasready. D'Artagnan mounted the staircase, followed by his prisoner, whoin his turn was followed by the soldier, and entered Mazarin'sante-room. Bernouin was waiting there, impatient for news of his master.

  "Well, sir?" he said.

  "Everything goes on capitally, my dear Monsieur Bernouin, but here is aman whom I must beg you to put in a safe place."

  "Where, then, sir?"

  "Where you like, provided that the place which you shall choose has ironshutters secured by padlocks and a door that can be locked."

  "We have that, sir," replied Bernouin; and the poor coachman wasconducted to a closet, the windows of which were barred and which lookedvery much like a prison.

  "And now, my good friend," said D'Artagnan to him, "I must invite you todeprive yourself, for my sake, of your hat and cloak."

  The coachman, as we can well understand, made no resistance; in fact, hewas so astonished at what had happened to him that he stammered andreeled like a drunken man; D'Artagnan deposited his clothes under thearm of one of the valets.

  "And now, Monsieur du Verger," he said, "shut yourself up with this manuntil Monsieur Bernouin returns to open the door. The duty will betolerably long and not very amusing, I know; but," added he, seriously,"you understand, it is on the king's service."

  "At your command, lieutenant," replied the musketeer, who saw thebusiness was a serious one.

  "By-the-bye," continued D'Artagnan, "should this man attempt to fly orto call out, pass your sword through his body."

  The musketeer signified by a nod that these commands should be obeyed tothe letter, and D'Artagnan went out, followed by Bernouin. Midnightstruck.

  "Lead me into the queen's oratory," said D'Artagnan, "announce to her Iam here, and put this parcel, with a well-loaded musket, under the seatof the carriage which is waiting at the foot of the private stair."

  Bernouin conducted D'Artagnan to the oratory, where he sat downpensively. Everything had gone on as usual at the Palais Royal. As wesaid before, by ten o'clock almost all the guests had dispersed; thosewho were to fly with the court had the word of command and they wereeach severally desired to be from twelve o'clock to one at Cours laReine.

  At ten o'clock Anne of Austria had entered the king's room. Monsieur hadjust retired, and the youthful Louis, remaining the last, was amusinghimself by placing some lead soldiers in a line of battle, a game whichdelighted him much. Two royal pages were playing with him.

  "Laporte," said the queen, "it is time for his majesty to go to bed."

  The king asked to remain up, having, he said, no wish to sleep; but thequeen was firm.

  "Are you not going to-morrow morning at six o'clock, Louis, to bathe atConflans? I think you wished to do so of your own accord?"

  "You are right, madame," said the king, "and I am ready to retire to myroom when you have kissed me. Laporte, give the light to Monsieur theChevalier de Coislin."

  The queen touched with her lips the white, smooth brow the royal childpresented to her with a gravity which already partook of etiquette.

  "Go to sleep soon, Louis," said the queen, "for you must be awakenedvery early."

  "I will do my best to obey you, madame," said the youthful king, "but Ihave no inclination to sleep."

  "Laporte," said Anne of Austria, in an undertone, "find some very dullbook to read to his majesty, but do not undress yourself."

  The king went out, accompanied by the Chevalier de Coislin, bearing thecandlestick, and then the queen returned to her own apartment. Herladies--that is to say Madame de Bregy, Mademoiselle de Beaumont, Madamede Motteville, and Socratine, her sister, so called on account of hersense--had just brought into her dressing-room the remains of thedinner, on which, according to her usual custom, she supped. The queenthen gave her orders, spoke of a banquet which the Marquis de Villequierwas to give to her on the day after the morrow, indicated the personsshe would admit to the honor of partaking of it, announced another visiton the following day to Val-de-Grace, where she intended to pay herdevotions, and gave her commands to her senior valet to accompany her.When the ladies had finished their supper the queen feigned extremefatigue and passed into her bedroom. Madame de Motteville, who was onespecial duty that evening, followed to aid and undress her. The queenthen began to read, and after conversing with her affectionately for afew minutes, dismissed her.

  It was at this moment D'Artagnan entered the courtyard of the palace, inthe coadjutor's carriage, and a few seconds later the carriages of theladies-in-waiting drove out and the gates were shut after them.

  A few minutes after twelve o'clock Bernouin knocked at the queen'sbedroom door, having come by the cardinal's secret corridor. Anne ofAustria opened the door to him herself. She was dressed, that is to say,in dishabille, wrapped in a long, warm dressing-gown.

  "It is you, Bernouin," she said. "Is Monsieur d'Artagnan there?"

  "Yes, mad
ame, in your oratory. He is waiting till your majesty isready."

  "I am. Go and tell Laporte to wake and dress the king, and then pass onto the Marechal de Villeroy and summon him to me."

  Bernouin bowed and retired.

  The queen entered her oratory, which was lighted by a single lamp ofVenetian crystal, She saw D'Artagnan, who stood expecting her.

  "Is it you?" she said.

  "Yes, madame."

  "Are you ready?"

  "I am."

  "And his eminence, the cardinal?"

  "Has got off without any accident. He is awaiting your majesty at Coursla Reine."

  "But in what carriage do we start?"

  "I have provided for everything; a carriage below is waiting for yourmajesty."

  "Let us go to the king."

  D'Artagnan bowed and followed the queen. The young Louis was alreadydressed, with the exception of his shoes and doublet; he had allowedhimself to be dressed, in great astonishment, overwhelming Laporte withquestions, who replied only in these words, "Sire, it is by the queen'scommands."

  The bedclothes were thrown back, exposing the king's bed linen, whichwas so worn that here and there holes could be seen. It was one of theresults of Mazarin's niggardliness.

  The queen entered and D'Artagnan remained at the door. As soon as thechild perceived the queen he escaped from Laporte and ran to meet her.Anne then motioned to D'Artagnan to approach, and he obeyed.

  "My son," said Anne of Austria, pointing to the musketeer, calm,standing uncovered, "here is Monsieur d'Artagnan, who is as brave as oneof those ancient heroes of whom you like so much to hear from my women.Remember his name well and look at him well, that his face may not beforgotten, for this evening he is going to render us a great service."

  The young king looked at the officer with his large-formed eye, andrepeated:

  "Monsieur d'Artagnan."

  "That is it, my son."

  The young king slowly raised his little hand and held it out to themusketeer; the latter bent on his knee and kissed it.

  "Monsieur d'Artagnan," repeated Louis; "very well, madame."

  At this moment they were startled by a noise as if a tumult wereapproaching.

  "What is that?" exclaimed the queen.

  "Oh, oh!" replied D'Artagnan, straining both at the same time his quickear and his intelligent glance, "it is the murmur of the populace inrevolution."

  "We must fly," said the queen.

  "Your majesty has given me the control of this business; we had betterwait and see what they want."

  "Monsieur d'Artagnan!"

  "I will answer for everything."

  Nothing is so catching as confidence. The queen, full of energy andcourage, was quickly alive to these two virtues in others.

  "Do as you like," she said, "I rely upon you."

  "Will your majesty permit me to give orders in your name throughout thisbusiness?"

  "Command, sir."

  "What do the people want this time?" demanded the king.

  "We are about to ascertain, sire," replied D'Artagnan, as he rapidlyleft the room.

  The tumult continued to increase and seemed to surround the Palais Royalentirely. Cries were heard from the interior, of which they could notcomprehend the sense. It was evident that there was clamor and sedition.

  The king, half dressed, the queen and Laporte remained each in the samestate and almost in the same place, where they were listening andwaiting. Comminges, who was on guard that night at the Palais Royal, ranin. He had about two hundred men in the courtyards and stables, and heplaced them at the queen's disposal.

  "Well," asked Anne of Austria, when D'Artagnan reappeared, "what does itmean?"

  "It means, madame, that the report has spread that the queen has leftthe Palais Royal, carrying off the king, and the people ask to haveproof to the contrary, or threaten to demolish the Palais Royal."

  "Oh, this time it is too much!" exclaimed the queen, "and I will proveto them I have not left."

  D'Artagnan saw from the expression of the queen's face that she wasabout to issue some violent command. He approached her and said in a lowvoice:

  "Has your majesty still confidence in me?"

  This voice startled her. "Yes, sir," she replied, "every confidence;speak."

  "Will the queen deign to follow my advice?"

  "Speak."

  "Let your majesty dismiss M. de Comminges and desire him to shut himselfup with his men in the guardhouse and in the stables."

  Comminges glanced at D'Artagnan with the envious look with which everycourtier sees a new favorite spring up.

  "You hear, Comminges?" said the queen.

  D'Artagnan went up to him; with his usual quickness he caught theanxious glance.

  "Monsieur de Comminges," he said, "pardon me; we both are servants ofthe queen, are we not? It is my turn to be of use to her; do not envy methis happiness."

  Comminges bowed and left.

  "Come," said D'Artagnan to himself, "I have got one more enemy."

  "And now," said the queen, addressing D'Artagnan, "what is to be done?for you hear that, instead of becoming calmer, the noise increases."

  "Madame," said D'Artagnan, "the people want to see the king and theymust see him."

  "What! must see him! Where--on the balcony?"

  "Not at all, madame, but here, sleeping in his bed."

  "Oh, your majesty," exclaimed Laporte, "Monsieur d'Artagnan is right."

  The queen became thoughtful and smiled, like a woman to whom duplicityis no stranger.

  "Without doubt," she murmured.

  "Monsieur Laporte," said D'Artagnan, "go and announce to the peoplethrough the grating that they are going to be satisfied and that in fiveminutes they shall not only see the king, but they shall see him in bed;add that the king sleeps and that the queen begs that they will keepsilence, so as not to awaken him."

  "But not every one; a deputation of two or four people."

  "Every one, madame."

  "But reflect, they will keep us here till daybreak."

  "It shall take but a quarter of an hour, I answer for everything,madame; believe me, I know the people; they are like a great child, whoonly wants humoring. Before the sleeping king they will be mute, gentleand timid as lambs."

  "Go, Laporte," said the queen.

  The young king approached his mother and said, "Why do as these peopleask?"

  "It must be so, my son," said Anne of Austria.

  "But if they say, 'it must be' to me, am I no longer king?"

  The queen remained silent.

  "Sire," said D'Artagnan, "will your majesty permit me to ask you aquestion?"

  Louis XIV. turned around, astonished that any one should dare to addresshim. But the queen pressed the child's hand.

  "Yes, sir." he said.

  "Does your majesty remember, when playing in the park of Fontainebleau,or in the palace courts at Versailles, ever to have seen the sky growsuddenly dark and heard the sound of thunder?"

  "Yes, certainly."

  "Well, then, this noise of thunder, however much your majesty may havewished to continue playing, has said, 'go in, sire. You must do so.'"

  "Certainly, sir; but they tell me that the noise of thunder is the voiceof God."

  "Well then, sire," continued D'Artagnan, "listen to the noise of thepeople; you will perceive that it resembles that of thunder."

  In truth at that moment a terrible murmur was wafted to them by thenight breeze; then all at once it ceased.

  "Hold, sire," said D'Artagnan, "they have just told the people that youare asleep; you see, you still are king."

  The queen looked with surprise at this strange man, whose brilliantcourage made him the equal of the bravest, and who was, by his fine andquick intelligence, the equal of the most astute.

  Laporte entered.

  "Well, Laporte?" asked the queen.

  "Madame," he replied, "Monsieur d'Artagnan's prediction has beenaccomplished; they are calm, as if by enchantment. Th
e doors are aboutto be opened and in five minutes they will be here."

  "Laporte," said the queen, "suppose you put one of your sons in theking's place; we might be off during the time."

  "If your majesty desires it," said Laporte, "my sons, like myself, areat the queen's service."

  "Not at all," said D'Artagnan; "should one of them know his majesty anddiscover but a substitute, all would be lost."

  "You are right, sir, always right," said Anne of Austria. "Laporte,place the king in bed."

  Laporte placed the king, dressed as he was, in the bed and then coveredhim as far as the shoulders with the sheet. The queen bent over him andkissed his brow.

  "Pretend to sleep, Louis," said she.

  "Yes," said the king, "but I do not wish to be touched by any of thosemen."

  "Sire, I am here," said D'Artagnan, "and I give you my word, that if asingle man has the audacity, his life shall pay for it."

  "And now what is to be done?" asked the queen, "for I hear them."

  "Monsieur Laporte, go to them and again recommend silence. Madame, waitat the door, whilst I shall be at the head of the king's bed, ready todie for him."

  Laporte went out; the queen remained standing near the hangings, whilstD'Artagnan glided behind the curtains.

  Then the heavy and collected steps of a multitude of men were heard, andthe queen herself raised the tapestry hangings and put her finger on herlips.

  On seeing the queen, the men stopped short, respectfully.

  "Enter, gentlemen, enter," said the queen.

  There was then amongst that crowd a moment's hesitation, which lookedlike shame. They had expected resistance, they had expected to bethwarted, to have to force the gates, to overturn the guards. The gateshad opened of themselves, and the king, ostensibly at least, had noother guard at his bed-head but his mother. The foremost of themstammered and attempted to fall back.

  "Enter, gentlemen," said Laporte, "since the queen desires you so todo."

  Then one more bold than the rest ventured to pass the door and toadvance on tiptoe. This example was imitated by the rest, until the roomfilled silently, as if these men had been the humblest, most devotedcourtiers. Far beyond the door the heads of those who were not able toenter could be seen, all craning to their utmost height to try and see.

  D'Artagnan saw it all through an opening he had made in the curtain, andin the very first man who entered he recognized Planchet.

  "Sir," said the queen to him, thinking he was the leader of the band,"you wished to see the king and therefore I determined to show him toyou myself. Approach and look at him and say if we have the appearanceof people who wish to run away."

  "No, certainly," replied Planchet, rather astonished at the unexpectedhonor conferred upon him.

  "You will say, then, to my good and faithful Parisians," continued Anne,with a smile, the expression of which did not deceive D'Artagnan, "thatyou have seen the king in bed, asleep, and the queen also ready toretire."

  "I shall tell them, madame, and those who accompany me will say the samething; but----"

  "But what?" asked Anne of Austria.

  "Will your majesty pardon me," said Planchet, "but is it really the kingwho is lying there?"

  Anne of Austria started. "If," she said, "there is one among you whoknows the king, let him approach and say whether it is really hismajesty lying there."

  A man wrapped in a cloak, in the folds of which his face was hidden,approached and leaned over the bed and looked.

  For one second, D'Artagnan thought the man had some evil design and heput his hand to his sword; but in the movement made by the man instooping a portion of his face was uncovered and D'Artagnan recognizedthe coadjutor.

  "It is certainly the king," said the man, rising again. "God bless hismajesty!"

  "Yes," repeated the leader in a whisper, "God bless his majesty!" andall these men, who had entered enraged, passed from anger to pity andblessed the royal infant in their turn.

  "Now," said Planchet, "let us thank the queen. My friends, retire."

  They all bowed, and retired by degrees as noiselessly as they hadentered. Planchet, who had been the first to enter, was the last toleave. The queen stopped him.

  "What is your name, my friend?" she said.

  Planchet, much surprised at the inquiry, turned back.

  "Yes," continued the queen, "I think myself as much honored to havereceived you this evening as if you had been a prince, and I wish toknow your name."

  "Yes," thought Planchet, "to treat me as a prince. No, thank you."

  D'Artagnan trembled lest Planchet, seduced, like the crow in the fable,should tell his name, and that the queen, knowing his name, woulddiscover that Planchet had belonged to him.

  "Madame," replied Planchet, respectfully, "I am called Dulaurier, atyour service."

  "Thank you, Monsieur Dulaurier," said the queen; "and what is yourbusiness?"

  "Madame, I am a clothier in the Rue Bourdonnais."

  "That is all I wished to know," said the queen. "Much obliged to you,Monsieur Dulaurier. You will hear again from me."

  "Come, come," thought D'Artagnan, emerging from behind the curtain,"decidedly Monsieur Planchet is no fool; it is evident he has beenbrought up in a good school."

  The different actors in this strange scene remained facing one another,without uttering a single word; the queen standing near the door,D'Artagnan half out of his hiding place, the king raised on his elbow,ready to fall down on his bed again at the slightest sound that wouldindicate the return of the multitude, but instead of approaching, thenoise became more and more distant and very soon it died entirely away.

  The queen breathed more freely. D'Artagnan wiped his damp forehead andthe king slid off his bed, saying, "Let us go."

  At this moment Laporte reappeared.

  "Well?" asked the queen

  "Well, madame," replied the valet, "I followed them as far as the gates.They announced to all their comrades that they had seen the king andthat the queen had spoken to them; and, in fact, they went away quiteproud and happy."

  "Oh, the miserable wretches!" murmured the queen, "they shall pay dearlyfor their boldness, and it is I who promise this."

  Then turning to D'Artagnan, she said:

  "Sir, you have given me this evening the best advice I have everreceived. Continue, and say what we must do now."

  "Monsieur Laporte," said D'Artagnan, "finish dressing his majesty."

  "We may go, then?" asked the queen.

  "Whenever your majesty pleases. You have only to descend by the privatestairs and you will find me at the door."

  "Go, sir," said the queen; "I will follow you."

  D'Artagnan went down and found the carriage at its post and themusketeer on the box. D'Artagnan took out the parcel which he haddesired Bernouin to place under the seat. It may be remembered that itwas the hat and cloak belonging to Monsieur de Gondy's coachman.

  He placed the cloak on his shoulders and the hat on his head, whilst themusketeer got off the box.

  "Sir," said D'Artagnan, "you will go and release your companion, who isguarding the coachman. You must mount your horse and proceed to the RueTiquetonne, Hotel de la Chevrette, whence you will take my horse andthat of Monsieur du Vallon, which you must saddle and equip as if forwar, and then you will leave Paris, bringing them with you to Cours laReine. If, when you arrive at Cours la Reine, you find no one, you mustgo on to Saint Germain. On the king's service."

  The musketeer touched his cap and went away to execute the orders thusreceived.

  D'Artagnan mounted the box, having a pair of pistols in his belt, amusket under his feet and a naked sword behind him.

  The queen appeared, and was followed by the king and the Duke d'Anjou,his brother.

  "Monsieur the coadjutor's carriage!" she exclaimed, falling back.

  "Yes, madame," said D'Artagnan; "but get in fearlessly, for I myselfwill drive you."

  The queen uttered a cry of surprise and entered the carriage, and the
king and monsieur took their places at her side.

  "Come, Laporte," said the queen.

  "How, madame!" said the valet, "in the same carriage as your majesties?"

  "It is not a matter of royal etiquette this evening, but of the king'ssafety. Get in, Laporte."

  Laporte obeyed.

  "Pull down the blinds," said D'Artagnan.

  "But will that not excite suspicion, sir?" asked the queen.

  "Your majesty's mind may be quite at ease," replied the officer; "I havemy answer ready."

  The blinds were pulled down and they started at a gallop by the RueRichelieu. On reaching the gate the captain of the post advanced at thehead of a dozen men, holding a lantern in his hand.

  D'Artagnan signed to them to draw near.

  "Do you recognize the carriage?" he asked the sergeant.

  "No," replied the latter.

  "Look at the arms."

  The sergeant put the lantern near the panel.

  "They are those of monsieur le coadjuteur," he said.

  "Hush; he is enjoying a ride with Madame de Guemenee."

  The sergeant began to laugh.

  "Open the gate," he cried. "I know who it is!" Then putting his face tothe lowered blinds, he said:

  "I wish you joy, my lord!"

  "Impudent fellow!" cried D'Artagnan, "you will get me turned off."

  The gate groaned on its hinges, and D'Artagnan, seeing the way clear,whipped his horses, who started at a canter, and five minutes later theyhad rejoined the cardinal.

  "Mousqueton!" exclaimed D'Artagnan, "draw up the blinds of his majesty'scarriage."

  "It is he!" cried Porthos.

  "Disguised as a coachman!" exclaimed Mazarin.

  "And driving the coadjutor's carriage!" said the queen.

  "Corpo di Dio! Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said Mazarin, "you are worth yourweight in gold."