Chapter 52 - Page 2

quite easy on his account. But no, no; Porthos is not yet an invalid, and Aramis is not yet in his dotage. The one with his arm, the other with his imagination, will find work for his Majesty’s soldiers. Who knows if these brave men may not get up for the edification of his Most Christian Majesty a little bastion of St. Gervais? I don’t despair of it; they have cannon and a garrison. And yet,” continued d’Artagnan, “I don’t know whether it would not be better to stop the combat. For myself alone, I will not put up with either surly looks or treason on the part of the King; but for my friends, rebuffs, insults,- I may submit to everything. Shall I go to M. Colbert? Now, there is a man whom I must acquire the habit of terrifying. I will go to M. Colbert”; and d’Artagnan set forward bravely to find M. Colbert. He was informed that M. Colbert was working with the King at the Castle of Nantes. “Good!” cried he; “the times are returned in which I measured my steps from M. de Treville to the cardinal, from the cardinal to the Queen, from the Queen to Louis XIII. Truly is it said that men in growing old become children again! To the castle, then!” He returned thither. M. de Lyonne was coming out. He gave d’Artagnan both hands, but told him that the King had been busy all the preceding evening and all night, and that orders had been given that no one should be admitted.

“Not even the captain who takes the order?” cried d’Artagnan. “I think that he is rather too strong.”

“Not even he,” said M. de Lyonne.

“Since that is the case,” replied d’Artagnan, wounded to the heart,- “since the captain of the Musketeers, who has always entered the King’s chamber, is no longer allowed to enter it, his cabinet, or his salle a manger,- either the King is dead or his captain is in disgrace. In either case he can no longer want him; have the kindness, then, M. de Lyonne, who are in favor, to return and tell the King plainly that I send him my resignation.”

“D’Artagnan, beware of what you are doing!”

“For friendship’s sake, go!” and he pushed him gently towards the cabinet.

“Well, I will go,” said De Lyonne.

D’Artagnan waited, walking about the corridor. De Lyonne returned. “Well, what did the King say?” exclaimed d’Artagnan.

“He simply answered that it was good,” replied De Lyonne.

“That it was good!” said the captain, with an explosion. “That is to say that he accepts it? Good! Now, then, I am free! I am only a plain citizen, M. de Lyonne. I have the pleasure of bidding you good-by! Farewell, castle, corridor, antechamber! a citizen about to breathe at liberty takes his farewell of