Vingt ans après. English

by Alexandre Dumas

  58. Jesus Seigneur.

  Whilst Mordaunt was making his way to Cromwell's tent, D'Artagnan andPorthos had brought their prisoners to the house which had been assignedto them as their dwelling at Newcastle.

  The order given by Mordaunt to the sergeant had been heard byD'Artagnan, who accordingly, by an expressive glance, warned Athos andAramis to exercise extreme caution. The prisoners, therefore, hadremained silent as they marched along in company with theirconquerors--which they could do with the less difficulty since each ofthem had occupation enough in answering his own thoughts.

  It would be impossible to describe Mousqueton's astonishment when fromthe threshold of the door he saw the four friends approaching, followedby a sergeant with a dozen men. He rubbed his eyes, doubting if hereally saw before him Athos and Aramis; and forced at last to yield toevidence, he was on the point of breaking forth in exclamations when heencountered a glance from the eyes of Porthos, the repressive force ofwhich he was not inclined to dispute.

  Mousqueton remained glued to the door, awaiting the explanation of thisstrange occurrence. What upset him completely was that the four friendsseemed to have no acquaintance with one another.

  The house to which D'Artagnan and Porthos conducted Athos and Aramis wasthe one assigned to them by General Cromwell and of which they had takenpossession on the previous evening. It was at the corner of two streetsand had in the rear, bordering on the side street, stables and a sort ofgarden. The windows on the ground floor, according to a custom inprovincial villages, were barred, so that they strongly resembled thewindows of a prison.

  The two friends made the prisoners enter the house first, whilst theystood at the door, desiring Mousqueton to take the four horses to thestable.

  "Why don't we go in with them?" asked Porthos.

  "We must first see what the sergeant wishes us to do," repliedD'Artagnan.

  The sergeant and his men took possession of the little garden.

  D'Artagnan asked them what they wished and why they had taken thatposition.

  "We have had orders," answered the man, "to help you in taking care ofyour prisoners."

  There could be no fault to find with this arrangement; on the contrary,it seemed to be a delicate attention, to be gratefully received;D'Artagnan, therefore, thanked the man and gave him a crown piece todrink to General Cromwell's health.

  The sergeant answered that Puritans never drank, and put the crown piecein his pocket.

  "Ah!" said Porthos, "what a fearful day, my dear D'Artagnan!"

  "What! a fearful day, when to-day we find our friends?"

  "Yes; but under what circumstances?"

  "'Tis true that our position is an awkward one; but let us go in and seemore clearly what is to be done."

  "Things look black enough," replied Porthos; "I understand now whyAramis advised me to strangle that horrible Mordaunt."

  "Silence!" cried the Gascon; "do not utter that name."

  "But," argued Porthos, "I speak French and they are all English."

  D'Artagnan looked at Porthos with that air of wonder which a cunning mancannot help feeling at displays of crass stupidity.

  But as Porthos on his side could not comprehend his astonishment, hemerely pushed him indoors, saying, "Let us go in."

  They found Athos in profound despondency; Aramis looked first at Porthosand then at D'Artagnan, without speaking, but the latter understood hismeaningful look.

  "You want to know how we came here? 'Tis easily guessed. Mazarin sent uswith a letter to General Cromwell."

  "But how came you to fall into company with Mordaunt, whom I bade youdistrust?" asked Athos.

  "And whom I advised you to strangle, Porthos," said Aramis.

  "Mazarin again. Cromwell had sent him to Mazarin. Mazarin sent us toCromwell. There is a certain fatality in it."

  "Yes, you are right, D'Artagnan, a fatality that will separate and ruinus! So, my dear Aramis, say no more about it and let us prepare tosubmit to destiny."

  "Zounds! on the contrary, let us speak about it; for it was agreed amongus, once for all, that we should always hold together, though engaged onopposing sides."

  "Yes," added Athos, "I now ask you, D'Artagnan, what side you are on?Ah! behold for what end the wretched Mazarin has made use of you. Do youknow in what crime you are to-day engaged? In the capture of a king, hisdegradation and his murder."

  "Oh! oh!" cried Porthos, "do you think so?"

  "You are exaggerating, Athos; we are not so far gone as that," repliedthe lieutenant.

  "Good heavens! we are on the very eve of it. I say, why is the kingtaken prisoner? Those who wish to respect him as a master would not buyhim as a slave. Do you think it is to replace him on the throne thatCromwell has paid for him two hundred thousand pounds sterling? Theywill kill him, you may be sure of it."

  "I don't maintain the contrary," said D'Artagnan. "But what's that tous? I am here because I am a soldier and have to obey orders--I havetaken an oath to obey, and I do obey; but you who have taken no suchoath, why are you here and what cause do you represent?"

  "That most sacred in the world," said Athos; "the cause of misfortune,of religion, royalty. A friend, a wife, a daughter, have done us thehonor to call us to their aid. We have served them to the best of ourpoor means, and God will recompense the will, forgive the want of power.You may see matters differently, D'Artagnan, and think otherwise. I willnot attempt to argue with you, but I blame you."

  "Heyday!" cried D'Artagnan, "what matters it to me, after all, ifCromwell, who's an Englishman, revolts against his king, who is aScotchman? I am myself a Frenchman. I have nothing to do with thesethings--why hold me responsible?"

  "Yes," said Porthos.

  "Because all gentlemen are brothers, because you are a gentleman,because the kings of all countries are the first among gentlemen,because the blind populace, ungrateful and brutal, always takes pleasurein pulling down what is above them. And you, you, D'Artagnan, a mansprung from the ancient nobility of France, bearing an honorable name,carrying a good sword, have helped to give up a king to beersellers,shopkeepers, and wagoners. Ah! D'Artagnan! perhaps you have done yourduty as a soldier, but as a gentleman, I say that you are veryculpable."

  D'Artagnan was chewing the stalk of a flower, unable to reply andthoroughly uncomfortable; for when turned from the eyes of Athos heencountered those of Aramis.

  "And you, Porthos," continued the count, as if in consideration forD'Artagnan's embarrassment, "you, the best heart, the best friend, thebest soldier that I know--you, with a soul that makes you worthy of abirth on the steps of a throne, and who, sooner or later, must receiveyour reward from an intelligent king--you, my dear Porthos, you, agentleman in manners, in tastes and in courage, you are as culpable asD'Artagnan."

  Porthos blushed, but with pleasure rather than with confusion; and yet,bowing his head, as if humiliated, he said:

  "Yes, yes, my dear count, I feel that you are right."

  Athos arose.

  "Come," he said, stretching out his hand to D'Artagnan, "come, don't besullen, my dear son, for I have said all this to you, if not in thetone, at least with the feelings of a father. It would have been easierto me merely to have thanked you for preserving my life and not to haveuttered a word of all this."

  "Doubtless, doubtless, Athos. But here it is: you have sentiments, thedevil knows what, such as every one can't entertain. Who could supposethat a sensible man could leave his house, France, his ward--a charmingyouth, for we saw him in the camp--to fly to the aid of a rotten,worm-eaten royalty, which is going to crumble one of these days like anold hovel. The sentiments you air are certainly fine, so fine that theyare superhuman."

  "However that may be, D'Artagnan," replied Athos, without falling intothe snare which his Gascon friend had prepared for him by an appeal tohis parental love, "however that may be, you know in the bottom of yourheart that it is true; but I am wrong to dispute with my master.D'Artagnan, I am your prisoner--treat me as such."

  "Ah! pardi
eu!" said D'Artagnan, "you know you will not be my prisonervery long."

  "No," said Aramis, "they will doubtless treat us like the prisoners ofthe Philipghauts."

  "And how were they treated?" asked D'Artagnan.

  "Why," said Aramis, "one-half were hanged and the other half were shot."

  "Well, I," said D'Artagnan "I answer that while there remains a drop ofblood in my veins you will be neither hanged nor shot. Sang Diou! letthem come on! Besides--do you see that door, Athos?"

  "Yes; what then?"

  "Well, you can go out by that door whenever you please; for from thismoment you are free as the air."

  "I recognize you there, my brave D'Artagnan," replied Athos; "but youare no longer our masters. That door is guarded, D'Artagnan; you knowthat."

  "Very well, you will force it," said Porthos. "There are only a dozenmen at the most."

  "That would be nothing for us four; it is too much for us two. No,divided as we now are, we must perish. See the fatal example: on theVendomois road, D'Artagnan, you so brave, and you, Porthos, so valiantand so strong--you were beaten; to-day Aramis and I are beaten in ourturn. Now that never happened to us when we were four together. Let usdie, then, as De Winter has died; as for me, I will fly only oncondition that we all fly together."

  "Impossible," said D'Artagnan; "we are under Mazarin's orders."

  "I know it and I have nothing more to say; my arguments lead to nothing;doubtless they are bad, since they have not determined minds so just asyours."

  "Besides," said Aramis, "had they taken effect it would be still betternot to compromise two excellent friends like D'Artagnan and Porthos. Beassured, gentlemen, we shall do you honor in our dying. As for myself, Ishall be proud to face the bullets, or even the rope, in company withyou, Athos; for you have never seemed to me so grand as you are to-day."

  D'Artagnan said nothing, but, after having gnawed the flower stalk, hebegan to bite his nails. At last:

  "Do you imagine," he resumed, "that they mean to kill you? And whereforeshould they do so? What interest have they in your death? Moreover, youare our prisoners."

  "Fool!" cried Aramis; "knowest thou not, then, Mordaunt? I have butexchanged with him one look, yet that look convinced me that we weredoomed."

  "The truth is, I'm very sorry that I did not strangle him as you advisedme," said Porthos.

  "Eh! I make no account of the harm Mordaunt can do!" cried D'Artagnan."Cap de Diou! if he troubles me too much I will crush him, the insect!Do not fly, then. It is useless; for I swear to you that you are as safehere as you were twenty years, ago--you, Athos, in the Rue Ferou, andyou, Aramis, in the Rue de Vaugirard."

  "Stop," cried Athos, extending his hand to one of the grated windows bywhich the room was lighted; "you will soon know what to expect, for herehe is."

  "Who?"

  "Mordaunt."

  In fact, looking at the place to which Athos pointed, D'Artagnan saw acavalier coming toward the house at full gallop.

  It was Mordaunt.

  D'Artagnan rushed out of the room.

  Porthos wanted to follow him.

  "Stay," said D'Artagnan, "and do not come till you hear me drum myfingers on the door."

  When Mordaunt arrived opposite the house he saw D'Artagnan on thethreshold and the soldiers lying on the grass here and there, with theirarms.

  "Halloo!" he cried, "are the prisoners still there?"

  "Yes, sir," answered the sergeant, uncovering.

  "'Tis well; order four men to conduct them to my lodging."

  Four men prepared to do so.

  "What is it?" said D'Artagnan, with that jeering manner which ourreaders have so often observed in him since they made his acquaintance."What is the matter, if you please?"

  "Sir," replied Mordaunt, "I have ordered the two prisoners we made thismorning to be conducted to my lodging."

  "Wherefore, sir? Excuse curiosity, but I wish to be enlightened on thesubject."

  "Because these prisoners, sir, are at my disposal and I choose todispose of them as I like."

  "Allow me--allow me, sir," said D'Artagnan, "to observe you are inerror. The prisoners belong to those who take them and not to those whoonly saw them taken. You might have taken Lord Winter--who, 'tis said,was your uncle--prisoner, but you preferred killing him; 'tis well; we,that is, Monsieur du Vallon and I, could have killed our prisoners--wepreferred taking them."

  Mordaunt's very lips grew white with rage.

  D'Artagnan now saw that affairs were growing worse and he beat theguard's march upon the door. At the first beat Porthos rushed out andstood on the other side of the door.

  This movement was observed by Mordaunt.

  "Sir!" he thus addressed D'Artagnan, "your resistance is useless; theseprisoners have just been given me by my illustrious patron, OliverCromwell."

  These words struck D'Artagnan like a thunderbolt. The blood mounted tohis temples, his eyes became dim; he saw from what fountainhead theferocious hopes of the young man arose, and he put his hand to the hiltof his sword.

  As for Porthos, he looked inquiringly at D'Artagnan.

  This look of Porthos's made the Gascon regret that he had summoned thebrute force of his friend to aid him in an affair which seemed torequire chiefly cunning.

  "Violence," he said to himself, "would spoil all; D'Artagnan, my friend,prove to this young serpent that thou art not only stronger, but moresubtle than he is."

  "Ah!" he said, making a low bow, "why did you not begin by saying that,Monsieur Mordaunt? What! are you sent by General Oliver Cromwell, themost illustrious captain of the age?"

  "I have this instant left him," replied Mordaunt, alighting, in order togive his horse to a soldier to hold.

  "Why did you not say so at once, my dear sir! all England is withCromwell; and since you ask for my prisoners, I bend, sir, to yourwishes. They are yours; take them."

  Mordaunt, delighted, advanced, Porthos looking at D'Artagnan withopen-mouthed astonishment. Then D'Artagnan trod on his foot and Porthosbegan to understand that this was merely acting.

  Mordaunt put his foot on the first step of the door and, with his hat inhand, prepared to pass by the two friends, motioning to the four men tofollow him.

  "But, pardon," said D'Artagnan, with the most charming smile and puttinghis hand on the young man's shoulder, "if the illustrious General OliverCromwell has disposed of our prisoners in your favour, he has, ofcourse, made that act of donation in writing."

  Mordaunt stopped short.

  "He has given you some little writing for me--the least bit of paperwhich may show that you come in his name. Be pleased to give me thatscrap of paper so that I may justify, by a pretext at least, myabandoning my countrymen. Otherwise, you see, although I am sure thatGeneral Oliver Cromwell can intend them no harm, it would have a badappearance."

  Mordaunt recoiled; he felt the blow and discharged a terrible look atD'Artagnan, who responded by the most amiable expression that evergraced a human countenance.

  "When I tell you a thing, sir," said Mordaunt, "you insult me bydoubting it."

  "I!" cried D'Artagnan, "I doubt what you say! God keep me from it, mydear Monsieur Mordaunt! On the contrary, I take you to be a worthy andaccomplished gentleman. And then, sir, do you wish me to speak freely toyou?" continued D'Artagnan, with his frank expression.

  "Speak out, sir," said Mordaunt.

  "Monsieur du Vallon, yonder, is rich and has forty thousand francsyearly, so he does not care about money. I do not speak for him, but formyself."

  "Well, sir? What more?"

  "Well--I--I'm not rich. In Gascony 'tis no dishonor, sir, nobody isrich; and Henry IV., of glorious memory, who was the king of theGascons, as His Majesty Philip IV. is the king of the Spaniards, neverhad a penny in his pocket."

  "Go on, sir, I see what you wish to get at; and if it is simply what Ithink that stops you, I can obviate the difficulty."

  "Ah, I knew well," said the Gascon, "that you were a man of talent.Well, here's the case, here's
where the saddle hurts me, as we Frenchsay. I am an officer of fortune, nothing else; I have nothing but whatmy sword brings me in--that is to say, more blows than banknotes. Now,on taking prisoners, this morning, two Frenchmen, who seemed to me ofhigh birth--in short, two knights of the Garter--I said to myself, myfortune is made. I say two, because in such circumstances, Monsieur duVallon, who is rich, always gives me his prisoners."

  Mordaunt, completely deceived by the wordy civility of D'Artagnan,smiled like a man who understands perfectly the reasons given him, andsaid:

  "I shall have the order signed directly, sir, and with it two thousandpistoles; meanwhile, let me take these men away."

  "No," replied D'Artagnan; "what signifies a delay of half an hour? I ama man of order, sir; let us do things in order."

  "Nevertheless," replied Mordaunt, "I could compel you; I command here."

  "Ah, sir!" said D'Artagnan, "I see that although we have had the honorof traveling in your company you do not know us. We are gentlemen; weare, both of us, able to kill you and your eight men--we two only. ForHeaven's sake don't be obstinate, for when others are obstinate I amobstinate likewise, and then I become ferocious and headstrong, andthere's my friend, who is even more headstrong and ferocious thanmyself. Besides, we are sent here by Cardinal Mazarin, and at thismoment represent both the king and the cardinal, and are, therefore, asambassadors, able to act with impunity, a thing that General OliverCromwell, who is assuredly as great a politician as he is a general, isquite the man to understand. Ask him then, for the written order. Whatwill that cost you my dear Monsieur Mordaunt?"

  "Yes, the written order," said Porthos, who now began to comprehend whatD'Artagnan was aiming at, "we ask only for that."

  However inclined Mordaunt was to have recourse to violence, heunderstood the reasons D'Artagnan had given him; besides, completelyignorant of the friendship which existed between the four Frenchmen, allhis uneasiness disappeared when he heard of the plausible motive of theransom. He decided, therefore, not only to fetch the order, but the twothousand pistoles, at which he estimated the prisoners. He thereforemounted his horse and disappeared.

  "Good!" thought D'Artagnan; "a quarter of an hour to go to the tent, aquarter of an hour to return; it is more than we need." Then turning,without the least change of countenance, to Porthos, he said, lookinghim full in the face: "Friend Porthos, listen to this; first, not asyllable to either of our friends of what you have heard; it isunnecessary for them to know the service we are going to render them."

  "Very well; I understand."

  "Go to the stable; you will find Mousqueton there; saddle your horses,put your pistols in your saddle-bags, take out the horses and lead themto the street below this, so that there will be nothing to do but mountthem; all the rest is my business."

  Porthos made no remark, but obeyed, with the sublime confidence he hadin his friend.

  "I go," he said, "only, shall I enter the chamber where those gentlemenare?"

  "No, it is not worth while."

  "Well, do me the kindness to take my purse, which I left on themantelpiece."

  "All right."

  He then proceeded, with his usual calm gait, to the stable and went intothe very midst of the soldiery, who, foreigner as he was, could not helpadmiring his height and the enormous strength of his great limbs.

  At the corner of the street he met Mousqueton and took him with him.

  D'Artagnan, meantime, went into the house, whistling a tune which he hadbegun before Porthos went away.

  "My dear Athos, I have reflected on your arguments and I am convinced. Iam sorry to have had anything to do with this matter. As you say,Mazarin is a knave. I have resolved to fly with you, not a word--beready. Your swords are in the corner; do not forget them, they are inmany circumstances very useful; there is Porthos's purse, too."

  He put it into his pocket. The two friends were perfectly stupefied.

  "Well, pray, is there anything to be so surprised at?" he said. "I wasblind; Athos has made me see, that's all; come here."

  The two friends went near him.

  "Do you see that street? There are the horses. Go out by the door, turnto the right, jump into your saddles, all will be right; don't be uneasyat anything except mistaking the signal. That will be the signal when Icall out--Jesus Seigneur!"

  "But give us your word that you will come too, D'Artagnan," said Athos.

  "I swear I will, by Heaven."

  "'Tis settled," said Aramis; "at the cry 'Jesus Seigneur' we go out,upset all that stands in our way, run to our horses, jump into oursaddles, spur them; is that all?"

  "Exactly."

  "See, Aramis, as I have told you, D'Artagnan is first amongst us all,"said Athos.

  "Very true," replied the Gascon, "but I always run away fromcompliments. Don't forget the signal: 'Jesus Seigneur!'" and he went outas he came in, whistling the self-same air.

  The soldiers were playing or sleeping; two of them were singing in acorner, out of tune, the psalm: "On the rivers of Babylon."

  D'Artagnan called the sergeant. "My dear friend, General Cromwell hassent Monsieur Mordaunt to fetch me. Guard the prisoners well, I beg ofyou."

  The sergeant made a sign, as much as to say he did not understandFrench, and D'Artagnan tried to make him comprehend by signs andgestures. Then he went into the stable; he found the five horsessaddled, his own amongst the rest.

  "Each of you take a horse by the bridle," he said to Porthos andMousqueton; "turn to the left, so that Athos and Aramis may see youclearly from the window."

  "They are coming, then?" said Porthos.

  "In a moment."

  "You didn't forget my purse?"

  "No; be easy."

  "Good."

  Porthos and Mousqueton each took a horse by the bridle and proceeded totheir post.

  Then D'Artagnan, being alone, struck a light and lighted a small bit oftinder, mounted his horse and stopped at the door in the midst of thesoldiers. There, caressing as he pretended, the animal with his hand, heput this bit of burning tinder in his ear. It was necessary to be asgood a horseman as he was to risk such a scheme, for no sooner had theanimal felt the burning tinder than he uttered a cry of pain and rearedand jumped as if he had been mad.

  The soldiers, whom he was nearly trampling, ran away.

  "Help! help!" cried D'Artagnan; "stop--my horse has the staggers."

  In an instant the horse's eyes grew bloodshot and he was white withfoam.

  "Help!" cried D'Artagnan. "What! will you let me be killed? JesusSeigneur!"

  No sooner had he uttered this cry than the door opened and Athos andAramis rushed out. The coast, owing to the Gascon's stratagem, wasclear.

  "The prisoners are escaping! the prisoners are escaping!" cried thesergeant.

  "Stop! stop!" cried D'Artagnan, giving rein to his famous steed, who,darting forth, overturned several men.

  "Stop! stop!" cried the soldiers, and ran for their arms.

  But the prisoners were in their saddles and lost no time hastening tothe nearest gate.

  In the middle of the street they saw Grimaud and Blaisois, who werecoming to find their masters. With one wave of his hand Athos madeGrimaud, who followed the little troop, understand everything, and theypassed on like a whirlwind, D'Artagnan still directing them from behindwith his voice.

  They passed through the gate like apparitions, without the guardsthinking of detaining them, and reached the open country.

  All this time the soldiers were calling out, "Stop! stop!" and thesergeant, who began to see that he was the victim of an artifice, wasalmost in a frenzy of despair. Whilst all this was going on, a cavalierin full gallop was seen approaching. It was Mordaunt with the order inhis hand.

  "The prisoners!" he exclaimed, jumping off his horse.

  The sergeant had not the courage to reply; he showed him the open door,the empty room. Mordaunt darted to the steps, understood all, uttered acry, as if his very heart was pierced, and fell fainting on the stonesteps.