D'Artagnan's apartment was not unoccupied, for the Comte de la Fere,seated in the recess of a window, awaited him. "Well," said he toD'Artagnan, as he saw him enter.
"Well," said the latter, "M. de Wardes has done me the honor to pay me avisit, in company with some of his own friends, as well as of ours." Infact, behind the musketeer appeared De Wardes and Manicamp followed byDe Guiche and Buckingham, who looked surprised, not knowing what wasexpected of them. Raoul was accompanied by two or three gentlemen; and,as he entered, glanced round the room, and perceiving the count, he wentand placed himself by his side. D'Artagnan received his visitorswith all the courtesy he was capable of; he preserved his unmoved andunconcerned look. All the persons present were men of distinction,occupying posts of honor and credit at the court. After he hadapologized to each of them for any inconvenience he might have putthem to, he turned towards De Wardes, who, in spite of his customaryself-command, could not prevent his face betraying some surprise mingledwith not a little uneasiness.
"Now, monsieur," said D'Artagnan, "since we are no longer within theprecincts of the king's palace, and since we can speak out withoutfailing in respect to propriety, I will inform you why I have taken theliberty to request you to visit me here, and why I have invited thesegentlemen to be present at the same time. My friend, the Comte de laFere, has acquainted me with the injurious reports you are spreadingabout myself. You have stated that you regard me as your mortal enemy,because I was, so you affirm, that of your father."
"Perfectly true, monsieur, I have said so," replied De Wardes, whosepallid face became slightly tinged with color.
"You accuse me, therefore, of a crime, or a fault, or of some meanand cowardly act. Have the goodness to state your charge against me inprecise terms."
"In the presence of witnesses?"
"Most certainly in the presence of witnesses; and you see I haveselected them as being experienced in affairs of honor."
"You do not appreciate my delicacy, monsieur. I have accused you, it istrue; but I have kept the nature of the accusation a perfect secret.I entered into no details; but have rested satisfied by expressing myhatred in the presence of those on whom a duty was almost imposed toacquaint you with it. You have not taken the discreetness I have showninto consideration, although you were interested in remaining silent. Ican hardly recognize your habitual prudence in that, M. d'Artagnan."
D'Artagnan, who was quietly biting the corner of his mustache, said, "Ihave already had the honor to beg you to state the particulars of thegrievances you say you have against me."
"Aloud?"
"Certainly, aloud."
"In that case, I will speak."
"Speak, monsieur," said D'Artagnan, bowing; "we are all listening toyou."
"Well, monsieur, it is not a question of a personal injury towardsmyself, but one towards my father."
"That you have already stated."
"Yes, but there are certain subjects which are only approached withhesitation."
"If that hesitation, in your case, really does exist, I entreat you toovercome it."
"Even if it refer to a disgraceful action?"
"Yes; in every and any case."
Those who were present at this scene had, at first, looked at each otherwith a good deal of uneasiness. They were reassured, however, when theysaw that D'Artagnan manifested no emotion whatever.
De Wardes still maintained the same unbroken silence. "Speak, monsieur,"said the musketeer; "you see you are keeping us waiting."
"Listen, then:--My father loved a lady of noble birth, and this ladyloved my father." D'Artagnan and Athos exchanged looks. De Wardescontinued: "M. d'Artagnan found some letters which indicated arendezvous, substituted himself, under disguise, for the person who wasexpected, and took advantage of the darkness."
"That is perfectly true," said D'Artagnan.
A slight murmur was heard from those present. "Yes, I was guilty of thatdishonorable action. You should have added, monsieur, since you are soimpartial, that, at the period when the circumstance which you have justrelated, happened, I was not one-and-twenty years of age."
"Such an action is not the less shameful on that account," said DeWardes; "and it is quite sufficient for a gentleman to have attained theage of reason, to avoid committing an act of indelicacy."
A renewed murmur was heard, but this time of astonishment, and almost ofdoubt.
"It was a most shameful deception, I admit," said D'Artagnan, "and Ihave not waited for M. de Wardes's reproaches to reproach myself for it,and very bitterly, too. Age has, however, made me more reasonable, andabove all, more upright; and this injury has been atoned for by a longand lasting regret. But I appeal to you, gentlemen; this affair tookplace in 1626, at a period, happily for yourselves, known to you bytradition only, at a period when love was not over scrupulous,when consciences did not distill, as in the present day, poison andbitterness. We were young soldiers, always fighting, or being attacked,our swords always in our hands, or at least ready to be drawn from theirsheaths. Death then always stared us in the face, war hardened us, andthe cardinal pressed us sorely. I have repented of it, and more thanthat--I still repent it, M. de Wardes."
"I can well understand that, monsieur, for the action itself neededrepentance; but you were not the less the cause of that lady's disgrace.She, of whom you have been speaking, covered with shame, borne down bythe affront you brought upon her, fled, quitted France, and no one everknew what became of her."
"Stay," said the Comte de la Fere, stretching his hand towards DeWardes, with a peculiar smile upon his face, "you are mistaken; she wasseen; and there are persons even now present, who, having often heardher spoken of, will easily recognize her by the description I am aboutto give. She was about five-and-twenty years of age, slender in form, ofa pale complexion, and fair-haired; she was married in England."
"Married?" exclaimed De Wardes.
"So, you were not aware she was married? You see we are far betterinformed than yourself. Do you happen to know she was usually styled 'MyLady,' without the addition of any name to that description?"
"Yes, I know that."
"Good Heavens!" murmured Buckingham.
"Very well, monsieur. That woman, who came from England, returned toEngland after having thrice attempted M. d'Artagnan's life. That was butjust, you will say, since M. d'Artagnan had insulted her. But that whichwas not just was, that, when in England, this woman, by her seductions,completely enslaved a young man in the service of Lord de Winter, byname Felton. You change color, my lord," said Athos turning to the Dukeof Buckingham, "and your eyes kindle with anger and sorrow. Let yourGrace finish the recital, then, and tell M. de Wardes who this woman waswho placed the knife in the hand of your father's murderer."
A cry escaped from the lips of all present. The young duke passed hishandkerchief across his forehead, which was covered with perspiration. Adead silence ensued among the spectators.
"You see, M. de Wardes," said D'Artagnan, whom this recital hadimpressed more and more, as his own recollection revived as Athos spoke,"you see that my crime did not cause the destruction of any one's soul,and that the soul in question may fairly be considered to have beenaltogether lost before my regret. It is, however, an act of conscienceon my part. Now this matter is settled, therefore, it remains for meto ask with the greatest humility, your forgiveness for this shamelessaction, as most certainly I should have asked it of your father, ifhe were still alive, and if I had met him after my return to France,subsequent to the death of King Charles I."
"That is too much, M. d'Artagnan," exclaimed many voices, withanimation.
"No, gentlemen," said the captain. "And now, M. de Wardes, I hope all isfinished between us, and that you will have no further occasion to speakill of me again. Do you consider it completely settled?"
De Wardes bowed, and muttered to himself inarticulately.
"I trust also," said D'Artagnan, approaching the young man closely,"that you will no longer speak ill of any one, as it seems you
have theunfortunate habit of doing; for a man so puritanically conscientiousas you are, who can reproach an old soldier for a youthful freakfive-and-thirty years after it happened, will allow me to ask whetheryou who advocate such excessive purity of conscience, will undertake onyour side to do nothing contrary either to conscience or the principleof honor. And now, listen attentively to what I am going to say, M. deWardes, in conclusion. Take care that no tale, with which your name maybe associated, reaches my ear."
"Monsieur," said De Wardes, "it is useless threatening to no purpose."
"I have not yet finished, M. de Wardes, and you must listen to me stillfurther." The circle of listeners, full of eager curiosity, drew closer."You spoke just now of the honor of a woman, and of the honor ofyour father. We were glad to hear you speak in that manner; for it ispleasing to think that such a sentiment of delicacy and rectitude, andwhich did not exist, it seems, in our minds, lives in our children; andit is delightful too, to see a young man, at an age when men from habitbecome the destroyers of the honor of women, respect and defend it."
De Wardes bit his lips and clenched his hands, evidently much disturbedto learn how this discourse, the commencement of which was announced inso threatening a manner, would terminate.
"How did it happen, then, that you allowed yourself to say to M. deBragelonne that he did not know who his mother was?"
Raoul's eye flashed, as, darting forward, he exclaimed,--"Chevalier,this is a personal affair of my own!" At which exclamation, a smile,full of malice, passed across De Wardes's face.
D'Artagnan put Raoul aside, saying,--"Do not interrupt me, young man."And looking at De Wardes in an authoritative manner, he continued:--"Iam now dealing with a matter which cannot be settled by means of thesword. I discuss it before men of honor, all of whom have more than oncehad their swords in their hands in affairs of honor. I selected themexpressly. These gentlemen well know that every secret for which menfight ceases to be a secret. I again put my question to M. de Wardes.What was the subject of conversation when you offended this young man,in offending his father and mother at the same time?"
"It seems to me," returned De Wardes, "that liberty of speech isallowed, when it is supported by every means which a man of courage hasat his disposal."
"Tell me what the means are by which a man of courage can sustain aslanderous expression."
"The sword."
"You fail, not only in logic, in your argument, but in religion andhonor. You expose the lives of many others, without referring to yourown, which seems to be full of hazard. Besides, fashions pass away,monsieur, and the fashion of duelling has passed away, without referringin any way to the edicts of his majesty which forbid it. Therefore, inorder to be consistent with your own chivalrous notions, you will atonce apologize to M. de Bragelonne; you will tell him how much youregret having spoken so lightly, and that the nobility and purity ofhis race are inscribed, not in his heart alone, but still more in everyaction of his life. You will do and say this, M. de Wardes, as I, an oldofficer, did and said just now to your boy's mustache."
"And if I refuse?" inquired De Wardes.
"In that case the result will be--"
"That which you think you will prevent," said De Wardes, laughing; "theresult will be that your conciliatory address will end in a violation ofthe king's prohibition."
"Not so," said the captain, "you are quite mistaken."
"What will be the result, then?"
"The result will be that I shall go to the king, with whom I am ontolerably good terms, to whom I have been happy enough to render certainservices dating from a period when you were not born, and who atmy request, has just sent me an order in blank for M. Baisemeaux deMontlezun, governor of the Bastile; and I shall say to the king: 'Sire,a man has in a most cowardly way insulted M. de Bragelonne by insultinghis mother; I have written this man's name upon the lettre de cachetwhich your majesty has been kind enough to give me, so that M. de Wardesis in the Bastile for three years.'" And D'Artagnan drawing the ordersigned by the king from his pocket, held it towards De Wardes.
Remarking that the young man was not quite convinced, and receivedthe warning as an idle threat, he shrugged his shoulders and walkedleisurely towards the table, upon which lay a writing-case and a pen,the length of which would have terrified the topographical Porthos. DeWardes then saw that nothing could well be more seriously intended thanthe threat in question for the Bastile, even at that period, was alreadyheld in dread. He advanced a step towards Raoul, and, in an almostunintelligible voice, said,--"I offer my apologies in the terms which M.d'Artagnan just now dictated, and which I am forced to make to you."
"One moment, monsieur," said the musketeer, with the greatesttranquillity, "you mistake the terms of the apology. I did not say, 'andwhich I am forced to make'; I said, 'and which my conscience induces meto make.' This latter expression, believe me, is better than the former;and it will be far preferable, since it will be the most truthfulexpression of your own sentiments."
"I subscribe to it," said De Wardes; "but submit, gentlemen, that athrust of a sword through the body, as was the custom formerly, was farbetter than tyranny like this."
"No, monsieur," replied Buckingham; "for the sword-thrust, whenreceived, was no indication that a particular person was right or wrong;it only showed that he was more or less skillful in the use of theweapon."
"Monsieur!" exclaimed De Wardes.
"There, now," interrupted D'Artagnan, "you are going to say somethingvery rude, and I am rendering you a service by stopping you in time."
"Is that all, monsieur?" inquired De Wardes.
"Absolutely everything," replied D'Artagnan, "and these gentlemen, aswell as myself, are quite satisfied with you."
"Believe me monsieur, that your reconciliations are not successful."
"In what way?"
"Because, as we are now about to separate. I would wager that M. deBragelonne and myself are greater enemies than ever."
"You are deceived, monsieur, as far as I am concerned," returned Raoul;"for I do not retain the slightest animosity in my heart against you."
This last blow overwhelmed De Wardes. He cast his eyes around him likea man bewildered. D'Artagnan saluted most courteously the gentlemen whohad been present at the explanation; and every one, on leaving the room,shook hands with him; but not one hand was held out towards De Wardes."Oh!" exclaimed the young man, abandoning himself to the rage whichconsumed him, "can I not find some one on whom to wreak my vengeance?"
"You can, monsieur, for I am here," whispered a voice full of menace inhis ear.
De Wardes turned round, and saw the Duke of Buckingham, who, havingprobably remained behind with that intention, had just approached him."You, monsieur?" exclaimed De Wardes.
"Yes, I! I am no subject of the king of France; I am not going to remainon the territory, since I am about setting off for England. I haveaccumulated in my heart such a mass of despair and rage, that I, too,like yourself, need to revenge myself upon some one. I approve M.d'Artagnan's principles profoundly, but I am not bound to apply themto you. I am an Englishman, and, in my turn, I propose to you what youproposed to others to no purpose. Since you, therefore, are so terriblyincensed, take me as a remedy. In thirty-four hours' time I shall be atCalais. Come with me; the journey will appear shorter if together, thanif alone. We will fight, when we get there, upon the sands which arecovered by the rising tide, and which form part of the French territoryduring six hours of the day, but belong to the territory of Heavenduring the other six."
"I accept willingly," said De Wardes.
"I assure you," said the duke, "that if you kill me, you will berendering me an infinite service."
"I will do my utmost to make myself agreeable to you, duke," said DeWardes.
"It is agreed, then, that I carry you off with me?"
"I shall be at your commands. I needed some real danger and some mortalrisk to run, to tranquilize me."
"In that case, I think you have met with what you are looki
ng for.Farewell, M. de Wardes; to-morrow morning, my valet will tell you theexact hour of our departure; we can travel together like two excellentfriends. I generally travel as fast as I can. Adieu."
Buckingham saluted De Wardes, and returned towards the king'sapartments; De Wardes, irritated beyond measure, left the Palais-Royal,and hurried through the streets homeward to the house where he lodged.
CHAPTER 96. Baisemeaux de Montlezun