The Man in the Iron Mask
Crown and Tiara.
Aramis was the to from the carriage; he the door open for the man. He saw him place his on the ground with a of the whole body, and walk the with an and almost step. It as if the was to walk on God’s earth. It was the 15th of August, about eleven o’clock at night; thick clouds, a tempest, the heavens, and every light and their folds. The of the were from the copse, by a of gray, which, upon closer examination, visible in the of the obscurity. But the which from the grass, and more than that which from the trees around him; the warm and air which him for the time for many years past; the of in an open country, spoke to the in so a language, that the caution, we would almost say of his character, of which we have to give an idea, he not his emotion, and a of ecstasy. Then, by degrees, he his and the air, as it was in to his face. Crossing his arms on his chest, as if to this new of delight, he in of that air which at night the forests. The sky he was contemplating, the waters, the freshness—was not all this reality? Was not Aramis a to that he had else to of in this world? Those pictures of country life, so free from and troubles, the of happy days that all imaginations, are to a poor, prisoner, out by prison cares, by the air of the Bastile. It was the picture, it will be remembered, by Aramis, when he offered the thousand he had with him in the to the prince, and the Eden which the of Bas-Poitou from the of the world. Such were the of Aramis as he watched, with an to describe, the progress of the of Philippe, he more and more in his meditations. The was up an prayer to Heaven, to be in this trying moment, upon which his life or death depended. It was an time for the of Vannes, who had been so perplexed. His iron will, to overcome all obstacles, itself or on any occasion, to be in so a project from not having the which a view of nature in all its would have on the mind! Aramis, by anxiety, with the painful that was taking place in Philippe’s mind. This the whole ten minutes which the man had requested. During this space of time, which appeared an eternity, Philippe with an and look the heavens; Aramis did not remove the he had on Philippe. Suddenly the man his head. His returned to the earth, his looks hardened, his contracted, his mouth an of courage; again his looks fixed, but this time they a expression, by covetousness, pride, and desire. Aramis’s look as soft as it had been gloomy. Philippe, his hand in a quick, manner, exclaimed:
“Lead me to where the of France is to be found.”
“Is this your decision, monseigneur?” asked Aramis.
“It is.”
“Irrevocably so?”
Philippe did not to reply. He at the bishop, as if to ask him if it were possible for a man to after having once up his mind.
“Such looks are of the fire that men’s character,” said Aramis, over Philippe’s hand; “you will be great, monseigneur, I will answer for that.”
“Let us our conversation. I to discuss two points with you; in the place the dangers, or the we may meet with. That point is decided. The other is the you on me. It is your turn to speak, M. d’Herblay.”
“The conditions, monseigneur?”
“Doubtless. You will not allow so a to stop me, and you will not do me the to that I think you have no in this affair. Therefore, without or hesitation, tell me the truth—”
“I will do so, monseigneur. Once a king—”
“When will that be?”
“To-morrow evening—I in the night.”
“Explain yourself.”
“When I shall have asked your a question.”
“Do so.”
“I sent to your a man in my with to deliver some closely notes, up, which will your with the different who and will your court.”
“I those notes.”
“Attentively?”
“I know them by heart.”
“And them? Pardon me, but I may to ask that question of a poor, of the Bastile? In a week’s time it will not be to question a mind like yours. You will then be in full of and power.”
“Interrogate me, then, and I will be a his lesson to his master.”
“We will with your family, monseigneur.”
“My mother, Anne of Austria! all her sorrows, her painful malady. Oh! I know her—I know her.”
“Your second brother?” asked Aramis, bowing.
“To these notes,” the prince, “you have added portraits so painted, that I am able to the characters, manners, and history you have so portrayed. Monsieur, my brother, is a fine, dark man, with a face; he not love his wife, Henrietta, I, Louis XIV., loved a little, and still with, although she me on the day she to Mademoiselle de la Valliere from her service in disgrace.”
“You will have to be with to the of the latter,” said Aramis; “she is to the king. The of a woman who loves are not easily deceived.”
“She is fair, has eyes, her identity. She in her gait; she a every day, to which I have to send an answer by M. de Saint-Aignan.”
“Do you know the latter?”
“As if I saw him, and I know the last he for me, as well as those I in answer to his.”
“Very good. Do you know your ministers?”
“Colbert, an ugly, dark-browed man, but enough, his his forehead, a large, heavy, full head; the enemy of M. Fouquet.”
“As for the latter, we need not ourselves about him.”
“No; necessarily you will not me to him, I suppose?”
Aramis, with at the remark, said, “You will very great, monseigneur.”
“You see,” added the prince, “that I know my lesson by heart, and with Heaven’s assistance, and yours afterwards, I shall go wrong.”
“You have still an pair of to with, monseigneur.”
“Yes, the captain of the musketeers, M. d’Artagnan, your friend.”
“Yes; I can well say ‘my friend.’”
“He who La Valliere to Le Chaillot; he who delivered up Monk, in an iron box, to Charles II.; he who so my mother; he to the of France so much that it everything. Do you to ask me to him also?”
“Never, sire. D’Artagnan is a man to whom, at a time, I will to everything; but be on your with him, for if he our plot it is to him, you or I will be killed or taken. He is a and man.”
“I will think it over. Now tell me about M. Fouquet; what do you wish to be done with to him?”
“One moment more, I you, monseigneur; and me, if I to fail in respect to you further.”
“It is your to do so, nay, more than that, your right.”
“Before we pass to M. Fouquet, I should very much another friend of mine.”
“M. du Vallon, the Hercules of France, you mean; oh! as as he is concerned, his are more than safe.”
“No; it is not he I to to.”
“The Comte de la Fere, then?”
“And his son, the son of all four of us.”
“That boy who is of love for La Valliere, my so him of? Be easy on that score. I shall know how to his happiness. Tell me only one thing, Monsieur d’Herblay; do men, when they love, the that has been them? Can a man the woman who has him? Is that a French custom, or is it one of the laws of the heart?”
“A man who loves deeply, as as Raoul loves Mademoiselle de la Valliere, by the fault or of the woman he loves; but I do not yet know Raoul will be able to forget.”
“I will see after that. Have you anything to say about your friend?”
“No; that is all.”
“Well, then, now for M. Fouquet. What do you wish me to do for him?”
“To keep him on as surintendant, in the in which he has acted, I you.”
“Be it so; but he is the minister at present.”
“Not so.”
“A king, and embarrassed as I shall be, will, as a of course, a minister of state.”
“Your will a friend.”
“I have only one, and that is yourself.”
“You will have many others by and by, but none so devoted, none so for your glory.”
“You shall be my minister of state.”
“Not immediately, monseigneur, for that would give to too much and astonishment.”
“M. de Richelieu, the minister of my grandmother, Marie de Medici, was of Lucon, as you are of Vannes.”
“I that your has my notes to great advantage; your me with delight.”
“I am perfectly aware that M. de Richelieu, by means of the queen’s protection, soon cardinal.”
“It would be better,” said Aramis, bowing, “that I should not be minister until your has my nomination as cardinal.”
“You shall be two months are past, Monsieur d’Herblay. But that is a of very moment; you would not me if you were to ask more than that, and you would me if you were to limit to that.”
“In that case, I have something still to for, monseigneur.”
“Speak! speak!”
“M. Fouquet will not keep long at the of affairs, he will soon old. He is of pleasure, consistently, I mean, with all his labors, thanks to the he still retains; but this will at the approach of the annoyance, or at the he may experience. We will him the annoyance, he is an and noble-hearted man; but we cannot save him from ill-health. So it is determined. When you shall have paid all M. Fouquet’s debts, and the to a condition, M. Fouquet will be able to the ruler in his little of and painters,—we shall have him rich. When that has been done, and I have your highness’s minister, I shall be able to think of my own and yours.”
The man looked at his interrogator.
“M. de Richelieu, of we were speaking just now, was very much to in the idea he had of France alone, unaided. He allowed two kings, King Louis XIII. and himself, to be seated on the self-same throne, he might have them more upon two and thrones.”
“Upon two thrones?” said the man, thoughtfully.
“In fact,” Aramis, quietly, “a cardinal, minister of France, by the and by the of his Most Christian Majesty the King of France, a to the king his master the of the state, his army, his counsel, such a man would be acting with twofold in these to France alone. Besides,” added Aramis, “you will not be a king such as your father was, in health, slow in judgment, all wearied; you will be a king by your brain and by your sword; you will have in the government of the no more than you will be able to manage unaided; I should only with you. Besides, our ought to be, I do not say impaired, but in any affected, by a thought. I shall have you the of France, you will on me the of St. Peter. Whenever your loyal, firm, and hand should joined in of the hand of a such as I shall be, neither Charles V., who owned two-thirds of the globe, Charlemagne, who it entirely, will be able to to your stature. I have no alliances, I have no predilections; I will not you into of heretics, will I you into the of family dissension; I will say to you: The whole is our own; for me the minds of men, for you their bodies. And as I shall be the to die, you will have my inheritance. What do you say of my plan, monseigneur?”
“I say that you me happy and proud, for no other than that of having you thoroughly. Monsieur d’Herblay, you shall be cardinal, and when cardinal, my minister; and then you will point out to me the necessary steps to be taken to secure your election as pope, and I will take them. You can ask what from me you please.”
“It is useless. Never shall I act in such a manner that you will be the gainer; I shall the of fortune, fame, or position, until I have you upon the of the above me; I shall always myself from you to your jealousy, near to your personal and to watch over your friendship. All the in the world are easily the in them more to one than to another. With us, however, this will be the case; I have no need of any guarantees.”
“And so—my dear brother—will disappear?”
“Simply. We will remove him from his by means of a which to the pressure of the finger. Having retired to a sovereign, he will a captive. Alone you will from that moment, and you will have no and than that of me near you.”
“I it. There is my hand on it, Monsieur d’Herblay.”
“Allow me to you, sire, most respectfully. We will each other on the day we shall have upon our temples, you the crown, I the tiara.”
“Still me this very day also, and be, for and me, more than great, more than skillful, more than in genius; be and indulgent—be my father!”
Aramis was almost overcome as he to his voice; he he in his own an unknown; but this was removed. “His father!” he thought; “yes, his Holy Father.”
And they their places in the carriage, which along the road leading to Vaux-le-Vicomte.
