The Man in the Iron Mask
Colbert then in on the suddenly, and said to Aramis:
“Monsieur l’ambassadeur, shall we talk about business?”
D’Artagnan withdrew, from politeness. He his steps the fireplace, of what the king was about to say to Monsieur, who, uneasy, had gone to him. The of the king was animated. Upon his was a of will, the of which already met no in France, and was soon to meet no more in Europe.
“Monsieur,” said the king to his brother, “I am not pleased with M. le Chevalier de Lorraine. You, who do him the to protect him, must him to travel for a months.”
These with the of an upon Monsieur, who his favorite, and all his in him.
“In what has the been to your majesty?” he, a look at Madame.
“I will tell you that when he is gone,” said the king, suavely. “And also when Madame, here, shall have over into England.”
“Madame! in England!” Monsieur, in amazement.
“In a week, brother,” the king, “whilst we will go I will tell you.” And the king on his heel, in his brother’s face, to sweeten, as it were, the he had him.
During this time Colbert was talking with the Duc d’Almeda.
“Monsieur,” said Colbert to Aramis, “this is the moment for us to come to an understanding. I have your peace with the king, and I that to a man of so much merit; but as you have often for me, an opportunity presents itself for me a proof of it. You are, besides, more a Frenchman than a Spaniard. Shall we secure—answer me frankly—the of Spain, if we anything against the United Provinces?”
“Monsieur,” Aramis, “the of Spain is clear. To Europe with the Provinces would be our policy, but the king of France is an of the United Provinces. You are not ignorant, besides, that it would a war, and that France is in no to this with advantage.”
Colbert, at this moment, saw D’Artagnan who was some interlocutor, this “aside” of the king and Monsieur. He called him, at the same time saying in a low voice to Aramis, “We may talk openly with D’Artagnan, I suppose?”
“Oh! certainly,” the ambassador.
“We were saying, M. d’Almeda and I,” said Colbert, “that a with the United Provinces would a war.”
“That’s enough,” the musketeer.
“And what do you think of it, Monsieur d’Artagnan?”
“I think that to on such a successfully, you must have very large land forces.”
“What did you say?” said Colbert, he had him.
“Why such a large land army?” said Aramis.
“Because the king will be by sea if he has not the English with him, and that when by sea, he will soon be invaded, either by the Dutch in his ports, or by the Spaniards by land.”
“And Spain neutral?” asked Aramis.
“Neutral as long as the king shall prove stronger,” D’Artagnan.
Colbert that which touched a question without it thoroughly. Aramis smiled, as he had long that in D’Artagnan no superior. Colbert, who, like all proud men, upon his with a of success, the subject, “Who told you, M. d’Artagnan, that the king had no navy?”
“Oh! I take no of these details,” the captain. “I am but an sailor. Like all people, I the sea; and yet I have an idea that, with ships, France being a with two hundred exits, we might have sailors.”
Colbert from his pocket a little book into two columns. On the were the names of vessels, on the other the the number of and men to these ships. “I have had the same idea as you,” said he to D’Artagnan, “and I have had an account up of the we have altogether—thirty-five ships.”
“Thirty-five ships! impossible!” D’Artagnan.
“Something like two thousand pieces of cannon,” said Colbert. “That is what the king at this moment. Of five and thirty we can make three squadrons, but I must have five.”
“Five!” Aramis.
“They will be the end of the year, gentlemen; the king will have fifty ship of the line. We may on a with them, may we not?”
“To vessels,” said D’Artagnan, “is difficult, but possible. As to them, how is that to be done? In France there are neither docks.”
“Bah!” Colbert, in a tone, “I have planned all that this year and a past, did you not know it? Do you know M. d’Imfreville?”
“D’Imfreville?” D’Artagnan; “no.”
“He is a man I have discovered; he has a specialty; he is a man of genius—he how to set men to work. It is he who has and cut the of Bourgogne. And then, l’ambassadeur, you may not what I am going to tell you, but I have a still idea.”
“Oh, monsieur!” said Aramis, civilly, “I always you.”
“Calculating upon the of the Dutch, our allies, I said to myself, ‘They are merchants, they are with the king; they will be happy to sell to the king what they for themselves; then the more we buy’—Ah! I must add this: I have Forant—do you know Forant, D’Artagnan?”
Colbert, in his warmth, himself; he called the captain D’Artagnan, as the king did. But the captain only at it.
“No,” he, “I do not know him.”
“That is another man I have discovered, with a for buying. This Forant has purchased for me 350,000 of iron in balls, 200,000 of powder, twelve of Northern timber, matches, grenades, pitch, tar—I know not what! with a saving of seven upon what all those articles would cost me in France.”
“That is a and idea,” D’Artagnan, “to have Dutch cannon-balls which will return to the Dutch.”
“Is it not, with loss, too?” And Colbert laughed aloud. He was with his own joke.
“Still further,” added he, “these same Dutch are for the king, at this moment, six after the model of the best of their name. Destouches—Ah! you don’t know Destouches?”
“No, monsieur.”
“He is a man who has a sure to discern, when a ship is launched, what are the and of that ship—that is valuable, observe! Nature is whimsical. Well, this Destouches appeared to me to be a man likely to prove useful in affairs, and he is the of six of seventy-eight guns, which the Provinces are for his majesty. It results from this, my dear Monsieur d’Artagnan, that the king, if he to with the Provinces, would have a very fleet. Now, you know than else if the land army is efficient.”
D’Artagnan and Aramis looked at each other, at the labors this man had in so a time. Colbert them, and was touched by this best of flatteries.
“If we, in France, were of what was going on,” said D’Artagnan, “out of France still less must be known.”
“That is why I told l’ambassadeur,” said Colbert, “that, Spain promising its neutrality, England helping us—”
“If England you,” said Aramis, “I promise the of Spain.”
“I take you at your word,” Colbert to reply with his bonhomie. “And, a of Spain, you have not the ‘Golden Fleece,’ Monsieur d’Almeda. I the king say the other day that he should like to see you wear the of St. Michael.”
Aramis bowed. “Oh!” D’Artagnan, “and Porthos is no longer here! What of would there be for him in these largesses! Dear Porthos!”
“Monsieur d’Artagnan,” Colbert, “between us two, you will have, I wager, an to lead your into Holland. Can you swim?” And he laughed like a man in high good humor.
“Like an eel,” D’Artagnan.
“Ah! but there are some passages of and yonder, Monsieur d’Artagnan, and the best are sometimes there.”
“It is my to die for his majesty,” said the musketeer. “Only, as it is in that much water is met with without a little fire, I to you beforehand, that I will do my best to choose fire. I am old; water me—but fire warms, Monsieur Colbert.”
And D’Artagnan looked so still in quasi-juvenile as he these words, that Colbert, in his turn, not help him. D’Artagnan the he had produced. He that the best is he who a high price upon his goods, when they are valuable. He prepared his price in advance.
“So, then,” said Colbert, “we go into Holland?”
“Yes,” D’Artagnan; “only—”
“Only?” said M. Colbert.
“Only,” D’Artagnan, “there in the question of interest, the question of self-love. It is a very title, that of captain of the musketeers; but this: we have now the king’s and the of the king. A captain of ought to all that, and then he would a hundred thousand a year for expenses.”
“Well! but do you the king would with you?” said Colbert.
“Eh! monsieur, you have not me,” D’Artagnan, sure of his point. “I was telling you that I, an old captain, of the king’s guard, having of the of France—I saw myself one day in the with two other equals, the captain of the and the the Swiss. Now, at no price will I that. I have old habits, and I will or by them.”
Colbert this blow, but he was prepared for it.
“I have been of what you said just now,” he.
“About what, monsieur?”
“We were speaking of and in which people are drowned.”
“Well!”
“Well! if they are drowned, it is for want of a boat, a plank, or a stick.”
“Of a stick, it may be,” said D’Artagnan.
“Exactly,” said Colbert. “And, therefore, I of an of a of France being drowned.”
D’Artagnan very with joy, and in a not very voice, “People would be very proud of me in my country,” said he, “if I were a of France; but a man must have an in to obtain the baton.”
“Monsieur!” said Colbert, “here is in this pocket-book which you will study, a plan of you will have to lead a of to out in the next spring.” 12
D’Artagnan took the book, tremblingly, and his meeting those of Colbert, the minister pressed the hand of the loyally.
“Monsieur,” said he, “we had a to take, one over the other. I have begun; it is now your turn!”
“I will do you justice, monsieur,” D’Artagnan, “and you to tell the king that the opportunity that shall offer, he may upon a victory, or to me dead—or both.”
“Then I will have the fleurs-de-lis for your marechal’s prepared immediately,” said Colbert.
On the morrow, Aramis, who was setting out for Madrid, to the of Spain, came to D’Artagnan at his hotel.
“Let us love each other for four,” said D’Artagnan. “We are now but two.”
“And you will, perhaps, see me again, dear D’Artagnan,” said Aramis; “if you how I have loved you! I am old, I am extinct—ah, I am almost dead.”
“My friend,” said D’Artagnan, “you will live longer than I shall: you to live; but, for my part, me to die.”
“Bah! such men as we are, le marechal,” said Aramis, “only die satisfied with in glory.”
“Ah!” D’Artagnan, with a smile, “I you, le duc, I very little for either.”
They once more embraced, and, two hours after, separated—forever.
The Death of D’Artagnan.
Contrary to that which happens, in politics or morals, each his promises, and did to his engagements.
The king M. de Guiche, and M. le Chevalier de Lorraine; so that Monsieur in consequence. Madame set out for London, where she herself so to make her brother, Charles II., a taste for the political of Mademoiselle de Keroualle, that the England and France was signed, and the English vessels, by a millions of French gold, a terrible against the of the United Provinces. Charles II. had promised Mademoiselle de Keroualle a little for her good counsels; he her Duchess of Portsmouth. Colbert had promised the king vessels, munitions, victories. He his word, as is well known. At length Aramis, upon promises there was least to be placed, Colbert the letter, on the of the which he had at Madrid:
“MONSIEUR COLBERT,—I have the to to you the R. P. Oliva, ad of the Society of Jesus, my successor. The father will to you, Monsieur Colbert, that I to myself the direction of all the of the order which France and Spain; but that I am not to the title of general, which would too high a side-light on the progress of the with which His Catholic Majesty to me. I shall that title by the of his majesty, when the labors I have in with you, for the great of God and His Church, shall be to a good end. The R. P. Oliva will you likewise, monsieur, of the His Catholic Majesty to the of a which the of Spain in the event of a France and the United Provinces. This will be if England, of being active, should satisfy herself with neutral. As for Portugal, of which you and I have spoken, monsieur, I can you it will with all its to the Most Christian King in his war. I you, Monsieur Colbert, to your and also to in my attachment, and to my respect at the of His Most Christian Majesty. Signed,
“LE DUC D’ALMEDA.” 13
Aramis had performed more than he had promised; it to be how the king, M. Colbert, and D’Artagnan would be to each other. In the spring, as Colbert had predicted, the land army entered on its campaign. It preceded, in order, the of Louis XIV., who, setting out on horseback, by with ladies and courtiers, the of his to this fete. The officers of the army, it is true, had no other music save the of the Dutch forts; but it was for a great number, who in this honor, advancement, fortune—or death.
M. d’Artagnan set out a of twelve thousand men, cavalry, and infantry, with which he was ordered to take the different places which of that network called La Frise. Never was an army more to an expedition. The officers that their leader, and as he was brave, would not a single man, an of ground without necessity. He had the old of war, to live upon the country, his soldiers and the enemy weeping. The captain of the king’s well his business. Never were opportunities chosen, coups-de-main supported, errors of the more taken of.
The army by D’Artagnan took twelve small places a month. He was in the thirteenth, which had out five days. D’Artagnan the to be opened without appearing to that these people would allow themselves to be taken. The and were, in the army of this man, a full of ideas and zeal, their them like soldiers, how to their work glorious, and allowed them to be killed if he help it. It should have been with what the of Holland were over. Those turf-heaps, of potter’s clay, melted at the word of the soldiers like in the frying-pans of Friesland housewives.
M. d’Artagnan a to the king to give him an account of the last success, which the good of his and his to the ladies. These victories of M. d’Artagnan gave so much to the prince, that Madame de Montespan no longer called him anything but Louis the Invincible. So that Mademoiselle de la Valliere, who only called the king Louis the Victorious, much of his majesty’s favor. Besides, her were red, and to an Invincible nothing is more than a who while is her. The star of Mademoiselle de la Valliere was being in clouds and tears. But the of Madame de Montespan with the successes of the king, and him for every other circumstance. It was to D’Artagnan the king this; and his was to these services; he to M. Colbert:
“MONSIEUR COLBERT,—We have a promise to with M. d’Artagnan, who so well his. This is to you that the time is come for it. All for this purpose you shall be with in time. LOUIS.”
In of this, Colbert, D’Artagnan’s envoy, in the hands of that messenger a from himself, and a small of with gold, not very in appearance, but which, without doubt, was very heavy, as a of five men was to the messenger, to him in it. These people the place which D’Artagnan was daybreak, and presented themselves at the of the general. They were told that M. d’Artagnan, by a which the governor, an man, had the before, and in which the had been and seventy-seven men killed, and the of the commenced, had just gone with twenty of to the works.
M. Colbert’s had orders to go and M. d’Artagnan, he might be, or at hour of the day or night. He his course, therefore, the trenches, by his escort, all on horseback. They M. d’Artagnan in the open plain, with his gold-laced hat, his long cane, and cuffs. He was his white mustache, and off, with his left hand, the which the up from the ground they so near him. They also saw, this terrible fire, which the air with hisses, officers the shovel, soldiers barrows, and fascines, by being either or by from ten to twenty men, the of the reopened to the center by this of the general. In three hours, all was reinstated. D’Artagnan to speak more mildly; and he when the captain of the approached him, in hand, to tell him that the was again in proper order. This man had speaking, when a took off one of his legs, and he into the arms of D’Artagnan. The up his soldier, and quietly, with words, him into the trench, the of the regiments. From that time it was no longer a question of valor—the army was delirious; two away to the posts, which they destroyed.
When their comrades, with great by D’Artagnan, saw them upon the bastions, they likewise; and soon a was upon the counterscarp, upon which the safety of the place. D’Artagnan there was only one means left of his army—to take the place. He all his to the two breaches, where the were in repairing. The was terrible; eighteen took part in it, and D’Artagnan with the rest, cannon-shot of the place, to support the attack by echelons. The of the Dutch, who were being upon their by D’Artagnan’s grenadiers, were audible. The with the of the governor, who his position by foot. D’Artagnan, to put an end to the affair, and to the fire, which was unceasing, sent a fresh column, which like a very wedge; and he soon upon the ramparts, through the fire, the of the besieged, by the besiegers.
At this moment the general, and full of joy, a voice him, saying, “Monsieur, if you please, from M. Colbert.”
He the seal of the letter, which these words:
“MONSIEUR D’ARTAGNAN:—The king me to you that he has you of France, as a for your services, and the you do to his arms. The king is pleased, monsieur, with the you have made; he you, in particular, to the you have commenced, with good to you, and success for him.”
D’Artagnan was with a and eye. He looked up to watch the progress of his upon the walls, still in red and black of smoke. “I have finished,” he to the messenger; “the city will have in a of an hour.” He then his reading:
“The coffret, Monsieur d’Artagnan, is my own present. You will not be sorry to see that, you are the to the king, I am moving the pacific to ornament a present of you. I myself to your friendship, le marechal, and you to in mine. COLBERT”
D’Artagnan, with joy, a to the messenger, who approached, with his in his hands. But at the moment the was going to look at it, a loud from the ramparts, and called his attention the city. “It is strange,” said D’Artagnan, “that I don’t yet see the king’s flag on the walls, or the the chamade.” He three hundred fresh men, under a high-spirited officer, and ordered another to be made. Then, more tranquilly, he the coffret, which Colbert’s out to him.—It was his treasure—he had it.
D’Artagnan was out his hand to open the coffret, when a from the city the in the arms of the officer, D’Artagnan full in the chest, and him upon a of earth, the fleur-de-lised baton, from the box, came under the powerless hand of the marechal. D’Artagnan to himself. It was he had been without being wounded. A terrible from the group of officers; the was with blood; the of death slowly to his countenance. Leaning upon the arms out on all to him, he was able once more to turn his the place, and to the white flag at the of the bastion; his ears, already to the of life, the of the which the victory. Then, in his hand the baton, with its fleurs-de-lis, he on it his eyes, which had no longer the power of looking Heaven, and back, words, which appeared to the soldiers cabalistic—words which had so many on earth, and which none but the man any longer comprehended:
“Athos—Porthos, till we meet again! Aramis, forever!”
Of the four men history we have related, there now but one. Heaven had taken to itself three souls. 14
End of The Man in the Iron Mask. This is the last text in the series.
