Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
you. Here at least," said Athos, pointing to the bastion, `
` "they will not come and disturb us." `
` `
` "It appears to me," said d'Artagnan, with that prudence `
` which allied itself in him so naturally with excessive `
` bravery, "that we could have found some retired place on the `
` downs or the seashore." `
` `
` "Where we should have been seen all four conferring `
` together, so that at the end of a quarter of an hour the `
` cardinal would have been informed by his spies that we were `
` holding a council." `
` `
` "Yes," said Aramis, "Athos is right: ANIMADVERTUNTUR IN `
` DESERTIS." `
` `
` "A desert would not have been amiss," said Porthos; "but it `
` behooved us to find it." `
` `
` "There is no desert where a bird cannot pass over one's `
` head, where a fish cannot leap out of the water, where a `
` rabbit cannot come out of its burrow, and I believe that `
` bird, fish, and rabbit each becomes a spy of the cardinal. `
` Better, then, pursue our enterprise; from which, besides, we `
` cannot retreat without shame. We have made a wager--a wager `
` which could not have been foreseen, and of which I defy `
` anyone to divine the true cause. We are going, in order to `
` win it, to remain an hour in the bastion. Either we shall `
` be attacked, or not. If we are not, we shall have all the `
` time to talk, and nobody will hear us--for I guarantee the `
` walls of the bastion have no ears; if we are, we will talk `
` of our affairs just the same. Moreover, in defending `
` ourselves, we shall cover ourselves with glory. You see `
` that everything is to our advantage." `
` `
` "Yes," said d'Artagnan; "but we shall indubitably attract a `
` ball." `
` `
` "Well, my dear," replied Athos, "you know well that the `
` balls most to be dreaded are not from the enemy." `
` `
` "But for such an expedition we surely ought to have brought `
` our muskets." `
` `
` "You are stupid, friend Porthos. Why should we load `
` ourselves with a useless burden?" `
` `
` "I don't find a good musket, twelve cartridges, and a powder `
` flask very useless in the face of an enemy." `
` `
` "Well," replied Athos, "have you not heard what d'Artagnan `
` said?" `
` `
` "What did he say?" demanded Porthos. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan said that in the attack of last night eight or `
` ten Frenchmen were killed, and as many Rochellais." `
` `
` "What then?" `
` `
` "The bodies were not plundered, were they? It appears the `
` conquerors had something else to do." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Well, we shall find their muskets, their cartridges, and `
` their flasks; and instead of four musketoons and twelve `
` balls, we shall have fifteen guns and a hundred charges to `
` fire." `
` `
` "Oh, Athos!" said Aramis, "truly you are a great man." `
` `
` Porthos nodded in sign of agreement. D'Artagnan alone did `
` not seem convinced. `
` `
` Grimaud no doubt shared the misgivings of the young man, for `
` seeing that they continued to advance toward the `
` bastion--something he had till then doubted--he pulled his `
` master by the skirt of his coat. `
` `
` "Where are we going?" asked he, by a gesture. `
` `
` Athos pointed to the bastion. `
` `
` "But," said Grimaud, in the same silent dialect, "we shall `
` leave our skins there." `
` `
` Athos raised his eyes and his finger toward heaven. `
` `
` Grimaud put his basket on the ground and sat down with a `
` shake of the head. `
` `
` Athos took a pistol from his belt, looked to see if it was `
` properly primed, cocked it, and placed the muzzle close to `
` Grimaud's ear. `
` `
` Grimaud was on his legs again as if by a spring. Athos then `
` made him a sign to take up his basket and to walk on first. `
` Grimaud obeyed. All that Grimaud gained by this momentary `
` pantomime was to pass from the rear guard to the vanguard. `
` `
` Arrived at the bastion, the four friends turned round. `
` `
` More than three hundred soldiers of all kinds were assembled `
` at the gate of the camp; and in a separate group might be `
` distinguished M. de Busigny, the dragoon, the Swiss, and the `
` fourth bettor. `
` `
` Athos took off his hat, placed it on the end of his sword, `
` and waved it in the air. `
` `
` All the spectators returned him his salute, accompanying `
` this courtesy with a loud hurrah which was audible to the `
` four; after which all four disappeared in the bastion, `
` whither Grimaud had preceded them. `
` `
` `
` `
` 47 THE COUNCIL OF THE MUSKETEERS `
` `
` As Athos had foreseen, the bastion was only occupied by a `
` dozen corpses, French and Rochellais. `
` `
` "Gentlemen," said Athos, who had assumed the command of the `
` expedition, "while Grimaud spreads the table, let us begin `
` by collecting the guns and cartridges together. We can talk `
` while performing that necessary task. These gentlemen," `
` added he, pointing to the bodies, "cannot hear us." `
` `
` "But we could throw them into the ditch," said Porthos, `
` "after having assured ourselves they have nothing in their `
` pockets." `
` `
` "Yes," said Athos, "that's Grimaud's business." `
` `
` "Well, then," cried d'Artagnan, "pray let Grimaud search `
` them and throw them over the walls." `
` `
` "Heaven forfend!" said Athos; "they may serve us." `
` `
` "These bodies serve us?" said Porthos. "You are mad, dear `
` friend." `
` `
` "Judge not rashly, say the gospel and the cardinal," replied `
` Athos. "How many guns, gentlemen?" `
` `
` "Twelve," replied Aramis. `
` `
` "How many shots?" `
` `
` "A hundred." `
` `
` "That's quite as many as we shall want. Let us load the `
` guns." `
` `
` The four Musketeers went to work; and as they were loading `
` the last musket Grimaud announced that the breakfast was `
` ready. `
` `
` Athos replied, always by gestures, that that was well, and `
` indicated to Grimaud, by pointing to a turret that resembled `
` a pepper caster, that he was to stand as sentinel. Only, to `
` alleviate the tediousness of the duty, Athos allowed him to `
` take a loaf, two cutlets, and a bottle of wine. `
` `
` "And now to table," said Athos. `
` `
` The four friends seated themselves on the ground with their `
` legs crossed like Turks, or even tailors. `
` `
` "And now," said d'Artagnan, "as there is no longer any fear `
` of being overheard, I hope you are going to let me into your `
` secret." `
` `
` "I hope at the same time to procure you amusement and glory, `
` gentlemen," said Athos. "I have induced you to take a `
` charming promenade; here is a delicious breakfast; and `
` yonder are five hundred persons, as you may see through the `
` loopholes, taking us for heroes or madmen--two classes of `
` imbeciles greatly resembling each other." `
` `
` "But the secret!" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "The secret is," said Athos, "that I saw Milady last night." `
` `
` D'Artagnan was lifting a glass to his lips; but at the name `
` of Milady, his hand trembled so, that he was obliged to put `
` the glass on the ground again for fear of spilling the `
` contents." `
` `
` "You saw your wi--" `
` `
` "Hush!" interrupted Athos. "You forget, my dear, you forget `
` that these gentlemen are not initiated into my family `
` affairs like yourself. I have seen Milady." `
` `
` "Where?" demanded d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Within two leagues of this place, at the inn of the Red `
` Dovecot." `
` `
`
` "they will not come and disturb us." `
` `
` "It appears to me," said d'Artagnan, with that prudence `
` which allied itself in him so naturally with excessive `
` bravery, "that we could have found some retired place on the `
` downs or the seashore." `
` `
` "Where we should have been seen all four conferring `
` together, so that at the end of a quarter of an hour the `
` cardinal would have been informed by his spies that we were `
` holding a council." `
` `
` "Yes," said Aramis, "Athos is right: ANIMADVERTUNTUR IN `
` DESERTIS." `
` `
` "A desert would not have been amiss," said Porthos; "but it `
` behooved us to find it." `
` `
` "There is no desert where a bird cannot pass over one's `
` head, where a fish cannot leap out of the water, where a `
` rabbit cannot come out of its burrow, and I believe that `
` bird, fish, and rabbit each becomes a spy of the cardinal. `
` Better, then, pursue our enterprise; from which, besides, we `
` cannot retreat without shame. We have made a wager--a wager `
` which could not have been foreseen, and of which I defy `
` anyone to divine the true cause. We are going, in order to `
` win it, to remain an hour in the bastion. Either we shall `
` be attacked, or not. If we are not, we shall have all the `
` time to talk, and nobody will hear us--for I guarantee the `
` walls of the bastion have no ears; if we are, we will talk `
` of our affairs just the same. Moreover, in defending `
` ourselves, we shall cover ourselves with glory. You see `
` that everything is to our advantage." `
` `
` "Yes," said d'Artagnan; "but we shall indubitably attract a `
` ball." `
` `
` "Well, my dear," replied Athos, "you know well that the `
` balls most to be dreaded are not from the enemy." `
` `
` "But for such an expedition we surely ought to have brought `
` our muskets." `
` `
` "You are stupid, friend Porthos. Why should we load `
` ourselves with a useless burden?" `
` `
` "I don't find a good musket, twelve cartridges, and a powder `
` flask very useless in the face of an enemy." `
` `
` "Well," replied Athos, "have you not heard what d'Artagnan `
` said?" `
` `
` "What did he say?" demanded Porthos. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan said that in the attack of last night eight or `
` ten Frenchmen were killed, and as many Rochellais." `
` `
` "What then?" `
` `
` "The bodies were not plundered, were they? It appears the `
` conquerors had something else to do." `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "Well, we shall find their muskets, their cartridges, and `
` their flasks; and instead of four musketoons and twelve `
` balls, we shall have fifteen guns and a hundred charges to `
` fire." `
` `
` "Oh, Athos!" said Aramis, "truly you are a great man." `
` `
` Porthos nodded in sign of agreement. D'Artagnan alone did `
` not seem convinced. `
` `
` Grimaud no doubt shared the misgivings of the young man, for `
` seeing that they continued to advance toward the `
` bastion--something he had till then doubted--he pulled his `
` master by the skirt of his coat. `
` `
` "Where are we going?" asked he, by a gesture. `
` `
` Athos pointed to the bastion. `
` `
` "But," said Grimaud, in the same silent dialect, "we shall `
` leave our skins there." `
` `
` Athos raised his eyes and his finger toward heaven. `
` `
` Grimaud put his basket on the ground and sat down with a `
` shake of the head. `
` `
` Athos took a pistol from his belt, looked to see if it was `
` properly primed, cocked it, and placed the muzzle close to `
` Grimaud's ear. `
` `
` Grimaud was on his legs again as if by a spring. Athos then `
` made him a sign to take up his basket and to walk on first. `
` Grimaud obeyed. All that Grimaud gained by this momentary `
` pantomime was to pass from the rear guard to the vanguard. `
` `
` Arrived at the bastion, the four friends turned round. `
` `
` More than three hundred soldiers of all kinds were assembled `
` at the gate of the camp; and in a separate group might be `
` distinguished M. de Busigny, the dragoon, the Swiss, and the `
` fourth bettor. `
` `
` Athos took off his hat, placed it on the end of his sword, `
` and waved it in the air. `
` `
` All the spectators returned him his salute, accompanying `
` this courtesy with a loud hurrah which was audible to the `
` four; after which all four disappeared in the bastion, `
` whither Grimaud had preceded them. `
` `
` `
` `
` 47 THE COUNCIL OF THE MUSKETEERS `
` `
` As Athos had foreseen, the bastion was only occupied by a `
` dozen corpses, French and Rochellais. `
` `
` "Gentlemen," said Athos, who had assumed the command of the `
` expedition, "while Grimaud spreads the table, let us begin `
` by collecting the guns and cartridges together. We can talk `
` while performing that necessary task. These gentlemen," `
` added he, pointing to the bodies, "cannot hear us." `
` `
` "But we could throw them into the ditch," said Porthos, `
` "after having assured ourselves they have nothing in their `
` pockets." `
` `
` "Yes," said Athos, "that's Grimaud's business." `
` `
` "Well, then," cried d'Artagnan, "pray let Grimaud search `
` them and throw them over the walls." `
` `
` "Heaven forfend!" said Athos; "they may serve us." `
` `
` "These bodies serve us?" said Porthos. "You are mad, dear `
` friend." `
` `
` "Judge not rashly, say the gospel and the cardinal," replied `
` Athos. "How many guns, gentlemen?" `
` `
` "Twelve," replied Aramis. `
` `
` "How many shots?" `
` `
` "A hundred." `
` `
` "That's quite as many as we shall want. Let us load the `
` guns." `
` `
` The four Musketeers went to work; and as they were loading `
` the last musket Grimaud announced that the breakfast was `
` ready. `
` `
` Athos replied, always by gestures, that that was well, and `
` indicated to Grimaud, by pointing to a turret that resembled `
` a pepper caster, that he was to stand as sentinel. Only, to `
` alleviate the tediousness of the duty, Athos allowed him to `
` take a loaf, two cutlets, and a bottle of wine. `
` `
` "And now to table," said Athos. `
` `
` The four friends seated themselves on the ground with their `
` legs crossed like Turks, or even tailors. `
` `
` "And now," said d'Artagnan, "as there is no longer any fear `
` of being overheard, I hope you are going to let me into your `
` secret." `
` `
` "I hope at the same time to procure you amusement and glory, `
` gentlemen," said Athos. "I have induced you to take a `
` charming promenade; here is a delicious breakfast; and `
` yonder are five hundred persons, as you may see through the `
` loopholes, taking us for heroes or madmen--two classes of `
` imbeciles greatly resembling each other." `
` `
` "But the secret!" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "The secret is," said Athos, "that I saw Milady last night." `
` `
` D'Artagnan was lifting a glass to his lips; but at the name `
` of Milady, his hand trembled so, that he was obliged to put `
` the glass on the ground again for fear of spilling the `
` contents." `
` `
` "You saw your wi--" `
` `
` "Hush!" interrupted Athos. "You forget, my dear, you forget `
` that these gentlemen are not initiated into my family `
` affairs like yourself. I have seen Milady." `
` `
` "Where?" demanded d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Within two leagues of this place, at the inn of the Red `
` Dovecot." `
` `
`