Chapter XLIV. Result of the Ideas of the King, and the Ideas ofD'Artagnan.
The blow was direct. It was severe, mortal. D'Artagnan, furious athaving been anticipated by an idea of the king's, did not despair,however, even yet; and reflecting upon the idea he had brought back fromBelle-Isle, he elicited therefrom novel means of safety for his friends.
"Gentlemen," said he, suddenly, "since the king has charged some otherthan myself with his secret orders, it must be because I no longerpossess his confidence, and I should really be unworthy of it if I hadthe courage to hold a command subject to so many injurious suspicions.Therefore I will go immediately and carry my resignation to the king.I tender it before you all, enjoining you all to fall back with me uponthe coast of France, in such a way as not to compromise the safety ofthe forces his majesty has confided to me. For this purpose, return allto your posts; within an hour, we shall have the ebb of the tide. Toyour posts, gentlemen! I suppose," added he, on seeing that all preparedto obey him, except the surveillant officer, "you have no orders toobject, this time?"
And D'Artagnan almost triumphed while speaking these words. This planwould prove the safety of his friends. The blockade once raised, theymight embark immediately, and set sail for England or Spain, withoutfear of being molested. Whilst they were making their escape, D'Artagnanwould return to the king; would justify his return by the indignationwhich the mistrust of Colbert had raised in him; he would be sent backwith full powers, and he would take Belle-Isle; that is to say, thecage, after the birds had flown. But to this plan the officer opposed afurther order of the king's. It was thus conceived:
"From the moment M. d'Artagnan shall have manifested the desire ofgiving in his resignation, he shall no longer be reckoned leader of theexpedition, and every officer placed under his orders shall be held tono longer obey him. Moreover, the said Monsieur d'Artagnan, having lostthat quality of leader of the army sent against Belle-Isle, shall setout immediately for France, accompanied by the officer who will haveremitted the message to him, and who will consider him a prisoner forwhom he is answerable."
Brave and careless as he was, D'Artagnan turned pale. Everything hadbeen calculated with a depth of precognition which, for the first timein thirty years, recalled to him the solid foresight and inflexiblelogic of the great cardinal. He leaned his head on his hand, thoughtful,scarcely breathing. "If I were to put this order in my pocket," thoughthe, "who would know it, what would prevent my doing it? Before the kinghad had time to be informed, I should have saved those poor fellowsyonder. Let us exercise some small audacity! My head is not one of thosethe executioner strikes off for disobedience. We will disobey!" But atthe moment he was about to adopt this plan, he saw the officers aroundhim reading similar orders, which the passive agent of the thoughts ofthat infernal Colbert had distributed to them. This contingency of hisdisobedience had been foreseen--as all the rest had been.
"Monsieur," said the officer, coming up to him, "I await your goodpleasure to depart."
"I am ready, monsieur," replied D'Artagnan, grinding his teeth.
The officer immediately ordered a canoe to receive M. d'Artagnan andhimself. At sight of this he became almost distraught with rage.
"How," stammered he, "will you carry on the directions of the differentcorps?"
"When you are gone, monsieur," replied the commander of the fleet, "itis to me the command of the whole is committed."
"Then, monsieur," rejoined Colbert's man, addressing the new leader, "itis for you that this last order remitted to me is intended. Let us seeyour powers."
"Here they are," said the officer, exhibiting the royal signature.
"Here are your instructions," replied the officer, placing the foldedpaper in his hands; and turning round towards D'Artagnan, "Come,monsieur," said he, in an agitated voice (such despair did he behold inthat man of iron), "do me the favor to depart at once."
"Immediately!" articulated D'Artagnan, feebly, subdued, crushed byimplacable impossibility.
And he painfully subsided into the little boat, which started, favoredby wind and tide, for the coast of France. The king's guards embarkedwith him. The musketeer still preserved the hope of reaching Nantesquickly, and of pleading the cause of his friends eloquently enoughto incline the king to mercy. The bark flew like a swallow. D'Artagnandistinctly saw the land of France profiled in black against the whiteclouds of night.
"Ah! monsieur," said he, in a low voice, to the officer to whom, foran hour, he had ceased speaking, "what would I give to know theinstructions for the new commander! They are all pacific, are they not?and--"
He did not finish; the thunder of a distant cannon rolled athwart thewaves, another, and two or three still louder. D'Artagnan shuddered.
"They have commenced the siege of Belle-Isle," replied the officer. Thecanoe had just touched the soil of France.
The Man in the Iron Mask Page 44