Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— ee “ -——— ——— “You inqyired for me,”’ said Athos, to M. de Treville, in a perfectly calm but feeble voice; ‘‘ my comrades in- formed me that you commanded my presence, and I hastened to obey you; here I am, sir; what do you require me for?” And with these words the musket- eor, with a faultless air, and girded as usual, entered the cabinet with a firm step. M. de Treyille, touched to the heart by this proof of courage, rushed towardshim. “I was just going to tell THE THREE GUARDSMEN, “It is well, young man, it is yery well ; I understand your feelings. I came to Paris myself with only four crowns in my Se and I would have fought any one who had dared to dispute my ability to purchase the Louvre.” D’Artagnan bore himself still more proudly. Thanks to the sale of his horse, he began the world with four crowns more than M, de Treville. “T should say therefore, that however large may be these gentlemen,” added he, “that I forbid my mus- ‘the sum you really possess, you ought to preserve keteers to expose their lives unnecessarily; for brave | whatever you have got. In the meantime you must men are dear to the king, and his majesty knows that | complete yourself in all those accom lishments which his musketeers are the bravest on the earth. Your | become a gentleman, and I will this day write a letter hand, Athos !”’ to this proof of affection, M. de Treyille seized his hand, and pressed it with much warmth, and without observ- ing that Athos, notwithstanding his command oyer himself, uttered acry of pain, and became even more pale than betore, which seemed impossible. ; | And without waiting till he responded | to the director of the Royal Academy, who will receive you to-morrow without any pecuniary recompense. Do not refuse this trifling favor. Gentlemen of the high- est rank and wealth often solicit the same gift, without being able to obtain it. You will there learn to ride, to fence, and to dance ; you will form good connections ; In spite of the secrecy which had been observed re- | and from time to time you must personally apprise me apecting it, the severe wound which Athos had received | of your progress, and let me known if I can do anything was well known to his. comrades, and his unlooked-for arrival had produced a great sensation amongst them. The door of the cabinet had, since his entrance, re- | mained partly open; and, as two or three heads were, in ! | for you.” D'Artagnan, ignorant as he was of the manners of the court, felt the coldness of this reception. “Alas, sir,” said he, “I now deeply feel the want of the warmth of the general feeling, thrust through the | the letter of introduction which my father gave me.” opening of the tapestry, a simultaneous burst of ap- “Tam, in truth, somewhat surprised,” replied M. de plause followed the last words of their captain. M. de | Treville, “that you should have undertaken so long e Treyille would, doubtless, have sternly and instantly | journey without that provision, so essential to every checked this infraction of the laws of propriety ; but | Bearnese.”’ at the moment he suddenly felt the hand of Athos “TI had one, sir, in all proper form,” cried d’Artagnan, grasp his own, and, on looking at him, perceived that | “but was perfidiously robbed of it;” and with a degree he was fuinting; he had rallied all his powers to struggle against his pain during the interview ; but he could now no longer sustain it, and fell senseless upon the carpet. “A surgeon!” cried M. de Treville; ‘‘mine—the king’s will be better—a surgeon! or my brave Athos will die!” At these.exclamations of M. de Treville, every one rushed into the cabinet, and each pressed round the wounded man. But this erness would have been useless, had pot the surgeon been found in the hotel. Forcing his way through the spectators, he approached Athos, who wasstill insensible ; and as the pressure of the crowd occasioned him much incon- venience, he directed that the guardsman should be immediately conveyed into an adjoining apartment. M. de Treville immediately opened a door, and pointing out the way to Porthos and Aramis, they bore off their companion in their arms. The cabinet of M. de Treville, that place usually deemed sacred, became for the moment an adjunct to the antechamber, where every one discoursed, talked loud, swore, and consigned the cardinal and all his guards to the internal regions. Aramis re-entered, having left M.de Treville and the surgeon with the wounded man; at length M. de Tre- ville himself returned, and announced that Athos had recovered his senses ; whilst the surgeon declared that there was nothingin his situation to alarm his friends, blood. Upon a signal from M. de Treville, every one now re- tired execept d’Artagnan, who did not abandon his au- —— —_ OE In a few moments Porthos and | of warmth and an air of truth which charmed M. de Treville, he recounted his adventure at Meung, accu- rately describing his unknown adversary. “Tt was very strange,”’ said M. de Treville, musingly. “You spoke of me openly, did you ?’”’ “Yes, sir, I certainly committed that imprudence; but such a name as yours served me as a shield on my journey; therefore you must not judge me too severely if I frequently covered myself with it.”’ Flattery was as much in vogue at that time asin the present age, and M, de Treville loved the incense as well asaking or a cardinal, He could not help smiling, therefore, with evident satisfaction; but this smile soon assed away, and returning to the adventure at Meung, e said: “Tell me, had not this gentleman a slight scar on his cheek ?”’ “ Yes, as if produced by the grazing of a ball.” “ he he not a man of commanding air?” dit Fag “Of a tall figure ?”’ ee “ Pale, but brown ?”’ “Yes, yes, that ishe; but do you know this man, sir? Ah! if ever meet him—and I will find him, I swear to you, even were hein hell ’"—— “He was with a lady, was he not?” continued M. de | Treville. his weakness being occasioned entirely by the loss of | dience, but with true Gascon tenacity, remained in the | same place. When all the intruders had lett the room, and the door was again closed, M. de Treville turned round, and found himself alone with the young man. The event which had just taken place had in some measure disarranged the previous train of his ideas; | and he therefore now inquired what this persevering pleader required. D'Artagnan repeated his name ; anc M.de Treville, recalling the past and the present, in- atantly became aware of his situation. “Pardon,” says he, smiling, ‘‘ pardon, my dear coun- tryman, but I had entirely forgotten you. What do you want? A captain is not merely the father of a family, but burthened with a heavier responsibility than an ordinary parent; for soldiers are great chil- dren; butitismy duty to see that the orders of the king, and more especially those of the cardinal, are carefully executed,” satisfied M. de Treville that he was not dealing with a fool. Therefore he came at once to the point, and at the same time changed the conversation, “I greatly esteemed your father,’ said he; “ what can I do for his son? Tell me quickly, for my time is not my own.” “Sir,”’ said d’Artagnan, “in quitting Tarbes, and com- ing here, I wished to ask from you, as a memorial of “At least he departed after he had conversed a mo- ment with the lady he was with.” “Do you not know the subject of their conversa- tion ?’’ “He gave her a box, which he said contained her in- structions, and charged her not to openit until she ar- rived in London.” “ Was this woman an Englishwoman ?” “ He called her ‘my lady,’ ”’ “It is he,”” murmured Treville; “itis he; I thought he was at Brussels.”’ “Oh, sir,”” exclaimed d’Artagnan, “if you know this man, tell me where he is to be found, and I will hold you absolved even of your promise to admit me amongst the musketeers; for before and above every- thing else, I long to avenge myself.”’ “Beware how you proceed in this matter, young man,’ said M,de Treville. ‘Instead of seeking your revenge, should you perceive this man walking on the one side of the street, proceed yourself on the opposite side; precipitate not yourself against such a rock, upon which you will assuredly be shattered like glass.”’ D’Artagnan could not repress a smile ; and this smile | the friendship which you have not forgotten, the uni- | form of a musketeer ; but from what Ihave seen during | these last two hours, I more fully compreheud the ex- treme importance of the favor, and tremble lest I may | not be deemed worthy of it.” “Tt is truly a great favor, young man,” said M. de “That fear will not deter me, should I ever meet him,” said d’Artagnan. “In the meantime, do not seek him,” replied Treville. I have one piece of advice to give you” But all at once M. de Treville paused, as if struck by a sudden suspicion ; the deadly hatred which the young traveler so openly avowed for this man, who had de- prived him of his father’s letter—which was in itself a very improbable circumstance—might not this appa- rent enmity conceal some perfidy? Was not this young man sent by his eminencey Did not he come to lay a trap for him? Was not this pretended d’Artagnan an emissary of the cardinal, whom he sought to introduce into his house, and whom he wished to place near him Treville ; but it cannot be so far above you as you be. | lieve, or, at least, seem to believe. However, a decision of his majesty has provided for this case ; and I regret to inform you, that no one is received among the mus- keteers who has not passed the ordeal of some cam- paigns, performed certain brilliant actions, or served for two years in some less favored regiment than our own.” D’Artganan bowed without replying, but at the same time feeling more eager to don the uniform of the mus- keteers, since that object could only be obtained with great difficulty, “ But,” continued M. de Treville, fixing his piercing | look upon his countryman, as if he wished to penetrate | | | | to worm himselfinto his confidence, and afterwards to destroy him, as was often done in similar cases? He looked more earnestly at d’Artagnan than at first, and was but slightly reassured by the appearance of that countenance beaming with acute talent and affected hu- mility. “I know very well that he is a Gascon,” thought he ; “but he is just as likely to be one for the cardinal asforme. Yet I will try him further.” “Young man,” said he, slowly, “as the son of mine ancient friend—for I consider the history of this lost let- ter as true—I wish, in order to compensate for the cool- ness which you perceived on my first reception, to re- veal to you the secrets of our politics. The king and the cardinal are tho best of friends . their apparent dis- the inmost recesses of his heart, “but for the sake of | putes are only to deceive simple folks; and I do not my ancient friend, your father, I wish to do something | wish fhat my countryman, a handsome cavalier, a brave for you. Young man, we volunteers of Bearne are not youth, formed to rise in the world, should be the dupe in general overburdened with wealth, and I fear that | of all these pretenses, and, like a simpleton, rush head- remaining of the money you brought with you.” D’Artagnan drew himself up with a proud air, which | serious proceedings can never have any other object in | pu seemed to say that he sought not alms from any one. matters are not much {mproved in this respect since I | long into the snare which has left the province. Yeu cannot, therefore, haye much | s0 many others. Rest assure i roved the destruction of that I am entirely de- —— eee | who is one of the most illustrious geniuses that France has ever produced. Now, young man, regulate your conduct by this ; and should you, through your family or connections, or from any feeling of your own, bear the slightest hostility towards the cardinal, such as you may have seen burst forth occasionally among our gen- tlemen, take your leave. and quit me. I can assist you in a thousand ways, without attaching you to my son. At all events, I hope my frankness will make you my friend, for you are the first young man to whom I have at present spoken in this manner.” Treville ceased speaking, but he thought to himeelf, “Tf the cardinal has really sent me this fox, he would not surely fail—he who knows how much I loathe him— to tell his spy that the best mode of paying court to me was to say everything bad of himself. herefore, in spite of my protestations, the cunning fellow will se say that he holds his eminence in detesta- tion.” ) . The result, however, was far different from M. de Tre- ville’s anticipations. With the utmost simplicity d’Artag- nan replied, “Sir, 1am come to Paris with sentiments and intentions exactly similar to those you have just express- ed. My father charged me to obey no one but the king the cardinal, and yourself, whom he considers the three atest men in France.’ D’Artagnan, it will be per- ceived, added M. de Treville to the two others, but he considered that this addition would do no harm. “Hence,” he continued, “I have the greatest venera- tion for the cardinal, and the most profound t for his actions. It is, therefore, s0 much the better for me, sir, if, as you say, you speak frankly to me, since you will then do me the honor to esteem this similarity of opinion ; but if, on the contrary, as may be very natural, you entertain any feelings of distrust respect- ing me, s0 much the worse, as I shall then feel that I am ruined by speaking the truth. I hope, however, you will at least honor me with your esteem, which I value more than anything else.”’ M. de Treville was astonished. So much penetra- tion, and yet so much candor, excited his admiration, although they failed in wholly removing his doubts. The more superior this youth was to other young men, the more formidable would he be if he deceived him. Nevertheless, he grasped d’Artagnan’s hand, and said to him, “ You are an honest fellow; but at present I can only do for you what I have promised. In the meantime, my hotel shall always be open to you; so that, having access tome at all times, and — ready to take advantage of every opportunity, you w! prob-, ably hereafter obtuin what you desire.” “That is to say,"’ replied d'Artagnan, “that you will wait till I have become worthy of it. Very well,’’ he added, with Gascon familiarity; “rest assured that you will not have to wait long; and he bowed to re- ot as if from henceforth he must trust to himself oniy. 4 “But wait a moment,” said M. de Treville, stop him; ‘‘I promised you a letter to the director of the Academy. Are you too proud to accept it, my little gentleman ?”’ ' “ No, sir,” replied d’Artagnan; “and I will farther promise you that the same fate that overtook my father’s letter shall not occur to this, which I will take | good care shall reach its destination; and woe be to him eee ee who shall attempt to deprive me of it.”’ M. de Treville smiled at this rhodomontade, and leay- ing his young countryman in the embrasure of the window, where they had been talking, sat down to write the promised letter of introduction. In the meantime, d’Artagnan, who had nothing better to do, beat a march on the window, looking at the muske- teers, who followed each other, and watching them till they disappeared round the corner of the street. M. de Treville, having written the letter, and sealed it, ap- proached the young man to give it to him; but at the very moment when d’Artagnan held out his hand to receive it, M. de Treville was astonished to perceive his protege cut acaper, redden with anger, and rush out of the cabinet, exclaiming : “"Ods blood! he shall not escape me this time !’’ “And who is he ?’’ demanded M. de Treville. “It is he—the robber!” replied d’Artagnan. “ Oh, traitor !’’-—and he vanished. “ A confounded madman !"" murmured M. de Treville, “unless it is, after all, a clever mode of giving me the slip, seeing that he has failed in his attempts.” CHAPTER IV. THE SHCULDER OF ATHOS, THE BELT OF PORTHOS AND THE HANDKERCHIEF OF ARAMIS, D'ARTAGNAN, quite furious, has passed through the antechamber in three bounds, and reached the staircase which he was about to descend by four steps at a time, when he suddenly ran full butt against a musketeer, who was leaving M. de Treville’s hotel by a private door, and dashing his head against his shoulder, made him utter a cry, or rather a howl. “Excuse me,” said d'Artagnan, wishing to continue his course: “ excuse me; Iam in a great hurry.” But he had hardly descended the first step, before a hand of iron seized him by his cloak, and ne him. “You are in a hurry!” exclaimed the gu man, aa pale as a sheet, “and under this pretext you dash against me. You say, ‘Excuse me,” and think that is sufficient. But itis not so, young man. Do you ima- gine, because you heard M. de Treville address us somewhat bluntly to-day, that any one may speak to to us as he speaks? Undeceive yourself, comrade: you are not M. de Treville!’’ i i “Upon my word,” said d’Artagnan, seeing that it was Athos, who after the attentions of the surgeon, was now returning to his apartments: “ upon my word, I did not voted to these two all-powerful masters, and that all my | run against you on purpose; and not having done it om rpose, I said,‘ Excuse me.’ It appears tome, there- view than the service of the king, and of the cardinal, ' fore, quite sufficient. Nevertheless, I repeat—and thia ey See