for the time, the discovery of the mystery the Gascon was
concealing.
“Let us speak of my affairs,” said Mazarin, “since you will
tell me naught of yours. Are you fond of traveling?”
“My life has been passed on the high road.”
“Would anything retain you particularly in Paris?”
“Nothing but an order from a superior would retain me in
Paris.”
“Very well. Here is a letter, which must be taken to its
address.”
“To its address, my lord? But it has none.”
In fact, the side of the letter opposite the seal was blank.
“I must tell you,” resumed Mazarin, “that it is in a double
envelope.”
“I understand; and I am to take off the first one when I
have reached a certain place?”
“Just so, take it and go. You have a friend, Monsieur du
Vallon, whom I like much; let him accompany you.”
“The devil!” said D’Artagnan to himself. “He knows that we
overheard his conversation yesterday and he wants to get us
away from Paris.”
“Do you hesitate?” asked Mazarin.
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
“No, my lord, and I will set out at once. There is one thing
only which I must request.”
“What is it? Speak.”
“That your eminence will go at once to the queen.”
“What for?”
“Merely to say these words: `I am going to send Monsieur
d’Artagnan away and I wish him to set out directly.'”
“I told you,” said Mazarin, “that you had seen the queen.”
“I had the honor of saying to your eminence that there had
been some mistake.”
“What is the meaning of that?”
“May I venture to repeat my prayer to your eminence?”
“Very well; I will go. Wait here for me.” And looking
attentively around him, to see if he had left any of his
keys in his closets, Mazarin went out. Ten minutes elapsed,
during which D’Artagnan made every effort to read through
the first envelope what was written on the second. But he
did not succeed.
Mazarin returned, pale, and evidently thoughtful. He seated
himself at his desk and D’Artagnan proceeded to examine his
face, as he had just examined the letter he held, but the
envelope which covered his countenance appeared as
impenetrable as that which covered the letter.
“Ah!” thought the Gascon; “he looks displeased. Can it be
with me? He meditates. Is it about sending me to the
Bastile? All very fine, my lord, but at the very first hint
you give of such a thing I will strangle you and become
Frondist. I should be carried home in triumph like Monsieur
Broussel and Athos would proclaim me the French Brutus. It
would be exceedingly droll.”
The Gascon, with his vivid imagination, had already seen the
advantage to be derived from his situation. Mazarin gave,
however, no order of the kind, but on the contrary began to
be insinuating.
“You were right,” he said, “my dear Monsieur d’Artagnan, and
you cannot set out yet. I beg you to return me that
dispatch.”
D’Artagnan obeyed, and Mazarin ascertained that the seal was
intact.
“I shall want you this evening,” he said “Return in two
hours.”
“My lord,” said D’Artagnan, “I have an appointment in two
hours which I cannot miss.”
“Do not be uneasy,” said Mazarin; “it is the same.”
“Good!” thought D’Artagnan; “I fancied it was so.”
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Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
“Return, then, at five o’clock and bring that worthy
Monsieur du Vallon with you. Only, leave him in the
ante-room, as I wish to speak to you alone.”
D’Artagnan bowed, and thought: “Both at the same hour; both
commands alike; both at the Palais Royal. Monsieur de Gondy
would pay a hundred thousand francs for such a secret!”
“You are thoughtful,” said Mazarin, uneasily.
“Yes, I was thinking whether we ought to come armed or not.”
“Armed to the teeth!” replied Mazarin.
“Very well, my lord; it shall be so.”
D’Artagnan saluted, went out and hastened to repeat to his
friend Mazarin’s flattering promises, which gave Porthos an
indescribable happiness.
51
The Flight.
When D’Artagnan returned to the Palais Royal at five
o’clock, it presented, in spite of the excitement which
reigned in the town, a spectacle of the greatest rejoicing.