"Good," thought the Gascon, "he is frightened: I am safe.""Oh! as to the king," said Monk, "fear nothing, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan; the king will not jest with Monk, Iassure you!"
The momentary flash of his eye was noticed by D'Artagnan.
Monk lowered his tone immediately: "The king," continued he, "is of too noble a nature, the king's heart is too high to allow him to wish ill to those who do him good.""Oh! certainly," cried D'Artagnan."I am entirely of your grace's opinion with regard to his heart, but not as to his head -- it is good, but it is trifling.""The king will not trifle with Monk, be assured.""Then you are quite at ease, my lord?"
"On that side, at least! yes, perfectly.""Oh! I understand you; you are at ease as far as the king is concerned?""I have told you I was."
"But you are not so much so on my account?""I thought I had told you that I had faith in your loyalty and discretion.""No doubt, no doubt, but you must remember one thing ---- ""What is that?"
"That I was not alone, that I had companions; and what companions!""Oh! yes, I know them."
"And, unfortunately, my lord, they know you, too!""Well?"
"Well; they are yonder, at Boulogne, waiting for me.""And you fear ---- "
"Yes, I fear that in my absence -- Parbleu! If I were near them, I could answer for their silence.""Was I not right in saying that the danger, if there was any danger, would not come from his majesty, however disposed he may be to jest, but from your companions, as you say? To be laughed at by a king may be tolerable, but by the horse-boys and scamps of the army! Damn it!""Yes, I understand, that would be unbearable, that is why, my lord, I came to say, -- do you not think it would be better for me to set out for France as soon as possible?""Certainly, if you think your presence ---- ""Would impose silence upon these scoundrels? Oh! I am sure of that, my lord.""Your presence will not prevent the report from spreading, if the tale has already transpired.""Oh! it has not transpired, my lord, I will wager.At all events, be assured I am determined upon one thing.""What is that?"
"To blow out the brains of the first who shall have propagated that report, and of the first who has heard it.
After which I shall return to England to seek an asylum, and perhaps employment with your grace.""Oh, come back! come back!"
"Unfortunately, my lord, I am acquainted with nobody here but your grace, and if I should no longer find you, or if you should have forgotten me in your greatness?""Listen to me, Monsieur d'Artagnan," replied Monk; "you are a superior man, full of intelligence and courage; you deserve all the good fortune this world can bring you; come with me into Scotland, and, I swear to you, I shall arrange for you a fate which all may envy.""Oh! my lord, that is impossible.At present I have a sacred duty to perform; I have to watch over your glory, I have to prevent a low jester from tarnishing in the eyes of our contemporaries -- who knows? in the eyes of posterity -- the splendor of your name.""Of posterity, Monsieur d'Artagnan?"
"Doubtless.It is necessary, as regards posterity, that all the details of that history should remain a mystery; for, admit that this unfortunate history of the deal box should spread, and it should be asserted that you had not re-established the king loyally, and of your own free will, but in consequence of a compromise entered into at Scheveningen between you two.It would be vain for me to declare how the thing came about, for though I know I should not be believed, it would be said that I had received my part of the cake, and was eating it."Monk knitted his brow.-- "Glory, honor, probity!" said he, "you are but empty words.""Mist!" replied D'Artagnan; "nothing but mist, through which nobody can see clearly.""Well, then, go to France, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan,"said Monk; "go, and to render England more attractive and agreeable to you, accept a remembrance of me.
"What now?" thought D'Artagnan.
"I have on the banks of the Clyde," continued Monk, "a little house in a grove, cottage as it is called here.To this house are attached a hundred acres of land.Accept it as a souvenir.""Oh my lord! ---- "
"Faith! you will be there in your own home, and that will be the place of refuge you spoke of just now.""For me to be obliged to your lordship to such an extent!
Really, your grace, I am ashamed."
"Not at all, not at all, monsieur," replied Monk, with an arch smile; "it is I who shall be obliged to you.And,"pressing the hand of the musketeer, "I shall go and draw up the deed of gift," -- and he left the room.
D'Artagnan looked at him as he went out with something of a pensive and even an agitated air.
"After all," said he, "he is a brave man.It is only a sad reflection that it is from fear of me, and not affection that he acts thus.Well, I shall endeavor that affection may follow." Then, after an instant's deeper reflection, --"Bah!" said he, "to what purpose? He is an Englishman." And he in his turn went out, a little confused after the combat.
"So," said he, "I am a land-owner! But how the devil am I to share the cottage with Planchet? Unless I give him the land, and I take the chateau, or that he takes the house and I --nonsense! M.Monk will never allow me to share a house he has inhabited, with a grocer.He is too proud for that.
Besides, why should I say anything about it to him? It was not with the money of the company I have acquired that property, it was with my mother-wit alone; it is all mine, then.So, now I will go and find Athos." And he directed his steps towards the dwelling of the Comte de la Fere.
