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other soldier, and the perils they had encountered. This `
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recital was for him the occasion of veritable triumph. The `
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whole army talked of this expedition for a day, and Monsieur `
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paid him his compliments upon it. Besides this, as every `
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great action bears its recompense with it, the brave exploit `
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of d'Artagnan resulted in the restoration of the tranquility `
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he had lost. In fact, d'Artagnan believed that he might be `
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tranquil, as one of his two enemies was killed and the other `
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devoted to his interests. `
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This tranquillity proved one thing--that d'Artagnan did not `
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yet know Milady. `
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42 THE ANJOU WINE `
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After the most disheartening news of the king's health, a `
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report of his convalescence began to prevail in the camp; `
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and as he was very anxious to be in person at the siege, it `
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was said that as soon as he could mount a horse he would set `
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forward. `
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Meantime, Monsieur, who knew that from one day to the other `
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he might expect to be removed from his command by the Duc `
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d'Angouleme, by Bassompierre, or by Schomberg, who were all `
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eager for his post, did but little, lost his days in `
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wavering, and did not dare to attempt any great enterprise `
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to drive the English from the Isle of Re, where they still `
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besieged the citadel St. Martin and the fort of La Pree, as `
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on their side the French were besieging La Rochelle. `
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D'Artagnan, as we have said, had become more tranquil, as `
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always happens after a past danger, particularly when the `
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danger seems to have vanished. He only felt one uneasiness, `
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and that was at not hearing any tidings from his friends. `
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But one morning at the commencement of the month of November `
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everything was explained to him by this letter, dated from `
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Villeroy: `
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M. d'Artagnan, `
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MM. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, after having `
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had an entertainment at my house and enjoying themselves `
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very much, created such a disturbance that the provost of `
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the castle, a rigid man, has ordered them to be confined for `
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some days; but I accomplish the order they have given me by `
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forwarding to you a dozen bottles of my Anjou wine, with `
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which they are much pleased. They are desirous that you `
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should drink to their health in their favorite wine. I have `
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done this, and am, monsieur, with great respect, `
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Your very humble and obedient servant, `
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Godeau, Purveyor of the Musketeers `
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"That's all well!" cried d'Artagnan. "They think of me in `
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their pleasures, as I thought of them in my troubles. Well, `
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I will certainly drink to their health with all my heart, `
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but I will not drink alone." `
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And d'Artagnan went among those Guardsmen with whom he had `
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formed greater intimacy than with the others, to invite them `
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to enjoy with him this present of delicious Anjou wine which `
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had been sent him from Villeroy. `
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One of the two Guardsmen was engaged that evening, and `
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another the next, so the meeting was fixed for the day after `
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that. `
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D'Artagnan, on his return, sent the twelve bottles of wine `
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to the refreshment room of the Guards, with strict orders `
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that great care should be taken of it; and then, on the day `
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appointed, as the dinner was fixed for midday d'Artagnan `
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sent Planchet at nine in the morning to assist in preparing `
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everything for the entertainment. `
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Planchet, very proud of being raised to the dignity of `
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landlord, thought he would make all ready, like an `
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intelligent man; and with this view called in the assistance `
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of the lackey of one of his master's guests, named Fourreau, `
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and the false soldier who had tried to kill d'Artagnan and `
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who, belonging to no corps, had entered into the service of `
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d'Artagnan, or rather of Planchet, after d'Artagnan had `
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saved his life. `
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The hour of the banquet being come, the two guards arrived, `
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took their places, and the dishes were arranged on the `
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table. Planchet waited, towel on arm; Fourreau uncorked the `
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bottles; and Brisemont, which was the name of the `
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convalescent, poured the wine, which was a little shaken by `
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its journey, carefully into decanters. Of this wine, the `
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first bottle being a little thick at the bottom, Brisemont `
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poured the lees into a glass, and d'Artagnan desired him to `
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drink it, for the poor devil had not yet recovered his `
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strength. `
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The guests having eaten the soup, were about to lift the `
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first glass of wine to their lips, when all at once the `
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cannon sounded from Fort Louis and Fort Neuf. The `
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Guardsmen, imagining this to be caused by some unexpected `
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attack, either of the besieged or the English, sprang to `
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their swords. D'Artagnan, not less forward than they, did `
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likewise, and all ran out, in order to repair to their `
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posts. `
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But scarcely were they out of the room before they were made `
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aware of the cause of this noise. Cries of "Live the king! `
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Live the cardinal!" resounded on every side, and the drums `
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were beaten in all directions. `
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In short, the king, impatient, as has been said, had come by `
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forced marches, and had that moment arrived with all his `
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household and a reinforcement of ten thousand troops. His `
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Musketeers proceeded and followed him. D'Artagnan, placed `
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in line with his company, saluted with an expressive gesture `
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his three friends, whose eyes soon discovered him, and M. de `
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Treville, who detected him at once. `
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The ceremony of reception over, the four friends were soon `
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in one another's arms. `
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"Pardieu!" cried d'Artagnan, "you could not have arrived in `
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better time; the dinner cannot have had time to get cold! `
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Can it, gentlemen?" added the young man, turning to the two `
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Guards, whom he introduced to his friends. `
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"Ah, ah!" said Porthos, "it appears we are feasting!" `
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"I hope," said Aramis, "there are no women at your dinner." `
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"Is there any drinkable wine in your tavern?" asked Athos. `
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"Well, pardieu! there is yours, my dear friend," replied `
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d'Artagnan. `
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"Our wine!" said Athos, astonished. `
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"Yes, that you sent me." `
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"We sent you wine?" `
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"You know very well--the wine from the hills of Anjou." `
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"Yes, I know what brand you are talking about." `
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"The wine you prefer." `
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"Well, in the absence of champagne and chambertin, you must `
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content yourselves with that." `
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"And so, connoisseurs in wine as we are, we have sent you `
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some Anjou wine?" said Porthos. `
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"Not exactly, it is the wine that was sent by your order." `
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"On our account?" said the three Musketeers. `
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"Did you send this wine, Aramis?" said Athos. `
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"No; and you, Porthos?" `
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"No; and you, Athos?" `
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"No!" `
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"If it was not you, it was your purveyor," said d'Artagnan. `
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"Our purveyor!" `
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"Yes, your purveyor, Godeau--the purveyor of the `
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Musketeers." `
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"My faith! never mind where it comes from," said Porthos, `
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"let us taste it, and if it is good, let us drink it." `
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"No," said Athos; "don't let us drink wine which comes from `
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an unknown source." `
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"You are right, Athos," said d'Artagnan. "Did none of you `
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charge your purveyor, Godeau, to send me some wine?" `
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"No! And yet you say he has sent you some as from us?" `
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"Here is his letter," said d'Artagnan, and he presented the `
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note to his comrades. `
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"This is not his writing!" said Athos. "I am acquainted `
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with it; before we left Villeroy I settled the accounts of `
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the regiment." `
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"A false letter altogether," said Porthos, "we have not been `
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disciplined." `
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"d'Artagnan," said Aramis, in a reproachful tone, "how could `
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you believe that we had made a disturbance?" `
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D'Artagnan grew pale, and a convulsive trembling shook all `
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