The maliciousness of the cardinal did not leave much for the ambassadorto say; nevertheless, the word "restoration" had struck the king,who, addressing the comte, upon whom his eyes had been fixed since hisentrance,--"Monsieur," said he, "will you have the kindness to giveus some details concerning the affairs of England. You come from thatcountry, you are a Frenchman, and the orders which I see glitteringupon your person announce you to be a man of merit as well as a man ofquality."
"Monsieur," said the cardinal, turning towards the queen-mother, "is anancient servant of your majesty's, Monsieur le Comte de la Fere."
Anne of Austria was as oblivious as a queen whose life had been mingledwith fine and stormy days. She looked at Mazarin, whose evil smilepromised her something disagreeable; then she solicited from Athos, byanother look, an explanation.
"Monsieur," continued the cardinal, "was a Treville musketeer, in theservice of the late king. Monsieur is well acquainted with England,whither he has made several voyages at various periods; he is a subjectof the highest merit."
These words made allusion to all the memories which Anne of Austriatrembled to evoke. England, that was her hatred of Richelieu and herlove for Buckingham; a Treville musketeer, that was the whole Odyssey ofthe triumphs which had made the heart of the young woman throb, and ofthe dangers which had been so near overturning the throne of the youngqueen. These words had much power, for they rendered mute and attentiveall the royal personages, who, with very various sentiments, set aboutrecomposing at the same time the mysteries which the young had not seen,and which the old had believed to be forever effaced.
"Speak, monsieur," said Louis XIV., the first to escape from troubles,suspicions, and remembrances.
"Yes, speak," added Mazarin, to whom the little malicious thrustdirected against Anne of Austria had restored energy and gayety.
"Sire," said the comte, "a sort of miracle has changed the whole destinyof Charles II. That which men, till that time, had been unable to do,God resolved to accomplish."
Mazarin coughed while tossing about in his bed.
"King Charles II.," continued Athos, "left the Hague neither as afugitive nor a conqueror, but as an absolute king, who, after a distantvoyage from his kingdom, returns amidst universal benedictions."
"A great miracle, indeed," said Mazarin; "for, if the news was true,King Charles II., who has just returned amidst benedictions, went awayamidst musket-shots."
The king remained impassible. Philip, younger and more frivolous, couldnot repress a smile, which flattered Mazarin as an applause of hispleasantry.
"It is plain," said the king, "there is a miracle; but God, who does somuch for kings, monsieur le comte, nevertheless employs the hand of manto bring about the triumph of His designs. To what men does Charles II.principally owe his re-establishment?"
"Why," interrupted Mazarin, without any regard for the king'spride--"does not your majesty know that it is to M. Monk?"
"I ought to know it," replied Louis XIV., resolutely; "and yet I ask mylord ambassador the causes of the change in this General Monk?"
"And your majesty touches precisely the question," replied Athos, "forwithout the miracle of which I have had the honor to speak, GeneralMonk would probably have remained an implacable enemy of Charles II. Godwilled that a strange, bold, and ingenious idea should enter intothe mind of a certain man, whilst a devoted and courageous idea tookpossession of the mind of another man. The combinations of these twoideas brought about such a change in the position of M. Monk, that, froman inveterate enemy, he became a friend to the deposed king."
"These are exactly the details I asked for," said the king. "Who andwhat are the two men of whom you speak?"
"Two Frenchmen, sire."
"Indeed! I am glad of that."
"And the two ideas," said Mazarin;--"I am more curious about ideas thanabout men, for my part."
"Yes," murmured the king.
"The second idea, the devoted, reasonable idea--the least important,sir--was to go and dig up a million in gold, buried by King Charles I.at Newcastle, and to purchase with that gold the adherence of Monk."
"Oh, oh!" said Mazarin, reanimated by the word million. "But Newcastlewas at the time occupied by Monk."
"Yes, monsieur le cardinal, and that is why I venture to call the ideacourageous as well as devoted. It was necessary, if Monk refused theoffers of the negotiator, to reinstate King Charles II. in possession ofthis million, which was to be torn, as it were, from the loyalty andnot the royalism of General Monk. This was effected in spite of manydifficulties: the general proved to be loyal, and allowed the money tobe taken away."
"It seems to me," said the timid, thoughtful king, "that Charles II.could not have known of this million whilst he was in Paris."
"It seems to me," rejoined the cardinal, maliciously, "that his majestythe king of Great Britain knew perfectly well of this million, but thathe preferred having two millions to having one."
"Sire," said Athos, firmly, "the king of England, whilst in France, wasso poor that he had not even money to take the post; so destitute ofhope that he frequently thought of dying. He was so entirely ignorant ofthe existence of the million at Newcastle, that but for a gentleman--oneof your majesty's subjects--the moral depositary of the million, whorevealed the secret to King Charles II., that prince would still bevegetating in the most cruel forgetfulness."
"Let us pass on to the strange, bold and ingenious idea," interruptedMazarin, whose sagacity foresaw a check. "What was that idea?"
"This--M. Monk formed the only obstacle to the re-establishment ofthe fallen king. A Frenchman imagined the idea of suppressing thisobstacle."
"Oh! oh! but he is a scoundrel, that Frenchman," said Mazarin, "and theidea is not so ingenious as to prevent its author being tied up by theneck at the Place de Greve, by decree of the parliament."
"Your eminence is mistaken," replied Athos, dryly; "I did not say thatthe Frenchman in question had resolved to assassinate M. Monk, but onlyto suppress him. The words of the French language have a value which thegentlemen of France know perfectly. Besides, this is an affair ofwar; and when men serve kings against their enemies they are not to becondemned by a parliament--God is their judge. This French gentleman,then, formed the idea of gaining possession of the person of Monk, andhe executed his plan."
The king became animated at the recital of great actions. The king'syounger brother struck the table with his hand, exclaiming, "Ah! that isfine!"
"He carried off Monk?" said the king. "Why, Monk was in his camp."
"And the gentleman was alone, sire."
"That is marvelous!" said Philip.
"Marvelous, indeed!" cried the king.
"Good! There are the two little lions unchained," murmured the cardinal.And with an air of spite, which he did not dissemble: "I am unacquaintedwith these details, will you guarantee their authenticity, monsieur?"
"All the more easily, my lord cardinal, from having seen the events."
"You have?"
"Yes, monseigneur."
The king had involuntarily drawn close to the count, the Duc d'Anjou hadturned sharply round, and pressed Athos on the other side.
"What next? monsieur, what next?" cried they both at the same time.
"Sire, M. Monk, being taken by the Frenchman, was brought to KingCharles II., at the Hague. The king gave back his freedom to Monk, andthe grateful general, in return, gave Charles II. the throne of GreatBritain, for which so many valiant men had fought in vain."
Philip clapped his hands with enthusiasm; Louis XIV., more reflective,turned towards the Comte de la Fere.
"Is this true," said he, "in all its details?"
"Absolutely true, sire."
"That one of my gentlemen knew the secret of the million, and kept it?"
"Yes, sire."
"The name of that gentleman?"
"It was your humble servant," said Athos, simply, and bowing.
A murmur of admiration made the heart of Athos swell with pleas
ure. Hehad reason to be proud, at least. Mazarin, himself, had raised his armstowards heaven.
"Monsieur," said the king, "I shall seek, and find means to reward you."Athos made a movement. "Oh, not for your honesty, to be paid for thatwould humiliate you, but I owe you a reward for having participated inthe restoration of my brother, King Charles II."
"Certainly," said Mazarin.
"It is the triumph of a good cause which fills the whole house of Francewith joy," said Anne of Austria.
"I continue," said Louis XIV. "Is it also true that a single manpenetrated to Monk, in his camp, and carried him off?"
"That man had ten auxiliaries, taken from a very inferior rank."
"And nothing but them?"
"Nothing more."
"And he is named?"
"Monsieur d'Artagnan, formerly lieutenant of the musketeers of yourmajesty."
Anne of Austria colored; Mazarin became yellow with shame; Louis XIV.was deeply thoughtful, and a drop of moisture fell from his pale brow."What men!" murmured he. And, involuntarily, he darted a glance at theminister which would have terrified him, if Mazarin, at the moment, hadnot concealed his head under his pillow.
"Monsieur," said the young Duc d'Anjou, placing his hand, delicate andwhite as that of a woman, upon the arm of Athos, "tell that brave man,I beg you, that Monsieur, brother of the king, will to-morrow drink hishealth before five hundred of the best gentlemen of France." And, onfinishing these words, the young man, perceiving that his enthusiasm hadderanged one of his ruffles, set to work to put it to rights with thegreatest care imaginable.
"Let us resume business, sire," interrupted Mazarin who never wasenthusiastic, and who wore no ruffles.
"Yes, monsieur," replied Louis XIV. "Pursue your communication, monsieurle comte," added he, turning towards Athos.
Athos immediately began and offered in due form the hand of the PrincessHenrietta Stuart to the young prince, the king's brother. The conferencelasted an hour; after which the doors of the chamber were thrown open tothe courtiers, who resumed their places as if nothing had been kept fromthem in the occupations of that evening. Athos then found himself againwith Raoul, and the father and son were able to clasp each other'shands.
CHAPTER 42. In which Mazarin becomes Prodigal