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Chapter VI
Chapter VI
His Majesty King Louis XIII
This affair made a great noise. M. de Treville scolded his musketeers
in public, and congratulated them in private; but as no time was to be lost
in gaining the king, M. de Treville made all haste to the Louvre. But he was
too late: the king was closeted with the cardinal, and M. de Treville was
informed that the king was busy, and could not receive him. In the evening,
M. de Treville attended the king`s play-table. The king was winning, and,
as the king was very avaricious, he was in an excellent humor; thus,
perceiving M. de Treville at a distance:
"Come here, monsieur le capitaine," said he, "come here, that I may
scold you. Do you know that his eminence has just been to make fresh
complaints against your musketeers, and that with so much emotion that his
eminence is indisposed this evening? Why, these musketeers of yours are very
devils!"
"No, sire," replied Treville, who saw at the first glance which way
things would take - "no, sire; on the contrary, they are good creatures, as
meek as lambs, and have but one desire, I`ll be their warranty; and that is,
that their swords may never leave their scabbards but in your majesty`s
service. But what are they to do? the guards of monsieur the cardinal are
forever seeking quarrels with them, and for the honor of the corps even, the
poor young men are obliged to defend themselves."
"Listen to M. de Treville," said the king, "listen to him! would not
one say he was speaking of a religious community! In truth, my dear captain,
I have a great mind to take away your commission, and give it to Mademoiselle
de Chemerault, to whom I promised an abbey. But don`t fancy that I am going
to take you on your bare word; I am called Louis the Just, Monsieur de
Treville, and by and by, by and by, we will see."
"Ah! it is because I have a perfect reliance upon that justice that I
shall wait patiently and quietly the good pleasure of your majesty."
"Wait, then, monsieur, wait," said the king "I will not detain you
long."
In fact, fortune changed, and as the king began to lose what he had won,
he was not sorry to find an excuse for leaving off. The king then arose a
minute after, and putting the money which lay before him into his pocket, the
major part of which arose from his winnings:
"La Vieuville," said he, "take my place; I must speak to M. de Treville
on an affair of importance. Ah, I had eighty louis before me; put down the
same sum, so that they who have lost may have nothing to complain of -
justice before everything." Then turning toward M. de Treville, and walking
with him toward the embrasure of a window:
"Well, monsieur," continued he, "you say it is his eminence`s guards who
have sought a quarrel with your musketeers?"
"Yes, sire, as they always do."
"And how did the thing happen? let us see, for you know, my dear
captain, a judge must hear both sides."
"Good lord! in the most simple and natural manner possible. Three of
my best soldiers, whom your majesty knows by name, and whose devotedness you
have more than once appreciated, and who have, I dare affirm to the king, his
service much at heart; three of my best soldiers, I say - MM. Athos, Porthos,
and Aramis - had made a party of pleasure with a young cadet from Gascony,
whom I had introduced to them the same morning. The party was to take place
at St. Germain, I believe, and they had appointed to meet at the
Carmes-Deschaux, when they were disturbed by M. de Jussac, MM. Cahusac,
Bicarat, and two other guards, who certainly did not go there in such a
numerous company without some ill intention against the edicts."
"Ah, ah! you incline me to think so," said the king: "there is no doubt
they went thither to fight themselves."
"I do not accuse them, sire; but I leave your majesty to judge what five
armed men could possibly be going to do in such a retired spot as the
environs of the Convent des Carmes."
"You are right, Treville - you are right!"
"Then, upon seeing my musketeers, they changed their minds, and forgot
their private hatred for the hatred de corps, for your majesty cannot be
ignorant that the musketeers, who belong to the king, and to nobody but the
king, are the natural enemies of the guards, who belong to the cardinal."
"Yes, Treville, yes," said the king, in a melancholy tone; "and it is
very sad, believe me, to see thus two parties in France, two heads to
royalty. But all this will come to an end, Treville, will come to an end.
You say, then, that the guards sought a quarrel with the musketeers?"
"I say that it is probable that things have fallen out so, but I will
not swear to it, sire. You know how difficult it is to discover the truth;
and unless a man be endowed with that admirable instinct which causes Louis
XIII. to be termed the Just - "
"You are right, Treville; but they were not alone, your musketeers -
they had a youth with them?"
"Yes, sire, and one wounded man; so that three of the king`s musketeers
- one of whom was wounded, and a youth - not only maintained their ground
against five of the most terrible of his eminence`s guards, but absolutely
brought four of them to the earth."
"Why, this is a victory!" cried the king, glowing with delight, "a
complete victory!"
"Yes, sire; as complete as that of the bridge of Ce."
"Four men, one of them wounded, and a youth, say you?"
"One scarcely attained the age of a young man; but who, however, behaved
himself so admirably on this occasion that I will take the liberty of
recommending him to your majesty."
"What is his name?"
"D`Artagnan, sire; he is the son of one of my oldest friends - the son
of a man who served under your father of glorious memory, in the partisan
war."
"And you say that this young man behaved himself well? Tell me how, De
Treville - you know how I delight in accounts of war and fights."
And Louis XIII. twisted his moustache proudly, placing his hand upon his
hip.
"Sire," resumed Treville, "as I told you, M. d`Artagnan is little more
than a boy, and as he has not the honor of being a musketeer, he was dressed
as a private citizen; the guards of M. the Cardinal, perceiving his youth,
and still more that he did not belong to the corps, pressed him to retire
before they attacked."
"So you may plainly see, Treville," interrupted the king, "it was they
who attacked?"
"That is true, sire; there can be no more doubt on that head. They
called upon him then to retire, but he answered that he was a musketeer at
heart, entirely devoted to your majesty, and that he would therefore remain
with messieurs the musketeers."
"Brave young man!" murmured the king.
"Well, he did remain with them; and your majesty has in him so firm a
champion that it was he who gave Jussac the terrible sword-thrust which has
made M. the Cardinal so angry."
"He who wounded Jussac!" cried the king - "he, a boy! Treville, that`s
impossible!"
"It is as I have the honor to relate it to your majesty."
"Jussac, one of the first swordsmen in the kingdom?"
"Well, sire, for once he found his master."
"I should like to see this young man, Treville - I should like to see
him; and if anything can be done - well, we will make it our business."
"When will your majesty deign to receive him?"
"To-morrow, at midday, Treville."
"Shall I bring him alone?"
"No; bring me all four together; I wish to thank them all at once.
Devoted men are so rare, Treville, we must recompense devotedness."
"At twelve o`clock, sire, we will be at the Louvre."
"Ah! by the back staircase, Treville, by the back staircase; it is
useless to let the cardinal know."
"Yes, sire."
"You understand, Treville; an edict is still an edict - it is forbidden
to fight, after all."
"But this encounter, sire, is quite out of the ordinary conditions of
a duel; it is a brawl, and the proof is that there were five of the
cardinal`s guards against my three musketeers and M. d`Artagnan."
"That is true," said the king; "but never mind, Treville, come still by
the back staircase."
Treville smiled. But as it was already something to have prevailed upon
this child to rebel against his master, he saluted the king respectfully,
and, with this agreement, took leave of him.
That evening the three musketeers were informed of the honor which was
granted them. As they had long been acquainted with the king, they were not
much excited by the circumstances; but D`Artagnan, with his Gascon
imagination, saw in it his future fortune, and passed the night in golden
dreams. As early, then, as eight o`clock he was at the apartment of Athos.
D`Artagnan found the musketeer dressed and ready to go out. As the hour
to wait upon the king was not till twelve, he had made a party with Porthos
and Aramis to play a game at tennis, in a tennis-court situated near the
stables of the Luxembourg. Athos invited D`Artagnan to follow them; and,
although ignorant of the game, which he had never played, he accepted the
invitation, not knowing what to do with his time from nine o`clock in the
morning, as it then scarcely was, till twelve.
The two musketeers were already there, and were playing together.
Athos, who was very expert in all bodily exercises, passed with D`Artagnan
to the opposite side, and challenged them; but at the first effort he made,
although he played with his left hand, he found that his wound was yet too
recent to allow of such exertion. D`Artagnan remained, therefore, alone; and
as he declared he was too ignorant of the game to play it regularly, they
only continued giving balls to each other, without counting; but one of these
balls, launched by Porthos` Herculean hand, passed so close to D`Artagnan`s
face that he thought if, instead of passing near, it had hit him, his
audience would have been probably lost, as it would have been impossible for
him to have presented himself before the king. Now, as upon this audience,
in his Gascon imagination, depended his future life, he saluted Aramis and
Porthos politely, declaring that he would not resume the game until he should
be prepared to play with them on more equal terms; and he went and took his
place near the cord and in the gallery.
Unfortunately for D`Artagnan, among the spectators was one of his
eminence`s guards, who, still irritated by the defeat of his companions,
which had happened only the day before, had promised himself to seize the
first opportunity of avenging it. He believed this opportunity was now come,
and addressing his neighbor:
"It is not astonishing," said he, "that that young man should be afraid
of a ball; he is doubtless a musketeer apprentice."
D`Artagnan turned round as if a serpent had stung him, and fixed his
eyes intensely upon the guard who had just made this insolent speech.
"Pardieu!" resumed the latter, twisting his moustache, "look at me as
long as you like, my little gentleman, I have said what I have said."
"And as since that which you have said is too clear to require any
explanation," replied D`Artagnan, in a low voice, "I beg you will follow me."
"And when?" asked the guard, with the same jeering air.
"Immediately, if you please."
"And you know who I am, without doubt?"
"I! no, I assure you I am completely ignorant; nor does it much concern
me."
"You`re in the wrong there; for if you knew my name, perhaps you would
not be in such a hurry."
"What is your name, then?"
"Bernajoux, at your service."
"Well, then, Monsieur Bernajoux," said D`Artagnan quietly, "I will wait
for you at the door."
"Go on, monsieur, I will follow you."
"Do not appear to be in a hurry, monsieur, so as to cause it to be
observed that we go out together; you must be aware that for that which we
have in hand company would be inconvenient."
"That`s true," said the guard, astonished that his name had not produced
more effect upon the young man.
In fact, the name of Bernajoux was known to everybody, D`Artagnan alone
excepted, perhaps; for it was one of those which figured most frequently in
the daily brawls, which all the edicts of the cardinal had not been able to
repress.
Porthos and Aramis were so engaged with their game, and Athos was
watching them with so much attention, that they did not even perceive their
young companion go out, who, as he had told his eminence`s guard he would,
stopped outside the door; an instant after, the guard descended. As
D`Artagnan had no time to lose, on account of the audience of the king, which
was fixed for midday, he cast his eyes around, and seeing that the street was
empty:
"Ma foi!" said he to his adversary, "it is fortunate for you, although
your name is Bernajoux, to have only to deal with an apprentice musketeer;
never mind, be content, I will do my best. Guard!"
"But," said he whom D`Artagnan thus provoked, "it appears to me that
this place is very ill-chosen, and that we should be better behind the Abbey
St. Germain or in the Preaux-Clercs."
"What you say is very sensible," replied D`Artagnan; "but unfortunately,
I have very little time to spare, having an appointment at twelve precisely.
Guard! then, monsieur, guard!"
Bernajoux was not a man to have such a compliment paid to him twice.
In an instant his sword glittered in his hand, and he sprang upon his
adversary, whom, from his youth, he hoped to intimidate.
But D`Artagnan had on the preceding day gone through his apprenticeship.
Fresh sharpened by his victory, full of the hopes of future favor, he was
resolved not to give back a step; so the two swords were crossed close to the
hilts, and as D`Artagnan stood firm, it was his adversary who made the
retreating step; but D`Artagnan seized the moment at which, in this movement,
the sword of Bernajoux deviated from the line; he freed his weapon, made a
lunge, and touched his adversary on the shoulder. D`Artagnan immediately
made a step backward and raised his sword; but Bernajoux cried out that it
was nothing, and rushing blindly upon him, absolutely spitted himself upon
D`Artagnan`s sword. As, however, he did not fall, as he did not declare
himself conquered, but only broke away toward the hotel of M. de Tremouille,
in whose service he had a relation, D`Artagnan was ignorant of the
seriousness of the last wound his adversary had received, pressed him warmly,
and without doubt would soon have completed his work with a third blow, when
the noise which arose from the street being heard in the tennis-court, two
of the friends of the guard, who had seen him go out after exchanging some
words with D`Artagnan, rushed, sword in hand, from the court, and fell upon
the conqueror. But Athos, Porthos, and Aramis quickly appeared in their
turn, and the moment the two guards attacked their young companion, drove
them back. Bernajoux now fell, and as the guards were only two against four,
they began to cry, "To the rescue! the hotel de Tremouille!" At these cries,
all who were in the hotel rushed out, falling upon the four companions, who
on their side cried aloud, "To the rescue! musketeers!"
This cry was generally attended to; for the musketeers were known to be
enemies to the cardinal and were beloved on account of the hatred they bore
to his enemies. Thus the guards of other companies than those which belonged
to the Red Duke, as Aramis had called him, in general, in these quarrels took
part with the king`s musketeers. Of three guards of the company of M.
Dessessart, who were passing, two came to the assistance of the four
companions, while the other ran toward the hotel of M. de Treville, crying:
"To the rescue! musketeers! to the rescue!" As usual, this hotel was full
of soldiers of this corps who hastened to the succor of their comrades; the
melee became general, but strength was on the side of the musketeers; the
cardinal`s guards and M. de la Tremouille`s people retreated into the hotel,
the doors of which they closed just in time to prevent their enemies from
entering with them. As to the wounded man, he had been taken in at once, and
as we have said, in a very bad state.
Excitement was at its height among the musketeers and their allies, and
they even began to deliberate whether they should not set fire to the hotel
to punish the insolence of M. de la Tremouille`s domestics, in daring to make
a sortie upon the king`s musketeers. The proposition had been made, and
received with enthusiasm, when fortunately eleven o`clock struck; D`Artagnan
and his companions remembered their audience, and as they would very much
have regretted that such a feat should be performed without them, they
succeeded in quieting their coadjutors. The latter contented themselves with
hurling some paving stones against the gates, but the gates were too strong;
they then grew tired of the sport; besides, those who must be considered as
the leaders of the enterprise had quitted the group and were making their way
toward the hotel of M. de Treville, who was waiting for them, already
informed of this fresh disturbance.
"Quick, to the Louvre," said he, "to the Louvre without losing an
instant, and let us endeavor to see the king before he is prejudiced by the
cardinal: we will describe the thing to him as a consequence of the affair
of yesterday, and the two will pass off together."
M. de Treville, accompanied by his four young men, directed his course
toward the Louvre; but to the great astonishment of the captain of the
musketeers, he was informed that the king was gone stag-hunting in the forest
of St. Germain. M. de Treville required this intelligence to be repeated to
him twice, and each time his companions saw his brow become darker.
"Had his majesty," asked he, "any intention of holding this hunting
party yesterday?"
"No, your excellency," replied the valet de chambre, "the grand veneur
came this morning to inform him that he had marked down a stag. He, at
first, answered that he would not go, but could not resist his love of sport,
and set out after dinner."
"Has the king seen the cardinal?" asked M. de Treville.
"Most probably he has," replied the valet de chambre, "for I saw the
horses harnessed to his eminence`s carriage this morning, and when I asked
where he was going, I was told to St. Germain."
"He is beforehand with us," said M. de Treville. "Gentlemen, I will see
the king this evening; but as to you, I do not advise you to risk doing so."
This advice was too reasonable, and, moreover, came from a man who knew
the king too well, to allow the four young men to dispute it. M. de Treville
recommended them each to retire to his apartment, and wait for news from him.
On entering his hotel, M. de Treville thought it best to be first in
making the complaint. He sent one of his servants to M. de la Tremouille
with a letter, in which he begged of him to eject the cardinal`s guard from
his house, and to reprimand his people for their audacity in making sortie
against the king`s musketeers. But M. de la Tremouille, already prejudiced
by his esquire, whose relation, as we already know, Bernajoux was, replied
that it was neither for M. de Treville nor the musketeers to complain, but
on the contrary, he, whose people the musketeers had assaulted and whose
hotel they had endeavored to burn. Now, as the debate between these two
nobles might last a long time, each becoming, naturally, more firm in his own
opinion, M. de Treville thought of an expedient which might terminate it
quietly; which was to go himself to M. de la Tremouille.
He repaired, then, immediately to his hotel, and caused himself to be
announced.
The two nobles saluted each other politely, for if no friendship existed
between them, there was at least esteem. Both were men of courage and honor;
and as M. de la Tremouille, a Protestant, and seeing the king seldom, was of
no party, he did not, in general, carry any bias into his social relations.
This time, however, his address, although polite, was colder than usual.
"Monsieur!" said M. de Treville, "we fancy that we have each cause to
complain of the other, and I am come to endeavor to clear up this affair."
"I have no objection," replied M. de la Tremouille, "but I warn you that
I have inquired well into it, and all the fault lies with your musketeers."
"You are too just and reasonable a man, monsieur!" said De Treville,
"not to accept the proposal I am about to make to you."
"Make it, monsieur. I am attentive."
"How is M. Bernajoux, your esquire`s relation?"
"Why, monsieur, very ill, indeed! In addition to the sword thrust in
his arm, which is not dangerous, he has received another right through his
lungs, of which the doctor speaks very unfavorably."
"But is the wounded man sensible?"
"Perfectly."
"Can he speak?"
"With difficulty, but he can speak."
"Well, monsieur, let us go to him; let us adjure him, in the name of the
God before whom he is called upon, perhaps quickly, to appear, to speak the
truth. I will take him for judge in his own cause, monsieur, and will
believe what he will say."
M. de la Tremouille reflected for an instant, then, as it was difficult
to make a more reasonable proposal, agreed to it.
Both descended to the chamber in which the wounded man lay. The latter,
on seeing these two noble lords who came to visit him, endeavored to raise
himself up in his bed, but he was too weak, and exhausted by the effort he
fell back again almost insensible.
M, de la Tremouille approached him, and made him respire some salts,
which recalled him to life. Then M. de Treville, unwilling that it should
be thought that he had influenced he wounded man, requested M. de la
Tremouille to interrogate him himself.
That which M. de Treville had foreseen, happened. Placed between life
and death, as Bernajoux was, he had no idea for a moment of concealing the
truth; and he described to the two nobles the affair exactly as it had
passed.
This was all that M. de Treville wanted; he wished Bernjoux a speedy
recovery, took leave of M. de la. Tremouille, returned to his hotel, and
immediately sent word to the four friends that he awaited their company to
dinner.
M. de Treville received very good company, quite anti-cardinalist
though. It may easily be understood, therefore, that the conversation,
during the whole dinner, turned upon the two checks that his eminence`s
guards had received. Now, as D`Artagnan had been the hero of these two
fights, it was upon him that all the felicitations fell, which Athos Porthos,
and Aramis abandoned to him; not only as good comrades, but as men who had
so often had their turn that they could very well afford him his.
Toward six o`clock M. de Treville announced that it was time to go to
the Louvre; but as the hour of audience granted by his majesty was past,
instead of claiming the entree by the back stairs, he placed himself with the
four young men in the antechamber. The king was not yet returned from
hunting. Our young men had been waiting about half an hour, mingled with the
crowd of courtiers, when all the doors were thrown open, and his majesty was
announced.
At this announcement D`Artagnan felt himself tremble to the very marrow
of his bones. The instant which was about to follow would, in all
probability, decide his future life. His eyes, therefore, were fixed in a
sort of agony upon the door through which the king would pass.
Louis XIII. appeared, walking fast; he was in hunting costume, covered
with dust, wearing large boots, and had a whip in his hand. At the first
glance, D`Artagnan judged that the mind of the king was stormy.
This disposition, visible as it was in his majesty, did not prevent the
courtiers from ranging themselves upon his passage. In royal antechambers
it is better to be looked upon with an angry eye than not to be looked upon
at all. The three musketeers, therefore, did not hesitate to make a step
forward; D`Artagnan, on the contrary, remained concealed behind them; but
although the king knew Athos, Porthos, and Aramis personally, he passed
before them without speaking or looking - indeed, as if he had never seen
them before. As for M. de Treville, when the eyes of the king fell upon
him, he sustained the look with so much firmness that it was the king who
turned aside; after which his majesty, grumbling, entered his apartment.
"Matters go but badly," said Athos smiling; "and we shall not be made
knights of the order this time."
"Wait here ten minutes," said M. de Treville; "and if, at the expiration
of ten minutes, you do not see me come out, return to my hotel, for it will
be useless for you to wait for me longer."
The four young men waited ten minutes, a quarter of an hour, twenty
minutes; and, seeing that M. de Treville did not return, went away very
uneasy as to what was going to happen.
M. de Treville entered the king`s closet boldly, and found his majesty
in a very ill humor, seated on a fauteuil, beating his boot with the handle
of his whip; which, however, did not prevent his asking, with the greatest
coolness, after his majesty`s health.
"Bad! monsieur - bad! je m`ennuie!" (I grow weary.)
This was, in fact, the worst complaint of Louis XIII., who would
sometimes take one of his courtiers to a window, and say, "Monsieur
So-and-so, ennuyons-nous ensemble." (Let us weary one another.)
"How! your majesty is becoming dull! Have you not enjoyed the
pleasures of the chase to-day?"
"A fine pleasure, indeed, monsieur! Upon my soul, everything
degenerates; and I don`t know whether it is the game leaves no scent, or the
dogs that have no noses. We started a stag of ten-tine; we chased him for
six hours, and when he was near being taken - when St. Simon was already
putting his horn to his mouth to sound the halali - crack, all the pack takes
the wrong scent, and sets off after a two-tine. I shall be obliged to give
up hunting, as I have given up hawking. Ah! I am an unfortunate king,
Monsieur de Treville! I had but one gerfalcon, and he died the day before
yesterday."
"Indeed, sire, I enter into your annoyance perfectly; the misfortune is
great; but I think you have still a good number of falcons, sparrow-hawks,
and tiercets."
"And not a man to instruct them. Falconers are declining; I know no one
but myself who is acquainted with the noble art of venery. After me it will
be all over, and people will hunt with gins, snares, and traps. If I had but
the time to form pupils! but there is M. le Cardinal always at hand, who
does not leave me a moment`s repose; who talks to me perpetually about Spain,
about Austria, about England. Ah! a propos of M. le Cardinal, Monsieur de
Treville, I am vexed with you."
This was the place at which M. de Treville waited for the king. He knew
the king of old, and he knew that all these complaints were but a preface -
a sort of excitation to encourage himself - and that he had now come to his
point at last.
"And in what have I been so unfortunate as to displease your majesty?"
asked M. de Treville, feigning the most profound astonishment.
"Is it thus you perform your charge, monsieur?" continued the king,
without directly replying to De Treville`s question; "is it for this I name
you captain of my musketeers, that they should assassinate a man, disturb a
whole quarter, and endeavor to set fire to Paris, without your saying a word?
But yet," continued the king, "without doubt, my haste accuses you wrongly,
without doubt the rioters are in prison, and you come to tell me justice is
done."
"Sire," replied M. de Treville calmly, "I come to demand it of you."
"And against whom, pray?" cried the king.
"Against calumniators," said M. de Treville.
"Ah! this is something new," replied the king. "Will you tell me that
your three damned musketeers, Athos Porthos, and Aramis, and your cadet from
Bearn, have not fallen, like so many furies, upon poor Bernajoux, and have
not maltreated him in such a fashion that probably by this time he is dead?
Will you tell me that they did not lay siege to the hotel of the Duc de la
Tremouille, and that they did not endeavor to burn it? - which would not,
perhaps, have been a great misfortune in time of war, seeing that it is
nothing but a nest of Huguenots; but which is, in time of peace, a frightful
example. Tell me, now - can you deny all this?"
"And who has told you this fine story, sire?" asked De Treville quietly.
"Who has told me this fine story, monsieur? Who should it be but him
who watches while I sleep, who labors while I amuse myself, who conducts
everything at home and abroad - in Europe as well as in France?"
"Your majesty must speak of God, without doubt," said M. de Treville;
"for I know no one but God that can be so far above your majesty."
"No, monsieur; I speak of the prop of the state - of my only servant -
of my only friend - of M. de Cardinal."
"His eminence is not his holiness, sire."
"What do you mean by that, monsieur?"
"That it is only the pope that is infallible, and that this
infallibility does not extend to the cardinals."
"You mean to say that he deceived me - you mean to say that he betrays
me? You accuse him, then? Come, speak - confess freely that you accuse
him!"
"No, sire; but I say that he deceives himself; I say that he is ill
informed; I say that he has hastily accused your majesty`s musketeers, toward
whom he is unjust, and that he has not obtained his information from good
sources."
"The accusation comes from M. de la Tremouille - from the duke himself.
What do you answer to that?"
"I might answer, sire, that he is too deeply interested in the question
to be a very impartial evidence; but so far from that, sire, I know the duke
to be a loyal gentleman, and I refer the matter to him - but upon one
condition, sire."
"What is that?"
"It is, that your majesty will make him come here, will interrogate him
yourself, tete-a-tete, without witnesses, and that I shall see your majesty
as soon as you have seen the duke."
"What then! and you will be bound," cried the king, "by what M. de la
Tremouille shall say?"
"Yes, sire."
"You will abide by his judgment?"
"Doubtless, I will."
"And you will submit to the reparation he may require?"
"Certainly."
"La Chesnaye!" cried the king; "La Chesnaye!"
Louis XIII.`s confidential valet de chambre, who never left the door,
entered in reply to the call.
"La Chesnaye," said the king, "let some one go instantly and find M. de
la Tremouille; I wish to speak with him this evening."
"Your majesty gives me your word that you will not see any one between
M. de la Tremouille and me?"
"Nobody - by the word of a gentleman."
"To-morrow then, sire?"
"To-morrow, monsieur."
"At what o`clock, please your majesty?"
"At whatsoever time you like."
"But I should be afraid of awakening your majesty, if I came too early."
"Awaken me! Do you think I ever sleep, then? I sleep no longer,
monsieur. I sometimes dream, that`s all. Come, then, as early as you like
- at seven o`clock, but beware, if you and your musketeers are guilty."
"If my musketeers are guilty, sire, the guilty shall be placed in your
majesty`s hands, who will dispose of them at your good pleasure. Does your
majesty require anything further? Speak, I am ready to obey."
"No, monsieur, no; I am not called Louis the Just without reason.
To-morrow, then, monsieur - to-morrow."
"Till, then, God preserve your majesty."
However ill the king might sleep, M. de Treville slept still worse; he
had ordered his three musketeers and their companion to be with him at
half-past six in the morning. He took them with him, without encouraging
them or promising them anything, and without concealing from them that their
favor, and even his own, depended upon this cast of the dice.
When arrived at the bottom of the back stairs, he desired them to wait.
If the king was still irritated against them, they would depart without being
seen; if the king consented to see them, they would only have to be called.
On arriving at the king`s private antechamber, M. de Treville found La
Chesnaye, who informed him that they had not been able to find M. de
Tremouille on the preceding evening at his hotel, that he came in too late
to present himself at the Louvre, that he had only that moment arrived, and
that he was then with the king.
This circumstance pleased M. de Treville much, as he thus became certain
that no foreign suggestion could insinuate itself between M. de la
Tremouille`s disposition and himself.
In fact, ten minutes had scarcely passed away, when the door of the
king`s closet opened, and M. de Treville saw M. de la Tremouille come out;
the duke came straight up to him, and said:
"M. de Treville, his majesty has just sent for me in order to inquire
respecting the circumstances which took place yesterday at my hotel. I have
told him the truth, that is to say, that the fault lay with my people, and
that I was ready to offer you my excuses. Since I have the good fortune to
meet you, I beg you to receive them, and to consider me always as one of your
friends."
"Monsieur le Duc," said M. de Treville, "I was so confident of your
loyalty, that I required no other defender before his majesty than yourself.
I find that I have not been mistaken, and I am gratified to think that there
is still one man in France of whom may be said, without disappointment, what
I have said of you."
"That`s well said," said the king, who had heard all these compliments
through the open door; "only tell him, Treville, since he wishes to be
considered as your friend, that I also wish to be one of his, but he neglects
me; that it is nearly three years since I have seen him, and that I never do
see him unless I send for him. Tell him all this for me, for these are
things which a king cannot say himself."
"Thanks, sire, thanks," said M. de la Tremouille; "but your majesty may
be assured that it is not those - I do not speak of M. de Treville - that is
not those whom your majesty sees at all hours of the day that are the most
devoted to you."
"Ah! you heard what I said? so much the better, duke, so much the
better," said the king, advancing toward the door. "Ah! that`s you,
Treville. Where are your musketeers? I told you the day before yesterday
to bring them with you, why have you not done so?"
"They are below, sire, and with your permission La Chesnaye will tell
them to come up."
"Yes, yes, let them come up immediately; it is nearly eight o`clock, and
at nine I expect a visit. Go, monsieur le duc, and return often. Come in,
Treville."
The duke bowed and retired. At the moment he opened the door, the three
musketeers and D`Artagnan, conducted by La Chesnaye, appeared at the top of
the staircase.
"Come in, my braves," said the king, "come in; I am going to scold you."
The musketeers advanced, bowing, D`Artagnan following closely behind
them.
"How the devil!" continued the king, "seven of his eminence`s guards
placed hors de combat by you four in two days! That`s too many, gentlemen,
too many! If you go on so, his eminence will be forced to renew his company
in three weeks, and I to put the edicts in force in all their rigor. One,
now and then, I don`t say much about; but seven in two days, I repeat, it is
too many, it is far too many!"
"Therefore, sire, your majesty sees that they are come quite contrite
and repentant to offer you their excuses."
"Quite contrite and repentant! Hem!" said the king, "I place no
confidence in their hypocritical faces; in particular, there is one yonder
of a Gascon look. Come hither, monsieur."
D`Artagnan, who understood that it was to him this compliment was
addressed, approached, assuming a most deprecating air.
"Why, you told me he was a young man? This is a boy, Treville, a mere
boy! Do you mean to say that it was he who bestowed that severe thrust upon
Jussac? And those two equally fine thrusts upon Bernajoux?"
"Truly!"
"Without reckoning," said Athos, "that if he had not rescued me from the
hands of Cahusac, I should not now have the honor of making my very humble
reverence to your majesty."
"Why, this Bearnais is a very devil! Ventre-saint-gris! Monsieur de
Treville, as the king my father would have said. But at this sort of work
many doublets must be slashed and many swords broken. Now Gascons are always
poor, are they not?"
"Sire, I can assert that they have hitherto discovered no gold mines in
their mountains; though the Lord owes them this miracle in recompense of the
manner in which they supported the pretensions of the king, your father."
"Which is to say, that the Gascons made a king of me, myself, seeing
that I am my father`s son, is it not, Treville? Well, in good faith, I don`t
say nay to it. La Chesnaye, go and see if, by rummaging all my pockets, you
can find forty pistoles; and if you can find them, bring them to me. And
now, let us see, young man, with your hand upon your conscience, how did all
this come to pass?"
D`Artagnan related the adventure of the preceding day in all its
details: how, not having been able to sleep for the joy he felt in the
expectation of seeing his majesty, he had gone to his three friends three
hours before the hour of audience; how they had gone together to the
fives-court, and how, upon the fear he had manifested of receiving a ball in
the face, he had been jeered at by Bernajoux, who had nearly paid for his
jeer with his life, and M. de la Tremouille, who had nothing to do with the
matter, with the loss of his hotel.
"This is all very well," murmured the king; "yes, this is just the
account the duke gave me of the affair. Poor cardinal! seven men in two
days, and those of his very best! but that`s quite enough, gentlemen; please
to understand, that`s enough: you have taken your revenge for the Rue Ferou,
and even exceeded it; you ought to be satisfied."
"If your majesty is so," said Treville, "we are."
"Oh, yes, I am," added the king, taking a handful of gold from La
Chesnaye, and putting it into the hand of D`Artagnan. "Here," said he, "is
a proof of my satisfaction."
At this period the ideas of pride which are in fashion in our days did
not yet prevail. A gentleman received from hand to hand, money from the
king, and was not in the least in the world humiliated. D`Artagnan put his
forty pistoles into his pocket without any scruple; on the contrary, thanking
his majesty greatly.
"There," said the king, looking at a clock, "there, now, as it is
half-past eight, you may retire; for, as I told you, I expect some one at
nine. Thanks for your devotedness, gentlemen. I may continue to rely upon
it, may I not?"
"Oh, sir!" cried the four companions, with one voice, "we would allow
ourselves to be cut to pieces in your majesty`s service!"
"Well, well, but keep whole: that will be better, and you will be more
useful to me. Treville," added the king, in a low voice, as the others were
retiring, "as you have no room in the musketeers, and as we have besides
decided that a novitiate is necessary before entering that corps, place this
young man in the company of the guards of M. Dessessart, your brother-in-law.
Ah! Pardieu! I enjoy beforehand the face the cardinal will make; he will
be furious; but I don`t care; I am doing what is right."
And the king waved his hand to Treville, who left him and rejoined the
musketeers, whom he found sharing the forty pistoles with D`Artagnan.
And the cardinal, as his majesty had said, was really furious, so
furious that during eight days he absented himself from the king`s
play-table, which did not prevent the king from being as complacent to him
as possible, or whenever he met him from asking in the kindest tone:
"Well, monsieur the cardinal, how fares it with that poor Jussac, and
that poor Bernajoux of yours?"
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