HOW, WIHTOUT INCOMMODING HIMSELF, ATHOS PROCURES HIA EQUIPMENT

D`Artagnan was so completely bewildered that without taking

any heed of what might become of Kitty he ran at full speed

across half Paris, and did not stop till he came to Athos`s

door. The confusion of his mind, the terror which spurred

him on, the cries of some of the patrol who started in

pursuit of him, and the hooting of the people who,

notwithstanding the early hour, were going to their work,

only made him precipitate his course.

He crossed the court, ran up the two flights to Athos`s

apartment, and knocked at the door enough to break it down.

Grimaud came, rubbing his half-open eyes, to answer this

noisy summons, and D`Artagnan sprang with such violence into

the room as nearly to overturn the astonished lackey.

In spite of his habitual silence, the poor lad this time

found his speech.

"Holloa, there!" cried he; "what do you want, you strumpet?

What`s your business here, you hussy?"

D`Artagnan threw off his hood, and disengaged his hands from

the folds of the cloak. At sight of the mustaches and the

naked sword, the poor devil perceived he had to deal with a

man. He then concluded it must be an assassin.

"Help! murder! help!" cried he.

"Hold your tongue, you stupid fellow!" said the young man; "I am

D`Artagnan; don`t you know me? Where is your master?"

"You, Monsieur D`Artagnan!" cried Grimaud, "impossible."

"Grimaud," said Athos, coming out of his apartment in a

dressing gown, "Grimaud, I thought I heard you permitting

yourself to speak?"

"Ah, monsieur, it is--"

"Silence!"

Grimaud contented himself with pointing D`Artagnan out to

his master with his finger.

Athos recognized his comrade, and phlegmatic as he was, he

burst into a laugh which was quite excused by the strange

masquerade before his eyes--petticoats falling over his

shoes, sleeves tucked up, and mustaches stiff with

agitation.

"Don`t laugh, my friend!" cried D`Artagnan; "for heaven`s

sake, don`t laugh, for upon my soul, it`s no laughing

matter!"

And he pronounced these words with such a solemn air and

with such a real appearance of terror, that Athos eagerly

seized his hand, crying, "Are you wounded, my friend? How

pale you are!"

"No, but I have just met with a terrible adventure! Are you

alone, Athos?"

"PARBLEU! whom do you expect to find with me at this hour?"

"Well, well!" and D`Artagnan rushed into Athos`s chamber.

"Come, speak!" said the latter, closing the door and bolting

it, that they might not be disturbed. "Is the king dead?

Have you killed the cardinal? You are quite upset! Come,

come, tell me; I am dying with curiosity and uneasiness!"

"Athos," said D`Artagnan, getting rid of his female

garments, and appearing in his shirt, "prepare yourself to

hear an incredible, an unheard-of story."

"Well, but put on this dressing gown first," said the

Musketeer to his friend.

D`Artagnan donned the robe as quickly as he could, mistaking

one sleeve for the other, so greatly was he still agitated.

"Well?" said Athos.

"Well," replied D`Artagnan, bending his mouth to Athos`s

ear, and lowering his voice, "Milady is marked with a

FLEUR-DE-LIS upon her shoulder!"

"Ah!" cried the Musketeer, as if he had received a ball in

his heart.

"Let us see," said D`Artagnan. "Are you SURE that the OTHER

is dead?"

"THE OTHER?" said Athos, in so stifled a voice that

D`Artagnan scarcely heard him.

"Yes, she of whom you told me one day at Amiens."

Athos uttered a groan, and let his head sink on his hands.

"This is a woman of twenty-six or twenty-eight years."

"Fair," said Athos, "is she not?"

"Very."

"Blue and clear eyes, of a strange brilliancy, with black

eyelids and eyebrows?"

"Yes."

"Tall, well-made? She has lost a tooth, next to the

eyetooth on the left?"

"Yes."

"The FLEUR-DE-LIS is small, rosy in color, and looks as if

efforts had been made to efface it by the application of

poultices?"

"Yes."

"But you say she is English?"

"She is called Milady, but she may be French. Lord de

Winter is only her brother-in-law,"

"I will see her, D`Artagnan!"

"Beware, Athos, beware. You tried to kill her; she is a

woman to return you the like, and not to fail."

"She will not dare to say anything; that would be to

denounce herself."

"She is capable of anything or everything. Did you ever see

her furious?"

"No," said Athos.

"A tigress, a panther! Ah, my dear Athos, I am greatly

afraid I have drawn a terrible vengeance on both of us!"

D`Artagnan then related all--the mad passion of Milady and

her menaces of death.

"You are right; and upon my soul, I would give my life for a

hair," said Athos. "Fortunately, the day after tomorrow we

leave Paris. We are going according to all probability to

La Rochelle, and once gone--"

"She will follow you to the end of the world, Athos, if she

recognizes you. Let her, then, exhaust her vengeance on me

alone!"

"My dear friend, of what consequence is it if she kills me?"

said Athos. "Do you, perchance, think I set any great store

by life?"

"There is something horribly mysterious under all this,

Athos; this woman is one of the cardinal`s spies, I am sure

of that."

"In that case, take care! If the cardinal does not hold you

in high admiration for the affair of London, he entertains a

great hatred for you; but as, considering everything, he

cannot accuse you openly, and as hatred must be satisfied,

particularly when it`s a cardinal`s hatred, take care of

yourself. If you go out, do not go out alone; when you eat,

use every precaution. Mistrust everything, in short, even

your own shadow."

"Fortunately," said D`Artagnan, "all this will be only

necessary till after tomorrow evening, for when once with

the army, we shall have, I hope, only men to dread."

"In the meantime," said Athos, "I renounce my plan of

seclusion, and wherever you go, I will go with you. You

must return to the Rue des Fossoyeurs; I will accompany

you."

"But however near it may be," replied D`Artagnan, "I cannot

go thither in this quise."

"That`s true," said Athos, and he rang the bell.

Grimaud entered.

Athos made him a sign to go to D`Artagnan`s residence, and

bring back some clothes. Grimaud replied by another sign

that be understood perfectly, and set off.

"All this will not advance your outfit," said Athos; "for if

I am not mistaken, you have left the best of your apparel

with Milady, and she will certainly not have the politeness

to return it to you. Fortunately, you have the sapphire."

"The jewel is yours, my dear Athos! Did you not tell me it

was a family jewel?"

"Yes, my grandfather gave two thousand crowns for it, as he

once told me. It formed part of the nuptial present he made

his wife, and it is magnificent. My mother gave it to me,

and I, fool as I was, instead of keeping the ring as a holy

relic, gave it to this wretch."

"Then, my friend, take back this ring, to which I see you

attach much value."

"I take back the ring, after it has passed through the hands

of that infamous creature Never; that ring is defiled,

D`Artagnan.

"Sell it, then."

"Sell a jewel which came from my mother! I vow I should

consider it a profanation."

"Pledge it, then; you can borrow at least a thousand crowns

on it. With that sum you can extricate yourself from your

present difficulties; and when you are full of money again,

you can redeem it, and take it back cleansed from its

ancient stains, as it will have passed through the hands of

usurers."

Athos smiled.

"You are a capital companion, D`Artagnan," said be; "your

never-failing cheerfulness raises poor souls in affliction.

Well, let us pledge the ring, but upon one condition."

"What?"

"That there shall be five hundred crowns for you, and five

hundred crowns for me."

"Don`t dream it, Athos. I don`t need the quarter of such a

sum--I who am still only in the Guards--and by selling my

saddles, I shall procure it. What do I want? A horse for

Planchet, that`s all. Besides, you forget that I have a

ring likewise."

"To which you attach more value, it seems, than I do to

mine; at least, I have thought so."

"Yes, for in any extreme circumstance it might not only

extricate us from some great embarrassment, but even a great

danger. It is not only a valuable diamond, but it is an

enchanted talisman."

"I don`t at all understand you, but I believe all you say to

be true. Let us return to my ring, or rather to yours. You

shall take half the sum that will be advanced upon it, or I

will throw it into the Seine; and I doubt, as was the case

with Polycrates, whether any fish will be sufficiently

complaisant to bring it back to us."

"Well, I will take it, then," said D`Artagnan.

At this moment Grimaud returned, accompanied by Planchet;

the latter, anxious about his master and curious to know

what had happened to him, had taken advantage of the

opportunity and brought the garments himself.

D`Artagnan dressed himself, and Athos did the same. When

the two were ready to go out, the latter made Grimaud the

sign of a man taking aim, and the lackey immediately took

down his musketoon, and prepared to follow his master.

They arrived without accident at the Rue des Fossoyeurs.

Bonacieux was standing at the door, and looked at D`Artagnan

hatefully.

"Make haste, dear lodger," said he; "there is a very pretty

girl waiting for you upstairs; and you know women don`t like

to be kept waiting."

"That`s Kitty!" said D`Artagnan to himself, and darted into

the passage.

Sure enough! Upon the landing leading to the chamber, and

crouching against the door, he found the poor girl, all in a

tremble. As soon as she perceived him, she cried, "You have

promised your protection; you have promised to save me from

her anger. Remember, it is you who have ruined me!"

"Yes, yes, to be sure, Kitty," said D`Artagnan; "be at ease,

my girl. But what happened after my departure?"

"How can I tell!" said Kitty. "The lackeys were brought by

the cries she made. She was mad with passion. There exist

no imprecations she did not pour out against you. Then I

thought she would remember it was through my chamber you had

penetrated hers, and that then she would suppose I was your

accomplice; so I took what little money I had and the best

of my things, and I got away.

"Poor dear girl! But what can I do with you? I am going

away the day after tomorrow."

"Do what you please, Monsieur Chevalier. Help me out of

Paris; help me out of France!"

"I cannot take you, however, to the siege of La Rochelle,"

aid D`Artagnan.

"No; but you can place me in one of the provinces with some

lady of your acquaintance--in your own country, for

instance."

"My dear little love! In my country the ladies do without

chambermaids. But stop! I can manage your business for

you. Planchet, go and find Aramis. Request him to come

here directly. We have something very important to say to

him."

"I understand," said Athos; "but why not Porthos? I should

have thought that his duchess--"

"Oh, Porthos`s duchess is dressed by her husband`s clerks,"

said D`Artagnan, laughing. "Besides, Kitty would not like

to live in the Rue aux Ours. Isn`t it so, Kitty?"

"I do not care where I live," said Kitty, "provided I am

well concealed, and nobody knows where I am."

"Meanwhile, Kitty, when we are about to separate, and you

are no longer jealous of me--"

"Monsieur Chevalier, far off or near," said Kitty, "I shall

always love you."

"Where the devil will constancy niche itself next?" murmured

Athos.

"And I, also," said D`Artagnan, "I also. I shall always

love you; be sure of that. But now answer me. I attach

great importance to the question I am about to put to you.

Did you never hear talk of a young woman who was carried off

one night?"

"There, now! Oh, Monsieur Chevalier, do you love that woman

still?"

"No, no; it is one of my friends who loves her--Monsieur

Athos, this gentleman here."

"I?" cried Athos, with an accent like that of a man who

perceives he is about to tread upon an adder.

"You, to be sure!" said D`Artagnan, pressing Athos`s hand.

"You know the interest we both take in this poor little

Madame Bonacieux. Besides, Kitty will tell nothing; will

you, Kitty? You understand, my dear girl," continued

D`Artagnan, "she is the wife of that frightful baboon you

saw at the door as you came in."

"Oh, my God! You remind me of my fright! If he should have

known me again!"

"How? know you again? Did you ever see that man before?"

"He came twice to Milady`s."

"That`s it. About what time?"

"Why, about fifteen or eighteen days ago."

"Exactly so."

"And yesterday evening he came again."

"Yesterday evening?"

"Yes, just before you came."

"My dear Athos, we are enveloped in a network of spies. And

do you believe he knew you again, Kitty?"

"I pulled down my hood as soon as I saw him, but perhaps it

was too

late."

"Go down, Athos--he mistrusts you less than me--and see if he

be still at his door."

Athos went down and returned immediately.

"He has gone," said he, "and the house door is shut."

"He has gone to make his report, and to say that all the

pigeons are at this moment in the dovecot"

"Well, then, let us all fly," said Athos, "and leave nobody

here but Planchet to bring us news."

"A minute. Aramis, whom we have sent for!"

"That`s true," said Athos; "we must wait for Aramis."

At that moment Aramis entered.

The matter was all explained to him, and the friends gave

him to understand that among all his high connections he

must find a place for Kitty.

Aramis reflected for a minute, and then said, coloring,

"Will it be really rendering you a service, D`Artagnan?"

"I shall be grateful to you all my life."

"Very well. Madame de Bois-Tracy asked me, for one of her

friends who resides in the provinces, I believe, for a

trustworthy maid. If you can, my dear D`Artagnan, answer

for Mademoiselle-"

"Oh, monsieur, be assured that I shall be entirely devoted

to the person who will give me the means of quitting Paris."

"Then," said Aramis, "this falls out very well."

He placed himself at the table and wrote a little note which

he sealed with a ring, and gave the billet to Kitty.

"And now, my dear girl," said D`Artagnan, "you know that it

is not good for any of us to be here. Therefore let us

separate. We shall meet again in better days."

"And whenever we find each other, in whatever place it may

be," said Kitty, "you will find me loving you as I love you

today."

"Dicers` oaths!" said Athos, while D`Artagnan went to

conduct Kitty downstairs.

An instant afterward the three young men separated, agreeing

to meet again at four o`clock with Athos, and leaving

Planchet to guard the house.

Aramis returned home, and Athos and D`Artagnan busied

themselves about pledging the sapphire.

As the Gascon had foreseen, they easily obtained three

hundred pistoles on the ring. Still further, the Jew told

them that if they would sell it to him, as it would make a

magnificent pendant for earrings, he would give five hundred

pistoles for it.

Athos and D`Artagnan, with the activity of two soldiers and

the knowledge of two connoisseurs, hardly required three

hours to purchase the entire equipment of the Musketeer.

Besides, Athos was very easy, and a noble to his fingers`

ends. When a thing suited him he paid the price demanded,

without thinking to ask for any abatement. D`Artagnan would

have remonstrated at this; but Athos put his hand upon his

shoulder, with a smile, and D`Artagnan understood that it

was all very well for such a little Gascon gentleman as

himself to drive a bargain, but not for a man who had the

bearing of a prince. The Musketeer met with a superb

Andalusian horse, black as jet, nostrils of fire, legs clean

and elegant, rising six years. He examined him, and found

him sound and without blemish. They asked a thousand livres

for him.

He might perhaps have been bought for less; but while

D`Artagnan was discussing the price with the dealer, Athos

was counting out the money on the table.

Grimaud had a stout, short Picard cob, which cost three

hundred livres.

But when the saddle and arms for Grimaud were purchased,

Athos had not a son left of his hundred and fifty pistoles.

D`Artagnan offered his friend a part of his share which he

should return when convenient.

But Athos only replied to this proposal by shrugging his

shoulders.

"How much did the Jew say he would give for the sapphire if

be purchased it?" said Athos.

"Five hundred pistoles."

"That is to say, two hundred more--a hundred pistoles for you

and a hundred pistoles for me. Well, now, that would be a

real fortune to us, my friend; let us go back to the Jew`s

again."

"What! "will you--"

"This ring would certainly only recall very bitter

remembrances; then we shall never be masters of three

hundred pistoles to redeem it, so that we really should lose

two hundred pistoles by the bargain. Go and tell him the

ring is his, D`Artagnan, and bring back the two hundred

pistoles with you."

"Reflect, Athos!"

"Ready money is needful for the present time, and we must

learn how to make sacrifices. Go, D`Artagnan, go; Grimaud

will accompany you with his musketoon."

A half hour afterward, D`Artagnan returned with the two

thousand livres, and without having met with any accident.

It was thus Athos found at home resources which he did not

expect.

39 A VISION

At four o`clock the four friends were all assembled with

Athos. Their anxiety about their outfits had all

disappeared, and each countenance only preserved the

expression of its own secret disquiet--for behind all present

happiness is concealed a fear for the future.

Suddenly Planchet entered, bringing two letters for

D`Artagnan.

The one was a little billet, genteelly folded, with a pretty

seal in green wax on which was impressed a dove bearing a

green branch.

The other was a large square epistle, resplendent with the

terrible arms of his Eminence the cardinal duke.

At the sight of the little letter the heart of D`Artagnan

bounded, for he believed he recognized the handwriting, and

although he had seen that writing but once, the memory of it

remained at the bottom of his heart.

He therefore seized the little epistle, and opened it

eagerly.

"Be," said the letter, "on Thursday next, at from six to

seven o`clock in the evening, on the road to Chaillot, and

look carefully into the carriages that pass; but if you have

any consideration for your own life or that of those who

love you, do not speak a single word, do not make a movement

which may lead anyone to believe you have recognized her who

exposes herself to everything for the sake of seeing you but

for an instant."

No signature.

"That`s a snare," said Athos; "don`t go, D`Artagnan."

"And yet," replied D`Artagnan, "I think I recognize the

writing."

"It may be counterfeit," said Athos. "Between six and seven

o`clock the road of Chaillot is quite deserted; you might as

well go and ride in the forest of Bondy."

"But suppose we all go," said D`Artagnan; "what the devil!

They won`t devour us all four, four lackeys, horses, arms,

and all!"

"And besides, it will be a chance for displaying our new

equipments," said Porthos.

"But if it is a woman who writes," said Aramis, "and that

woman desires not to be seen, remember, you compromise her,

D`Artagnan; which is not the part of a gentleman."

"We will remain in the background," said Porthos, "and he

will advance alone."

"Yes; but a pistol shot is easily fired from a carriage

which goes at a gallop."

"Bah!" said D`Artagnan, "they will miss me; if they fire we

will ride after the carriage, and exterminate those who may

be in it. They must be enemies."

"He is right," said Porthos; "battle. Besides, we must try

our now arms."

"Bah, let us enjoy that pleasure," said Aramis, with his

mild and careless manner.

"As you please," said Athos.

"Gentlemen," said D`Artagnan, "it is half past four, and we

have scarcely time to be on the road of Chaillot by six."

"Besides, if we go out too late, nobody will see us," said

Porthos, "and that will be a pity. Let us get ready,

gentlemen."

"But this second letter," said Athos, "you forget that; it

appears to me, however, that the seal denotes that it

deserves to be opened. For my part, I declare, D`Artagnan,

I think it of much more consequence than the little piece of

waste paper you have so cunningly slipped into your bosom."

D`Artagnan blushed.

"Well," said he, "let us see, gentlemen, what are his

Eminence`s commands," and D`Artagnan unsealed the letter and

read,

"M. D`Artagnan, of the king`s Guards, company Dessessart, is

expected at the Palais-Cardinal this evening, at eight

o`clock.

"La Houdiniere, CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS"

"The devil!" said Athos; "here`s a rendezvous much more

serious than the other."

"I will go to the second after attending the first," said

D`Artagnan. "One is for seven o`clock, and the other for

eight; there will be time for both."

"Hum! I would not go at all," said Aramis. "A gallant

knight cannot decline a rendezvous with a lady; but a

prudent gentleman may excuse himself from not waiting on his

Eminence, particularly when he has reason to believe he is

not invited to make his compliments."

"I am of Aramis`s opinion," said Porthos.

"Gentlemen," replied D`Artagnan, "I have already received by

Monsieur de Cavois a similar invitation from his Eminence.

I neglected it, and on the morrow a serious misfortune

happened to me--Constance disappeared. Whatever may ensue, I

will go."

"If you are determined," said Athos, "do so."

"But the Bastille?" said Aramis.

"Bah! you will get me out if they put me there," said

D`Artagnan.

"To be sure we will," replied Aramis and Porthos, with

admirable promptness and decision, as if that were the

simplest thing in the world, "to be sure we will get you

out; but meantime, as we are to set off the day after

tomorrow, you would do much better not to risk this

Bastille."

"Let us do better than that," said Athos; "do not let us

leave him during the whole evening. Let each of us wait at

a gate of the palace with three Musketeers behind him; if we

see a close carriage, at all suspicious in appearance, come

out, let us fall upon it. It is a long time since we have

had a skirmish with the Guards of Monsieur the Cardinal;

Monsieur de Treville must think us dead."

"To a certainty, Athos," said Aramis, "you were meant to be

a general of the army! What do you think of the plan,

gentlemen?"

"Admirable!" replied the young men in chorus.

"Well," said Porthos, "I will run to the hotel, and engage

our comrades to hold themselves in readiness by eight

o`clock; the rendezvous, the Place du Palais-Cardinal.

Meantime, you see that the lackeys saddle the horses."

"I have no horse," said D`Artagnan; "but that is of no

consequence, I can take one of Monsieur de Treville`s."

"That is not worth while," said Aramis, "you can have one of

mine."

"One of yours! how many have you, then?" asked D`Artagnan.

"Three," replied Aramis, smiling.

"Certes," cried Athos, "you are the best-mounted poet of

France or Navarre."

"Well, my dear Aramis, you don`t want three horses? I

cannot comprehend what induced you to buy three!"

"Therefore I only purchased two," said Aramis.

"The third, then, fell from the clouds, I suppose?"

"No, the third was brought to me this very morning by a

groom out of livery, who would not tell me in whose service

he was, and who said he had received orders from his

master."

"Or his mistress," interrupted D`Artagnan.

"That makes no difference," said Aramis, coloring; "and who

affirmed, as I said, that he had received orders from his

master or mistress to place the horse in my stable, without

informing me whence it came."

"It is only to poets that such things happen," said Athos,

gravely.

"Well, in that case, we can manage famously," said

D`Artagnan; "which of the two horses will you ride--that

which you bought or the one that was given to you?"

"That which was given to me, assuredly. You cannot for a

moment imagine, D`Artagnan, that I would commit such an

offense toward--"

"The unknown giver," interrupted D`Artagnan.

"Or the mysterious benefactress," said Athos.

"The one you bought will then become useless to you?"

"Nearly so."

"And you selected it yourself?"

"With the greatest care. The safety of the horseman, you

know, depends almost always upon the goodness of his horse."

"Well, transfer it to me at the price it cost you?"

"I was going to make you the offer, my dear D`Artagnan,

giving you all the time necessary for repaying me such a

trifle."

"How much did it cost you?"

"Eight hundred livres."

"Here are forty double pistoles, my dear friend," said

D`Artagnan, taking the sum from his pocket; "I know that is

the coin in which you were paid for your poems."

"You are rich, then?" said Aramis.

"Rich? Richest, my dear fellow!"

And D`Artagnan chinked the remainder of his pistoles in his

pocket.

"Send your saddle, then, to the hotel of the Musketeers, and

your horse can be brought back with ours."

"Very well; but it is already five o`clock, so make haste."

A quarter of an hour afterward Porthos appeared at the end

of the Rue Ferou on a very handsome genet. Mousqueton

followed him upon an Auvergne horse, small but very

handsome. Porthos was resplendent with joy and pride.

At the same time, Aramis made his appearance at the other

end of the street upon a superb English charger. Bazin

followed him upon a roan, holding by the halter a vigorous

Mecklenburg horse; this was D`Artagnan mount.

The two Musketeers met at the gate. Athos and D`Artagnan

watched their approach from the window.

"The devil!" cried Aramis, "you have a magnificent horse

there, Porthos."

"Yes," replied Porthos, "it is the one that ought to have

been sent to me at first. A bad joke of the husband`s

substituted the other; but the husband has been punished

since, and I have obtained full satisfaction."

Planchet and Grimaud appeared in their turn, leading their

masters` steeds. D`Artagnan and Athos put themselves into

saddle with their companions, and all four set forward;

Athos upon a horse he owed to a woman, Aramis on a horse he

owed to his mistress, Porthos on a horse he owed to his

procurator`s wife, and D`Artagnan on a horse he owed to his

good fortune--the best mistress possible.

The lackeys followed.

As Porthos had foreseen, the cavalcade produced a good

effect; and if Mme. Coquenard had met Porthos and seen what

a superb appearance he made upon his handsome Spanish genet,

she would not have regretted the bleeding she had inflicted

upon the strongbox of her husband.

Near the Louvre the four friends met with M. de Treville,

who was returning from St. Germain; he stopped them to offer

his compliments upon their appointments, which in an instant

drew round them a hundred gapers.

D`Artagnan profited by the circumstance to speak to M. de

Treville of the letter with the great red seal and the

cardinal`s arms. It is well understood that he did not

breathe a word about the other.

M. de Treville approved of the resolution he had adopted,

and assured him that if on the morrow he did not appear, he

himself would undertake to find him, let him be where he

might.

At this moment the clock of La Samaritaine struck six; the

four friends pleaded an engagement, and took leave of M. de

Treville.

A short gallop brought them to the road of Chaillot; the day

began to decline, carriages were passing and repassing.

D`Artagnan, keeping at some distance from his friends,

darted a scrutinizing glance into every carriage that

appeared, but saw no face with which he was acquainted.

At length, after waiting a quarter of an hour and just as

twilight was beginning to thicken, a carriage appeared,

coming at a quick pace on the road of Sevres. A

presentiment instantly told D`Artagnan that this carriage

contained the person who had appointed the rendezvous; the

young man was himself astonished to find his heart beat so

violently. Almost instantly a female head was put out at

the window, with two fingers placed upon her mouth, either

to enjoin silence or to send him a kiss. D`Artagnan uttered

a slight cry of joy; this woman, or rather this apparition--

for the carriage passed with the rapidity of a vision--was

Mme. Bonacieux.

By an involuntary movement and in spite of the injunction

given, D`Artagnan put his horse into a gallop, and in a few

strides overtook the carriage; but the window was

hermetically closed, the vision had disappeared.

D`Artagnan then remembered the injunction: "If you value

your own life or that of those who love you, remain

motionless, and as if you had seen nothing."

He stopped, therefore, trembling not for himself but for the

poor woman who had evidently exposed herself to great danger

by appointing this rendezvous.

The carriage pursued its way, still going at a great pace,

till it dashed into Paris, and disappeared.

D`Artagnan remained fixed to the spot, astounded and not

knowing what to think. If it was Mme. Bonacieux and if she

was returning to Paris, why this fugitive rendezvous, why

this simple exchange of a glance, why this lost kiss? If,

on the other side, it was not she--which was still quite

possible--for the little light that remained rendered a

mistake easy--might it not be the commencement of some plot

against him through the allurement of this woman, for whom

his love was known?

His three companions joined him. All had plainly seen a

woman`s head appear at the window, but none of them, except

Athos, knew Mme. Bonacieux. The opinion of Athos was that

it was indeed she; but less preoccupied by that pretty face

than D`Artagnan, he had fancied he saw a second head, a

man`s head, inside the carriage.

"If that be the case," said D`Artagnan, "they are doubtless

transporting her from one prison to another. But what can

they intend to do with the poor creature, and how shall I

ever meet her again?"

"Friend," said Athos, gravely, "remember that it is the dead

alone with whom we are not likely to meet again on this

earth. You know something of that, as well as I do, I

think. Now, if your mistress is not dead, if it is she we

have just seen, you will meet with her again some day or

other. And perhaps, my God!" added he, with that

misanthropic tone which was peculiar to him, "perhaps sooner

than you wish."

Half past seven had sounded. The carriage had been twenty

minutes behind the time appointed. D`Artagnan`s friends

reminded him that he had a visit to pay, but at the same

time bade him observe that there was yet time to retract.

But D`Artagnan was at the same time impetuous and curious.

He had made up his mind that he would go to the Palais-

Cardinal, and that he would learn what his Eminence had to

say to him. Nothing could turn him from his purpose.

They reached the Rue St. Honore, and in the Place du Palais-

Cardinal they found the twelve invited Musketeers, walking

about in expectation of their comrades. There only they

explained to them the matter in hand.

D`Artagnan was well known among the honorable corps of the

king`s Musketeers, in which it was known he would one day

take his place; he was considered beforehand as a comrade.

It resulted from these antecedents that everyone entered

heartily into the purpose for which they met; besides, it

would not be unlikely that they would have an opportunity of

playing either the cardinal or his people an ill turn, and

for such expeditions these worthy gentlemen were always

ready.

Athos divided them into three groups, assumed the command of

one, gave the second to Aramis, and the third to Porthos;

and then each group went and took their watch near an

entrance.

D`Artagnan, on his part, entered boldly at the principal

gate.

Although he felt himself ably supported, the young man was

not without a little uneasiness as he ascended the great

staircase, step by step. His conduct toward Milady bore a

strong resemblance to treachery, and he was very suspicious

of the political relations which existed between that woman

and the cardinal. Still further, De Wardes, whom he had

treated so ill, was one of the tools of his Eminence; and

D`Artagnan knew that while his Eminence was terrible to his

enemies, he was strongly attached to his friends.

"If De Wardes has related all our affair to the cardinal,

which is not to be doubted, and if he has recognized me, as

is probable, I may consider myself almost as a condemned

man," said D`Artagnan, shaking his head. "But why has he

waited till now? That`s all plain enough. Milady has laid

her complaints against me with that hypocritical grief which

renders her so interesting, and this last offense has made

the cup overflow."

"Fortunately," added he, "my good friends are down yonder,

and they will not allow me to be carried away without a

struggle. Nevertheless, Monsieur de Treville`s company of

Musketeers alone cannot maintain a war against the cardinal,

who disposes of the forces of all France, and before whom

the queen is without power and the king without will.

D`Artagnan, my friend, you are brave, you are prudent, you

have excellent qualities; but the women will ruin you!"

He came to this melancholy conclusion as he entered the

antechamber. He placed his letter in the hands of the usher

on duty, who led him into the waiting room and passed on

into the interior of the palace.

In this waiting room were five or six of the cardinals

Guards, who recognized D`Artagnan, and knowing that it was

he who had wounded Jussac, they looked upon him with a smile

of singular meaning.

This smile appeared to D`Artagnan to be of bad augury.

Only, as our Gascon was not easily intimidated--or rather,

thanks to a great pride natural to the men of his country,

he did not allow one easily to see what was passing in his

mind when that which was passing at all resembled fear--he

placed himself haughtily in front of Messieurs the Guards,

and waited with his hand on his hip, in an attitude by no

means deficient in majesty.

The usher returned and made a sign to D`Artagnan to follow

him. It appeared to the young man that the Guards, on

seeing him depart, chuckled among themselves.

He traversed a corridor, crossed a grand saloon, entered a

library, and found himself in the presence of a man seated

at a desk and writing.

The usher introduced him, and retired without speaking a

word. D`Artagnan remained standing and examined this man.

D`Artagnan at first believed that he had to do with some

judge examining his papers; but he perceived that the man at

the desk wrote, or rather corrected, lines of unequal

length, scanning the words on his fingers. He saw then that

he was with a poet. At the end of an instant the poet

closed his manuscript, upon the cover of which was written

"Mirame, a Tragedy in Five Acts," and raised his head.

D`Artagnan recognized the cardinal.

Date: 2015-01-29; view: 503