Les trois mousquetaires. English Page 6

  5 THE KING'S MUSKETEERS AND THE CARDINAL'S GUARDS

  D'Artagnan was acquainted with nobody in Paris. He went therefore to hisappointment with Athos without a second, determined to be satisfied withthose his adversary should choose. Besides, his intention was formed tomake the brave Musketeer all suitable apologies, but without meanness orweakness, fearing that might result from this duel which generallyresults from an affair of this kind, when a young and vigorous manfights with an adversary who is wounded and weakened--if conquered, hedoubles the triumph of his antagonist; if a conqueror, he is accused offoul play and want of courage.

  Now, we must have badly painted the character of our adventure seeker,or our readers must have already perceived that d'Artagnan was not anordinary man; therefore, while repeating to himself that his death wasinevitable, he did not make up his mind to die quietly, as one lesscourageous and less restrained might have done in his place. Hereflected upon the different characters of those with whom he was goingto fight, and began to view his situation more clearly. He hoped, bymeans of loyal excuses, to make a friend of Athos, whose lordly air andaustere bearing pleased him much. He flattered himself he should be ableto frighten Porthos with the adventure of the baldric, which he might,if not killed upon the spot, relate to everybody a recital which, wellmanaged, would cover Porthos with ridicule. As to the astute Aramis, hedid not entertain much dread of him; and supposing he should be able toget so far, he determined to dispatch him in good style or at least, byhitting him in the face, as Caesar recommended his soldiers do to thoseof Pompey, to damage forever the beauty of which he was so proud.

  In addition to this, d'Artagnan possessed that invincible stock ofresolution which the counsels of his father had implanted in his heart:"Endure nothing from anyone but the king, the cardinal, and Monsieur deTreville." He flew, then, rather than walked, toward the convent of theCarmes Dechausses, or rather Deschaux, as it was called at that period,a sort of building without a window, surrounded by barren fields--anaccessory to the Preaux-Clercs, and which was generally employed as theplace for the duels of men who had no time to lose.

  When d'Artagnan arrived in sight of the bare spot of ground whichextended along the foot of the monastery, Athos had been waiting aboutfive minutes, and twelve o'clock was striking. He was, then, as punctualas the Samaritan woman, and the most rigorous casuist with regard toduels could have nothing to say.

  Athos, who still suffered grievously from his wound, though it had beendressed anew by M. de Treville's surgeon, was seated on a post andwaiting for his adversary with hat in hand, his feather even touchingthe ground.

  "Monsieur," said Athos, "I have engaged two of my friends as seconds;but these two friends are not yet come, at which I am astonished, as itis not at all their custom."

  "I have no seconds on my part, monsieur," said d'Artagnan; "for havingonly arrived yesterday in Paris, I as yet know no one but Monsieur deTreville, to whom I was recommended by my father, who has the honor tobe, in some degree, one of his friends."

  Athos reflected for an instant. "You know no one but Monsieur deTreville?" he asked.

  "Yes, monsieur, I know only him."

  "Well, but then," continued Athos, speaking half to himself, "if I killyou, I shall have the air of a boy-slayer."

  "Not too much so," replied d'Artagnan, with a bow that was not deficientin dignity, "since you do me the honor to draw a sword with me whilesuffering from a wound which is very inconvenient."

  "Very inconvenient, upon my word; and you hurt me devilishly, I can tellyou. But I will take the left hand--it is my custom in suchcircumstances. Do not fancy that I do you a favor; I use either handeasily. And it will be even a disadvantage to you; a left-handed man isvery troublesome to people who are not prepared for it. I regret I didnot inform you sooner of this circumstance."

  "You have truly, monsieur," said d'Artagnan, bowing again, "a courtesy,for which, I assure you, I am very grateful."

  "You confuse me," replied Athos, with his gentlemanly air; "let us talkof something else, if you please. Ah, s'blood, how you have hurt me! Myshoulder quite burns."

  "If you would permit me--" said d'Artagnan, with timidity.

  "What, monsieur?"

  "I have a miraculous balsam for wounds--a balsam given to me by mymother and of which I have made a trial upon myself."

  "Well?"

  "Well, I am sure that in less than three days this balsam would cureyou; and at the end of three days, when you would be cured--well, sir,it would still do me a great honor to be your man."

  D'Artagnan spoke these words with a simplicity that did honor to hiscourtesy, without throwing the least doubt upon his courage.

  "PARDIEU, monsieur!" said Athos, "that's a proposition that pleases me;not that I can accept it, but a league off it savors of the gentleman.Thus spoke and acted the gallant knights of the time of Charlemagne, inwhom every cavalier ought to seek his model. Unfortunately, we do notlive in the times of the great emperor, we live in the times of thecardinal; and three days hence, however well the secret might beguarded, it would be known, I say, that we were to fight, and our combatwould be prevented. I think these fellows will never come."

  "If you are in haste, monsieur," said d'Artagnan, with the samesimplicity with which a moment before he had proposed to him to put offthe duel for three days, "and if it be your will to dispatch me at once,do not inconvenience yourself, I pray you."

  "There is another word which pleases me," cried Athos, with a graciousnod to d'Artagnan. "That did not come from a man without a heart.Monsieur, I love men of your kidney; and I foresee plainly that if wedon't kill each other, I shall hereafter have much pleasure in yourconversation. We will wait for these gentlemen, so please you; I haveplenty of time, and it will be more correct. Ah, here is one of them, Ibelieve."

  In fact, at the end of the Rue Vaugirard the gigantic Porthos appeared.

  "What!" cried d'Artagnan, "is your first witness Monsieur Porthos?"

  "Yes, that disturbs you?"

  "By no means."

  "And here is the second."

  D'Artagnan turned in the direction pointed to by Athos, and perceivedAramis.

  "What!" cried he, in an accent of greater astonishment than before,"your second witness is Monsieur Aramis?"

  "Doubtless! Are you not aware that we are never seen one without theothers, and that we are called among the Musketeers and the Guards, atcourt and in the city, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, or the ThreeInseparables? And yet, as you come from Dax or Pau--"

  "From Tarbes," said d'Artagnan.

  "It is probable you are ignorant of this little fact," said Athos.

  "My faith!" replied d'Artagnan, "you are well named, gentlemen; and myadventure, if it should make any noise, will prove at least that yourunion is not founded upon contrasts."

  In the meantime, Porthos had come up, waved his hand to Athos, and thenturning toward d'Artagnan, stood quite astonished.

  Let us say in passing that he had changed his baldric and relinquishedhis cloak.

  "Ah, ah!" said he, "what does this mean?"

  "This is the gentleman I am going to fight with," said Athos, pointingto d'Artagnan with his hand and saluting him with the same gesture.

  "Why, it is with him I am also going to fight," said Porthos.

  "But not before one o'clock," replied d'Artagnan.

  "And I also am to fight with this gentleman," said Aramis, coming in histurn onto the place.

  "But not until two o'clock," said d'Artagnan, with the same calmness.

  "But what are you going to fight about, Athos?" asked Aramis.

  "Faith! I don't very well know. He hurt my shoulder. And you, Porthos?"

  "Faith! I am going to fight--because I am going to fight," answeredPorthos, reddening.

  Athos, whose keen eye lost nothing, perceived a faintly sly smile passover the lips of the young Gascon as he replied, "We had a shortdiscussion upon dress."

  "And you, Aramis?" asked Athos.

  "Oh,
ours is a theological quarrel," replied Aramis, making a sign tod'Artagnan to keep secret the cause of their duel.

  Athos indeed saw a second smile on the lips of d'Artagnan.

  "Indeed?" said Athos.

  "Yes; a passage of St. Augustine, upon which we could not agree," saidthe Gascon.

  "Decidedly, this is a clever fellow," murmured Athos.

  "And now you are assembled, gentlemen," said d'Artagnan, "permit me tooffer you my apologies."

  At this word APOLOGIES, a cloud passed over the brow of Athos, a haughtysmile curled the lip of Porthos, and a negative sign was the reply ofAramis.

  "You do not understand me, gentlemen," said d'Artagnan, throwing up hishead, the sharp and bold lines of which were at the moment gilded by abright ray of the sun. "I asked to be excused in case I should not beable to discharge my debt to all three; for Monsieur Athos has the rightto kill me first, which must much diminish the face-value of your bill,Monsieur Porthos, and render yours almost null, Monsieur Aramis. Andnow, gentlemen, I repeat, excuse me, but on that account only, and--onguard!"

  At these words, with the most gallant air possible, d'Artagnan drew hissword.

  The blood had mounted to the head of d'Artagnan, and at that moment hewould have drawn his sword against all the Musketeers in the kingdom aswillingly as he now did against Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.

  It was a quarter past midday. The sun was in its zenith, and the spotchosen for the scene of the duel was exposed to its full ardor.

  "It is very hot," said Athos, drawing his sword in its turn, "and yet Icannot take off my doublet; for I just now felt my wound begin to bleedagain, and I should not like to annoy Monsieur with the sight of bloodwhich he has not drawn from me himself."

  "That is true, Monsieur," replied d'Artagnan, "and whether drawn bymyself or another, I assure you I shall always view with regret theblood of so brave a gentleman. I will therefore fight in my doublet,like yourself."

  "Come, come, enough of such compliments!" cried Porthos. "Remember, weare waiting for our turns."

  "Speak for yourself when you are inclined to utter such incongruities,"interrupted Aramis. "For my part, I think what they say is very wellsaid, and quite worthy of two gentlemen."

  "When you please, monsieur," said Athos, putting himself on guard.

  "I waited your orders," said d'Artagnan, crossing swords.

  But scarcely had the two rapiers clashed, when a company of the Guardsof his Eminence, commanded by M. de Jussac, turned the corner of theconvent.

  "The cardinal's Guards!" cried Aramis and Porthos at the same time."Sheathe your swords, gentlemen, sheathe your swords!"

  But it was too late. The two combatants had been seen in a positionwhich left no doubt of their intentions.

  "Halloo!" cried Jussac, advancing toward them and making a sign to hismen to do so likewise, "halloo, Musketeers? Fighting here, are you? Andthe edicts? What is become of them?"

  "You are very generous, gentlemen of the Guards," said Athos, full ofrancor, for Jussac was one of the aggressors of the preceding day. "Ifwe were to see you fighting, I can assure you that we would make noeffort to prevent you. Leave us alone, then, and you will enjoy a littleamusement without cost to yourselves."

  "Gentlemen," said Jussac, "it is with great regret that I pronounce thething impossible. Duty before everything. Sheathe, then, if you please,and follow us."

  "Monsieur," said Aramis, parodying Jussac, "it would afford us greatpleasure to obey your polite invitation if it depended upon ourselves;but unfortunately the thing is impossible--Monsieur de Treville hasforbidden it. Pass on your way, then; it is the best thing to do."

  This raillery exasperated Jussac. "We will charge upon you, then," saidhe, "if you disobey."

  "There are five of them," said Athos, half aloud, "and we are but three;we shall be beaten again, and must die on the spot, for, on my part, Ideclare I will never appear again before the captain as a conqueredman."

  Athos, Porthos, and Aramis instantly drew near one another, while Jussacdrew up his soldiers.

  This short interval was sufficient to determine d'Artagnan on the parthe was to take. It was one of those events which decide the life of aman; it was a choice between the king and the cardinal--the choice made,it must be persisted in. To fight, that was to disobey the law, that wasto risk his head, that was to make at one blow an enemy of a ministermore powerful than the king himself. All this the young man perceived,and yet, to his praise we speak it, he did not hesitate a second.Turning towards Athos and his friends, "Gentlemen," said he, "allow meto correct your words, if you please. You said you were but three, butit appears to me we are four."

  "But you are not one of us," said Porthos.

  "That's true," replied d'Artagnan; "I have not the uniform, but I havethe spirit. My heart is that of a Musketeer; I feel it, monsieur, andthat impels me on."

  "Withdraw, young man," cried Jussac, who doubtless, by his gestures andthe expression of his countenance, had guessed d'Artagnan's design. "Youmay retire; we consent to that. Save your skin; begone quickly."

  D'Artagnan did not budge.

  "Decidedly, you are a brave fellow," said Athos, pressing the youngman's hand.

  "Come, come, choose your part," replied Jussac.

  "Well," said Porthos to Aramis, "we must do something."

  "Monsieur is full of generosity," said Athos.

  But all three reflected upon the youth of d'Artagnan, and dreaded hisinexperience.

  "We should only be three, one of whom is wounded, with the addition of aboy," resumed Athos; "and yet it will not be the less said we were fourmen."

  "Yes, but to yield!" said Porthos.

  "That IS difficult," replied Athos.

  D'Artagnan comprehended their irresolution.

  "Try me, gentlemen," said he, "and I swear to you by my honor that Iwill not go hence if we are conquered."

  "What is your name, my brave fellow?" said Athos.

  "d'Artagnan, monsieur."

  "Well, then, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan, forward!" criedAthos.

  "Come, gentlemen, have you decided?" cried Jussac for the third time.

  "It is done, gentlemen," said Athos.

  "And what is your choice?" asked Jussac.

  "We are about to have the honor of charging you," replied Aramis,lifting his hat with one hand and drawing his sword with the other.

  "Ah! You resist, do you?" cried Jussac.

  "S'blood; does that astonish you?"

  And the nine combatants rushed upon each other with a fury which howeverdid not exclude a certain degree of method.

  Athos fixed upon a certain Cahusac, a favorite of the cardinal's.Porthos had Bicarat, and Aramis found himself opposed to twoadversaries. As to d'Artagnan, he sprang toward Jussac himself.

  The heart of the young Gascon beat as if it would burst through hisside--not from fear, God be thanked, he had not the shade of it, butwith emulation; he fought like a furious tiger, turning ten times roundhis adversary, and changing his ground and his guard twenty times.Jussac was, as was then said, a fine blade, and had had much practice;nevertheless it required all his skill to defend himself against anadversary who, active and energetic, departed every instant fromreceived rules, attacking him on all sides at once, and yet parryinglike a man who had the greatest respect for his own epidermis.

  This contest at length exhausted Jussac's patience. Furious at beingheld in check by one whom he had considered a boy, he became warm andbegan to make mistakes. D'Artagnan, who though wanting in practice had asound theory, redoubled his agility. Jussac, anxious to put an end tothis, springing forward, aimed a terrible thrust at his adversary, butthe latter parried it; and while Jussac was recovering himself, glidedlike a serpent beneath his blade, and passed his sword through his body.Jussac fell like a dead mass.

  D'Artagnan then cast an anxious and rapid glance over the field ofbattle.

  Aramis had killed one of his adversaries, but the other pressed himwarmly. Neverthel
ess, Aramis was in a good situation, and able to defendhimself.

  Bicarat and Porthos had just made counterhits. Porthos had received athrust through his arm, and Bicarat one through his thigh. But neitherof these two wounds was serious, and they only fought more earnestly.

  Athos, wounded anew by Cahusac, became evidently paler, but did not giveway a foot. He only changed his sword hand, and fought with his lefthand.

  According to the laws of dueling at that period, d'Artagnan was atliberty to assist whom he pleased. While he was endeavoring to find outwhich of his companions stood in greatest need, he caught a glance fromAthos. The glance was of sublime eloquence. Athos would have died ratherthan appeal for help; but he could look, and with that look askassistance. D'Artagnan interpreted it; with a terrible bound he sprangto the side of Cahusac, crying, "To me, Monsieur Guardsman; I will slayyou!"

  Cahusac turned. It was time; for Athos, whose great courage alonesupported him, sank upon his knee.

  "S'blood!" cried he to d'Artagnan, "do not kill him, young man, I beg ofyou. I have an old affair to settle with him when I am cured and soundagain. Disarm him only--make sure of his sword. That's it! Very welldone!"

  The exclamation was drawn from Athos by seeing the sword of Cahusac flytwenty paces from him. D'Artagnan and Cahusac sprang forward at the sameinstant, the one to recover, the other to obtain, the sword; butd'Artagnan, being the more active, reached it first and placed his footupon it.

  Cahusac immediately ran to the Guardsman whom Aramis had killed, seizedhis rapier, and returned toward d'Artagnan; but on his way he met Athos,who during his relief which d'Artagnan had procured him had recoveredhis breath, and who, for fear that d'Artagnan would kill his enemy,wished to resume the fight.

  D'Artagnan perceived that it would be disobliging Athos not to leave himalone; and in a few minutes Cahusac fell, with a sword thrust throughhis throat.

  At the same instant Aramis placed his sword point on the breast of hisfallen enemy, and forced him to ask for mercy.

  There only then remained Porthos and Bicarat. Porthos made a thousandflourishes, asking Bicarat what o'clock it could be, and offering himhis compliments upon his brother's having just obtained a company in theregiment of Navarre; but, jest as he might, he gained nothing. Bicaratwas one of those iron men who never fell dead.

  Nevertheless, it was necessary to finish. The watch might come up andtake all the combatants, wounded or not, royalists or cardinalists.Athos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan surrounded Bicarat, and required him tosurrender. Though alone against all and with a wound in his thigh,Bicarat wished to hold out; but Jussac, who had risen upon his elbow,cried out to him to yield. Bicarat was a Gascon, as d'Artagnan was; heturned a deaf ear, and contented himself with laughing, and between twoparries finding time to point to a spot of earth with his sword, "Here,"cried he, parodying a verse of the Bible, "here will Bicarat die; for Ionly am left, and they seek my life."

  "But there are four against you; leave off, I command you."

  "Ah, if you command me, that's another thing," said Bicarat. "As you aremy commander, it is my duty to obey." And springing backward, he brokehis sword across his knee to avoid the necessity of surrendering it,threw the pieces over the convent wall, and crossed him arms, whistlinga cardinalist air.

  Bravery is always respected, even in an enemy. The Musketeers salutedBicarat with their swords, and returned them to their sheaths.D'Artagnan did the same. Then, assisted by Bicarat, the only one leftstanding, they bore Jussac, Cahusac, and one of Aramis's adversaries whowas only wounded, under the porch of the convent. The fourth, as we havesaid, was dead. They then rang the bell, and carrying away four swordsout of five, they took their road, intoxicated with joy, toward thehotel of M. de Treville.

  They walked arm in arm, occupying the whole width of the street andtaking in every Musketeer they met, so that in the end it became atriumphal march. The heart of d'Artagnan swam in delirium; he marchedbetween Athos and Porthos, pressing them tenderly.

  "If I am not yet a Musketeer," said he to his new friends, as he passedthrough the gateway of M. de Treville's hotel, "at least I have enteredupon my apprenticeship, haven't I?"