按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ground floors of which were filled with musketeers and Swiss
guards； and there awaited the outcome of all this
disturbance。
Such was the state of affairs at the very moment we
introduced our readers to the study of Cardinal Mazarin
once that of Cardinal Richelieu。 We have seen in what state
of mind he listened to the murmurs from below； which even
reached him in his seclusion； and to the guns； the firing of
which resounded through that room。 All at once he raised his
head； his brow slightly contracted like that of a man who
has formed a resolution； he fixed his eyes upon an enormous
clock that was about to strike ten； and taking up a whistle
of silver gilt that stood upon the table near him； he
shrilled it twice。
A door hidden in the tapestry opened noiselessly and a man
in black silently advanced and stood behind the chair on
which Mazarin sat。
〃Bernouin；〃 said the cardinal； not turning round； for having
whistled； he knew that it was his valet…de…chambre who was
behind him； 〃what musketeers are now within the palace？〃
〃The Black Musketeers； my lord。〃
〃What company？〃
〃Treville's company。〃
〃Is there any officer belonging to this company in the
ante…chamber？〃
〃Lieutenant d'Artagnan。〃
〃A man on whom we can depend； I hope。〃
〃Yes； my lord。〃
〃Give me a uniform of one of these musketeers and help me to
put it on。〃
The valet went out as silently as he had entered and
appeared in a few minutes bringing the dress demanded。
The cardinal； in deep thought and in silence； began to take
off the robes of state he had assumed in order to be present
at the sitting of parliament； and to attire himself in the
military coat； which he wore with a certain degree of easy
grace； owing to his former campaigns in Italy。 When he was
completely dressed he said：
〃Send hither Monsieur d'Artagnan。〃
The valet went out of the room； this time by the centre
door； but still as silently as before； one might have
fancied him an apparition。
When he was left alone the cardinal looked at himself in the
glass with a feeling of self…satisfaction。 Still young
for he was scarcely forty…six years of age he possessed
great elegance of form and was above the middle height； his
complexion was brilliant and beautiful； his glance full of
expression； his nose； though large； was well proportioned；
his forehead broad and majestic； his hair； of a chestnut
color； was curled slightly； his beard； which was darker than
his hair； was turned carefully with a curling iron； a
practice that greatly improved it。 After a short time the
cardinal arranged his shoulder belt； then looked with great
complacency at his hands； which were most elegant and of
which he took the greatest care； and throwing on one side
the large kid gloves tried on at first； as belonging to the
uniform； he put on others of silk only。 At this instant the
door opened。
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan；〃 said the valet…de…chambre。
An officer； as he spoke； entered the apartment。 He was a man
between thirty…nine and forty years of age； of medium height
but a very well proportioned figure； with an intellectual
and animated physiognomy； his beard black； and his hair
turning gray； as often happens when people have found life
either too gay or too sad； more especially when they happen
to be of swart complexion。
D'Artagnan advanced a few steps into the apartment。
How perfectly he remembered his former entrance into that
very room！ Seeing； however； no one there except a musketeer
of his own troop； he fixed his eyes upon the supposed
soldier； in whose dress； nevertheless； he recognized at the
first glance the cardinal。
The lieutenant remained standing in a dignified but
respectful posture； such as became a man of good birth； who
had in the course of his life been frequently in the society
of the highest nobles。
The cardinal looked at him with a cunning rather than
serious glance； yet he examined his countenance with
attention and after a momentary silence said：
〃You are Monsieur d'Artagnan？〃
〃I am that individual；〃 replied the officer。
Mazarin gazed once more at a countenance full of
intelligence； the play of which had been； nevertheless；
subdued by age and experience； and D'Artagnan received the
penetrating glance like one who had formerly sustained many
a searching look； very different； indeed； from those which
were inquiringly directed on him at that instant。
〃Sir；〃 resumed the cardinal； 〃you are to come with me； or
rather； I am to go with you。〃
〃I am at your command； my lord；〃 returned D'Artagnan。
〃I wish to visit in person the outposts which surround the
Palais Royal； do you suppose that there is any danger in so
doing？〃
〃Danger； my lord！〃 exclaimed D'Artagnan with a look of
astonishment； 〃what danger？〃
〃I am told that there is a general insurrection。〃
〃The uniform of the king's musketeers carries a certain
respect with it； and even if that were not the case I would
engage with four of my men to put to flight a hundred of
these clowns。〃
〃Did you witness the injury sustained by Comminges？〃
〃Monsieur de Comminges is in the guards and not in the
musketeers 〃
〃Which means； I suppose； that the musketeers are better
soldiers than the guards。〃 The cardinal smiled as he spoke。
〃Every one likes his own uniform best； my lord。〃
〃Myself excepted；〃 and again Mazarin smiled； 〃for you
perceive that I have left off mine and put on yours。〃
〃Lord bless us！ this is modesty indeed！〃 cried D'Artagnan。
〃Had I such a uniform as your eminence possesses； I protest
I should be mightily content； and I would take an oath never
to wear any other costume 〃
〃Yes； but for to…night's adventure I don't suppose my dress
would have been a very safe one。 Give me my felt hat；
Bernouin。〃
The valet instantly brought to his master a regimental hat
with a wide brim。 The cardinal put it on in military style。
〃Your horses are ready saddled in their stables； are they
not？〃 he said； turning to D'Artagnan。
〃Yes； my lord。〃
〃Well； let us set out。〃
〃How many men does your eminence wish to escort you？〃
〃You say that with four men you will undertake to disperse a
hundred low fellows； as it may happen that we shall have to
encounter two hundred； take eight 〃
〃As many as my lord wishes。〃
〃I will follow you。 This way light us downstairs Bernouin。
The valet held a wax…light； the cardinal took a key from his
bureau and opening the door of a secret stair descended into
the court of the Palais Royal。
2
A Nightly Patrol。
In ten minutes Mazarin and his party were traversing the
street 〃Les Bons Enfants〃 behind the theatre built by
Richelieu expressly for the play of 〃Mirame；〃 and in which
Mazarin； who was an amateur of music； but not of literature；
had introduced into France the first opera that was ever
acted in that country。
The appearance of the town denoted the greatest agitation。
Numberless groups paraded the streets and； whatever
D'Artagnan might think of it； it was obvious that the
citizens had for the night laid aside their usual
forbearance； in order to assume a warlike aspect。 From time
to time noises came in the direction of the public markets。
The report of firearms was heard near the Rue Saint Denis
and occasionally church bells began to