Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
"Ah, ah!" said Aramis, "the black points and the red points `
` are visibly enlarging. I am of d'Artagnan's opinion; we `
` have no time to lose in regaining our camp." `
` `
` "My faith," said Athos, "I have nothing to say against a `
` retreat. We bet upon one hour, and we have stayed an hour `
` and a half. Nothing can be said; let us be off, gentlemen, `
` let us be off!" `
` `
` Grimaud was already ahead, with the basket and the dessert. `
` The four friends followed, ten paces behind him. `
` `
` "What the devil shall we do now, gentlemen?" cried Athos. `
` `
` "Have you forgotten anything?" said Aramis. `
` `
` "The white flag, morbleu! We must not leave a flag in the `
` hands of the enemy, even if that flag be but a napkin." `
` `
` And Athos ran back to the bastion, mounted the platform, and `
` bore off the flag; but as the Rochellais had arrived within `
` musket range, they opened a terrible fire upon this man, who `
` appeared to expose himself for pleasure's sake. `
` `
` But Athos might be said to bear a charmed life. The balls `
` passed and whistled all around him; not one struck him. `
` `
` Athos waved his flag, turning his back on the guards of the `
` city, and saluting those of the camp. On both sides loud `
` cries arose--on the one side cries of anger, on the other `
` cries of enthusiasm. `
` `
` A second discharge followed the first, and three balls, by `
` passing through it, made the napkin really a flag. Cries `
` were heard from the camp, "Come down! come down!" `
` `
` Athos came down; his friends, who anxiously awaited him, saw `
` him returned with joy. `
` `
` "Come along, Athos, come along!" cried d'Artagnan; "now we `
` have found everything except money, it would be stupid to be `
` killed." `
` `
` But Athos continued to march majestically, whatever remarks `
` his companions made; and they, finding their remarks `
` useless, regulated their pace by his. `
` `
` Grimaud and his basket were far in advance, out of the range `
` of the balls. `
` `
` At the end of an instant they heard a furious fusillade. `
` `
` "What's that?" asked Porthos, "what are they firing at now? `
` I hear no balls whistle, and I see nobody!" `
` `
` "They are firing at the corpses," replied Athos. `
` `
` "But the dead cannot return their fire." `
` `
` "Certainly not! They will then fancy it is an ambuscade, `
` they will deliberate; and by the time they have found out `
` the pleasantry, we shall be out of the range of their balls. `
` That renders it useless to get a pleurisy by too much `
` haste." `
` `
` "Oh, I comprehend now," said the astonished Porthos. `
` `
` "That's lucky," said Athos, shrugging his shoulders. `
` `
` On their part, the French, on seeing the four friends return `
` at such a step, uttered cries of enthusiasm. `
` `
` At length a fresh discharge was heard, and this time the `
` balls came rattling among the stones around the four `
` friends, and whistling sharply in their ears. The `
` Rochellais had at last taken possession of the bastion. `
` `
` "These Rochellais are bungling fellows," said Athos; "how `
` many have we killed of them--a dozen?" `
` `
` "Or fifteen." `
` `
` "How many did we crush under the wall?" `
` `
` "Eight or ten." `
` `
` "And in exchange for all that not even a scratch! Ah, but `
` what is the matter with your hand, d'Artagnan? It bleeds, `
` seemingly." `
` `
` "Oh, it's nothing," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "A spent ball?" `
` `
` "Not even that." `
` `
` "What is it, then?" `
` `
` We have said that Athos loved d'Artagnan like a child, and `
` this somber and inflexible personage felt the anxiety of a `
` parent for the young man. `
` `
` "Only grazed a little," replied d'Artagnan; "my fingers were `
` caught between two stones--that of the wall and that of my `
` ring--and the skin was broken." `
` `
` "That comes of wearing diamonds, my master," said Athos, `
` disdainfully. `
` `
` "Ah, to be sure," cried Porthos, "there is a diamond. Why `
` the devil, then, do we plague ourselves about money, when `
` there is a diamond?" `
` `
` "Stop a bit!" said Aramis. `
` `
` "Well thought of, Porthos; this time you have an idea." `
` `
` "Undoubtedly," said Porthos, drawing himself up at Athos's `
` compliment; "as there is a diamond, let us sell it." `
` `
` "But," said d'Artagnan, "it is the queen's diamond." `
` `
` "The stronger reason why it should be sold," replied Athos. `
` The queen saving Monsieur de Buckingham, her lover; nothing `
` more just. The queen saving us, her friends; nothing more `
` moral. Let us sell the diamond. What says Monsieur the `
` Abbe? I don't ask Porthos; his opinion has been given." `
` `
` "Why, I think," said Aramis, blushing as usual, "that his `
` ring not coming from a mistress, and consequently not being `
` a love token, d'Artagnan may sell it." `
` `
` "My dear Aramis, you speak like theology personified. Your `
` advice, then, is--" `
` `
` "To sell the diamond," replied Aramis. `
` `
` "Well, then," said d'Artagnan, gaily, "let us sell the `
` diamond, and say no more about it." `
` `
` The fusillade continued; but the four friends were out of `
` reach, and the Rochellais only fired to appease their `
` consciences. `
` `
` "My faith, it was time that idea came into Porthos's head. `
` Here we are at the camp; therefore, gentlemen, not a word `
` more of this affair. We are observed; they are coming to `
` meet us. We shall be carried in triumph." `
` `
` In fact, as we have said, the whole camp was in motion. `
` More than two thousand persons had assisted, as at a `
` spectacle, in this fortunate but wild undertaking of the `
` four friends--an undertaking of which they were far from `
` suspecting the real motive. Nothing was heard but cries of `
` "Live the Musketeers! Live the Guards!" M. de Busigny was `
` the first to come and shake Athos by the hand, and `
` acknowledge that the wager was lost. The dragoon and the `
` Swiss followed him, and all their comrades followed the `
` dragoon and the Swiss. There was nothing but felicitations, `
` pressures of the hand, and embraces; there was no end to the `
` inextinguishable laughter at the Rochellais. The tumult at `
` length became so great that the cardinal fancied there must `
` be some riot, and sent La Houdiniere, his captain of the `
` Guards, to inquire what was going on. `
` `
` The affair was described to the messenger with all the `
` effervescence of enthusiasm. `
` `
` "Well?" asked the cardinal, on seeing La Houdiniere return. `
` `
` "Well, monseigneur," replied the latter, "three Musketeers `
` and a Guardsman laid a wager with Monsieur de Busigny that `
` they would go and breakfast in the bastion St. Gervais; and `
` while breakfasting they held it for two hours against the `
` enemy, and have killed I don't know how many Rochellais." `
` `
` "Did you inquire the names of those three Musketeers?" `
` `
` "Yes, monseigneur." `
` `
` "What are their names?" `
` `
` "Messieurs Athos, Porthos, and Aramis." `
` `
` "Still my three brave fellows!" murmured the cardinal. "And `
` the Guardsman?" `
` `
` "d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "Still my young scapegrace. Positively, these four men must `
` be on my side." `
` `
` The same evening the cardinal spoke to M. de Treville of the `
` exploit of the morning, which was the talk of the whole `
` camp. M. de Treville, who had received the account of the `
` adventure from the mouths of the heroes of it, related it in `
` all its details to his Eminence, not forgetting the episode `
` of the napkin. `
` `
` "That's well, Monsieur de Treville," said the cardinal; `
` "pray let that napkin be sent to me. I will have three `
`
` are visibly enlarging. I am of d'Artagnan's opinion; we `
` have no time to lose in regaining our camp." `
` `
` "My faith," said Athos, "I have nothing to say against a `
` retreat. We bet upon one hour, and we have stayed an hour `
` and a half. Nothing can be said; let us be off, gentlemen, `
` let us be off!" `
` `
` Grimaud was already ahead, with the basket and the dessert. `
` The four friends followed, ten paces behind him. `
` `
` "What the devil shall we do now, gentlemen?" cried Athos. `
` `
` "Have you forgotten anything?" said Aramis. `
` `
` "The white flag, morbleu! We must not leave a flag in the `
` hands of the enemy, even if that flag be but a napkin." `
` `
` And Athos ran back to the bastion, mounted the platform, and `
` bore off the flag; but as the Rochellais had arrived within `
` musket range, they opened a terrible fire upon this man, who `
` appeared to expose himself for pleasure's sake. `
` `
` But Athos might be said to bear a charmed life. The balls `
` passed and whistled all around him; not one struck him. `
` `
` Athos waved his flag, turning his back on the guards of the `
` city, and saluting those of the camp. On both sides loud `
` cries arose--on the one side cries of anger, on the other `
` cries of enthusiasm. `
` `
` A second discharge followed the first, and three balls, by `
` passing through it, made the napkin really a flag. Cries `
` were heard from the camp, "Come down! come down!" `
` `
` Athos came down; his friends, who anxiously awaited him, saw `
` him returned with joy. `
` `
` "Come along, Athos, come along!" cried d'Artagnan; "now we `
` have found everything except money, it would be stupid to be `
` killed." `
` `
` But Athos continued to march majestically, whatever remarks `
` his companions made; and they, finding their remarks `
` useless, regulated their pace by his. `
` `
` Grimaud and his basket were far in advance, out of the range `
` of the balls. `
` `
` At the end of an instant they heard a furious fusillade. `
` `
` "What's that?" asked Porthos, "what are they firing at now? `
` I hear no balls whistle, and I see nobody!" `
` `
` "They are firing at the corpses," replied Athos. `
` `
` "But the dead cannot return their fire." `
` `
` "Certainly not! They will then fancy it is an ambuscade, `
` they will deliberate; and by the time they have found out `
` the pleasantry, we shall be out of the range of their balls. `
` That renders it useless to get a pleurisy by too much `
` haste." `
` `
` "Oh, I comprehend now," said the astonished Porthos. `
` `
` "That's lucky," said Athos, shrugging his shoulders. `
` `
` On their part, the French, on seeing the four friends return `
` at such a step, uttered cries of enthusiasm. `
` `
` At length a fresh discharge was heard, and this time the `
` balls came rattling among the stones around the four `
` friends, and whistling sharply in their ears. The `
` Rochellais had at last taken possession of the bastion. `
` `
` "These Rochellais are bungling fellows," said Athos; "how `
` many have we killed of them--a dozen?" `
` `
` "Or fifteen." `
` `
` "How many did we crush under the wall?" `
` `
` "Eight or ten." `
` `
` "And in exchange for all that not even a scratch! Ah, but `
` what is the matter with your hand, d'Artagnan? It bleeds, `
` seemingly." `
` `
` "Oh, it's nothing," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "A spent ball?" `
` `
` "Not even that." `
` `
` "What is it, then?" `
` `
` We have said that Athos loved d'Artagnan like a child, and `
` this somber and inflexible personage felt the anxiety of a `
` parent for the young man. `
` `
` "Only grazed a little," replied d'Artagnan; "my fingers were `
` caught between two stones--that of the wall and that of my `
` ring--and the skin was broken." `
` `
` "That comes of wearing diamonds, my master," said Athos, `
` disdainfully. `
` `
` "Ah, to be sure," cried Porthos, "there is a diamond. Why `
` the devil, then, do we plague ourselves about money, when `
` there is a diamond?" `
` `
` "Stop a bit!" said Aramis. `
` `
` "Well thought of, Porthos; this time you have an idea." `
` `
` "Undoubtedly," said Porthos, drawing himself up at Athos's `
` compliment; "as there is a diamond, let us sell it." `
` `
` "But," said d'Artagnan, "it is the queen's diamond." `
` `
` "The stronger reason why it should be sold," replied Athos. `
` The queen saving Monsieur de Buckingham, her lover; nothing `
` more just. The queen saving us, her friends; nothing more `
` moral. Let us sell the diamond. What says Monsieur the `
` Abbe? I don't ask Porthos; his opinion has been given." `
` `
` "Why, I think," said Aramis, blushing as usual, "that his `
` ring not coming from a mistress, and consequently not being `
` a love token, d'Artagnan may sell it." `
` `
` "My dear Aramis, you speak like theology personified. Your `
` advice, then, is--" `
` `
` "To sell the diamond," replied Aramis. `
` `
` "Well, then," said d'Artagnan, gaily, "let us sell the `
` diamond, and say no more about it." `
` `
` The fusillade continued; but the four friends were out of `
` reach, and the Rochellais only fired to appease their `
` consciences. `
` `
` "My faith, it was time that idea came into Porthos's head. `
` Here we are at the camp; therefore, gentlemen, not a word `
` more of this affair. We are observed; they are coming to `
` meet us. We shall be carried in triumph." `
` `
` In fact, as we have said, the whole camp was in motion. `
` More than two thousand persons had assisted, as at a `
` spectacle, in this fortunate but wild undertaking of the `
` four friends--an undertaking of which they were far from `
` suspecting the real motive. Nothing was heard but cries of `
` "Live the Musketeers! Live the Guards!" M. de Busigny was `
` the first to come and shake Athos by the hand, and `
` acknowledge that the wager was lost. The dragoon and the `
` Swiss followed him, and all their comrades followed the `
` dragoon and the Swiss. There was nothing but felicitations, `
` pressures of the hand, and embraces; there was no end to the `
` inextinguishable laughter at the Rochellais. The tumult at `
` length became so great that the cardinal fancied there must `
` be some riot, and sent La Houdiniere, his captain of the `
` Guards, to inquire what was going on. `
` `
` The affair was described to the messenger with all the `
` effervescence of enthusiasm. `
` `
` "Well?" asked the cardinal, on seeing La Houdiniere return. `
` `
` "Well, monseigneur," replied the latter, "three Musketeers `
` and a Guardsman laid a wager with Monsieur de Busigny that `
` they would go and breakfast in the bastion St. Gervais; and `
` while breakfasting they held it for two hours against the `
` enemy, and have killed I don't know how many Rochellais." `
` `
` "Did you inquire the names of those three Musketeers?" `
` `
` "Yes, monseigneur." `
` `
` "What are their names?" `
` `
` "Messieurs Athos, Porthos, and Aramis." `
` `
` "Still my three brave fellows!" murmured the cardinal. "And `
` the Guardsman?" `
` `
` "d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "Still my young scapegrace. Positively, these four men must `
` be on my side." `
` `
` The same evening the cardinal spoke to M. de Treville of the `
` exploit of the morning, which was the talk of the whole `
` camp. M. de Treville, who had received the account of the `
` adventure from the mouths of the heroes of it, related it in `
` all its details to his Eminence, not forgetting the episode `
` of the napkin. `
` `
` "That's well, Monsieur de Treville," said the cardinal; `
` "pray let that napkin be sent to me. I will have three `
`