The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [181]
“For me, I know it, my sweet girl. I appreciate it and I swear I am deeply grateful to you, dear.”
“At least tell me what your note says?”
“Milady will tell you.”
“Ah! you do not love me!” Kitty wailed. “I am so unhappy!”
To a reproach of this sort, there is always one answer which will delude any woman. D’Artagnan answered to such effect that Kitty remained completely and thoroughly deluded. Although she wept a great deal before making up her mind to deliver the letter, she finally consented to do D’Artagnan’s bidding, which was all D’Artagnan wished.
Besides, he promised that he would leave Milady’s early that evening and repair immediately to Kitty’s room. This promise completed poor Kitty’s consolation.
XXXIV
CONCERNING THE RESPECTIVE OUTFITS OF ARAMIS AND PORTHOS
Since the four friends had begun to search each for his own outfit, there had been no fixed meetings between them. They dined apart from one another wherever they chanced to be or rather wherever they could. Duty also consumed a portion of that precious time which was passing so swiftly. However they had agreed to report once a week at about one o’clock, with Athos for host, since, true to his vow, he would not pass the threshold of his door.
Their first meeting was on the same day that Kitty had visited D’Artagnan. She was no sooner gone than D’Artagnan hastened to the Rue Férou, where he found Athos and Aramis plunged in a philosophical discussion. Aramis felt inclined to resume the cassock; Athos, as usual, neither encouraged nor dissuaded him. Athos believed that every man should be left to his own free will; he never volunteered advice, but when asked to give it, he did so only at the second request.
“People in general ask for advice only in order not to follow it,” he used to say, “or if they do follow it, it is to have someone to blame for having given it.”
Porthos arrived a minute after D’Artagnan and so the four were reunited—but not for long! These four countenances expressed four very dissimilar frames of mind: Porthos looked tranquil, D’Artagnan hopeful, Aramis uneasy, and Athos careless.
After a moment’s conversation, while Porthos was hinting that a lady of lofty rank had condescended to relieve him from his embarrassment, suddenly his valet Mousqueton entered. He begged his master to return to his lodgings where, he said piteously, his presence was urgently required.
“Is it my equipment?”
“Yes and no,” Mousqueton replied. “Please come, Monsieur.”
Porthos rose, bowed to his friends and followed Mousqueton.
An instant after, Bazin appeared at the door.
“What do you want, my friend?” Aramis inquired with that comity of language he affected whenever his ideas were directed toward the Church.
“A man is waiting to see Monsieur at home,” Bazin replied.
“A man? What man?”
“A beggar.”
“Give him alms, Bazin, and bid him pray for a poor sinner.”
“This beggar insists on speaking to you; he claims that you will be very pleased to see him.”
“Did he give you any particular message?”
“Yes. He said: ‘If Monsieur Aramis hesitates to come, tell him I am from Tours!’”
“From Tours!” cried Aramis. “A thousand pardons, gentlemen, but no doubt this man brings me some news I was expecting.” And, rising in his turn, he too set off hurriedly.
“I wager these fellows have managed their business and are fully equipped,” said Athos. “What do you think, D’Artagnan?”
“I know that Porthos is in a fair way to succeeding,” D’Artagnan replied. “As to Aramis, truth to tell, I have never been seriously worried about him. But you, my dear Athos—you who so generously distributed the Englishman’s pistoles which were your own legitimate property—what do you mean to do?”
“I am quite content with having killed that fellow. Is it not blessèd bread to kill an Englishman? But I had pocketed his pistoles, I would now be eating my heart out with remorse!”
“Bah, my dear Athos, you really have the most extraordinary ideas!”
“Ah well, let it pass! . . . To change the subject: Monsieur de Tréville did me the honor of