D’Artagnan was visibly put out by this reply; but he was not a man to allow himself to be subdued by so little, and resumed. “Monsieur,” said he, “your reply is just. But you are ignorant that Belle-Isle is a fief of M. Fouquet, and the ancient kings gave the right to the seigneurs of Belle-Isle to arm their people.”
The major made a movement.
“Oh, do not interrupt me,” continued d’Artagnan. “You are going to tell me that that right to arm themselves against the English was not a right to arm themselves against their King. But it is not M. Fouquet, I suppose, who holds Belle-Isle at this moment, since I arrested M. Fouquet the day before yesterday. Now, the inhabitants and defenders of Belle-Isle know nothing of that arrest. You would announce it to them in vain. It is a thing so unheard of and extraordinary, so unexpected, that they would not believe you. A Breton serves his master, and not his masters; he serves his master till he has seen him dead. Now, the Bretons, as I know, have not seen the body of M. Fouquet. It is not then surprising that they hold out against everything which is not M. Fouquet or his signature.”
The major bowed in sign of assent.
“That is why,” continued d’Artagnan, “I propose to cause two of the principal officers of the garrison to come on board my vessel. They will see you, gentlemen; they will see the forces we have at our disposal; they will consequently know what they have to expect, and the fate that attends them in case of rebellion. We will assure them, upon our honor, that M. Fouquet is a prisoner, and that all resistance can be only prejudicial to them. We will tell them that when the first cannon is fired there will be no mercy to be expected from the King. Then, I hope it at least, they will no longer resist. They will yield without fighting, and we shall have a place given up to us in a friendly way which it might cost us much trouble to subdue.”
The officer who had followed d’Artagnan to Belle-Isle was preparing to speak, but d’Artagnan interrupted him. “Yes, I know what you are going to tell me, Monsieur; I know that there is an order by the King to prevent all secret communications with the defenders of Belle-Isle, and that is exactly why I do not offer to communicate but in the presence of my staff.”
And d’Artagnan made an inclination of the head to his officers, which was intended to give a value to that condescension.
The officers looked at one another as if to read their opinions in their eyes, with the evident intention of acting, after they should have agreed, according to the desire of d’Artagnan. And already the latter saw with joy that the result of their consent would be the sending of a boat to Porthos and Aramis, when the King’s officer drew from his pocket a folded paper, which he placed in the hands of d’Artagnan. This paper bore upon its superscription the number “1.”
“What, still another!” murmured the surprised captain.
“Read, Monsieur,” said the officer, with a courtesy that was not free from sadness.
D’Artagnan, full of mistrust, unfolded the paper, and read these words:-
“Prohibition to M. d’Artagnan to assemble any council whatever, or to deliberate in any way before Belle-Isle be surrendered and the prisoners shot.
“Signed: LOUIS.”
D’Artagnan repressed the movement of impatience that ran through his whole body, and with a gracious smile, “That is well, Monsieur,” said he; “the King’s orders shall be obeyed.”
Chapter LXXII: Result of the Ideas of the King and the Ideas of d’Artagnan
THE blow was direct; it was severe, mortal. D’Artagnan, furious at having been anticipated by an idea of the King, did not however yet despair; and reflecting upon the idea he had brought back from Belle-Isle, he derived from it a new means of safety for his friends. “Gentlemen,” said he, suddenly, “since the King has charged some other than myself with his secret orders, it must be because I no longer possess his confidence, and I should be really unworthy of it if I had the courage to hold a command subject to so many injurious suspicions. I will go then immediately and carry my resignation to the King. I give it before you all, enjoining you all to fall back with me upon the coast of France in such a way as not to compromise the safety of the forces his Majesty has confided to me. For this purpose, return all to your posts and command the return; within an hour we shall have the floodtide. To your posts, gentlemen! I suppose,” added he, on seeing that all were prepared to obey him except the surveillant officer, “you have no orders to object, this time?”