The Three Musketeers (Translated by Richard Pevear) - Alexandre Dumas [202]
“You want a pretext, is that it? I understand. Well, then, you have that pretext. Advancement, the opening of the campaign, the chance I am offering you, so much for the world; for yourself, a need of sure protection. For it is well that you know, M. d’Artagnan, I have received serious complaints against you. You do not devote your days and nights exclusively to the king’s service.”
D’Artagnan blushed.
“Moreover,” the cardinal continued, placing his hand on a sheaf of papers, “I have here a whole file concerning you; but, before reading it, I wanted to speak with you. I know you to be a man of determination, and your services, properly guided, instead of leading you to harm, could reward you greatly. Come, reflect and decide.”
“Your goodness overwhelms me, Monseigneur,” replied d’Artagnan, “and I acknowledge a greatness of soul in Your Eminence that makes me small as a worm; but, finally, since Your Eminence permits me to speak frankly…”
D’Artagnan paused.
“Yes, speak.”
“Well, then, I will say to Your Eminence that all my friends are in the musketeers or the king’s guards, and that my enemies, by some inconceivable fatality, are Your Eminence’s men. I will thus be ill-received here and ill-regarded there, if I accept what Monseigneur is offering me.”
“Might you already have the proud idea that I am not offering you as much as you are worth, Monsieur?” said the cardinal with a scornful smile.
“Monseigneur, Your Eminence is a hundred times too kind to me, and I think, on the contrary, that I have by no means done enough yet to be worthy of his kindness. I shall serve under Your Eminence’s eyes, and if I have the good fortune to conduct myself at this siege in such fashion that I deserve to attract your attention, well, then afterwards I shall at least have some brilliant action behind me to justify the protection with which you would so kindly honor me. Everything in its time, Monseigneur. Perhaps later I shall have the right to give myself; at the moment it would look as if I were selling myself.”
“In other words, you refuse to serve me, Monsieur,” said the cardinal, with a spiteful tone in which, however, a certain esteem could be detected. “Remain free, then, and keep your hatreds and your sympathies.”
“Monseigneur…”
“Very well, very well,” said the cardinal, “I do not hold it against you. But you understand, it is enough to defend one’s friends and reward them; one owes nothing to one’s enemies. And yet I will give you one piece of advice: watch out for yourself, M. d’Artagnan, for the moment I withdraw my hand from you, your life will not be worth a straw.”
“I will do my best, Monseigneur,” the Gascon replied with noble self-assurance.
“Reflect later, if at a certain moment misfortune befalls you,” Richelieu said meaningfully, “that it was I who sought you out, and that I have done what I could to keep that misfortune from befalling you.”
“Whatever may befall,” said d’Artagnan, placing his hand on his heart and bowing, “I shall be eternally grateful to Your Eminence for what he has done for me at this moment.”
“Very well, then, as you have said, M. d’Artagnan, we shall see each other after the campaign. I shall be keeping an eye on you, for I shall be there,” the cardinal went on, pointing out to d’Artagnan the magnificent suit of armor he was to wear, “and on our return, we shall make our reckoning!”
“Ah, Monseigneur!” cried d’Artagnan, “spare me the weight of your disfavor; remain neutral, Monseigneur, if you find that I act as a gallant man.”
“Young man,” said Richelieu, “if I can say to you again what I have said to you today, I promise you that I will say it.”
This last word from Richelieu expressed a terrible doubt. It dismayed d’Artagnan more than a threat, for it was a warning. So the cardinal was seeking to save him from some misfortune that threatened him. He opened his mouth to reply, but the cardinal dismissed him with a haughty gesture.
D’Artagnan left; but at the door his heart nearly failed him, and he was about to turn back. However, the grave and stern face