“Not even the captain who takes the order?” cried d’Artagnan. “I think that he is rather too strong.”
“Not even he,” said M. de Lyonne.
“Since that is the case,” replied d’Artagnan, wounded to the heart,- “since the captain of the Musketeers, who has always entered the King’s chamber, is no longer allowed to enter it, his cabinet, or his salle a manger,- either the King is dead or his captain is in disgrace. In either case he can no longer want him; have the kindness, then, M. de Lyonne, who are in favor, to return and tell the King plainly that I send him my resignation.”
“D’Artagnan, beware of what you are doing!”
“For friendship’s sake, go!” and he pushed him gently towards the cabinet.
“Well, I will go,” said De Lyonne.
D’Artagnan waited, walking about the corridor. De Lyonne returned. “Well, what did the King say?” exclaimed d’Artagnan.
“He simply answered that it was good,” replied De Lyonne.
“That it was good!” said the captain, with an explosion. “That is to say that he accepts it? Good! Now, then, I am free! I am only a plain citizen, M. de Lyonne. I have the pleasure of bidding you good-by! Farewell, castle, corridor, antechamber! a citizen about to breathe at liberty takes his farewell of you.”
And without waiting longer, the captain sprang from the terrace down the staircase where he had picked up the fragments of Gourville’s letter. Five minutes after, he was at the hostelry where, according to the custom of all great officers who have lodgings at the castle, he had taken what was called his city chamber. But when arrived there, instead of throwing off his sword and cloak, he took his pistols, put his money into a large leather purse, sent for his horses from the castle stables, and gave orders for reaching Vannes during the night. Everything went on according to his wishes. At eight o’clock in the evening he was putting his foot in the stirrup, when M. de Gesvres appeared at the head of twelve guards in front of the hostelry. D’Artagnan saw all from the corner of his eye,- he could not fail to see those thirteen men and thirteen horses; but he feigned not to observe anything, and was about to put his horse in motion.
De Gesvres rode up to him. “M. d’Artagnan,” said he, aloud.
“Ah, M. de Gesvres, good-evening!” “One would say you were getting on horseback.”
“More than that, I am mounted, as you see.”
“It is fortunate I have met you.”
“Were you looking for me, then?”
“Mon Dieu! yes.”
“On the part of the King, I will wager?”
“Yes.”
“As I three days ago went in search of M. Fouquet?”
“Oh!”
“Nonsense! It is of no use being delicate with me,- that is all labor lost; tell me at once you are come to arrest me.”
“To arrest you? Good heavens! no.”
“Why do you come to accost me with twelve horsemen at your heels, then?”
“I am making my round.”
“That isn’t bad! And so you pick me up in your round, eh?”
“I don’t pick you up; I meet you, and I beg you to come with me.”
“Where?”
“To the King.”
“Good!” said d’Artagnan, with a bantering air; “the King has nothing to do at last!”
“For Heaven’s sake, Captain,” said M. de Gesvres, in a low voice to the musketeer, “do not compromise yourself! these men hear you.”
D’Artagnan laughed aloud, and replied, “March! Persons who are arrested are placed between the first six guards and the last six.”
“But as I do not arrest you,” said M. de Gesvres, “you will march behind with me, if you please.”
“Well,” said d’Artagnan, “that is very polite, Duke; and you are right in being so,- for if ever I had had to make my rounds near your chambre de ville, I should have been courteous to you, I assure you, by the faith of a gentleman! Now, one favor more: what does the King want with me?”
“Oh, the King is furious!”
“Very well! the King, who has taken the trouble to be furious, may take the trouble of getting calm again; that is all of that. I sha’n’t die of that, I will swear.”