Twenty Years Later by Dumas, Alexandre. Part one

Monsieur de Bassompierre. My friend is still so kind as to

address me by that old and well beloved appellation, which

makes my heart glad when I hear it.”

“‘Tis an illustrious name,” said the lieutenant, “and had

one day triumphal honors paid to it.”

“What do you mean, sir?” inquired Raoul.

“You have not forgotten St. Gervais, Athos, and the napkin

which was converted into a banner?” and he then related to

Raoul the story of the bastion, and Raoul fancied he was

listening to one of those deeds of arms belonging to days of

chivalry, so gloriously recounted by Tasso and Ariosto.

“D’Artagnan does not tell you, Raoul,” said Athos, in his

turn, “that he was reckoned one of the finest swordsmen of

his time — a knuckle of iron, a wrist of steel, a sure eye

and a glance of fire; that’s what his adversary met with. He

was eighteen, only three years older than you are, Raoul,

when I saw him set to work, pitted against tried men.”

“And did Monsieur D’Artagnan come off the conqueror?” asked

the young man, with glistening eye.

“I killed one man, if I recollect rightly,” replied

D’Artagnan, with a look of inquiry directed to Athos;

“another I disarmed or wounded, I don’t remember which.”

“Wounded!” said Athos; “it was a phenomenon of skill.”

The young man would willingly have prolonged this

conversation far into the night, but Athos pointed out to

him that his guest must need repose. D’Artagnan would fain

have declared that he was not fatigued, but Athos insisted

on his retiring to his chamber, conducted thither by Raoul.

15

Athos as a Diplomatist.

D’Artagnan retired to bed — not to sleep, but to think over

all he had heard that evening. Being naturally goodhearted,

and having had once a liking for Athos, which had grown into

a sincere friendship, he was delighted at thus meeting a man

full of intelligence and moral strength, instead of a

drunkard. He admitted without annoyance the continued

superiority of Athos over himself, devoid as he was of that

jealousy which might have saddened a less generous

disposition; he was delighted also that the high qualities

of Athos appeared to promise favorably for his mission.

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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After

Nevertheless, it seemed to him that Athos was not in all

respects sincere and frank. Who was the youth he had adopted

and who bore so striking a resemblance to him? What could

explain Athos’s having re-entered the world and the extreme

sobriety he had observed at table? The absence of Grimaud,

whose name had never once been uttered by Athos, gave

D’Artagnan uneasiness. It was evident either that he no

longer possessed the confidence of his friend, or that Athos

was bound by some invisible chain, or that he had been

forewarned of the lieutenant’s visit.

He could not help thinking of M. Rochefort, whom he had seen

in Notre Dame; could De Rochefort have forestalled him with

Athos? Again, the moderate fortune which Athos possessed,

concealed as it was, so skillfully, seemed to show a regard

for appearances and to betray a latent ambition which might

be easily aroused. The clear and vigorous intellect of Athos

would render him more open to conviction than a less able

man would be. He would enter into the minister’s schemes

with the more ardor, because his natural activity would be

doubled by necessity.

Resolved to seek an explanation on all these points on the

following day, D’Artagnan, in spite of his fatigue, prepared

for an attack and determined that it should take place after

breakfast. He determined to cultivate the good-will of the

youth Raoul and, either whilst fencing with him or when out

shooting, to extract from his simplicity some information

which would connect the Athos of old times with the Athos of

the present. But D’Artagnan at the same time, being a man of

extreme caution, was quite aware what injury he should do

himself, if by any indiscretion or awkwardness he should

betray has manoeuvering to the experienced eye of Athos.

Besides, to tell truth, whilst D’Artagnan was quite disposed

to adopt a subtle course against the cunning of Aramis or