Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
two heads to royalty. But all this will come to an end, Treville, `
` will come to an end. You say, then, that the Guardsmen 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 named 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 the `
` cardinal's Guardsmen, but absolutely brought four of them to `
` earth." `
` `
` "Why, this is a victory!" cried the king, all radiant, "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 hardly 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." `
` `
` "How does he call himself?" `
` `
` "d'Artagnan, sire; he is the son of one of my oldest friends--the `
` son of a man who served under the king your father, of glorious `
` memory, in the civil war." `
` `
` "And you say this young man behaved himself well? Tell me how, `
` Treville--you know how I delight in accounts of war and `
` fighting." `
` `
` And Louis XIII twisted his mustache proudly, placing his hand `
` upon his hip. `
` `
` "Sire," resumed Treville, "as I told you, Monsieur d'Artagnan is `
` little more than a boy; and as he has not the honor of being a `
` Musketeer, he was dressed as a citizen. The Guards of the `
` cardinal, perceiving his youth and that he did not belong to the `
` corps, invited 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 `
` therefore he would 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 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 will see this young man, Treville--I will see him; and if anything `
` can be done--well, we will make it our business." `
` `
` "When will your Majesty deign to receive him?" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, 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, 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 Guardsmen against my three Musketeers `
` and Monsieur d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "That is true," said the king; "but never mind, Treville, come `
` still by the back staircase." `
` `
` Treville smiled; but as it was indeed 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 `
` accorded them. As they had long been acquainted with the king, `
` they were not much excited; but d'Artagnan, with his Gascon `
` imagination, saw in it his future fortune, and passed the night `
` in golden dreams. By eight o'clock in the morning 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, 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 one another without counting. `
` But one of these balls, launched by Porthos' herculean hand, `
` passed so close to d'Artagnan's face that he thought that 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 `
` present 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 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 Guardsmen, 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 addressed his `
` neighbor: "It is not astonishing that that young man should be `
` afraid of a ball, for he is doubtless a Musketeer apprentice." `
` `
` D'Artagnan turned round as if a serpent had stung him, and fixed `
` his eyes intensely upon the Guardsman who had just made this `
` insolent speech. `
` `
` "PARDIEU," resumed the latter, twisting his mustache, "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 `
` to follow me." `
` `
` "And when?" asked the Guardsman, with the same jeering air. `
` `
` "At once, if you please." `
` `
` "And you know who I am, without doubt?" `
` `
` "I? I am completely ignorant; nor does it much disquiet me." `
` `
` "You're in the wrong there; for if you knew my name, perhaps you `
` would not be so pressing." `
` `
` "What is your name?" `
` `
` "Bernajoux, at your service." `
` `
` "Well, then, Monsieur Bernajoux," said d'Artagnan, tranquilly, "I `
` will wait for you at the door." `
` `
` "Go, monsieur, I will follow you." `
` `
` "Do not hurry yourself, monsieur, lest it be observed that we go `
` out together. You must be aware that for our undertaking, `
` company would be in the way." `
` `
` "That's true," said the Guardsman, astonished that his name had `
` not produced more effect upon the young man. `
` `
` Indeed, the name of Bernajoux was known to all the world, `
` 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 could not 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 the `
` Guardsman of his Eminence, stopped outside the door. An instant `
` after, the Guardsman descended in his turn. 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, said to his adversary, "My faith! 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. On guard!" `
`
` will come to an end. You say, then, that the Guardsmen 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 named 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 the `
` cardinal's Guardsmen, but absolutely brought four of them to `
` earth." `
` `
` "Why, this is a victory!" cried the king, all radiant, "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 hardly 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." `
` `
` "How does he call himself?" `
` `
` "d'Artagnan, sire; he is the son of one of my oldest friends--the `
` son of a man who served under the king your father, of glorious `
` memory, in the civil war." `
` `
` "And you say this young man behaved himself well? Tell me how, `
` Treville--you know how I delight in accounts of war and `
` fighting." `
` `
` And Louis XIII twisted his mustache proudly, placing his hand `
` upon his hip. `
` `
` "Sire," resumed Treville, "as I told you, Monsieur d'Artagnan is `
` little more than a boy; and as he has not the honor of being a `
` Musketeer, he was dressed as a citizen. The Guards of the `
` cardinal, perceiving his youth and that he did not belong to the `
` corps, invited 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 `
` therefore he would 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 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 will see this young man, Treville--I will see him; and if anything `
` can be done--well, we will make it our business." `
` `
` "When will your Majesty deign to receive him?" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, 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, 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 Guardsmen against my three Musketeers `
` and Monsieur d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "That is true," said the king; "but never mind, Treville, come `
` still by the back staircase." `
` `
` Treville smiled; but as it was indeed 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 `
` accorded them. As they had long been acquainted with the king, `
` they were not much excited; but d'Artagnan, with his Gascon `
` imagination, saw in it his future fortune, and passed the night `
` in golden dreams. By eight o'clock in the morning 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, 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 one another without counting. `
` But one of these balls, launched by Porthos' herculean hand, `
` passed so close to d'Artagnan's face that he thought that 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 `
` present 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 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 Guardsmen, 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 addressed his `
` neighbor: "It is not astonishing that that young man should be `
` afraid of a ball, for he is doubtless a Musketeer apprentice." `
` `
` D'Artagnan turned round as if a serpent had stung him, and fixed `
` his eyes intensely upon the Guardsman who had just made this `
` insolent speech. `
` `
` "PARDIEU," resumed the latter, twisting his mustache, "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 `
` to follow me." `
` `
` "And when?" asked the Guardsman, with the same jeering air. `
` `
` "At once, if you please." `
` `
` "And you know who I am, without doubt?" `
` `
` "I? I am completely ignorant; nor does it much disquiet me." `
` `
` "You're in the wrong there; for if you knew my name, perhaps you `
` would not be so pressing." `
` `
` "What is your name?" `
` `
` "Bernajoux, at your service." `
` `
` "Well, then, Monsieur Bernajoux," said d'Artagnan, tranquilly, "I `
` will wait for you at the door." `
` `
` "Go, monsieur, I will follow you." `
` `
` "Do not hurry yourself, monsieur, lest it be observed that we go `
` out together. You must be aware that for our undertaking, `
` company would be in the way." `
` `
` "That's true," said the Guardsman, astonished that his name had `
` not produced more effect upon the young man. `
` `
` Indeed, the name of Bernajoux was known to all the world, `
` 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 could not 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 the `
` Guardsman of his Eminence, stopped outside the door. An instant `
` after, the Guardsman descended in his turn. 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, said to his adversary, "My faith! 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. On guard!" `
`