The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [206]
“I shall do my best,” the Gascon promised with noble assurance.
Richelieu looked meaningfully at him and stressing his words:
“In the future,” he said, “if some mischance should happen to befall you, remember that it was I who sought you out and that I did what I could to forestall a catastrophe.”
“Whatever may happen,” D’Artagnan placed his hand to his heart and bowed, “I shall entertain an everlasting gratitude to Your Eminence for what you now do for me.”
“Well, then, so be it, Monsieur; we shall meet again after the campaign. Anyhow, I shall keep an eye on you for I shall be at the siege—” he pointed to a magnificent suit of armor which he was to wear, “and on our return, well—we shall take stock of the situation.”
“I beg Your Eminence to spare me the burden of your disfavor,” D’Artagnan ventured. “Pray remain neutral, Monseigneur, if you find that I act as becomes a true and gallant gentleman.”
“Young man, if I can some day repeat what I have said to you today, I promise you I shall do so.”
These final words, conveying the grim doubt they did, dismayed D’Artagnan more than any threat could have done. They constituted a warning. The Cardinal was seeking to preserve him from some misfortune which menaced him. D’Artagnan opened his mouth to reply, but with a haughty gesture the Cardinal dismissed him.
D’Artagnan took his leave. At the door his heart almost failed him and he was on the point of returning, but the grave, stern countenance of Athos rose before his eyes. If D’Artagnan made the pact which the Cardinal proposed, Athos would repudiate him, he could never again shake hands with him. The influence of a truly great character being powerful, it was the mere thought of Athos that kept D’Artagnan from retracing his steps.
Taking the stairway by which he had come, D’Artagnan found Athos and his three supporters awaiting his return with considerable apprehension. D’Artagnan reassured them with a word and Planchet ran to inform the other sentinels that it was useless to stand by any longer because his master had emerged from the palace safe and sound.
When the friends were assembled in the Rue Férou, Aramis and Porthos pressed D’Artagnan to explain this curious interview. He contented himself with telling them that Monsieur le Cardinal had sent for him to propose he enter the Cardinal’s Guards with the rank of ensign. He hastened to add that he had refused this honor.
“You did well!” said Porthos.
“Bravo!” Aramis commented.
Athos, falling into a brown study, said nothing. But when he was alone with D’Artagnan:
“You did what you should have done, D’Artagnan,” he declared. “But perhaps you were wrong, at that!”
D’Artagnan sighed ruefully, for this reasoning corresponded to that of a secret voice within him which told him that great misfortunes lay in store for him.
All next day was spent in preparations for departure. D’Artagnan paid Monsieur de Tréville a farewell call. At the time, the separation of the musketeers and the guards was supposed to be but a temporary measure, since the King was holding his Parliament that very day and proposing to leave on the morrow. Monsieur de Tréville therefore merely asked D’Artagnan whether he could be of any use to him, to which D’Artagnan replied proudly that he was supplied with all he needed.
That night all the comrades of Monsieur des Essarts’ guards and of Monsieur de Tréville’s musketeers convened to affirm their long-standing friendship. They were parting to meet again if or when it pleased God. As may be imagined, the night proved a boisterous and riotous one. At such times, extreme preoccupation yields to a gay insouciance.
At the first peals of reveille, the friends parted company, the musketeers hastening to the Hôtel de Tréville, the guards to the Hôtel des Essarts. Each Captain then led his company to the Louvre where the King was to hold his review.
His Majesty looked out of sorts and ill, which detracted considerably from his usual proud bearing. Indeed, the day before a fever seized him in the midst of the parliamentary session; but he determined