Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
conference?” inquired Aramis, perceiving that people were
stopping to look at them, supposing that they were going to
engage in one of those far-famed duels still extant in the
memory of the Parisians, and especially the inhabitants of
the Place Royale.
“The gate is shut,” said Aramis, “but if these gentlemen
like a cool retreat under the trees, and perfect seclusion,
I will get the key from the Hotel de Rohan and we shall be
well suited.”
D’Artagnan darted a look into the obscurity of the Place.
Porthos ventured to put his head between the railings, to
try if his glance could penetrate the gloom.
“If you prefer any other place,” said Athos, in his
persuasive voice, “choose for yourselves.”
“This place, if Monsieur d’Herblay can procure the key, is
the best that we can have,” was the answer.
Aramis went off at once, begging Athos not to remain alone
within reach of D’Artagnan and Porthos; a piece of advice
which was received with a contemptuous smile.
Aramis returned soon with a man from the Hotel de Rohan, who
was saying to him:
“You swear, sir, that it is not so?”
“Stop,” and Aramis gave him a louis d’or.
“Ah! you will not swear, my master,” said the concierge,
shaking his head.
“Well, one can never say what may happen; at present we and
these gentlemen are excellent friends.”
“Yes, certainly,” added Athos and the other two.
D’Artagnan had heard the conversation and had understood it.
“You see?” he said to Porthos.
“What do I see?”
“That he wouldn’t swear.”
“Swear what?”
“That man wanted Aramis to swear that we are not going to
the Place Royale to fight.”
“And Aramis wouldn’t swear?”
“No.”
“Attention, then!”
Athos did not lose sight of the two speakers. Aramis opened
the gate and faced around in order that D’Artagnan and
Porthos might enter. In passing through the gate, the hilt
of the lieutenant’s sword was caught in the grating and he
was obliged to pull off his cloak; in doing so he showed the
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
butt end of his pistols and a ray of the moon was reflected
on the shining metal.
“Do you see?” whispered Aramis to Athos, touching his
shoulder with one hand and pointing with the other to the
arms which the Gascon wore under his belt.
“Alas! I do!” replied Athos, with a deep sigh.
He entered third, and Aramis, who shut the gate after him,
last. The two serving-men waited without; but as if they
likewise mistrusted each other, they kept their respective
distances.
28
The Place Royale.
They proceeded silently to the centre of the Place, but as
at this very moment the moon had just emerged from behind a
cloud, they thought they might be observed if they remained
on that spot and therefore regained the shade of the
lime-trees.
There were benches here and there; the four gentlemen
stopped near them; at a sign from Athos, Porthos and
D’Artagnan sat down, the two others stood in front of them.
After a few minutes of silent embarrassment, Athos spoke.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “our presence here is the best proof
of former friendship; not one of us has failed the others at
this rendezvous; not one has, therefore, to reproach
himself.”
“Hear me, count,” replied D’Artagnan; “instead of making
compliments to each other, let us explain our conduct to
each other, like men of right and honest hearts.”
“I wish for nothing more; have you any cause of complaint
against me or Monsieur d’Herblay? If so, speak out,”
answered Athos.
“I have,” replied D’Artagnan. “When I saw you at your
chateau at Bragelonne, I made certain proposals to you which
you perfectly understood; instead of answering me as a
friend, you played with me as a child; the friendship,
therefore, that you boast of was not broken yesterday by the
shock of swords, but by your dissimulation at your castle.”
“D’Artagnan!” said Athos, reproachfully.
“You asked for candor and you have it. You ask what I have
against you; I tell you. And I have the same sincerity to
show you, if you wish, Monsieur d’Herblay; I acted in a
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