The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [238]
“Well?” asked the Cardinal as La Houdinière reappeared.
“A curious story, Monseigneur,” the captain replied. “It seems that the three musketeers and one Royal Guardsman wagered with Monsieur de Busigny that they would go to breakfast at the Bastion Saint-Gervais. While breakfasting they held out for two hours against the rebels, killing an untold number of them.”
“Did you inquire who the three musketeers were?”
“Yes, Monseigneur.”
“Their names?”
“Athos, Porthos and Aramis.”
“Always the same three heroes—” the Cardinal murmured. “And the guardsman?”
“Monsieur d’Artagnan.”
“—always flanked by the same young scapegrace! I must positively enlist these four men in my service.”
The same evening His Eminence spoke to Monsieur de Tréville of the day’s exploit which was still the sole topic of conversation throughout the camp. Tréville, who had received an account of it from the mouths of the actors themselves, repeated it in full to His Eminence, not omitting the episode of the napkin.
“Splendid, Monsieur de Tréville. Pray have that napkin sent me. I will have three lilies embroidered upon it in gold and I will give it to your company as a standard.”
“Monseigneur, I fear that would be doing the Royal Guards an injustice. Monsieur d’Artagnan is not one of my men, he serves under Monsieur des Essarts.”
“Well then, take him!” said the Cardinal. “When four brave men are so attached to one another, they should not serve in different companies.”
That evening Monsieur de Tréville bore the good news to the three musketeers and to D’Artagnan, inviting all four to lunch with him on the morrow. They were overjoyed.
“God bless us, Athos, that was a triumphant idea of yours. As you promised, we have acquired glory and we were enabled to carry on a most important conversation.”
“A conversation we can now continue without fear of suspicion, for, God help us, we shall henceforth be considered cardinalists.”
That evening D’Artagnan called to pay his respects to Monsieur des Essarts and to inform him of the promotion he had just received. The Captain, who was very fond of D’Artagnan, offered him his good offices, for this change of corps would involve heavy additional expenses for equipment. D’Artagnan declined gratefully but, using the opportunity to advantage, asked Monsieur des Essarts to have the diamond valued, appraised and sold.
Next morning at eight o’clock Monsieur des Essarts’ valet called on D’Artagnan and handed him a bag containing seven thousand gold livres, the price of the Queen’s diamond.
XLVIII
A FAMILY AFFAIR
It was Athos who first used the term “family affair.” A family affair was not subject to investigation by the Cardinal; it concerned nobody; any-one might conduct a family affair in broad daylight while all the world looked on.
Athos thus discovered the phrase (family affair); Aramis discovered the idea (the lackeys); Porthos discovered the means (the diamond); D’Artagnan alone discovered nothing at all. This was surprising, for he was usually the most inventive of the quartet; alas! in the present juncture the mere name of Milady paralyzed him. But no! he did discover something, after all; he discovered a purchaser for his diamond.
The luncheon at Monsieur de Tréville’s was very gay and enjoyable. D’Artagnan already wore his uniform, thanks to Aramis. Having been so handsomely paid by the bookseller who purchased his poem Aramis had bought double of everything. As D’Artagnan and he were of the same size, Aramis cheerfully yielded his friend a complete outfit. D’Artagnan would have been overjoyed had he not constantly seen Milady, hovering like a dark cloud on the horizon.
After luncheon Athos and his friends agreed to meet at his billet that night to complete their deliberations. Only three things remained to be decided upon: first, what they should