Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
d'Artagnan, that it is the queen who has made choice of the `
` convent for her?" `
` `
` "I believe so, at least." `
` `
` "In that case Porthos will assist us." `
` `
` "And how so, if you please?" `
` `
` "Why, by your marchioness, your duchess, your princess. She `
` must have a long arm." `
` `
` "Hush!" said Porthos, placing a finger on his lips. "I `
` believe her to be a cardinalist; she must know nothing of `
` the matter." `
` `
` "Then," said Aramis, "I take upon myself to obtain `
` intelligence of her." `
` `
` "You, Aramis?" cried the three friends. "You! And how?" `
` `
` "By the queen's almoner, to whom I am very intimately `
` allied," said Aramis, coloring. `
` `
` And on this assurance, the four friends, who had finished `
` their modest repast, separated, with the promise of meeting `
` again that evening. D'Artagnan returned to less important `
` affairs, and the three Musketeers repaired to the king's `
` quarters, where they had to prepare their lodging. `
` `
` `
` `
` 43 THE SIGN OF THE RED DOVECOT `
` `
` Meanwhile the king, who, with more reason than the cardinal, `
` showed his hatred for Buckingham, although scarcely arrived `
` was in such a haste to meet the enemy that he commanded `
` every disposition to be made to drive the English from the `
` Isle of Re, and afterward to press the siege of La Rochelle; `
` but notwithstanding his earnest wish, he was delayed by the `
` dissensions which broke out between MM. Bassompierre and `
` Schomberg, against the Duc d'Angouleme. `
` `
` MM. Bassompierre and Schomberg were marshals of France, and `
` claimed their right of commanding the army under the orders `
` of the king; but the cardinal, who feared that Bassompierre, `
` a Huguenot at heart, might press but feebly the English and `
` Rochellais, his brothers in religion, supported the Duc `
` d'Angouleme, whom the king, at his instigation, had named `
` lieutenant general. The result was that to prevent MM. `
` Bassompierre and Schomberg from deserting the army, a `
` separate command had to be given to each. Bassompierre took `
` up his quarters on the north of the city, between Leu and `
` Dompierre; the Duc d'Angouleme on the east, from Dompierre `
` to Perigny; and M. de Schomberg on the south, from Perigny `
` to Angoutin. `
` `
` The quarters of Monsieur were at Dompierre; the quarters of `
` the king were sometimes at Estree, sometimes at Jarrie; the `
` cardinal's quarters were upon the downs, at the bridge of La `
` Pierre, in a simple house without any entrenchment. So that `
` Monsieur watched Bassompierre; the king, the Duc `
` d'Angouleme; and the cardinal, M. de Schomberg. `
` `
` As soon as this organization was established, they set about `
` driving the English from the Isle. `
` `
` The juncture was favorable. The English, who require, above `
` everything, good living in order to be good soldiers, only `
` eating salt meat and bad biscuit, had many invalids in their `
` camp. Still further, the sea, very rough at this period of `
` the year all along the sea coast, destroyed every day some `
` little vessel; and the shore, from the point of l'Aiguillon `
` to the trenches, was at every tide literally covered with `
` the wrecks of pinnacles, roberges, and feluccas. The result `
` was that even if the king's troops remained quietly in their `
` camp, it was evident that some day or other, Buckingham, who `
` only continued in the Isle from obstinacy, would be obliged `
` to raise the siege. `
` `
` But as M. de Toiras gave information that everything was `
` preparing in the enemy's camp for a fresh assault, the king `
` judged that it would be best to put an end to the affair, `
` and gave the necessary orders for a decisive action. `
` `
` As it is not our intention to give a journal of the siege, `
` but on the contrary only to describe such of the events of `
` it as are connected with the story we are relating, we will `
` content ourselves with saying in two words that the `
` expedition succeeded, to the great astonishment of the king `
` and the great glory of the cardinal. The English, repulsed `
` foot by foot, beaten in all encounters, and defeated in the `
` passage of the Isle of Loie, were obliged to re-embark, `
` leaving on the field of battle two thousand men, among whom `
` were five colonels, three lieutenant colonels, two hundred `
` and fifty captains, twenty gentlemen of rank, four pieces of `
` cannon, and sixty flags, which were taken to Paris by Claude `
` de St. Simon, and suspended with great pomp in the arches of `
` Notre Dame. `
` `
` Te Deums were chanted in camp, and afterward throughout `
` France. `
` `
` The cardinal was left free to carry on the siege, without `
` having, at least at the present, anything to fear on the `
` part of the English. `
` `
` But it must be acknowledged, this response was but `
` momentary. An envoy of the Duke of Buckingham, named `
` Montague, was taken, and proof was obtained of a league `
` between the German Empire, Spain, England, and Lorraine. `
` This league was directed against France. `
` `
` Still further, in Buckingham's lodging, which he had been `
` forced to abandon more precipitately than he expected, `
` papers were found which confirmed this alliance and which, `
` as the cardinal asserts in his memoirs, strongly compromised `
` Mme. de Chevreuse and consequently the queen. `
` `
` It was upon the cardinal that all the responsibility fell, `
` for one is not a despotic minister without responsibility. `
` All, therefore, of the vast resources of his genius were at `
` work night and day, engaged in listening to the least report `
` heard in any of the great kingdoms of Europe. `
` `
` The cardinal was acquainted with the activity, and more `
` particularly the hatred, of Buckingham. If the league which `
` threatened France triumphed, all his influence would be `
` lost. Spanish policy and Austrian policy would have their `
` representatives in the cabinet of the Louvre, where they had `
` as yet but partisans; and he, Richelieu--the French `
` minister, the national minister--would be ruined. The king, `
` even while obeying him like a child, hated him as a child `
` hates his master, and would abandon him to the personal `
` vengeance of Monsieur and the queen. He would then be lost, `
` and France, perhaps, with him. All this must be prepared `
` against. `
` `
` Courtiers, becoming every instant more numerous, succeeded `
` one another, day and night, in the little house of the `
` bridge of La Pierre, in which the cardinal had established `
` his residence. `
` `
` There were monks who wore the frock with such an ill grace `
` that it was easy to perceive they belonged to the church `
` militant; women a little inconvenienced by their costume as `
` pages and whose large trousers could not entirely conceal `
` their rounded forms; and peasants with blackened hands but `
` with fine limbs, savoring of the man of quality a league `
` off. `
` `
` There were also less agreeable visits--for two or three `
` times reports were spread that the cardinal had nearly been `
` assassinated. `
` `
` It is true that the enemies of the cardinal said that it was `
` he himself who set these bungling assassins to work, in `
` order to have, if wanted, the right of using reprisals; but `
` we must not believe everything ministers say, nor everything `
` their enemies say. `
` `
` These attempts did not prevent the cardinal, to whom his `
` most inveterate detractors have never denied personal `
` bravery, from making nocturnal excursions, sometimes to `
` communicate to the Duc d'Angouleme important orders, `
` sometimes to confer with the king, and sometimes to have an `
` interview with a messenger whom he did not wish to see at `
` home. `
` `
` On their part the Musketeers, who had not much to do with `
` the siege, were not under very strict orders and led a `
` joyous life. The was the more easy for our three companions `
` in particular; for being friends of M. de Treville, they `
` obtained from him special permission to be absent after the `
` closing of the camp. `
` `
` Now, one evening when d'Artagnan, who was in the trenches, `
` was not able to accompany them, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, `
` mounted on their battle steeds, enveloped in their war `
` cloaks, with their hands upon their pistol butts, were `
` returning from a drinking place called the Red Dovecot, `
` which Athos had discovered two days before upon the route to `
` Jarrie, following the road which led to the camp and quite `
` on their guard, as we have stated, for fear of an ambuscade, `
` when, about a quarter of a league from the village of `
` Boisnau, they fancied they heard the sound of horses `
` approaching them. They immediately all three halted, closed `
` in, and waited, occupying the middle of the road. In an `
` instant, and as the moon broke from behind a cloud, they saw `
` at a turning of the road two horsemen who, on perceiving `
` them, stopped in their turn, appearing to deliberate whether `
` they should continue their route or go back. The hesitation `
` created some suspicion in the three friends, and Athos, `
` advancing a few paces in front of the others, cried in a `
` firm voice, "Who goes there?" `
` `
` "Who goes there, yourselves?" replied one of the horsemen. `
` `
` "That is not an answer," replied Athos. "Who goes there? `
` Answer, or we charge." `
` `
`
` convent for her?" `
` `
` "I believe so, at least." `
` `
` "In that case Porthos will assist us." `
` `
` "And how so, if you please?" `
` `
` "Why, by your marchioness, your duchess, your princess. She `
` must have a long arm." `
` `
` "Hush!" said Porthos, placing a finger on his lips. "I `
` believe her to be a cardinalist; she must know nothing of `
` the matter." `
` `
` "Then," said Aramis, "I take upon myself to obtain `
` intelligence of her." `
` `
` "You, Aramis?" cried the three friends. "You! And how?" `
` `
` "By the queen's almoner, to whom I am very intimately `
` allied," said Aramis, coloring. `
` `
` And on this assurance, the four friends, who had finished `
` their modest repast, separated, with the promise of meeting `
` again that evening. D'Artagnan returned to less important `
` affairs, and the three Musketeers repaired to the king's `
` quarters, where they had to prepare their lodging. `
` `
` `
` `
` 43 THE SIGN OF THE RED DOVECOT `
` `
` Meanwhile the king, who, with more reason than the cardinal, `
` showed his hatred for Buckingham, although scarcely arrived `
` was in such a haste to meet the enemy that he commanded `
` every disposition to be made to drive the English from the `
` Isle of Re, and afterward to press the siege of La Rochelle; `
` but notwithstanding his earnest wish, he was delayed by the `
` dissensions which broke out between MM. Bassompierre and `
` Schomberg, against the Duc d'Angouleme. `
` `
` MM. Bassompierre and Schomberg were marshals of France, and `
` claimed their right of commanding the army under the orders `
` of the king; but the cardinal, who feared that Bassompierre, `
` a Huguenot at heart, might press but feebly the English and `
` Rochellais, his brothers in religion, supported the Duc `
` d'Angouleme, whom the king, at his instigation, had named `
` lieutenant general. The result was that to prevent MM. `
` Bassompierre and Schomberg from deserting the army, a `
` separate command had to be given to each. Bassompierre took `
` up his quarters on the north of the city, between Leu and `
` Dompierre; the Duc d'Angouleme on the east, from Dompierre `
` to Perigny; and M. de Schomberg on the south, from Perigny `
` to Angoutin. `
` `
` The quarters of Monsieur were at Dompierre; the quarters of `
` the king were sometimes at Estree, sometimes at Jarrie; the `
` cardinal's quarters were upon the downs, at the bridge of La `
` Pierre, in a simple house without any entrenchment. So that `
` Monsieur watched Bassompierre; the king, the Duc `
` d'Angouleme; and the cardinal, M. de Schomberg. `
` `
` As soon as this organization was established, they set about `
` driving the English from the Isle. `
` `
` The juncture was favorable. The English, who require, above `
` everything, good living in order to be good soldiers, only `
` eating salt meat and bad biscuit, had many invalids in their `
` camp. Still further, the sea, very rough at this period of `
` the year all along the sea coast, destroyed every day some `
` little vessel; and the shore, from the point of l'Aiguillon `
` to the trenches, was at every tide literally covered with `
` the wrecks of pinnacles, roberges, and feluccas. The result `
` was that even if the king's troops remained quietly in their `
` camp, it was evident that some day or other, Buckingham, who `
` only continued in the Isle from obstinacy, would be obliged `
` to raise the siege. `
` `
` But as M. de Toiras gave information that everything was `
` preparing in the enemy's camp for a fresh assault, the king `
` judged that it would be best to put an end to the affair, `
` and gave the necessary orders for a decisive action. `
` `
` As it is not our intention to give a journal of the siege, `
` but on the contrary only to describe such of the events of `
` it as are connected with the story we are relating, we will `
` content ourselves with saying in two words that the `
` expedition succeeded, to the great astonishment of the king `
` and the great glory of the cardinal. The English, repulsed `
` foot by foot, beaten in all encounters, and defeated in the `
` passage of the Isle of Loie, were obliged to re-embark, `
` leaving on the field of battle two thousand men, among whom `
` were five colonels, three lieutenant colonels, two hundred `
` and fifty captains, twenty gentlemen of rank, four pieces of `
` cannon, and sixty flags, which were taken to Paris by Claude `
` de St. Simon, and suspended with great pomp in the arches of `
` Notre Dame. `
` `
` Te Deums were chanted in camp, and afterward throughout `
` France. `
` `
` The cardinal was left free to carry on the siege, without `
` having, at least at the present, anything to fear on the `
` part of the English. `
` `
` But it must be acknowledged, this response was but `
` momentary. An envoy of the Duke of Buckingham, named `
` Montague, was taken, and proof was obtained of a league `
` between the German Empire, Spain, England, and Lorraine. `
` This league was directed against France. `
` `
` Still further, in Buckingham's lodging, which he had been `
` forced to abandon more precipitately than he expected, `
` papers were found which confirmed this alliance and which, `
` as the cardinal asserts in his memoirs, strongly compromised `
` Mme. de Chevreuse and consequently the queen. `
` `
` It was upon the cardinal that all the responsibility fell, `
` for one is not a despotic minister without responsibility. `
` All, therefore, of the vast resources of his genius were at `
` work night and day, engaged in listening to the least report `
` heard in any of the great kingdoms of Europe. `
` `
` The cardinal was acquainted with the activity, and more `
` particularly the hatred, of Buckingham. If the league which `
` threatened France triumphed, all his influence would be `
` lost. Spanish policy and Austrian policy would have their `
` representatives in the cabinet of the Louvre, where they had `
` as yet but partisans; and he, Richelieu--the French `
` minister, the national minister--would be ruined. The king, `
` even while obeying him like a child, hated him as a child `
` hates his master, and would abandon him to the personal `
` vengeance of Monsieur and the queen. He would then be lost, `
` and France, perhaps, with him. All this must be prepared `
` against. `
` `
` Courtiers, becoming every instant more numerous, succeeded `
` one another, day and night, in the little house of the `
` bridge of La Pierre, in which the cardinal had established `
` his residence. `
` `
` There were monks who wore the frock with such an ill grace `
` that it was easy to perceive they belonged to the church `
` militant; women a little inconvenienced by their costume as `
` pages and whose large trousers could not entirely conceal `
` their rounded forms; and peasants with blackened hands but `
` with fine limbs, savoring of the man of quality a league `
` off. `
` `
` There were also less agreeable visits--for two or three `
` times reports were spread that the cardinal had nearly been `
` assassinated. `
` `
` It is true that the enemies of the cardinal said that it was `
` he himself who set these bungling assassins to work, in `
` order to have, if wanted, the right of using reprisals; but `
` we must not believe everything ministers say, nor everything `
` their enemies say. `
` `
` These attempts did not prevent the cardinal, to whom his `
` most inveterate detractors have never denied personal `
` bravery, from making nocturnal excursions, sometimes to `
` communicate to the Duc d'Angouleme important orders, `
` sometimes to confer with the king, and sometimes to have an `
` interview with a messenger whom he did not wish to see at `
` home. `
` `
` On their part the Musketeers, who had not much to do with `
` the siege, were not under very strict orders and led a `
` joyous life. The was the more easy for our three companions `
` in particular; for being friends of M. de Treville, they `
` obtained from him special permission to be absent after the `
` closing of the camp. `
` `
` Now, one evening when d'Artagnan, who was in the trenches, `
` was not able to accompany them, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, `
` mounted on their battle steeds, enveloped in their war `
` cloaks, with their hands upon their pistol butts, were `
` returning from a drinking place called the Red Dovecot, `
` which Athos had discovered two days before upon the route to `
` Jarrie, following the road which led to the camp and quite `
` on their guard, as we have stated, for fear of an ambuscade, `
` when, about a quarter of a league from the village of `
` Boisnau, they fancied they heard the sound of horses `
` approaching them. They immediately all three halted, closed `
` in, and waited, occupying the middle of the road. In an `
` instant, and as the moon broke from behind a cloud, they saw `
` at a turning of the road two horsemen who, on perceiving `
` them, stopped in their turn, appearing to deliberate whether `
` they should continue their route or go back. The hesitation `
` created some suspicion in the three friends, and Athos, `
` advancing a few paces in front of the others, cried in a `
` firm voice, "Who goes there?" `
` `
` "Who goes there, yourselves?" replied one of the horsemen. `
` `
` "That is not an answer," replied Athos. "Who goes there? `
` Answer, or we charge." `
` `
`