to-morrow at Charenton?”
“Oh, don’t be afraid, sir,” replied Aramis; and the two
gentlemen shortly afterward left the Louvre.
“For what reason is all this fume and fury?” asked Athos.
“What have they done to you?”
“They — did you not see what they did?”
“No.”
“They laughed when we swore that we had done our duty in
England. Now, if they believed us, they laughed in order to
insult us; if they did not believe it they insulted us all
the more. However, I’m glad not to fight them until
to-morrow. I hope we shall have something better to do
to-night than to draw the sword.”
“What have we to do?”
Page 523
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
“Egad! to take Mazarin.”
Athos curled his lip with disdain.
“These undertakings do not suit me, as you know, Aramis.”
“Why?”
“Because it is taking people unawares.”
“Really, Athos, you would make a singular general. You would
fight only by broad daylight, warn your foe before an
attack, and never attempt anything by night lest you should
be accused of taking advantage of the darkness.”
Athos smiled.
“You know one cannot change his nature,” he said. “Besides,
do you know what is our situation, and whether Mazarin’s
arrest wouldn’t be rather an encumbrance than an advantage?”
“Say at once you disapprove of my proposal.”
“I think you ought to do nothing, since you exacted a
promise from these gentlemen not to let Mazarin know that we
were in France.”
“I have entered into no engagement and consider myself quite
free. Come, come.”
“Where?”
“Either to seek the Duc de Beaufort or the Duc de Bouillon,
and to tell them about this.”
“Yes, but on one condition — that we begin by the
coadjutor. He is a priest, learned in cases of conscience,
and we will tell him ours.”
It was then agreed that they were to go first to Monsieur de
Bouillon, as his house came first; but first of all Athos
begged that he might go to the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne,
to see Raoul.
They re-entered the boat which had brought them to the
Louvre and thence proceeded to the Halles; and taking up
Grimaud and Blaisois, they went on foot to the Rue
Guenegaud.
But Raoul was not at the Hotel du Grand Charlemagne. He had
received a message from the prince, to whom he had hastened
with Olivain the instant he had received it.
77
The three Lieutenants of the Generalissimo.
The night was dark, but still the town resounded with those
noises that disclose a city in a state of siege. Athos and
Page 524
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
Aramis did not proceed a hundred steps without being stopped
by sentinels placed before the barricades, who demanded the
watchword; and on their saying that they were going to
Monsieur de Bouillon on a mission of importance a guide was
given them under pretext of conducting them, but in fact as
a spy over their movements.
On arriving at the Hotel de Bouillon they came across a
little troop of three cavaliers, who seemed to know every
possible password; for they walked without either guide or
escort, and on arriving at the barricades had nothing to do
but to speak to those who guarded them, who instantly let
them pass with evident deference, due probably to their high
birth.
On seeing them Athos and Aramis stood still.
“Oh!” cried Aramis, “do you see, count?”
“Yes,” said Athos.
“Who do these three cavaliers appear to you to be?”
“What do you think, Aramis?”
“Why, they are our men.”
“You are not mistaken; I recognize Monsieur de Flamarens.”
“And I, Monsieur de Chatillon.”
“As to the cavalier in the brown cloak —- ”
“It is the cardinal.”
“In person.”
“How the devil do they venture so near the Hotel de
Bouillon?”
Athos smiled, but did not reply. Five minutes afterward they
knocked at the prince’s door.
This door was guarded by a sentinel and there was also a
guard placed in the courtyard, ready to obey the orders of
the Prince de Conti’s lieutenant.
Monsieur de Bouillon had the gout, but notwithstanding his
illness, which had prevented his mounting on horseback for