Nor was that surprising. The queen had restored Broussel and
Blancmesnil to the people and had therefore nothing to fear,
since the people had nothing more just then to ask for. The
return, also, of the conqueror of Lens was the pretext for
giving a grand banquet. The princes and princesses were
invited and their carriages had crowded the court since
noon; then after dinner the queen was to have a play in her
apartment. Anne of Austria had never appeared more brilliant
than on that day — radiant with grace and wit. Mazarin
disappeared as they rose from table. He found D’Artagnan
waiting for him already at his post in the ante-room.
The cardinal advanced to him with a smile and taking him by
the hand led him into his study.
“My dear M. d’Artagnan,” said the minister, sitting down, “I
am about to give you the greatest proof of confidence that a
minister can give an officer.”
“I hope,” said D’Artagnan, bowing, “that you give it, my
lord, without hesitation and with the conviction that I am
worthy of it.”
“More worthy than any one in Paris my dear friend; therefore
I apply to you. We are about to leave this evening,”
continued Mazarin. “My dear M. d’Artagnan, the welfare of
the state is deposited in your hands.” He paused.
“Explain yourself, my lord, I am listening.”
“The queen has resolved to make a little excursion with the
king to Saint Germain.”
Page 347
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
“Aha!” said D’Artagnan, “that is to say, the queen wishes to
leave Paris.”
“A woman’s caprice — you understand.”
“Yes, I understand perfectly,” said D’Artagnan.
“It was for this she summoned you this morning and that she
told you to return at five o’clock.”
“Was it worth while to wish me to swear this morning that I
would mention the appointment to no one?” muttered
D’Artagnan. “Oh, women! women! whether queens or not, they
are always the same.”
“Do you disapprove of this journey, my dear M. d’Artagnan?”
asked Mazarin, anxiously.
“I, my lord?” said D’Artagnan; “why should I?”
“Because you shrug your shoulders.”
“It is a way I have of speaking to myself. I neither approve
nor disapprove, my lord; I merely await your commands.”
“Good; it is you, accordingly, that I have pitched upon to
conduct the king and the queen to Saint Germain.”
“Liar!” thought D’Artagnan.
“You see, therefore,” continued the cardinal, perceiving
D’Artagnan’s composure, “that, as I have told you, the
welfare of the state is placed in your hands.”
“Yes, my lord, and I feel the whole responsibility of such a
charge.”
“You accept, however?”
“I always accept.”
“Do you think the thing possible?”
“Everything is possible.”
“Shall you be attacked on the road?”
“Probably.”
“And what will you do in that case?”
“I shall pass through those who attack me.”
“And suppose you cannot pass through them?”
“So much the worse for them; I shall pass over them.”
“And you will place the king and queen in safety also, at
Saint Germain?”
“Yes.”
“On your life?”
Page 348
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
“On my life.”
“You are a hero, my friend,” said Mazarin, gazing at the
musketeer with admiration.
D’Artagnan smiled.
“And I?” asked Mazarin, after a moment’s silence.
“How? and you, my lord?”
“If I wish to leave?”
“That would be much more difficult.”
“Why so?”
“Your eminence might be recognized.”
“Even under this disguise?” asked Mazarin, raising a cloak
which covered an arm-chair, upon which lay a complete dress
for an officer, of pearl-gray and red, entirely embroidered
with silver.
“If your eminence is disguised it will be almost easy.”
“Ah!” said Mazarin, breathing more freely.
“But it will be necessary for your eminence to do what the
other day you declared you should have done in our place —
cry, `Down with Mazarin!'”
“I will: `Down with Mazarin'”
“In French, in good French, my lord, take care of your
accent; they killed six thousand Angevins in Sicily because
they pronounced Italian badly. Take care that the French do
not take their revenge on you for the Sicilian vespers.”
“I will do my best.”
“The streets are full of armed men,” continued D’Artagnan.