Ten Years Later..................................................................................................................................................1

Alexandre Dumas (pere) ..........................................................................................................................1

Towards the middle of the month of May, in the year 1660, at nine o'clock in the morning, when the sun,

already high in the heavens, was fast absorbing the dew from the ramparts of the castle of Blois a little

cavalcade, composed of three men and two pages, reentered the city by the bridge, without producing any

other effect upon the passengers of the quay beyond a first movement of the hand to the head, as a salute, and

a second movement of the tongue to express, in the purest French then spoken in France: "There is Monsieur

Whilst, however, the horses were climbing the steep acclivity which leads from the river to the castle, several

shopboys approached the last horse, from whose saddlebow a number of birds were suspended by the

On seeing this, the inquisitive youths manifested with rustic freedom their contempt for such paltry sport,

and, after a dissertation among themselves upon the disadvantages of hawking, they returned to their

occupations; one only of the curious party, a stout, stubby, cheerful lad, having demanded how it was that

Monsieur, who, from his great revenues, had it in his power to amuse himself so much better, could be

"Do you not know," one of the standersby replied, "that Monsieur's principal amusement is to weary

The lighthearted boy shrugged his shoulders with a gesture which said as clear as day: "In that case I would

In the meanwhile, Monsieur continued his route with an air at once so melancholy and so majestic, that he

certainly would have attracted the attention of spectators, if spectators there had been; but the good citizens of

Blois could not pardon Monsieur for having chosen their gay city for an abode in which to indulge

melancholy at his ease, and as often as they caught a glimpse of the illustrious ennuye, they stole away

gaping, or drew back their heads into the interior of their dwellings, to escape the soporific influence of that

long pale face, of those watery eyes, and that languid address; so that the worthy prince was almost certain to

Now, on the part of the citizens of Blois this was a culpable piece of disrespect, for Monsieur was, after the

king nay, even, perhaps before the king the greatest noble of the kingdom. In fact, God, who had

granted to Louis XIV., then reigning, the honor of being son of Louis XIII., had granted to Monsieur the

honor of being son of Henry IV. It was not then, or, at least it ought not to have been, a trifling source of

pride for the city of Blois, that Gaston of Orleans had chosen it as his residence, and he his court in the

But it was the destiny of this great prince to excite the attention and admiration of the public in a very

modified degree wherever he might be. Monsieur had fallen into this situation by habit.

It was not, perhaps, this which gave him that air of listlessness. Monsieur had been tolerably busy in the

course of his life. A man cannot allow the heads of a dozen of his best friends to be cut off without feeling a

little excitement, and as, since the accession of Mazarin to power, no heads had been cut off, Monsieur's

The life of the poor prince was, then, very dull. After his little morning hawkingparty on the banks of the

Beuvion, or in the woods of Chiverny, Monsieur crossed the Loire, went to breakfast at Chambord, with or

without an appetite and the city of Blois heard no more of its sovereign lord and master till the next

So much for the ennui extra muros; of the ennui of the interior we will give the reader an idea if he will with

Monsieur rode a little steadypaced horse, equipped with a large saddle of red Flemish velvet, with stirrups

in the shape of buskins; the horse was of a bay color; Monsieur's pourpoint of crimson velvet corresponded

with the cloak of the same shade and the horse's equipment, and it was only by this red appearance of the

whole that the prince could be known from his two companions, the one dressed in violet, the other in green.

He on the left, in violet, was his equerry; he on the right, in green, was the grand veneur.

One of the pages carried two gerfalcons upon a perch, the other a huntinghorn, which he blew with a

careless note at twenty paces from the castle. Every one about this listless prince did what he had to do

At this signal, eight guards, who were lounging in the sun in the square court, ran to their halberts, and

When he had disappeared under the shades of the porch, three or four idlers, who had followed the cavalcade

to the castle, after pointing out the suspended birds to each other, dispersed with comments upon what they

saw: and, when they were gone, the street, the place, and the court all remained deserted alike.

Monsieur dismounted without speaking a word, went straight to his apartments, where his valet changed his

dress, and as Madame had not yet sent orders respecting breakfast, Monsieur stretched himself upon a chaise

The eight guards, who concluded their service for the day was over, laid themselves down very comfortably

in the sun upon some stone benches; the grooms disappeared with their horses into the stables, and, with the

exception of a few joyous birds, startling each other with their sharp chirping in the tufted shrubberies, it

might have been thought that the whole castle was as soundly asleep as Monsieur was.

All at once, in the midst of this delicious silence, there resounded a clear ringing laugh, which caused several

This burst of laughter proceeded from a window of the castle, visited at this moment by the sun, that

embraced it in one of those large angles which the profiles of the chimneys mark out upon the walls before

The little balcony of wrought iron which advanced in front of this window was furnished with a pot of red

gilliflowers, another pot of primroses, and an early rosetree, the foliage of which, beautifully green, was

In the chamber lighted by this window was a square table, covered with an old largeflowered Haarlem

tapestry; in the center of this table was a longnecked stone bottle, in which were irises and lilies of the

The position of these two young people was singular; they might have been taken for two boarders escaped

from a convent. One of them, with both elbows on the table, and a pen in her hand, was tracing characters

upon a sheet of fine Dutch paper; the other, kneeling upon a chair, which allowed her to advance her head

and bust over the back of it to the middle of the table, was watching her companion as she wrote, or rather

Thence the thousand cries, the thousand railleries, the thousand laughs, one of which, more brilliant than the

rest, had startled the birds in the gardens, and disturbed the slumbers of Monsieur's guards.

We are taking portraits now; we shall be allowed, therefore, we hope, to sketch the two last of this chapter.

The one who was leaning in the chair that is to say, the joyous, the laughing one was a beautiful girl of

from eighteen to twenty, with brown complexion and brown hair, splendid, from eyes which sparkled beneath

stronglymarked brows, and particularly from her teeth, which seemed to shine like pearls between her red

coral lips. Her every movement seemed the accent of a sunny nature, she did not walk she bounded.

The other, she who was writing, looked at her turbulent companion with an eye as limpid, as pure, and as

blue as the azure of the day. Her hair, of a shaded fairness, arranged with exquisite taste, fell in silky curls

over her lovely mantling cheeks; she passed across the paper a delicate hand, whose thinness announced her

extreme youth. At each burst of laughter that proceeded from her friend, she raised, as if annoyed, her white

shoulders in a poetical and mild manner, but they were wanting in that richfulness of mold which was

"Montalais! Montalais!" said she at length, in a voice soft and caressing as a melody, "you laugh too loud

you laugh like a man! You will not only draw the attention of messieurs the guards, but you will not hear

This admonition neither made the young girl called Montalais cease to laugh and gesticulate. She only

replied: "Louise, you do not speak as you think, my dear; you know that messieurs the guards, as you call

them, have only just commenced their sleep, and that a cannon would not waken them; you know that

Madame's bell can be heard at the bridge of Blois, and that consequently I shall hear it when my services are

required by Madame. What annoys you, my child, is that I laugh while you are writing; and what you are

afraid of is that Madame de SaintRemy, your mother, should come up here, as she does sometimes when we

laugh too loud, that she should surprise us, and that she should see that enormous sheet of paper upon which,

in a quarter of an hour, you have only traced the words Monsieur Raoul. Now, you are right, my dear Louise,

because after these words, `Monsieur Raoul,' others may be put so significant and so incendiary as to cause

Madame de SaintRemy to burst out into fire and flames! Hein! is not that true now? say."

The fair girl at length became quite angry; she tore the sheet of paper on which, in fact, the words "Monsieur

Raoul" were written in good characters, and crushing the paper in her trembling hands, she threw it out of the

"There! there!" said Mademoiselle de Montalais; "there is our little lamb, our gentle dove, angry! Don't be

afraid, Louise Madame de SaintRemy will not come; and if she should, you know I have a quick ear.

Besides, what can be more permissible than to write to an old friend of twelve years' standing, particularly

"Ah, ah! in good sooth, Montalais is properly punished," cried the jeering brunette, still laughing. "Come,

come! let us try another sheet of paper, and finish our dispatch offhand. Good! there is the bell ringing now.

By my faith, so much the worse! Madame must wait, or else do without her first maid of honor this morning."

A bell, in fact, did ring; it announced that Madame had finished her toilette, and waited for Monsieur to give

This formality being accomplished with great ceremony, the husband and wife breakfasted, and then

The sound of this bell caused a door to be opened in the offices on the left hand of the court, from which filed

two maitres d'hotel followed by eight scullions bearing a kind of handbarrow loaded with dishes under

One of the maitres d'hotel, the first in rank, touched one of the guards, who was snoring on his bench, slightly

with his wand; he even carried his kindness so far as to place the halbert which stood against the wall in the

hands of the man stupid with sleep, after which the soldier, without explanation, escorted the viande of

Mademoiselle de Montalais and her companion had watched from their window the details of this ceremony,

to which, by the bye, they must have been pretty well accustomed. But they did not look so much from

curiosity as to be assured they should not be disturbed. So guards, scullions, maitres d'hotel, and pages having

passed, they resumed their places at the table; and the sun, which, through the windowframe, had for an

instant fallen upon those two charming countenances, now only shed its light upon the gilliflowers,

"Bah!" said Mademoiselle de Montalais, taking her place again; "Madame will breakfast very well without

"Oh! Montalais, you will be punished!" replied the other girl, sitting down quietly in hers.

"Punished, indeed! that is to say, deprived of a ride! That is just the way in which I wish to be punished.

To go out in the grand coach, perched upon a doorstep; to turn to the left, twist round to the right, over roads

full of ruts, where we cannot exceed a league in two hours; and then to come back straight towards the wing

of the castle in which is the window of Mary de Medici, so that Madame never fails to say: `Could one

believe it possible that Mary de Medici should have escaped from that window fortyseven feet high? The

mother of two princes and three princesses!' If you call that relaxation, Louise, all I ask is to be punished

every day; particularly when my punishment is to remain with you and write such interesting letters as we

"You talk of them very much at your ease, dear child! you, who are left quite free amidst this tedious

court. You are the only person that reaps the advantages of them without incurring the trouble, you, who

are really more one of Madame's maids of honor than I am, because Madame makes her affection for your

fatherinlaw glance off upon you; so that you enter this dull house as the birds fly into yonder court,

inhaling the air, pecking the flowers, picking up the grain, without having the least service to perform, or the

least annoyance to undergo. And you talk to me of duties to be performed! In sooth, my pretty idler, what are

your own proper duties, unless to write to the handsome Raoul? And even that you don't do; so that it looks to

Louise assumed a serious air, leant her chin upon her hand, and, in a tone full of candid remonstrance, "And

do you reproach me with my good fortune?" said she. "Can you have the heart to do it? You have a future;

you belong to the court; the king, if he should marry, will require Monsieur to be near his person; you will

see splendid fetes; you will see the king, who they say is so handsome, so agreeable!"

"Ay, and still more, I shall see Raoul, who attends upon M. le Prince," added Montalais, maliciously.

"Now is the time to write to him, my pretty dear! Come, begin again, with that famous `Monsieur Raoul'

She then held the pen toward her, and with a charming smile encouraged her hand, which quickly traced the

"You think of somebody, and that amounts to the same thing, or rather even more."

"Louise, Louise, your blue eyes are as deep as the sea I saw at Boulogne last year! No, no, I mistake the

sea is perfidious: your eyes are as deep as the azure yonder look! over our heads!"

"Well, since you can read so well in my eyes, tell me what I am thinking about, Montalais."

"Never blush for such a trifle as that! `My dear Raoul,' we will say `You implore me to write to you at

Paris, where you are detained by your attendance on M. le Prince. As you must be very dull there, to seek for

Louise rose up suddenly. "No, Montalais," said she, with a smile; "I don't think a word of that. Look, this is

what I think;" and she seized the pen boldly and traced, with a firm hand, the following words:

"I should have been very unhappy if your entreaties to obtain a remembrance of me had been less warm.

Everything here reminds me of our early days, which so quickly passed away, which so delightfully flew by,

Montalais, who watched the flying pen, and read, the wrong way upwards, as fast as her friend wrote, here

interrupted by clapping her hands. "Capital!" cried she; "there is frankness there is heart there is style!

"I will finish, Montalais," and she continued as follows: "You often think of me, you say, Monsieur Raoul: I

thank you; but that does not surprise me, when I recollect how often our hearts have beaten close to each

"Oh! oh!" said Montalais. "Beware; my lamb! You are scattering your wool, and there are wolves about."

Louise was about to reply, when the gallop of a horse resounded under the porch of the castle.

"What is that?" said Montalais, approaching the window. "A handsome cavalier, by my faith!"

"Oh! Raoul!" exclaimed Louise, who had made the same movement as her friend, and, becoming pale as

"Now, he is a clever lover, upon my word!" cried Montalais; "he arrives just at the proper moment."

Mademoiselle de Montalais was right; the young cavalier was goodly to look upon.

He was a young man of from twentyfour to twentyfive years of age, tall and slender, wearing gracefully

the picturesque military costume of the period. His large boots contained a foot which Mademoiselle de

Montalais might not have disowned if she had been transformed into a man. With one of his delicate but

nervous hands he checked his horse in the middle of the court, and with the other raised his hat, whose long

The guards, roused by the steps of the horse, awoke and were on foot in a minute. The young man waited till

one of them was close to his saddlebow: then stooping towards him, in a clear, distinct voice, which was

perfectly audible at the window where the two girls were concealed, "A message for his royal highness," he

But this brave guard knew very well that no officer would appear, seeing that the only one who could have

appeared dwelt at the other side of the castle, in an apartment looking into the gardens. So he hastened to add:

"The officer, monsieur, is on his rounds, but in his absence, M. de SaintRemy, the maitre d'hotel shall be

"Why, yes; but request him, if you please, that my visit be announced to his royal highness as soon as

"It appears to be pressing," said the guard, as if speaking to himself, but really in the hope of obtaining an

The young man, in the meantime, dismounted; and whilst the others were making their remarks upon the fine

The soldier made a profound bow, and, as if the name of the conqueror of Rocroy and Sens had given him

M. de Bragelonne had not had time to fasten his horse to the iron bars of the perron, when M. de SaintRemy

came running, out of breath, supporting his capacious body with one hand, whilst with the other he cut the air

"Ah, Monsieur le Vicomte! You at Blois!" cried he. "Well, that is a wonder. Goodday to you goodday,

"How Madame de la Vall I mean, how delighted Madame de SaintRemy will be to see you! But come

in. His royal highness is at breakfast must he be interrupted? Is the matter serious?"

"Yes, and no, Monsieur de SaintRemy. A moment's delay, however, would be disagreeable to his royal

"If that is the case, we will force the consigne, Monsieur le Vicomte. Come in. Besides, Monsieur is in an

"Come quickly, come quickly then!" cried the worthy man, putting his dress to rights as he went along.

Raoul followed him, hat in hand, and a little disconcerted at the noise made by his spurs in these immense

As soon as he had disappeared in the interior of the palace, the window of the court was repeopled, and an

animated whispering betrayed the emotion of the two girls. They soon appeared to have formed a resolution,

for one of the two faces disappeared from the window. This was the brunette; the other remained behind the

balcony, concealed by the flowers, watching attentively through the branches the perron by which M. de

In the meantime the object of so much laudable curiosity continued his route, following the steps of the

maitre d'hotel. The noise of quick steps, an odor of wine and viands, a clinking of crystal and plates, warned

The pages, valets and officers, assembled in the office which led up to the refectory, welcomed the newcomer

with the proverbial politeness of the country; some of them were acquainted with Raoul, and all knew that he

came from Paris. It might be said that his arrival for a moment suspended the service. In fact, a page, who

was pouring out wine for his royal highness, on hearing the jingling of spurs in the next chamber, turned

round like a child, without perceiving that he was continuing to pour out, not into the glass, but upon the

Madame, who was not so preoccupied as her glorious spouse was, remarked this distraction of the page.

M. de SaintRemy, who had just introduced his head through the doorway, took advantage of the moment.

"Why am I to be disturbed?" said Gaston, helping himself to a thick slice of one of the largest salmon that

"There is a messenger from Paris. Oh! but after monseigneur has breakfasted will do; there is plenty of time."

"From Paris!" cried the prince, letting his fork fall. "A messenger from Paris, do you say? And on whose part

"A messenger from M. le Prince!" said Gaston, with an inquietude that escaped none of the assistants, and

Monsieur, perhaps, fancied himself brought back again to the happy times when the opening of a door gave

him an emotion, in which every letter might contain a state secret, in which every message was connected

with a dark and complicated intrigue. Perhaps, likewise, that great name of M. le Prince expanded itself,

A glance from Madame emboldened Gaston, who replied: "No, no! let him come in at once, on the contrary.

And when he had let fall these words, with his accustomed gravity, Monsieur turned his eyes, in a certain

manner, upon the people of his suite, so that all, pages, officers, and equerries, quitted the service, knives and

goblets, and made towards the second chamber a retreat as rapid as it was disorderly.

This little army had dispersed in two files when Raoul de Bragelonne, preceded by M. de SaintRemy,

The short interval of solitude which this retreat had left him, permitted Monsieur the time to assume a

diplomatic countenance. He did not turn round, but waited till the maitre d'hotel should bring the messenger

Raoul stopped even with the lower end of the table, so as to be exactly between Monsieur and Madame. From

this place he made a profound bow to Monsieur and a very humble one to Madame; then, drawing himself up

On his part the Prince waited till the doors were hermetically closed; he would not turn round to ascertain the

fact, as that would have been derogatory to his dignity, but he listened with all his ears for the noise of the

The doors being closed, Monsieur raised his eyes towards the vicomte, and said, "It appears that you come

"Her majesty the queenmother still suffers from the complaint in her chest, but for the last month she has

"Somebody told me you came on the part of M. le Prince. They must have been mistaken, surely?"

"No, monseigneur; M. le Prince has charged me to convey this letter to your royal highness, and I am to wait

Raoul had been a little annoyed by this cold and cautious reception, and his voice insensibly sank to a low

The prince forgot that he was the cause of this apparent mystery, and his fears returned.

He received the letter from the Prince de Conde with a haggard look, unsealed it as he would have unsealed a

suspicious packet, and in order to read it so that no one should remark the effects of it upon his countenance,

Madame followed, with an anxiety almost equal to that of the prince, every maneuver of her august husband.

Raoul, impassible, and a little disengaged by the attention of his hosts, looked from his place through the

"Well!" cried Monsieur, all at once, with a cheerful smile; "here is an agreeable surprise, and a charming

The table was too large to allow the arm of the prince to reach the hand of Madame; Raoul sprang forward to

be their intermediary, and did it with so good a grace as to procure a flattering acknowledgment from the

"Yes, monseigneur; M. le Prince at first gave me the message verbally, but upon reflection his highness took

Raoul began to read, Monsieur giving again all his attention. The letter was conceived in these terms:

Monseigneur The king is about to set out for the frontiers. You are aware that the marriage of his majesty

is concluded upon. The king has done me the honor to appoint me his marechaldeslogis for this journey,

and as I knew with what joy his majesty would pass a day at Blois, I venture to ask your royal highness's

permission to mark the house you inhabit as our quarters. If, however, the suddenness of this request should

create to your royal highness any embarrassment, I entreat you to say so by the messenger I send, a

gentleman of my suite, M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne. My itinerary will depend upon your royal highness's

determination, and instead of passing through Blois, we shall come through Vendome and Romorantin. I

venture to hope that your royal highness will be pleased with my arrangement, it being the expression of my

"Nothing can be more gracious toward us," said Madame, who had more than once consulted the looks of her

husband during the reading of the letter. "The king here!" exclaimed she, in a rather louder tone than would

"Monsieur," said his royal highness in his turn, "you will offer my thanks to M. de Conde, and express to him

"I was desired, monseigneur, to return in all haste to Beaugency, to give counterorders to the courier, who

"Much nearer, monseigneur; his majesty must by this time have arrived at Meung."

"No, monseigneur, his eminence has ordered the Mesdemoiselles de Mancini to set out for Brouage. They

will follow the left bank of the Loire, while the court will come by the right."

"What! Mademoiselle Mary de Mancini quit the court in that manner?" asked Monsieur, his reserve

A fugitive smile, an imperceptible vestige of his ancient spirit of intrigue, shot across the pale face of the

"Thanks, M. de Bragelonne," then said Monsieur. "You would, perhaps, not be willing to carry M. le Prince

the commission with which I would charge you, and that is, that his messenger has been very agreeable to

Monsieur made a sign to Madame, who struck a bell which was placed at her right hand; M. de SaintRemy

"Messieurs," said the prince, "his majesty is about to pay me the honor of passing a day at Blois; I depend

"Vive le Roi!" cried all the officers of the household with frantic enthusiasm, and M. de SaintRemy louder

Gaston hung down his head with evident chagrin. He had all his life been obliged to hear, or rather to

undergo this cry of "Vive le Roi!" which passed over him. For a long time, being unaccustomed to hear it, his

ear had had rest, and now a younger, more vivacious, and more brilliant royalty rose up before him, like a

Madame perfectly understood the sufferings of that timid, gloomy heart; she rose from the table, Monsieur

imitated her mechanically, and all the domestics, with a buzzing like that of several beehives, surrounded

Madame saw this movement, and called M. de Saint Remy. "This is not the time for gossiping, but working,"

M. de SaintRemy hastened to break the circle formed by the officers round Raoul, so that the latter was able

"Care will be taken of that gentleman, I hope," added Madame, addressing M. de SaintRemy.

The worthy man immediately hastened after Raoul. "Madame desires refreshments to be offered to you," said

"Thanks, M. de SaintRemy," replied Raoul; "but you know how anxious I must be to pay my duty to M. le

"That is true, that is true, Monsieur Raoul; present him, at the same time, my humble respects, if you please."

Raoul thus once more got rid of the old gentleman, and pursued his way. As he was passing under the porch,

leading his horse by the bridle, a soft voice called him from the depths of an obscure path.

The young man turned round, surprised, and saw a dark complexioned girl, who, with a finger on her lip, held

"Oh! you are terribly embarrassed! Go yonder way there is a shed in the outer court: fasten your horse,

Raoul was not four minutes in performing what he had been directed to do; he returned to the little door,

where, in the gloom, he found his mysterious conductress waiting for him, on the first steps of a winding

"Are you brave enough to follow me, monsieur knight errant?" asked the girl, laughing at the momentary

The latter replied by springing up the dark staircase after her. They thus climbed up three stories, he behind

her, touching with his hands, when he felt for the banister, a silk dress which rubbed against each side of the

staircase. At every false step made by Raoul, his conductress cried, "Hush!" and held out to him a soft and

"One would mount thus to the belfry of the castle without being conscious of fatigue," said Raoul.

"All of which means, monsieur, that you are very much perplexed, very tired, and very uneasy. But be of

The girl threw open a door, which immediately, without any transition, filled with a flood of light the landing

of the staircase, at the top of which Raoul appeared, holding fast by the balustrade.

The girl continued to walk on he followed her; she entered a chamber he did the same.

As soon as he was fairly in the net he heard a loud cry, and, turning round, saw at two paces from him, with

her hands clasped and her eyes closed, that beautiful fair girl with blue eyes and white shoulders, who,

He saw her, and divined at once so much love and so much joy in the expression of her countenance, that he

sank on his knees in the middle of the chamber, murmuring, on his part, the name of Louise.

"Yes; you told me you would go down to inquire the news, and you have brought up monsieur!"

"Well, I was obliged to do so how else could he have received the letter you wrote him?" And she pointed

Raoul made a step to take it; Louise, more rapid, although she had sprung forward with a sufficiently

remarkable physical hesitation, reached out her hand to stop him. Raoul came in contact with that trembling

hand, took it within his own, and carried it so respectfully to his lips, that he might be said to have deposited

In the meantime Mademoiselle de Montalais had taken the letter, folded it carefully, as women do, in three

"Don't be afraid, Louise," said she; "monsieur will no more venture to take it hence than the defunct king

Louis XIII. ventured to take billets from the corsage of Mademoiselle de Hautefort."

Raoul blushed at seeing the smile of the two girls; and he did not remark that the hand of Louise remained in

"There " said Montalais, "you have pardoned me, Louise, for having brought monsieur to you; and you,

monsieur, bear me no malice for having followed me to see mademoiselle. Now, then, peace being made, let

"Monsieur le Vicomte," said Louise, with her quiet grace and ingenuous smile, "I have the honour to present

to you Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais, maid of honor to her royal highness Madame, and moreover my

This unguarded expression made Montalais laugh and Raoul sigh with happiness, for he interpreted it thus:

"The ceremonies being over, Monsieur le Vicomte," said Montalais, "take a chair, and tell us quickly the

"Mademoiselle, it is no longer a secret; the king, on his way to Poitiers, will stop at Blois, to visit his royal

"The king here!" exclaimed Montalais, clapping her hands. "What! are we going to see the court? Only think,

Louise the real court from Paris! Oh, good heavens! But when will this happen, monsieur?"

"No time to get ready! No time to prepare a single dress! We are as far behind the fashions as the Poles. We

shall look like portraits of the time of Henry IV. Ah, monsieur! this is sad news you bring us!"

"That's no news! Yes, we shall be always beautiful because nature has made us passable; but we shall be

ridiculous, because the fashion will have forgotten us. Alas! ridiculous! I shall be thought ridiculous I!

"By whom? You are a strange girl, my dear. Is that a question to put to me? I mean everybody; I mean the

"Pardon me, my good friend, but as here every one is accustomed to see us as we are "

"Granted; but that is about to change, and we shall be ridiculous, even for Blois; for close to us will be seen

the fashions from Paris, and they will perceive that we are in the fashion of Blois! It is enough to make one

"Well, so let it be! After all, so much the worse for those who do not find me to their taste!" said Montalais

"They would be very difficult to please," replied Raoul, faithful to his regular system of gallantry.

"Thank you, Monsieur le Vicomte. We were saying, then, that the king is coming to Blois?"

"Mademoiselle, the king must do without her. M. le Cardinal will have it so. He has exiled his nieces to

"Bah! nobody can hear me. I say that old Mazarino Mazarini is a hypocrite, who burns impatiently to make

"That cannot be, mademoiselle, since M. le Cardinal, on the contrary, has brought about the marriage of his

Montalais looked Raoul full in the face, and said, "And do you Parisians believe in these tales? Well! we are

"Mademoiselle, if the king goes beyond Poitiers and sets out for Spain, if the articles of the marriage contract

are agreed upon by Don Luis de Haro and his eminence, you must plainly perceive that it is not child's play."

"Well, he will marry her then. We shall have war with Spain. M. Mazarin will spend a few of the millions he

has put away; our gentlemen will perform prodigies of valor in their encounters with the proud Castilians,

and many of them will return crowned with laurels, to be recrowned by us with myrtles. Now, that is my view

"Montalais, you are wild!" said Louise, "and every exaggeration attracts you as light does a moth."

"Louise, you are so extremely reasonable, that you will never know how to love."

"Oh!" said Louise, in a tone of tender reproach, "don't you see, Montalais? The queenmother desires to

marry her son to the Infanta; would you wish him to disobey his mother? Is it for a royal heart like his to set

And Louise sighed: Raoul cast down his eyes, with an expression of constraint. Montalais, on her part,

"You are acquainted, without doubt, with the state of health of M. le Comte de la Fere?" said Louise, after

breathing that sigh which had revealed so many griefs in its eloquent utterance.

"No, mademoiselle," replied Raoul, "I have not yet paid my respects to my father; I was going to his house

when Mademoiselle de Montalais so kindly stopped me. I hope the comte is well. You have heard nothing to

Here, for several instants, ensued a silence, during which two spirits, which followed the same idea,

"Mesdemoiselles, I inconvenience you very much. I have, without doubt, been very indiscreet," stammered

"Good heavens!" cried Louise, who had applied her ear to the door, which had been left ajar, "it is my

"Madame de SaintRemy! Where shall I hide myself?" exclaimed Raoul, catching at the dress of Montalais,

"Yes," said she; "yes, I know the clicking of those pattens! It is our excellent mother. M. le Vicomte, what a

pity it is the window looks upon a stone pavement, and that fifty paces below it."

Raoul glanced at the balcony in despair. Louise seized his arm and held it tight.

"Oh, how silly I am!" said Montalais, "have I not the robeofceremony closet? It looks as if it were made on

It was quite time to act; Madame de SaintRemy was coming up at a quicker pace than usual. She gained the

landing at the moment when Montalais, as in all scenes of surprises, shut the closet by leaning with her back

"Pray be seated, madame," said Montalais, offering her a chair, which she placed so that the back was

"What did you say?" cried Montalais, hastening to affect surprise, so fearful was she that Louise would in

"Madame, you talk in enigmas, and you torment us at a slow fire!" cried Montalais, who, terrified at seeing

At length she caught an eloquent look of her companion's, one of those looks which would convey

intelligence to a brick wall. Louise directed her attention to a hat Raoul's unlucky hat, which was set out

Montalais sprang towards it, and, seizing it with her left hand, passed it behind her into the right, concealing

"Well," said Madame de SaintRemy, "a courier has arrived, announcing the approach of the king. There,

"Quick, quick!" cried Montalais. "Follow Madame your mother, Louise; and leave me to get ready my dress

Louise arose; her mother took her by the hand, and led her out on to the landing.

"Come along," said she; then adding in a low voice, "When I forbid you to come to the apartment of

"Of that donothing De Malicorne! A maid of honor to have such company fie! fie!" and their voices

Montalais had not missed a word of this conversation, which echo conveyed to her as if through a tunnel. She

shrugged her shoulders on seeing Raoul, who had listened likewise, issue from the closet.

"Poor Montalais!" said she, "the victim of friendship! Poor Malicorne, the victim of love!"

She stopped on viewing the tragiccomic face of Raoul, who was vexed at having, in one day, surprised so

"Oh, we will balance accounts some day," said she. "For the present, begone, M. de Bragelonne, for Madame

de SaintRemy is not over indulgent; and any indiscretion on her part might bring hither a domiciliary visit,

"Begone! begone! King Louis XI. knew very well what he was about when he invented the post."

"And am I not here I, who am worth all the posts in the kingdom? Quick, I say, to horse! so that if

Madame de SaintRemy should return for the purpose of preaching me a lesson on morality, she may not

"And you would be scolded. Ah, vicomte, it is very plain you come from court; you are as timid as the king.

Peste! at Blois we contrive better than that to do without papa's consent. Ask Malicorne else!"

And at these words the girl pushed Raoul out of the room by the shoulders. He glided swiftly down to the

porch, regained his horse, mounted, and set off as if he had had Monsieur's guards at his heels.

Raoul followed the wellknown road, so dear to his memory, which led from Blois to the residence of the

The reader will dispense with a second description of that habitation: he, perhaps, has been with us there

before, and knows it. Only, since our last journey thither, the walls had taken a grayer tint, and the brickwork

assumed a more harmonious copper tone; the trees had grown, and many that then only stretched their slender

branches along the tops of the hedges, now bushy, strong, and luxuriant, cast around, beneath boughs swollen

Raoul perceived, from a distance, the two little turrets, the dovecote in the elms, and the flights of pigeons,

which wheeled incessantly around that brick cone, seemingly without power to quit it, like the sweet

As he approached, he heard the noise of the pulleys which grated under the weight of the massy pails; he also

fancied he heard the melancholy moaning of the water which falls back again into the wells a sad,

funereal, solemn sound, which strikes the ear of the child and the poet both dreamers which the

English call splash; Arabian poets, gasgachau; and which we Frenchmen, who would be poets, can only

It was more than a year since Raoul had been to visit his father. He had passed the whole time in the

household of M. le Prince. In fact, after all the commotions of the Fronde, of the early period of which we

formerly attempted to give a sketch, Louis de Conde had made a public, solemn, and frank reconciliation

with the court. During all the time that the rupture between the king and the prince had lasted, the prince, who

had long entertained a great regard for Bragelonne, had in vain offered him advantages of the most dazzling

kind for a young man. The Comte de la Fere, still faithful to his principles of loyalty and royalty, one day

developed before his son in the vaults of Saint Denis, the Comte de la Fere, in the name of his son, had

always declined them. Moreover, instead of following M. de Conde in his rebellion, the vicomte had

followed M. de Turenne, fighting for the king. Then when M. de Turenne, in his turn, had appeared to

abandon the royal cause, he had quitted M. de Turenne, as he had quitted M. de Conde. It resulted from this

invariable line of conduct that, as Conde and Turenne had never been conquerors of each other but under the

standard of the king, Raoul, however young, had ten victories inscribed on his list of services, and not one

Raoul, therefore, had, in compliance with the wish of his father, served obstinately and passively the fortunes

of Louis XIV., in spite of the tergiversations which were endemic, and, it might be said, inevitable, at that

M. de Conde, on being restored to favor, had at once availed himself of all the privileges of the amnesty to

ask for many things back again which had been granted him before, and among others, Raoul. M. de la Fere,

A year, then, had passed away since the separation of the father and son; a few letters had softened, but not

removed, the pains of absence. We have seen that Raoul had left at Blois another love in addition to filial

love. But let us do him this justice if it had not been for chance and Mademoiselle de Montalais, two great

temptations, Raoul, after delivering his message, would have galloped off towards his father's house, turning

his head round, perhaps, but without stopping for a single instant, even if Louise had held out her arms to

So the first part of the journey was given by Raoul to regretting the past which he had been forced to quit so

quickly, that is to say, his ladylove; and the other part to the friend he was about to join, so much too slowly

Raoul found the gardengate open, and rode straight in, without regarding the long arms, raised in anger, of

an old man dressed in a jacket of violetcolored wool, and a large cap of faded velvet.

The old man, who was weeding with his hands a bed of dwarf roses and marguerites, was indignant at seeing

a horse thus traversing his sanded and nicelyraked walks. He even ventured a vigorous "Humph!" which

made the cavalier turn round. Then there was a change of scene; for no sooner had he caught sight of Raoul's

face, than the old man sprang up and set off in the direction of the house, amidst interrupted growlings, which

When arrived at the stables, Raoul gave his horse to a little lackey, and sprang up the perron with an ardor

He crossed the antechamber, the diningroom, and the salon, without meeting with any one; at length, on

reaching the door of M. de la Fere's apartment, he rapped impatiently, and entered almost without waiting for

the word "Enter!" which was vouchsafed him by a voice at once sweet and serious. The comte was seated at a

table covered with papers and books; he was still the noble, handsome gentleman of former days, but time

had given to this nobleness and beauty a more solemn and distinct character. A brow white and void of

wrinkles, beneath his long hair, now more white than black; an eye piercing and mild, under the lids of a

young man; his mustache, fine but slightly grizzled, waved over lips of a pure and delicate model, as if they

had never been curled by mortal passions; a form straight and supple; an irreproachable but thin hand this

was what remained of the illustrious gentleman whom so many illustrious mouths had praised under the name

of Athos. He was engaged in correcting the pages of a manuscript book, entirely filled by his own hand.

Raoul seized his father by the shoulders, by the neck, as he could, and embraced him so tenderly and so

rapidly, that the comte had neither strength nor time to disengage himself, or to overcome his paternal

"But you don't answer me, vicomte. Have you leave of absence, or has some misfortune happened at Paris?"

"Thank God, monsieur," replied Raoul, calming himself by degrees, "nothing has happened but what is

fortunate. The king is going to be married, as I had the honor of informing you in my last letter, and, on his

"Yes, monsieur le comte. So, fearing to find him unprepared, or wishing to be particularly polite to him,

"Yes, monsieur," replied Raoul, casting down his eyes, because, no doubt, he had felt there was something

"You do not appear to understand me, monsieur le vicomte," persisted M. de la Fere, without accenting his

"I understand you quite plainly, monsieur," replied Raoul, "and if I hesitate a little in my reply, you are well

"No, you cannot tell a lie, and that makes me so astonished you should be so long in saying yes or no."

"I cannot answer you without understanding you very well, and if I have understood you, you will take my

first words in ill part. You will be displeased, no doubt, monsieur le comte, because I have seen "

"It was of her you meant to speak, I know very well, monsieur," said Raoul, with inexpressible sweetness.

"Monsieur, I was ignorant, when I entered the castle, that Mademoiselle de la Valliere was there; it was only

on my return, after I had performed my mission, that chance brought us together. I have had the honor of

"But what do you call the chance that led you into the presence of Mademoiselle de la Valliere?"

"A young lady I did not know before, whom I had never seen. She is maid of honor to Madame."

"Monsieur le vicomte, I will push my interrogatory no further, and reproach myself with having carried it so

far. I had desired you to avoid Mademoiselle de la Valliere, and not to see her without my permission. Oh, I

am quite sure you have told me the truth, and that you took no measures to approach her. Chance has done

me this injury; I do not accuse you of it. I will be content then, with what I formerly said to you concerning

this young lady. I do not reproach her with anything God is my witness! only it is not my intention or

wish that you should frequent her place of residence. I beg you once more, my dear Raoul, to understand

"Now, my friend," said the comte, with his soft smile, and in his customary tone, "let us talk of other matters.

"No, monsieur, I have no duty for today, except the pleasure of remaining with you. The prince kindly

"Well, Raoul, since you are entirely mine, I will give up my whole day to you. Embrace me again, again!

You are at home, vicomte! Ah, there is our old Grimaud! Come in, Grimaud: monsieur le vicomte is desirous

The good old man did not require to be twice told; he rushed in with open arms, Raoul meeting him halfway.

"Now, if you please, we will go into the garden, Raoul. I will show you the new lodging I have had prepared

for you during your leave of absence, and whilst examining the last winter's plantations and two

saddlehorses I have just acquired, you will give me all the news of our friends in Paris."

The comte closed his manuscript, took the young man's arm, and went out into the garden with him.

Grimaud looked at Raoul with a melancholy air as the young man passed out; observing that his head nearly

touched the traverse of the doorway, stroking his white royale, he slowly murmured:

CHAPTER 5. In which Something will be said of Cropoli and of a Great Unknown Painter.

Whilst the Comte de la Fere with Raoul visits the new buildings he has had erected, and the new horses he

has bought, with the reader's permission we will lead him back to the city of Blois, and make him a witness

It was in the hotels that the surprise of the news brought by Raoul was most sensibly felt.

In fact, the king and the court at Blois, that is to say, a hundred horsemen, ten carriages, two hundred horses,

as many lackeys as masters where was this crowd to be housed? Where were to be lodged all the gentry of

the neighborhood, who would gather in two or three hours after the news had enlarged the circle of its report,

like the increasing circumference produced by a stone thrown into a placid lake?

Blois, as peaceful in the morning, as we have seen, as the calmest lake in the world, at the announcement of

the royal arrival, was suddenly filled with the tumult and buzzing of a swarm of bees.

All the servants of the castle, under the inspection of the officers, were sent into the city in quest of

provisions, and ten horsemen were dispatched to the preserves of Chambord to seek for game, to the fisheries

Precious tapestries, and lusters with great gilt chains, were drawn from the cupboards; an army of the poor

were engaged in sweeping the courts and washing the stone fronts, whilst their wives went in droves to the

meadows beyond the Loire, to gather green boughs and fieldflowers. The whole city, not to be behind in

this luxury of cleanliness, assumed its best toilette with the help of brushes, brooms, and water.

The kennels of the upper town, swollen by these continued lotions, became rivers at the bottom of the city,

and the pavement, generally very muddy, it must be allowed, took a clean face, and absolutely shone in the

Next the music was to be provided; drawers were emptied; the shopkeepers did a glorious trade in wax,

ribbons, and swordknots; housekeepers laid in stores of bread, meat, and spices. Already numbers of the

citizens whose houses were furnished as if for a siege, having nothing more to do, donned their festive

clothes and directed their course towards the city gate, in order to be the first to signal or see the cortege.

They knew very well that the king would not arrive before night, perhaps not before the next morning. Yet

what is expectation but a kind of folly, and what is that folly but an excess of hope?

In the lower city, at scarcely a hundred paces from the Castle of the States, between the mall and the castle, in

a sufficiently handsome street, then called Rue Vieille, and which must, in fact, have been very old, stood a

venerable edifice, with pointed gables, of squat but large dimensions, ornamented with three windows

looking into the street on the first floor, with two in the second and with a little oeil de boeuf in the third.

On the sides of this triangle had recently been constructed a parallelogram of considerable size, which

encroached upon the street remorselessly, according to the familiar uses of the building of that period. The

street was narrowed by a quarter by it, but then the house was enlarged by a half; and was not that a sufficient

Tradition said that this house with the pointed gables was inhabited, in the time of Henry III., by a councilor

of state whom Queen Catherine came, some say to visit, and others to strangle. However that may be, the

good lady must have stepped with a circumspect foot over the threshold of this building.

After the councilor had died whether by strangulation or naturally is of no consequence the house had

been sold, then abandoned, and lastly isolated from the other houses of the street. Towards the middle of the

reign of Louis XIII. only, an Italian, named Cropoli, escaped from the kitchens of the Marquis d'Ancre, came

and took possession of this house. There he established a little hostelry, in which was fabricated a macaroni

So famous had the house become for it, that when Mary de Medici was a prisoner, as we know, in the castle

It was precisely on the day she had escaped by the famous window. The dish of macaroni was left upon the

This double favor, of a strangulation and a macaroni, conferred upon the triangular house, gave poor Cropoli

a fancy to grace his hostelry with a pompous title. But his quality of an Italian was no recommendation in

these times, and his small, wellconcealed fortune forbade attracting too much attention.

When he found himself about to die, which happened in 1643, just after the death of Louis XIII., he called to

him his son, a young cook of great promise, and with tears in his eyes, he recommended him to preserve

carefully the secret of the macaroni, to Frenchify his name, and at length, when the political horizon should

be cleared from the clouds which obscured it this was practiced then as in our day, to order of the nearest

smith a handsome sign, upon which a famous painter, whom he named, should design two queens' portraits,

The worthy Cropoli, after these recommendations, had only sufficient time to point out to his young

successor a chimney, under the slab of which he had hidden a thousand tenfranc pieces, and then expired.

Cropoli the younger, like a man of good heart, supported the loss with resignation, and the gain without

insolence. He began by accustoming the public to sound the final i of his name so little, that by the aid of

general complaisance, he was soon called nothing but M. Cropole, which is quite a French name. He then

married, having had in his eye a little French girl, from whose parents he extorted a reasonable dowry by

These two points accomplished, he went in search of the painter who was to paint the sign; and he was soon

found. He was an old Italian, a rival of the Raphaels and the Caracci, but an unfortunate rival. He said he was

of the Venetian school, doubtless from his fondness for color. His works, of which he had never sold one,

attracted the eye at a distance of a hundred paces; but they so formidably displeased the citizens, that he had

He boasted of having painted a bathroom for Madame la Marechale d'Ancre, and mourned over this

Cropoli, in his character of a compatriot, was indulgent towards Pittrino, which was the name of the artist.

Perhaps he had seen the famous pictures of the bathroom. Be this as it may, he held in such esteem, we may

Pittrino, grateful, and fed with macaroni, set about propagating the reputation of this national dish, and from

the time of its founder, he had rendered, with his indefatigable tongue, signal services to the house of Cropoli.

As he grew old he attached himself to the son as he had done to the father, and by degrees became a kind of

overlooker of a house in which his remarkable integrity, his acknowledged sobriety, and a thousand other

virtues useless to enumerate, gave him an eternal place by the fireside, with a right of inspection over the

domestics. Besides this, it was he who tasted the macaroni, to maintain the pure flavor of the ancient

tradition; and it must be allowed that he never permitted a grain of pepper too much, or an atom of parmesan

too little. His joy was at its height on that day when called upon to share the secret of Cropoli the younger,

He was seen at once rummaging with ardor in an old box, in which he found some brushes, a little gnawed by

the rats, but still passable; some colors in bladders almost dried up; some linseedoil in a bottle, and a palette

which had formerly belonged to Bronzino, that dieu de la pittoure, as the ultramontane artist, in his ever

He did as Raphael had done he changed his style, and painted, in the fashion of the Albanian, two

goddesses rather than two queens. These illustrious ladies appeared so lovely on the sign, they presented

to the astonished eyes such an assemblage of lilies and roses, the enchanting result of the change of style in

Pittrino they assumed the poses of sirens so Anacreontically that the principal echevin, when admitted

to view this capital piece in the salle of Cropole, at once declared that these ladies were too handsome, of too

To Pittrino he added, "His royal highness, Monsieur, who often comes into our city, will not be much pleased

to see his illustrious mother so slightly clothed, and he will send you to the oubliettes of the state; for,

remember, the heart of that glorious prince is not always tender. You must efface either the two sirens or the

legend, without which I forbid the exhibition of the sign. I say this for your sake, Master Cropole, as well as

What answer could be made to this? It was necessary to thank the echevin for his kindness, which Cropole

did. But Pittrino remained downcast and said he felt assured of what was about to happen.

The visitor was scarcely gone when Cropole, crossing his arms, said: "Well, master, what is to be done?"

"We must efface the legend," said Pittrino, in a melancholy tone. "I have some excellent ivoryblack; it will

be done in a moment, and we will replace the Medici by the nymphs or the sirens, whichever you prefer."

"No," said Cropole, "the will of my father must be carried out. My father considered "

"The proof of the importance in which he held the figures," said Pittrino, "is that he desired they should be

"Yes; but if they had not been so, who would have recognized them without the legend? At the present day

even, when the memory of the Blaisois begins to be faint with regard to these two celebrated persons, who

"But the figures?" said Pittrino, in despair; for he felt that young Cropole was right. "I should not like to lose

"And I should not wish you to be thrown into prison and myself into the oubliettes."

"No," replied Cropole, firmly. "I have got an idea, a sublime idea your picture shall appear, and my legend

"Well, then, you shall order another signframe of the smith; you shall paint six physicians, and write

"That is your business but so it shall be I insist upon it it must be so my macaroni is burning."

This reasoning was peremptory Pittrino obeyed. He composed the sign of six physicians, with the legend;

The sign produced an extravagant success in the city, which proves that poetry has always been in the wrong,

Cropole, to make amends to his painterinordinary, hung up the nymphs of the preceding sign in his

bedroom, which made Madame Cropole blush every time she looked at it, when she was undressing at night.

This is the way in which the pointedgable house got a sign; and this is how the hostelry of the Medici,

making a fortune, was found to be enlarged by a quarter, as we have described. And this is how there was at

Thus founded and recommended by its sign, the hostelry of Master Cropole held its way steadily on towards

It was not an immense fortune that Cropole had in perspective; but he might hope to double the thousand

louis d'or left by his father, to make another thousand louis by the sale of his house and stock, and at length to

Cropole was anxious for gain, and was halfcrazy with joy at the news of the arrival of Louis XIV.

Himself, his wife, Pittrino, and two cooks, immediately laid hands upon all the inhabitants of the dovecote,

the poultryyard, and the rabbithutches; so that as many lamentations and cries resounded in the yards of

This was a man of scarcely thirty years of age, handsome, tall, austere, or rather melancholy, in all his

He was dressed in black velvet with jet trimmings; a white collar, as plain as that of the severest Puritan, set

off the whiteness of his youthful neck; a small darkcolored mustache scarcely covered his curled, disdainful

He spoke to people looking them full in the face without affectation, it is true, but without scruple; so that the

brilliancy of his black eyes became so insupportable, that more than one look had sunk beneath his like the

At this time, in which men, all created equal by God, were divided, thanks to prejudices, into two distinct

castes, the gentleman and the commoner, as they are really divided into two races, the black and the white,

at this time, we say, he whose portrait we have just sketched could not fail of being taken for a gentleman,

and of the best class. To ascertain this, there was no necessity to consult anything but his hands, long, slender,

and white, of which every muscle, every vein, became apparent through the skin at the least movement, and

This gentleman, then, had arrived alone at Cropole's house. He had taken, without hesitation, without

reflection even, the principal apartment which the hotelier had pointed out to him with a rapacious aim, very

praiseworthy, some will say, very reprehensible will say others, if they admit that Cropole was a

This apartment was that which composed the whole front of the ancient triangular house, a large salon,

lighted by two windows on the first stage, a small chamber by the side of it, and another above it.

Now, from the time he had arrived, this gentleman had scarcely touched any repast that had been served up to

him in his chamber. He had spoken but two words to the host, to warn him that a traveler of the name of

Parry would arrive, and to desire that, when he did, he should be shown up to him immediately.

He afterwards preserved so profound a silence, that Cropole was almost offended, so much did he prefer

This gentleman had risen early the morning of the day on which this history begins, and had placed himself at

the window of his salon, seated upon the ledge, and leaning upon the rail of the balcony, gazing sadly but

persistently on both sides of the street, watching, no doubt, for the arrival of the traveler he had mentioned to

In this way he had seen the little cortege of Monsieur return from hunting, then had again partaken of the

All at once the movement of the crowd going to the meadows, couriers setting out, washers of pavement,

purveyors of the royal household, gabbling, scampering shopboys, chariots in motion, hairdressers on the

run, and pages toiling along, this tumult and bustle had surprised him, but without losing any of that

impassible and supreme majesty which gives to the eagle and the lion that serene and contemptuous glance

Soon the cries of the victims slaughtered in the poultryyard, the hasty steps of Madame Cropole up that little

wooden staircase, so narrow and so echoing, the bounding pace of Pittrino, who only that morning was

smoking at the door with all the phlegm of a Dutchman; all this communicated something like surprise and

As he was rising to make inquiries, the door of his chamber opened. The unknown concluded they were about

to introduce the impatiently expected traveler, and made three precipitate steps to meet him.

But, instead of the person he expected, it was Master Cropole who appeared, and behind him, in the

halfdark staircase, the pleasant face of Madame Cropole, rendered trivial by curiosity. She only gave one

"Monsieur," said Cropole, "I come to ask how what ought I to say: your lordship, monsieur le comte, or

"Say monsieur, and speak quickly," replied the unknown, with that haughty accent which admits of neither

"I came, then, to inquire how monsieur had passed the night, and if monsieur intended to keep this

"His majesty Louis XIV. will enter our city today and will remain here one day, perhaps two."

"Because, monsieur, your lordship will permit me to say, yesterday I did not think proper, when you chose

your lodging, to fix any price that might have made your lordship believe that I prejudged your resources;

The unknown colored; the idea at once struck him that he was supposed to be poor, and was being insulted.

"Monsieur, I am a wellmeaning man, thank God! and simple hotelier as I am, there is in me the blood of a

gentleman. My father was a servant and officer of the late Marechal d'Ancre. God rest his soul!"

"I do not contest that point with you; I only wish to know, and that quickly, to what your questions tend?"

"You are too reasonable, monsieur, not to comprehend that our city is small, that the court is about to invade

it, that the houses will be overflowing with inhabitants, and that lodgings will consequently obtain

"I name them with scruple, monsieur, because I seek an honest gain, and that I wish to carry on my business

without being uncivil or extravagant in my demands. Now the room you occupy is considerable, and you are

The blood rushed to the temples of the unknown; he darted at poor Cropole, the descendant of one of the

officers of the Marechal d'Ancre, a glance that would have crushed him down to beneath that famous

chimneyslab, if Cropole had not been nailed to the spot by the question of his own proper interests.

"Monsieur, monsieur, you do not understand me. It is very critical I know that which I am doing. I

express myself badly, or perhaps, as monsieur is a foreigner, which I perceive by his accent "

In fact, the unknown spoke with that impetuosity which is the principal character of English accentuation,

"As monsieur is a foreigner, I say, it is perhaps he who does not catch my exact meaning. I wish for monsieur

to give up one or two of the apartments he occupies, which would diminish his expenses and ease my

conscience. Indeed, it is hard to increase unreasonably the price of the chambers, when one has had the honor

"Ah! there is the difficulty. This is the day of the king's arrival; if the court comes to sleep here, the charge of

the day is reckoned. From that it results that three chambers, at two louis each, makes six louis. Two louis,

He drew from his pocket, with heroic bravery, a purse embroidered with a coatofarms, which he carefully

concealed in the hollow of his hand. This purse was of a thinness, a flabbiness, a hollowness, which did not

The unknown emptied the purse into his hand. It contained three double louis, which amounted to the six

The unknown plunged his hand into the pocket of his hautdechausses, and emptied it. It contained a small

"Thank you, monsieur," said Cropole. "It now only remains for me to ask whether monsieur intends to

occupy his apartments tomorrow, in which case I will reserve them for him; whereas, if monsieur does not

mean to do so, I will promise them to some of the king's people who are coming."

"That is but right," said the unknown, after a long silence, "but as I have no more money, as you have seen,

and as I yet must retain the apartments, you must either sell this diamond in the city, or hold it in pledge."

"I prefer your selling it, monsieur; for it is worth three hundred pistoles. A Jew are there any Jews in

Blois? would give you two hundred or a hundred and fifty for it take whatever may be offered for it, if

"Oh! monsieur," replied Cropole, ashamed of the sudden inferiority which the unknown reflected upon him

by this noble and disinterested confidence, as well as by the unalterable patience opposed to so many

suspicions and evasions. "Oh, monsieur, I hope people are not so dishonest at Blois as you seem to think, and

"But the jewelers do: ask them," said the unknown. "Now I believe our accounts are settled, are they not,

"Yes, monsieur, and to my profound regret; for I fear I have offended monsieur."

"Or have appeared to be extortionate with a noble traveler. Consider, monsieur, the peculiarity of the case."

Cropole bowed profoundly, and left the room with a stupefied air, which announced that he had a good heart,

The unknown himself shut the door after him, and when left alone, looked mournfully at the bottom of the

purse, from which he had taken a small silken bag containing the diamond, his last resource.

He dwelt likewise upon the emptiness of his pockets, turned over the papers in his pocketbook, and

convinced himself of the state of absolute destitution in which he was about to be plunged.

He raised his eyes towards heaven, with a sublime emotion of despairing calmness, brushed off with his hand

some drops of sweat which trickled over his noble brow, and then cast down upon the earth a look which just

That the storm had passed far from him, perhaps he had prayed in the bottom of his soul.

He drew near to the window, resumed his place in the balcony, and remained there, motionless, annihilated,

dead, till the moment when, the heavens beginning to darken, the first flambeaux traversed the enlivened

Whilst the unknown was viewing these lights with interest, and lending an ear to the various noises, Master

Cropole entered his apartment, followed by two attendants, who laid the cloth for his meal.

The stranger did not pay them the least attention; but Cropole approaching him respectfully, whispered "

"Well, monsieur, the jeweler of S. A. R. gives two hundred and eighty pistoles for it."

"I thought it best to take them, monsieur; nevertheless, I made it a condition of the bargain, that if monsieur

wished to keep his diamond, it should be held till monsieur was again in funds."

"Then I have obeyed, or nearly so, since, without having definitely sold it, I have touched the money."

"Place the money on that trunk," said he, turning round and pointing to the piece of furniture.

Cropole deposited a tolerably large bag as directed, after having taken from it the amount of his reckoning.

"Now," said he, "I hope monsieur will not give me the pain of not taking any supper. Dinner has already been

refused; this is affronting to the house of les Medici. Look, monsieur, the supper is on the table, and I venture

The unknown asked for a glass of wine, broke off a morsel of bread, and did not stir from the window whilst

Shortly after was heard a loud flourish of trumpets; cries arose in the distance, a confused buzzing filled the

lower part of the city, and the first distinct sound that struck the ears of the stranger was the tramp of

"The king!" cried Cropole, abandoning his guest and his ideas of delicacy, to satisfy his curiosity.

With Cropole were mingled, and jostled, on the staircase, Madame Cropole, Pittrino, and the waiters and

The cortege advanced slowly, lighted by a thousand flambeaux, in the streets and from the windows.

After a company of musketeers, a closely ranked troop of gentlemen, came the litter of monsieur le cardinal,

drawn like a carriage by four black horses. The pages and people of the cardinal marched behind.

Next came the carriage of the queenmother, with her maids of honor at the doors, her gentlemen on

The king then appeared, mounted upon a splendid horse of Saxon breed, with a flowing mane. The young

prince exhibited, when bowing to some windows from which issued the most animated acclamations, a noble

By the side of the king, though a little in the rear, the Prince de Conde, M. Dangeau, and twenty other

courtiers, followed by their people and their baggage, closed this veritably triumphant march. The pomp was

Some of the courtiers the elder ones, for instance wore traveling dresses; but all the rest were clothed

in warlike panoply. Many wore the gorges and buff coat of the times of Henry IV. and Louis XIII.

When the king passed before him, the unknown, who had leant forward over the balcony to obtain a better

view, and who had concealed his face by leaning on his arm, felt his heart swell and overflow with a bitter

The noise of the trumpets excited him the popular acclamations deafened him: for a moment he allowed

Then, before he had recovered from his sombre reverie all the noise, all the splendor, had passed away. At the

angle of the street there remained nothing beneath the stranger but a few hoarse, discordant voices, shouting

There remained likewise the six candles held by the inhabitants of the hostelry des Medici; that is to say, two

for Cropole, two for Pittrino, and one for each scullion. Cropole never ceased repeating, "How goodlooking

"And what a lofty carriage he has!" added Madame Cropole, already in promiscuous commentary with her

Cropole was feeding their gossip with his own personal remarks, without observing that an old man on foot,

but leading a small Irish horse by the bridle, was endeavoring to penetrate the crowd of men and women

which blocked up the entrance to the Medici. But at that moment the voice of the stranger was heard from the

Pittrino pointed out the way to the newlyarrived guest, who entered without uttering a word.

The stranger waited for him on the landing; he opened his arms to the old man and led him to a seat.

"Parry," cried the gentleman, "I beg you will; you come from England you come so far. Ah! it is not for

"Parry, I conjure you to tell me nothing; for if your news had been good, you would not have begun in such a

"My lord," said the old man, "do not hasten to alarm yourself, all is not lost, I hope. You must employ

"Parry," said the young man, "I have reached this place through a thousand snares and after a thousand

difficulties; can you doubt my energy? I have meditated this journey ten years, in spite of all counsels and all

obstacles have you faith in my perseverance? I have this evening sold the last of my father's diamonds; for

I had nothing wherewith to pay for my lodging and my host was about to turn me out."

Parry made a gesture of indignation, to which the young man replied by a pressure of the hand and a smile.

"I have still two hundred and seventyfour pistoles left, and I feel myself rich. I do not despair, Parry; have

"My recital will be short, my lord, but in the name of Heaven do not tremble so."

"Oh, yes!" said Parry, with a sad smile; "it painted your very thoughts faithfully."

"Then the general sent me back the letter by an aidedecamp, informing me that if I were found the next

"Arrested!" murmured the young man. "What! arrest you, my most faithful servant?"

"To all my letters, my lord; and the aidedecamp had known me at St. James's and at Whitehall, too," added

"Ay, that's what he did before his people," said he, endeavoring to cheat himself with hopes. "But, privately

"Alas! my lord, he sent to me four cavaliers, who gave me the horse with which you just now saw me come

back. These cavaliers conducted me, in great haste, to the little port of Tenby, threw me, rather than

"Oh!" sighed the young man, clasping his neck convulsively with his hand, and with a sob. "Parry, is that all?

After this brief reply ensued a long interval of silence, broken only by the convulsive beating of the heel of

The old man endeavored to change the conversation; it was leading to thoughts much too sinister.

"My lord," said he, "what is the meaning of all the noise which preceded me? What are these people crying

"Ah! Parry," replied the young man ironically, "don't you know that this is the King of France visiting his

good city of Blois? All those trumpets are his, all those gilded housings are his, all those gentlemen wear

swords that are his. His mother precedes him in a carriage magnificently encrusted with silver and gold.

Happy mother! His minister heaps up millions, and conducts him to a rich bride. Then all these people

rejoice, they love their king, they hail him with their acclamations, and they cry, `Vive le Roi! Vive le Roi!'"

"Well, well, my lord," said Parry, more uneasy at the turn the conversation had taken than at the other.

"You know," resumed the unknown, "that my mother and my sister, whilst all this is going on in honor of the

King of France, have neither money nor bread; you know that I myself shall be poor and degraded within a

fortnight, when all Europe will become acquainted with what you have told me. Parry, are there not examples

"You are right, Parry, I am a coward, and if I do nothing for myself, what will God do? No, no, I have two

arms, Parry, and I have a sword." And he struck his arm violently with his hand and took down his sword,

"What am I going to do, Parry? What every one in my family does. My mother lives on public charity, my

sister begs for my mother; I have, somewhere or other, brothers who equally beg for themselves; and I, the

And at these words, which he finished sharply with a nervous and terrible laugh, the young man girded on his

sword, took his hat from the trunk, fastened to his shoulder a black cloak, which he had worn during all his

journey, and pressing the two hands of the old man, who watched his proceedings with a look of anxiety,

"My good Parry," said he, "order a fire, drink, eat, sleep, and be happy; let us both be happy, my faithful

He struck the bag of pistoles with his clenched hand as he spoke, and it fell heavily to the ground. He

resumed that dismal laugh that had so alarmed Parry; and whilst the whole household was screaming,

singing, and preparing to install the travelers who had been preceded by their lackeys, he glided out by the

principal entrance into the street, where the old man, who had gone to the window, lost sight of him in a

It has been seen, by the account we have endeavored to give of it, that the entree of King Louis XIV. into the

city of Blois had been noisy and brilliant his young majesty had therefore appeared perfectly satisfied with it.

On arriving beneath the porch of the Castle of the States, the king met, surrounded by his guards and

gentlemen, with S. A. R. the duke, Gaston of Orleans, whose physiognomy, naturally rather majestic, had

borrowed on this solemn occasion a fresh luster and a fresh dignity. On her part, Madame, dressed in her

robes of ceremony, awaited, in the interior balcony, the entrance of her nephew. All the windows of the old

castle, so deserted and dismal on ordinary days, were resplendent with ladies and lights.

It was then to the sound of drums, trumpets, and vivats, that the young king crossed the threshold of that

castle in which, seventytwo years before, Henry III. had called in the aid of assassination and treachery to

keep upon his head and in his house a crown which was already slipping from his brow, to fall into another

All eyes, after having admired the young king, so handsome and so agreeable, sought for that other king of

France, much otherwise king than the former, and so old, so pale, so bent, that people called him the Cardinal

Louis was at this time endowed with all the natural gifts which make the perfect gentleman; his eye was

brilliant, mild, and of a clear azure blue. But the most skillful physiognomists, those divers into the soul, on

fixing their looks upon it, if it had been possible for a subject to sustain the glance of the king, the most

skillful physiognomists, we say, would never have been able to fathom the depths of that abyss of mildness.

It was with the eyes of the king as with the immense depths of the azure heavens, or with those more terrific,

and almost as sublime, which the Mediterranean reveals under the keels of its ships in a clear summer day, a

gigantic mirror in which heaven delights to reflect sometimes its stars, sometimes its storms.

The king was short of stature he was scarcely five feet two inches: but his youth made up for this defect,

set off likewise by great nobleness in all his movements, and by considerable address in all bodily exercises.

Certes, he was already quite a king, and it was a great thing to be a king in that period of traditional

devotedness and respect; but as, up to that time, he had been but seldom and always poorly shown to the

people, as they to whom he was shown saw him by the side of his mother, a tall woman, and monsieur le

cardinal, a man of commanding presence, many found him so little of a king as to say,

Whatever may be thought of these physical observations, which were principally made in the capital, the

young king was welcomed as a god by the inhabitants of Blois, and almost like a king by his uncle and aunt,

It must, however, be allowed, that when he saw, in the hall of reception, chairs of equal height placed for

himself, his mother, the cardinal, and his uncle and aunt, a disposition artfully concealed by the semicircular

form of the assembly, Louis XIV. became red with anger, and looked around him to ascertain by the

countenances of those that were present, if this humiliation had been prepared for him. But as he saw nothing

upon the impassible visage of the cardinal, nothing on that of his mother, nothing on those of the assembly,

he resigned himself, and sat down, taking care to be seated before anybody else.

The gentlemen and ladies were presented to their majesties and monsieur le cardinal.

The king remarked that his mother and he scarcely knew the names of any of the persons who were presented

to them; whilst the cardinal, on the contrary never failed, with an admirable memory and presence of mind, to

talk to every one about his estates, his ancestors, or his children, some of whom he named, which enchanted

those worthy country gentlemen, and confirmed them in the idea that he alone is truly king who knows his

subjects, from the same reason that the sun has no rival, because the sun alone warms and lightens.

The study of the young king, which had begun a long time before, without anybody suspecting it, was

continued then, and he looked around him attentively to endeavor to make out something in the

A collation was served. The king, without daring to call upon the hospitality of his uncle, had waited for it

impatiently. This time, therefore, he had all the honors due, if not to his rank, at least to his appetite

As to the cardinal, he contented himself with touching with his withered lips a bouillon, served in a gold cup.

The allpowerful minister, who had taken her regency from the queen, and his royalty from the king, had not

Anne of Austria, already suffering from the cancer which six or eight years after caused her death, ate very

For Monsieur, already puffed up with the great event which had taken place in his provincial life, he ate

Madame alone, like a true Lorrainer, kept pace with his majesty; so that Louis XIV., who, without this

partner, might have eaten nearly alone, was at first much pleased with his aunt, and afterwards with M. de

The collation over, at a sign of approbation from M. de Mazarin, the king arose, and, at the invitation of his

The ladies then observed there are certain things for which women are as good observers at Blois as at

Paris the ladies then observed that Louis XIV. had a prompt and bold look, which premised a

distinguished appreciator of beauty. The men, on their part, observed that the prince was proud and haughty,

that he loved to look down those who fixed their eyes upon him too long or too earnestly, which gave presage

Louis XIV. had accomplished about a third of his review when his ears were struck with a word which his

Scarcely had Louis XIV. heard this word than he heard, or rather listened to nothing else; and neglecting the

arc of the circle which awaited his visit, his object seemed to be to come as quickly as possible to the

Monsieur, like a good courtier, was inquiring of monsieur le cardinal after the health of his nieces; he

regretted, he said, not having the pleasure of receiving them at the same time with their uncle; they must

certainly have grown in stature, beauty and grace, as they had promised to do the last time Monsieur had seen

What had first struck the king was a certain contrast in the voices of the two interlocutors. The voice of

Monsieur was calm and natural while he spoke thus; while that of M. de Mazarin jumped by a note and a half

to reply above the diapason of his usual voice. It might have been said that he wished that voice to strike, at

"Monseigneur," replied he, "Mesdemoiselles de Mazarin have still to finish their education: they have duties

to fulfill, and a position to make. An abode in a young and brilliant court would dissipate them a little."

Louis, at this last sentence, smiled sadly. The court was young, it was true, but the avarice of the cardinal had

"You have nevertheless no intention," replied Monsieur, "to cloister them or make them bourgeoises?"

"Not at all," replied the cardinal, forcing his Italian pronunciation in such a manner that, from soft and

velvety as it was, it became sharp and vibrating, "not at all: I have a full and fixed intention to marry them,

"Parties will not be wanting, monsieur le cardinal," replied Monsieur, with a bonhomie worthy of one

"I hope not, monseigneur, and with reason, as God has been pleased to give them grace, intelligence, and

During this conversation, Louis XIV., conducted by Madame, accomplished, as we have described, the circle

"Mademoiselle Auricule," said the princess, presenting to his majesty a fat, fair girl of twoandtwenty, who

at a village fete might have been taken for a peasant in Sunday finery, "the daughter of my

The king smiled. Madame had never been able to extract four correct notes from either viol or harpsichord.

"Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais," continued Madame, "a young lady of rank, and my good attendant."

This time it was not the king that smiled; it was the young lady presented, because, for the first time in her

life, she heard, given to her by Madame, who generally showed no tendency to spoil her, such an honorable

Our old acquaintance Montalais, therefore, made his majesty a profound courtesy, the more respectful from

the necessity she was under of concealing certain contractions of her laughing lips, which the king might not

There was doubtless some magical influence in that word, for, as we have said, the king started at hearing it,

and drew Madame towards the middle of the circle, as if he wished to put some confidential question to her,

"Madame my aunt," said he, laughing, and in a suppressed voice, "my geographymaster did not teach me

"Why, because it would appear that it requires several years, as regards fashion, to travel the distance!

"Stop a bit, stop a bit, dear aunt!" said the king, smiling; "for the second part of my sentence will serve as a

corrective to the first. Well, my dear aunt, some of them appear old and others ugly, thanks to their

"Now, look, aunt," said Louis XIV., drawing still nearer to Mazarin, under the pretext of gaining a better

point of view, "look at that simple white dress by the side of those antiquated specimens of finery, and those

pretentious coiffures. She is probably one of my mother's maids of honor, though I don't know her."

"Ah! ah! my dear nephew!" replied Madame, laughing, "permit me to tell you that your divinatory science is

at fault for once. The young lady you honor with your praise is not a Parisian, but a Blaisoise."

And the fair girl, already known to you under that name, approached them, timid, blushing, and almost bent

"Mademoiselle Louise Francoise de la Baume le Blanc, the daughter of the Marquise de la Valliere," said

The young girl bowed with so much grace, mingled with the profound timidity inspired by the presence of

the king, that the latter lost, while looking at her, a few words of the conversation of Monsieur and the

"Daughterinlaw," continued Madame, "of M. de SaintRemy, my maitre d'hotel, who presided over the

confection of that excellent daube truffee which your majesty seemed so much to appreciate."

No grace, no youth, no beauty, could stand out against such a presentation. The king smiled. Whether the

words of Madame were a pleasantry, or uttered in all innocency, they proved the pitiless immolation of

everything that Louis had found charming or poetic in the young girl. Mademoiselle de la Valliere, for

Madame and, by rebound, for the king, was, for a moment, no more than the daughter of a man of a superior

But princes are thus constituted. The gods, too, were just like this in Olympus. Diana and Venus, no doubt,

abused the beautiful Alcmena and poor Io, when they condescended, for distraction's sake, to speak, amidst

Fortunately, Louise was so bent in her reverential salute, that she did not catch either Madame's words or the

king's smile. In fact, if the poor child, who had so much good taste as alone to have chosen to dress herself in

white amidst all her companions if that dove's heart, so easily accessible to painful emotions, had been

touched by the cruel words of Madame, or the egotistical cold smile of the king, it would have annihilated

And Montalais herself, the girl of ingenious ideas, would not have attempted to recall her to life; for ridicule

But fortunately, as we have said, Louise, whose ears were buzzing, and her eyes veiled by timidity,

Louise saw nothing and heard nothing; and the king, who had still his attention directed to the conversation

He came up just at the moment Mazarin terminated by saying: "Mary, as well as her sisters, has just set off

for Brouage. I make them follow the opposite bank of the Loire to that along which we have traveled; and if I

calculate their progress correctly, according to the orders I have given, they will tomorrow be opposite

These words were pronounced with that tact that measure, that distinctness of tone, of intention, and reach

It resulted that they went straight to the heart of Louis XIV., and the cardinal, on turning round at the simple

noise of the approaching footsteps of his majesty, saw the immediate effect of them upon the countenance of

his pupil, an effect betrayed to the keen eyes of his eminence by a slight increase of color. But what was the

ventilation of such a secret to him whose craft had for twenty years deceived all the diplomatists of Europe?

From the moment the young king heard these last words, he appeared as if he had received a poisoned arrow

in his heart. He could not remain quiet in a place, but cast around an uncertain, dead, and aimless look over

the assembly. He with his eyes interrogated his mother more than twenty times: but she, given up to the

pleasure of conversing with her sisterinlaw, and likewise constrained by the glance of Mazarin, did not

From this moment, music, lights, flowers, beauties, all became odious and insipid to Louis XIV. After he had

a hundred times bitten his lips, stretched his legs and his arms like a wellbroughtup child who, without

daring to gape, exhausts all the modes of evincing his weariness after having uselessly again implored his

mother and the minister, he turned a despairing look towards the door, that is to say, towards liberty.

At this door, in the embrasure of which he was leaning, he saw, standing out strongly, a figure with a brown

and lofty countenance, an aquiline nose, a stern but brilliant eye, gray and long hair, a black mustache, the

true type of military beauty, whose gorget, more sparkling than a mirror, broke all the reflected lights which

concentrated upon it, and sent them back as lightning. This officer wore his gray hat with its long red plumes

upon his head, a proof that he was called there by his duty, and not by his pleasure. If he had been brought

thither by his pleasure if he had been a courtier instead of a soldier, as pleasure must always be paid for at

That which proved still better that this officer was upon duty, and was accomplishing a task to which he was

accustomed, was, that he watched, with folded arms, remarkable indifference, and supreme apathy, the joys

and ennuis of this fete. Above all, he appeared, like a philosopher, and all old soldiers are philosophers, he

appeared above all to comprehend the ennuis infinitely better than the joys; but in the one he took his part,

Now, he was leaning, as we have said, against the carved doorframe when the melancholy, weary eyes of

It was not the first time, as it appeared, that the eyes of the officer had met those eyes, and he was perfectly

acquainted with the expression of them; for, as soon as he had cast his own look upon the countenance of

Louis XIV., and had read by it what was passing in his heart that is to say, all the ennui that oppressed

him all the timid desire to go out which agitated him, he perceived he must render the king a service

without his commanding it, almost in spite of himself. Boldly, therefore, as if he had given the word of

command to cavalry in battle, "On the king's service!" cried he, in a clear, sonorous voice.

At these words, which produced the effect of a peal of thunder, prevailing over the orchestra, the singing and

the buzz of the promenaders, the cardinal and the queenmother looked at each other with surprise.

Louis XIV., pale, but resolved, supported as he was by that intuition of his own thought which he had found

in the mind of the officer of musketeers, and which he had just manifested by the order given, arose from his

"Are you going, my son?" said the queen, whilst Mazarin satisfied himself with interrogating by a look which

"Yes, madame," replied the king; "I am fatigued, and, besides, wish to write this evening."

A smile stole over the lips of the minister, who appeared, by a bend of the head, to give the king permission.

Monsieur and Madame hastened to give orders to the officers who presented themselves.

The king bowed, crossed the hall, and gained the door, where a hedge of twenty musketeers awaited him. At

the extremity of this hedge stood the officer, impassible, with his drawn sword in his hand. The king passed,

Ten musketeers, opening the crowd of the antechambers and the steps, made way for his majesty. The other

ten surrounded the king and Monsieur, who had insisted upon accompanying his majesty. The domestics

walked behind. This little cortege escorted the king to the chamber destined for him. The apartment was the

Monsieur had given his orders. The musketeers, led by their officer, took possession of the little passage by

which one wing of the castle communicates with the other. This passage was commenced by a small square

"You are passing now, sire," said he, "the very spot where the Duc de Guise received the first stab of the

The king was ignorant of all historical matters; he had heard of the fact, but he knew nothing of the localities

"The duc, sire," continued Gaston, "was nearly where I stand: he was walking in the same direction as your

majesty; M. de Lorgnes was exactly where your lieutenant of musketeers is; M. de SaintMaline and his

majesty's ordinaries were behind him and around him. It was here that he was struck."

The king turned towards his officer, and saw something like a cloud pass over his martial and daring

"Yes, from behind!" murmured the lieutenant, with a gesture of supreme disdain. And he endeavored to

resume the march, as if ill at ease at being between walls formerly defiled by treachery.

But the king, who appeared to wish to be informed, was disposed to give another look at this dismal spot.

"Look, sire," said he, taking a flambeau from the hands of M. de SaintRemy, "this is where he fell. There

"Because it was here the blood flowed," replied Gaston; "the blood penetrated deeply into the oak, and it was

only by cutting it out that they succeeded in making it disappear. And even then," added Gaston, pointing the

flambeau to the spot, "even then this red stain resisted all the attempts made to destroy it."

Louis XIV. raised his head. Perhaps he was thinking of that bloody trace that had once been shown him at the

Louvre, and which, as a pendant to that of Blois, had been made there one day by the king his father with the

The march was resumed promptly, for emotion, no doubt, had given to the voice of the young prince a tone of

command which was not customary with him. When arrived at the apartment destined for the king, which

communicated not only with the little passage we have passed through, but further with the great staircase

"Will your majesty," said Gaston, "condescend to occupy this apartment, all unworthy as it is to receive

"Uncle," replied the young king, "I render you my thanks for your cordial hospitality."

Of the twenty musketeers who had accompanied the king, ten reconducted Monsieur to the receptionrooms,

The ten others were posted by their officer, who himself explored, in five minutes, all the localities, with that

cold and certain glance which not even habit gives unless that glance belongs to genius.

Then, when all were placed, he chose as his headquarters the antechamber, in which he found a large

He refreshed his lamp, drank half a glass of wine, curled his lip with a smile full of expression, installed

CHAPTER 9. In which the Unknown of the Hostelry of Les Medici loses his Incognito.

This officer, who was sleeping, or preparing to sleep, was, notwithstanding his careless air, charged with a

Lieutenant of the king's musketeers, he commanded all the company which came from Paris, and that

company consisted of a hundred and twenty men; but, with the exception of the twenty of whom we have

spoken, the other hundred were engaged in guarding the queenmother, and more particularly the cardinal.

Monsignor Giulio Mazarini economized the traveling expenses of his guards; he consequently used the

king's, and that largely, since he took fifty of them for himself a peculiarity which would not have failed

That which would still further have appeared, if not inconvenient, at least extraordinary, to a stranger, was,

that the side of the castle destined for monsieur le cardinal was brilliant, light and cheerful. The musketeers

there mounted guard before every door, and allowed no one to enter, except the couriers, who, even while he

Twenty men were on duty with the queenmother; thirty rested, in order to relieve their companions the next

On the king's side, on the contrary, were darkness, silence, and solitude. When once the doors were closed,

there was no longer an appearance of royalty. All the servitors had by degrees retired. Monsieur le Prince had

sent to know if his majesty required his attendance; and on the customary "No" of the lieutenant of

musketeers, who was habituated to the question and the reply, all appeared to sink into the arms of sleep, as if

And yet it was possible to hear from the side of the house occupied by the young king the music of the

Ten minutes after his installation in his apartment, Louis XIV. had been able to learn, by movement much

more distinguished than marked his own leaving, the departure of the cardinal, who, in his turn, sought his

Besides, to perceive this movement, he had nothing to do but to look out at his window, the shutters of which

His eminence crossed the court, conducted by Monsieur, who himself held a flambeau, then followed the

queenmother, to whom Madame familiarly gave her arm; and both walked chatting away, like two old

Behind these two couples filed nobles, ladies, pages and officers; the flambeaux gleamed over the whole

court, like the moving reflections of a conflagration. Then the noise of steps and voices became lost in the

No one was then thinking of the king, who, leaning on his elbow at his window, had sadly seen pass away all

that light, and heard that noise die off no, not one, if it was not that unknown of the hostelry des Medici,

He had come straight up to the castle, and had, with his melancholy countenance, wandered round and round

the palace, from which the people had not yet departed; and finding that no one guarded the great entrance, or

the porch, seeing that the soldiers of Monsieur were fraternizing with the royal soldiers that is to say

swallowing Beaugency at discretion, or rather indiscretion the unknown penetrated through the crowd,

then ascended to the court, and came to the landing of the staircase leading to the cardinal's apartment.

What, according to all probability, induced him to direct his steps that way, was the splendor of the

flambeaux, and the busy air of the pages and domestics. But he was stopped short by a presented musket and

"I am going to the king's apartment," replied the unknown, haughtily, but tranquilly.

The soldier called one of his eminence's officers, who, in the tone in which a youth in office directs a solicitor

And the officer, without further notice of the unknown, resumed his interrupted conversation.

The stranger, without reply, directed his steps towards the staircase pointed out to him. On this side there was

Obscurity, through which a sentinel glided like a shadow; silence, which permitted him to hear the sound of

his own footsteps, accompanied with the jingling of his spurs upon the stone slabs.

This guard was one of the twenty musketeers appointed for attendance upon the king, and who mounted

And this time the soldier accompanied his word with a threatening gesture; but the unknown stirred no more

"Very well! I also am one, and between gentlemen some consideration ought to be observed."

The soldier lowered his arms, overcome by the dignity with which these words were pronounced.

The unknown saluted the soldier in a lofty fashion, and ascended the staircase; whilst a cry, "Lieutenant, a

visit!" transmitted from sentinel to sentinel, preceded the unknown, and disturbed the slumbers of the officer.

Dragging on his boots, rubbing his eyes, and hooking his cloak, the lieutenant made three steps towards the

The lieutenant looked attentively at the unknown, and in that look, however rapid, he saw all he wished to see

"I do not suppose you to be mad," replied he; "and yet you seem to me to be in a condition to know,

monsieur, that people do not enter a king's apartments in this manner without his consent."

"Monsieur, permit me to doubt that. The king has retired this quarter of an hour; he must be now undressing.

"You will announce His Majesty Charles II., King of England, Scotland, and Ireland."

The officer uttered a cry of astonishment, drew back, and there might be seen upon his pallid countenance

one of the most poignant emotions that ever an energetic man endeavored to drive back to his heart.

"How then could you have recognized me, if you have never seen my portrait or my person?"

A dark cloud passed over the brow of the prince; then, dashing his hand across it, "Do you still see any

"Sire, pardon me," replied the officer, "but I could not imagine a king under so simple an exterior; and yet I

had the honor to tell your majesty just now that I had seen Charles I. But pardon me, monsieur; I will go and

But returning after going a few steps, "Your majesty is desirous, without doubt, that this interview should be

"It is possible, sire, for I can dispense with informing the first gentleman on duty; but, for that, your majesty

"True, true; I had forgotten that no one armed is permitted to enter the chamber of a king of France."

"Your majesty will form an exception, if you wish it; but then I shall avoid my responsibility by informing

"Here is my sword, monsieur. Will you now please to announce me to his majesty?"

"Instantly, sire." And the officer immediately went and knocked at the door of communication, which the

At these words a gentleman opened the foldingdoors of the king's apartment, and Louis XIV. was seen,

without hat or sword, and his pourpoint open, advancing with signs of the greatest surprise.

"You, my brother you at Blois!" cried Louis XIV., dismissing with a gesture both the gentleman and the

"Sire," replied Charles II., "I was going to Paris, in the hope of seeing your majesty, when report informed me

of your approaching arrival in this city. I therefore prolonged my abode here, having something very

"I have dismissed my gentleman and my watcher; they are in the next chamber. There, behind that partition,

is a solitary closet, looking into the antechamber, and in that antechamber you found nobody but a solitary

"Sire, I commence, and entreat your majesty to have pity on the misfortunes of our house."

The king of France colored, and drew his chair closer to that of the king of England.

"Sire," said Charles II., "I have no need to ask if your majesty is acquainted with the details of my deplorable

Louis XIV. blushed, this time more strongly than before; then, stretching forth his hand to that of the king of

England, "My brother," said he, "I am ashamed to say so, but the cardinal scarcely ever speaks of political

affairs before me. Still more, formerly I used to get Laporte, my valet de chambre, to read historical subjects

to me, but he put a stop to these readings, and took away Laporte from me. So that I beg my brother Charles

"Well, sire, I think that by taking things from the beginning I shall have a better chance of touching the heart

"You know, sire, that being called in 1650 to Edinburgh, during Cromwell's expedition into Ireland, I was

crowned at Scone. A year after, wounded in one of the provinces he had usurped, Cromwell returned upon us.

"And yet," interrupted the young king, "Scotland is almost your native country, is it not, my brother?"

"Yes; but the Scots were cruel compatriots for me, sire; they had forced me to forsake the religion of my

fathers; they had hung Lord Montrose, the most devoted of my servants, because he was not a Covenanter;

and as the poor martyr, to whom they had offered a favor when dying, had asked that his body might be cut

into as many pieces as there are cities in Scotland, in order that evidence of his fidelity might be met with

everywhere, I could not leave one city, or go into another, without passing under some fragments of a body

"By a bold, almost desperate march, I passed through Cromwell's army, and entered England. The Protector

set out in pursuit of this strange flight, which had a crown for its object. If I had been able to reach London

before him, without doubt the prize of the race would have been mine; but he overtook me at Worcester.

"The genius of England was no longer with us, but with him. On the 5th of September, 1651, sire, the

anniversary of the other battle of Dunbar, so fatal to the Scots, I was conquered. Two thousand men fell

around me before I thought of retreating a step. At length I was obliged to fly.

"From that moment my history became a romance. Pursued with persistent inveteracy, I cut off my hair, I

disguised myself as a woodman. One day spent amidst the branches of an oak gave to that tree the name of

the royal oak, which it bears to this day. My adventures in the county of Stafford, whence I escaped with the

daughter of my host on a pillion behind me, still fill the tales of the country firesides, and would furnish

matter for ballads. I will some day write all this, sire, for the instruction of my brother kings.

"I will first tell how, on arriving at the residence of Mr. Norton, I met with a court chaplain, who was looking

on at a party playing at skittles, and an old servant who named me, bursting into tears, and who was as near

and as certainly killing me by his fidelity as another might have been by treachery. Then I will tell of my

terrors yes, sire, of my terrors when, at the house of Colonel Windham, a farrier who came to shoe our

"How strange!" murmured Louis XIV. "I never heard anything of all that; I was only told of your

"Oh!" exclaimed Charles, "if Heaven permits kings to be thus ignorant of the histories of each other, how can

"But tell me," continued Louis XIV., "how, after being so roughly received in England, you can still hope for

"Oh, sire! since the battle of Worcester, everything is changed there. Cromwell is dead, after having signed a

treaty with France, in which his name is placed above yours. He died on the 5th of September, 1658, a fresh

"But certain men have a family, sire, and no heir. The inheritance of Oliver was too heavy for Richard.

Richard was neither a republican nor a royalist; Richard allowed his guards to eat his dinner, and his generals

to govern the republic; Richard abdicated the protectorate on the 22nd of April, 1659, more than a year ago,

"From that time England is nothing but a tenniscourt, in which the players throw dice for the crown of my

father. The two most eager players are Lambert and Monk. Well, sire, I, in my turn, wish to take part in this

game, where the stakes are thrown upon my royal mantle. Sire, it only requires a million to corrupt one of

these players and make an ally of him, or two hundred of your gentlemen to drive them out of my palace at

"For your assistance, that is to say, not only for that which kings owe to each other, but that which simple

Christians owe to each other your assistance, sire, either in money or men. Your assistance, sire, and

within a month, whether I oppose Lambert to Monk, or Monk to Lambert, I shall have reconquered my

paternal inheritance, without having cost my country a guinea, or my subjects a drop of blood, for they are

now all drunk with revolutions, protectorates, and republics, and ask nothing better than to fall staggering to

sleep in the arms of royalty. Your assistance, sire, and I shall owe you more than I owe my father, my

poor father, who bought at so dear a rate the ruin of our house! You may judge, sire, whether I am unhappy,

And the blood mounted to the pale face of Charles II., who remained for an instant with his head between his

hands, and as if blinded by that blood which appeared to revolt against the filial blasphemy.

The young king was not less affected than his elder brother; he threw himself about in his fauteuil, and could

Charles II., to whom ten years in age gave a superior strength to master his emotions, recovered his speech

"Sire," said he, "your reply? I wait for it as a criminal waits for his sentence. Must I die?"

"My brother," replied the French prince, "you ask me for a million me, who was never possessed of a

quarter of that sum! I possess nothing. I am no more king of France than you are king of England. I am a

name, a cipher dressed in fleurdelised velvet, that is all. I am upon a visible throne; that is my only

"My brother," said Louis, sinking his voice, "I have undergone miseries with which my poorest gentlemen

are unacquainted. If my poor Laporte were here, he would tell you that I have slept in ragged sheets, through

the holes of which my legs have passed; he would tell you that afterwards, when I asked for carriages, they

brought me conveyances halfdestroyed by the rats of the coachhouses; he would tell you that when I asked

for my dinner, the servants went to the cardinal's kitchen to inquire if there were any dinner for the king. And

look! today, this very day even, when I am twentytwo years of age, today, when I have attained the

grade of the majority of kings, today, when I ought to have the key of the treasury, the direction of the

policy, the supremacy in peace and war, cast your eyes around me, see how I am left! Look at this

abandonment this disdain this silence! Whilst yonder look yonder! View the bustle, the lights,

"Condemned is the word; for I will never solicit him who left my mother and sister to die with cold and

hunger the daughter and granddaughter of Henry IV. if M. de Retz and the parliament had not sent

"Well!" continued the king of England, "poor Charles II., grandson of Henry IV. as you are, sire, having

neither parliament nor Cardinal de Retz to apply to, will die of hunger, as his mother and sister had nearly

This prostration, this immobility, serving as a mark to an emotion so visible, struck Charles II., and he took

"Thanks!" said he, "my brother. You pity me, and that is all I can require of you in your present situation."

"Sire," said Louis XIV., with a sudden impulse, and raising his head, "it is a million you require, or two

"Offered to a single man it is a great deal. Convictions have been purchased at a much lower price; and I

"Sire, there is in our family a tradition, and that is, that four men, four French gentlemen, devoted to my

father, were near saving my father, though condemned by a parliament, guarded by an army and surrounded

"Then if I can procure you a million, or two hundred gentlemen, you will be satisfied; and you will consider

"I shall consider you as my saviour; and if I recover the throne of my father, England will be, as long as I

"Well, my brother," said Louis, rising, "what you hesitate to ask for, I will myself demand; that which I have

never done on my own account, I will do on yours. I will go and find the king of France the other the

rich, the powerful one, I mean. I will myself solicit this million, or these two hundred gentlemen; and we

"Oh!" cried Charles, "you are a noble friend, sire a heart created by God! You save me, my brother; and if

"Silence, my brother, silence!" said Louis, in a suppressed voice. "Take care that no one hears you! We

have not obtained our end yet. To ask money of Mazarin that is worse than traversing the enchanted

forest, each tree of which inclosed a demon. It is more than setting out to conquer a world."

"I have already told you that I never asked," replied Louis with a haughtiness that made the king of England

And as the latter, like a wounded man, made a retreating movement "Pardon me, my brother," replied he.

"I have neither a mother nor a sister who are suffering. My throne is hard and naked, but I am firmly seated

on my throne. Pardon me that expression, my brother; it was that of an egotist. I will retract it, therefore, by a

sacrifice, I will go to monsieur le cardinal. Wait for me, if you please I will return."

Whilst the king was directing his course rapidly towards the wing of the castle occupied by the cardinal,

taking nobody with him but his valet de chambre, the officer of musketeers came out, breathing like a man

who has for a long time been forced to hold his breath, from the little cabinet of which we have already

spoken, and which the king believed to be quite solitary. This little cabinet had formerly been part of the

chamber, from which it was only separated by a thin partition. It resulted that this partition, which was only

for the eye, permitted the ear the least indiscreet to hear every word spoken in the chamber.

There was no doubt, then, that this lieutenant of musketeers had heard all that passed in his majesty's

Warned by the last words of the young king, he came out just in time to salute him on his passage, and to

Then as soon as he had disappeared, he shook his head after a fashion peculiarly his own, and in a voice

which forty years' absence from Gascony had not deprived of its Gascon accent, "A melancholy service," said

These words pronounced, the lieutenant resumed his place in his fauteuil, stretched his legs and closed his

During this short monologue and the mise en scene that had accompanied it, whilst the king, through the long

corridors of the old castle, proceeded to the apartment of M. de Mazarin, a scene of another sort was being

Mazarin was in bed, suffering a little from the gout. But as he was a man of order, who utilized even pain, he

forced his wakefulness to be the humble servant of his labor. He had consequently ordered Bernouin, his

valet de chambre, to bring him a little travelingdesk, so that he might write in bed. But the gout is not an

adversary that allows itself to be conquered so easily; therefore, at each movement he made, the pain from

"No, monseigneur," replied the valet de chambre; "M. de Brienne, with your permission, is gone to bed. But,

"Oh, ciphers is it?" said Bernouin. "Very well! if your eminence attempts calculations, I will promise you a

pretty headache tomorrow! And with that please to remember M. Guenaud is not here."

"You are right, Bernouin. You must take Brienne's place, my friend. Indeed, I ought to have brought M.

Colbert with me. That young man goes on very well, Bernouin, very well; a very orderly youth."

"I do not know," said the valet de chambre, "but I don't like the countenance of your young man who goes on

"Well, well, Bernouin! We don't stand in need of your advice. Place yourself there: take the pen and write."

"Yes," said the cardinal, pettishly, "seven." Then, recollecting himself, "You understand, Bernouin," added

"Eh! monseigneur; whether it be to be spent or put away is of very little consequence to me, since none of

"These millions are the king's; it is the king's money I am reckoning. Well, what were we saying? You always

"Ah! yes; that's right. Upon Madrid four millions. I give you to understand plainly to whom this money

belongs, Bernouin, seeing that everybody has the stupidity to believe me rich in millions. I repel the silly

idea. A minister, besides, has nothing of his own. Come, go on. Rentrees generales, seven millions;

"Bourse, six hundred thousand livres; various property, two millions. Ah! I forgot the furniture of the

"No, no, it is of no use doing that that is understood. Have you written that, Bernouin?"

"Ah!" cried the cardinal, in a tone of vexation; "there are not yet forty millions!"

"Yes, but," said Bernouin, "thirtynine millions two hundred and sixty thousand livres make a good round

"Doubtless, as clear, as transparent as possible. These thirtynine millions are bespoken, and much more."

Bernouin smiled after his own fashion that is, like a man who believes no more than he is willing to

believe whilst preparing the cardinal's night draught, and putting his pillow to rights.

"Oh!" said Mazarin, when the valet had gone out; "not yet forty millions! I must, however, attain that sum,

which I had set down for myself. But who knows whether I shall have time? I sink, I am going, I shall never

reach it! And yet, who knows that I may not find two or three millions in the pockets of my good friends the

Spaniards? They discovered Peru, those people did, and what the devil! they must have something left."

As he was speaking thus, entirely occupied with his ciphers, and thinking no more of his gout, repelled by a

preoccupation which, with the cardinal, was the most powerful of all preoccupations, Bernouin rushed into

"How? the king!" said Mazarin, quickly concealing his paper. "The king here! the king at this hour! I

The king could hear these last words, and see the terrified gesture of the cardinal rising up in his bed, for he

"It is nothing, monsieur le cardinal, or at least nothing which can alarm you. It is an important

Mazarin immediately thought of that marked attention which the king had given to his words concerning

Mademoiselle de Mancini, and the communication appeared to him probably to refer to this source. He

recovered his serenity then instantly, and assumed his most agreeable air, a change of countenance which

"Sire," said the cardinal, "I ought certainly to listen to your majesty standing, but the violence of my

"No ceremony between us, my dear monsieur le cardinal," said Louis kindly: "I am your pupil, and not the

king, you know very well, and this evening in particular, as I come to you as a petitioner, as a solicitor, and

Mazarin, seeing the heightened color of the king, was confirmed in his first idea; that is to say, that love

thoughts were hidden under all these fine words. This time, political cunning, keen as it was, made a mistake;

this color was not caused by the bashfulness of a juvenile passion, but only by the painful contraction of the

"Speak, sire," said he, "and since your majesty is willing for an instant to forget that I am your subject, and

call me your master and instructor, I promise your majesty my most devoted and tender consideration."

"Thanks, monsieur le cardinal," answered the king; "that which I have to ask of your eminence has but little

"So much the worse!" replied the cardinal, "so much the worse! Sire, I should wish your majesty to ask of me

something of importance, even a sacrifice; but whatever it may be that you ask me, I am ready to set your

"Well, this is what brings me here," said the king, with a beating of the heart that had no equal except the

beating of the heart of the minister; "I have just received a visit from my brother, the king of England."

Mazarin bounded in his bed as if he had been put in relation with a Leyden jar or a voltaic pile, at the same

time that a surprise, or rather a manifest disappointment, inflamed his features with such a blaze of anger, that

Louis XIV., little diplomatist as he was, saw that the minister had hoped to hear something else.

"Charles II.?" exclaimed Mazarin, with a hoarse voice and a disdainful movement of his lips. "You have

"From King Charles II.," replied Louis, according in a marked manner to the grandson of Henry IV. the title

which Mazarin had forgotten to give him. "Yes, monsieur le cardinal, that unhappy prince has touched my

heart with the relation of his misfortunes. His distress is great, monsieur le cardinal, and it has appeared

painful to me, who have seen my own throne disputed, who have been forced in times of commotion to quit

my capital, to me, in short, who am acquainted with misfortune, to leave a deposed and fugitive

"Eh!" said the cardinal, sharply; "why had he not, as you have, a Jules Mazarin by his side? His crown would

"I know all that my house owes to your eminence," replied the king, haughtily, "and you may believe well

that I, on my part, shall never forget it. It is precisely because my brother the king of England has not about

him the powerful genius who has saved me, it is for that, I say, that I wish to conciliate the aid of that same

genius, and beg you to extend your arm over his head, well assured, monsieur le cardinal, that your hand, by

touching him only, would know how to replace upon his brow the crown which fell at the foot of his father's

"Sire," replied Mazarin, "I thank you for your good opinion with regard to myself, but we have nothing to do

yonder: they are a set of madmen who deny God, and cut off the heads of their kings. They are dangerous,

observe, sire, and filthy to the touch after having wallowed in royal blood and covenantal murder. That policy

"Good heavens!" cried Mazarin, "does the poor prince flatter himself with that chimera?"

"Yes, he does," replied the young king, terrified at the difficulties opposed to this project, which he fancied

he could perceive in the infallible eye of his minister; "he only asks for a million to carry out his purpose."

"Is that all a little million, if you please!" said the cardinal, ironically, with an effort to conquer his Italian

accent. "A little million, if you please, brother! Bah! a family of mendicants!"

"Cardinal," said Louis, raising his head, "that family of mendicants is a branch of my family."

"Are you rich enough to give millions to other people, sire? Have you millions to throw away?"

"Oh!" replied Louis XIV., with great pain, which he, however, by a strong effort, prevented from appearing

on his countenance; "oh! yes, monsieur le cardinal, I am well aware I am poor, and yet the crown of

France is worth a million, and to perform a good action I would pledge my crown if it were necessary. I could

"You are mistaken, greatly mistaken, sire; you want much more than that, Bernouin! you shall see,

"What, cardinal!" said the king, "are you going to consult a lackey about my affairs?"

"Bernouin!" cried the cardinal again, without appearing to remark the humiliation of the young prince.

"Do not be angry, sire; I deal openly with the affairs of your majesty. Every one in France knows that; my

"To verify the amount of which his majesty, at this moment, stands in need. Did I not tell you so? Be frank,

"That is correct, Bernouin; that is all I wanted to know. Leave us now," said the cardinal, fixing his brilliant

"What, do you still doubt, sire?" said the cardinal. "Well, here is a proof of what I said."

And Mazarin drew from under his bolster the paper covered with figures, which he presented to the king,

"Therefore, as it is a million you want, sire, and that million is not set down here, it is fortysix millions your

majesty stands in need of. Well I don't think that any Jews in the world would lend such a sum, even upon the

"So it must be then!" said he, "my brother the king of England will die of hunger."

"Sire," replied Mazarin, in the same tone, "remember this proverb, which I give you as the expression of the

Louis meditated for a few moments, with an inquisitive glance directed to the paper, one end of which

"Then," said he, "it is impossible to comply with my demand for money, my lord cardinal, is it?"

"Remember, this will secure me a future enemy, if he succeed in recovering his crown without my

"If your majesty only fears that, you may be quite at ease," replied Mazarin, eagerly.

"Have I at least convinced you, sire?" placing his hand upon that of the young king.

"If there be anything else, ask it, sire, I shall be most happy to grant it to you, having refused this."

"Why yes, am I not devoted body and soul to your majesty? Hola! Bernouin! lights and guards for his

"Not yet, monsieur: since you place your goodwill at my disposal, I will take advantage of it."

"For yourself, sire?" asked the cardinal, hoping that his niece was at length about to be named.

"No, monsieur, not for myself," replied Louis, "but still for my brother Charles."

The brow of Mazarin again became clouded, and he grumbled a few words that the king could not catch.

Instead of the hesitation with which he had accosted the cardinal a quarter of an hour before, there might be

read in the eyes of the young king that will against which a struggle might be maintained, and which might be

crushed by its own impotence, but which, at least, would preserve, like a wound in the depth of the heart, the

"This time, my lord cardinal, we have to deal with something more easily found than a million."

"Do you think so, sire?" said Mazarin, looking at the king with that penetrating eye which was accustomed to

"That is the sense, if not the words. Eh! Good heavens! I wish him no ill on that account, one is biased by his

passions. He said to you: `If that vile Italian refuses the million we ask of him, sire, if we are forced, for

want of money, to renounce diplomacy, well, then, we will ask him to grant us five hundred gentlemen.'"

"Is not that it, sire?" cried the minister, with a triumphant accent. "And then he added some fine words: he

said, `I have friends on the other side of the channel, and these friends only want a leader and a banner. When

they see me, when they behold the banner of France, they will rally round me, for they will comprehend that I

have your support. The colors of the French uniform will be worth as much to me as the million M. de

Mazarin refuses us,' for he was pretty well assured I should refuse him that million. `I shall conquer

with these five hundred gentlemen, sire, and all the honor will be yours.' Now, that is what he said, or to that

purpose, was it not? turning those plain words into brilliant metaphors and pompous images, for they are

The perspiration of shame stood upon the brow of Louis. He felt that it was inconsistent with his dignity to

hear his brother thus insulted, but he did not yet know how to act with him to whom every one yielded, even

"But," said he, "my lord cardinal, it is not five hundred men, it is only two hundred."

"I never denied that you had a penetrating eye, and that was why I thought you would not refuse my brother

Charles a thing so simple and so easy to grant him as what I ask of you in his name, my lord cardinal, or

"Sire," said Mazarin, "I have studied policy thirty years; first, under the auspices of M. le Cardinal de

Richelieu; and then alone. This policy has not always been overhonest, it must be allowed, but it has never

been unskillful. Now that which is proposed to your majesty is dishonest and unskillful at the same time."

"Why did you sign yours so low down, sire? Cromwell found a good place, and he took it; that was his

custom. I return, then, to M. Cromwell. You have a treaty with him, that is to say, with England, since when

"Yes, that is it exactly. Richard inherited after the death of his father, and England at the abdication of

Richard. The treaty formed part of the inheritance, whether in the hands of M. Richard or in the hands of

England. The treaty is, then, still as good, as valid as ever. Why should you evade it, sire? What is changed?

Charles wants today what we were not willing to grant him ten years ago; but that was foreseen and

provided against. You are the ally of England, sire, and not of Charles II. It was doubtless wrong, from a

family point of view, to sign a treaty with a man who had cut off the head of the king your father's

brotherinlaw, and to contract an alliance with a parliament which they call yonder the Rump Parliament; it

was unbecoming, I acknowledge, but it was not unskillful from a political point of view, since, thanks to that

treaty, I saved your majesty, then a minor, the trouble and danger of a foreign war, which the Fronde you

remember the Fronde sire?" the young king hung his head "which the Fronde might have fatally

complicated. And thus I prove to your majesty that to change our plan now; without warning our allies,

would be at once unskillful and dishonest. We should make war with the aggression on our side, we should

make it, deserving to have it made against us, and we should have the appearance of fearing it whilst

provoking it, for a permission granted to five hundred men, to two hundred men, to fifty men, to ten men, is

still a permission. One Frenchman, that is the nation; one uniform, that is the army. Suppose, sire, for

example, that, sooner or later, you should have war with Holland, which, sooner or later, will certainly

happen; or with Spain, which will perhaps ensue if your marriage fails" (Mazarin stole a furtive glance at the

king), "and there are a thousand causes that might yet make your marriage fail, well, would you approve

of England's sending to the United Provinces or to Spain a regiment, a company, a squadron even, of English

gentlemen? Would you think that they kept within the limits of their treaty of alliance?"

Louis listened; it seemed so strange to him that Mazarin should invoke good faith, and he the author of so

many political tricks, called Mazarinades. "And yet," said the king, "without any manifest authorization, I

cannot prevent gentlemen of my states from passing over into England, if such should be their good

"You should compel them to return, sire, or at least protest against their presence as enemies in an allied

"But come, my lord cardinal, you who are so profound a genius, try if you cannot find means to assist this

"And that is exactly what I am not willing to do, my dear sire," said Mazarin. "If England were to act exactly

according to my wishes, she could not act better than she does; if I directed the policy of England from this

place, I should not direct it otherwise. Governed as she is governed, England is an eternal nest of contention

for all Europe. Holland protects Charles II., let Holland do so; they will quarrel, they will fight. They are the

only two maritime powers. Let them destroy each other's navies, we can construct ours with the wrecks of

"Oh, how paltry and mean is all this that you are telling me, monsieur le cardinal!"

"Yes, but nevertheless it is true, sire; you must confess that. Still further. Suppose I admit, for a moment, the

possibility of breaking your word, and evading the treaty such a thing sometimes happens, but that is

when some great interest is to be promoted by it, or when the treaty is found to be too troublesome well,

you will authorize the engagement asked of you: France her banner, which is the same thing will cross

"Ma foi! we have a pretty general to fight under this Charles II.! Worcester gave us good proofs of that."

"But he will have to deal with Monk, who is quite as dangerous. The brave brewer of whom we are speaking

was a visionary; he had moments of exaltation, of inflation, during which he ran over like an overfilled

cask; and from the chinks there always escaped some drops of his thoughts, and by the sample the whole of

his thought was to be made out. Cromwell has thus allowed us more than ten times to penetrate into his very

soul, when one would have conceived that soul to be enveloped in triple brass, as Horace has it. But Monk!

Oh, sire, God defend you from ever having anything to transact politically with Monk. It is he who has given

me, in one year, all the gray hairs I have. Monk is no fanatic; unfortunately he is a politician; he does not

overflow, he keeps close together. For ten years he has had his eyes fixed upon one object, and nobody has

yet been able to ascertain what. Every morning, as Louis XI. advised, he burns his nightcap. Therefore, on the

day when this plan slowly and solitarily ripened, shall break forth, it will break forthwith all the conditions of

success which always accompany an unforeseen event. That is Monk, sire, of whom perhaps, you have never

heard of whom, perhaps, you did not even know the name before your brother Charles II., who knows

what he is, pronounced it before you. He is a marvel of depth and tenacity, the two only things against which

intelligence and ardor are blunted. Sire, I had ardor when I was young, I always was intelligent. I may safely

boast of it, because I am reproached with it. I have done very well with these two qualities, since, from the

son of a fisherman of Piscina, I have become prime minister to the king of France; and in that position your

majesty will perhaps acknowledge I have rendered some service to the throne of your majesty. Well, sire, if I

had met with Monk on my way, instead of Monsieur de Beaufort, Monsieur de Retz, or Monsieur le Prince

well, we should have been ruined. If you engage yourself rashly, sire, you will fall into the talons of this

politic soldier. The casque of Monk, sire, is an iron coffer, in the recesses of which he shuts up his thoughts,

and no one has the key of it. Therefore, near him, or rather before him, I bow, sire, for I have nothing but a

"Eh! sire, if I knew that, I would not tell you to mistrust him, for I should be stronger than he; but with him, I

am afraid to guess to guess! you understand my word? for if I thought I had guessed, I should stop

at an idea, and, in spite of myself, should pursue that idea. Since that man has been in power yonder, I am like

one of the damned in Dante whose neck Satan has twisted, and who walk forward looking behind them. I am

traveling towards Madrid, but I never lose sight of London. To guess, with that devil of a man, is to deceive

one's self, and to deceive one's self is to ruin one's self. God keep me from ever seeking to guess what he

aims at; I confine myself to watching what he does, and that is well enough. Now I believe you observe

the meaning of the word I believe? I believe, with respect to Monk, ties one to nothing I believe that

he has a strong inclination to succeed Cromwell. Your Charles II. has already caused proposals to be made to

him by ten persons; he has satisfied himself with driving these ten meddlers from his presence, without

saying anything to them but, `Begone, or I will have you hung.' That man is a sepulcher! At this moment

Monk is affecting devotion to the Rump Parliament; of this devotion, observe, I am not the dupe. Monk has

no wish to be assassinated, an assassination would stop him in the midst of his operations, and his work

must be accomplished; so I believe but do not believe, what I believe, sire: for I say I believe from

habit I believe that Monk is keeping on friendly terms with the parliament till the day comes for

dispersing it. You are asked for swords, but they are to fight against Monk. God preserve you from fighting

against Monk sire; for Monk would beat us, and I should never console myself after being beaten by Monk. I

should say to myself, Monk has foreseen that victory ten years. For God's sake, sire, out of friendship for you,

if not out of consideration for himself, let Charles II. keep quiet. Your majesty will give him a little income

here; give him one of your chateaux. Yes, yes wait awhile. But I forgot the treaty that famous treaty of

which we were just now speaking. Your majesty has not even the right to give him a chateau."

"Yes, yes, your majesty is bound not to grant hospitality to King Charles, and to compel him to leave France

even. It was on this account we forced him to quit you, and yet here he is again. Sire, I hope you will give

your brother to understand that he cannot remain with us; that it is impossible he should be allowed to

"Enough, my lord," said Louis XIV, rising. "In refusing me a million, perhaps you may be right; your

millions are your own. In refusing me two hundred gentlemen, you are still further in the right; for you are

prime minister, and you have, in the eyes of France, the responsibility of peace and war. But that you should

pretend to prevent me, who am king, from extending my hospitality to the grandson of Henry IV., to my

cousingerman, to the companion of my childhood there your power stops, and there begins my will."

"Sire," said Mazarin, delighted at being let off so cheaply, and who had, besides, only fought so earnestly to

arrive at that, "sire, I shall always bend before the will of my king. Let my king, then, keep near him, or in

one of his chateaux, the king of England; let Mazarin know it, but let not the minister know it."

The king made no answer, and retired quite pensive, convinced, not of all Mazarin had told him, but of one

thing which he took care not to mention to him; and that was, that it was necessary for him to study seriously

both his own affairs and those of Europe, for he found them very difficult and very obscure. Louis found the

king of England seated in the same place where he had left him. On perceiving him, the English prince arose;

but at the first glance he saw discouragement written in dark letters upon his cousin's brow. Then, speaking

"Whatever it may be," said he, "I shall never forget all the kindness, all the friendship you have exhibited

"Alas!" replied Louis, in a melancholy tone, "only barren goodwill, my brother."

Charles II. became extremely pale; he passed his cold hand over his brow, and struggled for a few instants

against a faintness that made him tremble. "I understand," said he at last; "no more hope!"

Louis seized the hand of Charles II. "Wait, my brother," said he; "precipitate nothing, everything may

change; hasty resolutions ruin all causes, add another year of trial, I implore you, to the years you have

already undergone. You have, to induce you to act now rather than at another time, neither occasion nor

opportunity. Come with me, my brother; I will give you one of my residences, whichever you prefer, to

inhabit. I, with you, will keep my eyes upon events; we will prepare. Come, then, my brother, have courage!"

Charles II. withdrew his hand from that of the king, and drawing back, to salute him with more ceremony,

"With all my heart, thanks!" replied he, "sire; but I have prayed without success to the greatest king on earth;

now I will go and ask a miracle of God." And he went out without being willing to hear any more, his head

carried loftily, his hand trembling, with a painful contraction of his noble countenance, and that profound

gloom which, finding no more hope in the world of men, appeared to go beyond it, and ask it in worlds

unknown. The officer of musketeers, on seeing him pass by thus pale, bowed almost to his knees as he

saluted him. He then took a flambeau, called two musketeers, and descended the deserted staircase with the

unfortunate king, holding in his left hand his hat, the plume of which swept the steps. Arrived at the door, the

musketeer asked the king which way he was going, that he might direct the musketeers.

"Monsieur," replied Charles II., in a subdued voice, "you who have known my father, say, did you ever pray

for him? If you have done so, do not forget me in your prayers. Now, I am going alone, and beg of you not to

The officer bowed and sent away the musketeers into the interior of the palace. But he himself remained an

instant under the porch watching the departing Charles II., till he was lost in the turn of the next street. "To

him as to his father formerly," murmured he, "Athos, if he were here, would say with reason, `Salute

fallen majesty!'" Then, reascending the staircase: "Oh! the vile service that I follow!" said he at every step.

"Oh! my pitiful master! Life thus carried on is no longer tolerable, and it is at length time that I should do

something! No more generosity, no more energy! The master has succeeded, the pupil is starved forever.

Mordioux! I will not resist. Come, you men," continued he, entering the antechamber, "why are you all

looking at me so? Extinguish these torches and return to your posts. Ah! you were guarding me? Yes, you

watch over me, do you not, worthy fellows? Brave fools! I am not the Duc de Guise. Begone! They will not

assassinate me in the little passage. Besides," added he, in a low voice, "that would be a resolution, and no

resolutions have been formed since Monsieur le Cardinal de Richelieu died. Now, with all his faults, that was

Then, reflecting: "No," said he, "not yet! I have one great trial to make and I will make it; but that, and I

He had not finished speaking when a voice issued from the king's chamber. "Monsieur le lieutenant!" said

"Humph!" said the lieutenant; "perhaps of what I was thinking about." And he went into the king's apartment.

As soon as the king saw the officer enter, he dismissed his valet de chambre and his gentleman. "Who is on

The lieutenant bowed his head with military politeness and replied, "I am, sire."

"Sire, when traveling, the musketeers supply all the posts of your majesty's household; that is to say, yours,

her majesty the queen's, and monsieur le cardinal's, the latter of whom borrows of the king the best part, or

"There are no interims, sire, but for twenty or thirty men who rest out of a hundred and twenty. At the Louvre

it is very different, and if I were at the Louvre I should rely upon my brigadier; but, when traveling, sire, no

"What do you say?" said the king who did not at first comprehend the full meaning of this reply.

"I say, sire, that I will not expose myself to the chance of a fault. If the devil had a trick to play on me, you

understand, sire, as he knows the man with whom he has to deal, he would choose the moment when I should

"Eh! sire, I have performed it for thirty years, and in all France and Navarre there is not a man in better health

than I am. Moreover, I entreat you, sire, not to trouble yourself about me. That would appear very strange to

The king cut short the conversation by a fresh question. "Shall you be here, then, tomorrow morning?"

The king walked several times up and down his chamber; it was very plain that he burned with a desire to

speak, but that he was restrained by some fear or other. The lieutenant, standing motionless, hat in hand,

watched him making these evolutions, and, whilst looking at him, grumbled to himself, biting his mustache:

"He has not half a crown worth of resolution! Parole d'honneur! I would lay a wager he does not speak at all!"

The king continued to walk about, casting from time to time a side glance at the lieutenant. "He is the very

image of his father," continued the latter, in his secret soliloquy, "he is at once proud, avaricious, and timid.

"Why did you cry out this evening, down below in the salons `The king's service! His majesty's

"Sire, an order is given by a sign, by a gesture, by a glance, as intelligibly, as freely, and as clearly as by word

"My eyes are good, though, sire, although they have served their master long and much: when they have

anything to see, they seldom miss the opportunity. Now, this evening, they saw that your majesty colored

with endeavoring to conceal the inclination to yawn, that your majesty looked with eloquent supplications,

first at his eminence, and then at her majesty, the queenmother, and at length to the entrance door, and they

so thoroughly remarked all I have said, that they saw your majesty's lips articulate these words: `Who will get

"Or something to this effect, sire `My musketeers!' I could then no longer hesitate. That look was for me

the order was for me. I cried out instantly, `His Majesty's musketeers!' And, besides, that was shown to be

true, sire, not only by your majesty's not saying I was wrong, but proving I was right by going out at once."

The king turned away to smile; then, after a few seconds, he again fixed his limpid eye upon that

countenance, so intelligent, so bold, and so firm, that it might have been said to be the proud and energetic

profile of the eagle facing the sun. "That is all very well," said he, after a short silence, during which he

But seeing the king said no more, the latter pirouetted on his heels, and took three steps towards the door,

"Humph!" continued the lieutenant; "there was only wanting that. Blamed for having been less of a fool than

another might have been." And he went to the door, allowing his spurs to jingle in true military style. But

when he was on the threshold, feeling that the king's desire drew him back, he returned.

"Has your majesty told me all?" asked he, in a tone we cannot describe, but which, without appearing to

solicit the royal confidence, contained so much persuasive frankness, that the king immediately replied:

"You will mount on horseback tomorrow, at about halfpast four in the morning, and you will have a horse

The lieutenant bowed, understanding that the king had told him all he had to say. In fact, the king dismissed

him with a gracious wave of the hand. The officer left the chamber of the king, and returned to place himself

philosophically in his fauteuil, where, far from sleeping, as might have been expected, considering how late it

was, he began to reflect more deeply than he had ever reflected before. The result of these reflections was not

"Come, he has begun," said he. "Love urges him on, and he goes forward he goes forward! The king is

nobody in his own palace; but the man perhaps may prove to be worth something. Well, we shall see

tomorrow morning. Oh! oh!" cried he, all at once starting up, "that is a gigantic idea, mordioux! and perhaps

my fortune depends, at least, upon that idea!" After this exclamation, the officer arose and marched, with his

hands in the pockets of his justacorps, about the immense antechamber that served him as an apartment. The

waxlight flamed furiously under the effects of a fresh breeze which stole in through the chinks of the door

and the window, and cut the salle diagonally. It threw out a reddish, unequal light, sometimes brilliant,

sometimes dull, and the tall shadow of the lieutenant was seen marching on the wall, in profile, like a figure

"Certainly!" said he, "I am mistaken if Mazarin is not laying a snare for this amorous boy. Mazarin, this

evening, gave an address, and made an appointment as complacently as M. Dangeau himself could have done

I heard him, and I know the meaning of his words. `Tomorrow morning,' said he, `they will pass

opposite the bridge of Blois. Mordioux! that is clear enough, and particularly for a lover. That is the cause of

this embarrassment; that is the cause of this hesitation; that is the cause of this order `Monsieur the

lieutenant of my musketeers, be on horseback tomorrow at four o'clock in the morning.' Which is as clear as

if he had said, `Monsieur the lieutenant of my musketeers, tomorrow, at four, at the bridge of Blois

do you understand?' Here is a state secret, then, which I, humble as I am, have in my possession, while it is in

action. And how do I get it? Because I have good eyes, as his majesty just now said. They say he loves this

little Italian doll furiously. They say he threw himself at his mother's feet, to beg her to allow him to marry

her. They say the queen went so far as to consult the court of Rome, whether such a marriage, contracted

against her will, would be valid. Oh, if I were but twentyfive! If I had by my side those I no longer have! If I

did not despise the whole world most profoundly, I would embroil Mazarin with the queenmother, France

with Spain, and I would make a queen after my own fashion. But let that pass." And the lieutenant snapped

"This miserable Italian this poor creature this sordid wretch who has just refused the king of

England a million, would not perhaps give me a thousand pistoles for the news I could carry him. Mordioux!

I am falling into second childhood I am becoming stupid indeed! The idea of Mazarin giving anything!

"Well, let us go to sleep let us go to sleep; and the sooner the better. My mind is wearied with my

And upon this recommendation, made to himself, he folded his cloak around him, looking with contempt

upon his royal neighbor. Five minutes after this he was asleep, with his hands clenched and his lips apart,

giving escape, not to his secret, but to a sonorous sound, which rose and spread freely beneath the majestic

The sun had scarcely shed its first beams on the majestic trees of the park and the lofty turrets of the castle,

when the young king, who had been awake more than two hours, possessed by the sleeplessness of love,

opened his shutters himself, and cast an inquiring look into the courts of the sleeping palace. He saw that it

was the hour agreed upon: the great court clock pointed to a quarter past four. He did not disturb his valet de

chambre, who was sleeping soundly at some distance; he dressed himself, and the valet, in a great fright

sprang up, thinking he had been deficient in his duty; but the king sent him back again, commanding him to

preserve the most absolute silence. He then descended the little staircase, went out at a lateral door, and

perceived at the end of the wall a mounted horseman holding another horse by the bridle. This horseman

could not be recognized in his cloak and slouched hat. As to the horse, saddled like that of a rich citizen, it

offered nothing remarkable to the most experienced eye. Louis took the bridle: the officer held the stirrup

The officer put his horse to the trot, behind that of his master, and they descended the hill towards the bridge.

"Monsieur," said the king, "you will please to ride on till you see a carriage coming; then return and inform

"Will your majesty deign to give me some description of the carriage I am charged to discover?"

"A carriage in which you will see two ladies, and probably their attendants likewise."

"Sire, I should not wish to make a mistake; is there no other sign by which I may know this carriage?"

"That is sufficient, sire," replied the officer, fully instructed in the object of his search. He put his horse to the

trot, and rode sharply on in the direction pointed out by the king. But he had scarcely gone five hundred paces

when he saw four mules and then a carriage, loom up from behind a little hill. Behind this carriage came

another. It required only one glance to assure him that these were the equipages he was in search of; he

"Sire," said he, "here are the carriages. The first, as you said, contains two ladies with their femmes de

"That is well," replied the king in an agitated voice. "Please to go and tell those ladies that a cavalier of the

The officer set off at a gallop. "Mordioux!" said he, as he rode on, "here is a new and an honorable

employment, I hope! I complained of being nobody. I am the king's confidant: that is enough to make a

He approached the carriage, and delivered his message gallantly and intelligently. There were two ladies in

the carriage: one of great beauty, although rather thin; the other less favored by nature, but lively, graceful,

and uniting in the delicate lines of her brow all the signs of a strong will. Her eyes, animated and piercing in

particular, spoke more eloquently than all the amorous phrases in fashion in those days of gallantry. It was to

her D'Artagnan addressed himself, without fear of being mistaken, although the other was, as we have said,

"Madame," said he, "I am the lieutenant of the musketeers, and there is on the road a horseman who awaits

At these words, the effect of which he watched closely, the lady with the black eyes uttered a cry of joy, leant

out of the carriage window, and seeing the cavalier approaching, held out her arms, exclaiming:

The coachman stopped his team; the women rose in confusion from the back of the carriage, and the second

lady made a slight curtsey, terminated by the most ironical smile that jealousy ever imparted to the lips of

"Marie? dear Marie?" cried the king, taking the hand of the blackeyed lady in both his. And opening the

heavy door himself, he drew her out of the carriage with so much ardor, that she was in his arms before she

touched the ground. The lieutenant, posted on the other side of the carriage, saw and heard all without being

The king offered his arm to Mademoiselle de Mancini, and made a sign to the coachman and lackeys to

proceed. It was nearly six o'clock; the road was fresh and pleasant; tall trees with their foliage still inclosed in

the golden down of their buds let the dew of morning filter from their trembling branches like liquid

diamonds; the grass was bursting at the foot of the hedges; the swallows, having returned since only a few

days, described their graceful curves between the heavens and the water; a breeze, laden with the perfumes of

the blossoming woods, sighed along the road, and wrinkled the surface of the waters of the river; all these

beauties of the day, all these perfumes of the plants, all these aspirations of the earth towards heaven,

intoxicated the two lovers, walking side by side, leaning upon each other, eyes fixed upon eyes, hand clasping

hand, and who, lingering as by a common desire, did not dare to speak they had so much to say.

The officer saw that the king's horse, in wandering this way and that, annoyed Mademoiselle de Mancini. He

took advantage of the pretext of securing the horse to draw near them, and dismounting, walked between the

two horses he led; he did not lose a single word or gesture of the lovers. It was Mademoiselle de Mancini

"I had so often been told, though, that as soon as we should be separated you would no longer think of me."

"Dear Marie, is it then today only that you have discovered we are surrounded by people interested in

"But, then, sire, this journey, this alliance with Spain? They are going to marry you off!"

Louis hung his head. At the same time the officer could see the eyes of Marie de Mancini shine in the sun

with the brilliancy of a dagger starting from its sheath. "And you have done nothing in favor of our love?"

"Ah! mademoiselle, how could you believe that? I threw myself at the feet of my mother; I begged her, I

implored her; I told her all my hopes of happiness were in you, I even threatened "

"Well? the queenmother wrote to the court of Rome, and received as answer, that a marriage between us

would have no validity, and would be dissolved by the holy father. At length, finding there was no hope for

"How can I help it? To my prayers, to my supplications, to my tears, I received no answer but reasons of

"Well, what is to be done, mademoiselle, when so many wills are leagued against me?"

It was now Marie's turn to hang her head. "Then I must bid you adieu for ever," said she. "You know that I

am being exiled; you know that I am going to be buried alive; you know still more that they want to marry

"If I had thought that my life only had, been at stake, I have been so persecuted that I might have yielded; but

I thought yours was concerned, my dear sire, and I stood out for the sake of preserving your happiness. "

"Oh, yes! my happiness, my treasure!" murmured the king, more gallantly than passionately, perhaps.

"The cardinal might have yielded," said Marie, "if you had addressed yourself to him, if you had pressed him.

For the cardinal to call the king of France his nephew! do you not perceive, sire? He would have made war

even for that honor; the cardinal, assured of governing alone, under the double pretext of having brought up

the king and given his niece to him in marriage the cardinal would have fought all antagonists, overcome

all obstacles. Oh, sire! I can answer for that. I am a woman, and I see clearly into everything where love is

These words produced a strange effect upon the king. Instead of heightening his passion, they cooled it. He

"The king has no will but that which policy dictates, but that which reasons of state impose upon him."

"Oh! it is because you have no love," cried Mary; "if you loved, sire, you would have a will."

On pronouncing these words, Mary raised her eyes to her lover, whom she saw more pale and more cast

down than an exile who is about to quit his native land forever. "Accuse me," murmured the king, "but do not

A long silence followed these words, which the young king had pronounced with a perfectly true and

profound feeling. "I am unable to think that tomorrow, and after tomorrow, I shall see you no more; I

cannot think that I am going to end my sad days at a distance from Paris; that the lips of an old man, of an

unknown, should touch that hand which you hold within yours; no, in truth, I cannot think of all that, my dear

And Marie de Mancini did shed floods of tears. On his part, the king, much affected, carried his handkerchief

"See," said she, "the carriages have stopped, my sister waits for me, the time is come; what you are about to

decide upon will be decided for life. Oh, sire! you are willing, then, that I should lose you? You are willing,

then, Louis, that she to whom you have said `I love you,' should belong to another than to her king; to her

master, to her lover? Oh! courage, Louis! courage! One word, a single word! Say `I will!' and all my life is

The king made no reply. Mary then looked at him as Dido looked at AEneas in the Elysian fields, fierce and

And she took a step away. The king detained her, seized her hand, which he pressed to his lips, and despair

prevailing over the resolution he appeared to have inwardly formed, he let fall upon that beautiful hand a

burning tear of regret, which made Mary start, so really had that tear burnt her. She saw the humid eyes of the

king, his pale brow, his convulsed lips, and cried, with an accent that cannot be described,

As his sole reply, the king hid his face in his handkerchief. The officer uttered something so like a roar that it

frightened the horses. Mademoiselle de Mancini, quite indignant, quitted the king's arm, hastily entered the

The coachman obeyed, flogged his mules, and the heavy carriage rocked upon its creaking axle, whilst the

king of France, alone, cast down, annihilated, did not dare to look either behind or before him.

When the king, like all the people in the world who are in love, had long and attentively watched disappear in

the distance the carriage which bore away his mistress; when he had turned and turned again a hundred times

to the same side and had at length succeeded in somewhat calming the agitation of his heart and thoughts, he

recollected that he was not alone. The officer still held the horse by the bridle, and had not lost all hope of

seeing the king recover his resolution. He had still the resource of mounting and riding after the carriage; they

would have lost nothing by waiting a little. But the imagination of the lieutenant of the musketeers was too

rich and too brilliant; it left far behind it that of the king, who took care not to allow himself to be carried

away to any such excess. He contented himself with approaching the officer, and in a doleful voice, "Come,"

The officer imitated this carriage, this slowness, this sadness, and leisurely mounted his horse. The king

pushed on sharply, the lieutenant followed him. At the bridge Louis turned around for the last time. The

lieutenant, patient as a god who has eternity behind and before him, still hoped for a return of energy. But it

was groundless, nothing appeared. Louis gained the street which led to the castle, and entered as seven was

striking. When the king had returned, and the musketeer, who saw everything, had seen a corner of the

tapestry over the cardinal's window lifted up, he breathed a profound sigh, like a man unloosed from the

The king summoned his gentleman. "Please to understand I shall receive nobody before two o'clock," said he.

"Sire," replied the gentleman, "there is, however, some one who requests admittance."

The officer entered. The king made a sign, and the gentleman and the valet retired. Louis followed them with

his eyes until they had shut the door, and when the tapestries had fallen behind them, "You remind me by

your presence, monsieur, of something I had forgotten to recommend to you, that is to say, the most absolute

"Oh! sire, why does your majesty give yourself the trouble of making me such a recommendation? It is plain

"Yes, monsieur, that is true. I know that you are discreet; but as I had prescribed nothing "

"Sire, a thing without importance to you, but which interests me greatly. Pardon me, then, for speaking of it.

Without urgency, without necessity, I never would have done it, and I would have disappeared, mute and

"Sire, in a word," said the officer, "I am come to ask for my discharge from your majesty's service."

The king made a movement of surprise, but the officer remained as motionless as a statue.

"What, you are desirous of quitting my service, monsieur?" said Louis, with an expression that revealed

"It is so, however, sire. I am getting old; I have worn harness now thirtyfive years; my poor shoulders are

tired; I feel that I must give place to the young. I don't belong to this age; I have still one foot in the old one;

it results that everything is strange in my eyes, everything astonishes and bewilders me. In short, I have the

"Monsieur," said the king, looking at the officer, who wore his uniform with an ease that would have caused

"Oh!" replied the officer, with an air of false modesty, "your majesty says so because I still have a good eye

and a tolerably firm foot because I can still ride a horse, and my mustache is black; but, sire, vanity of

vanities all that illusions all that appearance, smoke, sire! I have still a youthful air, it is true, but I feel

old, and within six months I am certain I shall be broken down, gouty, impotent. Therefore, then sire "

"Monsieur," interrupted the king, "remember your words of yesterday. You said to me in this very place

where you now are, that you were endowed with the best health of any man in France; that fatigue was

unknown to you! that you did not mind spending whole days and nights at your post. Did you tell me that,

The officer sighed. "Sire," said he, "old age is boastful; and it is pardonable for old men to praise themselves

when others no longer do it. It is very possible I said that; but the fact is, sire, I am very much fatigued, and

"Monsieur," said the king, advancing towards the officer with a gesture full of majesty, "you are not

assigning me the true reason. You wish to quit my service, it may be true, but you disguise from me the

"I believe what I see, monsieur; I see a vigorous, energetic man, full of presence of mind, the best soldier in

France, perhaps; and this personage cannot persuade me the least in the world that you stand in need of rest."

"Ah! sire," said the lieutenant, with bitterness, "what praise! Indeed, your majesty confounds me! Energetic,

vigorous, brave, intelligent, the best soldier in the army! But, sire, your majesty exaggerates my small portion

of merit to such a point, that however good an opinion I may have of myself, I do not recognize myself; in

truth I do not. If I were vain enough to believe only half of your majesty's words, I should consider myself a

valuable, indispensable man. I should say that a servant possessed of such brilliant qualities was a treasure

beyond all price. Now, sire, I have been all my life I feel bound to say it except at the present time,

appreciated, in my opinion, much below my value. I therefore repeat, your majesty exaggerates."

The king knitted his brow, for he saw a bitter raillery beneath the words of the officer. "Come, monsieur,"

said he, "let us meet the question frankly. Are you dissatisfied with my service, say? No evasions; speak

The officer, who had been twisting his hat about in his hands, with an embarrassed air, for several minutes,

raised his head at these words. "Oh! sire," said he, "that puts me a little more at my ease. To a question put so

frankly, I will reply frankly. To tell the truth is a good thing, as much from the pleasure one feels in relieving

one's heart, as on account of the rarity of the fact. I will speak the truth, then, to my king, at the same time

Louis looked at his officer with anxiety, which he manifested by the agitation of his gesture. "Well, then

The officer threw his hat upon a table, and his countenance, always so intelligent and martial, assumed, all at

once, a strange character of grandeur and solemnity. "Sire," said he, "I quit the king's service because I am

dissatisfied. The valet, in these times, can approach his master as respectfully as I do, can give him an

account of his labor, bring back his tools, return the funds that have been intrusted to him, and say, `Master,

"Ah! sire," replied the officer, bending his knee for a moment, "never was servant more respectful than I am

before your majesty; only you commanded me to tell the truth. Now I have begun to tell it, it must come out,

There was so much resolution expressed in the deepsunk muscles of the officer's countenance, that Louis

XIV. had no occasion to tell him to continue; he continued, therefore, whilst the king looked at him with a

"Sire, I have, as I have said, now served the house of France thirtyfive years; few people have worn out so

many swords in that service as I have, and the swords I speak of were good swords, too, sire. I was a boy,

ignorant of everything except courage, when the king your father guessed that there was a man in me. I was a

man, sire, when the Cardinal de Richelieu, who was a judge of manhood, discovered an enemy in me. Sire,

the history of that enmity between the ant and the lion may be read from the first to the last line, in the secret

archives of your family. If ever you feel an inclination to know it, do so, sire; the history is worth the trouble

it is I who tell you so. You will there read that the lion, fatigued, harassed, out of breath, at length cried

for quarter, and the justice must be rendered him to say that he gave as much as he required. Oh! those were

glorious times, sire, strewed over with battles like one of Tasso's or Ariosto's epics. The wonders of those

times, to which the people of ours would refuse belief, were everyday occurrences. For five years together, I

was a hero every day; at least, so I was told by persons of judgment; and that is a long period for heroism,

trust me, sire, a period of five years. Nevertheless, I have faith in what these people told me, for they were

good judges. They were named M. de Richelieu, M. de Buckingham, M. de Beaufort, M. de Retz, a mighty

genius himself in street warfare, in short, the king, Louis XIII., and even the queen, your noble mother,

who one day condescended to say, `Thank you.' I don't know what service I had had the good fortune to

render her. Pardon me, sire, for speaking so boldly; but what I relate to you, as I have already had the honor

"I appear importunate to your majesty," said the lieutenant. "Eh! sire, that is the fate of truth; she is a stern

companion; she bristles all over with steel; she wounds those whom she attacks, and sometimes him who

"After the service of the king and the cardinal came the service of the regency, sire; I fought pretty well in the

Fronde much less, though, than the first time. The men began to diminish in stature. I have, nevertheless,

led your majesty's musketeers on some perilous occasions, which stand upon the orders of the day of the

company. Mine was a beautiful luck at that time. I was the favorite of M. de Mazarin. Lieutenant here!

lieutenant there! lieutenant to the right! lieutenant to the left! There was not a buffet dealt in France, of which

your humble servant did not have the dealing; but soon France was not enough. The cardinal sent me to

England on Cromwell's account; another gentleman who was not over gentle, I assure you, sire. I had the

honor of knowing him, and I was well able to appreciate him. A great deal was promised me on account of

that mission. So, as I did much more than I had been bidden to do, I was generously paid, for I was at length

appointed captain of the musketeers, that is to say, the most envied position in court, which takes precedence

over the marshals of France, and justly, for who says captain of the musketeers says the flower of chivalry

"Captain, monsieur!" interrupted the king, "you make a mistake. Lieutenant, you mean."

"Not at all, sire I make no mistake; your majesty may rely upon me in that respect. Monsieur le cardinal

"But M. de Mazarin, as you know better than anybody, does not often give, and sometimes takes back what

he has given; he took it back again as soon as peace was made and he was no longer in want of me. Certainly

I was not worthy to replace M. de Treville, of illustrious memory; but they had promised me, and they had

"Is that what dissatisfies you, monsieur? Well I shall make inquiries. I love justice; and your claim, though

"Oh, sire!" said the officer, "your majesty has ill understood me; I no longer claim anything now."

"Excess of delicacy, monsieur; but I will keep my eye upon your affairs, and later "

"Oh, sire! what a word! later! Thirty years have I lived upon that promising word, which has been

pronounced by so many great personages, and which your mouth has, in its turn, just pronounced. Later

that is how I have received a score of wounds, and how I have reached fiftyfour years of age without ever

having had a louis in my purse, and without ever having met with a protector on my way, I who have

protected so many people! So I change my formula, sire; and when any one says to me `Later,' I reply `Now.'

It is rest that I solicit, sire. That may be easily granted me. That will cost nobody anything."

"I did not look for this language, monsieur, particularly from a man who has always lived among the great.

You forget you are speaking to the king, to a gentleman who is, I suppose, of as good a house as yourself; and

"I do not at all doubt it, sire, but this is the end of the terrible truth I had to tell you. If I were to see upon that

table a marshal's stick, the sword of constable, the crown of Poland, instead of later, I swear to you, sire, that

I should still say Now! Oh, excuse me, sire! I am from the country of your grandfather, Henry IV. I do not

"The future of my reign has little temptation for you, monsieur, it appears," said Louis, haughtily.

"Forgetfulness, forgetfulness everywhere!" cried the officer, with a noble air; "the master has forgotten the

servant, so that the servant is reduced to forget his master. I live in unfortunate times, sire. I see youth full of

discouragement and fear, I see it timid and despoiled, when it ought to be rich and powerful. I yesterday

evening, for example, open the door to a king of England, whose father, humble as I am, I was near saving, if

God had not been against me God, who inspired His elect, Cromwell! I open, I said, the door, that is to

say, the palace of one brother to another brother, and I see stop, sire, that is a load on my heart! I see

the minister of that king drive away the proscribed prince, and humiliate his master by condemning to want

another king, his equal. Then I see my prince, who is young, handsome, and brave, who has courage in his

heart, and lightning in his eye, I see him tremble before a priest, who laughs at him behind the curtain of

his alcove, where he digests all the gold of France, which he afterwards stuffs into secret coffers. Yes I

understand your looks, sire. I am bold to madness; but what is to be said? I am an old man, and I tell you

here, sire, to you, my king, things which I would cram down the throat of any one who should dare to

pronounce them before me. You have commanded me to pour out the bottom of my heart before you, sire,

and I cast at the feet of your majesty the pentup indignation of thirty years, as I would pour out all my

The king, without speaking a word, wiped the drops of cold and abundant perspiration which trickled from

his temples. The moment of silence which followed this vehement outbreak represented for him who had

"Monsieur," said the king at length, "you spoke the word forgetfulness. I have heard nothing but that word; I

will reply, then, to it alone. Others have perhaps been able to forget, but I have not, and the proof is, that I

remember that one day of riot, that one day when the furious people, raging and roaring as the sea, invaded

the royal palace; that one day when I feigned sleep in my bed, one man alone, naked sword in hand,

concealed behind my curtain, watched over my life, ready to risk his own for me, as he had before risked it

twenty times for the lives of my family. Was not the gentleman, whose name I then demanded, called M.

"You see, then," continued the king, "if I have such remembrances of my childhood, what an amount I may

"Your majesty has been richly endowed by God," said the officer, in the same tone.

"Come, Monsieur d'Artagnan," continued Louis, with feverish agitation, "ought you not to be as patient as I

"Your majesty may do so, because you are young; but I, sire, have not time to wait; old age is at my door, and

death is behind it, looking into the very depths of my house. Your majesty is beginning life, its future is full

of hope and fortune; but I, sire, I am on the other side of the horizon, and we are so far from each other, that I

Louis made another turn in his apartment, still wiping the moisture from his brow, in a manner that would

have terrified his physicians, if his physicians had witnessed the state his majesty was in.

"It is very well, monsieur," said Louis XIV., in a sharp voice; "you are desirous of having your discharge, and

you shall have it. You offer me your resignation of the rank of lieutenant of the musketeers?"

"Monsieur," said the king, with a violent effort, "I think you are losing a good master."

"Oh, sire! I know that your majesty is alone in the world; therefore will I never again take service with any

"Yes, sire, and yet I should desire that that memory should fail your majesty in this instance, in order that you

might forget all the miseries I have been forced to spread before your eyes. Your majesty is so much above

"My majesty, monsieur, will act like the sun, which looks upon all, great and small, rich and poor, giving

luster to some, warmth to others, and life to all. Adieu Monsieur d'Artagnan adieu: you are free."

And the king, with a hoarse sob, which was lost in his throat, passed quickly into the next room. D'Artagnan

D'Artagnan had not reached the bottom of the staircase, when the king called his gentleman. "I have a

"Wait, then." And the young king began to write the following letter, which cost him more than one sigh,

although, at the same time, something like a feeling of triumph glittered in his eyes:

"My Lord Cardinal, Thanks to your good counsels and, above all, thanks to your firmness, I have

succeeded in overcoming a weakness unworthy of a king. You have too ably arranged my destiny to allow

gratitude not to stop me at the moment when I was about to destroy your work. I felt I was wrong to wish to

make my life turn from the course you had marked out for it. Certainly it would have been a misfortune to

France and my family if a misunderstanding had taken place between me and my minister. This, however,

would certainly have happened if I had made your niece my wife. I am perfectly aware of this, and will

henceforth oppose nothing to the accomplishment of my destiny. I am prepared, then, to wed the infanta,

The king, after reperusing the letter, sealed it himself. "This letter for my lord cardinal," said he.

The gentleman took it. At Mazarin's door he found Bernouin waiting with anxiety.

"As first minister, it belongs to the duties of our charge to know everything. And his majesty prays and

"'Yes, yes, yes; we understand all that; people sigh sometimes from happiness as well as from grief,

"You did not see clearly. Besides, you only saw his majesty on his return, for he was only accompanied by

the lieutenant of the guards. But I had his eminence's telescope, I looked through it when he was tired, and I

"No, but for love, and they vowed to each other a thousand tendernesses, which the king asks no better than

"And what does his eminence think of this love, which is, by the bye, no secret to anybody?"

Bernouin took the gentleman by the arm, and whilst ascending the staircase, "In confidence," said he, in a

low voice, "his eminence looks for success in the affair. I know very well we shall have war with Spain; but,

bah! war will please the nobles. My lord cardinal, besides, can endow his niece royally, nay, more than

royally. There will be money, festivities, and fireworks everybody will be delighted."

"Well, for my part," replied the gentleman, shaking his head, "it appears to me that this letter is very light to

"My friend," replied Bernouin, "I am certain of what I tell you. M. d'Artagnan related all that passed to me."

"I accosted him by asking him, on the part of the cardinal, if there were any news, without discovering my

designs, observe, for M. d'Artagnan is a cunning hand. `My dear Monsieur Bernouin,' he replied, `the king is

madly in love with Mademoiselle de Mancini, that is all I have to tell you.' And then I asked him `Do you

think, to such a degree that it will urge him to act contrary to the designs of his eminence?' `Ah! don't ask

me,' said he; `I think the king capable of anything; he has a will of iron, and what he wills he wills in earnest.

If he takes it into his head to marry Mademoiselle de Mancini, he will marry her, depend upon it.' And

thereupon he left me and went straight to the stables, took a horse, saddled it himself, jumped upon its back,

"I believe that monsieur the lieutenant of the guards knew more than he was willing to say."

"Is gone, according to all probability, after the exiles, to carry out all that can facilitate the success of the

Chatting thus, the two confidants arrived at the door of his eminence's apartment. His eminence's gout had

left him; he was walking about his chamber in a state of great anxiety, listening at doors and looking out of

windows. Bernouin entered, followed by the gentleman, who had orders from the king to place the letter in

the hands of the cardinal himself. Mazarin took the letter, but before opening it, he got up a ready smile, a

smile of circumstance, able to throw a veil over emotions of whatever sort they might be. So prepared,

whatever was the impression received from the letter, no reflection of that impression was allowed to

"Well," said he, when he had read and reread the letter, "very well, monsieur. Inform the king that I thank

him for his obedience to the wishes of the queenmother, and that I will do everything for the

The gentlemen left the room. The door had scarcely closed before the cardinal, who had no mask for

Bernouin, took off that which had so recently covered his face, and with a most dismal expression, "Call

"Monsieur," said Mazarin, "I have just rendered a great service to the monarchy, the greatest I have ever

rendered it. You will carry this letter, which proves it, to her majesty the queenmother, and when she shall

have returned it to you, you will lodge it in portfolio B., which is filled with documents and papers relative to

Brienne went as desired, and, as the letter was unsealed, did not fail to read it on his way. There is likewise

no doubt that Bernouin, who was on good terms with everybody, approached so near to the secretary as to be

able to read the letter over his shoulder; so that the news spread with such activity through the castle, that

Mazarin might have feared it would reach the ears of the queenmother before M. de Brienne could convey

Louis XIV.'s letter to her. A moment after orders were given for departure, and M. de Conde having been to

pay his respects to the king on his pretended rising, inscribed the city of Poitiers upon his tablets, as the place

Thus in a few instants was unraveled an intrigue which had covertly occupied all the diplomacies of Europe.

It had nothing, however, very clear as a result, but to make a poor lieutenant of musketeers lose his

commission and his fortune. It is true, that in exchange he gained his liberty. We shall soon know how M.

d'Artagnan profited by this. For the moment, if the reader will permit us, we shall return to the hostelry of les

Medici, of which one of the windows opened at the very moment the orders were given for the departure of

The window that opened was that of one of the rooms of Charles II. The unfortunate prince had passed the

night in bitter reflections, his head resting on his hands, and his elbows on the table, whilst Parry, infirm and

old, wearied in body and in mind, had fallen asleep in a corner. A singular fortune was that of this faithful

servant, who saw beginning for the second generation the fearful series of misfortunes which had weighed so

heavily on the first. When Charles II. had well thought over the fresh defeat he had experienced, when he

perfectly comprehended the complete isolation into which he had just fallen, on seeing his fresh hope left

behind him, he was seized as with a vertigo, and sank back in the large armchair in which he was seated.

Then God took pity on the unhappy prince, and sent to console him sleep, the innocent brother of death. He

did not wake till halfpast six, that is to say, till the sun shone brightly into his chamber, and Parry,

motionless with fear of waking him, was observing with profound grief the eyes of the young man already

At length the noise of some heavy carts descending towards the Loire awakened Charles. He arose, looked

around him like a man who has forgotten everything, perceived Parry, shook him by the hand, and

commanded him to settle the reckoning with Master Cropole. Master Cropole, being called upon to settle his

account with Parry, acquitted himself, it must be allowed, like an honest man; he only made his customary

remark, that the two travelers had eaten nothing, which had the double disadvantage of being humiliating for

his kitchen, and of forcing him to ask payment for a repast not consumed, but not the less lost. Parry had

"I hope," said the king, "it has not been the same with the horses. I don't see that they have eaten at your

expense, and it would be a misfortune for travelers like us, who have a long journey to make, to have our

But Cropole, at this doubt, assumed his majestic air, and replied that the stables of les Medici were not less

The king mounted his horse; his old servant did the same, and both set out towards Paris, without meeting a

single person on their road, in the streets or the faubourgs of the city. For the prince the blow was the more

severe, as it was a fresh exile. The unfortunates cling to the smallest hopes, as the happy do to the greatest

good; and when they are obliged to quit the place where that hope has soothed their hearts, they experience

the mortal regret which the banished man feels when he places his foot upon the vessel which is to bear him

into exile. It appears that the heart already wounded so many times suffers from the least scratch; it appears

that it considers as a good the momentary absence of evil, which is nothing but the absence of pain; and that

God, into the most terrible misfortunes, has thrown hope as the drop of water which the rich bad man in hell

For one instant even the hope of Charles II. had been more than a fugitive joy; that was when he found

himself so kindly welcomed by his brother king; then it had taken a form that had become a reality; then, all

at once, the refusal of Mazarin had reduced the fictitious reality to the state of a dream. This promise of Louis

XIV., so soon retracted, had been nothing but a mockery; a mockery like his crown like his scepter

like his friends like all that had surrounded his royal childhood, and which had abandoned his proscribed

youth. Mockery! everything was a mockery for Charles II. except the cold, black repose promised by death.

Such were the ideas of the unfortunate prince while sitting listlessly upon his horse, to which he abandoned

the reins; he rode slowly along beneath the warm May sun, in which the somber misanthropy of the exile

A horseman was going rapidly along the road leading towards Blois, which he had left nearly half an hour

before, passed the two travelers, and, though apparently in haste, raised his hat as he passed them. The king

scarcely observed this young man, who was about twentyfive years of age, and who, turning round several

times, made friendly signals to a man standing before the gate of a handsome whiteandred house; that is to

say, built of brick and stone, with a slated roof, situated on the left hand of the road the prince was traveling.

This man, old, tall, and thin, with white hair, we speak of the one standing by the gate; this man

replied to the farewell signals of the young one by signs of parting as tender as could have been made by a

father, The young man disappeared at the first turn of the road, bordered by fine trees, and the old man was

preparing to return to the house, when the two travelers, arriving in front of the gate, attracted his attention.

The king, we have said, was riding with his head cast down, his arms inert, leaving his horse to go what pace

he liked, whilst Parry, behind him, the better to imbibe the genial influence of the sun, had taken off his hat,

and was looking about right and left. His eyes encountered those of the old man leaning against the gate; the

latter, as if struck by some strange spectacle, uttered an exclamation, and made one step towards the two

travelers. From Parry his eyes immediately turned towards the king, upon whom they rested for an instant.

This exclamation, however rapid, was instantly reflected in a visible manner upon the features of the tall old

man. For scarcely had he recognized the younger of the travelers and we say recognized, for nothing but a

perfect recognition could have explained such an act scarcely, we say, had he recognized the younger of

the two travelers, than he clapped his hands together, with respectful surprise, and, raising his hat from his

head, bowed so profoundly that it might have been said he was kneeling. This demonstration, however

absent, or rather, however absorbed was the king in his reflections, attracted his attention instantly; and

checking his horse and turning towards Parry, he exclaimed, "Good God, Parry, who is that man who salutes

Parry, much agitated and very pale, had already turned his horse towards the gate. "Ah, sire!" said he,

stopping suddenly at five of six paces' distance from the still bending man: "sire, I am seized with

astonishment, for I think I recognize that brave man. Yes, it must be he! Will your majesty permit me to

"Yes, it is I," replied the tall old man, drawing himself up, but without losing his respectful demeanor.

"Sire," then said Parry, "I was not deceived. This good man is the servant of the Comte de la Fere, and the

Comte de la Fere, if you remember, is the worthy gentleman of whom I have so often spoken to your majesty

that the remembrance of him must remain, not only in your mind, but in your heart."

"He who assisted my father at his last moments?" asked Charles, evidently affected at the remembrance.

"Alas!" said Charles; and then addressing Grimaud, whose penetrating and intelligent eyes seemed to search

and divine his thoughts, "My friend," said he, "does your master, Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, live in

"There," replied Grimaud, pointing with his outstretched arm to the whiteandred house behind the gate.

"Parry," said the king, "I will not miss this opportunity, so precious for me, to thank the gentleman to whom

our house is indebted for such a noble example of devotedness and generosity. Hold my horse, my friend, if

you please." And, throwing the bridle to Grimaud, the king entered the abode of Athos, quite alone, as one

equal enters the dwelling of another. Charles had been informed by the concise explanation of Grimaud,

"At the back, under the chestnut trees;" he left, therefore, the house on the left, and went straight down the

path indicated. The thing was easy; the tops of those noble trees, already covered with leaves and flowers,

On arriving under the lozenges, by turns luminous and dark, which checkered the ground of this path

according as the trees were more or less in leaf, the young prince perceived a gentleman walking with his

arms behind him, apparently plunged in a deep meditation. Without doubt, he had often had this gentleman

described to him, for, without hesitating, Charles II. walked straight up to him. At the sound of his footsteps,

the Comte de la Fere raised his head, and seeing an unknown man of noble and elegant carriage coming

towards him, he raised his hat and waited. At some paces from him, Charles II. likewise took off his hat.

"Monsieur le Comte," said he," I come to discharge a duty towards you. I have, for a long time, had the

expression of a profound gratitude to bring you. I am Charles II., son of Charles Stuart, who reigned in

On hearing this illustrious name, Athos felt a kind of shudder creep through his veins, but at the sight of the

young prince standing uncovered before him, and stretching out his hand towards him, two tears, for an

instant, dimmed his brilliant eyes. He bent respectfully, but the prince took him by the hand.

"See how unfortunate I am, my lord count; it is only due to chance that I have met with you. Alas! I ought to

have people around me whom I love and honor, whereas I am reduced to preserve their services in my heart,

and their names in my memory: so that if your servant had not recognized mine, I should have passed by your

"It is but too true," said Athos, replying with his voice to the first part of the king's speech, and with a bow to

the second; "it is but too true, indeed, that your majesty has seen many evil days."

"Count, count," continued Charles, shaking his head, "I entertained hope till last night, and that of a good

"Oh, the history is soon related," said Charles. "Proscribed, despoiled, disdained, I resolved, in spite of all my

repugnance, to tempt fortune one last time. Is it not written above, that, for our family, all good fortune and

all bad fortune shall eternally come from France? You know something of that, monsieur, you, who are

one of the Frenchmen whom my unfortunate father found at the foot of his scaffold, on the day of his death,

"Sire," said Athos modestly, "I was not alone. My companions and I did, under the circumstances, our duty as

gentlemen, and that was all. Your majesty was about to do me the honor to relate "

"That is true. I had the protection, pardon my hesitation, count, but, for a Stuart, you, who understand

everything, you will comprehend that the word is hard to pronounce; I had, I say, the protection of my

cousin the stadtholder of Holland; but without the intervention, or at least without the authorization of France,

the stadtholder would not take the initiative. I came, then, to ask this authorization of the king of France, who

"Oh, not he; all justice must be rendered to my younger brother Louis; but Monsieur de Mazarin "

"You perhaps think I should have expected this refusal?" said the king, who had noticed the movement.

"That was, in truth, my thought, sire," replied Athos, respectfully, "I know that Italian of old."

"Then I determined to come to the test, and know at once the last word of my destiny. I told my brother

Louis, that, not to compromise either France or Holland, I would tempt fortune myself in person, as I had

already done, with two hundred gentlemen, if he would give them to me, and a million, if he would lend it

"Well, monsieur, I am suffering at this moment something strange, and that is, the satisfaction of despair.

There is in certain souls, and I have just discovered that mine is of the number, a real satisfaction in

"To say so, my lord count, to endeavor to revive hope in my heart, you must have ill understood what I have

just told you. I came to Blois to ask of my brother Louis the alms of a million, with which I had the hopes of

reestablishing my affairs; and my brother Louis has refused me. You see, then, plainly, that all is lost."

"How is that, count? Do you think my heart of so low an order that I do not know how to face my position?"

"Sire, I have always seen that it was in desperate positions that suddenly the great turns of fortune have taken

"Thank you, count, it is some comfort to meet with a heart like yours, that is to say, sufficiently trustful in

God and in monarchy, never to despair of a royal fortune, however low it may be fallen. Unfortunately, my

dear count, your words are like those remedies they call `sovereign,' and which, though able to cure curable

wounds or diseases, fail against death. Thank you for your perseverance in consoling me, count, thanks for

your devoted remembrance, but I know in what I must trust nothing will save me now. And see, my

friend, I was so convinced, that I was taking the route of exile with my old Parry; I was returning to devour

my poignant griefs in the little hermitage offered me by Holland. There, believe me, count, all will soon be

over, and death will come quickly, it is called so often by this body, eaten up by its soul, and by this soul,

"Your majesty has a mother, a sister, and brothers; your majesty is the head of the family, and ought,

therefore, to ask a long life of God, instead of imploring Him for a prompt death. Your majesty is an exile, a

fugitive, but you have right on your side; you ought to aspire to combats, dangers, business, and not to rest in

"Count," said Charles II., with a smile of indescribable sadness, "have you ever heard of a king who

reconquered his kingdom with one servant of the age of Parry, and with three hundred crowns which that

"No, sire; but I have heard and that more than once that a dethroned king has recovered his kingdom

with a firm will, perseverance, some friends, and a million skillfully employed."

"But you cannot have understood me. The million I asked of my brother Louis was refused me."

"Sire," said Athos, "will your majesty grant me a few minutes, and listen attentively to what remains for me

"Then I will show your majesty the way," resumed the count, directing his steps towards the house. He then

conducted the king to his study, and begged him to be seated. "Sire," said he, "your majesty just now told me

that, in the present state of England, a million would suffice for the recovery of your kingdom."

"To attempt it at least, monsieur, and to die as a king if I should not succeed."

"Well, then, sire, let your majesty, according to the promise you have made me, have the goodness to listen to

what I have to say." Charles made an affirmative sign with his head. Athos walked straight up to the door, the

bolts of which he drew, after looking to see if anybody was near, and then returned. "Sire," said he, "your

majesty has kindly remembered that I lent assistance to the very noble and very unfortunate Charles I., when

"Sire, it is a dismal history to be heard by a son who no doubt has had it related to him many times; and yet I

"When the king your father ascended the scaffold, or rather when he passed from his chamber to the scaffold

on a level with his window, everything was prepared for his escape. The executioner was got out of the way;

a hole contrived under the floor of his apartment; I myself was beneath the funeral vault, which I heard all at

Athos bowed, and resumed. "But here is something he has not related to you, sire, for what follows passed

between God, your father, and myself; and never has the revelation of it been made even to my dearest

friends. `Go a little further off,' said the august patient to the executioner; `it is but for an instant, and I know

that I belong to you; but remember not to strike till I give the signal. I wish to offer up my prayers in

"Pardon me," said Charles II., turning very pale, "but you, count, who know so many details of this

melancholy event, details which, as you said just now, have never been revealed to anyone, do you

know the name of that infernal executioner, of that base wretch who concealed his face that he might

Athos became slightly pale. "His name?" said he, "yes, I know it, but cannot tell it."

"But he did not die in his bed; he did not die a calm and peaceful death, he did not die the death of the good?"

"He died a violent death, in a terrible night, rendered so by the passions of man and a tempest from God. His

body, pierced by a dagger, sank to the depths of the ocean. God pardon his murderer!"

"Proceed, then," said Charles II., seeing that the count was unwilling to say more.

"The king of England, after having, as I have said, spoken thus to the masked executioner, added,

`Observe, you will not strike till I shall stretch out my arms saying REMEMBER!'"

"I was aware," said Charles, in an agitated voice, "that that was the last word pronounced by my unfortunate

"Yes, sire; and every one of the words which he spoke to me, through the planks of the scaffold covered with

a black cloth, still sounds in my ears. The king knelt down on one knee: `Comte de la Fere,' said he, `are you

Charles II., also palpitating with interest, burning with grief, stooped towards Athos, to catch, one by one,

"Then," continued Athos, "the king stooped. `Comte de la Fere,' said he, `I could not be saved by you: it was

not to be. Now, even though I commit a sacrilege, I must speak to you. Yes, I have spoken to men yes, I

have spoken to God, and I speak to you the last. To sustain a cause which I thought sacred, I have lost the

Charles II. concealed his face in his hands, and a bitter tear glided between his white and slender fingers.

"`I have still a million in gold,' continued the king. `I buried it in the vaults of the castle of Newcastle, a

moment before I left that city.'" Charles raised his head with an expression of such painful joy that it would

"`You alone know that this money exists: employ it when you think it can be of the greatest service to my

"It was then," continued Athos, "that the king pronounced the word, `REMEMBER!' addressed to me. You

The king could not resist or conceal his emotion. Athos beheld the movement of his shoulders, which

undulated convulsively; he heard the sobs which burst from his overcharged breast. He was silent himself,

suffocated by the flood of bitter remembrances he had just poured upon that royal head. Charles II., with a

violent effort, left the window, devoured his tears, and came and sat by Athos. "Sire," said the latter, "I

thought till today that the time had not yet arrived for the employment of that last resource; but, with my

eyes fixed upon England, I felt it was approaching. Tomorrow I meant to go and inquire in what part of the

world your majesty was, and then I purposed going to you. You come to me, sire; that is an indication that

"My lord," said Charles, in a voice choked by emotion, "you are, for me, what an angel sent from heaven

would be, you are a preserver sent to me from the tomb of my father himself; but, believe me, for ten

years' civil war has passed over my country, striking down men, tearing up the soil, it is no more probable

that gold should remain in the entrails of the earth, than love in the hearts of my subjects."

"Sire, the spot in which his majesty buried the million is well known to me, and no one, I am sure, has been

able to discover it. Besides, is the castle of Newcastle quite destroyed? Have they demolished it stone by

"No, it is still standing: but at this moment General Monk occupies it and is encamped there. The only spot

from which I could look for succor, where I possess a single resource, you see, is invaded by my enemies."

"Yes, but can I go and deliver myself up to Monk, in order to recover this treasure? Ah! count, you see

plainly I must yield to destiny, since it strikes me to the earth every time I rise. What can I do with Parry as

my only servant, with Parry, whom Monk has already driven from his presence? No, no, no, count, we must

"But what your majesty cannot do, and what Parry can no more attempt, do you not believe that I could

"If it please your majesty," said Athos, bowing to the king, "yes, I will go, sire."

"I am never happy when I have a duty left to accomplish, and it is an imperative duty which the king your

father left me to watch over your fortunes, and make a royal use of his money. So, if your majesty honors me

"Ah, monsieur!" said the king, forgetting all royal etiquette, and throwing his arms around the neck of Athos,

"you prove to me that there is a God in heaven, and that this God sometimes sends messengers to the

Athos, exceedingly moved by this burst of feeling of the young man, thanked him with profound respect, and

"What, now immediately!" said the king. "Ah, monsieur, you are indeed a wonderful man!"

"Sire," said Athos, "I know nothing more pressing than your majesty's service. Besides," added he, smiling,

"it is a habit contracted long since, in the service of the queen your aunt, and of the king your father. How is it

Then after a moment's reflection, "But no, count, I cannot expose you to such privations. I have no means

"Bah!" said Athos, laughing. "Your majesty is joking, have you not a million? Ah! why am I not possessed of

half such a sum! I would already have raised a regiment. But, thank God! I have still a few rolls of gold and

some family diamonds left. Your majesty will, I hope, deign to share with a devoted servant."

"With a friend yes, count, but on condition that, in his turn, that friend will share with me hereafter!"

"Sire!" said Athos, opening a casket, from which he drew both gold and jewels, "you see, sire, we are too

rich. Fortunately, there are four of us, in the event of our meeting with thieves."

Joy made the blood rush to the pale cheeks of Charles II., as he saw Athos's two horses, led by Grimaud,

"Blaisois, this letter for the Vicomte de Bragelonne. For everybody else I am gone to Paris. I confide the

house to you, Blaisois." Blaisois bowed, shook hands with Grimaud, and shut the gate.

Two hours had scarcely elapsed since the departure of the master of the house, who, in Blaisois's sight, had

taken the road to Paris, when a horseman, mounted on a good pied horse, stopped before the gate, and with a

sonorous "hola!" called the stableboys who, with the gardeners, had formed a circle round Blaisois, the

historianinordinary to the household of the chateau. This "hola," doubtless well known to Master Blaisois,

made him turn his head and exclaim "Monsieur d'Artagnan! run quickly, you chaps, and open the gate."

A swarm of eight brisk lads flew to the gate, which was opened as if it had been made of feathers; and every

one loaded him with attentions, for they knew the welcome this friend was accustomed to receive from their

"Ah!" said M. d'Artagnan, with an agreeable smile, balancing himself upon his stirrup to jump to the ground,

"Ah! how unfortunate you are, monsieur!" said Blaisois: "and how unfortunate will monsieur le comte our

master, think himself when he hears of your coming! As ill luck will have it, monsieur le comte left home

D'Artagnan did not trouble himself about such trifles. "Very good!" said he. "You always speak the best

French in the world; you shall give me a lesson in grammar and correct language, whilst I wait the return of

"That is impossible, monsieur," said Blaisois; "you would have to wait too long."

"No, nor tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow. Monsieur le comte has gone on a journey."

"Monsieur, it is no more than the truth. Monsieur has done me the honor to give me the house in charge; and

he added, with his voice so full of authority and kindness that is all one to me: `You will say I have gone

"Well!" cried D'Artagnan, "since he is gone towards Paris, that is all I wanted to know! you should have told

"Will monsieur listen to me an instant?" said Blaisois, laying his hand gently on the reins of the horse.

"This M. Grimaud always knows where our master is going; and he had promised me that the first time he

"I had one she was of this country; but monsieur thought her a noisy scold, and I sent her to Paris; it is

"No, monsieur; for then M. Grimaud would have broken his word; he would have perjured himself, and that

"That is impossible," repeated D'Artagnan, quite in a study, because he was quite convinced. "Well, my brave

"Come, you know I am not curious I have serious business with your master. Could you not, by a little bit

of a word you who speak so well give me to understand one syllable, only I will guess the rest."

"Upon my word, monsieur, I cannot. I am quite ignorant where monsieur le comte is gone. As to listening at

"My dear fellow," said D'Artagnan, "this is a very bad beginning for me. Never mind, you know when

"The devil take his gilded tongue!" grumbled D'Artagnan. "A clown with a word would be worth a dozen of

"Cuistre!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "the fellow is unbearable." He gave another look up to the house,

turned his horse's head, and set off like a man who has nothing either annoying or embarrassing in his mind.

When he was at the end of the wall, and out of sight, "Well, now, I wonder," said he, breathing quickly,

"whether Athos was at home. No; all those idlers, standing with their arms crossed, would have been at work

if the eye of the master was near. Athos gone a journey? that is incomprehensible. Bah! it is all devilish

mysterious! And then no he is not the man I want. I want one of a cunning, patient mind. My business

is at Melun, in a certain presbytery I am acquainted with. Fortyfive leagues four days and a half! Well, it

And he put his horse into a trot, directing his course towards Paris. On the fourth day he alighted at Melun as

D'Artagnan was never in the habit of asking any one on the road for any common information. For these sorts

of details, unless in very serious circumstances, he confided in his perspicacity, which was so seldom at fault,

in his experience of thirty years, and in a great habit of reading the physiognomies of houses, as well as those

of men. At Melun, D'Artagnan immediately found the presbytery a charming house, plastered over red

brick, with vines climbing along the gutters, and a cross, in carved stone, surmounting the ridge of the roof.

From the groundfloor of this house came a noise, or rather a confusion of voices, like the chirping of young

birds when the brood is just hatched under the down. One of these voices was spelling the alphabet distinctly.

A voice, thick, yet pleasant, at the same time scolded the talkers and corrected the faults of the reader.

D'Artagnan recognized that voice, and as the window of the groundfloor was open, he leant down from his

horse under the branches and red fibers of the vine and cried "Bazin, my dear Bazin! goodday to you."

A short, fat man, with a flat face, a craniun ornamented with a crown of gray hairs, cut short, in imitation of a

tonsure, and covered with an old black velvet cap, arose as soon as he heard D'Artagnan we ought not to

say arose, but bounded up. In fact, Bazin bounded up, carrying with him his little low chair, which the

children tried to take away, with battles more fierce than those of the Greeks endeavoring to recover the body

of Patroclus from the hands of the Trojans. Bazin did more than bound; he let fall both his alphabet and his

"Yes, myself! Where is Aramis no, M. le Chevalier d'Herblay no, I am still mistaken Monsieur le

"Why, where can you come from," said Bazin, rather irreverently, "that you don't know that?"

"My dear Bazin, we pagans, we men of the sword, know very well when a man is made a colonel, or

maitredecamp, or marshal of France; but if he be made a bishop, archbishop, or pope devil take me if

the news reaches us before the three quarters of the earth have had the advantage of it!"

"Hush! hush!" said Bazin, opening his eyes: "do not spoil these poor children, in whom I am endeavoring to

inculcate such good principles." In fact, the children had surrounded D'Artagnan, whose horse, long sword,

spurs, and martial air they very much admired. But above all, they admired his strong voice; so that, when he

uttered his oath, the whole school cried out, "The devil take me!" with fearful bursts of laughter, shouts, and

"There!" said he, "hold your tongues, you brats! You have come, M. d'Artagnan, and all my good principles

fly away. With you, as usual, comes disorder. Babel is revived. Ah! Good Lord! Ah! the wild little wretches!"

And the worthy Bazin distributed right and left blows which increased the cries of his scholars by changing

"Do you think so?" said D'Artagnan, with a smile which made a shudder creep over the shoulders of Bazin.

"Monseigneur preached every Sunday at the house of monsieur le surintendant at Vaux; then they hunted

"And monseigneur composed his homilies no, I mean his sermons with monsieur le surintendant."

"He is right there," said D'Artagnan, looking attentively at the house, the aspect of which announced solitude.

"Oh! then there is no time lost. Aramis cannot yet have wanted me. But how is it, Bazin, you do not follow

"Oh," said Bazin, without hesitation, "now that monseigneur is a bishop, I shall soon have my orders, or at

"Decidedly," said D'Artagnan to himself, "there will be no means of uprooting these people. Get me some

"Ah, ah, master hypocrite!" said the musketeer, "for whom do you take me? If you, who are the valet, hope

for dispensation to commit a crime, shall not I, the friend of your bishop, have dispensation for eating meat at

the call of my stomach? Make yourself agreeable with me, Bazin, or, by heavens! I will complain to the king,

and you shall never confess. Now you know that the nomination of bishops rests with the king I have the

Bazin smiled hypocritically. "Ah, but we have monsieur le surintendant," said he.

Bazin turned round and ordered the eldest of the pupils to inform the cook. In the meantime, D'Artagnan

"Phew!" said he, disdainfully, "monseigneur lodged his grandeur very meanly here."

He would perhaps have prolonged the discussion, and maintained the superiority of the Louvre, but the

"The devil!" said he. "Get my horse looked after; your master the bishop has none like him in his stables."

Bazin cast a sidelong glance at the horse, and replied, "Monsieur le surintendant gave him four from his own

The blood mounted to the face of D'Artagnan. His hand itched and his eye glanced over the head of Bazin, to

select the place upon which he should discharge his anger. But it passed away; reflection came, and

"The devil! the devil! I have done well to quit the service of the king. Tell me, worthy Master Bazin," added

"He could have all there are in the kingdom with his money," replied Bazin, closing his book, and dismissing

"The devil! the devil!" repeated D'Artagnan, once more, as if to annoy the pedagogue. But as supper was now

announced, he followed the cook, who introduced him into the refectory, where it awaited him. D'Artagnan

"It appears to me," said D'Artagnan, biting with all his might at the tough fowl they had served up to him, and

which they had evidently forgotten to fatten, "it appears that I have done wrong in not seeking service

with that master yonder. A powerful noble this intendant, seemingly! In good truth, we poor fellows know

nothing at the court, and the rays of the sun prevent our seeing the large stars, which are also suns, at a little

As D'Artagnan delighted, both from pleasure and system, in making people talk about things which interested

him, he fenced in his best style with Master Bazin, but it was pure loss of time; beyond the tiresome and

hyperbolical praises of monsieur le surintendant of the finances, Bazin, who, on his side, was on his guard,

afforded nothing but platitudes to the curiosity of D'Artagnan, so that our musketeer, in a tolerably bad

humor, desired to go to bed as soon as he had supped. D'Artagnan was introduced by Bazin into a mean

chamber, in which there was a poor bed; but D'Artagnan was not fastidious in that respect. He had been told

that Aramis had taken away the key of his own private apartment, and as he knew Aramis was a very

particular man, and had generally many things to conceal in his apartment, he had not been surprised. He,

therefore, although it appeared comparatively even harder, attacked the bed as bravely as he had done the

fowl; and, as he had as good an inclination to sleep as he had had to eat, he took scarcely longer time to be

snoring harmoniously than he had employed in picking the last bones of the bird.

Since he was no longer in the service of any one, D'Artagnan had promised himself to indulge in sleeping as

soundly as he had formerly slept lightly; but with whatever good faith D'Artagnan had made himself this

promise, and whatever desire he might have to keep it religiously, he was awakened in the middle of the night

by a loud noise of carriages, and servants on horseback. A sudden illumination flashed over the walls of his

chamber; he jumped out of bed and ran to the window in his shirt. "Can the king be coming this way?" he

thought, rubbing his eyes; "in truth, such a suite can only be attached to royalty."

"Vive monsieur le surintendant!" cried, or rather vociferated, from a window on the groundfloor, a voice

which he recognized as Bazin's, who at the same time waved a handkerchief with one hand, and held a large

candle in the other. D'Artagnan then saw something like a brilliant human form leaning out of the principal

carriage; at the same time loud bursts of laughter, caused, no doubt, by the strange figure of Bazin, and

issuing from the same carriage, left, as it were, a train of joy upon the passage of the rapid cortege.

"I might easily see it was not the king," said D'Artagnan; "people don't laugh so heartily when the king

passes. Hola, Bazin!" cried he to his neighbor, threequarters of whose body still hung out of the window, to

follow the carriage with his eyes as long as he could. "What is all that about?"

"Oh, oh!" said D'Artagnan; "what would M. de Mazarin say to that if he heard it?" And he returned to his

bed, asking himself how Aramis always contrived to be protected by the most powerful personages in the

kingdom. "Is it that he has more luck than I, or that I am a greater fool than he? Bah!" that was the concluding

word by the aid of which D'Artagnan, having become wise, now terminated every thought and every period

of his style. Formerly he said, "Mordioux!" which was a prick of the spur, but now he had become older, and

he murmured that philosophical "Bah!" which served as a bridle to all the passions.

When D'Artagnan had perfectly convinced himself that the absence of the VicarGeneral d'Herblay was real,

and that his friend was not to be found at Melun or in its vicinity, he left Bazin without regret, cast an

illnatured glance at the magnificent Chateau de Vaux which was beginning to shine with that splendor

which brought on its ruin, and, compressing his lips like a man full of mistrust and suspicion, he put spurs to

his pied horse, saying, "Well, well! I have still Pierrefonds left, and there I shall find the best man and the

We will spare our readers the prosaic incidents of D'Artagnan's journey, which terminated on the morning of

the third day within sight of Pierrefonds. D'Artagnan came by the way of NanteuilleHardouin and Crepy.

At a distance he perceived the Castle of Louis of Orleans, which, having become part of the crown domain,

was kept by an old concierge. This was one of those marvelous manors of the middle ages, with walls twenty

D'Artagnan rode slowly past its walls, measured its towers with his eye and descended into the valley. From

afar he looked down upon the chateau of Porthos, situated on the shores of a small lake, and contiguous to a

magnificent forest. It was the same place we have already had the honor of describing to our readers; we shall

therefore satisfy ourselves with naming it. The first thing D'Artagnan perceived after the fine trees, the May

sun gilding the sides of the green hills, the long rows of feathertopped trees which stretched out towards

Compiegne, was a large rolling box, pushed forward by two servants and dragged by two others. In this box

there was an enormous greenandgold thing, which went along the smiling glades of the park, thus dragged

and pushed. This thing, at a distance, could not be distinguished, and signified absolutely nothing; nearer, it

was a hogshead muffled in goldbound green cloth; when close, it was a man, or rather a poussa, the interior

extremity of whom, spreading over the interior of the box, entirely filled it, when still closer, the man was

"Ah!" cried the fat man "ah! what happiness! what joy! There's M. d'Artagnan. Stop, you rascals!" These

last words were addressed to the lackeys who pushed and dragged him. The box stopped, and the four

lackeys, with a precision quite military, took off their laced hats and ranged themselves behind it.

"Oh, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said Mousqueton, "why can I not embrace your knees? But I have become

"Troubles! you, Mousqueton?" said D'Artagnan making the tour of the box; "are you out of your mind, my

"Ah, the ungrateful things! And yet you feed them well, Mousqueton, apparently."

"Alas, yes! They can reproach me with nothing in that respect," said Mousqueton, with a sigh; "I have always

done what I could for my poor body; I am not selfish." And Mousqueton sighed afresh.

"I wonder whether Mousqueton wants to be a baron, too, as he sighs after that fashion?" thought D'Artagnan.

"Mon Dieu, monsieur!" said Mousqueton, as if rousing himself from a painful reverie; "how happy

"Mordioux!" cried the musketeer, stamping with his foot, "I am unfortunate. Porthos such a stayathome!"

"This is how the thing happened, Monsieur d'Artagnan. M. d'Herblay wrote to monseigneur "

"A letter, monsieur, such a pressing letter that it threw us all into a bustle."

"Tell me all about it, my dear friend." said D'Artagnan; "but remove these people a little further off first."

Mousqueton shouted, "Fall back, you fellows," with such powerful lungs that the breath, without the words,

would have been sufficient to disperse the four lackeys. D'Artagnan seated himself on the shaft of the box

and opened his ears. "Monsieur," said Mousqueton, "monseigneur, then, received a letter from M. le

VicaireGeneral d'Herblay, eight or nine days ago; it was the day of the rustic pleasures, yes, it must have

"Yes, monsieur; we have so many pleasures to take in this delightful country, that we were encumbered by

them; so much so, that we have been forced to regulate the distribution of them."

"How easily do I recognize Porthos's love of order in that! Now, that idea would never have occurred to me;

"Never mind, we have plenty of time; and you speak so well, my dear Mousqueton, that it is really a pleasure

"It is true," said Mousqueton, with a sigh of satisfaction, which emanated evidently from the justice which

had been rendered him, "it is true I have made great progress in the company of monseigneur."

"I am waiting for the distribution of the pleasures, Mousqueton, and with impatience. I want to know if I have

"Oh, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Mousqueton in a melancholy tone, "since monseigneur's departure all the

"Sunday pleasures are religious: monseigneur goes to mass, makes the breadoffering, and has discourses

and instructions made to him by his almonerinordinary. That is not very amusing, but we expect a

Carmelite from Paris who will do the duty of our almonry, and who, we are assured, speaks very well, which

will keep us awake, whereas our present almoner always sends us to sleep. These are Sunday religious

"Ah, ah!" said D'Artagnan, "what do you mean by that? Let us have a glimpse at your worldly pleasures."

"Monsieur, on Monday we go into the world; we pay and receive visits, we play on the lute, we dance, we

"Peste! that is the height of gallantry," said the musketeer, who was obliged to call to his aid all the strength

"Monseigneur has bought a sphere or globe, which I shall show you; it fills all the perimeter of the great

tower, except a gallery which he has had built over the sphere: there are little strings and brass wires to which

the sun and moon are hooked. It all turns; and that is very beautiful. Monseigneur points out to me seas and

"Rustic pleasures, as I have had the honor to tell you, monsieur le chevalier. We look over monseigneur's

sheep and goats; we make the shepherds dance to pipes and reeds, as is written in a book monseigneur has in

"Yes, that was his name M. Racan. But that is not all: we angle in the little canal, after which we dine,

"Peste!" said D'Artagnan, "you don't divide your pleasures badly. And Thursday? what can be left for

"It is not very unfortunate, monsieur," said Mousqueton, smiling. "Thursday, Olympian pleasures. Ah,

monsieur, that is superb! We get together all monseigneur's young vassals, and we make them throw the disc,

wrestle, and run races. Monseigneur can't run now, no more can I; but monseigneur throws the disc as

nobody else can throw it. And when he does deal a blow, oh, that proves a misfortune!"

"Yes, monsieur, we were obliged to renounce the cestus. He cracked heads; he broke jaws beat in ribs. It

"Oh, monsieur, firmer than ever. Monseigneur gets a trifle weaker in his legs, he confesses that himself;

"Monsieur, better than that he beats in walls. Lately, after having supped with one of our farmers you

know how popular and kind monseigneur is after supper as a joke, he struck the wall a blow. The wall

crumbled away beneath his hand, the roof fell in, and three men and an old woman were stifled."

"Oh, monseigneur, a little skin was rubbed off his head. We bathed the wounds with some water which the

"Deuce take the Olympic pleasures! They must cost your master too dear, for widows and orphans "

"They all had pensions, monsieur; a tenth of monseigneur's revenue was spent in that way."

"Friday, noble and warlike pleasures. We hunt, we fence, we dress falcons and break horses. Then, Saturday

is the day for intellectual pleasures: we adorn our minds; we look at monseigneur's pictures and statues; we

"Why, my friend," said D'Artagnan, "M. du Vallon, in truth, possesses the most subtle and amiable mind that

I know. But there is one kind of pleasure you have forgotten, it appears to me."

Mousqueton colored. "What do you mean by that, monsieur?" said he, casting down his eyes.

"My brave Mousqueton," resumed D'Artagnan, "pardon me, but I was so absorbed in your charming recital

that I have forgotten the principal object of our conversation, which was to learn what M. le VicaireGeneral

"That is true, monsieur," said Mousqueton; "the pleasures have misled us. Well, monsieur, this is the whole

"Yes a letter arrived; he received it from my hands. I had recognized the writing."

"No, monsieur, there were only these words: `Dear Porthos, set out, if you would wish to arrive before the

"I think so; therefore," continued Mousqueton, "monseigneur set out the very same day with his secretary, in

"I hope so. Monseigneur, who is hasty, as you know, monsieur, repeated incessantly, `Tonno Dieu! What can

this mean? The Equinox? Never mind, a fellow must be well mounted to arrive before I do.'"

"I am sure of it. This Equinox, however rich he may be, has certainly no horses so good as monseigneur's."

D'Artagnan repressed his inclination to laugh, because the brevity of Aramis's letter gave rise to reflection.

He followed Mousqueton, or rather Mousqueton's chariot, to the castle. He sat down to a sumptuous table, of

which they did him the honors as to a king. But he could draw nothing from Mousqueton, the faithful

D'Artagnan, after a night passed in an excellent bed, reflected much upon the meaning of Aramis's letter;

puzzled himself as to the relation of the Equinox with the affairs of Porthos; and being unable to make

anything out unless it concerned some amour of the bishop's, for which it was necessary that the days and

nights should be equal, D'Artagnan left Pierrefonds as he had left Melun, as he had left the chateau of the

Comte de la Fere. It was not, however, without a melancholy, which might in good sooth pass for one of the

most dismal of D'Artagnan's moods. His head cast down, his eyes fixed, he suffered his legs to hang on each

side of his horse, and said to himself, in that vague sort of reverie which ascends sometimes to the sublimest

"No more friends! no more future! no more anything! My energies are broken like the bonds of our ancient

friendship. Oh, old age is coming, cold and inexorable; it envelops in its funereal crape all that was brilliant,

all that was embalming in my youth; then it throws that sweet burthen on its shoulders and carries it away

A shudder crept through the heart of the Gascon, so brave and so strong against all the misfortunes of life;

and during some moments the clouds appeared black to him, the earth slippery and full of pits as that of

"Whither am I going?" said he to himself. "What am I going to do! Alone, quite alone without family,

without friends! Bah!" cried he all at once. And he clapped spurs to his horse, who, having found nothing

melancholy in the heavy oats of Pierrefonds profited by this permission to show his gayety in a gallop which

absorbed two leagues. "To Paris!" said D'Artagnan to himself. And on the morrow he alighted in Paris. He

The lieutenant dismounted before a shop in the Rue des Lombards, at the sign of the Pilon d'Or. A man of

good appearance, wearing a white apron, and stroking his gray mustache with a large hand, uttered a cry of

joy on perceiving the pied horse. "Monsieur le chevalier," said he, "ah, is that you?"

"Quick, somebody," cried Planchet, "to look after Monsieur d'Artagnan's horse, somebody to get ready his

"Allow me to send off this coffee, this treacle, and these raisins," said Planchet; "they are for the storeroom

"So much the better so much the better!" And Planchet breathed freely again, whilst D'Artagnan seated

himself quietly down in the shop, upon a bale of corks, and made a survey of the premises. The shop was

well stocked; there was a mingled perfume of ginger, cinnamon, and ground pepper, which made D'Artagnan

sneeze. The shopboy, proud of being in company with so renowned a warrior, of a lieutenant of musketeers,

who approached the person of the king, began to work with an enthusiasm which was something like

delirium, and to serve the customers with a disdainful haste that was noticed by several.

Planchet put away his money, and made up his accounts, amidst civilities addressed to his former master.

Planchet had with his equals the short speech and the haughty familiarity of the rich shopkeeper who serves

everybody and waits for nobody. D'Artagnan observed this habit with a pleasure which we shall analyze

presently. He saw night come on by degrees, and at length Planchet conducted him to a chamber on the first

story, where, amidst bales and chests, a table very nicely set out awaited the two guests.

D'Artagnan took advantage of a moment's pause to examine the countenance of Planchet, whom he had not

seen for a year. The shrewd Planchet had acquired a slight protuberance in front, but his countenance was not

puffed. His keen eye still played with facility in its deepsunk orbit; and fat, which levels all the

characteristic saliences of the human face, had not yet touched either his high cheekbones, the sign of

cunning and cupidity, or his pointed chin, the sign of acuteness and perseverance. Planchet reigned with as

much majesty in his diningroom as in his shop. He set before his master a frugal, but perfectly Parisian

repast: roast meat, cooked at the baker's, with vegetables, salad, and a dessert borrowed from the shop itself.

D'Artagnan was pleased that the grocer had drawn from behind the fagots a bottle of that Anjou wine which

"Formerly, monsieur," said Planchet, with a smile full of bonhomie, "it was I who drank your wine; now you

"And, thank God, friend Planchet, I shall drink it for a long time to come, I hope; for at present I am free."

"And the king?" cried Planchet, who could not suppose it possible that the king could do without the services

"The king will try his fortune elsewhere. But we have supped well, you are disposed to enjoy yourself; you

"They are open." And Planchet, with a laugh more frank than cunning, opened a bottle of white wine.

"Now my head is my own, and I mean to take better care of it than ever. In the first place we shall talk

"Wonderfully well, monsieur. The twenty thousand livres I had of you are still employed in my trade, in

"Oh! not at all. Every one is willing to trust me now. I am extending my business."

"I play the banker a little. I buy goods of my needy brethren; I lend money to those who are not ready for

"Oh! monsieur, in the course of the last week I have had two meetings on the boulevards, on account of the

"You shall see: it concerned a loan. The borrower gives me in pledge some raw sugars, on condition that I

should sell if repayment were not made within a fixed period. I lend a thousand livres. He does not pay me

and I sell the sugars for thirteen hundred livres. He learns this and claims a hundred crowns. Ma foi! I

refused, pretending that I could not sell them for more than nine hundred livres. He accused me of usury. I

begged him to repeat that word to me behind the boulevards. He was an old guard, and he came: and I passed

"For above thirteen per cent. I fight," replied Planchet; "that is my character."

D'Artagnan twisted his mustache like a man embarrassed with the confidence he is about to make and

Planchet gave such a blow with his fist upon the table, that the bottles bounded as if they had been frightened.

"I think it will be more," replied D'Artagnan coolly; "but I like to lay it at the lowest!"

"The devil!" said Planchet, drawing nearer. "Why monsieur, that is magnificent! Can one put much money in

"In fact, I believe it will be necessary to fight not a little," said D'Artagnan, with the same tranquillity; "but

this time there are two of us, Planchet, and I shall take all the blows to myself."

"Planchet, you cannot be concerned in it; you would be obliged to leave your business and your family."

"A speculative country, that is true," said Planchet, "a country that I know well. What sort of an affair,

"Yes, that concerns me. I know what I am about; nevertheless, I will freely consult with you."

"Planchet, you are wrong; you are an excellent architect, quite as good as I am, for the case in question."

"I have been, I confess, tempted to speak of the thing to those gentlemen, but they are all absent from their

"Ah! then it appears there will be an opposition, and the enterprise will be disputed?"

"And open the window, because the noise of the passersby and the carts will deafen all who might hear us."

Planchet opened the window as desired, and the gust of tumult which filled the chamber with cries, wheels,

barkings, and steps deafened D'Artagnan himself, as he had wished. He then swallowed a glass of white wine

"Ah! monsieur, I recognize you so well in that!" replied Planchet, panting with emotion.

CHAPTER 20. Of the Society which was formed in the Rue des Lombards, at the Sign of the Pilon d'Or, to

After a moment's silence, in which D'Artagnan appeared to be collecting, not one idea, but all his ideas "It

cannot be, my dear Planchet," said he, "that you have not heard of his majesty Charles I. of England?"

"Alas! yes, monsieur, since you left France in order to assist him, and that, in spite of that assistance, he fell,

"Peste! the astonishing thing would be, if I could have lost that memory, however bad it might have been.

When one has heard Grimaud, who, you know, is not given to talking, relate how the head of King Charles

fell, how you sailed the half of a night in a scuttled vessel, and saw floating on the water that good M.

Mordaunt with a certain goldhafted dagger buried in his breast, one is not very likely to forget such things."

"Well, it is all the better that you recollect all that; I shall only have to remind you of one thing, and that is

"Without contradicting you, monsieur, he had two," said Planchet; "for I saw the second one in Paris, M. le

Duke of York, one day, as he was going to the Palais Royal, and I was told that he was not the eldest son of

Charles I. As to the eldest, I have the honor of knowing him by name, but not personally."

"That is exactly the point, Planchet, we must come to: it is to this eldest son, formerly called the Prince of

"Yes, Planchet, and you may add an unfortunate prince, more unfortunate than the poorest man of the people

Planchet made a gesture full of that sort of compassion which we grant to strangers with whom we think we

can never possibly find ourselves in contact. Besides, he did not see in this politicosentimental operation

any sign of the commercial idea of M. d'Artagnan, and it was in this idea that D'Artagnan, who was, from

habit, pretty well acquainted with men and things, had principally interested Planchet.

"I am coming to our business. This young Prince of Wales, a king without a kingdom, as you have so well

said, Planchet, has interested me. I, D'Artagnan, have seen him begging assistance of Mazarin, who is a

miser, and the aid of Louis, who is a child, and it appeared to me, who am acquainted with such things, that

in the intelligent eye of the fallen king, in the nobility of his whole person, a nobility apparent above all his

Planchet tacitly approved of all this; but it did not at all, in his eyes at least, throw any light upon

D'Artagnan's idea. The latter continued: "This, then, is the reasoning which I made with myself. Listen

"Kings are not so thickly sown upon the earth, that people can find them whenever they want them. Now, this

king without a kingdom is, in my opinion, a grain of seed which will blossom in some season or other,

provided a skillful, discreet, and vigorous hand sow it duly and truly, selecting soil, sky, and time."

Planchet still approved by a nod of his head, which showed that he did not perfectly comprehend all that was

"`Poor little seed of a king,' said I to myself, and really I was affected, Planchet, which leads me to think I am

entering upon a foolish business. And that is why I wished to consult you, my friend."

"`Poor little seed of a king! I will pick you up and cast you into good ground.'"

"Good God!" said Planchet, looking earnestly at his old master, as if in doubt as to the state of his reason.

"To understand that I wish to replace upon his throne this King Charles II., who has no throne? Is that it?"

Planchet made a prodigious bound in his chair. "Ah, ah!" said he, in evident terror, "that is what you call a

"In the first place, monsieur, I ask your pardon for meddling in these things, which have nothing to do with

my trade; but since it is an affair that you propose to me for you are proposing an affair, are you not?

"Well, then, since I have monsieur's permission, I will tell him that there is yonder, in the first place, the

"The nation which consented to the overthrow and death of the late king, the father of this one, and which

"Planchet," said D'Artagnan, "you argue like a cheese! The nation the nation is tired of these gentlemen

who give themselves such barbarous names, and who sing songs to it. Chanting for chanting, my dear

Planchet; I have remarked that nations prefer singing a merry chant to the plain chant. Remember the Fronde;

"I say that I borrow twenty thousand livres of M. Planchet, and that I put twenty thousand livres of my own to

Planchet clasped his hands; he saw that D'Artagnan was in earnest, and, in good truth, he believed his master

"An army! ah, monsieur," said he, with his most agreeable smile, for fear of irritating the madman, and

"Forty against forty thousand! that is not enough. I know very well that you, M. d'Artagnan, alone, are equal

to a thousand men, but where are we to find thirtynine men equal to you? Or, if we could find them, who

"No, monsieur, I speak what I think, and that is exactly why I say that, in the first pitched battle you fight

"Therefore I shall fight no pitched battles, my dear Planchet," said the Gascon, laughing. "We have very fine

examples in antiquity of skillful retreats and marches, which consisted in avoiding the enemy instead of

attacking them. You should know that, Planchet, you who commanded the Parisians the day on which they

ought to have fought against the musketeers, and who so well calculated marches and countermarches, that

Planchet could not help laughing. "It is plain," replied he, "that if your forty men conceal themselves, and are

not unskillful, they may hope not to be beaten: but you propose obtaining some result, do you not?"

"No doubt. This, then, in my opinion, is the plan to be proceeded upon in order quickly to replace his majesty

"Good!" said Planchet, increasing his attention; "let us see your plan. But in the first place it seems to me we

"We have set aside the nation, which prefers singing merry songs to psalms, and the army, which we will not

"Nor does it fight. How is it, Planchet, that an intelligent man like you should take any heed of a set of

brawlers who call themselves Rumps and Barebones. The parliament does not trouble me at all, Planchet."

"Well, Planchet, the evening before the day on which he swallowed England, if any one had swallowed M.

"Oh, monsieur, it is one of the axioms of mathematics that the container must be greater than the contained."

"My dear Planchet, I see with pleasure that you have not only become a mathematician, but a philosopher."

"Monsieur, in my grocery business I use much printed paper, and that instructs me."

"Bravo! You know then, in that case for you have not learnt mathematics and philosophy without a little

"Yes; he was named Richard, and he has done as you have, M. d'Artagnan he has tendered his

"Very well said very well! After the great man who is dead, after the little one who tendered his

resignation, there came a third. This one is named Monk; he is an able general, considering he has never

fought a battle; he is a skillful diplomatist, considering that he never speaks in public, and that having to say

`goodday' to a man, he meditates twelve hours, and ends by saying `goodnight;' which makes people

"That is rather strong," said Planchet; "but I know another political man who resembles him very much."

"You are right, Planchet; only M. Mazarin does not aspire to the throne of France; and that changes

everything. Do you see? Well, this M. Monk, who has England readyroasted in his plate, and who is already

opening his mouth to swallow it this M. Monk, who says to the people of Charles II., and to Charles II.

"Yes, but I understand it," said D'Artagnan. "`Nescio vos' means `I do not know you.' This M. Monk, the

"Well, my friend, I shall go over yonder, and with my forty men, I shall carry him off, pack him up, and bring

him into France, where two modes of proceeding present themselves to my dazzled eyes."

"Oh! and to mine too," cried Planchet, transported with enthusiasm. "We will put him in a cage and show him

"Or else, what is much better, I deliver him up to King Charles, who, having no longer either a general or an

army to fear, nor a diplomatist to trick him, will restore himself, and when once restored, will pay down to

me the hundred thousand crowns in question. That is the idea I have formed; what do you say to it,

"Magnificent, monsieur!" cried Planchet, trembling with emotion. "How did you conceive that idea?"

"It came to me one morning on the banks of the Loire, whilst our beloved king, Louis XIV., was pretending

"Permit me! But this is a little like the skin of that fine bear you know that they were about to sell, but

which it was necessary to take from the back of the living bear. Now, to take M. Monk, there will be a bit of

"Yes, yes I understand, parbleu! a coupdemain. Yes, then, monsieur, you will triumph, for no one

"I certainly am lucky in them," said D'Artagnan, with a proud simplicity. "You know that if for this affair I

had my dear Athos, my brave Porthos, and my cunning Aramis, the business would be settled; but they are all

lost, as it appears, and nobody knows where to find them. I will do it, then, alone. Now, do you find the

"This is infallible, Planchet, and the proof is that I undertake it. It will be for you a tolerably pretty gain, and

for me a very interesting stroke. It will be said, `Such was the old age of M. d'Artagnan,' and I shall hold a

"Monsieur," cried Planchet, "when I think that it is here, in my home, in the midst of my sugar, my prunes,

and my cinnamon, that this gigantic project is ripened, my shop seems a palace to me."

"Beware, beware, Planchet! If the least report of this escapes, there is the Bastile for both of us. Beware, my

friend, for this is a plot we are hatching. M. Monk is the ally of M. Mazarin beware!"

"Monsieur, when a man has had the honor to belong to you, he knows nothing of fear; and when he has the

"Very well, that is more your affair than mine, seeing that in a week I shall be in England."

"It will be tomorrow, tomorrow you shall receive it from my own hands. Will you have gold or silver?"

"Gold; that is most convenient. But how are we going to arrange this? Let us see."

"Oh, good Lord! in the simplest way possible. You shall give me a receipt, that is all."

"And if I should die yonder if I should be killed by a musketball if I should burst from drinking

"Monsieur, I beg you to believe that in that case I should be so much afflicted at your death, that I should not

"Thank you, Planchet; but no matter. We shall, like two lawyers' clerks, draw up together an agreement, a

"Let us try, then." And Planchet went in search of pens, ink, and paper. D'Artagnan took the pen and wrote:

"Between Messire d'Artagnan, exlieutenant of the king's musketeers, at present residing in the Rue

Tiquetonne, Hotel de la Chevrette; and the Sieur Planchet, grocer, residing in the Rue les Lombards, at the

sign of the Pilon d'Or, it has been agreed as follows: A company, with a capital of forty thousand livres,

and formed for the purpose of carrying out an idea conceived by M. d'Artagnan, and the said Planchet

approving of it in all points, will place twenty thousand livres in the hands of M. d'Artagnan. He will require

neither repayment nor interest before the return of M. d'Artagnan from a journey he is about to take into

England. On his part, M. d'Artagnan undertakes to find twenty thousand livres, which he will join to the

twenty thousand already laid down by the Sieur Planchet. He will employ the said sum of forty thousand

livres according to his judgment in an undertaking which is described below. On the day when M. d'Artagnan

shall have reestablished, by whatever means, his majesty King Charles II. upon the throne of England, he

"The sum of a hundred and fifty thousand livres," said Planchet, innocently, perceiving that D'Artagnan

"Oh, the devil, no!" said D'Artagnan, "the division cannot be made by half; that would not be just."

"Yes; but listen to this clause, my dear Planchet, and if you do not find it equitable in every respect when it is

written, well, we can scratch it out again: `Nevertheless, as M. d'Artagnan brings to the association,

besides his capital of twenty thousand livres, his time, his idea, his industry and his skin, things which he

appreciates strongly, particularly the last, M. d'Artagnan will keep, of the three hundred thousand livres

"Thank you," replied the musketeer, politely; after which the two partners reperused their deed.

"That is perfect, monsieur," said Planchet, "and the late M. Coquenard, the first husband of Madame la

"No; for whatever store I set by it, Planchet, I may lose my skin yonder, and you will lose all. A propos

peste! that makes me think of the principal, an indispensable clause. I shall write it: `In the case of M.

d'Artagnan dying in this enterprise, liquidation will be considered made, and the Sieur Planchet will give

quittance from that moment to the shade of Messire d'Artagnan for the twenty thousand livres paid by him

This last clause made Planchet knit his brows a little, but when he saw the brilliant eye, the muscular hand,

the supple and strong back of his associate, he regained his courage, and, without regret, he at once added

another stroke to his signature. D'Artagnan did the same. Thus was drawn the first known company contract;

perhaps such things have been abused a little since, both in form and principle.

"Now," said Planchet, pouring out the last glass of Anjou wine for D'Artagnan, "now go to sleep, my dear

"No," replied D'Artagnan; "for the most difficult part now remains to be done, and I will think over that

"Bah!" said Planchet; "I have such great confidence in you, M. d'Artagnan, that I would not give my hundred

"And devil take me if I don't think you are right!" Upon which D'Artagnan took a candle and went up to his

CHAPTER 21. In which D'Artagnan prepares to travel for the Firm of Planchet and Company

D'Artagnan reflected to such good purpose during the night that his plan was settled by morning. "This is it,"

said he, sitting up in bed, supporting his elbow on his knee, and his chin in his hand; "this is it. I shall seek

out forty steady, firm men, recruited among people a little compromised, but having habits of discipline. I

shall promise them five hundred livres for a month if they return, nothing if they do not return, or half for

their kindred. As to food and lodging, that concerns the English, who have cattle in their pastures, bacon in

their baconracks, fowls in their poultryyards, and corn in their barns. I will present myself to General

Monk with my little body of troops. He will receive me. I shall win his confidence, and take advantage of it,

But without going farther, D'Artagnan shook his head and interrupted himself. "No," said he; "I should not

dare to relate this to Athos; the way is therefore not honorable. I must use violence," continued he, "very

certainly I must, but without compromising my loyalty. With forty men I will traverse the country as a

partisan. But if I fall in with, not forty thousand English, as Planchet said, but purely and simply with four

hundred, I shall be beaten. Supposing that among my forty warriors there should be found at least ten stupid

ones ten who will allow themselves to be killed one after the other, from mere folly? No; it is, in fact,

impossible to find forty men to be depended upon they do not exist. I must learn how to be contented with

thirty. With ten men less I should have the right of avoiding any armed encounter, on account of the small

number of my people; and if the encounter should take place, my chance is better with thirty men than forty.

Besides, I should save five thousand francs; that is to say, the eighth of my capital; that is worth the trial. This

being so, I should have thirty men. I shall divide them into three bands, we will spread ourselves about

over the country, with an injunction to reunite at a given moment; in this fashion, ten by ten, we should excite

no suspicion we should pass unperceived. Yes, yes, thirty that is a magic number. There are three tens

three, that divine number! And then, truly, a company of thirty men, when all together, will look rather

imposing. Ah! stupid wretch that I am!" continued D'Artagnan, "I want thirty horses. That is ruinous. Where

the devil was my head when I forgot the horses? We cannot, however, think of striking such a blow without

horses. Well, so be it, that sacrifice must be made; we can get the horses in the country they are not bad,

besides. But I forgot peste! Three bands that necessitates three leaders; there is the difficulty. Of the

three commanders I have already one that is myself; yes, but the two others will of themselves cost

almost as much money as all the rest of the troop. No; positively I must have but one lieutenant. In that ease,

then, I should reduce my troop to twenty men. I know very well that twenty men is but very little; but since

with thirty I was determined not to seek to come to blows, I should do so more carefully still with twenty.

Twenty that is a round number; that, besides, reduces the number of the horses by ten, which is a

consideration; and then, with a good lieutenant Mordioux! what things patience and calculation are! Was I

not going to embark with forty men, and I have now reduced them to twenty for an equal success? Ten

thousand livres saved at one stroke, and more safety; that is well! Now, then, let us see; we have nothing to

do but to find this lieutenant let him be found, then; and after That is not so easy; he must be brave and

good, a second myself. Yes, but a lieutenant must have my secret, and as that secret is worth a million, and I

shall only pay my man a thousand livres, fifteen hundred at the most, my man will sell the secret to Monk.

Mordioux! no lieutenant. Besides, this man, were he as mute as a disciple of Pythagoras, this man would

be sure to have in the troop some favourite soldier, whom he would make his sergeant, the sergeant would

penetrate the secret of the lieutenant, in case the latter should be honest and unwilling to sell it. Then the

sergeant, less honest and less ambitious, will give up the whole for fifty thousand livres. Come, come! that is

impossible. The lieutenant is impossible. But then I must have no fractions; I cannot divide my troop into

two, and act upon two points, at once, without another self, who But what is the use of acting upon two

points, as we have only one man to take? What can be the good of weakening a corps by placing the right

here, and the left there? A single corps Mordioux! a single one, and that commanded by D'Artagnan. Very

well. But twenty men marching in one band are suspected by everybody; twenty horsemen must not be seen

marching together, or a company will be detached against them and the password will be required; the which

company, upon seeing them embarrassed to give it, would shoot M. d'Artagnan and his men like so many

rabbits. I reduce myself then to ten men; in this fashion I shall act simply and with unity; I shall be forced to

be prudent, which is half the success in an affair of the kind I am undertaking; a greater number might,

perhaps, have drawn me into some folly. Ten horses are not many, either to buy or take. A capital idea; what

tranquillity it infuses into my mind! no more suspicions no passwords no more dangers! Ten men, they

are valets or clerks. Ten men, leading ten horses laden with merchandise of whatever kind, are tolerated, well

received everywhere. Ten men travel on account of the house of Planchet Co., of France nothing can be

said against that. These ten men, clothed like manufacturers, have a good cutlass or a good musket at their

saddlebow, and a good pistol in the holster. They never allow themselves to be uneasy, because they have

no evil designs. They are, perhaps, in truth, a little disposed to be smugglers, but what harm is in that?

Smuggling is not, like polygamy, a hanging offense. The worst that can happen to us is the confiscation of

our merchandise. Our merchandise confiscated fine affair that! Come, come! it is a superb plan. Ten men

only ten men, whom I will engage for my service; ten men who shall be as resolute as forty, who would

cost me four times as much, and to whom, for greater security, I will never open my mouth as to my designs,

and to whom I shall only say, `My friends, there is a blow to be struck.' Things being after this fashion, Satan

will be very malicious if he plays me one of his tricks. Fifteen thousand livres saved that's superb out

Thus fortified by his laborious calculations, D'Artagnan stopped at this plan, and determined to change

nothing in it. He had already on a list furnished by his inexhaustible memory, ten men illustrious amongst the

seekers of adventures, illtreated by fortune, and not on good terms with justice. Upon this D'Artagnan rose,

and instantly set off on the search, telling Planchet not to expect him to breakfast, and perhaps not to dinner.

A day and a half spent in rummaging amongst certain dens of Paris sufficed for his recruiting; and, without

allowing his adventurers to communicate with each other, he had picked up and got together, in less than

thirty hours, a charming collection of illlooking faces, speaking a French less pure than the English they

were about to attempt. These men were, for the most part, guards, whose merit D'Artagnan had had an

opportunity of appreciating in various encounters, whom drunkenness, unlucky swordthrusts, unexpected

winnings at play, or the economical reforms of Mazarin, had forced to seek shade and solitude, those two

great consolers of irritated and chafing spirits. They bore upon their countenances and in their vestments the

traces of the heartaches they had undergone. Some had their visages scarred, all had their clothes in rags.

D'Artagnan comforted the most needy of these brotherly miseries by a prudent distribution of the crowns of

the society; then, having taken care that these crowns should be employed in the physical improvement of the

troop, he appointed a trysting place in the north of France, between Berghes and Saint Omer. Six days were

allowed as the utmost term, and D'Artagnan was sufficiently acquainted with the goodwill, the

goodhumor, and the relative probity of these illustrious recruits, to be certain that not one of them would fail

in his appointment. These orders given, this rendezvous fixed, he went to bid farewell to Planchet, who asked

news of his army. D'Artagnan did not think proper to inform him of the reduction he had made in his

personnel. He feared that the confidence of his associate would be abated by such an avowal. Planchet was

delighted to learn that the army was levied, and that he (Planchet) found himself a kind of half king, who

from his thronecounter kept in pay a body of troops destined to make war against perfidious Albion, that

enemy of all true French hearts. Planchet paid down in double louis, twenty thousand livres to D'Artagnan, on

the part of himself (Planchet), and twenty thousand livres, still in double louis, in account with D'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan placed each of the twenty thousand francs in a bag, and weighing a hag in each hand, "This

money is very embarrassing, my dear Planchet," said he. "Do you know this weighs thirty pounds?"

D'Artagnan shook his head. "Don't tell me such things, Planchet: a horse overloaded with thirty pounds, in

addition to the rider and his portmanteau, cannot cross a river so easily cannot leap over a wall or ditch so

lightly; and the horse failing, the horseman fails. It is true that you, Planchet, who have served in the infantry,

"Listen to me," said D'Artagnan. "I will pay my army on its return home. Keep my half of twenty thousand

"Your confidence does me honor," said Planchet: "but supposing you should not return?"

"That is possible, though not very probable. Then, Planchet, in case I should not return give me a pen! I

will make my will." D'Artagnan took a pen and some paper, and wrote upon a plain sheet, "I, D'Artagnan,

possess twenty thousand livres, laid up cent by cent during thirty years that I have been in the service of his

majesty the king of France. I leave five thousand to Athos, five thousand to Porthos and five thousand to

Aramis, that they may give the said sums in my name and their own to my young friend Raoul, Vicomte de

Bragelonne. I give the remaining five thousand to Planchet, that he may distribute the fifteen thousand with

less regret among my friends. With which purpose I sign these presents. D'Artagnan.

On reading the last lines the tears came into Planchet's eyes. "You think, then, that I would not have given the

D'Artagnan smiled. "Accept it, accept it, Planchet; and in that way you will only lose fifteen thousand francs

instead of twenty thousand, and you will not be tempted to disregard the signature of your master and friend,

How well that dear Monsieur d'Artagnan knew the hearts of men and grocers! They who have pronounced

Don Quixote mad because he rode out to the conquest of an empire with nobody but Sancho, his squire, and

they who have pronounced Sancho mad because he accompanied his master in his attempt to conquer the said

empire, they certainly will have no hesitation in extending the same judgment to D'Artagnan and

Planchet. And yet the first passed for one of the most subtle spirits among the astute spirits of the court of

France. As to the second, he had acquired by good right the reputation of having one of the longest heads

among the grocers of the Rue des Lombards; consequently of Paris, and consequently of France. Now, to

consider these two men from the point of view from which you would consider other men, and the means by

the aid of which they contemplated to restore a monarch to his throne, compared with other means, the

shallowest brains of the country where brains are most shallow must have revolted against the presumptuous

madness of the lieutenant and the stupidity of his associate. Fortunately, D'Artagnan was not a man to listen

to the idle talk of those around him, or to the comments that were made on himself. He had adopted the

motto, "Act well, and let people talk." Planchet on his part, had adopted this, "Act and say nothing." It

resulted from this, that, according to the custom of all superior geniuses, these two men flattered themselves

As a beginning, D'Artagnan set out in the finest of possible weather, without a cloud in the heavens

without a cloud on his mind, joyous and strong, calm and decided, great in his resolution, and consequently

carrying with him a tenfold dose of that potent fluid which the shocks of mind cause to spring from the

nerves, and which procure for the human machine a force and an influence of which future ages will render,

according to all probability, a more arithmetical account than we can possibly do at present. He was again, as

in times past, on that same road of adventures which had led him to Boulogne, and which he was now

traveling for the fourth time. It appeared to him that he could almost recognize the trace of his own steps

upon the road, and that of his first upon the doors of the hostelries; his memory, always active and

present, brought back that youth which neither thirty years later his great heart nor his wrist of steel would

have belied. What a rich nature was that of this man! He had all the passions, all the defects, all the

weaknesses, and the spirit of contradiction familiar to his understanding changed all these imperfections into

corresponding qualities. D'Artagnan, thanks to his ever active imagination, was afraid of a shadow; and

ashamed of being afraid, he marched straight up to that shadow, and then became extravagant in his bravery

if the danger proved to be real. Thus everything in him was emotion, and therefore enjoyment. He loved the

society of others, but never became tired of his own; and more than once, if he could have been heard when

he was alone, he might have been seen laughing at the jokes he related to himself or the tricks his imagination

created just five minutes before ennui might have been looked for. D'Artagnan was not perhaps so gay this

time as he would have been with the prospect of finding some good friends at Calais, instead of joining the

ten scamps there; melancholy, however, did not visit him more than once a day, and it was about five visits

that he received from that somber deity before he got sight of the sea at Boulogne, and then these visits were

indeed but short. But when once D'Artagnan found himself near the field of action, all other feelings but that

of confidence disappeared never to return. From Boulogne he followed the coast to Calais. Calais was the

place of general rendezvous, and at Calais he had named to each of his recruits the hostelry of "Le Grand

Monarque," where living was not extravagant, where sailors messed, and where men of the sword, with

sheath of leather, be it understood, found lodging, table, food, and all the comforts of life, for thirty sous per

diem. D'Artagnan proposed to himself to take them by surprise in flagrante delicto of wandering life, and to

The hostelry of "Le Grand Monarque" was situated in a little street parallel to the port without looking out

upon the port itself. Some lanes cut as steps cut the two parallels of the ladder the two great straight

lines of the port and the street. By these lanes passengers came suddenly from the port into the street, or from

the street on to the port. D'Artagnan, arrived at the port, took one of these lanes, and came out in front of the

hostelry of "Le Grand Monarque." The moment was well chosen and might remind D'Artagnan of his start in

life at the hostelry of the "FrancMeunier" at Meung. Some sailors who had been playing at dice had started

a quarrel, and were threatening each other furiously. The host, hostess, and two lads were watching with

anxiety the circle of these angry gamblers, from the midst of which war seemed ready to break forth, bristling

with knives and hatchets. The play, nevertheless, was continued. A stone bench was occupied by two men,

who appeared thence to watch the door; four tables, placed at the back of the common chamber, were

occupied by eight other individuals. Neither the men at the door, nor those at the tables, took any part in the

play or the quarrel. D'Artagnan recognized his ten men in these cold, indifferent spectators. The quarrel went

on increasing. Every passion has, like the sea, its tide which ascends and descends. Reaching the climax of

passion, one sailor overturned the table and the money which was upon it. The table fell, and the money

rolled about. In an instant all belonging to the hostelry threw themselves upon the stakes, and many a piece of

silver was picked up by people who stole away whilst the sailors were scuffling with each other.

The two men on the bench and the eight at the tables, although they seemed perfect strangers to each other,

these ten men alone, we say, appeared to have agreed to remain impassible amidst the cries of fury and the

chinking of money. Two only contented themselves with pushing with their feet combatants who came under

their table. Two others, rather than take part in this disturbance, buried their hands in their pockets; and

another two jumped upon the table they occupied, as people do to avoid being submerged by overflowing

"Come, come," said D'Artagnan to himself, not having lost one of the details we have related, "this is a very

fair gathering circumspect, calm, accustomed to disturbance, acquainted with blows! Peste! I have been

All at once his attention was called to a particular part of the room. The two men who had pushed the

strugglers with their feet were assailed with abuse by the sailors, who had become reconciled. One of them,

half drunk with passion, and quite drunk with beer, came, in a menacing manner, to demand of the shorter of

these two sages by what right he had touched with his foot creatures of the good God, who were not dogs.

And whilst putting this question, in order to make it more direct, he applied his great fist to the nose of

This man became pale, without its being to be discerned whether his pallor arose from anger or from fear;

seeing which, the sailor concluded it was from fear, and raised his fist with the manifest intention of letting it

fall upon the head of the stranger. But though the threatened man did not appear to move, he dealt the sailor

such a severe blow in the stomach that he sent him rolling and howling to the other side of the room. At the

same instant, rallied by the esprit de corps, all the comrades of the conquered man fell upon the conqueror.

The latter, with the same coolness of which he had given proof, without committing the imprudence of

touching his weapons, took up a beerpot with a pewterlid, and knocked down two or three of his assailants;

then, as he was about to yield to numbers, the seven other silent men at the tables, who had not stirred,

perceived that their cause was at stake, and came to the rescue. At the same time, the two indifferent

spectators at the door turned round with frowning brows, indicating their evident intention of taking the

The host, his helpers, and two watchmen who were passing, and who from curiosity had penetrated too far

into the room, were mixed up in the tumult and showered with blows. The Parisians hit like Cyclops, with an

ensemble and a tactic delightful to behold. At length, obliged to beat a retreat before superior numbers, they

formed an intrenchment behind the large table, which they raised by main force; whilst the two others,

arming themselves each with a trestle, and using it like a great sledgehammer, knocked down at a blow

eight sailors upon whose heads they had brought their monstrous catapult in play. The floor was already

strewn with wounded, and the room filled with cries and dust, when D'Artagnan, satisfied with the test,

advanced, sword in hand, and striking with the pommel every head that came in his way, he uttered a

vigorous hola! which put an instantaneous end to the conflict. A great backflood directly took place from the

center to the sides of the room, so that D'Artagnan found himself isolated and dominator.

"What is all this about?" then demanded he of the assembly, with the majestic tone of Neptune pronouncing

At the very instant, at the first sound of his voice, to carry on the Virgilian metaphor, D'Artagnan's recruits,

recognizing each his sovereign lord, discontinued their plankfighting and trestle blows. On their side, the

sailors, seeing that long naked sword, that martial air, and the agile arm which came to the rescue of their

enemies, in the person of a man who seemed accustomed to command, the sailors picked up their wounded

and their pitchers. The Parisians wiped their brows, and viewed their leader with respect. D'Artagnan was

loaded with thanks by the host of "Le Grand Monarque." He received them like a man who knows that

nothing is being offered that does not belong to him, and then said he would go and walk upon the port till

supper was ready. Immediately each of the recruits, who understood the summons, took his hat, brushed the

dust off his clothes, and followed D'Artagnan. But D'Artagnan whilst walking and observing, took care not to

stop; he directed his course towards the downs, and the ten men surprised at finding themselves going in

the track of each other, uneasy at seeing on their right, on their left, and behind them, companions upon

whom they had not reckoned followed him, casting furtive glances at each other. It was not till he had

arrived at the hollow part of the deepest down that D'Artagnan, smiling to see them outdone, turned towards

"Eh! come, come, gentlemen," said he, "let us not devour each other; you are made to live together, to

Instantly all hesitation ceased; the men breathed as if they had been taken out of a coffin, and examined each

other complacently. After this examination they turned their eyes towards their leader, who had long been

acquainted with the art of speaking to men of that class, and who improvised the following little speech,

"Gentlemen, you all know who I am. I have engaged you from knowing you to be brave, and willing to

associate you with me in a glorious enterprise. Imagine that in laboring for me you labor for the king. I only

warn you that if you allow anything of this supposition to appear, I shall be forced to crack your skulls

immediately, in the manner most convenient to me. You are not ignorant, gentlemen, that state secrets are

like a mortal poison: as long as that poison is in its box and the box is closed, it is not injurious; out of the

box, it kills. Now draw near and you shall know as much of this secret as I am able to tell you." All drew

close to him with an expression of curiosity. "Approach," continued D'Artagnan, "and let not the bird which

passes over our heads, the rabbit which sports on the downs, the fish which bounds from the waters, hear us.

Our business is to learn and to report to monsieur le surintendant of the finances to what extent English

smuggling is injurious to the French merchants. I shall enter every place, and see everything. We are poor

Picard fishermen, thrown upon the coast by a storm. It is certain that we must sell fish, neither more nor less,

like true fishermen. Only people might guess who we are, and might molest us; it is therefore necessary that

we should be in a condition to defend ourselves. And this is why I have selected men of spirit and courage.

We shall lead a steady life, and not incur much danger; seeing that we have behind us a powerful protector,

thanks to whom no embarrassment is possible. One thing alone puzzles me; but I hope that after a short

explanation, you will relieve me from that difficulty. The thing which puzzles me is taking with me a crew of

stupid fishermen, which crew will annoy me immensely, whilst if, by chance, there were among you any who

"Oh! don't let that trouble you," said one of the recruits; "I was a prisoner among the pirates of Tunis three

"See," said D'Artagnan, "what an admirable thing chance is!" D'Artagnan pronounced these words with an

indefinable tone of feigned bonhomie, for he knew very well that the victim of pirates was an old corsair, and

had engaged him in consequence of that knowledge. But D'Artagnan never said more than there was need to

say, in order to leave people in doubt. He paid himself with the explanation, and welcomed the effect, without

"And I," said a second, "I, by chance, had an uncle who directed the works of the port of La Rochelle. When

quite a child, I played about the boats, and I know how to handle an oar or a sail as well as the best Ponantais

sailor." The latter did not lie much more than the first, for he had rowed on board his majesty's galleys six

years, at Ciotat. Two others were more frank: they confessed honestly that they had served on board a vessel

as soldiers on punishment, and did not blush for it. D'Artagnan found himself, then, the leader of ten men of

war and four sailors, having at once a land army and a sea force, which would have earned the pride of

Nothing was now left but arranging the general orders, and D'Artagnan gave them with precision. He

enjoined his men to be ready to set out for the Hague, some following the coast which leads to Breskens,

others the road to Antwerp. The rendezvous was given, by calculating each day's march, a fortnight from that

time upon the chief place at the Hague. D'Artagnan recommended his men to go in couples, as they liked

best, from sympathy. He himself selected from among those with the least disreputable look, two guards

whom he had formerly known, and whose only faults were being drunkards and gamblers. These men had not

entirely lost all ideas of civilization, and under proper garments their hearts would beat again. D'Artagnan,

not to create any jealousy with the others, made the rest go forward. He kept his two selected ones, clothed

It was to these two, whom he seemed to honor with an absolute confidence, that D'Artagnan imparted a false

secret, destined to secure the success of the expedition. He confessed to them that the object was not to learn

to what extent the French merchants were injured by English smuggling, but to learn how far French

smuggling could annoy English trade. These men appeared convinced; they were effectively so. D'Artagnan

was quite sure that at the first debauch when thoroughly drunk, one of the two would divulge the secret to the

A fortnight after all we have said had taken place at Calais, the whole troop assembled at the Hague.

Then D'Artagnan perceived that all his men, with remarkable intelligence, had already travestied themselves

into sailors, more or less illtreated by the sea. D'Artagnan left them to sleep in a den in Newkerke street,

whilst he lodged comfortably upon the Grand Canal. He learned that the king of England had come back to

his old ally, William II. of Nassau, stadtholder of Holland. He learned also that the refusal of Louis XIV. had

a little cooled the protection afforded him up to that time, and in consequence he had gone to reside in a little

village house at Scheveningen, situated in the downs, on the seashore, about a league from the Hague.

There, it was said, the unfortunate banished king consoled himself in his exile, by looking, with the

melancholy peculiar to the princes of his race, at that immense North Sea, which separated him from his

England, as it had formerly separated Mary Stuart from France. There behind the trees of the beautiful wood

of Scheveningen on the fine sand upon which grows the golden broom of the down, Charles II. vegetated as it

did, more unfortunate, for he had life and thought, and he hoped and despaired by turns.

D'Artagnan went once as far as Scheveningen, in order to be certain that all was true that was said of the

king. He beheld Charles II., pensive and alone, coming out of a little door opening into the wood, and

walking on the beach in the setting sun, without even attracting the attention of the fishermen, who, on their

return in the evening, drew, like the ancient mariners of the Archipelago, their barks up upon the sand of the

D'Artagnan recognized the king; he saw him fix his melancholy look upon the immense extent of the waters,

and absorb upon his pale countenance the red rays of the sun already cut by the black line of the horizon.

Then Charles returned to his isolated abode, always alone, slow and sad, amusing himself with making the

That very evening D'Artagnan hired for a thousand livres a fishingboat worth four thousand. He paid a

thousand livres down, and deposited the three thousand with a Burgomaster, after which he brought on board

without their being seen, the ten men who formed his land army; and with the rising tide, at three o'clock in

the morning, he got into the open sea, maneuvering ostensibly with the four others, and depending upon the

CHAPTER 23. In which the Author, very unwillingly, is forced to write a Little History

While kings and men were thus occupied with England, which governed itself quite alone, and which, it must

be said in its praise, had never been so badly governed, a man upon whom God had fixed his eye, and placed

his finger, a man predestined to write his name in brilliant letters upon the page of history, was pursuing in

the face of the world a work full of mystery and audacity. He went on, and no one knew whither he meant to

go, although not only England, but France, and Europe, watched him marching with a firm step and head held

Monk had just declared himself in favor of the liberty of the Rump Parliament, a parliament which General

Lambert, imitating Cromwell, whose lieutenant he had been, had just blocked up so closely, in order to bring

it to his will, that no member, during all the blockade, was able to go out, and only one, Peter Wentworth, had

Lambert and Monk everything was summed up in these two men; the first representing military

despotism, the second pure republicanism. These men were the two sole political representatives of that

revolution in which Charles I. had first lost his crown, and afterwards his head. As regarded Lambert, he did

not dissemble his views; he sought to establish a military government, and to be himself the head of that

Monk, a rigid republican, some said, wished to maintain the Rump Parliament, that visible though

degenerated representative of the republic. Monk, artful and ambitious, said others, wished simply to make of

this parliament, which he affected to protect, a solid step by which to mount the throne which Cromwell had

Thus Lambert by persecuting the parliament, and Monk by declaring for it, had mutually proclaimed

themselves enemies of each other. Monk and Lambert, therefore, had at first thought of creating an army each

for himself: Monk in Scotland, where were the Presbyterians and the royalists, that is to say, the malcontents;

Lambert in London, where was found, as is always the case, the strongest opposition to the existing power

Monk had pacified Scotland, he had there formed for himself an army, and found an asylum. The one

watched the other. Monk knew that the day was not yet come, the day marked by the Lord for a great change;

his sword, therefore, appeared glued to the sheath. Inexpugnable, in his wild and mountainous Scotland, an

absolute general, king of an army of eleven thousand old soldiers, whom he had more than once led on to

victory; as well informed, nay, even better, of the affairs of London, than Lambert, who held garrison in the

city, such was the position of Monk, when, at a hundred leagues from London, he declared himself for the

parliament. Lambert, on the contrary, as we have said, lived in the capital. That was the center of all his

operations, and he there collected around him all his friends, and all the people of the lower class, eternally

It was then in London that Lambert learnt the support that, from the frontiers of Scotland, Monk lent to the

parliament. He judged there was no time to be lost, and that the Tweed was not so far distant from the

Thames that an army could not march from one river to the other, particularly when it was well commanded.

He knew, besides, that as fast as the soldiers of Monk penetrated into England, they would form on their

route that ball of snow, the emblem of the globe of fortune, which is for the ambitious nothing but a step

growing unceasingly higher to conduct him to his object. He got together, therefore, his army, formidable at

the same time for its composition and its numbers, and hastened to meet Monk, who, on his part, like a

prudent navigator sailing amidst rocks, advanced by very short marches, listening to the reports and scenting

The two armies came in sight of each other near Newcastle, Lambert, arriving first, encamped in the city

itself. Monk, always circumspect, stopped where he was, and placed his general quarters at Coldstream, on

the Tweed. The sight of Lambert spread joy through Monk's army, whilst, on the contrary, the sight of Monk

threw disorder into Lambert's army. It might have been thought that these intrepid warriors, who had made

such a noise in the streets of London, had set out with the hopes of meeting no one, and that now seeing that

they had met an army, and that that army hoisted before them not only a standard, but still further, a cause

and a principle, it might have been believed, we say, that these intrepid warriors had begun to reflect, that

they were less good republicans than the soldiers of Monk, since the latter supported the parliament; whilst

As to Monk, if he had had to reflect, or if he did reflect, it must have been after a sad fashion, for history

relates and that modest dame, it is well known, never lies history relates, that the day of his arrival at

If Monk had commanded an English army, that was enough to have brought about a general desertion. But it

is not with the Scotch as it is with the English, to whom that fluid flesh which is called blood is a paramount

necessity; the Scotch, a poor and sober race, live upon a little barley crushed between two stones, diluted with

The Scotch, their distribution of barley being made, cared very little whether there was or was not any meat

in Coldstream. Monk, little accustomed to barleycakes, was hungry, and his staff, at least as hungry as

himself, looked with anxiety right and left, to know what was being prepared for supper.

Monk ordered search to be made; his scouts had on arriving in the place found it deserted and the cupboards

empty; upon butchers and bakers it was of no use depending in Coldstream. The smallest morsel of bread,

As accounts succeeded each other, all equally unsatisfactory, Monk, seeing terror and discouragement upon

every face, declared that he was not hungry; besides they should eat on the morrow, since Lambert was there

probably with the intention of giving battle, and consequently would give up his provisions, if he were forced

from Newcastle, or forever to relieve Monk's soldiers from hunger if he conquered.

This consolation was only efficacious upon a very small number; but of what importance was it to Monk? for

Monk was very absolute, under the appearance of the most perfect mildness. Every one, therefore, was

obliged to be satisfied, or at least to appear so. Monk quite as hungry as his people, but affecting perfect

indifference for the absent mutton, cut a fragment of tobacco, half an inch long, from the carotte of a sergeant

who formed part of his suite, and began to masticate the said fragment, assuring his lieutenants that hunger

was a chimera, and that, besides, people were never hungry when they had anything to chew.

This joke satisfied some of those who had resisted Monk's first deduction drawn from the neighborhood of

Lambert's army; the number of the dissentients diminished greatly; the guard took their posts, the patrols

Between his camp and that of the enemy stood an old abbey, of which, at the present day, there only remain

some ruins, but which then was in existence, and was called Newcastle Abbey. It was built upon a vast site,

independent at once of the plain and of the river, because it was almost a marsh fed by springs and kept up by

rains. Nevertheless, in the midst of these pools of water, covered with long grass, rushes, and reeds, were

seen solid spots of ground, formerly used as the kitchengarden, the park, the pleasuregardens, and other

dependencies of the abbey, looking like one of those great seaspiders, whose body is round, whilst the claws

The kitchengarden, one of the longest claws of the abbey, extended to Monk's camp. Unfortunately it was,

as we have said, early in June, and the kitchengarden, being abandoned, offered no resources.

Monk had ordered this spot to be guarded, as most subject to surprises. The fires of the enemy's general were

plainly to be perceived on the other side of the abbey. But between these fires and the abbey extended the

Tweed, unfolding its luminous scales beneath the thick shade of tall green oaks. Monk was perfectly well

acquainted with this position, Newcastle and its environs having already more than once been his

headquarters. He knew that by day his enemy might without doubt throw a few scouts into these ruins and

promote a skirmish, but that by night he would take care to abstain from such a risk. He felt himself,

Thus his soldiers saw him, after what he boastingly called his supper that is to say, after the exercise of

mastication reported by us at the commencement of this chapter like Napoleon on the eve of Austerlitz,

seated asleep in his rush chair, half beneath the light of his lamp, half beneath the reflection of the moon,

commencing its ascent in the heavens, which denoted that it was nearly half past nine in the evening. All at

once Monk was roused from his half sleep, fictitious perhaps, by a troop of soldiers, who came with joyous

cries, and kicked the poles of his tent with a humming noise as if on purpose to wake him. There was no need

"General!" replied several voices at once, "General! you shall have some supper."

"I have had my supper, gentlemen," replied he, quietly, "and was comfortably digesting it, as you see. But

"And you have done very wrong, my friends. These gentlemen from London are delicate, must have their

first course; you will put them sadly out of humor this evening, and tomorrow they will be pitiless. It would

really be in good taste to send back to Lambert both his fish and his fishermen, unless " and the general

"Some Picard seamen who were fishing on the coasts of France or Holland, and who have been thrown upon

The mistrust of the general was awakened in proportion as fresh information reached him. "That is well," said

"There are ten or twelve of them, general, and they were aboard of a kind of chassemaree, as it is called

At this moment the officer returned, bringing the leader of the fishermen with him. He was a man from fifty

to fiftyfive years old, but goodlooking for his age. He was of middle height, and wore a justaucorps of

coarse wool, a cap pulled down over his eyes, a cutlass hung from his belt, and he walked with the hesitation

peculiar to sailors, who, never knowing, thanks to the movement of the vessel, whether their foot will be

placed upon the plank or upon nothing, give to every one of their steps a fall as firm as if they were driving a

pile. Monk, with an acute and penetrating look, examined the fisherman for some time, while the latter

This reply was made much more with the lively and sharp accentuation of the people beyond the Loire, than

with the slightlydrawling accent of the countries of the west and north of France.

"But you do speak it?" persisted Monk, in order to examine his accent once more.

"Eh! we men of the sea," replied the fisherman, "speak a little of all languages."

"I am at present, my lord a fisherman, and a famous fisherman too. I have taken a barbel that weighs at

least thirty pounds, and more than fifty mullets; I have also some little whitings that will fry beautifully."

"You appear to me to have fished more frequently in the Gulf of Gascony than in the Channel," said Monk,

"Well, I am from the south; but does that prevent me from being a good fisherman, my lord?"

"Oh! not at all; I shall buy your fish. And now speak frankly; for whom did you destine them?"

"My lord, I will conceal nothing from you. I was going to Newcastle, following the coast, when a party of

horsemen who were passing along in an opposite direction made a sign to my bark to turn back to your

honor's camp, under penalty of a discharge of musketry. As I was not armed for fighting," added the

"Well, my lord, I was going to M. Lambert's camp because those gentlemen from the city pay well whilst

your Scotchmen, Puritans, Presbyterians, Covenanters, or whatever you choose to call them, eat but little, and

Monk shrugged his shoulders, without, however, being able to refrain from smiling at the same time. "How is

"My lord, man shoves his boat into the sea, but God and the wind do the rest, and drive the boat where they

"We were returning from Ostend, where some mackerel had already been seen, when a sharp wind from the

south drove us from our course; then, seeing that it was useless to struggle against it, we let it drive us. It then

became necessary, not to lose our fish, which were good, to go and sell them at the nearest English port, and

that was Newcastle. We were told the opportunity was good, as there was an increase of population in the

camp, an increase of population in the city; both, we were told, were full of gentlemen, very rich and very

"Oh, my companions have remained on board; they are sailors without the least instruction."

"Who, I?" said the patron, laughing; "I have sailed about with my father, and I know what is called a sou, a

crown, a pistole, a louis, and a double louis, in all the languages of Europe; my crew, therefore, listen to me

"At all events, my lord, if there is a fault, the fault is mine; and my comrades should not be dealt hardly with

"This is decidedly an intelligent, sharp fellow," thought Monk. Then, after a few minutes, silence employed

in scrutinizing the fisherman, "You come from Ostend, did you not say?" asked the general.

"You have then heard of the affairs of the day; for I have no doubt that both in France and Holland they

"Oh, my lord!" cried the fisherman, with loud and expansive frankness, "that is a lucky question, and you

could not put it to anybody better than to me, for in truth I can make you a famous reply. Imagine, my lord,

that when putting into Ostend to sell the few mackerel we had caught, I saw the exking walking on the

downs waiting for his horses, which were to take him to the Hague. He is a rather tall, pale man, with black

hair, and somewhat hardfeatured. He looks ill, and I don't think the air of Holland agrees with him."

Monk followed with the greatest attention the rapid, heightened, and diffuse conversation of the fisherman, in

a language which was not his own, but which, as we have said, he spoke with great facility. The fisherman on

his part, employed sometimes a French word, sometimes an English word, and sometimes a word which

appeared not to belong to any language, but was, in truth, pure Gascon. Fortunately his eyes spoke for him,

and that so eloquently, that it was possible to lose a word from his mouth, but not a single intention from his

eyes. The general appeared more and more satisfied with his examination. "You must have heard that this

"Always the same," said the fisherman. "Must he not always entertain the fixed idea of returning to

"Without reckoning," added the fisherman, "that the stadtholder you know, my lord, William II.?"

"Why, we sailors, my lord, who are accustomed to study the water and the air that is to say, the two most

"Now, then," said Monk, changing the conversation, "I am told you are going to provision us."

"I!" cried the fisherman; "what should I go to Newcastle for, now I have no longer any fish?"

"How, my lord! pay me and give me good advice likewise! You overwhelm me, my lord."

Monk looked more earnestly than ever at the fisherman, about whom he still appeared to entertain some

suspicion. "Yes, I shall pay you, and give you a piece of advice, for the two things are connected. If you

The fisherman made a movement of his head and shoulders, which signified, "If he persists in it, I won't

"Do not cross the marsh," continued Monk: "you will have money in your pocket, and there are in the marsh

some Scotch ambuscaders I have placed there. Those people are very intractable; they understand but very

little of the language which you speak, although it appears to me to be composed of three languages. They

might take from you what I had given you, and, on your return to your country, you would not fail to say that

General Monk has two hands, the one Scotch, and the other English; and that he takes back with the Scotch

"Oh! general, I shall go where you like, be sure of that," said the fisherman, with a fear too expressive not to

"I readily believe you," said Monk, with an imperceptible smile, "but I cannot, nevertheless, keep you in my

"I have no such wish, my lord, and desire only that your lordship should point out where you will have me

"As your lordship pleases. Only, if your lordship would allow me to be taken back by a carpenter, I should be

"Because the gentlemen of your army, in dragging my boat up the river with a cable pulled by their horses,

have battered it a little upon the rocks of the shore, so that I have at least two feet of water in my hold, my

"My lord, I am quite at your orders," said the fisherman; "I shall empty my baskets where you wish; then you

will pay me, if you please to do so; and you will send me away, if it appears right to you. You see I am very

"Come, come, you are a very good sort of a fellow," said Monk, whose scrutinizing glance had not been able

to find a single shade in the clear eye of the fisherman. "Holloa, Digby!" An aidedecamp appeared. "You

will conduct this good fellow and his companions to the little tents of the canteens, in front of the marshes, so

that they will be near their bark, and yet will not sleep on board tonight. What is the matter, Spithead?"

Spithead was the sergeant from whom Monk had borrowed a piece of tobacco for his supper. Spithead,

having entered the general's tent without being sent for, had drawn this question from Monk.

"My lord," said he, "a French gentleman has just presented himself at the outposts and wishes to speak to

All this was said, be it understood, in English; but notwithstanding, it produced a slight emotion in the

"My lord," replied Spithead, "he told it me, but those devils of French names are so difficult to pronounce for

a Scotch throat, that I could not retain it. I believe, however, from what the guards say, that it is the same

gentleman who presented himself yesterday at the halt, and whom your honor would not receive."

"To what purpose? He can only see what I desire should be seen; that is to say, that I have around me eleven

thousand brave men, who ask no better than to have their throats cut in honor of the parliament of Scotland

"And this man, my lord?" said Spithead, pointing to the fisherman, who, during this conversation, had

"Ah, that is true," said Monk. Then turning towards the fisherman, "I shall see you again, my brave

fellow," said he; "I have selected a lodging for you. Digby, take him to it. Fear nothing: your money shall be

"Thank you, my lord," said the fisherman, and after having bowed, he left the tent, accompanied by Digby.

Before he had gone a hundred paces he found his companions, who were whispering with a volubility which

did not appear exempt from uneasiness, but he made them a sign which seemed to reassure them. "Hola, you

fellows!" said the patron, "come this way. His lordship, General Monk, has the generosity to pay us for our

The fishermen gathered round their leader, and, conducted by Digby, the little troop proceeded towards the

canteens, the post, as may be remembered, which had been assigned them. As they went along in the dark,

the fishermen passed close to the guards who were conducting the French gentleman to General Monk. This

gentleman was on horseback, and enveloped in a large cloak, which prevented the patron from seeing him,

however great his curiosity might be. As to the gentleman, ignorant that he was elbowing compatriots, he did

The aiddecamp settled his guests in a tolerably comfortable tent, from which was dislodged an Irish

canteen woman, who went, with her six children, to sleep where she could. A large fire was burning in front

of this tent, and threw its purple light over the grassy pools of the marsh, rippled by a fresh breeze. The

arrangements made, the aiddecamp wished the fishermen goodnight, calling to their notice that they

might see from the door of the tent the masts of their bark, which was tossing gently on the Tweed, a proof

that it had not yet sunk. The sight of this appeared to delight the leader of the fishermen infinitely.

The French gentleman whom Spithead had announced to Monk, and who, closely wrapped in his cloak, had

passed by the fishermen who left the general's tent five minutes before he entered it, the French gentleman

went through the various posts without even casting his eyes around him, for fear of appearing indiscreet. As

the order had been given, he was conducted to the tent of the general. The gentleman was left alone in the sort

of antechamber in front of the principal body of the tent, where he awaited Monk, who only delayed till he

had heard the report of his people, and observed through the opening of the canvas the countenance of the

Without doubt, the report of those who had accompanied the French gentleman established the discretion

with which he had behaved, for the first impression the stranger received of the welcome made him by the

general was more favorable than he could have expected at such a moment, and on the part of so suspicious a

man. Nevertheless, according to his custom, when Monk found himself in the presence of a stranger, he fixed

upon him his penetrating eyes, which scrutiny, the stranger, on his part, sustained without embarrassment or

notice. At the end of a few seconds, the general made a gesture with his hand and head in sign of attention.

"My lord," said the gentleman, in excellent English. "I have requested an interview with your honor, for an

"Monsieur," replied Monk, in French, "you speak our language well for a son of the continent. I ask your

pardon for doubtless the question is indiscreet do you speak French with the same purity?"

"There is nothing surprising, my lord, in my speaking English tolerably; I resided for some time in England in

my youth, and since then I have made two voyages to this country." These words were spoken in French, and

with a purity of accent that bespoke not only a Frenchman, but a Frenchman from the vicinity of Tours.

"In my youth, London, my lord, then, about 1635, I made a pleasure trip to Scotland; and lastly, in 1648, I

lived for some time at Newcastle, particularly in the convent, the gardens of which are now occupied by your

"Excuse me, monsieur, but you must comprehend that these questions are necessary on my part do you

"Perfectly so, monsieur, except, of course, the post which guards us." So saying, Monk pulled open the

canvas with his hand, and pointed to the soldier placed at ten paces from the tent, and who, at the first call

"In that case my lord," said the gentleman, in as calm a tone as if he had been for a length of time in habits of

intimacy with his interlocutor, I have made up my mind to address myself to you, because I believe you to be

an honest man. Indeed, the communication I am about to make to you will prove to you the esteem in which I

Monk, astonished at this language, which established between him and the French gentleman equality at

least, raised his piercing eye to the stranger's face, and with a sensible irony conveyed by the inflection of his

voice alone, for not a muscle of his face moved, "I thank you, monsieur," said he; "but, in the first place,

"The Comte de la Fere?" said Monk, endeavoring to recollect the name. "Pardon me, monsieur, but this

appears to be the first time I have ever heard that name. Do you fill any post at the court of France?"

"King Charles I. made me a knight of the Garter, and Queen Anne of Austria has given me the cordon of the

Monk looked with astonishment at this man, who appeared to him so simple and so great at the same time.

Then, as if he had renounced endeavoring to penetrate this mystery of a simplicity and grandeur upon which

the stranger did not seem disposed to give him any other information than that which he had already received,

"Many officers, monsieur, would permit no one to enter their camp, particularly on the eve of a probable

battle. But I differ from my colleagues, and like to leave nothing behind me. Every advice is good to me; all

danger is sent to me by God, and I weigh it in my hand with the energy He has given me. So, yesterday, you

were only sent back on account of the council I was holding. Today I am at liberty, speak."

"My lord, you have done much better in receiving me, for what I have to say has nothing to do with the battle

you are about to fight with General Lambert, or with your camp; and the proof is, that I turned away my head

that I might not see your men, and closed my eyes that I might not count your tents. No, I come to speak to

"Just now " continued Athos, "I had the honor of telling your lordship that for a long time I lived in

Newcastle; it was in the time of Charles I., and when the king was given up to Cromwell by the Scots."

"I had at that time a large sum in gold, and on the eve of the battle, from a presentiment perhaps of the turn

which things would take on the morrow, I concealed it in the principal vault of the convent of Newcastle, in

the tower whose summit you now see silvered by the moonbeams. My treasure has then remained interred

there, and I have come to entreat your honor to permit me to withdraw it before, perhaps, the battle turning

that way, a mine or some other war engine has destroyed the building and scattered my gold, or rendered it so

Monk was well acquainted with mankind, he saw in the physiognomy of this gentleman all the energy, all the

reason, all the circumspection possible, he could therefore only attribute to a magnanimous confidence the

revelation the Frenchman had made him, and he showed himself profoundly touched by it.

"Monsieur," said he, "you have augured well of me. But is the sum worth the trouble to which you expose

"That is a reply to one question; but to the other. I asked you if the sum was so large as to warrant your

"It is really large; yes, my lord, for it is a million I inclosed in two barrels."

"A million!" cried Monk, at whom this time, in turn, Athos looked earnestly and long. Monk perceived this,

"Here is a man," said he, "who is laying a snare for me. So you wish to withdraw this money, monsieur,"

"But, monsieur," objected Monk, "General Lambert is as near the abbey where you have to act as I am. Why,

"Because, my lord, when one acts in important matters, it is best to consult one's instinct before everything.

"Be it so, monsieur. I shall assist you in recovering your money, if, however, it can still be there; for that is

far from likely. Since 1648 twelve years have rolled away, and many events have taken place." Monk dwelt

upon this point to see if the French gentleman would seize the evasions that were open to him, but Athos did

"I assure you, my lord," he said firmly, "that my conviction is, that the two barrels have neither changed place

nor master." This reply had removed one suspicion from the mind of Monk, but it had suggested another.

Without doubt this Frenchman was some emissary sent to entice into error the protector of the parliament; the

gold was nothing but a lure; and by the help of this lure they thought to excite the cupidity of the general.

This gold might not exist. It was Monk's business, then, to seize the Frenchman in the act of falsehood and

trick, and to draw from the false step itself in which his enemies wished to entrap him, a triumph for his

"Monsieur," said he to Athos, "without doubt you will do me the honor to share my supper this evening?"

"Yes, my lord," replied Athos, bowing, "for you do me an honor of which I feel myself worthy, by the

"It is so much the more gracious on your part to accept my invitation with such frankness, as my cooks are

but few and inexperienced, and my providers have returned this evening emptyhanded; so that if it had not

been for a fisherman of your nation who strayed into our camp, General Monk would have gone to bed

without his supper today; I have, then, some fresh fish to offer you, as the vendor assures me."

"My lord, it is principally for the sake of having the honor to pass another hour with you."

After this exchange of civilities, during which Monk had lost nothing of his circumspection, the supper, or

what was to serve for one, had been laid upon a deal table. Monk invited the Comte de la Fere to be seated at

this table, and took his place opposite to him. A single dish of boiled fish, set before the two illustrious

Whilst supping, that is, while eating the fish, washed down with bad ale, Monk got Athos to relate to him the

last events of the Fronde, the reconciliation of M. de Conde with the king, and the probable marriage of the

infanta of Spain; but he avoided, as Athos himself avoided it, all allusion to the political interests which

Monk, in this conversation, convinced himself of one thing, which he must have remarked after the first

words exchanged: that was, that he had to deal with a man of high distinction. He could not be an assassin,

and it was repugnant to Monk to believe him to be a spy, but there was sufficient finesse and at the same time

firmness in Athos to lead Monk to fancy he was a conspirator. When they had quitted table, "You still believe

"Well, monsieur, from curiosity I shall accompany you. And it is so much the more necessary that I should

accompany you, that you would find great difficulties in passing through the camp without me or one of my

"General, I would not suffer you to inconvenience yourself if I did not, in fact, stand in need of your

company; but as I recognize that this company is not only honorable, but necessary, I accept it."

"General, I believe that would be useless, if you yourself do not see the necessity for it. Two men and a horse

will suffice to transport the two casks on board the felucca which brought me hither."

"But it will be necessary to pick, dig and remove the earth, and split stones; you don't intend doing this work

"General, there is no picking or digging required. The treasure is buried in the sepulchral vault of the convent,

under a stone in which is fixed a large iron ring and under which are four steps leading down. The two casks

are there, placed end to end, covered with a coat of plaster in the form of a bier. There is, besides, an

inscription, which will enable me to recognize the stone; and as I am not willing, in an affair of delicacy and

confidence, to keep the secret from your honor, here is the inscription: `Hic jacet venerabilis, Petrus

Gulielmus Scott, Canon Honorab. Conventus Novi Castelli. Obiit quarta et decima. Feb. ann. Dom.

Monk did not lose a single word. He was astonished either at the marvelous duplicity of this man and the

superior style in which he played his part, or at the good loyal faith with which he presented his request, in a

situation in which concerning a million of money, risked against the blow from a dagger, amidst an army that

"Very well," said he; "I shall accompany you; and the adventure appears to me so wonderful, that I shall carry

the torch myself." And saying these words, he girded on a short sword, placed a pistol in his belt, disclosing

in this movement, which opened his doublet a little, the fine rings of a coat of mail, destined to protect him

from the first daggerthrust of an assassin. After which he took a Scotch dirk in his left hand, and then

Athos, as if in opposition to what Monk had done, unfastened his poniard, which he placed upon the table;

unhooked his swordbelt, which he laid close to his poniard; and, without affectation, opening his doublet as

if to look for his handkerchief, showed beneath his fine cambric shirt his naked breast, without weapons

"This is truly a singular man," said Monk; "he is without any arms; he has an ambuscade placed somewhere

"General," said he, as if he had divined Monk's thought, "you wish we should be alone; that is very right, but

a great captain ought never to expose himself with temerity. It is night, the passage of the marsh may present

"You are right," replied he, calling Digby. The aiddecamp appeared. "Fifty men with swords and

Athos and Monk passed over, in going from the camp towards the Tweed, that part of the ground which

Digby had traversed with the fishermen coming from the Tweed to the camp. The aspect of this place, the

aspect of the changes man had wrought in it, was of a nature to produce a great effect upon a lively and

delicate imagination like that of Athos. Athos looked at nothing but these desolate spots; Monk looked at

nothing but Athos at Athos, who, with his eyes sometimes directed towards heaven, and sometimes

Digby, whom the last orders of the general, and particularly the accent with which he had given them, had at

first a little excited, followed the pair at about twenty paces, but the general having turned round as if

astonished to find his orders had not been obeyed, the aiddecamp perceived his indiscretion and returned

He supposed that the general wished to make, incognito, one of those reviews of vigilance which every

experienced captain never fails to make on the eve of a decisive engagement: he explained to himself the

presence of Athos in this case as an inferior explains all that is mysterious on the part of his leader. Athos

might be, and, indeed, in the eyes of Digby, must be, a spy, whose information was to enlighten the general.

At the end of a walk of about ten minutes among the tents and posts, which were closer together near the

headquarters, Monk entered upon a little causeway which diverged into three branches. That on the left led to

the river, that in the middle to Newcastle Abbey on the marsh, that on the right crossed the first lines of

Monk's camp, that is to say, the lines nearest to Lambert's army. Beyond the river was an advanced post

belonging to Monk's army, which watched the enemy; it was composed of one hundred and fifty Scots. They

had swum across the Tweed, and, in case of attack, were to recross it in the same manner, giving the alarm;

but as there was no post at that spot, and as Lambert's soldiers were not so prompt at taking to the water as

Monk's were, the latter appeared not to have much uneasiness on that side. On this side of the river, at about

five hundred paces from the old abbey, the fishermen had taken up their abode amidst a crowd of small tents

raised by the soldiers of the neighboring clans, who had with them their wives and children. All this

confusion, seen by the moon's light, presented a striking coup d'oeil; the half shadow enlarged every detail,

and the light, that flatterer which only attaches itself to the polished side of things, courted upon each rusty

musket the point still left intact, and upon every rag of canvas the whitest and least sullied part.

Monk arrived then with Athos, crossing this spot, illumined with a double light, the silver splendor of the

moon, and the red blaze of the fires at the meeting of the three causeways; there he stopped, and addressing

"General, if I am not mistaken, the middle causeway leads straight to the abbey."

"That is right; but we shall want lights to guide us in the vaults." Monk turned round.

"Ah! I thought Digby was following us!" said he. "So much the better; he will procure us what we want."

"Yes, general, there is a man yonder who has been walking behind us for some time."

But, instead of obeying, the shadow made a motion of surprise, and, retreating instead of advancing, it bent

down and disappeared along the jetty on the left, directing its course towards the lodging of the fishermen.

Both had followed the shadow which had vanished. But it was not so rare a thing for a man to be wandering

about at eleven o'clock at night, in a camp in which are reposing ten or eleven thousand men, as to give Monk

"As it is so," said Monk, "and we must have a light, a lantern, a torch, or something by which we may see

"No," said Monk, in order to discover if there were not any connivance between the Comte de la Fere and the

fisherman. "No, I should prefer one of these French sailors who came this evening to sell me their fish. They

leave tomorrow, and the secret will be better kept by them; whereas, if a report should be spread in the

Scotch army, that treasures are to be found in the abbey of Newcastle, my Highlanders will believe there is a

million concealed beneath every slab, and they will not leave stone upon stone in the building."

"Do as you think best, general," replied Athos in a natural tone of voice, making evident that soldier or

Monk approached the causeway behind which had disappeared the person he had taken for Digby, and met a

patrol who, making the tour of the tents, was going towards headquarters; he was stopped with his

companion, gave the password, and went on. A soldier, roused by the noise, unrolled his plaid, and looked up

to see what was going forward. "Ask him," said Monk to Athos, "where the fishermen are; if I were to speak

Athos went up to the soldier, who pointed out the tent to him; immediately Monk and Athos turned towards

it. It appeared to the general that at the moment they came up, a shadow like that they had already seen glided

into this tent; but on drawing nearer he perceived he must have been mistaken, for all of them were asleep

pele mele, and nothing was seen but arms and legs joined, crossed, and mixed. Athos, fearing lest he should

be suspected of connivance with some of his compatriots, remained outside the tent.

"Hola!" said Monk, in French, "wake up here." Two or three of the sleepers got up.

"Your honor may depend upon us," said a voice which made Athos start. "Where do you wish us to go?"

Then addressing his companion nearest to him in a low voice: "Get a light, Menneville," said he, "and

One of the fishermen struck light from a stone, set fire to some tinder, and by the aid of a match lit a lantern.

"Are you ready, monsieur?" said Monk to Athos, who had turned away, not to expose his face to the light.

"Ah! the French gentleman!" said the leader of the fishermen to himself. "Peste! I have a great mind to charge

you with the commission, Menneville; he may know me. Light! light!" This dialogue was pronounced at the

back of the tent, and in so low a voice that Monk could not hear a syllable of it; he was, besides, talking with

Athos. Menneville got himself ready in the meantime, or rather received the orders of his leader.

"Go forward; follow the middle causeway, and stretch out your legs," said Monk to the fisherman.

They were not twenty paces on their way when the same shadow that had appeared to enter the tent came out

of it again, crawled along as far as the piles, and, protected by that sort of parapet placed along the causeway,

carefully observed the march of the general. All three disappeared in the night haze. They were walking

towards Newcastle, the white stones of which appeared to them like sepulchres. After standing for a few

seconds under the porch, they penetrated into the interior. The door had been broken open by hatchets. A post

of four men slept in safety in a corner, so certain were they that the attack would not take place on that side.

"On the contrary, monsieur, they will assist in rolling out the barrels, if your honor will permit them."

The post, though fast asleep, roused up at the first steps of the three visitors amongst the briars and grass that

invaded the porch. Monk gave the password, and penetrated into the interior of the convent, preceded by the

light. He walked last, watching the least movement of Athos, his naked dirk in his sleeve, and ready to plunge

it into the back of the gentleman at the first suspicious gesture he should see him make. But Athos, with a

Not a door, not a window was left in this building. The doors had been burnt, some on the spot, and the

charcoal of them was still jagged with the action of the fire, which had gone out of itself, powerless, no

doubt, to get to the heart of those massive joints of oak fastened together with iron nails. As to the windows,

all the panes having been broken, night birds, alarmed by the torch, flew away through their holes. At the

same time, gigantic bats began to trace their vast, silent circles around the intruders, whilst the light of the

torch made their shadows tremble on the high stone walls. Monk concluded there could be no man in the

convent, since wild beasts and birds were there still, and fled away at his approach.

After having passed the rubbish, and torn away more than one branch of ivy that had made itself a guardian

of the solitude, Athos arrived at the vaults situated beneath the great hall, but the entrance of which was from

Whilst looking round them, Athos and Monk perceived a little ash of about three inches in diameter, which

had shot up in an angle of the wall, reaching a window, concealed by its branches.

The fisherman obeyed, but not without notching his cutlass. When the ash was cut and fashioned into the

"Stop where you are," said Monk to the fisherman. "We are going to dig up some powder; your light may be

The man drew back in a sort of terror, and faithfully kept to the post assigned him, whilst Monk and Athos

turned behind a column at the foot of which, penetrating through a crack, was a moonbeam, reflected exactly

"Do you not observe that this vault has already been broken into," continued he, "and that several statues

"My lord, you have, without doubt, heard that the religious respect of your Scots loves to confide to the

statues of the dead the valuable objects they have possessed during their lives. Therefore, the soldiers had

reason to think that under the pedestals of the statues which ornament most of these tombs, a treasure was

hidden. They have consequently broken down pedestal and statue: but the tomb of the venerable canon, with

which we have to do, is not distinguished by any monument. It is simple, therefore it has been protected by

the superstitious fear which your Puritans have always had of sacrilege. Not a morsel of the masonry of this

"Thank you, my lord; but I am not willing that your honor should lend your hand to a work of which,

perhaps, you would not take the responsibility if you knew the probable consequences of it."

"Stop," said Monk; "I perceive what you are afraid of. I shall make a trial." Monk turned towards the

"That is well," continued he: "he does not know English. Speak to me, then, in English, if you please,

"My lord," replied Athos, "I have frequently seen men in certain circumstances have sufficient command over

themselves not to reply to a question put to them in a language they understood. The fisherman is perhaps

"Decidedly," said Monk, "he wishes to have me alone in this vault. Never mind, we shall go through with it;

one man is as good as another man; and we are alone. My friend," said Monk to the fisherman, "go back up

the stairs we have just descended, and watch that nobody comes to disturb us." The fisherman made a sign of

obedience. "Leave your torch," said Monk; "it would betray your presence, and might procure you a

The fisherman appeared to appreciate the counsel; he laid down the light, and disappeared under the vault of

At the same time Athos struck a violent blow upon the plaster, which split, presenting a chink for the point of

the lever. Athos introduced the bar into this crack, and soon large pieces of plaster yielded, rising up like

rounded slabs. Then the Comte de la Fere seized the stones and threw them away with a force that hands so

"My lord," said Athos, "this is plainly the masonry of which I told your honor."

"If I had a dagger," said Athos, looking round him, "you should soon see them, monsieur. Unfortunately, I

"I would willingly offer you mine," said Monk, "but the blade is too thin for such work."

Athos appeared to look around him for a thing of some kind that might serve as a substitute for the weapon he

desired. Monk did not lose one of the movements of his hands, or one of the expressions of his eyes. "Why do

"Ah! that is true," said Athos, "for he cut the tree down with it." And he advanced towards the stairs.

"Friend," said he to the fisherman, "throw me down your cutlass, if you please; I want it."

"Take it," said Monk; "it is a solid instrument, as I have seen, and a strong hand might make good use of it."

Athos only appeared to give to the words of Monk the natural and simple sense under which they were to be

heard and understood. Nor did he remark, or at least appear to remark, that when he returned with the

weapon, Monk drew back, placing his left hand on the stock of his pistol; in the right he already held his dirk.

He went to work then, turning his back to Monk, placing his life in his hands, without possible defense. He

then struck, during several seconds, so skillfully and sharply upon the intermediary plaster, that it separated

into two parts, and Monk was able to discern two barrels placed end to end, and which their weight

"My lord," said Athos, "you see that my presentiments have not been disappointed."

"Yes, monsieur," said Monk, "and I have good reason to believe you are satisfied; are you not?"

"Doubtless, I am; the loss of this money would have been inexpressibly great to me: but I was certain that

God, who protects the good cause, would not have permitted this gold, which should procure its triumph, to

"You are, upon my honor, as mysterious in your words as in your actions, monsieur," said Monk. "Just now I

did not perfectly understand you when you said that you were not willing to throw upon me the responsibility

"And now you speak to me of the good cause. What do you mean by the words `the good cause'? We are

defending at this moment, in England, five or six causes, which does not prevent every one from considering

his own not only as the good cause, but as the best. What is yours, monsieur? Speak boldly, that we may see

if, upon this point, to which you appear to attach a great importance, we are of the same opinion."

Athos fixed upon Monk one of those penetrating looks which seem to convey to him to whom they are

directed a challenge to conceal a single one of his thoughts; then, taking off his hat, he began in a solemn

voice, while his interlocutor, with one hand upon his visage, allowed that long and nervous hand to compress

his mustache and beard, while his vague and melancholy eye wandered about the recesses of the vaults.

"My lord," said the Comte de la Fere, "you are a noble Englishman, you are a loyal man; you are speaking to

a noble Frenchman, to a man of heart. The gold contained in these two casks before us, I have told you was

mine. I was wrong it is the first lie I have pronounced in my life, a temporary lie, it is true. This gold is the

property of King Charles II., exiled from his country, driven from his palaces, the orphan at once of his father

and his throne, and deprived of everything, even of the melancholy happiness of kissing on his knees the

stone upon which the hands of his murderers have written that simple epitaph which will eternally cry out for

Monk grew slightly pale, and an imperceptible shudder crept over his skin and raised his gray mustache.

"I," continued Athos, "I, Comte de la Fere, the last, only faithful friend the poor abandoned prince has left, I

have offered him to come hither to find the man upon whom now depends the fate of royalty and of England;

and I have come, and placed myself under the eye of this man, and have placed myself naked and unarmed in

his hands, saying: `My lord, here are the last resources of a prince whom God made your master, whom

his birth made your king; upon you, and you alone, depend his life and his future. Will you employ this

money in consoling England for the evils it must have suffered from anarchy; that is to say, will you aid, and

if not aid, will you allow King Charles II. to act? You are master, you are king, allpowerful master and king,

for chance sometimes defeats the work of time and God. I am here alone with you, my lord: if divided

success alarms you, if my complicity annoys you, you are armed, my lord, and here is a grave ready dug; if,

on the contrary, the enthusiasm of your cause carries you away, if you are what you appear to be, if your hand

in what it undertakes obeys your mind, .and your mind your heart, here are the means of ruining forever the

cause of your enemy, Charles Stuart. Kill, then, the man you have before you, for that man will never return

to him who has sent him without bearing with him the deposit which Charles I., his father, confided to him,

and keep the gold which may assist in carrying on the civil war. Alas! my lord, it is the fate of this

unfortunate prince. He must either corrupt or kill, for everything resists him, everything repulses him,

everything is hostile to him; and yet he is marked with the divine seal, and he must, not to belie his blood,

"My lord, you have heard me. To any other but the illustrious man who listens to me, I would have said: `My

lord, you are poor; my lord, the king offers you this million as an earnest of an immense bargain; take it, and

serve Charles II. as I served Charles I., and I feel assured that God, who listens to us, who sees us, who alone

reads in your heart, shut from all human eyes, I am assured God will give you a happy eternal life after a

happy death.' But to General Monk, to the illustrious man of whose standard I believe I have taken measure, I

say: `My lord, there is for you in the history of peoples and kings a brilliant place, an immortal, imperishable

glory, if alone, without any other interest but the good of your country and the interests of justice, you

become the supporter of your king. Many others have been conquerors and glorious usurpers; you, my lord,

you will be content with being the most virtuous, the most honest, and the most incorruptible of men: you

will have held a crown in your hand, and instead of placing it upon your own brow, you will have deposited it

upon the head of him for whom it was made. Oh, my lord, act thus, and you will leave to posterity the most

Athos stopped. During the whole time that the noble gentleman was speaking, Monk had not given one sign

of either approbation or disapprobation; scarcely even, during this vehement appeal, had his eyes been

animated with that fire which bespeaks intelligence. The Comte de la Fere looked at him sorrowfully, and on

seeing that melancholy countenance, felt discouragement penetrate to his very heart. At length Monk

"Monsieur," said he, in a mild, calm tone, "in reply to you, I will make use of your own words. To any other

but yourself I would reply by expulsion, imprisonment, or still worse, for, in fact, you tempt me and you

force me at the same time. But you are one of those men, monsieur, to whom it is impossible to refuse the

attention and respect they merit; you are a brave gentleman, monsieur I say so, and I am a judge. You just

now spoke of a deposit which the late king transmitted through you to his son are you, then, one of those

Frenchmen who, as I have heard, endeavored to carry off Charles I. from Whitehall?"

"Yes, my lord, it was I who was beneath the scaffold during the execution; I, who had not been able to

redeem it, received upon my brow the blood of the martyred king. I received, at the same time, the last word

of Charles I., it was to me he said, `Remember!' and in saying, `Remember!' he alluded to the money at your

"I have heard much of you, monsieur," said Monk, "but I am happy to have, in the first place, appreciated you

by my own observations, and not by my remembrances. I will give you, then, explanations that I have given

to no other, and you will appreciate what a distinction I make between you and the persons who have hitherto

Athos bowed, and prepared to absorb greedily the words which fell, one by one, from the mouth of Monk,

"You spoke to me," said Monk, "of Charles II.; but pray, monsieur, of what consequence to me is that

phantom of a king? I have grown old in a war and in a policy which are nowadays so closely linked together,

that every man of the sword must fight in virtue of his rights or his ambition with a personal interest, and not

blindly behind an officer, as in ordinary wars. For myself, I perhaps desire nothing, but I fear much. In the

war of today rests the liberty of England, and, perhaps, that of every Englishman. How can you expect that

I, free in the position I have made for myself, should go willingly and hold out my hands to the shackles of a

stranger? That is all Charles is to me. He has fought battles here which he has lost, he is therefore a bad

captain; he has succeeded in no negotiation, he is therefore a bad diplomatist; he has paraded his wants and

his miseries in all the courts of Europe, he has therefore a weak and pusillanimous heart. Nothing noble,

nothing great, nothing strong has hitherto emanated from that genius which aspires to govern one of the

greatest kingdoms of the earth. I know this Charles, then, under none but bad aspects, and you would wish

me, a man of good sense, to go and make myself gratuitously the slave of a creature who is inferior to me in

military capacity, in politics, and in dignity! No, monsieur. When some great and noble action shall have

taught me to value Charles, I shall perhaps recognize his rights to a throne from which we have cast the father

because he wanted the virtues which his son has hitherto lacked, but, in fact of rights, I only recognize my

own; the revolution made me a general, my sword will make me protector, if I wish it. Let Charles show

himself, let him present himself, let him enter the competition open to genius, and, above all, let him

remember that he is of a race from whom more will be expected than from any other. Therefore, monsieur,

Athos knew Monk to be too well informed of all concerning Charles to venture to urge the discussion further;

it was neither the time nor the place. "My lord," then said he, "I have nothing to do but to thank you."

"And why, monsieur? Because you have formed a correct opinion of me, or because I have acted according to

your judgment? Is that, in truth, worthy of thanks? This gold which you are about to carry to Charles will

serve me as a test for him, by seeing the use he will make of it. I shall have an opinion which now I have

"And yet does not your honor fear to compromise yourself by allowing such a sum to be carried away for the

"My enemy, say you? Eh, monsieur, I have no enemies. I am in the service of the parliament, which orders

me to fight General Lambert and Charles Stuart its enemies, and not mine. I fight them. If the parliament,

on the contrary, ordered me to unfurl my standards on the port of London, and to assemble my soldiers on the

"Pardon me," said Monk, smiling, "I was going I, a grayheaded man in truth, how could I forget

"I do not say that either, monsieur. The welfare of my country before everything. God, who has given me the

power, has, no doubt, willed that I should have that power for the good of all, and He has given me, at the

same time, discernment. If the parliament were to order such a thing, I should reflect."

The brow of Athos became clouded. "Then I may positively say that your honor is not inclined to favor King

"You continue to question me, monsieur le comte; allow me to do so in turn, if you please."

"Do, monsieur; and may God inspire you with the idea of replying to me as frankly as I shall reply to you."

"When you shall have taken this money back to your prince, what advice will you give him?"

"My lord," said he, "with this million, which others would perhaps employ in negotiating, I would advise the

king to raise two regiments, to enter Scotland, which you have just pacified: to give to the people the

franchises which the revolution promised them, and in which it has not, in all cases, kept its word. I should

advise him to command in person this little army, which would, believe me, increase, and to die, standard in

hand, and sword in its sheath, saying, `Englishmen! I am the third king of my race you have killed; beware of

Monk hung down his head, and mused for an instant. "If he succeeded," said he, "which is very improbable,

but not impossible for everything is possible in this world what would you advise him to do?"

"To think that by the will of God he lost his crown but by the good will of men he recovered it."

"Unfortunately, monsieur," said he, "kings do not know how to follow good advice."

"Ah, my lord, Charles II. is not a king," replied Athos, smiling in his turn, but with a very different

"I shall give orders to have these two casks transported whither you please. Where are you lodging,

"Exactly. Well, I inhabit the first, two netmakers occupy it with me; it is their bark which brought me

"You will not succeed," replied Monk; "but it is of consequence that you should depart from Newcastle

without leaving of your passage the least suspicion that might prove injurious to me or you. Tomorrow my

officers think Lambert will attack me. I, on the contrary, am convinced that he will not stir; it is in my

opinion impossible. Lambert leads an army devoid of homogeneous principles, and there is no possible army

with such elements. I have taught my soldiers to consider my authority subordinate to another, therefore after

me, round me, and beneath me they still look for something. It would result that if I were dead, whatever

might happen, my army would not be demoralized all at once; it results, that if I choose to absent myself, for

instance, as it does please me to do sometimes, there would not be in the camp the shadow of uneasiness or

disorder. I am the magnet the sympathetic and natural strength of the English. All those scattered irons

that will be sent against me I shall attract to myself. Lambert, at this moment, commands eighteen thousand

deserters, but I have never mentioned that to my officers, you may easily suppose. Nothing is more useful to

an army than the expectation of a coming battle; everybody is awake everybody is on guard. I tell you this

that you may live in perfect security. Do not be in a hurry, then, to cross the seas; within a week there will be

something fresh, either a battle or an accomodation. Then, as you have judged me to be a honorable man, and

confided your secret to me, I have to thank you for this confidence, and I shall come and pay you a visit or

"I promise you, general," cried Athos, with a joy so great, that in spite of all his circumspection, he could not

Monk surprised this flash, and immediately extinguished it by one of those silent smiles which always caused

"If there should be a battle, keep at a distance from it, I beseech you. I know the French delight in such

amusements, you might take a fancy to see how we fight, and you might receive some chance shot. Our

Scotchmen are very bad marksmen, and I do not wish that a worthy gentleman like you should return to

France wounded. Nor should I like to be obliged myself, to send to your prince his million left here by you,

for then it would be said, and with some reason, that I paid the Pretender to enable him to make war against

the parliament. Go, then, monsieur, and let it be done as has been agreed upon."

"Ah, my lord," said Athos, "what joy it would give me to be the first that penetrated to the noble heart which

"You think, then, that I have secrets," said Monk, without changing the half cheerful expression of his

countenance. "Why, monsieur, what secret can you expect to find in the hollow head of a soldier? But it is

The fisherman, benumbed by the cold night air, replied in a hoarse voice, asking what they wanted of him.

"Go to the post," said Monk, "and order a sergeant, in the name of General Monk, to come here

This was a commission easily performed; for the sergeant, uneasy at the general's being in that desolate

abbey, had drawn nearer by degrees, and was not much further off than the fisherman. The general's order

"Yes," replied Monk. "Have you any means of getting a horse with a packsaddle or two paniers?"

The sergeant descended the three steps which separated him from Monk, and came into the vault.

"They are two casks, one containing powder, and the other balls; I wish these casks to be transported to the

little hamlet at the mouth of the river, and which I intend to occupy tomorrow with two hundred muskets.

You understand that the commission is a secret one, for it is a movement that may decide the fate of the

"Mind, then! Let these casks be fastened on to the horse, and let them be escorted by two men and you to the

residence of this gentleman, who is my friend. But take care that nobody knows it."

"I know one myself," said Athos; "it is not wide, but it is solid, having been made upon piles; and with care

"They weigh four hundred pounds each, if they contain what they ought to contain, do they not, monsieur?"

The sergeant went in search of the two men and the horse. Monk, left alone with Athos, affected to speak to

him on nothing but indifferent subjects while examining the vault in a cursory manner. Then, hearing the

"I leave you with your men, monsieur," said he, "and return to the camp. You are perfectly safe."

"Hush! monsieur, it is agreed that we shall speak no more of that." And bowing to Athos, he went up the

stairs, meeting about halfway his men, who were coming down. He had not gone twenty paces, when a faint

but prolonged whistle was heard at a distance. Monk listened, but seeing nothing and hearing nothing, he

continued his route, Then he remembered the fisherman, and looked about for him; but the fisherman had

disappeared. If he had, however, looked with more attention, he might have seen that man, bent double,

gliding like a serpent along the stones and losing himself in the mist that floated over the surface of the

marsh. He might have equally seen, had he attempted to pierce that mist, a spectacle that might have attracted

his attention; and that was the rigging of the vessel, which had changed place, and was now nearer the shore.

But Monk saw nothing; and thinking he had nothing to fear, he entered the deserted causeway which led to

his camp. It was then that the disappearance of the fisherman appeared strange, and that a real suspicion

began to take possession of his mind. He had just placed at the orders of Athos the only post that could

protect him. He had a mile of causeway to traverse before he could regain his camp. The fog increased with

such intensity that he could scarcely distinguish objects at ten paces' distance. Monk then thought he heard

But nobody answered; then he cocked his pistol, took his sword in his hand, and quickened his pace without,

however, being willing to call anybody. Such a summons, for which there was no absolute necessity,

It was seven o'clock in the morning, the first rays of day lightened the pools of the marsh, in which the sun

was reflected like a red ball, when Athos, awaking and opening the window of his bedchamber, which

looked out upon the banks of the river, perceived, at fifteen paces' distance from him, the sergeant and the

men who had accompanied him the evening before, and who, after having deposited the casks at his house,

Why had these men come back after having returned to the camp? That was the question which first

presented itself to Athos. The sergeant, with his head raised, appeared to be watching the moment when the

gentleman should appear, to address him. Athos, surprised to see these men, whom he had seen depart the

"There is nothing surprising in that, monsieur," said the sergeant; "for yesterday the general commanded me

"Well, wait for me a moment; I am going thither to render an account of the fidelity with which you fulfilled

"That happens very well," said the sergeant, "for we were about to request you to do so."

Athos fancied he could detect an air of equivocal bonhomie upon the countenance of the sergeant; but the

adventure of the vault might have excited the curiosity of the man, and it was not surprising that he allowed

some of the feelings which agitated his mind to appear in his face. Athos closed the doors carefully, confiding

the keys to Grimaud, who had chosen his domicile beneath the shed itself, which led to the cellar where the

casks had been deposited. The sergeant escorted the Comte de la Fere to the camp. There a fresh guard

This fresh guard was commanded by the aiddecamp Digby, who, on their way, fixed upon Athos looks so

little encouraging, that the Frenchman asked himself whence arose, with regard to him, this vigilance and this

severity, when the evening before he had been left perfectly free. He nevertheless continued his way to the

headquarters, keeping to himself the observations which men and things forced him to make. He found in the

general's tent, to which he had been introduced the evening before, three superior officers: these were Monk's

lieutenant and two colonels. Athos perceived his sword; it was still on the table where he left it. Neither of the

officers had seen Athos, consequently neither of them knew him. Monk's lieutenant asked, at the appearance

of Athos, if that were the same gentleman with whom the General had left the tent.

"But," said Athos haughtily, "I do not deny it, I think; and now, gentlemen, in turn, permit me to ask you to

what purpose these questions are asked, and particularly some explanation upon the tone in which you ask

"Monsieur," said the lieutenant, "if we address these questions to you, it is because we have a right to do so,

and if we make them in a particular tone, it is because that tone, believe me, agrees with the circumstances."

"Gentlemen," said Athos, "you do not know who I am; but I must tell you I acknowledge no one here but

General Monk as my equal. Where is he? Let me be conducted to him, and if he has any questions to put to

me, I will answer him and to his satisfaction, I hope. I repeat, gentlemen, where is the general?"

"We don't ask you to smile," said one of the colonels warmly; "we require you to answer."

"And I, gentlemen, declare to you that I will not reply until I am in the presence of the general."

"But," replied the same colonel who had already spoken, "you know very well that is impossible."

"This is the second time I have received this strange reply to the wish I express," said Athos. "Is the general

This question was made with such apparent good faith, and the gentleman wore an air of such natural

surprise, that the three officers exchanged a meaning look. The lieutenant, by a tacit convention with the

"It is not for me to answer you, but for those who have accompanied me. They were your soldiers, ask them."

"Then it will please me to reply, monsieur, that I do not recognize any one here, that I know no one here but

"So be it, monsieur; but as we are the masters, we constitute ourselves a council of war, and when you are

The countenance of Athos expressed nothing but astonishment and disdain, instead of the terror the officers

"Scotch or English judges upon me, a subject of the king of France; upon me, placed under the safeguard of

The officers looked at each other. "Then, monsieur," said one of them, "do you pretend not to know where the

"It is true, nevertheless, gentlemen. Men of my rank are not generally liars. I am a gentleman, I have told you,

and when I have at my side the sword which, by an excess of delicacy, I left last night upon the table whereon

it still lies, believe me, no man says that to me which I am unwilling to hear. I am at this moment disarmed; if

"But, monsieur " asked the lieutenant, in a more courteous voice, struck with the lofty coolness of

"Sir, I came to speak confidentially with your general about affairs of importance. It was not an ordinary

welcome that he gave me. The accounts your soldiers can give you may convince you of that. If, then, the

general received me in that manner, he knew my titles to his esteem. Now, you do not suspect, I should think

"Beware, gentlemen, it is not to me you are now giving the lie, it is to your leader."

The officers again looked at each other. Athos continued: "Before your soldiers the general told me to wait a

week, and at the expiration of that week he would give me the answer he had to make me. Have I fled away?

"He told me that so clearly, sir, that I have a sloop at the mouth of the river, which I could with ease have

joined yesterday, and embarked. Now, if I have remained, it was only in compliance with the desire of your

general, his honor having requested me not to depart without a last audience, which fixed at a week hence. I

The lieutenant turned towards the other officers, and said, in a low voice: "If this gentleman speaks truth,

there may still be some hope. The general may be carrying out some negotiations so secret, that he thought it

imprudent to inform even us. Then the time limited for his absence would be a week." Then, turning towards

Athos: "Monsieur," said he, "your declaration is of the most serious importance; are you willing to repeat it

"Sir," replied Athos, "I have always lived in a world where my simple word was regarded as the most sacred

"This time, however, monsieur, the circumstance is more grave than any you may have been placed in. The

safety of the whole army is at stake. Reflect, the general has disappeared, and our search for him has been

vain. Is this disappearance natural? Has a crime been committed? Are we not bound to carry our

investigations to extremity? Have we any right to wait with patience? At this moment, everything, monsieur,

"Thus questioned, gentlemen, I no longer hesitate," said Athos. "Yes, I came hither to converse confidentially

with General Monk, and ask him for an answer regarding certain interests; yes, the general being, doubtless,

unable to pronounce before the expected battle, begged me to remain a week in the house I inhabit, promising

me that in a week I should see him again. Yes, all this is true, and I swear it by the God who is the absolute

master of my life and yours." Athos pronounced these words with so much grandeur and solemnity, that the

three officers were almost convinced. Nevertheless, one of the colonels made a last attempt.

"Monsieur," said he, "although we may be now persuaded of the truth of what you say, there is yet a strange

mystery in all this. The general is too prudent a man to have thus abandoned his army on the eve of a battle

without having at least given notice of it to one of us. As for myself, I cannot believe but that some strange

event has been the cause of this disappearance. Yesterday some foreign fishermen came to sell their fish here;

they were lodged yonder among the Scots; that is to say, on the road the general took with this gentleman, to

go to the abbey, and to return from it. It was one of those fishermen that accompanied the general with a

light. And this morning, bark and fishermen have all disappeared, carried away by the night's tide."

"For my part," said the lieutenant, "I see nothing in that that is not quite natural, for these people were not

"No, but I repeat it was one of them who lighted the general and this gentleman to the abbey, and Digby

assures us that the general had strong suspicions concerning those people. Now, who can say whether these

people were not connected with this gentleman; and that, the blow being struck, the gentleman, who is

evidently brave, did not remain to reassure us by his presence, and to prevent our researches being made in a

"Sir," said Athos, "permit me to tell you, that your reasoning, though specious in appearance, nevertheless

wants consistency, as regards me. I have remained, you say, to divert suspicion. Well! on the contrary,

suspicions arise in me as well as in you; and I say, it is impossible, gentlemen, that the general, on the eve of

a battle, should leave his army without saying anything to at least one of his officers. Yes, there is some

strange event connected with this; instead of being idle and waiting, you must display all the activity and all

the vigilance possible. I am your prisoner, gentlemen, upon parole or otherwise. My honor is concerned in

ascertaining what has become of General Monk, and to such a point, that if you were to say to me, `Depart!' I

should reply `No, I will remain!' And if you were to ask my opinion, I should add: `Yes, the general is the

victim of some conspiracy, for, if he had intended to leave the camp he would have told me so.' Seek then,

search the land, search the sea; the general has not gone of his own good will."

"No, monsieur," said he, "no; in your turn you go too far. The general has nothing to suffer from these events,

and, no doubt, has directed them. What Monk is now doing he has often done before. We are wrong in

alarming ourselves; his absence will, doubtless, be of short duration; therefore, let us beware, lest by a

pusillanimity which the general would consider a crime, of making his absence public, and by that means

demoralize the army. The general gives a striking proof of his confidence in us; let us show ourselves worthy

of it. Gentlemen, let the most profound silence cover all this with an impenetrable veil; we will detain this

gentleman, not from mistrust of him with regard to the crime, but to assure more effectively the secret of the

general's absence by keeping among ourselves; therefore, until fresh orders, the gentleman will remain at

"Gentlemen," said Athos, "you forget that last night the general confided to me a deposit over which I am

bound to watch. Give me whatever guard you like, chain me if you like, but leave me the house I inhabit for

my prison. The general, on his return, would reproach you, I swear on the honor of a gentleman, for having

Then they placed over Athos a guard of fifty men, who surrounded his house, without losing sight of him for

The secret remained secure, but hours, days passed away without the general's returning, or without anything

Two days after the events we have just related, and while General Monk was expected every minute in the

camp to which he did not return, a little Dutch felucca, manned by eleven men, cast anchor upon the coast of

Scheveningen, nearly within cannonshot of the port. It was night, the darkness was great, the tide rose in the

The road of Scheveningen forms a vast crescent; it is not very deep and not very safe; therefore, nothing is

seen stationed there but large Flemish hoys, or some of those Dutch barks which fishermen draw up on the

sand on rollers, as the ancients did, according to Virgil. When the tide is rising, and advancing on land, it is

not prudent to bring the vessels too close inshore, for, if the wind is fresh, the prows are buried in the sand;

and the sand of that coast is spongy; it receives easily, but does not yield so well. It was on this account, no

doubt, that a boat was detached from the bark as soon as the latter had cast anchor, and came with eight

sailors, amidst whom was to be seen an object of an oblong form, a sort of large pannier or bale.

The shore was deserted; the few fishermen inhabiting the down were gone to bed. The only sentinel that

guarded the coast (a coast very badly guarded, seeing that a landing from large ships was impossible),

without having been able to follow the example of the fishermen, who were gone to bed, imitated them so far,

that he slept at the back of his watchbox as soundly as they slept in their beds. The only noise to be heard,

then, was the whistling of the night breeze among the bushes and the brambles of the downs. But the people

who were approaching were doubtless mistrustful people, for this real silence and apparent solitude did not

satisfy them. Their boat, therefore, scarcely as visible as a dark speck upon the ocean, glided along

noiselessly, avoiding the use of their oars for fear of being heard, and gained the nearest land.

Scarcely had it touched the ground when a single man jumped out of the boat, after having given a brief

order, in a manner which denoted the habit of commanding. In consequence of this order, several muskets

immediately glittered in the feeble light reflected from that mirror of the heavens, the sea; and the oblong bale

of which we spoke, containing no doubt some contraband object, was transported to land, with infinite

precautions. Immediately after that, the man who had landed first set off at a rapid pace diagonally towards

the village of Scheveningen, directing his course to the nearest point of the wood. When there, he sought for

that house already described as the temporary residence and a very humble residence of him who was

All were asleep there, as everywhere else, only a large dog, of the race of those which the fishermen of

Scheveningen harness to little carts to carry fish to the Hague, began to bark formidably as soon as the

stranger's steps were audible beneath the windows. But the watchfulness, instead of alarming the

newlylanded man, appeared, on the contrary, to give him great joy, for his voice might perhaps have proved

insufficient to rouse the people of the house, whilst, with an auxiliary of that sort, his voice became almost

useless. The stranger waited, then, till these reiterated and sonorous barkings should, according to all

probability, have produced their effect, and then he ventured a summons. On hearing his voice, the dog began

to roar with such violence that another voice was soon heard from the interior, quieting the dog. With that the

"I don't like to declare my name in the open air, either; besides, you may be sure I shall not eat your dog, and

"You bring news, perhaps, monsieur, do you not?" replied the voice, patient and querulous as that of an old

"I will answer for it, I bring you news you little expect. Open the door, then, if you please, hein!"

"Monsieur," persisted the old man, "do you believe, upon your soul and conscience, that your news is worth

"For God's sake, my dear monsieur, draw your bolts; you will not be sorry, I swear, for the trouble it will give

"Oh! good heavens!" said a voice on the other side of the door. "Monsieur d'Artagnan. What happiness! I

"Oh! yes, we know it," said the old man, drawing the bolts; "and here is the proof." And at these words he let

in D'Artagnan, who, by the light of the lantern he carried in his hand, recognized his obstinate interlocutor.

"Parry, yes, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, it is I. What joy to see you once again!"

"You are right there, what joy!" said D'Artagnan, pressing the old man's hand. "There, now you'll go and

"Mordioux! then wake him. He won't scold you for having disturbed him, I will promise you."

"Ma foi! no; I come on my own part. Come, Parry, quick! The king I want the king."

Parry did not think it his duty to resist any longer; he knew D'Artagnan of old; he knew that, although a

Gascon, his words never promised more than they could stand to. He crossed a court and a little garden,

appeased the dog, that seemed most anxious to taste of the musketeer's flesh, and went to knock at the

window of a chamber forming the groundfloor of a little pavilion. Immediately a little dog inhabiting that

"Poor king!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "these are his bodyguards. It is true he is not the worse guarded on

A noise was immediately heard in the chamber, a door was opened, and a flood of light inundated the

corridor and the garden. The king was working by the light of a lamp. Papers were lying about upon his desk,

and he had commenced the foul copy of a letter which showed, by the numerous erasures, the trouble he had

"Come in, monsieur le chevalier," said he, turning around. Then perceiving the fisherman, "What do you

"Yes; look at me, sire; do you not remember having seen me at Blois, in the antechambers of King Louis

D'Artagnan bowed. "It was my duty to behave as I did, the moment I knew that I had the honor of being near

"Ma foi! no, sire," replied D'Artagnan. "Your majesty must have seen yonder that the king of France is only

"No, sire, no," continued D'Artagnan. "I bring news entirely composed of personal facts. Nevertheless, I hope

"If I am not mistaken, sire, your majesty spoke a great deal, at Blois, of the embarrassed state in which the

"Oh! your majesty is mistaken," said the musketeer, coolly; "I know how to speak to kings in misfortune. It is

only when they are in misfortune that they speak to me; once fortunate, they look upon me no more. I have,

then, for your majesty, not only the greatest respect, but, still more, the most absolute devotion; and that,

believe me, with me, sire, means something. Now, hearing your majesty complain of fate, I found that you

"In truth," said Charles, much astonished, "I do not know which I ought to prefer, your freedoms or your

"You will choose presently, sire," said D'Artagnan. "Then your majesty complained to your brother, Louis

XIV., of the difficulty you experienced in returning to England and regaining your throne for want of men

"And the principal object your majesty found in your way," continued D'Artagnan, "was a certain general

commanding the armies of the parliament, and who was playing yonder the part of another Cromwell. Did

"Yes, but I repeat to you, monsieur, those words were for the king's ears alone."

"And you will see, sire, that it is very fortunate that they fell into those of his lieutenant of musketeers. That

man so troublesome to your majesty was one General Monk, I believe; did I not hear his name correctly,

"Oh! I know very well, sire, that etiquette will not allow kings to be questioned. I hope, however, presently

you will pardon my want of etiquette. Your majesty added that, notwithstanding, if you could see him, confer

with him, and meet him face to face, you would triumph, either by force or persuasion, over that obstacle

the only serious one, the only insurmountable one, the only real one you met with on your road."

"All that is true, monsieur: my destiny, my future, my obscurity, or my glory depend upon that man; but what

"One thing alone, that if this General Monk is troublesome to the point your majesty describes, it would be

"Monsieur, a king who has neither army nor money, as you have heard my conversation with my brother

"Yes, sire, that was your opinion, I know very well; but, fortunately, for you, it was not mine."

"That, without an army and without a million, I have done I, myself what your majesty thought could

"What have I done? Eh! well, sire, I went yonder to take this man who is so troublesome to your majesty."

"And having taken him on the causeway of Newcastle, I bring him to your majesty," said D'Artagnan, simply.

"You bring him to me!" cried the king, almost indignant at what he considered a mystification.

"Yes, sire," replied D'Artagnan, the same tone, "I bring him to you; he is down below yonder, in a large chest

"Oh! don't be uneasy, sire, we have taken the greatest possible care of him. He comes in good state, and in

perfect condition. Would your majesty please to see him, to talk with him, or to have him thrown into the

"Oh, heavens!" repeated Charles, "oh, heavens! do you speak the truth, monsieur? Are you not insulting me

with some unworthy joke? You have accomplished this unheardof act of audacity and genius

The king had not time to reply, yes on no. D'Artagnan gave a shrill and prolonged whistle, which he repeated

CHAPTER 29. In which D'Artagnan begins to fear he has placed his Money and that of Planchet in the

The king could not overcome his surprise, and looked sometimes at the smiling face of the musketeer, and

sometimes at the dark window which opened into the night. But before he had fixed his ideas, eight of

D'Artagnan's men, for two had remained to take care of the bark, brought to the house, where Parry received

him, that object of an oblong form, which, for the moment inclosed the destinies of England. Before he left

Calais, D'Artagnan had had made in that city a sort of coffin, large and deep enough for a man to turn in it at

his ease. The bottom and sides, properly upholstered, formed a bed sufficiently soft to prevent the rolling of

the ship turning this kind of cage into a rattrap. The little grating, of which D'Artagnan had spoken to the

king, like the visor of a helmet, was placed opposite to the man's face. It was so constructed that, at the least

cry, a sudden pressure would stifle that cry, and, if necessary, him who had uttered that cry.

D'Artagnan was so well acquainted with his crew and his prisoner, that during the whole voyage he had been

in dread of two things: either that the general would prefer death to this sort of imprisonment, and would

smother himself by endeavoring to speak, or that his guards would allow themselves to be tempted by the

D'Artagnan, therefore, had passed the two days and the two nights of the voyage close to the coffin, alone

with the general, offering him wine and food, which the latter had refused, and constantly endeavoring to

reassure him upon the destiny which awaited him at the end of this singular captivity. Two pistols on the

table and his naked sword made D'Artagnan easy with regard to indiscretions from without.

When once at Scheveningen he had felt completely reassured. His men greatly dreaded any conflict with the

lords of the soil. He had, besides, interested in his cause him who had morally served him as lieutenant, and

whom we have seen reply to the name of Menneville. The latter, not being a vulgar spirit, had more to risk

than the others, because he had more conscience. He believed in a future in the service of D'Artagnan, and

consequently would have allowed himself to be cut to pieces, rather than violate the order given by his leader.

Thus it was that, once landed, it was to him D'Artagnan had confided the care of the chest and the general's

breathing. It was he, too, he had ordered to have the chest brought by the seven men as soon as he should hear

the triple whistle. We have seen that the lieutenant obeyed. The coffer once in the house, D'Artagnan

dismissed his men with a gracious smile, saying, "Messieurs, you have rendered a great service to King

Charles II., who in less than six weeks will be king of England. Your gratification will then be doubled.

Return to the boat and wait for me." Upon which they departed with such shouts of joy as terrified even the

D'Artagnan had caused the coffer to be brought as far as the king's antechamber. He then, with great care,

closed the door of this antechamber, after which he opened the coffer, and said to the general:

"General, I have a thousand excuses to make to you; my manner of acting has not been worthy of such a man

as you, I know very well; but I wished you to take me for the captain of a bark. And then England is a very

inconvenient country for transports. I hope, therefore, you will take all that into consideration. But now,

general, you are at liberty to get up and walk." This said, he cut the bonds which fastened the arms and hands

of the general. The latter got up, and then sat down with the countenance of a man who expects death.

D'Artagnan opened the door of Charles's study, and said, "Sire, here is your enemy, M. Monk; I promised

myself to perform this service for your majesty. It is done; now order as you please. M. Monk," added he,

turning towards the prisoner, "you are in the presence of his majesty Charles II., sovereign lord of Great

Monk raised towards the prince his coldly stoical look, and replied: "I know no king of Great Britain; I

recognize even here no one worthy of bearing the name of gentleman: for it is in the name of King Charles II.

that an emissary, whom I took for an honest man, came and laid an infamous snare for me. I have fallen into

that snare; so much the worse for me. Now, you the tempter," said he to the king, "you the executor," said he

to D'Artagnan; "remember what I am about to say to you; you have my body, you may kill it, and I advise

you to do so, for you shall never have my mind or my will. And now, ask me not a single word, as from this

And he pronounced these words with the savage, invincible resolution of the most mortified Puritan.

D'Artagnan looked at his prisoner like a man, who knows the value of every word, and who fixes that value

"The fact is," said he, in a whisper to the king, "the general is an obstinate man; he would not take a mouthful

of bread, nor swallow a drop of wine, during the two days of our voyage. But as from this moment it is your

Monk, erect, pale, and resigned, waited with his eyes fixed and his arms folded. D'Artagnan turned towards

him. "You will please to understand perfectly," said he, "that your speech, otherwise very fine, does not suit

anybody, not even yourself. His majesty wished to speak to you, you refused him an interview; why, now that

you are face to face, that you are here by a force independent of your will, why do you confine yourself to

rigors which I consider useless and absurd? Speak! what the devil! speak, if only to say `No.'"

Monk did not unclose his lips, Monk did not turn his eyes; Monk stroked his mustache with a thoughtful air,

During all this time Charles II. had fallen into a profound reverie. For the first time he found himself face to

face with Monk; with the man he had so much desired to see; and, with that peculiar glance which God has

given to eagles and kings, he had fathomed the abyss of his heart. He beheld Monk, then, resolved positively

to die rather than speak, which was not to be wondered at in so considerable a man, the wound in whose mind

must at the moment have been cruel. Charles II. formed, on the instant, one of those resolutions upon which

an ordinary man risks his life, a general his fortune, and a king his kingdom. "Monsieur," said he to Monk,

"you are perfectly right upon certain points; I do not, therefore, ask you to answer me, but to listen to me."

There was a moment's silence, during which the king looked at Monk, who remained impassible.

"You have made me just now a painful reproach, monsieur," continued the king; "you said that one of my

emissaries had been to Newcastle to lay a snare for you, and that, parenthetically, cannot be understood by M.

d'Artagnan, here, and to whom, before everything, I owe sincere thanks for his generous, his heroic

"For M. d'Artagnan and observe, M. Monk, I do not say this to excuse myself for M. d'Artagnan,"

continued the king, "went to England of his free will, without interest, without orders, without hope, like a

true gentleman as he is, to render a service to an unfortunate king, and to add to the illustrious actions of an

D'Artagnan colored a little, and coughed to keep his countenance. Monk did not stir.

"You do not believe what I tell you, M. Monk," continued the king. "I can understand that, such proofs of

"Monsieur would do wrong not to believe you, sire," cried D'Artagnan: "for that which your majesty has said

is the exact truth, and the truth so exact that it seems, in going to fetch the general, I have done something

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the king, pressing the hand of the musketeer, "you have obliged me as much as

if you had promoted the success of my cause, for you have revealed to me an unknown friend, to whom I

shall ever be grateful, and whom I shall always love." And the king pressed his hand cordially. "And,"

continued he, bowing to Monk, "an enemy whom I shall henceforth esteem at his proper value."

The eyes of the Puritan flashed, but only once, and his countenance, for an instant, illuminated by that flash,

"Then, Monsieur d'Artagnan," continued Charles, "this is what was about to happen: M. le Comte de la Fere,

"Yes, that was his nom de guerre, I believe. The Comte de la Fere had then set out for Newcastle, and was

going, perhaps, to bring the general to hold a conference with me or with those of my party, when you

"Mordioux!" replied D'Artagnan, "he entered the camp the very evening in which I succeeded in getting into

An almost imperceptible frown on the brow of Monk told D'Artagnan that he had surmised rightly.

"Yes, yes," muttered he; "I thought I knew his person; I even fancied I knew his voice. Unlucky wretch that I

"There is nothing ill in it, sir," said the king, "except that the general accuses me of having laid a snare for

him, which is not the case. No, general, those are not the arms which I contemplated employing with you as

you will soon see. In the meanwhile, when I give you my word upon the honor of a gentleman, believe me,

"That is well; from a man like you one word suffices. In addition to that word you bring actions. General,

D'Artagnan, considerably surprised, prepared to obey. Charles II. went out, Monk followed him, D'Artagnan

followed Monk. Charles took the path by which D'Artagnan had come to his abode; the fresh sea breezes

soon caressed the faces of the three nocturnal travelers, and, at fifty paces from the little gate which Charles

opened, they found themselves upon the down in the face of the ocean, which, having ceased to rise, reposed

upon the shore like a wearied monster. Charles II. walked pensively along, his head hanging down and his

hand beneath his cloak. Monk followed him, with crossed arms and an uneasy look. D'Artagnan came last,

"Where is the boat in which you came, gentlemen?" said Charles to the musketeer.

"Yonder, sire, I have seven men and an officer waiting me in that little bark which is lighted by a fire."

"Yes, I see; the boat is drawn upon the sand, but you certainly did not come from Newcastle in that frail

"No, sire; I freighted a felucca, at my own expense, which is at anchor within cannonshot of the downs. It

However firm of his will, Monk could not suppress an exclamation. The king added an affirmative motion of

his head, and continued: "We shall waken a fisherman of the village, who will put his boat to sea

immediately, and will take you back to any place you may command him. M. d'Artagnan here will escort

your honor. I place M. d'Artagnan under the safeguard of your loyalty, M. Monk."

Monk allowed a murmur of surprise to escape him, and D'Artagnan a profound sigh. The king, without

appearing to notice either, knocked against the deal trellis which inclosed the cabin of the principal fisherman

"Ah, my lord!" cried Keyser, rising ready dressed from the sail in which he slept, as people sleep in a

"Captain Keyser," said Charles, "you must set sail immediately. Here is a traveler who wishes to freight your

bark, and will pay you well; serve him well." And the king drew back a few steps to allow Monk to speak to

"I wish to cross over into England," said Monk, who spoke Dutch enough to make himself understood.

"Not half an hour, your honor. My eldest son is at this moment preparing the boat, as we were going out

"Very well, my lord," replied Keyser. And at that moment they heard Keyser's eldest son, signaling from the

"Sire," said D'Artagnan, "will it please your majesty to grant me a few minutes? I have engaged men, and I

D'Artagnan, accordingly, whistled, whilst the patron Keyser replied to his son; and four men, led by

"Here is some money in account," said D'Artagnan, putting into their hands a purse containing two thousand

five hundred livres in gold. "Go and wait for me at Calais, you know where." And D'Artagnan heaved a

"For a short time," said D'Artagnan, "or for a long time, who knows? But with 2,500 livres, and the 2,500 you

have already received, you are paid according to our agreement. We are quits, then, my friend."

D'Artagnan returned to Monk, saying, "Monsieur, I await your orders, for I understand we are to go

Charles bowed to the general with grace and dignity, saying, "You will pardon me this unfortunate

accident, and the violence to which you have been subjected, when you are convinced that I was not the cause

Monk bowed profoundly without replying. On his side, Charles affected not to say a word to D'Artagnan in

private, but aloud, "Once more, thanks, monsieur le chevalier," said he, "thanks for your services. They

will be repaid you by the Lord God, who, I hope, reserves trials and troubles for me alone."

Monk followed Keyser, and his son embarked with them. D'Artagnan came after, muttering to himself,

"Poor Planchet! poor Planchet! I am very much afraid we have made a bad speculation."

During the passage, Monk only spoke to D'Artagnan in cases of urgent necessity. Thus, when the Frenchman

hesitated to come and take his meals, poor meals, composed of salt fish, biscuit, and Hollands gin, Monk

This was all. D'Artagnan, from being himself on all great occasions extremely concise, did not draw from the

general's conciseness a favorable augury of the result of his mission. Now, as D'Artagnan had plenty of time

for reflection, he battered his brains during this time in endeavoring to find out how Athos had seen King

Charles, how he had conspired his departure with him, and lastly, how he had entered Monk's camp; and the

poor lieutenant of musketeers plucked a hair from his mustache every time he reflected that the horseman

At length, after a passage of two nights and two days, the patron Keyser touched at the point where Monk,

who had given all the orders during the voyage, had commanded they should land. It was exactly at the

Daylight was waning, a splendid sun, like a red steel buckler, was plunging the lower extremity of its disc

beneath the blue line of the sea. The felucca was making fair way up the river, tolerably wide in that part, but

Monk, in his impatience, desired to be landed, and Keyser's boat set him and D'Artagnan upon the muddy

bank, amidst the reeds. D'Artagnan, resigned to obedience, followed Monk exactly as a chained bear follows

his master; but the position humiliated him not a little, and he grumbled to himself that the service of kings

was a bitter one, and that the best of them was good for nothing. Monk walked with long and hasty strides; it

might be thought that he did not yet feel certain of having reached English land. They had already begun to

perceive distinctly a few of the cottages of the sailors and fishermen spread over the little quay of this humble

port, when, all at once, D'Artagnan cried out, "God pardon me, there is a house on fire!"

Monk raised his eyes, and perceived there was, in fact, a house which the flames were beginning to devour. It

had begun at a little shed belonging to the house, the roof of which had caught. The fresh evening breeze

agitated the fire. The two travelers quickened their steps, hearing loud cries, and seeing, as they drew nearer,

soldiers with their glittering arms pointing towards the house on fire. It was doubtless this menacing

occupation which had made them neglect to signal the felucca. Monk stopped short for an instant, and, for the

first time, formulated his thoughts into words. "Eh! but," said he, "perhaps they are not my soldiers, but

These words contained at once a sorrow, an apprehension, and a reproach perfectly intelligible to D'Artagnan.

In fact, during the general's absence, Lambert might have given battle, conquered, and dispersed the

parliament's army, and taken with his own the place of Monk's army, deprived of its strongest support. At this

doubt, which passed from the mind of Monk to his own, D'Artagnan reasoned in this manner: "One of two

things is going to happen; either Monk has spoken correctly, and there are no longer any but Lambertists in

the country that is to say, enemies, who would receive me wonderfully well, since it is to me they owe

their victory; or nothing is changed, and Monk, transported with joy at finding his camp still in the same

place, will not prove too severe in his settlement with me." Whilst thinking thus, the two travelers advanced,

and began to mingle with a little knot of sailors, who looked on with sorrow at the burning house, but did not

"Sir," replied the man, not recognizing Monk as an officer, under the thick cloak which enveloped him, "that

house was inhabited by a foreigner, and this foreigner became suspected by the soldiers. They wanted to get

into his house under pretense of taking him to the camp; but he, without being frightened by their number,

threatened death to the first who should cross the threshold of his door, and as there was one who did venture,

"What then, sir why, the other men became as enraged as so many lions: they fired more than a hundred

shots at the house; but the Frenchman was sheltered by the wall, and every time they tried to enter by the

door they met with a shot from his lackey, whose aim is deadly, d'ye see? Every time they threatened the

window, they met with a pistolshot from the master. Look and count there are seven men down.

"Ah! my brave countryman," cried D'Artagnan, "wait a little, wait a little. I will be with you, and we will

"No; only the time to ask a question." Then, turning towards the sailor, "My friend," asked he with an

emotion which, in spite of all his selfcommand, he could not conceal, "whose soldiers are these, pray tell

"A battle, ah, yes! for what purpose? Lambert's army is melting away like snow in April. All come to Monk,

The fisherman was interrupted by a fresh discharge directed against the house, and by another pistolshot

which replied to the discharge and struck down the most daring of the aggressors. The rage of the soldiers

was at its height. The fire still continued to increase, and a crest of flame and smoke whirled and spread over

the roof of the house. D'Artagnan could no longer contain himself. "Mordioux!" said he to Monk, glancing at

him sideways: "you are a general, and allow your men to burn houses and assassinate people, while you look

on and warm your hands at the blaze of the conflagration? Mordioux! you are not a man."

"Patience! yes, until that brave gentleman is roasted is that what you mean?" And D'Artagnan rushed

"Remain where you are, sir," said Monk, in a tone of command. And he advanced towards the house, just as

an officer had approached it, saying to the besieged: "The house is burning, you will be roasted within an

hour! There is still time come, tell us what you know of General Monk, and we will spare your life.

"A reinforcement is expected," continued the officer; "in a quarter of an hour there will be a hundred men

"I reply to you," said the Frenchman. "Let your men be sent away; I will come out freely and repair to the

"Mille tonnerres!" shouted D'Artagnan; "why that's the voice of Athos! Ah, canailles!" and the sword of

D'Artagnan flashed from its sheath. Monk stopped him and advanced himself, exclaiming, in a sonorous

"Well, what is there so astonishing in that?" said Monk, in a calm tone. Then, silence being reestablished

"What! do I ask a question, and nobody answers me?" said Monk. "What! do I find a fault, and nobody

Immediately the twenty men rushed forward, seizing pails, buckets, jars, barrels, and extinguishing the fire

with as much ardor as they had, an instant before employed in promoting it. But already, and before all the

rest, D'Artagnan had applied a ladder to the house crying, "Athos! it is I, D'Artagnan! Do not kill me my

In the meantime, Grimaud, preserving his calmness, dismantled the fortification of the groundfloor, and

after having opened the door, stood with his arms folded quietly on the sill. Only, on hearing the voice of

D'Artagnan, he uttered an exclamation of surprise. The fire being extinguished, the soldiers presented

"General," said he, "excuse us; what we have done was for love of your honor, whom we thought lost."

"You are mad, gentlemen. Lost! Is a man like me to be lost? Am I not permitted to be absent, according to

my pleasure, without giving formal notice? Do you, by chance, take me for a citizen from the city? Is a

gentleman, my friend, my guest, to be besieged, entrapped, and threatened with death, because he is

suspected? What signifies that word, suspected? Curse me if I don't have every one of you shot like dogs that

"General," said Digby, piteously, "there were twentyeight of us, and see, there are eight on the ground."

"I authorize M. le Comte de la Fere to send the twenty to join the eight," said Monk, stretching out his hand

to Athos. "Let them return to camp. Mr. Digby, you will consider yourself under arrest for a month."

"The lieutenant has no such orders to give you, and he shall be placed under arrest, instead of you, if he has

"He did not command that, general; he commanded us to bring him to the camp; but the count was not

"I was not willing that they should enter and plunder my house," said Athos to Monk, with a significant look.

"And you were quite right. To the camp, I say." The soldiers departed with dejected looks. "Now we are

alone," said Monk to Athos, "have the goodness to tell me, monsieur, why you persisted in remaining here,

"I waited for you, general," said Athos. "Had not your honor appointed to meet me in a week?"

An eloquent look from D'Artagnan made it clear to Monk that these two men, so brave and so loyal, had not

"Monsieur," said he to D'Artagnan, "you were perfectly right. Have the kindness to allow me a moment's

D'Artagnan took advantage of this to go and ask Grimaud how he was. Monk requested Athos to conduct him

This chamber was still full of smoke and rubbish. More than fifty balls had passed through the windows and

mutilated the walls. They found a table, inkstand, and materials for writing. Monk took up a pen, wrote a

single line, signed it, folded the paper, sealed the letter with the seal of his ring, and handed over the missive

to Athos, saying, "Monsieur, carry, if you please, this letter to King Charles II., and set out immediately, if

"The fisherman who brought me hither will assist you in transporting them on board. Depart, if possible,

"Monsieur d'Artagnan!" cried Monk, from the window. D'Artagnan ran up precipitately

"You are at liberty to follow him, monsieur, but I request you to remain," said Monk. "Will you refuse me?"

D'Artagnan embraced Athos, and only had time to bid him adieu. Monk watched them both. Then he took

upon himself the preparations for the departure, the transportation of the casks on board, and the embarking

of Athos; then, taking D'Artagnan by the arm, who was quite amazed and agitated, he led him towards

Newcastle. Whilst going along, the general leaning on his arm, D'Artagnan could not help murmuring to

himself, "Come, come, it seems to me that the shares of the firm of Planchet and Company are rising."

D'Artagnan, although he flattered himself with better success, had, nevertheless, not too well comprehended

his situation. It was a strange and grave subject for him to reflect upon this voyage of Athos into England;

this league of the king with Athos, and that extraordinary combination of his design with that of the Comte de

la Fere. The best way was to let things follow their own train. An imprudence had been committed, and,

whilst having succeeded, as he had promised, D'Artagnan found that he had gained no advantage by his

D'Artagnan followed Monk through his camp. The return of the general had produced a marvelous effect, for

his people had thought him lost. But Monk, with his austere look and icy demeanor, appeared to ask of his

eager lieutenants and delighted soldiers the cause of all this joy. Therefore, to the lieutenants who had come

to meet him, and who expressed the uneasiness with which they had learnt his departure,

"Tremble!" replied Monk, in his calm and powerful voice; "ah, monsieur, what a word! Curse me, if my

sheep have not both teeth and claws; I renounce being their shepherd. Ah, you tremble, gentlemen, do you?"

"Oh! pray meddle with your own concerns. If I have not the wit God gave to Oliver Cromwell, I have that

The officer made no reply; and Monk, having imposed silence on his people, all remained persuaded that he

had accomplished some important work or made some important trial. This was forming a very poor

conception of his patience and scrupulous genius. Monk, if he had the good faith of the Puritans, his allies,

must have returned fervent thanks to the patron saint who had taken him from the box of M. d'Artagnan.

Whilst these things were going on, our musketeer could not help constantly repeating,

"God grant that M. Monk may not have as much pride as I have; for I declare if any one had put me into a

coffer with that grating over my mouth, and carried me packed up, like a calf, across the seas, I should

cherish such a memory of my piteous looks in that coffer, and such an ugly animosity against him who had

inclosed me in it, I should dread so greatly to see a sarcastic smile blooming upon the face of the malicious

wretch, or in his attitude any grotesque imitation of my position in the box, that, Mordioux! I should plunge a

good dagger into his throat in compensation for the grating, and would nail him down in a veritable bier, in

remembrance of the false coffin in which I had been left to grow moldy for two days."

And D'Artagnan spoke honestly when he spoke thus; for the skin of our Gascon was a very thin one. Monk,

fortunately, entertained other ideas. He never opened his mouth to his timid conqueror concerning the past;

but he admitted him very near to his person in his labors, took him with him to several reconnoiterings, in

such a way as to obtain that which he evidently warmly desired, a rehabilitation in the mind of

D'Artagnan. The latter conducted himself like a pastmaster in the art of flattery: he admired all Monk's

tactics, and the ordering of his camp, he joked very pleasantly upon the circumvallations of Lambert's camp,

who had, he said, very uselessly given himself the trouble to inclose a camp for twenty thousand men, whilst

an acre of ground would have been quite sufficient for the corporal and fifty guards who would perhaps

Monk, immediately after his arrival, had accepted the proposition made by Lambert the evening before, for

an interview, and which Monk's lieutenants had refused under the pretext that the general was indisposed.

This interview was neither long nor interesting: Lambert demanded a profession of faith from his rival. The

latter declared he had no other opinion than that of the majority. Lambert asked if it would not be more

expedient to terminate the quarrel by an alliance than by a battle. Monk hereupon demanded a week for

consideration. Now, Lambert could not refuse this: and Lambert, nevertheless, had come, saying that he

should devour Monk's army. Therefore, at the end of the interview, which Lambert's party watched with

impatience, nothing was decided neither treaty nor battle the rebel army, as M. d'Artagnan had

foreseen, began to prefer the good cause to the bad one, and the parliament, rumpish as it was, to the

They remembered, likewise, the good feasts of London the profusion of ale and sherry with which the

citizens of London paid their friends the soldiers; they looked with terror at the black war bread, at the

troubled waters of the Tweed, too salt for the glass, not enough so for the pot; and they said to themselves,

"Are not the roast meats kept warm for Monk in London?" From that time nothing was heard of but desertion

in Lambert's army. The soldiers allowed themselves to be drawn away by the force of principles, which are,

like discipline, the obligatory tie in everybody constituted for any purpose. Monk defended the parliament

Lambert attacked it. Monk had no more inclination to support parliament than Lambert, but he had it

inscribed on his standards, so that all those of the contrary party were reduced to write upon theirs

"Rebellion," which sounded ill to puritan ears. They flocked, then, from Lambert to Monk, as sinners flock

Monk made his calculations, at a thousand desertions a day Lambert had men enough to last twenty days; but

there is in sinking things such a growth of weight and swiftness, which combine with each other, that a

hundred left the first day, five hundred the second, a thousand the third. Monk thought he had obtained his

rate. But from one thousand the deserters increased to two thousand, then to four thousand, and, a week after,

Lambert, perceiving that he had no longer the possibility of accepting battle, if it were offered to him, took

the wise resolution of decamping during the night, returning to London, and being beforehand with Monk in

But Monk, free and without uneasiness, marched towards London as a conqueror, augmenting his army with

all the floating parties on his way. He encamped at Barnet, that is to say, within four leagues of the capital,

cherished by the parliament, which thought it beheld in him a protector, and awaited by the people, who were

anxious to see him reveal himself, that they might judge him. D'Artagnan himself had not been able to fathom

his tactics; he observed he admired. Monk could not enter London with a settled determination without

Suddenly, when least expected, Monk drove the military party out of London, and installed himself in the city

amidst the citizens, by order of the parliament; then, at the moment when the citizens were crying out against

Monk at the moment when the soldiers themselves were accusing their leader Monk, finding himself

certain of a majority, declared to the Rump Parliament that it must abdicate be dissolved and yield its

place to a government which would not be a joke. Monk pronounced this declaration, supported by fifty

thousand swords, to which, that same evening, were united, with shouts of delirious joy, the five hundred

thousand inhabitants of the good city of London. At length, at the moment when the people, after their

triumphs and festive repasts in the open streets, were looking about for a master, it was affirmed that a vessel

"Gentlemen," said Monk to his officers, "I am going to meet the legitimate king. He who loves me will

follow me." A burst of acclamations welcomed these words, which D'Artagnan did not hear without the

"Pardieu! general. But tell me, I beg, what you wrote by Athos, that is to say, the Comte de la Fere you

"I have no secrets from you now," replied Monk. "I wrote these words: `Sire, I expect your majesty in six

"Ah!" said D'Artagnan, "I no longer say it is bold; I say it is well played; it is a fine stroke!"

And this was the only time the general had ever made an allusion to his voyage to Holland.

CHAPTER 32. Athos and D'Artagnan meet once more at the Hostelry of the Corne du Cerf

The king of England made his entree into Dover with great pomp, as he afterwards did in London. He had

sent for his brothers; he had brought over his mother and sister. England had been for so long a time given up

to herself that is to say, to tyranny, mediocrity, and nonsense that this return of Charles II., whom the

English only knew as the son of the man whose head they had cut off, was a festival for the three kingdoms.

Consequently, all the good wishes, all the acclamations which accompanied his return, struck the young king

so forcibly that he stooped and whispered in the ear of James of York, his younger brother, "In truth, James, it

seems to have been our own fault that we were so long absent from a country where we are so much

beloved!" The pageant was magnificent. Beautiful weather favored the solemnity. Charles had regained all

his youth, all his good humor; he appeared to be transfigured; hearts seemed to smile on him like the sun.

Amongst this noisy crowd of courtiers and worshippers, who did not appear to remember they had conducted

to the scaffold at Whitehall the father of the new king, a man, in the garb of a lieutenant of musketeers,

looked, with a smile upon his thin, intellectual lips, sometimes at the people vociferating their blessings, and

sometimes at the prince, who pretended emotion, and who bowed most particularly to the women, whose

"What a fine trade is that of king!" said this man, so completely absorbed in contemplation that he stopped in

the middle of his road, leaving the cortege to file past. "Now, there is, in good truth, a prince all bespangled

over with gold and diamonds, enamelled with flowers like a spring meadow; he is about to plunge his empty

hands into the immense coffer in which his now faithful but so lately unfaithful subjects have amassed

one or two cartloads of ingots of gold. They cast bouquets enough upon him to smother him; and yet, if he

had presented himself to them two months ago, they would have sent as many bullets and balls at him as they

now throw flowers. Decidedly it is worth something to be born in a certain sphere, with due respect to the

lowly, who pretend that it is of very little advantage to them to be born lowly." The cortege continued to file

on, and, with the king, the acclamations began to die away in the direction of the palace which, however, did

"Mordioux!" continued the reasoner, "these people tread upon my toes and look upon me as of very little

consequence, or rather of none at all, seeing that they are Englishmen and I am a Frenchman. If all these

people were asked, `Who is M. d'Artagnan?' they would reply, `Nescio vos.' But let any one say to them,

`There is the king going by,' `There is M. Monk going by,' they would run away, shouting, `Vive le roi!'

`Vive M. Monk!' till their lungs were exhausted. And yet," continued he, surveying, with that look sometimes

so keen and sometimes so proud, the diminishing crowd, "and yet, reflect a little, my good people, on

what your king has done, on what M. Monk has done, and then think what has been done by this poor

unknown, who is called M. d'Artagnan! It is true you do not know him, since he is here unknown, and that

prevents your thinking about the matter! But, bah! what matters it! All that does not prevent Charles II. from

being a great king, although he has been exiled twelve years, or M. Monk from being a great captain,

although he did make a voyage to Holland in a box. Well, then, since it is admitted that one is a great king

and the other a great captain, `Hurrah for King Charles II.! Hurrah for General Monk!'" And his voice

mingled with the voices of the hundreds of spectators, over which it sounded for a moment. Then, the better

to play the devoted man, he took off his hat and waved it in the air. Some one seized his arm in the very

height of his expansive royalism. (In 1660 that was so termed which we now call royalism.)

"Athos!" cried D'Artagnan, "you here!" And the two friends seized each other's hands.

"You here! and being here," continued the musketeer, "you are not in the midst of all these courtiers my

dear comte! What! you, the hero of the fete, you are not prancing on the left hand of the king, as M. Monk is

prancing on the right? In truth, I cannot comprehend your character, nor that of the prince who owes you so

"Always scornful, my dear D'Artagnan!" said Athos. "Will you never correct yourself of that vile habit?"

"Because I am neither envoy nor ambassador, nor representative of the king of France; and it does not

become me to exhibit myself thus near the person of another king than the one God has given me for a

"I did it because it was my duty to do it. But you know I hate all ostentation. Let King Charles II., then, who

no longer stands in need of me, leave me to my rest, and in the shadow; that is all I claim of him."

"What is the matter with you?" said Athos. "One would say that this happy return of the king to London

saddens you, my friend; you who have done at least as much for his majesty as I have."

"Have I not," replied D'Artagnan, with his Gascon laugh, "have I not done much for his majesty, without any

"He is aware of it!" said the musketeer bitterly. "By my faith! I did not suspect so, and I was even a moment

"Mordioux! for all the expense I incurred. I have ruined myself, my friend, ruined myself for the restoration

of this young prince who has just passed, cantering on his isabelle colored horse."

"The king does not know you have ruined yourself, my friend, but he knows he owes you much."

"And say, Athos, does that advance me in any respect? for, to do you justice, you have labored nobly. But I

I, who in appearance marred your combinations, it was I who really made them succeed. Follow my

calculations; closely, you might not have, by persuasions or mildness convinced General Monk, whilst I so

roughly treated this dear general, that I furnished your prince with an opportunity of showing himself

generous: this generosity was inspired in him by the fact of my fortunate mistake, and Charles is paid by the

"Well, strikingly true as it may be, it is not less true, my friend, that I shall return greatly beloved by M.

Monk, who calls me dear captain all day long, although I am neither dear to him nor a captain; and much

appreciated by the king, who has already forgotten my name; it is not less true, I say, that I shall return to

my beautiful country, cursed by the soldiers I had raised with the hopes of large pay, cursed by the brave

"Ah, yes, my friend, but this king, so spruce, so smiling, so adored, M. Monk fancies he has recalled him, you

fancy you have supported him, I fancy I have brought him back, the people fancy they have reconquered him,

he himself fancies he has negotiated his restoration; and yet nothing of all this is true, for Charles II., king of

England, Scotland, and Ireland, has been replaced upon the throne by a French grocer, who lives in the Rue

des Lombards, and is named Planchet. And such is grandeur! `Vanity!' says the Scripture: `vanity, all is

"My dear D'Artagnan," said he, pressing his hand affectionately, "should you not exercise a little more

philosophy? Is it not some further satisfaction to you to have saved my life as you did by arriving so

fortunately with Monk, when those damned parliamentarians wanted to burn me alive?"

"Ah, that is true! you never knew that, my friend; but you must not be angry, for it was not my secret. That

"Exactly. That was signified. `Remember there is a million buried in the vaults of Newcastle Abbey, and that

"Ah! very well, I understand. But what I understand likewise, and what is very frightful, is, that every time

his majesty Charles II. will think of me, he will say to himself: `There is the man who came very near making

me lose my crown. Fortunately I was generous, great, full of presence of mind.' That will be said by the

young gentleman in a shabby black doublet, who came to the chateau of Blois, hat in hand, to ask me if I

"D'Artagnan! D'Artagnan!" said Athos, laying his hand on the shoulder of the musketeer, "you are unjust."

D'Artagnan looked his friend full in the face, and began to laugh. "In truth, my dear Athos," said he, "you

have some sayings so superb, that they only belong to you and M. le Cardinal Mazarin."

"I beg your pardon," continued D'Artagnan, laughing, "I beg your pardon, if I have offended you. The future!

Nein! what pretty words are words that promise, and how well they fill the mouth in default of other things!

Mordioux! After having met with so many who promised, when shall I find one who will give? But, let that

pass!" continued D'Artagnan. "What are you doing here, my dear Athos? Are you the king's treasurer?"

"Well, since the king possesses a million, he must want a treasurer. The king of France, although he is not

worth a sou, has still a superintendent of finance, M. Fouquet. It is true that, in exchange, M. Fouquet, they

"I understand, it was frittered away in satin, precious stones, velvet, and feathers of all sorts and colors. All

these princes and princesses stood in great need of tailors and dressmakers. Eh! Athos, do you remember

what we fellows spent in equipping ourselves for the campaign of La Rochelle, and to make our appearance

on horseback? Two or three thousand livres, by my faith! But a king's robe is more ample; it would require a

million to purchase the stuff. At least, Athos, if you are not treasurer, you are on a good footing at court."

"Oh!" cried D'Artagnan, with one of those intelligent grimaces which he alone knew how to make, "that is

enough to make me recover my love for Monseigneur Giulio Mazarini. What, Athos the king has not seen

"I! Why should I be? Do you imagine, my dear D'Artagnan, that it was on the king's account I acted as I have

done? I did not know the young man. I defended the father, who represented a principle sacred in my

eyes, and I allowed myself to be drawn towards the son from sympathy for this same principle. Besides, he

"Yes; that is true; he was a brave, an excellent man, who led a sad life, but made a fine end."

"Well, my dear D'Artagnan, understand this; to that king, to that man of heart, to that friend of my thoughts,

if I durst venture to say so, I swore at the last hour to preserve faithfully the secret of a deposit which was to

be transmitted to his son, to assist him in his hour of need. This young man came to me; he described his

destitution; he was ignorant that he was anything to me save a living memory of his father. I have

accomplished towards Charles II. what I promised Charles I.; that is all! Of what consequence is it to me,

then, whether he be grateful or not? It is to myself I have rendered a service, by relieving myself of this

"Well, I have always said," replied D'Artagnan, with a sigh, "that disinterestedness was the finest thing in the

"Well, and you, my friend," resumed Athos, "are you not in the same situation as myself? If I have properly

understood your words, you allowed yourself to be affected by the misfortunes of this young man; that, on

your part, was much greater than it was upon mine, for I had a duty to fulfill, whilst you were under no

obligation to the son of the martyr. You had not, on your part, to pay him the price of that precious drop of

blood which he let fall upon my brow, through the floor of his scaffold. That which made you act was heart

alone the noble and good heart which you possess beneath your apparent skepticism and sarcastic irony;

you have engaged the fortune of a servitor, and your own, I suspect, my benevolent miser! and your sacrifice

is not acknowledged! Of what consequence is it? You wish to repay Planchet his money. I can comprehend

that, my friend: for it is not becoming in a gentleman to borrow from his inferior, without returning to him

principal and interest. Well, I will sell La Fere if necessary, and if not, some little farm. You shall pay

Planchet, and there will be enough, believe me, of corn left in my granaries for us two and Raoul. In this way,

my friend, you will be under obligations to nobody but yourself, and, if I know you well, it will not be a small

"Athos! Athos!" murmured D'Artagnan, thoughtfully, "I have told you more than once that the day on which

you will preach I shall attend the sermon; the day on which you will tell me there is a hell Mordioux! I

shall be afraid of the gridiron and the pitchforks. You are better than I, or rather, better than anybody, and I

only acknowledge the possession of one quality, and that is, of not being jealous. Except that defect, damme,

"I know no one equal to D'Artagnan," replied Athos; "but here we are, having quietly reached the house I

"I confess I chose it on purpose. I like old acquaintances; I like to sit down on that place, whereon I sank,

overcome by fatigue, overwhelmed with despair, when you returned on the 31st of January."

"After having discovered the abode of the masked executioner? Yes, that was a terrible day!"

They entered the large apartment, formerly the common one. The tavern, in general, and this room in

particular, had undergone great changes; the ancient host of the musketeers, having become tolerably rich for

an innkeeper, had closed his shop, and made of this room of which we were speaking, a storeroom for

colonial provisions. As for the rest of the house, he let it ready furnished to strangers. It was with unspeakable

emotion D'Artagnan recognized all the furniture of the chamber of the first story; the wainscoting, the

tapestries, and even that geographical chart which Porthos had so fondly studied in his moments of leisure.

"It is eleven years ago," cried D'Artagnan. "Mordioux! it appears to me a century!"

"And to me but a day," said Athos. "Imagine the joy I experience, my friend, in seeing you there, in pressing

your hand, in casting from me sword and dagger, and tasting without mistrust this glass of sherry. And, oh!

what still further joy it would be, if our two friends were there, at the two corners of the tables, and Raoul, my

beloved Raoul, on the threshold, looking at us with his large eyes, at once so brilliant and so soft!"

"Yes, yes," said D'Artagnan, much affected, "that is true. I approve particularly of the first part of your

thought; it is very pleasant to smile there where we have so legitimately shuddered in thinking that from one

At this moment the door opened, and D'Artagnan, brave as he was, could not restrain a slight movement of

"Thank you," said Athos, taking the letter without looking at it. "Tell me, my dear host, if you do not

"It is," said Athos, "one of those friends of whom I have spoken to you, and who lodged here with me eleven

"But we lodged here on the 30th of January, 1649," added Athos, believing he should stimulate the lazy

"That is very possible," replied he, smiling; "but it is so long ago!" and he bowed, and went out.

"Thank you," said D'Artagnan "perform exploits, accomplish revolutions, endeavor to engrave your name

in stone or bronze with strong swords! there is something more rebellious, more hard, more forgetful than

iron, bronze, or stone, and that is, the brain of a lodginghouse keeper who has grown rich in the trade, he

"Oh! oh!" said D'Artagnan; "read it, my friend, read it! No doubt it contains news."

Monsieur le Comte. The king has experienced much regret at not seeing you today beside him, at his

entrance. His majesty commands me to say so, and to recall him to your memory. His majesty will expect

"I am, respectfully, monsieur le comte, your honor's very humble and very obedient servant, Parry."

"You see, my dear D'Artagnan," said Athos, "we must not despair of the hearts of kings."

"Oh! my dear, very dear friend," resumed Athos, whom the almost imperceptible bitterness of D'Artagnan

had not escaped. "Pardon me! can I have unintentionally wounded my best comrade?"

"You are mad, Athos, and to prove it, I shall conduct you to the palace; to the very gate, I mean; the walk will

"No, no!" replied D'Artagnan, with true pride, free from all mixture; "if there is anything worse than begging

yourself, it is making others beg for you. Come, let us go, my friend, the walk will be charming; on the way I

shall show you the house of M. Monk, who has detained me with him. A beautiful house, by my faith. Being

a general in England is better than being a marechal in France, please to know."

Athos allowed himself to be led along, quite saddened by D'Artagnan's forced attempts at gayety. The whole

city was in a state of joy; the two friends were jostled at every moment by enthusiasts who required them, in

their intoxication, to cry out, "Long live good King Charles!" D'Artagnan replied by a grunt, and Athos by a

smile. They arrived thus in front of Monk's house, before which, as we have said, they had to pass on their

Athos and D'Artagnan said but little on the road, for the simple reason that they would have had so many

things to talk about if they had spoken. Athos thought that by speaking he should evince satisfaction, and that

might wound D'Artagnan. The latter feared that in speaking he should allow some little bitterness to steal into

his words which would render his company unpleasant to his friend. It was a singular emulation of silence

between contentment and illhumor. D'Artagnan gave way first to that itching at the tip of his tongue which

"Do you remember, Athos," said he, "the passage of the `Memoires de D'Aubigny,' in which that devoted

servant, a Gascon like myself, poor as myself, and, I was going to add, brave as myself, relates instances of

the meanness of Henry IV.? My father always told me, I remember, that D'Aubigny was a liar. But,

nevertheless, examine how all the princes, the issue of the great Henry, keep up the character of the race."

"Oh! you are so perfect yourself, you never agree to the faults of others. But, in reality, Henry IV. was

covetous, Louis XIII., his son, was so likewise; we know something of that, don't we? Gaston carried this

vice to exaggeration, and has made himself, in this respect, hated by all who surround him. Henriette, poor

woman, might well be avaricious, she who did not eat every day, and could not warm herself every winter;

and that is an example she has given to her son Charles II., grandson of the great Henry IV., who is as

covetous as his mother and his grandfather. See if I have well traced the genealogy of the misers?"

"D'Artagnan, my friend," cried Athos, "you are very rude towards that eagle race called the Bourbons."

"Eh! and I have forgotten the best instance of all the other grandson of the Bearnais, Louis XIV., my

exmaster. Well, I hope he is miserly enough, he who would not lend a million to his brother Charles! Good!

I see you are beginning to be angry. Here we are, by good luck, close to my house, or rather to that of my

"My dear D'Artagnan, you do not make me angry, you make me sad; it is cruel, in fact, to see a man of your

deserts out of the position his services ought to have acquired; it appears to me, my dear friend, that your

name is as radiant as the greatest names in war and diplomacy. Tell me if the Luynes, the Ballegardes, and

the Bassompierres have merited, as we have, fortunes and honors? You are right, my friend, a hundred times

D'Artagnan sighed, and preceded his friend under the porch of the mansion Monk inhabited, at the extremity

of the city. "Permit me," said he, "to leave my purse at home; for if in the crowd those clever pickpockets of

London, who are much boasted of, even in Paris, were to steal from me the remainder of my poor crowns, I

should not be able to return to France. Now, content I left France, and wild with joy I should return to it,

seeing that all my prejudices of former days against England have returned, accompanied by many others."

"So then, my dear friend, one second, and I will follow you," said D'Artagnan. "I know you are in a hurry to

go yonder to receive your reward, but, believe me, I am not less eager to partake of your joy, although from a

distance. Wait for me." And D'Artagnan was already passing through the vestibule, when a man, half servant,

half soldier, who filled in Monk's establishment the double functions of porter and guard, stopped our

"Well," replied the latter: "what is it? Is the general going to dismiss me? I only needed to be expelled by

These words, spoken in French, made no impression upon the person to whom they were addressed and who

himself only spoke an English mixed with the rudest Scotch. But Athos was grieved at them, for he began to

"You must be deceived," said Athos, "or I know no more honest people in the world but you and myself."

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders and unsealed the letter, while the impassible Englishman held for him a

"Well, what is the matter?" said Athos, seeing the countenance of the reader change.

Monsieur d'Artagnan. The king regrets very much you did not come to St. Paul's with his cortege. He

missed you, as I also have missed you, my dear captain. There is but one means of repairing all this. His

majesty expects me at nine o'clock at the palace of St. James's: will you be there at the same time with me?

"Well?" cried Athos with a mild look of reproach when D'Artagnan had read the letter addressed to him by

"Well!" said D'Artagnan, red with pleasure, and a little with shame, at having so hastily accused the king and

Monk. "This is a politeness, which leads to nothing, it is true, but yet it is a politeness."

"The fact is, that his present is still too near his past," replied D'Artagnan; "after all, everything to the present

"I acknowledge it, my dear friend, I acknowledge it. Ah! there is your cheerful look returned. You cannot

"Thus you see," said D'Artagnan, "Charles II. receives M. Monk at nine o'clock; he will receive me at ten; it

is a grand audience, of the sort which at the Louvre are called `distributions of court holy water.' Come, let us

Athos replied nothing; and both directed their steps, at a quick pace, towards the palace of St. James's, which

the crowd still surrounded, to catch, through the windows, the shadows of the courtiers, and the reflection of

the royal person. Eight o'clock was striking when the two friends took their places in the gallery filled with

courtiers and politicians. Every one looked at these simplydressed men in foreign costumes, at these two

noble heads so full of character and meaning. On their side, Athos and D'Artagnan, having with two glances

A great noise was suddenly heard at the extremity of the gallery, it was General Monk, who entered,

followed by more than twenty officers, all eager for a smile, as only the evening before he was master of all

England, and a glorious morrow was looked to, for the restorer of the Stuart family.

"Gentlemen," said Monk, turning round, "henceforward I beg you to remember that I am no longer anything.

Lately I commanded the principal army of the republic; now that army is the king's, into whose hands I am

Great surprise was painted on all the countenances, and the circle of adulators and suppliants which

surrounded Monk an instant before, was enlarged by degrees, and ended by being lost in the large undulations

of the crowd. Monk was going into the antechamber as others did. D'Artagnan could not help remarking this

to the Comte de la Fere, who frowned on beholding it. Suddenly the door of the royal apartment opened, and

Charles stepped hastily towards him, and seized his hand with the warmest demonstration of friendship.

"General," said the king, aloud, "I have just signed your patent, you are Duke of Albemarle; and my

intention is that no one shall equal you in power and fortune in this kingdom, where the noble Montrose

excepted no one has equaled you in loyalty, courage, and talent. Gentlemen, the duke is commander of

our armies of land and sea; pay him your respects, if you please, in that character."

Whilst every one was pressing round the general, who received all this homage without losing his

impassibility for an instant, D'Artagnan said to Athos: "When one thinks that this duchy, this commander of

the land and sea forces, all these grandeurs, in a word, have been shut up in a box six feet long and three feet

"My friend," replied Athos, "much more imposing grandeurs are confined in boxes still smaller, and

All at once Monk perceived the two gentlemen, who held themselves aside until the crowd had diminished;

he made himself a passage towards them, so that he surprised them in the midst of their philosophical

Monk reflected for a moment, and then replied gayly: "Gentlemen, let us speak a little of the king likewise, if

"Let us go into this closet at once," replied Monk, making a sign to his two companions to precede him; but

The king, during this discussion so characteristic of the French, had returned to the center of the gallery.

"Oh! my Frenchmen!" said he, in that tone of careless gayety which, in spite of so much grief and so many

crosses, he had never lost. "My Frenchmen! my consolation!" Athos and D'Artagnan bowed.

"Duke, conduct these gentlemen into my study. I am at your service, messieurs," added he in French. And he

promptly expedited his court, to return to his Frenchmen, as he called them. "Monsieur d'Artagnan," said he,

"Sire, my joy is at its height, at having the honor to salute your majesty in your own palace of St. James's."

"Monsieur, you have been willing to render me a great service, and I owe you my gratitude for it. If I did not

fear to intrude upon the rights of our commanding general, I would offer you some post worthy of you near

"Sire," replied D'Artagnan, "I have quitted the service of the king of France, making a promise to my prince

"Humph!" said Charles, "I am sorry to hear that; I should like to do much for you; I like you very much."

"But let us see," said Charles with a smile, "if we cannot make you break your word. Duke, assist me. If you

were offered, that is to say, if I offered you the chief command of my musketeers?" D'Artagnan bowed lower

"I should have the regret to refuse what your gracious majesty would offer me," said he; "a gentleman has but

his word, and that word, as I have had the honor to tell your majesty, is engaged to the king of France."

"We shall say no more about it, then," said the king, turning towards Athos, and leaving D'Artagnan plunged

"Ah! I said so!" muttered the musketeer. "Words! words! Court holy water! Kings have always a marvellous

talent for offering us that which they know we will not accept, and in appearing generous without risk. So be

During this time Charles took the hand of Athos. "Comte," said he, "you have been to me a second father; the

services you have rendered me are above all price. I have, nevertheless, thought of a recompense. You were

created by my father a Knight of the Garter that is an order which all the kings of Europe cannot bear; by

the queen regent, Knight of the Holy Ghost which is an order not less illustrious; I join to it that of the

Golden Fleece sent me by the king of France, to whom the king of Spain, his fatherinlaw, gave two on the

"Sire," said Athos. with confusion, "the Golden Fleece for me! when the king of France is the only person in

I wish you to be in your country and all others the equal of all those whom sovereigns have honored with

their favor," said Charles, drawing the chain from his neck; "and I am sure, comte, my father smiles on me

"It is unaccountably strange," said D'Artagnan to himself, whilst his friend, on his knees, received the

eminent order which the king conferred on him "it is almost incredible that I have always seen showers of

prosperity fall upon all who surrounded me, and that not a drop ever reached me! If I were a jealous man it

Athos rose from his knees, and Charles embraced him tenderly. "General!" said he to Monk then stopping

with a smile, "pardon me, duke, I mean. No wonder if I make a mistake; the word duke is too short for me, I

always seek some title to lengthen it. I should wish to see you so near my throne, that I might say to you as to

Louis XIV., my brother! Oh! I have it, and you will be almost my brother, for I make you viceroy of Ireland

and of Scotland. my dear duke. So, after that fashion, henceforward I shall not make a mistake."

The duke seized the hand of the king, but without enthusiasm, without joy, as he did everything. His heart,

however, had been moved by this last favor. Charles, by skillfully husbanding his generosity, had given the

duke time to wish, although he might not have wished for so much as was given him.

"Mordioux!" grumbled D'Artagnan, "there is the shower beginning again! Oh! it is enough to turn one's

brain!" and he turned away with an air so sorrowful and so comically piteous, that the king, who caught it,

could not restrain a smile. Monk was preparing to leave the room, to take leave of Charles.

"With your majesty's permission, for in truth I am weary. The emotions of the day have worn me out; I stand

"Well! but it could not be otherwise the prisoner always lodges with his conqueror."

Monk colored in his turn. "Ah! that is true," said he, "I am M. d'Artagnan's prisoner."

"Without doubt, duke, since you are not yet ransomed, but have no care of that; it was I who took you out of

The eyes of D'Artagnan regained their gayety and their brilliancy. The Gascon began to understand. Charles

"The general," said he, "is not rich, and cannot pay you what he is worth. I am richer, certainly, but now that

he is a duke, and if not a king, almost a king, he is worth a sum I could not perhaps pay. Come, M.

D'Artagnan, delighted at the turn things were taking, but not for a moment losing his selfpossession, replied,

"Sire, your majesty has no occasion to be alarmed. When I had the good fortune to take his grace, M.

Monk was only a general; it is therefore only a general's ransom that is due to me. But if the general will have

the kindness to deliver me his sword, I shall consider myself paid; for there is nothing in the world but the

"Odds fish! as my father said," cried Charles. "That is a gallant proposal, and a gallant man, is he not, duke?"

"Upon my honor, yes, sire," and he drew his sword. "Monsieur," said he to D'Artagnan, "here is what you

demand. Many may have handled a better blade; but however modest mine may be, I have never surrendered

"Oh! oh!" cried Charles II.; "what, a sword that has restored me to my throne to go out of the kingdom

and not, one day, to figure among the crown jewels. No, on my soul! that shall not be! Captain d'Artagnan, I

will give you two hundred thousand crowns for your sword! If that is too little, say so."

"It is too little, sire," replied D'Artagnan, with inimitable seriousness. "In the first place, I do not at all wish to

sell it; but your majesty desires me to do so, and that is an order. I obey, then, but the respect I owe to the

illustrious warrior who hears me commands me to estimate at a third more the reward of my victory. I ask

then three hundred thousand crowns for the sword, or I shall give it to your majesty for nothing." And taking

it by the point he presented it to the king. Charles broke into hilarious laughter.

"A gallant man, and a merry companion! Odds fish! is he not, duke? is he not, comte? He pleases me! I like

him! Here, Chevalier d'Artagnan, take this." And going to the table, he took a pen and wrote an order upon

D'Artagnan took it, and turning gravely towards Monk: "I have still asked too little, I know," said he, "but

believe me, your grace, I would rather have died than allow myself to be governed by avarice."

"You will come and see me again before you go, chevalier?" said he; "I shall want to lay in a stock of gayety

"Ah! sire, it will not be with the gayety as with the duke's sword; I will give it to your majesty gratis," replied

"And you, comte," added Charles, turning towards Athos, "come again, also, I have an important message to

"Adieu! gentlemen," said Charles, holding out each of his hands to the two Frenchmen, who carried them to

"Hush!" said D'Artagnan, wild with joy, "I have not yet returned from the treasurer's a shutter may fall

D'Artagnan lost no time, and as soon as the thing was suitable and opportune, he paid a visit to the lord

treasurer of his majesty. He had then the satisfaction to exchange a piece of paper, covered with very ugly

writing, for a prodigious number of crowns, recently stamped with the effigies of his very gracious majesty

D'Artagnan easily controlled himself: and yet, on this occasion, he could not help evincing a joy which the

reader will perhaps comprehend, if he deigns to have some indulgence for a man who, since his birth, had

never seen so many pieces and rolls of pieces juxtaplaced in an order truly agreeable to the eye. The treasurer

placed all the rolls in bags, and closed each bag with a stamp sealed with the arms of England, a favor which

treasurers do not grant to everybody. Then impassible, and just as polite as he ought to be towards a man

"Take away your money, sir." Your money! These words made a thousand chords vibrate in the heart of

D'Artagnan, which he had never felt before. He had the bags packed in a small cart, and returned home

meditating deeply. A man who possesses three hundred thousand crowns can no longer expect to wear a

D'Artagnan shut himself up, ate no dinner, closed his door to everybody, and, with a lighted lamp, and a

loaded pistol on the table, he watched all night, ruminating upon the means of preventing these lovely

crowns, which from the coffers of the king had passed into his coffers, from passing from his coffers into the

pockets of any thief whatever. The best means discovered by the Gascon was to inclose his treasure, for the

present, under locks so solid that no wrist could break them, and so complicated that no masterkey could

open them. D'Artagnan remembered that the English are masters in mechanics and conservative industry; and

he determined to go in the morning in search of a mechanic who would sell him a strong box. He did not go

far; Master Will Jobson, dwelling in Piccadilly, listened to his propositions, comprehended his wishes, and

promised to make him a safety lock that should relieve him from all future fear.

"I will give you," said he, "a piece of mechanism entirely new. At the first serious attempt upon your lock, an

invisible plate will open of itself and vomit forth a pretty copper bullet of the weight of a mark which will

knock down the intruder, and not without a loud report. What do you think of it?"

"I think it very ingenious," cried D'Artagnan, "the little copper bullet pleases me mightily. So now, sir

"A fortnight for the execution, and fifteen hundred crowns payable on delivery," replied the artisan.

D'Artagnan's brow darkened. A fortnight was delay enough to allow the thieves of London time to remove all

occasion for the strong box. As to the fifteen hundred crowns that would be paying too dear for what a

"I will think of it," said he, "thank you, sir." And he returned home at full speed; nobody had yet touched his

treasure. That same day Athos paid a visit to his friend and found him so thoughtful that he could not help

"How is this?" said he, "you are rich and not gay you, who were so anxious for wealth!"

"My friend, the pleasures to which we are not accustomed oppress us more than the griefs with which we are

familiar. Give me your opinion, if you please. I can ask you, who have always had money: when we have

"What have you done with yours, seeing that it has not made you a miser or a prodigal? For avarice dries up

"Fabricius could not have spoken more justly. But in truth, my money has never been a burden to me."

"No; you know I have a tolerably handsome house; and that house composes the better part of my property."

"So that you can be as rich as I am, and, indeed more rich, whenever you like, by the same means."

"Then you must have some confidant, some safe man of business who pays you interest at a fair rate."

"Ah that may be. But you are something of a prince, fifteen or sixteen thousand livres melt away between

"Well, I don't see why you should be less of a noble than I am, my friend; your money would be quite

"I beg your pardon did you not tell me? I thought I heard you say I fancied you had a partner

"Ah! Mordioux! that's true," cried D'Artagnan, coloring; "there is Planchet. I had forgotten Planchet, upon my

life! Well! there are my three hundred thousand crowns broken into. That's a pity! it was a round sum, and

sounded well. That is true, Athos; I am no longer rich. What a memory you have!"

"The worthy Planchet!" grumbled D'Artagnan; "his was not a bad dream! What a speculation! Peste! Well!

"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, "he is not a bad fellow; I shall arrange matters with him. I have had a great deal of

"My dear friend, I can depend upon you, and have no fear for the worthy Planchet; his interests are better in

your hands than in his own. But now that you have nothing more to do here, we shall depart, if you please.

You can go and thank his majesty, ask if he has any commands, and in six days we may be able to get sight

"My friend, I am most anxious to be off, and will go at once and pay my respects to the king."

"I," said Athos, "am going to call upon some friends in the city, and shall then be at your service."

"Something very simple, and which will not fatigue him; I shall only beg him to take charge of my pistols,

D'Artagnan arrived at St. James's, where Charles II. who was busy writing, kept him in the antechamber a

full hour. Whilst walking about in the gallery, from the door to the window, from the window to the door, he

thought he saw a cloak like Athos's cross the vestibule; but at the moment he was going to ascertain if it were

he, the usher summoned him to his majesty's presence. Charles II. rubbed his hands while receiving the

"Chevalier," said he, "you are wrong to express gratitude to me; I have not paid you a quarter of the value of

the history of the box into which you put the brave general the excellent Duke of Albemarle, I mean."

D'Artagnan did not think it proper to interrupt his majesty, and bowed with much modesty.

"A propos," continued Charles, "do you think my dear Monk has really pardoned you?"

"Eh! but it was a cruel trick! Odds fish! to pack up the first personage of the English revolution like a

"Yes, I know very well that Monk calls you his friend, but he has too penetrating an eye not to have a

memory, and too lofty a brow not to be very proud, you know grande supercilium."

"But stop," cried the merry monarch, "I must manage your reconciliation; I know how to set about it; so

D'Artagnan bit his mustache. "Will your majesty permit me to tell you the truth?"

"Well, sire, you alarm me greatly. If your majesty undertakes the affair, as you seem inclined to do, I am a

The king burst into a fresh roar of laughter, which changed D'Artagnan's alarm into downright terror.

"Sire, I beg you to allow me to settle this matter myself, and if your majesty has no further need of my

"No, chevalier. What, do you want to leave us?" replied Charles, with a hilarity that grew more and more

"No, sire, but an old soldier like me is not an agreeable spectacle for a young and gay princess."

"Ah! but my sister must know you; she must in case of need have you to depend upon."

The side door opened and Parry entered, his face beaming with pleasure as soon as he saw D'Artagnan.

"That is well. You will conduct the chevalier to Villiers; that is the Duke of Buckingham, chevalier; and beg

"Chevalier," continued the king, "this is your parting audience; you can afterwards set out as soon as you

"Sire, you overpower me; I cannot think of putting your majesty's officers to inconvenience on my account."

"Nobody will be inconvenienced on your account, chevalier, but for that of an ambassador I am about

sending to France, and to whom you will willingly serve as a companion, I fancy, for you know him."

"He is a certain Comte de la Fere, whom you call Athos," added the king, terminating the conversation, as

he had begun it, by a joyous burst of laughter. "Adieu, chevalier, adieu. Love me as I love you." And

thereupon making a sign to Parry to ask if there were any one waiting for him in the adjoining closet, the king

disappeared into that closet, leaving the chevalier perfectly astonished by this singular audience. The old man

Upon the green waters of the canal bordered with marble, upon which time had already scattered black spots

and tufts of mossy grass, there glided majestically a long, flat bark adorned with the arms of England,

surmounted by a dais, and carpeted with long damasked stuffs, which trailed their fringes in the water. Eight

rowers, leaning lazily to their oars, made it move upon the canal with the graceful slowness of the swans,

which, disturbed in their ancient possessions by the approach of the bark, looked from a distance at this

splendid and noisy pageant. We say noisy for the bark contained four guitar and lute players, two singers,

and several courtiers, all sparkling with gold and precious stones, and showing their white teeth in emulation

of each other, to please the Lady Henrietta Stuart, granddaughter of Henry IV., daughter of Charles I., and

sister of Charles II., who occupied the seat of honor under the dais of the bark. We know this young princess,

we have seen her at the Louvre with her mother, wanting wood, wanting bread, and fed by the coadjuteur and

the parliament. She had, therefore, like her brothers, passed through an uneasy youth; then, all at once, she

had just awakened from a long and horrible dream, seated on the steps of a throne, surrounded by courtiers

and flatterers. Like Mary Stuart on leaving prison, she aspired not only to life and liberty, but to power and

The Lady Henrietta, in growing, had attained remarkable beauty, which the recent restoration had rendered

celebrated. Misfortune had taken from her the luster of pride, but prosperity had restored it to her. She was

resplendent, then, in her joy and her happiness, like those hothouse flowers which, forgotten during a

frosty autumn night, have hung their heads, but which on the morrow, warmed once more by the atmosphere

in which they were born, rise again with greater splendor than ever. Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, son of

him who played so conspicuous a part in the early chapters of this history, Villiers of Buckingham, a

handsome cavalier, melancholy with women, a jester with men, and Wilmot, Lord Rochester, a jester with

both sexes, were standing at this moment before the Lady Henrietta, disputing the privilege of making her

smile. As to that young and beautiful princess, reclining upon a cushion of velvet bordered with gold, her

hands hanging listlessly so as to dip in the water, she listened carelessly to the musicians without hearing

This Lady Henrietta this charming creature this woman who joined the graces of France to the beauties

of England, not having yet loved, was cruel in her coquetry. The smile, then, that innocent favor of young

girls, did not even lighten her countenance; and if, at times, she did raise her eyes, it was to fasten them

upon one or other of the cavaliers with such a fixity, that their gallantry, bold as it generally was, took the

In the meanwhile the boat continued its course, the musicians made a great noise, and the courtiers began,

like them, to be out of breath. Besides, the excursion became doubtless monotonous to the princess, for all at

once, shaking her head with an air of impatience, "Come, gentlemen, enough of this; let us land."

"Ah, madam," said Buckingham, "we are very unfortunate! We have not succeeded in making the excursion

"My mother expects me," replied the princess; "and I must frankly admit, gentlemen, I am bored." And whilst

uttering this cruel word, Henrietta endeavored to console by a look each of the two young men, who appeared

terrified at such frankness. The look produced its effect the two faces brightened; but immediately, as if

the royal coquette thought she had done too much for simple mortals, she made a movement, turned her back

on both her adorers, and appeared plunged in a reverie in which it was evident they had no part.

Buckingham bit his lips with anger, for he was truly in love with Lady Henrietta, and, in that case, took

everything in a serious light. Rochester bit his lips likewise; but his wit always dominated over his heart, it

was purely and simply to repress a malicious smile. The princess was then allowing the eyes she turned from

the young nobles to wander over the green and flowery turf of the park, when she perceived Parry and

"Yes," said the princess, at first with languor, but then, "What mean those words, `Nobody but Parry;' say,

"Because, madam," replied Buckingham, piqued, "because the faithful Parry, the wandering Parry, the eternal

"You are mistaken, duke. Parry the wandering Parry, as you call him has always wandered in the

service of my family, and the sight of that old man always gives me satisfaction."

The Lady Henrietta followed the usual progress of pretty women, particularly coquettish women; she passed

from caprice to contradiction; the gallant had undergone the caprice, the courtier must bend beneath the

"It is true, madam," said Rochester, bowing in his turn, "that Parry is the model of servants; but, madam, he is

no longer young, and we laugh only when we see cheerful objects. Is an old man a gay object?"

"Enough, my lord," said the princess, coolly; "the subject of conversation is unpleasant to me."

Then, as if speaking to herself, "It is really unaccountable," said she, "how little regard my brother's friends

"Ah, madam," cried Buckingham, "your royal highness pierces my heart with a dagger forged by your own

"What is the meaning of that speech, which is turned so like a French madrigal, duke? I do not understand it."

"It means, madam, that you yourself, so good, so charming, so sensible, you have laughed sometimes

smiled, I should say at the idle prattle of that good Parry, for whom your royal highness today entertains

"Well, my lord, if I have forgotten myself so far," said Henrietta, "you do wrong to remind me of it." And she

made a sign of impatience. "The good Parry wants to speak to me, I believe: please order them to row to the

Rochester hastened to repeat the princess's command; and a moment later the boat touched the bank.

"Let us land, gentlemen," said Henrietta, taking the arm which Rochester offered her, although Buckingham

was nearer to her, and had presented his. Then Rochester, with an illdissembled pride, which pierced the

heart of the unhappy Buckingham through and through, led the princess across the little bridge which the

"You see, my lord, towards that good Parry, who is wandering, as my lord of Buckingham says, and seeking

"Good heavens!" said Rochester, "how sad your royal highness is today; in truth we seem ridiculous fools to

"Speak for yourself, my lord," interrupted Buckingham with vexation; "for my part, I displease her royal

Neither Rochester nor the princess made any reply; Henrietta only urged her companion more quickly on.

Buckingham remained behind, and took advantage of this isolation to give himself up to his anger; he bit his

"Parry my good Parry," said the princess, with her gentle voice, "come hither. I see you are seeking me, and I

"Ah, madam," said Rochester, coming charitably to the help of his companion, who had remained, as we

have said, behind, "if Parry cannot see your royal highness, the man who follows him is a sufficient guide,

even for a blind man, for he has eyes of flame. That man is a doublelamped lantern."

"Lighting a very handsome martial countenance," said the princess, determined to be as illnatured as

possible. Rochester bowed. "One of those vigorous soldiers' heads seen nowhere but in France," added the

Rochester and Buckingham looked at each other, as much as to say, "What can be the matter with her?"

The young man, who considered this order as a favor, resumed his courage, and hastened to meet Parry, who,

followed by D'Artagnan, advanced slowly on account of his age. D'Artagnan walked slowly but nobly, as

D'Artagnan, doubled by the third of a million, ought to walk, that is to say, without conceit or swagger, but

without timidity. When Buckingham, very eager to comply with the desire of the princess, who had seated

herself on a marble bench, as if fatigued with the few steps she had gone, when Buckingham, we say, was

"In what, Mr. Parry?" said the young man, with a kind of coolness tempered by a desire to make himself

"Well, his majesty begs your grace to present this gentleman to her royal highness the Princess Henrietta."

D'Artagnan, as we know, was easily affronted, and the Duke of Buckingham's tone displeased him. He

surveyed the courtier from head to foot, and two flashes beamed from beneath his bent brows. But, after a

"I am more fortunate than you, sir," replied D'Artagnan, "for I have had the honor of knowing your family,

"My father?" said Buckingham. "Well, I think I now remember. Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan, do you

"Pardon me, but are you one of those Frenchmen who had secret relations with my father?"

"Then, sir, permit me to say that it was strange my father never heard of you during his lifetime."

"No, monsieur, but he heard of me at the moment of his death: it was I who sent to him, through the hands of

the valet de chambre of Anne of Austria, notice of the dangers which threatened him; unfortunately, it came

"Never mind, monsieur," said Buckingham. "I understand now, that, having had the intention of rendering a

"In the first place, my lord," replied D'Artagnan, phlegmatically, "I claim the protection of no man. His

majesty Charles II., to whom I have had the honor of rendering some services I may tell you, my lord, my

life has been passed in such occupations King Charles II., then, who wishes to honor me with some

kindness, desires me to be presented to her royal highness the Princess Henrietta, his sister, to whom I shall,

perhaps, have the good fortune to be of service hereafter. Now, the king knew that you at this moment were

with her royal highness, and sent me to you. There is no other mystery, I ask absolutely nothing of you; and if

you will not present me to her royal highness, I shall be compelled to do without you, and present myself."

"At least, sir," said Buckingham, determined to have the last word, "you will not refuse me an explanation

"As you have had relations with my father, you must be acquainted with some private details?"

"These relations are already far removed from us, my lord for you were not then born and for some

unfortunate diamond studs, which I received from his hands and carried back to France, it is really not worth

"Ah! sir," said Buckingham, warmly, going up to D'Artagnan, and holding out his hand to him, "it is you,

then you whom my father sought everywhere and who had a right to expect so much from us."

At this moment, the princess, who was tired of not seeing the stranger approach her, arose and came towards

"At least, sir," said Buckingham, "you shall not wait for the presentation you claim of me."

Then turning toward the princess and bowing: "Madam," said the young man, "the king, your brother, desires

me to have the honor of presenting to your royal highness, Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan."

"In order that your royal highness may have, in case of need, a firm support and a sure friend," added Parry.

"You have still something to say, Parry," replied Henrietta, smiling upon D'Artagnan, while addressing the

"Yes, madam, the king desires you to preserve religiously in your memory the name and merit of M.

d'Artagnan, to whom his majesty owes, he says, the recovery of his kingdom." Buckingham, the princess, and

"That," said D'Artagnan, "is another little secret, of which, in all probability, I shall not boast to his majesty's

"Madam," said Buckingham, "monsieur has just, for the second time, recalled to my memory an event which

excites my curiosity to such a degree, that I shall venture to ask your permission to take him to one side for a

"Do, my lord," said the princess, "but restore to the sister, as quickly as possible, this friend so devoted to the

brother." And she took the arm of Rochester whilst Buckingham took that of D'Artagnan.

"Oh! tell me, chevalier," said Buckingham, "all that affair of the diamonds, which nobody knows in England,

"My lord, one person alone had a right to relate all that affair, as you call it, and that was your father; he

thought proper to be silent. I must beg you to allow me to be so likewise." And D'Artagnan bowed like a man

"Since it is so, sir," said Buckingham, "pardon my indiscretion, I beg you; and if, at any time, I should go into

France " and he turned round to take a last look at the princess, who took but little notice of him, totally

"Oh, I have strange powers of prediction; if I do predict anything I am seldom mistaken. If, then, you do

"Well, then, monsieur, you, of whom kings ask that valuable friendship which restores crowns to them, I will

"My lord," replied D'Artagnan, "believe me, I shall deem myself highly honored if, in France, you remember

Then, turning towards the princess: "Madam," said he, "your royal highness is a daughter of France; and in

that quality I hope to see you again in Paris. One of my happy days will be that on which your royal highness

shall give me any command whatever, thus proving to me that you have not forgotten the recommendations

of your august brother." And he bowed respectfully to the young princess, who gave him her hand to kiss

"Ah! madam," said Buckingham, in a subdued voice, "what can a man do to obtain a similar favor from your

"Dame! my lord " replied Henrietta, "ask Monsieur d'Artagnan; he will tell you."

CHAPTER 36. How D'Artagnan drew, as a Fairy would have done, a Countryseat from a Deal Box

The king's words regarding the wounded pride of Monk had not inspired D'Artagnan with a small portion of

apprehension. The lieutenant had had, all his life, the great art of choosing his enemies; and when he had

found them implacable and invincible, it was when he had not been able, under any pretense, to make them

otherwise. But points of view change greatly in the course of a life. It is a magic lantern, of which the eye of

man every year changes the aspects. It results that from the last day of a year on which we saw white, to the

first day of the year on which we shall see black, there is but the interval of a single night.

Now, D'Artagnan, when he left Calais with his ten scamps, would have hesitated as little in attacking a

Goliath, a Nebuchadnezzar, or a Holofernes as he would in crossing swords with a recruit or caviling with a

landlady. Then he resembled the sparrowhawk which, when fasting, will attack a ram. Hunger is blind. But

D'Artagnan satisfied D'Artagnan rich D'Artagnan a conqueror D'Artagnan proud of so difficult a

triumph D'Artagnan had too much to lose not to reckon, figure by figure, with probable misfortune.

His thoughts were employed, therefore, all the way on the road from his presentation, with one thing, and that

was, how he should conciliate a man like Monk, a man whom Charles himself, kind as he was, conciliated

with difficulty; for, scarcely established, the protected might again stand in need of the protector, and would,

consequently, not refuse him, such being the case, the petty satisfaction of transporting M. d'Artagnan, or of

confining him in one of the Middlesex prisons, or drowning him a little on his passage from Dover to

Boulogne. Such sorts of satisfaction kings are accustomed to render to viceroys without disagreeable

It would not be at all necessary for the king to be active in that contrepartie of the play in which Monk should

take his revenge. The part of the king would be confined to simply pardoning the viceroy of Ireland all he

should undertake against D'Artagnan. Nothing more was necessary to place the conscience of the Duke of

Albemarle at rest than a te absolvo said with a laugh, or the scrawl of "Charles the King," traced at the foot of

a parchment; and with these two words pronounced, and these two words written, poor D'Artagnan was

And then, a thing sufficiently disquieting for a man with such foresight as our musketeer, he found himself

alone; and even the friendship of Athos could not restore his confidence. Certainly if the affair had only

concerned a free distribution of swordthrusts, the musketeer would have counted upon his companion; but

in delicate dealings with a king, when the perhaps of an unlucky chance should arise in justification of Monk

or of Charles of England, D'Artagnan knew Athos well enough to be sure he would give the best possible

coloring to the loyalty of the survivor, and would content himself with shedding floods of tears on the tomb

of the dead, supposing the dead to be his friend, and afterwards composing his epitaph in the most pompous

"Decidedly," thought the Gascon; and this thought was the result of the reflections which he had just

whispered to himself and which we have repeated aloud "decidedly, I must be reconciled with M. Monk,

and acquire a proof of his perfect indifference for the past. If, and God forbid it should be so! he is still sulky

and reserved in the expression of this sentiment, I shall give my money to Athos to take away with him, and

remain in England just long enough to unmask him, then, as I have a quick eye and a light foot, I shall notice

the first hostile sign; to decamp or conceal myself at the residence of my lord of Buckingham, who seems a

good sort of devil at the bottom, and to whom, in return for his hospitality, I shall relate all that history of the

diamonds, which can now compromise nobody but an old queen, who need not be ashamed, after being the

wife of a miserly creature like Mazarin, of having formerly been the mistress of a handsome nobleman like

Buckingham. Mordioux! that is the thing, and this Monk shall not get the better of me. Eh? and besides I

We know that, in general, D'Artagnan was not wanting in ideas; and during this soliloquy, D'Artagnan

buttoned his vest up to the chin, and nothing excited his imagination like this preparation for a combat of any

kind, called accinction by the Romans. He was quite heated when he reached the mansion of the Duke of

Albemarle. He was introduced to the viceroy with a promptitude which proved that he was considered as one

"My lord," said D'Artagnan, with that expression of frankness which the Gascon knew so well how to

Monk, as closely buttoned up morally as his antagonist was physically, replied: "Ask, my friend;" and his

"Because his majesty gives way sometimes to jest very compromising for his servants; and jesting, my lord,

Monk did all in his power not to betray his thought, but D'Artagnan watched him with too close an attention

not to detect an almost imperceptible flush upon his face. "Well, now, for my part," said he, with the most

natural air possible, "I am not an enemy of jesting, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan; my soldiers will tell you

that even many times in camp, I listened very indifferently, and with a certain pleasure, to the satirical songs

which the army of Lambert passed into mine, and which, certainly, would have caused the ears of a general

"Oh, my lord," said D'Artagnan, "I know you are a complete man; I know you have been, for a long time

placed above human miseries; but there are jests and jests of a certain kind, which have the power of irritating

Monk made a slight movement, which D'Artagnan perceived. "Eh! and in what," asked Monk, "in what can

"Yes, and this is what I cannot explain; but that arises, perhaps, from my want of knowledge of his character.

How can the king have the heart to jest about a man who has rendered him so many and such great services?

How can one understand that he should amuse himself in setting by the ears a lion like you with a gnat like

"But so it is. The king, who owed me a reward, might have rewarded me as a soldier, without contriving that

"No," said Monk, laughing: "it does not affect me in any way, I can assure you."

"Not as regards me, I can understand, you know me, my lord, I am so discreet that the grave would appear a

"It was well played, chevalier, that is all, and no more is to be said about it: you are a soldier, both brave and

cunning, which proves that you unite the qualities of Fabius and Hannibal. You employed your means, force

and cunning: there is nothing to be said against that: I ought to have been on guard."

"Ah! yes; I know, my lord, and I expected nothing less from your partiality; so that if it were only the

"Deal box," continued D'Artagnan, "with holes for the nose and mouth. In truth, my lord, all the rest was

well; but the box, the box! that was really a coarse joke." Monk fidgeted about in his chair. "And,

notwithstanding my having done that," resumed D'Artagnan, "I, a soldier of fortune, it was quite simple,

because by the side of that action, a little inconsiderate I admit, which I committed, but which the gravity of

"Oh!" said Monk, "believe me, I know you well, Monsieur d'Artagnan, and I appreciate you."

D'Artagnan never took his eyes off Monk; studying all which passed in the mind of the general, as he

"Well, then, whom does it concern?" said Monk, who began to grow a little impatient.

"Well! and suppose he should say all he knows?" said Monk, with a degree of hesitation.

"My lord," replied D'Artagnan, "do not dissemble, I implore you, with a man who speaks so frankly as I do.

You have a right to feel your susceptibility excited, however benignant it may be. What, the devil! it is not

the place for a man like you, a man who plays with crowns and scepters as a Bohemian plays with his balls; it

is not the place of a serious man, I said, to be shut up in a box like some freak of natural history; for you must

understand it would make all your enemies ready to burst with laughter, and you are so great, so noble, so

generous, that you must have many enemies. This secret is enough to set half the human race laughing, if you

were represented in that box. It is not decent to have the second personage in the kingdom laughed at."

Monk was quite out of countenance at the idea of seeing himself represented in his box. Ridicule, as

D'Artagnan had judiciously foreseen, acted upon him in a manner which neither the chances of war, the

"Oh! as to the king," said Monk, "fear nothing, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan; the king will not jest with

The momentary flash of his eye was noticed by D'Artagnan. Monk lowered his tone immediately: "The king,"

continued he, "is of too noble a nature, the king's heart is too high to allow him to wish ill to those who do

"Oh! certainly," cried D'Artagnan. "I am entirely of your grace's opinion with regard to his heart, but not as to

"Yes, I fear that in my absence Parbleu! If I were near them, I could answer for their silence."

"Was I not right in saying that the danger, if there was any danger, would not come from his majesty,

however disposed he may be to jest, but from your companions, as you say? To be laughed at by a king may

"Yes, I understand, that would be unbearable, that is why, my lord, I came to say, do you not think it

"Your presence will not prevent the report from spreading, if the tale has already transpired."

"Oh! it has not transpired, my lord, I will wager. At all events, be assured I am determined upon one thing."

"To blow out the brains of the first who shall have propagated that report, and of the first who has heard it.

After which I shall return to England to seek an asylum, and perhaps employment with your grace."

"Unfortunately, my lord, I am acquainted with nobody here but your grace, and if I should no longer find

"Listen to me, Monsieur d'Artagnan," replied Monk; "you are a superior man, full of intelligence and

courage; you deserve all the good fortune this world can bring you; come with me into Scotland, and, I swear

"Oh! my lord, that is impossible. At present I have a sacred duty to perform; I have to watch over your glory,

I have to prevent a low jester from tarnishing in the eyes of our contemporaries who knows? in the eyes of

"Doubtless. It is necessary, as regards posterity, that all the details of that history should remain a mystery;

for, admit that this unfortunate history of the deal box should spread, and it should be asserted that you had

not reestablished the king loyally, and of your own free will, but in consequence of a compromise entered

into at Scheveningen between you two. It would be vain for me to declare how the thing came about, for

though I know I should not be believed, it would be said that I had received my part of the cake, and was

Monk knitted his brow. "Glory, honor, probity!" said he, "you are but empty words."

"Mist!" replied D'Artagnan; "nothing but mist, through which nobody can see clearly."

"Well, then, go to France, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Monk; "go, and to render England more

"I have on the banks of the Clyde," continued Monk, "a little house in a grove, cottage as it is called here. To

"Faith! you will be there in your own home, and that will be the place of refuge you spoke of just now."

"For me to be obliged to your lordship to such an extent! Really, your grace, I am ashamed."

"Not at all, not at all, monsieur," replied Monk, with an arch smile; "it is I who shall be obliged to you. And,"

pressing the hand of the musketeer, "I shall go and draw up the deed of gift," and he left the room.

D'Artagnan looked at him as he went out with something of a pensive and even an agitated air.

"After all," said he, "he is a brave man. It is only a sad reflection that it is from fear of me, and not affection

that he acts thus. Well, I shall endeavor that affection may follow." Then, after an instant's deeper reflection,

"Bah!" said he, "to what purpose? He is an Englishman." And he in his turn went out, a little confused

"So," said he, "I am a landowner! But how the devil am I to share the cottage with Planchet? Unless I give

him the land, and I take the chateau, or that he takes the house and I nonsense! M. Monk will never allow

me to share a house he has inhabited, with a grocer. He is too proud for that. Besides, why should I say

anything about it to him? It was not with the money of the company I have acquired that property, it was with

my motherwit alone; it is all mine, then. So, now I will go and find Athos." And he directed his steps

CHAPTER 37. How D'Artagnan regulated the "Assets" of the Company before he established its

"Decidedly," said D'Artagnan to himself, "I have struck a good vein. That star which shines once in the life of

every man, which shone for Job and Iris, the most unfortunate of the Jews and the poorest of the Greeks, is

come at last to shine on me. I will commit no folly, I will take advantage of it; it comes quite late enough to

He supped that evening, in very good humor, with his friend Athos; he said nothing to him about the

expected donation, but he could not forbear questioning his friend, while eating, about country produce,

sowing, and planting. Athos replied complacently, as he always did. His idea was that D'Artagnan wished to

become a landowner, only he could not help regretting, more than once, the absence of the lively humor and

amusing sallies of the cheerful companion of former days. In fact, D'Artagnan was so absorbed, that, with his

knife, he took advantage of the grease left at the bottom of his plate, to trace ciphers and make additions of

The order, or rather license, for their embarkation, arrived at Athos's lodgings that evening. While this paper

was remitted to the comte, another messenger brought to D'Artagnan a little bundle of parchments, adorned

with all the seals employed in setting off property deeds in England. Athos surprised him turning over the

leaves of these different acts which establish the transmission of property. The prudent Monk others

would say the generous Monk had commuted the donation into a sale, and acknowledged the receipt of

the sum of fifteen thousand crowns as the price of the property ceded. The messenger was gone. D'Artagnan

still continued reading, Athos watched him with a smile. D'Artagnan, surprising one of those smiles over his

"No, don't tell me anything, I beg you; orders are things so sacred, that to one's brother, one's father, the

person charged with such orders should never open his mouth. Thus I, who speak to you, and love you more

"I shall love Raoul still better when he shall be a man, and I shall have seen him develop himself in all the

"You said, then, that you had an order likewise, and that you would not communicate it to me."

The Gascon sighed. "There was a time," said he, "when you would have placed that order open upon the

"That is true. Oh! that was the time of youth, confidence, the generous season when the blood commands,

"That delightful time, that generous season, that ruling by warm blood, were all very fine things, no doubt;

but I do not regret them at all. It is absolutely like the period of studies. I have constantly met with fools who

would boast of the days of pensums, ferules and crusts of dry bread. It is singular, but I never loved all that;

for my part, however active and sober I might be (you know if I was so, Athos), however simple I might

appear in my clothes, I would not the less have preferred the braveries and embroideries of Porthos to my

little perforated cassock, which gave passage to the wind in winter and the sun in summer. I should always,

my friend, mistrust him who would pretend to prefer evil to good. Now, in times past all went wrong with

me, and every month found a fresh hole in my cassock and in my skin, a gold crown less in my poor purse; of

that execrable time of small beer and seesaw, I regret absolutely nothing, nothing, nothing save our

friendship; for within me I have a heart, and it is a miracle that heart has not been dried up by the wind of

poverty which passed through the holes of my cloak, or pierced by the swords of all shapes which passed

"Do not regret our friendship," said Athos, "that will only die with ourselves. Friendship is composed, above

all things, of memories and habits, and if you have just now made a little satire upon mine, because I hesitate

"Who! I? Oh! heavens! if you knew, my dear friend, how indifferent all the missions of the world will

henceforth become to me!" And he laid his hand upon the parchment in his vest pocket.

"Since I have known you, my friend," said D'Artagnan, "I have never discharged the reckoning. Porthos often

did, Aramis sometimes, and you, you almost always drew out your purse with the dessert. I am now rich and

The two friends then directed their steps towards the port, not, however, without D'Artagnan's frequently

turning round to watch the transportation of his dear crowns. Night had just spread her thick veil over the

yellow waters of the Thames; they heard those noises of casks and pulleys, the preliminaries of preparing to

sail which had so many times made the hearts of the musketeers beat when the dangers of the sea were the

least of those they were going to face. This time they were to embark on board a large vessel which awaited

them at Gravesend, and Charles II., always delicate in small matters, had sent one of his yachts, with twelve

men of his Scotch guard, to do honor to the ambassador he was sending to France. At midnight the yacht had

deposited its passengers on board the vessel, and at eight o'clock in the morning, the vessel landed the

ambassador and his friend on the wharf at Boulogne. Whilst the comte, with Grimaud, was busy procuring

horses to go straight to Paris, D'Artagnan hastened to the hostelry where, according to his orders, his little

army was to wait for him. These gentlemen were at breakfast upon oysters, fish, and spiced brandy, when

D'Artagnan appeared. They were all very gay, but not one of them had yet exceeded the bounds of reason. A

hurrah of joy welcomed the general. "Here I am," said D'Artagnan, "the campaign is ended. I am come to

bring to each his supplement of pay, as agreed upon." Their eyes sparkled. "I will lay a wager there are not, at

"Gentlemen," said D'Artagnan, "then, this is the last order. The treaty of commerce has been concluded

thanks to our coupdemain which made us masters of the most skillful financier of England, for now I am at

liberty to confess to you that the man we had to carry off was the treasurer of General Monk."

This word treasurer produced a certain effect on his army. D'Artagnan observed that the eyes of Menneville

alone did not evince perfect faith. "This treasurer," he continued, "I conveyed to a neutral territory, Holland; I

forced him to sign the treaty; I have even reconducted him to Newcastle, and as he was obliged to be satisfied

with our proceedings towards him the deal coffer being always carried without jolting, and being lined

softly, I asked for a gratification for you. Here it is." He threw a respectablelooking purse upon the cloth;

and all involuntarily stretched out their hands. "One moment, my lambs," said D'Artagnan; "if there are

"We are about to find ourselves, my friends, in a position that would not be tenable for people without brains.

"That is easily understood. It was necessary to explain to General Monk the disappearance of his treasurer. I

waited, for that purpose, till the very unhopedfor moment of the restoration of King Charles II., who is one of

The army exchanged a glance of satisfaction in reply to the sufficiently proud look of D'Artagnan. "The king

being restored, I restored to Monk his man of business, a little plucked, it is true, but, in short, I restored him.

Now, General Monk, when he pardoned me, for he has pardoned me, could not help repeating these words to

me, which I charge every one of you to engrave deeply there, between the eyes, under the vault of the

cranium: `Monsieur, the joke has been a good one, but I don't naturally like jokes; if ever a word of what

you have done' (you understand me, Menneville) `escapes from your lips, or the lips of your companions, I

have, in my government of Scotland and Ireland, seven hundred and fortyone wooden gibbets, of strong

oak, clamped with iron, and freshly greased every week. I will make a present of one of these gibbets to each

of you, and observe well, M. d'Artagnan,' added he (observe it also, M. Menneville), `I shall still have seven

"A mere trifle. `Monsieur d'Artagnan, I send to the king of France the treaty in question, with a request that

he will cast into the Bastile provisionally, and then send to me, all who have taken part in this expedition; and

"There! there! there," said D'Artagnan, "this brave M. Monk has forgotten one thing, and that is he does not

know the name of any one of you, I alone know you, and it is not I, you may well believe, who will betray

you. Why should I? As for you I cannot suppose you will be silly enough to denounce yourselves, for then

the king, to spare himself the expense of feeding and lodging you, will send you off to Scotland, where the

seven hundred and fortyone gibbets are to be found. That is all, messieurs; I have not another word to add to

what I have had the honor to tell you. I am sure you have understood me perfectly well, have you not, M.

"Now the crowns!" said D'Artagnan. "Shut the doors," he cried, and opened the bag upon the table, from

which rolled several fine gold crowns. Every one made a movement towards the floor.

"Gently!" cried D'Artagnan. "Let no one stoop, and then I shall not be out in my reckoning." He found it all

right, gave fifty of those splendid crowns to each man, and received as many benedictions as he bestowed

pieces. "Now," said he, "if it were possible for you to reform a little, if you could become good and honest

"Because I might be able to find you again, and, who knows what other good fortune?" He made a sign to

Menneville, who listened to all he said with a composed air. "Menneville," said he, "come with me. Adieu

Menneville followed him, whilst the salutations of the auxiliaries were mingled with the sweet sound of the

"Menneville," said D'Artagnan, when they were once in the street, "you were not my dupe; beware of being

so. You did not appear to me to have any fear of the gibbets of Monk, or the Bastile of his majesty, King

Louis XIV., but you will do me the favor of being afraid of me. Then listen at the smallest word that shall

escape you, I will kill you as I would a fowl. I have absolution from our holy father, the pope, in my pocket."

"I assure you I know absolutely nothing, my dear M. d'Artagnan, and that your words have all been to me so

"I was quite sure you were an intelligent fellow," said the musketeer; "I have tried you for a length of time.

These fifty gold crowns which I give you above the rest will prove the esteem I have for you. Take them."

"With that sum you can really become an honest man," replied D'Artagnan, in the most serious tone possible.

"It would be disgraceful for a mind like yours, and a name you no longer dare to bear, to sink forever under

the rust of an evil life. Become a gallant man, Menneville, and live for a year upon those hundred gold

crowns: it is a good provision; twice the pay of a high officer. In a year come to me, and, Mordioux! I will

Menneville swore, as his comrades had sworn, that he would be as silent as the grave. And yet some one must

have spoken; and as, certainly, it was not one of the nine companions, and quite as certainly, it was not

Menneville, it must have been D'Artagnan, who, in his quality of a Gascon, had his tongue very near to his

lips. For, in short, if it were not he, who could it be? And how can it be explained that the secret of the deal

coffer pierced with holes should come to our knowledge, and in so complete a fashion that we have, as has

been seen, related the history of it in all its most minute details; details which, besides, throw a light as new

as unexpected upon all that portion of the history of England which has been left, up to the present day,

CHAPTER 38. In which it is seen that the French Grocer had already been established in the Seventeenth

His accounts once settled, and his recommendations made, D'Artagnan thought of nothing but returning to

Paris as soon as possible. Athos, on his part, was anxious to reach home and to rest a little. However whole

the character and the man may remain after the fatigues of a voyage, the traveler perceives with pleasure, at

the close of the day even though the day has been a fine one that night is approaching, and will bring a

little sleep with it. So, from Boulogne to Paris, jogging on, side by side, the two friends, in some degree

absorbed each in his individual thoughts, conversed of nothing sufficiently interesting for us to repeat to our

readers. Each of them given up to his personal reflections, and constructing his future after his own fashion,

was, above all, anxious to abridge the distance by speed. Athos and D'Artagnan arrived at the gates of Paris

"Where are you going, my friend?" asked Athos. "I shall direct my course straight to my hotel."

"No: after having embraced Raoul, with whom I have appointed a meeting at my hotel, I shall set out

"Au revoir! I should rather say, for why can you not come and live with me at Blois? You are free, you are

rich, I shall purchase for you, if you like, a handsome estate in the vicinity of Chiverny or of Bracieux. On the

one side you will have the finest woods in the world, which join those of Chambord; on the other, admirable

marshes. You who love sporting, and who, whether you admit it or not, are a poet, my dear friend, you will

find pheasants, rail and teal, without counting sunsets and excursions on the water, to make you fancy

yourself Nimrod and Apollo themselves. While awaiting the purchase, you can live at La Fere, and we shall

go together to fly our hawks among the vines, as Louis XIII. used to do. That is a quiet amusement for old

D'Artagnan took the hands of Athos in his own. "Dear count," said he, "I shall say neither `Yes' nor `No.' Let

me pass in Paris the time necessary for the regulation of my affairs, and accustom myself, by degrees, to the

heavy and glittering idea which is beating in my brain and dazzles me. I am rich, you see, and from this

moment until the time when I shall have acquired the habit of being rich, I know myself, and I shall be an

insupportable animal. Now, I am not enough of a fool to wish to appear to have lost my wits before a friend

like you, Athos. The cloak is handsome, the cloak is richly gilded, but it is new, and does not seem to fit me."

Athos smiled. "So be it," said he. "But a propos of this cloak, dear D'Artagnan, will you allow me to offer you

"When wealth comes to a man late in life or all at once, that man, in order not to change, must most likely

become a miser that is to say, not spend much more money than he had done before; or else become a

"Oh! but what you say looks very much like a sophism, my dear philosophic friend."

"Still less, Mordioux! Debts terrify me. Creditors appear to me, by anticipation like those devils who turn the

damned upon the gridirons, and as patience is not my dominant virtue, I am always tempted to thrash those

"You are the wisest man I know, and stand in no need of advice from any one. Great fools must they be who

"Look yonder, on the left, that small, long white house is the hotel where I lodge. You may observe that it has

but two stories; I occupy the first; the other is let to an officer whose duties oblige him to be absent eight or

nine months in the year, so I am in that house as in my own home, without the expense."

"Oh! how well you manage, Athos! What order and what liberality! They are what I wish to unite! But, of

"You are a flatterer! Well! adieu, dear friend. A propos, remember me to Master Planchet; he was always a

And they separated. During all this conversation, D'Artagnan had not for a moment lost sight of a certain

packhorse, in whose panniers, under some hay, were spread the sacoches (messenger's bags) with the

portmanteau. Nine o'clock was striking at SaintMerri. Planchet's helps were shutting up his shop.

D'Artagnan stopped the postilion who rode the packhorse, at the corner of the Rue des Lombards, under a

penthouse, and calling one of Planchet's boys, he desired him not only to take care of the two horses, but to

watch the postilion; after which he entered the shop of the grocer, who had just finished supper, and who, in

his little private room, was, with a degree of anxiety, consulting the calendar, on which, every evening, he

scratched out the day that was past. At the moment when Planchet, according to his daily custom, with the

back of his pen, erased another day, D'Artagnan kicked the door with his foot, and the blow made his steel

spur jingle. "Oh! good Lord!" cried Planchet. The worthy grocer could say no more; he had just perceived his

partner. D'Artagnan entered with a bent back and a dull eye: the Gascon had an idea with regard to Planchet.

"Good God!" thought the grocer, looking earnestly at the traveler, "he looks sad!" The musketeer sat down.

"My dear Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said Planchet, with a horrible palpitation of the heart. "Here you are! and

"Tolerably good, Planchet, tolerably good!" said D'Artagnan, with a profound sigh.

"Ah, I see," continued Planchet, more and more alarmed, "the expedition has been a trying one?"

"Yes," said D'Artagnan. A shudder ran down Planchet's back. "I should like to have something to drink," said

Planchet ran to the cupboard, and poured out to D'Artagnan some wine in a large glass. D'Artagnan examined

"Alas! that which you prefer, monsieur," said Planchet; "that good old Anjou wine, which was one day nearly

"Ah!" replied D'Artagnan, with a melancholy smile, "Ah! my poor Planchet, ought I still to drink good

"Come! my dear master," said Planchet, making a superhuman effort, whilst all his contracted muscles, his

pallor, and his trembling, betrayed the most acute anguish. "Come! I have been a soldier and consequently

have some courage; do not make me linger, dear Monsieur d'Artagnan; our money is lost, is it not?"

Before he answered, D'Artagnan took his time, and that appeared an age to the poor grocer. Nevertheless he

"And if that were the case," said he, slowly, moving his head up and down, "if that were the case, what would

Planchet, from being pale, turned yellow. It might have been thought he was going to swallow his tongue, so

D'Artagnan, with his neck elongated, his legs stretched out, and his hands hanging listlessly, looked like a

statue of discouragement. Planchet drew up a sigh from the deepest cavities of his breast.

"Well," said he, "I see how it is. Let us be men! It is all over, is it not? The principal thing is, monsieur, that

"Cordieu! monsieur!" said Planchet, "if it is so, we must not despair for that; you shall become a grocer with

me; I shall take you for my partner, we will share the profits, and if there should be no more profits, well,

why then we shall share the almonds, raisins and prunes, and we will nibble together the last quarter of Dutch

D'Artagnan could hold out no longer. "Mordioux!" cried he, with great emotion, "thou art a brave fellow on

my honor, Planchet. You have not been playing a part, have you? You have not seen the packhorse with the

"What horse? What bags?" said Planchet, whose trembling heart began to suggest that D'Artagnan was mad.

"Why, the English bags, Mordioux!" said D'Artagnan, all radiant, quite transfigured.

"Ah! good God!" articulated Planchet, drawing back before the dazzling fire of his looks.

"Imbecile!" cried D'Artagnan, "you think me mad! Mordioux! On the contrary, never was my head more

"Now give ten crowns to the postilion," said D'Artagnan, in the tone he would have employed in

commanding a maneuver; "two lads to bring up the two first bags, two to bring up the two last, and move,

Planchet rushed down the stairs, as if the devil had been at his heels. A moment later the lads ascended the

staircase, bending beneath their burden. D'Artagnan sent them off to their garrets, carefully closed the door,

"Now, we are by ourselves," said he, and he spread upon the floor a large cover, and emptied the first bag

into it. Planchet did the same with the second; then D'Artagnan, all in a tremble, let out the precious bowels

of the third with a knife. When Planchet heard the provoking sound of the silver and gold when he saw

bubbling out of the bags the shining crowns, which glittered like fish from the sweepnet when he felt

himself plunging his hands up to the elbow in that still rising tide of yellow and white coins, a giddiness

seized him, and like a man struck by lightning, he sank heavily down upon the enormous heap, which his

weight caused to roll away in all directions. Planchet, suffocated with joy, had lost his senses. D'Artagnan

threw a glass of white wine in his face, which incontinently recalled him to life.

"Ah! good heavens! good heavens! good heavens!" said Planchet, wiping his mustache and beard.

At that time, as they do now, grocers wore the cavalier mustache and the lansquenet beard, only the money

"Mordieux!" said D'Artagnan, "there are a hundred thousand crowns for you, partner. Draw your share, if you

"I confess that half an hour ago I regretted that I had to give you so much, but I now no longer regret it; thou

art a brave grocer, Planchet. There, let us close our accounts, for, as they say, short reckonings make long

"Oh! rather, in the first place, tell me the whole history," said Planchet; "that must be better than the money."

"Ma foi!" said D'Artagnan, stroking his mustache, "I can't say no, and if ever the historian turns to me for

information, he will be able to say he has not dipped his bucket into a dry spring. Listen, then, Planchet, I will

In a large chamber of the Palais Royal, hung with a dark colored velvet, which threw into strong relief the

gilded frames of a great number of magnificent pictures, on the evening of the arrival of the two Frenchmen,

the whole court was assembled before the alcove of M. le Cardinal de Mazarin, who gave a card party to the

A small screen separated three prepared tables. At one of these tables the king and the two queens were

seated. Louis XIV., placed opposite to the young queen, his wife, smiled upon her with an expression of real

happiness. Anne of Austria held the cards against the cardinal, and her daughterinlaw assisted her in the

game, when she was not engaged in smiling at her husband. As for the cardinal, who was lying on his bed

with a weary and careworn face, his cards were held by the Comtesse de Soissons, and he watched them with

The cardinal's face had been painted by Bernouin; but the rouge, which glowed only on his cheeks, threw into

stronger contrast the sickly pallor of his countenance and the shining yellow of his brow. His eyes alone

acquired a more brilliant luster from this auxiliary, and upon those sick man's eyes were, from time to time,

turned the uneasy looks of the king, the queen, and the courtiers. The fact is, that the two eyes of the Signor

Mazarin were the stars more or less brilliant in which the France of the seventeenth century read its destiny

Monseigneur neither won nor lost; he was, therefore neither gay nor sad. It was a stagnation in which, full of

pity for him, Anne of Austria would not have willingly left him; but in order to attract the attention of the sick

man by some brilliant stroke, she must have either won or lost. To win would have been dangerous, because

Mazarin would have changed his indifference into an ugly grimace; to lose would likewise have been

dangerous, because she must have cheated, and the infanta, who watched her game, would, doubtless, have

exclaimed against her partiality for Mazarin. Profiting by this calm, the courtiers were chatting. When not in

a bad humor, M. de Mazarin was a very debonnaire prince, and he, who prevented nobody from singing,

provided they paid, was not tyrant enough to prevent people from talking, provided they made up their minds

They were therefore chatting. At the first table, the king's younger brother, Philip, Duc d'Anjou, was admiring

his handsome face in the glass of a box. His favorite, the Chevalier de Lorraine, leaning over the back of the

prince's chair, was listening, with secret envy, to the Comte de Guiche, another of Philip's favorites, who was

relating in choice terms the various vicissitudes of fortune of the royal adventurer Charles II. He told, as so

many fabulous events, all the history of his perigrinations in Scotland, and his terrors when the enemy's party

was so closely on his track, of nights spent in trees, and days spent in hunger and combats. By degrees, the

fate of the unfortunate king interested his auditors so greatly, that the play languished even at the royal table,

and the young king, with a pensive look and downcast eye, followed, without appearing to give any attention

to it, the smallest details of this Odyssey, very picturesquely related by the Comte de Guiche.

The Comtesse de Soissons interrupted the narrator: "Confess, count, you are inventing."

"Madame, I am repeating like a parrot all the stories related to me by different Englishmen. To my shame I

Louis XIV. raised his intelligent and proud head. "Madame," said he, in a grave tone, still partaking

something of the timid child, "monsieur le cardinal will tell you that during my minority the affairs of France

were in jeopardy, and that if I had been older, and obliged to take sword in hand, it would sometimes have

"Thanks to God," said the cardinal, who spoke for the first time, "your majesty exaggerates, and your supper

"Oh!" cried Philip, inconsiderately, from his place, and without ceasing to admire himself, "I recollect

once, at Melun, the supper was laid for nobody, and that the king ate twothirds of a slice of bread, and

The whole assembly, seeing Mazarin smile, began to laugh. Courtiers flatter kings with the remembrance of

"It is not to be denied that the crown of France has always remained firm upon the heads of its kings," Anne

of Austria hastened to say, "and that it has fallen off of that of the king of England; and when by chance that

crown oscillated a little, for there are thronequakes as well as earthquakes, every time, I say, that

The Comte de Guiche was silent: the king composed his countenance, and Mazarin exchanged looks with

"It is of no consequence," said Philip, smoothing his hair; "my cousin Charles is not handsome, but he is very

brave, and fought like a landsknecht; and if he continues to fight thus, no doubt he will finish by gaining a

"The king of Holland, his ally, will give him some. I would willingly have given him some if I had been king

Louis XIV. blushed excessively. Mazarin affected to be more attentive to his game than ever.

"By this time," resumed the Comte de Guiche, "the fortune of this unhappy prince is decided. If he has been

deceived by Monk, he is ruined. Imprisonment, perhaps death, will finish what exile, battles, and privations

"Is it certain," said Louis XIV. "that his majesty Charles II., has quitted the Hague?"

"Quite certain, your majesty," replied the young man; "my father has received a letter containing all the

details; it is even known that the king has landed at Dover; some fishermen saw him entering the port; the rest

"I should like to know the rest," said Philip, impetuously. "You know, you, my brother."

Louis XIV. colored again. That was the third time within an hour. "Ask my lord cardinal," replied he, in a

"That means, my son," said Anne of Austria, laughing, "that the king does not like affairs of state to be talked

Philip received the reprimand with good grace, and bowed, first smiling at his brother, and then his mother.

But Mazarin saw from the corner of his eye that a group was about to be formed in the corner of the room,

and that the Duc d'Anjou, with the Comte de Guiche, and the Chevalier de Lorraine, prevented from talking

aloud, might say, in a whisper, what it was not convenient should be said. He was beginning, then, to dart at

them glances full of mistrust and uneasiness, inviting Anne of Austria to throw perturbation in the midst of

the unlawful assembly, when, suddenly, Bernouin, entering from behind the tapestry of the bedroom,

whispered in the ear of Mazarin, "Monseigneur, an envoy from his majesty, the king of England."

Mazarin could not help exhibiting a slight emotion, which was perceived by the king. To avoid being

indiscreet, rather than to appear useless, Louis XIV. rose immediately, and approaching his eminence, wished

him goodnight. All the assembly had risen with a great noise of rolling of chairs and tables being pushed

"Let everybody depart by degrees," said Mazarin in a whisper to Louis XIV., "and be so good as to excuse

me a few minutes. I am going to dispatch an affair about which I wish to converse with your majesty this

At the same time he turned round in his ruelle, the curtains of which, in falling, concealed the bed. The

"M. le Comte de Guiche," said he, in a fretful voice, whilst putting on, behind the curtain, his dressinggown,

The young man sat down at the table from which the king withdrew to talk with the two queens. A serious

game was commenced between the comte and several rich courtiers. In the meantime Philip was discussing

the questions of dress with the Chevalier de Lorraine, and they had ceased to hear the rustling of the

cardinal's silk robe from behind the curtain. His eminence had followed Bernouin into the closet adjoining the

The cardinal, on passing into his cabinet, found the Comte de la Fere, who was waiting for him, engaged in

admiring a very fine Raphael placed over a sideboard covered with plate. His eminence came in softly,

lightly, and silently as a shadow, and surprised the countenance of the comte, as he was accustomed to do,

pretending to divine by the simple expression of the face of his interlocutor what would be the result of the

But this time Mazarin was foiled in his expectation: he read nothing upon the face of Athos, not even the

respect he was accustomed to see on all faces. Athos was dressed in black, with a simple lacing of silver. He

wore the Holy Ghost, the Garter, and the Golden Fleece, three orders of such importance, that a king alone, or

Mazarin rummaged a long time in his somewhat troubled memory to recall the name he ought to give to this

icy figure, but he did not succeed. "I am told," said he, at length, "you have a message from England for me."

And he sat down, dismissing Bernouin, who, in his quality of secretary, was getting his pen ready.

"You speak very good French for an Englishman monsieur," said Mazarin, graciously, looking through his

fingers at the Holy Ghost, Garter, and Golden Fleece, but more particularly at the face of the messenger.

"It is remarkable that the king of England should choose a Frenchman for his ambassador; it is an excellent

"Comte de la Fere," replied Athos, bowing more slightly than the ceremonial and pride of the allpowerful

"I come on the part of his majesty the king of Great Britain to announce to the king of France" Mazarin

frowned "to announce to the king of France," continued Athos, imperturbably, "the happy restoration of

This shade did not escape his cunning eminence. Mazarin was too much accustomed to mankind, not to see in

the cold and almost haughty politeness of Athos, an index of hostility, which was not of the temperature of

"Yes, monseigneur." And the word "monseigneur" came so painfully from the lips of Athos that it might be

Athos took from an embroidered velvet bag which he carried under his doublet a dispatch. The cardinal held

out his hand for it. "Your pardon, monseigneur," said Athos. "My dispatch is for the king."

"Since you are a Frenchman, monsieur, you ought to know the position of a prime minister at the court of

"There was a time," replied Athos, "when I occupied myself with the importance of prime ministers, but I

"Then, monsieur," said Mazarin, who began to be irritated, "you will neither see the minister nor the king."

Mazarin rose. Athos replaced his dispatch in its bag, bowed gravely, and made several steps towards the door.

This coolness exasperated Mazarin. "What strange diplomatic proceedings are these!" cried he. "Have we

returned to the times when Cromwell sent us bullies in the guise of charges d'affaires? You want nothing

"Monsieur," said Athos, dryly, "I have never had, as you have, the advantage of treating with Cromwell; and I

have only seen his charges d'affaires sword in hand, I am therefore ignorant of how he treated with prime

ministers. As for the king of England, Charles II., I know that when he writes to his majesty King Louis

XIV., he does not write to his eminence the Cardinal Mazarin. I see no diplomacy in that distinction."

"Ah!" cried Mazarin, raising his attenuated hand and striking his head, "I remember now!" Athos looked at

him in astonishment. "Yes, that is it!" said the cardinal, continuing to look at his interlocutor; "yes, that is

certainly it. I know you now, monsieur. Ah! diavolo! I am no longer astonished."

"In fact, I was astonished that, with your eminence's excellent memory," replied Athos, smiling, "you had not

"Always refractory and grumbling monsieur monsieur What do they call you? Stop a name of a

river Potamos; no the name of an island Naxos; no, per Giove! the name of a mountain

Athos! now I have it. Delighted to see you again, and to be no longer at Rueil, where you and your damned

companions made me pay ransom. Fronde! still Fronde! accursed Fronde! Oh, what grudges! Why, monsieur,

have your antipathies survived mine? If any one had cause to complain, I think it could not be you, who got

out of the affair not only in a sound skin, but with the cordon of the Holy Ghost around your neck."

"My lord cardinal," replied Athos, "permit me not to enter into considerations of that kind. I have a mission to

fulfill. Will you facilitate the means of my fulfilling that mission, or will you not?"

"I am astonished," said Mazarin, quite delighted at having recovered his memory, and bristling with

malice "I am astonished, Monsieur Athos that a Frondeur like you should have accepted a mission

for the Mazarin, as used to be said in the good old times " And Mazarin began to laugh, in spite of a

"I have only accepted the mission near the king of France, monsieur le cardinal," retorted the comte, though

with less asperity, for he thought he had sufficiently the advantage to show himself moderate.

"And yet, Monsieur le Frondeur," said Mazarin gayly, "the affair which you have taken in charge must, from

"With which I have been given in charge, monseigneur. I do not run after affairs."

"Be it so. I say that this negotiation must pass through my hands. Let us lose no precious time, then. Tell me

"I have had the honor of assuring your eminence that only the letter of his majesty King Charles II. contains

"Pooh! you are ridiculous with your obstinacy, Monsieur Athos. It is plain you have kept company with the

Puritans yonder. As to your secret, I know it better than you do; and you have done wrongly, perhaps, in not

having shown some respect for a very old and suffering man, who has labored much during his life, and kept

the field for his ideas as bravely as you have for yours. You will not communicate your letter to me? You will

say nothing to me? Very well! Come with me into my chamber; you shall speak to the king and before the

king. Now, then, one last word: who gave you the Fleece? I remember you passed for having the Garter;

"Recently, my lord, Spain, on the occasion of the marriage of his majesty Louis XIV., sent King Charles II. a

brevet of the Fleece in blank, Charles II. immediately transmitted it to me, filling up the blank with my

Mazarin arose, and leaning on the arm of Bernouin, he returned to his ruelle at the moment the name of M. le

Prince was being announced. The Prince de Conde, the first prince of the blood, the conqueror of Rocroy,

Lens and Nordlingen, was, in fact, entering the apartment of Monseigneur de Mazarin, followed by his

gentlemen, and had already saluted the king, when the prime minister raised his curtain. Athos had time to

see Raoul pressing the hand of the Comte de Guiche, and send him a smile in return for his respectful bow.

He had time, likewise, to see the radiant countenance of the cardinal, when he perceived before him, upon the

table, an enormous heap of gold, which the Comte de Guiche had won in a run of luck, after his eminence

had confided his cards to him. So forgetting ambassador, embassy and prince, his first thought was of the

"Some fifty thousand crowns; yes, monseigneur!" replied the Comte de Guiche, rising. "Must I give up my

"Goodevening, monsieur le prince," said the minister, in a careless tone; "it is very kind of you to visit an

"A friend!" murmured the Comte de la Fere, at witnessing with stupor this monstrous alliance of words;

Mazarin seemed to divine the thought of the Frondeur, for he smiled upon him with triumph, and

immediately, "Sire," said he to the king, "I have the honor of presenting to your majesty, Monsieur le

Comte de la Fere, ambassador from his Britannic majesty. An affair of state, gentlemen," added he, waving

his hand to all who filled the chamber, and who, the Prince de Conde at their head, all disappeared at the

simple gesture. Raoul, after a last look cast at the comte, followed M. de Conde. Philip of Anjou and the

"A family affair," said Mazarin, suddenly, detaining them in their seats. "This gentleman is the bearer of a

letter in which King Charles II., completely restored to his throne, demands an alliance between Monsieur,

the brother of the king, and Mademoiselle Henrietta, granddaughter of Henry IV. Will you remit your letter

Athos remained for a minute stupefied. How could the minister possibly know the contents of the letter which

had never been out of his keeping for a single instant? Nevertheless, always master of himself, he held out the

dispatch to the young king, Louis XIV., who took it with a blush. A solemn silence reigned in the cardinal's

chamber. It was only troubled by the dull sound of the gold, which Mazarin with his yellow dry hand, piled

The maliciousness of the cardinal did not leave much for the ambassador to say; nevertheless, the word

"restoration" had struck the king, who, addressing the comte, upon whom his eyes had been fixed since his

entrance, "Monsieur," said he, "will you have the kindness to give us some details concerning the affairs

of England. You come from that country, you are a Frenchman, and the orders which I see glittering upon

"Monsieur," said the cardinal, turning towards the queenmother, "is an ancient servant of your majesty's,

Anne of Austria was as oblivious as a queen whose life had been mingled with fine and stormy days. She

looked at Mazarin, whose evil smile promised her something disagreeable; then she solicited from Athos, by

"Monsieur," continued the cardinal, "was a Treville musketeer, in the service of the late king. Monsieur is

well acquainted with England, whither he has made several voyages at various periods; he is a subject of the

These words made allusion to all the memories which Anne of Austria trembled to evoke. England, that was

her hatred of Richelieu and her love for Buckingham; a Treville musketeer, that was the whole Odyssey of

the triumphs which had made the heart of the young woman throb, and of the dangers which had been so near

overturning the throne of the young queen. These words had much power, for they rendered mute and

attentive all the royal personages, who, with very various sentiments, set about recomposing at the same time

the mysteries which the young had not seen, and which the old had believed to be forever effaced.

"Speak, monsieur," said Louis XIV., the first to escape from troubles, suspicions, and remembrances.

"Yes, speak," added Mazarin, to whom the little malicious thrust directed against Anne of Austria had

"Sire," said the comte, "a sort of miracle has changed the whole destiny of Charles II. That which men, till

"King Charles II.," continued Athos, "left the Hague neither as a fugitive nor a conqueror, but as an absolute

king, who, after a distant voyage from his kingdom, returns amidst universal benedictions."

"A great miracle, indeed," said Mazarin; "for, if the news was true, King Charles II., who has just returned

The king remained impassible. Philip, younger and more frivolous, could not repress a smile, which flattered

"It is plain," said the king, "there is a miracle; but God, who does so much for kings, monsieur le comte,

nevertheless employs the hand of man to bring about the triumph of His designs. To what men does Charles

"Why," interrupted Mazarin, without any regard for the king's pride "does not your majesty know that it is

"I ought to know it," replied Louis XIV., resolutely; "and yet I ask my lord ambassador the causes of the

"And your majesty touches precisely the question," replied Athos, "for without the miracle of which I have

had the honor to speak, General Monk would probably have remained an implacable enemy of Charles II.

God willed that a strange, bold, and ingenious idea should enter into the mind of a certain man, whilst a

devoted and courageous idea took possession of the mind of another man. The combinations of these two

ideas brought about such a change in the position of M. Monk, that, from an inveterate enemy, he became a

"These are exactly the details I asked for," said the king. "Who and what are the two men of whom you

"And the two ideas," said Mazarin; "I am more curious about ideas than about men, for my part."

"The second idea, the devoted, reasonable idea the least important, sir was to go and dig up a million

in gold, buried by King Charles I. at Newcastle, and to purchase with that gold the adherence of Monk."

"Oh, oh!" said Mazarin, reanimated by the word million. "But Newcastle was at the time occupied by Monk."

"Yes, monsieur le cardinal, and that is why I venture to call the idea courageous as well as devoted. It was

necessary, if Monk refused the offers of the negotiator, to reinstate King Charles II. in possession of this

million, which was to be torn, as it were, from the loyalty and not the royalism of General Monk. This was

effected in spite of many difficulties: the general proved to be loyal, and allowed the money to be taken

"It seems to me," said the timid, thoughtful king, "that Charles II. could not have known of this million whilst

"It seems to me," rejoined the cardinal, maliciously, "that his majesty the king of Great Britain knew perfectly

"Sire," said Athos, firmly, "the king of England, whilst in France, was so poor that he had not even money to

take the post; so destitute of hope that he frequently thought of dying. He was so entirely ignorant of the

existence of the million at Newcastle, that but for a gentleman one of your majesty's subjects the moral

depositary of the million, who revealed the secret to King Charles II., that prince would still be vegetating in

"Let us pass on to the strange, bold and ingenious idea," interrupted Mazarin, whose sagacity foresaw a

"This M. Monk formed the only obstacle to the reestablishment of the fallen king. A Frenchman

"Oh! oh! but he is a scoundrel, that Frenchman," said Mazarin, "and the idea is not so ingenious as to prevent

its author being tied up by the neck at the Place de Greve, by decree of the parliament."

"Your eminence is mistaken," replied Athos, dryly; "I did not say that the Frenchman in question had

resolved to assassinate M. Monk, but only to suppress him. The words of the French language have a value

which the gentlemen of France know perfectly. Besides, this is an affair of war; and when men serve kings

against their enemies they are not to be condemned by a parliament God is their judge. This French

gentleman, then, formed the idea of gaining possession of the person of Monk, and he executed his plan."

The king became animated at the recital of great actions. The king's younger brother struck the table with his

"Good! There are the two little lions unchained," murmured the cardinal. And with an air of spite, which he

did not dissemble: "I am unacquainted with these details, will you guarantee their authenticity, monsieur?"

The king had involuntarily drawn close to the count, the Duc d'Anjou had turned sharply round, and pressed

"Sire, M. Monk, being taken by the Frenchman, was brought to King Charles II., at the Hague. The king gave

back his freedom to Monk, and the grateful general, in return, gave Charles II. the throne of Great Britain, for

Philip clapped his hands with enthusiasm; Louis XIV., more reflective, turned towards the Comte de la Fere.

A murmur of admiration made the heart of Athos swell with pleasure. He had reason to be proud, at least.

"Monsieur," said the king, "I shall seek, and find means to reward you." Athos made a movement. "Oh, not

for your honesty, to be paid for that would humiliate you, but I owe you a reward for having participated in

"It is the triumph of a good cause which fills the whole house of France with joy," said Anne of Austria.

"I continue," said Louis XIV. "Is it also true that a single man penetrated to Monk, in his camp, and carried

Anne of Austria colored; Mazarin became yellow with shame; Louis XIV. was deeply thoughtful, and a drop

of moisture fell from his pale brow. "What men!" murmured he. And, involuntarily, he darted a glance at the

minister which would have terrified him, if Mazarin, at the moment, had not concealed his head under his

"Monsieur," said the young Duc d'Anjou, placing his hand, delicate and white as that of a woman, upon the

arm of Athos, "tell that brave man, I beg you, that Monsieur, brother of the king, will tomorrow drink his

health before five hundred of the best gentlemen of France." And, on finishing these words, the young man,

perceiving that his enthusiasm had deranged one of his ruffles, set to work to put it to rights with the greatest

"Let us resume business, sire," interrupted Mazarin who never was enthusiastic, and who wore no ruffles.

"Yes, monsieur," replied Louis XIV. "Pursue your communication, monsieur le comte," added he, turning

Athos immediately began and offered in due form the hand of the Princess Henrietta Stuart to the young

prince, the king's brother. The conference lasted an hour; after which the doors of the chamber were thrown

open to the courtiers, who resumed their places as if nothing had been kept from them in the occupations of

that evening. Athos then found himself again with Raoul, and the father and son were able to clasp each

Whilst Mazarin was endeavoring to recover from the serious alarm he had just experienced, Athos and Raoul

were exchanging a few words in a corner of the apartment. "Well, here you are at Paris, then, Raoul?" said

"I cannot converse freely with you here, because we are observed; but I shall return home presently, and shall

Raoul bowed, and, at that moment, M. le Prince came up to them. The prince had that clear and keen look

which distinguishes birds of prey of the noble species; his physiognomy itself presented several distinct traits

of this resemblance. It is known that in the Prince de Conde, the aquiline nose rose out sharply and incisively

from a brow slightly retreating, rather low than high, and according to the railers of the court, a pitiless

race even for genius, constituted rather an eagle's beak than a human nose, in the heir of the illustrious

princes of the house of Conde. This penetrating look, this imperious expression of the whole countenance

generally disturbed those to whom the prince spoke, more than either majesty or regular beauty could have

done in the conqueror of Rocroy. Besides this, the fire mounted so suddenly to his projecting eyes, that with

the prince every sort of animation resembled passion. Now, on account of his rank, everybody at the court

respected M. le Prince, and many even, seeing only the man, carried their respect as far as terror.

Louis de Conde then advanced towards the Comte de la Fere and Raoul, with the marked intention of being

saluted by the one, and of speaking to the other. No man bowed with more reserved grace than the Comte de

la Fere. He disdained to put into a salutation all the shades which a courtier ordinarily borrows from the same

color the desire to please. Athos knew his own personal value, and bowed to the prince like a man,

correcting by something sympathetic and undefinable that which might have appeared offensive to the pride

of the highest rank in the inflexibility of his attitude. The prince was about to speak to Raoul. Athos

forestalled him. "If M. le Vicomte de Bragelonne," said he, "were not one of the humble servants of your

"I have the honor to address Monsieur le Comte de la Fere," said Conde instantly.

"One of the most honorable men in the kingdom," continued the prince; "one of the first gentlemen of France,

and of whom I have heard so much that I have frequently desired to number him among my friends."

"An honour of which I should be unworthy," replied Athos, "but for the respect and admiration I entertain for

"Monsieur de Bragelonne," said the prince, "is a good officer, and it is plainly seen that he has been to a good

This compliment, which savored so little of flattery, gave a thrill of joy to the man whom already Europe

"I regret very much," continued the prince, "that you should have retired from the service, monsieur le comte,

for it is more than probable that the king will soon have a war with Holland or England, and opportunities for

distinguishing himself would not be wanting for a man who, like you, knows Great Britain as well as you do

"I believe I may say, monseigneur, that I have acted wisely in retiring from the service," said Athos, smiling.

"France and Great Britain will henceforward live like two sisters, if I can trust my presentiments."

"Stop, monseigneur, listen to what is being said yonder, at the table of my lord the cardinal."

The cardinal had just raised himself on one elbow, and made a sign to the king's brother, who went to him.

"My lord," said the cardinal, "pick up, if you please, all those gold crowns." And he pointed to the enormous

pile of yellow and glittering pieces which the Comte de Guiche had raised by degrees before him by a

"I have been playing on your account, monseigneur," replied the cardinal, getting weaker and weaker, as if

"Oh, good heavens!" exclaimed Philip, wild with joy, "what a fortunate day!" And he himself, making a rake

of his fingers, drew a part of the sum into his pockets, which he filled, and still full a third remained on the

"Chevalier," said Philip to his favorite, the Chevalier de Lorraine, "come hither, chevalier." The favorite

This singular scene was considered by the persons present only as a touching kind of family fete. The

cardinal assumed the airs of a father with the sons of France, and the two young princes had grown up under

his wing. No one then imputed to pride, or even impertinence, as would be done nowadays, this liberality on

the part of the first minister. The courtiers were satisfied with envying the prince. The king turned away

"I never had so much money before," said the young prince, joyously, as he crossed the chamber with his

"But why has monsieur le cardinal given all this money at once?" asked M. le Prince of the Comte de la Fere.

"Yes, my lord, very ill; without doubt; he looks very ill, as your royal highness may perceive."

"But surely he will die of it. A hundred and fifty thousand crowns! Oh, it is incredible! But, comte tell me a

"Patience, monseigneur, I beg of you. Here comes M. le Duc d'Anjou, talking with the Chevalier de Lorraine;

I should not be surprised if they spared us the trouble of being indiscreet. Listen to them."

In fact the chevalier said to the prince in a low voice, "My lord, it is not natural for M. Mazarin to give you so

much money. Take care! you will let some of the pieces fall, my lord. What design has the cardinal upon you

"As I said," whispered Athos in the prince's ear; "that, perhaps, is the best reply to your question."

"Tell me, my lord," repeated the chevalier impatiently, as he was calculating, by weighing them in his pocket,

"Eh! yes, I am going to be married," replied the Duc d'Anjou, without perceiving, at the moment, he was

The chevalier darted at the young duke a glance so strange, and so malicious, that the Comte de la Fere quite

"You! you to be married!" repeated he; "oh! that's impossible. You would not commit such a folly!"

"Bah! I don't do it myself; I am made to do it," replied the Duc d'Anjou. "But come, quick! let us get rid of

our money." Thereupon he disappeared with his companion, laughing and talking, whilst all heads were

The prince reflected for a moment, and his eye shot forth one of its not unfrequent flashes. "Humph!" said he

slowly, as if speaking to himself; "our swords are once more to be hung on the wall for a long time!" and

All that sigh contained of ambition silently stifled, of extinguished illusions and disappointed hopes, Athos

alone divined, for he alone had heard that sigh. Immediately after, the prince took leave and the king left the

apartment. Athos, by a sign made to Bragelonne, renewed the desire he had expressed at the beginning of the

scene. By degrees the chamber was deserted, and Mazarin was left alone, a prey to suffering which he could

Bernouin, in great terror, rushed into the cabinet to give the order, and the piqueur, who hastened to fetch the

The cardinal's order was pressing; Guenaud quickly obeyed it. He found his patient stretched on his bed, his

legs swelled, his face livid, and his stomach collapsed. Mazarin had a severe attack of gout. He suffered

tortures with the impatience of a man who has not been accustomed to resistances. On seeing Guenaud:

Guenaud was a very learned and circumspect man, who stood in no need of the critiques of Boileau to obtain

a reputation. When facing a disease, if it were personified in a king, he treated the patient as a Turk treats a

Moor. He did not, therefore, reply to Mazarin as the minister expected: "Here is the doctor; goodbye

"I look as I should on seeing your complaint, my lord; it is a very dangerous one."

Mazarin raised himself upon his elbow, and, questioning by look and gesture: "What do you mean by that?

"My lord," said Guenaud, seating himself beside the bed, "your eminence has worked very hard during your

"But I am not old, I fancy. The late M. de Richelieu was but seventeen months younger than I am when he

died, and died of a mortal disease. I am young, Guenaud: remember, I am scarcely fiftytwo."

"Very well, be kind enough to reckon every year of the Fronde as three years that makes thirty; now

twenty and fiftytwo makes seventytwo years. You are seventytwo, my lord; and that is a great age."

Whilst saying this, he felt the pulse of his patient. This pulse was full of such fatal indications, that the

physician continued, notwithstanding the interruptions of the patient: "Put down the years of the Fronde at

"Ma foi! yes, my lord, and with a man of the mind and courage of your eminence, it ought not to be necessary

The cardinal breathed with such difficulty that he inspired pity even in a pitiless physician. "There are

"Is it not?" cried Mazarin, almost joyously; "for, in short, what else would be the use of power, of strength of

will? What would the use of genius be your genius, Guenaud? What would be the use of science and art,

"Remember," said he, "I am the most confiding of your patients; remember I obey you blindly, and that

"Monseigneur, there is neither strength of will, nor power, nor genius, nor science that can resist a disease

which God doubtless sends, or which He casts upon the earth at the creation, with full power to destroy and

His eminence sank down for a moment, like an unfortunate wretch who is crushed by a falling column. But

the spirit of Mazarin was a strong one, or rather his mind was a firm one. "Guenaud," said he, recovering

from his first shock, "you will permit me to appeal from your judgment. I will call together the most learned

men of Europe: I will consult them. I will live, in short, by the virtue of I care not what remedy."

"My lord must not suppose," said Guenaud, "that I have the presumption to pronounce alone upon an

existence so valuable as yours. I have already assembled all the good physicians and practitioners of France

"They said that your eminence was suffering from a mortal disease; I have the consultation signed in my

portfolio. If your eminence will please to see it, you will find the names of all the incurable diseases we have

"No, no!" cried Mazarin, pushing away the paper. "No, no, Guenaud, I yield! I yield!" And a profound

silence, during which the cardinal resumed his senses and recovered his strength, succeeded to the agitation

of this scene. "There is another thing," murmured Mazarin; "there are empirics and charlatans. In my country,

those whom physicians abandon run the chance of a quack, who kills them ten times but saves them a

"Has not your eminence observed, that during the last month I have changed my remedies ten times?"

"Well, I have spent fifty thousand crowns in purchasing the secrets of all these fellows: the list is exhausted,

"That ends it!" murmured the cardinal; "that ends it." And he threw a melancholy look upon the riches which

surrounded him. "And must I quit all that?" sighed he. "I am dying, Guenaud! I am dying!"

Mazarin seized his hand. "In what time?" asked he, fixing his two large eyes upon the impassible

"To ordinary men, perhaps not; but to me to me, whose every minute is worth a treasure. Tell me,

"I insist upon it, I tell you. Oh! give me a month and for every one of those thirty days I will pay you a

"My lord," replied Guenaud, in a firm voice, "it is God who can give you days of grace, and not I. God only

The cardinal breathed a painful sigh, and sank back upon his pillow, murmuring, "Thank you, Guenaud,

The physician was about to depart; the dying man, raising himself up: "Silence!" said he, with flaming eyes,

"My lord, I have known this secret two months; you see that I have kept it faithfully."

"Go, Guenaud, I will take care of your fortunes, go and tell Brienne to send me a clerk called M. Colbert.

Colbert was not far off. During the whole evening he had remained in one of the corridors, chatting with

Bernouin and Brienne, and commenting, with the ordinary skill of people of a court, upon the news which

developed like airbubbles upon the water, on the surface of each event. It is doubtless time to trace, in a few

words, one of the most interesting portraits of the age, and to trace it with as much truth, perhaps, as

contemporary painters have been able to do. Colbert was a man in whom the historian and the moralist have

He was thirteen years older than Louis XIV., his future master. Of middle height, rather lean than otherwise,

he had deepset eyes, a mean appearance, his hair was coarse, black and thin, which, say the biographers of

his time, made him take early to the skullcap. A look of severity, or harshness even, a sort of stiffness,

which, with inferiors, was pride, with superiors an affectation of superior virtue; a surly cast of countenance

upon all occasions, even when looking at himself in a glass alone such is the exterior of this personage. As

to the moral part of his character, the depth of his talent for accounts, and his ingenuity in making sterility

itself productive, were much boasted of. Colbert had formed the idea of forcing governors of frontier places

to feed the garrisons without pay, with what they drew from contributions. Such a valuable quality made

Mazarin think of replacing Joubert, his intendant, who had recently died, by M. Colbert, who had such skill

in nibbling down allowances. Colbert by degrees crept into court, notwithstanding his lowly birth, for he was

the son of a man who sold wine as his father had done, but who afterwards sold cloth, and then silk stuffs.

Colbert, destined for trade, had been clerk in Lyons to a merchant, whom he had quitted to come to Paris in

the office of a Chatelet procureur named Biterne. It was here he learned the art of drawing up an account, and

This stiffness of manner in Colbert had been of great service to him; it is so true that Fortune, when she has a

caprice, resembles those women of antiquity, who, when they had a fancy, were disgusted by no physical or

moral defects in either men or things. Colbert, placed with Michel Letellier, secretary of state in 1648, by his

cousin Colbert, Seigneur de SaintPenange, who protected him, received one day from the minister a

commission for Cardinal Mazarin. His eminence was then in the enjoyment of flourishing health, and the bad

years of the Fronde had not yet counted triple and quadruple for him. He was at Sedan, very much annoyed at

Of this intrigue Letellier held the thread. He had just received a letter from Anne of Austria, a letter very

valuable to him, and strongly compromising Mazarin; but, as he already played the double part which served

him so well, and by which he always managed two enemies so as to draw advantage from both, either by

embroiling them more and more or by reconciling them, Michel Letellier wished to send Anne of Austria's

letter to Mazarin, in order that he might be acquainted with it, and consequently pleased with his having so

willingly rendered him a service. To send the letter was an easy matter; to recover it again, after having

communicated it, that was the difficulty. Letellier cast his eyes around him, and seeing the black and meager

clerk with the scowling brow, scribbling away in his office, he preferred him to the best gendarme for the

Colbert was commanded to set out for Sedan, with positive orders to carry the letter to Mazarin, and bring it

back to Letellier. He listened to his orders with scrupulous attention, required the instructions to be repeated

twice, and was particular in learning whether the bringing back was as necessary as the communicating, and

Letellier replied sternly, "More necessary." Then he set out, traveled like a courier, without any care for his

body, and placed in the hands of Mazarin, first a letter from Letellier, which announced to the cardinal the

sending of the precious letter, and then that letter itself. Mazarin colored greatly whilst reading Anne of

The clerk turned upon his heel, after making his very best bow. The next day he was at his post at seven

o'clock. Mazarin made him wait till ten. He remained patiently in the antechamber; his turn having come, he

entered; Mazarin gave him a sealed packet. On the envelope of this packet were these words: Monsieur

Michel Letellier, etc. Colbert looked at the packet with much attention; the cardinal put on a pleasant

"Oh! very well," replied Colbert, and placing his hat between his knees, he began to unseal the packet.

"You mistrust me, then, master pedant, do you? Did any one ever see such impertinence?"

"Oh! my lord, do not be angry with me! It is certainly not your eminence's word I place in doubt, God

"It is the carefulness of your chancery, my lord. What is a letter? A rag. May not a rag be forgotten? And

look, my lord, look if I was not right. Your clerks have forgotten the rag; the letter is not in the packet."

"You are an insolent fellow, and you have not looked," cried Mazarin, very angrily, "begone and wait my

pleasure." Whilst saying these words, with perfectly Italian subtlety he snatched the packet from the hands of

But this anger could not last so long as not to be replaced in time by reason. Mazarin, every morning, on

opening his closet door, found the figure of Colbert like a sentinel behind the bench, and this disagreeable

figure never failed to ask him humbly, but with tenacity, for the queenmother's letter. Mazarin could hold

out no longer, and was obliged to give it up. He accompanied this restitution with a most severe reprimand,

during which Colbert contented himself with examining, feeling, even smelling, as it were, the paper, the

characters, and the signature, neither more nor less than if he had to deal with the greatest forger in the

kingdom. Mazarin behaved still more rudely to him, but Colbert, still impassible, having obtained a certainty

that the letter was the true one, went off as if he had been deaf. This conduct obtained for him afterwards the

post of Joubert; for Mazarin, instead of bearing malice, admired him, and was desirous of attaching so much

It may be judged by this single anecdote, what the character of Colbert was. Events, developing themselves,

by degrees allowed all the powers of his mind to act freely. Colbert was not long in insinuating himself into

the good graces of the cardinal: he became even indispensable to him. The clerk was acquainted with all his

accounts without the cardinal's ever having spoken to him about them. This secret between them was a

powerful tie, and this was why, when about to appear before the Master of another world, Mazarin was

desirous of taking good counsel in disposing of the wealth he was so unwillingly obliged to leave in this

world. After the visit of Guenaud, he therefore sent for Colbert, desired him to sit down. and said to him: "Let

us converse, Monsieur Colbert, and seriously, for I am very ill, and I may chance to die."

"I have always remembered that, M. Colbert, and I have worked with that end in view. You know that I have

"At how much do you estimate, as near as you can, the amount of this wealth, M. Colbert?"

"At forty millions, five hundred and sixty thousand, two hundred livres, nine cents, eight farthings," replied

The cardinal heaved a deep sigh, and looked at Colbert with wonder, but he allowed a smile to steal across

"I mean," said Colbert, "that besides those forty millions, five hundred and sixty thousand, two hundred

livres, nine cents, eight farthings, there are thirteen millions that are not known."

"The Theatin father, your eminence's director, was sent for this evening; and he cannot come again to my lord

Mazarin looked at Colbert, who rose and took his hat saying: "I shall come again, my lord."

Mazarin hesitated. "No, no," said he; "I have as much business to transact with you as with him. Besides, you

are my other confessor and what I have to say to one the other may hear. Remain where you are, Colbert."

"But, my lord, if there be no secret of penitence, will the director consent to my being here?"

The Theatin entered deliberately, without being too much astonished at the noise and agitation which anxiety

for the cardinal's health had raised in his household. "Come in, my reverend father," said Mazarin, after a last

"Begin by sitting down, and making yourself comfortable, for I am going to begin with a general confession,

you will afterwards give me a good absolution, and I shall believe myself more tranquil."

"My lord," said the father, "you are not so ill as to make a general confession urgent and it will be very

"How can I think it otherwise, when a man has lived so completely as your eminence has done?"

"Stop," said Mazarin; "there I begin to terrify myself with having allowed so many things to pass which the

"Is not that always so?" said the Theatin naively, removing further from the lamp his thin pointed face, like

that of a mole. "Sinners are so forgetful beforehand, and scrupulous when it is too late."

"Sinners?" replied Mazarin. "Do you use that word ironically, and to reproach me with all the genealogies I

*This is quite untranslatable it being a play upon the words pecheur, a sinner, and pecheur, a fisherman. It

"That is a first sin, father; for I have allowed myself made to descend from two old Roman consuls, S.

Geganius Macerinus 1st, Macerinus 2d, and Proculus Macerinus 3d, of whom the Chronicle of Haolander

speaks. From Macerinus to Mazarin the proximity was tempting. Macerinus, a diminutive, means leanish,

poorish, out of case. Oh! reverend father! Mazarini may now be carried to the augmentative Maigre, thin as

"In your having been born of a family of fishermen I see nothing injurious to you; for St. Peter was a

fisherman; and if you are a prince of the church, my lord, he was the supreme head of it. Pass on, if you

"So much the more for my having threatened with the Bastile a certain Bounet, a priest of Avignon, who

"Oh! if I had acted up to his idea, father, that would have been the vice of pride another sin."

"It was excess of wit, and a person is not to be reproached with such sorts of abuses. Pass on, pass on!"

"I was all pride. Look you, father, I will endeavor to divide that into capital sins."

"I am glad of that. You must know that in 1630 alas! that is thirtyone years ago "

"A hotheaded age. I was then something of a soldier, and I threw myself at Casal into the arquebuscades, to

show that I rode on horseback as well as an officer. It is true, I restored peace between the French and the

"I see no sin in being able to ride well on horseback," said the Theatin; "that is in perfect good taste, and does

honor to our gown. As a Christian, I approve of your having prevented the effusion of blood; as a monk I am

"Eh! that damned sin of pride has roots without end. From the time that I threw myself in that manner

between two armies, that I had smelt powder and faced lines of soldiers, I have held generals a little in

"The fact is," said the Theatin, "that the generals we have had have not been remarkable."

"Oh!" cried Mazarin, "there was Monsieur le Prince. I have tormented him thoroughly."

"He is not much to be pitied: he has acquired sufficient glory, and sufficient wealth."

"That may be, for Monsieur le Prince; but M. Beaufort, for example whom I held suffering so long in the

"Ah! but he was a rebel, and the safety of the state required that you should make a sacrifice. Pass on!"

"I believe I have exhausted pride. There is another sin which I am afraid to qualify."

"You cannot fail to have heard of certain relations which I have had with her majesty the queenmother;

"The malevolent, my lord, are fools. Was it not necessary for the good of the state and the interests of the

young king, that you should live in good intelligence with the queen? Pass on, pass on!"

"It has been printed that, to gain that object, I had sold Cambria to the Spaniards."

"You have, perhaps, yourself written pamphlets without severely persecuting pamphleteers."

"Then, reverend father, I have truly a clean breast. I feel nothing remaining but slight peccadilloes."

"That is rather worldly: but you were obliged by the duties of greatness to keep a good house."

"Well! reverend father, I feel nothing else upon my conscience. Give me absolution, and my soul will be able,

The Theatin moved neither his arms nor his lips. "What are you waiting for, father?" said Mazarin.

The Theatin coughed several times. "You have said nothing of avarice, another capital sin, nor of those

"Because, see you, our opinions differ. You say that money is yours, whilst I I believe it is rather the

Mazarin lifted his cold hand to his brow, which was beaded with perspiration. "How so?" stammered he.

"But what do you conclude from that, father?" said Mazarin, who began to tremble.

"I cannot conclude without seeing a list of the riches you possess. Let us reckon a little, if you please. You

"That of St. Medard at Soissons, with a revenue of one hundred thousand livres?"

"A good million a year. With the emoluments of the cardinalship and the ministry, I say too little when I say

"In ten years that is twenty millions, and twenty millions put out at fifty per cent give, by progression,

"Since your eminence placed our order in the convent we occupy, near St. Germain des Pres, in 1641, I have

"I conclude that your baggage is too heavy to allow you to pass through the gates of Paradise."

"Because," replied the father, "to absolve you for that motive would be a sin for which the king would never

Thereupon the confessor quitted his penitent with an air full of compunction. He then went out in the same

"Oh, good God!" groaned the cardinal. "Come here, Colbert, I am very, very ill indeed, my friend."

"A Theatin, monseigneur, is a bad judge in matters of finance," replied Colbert, coolly. "And yet it is very

possible that, according to his theological ideas, your eminence has been, in a certain degree, in the wrong.

"That is true, my lord. Against whom, however, did the Theatin make out that you had committed these

Mazarin shrugged his shoulders. "As if I had not saved both his state and his finances."

"Does it? Then I have received a merely legitimate salary, in spite of the opinion of my confessor?"

"And I might fairly keep for my own family, which is so needy, a good fortune, the whole, even, of which

"I felt assured that in consulting you, Colbert, I should have good advice," replied Mazarin, greatly delighted.

Colbert resumed his pedantic look. "My lord," interrupted he, "I think it would be quite as well to examine

"He believed your eminence to be at death's door, because your eminence consulted him. Did not I hear him

say `Distinguish that which the king has given you from that which you have given yourself.' Recollect,

my lord, if he did not say something a little like that to you? that is quite a theatrical speech."

"What, of all! You do not dream of such a thing! You speak just as the confessor did."

"To make restitution of a part, that is to say, his majesty's part; and that, monseigneur, may have its

dangers. Your eminence is too skillful a politician not to know that, at this moment, the king does not possess

"That is not my affair," said Mazarin, triumphantly; "that belongs to M. le Surintendant Fouquet, whose

Colbert bit his lips at the name of Fouquet. "His majesty," said he, between his teeth, "has no money but that

which M. Fouquet collects: your money, monseigneur, would afford him a delicious banquet."

"Well, but I am not the superintendent of his majesty's finances I have my purse surely I would do

"The legacy of a part would dishonor you and offend the king. Leaving a part to his majesty is to avow that

that part has inspired you with doubts as to the lawfulness of the means of acquisition."

"I am ignorant of nothing, my lord; during ten years, all the columns of figures which are found in France

have passed in review before me, and if I have painfully nailed them into my brain, they are there now so

well riveted, that, from the office of M. Letellier, who is sober, to the little secret largesses of M. Fouquet,

who is prodigal, I could recite, figure by figure, all the money that is spent in France from Marseilles to

"Then, you would have me throw all my money into the coffers of the king!" cried Mazarin, ironically; and

from whom, at the same time, the gout forced painful moans. "Surely the king would reproach me with

nothing, but he would laugh at me, while squandering my millions, and with good reason."

"Your eminence has misunderstood me. I did not, the least in the world, pretend that his majesty ought to

"Ah," replied Colbert, "that is because your eminence, absorbed as you are by your disease, entirely loses

"That character, if I may venture to express myself thus, resembles that which my lord confessed just now to

"Pride! Pardon me, my lord, haughtiness, nobleness; kings have no pride, that is a human passion."

"Well, my lord, if I have divined rightly, your eminence has but to give all your money to the king, and that

"To inherit, yes, Colbert, yes; he is anxious for my death in order to inherit. Triple fool that I am! I would

"That is plain enough. A young man who has yet done nothing who burns to distinguish himself who

burns to reign alone, will never take anything ready built, he will construct for himself. This prince,

monseigneur, will never be content with the Palais Royal, which M. de Richelieu left him, nor with the Palais

Mazarin, which you have had so superbly constructed, nor with the Louvre, which his ancestors inhabited;

nor with St. Germain, where he was born. All that does not proceed from himself, I predict, he will disdain."

"Saying certain things to him at the same time, I guarantee he will refuse them."

"An enormous one. Nobody will afterwards be able to accuse your eminence of that unjust avarice with

"You are right, Colbert, you are right; go, and seek the king, on my part, and take him my will."

"Then there would remain thirteen millions for your family, and that is a good round sum."

"And I am neither the one nor the other, my lord. You appear to be much afraid that the king will accept; you

"But, see you, if he does not accept, I should like to guarantee my thirteen reserved millions to him yes, I

will do so yes. But my pains are returning, I shall faint. I am very, very ill, Colbert; I am very near my

Colbert started. The cardinal was indeed very ill; large drops of sweat flowed down upon his bed of agony,

and the frightful pallor of a face streaming with water was a spectacle which the most hardened practitioner

could not have beheld without compassion. Colbert was, without doubt, very much affected, for he quitted

the chamber, calling Bernouin to attend the dying man and went into the corridor. There, walking about with

a meditative expression, which almost gave nobility to his vulgar head, his shoulders thrown up, his neck

stretched out, his lips half open, to give vent to unconnected fragments of incoherent thoughts, he lashed up

his courage to the pitch of the undertaking contemplated, whilst within ten paces of him, separated only by a

wall, his master was being stifled by anguish which drew from him lamentable cries, thinking no more of the

treasures of the earth, or of the joys of Paradise, but much of all the horrors of hell. Whilst burninghot

napkins, physic, revulsives, and Guenaud, who was recalled, were performing their functions with increased

activity, Colbert, holding his great head in both his hands, to compress within it the fever of the projects

engendered by the brain, was meditating the tenor of the donation he would make Mazarin write, at the first

hour of respite his disease should afford him. It would appear as if all the cries of the cardinal, and all the

attacks of death upon this representative of the past, were stimulants for the genius of this thinker with the

bushy eyebrows, who was turning already towards the rising sun of a regenerated society. Colbert resumed

his place at Mazarin's pillow at the first interval of pain, and persuaded him to dictate a donation thus

"About to appear before God, the Master of mankind, I beg the king, who was my master on earth, to resume

the wealth which his bounty has bestowed upon me, and which my family would be happy to see pass into

such illustrious hands. The particulars of my property will be found they are drawn up at the first

The cardinal sighed heavily as he signed this; Colbert sealed the packet, and carried it immediately to the

He then went back to his own home, rubbing his hands with the confidence of a workman who has done a

CHAPTER 47. How Anne of Austria gave one Piece of Advice to Louis XIV., and how M. Fouquet gave

The news of the extreme illness of the cardinal had already spread, and attracted at least as much attention

among the people of the Louvre as the news of the marriage of Monsieur, the king's brother, which had

already been announced as an official fact. Scarcely had Louis XIV. returned home, with his thoughts fully

occupied with the various things he had seen and heard in the course of the evening, when an usher

announced that the same crowd of courtiers who, in the morning, had thronged his lever, presented

themselves again at his coucher, a remarkable piece of respect which, during the reign of the cardinal, the

court, not very discreet in its preferences, had accorded to the minister, without caring about displeasing the

But the minister had had, as we have said, an alarming attack of gout, and the tide of flattery was mounting

towards the throne. Courtiers have a marvelous instinct in scenting the turn of events; courtiers possess a

supreme kind of science; they are diplomatists in throwing light upon the unraveling of complicated intrigues,

captains in divining the issue of battles, and physicians in curing the sick. Louis XIV., to whom his mother

had taught this axiom, together with many others, understood at once that the cardinal must be very ill.

Scarcely had Anne of Austria conducted the young queen to her apartments and taken from her brow the

headdress of ceremony, when she went to see her son in his cabinet, where, alone, melancholy and

depressed, he was indulging, as if to exercise his will, in one of those terrible inward passions king's

passions which create events when they break out, and with Louis XIV., thanks to his astonishing

command over himself, became such benign tempests, that his most violent, his only passion, that which

Saint Simon mentions with astonishment, was that famous fit of anger which he exhibited fifty years later, on

the occasion of a little concealment of the Duc de Maine's. and which had for result a shower of blows

inflicted with a cane upon the back of a poor valet who had stolen a biscuit. The young king then was, as we

have seen, a prey to a double excitement; and he said to himself as he looked in a glass, "O king! king by

name, and not in fact; phantom, vain phantom art thou! inert statue, which has no other power than

that of provoking salutations from courtiers, when wilt thou be able to raise thy velvet arm, or clench thy

silken hand? when wilt thou be able to open, for any purpose but to sigh, or smile, lips condemned to the

Then, passing his hand over his brow, and feeling the want of air, he approached a window, and looking

down, saw below some horsemen talking together, and groups of timid observers. These horsemen were a

fraction of the watch: the groups were busy portions of the people, to whom a king is always a curious thing,

the same as a rhinoceros, a crocodile, or a serpent. He struck his brow with his open hand, crying, "King

of France! what title! People of France! what a heap of creatures! I have just returned to my Louvre; my

horses, just unharnessed, are still smoking, and I have created interest enough to induce scarcely twenty

persons to look at me as I passed. Twenty! what do I say? no; there were not twenty anxious to see the king

of France. There are not even ten archers to guard my place of residence: archers, people, guards, all are at

the Palais Royal! Why, my good God! have not I, the king, the right to ask of you all that?"

"Because," said a voice, replying to his, and which sounded from the other side of the door of the cabinet,

"because at the Palais Royal lies all the gold, that is to say, all the power of him who desires to reign."

Louis turned sharply round. The voice which had pronounced these words was that of Anne of Austria. The

king started, and advanced towards her. "I hope," said he, "your majesty has paid no attention to the vain

declamations which the solitude and disgust familiar to kings suggest to the happiest dispositions?"

"I only paid attention to one thing, my son, and that was, that you were complaining."

"I thought I was under the ferule of my professor, and developing a subject of amplification."

"My son," replied Anne of Austria, shaking her head, "you are wrong not to trust my word; you are wrong

not to grant me your confidence. A day will come, and perhaps quickly, wherein you will have occasion to

remember that axiom: `Gold is universal power; and they alone are kings who are allpowerful.'"

"Your intention," continued the king, "was not, however, to cast blame upon the rich men of this age, was it?

"No," said the queen, warmly; "no, sire; they who are rich in this age, under your reign, are rich because you

have been willing they should be so, and I entertain against them neither malice nor envy; they have, without

doubt, served your majesty sufficiently well for your majesty to have permitted them to reward themselves.

"Besides," continued Anne of Austria, "the Lord never gives the goods of this world but for a season; the

Lord as correctives to honor and riches the Lord has placed sufferings, sickness, and death; and no

one," added she, with a melancholy smile, which proved she made the application of the funeral precept to

herself, "no man can take his wealth or greatness with him to the grave. It results, therefore, that the young

Louis listened with increased attention to the words which Anne of Austria, no doubt, pronounced with a

view to console him. "Madame," said he, looking earnestly at his mother, "one would almost say in truth that

"I have absolutely nothing, my son; only you cannot have failed to remark that his eminence the cardinal is

Louis looked at his mother, expecting some emotion in her voice, some sorrow in her countenance. The face

of Anne of Austria appeared a little changed, but that was from sufferings of quite a personal character.

Perhaps the alteration was caused by the cancer which had begun to consume her breast. "Yes, madame," said

"And it would be a great loss to the kingdom if God were to summon his eminence away. Is not that your

"Yes, madame; yes, certainly, it would be a great loss for the kingdom," said Louis, coloring; "but the peril

does not seem to me to be so great; besides, the cardinal is still young." The king had scarcely ceased

speaking when an usher lifted the tapestry, and stood with a paper in his hand, waiting for the king to speak to

"Give it to me," said the king; and he took the paper. But at the moment he was about to open it, there was a

"Ah, ah," said Louis XIV., who doubtless knew the meaning of that triple noise. "How could I say there was

As he spoke or thought thus, the door opened, and the superintendent of the finances, Fouquet, appeared

before his nominal master. It was he who made the noise in the antechamber, it was his horses that made the

noise in the courtyard. In addition to all this, a loud murmur was heard along his passage, which did not die

away till some time after he had passed. It was this murmur which Louis XIV. regretted so deeply not hearing

"He is not precisely a king, as you fancy," said Anne of Austria to her son; "he is only a man who is much too

Whilst saying these words, a bitter feeling gave to these words of the queen a most hateful expression;

whereas the brow of the king, calm and selfpossessed, on the contrary, was without the slightest wrinkle. He

nodded, therefore, familiarly to Fouquet, whilst he continued to unfold the paper given to him by the usher.

Fouquet perceived this movement, and with a politeness at once easy and respectful, advanced towards the

queen, so as not to disturb the king. Louis had opened the paper, and yet he did not read it. He listened to

Fouquet paying the most charming compliments to the queen upon her hand and arm. Anne of Austria's

frown relaxed a little, she even almost smiled. Fouquet perceived that the king, instead of reading, was

looking at him; he turned half round, therefore, and while continuing his conversation with the queen, faced

"Yes, sire, I know that," said Fouquet; "in fact, he is very ill. I was at my countryhouse of Vaux when the

"An hour and a half ago, yes, your majesty," said Fouquet, consulting a watch, richly ornamented with

"An hour and a half!" said the king, still able to restrain his anger, but not to conceal his astonishment.

"I understand you, sire. Your majesty doubts my word, and you have reason to do so, but I have really come

in that time, though it is wonderful! I received from England three pairs of very fast horses, as I had been

assured. They were placed at distances of four leagues apart, and I tried them this evening. They really

brought me from Vaux to the Louvre in an hour and a half, so your majesty sees I have not been cheated."

The queenmother smiled with something like secret envy. But Fouquet caught her thought. "Thus,

madame," he promptly said, "such horses are made for kings, not for subjects; for kings ought never to yield

"And yet," interrupted Anne of Austria, "you are not a king, that I know of, M. Fouquet."

"Truly not, madame; therefore the horses only await the orders of his majesty to enter the royal stables; and if

I allowed myself to try them, it was only for fear of offering to the king anything that was not positively

"You know, Monsieur Fouquet," said the queen, "that at the court of France it is not the custom for a subject

"I hoped, madame," said Fouquet, much agitated, "that my love for his majesty, my incessant desire to please

him, would serve to compensate the want of etiquette. It was not so much a present that I permitted myself to

"Thank you, Monsieur Fouquet," said the king politely, "and I am gratified by your intention, for I love good

horses; but you know I am not very rich; you, who are my superintendent of finances, know it better than any

one else. I am not able, then, however willing I may be, to purchase such a valuable set of horses."

Fouquet darted a haughty glance at the queenmother, who appeared to triumph at the false position in which

"Luxury is the virtue of kings, sire: it is luxury which makes them resemble God: it is by luxury they are

more than other men. With luxury a king nourishes his subjects, and honors them. Under the mild heat of this

luxury of kings springs the luxury of individuals, a source of riches for the people. His majesty, by accepting

the gift of these six incomparable horses, would stimulate the pride of his own breeders, of Limousin, Perche,

and Normandy, and this emulation would have been beneficial to all. But the king is silent, and consequently

During this speech, Louis was, unconsciously, folding and unfolding Mazarin's paper, upon which he had not

cast his eyes. At length he glanced upon it, and uttered a faint cry at reading the first line.

"What is the matter, my son?" asked the queen, anxiously, and going towards the king.

"From the cardinal," replied the king, continuing to read; "yes, yes, it is really from him."

"Read!" said the king, passing the parchment to his mother, as if he thought that nothing less than reading

would convince Anne of Austria of a thing so astonishing as was conveyed in that paper.

Anne of Austria read in turn, and as she read, her eyes sparkled with a joy all the greater from her useless

"Yes," said the king, replying pointedly to the superintendent of finances, "yes, at the point of death,

"Forty millions," cried the queen. "Oh, my son! this is very noble on the part of his eminence, and will silence

all malicious rumors; forty millions scraped together slowly, coming back all in one heap to the treasury! It is

the act of a faithful subject and a good Christian." And having once more cast her eyes over the act, she

restored it to Louis XIV., whom the announcement of the sum greatly agitated. Fouquet had taken some steps

backwards and remained silent. The king looked at him, and held the paper out to him, in turn. The

superintendent only bestowed a haughty look of a second upon it; then bowing, "Yes, sire," said he, "a

"You must reply to it, my son," said Anne of Austria; "you must reply to it, and immediately."

"Well!" replied Anne of Austria, "it seems to me, my son, that a man who has just made such a present has a

good right to expect to be thanked for it with some degree of promptitude." Then turning towards Fouquet:

"That the present is worth the trouble? Yes madame," said Fouquet, with a lofty air that did not escape the

"You have yourself said why, madame," replied Fouquet; "because kings cannot and ought not to receive

"But forty millions!" said Anne of Austria, in the same tone as that in which, at a later period, poor Marie

"I know," said Fouquet, laughing, "forty millions makes a good round sum, such a sum as could almost

"But monsieur," said Anne of Austria, "instead of persuading the king not to receive this present, recall to his

majesty's mind, you, whose duty it is, that these forty millions are a fortune to him."

"It is precisely, madame, because these forty millions would be a fortune that I will say to the king, `Sire, if it

be not decent for a king to accept from a subject six horses, worth twenty thousand livres, it would be

disgraceful for him to owe a fortune to another subject, more or less scrupulous in the choice of the materials

"It ill becomes you, monsieur, to give your king a lesson," said Anne of Austria; "better procure for him forty

"The king shall have them whenever he wishes," said the superintendent of finances, bowing.

"And were they not oppressed, madame," replied Fouquet, "when they were made to sweat the forty millions

given by this deed? Furthermore, his majesty has asked my opinion, I have given it; if his majesty ask my

"Nonsense! accept, my son, accept," said Anne of Austria. "You are above reports and interpretations."

"Refuse, sire," said Fouquet. "As long as a king lives, he has no other measure but his conscience, no

other judge than his own desires; but when dead, he has posterity, which applauds or accuses."

"Thank you, mother," replied Louis, bowing respectfully to the queen. "Thank you, Monsieur Fouquet," said

The day that the deed of gift had been sent to the king, the cardinal caused himself to be transported to

Vincennes. The king and the court followed him thither. The last flashes of this torch still cast splendor

enough around to absorb all other lights in its rays. Besides, as it has been seen, the faithful satellite of his

minister, young Louis XIV., marched to the last minute in accordance with his gravitation. The disease, as

Guenaud had predicted, had become worse; it was no longer an attack of gout, it was an attack of death; then

there was another thing which made that agony more agonizing still, and that was the agitation brought

into his mind by the donation he had sent to the king, and which, according to Colbert, the king ought to send

back unaccepted to the cardinal. The cardinal had, as we have said, great faith in the predictions of his

secretary; but the sum was a large one, and whatever might be the genius of Colbert, from time to time the

cardinal thought to himself that the Theatin also might possibly have been mistaken, and that there was at

least as much chance of his not being damned, as there was of Louis XIV. sending back his millions.

Besides, the longer the donation was in coming back, the more Mazarin thought that forty millions were

worth a little risk, particularly of so hypothetic a thing as the soul. Mazarin, in his character of cardinal and

prime minister, was almost an atheist, and quite a materialist. Every time that the door opened, he turned

sharply round towards that door, expecting to see the return of his unfortunate donation; then, deceived in his

hope, he fell back again with a sigh, and found his pains so much the greater for having forgotten them for an

Anne of Austria had also followed the cardinal; her heart, though age had made it selfish, could not help

evincing towards the dying man a sorrow which she owed him as a wife, according to some; and as a

sovereign, according to others. She had, in some sort, put on a mourning countenance beforehand, and all the

Louis, in order not to show on his face what was passing at the bottom of his heart, persisted in remaining in

his own apartments, where his nurse alone kept him company; the more he saw the approach of the time

when all constraint would be at an end, the more humble and patient he was, falling back upon himself, as all

strong men do when they form great designs, in order to gain more spring at the decisive moment. Extreme

unction had been administered to the cardinal, who, faithful to his habits of dissimulation, struggled against

appearances, and even against reality, receiving company in his bed, as if he only suffered from a temporary

Guenaud, on his part, preserved profound secrecy; wearied with visits and questions, he answered nothing but

"his eminence is still full of youth and strength, but God wills that which He wills, and when He has decided

that man is to be laid low, he will be laid low." These words, which he scattered with a sort of discretion,

reserve, and preference, were commented upon earnestly by two persons, the king and the cardinal.

Mazarin, notwithstanding the prophecy of Guenaud, still lured himself with a hope, or rather played his part

so well, that the most cunning, when saying that he lured himself, proved that they were his dupes.

Louis, absent from the cardinal for two days; Louis with his eyes fixed upon that same donation which so

constantly preoccupied the cardinal; Louis did not exactly know how to make out Mazarin's conduct. The son

of Louis XIII., following the paternal traditions, had, up to that time, been so little of a king that, whilst

ardently desiring royalty, he desired it with that terror which always accompanies the unknown. Thus, having

formed his resolution, which, besides, he communicated to nobody, he determined to have an interview with

Mazarin. It was Anne of Austria, who, constant in her attendance upon the cardinal, first heard this

proposition of the king's, and transmitted it to the dying man, whom it greatly agitated. For what purpose

could Louis wish for an interview? Was it to return the deed, as Colbert had said he would? Was it to keep it,

after thanking him, as Mazarin thought he would? Nevertheless, as the dying man felt that the uncertainty

"His majesty will be welcome, yes, very welcome," cried he, making a sign to Colbert, who was seated at

the foot of the bed, and which the latter understood perfectly. "Madame," continued Mazarin, "will your

majesty be good enough to assure the king yourself of the truth of what I have just said?"

Anne of Austria rose; she herself was anxious to have the question of the forty millions settled the

question which seemed to lie heavy on the mind of every one. Anne of Austria went out; Mazarin made a

great effort, and, raising himself up towards Colbert: "Well, Colbert," said he, "two days have passed away

"Are you mad, you wretch? You advise me to have patience! Oh, in sad truth, Colbert, you are laughing at

"My lord," said Colbert, with his habitual coolness, "it is impossible that things should not come out as I have

said. His majesty is coming to see you, and no doubt he brings back the deed himself."

"Do you think so? Well, I, on the contrary, am sure that his majesty is coming to thank me."

At this moment Anne of Austria returned. On her way to the apartments of her son she had met with a new

empiric. This was a powder which was said to have power to save the cardinal; and she brought a portion of

this powder with her. But this was not what Mazarin expected; therefore he would not even look at it,

declaring that life was not worth the pains that were taken to preserve it. But, whilst professing this

"That, madame," said he, "that is not the interesting part of my situation. I made, two days ago, a little

donation to the king; up to this time, from delicacy, no doubt, his majesty has not condescended to say

anything about it; but the time for explanation is come, and I implore your majesty to tell me if the king has

"The truth, madame," said he "in the name of Heaven, the truth! Do not flatter a dying man with a hope

that may prove vain." There he stopped, a look from Colbert telling him that he was on a wrong tack.

"I know," said Anne of Austria, taking the cardinal's hand, "I know that you have generously made, not a

little donation, as you modestly call it, but a magnificent gift. I know how painful it would be to you if the

"If the king," continued Anne of Austria, "should not freely accept what you offer so nobly."

Mazarin allowed himself to sink back upon his pillow like Pantaloon; that is to say, with all the despair of a

man who bows before the tempest; but he still preserved sufficient strength and presence of mind to cast upon

Colbert one of those looks which are well worth ten sonnets, which is to say, ten long poems.

"Should you not," added the queen, "have considered the refusal of the king as a sort of insult?" Mazarin

rolled his head about upon his pillow, without articulating a syllable. The queen was deceived, or feigned to

"Therefore," resumed she, "I have circumvented him with good counsels; and as certain minds, jealous, no

doubt, of the glory you are about to acquire by this generosity, have endeavored to prove to the king that he

ought not to accept this donation, I have struggled in your favor, and so well have I struggled, that you will

"Ah!" murmured Mazarin, with languishing eyes, "ah! that is a service I shall never forget for a single minute

"I must admit," continued the queen, "that it was not without trouble I rendered it to your eminence."

"So, then," resumed Mazarin, "your majesty thinks that the king "he stopped several seconds "that

At that moment the ushers announced that the king was in the antechambers, which were filled with people.

This announcement produced a stir of which Colbert took advantage to escape by the door of the ruelle. Anne

of Austria arose, and awaited her son, standing. Louis IV. appeared at the threshold of the door, with his eyes

fixed upon the dying man, who did not even think it worth while to notice that majesty from whom he

thought he had nothing more to expect. An usher placed an armchair close to the bed. Louis bowed to his

Then, as the king looked behind him, the usher understood that look and made a sign to the courtiers who

filled up the doorway to go out, which they instantly did. Silence fell upon the chamber with the velvet

curtains. The king, still very young, and very timid in the presence of him who had been his master from his

birth, still respected him much, particularly now, in the supreme majesty of death. He did not dare, therefore,

to begin the conversation, feeling that every word must have its weight not only upon things of this world,

but of the next. As to the cardinal, at that moment he had but one thought his donation. It was not physical

pain which gave him that air of despondency, and that lugubrious look; it was the expectation of the thanks

that were about to issue from the king's mouth, and cut off all hope of restitution. Mazarin was the first to

break the silence. "Is your majesty come to make any stay at Vincennes?" said he.

"That is a gracious favor," continued Mazarin, "granted to a dying man, and which will render death less

"I hope," replied the king, "I am come to visit, not a dying man, but a sick man, susceptible of cure."

"Your majesty is very kind; but I know more than you on that subject. The last visit, sire," said he, "the last

"If it were so, monsieur le cardinal," said Louis, "I would come a last time to ask the counsels of a guide to

Anne of Austria was a woman; she could not restrain her tears. Louis showed himself much affected, and

Mazarin still more than his two guests, but from very different motives. Here the silence returned. The queen

"I was saying," continued the king, "that I owed much to your eminence." The eyes of the cardinal devoured

the king, for he felt the great moment had come. "And," continued Louis, "the principal object of my visit

was to offer you very sincere thanks for the last evidence of friendship you have kindly sent me."

The cheeks of the cardinal became sunken, his lips partially opened, and the most lamentable sigh he had

"Sire," said he, "I shall have despoiled my poor family; I shall have ruined all who belong to me, which may

be imputed to me as an error; but, at least, it shall not be said of me that I have refused to sacrifice everything

"My dear Monsieur Mazarin," said the king, in a more serious tone than might have been expected from his

"I have no purpose to despoil your dear family, nor to ruin your servants. Oh, no, that must never be!"

"Humph!" thought Mazarin, "he is going to restore me some scraps; let us get the largest piece we can."

"The king is going to be foolishly affected and play the generous," thought the queen; "he must not be

allowed to impoverish himself; such an opportunity for getting a fortune will never occur again."

"Sire," said the cardinal, aloud, "my family is very numerous, and my nieces will be destitute when I am

"Oh," interrupted the queen, eagerly, "have no uneasiness with respect to your family, dear Monsieur

Mazarin; we have no friends dearer than your friends; your nieces shall be my children, the sisters of his

majesty; and if a favor be distributed in France, it shall be to those you love."

"Smoke!" thought Mazarin, who knew better than any one the faith that can be put in the promises of kings.

"Be comforted, my dear Monsieur Mazarin," said he, with a halfsmile, sad beneath its irony; "the

Mesdemoiselles de Mancini will lose, in losing you, their most precious good; but they shall none the less be

the richest heiresses of France; and since you have been kind enough to give me their dowry" the cardinal

was panting "I restore it to them," continued Louis, drawing from his breast and holding towards the

cardinal's bed the parchment which contained the donation that, during two days, had kept alive such

"What did I tell you, my lord?" murmured in the alcove a voice which passed away like a breath.

"Your majesty returns my donation!" cried Mazarin, so disturbed by joy as to forget his character of a

"Your majesty rejects the forty millions!" cried Anne of Austria, so stupefied as to forget her character of an

"Yes, my lord cardinal; yes, madame," replied Louis XIV., tearing the parchment which Mazarin had not yet

ventured to clutch; "yes, I annihilate this deed, which despoiled a whole family. The wealth acquired by his

"But, sire, does your majesty reflect," said Anne of Austria, "that you have not ten thousand crowns in your

"Madame, I have just performed my first royal action, and I hope it will worthily inaugurate my reign."

"Ah! sire, you are right!" cried Mazarin; "that is truly great that is truly generous which you have just

done." And he looked, one after the other, at the pieces of the act spread over his bed, to assure himself that it

was the original and not a copy that had been torn. At length his eyes fell upon the fragment which bore his

signature, and recognizing it, he sunk back on his bolster in a swoon. Anne of Austria, without strength to

"Oh! sire," cried Mazarin, "may you be blessed! My God! May you be beloved by all my family. Per Baccho!

If ever any of those belonging to me should cause your displeasure, sire, only frown, and I will rise from my

This pantalonnade did not produce all the effect Mazarin had counted upon. Louis had already passed to

considerations of a higher nature, and as to Anne of Austria, unable to bear, without abandoning herself to the

anger she felt burning within her, the magnanimity of her son and the hypocrisy of the cardinal, she arose and

left the chamber, heedless of thus betraying the extent of her grief. Mazarin saw all this, and fearing that

Louis XIV. might repent his decision, in order to draw attention another way he began to cry out, as, at a later

period, Scapin was to cry out, in that sublime piece of pleasantry with which the morose and grumbling

Boileau dared to reproach Moliere. His cries, however, by degrees, became fainter; and when Anne of

"Monsieur le cardinal," said the king, "have you any recommendations to make to me?"

"Sire," replied Mazarin, "you are already wisdom itself, prudence personified; of your generosity I shall not

venture to speak; that which you have just done exceeds all that the most generous men of antiquity or of

"So you confine yourself," said he, "to your thanks and your experience, much more extensive than my

wisdom, my prudence, or my generosity, does not furnish you with a single piece of friendly advice to guide

Mazarin reflected for a moment. "You have just done much for me, sire," said he, "that is, for my family."

"Well!" continued Mazarin, "I shall give you something in exchange for these forty millions you have refused

Louis XIV. indicated by a movement that these flatteries were displeasing to him. "I shall give you a piece of

advice," continued Mazarin; "yes, a piece of advice advice more precious than the forty millions."

The king bent over the dying man. "Sire," said Mazarin, in so low a tone that the breath of his words arrived

only like a recommendation from the tomb in the attentive ears of the king "Sire, never have a prime

Louis drew back astonished. The advice was a confession a treasure, in fact, was that sincere confession

of Mazarin. The legacy of the cardinal to the young king was composed of six words only, but those six

words, as Mazarin had said, were worth forty millions. Louis remained for an instant bewildered. As for

Mazarin, he appeared only to have said something quite natural. A little scratching was heard along the

curtains of the alcove. Mazarin understood: "Yes, yes!" cried he warmly, "yes, sire, I recommend to you a

"His name is yet almost unknown, sire; it is M. Colbert, my attendant. Oh! try him," added Mazarin, in an

earnest voice; "all that he has predicted has come to pass, he has a safe glance, he is never mistaken either in

things or in men which is more surprising still. Sire, I owe you much, but I think I acquit myself of all

"So be it," said Louis, faintly, for, as Mazarin had said, the name of Colbert was quite unknown to him, and

he thought the enthusiasm of the cardinal partook of the delirium of a dying man. The cardinal sank back on

"For the present, adieu, sire! adieu," murmured Mazarin. "I am tired, and I have yet a rough journey to take

The young king felt the tears rise to his eyes; he bent over the dying man, already half a corpse, and then

The whole night was passed in anguish, common to the dying man and to the king: the dying man expected

his deliverance, the king awaited his liberty. Louis did not go to bed. An hour after leaving the chamber of the

cardinal, he learned that the dying man, recovering a little strength, had insisted upon being dressed, adorned

and painted, and seeing the ambassadors. Like Augustus, he no doubt considered the world a great stage, and

was desirous of playing out the last act of the comedy. Anne of Austria reappeared no more in the cardinal's

apartments; she had nothing more to do there. Propriety was the pretext for her absence. On his part, the

cardinal did not ask for her: the advice the queen had given her son rankled in his heart.

Towards midnight, while still painted, Mazarin's mortal agony came on. He had revised his will, and as this

will was the exact expression of his wishes, and as he feared that some interested influence might take

advantage of his weakness to make him change something in it, he had given orders to Colbert, who walked

up and down the corridor which led to the cardinal's bedchamber, like the most vigilant of sentinels. The

king, shut up in his own apartment, dispatched his nurse every hour to Mazarin's chamber, with orders to

bring him back the exact bulletin of the cardinal's state. After having heard that Mazarin was dressed, painted,

and had seen the ambassadors, Louis heard that the prayers for the dying were being read for the cardinal. At

one o'clock in the morning, Guenaud had administered the last remedy. This was a relic of the old customs of

that fencing time, which was about to disappear to give place to another time, to believe that death could be

kept off by some good secret thrust. Mazarin, after having taken the remedy, respired freely for nearly ten

minutes. He immediately gave orders that the news should be spread everywhere of a fortunate crisis. The

king, on learning this, felt as if a cold sweat were passing over his brow; he had had a glimpse of the light

of liberty; slavery appeared to him more dark and less acceptable than ever. But the bulletin which followed

entirely changed the face of things. Mazarin could no longer breathe at all, and could scarcely follow the

prayers which the cure of SaintNicholasdesChamps recited near him. The king resumed his agitated walk

about his chamber, and consulted, as he walked, several papers drawn from a casket of which he alone had

the key. A third time the nurse returned. M. de Mazarin had just uttered a joke, and had ordered his "Flora,"

by Titian, to be revarnished. At length, towards two o'clock in the morning, the king could no longer resist his

weariness: he had not slept for twentyfour hours. Sleep, so powerful at his age, overcame him for about an

hour. But he did not go to bed for that hour, he slept in a fauteuil. About four o'clock his nurse awoke him by

"Well, my dear sire," said the nurse, clasping her hands with an air of commiseration. "Well, he is dead!"

The king arose at a bound, as if a steel spring had been applied to his legs. "Dead!" cried he.

"He came out of the chamber, and had held a glass for some minutes before the cardinal's lips."

"Sire, waiting at your door, till it shall be your good pleasure to receive him."

Louis ran to the door, opened it himself, and perceived Colbert standing waiting in the passage. The king

started at sight of this statue, all clothed in black. Colbert, bowing with profound respect, advanced two steps

towards his majesty. Louis reentered his chamber, making Colbert a sign to follow. Colbert entered; Louis

dismissed the nurse, who closed the door as she went out. Colbert remained modestly standing near that door.

"What do you come to announce to me, monsieur?" said Louis, very much troubled at being thus surprised in

"That monsieur le cardinal has just expired, sire; and that I bring your majesty his last adieu."

The king remained pensive for a minute; and during that minute he looked attentively at Colbert; it was

evident that the cardinal's last words were in his mind. "Are you, then, M. Colbert?" asked he.

"The friends and servants of his eminence will be dear to me, monsieur, and I shall take care that you are well

"Pardon me, sire, it was I who had the honor of giving monsieur le cardinal the idea of an economy which

"Your majesty knows that the hundred Swiss have silver lace on each side of their ribbons?"

"Well, sire, it was I who proposed that imitation silver lace should be placed upon these ribbons, it could not

be detected, and a hundred thousand crowns serve to feed a regiment during six months; and is the price of

"That is true," said Louis XIV., considering more attentively, "and, ma foi! that was a well placed economy;

"It was I who was appointed to examine the accounts of the superintendent, sire."

"Ah!" said Louis, who was about to dismiss Colbert, but whom that word stopped; "ah! it was you whom his

eminence had charged to control M. Fouquet, was it? And the result of the examination?"

"Not at all, monsieur, it is you who have controlled these accounts, give me the result."

"Beware, monsieur; you are roughly attacking the administration of M. Fouquet, who, nevertheless, I have

Colbert colored, and then became pale, for he felt that from that minute he entered upon a struggle with a

man whose power almost equaled the sway of him who had just died. "Yes, sire, a very able man," repeated

"But if M. Fouquet is an able man, and, in spite of that ability, if money be wanting, whose fault is it?"

"That is well; make out your accounts, and present them to me. There is a deficit, you say? A deficit may be

"I will create offices to make them resign, and the salary of the posts shall be paid into the treasury."

"Impossible, sire, for there have already been creations upon creations of offices, the provisions of which are

given in blank, so that the purchasers enjoy them without filling them. That is why your majesty cannot make

them resign. Further, upon each agreement M. Fouquet has made an abatement of a third, so that the people

have been plundered, without your majesty profiting by it. Let your majesty set down clearly your thought,

"Well, for example," resumed Louis XIV., "if today, the cardinal being dead, and I being king, suppose I

"Oh! that is strange, monsieur! How! my superintendent would not find me any money?"

"How is that?" said the king, "is the income of the state so much in debt that there is no longer any revenue?"

The king started. "Explain me that, M. Colbert," added he with a frown. "If it be so, I will get together the

ordonnances to obtain a discharge from the holders, a liquidation at a cheap rate."

"Impossible, for the ordonnances have been converted into bills, which bills, for the convenience of return

and facility of transaction, are divided into so many parts that the originals can no longer be recognized."

Louis, very much agitated, walked about, still frowning. "But, if this is as you say, Monsieur Colbert," said

"Yes, sire, and even as a beginning, I bring your majesty a note of funds which M. le Cardinal Mazarin was

not willing to set down in his testament, neither in any act whatever, but which he confided to me."

"Why, that man was a gulf!" murmured the king. "M. de Mazarin on one side, M. Fouquet on the other,

more than a hundred millions perhaps between them! No wonder my coffers should be empty!" Colbert

"Thirteen millions!" cried Louis, trembling with joy: "do you say thirteen millions, Monsieur Colbert?"

"In the cellar of a house which the cardinal possessed in the city, and which he was so kind as to leave me by

"Yes, sire, and here it is." Colbert drew the deed quietly from his pocket and showed it to the king. The king

"But," said he, "there is no question here but of the house; there is nothing said of the money."

Louis fixed his eyes with admiration upon that vulgar but expressive face. "You are an honest man, M.

"If this money belonged to the family it would be disposed of in the testament, as the rest of his fortune is. If

this money belonged to the family, I, who drew up the deed of donation in favor of your majesty, should have

added the sum of thirteen millions to that of forty millions which was offered to you."

"I had assured his eminence you would by no means accept the gift," said Colbert in that same quiet manner

we have described, and which, even in the common habits of life, had something solemn in it.

Louis passed his hand over his brow. "Oh! how young I am," murmured he, "to have the command of men."

Colbert waited the end of this monologue. He saw Louis raise his head. "At what hour shall I send the money

"Tonight, at eleven o'clock; I desire that no one may know that I possess this money."

Colbert bowed and retired. "Thirteen millions!" exclaimed Louis, as soon as he was alone. "This must be a

dream!" Then he allowed his head to sink between his hands, as if he were really asleep. But at the end of a

moment he arose, and opening the window violently he bathed his burning brow in the keen morning air,

which brought to his senses the scent of the trees, and the perfume of flowers. A splendid dawn was gilding

the horizon, and the first rays of the sun bathed in flame the young king's brow. "This is the dawn of my

In the morning, the news of the death of the cardinal was spread through the castle, and thence speedily

reached the city. The ministers Fouquet, Lyonne, and Letellier entered la salle des seances, to hold a council.

The king sent for them immediately. "Messieurs," said he, "as long as monsieur le cardinal lived, I allowed

him to govern my affairs; but now I mean to govern them myself. You will give me your advice when I ask

The ministers looked at each other with surprise. If they concealed a smile it was with a great effort, for they

knew that the prince, brought up in absolute ignorance of business, by this took upon himself a burden much

too heavy for his strength. Fouquet took leave of his colleagues upon the stairs, saying: "Messieurs! there

And he climbed gayly into his carriage. The others, a little uneasy at the turn things had taken, went back to

Paris together. Towards ten o'clock the king repaired to the apartment of his mother, with whom he had a

long and private conversation. After dinner, he got into his carriage, and went straight to the Louvre. There he

received much company, and took a degree of pleasure in remarking the hesitation of each, and the curiosity

of all. Towards evening he ordered the doors of the Louvre to be closed, with the exception of one only,

which opened on the quay. He placed on duty at this point two hundred Swiss, who did not speak a word of

French, with orders to admit all who carried packages, but no others; and by no means to allow any one to go

out. At eleven o'clock precisely, he heard the rolling of a heavy carriage under the arch, then of another, then

of a third; after which the gate grated upon its hinges to be closed. Soon after, somebody scratched with his

nail at the door of the cabinet. The king opened it himself, and beheld Colbert, whose first word was this:

The king then descended and went himself to see the barrels of specie, in gold and silver, which, under the

direction of Colbert, four men had just rolled into a cellar of which the king had given Colbert the key in the

morning. This review completed, Louis returned to his apartments, followed by Colbert, who had not

"Monsieur," said the king, "what do you wish that I should give you, as a recompense for this devotedness

"If your majesty were not to furnish me with that opportunity, I should not the less serve you. It is impossible

"Sire, the superintendent of the finances is the most powerful man in the kingdom."

"He will crush me in a week, sire. Your majesty gives me a controle for which strength is indispensable. An

"I had the honor of telling your majesty that during the lifetime of M. de Mazarin, M. Fouquet was the second

"Monsieur, I agree to what you told me of all things up to today; but tomorrow, please to remember, I shall

"I wish your majesty to allow me assistance in the labors of the office of intendant."

"Try the farmersgeneral and contractors, who, during ten years, have been robbing the state."

"Because you have to deal with people stronger than ourselves, if they are warned."

"No, sire; there is still another important affair. What rights does your majesty attach to this office of

"Sire, I desire that this office be invested with the right of reading the correspondence with England."

"Impossible, monsieur, for that correspondence is kept from the council; monsieur le cardinal himself carried

"I thought your majesty had this morning declared that there should no longer be a council?"

"Let your majesty then have the goodness to read all the letters yourself, particularly those from England; I

"That is all I ask of your majesty. Thanks, sire, I depart in peace;" and at these words he took his leave. Louis

watched his departure. Colbert was not yet a hundred paces from the Louvre when the king received a courier

from England. After having looked at and examined the envelope, the king broke the seal precipitately, and

found a letter from Charles II. The following is what the English prince wrote to his royal brother:

"Your majesty must be rendered very uneasy by the illness of M. le Cardinal Mazarin; but the excess of

danger can only prove of service to you. The cardinal is given over by his physician. I thank you for the

gracious reply you have made to my communication touching the Princess Henrietta, my sister, and, in a

week, the princess and her court will set out for Paris. It is gratifying to me to acknowledge the fraternal

friendship you have evinced towards me, and to call you, more justly than ever, my brother. It is gratifying to

me, above everything, to prove to your majesty how much I am interested in all that may please you. You are

having BelleIsleenMer secretly fortified. That is wrong. We shall never be at war against each other. That

measure does not make me uneasy, it makes me sad. You are spending useless millions, tell your ministers

so; and rest assured that I am well informed; render me the same service, my brother, if occasion offers."

The king rang his bell violently, and his valet de chambre appeared. "Monsieur Colbert is just gone; he

"No," said he, "no, I see the whole scheme of that man. BelleIsle belongs to M. Fouquet; BelleIsle is being

fortified: that is a conspiracy on the part of M. Fouquet. The discovery of that conspiracy is the ruin of the

superintendent, and that discovery is the result of the correspondence with England: this is why Colbert

wished to have that correspondence. Oh! but I cannot place all my dependence upon that man; he has a good

head, but I must have an arm!" Louis, all at once, uttered a joyful cry. "I had," said he, "a lieutenant of

"Thirteen millions in my cellar," said the king; "Colbert carrying my purse and D'Artagnan my sword I

The day of his arrival, on returning from the Palais Royal, Athos, as we have seen, went straight to his hotel

in the Rue SaintHonore. He there found the Vicomte de Bragelonne waiting for him in his chamber,

chatting with Grimaud. It was not an easy thing to talk with this old servant. Two men only possessed the

secret, Athos and D'Artagnan. The first succeeded, because Grimaud sought to make him speak himself;

D'Artagnan, on the contrary, because he knew how to make Grimaud talk. Raoul was occupied in making

him describe the voyage to England, and Grimaud had related it in all its details, with a limited number of

gestures and eight words, neither more nor less. He had, at first, indicated by an undulating movement of his

hand, that his master and he had crossed the sea. "Upon some expedition?" Raoul had asked.

Grimaud pointed to the sword; he pointed to the fire and to a musket that was hanging on the wall.

"It is strange," continued Raoul, "that monsieur le comte persists in considering me a novice, and not

Grimaud smiled. It was at this moment Athos came in. The host was lighting him up the stairs, and Grimaud,

recognizing the step of his master, hastened to meet him, which cut short the conversation. But Raoul was

launched on the sea of interrogatories, and did not stop. Taking both hands of the comte, with warm, but

respectful tenderness, "How is it, monsieur," said he, "that you have set out upon a dangerous voyage

without bidding me adieu, without commanding the aid of my sword, of myself, who ought to be your

support, now I have the strength; whom you have brought up like a man? Ah! monsieur, can you expose me

"Who told you, Raoul," said the comte, placing his cloak and hat in the hands of Grimaud, who had

Grimaud was embarrassed; Raoul came to his assistance, by answering for him. "It is natural, monsieur that

our good Grimaud should tell me the truth in what concerns you. By whom should you be loved and

Athos did not reply. He made a friendly motion to Grimaud, which sent him out of the room, he then seated

"But is it true," continued Raoul, "that your voyage was an expedition, and that steel and fire threatened

"Say no more about that, vicomte," said Athos mildly. "I set out hastily, it is true: but the service of King

Charles II. required a prompt departure. As to your anxiety, I thank you for it, and I know that I can depend

"I left orders with Blaisois to pay you a hundred pistoles, if you should stand in need of money."

"Monsieur, I had thirty pistoles left from the sale of the horses I took in my last campaign, and M. le Prince

had the kindness to allow me to win two hundred pistoles at his playtable three months ago."

"I never play, monsieur; it was M. le Prince who ordered me to hold his cards at Chantilly one night when

a courier came to him from the king. I won, and M. le Prince commanded me to take the stakes."

"Yes, monsieur; every week M. le Prince affords, upon one occasion or another, a similar advantage to one of

his gentlemen. There are fifty gentlemen in his highness's household; it was my turn."

"You would be wrong not to believe me," said Raoul. "I feel that I colored, and in spite of myself. The

question you did me the honor to ask me is of a nature to raise in me much emotion. I color, then, because I

Raoul's voice trembled as he pronounced these words. Athos, a sovereign judge in all matters of delicacy,

"Very, monsieur; you have forbidden me to go to Blois, or to see Mademoiselle de la Valliere again." Here

the young man stopped. That dear name, so delightful to pronounce, made his heart bleed, although so sweet

"And I have acted rightly, Raoul," Athos hastened to reply. "I am neither an unjust nor a barbarous father; I

respect true love; but I look forward for you to a future an immense future. A new reign is about to break

upon us like a fresh dawn. War calls upon a young king full of chivalric spirit. What is wanting to assist this

heroic ardor is a battalion of young and free lieutenants who would rush to the fight with enthusiasm and fall,

crying: `Vive le Roi!' instead of `Adieu, my dear wife.' You understand that, Raoul. However brutal my

reasoning may appear, I conjure you, then, to believe me, and to turn away your thoughts from those early

days of youth in which you took up this habit of love days of effeminate carelessness, which soften the

heart and render it incapable of consuming those strong, bitter draughts called glory and adversity. Therefore,

Raoul, I repeat to you, you should see in my counsel only the desire of being useful to you, only the ambition

of seeing you prosper. I believe you capable of becoming a remarkable man. March alone, and you will

"Commanded!" cried Athos. "Is it thus you reply to me? I have commanded you! Oh! you distort my words

"No, monsieur, you have commanded," said Raoul, persistently; "had you only requested me, your request is

even more effective than your order. I have not seen Mademoiselle de la Valliere again."

"Monsieur, you know I have traveled much, that I have passed two years far away from her. A habit would

yield to an absence of two years, I believe; whereas, on my return, I loved, not more, that was impossible, but

as much. Mademoiselle de la Valliere is for me the one lady above all others; but you are for me a god upon

"You are wrong," said Athos; "I have no longer any right over you. Age has emancipated you; you no longer

even stand in need of my consent. Besides, I will not refuse my consent after what you have told me. Marry

Raoul was startled, but suddenly: "You are very kind, monsieur," said he, "and your concession excites my

"But you have at the bottom of your heart an idea against this marriage: it is not your choice."

"Oh! monsieur," cried Raoul, with tears in his eyes, "is it possible that you should wound my heart thus? I

"Dear boy, that is true," murmured Athos, pressing his lips violently together to conceal the emotion of which

he was no longer master. "No, I will no longer afflict you; only I do not comprehend what you mean by

"I should wish to put the matter to a test, Raoul; I should like to see if Mademoiselle de la Valliere will wait

"But take care, Raoul! suppose she did not wait? Ah, you are so young, so confiding, so loyal! Women are

"You have never spoken ill to me of women, monsieur; you have never had to complain of them; why should

"That is true," said Athos, casting down his eyes; "I have never spoken ill to you of women; I have never had

to complain of them; Mademoiselle de la Valliere never gave birth to a suspicion; but when we are looking

forward, we must go even to exceptions, even to improbabilities! If, I say, Mademoiselle de la Valliere

"If she looked favorably upon another, do you mean, monsieur?" said Raoul, pale with agony.

"Well, monsieur, I would kill him," said Raoul, simply, "and all the men whom Mademoiselle de la Valliere

should choose, until one of them had killed me, or Mademoiselle de la Valliere had restored me her heart."

Athos started. "I thought," resumed he, in an agitated voice, "that you called me just now your god, your law

"You would forbid me to hope, monsieur; consequently you would not forbid me to die."

Athos raised his eyes toward the vicomte. He had pronounced these words with the most melancholy

inflection, accompanied by the most melancholy look. "Enough,"said Athos, after a long silence, "enough of

this subject, upon which we both go too far. Live as well as you are able, Raoul, perform your duties, love

Mademoiselle de; la Valliere; in a word, act like a man, since you have attained the age of a man; only do not

"Enough, dear boy, leave me; I want rest. A propos, M. d'Artagnan has returned from England with me; you

"I will pay it, monsieur, with great pleasure. I love Monsieur d'Artagnan exceedingly."

"At the Louvre, I suppose, or wherever the king is. Does he not command the musketeers?"

"No; at present M. d'Artagnan is absent on leave; he is resting for awhile. Do not, therefore, seek him at the

"You will say a thousand kind things to him, on my part, and ask him to come and dine with me before I set

"Monsieur, I see you wear an order I never saw you wear before; accept my compliments!"

"The Fleece! that is true. A bauble, my boy, which no longer amuses an old child like myself. Goodnight,

Raoul did not meet with D'Artagnan the next day, as he had hoped. He only met with Planchet, whose joy

was great at seeing the young man again, and who contrived to pay him two or three little soldierly

compliments, savoring very little of the grocer's shop. But as Raoul was returning the next day from

Vincennes, at the head of fifty dragoons confided to him by Monsieur le Prince, he perceived, in La Place

Baudoyer, a man with his nose in the air, examining a house as we examine a horse we have a fancy to buy.

This man, dressed in citizen costume buttoned up like a military pourpoint, a very small hat on his head, but a

long shagreenmounted sword by his side, turned his head as soon as he heard the steps of the horses, and

left off looking at the house to look at the dragoons. It was simply M. d'Artagnan; D'Artagnan on foot;

D'Artagnan with his hands behind him, passing a little review upon the dragoons, after having reviewed the

buildings. Not a man, not a tag, not a horse's hoof escaped his inspection. Raoul rode at the side of his troop;

"Mistaken no! Goodday to you," replied the exmusketeer; whilst Raoul eagerly pressed the hand of his

old friend. "Take care, Raoul," said D'Artagnan, "the second horse of the fifth rank will lose a shoe before he

Raoul hastened to give notice to the cornet, who took his post; he then dismounted, gave his horse to one of

the dragoons, and with great delight seized the arm of M. d'Artagnan, who had watched him during all these

"Are you on good terms with M. Fouquet?" asked D'Artagnan, with a disdainful movement of the shoulders,

"So much the worse! so much the worse! for a new king always seeks to get good men in his employment."

"I say nothing about the crown," cried D'Artagnan; "I am speaking of the king the king, that is M.

Fouquet, if the cardinal is dead. You must contrive to stand well with M. Fouquet, if you do not wish to

molder away all your life as I have moldered. It is true you have, fortunately, other protectors."

"Athos! Oh! that's different; yes, Athos and if you have any wish to make your way in England, you

cannot apply to a better person; I can even say, without too much vanity, that I myself have some credit at the

"Ah!" cried Raoul, with the natural curiosity of wellborn young people, while listening to experience and

"Yes, a king who amuses himself, it is true, but who has had a sword in his hand, and can appreciate useful

men. Athos is on good terms with Charles II. Take service there, and leave these scoundrels of contractors

and farmersgeneral, who steal as well with French hands as others have done with Italian hands; leave the

little snivelling king, who is going to give us another reign of Francis II. Do you know anything of history,

"Well, my dear friend, Louis XIV. always has the heartache; it is deplorable to see a king sighing from

morning till night without saying once in course of the day, ventresaintgris! corboeuf! or anything to rouse

"But you yourself, M. d'Artagnan, are throwing the handle after the axe; you will not make a fortune."

"Who? I?" replied D'Artagnan, in a careless tone; "I am settled I had some family property."

Raoul looked at him. The poverty of D'Artagnan was proverbial. A Gascon, he exceeded in illluck all the

gasconnades of France and Navarre; Raoul had a hundred times heard Job and D'Artagnan named together, as

"Yes, a very worthy friend of mine, a great nobleman, the viceroy of Scotland and Ireland, has endowed me

"On the contrary, the lookout over the water is pleasant. Oh! what a pretty old house!"

"The sign Notre Dame; it is an old cabaret, which I have transformed into a private house in two days."

"At ten years' purchase, my dear Raoul; a superb affair, I bought the house for thirty thousand livres; it has a

garden which opens to the Rue de la Mortillerie; the cabaret lets for a thousand livres, with the first story; the

"Therefore no one inhabits it, only, you see this garret has two windows which look out upon the Place."

"Well, then, every time anybody is broken on the wheel or hung, quartered, or burnt, these two windows let

"It is disgusting, but so it is. These Parisian cockneys are sometimes real anthropophagi. I cannot conceive

"As for myself," continued D'Artagnan, "if I inhabited that house, on days of execution I would shut it up to

"To the ferocious cabaretier, who sublets it. I said, then, fifteen hundred livres."

"Exactly so. I then have left the side of the house at the back, storerooms, and cellars, inundated every

winter, two hundred livres; and the garden, which is very fine, well planted, well shaded under the walls and

"This is the whole history. I strongly suspect some canon of the parish (these canons are all as rich as

Croesus) I suspect some canon of having hired the garden to take his pleasure in. The tenant has given the

name of M. Godard. That is either a false name or a real name; if true, he is a canon; if false, he is some

unknown; but of what consequence is it to me? he always pays in advance. I had also an idea just now, when

I met you, of buying a house in the Place Baudoyer, the back premises of which join my garden, and would

make a magnificent property. Your dragoons interrupted my calculations. But come, let us take the Rue de la

Vannerie: that will lead us straight to M. Planchet's." D'Artagnan mended his pace, and conducted Raoul to

Planchet's dwelling, a chamber of which the grocer had given up to his old master. Planchet was out, but the

dinner was ready. There was a remains of military regularity and punctuality preserved in the grocer's

"Well, never want, my boy! If ever you stand in need of a few pistoles, the old musketeer is at hand."

"Successful with the ladies, then? Oh, my little Aramis! That, my dear friend, costs even more than play.

It is true we fight when we lose, that is a compensation. Bah! that little sniveller, the king, makes winners

give him his revenge. What a reign! my poor Raoul, what a reign! When we think that, in my time, the

musketeers were besieged in their houses like Hector and Priam in the city of Troy, and the women wept, and

then the walls laughed, and then five hundred beggarly fellows clapped their hands, and cried, `Kill! kill!'

when not one musketeer was hurt. Mordioux! you will never see anything like that."

"You are very hard upon the king, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan; and yet you scarcely know him."

"I! Listen, Raoul. Day by day, hour by hour, take note of my words, I will predict what he will do. The

cardinal being dead, he will fret; very well, that is the least silly thing he will do, particularly if he does not

"Why then he will get M. Fouquet to allow him a pension, and will go and compose verses at Fontainebleau,

upon some Mancini or other, whose eyes the queen will scratch out. She is a Spaniard, you see, this queen

of ours, and she has, for motherinlaw, Madame Anne of Austria. I know something of the Spaniards of the

"Well, after having torn off the silver lace from the uniforms of his Swiss, because lace is too expensive, he

will dismount the musketeers, because the oats and hay of a horse cost five sols a day."

"Of what consequence is it to me? I am no longer a musketeer, am I? Let them be on horseback, let them be

on foot, let them carry a lardingpin, a spit, a sword, or nothing what is it to me?"

"My dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, I beseech you speak no more ill of the king. I am almost in his service, and

my father would be very angry with me for having heard, even from your mouth, words injurious to his

"Your father, eh? He is a knight in every bad cause. Pardieu! yes, your father is a brave man, a Caesar, it is

"Now, my dear chevalier," exclaimed Raoul, laughing, "are you going to speak ill of my father, of him you

call the great Athos. Truly you are in a bad vein today; riches render you as sour as poverty renders other

"Pardieu! you are right. I am a rascal and in my dotage; I am an unhappy wretch grown old; a tentcord

untwisted, a pierced cuirass, a boot without a sole, a spur without a rowel; but do me the pleasure to add

"More the reason I say was; if I did not hope that he was dead, I would entreat you to say: `Mazarin is a

"Mazarin was a pitiful wretch," said Raoul, smiling at the musketeer, who roared with laughter, as in his best

"A moment," said the latter; "you have spoken my first proposition, here is the conclusion of it, repeat,

And they were still laughing and discussing this profession of principles, when one of the shopboys entered.

"Dear friend," said Athos, "a person has just been here to beg me to seek for you, on the part of the king."

"Seek me!" said D'Artagnan, letting the paper fall upon the table. Raoul picked it up, and continued to read

"Make haste. His majesty is very anxious to speak to you, and expects you at the Louvre."

The first moment of surprise over, D'Artagnan reperused Athos's note. "It is strange," said he, "that the king

"Why so?" said Raoul; "do you not think, monsieur, that the king must regret such a servant as you?"

"Oh, oh!" cried the officer, laughing with all his might; "you are poking fun at me, Master Raoul. If the king

had regretted me, he would not have let me leave him. No, no; I see in it something better, or worse, if you

"You are young, you are a boy, you are admirable. Oh, how I should like to be as you are! To be but

twentyfour, with an unfurrowed brow, under which the brain is void of everything but women, love, and

good intentions. Oh, Raoul, as long as you have not received the smiles of kings, the confidence of queens; as

long as you have not had two cardinals killed under you, the one a tiger, the other a fox, as long as you have

"Eh! but the occasion is worthy of it. Listen to me. I have a very good recommendation to tender you."

"Pardieu! You will tell him that I am gone into England; and that I am living in my little countryhouse."

"You get more and more silly: do you imagine that I am going to the Louvre, to place myself at the disposal

"On the contrary, I never was so sane. You do not know what he wants to do with me, this worthy son of

Louis le Juste! But, Mordioux! that is policy. He wishes to ensconce me snugly in the Bastile purely

"Good God!" cried Raoul, "is it possible that such words should have issued from your mouth?"

"By whom? It was I who commanded the musketeers; he must have commanded me to convey myself to

prison; I would never have consented: I would have resisted myself. And then I went into England no

more D'Artagnan. Now, the cardinal is dead, or nearly so, they learn that I am in Paris, and they lay their

"The cardinal knew me; he knew certain particularities of me; I also knew some of his; we appreciated each

other mutually. And then, on rendering his soul to the devil, he would recommend Anne of Austria to make

me the inhabitant of a safe place. Go then, and find your father, relate the fact to him and adieu!"

"My dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Raoul, very much agitated, after having looked out at the window, "you

"Oh! I know very well that you will resist, that you will fight, even; I know very well that you will prove the

conqueror; but that amounts to rebellion, and you are an officer yourself, knowing what discipline is."

"Yes, instead of passing into the street, where that idiot is waiting for me, I will slip quietly out at the back. I

have a horse in the stable, and a good one. I will ride him to death; my means permit me to do so, and by

killing one horse after another, I shall arrive at Boulogne in eleven hours; I know the road. Only tell your

"That is that the thing he knows about is placed at Planchet's house, except a fifth, and that "

"But, my dear M. d'Artagnan, rest assured that if you fly, two things will be said of you."

"That is true again. So, then, you advise me to go and get myself made a prisoner in the Bastile?"

"Pardieu! I know he would," said D'Artagnan thoughtfully. "You are right, I shall not escape. But if they cast

"Mordioux! You said that after a brave fashion, Raoul," said D'Artagnan, seizing his hand, "that savors of

"It is that if you cannot get me out of the Bastile, and I remain there oh! that will be so, and I shall be a

detestable prisoner; I, who have been a passable man, in that case, I give threefifths to you, and the

That being said, D'Artagnan took his belt from the hook, girded on his sword, took a hat the feather of which

was fresh, and held his hand out to Raoul, who threw himself into his arms. When in the shop, he cast a quick

glance at the shoplads, who looked upon the scene with a pride mingled with some inquietude; then

plunging his hands into a chest of currants, he went straight to the officer who was waiting for him at the

"Those features! Can it be you, Monsieur de Friedisch?" cried D'Artagnan, gayly. "Eh! eh! what, do we arrest

"Yes, it is I, Monsieur d'Artagnan! Goodday to you!" said the Swiss, in his mountain patois.

"Must I give you up my sword? I warn you, that it is long and heavy; you had better let me wear it to the

Louvre: I feel quite lost in the streets without a sword, and you would be more at a loss than I should, with

"The king has given no orders about it," replied the Swiss, "so keep your sword."

Monsieur Friedisch was not a talker, and D'Artagnan had too many things to think about to say much. From

Planchet's shop to the Louvre was not far they arrived in ten minutes. It was a dark night. M. de Friedisch

wanted to enter by the wicket. "No," said D'Artagnan, "you would lose time by that; take the little staircase."

The Swiss did as D'Artagnan advised, and conducted him to the vestibule of the king's cabinet. When arrived

there, he bowed to his prisoner, and, without saying anything, returned to his post. D'Artagnan had not had

time to ask why his sword was not taken from him, when the door of the cabinet opened, and a valet de

chambre called "M. D'Artagnan!" The musketeer assumed his parade carriage and entered, with his large eyes

wide open, his brow calm, his mustache stiff. The king was seated at a table writing. He did not disturb

himself when the step of the musketeer resounded on the floor; he did not even turn his head. D'Artagnan

advanced as far as the middle of the room, and seeing that the king paid no attention to him, and suspecting,

besides, that this was nothing but affectation, a sort of tormenting preamble to the explanation that was

preparing, he turned his back on the prince, and began to examine the frescoes on the cornices, and the cracks

in the ceiling. This maneuver was accompanied by a little tacit monologue. "Ah! you want to humble me, do

you? you, whom I have seen so young you, whom I have served as I would my own child, you,

whom I have served as I would a God that is to say, for nothing. Wait awhile! wait awhile! you shall see

what a man can do who has snuffed the air of the fire of the Huguenots, under the beard of monsieur le

D'Artagnan made no reply; he only bowed. "That is polite enough," thought he; "I have nothing to say."

"Ah! go on, work yourself up!" thought the musketeer; "you will put me at my ease. You shall find I did not

Louis rose from his seat, passed his hand over his brow, then, stopping opposite to D'Artagnan, he looked at

him with an air at once imperious and kind. "What the devil does he want with me? I wish he would begin!"

"Monsieur," said the king, "you know, without doubt, that monsieur le cardinal is dead?"

"That is not a thing that dates from the death of monsieur le cardinal, sire; a man is always master in his own

"Now we come to it," thought D'Artagnan, "I was not deceived. Well, so much the better, it is a sign that my

"Ah! I shall listen with all my ears, sire; for it is very likely the conversation will turn in a fashion very

Louis once more looked at the musketeer, The latter smoothed the feather of his hat, then his mustache, and

waited bravely. Louis XIV. continued: "You quitted my service, monsieur, after having told me the whole

"That is, after having declared to me all you thought to be true, with regard to my mode of thinking and

acting. That is always a merit. You began by telling me that you had served my family thirty years, and were

"And you afterwards admitted that that fatigue was a pretext, and that discontent was the real cause."

"I was discontented, in fact, but that discontent has never betrayed itself, that I know of, and if, like a man of

heart, I have spoken out before your majesty, I have not even thought of the matter, before anybody else."

"Do not excuse yourself, D'Artagnan, but continue to listen to me. When making me the reproach that you

"You answered me, `Hereafter! No, now, immediately.' Do not excuse yourself, I tell you. It was natural, but

"You understand me very well; you knew that I stood in need of it; you knew very well that I was not master;

you knew very well that my hope was in the future. Now, you answered me when I spoke of that future, `My

"But," said D'Artagnan, raising his head nobly, "if I did not flatter your majesty when poor, neither did I

betray you. I have shed my blood for nothing; I have watched like a dog at a door, knowing full well that

neither bread nor bone would be thrown to me. I, although poor likewise, asked nothing of your majesty but

"I know you are a brave man, but I was a young man, and you ought to have had some indulgence for me.

What had you to reproach the king with? that he left King Charles II. without assistance? let us say

further that he did not marry Mademoiselle de Mancini?" When saying these words, the king fixed upon

"Ah! ah!" thought the latter, "he is doing far more than remembering, he divines. The devil!"

"Your sentence," continued Louis, "fell upon the king and fell upon the man. But, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that

weakness, for you considered it a weakness?" D'Artagnan made no reply "you reproached me also

with regard to monsieur, the defunct cardinal. Now, monsieur le cardinal, did he not bring me up, did he not

support me? elevating himself and supporting himself at the same time, I admit; but the benefit was

discharged. As an ingrate or an egotist, would you, then, have better loved or served me?"

"We will say no more about it, monsieur; it would only create in you too many regrets, and me too much

D'Artagnan was not convinced. The young king, in adopting a tone of hauteur with him, did not forward his

"Have the goodness to excuse me, sire; my understanding is particularly thick; things do not penetrate it

"Then give me quickly one solution. My time is valuable. What have you been doing since your discharge?"

"Your majesty takes it in bad part, certainly. I entertain nothing but the profoundest respect for the king; and

if I have been impolite, which might be excused by my long sojourn in camps and barracks, your majesty is

too much above me to be offended at a word that innocently escapes from a soldier."

"In fact, I know you performed a brilliant action in England, monsieur. I only regret that you have broken

"Doubtless. You engaged your word not to serve any other prince on quitting my service. Now it was for

"A hundred thousand crowns, sire, which I now possess that is, in one week three times as much money as

"I, sire? The quarter of that would be a treasure; and I swear to you I have no thought of augmenting it."

"Because it is my wish you should not!" said the young prince, in a voice so stern and imperious that

"Now, when by my energy I have acquired a comfortable means of subsistence, would your majesty despoil

me of my liberty? Your majesty would condemn me to the lowest, when I have gained the highest?"

"Who gave you permission, monsieur to fathom my designs, or to reckon with me?" replied Louis, in a voice

"Sire," said the musketeer, quietly, "as far as I see, freedom is not the order of the conversation, as it was on

"I am not a great statesman, and yet I have my eye upon affairs; it seldom fails; now, I do not see exactly as

your majesty does, sire. The reign of Mazarin is over, but that of the financiers is begun. They have the

money; your majesty will not often see much of it. To live under the paw of these hungry wolves is hard for a

At this moment some one scratched at the door of the cabinet; the king raised his head proudly. "Your

pardon, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said he; "it is M. Colbert, who comes to make me a report. Come in M.

D'Artagnan drew back. Colbert entered with papers in his hand, and went up to the king. There can be little

doubt that the Gascon did not lose the opportunity of applying his keen, quick glance to the new figure which

"Ah! ah!" said the king, without changing countenance, and casting an oblique look at D'Artagnan. "And

Colbert looked at D'Artagnan in his turn. That imposing countenance checked the words upon his lips. Louis

perceived this. "Do not disturb yourself," said he; "it is M. d'Artagnan, do you not know M. d'Artagnan

These two men looked at each other D'Artagnan, with eyes open and bright as the day Colbert, with

his half closed, and dim. The frank intrepidity of the one annoyed the other; the circumspection of the

financier disgusted the soldier. "Ah! ah! this is the gentleman who made that brilliant stroke in England," said

"Ah! ah!" said the Gascon, "this is the gentleman who clipped off the lace from the uniform of the Swiss! A

The financier thought to pierce the musketeer; but the musketeer ran the financier through.

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," resumed the king, who had not remarked all the shades of which Mazarin would

have missed not one, "this concerns the farmers of the revenue who have robbed me, whom I am hanging,

The king had already taken up the pen, and was applying it to the paper. "Sire," said Colbert in a subdued

voice, "I beg to warn your majesty, that if an example be necessary, there will be difficulty in the execution

"You must not conceal from yourself," continued Colbert quietly, "that attacking the farmersgeneral is

attacking the superintendence. The two unfortunate guilty men in question are the particular friends of a

powerful personage, and the punishment, which otherwise might be comfortably confined to the Chatelet will

Louis colored and turned towards D'Artagnan, who took a slight bite at his mustache, not without a smile of

pity for the financier, and for the king who had to listen to him so long. But Louis seized the pen, and with a

movement so rapid, that his hand shook, he affixed his signature at the bottom of the two papers presented by

Colbert, then looking the latter in the face, "Monsieur Colbert'" said he, "when you speak to me on

business, exclude more frequently the word difficulty from your reasonings and opinions; as to the word

Colbert bowed, much humiliated at having to undergo such a lesson before the musketeer; he was about to go

out, but, jealous to repair his check: "I forgot to announce to your majesty," said he, "that the confiscations

"Monsieur Colbert," added the king, "you will, if you please, go through the gallery where M. Lyonne is

"Now, let us return to our affair, M. d'Artagnan," said the king, as if nothing had happened. "You see that,

"Something to the tune of from zero to eighteen millions," replied the musketeer, gayly. "Ah! that was what

your majesty wanted the day King Charles II. came to Blois. The two states would not have been embroiled

"Well, in the first place," replied Louis, "you are unjust, monsieur; for, if Providence had made me able to

give my brother the million that day, you would not have quitted my service, and, consequently, you would

not have made your fortune, as you told me just now you have done. But, in addition to this, I have had

another piece of good fortune; and my difference with Great Britain need not alarm you."

A valet de chambre interrupted the king by announcing M. Lyonne. "Come in, monsieur," said the king; "you

are punctual; that is like a good servant. Let us see your letter to my brother Charles II."

D'Artagnan pricked up his ears. "A moment, monsieur," said Louis, carelessly to the Gascon, "I must

expedite to London my consent to the marriage of my brother, M. le Duc d'Anjou, with the Princess Henrietta

"He is knocking me about, it seems," murmured D'Artagnan, whilst the king signed the letter, and dismissed

M. de Lyonne, "but, ma foi! the more he knocks me about in this manner, the better I like it."

The king followed M. de Lyonne with his eyes, till the door was closed behind him; he even made three

steps, as if he would follow the minister, but, after these three steps, stopping, pausing, and coming back to

the musketeer, "Now, monsieur," said he, "let us hasten to terminate our affair. You told me the other day,

"Yes, but that does not concern me; you have your own money, not mine; that does not enter into my

"Then, instead of leaving you to draw out words, speak, spontaneously. Should you be satisfied with twenty

"Would you be satisfied with four horses furnished and kept, and with a supplement of funds such as you

might require, according to occasions and needs, or would you prefer a fixed sum which would be, for

"Yes, you are surprised; that is natural, and I expected it. Answer me, come! or I shall think you have no

"It is certain, sire, that twenty thousand livres a year make a handsome sum; but "

"You will be satisfied with it? That is well. It will be better to reckon the extra expenses separately; you can

"That you wanted rest, I know you did: only I replied that I would not allow it I am master, I suppose?"

"That is well. You were formerly in the way of becoming captain of the musketeers?"

"Well, here is your commission signed. I place it in this drawer. The day on which you shall return from a

certain expedition which I have to confide to you, on that day you may yourself take the commission from the

drawer." D'Artagnan still hesitated, and hung down his head. "Come, monsieur," said the king, "one would

believe, to look at you, that you did not know that at the court of the most Christian king, the captaingeneral

"I have wished to prove to you, that you, so good a servant, had lost a good master; am I anything like the

"Then, monsieur, you will resume your functions. Your company is quite disorganized since your departure

and the men go about drinking and rioting in the cabarets where they fight, in spite of my edicts, and those of

"Then, sire," said D'Artagnan, "if it is only to impose upon me a service like that, your majesty need not give

"I desire that you shall keep open house; I desire that you should keep a liberal table; I desire that my captain

"And I," said D'Artagnan, bluntly; "I do not like easily found money; I like money won! Your majesty gives

me an idle trade, which the first comer would perform for four thousand livres."

Louis XIV. began to laugh. "You are a true Gascon, Monsieur d'Artagnan; you will draw my heart's secret

"Well! then I accept the twenty thousand livres, for I will keep that secret, and discretion is above all price, in

"That is well, sire: for I have my affairs to settle before I set out; particularly if it is likely there should be any

"We can receive them! But, sire, you have addressed yourself to avarice, to ambition; you have addressed

"You have said nothing to his vanity, when shall I be a knight of the king's orders?"

"Why, yes, sire. My friend Athos is quite covered with orders, and that dazzles me."

"You shall be a knight of my order a month after you have taken your commission of captain."

"That is to say you can readily distinguish a fortress from a simple fortification, such as is allowed to

"I distinguish a fort from a rampart as I distinguish a cuirass from a raised piecrust, sire. Is that sufficient?"

"Because, monsieur, it will be necessary to disguise yourself sometimes, as the servant of a good family.

"And then you will travel slowly through Bretagne, and will examine carefully the fortifications of that

"Ah! which belongs to M. Fouquet!" said D'Artagnan, in a serious tone, raising his intelligent eye to Louis

"I fancy you are right, monsieur, and that BelleIsle does belong to M. Fouquet, in fact."

"And if the vassals of M. Fouquet are sufficiently numerous to form a garrison?"

"You start on a voyage of discovery, monsieur. Would you march at the head of your musketeers, with your

"No, no," said D'Artagnan, but pensively; "the thing changes its face when one observes an enemy; one is but

"That does not concern me; that is your affair. Did you not understand that I reserved for you a supplement of

"You will begin tomorrow by going to monsieur le surintendant's to take the first quarter of the pension I

"Very little, sire; but I beg your majesty to observe that I don't think it immediately necessary that I should

"Your pardon, monsieur; for he will refuse you the money I wish you to take; and it is that refusal I look for."

"The money being refused, you will go and seek it at M. Colbert's. A propos, have you a good horse?"

"Not at all. On the contrary, I give it you. Only as it is now mine and not yours, I am sure you will not spare

"That's a different affair. The horse may make up the two days, in the eight he has to travel; and then there is

"No, no, the post compromises, Monsieur d'Artagnan. Begone and do not forget you are my servant."

"Sire, it is not my duty to forget it! At what hour tomorrow shall I take my leave of your majesty?"

"That must not be now keep your lodgings in the city: I will pay for them. As to your departure, it must

take place at night; you must set out without being seen by any one, or, if you are seen, it must not be known

"I asked you where you lodged, for I cannot always send to M. le Comte de la Fere to seek you."

"I lodge with M. Planchet, a grocer, Rue des Lombards, at the sign of the Pilon d'Or."

"That is true, but when going to the superintendence, where so many people are constantly going, you must

"Here they are." The king signed them, and D'Artagnan looked on, to assure himself of their regularity.

"Adieu! Monsieur d'Artagnan," added the king; "I think you have perfectly understood me."

"In the first case, you must not speak; in the second there must be no papers found upon you."

D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders without ceremony, and took leave of the king, saying to himself: "The

Whilst D'Artagnan was returning to Planchet's house, his head aching and bewildered with all that had

happened to him, there was passing a scene of quite a different character, and which, nevertheless is not

foreign to the conversation our musketeer had just had with the king; only this scene took place out of Paris,

in a house possessed by the superintendent Fouquet in the village of SaintMande. The minister had just

arrived at this countryhouse, followed by his principal clerk, who carried an enormous portfolio full of

papers to be examined, and others waiting for signature. As it might be about five o'clock in the afternoon,

the masters had dined: supper was being prepared for twenty subaltern guests. The superintendent did not

stop: on alighting from his carriage, he, at the same bound, sprang through the doorway, traversed the

apartments and gained his cabinet, where he declared he would shut himself up to work, commanding that he

should not be disturbed for anything but an order from the king. As soon as this order was given, Fouquet

shut himself up, and two footmen were placed as sentinels at his door. Then Fouquet pushed a bolt which

displaced a panel that walled up the entrance, and prevented everything that passed in this apartment from

being either seen or heard. But, against all probability, it was only for the sake of shutting himself up that

Fouquet shut himself up thus, for he went straight to a bureau, seated himself at it, opened the portfolio, and

began to make a choice amongst the enormous mass of papers it contained. It was not more than ten minutes

after he had entered, and taken all the precautions we have described, when the repeated noise of several

slight equal knocks struck his ear, and appeared to fix his utmost attention. Fouquet raised his head, turned

The strokes continued. Then the worker arose with a slight movement of impatience and walked straight up

to a glass behind which the blows were struck by a hand, or by some invisible mechanism. It was a large

glass let into a panel. Three other glasses, exactly similar to it, completed the symmetry of the apartment.

Nothing distinguished that one from the others. Without doubt, these reiterated knocks were a signal; for, at

the moment Fouquet approached the glass listening, the same noise was renewed, and in the same measure.

"Oh! oh!" murmured the intendent, with surprise, "who is yonder? I did not expect anybody today." And,

without doubt, to respond to that signal, he pulled out a gilded nail near the glass, and shook it thrice. Then

returning to his place, and seating himself again, "Ma foi! let them wait," said he. And plunging again into the

ocean of papers unrolled before him, he appeared to think of nothing now but work. In fact with incredible

rapidity and marvelous lucidity, Fouquet deciphered the largest papers and most complicated writings,

correcting them, annotating them with a pen moved as if by a fever, and the work melting under his hands,

signatures, figures, references, became multiplied as if ten clerks that is to say, a hundred fingers and ten

brains had performed the duties, instead of the five fingers and single brain of this man. From time to time,

only, Fouquet, absorbed by his work, raised his head to cast a furtive glance upon a clock placed before him.

The reason of this was, Fouquet set himself a task, and when this task was once set, in one hour's work he, by

himself, did what another would not have accomplished in a day; always certain, consequently, provided he

was not disturbed, of arriving at the close in the time his devouring activity had fixed. But in the midst of his

ardent labor, the soft strokes upon the little bell placed behind the glass sounded again, hasty, and,

"The lady appears to be impatient," said Fouquet. "Humph! a calm! That must be the comtesse; but, no, the

comtesse is gone to Rambouillet for three days. The presidente, then? Oh! no, the presidente would not

assume such grand airs; she would ring very humbly, then she would wait my good pleasure. The greatest

certainty is, that I do not know who it can be, but that I know who it cannot be. And since it is not you,

marquise, since it cannot be you, deuce take the rest!" And he went on with his work in spite of the reiterated

appeals of the bell. At the end of a quarter of an hour, however, impatience prevailed over Fouquet in his

turn: he might be said to consume, rather than to complete the rest of his work; he thrust his papers into his

portfolio, and giving a glance at the mirror, whilst the taps continued faster than ever: "Oh! oh!" said he,

"whence comes all this racket? What has happened, and who can the Ariadne be who expects me so

He then applied the tip of his finger to the nail parallel to the one he had drawn. Immediately the glass moved

like a foldingdoor and discovered a secret closet, rather deep, in which the superintendent disappeared as if

going into a vast box. When there, he touched another spring, which opened, not a board, but a block of the

wall, and he went out by that opening, leaving the door to shut of itself. Then Fouquet descended about a

score of steps which sank, winding, underground, and came to a long, subterranean passage, lighted by

imperceptible loopholes. The walls of this vault were covered with slabs or tiles, and the floor with carpeting.

This passage was under the street itself, which separated Fouquet's house from the Park of Vincennes. At the

end of the passage ascended a winding staircase parallel with that by which Fouquet had entered. He mounted

these other stairs, entered by means of a spring placed in a closet similar to that in his cabinet, and from this

closet an untenanted chamber furnished with the utmost elegance. As soon as he entered, he examined

carefully whether the glass closed without leaving any trace, and, doubtless satisfied with his observation, he

opened by means of a small gold key the triple fastenings of a door in front of him. This time the door opened

upon a handsome cabinet sumptuously furnished, in which was seated upon cushions a lady of surpassing

beauty, who at the sound of the lock sprang towards Fouquet. "Ah! good heavens!" cried the latter, starting

"Marquise! dear marquise!" added Fouquet, ready to prostrate himself. "Ah! my God! how did you come

"Oh! an eternity, monsieur; oh! I rang more than twenty times. Did you not hear me?"

"Oh, yes; I heard plainly enough, madame; but I could not come. After your rigors and your refusals, how

could I dream it was you? If I could have had any suspicion of the happiness that awaited me, believe me,

madame, I would have quitted everything to fall at your feet, as I do at this moment."

"What mysteries! what precautions!" said the marquise, with a slight bitterness of expression; "and how

"No, unfortunately, no; but tell me, you, who during a year I have loved without return or hope "

"What! for me, of my love! there is but one proof, and that proof I still want."

Fouquet wished to clasp her in his arms, but she disengaged herself with a gesture.

"You persist in deceiving yourself, monsieur, and never will accept of me the only thing I am willing to give

"Listen to me, I implore you: I should not have come hither without a serious motive: you are well assured of

"The motive is of very little consequence, so that you are but here so that I see you so that I speak to

"You are right; the principal thing is that I am here without any one having seen me, and that I can speak to

you." Fouquet sank on his knees before her. "Speak! speak, madame!" said he, "I listen to you."

The marquise looked at Fouquet, on his knees at her feet, and there was in the looks of the woman a strange

mixture of love and melancholy. "Oh!" at length murmured she, "would that I were she who has the right of

seeing you every minute, of speaking to you every instant! would that I were she who might watch over you,

she who would have no need of mysterious springs, to summon and cause to appear, like a sylph, the man she

loves, to look at him for an hour, and then see him disappear in the darkness of a mystery, still more strange

at his going out than at his coming in. Oh! that would be to live a happy woman!"

"Well, you need not envy her lot, marquise; of all the women with whom I have any relations, Madame

Fouquet is the one I see the least of, and who has the least intercourse with me."

"At least, monsieur, she is not reduced to place, as I have done, her hand upon the ornament of a glass to call

you to her; at least you do not reply to her by the mysterious, alarming sound of a bell, the spring of which

comes from I don't know where; at least you have not forbidden her to endeavor to discover the secret of

these communications under pain of breaking off forever your connections with her, as you have forbidden

"Dear marquise, how unjust you are, and how little do you know what you are doing in thus exclaiming

against mystery; it is with mystery alone we can love without trouble; it is with love without trouble alone

that we can be happy. But let us return to ourselves, to that devotion of which you were speaking, or rather let

"Just now," repeated the marquise, passing over her eyes a hand that might have been a model for the

graceful contours of antiquity; "just now I was prepared to speak, my ideas were clear and bold, now I am

"If it is to that bad news I owe your presence, marquise, welcome be even that bad news! or rather, marquise,

since you allow that I am not quite indifferent to you, let me hear nothing of the bad news, but speak of

"No, no, on the contrary, demand it of me; require me to tell it to you instantly, and not to allow myself to be

turned aside by any feeling whatever. Fouquet, my friend! it is of immense importance!"

"You astonish me, marquise; I will even say you almost frighten me. You, so serious, so collected; you who

"Well! what do you see so terrific in that, dear marquise? little Colbert is intendant; that is astonishing, I

"Do you think the king has given, without a pressing motive, such a place to one you call a little cuistre?"

"Everybody, that's nobody; mention some one likely to be well informed who says so."

"Ah! now you begin to frighten me in earnest," said Fouquet, laughing; "if any one is well informed, or ought

"Do not speak ill of poor Marguerite, Monsieur Fouquet, for she still loves you."

"Bah! indeed? That is scarcely credible. I thought little Colbert, as you said just now, had passed over that

"Fouquet! Fouquet! Is this the way you always treat the poor creatures you desert?"

"Yes, I will undertake it: for, I repeat, she loves you still, and the proof is she saves you."

"But your interposition, marquise; that is very cunning on her part. No angel could be more agreeable to me,

or could lead me more certainly to salvation. But, let me ask you do you know Marguerite?"

"And you say that she has informed you that Monsieur Colbert was named intendant?"

"Well, enlighten me, marquise; granted Monsieur Colbert is intendant so be it. In what can an intendant,

that is to say my subordinate, my clerk, give me umbrage or injure me, even if he is Monsieur Colbert?"

"Hates me?" cried Fouquet. "Good heavens! marquise, whence do you come? where can you live? Hates me!

"I am quite aware of that, since he made it a point to succeed me with Madame Vanel."

"Do you mean to say he has the presumption to hope to pass from intendant to superintendent?"

"Oh! oh!" said Fouquet, "to succeed with Madame Vanel is one thing, to succeed me with the king is another.

"Nobody knows to the contrary better than you, madame, you to whom I have offered millions."

"Instead of millions, Fouquet, you should have offered me a true, only and boundless love: I might have

accepted that. So you see, still, everything is to be bought, if not in one way, by another."

"So, Colbert, in your opinion, is in a fair way of bargaining for my place of superintendent. Make yourself

"Ah! that is another thing. Unfortunately, before he can reach me, that is to say, the body of the place, he

must destroy, must make a breach in the advanced works, and I am devilishly well fortified, marquise."

"What you call your advanced works are your creatures, are they not your friends?"

"Well, if you are anxious they should not touch MM. d'Eymeris and Lyodot, it is time to look about you."

"Bah! why should she think I would reproach her? Poor woman, she vastly deceives herself."

"`M. Colbert,' she added, `came to me two hours ago, to inform me he was appointed intendant.'"

"I have already told you marquise, that M. Colbert would only be the more in my power for that."

"Yes, but that is not all: Marguerite is intimate, as you know, with Madame d'Eymeris and Madame Lyodot."

"Well, M. Colbert put many questions to her, relative to the fortunes of those two gentlemen, and as to the

"Oh, as to those two, I can answer for them; they must be killed before they will cease to be mine."

"Then, as Madame Vanel was obliged to quit M. Colbert for an instant to receive a visitor, and as M. Colbert

is industrious, scarcely was the new intendant left alone, before he took a pencil from his pocket, and as there

"No, but by a chance which resembles a miracle, she has a duplicate of those notes."

"Well, this pencil was a leadpencil, consequently hard; so it marked in black upon the first sheet, and in

"Well, on the second was to be read what had been written on the first, Madame Vanel read it, and sent for

"Then, when she was assured I was your devoted friend, she gave me the paper, and told me the secret of this

"Names of the farmers of revenue to be condemned by the Chamber of Justice: D'Eymeris, friend of M. F.;

"But what is the meaning of these words: `To be condemned by the Chamber of Justice'?"

"Dame!" said the marquise, "that is clear enough, I think. Besides, that is not all. Read on, read on;" and

Fouquet continued, "The two first to death, the third to be dismissed, with MM. d'Hautemont and de la

"Great God!" cried Fouquet, "to death, to death! Lyodot and D'Eymeris. But even if the Chamber of Justice

should condemn them to death, the king will never ratify their condemnation, and they cannot be executed

"Oh!" cried Fouquet, as if he caught a glimpse of the abyss that yawned beneath his feet, "impossible!

"Pardon me, my dear marquise; excuse me; yes, M. Colbert is my enemy, I believe him to be so; yes, M.

Colbert is a man to be dreaded, I admit. But I! I have time, and as you are here, as you have assured me of

"I came here to save you, Monsieur Fouquet, and not to ruin myself," said the marquise, rising "therefore,

"Marquise, in truth you terrify yourself too much at least, unless this terror is but a pretext "

"Perhaps," said the marquise, giving her hand to Fouquet to kiss, and walking towards the door with so firm a

step, that he did not dare to bar her passage. As to Fouquet, he retook, with his head hanging down and a

fixed cloud on his brow, the path of the subterranean passage along which ran the metal wires that

communicated from one house to the other, transmitting, through two glasses, the wishes and signals of

Fouquet hastened back to his apartment by the subterranean passage, and immediately closed the mirror with

the spring. He was scarcely in his closet, when he heard some one knocking violently at the door, and a

wellknown voice crying: "Open the door, monseigneur, I entreat you, open the door!" Fouquet quickly

restored a little order to everything that might have revealed either his absence or his agitation: he spread his

papers over the desk, took up a pen, and, to gain time, said, through the closed door, "Who is there?"

"Yes, yes," said Fouquet to himself, "yes, my friend I know you well enough." And then, aloud: "Is it not

Fouquet arose, cast a last look at one of his glasses, went to the door, pushed back the bolt, and Gourville

"I have been a quarter of an hour imploring you to open the door, and you would not even answer me."

"Once for all, you know that I will not be disturbed when I am busy. Now, although I might make you an

"Monseigneur, at this moment, orders, doors, bolts, locks, and walls, I could have broken, forced and

"And what is this event?" said Fouquet, a little troubled by the evident agitation of his most intimate

"A sentence?" said the superintendent, with a shudder and pallor he could not conceal. "A sentence! and

"Here is a copy of the sentence which the king is to sign today, if he has not already signed it."

Fouquet seized the paper eagerly, read it, and returned it to Gourville. "The king will never sign that," said

"Monsieur Colbert again!" cried Fouquet. "How is it that that name rises upon all occasions to torment my

ears, during the last two or three days? Thou make so trifling a subject of too much importance, Gourville.

Let M. Colbert appear, I will face him; let him raise his head, I will crush him; but you understand, there

must be an outline upon which my look may fall, there must be a surface upon which my feet may be

"Patience, monseigneur, for you do not know what Colbert is study him quickly; it is with this dark

financier as it is with meteors, which the eye never sees completely before their disastrous invasion; when we

"Oh! Gourville, this is going too far," replied Fouquet, smiling; "allow me, my friend, not to be so easily

frightened; M. Colbert a meteor! Corbleu, we confront the meteor. Let us see acts, and not words. What has

Fouquet raised his head, and a flash gleamed from his eyes. "Are you sure of what you say?" cried he.

"Here is the proof, monseigneur." And Gourville held out to the superintendent a note communicated by a

"Yes, that is true," murmured the minister; "the scaffold may be prepared, but the king has not signed;

"If the king has signed, the gibbets will be sent this evening to the Hotel de Ville, in order to be got up and

"Oh! no, no!" cried the superintendent once again; "you are all deceived, and deceive me in my turn; Lyodot

came to see me only the day before yesterday; only three days ago I received a present of some Syracuse

"What does that prove?" replied Gourville, "except that the chamber of justice has been secretly assembled,

has deliberated in the absence of the accused, and that the whole proceeding was complete when they were

"Lyodot, yesterday at daybreak; D'Eymeris, the day before yesterday, in the evening, as he was returning

from the house of his mistress; their disappearance had disturbed nobody; but at length M. Colbert all at once

raised the mask, and caused the affair to be published; it is being cried by sound of trumpet, at this moment in

Paris, and, in truth, monseigneur, there is scarcely anybody but yourself ignorant of the event."

Fouquet began to walk about his chamber with an uneasiness that became more and more serious.

"If it really were as you say, I would go to the king," cried Fouquet. "But as I go to the Louvre, I will pass by

"Incredulity! thou art the pest of all great minds," said Gourville, shrugging his shoulders.

"Yes," continued he, "and incredulity! thou ruinest, as contagion destroys the most robust health, that is to

"Ah! my brother," replied Fouquet, in a tone of annoyance, "he is there, is he? he knows all the ill news, then,

and is rejoiced to bring it to me, as usual. The devil! if my brother is there, my affairs are bad, Gourville; why

did you not tell me that sooner: I should have been the more readily convinced."

"'Monseigneur calumniates him," said Gourville, laughing, "if he is come, it is not with a bad intention."

"What, do you excuse him?" cried Fouquet; "a fellow without a heart, without ideas; a devourer of wealth."

"Enough! enough! A hundred thousand crowns per month, during two years. Corbleu! it is I that pay,

Gourville, and I know my figures." Gourville laughed in a silent, sly manner. "Yes, yes, you mean to say it is

the king pays," said the superintendent. "Ah, Gourville, that is a vile joke; this is not the place."

"Well, then, send away the Abbe Fouquet; I have not a sou." Gourville made a step towards the door. "He has

been a month without seeing me," continued Fouquet, "why could he not be two months?"

"Because he repents of living in bad company," said Gourville, "and prefers you to all his bandits."

"Thanks for the preference! You make a strange advocate, Gourville, today the advocate of the Abbe

"Eh! but everything and every man has a good side their useful side, monseigneur."

"The bandits whom the abbe keeps in pay and drink have their useful side, have they? Prove that, if you

"Let the circumstance arise, monseigneur, and you will be very glad to have these bandits under your hand."

"I advise you, monseigneur, not to quarrel with a hundred or a hundred and twenty loose fellows, who, by

putting their rapiers end to end, would form a cordon of steel capable of surrounding three thousand men."

Fouquet darted a searching glance at Gourville, and passing before him, "That is all very well, let M.

l'Abbe Fouquet be introduced," said he to the footman. "You are right, Gourville."

Two minutes after, the Abbe Fouquet appeared in the doorway, with profound reverences. He was a man of

from forty to fortyfive years of age, half churchman half soldier, a spadassin, grafted upon an abbe; upon

seeing that he had not a sword by his side, you might be sure he had pistols. Fouquet saluted him more as an

The abbe looked maliciously at Gourville, and anxiously at Fouquet, and said, "I have three hundred pistoles

"What next?" said Fouquet bravely, for he comprehended that the Abbe Fouquet would not have disturbed

"Twelve hundred to my tailor," continued the abbe; "the fellow has made me take back seven suits of my

people's, which compromises my liveries, and my mistress talks of replacing me by a farmer of the revenue,

"You will please to remark," said the abbe, humbly, "that I have asked nothing for myself."

The minister reflected a minute. "Twelve hundred pistoles to the tailor; that seems a great deal for clothes,"

"I maintain a hundred men," said the abbe, proudly; "that is a charge, I believe."

"Why a hundred men?" said Fouquet. "Are you a Richelieu or a Mazarin, to require a hundred men as a

"And do you ask me that?" cried the Abbe Fouquet; "ah! how can you put such a question, why I maintain

"Why, yes, I do put that question to you. What have you to do with a hundred men? answer."

"Why, monsieur the superintendent, I only want one valet de chambre, for my part, and even if I were alone,

could help myself very well; but you, you who have so many enemies a hundred men are not enough for

me to defend you with. A hundred men! you ought to have ten thousand. I maintain, then, these men in

order that in public places, in assemblies, no voice may be raised against you, and without them, monsieur,

you would be loaded with imprecations, you would be torn to pieces, you would not last a week; no, not a

"You doubt it!" cried the abbe. "Listen, then, to what happened, no longer ago than yesterday, in the Rue de

"This way. The fowl was not fat. The purchaser refused to give eighteen sous for it, saying that he could not

afford eighteen sous for the skin of a fowl from which M. Fouquet had sucked all the fat."

"The joke caused a deal of laughter," continued the abbe; "laughter at your expense, death to the devils! and

the canaille were delighted. The joker added, `Give me a fowl fed by M. Colbert, if you like! and I will pay

all you ask.' And immediately there was a clapping of hands. A frightful scandal! you understand; a scandal

"No, for it so happened I had one of my men in the crowd; a new recruit from the provinces, one M.

Menneville, whom I like very much. He made his way through the press, saying to the joker: `Mille barbes!

Monsieur the false joker, here's a thrust for Colbert!' `And one for Fouquet,' replied the joker. Upon which

they drew in front of the cook's shop, with a hedge of the curious round them, and five hundred as curious at

"Well, monsieur, my Menneville spitted the joker, to the great astonishment of the spectators, and said to the

cook: `Take this goose, my friend, it is fatter than your fowl.' That is the way, monsieur," ended the abbe,

triumphantly, "in which I spend my revenues; I maintain the honor of the family, monsieur." Fouquet hung

"Very well," said Fouquet, "give the account to Gourville, and remain here this evening."

"I shall be back in an hour; rest easy, abbe." Then aside to Gourville "Let them put to my English horses,"

Carriages were already bringing the guests of Fouquet to SaintMande; already the whole house was getting

warm with the preparations for supper, when the superintendent launched his fleet horses upon the road to

Paris, and going by the quays, in order to meet fewer people on the way, soon reached the Hotel de Ville. It

wanted a quarter to eight. Fouquet alighted at the corner of the Rue de Longpont, and, on foot, directed his

course towards the Place de Greve, accompanied by Gourville. At the turning of the Place they saw a man

dressed in black and violet, of dignified mien, who was preparing to get into a hired carriage, and told the

coachman to stop at Vincennes. He had before him a large hamper filled with bottles, which he had just

"What! buy wine for me, at a cabaret?" said Fouquet. "My cellar, then, must be in a miserable condition!" and

he advanced towards the maitre d'hotel who was arranging his bottles in the carriage with the most minute

The man dressed in black and violet turned round. He had a good and mild countenance, without expression

a mathematician minus the pride. A certain fire sparkled in the eyes of this personage, a rather sly smile

played round his lips; but the observer might soon have remarked that this fire and this smile applied to

nothing, enlightened nothing. Vatel laughed like an absent man, and amused himself like a child. At the

"Yes, it is I. What the devil are you doing here, Vatel? Wine! You are buying wine at a cabaret in the Place

"But, monseigneur," said Vatel, quietly, after having darted a hostile glance at Gourville, "why am I

"Don't be angry, Vatel, I thought my cellar your cellar sufficiently well stocked for us to be able to

"Eh, monsieur," said Vatel, shrinking from monseigneur to monsieur with a degree of disdain: "your cellar is

so well stocked that when certain of your guests dine with you they have nothing to drink."

"I mean that your butler had not wine for all tastes, monsieur; and that M. de la Fontaine, M. Pellisson, and

M. Conrart, do not drink when they come to the house these gentlemen do not like strong wine. What is to

"Well, then, I have found here a vin de Joigny, which they like. I know they come once a week to drink at the

Fouquet had no more to say; he was convinced. Vatel, on his part, had much more to say, without doubt, and

it was plain he was getting warm. "It is just as if you would reproach me, monseigneur, for going to the Rue

Planche Milbray, to fetch, myself, the cider M. Loret drinks when he comes to dine at your house."

"Certainly he does, monsieur, and that is the reason why he dines there with pleasure."

"Vatel," cried Fouquet, pressing the hand of his maitre d'hotel, "you are a man! I thank you, Vatel, for having

understood that at my house M. de la Fontaine, M. Conrart, and M. Loret, are as great as dukes and peers, as

great as princes, greater than myself. Vatel, you are a good servant, and I double your salary."

Vatel did not even thank his master, he merely shrugged his shoulders a little, murmuring this superb

"He is right," said Gourville, as he drew Fouquet's attention, by a gesture, to another point. He showed him a

lowbuilt tumbrel, drawn by two horses, upon which rocked two strong gibbets, bound together, back to

back, by chains, whilst an archer, seated upon the crossbeam, suffered, as well as he could, with his head

cast down, the comments of a hundred vagabonds, who guessed the destination of the gibbets, and were

escorting them to the Hotel de Ville. Fouquet started. "It is decided, you see," said Gourville.

"Oh, do not flatter yourself, monseigneur; if they have thus lulled your friendship and suspicions if things

"Would you advise such baseness?" cried Fouquet, "would you advise me to abandon my friends? would you

advise me, whilst able to fight, to throw the arms I hold in my hand to the ground?"

"I do not advise you to do anything of the kind, monseigneur. Are you in a position to quit the post of

"Yes, but I shall have been base; now I am not willing that my friends should die; and they shall not die!"

"Beware! once at the Louvre, you will be forced to defend your friends openly, that is to say, to make a

"Pardon me, the king will propose the alternative to you, rigorously, or else you will propose it to him

"That is the reason why conflict must be avoided. Let us return to SaintMande, monseigneur."

"Gourville, I will not stir from this place, where the crime is to be carried out, where my disgrace is to be

accomplished; I will not stir, I say, till I have found some means of combating my enemies."

"Monseigneur," replied Gourville, "you would excite my pity, if I did not know you for one of the great

spirits of this world. You possess a hundred and fifty millions, you are equal to the king in position, and a

hundred and fifty millions his superior in money. M. Colbert has not even had the wit to have the will of

Mazarin accepted. Now, when a man is the richest person in a kingdom, and will take the trouble to spend the

money, if things are done he does not like it is because he is a poor man. Let us return to SaintMande, I

"So be it," said Fouquet, with angry eyes; "yes, to SaintMande!" He got into his carriage again and

Gourville with him. Upon their road, at the end of the Faubourg SaintAntoine, they overtook the humble

equipage of Vatel, who was quietly conveying home his vin de Joigny. The black horses, going at a swift

pace, alarmed as they passed, the timid hack of the maitre d'hotel, who, putting his head out at the window,

Fifty persons were waiting for the superintendent. He did not even take the time to place himself in the hands

of his valet de chambre for a minute, but from the perron went straight into the premier salon. There his

friends were assembled in full chat. The intendant was about to order supper to be served, but, above all, the

Abbe Fouquet watched for the return of his brother, and was endeavoring to do the honors of the house in his

absence. Upon the arrival of the superintendent, a murmur of joy and affection was heard; Fouquet, full of

affability, good humor, and munificence, was beloved by his poets, his artists, and his men of business. His

brow, upon which his little court read, as upon that of a god, all the movements of his soul, and thence drew

rules of conduct, his brow, upon which affairs of state never impressed a wrinkle, was this evening paler

than usual, and more than one friendly eye remarked that pallor. Fouquet placed himself at the head of the

table, and presided gayly during supper. He recounted Vatel's expedition to La Fontaine, related the history of

Menneville and the skinny fowl to Pellisson, in such a manner that all the table heard it. A tempest of

laughter and jokes ensued, which was only checked by a serious and even sad gesture from Pellisson. The

Abbe Fouquet, not being able to comprehend why his brother should have led the conversation in that

direction, listened with all his ears, and sought in the countenance of Gourville, or in that of his brother, an

explanation which nothing afforded him. Pellisson took up the matter: "Did they mention M. Colbert,

"Why not?" replied Fouquet; "if true, as it is said to be, that the king has made him his intendant?" Scarcely

had Fouquet uttered these words, with a marked intention, than an explosion broke forth among the guests.

Pellisson exchanged a meaning look with Fouquet. "Messieurs," said he, "in truth we are abusing a man

whom no one knows: it is neither charitable nor reasonable; and here is monsieur le surintendant, who, I am

"Entirely," replied Fouquet. "Let the fat fowls of M. Colbert alone; our business today is with the faisans

truffes of M. Vatel." This speech stopped the dark cloud which was beginning to throw its shade over the

guests. Gourville succeeded so well in animating the poets with the vin de Joigny; the abbe, intelligent as a

man who stands in need of his host's money, so enlivened the financiers and the men of the sword, that,

amidst the vapors of this joy and the noise of conversation, inquietudes disappeared completely. The will of

Cardinal Mazarin was the text of the conversation at the second course and dessert; then Fouquet ordered

bowls of sweetmeats and fountains of liquors to be carried into the salon adjoining the gallery. He led the

way thither conducting by the hand a lady, the queen, by his preference, of the evening. The musicians then

supped, and the promenades in the gallery and the gardens commenced, beneath a spring sky, mild and

flowerscented. Pellisson then approached the superintendent, and said: "Something troubles monseigneur?"

"Greatly," replied the minister, "ask Gourville to tell you what it is." Pellisson, on turning round, found La

Fontaine treading upon his heels. He was obliged to listen to a Latin verse, which the poet had composed

upon Vatel. La Fontaine had, for an hour, been scanning this verse in all corners, seeking some one to pour it

out upon advantageously. He thought he had caught Pellisson, but the latter escaped him; he turned towards

Sorel, who had, himself, just composed a quatrain in honor of the supper, and the Amphytrion. La Fontaine in

vain endeavored to gain attention to his verses; Sorel wanted to obtain a hearing for his quatrain. He was

obliged to retreat before M. le Comte de Chanost whose arm Fouquet had just taken. L'Abbe Fouquet

perceived that the poet, absentminded, as usual, was about to follow the two talkers, and he interposed. La

Fontaine seized upon him, and recited his verses. The abbe, who was quite innocent of Latin, nodded his

head, in cadence, at every roll which La Fontaine impressed upon his body, according to the undulations of

the dactyls and spondees. While this was going on, behind the confiturebasins, Fouquet related the event of

the day to his soninlaw, M. de Chanost. "We will send the idle and useless to look at the fireworks," said

"So be it," said Gourville, addressing four words to Vatel. The latter then led towards the gardens the major

part of the beaux, the ladies and the chatterers, whilst the men walked in the gallery, lighted by three hundred

waxlights, in the sight of all; the admirers of fireworks all ran away towards the garden. Gourville

"Yes, count." The superintendent counted; there were eight persons. Pellisson and Gourville walked arm

in arm, as if conversing upon vague and frivolous subjects. Sorel and two officers imitated them, in an

opposite direction. The Abbe Fouquet walked alone. Fouquet, with M. de Chanost, walked as if entirely

absorbed in the conversation of his soninlaw. "Messieurs," said he, "let no one of you raise his head as he

walks, or appear to pay attention to me; continue walking, we are alone, listen to me."

A perfect silence ensued, disturbed only by the distant cries of the joyous guests, from the groves whence

they beheld the fireworks. It was a whimsical spectacle this, of these men walking in groups, as if each one

was occupied about something, whilst lending attention really to only one amongst them, who, himself,

seemed to be speaking only to his companion. "Messieurs," said Fouquet, "you have, without doubt,

remarked the absence of two of my friends this evening, who were with us on Wednesday. For God's sake,

abbe, do not stop, it is not necessary to enable you to listen; walk on, carrying your head in a natural way,

and as you have an excellent sight, place yourself at the window, and if any one returns towards the gallery,

"I have not observed their absence," said Pellisson, who, at this moment, was turning his back to Fouquet and

"And I," said the abbe, at the window, "do not see M. d'Eymeris, who owes me eleven hundred livres from

"Sorel," continued Fouquet, walking bent, and gloomily, "you will never receive your pension any more from

M. Lyodot; and you, abbe, will never be paid your eleven hundred livres by M. d'Eymeris, for both are

"To die!" exclaimed the whole assembly, arrested, in spite of themselves, in the comedy they were playing,

"Recover yourselves, messieurs," said Fouquet, "for perhaps we are watched I said: to die!"

"To die!" repeated Pellisson; "what, the men I saw six days ago, full of health, gayety, and the spirit of the

future! What then is man, good God! that disease should thus bring him down, all at once!"

"No remedy. Messieurs de Lyodot and D'Eymeris are on the eve of their last day."

"They do better still; they are hanging them," murmured Fouquet, in a sinister voice, which sounded like a

funeral knell in that rich gallery, splendid with pictures, flowers, velvet, and gold. Involuntarily every one

stopped; the abbe quitted his window; the first fusees of the fireworks began to mount above the trees. A

prolonged cry from the gardens attracted the superintendent to enjoy the spectacle. He drew near to a

window, and his friends placed themselves behind him, attentive to his least wish. "Messieurs," said he, "M.

Colbert has caused to be arrested, tried and will execute my two friends; what does it become me to do?"

"Mordieu!" exclaimed the abbe, the first one to speak, "run M. Colbert through the body."

"Well!" said the Comte de Chanost, "the execution must not take place, then; that is all."

"Words and money," said Fouquet, "five hundred thousand livres to the governor of the conciergerie, that is

"A million!" cried the abbe; "why, for less than half, I would have half Paris sacked."

"There must be no disorder," said Pellisson. "The governor being gained, the two prisoners escape; once clear

of the fangs of the law, they will call together the enemies of Colbert, and prove to the king that his young

"Go to Paris, then, Pellisson," said Fouquet, "and bring hither the two victims; tomorrow we shall see."

Gourville gave Pellisson the five hundred thousand livres." Take care the wind does not carry you away,"

"Silence!" said Fouquet, "somebody is coming. Ah! the fireworks are producing a magical effect." At this

moment a shower of sparks fell rustling among the branches of the neighboring trees. Pellisson and Gourville

went out together by the door of the gallery; Fouquet descended to the garden with the five last plotters.

As Fouquet was giving, or appearing to give, all his attention to the brilliant illuminations, the languishing

music of the violins and hautboys, the sparkling sheaves of the artificial fires, which, inflaming the heavens

with glowing reflections, marked behind the trees the dark profile of the donjon of Vincennes; as, we say, the

superintendent was smiling on the ladies and the poets the fete was every whit as gay as usual; and Vatel,

whose restless, even jealous look, earnestly consulted the aspect of Fouquet, did not appear dissatisfied with

the welcome given to the ordering of the evening's entertainment. The fireworks over, the company dispersed

about the gardens and beneath the marble porticoes with the delightful liberty which reveals in the master of

the house so much forgetfulness of greatness, so much courteous hospitality, so much magnificent

carelessness. The poets wandered about, arm in arm, through the groves; some reclined upon beds of moss, to

the great damage of velvet clothes and curled heads, into which little dried leaves and blades of grass

insinuated themselves. The ladies, in small numbers, listened to the songs of the singers and the verses of the

poets; others listened to the prose, spoken with much art, by men who were neither actors nor poets, but to

whom youth and solitude gave an unaccustomed eloquence, which appeared to them better than everything

else in the world. "Why," said La Fontaine, "does not our master Epicurus descend into the garden? Epicurus

"Monsieur," said Conrart, "you yourself are in the wrong persisting in decorating yourself with the name of

an Epicurean; indeed, nothing here reminds me of the doctrine of the philosopher of Gargetta."

"Bah!" said La Fontaine, "is it not written that Epicurus purchased a large garden and lived in it tranquilly

"Well, has not M. Fouquet purchased a large garden at SaintMande, and do we not live here very tranquilly

"Yes, without doubt; unfortunately it is neither the garden nor the friends which constitute the resemblance.

Now, what likeness is there between the doctrine of Epicurus and that of M. Fouquet?"

"Well, I do not think we ought to consider ourselves unfortunate, for my part, at least. A good repast vin

de Foigny, which they have the delicacy to go and fetch for me from my favorite cabaret not one

impertinence heard during a supper an hour long, in spite of the presence of ten millionaires and twenty

"I stop you there. You mentioned vin de Foigny, and a good repast, do you persist in that?"

"Then please to recollect that the great Epicurus lived, and made his pupils live, upon bread, vegetables, and

"That is not certain," said La Fontaine; "and you appear to me to be confounding Epicurus with Pythagoras,

"Remember, likewise, that the ancient philosopher was rather a bad friend of the gods and the magistrates."

"Oh! that is what I will not admit," replied La Fontaine. "Epicurus was like M. Fouquet."

"Do not compare him to monsieur le surintendant," said Conrart, in an agitated voice, "or you would accredit

"I return, then, to my text," said La Fontaine. "Listen, Conrart, this is the morality of Epicurus, whom,

besides, I consider, if I must tell you so, as a myth. Antiquity is mostly mythical. Jupiter, if we give a little

attention to it, is life. Alcides is strength. The words are there to bear me out; Zeus, that is, zen, to live.

Alcides, that is, alce, vigor. Well, Epicurus, that is mild watchfulness, that is protection; now who watches

better over the state, or who protects individuals better than M. Fouquet does?"

"You talk etymology and not morality; I say that we modern Epicureans are indifferent citizens."

"Oh!" cried La Fontaine, "if we become bad citizens, it is not through following the maxims of our master.

"Well! what does M. Fouquet say to us every day? `When shall we be governed?' Does he say so? Come,

"Listen! would you submit to those who govern ill? Oh! it is written: Cacos politeuousi. You grant me the

"Pardieu! I think so. Do you know, you speak Greek as well as AEsop did, my dear La Fontaine."

"Then let us return to M. Fouquet. What did he repeat to us all the day? Was it not this? `What a cuistre is

that Mazarin! what an ass! what a leech! We must, however, submit to the fellow.' Now, Conrart, did he say

"Like Epicurus, my friend, still like Epicurus; I repeat, we are Epicureans, and that is very amusing."

"Yes, but I am afraid there will rise up, by the side of us, a sect like that of Epictetus, you know him well; the

philosopher of Hieropolis, he who called bread luxury, vegetables prodigality, and clear water drunkenness;

he who, being beaten by his master, said to him, grumbling a little it is true, but without being angry, `I will

"Granted, but he might easily become the fashion by only changing his name into that of Colbert."

"Bah!" replied La Fontaine, "that is impossible. Never will you find Colbert in Epictetus."

"Ah! you are beaten, Conrart; you are reduced to a play upon words. M. Arnaud pretends that I have no logic;

This peroration was hailed with a boisterous shout of laughter; by degrees the promenaders had been attracted

by the exclamations of the two disputants around the arbor under which they were arguing. The discussion

had been religiously listened to, and Fouquet himself, scarcely able to suppress his laughter, had given an

example of moderation. But with the denouement of the scene he threw off all restraint, and laughed aloud.

Everybody laughed as he did, and the two philosophers were saluted with unanimous felicitations. La

Fontaine, however, was declared conqueror, on account of his profound erudition and his irrefragable logic.

Conrart obtained the compensation due to an unsuccessful combatant; he was praised for the loyalty of his

At the moment when this jollity was manifesting itself by the most lively demonstrations, when the ladies

were reproaching the two adversaries with not having admitted women into the system of Epicurean

happiness, Gourville was seen hastening from the other end of the garden, approaching Fouquet, and

detaching him, by his presence alone, from the group. The superintendent preserved on his face the smile and

character of carelessness; but scarcely was he out of sight than he threw off the mask.

"He told him so, but the concierge sent him this reply: `If any one came to me from M. Fouquet, he would

"It is useless, monsieur!" said Pellisson, showing himself at the corner of the little wood, "useless! Go

"You are right. I will go in, as if to work; let the horses remain harnessed, Pellisson. Entertain my friends,

"Do not go to the concierge save at the last minute; it is brave, but it is not wise. Excuse me, Monsieur

Pellisson, if I am not of the same opinion as you; but take my advice, monseigneur, send again a message to

"Do not reckon too much on time; were the hours we have twice as many as they are, they would not be too

"Adieu!" said the superintendent; "come with me, Pellisson. Gourville, I commend my guests to your care."

And he set off. The Epicureans did not perceive that the head of the school had left them; the violins

Fouquet, on leaving his house for the second time that day, felt himself less heavy and less disturbed than

might have been expected. He turned towards Pellisson, who was meditating in the corner of the carriage

"I think, on the contrary, it is very fortunate," replied Pellisson, "for, monseigneur, I am excessively ugly."

"Pellisson! Pellisson!" said the superintendent, laughing: "you repeat too often you are `ugly,' not to leave

"In fact it does, monseigneur, much pain; there is no man more unfortunate than I: I was handsome, the

smallpox rendered me hideous; I am deprived of a great means of attraction; now, I am your principal clerk

or something of that sort; I take great interest in your affairs, and if, at this moment, I were a pretty woman, I

"I would go and find the concierge of the Palais. I would seduce him, for he is a gallant man, extravagantly

"I hope to be able to do so myself, although I am not a pretty woman," replied Fouquet.

"Oh!" cried Fouquet, suddenly, with one of those secret transports which the generous blood of youth, or the

remembrance of some sweet emotion, infuses into the heart. "Oh! I know a woman who will enact the

personage we stand in need of, with the lieutenantgovernor of the conciergerie."

"And, on my part, I know fifty, monseigneur; fifty trumpets, which will inform the universe of your

generosity, of your devotion to your friends, and, consequently, will ruin you sooner or later in ruining

"I do not speak of such women, Pellisson, I speak of a noble and beautiful creature who joins to the

intelligence and wit of her sex the valor and coolness of ours; I speak of a woman, handsome enough to make

the walls of a prison bow down to salute her, discreet enough to let no one suspect by whom she has been

"A treasure!" said Pellisson, "you would make a famous present to monsieur the governor of the conciergerie!

Peste! monseigneur, he might have his head cut off; but he would, before dying, have had such happiness as

"And I add," said Fouquet, "that the concierge of the Palais would not have his head cut off, for he would

receive of me my horses to effect his escape, and five hundred thousand livres wherewith to live comfortably

in England: I add, that this lady, my friend, would give him nothing but the horses and the money. Let us go

The superintendent reached forth his hand towards the gold and silken cord placed in the interior of his

carriage, but Pellisson stopped him. "Monseigneur," said he, "you are going to lose as much time in seeking

this lady as Columbus took to discover the new world. Now, we have but two hours in which we can possibly

succeed; the concierge once gone to bed, how shall we get at him without making a disturbance? When

daylight dawns, how can we conceal our proceedings? Go, go yourself, monseigneur, and do not seek either

"Nothing, alas! and it is that which causes my despair. Nothing, absolutely nothing. Why can I not, on the

But Fouquet had already given orders to stop, and the carriage was motionless. "Prevent me!" cried Fouquet;

"why, no power on earth should prevent my going to pay my compliments to Madame de PlessisBelliere,

"But I do not wish you to wait for me, Pellisson," replied Fouquet, sincerely courteous.

"The more reason I should, monseigneur; knowing that you are keeping me waiting, you will, perhaps, stay a

shorter time. Take care! You see there is a carriage in the courtyard: she has some one with her." Fouquet

leant towards the steps of the carriage. "One word more," cried Pellisson; "do not go to this lady till you have

"Eh! five minutes, Pellisson," replied Fouquet, alighting at the steps of the hotel, leaving Pellisson in the

carriage, in a very illhumor. Fouquet ran upstairs, told his name to the footman, which excited an eagerness

and a respect that showed the habit the mistress of the house had of honoring that name in her family.

"Monsieur le surintendant," cried the marquise, advancing, very pale, to meet him; "what an honor! what an

unexpected pleasure!" said she. Then, in a low voice, "Take care!" added the marquise, "Marguerite Vanel is

"Madame," replied Fouquet, rather agitated, "I came on business. One single word, and quickly, if you

please!" And he entered the salon. Madame Vanel had risen, paler, more livid, than Envy herself. Fouquet in

vain addressed her, with the most agreeable, most pacific salutation; she only replied by a terrible glance

darted at the marquise and Fouquet. This keen glance of a jealous woman is a stiletto which pierces every

cuirass; Marguerite Vanel plunged it straight into the hearts of the two confidants. She made a courtesy to her

friend, a more profound one to Fouquet, and took leave, under pretense of having a number of visits to make,

without the marquise trying to prevent her, or Fouquet, a prey to anxiety, thinking further about her. She was

scarcely out of the room, and Fouquet left alone with the marquise, before he threw himself on his knees,

"She has been here little more than half an hour, and I had no expectation she would come this evening."

"That is not the question now; it is of your danger; how are your affairs going on?"

"Oh! marquise, it would be a signal service; but how can you be employed without your being compromised?

Now, never shall my life, my power, or even my liberty, be purchased at the expense of a single tear from

"Monseigneur, no more such words, they bewilder me; I have been culpable in trying to serve you, without

calculating the extent of what I was doing. I love you in reality, as a tender friend; and as a friend, I am

grateful for your delicate attentions but, alas! alas! you will never find a mistress in me."

"Because you are too much beloved," said the young woman, in a low voice; "because you are too much

beloved by too many people because the splendor of glory and fortune wound my eyes, whilst the

darkness of sorrow attracts them; because, in short, I, who have repulsed you in your proud magnificence; I

who scarcely looked at you in your splendor, I came, like a mad woman, to throw myself, as it were, into

your arms, when I saw a misfortune hovering over your head. You understand me now, monseigneur?

Become happy again, that I may remain chaste in heart and in thought; your misfortune entails my ruin."

"Oh! madame," said Fouquet, with an emotion he had never before felt; "were I to fall to the lowest degree of

human misery, and hear from your mouth that word which you now refuse me, that day, madame, you will be

mistaken in your noble egotism; that day you will fancy you are consoling the most unfortunate of men, and

you will have said, I love you, to the most illustrious, the most delighted, the most triumphant of the happy

He was still at her feet, kissing her hand, when Pellisson entered precipitately, crying, in very illhumor,

"Monseigneur! madame! for Heaven's sake! excuse me. Monseigneur, you have been here half an hour. Oh!

do not both look at me so reproachfully. Madame, pray who is that lady who left your house soon after

"Bon Dieu! begone, begone, monseigneur!" replied the marquise, pushing Fouquet out of the salon, whilst

"Am I, then, indeed," said the superintendent, "become a child, to be frightened by a shadow?"

"You are a giant," said the marquise, "whom a viper is trying to bite in the heel."

Pellisson continued to drag Fouquet to the carriage. "To the Palais at full speed!" cried Pellisson to the

coachman. The horses set off like lightning; no obstacle relaxed their pace for an instant. Only, at the arcade

SaintJean, as they were coming out upon the Place de Greve, a long file of horsemen, barring the narrow

passage, stopped the carriage of the superintendent. There was no means of forcing this barrier; it was

necessary to wait till the mounted archers of the watch, for it was they who stopped the way, had passed with

the heavy carriage they were escorting, and which ascended rapidly towards the Place Baudoyer. Fouquet and

Pellisson took no further account of this circumstance beyond deploring the minute's delay they had thus to

submit to. They entered the habitation of the concierge du Palais five minutes after. That officer was still

walking about in the front court. At the name of Fouquet, whispered in his ear by Pellisson, the governor

eagerly approached the carriage, and, hat in his hand, was profuse in his attentions. "What an honor for me,

"One word, monsieur le gouverneur, will you take the trouble to get into my carriage?" The officer placed

"A service that will be compromising for you, monsieur, but which will assure to you forever my protection

"I will tell you in their presence, monsieur; at the same time that I will give you ample means of palliating

"Oh! woe! woe!" exclaimed Fouquet, striking his forehead. "Woe!" and without saying a single word more to

the governor, he threw himself back in his carriage, despair in his heart, and death on his countenance.

"Our friends are lost. Colbert is conveying them to the donjon. They crossed our very path under the arcade

Pellisson, struck as by a thunderbolt, made no reply. With a single reproach he would have killed his master.

"Hone to Paris. You, Pellisson, return to SaintMande, and bring the Abbe Fouquet to me within an hour.

The night was already far advanced when the Abbe Fouquet joined his brother. Gourville had accompanied

him. These three men, pale with dread of future events, resembled less three powers of the day than three

conspirators, united by one single thought of violence. Fouquet walked for a long time, with his eyes fixed

upon the floor, striking his hands one against the other. At length, taking courage, in the midst of a deep sigh:

"Abbe," said he, "you were speaking to me only today of certain people you maintain."

"Since you demand the truth, monseigneur, here it is: I have a hundred and twenty friends or companions

"The thing I ask of you, abbe," said Fouquet, wiping the sweat which fell from his brow, "is to throw your

hundred and twenty men upon the people I will point out to you, at a certain moment given is it possible?"

"They are too intelligent not to guess it. Now, a minister who gets up a riot against his king exposes

"Of what importance is that to you, I pray? Besides, if I fall, you fall with me."

"It would then be more prudent, monsieur, not to stir in the affair, and leave the king to take this little

"Think well of this, abbe, Lyodot and D'Eymeris at Vincennes are a prelude of ruin for my house. I repeat it

"What I told you I wish that, tomorrow, the two financiers of whom they mean to make victims, whilst

there remain so many criminals unpunished, should be snatched from the fury of my enemies. Take your

"It is of rich simplicity. The ordinary guard at executions consists of twelve archers."

"Pardon me. In every crowd composed of a hundred thousand spectators, there are ten thousand bandits or

"There will then be, tomorrow, on the Place de Greve, which I choose as my battlefield, ten thousand

auxiliaries to my hundred and twenty men. The attack commenced by the latter, the others will finish it."

"That all appears feasible. But what will be done with regard to the prisoners upon the Place de Greve?"

"This: they must be thrust into some house that will make a siege necessary to get them out again. And

stop! here is another idea, more sublime still: certain houses have two issues one upon the Place, and the

other into the Rue de la Mortellerie, or la Vennerie, or la Texeranderie. The prisoners entering by one door

"And I," cried Fouquet, "I have found it. Listen to what has occurred to me at this moment."

Fouquet made a sign to Gourville, who appeared to understand. "One of my friends lends me sometimes the

keys of a house which he rents, Rue Baudoyer, the spacious gardens of which extend behind a certain house

"A cabaret, pretty well frequented, whose sign represents the image of Notre Dame."

"This cabaret has windows opening upon the Place, a place of exit into the court, which must abut upon the

"Enter by the cabaret, take the prisoners in; defend the door while you enable them to fly by the garden and

"That is all plain. Monsieur, you would make an excellent general, like monsieur le prince."

"How much will it amount to, to make your bandits all drunk with wine, and to satisfy them with gold?"

"Oh, monsieur, what an expression! Oh! monsieur, if they heard you: some of them are very susceptible."

"I mean to say they must be brought no longer to know the heavens from the earth; for I shall tomorrow

contend with the king; and when I fight I mean to conquer please to understand."

"Monseigneur," objected Gourville, "if this should be known, we should lose our heads."

"Eh! Gourville," replied Fouquet, purple with anger, "you excite my pity. Speak for yourself, if you please.

My head does not shake in that manner upon my shoulders. Now, abbe, is everything arranged?"

"At twelve, because it will be necessary to prepare our auxiliaries in a secret manner."

"I will spare neither his wine nor his house," replied the abbe, with a sneering laugh. "I have my plan, I tell

"By a courier whose horse shall be kept in the very garden of your friend. A propos, the name of your

Fouquet looked again at Gourville. The latter came to the succor of his master, saying, "Accompanying

monsieur l'abbe for several reasons, only the house is easily to be known, the `ImagedeNotreDame' in the

"Accompany him, Gourville," said Fouquet, "and count him down the money. One moment, abbe one

"The riot on account of what? For, if ever the people of Paris are disposed to pay their court to the king, it is

"My men shall cry out, `Colbert, vive Colbert!' and shall throw themselves upon the prisoners as if they

would tear them in pieces, and shall force them from the gibbets, as too mild a punishment."

"Ah! that is an idea," said Gourville. "Peste! monsieur l'abbe, what an imagination you have!"

"Strange fellow," murmured Fouquet. Then he added, "That is ingenious. Carry it out, but shed no blood."

Gourville and the abbe set off together, with their heads full of the meditated riot. The superintendent laid

himself down upon some cushions, half valiant with respect to the sinister projects of the morrow, half

At two o'clock the next day fifty thousand spectators had taken their position upon the Place, around the two

gibbets which had been elevated between the Quai de la Greve and the Quai Pelletier; one close to the other,

with their backs to the embankment of the river. In the morning also, all the sworn criers of the good city of

Paris had traversed the quarters of the city, particularly the halles and the faubourgs, announcing with their

hoarse and indefatigable voices, the great justice done by the king upon two speculators, two thieves,

devourers of the people. And these people, whose interests were so warmly looked after, in order not to fail in

respect for their king quitted shops, stalls, and ateliers to go and evince a little gratitude to Louis XIV.,

absolutely like invited guests, who feared to commit an impoliteness in not repairing to the house of him who

had invited them. According to the tenor of the sentence, which the criers read aloud and incorrectly, two

farmers of the revenues, monopolists of money, dilapidators of the royal provisions, extortioners, and forgers,

were about to undergo capital punishment on the Place de Greve, with their names blazoned over their heads,

according to their sentence. As to those names, the sentence made no mention of them. The curiosity of the

Parisians was at its height, and, as we have said, an immense crowd waited with feverish impatience the hour

fixed for the execution. The news had already spread that the prisoners, transferred to the Chateau of

Vincennes, would be conducted from that prison to the Place de Greve. Consequently, the faubourg and the

Rue Saint Antoine were crowded, for the population of Paris in those days of great executions was divided

into two categories: those who came to see the condemned pass these were of timid and mild hearts, but

philosophically curious and those who wished to see the condemned die these had hearts that hungered

for sensation. On this day M. d'Artagnan received his last instructions from the king, and made his adieus to

his friends, the number of whom was, at the moment, reduced to Planchet, traced the plan of his day, as every

busy man whose moments are counted ought to do because he appreciates their importance.

"My departure is to be," said he, "at break of day, three o'clock in the morning; I have then fifteen hours

before me. Take from them the six hours of sleep which are indispensable for me six; one hour for repasts

seven; one hour for a farewell visit to Athos eight; two hours for chance circumstances total, ten.

There are then five hours left. One hour to get my money, that is, to have payment refused by M. Fouquet;

another hour to go and receive my money of M. Colbert, together with his questions and grimaces; one hour

to look over my clothes and arms, and get my boots cleaned. I have still two hours left. Mordioux! how rich I

am!" And so saying, D'Artagnan felt a strange joy, a joy of youth, a perfume of those great and happy years

of former times mount into his brain and intoxicate him. "During these two hours I will go," said the

musketeer, "and take my quarter's rent of the ImagedeNotreDame. That will be pleasant. Three hundred

and seventyfive livres. Mordioux! but that is astonishing! If the poor man who has but one livre in his

pocket, found a livre and twelve deniers, that would be justice, that would be excellent; but never does such a

godsend fall to the lot of the poor man. The rich man, on the contrary, makes himself revenues with his

money, which he does not even touch. Here are three hundred and seventyfive livres which fall to me from

heaven. I will go then to the ImagedeNotreDame, and drink a glass of Spanish wine with my tenant,

which he cannot fail to offer me. But order must be observed, Monsieur d'Artagnan, order must be observed!

Let us organize our time, then, and distribute the employment of it! Art. 1st, Athos; Art. 2d, the

ImagedeNotreDame; Art. 3d, M. Fouquet, Art. 4th, M. Colbert; Art. 5th, supper; Art. 6th, clothes, boots,

In consequence of this arrangement, D'Artagnan went straight to the Comte de la Fere, to whom modestly

and ingenuously he related a part of his fortunate adventures. Athos had not been without uneasiness on the

subject of D'Artagnan's visit to the king; but few words sufficed for an explanation of that. Athos divined that

Louis had charged D'Artagnan with some important mission, and did not even make an effort to draw the

secret from him. He only recommended him to take care of himself, and offered discreetly to accompany him

"Oh! yes, yes," replied D'Artagnan, coloring a little, "I am going to make an acquisition."

"That is quite another thing. Then I change my formula. Instead of `Do not get yourself killed,' I will say,

"My friend, I will inform you if I set eyes on any property that pleases me, and shall expect you will favor me

"Yes, yes," said Athos, too delicate to permit himself even the consolation of a smile. Raoul imitated the

paternal reserve. But D'Artagnan thought it would appear too mysterious to leave his friends under a pretense,

"Excellent, my friend," replied the count, without making him observe that Le Mans was in the same

direction as La Touraine, and that by waiting two days, at most, he might travel with a friend. But

D'Artagnan, more embarrassed than the count, dug, at every explanation, deeper into the mud, into which he

sank by degrees. "I shall set out tomorrow at daybreak," said he at last. "Till that time, will you come with

"Yes, monsieur le chevalier," said the young man, "if monsieur le comte does not want me."

"No, Raoul I am to have an audience today of Monsieur, the king's brother; that is all I have to do."

Raoul asked Grimaud for his sword, which the old man brought him immediately. "Now then," added

D'Artagnan, opening his arms to Athos, "adieu, my dear friend!" Athos held him in a long embrace, and the

musketeer, who knew his discretion so well, murmured in his ear "An affair of state," to which Athos only

replied by a pressure of the hand, still more significant. They then separated. Raoul took the arm of his old

friend, who led him along the RueSaintHonore. "I am conducting you to the abode of the god Plutus," said

D'Artagnan to the young man; "prepare yourself. The whole day you will witness the piling up of crowns.

"The devil take the rogue who gets himself hung the day I want to go and take my rent!" cried D'Artagnan.

"Oh! how young that sounds! If you were on guard in the trenches, as I was, and a spy! But, pardon me,

Raoul, I am doting you are quite right, it is a hideous sight to see a person hung! At what hour do they

"Monsieur," replied the stranger respectfully, delighted at joining conversation with two men of the sword, "it

"Aha! it is now only halfpast one; let us step out, we shall be there in time to touch my three hundred and

"Monsieur, I return you many thanks," said D'Artagnan, who, as he grew older, had become polite to a

degree. Drawing Raoul along, he directed his course rapidly in the direction of La Greve. Without that great

experience musketeers have of a crowd, to which were joined an irresistible strength of wrist, and an

uncommon suppleness of shoulders, our two travelers would not have arrived at their place of destination.

They followed the line of the Quai, which they had gained on quitting the Rue SaintHonore, where they left

Athos. D'Artagnan went first; his elbow, his wrist, his shoulder formed three wedges which he knew how to

insinuate with skill into the groups, to make them split and separate like firewood. He made use sometimes of

the hilt of his sword as an additional help: introducing it between ribs that were too rebellious, making it take

the part of a lever or crowbar, to separate husband from wife, uncle from nephew, and brother from brother.

And all this was done so naturally, and with such gracious smiles, that people must have had ribs of bronze

not to cry thank you when the wrist made its play, or hearts of diamond not to be enchanted when such a

bland smile enlivened the lips of the musketeer. Raoul, following his friend, cajoled the women who admired

his beauty, pushed back the men who felt the rigidity of his muscles, and both opened, thanks to these

maneuvers, the compact and muddy tide of the populace. They arrived in sight of the two gibbets, from which

Raoul turned away his eyes in disgust. As for D'Artagnan, he did not even see them; his house with its gabled

roof, its windows crowded with the curious, attracted and even absorbed all the attention he was capable of.

He distinguished in the Place and around the houses a good number of musketeers on leave, who, some with

women, others with friends, awaited the crowning ceremony. What rejoiced him above all was to see that his

tenant, the cabaretier, was so busy he hardly knew which way to turn. Three lads could not supply the

drinkers. They filled the shop, the chambers, and the court, even. D'Artagnan called Raoul's attention to this

concourse, adding: "The fellow will have no excuse for not paying his rent. Look at those drinkers, Raoul,

one would say they were jolly companions. Mordioux! why, there is no room anywhere!" D'Artagnan,

however, contrived to catch hold of the master by the corner of his apron, and to make himself known to him.

"Ah, monsieur le chevalier," said the cabaretier, half distracted, "one minute if you please. I have here a

"Oh, monsieur, your thirtyseven and a half pistoles are all counted out ready for you, upstairs in my

chamber, but there are in that chamber thirty customers, who are sucking the staves of a little barrel of Oporto

"I will go," said Raoul, in a low voice, to D'Artagnan; "this hilarity is vile!"

"Monsieur," replied D'Artagnan, sternly, "you will please to remain where you are. The soldier ought to

familiarize himself with all kinds of spectacles. There are in the eye, when it is young, fibers which we must

learn how to harden; and we are not truly generous and good save from the moment when the eye has become

hardened, and the heart remains tender. Besides, my little Raoul, would you leave me alone here? That would

be very wrong of you. Look, there is yonder in the lower court a tree, and under the shade of that tree we

From the spot on which they had placed themselves the two new guests of the ImagedeNotreDame heard

the everincreasing hubbub of the tide of people, and lost neither a cry nor a gesture of the drinkers, at tables

in the cabaret, or disseminated in the chambers. If D'Artagnan had wished to place himself as a vidette for an

expedition, he could not have succeeded better. The tree under which he and Raoul were seated covered them

with its already thick foliage; it was a low, thick chestnuttree, with inclined branches, that cast their shade

over a table so dilapidated the drinkers had abandoned it. We said that from this post D'Artagnan saw

everything. He observed the goings and comings of the waiters; the arrival of fresh drinkers; the welcome,

sometimes friendly, sometimes hostile, given to the newcomers by others already installed. He observed all

this to amuse himself, for the thirtyseven and a half pistoles were a long time coming. Raoul recalled his

attention to it. "Monsieur," said he, "you do not hurry your tenant, and the condemned will soon be here.

"You are right," said the musketeer; "Hola! oh! somebody there! Mordioux!" But it was in vain he cried and

knocked upon the wreck of the old table, which fell to pieces beneath his fist; nobody came.

D'Artagnan was preparing to go and seek the cabaretier himself, to force him to a definite explanation, when

the door of the court in which he was with Raoul, a door which communicated with the garden situated at the

back, opened, and a man dressed as a cavalier, with his sword in the sheath, but not at his belt, crossed the

court without closing the door; and having cast an oblique glance at D'Artagnan and his companion, directed

his course towards the cabaret itself, looking about in all directions with his eyes capable of piercing walls of

consciences. "Humph!" said D'Artagnan, "my tenants are communicating. That, no doubt, now, is some

amateur in hanging matters." At the same moment the cries and disturbance in the upper chambers ceased.

Silence, under such circumstances, surprises more than a twofold increase of noise. D'Artagnan wished to see

what was the cause of this sudden silence. He then perceived that this man, dressed as a cavalier, had just

entered the principal chamber, and was haranguing the tipplers, who all listened to him with the greatest

attention. D'Artagnan would perhaps have heard his speech but for the dominant noise of the popular

clamors, which made a formidable accompaniment to the harangue of the orator. But it was soon finished,

and all the people the cabaret contained came out, one after the other, in little groups, so that there only

remained six in the chamber; one of these six, the man with the sword, took the cabaretier aside, engaging

him in discourse more or less serious, whilst the others lit a great fire in the chimneyplace a

"It is very singular," said D'Artagnan to Raoul, "but I think I know those faces yonder."

He had not finished speaking, when four of these men came down into the court, and without the appearance

of any bad design, mounted guard at the door of communication, casting, at intervals, glances at D'Artagnan,

"Mordioux!" said D'Artagnan, in a low voice, "there is something going on. Are you curious, Raoul?"

"Well, I am as curious as an old woman. Come a little more in front; we shall get a better view of the place. I

"But you know, monsieur le chevalier, that I am not willing to become a passive and indifferent spectator of

"And I, then do you think I am a savage? We will go in again, when it is time to do so. Come along!" And

they made their way towards the front of the house, and placed themselves near the window which, still more

strangely than the rest, remained unoccupied. The two last drinkers, instead of looking out at this window,

kept up the fire. On seeing D'Artagnan and his friend enter: "Ah! ah! a reinforcement," murmured they.

D'Artagnan jogged Raoul's elbow. "Yes, my braves, a reinforcement," said he; "cordieu! there is a famous

The two men uttered a shout of jovial laughter, and, instead of answering, threw on more wood. D'Artagnan

"I suppose," said one of the firemakers, "they sent you to tell us the time did not they?"

"Without doubt they have," said D'Artagnan, anxious to know what was going on; "why should I be here else,

"Then place yourself at the window, if you please, and observe." D'Artagnan smiled in his mustache, made a

The spectacle which the Greve now presented was a frightful one. The heads, leveled by the perspective,

extended afar, thick and agitated as the ears of corn in a vast plain. From time to time a fresh report, or a

distant rumor, made the heads oscillate and thousands of eyes flash. Now and then there were great

movements. All those ears of corn bent, and became waves more agitated than those of the ocean, which

rolled from the extremities to the center, and beat, like the tides, against the hedge of archers who surrounded

the gibbets. Then the handles of the halberds were let fall upon the heads and shoulders of the rash invaders;

at times, also, it was the steel as well as the wood, and, in that case, a large empty circle was formed around

the guard; a space conquered upon the extremities, which underwent, in their turn the oppression of the

sudden movement, which drove them against the parapets of the Seine. From the window, that commanded a

view of the whole Place, D'Artagnan saw, with interior satisfaction, that such of the musketeers and guards as

found themselves involved in the crowd, were able, with blows of their fists and the hilts of their swords, to

keep room. He even remarked that they had succeeded, by that esprit de corps which doubles the strength of

the soldier, in getting together in one group to the amount of about fifty men; and that, with the exception of a

dozen stragglers whom he still saw rolling here and there, the nucleus was complete, and within reach of his

voice. But it was not the musketeers and guards only that drew the attention of D'Artagnan. Around the

gibbets, and particularly at the entrances to the arcade of Saint Jean, moved a noisy mass, a busy mass; daring

faces, resolute demeanors were to be seen here and there, mingled with silly faces and indifferent demeanors;

signals were exchanged, hands given and taken. D'Artagnan remarked among the groups, and those groups

the most animated, the face of the cavalier whom he had seen enter by the door of communication from his

garden, and who had gone upstairs to harangue the drinkers. That man was organizing troops and giving

"Mordioux!" said D'Artagnan to himself, "I was not deceived; I know that man, it is Menneville. What the

A distant murmur, which became more distinct by degrees, stopped this reflection, and drew his attention

another way. This murmur was occasioned by the arrival of the culprits; a strong picket of archers preceded

them, and appeared at the angle of the arcade. The entire crowd now joined as if in one cry; all the cries

united formed one immense howl. D'Artagnan saw Raoul was becoming pale, and he slapped him roughly on

the shoulder. The firekeepers turned round on hearing the great cry, and asked what was going on. "The

condemned are arrived," said D'Artagnan. "That's well," replied they, again replenishing the fire. D'Artagnan

looked at them with much uneasiness; it was evident that these men who were making such a fire for no

apparent purpose had some strange intentions. The condemned appeared upon the Place. They were walking,

the executioner before them, whilst fifty archers formed a hedge on their right and their left. Both were

dressed in black; they appeared pale, but firm. They looked impatiently over the people's heads, standing on

tiptoe at every step. D'Artagnan remarked this. "Mordioux!" cried he, "they are in a great hurry to get a sight

of the gibbet!" Raoul drew back, without, however, having the power to leave the window. Terror even has

"Yes; to the death!" howled a hundred frantic others, as if the great mass had given them the reply.

"Well," said D'Artagnan, "this is droll; I should have thought it was M. Colbert who had caused them to be

There was, at this moment, a great rolling movement in the crowd, which stopped for a moment the march of

the condemned. The people of a bold and resolute mien, whom D'Artagnan had observed, by dint of pressing,

pushing, and lifting themselves up, had succeeded in almost touching the hedge of archers. The cortege

resumed its march. All at once, to cries of "Vive Colbert!" those men, of whom D'Artagnan never lost sight,

fell upon the escort, which in vain endeavored to stand against them. Behind these men was the crowd. Then

commenced, amidst a frightful tumult, as frightful a confusion. This time there was something more than

cries of expectation or cries of joy, there were cries of pain. Halberds struck men down, swords ran them

through, muskets were discharged at them. The confusion became then so great that D'Artagnan could no

longer distinguish anything. Then, from this chaos, suddenly surged something like a visible intention, like a

will pronounced. The condemned had been torn from the hands of the guards, and were being dragged

towards the house of L'ImagedeNotreDame. Those who dragged them shouted, "Vive Colbert!" The

people hesitated, not knowing which they ought to fall upon, the archers or the aggressors. What stopped the

people was, that those who cried "Vive Colbert!" began to cry, at the same time, "No halter! no halter! to the

fire! to the fire! burn the thieves! burn the extortioners!" This cry, shouted with an ensemble, obtained

enthusiastic success. The populace had come to witness an execution, and here was an opportunity offered

them of performing one themselves. It was this that must be most agreeable to the populace: therefore, they

ranged, themselves immediately on the party of the aggressors against the archers, crying with the minority,

which had become, thanks to them, the most compact majority: "Yes, yes: to the fire with the thieves! Vive

One of the men who remained near the chimney approached the window, a firebrand in his hand. "Ah, ah!"

said he, "it gets warm." Then, turning to his companion: "There is the signal," added he; and he immediately

applied the burning brand to the wainscoting. Now, this cabaret of the ImagedeNotreDame was not a

very newlybuilt house, and therefore did not require much entreating to take fire. In a second the boards

began to crackle, and the flames arose sparkling to the ceiling. A howling from without replied to the shouts

of the incendiaries. D'Artagnan, who had not seen what passed, from being engaged at the window, felt, at

the same time, the smoke which choked him and the fire that scorched him. "Hola!" cried he, turning round,

The two men looked at each other with an air of astonishment. "In what?" asked they of D'Artagnan; "was it

"A thing agreed upon that you should burn my house!" vociferated D'Artagnan, snatching the brand from the

hand of the incendiary, and striking him with it across the face. The second wanted to assist his comrade, but

Raoul, seizing him by the middle, threw him out of the window, whilst D'Artagnan pushed his man down the

stairs. Raoul, first disengaged, tore the burning wainscoting down, and threw it flaming into the chamber. At

a glance D'Artagnan saw there was nothing to be feared from the fire, and sprang to the window. The

disorder was at its height. The air was filled with simultaneous cries of "To the fire!" "To the death!" "To the

halter!" "To the stake!" "Vive Colbert!" "Vive le roi!" The group which had forced the culprits from the

hands of the archers had drawn close to the house, which appeared to be the goal towards which they dragged

them. Menneville was at the head of this group, shouting louder than all the others, "To the fire! to the fire!

Vive Colbert!" D'Artagnan began to comprehend what was meant. They wanted to burn the condemned, and

"Halt, there!" cried he, sword in hand, and one foot upon the window. "Menneville, what do you want to do?"

These cries exasperated D'Artagnan. "Mordioux!" said he. "What! burn the poor devils who are only

Before the door, however, the mass of anxious spectators, rolled back against the walls, had become more

thick, and closed up the way. Menneville and his men, who were dragging along the culprits, were within ten

"Burn them! burn them!" repeated the crowd. "The ImagedeNotreDame is on fire! Burn the thieves! burn

There now remained no doubt, it was plainly D'Artagnan's house that was their object. D'Artagnan

"A moi! mousquetaires!" shouted he, with the voice of a giant, with one of those voices which dominate over

cannon, the sea, the tempest. "A moi! mousquetaires!" And suspending himself by the arm from the balcony,

he allowed himself to drop amidst the crowd, which began to draw back from a house that rained men. Raoul

was on the ground as soon as he, both sword in hand. All the musketeers on the Place heard that challenging

cry all turned round at that cry, and recognized D'Artagnan. "To the captain, to the captain!" cried they, in

their turn. And the crowd opened before them as though before the prow of a vessel. At that moment

D'Artagnan and Menneville found themselves face to face. "Passage, passage!" cried Menneville, seeing that

"Take that, then!" said Menneville, firing his pistol, almost within arm's length. But before the cock fell,

D'Artagnan had struck up Menneville's arm with the hilt of his sword and passed the blade through his body.

"I told you plainly to keep yourself quiet," said D'Artagnan to Menneville, who rolled at his feet.

"Passage! passage!" cried the companions of Menneville, at first terrified, but soon recovering, when they

found they had only to do with two men. But those two men were hundredarmed giants, the swords flew

about in their hands like the burning glaive of the archangel. They pierce with its point, strike with the flat,

cut with the edge, every stroke brings down a man. "For the king!" cried D'Artagnan, to every man he struck

at, that is to say, to every man that fell. This cry became the charging word for the musketeers, who guided by

it, joined D'Artagnan. During this time the archers, recovering from the panic they had undergone, charge the

aggressors in the rear, and regular as mill strokes, overturn or knock down all that oppose them. The crowd,

which sees swords gleaming, and drops of blood flying in the air the crowd falls back and crushes itself.

At length cries for mercy and of despair resound; that is, the farewell of the vanquished. The two condemned

are again in the hands of the archers. D'Artagnan approaches them, seeing them pale and sinking: "Console

yourselves, poor men," said he, "you will not undergo the frightful torture with which these wretches

threatened you. The king has condemned you to be hung: you shall only be hung. Go on, hang them, and it

There is no longer anything going on at the ImagedeNotreDame. The fire has been extinguished with two

tuns of wine in default of water. The conspirators have fled by the garden. The archers were dragging the

culprits to the gibbets. From this moment the affair did not occupy much time. The executioner, heedless

about operating according to the rules of art, made such haste that he dispatched the condemned in a couple

of minutes. In the meantime the people gathered around D'Artagnan, they felicitated, they cheered him.

He wiped his brow, streaming with sweat, and his sword, streaming with blood. He shrugged his shoulders at

seeing Menneville writhing at his feet in the last convulsions. And, while Raoul turned away his eyes in

compassion, he pointed to the musketeers the gibbets laden with their melancholy fruit. "Poor devils!" said

he, "I hope they died blessing me, for I saved them with great difficulty." These words caught the ear of

Menneville at the moment when he himself was breathing his last sigh. A dark, ironical smile flitted across

his lips, he wished to reply, but the effort hastened the snapping of the chord of life he expired.

"Oh! all this is very frightful!" murmured Raoul: "let us begone, monsieur le chevalier."

"That's well! Thou art a brave fellow, mordioux! The head of the father, and the arm of Porthos. Ah! if he had

been here, good Porthos, you would have seen something worth looking at." Then as if by way of

"One minute, my friend, let me take my thirtyseven and a half pistoles and I am at your service. The house

is a good property," added D'Artagnan, as he entered the ImagedeNotreDame, "but decidedly, even if it

Whilst this violent, noisy, and bloody scene was passing on the Greve, several men, barricaded behind the

gate of communication with the garden, replaced their swords in their sheaths, assisted one among them to

mount a ready saddled horse which was waiting in the garden, and like a flock of startled birds, fled in all

directions, some climbing the walls, others rushing out at the gates with all the fury of a panic. He who

mounted the horse, and gave him the spur so sharply that the animal was near leaping the wall, this cavalier,

we say, crossed the Place Baudoyer, passed like lightning before the crowd in the streets, riding against,

running over and knocking down all that came in his way, and, ten minutes after, arrived at the gates of the

superintendent, more out of breath than his horse. The Abbe Fouquet, at the clatter of the hoofs on the

pavement, appeared at a window of the court, and before even the cavalier had set foot to the ground, "Well!

"Hung!" repeated the abbe, turning pale. A lateral door suddenly opened, and Fouquet appeared in the

chamber, pale, distracted, with lips half opened, breathing a cry of grief and anger. He stopped upon the

"A hundred men accustomed to war, sword in hand, are worth ten thousand archers in a surprise. Where is

Menneville, that boaster, that braggart, who was to come back either dead or a conqueror?"

"A demon disguised as a man, a giant armed with ten flaming swords a madman, who at one blow

extinguished the fire, put down the riot, and caused a hundred musketeers to rise up out of the pavement of

Fouquet raised his brow, streaming with sweat, murmuring, "Oh! Lyodot and D'Eymeris! dead! dead! dead!

The abbe turned round, and perceiving his brother, despairing and livid, "Come, come," said he, "it is a blow

of fate, monsieur; we must not lament thus. Our attempt has failed, because God "

"Be silent, abbe! be silent!" cried Fouquet; "your excuses are blasphemies. Order that man up here, and let

The abbe made a sign, and in half a minute the man's step was heard upon the stairs. At the same time

Gourville appeared behind Fouquet, like the guardian angel of the superintendent, pressing one finger on his

lips to enjoin observation even amidst the bursts of his grief. The minister resumed all the serenity that

human strength left at the disposal of a heart half broken with sorrow. Danecamp appeared. "Make your

"Monsieur," replied the messenger, "we received orders to carry off the prisoners, and to cry `Vive Colbert!'

"Yes, yes, the order was given to Menneville. Menneville knew what was to be done, and Menneville is

"Granted, monsieur, granted," said the man, looking into the eyes and the faces of the two interlocutors, to

ascertain what there was profitable or disadvantageous to himself in telling the truth.

"The prisoners," cried Danecamp, "were brought to the Greve, and the people, in a fury, insisted upon their

"But," resumed the man, "at the moment the archers were broken, at the moment the fire was set to one of the

houses of the Place destined to serve as a funeralpile for the guilty, this fury, this demon, this giant of whom

I told you, and who we had been informed, was the proprietor of the house in question, aided by a young man

who accompanied him, threw out of the window those who kept up the fire, called to his assistance the

musketeers who were in the crowd, leapt himself from the window of the first story into the Place, and plied

his sword so desperately that the victory was restored to the archers, the prisoners were retaken, and

Menneville killed. When once recaptured, the condemned were executed in three minutes." Fouquet, in spite

"I cannot tell you, not having even been able to get sight of him; my post had been appointed in the garden,

and I remained at my post: only the affair was related to me as I repeat it. I was ordered, when once the affair

was at an end, to come at best speed arid announce to you the manner in which it finished. According to this

"Very well, monsieur, we have nothing else to ask of you," said the abbe, more and more dejected, in

"Here are twenty pistoles. Begone, monsieur, and never forget to defend, as this time has been done, the true

"Yes, monsieur," said the man, bowing and pocketing the money. After which he went out. Scarcely had the

door closed after him when Fouquet, who had remained motionless, advanced with a rapid step and stood

between the abbe and Gourville. Both of them at the same time opened their mouths to speak to him. "No

excuses," said he, "no recriminations against anybody. If I had not been a false friend I should not have

confided to any one the care of delivering Lyodot and D'Eymeris. I alone am guilty; to me alone are

"And yet, monsieur, you will not prevent me," replied the latter, "from endeavoring to find out the miserable

fellow who has intervened to the advantage of M. Colbert in this so wellarranged affair; for, if it is good

policy to love our friends dearly, I do not believe that is bad which consists in obstinately pursuing our

"A truce to policy, abbe; begone, I beg of you, and do not let me hear any more of you till I send for you;

what we most need is circumspection and silence. You have a terrible example before you, gentlemen: no

"There are no orders," grumbled the abbe, "which will prevent me from avenging a family affront upon the

"And I," cried Fouquet, in that imperative tone to which one feels there is nothing to reply, "if you entertain

one thought, one single thought, which is not the absolute expression of my will, I will have you cast into the

Bastile two hours after that thought has manifested itself. Regulate your conduct accordingly, abbe."

The abbe colored and bowed. Fouquet made a sign to Gourville to follow him, and was already directing his

steps towards his cabinet, when the usher announced with a loud voice: "Monsieur le Chevalier d'Artagnan."

"An exlieutenant of his majesty's musketeers," replied Gourville, in the same tone. Fouquet did not even

take the trouble to reflect, and resumed his walk. "I beg your pardon, monseigneur!" said Gourville, "but I

have remembered, this brave man has quitted the king's service, and probably comes to receive an installment

"Permit me then, monseigneur, to announce your refusal to him; for he is one of my acquaintance, and is a

man whom, in our present circumstances, it would be better to have as a friend than an enemy."

"Eh! good Lord!" said the abbe, still full of malice, like an egotistical man; "tell him there is no money,

But scarcely had the abbe uttered this imprudent speech, when the partly open door was thrown back, and

"Eh! Monsieur Fouquet," said he, "I was well aware there was no money for musketeers here. Therefore I did

not come to obtain any, but to have it refused. That being done, receive my thanks. I give you goodday, and

"Gourville," said Fouquet, "run after that man and bring him back." Gourville obeyed, and overtook

D'Artagnan, hearing steps behind him, turned round and perceived Gourville. "Mordioux! my dear

monsieur," said he, "these are sad lessons which you gentlemen of finance teach us; I come to M. Fouquet to

receive a sum accorded by his majesty, and I am received like a mendicant who comes to ask charity, or a

"But you pronounced the name of M. Colbert, my dear M. d'Artagnan; you said you were going to M.

"I certainly am going there, were it only to ask satisfaction of the people who try to burn houses, crying `Vive

Gourville pricked up his ears. "Oh, oh!" said he, "you allude to what has just happened at the Greve?"

"What! do you ask me whether it concerns me or does not concern me, if M. Colbert pleases to make a

"Well, then, are you the brave captain, are you the valiant blade who dispersed those who wished to burn the

"My dear Monsieur Gourville, put yourself in my place. I was an agent of the public force and a landlord, too.

As a captain, it is my duty to have the orders of the king accomplished. As a proprietor, it is to my interest my

house should not be burnt. I have at the same time attended to the laws of interest and duty in replacing

"I had that misfortune," said D'Artagnan, bowing like a man who is being congratulated.

"Instead of being burnt, yes, monsieur, and I am proud of it. I saved the poor devils from horrible tortures.

Understand, my dear Monsieur de Gourville, that they wanted to burn them alive. It exceeds imagination!"

"Go, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, go," said Gourville, anxious to spare Fouquet the sight of the man who

"No," said Fouquet, who had heard all from the door of the antechamber; "not so; on the contrary, Monsieur

D'Artagnan wiped from the hilt of his sword a last bloody trace, which had escaped his notice, and returned.

He then found himself face to face with these three men, whose countenances wore very different

expressions. With the abbe it was anger, with Gourville stupor, with Fouquet it was dejection.

"I beg your pardon, monsieur le ministre," said D'Artagnan, "but my time is short; I have to go to the office of

the intendant, to have an explanation with Monsieur Colbert, and to receive my quarter's pension."

"But, monsieur," said Fouquet, "there is money here." D'Artagnan looked at the superintendent with

astonishment. "You have been answered inconsiderately, monsieur, I know, because I heard it," said the

minister; "a man of your merit ought to be known by everybody." D'Artagnan bowed. "Have you an order?"

"Give it me, I will pay you myself; come with me." He made a sign to Gourville and the abbe, who remained

in the chamber where they were. He led D'Artagnan into his cabinet. As soon as the door was shut, "How

"A quarter consisting of five thousand livres!" said Fouquet, fixing upon the musketeer a searching look.

"I?" cried Fouquet, and he smiled bitterly. "If I had any knowledge of mankind, if I were instead of being

a frivolous, inconsequent, and vain spirit of a prudent and reflective spirit; if, in a word, I had, as certain

persons have known how, regulated my life, you would not receive twenty thousand livres a year, but a

D'Artagnan colored slightly. There is sometimes in the manner in which a eulogium is given, in the voice, in

the affectionate tone, a poison so sweet, that the strongest mind is intoxicated by it. The superintendent

terminated his speech by opening a drawer, and taking from it four rouleaux which he placed before

"I do only what I ought to do, monsieur le chevalier; and I hope you will not bear me any malice on account

of the rude reception my brother gave you. He is of a sour, capricious disposition."

"Monsieur," said D'Artagnan, "believe me, nothing would grieve me more than an excuse from you."

"Therefore I will make no more, and will content myself with asking you a favor."

Fouquet drew from his finger a ring worth about a thousand pistoles. "Monsieur," said he, "this stone was

given me by a friend of my childhood, by a man to whom you have rendered a great service."

"A service I?" said the musketeer, "I have rendered a service to one of your friends?"

"Yes, one of the victims. Well! Monsieur d'Artagnan, in return for the service you have rendered him, I beg

"Accept it, I say. Today is with me a day of mourning; hereafter you will, perhaps, learn why; today I have

"Adieu! Monsieur d'Artagnan, adieu!" cried Fouquet, with much emotion; "or rather, au revoir." And the

minister quitted the cabinet, leaving in the hands of the musketeer the ring and the twenty thousand livres.

"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, after a moment's dark reflection. "How on earth am I to understand what this means?

Mordioux! I can understand this much, only: he is a gallant man! I will go and explain matters to M.

CHAPTER 64. Of the Notable Difference D'Artagnan finds between Monsieur the Intendant and

M. Colbert resided in the Rue Neuve des PetitsChamps in a house which had belonged to Beautru.

D'Artagnan's legs cleared the distance in a short quarter of an hour. When he arrived at the residence of the

new favorite, the court was full of archers and police, who came to congratulate him, or to excuse themselves

according to whether he should choose to praise or blame. The sentiment of flattery is instinctive with people

of abject condition; they have the sense of it, as the wild animal has that of hearing and smell. These people,

or their leader, understood that there was a pleasure to offer to M. Colbert, in rendering him an account of the

fashion in which his name had been pronounced during the rash enterprise of the morning. D'Artagnan made

his appearance just as the chief of the watch was giving his report. He stood close to the door, behind the

archers. That officer took Colbert on one side, in spite of his resistance and the contraction of his bushy

eyebrows. "In case," said he, "you really desired, monsieur, that the people should do justice on the two

traitors, it would have been wise to warn us of it; for, indeed, monsieur, in spite of our regret at displeasing

"Triple fool!" replied Colbert, furiously shaking his hair, thick and black as a mane, "what are you telling

"Ah! indeed," said Colbert, expanding. "A mass of people cried, `Vive Colbert!' Are you certain of what you

"We had nothing to do but open our ears, or rather to close them, so terrible were the cries."

"Oh! very well," continued Colbert, thoughtfully. "Then you suppose it was the people alone who wished to

"Monsieur, a few of the rioters were left upon the square, and one among them who was not a common man."

"Menneville!" cried Colbert, "what, he who killed Rue de la Huchette, a worthy man who wanted a fat fowl?"

Colbert's brow grew dark and wrinkled. A kind of ambitious glory which had lighted his face was

extinguished, like the light of glowworms we crush beneath the grass. "Then you say," resumed the

deceived intendant, "that the initiative came from the people? Menneville was my enemy, I would have had

him hung, and he knew it well. Menneville belonged to the Abbe Fouquet the affair originated with

Fouquet; does not everybody know that the condemned were his friends from childhood?"

"That is true," thought D'Artagnan, "and thus are all my doubts cleared up. I repeat it, Monsieur Fouquet

D'Artagnan thought the time was come for him to make his appearance. "Perfectly, monsieur;" replied he,

"In person," replied the musketeer with his deliberate tone; "it appears that you had in Menneville a pretty

"Double brute!" thought D'Artagnan, "to think to play the great man and the hypocrite with me. Well,"

continued he to Colbert, "I am very happy to have rendered so good a service to the king; will you take upon

"What commission is this you give me, and what do you charge me to tell his majesty, monsieur? Be precise,

"I give you no commission," replied D'Artagnan, with that calmness which never abandons the banterer; "I

thought it would be easy for you to announce to his majesty that it was I who, being there by chance, did

Colbert opened his eyes and interrogated the chief of the watch with a look "Ah! it is very true," said the

"Why did you not tell me monsieur, that you came to relate me this?" said Colbert with envy, "everything is

"You are in error, monsieur l'intendant, I did not at all come for the purpose of relating that to you."

"Ah!" said Colbert, recovering himself when he saw D'Artagnan draw a paper from his pocket; "it is to

"Have the goodness to wait, if you please, monsieur, till I have dispatched the report of the watch."

D'Artagnan turned upon his heel, insolently enough, and finding himself face to face with Colbert, after his

first turn, he bowed to him as a harlequin would have done; then, after a second evolution, he directed his

steps towards the door in quick time. Colbert was struck with this pointed rudeness, to which he was not

accustomed. In general, men of the sword, when they came to his office, had such a want of money, that

though their feet seemed to take root in the marble, they hardly lost their patience. Was D'Artagnan going

straight to the king? Would he go and describe his rough reception, or recount his exploit? This was a matter

for grave consideration. At all events, the moment was badly chosen to send D'Artagnan away, whether he

came from the king, or on his own account. The musketeer had rendered too great a service, and that too

recently, for it to be already forgotten. Therefore Colbert thought it would be better to shake off his arrogance

and call D'Artagnan back. "Ho! Monsieur d'Artagnan," cried Colbert, "what! are you leaving me thus?"

D'Artagnan turned round: "Why not?" said he, quietly, "we have no more to say to each other, have we?"

"But, monsieur, you have an order. And, in the same manner as you give a swordthrust, when you are

"It is useless, my dear Monsieur Colbert," said D'Artagnan, who inwardly enjoyed this confusion in the ideas

"Explain yourself," said he, in a stifled voice "if you are paid why do you show me that paper?"

"In consequence of the word of order of which you spoke to me so ingeniously just now, dear M. Colbert; the

"Not exactly. The king said to me: `Go to M. Fouquet; the superintendent will, perhaps, have no money, then

The countenance of M. Colbert brightened for a moment; but it was with his unfortunate physiognomy as

with a stormy sky, sometimes radiant, sometimes dark as night, according as the lightning gleams or the

cloud passes. "Eh! and was there any money in the superintendent's coffers?" asked he.

"Why, yes, he could not be badly off for money," replied D'Artagnan "it may be believed, since M.

"A quarter or five thousand livres!" cried Colbert, struck, as Fouquet had been, with the generosity of the sum

for a soldier's pension, "why, that would be a pension of twenty thousand livres?"

"Exactly, M. Colbert. Peste! you reckon like old Pythagoras; yes, twenty thousand livres."

"Ten times the appointment of an intendant of the finances. I beg to offer you my compliments," said Colbert,

"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, "the king apologized for giving me so little; but he promised to make it more

"So, then, notwithstanding the expectation of the king, the superintendent paid you, did he?"

"In the same manner as, in opposition to the king's expectation, you refused to pay me."

"I did not refuse, monsieur, I only begged you to wait. And you say that M. Fouquet paid you your five

"He politely counted me down the sumtotal, saying, that for the king, his coffers were always full."

"The sumtotal! M. Fouquet has given you twenty thousand livres instead of five thousand?"

"In order to spare me three visits to the moneychest of the superintendent, so that I have the twenty thousand

livres in my pocket in good new coin. You see, then, that I am able to go away without standing in need of

you, having come here only for form's sake." And D'Artagnan slapped his hand upon his pocket, with a laugh

which disclosed to Colbert thirtytwo magnificent teeth, as white as teeth of twentyfive years old and which

seemed to say in their language: "Serve up to us thirtytwo little Colberts, and we will chew them willingly."

The serpent is as brave as the lion, the hawk as courageous as the eagle, that cannot be contested. It can only

be said of animals that are decidedly cowardly, and are so called, that they will be brave only when they have

to defend themselves. Colbert was not frightened at the thirtytwo teeth of D'Artagnan. He recovered, and

suddenly, "Monsieur," said he, "monsieur le surintendant has done what he had no right to do."

Colbert seized the paper with an eagerness which the musketeer did not remark without uneasiness, and

particularly without a certain degree of regret at having trusted him with it. "Well, monsieur, the royal order

says this: `At sight, I command that there be paid to M. d'Artagnan the sum of five thousand livres,

"Very well; the king only owed you five thousand livres; why has more been given to you?"

"Because there was more; and M. Fouquet was willing to give me more; that does not concern anybody."

"It is natural," said Colbert, with a proud ease, "that you should be ignorant of the usages of statefinance;

"Once more," said Colbert, irritated "once more, if you had any sum to pay, would you not pay what you

"That only proves one thing," said D'Artagnan; "and that is, that you have your particular customs in finance,

D'Artagnan's eyes flashed. "What is not due to me yet, you meant to say, M. Colbert; for if I had received

Colbert made no reply to this subtlety. "You then owe fifteen thousand livres to the public chest," said he,

"Then you must give me credit for them," replied D'Artagnan, with his imperceptible irony.

"Well! what will you do, then? You will not take my rouleaux from me, will you?"

"Not a sou. I have always understood that in matters of comptabilite, as you call it, a good cashier never gives

"Then, monsieur, we shall see what the king will say about it. I will show him this note, which proves that M.

Fouquet not only pays what he does not owe, but that he does not even take care of vouchers for the sums that

Colbert did not perceive all that there was of a threatening character in his name pronounced in a certain

manner. "You shall see hereafter what use I will make of it," said he, holding up the paper in his fingers.

"Oh!" said D'Artagnan, snatching the paper from him with a rapid movement; "I understand it perfectly well,

M. Colbert; I have no occasion to wait for that." And he crumpled up in his pocket the paper he had so

"Nonsense! You must not be particular about a soldier's manners!" replied D'Artagnan. "I kiss your hands,

my dear M. Colbert." And he went out, laughing in the face of the future minister.

"That man, now," muttered he, "was about to grow quite friendly; it is a great pity I was obliged to cut his

For a man who had seen so many much more dangerous ones, the position of D'Artagnan with respect to M.

Colbert was only comic. D'Artagnan, therefore, did not deny himself the satisfaction of laughing at the

expense of monsieur l'intendant, from the Rue des PetitsChamps to the Rue des Lombards. It was a great

while since D'Artagnan had laughed so long together. He was still laughing when Planchet appeared,

laughing likewise, at the door of his house; for Planchet, since the return of his patron, since the entrance of

the English guineas, passed the greater part of his life in doing what D'Artagnan had only done from

"No, my friend," replied the musketeer, "I am off and that quickly. I will sup with you, go to bed, sleep five

hours, and at break of day leap into my saddle. Has my horse had an extra feed?"

"Eh! my dear master," replied Planchet, "you know very well that your horse is the jewel of the family; that

my lads are caressing it all day, and cramming it with sugar, nuts, and biscuits. You ask me if he has had an

"Very well, Planchet, that is all right. Now, then, I pass to what concerns me my supper?"

"Ready. A smoking roast joint, white wine, crayfish and freshgathered cherries. All ready, my master."

"You are a capital fellow, Planchet; come on, then, let us sup, and I will go to bed."

During supper D'Artagnan observed that Planchet kept rubbing his forehead, as if to facilitate the issue of

some idea closely pent within his brain. He looked with an air of kindness at this worthy companion of

former adventures and misadventures, and, clinking glass against glass, "Come, Planchet," said he, "let us see

what it is that gives you so much trouble to bring forth. Mordioux! Speak freely, and quickly."

"Well, this is it," replied Planchet: "you appear to me to be going on some expedition or other."

"Then there will be fresh capital to be ventured? I will lay down fifty thousand livres upon the idea you are

about to carry out." And so saying, Planchet rubbed his hands one against the other with a rapidity evincing

These words drew a deep sigh from the heart of Planchet. That Avarice is an ardent counselor; she carries

away her man, as Satan did Jesus, to the mountain, and when once she has shown to an unfortunate all the

kingdoms of the earth, she is able to repose herself, knowing full well that she has left her companion, Envy,

to gnaw his heart. Planchet had tasted of riches easily acquired, and was never afterwards likely to stop in his

desires; but, as he had a good heart in spite of his covetousness, as he adored D'Artagnan, he could not refrain

from making him a thousand recommendations, each more affectionate than the others. He would not have

been sorry, nevertheless, to have caught a little hint of the secret his master concealed so well; tricks, turns,

counsels and traps were all useless, D'Artagnan let nothing confidential escape him. The evening passed thus.

After supper the portmanteau occupied D'Artagnan, he took a turn to the stable, patted his horse, and

examined his shoes and legs, then, having counted over his money, he went to bed, sleeping as if only twenty,

because he had neither inquietude nor remorse; he closed his eyes five minutes after he had blown out his

lamp. Many events might, however, have kept him awake. Thought boiled in his brain, conjectures abounded,

and D'Artagnan was a great drawer of horoscopes; but, with that imperturbable phlegm which does more than

genius for the fortune and happiness of men of action, he put off reflection till the next day, for fear, he said,

The day came. The Rue des Lombards had its share of the caresses of Aurora with the rosy fingers, and

D'Artagnan arose like Aurora. He did not awaken anybody, he placed his portmanteau under his arm,

descended the stairs without making one of them creak and without disturbing one of the sonorous snorings

in every story from the garret to the cellar, then, having saddled his horse, shut the stable and house doors, he

set off, at a footpace, on his expedition to Bretagne. He had done quite right not to trouble himself with all

the political and diplomatic affairs which solicited his attention; for, in the morning, in freshness and mild

twilight, his ideas developed themselves in purity and abundance. In the first place, he passed before the

house of Fouquet, and threw in a large gaping box the fortunate order which, the evening before, he had had

so much trouble to recover from the hooked fingers of the intendant. Placed in an envelope, and addressed to

Fouquet, it had not even been divined by Planchet, who in divination was equal to Calchas or the Pythian

Apollo. D'Artagnan thus sent back the order to Fouquet, without compromising himself, and without having

thenceforward any reproaches to make himself. When he had effected this proper restitution, "Now," said he

to himself, "let us inhale much maternal air, much freedom from cares, much health, let us allow the horse

Zephyr, whose flanks puff as if he had to respire an atmosphere to breathe, and let us be very ingenious in our

little calculations. It is time," said D'Artagnan, "to form a plan of the campaign, and, according to the method

of M. Turenne, who has a large head full of all sorts of good counsels, before the plan of the campaign it is

advisable to draw a striking portrait of the generals to whom we are opposed. In the first place, M. Fouquet

presents himself. What is M. Fouquet? M. Fouquet," replied D'Artagnan to himself, "is a handsome man,

very much beloved by the women, a generous man very much beloved by the poets; a man of wit, much

execrated by pretenders. Well, now I am neither woman, poet, nor pretender: I neither love nor hate monsieur

le surintendant. I find myself, therefore, in the same position in which M. de Turenne found himself when

opposed to the Prince de Conde at Jargeau, Gien and the Faubourg SaintAntoine. He did not execrate

monsieur le prince, it is true, but he obeyed the king. Monsieur le prince is an agreeable man, but the king is

king. Turenne heaved a deep sigh, called Conde `My cousin,' and swept away his army. Now what does the

king wish? That does not concern me. Now, what does M. Colbert wish? Oh, that's another thing. M. Colbert

wishes all that M. Fouquet does not wish. Then what does M. Fouquet wish? Oh, that is serious. M. Fouquet

This monologue ended, D'Artagnan began to laugh, whilst making his whip whistle in the air. He was already

on the high road, frightening the birds in the hedges, listening to the livres chinking and dancing in his leather

pocket, at every step; and, let us confess it, every time that D'Artagnan found himself in such conditions

tenderness was not his dominant vice. "Come," said he, "I cannot think the expedition a very dangerous one;

and it will fall out with my voyage as with that piece M. Monk took me to see in London, which was called, I

It was perhaps the fiftieth time since the day on which we open this history, that this man. with a heart of

bronze and muscles of steel, had left house and friends, everything, in short, to go in search of fortune and

death. The one that is to say. death had constantly retreated before him, as if afraid of him; the other

that is to say, fortune for a month past only had really made an alliance with him. Although he was not

a great philosopher, after the fashion of either Epicurus or Socrates, he was a powerful spirit, having

knowledge of life, and endowed with thought. No one is as brave, as adventurous, or as skillful as

D'Artagnan, without being at the same time inclined to be a dreamer. He had picked up, here and there, some

scraps of M. de la Rochefoucauld, worthy of being translated into Latin by MM. de Port Royal, and he had

made a collection, en passant, in the society of Athos and Aramis, of many morsels of Seneca and Cicero,

translated by them, and applied to the uses of common life. That contempt of riches which our Gascon had

observed as an article of faith during the thirtyfive first years of his life, had for a long time been considered

by him as the first article of the code of bravery. "Article first," said he, "A man is brave because he has

nothing. A man has nothing because he despises riches." Therefore, with these principles, which, as we have

said had regulated the thirtyfive first years of his life, D'Artagnan was no sooner possessed of riches, than he

felt it necessary to ask himself if, in spite of his riches, he were still brave. To this, for any other but

D'Artagnan, the events of the Place de Greve might have served as a reply. Many consciences would have

been satisfied with them, but D'Artagnan was brave enough to ask himself sincerely and conscientiously if he

"But it appears to me that I drew promptly enough and cut and thrust pretty freely on the Place de Greve to be

satisfied of my bravery," D'Artagnan had himself replied. "Gently, captain, that is not an answer. I was brave

that day, because they were burning my house, and there are a hundred, and even a thousand, to speak against

one, that if those gentlemen of the riots had not formed that unlucky idea, their plan of attack would have

succeeded, or, at least, it would not have been I who would have opposed myself to it. Now, what will be

brought against me? I have no house to be burnt in Bretagne; I have no treasure there that can be taken from

me. No; but I have my skin; that precious skin of M. d'Artagnan, which to him is worth more than all the

houses and all the treasures of the world. That skin to which I cling above everything, because it is,

everything considered, the binding of a body which encloses a heart very warm and ready to fight, and,

consequently, to live. Then, I do desire to live; and, in reality, I live much better, more completely, since I

have become rich. Who the devil ever said that money spoiled life! Upon my soul, it is no such thing; on the

contrary, it seems as if I absorbed a double quantity of air and sun. Mordioux! what will it be then, if I double

that fortune, and if, instead of the switch I now hold in my hand, I should ever carry the baton of a marechal?

Then I really don't know if there will be, from that moment enough of air and sun for me. In fact, this is not a

dream, who the devil would oppose it, if the king made me a marechal, as his father, King Louis XIII., made

a duke and constable of Albert de Luynes? Am I not as brave, and much more intelligent, than that imbecile

De Vitry? Ah! that's exactly what will prevent my advancement: I have too much wit. Luckily, if there is any

justice in this world, fortune owes me many compensations. She owes me certainly a recompense for all I did

for Anne of Austria, and an indemnification for all she has not done for me. Then, at the present, I am very

well with a king, and with a king who has the appearance of determining to reign. May God keep him in that

illustrious road! For, if he is resolved to reign he will want me; and if he wants me, he will give me what he

has promised me warmth and light; so that I march, comparatively, now, as I marched formerly, from

nothing to everything. Only the nothing of today is the all of former days; there has only this little change

taken place in my life. And now let us see! let us take the part of the heart, as I just now was speaking of it.

But in truth, I only spoke of it from memory." And the Gascon applied his hand to his breast, as if he were

"Ah! wretch!" murmured he, smiling with bitterness. "Ah! poor mortal species! You hoped, for an instant,

that you had not a heart, and now you find you have one bad courtier as thou art, and even one of the

most seditious. You have a heart which speaks to you in favor of M. Fouquet. And what is M. Fouquet, when

the king is in question? A conspirator, a real conspirator, who did not even give himself the trouble to

conceal his being a conspirator; therefore, what a weapon would you not have against him, if his good grace

and his intelligence had not made a scabbard for that weapon. An armed revolt! for, in fact, M. Fouquet

has been guilty of an armed revolt. Thus, while the king vaguely suspects M. Fouquet of rebellion, I know it

I could prove that M. Fouquet had caused the shedding of the blood of his majesty's subjects. Now, then,

let us see? Knowing all that, and holding my tongue, what further would this heart wish in return for a kind

action of M. Fouquet's, for an advance of fifteen thousand livres, for a diamond worth a thousand pistoles, for

"Now, then, I hope," continued the musketeer, "that this imbecile of a heart is going to preserve silence, and

so be fairly quits with M. Fouquet. Now, then, the king becomes my sun, and as my heart is quits with M.

Fouquet, let him beware who places himself between me and my sun! Forward, for his majesty Louis XIV.!

These reflections were the only impediments which were able to retard the progress of D'Artagnan. These

reflections once made, he increased the speed of his horse. But, however perfect his horse Zephyr might be, it

could not hold out at such a pace forever. The day after his departure from Paris, he was left at Chartres, at

the house of an old friend D'Artagnan had met with in an hotelier of that city. From that moment the

musketeer travelled on posthorses. Thanks to this mode of locomotion, he traversed the space separating

Chartres from Chateaubriand. In the last of these two cities, far enough from the coast to prevent any one

guessing that D'Artagnan wished to reach the sea far enough from Paris to prevent all suspicion of his

being a messenger from Louis XIV., whom D'Artagnan had called his sun, without suspecting that he who

was only at present a rather poor star in the heaven of royalty, would, one day, make that star his emblem; the

messenger of Louis XIV., we say, quitted the post and purchased a bidet of the meanest appearance, one

of those animals which an officer of cavalry would never choose, for fear of being disgraced. Excepting the

color, this new acquisition recalled to the mind of D'Artagnan the famous orangecolored horse, with which,

or rather upon which, he had made his first appearance in the world. Truth to say, from the moment he

crossed this new steed, it was no longer D'Artagnan who was travelling, it was a good man clothed in an

irongray justaucorps, brown hautdechausses, holding the medium between a priest and a layman; that

which brought him nearest to the churchman was, that D'Artagnan had placed on his head a calotte of

threadbare velvet, and over the calotte, a large black hat; no more sword, a stick, hung by a cord to his wrist,

but to which, he promised himself, as an unexpected auxiliary, to join, upon occasion, a good dagger, ten

inches long, concealed under his cloak. The bidet purchased at Chateaubriand completed the metamorphosis;

"If I have changed Zephyr into Furet," said D'Artagnan, "I must make some diminutive or other of my own

name. So, instead of D'Artagnan, I will be Agnan, short; that is a concession which I naturally owe to my

Monsieur D'Artagnan traveled, then, pretty easily upon Furet, who ambled like a true butterwoman's pad,

and who, with his amble, managed cheerfully about twelve leagues a day, upon four spindleshanks, of

which the practiced eye of D'Artagnan had appreciated the strength and safety beneath the thick mass of hair

which covered them. Jogging along, the traveler took notes, studied the country, which he traversed reserved

and silent, ever seeking the most plausible pretext for reaching BelleIsleenMer, and for seeing everything

without arousing suspicion. In this manner, he was enabled to convince himself of the importance the event

assumed in proportion as he drew near to it. In this remote country, in this ancient duchy of Bretagne, which

was not France at that period, and is not so even now, the people knew nothing of the king of France. They

not only did not know him, but were unwilling to know him. One face a single one floated visibly for

them upon the political current. Their ancient dukes no longer ruled them; government was a void nothing

more. In place of the sovereign duke, the seigneurs of parishes reigned without control; and, above these

seigneurs, God, who has never been forgotten in Bretagne. Among these suzerains of chateaux and belfries,

the most powerful, the richest, and the most popular, was M. Fouquet, seigneur of BelleIsle. Even in the

country, even within sight of that mysterious isle, legends and traditions consecrate its wonders. Every one

might not penetrate it: the isle, of an extent of six leagues in length, and six in breadth, was a seignorial

property, which the people had for a long time respected, covered as it was with the name of Retz, so

redoubtable in the country. Shortly after the erection of this seignory into a marquisate, BelleIsle passed to

M. Fouquet. The celebrity of the isle did not date from yesterday; its name, or rather its qualification, is

traced back to the remotest antiquity. The ancients called it Kalonese, from two Greek words, signifying

beautiful isle. Thus at a distance of eighteen hundred years, it had borne, in another idiom, the same name it

still bears. There was, then, something in itself in this property of M. Fouquet's, besides its position of six

leagues off the coast of France; a position which makes it a sovereign in its maritime solitude, like a majestic

D'Artagnan learnt all this without appearing the least in the world astonished. He also learnt that the best way

to get intelligence was to go to La RocheBernard, a tolerably important city at the mouth of the Vilaine.

Perhaps there he could embark; if not, crossing the salt marshes, he would repair to GuerandeenCroisic, to

wait for an opportunity to cross over to BelleIsle. He had discovered, besides, since his departure from

Chateaubriand, that nothing would be impossible for Furet under the impulsion of M. Agnan, and nothing to

M. Agnan through the initiative of Furet. He prepared, then, to sup off a teal and a tourteau, in a hotel of La

RocheBernard, and ordered to be brought from the cellar, to wash down these two Breton dishes, some

cider, which, the moment it touched his lips, he perceived to be more Breton still.

CHAPTER 67. How D'Artagnan became acquainted with a Poet, who had turned Printer for the sake of

Before taking his place at table, D'Artagnan acquired, as was his custom, all the information he could; but it

is an axiom of curiosity, that every man who wishes to question well and fruitfully ought in the first place to

lay himself open to questions. D'Artagnan sought, then, with his usual skill, a promising questioner in the

hostelry of La RocheBernard. At the moment, there were in the house, on the first story, two travelers either

preparing for supper, or at supper itself. D'Artagnan had seen their nags in the stable, and their equipages in

the salle. One traveled with a lackey, undoubtedly a person of consideration; two Perche mares, sleek,

sound beasts, were suitable means of locomotion. The other, a little fellow, a traveler of meagre appearance,

wearing a dusty surtout, dirty linen, and boots more worn by the pavement than the stirrup, had come from

Nantes with a cart drawn by a horse so like Furet in color, that D'Artagnan might have gone a hundred miles

without finding a better match. This cart contained divers large packets wrapped in pieces of old stuff.

"That traveler yonder," said D'Artagnan to himself, "is the man for my money. He will do, he suits me; I

ought to do for and suit him; M. Agnan, with the gray doublet and the rusty calotte, is not unworthy of

This said, D'Artagnan called the host, and desired him to send his teal, tourteau, and cider up to the chamber

of the gentleman of modest exterior. He himself climbed, a plate in his hand, the wooden staircase which led

"Come in!" said the unknown. D'Artagnan entered, with a simper on his lips, his plate under his arm, his hat

"Excuse me, monsieur," said he, "I am, as you are, a traveler; I know no one in the hotel, and I have the bad

habit of losing my spirits when I eat alone, so that my repast appears a bad one to me, and does not nourish

me. Your face, which I saw just now, when you came down to have some oysters opened, your face

pleased me much. Besides, I have observed you have a horse just like mine, and that the host, no doubt on

account of that resemblance, has placed them side by side in the stable, where they appear to agree amazingly

well together. I therefore, monsieur, do not see any reason why the masters should be separated when the

horses are united. Accordingly, I am come to request the pleasure of being admitted to your table. My name

is Agnan, at your service, monsieur, the unworthy steward of a rich seigneur, who wishes to purchase some

saltmines in this country, and sends me to examine his future acquisitions. In truth, monsieur, I should be

well pleased if my countenance were as agreeable to you as yours is to me; for, upon my honor, I am quite at

The stranger, whom D'Artagnan saw for the first time for before he had only caught a glimpse of him,

the stranger had black and brilliant eyes, a yellow complexion, a brow a little wrinkled by the weight of fifty

"One would say," thought D'Artagnan, "that this merry fellow has never exercised more than the upper part

of his head, his eyes, and his brain. He must be a man of science: his mouth, nose, and chin signify absolutely

"Monsieur," replied the latter, with whose mind and person we have been making so free, "you do me much

honor; not that I am ever ennuye, for I have," added he, smiling, "a company which amuses me always; but

never mind that, I am very happy to receive you." But when saying this, the man with the worn boots cast an

uneasy look at his table, from which the oysters had disappeared, and upon which there was nothing left but a

"Monsieur," D'Artagnan hastened to say, "the host is bringing me up a pretty piece of roasted poultry and a

superb tourteau." D'Artagnan had read in the look of his companion, however rapid it disappeared, the fear of

an attack by a parasite: he divined justly. At this opening, the features of the man of modest exterior relaxed;

and, as if he had watched the moment for his entrance, as D'Artagnan spoke, the host appeared, bearing the

announced dishes. The tourteau and the teal were added to the morsel of broiled bacon; D'Artagnan and his

guest bowed, sat down opposite to each other, and, like two brothers, shared the bacon and the other dishes.

"Monsieur," said D'Artagnan, "you must confess that association is a wonderful thing."

The stranger gave a short truce to the movement of his jaws, in order to hear the better.

"In the first place," continued D'Artagnan, "instead of one candle, which each of us had, we have two."

"That is true!" said the stranger, struck with the extreme lucidity of the observation.

"Then I see that you eat my tourteau in preference, whilst I, in preference, eat your bacon."

"And then, in addition to being better lighted and eating what we prefer, I place the pleasure of your

"Yes, monsieur; jovial, as all people are who carry nothing on their minds, or, for that matter, in their heads.

Oh! I can see it is quite another sort of thing with you," continued D'Artagnan; "I can read in your eyes all

"There!" cried D'Artagnan, clapping his hands, "I knew I could not be deceived! It is a miracle!"

"What, shall I have the honor of passing the evening in the society of an author, of a celebrated author

"Oh!" said the unknown, blushing, "celebrated, monsieur, celebrated is not the word."

"Modest!" cried D'Artagnan, transported, "he is modest!" Then, turning towards the stranger, with a character

of blunt bonhomie: "But tell me at least the name of your works, monsieur; for you will please to observe you

"A fine name! a grand name! upon my honor; and I do not know why pardon me the mistake, if it be one

The poet blushed again, and said: "I do not think that can be the case, for my verses have never been printed."

"You are again mistaken, for MM. the comedians of the Hotel de Bourgogne, would have nothing to do with

it," said the poet, with a smile, the receipt for which certain sorts of pride alone knew the secret. D'Artagnan

bit his lips. "Thus, then, you see, monsieur," continued the poet, "you are in error on my account, and that not

"Ah! that confounds me. That name, Jupenet, appears to me, nevertheless, a fine name, and quite as worthy of

being known as those of MM. Corneille, or Rotrou, or Garnier. I hope, monsieur, you will have the goodness

to repeat to me a part of your tragedy presently, by way of dessert, for instance. That will be sugared roast

meat, mordioux! Ah! pardon me, monsieur, that was a little oath which escaped me, because it is a habit

with my lord and master. I sometimes allow myself to usurp that little oath, as it seems in pretty good taste. I

take this liberty only in his absence, please to observe, for you may understand that in his presence but, in

truth, monsieur, this cider is abominable; do you not think so? And besides, the pot is of such an irregular

"And the teal, with what shall we cut that up? Do you not, by chance, mean to touch the teal?"

And the poet rummaged in his pocket, and drew out a piece of brass, oblong, quadrangular, about a line in

thickness, and an inch and a half in length. But scarcely had this little piece of brass seen the light, than the

poet appeared to have committed an imprudence, and made a movement to put it back again in his pocket.

D'Artagnan perceived this, for he was a man that nothing escaped. He stretched forth his hand towards the

piece of brass: "Humph! that which you hold in your hand is pretty; will you allow me to look at it?"

"Certainly," said the poet, who appeared to have yielded too soon to a first impulse. "Certainly, you may look

at it: but it will be in vain for you to look at it," added he, with a satisfied air; "if I were not to tell you its use,

D'Artagnan had seized as an avowal the hesitation of the poet, and his eagerness to conceal the piece of brass

which a first movement had induced him to take out of his pocket. His attention, therefore, once awakened on

this point, he surrounded himself with a circumspection which gave him a superiority on all occasions.

Besides, whatever M. Jupenet might say about it, by a simple inspection of the object, he perfectly well knew

"Well, monsieur," said M. Jupenet, "this little piece of metal is a printing letter."

"I am looking." D'Artagnan, in fact, appeared absorbed in observations. Jupenet drew from his pocket seven

"You have, then, a whole printingoffice in your pocket. Peste! that is curious, indeed."

"To yours, mordioux, to yours. But an instant not in this cider. It is an abominable drink, unworthy of

a man who quenches his thirst at the Hippocrene fountain is not it so you call your fountain, you poets?"

"Yes, monsieur, our fountain is so called. That comes from two Greek words hippos, which means a

"Monsieur," interrupted D'Artagnan, "you shall drink of a liquor which comes from one single French word,

and is none the worse for that from the word grape; this cider gives me the heartburn. Allow me to inquire

of your host if there is not a good bottle of Beaugency, or of the Ceran growth, at the back of the large bins in

"Monsieur," interrupted the poet, "take care, we shall not have time to drink the wine, unless we make great

"Bah! you will have plenty of time, monsieur," replied the hotelier, uncorking the bottle, "the boat will not

"The traveler who has a lackey?" asked D'Artagnan. "He is some gentleman, no doubt?"

"Peste! that is a great honor for us," said D'Artagnan, filling his companion's glass, whilst the host went

"So," resumed the poet, returning to his dominant ideas, "you never saw any printing done?"

"Well, then, take the letters thus, which compose the word, you see: A B; ma foi! here is an R, two E E, then

a G." And he assembled the letters with a swiftness and skill which did not escape the eye of D'Artagnan.

"Good!" said D'Artagnan; "here are plenty of letters got together; but how are they kept so?" And he poured

out a second glass for the poet. M. Jupenet smiled like a man who has an answer for everything; then he

pulled out still from his pocket a little metal ruler, composed of two parts, like a carpenter's rule,

against which he put together, and in a line, the characters, holding them under his left thumb.

"And what do you call that little metal ruler?" said D'Artagnan, "for, I suppose, all these things have names."

"This is called a composingstick," said Jupenet; "it is by the aid of this stick that the lines are formed."

"Come, then, I was not mistaken in what I said; you have a press in your pocket," said D'Artagnan, laughing

"No," replied he; "but I am too lazy to write, and when I have a verse in my head, I print it immediately. That

"Mordioux!" thought D'Artagnan to himself, "this must be cleared up." And under a pretext, which did not

embarrass the musketeer, who was fertile in expedients, he left the table, went downstairs, ran to the shed

under which stood the poet's little cart, poked the point of his poniard into the stuff which enveloped one of

the packages, which he found full of types, like those which the poet had in his pocket.

"Humph!" said D'Artagnan, "I do not yet know whether M. Fouquet wishes to fortify BelleIsle; but, at all

events, here are some spiritual munitions for the castle." Then, enchanted with his rich discovery he ran

D'Artagnan had learnt what he wished to know. He, however, remained, none the less, face to face with his

partner, to the moment when they heard from the next room symptoms of a person's being about to go out.

The printer was immediately on foot; he had given orders for his horse to be got ready. His carriage was

waiting at the door. The second traveler got into his saddle, in the courtyard, with his lackey. D'Artagnan

followed Jupenet to the door; he embarked his cart and horse on board the boat. As to the opulent traveler, he

did the same with his two horses and servant. But all the wit D'Artagnan employed in endeavoring to find out

his name was lost he could learn nothing. Only he took such notice of his countenance, that it was

impressed upon his mind forever. D'Artagnan had a great inclination to embark with the two travelers, but an

interest more powerful than curiosity that of success repelled him from the shore, and brought him

back again to the hostelry. He entered with a sigh and went to bed directly in order to be ready early in the

At daybreak D'Artagnan saddled Furet, who had fared sumptuously all night, devouring the remainder of the

oats and hay left by his companions. The musketeer sifted all he possibly could out of the host, whom he

found cunning, mistrustful, and devoted, body and soul, to M. Fouquet. In order not to awaken the suspicions

of this man, he carried on his fable of being a probable purchaser of some saltmines. To have embarked for

BelleIsle at RocheBernard would have been to expose himself still further to comments which had,

perhaps, been already made, and would be carried to the castle. Moreover, it was singular that this traveler

and his lackey should have remained a mystery to D'Artagnan, in spite of all the questions addressed by him

to the host, who appeared to know him perfectly well. The musketeer then made some inquiries concerning

the saltmines, and took the road to the marshes, leaving the sea on his right, and penetrating into that vast

and desolate plain which resembles a sea of mud, of which, here and there, a few crests of salt silver the

undulations. Furet walked admirably, with his little nervous legs, along the footwide causeways which

separate the saltmines. D'Artagnan, aware of the consequences of a fall, which would result in a cold bath,

allowed him to go as he liked, contenting himself with looking at, on the horizon, three rocks, that rose up

like lanceblades from the bosom of the plain, destitute of verdure. Pirial, the bourgs of Batz and Le Croisic,

exactly resembling each other, attracted and suspended his attention. If the traveler turned round, the better to

make his observations, he saw on the other side an horizon of three other steeples, Guerande, Le Poulighen,

and SaintJoachim, which, in their circumference, represented a set of skittles, of which he and Furet were

but the wandering ball. Pirial was the first little port on his right. He went thither, with the names of the

principal salters on his lips. At the moment he reached the little port of Pirial, five large barges, laden with

stone, were leaving it. It appeared strange to D'Artagnan, that stones should be leaving a country where none

are found. He had recourse to all the amenity of M. Agnan to learn from the people of the port the cause of

this singular arrangement. An old fisherman replied to M. Agnan, that the stones very certainly did not come

"Ah! ah!" said D'Artagnan, in the same tone he had assumed to tell the printer that his character interested

"Why, yes, monsieur, M. Fouquet has the walls of the castle repaired every year."

"The fact is," said D'Artagnan to himself, "nothing is more natural; every proprietor has a right to repair his

own property. It would be like telling me I was fortifying the ImagedeNotreDame, when I was simply

obliged to make repairs. In good truth, I believe false reports have been made to his majesty, and he is very

"You must confess," continued he then, aloud, and addressing the fisherman for his part of a suspicious

man was imposed upon him by the object even of his mission "you must confess, my dear monsieur, that

"That is convenient, I don't say it is not, but why do they not go straight from SaintNazaire to

"Eh! because the chalands (barges) are freshwater boats, and take the sea badly," replied, the fisherman.

"Pardon me, monsieur, one may see that you have never been a sailor, added the fisherman, not without a sort

"Explain that to me, if you please, my good man. It appears to me that to come from Painboeuf to Pirial, and

go from Pirial to BelleIsle, is as if we went from RocheBernard to Nantes, and from Nantes to Pirial."

"The shortest road from one place to another is a straight line," continued D'Artagnan.

"Without doubt, the current of the Loire carries barks almost as far as Croisic. If they want to lie by a little, or

to refresh the crew, they come to Pirial along the coast; from Pirial they find another inverse current, which

"There the current of the Vilaine throws them upon another isle, the isle of Hoedic."

"Well, monsieur, from that isle to BelleIsle the way is quite straight. The sea broken both above and below,

passes like a canal like a mirror between the two isles; the chalands glide along upon it like ducks upon

"Ah! yes; but M. Fouquet will have it so," replied, as conclusive, the fisherman, taking off his woolen cap at

A look from D'Artagnan, a look as keen and piercing as a swordblade, found nothing in the heart of the old

man but simple confidence on his features, nothing but satisfaction and indifference. He said, "M.

D'Artagnan had already advanced too far in this direction; besides, the chalands being gone, there remained

nothing at Pirial but a single bark that of the old man, and it did not look fit for sea without great

preparation. D'Artagnan therefore patted Furet, who as a new proof of his charming character, resumed his

march with his feet in the saltmines, and his nose to the dry wind, which bends the furze and the broom of

If D'Artagnan had been a poet, it was a beautiful spectacle: the immense strand of a league or more, the sea

covers at high tide, and which, at the reflux, appears gray and desolate, strewed with polypi and seaweed,

with pebbles sparse and white, like bones in some vast old cemetery. But the soldier, the politician, and the

ambitious man, had no longer the sweet consolation of looking towards heaven to read there a hope or a

warning. A red sky signifies nothing to such people but wind and disturbance. White and fleecy clouds upon

the azure only say that the sea will be smooth and peaceful. D'Artagnan found the sky blue, the breeze

embalmed with saline perfumes, and he said: "I will embark with the first tide, if it be but in a nutshell."

At Croisic as at Pirial, he had remarked enormous heaps of stone lying along the shore. These gigantic walls,

diminished every tide by the barges for BelleIsle were, in the eyes of the musketeer, the consequence and

the proof of what he had well divined at Pirial. Was it a wall that M. Fouquet was constructing? Was it a

fortification that he was erecting? To ascertain that he must make fuller observations. D'Artagnan put Furet

into a stable; supped, went to bed, and on the morrow took a walk upon the port or rather upon the shingle. Le

Croisic has a port of fifty feet, it has a lookout which resembles an enormous brioche (a kind of cake)

elevated on a dish. The flat strand is the dish. Hundreds of barrowsful of earth amalgamated with pebbles,

and rounded into cones, with sinuous. passages between, are lookouts and brioches at the same time.

It is so now, and it was so two hundred years ago, only the brioche was not so large, and probably there were

to be seen no trellises of lath around the brioche, which constitute an ornament, planted like gardesfous

along the passages that wind towards the little terrace. Upon the shingle lounged three or four fishermen

talking about sardines and shrimps. D'Artagnan, with his eyes animated by rough gayety, and a smile upon

"Hear me, then," said the latter with an air of simple stupidity; four leagues off you lose sight of land, do you

"Ah, it is a long way too long, or else I would have asked you to take me aboard, and to show me what I

"Often!" repeated the fishermen, closing their circle round the Parisian. "Do you know him?"

"And," said D'Artagnan, "I have seen all his chateaux of SaintMande, of Vaux, and his hotel in Paris."

"Bah!" cried M. d'Artagnan, breaking into a laugh so loud that he angered all his auditors.

"It is very plain that you have never seen BelleIsle," said the most curious of the fishermen. "Do you know

that there are six leagues of it, and that there are such trees on it as cannot be equaled even at

"That can be easily done; we are fishing at the Isle de Hoedic come with us. From that place you will see,

as a Paradise, the black trees of BelleIsle against the sky; you will see the white line of the castle, which

"Oh," said D'Artagnan, "that must be very beautiful. But do you know there are a hundred belfries at M.

The Breton raised his head in profound admiration, but he was not convinced. "A hundred belfries! Ah that

"Everybody enters BelleIsle," continued the fisherman in his strong, pure language, "provided he means no

"That is true," thought he. Then recovering himself, "If I were sure," said he, "not to be seasick."

"What, upon her?" said the fisherman, pointing with pride to his pretty roundbottomed bark.

"Well, you almost persuade me," cried M. Agnan; "I will go and see BelleIsle, but they will not admit me."

"Well, I mean that M. Fouquet is having two corsairs built to chase the Dutch and the English, and we sell

"Come, come!" said D'Artagnan to himself "better and better. A printingpress, bastions, and corsairs!

Well, M. Fouquet is not an enemy to be despised, as I presumed to fancy. He is worth the trouble of traveling

"I am quite ready, and I will not leave you now." So D'Artagnan saw the fishermen haul their barks to meet

the tide with a windlass. The sea rose, M. Agnan allowed himself to be hoisted on board, not without sporting

a little fear and awkwardness, to the amusement of the young beachurchins who watched him with their

large intelligent eyes. He laid himself down upon a folded sail, not interfering with anything whilst the bark

prepared for sea; and, with its large, square sail, it was fairly out within two hours. The fishermen, who

prosecuted their occupation as they proceeded, did not perceive that their passenger had not become pale,

neither groaned nor suffered; that in spite of that horrible tossing and rolling of the bark, to which no hand

imparted direction, the novice passenger had preserved his presence of mind and his appetite. They fished,

and their fishing was sufficiently fortunate. To lines bated with prawn, soles came, with numerous gambols,

to bite. Two nets had already been broken by the immense weight of congers and haddocks; three seaeels

plowed the hold with their slimy folds and their dying contortions. D'Artagnan brought them good luck; they

told him so. The soldier found the occupation so pleasant, that he put his hand to the work that is to say, to

the lines and uttered roars of joy, and mordioux enough to have astonished his musketeers themselves

every time that a shock given to his line by the captured fish required the play of the muscles of his arm, and

the employment of his best dexterity. The party of pleasure had made him forget his diplomatic mission. He

was struggling with a very large conger, and holding fast with one hand to the side of the vessel, in order to

seize with the other the gaping jowl of his antagonist, when the master said to him, "Take care they don't see

These words produced the same effect upon D'Artagnan as the hissing of the first bullet on a day of battle; he

let go of both line and conger, which, dragging each other, returned again to the water. D'Artagnan perceived,

within half a league at most, the blue and marked profile of the rocks of BelleIsle, dominated by the

majestic whiteness of the castle. In the distance, the land with its forests and verdant plains; cattle on the

grass. This was what first attracted the attention of the musketeer. The sun darted its rays of gold upon the

sea, raising a shining mist round this enchanted isle. Little could be seen of it, owing to this dazzling light,

but the salient points; every shadow was strongly marked, and cut with bands of darkness the luminous fields

and walls. "Eh! eh!" said D'Artagnan, at the aspect of those masses of black rocks, "these are fortifications

which do not stand in need of any engineer to render a landing difficult. How the devil can a landing be

"This way," replied the patron of the bark, changing the sail, and impressing upon the rudder a twist which

turned the boat in the direction of a pretty little port, quite coquettish, round, and newly battlemented.

"There are seventeen hundred men in BelleIsle, monsieur," replied the fisherman, proudly. "Do you know

"Mordioux!" cried D'Artagnan, stamping with his foot. "His Majesty was right enough."

CHAPTER 69. In which the Reader, no doubt, will be as astonished as D'Artagnan was to meet an Old

There is always something in a landing, if it be only from the smallest seaboat a trouble and a confusion

which do not leave the mind the liberty of which it stands in need in order to study at the first glance the new

locality presented to it. The movable bridges, the agitated sailors, the noise of the water on the pebbles, the

cries and importunities of those who wait upon the shores, are multiplied details of that sensation which is

summed up in one single result hesitation. It was not, then, till after standing several minutes on the shore

that D'Artagnan saw upon the port, but more particularly in the interior of the isle, an immense number of

workmen in motion. At his feet D'Artagnan recognized the five chalands laden with rough stone he had seen

leave the port of Pirial. The smaller stones were transported to the shore by means of a chain formed by

twentyfive or thirty peasants. The large stones were loaded on trollies which conveyed them in the same

direction as the others, that is to say, towards the works of which D'Artagnan could as yet appreciate neither

the strength nor the extent. Everywhere was to be seen an activity equal to that which Telemachus observed

on his landing at Salentum. D'Artagnan felt a strong inclination to penetrate into the interior; but he could not,

under the penalty of exciting mistrust, exhibit too much curiosity. He advanced then little by little, scarcely

going beyond the line formed by the fishermen on the beach, observing everything, saying nothing, and

meeting all suspicion that might have been excited with a halfsilly question or a polite bow. And yet, whilst

his companions carried on their trade, giving or selling their fish to the workmen or the inhabitants of the

city, D'Artagnan had gained ground by degrees, and, reassured by the little attention paid to him, he began to

cast an intelligent and confident look upon the men and things that appeared before his eyes. And his very

first glance fell on certain movements of earth about which the eye of a soldier could not be mistaken. At the

two extremities of the port, in order that their fires should converge upon the great axis of the ellipsis formed

by the basin, in the first place, two batteries had been raised, evidently destined to receive flank pieces, for

D'Artagnan saw the workmen finishing the platform and making ready the demicircumference in wood

upon which the wheels of the pieces might turn to embrace every direction over the epaulement. By the side

of each of these batteries other workmen were strengthening gabions filled with earth, the lining of another

battery. The latter had embrasures, and the overseer of the works called successively men who, with cords,

tied the saucissons and cut the lozenges and right angles of turfs destined to retain the matting of the

embrasures. By the activity displayed in these works, already so far advanced, they might be considered as

finished: they were not yet furnished with their cannons, but the platforms had their gites and their madriers

all prepared; the earth, beaten carefully, was consolidated; and supposing the artillery to be on the island, in

less than two or three days the port might be completely armed. That which astonished D'Artagnan, when he

turned his eyes from the coast batteries to the fortifications of the city, was to see that BelleIsle was

defended by an entirely new system, of which he had often heard the Comte de la Fere speak as a wonderful

advance, but of which he had as yet never seen the application. These fortifications belonged neither to the

Dutch method of Marollais, nor to the French method of the Chevalier Antoine de Ville, but to the system of

Manesson Mallet, a skillful engineer, who about six or eight years previously had quitted the service of

Portugal to enter that of France. The works had this peculiarity, that instead of rising above the earth, as did

the ancient ramparts destined to defend a city from escalades, they, on the contrary, sank into it; and what

created the height of the walls was the depth of the ditches. It did not take long to make D'Artagnan perceive

the superiority of such a system, which gives no advantage to cannon. Besides, as the fosses were lower than,

or on a level with the sea, these fosses could be instantly inundated by means of subterranean sluices.

Otherwise, the works were almost complete, and a group of workmen, receiving orders from a man who

appeared to be conductor of the works, were occupied in placing the last stones. A bridge of planks thrown

over the fosses for the greater convenience of the maneuvers connected with the barrows, joined the interior

to the exterior. With an air of simple curiosity D'Artagnan asked if he might be permitted to cross the bridge,

and he was told that no order prevented it. Consequently he crossed the bridge, and advanced towards the

This group was superintended by the man whom D'Artagnan had already remarked, and who appeared to be

the engineerinchief. A plan was lying open before him upon a large stone forming a table, and at some

paces from him a crane was in action. This engineer, who by his evident importance first attracted the

attention of D'Artagnan, wore a justaucorps, which, from its sumptuousness was scarcely in harmony with the

work he was employed in, that rather necessitated the costume of a mastermason than of a noble. He was a

man of immense stature and great square shoulders, and wore a hat covered with feathers. He gesticulated in

the most majestic manner, and appeared, for D'Artagnan only saw his back, to be scolding the workmen for

D'Artagnan continued to draw nearer. At that moment the man with the feathers ceased to gesticulate, and,

with his hands placed upon his knees, was following, halfbent, the effort of six workmen to raise a block of

hewn stone to the top of a piece of timber destined to support that stone, so that the cord of the crane might be

passed under it. The six men, all on one side of the stone, united their efforts to raise it to eight or ten inches

from the ground, sweating and blowing, whilst a seventh got ready against there should be daylight enough

beneath it to slide in the roller that was to support it. But the stone had already twice escaped from their hands

before gaining a sufficient height for the roller to be introduced. There can be no doubt that every time the

stone escaped them, they bounded quickly backwards, to keep their feet from being crushed by the refalling

stone. Every time, the stone, abandoned by them, sunk deeper into the damp earth, which rendered the

operation more and more difficult. A third effort was followed by no better success, but with progressive

discouragement. And yet, when the six men were bent towards the stone, the man with the feathers had

himself, with a powerful voice, given the word of command, "Ferme!" which regulates maneuvers of

"Oh! oh!" said he, "what is all this about? Have I to do with men of straw? Corne de boeuf! stand on one side,

"Peste!" said D'Artagnan, "will he pretend to raise that rock? that would be a sight worth looking at."

The workmen, as commanded by the engineer, drew back with their ears down, and shaking their heads, with

the exception of the one who held the plank, who prepared to perform the office. The man with the feathers

went up to the stone, stooped, slipped his hands under the face lying upon the ground, stiffened his Herculean

muscles, and without a strain, with a slow motion, like that of a machine, he lifted the end of the rock a foot

from the ground. The workman who held the plank profited by the space thus given him, and slipped the

"That's the way," said the giant, not letting the rock fall again, but placing it upon its support.

"Mordioux!" cried D'Artagnan, "I know but one man capable of such a feat of strength."

On his part, the man with the feathers fixed his eyes upon the disguised lieutenant, and, in spite of his

metamorphosis, recognized him. "D'Artagnan!" cried he; and the color mounted to his face. "Hush!" said he

"Hush!" in his turn, said the musketeer. In fact if Porthos had just been discovered by D'Artagnan,

D'Artagnan had just been discovered by Porthos. The interest of the particular secret of each struck them both

at the same instant. Nevertheless the first movement of the two men was to throw their arms around each

other. What they wished to conceal from the bystanders, was not their friendship, but their names. But, after

"What the devil brings Porthos to BelleIsle, lifting stones?" said D'Artagnan; only D'Artagnan uttered that

question in a low voice. Less strong in diplomacy than his friend, Porthos thought aloud.

"How the devil did you come to BelleIsle?" asked he of D'Artagnan; "and what do you want to do here?" It

was necessary to reply without hesitation. To hesitate in his answer to Porthos would have been a check, for

"Ah, bah!" said Porthos, visibly stupefied with the argument, and seeking to account for it to himself, with

"Without doubt," continued D'Artagnan, unwilling to give his friend time to recollect himself, "I have been to

"My dear friend, a great noble like you always leaves traces behind him on his passage; and I should think

but poorly of myself, if I were not sharp enough to follow the traces of my friends." This explanation,

"And do you think a great noble, like you, Porthos, can affect common manners so as to deceive people?"

"Well, I swear to you, my friend, that I played my part so well that everybody was deceived."

"Ah! it was that fellow, Mouston," said Porthos, gathering up those two triumphant arches which served him

"But stop, I tell you it was no fault of Mouston's because he was ignorant of where you were."

"Well! that is it," said D'Artagnan, hoping that this reason would mystify Porthos. Porthos appeared to give

"Yes, yes," said he, "I understand. As Aramis told me to come before the equinox, you have understood that

that was to join him. You then inquired where Aramis was, saying to yourself, `Where Aramis is, there

Porthos will be.' You have learnt that Aramis was in Bretagne, and you said to yourself, `Porthos is in

"Exactly. In good truth, Porthos I cannot tell why you have not turned conjurer. So you understand that

arriving at RocheBernard, I heard of the splendid fortifications going on at BelleIsle. The account raised

my curiosity, I embarked in a fishing boat, without dreaming that you were here: I came, and I saw a

monstrous fine fellow lifting a stone Ajax could not have stirred. I cried out, `Nobody but the Baron de

Bracieux could have performed such a feat of strength.' You heard me, you turned round, you recognized me,

"Ah! now all is explained," said Porthos; and he embraced D'Artagnan with so much friendship as to deprive

"Why, you are stronger than ever," said D'Artagnan, "and still, happily, in your arms." Porthos saluted

D'Artagnan with a gracious smile. During the five minutes D'Artagnan was recovering his breath, he reflected

that he had a very difficult part to play. It was necessary that he always should question and never reply. By

CHAPTER 70. Wherein the Ideas of D'Artagnan, at first strangely clouded, begin to clear up a little

D'Artagnan immediately took the offensive. Now that I have told you all, dear friend, or rather now you have

Porthos wiped his brow, and looked around him with pride. "Why, it appears," said he, "that you may see

"Oh! to show these idle fellows what a man is," said Porthos, with contempt. "But you understand "

"Yes, that it is not your place to lift stones, although there are many whose place it is, who cannot lift them as

you do. It was that which made me ask you, just now, What are you doing here, baron?"

D'Artagnan perceived he had committed a fault in giving expression to his astonishment. Porthos had taken

advantage of it, to retort with a question. "Why," said he, "you know I am a bourgeois, in fact; my dress, then,

Porthos raised his arms towards heaven, like a man who has heard extraordinary news. "Well, that does

"The king displeased me. Mazarin had disgusted me for a long time, as you know; so I threw my cassock to

"I know that well enough, parbleu! Only, at the period of his death, my resignation had been given in and

accepted two months. Then, feeling myself free, I set off for Pierrefonds, to see my friend Porthos. I had

heard talk of the happy division you had made of your time, and I wished, for a fortnight, to divide mine after

"My friend, you know that it is not for a fortnight my house is open to you; it is for a year for ten years

"Ah! but perhaps you want money do you?" said Porthos, making something like fifty louis chink in his

"No, thank you, I am not in want of anything. I placed my savings with Planchet, who pays me the interest of

"Yes, to be sure," said D'Artagnan: "why should I not put by my savings, as well as another, Porthos?"

"Oh, there is no reason why; on the contrary, I always suspected you that is to say, Aramis always

suspected you to have savings. For my own part, d'ye see, I take no concern about the management of my

"No doubt, relative to yourself, Porthos, who are a millionaire; but you shall judge. I had laid by twentyfive

"And," continued D'Artagnan, "on the twentyeighth of last month I added to it two hundred thousand livres

Porthos opened his large eyes, which eloquently demanded of the musketeer, "Where the devil did you steal

such a sum as that, my dear friend?" "Two hundred thousand livres!" cried he, at length.

"Yes; which, with the twentyfive I had, and twenty thousand I have about me, complete the sum of two

"I will tell you all about it presently, dear friend; but as you have, in the first place, many things to tell me

"Bravo!" said Porthos, "then we are both rich. But what can I have to relate to you?"

"That's it " said D'Artagnan, "bishop of Vannes. Dear Aramis! do you know how he succeeded so well?"

"What! do you mean he will not be contented with violet stockings, and that he wants a red hat?"

"Why incredible? Is there not always somebody in France more powerful than the king?"

"Oh, yes; in the time of King Louis XIII. it was Cardinal Richelieu; in the time of the Regency it was

Porthos assumed an air of reserve. "Dear friend," said he, "God preserve me from meddling with the affairs of

others, above all from revealing secrets it may be to their interest to keep. When you see Aramis, he will tell

"You are right, Porthos; and you are quite a padlock for safety. But, to revert to yourself?"

"Decidedly it is. In truth, to anything but a regular siege, BelleIsle is absolutely impregnable."

"No; all I can say is that he is a man who has studied all the systems, and who appears to me to have stopped

"You who have imagined, traced, and combined between these bastions, these redans, these curtains, these

"You who have built that lunette with its retiring angles and its salient angles?"

"You who have given that inclination to the openings of your embrasures, by means of which you so

"Oh! Porthos, Porthos! I must bow down before you I must admire you! But you have always concealed

from us this superb, this incomparable genius. I hope, my dear friend, you will show me all this in detail."

"Show it me." Porthos led D'Artagnan towards the stone that served him for a table, and upon which the plan

was spread. At the foot of the plan was written, in the formidable writing of Porthos, writing of which we

"Instead of making use of the square or rectangle, as has been done to this time, you will suppose your place

inclosed in a regular hexagon, this polygon having the advantage of offering more angles than the

quadrilateral one. Every side of your hexagon, of which you will determine the length in proportion to the

dimensions taken upon the place, will be divided into two parts and upon the middle point you will elevate a

perpendicular towards the center of the polygon, which will equal in length the sixth part of the side. By the

extremities of each side of the polygon, you will trace two diagonals, which will cut the perpendicular. These

"The devil!" said D'Artagnan, stopping at this point of the demonstration; "why, this is a complete system,

"No; I have read enough of it; but, since it is you, my dear Porthos, who direct the works, what need have you

"That is true," said D'Artagnan; "you have a reply for everything, my friend." And he replaced the plan upon

But however short the time he had the plan in his hands, D'Artagnan had been able to distinguish, under the

enormous writing of Porthos, a much more delicate hand, which reminded him of certain letters to Marie

Michon, with which he had been acquainted in his youth. Only the Indiarubber had passed and repassed so

often over this writing that it might have escaped a less practiced eye than that of our musketeer.

"And now you know all that you want to know, do you not?" said Porthos, wheeling about.

"Do me the pleasure to tell me the name of that gentleman who is walking yonder."

"Ah! ah!" cried D'Artagnan, "you are of the household of M. Fouquet, then, Porthos?"

"I! what do you mean by that?" said the topographer, blushing to the top of his ears.

"Why, you say the house, when speaking of BelleIsle, as if you were speaking of the chateau of

Porthos bit his lips. "BelleIsle, my friend," said he, "belongs to M. Fouquet, does it not?"

"Did you ever see a man there who is accustomed to walk about with a ruler in his hand?"

"Now, we are coming to it. If, when this gentleman is walking with a ruler in his hand, any one should ask

me, `Who is M. Boulingrin?' I should reply: `He is the architect of the house.' Well! M. Getard is the

Boulingrin of M. Fouquet. But he has nothing to do with the fortifications, which are my department alone;

"Ah! Porthos," cried D'Artagnan, letting his arms fall as a conquered man gives up his sword; "ah! my friend,

you are not only a herculean topographer, you are, still further, a dialectician of the first water."

"Is it not powerfully reasoned?" said Porthos: and he puffed and blew like the conger which D'Artagnan had

"And now," said D'Artagnan, "that shabbylooking man, who accompanies M. Getard, is he also of the

"Oh! yes," said Porthos, with contempt; "it is one M. Jupenet, or Juponet, a sort of poet."

"I thought M. Fouquet had poets enough, yonder Scudery, Loret, Pellisson, La Fontaine? If I must tell you

Porthos made a sign to Jupenet, who perfectly recollected D'Artagnan, and did not care to come nearer;

which naturally produced another sign from Porthos. This was so imperative, he was obliged to obey. As he

approached, "Come hither!" said Porthos. "You only landed yesterday and you have begun your tricks

"Your press was groaning all night, monsieur," said Porthos, "and you prevented my sleeping, corne de

"You have nothing yet to print: therefore you have no occasion to set your press going. What did you print

"Light! no, no, monsieur; the press groaned pitifully beneath it. Let it not happen again. Do you understand?"

"Only," said Porthos, "I beg you to observe, my friend, that we have only two hours for our repast."

"What would you have? We will try to make two hours suffice. But why have you only two hours?"

"Because it is high tide at one o'clock, and, with the tide, I am going to Vannes. But, as I shall return

tomorrow, my dear friend, you can stay here; you shall be master, I have a good cook and a good cellar."

"Only, I ought to have seen Aramis first, and you after. But man proposes, and God disposes. I have begun

"Oh! pardieu! in six hours. Three hours by sea to Sarzeau, three hours by road from Sarzeau to Vannes."

"How convenient that is! Being so near to the bishopric; do you often go to Vannes?"

Porthos picked up his plan, folded it carefully, and engulfed it in his large pocket.

"Good!" said D'Artagnan aside; "I think I now know the real engineer who is fortifying BelleIsle."

The passage from BelleIsle to Sarzeau was made rapidly enough, thanks to one of those little corsairs of

which D'Artagnan had been told during his voyage, and which, shaped for fast sailing and destined for the

chase, were sheltered at that time in the roadstead of LocMaria, where one of them, with a quarter of its

warcrew, performed duty between BelleIsle and the continent. D'Artagnan had an opportunity of

convincing himself that Porthos, though engineer and topographer, was not deeply versed in affairs of state.

His perfect ignorance, with any other, might have passed for wellinformed dissimulation. But D'Artagnan

knew too well all the folds and refolds of his Porthos, not to find a secret if there were one there; like those

regular, minute old bachelors, who know how to find, with their eyes shut, each book on the shelves of their

library and each piece of linen in their wardrobe. So if he had found nothing, our cunning D'Artagnan, in

rolling and unrolling his Porthos, it was because, in truth, there was nothing to be found.

"Be it so," said D'Artagnan, "I shall get to know more at Vannes in half an hour than Porthos has discovered

at BelleIsle in two months. Only, in order that I may know something, it is important that Porthos should not

make use of the only stratagem I leave at his disposal. He must not warn Aramis of my arrival." All the care

of the musketeer was then, for the moment, confined to the watching of Porthos. And let us hasten to say,

Porthos did not deserve all this mistrust. Porthos thought of no evil. Perhaps, on first seeing him, D'Artagnan

had inspired him with a little suspicion, but almost immediately D'Artagnan had reconquered in that good and

brave heart the place he had always occupied, and not the least cloud darkened the large eye of Porthos, fixed

On landing, Porthos inquired if his horses were waiting, and soon perceived them at the crossing of the road

that winds round Sarzeau, and which, without passing through that little city, leads towards Vannes. These

horses were two in number, one for M. de Vallon, and one for his equerry; for Porthos had an equerry since

Mouston was only able to use a carriage as a means of locomotion. D'Artagnan expected that Porthos would

propose to send forward his equerry upon one horse to bring back another, and he D'Artagnan had

made up his mind to oppose this proposition. But nothing D'Artagnan had expected happened. Porthos simply

told the equerry to dismount and await his return at Sarzeau, whilst D'Artagnan would ride his horse; which

"Eh! but you are quite a man of precaution, my dear Porthos," said D'Artagnan to his friend, when he found

"Yes, but this is a kindness on the part of Aramis. I have not my stud here, and Aramis has placed his stables

"Good horses for bishop's horses, mordioux!" said D'Artagnan. "It is true, Aramis is a bishop of a peculiar

"He is a holy man!" replied Porthos, in a tone almost nasal, and with his eyes raised towards heaven.

"Then he is much changed," said D'Artagnan; "you and I have known him passably profane."

"Bravo," said D'Artagnan, "that redoubles my desire to see my dear old friend." And he spurred his horse,

"Peste!" said Porthos, "if we go on at this rate, we shall only take one hour instead of two."

"I could have embarked you on the canal, but the devil take rowers and boathorses! The first are like

tortoises; the second like snails; and when a man is able to put a good horse between his knees, that horse is

"You are right; you above all, Porthos, who always look magnificent on horseback."

"So that you must perceive, I am forced to choose horses whose loins are straight and wide, otherwise I break

"You are very polite, my friend," replied the engineer, with affectionate majesty.

"Charming, according to Aramis, at least, but I think it black; but black seems to be considered handsome by

"Because I have lately had my chateau of Pierrefonds which was gray with age, plastered white."

"Yes, but it is less august, as Aramis tells me. Fortunately there are dealers in black as well as white. I will

have Pierrefonds replastered in black; that's all there is about it. If gray is handsome, you understand, my

"Well, look!" said Porthos, raising himself in his stirrups, which made the forequarters of his horse bend

"SaintPierre. Now look again in the faubourg on the left, do you see another cross?"

"Without doubt. SaintPaterne, you see, passes for having been the first bishop of Vannes. It is true that

Aramis pretends he was not. But he is so learned that that may be only a paro a para "

"My friend," said D'Artagnan, "continue your interesting description, I beg. What is that large white building

"Oh! that is the college of the Jesuits. Pardieu! you have an apt hand. Do you see, close to the college, a large

house with steeples, turrets, built in a handsome Gothic style, as that fool, M. Getard, says?"

"No, that is in ruins. The palace likewise is in the city, and Aramis prefers the faubourgs. That is why, as I

told you, he is partial to SaintPaterne; SaintPaterne is in the faubourg. Besides, there are in this faubourg a

mall, a tenniscourt, and a house of Dominicans. Look, that where the handsome steeple rises to the

"Next, you see the faubourg is like a separate city, it has its walls, its towers, its ditches; the quay is upon it

likewise, and the boats land at the quay. If our little corsair did not draw eight feet of water, we could have

"Porthos, Porthos," cried D'Artagnan, "you are a well of knowledge, a spring of ingenious and profound

"And high time we were," thought D'Artagnan, "for Aramis's horse is melting away like a steed of ice."

They entered almost at the same instant the faubourg; but scarcely had they gone a hundred paces when they

were surprised to find the streets strewed with leaves and flowers. Against the old walls of Vannes hung the

oldest and the strangest tapestries of France. From over balconies fell long white sheets stuck all over with

bouquets. The streets were deserted; it was plain the entire population was assembled on one point. The

blinds were closed, and the breeze penetrated into the houses under the hangings, which cast long, black

shades between their places of issue and the walls. Suddenly, at the turning of a street, chants struck the ears

of the newly arrived travelers. A crowd in holiday garb appeared through the vapors of incense which

mounted to the heavens in blue fleeces, and clouds of roseleaves fluttered as high as the first stories. Above

all heads were to be seen the cross and banners, the sacred symbols of religion. Then, beneath these crosses

and banners, as if protected by them, walked a whole world of young girls clothed in white, crowned with

cornflowers. At the two sides of the street, inclosing the cortege, marched the guards of the garrison,

carrying bouquets in the barrels of their muskets and on the points of their lances. This was the procession.

Whilst D'Artagnan and Porthos were looking on with critical glances, which disguised an extreme impatience

to get forward, a magnificent dais approached preceded by a hundred Jesuits and a hundred Dominicans, and

escorted by two archdeacons, a treasurer, a penitent and twelve canons. A singer with a thundering voice a

man certainly picked out from all the voices of France, as was the drummajor of the imperial guard from all

the giants of the empire escorted by four other chanters, who appeared to be there only to serve him as an

accompaniment, made the air resound, and the windows of the houses vibrate. Under the dais appeared a pale

and noble countenance with black eyes, black hair streaked with threads of white, a delicate, compressed

mouth, a prominent and angular chin. His head, full of graceful majesty, was covered with the episcopal

mitre, a headdress which gave it, in addition to the character of sovereignty, that of asceticism and evangelic

"Aramis!" cried the musketeer, involuntarily, as this lofty countenance passed before him. The prelate started

at the sound of the voice. He raised his large black eyes, with their long lashes, and turned them without

hesitation towards the spot whence the exclamation proceeded. At a glance, he saw Porthos and D'Artagnan

close to him. On his part, D'Artagnan, thanks to the keenness of his sight, had seen all, seized all. The full

portrait of the prelate had entered his memory, never to leave it. One thing had particularly struck

D'Artagnan. On perceiving him, Aramis had colored, then he had concentrated under his eyelids the fire of

the look of the master, and the indefinable affection of the friend. It was evident that Aramis had asked

himself this question: "Why is D'Artagnan with Porthos, and what does he want at Vannes?" Aramis

comprehended all that was passing in the mind of D'Artagnan, on turning his look upon him again, and seeing

that he had not lowered his eyes. He knew the acuteness and intelligence of his friend, he feared to let him

divine the secret of his blush and his astonishment. He was still the same Aramis, always having a secret to

conceal. Therefore, to put an end to his look of an inquisitor which it was necessary to get rid of at all events,

as, at any price, a general extinguishes a battery which annoys him, Aramis stretched forth his beautiful white

hand, upon which sparkled the amethyst of the pastoral ring; he cut the air with sign of the cross, and poured

out his benediction upon his two friends. Perhaps thoughtful and absent, D'Artagnan, impious in spite of

himself, might not have bent beneath this holy benediction; but Porthos saw his distraction, and laying his

friendly hand upon the back of his companion, he crushed him down towards the earth. D'Artagnan was

forced to give way; indeed, he was little short of being flat on the ground. In the meantime Aramis had

passed. D'Artagnan, like Antaeus, had only touched the ground, and he turned towards Porthos, almost angry.

But there was no mistaking the intention of the brave Hercules; it was a feeling of religious propriety that had

influenced him. Besides, speech with Porthos, instead of disguising his thought, always completed it.

"It is very polite of him," said he, "to have given his benediction to us alone. Decidedly, he is a holy man, and

"Observe, my friend," continued Porthos, "he has seen us; and, instead of continuing to walk on at the simple

pace of the procession, as he did just now, see, what a hurry he is in; do you see how the cortege is

increasing its speed? He is eager to join us and embrace us, is that dear Aramis."

"That is true," replied D'Artagnan, aloud. Then to himself: "It is equally true he has seen me, the fox,

But the procession had passed; the road was free. D'Artagnan and Porthos walked straight up to the episcopal

palace, which was surrounded by a numerous crowd anxious to see the prelate return. D'Artagnan remarked

that this crowd was composed principally of citizens and military men. He recognized in the nature of these

partisans the address of his friend. Aramis was not the man to seek for a useless popularity. He cared very

little for being beloved by people who could be of no service to him. Women, children, and old men, that is

Ten minutes after the two friends had passed the threshold of the palace, Aramis returned like a triumphant

conqueror; the soldiers presented arms to him as to a superior; the citizens bowed to him as to a friend and a

patron, rather than as a head of the Church. There was something in Aramis resembling those Roman senators

who had their doors always surrounded by clients. At the foot of the prison, he had a conference of half a

minute with a Jesuit, who, in order to speak to him more secretly, passed his head under the dais. He then

reentered his palace; the doors closed slowly, and the crowd melted away, whilst chants and prayers were

still resounding abroad. It was a magnificent day. Earthly perfumes were mingled with the perfumes of the air

and the sea. The city breathed happiness, joy, and strength. D'Artagnan felt something like the presence of an

invisible hand which had, allpowerfully, created this strength, this joy, this happiness, and spread

Porthos and D'Artagnan had entered the bishop's residence by a private door, as his personal friends. Of

course, Porthos served D'Artagnan as guide. The worthy baron comported himself everywhere rather as if he

were at home. Nevertheless, whether it was a tacit acknowledgment of the sanctity of the personage of

Aramis and his character, or the habit of respecting him who imposed upon him morally, a worthy habit

which had always made Porthos a model soldier and an excellent companion; for all these reasons, say we,

Porthos preserved in the palace of His Greatness the Bishop of Vannes a sort of reserve which D'Artagnan

remarked at once, in the attitude he took with respect to the valets and officers. And yet this reserve did not

go so far as to prevent his asking questions. Porthos questioned. They learned that His Greatness had just

returned to his apartment and was preparing to appear in familiar intimacy, less majestic than he had

appeared with his flock. After a quarter of an hour, which D'Artagnan and Porthos passed in looking mutually

at each other with the white of their eyes, and turning their thumbs in all the different evolutions which go

from north to south, a door of the chamber opened and His Greatness appeared, dressed in the undress,

complete, of a prelate. Aramis carried his head high, like a man accustomed to command: his violet robe was

tucked up on one side, and his white hand was on his hip. He had retained the fine mustache, and the

lengthened royale of the time of Louis XIII. He exhaled, on entering, that delicate perfume which, among

elegant men and women of high fashion, never changes, and appears to be incorporated in the person, of

whom it has become the natural emanation. In this case only, the perfume had retained something of the

religious sublimity of incense. It no longer intoxicated, it penetrated; it no longer inspired desire, it inspired

respect. Aramis, on entering the chamber did not hesitate an instant; and without pronouncing one word,

which, whatever it might be, would have been cold on such an occasion, he went straight up to the musketeer,

so well disguised under the costume of M. Agnan, and pressed him in his arms with a tenderness which the

D'Artagnan, on his part, embraced him with equal ardor. Porthos pressed the delicate hand of Aramis in his

immense hands, and D'Artagnan remarked that His Greatness gave him his left hand, probably from habit,

seeing that Porthos already ten times had been near injuring his fingers covered with rings, by pounding his

flesh in the vise of his fist. Warned by the pain, Aramis was cautious, and only presented flesh to be bruised,

Between two embraces, Aramis looked D'Artagnan in the face, offered him a chair, sitting down himself in

the shade, observing that the light fell full upon the face of his interlocutor. This maneuver, familiar to

diplomatists and women, resembles much the advantage of the guard which, according to their skill or habit,

combatants endeavor to take on the ground at a duel. D'Artagnan was not the dupe of this maneuver, but he

did not appear to perceive it. He felt himself caught; but, precisely, because he was caught he felt himself on

the road to discovery, and it little imported to him, old condottiere as he was, to be beaten in appearance,

provided he drew from his pretended defeat the advantages of victory. Aramis began the conversation.

"It is a chance, my reverend companion," said D'Artagnan, "that I will call friendship. I seek you, as I always

have sought you, when I had any grand enterprise to propose to you, or some hours of liberty to give you."

"Eh! yes, he has been seeking you, Aramis," said Porthos, "and the proof is that he has unharbored me at

"Good!" said D'Artagnan; "there is my booby Porthos, without thinking of it, has fired the first cannon of

"At BelleIsle!" said Aramis, "in that hole, in that desert! That is kind, indeed!"

"And it was I who told him you were at Vannes," continued Porthos, in the same tone.

"If our old friendship still held out, if, on seeing each other, our hearts, hardened as they are by age, would

"What would you have, my friend?" said Aramis, smiling; "that is the most precious thing that a poor prelate,

"And yet they say at Paris that the bishopric of Vannes is one of the best in France."

"Ah! you are now speaking of temporal wealth," said Aramis, with a careless air.

"My friend, since you ask me to give you an account, I will tell you that the bishopric of Vannes is worth

about twenty thousand livres a year, neither more nor less. It is a diocese which contains a hundred and sixty

"And yet," resumed D'Artagnan, throwing his eyes over Aramis, "you don't mean to bury yourself here

"But it seems to me, that at this distance from Paris a man is buried, or nearly so."

"My friend, I am getting old," said Aramis; "the noise and bustle of a city no longer suit me. At fiftyseven

we ought to seek calm and meditation. I have found them here. What is there more beautiful, and stern at the

same time, than this old Armorica. I find here, dear D'Artagnan, all that is opposite to what I formerly loved,

and that is what must happen at the end of life, which is opposite to the beginning. A little of my odd pleasure

of former times still comes to salute me here, now and then, without diverting me from the road of salvation.

I am still of this world, and yet every step that I take brings me nearer to God."

"Eloquent, wise and discreet; you are an accomplished prelate, Aramis, and I offer you my congratulations."

"But," said Aramis, smiling, "you did not come here only for the purpose of paying me compliments. Speak;

"Thank God, no, my friend," said D'Artagnan, "it is nothing of that kind. I am rich and free."

"Yes, rich for me; not for you or Porthos, understand. I have an income of about fifteen thousand livres.

Aramis looked at him suspiciously. He could not believe particularly on seeing his friend in such humble

guise that he had made so fine a fortune. Then D'Artagnan, seeing that the hour of explanations was come,

related the history of his English adventures. During the recital he saw, ten times, the eyes of the prelate

sparkle, and his slender fingers work convulsively. As to Porthos, it was not admiration he manifested for

D'Artagnan; it was enthusiasm, it was delirium. When D'Artagnan had finished, "Well!" said Aramis.

"Well!" said D'Artagnan, "you see, then, I have in England friends and property, in France a treasure. If your

However firm was his look, he could not this time support the look of Aramis. He allowed, therefore, his eye

to stray upon Porthos like the sword which yields to too powerful a pressure, and seeks another road.

"At all events," said the bishop, "you have assumed a singular traveling costume, old friend."

"Frightful! I know it is. You may understand why I would not travel as a cavalier or a noble; since I became

"Find me!" cried Aramis. "Me! for the last year past I have not once crossed the sea."

"Ah, dear friend, I must tell you that I am no longer the Aramis of former times. Riding on horseback is

unpleasant to me; the sea fatigues me. I am a poor, ailing priest, always complaining, always grumbling, and

inclined to the austerities which appear to accord with old age, preliminary parlayings with death. I linger,

"Well, that is all the better, my friend, for we shall probably be neighbors soon."

"Bah!" said Aramis with a degree of surprise he did not even seek to dissemble. "You my neighbor!"

"I am about to purchase some very profitable saltmines, which are situated between Pirial and Croisic.

Imagine, my friend, a clear profit of twelve per cent. Never any deficiency, never any idle expenses; the

ocean, faithful and regular, brings every twelve hours its contingency to my coffers. I am the first Parisian

who has dreamt of such a speculation. Do not say anything about it, I beg of you, and in a short time we will

communicate on the matter. I am to have three leagues of country for thirty thousand livres."

Aramis darted a look at Porthos, as if to ask if all this were true, if some snare were not concealed beneath

this outward indifference. But soon, as if ashamed of having consulted this poor auxiliary, he collected all his

forces for a fresh assault and new defense. "I heard that you had had some difference with the court but that

you had come out of it as you know how to get through everything, D'Artagnan, with the honors of war."

"I!" said the musketeer, with a burst of laughter that did not conceal his embarrassment, for, from these

words, Aramis was not unlikely to be acquainted with his last relations with the king. "I! Oh, tell me all about

"Yes, it was related to me, a poor bishop, lost in the middle of the Landes, that the king had taken you as the

"It appears that the king took you one morning over the bridge of Blois to talk with his ladylove."

"That's true," said D'Artagnan. "And you know that, do you? Well, then, you must know that the same day I

"No, I did not know you were engaged, and I wished to take you with me into England."

"Yes, I understand; and then you executed alone, wonderful man as you are, what you wanted to propose to

us all four. I suspected you had something to do with that famous restoration, when I learned that you had

been seen at King Charles's receptions, and that he appeared to treat you like a friend, or rather like a person

"But how the devil did you learn all that?" asked D'Artagnan, who began to fear that the investigation of

"Dear D'Artagnan," said the prelate, "my friendship resembles, in a degree, the solicitude of that night watch

whom we have in the little tower of the mole, at the extremity of the quay. That brave man, every night, lights

a lantern to direct the barks that come from sea. He is concealed in his sentrybox, and the fishermen do not

see him; but he follows them with interest; he divines them; he calls them; he attracts them into the way to

the port. I resemble this watcher: from time to time some news reaches me, and recalls to my remembrance

all those I loved. Then I follow the friends of old days over the stormy ocean of the world, I, a poor watcher,

"Ah! there," replied Aramis, "you get beyond my depth. I know nothing of you since your return. D'Artagnan,

my eyes are dim. I regretted you did not think of me. I wept over your forgetfulness. I was wrong. I see you

again, and it is a festival, a great festival, I assure you, solemnly! How is Athos?"

"He seems to have inherited the skill of his father, Athos, and the strength of his tutor, Porthos."

"Yes; there was an execution at the Greve, and in consequence of that execution, a riot. We happened by

accident, to be in the riot; and in this riot we were obliged to have recourse to our swords. And he did

"Why, in the first place, he threw a man out of the window, as he would have flung a sack full of flock."

"Then he drew, and cut and thrust away, as we fellows used to do in the good old times."

D'Artagnan remarked upon the face of Aramis a complete indifference to this question of Porthos. "Why,"

said he, fixing his eyes upon Aramis, "on account of two farmers of the revenues, friends of M. Fouquet,

A scarcely perceptible contraction of the prelate's brow showed that he had heard D'Artagnan's reply.

"Oh, oh!" said Porthos; "and what were the names of these friends of M. Fouquet?"

"No," said the prelate, disdainfully; "they sound like the names of financiers."

"If these culprits were hanged, it was by order of the king. Now M. Fouquet, although superintendent of the

Aramis was afraid Porthos was about to say something awkward, so interrupted him. "Come, D'Artagnan,"

said he; "this is quite enough about other people, let us talk a little about you."

"Of me you know all that I can tell you. On the contrary let me hear a little about you, Aramis."

"No, not even of him. You see a man whom Providence has taken by the hand, whom he has conducted to a

"Who told you that?" cried Aramis, without being able, with all the power of his will, to prevent the color

"I do not say he is a man of genius, it is true; but he told me so; and after him, I repeat it to you."

"I have never seen M. Fouquet," replied Aramis with a look as pure and calm as that of a virgin who has

"Well, but if you had seen him and known him, there is no harm in that," replied D'Artagnan. "M. Fouquet is

"Dame! listen then," said D'Artagnan, in the most natural tone imaginable. "I said that because everybody

here swears by M. Fouquet. The plain is M. Fouquet's; the saltmines I am about to buy are M. Fouquet's; the

island in which Porthos studies topography is M. Fouquet's; the galleys are M. Fouquet's. I confess, then, that

nothing would have surprised me in your enfeoffment, or rather in that of your diocese, to M. Fouquet. He is

"Thank God! I am not vassal to anybody; I belong to nobody, and am entirely my own master," replied

Aramis, who, during this conversation, followed with his eye every gesture of D'Artagnan, every glance of

Porthos. But D'Artagnan was impassible and Porthos motionless; the thrusts aimed so skillfully were parried

by an able adversary; not one hit the mark. Nevertheless, both began to feel the fatigue of such a contest and

the announcement of supper was well received by everybody. Supper changed the course of conversation.

Besides, they felt that, upon their guard as each one had been, they could neither of them boast of having the

advantage. Porthos had understood nothing of what had been meant. He had held himself motionless, because

Aramis had made him a sign not to stir. Supper for him, was nothing but supper; but that was quite enough

for Porthos. The supper, then, went off very well. D'Artagnan was in high spirits. Aramis exceeded himself in

kind affability. Porthos ate like old Pelops. Their talk was of war, finance, the arts, and love. Aramis played

astonishment at every word of politics. D'Artagnan risked. This long series of surprises increased the mistrust

of D'Artagnan, as the eternal indifference of D'Artagnan provoked the suspicions of Aramis. At length

D'Artagnan, designedly, uttered the name of Colbert; he had reserved that stroke for the last.

"Oh! come," said D'Artagnan to himself, "that is too strong! We must be careful, mordioux! we must be

And he then gave Aramis all the information respecting M. Colbert he could desire. The supper, or rather, the

conversation, was prolonged till one o'clock in the morning between D'Artagnan and Aramis. At ten o'clock

precisely, Porthos had fallen asleep in his chair and snored like an organ. At midnight he woke up and they

sent him to bed. "Hum!" said he, "I was near falling asleep; but that was all very interesting you were talking

At one o'clock Aramis conducted D'Artagnan to the chamber destined for him, which was the best in the

episcopal residence. Two servants were placed at his command. Tomorrow, at eight o'clock," said he, taking

leave of D'Artagnan, "we will take, if agreeable to you, a ride on horseback with Porthos."

D'Artagnan allowed him to depart; then, as soon as the door closed, "Good!" cried he, "at five o'clock I will

This determination being made, he went to bed and quietly "put two and two together," as people say.

Scarcely had D'Artagnan extinguished his taper, when Aramis, who had watched through his curtains the last

glimmer of light in his friend's apartment, 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 grandly stretched out on the down bed. He was in

that happy calm of the first sleep, which, with Porthos, resisted the noise of bells or the report of cannon; his

head swam in that soft oscillation which reminds us of the soothing movement of a ship. In a moment Porthos

would have begun to dream. The door of the chamber opened softly under the delicate pressure of the hand of

Aramis. The bishop approached the sleeper. A thick carpet deadened the sound of his steps, besides which

Porthos snored in a manner 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 and kind, but it conveyed more than a notice, it

conveyed an order. His hand was light, but it indicated a danger. Porthos heard the voice and felt the hand of

Aramis, even in the depth of his sleep. He started up. "Who goes there?" cried he, in his giant's voice.

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

"Oh! mon Dieu!" sighed Porthos, lying down again, like children who contend with their bonne to gain an

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

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

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

"Ah! that's true," replied Porthos, in a voice of thunder, "I forgot that; but be satisfied, I am on guard." And so

saying, he let fall a belt loaded with his sword and pistols, and a purse, from which the crowns escaped with a

vibrating and prolonged noise. This noise made the blood of Aramis boil, whilst it drew from Porthos a

"I was going to say," continued Porthos, "that it is droll that we are never so slow as when we are in a hurry,

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

"He asked me what I was doing, and I told him studying topography. I would have made use of another word

"But don't be alarmed, I had rubbed out your writing with Indiarubber. It was impossible for him to suppose

"I fear that everything is discovered, Porthos; the matter is, then, to prevent a great misfortune. I have given

orders to my people to close all the gates and doors. D'Artagnan will not be able to get out before daybreak.

Your horse is ready saddled; you will gain the first relay; by five o'clock in the morning you will have

Aramis then assisted Porthos to dress, piece by piece, with as much celerity as the most skillful valet de

chambre could have done. Porthos, half stupefied, let him do as he liked, and confounded himself in excuses.

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 and that, as if

Aramis had been the giant, and Porthos the dwarf. Soul set fire to and animated matter. A horse was waiting,

ready saddled, in the courtyard. Porthos mounted. Then Aramis himself took the horse by the bridle, and led

him over some dung spread in the yard, with the evident intention of suppressing noise. He, at the same time,

held tight the horse's nose, to prevent him neighing. When arrived at the outward gate, drawing Porthos

towards him, who was going off without even asking him what for: "Now friend Porthos, now; without

drawing bridle, till you get to Paris," whispered he in his ears; "eat on horseback, drink on horseback, sleep

"This letter to M. Fouquet; cost what it may, he must have it tomorrow before midday."

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

Aramis did let go, not the bridle, but the horse's nose. Porthos released his hand, clapped spurs to his horse,

which set off at a gallop. As long as he could distinguish Porthos through the darkness, Aramis followed him

with his eyes: when he was completely out of sight, he reentered the yard. Nothing had stirred in

D'Artagnan's apartment. The valet placed on watch at the door had neither seen any light, nor heard any

noise. Aramis closed his door carefully, sent the lackey to bed, and quickly sought his own. D'Artagnan really

suspected nothing, therefore thought he had gained everything, when he awoke in the morning, about halfpast

four. He ran to the window in his shirt. The window looked out upon the court. Day was dawning. The court

was deserted; the fowls, even, had not left their roosts. Not a servant appeared. Every door was closed.

"Good! all is still," said D'Artagnan to himself. "Never mind: I am up first in the house. Let us dress; that will

be so much done." And D'Artagnan dressed himself. But, this time, he endeavored not to give to the costume

of M. Agnan that bourgeoise and almost ecclesiastical rigidity he had affected before; he managed, by

drawing his belt tighter, by buttoning his clothes in a different fashion, and by putting on his hat a little on

one side, to restore to his person a little of that military character, the absence of which had surprised Aramis.

This being done, he made free, or affected to make free with his host, and entered his chamber without

ceremony. Aramis was asleep or feigned to be so. A large book lay open upon his nightdesk, a waxlight

was still burning in its silver sconce. This was more than enough to prove to D'Artagnan the quiescence of the

prelate's night, and the good intentions of his waking. The musketeer did to the bishop precisely as the bishop

had done to Porthos he tapped him on the shoulder. Evidently Aramis pretended to sleep; for, instead of

"Ah! ah! is that you?" said he, stretching his arms. "What an agreeable surprise! Ma foi! Sleep had made me

"I do not know," said D'Artagnan, a little embarrassed. "Early, I believe. But, you know, that devil of a habit

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

"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 reckoned upon them, and what I lose of them I

"But it seems to me that, formerly, you were less of a sleeper than that, dear friend; your blood was alive, and

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

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

"Mordioux! Aramis, that is a word which reconciles me with your greatness. To appearances! That is a

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

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

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

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

"And you know well that I was never able to resist your seductions; you will cost me my salvation,

"Well," said he, "I will take the sin on my own head, favor me with one simple Christian sign of the cross,

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

"Impossible, I made an appointment with them yesterday; it is the principal of the college of the Jesuits, and

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

Aramis did not stir, his brow remained unbent, he betrayed himself by no gesture or word; "Go," said he, as

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

Ten minutes had not passed away when he came back. He found Aramis seated between the superior of the

Dominicans and the principal of the college of the Jesuits, exactly in the same situation as he had found him

formerly in the auberge at Crevecoeur. This company did not at all terrify the musketeer.

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

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

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

All this dialogue, it may be easily understood, was not exempt from a certain affectation on the part of the

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

"Yes, the canal which goes from Vannes to the sea abounds in teal and snipes; that is Porthos's favorite sport,

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

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

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 this order. When arrived at the door, the

servant drew on one side to allow M. d'Artagnan to pass; and at that moment he caught the eye of his master.

A knitting of the brow gave the intelligent spy to understand that all should be given to D'Artagnan he

wished. D'Artagnan got into the saddle, and Aramis heard the steps of his horse on the pavement. An instant

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

In fact, D'Artagnan, dismissing all suspicion, hastened towards the ocean, constantly hoping to see in the

Landes, or on the beach, the colossal profile of Porthos. He persisted in fancying he could trace a horse's

steps in every puddle. Sometimes he imagined he heard the report of a gun. This illusion lasted three hours;

during two of which he went forward 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 me at table."

D'Artagnan was mistaken. He no more found Porthos at the palace than he had found him on the seashore.

Aramis was waiting for him at the top of the stairs, looking very much concerned.

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

"I am deeply concerned, my friend, deeply, to have induced you to make such a useless search, but, about

seven o'clock, the almoner of SaintPaterne came here. He had met Du Vallon, who was going away, and

who being unwilling to disturb anybody at the palace, had charged him to tell me that, fearing M. Getard

would play him some ill turn in his absence, he was going to take advantage of the morning tide to make a

"Therefore, my friend," said Aramis, with one of his blandest smiles, "Goliath is in the stable, well pleased, I

will answer for it, that Porthos is no longer on his back." In fact, the horse had been brought back from the

relay by the direction of the prelate, from whom no detail escaped. D'Artagnan appeared as well satisfied as

possible with the explanation. He entered upon a part of dissimulation which agreed perfectly with the

suspicions that arose more and more strongly in his mind. He breakfasted between the Jesuit and Aramis,

having the Dominican in front of him, and smiling particularly at the Dominican, whose jolly, fat face

pleased him much. The repast was long and sumptuous; excellent Spanish wine, fine Morbihan oysters,

exquisite fish from the mouth of the Loire, enormous prawns from Paimboeuf, and delicious game from the

moors, constituted the principal part of it. D'Artagnan ate much, and drank but little. Aramis drank nothing,

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

"Pardieu! the eating at your house is too good to make me think of not coming back." And thereupon

D'Artagnan quitted his host, bowed to the guests, and took his arquebuse; but instead of shooting, went

straight to the little port of Vannes. He looked in vain to observe if anybody saw him; he could discern

neither thing nor person. He engaged a little fishing boat for twentyfive livres, and set off at halfpast

eleven, convinced that he had not been followed; and that was true, he had not been followed; only a Jesuit

brother, placed in the top of the steeple of his church, had not, since the morning, by the help of an excellent

glass, lost sight of one of his steps. At threequarters past eleven, Aramis was informed that D'Artagnan was

sailing towards BelleIsle. The voyage was rapid; a good north northeast wind drove him towards the isle.

As he approached, his eyes were constantly fixed upon the coast. He looked to see if, upon the shore or upon

the fortifications the brilliant dress and vast stature of Porthos should stand out against a slightly clouded sky;

but his search was vain. He landed without having seen anything; and learnt from the first soldier interrogated

by him, that M. du Vallon had not yet returned from Vannes. Then, without losing an instant, D'Artagnan

ordered his little bark to put its head towards Sarzeau. We know that the wind changes with the different

hours of the day. The breeze had veered from the north northeast to the southeast: the wind, then, was

almost as good for the return to Sarzeau, as it had been for the voyage to BelleIsle. In three hours

D'Artagnan had touched the continent, two hours more sufficed for his ride to Vannes. In spite of the rapidity

of his passage, what D'Artagnan endured of impatience and anger during that short passage, the deck alone of

the vessel, upon which he stamped backwards and forwards for three hours, could testify. He made but one

bound from the quay whereon he landed to the episcopal palace. 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 the consequences 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 the charge with the

bayonet is to redoubts to bring the mysterious Aramis to some manifestation or other. But he found, in the

vestibule of the palace, the valet de chambre, who closed the passage, while smiling upon him with a stupid

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

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

"Give it me, then, you rascal," said D'Artagnan, snatching it from his hand. "Oh, yes," continued he, at the

"Dear Friend, An affair of the most urgent nature calls me to a distant parish of my diocese. I hoped to see

you again before I set out; but I lose that hope in thinking that you are going, no doubt, to remain two or three

days at BelleIsle, with our dear Porthos. Amuse yourself as well 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 most brilliant and best days.

Adieu, dear friend; believe that I regret greatly not having better, and for a longer time, profited by your

"Mordioux!" cried D'Artagnan. "I am tricked. Ah! blockhead, brute, triple fool that I am! But those laugh best

who laugh last. Oh, duped, duped like a monkey, cheated with an empty nutshell!" And with a hearty blow

bestowed upon the nose of the smirking valet de chambre, he made all haste out of the episcopal palace.

Furet, however good a trotter, was not equal to present circumstances. D'Artagnan therefore took the post,

and chose a horse which he soon caused to demonstrate, with good spurs and a light hand, that deer are not

CHAPTER 74. In which D'Artagnan makes all Speed, Porthos snores, and Aramis counsels

From thirty to thirtyfive hours after the events we have just related, as M. Fouquet, according to his custom,

having interdicted his door, was working in the cabinet of his house at SaintMande, with which we are

already acquainted, a carriage, drawn by four horses steaming with sweat, entered the court at full gallop.

This carriage was, probably, expected, for three or four lackeys hastened to the door, which they opened.

Whilst M. Fouquet rose from his bureau and ran to the window, a man got painfully out of the carriage

descending with difficulty the three steps of the door, leaning upon the shoulders of the lackeys. He had

scarcely uttered his name, when the valet upon whom he was not leaning sprang up the perron, and

disappeared in the vestibule. This man went to inform his master; but he had no occasion to knock at the

Then, leaning over the banister of the staircase, of which Aramis was beginning to ascend the first steps,

"Oh! my poor friend," said Fouquet, presenting him his arm, on which Aramis leant, whilst the servants drew

"Bah!" replied Aramis, "it is nothing, since I am here; the principal thing was that I should get here, and here

"Speak quickly," said Fouquet, closing the door of the cabinet behind Aramis and himself.

"Yes. The affair is serious, apparently, since it necessitates your attendance in Paris, at a moment when your

"Thank you! thank you! What is it about? But, for God's sake! before anything else, take time to breathe, dear

"I am really in great pain. But, for Heaven's sake, think nothing about me. Did M. du Vallon tell you nothing,

"No; I heard a great noise; I went to the window; I saw at the foot of the perron, a sort of horseman of marble;

"He fell with the horse; he was lifted, and carried to an apartment. Having read the letter, I went up to him, in

hopes of obtaining more ample information; but he was asleep, and, after such a fashion, that it was

impossible to wake him. I took pity on him; I gave orders that his boots should be cut from off his legs, and

"So far well; now, this is the question in hand, monseigneur. You have seen M. d'Artagnan in Paris, have you

"Certes, and think him a man of intelligence, and even a man of heart; although he did bring about the death

"Alas! yes, I heard of that. At Tours I met the courier who was bringing me the letter from Gourville, and the

dispatches from Pellisson. Have you seriously reflected on that event, monsieur?"

"Do not blind yourself, monsieur, in the name of Heaven! Listen attentively to me, I return to

"There, then! Well, D'Artagnan has been to BelleIsle; he was disguised; he came in the character of some

sort of an intendant, charged by his master to purchase saltmines. Now, D'Artagnan has no other master but

"I beg your pardon, I made a mistake. He saw M. du Vallon at BelleIsle; and he knows, as well as you and I

"If you judged him to be the bravest, the most acute, and the most adroit man in France, you judged

"Because we have allowed the time to go by. He was dissatisfied with the court, we should have profited by

that; since that, he has passed into England; there he powerfully assisted in the restoration, there he gained a

fortune, and, after all, he returned to the service of the king. Well, if he has returned to the service of the king,

"Oh! monsieur, excuse me; D'Artagnan has a high respect for his word, and where that is once engaged he

Aramis shook his pale head. "Look at these clouds which flit across the heavens; at these swallows which cut

the air. D'Artagnan moves more quickly than the clouds or the birds; D'Artagnan is the wind which carries

"I tell you, he is superhuman, monsieur. He is of my own age, and I have known him these fiveandthirty

"Well, listen to my calculation, monsieur. I sent M. du Vallon off to you two hours after midnight. M. du

"You see, then, that I gained four upon him; and yet Porthos is a staunch horseman, and he has left on the

road eight dead horses, whose bodies I came to successively. I rode post fifty leagues; but I have the gout, the

gravel, and what else I know not; so that fatigue kills me. I was obliged to dismount at Tours; since that,

rolling along in a carriage, half dead, sometimes overturned, drawn upon the sides, and sometimes on the

back of the carriage, always with four spirited horses at full gallop, I have arrived arrived, gaining four

hours upon Porthos; but, see you, D'Artagnan does not weigh three hundredweight, as Porthos does;

D'Artagnan has not the gout and gravel, as I have; he is not a horseman, he is a centaur. D'Artagnan, look

you, set out for BelleIsle when I set out for Paris; and D'Artagnan, notwithstanding my ten hours, advance,

"Yes, he is a man whom I love and admire. I love him because he is good, great, and loyal; I admire him

because he represents in my eyes the culminating point of human power; but, whilst loving and admiring

him, I fear him, and am on my guard against him. Now then, I resume, monsieur; in two hours D'Artagnan

will be here; be beforehand with him. Go to the Louvre, and see the king, before he sees D'Artagnan."

"Oh! Monsieur d'Herblay! Monsieur d'Herblay," cried Fouquet, "what projects crushed all at once!"

"After one project that has failed, there is always another project that may lead to fortune; we should never

"That garrison, monsieur, was the king's when it entered BelleIsle; it is yours now; it is the same with all

garrisons after a fortnight's occupation. Let things go on, monsieur. Do you see any inconvenience in having

an army at the end of a year, instead of two regiments? Do you not see that your garrison of today will make

you partisans at La Rochelle, Nantes, Bordeaux, Toulouse in short, wherever they may be sent to? Go to

the king, monsieur; go; time flies, and D'Artagnan, while we are losing time, is flying, like an arrow, along

"Monsieur d'Herblay, you know that each word from you is a germ which fructifies in my thoughts. I will go

"Remember that D'Artagnan has no need to pass through SaintMande; but will go straight to the Louvre;

"D'Artagnan may have everything except my English horses. I shall be at the Louvre in twentyfive

Aramis had only time to say to him, "Return as quickly as you go; for I shall await you impatiently."

Five minutes after, the superintendent was flying along the road to Paris. During this time Aramis desired to

be shown the chamber in which Porthos was sleeping. At the door of Fouquet's cabinet he was folded in the

arms of Pellisson, who had just heard of his arrival, and had left his office to see him. Aramis received, with

that friendly dignity which he knew so well how to assume, these caresses, respectful as earnest; but all at

There was, in fact, a hoarse, growling kind of noise, like the roar of a hungry tiger, or an impatient lion. "Oh,

"Ah! true," said Aramis. "I had forgotten. No one but he is capable of making such a noise. Allow me,

"Oh, certainly;" and both entered the chamber. Porthos was stretched upon the bed; his face was violet rather

than red; his eyes were swelled; his mouth was wide open. The roaring which escaped from the deep cavities

of his chest made the glass of the windows vibrate. To those developed and clearly defined muscles starting

from his face, to his hair matted with sweat, to the energetic heaving of his chin and shoulders, it was

impossible to refuse a certain degree of admiration. Strength carried to this point is semidivine. The

Herculean legs and feet of Porthos had, by swelling, burst his stockings; all the strength of his huge body was

converted into the rigidity of stone. Porthos moved no more than does the giant of granite which reclines

upon the plains of Agrigentum. According to Pellisson's orders, his boots had been cut off, for no human

power could have pulled them off. Four lackeys had tried in vain, pulling at them as they would have pulled

capstans; and yet all this did not awaken him. They had hacked off his boots in fragments, and his legs had

fallen back upon the bed. They then cut off the rest of his clothes, carried him to a bath, in which they let him

soak a considerable time. They then put on him clean linen, and placed him in a wellwarmed bed the

whole with efforts and pains which might have roused a dead man, but which did not make Porthos open an

eye, or interrupt for a second the formidable diapason of his snoring. Aramis wished on his part, with his

nervous nature, armed with extraordinary courage, to outbrave fatigue, and employ himself with Gourville

and Pellisson, but he fainted in the chair in which he had persisted sitting. He was carried into the adjoining

In the meantime Fouquet was hastening to the Louvre, at the best speed of his English horses. The king was

at work with Colbert. All at once the king became thoughtful. The two sentences of death he had signed on

mounting his throne sometimes recurred to his memory; they were two black spots which he saw with his

eyes open; two spots of blood which he saw when his eyes were closed. "Monsieur," said he, rather sharply,

to the intendant; "it sometimes seems to me that those two men you made me condemn were not very great

"Sire, they were picked out from the herd of the farmers of the financiers, which wanted decimating."

"And is that money in my coffers?" said the king with a certain air of repugnance.

"It is there, sire; but this confiscation, whilst threatening M. Fouquet, has not touched him."

"That if M. Fouquet has raised against your majesty a troop of factious rioters to extricate his friends from

punishment, he will raise an army when he has in turn to extricate himself from punishment."

The king darted at his confidant one of those looks which resemble the livid fire of a flash of lightning, one of

those looks which illuminate the darkness of the basest consciences. "I am astonished," said he, "that,

thinking such things of M. Fouquet, you did not come to give me your counsels thereupon."

"Tell me, in the first place, clearly and precisely, what you think, M. Colbert."

"I think, sire, that M. Fouquet, not satisfied with attracting all the money to himself, as M. Mazarin did, and

by that means depriving your majesty of one part of your power, still wishes to attract to himself all the

friends of easy life and pleasure of what idlers call poetry, and politicians, corruption. I, think that, by

holding the subjects of your majesty in pay, he trespasses upon the royal prerogative, and cannot, if this

"You are quite sure that M. Fouquet has conceived the idea of the crime you impute to him?"

"I am ignorant, likewise, sire; I should therefore propose to your majesty to send somebody to BelleIsle?"

"Inform myself whether, after the example of the ancient feudal lords, M. Fouquet was battlementing his

"But, if it be thus, M. Colbert," said Louis, "we must immediately do as you say; M. Fouquet must be

"I thought I had already told you, monsieur, that I suppressed that word in my service."

"The service of your majesty cannot prevent M. Fouquet from being surintendantgeneral."

"That, in consequence of holding that post, he has for him all the parliament, as he has all the army by his

"Oh, no, sire; for I will not confine myself to pointing out the peril to your majesty."

"Come, then, where shall we begin to undermine this Colossus; let us see;" and his majesty began to laugh

"Here is one at once. His royal highness Monsieur is about to be married; his nuptials must be magnificent.

That is a good occasion for your majesty to demand a million of M. Fouquet. M. Fouquet, who pays twenty

thousand livres down when he need not pay more than five thousand, will easily find that million when your

"If your majesty will sign the ordonnance I will have the money got together myself." And Colbert pushed a

At that moment the usher opened the door and announced monsieur le surintendant. Louis turned pale.

Colbert let the pen fall, and drew back from the king, over whom he extended his black wings like an evil

spirit. The superintendent made his entrance like a man of the court, to whom a single glance was sufficient

to make him appreciate the situation. That situation was not very encouraging for Fouquet, whatever might be

his consciousness of strength. The small black eye of Colbert, dilated by envy, and the limpid eye of Louis

XIV., inflamed by anger, signalled some pressing danger. Courtiers are, with regard to court rumors, like old

soldiers, who distinguish through the blasts of wind and bluster of leaves the sound of the distant steps of an

armed troop. They can, after having listened, tell pretty nearly how many men are marching, how many arms

resound, how many cannons roll. Fouquet had then only to interrogate the silence which his arrival had

produced; he found it big with menacing revelations. The king allowed him time enough to advance as far as

the middle of the chamber. His adolescent modesty commanded this forbearance of the moment. Fouquet

Colbert, minus grandeur of person, less largeness of heart, resembled Fouquet in many points. He had the

same penetration, the same knowledge of men; moreover, that great power of selfcompression which gives

to hypocrites time to reflect, and gather themselves up to take a spring. He guessed that Fouquet was going to

"Let your majesty have the goodness to cast your eyes over this work," said he. The king slowly unfolded the

"Ah, ah!" said the king, "you amuse yourself with tactics and strategies, then, M. Fouquet?"

"I occupy myself with everything that may be useful to the reign of your majesty," replied Fouquet.

"Your majesty comprehends, without doubt," said Fouquet, bending over the paper; "here is the circle of the

At this word, at this name, Colbert made so marked a movement, that the king turned round to enforce the

necessity for reserve. Fouquet did not appear to be the least in the world concerned by the movement of

"Yes, sire; and I have brought the plan and the accounts to your majesty," replied Fouquet, "I have expended

"What to do?" replied Louis, coldly, having taken the initiative from a malicious look of the intendant.

"For an aim very easy to seize," replied, Fouquet. "Your majesty was on cool terms with Great Britain."

"Yes; but since the restoration of King Charles II. I have formed an alliance with him."

"A month since, sire, your majesty has truly said; but it is more than six months since the fortifications of

"Sire, fortifications are never useless. I fortified BelleIsle against MM. Monk and Lambert and all those

London citizens who were playing at soldiers. BelleIsle will be ready fortified against the Dutch, against

The king was again silent, and looked askant at Colbert. "BelleIsle, I believe," added Louis, "is yours, M.

Colbert was seized with as much terror as if a gulf had opened beneath his feet. Louis started with admiration,

"Nothing more easy, sire; BelleIsle is one of my estates; I have fortified it at my own expense. But as

nothing in the world can oppose a subject making an humble present to his king, I offer your majesty the

proprietorship of the estate, of which you will leave me the usufruct. BelleIsle, as a place of war, ought to be

occupied by the king. Your majesty will be able, henceforth, to keep a safe garrison there."

Colbert felt almost sinking down upon the floor. To keep himself from falling, he was obliged to hold by the

"This is a piece of great skill in the art of war that you have exhibited here, monsieur," said Louis.

"Sire, the initiative did not come from me," replied Fouquet: "many others have inspired me with it. The

"M. du Vallon?" resumed Louis, "I do not know him. It is much to be lamented, M. Colbert," continued he,

"that I do not know the names of the men of talent who do honor to my reign." And while saying these words

he turned towards Colbert. The latter felt himself crushed, the sweat flowed from his brow, no word

presented itself to his lips, he suffered an inexpressible martyrdom. "You will recollect that name," added

Colbert bowed, but was paler than his ruffles of Flemish lace. Fouquet continued:

"The masonries are of Roman concrete; the architects amalgamated it for me after the best accounts of

"Oh! sire, that concerns your majesty; it did not become me to place cannon in my own house, unless your

Louis began to float, undetermined between the hatred which this so powerful man inspired him with, and the

pity he felt for the other, so cast down, who seemed to him the counterfeit of the former. But the

consciousness of his kingly duty prevailed over the feelings of the man, and he stretched out his finger to the

"It must have cost you a great deal of money to carry these plans into execution," said he.

"Well, I ought to give the bride a reception worthy of the granddaughter of Henry IV."

"I shall want " Louis hesitated. The sum he was going to demand was the same that he had been

obliged to refuse Charles II. He turned towards Colbert, that he might give the blow.

Fouquet turned his back upon the intendant to listen to the king. He did not turn round, but waited till the

"Oh! sire," replied Fouquet disdainfully, "a million! What will your majesty do with a million?"

"That is not more than is spent at the nuptials of one of the most petty princes of Germany."

"Your majesty must have two millions at least. The horses alone would run away with five hundred thousand

livres. I shall have the honor of sending your majesty sixteen hundred thousand livres this evening."

"Look, sire," replied Fouquet, without even turning towards Colbert, "I know that wants four hundred

thousand livres of the two millions. But this monsieur of l'intendance" (pointing over his shoulder to Colbert

who, if possible, became paler, behind him) "has in his coffers nine hundred thousand livres of mine."

"Monsieur," continued Fouquet, still speaking indirectly to Colbert, "monsieur has received a week ago

sixteen hundred thousand livres; he has paid a hundred thousand livres to the guards, sixtyfour thousand

livres to the hospitals, twentyfive thousand to the Swiss, a hundred and thirty thousand for provisions, a

thousand for arms, ten thousand for accidental expenses; I do not err, then, in reckoning upon nine hundred

thousand livres that are left." Then turning towards Colbert, like a disdainful head of office towards his

inferior, "Take care, monsieur," said he, "that those nine hundred thousand livres be remitted to his majesty

"But," said the king, "that will make two millions five hundred thousand livres."

"Sire, the five hundred thousand livres over will serve as pocket money for his Royal Highness. You

And with these words, bowing respectfully to the king, the superintendent made his exit backwards, without

honoring with a single look the envious man, whose head he had just half shaved.

Colbert tore his ruffles to pieces in his rage, and bit his lips till they bled.

Fouquet had not passed the door of the cabinet, when an usher pushing by him, exclaimed: "A courier from

"M. d'Herblay was right," murmured Fouquet, pulling out his watch; "an hour and fiftyfive minutes. It was

In which D'Artagnan finishes by at length placing his Hand upon his Captain's Commission

The reader guesses beforehand whom the usher preceded in announcing the courier from Bretagne. This

messenger was easily recognized. It was D'Artagnan, his clothes dusty, his face inflamed, his hair dripping

with sweat, his legs stiff; he lifted his feet painfully at every step, on which resounded the clink of his

bloodstained spurs. He perceived in the doorway he was passing through, the superintendent coming out.

Fouquet bowed with a smile to him who, an hour before, was bringing him ruin and death. D'Artagnan found

in his goodness of heart, and in his inexhaustible vigor of body, enough presence of mind to remember the

kind reception of this man; he bowed then, also, much more from benevolence and compassion, than from

respect. He felt upon his lips the word which had so many times been repeated to the Duc de Guise: "Fly."

But to pronounce that word would have been to betray his cause; to speak that word in the cabinet of the

king, and before an usher, would have been to ruin himself gratuitously, and could save nobody. D'Artagnan

then contented himself with bowing to Fouquet and entered. At this moment the king floated between the joy

the last words of Fouquet had given him, and his pleasure at the return of D'Artagnan. Without being a

courtier, D'Artagnan had a glance as sure and as rapid as if he had been one. He read, on his entrance,

devouring humiliation on the countenance of Colbert. He even heard the king say these words to him;

"Ah! Monsieur Colbert, you have then nine hundred thousand livres at the intendance?" Colbert, suffocated,

bowed, but made no reply. All this scene entered into the mind of D'Artagnan, by the eyes and ears, at once.

The first word of Louis to his musketeer, as if he wished it to contrast with what he was saying at the

moment, was a kind "good day." His second was to send away Colbert. The latter left the king's cabinet,

"I love to see one of my servants in this disorder," said the king, admiring the martial stains upon the clothes

"I thought, sire, my presence at the Louvre was sufficiently urgent to excuse my presenting myself thus

"Sire, the thing is this, in two words: BelleIsle is fortified, admirably fortified; BelleIsle has a double

enciete, a citadel, two detached forts; its ports contain three corsairs; and the side batteries only await their

"Ah! I understand all. Your majesty did not trust to me alone, but sent some other person," said he in a

"Of what importance is the manner, monsieur, in which I have learnt what I know, so that I know it?"

"Sire, sire," said the musketeer, without seeking even to conceal his dissatisfaction; "but I must be permitted

to say to your majesty, that it is not worth while to make me use such speed, to risk twenty times the breaking

of my neck, to salute me on my arrival with such intelligence. Sire, when people are not trusted, or are

deemed insufficient, they should scarcely be employed." And D'Artagnan, with a movement perfectly

military, stamped with his foot, and left upon the floor dust stained with blood. The king looked at him,

"Monsieur," said he, at the expiration of a minute, "not only is BelleIsle known to me, but, still further,

"That is well! that is well, sire, I ask but one thing more," replied D'Artagnan. "My discharge."

"Without doubt I am too proud to eat the bread of the king without earning it, or rather by gaining it badly.

"I have reason, mordioux! Thirtytwo hours in the saddle, I ride night and day, I perform prodigies of speed,

I arrive stiff as the corpse of a man who has been hung and another arrives before me! Come, sire, I am a

"Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Louis, leaning his white hand upon the dusty arm of the musketeer, "what I tell

you will not at all affect that which I promised you. A king's word given must be kept." And the king going

straight to his table, opened a drawer, and took out a folded paper. "Here is your commission of captain of

D'Artagnan opened the paper eagerly, and scanned it twice. He could scarcely believe his eyes.

"And this commission is given you," continued the king, "not only on account of your journey to BelleIsle,

but, moreover, for your brave intervention at the Place de Greve. There, likewise, you served me valiantly."

"Ah, ah!" said D'Artagnan, without his selfcommand being able to prevent a blush from mounting to his

The king possessed a piercing glance and an infallible judgment, when it was his object to read men's minds.

"You have something to say," said he to the musketeer, "something to say which you do not say. Come,

speak freely, monsieur; you know that I told you, once for all, that you are to be always quite frank with me."

"Well, sire! what I have to say is this, that I would prefer being made captain of musketeers for having

charged a battery at the head of my company, or taken a city, than for causing two wretches to be hung."

"Because I know you well, monsieur; you cannot repent of having drawn your sword for me."

"Well, in that your majesty is deceived, and greatly; yes, I do repent of having drawn my sword on account of

the results that action produced; the poor men who were hung, sire, were neither your enemies nor mine; and

The king preserved silence for a moment. "And your companion, M. d'Artagnan, does he partake of your

"No, sire, no," said D'Artagnan, blushing at the idea that the king might have a suspicion that he, D'Artagnan,

had wished to engross to himself all the glory that belonged to Raoul; "no, mordioux! and as your majesty

"Yes, sire; a young man. Oh! your majesty must accept my compliments, you are as well informed of things

out of doors as things within. It is M. Colbert who makes all these fine reports to the king."

"M. Colbert has said nothing but good of you, M. d'Artagnan, and he would have met with a bad reception if

"In short, it appears that this young man is a fireeater," said Louis, in order to sharpen the sentiment which

"A fireeater! Yes, sire," repeated D'Artagnan, delighted on his part to direct the king's attention to Raoul.

"Sire," said D'Artagnan, "your majesty questions me with a mistrust in which I recognize another character

than your own. M. Colbert, who has so well informed you, has he not forgotten to tell you that this young

"Certainly, sire. The father of the Vicomte de Bragelonne is M. le Comte de la Fere, who so powerfully

assisted in the restoration of king Charles II. Bragelonne comes of a valiant race, sire."

"Then he is the son of that nobleman who came to me, or rather to M. Mazarin, on the part of King Charles

"Sire, he is a man who has drawn his sword more times for the king, your father, than there are, at present,

"That is well, M. d'Artagnan, very well! And M. le Comte de la Fere is your friend, say you?"

"For about forty years; yes, sire. Your majesty may see that I do not speak to you of yesterday."

The king touched his bell, and an usher appeared. "Call M. de Bragelonne," said the king.

"He is on guard today, at the Louvre, with the company of the gentlemen of monsieur le prince."

The king had scarcely ceased speaking, when Raoul presented himself, and, on seeing D'Artagnan, smiled on

"Come, come," said D'Artagnan, familiarly, to Raoul, "the king will allow you to embrace me; only tell his

Raoul bowed so gracefully, that Louis, to whom all superior qualities were pleasing when they did not

"Monsieur," said the king, addressing Raoul, "I have asked monsieur le prince to be kind enough to give you

up to me; I have received his reply, and you belong to me from this morning. Monsieur le prince was a good

"Yes, yes, Raoul, be satisfied; the king has some good in him," said D'Artagnan, who had fathomed the

character of Louis, and who played with his selflove, within certain limits; always observing, be it

understood, the proprieties and flattering, even when he appeared to be bantering.

"Sire," said Bragelonne, with a voice soft and musical, and with the natural and easy elocution he inherited

"Oh! no, I know," said the king, "you mean your enterprise of the Greve. That day, you were truly mine,

"Sire, it is not of that day I would speak; it would not become me to refer to so paltry a service in the

presence of such a man as M. d'Artagnan. I would speak of a circumstance which created an epoch in my life,

and which consecrated me, from the age of sixteen, to the devoted service of your majesty."

"This is it, sire. When I was setting out on my first campaign, that is to say, to join the army of monsieur

le prince, M. le Comte de la Fere came to conduct me as far as SaintDenis, where the remains of King Louis

XIII. wait, upon the lowest steps of the funeral basilique, a successor, whom God will not send him, I hope,

for many years. Then he made me swear upon the ashes of our masters, to serve royalty, represented by you

incarnate in you, sire to serve it in word, in thought, and in action. I swore, and God and the dead were

witnesses to my oath. During ten years, sire, I have not so often as I desired had occasion to keep it. I am a

soldier of your majesty, and nothing else; and, on calling me nearer to you, I do not change my master, I only

"Mordioux!" cried D'Artagnan, "that was well spoken! was it not, your majesty? A good race! a noble race!"

"Yes," murmured the agitated king, without, however, daring to manifest his emotion, for it had no other

cause than contact with a nature intrinsically noble. "Yes, monsieur, you say truly: wherever you were,

you were the king's. But in changing your garrison, believe me you will find an advancement of which you

Raoul saw that this ended what the king had to say to him. And with the perfect tact which characterized his

"Is there anything else, monsieur, of which you have to inform me?" said the king, when he found himself

"Yes, sire, and I kept that news for the last, for it is sad, and will clothe European royalty in mourning."

"Sire, in passing through Blois, a word, a sad word, echoed from the palace, struck my ear."

"And I was not warned of it!" cried the king, whose royal susceptibility saw an insult in the absence of this

"Oh! do not be angry, sire," said D'Artagnan; "neither the couriers of Paris, nor the couriers of the whole

world, can travel with your servant; the courier from Blois will not be here these two hours, and he rides well,

"My uncle Gaston," murmured Louis, pressing his hand to his brow, and comprising in those three words all

"Eh! yes, sire, it is thus," said D'Artagnan, philosophically replying to the royal thought, "it is thus the past

"That is true, monsieur, that is true; but there remains for us, thank God! the future; and we will try to make it

"I feel confidence in your majesty on that head," said D'Artagnan, bowing, "and now "

"You are right, monsieur; I had forgotten the hundred leagues you have just ridden. Go, monsieur, take care

of one of the best of soldiers, and when you have reposed a little, come and place yourself at my disposal."

D'Artagnan bowed and retired. Then, as if he had only come from Fontainebleau, he quickly traversed the

Whilst the waxlights were burning in the castle of Blois, around the inanimate body of Gaston of Orleans,

that last representative of the past; whilst the bourgeois of the city were thinking out his epitaph, which was

far from being a panegyric; whilst madame the dowager, no longer remembering that in her young days she

had loved that senseless corpse to such a degree as to fly the paternal palace for his sake, was making, within

twenty paces of the funeral apartment, her little calculations of interest and her little sacrifices of pride; other

interests and other prides were in agitation in all the parts of the castle into which a living soul could

penetrate. Neither the lugubrious sounds of the bells, nor the voices of the chanters, nor the splendor of the

waxlights through the windows, nor the preparations for the funeral, had power to divert the attention of two

persons, placed at a window of the interior court a window that we are acquainted with, and which

lighted a chamber forming part of what were called the little apartments. For the rest, a joyous beam of the

sun, for the sun appeared to care little for the loss France had just suffered; a sunbeam, we say, descended

upon them, drawing perfumes from the neighboring flowers, and animating the walls themselves. These two

persons, so occupied, not by the death of the duke, but by the conversation which was the consequence of that

death, were a young woman and a young man. The latter personage, a man of from twentyfive to

twentysix years of age, with a mien sometimes lively and sometimes dull, making good use of two large

eyes, shaded with long eyelashes, was short of stature and swart of skin; he smiled with an enormous, but

wellfurnished mouth, and his pointed chin, which appeared to enjoy a mobility nature does not ordinarily

grant to that portion of the countenance, leant from time to time very lovingly towards his interlocutrix, who,

we must say did not always draw back so rapidly as strict propriety had a right to require. The young girl

we know her, for we have already seen her, at that very same window by the light of that same sun the

young girl presented a singular mixture of shyness and reflection; she was charming when she laughed,

beautiful when she became serious; but, let us hasten to say, she was more frequently charming than

beautiful. These two appeared to have attained the culminating point of a discussion halfbantering,

"Now, Monsieur Malicorne," said the young girl, "does it, at length, please you that we should talk

"You believe that that is very easy, Mademoiselle Aure," replied the young man. "To do what we like, when

"Alas, I know it well, and you overwhelm me by your rank; so I will say no more to you."

"Well, no, I don't overwhelm you; say what you have to tell me say it, I insist upon it."

"Ah, peste! there's news! And where do you come from, to be able to tell us that?"

"Ah, no; I am come to tell you that Madame Henrietta of England is coming to marry the king's brother."

"Indeed, Malicorne, you are insupportable with your news of the last century. Now, mind, if you persist in

"You know that I am anxious to have that commission of lady of honor, which I have been foolish enough to

"Who, I?" Malicorne cast down his eyes, joined his hands, and assumed his sullen air. "And what credit can

"In a word, you are not the most cunning young fellow in the province for nothing."

And, with a smile, Malicorne drew from his pocket a letter, upon which mademoiselle seized as a prey, and

"Because you might have been paid for this commission, and you have not." And she burst into a loud laugh,

thinking to put the clerk out of countenance; but Malicorne sustained the attack bravely.

"I do not understand you," said he. It was now Montalais who was disconcerted in her turn. "I have declared

my sentiments to you," continued Malicorne. "You have told me three times, laughing all the while, that you

did not love me; you have embraced me once without laughing, and that is all I want."

"All?" said the proud and coquettish Montalais, in a tone through which wounded pride was visible.

"Ah!" And this monosyllable indicated as much anger as the young man might have expected gratitude.

"Listen, Montalais," said he, without heeding whether that familiarity pleased his mistress or not; "let us not

"Because during the year which I have known you, you might have had me turned out of doors twenty times

"Don't let us be angry; if you have retained me, then it has not been without cause."

"Take it. You find me brutal and foolish; on my part I find you have a harsh voice, and your face is too often

distorted with anger. At this moment you would allow yourself to be thrown out of that window rather than

allow me to kiss the tip of your finger; I would precipitate myself from the top of the balcony rather than

touch the hem of your robe. But, in five minutes, you will love me, and I shall adore you. Oh, it is just so."

"And then, that is not the true reason. You stand in need of me, Aure, and I of you. When it pleases you to be

gay, I make you laugh; when it suits me to be loving, I look at you. I have given you a commission of lady of

"Yes, you will; but, at this moment, my dear Aure, I declare to you that I wish for absolutely nothing, so be at

"You are a frightful man, Malicorne; I was going to rejoice at getting this commission, and thus you quench

The young man leant with his elbow upon the windowframe; Montalais took a book and opened it.

Malicorne stood up, brushed his hat with his sleeve; smoothed down his black doublet, Montalais, though

"Good!" cried she, furious, "he has assumed his respectful air and he will pout for a week."

Montalais lifted up her little doubled fist. "Monster!" said she; "oh! that I were a man!"

"And what do you desire, Monsieur Demon? That I should lose my soul from anger?"

Malicorne was rolling his hat respectfully between his fingers; but, all at once, he let fall his hat, seized the

young girl by the shoulders, pulled her towards him and sealed her mouth with two lips that were very warm,

for a man pretending to so much indifference. Aure would have cried out, but the cry was stifled in the kiss.

Nervous and, apparently, angry, the young girl pushed Malicorne against the wall.

"Good!" said Malicorne, philosophically, "that's enough for six weeks. Adieu, mademoiselle, accept my very

"Well! no, you shall not go!" cried, Montalais, stamping with her little foot. "Stay where you are! I order

"Beware, Montalais, I know you," said Malicorne; "you are going to fall in love with your humble servant."

"Well, yes!" said she, hanging round his neck with childish indolence, rather than with loving abandonment.

"It is frightful," said she, "that one can never guess whether you are speaking seriously or not."

"I cannot speak more seriously. I was going to Paris, you are going there, we are going there."

"Well! in truth, it is just so with me; you are, nevertheless, it must be confessed, a very badhearted young

"Aure, my dear Aure, take care! if you take to calling names again, you know the effect they produce upon

me, and I shall adore you." And so saying, Malicorne drew the young girl a second time towards him. But at

that instant a step resounded on the staircase. The young people were so close, that they would have been

surprised in the arms of each other, if Montalais had not violently pushed Malicorne, with his back against

the door, just then opening. A loud cry, followed by angry reproaches, immediately resounded. It was

Madame de SaintRemy who uttered the cry and the angry words. The unlucky Malicorne almost crushed

"Ah, madame!" replied Malicorne, in a respectful tone; "it is eight long days since I was here."

Behind Madame de SaintRemy stood Mademoiselle de la Valliere. She heard the explosion of maternal

anger, and as she divined the cause of it, she entered the chamber trembling, and perceived the unlucky

Malicorne, whose woeful countenance might have softened or set laughing whoever observed it coolly. He

had promptly intrenched himself behind a large chair, as if to avoid the first attacks of Madame de

SaintRemy; he had no hopes of prevailing with words, for she spoke louder than he, and without stopping;

but he reckoned upon the eloquence of his gestures. The old lady would neither listen to nor see anything;

Malicorne had long been one of her antipathies. But her anger was too great not to overflow from Malicorne

"And you, mademoiselle; you may be certain I shall inform madame of what is going on in the apartment of

"Oh, dear mother!" cried Mademoiselle de la Valliere, "for mercy's sake, spare "

"Hold your tongue, mademoiselle, and do not uselessly trouble yourself to intercede for unworthy people;

that a young maid of honor like you should be subjected to a bad example is, certes, a misfortune great

enough; but that you should sanction it by your indulgence is what I will not allow."

"But in truth," said Montalais, rebelling again, "I do not know under what pretense you treat me thus. I am

"And that great goodfornothing, mademoiselle," resumed Madame de SaintRemy, pointing to Malicorne,

"He is neither here for good nor harm, madame; he comes to see me, that is all."

"It is all very well! all very well!" said the old lady. "Her royal highness shall be informed of it, and she will

"At all events, I do not see why," replied Montalais, "it should be forbidden M. Malicorne to have intentions

"Come, my daughter, come," continued Madame de SaintRemy; "we will go and inform madame that at the

very moment she is weeping for her husband, at the moment when we are all weeping for a master in this old

castle of Blois, the abode of grief, there are people who amuse themselves with flirtations!"

"A maid of honor! a maid of honor!" cried the old lady, lifting her hands towards heaven.

"Well! it is there you are mistaken, madame," said Montalais, highly exasperated; "I am no longer a maid of

"Have you given in your resignation, mademoiselle? That is well! I cannot but applaud such a determination,

"Please to learn, madame, that I am not a girl to serve either bourgeoises or robines, and that instead of the

miserable court at which you vegetate, I am going to reside in a court almost royal."

"Ha, ha! a royal court," said Madame de SaintRemy, forcing a laugh; "a royal court! What think you of that,

And she turned round towards Mademoiselle de la Valliere, whom she would by main force have dragged

away from Montalais, and who, instead of obeying the impulse of Madame de SaintRemy, looked first at

"I did not say a royal court, madame," replied Montalais; "because Madame Henrietta of England, who is

about to become the wife of S. A. R. Monsieur, is not a queen. I said almost royal, and I spoke correctly,

A thunderbolt falling upon the castle of Blois would not have astonished Madame de SaintRemy more than

"What do you say? of Son Altesse Royale Madame Henrietta?" stammered out the old lady.

"I say I am going to belong to her household, as maid of honor, that is what I say."

"As maid of honor!" cried, at the same time, Madame de SaintRemy with despair, and Mademoiselle de la

The old lady's head sank down as if the blow had been too severe for her. But, almost immediately recovering

"Oh! oh!" said she, "I have heard of many of these sorts of promises beforehand, which often lead people to

flatter themselves with wild hopes, and at the last moment, when the time comes to keep the promises, and

have the hopes realized, they are surprised to see the great credit upon which they reckoned vanish like

"Oh! madame, the credit of my protector is incontestable and his promises are as good as deeds."

"Oh! mon Dieu! no! it is that gentleman there," said Montalais, pointing to Malicorne, who, during this scene,

"Monsieur!" cried Madame de SaintRemy, with an explosion of hilarity, "monsieur is your protector! Is the

man whose credit is so powerful, and whose promises are as good as deeds, Monsieur Malicorne?"

As to Montalais, as her sole reply, she drew the brevet from her pocket, and showed it to the old lady.

At once all was over. As soon as she had cast a rapid glance over this fortunate brevet, the good lady clasped

her hands, an unspeakable expression of envy and despair contracted her countenance, and she was obliged to

sit down to avoid fainting. Montalais was not malicious enough to rejoice extravagantly at her victory, or to

overwhelm the conquered enemy, particularly when that enemy was the mother of her friend; she used then,

but did not abuse, her triumph. Malicorne was less generous; he assumed noble poses in his fauteuil, and

stretched himself out with a familiarity which, two hours earlier, would have drawn upon him threats of a

"Maid of honor to the young madame!" repeated Madame de SaintRemy, still but half convinced.

"It is incredible!" repeated the old lady: "is it not incredible, Louise?" But Louise did not reply; she was

sitting, thoughtful, almost sad; passing one hand over her beautiful brow she sighed heavily.

"Well, but, monsieur," said Madame de SaintRemy, all at once, "how did you manage to obtain this post?"

"And have you friends sufficiently powerful at court to give you such proofs of their credit?"

"Peste! madame, you go too far! When one has a friend as powerful as mine, we do not publish his name in

"You are right, monsieur, to be silent as to that name; for I think it would be pretty difficult for you to tell it."

"At all events," said Montalais, "if the friend does not exist, the brevet does, and that cuts short the question."

"Then, I conceive," said Madame de SaintRemy, with the gracious smile of the cat who is going to scratch,

"Very wrong, madame; but I am so accustomed to your reproaches, that I pardon you these."

"In that case, let us begone, Louise; we have nothing to do but to retire. Well!"

"Dame!" resumed Madame de SaintRemy; "if she did bear you a little illwill, poor girl, she could not be

"Prettier a hundred times, madame not of a better family; but that does not tell me why Louise should bear

"Do you think it will be very amusing for her to be buried alive at Blois, when you are going to shine at

"But, madame, it is not I who prevent Louise following me thither; on the contrary, I should certainly be most

"Ah! so much the worse, madame," said Malicorne, "every one for himself in this poor world."

"Occupy Madame de SaintRemy, either in disputing with her, or making it up with her; I must speak to

Louise." And, at the same time, a soft pressure of the hand recompensed Malicorne for his future obedience.

Malicorne went grumbling towards Madame de SaintRemy, whilst Montalais said to her friend, throwing

"What is the matter? Tell me. Is it true that you would not love me if I were to shine, as your mother says?"

"Oh, no!" said the young girl, with difficulty restraining her tears; "on the contrary, I rejoice at your good

"Oh! yes, I understand; I am going to Paris, and that word Paris recalls to your mind a certain cavalier "

"A certain cavalier who formerly lived near Blois, and who now resides at Paris."

Louise raised her sweet face, which the tears, rolling down one after the other, illumined like diamonds.

"What makes you weep; people don't weep without cause. I am your friend; whatever you would wish me to

do, I will do. Malicorne is more powerful than you would think. Do you wish to go to Paris?"

"To remain here alone, in this old castle, I who have enjoyed the delightful habit of listening to your songs, of

pressing your hand, of running about the park with you. Oh! how I shall be ennuyee! how quickly I shall

"Little obstinate thing!" said Montalais; "did ever any one keep her secrets from her friend thus? But confess

that you would like to come to Paris, confess that you are dying with the wish to see Raoul again?"

Malicorne had heard his name pronounced twice; he was delighted at having an opportunity of coming to a

"Come hither, Malicorne," said Montalais, with an imperious gesture. Malicorne obeyed.

"It is impossible, is it not, M. Malicorne?" said Louise, with her sweet, soft voice.

"No evasive answers. Louise de la Valliere shall be maid of honor to Madame Henrietta within a week."

"You may take back your brevet, Monsieur Malicorne; I will not leave my friend."

"That is right. Keep your brevet, Mademoiselle de la Valliere shall be a maid of honor."

"Oh! Monsieur Malicorne, what joy!" cried Louise, clapping her hands, and bounding with pleasure.

"Little dissembler!" said Montalais, "try again to make me believe you are not in love with Raoul."

Louise blushed like a rose in June, but instead of replying, she ran and embraced her mother. "Madame," said

she, "do you know that M. Malicorne is going to have me appointed maid of honor?"

"M. Malicorne is a prince in disguise," replied the old lady, "he is allpowerful, seemingly."

"Should you also like to be maid of honor?" asked Malicorne of Madame de SaintRemy. "Whilst I am about

"Humph!" murmured Malicorne as he descended the stairs, "Humph! there goes another note of a

thousand livres! but I must get through as well as I can; my friend Manicamp does nothing for nothing."

The introduction of these two new personages into this history and that mysterious affinity of names and

sentiments, merit some attention on the part of both historian and reader. We will then enter into some details

concerning Messieurs Malicorne and Manicamp. Malicorne we know, had made the journey to Orleans in

search of the brevet destined for Mademoiselle de Montalais, the arrival of which had produced such a strong

feeling at the castle of Blois. At that moment, M. de Manicamp was at Orleans. A singular person was this M.

de Manicamp; a very intelligent young fellow, always poor, always needy, although he dipped his hand freely

into the purse of M. le Comte de Guiche, one of the best furnished purses of the period. M. le Comte de

Guiche had had, as the companion of his boyhood, this De Manicamp, a poor gentleman, vassalborn, of the

house of Grammont. M. de Manicamp, with his tact and talent, had created himself a revenue in the opulent

family of the celebrated marechal. From his infancy he had, with calculation beyond his age, lent his name

and complaisance to the follies of the Comte de Guiche. If his noble companion had stolen some fruit

destined for Madame la Marechale, if he had broken a mirror, or put out a dog's eye, Manicamp declared

himself guilty of the crime committed, and received the punishment, which was not made the milder for

falling on the innocent. But this was the way this system of abnegation was paid for: instead of wearing such

mean habiliments as his paternal fortunes entitled him to, he was able to appear brilliant, superb, like a young

noble of fifty thousand livres a year. It was not that he was mean in character or humble in spirit; no, he was a

philosopher, or rather he had the indifference, the apathy, the obstinacy which banish from man every

sentiment of the supernatural. His sole ambition was to spend money. But, in this respect, the worthy M. de

Manicamp was a gulf. Three or four times every year he drained the Comte de Guiche, and when the Comte

de Guiche was thoroughly drained, when he had turned out his pockets and his purse before him, when he

declared that it would be at least a fortnight before paternal munificence would refill those pockets and that

purse, Manicamp lost all his energy, he went to bed, remained there, ate nothing and sold his handsome

clothes, under the pretense that, remaining in bed, he did not want them. During this prostration of mind and

strength, the purse of the Comte de Guiche was getting full again, and when once filled, overflowed into that

of De Manicamp, who bought new clothes, dressed himself again, and recommenced the same life he had

followed before. The mania of selling his new clothes for a quarter of what they were worth had rendered our

hero sufficiently celebrated in Orleans, a city where, in general, we should be puzzled to say why he came to

pass his days of penitence. Provincial debauches, petitsmaitres of six hundred livres a year, shared the

Among the admirers of these splendid toilettes, our friend Malicorne was conspicuous; he was the son of a

syndic of the city, of whom M. de Conde, always needy as a De Conde, often borrowed money at enormous

interest. M. Malicorne kept the paternal moneychest; that is to say, that in those times of easy morals, he

had made for himself, by following the example of his father, and lending at high interest for short terms, a

revenue of eighteen hundred livres, without reckoning six hundred livres furnished by the generosity of the

syndic, so that Malicorne was the king of the gay youth of Orleans, having two thousand four hundred livres

to scatter, squander, and waste on follies of every kind. But, quite contrary to Manicamp, Malicorne was

terribly ambitious. He loved from ambition; he spent money out of ambition; and he would have ruined

himself for ambition. Malicorne had determined to rise, at whatever price it might cost, and for this, at

whatever price it did cost, he had given himself a mistress and a friend. The mistress, Mademoiselle de

Montalais, was cruel as regarded love; but she was of a noble family, and that was sufficient for Malicorne.

The friend had little or no friendship, but he was the favorite of the Comte de Guiche, himself the friend of

Monsieur, the king's brother, and that was sufficient for Malicorne. Only, in the chapter of charges,

Mademoiselle de Montalais cost per annum: ribbons, gloves, and sweets, a thousand livres. De Manicamp

cost money lent, never returned from twelve to fifteen hundred livres per annum. So that there was

nothing left for Malicorne. Ah! yes, we are mistaken; there was left the paternal strong box. He employed a

mode of proceeding, upon which he preserved the most profound secrecy, and which consisted in advancing

to himself from the coffers of the syndic, half a dozen year's profits, that is to say, fifteen thousand livres,

swearing to himself observe, quite to himself to repay this deficiency as soon as an opportunity should

The opportunity was expected to be the concession of a good post in the household of Monsieur, when that

household would be established at the period of his marriage. This juncture had arrived, and the household

was about to be established. A good post in the family of a prince of the blood, when it is given by the credit,

and on the recommendation of a friend, like the Comte de Guiche, is worth at least twelve thousand livres per

annum; and by the means which M. Malicorne had taken to make his revenues fructify, twelve thousand

livres might rise to twenty thousand. Then, when once an incumbent of this post, he would marry

Mademoiselle de Montalais. Mademoiselle de Montalais, of a half noble family, not only would be dowered,

but would ennoble Malicorne. But, in order that Mademoiselle de Montalais, who had not a large patrimonial

fortune, although an only daughter, should be suitably dowered, it was necessary that she should belong to

some great princess, as prodigal as the dowager Madame was covetous. And in order that the wife should not

be of one party whilst the husband belonged to the other, a situation which presents serious inconveniences,

particularly with characters like those of the future consorts Malicorne had imagined the idea of making

the central point of union the household of Monsieur, the king's brother. Mademoiselle de Montalais would

It is plain the plan was formed by a clear head; it is plain, also, that it had been bravely executed. Malicorne

had asked Manicamp to ask a brevet of maid of honor of the Comte de Guiche; and the Comte de Guiche had

asked this brevet of Monsieur, who had signed it without hesitation. The constructive plan of Malicorne

for we may well suppose that the combinations of a mind as active as his were not confined to the present,

but extended to the future the constructive plan of Malicorne, we say, was this: To obtain entrance into

the household of Madame Henrietta for a woman devoted to himself, who was intelligent, young, handsome,

and intriguing; to learn, by means of this woman, all the feminine secrets of the young household, whilst he,

Malicorne, and his friend Manicamp, should, between them, know all the male secrets of the young

community. It was by these means that a rapid and splendid fortune might be acquired at one and the same

time. Malicorne was a vile name; he who bore it had too much wit to conceal this truth from himself; but an

estate might be purchased; and Malicorne of some place, or even De Malicorne itself, for short, would ring

It was not improbable that a most aristocratic origin might be hunted up by the heralds for this name of

Malicorne; might it not come from some estate where a bull with mortal horns had caused some great

misfortune, and baptized the soil with the blood it had spilt? Certes, this plan presented itself bristling with

difficulties: but the greatest of all was Mademoiselle de Montalais herself. Capricious, variable, close, giddy,

free, prudish, a virgin armed with claws, Erigone stained with grapes, she sometimes overturned, with a

single dash of her white fingers, or with a single puff from her laughing lips, the edifice which had exhausted

Love apart, Malicorne was happy; but this love, which he could not help feeling, he had the strength to

conceal with care; persuaded that at the lest relaxing of the ties by which he had bound his Protean female,

the demon would overthrow him and laugh at him. He humbled his mistress by disdaining her. Burning with

desire, when she advanced to tempt him, he had the art to appear ice, persuaded that if he opened his arms,

she would run away laughing at him. On her side, Montalais believed she did not love Malicorne; whilst, on

the contrary, in reality she did. Malicorne repeated to her so often his protestation of indifference, that she

finished sometimes, by believing him; and then she believed she detested Malicorne. If she tried to bring him

back by coquetry, Malicorne played the coquette better than she could. But what made Montalais hold to

Malicorne in an indissoluble fashion, was that Malicorne always came cram full of fresh news from the court

and the city; Malicorne always brought to Blois a fashion, a secret, or a perfume; that Malicorne never asked

for a meeting, but, on the contrary, required to be supplicated to receive the favors he burned to obtain. On

her side Montalais was no miser with stories. By her means Malicorne learnt all that passed at Blois, in the

family of the dowager Madame; and he related to Manicamp tales that made him ready to die with laughing,

which the latter, out of idleness, took readymade to M. de Guiche, who carried them to Monsieur.

Such, in two words, was the woof of petty interests and petty conspiracies which united Blois with Orleans

and Orleans with Paris; and which was about to bring into the last named city, where she was to produce so

great a revolution, the poor little La Valliere, who was far from suspecting, as she returned joyfully, leaning

on the arm of her mother, for what a strange future she was reserved. As to the good man, Malicorne we

speak of the syndic of Orleans he did not see more clearly into the present than others did into the future;

and had no suspicion as he walked, every day, between three and five o'clock, after his dinner, upon the Place

SainteCatherine, in his gray coat, cut after the fashion of Louis XIII. and his cloth shoes with great knots of

ribbon, that it was he who was paying for all those bursts of laughter, all those stolen kisses, all those

whisperings, all those little keepsakes, and all those bubble projects which formed a chain of fortyfive

Malicorne, then, left Blois, as we have said, and went to find his friend Manicamp, then in temporary retreat

in the city of Orleans. It was just at the moment when that young nobleman was employed in selling the last

decent clothing he had left. He had, a fortnight before extorted from the Comte de Guiche a hundred pistoles,

all he had, to assist in equipping him properly to go and meet Madame, on her arrival at Havre. He had drawn

from Malicorne, three days before, fifty pistoles, the price of the brevet obtained for Montalais. He had then

no expectation of anything else, having exhausted all his resources, with the exception of selling a handsome

suit of cloth and satin, embroidered and laced with gold, which had been the admiration of the court. But to

be able to sell this suit, the last he had left as we have been forced to confess to the reader Manicamp

had been obliged to take to his bed. No more fire, no more pocketmoney, no more walkingmoney, nothing

but sleep to take the place of repasts, companies and balls. It has been said "he who sleeps, dines;" but it

has never been affirmed he who sleeps, plays or he who sleeps, dances. Manicamp, reduced to this

extremity of neither playing nor dancing, for a week at least, was, consequently, very sad; he was expecting a

"Eh! what!" said he, in a tone which nothing can describe, "is that you again, dear friend?"

And he held out his hand, not for the hand of Malicorne, but for the purse. Malicorne pretended to be

"I get out!" said Manicamp, stretching himself in his bed, complacently, "oh, no, thank you!"

"Very well! since you have some chausses and a pourpoint left, put your legs into the first and your back into

"No, I thought he was at Paris. You will then only have fifteen leagues to go, instead of thirty."

"You are a wonderfully clever fellow! If I were to ride fifteen leagues in these clothes, they would never be

fit to put on again; and, instead of selling them for thirty pistoles, I should be obliged to take fifteen."

"Sell them for what you like, but I must have a second commission of maid of honor."

"Vile fellow! It is you who are doubled. You swallow up two fortunes mine, and that of M. le Comte

"My friend, there will only be twelve maids of honor for madame, I have already obtained for you what

twelve hundred women are trying for, and for that I was forced to employ all my diplomacy."

"No; to make you superintendent of my finances; but that is not the question now."

"My friend, if you were to promise me the price of heaven, I would decline to disturb myself at this moment."

"Well!" said Malicorne, a little angrily, "suppose I were to add them to the five hundred you already owe

"You are right," replied Manicamp, stretching out his hand again, "and from that point of view I can accept

"An instant, what the devil! it is not only holding out your hand that will do; if I give you the twenty pistoles,

"Oh! take care! Monsieur de Manicamp; you undertake much, and I do not ask that. Thirty leagues in a day is

"Well! fourteen be it; fourteen leagues makes seven posts; at twenty sous the post, seven livres; seven livres

the courier, fourteen; as many for coming back, twentyeight! as much for bed and supper, that makes sixty

Manicamp stretched himself like a serpent in his bed, and fixing his two great eyes upon Malicorne, "You are

right," said he; "I could not return before tomorrow;" and he took the twenty pistoles.

"Well; for these twentyeight leagues you cannot allow less than fourteen hours?"

"What were you saying?" said Malicorne, putting his watch quickly back into his fob.

"Ah! true; I was offering to lay you twenty pistoles against these you have lent me, that you will have the

"Well, be it so; I lay," said Malicorne, curious to know how this seller of clothes would get through.

Manicamp raised himself with a sigh, and leaning on his left elbow, in his best hand, traced the following

"Good for an order for a place of maid of honor to Madame, which M. le Comte de Guiche will take upon

"That means that if you are in a hurry to have the letter from the Comte de Guiche for Monsieur, I have won

"In six hours you will be at Etampes; in seven hours you have the letter from the comte, and I shall have won

my wager without stirring from my bed, which suits me and you too, at the same time, I am very sure."

"Diable! the exception is annoying; but then, if instead of asking him for money, you were to ask "

Malicorne took up the pen, ink, and paper again, and presented them all to Manicamp. "Write!" said he.

"Oh!" said Manicamp, laying down the pen, "a place in the household of Monsieur for fifty pistoles?"

Manicamp devoured the rouleau with his eyes; but this time Malicorne held it at a distance.

"I say it is for nothing, my friend," said Manicamp, taking up the pen again, "and you exhaust my credit.

"By laying that you would have the letter from the Comte de Guiche in eight hours."

Manicamp began to scoop up his gold by handfuls, and pour it in cascades upon his bed.

"This second place," murmured Malicorne, whilst drying his paper, "which, at the first glance appears to cost

me more than the first, but " He stopped, took up the pen in his turn, and wrote to Montalais:

"Mademoiselle, Announce to your friend that her commission will not be long before it arrives; I am

setting out to get it signed: that will be twentyeight leagues I shall have gone for the love of you."

Then with his sardonic smile, taking up the interrupted sentence: "This place," said he, "at the first glance,

appears to cost more than the first; but the benefit will be, I hope, in proportion with the expense, and

Mademoiselle de la Valliere will bring me back more than Mademoiselle de Montalais, or else, or else my

On Malicorne's arrival at Orleans, he was informed that the Comte de Guiche had just set out for Paris.

Malicorne rested himself for a couple of hours, and then prepared to continue his journey. He reached Paris

during the night, and alighted at a small hotel, where, in his previous journeys to the capital, he had been

accustomed to put up, and at eight o'clock the next morning presented himself at the Hotel Grammont.

Malicorne arrived just in time, for the Comte de Guiche was on the point of taking leave of Monsieur before

setting out for Havre, where the principal members of the French nobility had gone to await Madame's arrival

from England. Malicorne pronounced the name of Manicamp and was immediately admitted. He found the

Comte de Guiche in the courtyard of the Hotel Grammont, inspecting his horses, which his trainers and

equerries were passing in review before him. The count, in the presence of his tradespeople and of his

servants, was engaged in praising or blaming, as the case seemed to deserve, the appointments, horses, and

harness that were being submitted to him; when, in the midst of this important occupation, the name of

"Manicamp!" he exclaimed, "let him enter by all means." And he advanced a few steps toward the door.

Malicorne slipped through the halfopen door, and looking at the Comte de Guiche, who was surprised to see

a face he did not recognize, instead of the one he expected, said: "Forgive me, monsieur le comte, but I

believe a mistake has been made. M. Manicamp himself was announced to you, instead of which it is only an

"A letter, monsieur le comte." Malicorne handed him the first document, and narrowly watched the count's

"What!" he exclaimed, "another maid of honor? Are all the maids of honor in France, then, under his

"The deuce! he has no money then, I suppose," said De Guiche, shrugging his shoulders. "What does he do

Malicorne made a movement, to indicate that upon this subject he was as ignorant as the count himself. "Why

"I trust, monsieur le comte, that he will not neglect so excellent an opportunity."

Malicorne was wearing some of Manicamp's oldnew clothes. He bowed in return, saying, "You do me a

Malicorne was a man of great readiness, and immediately understood the position of affairs. Besides, the "de"

which had been prefixed to his name, raised him to the rank of the person with whom he was conversing. He

looked at the holsters with the air of a connoisseur and said, without hesitation: "Somewhat heavy,

"You see," said De Guiche to the saddler, "this gentleman, who understands these matters well, thinks the

holsters heavy, a complaint I had already made." The saddler was full of excuses.

"What do you think," asked De Guiche, "of this horse, which I have just purchased?"

"To look at it, it seems perfect, monsieur le comte; but I must mount it before I give you my opinion."

The courtyard of the hotel was so arranged, that whenever there was any occasion for it, it could be used as a

ridingschool. Malicorne, with perfect ease, arranged the bridle and snafflereins, placed his left hand on the

horse's mane, and, with his foot in the stirrup, raised himself and seated himself in the saddle. At first, he

made the horse walk the whole circuit of the courtyard at a footpace; next at a trot; lastly at a gallop. He

then drew up close to the count, dismounted, and threw the bridle to a groom standing by. "Well," said the

"This horse, monsieur le comte, is of the Mecklenburg breed. In looking whether the bit suited his mouth, I

saw that he was rising seven, the very age when the training of a horse intended for a charger should

commence. The forehand is light. A horse which holds its head high, it is said, never tires his rider's hand.

The withers are rather low. The drooping of the hindquarters would almost make me doubt the purity of its

German breed, and I think there is English blood in him. He stands well on his legs, but he trots high, and

may cut himself, which requires attention to be paid to his shoeing. He is tractable; and as I made him turn

"Well said, M. de Malicorne," exclaimed the comte; "you are a judge of horses, I perceive;" then, turning

towards him again, he continued, "You are most becomingly dressed, M. de Malicorne. That is not a

provincial cut, I presume. Such a style of dress is not to be met with at Tours or Orleans."

"There is no doubt about that. But let us resume our own affair. Manicamp wishes for the appointment of a

"That is quite another thing, then; a thousand compliments," exclaimed De Guiche, upon whose lips a

courtier's jest was already fitting, but to whom the word "affianced," addressed by Malicorne with respect to

"And for whom is the second appointment destined?" asked De Guiche, "is it for anyone to whom Manicamp

may happen to be affianced? In that case I pity her, poor girl! for she will have a sad fellow for a husband."

"No, monsieur le comte, the second appointment is for Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere."

"Very good. I will speak to Monsieur about it. By the by, she is of gentle birth?"

"No, monsieur; I posted from Orleans, and I changed my traveling suit for the one I have on, in order to

"True, you already told me you had come from Orleans;" saying which he crumpled Manicamp's letter in his

"I beg your pardon," said Malicorne, timidly; "but I do not think you have read all."

"I suspected it," he continued "another application for an appointment under Monsieur. This Manicamp is

"Forgive me; it is the Latin that bothers me that terrible mine of etymologies. Why the deuce are young

men of family taught Latin? Mala and mauvaise you understand it is the same thing. You will forgive me,

"Your kindness affects me much, monsieur: but it is a reason why I should make you acquainted with one

"That I was not born a gentleman. I am not without courage, and not altogether deficient in ability; but my

"You appear to me, monsieur!" exclaimed the count, looking at the astute face of his companion, "to be a

most agreeable man. Your face pleases me, M. Malicorne, and you must possess some indisputably excellent

qualities to have pleased that egotistical Manicamp. Be candid, and tell me whether you are not some saint

"For the simple reason that he makes you a present of anything. Did you not say that he intended to make you

"I beg your pardon, count; but, if I succeed in obtaining the appointment, you, and not he, will have bestowed

"Besides, he will not have given it to you for nothing, I suppose. Stay, I have it; there is a Malicorne at

"Ah! the prince has the father, and that terrible dragon of a Manicamp has the son. Take care, monsieur, I

"The only difference is, that I lend without interest," said Malicorne, smiling.

"I was correct in saying you were either a saint or very much resembled one. M. Malicorne, you shall have

"Ah! monsieur le comte, what a debt of gratitude shall I not owe you?" said Malicorne, transported.

"Let us go to the prince, my dear M. Malicorne." And De Guiche proceeded toward the door, desiring

Malicorne to follow him. At the very moment they were about to cross the threshold, a young man appeared

on the other side. He was from twentyfour to twentyfive years of age, of pale complexion, bright eyes and

"Goodday," he said, suddenly, almost pushing De Guiche back into the courtyard again.

"The most befitting costume for a man about to set off for Havre. There will be no one left in Paris

tomorrow." And hereupon he saluted Malicorne with great ceremony, whose handsome dress gave him the

"M. de Wardes," said Guiche to Malicorne, who bowed in return. "By the by, De Wardes," continued De

Guiche, "you who are so well acquainted with these matters, can you tell us, probably, what appointments are

"In the prince's household," said De Wardes, looking up with an air of consideration, "let me see the

"Oh," said Malicorne, "there is no question of such a post as that, monsieur; my ambition is not nearly so

De Wardes had a more penetrating observation than De Guiche, and fathomed Malicorne immediately. "The

fact is," he said, looking at him from head to foot, "a man must be either a duke or a peer to fill that post."

"All I solicit," said Malicorne, "is a very humble appointment; I am of little importance, and I do not rank

"M. Malicorne, whom you see here," said De Guiche to De Wardes, "is a very excellent fellow, whose only

misfortune is that of not being of gentle birth. As far as I am concerned, you know, I attach little value to

"Assuredly," said De Wardes; "but will you allow me to remark, my dear count, that, without rank of some

"You are right," said the count, "court etiquette is absolute. The devil! we never so much as gave it a

"Alas! a sad misfortune for me, monsieur le comte," said Malicorne, changing color.

"The remedy is found easily enough," exclaimed De Wardes; "you can be created a gentleman. His

"Hush, hush, De Wardes," said the count; "no jests of that kind; it ill becomes us to turn such matters into

ridicule. Letters of nobility, it is true, are purchasable; but that is a sufficient misfortune without the nobles

At this moment the Vicomte de Bragelonne was announced by one of the servants in the courtyard, in

"Come here, my dear Raoul. What! you, too, booted and spurred? You are setting off, then?"

Bragelonne approached the group of young men, and saluted them with that quiet and serious manner

peculiar to him. His salutation was principally addressed to De Wardes, with whom he was unacquainted, and

whose features, on his perceiving Raoul, had assumed a strange sternness of expression. "I have come, De

"This is admirable delightful. We shall have a most enjoyable journey. M. Malicorne, M. Bragelonne

ah! M. de Wardes, let me present you." The young men saluted each other in a restrained manner. Their very

natures seemed, from the beginning, disposed to take exception to each other. De Wardes was pliant, subtle,

full of dissimulation; Raoul was calm, grave, and upright. "Decide between us between De Wardes and

"De Wardes asserts that the distribution of titles is abused; I, on the contrary, maintain that a title is useless to

"But, monsieur le vicomte," interrupted De Wardes, with a kind of obstinacy, "I affirm that it is I who am

"I was saying that everything is done in France at the present moment to humiliate men of family."

"By the king himself. He surrounds himself with people who cannot show four quarterings."

"Nonsense," said De Guiche, "where could you possibly have seen that, De Wardes?"

"Do you know who has just been nominated captaingeneral of the musketeers? an appointment more

valuable than a peerage; for it gives precedence over all the marechals of France."

Raoul's color mounted in his face; for he saw the object De Wardes had in view. "No; who has been

appointed? In any case it must have been very recently, for the appointment was vacant eight days ago; a

proof of which is, that the king refused Monsieur, who solicited the post for one of his proteges."

"Well, the king refused it to Monsieur's protege, in order to bestow it upon the Chevalier d'Artagnan, a

younger brother of some Gascon family, who has been trailing his sword in the antechambers during the last

"Forgive me if I interrupt you," said Raoul, darting a glance full of severity at De Wardes; "but you give me

the impression of being unacquainted with the gentleman of whom you are speaking."

"I not acquainted with M. d'Artagnan? Can you tell me, monsieur, who does not know him?"

"Those who do know him, monsieur," replied Raoul with still greater calmness and sternness of manner, "are

in the habit of saying, that if he is not as good a gentleman as the king which is not his fault he is the

equal of all the kings of the earth in courage and loyalty. Such is my opinion, monsieur, and I thank heaven I

The discussion was becoming full of bitterness. De Guiche perfectly understood the whole matter for there

was in Bragelonne's face a look instinctively hostile, while in that of De Wardes there was something like a

determination to offend. Without inquiring into the different feelings which actuated his two friends, De

Guiche resolved to ward off the blow which he felt was on the point of being dealt by one of them, and

perhaps by both. "Gentlemen," he said, "we must take our leave of each other, I must pay a visit to Monsieur.

You, De Wardes, will accompany me to the Louvre, and you Raoul, will remain here master of the house;

and as all that is done here is under your advice, you will bestow the last glance upon my preparations for

Raoul, with the air of one who neither seeks nor fears a quarrel, bowed his head in token of assent, and seated

himself upon a bench in the sun. "That is well," said De Guiche, "remain where you are, Raoul, and tell them

to show you the two horses I have just purchased; you will give me your opinion, for I only bought them on

condition that you ratified the purchase. By the by, I have to beg your pardon for having omitted to inquire

after the Comte de la Fere." While pronouncing these latter words, he closely observed De Wardes, in order

to perceive what effect the name of Raoul's father would produce upon him. "I thank you," answered the

young man, "the count is very well." A gleam of deep hatred passed into De Wardes' eyes. De Guiche, who

appeared not to notice the foreboding expression, went up to Raoul, and grasping him by the hand, said,

"It is agreed, then, Bragelonne, is it not, that you will rejoin us in the courtyard of the PalaisRoyal?" He then

signed to De Wardes to follow him who had been engaged in balancing himself first on one foot, then on the

other. "We are going," said he, "come, M. Malicorne." This name made Raoul start; for it seemed that he had

already heard it pronounced before, but he could not remember on what occasion. While trying to recall it

halfdreamily, yet halfirritated at his conversation with De Wardes, the three young men set out on their

way towards the PalaisRoyal, where Monsieur was residing. Malicorne learned two things; the first, that the

young men had something to say to each other, and the second, that he ought not to walk in the same line

with them; and therefore he walked behind. "Are you mad?" said De Guiche to his companion, as soon as

they had left the Hotel de Grammont; "you attack M. d'Artagnan, and that, too, before Raoul."

"But you know very well that M. d'Artagnan was one of those celebrated and terrible four men who were

"That they may be, but I do not perceive why, on that account, I should be forbidden to hate M. d'Artagnan."

"Really, my dear De Wardes, you surprise me. M. d'Artagnan is not one to leave unsettled any enmity he may

have to arrange, without completely clearing his account. Your father, I have heard, on his side, carried

matters with a high hand. Moreover there are no enmities so bitter that they cannot be washed away by blood,

"Listen to me, my dear De Guiche, this inveterate dislike existed between my father and M. d'Artagnan, and

when I was quite a child, he acquainted me with the reason for it, and, as forming part of my inheritance, I

"As for that, M. d'Artagnan was so intimately associated with his three friends, that some portion of the full

measure of my hatred falls to their lot, and that hatred is of such a nature, whenever the opportunity occurs,

De Guiche had kept his eyes fixed on De Wardes, and shuddered at the bitter manner in which the young man

smiled. Something like a presentiment flashed across his mind; he knew that the time had passed away for

grands coups entre gentilshommes; but that the feeling of hatred treasured up in the mind, instead of being

diffused abroad, was still hatred all the same; that a smile was sometimes as full of meaning as a threat; and,

in a word, that to the fathers who had hated with their hearts and fought with their arms, would now succeed

the sons, who would indeed hate with their hearts, but would no longer combat their enemies, save by means

of intrigue or treachery. As, therefore, it certainly was not Raoul whom he could suspect either of intrigue or

treachery, it was on Raoul's account that De Guiche trembled. However, while these gloomy forebodings cast

a shade of anxiety over De Guiche's countenance, De Wardes had resumed the entire mastery over himself.

"At all events," he observed, "I have no personal illwill towards M. de Bragelonne; I do not know him

"In any case," said De Guiche, with a certain amount of severity in his tone of voice, "do not forget one

circumstance, that Raoul is my most intimate friend;" a remark at which De Wardes bowed.

The conversation terminated there, although De Guiche tried his utmost to draw out his secret from him; but,

doubtless, De Wardes had determined to say nothing further, and he remained impenetrable. De Guiche

therefore promised himself a more satisfactory result with Raoul. In the meantime they had reached the

PalaisRoyal, which was surrounded by a crowd of lookerson. The household belonging to Monsieur

awaited his command to mount their horses, in order to form part of the escort of the ambassadors, to whom

had been intrusted the care of bringing the young princess to Paris. The brilliant display of horses, arms, and

rich liveries, afforded some compensation in those times, thanks to the kindly feelings of the people, and to

the traditions of deep devotion to their sovereigns, for the enormous expenses charged upon the taxes.

Mazarin had said: "Let them sing, provided they pay;" while Louis XIV.'s remark was, "Let them look." Sight

had replaced the voice; the people could still look, but they were no longer allowed to sing. De Guiche left

De Wardes and Malicorne at the bottom of the grand staircase, while he himself, who shared the favor and

good graces of Monsieur with the Chevalier de Lorraine, who always smiled at him most affectionately,

though he could not endure him, went straight to the prince's apartments, whom he found engaged in

admiring himself in the glass, and rouging his face. In a corner of the cabinet, the Chevalier de Lorraine was

extended full length upon some cushions, having just had his long hair curled, with which he was playing in

the same manner a woman would have done. The prince turned round as the count entered, and perceiving

"Why, he pretends," continued the prince, "that Mademoiselle Henrietta is better looking as a woman than I

"Do not forget, my lord," said De Guiche, frowning slightly, "you require me to speak the truth?"

"Do not be in a hurry, Guiche," exclaimed the prince, "you have plenty of time; look at me attentively, and

try to recollect Madame. Besides, her portrait is here. Look at it." And he held out to him a miniature of the

finest possible execution. De Guiche took it, and looked at it for a long time attentively.

"But look at me, count, look at me," said the prince endeavoring to direct upon himself the attention of the

"It is true, my lord, I have seen her, but it was five years ago; there is a great difference between a child

"Of that," said the prince triumphantly, "there can be no doubt, but let us suppose that it is not, what would

The Chevalier de Lorraine burst out laughing. The prince understood how severe towards himself this

opinion of the Comte de Guiche was, and he looked somewhat displeased, saying, "My friends are not over

indulgent." De Guiche looked at the portrait again, and, after lengthened contemplation, returned it with

apparent unwillingness, saying, "Most decidedly, my lord, I should rather prefer to look ten times at your

highness, than to look at Madame once again." It seemed as if the chevalier had detected some mystery in

these words, which were incomprehensible to the prince, for he exclaimed: "Very well, get married yourself."

Monsieur continued painting himself, and when he had finished, looked at the portrait again once more,

turned to admire himself in the glass, and smiled, and no doubt was satisfied with the comparison. "You are

very kind to have come," he said to Guiche, "I feared you would leave without bidding me adieu."

"Your highness knows me too well to believe me capable of so great a disrespect."

The Chevalier de Lorraine immediately displayed the greatest attention, for he regarded every favor conferred

upon another as a robbery committed against himself. And, as Guiche hesitated, the prince said: "If it be

money, nothing could be more fortunate, for I am in funds; the superintendent of the finances has sent me

"Oh! oh! Guiche, what a protector you have become of young ladies," said the prince, "you never speak of

The Chevalier de Lorraine smiled, for he knew very well that nothing displeased the prince more than to

show any interest in ladies. "My lord," said the comte, "it is not I who am directly interested in the lady of

"Ah! that is different; what is the name of the young lady in whom your friend is interested?"

"Mlle. de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere; she is already maid of honor to the dowager princess."

"Why, she is lame," said the Chevalier de Lorraine, stretching himself on his cushions.

"Lame," repeated the prince, "and Madame to have her constantly before her eyes? Most certainly not; it may

"Chevalier," said Guiche, "your conduct is ungenerous; while I am soliciting a favor, you do me all the

"Forgive me, comte," said the Chevalier de Lorraine, somewhat uneasy at the tone in which Guiche had made

his remark, "but I had no intention of doing so, and I begin to believe that I have mistaken one young lady for

"There is no doubt of it, monsieur; and I do not hesitate to declare that such is the case."

"Well, you shall have it, but ask me for no more appointments, for there are none to give away."

"Ah!" exclaimed the chevalier, "midday already, that is the hour fixed for the departure."

"For heaven's sake, count, for heaven's sake, chevalier," said Monsieur, "do you not see how you are

"Take a blank appointment from that drawer, and give it to me." Guiche handed the prince the document

indicated, and at the same time presented him with a pen already dipped in ink; whereupon the prince signed.

"Here," he said, returning him the appointment, "but I give it on one condition."

"Willingly," said Guiche. And he held out his hand to the chevalier with an indifference amounting to

"Adieu, count," said the chevalier, without seeming in any way to have noticed the count's slight; "adieu, and

"A bad heart, bad!" murmured De Guiche; "he scents mischief everywhere, and sooner than anything else."

And taking leave of the prince, he quitted the apartment. As soon as he reached the vestibule, he waved in the

air the paper which the prince had signed. Malicorne hurried forward, and received it, trembling with delight.

When, however, he held it in his hand Guiche observed that he still awaited something further.

"Patience, monsieur," he said; "the Chevalier de Lorraine was there, and I feared an utter failure if I asked too

"Send Manicamp to me. By the way, monsieur, is it true that Mlle. de la Valliere is lame?" As he said this a

horse drew up behind him, and on turning round he noticed that Bragelonne, who had just at that moment

entered the courtyard, turned suddenly pale. The poor lover had heard the remark, which, however, was not

the case with Malicorne, for he was already beyond the reach of the count's voice.

"Why is Louise's name spoken of here?" said Raoul to himself; "oh! let not De Wardes, who stands smiling

At this moment the prince, who had completed his toilette, appeared at the window, and was immediately

saluted by the acclamations of all who composed the escort, and ten minutes afterwards, banners, scarfs, and

This brilliant and animated company, the members of which were inspired by various feelings, arrived at

Havre four days after their departure from Paris. It was about five o'clock in the afternoon, and no

intelligence had yet been received of Madame. They were soon engaged in quest of apartments; but the

greatest confusion immediately ensued among the masters, and violent quarrels among their attendants. In the

midst of this disorder, the Comte de Guiche fancied he recognized Manicamp. It was, indeed, Manicamp

himself; but as Malicorne had taken possession of his very best costume, he had not been able to get any

other than a suit of violet velvet trimmed with silver. Guiche recognized him as much by his dress as by his

features, for he had very frequently seen Manicamp in his violet suit, which was his last resource. Manicamp

presented himself to the count under an arch of torches, which set in a blaze, rather than illuminated, the gate

by which Havre is entered, and which is situated close to the tower of Francis I. The count, remarking the

woebegone expression of Manicamp's face, could not resist laughing. "Well, my poor Manicamp," he

"For my blueandgold suit, which has disappeared, and in the place of which I could find nothing but this;

and I was even obliged to economize from compulsion, in order to get possession of it."

"It is singular you should be astonished at that, since you leave me without any money."

"Neither of us has thought of it. Havre is of considerable size, I suppose; and provided I can get a stable for a

"Yes, by the Duke of Buckingham. His Grace was preceded by a courier, who arrived here three days ago,

"He certainly does not occupy it, since he has not yet arrived; but, once disembarked, he will occupy it."

"It is quite clear you are not acquainted with the English; they have a perfect rage for monopolizing

"That may be; but a man who has the whole of one house, is satisfied with it, and does not require two."

"Be it so; for two men, two houses, or four or six, or ten, if you like; but there are a hundred houses at

"What an obstinate fellow you are. I tell you Buckingham has hired all the houses surrounding the one which

"You are quite sure of it, Monsieur de Manicamp?" and as he put this question, he looked slyly at De Guiche,

as though to interrogate him upon the degree of confidence to be placed in his friend's state of mind. During

this discussion the night had closed in, and the torches, pages, attendants, squires, horses, and carriages,

blocked up the gate and the open place; the torches were reflected in the channel, which the rising tide was

gradually filling, while on the other side of the jetty might be noticed groups of curious lookerson,

consisting of sailors and townspeople, who seemed anxious to miss nothing of the spectacle. Amidst all this

hesitation of purpose, Bragelonne, as though a perfect stranger to the scene, remained on his horse somewhat

in the rear of Guiche, and watched the rays of light reflected on the water, inhaling with rapture the sea

breezes, and listening to the waves which noisily broke upon the shore and on the beach, tossing the spray

into the air with a noise that echoed in the distance. "But," exclaimed De Guiche, "what is Buckingham's

"Very well; it is quite certain, count, that his royal highness will be the most unfortunate of husbands."

"And so the duke is madly in love with Madame, so the rumor runs, and will have no one approach her but

De Guiche colored. "Thank you, thank you," said he to Manicamp, grasping his hand. Then, recovering

himself, added, "Whatever you do, Manicamp, be careful that this project of Buckingham's is not made

known to any Frenchman here; for, if so, many a sword would be unsheathed in this country that does not

"But after all," said Manicamp, "I have had no satisfactory proof given me of the love in question, and it may

"No, no," said De Guiche, "it must be the truth;" and despite his command over himself, he clenched his

"Well," said Manicamp, "after all, what does it matter to you? What does it matter to me whether the prince is

to be what the late king was? Buckingham the father for the queen, Buckingham the son for the princess."

"But why, silence?" said De Wardes, "it is a highly creditable circumstance for the French nation. Are not

"To what circumstance do you allude?" inquired De Bragelonne with an abstracted air.

"That the English should render homage to the beauty of our queens and our princesses."

"Forgive me, but I have not been paying attention to what has passed; will you oblige me by explaining,

"There is no doubt it was necessary that Buckingham the father should come to Paris in order that his

majesty, King Louis XIII., should perceive that his wife was one of the most beautiful women of the French

court; and it seems necessary, at the present time, that Buckingham the son should consecrate, by the

devotion of his worship, the beauty of a princess who has French blood in her veins. The fact of having

inspired a passion on the other side of the Channel will henceforth confer a title to beauty on this."

"Sir," replied De Bragelonne, "I do not like to hear such matters treated so lightly. Gentlemen like ourselves

should be careful guardians of the honor of our queens and our princesses. If we jest at them, what will our

"How am I to understand that?" said De Wardes, whose ears tingled at the remark.

"M. de Wardes," exclaimed Manicamp, noticing that the young man had spurred his horse close to the side of

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," said De Guiche, "do not set such an example in public, in the street too. De Wardes,

"You are wrong, monsieur, because you are always speaking ill of someone or something," replied Raoul

"Pray do not think of fighting, gentlemen!" said Manicamp, "before you have rested yourselves; for in that

"Come," said De Guiche, "forward, gentlemen!" and breaking through the horses and attendants, he cleared

the way for himself towards the center of the square, through the crowd, followed by the whole cavalcade. A

large gateway looking out upon a courtyard was open; Guiche entered the courtyard, and Bragelonne, De

Wardes, Manicamp, and three or four other gentlemen, followed him. A sort of council of war was held, and

the means to be employed for saving the dignity of the embassy were deliberated upon. Bragelonne was of

opinion that the right of priority should be respected, while De Wardes suggested that the town should be

sacked. This latter proposition appearing to Manicamp rather premature, he proposed instead that they should

first rest themselves. This was the wisest thing to do, but, unhappily, to follow his advice, two things were

wanting; namely, a house and beds. De Guiche reflected for awhile, and then said aloud, "Let him who loves

"Every one," exclaimed the impetuous young man. "Manicamp, show us the way to the house. destined for

Without in any way divining the count's project, his friends followed him, accompanied by a crowd of people

whose acclamations and delight seemed a happy omen for the success of that project with which they were

yet unacquainted. The wind was blowing strongly from the harbor, and moaning in fitful gusts.

The following day was somewhat calmer, although the gale still continued. The sun had, however, risen

through a bank of orange clouds, tingeing with its cheerful rays the crests of the black waves. Watch was

impatiently kept from the different lookouts. Towards eleven o'clock in the morning a ship, with sails full

set, was signalled as in view; two others followed at the distance of about half a knot. They approached like

arrows shot from the bow of a skillful archer; and yet the sea ran so high that their speed was as nothing

compared to the rolling of the billows in which the vessels were plunging first in one direction and then in

another. The English fleet was soon recognized by the line of the ships, and by the color of their pennants; the

one which had the princess on board and carried the admiral's flag preceded the others.

The rumor now spread that the princess was arriving. The whole French court ran to the harbor, while the

quays and jetties were soon covered by crowds of people. Two hours afterwards, the other vessels had

overtaken the flagship, and the three, not venturing perhaps to enter the narrow entrance of the harbor, cast

anchor between Havre and La Heve. When the maneuver had been completed, the vessel which bore the

admiral saluted France by twelve discharges of cannon, which were returned, discharge for discharge, from

Fort Francis I. Immediately afterwards a hundred boats were launched; they were covered with the richest

stuffs, and destined for the conveyance of the different members of the French nobility towards the vessels at

anchor. But when it was observed that even inside the harbor the boats were tossed to and fro, and that

beyond the jetty the waves rose mountains high, dashing upon the shore with a terrible uproar, it will readily

be believed that not one of those frail boats would be able with safety to reach a fourth part of the distance

between the shore and the vessels at anchor. A pilotboat, however, notwithstanding the wind and the sea,

was getting ready to leave the harbor, for the purpose of placing itself at the admiral's disposal.

De Guiche, who had been looking among the different boats for one stronger than the others, which might

offer a chance of reaching the English vessels, perceiving the pilotboat getting ready to start, said to Raoul:

"Do you not think, Raoul, that intelligent and vigorous men, as we are, ought to be ashamed to retreat before

"That is precisely the very reflection I was silently making to myself," replied Bragelonne.

"And for no purpose," said De Wardes, "for with the wind in your teeth, as it will be, you will never reach the

"Assuredly I do; I would willingly risk and lose my life in an encounter against men," he said, glancing at

Bragelonne, "but as to fighting with oars against waves, I have no taste for that."

"And for myself," said Manicamp, "even were I to succeed in reaching the ships, I should not be indifferent

to the loss of the only good dress which I have left, salt water would spoil it."

"But," exclaimed De Guiche, "look, De Wardes look, Manicamp look yonder, the princesses are

"An additional reason, my dear fellow, why we should not make ourselves ridiculous by being drowned while

"Not so," said Raoul, "for I shall accompany you; I thought it was understood I should do so."

The fact is, that Raoul, uninfluenced by devotion, measuring the risk they run, saw how imminent the danger

was, but he willingly allowed himself to accept a peril which De Wardes had declined.

The boat was about to set off when De Guiche called to the pilot. "Stay," said he: "we want two places in

your boat;" and wrapping five or six pistoles in paper, he threw them from the quay into the boat.

The pilot approached the side of the boat, and the two young men, one after the other, with equal vivacity,

jumped into the boat. "Courage, my men," said De Guiche; "I have twenty pistoles left in this purse, and as

soon as we reach the admiral's vessel they shall be yours." The sailors bent themselves to their oars, and the

boat bounded over the crest of the waves. The interest taken in this hazardous expedition was universal; the

whole population of Havre hurried towards the jetties and every look was directed towards the little bark; at

one moment it flew suspended on the crest of the foaming waves, then suddenly glided downwards towards

the bottom of a raging abyss, where it seemed utterly lost. At the expiration of an hour's struggling with the

waves, it reached the spot where the admiral's vessel was anchored, and from the side of which two boats had

already been dispatched towards their aid. Upon the quarterdeck of the flagship, sheltered by a canopy of

velvet and ermine, which was suspended by stout supports, Henrietta, the queen dowager, and the young

princess with the admiral, the Duke of Norfolk standing beside them watched with alarm this

slender bark, at one moment tossed to the heavens, and the next buried beneath the waves, and against whose

dark sail the noble figures of the two French gentlemen stood forth in relief like two luminous apparitions.

The crew, leaning against the bulwarks and clinging to the shrouds, cheered the courage of the two daring

young men, the skill of the pilot, and the strength of the sailors. They were received at the side of the vessel

by a shout of triumph. The Duke of Norfolk, a handsome young man, from twentysix to twentyeight years

of age, advanced to meet them. De Guiche and Bragelonne lightly mounted the ladder on the starboard side,

and conducted by the Duke of Norfolk, who resumed his place near them, they approached to offer their

homage to the princesses. Respect, and yet more, a certain apprehension, for which he could not account, had

hitherto restrained the Comte de Guiche from looking at Madame attentively, who, however, had observed

him immediately, and had asked her mother, "Is not that Monsieur in the boat yonder?" Madame Henrietta

who knew Monsieur better than her daughter did, smiled at the mistake her vanity had led her into, and had

answered, "No; it is only M. de Guiche, his favorite." The princess, at this reply, was constrained to check an

instinctive tenderness of feeling which the courage displayed by the count had awakened. At the very

moment the princess had put this question to her mother, De Guiche had, at last, summoned courage to raise

his eyes towards her and could compare the original with the portrait he had so lately seen. No sooner had he

remarked her pale face, her eyes so full of animation, her beautiful nutbrown hair, her expressive lips, and

her every gesture, which, while betokening royal descent, seemed to thank and to encourage him at one and

the same time, than he was, for a moment, so overcome, that, had it not been for Raoul, on whose arm he

leant, he would have fallen. His friend's amazed look, and the encouraging gesture of the queen, restored

Guiche to his selfpossession. In a few words he explained his mission, explained in what way he had

become the envoy of his royal highness; and saluted, according to their rank and the reception they gave him,

the admiral and several of the English noblemen who were grouped around the princesses.

Raoul was then presented, and was most graciously received; the share that the Comte de la Fere had had in

the restoration of Charles II. was known to all; and, more than that, it was the comte who had been charged

with the negotiation of the marriage, by means of which the granddaughter of Henry IV. was now returning

to France. Raoul spoke English perfectly, and constituted himself his friend's interpreter with the young

English noblemen, who were indifferently acquainted with the French language. At this moment a young man

came forward, of extremely handsome features, and whose dress and arms were remarkable for their

extravagance of material. He approached the princesses, who were engaged in conversation with the Duke of

Norfolk, and, in a voice which ill concealed his impatience, said, "It is time now to disembark, your royal

highness. "The younger of the princesses rose from her seat at this remark, and was about to take the hand

which the young nobleman extended to her, with an eagerness which arose from a variety of motives, when

the admiral intervened between them, observing; "A moment, if you please, my lord; it is not possible for

ladies to disembark just now, the sea is too rough; it is probable the wind may abate before sunset, and the

"Allow me to observe, my lord," said Buckingham, with an irritation of manner which he did not seek to

disguise, "you detain these ladies, and you have no right to do so. One of them, unhappily, now belongs to

France, and you perceive that France claims them by the voice of her ambassadors;" and at the same moment

"I cannot suppose that these gentlemen intend to expose the lives of their royal highnesses," replied the

"These gentlemen," retorted Buckingham, "arrived here safely, notwithstanding the wind; allow me to believe

that the danger will not be greater for their royal highnesses when the wind will be in their favor."

"These envoys have shown how great their courage is," said the admiral. "You may have observed that there

was a great number of persons on shore who did not venture to accompany them. Moreover, the desire which

they had to show their respect with the least possible delay to Madame and her illustrious mother induced

them to brave the sea, which is very tempestuous today, even for sailors. These gentlemen, however, whom

I recommend as an example for my officers to follow, can hardly be so for these ladies."

Madame glanced at the Comte de Guiche, and perceived that his face was burning with confusion. This look

had escaped Buckingham, who had eyes for nothing but Norfolk, of whom he was evidently very jealous; he

seemed anxious to remove the princesses from the deck of a vessel where the admiral reigned supreme. "In

"And I, my lord," retorted the admiral, "I appeal to my own conscience, and to my own sense of

responsibility. I have undertaken to convey Madame safe and sound to France, and I shall keep my promise."

"Perfectly so; I therefore repeat it: I alone command here, all yield obedience to me; the sea and the winds,

the ships and men too." This remark was made in a dignified and authoritative manner. Raoul observed its

effect upon Buckingham, who trembled with anger from head to foot, and leaned against one of the poles of

the tent to prevent himself falling; his eyes became suffused with blood, and the hand which he did not need

"My lord," said the queen, "permit me to observe that I agree in every particular with the Duke of Norfolk; if

the heavens, instead of being clouded as they are at the present moment, were perfectly serene and propitious,

we can still afford to bestow a few hours upon the officer who has conducted us so successfully, and with

Buckingham, instead of replying, seemed to seek counsel from the expression of Madame's face. She,

however, halfconcealed beneath the thick curtains of the velvet and gold which sheltered her, had not

listened to the discussion, having been occupied in watching the Comte de Guiche, who was conversing with

Raoul. This was a fresh misfortune for Buckingham, who fancied he perceived in Madame Henrietta's look a

deeper feeling than that of curiosity. He withdrew, almost tottering in his gait, and nearly stumbled against

"The duke has not acquired a steady footing yet," said the queenmother, in French, "and that may possibly

The young man overheard this remark, turned suddenly pale, and, letting his hands fall in great

discouragement by his side, drew aside, mingling in one sigh his old affection and his new hatreds. The

admiral, however, without taking any further notice of the duke's illhumor, led the princesses into the

quarterdeck cabin, where dinner had been served with a magnificence worthy in every respect of his guests.

The admiral seated himself at the right hand of the princess, and placed the Comte de Guiche on her left. This

was the place Buckingham usually occupied; and when he entered the cabin, how profound was his

unhappiness to see himself banished by etiquette from the presence of his sovereign, to a position inferior to

that which, by rank, he was entitled to. De Guiche, on the other hand, paler still perhaps from happiness, than

his rival was from anger, seated himself tremblingly next the princess, whose silken robe, as it lightly touched

him, caused a tremor of mingled regret and happiness to pass through his whole frame. The repast finished,

Buckingham darted forward to hand Madame Henrietta from the table; but this time it was De Guiche's turn

to give the duke a lesson. "Have the goodness, my lord, from this moment," said he, "not to interpose

between her royal highness and myself. From this moment, indeed, her royal highness belongs to France, and

when she deigns to honor me by touching my hand it is the hand of Monsieur, the brother of the king of

And saying this, he presented his hand to Madame Henrietta with such marked deference, and at the same

time with a nobleness of mien so intrepid, that a murmur of admiration rose from the English, whilst a groan

of despair escaped from Buckingham's lips. Raoul, who loved, comprehended it all. He fixed upon his friend

one of those profound looks which a bosom friend or mother can alone extend, either as protector or

guardian, over the one who is about to stray from the right path. Towards two o'clock in the afternoon the sun

shone forth anew, the wind subsided, the sea became smooth as a crystal mirror, and the fog, which had

shrouded the coast, disappeared like a veil withdrawn from before it. The smiling hills of France appeared in

full view with their numerous white houses rendered more conspicuous by the bright green of the trees or the

The admiral, as we have seen, was determined to pay no further attention to Buckingham's threatening

glances and fits of passion. In fact, from the moment they quitted England, he had gradually accustomed

himself to his behavior. De Guiche had not yet in any way remarked the animosity which appeared to

influence that young nobleman against him, but he felt, instinctively, that there could be no sympathy

between himself and the favorite of Charles II. The queenmother, with greater experience and calmer

judgment, perceived the exact position of affairs, and, as she discerned its danger, was prepared to meet it,

whenever the proper moment should arrive. Quiet had been everywhere restored, except in Buckingham's

heart; he, in his impatience, addressed himself to the princess, in a low tone of voice: "For Heaven's sake,

madame, I implore you to hasten your disembarkation. Do you not perceive how that insolent Duke of

Henrietta heard this remark; she smiled, and without turning her head towards him, but giving only to the

tone of her voice that inflection of gentle reproach, and languid impertinence, which women and princesses

so well know how to assume, she murmured, "I have already hinted, my lord, that you must have taken leave

Not a single detail escaped Raoul's attention; he heard both Buckingham's entreaty and the princess's reply;

he remarked Buckingham retire, heard his deep sigh, and saw him pass his hand across his face. He

understood everything, and trembled as he reflected on the position of affairs, and the state of the minds of

those about him. At last the admiral, with studied delay, gave the last orders for the departure of the boats.

Buckingham heard the directions given with such an exhibition of delight that a stranger would really

imagine the young man's reason was affected. As the Duke of Norfolk gave his commands, a large boat or

barge, decked with flags, and capable of holding about twenty rowers and fifteen passengers, was slowly

lowered from the side of the admiral's vessel. The barge was carpeted with velvet and decorated with

coverings embroidered with the arms of England, and with garlands of flowers; for, at that time,

ornamentation was by no means forgotten in these political pageants. No sooner was this really royal boat

afloat and the rowers with oars uplifted, awaiting, like soldiers presenting arms, the embarkation of the

princess, than Buckingham ran forward to the ladder in order to take his place. His progress was, however,

arrested by the queen. "My lord," she said, "it is hardly becoming that you should allow my daughter and

myself to land without having previously ascertained that our apartments are properly prepared. I beg your

lordship to be good enough to precede us ashore, and to give directions that everything be in proper order on

This was a fresh disappointment for the duke, and, still more so, since it was so unexpected. He hesitated,

colored violently, but could not reply. He had thought he might be able to keep near Madame during the

passage to the shore, and, by this means, to enjoy to the very last moment the brief period fortune still

reserved for him. The order, however, was explicit; and the admiral, who heard it given, immediately called

out, "Launch the ship's gig." His directions were executed with that celerity which distinguishes every

Buckingham, in utter hopelessness, cast a look of despair at the princess, of supplication towards the queen,

and directed a glance full of anger towards the admiral. The princess pretended not to notice him, while the

queen turned aside her head, and the admiral laughed outright, at the sound of which Buckingham seemed

ready to spring upon him. The queenmother rose, and with a tone of authority said, "Pray set off, sir."

The young duke hesitated, looked around him, and with a last effort, halfchoked by contending emotions,

said, "And you, gentlemen, M. de Guiche and M. de Bragelonne, do not you accompany me?"

De Guiche bowed and said, "Both M. de Bragelonne and myself await her majesty's orders; whatever the

commands she imposes on us, we shall obey them." Saying this, he looked towards the princess, who cast

"Your grace will remember," said the queen, "that M. de Guiche is here to represent Monsieur; it is he who

will do the honors of France, as you have done those of England; his presence cannot be dispensed with;

besides, we owe him this slight favor for the courage he displayed in venturing to seek us in such a terrible

Buckingham opened his lips, as if he were about to speak, but, whether thoughts or expressions failed him,

not a syllable escaped them, and turning away, as though out of his mind, he leapt from the vessel into the

boat. The sailors were just in time to catch hold of him to steady themselves; for his weight and the rebound

While the boat was advancing towards the shore, the duke kept his eyes immovably fixed upon the admiral's

ship, like a miser torn away from his coffers, or a mother separated from her child, about to be led away to

death. No one, however, acknowledged his signals, his frowns, or his pitiful gestures. In very anguish of

mind, he sank down in the boat, burying his hands in his hair, whilst the boat, impelled by the exertions of the

merry sailors, flew over the waves. On his arrival he was in such a state of apathy, that, had he not been

received at the harbor by the messenger whom he had directed to precede him, he would hardly have had

strength to ask his way. Having once, however, reached the house which had been set apart for him, he shut

himself up, like Achilles in his tent. The barge bearing the princesses quitted the admiral's vessel at the very

moment Buckingham landed. It was followed by another boat filled with officers, courtiers, and zealous

friends. Great numbers of the inhabitants of Havre, having embarked in fishingcobles and boats of every

description, set off to meet the royal barge. The cannon from the forts fired salutes, which were returned by

the flagship and the two other vessels, and the flashes from the open mouths of the cannon floated in white

The princess landed at the decorated quay. Bands of gay music greeted her arrival, and accompanied her

every step she took. During the time she was passing through the center of the town, and treading beneath her

delicate feet the richest carpets and the gayest flowers, which had been strewn upon the ground, De Guiche

and Raoul, escaping from their English friends, hurried through the town and hastened rapidly towards the

"Let us hurry forward," said Raoul to De Guiche, "for if I read Buckingham's character aright, he will create

"Never fear," said De Guiche, "De Wardes is there, who is determination itself, while Manicamp is the very

De Guiche was not, however, the less diligent on that account, and five minutes afterwards they were within

sight of the Hotel de Ville. The first thing which struck them was the number of people assembled in the

In fact, in front of the Hotel de Ville, upon the wide open space before it, eight tents had been raised,

surmounted by the flags of France and England united. The hotel was surrounded by tents, as by a girdle of

variegated colors; ten pages and a dozen mounted troopers, who had been given to the ambassadors, for an

escort, mounted guard before the tents. It had a singularly curious effect, almost fairylike in its appearance.

These tents had been constructed during the nighttime. Fitted up, within and without, with the richest

materials that De Guiche had been able to procure in Havre, they completely encircled the Hotel de Ville.

The only passage which led to the steps of the hotel, and which was not inclosed by the silken barricade, was

guarded by two tents, resembling two pavilions, the doorways of both of which opened towards the entrance.

These two tents were destined for De Guiche and Raoul; in whose absence they were intended to be

occupied, that of De Guiche by De Wardes, and that of Raoul by Manicamp. Surrounding these two tents,

and the six others, a hundred officers, gentlemen, and pages, dazzling in their display of silk and gold,

thronged like bees buzzing about a hive. Every one of them, their swords by their sides, was ready to obey the

At the very moment the two young men appeared at the end of one of the streets leading to the square, they

perceived, crossing the square at full gallop, a young man on horseback, whose costume was of surprising

richness. He pushed hastily through the crowd of curious lookerson, and, at the sight of these unexpected

erections, uttered a cry of anger and dismay. It was Buckingham, who had awakened from his stupor, in order

to adorn himself with a costume perfectly dazzling from its beauty, and to await the arrival of the princess

and the queenmother at the Hotel de Ville. At the entrance to the tents, the soldiers barred his passage, and

his further progress was arrested. Buckingham, hopelessly infuriated, raised his whip; but his arm was seized

by a couple of officers. Of the two guardians of the tent, only one was there. De Wardes was in the interior of

the Hotel de Ville, engaged in attending to the execution of some orders given by De Guiche. At the noise

made by Buckingham Manicamp, who was indolently reclining upon the cushions at the doorway of one of

the tents, rose with his usual indifference, and, perceiving that the disturbance continued, made his

appearance from underneath the curtains. "What is the matter?" he said, in a gentle tone of voice, "and who is

It so happened, that, at the moment he began to speak, silence had just been restored, and, although his voice

was very soft and gentle in its tone, every one heard his question. Buckingham turned round; and looked at

the tall, thin figure, and the listless expression of countenance of his questioner. Probably the personal

appearance of Manicamp, who was dressed very plainly, did not inspire him with much respect, for he replied

Manicamp, leaning on the arm of a gigantic trooper, as firm as the pillar of a cathedral, replied in his usual

"I, monsieur, am the Duke of Buckingham; I have hired all the houses which surround the Hotel de Ville,

where I have business to transact; and as these houses are let, they belong to me, and, as I hired them in order

to preserve the right of free access to the Hotel de Ville, you are not justified in preventing me passing to it."

"Because you wish to pass on horseback, and orders have been given to let only persons on foot pass."

"On what grounds?" inquired Manicamp, with his soft tone. "Will you do me the favor to explain this enigma

"Because, as I have already told you, I have hired all the houses looking on the square."

"We are very well aware of that, since nothing but the square itself has been left for us."

"You are mistaken, monsieur; the square belongs to me, as well as the houses in it."

"Forgive me, monsieur, but you are mistaken there. In our country, we say, the highway belongs to the king,

therefore this square is his majesty's; and, consequently, as we are the king's ambassadors, the square belongs

"I have already asked you who you are, monsieur," exclaimed Buckingham, exasperated at the coolness of his

"My name is Manicamp," replied the young man, in a voice whose tones were as harmonious and sweet as

Buckingham shrugged his shoulders contemptuously, and said, "When I hired these houses which surround

the Hotel de Ville, the square was unoccupied; these barracks obstruct my sight; I hereby order them to be

A hoarse and angry murmur ran through the crowd of listeners at these words. De Guiche arrived at this

moment; he pushed through the crowd which separated him from Buckingham, and, followed by Raoul,

arrived on the scene of action from one side, just as De Wardes came up from the other. "Pardon me, my lord;

but if you have any complaint to make, have the goodness to address it to me, inasmuch as it was I who

"Moreover, I would beg you to observe, monsieur, that the term `barrack' is a highly objectionable one!"

"I was saying, monsieur le comte," resumed Buckingham, in a tone of anger more marked than ever, although

in some measure moderated by the presence of an equal, "I was saying that it is impossible these tents can

A movement of impatience escaped De Guiche, but a warning glance from Raoul restrained him.

"You should the less object to them, monsieur, on account of the abuse of priority you have permitted

"Most assuredly. You commission a messenger, who hires in your name the whole of the town of Havre,

without considering the members of the French court, who would be sure to arrive here to meet Madame.

Your Grace will admit that this is hardly friendly conduct in the representative of a friendly nation."

"Which means!" exclaimed Buckingham, in so violent a manner that those who were present drew back,

"Which means, monsieur," replied De Guiche, now rather pale, "that I caused these tents to be raised as

habitations for myself and my friends, as a shelter for the ambassadors of France, as the only place of refuge

which your exactions have left us in the town; and that I and those who are with me, shall remain in them, at

least, until an authority more powerful, and more supreme, than your own shall dismiss me from them."

"In other words, until we are ejected, as the lawyers say," observed Manicamp, blandly.

"I know an authority, monsieur, which I trust is such as you will respect," said Buckingham, placing his hand

At this moment, and as the goddess of Discord, inflaming all minds, was about to direct their swords against

each other, Raoul gently placed his hand on Buckingham's shoulder. "One word, my lord," he said.

"It is precisely upon that point I wish to have the honor of addressing a word to you."

"Are you, or is the Duke of Orleans, going to marry the granddaughter of Henry IV.?"

"Your question is a sufficient answer for me. You admit, then, that it is not you who are going to marry the

"I beg your pardon, but your conduct has been such as to leave it not altogether certain."

Raoul approached the duke. "Are you aware, my lord," he said, lowering his voice, "that your extravagances

very much resemble the excesses of jealousy? These jealous fits, with respect to any woman, are not

becoming in one who is neither her lover nor her husband; and I am sure you will admit that my remark

applies with still greater force, when the lady in question is a princess of the blood royal!"

"Be careful, my lord," replied Bragelonne, coldly, "for it is you who insult her. A little while since, when on

board the admiral's ship, you wearied the queen, and exhausted the admiral's patience. I was observing, my

lord; and, at first, I concluded you were not in possession of your senses, but I have since surmised the real

"One moment more, for I have yet another word to add. I trust I am the only one of my companions who has

"Are you aware, monsieur," said Buckingham, trembling with mingled feelings of anger and uneasiness, "are

you aware that you are holding language towards me which requires to be checked?"

"Weigh your words well, my lord," said Raoul, haughtily: "my nature is not such that its vivacities need

checking; whilst you, on the contrary, are descended from a race whose passions are suspected by all true

"I am the son of the Comte de la Fere, my lord, and I never threaten, because I strike first. Therefore,

Buckingham clenched his hands, but Raoul continued, as though he had not observed the gesture. "At the

very first word, beyond the respect and deference due to her royal highness, which you permit yourself to use

"Undoubtedly. So long as Madame remained on English territory, I held my peace; but from the very moment

she stepped on French ground, and now that we have received her in the name of the prince, I warn you, that

at the first mark of disrespect which you, in your insane attachment, exhibit towards the royal house of

France, I shall have one of two courses to follow; either I declare, in the presence of every one, the

madness with which you are now affected, and I get you ignominiously ordered back to England; or if you

prefer it, I will run my dagger through your throat in the presence of all here. This second alternative seems to

Buckingham had become paler than the lace collar around his neck. "M. de Bragelonne," he said, "is it,

"Yes; only the gentleman is speaking to a madman. Get cured, my lord, and he will hold quite another

"But, M. de Bragelonne," murmured the duke, in a voice, halfchoked, and putting his hand to his neck,

"If your death were to take place at this moment, my lord," replied Raoul, with unruffled composure, "I

should, indeed, regard it as a great happiness, for this circumstance would prevent all kinds of evil remarks;

not alone about yourself, but also about those illustrious persons whom your devotion is compromising in so

"You are right, you are right," said the young man, almost beside himself. "Yes, yes; better to die, than to

suffer as I do at this moment." And he grasped a beautiful dagger, the handle of which was inlaid with

Raoul thrust his hand aside. "Be careful what you do," he said; "if you do not kill yourself, you commit a

ridiculous action; and if you were to kill yourself, you sprinkle blood upon the nuptial robe of the princess of

Buckingham remained a minute gasping for breath; during this interval, his lips quivered, his fingers worked

convulsively, and his eyes wandered as though in delirium. Then suddenly, he said, "M. de Bragelonne, I

know nowhere a nobler mind than yours; you are, indeed, a worthy son of the most perfect gentleman that

ever lived. Keep your tents." And he threw his arms round Raoul's neck. All who were present, astounded at

this conduct, which was the very reverse of what was expected, considering the violence of the one adversary

and the determination of the other, began immediately to clap their hands, and a thousand cheers and joyful

shouts arose from all sides. De Guiche, in his turn, embraced Buckingham somewhat against his inclination;

but, at all events, he did embrace him. This was the signal for French and English to do the same; and they

who, until that moment, had looked at each other with restless uncertainty, fraternized on the spot. In the

meantime, the procession of the princess arrived, and had it not been for Bragelonne, two armies would have

been engaged together in conflict, and blood have been shed upon the flowers with which the ground was

covered. At the appearance, however, of the banners borne at the head of the procession, complete order was

Concord returned to its place amidst the tents. English and French rivaled each other in their devotion and

courteous attention to the illustrious travelers. The English forwarded to the French baskets of flowers, of

which they had made a plentiful provision to greet the arrival of the young princess; the French in return

invited the English to a supper, which was to be given the next day. Congratulations were poured in upon the

princess everywhere during her journey. From the respect paid her on all sides, she seemed like a queen; and

from the adoration with which she was treated by two or three, she appeared an object of worship. The

queenmother gave the French the most affectionate reception. France was her native country, and she had

suffered too much unhappiness in England for England to have made her forget France. She taught her

daughter, then, by her own affection for it, that love for a country where they had both been hospitably

received, and where a brilliant future opened before them. After the public entry was over, and the spectators

in the streets had partially dispersed, and the sound of the music and cheering of the crowd could be heard

only in the distance; when the night had closed in, wrapping with its starcovered mantle the sea, the harbor,

the town, and surrounding country, De Guiche, still excited by the great events of the day, returned to his

tent, and seated himself upon one of the stools with so profound an expression of distress that Bragelonne

kept his eyes fixed on him, until he heard him sigh, and then he approached him. The count had thrown

himself back on his seat, leaning his shoulders against the partition of the tent, and remained thus, his face

"This has indeed been a harassing day," continued the young man, his eyes fixed upon his friend.

"You shall not speak to me, Guiche, until you have first answered my questions."

"It is you who are mistaken, Raoul; I have read his distress in his eyes, in his every gesture and action the

"Now, inform me count," said Raoul, fixing a penetrating look upon him, "what has happened to render you

"I mean that, generally, you are less out of spirits than seems to be the case this evening."

"Listen to me, Guiche; we have been campaigners together; we have been on horseback for eighteen hours at

a time, and our horses dying from exhaustion, or hunger, have fallen beneath us, and yet we have laughed at

"Of course; is it not vexatious for us, the representatives of our sovereign master, to witness the devotion of

an Englishman to our future mistress, the second lady in point of rank in the kingdom?"

"Yes, you are right; but I do not think any danger is to be apprehended from Buckingham."

"No; still he is intrusive. Did he not, on his arrival here, almost succeed in creating a disturbance between the

English and ourselves; and, had it not been for you, for your admirable prudence, for your singular decision

"Yes, certainly; but this is the very thing that amazes me so much. You spoke to him in a low tone of voice,

what did you say to him? You think he loves her; you admit that such a passion does not give way readily. He

does not love her, then!" De Guiche pronounced the latter with so marked an expression that Raoul raised his

head. The noble character of the young man's countenance expressed a displeasure which could easily be

"What I said to him, count," replied Raoul, "I will repeat to you. Listen to me. I said, `You are regarding with

wistful feelings, and most injurious desire, the sister of your prince, her to whom you are not affianced,

who is not, who can never be anything to you; you are outraging those who, like ourselves, have come to seek

"In those very terms; I even added more. `How would you regard us,' I said, `if you were to perceive among

us a man mad enough, disloyal enough, to entertain other than sentiments of the most perfect respect for a

These words were so applicable to De Guiche that he turned pale, and, overcome by a sudden agitation, was

barely able to stretch out one hand mechanically towards Raoul, as he covered his eyes and face with the

"But," continued Raoul, not interrupted by this movement of his friend, "Heaven be praised, the French who

are pronounced to be thoughtless and indiscreet, reckless, even, are capable of bringing a calm and sound

judgment to bear on matters of such high importance. I added even more, for I said, `Learn, my lord, that we

gentlemen of France devote ourselves to our sovereigns by sacrificing for them our affections, as well as our

fortunes and our lives; and whenever it may chance to happen that the tempter suggests one of those vile

thoughts that set the heart on fire, we extinguish the flame, even if it has to be done by shedding our blood for

the purpose. Thus it is that the honor of three is saved: our country's, our master's, and our own. It is thus that

we act, your Grace; it is thus that every man of honor ought to act. In this manner, my dear Guiche,"

continued Raoul, "I addressed the Duke of Buckingham; and he admitted I was right, and resigned himself

De Guiche, who had hitherto sat leaning forward while Raoul was speaking, drew himself up, his eyes

glancing proudly; he seized Raoul's hand, his face, which had been as cold as ice, seemed on fire. "And you

spoke magnificently," he said, in a halfchoked voice; "you are indeed a friend, Raoul. But now, I entreat

"Yes; I need repose. Many things have agitated me today, both in mind and body; when you return

"I leave you, then," said Raoul, as he withdrew. The count advanced a step towards his friend, and pressed

him warmly in his arms. But in this friendly pressure Raoul could detect the nervous agitation of a great

The night was clear, starlit, and splendid; the tempest had passed away, and the sweet influences of the

evening had restored life, peace and security everywhere. A few fleecy clouds were floating in the heavens,

and indicated from their appearance a continuance of beautiful weather, tempered by a gentle breeze from the

east. Upon the large square in front of the hotel, the shadows of the tents, intersected by the golden

moonbeams, formed as it were a huge mosaic of jet and yellow flagstones. Soon, however, the entire town

was wrapped in slumber; a feeble light still glimmered in Madame's apartment, which looked out upon the

square, and the soft rays from the expiring lamp seemed to be the image of the calm sleep of a young girl,

hardly yet sensible of life's anxieties, and in whom the flame of existence sinks placidly as sleep steals over

Bragelonne quitted the tent with the slow and measured step of a man curious to observe, but anxious not to

be seen. Sheltered behind the thick curtains of his own tent, embracing with a glance the whole square, he

noticed that, after a few moments' pause, the curtains of De Guiche's tent were agitated, and then drawn

partially aside. Behind them he could perceive the shadow of De Guiche, his eyes glittering in the obscurity,

fastened ardently upon the princess's sitting apartment, which was partially lighted by the lamp in the inner

room. The soft light which illumined the windows was the count's star. The fervent aspirations of his nature

could be read in his eyes. Raoul, concealed in the shadow, divined the many passionate thoughts that

established, between the tent of the young ambassador and the balcony of the princess, a mysterious and

magical bond of sympathy a bond created by thoughts imprinted with so much strength and persistence of

will, that they must have caused happy and loving dreams to alight upon the perfumed couch, which the

But De Guiche and Raoul were not the only watchers. The window of one of the houses looking on the

square was opened too, the casement of the house where Buckingham resided. By the aid of the rays of light

which issued from this latter, the profile of the duke could be distinctly seen, as he indolently reclined upon

the carved balcony with its velvet hangings; he also was breathing in the direction of the princess's apartment

Raoul could not resist smiling, as thinking of Madame, he said to himself, "Hers is, indeed, a heart well

besieged;" and then added, compassionately, as he thought of Monsieur, "and he is a husband well threatened

too; it is a good thing for him that he is a prince of such high rank, that he has an army to safeguard for him

that which is his own." Bragelonne watched for some time the conduct of the two lovers, listened to the loud

and uncivil slumbers of Manicamp, who snored as imperiously as though he was wearing his blue and gold,

Then he turned towards the night breeze which bore towards him, he seemed to think, the distant song of the

nightingale; and, after having laid in a due provision of melancholy, another nocturnal malady, he retired to

rest thinking, with regard to his own love affair, that perhaps four or even a larger number of eyes, quite as

ardent as those of De Guiche and Buckingham, were coveting his own idol in the chateau at Blois. "And

Mademoiselle de Montalais is by no means a very conscientious garrison," said he to himself, sighing aloud.

The next day the fetes took place, accompanied by all the pomp and animation that the resources of the town

and the cheerful disposition of men's minds could supply. During the last few hours spent in Havre, every

preparation for the departure had been made. After Madame had taken leave of the English fleet, and, once

again, had saluted the country in saluting its flags, she entered her carriage, surrounded by a brilliant escort.

De Guiche had hoped that the Duke of Buckingham would accompany the admiral to England; but

Buckingham succeeded in demonstrating to the queen that there would be great impropriety in allowing

Madame to proceed to Paris almost unprotected. As soon as it had been settled that Buckingham was to

accompany Madame, the young duke selected a corps of gentlemen and officers to form part of his own suite,

so that it was almost an army that now set out towards Paris, scattering gold, and exciting the liveliest

demonstrations as they passed through the different towns and villages on the route. The weather was very

fine. France is a beautiful country, especially along the route by which the procession passed. Spring cast its

flowers and its perfumed foliage on their path. Normandy, with its vast variety of vegetation, its blue skies

and silver rivers, displayed itself in all the loveliness of a paradise to the new sister of the king. Fetes and

brilliant displays received them everywhere along the line of march. De Guiche and Buckingham forgot

everything; De Guiche in his anxiety to prevent any fresh attempts on the part of the duke, and Buckingham,

in his desire to awaken in the heart of the princess a softer remembrance of the country to which the

recollection of many happy days belonged. But, alas! the poor duke could perceive that the image of that

country so cherished by himself became, from day to day, more and more effaced in Madame's mind, in exact

proportion as her affection for France became more deeply engraved on her heart. In fact, it was not difficult

to perceive that his most devoted attention awakened no acknowledgment, and that the grace with which he

rode one of his most fiery horses was thrown away, for it was only casually and by the merest accident that

the princess's eyes were turned towards him. In vain did he try, in order to fix upon himself one of those

looks, which were thrown carelessly around, or bestowed elsewhere, to produce in the animal he rode its

greatest display of strength, speed, temper and address; in vain did he, by exciting his horse almost to

madness, spur him, at the risk of dashing himself in pieces against the trees, or of rolling in the ditches, over

the gates and barriers which they passed, or down the steep declivities of the hills. Madame, whose attention

had been aroused by the noise, turned her head for a moment to observe the cause of it, and then, slightly

smiling, again entered into conversation with her faithful guardians, Raoul and De Guiche, who were quietly

riding at her carriage doors. Buckingham felt himself a prey to all the tortures of jealousy; an unknown,

unheard of anguish glided through his veins, and laid siege to his heart; and then, as if to show that he knew

the folly of his conduct, and that he wished to correct, by the humblest submission, his flights of absurdity, he

mastered his horse, and compelled him, reeking with sweat and flecked with foam, to champ his bit close

beside the carriage, amidst the crowd of courtiers. Occasionally he obtained a word from Madame as a

Buckingham listened patiently to Raoul's remarks, for he instinctively felt, without having had any proof that

such was the case, that Raoul checked the display of De Guiche's feelings, and that, had it not been for Raoul,

some mad act or proceeding, either of the count, or of Buckingham himself, would have brought about an

open rupture, or a disturbance perhaps even exile itself. From the moment of that excited conversation the

two young men had held in front of the tents at Havre, when Raoul made the duke perceive the impropriety of

his conduct, Buckingham felt himself attracted towards Raoul almost in spite of himself. He often entered

into conversation with him, and it was nearly always to talk to him either of his father or of D'Artagnan, their

mutual friend, in whose praise Buckingham was nearly as enthusiastic as Raoul. Raoul endeavored, as much

as possible, to make the conversation turn upon this subject in De Wardes's presence, who had, during the

whole journey, been exceedingly annoyed at the superior position taken by Bragelonne, and especially by his

influence over De Guiche. De Wardes had that keen and merciless penetration most evil natures possess; he

had immediately remarked De Guiche's melancholy, and divined the nature of his regard for the princess.

Instead, however, of treating the subject with the same reserve which Raoul practiced; instead of regarding

with that respect, which was their due, the obligations and duties of society, De Wardes resolutely attacked in

the count the eversounding chord of juvenile audacity and pride. It happened one evening, during a halt at

Nantes, that while De Guiche and De Wardes were leaning against a barrier, engaged in conversation,

Buckingham and Raoul were also talking together as they walked up and down. Manicamp was engaged in

devoted attendance on the princess, who already treated him without reserve, on account of his versatile

"Confess," said De Wardes, "that you are really ill and that your pedagogue of a friend has not succeeded in

"Madness it would be, I admit, if Madame were really indifferent to your martyrdom; but she takes so much

notice of it, observes it to such an extent, that she compromises herself, and I tremble lest, on our arrival at

"Come, come, a truce to child's play," replied the count's evil genius, in an undertone; "you know as well as I

do what I mean. Besides, you must have observed how the princess's glance softens as she looks at you;

you can tell, by the very inflection of her voice, what pleasure she takes in listening to you, and can feel how

thoroughly she appreciates the verses you recite to her. You cannot deny, too, that every morning she tells

"True, De Wardes, quite true; but what good is there in your telling me all that?"

"Stay, stay," said De Wardes; "look, she calls you, do you understand? Profit by the occasion, while your

De Guiche could not resist; an invincible attraction drew him towards the princess. De Wardes smiled as he

"You are mistaken, monsieur," said Raoul, suddenly stepping across the barrier against which the previous

moment the two friends had been leaning. "The pedagogue is here, and has overheard you."

De Wardes, at the sound of Raoul's voice, which he recognized without having occasion to look at him, half

"Put up your sword," said Raoul, "you know perfectly well that, until our journey is at an end, every

demonstration of that nature is useless. Why do you distill into the heart of the man you term your friend all

the bitterness that infects your own? As regards myself, you wish to arouse a feeling of deep dislike against a

man of honor my father's friend and my own: and as for the count you wish him to love one who is

destined for your master. Really, monsieur, I should regard you as a coward, and a traitor too, if I did not,

"Monsieur," exclaimed De Wardes, exasperated, "I was deceived, I find, in terming you a pedagogue. The

tone you assume, and the style which is peculiarly your own, is that of a Jesuit, and not of a gentleman.

Discontinue, I beg, whenever I am present, this style I complain of, and the tone also. I hate M. d'Artagnan

"I have resolved, monsieur, not to kill you until Madame shall have been delivered safely into her husband's

"Kill me! Believe me, monsieur, your schoolmaster's rod does not kill so easily."

"No," replied Raoul, sternly, "but M. d'Artagnan's sword kills; and, not only do I possess his sword, but he

has himself taught me how to use it: and with that sword, when a befitting time arrives, I will avenge his

"Take care, monsieur," exclaimed De Wardes; "if you do not immediately give me satisfaction, I will avail

"Indeed, monsieur," said Buckingham, suddenly, appearing upon the scene of action, "that is a threat which

"I said, monsieur, that the words you spoken are displeasing to my English ears."

"Very well, monsieur, if what you say is true," exclaimed De Wardes, thoroughly incensed, "I at least find in

"I take them in the manner they cannot but be understood," replied Buckingham, with that haughty tone

which characterized him. and which, even in ordinary conversation, gave a tone of defiance to everything he

said; "M. de Bragelonne is my friend, you insult M. de Bragelonne, and you shall give me satisfaction for that

De Wardes cast a look upon De Bragelonne, who, faithful to the character he had assumed, remained calm

"It would seem that I did not insult M. de Bragelonne, since M. de Bragelonne, who carries a sword by his

"Yes, I insulted M. d'Artagnan," resumed De Wardes, who had observed that this was the only means of

"Precisely so," said De Wardes, "it is the province of M. d'Artagnan's friends to defend him."

"I am entirely of your opinion," replied the duke, who had regained all his indifference of manner; "if M. de

Bragelonne were offended, I could not reasonably be expected to espouse his quarrel, since he is himself

"Nay, on the contrary, for I draw my sword," said Buckingham, unsheathing it as he spoke; "for if M.

d'Artagnan injured your father, he rendered, or at least did all that he could to render, a great service to mine."

"M. d'Artagnan," continued Buckingham, "is the bravest gentleman I know. I shall be delighted, as I owe him

many personal obligations, to settle them with you, by crossing my sword with yours." At the same moment

Buckingham drew his sword gracefully from its scabbard, saluted Raoul, and put himself on guard.

"Stay, gentlemen," said Raoul, advancing towards them, and placing his own drawn sword between the

combatants, "the affair is hardly worth the trouble of blood being shed almost in the presence of the princess.

"What, monsieur," said De Wardes, setting his teeth hard together, and resting the point of his sword on the

"Certainly not; you do not know him," replied Raoul, coldly, "and you are even not aware where he is to he

"Such must be the case, since you fix your quarrel with him upon strangers, instead of seeking M. d'Artagnan

where he is to be found." De Wardes turned pale. "Well, monsieur," continued Raoul, "I will tell you where

M. d'Artagnan is: he is now in Paris; when on duty he is to be met with at the Louvre, when not on duty,

in the Rue des Lombards. M. d'Artagnan can be easily discovered at either of those two places. Having,

therefore, as you assert, so many causes of complaint against him, show your courage in seeking him out, and

afford him an opportunity of giving you that satisfaction you seem to ask of every one but of himself." De

Wardes passed his hand across his forehead, which was covered with perspiration. "For shame, M. de

Wardes! so quarrelsome a disposition is hardly becoming after the publication of the edicts against duels.

Pray think of that; the king will be incensed at our disobedience, particularly at such a time, and his

"Really, M. De Wardes," resumed Raoul, "such remarks are the idlest bluster. You know very well that the

Duke of Buckingham is a man of undoubted courage, who has already fought ten duels, and will probably

fight eleven. His name alone is significant enough. As far as I am concerned, you are well aware that I can

fight also. I fought at Sens, at Bleneau, at the Dunes in front of the artillery, a hundred paces in front of the

line, while you I say this parenthetically were a hundred paces behind it. True it is, that on that

occasion there was far too great a concourse of persons present for your courage to be observed, and on that

account, perhaps, you did not reveal it; while here, it would be a display, and would excite remark you

wish that others should talk about you, in what manner you do not care. Do not depend upon me, M. de

Wardes, to assist you in your designs, for I shall certainly not afford you that pleasure."

"Sensibly observed," said Buckingham, putting up his sword, "and I ask your forgiveness, M. de Bragelonne,

De Wardes, however, on the contrary, perfectly furious, bounded forward and raised his sword, threateningly,

"Take care, monsieur," said Bragelonne, tranquilly, "or you will put out one of my eyes."

"Not at this moment, but this I promise to do; immediately on our arrival at Paris I will conduct you to M.

d'Artagnan, to whom you shall detail all the causes of complaint you have against him. M. d'Artagnan will

solicit the king's permission to measure swords with you. The king will yield his consent, and when you shall

have received the swordthrust in due course, you will consider, in a calmer frame of mind, the precepts of

"Ah!" exclaimed De Wardes, furious at this imperturbable coolness, "one can clearly see you are half a

Raoul became as pale as death; his eyes flashed lightning, causing De Wardes involuntarily to fall back.

Buckingham, also, who had perceived their expression, threw himself between the two adversaries, whom he

had expected to see precipitate themselves on each other. De Wardes had reserved this injury for the last; he

clasped his sword firmly in his hand, and awaited the encounter. "You are right, monsieur," said Raoul,

mastering his emotion, "I am only acquainted with my father's name, but I know too well that the Comte de la

Fere is too upright and honorable a man to allow me to fear for a single moment that there is, as you

insinuate, any stain upon my birth. My ignorance, therefore, of my mother's name is a misfortune for me, and

not a reproach. You are deficient in loyalty of conduct; you are wanting in courtesy, in reproaching me with

misfortune. It matters little, however, the insult has been given, and I consider myself insulted accordingly. It

is quite understood, then, that after you shall have received satisfaction from M. d'Artagnan, you will settle

"I admire your prudence, monsieur," replied De Wardes with a bitter smile; "a little while ago you promised

me a swordthrust from M. d'Artagnan, and now, after I shall have received his, you offer me one from

"Do not disturb yourself," replied Raoul, with concentrated anger, "in all affairs of that nature, M. d'Artagnan

is exceedingly skillful, and I will beg him as a favor to treat you as he did your father; in other words, to spare

your life at least, so as to leave me the pleasure, after your recovery, of killing you outright; for you have the

heart of a viper, M. de Wardes, and in very truth, too many precautions cannot be taken against you."

"Allow me, monsieur," said Buckingham, "to translate your remark by a piece of advice I am about to give

De Wardes clenched his hands. "Ah!" said he, "you two gentlemen intend to wait until you have taken that

"Very well, monsieur," said Raoul, "since you positively will have it so, let us settle the affair now." And

De Wardes placed himself on his guard; their swords crossed. De Wardes flew upon Raoul with such

impetuosity, that at the first clashing of the steel blades Buckingham clearly saw that Raoul was only trifling

with his adversary. Buckingham stepped aside, and watched the combat. Raoul was as calm as if he were

handling a foil, instead of a sword; having retreated a step, he parried three or four fierce thrusts which De

Wardes made at him, caught the sword of the latter within his own, and sent it flying twenty paces the other

side of the barrier. Then as De Wardes stood disarmed and astounded at his defeat Raoul sheathed his sword,

seized him by the collar and the waistband, and hurled his adversary to the other end of the barrier,

"We shall meet again," murmured De Wardes, rising from the ground and picking up his sword.

"I have done nothing for the last hour," said Raoul, "but say the same thing." Then, turning towards the duke,

he said, "I entreat you to be silent about this affair; I am ashamed to have gone so far, but my anger carried

"Dear viscount," said the duke, pressing within his own the vigorous and valiant hand of his companion,

"allow me, on the contrary, to remember it, and to look after your safety; that man is dangerous, he will

"My father," replied Raoul, "lived for twenty years under the menace of a much more formidable enemy, and

"Do not say that, I beg, at the very moment I offer you my friendship;" and Buckingham opened his arms to

embrace Raoul, who delightedly received the proffered alliance. "In my family," added Buckingham, "you

Nothing further interrupted the journey. Under a pretext that was little remarked, M. de Wardes went forward

in advance of the others. He took Manicamp with him, for his equable and dreamy disposition acted as a

counterpoise to his own. It is a subject of remark, that quarrelsome and restless characters invariably seek the

companionship of gentle, timorous dispositions, as if the former sought, in the contrast, a repose for their own

illhumor, and the latter a protection for their weakness. Buckingham and Bragelonne admitting De Guiche

into their friendship, in concert with him, sang the praises of the princess during the whole of the journey.

Bragelonne had, however, insisted that their three voices should be in concert, instead of singing in solo parts,

as De Guiche and his rival seemed to have acquired a dangerous habit of investigation. This style of harmony

pleased the queenmother exceedingly, but it was not perhaps so agreeable to the young princess, who was

an incarnation of coquetry, and who, without any fear as far as her own voice was concerned, sought

opportunities of so perilously distinguishing herself. She possessed one of those fearless and incautious

dispositions that find gratification in an excess of sensitiveness of feeling, and for whom, also, danger has a

certain fascination. And so her glances, her smiles, her toilette, an inexhaustible armory of weapons of

offense. were showered on the three young men with overwhelming force; and, from her wellstored arsenal

issued glances, kindly recognitions, and a thousand other little charming attentions which were intended to

strike at long range the gentlemen who formed the escort, the townspeople, the officers of the different cities

she passed through, pages, populace, and servants; it was wholesale slaughter, a general devastation. By the

time Madame arrived at Paris, she had reduced to slavery about a hundred thousand lovers: and brought in

her train to Paris half a dozen men who were almost mad about her, and two who were, indeed, literally out

of their minds. Raoul was the only person who divined the power of this woman's attraction, and as his heart

was already engaged, he arrived in the capital full of indifference and distrust. Occasionally during the

journey he conversed with the queen of England respecting the power of fascination which Madame

possessed, and the mother, whom so many misfortunes and deceptions had taught experience, replied:

"Henrietta was sure to be illustrious in one way or another, whether born in a palace or born in obscurity; for

she is a woman of great imagination, capricious and selfwilled." De Wardes and Manicamp, in their

selfassumed character of courtiers, had announced the princess's arrival. The procession was met at Nanterre

by a brilliant escort of cavaliers and carriages. It was Monsieur himself, followed by the Chevalier de

Lorraine and by his favorites, the latter being themselves followed by a portion of the king's military

household, who had arrived to meet his affianced bride. At St. Germain, the princess and her mother had

changed their heavy traveling carriage, somewhat impaired by the journey, for a light, richly decorated

chariot drawn by six horses with white and gold harness. Seated in this open carriage, as though upon a

throne, and beneath a parasol of embroidered silk, fringed with feathers, sat the young and lovely princess, on

whose beaming face were reflected the softened rosetints which suited her delicate skin to perfection.

Monsieur, on reaching the carriage, was struck by her beauty; he showed his admiration in so marked a

manner that the Chevalier de Lorraine shrugged his shoulders as he listened to his compliments, while

Buckingham and De Guiche were almost heartbroken. After the usual courtesies had been rendered, and the

ceremony completed, the procession slowly resumed the road to Paris. The presentations had been carelessly

made, and Buckingham, with the rest of the English gentlemen, had been introduced to Monsieur, from

whom they had received but very indifferent attention. But, during their progress, as he observed that the

duke devoted himself with his accustomed earnestness to the carriagedoor, he asked the Chevalier de

"He was presented to your highness a short while ago; it is the handsome Duke of Buckingham."

"Madame's knight," added the favorite, with an inflection of the voice which envious minds can alone give to

"One would think you can judge of that for yourself; look, only, how they are laughing and flirting. All three

"I poison nothing. Ah! your royal highness's mind is perverted. The honors of the kingdom of France are

The Duke of Orleans dreaded the satirical humor of the Chevalier de Lorraine whenever it reached a certain

degree of bitterness, and he changed the conversation abruptly. "The princess is pretty," said he, very

"They can easily be seen, for her mouth is large enough. Decidedly, I was wrong, my lord; you are certainly

"Certainly, and he thinks so, too; for look, my lord, he is redoubling his attentions to Madame to prevent your

Monsieur made a movement of impatience, but as he noticed a smile of triumph pass across the chevalier's

lips, he drew up his horse to a footpace. "Why," said he, "should I occupy myself any longer about my

cousin? Do I not already know her? Were we not brought up together? Did I not see her at the Louvre when

"A great change has taken place in her since then, prince. At the period you allude to, she was somewhat less

brilliant, and scarcely so proud, either. One evening, particularly, you may remember, my lord, the king

These words made the Duke of Orleans frown. It was by no means flattering for him to marry a princess of

whom, when young, the king had not thought much. He would probably have retorted, but at this moment De

Guiche quitted the carriage to join the prince. He had remarked the prince and the chevalier together, and full

of anxious attention he seemed to try and guess the nature of the remarks which they had just exchanged. The

chevalier, whether he had some treacherous object in view, or from imprudence, did not take the trouble to

"No doubt of it," said Monsieur, "and Guiche knows perfectly well that I regard him as a most finished

"Well, since that is decided, I resume. You have been in the princess's society, count, for the last eight days,

"Come, come, De Guiche," resumed the chevalier, laughingly, "tell us your opinion frankly; the prince

"I am perfectly well aware," returned Monsieur, "that the subject is a delicate one, but you know you can tell

In order to avoid betraying his real thoughts, De Guiche had recourse to the only defense which a man taken

by surprise really has, and accordingly told an untruth. "I do not find Madame," he said, "either good or bad

"What! count," exclaimed the chevalier, "you who went into such ecstasies and uttered so many exclamations

De Guiche colored violently. Very fortunately his horse, which was slightly restive, enabled him by a sudden

plunge to conceal his agitation. "What portrait!" he murmured, joining them again. The chevalier had not

"I do not remember. I had forgotten the portrait; it quite escaped my recollection."

"My own opinion is, that he must be," replied the chevalier, "for he makes Madame laugh, and she seems to

take no little pleasure in his society, which never happens to a clever woman when in the company of a

At this moment Raoul opportunely arrived, seeing how De Guiche was pressed by his dangerous questioner,

to whom he addressed a remark, and in that way changed the conversation. The entree was brilliant and

The king, in honor of his brother, had directed that the festivities should be on a scale of the greatest possible

magnificence. Madame and her mother alighted at the Louvre, where, during their exile, they had so gloomily

submitted to obscurity, misery, and privations of every description. That palace, which had been so

inhospitable a residence for the unhappy daughter of Henry IV., the naked walls, the uneven floorings, the

ceilings matted with cobwebs, the vast dilapidated chimneyplaces, the cold hearths on which the charity

extended to them by parliament hardly permitted a fire to glow, was completely altered in appearance. The

richest hangings and the thickest carpets, glistening flagstones and pictures, with their richly gilded frames; in

every direction could be seen candelabra, mirrors, and furniture and fittings of the most sumptuous character;

in every direction, also, were guards of the proudest military bearing, with floating plumes, crowds of

attendants and courtiers in the antechambers and upon the staircases. In the courtyards, where the grass had

formerly been allowed to luxuriate, as if the ungrateful Mazarin had thought it a good idea to let the Parisians

perceive that solitude and disorder were, with misery and despair, the fit accompaniments of fallen monarchy,

the immense courtyards, formerly silent and desolate, were now thronged with courtiers whose horses were

pacing and prancing to and fro. The carriages were filled with young and beautiful women, who awaited the

opportunity of saluting, as she passed, the daughter of that daughter of France who, during her widowhood

and exile, had sometimes gone without wood for her fire, and bread for her table, whom the meanest

attendants at the chateau had treated with indifference and contempt. And so, Madame Henrietta once more

returned to the Louvre, with her heart more swollen with bitter recollections than her daughter's, whose

disposition was fickle and forgetful, with triumph and delight. She knew but too well this brilliant reception

was paid to the happy mother of a king restored to his throne, a throne second to none in Europe, while the

worse than indifferent reception she had before met with was paid to her, the daughter of Henry IV., as a

punishment for having been unfortunate. After the princesses had been installed in their apartments and had

rested, the gentlemen who had formed their escort, having, in like manner, recovered from their fatigue, they

resumed their accustomed habits and occupations. Raoul began by setting off to see his father, who had left

for Blois. He then tried to see M. d'Artagnan, who, however, being engaged in the organization of a military

household for the king, could not be found anywhere. Bragelonne next sought out De Guiche, but the count

was occupied in a long conference with his tailors and with Manicamp, which consumed his whole time.

With the Duke of Buckingham he fared still worse, for the duke was purchasing horses after horses,

diamonds upon diamonds. He monopolized every embroiderer, jeweler, and tailor that Paris could boast of.

Between De Guiche and himself a vigorous contest ensued, invariably a courteous one, in which, in order to

insure success, the duke was ready to spend a million; while the Marechal de Grammont had only allowed his

son sixty thousand francs. So Buckingham laughed and spent his money. Guiche groaned in despair, and

would have shown it more violently, had it not been for the advice De Bragelonne gave him.

"A million!" repeated De Guiche daily; "I must submit. Why will not the marechal advance me a portion of

"What can that matter to him? If I am to die of it, I shall die of it, and then I shall need nothing further."

"My dear count," said Manicamp, "elegance is not a costly commodity, it is only a very difficult

"Yes, but difficult things cost a good deal of money, and I have only got sixty thousand francs."

"A very embarrassing state of things, truly," said De Wardes; "even if you spent as much as Buckingham

Advice like this resulted in De Guiche becoming excited to such an extent that he committed extravagances

where Buckingham only incurred expenses. The rumor of this extravagant profuseness delighted the hearts of

all the shopkeepers in Paris, from the hotel of the Duke of Buckingham to that of the Comte de Grammont

nothing but miracles was attempted. While all this was going on, Madame was resting herself, and

Bragelonne was engaged in writing to Mademoiselle de la Valliere. He had already dispatched four letters,

and not an answer to any one of them had been received, when, on the very morning fixed for the marriage

ceremony, which was to take place in the chapel at the PalaisRoyal, Raoul, who was dressing, heard his

valet announce M. de Malicorne. "What can this Malicorne want with me?" thought Raoul; and then said to

Malicorne entered as brilliant as a star, and wearing a superb sword at his side. After having saluted Raoul

most gracefully, he said: "M. de Bragelonne, I am the bearer of a thousand compliments from a lady to you."

"Thank you, monsieur; I recollect you now," said Raoul. "And what does Mademoiselle de Montalais require

"My own letters, is it possible?" he said, turning pale; "my letters, and the seals unbroken?"

"Monsieur, your letters did not find at Blois the person to whom they were addressed, and so they are now

"Mademoiselle de Montalais recognized your handwriting and your seal," said Malicorne.

Raoul colored and smiled. "Mademoiselle de Montalais is exceedingly amiable," he said; "she is always kind

"Surely she could give me some precise information about Mademoiselle de la Valliere. I never could find

Raoul hurriedly broke the seal. The writing was that of Mademoiselle Aure, and inclosed were these words:

Raoul looked at his strange visitor, and remained silent; "At least, tell me whether it is fortunate or

"I have the greatest desire to see the ceremony, and I have no ticket to admit me, in spite of all the steps I

"I am, monsieur; but this morning I was with him as he was dressing, and I let a bottle of blacking fall over

his new dress, and he flew at me sword in hand, so that I was obliged to make my escape. That is the reason I

"I can well believe it," laughed Raoul. "I know Manicamp is capable of killing a man who has been

unfortunate enough to commit the crime you have to reproach yourself with, but I will repair the mischief as

far as you are concerned. I will but fasten my cloak, and shall then be ready to serve you, not only as a guide,

Madame's marriage was celebrated in the chapel of the PalaisRoyal, in the presence of a crowd of courtiers,

who had been most scrupulously selected. However, notwithstanding the marked favor which an invitation

indicated, Raoul, faithful to his promise to Malicorne, who was so anxious to witness the ceremony, obtained

admission for him. After he had fulfilled this engagement, Raoul approached De Guiche, who, as if in

contrast with his magnificent costume, exhibited a countenance so utterly dejected, that the Duke of

Buckingham was the only one present who could contend with him as far as pallor and discomfiture were

"Take care, count," said Raoul, approaching his friend, and preparing to support him at the moment the

archbishop blessed the married couple. In fact, the Prince of Conde was attentively scrutinizing these two

images of desolation, standing like caryatides on either side of the nave of the church. The count, after that,

At the termination of the ceremony, the king and queen passed onward towards the grand receptionroom,

where Madame and her suite were to be presented to them. It was remarked that the king, who had seemed

more than surprised at his sisterinlaw's appearance was most flattering in his compliments to her. Again, it

was remarked that the queenmother, fixing a long and thoughtful gaze upon Buckingham, leaned towards

Madame de Motteville as though to ask her, "Do you not see how much he resembles his father?" and finally

it was remarked that Monsieur watched everybody, and seemed quite discontented. After the reception of the

princess and ambassadors, Monsieur solicited the king's permission to present to him as well as to Madame

"Are you aware, vicomte," inquired the Prince de Conde of Raoul, "whether the household has been selected

"That may be so, monseigneur; but the matter having no interest whatever for me, I never questioned De

Guiche on the subject; and De Guiche on his part, never having been questioned, did not communicate any

"It is true I saw Manicamp at Havre, and during the journey here, but I was no more inquisitive with him than

I had been towards De Guiche. Besides, is it likely that Manicamp should know anything of such matters? for

"My dear vicomte, do you not know better than that?" said the prince; "why, it is these persons of secondary

importance who, on such occasions, have all the influence; and the truth is, that nearly everything has been

done through Manicamp's presentations to De Guiche, and through De Guiche to Monsieur."

"I assure you, monseigneur, I was ignorant of that," said Raoul, "and what your highness does me the honor

"I will most readily believe you, although it seems incredible; besides, we shall not have long to wait. See,

the flying squadron is advancing, as good Queen Catherine used to say. Ah! ah! what pretty faces!"

A bevy of young girls at this moment entered the salon, conducted by Madame de Navailles, and to

Manicamp's credit be it said, if indeed he had taken that part in their selection which the Prince de Conde

assigned him, it was a display calculated to dazzle those who, like the prince, could appreciate every

character and style of beauty. A young, faircomplexioned girl, from twenty to oneandtwenty years of age,

and whose large blue eyes flashed, as she opened them, in the most dazzling manner, walked at the head of

"Mademoiselle de TonnayCharente," said Madame de Navailles to Monsieur, who, as he saluted his wife,

"Bah! we know these airs very well, vicomte; three months hence she will be tame enough. But look, there,

"Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais," said Madame de Navailles. The name and Christian name were carefully

"Great heavens!" exclaimed Raoul, fixing his bewildered gaze upon the entrance doorway.

"What's the matter?" inquired the prince; "was it Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais who made you utter such a

"Well, then, if it be not Mademoiselle Aure de Montalais, it is that pretty blonde who follows her. What

"Mademoiselle de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere!" said Madame de Navailles; and, as this name resounded

through his whole being, a cloud seemed to rise from his breast to his eyes, so that he neither saw nor heard

anything more; and the prince, finding him nothing more than a mere echo which remained silent under his

railleries, moved forward to inspect somewhat closer the beautiful girls whom his first glance had already

"Louise here! Louise a maid of honor to Madame!" murmured Raoul, and his eyes, which did not suffice to

satisfy his reason, wandered from Louise to Montalais. The latter had already emancipated herself from her

assumed timidity, which she only needed for the presentation and for her reverences.

Mademoiselle de Montalais, from the corner of the room to which she had retired, was looking with no slight

confidence at the different persons present; and, having discovered Raoul, she amused herself with the

profound astonishment which her own and her friend's presence there caused the unhappy lover. Her waggish

and malicious look, which Raoul tried to avoid meeting, and which yet he sought inquiringly from time to

time, placed him on the rack. As for Louise, whether from natural timidity, or some other reason for which

Raoul could not account, she kept her eyes constantly cast down; intimidated, dazzled, and with impeded

respiration, she withdrew herself as much as possible aside, unaffected even by the nudges Montalais gave

her with her elbow. The whole scene was a perfect enigma for Raoul, the key to which he would have given

anything to obtain. But no one was there who could assist him, not even Malicorne; who, a little uneasy at

finding himself in the presence of so many persons of good birth, and not a little discouraged by Montalais's

bantering glances, had described a circle, and by degrees succeeded in getting a few paces from the prince,

behind the group of maids of honor, and nearly within reach of Mademoiselle Aure's voice, she being the

planet around which he, as her attendant satellite, seemed constrained to gravitate. As he recovered his

selfpossession, Raoul fancied he recognized voices on his right hand that were familiar to him, and he

perceived De Wardes, De Guiche, and the Chevalier de Lorraine, conversing together. It is true they were

talking in tones so low, that the sound of their words could hardly be heard in the vast apartment. To speak in

that manner from any particular place without bending down, or turning round, or looking at the person with

whom one may be engaged in conversation, is a talent that cannot be immediately acquired by newcomers.

Long study is needed for such conversations, which, without a look, gesture, or movement of the head, seem

like the conversation of a group of statues. In fact, in the king's and queen's grand assemblies, while their

majesties were speaking, and while every one present seemed to be listening in the midst of the most

profound silence, some of these noiseless conversations took place, in which adulation was not the prevailing

feature. But Raoul was one among others exceedingly clever in this art, so much a matter of etiquette, that

from the movement of the lips he was often able to guess the sense of the words.

"Who is that Montalais?" inquired De Wardes, "and that La Valliere? What countrytown have we had sent

"Montalais?" said the chevalier, "oh, I know her; she is a good sort of a girl, whom we shall find amusing

"Do not be absurd, De Wardes, there are some very characteristic and ingenious Latin axioms about lame

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," said De Guiche, looking at Raoul with uneasiness, "be a little careful, I entreat

But the uneasiness of the count, in appearance at least, was not needed. Raoul had preserved the firmest and

most indifferent countenance, although he had not lost a word that passed. He seemed to keep an account of

the insolence and license of the two speakers in order to settle matters with them at the earliest opportunity.

"Take care, gentlemen," exclaimed De Guiche, anxious to put a stop to De Wardes's reply; "take care,

Raoul thrust his hand up to the wrist into his justaucorps in great agitation. But the very malignity which he

saw was excited against these poor girls made him take a serious resolution. "Poor Louise," he thought, "has

come here only with an honorable object in view and under honorable protection; and I must learn what that

object is which she has in view, and who it is that protects her." And following Malicorne's maneuver, he

made his way toward the group of the maids of honor. The presentations were soon over. The king, who had

done nothing but look at and admire Madame, shortly afterwards left the receptionroom, accompanied by

the two queens. The Chevalier de Lorraine resumed his place beside Monsieur, and, as he accompanied him,

insinuated a few drops of the venom he had collected during the last hour, while looking at some of the faces

in the court, and suspecting that some of their hearts might be happy. A few of the persons present followed

the king as he quitted the apartment; but such of the courtiers as assumed an independence of character, and

professed a gallantry of disposition, began to approach the ladies of the court. The prince paid his

compliments to Mademoiselle de TonnayCharente, Buckingham devoted himself to Madame Chalais and

Mademoiselle de Lafayette, whom Madame already distinguished by her notice, and whom she held in high

regard. As for the Comte de Guiche, who had abandoned Monsieur as soon as he could approach Madame

alone, he conversed, with great animation, with Madame de Valentinois, and with Mesdemoiselles de Crequy

Amid these varied political and amorous interests, Malicorne was anxious to gain Montalais's attention; but

the latter preferred talking with Raoul, even if it were only to amuse herself with his innumerable questions

and his astonishment. Raoul had gone direct to Mademoiselle de la Valliere, and had saluted her with the

profoundest respect, at which Louise blushed, and could not say a word. Montalais, however, hurried to her

"I do, indeed, see you," said Raoul, smiling, "and it is exactly because you are here that I wish to ask for

"Go away, Malicorne; really, you are exceedingly indiscreet." At this remark Malicorne bit his lips and

retired a few steps, without making any reply. His smile, however, changed its expression, and from its

"It is surely worth one, I think; Mademoiselle de la Valliere a maid of honor to Madame!"

"Pray accept my compliments, young ladies," said Raoul, who fancied he perceived they were not disposed to

"M. de Bragelonne probably thinks the position is above my condition," said Louise, hesitatingly.

"Assuredly not," replied Raoul, eagerly; "you know very well that such is not my feeling; were you called

upon to occupy a queen's throne, I should not be surprised; how much greater reason, then, such a position as

this? The only circumstance that amazes me is that I should have learned it only today, and that by the

"That is true," replied Montalais, with her usual giddiness; "you know nothing about it, and there is no reason

you should. M. de Bragelonne had written several letters to you, but your mother was the only person who

remained behind at Blois, and it was necessary to prevent these letters falling into her hands; I intercepted

them, and returned them to M. Raoul, so that he believed you were still at Blois while you were here in Paris,

"Why should I? to give him an opportunity or making some of his severe remarks and moral reflections, and

"Besides," said Montalais, "it is sufficient to say that it suited me. I was about setting off for Paris you

were away; Louise was weeping her eyes out; interpret that as you please; I begged a friend, a protector of

mine, who had obtained the appointment for me, to solicit one for Louise; the appointment arrived. Louise

left in order to get her costume prepared; as I had my own ready, I remained behind; I received your letters,

and returned them to you, adding a few words, promising you a surprise. Your surprise is before you,

monsieur, and seems to be a fair one enough; you have nothing more to ask. Come, M. Malicorne, it is now

time to leave these young people together: they have many things to talk about; give me your hand; I trust

"Forgive me," said Raoul, arresting the giddy girl, and giving to his voice an intonation, the gravity of which

contrasted with that of Montalais; "forgive me, but may I inquire the name of the protector you speak of; for

if protection be extended towards you, Mademoiselle Montalais, for which, indeed, so many reasons

exist," added Raoul, bowing, "I do not see that the same reasons exist why Mademoiselle de la Valliere

"But, M. Raoul," said Louise, innocently, "there is no difference in the matter, and I do not see why I should

Raoul remained for a moment almost stupefied, asking himself if they were trifling with him; he then turned

round to interrogate Malicorne, but he had been hurried away by Montalais, and was already at some distance

from them. Mademoiselle de la Valliere attempted to follow her friend, but Raoul, with gentle authority,

"But, M. Raoul," said Louise, blushing, "we are alone. Every one has left. They will become anxious, and

"Fear nothing," said the young man, smiling, "we are neither of us of sufficient importance for our absence to

"Do not be alarmed, I am acquainted with these usages of the court; you will not be on duty until tomorrow;

a few minutes are at your disposal, which will enable you to give me the information I am about to have the

"You are right," said Raoul, and, offering her his hand, he led the young girl into the gallery adjoining the

receptionroom, the windows of which looked out upon the courtyard. Every one hurried towards the middle

window, which had a balcony outside, from which all the details of the slow and formal preparations for

departure could be seen. Raoul opened one of the side windows, and then, being alone with Louise, said to

her: "You know, Louise, that from my childhood I have regarded you as my sister, as one who has been the

"You used, on your side, to show the same friendship towards me, and had the same confidence in me; why

have you not, on this occasion, been my friend why have you shown suspicion of me?"

Mademoiselle de la Valliere did not answer. "I fondly thought you loved me," said Raoul, whose voice

became more and more agitated; "I fondly thought you consented to all the plans we had, together, laid down

for our own happiness, at the time when we wandered up and down the walks of CourCheverny, under the

avenue of poplar trees leading to Blois. You do not answer me, Louise. Is it possible," he inquired, breathing

"Oh! tell me the truth, I implore you. All my hopes in life are centered in you. I chose you for your gentle and

simple tastes. Do not suffer yourself to be dazzled, Louise, now that you are in the midst of a court where all

that is pure too soon becomes corrupt where all that is young too soon grows old. Louise, close your ears,

so as not to hear what may be said; shut your eyes, so as not to see the examples before you; shut your lips,

that you may not inhale the corrupting influences about you. Without falsehood or subterfuge, Louise, am I to

believe what Mademoiselle de Montalais stated? Louise, did you come to Paris because I was no longer at

"Yes, it was so, then!" exclaimed Raoul, delightedly; "that was, then, your reason for coming here. I love you

as I never yet loved you. Thanks, Louise, for this devotion; but measures must be taken to place you beyond

all insult, to shield you from every lure. Louise, a maid of honor in the court of a young princess in these days

of free manners and inconstant affections a maid of honor is placed as an object of attack without having

any means of defence afforded her; this state of things cannot continue, you must be married in order to be

"Wait! it is impossible. Reflect, Louise, when you are concerned! it would be insulting, give me your

hand, dear Louise; I am my own master. My father will consent, I know; give me your hand, do not keep me

waiting thus. One word in answer, one word only; if not, I shall begin to think that, in order to change you

forever, nothing more was needed than a single step in the palace, a single breath of favor, a smile from the

Raoul had no sooner pronounced this latter word, than La Valliere became as pale as death, no doubt from

fear at seeing the young man excite himself. With a movement as rapid as thought, she placed both her hands

in those of Raoul, and then fled without adding a syllable; disappearing without casting a look behind her.

Raoul felt his whole frame tremble at the contact of her hand; he received the compact as a solemn bargain

Raoul quitted the PalaisRoyal full of ideas that admitted no delay in execution. He mounted his horse in the

courtyard, and followed the road to Blois, while the marriage festivities of Monsieur and the princess of

England were being celebrated with exceeding animation by the courtiers, but to the despair of De Guiche

and Buckingham. Raoul lost no time on the road, and in sixteen hours he arrived at Blois. As he traveled

along, he marshaled his arguments in the most becoming manner. Fever also is an argument that cannot be

answered, and Raoul had an attack. Athos was in his study, making additions to his memoirs, when Raoul

entered, accompanied by Grimaud. Keensighted and penetrating, a mere glance at his son told him that

"You seem to come on a matter of importance," said he to Raoul, after he had embraced him, pointing to a

"Yes, monsieur," replied the young man; "and I entreat you to give me the same kind attention that has never

"I present the case to you, monsieur, free from all preface, for that would be unworthy of you. Mademoiselle

de la Valliere is in Paris as one of Madame's maids of honor. I have pondered deeply on the matter; I love

Mademoiselle de la Valliere above everything; and it is not proper to leave her in a position where her

reputation, her virtue even, may be assailed. It is my wish, therefore, to marry her, monsieur, and I have come

While this communication was being made to him, Athos maintained the profoundest silence and reserve.

Raoul, who had begun his address with an assumption of selfpossession, finished it by allowing a manifest

emotion to escape him at every word. Athos fixed upon Bragelonne a searching look, overshadowed indeed

"Yes, monsieur," replied Raoul, in a low tone of voice, "but you added, that if I persisted "

"Your passion," continued Athos, tranquilly, "must indeed be very great, since, notwithstanding my dislike to

Raoul passed his trembling hand across his forehead to remove the perspiration that collected there. Athos

"It is no matter. My own personal feelings are not to be taken into consideration since yours are concerned;

"Your kind indulgence, first of all, monsieur," said Raoul, taking hold of his hand.

"You have mistaken my feelings, Raoul, I have more than mere indulgence for you in my heart."

Raoul kissed as devotedly as a lover could have done the hand he held in his own.

"Nothing whatever, monsieur. only it would be very kind if you would take the trouble to write to the king to

whom I belong, and solicit his majesty's permission for me to marry Mademoiselle de la Valliere."

"Well thought, Raoul! After, or rather before myself, you have a master to consult, that master being the king;

it is loyal in you to submit yourself voluntarily to this double proof; I will grant your request without delay,

The count approached the window, and leaning out, called to Grimaud, who showed his head from an arbor

"Yes, monsieur," said Raoul, almost alarmed by this kind condescension. "I do not ask you to put yourself to

"You mistake my position, Raoul; it is not respectful that a simple gentleman, such as I am, should write to

his sovereign. I wish to speak, I ought to speak, to the king, and I will do so. We will go together, Raoul."

"Upon the recommendation of M. d'Artagnan, I believe, and on account of an affair in the Place de Greve,

when I had the honor to draw my sword in the king's service. I have reason to believe that, vanity apart, I

"But I entreat you, monsieur," pursued Raoul, "not to maintain towards me your present grave and serious

manner. Do not make me bitterly regret having listened to a feeling stronger than anything else."

"That is the second time you have said so, Raoul; it was quite unnecessary, you require my formal consent,

and you have it. We need talk no more on the subject, therefore. Come and see my new plantations, Raoul."

The young man knew very well, that, after the expression of his father's wish, no opportunity of discussion

was left him. He bowed his head, and followed his father into the garden. Athos slowly pointed out to him the

grafts, the cuttings, and the avenues he was planting. This perfect repose of manner disconcerted Raoul

extremely; the affection with which his own heart was filled seemed so great that the whole world could

hardly contain it. How, then, could his father's heart remain void, and closed to its influence? Bragelonne,

"It is impossible, monsieur, you can have any reason to reject Mademoiselle de la Valliere? In Heaven's

name, she is so good, so gentle and pure, that your mind, so perfect in its penetration, ought to appreciate her

accordingly. Does any secret repugnance, or any hereditary dislike, exist between you and her family?"

"Look, Raoul, at that beautiful lily of the valley," said Athos; "observe how the shade and the damp situation

suit it, particularly the shadow which that sycamoretree casts over it, so that the warmth, and not the blazing

Raoul stopped, bit his lips, and then with the blood mantling in his face, he said, courageously, "One word

"In that case," replied Athos, drawing himself up with sternness, "prove to me that you are a man, for you do

not show yourself a son. I begged you to wait the opportunity of forming an illustrious alliance. I would have

obtained a wife for you from the first ranks of the rich nobility. I wish you to be distinguished by the splendor

"Monsieur," exclaimed Raoul, carried away by a first impulse, "I was reproached the other day for not

Athos turned pale; then, knitting his brows like the greatest of all the heathen deities: "I am waiting to

"Forgive me! oh, forgive me," murmured the young man, sinking at once from the lofty tone he had assumed.

"What was your reply, monsieur?" inquired the count, stamping his feet upon the ground.

"Monsieur, my sword was in my hand immediately, my adversary placed himself on guard, I struck his sword

"The king has prohibited duelling, and, at that moment, I was an ambassador of the king."

"Authority to draw my sword against the man who has inflicted this injury upon me."

"I will implore his majesty to sign your marriagecontract, but on one condition."

"On one condition, I repeat," continued Athos; "that you tell me the name of the man who spoke of your

"What need is there that you should know his name; the offense was directed against myself, and the

"Very well," said Athos, tranquilly, "I know him. But our horses are ready, I see; and, instead of delaying our

While the Comte de la Fere was proceeding on his way to Paris, accompanied by Raoul, the PalaisRoyal

was the theatre wherein a scene of what Moliere would have called excellent comedy was being performed.

Four days had elapsed since his marriage, and Monsieur, having breakfasted very hurriedly, passed into his

antechamber, frowning and out of temper. The repast had not been overagreeable. Madame had had

breakfast served in her own apartment, and Monsieur had breakfasted almost alone; the Chevalier de Lorraine

and Manicamp were the only persons present at the meal which lasted threequarters of an hour without a

single syllable having been uttered. Manicamp, who was less intimate with his royal highness than the

Chevalier de Lorraine, vainly endeavored to detect, from the expression of the prince's face, what had made

him so illhumored. The Chevalier de Lorraine, who had no occasion to speculate about anything, inasmuch

as he knew all, ate his breakfast with that extraordinary appetite which the troubles of one's friends but

stimulates, and enjoyed at the same time both Monsieur's illhumor and the vexation of Manicamp. He

seemed delighted, while he went on eating, to detain the prince, who was very impatient to move, still at

table. Monsieur at times repented the ascendancy which he had permitted the Chevalier de Lorraine to

acquire over him, and which exempted the latter from any observance of etiquette towards him. Monsieur

was now in one of those moods, but he dreaded as much as he liked the chevalier, and contented himself with

nursing his anger without betraying it. Every now and then Monsieur raised his eyes to the ceiling, then

lowered them towards the slices of pate which the chevalier was attacking, and finally, not caring to betray

his resentment, he gesticulated in a manner which Harlequin might have envied. At last, however, Monsieur

could control himself no longer, and at the dessert, rising from the table in excessive wrath, as we have

related, he left the Chevalier de Lorraine to finish his breakfast as he pleased. Seeing Monsieur rise from the

table, Manicamp, napkin in hand, rose also. Monsieur ran rather than walked, towards the antechamber,

where, noticing an usher in attendance, he gave him some directions in a low tone of voice. Then turning

back again, but avoiding passing through the breakfast apartment, he crossed several rooms, with the

intention of seeking the queenmother in her oratory, where she usually remained.

It was about ten o'clock in the morning. Anne of Austria was engaged in writing as Monsieur entered. The

queenmother was extremely attached to her son, for he was handsome in person and amiable in disposition.

He was, in fact, more affectionate, and, it might be, more effeminate than the king. He pleased his mother by

those trifling sympathizing attentions all women are glad to receive. Anne of Austria, who would have been

rejoiced to have had a daughter, almost found in this, her favorite son, the attentions, solicitude, and playful

manners of a child of twelve years of age. All the time he passed with his mother he employed in admiring

her arms, in giving his opinion upon her cosmetics, and receipts for compounding essences, in which she was

very particular; and then, too, he kissed her hands and cheeks in the most childlike and endearing manner,

and had always some sweetmeats to offer her, or some new style of dress to recommend. Anne of Austria

loved the king, or rather the regal power in her eldest son; Louis XIV. represented legitimacy by right divine.

With the king, her character was that of the queenmother, with Philip she was simply the mother. The latter

knew that, of all places of refuge, a mother's heart is the most compassionate and surest. When quite a child

he always fled there for refuge when he and his brother quarrelled, often, after having struck him, which

constituted the crime of high treason on his part, after certain engagements with hands and nails, in which the

king and his rebellious subject indulged in their nightdresses respecting the right to a disputed bed, having

their servant Laporte as umpire, Philip, conqueror, but terrified at victory, used to flee to his mother to

obtain reinforcements from her, or at least the assurance of forgiveness, which Louis XIV. granted with

difficulty, and after an interval. Anne, from this habit of peaceable intervention, succeeded in arranging the

disputes of her sons, and in sharing, at the same time, all their secrets. The king, somewhat jealous of that

maternal solicitude which was bestowed particularly upon his brother, felt disposed to show towards Anne of

Austria more submission and attachment than his character really dictated. Anne of Austria had adopted this

line of conduct especially towards the young queen. In this manner she ruled with almost despotic sway over

the royal household, and she was already preparing her batteries to govern with the same absolute authority

the household of her second son. Anne experienced almost a feeling of pride whenever she saw any one enter

her apartment with woebegone looks, pale cheeks, or red eyes, gathering from appearances that assistance

was required either by the weakest or the most rebellious. She was writing, we have said, when Monsieur

entered her oratory, not with red eyes or pale cheeks, but restless, out of temper, and annoyed. With an absent

air he kissed his mother's hands, and sat himself down before receiving her permission to do so. Considering

the strict rules of etiquette established at the court of Anne of Austria, this forgetfulness of customary

civilities was a sign of preoccupation, especially on Philip's part, who, of his own accord, observed a respect

towards her of a somewhat exaggerated character. If, therefore, he so notoriously failed in this regard, there

"What is the matter, Philip?" inquired Anne of Austria, turning towards her son.

"You look like a man who has a great deal to do," said the queen, laying down her pen. Philip frowned, but

did not reply. "Among the various subjects which occupy your mind," said Anne of Austria, "there must

Philip opened his mouth as if to express all the troubles his mind was filled with, and which he seemed to be

waiting only for an opportunity of declaring. But he suddenly became silent, and a sigh alone expressed all

"Come, Philip, show a little firmness," said the queenmother. "When one has to complain of anything, it is

"In fact, madame, what I might possibly have to say must be kept a profound secret; for when a lady is in the

"Ah! you are speaking of Madame, then?" inquired the queenmother, with a feeling of the liveliest curiosity.

"Well, then, if you wish to speak of Madame, do not hesitate to do so. I am your mother, and she is no more

than a stranger to me. Yet, as she is my daughterinlaw, rest assured I shall be interested, even were it for

"`Something'! Philip? Your words almost frighten me, from their want of meaning. What do you mean by

"No, but as she grows older, she will probably become strikingly beautiful. You must have remarked the

change which a few years have already made in her. Her beauty will improve more and more; she is now only

sixteen years of age. At fifteen I was, myself, very thin; but even as she is at present, Madame is very pretty."

"Undoubtedly, for a woman of ordinary rank is noticed and with still greater reason a princess."

"Madame Henrietta, her mother, is a woman somewhat cold in manner, slightly pretentious, but full of noble

thoughts. The princess's education may have been neglected, but her principles, I believe, are good. Such at

least was the opinion I formed of her when she resided in France; but she afterwards returned to England, and

"Simply that there are some heads naturally giddy, which are easily turned by prosperity."

"We must not exaggerate, Philip; she is clever and witty, and has a certain amount of coquetry very natural in

a young woman; but this defect in persons of high rank and position is a great advantage at a court. A

princess who is tinged with coquetry usually forms a brilliant court around her; her smile stimulates luxury,

arouses wit, and even courage; the nobles, too, fight better for a prince whose wife is beautiful."

"Thank you extremely, madame," said Philip, with some temper; "you really have drawn some very alarming

"You know, madame," said Philip, dolefully, "whether I had or had not a very great dislike to getting

"Now, indeed, you alarm me. You have some serious cause of complaint against Madame."

"In that case, then, throw aside your doleful looks. If you show yourself to others in your present state, people

"The fact is," replied Philip, "I am not altogether satisfied as a husband, and I shall not be sorry if others

"Well, then, madame, I will tell you frankly that I do not understand the life I am required to lead."

"My wife does not seem to belong to me; she is always leaving me for some reason or another. In the

mornings there are visits, correspondences, and toilettes; in the evenings, balls and concerts."

"I! Heaven forbid. Let others act the part of a jealous husband, not I. But I am annoyed."

"All these things you reproach your wife with are perfectly innocent, and, so long as you have nothing of

"Yet, listen; without being very blamable, a woman can excite a good deal of uneasiness. Certain visitors may

be received, certain preferences shown, which expose young women to remark, and which are enough to

drive out of their senses even those husbands who are least disposed to be jealous."

"Ah! now we are coming to the real point at last, and not without some difficulty. You speak of frequent

visits, and certain preferences very good; for the last hour we have been beating about the bush, and at last

you have broached the true question. This is more serious than I thought. It is possible, then, that Madame

"What, your wife, married only four days ago, prefers some other person to yourself? Take care, Philip, you

The prince, bewildered by his mother's serious manner wished to reply, but he could only stammer out some

"You draw back, then?" said Anne of Austria. "I prefer that, as it is an acknowledgment of your mistake."

"No!" exclaimed Philip, "I do not draw back, and I will prove all I asserted. I spoke of preference and of

Anne of Austria prepared herself to listen, with that love of gossip which the best woman living and the best

mother, were she a queen even, always finds in being mixed up with the petty squabbles of a household.

"Why does my wife retain an English court about her?" said Philip, as he crossed his arms and looked his

mother steadily in the face, as if he were convinced that she could not answer the question.

"For a very simple reason," returned Anne of Austria; "because the English are her countrymen, because they

have expended large sums in order to accompany her to France, and because it would be hardly polite not

politic, certainly to dismiss abruptly those members of the English nobility who have not shrunk from any

"A wonderful sacrifice indeed," returned Philip, "to desert a wretched country to come to a beautiful one,

where a greater effect can be produced for a crown than can be procured elsewhere for four! Extraordinary

devotion, really, to travel a hundred leagues in company with a woman one is in love with!"

Anne of Austria blushed and smiled at the same time. The name of the Duke of Buckingham recalled certain

recollections of a very tender and melancholy nature. "The Duke of Buckingham?" she murmured.

"This is too bad; my own mother takes the part of my wife's lover against me," exclaimed Philip, incensed to

"Philip, my son," exclaimed Anne of Austria, "such an expression is unworthy of you. Your wife has no lover

and, had she one, it would not be the Duke of Buckingham. The members of that family, I repeat are loyal

"The Duke of Buckingham is an Englishman, madame," said Philip; "and may I ask if the English so very

Anne blushed a second time, and turned aside under the pretext of taking her pen from her desk again, but in

reality to conceal her confusion from her son. "Really, Philip," she said, "you seem to discover expressions

for the purpose of embarrassing me, and your anger blinds you while it alarms me; reflect a little."

"That Buckingham never quits my wife. He presumes to make presents to her, and she ventures to accept

them. Yesterday she was talking about sachets a la violette; well, our French perfumers, you know very well,

madame, for you have over and over again asked for it without success our French perfumers, I say, have

never been able to procure this scent. The duke, however, wore about him a sachet a la violette, and I am sure

"Indeed, monsieur," said Anne of Austria, "you build your pyramids on needle points; be careful. What harm,

I ask you, can there be in a man giving to his countrywoman a receipt for a new essence? These strange ideas,

I protest, painfully recall your father to me; he who so frequently and so unjustly made me suffer."

"The Duke of Buckingham's father was probably more reserved and more respectful than his son," said

Philip, thoughtlessly, not perceiving how deeply he had wounded his mother's feelings. The queen turned

pale, and pressed her clenched hands upon her bosom; but, recovering herself immediately, she said, "You

"I came, madame, intending to complain energetically, and to inform you that I will not submit to such

"Very well, then," said Monsieur, with an expression of stern determination on his countenance, which

offered a singular contrast to its usual gentleness. "Very well. I will right myself!"

"I will have the Duke of Buckingham quit the princess, I will have him quit France, and I will see that my

"You will intimate nothing of the kind, Philip," said the queen, "for if you act in that manner, and violate

hospitality to that extent, I will invoke the severity of the king against you."

"Do you threaten me, madame?" exclaimed Philip, almost in tears; "do you threaten me in the midst of my

"I do not threaten you; I do but place an obstacle in the path of your hasty anger. I maintain that, to adopt

towards the Duke of Buckingham, or any other Englishman, any rigorous measure to take even a

discourteous step towards him, would be to plunge France and England into the most disastrous

disagreement. Can it be possible that a prince of the blood, the brother of the king of France, does not know

how to hide an injury, even did it exist in reality, where political necessity requires it?" Philip made a

movement. "Besides," continued the queen, "the injury is neither true nor possible, and it is merely a matter

The queen rose, full of severity, and with an icy ceremonious manner. "Explain what you really require,

"I do not require anything, madame; I simply express what I desire. If the Duke of Buckingham does not, of

his own accord, discontinue his visits to my apartments I shall forbid him entrance."

"That is a point you will refer to the king," said Anne of Austria, her heart swelling as she spoke, and her

"But, madame," exclaimed Philip, striking his hands together, "act as my mother and not as the queen, since I

speak to you as a son; it is simply a matter of a few minutes' conversation between the duke and myself."

"It is that very conversation I forbid," said the queen, resuming her authority, "because it is unworthy of you."

"Be it so; I will not appear in the matter, but I shall intimate my will to Madame."

"Oh!" said the queenmother, with a melancholy arising from reflection, "never tyrannize over a wife

never behave too haughtily or imperiously towards your own. A woman unwillingly convinced is

"Yes, your doubledealing advisers, your Chevalier de Lorraine your De Wardes. Intrust the conduct of

"Send the duke to me, then; smile upon your wife, behave to her, to the king, to every one, as usual. But

follow no advice but mine. Alas! I too well know what any household comes to that is troubled by advisers."

"Very well." said Anne of Austria, calmly. "Be good enough to tell the duke that I shall be charmed if he will

Philip kissed his mother's hand, and started off to find the Duke of Buckingham.

The Duke of Buckingham, obedient to the queenmother's invitation, presented himself in her apartments

half an hour after the departure of the Duc d'Orleans. When his name was announced by the gentlemanusher

in attendance, the queen, who was sitting with her elbow resting on a table, and her head buried in her hands,

rose, and smilingly received the graceful and respectful salutation which the duke addressed to her. Anne of

Austria was still beautiful. It is well known that at her then somewhat advanced age, her long auburn hair,

perfectly formed hands, and bright ruby lips, were still the admiration of all who saw her. On the present

occasion, abandoned entirely to a remembrance which evoked all the past in her heart, she looked almost as

beautiful as in the days of her youth, when her palace was open to the visits of the Duke of Buckingham's

father, then a young and impassioned man, as well as an unfortunate prince, who lived for her alone, and died

with her name upon his lips. Anne of Austria fixed upon Buckingham a look so tender in its expression, that

it denoted, not alone the indulgence of maternal affection, but a gentleness of expression like the coquetry of

The favor which Anne of Austria thus extended to the young man, and the welcome sound of the language of

a country from which the duke had been estranged since his stay in France, deeply affected him. He

immediately conjectured that the queen had a request to make of him. After having abandoned the first few

moments to the irrepressible emotions she experienced, the queen resumed the smiling air with which she had

"I prefer my own native land to France," replied the duke; "but if your majesty were to ask me which of the

two cities, London or Paris, I should prefer as a residence, I should be forced to answer, Paris."

Anne of Austria observed the ardent manner with which these words had been pronounced. "I am told my

lord, you have rich possessions in your own country and that you live in a splendid and timehonored

"Those are indeed great advantages and souvenirs," replied the queen, alluding, in spite of herself, to

"In fact," said the duke, yielding to the melancholy influence of this opening conversation, "sensitive persons

"That is very true," said the queen, in a low tone of voice. "It follows, then, my lord,' she added, "that you,

who are a man of feeling, will soon quit France in order to shut yourself up with your wealth and your relics

"On the contrary, I think of leaving England in order to take up my residence in France."

It was now Anne of Austria's turn to exhibit surprise. "Why?" she said. "Are you not in favor with the new

"It cannot," said the queen, "be because your fortune has diminished, for it is said to be enormous."

"No, madame," said Buckingham, eagerly, "there is nothing secret in my reason for this determination. I

prefer residence in France; I like a court so distinguished by its refinement and courtesy; I like the

amusements, somewhat serious in their nature, which are not the amusements of my own country, and which

Anne of Austria smiled shrewdly. "Amusements of a serious nature?" she said. "Has your Grace well

reflected on their seriousness?" The duke hesitated. "There is no amusement so serious," continued the queen,

"If you will forgive me for saying so, it is the second time you have vaunted the attractions of England at the

Anne of Austria approached the young man, and placing her beautiful hand upon his shoulder, which

trembled at the touch, said, "Believe me, monsieur, nothing can equal a residence in one's own native

country. I have very frequently had occasion to regret Spain. I have lived long, my lord, very long for a

woman, and I confess to you, that not a year has passed I have not regretted Spain."

"Not one year, madame?" said the young duke coldly. "Not one of those years when you reigned Queen of

"A truce to flattery, duke, for I am old enough to be your mother." She emphasized these latter words in a

manner, and with a gentleness, which penetrated Buckingham's heart. "Yes," she said, "I am old enough to be

The duke clasped his hands with a terrified gesture which could not fail of its effect upon the queen, already

disposed to softer feelings by the tenderness of her own recollections. "It must be so," added the queen.

"What!" he again exclaimed, "am I seriously told that I must leave, that I must exile myself, that I am

Buckingham threw himself on his knees. "Madame, you are the source of intelligence, of goodness, and of

compassion; you are the first person in this kingdom, not only by your rank, but the first person in the world

on account of your angelic attributes. I have said nothing, madame. Have I, indeed, said anything you should

"You forget you have spoken and thought in the presence of a woman, and besides "

"On the contrary, it is known; you have all the defects and all the qualities of youth."

"By those who, at Havre, had, with infernal perspicacity, read my heart like an open book."

"I know the name without being acquainted with the person to whom it belongs. M. de Bragelonne has said

"Who can it be, then? If any one, madame, had had the boldness to notice in me that which I do not myself

"He, then, who has discovered your secret, madman that you are, still lives; and, what is more, you will not

slay him, for he is armed on all sides, he is a husband, a jealous man, he is the second gentleman in

"You see, Buckingham," said Anne of Austria, sadly, "how you pass from one extreme to another, and fight

"If we fight, madame, we die on the field of battle," replied the young man, gently, abandoning himself to the

Anne ran towards him and took him by the hand. "Villiers," she said, in English, with a vehemence of tone

which nothing could resist, "what is it you ask? Do you ask a mother to sacrifice her son, a queen to

consent to the dishonor of her house? Child that you are, do not dream of it. What! in order to spare your

tears am I to commit these crimes? Villiers! you speak of the dead; the dead, at least, were full of respect and

submission; they resigned themselves to an order of exile; they carried their despair away with them in their

hearts, like a priceless possession, because the despair was caused by the woman they loved, and because

Buckingham rose, his features distorted, and his hands pressed against his heart. "You are right, madame," he

said, "but those of whom you speak had received their order of exile from the lips of the one whom they

loved; they were not driven away; they were entreated to leave, and were not laughed at."

"No," murmured Anne of Austria, "they were not forgotten. But who says you are driven away, or that you

are exiled? Who says that your devotion will not be remembered? I do not speak on any one's behalf but my

own, when I tell you to leave. Do me this kindness grant me this favor; let me, for this also, be indebted to

"No one whom I shall leave behind me will venture to mock, no prince even who shall say, `I required it.'"

"Listen to me, duke," and hereupon the dignified features of the queen assumed a solemn expression. "I swear

to you that no one commands in this matter but myself. I swear to you that, not only shall no one either laugh

or boast in any way, but no one even shall fail in the respect due to your rank. Rely upon me, duke, as I rely

"You do not explain yourself, madame; my heart is full of bitterness, and I am in utter despair; no

"Very slightly, madame; yet I remember how she used to cover me with her caresses and her tears whenever I

"Villiers," murmured the queen, passing her arm round the young man's neck, "look upon me as your mother,

"I thank you, madame," said the young man, affected and almost suffocated by his emotion, "I feel there is

"At any time that may suit you, my lord," resumed the queen; "you will choose your own day of departure.

Instead, however, of setting off today, as you would doubtless wish to do, or tomorrow, as others may

have expected, leave the day after tomorrow, in the evening; but announce today that it is your wish to

Anne of Austria reflected for a moment, seemingly absorbed in sad and serious thought. "It would be a

consolation for me," she said, "if you were to return on the day when I shall be carried to my final

"Madame, you are goodness itself; the tide of prosperity is setting in on you; your cup brims over with

"In that case you will not come for some time, then," said the queen, endeavoring to smile.

"I shall not return," said Buckingham, "young as I am. Death does not reckon by years; it is impartial; some

"I will not harbor any sorrowful ideas, duke. Let me comfort you; return in two years. I perceive from your

face that the very idea which saddens you so much now, will have disappeared before six months have

passed, and will be not only dead but forgotten in the period of absence I have assigned you.'

"I think you judged me better a little while ago madame," replied the young man, "when you said that time is

"Silence," said the queen, kissing the duke upon the forehead with an affection she could not restrain. "Go,

go; spare me and forget yourself no longer. I am the queen; you are the subject of the king of England. King

"Forever!" replied the young man, and he fled, endeavoring to master his emotion.

Anne leaned her head upon her hands, and then looking at herself in the glass, murmured, "It has been truly

said, that a woman who has truly loved is always young, and that the bloom of twenty years ever lies

CHAPTER 93. King Louis XIV. does not think Mademoiselle de la Valliere either rich enough or pretty

Raoul and the Comte de la Fere reached Paris the evening of the same day on which Buckingham had held

the conversation with the queenmother. The count had scarcely arrived, when, through Raoul, he solicited

an audience of the king. His majesty had passed a portion of the morning in looking over, with Madame and

the ladies of the court, various goods of Lyons manufacture, of which he had made his sisterinlaw a

present. A court dinner had succeeded, then cards, and afterwards, according to his usual custom, the king,

leaving the cardtables at eight o'clock, passed into his cabinet in order to work with M. Colbert and M.

Fouquet. Raoul entered the antechamber at the very moment the two ministers quitted it, and the king,

perceiving him through the halfclosed door, said, "What do you want, M. de Bragelonne?"

The young man approached: "An audience, sire," he replied, "for the Comte de la Fere, who has just arrived

"I have an hour to spare between cards and supper," said the king. "Is the Comte de la Fere at hand?"

"Let him come up at once," said the king, and five minutes afterwards Athos entered the presence of Louis

XIV. He was received by the king with that gracious kindness of manner which Louis, with a tact beyond his

years, reserved for the purpose of gaining those who were not to be conquered by ordinary favors. "Let me

"I will not conceal from your majesty," replied the comte, "that I am indeed come for that purpose."

"So much the worse; but, at least, I will do for your protege what you refuse to permit me to do for you."

"Your majesty encourages me. I have come to speak on behalf of the Vicomte de Bragelonne."

"Not altogether so, sire. I am desirous of obtaining from your majesty that which I cannot ask for myself. The

"He is still very young; but that does not matter. He is an eminently distinguished man, I will choose a wife

"It is only a question, then, of signing the marriagecontract?" Athos bowed. "Has he chosen a wife whose

Athos hesitated for a moment. "His affianced wife is of good birth, but has no fortune."

"You overwhelm me with gratitude, sire; but your majesty will permit me to offer a remark?"

"Your majesty seems to intimate an intention of giving a marriageportion to this young lady."

"I should regret, sire, if the step I have taken towards your majesty should be attended by this result."

"I seem to know that name," said the king, as if reflecting; "there was a Marquis de la Valliere"

"But he died, and his widow married again M. de SaintRemy, I think, steward of the wager Madame's

"More than that, the young lady has lately become one of the princess's maids of honor."

The king again reflected, and glancing at the comte's anxious countenance, said: "The young lady does not

"With regard to beauty, then, the match is but an ordinary one. Now for the money side of the question."

"Fifteen to twenty thousand francs dowry at the very outside, sire; the lovers are disinterested enough; for

"For superfluity, you mean; but a needful amount is of importance. With fifteen thousand francs, without

landed property, a woman cannot live at court. We will make up the deficiency; I will do it for De

Bragelonne." The king again remarked the coldness with which Athos received the remark.

"Let us pass from the question of money to that of rank," said Louis XIV.; "the daughter of the Marquis de la

Valliere, that is well enough; but there is that excellent SaintRemy, who somewhat damages the credit of the

family; and you, comte, are rather particular, I believe, about your own family."

The king again paused. "A moment, comte. You have surprised me in no little degree from the beginning of

your conversation. You came to ask me to authorize a marriage, and you seem greatly disturbed in having to

make the request. Nay, pardon me, comte, but I am rarely deceived, young as I am; for while with some

persons I place my friendship at the disposal of my understanding, with others I call my distrust to my aid, by

which my discernment is increased. I repeat that you do not prefer your request as though you wished it

"Nay, sire; I love De Bragelonne with my whole heart; he is smitten with Mademoiselle de la Valliere, he

weaves dreams of bliss for the future; I am not one who is willing to destroy the illusions of youth. This

marriage is objectionable to me, but I implore your majesty to consent to it forthwith, and thus make Raoul

"If your majesty requires me to speak candidly, I do not believe in Mademoiselle de la Valliere's affection;

the delight at being at court, the honor of being in the service of Madame, counteract in her head whatever

affection she may happen to have in her heart; it is a marriage similar to many others which already exist at

"And yet you do not resemble those easytempered fathers who volunteer as steppingstones for their

"I am determined enough against the viciously disposed, but not so against men of upright character. Raoul is

suffering; he is in great distress of mind: his disposition, naturally light and cheerful, has become gloomy and

melancholy. I do not wish to deprive your majesty of the services he may be able to render."

"I understand you," said the king; "and what is more, I understand your heart, too, comte."

"There is no occasion, therefore," replied the comte, "to tell your majesty that my object is to make these

"And I, too, as much as yourself, comte, wish to secure M. de Bragelonne's happiness."

"I only await your majesty's signature. Raoul will have the honor of presenting himself before your majesty

"You are mistaken, comte," said the king, firmly; "I have just said that I desire to secure M. de Bragelonne's

"I appreciate your majesty's considerate and generous intentions in my behalf; but I take the liberty of

"An ambassador, comte, frequently asks, but does not always obtain what he asks."

"Do not make yourself uneasy on the subject. I have certain views for De Bragelonne. I do not say that he

shall not marry Mademoiselle de la Valliere, but I do not wish him to marry so young; I do not wish him to

marry her until she has acquired a fortune; and he, on his side, no less deserves favor, such as I wish to confer

"Grant me one, then, instead; let us speak no longer upon this matter. It is probable that, before long, war may

be declared. I require men about me who are unfettered. I should hesitate to send under fire a married man, or

a father of a family. I should hesitate also, on De Bragelonne's account, to endow with a fortune, without

some sound reason for it, a young girl, a perfect stranger; such an act would sow jealousy amongst my

"Absolutely all, sire; and I take my leave of your majesty. Is it, however, necessary that I should inform

"Spare yourself the trouble and annoyance. Tell the vicomte that at my levee tomorrow morning I will speak

"A day will come, I hope, when you will leave me no more. Before long, comte, the monarchy will be

established in such a manner as to enable me to offer a worthy hospitality to men of your merit."

"Provided, sire, a monarch reigns grandly in the hearts of his subjects, the palace he inhabits matters little,

since he is worshipped in a temple." With these words Athos left the cabinet, and found De Bragelonne, who

"The king, Raoul, is well intentioned towards us both; not, perhaps, in the sense you suppose, but he is kind,

"You have bad news to communicate to me, monsieur," said the young man, turning very pale.

"The king wishes himself to settle the terms of the contract, and he desires to make it so grand that he

requires time for consideration. Throw the blame rather on your own impatience, than on the king's good

Raoul, in utter consternation, on account of his knowledge of the count's frankness as well as his diplomacy,

"I beg your pardon, monsieur; I will follow you," he stammered out, following Athos down the staircase.

They altered their course, but on reaching the landing of the grand staircase, Raoul perceived a servant in the

"This note, monsieur. My master heard of your return and wrote to you without delay; I have been looking

Raoul approached Athos as he unsealed the letter. saying, "With your permission, monsieur."

"Dear Raoul," wrote the Comte de Guiche, "I have an affair in hand which requires immediate attention; I

Hardly had he finished reading it, when a servant in the livery of the Duke of Buckingham, turning out of the

gallery, recognized Raoul, and approached him respectfully, saying, "From his Grace, monsieur."

"Well, Raoul, as I see you are already as busy as a general of an army, I shall leave you, and will find M.

"Yes, yes, I excuse you; adieu, Raoul; you will find me at my apartments until tomorrow; during the day I

"Monsieur de Bragelonne," it ran, "You are, of all the Frenchmen I have known, the one with whom I am

most pleased; I am about to put your friendship to the proof. I have received a certain message, written in

very good French. As I am an Englishman, I am afraid of not comprehending it very clearly. The letter has a

good name attached to it, and that is all I can tell you. Will you be good enough to come and see me? for I am

"I am going now to see your master," said Raoul to De Guiche's servant, as he dismissed him; "and I shall be

with the Duke of Buckingham in an hour," he added, dismissing with these words the duke's messenger.

Raoul, on betaking himself to De Guiche, found him conversing with De Wardes and Manicamp. De Wardes,

since the affair of the barricade, had treated Raoul as a stranger; they behaved as if they were not acquainted.

As Raoul entered, De Guiche walked up to him; and Raoul, as he grasped his friend's hand, glanced rapidly at

his two companions, hoping to be able to read on their faces what was passing in their minds. De Wardes was

cold and impenetrable; Manicamp seemed absorbed in the contemplation of some trimming to his dress. De

Guiche led Raoul to an adjoining cabinet, and made him sit down, saying, "How well you look!"

"It is your case, then, Raoul, as it is my own, our love affairs do not progress."

"So much the better, count, as far as you are concerned; the worst news would be good news."

"In that case do not distress yourself, for, not only am I very unhappy, but, what is more, I see others about

"You will soon learn. I have tried, but in vain, to overcome the feeling you saw dawn in me, increase and take

entire possession of me. I have summoned all your advice and my own strength to my aid. I have well

weighed the unfortunate affair in which I have embarked; I have sounded its depths; that it is an abyss, I am

"This is madness, De Guiche! you cannot advance another step without risking your own ruin today,

"Raoul, I believe nothing; I hope, because hope exists in man, and never abandons him till death."

"But, admitting that you obtain the happiness you covet, even then, you are more certainly lost than if you

"I beseech you, Raoul, not to interrupt me any more; you could never convince me, for I tell you beforehand,

I do not wish to be convinced; I have gone so far I cannot recede; I have suffered so much, death itself would

be a boon. I no longer love to madness, Raoul, I am being engulfed by a whirlpool of jealousy."

Raoul struck his hands together with an expression resembling anger. "Well?" said he.

"Well or ill matters little. This is what I claim from you, my friend, my almost brother. During the last three

days Madame has been living in a perfect intoxication of gayety. On the first day, I dared not look at her; I

hated her for not being as unhappy as myself. The next day I could not bear her out of my sight; and she,

Raoul at least I thought I remarked it she looked at me, if not with pity, at least with gentleness. But

between her looks and mine, a shadow intervened; another's smile invited hers. Beside her horse another's

always gallops, which is not mine; in her ear another's caressing voice, not mine, unceasingly vibrates. Raoul,

for three days past my brain has been on fire; flame, not blood, courses through my veins. That shadow must

"This time the affair will be easy to arrange between us; I have taken the initiative, and have sent him a

"I know it, because he told me so. Look at this;" and he handed De Guiche the letter he had received nearly at

the same moment as his own. De Guiche read it eagerly, and said, "He is a brave man, and more than that, a

"Most certainly the duke is a gallant man; I need not ask if you wrote to him in a similar style."

"I suppose you will give me the preference! Listen to me, Raoul, I wish you to tell his Grace it is a very

simple matter that today, tomorrow, the following day, or any other day he may choose. I will meet

"The duke is a stranger here; he is on a mission which renders his person inviolable.... Vincennes is close to

"Be perfectly easy on that score, he will not ask any. The duke must be as sick of me as I am of him. I

implore you, therefore, seek the duke, and if it is necessary to entreat him to accept my offer, I will do so."

"That is useless. The duke has already informed me that he wishes to speak to me. The duke is now playing

cards with the king. Let us both go there. I will draw him aside in the gallery: you will remain aloof. Two

"I do not like the man, and, as I never liked him, the result is, that I am on no worse terms with him today

The four descended the stairs. De Guiche's carriage was waiting at the door, and took them to the

PalaisRoyal. As they were going along, Raoul was engaged in devising his scheme of action. The sole

depositary of two secrets, he did not despair of concluding some arrangement between the two parties. He

knew the influence he exercised over Buckingham, and the ascendency he had acquired over De Guiche, and

affairs did not look utterly hopeless. On their arrival in the gallery, dazzling with the blaze of light, where the

most beautiful and illustrious women of the court moved to and fro, like stars in their own atmosphere, Raoul

could not prevent himself for a moment forgetting De Guiche in order to seek out Louise, who, amidst her

companions, like a dove completely fascinated, gazed long and fixedly upon the royal circle, which glittered

with jewels and gold. All its members were standing, the king alone being seated. Raoul perceived

Buckingham, who was standing a few places from Monsieur, in a group of French and English, who were

admiring his aristocratic carriage and the incomparable magnificence of his costume. Some of the older

courtiers remembered having seen his father, but their recollections were not prejudicial to the son.

Buckingham was conversing with Fouquet, who was talking with him aloud about BelleIsle. "I cannot speak

"Wait, then, and choose your opportunity, but finish everything speedily. I am on thorns."

"See, our deliverer approaches," said Raoul, perceiving D'Artagnan, who, magnificently dressed in his new

uniform of captain of the musketeers, had just made his entry in the gallery; and he advanced towards

As he answered Raoul, his absent looks were directed on all sides, as if seeking some one in the crowd, or

looking for something in the room. Suddenly his gaze became fixed, like that of an eagle on its prey. Raoul

followed the direction of his glance, and noticed that De Guiche and D'Artagnan saluted each other, but he

could not distinguish at whom the captain's inquiring and haughty glance was aimed.

"Chevalier," said Raoul, "there is no one here but yourself who can render me a service."

"It is simply to go and interrupt the Duke of Buckingham, to whom I wish to say two words, and, as the duke

is conversing with M. Fouquet, you understand that it would not do for me to throw myself into the middle of

"Yes, you're right; I am captain of the musketeers; I have had the post promised me so long, and have

"It is rather he who may not be on good terms with me; however, since it must be done some day or another

"No, no, don't deceive yourself, it is indeed me for whom this honor is intended."

De Guiche had not removed his eyes from Raoul, who made a sign to him that all was arranged. D'Artagnan

walked straight up to the group, and civilly saluted M. Fouquet as well as the others.

"Good evening, M. d'Artagnan; we were speaking of BelleIsle," said Fouquet, with that usage of society,

and that perfect knowledge of the language of looks, which require half a lifetime thoroughly to acquire, and

"Of BelleIsleenMer! Ah!" said D'Artagnan. "It belongs to you, I believe, M. Fouquet?"

"M. Fouquet has just told me that he had presented it to the king," said Buckingham.

"I have only been there once," replied D'Artagnan, with readiness and goodhumor.

"A great deal can be seen with observation as keen as yours," said Fouquet; at which D'Artagnan bowed.

During this Raoul made a sign to Buckingham. "M. Fouquet," said Buckingham, "I leave the captain with

you, he is more learned than I am in bastions, scarps, and counterscarps, and I will join one of my friends,

who has just beckoned me." Saying this, Buckingham disengaged himself from the group, and advanced

towards Raoul, stopping for a moment at the table where the queenmother, the young queen, and the king

Buckingham, having made some complimentary remark to Madame, continued his way towards Raoul, who

advanced to meet him, while De Guiche remained in his place, though he followed him with his eyes. The

maneuver was so arranged that the young men met in an open space which was left vacant, between the

group of players and the gallery, where they walked, stopping now and then for the purpose of saying a few

words to some of the graver courtiers who were walking there. At the moment when the two lines were about

to unite, they were broken by a third. It was Monsieur who advanced toward the Duke of Buckingham.

"My dear duke," said he, with the most affectionate politeness; "is it really true what I have just been told?"

Buckingham turned round, he had not noticed Monsieur approach; but had merely heard his voice. He started

in spite of his command over himself, and a slight pallor overspread his face. "Monseigneur," he asked, "what

"That which throws me into despair, and will, in truth, be a real cause of mourning for the whole court."

Guiche had overheard the conversation from where he was standing, and started in his turn. "His departure,"

Philip continued with the same gracious air, "I can easily conceive, monsieur, why the king of Great Britain

recalls you; we all know that King Charles II.; who appreciates true gentlemen, cannot dispense with you.

But it cannot be supposed we can let you go without great regret; and I beg you to receive the expression of

"Because you are recalled; but, if you suppose the expression of my own wish on the subject might possibly

have any influence with the king, I will gladly volunteer to entreat his majesty Charles II. to leave you with

"I am overwhelmed, monseigneur, by so much kindness," replied Buckingham, "but I have received positive

commands. My residence in France was limited; I have prolonged it at the risk of displeasing my gracious

sovereign. It is only this very day that I recollected I ought to have set off four days ago."

"Yes, but," added Buckingham, raising his voice in such a manner that the princess could hear him, "but I

resemble that dweller in the East, who turned mad, and remained so for several days, owing to a delightful

dream that he had had, but who one day awoke, if not completely cured, in some respects rational at least.

The court of France has its intoxicating properties, which are not unlike this dream, my lord; but at last I

wake and leave it. I shall be unable, therefore, to prolong my residence, as your highness has so kindly

The Duc d'Orleans made a movement of the head, which seemed to signify, "Since you are determined, duke,

there is nothing to be said." Buckingham returned the gesture, concealing under a smile a contraction of his

heart; and then Monsieur moved away in the same direction by which he had approached. At the same

moment, however, De Guiche advanced from the opposite direction. Raoul feared that the impatient young

man might possibly make the proposition himself, and hurried forward before him.

"No, no, Raoul, all is useless now," said Guiche, holding both his hands toward the duke, and leading him

behind a column. "Forgive me, duke, for what I wrote to you, I was mad; give me back my letter."

"There is certainly no reason why you should bear me any illwill from the moment I leave her never to see

Raoul heard these words, and comprehending that his presence was now useless between the two young men,

who had now only friendly words to exchange, withdrew a few paces; a movement which brought him closer

to De Wardes, who was conversing with the Chevalier de Lorraine respecting the departure of Buckingham.

Raoul, indignant, turned round frowningly, flushed with anger and his lip curling with disdain. The Chevalier

"You will not break yourself of the habit," said Raoul to De Wardes, "of insulting the absent; yesterday it was

"You know very well, monsieur," returned De Wardes, "that I sometimes insult those who are present."

De Wardes was close to Raoul, their shoulders met, their faces approached, as if to mutually inflame each

other by the fire of their looks and of their anger. It could be seen that the one was at the height of fury, the

other at the end of his patience. Suddenly a voice was heard behind them full of grace and courtesy saying, "I

They turned round and saw D'Artagnan, who, with a smiling eye and a cheerful face, had just placed his hand

on De Wardes's shoulder. Raoul stepped back to make room for the musketeer. De Wardes trembled from

head to foot, turned pale, but did not move. D'Artagnan, still with the same smile, took the place which Raoul

"Thank you, my dear Raoul," he said. "M. de Wardes, I wish to talk with you. Do not leave us Raoul; every

one can hear what I have to say to M. de Wardes." His smile immediately faded away, and his glance became

"For a very long time," resumed D'Artagnan, "I have sought an opportunity of conversing with you; today is

the first time I have found it. The place is badly chosen, I admit, but you will perhaps have the goodness to

accompany me to my apartments, which are on the staircase at the end of this gallery."

"That's well," said D'Artagnan; "but two persons are not sufficient; you will be able to find a few others, I

"Certainly," said the young man, who did not know what object D'Artagnan had in view. "As many as you

"Very well, get a good supply, then. Do you come, too, Raoul; bring M. de Guiche and the Duke of

"What a disturbance," replied De Wardes, attempting to smile. The captain slightly signed to him with his

hand, as though to recommend him to be patient, and then led the way to his apartments.

D'Artagnan's apartment was not unoccupied, for the Comte de la Fere, seated in the recess of a window,

"Well," said the latter, "M. de Wardes has done me the honor to pay me a visit, in company with some of his

own friends, as well as of ours." In fact, behind the musketeer appeared De Wardes and Manicamp followed

by De Guiche and Buckingham, who looked surprised, not knowing what was expected of them. Raoul was

accompanied by two or three gentlemen; and, as he entered, glanced round the room, and perceiving the

count, he went and placed himself by his side. D'Artagnan received his visitors with all the courtesy he was

capable of; he preserved his unmoved and unconcerned look. All the persons present were men of distinction,

occupying posts of honor and credit at the court. After he had apologized to each of them for any

inconvenience he might have put them to, he turned towards De Wardes, who, in spite of his customary

selfcommand, could not prevent his face betraying some surprise mingled with not a little uneasiness.

"Now, monsieur," said D'Artagnan, "since we are no longer within the precincts of the king's palace, and

since we can speak out without failing in respect to propriety, I will inform you why I have taken the liberty

to request you to visit me here, and why I have invited these gentlemen to be present at the same time. My

friend, the Comte de la Fere, has acquainted me with the injurious reports you are spreading about myself.

You have stated that you regard me as your mortal enemy, because I was, so you affirm, that of your father."

"Perfectly true, monsieur, I have said so," replied De Wardes, whose pallid face became slightly tinged with

"You accuse me, therefore, of a crime, or a fault, or of some mean and cowardly act. Have the goodness to

"Most certainly in the presence of witnesses; and you see I have selected them as being experienced in affairs

"You do not appreciate my delicacy, monsieur. I have accused you, it is true; but I have kept the nature of the

accusation a perfect secret. I entered into no details; but have rested satisfied by expressing my hatred in the

presence of those on whom a duty was almost imposed to acquaint you with it. You have not taken the

discreetness I have shown into consideration, although you were interested in remaining silent. I can hardly

D'Artagnan, who was quietly biting the corner of his mustache, said, "I have already had the honor to beg you

"Well, monsieur, it is not a question of a personal injury towards myself, but one towards my father."

"Yes, but there are certain subjects which are only approached with hesitation."

"If that hesitation, in your case, really does exist, I entreat you to overcome it."

Those who were present at this scene had, at first, looked at each other with a good deal of uneasiness. They

were reassured, however, when they saw that D'Artagnan manifested no emotion whatever.

De Wardes still maintained the same unbroken silence. "Speak, monsieur," said the musketeer; "you see you

"Listen, then: My father loved a lady of noble birth, and this lady loved my father." D'Artagnan and Athos

exchanged looks. De Wardes continued: "M. d'Artagnan found some letters which indicated a rendezvous,

substituted himself, under disguise, for the person who was expected, and took advantage of the darkness."

A slight murmur was heard from those present. "Yes, I was guilty of that dishonorable action. You should

have added, monsieur, since you are so impartial, that, at the period when the circumstance which you have

"Such an action is not the less shameful on that account," said De Wardes; "and it is quite sufficient for a

gentleman to have attained the age of reason, to avoid committing an act of indelicacy."

"It was a most shameful deception, I admit," said D'Artagnan, "and I have not waited for M. de Wardes's

reproaches to reproach myself for it, and very bitterly, too. Age has, however, made me more reasonable, and

above all, more upright; and this injury has been atoned for by a long and lasting regret. But I appeal to you,

gentlemen; this affair took place in 1626, at a period, happily for yourselves, known to you by tradition only,

at a period when love was not over scrupulous, when consciences did not distill, as in the present day, poison

and bitterness. We were young soldiers, always fighting, or being attacked, our swords always in our hands,

or at least ready to be drawn from their sheaths. Death then always stared us in the face, war hardened us, and

the cardinal pressed us sorely. I have repented of it, and more than that I still repent it, M. de Wardes."

"I can well understand that, monsieur, for the action itself needed repentance; but you were not the less the

cause of that lady's disgrace. She, of whom you have been speaking, covered with shame, borne down by the

affront you brought upon her, fled, quitted France, and no one ever knew what became of her."

"Stay," said the Comte de la Fere, stretching his hand towards De Wardes, with a peculiar smile upon his

face, "you are mistaken; she was seen; and there are persons even now present, who, having often heard her

spoken of, will easily recognize her by the description I am about to give. She was about fiveandtwenty

years of age, slender in form, of a pale complexion, and fairhaired; she was married in England."

"So, you were not aware she was married? You see we are far better informed than yourself. Do you happen

to know she was usually styled `My Lady,' without the addition of any name to that description?"

"Very well, monsieur. That woman, who came from England, returned to England after having thrice

attempted M. d'Artagnan's life. That was but just, you will say, since M. d'Artagnan had insulted her. But that

which was not just was, that, when in England, this woman, by her seductions, completely enslaved a young

man in the service of Lord de Winter, by name Felton. You change color, my lord," said Athos turning to the

Duke of Buckingham, "and your eyes kindle with anger and sorrow. Let your Grace finish the recital, then,

and tell M. de Wardes who this woman was who placed the knife in the hand of your father's murderer."

A cry escaped from the lips of all present. The young duke passed his handkerchief across his forehead,

which was covered with perspiration. A dead silence ensued among the spectators.

"You see, M. de Wardes," said D'Artagnan, whom this recital had impressed more and more, as his own

recollection revived as Athos spoke, "you see that my crime did not cause the destruction of any one's soul,

and that the soul in question may fairly be considered to have been altogether lost before my regret. It is,

however, an act of conscience on my part. Now this matter is settled, therefore, it remains for me to ask with

the greatest humility, your forgiveness for this shameless action, as most certainly I should have asked it of

your father, if he were still alive, and if I had met him after my return to France, subsequent to the death of

"No, gentlemen," said the captain. "And now, M. de Wardes, I hope all is finished between us, and that you

will have no further occasion to speak ill of me again. Do you consider it completely settled?"

"I trust also," said D'Artagnan, approaching the young man closely, "that you will no longer speak ill of any

one, as it seems you have the unfortunate habit of doing; for a man so puritanically conscientious as you are,

who can reproach an old soldier for a youthful freak fiveandthirty years after it happened, will allow me to

ask whether you who advocate such excessive purity of conscience, will undertake on your side to do nothing

contrary either to conscience or the principle of honor. And now, listen attentively to what I am going to say,

M. de Wardes, in conclusion. Take care that no tale, with which your name may be associated, reaches my

"I have not yet finished, M. de Wardes, and you must listen to me still further." The circle of listeners, full of

eager curiosity, drew closer. "You spoke just now of the honor of a woman, and of the honor of your father.

We were glad to hear you speak in that manner; for it is pleasing to think that such a sentiment of delicacy

and rectitude, and which did not exist, it seems, in our minds, lives in our children; and it is delightful too, to

see a young man, at an age when men from habit become the destroyers of the honor of women, respect and

De Wardes bit his lips and clenched his hands, evidently much disturbed to learn how this discourse, the

commencement of which was announced in so threatening a manner, would terminate.

"How did it happen, then, that you allowed yourself to say to M. de Bragelonne that he did not know who his

Raoul's eye flashed, as, darting forward, he exclaimed, "Chevalier, this is a personal affair of my own!" At

D'Artagnan put Raoul aside, saying, "Do not interrupt me, young man." And looking at De Wardes in an

authoritative manner, he continued: "I am now dealing with a matter which cannot be settled by means of

the sword. I discuss it before men of honor, all of whom have more than once had their swords in their hands

in affairs of honor. I selected them expressly. These gentlemen well know that every secret for which men

fight ceases to be a secret. I again put my question to M. de Wardes. What was the subject of conversation

when you offended this young man, in offending his father and mother at the same time?"

"It seems to me," returned De Wardes, "that liberty of speech is allowed, when it is supported by every means

"Tell me what the means are by which a man of courage can sustain a slanderous expression."

"You fail, not only in logic, in your argument, but in religion and honor. You expose the lives of many others,

without referring to your own, which seems to be full of hazard. Besides, fashions pass away, monsieur, and

the fashion of duelling has passed away, without referring in any way to the edicts of his majesty which

forbid it. Therefore, in order to be consistent with your own chivalrous notions, you will at once apologize to

M. de Bragelonne; you will tell him how much you regret having spoken so lightly, and that the nobility and

purity of his race are inscribed, not in his heart alone, but still more in every action of his life. You will do

and say this, M. de Wardes, as I, an old officer, did and said just now to your boy's mustache."

"That which you think you will prevent," said De Wardes, laughing; "the result will be that your conciliatory

"The result will be that I shall go to the king, with whom I am on tolerably good terms, to whom I have been

happy enough to render certain services dating from a period when you were not born, and who at my

request, has just sent me an order in blank for M. Baisemeaux de Montlezun, governor of the Bastile; and I

shall say to the king: `Sire, a man has in a most cowardly way insulted M. de Bragelonne by insulting his

mother; I have written this man's name upon the lettre de cachet which your majesty has been kind enough to

give me, so that M. de Wardes is in the Bastile for three years.'" And D'Artagnan drawing the order signed by

Remarking that the young man was not quite convinced, and received the warning as an idle threat, he

shrugged his shoulders and walked leisurely towards the table, upon which lay a writingcase and a pen, the

length of which would have terrified the topographical Porthos. De Wardes then saw that nothing could well

be more seriously intended than the threat in question for the Bastile, even at that period, was already held in

dread. He advanced a step towards Raoul, and, in an almost unintelligible voice, said, "I offer my

apologies in the terms which M. d'Artagnan just now dictated, and which I am forced to make to you."

"One moment, monsieur," said the musketeer, with the greatest tranquillity, "you mistake the terms of the

apology. I did not say, `and which I am forced to make'; I said, `and which my conscience induces me to

make.' This latter expression, believe me, is better than the former; and it will be far preferable, since it will

"I subscribe to it," said De Wardes; "but submit, gentlemen, that a thrust of a sword through the body, as was

"No, monsieur," replied Buckingham; "for the swordthrust, when received, was no indication that a

particular person was right or wrong; it only showed that he was more or less skillful in the use of the

"There, now," interrupted D'Artagnan, "you are going to say something very rude, and I am rendering you a

"Absolutely everything," replied D'Artagnan, "and these gentlemen, as well as myself, are quite satisfied with

"Because, as we are now about to separate. I would wager that M. de Bragelonne and myself are greater

"You are deceived, monsieur, as far as I am concerned," returned Raoul; "for I do not retain the slightest

This last blow overwhelmed De Wardes. He cast his eyes around him like a man bewildered. D'Artagnan

saluted most courteously the gentlemen who had been present at the explanation; and every one, on leaving

the room, shook hands with him; but not one hand was held out towards De Wardes. "Oh!" exclaimed the

young man, abandoning himself to the rage which consumed him, "can I not find some one on whom to

"You can, monsieur, for I am here," whispered a voice full of menace in his ear.

De Wardes turned round, and saw the Duke of Buckingham, who, having probably remained behind with that

"Yes, I! I am no subject of the king of France; I am not going to remain on the territory, since I am about

setting off for England. I have accumulated in my heart such a mass of despair and rage, that I, too, like

yourself, need to revenge myself upon some one. I approve M. d'Artagnan's principles profoundly, but I am

not bound to apply them to you. I am an Englishman, and, in my turn, I propose to you what you proposed to

others to no purpose. Since you, therefore, are so terribly incensed, take me as a remedy. In thirtyfour hours'

time I shall be at Calais. Come with me; the journey will appear shorter if together, than if alone. We will

fight, when we get there, upon the sands which are covered by the rising tide, and which form part of the

French territory during six hours of the day, but belong to the territory of Heaven during the other six."

"I assure you," said the duke, "that if you kill me, you will be rendering me an infinite service."

"I shall be at your commands. I needed some real danger and some mortal risk to run, to tranquilize me."

"In that case, I think you have met with what you are looking for. Farewell, M. de Wardes; tomorrow

morning, my valet will tell you the exact hour of our departure; we can travel together like two excellent

Buckingham saluted De Wardes, and returned towards the king's apartments; De Wardes, irritated beyond

measure, left the PalaisRoyal, and hurried through the streets homeward to the house where he lodged.

After the austere lesson administered to De Wardes, Athos and D'Artagnan together descended the staircase

which led to the courtyard of the PalaisRoyal. "You perceive," said Athos to D'Artagnan, "that Raoul

cannot, sooner or later, avoid a duel with De Wardes, for De Wardes is as brave as he is vicious and wicked."

"I know such fellows well," replied D'Artagnan; "I had an affair with the father. I assure you that, although at

that time I had good muscles and a sort of brute courage I assure you that the father did me some

mischief. But you should have seen how I fought it out with him. Ah, Athos, such encounters never take

place in these times! I had a hand which could never remain at rest, a hand like quicksilver, you knew its

quality, for you have seen me at work. My sword was no longer a piece of steel; it was a serpent that assumed

every form and every length, seeking where it might thrust its head; in other words, where it might fix its

bite. I advanced half a dozen paces, then three, and then, body to body, I pressed my antagonist closely, then I

darted back again ten paces. No human power could resist that ferocious ardor. Well, De Wardes, the father,

with the bravery of his race, with his dogged courage, occupied a good deal of my time; and my fingers, at

"It is, then, as I said," resumed Athos, "the son will always be looking out for Raoul, and will end by meeting

"Agreed; but Raoul calculates well; he bears no grudge against De Wardes, he has said so; he will wait

until he is provoked, and in that case his position is a good one. The king will not be able to get out of temper

about the matter; besides we shall know how to pacify his majesty. But why so full of these fears and

"I will tell you what makes me anxious; Raoul is to see the king tomorrow, when his majesty will inform

him of his wishes respecting a certain marriage. Raoul, loving as he does, will get out of temper, and once in

"Not I," said Athos, "for I must return to Blois. All this gilded elegance of the court, all these intrigues, sicken

me. I am no longer a young man who can make terms with the meannesses of the day. I have read in the

Great Book many things too beautiful and too comprehensive, to longer take any interest in the trifling

phrases which these men whisper among themselves when they wish to deceive others. In one word, I am

weary of Paris wherever and whenever you are not with me; and as I cannot have you with me always, I wish

"How wrong you are, Athos; how you gainsay your origin and the destiny of your noble nature. Men of your

stamp are created to continue, to the very last moment, in full possession of their great faculties. Look at my

sword, a Spanish blade, the one I wore at Rochelle; it served me for thirty years without fail; one day in the

winter it fell upon the marble floor on the Louvre and was broken. I had a huntingknife made of it which

will last a hundred years yet. You, Athos, with your loyalty, your frankness, your cool courage and your

sound information, are the very man kings need to warn and direct them. Remain here; Monsieur Fouquet

"Is it possible," said Athos, smiling, "that my friend, D'Artagnan, who, after having raised me to the skies,

making me an object of worship, casts me down from the top of Olympus, and hurls me to the ground? I have

more exalted ambition, D'Artagnan. To be a minister to be a slave, never! Am I not still greater? I am

nothing. I remember having heard you occasionally call me `the great Athos;' I defy you, therefore, if I were

minister, to continue to bestow that title upon me. No, no; I do not yield myself in this manner."

"We will not speak of it any more, then; renounce everything, even the brotherly feeling which unites us."

D'Artagnan pressed Athos's hand warmly. "No, no; renounce everything without fear. Raoul can get on

"In that case I shall return to Blois. We will take leave of each other tonight, tomorrow at daybreak I shall

"You cannot return to your hotel alone; why did you not bring Grimaud with you?"

"Grimaud takes his rest now; he goes to bed early, for my poor old servant gets easily fatigued. He came from

Blois with me, and I compelled him to remain within doors; for if, in retracing the forty leagues which

separate us from Blois, he needed to draw breath even, he would die without a murmur. But I don't want to

"You shall have one of my musketeers to carry a torch for you. Hola! some one there," called out D'Artagnan,

leaning over the gilded balustrade. The heads of seven or eight musketeers appeared. "I wish some gentleman

"Thank you for your readiness, gentlemen," said Athos; "I regret to have occasion to trouble you in this

"I would willingly escort the Comte de la Fere," said some one, "if I had not to speak to Monsieur

"Wretch that I am," thought D'Artagnan; "true, you have been told, I suppose, that some one was to be

"Not before I have presented Monsieur Baisemeaux de Montlezun, the governor of the Bastile."

"You remember, my dear, Baisemeaux, the king's guardsman with whom we used formerly to have such

"Monsieur le Comte de la Fere, whose nom de guerre was Athos," whispered D'Artagnan to Baisemeaux.

"In the first place, as for the orders there are none. The king does not intend to arrest the person in

"And so there are no orders," repeated Baisemeaux with a sigh. "What an admirable situation yours is

"Oh, it is good enough; but I don't see why you should envy me; you, governor of the Bastile, the first castle

"You say that like a man confessing his sins. I would willingly exchange my profits for yours."

"Don't speak of profits to me if you wish to save me the bitterest anguish of mind."

"Why do you look first on one side and then on the other, as if you were afraid of being arrested yourself, you

"I was looking to see whether any one could see or listen to us; it would be safer to confer more in private, if

"Baisemeaux, you seem to forget we are acquaintances of five and thirty years' standing. Don't assume such

sanctified airs; make yourself quite comfortable; I don't eat governors of the Bastile raw."

"Come into the courtyard with me, it's a beautiful moonlight night; we will walk up and down arm in arm

under the trees, while you tell me your pitiful tale." He drew the doleful governor into the courtyard, took him

by the arm as he had said, and, in his rough, goodhumored way, cried: "Out with it, rattle away,

"You prefer your own lamentations, then; my opinion is, it will be longer than ever. I'll wager you are making

"You surprise me, Baisemeaux; just look at you, acting the anchorite. I should like to show you your face in a

glass, and you would see how plump and floridlooking you are, as fat and round as a cheese, with eyes like

lighted coals; and if it were not for that ugly wrinkle you try to cultivate on your forehead, you would hardly

"Of course I knew it was true, as true as the fifty thousand francs profit you make," at which remark

"Well, well," said D'Artagnan, "I will add up your accounts for you: you were captain of M. Mazarin's

guards; and twelve thousand francs a year would in twelve years amount to one hundred and forty thousand

"Twelve thousand francs! Are you mad?" cried Baisemeaux; "the old miser gave me no more than six

thousand, and the expenses of the post amounted to six thousand five hundred francs. M. Colbert, who

deducted the other six thousand francs, condescended to allow me to take fifty pistoles as a gratification; so

that, if it were not for my little estate at Montlezun, which brings me in twelve thousand francs a year, I could

"Well, then, how about the fifty thousand francs from the Bastile? There, I trust, you are boarded and lodged,

"Whether the year be good or bad, there are fifty prisoners, who, on an average, bring you in a thousand

"Well, there is at once an income of fifty thousand francs; you have held the post three years, and must have

"That while you received your appointment as captain from the king himself, I received mine as governor

"Nor Louviere either: the result was, that I gave seventyfive thousand francs to Tremblay as his share."

"No: that would have been impossible. The king did not wish, or rather M. Mazarin did not wish, to have the

appearance of removing those two gentlemen, who had sprung from the barricades; he permitted them

"The deuce! so that the one hundred and fifty thousand francs have passed into their hands."

"A sum of one hundred and fifty thousand francs, or fifteen thousand pistoles, whichever you please, in three

"In default of the fulfillment by me of any one of those conditions, those gentlemen enter upon their functions

"I do indeed pity you, Baisemeaux. But why, in the name of fortune, did M. Mazarin grant you this pretended

"Listen! I wished to leave the cardinal's service. M. d'Herblay spoke on my behalf to Louviere and Tremblay

they objected; I wished to have the appointment very much, for I knew what it could be made to produce;

in my distress I confided in M. d'Herblay, and he offered to become my surety for the different payments."

"Like a man of honor; he procured the signature; Tremblay and Louviere resigned their appointments, I have

paid every year twentyfive thousand francs to these two gentlemen; on the thirtyfirst of May every year,

M. d'Herblay himself comes to the Bastile, and brings me five thousand pistoles to distribute between my

"That is the very thing which is the cause of my despair, for I only owe him one hundred thousand."

"He came and settled with the vampires only two years. Today, however, is the thirtyfirst of May, and he

has not been yet, and tomorrow, at midday, the payment falls due; if, therefore, I don't pay tomorrow,

those gentlemen can, by the terms of the contract, break off the bargain; I shall be stripped of everything; I

shall have worked for three years, and given two hundred and fifty thousand francs for nothing, absolutely for

"You can now imagine that I may well have wrinkles on my forehead, can you not?"

"And you can imagine, too, that notwithstanding I may be as round as a cheese, with a complexion like an

apple, and my eyes like coals on fire, I may almost be afraid that I shall not have a cheese or an apple left me

"I have come to you, M. d'Artagnan, for you are the only man who can get me out of my trouble."

"You are acquainted with the Abbe d'Herblay and you know that he is a somewhat mysterious gentleman."

"Well, you can, perhaps, give me the address of his presbytery, for I have been to NoisyleSec, and he is no

The little man began to tear his hair, saying, "How can I get to Vannes from here by midday tomorrow? I

"But listen; a bishop is not always a resident. M. d'Herblay may not possibly be so far away as you fear."

"But, Baisemeaux, I can hardly believe what you tell me; besides, since the Bastile is capable of producing

fifty thousand francs a year, why have you not tried to screw one hundred thousand out of it?"

"Because I am an honest man, M. d'Artagnan, and because my prisoners are fed like ambassadors."

"Well, you're in a fair way to get out of your difficulties; give yourself a good attack of indigestion with your

excellent living, and put yourself out of the way between this and midday tomorrow."

"Nay, you really afflict me. Come, Baisemeaux, if you can pledge me your word of honor, do so, that you

"How stupid you are! Don't you know that Vannes is in the diocese of BelleIsle, or BelleIsle in the diocese

of Vannes? BelleIsle belongs to M. Fouquet, and M. Fouquet nominated M. d'Herblay to that bishopric!"

"So much the better. Go and tell M. Fouquet very simply that you wish to speak to M. d'Herblay."

"I give you my sacred word of honor," replied the little man, about to set off running.

"It is useless doing that, M. Fouquet is playing at cards with the king. All you can do is to pay M. Fouquet a

"This is a strange affair," murmured D'Artagnan, as he slowly ascended the staircase after he had left

Baisemeaux. "What possible interest can Aramis have in obliging Baisemeaux in this manner? Well, I

Fouquet was present, as D'Artagnan had said, at the king's cardtable. It seemed as if Buckingham's departure

had shed a balm on the lacerated hearts of the previous evening. Monsieur, radiant with delight, made a

thousand affectionate signs to his mother. The Count de Guiche could not separate himself from Buckingham

and while playing, conversed with him upon the circumstance of his projected voyage. Buckingham,

thoughtful, and kind in his manner, like a man who has adopted a resolution, listened to the count, and from

time to time cast a look full of regret and hopeless affection at Madame. The princess, in the midst of her

elation of spirits, divided her attention between the king, who was playing with her, Monsieur, who quietly

joked her about her enormous winnings, and De Guiche, who exhibited an extravagant delight. Of

Buckingham she took but little notice; for her, this fugitive, this exile, was now simply a remembrance, no

longer a man. Light hearts are thus constituted; while they themselves continue untouched, they roughly

break off with every one who may possibly interfere with their little calculations of selfish comfort. Madame

had received Buckingham's smiles and attentions and sighs while he was present; but what was the good of

sighing, smiling and kneeling at a distance? Can one tell in what direction the winds in the Channel, which

toss mighty vessels to and fro, carry such sighs as these. The duke could not fail to mark this change, and his

heart was cruelly hurt. Of a sensitive character, proud and susceptible of deep attachment, he cursed the day

on which such a passion had entered his heart. The looks he cast, from time to time at Madame, became

colder by degrees at the chilling complexion of his thoughts. He could hardly yet despair, but he was strong

enough to impose silence upon the tumultuous outcries of his heart. In exact proportion, however, as Madame

suspected this change of feeling, she redoubled her activity to regain the ray of light she was about to lose;

her timid and indecisive mind was displayed in brilliant flashes of wit and humor. At any cost she felt that

she must be remarked above everything and every one, even above the king himself. And she was so, for the

queens, notwithstanding their dignity, and the king, despite the respect which etiquette required, were all

eclipsed by her. The queens, stately and ceremonious, were softened and could not restrain their laughter.

Madame Henrietta, the queenmother, was dazzled by the brilliancy which cast distinction upon her family,

thanks to the wit of the granddaughter of Henry IV. The king, jealous, as a young man and as a monarch, of

the superiority of those who surrounded him, could not resist admitting himself vanquished by a petulance so

thoroughly French in its nature, whose energy was more than ever increased by English humor. Like a child,

he was captivated by her radiant beauty, which her wit made still more dazzling. Madame's eyes flashed like

lightning. Wit and humor escaped from her scarlet lips, like persuasion from the lips of Nestor of old. The

whole court, subdued by her enchanting grace, noticed for the first time that laughter could be indulged in

before the greatest monarch in the world, like people who merited their appellation of the wittiest and most

Madame, from that evening, achieved and enjoyed a success capable of bewildering all not born to those

altitudes termed thrones; which, in spite of their elevation, are sheltered from such giddiness. From that very

moment Louis XIV. acknowledged Madame as a person to be recognized. Buckingham regarded her as a

coquette deserving the cruelest tortures, and De Guiche looked upon her as a divinity; the courtiers as a star

whose light might some day become the focus of all favor and power. And yet Louis XIV., a few years

previously, had not even condescended to offer his hand to that "ugly girl" for a ballet; and Buckingham had

worshipped this coquette "on both knees." De Guiche had once looked upon this divinity as a mere woman;

and the courtiers had not dared to extol this star in her upward progress, fearful to disgust the monarch whom

Let us see what was taking place during this memorable evening at the king's cardtable. The young queen,

although Spanish by birth, and the niece of Anne of Austria, loved the king, and could not conceal her

affection. Anne of Austria, a keen observer, like all women, and imperious, like every queen, was sensible of

Madame's power, and acquiesced in it immediately, a circumstance which induced the young queen to raise

the siege and retire to her apartments. The king hardly paid any attention to her departure, notwithstanding

the pretended symptoms of indisposition by which it was accompanied. Encouraged by the rules of etiquette,

which he had begun to introduce at the court as an element of every relation of life, Louis XIV. did not

disturb himself; he offered his hand to Madame without looking at Monsieur his brother, and led the young

princess to the door of her apartments. It was remarked that at the threshold of the door, his majesty, freed

from every restraint, or not equal to the situation, sighed very deeply. The ladies present for nothing

escapes a woman's glance Mademoiselle Montalais, for instance did not fail to say to each other, "the

king sighed," and "Madame sighed too." This had been indeed the case. Madame had sighed very noiselessly,

but with an accompaniment very far more dangerous for the king's repose. Madame had sighed, first closing

her beautiful black eyes, next opening them, and then, laden, as they were, with an indescribable

mournfulness of expression, she had raised them towards the king, whose face at that moment visibly

heightened in color. The consequence of these blushes, of these interchanged sighs, and of this royal

agitation, was, that Montalais had committed an indiscretion which had certainly affected her companion, for

Mademoiselle de la Valliere, less clear sighted, perhaps, turned pale when the king blushed; and her

attendance being required upon Madame, she tremblingly followed the princess without thinking of taking

the gloves, which court etiquette required her to do. True it is that this young country girl might allege as her

excuse the agitation into which the king seemed to be thrown, for Mademoiselle de la Valliere, busily

engaged in closing the door, had involuntarily fixed her eyes upon the king, who, as he retired backwards,

had his face towards it. The king returned to the room where the cardtables were set out. He wished to speak

to the different persons there, but it was easy to see that his mind was absent. He jumbled different accounts

together, which was taken advantage of by some of the noblemen who had retained those habits since the

time of Monsieur Mazarin who had a poor memory, but was a good calculator. In this way Monsieur

Manicamp, with a thoughtless and absent air for M. Manicamp was the honestest man in the world

appropriated twenty thousand francs, which were littering the table, and which did not seem to belong to any

person in particular. In the same way, Monsieur de Wardes, whose head was doubtless a little bewildered by

the occurrences of the evening, somehow forgot to leave behind him the sixty double louis which he had won

for the Duke of Buckingham, and which the duke, incapable, like his father, of soiling his hands with coin of

any sort, had left lying on the table before him. The king only recovered his attention in some degree at the

moment that Monsieur Colbert, who had been narrowly observant for some minutes, approached, and,

doubtless, with great respect, yet with much perseverance, whispered a counsel of some sort into the still

tingling ears of the king. The king, at the suggestion, listened with renewed attention and immediately

"Yes, sire, I am here," replied the superintendent, till then engaged with Buckingham, and approached the

king, who advanced a step towards him with a smiling yet negligent air. "Forgive me," said Louis, "if I

interrupt your conversation; but I claim your attention wherever I may require your services."

"The fact is, I wish to give a fete at Fontainebleau to keep open house for fifteen days, and I shall require

" and he stopped glancing at Colbert. Fouquet waited without showing discomposure; and the king

"Four million," repeated Fouquet, bowing profoundly. And his nails, buried in his bosom, were thrust into his

flesh, but the tranquil expression of his face remained unaltered. "When will they be required, sire?"

"The time, monsieur," said the superintendent, with the haughtiest disdain, "simply to count the money: a

"My clerks," replied Fouquet, addressing himself to the king, "will perform wonders on his majesty's service,

It was for Colbert now to turn pale. Louis looked at him astonished. Fouquet withdrew without any parade or

weakness, smiling at his numerous friends, in whose countenances alone he read the sincerity of their

friendship an interest partaking of compassion. Fouquet, however, should not be judged by his smile, for,

in reality he felt as if he had been stricken by death. Drops of blood beneath his coat stained the fine linen that

clothed his chest. His dress concealed the blood, and his smile the rage which devoured him. His domestics

perceived, by the manner in which he approached his carriage, that their master was not in the best of

humors: the result of their discernment was, that his orders were executed with that exactitude of maneuver

which is found on board a manofwar, commanded during a storm by an illtempered captain. The

carriage, therefore, did not simply roll along it flew. Fouquet had hardly time to recover himself during

the drive; on his arrival he went at once to Aramis, who had not yet retired for the night. As for Porthos, he

had supped very agreeably off a roast leg of mutton, two pheasants, and a perfect heap of crayfish; he then

directed his body to be anointed with perfumed oils, in the manner of the wrestlers of old; and when this

anointment was completed, he had himself wrapped in flannels and placed in a warm bed. Aramis, as we

have already said, had not retired. Seated at his ease in a velvet dressinggown, he wrote letter after letter in

that fine and hurried handwriting, a page of which contained a quarter of a volume. The door was thrown

hurriedly open, and the superintendent appeared, pale, agitated, anxious. Aramis looked up: "Goodevening,"

said he, and his searching look detected his host's sadness and disordered state of mind. "Was your play as

Fouquet threw himself upon a couch, and then pointed to the door to the servant who had followed him; when

Aramis, who had followed every movement with his eyes, noticed that he stretched himself upon the

cushions with a sort of feverish impatience. "You have lost as usual?" inquired Aramis, his pen still in his

Fouquet collected himself a moment, and then, without the slightest emotion, said, "The evening has cost me

Aramis, who did not expect such an amount, dropped his pen. "Four millions," he said; "you have lost four

"Monsieur Colbert held my cards for me," replied the superintendent, with a similar bitter laugh.

"Yes, and from the king's own lips. It was impossible to ruin a man with a more charming smile. What do

"Still. Besides, there is nothing in it which should astonish you, for we have foreseen it all along"

"No doubt the amount is serious, but, after all, four millions are not quite the death of a man, especially when

"My dear D'Herblay, if you knew the contents of my coffers, you would be less easy."

"The very day I refuse, Colbert will procure the money; whence I know not, but he will procure it: and I shall

"There is no doubt of that. In how many days did you promise these four millions?"

"When I think," resumed Fouquet, "that just now as I passed along the streets, the people cried out, `There is

"Stay, monsieur, the matter is not worth so much trouble," said Aramis, calmly, sprinkling some sand over

"But it is very uncertain whether I have the money. Everything must be exhausted; BelleIsle is paid for; the

pension has been paid; and money, since the investigation of the accounts of those who farm the revenue, is

scarce. Besides, admitting that I pay this time, how can I do so on another occasion? When kings have tasted

money, they are like tigers who have tasted flesh, they devour everything. The day will arrive must arrive

when I shall have to say, `Impossible, sire,' and on that very day I am a lost man."

"Nonsense; when I was young I wrestled successfully with the Cardinal Richelieu, who was king of France,

"Bah! necessity is the mother of invention, and when you think all is lost, something will be discovered

"You kill me, D'Herblay, with your calmness," said the superintendent, passing his handkerchief over his

"Do you not remember that I one day told you not to make yourself uneasy, if you possessed courage? Have

"It is decided, then, that, at the last moment, you will come to my assistance."

"It is the vocation of financiers to anticipate the wants of men such as yourself, D'Herblay."

"If obligingness is the vocation of financiers, charity is the virtue of the clergy. Only, on this occasion, do you

act, monsieur. You are not yet sufficiently reduced, and at the last moment we will see what is to be done."

"Very well. However, permit me to tell you that, personally, I regret exceedingly that you are at present so

"Oh! a mere nothing. Of course one has always fifty thousand francs. Why the deuce cannot that knave

Colbert be as easily satisfied as you are and I should give myself far less trouble than I do. When do you

"Yes, I remember. On what grounds am I to pay one hundred and fifty thousand francs for that man?"

"On account of the appointment which he, or rather we, purchased from Louviere and Tremblay."

"That is likely enough, for you have so many affairs to attend to. However, I do not believe you have any

"Why, in order to render him a service in the first place, and afterwards ourselves."

"Monseigneur, the time may come when the governor of the Bastile may prove a very excellent

"Monseigneur, we had our own poets, our own engineer, our own architect, our own musicians, our own

"Let us not deceive ourselves, monseigneur; we are very much opposed to paying the Bastile a visit," added

the prelate, displaying, beneath his pale lips, teeth which were still the same beautiful teeth so much admired

"And you think it is not too much to pay one hundred and fifty thousand francs for that? I thought you

"My dear D'Herblay, the very day on which a man enters the Bastile, he is no longer protected by his past."

"Yes, he is, if the bonds are perfectly regular; besides, that good fellow Baisemeaux has not a courtier's heart.

I am certain, my lord, that he will not remain ungrateful for that money, without taking into account, I repeat,

"Do not mix yourself up with it, monseigneur; if there be usury, it is I who practice it, and both of us reap the

"Why not? there are worse accomplices than he. May I depend, then, upon the five thousand pistoles

"It would be better, for I wish to start early; poor Baisemeaux will not be able to imagine what has become of

"You shall have the amount in an hour. Ah, D'Herblay, the interest of your one hundred and fifty thousand

Notwithstanding this assurance, and the tone in which it was given, Fouquet left the room shaking his head,

The clock of St. Paul was striking seven as Aramis, on horseback, dressed as a simple citizen, that is to say,

in colored suit, with no distinctive mark about him, except a kind of huntingknife by his side, passed before

the Rue du PetitMuse, and stopped opposite the Rue des Tourelles, at the gate of the Bastile. Two sentinels

were on duty at the gate; they made no difficulty about admitting Aramis, who entered without dismounting,

and they pointed out the way he was to go by a long passage with buildings on both sides. This passage led to

the drawbridge, or, in other words, to the real entrance. The drawbridge was down, and the duty of the day

was about being entered upon. The sentinel at the outer guardhouse stopped Aramis's further progress, asking

him, in a rough tone of voice, what had brought him there. Aramis explained, with his usual politeness, that a

wish to speak to M. Baisemeaux de Montlezun had occasioned his visit. The first sentinel then summoned a

second sentinel, stationed within an inner lodge, who showed his face at the grating, and inspected the new

arrival most attentively. Aramis reiterated the expression of his wish to see the governor, whereupon the

sentinel called to an officer of lower grade, who was walking about in a tolerably spacious courtyard and

who, in turn, on being informed of his object, ran to seek one of the officers of the governor's staff. The latter,

after having listened to Aramis's request, begged him to wait a moment, then went away a short distance, but

returned to ask his name. "I cannot tell it you, monsieur," said Aramis, "I need only mention that I have

matters of such importance to communicate to the governor, that I can only rely beforehand upon one thing,

that M. de Baisemeaux will be delighted to see me; nay, more than that, when you have told him that it is the

person whom he expected on the first of June, I am convinced he will hasten here himself." The officer could

not possibly believe that a man of the governor's importance should put himself out for a person of so little

importance as the citizenlooking visitor on horseback. "It happens most fortunately, monsieur," he said,

"that the governor is just going out, and you can perceive his carriage with the horses already harnessed, in

the courtyard yonder; there will be no occasion for him to come to meet you, as he will see you as he passes

by." Aramis bowed to signify his assent; he did not wish to inspire others with too exalted an opinion of

himself, and therefore waited patiently and in silence, leaning upon the saddlebow of his horse. Ten minutes

had hardly elapsed when the governor's carriage was observed to move. The governor appeared at the door,

and got into the carriage, which immediately prepared to start. The same ceremony was observed for the

governor himself as with a suspected stranger; the sentinel at the lodge advanced as the carriage was about to

pass under the arch, and the governor opened the carriagedoor, himself setting the example of obedience to

orders; so that, in this way, the sentinel could convince himself that no one quitted the Bastile improperly.

The carriage rolled along under the archway, but at the moment the irongate was opened, the officer

approached the carriage, which had been again stopped, and said something to the governor, who

immediately put his head out of the doorway, and perceived Aramis on horseback at the end of the

drawbridge. He immediately uttered almost a shout of delight, and got out, or rather darted out of his

carriage, running towards Aramis, whose hands he seized, making a thousand apologies. He almost embraced

him. "What a difficult matter to enter the Bastile!" said Aramis. "Is it the same for those who are sent here

"Hush! What are you thinking of, my dear M. Baisemeaux? What do you suppose would be thought of a

"Pray, excuse me, I had forgotten. Take this gentleman's horse to the stables," cried Baisemeaux.

The governor's countenance became so radiant, that if the prisoners had seen him they would have imagined

some prince of the blood royal had arrived. "Yes, you are right, the horse shall be taken to the government

house. Will you get into the carriage, my dear M. d'Herblay? and it shall take us back to my house."

"Get into a carriage to cross a courtyard! do you believe I am so great an invalid? No, no, we will go on foot."

Baisemeaux then offered his arm as a support, but the prelate did not accept it. They arrived in this manner at

the government house, Baisemeaux rubbing his hands and glancing at the horse from time to time, while

Aramis was looking at the bleak bare walls. A tolerably handsome vestibule and a staircase of white stone led

to the governor's apartments, who crossed the antechamber, the diningroom, where breakfast was being

prepared, opened a small side door, and closeted himself with his guest in a large cabinet, the windows of

which opened obliquely upon the courtyard and the stables. Baisemeaux installed the prelate with that

allinclusive politeness of which a good man, or a grateful man, alone possesses the secret. An armchair, a

footstool, a small table beside him, on which to rest his hand, everything was prepared by the governor

himself. With his own hands, too, he placed upon the table, with much solicitude, the bag containing the gold,

which one of the soldiers had brought up with the most respectful devotion; and the soldier having left the

room, Baisemeaux himself closed the door after him, drew aside one of the windowcurtains, and looked

"Well, my lord," he said, still standing up, "of all men of their word, you still continue to be the most

"In matters of business, dear M. de Baisemeaux, exactitude is not a virtue only, it is a duty as well."

"Yes, in matters of business, certainly; but what you have with me is not of that character; it is a service you

"Come, confess, dear M. de Baisemeaux, that, notwithstanding this exactitude, you have not been without a

"I wished to come here yesterday, but I was not able, as I was too fatigued," continued Aramis. Baisemeaux

anxiously slipped another cushion behind his guest's back. "But," continued Aramis, "I promised myself to

"Yes, you were going out." At which latter remark Baisemeaux colored and said, "It is true I was going out."

"Then I prevent you," said Aramis; whereupon the embarrassment of Baisemeaux became visibly greater. "I

am putting you to inconvenience," he continued, fixing a keen glance upon the poor governor; "if I had

"Does the governor still intend to go to M. Fouquet?" suddenly called out the major from below. Baisemeaux

ran to the window like a madman. "No, no," he exclaimed in a state of desperation, "who the deuce is

speaking of M. Fouquet? are you drunk below there? why an I interrupted when I am engaged on business?"

"You were going to M. Fouquet's," said Aramis biting his lips, "to M. Fouquet, the abbe, or the

Baisemeaux almost made up his mind to tell an untruth, but he could not summon courage to do so. "To the

"It is true, then, that you were in want of money, since you were going to a person who gives it away!"

"My dear lord, it was the uncertainty and ignorance in which I was as to where you were to be found."

"You would have found the money you require at M. Fouquet's, for he is a man whose hand is always open."

"I swear that I should never have ventured to ask M. Fouquet for money. I only wished to ask him for your

"To ask M. Fouquet for my address?" exclaimed Aramis, opening his eyes in real astonishment.

"Yes," said Baisemeaux, greatly disturbed by the glance which the prelate fixed upon him, "at M.

"There is no harm in that, dear M. Baisemeaux, only I would ask, why ask my address of M. Fouquet?"

"I understand," said Aramis, smiling, "but that is not what I meant; I do not ask you what you required my

"Oh!" said Baisemeaux, "as BelleIsle is the property of M. Fouquet, and as BelleIsle is in the diocese of

"But, my dear Baisemeaux, since you knew I was bishop of Vannes, you had no occasion to ask M. Fouquet

"Well, monsieur," said Baisemeaux, completely at bay, "if I have acted indiscreetly, I beg your pardon most

"Nonsense," observed Aramis, calmly: "how can you possibly have acted indiscreetly?" And while he

composed his face, and continued to smile cheerfully on the governor, he was considering how Baisemeaux,

who was not aware of his address, knew, however, that Vannes was his residence. "I shall clear all this up,"

he said to himself, and then speaking aloud, added, "Well, my dear governor, shall we now arrange our

"I am at your orders, my lord; but tell me beforehand, my lord, whether you will do me the honor to breakfast

"That I have some one to breakfast with me, and that preparations are to be made accordingly."

"And you rang thrice. Really, my dear governor, I begin to think you are acting ceremoniously with me."

"No, indeed. Besides, the least I can do is to receive you in the best way I can."

"Let us speak of other matters," said Aramis. "Or rather, tell me how your affairs here are getting on."

"Yes, I see; you require a government full of suspicion like that of the old cardinal, for instance."

"Yes; matters went on better under him. The brother of his `gray eminence' made his fortune here."

"Believe me, my dear governor," said Aramis, drawing closer to Baisemeaux, "a young king is well worth an

old cardinal. Youth has its suspicions, its fits of anger, its prejudices, as old age has its hatreds, its

precautions, and its fears. Have you paid your three years' profits to Louviere and Tremblay?"

"So that you have nothing more to give them than the fifty thousand francs I have brought with me?"

"My lord, in giving the fifty thousand francs of my own to these gentlemen, I assure you that I give them

"Ah!" said Aramis, whose eyes sparkled for a moment, but became immediately afterwards as unmoved as

"I told him," continued the governor, not perceiving his own thoughtlessness, "I told him that I fed my

"In former times, my lord, there were, during certain years, as many as two hundred."

"Perhaps not; for, to anybody but myself, each prisoner would bring in two hundred and fifty pistoles; for

"Only you have no prince of the blood; at least, I suppose so," said Aramis, with a slight tremor in his voice.

"Because my appointment would be improved by it. So, fifty francs per day for a prince of the blood,

"But you have as many marechals of France, I suppose, as you have princes of the blood?"

"Alas! no more. It is true lieutenantgenerals and brigadiers pay twentysix francs, and I have two of them.

After that, come councilors of parliament, who bring me fifteen francs, and I have six of them."

"Yes, but from fifteen francs I sink at once to ten francs; namely, for an ordinary judge, and for an

"Nay, a bad one, and for this reason. How can I possibly treat these poor fellows, who are of some good, at

"You understand; if I have a fine fish, I pay four or five francs for it; if I get a fine fowl, it costs me a franc

and a half. I fatten a good deal of poultry, but I have to buy grain, and you cannot imagine the army of rats

"Cats, indeed; yes, they eat them, but I was obliged to give up the idea because of the way in which they

treated my grain. I have been obliged to have some terrier dogs sent me from England to kill the rats. These

dogs, unfortunately, have tremendous appetites; they eat as much as a prisoner of the fifth order, without

Was Aramis really listening or not? No one could have told; his downcast eyes showed the attentive man; but

"I was saying," continued Baisemeaux, "that a goodsized fowl costs me a franc and a half, and that a fine

fish costs me four or five francs. Three meals are served at the Bastile, and, as the prisoners, having nothing

"But did you not say that you treated those at ten francs like those at fifteen?"

"Very well! Then you gain seven francs and a half upon those who pay you fifteen francs."

"I must compensate myself somehow," said Baisemeaux, who saw how he had been snapped up.

"You are quite right, my dear governor; but have you no prisoners below ten francs?"

"Not a doubt about it; only you understand that they do not get fish or poultry, nor rich wines at every meal;

"Really, you are quite a philanthropist, my dear governor, and you will ruin yourself."

"No, understand me; when the fifteenfranc has not eaten his fowl, or the tenfranc has left his dish

unfinished, I send it to the fivefranc prisoner; it is a feast for the poor devil, and one must be charitable, you

"Thank you, my lord. But I feel most for the small tradesmen and bailiffs' clerks, who are rated at three

"Oh! my lord, do not believe I am so stingy as that; I delight the heart of some poor little tradesman or clerk

by sending him a wing of a red partridge, a slice of venison, or a slice of a truffled pasty, dishes which he

never tasted except in his dreams; these are the leavings of the twentyfour franc prisoners; and as he eats

and drinks, at dessert he cries `Long live the King,' and blesses the Bastile; with a couple of bottles of

champagne, which cost me five sous, I made him tipsy every Sunday. That class of people call down

blessings upon me, and are sorry to leave the prison. Do you know that I have remarked, and it does me

infinite honor, that certain prisoners, who have been set at liberty, have, almost immediately afterwards, got

imprisoned again? Why should this be the case, unless it be to enjoy the pleasures of my kitchen? It is really

"I tell you that we have names which have been inscribed on our books thrice in the space of two years."

"Well, I can show it to you, although it is prohibited to communicate the registers to strangers; and if you

"Very well," said Baisemeaux, and he took out of a cupboard a large register. Aramis followed him most

anxiously with his eyes, and Baisemeaux returned, placed the register upon the table, and turned over the

"Look here," said he, "Martinier, January, 1659; Martinier, June, 1660; Martinier, March, 1661. Mazarinades,

etc.; you understand it was only a pretext; people were not sent to the Bastile for jokes against M. Mazarin;

"The poet, my lord, belongs to the lowest scale, the same style of board as the small tradesman and bailiff's

clerk; but I repeat, it is to those people only that I give these little surprises."

Aramis mechanically turned over the leaves of the register, continuing to read the names, but without

"In 1661, you perceive," said Baisemeaux, "eighty entries; and in 1659, eighty also."

"Ah!" said Aramis. "Seldon; I seem to know that name. Was it not you who spoke to me about a certain

"Yes, a poor devil of a student, who made What do you call that where two Latin verses rhyme together?"

"Well, as your interest is allpowerful here, my lord, I have treated him since that time as a prisoner at fifteen

"The same as this one, then," said Aramis, who had continued turning over the leaves, and who had stopped

"Is that Marchiali an Italian?" said Aramis, pointing with his finger to the name which had attracted his

"No, no! It is he who " and Baisemeaux approached Aramis's ear, making a sort of eartrumpet of his

"Yes, yes." said Aramis, "I now remember you already spoke about it last year to me; but the crime appeared

"Well, the fact is, I had forgotten it. But, my dear host," said Aramis, closing the register, "if I am not

Baisemeaux took the register, hastily restored it to its place in the closet, which he locked, and put the key in

his pocket. "Will it be agreeable to your lordship to breakfast now?" said he; "for you are right in supposing

Aramis was generally temperate; but on this occasion, while taking every care of his constitution, he did

ample justice to Baisemeaux's breakfast, which, in all respects, was most excellent. The latter, on his side,

was animated with the wildest gayety; the sight of the five thousand pistoles, which he glanced at from time

to time, seemed to open his heart. Every now and then he looked at Aramis with an expression of the deepest

gratitude; while the latter, leaning back in his chair, took a few sips of wine from his glass, with the air of a

connoisseur. "Let me never hear any ill words against the fare of the Bastile," said he, half closing his eyes;

"happy are the prisoners who can get only half a bottle of such Burgundy every day."

"All those at fifteen francs drink it," said Baisemeaux. "It is very old Volnay."

"He! no, indeed; a man who makes districts distichs, I mean at fifteen francs! No, no! it is his neighbor

"Excuse me, my dear governor; but you speak a language which requires quite an apprenticeship to

"Very true," said the governor. "Allow me to explain: second Bertaudiere is the person who occupies the

"So that Bertaudiere is the name of one of the towers of the Bastile? The fact is, I think I recollect hearing

that each tower has a name of its own. Whereabouts is the one you are speaking of?"

"Look," said Baisemeaux, going to the window. "It is that tower to the left the second one."

"The secrets of the Bastile are never handed over with the keys of the governorship."

"Oh no! I do not suppose it is a state secret, but a secret like everything else that happens at the Bastile."

"But," said Aramis, "why do you speak more freely of Seldon than of second Bertaudiere?"

"Because, in my opinion, the crime of the man who writes a distich is not so great as that of the man who

"Yes, yes, I understand you. Still, do not the turnkeys talk with your prisoners?"

"They are always telling them that; it is a matter of course; the same song over and over again."

"But does not the resemblance you were speaking about just now strike the turnkeys?"

"My dear M. d'Herblay, it is only for men attached to the court, as you are, to take trouble about such

"You're right, you're right, my dear M. Baisemeaux. Let me give you another taste of this Volnay."

"Nay, nay! You are a musketeer still, to the very tips of your fingers, while I have become a bishop. A taste

"As you please." And Aramis and the governor nodded to each other, as they drank their wine. "But," said

Aramis, looking with fixed attention at the rubycolored wine he had raised to the level of his eyes, as if he

wished to enjoy it with all his senses at the same moment, "but what you might call a resemblance, another

"Most certainly he would, though, if it were any one who knew the person he resembles."

"I really think, dear M. Baisemeaux, that it can be nothing more than a resemblance of your own creation."

"Stay," continued Aramis, "I have seen many persons very like the one we are speaking of; but, out of

"Very likely; because there is resemblance and resemblance. This is a striking one, and, if you were to see

"If I were to see him, indeed," said Aramis, in an indifferent tone; "but in all probability I never shall."

"Because if I were even to put my foot inside one of those horrible dungeons, I should fancy I was buried

"Pray do not speak ill of second Bertaudiere. It is really a good room, very nicely furnished and carpeted. The

young fellow has by no means been unhappy there; the best lodging the Bastile affords has been his. There is

"Nay, nay," said Aramis, coldly; "you will never make me believe there are any good rooms in the Bastile;

and, as for your carpets, they exist only in your imagination. I should find nothing but spiders, rats, and

"Ah! I don't say there are not toads in the dungeons," replied Baisemeaux. "But will you be convinced by

"Not even to satisfy yourself of the resemblance which you deny, as you do the carpets?"

"Never mind them. Today my major has leave of absence; the lieutenant is visiting the post on the bastions;

"No, no, my dear governor; why, the very idea of the sound of the bolts makes me shudder. You will only

"You are refusing an opportunity that may never present itself again. Do you know that, to obtain the favor I

propose to you gratis, some of the princes of the blood have offered me as much as fifty thousand francs."

"Forbidden fruit, my lord, forbidden fruit. You who belong to the church ought to know that."

"Well, if I had any curiosity, it would be to see the poor author of the distich."

"Very well, we will see him, too; but if I were at all curious, it would be about the beautiful carpeted room

"Furniture is very commonplace; and a face with no expression in it offers little or no interest."

"By the by, I forgot to ask you about that. Why fifteen francs for him, and only three francs for poor Seldon?"

"The distinction made in that instance was a truly noble act, and one which displayed the king's goodness of

"The cardinal's, I mean. `This unhappy man,' said M. Mazarin, `is destined to remain in prison forever.'"

"Why, it seems that his crime is a lasting one, and, consequently, his punishment ought to be so, too."

"No doubt of it, unless he is fortunate enough to catch the smallpox, and even that is difficult, for we never

"Nothing can be more ingenious than your train of reasoning, my dear M. de Baisemeaux. Do you, however,

mean to say that this unfortunate man must suffer without interruption or termination?"

"I did not say he was to suffer, my lord, a fifteenfranc boarder does not suffer."

"No doubt; there is no help for that, but this suffering is sweetened for him. You must admit that this young

fellow was not born to eat all the good things he does eat; for instance, such things as we have on the table

now; this pasty that has not been touched, these crawfish from the River Marne, of which we have hardly

taken any, and which are almost as large as lobsters; all these things will at once be taken to second

Bertaudiere, with a bottle of that Volnay which you think so excellent. After you have seen it you will believe

"Yes, my dear governor, certainly; but all this time you are thinking only of your very happy fifteenfranc

"Well, out of consideration for you, it shall be a gala day for him; he shall have some biscuits and preserves

"You are a goodhearted fellow; I have said so already, and I repeat it, my dear Baisemeaux."

"Well, let us set off, then," said the governor, a little bewildered, partly from the wine he had drunk, and

"Wait until I have summoned the jailer," said Baisemeaux, as he struck the bell twice, at which summons a

man appeared. "I am going to visit the towers," said the governor. "No guards, no drums, no noise at all."

"If I were not to leave my cloak here," said Aramis, pretending to be alarmed; "I should really think I was

The jailer preceded the governor, Aramis walking on his right hand; some of the soldiers who happened to be

in the courtyard drew themselves up in line, as stiff as posts, as the governor passed along. Baisemeaux led

the way down several steps which conducted to a sort of esplanade; thence they arrived at the drawbridge,

where the sentinels on duty received the governor with the proper honors. The governor turned toward

Aramis, and, speaking in such a tone that the sentinels could not lose a word, he observed, "I hope you

"On account of your plans and your measurements, for you know that no one is allowed, not architects even,

"Good," said Aramis to himself, "it seems I am an architect, then. It sounds like one of D'Artagnan's jokes,

who perceived in me the engineer of BelleIsle." Then he added aloud: "Be easy on that score, monsieur; in

Baisemeaux did not change countenance, and the soldiers took Aramis for what he seemed to be. "Very well;

we will first visit la Bertaudiere, "said Baisemeaux, still intending the sentinels to hear him. Then, turning to

the jailer, he added: "You will take the opportunity of carrying to No. 2 the few dainties I pointed out."

"So I am," said the governor; and upon that, they began to ascend. The number of bolts, gratings, and locks

for this single courtyard would have sufficed for the safety of an entire city. Aramis was neither an

imaginative nor a sensitive man; he had been somewhat of a poet in his youth, but his heart was hard and

indifferent, as the heart of every man of fiftyfive years of age is, who has been frequently and passionately

attached to women in his lifetime, or rather who has been passionately loved by them. But when he placed his

foot upon the worn stone steps, along which so many unhappy wretches had passed, when he felt himself

impregnated, as it were, with the atmosphere of those gloomy dungeons, moistened with tears, there could be

but little doubt he was overcome by his feelings, for his head was bowed and his eyes became dim, as he

On the second flight of stairs, whether from fatigue or emotion, the breathing of the visitor began to fail him,

and he leaned against the wall. "Will you begin with this one?" said Baisemeaux; "for since we are going to

both, it matters very little whether we ascend from the second to the third story, or descend from the third to

"No, no," exclaimed Aramis, eagerly, "higher, if you please; the one above is the more urgent." They

continued their ascent. "Ask the jailer for the keys," whispered Aramis. Baisemeaux did so, took the keys,

and, himself, opened the door of the third room. The jailer was the first to enter; he placed upon the table the

provisions, which the kindhearted governor called dainties, and then left the room. The prisoner had not

stirred; Baisemeaux then entered, while Aramis remained at the threshold, from which place he saw a youth

about eighteen years of age, who, raising his head at the unusual noise, jumped off the bed, as he perceived

the governor, and clasping his hands together, began to cry out, "My mother, my mother," in tones which

betrayed such deep distress that Aramis, despite his command over himself, felt a shudder pass through his

frame. "My dear boy," said Baisemeaux, endeavoring to smile, "I have brought you a diversion and an extra,

the one for the mind, the other for the body; this gentleman has come to take your measure, and here are

"Oh, monsieur," exclaimed the young man, "keep me in solitude for a year, let me have nothing but bread and

water for a year, but tell me that at the end of a year I shall leave this place, tell me that at the end of a year I

"But I have heard you say that your mother was very poor, and that you were very badly lodged when you

"If she were poor, monsieur, the greater reason to restore her only means of support to her. Badly lodged with

"At all events, since you yourself admit you have done nothing but write that unhappy distich "

"But without any intention, I swear. Let me be punished cut off the hand which wrote it, I will work with

"My boy," said Baisemeaux, "you know very well that it does not depend upon me; all I can do for you is to

increase your rations, give you a glass of port wine now and then, slip in a biscuit for you between a couple

"Great heaven!" exclaimed the young man, falling backward and rolling on the ground.

Aramis, unable to bear this scene any longer, withdrew as far as the landing. "Unhappy, wretched man," he

"Yes, monsieur, he is indeed very wretched," said the jailer; "but it is his parents' fault.

"No doubt. Why did they let him learn Latin? Too much knowledge, you see; it is that which does harm. Now

I, for instance, can't read or write, and therefore I am not in prison." Aramis looked at the man, who seemed

to think that being a jailer in the Bastile was not being in prison. As for Baisemeaux, noticing the little effect

produced by his advice and his port wine, he left the dungeon quite upset. "You have forgotten to close the

"And if you do not succeed," said Baisemeaux, "at least beg that he may be transferred to the tenfranc list,

"If the other prisoner calls out for his mother in a similar manner," said Aramis, "I prefer not to enter at all,

"No fear of that, monsieur architect, the one we are now going to see is as gentle as a lamb; before he could

Aramis perceived that, to avoid giving rise to any suspicions he must summon all his strength of mind to his

assistance. Baisemeaux, who carried the keys, opened the door. "Stay outside," he said to the jailer, "and wait

Baisemeaux entered first and opened the second door himself. By the light which filtered through the

ironbarred window, could be seen a handsome young man, short in stature, with closely cut hair, and a

beard beginning to grow; he was sitting on a stool, his elbow resting on an armchair, and all the upper part of

his body reclining against it. His dress, thrown upon the bed, was of rich black velvet, and he inhaled the

fresh air which blew in upon his breast through a shirt of the very finest cambric. As the governor entered, the

young man turned his head with a look full of indifference; and on recognizing Baisemeaux, he arose and

saluted him courteously. But when his eyes fell upon Aramis, who remained in the background, the latter

trembled, turned pale, and his hat, which he held in his hand, fell upon the ground, as if all his muscles had

become relaxed at once. Baisemeaux, habituated to the presence of his prisoner, did not seem to share any of

the sensations which Aramis experienced, but, with all the zeal of a good servant, he busied himself in

arranging on the table the pasty and crawfish he had brought with him. Occupied in this manner, he did not

remark how disturbed his guest had become. When he had finished, however, he turned to the young prisoner

The effect of the voice was such as almost to overpower Aramis, and notwithstanding his control over

himself, he advanced a few steps towards him, with his eyes wide open and his lips trembling. The movement

he made was so marked that Baisemeaux, notwithstanding his preoccupation, observed it. "This gentleman is

an architect who has come to examine your chimney," said Baisemeaux, "does it smoke?"

"You were saying just now," said the governor, rubbing his hands together, "that it was not possible for a man

to be happy in prison; here, however, is one who is so. You have nothing to complain of, I hope?"

"Well, my dear governor, it is impossible not to yield to evidence. Is it allowed to put any question to him?"

"This gentleman requests me to ask you," said Baisemeaux, "if you are aware of the cause of your

"That is hardly possible," said Aramis, carried away by his feelings in spite of himself; "if you were really

"Alas! I cannot tell, said the young man; "all that I can tell you now is the very opposite of what I felt seven

"To hear you converse, to witness your resignation, one might almost believe that you liked your

"I have no certainty; hope I have, and that is all; and yet I acknowledge that this hope becomes less every

"That is precisely the reason," replied the young man, "which prevents me expecting liberty; why should I

"A man came for me, directed me to get into a carriage, which was closed and locked, and brought me here."

"Is not this an extraordinary tale?" said Baisemeaux, in a low tone of voice, to Aramis, who could hardly

"But what is still more extraordinary is, that he has never told me so much as he has just told you."

"It's possible," replied Baisemeaux; "I have no curiosity. Have you looked at the room? it's a fine one, is it

"I think so, too." And then again turning towards the young man, he said, "Do you not remember to have

"Yes, indeed; thrice by a woman, who each time came to the door in a carriage, and entered covered with a

The young man smiled mournfully, and then replied, "She inquired, as you have just done, if I were happy,

"You would recognize her, then, if accident brought her before you, or led you into her presence?"

A flush of fleeting satisfaction passed across Aramis's face. At this moment Baisemeaux heard the jailer

Aramis, who probably had learnt all that he cared to know, replied, "When you like."

The young man saw them prepare to leave, and saluted them politely. Baisemeaux replied merely by a nod of

the head, while Aramis, with a respect, arising perhaps from the sight of such misfortune, saluted the prisoner

"Well," said Baisemeaux, as they descended the staircase, "what do you think of it all?"

"Who said that? What makes you think that poor young fellow could be an assassin?"

"The very thing I was saying. A crime was committed in his house," said Aramis, "and that was quite

sufficient; perhaps he saw the criminals, and it was feared that he might say something."

"Well, then, this one is of the most unquestionable authenticity; there is only one erasure."

"With respect to a figure. At first there was written: `To be boarded at fifty francs.'"

"But the cardinal must have seen his mistake, you understand; for he canceled the zero, and has added a one

"I do not speak of it, dear M. de Baisemeaux, for a very simple reason because it does not exist."

"Or, if it does exist, it is only in your own imagination; but, supposing it were to exist elsewhere, I think it

"The king, Louis XIV. you understand would be excessively angry with you, if he were to learn that

you contributed in any way to spread the report that one of his subjects has the effrontery to resemble him."

"It is true, quite true," said Baisemeaux, thoroughly alarmed; "but I have not spoken of the circumstance to

any one but yourself, and you understand, monseigneur, that I perfectly rely on your discretion."

While engaged in this manner in conversation, they had returned to the governor's apartments; Baisemeaux

took from the cupboard a private register, like the one he had already shown Aramis, but fastened by a lock,

the key which opened it being one of a small bunch of keys which Baisemeaux always carried with him.

Then placing the book upon the table, he opened it at the letter "M," and showed Aramis the following note

in the column of observations: "No books at any time; all linen and clothes of the finest and best quality to be

procured; no exercise; always the same jailer; no communications with any one. Musical instruments; every

liberty and every indulgence which his welfare may require, to be boarded at fifteen francs. M. de

Aramis shut the book. "Yes," he said, "it is indeed M. de Mazarin's handwriting; I recognize it well. Now, my

dear governor," he continued, as if this last communication had exhausted his interest, "let us now turn to our

"There need not be any particular period fixed; give me a simple acknowledgment for one hundred and fifty

"When I require it; but, you understand, I shall only wish it when you yourself do."

"Oh, I am quite easy on that score," said Baisemeaux, smiling; "but I have already given you two receipts."

"Which I now destroy," said Aramis; and after having shown the two receipts to Baisemeaux, he destroyed

them. Overcome by so great a mark of confidence, Baisemeaux unhesitatingly wrote out an acknowledgment

of a debt of one hundred and fifty thousand francs, payable at the pleasure of the prelate. Aramis, who had,

by glancing over the governor's shoulder, followed the pen as he wrote, put the acknowledgment into his

pocket without seeming to have read it, which made Baisemeaux perfectly easy. "Now," said Aramis, "you

"By obtaining his pardon, of course. Have I not already told you that I took a great interest in poor Seldon?"

"That is your affair; do as you think proper. I see you have an open hand, and an arm that can reach a great

At the very time M. de Baisemeaux was showing Aramis the prisoners in the Bastile, a carriage drew up at

Madame de Belliere's door, and, at that still early hour, a young woman alighted, her head muffled in a silk

hood. When the servants announced Madame Vanel to Madame de Belliere, the latter was engaged, or rather

was absorbed, in reading, a letter, which she hurriedly concealed. She had hardly finished her morning

toilette, her maid being still in the next room. At the name at the footsteps of Marguerite Vanel

Madame de Belliere ran to meet her. She fancied she could detect in her friend's eyes a brightness which was

neither that of health nor of pleasure. Marguerite embraced her, pressed her hands, and hardly allowed her

time to speak. "Dearest," she said, "have you forgotten me? Have you quite given yourself up to the pleasures

"You are becoming rustic in your tastes, then; I delight to see you so disposed. But you are pale."

"So much the better; I was becoming uneasy about you. You do not know what I have been told."

"Do not let us talk about it, then," said Madame de Belliere, who detected the illnature that was concealed

"Well, then, my dear marquise, it is said that, for some time past, you no longer continue to regret Monsieur

"It is an illnatured report, Marguerite. I do regret and shall always regret, my husband; but it is now two

years since he died. I am only twentyeight years old, and my grief at his loss ought not always to control

every action and thought of my life. You, Marguerite, who are the model of a wife, would not believe me if I

"Yours is so too, Marguerite, and yet I did not perceive that you allowed yourself to be overcome by grief

when your heart was wounded." These words were in direct allusion to Marguerite's rupture with the

superintendent, and were also a veiled but direct reproach made against her friend's heart.

As if she only awaited this signal to discharge her shaft, Marguerite exclaimed, "Well, Elise, it is said you are

in love." And she looked fixedly at Madame de Belliere, who blushed against her will.

"In the first place, if it be true, it is no slander, but simply a scandalloving report. In the next place for

you did not allow me to finish what I was saying the public does not assert that you have abandoned

yourself to this passion. It represents you, on the contrary, as a virtuous but loving woman, defending

yourself with claws and teeth, shutting yourself up in your own house as in a fortress; in other respects, as

impenetrable as that of Danae, notwithstanding Danae's tower was made of brass."

"You always flatter me, Elise. In short, however you are reported to be incorruptible and unapproachable.

You cannot decide whether the world is calumniating you or not; but what is it you are musing about while I

"I was trying," said the marquise, raising her beautiful eyes brightened with an indication of growing temper,

"I was trying to discover to what you could possibly have alluded, you who are so learned in mythological

"Yes; do you not remember that at the convent, when we were solving our problems in arithmetic ah!

what I have to tell you is learned also, but it is my turn do you not remember, that if one of the terms were

"Very well, it is not said, I suppose, that I am in love with an abstraction. There must surely be a name

"Very well; it is not surprising, then, that I should try to guess this name, since you do not tell it."

"My dear marquise, when I saw you blush, I did not think you would have to spend much time in

"It was the word Danae which you used that surprised me. Danae means a shower of gold, does it not?"

"That is to say that the Jupiter of Danae changed himself into a shower of gold for her."

"Good," said the marquise, as she clenched her hands like a patient at the approach of the knife.

"He is a very wealthy man," continued Marguerite; "the wealthiest, it may be. In a word, it is "

"It is the Duke of Buckingham," said Marguerite, bursting into laughter. This perfidy had been calculated

with extreme ability; the name that was pronounced, instead of the name which the marquise awaited, had

precisely the same effect upon her as the badly sharpened axes that had hacked, without destroying,

Messieurs de Chalais and De Thou upon the scaffold. She recovered herself, however, and said, "I was

perfectly right in saying you were a witty woman, for you are making the time pass away most agreeably.

"Oh!" resumed Madame Vanel, stretching out her foot towards a paper which was lying on the carpet near the

window; "it is not necessary for people to see each other, since they can write." The marquise trembled, for

this paper was the envelope of the letter she was reading as her friend had entered, and was sealed with the

superintendent's arms. As she leaned back on the sofa on which she was sitting, Madame de Belliere covered

"Come, Marguerite, tell me, is it to tell me all these foolish reports that you have come to see me so early in

"No, I came to see you, in the first place, and to remind you of those habits of our earlier days, so delightful

to remember, when we used to wander about together at Vincennes, and, sitting beneath an oak, or in some

"I am not dressed yet, Marguerite; but if you wish that we should talk together, we can, without going to the

woods of Vincennes, find in my own garden here, beautiful trees, shady groves, a greensward covered with

daisies and violets, the perfume of which can be perceived from where we are sitting."

"I regret your refusal, my dear marquise, for I wanted to pour out my whole heart into yours."

"I repeat again, Marguerite, my heart is yours just as much in this room, or beneath the limetrees in the

"It is not the same thing for me. In approaching Vincennes, marquise, my ardent aspirations approach nearer

to that object towards which they have for some days past been directed." The marquise suddenly raised her

"Of SaintMande?" exclaimed Madame de Belliere; and the looks of both women met each other like two

"I, so proud!" replied Madame Vanel. "Such is my nature. I do not forgive neglect I cannot endure

infidelity. When I leave any one who weeps at my abandonment, I feel induced still to love him; but when

"Then," continued the marquise, "you are quite enamored of the Duke of Buckingham I mean of M.

Fouquet?" Elise felt the allusion, and her blood seemed to congeal in her heart. "And you wished to go to

"Most certainly I should not have done so in the present instance, for I do not forgive as you do. I am less

"But M. Fouquet has not wounded you," said Marguerite Vanel, with the most perfect simplicity.

"You perfectly understand what I mean. M. Fouquet has not wounded me; I do not know of either obligation

or injury received at his hands, but you have reason to complain of him. You are my friend, and I am afraid I

"You overwhelm me," said the young woman suddenly, as if collecting her whole strength, like a wrestler

preparing for a last struggle; "you take only my evil dispositions and my weaknesses into calculation, and do

not speak of my pure and generous feelings. If, at this moment, I feel instinctively attracted towards the

superintendent, if I even make an advance to him, which, I confess, is very probable, my motive for it is, that

M. Fouquet's fate deeply affects me, and because he is, in my opinion, one of the most unfortunate men

"Ah!" said the marquise, placing her hand upon her heart, "something new, then, has occurred?"

"I am utterly ignorant of everything about him," said Madame de Belliere, with the poignant anguish that

"In the first place, then, the king's favor is entirely withdrawn from M. Fouquet, and conferred on M.

"I was told that the discovery of the fortifications there had turned out to M. Fouquet's honor."

Marguerite began to laugh in so cruel a manner that Madame de Belliere could at that moment have

delightedly plunged a dagger in her bosom. "Dearest," continued Marguerite, "there is no longer any question

of M. Fouquet's honor; his safety is concerned. Before three days are passed the ruin of the superintendent

"Stay," said the marquise, in her turn smiling, "that is going a little too fast."

"I said three days, because I wish to deceive myself with a hope; but probably the catastrophe will be

"In matters of finance, my dear Marguerite, some are without money today, who tomorrow can procure

"That might be M. Fouquet's case when he had two wealthy and clever friends who amassed money for him,

and wrung it from every possible or impossible source; but those friends are dead."

"Money does not die, Marguerite; it may be concealed, but it can be looked for, bought and found."

"You see things on the bright side, and so much the better for you. It is really very unfortunate that you are

not the Egeria of M. Fouquet; you might now show him the source whence he could obtain the millions

"Infamous!" murmured Madame de Belliere, tortured by her friend's merciless delight.

"M. Fouquet, I should think, must certainly have four millions," she replied, courageously.

"If he has those which the king requires today," said Marguerite, "he will not, perhaps, possess those which

"No doubt; and that is my reason for saying that the ruin of poor M. Fouquet is inevitable. Pride will induce

"It is true," said the marquise, trembling; "the plan is a bold one; but tell me, does M. Colbert hate M.

"I think he does not like him. M. Colbert is powerful; he improves on close acquaintance, he has gigantic

"It is probable. Such is the reason, my dear marquise, why I felt myself impressed in favor of that poor man,

who once loved, and even adored me; and why, when I see him so unfortunate, I forgive his infidelity which I

have reason to believe he also regrets; and why, moreover, I should not have been disinclined to afford him

some consolation, or some good advice; he would have understood the step I had taken, and would have

thought kindly of me for it. It is gratifying to be loved, you know. Men value love more highly when they are

The marquise, bewildered and overcome by these cruel attacks, which had been calculated with the greatest

nicety and precision, hardly knew what answer to return; she even seemed to have lost all power of thought.

Her perfidious friend's voice had assumed the most affectionate tone; she spoke as a woman, but concealed

"Well," said Madame de Belliere, who had a vague hope that Marguerite would cease to overwhelm a

"Decidedly, marquise, you have made me reflect. No, it would be unbecoming for me to make the first

advance. M. Fouquet no doubt loves me, but he is too proud. I cannot expose myself to an affront.... besides I

have my husband to consider. You tell me nothing? Very well, I shall consult M. Colbert on the subject."

Marguerite rose smilingly, as though to take leave, but the marquise had not the strength to imitate her.

Marguerite advanced a few paces, in order that she might continue to enjoy the humiliating grief in which her

rival was plunged, and then said, suddenly, "You do not accompany me to the door, then?" The marquise

rose, pale and almost lifeless, without thinking of the envelope, which had occupied her attention so greatly at

the commencement of the conversation, and which was revealed at the first step she took. She then opened

the door of her oratory, and without even turning her head towards Marguerite Vanel, entered it, closing the

door after her. Marguerite said, or rather muttered a few words, which Madame de Belliere did not even hear.

As soon, however, as the marquise had disappeared, her envious enemy, not being able to resist the desire to

satisfy herself that her suspicions were well founded, advanced stealthily towards it like a panther and seized

the envelope. "Ah!" she said, gnashing her teeth, "it was indeed a letter from M. Fouquet she was reading

when I arrived," and then darted out of the room. During this interval, the marquise, having arrived behind

the rampart, as it were, of her door, felt that her strength was failing her; for a moment she remained rigid,

pale and motionless as a statue, and then, like a statue shaken on its base by an earthquake, tottered and fell

inanimate on the carpet. The noise of the fall resounded at the same moment as the rolling of Marguerite's

The blow had been the more painful on account of its being unexpected. It was some time before the

marquise recovered herself; but once recovered, she began to reflect upon the events so heartlessly

announced to her. She therefore returned, at the risk even of losing her life in the way, to that train of ideas

which her relentless friend had forced her to pursue. Treason, then deep menaces, concealed under the

semblance of public interest such were Colbert's maneuvers. A detestable delight at an approaching

downfall, untiring efforts to attain this object, means of seduction no less wicked than the crime itself such

were the weapons Marguerite employed. The crooked atoms of Descartes triumphed; to the man without

compassion was united a woman without heart. The marquise perceived, with sorrow rather than indignation,

that the king was an accomplice in the plot which betrayed the duplicity of Louis XIII. in his advanced age,

and the avarice of Mazarin at a period of life when he had not had the opportunity of gorging himself with

French gold. The spirit of thus courageous woman soon resumed its energy, no longer overwhelmed by

indulgence in compassionate lamentations. The marquise was not one to weep when action was necessary,

nor to waste time in bewailing a misfortune as long as means still existed of relieving it. For some minutes

she buried her face in her cold fingers, and then, raising her head, rang for her attendants with a steady hand,

and with a gesture betraying a fixed determination of purpose. Her resolution was taken.

"Is everything prepared for my departure?" she inquired of one of her female attendants who entered.

"Yes, madame; but it was not expected that your ladyship would leave for Belliere for the next few days."

"Yes, madame; but hitherto we have been in the habit of leaving them in Paris. Your ladyship does not

The marquise remained silent for a few moments, and then said calmly, "Let my goldsmith be sent for."

Her attendants quitted the room to execute the order. The marquise, however, had entered her own room, and

was inspecting her casket of jewels with the greatest attention. Never, until now, had she bestowed such close

attention upon riches in which women take so much pride; never, until now, had she looked at her jewels

except for the purpose of making a selection, according to their settings or their colors. On this occasion,

however, she admired the size of the rubies and the brilliancy of the diamonds; she grieved over every

blemish and every defect; she thought the gold light, and the stones wretched. The goldsmith, as he entered,

found her thus occupied. "M. Faucheux " she said, "I believe you supplied me with my gold service?"

"Of the new service, madame, or of that which M. de Belliere presented to you on your marriage? for I have

"The covers, the goblets, and the dishes, with their covers, the eauepergne, the icepails, the dishes for the

preserves, and the tea and coffee urns, cost your ladyship sixty thousand francs."

"Yes, yes; I remember, in fact, that it was dear; but it was the workmanship, I suppose?"

"What proportion of the cost does the workmanship form? Do not hesitate to tell me."

"Yes, madame; there is less workmanship in that than in the other. Its intrinsic value does not exceed thirty

"Thirty thousand," murmured the marquise. "But, M. Faucheux, there is also the service which belonged to

my mother; all that massive plate which I did not wish to part with, on account of the associations connected

"Ah! madame, that would indeed be an excellent resource for those who, unlike your ladyship, might not be

in a position to keep their plate. In chasing that they worked in solid metal. But that service is no longer in

"Fifty thousand livres at the very least. I do not allude to the enormous vases for the buffet, which alone

"One hundred and thirty," murmured the marquise. "You are quite sure of your figures, M. Faucheux?"

"Let us now turn to another subject," said Madame de, Belliere; and she opened one of her jewelboxes.

"I recognize these emeralds," said M. Faucheux; "for it was I who had the setting of them. They are the most

beautiful in the whole court. No, I am mistaken; Madame de Chatillon has the most beautiful set; she had

"All your jewels could be sold, madame. It is well known that you possess the most beautiful jewels in Paris.

You are not changeable in your tastes; when you make a purchase it is of the very best; and what you

The marquise wrote down upon her tablets the amount which the jeweler mentioned. "The ruby necklace?"

"They are beautiful magnificent. I did not know that your ladyship had these stones."

"Two hundred thousand francs. The center one is alone worth a hundred thousand."

"I thought so," said the marquise. "As for diamonds, I have them in numbers; rings, necklaces, sprigs,

The jeweler took his magnifyingglass and scales, weighed and inspected them, and silently made his

calculations. "These stones," he said, "must have cost your ladyship an income of forty thousand francs."

"No, madame; but if I were called upon to sell or to buy, I should be satisfied with the gold of the settings

alone as my profit upon the transaction. I should make a good twentyfive thousand francs."

"Will you accept that profit, then, on condition of converting the jewels into money?"

"But you do not intend to sell your diamonds, I suppose, madame?" exclaimed the bewildered jeweler.

"Silence, M. Faucheux, do not disturb yourself about that; give me an answer simply. You are an honorable

man, with whom my family has dealt for thirty years; you knew my father and mother, whom your own

father and mother served. I address you as a friend; will you accept the gold of the settings in return for a sum

"But reflect, madame, upon the effect which will be produced by the sale of your jewels."

"No one need know it. You can get sets of false jewels made for me, similar to the real. Do not answer a

"In that way it is easy. Monsieur is looking out for some sets of jewels as well as single stones for Madame's

toilette. There will be a competition for them. I can easily dispose of six hundred thousand francs' worth to

"Very well, the remainder you will dispose of among private individuals. For the present, make me out a

"I entreat you to reflect, madame; for if you force the sale, you will lose a hundred thousand francs."

"If necessary, I will lose two hundred; I wish everything to be settled this evening. Do you accept?"

"I do, your ladyship. I will not conceal from you that I shall make fifty thousand francs by the transaction."

"I agree," said the marquise, eagerly; "return home and bring the sum in question in notes, as soon as

"Not a word, M. Faucheux. By the by, I was forgetting the silver plate. What is the value of that which I

"That makes a million," said the marquise to herself. "M. Faucheux, you will take away with you both the

gold and silver plate. I can assign, as a pretext, that I wish it remodelled on patterns more in accordance with

"You will be good enough to place the money in a chest, and direct one of your clerks to accompany the

chest, and without my servants seeing him; and order him to wait for me in a carriage."

"I will direct some of my servants to convey the plate to your house." The marquise rung. "Let the small van

be placed at M. Faucheux's disposal," she said. The jeweler bowed and left the house, directing that the van

should follow him closely, saying aloud that the marquise was about to have her plate melted down in order

to have other plate manufactured of a more modern style. Three hours afterwards she went to M. Faucheux's

house and received from him eight hundred thousand francs in gold inclosed in a chest, which one of the

clerks could hardly carry towards Madame Faucheux's carriage for Madame Faucheux kept her carriage.

As the daughter of a president of accounts, she had brought a marriage portion of thirty thousand crowns to

her husband, who was syndic of the goldsmiths. These thirty thousand crowns had become very fruitful

during twenty years. The jeweler, though a millionaire, was a modest man. He had purchased a substantial

carriage, built in 1648, ten years after the king's birth. This carriage, or rather house upon wheels, excited the

admiration of the whole quarter in which he resided it was covered with allegorical paintings, and clouds

scattered over with stars. The marquise entered this somewhat extraordinary vehicle, sitting opposite the

clerk, who endeavored to put his knees out of the way, afraid even of touching the marquise's dress. It was

the clerk, too, who told the coachman, who was very proud of having a marquise to drive, to take the road to

Monsieur Faucheux's horses were serviceable animals, with thickset knees, and legs that had some difficulty

in moving. Like the carriage, they belonged to the earlier part of the century. They were not as fleet as the

English horses of M. Fouquet, and consequently took two hours to get to SaintMande. Their progress, it

might be said, was majestic. Majesty, however, precludes hurry. The marquise stopped the carriage at the

door so well known to her, although she had seen it only once, under circumstances, it will be remembered,

no less painful than those which brought her now to it again. She drew a key from her pocket, and inserted it

in the lock, pushed open the door, which noiselessly yielded to her touch, and directed the clerk to carry the

chest upstairs to the first floor. The weight of the chest was so great that the clerk was obliged to get the

coachman to assist him with it. They placed it in a small cabinet, anteroom, or boudoir rather, adjoining the

saloon where we once saw M. Fouquet at the marquise's feet. Madame de Belliere gave the coachman a louis,

smiled gracefully at the clerk, and dismissed them both. She closed the door after them, and waited in the

room, alone and barricaded. There was no servant to be seen about the rooms, but everything was prepared as

though some invisible genius had divined the wishes and desires of an expected guest. The fire was laid,

candles in the candelabra, refreshments upon the table, books scattered about, freshcut flowers in the vases.

One might almost have imagined it an enchanted house. The marquise lighted the candles, inhaled the

perfume of the flowers, sat down, and was soon plunged in profound thought. Her deep musings, melancholy

though they were, were not untinged with a certain vague joy. Spread out before her was a treasure, a million

wrung from her fortune as a gleaner plucks the blue cornflower from her crown of flowers. She conjured up

the sweetest dreams. Her principal thought, and one that took precedence of all others, was to devise means

of leaving this money for M. Fouquet without his possibly learning from whom the gift had come. This idea,

naturally enough, was the first to present itself to her mind. But although, on reflection, it appeared difficult

to carry out, she did not despair of success. She would then ring to summon M. Fouquet and make her escape,

happier than if, instead of having given a million, she had herself found one. But, being there, and having

seen the boudoir so coquettishly decorated that it might almost be said the least particle of dust had but the

moment before been removed by the servants; having observed the drawingroom, so perfectly arranged that

it might almost be said her presence there had driven away the fairies who were its occupants, she asked

herself if the glance or gaze of those whom she had displaced whether spirits, fairies, elves, or human

creatures had not already recognized her. To secure success, it was necessary that some steps should be

seriously taken, and it was necessary also that the superintendent should comprehend the serious position in

which he was placed, in order to yield compliance with the generous fancies of a woman; all the fascinations

of an eloquent friendship would be required to persuade him, and, should this be insufficient, the maddening

influence of a devoted passion, which, in its resolute determination to carry conviction, would not be turned

aside. Was not the superintendent, indeed, known for his delicacy and dignity of feeling? Would he allow

himself to accept from any woman that of which she had stripped herself? No! He would resist, and if any

voice in the world could overcome his resistance, it would be the voice of the woman he loved.

Another doubt, and that a cruel one, suggested itself to Madame de Belliere with a sharp, acute pain, like a

dagger thrust. Did he really love her? Would that volatile mind, that inconstant heart, be likely to be fixed for

a moment, even were it to gaze upon an angel? Was it not the same with Fouquet, notwithstanding his genius

and his uprightness of conduct, as with those conquerors on the field of battle who shed tears when they have

gained a victory?" I must learn if it be so, and must judge of that for myself," said the marquise. "Who can

tell whether that heart, so coveted, is not common in its impulses, and full of alloy? Who can tell if that mind,

when the touchstone is applied to it, will not be found of a mean and vulgar character? Come, come," she

said, "this is doubting and hesitating too much to the proof." She looked at the timepiece. "It is now seven

o'clock," she said; "he must have arrived, it is the hour for signing his papers." With a feverish impatience she

rose and walked towards the mirror, in which she smiled with a resolute smile of devotedness; she touched

the spring and drew out the handle of the bell. Then, as if exhausted beforehand by the struggle she had just

undergone, she threw herself on her knees, in utter abandonment, before a large couch, in which she buried

her face in her trembling hands. Ten minutes afterwards she heard the spring of the door sound. The door

moved upon invisible hinges, and Fouquet appeared. He looked pale, and seemed bowed down by the weight

of some bitter reflection. He did not hurry, but simply came at the summons. The preoccupation of his mind

must indeed have been very great, that a man so devoted to pleasure, for whom indeed pleasure meant

everything, should obey such a summons so listlessly. The previous night, in fact, fertile in melancholy ideas,

had sharpened his features, generally so noble in their indifference of expression, and had traced dark lines of

anxiety around his eyes. Handsome and noble he still was, and the melancholy expression of his mouth, a rare

expression with men, gave a new character to his features, by which his youth seemed to be renewed. Dressed

in black, the lace in front of his chest much disarranged by his feverishly restless hand, the looks of the

superintendent, full of dreamy reflection, were fixed upon the threshold of the room which he had so

frequently approached in search of expected happiness. This gloomy gentleness of manner, this smiling

sadness of expression, which had replaced his former excessive joy, produced an indescribable effect upon

A woman's eye can read the face of the man she loves, its every feeling of pride, its every expression of

suffering; it might almost be said that Heaven has graciously granted to women, on account of their very

weakness, more than it has accorded to other creatures. They can conceal their own feelings from a man, but

from them no man can conceal his. The marquise divined in a single glance the whole weight of the

unhappiness of the superintendent. She divined a night passed without sleep, a day passed in deceptions.

From that moment she was firm in her own strength, and she felt that she loved Fouquet beyond everything

else. She arose and approached him, saying, "You wrote to me this morning to say you were beginning to

forget me, and that I, whom you had not seen lately, had no doubt ceased to think of you. I have come to

undeceive you, monsieur, and the more completely so, because there is one thing I can read in your eyes."

"That you have never loved me so much as at this moment; in the same manner you can read, in my present

"Oh! madame," said Fouquet, whose face was for a moment lighted up by a sudden gleam of joy, "you are

indeed an angel, and no man can suspect you. All he can do is to humble himself before you and entreat

"Your forgiveness is granted, then," said the marquise. Fouquet was about to throw himself upon his knees.

"No, no," she said, "sit here by my side. Ah! that is an evil thought which has just crossed your mind."

"By the smile that has just marred the expression of your countenance, Be candid, and tell me what your

"Tell me, then, madame, why have you been so harsh these three or four months past?"

"Alas!" said Madame de Belliere, sighing, "because your visit to me was the cause of your being visited with

a great misfortune; because my house is watched; because the same eyes that have seen you already might

see you again; because I think it less dangerous for you that I should come here than that you should come to

my house; and, lastly, because I know you to be already unhappy enough not to wish to increase your

Fouquet started, for these words recalled all the anxieties connected with his office of superintendent he

who, for the last few minutes, had indulged in all the wild aspirations of the lover. "I unhappy?" he said,

endeavoring to smile: "indeed, marquise, you will almost make me believe I am so, judging from your own

sadness. Are your beautiful eyes raised upon me merely in pity? I was looking for another expression from

"It is true I am somewhat pale, marquise; but it is from overwork; the king yesterday required a supply of

"You know it?" exclaimed Fouquet, in a tone of surprise; "how can you have learnt it? It was after the

"You perceive that I do know it; is not that sufficient? Well, go on, monsieur, the money the king has

"You understand, marquise, that I have been obliged to procure it, then to get it counted, afterwards

registered altogether a long affair. Since Monsieur de Mazarin's death, financial affairs occasion some

little fatigue and embarrassment. My administration is somewhat overtaxed, and this is the reason why I have

"It would indeed be strange, marquise," replied Fouquet, cheerfully, "if a superintendent of finances were not

"On the contrary, to me it seems almost an age; but do not let us talk of money matters any longer."

"On the contrary, we will continue to speak of them, for that is my only reason for coming to see you."

"I am at a loss to compass your meaning," said the superintendent, whose eyes began to express an anxious

"You surprise me, marchioness, for you speak as if you had some motive or interest in putting the question."

"My reason is simple enough; I am desirous of placing some money in your hands, and naturally I wish to

"Really, marquise, I am at a loss what to reply; I cannot conceive your meaning."

"Seriously, then, dear M. Fouquet, funds which somewhat embarrass me. I am tired of investing my money in

"By and by will not do, for my money is there," returned the marquise, pointing out the coffer to the

superintendent, and showing him, as she opened it, the bundles of notes and heaps of gold. Fouquet, who had

risen from his seat at the same moment as Madame de Belliere, remained for a moment plunged in thought;

then suddenly starting back, he turned pale, and sank down in his chair, concealing his face in his hands.

"Madame, madame," he murmured, "what opinion can you have of me, when you make me such an offer?"

"Of you!" returned the marquise. "Tell me, rather, what you yourself think of the step I have taken."

"You bring me this money for myself, and you bring it because you know me to be embarrassed. Nay, do not

"I have guessed rightly, then," exclaimed Fouquet. "In truth, madame, I have never yet given you the right to

"Insult you," she said, turning pale, "what singular delicacy of feeling! You tell me you love me; in the name

of that affection you wish me to sacrifice my reputation and my honor, yet, when I offer you money which is

"Madame, you are at liberty to preserve what you term your reputation and your honor. Permit me to preserve

mine. Leave me to my ruin, leave me to sink beneath the weight of the hatreds which surround me, beneath

the faults I have committed, beneath the load even, of my remorse, but, for Heaven's sake, madame, do not

"A short time since, M. Fouquet, you were wanting in judgment; now you are wanting in feeling."

Fouquet pressed his clenched hand upon his breast, heaving with emotion, saying: "Overwhelm me, madame

"Monsieur Fouquet, look at me," said the marquise, with glistening eyes, "I now offer you my love."

"I have loved you for a long while past; women, like men, have a false delicacy at times. For a long time past

I have loved you, but would not confess it. Well, then, you have implored this love on your knees, and I have

refused you; I was blind, as you were a little while since; but as it was my love that you sought, it is my love I

"Take me, then. If, however, for your sake I sacrifice a prejudice, do you, for mine, sacrifice a scruple."

"Fouquet, but one word. Let it be `No,' and I open this door," and she pointed to the door which led into the

streets, "and you will never see me again. Let that word be `Yes,' and I am yours entirely."

"It is your ruin," exclaimed Fouquet, turning over the gold and papers; "there must be a million here."

"Yes, my jewels, for which I care no longer if you do not love me, and for which, equally, I care no longer if

"This is too much," exclaimed Fouquet. "I yield, I yield, even were it only to consecrate so much devotion. I

"And take the woman with it." said the: marquise, throwing herself into his arms.

During the progress of these events Buckingham and De Wardes traveled in excellent companionship, and

made the journey from Paris to Calais in undisturbed harmony together. Buckingham had hurried his

departure, so that the greater part of his adieux were very hastily made. His visit to Monsieur and Madame, to

the young queen, and to the queendowager, had been paid collectively a precaution on the part of the

queenmother which saved him the distress of any private conversation with Monsieur, and also the danger

of seeing Madame again. The carriages containing the luggage had already been sent on beforehand, and in

De Wardes, irritated at finding himself dragged away in so abrupt a manner by this Englishman, had sought

in his subtle mind for some means of escaping from his fetters; but no one having rendered him any

assistance in this respect, he was absolutely obliged, therefore, to submit to the burden of his own evil

Such of his friends in whom he had been able to confide, had, in their character of wits, rallied him upon the

duke's superiority. Others, less brilliant, but more sensible, had reminded him of the king's orders prohibiting

dueling. Others, again, and they the larger number, who, in virtue of charity, or national vanity, might have

rendered him assistance, did not care to run the risk of incurring disgrace, and would, at the best, have

informed the ministers of a departure which might end in a massacre on a small scale. The result was, that,

after having fully deliberated upon the matter, De Wardes packed up his luggage, took a couple of horses,

and, followed only by one servant, made his way towards the barrier, where Buckingham's carriage was to

The duke received his adversary as he would have done an intimate acquaintance, made room beside him on

the same seat with himself, offered him refreshments, and spread over his knees the sable cloak that had been

thrown on the front seat. They then conversed of the court, without alluding to Madame; of Monsieur,

without speaking of domestic affairs; of the king, without speaking of his brother's wife; of the

queenmother, without alluding to her daughterinlaw; of the king of England, without alluding to his

sisterinlaw; of the state of the affections of either of the travelers, without pronouncing any name that

might be dangerous. In this way the journey, which was performed by short stages, was most agreeable, and

Buckingham, almost a Frenchman from wit and education, was delighted at having so admirably selected his

traveling companion. Elegant repasts were served, of which they partook but lightly; trials of horses made in

the beautiful meadows that skirted the road; coursing indulged in, for Buckingham had his greyhounds with

him; and in such ways did they pass away the pleasant time. The duke somewhat resembled the beautiful

river Seine, which folds France a thousand times in its loving embrace, before deciding upon joining its

waters with the ocean. In quitting France, it was her recently adopted daughter he had brought to Paris whom

he chiefly regretted; his every thought was a remembrance of her his every memory a regret. Therefore,

whenever, now and then, despite his command over himself, he was lost in thought, De Wardes left him

entirely to his musings. This delicacy might have touched Buckingham, and changed his feelings towards De

Wardes, if the latter, while preserving silence, had shown a glance less full of malice, and a smile less false.

Instinctive dislikes, however, are relentless; nothing appeases them; a few ashes may sometimes, apparently,

extinguish them; but beneath those ashes the smothered embers rage more furiously. Having exhausted every

means of amusement the route offered, they arrived, as we have said, at Calais towards the end of the sixth

day. The duke's attendants, since the previous evening, had traveled in advance, and now chartered a boat, for

the purpose of joining the yacht, which had been tacking about in sight, or bore broadside on, whenever it felt

The boat was destined for the transport of the duke's equipages from the shore to the yacht. The horses had

been embarked, having been hoisted from the boat upon the deck in baskets expressly made for the purpose,

and wadded in such a manner that their limbs, even in the most violent fits of terror or impatience, were

always protected by the soft support which the sides afforded, and their coats not even turned. Eight of these

baskets, placed side by side, filled the ship's hold. It is well known that in short voyages horses refuse to eat,

but remain trembling all the while, with the best of food before them, such as they would have greatly

coveted on land. By degrees, the duke's entire equipage was transported on board the yacht; he was then

informed that everything was in readiness, and that they only waited for him, whenever he would be disposed

to embark with the French gentleman; for no one could possibly imagine that the French gentleman would

have any other accounts to settle with his Grace than those of friendship. Buckingham desired the captain to

be told to hold himself in readiness, but that, as the sea was beautiful, and as the day promised a splendid

sunset, he did not intend to go on board until nightfall, and would avail himself of the evening to enjoy a

walk on the strand. He added also, that, finding himself in such excellent company, he had not the least desire

As he said this he pointed out to those who surrounded him the magnificent spectacle which the sky

presented, of deepest azure in the horizon, the amphitheatre of fleecy clouds ascending from the sun's disc to

the zenith, assuming the appearance of a range of snowy mountains, whose summits were heaped one upon

another. The dome of clouds was tinged at its base with, as it were, the foam of rubies, fading away into opal

and pearly tints, in proportion as the gaze was carried from base to summit. The sea was gilded with the same

reflection, and upon the crest of every sparkling wave danced a point of light, like a diamond by lamplight.

The mildness of the evening, the sea breezes, so dear to contemplative minds, setting in from the east and

blowing in delicious gusts; then, in the distance, the black outline of the yacht with its rigging traced upon the

empurpled background of the sky while, dotting the horizon, might be seen, here and there, vessels with

their trimmed sails, like the wings of a seagull about to plunge; such a spectacle indeed well merited

admiration. A crowd of curious idlers followed the richly dressed attendants, amongst whom they mistook

the steward and the secretary for the master and his friend. As for Buckingham, who was dressed very

simply, in a gray satin vest, and doublet of violetcolored velvet, wearing his hat thrust over his eyes, and

without orders or embroidery, he was taken no more notice of than De Wardes, who was in black, like an

The duke's attendants had received directions to have a boat in readiness at the jetty head, and to watch the

embarkation of their master, without approaching him until either he or his friend should summon them,

"whatever may happen," he had added, laying a stress upon these words, so that they might not be

misunderstood. Having walked a few paces upon the strand, Buckingham said to De Wardes, "I think it is

now time to take leave of each other. The tide, you perceive, is rising; ten minutes hence it will have soaked

the sands where we are now walking in such a manner that we shall not be able to keep our footing."

"Well, do you see yonder a kind of little island surrounded by a circle of water? The pool is increasing every

minute, and the isle is gradually disappearing. This island, indeed, belongs to Heaven, for it is situated

"Yes; but observe that it forms an eminence tolerably high, and that the tide rises on every side, leaving the

top free. We shall be admirably placed upon that little theatre. What do you think of it?"

"I shall be perfectly happy wherever I may have the honor of crossing my sword with your lordship's."

"Very well, then, I am distressed to be the cause of your wetting your feet, M. de Wardes, but it is most

essential you should be able to say to the king: `Sire, I did not fight upon your majesty's territory.' Perhaps the

distinction is somewhat subtle, but, since PortRoyal, your nation delights in subtleties of expression. Do not

let us complain of this, however, for it makes your wit very brilliant, and of a style peculiarly your own. If

you do not object, we will hurry ourselves, for the sea, I perceive, is rising fast, and night is setting in."

"My reason for not walking faster was, that I did not wish to precede your Grace. Are you still on dry land,

"Yes, at present I am. Look yonder! My servants are afraid we shall be drowned, and have converted the boat

into a cruiser. Do you remark how curiously it dances upon the crests of the waves? But, as it makes me feel

"You will observe, my lord, that in turning your back to them, you will have the sun full in your face."

"Oh, its rays are very feeble at this hour and it will soon disappear; do not be uneasy on that score."

"As you please, my lord; it was out of consideration for your lordship that I made the remark."

"I am aware of that, M. de Wardes, and I fully appreciate your kindness. Shall we take off our doublets?"

"Do not hesitate to tell me, M. de Wardes, if you do not feel comfortable upon the wet sand, or if you think

yourself a little too close to the French territory. We could fight in England, or even upon my yacht."

"We are exceedingly well placed here, my lord; only I have the honor to remark that, as the sea is rising fast,

Buckingham made a sign of assent, took off his doublet and threw it on the ground, a proceeding which De

Wardes imitated. Both their bodies, which seemed like phantoms to those who were looking at them from the

shore, were thrown strongly into relief by a dark red violetcolored shadow with which the sky became

"Upon my word, your Grace," said De Wardes, "we shall hardly have time to begin. Do you not perceive how

"I have sunk up to the ankles," said Buckingham, "without reckoning that the water is even now breaking in

"It has already reached me. As soon as you please, therefore, your Grace," said De Wardes, who drew his

"M. de Wardes," said Buckingham, "one final word. I am about to fight you because I do not like you,

because you have wounded me in ridiculing a certain devotional regard I have entertained, and one which I

acknowledge that, at this moment, I still retain, and for which I would very willingly die. You are a bad and

heartless man, M. de Wardes, and I will do my very utmost to take your life; for I feel assured that, if you

survive this engagement, you will, in the future, work great mischief towards my friends. That is all I have to

"And I, my lord, have only this to reply to you: I have not disliked you hitherto, but, since you give me such a

character, I hate you, and will do all I possibly can to kill you; "and De Wardes saluted Buckingham.

Their swords crossed at the same moment, like two flashes of lightning on a dark night. The swords seemed

to seek each other, guessed their position, and met. Both were practiced swordsmen, and the earlier passes

were without any result. The night was fast closing in, and it was so dark that they attacked and defended

themselves almost instinctively. Suddenly De Wardes felt his sword arrested, he had just touched

"Only from the first effect of the cold steel, but I have recovered. Let us go on, if you please." And

disengaging his sword with a sinister clashing of the blade, the duke wounded the marquis in the breast.

"I beg your pardon, but observing that your shirt was stained " said Buckingham.

And with a terrible lunge, he pierced Buckingham's arm, the sword passing between the two bones.

Buckingham, feeling his right arm paralyzed, stretched out his left, seized his sword, which was about falling

from his nerveless grasp, and before De Wardes could resume his guard, he thrust him through the breast. De

Wardes tottered, his knees gave way beneath him, and leaving his sword still fixed in the duke's arm, he fell

into the water, which was soon crimsoned with a more genuine reflection than that which it had borrowed

from the clouds. De Wardes was not dead; he felt the terrible danger that menaced him, for the sea rose fast.

The duke, too, perceived the danger. With an effort and an exclamation of pain he tore out the blade which

remained in his arm, and turning towards De Wardes said, "Are you dead, marquis?"

"No," replied De Wardes, in a voice choked by the blood which rushed from his lungs to his throat, "but very

"Well, what is to be done; can you walk?" said Buckingham, supporting him on his knee.

"Impossible," he replied. Then falling down again, said, "Call to your people, or I shall be drowned."

The boat flew over the waves, but the sea rose faster than the boat could approach. Buckingham saw that De

Wardes was on the point of being again covered by a wave; he passed his left arm, safe and unwounded,

round his body and raised him up. The wave ascended to his waist but did not move him. The duke

immediately began to carry his late antagonist towards the shore. He had hardly gone ten paces, when a

second wave, rushing onwards higher, more furious and menacing than the former, struck him at the height of

his chest, threw him over and buried him beneath the water. At the reflux, however, the duke and De Wardes

were discovered lying on the strand. De Wardes had fainted. At this moment four of the duke's sailors, who

comprehended the danger, threw themselves into the sea, and in a moment were close beside him. Their

terror was extreme when they observed how their master became covered with blood, in proportion as the

water with which it was impregnated, flowed towards his knees and feet; they wished to carry him.

"Wretched knaves!" exclaimed the duke, drawing himself up with a haughty gesture, which sprinkled them

with blood, "obey directly! M. de Wardes on shore! M. de Wardes's safety to be looked to first, or I will have

The boat had by this time reached them; the secretary and steward leaped into the sea, and approached the

"I commit him to your care, as you value your lives," said the duke. "Take M. de Wardes on shore." They

took him in their arms, and carried him to the dry sand, where the tide never rose so high. A few idlers and

five or six fishermen had gathered on the shore, attracted by the strange spectacle of two men fighting with

the water up to their knees. The fishermen, observing a group of men approaching carrying a wounded man,

entered the sea until the water was up to their waists. The English transferred the wounded man to them, at

the very moment the latter began to open his eyes again. The salt water and the fine sand had got into his

wounds, and caused him the acutest pain. The duke's secretary drew out a purse filled with gold from his

pocket, and handed it to the one among those present who appeared of most importance, saying: "From my

master, his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, in order that every possible care may be taken of the Marquis de

Then, followed by those who had accompanied him, he returned to the boat, which Buckingham had been

enabled to reach with the greatest difficulty, but only after he had seen De Wardes out of danger. By this time

it was high tide; embroidered coats and silk sashes were lost; many hats, too, had been carried away by the

waves. The flow of the tide had borne the duke's and De Wardes's clothes to the shore, and De Wardes was

wrapped in the duke's doublet, under the belief that it was his own, when the fishermen carried him in their