Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
such a fine golden baldric to suspend a sword of straw from it? `
` And Athos--I don't see Athos. Where is he?" `
` `
` "Ill--" `
` `
` "Very ill, say you? And of what malady?" `
` `
` "It is feared that it may be the smallpox, sir," replied Porthos, `
` desirous of taking his turn in the conversation; "and what is `
` serious is that it will certainly spoil his face." `
` `
` "The smallpox! That's a great story to tell me, Porthos! Sick `
` of the smallpox at his age! No, no; but wounded without doubt, `
` killed, perhaps. Ah, if I knew! S'blood! Messieurs Musketeers, `
` I will not have this haunting of bad places, this quarreling in `
` the streets, this swordplay at the crossways; and above all, I `
` will not have occasion given for the cardinal's Guards, who are `
` brave, quiet, skillful men who never put themselves in a `
` position to be arrested, and who, besides, never allow themselves `
` to be arrested, to laugh at you! I am sure of it--they would `
` prefer dying on the spot to being arrested or taking back a step. `
` To save yourselves, to scamper away, to flee--that is good for `
` the king's Musketeers!" `
` `
` Porthos and Aramis trembled with rage. They could willingly have `
` strangled M. de Treville, if, at the bottom of all this, they had `
` not felt it was the great love he bore them which made him speak `
` thus. They stamped upon the carpet with their feet; they bit `
` their lips till the blood came, and grasped the hilts of their `
` swords with all their might. All without had heard, as we have `
` said, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis called, and had guessed, from M. `
` de Treville's tone of voice, that he was very angry about `
` something. Ten curious heads were glued to the tapestry and `
` became pale with fury; for their ears, closely applied to the `
` door, did not lose a syllable of what he said, while their mouths `
` repeated as he went on, the insulting expressions of the captain `
` to all the people in the antechamber. In an instant, from the `
` door of the cabinet to the street gate, the whole hotel was `
` boiling. `
` `
` "Ah! The king's Musketeers are arrested by the Guards of the `
` cardinal, are they?" continued M. de Treville, as furious at `
` heart as his soldiers, but emphasizing his words and plunging `
` them, one by one, so to say, like so many blows of a stiletto, `
` into the bosoms of his auditors. "What! Six of his Eminence's `
` Guards arrest six of his Majesty's Musketeers! MORBLEU! My part `
` is taken! I will go straight to the louvre; I will give in my `
` resignation as captain of the king's Musketeers to take a `
` lieutenancy in the cardinal's Guards, and if he refuses me, `
` MORBLEU! I will turn abbe." `
` `
` At these words, the murmur without became an explosion; nothing `
` was to be heard but oaths and blasphemies. The MORBLEUS, the `
` SANG DIEUS, the MORTS TOUTS LES DIABLES, crossed one another in `
` the air. D'Artagnan looked for some tapestry behind which he `
` might hide himself, and felt an immense inclination to crawl `
` under the table. `
` `
` "Well, my Captain," said Porthos, quite beside himself, "the `
` truth is that we were six against six. But we were not captured `
` by fair means; and before we had time to draw our swords, two of `
` our party were dead, and Athos, grievously wounded, was very `
` little better. For you know Athos. Well, Captain, he endeavored `
` twice to get up, and fell again twice. And we did not `
` surrender--no! They dragged us away by force. On the way we `
` escaped. As for Athos, they believed him to be dead, and left him `
` very quiet on the field of battle, not thinking it worth the trouble `
` to carry him away. That's the whole story. What the devil, `
` Captain, one cannot win all one's battles! The great Pompey lost `
` that of Pharsalia; and Francis the First, who was, as I have `
` heard say, as good as other folks, nevertheless lost the Battle `
` of Pavia." `
` `
` "And I have the honor of assuring you that I killed one of them `
` with his own sword," said Aramis; "for mine was broken at the `
` first parry. Killed him, or poniarded him, sir, as is most `
` agreeable to you." `
` `
` "I did not know that," replied M. de Treville, in a somewhat `
` softened tone. "The cardinal exaggerated, as I perceive." `
` `
` "But pray, sir," continued Aramis, who, seeing his captain become `
` appeased, ventured to risk a prayer, "do not say that Athos is `
` wounded. He would be in despair if that should come to the ears `
` of the king; and as the wound is very serious, seeing that after `
` crossing the shoulder it penetrates into the chest, it is to be feared--" `
` `
` At this instant the tapestry was raised and a noble and handsome `
` head, but frightfully pale, appeared under the fringe. `
` `
` "Athos!" cried the two Musketeers. `
` `
` "Athos!" repeated M. de Treville himself. `
` `
` "You have sent for me, sir," said Athos to M. de Treville, in a `
` feeble yet perfectly calm voice, "you have sent for me, as my `
` comrades inform me, and I have hastened to receive your orders. `
` I am here; what do you want with me?" `
` `
` And at these words, the Musketeer, in irreproachable costume, `
` belted as usual, with a tolerably firm step, entered the cabinet. `
` M. de Treville, moved to the bottom of his heart by this proof of `
` courage, sprang toward him. `
` `
` "I was about to say to these gentlemen," added he, "that I forbid `
` my Musketeers to expose their lives needlessly; for brave men are `
` very dear to the king, and the king knows that his Musketeers are `
` the bravest on the earth. Your hand, Athos!" `
` `
` And without waiting for the answer of the newcomer to this proof `
` of affection, M. de Treville seized his right hand and pressed it `
` with all his might, without perceiving that Athos, whatever might `
` be his self-command, allowed a slight murmur of pain to escape `
` him, and if possible, grew paler than he was before. `
` `
` The door had remained open, so strong was the excitement produced `
` by the arrival of Athos, whose wound, though kept as a secret, `
` was known to all. A burst of satisfaction hailed the last words `
` of the captain; and two or three heads, carried away by the `
` enthusiasm of the moment, appeared through the openings of the `
` tapestry. M. de Treville was about to reprehend this breach of `
` the rules of etiquette, when he felt the hand of Athos, who had `
` rallied all his energies to contend against pain, at length `
` overcome by it, fell upon the floor as if he were dead. `
` `
` "A surgeon!" cried M. de Treville, "mine! The king's! The best! A `
` surgeon! Or, s'blood, my brave Athos will die!" `
` `
` At the cries of M. de Treville, the whole assemblage rushed into `
` the cabinet, he not thinking to shut the door against anyone, and `
` all crowded round the wounded man. But all this eager attention `
` might have been useless if the doctor so loudly called for `
` had not chanced to be in the hotel. He pushed through the crowd, `
` approached Athos, still insensible, and as all this noise and `
` commotion inconvenienced him greatly, he required, as the first `
` and most urgent thing, that the Musketeer should be carried into `
` an adjoining chamber. Immediately M. de Treville opened and `
` pointed the way to Porthos and Aramis, who bore their comrade in `
` their arms. Behind this group walked the surgeon; and behind the `
` surgeon the door closed. `
` `
` The cabinet of M. de Treville, generally held so sacred, became `
` in an instant the annex of the antechamber. Everyone spoke, `
` harangued, and vociferated, swearing, cursing, and consigning the `
` cardinal and his Guards to all the devils. `
` `
` An instant after, Porthos and Aramis re-entered, the surgeon and `
` M. de Treville alone remaining with the wounded. `
` `
` At length, M. de Treville himself returned. The injured man had `
` recovered his senses. The surgeon declared that the situation of `
` the Musketeer had nothing in it to render his friends uneasy, his `
` weakness having been purely and simply caused by loss of blood. `
` `
` Then M. de Treville made a sign with his hand, and all retired `
` except d'Artagnan, who did not forget that he had an audience, `
` and with the tenacity of a Gascon remained in his place. `
` `
` When all had gone out and the door was closed, M. de Treville, on `
` turning round, found himself alone with the young man. The event `
` which had occurred had in some degree broken the thread of his `
` ideas. He inquired what was the will of his persevering visitor. `
` d'Artagnan then repeated his name, and in an instant recovering `
` all his remembrances of the present and the past, M. de Treville `
` grasped the situation. `
` `
` "Pardon me," said he, smiling, "pardon me my dear compatriot, but `
` I had wholly forgotten you. But what help is there for it! A `
` captain is nothing but a father of a family, charged with even a `
` greater responsibility than the father of an ordinary family. `
` Soldiers are big children; but as I maintain that the orders of `
` the king, and more particularly the orders of the cardinal, `
` should be executed--" `
` `
` D'Artagnan could not restrain a smile. By this smile M. de `
` Treville judged that he had not to deal with a fool, and changing `
` the conversation, came straight to the point. `
` `
` "I respected your father very much," said he. "What can I do for `
` the son? Tell me quickly; my time is not my own." `
` `
` "Monsieur," said d'Artagnan, "on quitting Tarbes and coming `
` hither, it was my intention to request of you, in remembrance of `
` the friendship which you have not forgotten, the uniform of a `
` Musketeer; but after all that I have seen during the last two `
` hours, I comprehend that such a favor is enormous, and tremble `
` lest I should not merit it." `
` `
` "It is indeed a favor, young man," replied M. de Treville, "but `
` it may not be so far beyond your hopes as you believe, or rather `
` as you appear to believe. But his majesty's decision is always `
` necessary; and I inform you with regret that no one becomes a `
` Musketeer without the preliminary ordeal of several campaigns, `
` certain brilliant actions, or a service of two years in some `
` other regiment less favored than ours." `
` `
` D'Artagnan bowed without replying, feeling his desire to don the `
` Musketeer's uniform vastly increased by the great difficulties `
` which preceded the attainment of it. `
` `
` "But," continued M. de Treville, fixing upon his compatriot a `
`
` And Athos--I don't see Athos. Where is he?" `
` `
` "Ill--" `
` `
` "Very ill, say you? And of what malady?" `
` `
` "It is feared that it may be the smallpox, sir," replied Porthos, `
` desirous of taking his turn in the conversation; "and what is `
` serious is that it will certainly spoil his face." `
` `
` "The smallpox! That's a great story to tell me, Porthos! Sick `
` of the smallpox at his age! No, no; but wounded without doubt, `
` killed, perhaps. Ah, if I knew! S'blood! Messieurs Musketeers, `
` I will not have this haunting of bad places, this quarreling in `
` the streets, this swordplay at the crossways; and above all, I `
` will not have occasion given for the cardinal's Guards, who are `
` brave, quiet, skillful men who never put themselves in a `
` position to be arrested, and who, besides, never allow themselves `
` to be arrested, to laugh at you! I am sure of it--they would `
` prefer dying on the spot to being arrested or taking back a step. `
` To save yourselves, to scamper away, to flee--that is good for `
` the king's Musketeers!" `
` `
` Porthos and Aramis trembled with rage. They could willingly have `
` strangled M. de Treville, if, at the bottom of all this, they had `
` not felt it was the great love he bore them which made him speak `
` thus. They stamped upon the carpet with their feet; they bit `
` their lips till the blood came, and grasped the hilts of their `
` swords with all their might. All without had heard, as we have `
` said, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis called, and had guessed, from M. `
` de Treville's tone of voice, that he was very angry about `
` something. Ten curious heads were glued to the tapestry and `
` became pale with fury; for their ears, closely applied to the `
` door, did not lose a syllable of what he said, while their mouths `
` repeated as he went on, the insulting expressions of the captain `
` to all the people in the antechamber. In an instant, from the `
` door of the cabinet to the street gate, the whole hotel was `
` boiling. `
` `
` "Ah! The king's Musketeers are arrested by the Guards of the `
` cardinal, are they?" continued M. de Treville, as furious at `
` heart as his soldiers, but emphasizing his words and plunging `
` them, one by one, so to say, like so many blows of a stiletto, `
` into the bosoms of his auditors. "What! Six of his Eminence's `
` Guards arrest six of his Majesty's Musketeers! MORBLEU! My part `
` is taken! I will go straight to the louvre; I will give in my `
` resignation as captain of the king's Musketeers to take a `
` lieutenancy in the cardinal's Guards, and if he refuses me, `
` MORBLEU! I will turn abbe." `
` `
` At these words, the murmur without became an explosion; nothing `
` was to be heard but oaths and blasphemies. The MORBLEUS, the `
` SANG DIEUS, the MORTS TOUTS LES DIABLES, crossed one another in `
` the air. D'Artagnan looked for some tapestry behind which he `
` might hide himself, and felt an immense inclination to crawl `
` under the table. `
` `
` "Well, my Captain," said Porthos, quite beside himself, "the `
` truth is that we were six against six. But we were not captured `
` by fair means; and before we had time to draw our swords, two of `
` our party were dead, and Athos, grievously wounded, was very `
` little better. For you know Athos. Well, Captain, he endeavored `
` twice to get up, and fell again twice. And we did not `
` surrender--no! They dragged us away by force. On the way we `
` escaped. As for Athos, they believed him to be dead, and left him `
` very quiet on the field of battle, not thinking it worth the trouble `
` to carry him away. That's the whole story. What the devil, `
` Captain, one cannot win all one's battles! The great Pompey lost `
` that of Pharsalia; and Francis the First, who was, as I have `
` heard say, as good as other folks, nevertheless lost the Battle `
` of Pavia." `
` `
` "And I have the honor of assuring you that I killed one of them `
` with his own sword," said Aramis; "for mine was broken at the `
` first parry. Killed him, or poniarded him, sir, as is most `
` agreeable to you." `
` `
` "I did not know that," replied M. de Treville, in a somewhat `
` softened tone. "The cardinal exaggerated, as I perceive." `
` `
` "But pray, sir," continued Aramis, who, seeing his captain become `
` appeased, ventured to risk a prayer, "do not say that Athos is `
` wounded. He would be in despair if that should come to the ears `
` of the king; and as the wound is very serious, seeing that after `
` crossing the shoulder it penetrates into the chest, it is to be feared--" `
` `
` At this instant the tapestry was raised and a noble and handsome `
` head, but frightfully pale, appeared under the fringe. `
` `
` "Athos!" cried the two Musketeers. `
` `
` "Athos!" repeated M. de Treville himself. `
` `
` "You have sent for me, sir," said Athos to M. de Treville, in a `
` feeble yet perfectly calm voice, "you have sent for me, as my `
` comrades inform me, and I have hastened to receive your orders. `
` I am here; what do you want with me?" `
` `
` And at these words, the Musketeer, in irreproachable costume, `
` belted as usual, with a tolerably firm step, entered the cabinet. `
` M. de Treville, moved to the bottom of his heart by this proof of `
` courage, sprang toward him. `
` `
` "I was about to say to these gentlemen," added he, "that I forbid `
` my Musketeers to expose their lives needlessly; for brave men are `
` very dear to the king, and the king knows that his Musketeers are `
` the bravest on the earth. Your hand, Athos!" `
` `
` And without waiting for the answer of the newcomer to this proof `
` of affection, M. de Treville seized his right hand and pressed it `
` with all his might, without perceiving that Athos, whatever might `
` be his self-command, allowed a slight murmur of pain to escape `
` him, and if possible, grew paler than he was before. `
` `
` The door had remained open, so strong was the excitement produced `
` by the arrival of Athos, whose wound, though kept as a secret, `
` was known to all. A burst of satisfaction hailed the last words `
` of the captain; and two or three heads, carried away by the `
` enthusiasm of the moment, appeared through the openings of the `
` tapestry. M. de Treville was about to reprehend this breach of `
` the rules of etiquette, when he felt the hand of Athos, who had `
` rallied all his energies to contend against pain, at length `
` overcome by it, fell upon the floor as if he were dead. `
` `
` "A surgeon!" cried M. de Treville, "mine! The king's! The best! A `
` surgeon! Or, s'blood, my brave Athos will die!" `
` `
` At the cries of M. de Treville, the whole assemblage rushed into `
` the cabinet, he not thinking to shut the door against anyone, and `
` all crowded round the wounded man. But all this eager attention `
` might have been useless if the doctor so loudly called for `
` had not chanced to be in the hotel. He pushed through the crowd, `
` approached Athos, still insensible, and as all this noise and `
` commotion inconvenienced him greatly, he required, as the first `
` and most urgent thing, that the Musketeer should be carried into `
` an adjoining chamber. Immediately M. de Treville opened and `
` pointed the way to Porthos and Aramis, who bore their comrade in `
` their arms. Behind this group walked the surgeon; and behind the `
` surgeon the door closed. `
` `
` The cabinet of M. de Treville, generally held so sacred, became `
` in an instant the annex of the antechamber. Everyone spoke, `
` harangued, and vociferated, swearing, cursing, and consigning the `
` cardinal and his Guards to all the devils. `
` `
` An instant after, Porthos and Aramis re-entered, the surgeon and `
` M. de Treville alone remaining with the wounded. `
` `
` At length, M. de Treville himself returned. The injured man had `
` recovered his senses. The surgeon declared that the situation of `
` the Musketeer had nothing in it to render his friends uneasy, his `
` weakness having been purely and simply caused by loss of blood. `
` `
` Then M. de Treville made a sign with his hand, and all retired `
` except d'Artagnan, who did not forget that he had an audience, `
` and with the tenacity of a Gascon remained in his place. `
` `
` When all had gone out and the door was closed, M. de Treville, on `
` turning round, found himself alone with the young man. The event `
` which had occurred had in some degree broken the thread of his `
` ideas. He inquired what was the will of his persevering visitor. `
` d'Artagnan then repeated his name, and in an instant recovering `
` all his remembrances of the present and the past, M. de Treville `
` grasped the situation. `
` `
` "Pardon me," said he, smiling, "pardon me my dear compatriot, but `
` I had wholly forgotten you. But what help is there for it! A `
` captain is nothing but a father of a family, charged with even a `
` greater responsibility than the father of an ordinary family. `
` Soldiers are big children; but as I maintain that the orders of `
` the king, and more particularly the orders of the cardinal, `
` should be executed--" `
` `
` D'Artagnan could not restrain a smile. By this smile M. de `
` Treville judged that he had not to deal with a fool, and changing `
` the conversation, came straight to the point. `
` `
` "I respected your father very much," said he. "What can I do for `
` the son? Tell me quickly; my time is not my own." `
` `
` "Monsieur," said d'Artagnan, "on quitting Tarbes and coming `
` hither, it was my intention to request of you, in remembrance of `
` the friendship which you have not forgotten, the uniform of a `
` Musketeer; but after all that I have seen during the last two `
` hours, I comprehend that such a favor is enormous, and tremble `
` lest I should not merit it." `
` `
` "It is indeed a favor, young man," replied M. de Treville, "but `
` it may not be so far beyond your hopes as you believe, or rather `
` as you appear to believe. But his majesty's decision is always `
` necessary; and I inform you with regret that no one becomes a `
` Musketeer without the preliminary ordeal of several campaigns, `
` certain brilliant actions, or a service of two years in some `
` other regiment less favored than ours." `
` `
` D'Artagnan bowed without replying, feeling his desire to don the `
` Musketeer's uniform vastly increased by the great difficulties `
` which preceded the attainment of it. `
` `
` "But," continued M. de Treville, fixing upon his compatriot a `
`