Les Quarante-cinq. English

by Alexandre Dumas

  CHAPTER XXXV.

  HOW CHICOT CONTINUED HIS JOURNEY, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.

  Chicot passed his morning in congratulating himself on the sang-froidand patience he had displayed through his night of trials.

  "But," thought he, "they never take an old wolf twice in the same snare;therefore, it is nearly certain that they will invent some new devilryto practice on me to-day, so I must be on my guard."

  The result of this reasoning was, that Chicot made a march that dayworthy of being immortalized by Xenophon. Every tree, rising ground, orwall, served him for a point of observation. He also concluded on theroad alliances, if not offensive, at least defensive. Four grocers fromParis, who were going to Orleans to order preserves, and to Limoges fordried fruits, allowed Chicot, who called himself a hosier from Bordeaux,returning home, to join their company, which was rendered moreformidable by four clerks, who were following their masters. It wasquite a little army, and scarcely less formidable in mind than innumber, so warlike a spirit had the League introduced among the Parisianshopkeepers. At all events, three cowards together have less fear thanone brave man alone. At last they reached Etampes, the town fixed on forsupper and sleeping. They supped, and then each went to his room.

  Chicot, who had not been sparing during the repast, either of his fun,which amused his companions, or of the Muscat and Burgundy, went to bed,after having settled to travel again with the grocers on the morrow.Chicot, therefore, thought himself guarded like a prince by the fourtravelers, whose rooms were in the same corridor and close to his own.Indeed, at this epoch, the roads being far from safe, travelers were inthe habit of promising each other mutual aid in case of need. Chicotthen, after bolting his door and striking the walls, which returnedeverywhere a satisfactory sound, went to bed and to sleep.

  But there arrived, during his first sleep, an event which the Sphynxhimself, the diviner par excellence, could not have foreseen; but thedevil was mixing himself up with Chicot's affairs, and he is morecunning than all the Sphynxes in the world.

  About half-past nine a blow was struck on the door of the room where theclerks all slept. One of them opened in a very bad humor, and foundhimself face to face with the host.

  "Gentlemen," said he, "I see with pleasure that you are sleeping allready dressed, for I wish to render you a great service. Your mastersgrew very warm over politics at supper-time, and it seems that a sheriffof the town heard them and reported it. Now, as we are very loyal here,the mayor sent down the watch, and they have arrested your masters andcarried them off. The prison is near the Hotel de Ville; go, my lads,your mules are ready for you, your masters will join you on the road."

  The four clerks shook like hares, ran downstairs, jumped on their mules,and took the road back to Paris, telling the host to let their mastersknow, if they should return to the hotel.

  Having seen them disappear, the host went to knock very gently at one ofthe doors in the corridor.

  One of the merchants cried out in a loud voice, "Who is there?"

  "Silence!" replied the host, "and come quietly to the door."

  The merchant obeyed, but before opening, he said again--"Who are you?"

  "Your host; do you not recognize my voice?"

  "Mon Dieu! what is the matter?"

  "Why, it seems you talked rather too freely at table, and the mayor hasbeen informed by some spy, and has sent to arrest you. Luckily, Ithought of showing them your clerks' room instead of yours, so that theyare busy upstairs arresting them."

  "Can this be true?"

  "Pure and simple truth. Make haste, and escape while you can."

  "But my companions?"

  "Oh! I will tell them."

  And while the merchant dressed, the host awakened the others, and verysoon they all disappeared, walking on the points of their toes, thatthey might not be heard.

  "That poor hosier!" said they; "it will all fall on him; but it is truehe said the most."

  Of course Chicot had received no warning. While the merchants wereflying, he was sleeping peacefully.

  The host now descended into the hall, where stood six armed men, one ofwhom seemed to command the others.

  "Well?" said this one.

  "I have obeyed your orders, monsieur."

  "Your inn is deserted?"

  "Absolutely."

  "The person is not awakened?"

  "No."

  "You know in whose name we act, and what cause we serve: for you servethe same."

  "Yes, certainly; therefore, I have sacrificed, to keep my oath, themoney that these men would have spent at my house; for it is said in theoath, 'I will sacrifice my goods to the defense of the Catholicreligion.'"

  "'And my life,' you forget that," replied the officer.

  "Oh! I have a wife and children."

  "You must obey blindly what is ordered you."

  "Oh! I will obey."

  "Then go to bed, shut the doors, and whatever you see or hear, do notcome out, even if your house is burning."

  "Oh! I am ruined!"

  "I am instructed to indemnify you; here are thirty crowns."

  "My house estimated at thirty crowns!" cried the inn-keeper, piteously.

  "We shall not break even a window; complainer that you are."

  "Oh! what a champion of the Holy League."

  The host went away and did as he was told. Then the officer ordered twomen to place themselves under Chicot's window, while he himself, withthe three others, mounted to his room.

  "You know the order," said the officer. "If he opens and lets us search,and we find what we seek, we will not do him the least harm; but if thecontrary happens, a good blow with a dagger; no pistol, youunderstand--besides, it is useless, being four against one."

  The officer knocked.

  "Who is there?" cried Chicot.

  "Your friends the grocers, who have something important to tell you."

  "Oh!" cried Chicot; "how last night's wine has strengthened your voice."

  The officer lowered his voice, and said in an insinuating tone, "Openquickly, dear companion."

  "Ventre de biche! I do not smell the grocery."

  "Ah! you will not open?" cried the officer, impatiently. "Break open thedoor."

  Chicot ran to the window, but saw below two naked swords shining.

  "I am caught," said he.

  "Ah! ah!" cried the officer, who had heard the noise of the windowopening; "you fear the perilous leap, and you are right. Come, open!"

  "Ma foi! no; the door is solid, and I shall get help when you make anoise." And he began to call for the merchants.

  The officer laughed. "Fool!" cried he. "Do you think we have left youtheir help? Undeceive yourself; you are alone, so make up your mind toit. Go on, soldiers."

  Chicot heard three blows struck on the door.

  "They have three muskets," said he; "and below there are only twoswords, and only fifteen feet to jump; I prefer the swords to themuskets."

  And tying his bag to his belt, he got on the window-sill with his drawnsword. The two men below stood ready with their drawn swords, but, asChicot guessed, on seeing him jump sword in hand, they drew back,intending to strike him as he came to the ground. Chicot alighted on hisfeet, and one of the men gave him a thrust immediately. Thanks,however, to Gorenflot's coat of mail, the blade broke like glass.

  "He has armor!" cried the soldier.

  "Pardieu!" said Chicot, cutting open his head with a blow of his sword.

  The other began to cry out, thinking now only of defending himself, but,at the second pass, Chicot laid him by his comrade; so that when thedoor was burst open, the officer saw through the window his twosentinels lying in their blood, and Chicot running quietly away.

  "He is a demon; he is steel proof!" cried he.

  "Yes; but not ball-proof!" cried the soldiers.

  "No firing; no noise; you will wake the city. We shall catch himto-morrow."