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The gentleman raised his eyes slowly from the nag to his `
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cavalier, as if he required some time to ascertain whether it `
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could be to him that such strange reproaches were addressed; `
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then, when he could not possibly entertain any doubt of the `
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matter, his eyebrows slightly bent, and with an accent of irony `
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and insolence impossible to be described, he replied to `
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d'Artagnan, "I was not speaking to you, sir." `
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"But I am speaking to you!" replied the young man, additionally `
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exasperated with this mixture of insolence and good manners, of `
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politeness and scorn. `
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The stranger looked at him again with a slight smile, and `
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retiring from the window, came out of the hostelry with a slow `
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step, and placed himself before the horse, within two paces of `
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d'Artagnan. His quiet manner and the ironical expression of his `
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countenance redoubled the mirth of the persons with whom he had `
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been talking, and who still remained at the window. `
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D'Artagnan, seeing him approach, drew his sword a foot out of the `
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scabbard. `
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"This horse is decidedly, or rather has been in his youth, a `
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buttercup," resumed the stranger, continuing the remarks he had `
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begun, and addressing himself to his auditors at the window, `
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without paying the least attention to the exasperation of `
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d'Artagnan, who, however placed himself between him and them. `
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"It is a color very well known in botany, but till the present `
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time very rare among horses." `
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"There are people who laugh at the horse that would not dare to `
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laugh at the master," cried the young emulator of the furious `
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Treville. `
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"I do not often laugh, sir," replied the stranger, "as you may `
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perceive by the expression of my countenance; but nevertheless I `
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retain the privilege of laughing when I please." `
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"And I," cried d'Artagnan, "will allow no man to laugh when it `
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displeases me!" `
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"Indeed, sir," continued the stranger, more calm than ever; `
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"well, that is perfectly right!" and turning on his heel, was `
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about to re-enter the hostelry by the front gate, beneath which `
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d'Artagnan on arriving had observed a saddled horse. `
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But, d'Artagnan was not of a character to allow a man to escape `
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him thus who had the insolence to ridicule him. He drew his `
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sword entirely from the scabbard, and followed him, crying, `
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"Turn, turn, Master Joker, lest I strike you behind!" `
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"Strike me!" said the other, turning on his heels, and surveying `
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the young man with as much astonishment as contempt. "Why, my `
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good fellow, you must be mad!" Then, in a suppressed tone, as if `
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speaking to himself, "This is annoying," continued he. "What a `
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godsend this would be for his Majesty, who is seeking everywhere `
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for brave fellows to recruit for his Musketeers!" `
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He had scarcely finished, when d'Artagnan made such a furious `
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lunge at him that if he had not sprung nimbly backward, it is `
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probable he would have jested for the last time. The stranger, `
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then perceiving that the matter went beyond raillery, drew his `
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sword, saluted his adversary, and seriously placed himself on `
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guard. But at the same moment, his two auditors, accompanied by `
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the host, fell upon d'Artagnan with sticks, shovels and tongs. `
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This caused so rapid and complete a diversion from the attack `
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that d'Artagnan's adversary, while the latter turned round to `
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face this shower of blows, sheathed his sword with the same `
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precision, and instead of an actor, which he had nearly been, `
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became a spectator of the fight--a part in which he acquitted `
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himself with his usual impassiveness, muttering, nevertheless, "A `
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plague upon these Gascons! Replace him on his orange horse, and `
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let him begone!" `
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"Not before I have killed you, poltroon!" cried d'Artagnan, `
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making the best face possible, and never retreating one step `
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before his three assailants, who continued to shower blows upon `
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him. `
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"Another gasconade!" murmured the gentleman. "By my honor, these `
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Gascons are incorrigible! Keep up the dance, then, since he will `
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have it so. When he is tired, he will perhaps tell us that he `
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has had enough of it." `
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But the stranger knew not the headstrong personage he had to do `
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with; d'Artagnan was not the man ever to cry for quarter. The `
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fight was therefore prolonged for some seconds; but at length `
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d'Artagnan dropped his sword, which was broken in two pieces by `
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the blow of a stick. Another blow full upon his forehead at the `
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same moment brought him to the ground, covered with blood and `
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almost fainting. `
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It was at this moment that people came flocking to the scene of `
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action from all sides. The host, fearful of consequences, with `
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the help of his servants carried the wounded man into the `
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kitchen, where some trifling attentions were bestowed upon him. `
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As to the gentleman, he resumed his place at the window, and `
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surveyed the crowd with a certain impatience, evidently annoyed `
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by their remaining undispersed. `
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"Well, how is it with this madman?" exclaimed he, turning round `
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as the noise of the door announced the entrance of the host, who `
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came in to inquire if he was unhurt. `
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"Your excellency is safe and sound?" asked the host. `
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"Oh, yes! Perfectly safe and sound, my good host; and I wish to `
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know what has become of our young man." `
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"He is better," said the host, "he fainted quite away." `
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"Indeed!" said the gentleman. `
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"But before he fainted, he collected all his strength to `
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challenge you, and to defy you while challenging you." `
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"Why, this fellow must be the devil in person!" cried the `
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stranger. `
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"Oh, no, your Excellency, he is not the devil," replied the host, `
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with a grin of contempt; "for during his fainting we rummaged his `
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valise and found nothing but a clean shirt and eleven crowns-- `
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which however, did not prevent his saying, as he was fainting, `
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that if such a thing had happened in Paris, you should have cause `
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to repent of it at a later period." `
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"Then," said the stranger coolly, "he must be some prince in `
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disguise." `
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"I have told you this, good sir," resumed the host, "in order `
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that you may be on your guard." `
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"Did he name no one in his passion?" `
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"Yes; he struck his pocket and said, 'We shall see what Monsieur `
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de Treville will think of this insult offered to his protege.'" `
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"Monsieur de Treville?" said the stranger, becoming attentive, `
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"he put his hand upon his pocket while pronouncing the name of `
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Monsieur de Treville? Now, my dear host, while your young man `
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was insensible, you did not fail, I am quite sure, to ascertain `
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what that pocket contained. What was there in it?" `
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"A letter addressed to Monsieur de Treville, captain of the `
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Musketeers." `
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"Indeed!" `
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"Exactly as I have the honor to tell your Excellency." `
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The host, who was not endowed with great perspicacity, did not `
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observe the expression which his words had given to the `
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physiognomy of the stranger. The latter rose from the front of `
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the window, upon the sill of which he had leaned with his elbow, `
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and knitted his brow like a man disquieted. `
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"The devil!" murmured he, between his teeth. "Can Treville have `
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set this Gascon upon me? He is very young; but a sword thrust is `
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a sword thrust, whatever be the age of him who gives it, and a `
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youth is less to be suspected than an older man," and the `
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stranger fell into a reverie which lasted some minutes. "A weak `
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obstacle is sometimes sufficient to overthrow a great design. `
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"Host," said he, "could you not contrive to get rid of this `
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frantic boy for me? In conscience, I cannot kill him; and yet," `
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added he, with a coldly menacing expression, "he annoys me. `
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Where is he?" `
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"In my wife's chamber, on the first flight, where they are `
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dressing his wounds." `
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"His things and his bag are with him? Has he taken off his `
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doublet?" `
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"On the contrary, everything is in the kitchen. But if he annoys `
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you, this young fool--" `
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"To be sure he does. He causes a disturbance in your hostelry, `
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which respectable people cannot put up with. Go; make out my `
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bill and notify my servant." `
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"What, monsieur, will you leave us so soon?" `
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"You know that very well, as I gave my order to saddle my horse. `
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Have they not obeyed me?" `
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"It is done; as your Excellency may have observed, your horse is `
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in the great gateway, ready saddled for your departure." `
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"That is well; do as I have directed you, then." `
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"What the devil!" said the host to himself. "Can he be afraid of `
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this boy?" But an imperious glance from the stranger stopped him `
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short; he bowed humbly and retired. `
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"It is not necessary for Milady* to be seen by this fellow," `
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continued the stranger. "She will soon pass; she is already `
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late. I had better get on horseback, and go and meet her. I `
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should like, however, to know what this letter addressed to `
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