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87 - Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas · Twenty Years After

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  Speaker 1: Chapter eighty seven, in which we begin to think that
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  Speaker 1: Porthos will be at last a baron and d'Artagnan a captain.
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  Speaker 1: At the expiration of ten minutes, Aramis arrived, accompanied by
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  Speaker 1: Grimaud and eight or ten followers. He was excessively delighted
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  Speaker 1: and threw himself into his friend's arms. You are free,
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  Speaker 1: my brothers free without my aid, and I shall have
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  Speaker 1: succeeded in doing nothing for you in spite of all
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  Speaker 1: my efforts. Do not be unhappy, dear friend, on that account.
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  Speaker 1: If you have done nothing as yet, you will do
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  Speaker 1: something soon, replied Athos. I had well concerted my plans,
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  Speaker 1: pursued Aramis. The coadjutor, gave me sixty men twenty guard
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  Speaker 1: the walls of the park, twenty the roads Marie de
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  Speaker 1: Saint Jera, twenty are dispersed in the woods. Thus I
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  Speaker 1: was able, thanks to the strategic disposition of my forces,
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  Speaker 1: to intercept two couriers from Mazarin to the Queen. Mazarin
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  Speaker 1: listened intently, but said d'Artagnan, I try that you honorably
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  Speaker 1: sent them back to Monsieur le Caronel. Ah. Yes, said
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  Speaker 1: Aramis toward him, I should be very likely to practice
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  Speaker 1: such delicacy of sentiment. In one of the despatches, the
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  Speaker 1: cardinal declares to the Queen that the treasury is empty
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  Speaker 1: and that her Majesty has no more money. In the other,
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  Speaker 1: he announces that he is about to transport his prisoners
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  Speaker 1: to Malone, since Lourier seemed to him not sufficiently secure.
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  Speaker 1: You can understand, dear friend, with what hope. I was
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  Speaker 1: inspired by that last letter. I placed myself in Ambuscade
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  Speaker 1: with my sixty men. I encircled the castle, the riding
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  Speaker 1: horses I entrusted to Grimaud, and I awaited your coming out,
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  Speaker 1: which I did not expect till to morrow. And I
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  Speaker 1: didn't hope to free you without a skirmish. You are
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  Speaker 1: free to night without fighting. So much the better. How
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  Speaker 1: did you manage to escape that scoundrel Mazarin? You must
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  Speaker 1: have much reason to complain of him. Not very much,
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  Speaker 1: said d'Artagnan. Really, I might even say that we have
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  Speaker 1: some reason to praise him. Impossible. Yes, really, it is
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  Speaker 1: owing to him that we are free. Owing to him. Yes,
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  Speaker 1: he had conducted into the Orangerie by Monsieur Berneu, his
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  Speaker 1: valet de Chamres, and from there we followed him to
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  Speaker 1: visit the Comte de la fere. Then he offered us
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  Speaker 1: our liberty, and we accepted it. He even went so
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  Speaker 1: far as to show us the way out. He led
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  Speaker 1: us to the park wall, which we climbed over without accident,
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  Speaker 1: and then we fell in with grimaud well, exclaimed Aramis.
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  Speaker 1: This will reconcile me to him. But I wish he
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  Speaker 1: were here, that I might tell him that I did
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  Speaker 1: not believe him capable of so noble an act. My
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  Speaker 1: lord said d'Artagnan, no longer able to contain himself, allow
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  Speaker 1: me to introduce to you the Chevalier de'blais, who wishes,
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  Speaker 1: as you may have heard, to offer his congratulations to
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  Speaker 1: your eminence. And he retired, discovering Mazarin, who was in
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  Speaker 1: great confusion. To the astonished gaze of Aramis, Oh, exclaimed
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  Speaker 1: the latter, the Cardinal, a glorious prize. Halloo, halloo, Friends
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  Speaker 1: to horse to horse, several horsemen rang quickly to him. Zuns, cried, Aramis,
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  Speaker 1: I may have done some good, So my lord deign
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  Speaker 1: to receive my most respectful homage. I will lay a wager.
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  Speaker 1: That was that Saint Christopher Porthos who performed this feat
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  Speaker 1: Hapapos I forgot, and he gave some orders in a
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  Speaker 1: low voice to one of the horsemen. I think it
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  Speaker 1: will be wise to set off, said d'Artagnan. Yes, but
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  Speaker 1: I am expecting someone a friend of Athos. Friend, exclaimed
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  Speaker 1: the Count, And here he comes, by Jupiter, galloping through
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  Speaker 1: the bushes the count. The count cried a young voice
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  Speaker 1: that made Athos start, Raoul, Raoul. He ejaculated for one moment,
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  Speaker 1: the young man forgot his habitual respect. He threw himself
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  Speaker 1: on his father's neck. Look, my lord cardinal, said Aramis.
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  Speaker 1: Would it not have been a pity to have separated
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  Speaker 1: men who love each other as we love gentlemen? He continued,
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  Speaker 1: addressing the cavaliers, who became more and more numerous, every
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  Speaker 1: instant gentlemen, and circle his eminence that you may show
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  Speaker 1: him the greater honor. He will indeed give us the
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  Speaker 1: favor of his company. You will, I hope, be grateful
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  Speaker 1: for it. Porthos, do not lose sight of his eminence.
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  Speaker 1: Aramis then joined Athos and d'Artagnan, who were consulting together. Come,
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  Speaker 1: said d'Artagnan, after a conference of five minutes duration, let
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  Speaker 1: us begin our journey. Where are we to go, asked
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  Speaker 1: Porthos to your house. Dear Porthos at Pierrefont, Your fine
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  Speaker 1: chateau is worthy of affording its princely hospitality to his Eminence.
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  Speaker 1: It is likewise well situated, neither too near Paris nor
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  Speaker 1: too far from it. We can establish a communication between
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  Speaker 1: it and the capital with great facility. Come, my lord,
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  Speaker 1: you shall be treated like a prince, as you are
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  Speaker 1: a fallen prince, exclaimed Mazarin piteously. The chances of war,
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  Speaker 1: said Athos, are many. But be assured we shall take
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  Speaker 1: no improper advantage of them. No, but we shall make
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  Speaker 1: use of them, said d'Artagnan. The rest of the night
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  Speaker 1: was employed by these cavaliers in traveling with the wonderful
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  Speaker 1: rapidity of former days. Mazarin, still somber and pensive, permitted
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  Speaker 1: himself to be dragged along. In this way it looked
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  Speaker 1: a rays of phantoms. At dawn, twelve leagues have been
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  Speaker 1: passed without drawing rein half. The escort were exhausted, and
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  Speaker 1: several horses fell down. Horses nowadays are not what they
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  Speaker 1: were formerly, observed Porthos, everything degenerates. I have sent Gumaud
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  Speaker 1: to d Martin said Aramis. He is to bring us
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  Speaker 1: five fresh horses, one for his eminence, four for us.
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  Speaker 1: We at least must keep close to Monsieur. The rest
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  Speaker 1: of the start will rejoin us later. Once beyond Sandeny,
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  Speaker 1: we shall have nothing to fear. Game out. In fact,
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  Speaker 1: brought back five horses. The nobleman to whom he applied,
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  Speaker 1: being a friend of Porthos, was very ready not to
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  Speaker 1: sell them, as was proposed, but to lend them. Ten
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  Speaker 1: minutes later, the escorts stopped at Armenonville, but the four
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  Speaker 1: friends went on with well sustained Ardor, guarding Mazarin carefully.
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  Speaker 1: At noon they rode into the avenue of Pierrefont. Ah,
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  Speaker 1: said Mousqueton, who had ridden by the side of d'Artagnan
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  Speaker 1: without speaking a word on the journey. You may think
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  Speaker 1: what you will, sir, but I can breathe now for
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  Speaker 1: the first time since my departure from Pierrefont. And he
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  Speaker 1: put his horse to a gallop to announce to the
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  Speaker 1: other servants the arrival of Monsieur de Vallon and his friends.
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  Speaker 1: We are four of us, said d'artaian. We must relieve
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  Speaker 1: each other in mounting guard over my lord and each
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  Speaker 1: of us must watch three hours at a time. Athos
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  Speaker 1: is going to examine the castle, which will be necessary
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  Speaker 1: to render impregnable in case of siege. Porthos will see
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  Speaker 1: to the provisions, and aramis to the troops of the garrison.
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  Speaker 1: That is to say, Athos obe chief engineer, Porthos purveyor
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  Speaker 1: in general, and aramis governor of the fortress. Meanwhile, they
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  Speaker 1: gave up to Mazarin the handsomest room in the chateau. Gentlemen,
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  Speaker 1: he said, when he was in his room, you do
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  Speaker 1: not expect I presume to keep me here a long
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  Speaker 1: time incognito. No, my lord, replied the Gascon. On the contrary,
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  Speaker 1: we think of announcing very soon that we have you here.
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  Speaker 1: Then you will be besieged. We expect it. And what
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  Speaker 1: shall you do defend ourselves? Were the late carnin Richelieu alive,
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  Speaker 1: he would tell you a certain story of the bastion
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  Speaker 1: Saint Gervas, which we fall with our four lackeys and
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  Speaker 1: twelve dead men held out against the whole army. Such feats, Sir,
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  Speaker 1: are done once, and never repeat it. However, nowadays there
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  Speaker 1: is no need of so much heroism. Tomorrow, the army
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  Speaker 1: of Paris will be summoned the day after. It will
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  Speaker 1: be here the field of battle. Instead Therefore, of being
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  Speaker 1: at Sandini or at Chanton, whill be near Compiegne or
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  Speaker 1: Villa Cortre. The Prince will vanquish you as he has
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  Speaker 1: always done. Tis possible, my lord, But before an engagement ensues,
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  Speaker 1: we shall move your eminence to another castle, belonging to
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  Speaker 1: our friend de Fayen, who has three. We will not
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  Speaker 1: expose your eminence to the chances of war. Come, answered Mazin.
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  Speaker 1: I see it will be necessary for me to capitulate
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  Speaker 1: before a siege. Yes, the conditions will be better than afterward. Ah,
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  Speaker 1: my lord, as to conditions, you would soon see how
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  Speaker 1: moderate and reasonable we are. Come now, what are your conditions?
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  Speaker 1: Rest yourself first, my lord, and we we will reflect.
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  Speaker 1: I do not need rest, gentlemen, I need to know
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  Speaker 1: whether I am among enemies or friends. Friends, my lord, friends, Well,
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  Speaker 1: then tell me at once what you want that I
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  Speaker 1: may see if any arrangement be possible. Speak Comte de
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  Speaker 1: la Fere, my lord, replied Athos. For myself, I've nothing
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  Speaker 1: to demand for France. Were I to specify my wishes,
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  Speaker 1: I should have too much. I beg you to excuse
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  Speaker 1: me and propose to the Chevalier. Aunt Athos, bowing, retired
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  Speaker 1: and remained leaning against the mantelpiece. A spectator of the
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  Speaker 1: scene speak. Then, Chevalier said the Cardinal, what do you want?
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  Speaker 1: Nothing ambiguous? If you please be clear, short and precise
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  Speaker 1: as for me, replied Aramis, I have in my pocket
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  Speaker 1: the very program of the conditions which the deputation of
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  Speaker 1: which I formed one went yesterday to Saint Germain to
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  Speaker 1: impose on you. Let us consider first the ancient rites.
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  Speaker 1: The demands in that program must be granted. We were
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  Speaker 1: almost agreed on those, replied Mazarin. Let us pass on
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  Speaker 1: to private and personal stipulations. You suppose then that there
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  Speaker 1: there are some, said Aramis, smiling. I do not suppose
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  Speaker 1: that you will all be quite so disinterested, as Monsieur
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  Speaker 1: de la Fere replied the Cardinal, bowing to Athis, my lord,
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  Speaker 1: you are right, and I am glad to see that
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  Speaker 1: you do justice to the Count. At last. The Count
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  Speaker 1: has a mind above vulgar desires and earthly passions. He
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  Speaker 1: is a proud soul. He is a man by himself.
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  Speaker 1: You are right. He is worth us all, and we
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  Speaker 1: avowed to you, Aramis said, Athos, are you jesting? No, No,
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  Speaker 1: dear friend, I said, only what we all know. You
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  Speaker 1: are right. It is not you alone this matter concerns
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  Speaker 1: but my Lord and his unworthy servant myself. Well, then,
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  Speaker 1: what do you require besides the general conditions before recited?
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  Speaker 1: I require, my Lord, that Normandy should be given to
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  Speaker 1: Madame de Longville with five hundred thousand francs and full absolution.
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  Speaker 1: I require that his Majesty should deign to be god
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  Speaker 1: father to the child she has just born, and that,
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  Speaker 1: my Lord, after having been present, that the christening should
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  Speaker 1: go to Proffery's homage to our holy Father, the Pope.
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  Speaker 1: That is, you wish me to lay aside my ministerial functions,
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  Speaker 1: to quit France and be in exile. I wish his
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  Speaker 1: Eminence to become Pope on the first opportunity, allowing me
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  Speaker 1: then the right of demanding full indulgences for myself and
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  Speaker 1: my friends. Massire made a grimace which was quite indescribable,
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  Speaker 1: and then turned to d'Artagnan, and you, sir, he said, I,
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  Speaker 1: my lord answered the Gascon. I differ from Monsieur d'herblay
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  Speaker 1: entirely as to the last point, though I agree with
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  Speaker 1: him on the first. Far from wishing my lord to
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  Speaker 1: quit Paris, I hope he will stay there and continue
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  Speaker 1: to be Prime Minister. As he is a great statesman.
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  Speaker 1: I shall try also to help him to dunfond, but
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  Speaker 1: on one condition that he sometimes remembers the king's faithful
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  Speaker 1: servants and gives the first vacant company of musketeers to
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  Speaker 1: a man that I could name. And you, Monsieur de Villone, Yes, you, sir,
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  Speaker 1: speak if you please, said Pazarin, as for me, answered Porthos.
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  Speaker 1: I wish my Lord Cardinal, in order to do honor
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  Speaker 1: to my house, which gives him an asylum, would in
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  Speaker 1: the remembrance of this adventure, erect my estate into a barony,
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  Speaker 1: with a promise to confer that order on one of
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  Speaker 1: my particular friends whenever his Majesty next creates peers. You know, sir,
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  Speaker 1: that before receiving the order, one must submit proofs. My
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  Speaker 1: friends will submit them. Besides, should it be necessary, Monseigneur
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  Speaker 1: will show him how that formality may be avoided. Mazarin
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  Speaker 1: bit his lips. The blow was direct, and he replied,
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  Speaker 1: rather dryly, all this appears to me to be ill conceived,
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  Speaker 1: disjointed gentlemen. For if I satisfy some, I shall displease others.
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  Speaker 1: If I stay in Paris, I cannot go to Rome.
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  Speaker 1: If I became pope, I could not continue to be
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  Speaker 1: Prime Minister. And it is only by continuing Prime Minister
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  Speaker 1: that I can make Monsieur d'Artagnan a captain and Monsieur
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  Speaker 1: de Vallon a baron. True, said Aramis, So as I
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  Speaker 1: am in a minority, I withdraw my proposition so far
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  Speaker 1: as it relates to the voyage to Rome and Monseigneur's resignation.
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  Speaker 1: I am to remain minister, then, said Mazarin, your main minister.
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  Speaker 1: That is understood, said d'Artagnan. Franz needs you, and I
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  Speaker 1: desist from my pretensions, said Aramis. His Eminence will continue
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  Speaker 1: to be Prime Minister and Her Majesty's favorite if you
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  Speaker 1: will grant to me and my friends what we demand
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  Speaker 1: for France and for ourselves. Occupy ourselves with your own affairs, gentlemen,
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  Speaker 1: and let Franz settle matters as she will with me,
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  Speaker 1: resumed Mazarin. Ho Ho replied Aramis. The Fondeurs will have
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  Speaker 1: a treaty and your Eminence must sign it before us,
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  Speaker 1: promising at the same time to obtain the Queen's consent
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  Speaker 1: to it. I can answer only for myself, said Mazar.
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  Speaker 1: I cannot answer for the Queen. Suppose her majesty refuses, oh,
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  Speaker 1: said d'Artagnan. Monseigneur knows very well that her majesty refuses him.
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  Speaker 1: Nothing here, monseigneur, said, Aramis is a treaty proposed by
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: the deputation of fondeurs. Will your Eminence please read and examine.
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  Speaker 1: I am acquainted with it. Sign it, then, reflect, gentlemen,
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  Speaker 1: that a signature given under circumstances like the present might
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  Speaker 1: be regarded as extorted by violence. Monseigneur will be at
• 14:38
  Speaker 1: hand to testify that it was freely given. Suppose I refuse, then,
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: said d'Artagnan. Your Eminence must expect the consequences of her refusal.
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: Would you dare to touch a cardinal? You have dared
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: my lord to imprison her Majesty's musketeers. The Queen will
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  Speaker 1: revenge me, gentlemen, I do not think so, although inclination
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  Speaker 1: might lead it to do so. But we shall take
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: your Eminence to Paris, and the Parisians will defend us.
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  Speaker 1: How uneasy. They must be at this moment, ad Ree
• 15:12
  Speaker 1: and Saint Germain, said, Aramis, how they must be asking
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  Speaker 1: where is the Cardinal? What has become of the minister,
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: Where is the favorite gone? How they must be looking
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  Speaker 1: for Monsieur in all corners. What comments must be made?
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  Speaker 1: And if the front knows that Monsieur had disappeared, how
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: the front must triumph? It is frightful, murmured Mazarin. Sign
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  Speaker 1: that treaty, then, Monseigneur, said Aramis, suppose the Queen should
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  Speaker 1: refuse to ratify it? Ah, nonsense, cried d'Artagnan. I can
• 15:46
  Speaker 1: manage so that her Majesty will receive me. Well, I
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: know an excellent method. What I shall take her Majesty
• 15:54
  Speaker 1: the letter in which you tell her that the finances
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: are exhausted, And then asked Mazarin, turning pale, when I
• 16:03
  Speaker 1: see her Majesty embarrassed, I shall conduct a derays, make
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: her enter the orangerie, and show her a certain spring
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: which turns a box. Enough, Sir, muttered the Cardinal you
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: have said enough, Where is the treaty? Here? It is,
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  Speaker 1: replied Aramis, sign my lord, and he gave him a pen.
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: Mazarin arose, walked some moments, thoughtful, but not dejected. And
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  Speaker 1: when I have signed, he said, what is to be
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  Speaker 1: my guarantee, my word of honor? Sir said Athos Mazarin started,
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: turned toward the Comte de la Fere, and, looking for
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: an instant at that grand and honest countenance, took the pen.
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  Speaker 1: It is sufficient, count, he said, and signed the treaty.
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  Speaker 1: And now, Monsieur d'Artagnan, he said, prepare to set off
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  Speaker 1: for Saint Germain and take a letter from me to
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: the Queen. End of Chapter eighty seven.