Ten Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

the battle, from a presentiment perhaps of the turn which

things would take on the morrow, I concealed it in the

principal vault of the convent of Newcastle, in the tower

whose summit you now see silvered by the moonbeams. My

treasure has then remained interred there, and I have come

to entreat your honor to permit me to withdraw it before,

perhaps, the battle turning that way, a mine or some other

war engine has destroyed the building and scattered my gold,

or rendered it so apparent that the soldiers will take

possession of it.”

Monk was well acquainted with mankind, he saw in the

physiognomy of this gentleman all the energy, all the

reason, all the circumspection possible, he could therefore

only attribute to a magnanimous confidence the revelation

the Frenchman had made him, and he showed himself profoundly

touched by it.

“Monsieur,” said he, “you have augured well of me. But is

the sum worth the trouble to which you expose yourself? Do

you even believe that it can be in the place where you left

it?”

“It is there, monsieur, I do not doubt.”

“That is a reply to one question; but to the other. I asked

you if the sum was so large as to warrant your exposing

yourself thus.”

“It is really large; yes, my lord, for it is a million I

inclosed in two barrels.”

“A million!” cried Monk, at whom this time, in turn, Athos

looked earnestly and long. Monk perceived this, and his

mistrust returned.

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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later

“Here is a man,” said he, “who is laying a snare for me. So

you wish to withdraw this money, monsieur,” replied he, “as

I understand?”

“If you please, my lord.”

“To-day?”

“This very evening, and that on account of the circumstances

I have named.”

“But, monsieur,” objected Monk, “General Lambert is as near

the abbey where you have to act as I am. Why, then, have you

not addressed yourself to him?”

“Because, my lord, when one acts in important matters, it is

best to consult one’s instinct before everything. Well,

General Lambert does not inspire me with so much confidence

as you do.”

“Be it so, monsieur. I shall assist you in recovering your

money, if, however, it can still be there; for that is far

from likely. Since 1648 twelve years have rolled away, and

many events have taken place.” Monk dwelt upon this point to

see if the French gentleman would seize the evasions that

were open to him, but Athos did not hesitate.

“I assure you, my lord,” he said firmly, “that my conviction

is, that the two barrels have neither changed place nor

master.” This reply had removed one suspicion from the mind

of Monk, but it had suggested another. Without doubt this

Frenchman was some emissary sent to entice into error the

protector of the parliament; the gold was nothing but a

lure; and by the help of this lure they thought to excite

the cupidity of the general. This gold might not exist. It

was Monk’s business, then, to seize the Frenchman in the act

of falsehood and trick, and to draw from the false step

itself in which his enemies wished to entrap him, a triumph

for his renown. When Monk was determined how to act, —

“Monsieur,” said he to Athos, “without doubt you will do me

the honor to share my supper this evening?”

“Yes, my lord,” replied Athos, bowing, “for you do me an

honor of which I feel myself worthy, by the inclination

which drew me towards you.”

“It is so much the more gracious on your part to accept my

invitation with such frankness, as my cooks are but few and

inexperienced, and my providers have returned this evening

empty-handed; so that if it had not been for a fisherman of

your nation who strayed into our camp, General Monk would

have gone to bed without his supper to-day; I have, then,

some fresh fish to offer you, as the vendor assures me.”

“My lord, it is principally for the sake of having the honor

to pass another hour with you.”

After this exchange of civilities, during which Monk had