Twenty Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

Aramis must have worn himself to a shadow of his former self

by constant genuflexion.”

He cast his eyes again on the letter. There was a

postscript:

“I write by the same courier to our worthy friend Aramis in

his convent.”

“In his convent! What convent? There are about two hundred

in Paris and three thousand in France; and then, perhaps, on

entering the convent he changed his name. Ah! if I were but

learned in theology I should recollect what it was he used

to dispute about with the curate of Montdidier and the

superior of the Jesuits, when we were at Crevecoeur; I

should know what doctrine he leans to and I should glean

from that what saint he has adopted as his patron.

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

“Well, suppose I go back to the cardinal and ask him for a

passport into all the convents one can find, even into the

nunneries? It would be a curious idea, and maybe I should

find my friend under the name of Achilles. But, no! I should

lose myself in the cardinal’s opinion. Great people only

thank you for doing the impossible; what’s possible, they

say, they can effect themselves, and they are right. But let

us wait a little and reflect. I received a letter from him,

the dear fellow, in which he even asked me for some small

service, which, in fact, I rendered him. Yes, yes; but now

what did I do with that letter?”

D’Artagnan thought a moment and then went to the wardrobe in

which hung his old clothes. He looked for his doublet of the

year 1648 and as he had orderly habits, he found it hanging

on its nail. He felt in the pocket and drew from it a paper;

it was the letter of Aramis:

“Monsieur D’Artagnan: You know that I have had a quarrel

with a certain gentleman, who has given me an appointment

for this evening in the Place Royale. As I am of the church,

and the affair might injure me if I should share it with any

other than a sure friend like you, I write to beg that you

will serve me as second.

“You will enter by the Rue Neuve Sainte Catherine; under the

second lamp on the right you will find your adversary. I

shall be with mine under the third.

“Wholly yours,

“Aramis.”

D’Artagnan tried to recall his remembrances. He had gone to

the rendezvous, had encountered there the adversary

indicated, whose name he had never known, had given him a

pretty sword-stroke on the arm, then had gone toward Aramis,

who at the same time came to meet him, having already

finished his affair. “It is over,” Aramis had said. “I think

I have killed the insolent fellow. But, dear friend, if you

ever need me you know that I am entirely devoted to you.”

Thereupon Aramis had given him a clasp of the hand and had

disappeared under the arcades.

So, then, he no more knew where Aramis was than where Athos

and Porthos were, and the affair was becoming a matter of

great perplexity, when he fancied he heard a pane of glass

break in his room window. He thought directly of his bag and

rushed from the inner room where he was sleeping. He was not

mistaken; as he entered his bedroom a man was getting in by

the window.

“Ah! you scoundrel!” cried D’Artagnan, taking the man for a

thief and seizing his sword.

“Sir!” cried the man, “in the name of Heaven put your sword

back into the sheath and don’t kill me unheard. I’m no

thief, but an honest citizen, well off in the world, with a

house of my own. My name is — ah! but surely you are

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

Monsieur d’Artagnan?”

“And thou — Planchet!” cried the lieutenant.

“At your service, sir,” said Planchet, overwhelmed with joy;

“if I were still capable of serving you.”

“Perhaps so,” replied D’Artagnan. “But why the devil dost

thou run about the tops of houses at seven o’clock of the

morning in the month of January?”

“Sir,” said Planchet, “you must know; but, perhaps you ought

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