aid D'Artagnan, entering by the door which the
young woman opened for him, "allow me to tell you that you have a
bad sort of a husband."

"You have, then, overheard our conversation?" asked Mme.
Bonacieux, eagerly, and looking at D'Artagnan with disquiet.

"The whole?"

"But how, my God?"

"By a mode of proceeding known to myself, and by which I likewise
overheard the more animated conversation which had with the
cardinal's police."

"And what did you understand by what we said?"

"A thousand things.  In the first place, that, unfortunately,
your husband is a simpleton and a fool; in the next place, you
are in trouble, of which I am very glad, as it gives me a
opportunity of placing myself at your service, and God knows I am
ready to throw myself into the fire for you; finally, that the
queen wants a brave, intelligent, devoted man to make a journey
to London for her.  I have at least two of the three qualities
you stand in need of, and here I am.

Mme. Bonacieux made no reply; but her heart beat with joy and
secret hope shone in her eyes.

"And what guarantee will you give me," asked she, "if I consent
to confide this message to you?"

"My love for you.  Speak!  Command!  What is to be done?"

"My God, my God!" murmured the young woman, "ought I to confide
such a secret to you, monsieur?  You are almost a boy."

"I see that you require someone to answer for me?"

"I admit that would reassure me greatly."

"Do you know Athos?"

"No."

"Porthos?"

"No."

"Aramis?"

"No.  Who are these gentleman?"

"Three of the king's Musketeers.  Do you know Monsieur de
Treville, their captain?"

"Oh, yes, him!  I know him; not personally, but from having heard
the queen speak of him more than once as a brave and loyal
gentleman."

"You do not fear lest he should betray you to the cardinal?"

"Oh, no, certainly not!"

"Well, reveal your secret to him, and ask him whether, however
important, however valuable, however terrible it may be, you may
not confide it to me."

"But this secret is not mine, and I cannot reveal it in this
manner."

"You were about to confide it to Monsieur Bonacieux," said
D'Artagnan, with chagrin.

"As one confides a letter to the hollow of a tree, to the wing of
a pigeon, to the collar of a dog."

"And yet, me--you see plainly that I love you."

"You say so."

"I am an honorable man."

"You say so."

"I am a gallant fellow."

"I believe it."

"I am brave."

"Oh, I am sure of that!"

"Then, put me to the proof."

Mme. Bonacieux looked at the young man, restrained for a minute
by a last hesitation; but there was such an ardor in his eyes,
such persuasion in his voice, that she felt herself constrained
to confide in him.  Besides, she found herself in circumstances
where everything must be risked for the sake of everything.  The
queen might be as much injured by too much reticence as by too
much confidence; and--let us admit it--the involuntary sentiment
which she felt for her young protector decided her to speak.

"Listen," said she; "I yield to your protestations, I yield to
your assurances.  But I swear to you, before God who hears us,
that if you betray me, and my enemies pardon me, I will kill
myself, while accusing you of my death."

"And I--I swear to you before God, madame," said D'Artagnan.
"that if I am taken while accomplishing the orders you give me, I
will die sooner than do anything that may compromise anyone."

Then the young woman confided in him the terrible secret of which
chance had already communicated to him a part in front of the
Samaritaine.  This was their mutual declaration of love.

D'Artagnan was radiant with joy and pride.  This secret which he
possessed, this woman whom he loved!  Confidence and love mad him
a giant.

"I go," said he; "I go at once."

"How, you will go!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "and your regiment, your
captain?"

"By my soul, you had made me forget all that, dear Constance!
Yes, you are right; a furlough is needful."

"Still another obstacle," murmured Mme. Bonacieux, sorrowfully.

"As to that," cried D'Artagnan, after a moment of reflection, "I
shall surmount it, be assured."

"How so?"

"I will go this very evening to Treville, whom I will request to
ask this favor for me of his brother-in-law, Monsieur
Dessessart."

"But another thing."

"What?" asked D'Artagnan, seeing that Mme. Bonacieux hesitated to
continue.

"You have, perhaps, no money?"

"PERHAPS is too much," said D'Artagnan, smiling.

"Then," replied Mme. Bonacieux, opening a cupboard and taking
from it the very bag which a half hour before her husband had
caressed so affectionately, "take this bag."

"The cardinal's?" cried D'Artagnan, breaking into a loud laugh,
he having heard, as may be remembered, thanks to the broken
boards, every syllable of the conversation between the mercer and
his wife.

"The cardinal's," replied Mme. Bonacieux.  "You see it makes a
very respectable appearance."

"PARDIEU," cried D'Artagnan, "it will be a double amusing affair
to save the queen with the cardinal's money!"

"You are an amiable and charming young man," said Mme. Bonacieux.
"Be assured you will not find her Majesty ungrateful."

"Oh, I am already grandly recompensed!" cried D'Artagnan.  "I
love you; you permit me to tell you that I do--that is already
more happiness than I dared to hope."

"Silence!" said Mme. Bonacieux, starting.

"What!"

"Someone is talking in the street."

"It is the voice of--"

"Of my husband!  Yes, I recognize it!"

D'Artagnan ran to the door and pushed the bolt.

"He shall not come in before I am gone," said he; "and when I am
gone, you can open to him."

"But I ought to be gone, too.  And the disappearance of his
money; how am I to justify it if I am here?"

"You are right; we must go out."

"Go out?  How?  He will see us if we go out."

"Then you must come up into my room."

"Ah," said Mme. Bonacieux, "you speak that in a tone that
frightens me!"

Mme. Bonacieux pronounced these words with tears in her eyes.
D'Artagnan saw those tears, and much disturbed, softened, he
threw himself at her feet.

"With me you will be as safe as in a temple; I give you my word
of a gentleman."

"Let us go," said she, "I place full confidence in you, my
friend!"

D'Artagnan drew back the bolt with precaution, and both, light as
shadows, glided through the interior door into the passage,
ascended the stairs as quietly as possible, and entered
D'Artagnan's chambers.

Once there, for greater security, the young man barricaded the
door.  They both approached the window, and through a slit in the
shutter they saw Bonacieux talking with a man in a cloak.

At sight of this man, D'Artagnan started, and half drawing his
sword, sprang toward the door.

It was the man of Meung.

"What are you going to do?" cried Mme. Bonacieux; "you will ruin
us all!"

"But I have sworn to kill that man!" said D'Artagnan.

"Your life is devoted from this moment, and does not belong to
you.  In the name of the queen I forbid you to throw yourself
into any peril which is foreign o that of your journey."

"And do you command nothing in your own name?"

"In my name," said Mme. Bonacieux, with great emotion, "in my
name I beg you!  But listen; they appear to be speaking of me."

D'Artagnan drew near the window, and lent his ear.

M. Bonacieux had opened his door, and seeing the apartment, had
returned to the man in the cloak, whom he had left alone for an
instant.

"She is gone," said he; "she must have returned to the Louvre."

"You are sure," replied the stranger, "that she did not suspect
the intentions with which you went out?"

"No," replied Bonacieux, with a self-sufficient air, "she is too
superficial a woman."

"Is the young Guardsman at home?"

"I do not think he is; as you see, his shutter is closed, and you
can see no light shine through the chinks of the shutters."

"All the same, it is well to be certain."

"How so?"

"By knocking at his door.  Go."

"I will ask his servant."

Bonacieux re-entered the house, passed through the same door that
had afforded a passage for the two fugitives, went up to
D'Artagnan's door, and knocked.

No one answered.  Porthos, in order to make a greater display,
had that evening borrowed Planchet.  As to D'Artagnan, he took
care not to give the least sign of existence.

The moment the hand of Bonacieux sounded on the door, the two
young people felt their hearts bound within them.

"There is nobody within," said Bonacieux.

"Never mind.  Let us return to your apartment.  We shall be safer
there than in the doorway."

"Ah, my God!" whispered Mme. Bonacieux, "we shall hear no more."

"On the contrary," said D'Artagnan, "we shall hear better."

D'Artagnan raised the three or four boards which made his chamber
another ear of Dionysius, spread a carpet on the floor, went upon
his knees, and made a sign to Mme. Bonacieux to stoop as he did
toward the opening.

"You are sure there is nobody there?" said the stranger.

"I will answer for it," said Bonacieux.

"And you think that your wife--"

"Has returned to the Louvre."

"Without speaking to anyone but yourself?"

"I am sure of it."

"That is an important point, do you understand?"

"Then the news I brought you is of value?"

"The greatest, my dear Bonacieux; I don't conceal this from you."

"Then the cardinal will be pleased with me?"

"I have no doubt of it."

"The great cardinal!"

"Are you sure, in her conversation with you, that your wife
mentioned no names?"

"I think not."

"She did not name Madame de Chevreuse, the Duke of Buckingham, or
Madame de Vernet?"

"No; she only told me she wished to send me to London to serve
the interests of an illustrious personage."

"The traitor!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux.

"Silence!" said D'Artagnan, taking her hand, which, without
thinking of it, she abandoned to him.

"Never mind," continued the man in the cloak; "you were a fool
not to have pretended to accept the mission.  You would then be
in present possession of the letter.  The state, which is now
threatened, would be safe, and you--"

"And I?"

"Well you--the cardinal would have given you letters of
nobility."

"Did he tell you so?"

"Yes, I know that he meant to afford you that agreeable
surprise."

"Be satisfied," replied Bonacieux; "my wife adores me, and there
is yet time."

"The ninny!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux.

"Silence!" said D'Artagnan, pressing her hand more closely.

"How is there still time?" asked the man in the cloak.

"I go to the Louvre; I ask for Mme. Bonacieux; I say that I have
reflected; I renew the affair; I obtain the letter, and I run
directly to the cardinal."

"Well, go quickly!  I will return soon to learn the result of
your trip."

The stranger went out.

"Infamous!" said Mme. Bonacieux, addressing this epithet to her
husband.

"Silence!" said D'Artagnan, pressing her hand still more warmly.

A terrible howling interrupted these reflections of D'Artagnan
and Mme. Bonacieux.  It was her husband, who had discovered the
disappearance of the moneybag, and was crying "Thieves!"

"Oh, my God!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, "he will rouse the whole
quarter."

Bonacieux called a long time; but as such cries, on account of
their frequency, brought nobody in the Rue des Fossoyeurs, and as
lately the mercer's house had a bad name, finding that nobody
came, he went out continuing to call, his voice being heard
fainter and fainter as he went in the direction of the Rue du
Bac.

"Now he is gone, it is your turn to get out," said Mme.
Bonacieux.  "Courage, my friend, but above all, prudence, and
think what you owe to the queen."

"To her and to you!" cried D'Artagnan.  "Be satisfied, beautiful
Constance.  I shall become worthy of her gratitude; but shall I
likewise return worthy of your love?"

The young woman only replied by the beautiful glow which mounted
to her cheeks.  A few seconds afterward D'Artagnan also went out
enveloped in a large cloak, which ill-concealed the sheath of a
long sword.

Mme. Bonacieux followed him with her eyes, with that long, fond
look with which he had turned the angle of the street, she fell
on her knees, and clasping her hands, "Oh, my God," cried she,
"protect the queen, protect me!"



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, "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 ha 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.

"What does all this mean?" asked Aramis.

"Pack up all you want for a journey of a fortnight, and follow
me."

"But I cannot leave Paris just now without knowing--"

Aramis stopped.

"What is become of her?  I suppose you mean--" continued
D'Artagnan.

"Become of whom?" replied Aramis.

"The woman who was here--the woman with the embroidered
handkerchief."

"Who told you there was a woman here?" replied Aramis, becoming
as pale as death.

"I saw her."

"And you know who she is?"

"I believe I can guess, at least."

"Listen!" said Aramis.  "Since you appear to know so many things,
can you tell me what is become of that woman?"

"I presume that she has returned to Tours."

"To Tours?  Yes, that may be.  You evidently know her.  But why
did she return to Tours without telling me anything?"

"Because she was in fear of being arrested."

"Why has she not written to me, then?"

"Because she was afraid of compromising you."

"D'Artagnan, you restore me to life!" cried Aramis.  "I fancied
myself despised, betrayed.  I was so delighted to see her again!
I could not have believed she would risk her liberty for me, and
yet for what other cause could she have returned to Paris?"

"for the cause which today takes us to England."

"And what is this cause?" demanded Aramis.

"Oh, you'll know it someday, Aramis; but at present I must
imitate the discretion of 'the doctor's niece.'"

Aramis smiled, as he remembered the tale he had told his friends
on a certain evening.  "Well, then, since she has left Paris, and
you are sure of it, D'Artagnan, nothing prevents me, and I am
ready to follow you.  You say we are going--"

"To see Athos now, and if you will come thither, I beg you to
make haste, for we have lost much time already.  A PROPOS, inform
Bazin."

"Will Bazin go with us?" asked Aramis.

"Perhaps so.  At all events, it is best that he should follow us
to Athos's."

Aramis called Bazin, and, after having ordered him to join them
at Athos's residence, said "Let us go then," at the same time
taking his cloak, sword, and three pistols, opening uselessly two
or three drawers to see if he could not find stray coin.  When
well assured this search was superfluous, he followed D'Artagnan,
wondering to himself how this young Guardsman should know so well
who the lady was to whom he had given hospitality, and that he
should know better than himself what had become of her.

Only as they went out Aramis placed his hand upon the arm of
D'Artagnan, and looking at him earnestly, "You have not spoken of
this lady?" said he.

"To nobody in the world."

"Not even to Athos or Porthos?"

"I have not breathed a syllable to them."

"Good enough!"

Tranquil on this important point, Aramis continued his way with
D'Artagnan, and both soon arrived at Athos's dwelling.  They
found him holding his leave of absence in one hand, and M. de
Treville's note in the other.

"Can you explain to me what signify this leave of absence and
this letter, which I have just received?" said the astonished
Athos.


My dear Athos, I wish, as your health absolutely requires it,
that you should rest for a fortnight.  Go, then, and take the
waters of Forges, or any that may be more agreeable to you, and
recuperate yourself as quickly as possible.

Yours affectionate

De Treville


"Well, this leave of absence and that letter mean that you must
follow me, Athos."

"To the waters of Forges?"

"There or elsewhere."

"In the king's service?"

"Either the king's or the queen's.  Are we not their Majesties'
servants?"

At that moment Porthos entered.  "PARDIEU!" said he, "here is a
strange thing!  Since when, I wonder, in the Musketeers, did they
grant men leave of absence without their asking for it?"

"Since," said D'Artagnan, "they have friends who ask it for
them."

"Ah, ah!" said Porthos, "it appears there's something fresh
here."

"Yes, we are going--" said Aramis.

"To what country?" demanded Porthos.

"My faith!  I don't much about it," said Athos.  "Ask
D'Artagnan."

"To London, gentlemen," said D'Artagnan.

"To London!" cried Porthos; "and what the devil are we going to
do in London?"

"That is what I am not at liberty  to tell you, gentlemen; you
must trust to me."

"But in order to go to London," added Porthos, "money is needed,
and I have none."

"Nor I," said Aramis.

"Nor I," said Athos.

"I have," replied D'Artagnan, pulling out his treasure from his
pocket, and placing it on the table.  "There are in this bag
three hundred pistoles.  Let each take seventy-five; that is
enough to take us to London and back.  Besides, make yourselves
easy; we shall not all arrive at London."

"Why so?"

"Because, in all probability, some one of us will be left on the
road."

"Is this, then, a campaign upon which we are now entering?"

"One of a most dangerous kind, I give you notice."

"Ah!  But if we do risk being killed," said Porthos, "at least I
should like to know what for."

"You would be all the wiser," said Athos.

"And yet," said Aramis, "I am somewhat of Porthos's opinion."

"Is the king accustomed to give you such reasons?  No.  He says
to you jauntily, 'Gentlemen, there is fighting going on in
Gascony or in Flanders; go and fight,' and you go there.  Why?
You need give yourselves no more uneasiness about this."

"D'Artagnan is right," said Athos; "here are our three leaves of
absence which came from Monsieur de Treville, and here are three
hundred pistoles which came from I don't know where.  So let us
go and get killed where we are told to go.  Is life worth the
trouble of so many questions?  D'Artagnan, I am ready to follow
you."

"And I also," said Porthos.

"And I also," said Aramis.  "And, indeed, I am not sorry to quit
Paris; I had need of distraction."

"Well, you will have distractions enough, gentlemen, be assured,"
said D'Artagnan.

"And, now, when are we to go?" asked Athos.

"Immediately," replied D'Artagnan; "we have not a minute to
lose."

"Hello, Grimaud!  Planchet!  Mousqueton!  Bazin!" cried the four
young men, calling their lackeys, "clean my boots, and fetch the
horses from the hotel."

Each Musketeer was accustomed to leave at the general hotel, as
at a barrack, his own horse and that of his lackey.  Planchet,
Grimaud, Mousqueton, and Bazin set off at full speed.

"Now let us lay down the plan of campaign," said Porthos.  "Where
do we go first?"

"To Calais," said D'Artagnan; "that is the most direct line to
London."

"Well," said Porthos, "this is my advice--"

"Speak!"

"Four men traveling together would be suspected.  D'Artagnan will
give each of us his instructions.  I will go by the way of
Boulogne to clear the way; Athos will set out two hours after, by
that of Amiens; Aramis will follow us by that of Noyon; as to
D'Artagnan, he will go by what route he thinks is best, in
Planchet's clothes, while Planchet will follow us like
D'Artagnan, in the uniform of the Guards."

"Gentlemen," said Athos, "my opinion is that it is not proper to
allow lackeys to have anything to do in such an affair.  A secret
may, by chance, be betrayed by gentlemen;  but it is almost
always sold by lackeys."

"Porthos's plan appears to me to be impracticable," said
D'Artagnan, "inasmuch as I am myself ignorant of what
instructions I can give you.  I am the bearer of a letter, that
is all,  I have not, and I cannot make three copies of that
letter, because it is sealed.  We must, then, as it appears to
me, travel in company.  This letter is here, in this pocket," and
he pointed to the pocket which contained the letter.  "If I
should be killed, one of you must take it, and continue the
route; if he be killed, it will be another's turn, and so on--
provided a single one arrives, that is all that is required."

"Bravo, D'Artagnan, your opinion is mine," cried Athos, "Besides,
we must be consistent; I am going to take the waters, you will
accompany me.  Instead of taking the waters of Forges, I go and
take sea waters; I am free to do so.  If anyone wishes to stop
us, I will show Monsieur de Treville's letter, and you will show
your leaves of absence.  If we are attacked, we will defend
ourselves; if we are tried, we will stoutly maintain that we were
only anxious to dip ourselves a certain number of times in the
sea.  They would have an easy bargain of four isolated men;
whereas four men together make a troop.  We will arm our four
lackeys with pistols and musketoons; if they send an army out
against us, we will give battle, and the survivor, as D'Artagnan
says, will carry the letter."

"Well said," cried Aramis; "you don't often speak, Athos, but
when you do speak, it is like St. John of the Golden Mouth.  I
agree to Athos's plan.  And you, Porthos?"

"I agree to it, too," said Porthos, "if D'Artagnan approves of
it.  D'Artagnan, being the bearer of the letter, is naturally the
head of the enterprise; let him decide, and we will execute."

"Well," said D'Artagnan, "I decide that we should adopt Athos's
plan, and that we set off in half an hour."

"Agreed!" shouted the three Musketeers in chorus.

Each one, stretching out his hand to the bag, took his seventy-
five pistoles, and make his preparations to set out at the time
appointed.



20  THE JOURNEY

At two o'clock in the morning, our four adventurers left Paris by
the Barriere St. Denis.  As long as it was dark they remained
silent; in spite of themselves they submitted to the influence of
the obscurity, and apprehended ambushes on every side.

With the first rays of day their tongues were loosened; with the
sun gaiety revived.  It was like the eve of a battle; the heart
beat, the eyes laughed, and they felt that the life they were
perhaps going to lose, was, after all, a good thing.

Besides, the appearance of the caravan was formidable.  The black
horses of the Musketeers, their martial carriage, with the
regimental step of these noble companions of the soldier, would
have betrayed the most strict incognito.  The lackeys followed,
armed to the teeth.

All went well till they arrived at Chantilly, which they reached
about eight o'clock in the morning.  They needed breakfast, and
alighted at the door of an AUBERGE, recommended by a sign
representing St. Martin giving half his cloak to a poor man.
They ordered the lackeys not to unsaddle the gorses, and to hold
themselves in readiness to set off again immediately.

They entered the common hall, and placed themselves at table.  A
gentleman, who had just arrived by the route of Dammartin, was
seated at the same table, and was breakfasting.  He opened the
conversation about rain and fine weather; the travelers replied.
He drank to their good health, and the travelers returned his
politeness.

But at the moment Mousqueton came to announce that the horses
were ready, and they were arising from table, the stranger
proposed to Porthos to drink the health of the cardinal.  Porthos
replied that he asked no better if the stranger, in his turn,
would drink the health of the king.  The stranger cried that he
acknowledged no other king but his Eminence.  Porthos called him
drunk, and the stranger drew his sword.

"You have committed a piece of folly," said Athos, "but it can't
be helped; there is no drawing back.  Kill the fellow, and rejoin
us as soon as you can."

All three remounted their horses, and set out at a good pave,
while Porthos was promising his adversary to perforate him with
all the thrusts known in the fencing schools.

"There goes one!" cried Athos, at the end of five hundred paces.

"But why did that man attack Porthos rather than any other one of
us?" asked Aramis.

"Because, as Porthos was talking louder than the rest of us, he
took him for the chief," said D'Artagnan.

"I always said that this cadet from Gascony was a well of
wisdom," murmured Athos; and the travelers continued their route.

At Beauvais they stopped two hours, as well to breathe their
horses a little as to wait for Porthos.  At the end of two hours,
as Porthos did not come, not any news of him, they resumed their
journey.

At a league from Beauvais, where the road was confined between
two high banks, they fell in with eight or ten men who, taking
advantage of the road being unpaved in this spot, appeared to be
employed in digging holes and filling up the ruts with mud.

Aramis, not liking to soil his boots with this artificial mortar,
apostrophized them rather sharply.  Athos wished to restrain him,
but it was too late.  The laborers began to jeer the travelers
and by their insolence disturbed the equanimity even of the cool
Athos, who urged on his horse against one of them.

Then each of these men retreated as far as the ditch, from which
each took a concealed musket; the result was that our seven
travelers were outnumbered in weapons.  Aramis received a ball
which passed through his shoulder, and Mousqueton another ball
which lodged in the fleshy part which prolongs the lower portion
of the loins.  Therefore Mousqueton alone fell from his horse,
not because he was severely wounded, but not being able to see
the wound, he judged it to be more serious than it really was.

"It was an ambuscade!" shouted D'Artagnan.  "Don't waste a
charge!  Forward!"

Aramis, wounded as he was, seized the mane of his horse, which
carried him on with the others.  Mousqueton's horse rejoined
them, and galloped by the side of his companions.

"That will serve us for a relay," said Athos.

"I would rather have had a hat," said D'Artagnan.  "Mine was
carried away by a ball.  By my faith, it is very fortunate that
the letter was not in it."

"They'll kill poor Porthos when he comes up," said Aramis.

"If Porthos were on his legs, he would have rejoined us by this
time," said Athos.  "My opinion is that on the ground the drunken
man was not intoxicated."

They continued at their best speed for two hours, although the
horses were so fatigued that it was to be feared they would soon
refuse service.

The travelers had chosen crossroads in the hope that they might
meet with less interruption; but at Crevecoeur, Aramis declared
he could proceed no farther.  In fact, it required all the
courage which he concealed beneath his elegant form and polished
manners to bear him so far.  He grew more pale every minute, and
they were obliged to support him on his horse.  They lifted him
off at the door of a cabaret, left Bazin with him, who, besides,
in a skirmish was more embarrassing than useful, and set forward
again in the hope of sleeping at Amiens.

"MORBLEU," said Athos, as soon as they were again in motion,
"reduced to two masters and Grimaud and Planchet!  MORBLEU!  I
won't be their dupe, I will answer for it.  I will neither open
my mouth nor draw my sword between this and Calais.  I swear
by--"

"Don't waste time in swearing," said D'Artagnan; "let us gallop,
if our horses will consent."

And the travelers buried their rowels in their horses' flanks,
who thus vigorously stimulated recovered their energies.  They
arrived at Amiens at midnight, and alighted at the AUBERGE of the
Golden Lily.

The host had the appearance of as honest a man as any on earth.
He received the travelers with his candlestick in one hand and
his cotton nightcap in the other.  He wished to ledge the two
travelers each in a charming chamber; but unfortunately these
charming chambers were at the opposite extremities of the hotel.
D'Artagnan and Athos refused them.  The host replied that he had
no other worthy of their Excellencies; but the travelers declared
they would sleep in the common chamber, each on a mattress which
might be thrown upon the ground.  The host insisted; but the
travelers were firm, and he was obliged to do as they wished.

They had just prepared their beds and barricaded their door
within, when someone knocked at the yard shutter; they demanded
who was there, and recognizing the voices of their lackeys,
opened the shutter.  It was indeed Planchet and Grimaud.

"Grimaud can take care of the horses," said Planchet.  "If you
are willing, gentlemen, I will sleep across your doorway, and you
will then be certain that nobody can reach you."

"And on what will you sleep?" said D'Artagnan.

"Here is my bed," replied Planchet, producing a bundle of straw.

"Come, then," said D'Artagnan, "you are right.  Mine host's face
does not please me at all; it is to gracious."

"Nor me either," said Athos.

Planchet mounted by the window and installed himself across the
doorway, while Grimaud went and shut himself up in the stable,
undertaking that by five o'clock in the morning he and the four
horses should be ready.

The night was quiet enough.  Toward two o'clock in the morning
somebody endeavored to open the door; but as Planchet awoke in an
instant and cried, "Who goes there?" somebody replied that he was
mistaken, and went away.

At four o'clock in the morning they heard a terrible riot in the
stables.  Grimaud had tried to waken the stable boys, and the
stable boys had beaten him.  When they opened the window, they
saw the poor lad lying senseless, with his head split by a blow
with a pitchfork.

Planchet went down into the yard, and wished to saddle the
horses; but the horses were all used up.  Mousqueton's horse
which had traveled for five or six hours without a rider the day
before, might have been able to pursue the journey; but by an
inconceivable error the veterinary surgeon, who had been sent
for, as it appeared, to bleed one of the host's horses, had bled
Mousqueton's.

This began to be annoying.  All these successive accidents were
perhaps the result of chance; but they might be the fruits of a
plot.  Athos and D'Artagnan went out, while Planchet was sent to
inquire if there were not three horses for sale in the
neighborhood.  At the door stood two horses, fresh, strong, and
fully equipped.  These would just have suited them.  He asked
where their masters were, and was informed that they had passed
the night in the inn, and were then settling their bill with the
host.

Athos went down to pay the reckoning, while D'Artagnan and
Planchet stood at the street door.  The host was in a lower and
back room, to which Athos was requested to go.

Athos entered without the least mistrust, and took out two
pistoles to pay the bill.  The host was alone, seated before his
desk, one of the drawers of which was partly open.  He took the
money which Athos offered to him, and after turning and turning
it over and over in his hands, suddenly cried out that it was
bad, and that he would have him and his companions arrested as
forgers.

"You blackguard!" cried Athos, going toward him, "I'll cut your
ears off!"

At the same instant, four men, armed to the teeth, entered by
side doors, and rushed upon Athos.

"I am taken!" shouted Athos, with all the power of his lungs.
"Go on, D'Artagnan!  Spur, spur!" and he fired two pistols.

D'Artagnan and Planchet did not require twice bidding; they
unfastened the two horses that were waiting at the door, leaped
upon them, buried their spurs in their sides, and set off at full
gallop.

"Do you know what has become of Athos?" asked D'Artagnan of
Planchet, as they galloped on.

"Ah, monsieur," said Planchet, "I saw one fall at each of his two
shots, and he appeared to me, through the glass door, to be
fighting with his sword with the others."

"Brave Athos!" murmured D'Artagnan, "and to think that we are
compelled to leave him; maybe the same fate awaits us two paces
hence.  Forward, Planchet, forward!  You are a brave fellow."

"As I told you, monsieur," replied Planchet, "Picards are found
out by being used.  Besides, I am here in my own country, and
that excites me."

And both, with free use of the spur, arrived at St. Omer without
drawing bit.  At St. Omer they breathed their horses with the
bridles passed under their arms for fear of accident, and ate a
morsel from their hands on the stones of the street, after they
departed again.

At a hundred paces from the gates of Calais, D'Artagnan's horse
gave out, and could not by any means be made to get up again, the
blood flowing from his eyes and his nose.  There still remained
Planchet's horse; but he stopped short, and could not be made to
move a step.

Fortunately, as we have said, they were within a hundred paces of
the city; they left their two nags upon the high road, and ran
toward the quay.  Planchet called his master's attention to a
gentleman who had just arrived with his lackey, and only preceded
them by about fifty paces.  They made all speed to come up to
this gentleman, who appeared to be in great haste.  His boots
were covered with dust, and he inquired if he could not instantly
cross over to England.

"Nothing would be more easy," said the captain of a vessel ready
to set sail, "but this morning came an order to let no one leave
without express permission from the cardinal."

"I have that permission," said the gentleman, drawing the paper
from his pocket; "here it is."

"Have it examined by the governor of the port," said the
shipmaster, "and give me the preference."

"Where shall I find the governor?"

"At his country house."

"And that is situated?"

"At a quarter of a league from the city.  Look, you may see it
from here--at the foot of that little hill, that slated roof."

"Very well," said the gentleman. And, with his lackey, he took
the road to the governor's country house.

D'Artagnan and Planchet followed the gentleman at a distance of
five hundred paces.  Once outside the city, D'Artagnan overtook
the gentleman as he was entering a little wood.

"Monsieur," you appear to be in great haste?"

"No one can be more so, monsieur."

"I am sorry for that," said D'Artagnan; "for as I am in great
haste likewise, I wish to beg you to render me a service."

"What?"

"To let me sail first."

"That's impossible," said the gentleman; "I have traveled sixty
leagues in forty hours, and by tomorrow at midday I must be in
London."

"I have performed that same distance in forty hours, and by ten
o'clock in the morning I must be in London."

"Very sorry, monsieur; but I was here first, and will not sail
second."

"I am sorry, too, monsieur; but I arrived second, and must sail
first."

"The king's service!" said the gentleman.

"My own service!" said D'Artagnan.

"But this is a needless quarrel you seek with me, as it seems to
me."

"PARBLEU!  What do you desire it to be?"

"What do you want?"

"Would you like to know?"

"Certainly."

"Well, then, I wish that order of which you are bearer, seeing
that I have not one of my own and must have one."

"You jest, I presume."

"I never jest."

"Let me pass!"

"You shall not pass."

"My brave young man, I will blow out your brains.  HOLA, Lubin,
my pistols!"

"Planchet," called out D'Artagnan, "take care of the lackey; I
will manage the master."

Planchet, emboldened by the first exploit, sprang upon Lubin; and
being strong and vigorous, he soon got him on the broad of his
back, and placed his knee upon his breast.

"Go on with your affair, monsieur," cried Planchet; "I have
finished mine."

Seeing this, the gentleman drew his sword, and sprang upon
D'Artagnan; but he had too strong an adversary.  In three seconds
D'Artagnan had wounded him three times, exclaiming at each
thrust, "One for Athos, one for Porthos; and one for Aramis!"

At the third hit the gentleman fell like a log.  D'Artagnan
believed him to be dead, or at least insensible, and went toward
him for the purpose of taking the order; but the moment he
extended his hand to search for it, the wounded man, who had not
dropped his sword, plunged the point into D'Artagnan's breast,
crying, "One for you!"

"And one for me--the best for last!" cried D'Artagnan, furious,
nailing him to the earth with a fourth thrust through his body.

This time the gentleman closed his eyes and fainted.  D'Artagnan
searched his pockets, and took from one of them the order for the
passage.  It was in the name of Comte de Wardes.

Then, casting a glance on the handsome young man, who was
scarcely twenty-five years of age, and whom he was leaving in his
gore, deprived of sense and perhaps dead, he gave a sigh for that
unaccountable destiny which leads men to destroy each other for
the interests of people who are strangers to them and who often
do not even know that they exist.  But he was soon aroused from
these reflections by Lubin, who uttered loud cries and screamed
for help with all his might.

Planchet grasped him by the throat, and pressed as hard as he
could.  "Monsieur," said he, "as long as I hold him in this
manner, he can't cry, I'll be bound; but as soon as I let go he
will howl again.  I know him for a Norman, and Normans are
obstinate."

In fact, tightly held as he was, Lubin endeavored still to cry
out.

"Stay!" said D'Artagnan; and taking out his handkerchief, he
gagged him.

"Now," said Planchet, "let us bind him to a tree."

This being properly done, they drew the Comte de Wardes close to
his servant; and as night was approaching, and as the wounded man
and the bound man were at some little distance within the wood,
it was evident they were likely to remain there till the next
day.

"And now," said D'Artagnan, "to the Governor's."

"But you are wounded, it seems," said Planchet.

"Oh, that's nothing!  Let us attend to what is more pressing
first, and then we will attend to my wound; besides, it does not
seem very dangerous."

And they both set forward as fast as they could toward the
country house of the worthy functionary.

The Comte de Wardes was announced, and D'Artagnan was introduced.

"You have an order signed by the cardinal?" said the governor.

"Yes, monsieur," replied D'Artagnan; "here it is."

"Ah, ah!  It is quite regular and explicit," said the governor.

"Most likely," said D'Artagnan; "I am one of his most faithful
servants."

"It appears that his Eminence is anxious to prevent someone from
crossing to England?"

"Yes; a certain D'Artagnan, a Bearnese gentleman who left Paris
in company with three of his friends, with the intention of going
to London."

"Do you know him personally?" asked the governor.

"Whom?"

"This D'Artagnan."

"Perfectly well."

"Describe him to me, then."

"Nothing more easy."

And D'Artagnan have, feature for feature, a description of the
Comte de Wardes.

"Is he accompanied?"

"Yes; by a lackey named Lubin."

"We will keep a sharp lookout for them; and if we lay hands on
them his Eminence may be assured they will be reconducted to
Paris under a good escort."

"And by doing so, Monsieur the Governor," said D'Artagnan, "you
will deserve well of the cardinal."

"Shall you see him on your return, Monsieur Count?"

"Without a doubt."

"Tell him, I beg you, that I am his humble servant."

"I will not fail."

Delighted with this assurance the governor countersigned the
passport and delivered it to D'Artagnan.  D'Artagnan lost no time
in useless compliments.  He thanked the governor, bowed, and
departed.  Once outside, he and Planchet set off as fast as they
could; and by making a long detour avoided the wood and reentered
the city by another gate.

The vessel was quite ready to sail, and the captain was waiting
on the wharf.  "Well?" said he, on perceiving D'Artagnan.

"Here is my pass countersigned," said the latter.

"And that other gentleman?

"He will not go today," said D'Artagnan; "but here, I'll pay you
for us two."

"In that case let us go," said the shipmaster.

"Let us go," repeated D'Artagnan.

He leaped with Planchet into the boat, and five minutes after
they were on board.  It was time; for they had scarcely sailed
half a league, when D'Artagnan saw a flash and heard a
detonation.  It was the cannon which announced the closing of the
port.

He had now leisure to look to his wound.  Fortunately, as
D'Artagnan had thought, it was not dangerous.  The point of the
sword had touched a rib, and glanced along the bone.  Still
further, his shirt had stuck to the wound, and he had lost only a few drops of blood.

D'Artagnan was worn out with fatigue.  A mattress was laid upon
the deck for him.  He threw himself upon it, and fell asleep.

On the morrow, at break of day, they were still three or four
leagues from the coast of England.  The breeze had been so light
all night, they had made but little progress.  At ten o'clock the
vessel cast anchor in the harbor of Dover, and at half past ten
D'Artagnan placed his foot on English land, crying, "Here I am at
last!"

But that was not all; they must get to London.  In England the
post was well served.  D'Artagnan and Planchet took each a post
horse, and a postillion rode before them.  In a few hours they
were in the capital.

D'Artagnan did not know London; he did not know a word of
English; but he wrote the name of Buckingham on a piece of paper,
and everyone pointed out to him the way to the duke's hotel.

The duke was at Windsor hunting with the king.  D'Artagnan
inquired for the confidential valet of the duke, who, having
accompanied him in all his voyages, spoke French perfectly well;
he told him that he came from Paris on an affair of life and
death, and that he must speak with his master instantly.

The confidence with which D'Artagnan spoke convinced Patrick,
which was the name of this minister of the minister.  He ordered
two horses to be saddled, and himself went as guide to the young
Guardsman.  As for Planchet, he had been lifted from his horse as
stiff as a rush; the poor lad's strength was almost exhausted.
D'Artagnan seemed iron.

On their arrival at the castle they learned that Buckingham and
the king were hawking in the marshes two or three leagues away.
In twenty minutes they were on the spot named.  Patrick soon
caught the sound of his master's voice calling his falcon.

"Whom must I announce to my Lord Duke?" asked Patrick.

"The young man who one evening sought a quarrel with him on the
Pont Neuf, opposite the Samaritaine."

"A singular introduction!"

"You will find that it is as good as another."

Patrick galloped off, reached the duke, and announced to him in
the terms directed that a messenger awaited him.

Buckingham at once remembered the circumstance, and suspecting
that something was going on in France of which it was necessary
he should be informed, he only took the time to inquire where th