Chapter 42 Chapter 40 The Cardinal

The cardinal, with his arm resting on the manuscript and his hand on his cheek, looked at the young man for a moment.No one is more probing than the gaze of Cardinal Richelieu.D'Artagnan felt that look like a hot current running through his veins. But he was calm and composed, felt hat in hand, and waited neither humble nor humble for His Excellency's mood to improve. Monsieur, the cardinal has spoken, are you the d'Artagnan from the Béarn? Yes, my lord, replied the young man. There are several d'Artagnan families in Tarbes and the surrounding area, said the cardinal, which one do you belong to?

There was one man who fought all the religious wars with the great King Henry, and that man was my father. This is good.You left your hometown about seven or eight months ago and came to the capital to find a way out? Yes, my lord. You came through Mern, and there you encountered some things, I don't know much about them, but they were troublesome. My lord, replied d'Artagnan, this is what happened to me No, no, said the cardinal, with a smile which showed that he knew the matter as well as the person who wanted to tell him: you were introduced to M. de Treville, were you not? Yes, my lord; but it was in that unfortunate incident at Merne

The letter was lost, His Excellency replied, Yes, I know; but M. de Treville is a good matchmaker, he can see people at a glance, and he put you in the company of his sister-in-law M. Essar, This gives you the hope that sooner or later you will join the Musketeers. Your Excellency is very well informed, said d'Artagnan. Since then, many things have happened to you: you walked behind Chartreuse Abbey, and it would have been better if you had been elsewhere that day; Go on a trip; your friends stop on the road, and you keep going.It's simple, you have a business in the UK. My lord, D'Artagnan is dumbfounded, I will go

To go hunting, in Windsor, or anywhere else, that was none of anyone's business.I know this, because my identity is to know everything.You were met by a formidable man upon your return, and I'd love to see that you still have the memento she gave you. D'Artagnan raised his hand to feel the diamond ring he had received from the queen, and hastily turned the stone into it, but it was too late. On the second day of that day, when you received a visit from Cavoir, the cardinal replied that he was going to ask you to come to my house; and it was your fault that you did not return his visit. .

My lord, I am afraid that I have lost the favor of His Excellency. well!Why do you say that, sir?Just because you have devoted more wisdom and courage than others to carry out the orders of your superiors, and because you deserve the praise of others, have you lost my love?I punish the disobedient, not the obedient as you are.And there is proof, you remember the day I had someone tell you to come and see me, try to recall, what happened that night? It was that night that Madame Bonacieur was kidnapped.D'Artagnan shuddered, remembering that half an hour before that poor woman had been walking beside him, and that, needless to say, it was the same gang of strong men who had taken her away and made her disappear.

Finally, continued the Cardinal, I haven't heard of you for some time, so I'm curious to know what you're up to.Besides, you owe me a great deal, and you know very well how much care you have received in all this. D'Artagnan bowed with respect. Do this, went on the Cardinal, not only from a normal and legitimate emotion, but from my plans for your concern. D'Artagnan grew more astonished the more he heard. On the day you accepted my first invitation, I wanted to tell you about this plan; but you did not come.Fortunately this delay did no harm, and today you will hear about the plans.Please sit down before me, Monsieur d'Artagnan, you are too good a gentleman to stand and listen to me.

The cardinal pointed to a chair for the young man to sit on.D'Artagnan was even more flattered by this scene, and he did not obey until the other party signaled him a second time. Your courage, Monsieur d'Artagnan, continued the bishop, and your prudence are the icing on the cake.I like people with a brain and a conscience; you don’t have to be afraid, he said with a smile, and I understand a person with a conscience is a brave person; however, you are so young and have just entered society, but you have Less powerful enemies: If you are not careful, you will ruin yourself! You say so, my lord!The young man replied, "It's easy for them to do it, there is no doubt, because they are many and powerful, and they have people behind them, but I am alone and weak!"

Yes, you speak the truth; but I have no doubt that you have done much, and will do many more, though you are small.But I thought you needed guidance in the adventures you have undertaken, because, if I am not mistaken, you came to Paris with the ambition to find your way out. I am in the year of my imagination, my lord, said d'Artagnan. Only fools have ideas, sir, and you have brains.Well, how about being a standard bearer in my guard, and leading a company after a battle? ah!grown ups! You agree, don't you? "My lord," said d'Artagnan with embarrassment. What, you refuse?asked the cardinal, raising his voice in surprise.

I am one of His Majesty's Guards, my lord, and I have no reason to be dissatisfied. But I think, Your Excellency the Bishop said, my guard is also His Majesty's Praetorian Guard, and anyone who serves in any army in France is serving the king. My lord, Your Excellency has misunderstood what I said. You're looking for an excuse, aren't you?I understand.Well, you've found the excuse.Promotion, the beginning of the war, I offer you the opportunity, this is the same for all; but for you, what is needed is reliable protection; To serve the king, and it will do you good to know, Monsieur d'Artagnan.

D'Artagnan blushed. Besides, the Cardinal continued, laying his hand on a stack of papers, I have here a complete file on you; but before reading it, I would like to talk to you.I know you are a man of determination, and that your services, if directed well, will not get you into trouble, but may get you a lot of money.Think about it quickly, make up your mind. Your sincerity embarrasses me, my lord, replied d'Artagnan, and the great mind I see in your lord makes me as small as an earthworm; but since your lord allows me to speak frankly D'Artagnan stopped talking. Yes, please speak.

Well, then, I tell your lord, that all my friends are in the King's Fusiliers and in the Guards; and my enemies, for an inconceivable number of days, are in your service; Wouldn't it be looked down upon here, and despised there. Maybe you think too highly of yourself that I can't use you to the best of my ability, sir?said the cardinal with a contemptuous smile. Your Excellency, Your Excellency has favored me so much that it reminds me that I have not done enough to deserve your favor.The siege of La Rochelle is about to begin, my lord, I will serve under your insight, if I have the honor to perform during this siege, so that I am worthy of your favor, hey, after this I at least And some heroic deeds to justify the protection Your Excellency has bestowed upon me.Let everything be as it is, my lord!In the not-too-distant future, I may have the right to commit my allegiance, but at present, it seems that I have the suspicion of prostitution. That is to say, you refuse to serve me, sir, said the cardinal, in a tone of rage but respect, so keep your liberty, your hatred and your sympathy. grown ups Well, well, said the Cardinal, I don't hate you, but you know, a man is very worried about his friends, both protecting and rewarding him, but owes nothing to his enemies , so I send you a piece of advice: take care of yourselves, M. d'Artagnan, for I will not spend another cent on your life from the day I withdraw my hand from you. I will try, my lord, replied the Gascon with lofty assurances. From now on, at some point, if you have any misfortune, you will think, Richelieu said intentionally, that I have been looking for you, and I have done everything I can to prevent that misfortune from befalling you. No matter what happened, D'Artagnan pressed his hands on his chest and bowed deeply. I will always be grateful to His Excellency Bishop for everything he has done for me at this time. Oh well!As you say, Monsieur d'Artagnan, we will see you after the battle; I will see you off, because I am also at the front, said the cardinal, pointing to d'Artagnan with his hand the splendor he is about to wear. armor, when we return in triumph, then we will settle accounts! ah!My lord, cried d'Artagnan, do not impose upon me the weight of disgrace; if my conduct seems to you to be noble and refined, be impartial. Young man, said Richelieu, if I had the opportunity to say again what I have said to you today, I promise you I will say it to you. This last sentence of Richelieu expressed a terrible suspicion; it surprised d'Artagnan more than a threat, because it was a warning.The cardinal was trying to save him from some misfortune that was threatening him.He opened his mouth to answer, but the cardinal dismissed him with a haughty wave of his hand. D'Artagnan went out; but at the door he was on the verge of losing his nerve, and almost turned back again.At this time, Athos's solemn and serious face appeared before his eyes: if he accepted the agreement proposed to him by the cardinal, Athos would break with him, and Athos would abandon him. It was this fear that kept him, and what a powerful influence a man of truly great character had on all around him. D'Artagnan descended the same staircase by which he had entered, and found Athos at the gate with the four musketeers under his command, waiting for him, and beginning to grow anxious.D'Artagnan reassured them with a single word, and Planchet ran to inform the other sentries that there was no need to prolong their stay, because his master had left the bishop's palace safe and sound. Returning to the house of Athos, Aramis and Porthos inquired about the reason for this strange engagement; d'Artagnan only told them that Richelieu had invited him to recommend him to be the standard-bearer of his guard, But he refused. You are right!Porthos and Aramis shouted in unison. Athos was lost in thought, but made no response.But when he was alone with d'Artagnan he said: You did what you were supposed to do, d'Artagnan, but perhaps you did it wrong. D'Artagnan uttered a sigh, which was the echo of another secret voice in his soul, which told him that great misfortune awaited him. The whole of the next day was spent in preparations for the expedition; d'Artagnan was going to say good-bye to M. de Treville.For the moment it is still thought that the separation of the Praetorians and the Musketeers might have been expedient, since the King was still presiding over Parliament that day and was likely to leave the next day.So M. de Treville simply asked d'Artagnan if he wanted him, and d'Artagnan replied proudly that he had everything he needed. The night brought together the brethren of Monsieur Essar's Guards Company and Monsieur de Treville's Musketeers for friendship.Once we break up, we hope to meet again, so this kind of night must be very noisy, which is conceivable, because under such circumstances, only the heart without extreme foresight can overcome the heart without extreme near-term worries. The next day, at the first sound of bugles, the friends parted: the musketeers ran to M. de Treville's camp, and the guardsmen ran to M. Essar's camp.The leaders of each team immediately led their teams to the Louvre to be inspected by the king. The king has a sad and sickly complexion, which slightly detracts from his tall figure.Indeed, just last night, during the Supreme Court trial session, he had a fever.But he did not decide to postpone the trip that night because of this; despite some people's advice, he still insisted on reviewing, hoping to overcome the illness that had just attacked him with courage. After the inspection, the Imperial Guard marched forward independently, and the Musketeers had to accompany the king to escort them to the expedition. This made it possible for Porthos to go to Xiongxiazi Street to show off his gorgeous equipment. The attorney's wife saw him in a new uniform, riding down the street on a fine horse.She loved Porthos too much to let him go away; she motioned for him to dismount and come to her.Bordeaux was majestic, his spurs jingled, his armor gleamed, and the dragon spring on his waist hit his thigh, swinging back and forth majesticly.This time, the clerks couldn't laugh if they wanted to, because Porthos looked like a man with his ears cut off. The musketeer was led to Mr. Cockner, whose small gray eyes gleamed sullenly at the sight of his cousin in his new garb.But he was comforted by the fact that people everywhere said that the battle might be brutal, and he secretly hoped that Porthos would die. Porthos greeted Mr. Cocknall with civilities and a few words of farewell; Mr. Cocknall wished him every success.As for Mrs. Cockner, he could not help the tears; but no one commented on her sufferings, for she was well known for her relations, and for their sake she had been quarreling with her husband. It's too late. The real farewell scene, however, took place in Mrs Cocknall's bedroom: it was heartrending. The attorney's wife, who had been steadfastly watching her lover recede, leaned out of the window, waving a handkerchief, and looked as if she really wanted to jump out of the window into the street.As a veteran who is used to such performances in the field of love, Porthos accepted the affection, and only when he turned the corner, he took off his felt hat and waved goodbye. And Aramis, who is writing a long letter.Who are you writing to?Nobody knows.In the next room, Katie, who was supposed to leave for Tours that night, was waiting for the secret letter. Athos was sipping his last bottle of Spanish wine. In the meantime d'Artagnan was advancing with his company. Arriving at the Quarter Saint-Antoine, he turned and looked cheerfully at the Bastille, but as he was looking only at the Bastille, he did not see Milady at all.Milady, on a light sorrel horse, was pointing him out to two savage-looking men, who immediately approached the procession to recognize d'Artagnan.They asked again with winks, and Milady indicated that it was him.Then, convinced that her orders would be carried out without fail, she rode away. The two men then followed the Musketeers, and when they left the district of Saint-Antoine they mounted two ready horses, where a servant without livery was already waiting at the bridle.