”
“Sir, my right-hand correspondent redoubles his signals; he is
impatient.
“Sir, my right-hand correspondent redoubles his signals; he is
impatient.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v09 - Dra to Eme
But as a rule it is not histori-
cal facts, it is the fictitious adventures of characters living in an
historical atmosphere, that entertain us in Dumas.
The minute inquirer may now compare the sixteenth-century
Memoirs of Monsieur D'Artagnan' (fictitious memoirs, no doubt) with
the use made of them by Dumas in The Three Musketeers) and
“Twenty Years After. ' The Memoirs) (reprinted by the Librairie
Illustrée, Paris) gave Dumas his opening scenes; gave him young
D'Artagnan, Porthos, Athos, Aramis, Rosnay, De Treville, Milady, the
whole complicated intrigue of Milady, D'Artagnan, and De Vardes.
They gave him several incidents, duels, and local color. ” By
## p. 4966 (#134) ###########################################
4966
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
making Milady the wife of Athos, Dumas knotted his plot; he added
the journey to England, after the Queen's diamonds; from a subordi-
nate character he borrowed the clerical character of Aramis; a mere
hint in the Memoirs) suggested the Bastion Saint-Gervais. The dis-
crimination of character, the dialogue, and many adventures, are
Dumas's own; he was aided by Maquet in the actual writing. In a
similar way, Brantôme and L'Estoile, in their Memoirs,' supply the
canvas of the tales of the Valois cycle.
The beginner in Dumas will assuredly find the following his best
works. For the Valois period, (The Horoscope) (a good deal neg-
lected), Queen Margot,' The Lady of Monsoreau,' (The Forty-Five.
Isabeau of Bavière,' an early novel, deals with the anarchy and
misery before the coming of Jeanne d'Arc. For Henri II. , The Two
Dianas' is indicated. For the times of Richelieu, Mazarin, Louis
XIV. , we have (The Three Musketeers,' (Twenty Years After,' and
(The Viscount of Bragelonne. ' These deal with the youth, middle
age, old age, and death of D'Artagnan, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis.
The Revolutionary novels, Joseph Balsamo,' The Queen's Necklace,'
and others, are much less excellent. The Regency is not ill done in
(The Regent's Daughter'; and “The Chevalier of Harmenthal,' with
(Olympe of Cleves,' has many admirers. Quite apart from these is
the immense modern fantasy of The Count of Monte Cristo'; the
opening part alone is worthy of the master. “The Black Tulip,' so
warmly praised by Thackeray, is an innocent little romance of the
days of Dutch William. Les jeunes filles may read The Black Tulip':
indeed, Dumas does not sacrifice at all to “the Goddess of Lubricity,”
even when he describes very lax moralities.
With a knowledge of these books, and of My Pets) and the
Memoirs,' any student will find himself at home in Dumas, and can
make wider ranges in that great wilderness of fancy. Some autobio-
graphical details will be found in the novel called 'Ange Pithou. '
(Isaac Laquedem' was meant to be a romance of the Wandering
Jew; only two volumes are published. Philosophy a reader will not
find, nor delicate analysis, nor chiseled style ); but he will be in
touch with a great sunny life, rejoicing in all the accidents of exist-
ence.
Alany
## p. 4967 (#135) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4967
THE CURE FOR DORMICE THAT EAT PEACHES
From (The Count of Monte Cristo)
N°
or on the same night he had intended, but the next morn-
ing, the Count of Monte Cristo went out on the road to
Orléans. Leaving the village of Linas, without stopping
at the telegraph, which at the moment the count passed threw
out its long bony arms, he reached the tower of Montlhéry, sit-
uated, as every one knows, upon the highest point of the plain
of that name. At the foot of the hill the count dismounted, and
began to ascend the mountain by a little winding path about
eighteen inches wide; when he reached the summit he found
himself stopped by a hedge, upon which green fruit had suc-
ceeded to red and white flowers.
Monte Cristo looked for the door of the inclosure, and was
not long in finding it. It was a little wooden gate, working on
willow hinges, and fastened with a nail and string. The count
soon understood its mechanism, and the door opened. He then
found himself in a little marvelously well-kept garden, about
twenty feet long by twelve wide, bounded on one side by part
of the hedge, in which was formed the ingenious machine we
have named a door; and on the other by the old tower, covered
with ivy and studded with wild flowers. Monte Cristo stopped,
after having closed the door and fastened the string to the nail,
and cast a look around.
“The man at the telegraph,” said he, “must either keep a gar-
dener or devote himself passionately to horticulture. ” Suddenly
he struck himself against something crouching behind a wheel-
barrow filled with leaves; the something rose, uttered an excla-
mation of astonishment, and Monte Cristo found himself facing a
man about fifty years old, who was plucking strawberries, which
he was placing upon vine-leaves. He had twelve leaves and
about as many strawberries, which, on rising suddenly, he let
fall from his hand. "You are gathering your crop, sir? ” said
Monte Cristo, smiling.
"Excuse me, sir," replied the man, raising his hand to his
cap; “I am not up there, I know, but I have only just come
down. ”
« Do not let me interfere with you in anything, my friend,"
said the count; "gather your strawberries, if indeed there are
any left. »
## p. 4968 (#136) ###########################################
4968
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
"I have ten left," said the man, "for here are eleven, and I
had twenty-one, five more than last year. But I am not sur-
prised; the spring has been warm this year, and strawberries re-
quire heat, sir. This is the reason that, instead of the sixteen I
had last year, I have this year, you see, eleven already plucked
- twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen.
Ah, I rniss three! they were here last night, sir-I am
sure
they were here - I counted them. It must be the son of Mother
Simon who has stolen them; I saw him strolling about here this
morning. Ah! the young rascal! stealing in a garden; he does
not know where that may lead him to. ”
"Certainly, it is wrong,” said Monte Cristo, “but you should
take into consideration the youth and greediness of the delin-
quent. ”
“Of course,” said the gardener, “but that does not make it
the less unpleasant. But, sir, once more I beg pardon; perhaps
you are an official that I am detaining here? ” And he glanced
timidly at the count's blue coat.
“Calm yourself, my friend,” said the count, with that smile
which at his will became so terrible or benevolent, and which
this time beamed only with the latter expression; "I am not an
inspector, but a traveler, conducted here by curiosity he half re-
pents of, since he causes you to lose your time. ”
“Ah! my time is not valuable," replied the man, with a
melancholy smile. “ Still, it belongs to the government, and
I ought not to waste it; but having received the signal that I
might rest for an hour” (here he glanced at a sun-dial, for
there was everything in the inclosure of Montlhéry, even a sun-
dial), "and having ten minutes before me, and my strawberries
being ripe, when a day longer — by-the-by, sir, do you think
dormice eat them ? »
“Indeed, I should think not,” replied Monte Cristo: dormice
are bad neighbors for us who do not eat them preserved, as the
Romans did. ”
“What! did the Romans eat them ? ” said the gardener; "eat
dormice ? »
"I have read so,” said the count.
Really! They can't be nice, though they do say (as fat as
a dormouse. It is not a wonder they are fat, sleeping all day,
and only waking to eat all night. Listen: last year I had four
apricots— they stole one; I had one nectarine, only one — well,
(
## p. 4969 (#137) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4969
>
sir, they ate half of it on the wall; a splendid nectarine - I
never ate a better. ”
«You ate it ? »
« That is to say, the half that was left — you understand; it
was exquisite, sir. Ah, those gentlemen never choose the worst
morsels; like Mother Simon's son, who has not chosen the worst
strawberries. But this year,” continued the horticulturist, “I'll
take care it shall not happen, even if I should be forced to sit
up the whole night to watch when the strawberries are ripe. ”
Monte Cristo had seen enough. Every man has a devouring pas-
sion in his heart, as every fruit has its worm; that of the man
at the telegraph was horticulture. He began gathering the vine.
leaves which screened the sun from the grapes, and won the
heart of the gardener. “Did you come here, sir, to see the tele-
graph ? ” he said.
“Yes, if not contrary to the rules. ”
"Oh no,” said the gardener; "there are no orders against
doing so, providing there is nothing dangerous, and that no one
knows what we are saying. "
“I have been told,” said the count, that you do not always
yourselves understand the signals you repeat. ”
"Certainly, sir; and that is what I like best,” said the man,
smiling.
“Why do you like that best ? »
« Because then I have no responsibility. I am
a machine
then, and nothing else; and so long as I work, nothing more is
required of me. ”
“Is it possible,” said Monte Cristo to himself, «that I can
have met with a man that has no ambition ? That would spoil
my plans. ”
« Sir,” said the gardener, glancing at the sun-dial, “the ten
minutes are nearly expired; I must return to my post.
go up with me ? »
"I follow you. ” Monte Cristo entered the tower, which was
divided into three stages. The lowest contained gardening im-
plements, such as spades, rakes, watering-pots, hung against the
wall; this was all the furniture. The second was the usual
dwelling or rather sleeping-place of the man; it contained a few
poor articles of household furniture, a bed, a table, two chairs,
a stone pitcher, and some dry herbs hung up to the ceiling,
which the count recognized as sweet-peas, and of which the good
Will you
## p. 4970 (#138) ###########################################
4970
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
man
« Yes.
was preserving the seeds, having labeled them with as
much care as if he had been a botanist.
“Does it require much study to learn the art of telegraphing,
sir ? ” asked Monte Cristo.
« The study does not take long; it was acting as a supernu-
merary that was so tedious. ”
« And what is the pay ? ”
“A thousand francs, sir. ”
"It is nothing. "
“No; but then we are lodged, as you perceive. ”
Monte Cristo looked at the room. They passed on to the
third stage; it was the room of the telegraph. Monte Cristo
looked in turns at the two iron handles by which the machine
was worked. "It is very interesting,” he said; but it must be
very tedious for a lifetime. ”
At first my neck was cramped with looking at it, but
at the end of a year I became used to it; and then we have our
hours of recreation, and our holidays when we have a fog. "
"Ah, to be sure. ”
“Those are indeed holidays to me; I go into the garden, I
plant, prune, trim, and kill the insects all day long. ”
“How long have you been here ? ”
“ Ten years, and five as a supernumerary make fifteen. ”
« You are”
“Fifty-five years old. ”
“How long must you serve to claim the pension ? ”
"Oh, sir, twenty-five years. ”
«And how much is the pension ? ”
“A hundred crowns. ”
"Poor humanity! ” murmured Monte Cristo.
“What did you say, sir ? » asked the man.
"I was saying it was very interesting. ”
« What was ? »
“All you were showing me. And you really understand none
of these signals ? »
«None at all. ”
«And have you never tried to understand them ? ”
“Never. Why should I?
“But still there are some signals only addressed to you. "
“Certainly. ”
“And do you understand them ?
## p. 4971 (#139) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4971
(
“ They are always the same. ”
“And they mean
Nothing new; You have an hour; or To-morrow. ”
“This is simple enough,” said the count; but look! is not
your correspondent putting himself in motion ? »
« Ah yes; thank you, sir. ”
“And what is it saying — anything you understand ? ”
“Yes; it asks if I am ready. ”
“And you reply ? ”
"By the same sign, which at the same time tells my right-
hand correspondent that I am ready, while it gives notice to my
left-hand correspondent to prepare in his turn. ”
"It is very ingenious,” said the count.
“You will see,” said the man, proudly; "in five minutes he
will speak. "
"I have then five minutes,” said Monte Cristo to himself;
“it is more time than I require. My dear sir, will you allow me
to ask you a question ? ”
« What is it, sir ? »
“You are fond of gardening ? »
“Passionately. ”
"And you would be pleased to have, instead of this terrace
of twenty feet, an inclosure of two acres ? »
“Sir, I should make a terrestrial paradise of it. ”
"You live badly on your thousand francs ? »
Badly enough; but yet I do live. ”
“Yes; but you have only a small garden. ”
« True, the garden is not large. ”
“And then, such as it is, it is filled with dormice, who eat
everything. ”
“Ah! they are my scourges. ”
“Tell me,' should you have the misfortune to turn your head
while your right-hand correspondent was telegraphing - »
“I should hot see him. ”
“Then what would happen? ”
"I could not repeat the signals. ”
And then ? "
"Not having repeated them, through negligence, I should be
fined. ”
« How much ? »
«A hundred francs. ”
“ The tenth of your income — that w
fine York. ”
## p. 4972 (#140) ###########################################
4972
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
((
“Ah! » said the man.
"Has it ever happened to you ? ” said Monte Cristo.
Once, sir, when I was grafting a rose-tree. ”
Well, suppose you were to alter a signal, and substitute
another? ”
“Ah, that is another case; I should be turned off, and lose
my pension. ”
« Three hundred francs. ”
"A hundred crowns; yes, sir; so you see that I am not likely
to do any of these things. ”
"Not even for fifteen years' wages? Come, it is worth think-
ing about ?
« For fifteen thousand francs! »
« Yes. "
Sir, you alarm me. ”
« Nonsense!
"Sir, you are tempting me? ”
"Just so; fifteen thousand francs, do you understand ? "
“Sir, let me see my right-hand correspondent! ”
“On the contrary, do not look at him, but on this. ”
“What is it? »
«What! do you not know these little papers ? »
“Bank-notes! ”
"Exactly; there are fifteen of them. ”
«And whose are they ? »
“ Yours, if you like. ”
“Mine! ” exclaimed the man, half suffocated.
« Yes; yours — your own property. ”
“Sir, my right-hand correspondent is signaling. ”
<< Let him. ”
“Sir, you have distracted me; I shall be fined. ”
« That will cost you a hundred francs; you see it is your
interest to take my bank-notes.
”
“Sir, my right-hand correspondent redoubles his signals; he is
impatient. ”
“Never mind — take these ;” and the count placed the packet
in the hands of the man. “Now, this is not all,” he said; "you
cannot live upon your fifteen thousand francs. ”
« I shall still have my place. ”
“No! you will lose it, for you are going to alter the sign of
your correspondent. "
“Oh, sir, what are you proposing ? ”
## p. 4973 (#141) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4973
(
“A jest! ”
“Sir, unless you force me
“I think I can effectually force you;” and Monte Cristo drew
another packet from his pocket. « Here are ten thousand more
francs,” he said; «with the fifteen thousand already in your
pocket, they will make twenty-five thousand. With five thou-
sand you can buy a pretty little house with two acres of land;
the remaining twenty thousand will bring you in a thousand
francs a year.
“A garden with two acres of land! ”
«And a thousand francs a year. ”
« Oh heavens! ”
«Come, take them! ) and Monte Cristo forced the bank-notes
into his hand.
“What am I to do ? »
Nothing very difficult. ”
“But what is it ? »
« To repeat these signs;) Monte Cristo took a paper from his
pocket, upon which were drawn three signs, with numbers to
indicate the order in which they were to be worked.
“There, you see it will not take long. ”
“ Yes; but — »
“Do this, and you will have nectarines and all the rest. ”
The mark was hit: red with fever, while the large drops fell
from his brow, the man executed, one after the other, the three
signs given by the count; notwithstanding the frightful contor-
tions of the right-hand correspondent, who, not understanding the
change, began to think the gardener had become mad.
As to
the left-hand one, he conscientiously repeated the same signals,
which were definitively carried to the Minister of the Interior.
“Now you are rich,” said Monte Cristo.
“Yes," replied the man, "but at what a price! ”
“Listen, friend,” said Monte Cristo. “I do not wish to cause
you any remorse; believe me, then, when I swear to you that
you have wronged no man, but on the contrary have benefited
mankind. ” The man looked at the bank-notes, felt them, counted
them; he turned pale, then red; then rushed into his room to
drink a glass of water, but he had no time to reach the water-
jug, and fainted in the midst of his dried herbs. Five minutes
after the new telegram reached the minister, Debray had the
horses put to his carriage, and drove to Danglars's.
## p. 4974 (#142) ###########################################
4974
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
"Has your husband any Spanish bonds? ” he asked of the
baroness.
“I think so, indeed! He has six millions' worth. ”
“He must sell them at whatever price. ”
«Why? ”
“Because Don Carlos has fed from Bourges, and has returned
to Spain. ”
“How do you know ? "- Debray shrugged his shoulders. “The
idea of asking how I hear the news! ” he said. The baroness did
not wait for a repetition; she ran to her husband, who imme-
diately hastened to his agent and ordered him to sell at any
price. When it was seen that Danglars sold, the Spanish funds
fell directly. Danglars lost five hundred thousand francs; but he
rid himself of all his Spanish shares. The same evening the
following was read in Le Messager:-
« Telegraphic dispatch. The King, Don Carlos, has escaped the
vigilance exercised over him at Bourges, and has returned to Spain
by the Catalonian frontier. Barcelona has risen in his favor. ”
All that evening nothing was spoken of but the foresight of
Danglars, who had sold his shares, and of the luck of the stock-
jobber, who only lost five hundred thousand francs by such a
blow. Those who had kept their shares, or bought those of
Danglars, looked upon themselves as ruined, and passed a very
bad night. Next morning Le Moniteur contained the following:
“It was without any foundation that Le Messager yesterday an-
nounced the flight of Don Carlos and the revolt of Barcelona. The
King (Don Carlos) has not left Bourges, and the peninsula is in the
enjoyment of profound peace. A telegraphic signal, improperly in-
terpreted owing to the fog, was the cause of this error. )
The funds rose one per cent. higher than before they had
fallen. This, reckoning his loss, and what he had missed gain-
ing, made the difference of a million to Danglars. «Good! ” said
Monte Cristo to Morrel, who was at his house when the news
arrived of the strange reverse of fortune of which Danglars had
been the victim. “I have just made a discovery for twenty-five
thousand francs, for which I would have paid a hundred thou-
sand. ”
“What have you discovered ? ) asked Morrel.
“I have just discovered the method of ridding a gardener of
the dormice that eat his peaches. ”
## p. 4975 (#143) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4975
THE SHOULDER OF ATHOS, THE BELT OF PORTHOS, AND THE
HANDKERCHIEF OF ARAMIS
From The Three Musketeers)
URIOUS with rage, D'Artagnan crossed the ante-room in three
strides, and began to descend the stairs four steps at a
time, without looking where he was going; when suddenly
he was brought up short by knocking violently against the
shoulder of a musketeer who was leaving the apartments of
M. De Treville. The young man staggered backwards from the
shock, uttering a cry, or rather a yell.
« Excuse me,” said D'Artagnan, trying to pass him, “but I
am in a great hurry. ”
He had hardly placed his foot on the next step, when he was
stopped by the grasp of an iron wrist on his sash.
“You are in a great hurry! ” cried the musketeer, whose face
was the color of a shroud; "and you think that is enough apology
for nearly knocking me down? Not so fast, my young man.
I
suppose you imagine that because you heard M. De Treville
speaking to us rather brusquely to-day, that everybody may treat
us in the same way? But you are mistaken, and it is as well
you should learn that you are not M. De Treville. ”
«Upon my honor,” replied D'Artagnan, recognizing Athos,
who was returning to his room after having his wound dressed,
“upon my honor, it was an accident, and therefore I begged
your pardon.
I should have thought that was all that was neces-
sary. I repeat that I am in a very great hurry, and I should
be much obliged if you would let me go my way. ”
« Monsieur,” said Athos, loosening his hold, you are sadly
lacking in courtesy, and one sees that you must have had a rus-
tic upbringing. ”
D'Artagnan was by this time half-way down another flight;
but on hearing Athos's remark he stopped short.
“My faith, monsieur! ” exclaimed he, “however rustic I may
be, I shall not come to you to teach me manners. ”
“I am not so sure of that,” replied Athos.
“Oh, if I was only not in such haste,” cried D'Artagnan; “if
only I was not pursuing somebody – ”
"Monsieur, you will find me without running after me. Do
you understand ? »
## p. 4976 (#144) ###########################################
4976
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
((
“And where, if you please? ”
“Near Carmes-Deschaux. ”
“At what hour ? »
« Twelve o'clock. ”
“Very good. At twelve I will be there. ”
“And don't be late, for at a quarter past twelve I will cut off
your ears for you. ”
“All right,” called out D'Artagnan, dashing on down-stairs
after his man;
you may expect me at ten minutes before the
hour. ”
But he was not to escape so easily. At the street door stood
Porthos, talking to a sentry, and between the two men there was
barely space for a man to pass. D'Artagnan took it for granted
that he could get through, and darted on, swift as an arrow,
but he had not reckoned on the gale that was blowing. As he
passed, a sudden gust wrapped Porthos's mantle tight round
him; and though the owner of the garment could easily have
freed him had he so chosen, for reasons of his own he preferred
to draw the folds still closer.
D'Artagnan, hearing the volley of oaths let fall by the mus-
keteers, feared he might have damaged the splendor of the belt,
and struggled to unwind himself; but when he at length freed
his head, he found that like most things in this world the belt
had two sides, and while the front bristled with gold, the back
mere leather; which explains why Porthos always had a
cold and could not part from his mantle.
"Confound you! ” cried Porthos, struggling in his turn, "have
you gone mad, that you tumble over people like this ? »
“Excuse me," answered D'Artagnan, "but I am in a great
hurry. I am pursuing some one, and »
“And I suppose that on such occasions you leave your eyes
behind you? ” asked Porthos.
“No,” replied D'Artagnan, rather nettled; "and thanks to my
eyes, I often see things that other people don't. ”
Possibly Porthos might have understood this allusion, but in
any case he did not attempt to control his anger, and said
sharply:-
“Monsieur, we shall have to give you a lesson if you take to
tumbling against the musketeers like this! »
"A lesson, monsieur! ” replied D'Artagnan; that is rather a
severe expression. ”
was
## p. 4977 (#145) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4977
“It is the expression of a man who is always accustomed to
look his enemies in the face. ”
«Oh, if that is all, there is no fear of your turning your
back on anybody," and enchanted at his own wit, the young man
walked away in fits of laughter.
Porthos foamed with rage, and rushed after D'Artagnan.
"By-and-by, by-and-by,” cried the latter; when you have not
got your mantle on. ”
“At one o'clock then, behind the Luxembourg. ”
«All right; at one o'clock,” replied D'Artagnan as he vanished
around the corner.
But he could see no one either in the street he had passed
through, or in the one his eager gaze was searching; however
slowly the stranger might have walked, he had gone his way, or
perhaps into some house. D'Artagnan inquired of everybody he
met, but could find nothing at all about him. This chase how-
ever did him good in one way; for in proportion as the sweat
started out on his forehead, his heart began to cool.
He began to think over the many unlucky things which had
happened. It was scarcely eleven in the morning, and yet this
morning had already brought him into disgrace with M. Treville,
who must think the way D'Artagnan had left him was rather
boorish.
Moreover, he had gotten himself into two fierce duels with
two men, each able to kill three D'Artagnans; in a word, with
two musketeers, - beings he set so high that he placed them
above all other men.
It was a sad lookout. To be sure, as the youth was certain
to be killed by Athos, he was not much disturbed about Porthos.
As hope is the last thing to die in a man's heart, however, he
ended by hoping that he might come out alive from both duels,
even if dreadfully injured; and on that supposition he scored
himself in this way for his conduct:
« What a rattle-headed dunce I am! That brave and unfortu-
nate Athos was wounded right on that shoulder I ran against
head-foremost, like a ram. The only thing that surprises me is
that he didn't strike me dead on the spot; he had provocation
enough, for I must have hurt him savagely. As to Porthos-
oh! as to Porthos — that's a funny affair!
And the youth began to laugh aloud in spite of himself; look-
ing round carefully, however, to see if his laughing alone in
public without apparent cause aroused any suspicion.
IX-312
## p. 4978 (#146) ###########################################
4978
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
«As to Porthos, it is funny enough, to be sure, but I am a
crazy blockhead all the same. Are people to be run into with-
out warning ? No! And have I any right to peep under their
cloaks to see what they haven't got ? He would have forgiven
me, I am sure, if I had said nothing to him about that cursed
cloak,— with a double meaning, it is true, but too broad a joke
in one of them! Ah! cursed Gascon that I am, I believe I should
crack a joke if I was being roasted over a slow fire. Friend
D'Artagnan,” he went on, speaking to himself with the gentle-
ness he thought fair, if you get away, which there is not much
chance of, I would advise you to practice entire politeness for the
future. You must henceforth be admired and quoted as a model
of it. To be obliging and civil does not necessarily make a man
a coward. Look at Aramis, now: mildness and grace embodied;
and did anybody ever dream of calling Aramis a coward ? No
indeed, and from this instant I will try to model myself after
him. And luckily, here he is. ”
D'Artagnan, walking and soliloquizing, had come within a
few steps of the Aiguillon House, and in front of it saw Aramis
chatting gayly with three of the King's Guards. Aramis also
saw D'Artagnan; but not having forgotten that it was in his
presence M. de Treville had got so angry in the morning, and as
a witness of the rebuke was not at all pleasant, he pretended
not to see him. D'Artagnan, on the other hand, full of his plans
of conciliation and politeness, approached the young man with a
profound bow accompanied by a most gracious smile. Aramis
bowed slightly but did not smile. Moreover, all four immediately
broke off their conversation.
D'Artagnan was not so dull as not to see he was not wanted;
but he was not yet used enough to social customs to know how
to extricate himself dexterously from his false position, which
his generally is who accosts people he is little acquainted with,
and mingles in a conversation which does not concern him. He
was mentally casting about for the least awkward manner of
retreat, when he noticed that Aramis had let his handkerchief
fall, and (doubtless by mistake) put his foot on it. This seemed
a favorable chance to repair his mistake of intrusion: he stooped
down, and with the most gracious air he could assume, drew the
handkerchief from under the foot in spite of the efforts made to
detain it, and holding it out to Aramis, said:-
“I believe, sir, this is a handkerchief you would be sorry to
lose ? »
## p. 4979 (#147) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4979
The handkerchief was in truth richly embroidered, and had a
cornet and a coat of arms at one corner, Aramis blushed excess-
ively, and snatched rather than took the handkerchief.
“Ha! ha! ” exclaimed one of the guards, "will you go on
saying now, most discreet Aramis, that you are not on good
terms with Madame de Bois-Tracy, when that gracious lady does
you the favor of lending you her handkerchief ! »
Aramis darted at D'Artagnan one of those looks which tell a
man that he has made a mortal enemy; then assuming his mild
air he said:
“You are mistaken, gentlemen: this handkerchief is not mine,
and I cannot understand why this gentleman has taken it into
his head to offer it to me rather than to one of you.
And as a
proof of what I say, here is mine in my pocket. ”
So saying, he pulled out his handkerchief, which was also not
only a very dainty one, and of fine linen (though linen was then
costly), but was embroidered and without arms, bearing only a
single cipher, the owner's.
This time D'Artagnan saw his mistake; but Aramis's friends
were by no'means convinced, and one of them, addressing the
young musketeer with pretended gravity, said:-
“If things were as you make out, I should feel obliged, my
dear Aramis, to reclaim it myself; for as you very well know,
Bois-Tracy is an intimate friend of mine, and I cannot allow one
of his wife's belongings to be exhibited as a trophy. ”
“ You make the demand clumsily,” replied Aramis; "and
while I acknowledge the justice of your reclamation, I refuse it
on account of the form. ”
« The fact is,” D'Artagnan put in hesitatingly, “I did not
actually see the handkerchief fall from M. Aramis's pocket. He
had his foot on it, that's all, and I thought it was his. ”
« And you were deceived, my dear sir,” replied Aramis coldly,
very little obliged for the explanation; then turning to the guard
who had professed himself Bois-Tracy's friend — “Besides," he
went on, "I have reflected, my dear intimate friend of Bois-
Tracy, that I am not less devotedly his friend than you can pos-
sibly be, so that this handkerchief is quite as likely to have
fallen from your pocket as from mine! ”
«On my honor, no! ”
“You are about to swear on your honor, and I on my word;
and then it will be pretty evident that one of us will have lied.
## p. 4980 (#148) ###########################################
4980
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
Now here, Montaran, we will do better than that: let each take
a half. ”
a
" Perfectly fair,” cried the other two guardsmen; "the judg-
ment of Solomon! Aramis, you are certainly full of wisdom! ”
They burst into a loud laugh, and as may be supposed, the
incident bore no other fruit. In a minute or two the conversa-
tion stopped, and the three guards and the musketeer, after
heartily shaking hands, separated, the guards going one way
and Aramis another.
«Now is the time to make my peace with this gentleman,”
said D'Artagnan to himself, having stood on one side during all
the latter part of the conversation; and in this good spirit draw-
ing near to Aramis, who was going off without paying any
attention to him, he said:
«You will excuse me, I hope. ”
"Ah! ) interrupted Aramis, "permit me to observe to you,
sir, that you have not acted in this affair as man of good
breeding ought. ”
“What! » cried D'Artagnan, do you suppose ”
"I suppose that you are not a fool, and that you knew very
well, even though you come from Gascony, that people do not
stand on handkerchiefs for nothing. What the devil! Paris is
not paved with linen!
"Sir, you do wrong in trying to humiliate me,” said D'Ar-
tagnan, in whom his native pugnacity began to speak louder
than his peaceful resolutions. "I come from Gascony, it is true;
and since you know it, there is no need to tell you that Gascons
are not very patient, so that when they have asked pardon once,
even for a folly, they think they have done at least as much
again as they ought to have done. ”
“Sir, what I say to you about this matter,” said Aramis, "is
not for the sake of hunting a quarrel. Thank Heaven, I am not
a swash buckler, and being a musketeer only for a while, I only
fight when I am forced to do so, and always with great reluct-
ance; but this time the affair is serious, for here is a lady com-
promised by you. ”
By us, you mean,” cried D'Artagnan.
“Why did you give me back the handkerchief so awkwardly?
"Why did you let it fall so awkwardly? »
“I have said that the handkerchief did not fall from my
pocket. ”
>>
## p. 4981 (#149) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4981
« Well, by saying that you have told two lies, sir; for I saw
it fall. ”
«Oh ho! you take it up that way, do you, Master Gascon ?
Well, I will teach you how to behave yourself. ”
"And I will send you back to your pulpit, Master Priest.
Draw, if you please, and instantly - »
"Not so, if you please, my good friend; not here, at least.
Do you not see that we are opposite Aiguillon House, full of
the Cardinal's creatures ? How do I know that it is not his Emi-
nence who has honored you with the commission to bring him
in my head ? Now, I entertain an absurd partiality for my head,
it seems to suit my shoulders so finely.
cal facts, it is the fictitious adventures of characters living in an
historical atmosphere, that entertain us in Dumas.
The minute inquirer may now compare the sixteenth-century
Memoirs of Monsieur D'Artagnan' (fictitious memoirs, no doubt) with
the use made of them by Dumas in The Three Musketeers) and
“Twenty Years After. ' The Memoirs) (reprinted by the Librairie
Illustrée, Paris) gave Dumas his opening scenes; gave him young
D'Artagnan, Porthos, Athos, Aramis, Rosnay, De Treville, Milady, the
whole complicated intrigue of Milady, D'Artagnan, and De Vardes.
They gave him several incidents, duels, and local color. ” By
## p. 4966 (#134) ###########################################
4966
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
making Milady the wife of Athos, Dumas knotted his plot; he added
the journey to England, after the Queen's diamonds; from a subordi-
nate character he borrowed the clerical character of Aramis; a mere
hint in the Memoirs) suggested the Bastion Saint-Gervais. The dis-
crimination of character, the dialogue, and many adventures, are
Dumas's own; he was aided by Maquet in the actual writing. In a
similar way, Brantôme and L'Estoile, in their Memoirs,' supply the
canvas of the tales of the Valois cycle.
The beginner in Dumas will assuredly find the following his best
works. For the Valois period, (The Horoscope) (a good deal neg-
lected), Queen Margot,' The Lady of Monsoreau,' (The Forty-Five.
Isabeau of Bavière,' an early novel, deals with the anarchy and
misery before the coming of Jeanne d'Arc. For Henri II. , The Two
Dianas' is indicated. For the times of Richelieu, Mazarin, Louis
XIV. , we have (The Three Musketeers,' (Twenty Years After,' and
(The Viscount of Bragelonne. ' These deal with the youth, middle
age, old age, and death of D'Artagnan, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis.
The Revolutionary novels, Joseph Balsamo,' The Queen's Necklace,'
and others, are much less excellent. The Regency is not ill done in
(The Regent's Daughter'; and “The Chevalier of Harmenthal,' with
(Olympe of Cleves,' has many admirers. Quite apart from these is
the immense modern fantasy of The Count of Monte Cristo'; the
opening part alone is worthy of the master. “The Black Tulip,' so
warmly praised by Thackeray, is an innocent little romance of the
days of Dutch William. Les jeunes filles may read The Black Tulip':
indeed, Dumas does not sacrifice at all to “the Goddess of Lubricity,”
even when he describes very lax moralities.
With a knowledge of these books, and of My Pets) and the
Memoirs,' any student will find himself at home in Dumas, and can
make wider ranges in that great wilderness of fancy. Some autobio-
graphical details will be found in the novel called 'Ange Pithou. '
(Isaac Laquedem' was meant to be a romance of the Wandering
Jew; only two volumes are published. Philosophy a reader will not
find, nor delicate analysis, nor chiseled style ); but he will be in
touch with a great sunny life, rejoicing in all the accidents of exist-
ence.
Alany
## p. 4967 (#135) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4967
THE CURE FOR DORMICE THAT EAT PEACHES
From (The Count of Monte Cristo)
N°
or on the same night he had intended, but the next morn-
ing, the Count of Monte Cristo went out on the road to
Orléans. Leaving the village of Linas, without stopping
at the telegraph, which at the moment the count passed threw
out its long bony arms, he reached the tower of Montlhéry, sit-
uated, as every one knows, upon the highest point of the plain
of that name. At the foot of the hill the count dismounted, and
began to ascend the mountain by a little winding path about
eighteen inches wide; when he reached the summit he found
himself stopped by a hedge, upon which green fruit had suc-
ceeded to red and white flowers.
Monte Cristo looked for the door of the inclosure, and was
not long in finding it. It was a little wooden gate, working on
willow hinges, and fastened with a nail and string. The count
soon understood its mechanism, and the door opened. He then
found himself in a little marvelously well-kept garden, about
twenty feet long by twelve wide, bounded on one side by part
of the hedge, in which was formed the ingenious machine we
have named a door; and on the other by the old tower, covered
with ivy and studded with wild flowers. Monte Cristo stopped,
after having closed the door and fastened the string to the nail,
and cast a look around.
“The man at the telegraph,” said he, “must either keep a gar-
dener or devote himself passionately to horticulture. ” Suddenly
he struck himself against something crouching behind a wheel-
barrow filled with leaves; the something rose, uttered an excla-
mation of astonishment, and Monte Cristo found himself facing a
man about fifty years old, who was plucking strawberries, which
he was placing upon vine-leaves. He had twelve leaves and
about as many strawberries, which, on rising suddenly, he let
fall from his hand. "You are gathering your crop, sir? ” said
Monte Cristo, smiling.
"Excuse me, sir," replied the man, raising his hand to his
cap; “I am not up there, I know, but I have only just come
down. ”
« Do not let me interfere with you in anything, my friend,"
said the count; "gather your strawberries, if indeed there are
any left. »
## p. 4968 (#136) ###########################################
4968
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
"I have ten left," said the man, "for here are eleven, and I
had twenty-one, five more than last year. But I am not sur-
prised; the spring has been warm this year, and strawberries re-
quire heat, sir. This is the reason that, instead of the sixteen I
had last year, I have this year, you see, eleven already plucked
- twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen.
Ah, I rniss three! they were here last night, sir-I am
sure
they were here - I counted them. It must be the son of Mother
Simon who has stolen them; I saw him strolling about here this
morning. Ah! the young rascal! stealing in a garden; he does
not know where that may lead him to. ”
"Certainly, it is wrong,” said Monte Cristo, “but you should
take into consideration the youth and greediness of the delin-
quent. ”
“Of course,” said the gardener, “but that does not make it
the less unpleasant. But, sir, once more I beg pardon; perhaps
you are an official that I am detaining here? ” And he glanced
timidly at the count's blue coat.
“Calm yourself, my friend,” said the count, with that smile
which at his will became so terrible or benevolent, and which
this time beamed only with the latter expression; "I am not an
inspector, but a traveler, conducted here by curiosity he half re-
pents of, since he causes you to lose your time. ”
“Ah! my time is not valuable," replied the man, with a
melancholy smile. “ Still, it belongs to the government, and
I ought not to waste it; but having received the signal that I
might rest for an hour” (here he glanced at a sun-dial, for
there was everything in the inclosure of Montlhéry, even a sun-
dial), "and having ten minutes before me, and my strawberries
being ripe, when a day longer — by-the-by, sir, do you think
dormice eat them ? »
“Indeed, I should think not,” replied Monte Cristo: dormice
are bad neighbors for us who do not eat them preserved, as the
Romans did. ”
“What! did the Romans eat them ? ” said the gardener; "eat
dormice ? »
"I have read so,” said the count.
Really! They can't be nice, though they do say (as fat as
a dormouse. It is not a wonder they are fat, sleeping all day,
and only waking to eat all night. Listen: last year I had four
apricots— they stole one; I had one nectarine, only one — well,
(
## p. 4969 (#137) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4969
>
sir, they ate half of it on the wall; a splendid nectarine - I
never ate a better. ”
«You ate it ? »
« That is to say, the half that was left — you understand; it
was exquisite, sir. Ah, those gentlemen never choose the worst
morsels; like Mother Simon's son, who has not chosen the worst
strawberries. But this year,” continued the horticulturist, “I'll
take care it shall not happen, even if I should be forced to sit
up the whole night to watch when the strawberries are ripe. ”
Monte Cristo had seen enough. Every man has a devouring pas-
sion in his heart, as every fruit has its worm; that of the man
at the telegraph was horticulture. He began gathering the vine.
leaves which screened the sun from the grapes, and won the
heart of the gardener. “Did you come here, sir, to see the tele-
graph ? ” he said.
“Yes, if not contrary to the rules. ”
"Oh no,” said the gardener; "there are no orders against
doing so, providing there is nothing dangerous, and that no one
knows what we are saying. "
“I have been told,” said the count, that you do not always
yourselves understand the signals you repeat. ”
"Certainly, sir; and that is what I like best,” said the man,
smiling.
“Why do you like that best ? »
« Because then I have no responsibility. I am
a machine
then, and nothing else; and so long as I work, nothing more is
required of me. ”
“Is it possible,” said Monte Cristo to himself, «that I can
have met with a man that has no ambition ? That would spoil
my plans. ”
« Sir,” said the gardener, glancing at the sun-dial, “the ten
minutes are nearly expired; I must return to my post.
go up with me ? »
"I follow you. ” Monte Cristo entered the tower, which was
divided into three stages. The lowest contained gardening im-
plements, such as spades, rakes, watering-pots, hung against the
wall; this was all the furniture. The second was the usual
dwelling or rather sleeping-place of the man; it contained a few
poor articles of household furniture, a bed, a table, two chairs,
a stone pitcher, and some dry herbs hung up to the ceiling,
which the count recognized as sweet-peas, and of which the good
Will you
## p. 4970 (#138) ###########################################
4970
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
man
« Yes.
was preserving the seeds, having labeled them with as
much care as if he had been a botanist.
“Does it require much study to learn the art of telegraphing,
sir ? ” asked Monte Cristo.
« The study does not take long; it was acting as a supernu-
merary that was so tedious. ”
« And what is the pay ? ”
“A thousand francs, sir. ”
"It is nothing. "
“No; but then we are lodged, as you perceive. ”
Monte Cristo looked at the room. They passed on to the
third stage; it was the room of the telegraph. Monte Cristo
looked in turns at the two iron handles by which the machine
was worked. "It is very interesting,” he said; but it must be
very tedious for a lifetime. ”
At first my neck was cramped with looking at it, but
at the end of a year I became used to it; and then we have our
hours of recreation, and our holidays when we have a fog. "
"Ah, to be sure. ”
“Those are indeed holidays to me; I go into the garden, I
plant, prune, trim, and kill the insects all day long. ”
“How long have you been here ? ”
“ Ten years, and five as a supernumerary make fifteen. ”
« You are”
“Fifty-five years old. ”
“How long must you serve to claim the pension ? ”
"Oh, sir, twenty-five years. ”
«And how much is the pension ? ”
“A hundred crowns. ”
"Poor humanity! ” murmured Monte Cristo.
“What did you say, sir ? » asked the man.
"I was saying it was very interesting. ”
« What was ? »
“All you were showing me. And you really understand none
of these signals ? »
«None at all. ”
«And have you never tried to understand them ? ”
“Never. Why should I?
“But still there are some signals only addressed to you. "
“Certainly. ”
“And do you understand them ?
## p. 4971 (#139) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4971
(
“ They are always the same. ”
“And they mean
Nothing new; You have an hour; or To-morrow. ”
“This is simple enough,” said the count; but look! is not
your correspondent putting himself in motion ? »
« Ah yes; thank you, sir. ”
“And what is it saying — anything you understand ? ”
“Yes; it asks if I am ready. ”
“And you reply ? ”
"By the same sign, which at the same time tells my right-
hand correspondent that I am ready, while it gives notice to my
left-hand correspondent to prepare in his turn. ”
"It is very ingenious,” said the count.
“You will see,” said the man, proudly; "in five minutes he
will speak. "
"I have then five minutes,” said Monte Cristo to himself;
“it is more time than I require. My dear sir, will you allow me
to ask you a question ? ”
« What is it, sir ? »
“You are fond of gardening ? »
“Passionately. ”
"And you would be pleased to have, instead of this terrace
of twenty feet, an inclosure of two acres ? »
“Sir, I should make a terrestrial paradise of it. ”
"You live badly on your thousand francs ? »
Badly enough; but yet I do live. ”
“Yes; but you have only a small garden. ”
« True, the garden is not large. ”
“And then, such as it is, it is filled with dormice, who eat
everything. ”
“Ah! they are my scourges. ”
“Tell me,' should you have the misfortune to turn your head
while your right-hand correspondent was telegraphing - »
“I should hot see him. ”
“Then what would happen? ”
"I could not repeat the signals. ”
And then ? "
"Not having repeated them, through negligence, I should be
fined. ”
« How much ? »
«A hundred francs. ”
“ The tenth of your income — that w
fine York. ”
## p. 4972 (#140) ###########################################
4972
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
((
“Ah! » said the man.
"Has it ever happened to you ? ” said Monte Cristo.
Once, sir, when I was grafting a rose-tree. ”
Well, suppose you were to alter a signal, and substitute
another? ”
“Ah, that is another case; I should be turned off, and lose
my pension. ”
« Three hundred francs. ”
"A hundred crowns; yes, sir; so you see that I am not likely
to do any of these things. ”
"Not even for fifteen years' wages? Come, it is worth think-
ing about ?
« For fifteen thousand francs! »
« Yes. "
Sir, you alarm me. ”
« Nonsense!
"Sir, you are tempting me? ”
"Just so; fifteen thousand francs, do you understand ? "
“Sir, let me see my right-hand correspondent! ”
“On the contrary, do not look at him, but on this. ”
“What is it? »
«What! do you not know these little papers ? »
“Bank-notes! ”
"Exactly; there are fifteen of them. ”
«And whose are they ? »
“ Yours, if you like. ”
“Mine! ” exclaimed the man, half suffocated.
« Yes; yours — your own property. ”
“Sir, my right-hand correspondent is signaling. ”
<< Let him. ”
“Sir, you have distracted me; I shall be fined. ”
« That will cost you a hundred francs; you see it is your
interest to take my bank-notes.
”
“Sir, my right-hand correspondent redoubles his signals; he is
impatient. ”
“Never mind — take these ;” and the count placed the packet
in the hands of the man. “Now, this is not all,” he said; "you
cannot live upon your fifteen thousand francs. ”
« I shall still have my place. ”
“No! you will lose it, for you are going to alter the sign of
your correspondent. "
“Oh, sir, what are you proposing ? ”
## p. 4973 (#141) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4973
(
“A jest! ”
“Sir, unless you force me
“I think I can effectually force you;” and Monte Cristo drew
another packet from his pocket. « Here are ten thousand more
francs,” he said; «with the fifteen thousand already in your
pocket, they will make twenty-five thousand. With five thou-
sand you can buy a pretty little house with two acres of land;
the remaining twenty thousand will bring you in a thousand
francs a year.
“A garden with two acres of land! ”
«And a thousand francs a year. ”
« Oh heavens! ”
«Come, take them! ) and Monte Cristo forced the bank-notes
into his hand.
“What am I to do ? »
Nothing very difficult. ”
“But what is it ? »
« To repeat these signs;) Monte Cristo took a paper from his
pocket, upon which were drawn three signs, with numbers to
indicate the order in which they were to be worked.
“There, you see it will not take long. ”
“ Yes; but — »
“Do this, and you will have nectarines and all the rest. ”
The mark was hit: red with fever, while the large drops fell
from his brow, the man executed, one after the other, the three
signs given by the count; notwithstanding the frightful contor-
tions of the right-hand correspondent, who, not understanding the
change, began to think the gardener had become mad.
As to
the left-hand one, he conscientiously repeated the same signals,
which were definitively carried to the Minister of the Interior.
“Now you are rich,” said Monte Cristo.
“Yes," replied the man, "but at what a price! ”
“Listen, friend,” said Monte Cristo. “I do not wish to cause
you any remorse; believe me, then, when I swear to you that
you have wronged no man, but on the contrary have benefited
mankind. ” The man looked at the bank-notes, felt them, counted
them; he turned pale, then red; then rushed into his room to
drink a glass of water, but he had no time to reach the water-
jug, and fainted in the midst of his dried herbs. Five minutes
after the new telegram reached the minister, Debray had the
horses put to his carriage, and drove to Danglars's.
## p. 4974 (#142) ###########################################
4974
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
"Has your husband any Spanish bonds? ” he asked of the
baroness.
“I think so, indeed! He has six millions' worth. ”
“He must sell them at whatever price. ”
«Why? ”
“Because Don Carlos has fed from Bourges, and has returned
to Spain. ”
“How do you know ? "- Debray shrugged his shoulders. “The
idea of asking how I hear the news! ” he said. The baroness did
not wait for a repetition; she ran to her husband, who imme-
diately hastened to his agent and ordered him to sell at any
price. When it was seen that Danglars sold, the Spanish funds
fell directly. Danglars lost five hundred thousand francs; but he
rid himself of all his Spanish shares. The same evening the
following was read in Le Messager:-
« Telegraphic dispatch. The King, Don Carlos, has escaped the
vigilance exercised over him at Bourges, and has returned to Spain
by the Catalonian frontier. Barcelona has risen in his favor. ”
All that evening nothing was spoken of but the foresight of
Danglars, who had sold his shares, and of the luck of the stock-
jobber, who only lost five hundred thousand francs by such a
blow. Those who had kept their shares, or bought those of
Danglars, looked upon themselves as ruined, and passed a very
bad night. Next morning Le Moniteur contained the following:
“It was without any foundation that Le Messager yesterday an-
nounced the flight of Don Carlos and the revolt of Barcelona. The
King (Don Carlos) has not left Bourges, and the peninsula is in the
enjoyment of profound peace. A telegraphic signal, improperly in-
terpreted owing to the fog, was the cause of this error. )
The funds rose one per cent. higher than before they had
fallen. This, reckoning his loss, and what he had missed gain-
ing, made the difference of a million to Danglars. «Good! ” said
Monte Cristo to Morrel, who was at his house when the news
arrived of the strange reverse of fortune of which Danglars had
been the victim. “I have just made a discovery for twenty-five
thousand francs, for which I would have paid a hundred thou-
sand. ”
“What have you discovered ? ) asked Morrel.
“I have just discovered the method of ridding a gardener of
the dormice that eat his peaches. ”
## p. 4975 (#143) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4975
THE SHOULDER OF ATHOS, THE BELT OF PORTHOS, AND THE
HANDKERCHIEF OF ARAMIS
From The Three Musketeers)
URIOUS with rage, D'Artagnan crossed the ante-room in three
strides, and began to descend the stairs four steps at a
time, without looking where he was going; when suddenly
he was brought up short by knocking violently against the
shoulder of a musketeer who was leaving the apartments of
M. De Treville. The young man staggered backwards from the
shock, uttering a cry, or rather a yell.
« Excuse me,” said D'Artagnan, trying to pass him, “but I
am in a great hurry. ”
He had hardly placed his foot on the next step, when he was
stopped by the grasp of an iron wrist on his sash.
“You are in a great hurry! ” cried the musketeer, whose face
was the color of a shroud; "and you think that is enough apology
for nearly knocking me down? Not so fast, my young man.
I
suppose you imagine that because you heard M. De Treville
speaking to us rather brusquely to-day, that everybody may treat
us in the same way? But you are mistaken, and it is as well
you should learn that you are not M. De Treville. ”
«Upon my honor,” replied D'Artagnan, recognizing Athos,
who was returning to his room after having his wound dressed,
“upon my honor, it was an accident, and therefore I begged
your pardon.
I should have thought that was all that was neces-
sary. I repeat that I am in a very great hurry, and I should
be much obliged if you would let me go my way. ”
« Monsieur,” said Athos, loosening his hold, you are sadly
lacking in courtesy, and one sees that you must have had a rus-
tic upbringing. ”
D'Artagnan was by this time half-way down another flight;
but on hearing Athos's remark he stopped short.
“My faith, monsieur! ” exclaimed he, “however rustic I may
be, I shall not come to you to teach me manners. ”
“I am not so sure of that,” replied Athos.
“Oh, if I was only not in such haste,” cried D'Artagnan; “if
only I was not pursuing somebody – ”
"Monsieur, you will find me without running after me. Do
you understand ? »
## p. 4976 (#144) ###########################################
4976
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
((
“And where, if you please? ”
“Near Carmes-Deschaux. ”
“At what hour ? »
« Twelve o'clock. ”
“Very good. At twelve I will be there. ”
“And don't be late, for at a quarter past twelve I will cut off
your ears for you. ”
“All right,” called out D'Artagnan, dashing on down-stairs
after his man;
you may expect me at ten minutes before the
hour. ”
But he was not to escape so easily. At the street door stood
Porthos, talking to a sentry, and between the two men there was
barely space for a man to pass. D'Artagnan took it for granted
that he could get through, and darted on, swift as an arrow,
but he had not reckoned on the gale that was blowing. As he
passed, a sudden gust wrapped Porthos's mantle tight round
him; and though the owner of the garment could easily have
freed him had he so chosen, for reasons of his own he preferred
to draw the folds still closer.
D'Artagnan, hearing the volley of oaths let fall by the mus-
keteers, feared he might have damaged the splendor of the belt,
and struggled to unwind himself; but when he at length freed
his head, he found that like most things in this world the belt
had two sides, and while the front bristled with gold, the back
mere leather; which explains why Porthos always had a
cold and could not part from his mantle.
"Confound you! ” cried Porthos, struggling in his turn, "have
you gone mad, that you tumble over people like this ? »
“Excuse me," answered D'Artagnan, "but I am in a great
hurry. I am pursuing some one, and »
“And I suppose that on such occasions you leave your eyes
behind you? ” asked Porthos.
“No,” replied D'Artagnan, rather nettled; "and thanks to my
eyes, I often see things that other people don't. ”
Possibly Porthos might have understood this allusion, but in
any case he did not attempt to control his anger, and said
sharply:-
“Monsieur, we shall have to give you a lesson if you take to
tumbling against the musketeers like this! »
"A lesson, monsieur! ” replied D'Artagnan; that is rather a
severe expression. ”
was
## p. 4977 (#145) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4977
“It is the expression of a man who is always accustomed to
look his enemies in the face. ”
«Oh, if that is all, there is no fear of your turning your
back on anybody," and enchanted at his own wit, the young man
walked away in fits of laughter.
Porthos foamed with rage, and rushed after D'Artagnan.
"By-and-by, by-and-by,” cried the latter; when you have not
got your mantle on. ”
“At one o'clock then, behind the Luxembourg. ”
«All right; at one o'clock,” replied D'Artagnan as he vanished
around the corner.
But he could see no one either in the street he had passed
through, or in the one his eager gaze was searching; however
slowly the stranger might have walked, he had gone his way, or
perhaps into some house. D'Artagnan inquired of everybody he
met, but could find nothing at all about him. This chase how-
ever did him good in one way; for in proportion as the sweat
started out on his forehead, his heart began to cool.
He began to think over the many unlucky things which had
happened. It was scarcely eleven in the morning, and yet this
morning had already brought him into disgrace with M. Treville,
who must think the way D'Artagnan had left him was rather
boorish.
Moreover, he had gotten himself into two fierce duels with
two men, each able to kill three D'Artagnans; in a word, with
two musketeers, - beings he set so high that he placed them
above all other men.
It was a sad lookout. To be sure, as the youth was certain
to be killed by Athos, he was not much disturbed about Porthos.
As hope is the last thing to die in a man's heart, however, he
ended by hoping that he might come out alive from both duels,
even if dreadfully injured; and on that supposition he scored
himself in this way for his conduct:
« What a rattle-headed dunce I am! That brave and unfortu-
nate Athos was wounded right on that shoulder I ran against
head-foremost, like a ram. The only thing that surprises me is
that he didn't strike me dead on the spot; he had provocation
enough, for I must have hurt him savagely. As to Porthos-
oh! as to Porthos — that's a funny affair!
And the youth began to laugh aloud in spite of himself; look-
ing round carefully, however, to see if his laughing alone in
public without apparent cause aroused any suspicion.
IX-312
## p. 4978 (#146) ###########################################
4978
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
«As to Porthos, it is funny enough, to be sure, but I am a
crazy blockhead all the same. Are people to be run into with-
out warning ? No! And have I any right to peep under their
cloaks to see what they haven't got ? He would have forgiven
me, I am sure, if I had said nothing to him about that cursed
cloak,— with a double meaning, it is true, but too broad a joke
in one of them! Ah! cursed Gascon that I am, I believe I should
crack a joke if I was being roasted over a slow fire. Friend
D'Artagnan,” he went on, speaking to himself with the gentle-
ness he thought fair, if you get away, which there is not much
chance of, I would advise you to practice entire politeness for the
future. You must henceforth be admired and quoted as a model
of it. To be obliging and civil does not necessarily make a man
a coward. Look at Aramis, now: mildness and grace embodied;
and did anybody ever dream of calling Aramis a coward ? No
indeed, and from this instant I will try to model myself after
him. And luckily, here he is. ”
D'Artagnan, walking and soliloquizing, had come within a
few steps of the Aiguillon House, and in front of it saw Aramis
chatting gayly with three of the King's Guards. Aramis also
saw D'Artagnan; but not having forgotten that it was in his
presence M. de Treville had got so angry in the morning, and as
a witness of the rebuke was not at all pleasant, he pretended
not to see him. D'Artagnan, on the other hand, full of his plans
of conciliation and politeness, approached the young man with a
profound bow accompanied by a most gracious smile. Aramis
bowed slightly but did not smile. Moreover, all four immediately
broke off their conversation.
D'Artagnan was not so dull as not to see he was not wanted;
but he was not yet used enough to social customs to know how
to extricate himself dexterously from his false position, which
his generally is who accosts people he is little acquainted with,
and mingles in a conversation which does not concern him. He
was mentally casting about for the least awkward manner of
retreat, when he noticed that Aramis had let his handkerchief
fall, and (doubtless by mistake) put his foot on it. This seemed
a favorable chance to repair his mistake of intrusion: he stooped
down, and with the most gracious air he could assume, drew the
handkerchief from under the foot in spite of the efforts made to
detain it, and holding it out to Aramis, said:-
“I believe, sir, this is a handkerchief you would be sorry to
lose ? »
## p. 4979 (#147) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4979
The handkerchief was in truth richly embroidered, and had a
cornet and a coat of arms at one corner, Aramis blushed excess-
ively, and snatched rather than took the handkerchief.
“Ha! ha! ” exclaimed one of the guards, "will you go on
saying now, most discreet Aramis, that you are not on good
terms with Madame de Bois-Tracy, when that gracious lady does
you the favor of lending you her handkerchief ! »
Aramis darted at D'Artagnan one of those looks which tell a
man that he has made a mortal enemy; then assuming his mild
air he said:
“You are mistaken, gentlemen: this handkerchief is not mine,
and I cannot understand why this gentleman has taken it into
his head to offer it to me rather than to one of you.
And as a
proof of what I say, here is mine in my pocket. ”
So saying, he pulled out his handkerchief, which was also not
only a very dainty one, and of fine linen (though linen was then
costly), but was embroidered and without arms, bearing only a
single cipher, the owner's.
This time D'Artagnan saw his mistake; but Aramis's friends
were by no'means convinced, and one of them, addressing the
young musketeer with pretended gravity, said:-
“If things were as you make out, I should feel obliged, my
dear Aramis, to reclaim it myself; for as you very well know,
Bois-Tracy is an intimate friend of mine, and I cannot allow one
of his wife's belongings to be exhibited as a trophy. ”
“ You make the demand clumsily,” replied Aramis; "and
while I acknowledge the justice of your reclamation, I refuse it
on account of the form. ”
« The fact is,” D'Artagnan put in hesitatingly, “I did not
actually see the handkerchief fall from M. Aramis's pocket. He
had his foot on it, that's all, and I thought it was his. ”
« And you were deceived, my dear sir,” replied Aramis coldly,
very little obliged for the explanation; then turning to the guard
who had professed himself Bois-Tracy's friend — “Besides," he
went on, "I have reflected, my dear intimate friend of Bois-
Tracy, that I am not less devotedly his friend than you can pos-
sibly be, so that this handkerchief is quite as likely to have
fallen from your pocket as from mine! ”
«On my honor, no! ”
“You are about to swear on your honor, and I on my word;
and then it will be pretty evident that one of us will have lied.
## p. 4980 (#148) ###########################################
4980
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
Now here, Montaran, we will do better than that: let each take
a half. ”
a
" Perfectly fair,” cried the other two guardsmen; "the judg-
ment of Solomon! Aramis, you are certainly full of wisdom! ”
They burst into a loud laugh, and as may be supposed, the
incident bore no other fruit. In a minute or two the conversa-
tion stopped, and the three guards and the musketeer, after
heartily shaking hands, separated, the guards going one way
and Aramis another.
«Now is the time to make my peace with this gentleman,”
said D'Artagnan to himself, having stood on one side during all
the latter part of the conversation; and in this good spirit draw-
ing near to Aramis, who was going off without paying any
attention to him, he said:
«You will excuse me, I hope. ”
"Ah! ) interrupted Aramis, "permit me to observe to you,
sir, that you have not acted in this affair as man of good
breeding ought. ”
“What! » cried D'Artagnan, do you suppose ”
"I suppose that you are not a fool, and that you knew very
well, even though you come from Gascony, that people do not
stand on handkerchiefs for nothing. What the devil! Paris is
not paved with linen!
"Sir, you do wrong in trying to humiliate me,” said D'Ar-
tagnan, in whom his native pugnacity began to speak louder
than his peaceful resolutions. "I come from Gascony, it is true;
and since you know it, there is no need to tell you that Gascons
are not very patient, so that when they have asked pardon once,
even for a folly, they think they have done at least as much
again as they ought to have done. ”
“Sir, what I say to you about this matter,” said Aramis, "is
not for the sake of hunting a quarrel. Thank Heaven, I am not
a swash buckler, and being a musketeer only for a while, I only
fight when I am forced to do so, and always with great reluct-
ance; but this time the affair is serious, for here is a lady com-
promised by you. ”
By us, you mean,” cried D'Artagnan.
“Why did you give me back the handkerchief so awkwardly?
"Why did you let it fall so awkwardly? »
“I have said that the handkerchief did not fall from my
pocket. ”
>>
## p. 4981 (#149) ###########################################
ALEXANDRE DUMAS, SENIOR
4981
« Well, by saying that you have told two lies, sir; for I saw
it fall. ”
«Oh ho! you take it up that way, do you, Master Gascon ?
Well, I will teach you how to behave yourself. ”
"And I will send you back to your pulpit, Master Priest.
Draw, if you please, and instantly - »
"Not so, if you please, my good friend; not here, at least.
Do you not see that we are opposite Aiguillon House, full of
the Cardinal's creatures ? How do I know that it is not his Emi-
nence who has honored you with the commission to bring him
in my head ? Now, I entertain an absurd partiality for my head,
it seems to suit my shoulders so finely.
