The Three Musketeers (Translated by Richard Pevear) - Alexandre Dumas [201]
“Since that time many things have happened to you: you strolled behind the Chartreux one day when it would have been better for you to be elsewhere; then, you made a trip with your friends to the waters at Forges; they stopped on the way, but you continued your journey. It is quite simple: you had business in England.”
“Monseigneur,” said d’Artagnan, quite dumbstruck, “I was going…”
“To hunt in Windsor, or wherever, that is nobody’s concern. I know it, because it is my job to know everything. On your return, you were received by an august person, and I am pleased to see that you have kept the souvenir she gave you.”
D’Artagnan put his hand to the diamond he had received from the queen and quickly turned the stone inwards; but it was too late.
“The next day, you received a visit from Cavois,” the cardinal went on. “He came to ask you to come to the palace; you did not pay him that visit, and you were wrong.”
“Monsiegneur, I feared I had incurred Your Eminence’s disfavor.”
“And why is that, Monsieur? For having followed the orders of your superiors with more intelligence and courage than another would have done, to incur my disfavor when you deserved only praise? It is those who do not obey that I punish, not those who, like you, obey…too well…And for proof, recall the date of the day I sent word for you to come and see me, and search your memory for what happened that same evening.”
It was that same evening that the abduction of Mme Bonacieux took place. D’Artagnan shuddered. And he remembered that half an hour ago the poor woman had passed by him, no doubt carried off again by the same power that had made her disappear.
“Finally,” the cardinal continued, “as I had not heard mention of you for some time, I wanted to know what you were doing. Besides, you certainly owe me some thanks: you have noticed yourself how you have been spared in all these circumstances.”
D’Artagnan bowed respectfully.
“That,” the cardinal continued, “came not only from a natural sense of fairness, but also from a plan I had drawn up for myself in your regard.”
D’Artagnan was more and more astonished.
“I was going to present that plan to you on the day you received my first invitation, but you did not come. Fortunately, nothing has been lost by the delay, and today you shall hear it. Sit down here, in front of me, M. d’Artagnan: you are gentleman enough not to listen standing.”
And the cardinal pointed out a chair to the young man, who was so astonished by what was happening that he waited for a second sign from his interlocutor before obeying.
“You are brave, M. d’Artagnan,” His Eminence went on. “You are prudent, which is better still. I like men of both head and heart. Don’t be afraid,” he said, smiling, “by men of heart, I mean men of courage. But, young as you are, and only just entering the world, you have powerful enemies. If you are not careful, they will destroy you.”
“Alas, Monseigneur,” replied the young man, “they can do so very easily, no doubt, for they are strong and well supported, while I am quite alone!”
“Yes, that’s true. But, alone as you are, you have already done much, and you will do more, I have no doubt. However, I believe you need to be guided in the adventurous career you have undertaken; for, if I am not mistaken, you have come to Paris with the ambitious idea of making a fortune.”
“I am at the age of wild hopes, Monseigneur,” said d’Artagnan.
“Only fools have wild hopes, Monsieur, and you are an intelligent man. Listen, what would you say to becoming an ensign in my guards, and to commanding a company after the campaign?”
“Ah, Monseigneur!”
“You accept, do you not?”
“Monseigneur,” d’Artagnan repeated with an embarrassed look.
“What, you refuse?” the cardinal cried in astonishment.
“I am in His Majesty’s guards, Monseigneur, and I have no reason to be discontented.”
“But it seems to me,” said His Eminence, “that my own guards are also His Majesty’s guards, and that, provided one serves in a French corps, one serves the king.”
“Monseigneur, Your Eminence has