Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
`
` "At what o'clock, please your Majesty?" `
` `
` "At any hour you will." `
` `
` "But in coming too early I should be afraid of awakening your `
` Majesty." `
` `
` "Awaken me! Do you think I ever sleep, then? I sleep no longer, `
` monsieur. I sometimes dream, that's all. Come, then, as early `
` as you like--at seven o'clock; but beware, if you and your `
` Musketeers are guilty." `
` `
` "If my Musketeers are guilty, sire, the guilty shall be placed in `
` your Majesty's hands, who will dispose of them at your good `
` pleasure. Does your Majesty require anything further? Speak, I `
` am ready to obey." `
` `
` "No, monsieur, no; I am not called Louis the Just without reason. `
` Tomorrow, then, monsieur--tomorrow." `
` `
` "Till then, God preserve your Majesty!" `
` `
` However ill the king might sleep, M. de Treville slept still `
` worse. He had ordered his three Musketeers and their companion `
` to be with him at half past six in the morning. He took them `
` with him, without encouraging them or promising them anything, `
` and without concealing from them that their luck, and even his `
` own, depended upon the cast of the dice. `
` `
` Arrived at the foot of the back stairs, he desired them to wait. `
` If the king was still irritated against them, they would depart `
` without being seen; if the king consented to see them, they would `
` only have to be called. `
` `
` On arriving at the king's private antechamber, M. de Treville `
` found La Chesnaye, who informed him that they had not been able `
` to find M. de la Tremouille on the preceding evening at his `
` hotel, that he returned too late to present himself at the `
` Louvre, that he had only that moment arrived and that he was at `
` that very hour with the king. `
` `
` This circumstance pleased M. de Treville much, as he thus became `
` certain that no foreign suggestion could insinuate itself between `
` M. de la Tremouille's testimony and himself. `
` `
` In fact, ten minutes had scarcely passed away when the door of `
` the king's closet opened, and M. de Treville saw M. de la `
` Tremouille come out. The duke came straight up to him, and said: `
` "Monsieur de Treville, his Majesty has just sent for me in order `
` to inquire respecting the circumstances which took place `
` yesterday at my hotel. I have told him the truth; that is to `
` say, that the fault lay with my people, and that I was ready to `
` offer you my excuses. Since I have the good fortune to meet you, `
` I beg you to receive them, and to hold me always as one of your `
` friends." `
` `
` "Monsieur the Duke," said M. de Treville, "I was so confident of `
` your loyalty that I required no other defender before his Majesty `
` than yourself. I find that I have not been mistaken, and I thank `
` you that there is still one man in France of whom may be said, `
` without disappointment, what I have said of you." `
` `
` "That's well said," cried the king, who had heard all these `
` compliments through the open door; "only tell him, Treville, `
` since he wishes to be considered your friend, that I also wish to `
` be one of his, but he neglects me; that it is nearly three years `
` since I have seen him, and that I never do see him unless I send `
` for him. Tell him all this for me, for these are things which a `
` king cannot say for himself." `
` `
` "Thanks, sire, thanks," said the duke; "but your Majesty may be `
` assured that it is not those--I do not speak of Monsieur de `
` Treville--whom your Majesty sees at all hours of the day that are `
` most devoted to you." `
` `
` "Ah! You have heard what I said? So much the better, Duke, so `
` much the better," said the king, advancing toward the door. "Ah! `
` It is you, Treville. Where are your Musketeers? I told you the `
` day before yesterday to bring them with you; why have you not `
` done so?" `
` `
` "They are below, sire, and with your permission La Chesnaye will `
` bid them come up." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, let them come up immediately. It is nearly eight `
` o'clock, and at nine I expect a visit. Go, Monsieur Duke, and `
` return often. Come in, Treville." `
` `
` The Duke saluted and retired. At the moment he opened the door, `
` the three Musketeers and d'Artagnan, conducted by La Chesnaye, `
` appeared at the top of the staircase. `
` `
` "Come in, my braves," said the king, "come in; I am going to `
` scold you." `
` `
` The Musketeers advanced, bowing, d'Artagnan following closely `
` behind them. `
` `
` "What the devil!" continued the king. "Seven of his Eminence's `
` Guards placed HORS DE COMBAT by you four in two days! That's too `
` many, gentlemen, too many! If you go on so, his Eminence will be `
` forced to renew his company in three weeks, and I to put the `
` edicts in force in all their rigor. One now and then I don't say `
` much about; but seven in two days, I repeat, it is too many, it `
` is far too many!" `
` `
` "Therefore, sire, your Majesty sees that they are come, quite `
` contrite and repentant, to offer you their excuses." `
` `
` "Quite contrite and repentant! Hem!" said the king. "I place no `
` confidence in their hypocritical faces. In particular, there is `
` one yonder of a Gascon look. Come hither, monsieur." `
` `
` D'Artagnan, who understood that it was to him this compliment was `
` addressed, approached, assuming a most deprecating air. `
` `
` "Why you told me he was a young man? This is a boy, Treville, a `
` mere boy! Do you mean to say that it was he who bestowed that `
` severe thrust at Jussac?" `
` `
` "And those two equally fine thrusts at Bernajoux." `
` `
` "Truly!" `
` `
` "Without reckoning," said Athos, "that if he had not rescued me `
` from the hands of Cahusac, I should not now have the honor of `
` making my very humble reverence to your Majesty." `
` `
` "Why he is a very devil, this Bearnais! VENTRE-SAINT-GRIS, `
` Monsieur de Treville, as the king my father would have said. But `
` at this sort of work, many doublets must be slashed and many `
` swords broken. Now, Gascons are always poor, are they not?" `
` `
` "Sire, I can assert that they have hitherto discovered no gold `
` mines in their mountains; though the Lord owes them this miracle `
` in recompense for the manner in which they supported the `
` pretensions of the king your father." `
` `
` "Which is to say that the Gascons made a king of me, myself, `
` seeing that I am my father's son, is it not, Treville? Well, `
` happily, I don't say nay to it. La Chesnaye, go and see if by `
` rummaging all my pockets you can find forty pistoles; and if you `
` can find them, bring them to me. And now let us see, young man, `
` with your hand upon your conscience, how did all this come to `
` pass?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan related the adventure of the preceding day in all its `
` details; how, not having been able to sleep for the joy he felt `
` in the expectation of seeing his Majesty, he had gone to his `
` three friends three hours before the hour of audience; how they `
` had gone together to the tennis court, and how, upon the fear he `
` had manifested lest he receive a ball in the face, he had been `
` jeered at by Bernajoux who had nearly paid for his jeer with his `
` life and M. de la Tremouille, who had nothing to do with the `
` matter, with the loss of his hotel. `
` `
` "This is all very well," murmured the king, "yes, this is just `
` the account the duke gave me of the affair. Poor cardinal! `
` Seven men in two days, and those of his very best! But that's `
` quite enough, gentlemen; please to understand, that's enough. `
` You have taken your revenge for the Rue Ferou, and even exceeded `
` it; you ought to be satisfied." `
` `
` "If your Majesty is so," said Treville, "we are." `
` `
` "Oh, yes; I am," added the king, taking a handful of gold from La `
` Chesnaye, and putting it into the hand of d'Artagnan. "Here," `
` said he, "is a proof of my satisfaction." `
` `
` At this epoch, the ideas of pride which are in fashion in our `
` days did not prevail. A gentleman received, from hand to hand, `
` money from the king, and was not the least in the world `
` humiliated. D'Artagnan put his forty pistoles into his pocket `
` without any scruple--on the contrary, thanking his Majesty `
` greatly. `
` `
` "There," said the king, looking at a clock, "there, now, as it is `
` half past eight, you may retire; for as I told you, I expect `
` someone at nine. Thanks for your devotedness, gentlemen. I may `
` continue to rely upon it, may I not?" `
` `
` "Oh, sire!" cried the four companions, with one voice, "we would `
` allow ourselves to be cut to pieces in your Majesty's service." `
` `
` "Well, well, but keep whole; that will be better, and you will be `
` more useful to me. Treville," added the king, in a low voice, as `
` the others were retiring, "as you have no room in the Musketeers, `
` and as we have besides decided that a novitiate is necessary `
` before entering that corps, place this young man in the company `
` of the Guards of Monsieur Dessessart, your brother-in-law. Ah, `
` PARDIEU, Treville! I enjoy beforehand the face the cardinal will `
` make. He will be furious; but I don't care. I am doing what is `
` right." `
` `
` The king waved his hand to Treville, who left him and rejoined `
` the Musketeers, whom he found sharing the forty pistoles with `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` The cardinal, as his Majesty had said, was really furious, so `
` furious that during eight days he absented himself from the `
`
` "At what o'clock, please your Majesty?" `
` `
` "At any hour you will." `
` `
` "But in coming too early I should be afraid of awakening your `
` Majesty." `
` `
` "Awaken me! Do you think I ever sleep, then? I sleep no longer, `
` monsieur. I sometimes dream, that's all. Come, then, as early `
` as you like--at seven o'clock; but beware, if you and your `
` Musketeers are guilty." `
` `
` "If my Musketeers are guilty, sire, the guilty shall be placed in `
` your Majesty's hands, who will dispose of them at your good `
` pleasure. Does your Majesty require anything further? Speak, I `
` am ready to obey." `
` `
` "No, monsieur, no; I am not called Louis the Just without reason. `
` Tomorrow, then, monsieur--tomorrow." `
` `
` "Till then, God preserve your Majesty!" `
` `
` However ill the king might sleep, M. de Treville slept still `
` worse. He had ordered his three Musketeers and their companion `
` to be with him at half past six in the morning. He took them `
` with him, without encouraging them or promising them anything, `
` and without concealing from them that their luck, and even his `
` own, depended upon the cast of the dice. `
` `
` Arrived at the foot of the back stairs, he desired them to wait. `
` If the king was still irritated against them, they would depart `
` without being seen; if the king consented to see them, they would `
` only have to be called. `
` `
` On arriving at the king's private antechamber, M. de Treville `
` found La Chesnaye, who informed him that they had not been able `
` to find M. de la Tremouille on the preceding evening at his `
` hotel, that he returned too late to present himself at the `
` Louvre, that he had only that moment arrived and that he was at `
` that very hour with the king. `
` `
` This circumstance pleased M. de Treville much, as he thus became `
` certain that no foreign suggestion could insinuate itself between `
` M. de la Tremouille's testimony and himself. `
` `
` In fact, ten minutes had scarcely passed away when the door of `
` the king's closet opened, and M. de Treville saw M. de la `
` Tremouille come out. The duke came straight up to him, and said: `
` "Monsieur de Treville, his Majesty has just sent for me in order `
` to inquire respecting the circumstances which took place `
` yesterday at my hotel. I have told him the truth; that is to `
` say, that the fault lay with my people, and that I was ready to `
` offer you my excuses. Since I have the good fortune to meet you, `
` I beg you to receive them, and to hold me always as one of your `
` friends." `
` `
` "Monsieur the Duke," said M. de Treville, "I was so confident of `
` your loyalty that I required no other defender before his Majesty `
` than yourself. I find that I have not been mistaken, and I thank `
` you that there is still one man in France of whom may be said, `
` without disappointment, what I have said of you." `
` `
` "That's well said," cried the king, who had heard all these `
` compliments through the open door; "only tell him, Treville, `
` since he wishes to be considered your friend, that I also wish to `
` be one of his, but he neglects me; that it is nearly three years `
` since I have seen him, and that I never do see him unless I send `
` for him. Tell him all this for me, for these are things which a `
` king cannot say for himself." `
` `
` "Thanks, sire, thanks," said the duke; "but your Majesty may be `
` assured that it is not those--I do not speak of Monsieur de `
` Treville--whom your Majesty sees at all hours of the day that are `
` most devoted to you." `
` `
` "Ah! You have heard what I said? So much the better, Duke, so `
` much the better," said the king, advancing toward the door. "Ah! `
` It is you, Treville. Where are your Musketeers? I told you the `
` day before yesterday to bring them with you; why have you not `
` done so?" `
` `
` "They are below, sire, and with your permission La Chesnaye will `
` bid them come up." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, let them come up immediately. It is nearly eight `
` o'clock, and at nine I expect a visit. Go, Monsieur Duke, and `
` return often. Come in, Treville." `
` `
` The Duke saluted and retired. At the moment he opened the door, `
` the three Musketeers and d'Artagnan, conducted by La Chesnaye, `
` appeared at the top of the staircase. `
` `
` "Come in, my braves," said the king, "come in; I am going to `
` scold you." `
` `
` The Musketeers advanced, bowing, d'Artagnan following closely `
` behind them. `
` `
` "What the devil!" continued the king. "Seven of his Eminence's `
` Guards placed HORS DE COMBAT by you four in two days! That's too `
` many, gentlemen, too many! If you go on so, his Eminence will be `
` forced to renew his company in three weeks, and I to put the `
` edicts in force in all their rigor. One now and then I don't say `
` much about; but seven in two days, I repeat, it is too many, it `
` is far too many!" `
` `
` "Therefore, sire, your Majesty sees that they are come, quite `
` contrite and repentant, to offer you their excuses." `
` `
` "Quite contrite and repentant! Hem!" said the king. "I place no `
` confidence in their hypocritical faces. In particular, there is `
` one yonder of a Gascon look. Come hither, monsieur." `
` `
` D'Artagnan, who understood that it was to him this compliment was `
` addressed, approached, assuming a most deprecating air. `
` `
` "Why you told me he was a young man? This is a boy, Treville, a `
` mere boy! Do you mean to say that it was he who bestowed that `
` severe thrust at Jussac?" `
` `
` "And those two equally fine thrusts at Bernajoux." `
` `
` "Truly!" `
` `
` "Without reckoning," said Athos, "that if he had not rescued me `
` from the hands of Cahusac, I should not now have the honor of `
` making my very humble reverence to your Majesty." `
` `
` "Why he is a very devil, this Bearnais! VENTRE-SAINT-GRIS, `
` Monsieur de Treville, as the king my father would have said. But `
` at this sort of work, many doublets must be slashed and many `
` swords broken. Now, Gascons are always poor, are they not?" `
` `
` "Sire, I can assert that they have hitherto discovered no gold `
` mines in their mountains; though the Lord owes them this miracle `
` in recompense for the manner in which they supported the `
` pretensions of the king your father." `
` `
` "Which is to say that the Gascons made a king of me, myself, `
` seeing that I am my father's son, is it not, Treville? Well, `
` happily, I don't say nay to it. La Chesnaye, go and see if by `
` rummaging all my pockets you can find forty pistoles; and if you `
` can find them, bring them to me. And now let us see, young man, `
` with your hand upon your conscience, how did all this come to `
` pass?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan related the adventure of the preceding day in all its `
` details; how, not having been able to sleep for the joy he felt `
` in the expectation of seeing his Majesty, he had gone to his `
` three friends three hours before the hour of audience; how they `
` had gone together to the tennis court, and how, upon the fear he `
` had manifested lest he receive a ball in the face, he had been `
` jeered at by Bernajoux who had nearly paid for his jeer with his `
` life and M. de la Tremouille, who had nothing to do with the `
` matter, with the loss of his hotel. `
` `
` "This is all very well," murmured the king, "yes, this is just `
` the account the duke gave me of the affair. Poor cardinal! `
` Seven men in two days, and those of his very best! But that's `
` quite enough, gentlemen; please to understand, that's enough. `
` You have taken your revenge for the Rue Ferou, and even exceeded `
` it; you ought to be satisfied." `
` `
` "If your Majesty is so," said Treville, "we are." `
` `
` "Oh, yes; I am," added the king, taking a handful of gold from La `
` Chesnaye, and putting it into the hand of d'Artagnan. "Here," `
` said he, "is a proof of my satisfaction." `
` `
` At this epoch, the ideas of pride which are in fashion in our `
` days did not prevail. A gentleman received, from hand to hand, `
` money from the king, and was not the least in the world `
` humiliated. D'Artagnan put his forty pistoles into his pocket `
` without any scruple--on the contrary, thanking his Majesty `
` greatly. `
` `
` "There," said the king, looking at a clock, "there, now, as it is `
` half past eight, you may retire; for as I told you, I expect `
` someone at nine. Thanks for your devotedness, gentlemen. I may `
` continue to rely upon it, may I not?" `
` `
` "Oh, sire!" cried the four companions, with one voice, "we would `
` allow ourselves to be cut to pieces in your Majesty's service." `
` `
` "Well, well, but keep whole; that will be better, and you will be `
` more useful to me. Treville," added the king, in a low voice, as `
` the others were retiring, "as you have no room in the Musketeers, `
` and as we have besides decided that a novitiate is necessary `
` before entering that corps, place this young man in the company `
` of the Guards of Monsieur Dessessart, your brother-in-law. Ah, `
` PARDIEU, Treville! I enjoy beforehand the face the cardinal will `
` make. He will be furious; but I don't care. I am doing what is `
` right." `
` `
` The king waved his hand to Treville, who left him and rejoined `
` the Musketeers, whom he found sharing the forty pistoles with `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` The cardinal, as his Majesty had said, was really furious, so `
` furious that during eight days he absented himself from the `
`