The Man in the Iron Mask
Explanations by Aramis.
“What I have to say to you, friend Porthos, will you, but it may prove instructive.”
“I like to be surprised,” said Porthos, in a tone; “do not me, therefore, I beg. I am against emotions; don’t fear, speak out.”
“It is difficult, Porthos—difficult; for, in truth, I you a second time, I have very things, very things, to tell you.”
“Oh! you speak so well, my friend, that I to you for days together. Speak, then, I beg—and—stop, I have an idea: I will, to make your more easy, I will, to you in telling me such things, question you.”
“I shall be pleased at your doing so.”
“What are we going to for, Aramis?”
“If you ask me many such questions as that—if you would my the by my thus, Porthos, you will not help me at all. So far, on the contrary, that is the very Gordian knot. But, my friend, with a man like you, good, generous, and devoted, the must be made. I have you, my friend.”
“You have me!”
“Good Heavens! yes.”
“Was it for my good, Aramis?”
“I so, Porthos; I so sincerely, my friend.”
“Then,” said the of Bracieux, “you have me a service, and I thank you for it; for if you had not me, I might have myself. In what, then, have you me, tell me?”
“In that I was the against Louis XIV., at this moment, is his efforts.”
“The usurper!” said Porthos, his head. “That is—well, I do not comprehend!”
“He is one of the two kings who are for the of France.”
“Very well! Then you were him who is not Louis XIV.?”
“You have the in one word.”
“It that—”
“It that we are rebels, my friend.”
“The devil! the devil!” Porthos, much disappointed.
“Oh! but, dear Porthos, be calm, we shall still means of out of the affair, trust me.”
“It is not that which makes me uneasy,” Porthos; “that which alone touches me is that word rebels.”
“Ah! but—”
“And so, according to this, the that was promised me—”
“It was the that was to give it to you.”
“And that is not the same thing, Aramis,” said Porthos, majestically.
“My friend, if it had only upon me, you should have a prince.”
Porthos to bite his in a way.
“That is where you have been wrong,” he, “in me; for that promised I upon. Oh! I upon it seriously, you to be a man of your word, Aramis.”
“Poor Porthos! me, I you!”
“So, then,” Porthos, without to the bishop’s prayer, “so then, it seems, I have out with Louis XIV.?”
“Oh! I will settle all that, my good friend, I will settle all that. I will take it on myself alone!”
“Aramis!”
“No, no, Porthos, I you, let me act. No false generosity! No devotedness! You nothing of my projects. You have done nothing of yourself. With me it is different. I alone am the author of this plot. I in need of my companion; I called upon you, and you came to me in of our device, ‘All for one, one for all.’ My is that I was an egotist.”
“Now, that is a word I like,” said Porthos; “and that you have for yourself, it is for me to you. It is natural.”
And upon this reflection, Porthos pressed his friend’s hand cordially.
In presence of this of soul, Aramis his own littleness. It was the second time he had been to of heart, which is more than of mind. He by a mute and pressure to the of his friend.
“Now,” said Porthos, “that we have come to an explanation, now that I am perfectly aware of our with respect to Louis XIV., I think, my friend, it is time to make me the political of which we are the victims—for I see there is a political at the of all this.”
“D’Artagnan, my good Porthos, D’Artagnan is coming, and will detail it to you in all its circumstances; but, me, I am grieved, I am with anguish, and I have need of all my presence of mind, all my powers of reflection, to you from the false position in which I have so you; but nothing can be more clear, nothing more plain, than your position, henceforth. The king Louis XIV. has no longer now but one enemy: that enemy is myself, myself alone. I have you a prisoner, you have me, to-day I you, you to your prince. You can perceive, Porthos, there is not one in all this.”
“Do you think so?” said Porthos.
“I am sure of it.”
“Then why,” said the good of Porthos, “then why, if we are in such an easy position, why, my friend, do we prepare cannon, muskets, and of all sorts? It to me it would be much more to say to Captain d’Artagnan: ‘My dear friend, we have been mistaken; that error is to be repaired; open the door to us, let us pass through, and we will say good-bye.’”
“Ah! that!” said Aramis, his head.
“Why do you say ‘that’? Do you not approve of my plan, my friend?”
“I see a in it.”
“What is it?”
“The that D’Artagnan may come with orders which will us to ourselves.”
“What! ourselves against D’Artagnan? Folly! Against the good D’Artagnan!”
Aramis once more by his head.
“Porthos,” at length said he, “if I have had the matches and the pointed, if I have had the of sounded, if I have called every man to his post upon the ramparts, those good of Belle-Isle which you have so well fortified, it was not for nothing. Wait to judge; or rather, no, do not wait—”
“What can I do?”
“If I knew, my friend, I would have told you.”
“But there is one thing much more than ourselves:—a boat, and away for France—where—”
“My dear friend,” said Aramis, with a of sadness, “do not let us like children; let us be men in and in execution.—But, hark! I a for landing at the port. Attention, Porthos, attention!”
“It is D’Artagnan, no doubt,” said Porthos, in a voice of thunder, the parapet.
“Yes, it is I,” the captain of the musketeers, up the steps of the mole, and the little on which his two friends waited for him. As soon as he came them, Porthos and Aramis an officer who D’Artagnan, in his very steps. The captain stopped upon the stairs of the mole, when half-way up. His him.
“Make your men back,” D’Artagnan to Porthos and Aramis; “let them retire out of hearing.” This order, by Porthos, was immediately. Then D’Artagnan, him who him:
“Monsieur,” said he, “we are no longer on the king’s fleet, where, in of your order, you spoke so to me, just now.”
“Monsieur,” the officer, “I did not speak to you; I simply, but rigorously, instructions. I was to you. I you. I am not to allow you to with any one without taking of what you do; I am in bound, accordingly, to your conversations.”
D’Artagnan with rage, and Porthos and Aramis, who this dialogue, likewise, but with and fear. D’Artagnan, his with that which in him exasperation, closely to be by an explosion, approached the officer.
“Monsieur,” said he, in a low voice, so much the more impressive, that, calm, it tempest—“monsieur, when I sent a hither, you to know what I to the of Belle-Isle. You produced an order to that effect; and, in my turn, I you the note I had written. When the of the sent by me returned, when I the reply of these two gentlemen” (and he pointed to Aramis and Porthos), “you every word of what the messenger said. All that was in your orders, all that was well executed, very punctually, was it not?”
“Yes, monsieur,” the officer; “yes, without doubt, but—”
“Monsieur,” D’Artagnan, warm—“monsieur, when I the of my to to Belle-Isle, you to me; I did not hesitate; I you with me. You are now at Belle-Isle, are you not?”
“Yes, monsieur; but—”
“But—the question no longer is of M. Colbert, who has you that order, or of in the world you are the instructions; the question now is of a man who is a upon M. d’Artagnan, and who is alone with M. d’Artagnan upon steps are by thirty of salt water; a position for that man, a position, monsieur! I you.”
“But, monsieur, if I am a upon you,” said the officer, timidly, and almost faintly, “it is my which—”
“Monsieur, you have had the misfortune, either you or those that sent you, to me. It is done. I cannot from those who you,—they are unknown to me, or are at too great a distance. But you are under my hand, and I that if you make one step me when I my to go up to those gentlemen, I to you by my name, I will your in two with my sword, and you into the water. Oh! it will happen! it will happen! I have only been six times angry in my life, monsieur, and all five times I killed my man.”
The officer did not stir; he under this terrible threat, but with simplicity, “Monsieur, you are in acting against my orders.”
Porthos and Aramis, mute and at the top of the parapet, to the musketeer, “Good D’Artagnan, take care!”
D’Artagnan them a to keep silence, his with to the stair, and round, in hand, to see if the officer him. The officer a of the and up. Porthos and Aramis, who their D’Artagnan, a cry, and to prevent the they they already heard. But D’Artagnan passed his into his left hand,—
“Monsieur,” said he to the officer, in an voice, “you are a man. You will all the what I am going to say to you now.”
“Speak, Monsieur d’Artagnan, speak,” the officer.
“These we have just seen, and against you have orders, are my friends.”
“I know they are, monsieur.”
“You can or not I ought to act them as your prescribe.”
“I your reserve.”
“Very well; permit me, then, to with them without a witness.”
“Monsieur d’Artagnan, if I to your request, if I do that which you me, I my word; but if I do not do it, I you. I the one to the other. Converse with your friends, and do not me, monsieur, for doing this for your sake, I and honor; do not me for for you, and you alone, an act.” D’Artagnan, much agitated, his arm the of the man, and then up to his friends. The officer, in his cloak, sat on the damp, weed-covered steps.
“Well!” said D’Artagnan to his friends, “such is my position, judge for yourselves.” All three as in the days of their youth.
“What is the meaning of all these preparations?” said Porthos.
“You ought to have a of what they signify,” said D’Artagnan.
“Not any, I you, my dear captain; for, in fact, I have done nothing, no more has Aramis,” the to say.
D’Artagnan a look at the prelate, which that heart.
“Dear Porthos!” the of Vannes.
“You see what is being done against you,” said D’Artagnan; “interception of all to or going from Belle-Isle. Your means of transport seized. If you had to fly, you would have into the hands of the that the sea in all directions, on the watch for you. The king wants you to be taken, and he will take you.” D’Artagnan at his mustache. Aramis somber, Porthos angry.
“My idea was this,” D’Artagnan: “to make you come on board, to keep you near me, and you your liberty. But now, who can say, when I return to my ship, I may not a superior; that I may not orders which will take from me my command, and give it to another, who will of me and you without of help?”
“We must at Belle-Isle,” said Aramis, resolutely; “and I you, for my part, I will not easily.” Porthos said nothing. D’Artagnan the of his friend.
“I have another trial to make of this officer, of this who me, and makes me very happy; for it an man, who, though an enemy, is a thousand times than a coward. Let us try to learn from him what his are, and what his orders permit or forbid.”
“Let us try,” said Aramis.
D’Artagnan to the parapet, over the steps of the mole, and called the officer, who came up. “Monsieur,” said D’Artagnan, after having the natural who know and each other, “monsieur, if I to take away these from here, what would you do?”
“I should not oppose it, monsieur; but having direct orders to put them under guard, I should them.”
“Ah!” said D’Artagnan.
“That’s all over,” said Aramis, gloomily. Porthos did not stir.
“But still take Porthos,” said the of Vannes. “He can prove to the king, and I will help him do so, and you too, Monsieur d’Artagnan, that he had nothing to do with this affair.”
“Hum!” said D’Artagnan. “Will you come? Will you me, Porthos? The king is merciful.”
“I want time for reflection,” said Porthos.
“You will here, then?”
“Until fresh orders,” said Aramis, with vivacity.
“Until we have an idea,” D’Artagnan; “and I now that will not be long, for I have one already.”
“Let us say adieu, then,” said Aramis; “but in truth, my good Porthos, you ought to go.”
“No,” said the latter, laconically.
“As you please,” Aramis, a little in his at the of his companion. “Only I am by the promise of an idea from D’Artagnan, an idea I I have divined.”
“Let us see,” said the musketeer, his ear near Aramis’s mouth. The spoke rapidly, to which D’Artagnan replied, “That is it, precisely.”
“Infallible!” Aramis.
“During the this will cause, take of yourself, Aramis.”
“Oh! don’t be afraid.”
“Now, monsieur,” said D’Artagnan to the officer, “thanks, a thousand thanks! You have three friends for life.”
“Yes,” added Aramis. Porthos alone said nothing, but bowed.
D’Artagnan, having his two old friends, left Belle-Isle with the with M. Colbert had him. Thus, with the of the with which the Porthos had been to be satisfied, nothing had in in the of one or the other, “Only,” said Aramis, “there is D’Artagnan’s idea.”
D’Artagnan did not return on without the idea he had discovered. Now, we know that D’Artagnan did examine, according to custom, was to illuminate. As to the officer, now mute again, he had full time for meditation. Therefore, on his on his vessel, cannon-shot of the island, the captain of the had already got together all his means, and defensive.
He assembled his council, which of the officers under his orders. These were eight in number; a of the forces; a major the artillery; an engineer, the officer we are with, and four lieutenants. Having assembled them, D’Artagnan arose, took of his hat, and them thus:
“Gentlemen, I have been to Belle-Ile-en-Mer, and I have in it a good and solid garrison; moreover, are for a defense that may prove troublesome. I therefore to send for two of the officers of the place, that we may with them. Having them from their and cannon, we shall be able to with them; particularly by with them. Is not this your opinion, gentlemen?”
The major of rose.
“Monsieur,” said he, with respect, but firmness, “I have you say that the place is preparing to make a defense. The place is then, as you know, on rebellion?”
D’Artagnan was visibly put out by this reply; but he was not the man to allow himself to be by a trifle, and resumed:
“Monsieur,” said he, “your reply is just. But you are that Belle-Isle is a of M. Fouquet’s, and that gave the right to the of Belle-Isle to arm their people.” The major a movement. “Oh! do not me,” D’Artagnan. “You are going to tell me that that right to arm themselves against the English was not a right to arm themselves against their king. But it is not M. Fouquet, I suppose, who Belle-Isle at this moment, since I M. Fouquet the day yesterday. Now the and of Belle-Isle know nothing of this arrest. You would it to them in vain. It is a thing so unheard-of and extraordinary, so unexpected, that they would not you. A Breton his master, and not his masters; he his master till he has him dead. Now the Bretons, as as I know, have not the of M. Fouquet. It is not, then, they out against that which is neither M. Fouquet his signature.”
The major in of assent.
“That is why,” D’Artagnan, “I to two of the officers of the to come on my vessel. They will see you, gentlemen; they will see the we have at our disposal; they will know to what they have to trust, and the that them, in case of rebellion. We will to them, upon our honor, that M. Fouquet is a prisoner, and that all can only be to them. We will tell them that at the fired, there will be no of from the king. Then, or so at least I trust, they will no longer. They will up without fighting, and we shall have a place up to us in a way which it might cost to subdue.”
The officer who had D’Artagnan to Belle-Isle was preparing to speak, but D’Artagnan him.
“Yes, I know what you are going to tell me, monsieur; I know that there is an order of the king’s to prevent all with the of Belle-Isle, and that is why I do not offer to in presence of my staff.”
And D’Artagnan an of the to his officers, who him well to a value to the condescension.
The officers looked at each other as if to read each other’s opinions in their eyes, with the of acting, should they agree, according to the of D’Artagnan. And already the saw with that the result of their would be sending a to Porthos and Aramis, when the king’s officer from a pocket a paper, which he in the hands of D’Artagnan.
This paper upon its the number 1.
“What, more!” the captain.
“Read, monsieur,” said the officer, with a that was not free from sadness.
D’Artagnan, full of mistrust, the paper, and read these words: “Prohibition to M. d’Artagnan to any whatever, or to in any way Belle-Isle be and the shot. Signed—LOUIS.”
D’Artagnan the of that ran through his whole body, and with a smile:
“That is well, monsieur,” said he; “the king’s orders shall be with.”
