Chapter 11 Chapter Nine: DArtagnan's First Prominence

As Athos and Porthos expected, dArtagnan returned half an hour later.This time, he still failed to catch up with the man, who disappeared as if by magic.D'Artagnan, sword in hand, ran through all the neighborhood streets, but found no one resembling the one he was looking for.So he turned back and did what he probably should have done in the first place, which was to knock on the door by which the stranger had passed.He knocked eleven or two times with the knocking hammer, but it was no use, and there was no answer at all.Some neighbors heard the sound and ran to the door or the window to look around. They all told him with certainty that no one lived in this house and it had been half a year. No, all the doors and windows were closed.

While d'Artagnan was running through the streets, knocking on doors, Aramis came to find his two companions, and when d'Artagnan returned home he found them all gathered together. How about it?The three musketeers asked in unison when they saw d'Artagnan come in, sweating profusely, his face contorted with anger. How about it!D'Artagnan threw the sword on the bed, and said angrily, the man was a devil, he disappeared like a ghost, like a shadow, like a ghost. Do you believe in ghosts?Athos asked Porthos. I only believe in what I've seen; I've never seen ghosts, so I don't believe in them.

Belief in ghosts is a precept given to us in the Bible, Aramis said, and Solo had seen the ghost of Samuel.To doubt even this creed, Porthos, makes me angry. Anyway, man or ghost, human form or phantom, hallucination or reality, the man was born to be against me, because he got away like this and cost us a good deal, a one hundred bis. Thor, maybe earn more deals. what happened?Porthos and Aramis asked in unison. Athos always kept silent, and only asked d'Artagnan with his eyes. Planchet, D'Artagnan saw the footman poking his head in through the half-closed door, and wanted to hear a scrap of their conversation, so he said to him, go downstairs to the landlady Bonacieur's, and tell him to send us Six bottles of polincie here.This wine is my favorite drink.

Why, don't you have a credit account at the landlord's house?asked Porthos. Yes, replied d'Artagnan, from today on, you can rest assured that if the wine he sent is not good, you can return it and ask him to exchange it for something else. It's okay to use it, but you can't fool others.Aramis said in a lecturing tone. I have always said that, of the four of us, D'Artagnan was the wisest.After Athos expressed this opinion, he fell into habitual silence again, and dArtagnan nodded his thanks to him. Hey, what's going on?asked Porthos. Yes, said Aramis, tell us, my dear friend, unless some lady's honor is involved in the secret, in which case you'd better keep it to yourself.

Don't worry, replied d'Artagnan, I will say to you that no one will be honored. So he told all that had just happened between the landlady and himself, and how the man who had kidnapped the venerable landlady's wife was the same man with whom he had come into conflict at the Honest Miller's Inn. You have made a good deal, said Athos, after having tasted the wine expertly, and nodding that it was good, we could get fifty or sixty pistoles from this honest man.But the question is, is it worth risking four heads for fifty or sixty pistols? But beware, d'Artagnan exclaimed, that it concerns a woman who has been abducted, and who is now perhaps being threatened, perhaps being tortured, simply because she is faithful to her mistress. .

Beware, d'Artagnan, beware!Aramis said, I think you are a little too hot-headed for the fate of Madame Bonacieur.Women are created to destroy us, and all our disasters are brought about by women. Athos frowned and bit his lip when he heard Aramis' words. I am not at all worried about Madame Bonacieur, exclaimed d'Artagnan, but about the queen, abandoned by the king, persecuted by the cardinal, and seeing all her friends drop their heads one by one. Why does she love the Spaniards and Englishmen we hate the most in the world? Spain was her motherland, d'Artagnan replied, so it was natural for her to love the Spaniards, who had grown up on the same soil as her.As to your second accusation against her, I heard that she loved not all Englishmen, but an Englishman.

ah!In truth, said Athos, it must be admitted that the Englishman is quite lovable.I have never seen a man with such noble temperament. Not to mention his unusual attire.Porthos said, I happened to be there when he dropped pearls in the Louvre that day, that's true!I picked up two and sold them for ten pistols each.And you, Aramis, do you know him? I know him as well as you do, gentlemen.I was one of those who took part in his arrest in the Gardens of Amiens.It was Pitanger, the queen's stable steward, who led me in.I was in seminary, and I thought that kind of thing was really unbearable for the king.

In spite of this, said d'Artagnan, if I knew where the Duke of Buckingham was, I would take him by the hand and bring him before the queen, even if I should have provoked the cardinal into a rage.For, gentlemen, our true, only, and eternal enemy is the Cardinal.If we could play a merciless tease on him, honestly, I'd be willing to lose my head. Well, continued Athos, d'Artagnan, did the haberdasher tell you that the queen thought a forged letter had sent Buckingham to Paris? She has this worry. wait a minute.said Aramis. What's up?asked Porthos. Going on, I'm trying to recall certain situations.

I am now convinced, said d'Artagnan, that the abduction of the Queen's lady-in-waiting had something to do with these great events we were talking about, and possibly also with the Duke of Buckingham's visit to Paris. The Gascon is a real thinker.Porthos said appreciatively. I like to hear him talk, said Athos, he has a very amusing accent. Gentlemen, said Aramis, listen to me. Let us hear from Aramis.said the three friends. Yesterday, I was at the home of a very knowledgeable doctor of divinity. From time to time, I went to ask him about some problems encountered in my studies.

Athos smiled. He lived in a secluded place, continued Aramis, where his taste and occupation required him to live.Later, when I came out of his house Aramis stopped here. How, three listeners asked, when you came out of his house? Aramis seemed to be reluctant to do something he didn't want to do, as if he was telling a lie, and suddenly got stuck due to some unexpected factors.However, the three partners were all staring at him eagerly, and they all stretched their ears to listen to him, and now they couldn't shrink back. The Doctor has a niece, said Aramis. oh!He has a niece!Porthos cut him off.

A worthy lady.said Aramis. The three friends laughed. Why!If you laugh or doubt, Aramis said seriously, then don't want to know anything. We are as devout as the followers of Muhammad, and we listen to you as silently as the bier.Athos said. I will go on, continued Aramis, that the niece visits her uncle from time to time; yesterday she happened to be there at the same time as me, and I was obliged to offer to see her into the carriage. ah!This niece of the Doctor has a carriage?Porthos interrupted Aramis again. He has a big problem, that is, he loves to talk.Good luck getting to know her, friend. Porthos, continued Aramis, I have pointed out to you more than once that you are always talking nonsense, which is not conducive to your acquaintance with women. Gentlemen, gentlemen, dArtagnan seemed to have vaguely seen the background of the incident, and said loudly, this is a serious matter, let's try not to joke, shall we?Go on, Aramis, please go on. Suddenly, a tall, dark, gentlemanly man, very like the one you are talking about, d'Artagnan. It may be the same person.said d'Artagnan. possible.Aramis continued, the man came to me, followed by five or six people at a distance of about ten steps.He said to me in a very polite tone: Mr. Prince, and you, madam, he said to the lady who took my arm. Is it the doctor's niece? Don't interrupt, Porthos!You are intolerable, said Athos. Get in this carriage, please, don't try to resist, don't make a sound. He took you for Buckingham!cried d'Artagnan. I think so.Aramis agreed. But what about the lady?asked Porthos. He made her his queen!said d'Artagnan. Exactly so.said Aramis. What a clever fellow this Gascon!Said Athos, nothing could be hidden from him. In fact, says Porthos, Aramis does resemble the imposing duke in manners, but I think the musketeer's costume is rather I put on a big cloak.said Aramis. Cloaks in July, hell!Porthos said, is the doctor afraid that you will be recognized? I have another question, said Athos. Grace can deceive a spy, but appearance? I wear a big hat.replied Aramis. ah!My God, cried Porthos, so many precautions are taken to study theology. Gentlemen, gentlemen, said d'Artagnan, don't waste time joking, let's go separately to find the proprietress of the haberdashery shop, which is the key to the conspiracy. A woman of such humble status!Do you believe it, d'Artagnan?Porthos asked with drooping lips in contempt. She is Laporte's goddaughter, the queen's confidant maid.Didn't I tell you, gentlemen?Besides, Her Majesty the Queen may have planned to find such a humble supporter this time.People in the upper class are easy to be spotted, but the cardinal's eyes are quite powerful. Well, said Porthos, first negotiate a price with the clothing dealer, try to get as high as possible. No, said d'Artagnan, because I am sure that if he does not pay us we shall be compensated fairly handsomely on the other hand. At this time, there was a sound of hurried footsteps on the stairs, and the door was pushed open with a bang, and the owner of a clothing store with a bad face broke into the room where the four were discussing. ah!Gentlemen, he cried, save me, for heaven's sake, save me!Here come four men who must have come to arrest me.Save me, save me! Porthos and Aramis stood up. Wait a moment, d'Artagnan shouted, beckoning them to put their half-drawn swords back into their scabbards.Please wait.What is needed here is not bravery, but prudence. But, cried Porthos, we will not let Let d'Artagnan arrange it, said Athos, and I repeat: he is the most intelligent of us.I myself, declare my obedience to him.Do as you please, d'Artagnan. At this time, four guards appeared at the door of the front hall. Seeing four musketeers standing in the room with swords by their sides, they hesitated to enter. Come in, gentlemen, come in, cried d'Artagnan, this is my house, and we are all faithful servants of the king and the cardinal. Well, gentlemen, you have no objection to our carrying out the orders we have received? A person who looked like the squad leader asked. On the contrary, gentlemen, we will assist you if necessary. Hey, what did he say?Porthos muttered. What a fool you are, said Athos, keep still! But, whispered the poor haberdasher you promised me. We must remain free to save you, d'Artagnan answered quickly in a low voice, and they will take us with you if we show our protection to you. but i think Come on, gentlemen, come on.cried d'Artagnan, I have no reason to defend this gentleman.I saw him for the first time today, and under what circumstances he himself will tell you.It was when he came to ask me for rent.Am I telling the truth, Monsieur Bonacieur?Please answer! It's true, said the owner of the haberdashery store, but sir, he didn't tell you Don't mention me, don't mention my friends, especially don't mention the Queen.Otherwise, you will ruin everyone, and you will not be able to save yourself.Come on, come on, gentlemen, take this man away! D'Artagnan pushed the stupid haberdasher to the guard, and said to him: You're a villain, my dear, to come and ask me for money, ask me!Ask a musketeer for money!Put him in jail, gentlemen, I repeat, take him away and put him in jail.Keep a tight guard, as long as possible, so that I can delay paying rent. The four guards thanked them repeatedly, and then escorted the captured person away. As they were going down the stairs, D'Artagnan patted their leader on the shoulder and said: Let me have a drink to wish you health, and you have a drink to wish me health, okay?As he spoke, he filled two glasses with the Ponacie generously sent by M. Bonacier. This is for my face, said the head of the guards, and I thank you. So, a toast to your health, sir, may I have your last name? Boilene. Monsieur Boilene! Cheers to your health, gentleman, may I have your name? D'Artagnan. To your health, M. d'Artagnan! In addition to toasting each other, d'Artagnan said loudly with an excited look, let us drink to the health of the king and the cardinal. If the wine had been bad, the head of the guard might have doubted d'Artagnan's sincerity; the wine was good, so he was convinced. What the hell are you doing?When the chief guard went after his companions, and there were only four friends left in the room, Porthos asked d'Artagnan, Pooh!Four musketeers, watching helplessly, a poor man who cried for help, was taken from among them!A gentleman clinks glasses with a little guard! Porthos, said Aramis, Athos has said you are a fool, and I agree with him.D'Artagnan, you are a great man, and when you rise to the position of M. de Treville, I beg you to protect me and entrust me with a convent. Why!This confuses me, said Porthos, you two agree with what d'Artagnan did just now? Yes, I think so.Athos said, I not only agree with what he has just done, but also congratulate him. Now, gentlemen, D'Artagnan didn't want to explain what he did to Porthos, but said, "All for one, one for all, this is our motto, isn't it?" But Porthos said. Raise your hand and swear!Athos and Aramis said with one voice. Porthos had to imitate them, muttering in a low voice while raising his hand. The four friends repeated with one voice the oath led by D'Artagnan: All for one, one for all. Alright, now everyone go their own way.said d'Artagnan, as if he had been commanding others all his life, be careful, because from now on we are fighting the cardinal.