The Three Musketeers (Translated by Richard Pevear) - Alexandre Dumas [234]
The thing was recounted to the messenger with all the efflorescence of enthusiasm.
“Well?” asked the cardinal, on seeing La Houdinière.
“Well, Monseigneur,” said the latter, “three musketeers and a guard made a bet with M. de Busigny that they could go to have lunch in the Saint-Gervais bastion, and, while lunching, they held the place for two hours against the enemy and killed I don’t know how many Rochelois.”
“Did you find out the names of these three musketeers?”
“Yes, Monseigneur.”
“What are they?”
“They are MM. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.”
“Ever the same brave three!” murmured the cardinal. “And the guard?”
“M. d’Artagnan.”
“Ever the same young rascal! Decidedly, these four men must be mine.”
That same evening, the cardinal spoke with M. de Tréville of the morning’s exploit, which was the only subject of conversation throughout the camp. M. de Tréville, who had the story of the adventure from the very mouths of those who had been its heroes, told it in full detail to His Eminence, without forgetting the episode of the napkin.
“Very well, M. de Tréville,” said the cardinal, “keep that napkin for me, I beg you. I will have three gold fleurs-delis embroidered on it, and will give it to your company as a standard.”
“Monseigneur,” said M. de Tréville, “that would be an injustice to the guards: M. d’Artagnan does not belong to me, but to M. des Essarts.”
“Well, then, take him,” said the cardinal. “It’s not fair that these four brave soldiers, since they love each other so much, do not serve in the same company.”
That very evening, M. de Tréville announced this good news to the three musketeers and d’Artagnan, inviting the four of them to lunch the next day.
D’Artagnan could not contain himself for joy. As we know, the dream of his whole life was to be a musketeer.
The three friends were very joyful.
“By heaven!” said d’Artagnan to Athos, “you had a triumphant idea there, and, as you said, we’ve gained glory by it, and we were also able to have a conversation of the highest importance.”
“Which we can take up again now, without anyone suspecting us; for, with God’s help, from now on we’ll be taken for cardinalists.”
That same evening, d’Artagnan went to pay his respects to M. des Essarts, and to acquaint him with the advancement he had obtained.
M. des Essarts, who liked d’Artagnan very much, then offered to be of service to him, this change of corps bringing with it expenses for outfitting.
D’Artagnan declined; but, finding it a good occasion, gave him his diamond and asked him to have it appraised, as he wished to turn it into money.
The next day, at eight o’clock in the morning, M. des Essarts’s valet came to see d’Artagnan, and handed him a pouch containing seven thousand livres in gold.
That was the price of the queen’s diamond.
XLVIII
A FAMILY MATTER
Athos had found the term: “a family matter.” A family matter was not subject to the cardinal’s investigation; a family matter was nobody’s concern; one could be occupied with a family matter in front of all the world.
And so, Athos had found the term: a family matter.
Aramis had found the idea: the valets.
Porthos had found the means: the diamond.
D’Artagnan alone had found nothing, he who was usually the most inventive of the four. But it must also be said that the mere name of Milady paralyzed him.
Ah, no, we are mistaken! He had found a buyer for the diamond.
The lunch with M. de Tréville was of a charming gaiety. D’Artagnan already had his uniform. As he was about the same size as Aramis, and as Aramis, generously paid, as will be remembered, by the bookseller who had bought his poem, had had doubles made of everything, he had handed over a complete outfit to his friend.
D’Artagnan would have had all his wishes fulfilled, if