Part 3 (2/2)
”You pique my curiosity, dear Rochefort; pray tell me the whole story”
”That is impossible; but I will tell you a true story, ht in stories,” cried the cardinal
”Listen, then,” returned Rochefort, as he spoke endeavoring to read in that subtle countenance the cardinal's motive ”Once upon a tined over one of the greatest kingdoms of the universe; and a minister; and this minister wished much to injure the queen, whom once he had loved too well (Do not try,before you caned) There canificent, so elegant, that every woman lost her heart to hiive him certain ornaments so rare that they could never be replaced by any like the the minister persuaded hisin them as part of her jewels at a ball which was soon to take place There is no occasion to tell you, my lord, that the minister knew for a fact that these ornaments had sailed aith the ambassador, as far away, beyond seas This illustrious queen had fallen low as the least of her subjects--fallen froh estate”
”Indeed!”
”Well, my lord, four men resolved to save her These four men were not princes, neither were they dukes, neither were they men in power; they were not even rich They were four honest soldiers, each with a good heart, a good arm and a sword at the service of those anted it They set out The minister knew of their departure and had planted people on the road to prevent the their destination Three of them were overwhelmed and disabled by numerous assailants; one of the either killed or wounded those ished to stop hiht back the set of ornareat queen, as able to wear them on her shoulder on the appointed day; and this very nearly ruined the minister What do you think of that exploit, htfully
”Well, I know of ten such men”
Mazarin made no reply; he reflected
Five or sixmore to ask of me, my lord?” said Rochefort
”Yes And you say that Monsieur d'Artagnan was one of those four men?”
”He led the enterprise”
”And ere the others?”
”I leave it to Monsieur d'Artagnan to name them, my lord They were his friends and not mine He alone would have any influence with them; I do not even know them under their true names”
”You suspect me, Monsieur de Rochefort; I want hiin with me, my lord; for after five or six years of imprisonment it is natural to feel some curiosity as to one's destination”
”You, my dear Monsieur de Rochefort, shall have the post of confidence; you shall go to Vincennes, where Monsieur de Beaufort is confined; you will guard him well for me Well, what is the matter?”
”The matter is that you have proposed tohis head with an air of disappointment
”What! impossible? And why is it impossible?”
”Because Monsieur de Beaufort is one of otten, my lord, that it is he who answered for me to the queen?”
”Since then Monsieur de Beaufort has become an enemy of the State”
”Thatnor queen nor minister, he is not my enemy and I cannot accept your offer”
”This, then, is what you call devotion! I congratulate you Your devotion does not commit you too far, Monsieur de Rochefort”
”And then, e froe one's prison”
”Say at once that you are on the side of Monsieur de Beaufort; that will be the most sincere line of conduct,” said Mazarin
”My lord, I have been so long shut up, that I am only of one party--I am for fresh air Employ me in any other way; eh roads”
”My dear Monsieur de Rochefort,” Mazarin replied in a tone of raillery, ”you think yourself still a young th fails you Believe ht now to take a rest Here!”
”You decide, then, nothing about me, my lord?”
”On the contrary, I have come to a decision”
Bernouin came into the room
”Call an officer of justice,” he said; ”and stay close to me,” he added, in a low tone
The officer entered Mazarin wrote a feords, which he gave to this man; then he bowed
”Adieu, Monsieur de Rochefort,” he said
Rochefort bent low
”I see, my lord, I aacious”
”I shall return thither, my lord, but it is a mistake on your part not to ereatest foes? Don't suppose that you are the only person who can serve me, Monsieur de Rochefort I shall find many men as able as you are”
”I wish you may, my lord,” replied De Rochefort
He was then reconducted by the little staircase, instead of passing through the ante-cha In the courtyard the carriage and the four musketeers were ready, but he looked around in vain for his friend
”Ah!” he es the situation, and if there is still a crowd of people in the streets ill try to show Mazarin that we are still, thank God, good for souard over a prisoner;” and he jue with the alacrity of a e of Forty-six
When left alone with Bernouin, Mazarin was for soained h Mazarin was a cheat at the card-table This is a detail preserved to us by Brienne He called it using his advantages He now deternan till he knew completely all his adversary's cards
”My lord, have you any commands?” asked Bernouin
”Yes, yes,” replied Mazarin ”Lightto the queen”
Bernouin took up a candlestick and led the way
There was a secret communication between the cardinal's aparth this corridor Mazarin passed whenever he wished to visit Anne of Austria
This secret passage is still to be seen in the Palais Royal
In the bedrooe ended, Bernouin encountered Madame de Beauvais, like himself intrusted with the secret of these subterranean love affairs; and Madame de Beauvais undertook to prepare Anne of Austria, as in her oratory with the young king, Louis XIV, to receive the cardinal