TEN YEARS LATER Alexandre Dumas Author
- nuovo libroISBN: 2940012860033
Chapter I. In which D'Artagnan finishes by at Length placing his Handupon his Captain's Commission.The reader guesses beforehand whom the usher preceded in announcingthe courier from Bret… Altro …
Chapter I. In which D'Artagnan finishes by at Length placing his Handupon his Captain's Commission.The reader guesses beforehand whom the usher preceded in announcingthe courier from Bretagne. This messenger was easily recognized. It wasD'Artagnan, his clothes dusty, his face inflamed, his hair dripping withsweat, his legs stiff; he lifted his feet painfully at every step, onwhich resounded the clink of his blood-stained spurs. He perceivedin the doorway he was passing through, the superintendent coming out.Fouquet bowed with a smile to him who, an hour before, was bringing himruin and death. D'Artagnan found in his goodness of heart, and in hisinexhaustible vigor of body, enough presence of mind to rememberthe kind reception of this man; he bowed then, also, much more frombenevolence and compassion, than from respect. He felt upon his lips theword which had so many times been repeated to the Duc de Guise: Fly.But to pronounce that word would have been to betray his cause; to speakthat word in the cabinet of the king, and before an usher, would havebeen to ruin himself gratuitously, and could save nobody. D'Artagnanthen, contented himself with bowing to Fouquet and entered. At thismoment the king floated between the joy the last words of Fouquet hadgiven him, and his pleasure at the return of D'Artagnan. Without being acourtier, D'Artagnan had a glance as sure and as rapid as if he had beenone. He read, on his entrance, devouring humiliation on the countenanceof Colbert. He even heard the king say these words to him:--Ah! Monsieur Colbert; you have then nine hundred thousand livres atthe intendance? Colbert, suffocated, bowed but made no reply. All thisscene entered into the mind of D'Artagnan, by the eyes and ears, atonce.The first word of Louis to his musketeer, as if he wished it to contrastwith what he was saying at the moment, was a kind good day. His secondwas to send away Colbert. The latter left the king's cabinet, pallid andtottering, whilst D'Artagnan twisted up the ends of his mustache.I love to see one of my servants in this disorder, said the king,admiring the martial stains upon the clothes of his envoy.I thought, sire, my presence at the Louvre was sufficiently urgent toexcuse my presenting myself thus before you.You bring me great news, then, monsieur?Sire, the thing is this, in two words: Belle-Isle is fortified,admirably fortified; Belle-Isle has a double _enceinte_, a citadel, twodetached forts; its ports contain three corsairs; and the side batteriesonly await their cannon.I know all that, monsieur, replied the king.What! your majesty knows all that? replied the musketeer, stupefied.I have the plan of the fortifications of Belle-Isle, said the king.Your majesty has the plan?Here it is.It is really correct, sire: I saw a similar one on the spot.D'Artagnan's brow became clouded.Ah! I understand all. Your majesty did not trust to me alone, but sentsome other person, said he in a reproachful tone.Of what importance is the manner, monsieur, in which I have learnt whatI know, so that I know it?Sire, sire, said the musketeer, without seeking even to conceal hisdissatisfaction; but I must be permitted to say to your majesty, thatit is not worth while to make me use such speed, to risk twentytimes the breaking of my neck, to salute me on my arrival withsuch intelligence. Sire, when people are not trusted, or are deemedinsufficient, they should scarcely be employed. And D'Artagnan, witha movement perfectly military, stamped with his foot, and left upon thefloor dust stained with blood. The king looked at him, inwardly enjoyinghis first triumph.Monsieur, said he, at the expiration of a minute, not only isBelle-Isle known to me, but, still further, Belle-Isle is mine.That is well! that is well, sire, I ask but one thing more, repliedD'Artagnan.--My discharge.What! your discharge?Without doubt I am too proud to eat the bread of the king withoutearning it, or rather by gaining it badly.--My discharge, sire!Oh, oh!I ask for my discharge, or I will take it.You are angry, monsieur?I have reason, _mordioux!_ Thirty-two hours in the saddle, I ride dayand night, I perform prodigies of speed, I arrive stiff as the corpse ofa man who has been hung--and another arrives before me! Come, sire, I ama fool!--My discharge, sire! Digital Content>E-books>Classics>Coll Classics>Coll Classics, SAP Digital >16<
