Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
in that case, to the king that I am determined on war, and that `
` this measure is my first act of hostility against France." `
` `
` The secretary bowed and retired. `
` `
` "We are safe on that side," said Buckingham, turning toward `
` d'Artagnan. "If the studs are not yet gone to Paris, they will `
` not arrive till after you." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "I have just placed an embargo on all vessels at present in his `
` Majesty's ports, and without particular permission, not one dare `
` lift an anchor." `
` `
` D'Artagnan looked with stupefaction at a man who thus employed `
` the unlimited power with which he was clothed by the confidence `
` of a king in the prosecution of his intrigues. Buckingham saw by `
` the expression of the young man's face what was passing in his `
` mind, and he smiled. `
` `
` "Yes," said he, "yes, Anne of Austria is my true queen. Upon a `
` word from her, I would betray my country, I would betray my king, `
` I would betray my God. She asked me not to send the Protestants `
` of La Rochelle the assistance I promised them; I have not done `
` so. I broke my word, it is true; but what signifies that? I `
` obeyed my love; and have I not been richly paid for that `
` obedience? It was to that obedience I owe her portrait." `
` `
` D'Artagnan was amazed to note by what fragile and unknown threads `
` the destinies of nations and the lives of men are suspended. He `
` was lost in these reflections when the goldsmith entered. He was `
` an Irishman--one of the most skillful of his craft, and who `
` himself confessed that he gained a hundred thousand livres a year `
` by the Duke of Buckingham. `
` `
` "Mr. O'Reilly," said the duke, leading him into the chapel, "look `
` at these diamond studs, and tell me what they are worth apiece." `
` `
` The goldsmith cast a glance at the elegant manner in which they `
` were set, calculated, one with another, what the diamonds were `
` worth, and without hesitation said, "Fifteen hundred pistoles `
` each, my Lord." `
` `
` "How many days would it require to make two studs exactly like `
` them? You see there are two wanting." `
` `
` "Eight days, my Lord." `
` `
` "I will give you three thousand pistoles apiece if I can have `
` them by the day after tomorrow." `
` `
` "My Lord, they shall be yours." `
` `
` "You are a jewel of a man, Mr. O'Reilly; but that is not all. `
` These studs cannot be trusted to anybody; it must be done in the `
` palace." `
` `
` "Impossible, my Lord! There is no one but myself can so execute `
` them that one cannot tell the new from the old." `
` `
` "Therefore, my dear Mr. O'Reilly, you are my prisoner. And if `
` you wish ever to leave my palace, you cannot; so make the best of `
` it. Name to me such of your workmen as you need, and point out `
` the tools they must bring." `
` `
` The goldsmith knew the duke. He knew all objection would be `
` useless, and instantly determined how to act. `
` `
` "May I be permitted to inform my wife?" said he. `
` `
` "Oh, you may even see her if you like, my dear Mr. O'Reilly. `
` Your captivity shall be mild, be assured; and as every `
` inconvenience deserves its indemnification, here is, in addition `
` to the price of the studs, an order for a thousand pistoles, to `
` make you forget the annoyance I cause you." `
` `
` D'Artagnan could not get over the surprise created in him by this `
` minister, who thus open-handed, sported with men and millions. `
` `
` As to the goldsmith, he wrote to his wife, sending her the order `
` for the thousand pistoles, and charging her to send him, in `
` exchange, his most skillful apprentice, an assortment of `
` diamonds, of which he gave the names and the weight, and the `
` necessary tools. `
` `
` Buckingham conducted the goldsmith to the chamber destined for `
` him, and which, at the end of half an hour, was transformed into `
` a workshop. Then he placed a sentinel at each door, with an `
` order to admit nobody upon any pretense but his VALET DE CHAMBRE, `
` Patrick. We need not add that the goldsmith, O'Reilly, and his `
` assistant, were prohibited from going out under any pretext. `
` This point, settled, the duke turned to d'Artagnan. "Now, my `
` young friend," said he, "England is all our own. What do you `
` wish for? What do you desire?" `
` `
` "A bed, my Lord," replied d'Artagnan. "At present, I confess, `
` that is the thing I stand most in need of." `
` `
` Buckingham gave d'Artagnan a chamber adjoining his own. He `
` wished to have the young man at hand--not that he at all `
` mistrusted him, but for the sake of having someone to whom he `
` could constantly talk of the queen. `
` `
` In one hour after, the ordinance was published in London that no `
` vessel bound for France should leave port, not even the packet `
` boat with letters. In the eyes of everybody this was a `
` declaration of war between the two kingdoms. `
` `
` On the day after the morrow, by eleven o'clock, the two diamond `
` studs were finished, and they were so completely imitated, so `
` perfectly alike, that Buckingham could not tell the new ones from `
` the old ones, and experts in such matters would have been `
` deceived as he was. He immediately called d'Artagnan. "Here," `
` said he to him, "are the diamond studs that you came to bring; `
` and be my witness that I have done all that human power could `
` do." `
` `
` "Be satisfied, my Lord, I will tell all that I have seen. But `
` does your Grace mean to give me the studs without the casket?" `
` `
` "The casket would encumber you. Besides, the casket is the more `
` precious from being all that is left to me. You will say that I `
` keep it." `
` `
` "I will perform your commission, word for word, my Lord." `
` `
` "And now," resumed Buckingham, looking earnestly at the young `
` man, "how shall I ever acquit myself of the debt I owe you?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan blushed up to the whites of his eyes. He saw that the `
` duke was searching for a means of making him accept something and `
` the idea that the blood of his friends and himself was about to `
` be paid for with English gold was strangely repugnant to him. `
` `
` "Let us understand each other, my Lord," replied d'Artagnan, "and `
` let us make things clear beforehand in order that there may be no `
` mistake. I am in the service of the King and Queen of France, `
` and form part of the company of Monsieur Dessessart, who, as well `
` as his brother-in-law, Monsieur de Treville, is particularly `
` attached to their Majesties. What I have done, then, has been `
` for the queen, and not at all for your Grace. And still further, `
` it is very probable I should not have done anything of this, if `
` it had not been to make myself agreeable to someone who is my `
` lady, as the queen is yours." `
` `
` "Yes," said the duke, smiling, "and I even believe that I know `
` that other person; it is--" `
` `
` "My Lord, I have not named her!" interrupted the young man, `
` warmly. `
` `
` "That is true," said the duke; "and it is to this person I am `
` bound to discharge my debt of gratitude." `
` `
` "You have said, my Lord; for truly, at this moment when there is `
` question of war, I confess to you that I see nothing in your `
` Grace but an Englishman, and consequently an enemy whom I should `
` have much greater pleasure in meeting on the field of battle than `
` in the park at Windsor or the corridors of the Louvre--all which, `
` however, will not prevent me from executing to the very point my `
` commission or from laying down my life, if there be need of it, `
` to accomplish it; but I repeat it to your Grace, without your `
` having personally on that account more to thank me for in this `
` second interview than for what I did for you in the first." `
` `
` "We say, 'Proud as a Scotsman,'" murmured the Duke of Buckingham. `
` `
` "And we say, 'Proud as a Gascon,'" replied d'Artagnan. "The `
` Gascons are the Scots of France." `
` `
` D'Artagnan bowed to the duke, and was retiring. `
` `
` "Well, are you going away in that manner? Where, and how?" `
` `
` "That's true!" `
` `
` "Fore Gad, these Frenchmen have no consideration!" `
` `
` "I had forgotten that England was an island, and that you were `
` the king of it." `
` `
` "Go to the riverside, ask for the brig SUND, and give this letter `
` to the captain; he will convey you to a little port, where `
` certainly you are not expected, and which is ordinarily only `
` frequented by fishermen." `
` `
` "The name of that port?" `
` `
` "St. Valery; but listen. When you have arrived there you will go `
` to a mean tavern, without a name and without a sign--a mere `
` fisherman's hut. You cannot be mistaken; there is but one." `
` `
` "Afterward?" `
` `
` "You will ask for the host, and will repeat to him the word `
` 'Forward!'" `
` `
` "Which means?" `
` `
` "In French, EN AVANT. It is the password. He will give you a `
`
` this measure is my first act of hostility against France." `
` `
` The secretary bowed and retired. `
` `
` "We are safe on that side," said Buckingham, turning toward `
` d'Artagnan. "If the studs are not yet gone to Paris, they will `
` not arrive till after you." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "I have just placed an embargo on all vessels at present in his `
` Majesty's ports, and without particular permission, not one dare `
` lift an anchor." `
` `
` D'Artagnan looked with stupefaction at a man who thus employed `
` the unlimited power with which he was clothed by the confidence `
` of a king in the prosecution of his intrigues. Buckingham saw by `
` the expression of the young man's face what was passing in his `
` mind, and he smiled. `
` `
` "Yes," said he, "yes, Anne of Austria is my true queen. Upon a `
` word from her, I would betray my country, I would betray my king, `
` I would betray my God. She asked me not to send the Protestants `
` of La Rochelle the assistance I promised them; I have not done `
` so. I broke my word, it is true; but what signifies that? I `
` obeyed my love; and have I not been richly paid for that `
` obedience? It was to that obedience I owe her portrait." `
` `
` D'Artagnan was amazed to note by what fragile and unknown threads `
` the destinies of nations and the lives of men are suspended. He `
` was lost in these reflections when the goldsmith entered. He was `
` an Irishman--one of the most skillful of his craft, and who `
` himself confessed that he gained a hundred thousand livres a year `
` by the Duke of Buckingham. `
` `
` "Mr. O'Reilly," said the duke, leading him into the chapel, "look `
` at these diamond studs, and tell me what they are worth apiece." `
` `
` The goldsmith cast a glance at the elegant manner in which they `
` were set, calculated, one with another, what the diamonds were `
` worth, and without hesitation said, "Fifteen hundred pistoles `
` each, my Lord." `
` `
` "How many days would it require to make two studs exactly like `
` them? You see there are two wanting." `
` `
` "Eight days, my Lord." `
` `
` "I will give you three thousand pistoles apiece if I can have `
` them by the day after tomorrow." `
` `
` "My Lord, they shall be yours." `
` `
` "You are a jewel of a man, Mr. O'Reilly; but that is not all. `
` These studs cannot be trusted to anybody; it must be done in the `
` palace." `
` `
` "Impossible, my Lord! There is no one but myself can so execute `
` them that one cannot tell the new from the old." `
` `
` "Therefore, my dear Mr. O'Reilly, you are my prisoner. And if `
` you wish ever to leave my palace, you cannot; so make the best of `
` it. Name to me such of your workmen as you need, and point out `
` the tools they must bring." `
` `
` The goldsmith knew the duke. He knew all objection would be `
` useless, and instantly determined how to act. `
` `
` "May I be permitted to inform my wife?" said he. `
` `
` "Oh, you may even see her if you like, my dear Mr. O'Reilly. `
` Your captivity shall be mild, be assured; and as every `
` inconvenience deserves its indemnification, here is, in addition `
` to the price of the studs, an order for a thousand pistoles, to `
` make you forget the annoyance I cause you." `
` `
` D'Artagnan could not get over the surprise created in him by this `
` minister, who thus open-handed, sported with men and millions. `
` `
` As to the goldsmith, he wrote to his wife, sending her the order `
` for the thousand pistoles, and charging her to send him, in `
` exchange, his most skillful apprentice, an assortment of `
` diamonds, of which he gave the names and the weight, and the `
` necessary tools. `
` `
` Buckingham conducted the goldsmith to the chamber destined for `
` him, and which, at the end of half an hour, was transformed into `
` a workshop. Then he placed a sentinel at each door, with an `
` order to admit nobody upon any pretense but his VALET DE CHAMBRE, `
` Patrick. We need not add that the goldsmith, O'Reilly, and his `
` assistant, were prohibited from going out under any pretext. `
` This point, settled, the duke turned to d'Artagnan. "Now, my `
` young friend," said he, "England is all our own. What do you `
` wish for? What do you desire?" `
` `
` "A bed, my Lord," replied d'Artagnan. "At present, I confess, `
` that is the thing I stand most in need of." `
` `
` Buckingham gave d'Artagnan a chamber adjoining his own. He `
` wished to have the young man at hand--not that he at all `
` mistrusted him, but for the sake of having someone to whom he `
` could constantly talk of the queen. `
` `
` In one hour after, the ordinance was published in London that no `
` vessel bound for France should leave port, not even the packet `
` boat with letters. In the eyes of everybody this was a `
` declaration of war between the two kingdoms. `
` `
` On the day after the morrow, by eleven o'clock, the two diamond `
` studs were finished, and they were so completely imitated, so `
` perfectly alike, that Buckingham could not tell the new ones from `
` the old ones, and experts in such matters would have been `
` deceived as he was. He immediately called d'Artagnan. "Here," `
` said he to him, "are the diamond studs that you came to bring; `
` and be my witness that I have done all that human power could `
` do." `
` `
` "Be satisfied, my Lord, I will tell all that I have seen. But `
` does your Grace mean to give me the studs without the casket?" `
` `
` "The casket would encumber you. Besides, the casket is the more `
` precious from being all that is left to me. You will say that I `
` keep it." `
` `
` "I will perform your commission, word for word, my Lord." `
` `
` "And now," resumed Buckingham, looking earnestly at the young `
` man, "how shall I ever acquit myself of the debt I owe you?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan blushed up to the whites of his eyes. He saw that the `
` duke was searching for a means of making him accept something and `
` the idea that the blood of his friends and himself was about to `
` be paid for with English gold was strangely repugnant to him. `
` `
` "Let us understand each other, my Lord," replied d'Artagnan, "and `
` let us make things clear beforehand in order that there may be no `
` mistake. I am in the service of the King and Queen of France, `
` and form part of the company of Monsieur Dessessart, who, as well `
` as his brother-in-law, Monsieur de Treville, is particularly `
` attached to their Majesties. What I have done, then, has been `
` for the queen, and not at all for your Grace. And still further, `
` it is very probable I should not have done anything of this, if `
` it had not been to make myself agreeable to someone who is my `
` lady, as the queen is yours." `
` `
` "Yes," said the duke, smiling, "and I even believe that I know `
` that other person; it is--" `
` `
` "My Lord, I have not named her!" interrupted the young man, `
` warmly. `
` `
` "That is true," said the duke; "and it is to this person I am `
` bound to discharge my debt of gratitude." `
` `
` "You have said, my Lord; for truly, at this moment when there is `
` question of war, I confess to you that I see nothing in your `
` Grace but an Englishman, and consequently an enemy whom I should `
` have much greater pleasure in meeting on the field of battle than `
` in the park at Windsor or the corridors of the Louvre--all which, `
` however, will not prevent me from executing to the very point my `
` commission or from laying down my life, if there be need of it, `
` to accomplish it; but I repeat it to your Grace, without your `
` having personally on that account more to thank me for in this `
` second interview than for what I did for you in the first." `
` `
` "We say, 'Proud as a Scotsman,'" murmured the Duke of Buckingham. `
` `
` "And we say, 'Proud as a Gascon,'" replied d'Artagnan. "The `
` Gascons are the Scots of France." `
` `
` D'Artagnan bowed to the duke, and was retiring. `
` `
` "Well, are you going away in that manner? Where, and how?" `
` `
` "That's true!" `
` `
` "Fore Gad, these Frenchmen have no consideration!" `
` `
` "I had forgotten that England was an island, and that you were `
` the king of it." `
` `
` "Go to the riverside, ask for the brig SUND, and give this letter `
` to the captain; he will convey you to a little port, where `
` certainly you are not expected, and which is ordinarily only `
` frequented by fishermen." `
` `
` "The name of that port?" `
` `
` "St. Valery; but listen. When you have arrived there you will go `
` to a mean tavern, without a name and without a sign--a mere `
` fisherman's hut. You cannot be mistaken; there is but one." `
` `
` "Afterward?" `
` `
` "You will ask for the host, and will repeat to him the word `
` 'Forward!'" `
` `
` "Which means?" `
` `
` "In French, EN AVANT. It is the password. He will give you a `
`