Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
to each of his courtiers. In addition to the leeves of the king `
` and the cardinal, there might be reckoned in Paris at that time `
` more than two hundred smaller but still noteworthy leeves. Among `
` these two hundred leeves, that of Treville was one of the most `
` sought. `
` `
` The court of his hotel, situated in the Rue du Vieux-Colombier, `
` resembled a camp from by six o'clock in the morning in summer and `
` eight o'clock in winter. From fifty to sixty Musketeers, who `
` appeared to replace one another in order always to present an `
` imposing number, paraded constantly, armed to the teeth and ready `
` for anything. On one of those immense staircases, upon whose `
` space modern civilization would build a whole house, ascended and `
` descended the office seekers of Paris, who ran after any sort of `
` favor--gentlemen from the provinces anxious to be enrolled, and `
` servants in all sorts of liveries, bringing and carrying messages `
` between their masters and M. de Treville. In the antechamber, `
` upon long circular benches, reposed the elect; that is to say, `
` those who were called. In this apartment a continued buzzing `
` prevailed from morning till night, while M. de Treville, in his `
` office contiguous to this antechamber, received visits, listened `
` to complaints, gave his orders, and like the king in his balcony `
` at the Louvre, had only to place himself at the window to review `
` both his men and arms. `
` `
` The day on which d'Artagnan presented himself the assemblage was `
` imposing, particularly for a provincial just arriving from his `
` province. It is true that this provincial was a Gascon; and `
` that, particularly at this period, the compatriots of d'Artagnan `
` had the reputation of not being easily intimidated. When he had `
` once passed the massive door covered with long square-headed `
` nails, he fell into the midst of a troop of swordsmen, who `
` crossed one another in their passage, calling out, quarreling, `
` and playing tricks one with another. In order to make one's way `
` amid these turbulent and conflicting waves, it was necessary to `
` be an officer, a great noble, or a pretty woman. `
` `
` It was, then, into the midst of this tumult and disorder that our `
` young man advanced with a beating heat, ranging his long rapier `
` up his lanky leg, and keeping one hand on the edge of his cap, `
` with that half-smile of the embarrassed a provincial who wishes `
` to put on a good face. When he had passed one group he began to `
` breathe more freely; but he could not help observing that they `
` turned round to look at him, and for the first time in his life `
` d'Artagnan, who had till that day entertained a very good opinion `
` of himself, felt ridiculous. `
` `
` Arrived at the staircase, it was still worse. There were four `
` Musketeers on the bottom steps, amusing themselves with the `
` following exercise, while ten or twelve of their comrades waited `
` upon the landing place to take their turn in the sport. `
` `
` One of them, stationed upon the top stair, naked sword in hand, `
` prevented, or at least endeavored to prevent, the three others `
` from ascending. `
` `
` These three others fenced against him with their agile swords. `
` `
` D'Artagnan at first took these weapons for foils, and believed `
` them to be buttoned; but he soon perceived by certain scratches `
` that every weapon was pointed and sharpened, and that at each of `
` these scratches not only the spectators, but even the actors `
` themselves, laughed like so many madmen. `
` `
` He who at the moment occupied the upper step kept his adversaries `
` marvelously in check. A circle was formed around them. The `
` conditions required that at every hit the man touched should quit `
` the game, yielding his turn for the benefit of the adversary who `
` had hit him. In five minutes three were slightly wounded, one on `
` the hand, another on the ear, by the defender of the stair, who `
` himself remained intact--a piece of skill which was worth to him, `
` according to the rules agreed upon, three turns of favor. `
` `
` However difficult it might be, or rather as he pretended it was, `
` to astonish our young traveler, this pastime really astonished `
` him. He had seen in his province--that land in which heads `
` become so easily heated--a few of the preliminaries of duels; but `
` the daring of these four fencers appeared to him the strongest he `
` had ever heard of even in Gascony. He believed himself `
` transported into that famous country of giants into which `
` Gulliver afterward went and was so frightened; and yet he had not `
` gained the goal, for there were still the landing place and the `
` antechamber. `
` `
` On the landing they were no longer fighting, but amused `
` themselves with stories about women, and in the antechamber, with `
` stories about the court. On the landing d'Artagnan blushed; in `
` the antechamber he trembled. His warm and fickle imagination, `
` which in Gascony had rendered formidable to young chambermaids, `
` and even sometimes their mistresses, had never dreamed, even in `
` moments of delirium, of half the amorous wonders or a quarter of `
` the feats of gallantry which were here set forth in connection `
` with names the best known and with details the least concealed. `
` But if his morals were shocked on the landing, his respect for `
` the cardinal was scandalized in the antechamber. There, to his `
` great astonishment, d'Artagnan heard the policy which made all `
` Europe tremble criticized aloud and openly, as well as the `
` private life of the cardinal, which so many great nobles had been `
` punished for trying to pry into. That great man who was so `
` revered by d'Artagnan the elder served as an object of ridicule `
` to the Musketeers of Treville, who cracked their jokes upon his `
` bandy legs and his crooked back. Some sang ballads about Mme. `
` d'Aguillon, his mistress, and Mme. Cambalet, his niece; while `
` others formed parties and plans to annoy the pages and guards of `
` the cardinal duke--all things which appeared to d'Artagnan `
` monstrous impossibilities. `
` `
` Nevertheless, when the name of the king was now and then uttered `
` unthinkingly amid all these cardinal jests, a sort of gag seemed `
` to close for a moment on all these jeering mouths. They looked `
` hesitatingly around them, and appeared to doubt the thickness of `
` the partition between them and the office of M. de Treville; but `
` a fresh allusion soon brought back the conversation to his `
` Eminence, and then the laughter recovered its loudness and the `
` light was not withheld from any of his actions. `
` `
` "Certes, these fellows will all either be imprisoned or hanged," `
` thought the terrified d'Artagnan, "and I, no doubt, with them; `
` for from the moment I have either listened to or heard them, I `
` shall be held as an accomplice. What would my good father say, `
` who so strongly pointed out to me the respect due to the `
` cardinal, if he knew I was in the society of such pagans?" `
` `
` We have no need, therefore, to say that d'Artagnan dared not join `
` in the conversation, only he looked with all his eyes and `
` listened with all his ears, stretching his five senses so as to `
` lose nothing; and despite his confidence on the paternal `
` admonitions, he felt himself carried by his tastes and led by his `
` instincts to praise rather than to blame the unheard-of things `
` which were taking place. `
` `
` Although he was a perfect stranger in the court of M. de `
` Treville's courtiers, and this his first appearance in that `
` place, he was at length noticed, and somebody came and asked him `
` what he wanted. At this demand d'Artagnan gave his name very `
` modestly, emphasized the title of compatriot, and begged the `
` servant who had put the question to him to request a moment's `
` audience of M. de Treville--a request which the other, with an `
` air of protection, promised to transmit in due season. `
` `
` D'Artagnan, a little recovered from his first surprise, had now `
` leisure to study costumes and physiognomy. `
` `
` The center of the most animated group was a Musketeer of great `
` height and haughty countenance, dressed in a costume so peculiar `
` as to attract general attention. He did not wear the uniform `
` cloak--which was not obligatory at that epoch of less liberty but `
` more independence--but a cerulean-blue doublet, a little faded and `
` worn, and over this a magnificent baldric, worked in gold, which `
` shone like water ripples in the sun. A long cloak of crimson `
` velvet fell in graceful folds from his shoulders, disclosing in `
` front the splendid baldric, from which was suspended a gigantic `
` rapier. This Musketeer had just come off guard, complained of `
` having a cold, and coughed from time to time affectedly. It was `
` for this reason, as he said to those around him, that he had put `
` on his cloak; and while he spoke with a lofty air and twisted his `
` mustache disdainfully, all admired his embroidered baldric, and `
` d'Artagnan more than anyone. `
` `
` `
` "What would you have?" said the Musketeer. "This fashion is `
` coming in. It is a folly, I admit, but still it is the fashion. `
` Besides, one must lay out one's inheritance somehow." `
` `
` "Ah, Porthos!" cried one of his companions, "don't try to make us `
` believe you obtained that baldric by paternal generosity. It was `
` given to you by that veiled lady I met you with the other Sunday, `
` near the gate St. Honor." `
` `
` "No, upon honor and by the faith of a gentleman, I bought it with `
` the contents of my own purse," answered he whom they designated `
` by the name Porthos. `
` `
` "Yes; about in the same manner," said another Musketeer, "that I `
` bought this new purse with what my mistress put into the old `
` one." `
` `
` "It's true, though," said Porthos; "and the proof is that I paid `
` twelve pistoles for it." `
` `
` The wonder was increased, though the doubt continued to exist. `
` `
` "Is it not true, Aramis?" said Porthos, turning toward another `
` Musketeer. `
` `
` This other Musketeer formed a perfect contrast to his `
` interrogator, who had just designated him by the name of Aramis. `
` He was a stout man, of about two- or three-and-twenty, with an `
` open, ingenuous countenance, a black, mild eye, and cheeks rosy `
` and downy as an autumn peach. His delicate mustache marked a `
` perfectly straight line upon his upper lip; he appeared to dread `
` to lower his hands lest their veins should swell, and he pinched `
` the tips of his ears from time to time to preserve their delicate `
` pink transparency. Habitually he spoke little and slowly, bowed `
` frequently, laughed without noise, showing his teeth, which were `
` fine and of which, as the rest of his person, he appeared to take `
` great care. He answered the appeal of his friend by an `
` affirmative nod of the head. `
` `
` This affirmation appeared to dispel all doubts with regard to the `
` baldric. They continued to admire it, but said no more about it; `
`
` and the cardinal, there might be reckoned in Paris at that time `
` more than two hundred smaller but still noteworthy leeves. Among `
` these two hundred leeves, that of Treville was one of the most `
` sought. `
` `
` The court of his hotel, situated in the Rue du Vieux-Colombier, `
` resembled a camp from by six o'clock in the morning in summer and `
` eight o'clock in winter. From fifty to sixty Musketeers, who `
` appeared to replace one another in order always to present an `
` imposing number, paraded constantly, armed to the teeth and ready `
` for anything. On one of those immense staircases, upon whose `
` space modern civilization would build a whole house, ascended and `
` descended the office seekers of Paris, who ran after any sort of `
` favor--gentlemen from the provinces anxious to be enrolled, and `
` servants in all sorts of liveries, bringing and carrying messages `
` between their masters and M. de Treville. In the antechamber, `
` upon long circular benches, reposed the elect; that is to say, `
` those who were called. In this apartment a continued buzzing `
` prevailed from morning till night, while M. de Treville, in his `
` office contiguous to this antechamber, received visits, listened `
` to complaints, gave his orders, and like the king in his balcony `
` at the Louvre, had only to place himself at the window to review `
` both his men and arms. `
` `
` The day on which d'Artagnan presented himself the assemblage was `
` imposing, particularly for a provincial just arriving from his `
` province. It is true that this provincial was a Gascon; and `
` that, particularly at this period, the compatriots of d'Artagnan `
` had the reputation of not being easily intimidated. When he had `
` once passed the massive door covered with long square-headed `
` nails, he fell into the midst of a troop of swordsmen, who `
` crossed one another in their passage, calling out, quarreling, `
` and playing tricks one with another. In order to make one's way `
` amid these turbulent and conflicting waves, it was necessary to `
` be an officer, a great noble, or a pretty woman. `
` `
` It was, then, into the midst of this tumult and disorder that our `
` young man advanced with a beating heat, ranging his long rapier `
` up his lanky leg, and keeping one hand on the edge of his cap, `
` with that half-smile of the embarrassed a provincial who wishes `
` to put on a good face. When he had passed one group he began to `
` breathe more freely; but he could not help observing that they `
` turned round to look at him, and for the first time in his life `
` d'Artagnan, who had till that day entertained a very good opinion `
` of himself, felt ridiculous. `
` `
` Arrived at the staircase, it was still worse. There were four `
` Musketeers on the bottom steps, amusing themselves with the `
` following exercise, while ten or twelve of their comrades waited `
` upon the landing place to take their turn in the sport. `
` `
` One of them, stationed upon the top stair, naked sword in hand, `
` prevented, or at least endeavored to prevent, the three others `
` from ascending. `
` `
` These three others fenced against him with their agile swords. `
` `
` D'Artagnan at first took these weapons for foils, and believed `
` them to be buttoned; but he soon perceived by certain scratches `
` that every weapon was pointed and sharpened, and that at each of `
` these scratches not only the spectators, but even the actors `
` themselves, laughed like so many madmen. `
` `
` He who at the moment occupied the upper step kept his adversaries `
` marvelously in check. A circle was formed around them. The `
` conditions required that at every hit the man touched should quit `
` the game, yielding his turn for the benefit of the adversary who `
` had hit him. In five minutes three were slightly wounded, one on `
` the hand, another on the ear, by the defender of the stair, who `
` himself remained intact--a piece of skill which was worth to him, `
` according to the rules agreed upon, three turns of favor. `
` `
` However difficult it might be, or rather as he pretended it was, `
` to astonish our young traveler, this pastime really astonished `
` him. He had seen in his province--that land in which heads `
` become so easily heated--a few of the preliminaries of duels; but `
` the daring of these four fencers appeared to him the strongest he `
` had ever heard of even in Gascony. He believed himself `
` transported into that famous country of giants into which `
` Gulliver afterward went and was so frightened; and yet he had not `
` gained the goal, for there were still the landing place and the `
` antechamber. `
` `
` On the landing they were no longer fighting, but amused `
` themselves with stories about women, and in the antechamber, with `
` stories about the court. On the landing d'Artagnan blushed; in `
` the antechamber he trembled. His warm and fickle imagination, `
` which in Gascony had rendered formidable to young chambermaids, `
` and even sometimes their mistresses, had never dreamed, even in `
` moments of delirium, of half the amorous wonders or a quarter of `
` the feats of gallantry which were here set forth in connection `
` with names the best known and with details the least concealed. `
` But if his morals were shocked on the landing, his respect for `
` the cardinal was scandalized in the antechamber. There, to his `
` great astonishment, d'Artagnan heard the policy which made all `
` Europe tremble criticized aloud and openly, as well as the `
` private life of the cardinal, which so many great nobles had been `
` punished for trying to pry into. That great man who was so `
` revered by d'Artagnan the elder served as an object of ridicule `
` to the Musketeers of Treville, who cracked their jokes upon his `
` bandy legs and his crooked back. Some sang ballads about Mme. `
` d'Aguillon, his mistress, and Mme. Cambalet, his niece; while `
` others formed parties and plans to annoy the pages and guards of `
` the cardinal duke--all things which appeared to d'Artagnan `
` monstrous impossibilities. `
` `
` Nevertheless, when the name of the king was now and then uttered `
` unthinkingly amid all these cardinal jests, a sort of gag seemed `
` to close for a moment on all these jeering mouths. They looked `
` hesitatingly around them, and appeared to doubt the thickness of `
` the partition between them and the office of M. de Treville; but `
` a fresh allusion soon brought back the conversation to his `
` Eminence, and then the laughter recovered its loudness and the `
` light was not withheld from any of his actions. `
` `
` "Certes, these fellows will all either be imprisoned or hanged," `
` thought the terrified d'Artagnan, "and I, no doubt, with them; `
` for from the moment I have either listened to or heard them, I `
` shall be held as an accomplice. What would my good father say, `
` who so strongly pointed out to me the respect due to the `
` cardinal, if he knew I was in the society of such pagans?" `
` `
` We have no need, therefore, to say that d'Artagnan dared not join `
` in the conversation, only he looked with all his eyes and `
` listened with all his ears, stretching his five senses so as to `
` lose nothing; and despite his confidence on the paternal `
` admonitions, he felt himself carried by his tastes and led by his `
` instincts to praise rather than to blame the unheard-of things `
` which were taking place. `
` `
` Although he was a perfect stranger in the court of M. de `
` Treville's courtiers, and this his first appearance in that `
` place, he was at length noticed, and somebody came and asked him `
` what he wanted. At this demand d'Artagnan gave his name very `
` modestly, emphasized the title of compatriot, and begged the `
` servant who had put the question to him to request a moment's `
` audience of M. de Treville--a request which the other, with an `
` air of protection, promised to transmit in due season. `
` `
` D'Artagnan, a little recovered from his first surprise, had now `
` leisure to study costumes and physiognomy. `
` `
` The center of the most animated group was a Musketeer of great `
` height and haughty countenance, dressed in a costume so peculiar `
` as to attract general attention. He did not wear the uniform `
` cloak--which was not obligatory at that epoch of less liberty but `
` more independence--but a cerulean-blue doublet, a little faded and `
` worn, and over this a magnificent baldric, worked in gold, which `
` shone like water ripples in the sun. A long cloak of crimson `
` velvet fell in graceful folds from his shoulders, disclosing in `
` front the splendid baldric, from which was suspended a gigantic `
` rapier. This Musketeer had just come off guard, complained of `
` having a cold, and coughed from time to time affectedly. It was `
` for this reason, as he said to those around him, that he had put `
` on his cloak; and while he spoke with a lofty air and twisted his `
` mustache disdainfully, all admired his embroidered baldric, and `
` d'Artagnan more than anyone. `
` `
` `
` "What would you have?" said the Musketeer. "This fashion is `
` coming in. It is a folly, I admit, but still it is the fashion. `
` Besides, one must lay out one's inheritance somehow." `
` `
` "Ah, Porthos!" cried one of his companions, "don't try to make us `
` believe you obtained that baldric by paternal generosity. It was `
` given to you by that veiled lady I met you with the other Sunday, `
` near the gate St. Honor." `
` `
` "No, upon honor and by the faith of a gentleman, I bought it with `
` the contents of my own purse," answered he whom they designated `
` by the name Porthos. `
` `
` "Yes; about in the same manner," said another Musketeer, "that I `
` bought this new purse with what my mistress put into the old `
` one." `
` `
` "It's true, though," said Porthos; "and the proof is that I paid `
` twelve pistoles for it." `
` `
` The wonder was increased, though the doubt continued to exist. `
` `
` "Is it not true, Aramis?" said Porthos, turning toward another `
` Musketeer. `
` `
` This other Musketeer formed a perfect contrast to his `
` interrogator, who had just designated him by the name of Aramis. `
` He was a stout man, of about two- or three-and-twenty, with an `
` open, ingenuous countenance, a black, mild eye, and cheeks rosy `
` and downy as an autumn peach. His delicate mustache marked a `
` perfectly straight line upon his upper lip; he appeared to dread `
` to lower his hands lest their veins should swell, and he pinched `
` the tips of his ears from time to time to preserve their delicate `
` pink transparency. Habitually he spoke little and slowly, bowed `
` frequently, laughed without noise, showing his teeth, which were `
` fine and of which, as the rest of his person, he appeared to take `
` great care. He answered the appeal of his friend by an `
` affirmative nod of the head. `
` `
` This affirmation appeared to dispel all doubts with regard to the `
` baldric. They continued to admire it, but said no more about it; `
`