Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas, Alexandre part one

“As soon as I had left?”

“You were just going down the last steps of the staircase, as the musketeers told me. I arrived. My dear Athos, the King was not red in the face merely, he was positively purple. I was not aware, of course, of what had passed; only I saw a sword broken in two lying on the floor. ‘Captain d’Artagnan,’ cried the King, as soon as he saw me. ‘Sire,’ I replied. ‘I abandon M. de la Fere; he is an insolent man.’ ‘An insolent man!’ I exclaimed, in such a tone that the King stopped suddenly short. ‘Captain d’Artagnan,’ resumed the King, with his teeth clinched, ‘you will listen to me and obey me.’ ‘That is my duty, Sire.’ ‘I have wished to spare that gentleman, of whom I retain some kind recollections, the affront of having him arrested in my presence.’ ‘Ah! ah!’ I said quietly. ‘But you will take a carriage.’ At this I made a slight movement. ‘If you object to arrest him yourself,’ continued the King, ‘send me my captain of the Guards.’ ‘Sire,’ I replied, ‘there is no necessity for the captain of the Guards, since I am on duty.’ ‘I should not like to annoy you,’ said the King, kindly, ‘for you have always served me well, M. d’Artagnan.’ ‘You do not annoy me, Sire,’ I replied; ‘I am on duty, that is all.’ ‘But,’ said the King, in astonishment, ‘I believe the count is your friend?’ ‘If he were my father, Sire, it would not make me less on duty than I am.’ The King looked at me; he saw how unmoved my face was, and seemed satisfied. ‘You will arrest M. le Comte de la Fere, then?’ he inquired. ‘Most certainly, Sire, if you give me the order to do so.’ ‘Very well; I order you to do so.’ I bowed and replied, ‘Where is the count, Sire?’ ‘You will look for him.’ ‘And I am to arrest him wherever he may be?’ ‘Yes; but at his own house if possible. If he has started for his own estate, leave Paris at once, and arrest him on his way thither.’ I bowed; but as I did not move, he said, ‘Well?’ ‘I am waiting, Sire.’ ‘What are you waiting for?’ ‘For the signed order.’ The King seemed annoyed; for in point of fact it was the exercise of a fresh act of authority,- a repetition of the arbitrary act, if indeed it is to be considered as such. He took his pen slowly, and in no very good temper; then he wrote, ‘Order for M. le Chevalier d’Artagnan, captain of my Musketeers, to arrest M. le Comte de la Fere, wherever he is to be found.’ He then turned towards me; but I was looking on without moving a muscle of my face. In all probability he thought he perceived something like bravado in my tranquil manner, for he signed hurriedly; and then handing me the order, he said, ‘Go!’ I obeyed; and here I am.”

Athos pressed his friend’s hand. “Well, let us set off,” he said.

“Oh! surely,” said d’Artagnan, “you must have some trifling matters to arrange before you leave your apartments in this manner?”

“I? Not at all.”

“Why not?”

“Why, you know, d’Artagnan, I have always been a very simple traveller on this earth, ready to go to the end of the world by order of my sovereign, ready to quit it at the summons of my Maker. What does a man who is thus prepared require in such a case?- a portmanteau or a shroud. I am ready at this moment, as I have always been, dear friend, and can accompany you at once.”

“But Bragelonne-”

“I have brought him up in the same principles I laid down for my own guidance; and you observed that as soon as he perceived you he guessed, that very moment, the motive of your visit. We have thrown him off his guard for a moment; but do not be uneasy,- he is sufficiently prepared for my disgrace not to be too much alarmed at it. So, let us go.”

“Very well, let us go,” said d’Artagnan, quietly.

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