Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

SRP ge I ET A ee . - ae Cee ee ee ee a . . ‘ 5 * - = _" * ¢ a F 4 ~ 2 r= a a ate * > « - ‘ = THE THREE GUARDSMEN. b ~“ But,” said he whom d’Artagnan thus addressed, “it | letter to M. de la Tremouille, requesting the dismissal appears to me eS is badly chosen, and that we shonla be better ind the abbey.of St. Germain, orin the Pre-aux Clercs.”’ “Yous most sensibly,’’ replied d’Artagnan, “but unfortunately my time is precious, as I have an impor- tant engagement precisely at twelve; therefore draw, sir, draw !”’ Bernajoux was not the man to wait the repetition of such a compliment. In an instant, therefore, his sword glittered in his hand, and he rushed upon his ad- versary, Whom, on account of his extreme youth, he hoped to intimidate. “But d’Artagnan had served his apprenticeship the evening before, and now fresh, and elated with his victggp, as well as buoyed up with hopes of future fa- vor, he was fully resolved not to recede aninch, The two swords were therefore engaged, even to the guard ; and as d’Artagnan kept his pho firmly his adversary was obliged to retreat a single step. By this movement Bernajoux's sword deviated from the straight line, and di’ an, seizing the opportunity made a lunge which wounded his adversary in the shoulder. He immediately stepped back one pace, and raised his sword; but Bernajoux, declaring that it was nothing, made a blind thrust at d’Artagnan, and ranupon hissword. Nevertheless, as Bernajoux neither fell, nor declared himself vanquished, but merely re- treated towards the hotel of M. de la Tremouille, in whose service he had a relative, d’Artagnan, ignorant of the severity of his adversary’s wound, pressed him close- ly, and doubtless would have dispatched him bya third thrust, had not the noise of their encounter reached the tennis-court, from which uow rushed, sword in hand, two of the guardsman's friends (who had heard him ex- change words with d’Artagnan), and fell upon the con- uerer. Butt Athos, Porthos, and Aramis now also sud- Leaity appeared; and at the moment when the two pene attacked their young comrade, forced them to turn. At that instant Bernajoux fell; and as the guards were then only two against four, they began to cry out; “To our aid! hotel de la Tremouille !’’ At this cry all the inmates of the hotel rushed out, and fell upon the four friends; who, on their side, ex- claimed; “Help, musketeers !”’ The latter cry was yery common; for it was known that the musketeers hated the cardinal, and they were beloved for the very hatred they bore towards his emi- nence. Hence, in those quarrels, the guards of all the other regiments, excepting those actually belonging to the Red Duke, as Aramis had designated him, generally sided with the king's musketeers. Of three guardsmen of the company of M. des Essarts, who were passing, two came to the assistance of the four friends, whilst others ran to the hotel of M. de Treyille, crying: “ Help! musketeers, help |"’ As usual, M. de Treville’s hotel was full of soldiers, who ran to the assistance of their comrades, and the battle became general. But the superiority of force was | with the musketeers; and the cardinal’s guards, with M. de la Tremouille’s people, retired into the hotel, the doors of which they secured in time to exclude their opponents. As for the wounded man, he had been car- ed away at first, and, as we have said, in very bad plight. The commotion amongst the musketeers and their al- lies was atits height, and they deliberated whether they should not set fire to the hotel, to punish the insolence of M, de la Tremouille’s domestics, who had presumed to charge the king’s musketeers. The proposition had been made and received with enthusiasm, when fortu- nately it struck eleven o'clock; and a’: an and his companions, remembering their audience, and not wish- ing a feat so gra he be performed without their aid, succeeded in quelling the crowd; they therefore con- tented themselves with throwing some stones at the door, and then left the place. Besides, those whom they regarded as their leaders had just left them to pro- ‘eed towards the hotel of M. de Treville, who, already aware of this fresh insult, awaited their arrival. “Quick, to the Louvre!”’ said he, “to the Louvre, without losing one moment; and let us endeavor to see the king before he is informed of it by the cardinal. We will naprate the affair as a consequence of that of yesterday, and the two will be disposed of together. M. de Treville, accompanied by the four young men, hastened towards the Louvre; but. to the great sur- prise of the en of the musketeers, he was in- tvrmed that the king had gone to hunt in the forest of St. Germain. M. de Treville caused this intelligence to be twice repeated, and each time his companions ob- served his countenance to change. ‘“ Had his majesty formed the intention of hunting yosterday ?” demanded he. " «No, your excellency,” replied the valet. “The chief huntsman came this morning to announce that he had roused a stag; at firstthe king said he would not vo, but subsequently he could not resist the pleasure wuich the chase promised him, and he set off after din- “ And has the king seen the cardinal?’ demanded M. le Treville, “In all probability,” replied the valet, “for this | that morning Isaw the horses put to the cardinal’s carriage; [ | though distinctly visible in his majesty’s features, did inquired where it was going, and was told to St. Ger- jnain,”” “ We are anticipated,” said M. de Treville. “I shall x « the king this evening; but, as for you, I would not counsel you at present to run the risk of seeking the roval presence. The advice was too reasonable, and, above all, came fromm a man who knew the king too well, to be opposed by the young men. M., de Treyille therefore requested thein to return to their respective homes, and await his orders. On reaching his hotel, it occurred to M, de Treville that it would be prudent to anticipate the cardinal by ledging the first complaint. He therefore dispatched a possible. Yet thongh Athos, Porthos, and Aramis were “The aspects are unfavorable,” said Athos, smiling . “we shall not be knighted this time.” i ** Wait here ten minutes,” said M. de Treville, “and if I do not return to you in that time, proceed to my hotel, as it will be useless for you to wait longer for me,” ] his musketeers had a right to complain, but on the The young men waited ten minutes, a quarterof an © contrary, he himself; the musketeers having not only | hour, even twenty minutes; and then, finding that M. attacked and wounded his people, but also threatened | de Treville did not return, they departed, much annoyed to burn his mansion. Now, as a dispute between these | with what had happened. { two great men might last a long time, each being likely | M. de Treville, who had boldly entered the royal to adhere obstinately to his opinion, M. de Treville | cabinet, found his Majesty in a very bad humor; he thought of an expedient to bring it to a close ; and this | was seated in an arm-chair, venting irritation by was to go himself to M. de la Tremouille. He therefore | striking his boots with the handle of his whip. This, repaired to his hotel, and caused himself to be | however, M. de Treville did not appear to notice, but announced. ‘with the utmost composure he inquired after his The two great. men saluted each other politely, for, | Majesty's health. . although they were not friends, they yet esteemed each “ Bad, very bad,"’ replied the king. “I am dull and other. They were both brave and honorable men ; and | dispirited.” { as M. de la Tremouille was a protestant, and therefore; This was, in fact, the worst malady of Louis XIII, rarely saw the king, he belonged to no party, and had who often withdrew to a window with one of his. contracted few oreyitioes in his social relations. On the | courtiers, saying to him: “Come, sir, let us be unhappy | present occasion, however, his reception of his visitor, | together.” though polite, was colder than usual. “T regret to find your majesty thus, said M. de! “Sir,” said M. de Treville, “we each believe that we | Treville. “Have you not, then, enjoyed the pleasure. have cause of complaint against the other, and Iam | of the chase ?’’ { now here to see if we cannot together clear up the “A fine pleasure truly! By my faith, alt) matter.” goes to ruin, and I know not whither it is the “Most willingly,” replied M. de la Tremouille, “but | game that is no longer so swift afoot, or the I tell you beforehand, that Iam well informed, and am | dogs have lost their scent. We roused a stag of- satisfied all the blame rests with your musketeers.” ten times; we ran him for six hours; and when “ You are too just a man, sir, and too reasonable,’’ ob- | we are on the point of taking him, and just as Saint. served M. de ‘lreville, “not to accept the proposition I | Simon was about to place his horn to his mouth, to shall now muke to you.” sound his death note—crac, all the pack went off on the ‘Proceed, sir; I will hear your proposal.” wrong scent, in pursuit of a brocket. You will thus see ‘How is M. Bernajoux, the relative of yourequerry?” | that 1 must now renounce the chase with hounds as I *“ Why, sir,’ replied Tremouille, “ heis very ill indeed. | have already relinquished it with falcons. Ah! I am Besides the wound which he received in the arm, and | a most unhappy king, M. de Treville; I had only one which is not dangerous, he has also received another, | gerfalcon remaining, and he died yesterday.” which has passed through his lungs; so that the physi- “Truly, sire, lcan estimate your misfortune; it is, cian gives but a poor account of him.” indeed, very great ; but there are yet, I believe, a good- “But does the wounded man retain his senses ?”’ in- | ly number of falcons, hawks, and tercels, remaining.” quired Treville. “But not a man totrain them. The falconers are al “Perfectly .”’ gone: and I alone now preserve the true art of “Can he speak ?”’ venery. With me, all will be lost, and the game will “With difficulty, but atill he can speak.” hereafter be taken by snares, pitfalls,and traps. Oh! “Well, then, sir, let us go to him. Let us adjure | had I only leisure to instruct scholars! But then there him in the name of that before whom, perhaps, he | is the cardinal, who never leaves me a moment's rest, is about to appear, to tell the truth. I will acknowl- | and who is ever talking to meof Spain, of Austria, edge him, as ‘the judge, even in his own cause; and | and of England! But apropos of the cardinal,I am whatever he says, I abide by.’’ very angry with you, M. de Treville.” | M. de la Tremouille reflected tor a moment, and as it; The latter had anticipated thisturn of the conversa- would have been difficult to conceive a more reasonable | tion. From his long and intimate knowledge of the proposition, he agreed to it. | king, he was well aware that complaints of this nature They therefore proceeded together to the chamber of | were only a sort of prelude,as it were, to arouse his the wounded man. When he saw them enter his cham- | ber, he endeavored to raise himself in bed; but he | was too feeble, and, exhausted by the effort, he fell ‘In what have [had the misfortune to offend your back, almost insensible. _Inajesty ’"' inquired M. Treville, feigning the utmost M. de la Tremouille approached his bed, and by the | astonishment. application of some smelling-salts, restored him to ‘Is it thus that you discharge your office, sir?’ con- consciousness, Then, in order to avoid any future im- tinued the king, without replying to his question ; putation of haying influenced the guardsman, M. de la “ was it for this that I created you captain of my mus- Tremouille invited M. de Treville to question him bhim- | keteevs—that they should assasinate a man, excite a self. | whole neighborhood, and threaten to burn all Paris, The result was as M. de Treville had foreseen, Linger-' without your saying a word to me on the subject? ing as he was between lite and death, Bernajoux had not | However,” added the king, “ without doubt you have the slightest idea of concealing the truth, and therefore come here to accuse yourself, and, having committed related the circumstances precisely as they occurred. all the rioters to safe custody, to inform me that justice This was all that M. de la Treville required; sowishing has been satisfied.” Bernajoux a speedy recovery, he took leave of M. de la “Sire,” said M.de Treville, with the utmost com- Tremouille ; und having regained his own hotel, he in-) posure, “I am,on the contrary, cone to demand mediately summoned the four iriends to dine with justice.” him. * Against whom ””’ exclaimed the king. | i M. de la Treville received the best company, but, of * Against my calumniators !’’ replied M. de Treville. course, all were anti-cardinals. It may be readily im-| “ Ab | this is something new,’’ rejoined the king. “Do agined, theretore, that the conversation turned upon you mean tosay that your three con‘ounded muske- the recent defeats which the curdinal’s guards had sus-| teers and your Bearnese recruit, did not rush like mad- tained ; and as d’Artagnan had been the hero of the last | men on poor Bernajoux, and so ill-treat him, that he is two days, he received all the congratulations; which probably now dying ? Do you also pretend to say, that Athos, Porthos, and Aramis yielded to him with pleasure, | they did not lay siege to the hotel of the Duke de not only as true comrades, but as men who had,on la Tremonille, and that they did not propose to burn it, from his house of the cardinal’s guards; and further, that he should reprimand his own people for charging the musketeers. M. de Tremouille, however, being already prejudiced by his equerry, whose relative Bernajoux was, replied that neither M. de Treville nor now attained the point he desired. previous occasions, frequently received similar commpli- | —which, during a period of war, would have been of ments. _ little consequence, seeing itis merely a nest of Huge~ About six o'clock, M. de Treville announced | 2°ts, but which nevertheless, in time of peace, is a bad. his intention of procengine to the Louvre; but, example. Bay, are you about to deny these matters ?’ as the original hour of audience was past, in- And who has related to your majesty all this fine stead of obtaining admission by the priyate stair-| S'Y * quietly demanded M. de Treville. case, he placed himself in the ante-chamber with the Who has related to me this fine story, sir? Who four young men. The king was not’ yet returned from | Should it be, pray, but he who watches whilst I sleep ; the chase; but our friends had scarcely waited half an | Who labors, whilst I amuse myself ; shy manages hiss. hour amongst the crowd of courtiers, before the doors | thing within and without the realm ; in France, as we were opened, and his majesty was announced. as in Europe ?” This announcement caused d’Artagnan to shudder with emotion. The ce rg moment was arrived upon which, in all probability, his future fate depended, His eyes, therefore, were fixed with intense anxiety on | the door through which he was about to enter. Louis XIII appeared, followed by his attendants. He was attired in his hunting-dress, still covered with dust; large riding-boots; and, in his hand, he held his ridmg-whip. At the first glance, d’Artagnan perceived the king was in a violent rage. This humor, | far above your majesty.” ‘No, sir; Ispeak of the support of the state, of my only triend; the cardinal.’ * His eminence is not his holiness, sire !’’ * That it is only the pope who is infallible ; the infal~ libility which he possesses does not extend to the car- dinals.”’ “You would say, then,” said the king, “that he de- ceives me ; you would say that he be me ?’’ “No, sire,’’ said M. de Treville, “ but I say that he de- ceives himself ; I say, that he has been ill-informed; [ better to be seen by an irritable and angry éye, than say, that he has been in a hurry to accuse his majesty’s not to be seen at all, the three musketeers did not | musketeers, towacds whom he is unjust; and that he | not prevent the courtiers from ranging themselves | hesitate to step forward, although d’Artagnan, on the has not drawn his information from authentic sources.” ; along the room: and as, in the royal ante-chamber, it is contrary, concealed himself behind them as much as| “The aceusation comes from from the duke himself; what say you to that?” asked the king ? “Imight say that he is too deeply interested in the personally known to the king, he passed on as if he had never before seen them, without either looking at or addressing them. But when his eyes rested for a mo- question, to be an im witness ; but far from that, ment upon M. de Treville, the latter sustained the look | sire, I know the duke for a loyal gentleman, and, on one with so much firmness, that the King turned aside his | condition, I willingly refer gare, and muttering to himself, entered the apart- ment. to him.” “ And what is that ?’”’ said the saa “It is that your majesty will send for him ; will quee- <eom (E} 0/0 NO) majesty 's courage to the proper pitch, and that he had — “Your majesty no doubt means God,” said M. de — Treville, “for I know of no other being who can be so ~ “ What do you mean by that, sire?’ , M. de la Tremouille— © a ’ * _ «cy } - >