Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
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` 19 PLAN OF CAMPAIGN `
` `
` D'Artagnan went straight to M. de Treville's. He had reflected `
` that in a few minutes the cardinal would be warned by this cursed `
` stranger, who appeared to be his agent, and he judged, with `
` reason, he had not a moment to lose. `
` `
` The heart of the young man overflowed with joy. An opportunity `
` presented itself to him in which there would be at the same time `
` glory to be acquired, and money to be gained; and as a far higher `
` encouragement, it brought him into close intimacy with a woman he `
` adored. This chance did, then, for him at once more than he `
` would have dared to ask of Providence. `
` `
` M. de Treville was in his saloon with his habitual court of `
` gentlemen. D'Artagnan, who was known as a familiar of the house, `
` went straight to his office, and sent word that he wished to see `
` him on something of importance. `
` `
` D'Artagnan had been there scarcely five minutes when M. de `
` Treville entered. At the first glance, and by the joy which was `
` painted on his countenance, the worthy captain plainly perceived `
` that something new was on foot. `
` `
` All the way along d'Artagnan had been consulting with himself `
` whether he should place confidence in M. de Treville, or whether `
` he should only ask him to give him CARTE BLANCHE for some secret `
` affair. But M. de Treville had always been so thoroughly his `
` friend, had always been so devoted to the king and queen, and `
` hated the cardinal so cordially, that the young man resolved to `
` tell him everything. `
` `
` "Did you ask for me, my good friend?" said M. de Treville. `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur," said d'Artagnan, lowering his voice, "and you `
` will pardon me, I hope, for having disturbed you when you know `
` the importance of my business." `
` `
` "Speak, then, I am all attention." `
` `
` "It concerns nothing less", said d'Artagnan, "than the honor, `
` perhaps the life of the queen." `
` `
` "What did you say?" asked M. de Treville, glancing round to see `
` if they were surely alone, and then fixing his questioning look `
` upon d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I say, monsieur, that chance has rendered me master of a `
` secret--" `
` `
` "Which you will guard, I hope, young man, as your life." `
` `
` "But which I must impart to you, monsieur, for you alone can `
` assist me in the mission I have just received from her Majesty." `
` `
` "Is this secret your own?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur; it is her Majesty's." `
` `
` "Are you authorized by her Majesty to communicate it to me?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur, for, on the contrary, I am desired to preserve the `
` profoundest mystery." `
` `
` "Why, then, are you about to betray it to me?" `
` `
` "Because, as I said, without you I can do nothing; and I am `
` afraid you will refuse me the favor I come to ask if you do not `
` know to what end I ask it." `
` `
` "Keep your secret, young man, and tell me what you wish." `
` `
` "I wish you to obtain for me, from Monsieur Dessessart, leave of `
` absence for fifteen days." `
` `
` "When?" `
` `
` "This very night." `
` `
` "You leave Paris?" `
` `
` "I am going on a mission." `
` `
` "May you tell me whither?" `
` `
` "To London." `
` `
` "Has anyone an interest in preventing your arrival there?" `
` `
` "The cardinal, I believe, would give the world to prevent my `
` success." `
` `
` "And you are going alone?" `
` `
` "I am going alone." `
` `
` "In that case you will not get beyond Bondy. I tell you so, by `
` the faith of de Treville." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "You will be assassinated." `
` `
` "And I shall die in the performance of my duty." `
` `
` "But your mission will not be accomplished." `
` `
` "That is true," replied d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Believe me," continued Treville, "in enterprises of this kind, `
` in order that one may arrive, four must set out." `
` `
` "Ah, you are right, monsieur," said d'Artagnan; "but you know `
` Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and you know if I can dispose of `
` them." `
` `
` "Without confiding to them the secret which I am not willing to `
` know?" `
` `
` "We are sworn, once for all, to implicit confidence and `
` devotedness against all proof. Besides, you can tell them that `
` you have full confidence in me, and they will not be more `
` incredulous than you." `
` `
` "I can send to each of them leave of absence for fifteen days, `
` that is all--to Athos, whose wound still makes him suffer, to go `
` to the waters of Forges; to Porthos and Aramis to accompany their `
` friend, whom they are not willing to abandon in such a painful `
` condition. Sending their leave of absence will be proof enough `
` that I authorize their journey." `
` `
` "Thanks, monsieur. You are a hundred times too good." `
` `
` "Begone, then, find them instantly, and let all be done tonight! `
` Ha! But first write your request to Dessessart. Perhaps you had `
` a spy at your heels; and your visit, if it should ever be known `
` to the cardinal, will thus seem legitimate." `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew up his request, and M. de Treville, on receiving `
` it, assured him that by two o'clock in the morning the four `
` leaves of absence should be at the respective domiciles of the `
` travelers. `
` `
` "Have the goodness to send mine to Athos's residence. I should `
` dread some disagreeable encounter if I were to go home." `
` `
` "Be easy. Adieu, and a prosperous voyage. A PROPOS," said M. de `
` Treville, calling him back. `
` `
` D'Artagnan returned. `
` `
` "Have you any money?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan tapped the bag he had in his pocket. `
` `
` "Enough?" asked M. de Treville. `
` `
` "Three hundred pistoles." `
` `
` "Oh, plenty! That would carry you to the end of the world. `
` Begone, then!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan saluted M. de Treville, who held out his hand to him; `
` d'Artagnan pressed it with a respect mixed with gratitude. Since `
` his first arrival at Paris, he had had constant occasion to honor `
` this excellent man, whom he had always found worthy, loyal, and `
` great. `
` `
` His first visit was to Aramis, at whose residence he had not been `
` since the famous evening on which he had followed Mme. Bonacieux. `
` Still further, he had seldom seen the young Musketeer; but every `
` time he had seen him, he had remarked a deep sadness imprinted on `
` his countenance. `
` `
` This evening, especially, Aramis was melancholy and thoughtful. `
` d'Artagnan asked some questions about this prolonged melancholy. `
` Aramis pleaded as his excuse a commentary upon the eighteenth `
` chapter of St. Augustine, which he was forced to write in Latin `
` for the following week, and which preoccupied him a good deal. `
` `
` After the two friends had been chatting a few moments, a servant `
` from M. de Treville entered, bringing a sealed packet. `
` `
` "What is that?" asked Aramis. `
` `
` "The leave of absence Monsieur has asked for," replied the `
` lackey. `
` `
` "For me! I have asked for no leave of absence." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue and take it!" said d'Artagnan. "And you, my `
` friend, there is a demipistole for your trouble; you will tell `
` Monsieur de Treville that Monsieur Aramis is very much obliged to `
` him. Go." `
` `
` The lackey bowed to the ground and departed. `
` `
`
` `
` `
` `
` 19 PLAN OF CAMPAIGN `
` `
` D'Artagnan went straight to M. de Treville's. He had reflected `
` that in a few minutes the cardinal would be warned by this cursed `
` stranger, who appeared to be his agent, and he judged, with `
` reason, he had not a moment to lose. `
` `
` The heart of the young man overflowed with joy. An opportunity `
` presented itself to him in which there would be at the same time `
` glory to be acquired, and money to be gained; and as a far higher `
` encouragement, it brought him into close intimacy with a woman he `
` adored. This chance did, then, for him at once more than he `
` would have dared to ask of Providence. `
` `
` M. de Treville was in his saloon with his habitual court of `
` gentlemen. D'Artagnan, who was known as a familiar of the house, `
` went straight to his office, and sent word that he wished to see `
` him on something of importance. `
` `
` D'Artagnan had been there scarcely five minutes when M. de `
` Treville entered. At the first glance, and by the joy which was `
` painted on his countenance, the worthy captain plainly perceived `
` that something new was on foot. `
` `
` All the way along d'Artagnan had been consulting with himself `
` whether he should place confidence in M. de Treville, or whether `
` he should only ask him to give him CARTE BLANCHE for some secret `
` affair. But M. de Treville had always been so thoroughly his `
` friend, had always been so devoted to the king and queen, and `
` hated the cardinal so cordially, that the young man resolved to `
` tell him everything. `
` `
` "Did you ask for me, my good friend?" said M. de Treville. `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur," said d'Artagnan, lowering his voice, "and you `
` will pardon me, I hope, for having disturbed you when you know `
` the importance of my business." `
` `
` "Speak, then, I am all attention." `
` `
` "It concerns nothing less", said d'Artagnan, "than the honor, `
` perhaps the life of the queen." `
` `
` "What did you say?" asked M. de Treville, glancing round to see `
` if they were surely alone, and then fixing his questioning look `
` upon d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I say, monsieur, that chance has rendered me master of a `
` secret--" `
` `
` "Which you will guard, I hope, young man, as your life." `
` `
` "But which I must impart to you, monsieur, for you alone can `
` assist me in the mission I have just received from her Majesty." `
` `
` "Is this secret your own?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur; it is her Majesty's." `
` `
` "Are you authorized by her Majesty to communicate it to me?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur, for, on the contrary, I am desired to preserve the `
` profoundest mystery." `
` `
` "Why, then, are you about to betray it to me?" `
` `
` "Because, as I said, without you I can do nothing; and I am `
` afraid you will refuse me the favor I come to ask if you do not `
` know to what end I ask it." `
` `
` "Keep your secret, young man, and tell me what you wish." `
` `
` "I wish you to obtain for me, from Monsieur Dessessart, leave of `
` absence for fifteen days." `
` `
` "When?" `
` `
` "This very night." `
` `
` "You leave Paris?" `
` `
` "I am going on a mission." `
` `
` "May you tell me whither?" `
` `
` "To London." `
` `
` "Has anyone an interest in preventing your arrival there?" `
` `
` "The cardinal, I believe, would give the world to prevent my `
` success." `
` `
` "And you are going alone?" `
` `
` "I am going alone." `
` `
` "In that case you will not get beyond Bondy. I tell you so, by `
` the faith of de Treville." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "You will be assassinated." `
` `
` "And I shall die in the performance of my duty." `
` `
` "But your mission will not be accomplished." `
` `
` "That is true," replied d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Believe me," continued Treville, "in enterprises of this kind, `
` in order that one may arrive, four must set out." `
` `
` "Ah, you are right, monsieur," said d'Artagnan; "but you know `
` Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and you know if I can dispose of `
` them." `
` `
` "Without confiding to them the secret which I am not willing to `
` know?" `
` `
` "We are sworn, once for all, to implicit confidence and `
` devotedness against all proof. Besides, you can tell them that `
` you have full confidence in me, and they will not be more `
` incredulous than you." `
` `
` "I can send to each of them leave of absence for fifteen days, `
` that is all--to Athos, whose wound still makes him suffer, to go `
` to the waters of Forges; to Porthos and Aramis to accompany their `
` friend, whom they are not willing to abandon in such a painful `
` condition. Sending their leave of absence will be proof enough `
` that I authorize their journey." `
` `
` "Thanks, monsieur. You are a hundred times too good." `
` `
` "Begone, then, find them instantly, and let all be done tonight! `
` Ha! But first write your request to Dessessart. Perhaps you had `
` a spy at your heels; and your visit, if it should ever be known `
` to the cardinal, will thus seem legitimate." `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew up his request, and M. de Treville, on receiving `
` it, assured him that by two o'clock in the morning the four `
` leaves of absence should be at the respective domiciles of the `
` travelers. `
` `
` "Have the goodness to send mine to Athos's residence. I should `
` dread some disagreeable encounter if I were to go home." `
` `
` "Be easy. Adieu, and a prosperous voyage. A PROPOS," said M. de `
` Treville, calling him back. `
` `
` D'Artagnan returned. `
` `
` "Have you any money?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan tapped the bag he had in his pocket. `
` `
` "Enough?" asked M. de Treville. `
` `
` "Three hundred pistoles." `
` `
` "Oh, plenty! That would carry you to the end of the world. `
` Begone, then!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan saluted M. de Treville, who held out his hand to him; `
` d'Artagnan pressed it with a respect mixed with gratitude. Since `
` his first arrival at Paris, he had had constant occasion to honor `
` this excellent man, whom he had always found worthy, loyal, and `
` great. `
` `
` His first visit was to Aramis, at whose residence he had not been `
` since the famous evening on which he had followed Mme. Bonacieux. `
` Still further, he had seldom seen the young Musketeer; but every `
` time he had seen him, he had remarked a deep sadness imprinted on `
` his countenance. `
` `
` This evening, especially, Aramis was melancholy and thoughtful. `
` d'Artagnan asked some questions about this prolonged melancholy. `
` Aramis pleaded as his excuse a commentary upon the eighteenth `
` chapter of St. Augustine, which he was forced to write in Latin `
` for the following week, and which preoccupied him a good deal. `
` `
` After the two friends had been chatting a few moments, a servant `
` from M. de Treville entered, bringing a sealed packet. `
` `
` "What is that?" asked Aramis. `
` `
` "The leave of absence Monsieur has asked for," replied the `
` lackey. `
` `
` "For me! I have asked for no leave of absence." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue and take it!" said d'Artagnan. "And you, my `
` friend, there is a demipistole for your trouble; you will tell `
` Monsieur de Treville that Monsieur Aramis is very much obliged to `
` him. Go." `
` `
` The lackey bowed to the ground and departed. `
` `
`