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The Man in the Iron Mask, a novel by Alexandre Dumas |
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CHAPTER XLII - Belle-Ile-en-Mer |
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_ At the extremity of the mole, against which the furious sea beats at the evening tide, two men, holding each other by the arm, were conversing in an animated and expansive tone, without the possibility of any other human being hearing their words, borne away, as they were, one by one, by the gusts of wind, with the white foam swept from the crests of the waves. The sun had just gone down in the vast sheet of the crimsoned ocean, like a gigantic crucible. From time to time, one of these men, turning towards the east, cast an anxious, inquiring look over the sea. The other, interrogating the features of his companion, seemed to seek for information in his looks. Then, both silent, busied with dismal thoughts, they resumed their walk. Every one has already perceived that these two men were our proscribed heroes, Porthos and Aramis, who had taken refuge in Belle-Isle, since the ruin of their hopes, since the discomfiture of the colossal schemes of M. d'Herblay. "If is of no use your saying anything to the contrary, my dear Aramis," "True," murmured Aramis. "You are right, friend Porthos; it is true, "And further," added Porthos, whose ideas the assent of the bishop of "I have remarked it as well as yourself." "And do you not think it strange that the two only boats we had left in Aramis here interrupted his companion by a cry, and by so sudden a "In search of the others! Yes, to be sure I have," replied Porthos, "Unhappy man! What have you done? Then we are indeed lost," cried the "Lost! - what did you say?" exclaimed the terrified Porthos. "How lost, Aramis bit his lips. "Nothing! nothing! Your pardon, I meant to say - " "What?" "That if we were inclined - if we took a fancy to make an excursion by "Very good! and why should that vex you? A precious pleasure, _ma foi!_ Aramis breathed a long, but stifled sigh. "Dear friend," replied he: "'Departed!' And the orders, Aramis?" "What orders?" "_Parbleu!_ Why, the orders you have been constantly, in and out of "That is true!" murmured Aramis again. "You see, then, plainly, my friend, that we could not depart; and that Aramis was silent; and his vague glances, luminous as that of an "With all that, Aramis," continued Porthos, who adhered to his idea, and "Think all you like, my good Porthos, and say nothing." This reply did not satisfy Porthos at all. He turned away grumbling "Oh!" said Porthos; "but six leagues." "If you had seen me get astride of a plank, would you have remained on "No, _pardieu!_ No, Aramis. But, nowadays, what sort of a plank should "No," replied Aramis, without daring to look at Porthos. "Let us stay where we are, then," said his friend, with a sigh, which, in "Have you remarked another thing, my friend - that is, since the "Yes, certainly! you are right. I, too, have remarked it, and the "I must inquire," said Aramis, suddenly, and with great agitation. "And "But there are some canoes, my friend; shall I board one?" "A canoe! - a canoe! Can you think of such a thing, Porthos? A canoe to And Aramis continued walking about with increased agitation. Porthos, "Porthos," said Aramis, much embarrassed. "I know that the false king wished to dethrone the true king. That is a "Yes?" said Aramis. "I know that the false king formed the project of selling Belle-Isle to "Yes?" "I know that we engineers and captains came and threw ourselves into Aramis rose in a state of great impatience. He might be said to be a The bishop raised his head. "Well! Aramis," continued Porthos, "I have "Porthos, what is that yonder?" interrupted Aramis, rising suddenly, and "A bark!" said Porthos; "yes, it is a bark! Ah! we shall have some news "There are two!" cried the bishop, on discovering another mast; "two! "Five!" said Porthos, in his turn. "Six! seven! Ah! _mon Dieu! mon "Our boats returning, probably," said Aramis, very uneasily, in spite of "They are very large for fishing-boats," observed Porthos, "and do you "They come from the Loire - yes - " "And look! everybody here sees them as well as ourselves; look, women and An old fisherman passed. "Are those our barks, yonder?" asked Aramis. The old man looked steadily into the eye of the horizon. "No, monseigneur," replied he, "they are lighter boars, boats in the "Boats in the royal service?" replied Aramis, starting. "How do you know "By the flag." "But," said Porthos, "the boat is scarcely visible; how the devil, my "I see there is one," replied the old man; "our boats, trade lighters, do "Ah!" groaned Aramis. "_Vivat!_" cried Porthos, "they are sending us reinforcements, don't you "Probably." "Unless it is the English coming." "By the Loire? That would have an evil look, Porthos; for they must have "You are right; they are reinforcements, decidedly, or provisions." Aramis leaned his head upon his hands, and made no reply. Then, all at "The alarm! do you imagine such a thing?" "Yes, and let the cannoniers mount their batteries, the artillerymen be Porthos opened his eyes to their widest extent. He looked attentively at "_I_ will do it, my dear Porthos," continued Aramis, in his blandest "Well! I will - instantly!" said Porthos, who went to execute the "My dear friend, you will comprehend but too soon," murmured M. "The fleet which is coming yonder, with sails unfurled, straight towards "But as there are two kings in France, Porthos, to which of these two "Oh! you open my eyes," replied the giant, stunned by the insinuation. And Porthos, whose eyes this reply of his friend's had at last opened, or "Well, Jonathan, from whom do you come?" "Monseigneur, from those who captured me." "Who captured you?" "You know, monseigneur, we set out in search of our comrades?" "Yes; and afterwards?" "Well! monseigneur, within a short league we were captured by a _chasse "Ah!" said Aramis. "Of which king?" cried Porthos. Jonathan started. "Speak!" continued the bishop. "We were captured, monseigneur, and joined to those who had been taken "What was the cause of the mania for capturing you all?" said Porthos. "Monsieur, to prevent us from telling you," replied Jonathan. Porthos was again at a loss to comprehend. "And they have released you "That I might tell you they have captured us, monsieur." "Trouble upon trouble," thought honest Porthos. During this time Aramis was reflecting. "Humph!" said he, "then I suppose it is a royal fleet blockading the "Yes, monseigneur." "Who commands it?" "The captain of the king's musketeers." "D'Artagnan?" "D'Artagnan!" exclaimed Porthos. "I believe that is the name." "And did he give you this letter?" "Yes, monseigneur." "Bring the torches nearer." "It is his writing," said Porthos. Aramis eagerly read the following lines: "Order of the king to take Belle-Isle; or to put the garrison to the Aramis turned pale, and crushed the paper in his hands. "What is it?" asked Porthos. "Nothing, my friend, nothing." "Tell me, Jonathan?" "Monseigneur?" "Did you speak to M. d'Artagnan?" "Yes, monseigneur." "What did he say to you?" "That for ampler information, he would speak with monseigneur." "Where?" "On board his own vessel." "On board his vessel!" and Porthos repeated, "On board his vessel!" "M. le mousquetaire," continued Jonathan, "told me to take you both on "Let us go at once," exclaimed Porthos. "Dear D'Artagnan!" But Aramis stopped him. "Are you mad?" cried he. "Who knows that it is "Of the other king's?" said Porthos, mysteriously. "A snare, in fact! That's what it is, my friend." "Very possibly; what is to be done, then? If D'Artagnan sends for us - " "Who assures you that D'Artagnan sends for us?" "Well, but - but his writing - " "Writing is easily counterfeited. This looks counterfeited - unsteady - " "You are always right; but, in the meantime, we know nothing." Aramis was silent. "It is true," said the good Porthos, "we do not want to know anything." "What shall I do?" asked Jonathan. "You will return on board this captain's vessel." "Yes, monseigneur." "And will tell him that we beg he will himself come into the island." "Ah! I comprehend!" said Porthos. "Yes, monseigneur," replied Jonathan; "but if the captain should refuse "If he refuses, as we have cannon, we will make use of them." "What! against D'Artagnan?" "If it is D'Artagnan, Porthos, he will come. Go, Jonathan, go!" "_Ma foi!_ I no longer comprehend anything," murmured Porthos. "I will make you comprehend it all, my dear friend; the time for it has "Oh! _pardieu!_ I will listen, no fear of that." "May I depart, monseigneur?" cried Jonathan. "Yes, begone, and bring back an answer. Allow the canoe to pass, you men Aramis took Porthos by the hand, and commenced his explanations. _ |