Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

el ig i Aly oa —— . a. \) ay ha — . ba » ‘tn Z- > &3 * . ——— oe — i co ; ms , . - m. * « Ry . ~ - — THE THREE GUARDSMEN. RG eS a a eS eS eT retary : than call for assistance; Lut his look plainly denoted ‘how much he required support. /D'Artagnan at once comprehended his meaning, and *with a single bound he fell on Cahusac’s flank, exclaims dng, “ Turn, sir guardsman, or I kill you Tahaan did turn, and at the same instant Athos, whom his extreme courage had alone sustained, sunk upon one knee, “ Halloo,'young man!’’ exclaimed Athos, ‘‘ do not kill him, I beseech you; I have an old affair to settle with him when Iam cured. Disarm him only; deprive him of his sword—that’s it—good, very good!” . This exclamation escaped Athos on pereciving the sword of Cahusac flying from his handa distance of twenty paces, D’Artagnan and Cahusac both rushed dto secure the weapon; but d’Artagnan being the most active, reached it first, and placed his foot upon it. Cahuesac then seized the rapier of the guardsman who had been killed by Aramis and was returning to d’Ar- tagnan; but on his way he encountered Athos, who, during this momentary pause, had re: -overed his breath, and who, fearing that d’Artagnan might kill his opponent, wished to renew the contest. ‘D'Artagnan perceived that he would offend Athos if he did not permit him to have his own way; and in a few minutes Cahusac fell froma woundiu the throat, At the same moment Aramis placed the point of his sword at the breast of his fallen adversary, and com- pelled him to sue for merey. _ Porthos and Biscarrat alone remained fighting. Por- thos, whilst fighting, indulged himself in a thousand fantastic jests and humors, asking Biscarrat what time of day it was, and congratulating him on the company his brother had just obtained in the regiment of Na- varre. ‘This jesting, however, gained him no advan- e; for Biscarrat was one of those indomitable spirits o never yield, except with death. It was time, how- ever, to come to a conclusion, as the guard might ar- rive, and arrest all the combatants, whether wounded or not, whether royalists or cardinalists. Athos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan therefore surrounded Biscarrat, and summoned him to surrender. Although alone against all four, and with a wound which had passed through his thigh, Biscarrat refused to yield: but Jussac, who had raised himself on his elbow, requested him to desist. Biscarrat, however, like d’Artagnan, was a Gascon: he therefore only laughed, and pretended not to hear; and finding time between the parties to point with his sword to the ground at his feet, “ Here,”’ said he, “ will Biscarrat die, the sole survivor of those that were with him.’ *“ But they are four—four against one! ”’ “ yield, | command you !”’ “Ah, if you order me,it is another thing,’ said Bis- earret: ‘‘ you are my commander, and 1 must obey.’ And springing suddenly backwards, he broke his sword across his knee, in order that he might not give it up, threw the pieces over the wall of the convent, and then, crossing his arms, he whistled a cardinalist air. Bravery is always respected even inanenemy. The musketeers saluted Biscarrat with their swords, and re- turned them to their scabbards. D’Artagnan did the game; and then, assisted by Biscarrat, the only one who remained on his legs, he carried Jussac, Cahusac, and the adversary of Aramis, who was only wounded, under the porch of the convent. The fourth, as we have said, was dead. They then rang the bell, and carrying away four out of the five swords, they set off, intoxicated with joy, towards M. de Trev ille’s hotel. They proceed- ed arm in arm, occupying the whole breadth of the street; and as they accosted every musketeer they met the march soon became like a triumphal procession. D’Artagnan’s heart was ina delirium of exultation, as he marched between Athos and Porthos. “If Iam not yet a musketeer, ’* said he to his new friends, whilst passing the threshold of M. de Treville’s — “Tam at least received as an apprentice. Is it not so?” cried Jussac; ——_—oe CHAPTER VI HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS THE THIRTEENTH. Tue affair made a great noise. M.de Treville strongly censured his musketeers in public; but privately they heard only his congratulations, As, however, it was essential that no time should be lost in making the king acquainted with the circumstances, M. de Treville hast- ened to the Louvre. But he was too late, the king was closeted with the cardinal, and M, de Treville was in- formed that his majesty was engaged, and could not then see any one. In the evening M, de Treville re- turned. The king was at play, and was winning; and his majesty being very covetous, he was in an excellent humor. Therefore, as soon as he saw M. de Treville, he exclaimed, “Come here, my captain, that I may chide you. Are yeu aware that his eminence came to complain to me of your musketeers, and that his emotion has been so great that he is actually ill from the effects of it? Well, | | the king, really these musketeers of yours are perfect devils— eaush hang-dogs !"” “No, sire,’ replied M. de Treville, who at the first | glance saw the turn the affair was likely to take. “No, on the contrary, they are good creatures, gentle as jambs, and who, I am confident, haye only one wish, ses aa a le lt LC LL LL LLL LLL LL LLL CL LL EL tt t,t acti ome 4 ever, that I gave implicit credence to this simple story of yours. Iam called Louis the Just, M. de Treville; and 8001, very soon, We shall see ’’-—— “And it is because I confide in that justice, sire, that I shall calmly and patiently await your majesty’s good pleasure.”’ “Wait then, sir, wait then, ” said the king, ‘‘and I will not keep you long in suspense. In fact, at that moment the chances of the game turned ayainst the king, who began to lose what he had before gained. Therefore he was not sorry to find an excuse (to use an expression of the gaming table, of which we confess we know not the origin,) for making Charlemagne. ‘The king therefore rose, and putting into his pocket the money which was before him, and most of which he had won, ‘La Vieuville,”’ said he, ‘take my place. I must talk with M. de Treville on an affair of importance. Ah! I had eighty louis before me: lay down the same sum, that those who have lost may have Do cause to com- plain. Justice above all things!’’ Then turning towards M. "6 Treville, and walking with him towards a recess in one of the windows— “ Well sir,’ continued he, “ you affirm that it is the guards of his eminence who seck quarrels with your musketeers ?”’ ‘* Yes, sire ; invariably.’’ “ Well, and how did this affair happen? Relate the facts ; for you know, wny dear captain, a judge must hear both parties.”’ “Oh! by my faith,in the most simple and natural manner; three of my best soldiers, whom ,your majes- ty knows by name, whose services you have often ap- preciated, and who, I can assure your majesty, are wholly devoted to your servic e—three of my best sol- diers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, had made a party of pleasure with a young Gascon, a volunteer, whom I had introduced to them the same morning, The party was to beheld at St. Germain’s, I believe; and the rendez- vous was fixed at Carmes Deschaux, when it was inter- rupted by de Jussac, Cahusac, Biscarrat, and two other guardsmen, who doubtless did not assemble there in such force without some evil intention in opposition to the edicts.” “Ah! you give me ground for a conjecture,”’ said the king; ‘“ doubtless they came here to fight among themselves.’ ‘‘I do not accuse them, sire, but I leave your majesty to judge what five armed men could be doing in a spot so retired as is the neighborhood of the conv ent.’ “ Very true, Treville ; yes, you are right.’ “But, when the ‘y saw my musketeers, they changed their intentions, and forgot their individual and per- sonal hatred, to indulge their enmity towards our corps; for your majesty well knows that the musketeers, who are wholly for the king, and nothing but the king, are the natural enemies of the guards, who are for the car- dinal alone.”’ “ Yes, Treville,’’ said the king, sorrowfully, ‘and it is a sad thing, believe me, thus to see two parties in France—two royal heads, as it were, under one crown. But this must be brought toanend. You say, then, vhar the guards sought to quarrel with the musket- eers ?”’ ‘‘I say it is probable that this is the case, but I do not swear to it, sire. - Your majesty well knows how difficult it is to discover the truth, unless, indeed, one were gifted with that admirable penetration which has caused Louis XIII. to be named the Just.’ “There again you are right, Treville. But your mus- keteers were not alone: there was a boy with them.’ “Yes, sire, and a wounded man ; so that three of the king’s musketeers, of whom one was wounde d,and this boy, not only made head against five of the most for- midable of the c ardinal’ 8s guards, buteven bore four of them to the earth.’ “Why, it is a complete victory !’’ exclaimed the king, radiant with joy—“ a most complete victory !” “ Yes, sire, as complete as that of the bridge of Ce. “Four men—of whom one was wounded, and another a boy—do you say ?” “Scarcely a young man, but who behaved so nobly on this occasion, that I shall take the liberty of recom- mending him to your majesty.’ ‘‘ What is his name ?”’ “D’'Artagnan, sire: heis the son of one of my oldest friends—the son of a man who was engaged in the par- tizan war with the king your father, of glorious mem- ory. ‘And you say this youth acquitted himself bravely ? Tell me all about it, ‘Treville, for you know I love to + | hear of war and combats.”’ And the king placed himself in an attentive posture, at the same time fiercely twisting his mustache. “*Sire,”’ replied M. De Treville, ‘as I have already told you, M. D’Artagnan is almost a child; and as he has not ‘the honor of bei ing a musketeer, he was in plain clothes. The cardinal’s guards, perceiving his youth, and also that he did not belong to the corps, invited him to re- tire before they commenced the assault.”’ “Thus we may clearly perceive, Treville,” interrupted “that it was the guards who began the at- tack. ’? “ Most assuredly, sire, there cannot be a doubt on the | subject. They therefore warned him to retire; but he replied, that as he was at heart a musketeer, andwholl y devoted to his majesty, he would remain with the mus- that #heir swords should never leave their scabbards | keteers.” except in your majesty’s service. do? The opportunities of quarreling with them; and, for the honor of the regiment, the poor young men are obliged to defend themselves.”’ “ Hark ye, M. de Treville,’’ said the ning: “‘ Hark Ta this a maisgions fraternity—these men of yours—that ou are 8 ngof? Truly, my dear captain, I am half Tonlinetis deprive you of your command, and bestow it upon Mademoiselle de Chemerault, to whom I have promised the place of an abbess, Do not suppose, how- But what are they to | uards of the cardinal are continually seeking | “ Brave youth |’ murmured the king. “And he did remain with them; and in him your majesty has the resolute and valiant champion who gave Jussac that terrific sword thrust which has so much enraged the cardinal.”’ “He who wounded Jussac!” exclaimed the king. “ He—a bay! Treville, it is impossible !”’ “Tt is as I have the honor to inform your majesty.” ‘“ Jussac | one of the best swordsmen in the realm !”’ “ Yes, sire; but he has now found his master.” “ Treville, I must see this young man,” said Louis; “I must see him; and if I can do anything—howoever we will think about that.” “ais When will your majesty condescend to receive 7 ‘To-morrow, at twelve, Treville.’ * Shall I bring him alone ?”’ “No, bring all four together. I wish to thank therg all at the same time. Men so brave are rare, Treville, and such devotion ought to be rewarded.” ‘“ At twelve, sire, we will be at the Louvre.” “ By the private staircase, Treville—by the private staircase: it is unnecessary to let the cardinal know it.” “ Yes, sire.’ ves You understand, Treville; an edict is always an edict; at all events, fighting is forbidden by the law.’ " But this combat, ” said Treville, “is altogether dif. ferent from the common duels, it was a sudtion braw!; and the proof of it is that there were five of the car- dinal’s guards against three of the musketeers and M, D’Artagnan.”’ “It is quite true,” said the king; “yet, nevertheless, Treville, come by the private staircase. Treville smiled; but conc eiving that he had already ae- cured an important advantage, by thus inducing the pupil to rebel against his master, he respectfully saluted the king, and, with his permission, took his leave, The same evening the three musketeers were ap- tised of the honor intended for them. As they had ong known the king, they were not much excited by the news ; but d’Artagnan, with his Gascon imagination, saw in it his future fortunes, and passed the night amid golden dreams. By eight ‘in the. morning he was Lg Athos, whom he found dressed and ready to go ou As they were not to see the king umtil twelve o'clock, and Athos had engaged to meet Porthos and Aramis at a tennis-court, near the Luxembourg stables, to play a match of tennis, he invited d’Artagnan to join them. Although ignorant of the game, which he had never play ed, d’Artagnan accepted the invitation, not knowing Low otherwise to dispose of his time in the interval. Porthos and Aramis were already there, knocking the balls about. Athos, who was very skillful in all athletic games, went to the opposite side with d’Artagnan and challenged them. But at the first movement which he made, although he played with his left hand, he found that his wound was too fresh to permit such an exertion. D’Artagnan therefore remained alone; and as he declared that he was too unskillful to play a regular game, they only sent the balls about without count- ing the ame. One of these balls, however, sent by the Herculean hand of Porthos, passed so near d'Artagnan as to satisfy him that, had it hit him full in the face, instead of going on one side, his royal audience would have been lost, as,in all probability, he would thereby have been rendered unfit to be presented to the king. Now since, in his Gascon imagination, all his for- tune depended upon this audience, he politely saluted Porthos and Aramis, declaring that he would not renew the game until he was able to cope with them, and then took his station near the ropes and the gallery. Unfortunately for d’Artagnan, amongst the spectators there was one of the cardinal’s uards, who, irritated by the previous night’s defeat of his companions, had re- solved to take the first opportunity of avenging it. He now believed that this opportunity had arrived, and addressing his neighbor : “It is no wonder,” said he, “ that this young man ir afraid ot the ball; he is, doubtless, a musketeer re- cruit.’ D’Artagnan turned as if bitten by a serpent, and looked fiercely at the guardsman who had uttered this insolent remark. “T'faith,” continued the latter, proudly curling hia moustac he, “you may look at me as much as you please, my little gentleman. WhatIhave said I mean.” “And since what you have said is too plain to require any explanation,” replied d’ Artagnan in a low voice, “I will thank you to follow me.’ “Ah! indeed! and when, pray ?” said the banter sn with an air of mockery. “Tmmediately, if you please.” * Doubtless you know who Iam ?’’ “ss have not the slightest idea; and what is more, Ido not care.’ “And yet you are wrong; forif you ‘knew my name perhaps you would not be in such a hurry.’ “Indeed ! and pray what is your name ?” said D’Art- agnan. “Bernajoux, at your service.” “Well, M. Bernajoux,” re plied D’Artagnan with the utmost tranquility, ‘I shall await you at the gate.” * Proceed, sir ; I will follow you. “ But donot be in too great haste, sir,”’ said D’Artagnan, “lest it should be perceived that we go out together ; for considering how we are about to be engaged, you must be aware that too great a crowd might prove incon- venient.”’ “What you say is quite right,” replied the guards- man, much surprised that his name had not produced a ereater effect on the young man. The name of Bernajoux was indeed known to every one, except d’Artagnan ; for he was one of those who constantly figured in the daily brawls which all the edicts of the king and the cardinal could not suppress. Porthos and Aramis were 80 much occupied with their game, and Athos was watching them so atten- tively, that they did not even perceive the departure of their young companion, who, as he had promised, wait- eda moment at the door for his opponent. In fact, d’Artagnan had no time to lose, considering the ex- pected audience, which was fixed for twelve o'clock. He theretore cast his eyes around, and seeing that there was no one in the street— ‘Faith, sir,”’ said he to his aiversary, “although your name is Bernajoux, it is very fortunate, for you that you have to deal with a musketeer recruit only. How- a, be content; I will domy best, On your guard +