had been brought thither by his pleasure — if he had been a
courtier instead of a soldier, as pleasure must always be
paid for at the same price — he would have held his hat in
his hand.
That which proved still better that this officer was upon
duty, and was accomplishing a task to which he was
accustomed, was, that he watched, with folded arms,
remarkable indifference, and supreme apathy, the joys and
Page 49
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
ennuis of this fete. Above all, he appeared, like a
philosopher, and all old soldiers are philosophers, — he
appeared above all to comprehend the ennuis infinitely
better than the joys; but in the one he took his part,
knowing very well how to do without the other.
Now, he was leaning, as we have said, against the carved
door-frame when the melancholy, weary eyes of the king, by
chance, met his.
It was not the first time, as it appeared, that the eyes of
the officer had met those eyes, and he was perfectly
acquainted with the expression of them; for, as soon as he
had cast his own look upon the countenance of Louis XIV.,
and had read by it what was passing in his heart — that is
to say, all the ennui that oppressed him — all the timid
desire to go out which agitated him, — he perceived he must
render the king a service without his commanding it, —
almost in spite of himself. Boldly, therefore, as if he had
given the word of command to cavalry in battle, “On the
king’s service!” cried he, in a clear, sonorous voice.
At these words, which produced the effect of a peal of
thunder, prevailing over the orchestra, the singing and the
buzz of the promenaders, the cardinal and the queen-mother
looked at each other with surprise.
Louis XIV., pale, but resolved, supported as he was by that
intuition of his own thought which he had found in the mind
of the officer of musketeers, and which he had just
manifested by the order given, arose from his chair, and
took a step towards the door.
“Are you going, my son?” said the queen, whilst Mazarin
satisfied himself with interrogating by a look which might
have appeared mild if it had not been so piercing.
“Yes, madame,” replied the king; “I am fatigued, and,
besides, wish to write this evening.”
A smile stole over the lips of the minister, who appeared,
by a bend of the head, to give the king permission.
Monsieur and Madame hastened to give orders to the officers
who presented themselves.
The king bowed, crossed the hall, and gained the door, where
a hedge of twenty musketeers awaited him. At the extremity
of this hedge stood the officer, impassible, with his drawn
sword in his hand. The king passed, and all the crowd stood
on tip-toe, to have one more look at him.
Ten musketeers, opening the crowd of the ante-chambers and
the steps, made way for his majesty. The other ten
surrounded the king and Monsieur, who had insisted upon
accompanying his majesty. The domestics walked behind. This
little cortege escorted the king to the chamber destined for
him. The apartment was the same that had been occupied by
Henry III. during his sojourn in the States.
Monsieur had given his orders. The musketeers, led by their
officer, took possession of the little passage by which one
wing of the castle communicates with the other. This passage
was commenced by a small square ante-chamber, dark even in
Page 50
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
the finest days. Monsieur stopped Louis XIV.
“You are passing now, sire,” said he, “the very spot where
the Duc de Guise received the first stab of the poniard.”
The king was ignorant of all historical matters; he had
heard of the fact, but he knew nothing of the localities or
the details.
“Ah!” said he with a shudder.
And he stopped. The rest, both behind and before him,
stopped likewise.
“The duc, sire,” continued Gaston, “was nearly where I
stand: he was walking in the same direction as your majesty;
M. de Lorgnes was exactly where your lieutenant of