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〃I think I have sprained my wrist；' said Porthos。
〃The devil！ why； you strike like a blind or a deaf man。〃
〃It was necessary； my man was going to fire a pistol at me；
but you how did you get rid of yours？〃
〃Oh； mine；〃 replied D'Artagnan； 〃was not a man。〃
〃What was it then？〃
〃It was an apparition。〃
〃And 〃
〃I charmed it away。〃
Without further explanation D'Artagnan took the pistols
which were upon the front seat； placed them in his belt；
wrapped himself in his cloak； and not wishing to enter by
the same gate 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 the musketeers； he
was surrounded； with the intention of making him cry； 〃Down
with 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 the most exacting were
satisfied。 He walked down the Rue Richelieu； meditating how
he should carry off the queen in her turn； for to take her
in a carriage bearing the arms of France was not to be
thought 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 exclaimed； 〃that would be fair play。〃
And approaching the carriage； he examined the arms on the
panels and the livery of the coachman on his box。 This
scrutiny was so much the more easy； the coachman being sound
asleep。
〃It is； in truth； monsieur le coadjuteur's carriage；〃 said
D'Artagnan； 〃upon my honor I begin to think that Heaven
favors us。〃
He mounted noiselessly into the chariot and pulled the silk
cord which was attached to the coachman's little finger。
〃To the Palais Royal；〃 he called out。
The coachman awoke with a start and drove off in the
direction he was desired； never doubting but that the order
had come from his master。 The porter at the palace was about
to close the gates； but seeing such a handsome equipage he
fancied that it was some visit of importance and the
carriage was allowed to pass and to stop beneath the porch。
It was then only the coachman perceived the grooms were not
behind the vehicle； he fancied monsieur le coadjuteur had
sent them back； and without dropping the reins he sprang
from his box to open the door。 D'Artagnan； in his turn；
sprang to the ground； and just at the moment when the
coachman； alarmed at not seeing his master； fell back a
step； he seized him by his collar with the left； whilst with
the right hand he placed the muzzle of a pistol at his
breast。
〃Pronounce one single word；〃 muttered D'Artagnan； 〃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 mouth wide open and his eyes
portentously staring。
Two musketeers were pacing the court； to whom D'Artagnan
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 importance
on the service of the king。〃
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 musketeer； D'Artagnan said：
〃Monsieur du Verger； help me to place this man in a place of
safety。〃
The musketeer； thinking that his lieutenant had just
arrested some prince in disguise； bowed； and drawing his
sword； signified 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…room。
Bernouin was waiting there； impatient for news of his
master。
〃Well； sir？〃 he said。
〃Everything goes on capitally； my dear Monsieur Bernouin；
but here is a man whom I must beg 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 windows of which were barred
and which looked very much like a prison。
〃And now； my good 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 him
that he stammered and reeled like a drunken man； D'Artagnan
deposited his clothes under the arm of one of the valets。
〃And now； Monsieur du Verger；〃 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 amusing；
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 man attempt
to fly or to call out； pass your sword through his body。〃
The musketeer signified by a nod that these commands should
be obeyed to the letter； and D'Artagnan went out； followed
by Bernouin。 Midnight struck。
〃Lead me into the queen's oratory；〃 said D'Artagnan；
〃announce to her I am here； and put this parcel； with a
well…loaded musket； under the seat of the carriage which is
waiting at 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 almost all
the guests had dispersed； those who were 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； remaining
the last； was amusing himself by placing some lead soldiers
in a line of battle； a game which delighted him much。 Two
royal pages were playing with him。
〃Laporte；〃 said the queen； 〃it is time for his majesty to go
to bed。〃
The king asked to remain up； having； he said； no wish to
sleep； but the queen was firm。
〃Are you not going to…morrow morning at six o'clock； Louis；
to bathe at Conflans？ I think you wished to do so of your
own accord？〃
〃You are right； madame；〃 said the king； 〃and I am ready to
retire to my room when you have kissed me。 Laporte； give the
light to Monsieur the Chevalier de Coislin。〃
The queen touched with her lips the white； smooth brow the
royal child presented to her with a gravity which already
partook of etiquette。
〃Go to sleep soon； Louis；〃 said the queen； 〃for you must be
awakened very early。〃
〃I will do my best to obey you； madame；〃 said the youthful
king； 〃but I have no inclination to sleep。〃
〃Laporte