Part 59 (2/2)
Then one more bold than the rest ventured to pass the door and to advance on tiptoe This example was imitated by the rest, until the room filled silently, as if these men had been the humblest, most devoted courtiers Far beyond the door the heads of those ere not able to enter could be seen, all craning to their uth an opening he had made in the curtain, and in the very first nized Planchet
”Sir,” said the queen to hi he was the leader of the band, ”you wished to see the king and therefore I determined to show him to you myself Approach and look at him and say if we have the appearance of people ish to run away”
”No, certainly,” replied Planchet, rather astonished at the unexpected honor conferred upon hiood and faithful Parisians,” continued Anne, with a snan, ”that you have seen the king in bed, asleep, and the queen also ready to retire”
”I shall tell the; but----”
”But what?” asked Anne of Austria
”Will yourwho is lying there?”
Anne of Austria started ”If,” she said, ”there is one a, let hi there”
A man wrapped in a cloak, in the folds of which his face was hidden, approached and leaned over the bed and looked
For one second, D'Artagnan thought the n and he put his hand to his sword; but in thea portion of his face was uncovered and D'Artagnan recognized the coadjutor
”It is certainly the king,” said the ain ”God bless his majesty!”
”Yes,” repeated the leader in a whisper, ”God bless his ed, passed froer to pity and blessed the royal infant in their turn
”Now,” said Planchet, ”let us thank the queen My friends, retire”
They all bowed, and retired by degrees as noiselessly as they had entered Planchet, who had been the first to enter, was the last to leave The queen stopped him
”What is your name, my friend?” she said
Planchet, much surprised at the inquiry, turned back
”Yes,” continued the queen, ”I thinkas if you had been a prince, and I wish to know your naht Planchet, ”to treat nan trembled lest Planchet, seduced, like the crow in the fable, should tell his na his naed to him
”Madame,” replied Planchet, respectfully, ”I am called Dulaurier, at your service”
”Thank you, Monsieur Dulaurier,” said the queen; ”and what is your business?”
”Madame, I am a clothier in the Rue Bourdonnais”
”That is all I wished to know,” said the queen ”Much obliged to you, Monsieur Dulaurier You will hear again fro from behind the curtain, ”decidedly Monsieur Planchet is no fool; it is evident he has been brought up in a good school”
The different actors in this strange scene rele word; the queen standing near the door, D'Artagnan half out of his hiding place, the king raised on his elbow, ready to fall down on his bed again at the slightest sound that would indicate the return of the , the noise became more and more distant and very soon it died entirely away
The queen breathedslid off his bed, saying, ”Let us go”
At this moment Laporte reappeared
”Well?” asked the queen ”Well, ates They announced to all their co and that the queen had spoken to them; and, in fact, they went away quite proud and happy”
”Oh, the miserable wretches!” murmured the queen, ”they shall pay dearly for their boldness, and it is I who pronan, she said: ”Sir, you have giventhe best advice I have ever received Continue, and say e nan, ”finish dressing his o, then?” asked the queen
”Whenever your majesty pleases You have only to descend by the private stairs and you will find me at the door”
”Go, sir,” said the queen; ”I will follow you”
D'Artagnan went down and found the carriage at its post and the nan took out the parcel which he had desired Bernouin to place under the seat Itto Monsieur de Gondy's coachman
He placed the cloak on his shoulders and the hat on his head, whilst the nan, ”you will go and release your co the coachman You must mount your horse and proceed to the Rue Tiquetonne, Hotel de la Chevrette, whence you will take my horse and that of Monsieur du Vallon, which you must saddle and equip as if for war, and then you will leave Paris, bringing them with you to Cours la Reine If, when you arrive at Cours la Reine, you find no one, you 's service”
The musketeer touched his cap and went away to execute the orders thus received
D'Artagnana pair of pistols in his belt, a musket under his feet and a naked sword behind hi and the Duke d'Anjou, his brother
”Monsieur the coadjutor's carriage!” she exclainan; ”but get in fearlessly, for I myself will drive you”
The queen uttered a cry of surprise and entered the carriage, and the king and monsieur took their places at her side
”Come, Laporte,” said the queen
”How, e as your majesties?”
”It is not a 's safety Get in, Laporte”
Laporte obeyed