The Hunt for The Red Cardinal
Page 31
D’Artagnan and the others quickly shielded the cardinal from the man, D’Artagnan borrowed Porthos’ sword and beat the man back. Then all but Porthos joined in the fight, they disarmed the man and held him tightly.
“But aren’t you the man who came here yesterday seeking safety from thieves,” Monsieur Berger?” asked the abbot.
“Yes, but now I see that that traitor is seeking sanctuary, himself, I must capture him for King Gaston.”
“I cannot allow any bloodshed in this holy place, and I won’t allow you to take this man captive. If you leave peacefully, I will let you go, but you must never return to this island.”
The man thought for a moment. If he left now, he could lie in wait for a better time to complete his mission.
“I will go, but I will not deny my accusations of him.”
The abbot looked at Brother Etienne, who had regained a bit of strength after the jostling ride across the causeway, for a moment and a look of recognition crossed his face.
A look of recognition also crossed the cardinal’s face, as well. “Henri?”
Abbe’ Marcus replied with, “Armand?”
“So you are the abbot here,” said the cardinal in a breathy voice.
“I never even suspected you might be the famous Cardinal Richelieu. You are from the same region as I.”
The cardinal thought for a moment. Memories kept flitting through his mind, memories of his childhood and youth.
“How would I know you if I were really Cardinal Richelieu? You see, after an accident on the way here, I hit my head and lost my memory. I have remembered nothing from my past since that time. Until now.” He held his head in his hands.
“Then you’re not the cardinal?” asked the abbot.
“No. I am merely Brother Etienne from a chapterhouse near Paris.” He turned to D’Artagnan and said, “Monsieur Dubois, please tell the story to these people. I am very tired and I think you are the only one besides me who knows it.”
The abbot looked at D’Artagnan and his friends inquiringly. “Well?” he said.
Then D’Artagnan started at the beginning. “As I’m certain you have heard, Cardinal Richelieu and the late King Louis were attacked on their way to visit Queen Anne. The King was killed,” D’Artagnan and his friends crossed themselves, “and the cardinal was gravely injured. I was sent to see him, and to remove him from the monastery where he had been taken and take him to someplace safer, here. But before I could accomplish that…well.” D’Artagnan hung his head. “But if that happened, I was to find a substitute to play his part, but in secret.
“Forgive me, my friends,” D’Artagnan said to the others. “I was admonished by Cardinal Tremblay to keep the secret. As he said, secrets cannot be kept by so many. We two were all that he truly trusted.”
Everyone was silent for a moment, thinking about what had been said.
Monsieur Rousseau broke the silence. “You mean he isn’t really Cardinal Richelieu? He looks just like the man I remember from when I was a boy.”
The abbot said to him, “Memories from so long ago cannot be trusted, my son. You and your friends go in peace.”
The man who had tried to attack Brother Etienne, thinking he was the cardinal, left with them.
“Now, let us go to my office where we can talk in private. Explaining your presence will not be hard, nor will that of those other men. It was clearly a matter of mistaken identity.”
After they were seated in the abbot’s office, he said, “I would like to catch up with you, Brother Etienne. It has been so many years since we have seen each other.”
“Pardon me, Abbe’, but I must continue my story. It is very important,” D’Artagnan said.
“Very well.”
“This is not entirely my fault. In fact, I was commanded to keep a secret from everyone, but I can reveal it, now that we have arrived at our destination.”
The others in the room seemed to all speak at once, until D’Artagnan silenced them.
“I was commanded by Cardinal Tremblay to take Cardinal Richelieu to a safe place for him to recover from his injury. My deception is somewhat complicated, since he also told me that if the cardinal died before the journey began, to take a, you might say, decoy, in his place.”
They all started speaking again, and D’Artagnan silenced them, again.
“You, my friends, believed that this man was really Cardinal Richelieu. And you, Abbe’, have been led to believe that this man is really your childhood friend, Armand. You are both correct.” After silencing them for the third time, he continued the explanation. “This is the real Cardinal Richelieu.” He turned to the Abbot. “I didn’t want anyone to know that we had brought the real cardinal here; otherwise, they wouldn’t have left believing that that he is only a monk who looks like the cardinal.” He turned to the Abbot. “This deception was necessary; I think you’ll agree when you have thought about it. We all took false names, except for Brother Xavier, of course. It wasn’t necessary for him to do so.”
“But you said how would you know me if you were the real cardinal,” the abbot said. “How then do you know my name?”
“But we did know each other as children, and you haven’t changed so much that I wouldn’t recognize you again, even after all these years,” the cardinal replied. “My given name is Armand Jean du Plessis.”
The abbot gasped. “Of course, my friend!”
The room was silent, for a change, while the old friends embraced each other. Then the Abbot spoke. “I understand your reasoning for keeping secret the identity of the cardinal, and have to agree with it. Now that the truth is known by all of us, I think we can forgive any secrecy. Now, about catching up with you, Your Eminence. It seems as though there is much catching up to do.”
“And we have much to talk about. And plenty of time to do so,” the cardinal said. “I think it will be a while before I am completely recovered.”
“I will be delighted to discuss anything you wish to talk about,” said the abbot. “But what of France? We are remote here and don’t receive much in the way of news.”
“There is much change and distrust in France now. We have been away from Paris for many weeks and many things have happened to us on our way. That can be a story for Brother Etienne, I mean, His Eminence, to tell when his memory is fully restored,” D’Artagnan said to the abbot.
“I can help, since I have been with him the entire way,” said Brother Xavier. “And I didn’t lose my memory.”
The abbot looked down at his desk and started rummaging through several papers.
“I received a letter from Cardinal Tremblay a while ago. I had forgotten about it because I didn’t yet understand what it meant.” He found what he was looking for and exclaimed, “Here it is! The letter says that several men would be arriving at some point and some of them are instructed to follow the request in a separate letter that was included with this one. The names Allais, Gerard, Georges and Emile are mentioned.”
D’Artagnan started to chuckle. “Those are the false names my friends and I have been using on our travels. I have been Allais Reynard, but my true name is Charles D’Artagnan. Gerard, Georges and Emile, here are really Athos, Porthos and Aramis of the former king’s musketeers. I, myself, was in the Cardinal’s Guard and am one of the few still alive. Cardinal Tremblay trusted me to escort the cardinal and Brother Xavier to safety. I requested that my friends accompany us.”
“But there is another who you haven’t introduced,” said the abbot.
“Oh, we know him only as Montaigne. Who knows what his real name is. He worked for the cardinal in matters that were–sensitive.”
“That’s right,” Montaigne said. “The running joke is that no one remembers me for long.”
Everyone but the abbot laughed. D’Artagnan explained. “We trust that that will always be true. The kingdom is safer that way.”
“But here, take your letter. I suspect that Cardinal Tremblay has given you another assignment now that you’ve
delivered the monks safely.” He handed over the letter, which still was sealed.
D’Artagnan opened it while the others looked over his shoulder.
“That’s just what it says.” He looked at Montaigne. “You’re not included, of course, since we met only by chance.”
“Of course,” Montaigne replied with a look on his face that might have said, “If you believe in coincidences.”
“Abbe’,” Cardinal Richelieu said. “I have a request of you, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, Your Eminence. What is it?”
“Even when I have recovered, I would like to remain here in this monastery for a while.”
Brother Xavier spoke up, making the same request. “The cardinal and I have become close, and I would like to stay, as well.”
The abbot took only a moment to grant the requests of both.
“Now,” the abbot said to the company, “if the requirement made of you in your letter isn’t urgent, would you stay with us for a few days? I’m sure the last months you’re been traveling has worn on you. You have had to be vigilant the entire time. Please spend some time in our company and rest.”
D’Artagnan, the three musketeers and Montaigne eagerly accepted the invitation, agreeing to stay three days before going on their way.
On the third day, they met with the abbot, the cardinal and Brother Xavier to say their farewells.
“It has been an honor for us to be with you on this mission,” D’Artagnan said to their fellow travelers. “And to stay here for these few days. Thank you, Abbe’, for your hospitality.” He turned to the cardinal and the monk again. “I’m glad you will be staying here; it is such a beautiful place, and so serene. If I were a monk, this would be my choice.”
The others echoed D’Artagnan’s sentiment and, since the tide had ebbed, went on their way.
“Well, we have successfully completed our mission,” Athos said. “Cardinal Tremblay’s letter said to go south and meet someone. I couldn’t read the rest.”
“We are going south to meet a Monsieur Bergeron in Nantes. We are to spread more rumors of the cardinal’s whereabouts.”
“Well, my friends, I am headed back to the east, so I will take my leave. I’m glad we had this time together and that I could help you complete your journey.” He waved as his route diverged from theirs.
“Do you think we met by accident or by design,” Aramis asked the others.
“It could be either one,” replied D’Artagnan. “Montaigne never divulges the reasons for his actions.”
The others conceded the truth of the statement, and continued on their new journey to the south.
The End
Dramatis Personae
In order of appearance
On The Matter Of D’Artagnan
Cardinal Richelieu - A cardinal of the church – Prime Minister to King Louis XIII
Monsignor Henri Ryan - One of Cardinal Richelieu’s secretaries
Charles D’Artagnan - Lieutenant of the Cardinal’s Guard – also known as Charles de Gatz-Casthenese
Charlotte Blackson - Paramour of Charles D’Artagnan – Successful business woman in Paris
André Marro - Former seneschal to the family LeVlanc who knew a name
Manuel Zarubin - Earlier was co-conspiritor in the attempted murder of King Henry IV, King Louis XIII’s father – suspected of killing D’Artagnan’s father
To End The Evening
Barnabas Marcoli - Young man of Venice
Charles D’Artagnan - Agent of Cardinal Richelieu on a mission in Venice
Aramis - Agent (spy) of Cardinal Richelieu on a mission in Venice – also known as Montaigne
Madam Paulette - A Madam
Two men of the Quinniaro group - Who were defeated
Ramsey Culhane - Kidnapped and freed
All For One
Charles D’Artagnan - An agent of Cardinal Richelieu - also known as Charles de Gatz-Casthenese
Athos - A Musketeer – cousin to Porthos and Aramis – also known as Armund de Sillegue d'Athos d'Autevielle – also known as Athos de la Fère – also known as Gerard Le Roi
Porthos - A Musketeer – cousin to Athos and Aramis – also known as Issac de Porteau – also known as Porthos du Vallon – also known as Georges Moreau
Aramis - A Musketeer – cousin to Athos and Porthos – also known as Henri d' Aramitz – also known as René d’Herblay – also known as Emile Gillette
Montaigne - An agent (spy) of Cardinal Richelieu
Maximilian André Castellans Moreau - Father of a young woman, who thought Aramis had dishonored her
Celine Moreau - Daughter of Maximilian Moreau, who had not been dishonored
Brother Cornelius - A monk who is not what he seems
The Hunt For The Red Cardinal
Luc Boyea - Employee of the house of Louie, Count de Soissons – wants to better himself
André Boyea - Luc’s brother – radio operator of the Count
Louis, Count de Soissons - Count of the region including the town of Soissons
Claude de Bourdeille, Comte de Montrésor - Friend of Louis, Count de Soissons
Charlotte Blackson - Divorced business woman of Paris – paramour of Charles D’Artagnan
Charles D’Artagnan - Lieutenant of Cardinal Richelieu’s guard – also known as Charles de Gatz-Casthenese
Sophie - Charlotte Blackson’s maid
François Leclerc, Cardinal Tremblay - Friend of Cardinal Richelieu – also known as Pere’ Joseph
Audrey - One of Cardinal Tremblay’s household maids
Allais DuBois - Nom de plume of D’Artagnan
Brother Julius - Monk at the monastery at Clairfontaine
Abbe’ Michel - Abbot of the monastery at Clairfontaine
Athos - Musketeer – friend of D’Artagnan – also known as Gerard Le Roi
Brother Jacques - Monk at the monastery at Clairfontaine
Brother Maurice - Monk at the monastery at Clairfontaine
Brother Xavier - A young monk new to the monastery at Clairfontaine
Brother Etienne - Nom de plume of Cardinal Richelieu
François - One of several men who robbed and shot Luc Boyea
Jean DuPont - Cousin of the wife of the innkeeper at Ramboullet
Father Andreas - Priest of the church at Epernon
Roxanne - Father Andreas’ housemaid
Marie Antin - Father Andreas’ cook, a supporter of King Gaston
Pierre - Town of Epernon messenger
Porthos - Musketeer – friend of D’Artagnan – also known as Georges Moreau
Aramis - Musketeer – Friend of D’Artagnan – also known as Emile Gillette
Gaston - King Louis XIII younger brother and soon-to-be king of France
Terrye Jo Tillman - Uptime radio operator for Gaston
Duke Victor Amadeus - Gaston’s brother-in-law
Two men - Friends of Jean DuPont, cousin of the innkeeper's wife at Ramboullet
Pastor Alexandre - Pastor of a church where the travelers stayed
François - Innkeeper of the village and village magistrate
André - Butcher of the village
Jacques - Member of the village keeping lookout
Frederick - Leader of the group that arrived at the village
Abelard, Bruno, Felix, Eustice, and Henri - Members of Frederick’s group
Montaigne - Agent of Cardinal Richelieu - friend of D’Artagnan and the others, who is willing to help
Simon Cordonnier - Cobbler of the town of Soissons, who found something
Marie Cordonnier - Simon’s wife, who wanted to give it away
Middle-aged man - Who found it, and lost it
Third man - Who found it and lost it, and more
Monsieur Baudin - Who found it and lost it, and found it, and lost it
Monsieur Borde - Baudin’s landlord
Pierre Faucher - Who found it and lost it
Annette Faucher - Who took it to the right person
Father Matthias - Who was the right person to take it to
Pascal - Cardinal Tremblay’s secretary
Brother Paolo - Monk at the monastery at Clairefontaine
Abbe’ Michel - Abbot of the monastery at Clairefontaine
Two old men in Toulouse - Who liked to talk loudly
Henri Lamar - Former cardinal’s guard – no friend of D’Artagnan
Jules - A friend of Henri Lamar
Jacques Boucher - Innkeeper of The Black Dragon in Rennes
Physician - Who was called to examine Brother Etienne
François LeBeq - A shady merchant who owes Montaigne a favor
Monsieur Allard - Merchant of second-hand furniture
André Boyce - Leader of the men searching for enemies of the crown
Anatole Boucher - Jacques Boucher’s cousin, with whom he doesn’t associate
Father Jean - Priest of church that François LeBeq attends, who needs help
Madame LeBeau - Father Jean’s cook
Six young men with swords - Who want to rob the church and get their comeuppance
Pierre LeFou - Who was hiding and became useful
Monsieur Severin - Who hosted the monks
Monsieur Bernard - Homeowner who allowed the others to sleep in his barn
Monsieur Lambert - Innkeeper in the town of Tremblay
Marcel Babineau - Villager who hosted the monks in his home and let the others sleep in his barn
Anton Rousseau - Babineau’s neighbor, who suspected
Abbe’ Marcus - Abbott of the monastery of Le Mont Saint Michel
Monsieur Berger - Threatened Brother Etienne inside the monastery