Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
The young Musketeer was in excellent disposition to die heroically. `
` `
` Richelieu still continued thinking, rolling and unrolling the paper in `
` his hands. `
` `
` At length he raised his head, fixed his eagle look upon that loyal, `
` open, and intelligent countenance, read upon that face, furrowed with `
` tears, all the sufferings its possessor had endured in the course of a `
` month, and reflected for the third or fourth time how much there was in `
` that youth of twenty-one years before him, and what resources his `
` activity, his courage, and his shrewdness might offer to a good master. `
` On the other side, the crimes, the power, and the infernal genius of `
` Milady had more than once terrified him. He felt something like a `
` secret joy at being forever relieved of this dangerous accomplice. `
` `
` Richelieu slowly tore the paper which d'Artagnan had generously `
` relinquished. `
` `
` "I am lost!" said d'Artagnan to himself. And he bowed profoundly `
` before the cardinal, like a man who says, "Lord, Thy will be done!" `
` `
` The cardinal approached the table, and without sitting down, wrote a few `
` lines upon a parchment of which two-thirds were already filled, and `
` affixed his seal. `
` `
` "That is my condemnation," thought d'Artagnan; "he will spare me the `
` ENNUI of the Bastille, or the tediousness of a trial. That's very kind `
` of him." `
` `
` "Here, monsieur," said the cardinal to the young man. "I have taken `
` from you one CARTE BLANCHE to give you another. The name is wanting in `
` this commission; you can write it yourself." `
` `
` D'Artagnan took the paper hesitatingly and cast his eyes over it; it was `
` a lieutenant's commission in the Musketeers. `
` `
` D'Artagnan fell at the feet of the cardinal. `
` `
` "Monseigneur," said he, "my life is yours; henceforth dispose of it. `
` But this favor which you bestow upon me I do not merit. I have three `
` friends who are more meritorious and more worthy--" `
` `
` "You are a brave youth, d'Artagnan," interrupted the cardinal, tapping `
` him familiarly on the shoulder, charmed at having vanquished this `
` rebellious nature. "Do with this commission what you will; only `
` remember, though the name be blank, it is to you I give it." `
` `
` "I shall never forget it," replied d'Artagnan. "Your Eminence may be `
` certain of that." `
` `
` The cardinal turned and said in a loud voice, "Rochefort!" The `
` chevalier, who no doubt was near the door, entered immediately. `
` `
` "Rochefort," said the cardinal, "you see Monsieur d'Artagnan. I receive `
` him among the number of my friends. Greet each other, then; and be wise `
` if you wish to preserve your heads." `
` `
` Rochefort and d'Artagnan coolly greeted each other with their lips; but `
` the cardinal was there, observing them with his vigilant eye. `
` `
` They left the chamber at the same time. `
` `
` "We shall meet again, shall we not, monsieur?" `
` `
` "When you please," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "An opportunity will come," replied Rochefort. `
` `
` "Hey?" said the cardinal, opening the door. `
` `
` The two men smiled at each other, shook hands, and saluted his Eminence. `
` `
` "We were beginning to grow impatient," said Athos. `
` `
` "Here I am, my friends," replied d'Artagnan; "not only free, but in `
` favor." `
` `
` "Tell us about it." `
` `
` "This evening; but for the moment, let us separate." `
` `
` Accordingly, that same evening d'Artagnan repaired to the quarters of `
` Athos, whom he found in a fair way to empty a bottle of Spanish wine--an `
` occupation which he religiously accomplished every night. `
` `
` D'Artagnan related what had taken place between the cardinal and `
` himself, and drawing the commission from his pocket, said, "Here, my `
` dear Athos, this naturally belongs to you." `
` `
` Athos smiled with one of his sweet and expressive smiles. `
` `
` "Friend," said he, "for Athos this is too much; for the Comte de la Fere `
` it is too little. Keep the commission; it is yours. Alas! you have `
` purchased it dearly enough." `
` `
` D'Artagnan left Athos's chamber and went to that of Porthos. He found `
` him clothed in a magnificent dress covered with splendid embroidery, `
` admiring himself before a glass. `
` `
` "Ah, ah! is that you, dear friend?" exclaimed Porthos. "How do you `
` think these garments fit me?" `
` `
` "Wonderfully," said d'Artagnan; but I come to offer you a dress which `
` will become you still better." `
` `
` "What?" asked Porthos. `
` `
` "That of a lieutenant of Musketeers." `
` `
` D'Artagnan related to Porthos the substance of his interview with the `
` cardinal, and said, taking the commission from his pocket, "Here, my `
` friend, write your name upon it and become my chief." `
` `
` Porthos cast his eyes over the commission and returned it to d'Artagnan, `
` to the great astonishment of the young man. `
` `
` "Yes," said he, "yes, that would flatter me very much; but I should not `
` have time enough to enjoy the distinction. During our expedition to `
` Bethune the husband of my duchess died; so, my dear, the coffer of the `
` defunct holding out its arms to me, I shall marry the widow. Look here! `
` I was trying on my wedding suit. Keep the lieutenancy, my dear, keep `
` it." `
` `
` The young man then entered the apartment of Aramis. He found him `
` kneeling before a PRIEDIEU with his head leaning on an open prayer book. `
` `
` He described to him his interview with the cardinal, and said, for the `
` third time drawing his commission from his pocket, "You, our friend, our `
` intelligence, our invisible protector, accept this commission. You have `
` merited it more than any of us by your wisdom and your counsels, always `
` followed by such happy results." `
` `
` "Alas, dear friend!" said Aramis, "our late adventures have disgusted `
` me with military life. This time my determination is irrevocably taken. `
` After the siege I shall enter the house of the Lazarists. Keep the `
` commission, d'Artagnan; the profession of arms suits you. You will be a `
` brave and adventurous captain." `
` `
` D'Artagnan, his eye moist with gratitude though beaming with joy, went `
` back to Athos, whom he found still at table contemplating the charms of `
` his last glass of Malaga by the light of his lamp. `
` `
` "Well," said he, "they likewise have refused me." `
` `
` "That, dear friend, is because nobody is more worthy than yourself." `
` `
` He took a quill, wrote the name of d'Artagnan in the commission, and `
` returned it to him. `
` `
` "I shall then have no more friends," said the young man. "Alas! `
` nothing but bitter recollections." `
` `
` And he let his head sink upon his hands, while two large tears rolled `
` down his cheeks. `
` `
` "You are young," replied Athos; "and your bitter recollections have time `
` to change themselves into sweet remembrances." `
` `
` `
` `
` EPILOGUE `
` `
` La Rochelle, deprived of the assistance of the English fleet and of the `
` diversion promised by Buckingham, surrendered after a siege of a year. `
` On the twenty-eighth of October, 1628, the capitulation was signed. `
` `
` The king made his entrance into Paris on the twenty-third of December of `
` the same year. He was received in triumph, as if he came from `
` conquering an enemy and not Frenchmen. He entered by the Faubourg St. `
` Jacques, under verdant arches. `
` `
` D'Artagnan took possession of his command. Porthos left the service, `
` and in the course of the following year married Mme. Coquenard; the `
` coffer so much coveted contained eight hundred thousand livres. `
` `
` Mousqueton had a magnificent livery, and enjoyed the satisfaction of `
` which he had been ambitious all his life--that of standing behind a `
` gilded carriage. `
` `
` Aramis, after a journey into Lorraine, disappeared all at once, and `
` ceased to write to his friends; they learned at a later period through `
` Mme. de Chevreuse, who told it to two or three of her intimates, that, `
` yielding to his vocation, he had retired into a convent--only into `
` which, nobody knew. `
` `
` Bazin became a lay brother. `
` `
` Athos remained a Musketeer under the command of d'Artagnan till the year `
` 1633, at which period, after a journey he made to Touraine, he also quit `
` the service, under the pretext of having inherited a small property in `
` Roussillon. `
` `
` Grimaud followed Athos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan fought three times with Rochefort, and wounded him three `
` times. `
` `
` "I shall probably kill you the fourth," said he to him, holding out his `
` hand to assist him to rise. `
` `
` "It is much better both for you and for me to stop where we are," `
`
` `
` Richelieu still continued thinking, rolling and unrolling the paper in `
` his hands. `
` `
` At length he raised his head, fixed his eagle look upon that loyal, `
` open, and intelligent countenance, read upon that face, furrowed with `
` tears, all the sufferings its possessor had endured in the course of a `
` month, and reflected for the third or fourth time how much there was in `
` that youth of twenty-one years before him, and what resources his `
` activity, his courage, and his shrewdness might offer to a good master. `
` On the other side, the crimes, the power, and the infernal genius of `
` Milady had more than once terrified him. He felt something like a `
` secret joy at being forever relieved of this dangerous accomplice. `
` `
` Richelieu slowly tore the paper which d'Artagnan had generously `
` relinquished. `
` `
` "I am lost!" said d'Artagnan to himself. And he bowed profoundly `
` before the cardinal, like a man who says, "Lord, Thy will be done!" `
` `
` The cardinal approached the table, and without sitting down, wrote a few `
` lines upon a parchment of which two-thirds were already filled, and `
` affixed his seal. `
` `
` "That is my condemnation," thought d'Artagnan; "he will spare me the `
` ENNUI of the Bastille, or the tediousness of a trial. That's very kind `
` of him." `
` `
` "Here, monsieur," said the cardinal to the young man. "I have taken `
` from you one CARTE BLANCHE to give you another. The name is wanting in `
` this commission; you can write it yourself." `
` `
` D'Artagnan took the paper hesitatingly and cast his eyes over it; it was `
` a lieutenant's commission in the Musketeers. `
` `
` D'Artagnan fell at the feet of the cardinal. `
` `
` "Monseigneur," said he, "my life is yours; henceforth dispose of it. `
` But this favor which you bestow upon me I do not merit. I have three `
` friends who are more meritorious and more worthy--" `
` `
` "You are a brave youth, d'Artagnan," interrupted the cardinal, tapping `
` him familiarly on the shoulder, charmed at having vanquished this `
` rebellious nature. "Do with this commission what you will; only `
` remember, though the name be blank, it is to you I give it." `
` `
` "I shall never forget it," replied d'Artagnan. "Your Eminence may be `
` certain of that." `
` `
` The cardinal turned and said in a loud voice, "Rochefort!" The `
` chevalier, who no doubt was near the door, entered immediately. `
` `
` "Rochefort," said the cardinal, "you see Monsieur d'Artagnan. I receive `
` him among the number of my friends. Greet each other, then; and be wise `
` if you wish to preserve your heads." `
` `
` Rochefort and d'Artagnan coolly greeted each other with their lips; but `
` the cardinal was there, observing them with his vigilant eye. `
` `
` They left the chamber at the same time. `
` `
` "We shall meet again, shall we not, monsieur?" `
` `
` "When you please," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "An opportunity will come," replied Rochefort. `
` `
` "Hey?" said the cardinal, opening the door. `
` `
` The two men smiled at each other, shook hands, and saluted his Eminence. `
` `
` "We were beginning to grow impatient," said Athos. `
` `
` "Here I am, my friends," replied d'Artagnan; "not only free, but in `
` favor." `
` `
` "Tell us about it." `
` `
` "This evening; but for the moment, let us separate." `
` `
` Accordingly, that same evening d'Artagnan repaired to the quarters of `
` Athos, whom he found in a fair way to empty a bottle of Spanish wine--an `
` occupation which he religiously accomplished every night. `
` `
` D'Artagnan related what had taken place between the cardinal and `
` himself, and drawing the commission from his pocket, said, "Here, my `
` dear Athos, this naturally belongs to you." `
` `
` Athos smiled with one of his sweet and expressive smiles. `
` `
` "Friend," said he, "for Athos this is too much; for the Comte de la Fere `
` it is too little. Keep the commission; it is yours. Alas! you have `
` purchased it dearly enough." `
` `
` D'Artagnan left Athos's chamber and went to that of Porthos. He found `
` him clothed in a magnificent dress covered with splendid embroidery, `
` admiring himself before a glass. `
` `
` "Ah, ah! is that you, dear friend?" exclaimed Porthos. "How do you `
` think these garments fit me?" `
` `
` "Wonderfully," said d'Artagnan; but I come to offer you a dress which `
` will become you still better." `
` `
` "What?" asked Porthos. `
` `
` "That of a lieutenant of Musketeers." `
` `
` D'Artagnan related to Porthos the substance of his interview with the `
` cardinal, and said, taking the commission from his pocket, "Here, my `
` friend, write your name upon it and become my chief." `
` `
` Porthos cast his eyes over the commission and returned it to d'Artagnan, `
` to the great astonishment of the young man. `
` `
` "Yes," said he, "yes, that would flatter me very much; but I should not `
` have time enough to enjoy the distinction. During our expedition to `
` Bethune the husband of my duchess died; so, my dear, the coffer of the `
` defunct holding out its arms to me, I shall marry the widow. Look here! `
` I was trying on my wedding suit. Keep the lieutenancy, my dear, keep `
` it." `
` `
` The young man then entered the apartment of Aramis. He found him `
` kneeling before a PRIEDIEU with his head leaning on an open prayer book. `
` `
` He described to him his interview with the cardinal, and said, for the `
` third time drawing his commission from his pocket, "You, our friend, our `
` intelligence, our invisible protector, accept this commission. You have `
` merited it more than any of us by your wisdom and your counsels, always `
` followed by such happy results." `
` `
` "Alas, dear friend!" said Aramis, "our late adventures have disgusted `
` me with military life. This time my determination is irrevocably taken. `
` After the siege I shall enter the house of the Lazarists. Keep the `
` commission, d'Artagnan; the profession of arms suits you. You will be a `
` brave and adventurous captain." `
` `
` D'Artagnan, his eye moist with gratitude though beaming with joy, went `
` back to Athos, whom he found still at table contemplating the charms of `
` his last glass of Malaga by the light of his lamp. `
` `
` "Well," said he, "they likewise have refused me." `
` `
` "That, dear friend, is because nobody is more worthy than yourself." `
` `
` He took a quill, wrote the name of d'Artagnan in the commission, and `
` returned it to him. `
` `
` "I shall then have no more friends," said the young man. "Alas! `
` nothing but bitter recollections." `
` `
` And he let his head sink upon his hands, while two large tears rolled `
` down his cheeks. `
` `
` "You are young," replied Athos; "and your bitter recollections have time `
` to change themselves into sweet remembrances." `
` `
` `
` `
` EPILOGUE `
` `
` La Rochelle, deprived of the assistance of the English fleet and of the `
` diversion promised by Buckingham, surrendered after a siege of a year. `
` On the twenty-eighth of October, 1628, the capitulation was signed. `
` `
` The king made his entrance into Paris on the twenty-third of December of `
` the same year. He was received in triumph, as if he came from `
` conquering an enemy and not Frenchmen. He entered by the Faubourg St. `
` Jacques, under verdant arches. `
` `
` D'Artagnan took possession of his command. Porthos left the service, `
` and in the course of the following year married Mme. Coquenard; the `
` coffer so much coveted contained eight hundred thousand livres. `
` `
` Mousqueton had a magnificent livery, and enjoyed the satisfaction of `
` which he had been ambitious all his life--that of standing behind a `
` gilded carriage. `
` `
` Aramis, after a journey into Lorraine, disappeared all at once, and `
` ceased to write to his friends; they learned at a later period through `
` Mme. de Chevreuse, who told it to two or three of her intimates, that, `
` yielding to his vocation, he had retired into a convent--only into `
` which, nobody knew. `
` `
` Bazin became a lay brother. `
` `
` Athos remained a Musketeer under the command of d'Artagnan till the year `
` 1633, at which period, after a journey he made to Touraine, he also quit `
` the service, under the pretext of having inherited a small property in `
` Roussillon. `
` `
` Grimaud followed Athos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan fought three times with Rochefort, and wounded him three `
` times. `
` `
` "I shall probably kill you the fourth," said he to him, holding out his `
` hand to assist him to rise. `
` `
` "It is much better both for you and for me to stop where we are," `
`