Raoul hung his head, and said not a word more. Athos descended from the carriage, and mounted the horse which had brought Porthos, and which seemed no little pleased at the exchange. Then they embraced, clasped one another’s hands, and interchanged a thousand pledges of eternal friendship. Porthos promised to spend a month with Athos at the first opportunity. D’Artagnan engaged to take advantage of his first leave of absence; and then, having embraced Raoul for the last time, “To you, my boy,” said he, “I will write.” Coming from d’Artagnan, who he knew wrote but very seldom, these words expressed everything. Raoul was moved even to tears. He tore himself away from the musketeer, and departed.
D’Artagnan rejoined Porthos in the carriage. “Well,” said he, “my dear friend, what a day we have had!”
“Indeed, yes,” answered Porthos.
“You must be quite worn out?”
“Not quite; however, I shall retire early to rest, so as to be ready tomorrow.”
“And wherefore?”
“Why, to complete what I have begun.”
“You make me shudder, my friend; you seem to me quite angry. What the devil have you begun which is not finished?”
“Listen! Raoul has not fought; it is necessary that I should fight.”
“With whom?- with the King?”
“How!” exclaimed Porthos, astounded, “with the King?”
“Yes, I say, you great baby! with the King.”
“I assure you it is with M. de Saint-Aignan.”
“Look now, this is what I mean: you draw your sword against the King in fighting with this gentleman.”
“Ah!” said Porthos, staring; “are you sure of it?”
“Indeed, I am.”
“How shall we arrange it, then?”
“We must try and make a good supper, Porthos. The captain of the Musketeers keeps a tolerable table. There you will see the handsome De Saint-Aignan, and will drink his health.”
“I!” cried Porthos, horrified.
“What!” said d’Artagnan, “you refuse to drink the King’s health?”
“But, body alive! I am not talking to you about the King at all; I am speaking of M. de Saint-Aignan.”
“But since I repeat that it is the same thing-”
“Ah, well, well!” said Porthos, overcome.
“You understand, don’t you?”
“No,” said Porthos; “but no matter.”
“Yes, it is all the same,” replied d’Artagnan; “let us go to supper, Porthos.”
Chapter XXVIII: M. de Baisemeaux’s “Society”
THE reader has not forgotten that, on quitting the Bastille, d’Artagnan and the Comte de la Fere had left Aramis in close confabulation with Baisemeaux. When once these two guests had departed, Baisemeaux did not in the least perceive that the conversation suffered by their absence. He thought that wine after supper, and that of the Bastille in particular, was excellent; and that it was a stimulant quite sufficient to make an honest man talk. But he little knew his Greatness, who was never more impenetrable than at dessert. His Greatness, however, perfectly understood M. de Baisemeaux, when he reckoned on making the governor discourse by the means which the latter regarded as efficacious. The conversation, therefore, without flagging in appearance, flagged in reality; for Baisemeaux not only had it nearly all to himself, but further, kept speaking only of that singular event,- the incarceration of Athos, followed by so prompt an order to set him again at liberty. Nor, moreover, had Baisemeaux failed to observe that the order of arrest and that of liberation were both in the King’s hand. But the King would not take the trouble to write such orders except under pressing circumstances. All this was very interesting, and, above all, very puzzling to Baisemeaux; but as, on the other hand, all this was very clear to Aramis, the latter did not attach to the occurrence the same importance as did the worthy governor. Besides, Aramis rarely put himself out of the way for anything, and he had not yet told M. de Baisemeaux for what reason he had now done so; and so, at the very climax of Baisemeaux’s dissertation, Aramis suddenly interrupted him.
“Tell me, my dear M. Baisemeaux,” said he, “have you never had any other diversions at the Bastille than those at which I have assisted during the two or three visits I have had the honor to pay you?”
This address was so unexpected that the governor, like a vane which suddenly receives an impulsion opposed to that of the wind, was quite dumfounded at it. “Diversions!” said he; “but I take them continually, Monseigneur.”
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121