Part 58 (1/2)
”What is the matter, then?” he asked
”I think I have sprained my wrist,' said Porthos
”The devil! why, you strike like a blind or a deafto fire a pistol at et rid of yours?”
”Oh, nan, ”was not a man”
”What was it then?”
”It was an apparition”
”And----”
”I charnan took the pistols which were upon the front seat, placed them in his belt, wrapped hiate as that through which they had left, he took his way toward the Richelieu gate
52 The Carriage of Monsieur le Coadjuteur
Instead of returning, then, by the Saint Honore gate, D'Artagnan, who had time before him, walked around and re-entered by the Porte Richelieu He was approached to be examined, and when it was discovered by his plumed hat and his laced coat, that he was an officer of thehim cry, ”Doith Mazarin!” The demonstration did not fail to make him uneasy at first; but when he discovered what it meant, he shouted it in such a voice that even thewere satisfied He walked down the Rue Richelieu,how he should carry off the queen in her turn, for to take her in a carriage bearing the arht of, when he perceived an equipage standing at the door of the hotel belonging to Madame de Guemenee
He was struck by a sudden idea
”Ah, pardieu!” he exclai the carriage, he examined the arms on the panels and the livery of the coachman on his box This scrutiny was sosound asleep
”It is, in truth, nan; ”upon in to think that Heaven favors us”
He mounted noiselessly into the chariot and pulled the silk cord which was attached to the coacher
”To the Palais Royal,” he called out
The coachman aith a start and drove off in the direction he was desired, never doubting but that the order had come from his ates, but seeing such a handsoe he fancied that it was soe was allowed to pass and to stop beneath the porch It was then only the coachrooms were not behind the vehicle; he fancied monsieur le coadjuteur had sent the fro to the ground, and just at thehis master, fell back a step, he seized hiht hand he placed the le word,” nan, ”and you are a dead man”
The coachman perceived at once, by the expression of the man who thus addressed him, that he had fallen into a trap, and he remained with his
Two nan called by their names
”Monsieur de Belliere,” said he to one of them, ”do me the favor to take the reins from the hands of this worthy man, mount upon the box and drive to the door of the private stair, and wait for me there; it is an affair of i”
The musketeer, who knew that his lieutenant was incapable of jesting with regard to the service, obeyed without a word, although he thought the order strange Then turning toward the second er, help me to place thisthat his lieutenant had just arrested sonified that he was ready D'Artagnan mounted the staircase, followed by his prisoner, who in his turn was followed by the soldier, and entered Mazarin's ante-roo there, impatient for news of his oes on capitally,you to put in a safe place”
”Where, then, sir?”
”Where you like, provided that the place which you shall choose has iron shutters secured by padlocks and a door that can be locked”
”We have that, sir,” replied Bernouin; and the poor coachman was conducted to a closet, the s of which were barred and which looked very ood friend,” said D'Artagnan to him, ”I must invite you to deprive yourself, for my sake, of your hat and cloak”
The coachman, as we can well understand, made no resistance; in fact, he was so astonished at what had happened to hinan deposited his clothes under the arer,” he said, ”shut yourself up with this man until Monsieur Bernouin returns to open the door The duty will be tolerably long and not very a, I know; but,” added he, seriously, ”you understand, it is on the king's service”
”At your command, lieutenant,” replied the musketeer, who saw the business was a serious one
”By-the-bye,” continued D'Artagnan, ”should this h his body”
The nified by a nod that these conan went out, followed by Bernouin Midnight struck
”Lead nan, ”announce to her I am here, and put this parcel, with a well-loadedat the foot of the private stair”
Bernouin conducted D'Artagnan to the oratory, where he sat down pensively Everything had gone on as usual at the Palais Royal As we said before, by ten o'clock aluests had dispersed; those ere to fly with the court had the word of command and they were each severally desired to be from twelve o'clock to one at Cours la Reine
At ten o'clock Anne of Austria had entered the king's room Monsieur had just retired, and the youthful Louis, re sohted hi with him
”Laporte,” said the queen, ”it is ti asked to re, he said, no wish to sleep; but the queen was fir at six o'clock, Louis, to bathe at Conflans? I think you wished to do so of your own accord?”
”You are right, , ”and I am ready to retire to ht to Monsieur the Chevalier de Coislin”
The queen touched with her lips the white, sravity which already partook of etiquette
”Go to sleep soon, Louis,” said the queen, ”for you must be awakened very early”
”I will do , ”but I have no inclination to sleep”
”Laporte,” said Anne of Austria, in an undertone, ”find some very dull book to read to hiswent out, acco the candlestick, and then the queen returned to her own aparty, Mademoiselle de Beaumont, Madame de Motteville, and Socratine, her sister, so called on account of her sense--had just brought into her dressing-roo to her usual custoave her orders, spoke of a banquet which the Marquis de Villequier was to give to her on the day after the morrow, indicated the persons she would ad of it, announced another visit on the following day to Val-de-Grace, where she intended to pay her devotions, and gave her commands to her senior valet to accompany her When the ladies had finished their supper the queen feigned extreue and passed into her bedroo, followed to aid and undress her The queen then began to read, and after conversing with her affectionately for a few nan entered the courtyard of the palace, in the coadjutor's carriage, and a few seconds later the carriages of the ladies-in-waiting drove out and the gates were shut after them