The Three Musketeers (Translated by Richard Pevear) - Alexandre Dumas [103]
Only, on the way out, Aramis placed his hand on d’Artagnan’s arm and looked at him fixedly.
“You haven’t mentioned that woman to anyone?” he asked.
“No one in the world.”
“Not even Athos and Porthos?”
“I didn’t breathe the slightest word to them.”
“Well done!”
And, at ease on this important point, Aramis continued on his way with d’Artagnan, and the two soon came to Athos’s place.
They found him holding his leave in one hand and M. de Tréville’s letter in the other.
“Can you explain to me the meaning of this leave and this letter that I’ve just received?” asked the astonished Athos.
My dear Athos,
Since your health absolutely demands it, I would like you to rest for two weeks. Go and take the waters at Forges or anywhere else you like, and get well quickly.
Yours affectionately,
Tréville
“Well, this leave and this letter mean that you must follow me, Athos.”
“To the waters at Forges?”
“There or elsewhere.”
“In the king’s service?”
“The king’s and the queen’s: are we not in service to both Their Majesties?”
At that moment, Porthos came in.
“Pardieu,” he said, “here’s a strange thing: since when, in the musketeers, do they grant people leaves when they haven’t asked for them?”
“Ever since they’ve had friends to ask for leaves for them,” said d’Artagnan.
“Aha!” said Porthos, “it seems there’s something new here?”
“Yes, we’re leaving,” said Aramis.
“For what country?” asked Porthos.
“By heaven, I know nothing about it,” said Athos. “Ask d’Artagnan.”
“For London, gentlemen,” said d’Artagnan.
“For London!” cried Porthos. “And what are we going to do in London?”
“That I can’t tell you, gentlemen; you will have to trust me.”
“But it takes money to go to London,” Porthos added, “and I don’t have any.”
“Neither do I,” said Aramis.
“Neither do I,” said Athos.
“But I do,” d’Artagnan picked up, pulling his treasure from his pocket and placing it on the table. “There are three hundred pistoles in this pouch. Let’s each take seventy-five; that’s enough to go to London and back. Besides, don’t worry, we won’t all get to London.”
“And why not?”
“Because in all probability some of us will be left by the roadside.”
“So we’re undertaking some sort of campaign?”
“And of the most dangerous kind, I warn you.”
“Ah, well, since we risk getting ourselves killed,” said Porthos, “I’d at least like to know why.”
“You’ll be no better off for that!” said Athos.
“However,” said Aramis, “I’m of Porthos’s opinion.”
“Is the king in the habit of accounting to you? No, he just tells you: Gentlemen, there’s fighting in Gascony or in Flanders. Go and fight. And you go. Why? You don’t even bother about that.”
“D’Artagnan is right,” said Athos. “Here are our three leaves from M. de Tréville, and here are three hundred pistoles that come from I don’t know where. Let’s go where we’re told to go and get ourselves killed. Is life worth asking so many questions? D’Artagnan, I’m ready to follow you.”
“And so am I,” said Porthos.
“And so am I,” said Aramis. “Anyhow, I’m not sorry to leave Paris. I need some distraction.”
“Well, rest assured, gentlemen, you’ll have enough distraction,” said d’Artagnan.
“And now, when do we leave?” asked Athos.
“At once,” replied d’Artagnan, “there’s not a minute to lose.”
“Ho, there! Grimaud, Planchet, Mousqueton, Bazin!” cried the four young men, summoning their lackeys. “Grease our boots and bring the horses from the hôtel.”
Indeed, each musketeer left his own horse and his lackey’s at the general hôtel, as if in barracks.
Planchet, Grimaud, Mousqueton, and Bazin left in all haste.
“Now, let’s draw up a campaign plan,” said Porthos. “Where do we go first?”
“To Calais,” said d’Artagnan. “That