passed over my country, striking down men, tearing up the
soil, it is no more probable that gold should remain in the
entrails of the earth, than love in the hearts of my
subjects.”
“Sire, the spot in which his majesty buried the million is
well known to me, and no one, I am sure, has been able to
discover it. Besides, is the castle of Newcastle quite
destroyed? Have they demolished it stone by stone, and
uprooted the soil to the last tree?”
“No, it is still standing: but at this moment General Monk
occupies it and is encamped there. The only spot from which
I could look for succor, where I possess a single resource,
you see, is invaded by my enemies.”
“General Monk, sire, cannot have discovered the treasure
which I speak of.”
“Yes, but can I go and deliver myself up to Monk, in order
to recover this treasure? Ah! count, you see plainly I must
yield to destiny, since it strikes me to the earth every
time I rise. What can I do with Parry as my only servant,
with Parry, whom Monk has already driven from his presence?
No, no, no, count, we must yield to this last blow.”
“But what your majesty cannot do, and what Parry can no more
attempt, do you not believe that I could succeed in
accomplishing?”
“You — you, count — you would go?”
“If it please your majesty,” said Athos, bowing to the king,
“yes, I will go, sire.”
“What! you so happy here, count?”
“I am never happy when I have a duty left to accomplish, and
it is an imperative duty which the king your father left me
to watch over your fortunes, and make a royal use of his
money. So, if your majesty honors me with a sign, I will go
with you.”
“Ah, monsieur!” said the king, forgetting all royal
etiquette, and throwing his arms around the neck of Athos,
“you prove to me that there is a God in heaven, and that
this God sometimes sends messengers to the unfortunate who
groan on the earth.”
Athos, exceedingly moved by this burst of feeling of the
young man, thanked him with profound respect, and approached
the window. “Grimaud!” cried he, “bring out my horses.”
“What, now — immediately!” said the king. “Ah, monsieur,
you are indeed a wonderful man!”
“Sire,” said Athos, “I know nothing more pressing than your
majesty’s service. Besides,” added he, smiling, “it is a
habit contracted long since, in the service of the queen
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your aunt, and of the king your father. How is it possible
for me to lose it at the moment your majesty’s service calls
for it?”
“What a man!” murmured the king.
Then after a moment’s reflection, — “But no, count, I
cannot expose you to such privations. I have no means of
rewarding such services.”
“Bah!” said Athos, laughing. “Your majesty is joking, have
you not a million? Ah! why am I not possessed of half such a
sum! I would already have raised a regiment. But, thank God!
I have still a few rolls of gold and some family diamonds
left. Your majesty will, I hope, deign to share with a
devoted servant.”
“With a friend — yes, count, but on condition that, in his
turn, that friend will share with me hereafter!”
“Sire!” said Athos, opening a casket, from which he drew
both gold and jewels, “you see, sire, we are too rich.
Fortunately, there are four of us, in the event of our
meeting with thieves.”
Joy made the blood rush to the pale cheeks of Charles II.,
as he saw Athos’s two horses, led by Grimaud, already booted
for the journey, advance towards the porch.
“Blaisois, this letter for the Vicomte de Bragelonne. For
everybody else I am gone to Paris. I confide the house to
you, Blaisois.” Blaisois bowed, shook hands with Grimaud,
and shut the gate.
CHAPTER 17
In which Aramis is sought and only Bazin is found
Two hours had scarcely elapsed since the departure of the
master of the house, who, in Blaisois’s sight, had taken the
road to Paris, when a horseman, mounted on a good pied