The king's words regarding the wounded pride of Monk had not inspiredD'Artagnan with a small portion of apprehension. The lieutenant had had,all his life, the great art of choosing his enemies; and when he hadfound them implacable and invincible, it was when he had not been able,under any pretense, to make them otherwise. But points of view changegreatly in the course of a life. It is a magic lantern, of which the eyeof man every year changes the aspects. It results that from the last dayof a year on which we saw white, to the first day of the year on whichwe shall see black, there is but the interval of a single night.
Now, D'Artagnan, when he left Calais with his ten scamps, would havehesitated as little in attacking a Goliath, a Nebuchadnezzar, or aHolofernes as he would in crossing swords with a recruit or cavilingwith a landlady. Then he resembled the sparrow-hawk which, when fasting,will attack a ram. Hunger is blind. But D'Artagnan satisfied--D'Artagnanrich--D'Artagnan a conqueror--D'Artagnan proud of so difficult atriumph--D'Artagnan had too much to lose not to reckon, figure byfigure, with probable misfortune.
His thoughts were employed, therefore, all the way on the road from hispresentation, with one thing, and that was, how he should conciliate aman like Monk, a man whom Charles himself, kind as he was, conciliatedwith difficulty; for, scarcely established, the protected might againstand in need of the protector, and would, consequently, not refusehim, such being the case, the petty satisfaction of transporting M.d'Artagnan, or of confining him in one of the Middlesex prisons, ordrowning him a little on his passage from Dover to Boulogne. Such sortsof satisfaction kings are accustomed to render to viceroys withoutdisagreeable consequences.
It would not be at all necessary for the king to be active in thatcontrepartie of the play in which Monk should take his revenge. The partof the king would be confined to simply pardoning the viceroy of Irelandall he should undertake against D'Artagnan. Nothing more was necessaryto place the conscience of the Duke of Albemarle at rest than a teabsolvo said with a laugh, or the scrawl of "Charles the King," tracedat the foot of a parchment; and with these two words pronounced, andthese two words written, poor D'Artagnan was forever crushed beneath theruins of his imagination.
And then, a thing sufficiently disquieting for a man with such foresightas our musketeer, he found himself alone; and even the friendship ofAthos could not restore his confidence. Certainly if the affair had onlyconcerned a free distribution of sword-thrusts, the musketeer would havecounted upon his companion; but in delicate dealings with a king, whenthe perhaps of an unlucky chance should arise in justification of Monkor of Charles of England, D'Artagnan knew Athos well enough to be surehe would give the best possible coloring to the loyalty of the survivor,and would content himself with shedding floods of tears on the tomb ofthe dead, supposing the dead to be his friend, and afterwards composinghis epitaph in the most pompous superlatives.
"Decidedly," thought the Gascon; and this thought was the result of thereflections which he had just whispered to himself and which we haverepeated aloud--"decidedly, I must be reconciled with M. Monk, andacquire a proof of his perfect indifference for the past. If, and Godforbid it should be so! he is still sulky and reserved in the expressionof this sentiment, I shall give my money to Athos to take away with him,and remain in England just long enough to unmask him, then, as I havea quick eye and a light foot, I shall notice the first hostile sign; todecamp or conceal myself at the residence of my lord of Buckingham, whoseems a good sort of devil at the bottom, and to whom, in return for hishospitality, I shall relate all that history of the diamonds, which cannow compromise nobody but an old queen, who need not be ashamed, afterbeing the wife of a miserly creature like Mazarin, of having formerlybeen the mistress of a handsome nobleman like Buckingham. Mordioux!that is the thing, and this Monk shall not get the better of me. Eh? andbesides I have an idea!"
We know that, in general, D'Artagnan was not wanting in ideas; andduring this soliloquy, D'Artagnan buttoned his vest up to the chin, andnothing excited his imagination like this preparation for a combat ofany kind, called accinction by the Romans. He was quite heated when hereached the mansion of the Duke of Albemarle. He was introduced to theviceroy with a promptitude which proved that he was considered as one ofthe household. Monk was in his business-closet.
"My lord," said D'Artagnan, with that expression of frankness which theGascon knew so well how to assume, "my lord, I have come to ask yourgrace's advice!"
Monk, as closely buttoned up morally as his antagonist was physically,replied: "Ask, my friend;" and his countenance presented an expressionnot less open than that of D'Artagnan.
"My lord, in the first place, promise me secrecy and indulgence."
"I promise you all you wish. What is the matter? Speak!"
"It is, my lord, that I am not quite pleased with the king."
"Indeed! And on what account, my dear lieutenant?"
"Because his majesty gives way sometimes to jest very compromising forhis servants; and jesting, my lord, is a weapon that seriously woundsmen of the sword, as we are."
Monk did all in his power not to betray his thought, but D'Artagnanwatched him with too close an attention not to detect an almostimperceptible flush upon his face. "Well, now, for my part," said he,with the most natural air possible, "I am not an enemy of jesting, mydear Monsieur d'Artagnan; my soldiers will tell you that even many timesin camp, I listened very indifferently, and with a certain pleasure,to the satirical songs which the army of Lambert passed into mine,and which, certainly, would have caused the ears of a general moresusceptible than I am to tingle."
"Oh, my lord," said D'Artagnan, "I know you are a complete man; I knowyou have been, for a long time placed above human miseries; butthere are jests and jests of a certain kind, which have the power ofirritating me beyond expression."
"May I inquire what kind, my friend?"
"Such as are directed against my friends or against people I respect, mylord!"
Monk made a slight movement, which D'Artagnan perceived. "Eh! and inwhat," asked Monk, "in what can the stroke of a pin which scratchesanother tickle your skin? Answer me that."
"My lord, I can explain it to you in one single sentence; it concernsyou."
Monk advanced a single step towards D'Artagnan. "Concerns me?" said he.
"Yes, and this is what I cannot explain; but that arises, perhaps, frommy want of knowledge of his character. How can the king have theheart to jest about a man who has rendered him so many and such greatservices? How can one understand that he should amuse himself in settingby the ears a lion like you with a gnat like me?"
"I cannot conceive that in any way," said Monk.
"But so it is. The king, who owed me a reward, might have rewarded me asa soldier, without contriving that history of the ransom, which affectsyou, my lord."
"No," said Monk, laughing: "it does not affect me in any way, I canassure you."
"Not as regards me, I can understand, you know me, my lord, I am sodiscreet that the grave would appear a babbler compared to me; but--doyou understand, my lord?"
"No," replied Monk, with persistent obstinacy.
"If another knew the secret which I know----"
"What secret?"
"Eh! my lord, why, that unfortunate secret of Newcastle."
"Oh! the million of M. le Comte de la Fere?"
"No, my lord, no; the enterprise made upon you grace's person."
"It was well played, chevalier, that is all, and no more is to be saidabout it: you are a soldier, both brave and cunning, which proves thatyou unite the qualities of Fabius and Hannibal. You employed your means,force and cunning: there is nothing to be said against that: I ought tohave been on guard."
"Ah! yes; I know, my lord, and I expected nothing less from yourpartiality; so that if it were only the abduction in itself, Mordieux!that would be nothing; but there are----"
"What?"
"The circumstances of that abduction."
"What circumstances?"
"Oh! you know very well what I
mean, my lord."
"No, curse me if I do."
"There is--in truth, it is difficult to speak it."
"There is?"
"Well, there is that devil of a box!"
Monk colored visibly. "Well, I have forgotten it."
"Deal box," continued D'Artagnan, "with holes for the nose and mouth.In truth, my lord, all the rest was well; but the box, the box! thatwas really a coarse joke." Monk fidgeted about in his chair. "And,notwithstanding my having done that," resumed D'Artagnan, "I, a soldierof fortune, it was quite simple, because by the side of that action, alittle inconsiderate I admit, which I committed, but which the gravityof the case may excuse, I am circumspect and reserved."
"Oh!" said Monk, "believe me, I know you well, Monsieur d'Artagnan, andI appreciate you."
D'Artagnan never took his eyes off Monk; studying all which passed inthe mind of the general, as he prosecuted his idea. "But it does notconcern me," resumed he.
"Well, then, whom does it concern?" said Monk, who began to grow alittle impatient.
"It relates to the king, who will never restrain his tongue."
"Well! and suppose he should say all he knows?" said Monk, with a degreeof hesitation.
"My lord," replied D'Artagnan, "do not dissemble, I implore you, witha man who speaks so frankly as I do. You have a right to feel yoursusceptibility excited, however benignant it may be. What, the devil!it is not the place for a man like you, a man who plays with crowns andscepters as a Bohemian plays with his balls; it is not the place of aserious man, I said, to be shut up in a box like some freak of naturalhistory; for you must understand it would make all your enemies ready toburst with laughter, and you are so great, so noble, so generous, thatyou must have many enemies. This secret is enough to set half the humanrace laughing, if you were represented in that box. It is not decent tohave the second personage in the kingdom laughed at."
Monk was quite out of countenance at the idea of seeing himselfrepresented in his box. Ridicule, as D'Artagnan had judiciouslyforeseen, acted upon him in a manner which neither the chances of war,the aspirations of ambition, nor the fear of death had been able to do.
"Good," thought the Gascon, "he is frightened: I am safe."
"Oh! as to the king," said Monk, "fear nothing, my dear Monsieurd'Artagnan; the king will not jest with Monk, I assure you!"
The momentary flash of his eye was noticed by D'Artagnan. Monk loweredhis tone immediately: "The king," continued he, "is of too noble anature, the king's heart is too high to allow him to wish ill to thosewho do him good."
"Oh! certainly," cried D'Artagnan. "I am entirely of your grace'sopinion with regard to his heart, but not as to his head--it is good,but it is trifling."
"The king will not trifle with Monk, be assured."
"Then you are quite at ease, my lord?"
"On that side, at least! yes, perfectly."
"Oh! I understand you; you are at ease as far as the king is concerned?"
"I have told you I was."
"But you are not so much so on my account?"
"I thought I had told you that I had faith in your loyalty anddiscretion."
"No doubt, no doubt, but you must remember one thing----"
"What is that?"
"That I was not alone, that I had companions; and what companions!"
"Oh! yes, I know them."
"And, unfortunately, my lord, they know you, too!"
"Well?"
"Well; they are yonder, at Boulogne, waiting for me."
"And you fear----"
"Yes, I fear that in my absence--Parbleu! If I were near them, I couldanswer for their silence."
"Was I not right in saying that the danger, if there was any danger,would not come from his majesty, however disposed he may be to jest,but from your companions, as you say? To be laughed at by a king may betolerable, but by the horse-boys and scamps of the army! Damn it!"
"Yes, I understand, that would be unbearable, that is why, my lord, Icame to say,--do you not think it would be better for me to set out forFrance as soon as possible?"
"Certainly, if you think your presence----"
"Would impose silence upon these scoundrels? Oh! I am sure of that, mylord."
"Your presence will not prevent the report from spreading, if the talehas already transpired."
"Oh! it has not transpired, my lord, I will wager. At all events, beassured I am determined upon one thing."
"What is that?"
"To blow out the brains of the first who shall have propagated thatreport, and of the first who has heard it. After which I shall return toEngland to seek an asylum, and perhaps employment with your grace."
"Oh, come back! come back!"
"Unfortunately, my lord, I am acquainted with nobody here but yourgrace, and if I should no longer find you, or if you should haveforgotten me in your greatness?"
"Listen to me, Monsieur d'Artagnan," replied Monk; "you are a superiorman, full of intelligence and courage; you deserve all the good fortunethis world can bring you; come with me into Scotland, and, I swear toyou, I shall arrange for you a fate which all may envy."
"Oh! my lord, that is impossible. At present I have a sacred duty toperform; I have to watch over your glory, I have to prevent a low jesterfrom tarnishing in the eyes of our contemporaries--who knows? in theeyes of posterity--the splendor of your name."
"Of posterity, Monsieur d'Artagnan?"
"Doubtless. It is necessary, as regards posterity, that all thedetails of that history should remain a mystery; for, admit that thisunfortunate history of the deal box should spread, and it should beasserted that you had not re-established the king loyally, and ofyour own free will, but in consequence of a compromise entered into atScheveningen between you two. It would be vain for me to declare how thething came about, for though I know I should not be believed, it wouldbe said that I had received my part of the cake, and was eating it."
Monk knitted his brow.--"Glory, honor, probity!" said he, "you are butempty words."
"Mist!" replied D'Artagnan; "nothing but mist, through which nobody cansee clearly."
"Well, then, go to France, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Monk; "go,and to render England more attractive and agreeable to you, accept aremembrance of me.
"What now?" thought D'Artagnan.
"I have on the banks of the Clyde," continued Monk, "a little house ina grove, cottage as it is called here. To this house are attached ahundred acres of land. Accept it as a souvenir."
"Oh my lord!----"
"Faith! you will be there in your own home, and that will be the placeof refuge you spoke of just now."
"For me to be obliged to your lordship to such an extent! Really, yourgrace, I am ashamed."
"Not at all, not at all, monsieur," replied Monk, with an arch smile;"it is I who shall be obliged to you. And," pressing the hand of themusketeer, "I shall go and draw up the deed of gift,"--and he left theroom.
D'Artagnan looked at him as he went out with something of a pensive andeven an agitated air.
"After all," said he, "he is a brave man. It is only a sad reflectionthat it is from fear of me, and not affection that he acts thus. Well,I shall endeavor that affection may follow." Then, after an instant'sdeeper reflection,--"Bah!" said he, "to what purpose? He is anEnglishman." And he in his turn went out, a little confused after thecombat.
"So," said he, "I am a land-owner! But how the devil am I to sharethe cottage with Planchet? Unless I give him the land, and I take thechateau, or that he takes the house and I--nonsense! M. Monk will neverallow me to share a house he has inhabited, with a grocer. He is tooproud for that. Besides, why should I say anything about it to him? Itwas not with the money of the company I have acquired that property, itwas with my mother-wit alone; it is all mine, then. So, now I will goand find Athos." And he directed his steps towards the dwelling of theComte de la Fere
CHAPTER 37. How D'Artagnan regulated the "Assets" of the Company beforehe established its "Liabilities"