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〃Such are my orders。〃
〃Sir； since you command the cavalry 〃
〃Pardon me； I am commander…in…chief。〃
〃So much the better。 You must know all your officers I
mean those more distinguished。〃
〃Why； yes； very nearly。〃
〃Will you then kindly tell me if you have in your command
the Chevalier d'Artagnan； lieutenant in the musketeers？〃
〃No； sir； he is not with us； he left Paris more than six
weeks ago and is believed to have gone on a mission to
England。〃
〃I knew that； but I supposed he had returned。〃
〃No； sir； no one has seen him。 I can answer positively on
that point； for the musketeers belong to our forces and
Monsieur de Cambon； the substitute for Monsieur d'Artagnan；
still holds his place。〃
The two friends looked at each other。
〃You see；〃 said Athos。
〃It is strange；〃 said Aramis。
〃It is absolutely certain that some misfortune has happened
to them on the way。〃
〃If we have no news of them this evening； to…morrow we must
start。〃
Athos nodded affirmatively； then turning：
〃And Monsieur de Bragelonne； a young man fifteen years of
age； attached to the Prince de Conde has he the honor of
being known to you？〃 diffident in allowing the sarcastic
Aramis to perceive how strong were his paternal feelings。
〃Yes； surely； he came with the prince； a charming young man；
he is one of your friends then； monsieur le comte？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered Athos； agitated； 〃so much so that I
wish to see him if possible。〃
〃Quite possible； sir； do me the favor to accompany me and I
will conduct you to headquarters。〃
〃Halloo； there！〃 cried Aramis； turning around； 〃what a noise
behind us！〃
〃A body of cavaliers is coming toward us；〃 said Chatillon。
〃I recognize the coadjutor by his Frondist hat。〃
〃And I the Duc de Beaufort by his white plume of ostrich
feathers。〃
〃They are coming； full gallop； the prince is with them
ah！ he is leaving them！〃
〃They are beating the rappel！〃 cried Chatillon； 〃we must
discover what is going on。〃
In fact； they saw the soldiers running to their arms； the
trumpets sounded； the drums beat； the Duc de Beaufort drew
his sword。 On his side the prince sounded a rappel and all
the officers of the royalist army； mingling momentarily with
the Parisian troops； ran to him。
〃Gentlemen；〃 cried Chatillon； 〃the truce is broken； that is
evident； they are going to fight； go； then； into Charenton；
for I shall begin in a short time there's a signal from
the prince！〃
The cornet of a troop had in fact just raised the standard
of the prince。
〃Farewell； till the next time we meet；〃 cried Chatillon； and
he set off； full gallop。
Athos and Aramis turned also and went to salute the
coadjutor and the Duc de Beaufort。 As to the Duc de
Bouillon； he had such a fit of gout as obliged him to return
to Paris in a litter； but his place was well filled by the
Duc d'Elbeuf and his four sons； ranged around him like a
staff。 Meantime； between Charenton and the royal army was
left a space which looked ready to serve as a last resting
place for the dead。
〃Gentlemen；〃 cried the coadjutor； tightening his sash； which
he wore； after the fashion of the ancient military prelates；
over his archiepiscopal simar； 〃there's the enemy
approaching。 Let us save them half of their journey。〃
And without caring whether he were followed or not he set
off； his regiment； which bore the name of the regiment of
Corinth； from the name of his archbishopric； darted after
him and began the fight。 Monsieur de Beaufort sent his
cavalry； toward Etampes and Monsieur de Chanleu； who
defended the place； was ready to resist an assault； or if
the enemy were repulsed； to attempt a sortie。
The battle soon became general and the coadjutor performed
miracles of valor。 His proper vocation had always been the
sword and he was delighted whenever he could draw it from
the scabbard； no matter for whom or against whom。
Chanleu； whose fire at one time repulsed the royal regiment；
thought that the moment was come to pursue it； but it was
reformed and led again to the charge by the Duc de Chatillon
in person。 This charge was so fierce； so skillfully
conducted； that Chanleu was almost surrounded。 He commanded
a retreat； which began； step by step； foot by foot；
unhappily； in an instant he fell； mortally wounded。 De
Chatillon saw him fall and announced it in a loud voice to
his men； which raised their spirits and completely
disheartened their enemies； so that every man thought only
of his own safety and tried to gain the trenches； where the
coadjutor was trying to reform his disorganized regiment。
Suddenly a squadron of cavalry galloped up to encounter the
royal troops； who were entering； pele…mele； the
intrenchments with the fugitives。 Athos and Aramis charged
at the head of their squadrons； Aramis with sword and pistol
in his hands； Athos with his sword in his scabbard； his
pistol in his saddle…bags； calm and cool as if on the
parade； except that his noble and beautiful countenance
became sad as he saw slaughtered so many men who were
sacrificed on the one side to the obstinacy of royalty and
on the other to the personal rancor of the princes。 Aramis；
on the contrary； struck right and left and was almost
delirious with excitement。 His bright eyes kindled； and his
mouth； so finely formed； assumed a wicked smile； every blow
he aimed was sure； and his pistol finished the deed
annihilated the wounded wretch who tried to rise again。
On the opposite side two cavaliers； one covered with a gilt
cuirass； the other wearing simply a buff doublet； from which
fell the sleeves of a vest of blue velvet； charged in front。
The cavalier in the gilt cuirass fell upon Aramis and struck
a blow that Aramis parried with his wonted skill。
〃Ah！ 'tis you； Monsieur de Chatillon；〃 cried the chevalier；
〃welcome to you I expected you。〃
〃I hope I have not made you wait too long； sir；〃 said the
duke； 〃at all events； here I am。〃
〃Monsieur de Chatillon；〃 cried Aramis； taking from his
saddle…bags a second pistol； 〃I think if your pistols have
been discharged you are a dead man。〃
〃Thank God； sir； they are not！〃
And the duke； pointing his pistol at Aramis； fired。 But
Aramis bent his head the instant he saw the duke's finger
press the trigger and the ball passed without touching him。
〃Oh！ you've missed me；〃 cried Aramis； 〃but I swear to
Heaven！ I will not miss you。〃
〃If I give you time！〃 cried the duke； spurring on his horse
and rushing upon him with his drawn sword。
Aramis awaited him with that terrible smile which was
peculiar to him on such occasions； and Athos； who saw the
duke advancing toward Aramis with the rapidity of lightning；
was just going to cry out； 〃Fire！ fire； then！〃 when the shot
was fired。 De Chatillon opened his arms and fell back on the
crupper of his horse。
The ball had entered his breast through a notch in the
cuirass。
〃I am a dead man；〃 he said； and fell from his horse to the
ground。
〃I told you this； I am now grieved I have kept my word。 Can
I be of any use to you？〃
Chatillon made a sign with his hand and Aramis was about to
dismount when he received a violent shock； 'twas a thrust
from a sword； but his cuirass turned aside the blow。
He turned around and seized his new antagonist by the wrist；
when he