three officers exchanged a meaning look. The lieutenant, by
a tacit convention with the other two, was spokesman.”
“Monsieur, the general left you last night on the borders of
the monastery.”
“Yes, monsieur.”
“And you went —- ”
“It is not for me to answer you, but for those who have
accompanied me. They were your soldiers, ask them.”
“But if we please to question you?”
“Then it will please me to reply, monsieur, that I do not
recognize any one here, that I know no one here but the
general, and that it is to him alone I will reply.”
“So be it, monsieur; but as we are the masters, we
constitute ourselves a council of war, and when you are
before judges you must reply.”
The countenance of Athos expressed nothing but astonishment
and disdain, instead of the terror the officers expected to
read in it at this threat.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“Scotch or English judges upon me, a subject of the king of
France; upon me, placed under the safeguard of British
honor! You are mad, gentlemen!” said Athos, shrugging his
shoulders.
The officers looked at each other. “Then, monsieur,” said
one of them, “do you pretend not to know where the general
is?”
“To that, monsieur, I have already replied.”
“Yes, but you have already replied an incredible thing.”
“It is true, nevertheless, gentlemen. Men of my rank are not
generally liars. I am a gentleman, I have told you, and when
I have at my side the sword which, by an excess of delicacy,
I left last night upon the table whereon it still lies,
believe me, no man says that to me which I am unwilling to
hear. I am at this moment disarmed; if you pretend to be my
judges, try me; if you are but my executioners, kill me.”
“But, monsieur —- ” asked the lieutenant, in a more
courteous voice, struck with the lofty coolness of Athos.
“Sir, I came to speak confidentially with your general about
affairs of importance. It was not an ordinary welcome that
he gave me. The accounts your soldiers can give you may
convince you of that. If, then, the general received me in
that manner, he knew my titles to his esteem. Now, you do
not suspect, I should think that I should reveal my secrets
to you, and still less his.”
“But these casks, what do they contain?”
“Have you not put that question to your soldiers? What was
their reply?”
“That they contained powder and ball.”
“From whom had they that information? They must have told
you that.”
“From the general; but we are not dupes.”
“Beware, gentlemen, it is not to me you are now giving the
lie, it is to your leader.”
The officers again looked at each other. Athos continued:
“Before your soldiers the general told me to wait a week,
and at the expiration of that week he would give me the
answer he had to make me. Have I fled away? No, I wait.”
“He told you to wait a week!” cried the lieutenant.
“He told me that so clearly, sir, that I have a sloop at the
mouth of the river, which I could with ease have joined
yesterday, and embarked. Now, if I have remained, it was
only in compliance with the desire of your general, his
honor having requested me not to depart without a last
audience, which fixed at a week hence. I repeat to you,
then, I am waiting.”
The lieutenant turned towards the other officers, and said,
in a low voice: “If this gentleman speaks truth, there may
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
still be some hope. The general may be carrying out some
negotiations so secret, that he thought it imprudent to
inform even us. Then the time limited for his absence would
be a week.” Then, turning towards Athos: “Monsieur,” said
he, “your declaration is of the most serious importance; are
you willing to repeat it under the seal of an oath?”
“Sir,” replied Athos, “I have always lived in a world where
my simple word was regarded as the most sacred of oaths.”
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