body-guards. It is true he is not the worse guarded on that
account.”
“What is wanted with me?” asked the king, from the back of
the chamber.
“Sire, it is M. le Chevalier d’Artagnan, who brings you some
news.”
A noise was immediately heard in the chamber, a door was
opened, and a flood of light inundated the corridor and the
garden. The king was working by the light of a lamp. Papers
were lying about upon his desk, and he had commenced the
foul copy of a letter which showed, by the numerous
erasures, the trouble he had had in writing it.
“Come in, monsieur le chevalier,” said he, turning around.
Then perceiving the fisherman, “What do you mean, Parry?
Where is M. le Chevalier d’Artagnan?” asked Charles.
“He is before you, sire,” said M. d’Artagnan.
“What, in that costume?”
“Yes; look at me, sire; do you not remember having seen me
Page 176
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
at Blois, in the ante-chambers of King Louis XIV.?”
“Yes, monsieur, and I remember I was much pleased with you.”
D’Artagnan bowed. “It was my duty to behave as I did, the
moment I knew that I had the honor of being near your
majesty.”
“You bring me news, do you say?”
“Yes, sire.”
“From the king of France?”
“Ma foi! no, sire,” replied D’Artagnan. “Your majesty must
have seen yonder that the king of France is only occupied
with his own majesty.”
Charles raised his eyes towards heaven.
“No, sire, no,” continued D’Artagnan. “I bring news entirely
composed of personal facts. Nevertheless, I hope your
majesty will listen to the facts and news with some favor.”
“Speak, monsieur.”
“If I am not mistaken, sire, your majesty spoke a great
deal, at Blois, of the embarrassed state in which the
affairs of England are.”
Charles colored. “Monsieur,” said he, “it was to the king of
France I related —- ”
“Oh! your majesty is mistaken,” said the musketeer, coolly;
“I know how to speak to kings in misfortune. It is only when
they are in misfortune that they speak to me; once
fortunate, they look upon me no more. I have, then, for your
majesty, not only the greatest respect, but, still more, the
most absolute devotion; and that, believe me, with me, sire,
means something. Now, hearing your majesty complain of fate,
I found that you were noble and generous, and bore
misfortune well.”
“In truth,” said Charles, much astonished, “I do not know
which I ought to prefer, your freedoms or your respects.”
“You will choose presently, sire,” said D’Artagnan. “Then
your majesty complained to your brother, Louis XIV., of the
difficulty you experienced in returning to England and
regaining your throne for want of men and money.”
Charles allowed a movement of impatience to escape him.
“And the principal object your majesty found in your way,”
continued D’Artagnan, “was a certain general commanding the
armies of the parliament, and who was playing yonder the
part of another Cromwell. Did not your majesty say so?”
“Yes, but I repeat to you, monsieur, those words were for
the king’s ears alone.”
“And you will see, sire, that it is very fortunate that they
fell into those of his lieutenant of musketeers. That man so
troublesome to your majesty was one General Monk, I believe;
Page 177
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
did I not hear his name correctly, sire?”
“Yes, monsieur, but once more, to what purpose are all these
questions?”
“Oh! I know very well, sire, that etiquette will not allow
kings to be questioned. I hope, however, presently you will
pardon my want of etiquette. Your majesty added that,
notwithstanding, if you could see him, confer with him, and
meet him face to face, you would triumph, either by force or
persuasion, over that obstacle — the only serious one, the
only insurmountable one, the only real one you met with on
your road.”
“All that is true, monsieur: my destiny, my future, my
obscurity, or my glory depend upon that man; but what do you
draw from that?”
“One thing alone, that if this General Monk is troublesome
to the point your majesty describes, it would be expedient