not to know —- ”
“Tell us what,” returned D’Artagnan, “but first put a napkin
against the window and draw the curtains.”
“Sir,” said the prudent Planchet, “in the first place, are
you on good terms with Monsieur de Rochefort?”
“Perfectly; one of my dearest friends.”
“Ah! so much the better!”
“But what has De Rochefort to do with this manner you have
of invading my room?”
“Ah, sir! I must first tell you that Monsieur de Rochefort
is —- ”
Planchet hesitated.
“Egad, I know where he is,” said D’Artagnan. “He’s in the
Bastile.”
“That is to say, he was there,” replied Planchet. “But in
returning thither last night, when fortunately you did not
accompany him, as his carriage was crossing the Rue de la
Ferronnerie his guards insulted the people, who began to
abuse them. The prisoner thought this a good opportunity for
escape; he called out his name and cried for help. I was
there. I heard the name of Rochefort. I remembered him well.
I said in a loud voice that he was a prisoner, a friend of
the Duc de Beaufort, who called for help. The people were
infuriated; they stopped the horses and cut the escort to
pieces, whilst I opened the doors of the carriage and
Monsieur de Rochefort jumped out and soon was lost amongst
the crowd. At this moment a patrol passed by. I was obliged
to sound a retreat toward the Rue Tiquetonne; I was pursued
and took refuge in the house next to this, where I have been
concealed between two mattresses. This morning I ventured to
run along the gutters and —- ”
“Well,” interrupted D’Artagnan, “I am delighted that De
Rochefort is free, but as for thee, if thou shouldst fall
into the hands of the king’s servants they will hang thee
without mercy. Nevertheless, I promise thee thou shalt be
hidden here, though I risk by concealing thee neither more
nor less than my lieutenancy, if it was found out that I
gave one rebel an asylum.”
“Ah! sir, you know well I would risk my life for you.”
“Thou mayst add that thou hast risked it, Planchet. I have
Page 52
Dumas, Alexandre – Twenty Years After
not forgotten all I owe thee. Sit down there and eat in
security. I see thee cast expressive glances at the remains
of my supper.”
“Yes, sir; for all I’ve had since yesterday was a slice of
bread and butter, with preserves on it. Although I don’t
despise sweet things in proper time and place, I found the
supper rather light.”
“Poor fellow!” said D’Artagnan. “Well, come; set to.”
“Ah, sir, you are going to save my life a second time!”
cried Planchet.
And he seated himself at the table and ate as he did in the
merry days of the Rue des Fossoyeurs, whilst D’Artagnan
walked to and fro and thought how he could make use of
Planchet under present circumstances. While he turned this
over in his mind Planchet did his best to make up for lost
time at table. At last he uttered a sigh of satisfaction and
paused, as if he had partially appeased his hunger.
“Come,” said D’Artagnan, who thought that it was now a
convenient time to begin his interrogations, “dost thou know
where Athos is?”
“No, sir,” replied Planchet.
“The devil thou dost not! Dost know where Porthos is?”
“No — not at all.”
“And Aramis?”
“Not in the least.”
“The devil! the devil! the devil!”
“But, sir,” said Planchet, with a look of shrewdness, “I
know where Bazin is.”
“Where is he?”
“At Notre Dame.”
“What has he to do at Notre Dame?”
“He is beadle.”
“Bazin beadle at Notre Dame! He must know where his master
is!”
“Without a doubt he must.”
D’Artagnan thought for a moment, then took his sword and put
on his cloak to go out.
“Sir,” said Planchet, in a mournful tone, “do you abandon me
thus to my fate? Think, if I am found out here, the people
of the house, who have not seen me enter it, will take me
for a thief.”
“True,” said D’Artagnan. “Let’s see. Canst thou speak any
patois?”
Page 53