A moment, gentlemen, a moment; give Grimaud time to
clearaway the breakfast.
See what she writes to me, Athos, said he. But,
said Porthos, I think I have an idea, in my turn. Your relativeleft La Rochelle for
England during the night.
Could we send anyone to Paris without itsbeing
known in the camp? You will come off splendidly at those twoexercises; but pass the
pen over to Monsieur Abbe. RichelieuIn fact, said Aramis, it is an absolution
according to rule. The young men sprang up, and seized their muskets.
A moment, gentlemen, a moment; give Grimaud time to
clearaway the breakfast.
And this carte blanche, said dArtagnan, this
carteblanche, does it remain in her hands?
DArtagnan uttered an exclamation of surprise
andindignation.
Only with that wordyou would be quartered instead
of being broken on thewheel. TheRochellais had at last taken possession of the
bastion.
Dessessarts valet came to dArtagnanslodging, and
gave him a bag containing seven thousandlivres. As soon as the enemyare within
musket shot, we must fire upon them. We must fire aslong as we have loaded
guns.
The affair was described to the messenger with all
theeffervescence of enthusiasm. It is probablethat the succor of the English fleet
will never even arrivein sight of the place. There is nothing now to do but to put
theaddress to this letter.
Besides, said Aramis, God desires the conversion
and notthe death of a sinner.
At the end of an instant they heard a furious
fusillade. We must fire aslong as we have loaded guns.
DArtagnan passed the day in exhibiting his
Musketeersuniform in every street of the camp.
Well, now that will do wonderfully well, said
Athos.
The queen saving Monsieur de Buckingham, her lover;
nothingmore just.
Then, monsieur, said Planchet, you must buy me a
watch.
He forgot the necessaryslowness of navigation; he
exaggerated to himself the powerof Milady. Grimaud and his basket were far in
advance, out of the rangeof the balls.
In fact, as we have said, the whole camp was in
motion.
I have the note, said he to Athos and to his
friends. On the contrary, said Athos, it must be preservedcarefully.
Aramis, confiding in the address of Bazin, made a
pompouseulogium on his candidate.
That evening dArtagnan went to present his respects
to M. A man of spirit is not to be reminded ofsuch services. Gentlemen, said he, we
have been here an hour, and ourwager is won; but we will be fair players. In that
case we are as well off as we wish.
I hear no balls whistle, and I see nobody! But when
you held her in your power, why did you not drownher, strangle her, hang
her?
Besides,dArtagnan has not told us his idea yet. You
are right, Athos, said Aramis; and it isa rather difficult matter.