Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
good cause to do so; the pain I gave him must have been `
` atrocious. As to Porthos--oh, as to Porthos, faith, that's a `
` droll affair!" `
` `
` And in spite of himself, the young man began to laugh aloud, `
` looking round carefully, however, to see that his solitary laugh, `
` without a cause in the eyes of passers-by, offended no one. `
` `
` "As to Porthos, that is certainly droll; but I am not the less a `
` giddy fool. Are people to be run against without warning? No! `
` And have I any right to go and peep under their cloaks to see `
` what is not there? He would have pardoned me, he would certainly `
` have pardoned me, if I had not said anything to him about that `
` cursed baldric--in ambiguous words, it is true, but rather drolly `
` ambiguous. Ah, cursed Gascon that I am, I get from one hobble `
` into another. Friend d'Artagnan," continued he, speaking to `
` himself with all the amenity that he thought due himself, "if you `
` escape, of which there is not much chance, I would advise you to `
` practice perfect politeness for the future. You must henceforth `
` be admired and quoted as a model of it. To be obliging and `
` polite does not necessarily make a man a coward. Look at Aramis, `
` now; Aramis is mildness and grace personified. Well, did anybody `
` ever dream of calling Aramis a coward? No, certainly not, and `
` from this moment I will endeavor to model myself after him. Ah! `
` That's strange! Here he is!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, walking and soliloquizing, had arrived within a few `
` steps of the hotel d'Arguillon and in front of that hotel `
` perceived Aramis, chatting gaily with three gentlemen; but as he `
` had not forgotten that it was in presence of this young man that `
` M. de Treville had been so angry in the morning, and as a witness `
` of the rebuke the Musketeers had received was not likely to be at `
` all agreeable, he pretended not to see him. D'Artagnan, on the `
` contrary, quite full of his plans of conciliation and courtesy, `
` approached the young men with a profound bow, accompanied by a `
` most gracious smile. All four, besides, immediately broke off `
` their conversation. `
` `
` D'Artagnan was not so dull as not to perceive that he was one too `
` many; but he was not sufficiently broken into the fashions of the `
` gay world to know how to extricate himself gallantly from a false `
` position, like that of a man who begins to mingle with people he `
` is scarcely acquainted with and in a conversation that does not `
` concern him. He was seeking in his mind, then, for the least `
` awkward means of retreat, when he remarked that Aramis had let `
` his handkerchief fall, and by mistake, no doubt, had placed his `
` foot upon it. This appeared to be a favorable opportunity to `
` repair his intrusion. He stooped, and with the most gracious air `
` he could assume, drew the handkerchief from under the foot of the `
` Musketeer in spite of the efforts the latter made to detain it, `
` and holding it out to him, said, "I believe, monsieur, that this `
` is a handkerchief you would be sorry to lose?" `
` `
` The handkerchief was indeed richly embroidered, and had a coronet `
` and arms at one of its corners. Aramis blushed excessively, and `
` snatched rather than took the handkerchief from the hand of the `
` Gascon. `
` `
` "Ah, ah!" cried one of the Guards, "will you persist in saying, `
` most discreet Aramis, that you are not on good terms with Madame `
` de Bois-Tracy, when that gracious lady has the kindness to lend `
` you one of her handkerchiefs?" `
` `
` Aramis darted at d'Artagnan one of those looks which inform a man `
` that he has acquired a mortal enemy. Then, resuming his mild `
` air, "You are deceived, gentlemen," said he, "this handkerchief `
` is not mine, and I cannot fancy why Monsieur has taken it into `
` his head to offer it to me rather than to one of you; and as a `
` proof of what I say, here is mine in my pocket." `
` `
` So saying, he pulled out his own handkerchief, likewise a very `
` elegant handkerchief, and of fine cambric--though cambric was `
` dear at the period--but a handkerchief without embroidery and `
` without arms, only ornamented with a single cipher, that of its `
` proprietor. `
` `
` This time d'Artagnan was not hasty. He perceived his mistake; `
` but the friends of Aramis were not at all convinced by his `
` denial, and one of them addressed the young Musketeer with `
` affected seriousness. "If it were as you pretend it is," said `
` he, "I should be forced, my dear Aramis, to reclaim it myself; `
` for, as you very well know, Bois-Tracy is an intimate friend of `
` mine, and I cannot allow the property of his wife to be sported `
` as a trophy." `
` `
` "You make the demand badly," replied Aramis; "and while `
` acknowledging the justice of your reclamation, I refuse it on `
` account of the form." `
` `
` "The fact is," hazarded d'Artagnan, timidly, "I did not see the `
` handkerchief fall from the pocket of Monsieur Aramis. He had his `
` foot upon it, that is all; and I thought from having his foot `
` upon it the handkerchief was his." `
` `
` "And you were deceived, my dear sir," replied Aramis, coldly, `
` very little sensible to the reparation. Then turning toward that `
` one of the guards who had declared himself the friend of Bois- `
` Tracy, "Besides," continued he, "I have reflected, my dear `
` intimate of Bois-Tracy, that I am not less tenderly his friend `
` than you can possibly be; so that decidedly this handkerchief is `
` as likely to have fallen from your pocket as mine." `
` `
` "No, upon my honor!" cried his Majesty's Guardsman. `
` `
` "You are about to swear upon your honor and I upon my word, and `
` then it will be pretty evident that one of us will have lied. `
` Now, here, Montaran, we will do better than that--let each take a `
` half." `
` `
` "Of the handkerchief?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Perfectly just," cried the other two Guardsmen, "the judgment of `
` King Solomon! Aramis, you certainly are full of wisdom!" `
` `
` The young men burst into a laugh, and as may be supposed, the `
` affair had no other sequel. In a moment or two the conversation `
` ceased, and the three Guardsmen and the Musketeer, after having `
` cordially shaken hands, separated, the Guardsmen going one way `
` and Aramis another. `
` `
` "Now is my time to make peace with this gallant man," said `
` d'Artagnan to himself, having stood on one side during the whole `
` of the latter part of the conversation; and with this good `
` feeling drawing near to Aramis, who was departing without paying `
` any attention to him, "Monsieur," said he, "you will excuse me, I `
` hope." `
` `
` "Ah, monsieur," interrupted Aramis, "permit me to observe to you `
` that you have not acted in this affair as a gallant man ought." `
` `
` "What, monsieur!" cried d'Artagnan, "and do you suppose--" `
` `
` "I suppose, monsieur that you are not a fool, and that you knew `
` very well, although coming from Gascony, that people do not tread `
` upon handkerchiefs without a reason. What the devil! Paris is `
` not paved with cambric!" `
` `
` "Monsieur, you act wrongly in endeavoring to mortify me," said `
` d'Artagnan, in whom the natural quarrelsome spirit began to speak `
` more loudly than his pacific resolutions. "I am from Gascony, it `
` is true; and since you know it, there is no occasion to tell you `
` that Gascons are not very patient, so that when they have begged `
` to be excused once, were it even for a folly, they are convinced `
` that they have done already at least as much again as they ought `
` to have done." `
` `
` "Monsieur, what I say to you about the matter," said Aramis, "is `
` not for the sake of seeking a quarrel. Thank God, I am not a `
` bravo! And being a Musketeer but for a time, I only fight when I `
` am forced to do so, and always with great repugnance; but this `
` time the affair is serious, for here is a lady compromised by `
` you." `
` `
` "By US, you mean!" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Why did you so maladroitly restore me the handkerchief?" `
` `
` "Why did you so awkwardly let it fall?" `
` `
` "I have said, monsieur, and I repeat, that the handkerchief did `
` not fall from my pocket." `
` `
` "And thereby you have lied twice, monsieur, for I saw it fall." `
` `
` "Ah, you take it with that tone, do you, Master Gascon? Well, I `
` will teach you how to behave yourself." `
` `
` "And I will send you back to your Mass book, Master Abbe. Draw, `
` if you please, and instantly--" `
` `
` "Not so, if you please, my good friend--not here, at least. Do `
` you not perceive that we are opposite the Hotel d'Arguillon, `
` which is full of the cardinal's creatures? How do I know that `
` this is not his Eminence who has honored you with the commission `
` to procure my head? Now, I entertain a ridiculous partiality for `
` my head, it seems to suit my shoulders so correctly. I wish to `
` kill you, be at rest as to that, but to kill you quietly in a `
` snug, remote place, where you will not be able to boast of your `
` death to anybody." `
` `
` "I agree, monsieur; but do not be too confident. Take your `
` handkerchief; whether it belongs to you or another, you may `
` perhaps stand in need of it." `
` `
` "Monsieur is a Gascon?" asked Aramis. `
` `
` "Yes. Monsieur does not postpone an interview through prudence?" `
` `
` "Prudence, monsieur, is a virtue sufficiently useless to `
` Musketeers, I know, but indispensable to churchmen; and as I am `
` only a Musketeer provisionally, I hold it good to be prudent. At `
` two o'clock I shall have the honor of expecting you at the hotel `
` of Monsieur de Treville. There I will indicate to you the best `
` place and time." `
` `
` The two young men bowed and separated, Aramis ascending the `
` street which led to the Luxembourg, while d'Artagnan, perceiving `
` the appointed hour was approaching, took the road to the `
` Carmes-Deschaux, saying to himself, "Decidedly I can't draw back; `
`
` atrocious. As to Porthos--oh, as to Porthos, faith, that's a `
` droll affair!" `
` `
` And in spite of himself, the young man began to laugh aloud, `
` looking round carefully, however, to see that his solitary laugh, `
` without a cause in the eyes of passers-by, offended no one. `
` `
` "As to Porthos, that is certainly droll; but I am not the less a `
` giddy fool. Are people to be run against without warning? No! `
` And have I any right to go and peep under their cloaks to see `
` what is not there? He would have pardoned me, he would certainly `
` have pardoned me, if I had not said anything to him about that `
` cursed baldric--in ambiguous words, it is true, but rather drolly `
` ambiguous. Ah, cursed Gascon that I am, I get from one hobble `
` into another. Friend d'Artagnan," continued he, speaking to `
` himself with all the amenity that he thought due himself, "if you `
` escape, of which there is not much chance, I would advise you to `
` practice perfect politeness for the future. You must henceforth `
` be admired and quoted as a model of it. To be obliging and `
` polite does not necessarily make a man a coward. Look at Aramis, `
` now; Aramis is mildness and grace personified. Well, did anybody `
` ever dream of calling Aramis a coward? No, certainly not, and `
` from this moment I will endeavor to model myself after him. Ah! `
` That's strange! Here he is!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, walking and soliloquizing, had arrived within a few `
` steps of the hotel d'Arguillon and in front of that hotel `
` perceived Aramis, chatting gaily with three gentlemen; but as he `
` had not forgotten that it was in presence of this young man that `
` M. de Treville had been so angry in the morning, and as a witness `
` of the rebuke the Musketeers had received was not likely to be at `
` all agreeable, he pretended not to see him. D'Artagnan, on the `
` contrary, quite full of his plans of conciliation and courtesy, `
` approached the young men with a profound bow, accompanied by a `
` most gracious smile. All four, besides, immediately broke off `
` their conversation. `
` `
` D'Artagnan was not so dull as not to perceive that he was one too `
` many; but he was not sufficiently broken into the fashions of the `
` gay world to know how to extricate himself gallantly from a false `
` position, like that of a man who begins to mingle with people he `
` is scarcely acquainted with and in a conversation that does not `
` concern him. He was seeking in his mind, then, for the least `
` awkward means of retreat, when he remarked that Aramis had let `
` his handkerchief fall, and by mistake, no doubt, had placed his `
` foot upon it. This appeared to be a favorable opportunity to `
` repair his intrusion. He stooped, and with the most gracious air `
` he could assume, drew the handkerchief from under the foot of the `
` Musketeer in spite of the efforts the latter made to detain it, `
` and holding it out to him, said, "I believe, monsieur, that this `
` is a handkerchief you would be sorry to lose?" `
` `
` The handkerchief was indeed richly embroidered, and had a coronet `
` and arms at one of its corners. Aramis blushed excessively, and `
` snatched rather than took the handkerchief from the hand of the `
` Gascon. `
` `
` "Ah, ah!" cried one of the Guards, "will you persist in saying, `
` most discreet Aramis, that you are not on good terms with Madame `
` de Bois-Tracy, when that gracious lady has the kindness to lend `
` you one of her handkerchiefs?" `
` `
` Aramis darted at d'Artagnan one of those looks which inform a man `
` that he has acquired a mortal enemy. Then, resuming his mild `
` air, "You are deceived, gentlemen," said he, "this handkerchief `
` is not mine, and I cannot fancy why Monsieur has taken it into `
` his head to offer it to me rather than to one of you; and as a `
` proof of what I say, here is mine in my pocket." `
` `
` So saying, he pulled out his own handkerchief, likewise a very `
` elegant handkerchief, and of fine cambric--though cambric was `
` dear at the period--but a handkerchief without embroidery and `
` without arms, only ornamented with a single cipher, that of its `
` proprietor. `
` `
` This time d'Artagnan was not hasty. He perceived his mistake; `
` but the friends of Aramis were not at all convinced by his `
` denial, and one of them addressed the young Musketeer with `
` affected seriousness. "If it were as you pretend it is," said `
` he, "I should be forced, my dear Aramis, to reclaim it myself; `
` for, as you very well know, Bois-Tracy is an intimate friend of `
` mine, and I cannot allow the property of his wife to be sported `
` as a trophy." `
` `
` "You make the demand badly," replied Aramis; "and while `
` acknowledging the justice of your reclamation, I refuse it on `
` account of the form." `
` `
` "The fact is," hazarded d'Artagnan, timidly, "I did not see the `
` handkerchief fall from the pocket of Monsieur Aramis. He had his `
` foot upon it, that is all; and I thought from having his foot `
` upon it the handkerchief was his." `
` `
` "And you were deceived, my dear sir," replied Aramis, coldly, `
` very little sensible to the reparation. Then turning toward that `
` one of the guards who had declared himself the friend of Bois- `
` Tracy, "Besides," continued he, "I have reflected, my dear `
` intimate of Bois-Tracy, that I am not less tenderly his friend `
` than you can possibly be; so that decidedly this handkerchief is `
` as likely to have fallen from your pocket as mine." `
` `
` "No, upon my honor!" cried his Majesty's Guardsman. `
` `
` "You are about to swear upon your honor and I upon my word, and `
` then it will be pretty evident that one of us will have lied. `
` Now, here, Montaran, we will do better than that--let each take a `
` half." `
` `
` "Of the handkerchief?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Perfectly just," cried the other two Guardsmen, "the judgment of `
` King Solomon! Aramis, you certainly are full of wisdom!" `
` `
` The young men burst into a laugh, and as may be supposed, the `
` affair had no other sequel. In a moment or two the conversation `
` ceased, and the three Guardsmen and the Musketeer, after having `
` cordially shaken hands, separated, the Guardsmen going one way `
` and Aramis another. `
` `
` "Now is my time to make peace with this gallant man," said `
` d'Artagnan to himself, having stood on one side during the whole `
` of the latter part of the conversation; and with this good `
` feeling drawing near to Aramis, who was departing without paying `
` any attention to him, "Monsieur," said he, "you will excuse me, I `
` hope." `
` `
` "Ah, monsieur," interrupted Aramis, "permit me to observe to you `
` that you have not acted in this affair as a gallant man ought." `
` `
` "What, monsieur!" cried d'Artagnan, "and do you suppose--" `
` `
` "I suppose, monsieur that you are not a fool, and that you knew `
` very well, although coming from Gascony, that people do not tread `
` upon handkerchiefs without a reason. What the devil! Paris is `
` not paved with cambric!" `
` `
` "Monsieur, you act wrongly in endeavoring to mortify me," said `
` d'Artagnan, in whom the natural quarrelsome spirit began to speak `
` more loudly than his pacific resolutions. "I am from Gascony, it `
` is true; and since you know it, there is no occasion to tell you `
` that Gascons are not very patient, so that when they have begged `
` to be excused once, were it even for a folly, they are convinced `
` that they have done already at least as much again as they ought `
` to have done." `
` `
` "Monsieur, what I say to you about the matter," said Aramis, "is `
` not for the sake of seeking a quarrel. Thank God, I am not a `
` bravo! And being a Musketeer but for a time, I only fight when I `
` am forced to do so, and always with great repugnance; but this `
` time the affair is serious, for here is a lady compromised by `
` you." `
` `
` "By US, you mean!" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Why did you so maladroitly restore me the handkerchief?" `
` `
` "Why did you so awkwardly let it fall?" `
` `
` "I have said, monsieur, and I repeat, that the handkerchief did `
` not fall from my pocket." `
` `
` "And thereby you have lied twice, monsieur, for I saw it fall." `
` `
` "Ah, you take it with that tone, do you, Master Gascon? Well, I `
` will teach you how to behave yourself." `
` `
` "And I will send you back to your Mass book, Master Abbe. Draw, `
` if you please, and instantly--" `
` `
` "Not so, if you please, my good friend--not here, at least. Do `
` you not perceive that we are opposite the Hotel d'Arguillon, `
` which is full of the cardinal's creatures? How do I know that `
` this is not his Eminence who has honored you with the commission `
` to procure my head? Now, I entertain a ridiculous partiality for `
` my head, it seems to suit my shoulders so correctly. I wish to `
` kill you, be at rest as to that, but to kill you quietly in a `
` snug, remote place, where you will not be able to boast of your `
` death to anybody." `
` `
` "I agree, monsieur; but do not be too confident. Take your `
` handkerchief; whether it belongs to you or another, you may `
` perhaps stand in need of it." `
` `
` "Monsieur is a Gascon?" asked Aramis. `
` `
` "Yes. Monsieur does not postpone an interview through prudence?" `
` `
` "Prudence, monsieur, is a virtue sufficiently useless to `
` Musketeers, I know, but indispensable to churchmen; and as I am `
` only a Musketeer provisionally, I hold it good to be prudent. At `
` two o'clock I shall have the honor of expecting you at the hotel `
` of Monsieur de Treville. There I will indicate to you the best `
` place and time." `
` `
` The two young men bowed and separated, Aramis ascending the `
` street which led to the Luxembourg, while d'Artagnan, perceiving `
` the appointed hour was approaching, took the road to the `
` Carmes-Deschaux, saying to himself, "Decidedly I can't draw back; `
`