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Chapter V
Chapter V
The King`s Musketeers And The Cardinal`s Guards
D`Artagnan was acquainted with nobody in Paris. He went, therefore, to
his appointment with Athos, without a second, determined to be satisfied with
those his adversary should choose. Besides, his intention was formed to make
the brave musketeer all suitable apologies, but without meanness or weakness,
fearing that that might result from this duel which generally results from
an affair of the kind, when a young and vigorous man fights with an adversary
who is wounded and weakened: if conquered, he doubles the triumph of his
antagonist; if a conqueror, he is accused of foul play and want of courage.
Now, we must have badly painted the character of our adventurer, or our
readers must have already perceived that D`Artagnan was not a common man;
therefore, while repeating to himself that his death was inevitable, he did
not make up his mind to die so quietly as another, less courageous and less
moderate than he might have done in his place. He reflected upon the
different characters of the men he had to fight with, and began to view his
situation more clearly. He hoped, by means of loyal excuses to make a friend
of Athos, whose nobleman air, and austere courage pleased him much. He
flattered himself he should be able to frighten Porthos with the adventure
of the baldrick, which he might, if not killed upon the spot, relate to
everybody - a recital which, well managed, would cover Porthos with ridicule;
as to the astute Aramis, he did not entertain much dread of him, and if he
should be able to get so far as him, he determined to despatch him in good
style, or, at least, by hitting him in the face, as Caesar recommended his
soldiers to do to those of Pompey, damage the beauty of which he was so proud
forever.
In addition to this, D`Artagnan possessed that invincible stock of
resolution which the counsels of his father had implanted in his heart -
Endure nothing from any one but the king, the cardinal, and M. de Treville.
He flew, then, rather than walked, toward the convent of the Carmes
Dechausses, or rather Dechaux, as it was called at that period, a sort of
building without a window, surrounded by barren fields, an accessory to the
Pre-aux-Clercs, and which was generally employed as the place for the
rencounters of men who had no time to lose.
When D`Artagnan arrived in sight of the bare spot of ground which
extended along the foot of the monastery, Athos had been waiting about five
minutes, and twelve o`clock was striking; he was, then, as punctual as the
Samaritan woman, and the most rigorous casuist with regard to duels could
have nothing to say.
Athos, who still suffered grievously from his wound, though it had been
dressed by M. de Treville`s surgeon at nine, was seated on a post and waiting
for his adversary with that placid countenance and that noble air which never
forsook him. At sight of D`Artagnan, he arose and came politely a few steps
to meet him. The latter, on his side, saluted his adversary with hat in
hand, and his feather even touching the ground.
"Monsieur," said Athos, "I have engaged two of my friends as seconds;
but these two friends are not yet come, at which I am astonished, as it is
not at all their custom to be behindhand."
"I have no seconds on my part, monsieur," said D`Artagnan; "for, having
only arrived yesterday in Paris, I as yet know no one but M. de Treville, to
whom I was recommended by my father, who has the honor to be, in some degree,
one of his friends."
Athos reflected for an instant.
"You know no one but M. de Treville?" he asked.
"No, monsieur; I only know him."
"Well, but then," continued Athos, speaking partly to himself, "well,
but then, if I kill you, I shall have the air of a boy-slayer."
"Not too much so," replied D`Artagnan, with a bow that was not deficient
in dignity, "not too much so, since you do me the honor to draw a sword with
me while suffering from a wound which is very painful."
"Very painful, upon my word, and you hurt me devilishly, I can tell you;
but I will take the left hand - I usually do so in such circumstances. Do
not fancy that I favor you - I use both hands equally; and it will be even
a disadvantage to you - a left-handed man is very troublesome to people who
are not used to it. I regret I did not inform you sooner of this
circumstance."
"You are truly, monsieur," said D`Artagnan, bowing again, "of a
courtesy, for which, I assure you, I am very grateful."
"You confuse me," replied Athos, with his gentlemanly air; "let us talk
of something else, if you please. Ah, sang Dieu! how you have hurt me! my
shoulder quite burns."
"If you would permit me - " said D`Artagnan, with timidity.
"What, monsieur?"
"I have a miraculous balsam for wounds - a balsam given to me by my
mother, and of which I have made a trial upon myself."
"Well?"
"Well, I am sure that in less than three days this balsam would cure
you; and at the end of three days, when you would be cured - well, sir, it
would still do me a great honor to be your man."
D`Artagnan spoke these words with a simplicity that did honor to his
courtesy, without throwing the least doubt upon his courage.
"Pardieu, monsieur!" said Athos, "that`s a proposition that pleases me;
not that I accept it, but it savors of the gentleman a league off. It was
thus that spoke the gallant knights of the time of Charlemagne, in whom every
knight ought to seek his model. Unfortunately, we do not live in the time
of the great emperor; we live in the times of Monsieur the Cardinal, and
three days hence, however well the secret might be guarded, it would be
known, I say, that we were to fight, and our combat would be prevented. I
think these fellows will never come."
"If you are in haste, monsieur," said D`Artagnan, with the same
simplicity with which a moment before he had proposed to him to put off the
duel for three days, "if you are in haste, and if it be your will to despatch
me at once, do not inconvenience yourself - I am ready."
"Well, that is again well said," cried Athos, with a gracious nod to
D`Artagnan, that did not come from a man without brains, and certainly not
from a man without a heart. "Monsieur, I love men of your kidney, and I
foresee plainly that, if we don`t kill each other, I shall hereafter have
much pleasure in your conversation. We will wait for these gentlemen, if you
please; I have plenty of time, and it will be more correct. Ah! here is one
of them, I think."
In fact, at the end of the Rue Vanguard, the gigantic form of Porthos
began to appear.
"What!" cried D`Artagnan, "is your first second M. Porthos?"
"Yes. Is that unpleasant to you?"
"Oh, not at all."
"And here comes the other."
D`Artagnan turned in the direction pointed to by Athos and perceived
Aramis.
"What!" cried he, in an accent of greater astonishment than before, "is
your second witness M. Aramis?"
"Doubtless he is. Are you not aware that we are never seen one without
the others, and that we are called in the musketeers and the guards, at court
and in the city, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, or the three inseparables? And
yet, as you come from Dax or Pau - ."
"From Tarbes," said D`Artagnan.
"It is probable you are ignorant of this circumstance," said Athos.
"Ma foi!" replied D`Artagnan, "you are well named, gentlemen, and my
adventure, if it should make any noise, will prove at least that your union
is not founded upon contrasts."
In the meantime Porthos had come up, waved his hand to Athos, and then
turning toward D`Artagnan, stood quite astonished.
Permit us to say, in passing, that he had changed his baldrick, and was
without his cloak.
"Ah, ah!" said he, "what does this mean?"
"This is the gentleman I am going to fight with," said Athos, pointing
to D`Artagnan with his hand, and saluting him with the same gesture.
"Why, it is with him I am also going to fight," said Porthos.
"But not before one o`clock," replied D`Artagnan.
"Well, and I also am going to fight with that gentleman," said Aramis,
coming on to the ground as he spoke.
"But not till two o`clock," said D`Artagnan, with the same calmness.
"But what are you going to fight about, Athos?" asked Aramis.
Ma foi! I don`t very well know; he hurt my shoulder. And you,
Porthos?"
"Ma foi! I am going to fight, because I am going to fight," answered
Porthos, coloring deeply.
Athos, whose keen eye lost nothing, perceived a faintly sly smile pass
over the lips of the young Gascon, as he replied:
"We had a short discussion upon dress."
"And you, Aramis?" asked Athos.
"Ah, ours is a theological quarrel," replied Aramis, making a sign to
D`Artagnan to keep secret the cause of their dispute.
Athos saw a second smile on the lips of D`Artagnan.
"Indeed?" said Athos.
"Yes; a passage of St. Augustin, upon which we could not agree," said
the Gascon.
"By Jove! this a clever fellow," murmured Athos.
"And now you are all assembled, gentlemen," said D`Artagnan, "permit me
to offer you my excuses."
At this word excuses, a cloud passed over the brow of Athos, a haughty
smile curled the lips of Porthos, and a negative sign was the reply of
Aramis.
"You do not understand me, gentlemen," said D`Artagnan, throwing up his
head, the sharp and bold lines of which were at the moment gilded by a bright
sun ray. "I ask to be excused in case I should not be able to discharge my
debt to all three; for M. Athos has the right to kill me first, which must
abate your valor in your own estimation, M. Porthos, and render yours almost
null, M. Aramis. And now, gentlemen, I repeat, excuse me, but on that
account only, and - guard!"
At these words, with the most gallant air possible, D`Artagnan drew his
sword.
The blood had mounted to the head of D`Artagnan, and at that moment he
would have drawn his sword against all the musketeers in the kingdom, as
willingly as he now did against Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.
It was a quarter past midday. The sun was in its zenith, and the spot
chosen for the theater of the duel was exposed to its full power.
"It is very hot," said Athos, drawing his sword in his turn, "and yet
I cannot take off my doublet for I just now felt my wound begin to bleed
again, and I should not like to annoy monsieur with the sight of blood which
he has not drawn from me himself."
"That is true, monsieur," replied D`Artagnan, "and, whether drawn by
myself or another, I assure you I shall always view with regret the blood of
so brave a gentleman; I will therefore fight in my doublet, as you do."
"Come, come, enough of compliments," cried Porthos; "please to remember
we are waiting for our turns."
"Speak for yourself, when you are inclined to utter such incongruities,"
interrupted Aramis. "For my part, I think what they say is very well said,
and quite worthy of two gentlemen."
"When you please, monsieur," said Athos, putting himself on guard.
"I waited your orders," said D`Artagnan, crossing swords.
But scarcely had the two rapiers sounded on meeting, when a company of
the guards of his eminence, commanded by M. de Jussac, turned the angle of
the convent.
"The cardinal`s guards! the cardinal`s guards!" cried Aramis and
Porthos at the same time. "Sheathe swords! gentlemen! sheathe swords!"
But it was too late. The two combatants had been seen in a position
which left no doubt of their intentions.
"Hola!" cried Jussac, advancing toward them, and making a sign to his
men to do so likewise, "hola! musketeers, fighting here, then, are you? And
the edicts, what is become of them?"
"You are very generous, gentlemen of the guards," said Athos, with
acrimony, for Jussac was one of the aggressors of the preceding day. "If we
were to see you fighting, I can assure you that we would make no effort to
prevent you. Leave us alone then, and you will enjoy a little amusement
without cost to yourselves."
"Gentlemen," said Jussac, "it is with great regret that I pronounce the
thing impossible. Duty before everything. Sheathe, then, if you please, and
follow us."
"Monsieur," said Aramis, parodying Jussac, "it would afford us great
pleasure to obey your polite invitation, if it depended upon ourselves; but,
unfortunately, the thing is impossible; M. de Treville has forbidden it.
Pass on your way, then; it is the best thing you can do."
This raillery exasperated Jussac.
"We will charge upon you, then," said he, "if you disobey."
"There are five of them," said Athos, half aloud, "and we are but three;
we shall be beaten again, and must die on the spot, for, on my part, I
declare I will never appear before the captain again as a conquered man."
Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, instantly closed in, and Jussac drew up his
soldiers.
This short interval was sufficient to determine D`Artagnan on the part
he was to take; it was one of those events which decide the life of a man;
it was a choice between the king and the cardinal; the choice made, it must
be persisted in. To fight was to disobey the law, to risk his head, to make
at once an enemy of a minister more powerful than the king himself; all this
the young man perceived, and yet, to his praise we speak it, he did not
hesitate a second. Turning toward Athos and his friends;
"Gentlemen," said he, "allow me to correct your words, if you please.
You said you were but three, but it appears to me we are four."
"But you are not one of us," said Porthos.
"That`s true," replied D`Artagnan; "I do not wear the uniform, but I am
in spirit. My heart is that of a musketeer; I feel it, monsieur, and that
impels me on."
"Withdraw, young man," cried Jussac, who, doubtless, by his gesture and
the expression of his countenance, had guessed D`Artagnan`s design. "You may
retire, we allow you to do so. Save your skin; begone quickly."
D`Artagnan did not move.
"Decidedly you are a pretty fellow," said Athos, pressing the young
man`s hand.
"Come, come, decide one way or the other," replied Jussac.
"Well," said Porthos to Aramis, "we must do something."
"Monsieur is very generous," said Athos.
But all three reflected upon the youth of D`Artagnan, and dreaded his
inexperience.
"We should only be three, one of whom is wounded, with the addition of
a boy," resumed Athos, "and yet it will be not the less said we were four
men."
"Yes, but to yield!" said Porthos.
"That`s rather difficult," replied Athos.
D`Artagnan comprehended whence a part of this irresolution arose.
"Try me, gentlemen," said he, "and I swear to you by my honor that I
will not go hence if we are conquered."
"What is your name, my brave fellow?" said Athos.
"D`Artagnan, monsieur."
"Well, then! Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D`Artagnan, forward!" cried
Athos.
"Come, gentlemen, have you made your minds up?" cried Jussac, for the
third time.
"It is done, gentlemen," said Athos.
"And what do you mean to do?" asked Jussac.
"We are about to have the honor of charging you," replied Aramis,
lifting his hat with one hand, and drawing his sword with the other.
"Oh! you resist, do you!" cried Jussac.
"Sang Dieu! does that astonish you?"
And the nine combatants rushed upon each other with a fury which,
however, did not exclude a certain degree of method.
Athos fixed upon a certain Cahusac, a favorite of the cardinal`s;
Porthos had Bicarat, and Aramis found himself opposed to two adversaries.
As to D`Artagnan, he sprang toward Jussac himself. The heart of the young
Gascon beat as if it would burst through his side, not from fear, God be
thanked - he had not the shade of it - but with emulation; he fought like a
furious tiger, turning ten times round his adversary, and changing his ground
and his guard twenty times. Jussac was, as was then said, a fine blade, and
had had much practice; nevertheless, it required all his skill to defend
himself against an adversary, who, active and energetic, departed every
instant from received rules, attacking him on all sides at once, and yet
parrying like a man who had the greatest respect for his own epidermis.
This contest at length exhausted Jussac`s patience. Furious at being
held in check by him whom he had considered a boy, he became warm, and began
to commit faults. D`Artagnan, who, though wanting in practice, had a
profound theory, redoubled his agility. Jussac, anxious to put an end to
this, springing forward, aimed a terrible thrust at his adversary, but the
latter parried it; and while Jussac was recovering himself, glided like a
serpent beneath his blade, and passed his sword through his body. Jussac
fell like a dead mass.
D`Artagnan then cast an anxious and rapid glance over the field of
battle.
Aramis had killed one of his adversaries, but the other pressed him
warmly. Nevertheless, Aramis was in a good situation, and able to defend
himself.
Bicarat and Porthos had just made counter-hits; Porthos had received a
thrust through his arm, and Bicarat one through his thigh. But neither of
the wounds was serious, and they only fought the more earnestly for them.
Athos, wounded again by Cahusac, became evidently paler, but did not
give way a foot: he had only changed his swordhand, and fought with his left
hand.
According to the laws of duelling at that period, D`Artagnan was at
liberty to assist the one he pleased. While he was endeavoring to find out
which of his companions stood in greatest need, he caught a glance from
Athos. This glance was of sublime eloquence. Athos would have died rather
than appeal for help; but he could look, and with that look ask assistance.
D`Artagnan interpreted it; with a terrible bound, he sprang to the side of
Cahusac, crying:
"To me, monsieur! guard, or I will slay you!"
Cahusac turned; it was time, for Athos, whose great courage alone
supported him, sank upon his knee.
"Sang Dieu!" cried he to D`Artagnan, "do not kill him, young man, I beg
of you; I have an old affair to settle with him, when I am cured and sound
again. Disarm him only - make sure of his sword; that`s it, that`s it! well
done! very well done!"
This exclamation was drawn from Athos by seeing the sword of Cahusac fly
twenty paces from him. D`Artagnan and Cahusac sprang forward at the same
instant, the one to recover, the other to obtain the sword; but D`Artagnan,
being the more active, reached it first, and placed his foot upon it.
Cahusac immediately ran to that of one of the guards that Aramis had
killed, and returned toward D`Artagnan; but on his way he met Athos, who,
during this relief which D`Artagnan had procured him, had recovered his
breath, and who, for fear that D`Artagnan should kill his enemy, wished to
resume the fight.
D`Artagnan perceived that it would be disobliging Athos not to leave him
alone; and in a few minutes Cahusac fell, with a sword-thrust through his
throat.
At the same instant Aramis placed his sword-point on the breast of his
fallen enemy, and compelled him to ask for mercy.
There only then remained Porthos and Bicarat. Porthos made a thousand
fanfaronnades, asking Bicarat what o`clock it could be, and offering him his
compliments upon his brother`s having just obtained a company in the regiment
of Navarre; but, joke as he might, he gained no advantage - Bicarat was one
of those iron men who never fall dead.
Nevertheless, it was necessary to put an end to the affair. The watch
might come up, and take all the combatants, wounded or not, royalists or
cardinalists. Athos, Aramis, and D`Artagnan surrounded Bicarat, and required
him to surrender. Though alone against all, and with a wound in his thigh,
Bicarat wished to hold out; but Jussac, who had risen upon his elbow, cried
out to him to yield. Bicarat was a Gascon, as D`Artagnan was; he turned a
deaf ear, and contented himself with laughing; and, between two parries,
finding time to point to a spot of earth with his sword:
"Here," cried he, parodying a verse of the Bible, "here will Bicarat
die, the only one of those who are with him!"
"But there are four against you; leave off, I command you."
"Ah! if you command me, that`s another thing," said Bicarat; "you being
my brigadier, it is my duty to obey."
And, springing backward, he broke his sword across his knee, to avoid
the necessity of surrendering it, threw the pieces over the convent wall, and
crossed his arms, whistling a cardinalast air.
Bravery is always respected, even in an enemy. The musketeers saluted
Bicarat with their swords, and returned them to their sheaths. D`Artagnan
did the same; then, assisted by Bicarat, the only one left standing, he bore
Jussac, Cahusac, and that one of Aramis` adversaries who was only wounded,
under the porch of the convent. The fourth as we have said was dead. They
then rang the bell, and, carrying away four swords out of five, they took
their road, intoxicated with joy, toward the hotel of M. de Treville.
They walked arm in arm, occupying the whole width of the street, and
accosting every musketeer they met, so that it in the end became a triumphal
march. The heart of D`Artagnan swam in delight; he marched between Athos and
Porthos, pressing them tenderly.
"If I am not yet a musketeer," said he to his new friends, as he passed
through the gateway of M. de Treville`s hotel, "at least I have entered upon
my apprenticeship, haven`t I?"
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