Ten Years Later

  Raoul, on betaking himself to De Guiche, found him conversing with DeWardes and Manicamp. De Wardes, since the affair of the barricade,had treated Raoul as a stranger; they behaved as if they were notacquainted. As Raoul entered, De Guiche walked up to him; and Raoul,as he grasped his friend's hand, glanced rapidly at his two companions,hoping to be able to read on their faces what was passing in theirminds. De Wardes was cold and impenetrable; Manicamp seemed absorbed inthe contemplation of some trimming to his dress. De Guiche led Raoulto an adjoining cabinet, and made him sit down, saying, "How well youlook!"

  "That is singular," replied Raoul, "for I am far from being in goodspirits."

  "It is your case, then, Raoul, as it is my own,--our love affairs do notprogress."

  "So much the better, count, as far as you are concerned; the worst newswould be good news."

  "In that case do not distress yourself, for, not only am I very unhappy,but, what is more, I see others about me who are happy."

  "Really, I do not understand you," replied Raoul; "explain yourself."

  "You will soon learn. I have tried, but in vain, to overcome the feelingyou saw dawn in me, increase and take entire possession of me. I havesummoned all your advice and my own strength to my aid. I have wellweighed the unfortunate affair in which I have embarked; I have soundedits depths; that it is an abyss, I am aware, but it matters little, forI shall pursue my own course."

  "This is madness, De Guiche! you cannot advance another step withoutrisking your own ruin to-day, perhaps your life to-morrow."

  "Whatever may happen, I have done with reflections; listen."

  "And you hope to succeed; you believe that Madame will love you?"

  "Raoul, I believe nothing; I hope, because hope exists in man, and neverabandons him till death."

  "But, admitting that you obtain the happiness you covet, even then, youare more certainly lost than if you had failed in obtaining it."

  "I beseech you, Raoul, not to interrupt me any more; you could neverconvince me, for I tell you beforehand, I do not wish to be convinced; Ihave gone so far I cannot recede; I have suffered so much, death itselfwould be a boon. I no longer love to madness, Raoul, I am being engulfedby a whirlpool of jealousy."

  Raoul struck his hands together with an expression resembling anger."Well?" said he.

  "Well or ill matters little. This is what I claim from you, my friend,my almost brother. During the last three days Madame has been living ina perfect intoxication of gayety. On the first day, I dared not lookat her; I hated her for not being as unhappy as myself. The next day Icould not bear her out of my sight; and she, Raoul--at least I thoughtI remarked it--she looked at me, if not with pity, at least withgentleness. But between her looks and mine, a shadow intervened;another's smile invited hers. Beside her horse another's always gallops,which is not mine; in her ear another's caressing voice, not mine,unceasingly vibrates. Raoul, for three days past my brain has been onfire; flame, not blood, courses through my veins. That shadow must bedriven away, that smile must be quenched; that voice must be silenced."

  "You wish Monsieur's death," exclaimed Raoul.

  "No, no, I am not jealous of the husband; I am jealous of the lover."

  "Of the lover?" said Raoul.

  "Have you not observed it, you who were formerly so keen-sighted?"

  "Are you jealous of the Duke of Buckingham?"

  "To the very death."

  "Again jealous?"

  "This time the affair will be easy to arrange between us; I have takenthe initiative, and have sent him a letter."

  "It was you, then, who wrote to him?"

  "How do you know that?"

  "I know it, because he told me so. Look at this;" and he handed DeGuiche the letter he had received nearly at the same moment as his own.De Guiche read it eagerly, and said, "He is a brave man, and more thanthat, a gallant man."

  "Most certainly the duke is a gallant man; I need not ask if you wroteto him in a similar style."

  "He will show you my letter when you call on him on my behalf."

  "But that is almost out of the question."

  "What is?"

  "That I shall call on him for that purpose."

  "Why so?"

  "The duke consults me as you do."

  "I suppose you will give me the preference! Listen to me, Raoul, Iwish you to tell his Grace--it is a very simple matter--that to-day,to-morrow, the following day, or any other day he may choose. I willmeet him at Vincennes."

  "Reflect, De Guiche."

  "I thought I told you I have reflected."

  "The duke is a stranger here; he is on a mission which renders hisperson inviolable.... Vincennes is close to the Bastile."

  "The consequences concern me."

  "But the motive for this meeting? What motive do you wish me to assign?"

  "Be perfectly easy on that score, he will not ask any. The duke must beas sick of me as I am of him. I implore you, therefore, seek the duke,and if it is necessary to entreat him to accept my offer, I will do so."

  "That is useless. The duke has already informed me that he wishes tospeak to me. The duke is now playing cards with the king. Let us both gothere. I will draw him aside in the gallery: you will remain aloof. Twowords will be sufficient."

  "That is well arranged. I will take De Wardes to keep me incountenance."

  "Why not Manicamp? De Wardes can join us at any time; we can leave himhere."

  "Yes, that is true."

  "He knows nothing?"

  "Positively nothing. You continue still on an unfriendly footing, then?"

  "Has he not told you anything?"

  "Nothing."

  "I do not like the man, and, as I never liked him, the result is, that Iam on no worse terms with him to-day than I was yesterday."

  "Let us go, then."

  The four descended the stairs. De Guiche's carriage was waiting at thedoor, and took them to the Palais-Royal. As they were going along, Raoulwas engaged in devising his scheme of action. The sole depositary of twosecrets, he did not despair of concluding some arrangement between thetwo parties. He knew the influence he exercised over Buckingham, andthe ascendency he had acquired over De Guiche, and affairs did not lookutterly hopeless. On their arrival in the gallery, dazzling with theblaze of light, where the most beautiful and illustrious women of thecourt moved to and fro, like stars in their own atmosphere, Raoul couldnot prevent himself for a moment forgetting De Guiche in order toseek out Louise, who, amidst her companions, like a dove completelyfascinated, gazed long and fixedly upon the royal circle, whichglittered with jewels and gold. All its members were standing, the kingalone being seated. Raoul perceived Buckingham, who was standing afew places from Monsieur, in a group of French and English, who wereadmiring his aristocratic carriage and the incomparable magnificenceof his costume. Some of the older courtiers remembered having seen hisfather, but their recollections were not prejudicial to the son.

  Buckingham was conversing with Fouquet, who was talking with him aloudabout Belle-Isle. "I cannot speak to him at present," said Raoul.

  "Wait, then, and choose your opportunity, but finish everythingspeedily. I am on thorns."

  "See, our deliverer approaches," said Raoul, perceiving D'Artagnan, who,magnificently dressed in his new uniform of captain of the musketeers,had just made his entry in the gallery; and he advanced towardsD'Artagnan.

  "The Comte de la Fere has been looking for you, chevalier," said Raoul.

  "Yes," replied D'Artagnan, "I have just left him."

  "I thought you would have passed a portion of the evening together."

  "We have arranged to meet again."

  As he answered Raoul, his absent looks were directed on all sides, asif seeking some one in the crowd, or looking for something in the room.Suddenly his gaze became fixed, like that of an eagle on its prey. Raoulfollowed the direction of his glance, and noticed that De Guiche andD'Artagnan saluted each other, but he could not distinguish at whom thecaptain's inquiring and haught
y glance was aimed.

  "Chevalier," said Raoul, "there is no one here but yourself who canrender me a service."

  "What is it, my dear vicomte?"

  "It is simply to go and interrupt the Duke of Buckingham, to whom I wishto say two words, and, as the duke is conversing with M. Fouquet, youunderstand that it would not do for me to throw myself into the middleof the conversation."

  "Ah, ah, is M. Fouquet there?" inquired D'Artagnan.

  "Do you not see him?"

  "Yes, now I do. But do you think I have a greater right than you have?"

  "You are a more important personage."

  "Yes, you're right; I am captain of the musketeers; I have had the postpromised me so long, and have enjoyed it for so brief a period, that Iam always forgetting my dignity."

  "You will do me this service, will you not?"

  "M. Fouquet--the deuce!"

  "Are you not on good terms with him?"

  "It is rather he who may not be on good terms with me; however, since itmust be done some day or another----"

  "Stay; I think he is looking at you; or is it likely that it mightbe----"

  "No, no, don't deceive yourself, it is indeed me for whom this honor isintended."

  "The opportunity is a good one, then?"

  "Do you think so?"

  "Pray go."

  "Well, I will."

  De Guiche had not removed his eyes from Raoul, who made a sign to himthat all was arranged. D'Artagnan walked straight up to the group, andcivilly saluted M. Fouquet as well as the others.

  "Good evening, M. d'Artagnan; we were speaking of Belle-Isle," saidFouquet, with that usage of society, and that perfect knowledge of thelanguage of looks, which require half a lifetime thoroughly to acquire,and which some persons, notwithstanding all their study, never attain.

  "Of Belle-Isle-en-Mer! Ah!" said D'Artagnan. "It belongs to you, Ibelieve, M. Fouquet?"

  "M. Fouquet has just told me that he had presented it to the king," saidBuckingham.

  "Do you know Belle-Isle, chevalier?" inquired Fouquet.

  "I have only been there once," replied D'Artagnan, with readiness andgood-humor.

  "Did you remain there long?"

  "Scarcely a day."

  "Did you see much of it while you were there?"

  "All that could be seen in a day."

  "A great deal can be seen with observation as keen as yours," saidFouquet; at which D'Artagnan bowed.

  During this Raoul made a sign to Buckingham. "M. Fouquet," saidBuckingham, "I leave the captain with you, he is more learned than Iam in bastions, scarps, and counter-scarps, and I will join one of myfriends, who has just beckoned me." Saying this, Buckingham disengagedhimself from the group, and advanced towards Raoul, stopping for amoment at the table where the queen-mother, the young queen, and theking were playing together.

  "Now, Raoul," said De Guiche, "there he is; be firm and quick."

  Buckingham, having made some complimentary remark to Madame, continuedhis way towards Raoul, who advanced to meet him, while De Guicheremained in his place, though he followed him with his eyes. Themaneuver was so arranged that the young men met in an open space whichwas left vacant, between the group of players and the gallery, wherethey walked, stopping now and then for the purpose of saying a few wordsto some of the graver courtiers who were walking there. At the momentwhen the two lines were about to unite, they were broken by a third. Itwas Monsieur who advanced toward the Duke of Buckingham. Monsieur hadhis most engaging smile on his red and perfumed lips.

  "My dear duke," said he, with the most affectionate politeness; "is itreally true what I have just been told?"

  Buckingham turned round, he had not noticed Monsieur approach; but hadmerely heard his voice. He started in spite of his command over himself,and a slight pallor overspread his face. "Monseigneur," he asked, "whathas been told you that surprises you so much?"

  "That which throws me into despair, and will, in truth, be a real causeof mourning for the whole court."

  "Your highness is very kind, for I perceive that you allude to mydeparture."

  "Precisely."

  Guiche had overheard the conversation from where he was standing, andstarted in his turn. "His departure," he murmured. "What does he say?"

  Philip continued with the same gracious air, "I can easily conceive,monsieur, why the king of Great Britain recalls you; we all know thatKing Charles II.; who appreciates true gentlemen, cannot dispense withyou. But it cannot be supposed we can let you go without great regret;and I beg you to receive the expression of my own."

  "Believe me, monseigneur," said the duke, "that if I quit the court ofFrance----"

  "Because you are recalled; but, if you suppose the expression of my ownwish on the subject might possibly have any influence with the king, Iwill gladly volunteer to entreat his majesty Charles II. to leave youwith us a little while longer."

  "I am overwhelmed, monseigneur, by so much kindness," repliedBuckingham, "but I have received positive commands. My residence inFrance was limited; I have prolonged it at the risk of displeasing mygracious sovereign. It is only this very day that I recollected I oughtto have set off four days ago."

  "Indeed," said Monsieur.

  "Yes, but," added Buckingham, raising his voice in such a manner thatthe princess could hear him,--"but I resemble that dweller in the East,who turned mad, and remained so for several days, owing to a delightfuldream that he had had, but who one day awoke, if not completelycured, in some respects rational at least. The court of France has itsintoxicating properties, which are not unlike this dream, my lord; butat last I wake and leave it. I shall be unable, therefore, to prolong myresidence, as your highness has so kindly invited me to do."

  "When do you leave?" inquired Philip, with an expression full ofinterest.

  "To-morrow, monseigneur. My carriages have been ready for three days."

  The Duc d'Orleans made a movement of the head, which seemed tosignify, "Since you are determined, duke, there is nothing to be said."Buckingham returned the gesture, concealing under a smile a contractionof his heart; and then Monsieur moved away in the same direction bywhich he had approached. At the same moment, however, De Guiche advancedfrom the opposite direction. Raoul feared that the impatient young manmight possibly make the proposition himself, and hurried forward beforehim.

  "No, no, Raoul, all is useless now," said Guiche, holding both his handstoward the duke, and leading him behind a column. "Forgive me, duke, forwhat I wrote to you, I was mad; give me back my letter."

  "It is true," said the duke, "you cannot owe me a grudge any longernow."

  "Forgive me, duke; my friendship, my lasting friendship is yours."

  "There is certainly no reason why you should bear me any ill-will fromthe moment I leave her never to see her again."

  Raoul heard these words, and comprehending that his presence was nowuseless between the two young men, who had now only friendly words toexchange, withdrew a few paces; a movement which brought him closer toDe Wardes, who was conversing with the Chevalier de Lorraine respectingthe departure of Buckingham. "A strategic retreat," said De Wardes.

  "Why so?"

  "Because the dear duke saves a sword-thrust by it." At which reply bothlaughed.

  Raoul, indignant, turned round frowningly, flushed with anger and hislip curling with disdain. The Chevalier de Lorraine turned on his heel,but De Wardes remained and waited.

  "You will not break yourself of the habit," said Raoul to De Wardes, "ofinsulting the absent; yesterday it was M. d'Artagnan, to-day it is theDuke of Buckingham."

  "You know very well, monsieur," returned De Wardes, "that I sometimesinsult those who are present."

  De Wardes was close to Raoul, their shoulders met, their facesapproached, as if to mutually inflame each other by the fire of theirlooks and of their anger. It could be seen that the one was at theheight of fury, the other at the end of his patience. Suddenly a voicewas heard behind them full of grace and courtesy saying, "I believe
Iheard my name pronounced."

  They turned round and saw D'Artagnan, who, with a smiling eye and acheerful face, had just placed his hand on De Wardes's shoulder. Raoulstepped back to make room for the musketeer. De Wardes trembled fromhead to foot, turned pale, but did not move. D'Artagnan, still with thesame smile, took the place which Raoul abandoned to him.

  "Thank you, my dear Raoul," he said. "M. de Wardes, I wish to talk withyou. Do not leave us Raoul; every one can hear what I have to say to M.de Wardes." His smile immediately faded away, and his glance became coldand sharp as a sword.

  "I am at your orders, monsieur," said De Wardes.

  "For a very long time," resumed D'Artagnan, "I have sought anopportunity of conversing with you; to-day is the first time I havefound it. The place is badly chosen, I admit, but you will perhapshave the goodness to accompany me to my apartments, which are on thestaircase at the end of this gallery."

  "I follow you, monsieur," said De Wardes.

  "Are you alone here?" said D'Artagnan.

  "No; I have M. Manicamp and M. de Guiche, two of my friends."

  "That's well," said D'Artagnan; "but two persons are not sufficient; youwill be able to find a few others, I trust."

  "Certainly," said the young man, who did not know what object D'Artagnanhad in view. "As many as you please."

  "Are they friends?"

  "Yes, monsieur."

  "Real friends?"

  "No doubt of it."

  "Very well, get a good supply, then. Do you come, too, Raoul; bring M.de Guiche and the Duke of Buckingham."

  "What a disturbance," replied De Wardes, attempting to smile. Thecaptain slightly signed to him with his hand, as though to recommend himto be patient, and then led the way to his apartments.

  CHAPTER 95. Sword-thrusts in the Water (concluded)