The Man in the Iron Mask

Chapter 12

With men of Aramiss stamp, he said, one is never the stronger except with sword in hand. So long as Aramis continued a soldier, there was hope of getting the better of him; but since he has covered his cuirass with a stole, we are lost. But what can Aramiss object be? and dArtagnan plunged again into deep thought. What does it matter to me, after all, he continued, if his only object is to overthrow M. Colbert? And what else can he be after? and dArtagnan rubbed his forehead,- that fertile land, whence the plough-share of his nails had turned up so many and such admirable ideas. He at first thought of talking the matter over with Colbert; but his friendship for Aramis, the oath of earlier days, bound him too strictly. He revolted at the bare idea of such a thing; and, besides, he hated the financier. He wished to unburden his mind to the King; but the King would not be able to understand the suspicions which had not even the solidity of a shadow. He resolved to address himself to Aramis directly, the first time he met him. I will take him, said the musketeer, between a couple of candles suddenly; I will place my hand upon his heart, and he will tell me- What will he tell me? Yes, he will tell me something; for, mordioux! there is something underneath.

Somewhat calmer, dArtagnan made every preparation for the journey, and took the greatest care that the military household of the King, as yet very inconsiderable in numbers, should be well officered and well disciplined in its limited proportions. The result was that through the captains arrangements, the King, on arriving at Melun, saw himself at the head of the Musketeers, his Swiss Guards, and a picket of the French Guards. It might almost have been called a small army. M. Colbert looked at the troops with great delight; he even wished there had been a third more in number.

But why? said the King.

To show greater honor to M. Fouquet, replied Colbert.

To ruin him the sooner, thought dArtagnan.

When this little army appeared before Melun, the chief magistrates came out to meet the King and to present him with the keys of the city, and invited him to enter the Hotel de Ville to partake of the wine of honor. The King, who expected to pass through the city and to proceed to Vaux without delay, became quite red in the face from vexation.

Who was fool enough to occasion this delay? muttered the King, between his teeth, as the chief magistrate was in the middle of a long address.

Not I, certainly, replied dArtagnan; but I believe it was M. Colbert.

Colbert, having heard his name pronounced, said, What was M. dArtagnan good enough to say?

I was good enough to remark that it was you who stopped the Kings progress, so that he might taste the vin de Brie. Was I right?

Quite so, Monsieur.

In that case, then, it was you whom the King called some name or other.

What name?

I hardly know; but wait a moment, i***t, I think it was,- no, no, it was fool, fool, stupid. That is what his Majesty said of the man who procured for him the wine of Melun.

DArtagnan, after this broadside, quietly caressed his horse. M. Colberts large head seemed to become larger than ever. DArtagnan, seeing how ugly anger made him, did not stop half-way. The orator still went on with his speech, while the Kings color was visibly increasing. Mordioux! said the musketeer, coolly, the King is going to have an attack of determination of blood to the head. Where the deuce did you get hold of that idea, M. Colbert? You have no luck!

Monsieur, said the financier, drawing himself up, my zeal for the Kings service inspired me with the idea.

Bah!

Monsieur, Melun is a city, an excellent city, which pays well, and which it would be imprudent to displease.

There now! I, who do not pretend to be a financier, saw only one idea in your idea.

What was that, Monsieur?

That of causing a little annoyance to M. Fouquet, who is making himself quite giddy on his donjons yonder, in waiting for us.

This was a home-stroke, and a hard one. Colbert was confounded by it, and retired, thoroughly discomfited. Fortunately, the speech was now at an end. The King drank the wine which was presented to him, and then all resumed their course through the city. The King bit his lips in anger; for the evening was closing in, and all hope of a walk with La Valliere was over. In order that the whole of the Kings household should enter Vaux, four hours at least were necessary, owing to the different arrangements. The King, therefore, who was boiling with impatience, hurried forward as much as possible, in order to arrive before nightfall. But at the moment he was setting off again, other and fresh difficulties arose.

Is not the King going to sleep at Melun? said Colbert, in a low tone of voice, to dArtagnan.

M. Colbert must have been badly inspired that day, to address himself in that manner to the chief of the Musketeers; for the latter guessed that the Kings intention was very far from that of remaining where he was. DArtagnan would not allow him to enter Vaux except he were well and strongly accompanied, and desired that his Majesty should not enter except with all the escort. On the other hand, he felt that these delays would irritate that impatient character beyond measure. In what way could he possibly reconcile these two difficulties? DArtagnan took up Colberts remark, and determined to repeat it to the King.

Sire, he said, M. Colbert has been asking me if your Majesty does not intend to sleep at Melun.

Sleep at Melun! What for? exclaimed Louis XIV. Sleep at Melun! Who, in Heavens name, can have thought of such a thing, when M. Fouquet is expecting us this evening?

It was simply, returned Colbert, quickly, the fear of causing your Majesty any delay; for, according to established etiquette, you cannot enter any place, with the exception of your own royal residences, until the soldiers quarters have been marked out by the quartermaster, and the garrison has been properly distributed.

DArtagnan listened with the greatest attention, biting his mustache; and the Queens listened attentively also. They were fatigued, and would have liked to go to rest without proceeding any farther, and especially to prevent the King from walking about in the evening with M. de Saint-Aignan and the ladies of the court; for if etiquette required the Princesses to remain within their own rooms, the ladies of honor, as soon as they had performed the services required of them, had no restrictions placed upon them, but were at liberty to walk about as they pleased. It will easily be conjectured that all these rival interests, gathering together in vapors, must necessarily produce clouds, and that the clouds would be followed by a tempest. The King had no mustache to gnaw, and therefore kept biting the handle of his whip instead, with ill-concealed impatience. How could he get out of it? DArtagnan looked as agreeable as possible, and Colbert as sulky as he could. Who was there, then, with whom Louis could get in a passion?

We will consult the Queen, said Louis XIV, bowing to the royal ladies.

This kindness of consideration softened Maria Theresas heart, who was of a kind and generous disposition, and who, left to her own free will, replied: I shall be delighted to do whatever your Majesty wishes.

How long will it take us to get to Vaux? inquired Anne of Austria, in slow and measured accents, placing her hand upon her suffering bosom.

An hour for your Majesties carriages, said dArtagnan; the roads are tolerably good.

The King looked at him. And a quarter of an hour for the King, he hastened to add.

We should arrive by daylight, said Louis XIV.

But the billeting of the Kings military escort, objected Colbert, softly, will make his Majesty lose all the advantage of his speed, however quick he may be.

Double ass that you are! thought dArtagnan; if I had any interest or motive in demolishing your credit, I could do it in ten minutes. If I were in the Kings place, he added, aloud, I should, in going to M. Fouquet, leave my escort behind me. I should go to him as a friend; I should enter accompanied only by my captain of the Guards. I should consider that I was acting more nobly, and should be invested with a still more sacred character by doing so.

Delight sparkled in the Kings eyes. That is, indeed, a very good suggestion. We will go to see a friend as friends. Those gentlemen who are with the carriages can go slowly; but we who are mounted- Forward! and he rode off, accompanied by all those who were mounted.

Colbert hid his ugly head behind his horses neck.

I shall be quits, said dArtagnan, as he galloped along, by getting a little talk with Aramis this evening. And then, M. Fouquet is a man of honor. Mordioux! I have said so, and it must be so.

In this way, towards seven oclock in the evening, without trumpets, without advanced guard, without outriders or musketeers, the King presented himself before the gate of Vaux, where Fouquet, who had been informed of his royal guests approach, had been waiting for the last half-hour, with his head uncovered, surrounded by his household and his friends.