An Adaptation from The Three Musketeers
written by Alexandre Dumas
1 This affair made a great noise. Mr. de Treville scolded his Musketeers in public and congratulated them in private, but as no time was to be lost in gaining the king, Mr. de Treville rushed to report himself at the Louvre. It was already too late. The king was with the cardinal, and Mr. de Treville was informed that the king was busy and could not receive him at that moment.
2 In the evening, Mr. de Treville attended the king’s gambling table. The king was winning, and as he was very avaricious, he was in excellent humor. Perceiving Mr. de Treville at a distance “Come here, Monsieur Captain,” said he, “come here so that I may growl at you. Do you know that his Eminence the Cardinal has been making fresh complaints against your Musketeers, and that with so much emotion, that this evening his Eminence is indisposed? Ah, these Musketeers of yours are very devils.”
3 “No, sire,” replied Treville, who saw at first glance how things would go, “on the contrary, they are good creatures, as meek as lambs, and have but one desire. And that is that their swords may never leave their scabbards but in your majesty’s service. But what are they to do? The Guards of Monsieur the Cardinal are forever seeking quarrels with them, and in honor, the poor young men are obliged to defend themselves.”
4 “Listen to Monsieur de Treville,” said the king; “listen to him! Would not one say he was speaking of greatness? In truth, my dear Captain, I have a great mind to take away your commission and give it to Mademoiselle de Chemerault. But don’t fancy that I am going to take you on your bare word.”
5 Then, walking with him toward the embrasure of a window, the king, speaking low, said, “Well, monsieur, you say it is his Eminence’s Guards who have sought a quarrel with your Musketeers?”
6 “Yes, sire, as they always do.”
7 “And how did that happen? Let us see, for you know, my dear Captain, a judge must hear both sides.”
8 “Three of my best soldiers, whom your Majesty knows by name, and whose devotedness you have more than once appreciated, and who have, I dare affirm to the king, his service much at heart three of my best soldiers, I say, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis had made a party with a young fellow from Gascony, whom I had introduced to them the same morning. The party was to take place at St. Germain, I believe, and they had appointed to meet at the Carmes-Deschaux when they were disturbed by De Jussac, Cahusac, Bicarat, and two other Guardsmen, who certainly did not go there in such a group without some ill intention.”
9 “Ah, ah! You incline me to think so,” said the king. “There is no doubt they went to fight themselves.”
10 “I do not accuse them, sire, but I leave your Majesty to judge what five armed men could possibly be going to do in such a deserted place as the neighborhood of the Convent des Carmes.”
11 “Yes, you are right, Treville, you are right!”
12 “Then, upon seeing my Musketeers, the Guardsmen changed their minds. Your Majesty cannot be ignorant that the Musketeers, who belong to the king and nobody but the king, are the natural enemies of the Guardsmen, who belong to the cardinal.”
