The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [110]
“I count on your word, Milord!”
D’Artagnan bowed again and hastened to the port.
Opposite the Tower of London, he found the Sund and gave the Captain his letter; the Captain had it certified by the Governor of the Port and they set sail at once.
Fifty vessels were waiting to set out as soon as the prohibition was lifted. As the Sund passed close alongside one of them, D’Artagnan fancied he saw a familiar figure—the woman of Meung, the woman whom the stranger had called Milady and whom our Gascon had thought so beautiful. But thanks to the swift tide and to the brisk wind the Sund passed so quickly that he caught little more than a glimpse of her.
Next day at about nine o’clock he landed at Saint-Valéry and immediately looked for the inn Buckingham had mentioned. He easily identified it by the riotous noise within; already there was excited talk of speedy and certain war between England and France, and the happy sailors were carousing to celebrate it.
D’Artagnan made his way through the crowd, found the host and whispered: Forward! The host immediately motioned to him to follow, went out by a door leading to the yard, advanced to the stable where a horse, ready-saddled, awaited, and asked D’Artagnan if he needed anything else.
“I want to know the route I am to take.”
“Go from here to Blangy and from Blangy to Neufchâtel. At Neufchâtel, at the Sign of the Golden Harrow, give the innkeeper the password and you will find a horse, ready-saddled, just as you did here.”
“What do I owe you?”
“Everything is paid for, Monsieur, and handsomely, too,” the host said importantly. “Be off then and God speed you!”
“Amen,” breathed D’Artagnan, setting off at full gallop.
Four hours later he was at Neufchâtel. Faithfully he followed the instructions he had received; at Neufchâtel, as at Saint-Valéry, he found a fully saddled mount waiting for him. He was about to transfer the pistols from one saddle to another when he noticed that his new mount was already furnished with similar ones.
“Your address in Paris?”
“Hôtel des Gardes, Monsieur des Essarts, Commanding Officer.”
“Good.”
“What route am I to take?”
“The Rouen road, but do not go through the city; skirt it on your right. At the hamlet of Ecouis, you will find an inn—the only one—The Sign of the French Arms. Don’t judge it by appearances; you will find a horse as good as this one in the stables.”
“Same password?”
“Exactly.”
“Good-bye, host.”
“Farewell, Monsieur. Do you need anything?”
D’Artagnan shook his head, waved his hand and made off at full speed. At Ecouis the same scene was repeated: a host equally obliging . . . a fresh fully equipped horse . . . a request for his Paris address . . . a statement of the same . . . a wave of the hand and a cloud of dust as he galloped off toward Pontoise. . . .
Here he changed horses for the last time and at nine o’clock galloped into the courtyard of the Hôtel de Tréville. He had covered nearly sixty leagues—in twelve hours.
Monsieur de Tréville received him as if he had seen him that very morning. But, on shaking his hand a little more warmly than usual, he told him that Monsieur des Essart’s company was on guard duty at the Louvre that night and that he might repair at once to his post.
XXII
IN WHICH THEIR MAJESTIES DANCE LA MERLAISON,
A FAVORITE BALLET OF THE KING’S
On the morrow all Paris was agog with talk of the ball which the City Aldermen were to give in honor of the King and Queen. Their Majesties were to dance the famous La Merlaison, the King’s favorite ballet.
For the past week feverish preparations for this important occasion had made the Hôtel de Ville hum with activity. The city carpenters erected scaffolds to seat the ladies invited . . . the city grocer had furnished the reception rooms with two hundred white waxen torches, a piece of luxury unheard of at that period . . . no fewer than twenty violinists were to play, at double their usual wage on condition, rumor said, that they played the night through. . . .
At ten o’clock in the morning the Sieur de La Coste, Ensign in the King’s Guards,