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19 PLAN OF CAMPAIGN `
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D'Artagnan went straight to M. de Treville's. He had reflected `
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that in a few minutes the cardinal would be warned by this cursed `
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stranger, who appeared to be his agent, and he judged, with `
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reason, he had not a moment to lose. `
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The heart of the young man overflowed with joy. An opportunity `
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presented itself to him in which there would be at the same time `
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glory to be acquired, and money to be gained; and as a far higher `
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encouragement, it brought him into close intimacy with a woman he `
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adored. This chance did, then, for him at once more than he `
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would have dared to ask of Providence. `
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M. de Treville was in his saloon with his habitual court of `
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gentlemen. D'Artagnan, who was known as a familiar of the house, `
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went straight to his office, and sent word that he wished to see `
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him on something of importance. `
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D'Artagnan had been there scarcely five minutes when M. de `
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Treville entered. At the first glance, and by the joy which was `
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painted on his countenance, the worthy captain plainly perceived `
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that something new was on foot. `
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All the way along d'Artagnan had been consulting with himself `
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whether he should place confidence in M. de Treville, or whether `
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he should only ask him to give him CARTE BLANCHE for some secret `
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affair. But M. de Treville had always been so thoroughly his `
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friend, had always been so devoted to the king and queen, and `
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hated the cardinal so cordially, that the young man resolved to `
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tell him everything. `
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"Did you ask for me, my good friend?" said M. de Treville. `
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"Yes, monsieur," said d'Artagnan, lowering his voice, "and you `
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will pardon me, I hope, for having disturbed you when you know `
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the importance of my business." `
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"Speak, then, I am all attention." `
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"It concerns nothing less", said d'Artagnan, "than the honor, `
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perhaps the life of the queen." `
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"What did you say?" asked M. de Treville, glancing round to see `
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if they were surely alone, and then fixing his questioning look `
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upon d'Artagnan. `
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"I say, monsieur, that chance has rendered me master of a `
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secret--" `
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"Which you will guard, I hope, young man, as your life." `
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"But which I must impart to you, monsieur, for you alone can `
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assist me in the mission I have just received from her Majesty." `
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"Is this secret your own?" `
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"No, monsieur; it is her Majesty's." `
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"Are you authorized by her Majesty to communicate it to me?" `
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"No, monsieur, for, on the contrary, I am desired to preserve the `
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profoundest mystery." `
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"Why, then, are you about to betray it to me?" `
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"Because, as I said, without you I can do nothing; and I am `
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afraid you will refuse me the favor I come to ask if you do not `
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know to what end I ask it." `
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"Keep your secret, young man, and tell me what you wish." `
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"I wish you to obtain for me, from Monsieur Dessessart, leave of `
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absence for fifteen days." `
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"When?" `
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"This very night." `
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"You leave Paris?" `
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"I am going on a mission." `
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"May you tell me whither?" `
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"To London." `
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"Has anyone an interest in preventing your arrival there?" `
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"The cardinal, I believe, would give the world to prevent my `
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success." `
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"And you are going alone?" `
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"I am going alone." `
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"In that case you will not get beyond Bondy. I tell you so, by `
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the faith of de Treville." `
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"How so?" `
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"You will be assassinated." `
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"And I shall die in the performance of my duty." `
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"But your mission will not be accomplished." `
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"That is true," replied d'Artagnan. `
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"Believe me," continued Treville, "in enterprises of this kind, `
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in order that one may arrive, four must set out." `
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"Ah, you are right, monsieur," said d'Artagnan; "but you know `
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Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and you know if I can dispose of `
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them." `
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"Without confiding to them the secret which I am not willing to `
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know?" `
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"We are sworn, once for all, to implicit confidence and `
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devotedness against all proof. Besides, you can tell them that `
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you have full confidence in me, and they will not be more `
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incredulous than you." `
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"I can send to each of them leave of absence for fifteen days, `
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that is all--to Athos, whose wound still makes him suffer, to go `
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to the waters of Forges; to Porthos and Aramis to accompany their `
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friend, whom they are not willing to abandon in such a painful `
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condition. Sending their leave of absence will be proof enough `
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that I authorize their journey." `
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"Thanks, monsieur. You are a hundred times too good." `
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"Begone, then, find them instantly, and let all be done tonight! `
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Ha! But first write your request to Dessessart. Perhaps you had `
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a spy at your heels; and your visit, if it should ever be known `
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to the cardinal, will thus seem legitimate." `
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D'Artagnan drew up his request, and M. de Treville, on receiving `
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it, assured him that by two o'clock in the morning the four `
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leaves of absence should be at the respective domiciles of the `
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travelers. `
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"Have the goodness to send mine to Athos's residence. I should `
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dread some disagreeable encounter if I were to go home." `
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"Be easy. Adieu, and a prosperous voyage. A PROPOS," said M. de `
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Treville, calling him back. `
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D'Artagnan returned. `
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"Have you any money?" `
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D'Artagnan tapped the bag he had in his pocket. `
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"Enough?" asked M. de Treville. `
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"Three hundred pistoles." `
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"Oh, plenty! That would carry you to the end of the world. `
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Begone, then!" `
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D'Artagnan saluted M. de Treville, who held out his hand to him; `
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d'Artagnan pressed it with a respect mixed with gratitude. Since `
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his first arrival at Paris, he had had constant occasion to honor `
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this excellent man, whom he had always found worthy, loyal, and `
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great. `
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His first visit was to Aramis, at whose residence he had not been `
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since the famous evening on which he had followed Mme. Bonacieux. `
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Still further, he had seldom seen the young Musketeer; but every `
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time he had seen him, he had remarked a deep sadness imprinted on `
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his countenance. `
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This evening, especially, Aramis was melancholy and thoughtful. `
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d'Artagnan asked some questions about this prolonged melancholy. `
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Aramis pleaded as his excuse a commentary upon the eighteenth `
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chapter of St. Augustine, which he was forced to write in Latin `
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for the following week, and which preoccupied him a good deal. `
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After the two friends had been chatting a few moments, a servant `
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from M. de Treville entered, bringing a sealed packet. `
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"What is that?" asked Aramis. `
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"The leave of absence Monsieur has asked for," replied the `
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lackey. `
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"For me! I have asked for no leave of absence." `
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"Hold your tongue and take it!" said d'Artagnan. "And you, my `
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friend, there is a demipistole for your trouble; you will tell `
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Monsieur de Treville that Monsieur Aramis is very much obliged to `
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him. Go." `
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The lackey bowed to the ground and departed. `
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