Ten Years Later

by Alexandre Dumas

  The first moment of surprise over, D'Artagnan reperused Athos's note."It is strange," said he, "that the king should send for me."

  "Why so?" said Raoul; "do you not think, monsieur, that the king mustregret such a servant as you?"

  "Oh, oh!" cried the officer, laughing with all his might; "you arepoking fun at me, Master Raoul. If the king had regretted me, he wouldnot have let me leave him. No, no; I see in it something better, orworse, if you like."

  "Worse! What can that be, monsieur le chevalier?"

  "You are young, you are a boy, you are admirable. Oh, how I should liketo be as you are! To be but twenty-four, with an unfurrowed brow,under which the brain is void of everything but women, love, and goodintentions. Oh, Raoul, as long as you have not received the smilesof kings, the confidence of queens; as long as you have not had twocardinals killed under you, the one a tiger, the other a fox, as long asyou have not--But what is the good of all this trifling? We must part,Raoul."

  "How you say the word! What a serious face!"

  "Eh! but the occasion is worthy of it. Listen to me. I have a very goodrecommendation to tender you."

  "I am all attention, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

  "You will go and inform your father of my departure."

  "Your departure?"

  "Pardieu! You will tell him that I am gone into England; and that I amliving in my little country-house."

  "In England, you!--And the king's orders?"

  "You get more and more silly: do you imagine that I am going tothe Louvre, to place myself at the disposal of that little crownedwolf-cub?"

  "The king a wolf-cub? Why, monsieur le chevalier, you are mad!"

  "On the contrary, I never was so sane. You do not know what he wants todo with me, this worthy son of Louis le Juste!--But, Mordioux! thatis policy. He wishes to ensconce me snugly in the Bastile--purely andsimply, look you!"

  "What for?" cried Raoul, terrified at what he heard.

  "On account of what I told him one day at Blois. I was warm; heremembers it."

  "You told him what?"

  "That he was mean, cowardly, and silly."

  "Good God!" cried Raoul, "is it possible that such words should haveissued from your mouth?"

  "Perhaps I don't give the letter of my speech, but I give the sense ofit."

  "But did not the king have you arrested immediately?"

  "By whom? It was I who commanded the musketeers; he must have commandedme to convey myself to prison; I would never have consented: I wouldhave resisted myself. And then I went into England--no more D'Artagnan.Now, the cardinal is dead, or nearly so, they learn that I am in Paris,and they lay their hands on me."

  "The cardinal was your protector?"

  "The cardinal knew me; he knew certain particularities of me; I alsoknew some of his; we appreciated each other mutually. And then, onrendering his soul to the devil, he would recommend Anne of Austria tomake me the inhabitant of a safe place. Go then, and find your father,relate the fact to him--and adieu!"

  "My dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Raoul, very much agitated, afterhaving looked out at the window, "you cannot even fly!"

  "Why not?"

  "Because there is below an officer of the Swiss guards waiting for you."

  "Well!"

  "Well, he will arrest you."

  D'Artagnan broke into a Homeric laugh.

  "Oh! I know very well that you will resist, that you will fight, even;I know very well that you will prove the conqueror; but that amounts torebellion, and you are an officer yourself, knowing what discipline is."

  "Devil of a boy, how logical that is!" grumbled D'Artagnan.

  "You approve of it, do you not?"

  "Yes, instead of passing into the street, where that idiot is waitingfor me, I will slip quietly out at the back. I have a horse in thestable, and a good one. I will ride him to death; my means permit meto do so, and by killing one horse after another, I shall arrive atBoulogne in eleven hours; I know the road. Only tell your father onething."

  "What is that?"

  "That is--that the thing he knows about is placed at Planchet's house,except a fifth, and that----"

  "But, my dear M. d'Artagnan, rest assured that if you fly, two thingswill be said of you."

  "What are they, my dear friend?"

  "The first, that you have been afraid."

  "Ah! and who will dare to say that?"

  "The king first."

  "Well! but he will tell the truth,--I am afraid."

  "The second, that you knew yourself guilty."

  "Guilty of what?"

  "Why, of the crimes they wish to impute to you."

  "That is true again. So, then, you advise me to go and get myself made aprisoner in the Bastile?"

  "M. le Comte de la Fere would advise you just as I do."

  "Pardieu! I know he would," said D'Artagnan thoughtfully. "You areright, I shall not escape. But if they cast me into the Bastile?"

  "We will get you out again," said Raoul, with a quiet, calm air.

  "Mordioux! You said that after a brave fashion, Raoul," said D'Artagnan,seizing his hand, "that savors of Athos, distinctly. Well, I will go,then. Do not forget my last word."

  "Except a fifth," said Raoul.

  "Yes, you are a fine boy! and I wish you to add one thing to that lastword."

  "Speak, chevalier!"

  "It is that if you cannot get me out of the Bastile, and I remainthere--oh! that will be so, and I shall be a detestable prisoner; I, whohave been a passable man,--in that case, I give three-fifths to you, andthe fourth to your father."

  "Chevalier!"

  "Mordioux! If you will have some masses said for me, you are welcome."

  That being said, D'Artagnan took his belt from the hook, girded on hissword, took a hat the feather of which was fresh, and held his hand outto Raoul, who threw himself into his arms. When in the shop, he cast aquick glance at the shop-lads, who looked upon the scene with a pridemingled with some inquietude; then plunging his hands into a chest ofcurrants, he went straight to the officer who was waiting for him at thedoor.

  "Those features! Can it be you, Monsieur de Friedisch?" criedD'Artagnan, gayly. "Eh! eh! what, do we arrest our friends?"

  "Arrest!" whispered the lads among themselves.

  "Yes, it is I, Monsieur d'Artagnan! Good-day to you!" said the Swiss, inhis mountain patois.

  "Must I give you up my sword? I warn you, that it is long and heavy;you had better let me wear it to the Louvre: I feel quite lost in thestreets without a sword, and you would be more at a loss than I should,with two."

  "The king has given no orders about it," replied the Swiss, "so keepyour sword."

  "Well, that is very polite on the part of the king. Let us go, at once."

  Monsieur Friedisch was not a talker, and D'Artagnan had too many thingsto think about to say much. From Planchet's shop to the Louvre was notfar--they arrived in ten minutes. It was a dark night. M. de Friedischwanted to enter by the wicket. "No," said D'Artagnan, "you would losetime by that; take the little staircase."

  The Swiss did as D'Artagnan advised, and conducted him to the vestibuleof the king's cabinet. When arrived there, he bowed to his prisoner,and, without saying anything, returned to his post. D'Artagnan had nothad time to ask why his sword was not taken from him, when the door ofthe cabinet opened, and a valet de chambre called "M. D'Artagnan!" Themusketeer assumed his parade carriage and entered, with his large eyeswide open, his brow calm, his mustache stiff. The king was seated at atable writing. He did not disturb himself when the step of the musketeerresounded on the floor; he did not even turn his head. D'Artagnanadvanced as far as the middle of the room, and seeing that the king paidno attention to him, and suspecting, besides, that this was nothing butaffectation, a sort of tormenting preamble to the explanation that waspreparing, he turned his back on the prince, and began to examine thefrescoes on the cornices, and the cracks in the ceiling. This maneuverwas accompanied by a little tacit monologue. "Ah! you want to humbl
e me,do you?--you, whom I have seen so young--you, whom I have served as Iwould my own child,--you, whom I have served as I would a God--that isto say, for nothing. Wait awhile! wait awhile! you shall see what a mancan do who has snuffed the air of the fire of the Huguenots, under thebeard of monsieur le cardinal--the true cardinal." At this moment Louisturned round.

  "Ah! are you there, Monsieur d'Artagnan?" said he.

  D'Artagnan saw the movement and imitated it. "Yes, sire," said he.

  "Very well; have the goodness to wait till I have cast this up."

  D'Artagnan made no reply; he only bowed. "That is polite enough,"thought he; "I have nothing to say."

  Louis made a violent dash with his pen, and threw it angrily away.

  "Ah! go on, work yourself up!" thought the musketeer; "you will put meat my ease. You shall find I did not empty the bag, the other day, atBlois."

  Louis rose from his seat, passed his hand over his brow, then, stoppingopposite to D'Artagnan, he looked at him with an air at once imperiousand kind. "What the devil does he want with me? I wish he would begin!"thought the musketeer.

  "Monsieur," said the king, "you know, without doubt, that monsieur lecardinal is dead?"

  "I suspected so, sire."

  "You know that, consequently, I am master in my own kingdom?"

  "That is not a thing that dates from the death of monsieur le cardinal,sire; a man is always master in his own house, when he wishes to be so."

  "Yes; but do you remember all you said to me at Blois?"

  "Now we come to it," thought D'Artagnan, "I was not deceived. Well, somuch the better, it is a sign that my scent is tolerably keen yet."

  "You do not answer me," said Louis.

  "Sire, I think I recollect."

  "You only think?"

  "It is so long ago."

  "If you do not remember, I do. You said to me,--listen with attention."

  "Ah! I shall listen with all my ears, sire; for it is very likely theconversation will turn in a fashion very interesting to me."

  Louis once more looked at the musketeer, The latter smoothed the featherof his hat, then his mustache, and waited bravely. Louis XIV. continued:"You quitted my service, monsieur, after having told me the wholetruth?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "That is, after having declared to me all you thought to be true, withregard to my mode of thinking and acting. That is always a merit. Youbegan by telling me that you had served my family thirty years, and werefatigued."

  "I said so; yes, sire."

  "And you afterwards admitted that that fatigue was a pretext, and thatdiscontent was the real cause."

  "I was discontented, in fact, but that discontent has never betrayeditself, that I know of, and if, like a man of heart, I have spokenout before your majesty, I have not even thought of the matter, beforeanybody else."

  "Do not excuse yourself, D'Artagnan, but continue to listen to me. Whenmaking me the reproach that you were discontented, you received in replya promise:--'Wait.'--Is not that true?"

  "Yes, sire, as true as what I told you."

  "You answered me, 'Hereafter! No, now, immediately.' Do not excuseyourself, I tell you. It was natural, but you had no charity for yourpoor prince, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

  "Sire! charity for a king, on the part of a poor soldier!"

  "You understand me very well; you knew that I stood in need of it; youknew very well that I was not master; you knew very well that my hopewas in the future. Now, you answered me when I spoke of that future, 'Mydischarge,--and that directly.'"

  "That is true," murmured D'Artagnan, biting his mustache.

  "You did not flatter me when I was in distress," added Louis.

  "But," said D'Artagnan, raising his head nobly, "if I did not flatteryour majesty when poor, neither did I betray you. I have shed my bloodfor nothing; I have watched like a dog at a door, knowing full well thatneither bread nor bone would be thrown to me. I, although poor likewise,asked nothing of your majesty but the discharge you speak of."

  "I know you are a brave man, but I was a young man, and you ought tohave had some indulgence for me. What had you to reproach the kingwith?--that he left King Charles II. without assistance?--let us sayfurther--that he did not marry Mademoiselle de Mancini?" When sayingthese words, the king fixed upon the musketeer a searching look.

  "Ah! ah!" thought the latter, "he is doing far more than remembering, hedivines. The devil!"

  "Your sentence," continued Louis, "fell upon the king and fell upon theman. But, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that weakness, for you considered ita weakness?"--D'Artagnan made no reply--"you reproached me also withregard to monsieur, the defunct cardinal. Now, monsieur le cardinal,did he not bring me up, did he not support me?--elevating himselfand supporting himself at the same time, I admit; but the benefit wasdischarged. As an ingrate or an egotist, would you, then, have betterloved or served me?"

  "Sire!"

  "We will say no more about it, monsieur; it would only create in you toomany regrets, and me too much pain."

  D'Artagnan was not convinced. The young king, in adopting a tone ofhauteur with him, did not forward his purpose.

  "You have since reflected?" resumed Louis.

  "Upon what, sire?" asked D'Artagnan, politely.

  "Why, upon all that I have said to you, monsieur."

  "Yes, sire, no doubt----"

  "And you have only waited for an opportunity of retracting your words?"

  "Sire!"

  "You hesitate, it seems."

  "I do not understand what your majesty did me the honor to say to me."

  Louis's brow became cloudy.

  "Have the goodness to excuse me, sire; my understanding is particularlythick; things do not penetrate it without difficulty; but it is true,when once they get in, they remain there."

  "Yes, yes; you appear to have a memory."

  "Almost as good a one as your majesty's."

  "Then give me quickly one solution. My time is valuable. What have youbeen doing since your discharge?"

  "Making my fortune, sire."

  "The expression is crude, Monsieur d'Artagnan."

  "Your majesty takes it in bad part, certainly. I entertain nothing butthe profoundest respect for the king; and if I have been impolite, whichmight be excused by my long sojourn in camps and barracks, your majestyis too much above me to be offended at a word that innocently escapesfrom a soldier."

  "In fact, I know you performed a brilliant action in England, monsieur.I only regret that you have broken your promise."

  "I!" cried D'Artagnan.

  "Doubtless. You engaged your word not to serve any other prince onquitting my service. Now it was for King Charles II. that you undertookthe marvelous carrying off of M. Monk."

  "Pardon me, sire, it was for myself."

  "And did you succeed?"

  "Like the captains of the fifteenth century, coups-de-main andadventures."

  "What do you call succeeding?--a fortune?"

  "A hundred thousand crowns, sire, which I now possess--that is, in oneweek three times as much money as I ever had in fifty years."

  "It is a handsome sum. But you are ambitious, I perceive."

  "I, sire? The quarter of that would be a treasure; and I swear to you Ihave no thought of augmenting it."

  "What! you contemplate remaining idle?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "You mean to drop the sword?"

  "That I have already done."

  "Impossible, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Louis, firmly.

  "But, sire----"

  "Well?"

  "And why, sire?"

  "Because it is my wish you should not!" said the young prince, in avoice so stern and imperious that D'Artagnan evinced surprise and evenuneasiness.

  "Will your majesty allow me one word of reply?" said he.

  "Speak."

  "I formed that resolution when I was poor and destitute."

  "So be it. Go on."

  "Now, when by my energy I have acquired a comfor
table means ofsubsistence, would your majesty despoil me of my liberty? Your majestywould condemn me to the lowest, when I have gained the highest?"

  "Who gave you permission, monsieur to fathom my designs, or to reckonwith me?" replied Louis, in a voice almost angry; "who told you what Ishall do or what you will yourself do?"

  "Sire," said the musketeer, quietly, "as far as I see, freedom isnot the order of the conversation, as it was on the day we came to anexplanation at Blois."

  "No, monsieur; everything is changed."

  "I tender your majesty my sincere compliments upon that, but----"

  "But you don't believe it?"

  "I am not a great statesman, and yet I have my eye upon affairs; itseldom fails; now, I do not see exactly as your majesty does, sire. Thereign of Mazarin is over, but that of the financiers is begun. They havethe money; your majesty will not often see much of it. To live underthe paw of these hungry wolves is hard for a man who reckoned uponindependence."

  At this moment some one scratched at the door of the cabinet; the kingraised his head proudly. "Your pardon, Monsieur d'Artagnan," said he;"it is M. Colbert, who comes to make me a report. Come in M. Colbert."

  D'Artagnan drew back. Colbert entered with papers in his hand, and wentup to the king. There can be little doubt that the Gascon did not losethe opportunity of applying his keen, quick glance to the new figurewhich presented itself.

  "Is the inquiry made?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "And the opinion of the inquisitors?"

  "Is that the accused merit confiscation and death."

  "Ah! ah!" said the king, without changing countenance, and casting anoblique look at D'Artagnan. "And your own opinion, M. Colbert?" said he.

  Colbert looked at D'Artagnan in his turn. That imposing countenancechecked the words upon his lips. Louis perceived this. "Do not disturbyourself," said he; "it is M. d'Artagnan,--do you not know M. d'Artagnanagain?"

  These two men looked at each other--D'Artagnan, with eyes open andbright as the day--Colbert, with his half closed, and dim. The frankintrepidity of the one annoyed the other; the circumspection of thefinancier disgusted the soldier. "Ah! ah! this is the gentleman who madethat brilliant stroke in England," said Colbert. And he bowed slightlyto D'Artagnan.

  "Ah! ah!" said the Gascon, "this is the gentleman who clipped off thelace from the uniform of the Swiss! A praiseworthy piece of economy."

  The financier thought to pierce the musketeer; but the musketeer ran thefinancier through.

  "Monsieur d'Artagnan," resumed the king, who had not remarked all theshades of which Mazarin would have missed not one, "this concerns thefarmers of the revenue who have robbed me, whom I am hanging, and whosedeath-warrants I am about to sign."

  "Oh! oh!" said D'Artagnan, starting.

  "What did you say?"

  "Oh! nothing, sire. This is no business of mine."

  The king had already taken up the pen, and was applying it to the paper."Sire," said Colbert in a subdued voice, "I beg to warn your majesty,that if an example be necessary, there will be difficulty in theexecution of your orders."

  "What do you say?" said Louis.

  "You must not conceal from yourself," continued Colbert quietly, "thatattacking the farmers-general is attacking the superintendence. Thetwo unfortunate guilty men in question are the particular friends ofa powerful personage, and the punishment, which otherwise might becomfortably confined to the Chatelet will doubtless be a signal fordisturbances!"

  Louis colored and turned towards D'Artagnan, who took a slight bite athis mustache, not without a smile of pity for the financier, and forthe king who had to listen to him so long. But Louis seized the pen, andwith a movement so rapid, that his hand shook, he affixed his signatureat the bottom of the two papers presented by Colbert,--then looking thelatter in the face,--"Monsieur Colbert'" said he, "when you speak tome on business, exclude more frequently the word difficulty from yourreasonings and opinions; as to the word impossibility, never pronounceit."

  Colbert bowed, much humiliated at having to undergo such a lesson beforethe musketeer; he was about to go out, but, jealous to repair his check:"I forgot to announce to your majesty," said he, "that the confiscationsamount to the sum of five millions of livres."

  "That's pretty well!" thought D'Artagnan.

  "Which makes in my coffers?" said the king.

  "Eighteen millions of livres, sire," replied Colbert, bowing.

  "Mordioux!" growled D'Artagnan, "that's glorious!"

  "Monsieur Colbert," added the king, "you will, if you please, go throughthe gallery where M. Lyonne is waiting, and will tell him to bringhither what he has drawn up--by my order."

  "Directly, sire; if your majesty wants me no more this evening?"

  "No, monsieur: good-night!" And Colbert went out.

  "Now, let us return to our affair, M. d'Artagnan," said the king, asif nothing had happened. "You see that, with respect to money, there isalready a notable change."

  "Something to the tune of from zero to eighteen millions," replied themusketeer, gayly. "Ah! that was what your majesty wanted the day KingCharles II. came to Blois. The two states would not have been embroiledto-day; for I must say, that there also I see another stumbling-block."

  "Well, in the first place," replied Louis, "you are unjust, monsieur;for, if Providence had made me able to give my brother the million thatday, you would not have quitted my service, and, consequently, you wouldnot have made your fortune, as you told me just now you have done. But,in addition to this, I have had another piece of good fortune; and mydifference with Great Britain need not alarm you."

  A valet de chambre interrupted the king by announcing M. Lyonne. "Comein, monsieur," said the king; "you are punctual; that is like a goodservant. Let us see your letter to my brother Charles II."

  D'Artagnan pricked up his ears. "A moment, monsieur," said Louis,carelessly to the Gascon, "I must expedite to London my consent to themarriage of my brother, M. le Duc d'Anjou, with the Princess HenriettaStuart."

  "He is knocking me about, it seems," murmured D'Artagnan, whilst theking signed the letter, and dismissed M. de Lyonne, "but, ma foi! themore he knocks me about in this manner, the better I like it."

  The king followed M. de Lyonne with his eyes, till the door wasclosed behind him; he even made three steps, as if he would follow theminister, but, after these three steps, stopping, pausing, and comingback to the musketeer,--"Now, monsieur," said he, "let us hasten toterminate our affair. You told me the other day, at Blois, that you werenot rich?"

  "But I am now, sire."

  "Yes, but that does not concern me; you have your own money, not mine;that does not enter into my account."

  "I do not well understand what your majesty means."

  "Then, instead of leaving you to draw out words, speak, spontaneously.Should you be satisfied with twenty thousand livres a year as a fixedincome?"

  "But, sire," said D'Artagnan, opening his eyes to the utmost.

  "Would you be satisfied with four horses furnished and kept, and witha supplement of funds such as you might require, according to occasionsand needs, or would you prefer a fixed sum which would be, for example,forty thousand livres? Answer."

  "Sire, your majesty----"

  "Yes, you are surprised; that is natural, and I expected it. Answer me,come! or I shall think you have no longer that rapidity of judgment Ihave so much admired in you."

  "It is certain, sire, that twenty thousand livres a year make a handsomesum; but----"

  "No buts! Yes or no, is it an honorable indemnity?"

  "Oh! very certainly."

  "You will be satisfied with it? That is well. It will be better toreckon the extra expenses separately; you can arrange that with Colbert.Now let us pass to something more important."

  "But, sire, I told your majesty----"

  "That you wanted rest, I know you did: only I replied that I would notallow it--I am master, I suppose?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "That is w
ell. You were formerly in the way of becoming captain of themusketeers?"

  "Yes, sire."

  "Well, here is your commission signed. I place it in this drawer. Theday on which you shall return from a certain expedition which I have toconfide to you, on that day you may yourself take the commission fromthe drawer." D'Artagnan still hesitated, and hung down his head. "Come,monsieur," said the king, "one would believe, to look at you, thatyou did not know that at the court of the most Christian king, thecaptain-general of the musketeers takes precedence of the marechals ofFrance."

  "Sire, I know he does.

  "Then, am I to think you do put no faith in my word?"

  "Oh! sire, never--never dream of such a thing."

  "I have wished to prove to you, that you, so good a servant, had lost agood master; am I anything like the master that will suit you?"

  "I begin to think you are, sire."

  "Then, monsieur, you will resume your functions. Your company is quitedisorganized since your departure and the men go about drinking andrioting in the cabarets where they fight, in spite of my edicts,and those of my father. You will reorganize the service as soon aspossible."

  "Yes, sire."

  "You will not again quit my person."

  "Very well, sire."

  "You will march with me to the army, you will encamp round my tent."

  "Then, sire," said D'Artagnan, "if it is only to impose upon me aservice like that, your majesty need not give me twenty thousand livresa year. I shall not earn them."

  "I desire that you shall keep open house; I desire that you should keepa liberal table; I desire that my captain of musketeers should be apersonage."

  "And I," said D'Artagnan, bluntly; "I do not like easily found money;I like money won! Your majesty gives me an idle trade, which the firstcomer would perform for four thousand livres."

  Louis XIV. began to laugh. "You are a true Gascon, Monsieur d'Artagnan;you will draw my heart's secret from me."

  "Bah! has your majesty a secret, then?"

  "Yes, monsieur."

  "Well! then I accept the twenty thousand livres, for I will keep thatsecret, and discretion is above all price, in these times. Will yourmajesty speak now?"

  "Boot yourself, Monsieur d'Artagnan, and to horse!"

  "Directly, sire."

  "Within two days."

  "That is well, sire: for I have my affairs to settle before I set out;particularly if it is likely there should be any blows stirring."

  "That may happen."

  "We can receive them! But, sire, you have addressed yourself to avarice,to ambition; you have addressed yourself to the heart of M. d'Artagnan,but you have forgotten one thing."

  "What is that?"

  "You have said nothing to his vanity, when shall I be a knight of theking's orders?"

  "Does that interest you?"

  "Why, yes, sire. My friend Athos is quite covered with orders, and thatdazzles me."

  "You shall be a knight of my order a month after you have taken yourcommission of captain."

  "Ah! ah!" said the officer, thoughtfully, "after the expedition."

  "Precisely."

  "Where is your majesty going to send me?"

  "Are you acquainted with Bretagne?"

  "Have you any friends there?"

  "In Bretagne? No, ma foi!"

  "So much the better. Do you know anything about fortifications?"

  "I believe I do, sire," said D'Artagnan, smiling.

  "That is to say you can readily distinguish a fortress from a simplefortification, such as is allowed to chatelains or vassals?"

  "I distinguish a fort from a rampart as I distinguish a cuirass from araised pie-crust, sire. Is that sufficient?"

  "Yes, monsieur. You will set out then."

  "For Bretagne?"

  "Yes."

  "Alone?"

  "Absolutely alone. That is to say, you must not even take a lackey withyou."

  "May I ask your majesty for what reason?"

  "Because, monsieur, it will be necessary to disguise yourself sometimes,as the servant of a good family. Your face is very well known in France,M. d'Artagnan."

  "And then, sire?"

  "And then you will travel slowly through Bretagne, and will examinecarefully the fortifications of that country."

  "The coasts?"

  "Yes, and the isles, commencing by Belle-Isle-en-Mer."

  "Ah! which belongs to M. Fouquet!" said D'Artagnan, in a serious tone,raising his intelligent eye to Louis XIV.

  "I fancy you are right, monsieur, and that Belle-Isle does belong to M.Fouquet, in fact."

  "Then your majesty wishes me to ascertain if Belle-Isle is a strongplace?"

  "Yes."

  "If the fortifications of it are new or old?"

  "Precisely."

  "And if the vassals of M. Fouquet are sufficiently numerous to form agarrison?"

  "That is what I want to know; you have placed your finger on thequestion."

  "And if they are not fortifying, sire?"

  "You will travel about Bretagne, listening and judging."

  "Then I am a king's spy?" said D'Artagnan, bluntly, twisting hismustache.

  "No, monsieur."

  "Your pardon, sire; I spy on your majesty's account."

  "You start on a voyage of discovery, monsieur. Would you march at thehead of your musketeers, with your sword in your hand, to observe anyspot whatever, or an enemy's position?"

  At this word D'Artagnan started.

  "Do you," continued the king, "imagine yourself to be a spy?"

  "No, no," said D'Artagnan, but pensively; "the thing changes its facewhen one observes an enemy; one is but a soldier. And if they arefortifying Belle-Isle?" added he, quickly.

  "You will take an exact plan of the fortifications."

  "Will they permit me to enter?"

  "That does not concern me; that is your affair. Did you not understandthat I reserved for you a supplement of twenty thousand livres perannum, if you wished it?"

  "Yes, sire; but if they are not fortifying?"

  "You will return quietly, without fatiguing your horse."

  "Sire, I am ready."

  "You will begin to-morrow by going to monsieur le surintendant's to takethe first quarter of the pension I give you. Do you know M. Fouquet?"

  "Very little, sire; but I beg your majesty to observe that I don't thinkit immediately necessary that I should know him."

  "Your pardon, monsieur; for he will refuse you the money I wish you totake; and it is that refusal I look for."

  "Ah!" said D'Artagnan. "Then, sire?"

  "The money being refused, you will go and seek it at M. Colbert's. Apropos, have you a good horse?"

  "An excellent one, sire."

  "How much did it cost you?"

  "A hundred and fifty pistoles."

  "I will buy it of you. Here is a note for two hundred pistoles."

  "But I want my horse for my journey, sire."

  "Well!"

  "Well, and you take mine from me."

  "Not at all. On the contrary, I give it you. Only as it is now mine andnot yours, I am sure you will not spare it."

  "Your majesty is in a hurry, then?"

  "A great hurry."

  "Then what compels me to wait two days?"

  "Reasons known to myself."

  "That's a different affair. The horse may make up the two days, in theeight he has to travel; and then there is the post."

  "No, no, the post compromises, Monsieur d'Artagnan. Begone and do notforget you are my servant."

  "Sire, it is not my duty to forget it! At what hour to-morrow shall Itake my leave of your majesty?"

  "Where do you lodge?"

  "I must henceforward lodge at the Louvre."

  "That must not be now--keep your lodgings in the city: I will pay forthem. As to your departure, it must take place at night; you must setout without being seen by any one, or, if you are seen, it must not beknown that you belong to me. Keep your mouth shut
, monsieur."

  "Your majesty spoils all you have said by that single word."

  "I asked you where you lodged, for I cannot always send to M. le Comtede la Fere to seek you."

  "I lodge with M. Planchet, a grocer, Rue des Lombards, at the sign ofthe Pilon d'Or."

  "Go out but little, show yourself less, and await my orders."

  "And yet, sire, I must go for the money."

  "That is true, but when going to the superintendence, where so manypeople are constantly going, you must mingle with the crowd."

  "I want the notes, sire, for the money."

  "Here they are." The king signed them, and D'Artagnan looked on, toassure himself of their regularity.

  "Adieu! Monsieur d'Artagnan," added the king; "I think you haveperfectly understood me."

  "I? I understand that your majesty sends me to Belle-Isle-en-Mer, thatis all."

  "To learn?"

  "To learn how M. Fouquet's works are going on; that is all."

  "Very well: I admit you may be taken."

  "And I do not admit it," replied the Gascon, boldly.

  "I admit you may be killed," continued the king.

  "That is not probable, sire."

  "In the first case, you must not speak; in the second there must be nopapers found upon you."

  D'Artagnan shrugged his shoulders without ceremony, and took leave ofthe king, saying to himself:--"The English shower continues--let usremain under the spout!"

  CHAPTER 54. The Houses of M. Fouquet