circle of adulators and suppliants which surrounded Monk an
instant before, was enlarged by degrees, and ended by being
lost in the large undulations of the crowd. Monk was going
into the ante-chamber as others did. D’Artagnan could not
help remarking this to the Comte de la Fere, who frowned on
beholding it. Suddenly the door of the royal apartment
opened, and the young king appeared, preceded by two
officers of his household.
“Good evening, gentlemen,” said he. “Is General Monk here?”
“I am here, sire,” replied the old general.
Charles stepped hastily towards him, and seized his hand
with the warmest demonstration of friendship. “General,”
said the king, aloud, “I have just signed your patent, —
you are Duke of Albemarle; and my intention is that no one
shall equal you in power and fortune in this kingdom, where
— the noble Montrose excepted — no one has equaled you in
loyalty, courage, and talent. Gentlemen, the duke is
commander of our armies of land and sea; pay him your
respects, if you please, in that character.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
Whilst every one was pressing round the general, who
received all this homage without losing his impassibility
for an instant, D’Artagnan said to Athos: “When one thinks
that this duchy, this commander of the land and sea forces,
all these grandeurs, in a word, have been shut up in a box
six feet long and three feet wide —- ”
“My friend,” replied Athos, “much more imposing grandeurs
are confined in boxes still smaller, — and remain there
forever.”
All at once Monk perceived the two gentlemen, who held
themselves aside until the crowd had diminished; he made
himself a passage towards them, so that he surprised them in
the midst of their philosophical reflections. “Were you
speaking of me?” said he, with a smile.
“My lord,” replied Athos, “we were speaking likewise of
God.”
Monk reflected for a moment, and then replied gayly:
“Gentlemen, let us speak a little of the king likewise, if
you please; for you have, I believe, an audience of his
majesty.”
“At nine o’clock,” said Athos.
“At ten o’clock,” said D’Artagnan.
“Let us go into this closet at once,” replied Monk, making a
sign to his two companions to precede him; but to that
neither would consent.
The king, during this discussion so characteristic of the
French, had returned to the center of the gallery.
“Oh! my Frenchmen!” said he, in that tone of careless gayety
which, in spite of so much grief and so many crosses, he had
never lost. “My Frenchmen! my consolation!” Athos and
D’Artagnan bowed.
“Duke, conduct these gentlemen into my study. I am at your
service, messieurs,” added he in French. And he promptly
expedited his court, to return to his Frenchmen, as he
called them. “Monsieur d’Artagnan,” said he, as he entered
his closet, “I am glad to see you again.”
“Sire, my joy is at its height, at having the honor to
salute your majesty in your own palace of St. James’s.”
“Monsieur, you have been willing to render me a great
service, and I owe you my gratitude for it. If I did not
fear to intrude upon the rights of our commanding general, I
would offer you some post worthy of you near our person.”
“Sire,” replied D’Artagnan, “I have quitted the service of
the king of France, making a promise to my prince not to
serve any other king.”
“Humph!” said Charles, “I am sorry to hear that; I should
like to do much for you; I like you very much.”
“Sire —- ”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“But let us see,” said Charles with a smile, “if we cannot
make you break your word. Duke, assist me. If you were
offered, that is to say, if I offered you the chief command
of my musketeers?” D’Artagnan bowed lower than before.
“I should have the regret to refuse what your gracious
majesty would offer me,” said he; “a gentleman has but his
word, and that word, as I have had the honor to tell your
majesty, is engaged to the king of France.”
“We shall say no more about it, then,” said the king,