“Yes, I fear that in my absence — Parbleu! If I were near
them, I could answer for their silence.”
“Was I not right in saying that the danger, if there was any
danger, would not come from his majesty, however disposed he
may be to jest, but from your companions, as you say? To be
laughed at by a king may be tolerable, but by the horse-boys
and scamps of the army! Damn it!”
“Yes, I understand, that would be unbearable, that is why,
my lord, I came to say, — do you not think it would be
better for me to set out for France as soon as possible?”
“Certainly, if you think your presence —- ”
“Would impose silence upon these scoundrels? Oh! I am sure
of that, my lord.”
“Your presence will not prevent the report from spreading,
if the tale has already transpired.”
“Oh! it has not transpired, my lord, I will wager. At all
events, be assured I am determined upon one thing.”
“What is that?”
“To blow out the brains of the first who shall have
propagated that report, and of the first who has heard it.
After which I shall return to England to seek an asylum, and
perhaps employment with your grace.”
“Oh, come back! come back!”
“Unfortunately, my lord, I am acquainted with nobody here
but your grace, and if I should no longer find you, or if
you should have forgotten me in your greatness?”
“Listen to me, Monsieur d’Artagnan,” replied Monk; “you are
a superior man, full of intelligence and courage; you
deserve all the good fortune this world can bring you; come
with me into Scotland, and, I swear to you, I shall arrange
for you a fate which all may envy.”
“Oh! my lord, that is impossible. At present I have a sacred
duty to perform; I have to watch over your glory, I have to
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prevent a low jester from tarnishing in the eyes of our
contemporaries — who knows? in the eyes of posterity — the
splendor of your name.”
“Of posterity, Monsieur d’Artagnan?”
“Doubtless. It is necessary, as regards posterity, that all
the details of that history should remain a mystery; for,
admit that this unfortunate history of the deal box should
spread, and it should be asserted that you had not
re-established the king loyally, and of your own free will,
but in consequence of a compromise entered into at
Scheveningen between you two. It would be vain for me to
declare how the thing came about, for though I know I should
not be believed, it would be said that I had received my
part of the cake, and was eating it.”
Monk knitted his brow. — “Glory, honor, probity!” said he,
“you are but empty words.”
“Mist!” replied D’Artagnan; “nothing but mist, through which
nobody can see clearly.”
“Well, then, go to France, my dear Monsieur d’Artagnan,”
said Monk; “go, and to render England more attractive and
agreeable to you, accept a remembrance of me.
“What now?” thought D’Artagnan.
“I have on the banks of the Clyde,” continued Monk, “a
little house in a grove, cottage as it is called here. To
this house are attached a hundred acres of land. Accept it
as a souvenir.”
“Oh my lord! —- ”
“Faith! you will be there in your own home, and that will be
the place of refuge you spoke of just now.”
“For me to be obliged to your lordship to such an extent!
Really, your grace, I am ashamed.”
“Not at all, not at all, monsieur,” replied Monk, with an
arch smile; “it is I who shall be obliged to you. And,”
pressing the hand of the musketeer, “I shall go and draw up
the deed of gift,” — and he left the room.
D’Artagnan looked at him as he went out with something of a
pensive and even an agitated air.
“After all,” said he, “he is a brave man. It is only a sad
reflection that it is from fear of me, and not affection
that he acts thus. Well, I shall endeavor that affection may
follow.” Then, after an instant’s deeper reflection, —