Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
conversation during the whole of dinner turned upon the two `
` checks that his Eminence's Guardsmen 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 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 had not yet returned from hunting. Our `
` young men had been waiting about half an hour, amid a crowd of `
` courtiers, when all the doors were thrown open, and his Majesty `
` was announced. `
` `
` At his announcement d'Artagnan felt himself tremble to the very `
` marrow of his bones. The coming instant would in all probability `
` decide the rest of his life. His eyes therefore were fixed in a `
` sort of agony upon the door through which the king must enter. `
` `
` Louis XIII appeared, walking fast. He was in hunting costume `
` covered with dust, wearing large boots, and holding 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 along his pathway. `
` In royal antechambers it is worth more to be viewed with an angry `
` eye than not to be seen 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 dropped his eyes; after which his Majesty, `
` grumbling, entered his apartment. `
` `
` "Matters go but badly," said Athos, smiling; "and we shall not be `
` made Chevaliers 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 cabinet boldly, and found his `
` Majesty in a very ill humor, seated on an armchair, beating his `
` boot with the handle of his whip. This, however, did not prevent `
` his asking, with the greatest coolness, after his Majesty's `
` health. `
` `
` "Bad, monsieur, bad!" replied the king; "I am bored." `
` `
` 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, let us weary ourselves together." `
` `
` "How! Your Majesty is bored? Have you not enjoyed the pleasures `
` of the chase today?" `
` `
` "A fine pleasure, indeed, monsieur! Upon my soul, everything `
` degenerates; and I don't know whether it is the game which leaves `
` no scent, or the dogs that have no noses. We started a stag of `
` ten branches. 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 mort--crack, all the pack takes the wrong `
` scent and sets off after a two-year-older. 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 day before yesterday." `
` `
` "Indeed, sire, I wholly comprehend your disappointment. 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 all be over, and people will hunt with `
` gins, snares, and traps. If I had but the time to train pupils! `
` But there is the cardinal always at hand, who does not leave me a `
` moment's repose; who talks to me about Spain, who talks to me `
` about Austria, who talks to me about England! Ah! A PROPOS of `
` the cardinal, Monsieur de Treville, I am vexed with you!" `
` `
` This was the chance 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, "undoubtedly my haste accuses you wrongfully; without `
` doubt the rioters are in prison, and you come to tell me justice `
` is done." `
` `
` "Sire," replied M. de Treville, calmly, "on the contrary, I come `
` to demand it of you." `
` `
` "And against whom?" 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 youngster 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 told you this fine story, sire?" asked Treville, `
` quietly. `
` `
` "Who has told me this fine story, monsieur? Who should it be but `
` he who watches while I sleep, who labors while I amuse myself, `
` who conducts everything at home and abroad--in France as in `
` Europe?" `
` `
` "Your Majesty probably refers to God," said M. de Treville; "for `
` I know no one except God who 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 the cardinal." `
` `
` "His Eminence is not his holiness, sire." `
` `
` "What do you mean by that, monsieur?" `
` `
` "That it is only the Pope who is infallible, and that this `
` infallibility does not extend to cardinals." `
` `
` "You mean to say that he deceives me; you mean to say that he `
` betrays me? You accuse him, then? Come, speak; avow 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 Monsieur de la Tremouille, from the `
` duke himself. What do you say to that?" `
` `
` "I might answer, sire, that he is too deeply interested in the `
` question to be a very impartial witness; but so far from that, `
` sire, I know the duke to be a royal gentleman, and I refer the `
` matter to him--but upon one condition, sire." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "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! You will bind yourself," cried the king, "by what `
` Monsieur de la Tremouille shall say?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "You will accept his judgment?" `
` `
` "Undoubtedly." `
` `
` "Any you will submit to the reparation he may require?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "La Chesnaye," said the king. "La Chesnaye!" `
` `
` Louis XIII's confidential valet, who never left the door, entered `
` in reply to the call. `
` `
` "La Chesnaye," said the king, "let someone go instantly and find `
` Monsieur de la Tremouille; I wish to speak with him this `
` evening." `
` `
` "Your Majesty gives me your word that you will not see anyone `
` between Monsieur de la Tremouille and myself?" `
` `
` "Nobody, by the faith of a gentleman." `
` `
` "Tomorrow, then, sire?" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, monsieur." `
` `
`
` checks that his Eminence's Guardsmen 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 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 had not yet returned from hunting. Our `
` young men had been waiting about half an hour, amid a crowd of `
` courtiers, when all the doors were thrown open, and his Majesty `
` was announced. `
` `
` At his announcement d'Artagnan felt himself tremble to the very `
` marrow of his bones. The coming instant would in all probability `
` decide the rest of his life. His eyes therefore were fixed in a `
` sort of agony upon the door through which the king must enter. `
` `
` Louis XIII appeared, walking fast. He was in hunting costume `
` covered with dust, wearing large boots, and holding 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 along his pathway. `
` In royal antechambers it is worth more to be viewed with an angry `
` eye than not to be seen 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 dropped his eyes; after which his Majesty, `
` grumbling, entered his apartment. `
` `
` "Matters go but badly," said Athos, smiling; "and we shall not be `
` made Chevaliers 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 cabinet boldly, and found his `
` Majesty in a very ill humor, seated on an armchair, beating his `
` boot with the handle of his whip. This, however, did not prevent `
` his asking, with the greatest coolness, after his Majesty's `
` health. `
` `
` "Bad, monsieur, bad!" replied the king; "I am bored." `
` `
` 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, let us weary ourselves together." `
` `
` "How! Your Majesty is bored? Have you not enjoyed the pleasures `
` of the chase today?" `
` `
` "A fine pleasure, indeed, monsieur! Upon my soul, everything `
` degenerates; and I don't know whether it is the game which leaves `
` no scent, or the dogs that have no noses. We started a stag of `
` ten branches. 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 mort--crack, all the pack takes the wrong `
` scent and sets off after a two-year-older. 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 day before yesterday." `
` `
` "Indeed, sire, I wholly comprehend your disappointment. 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 all be over, and people will hunt with `
` gins, snares, and traps. If I had but the time to train pupils! `
` But there is the cardinal always at hand, who does not leave me a `
` moment's repose; who talks to me about Spain, who talks to me `
` about Austria, who talks to me about England! Ah! A PROPOS of `
` the cardinal, Monsieur de Treville, I am vexed with you!" `
` `
` This was the chance 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, "undoubtedly my haste accuses you wrongfully; without `
` doubt the rioters are in prison, and you come to tell me justice `
` is done." `
` `
` "Sire," replied M. de Treville, calmly, "on the contrary, I come `
` to demand it of you." `
` `
` "And against whom?" 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 youngster 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 told you this fine story, sire?" asked Treville, `
` quietly. `
` `
` "Who has told me this fine story, monsieur? Who should it be but `
` he who watches while I sleep, who labors while I amuse myself, `
` who conducts everything at home and abroad--in France as in `
` Europe?" `
` `
` "Your Majesty probably refers to God," said M. de Treville; "for `
` I know no one except God who 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 the cardinal." `
` `
` "His Eminence is not his holiness, sire." `
` `
` "What do you mean by that, monsieur?" `
` `
` "That it is only the Pope who is infallible, and that this `
` infallibility does not extend to cardinals." `
` `
` "You mean to say that he deceives me; you mean to say that he `
` betrays me? You accuse him, then? Come, speak; avow 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 Monsieur de la Tremouille, from the `
` duke himself. What do you say to that?" `
` `
` "I might answer, sire, that he is too deeply interested in the `
` question to be a very impartial witness; but so far from that, `
` sire, I know the duke to be a royal gentleman, and I refer the `
` matter to him--but upon one condition, sire." `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "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! You will bind yourself," cried the king, "by what `
` Monsieur de la Tremouille shall say?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "You will accept his judgment?" `
` `
` "Undoubtedly." `
` `
` "Any you will submit to the reparation he may require?" `
` `
` "Certainly." `
` `
` "La Chesnaye," said the king. "La Chesnaye!" `
` `
` Louis XIII's confidential valet, who never left the door, entered `
` in reply to the call. `
` `
` "La Chesnaye," said the king, "let someone go instantly and find `
` Monsieur de la Tremouille; I wish to speak with him this `
` evening." `
` `
` "Your Majesty gives me your word that you will not see anyone `
` between Monsieur de la Tremouille and myself?" `
` `
` "Nobody, by the faith of a gentleman." `
` `
` "Tomorrow, then, sire?" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, monsieur." `
` `
`