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CHAPTER TWENTY

The Cardinal's Messenger

When d'Artagnan returned to Paris he rentedsome rooms near the house of Athos. One evening, while he sat thinking over abottle of wine in his bedroom, there was a loud knock at the door. Befored'Artagnan could stand up the door was pushed open. The man at the door lookedaround the room, and quickly saw d'Artagnan. D'Artagnan stood up and turned tothe door. When he saw who it was at the door he gave out a cry of excitement.

It was the dark stranger of Meung.

D'Artagnan jumped forward and pulled outhis sword. “At last!" he yelled with a smile. “This time you will not escapefrom me!"

“I did not come to fight, Mister,” the strangerreplied. "I have come in the name of the King to arrest you!"

“What!” d'Artagnan exclaimed. "Who are you?"

“I am the Comte de Rochefort and I have been ordered to take you tothe Cardinal.

D'Artagnan stood in his place for a momentand then put away his sword. He smiled and said lightly, " You may take meto the Cardinal, but I will still fight you one day."

The two men got into a carriage and rode tothe Cardinal’s palace, where d'Artagnan followed Rochefort up to the Cardinal’slibrary.

The Cardinal was sitting at his deskwriting. He looked up and told Rochefort to leave, then stared at d'Artagnanfor a  long time. "Mister,” he said,"I have written the order for your arrest. Do you know why?”

"No, sir. The only thing I have donethat I could be arrested for, you still do not know.”

Richelieu again stared at the young man." Mister d'Artagnan," he began, " you came to Paris about eightmonths ago to become a Musketeer and find your fortune in the world. On the wayhere you rode through the town of Meung, where you met Rochefort and started afight. I don't know what else happened there, but it was something.”

"Mister," said d'Artagnan,"that man stole my —"

“I do not care!" the Cardinal interrupted,"In Meung you lost a letter you were carrying, it was a recommendation toMister Treville. In your time in Paris you have done many things. You rode onhorse, for example, with your Musketeer friends, towards the coast, but theywere all stopped on the road, while you continued on your journey. Yes, youhave done many things in these last few months. And now, Mister d'Artagnan, youare arrested for having given secrets of France to England — to the Duke ofBuckingham, for instance."

"And who can prove what you say, sir?”d*Artagnan asked calmly, "The only person who might know of my actions hasherself been punished/'

The Cardinal looked surprised. "Whomdo you mean?"

"Milady — the Countess de la F^re.H

The Cardinal jumped to his feet when heheard the name. “Tell me, young man, who has punished her?" he asked angrily.

"We have, sir — my friends andmyself."

“Did you put her in prison, then?”

“She is dead.”

“Dead!" screamed the Cardinal, as if he could not believe it."Are you saying that you killed her?"

“ She murdered the young woman I loved. Wetook her, judged her crimes and killed her.”

D’Artagnan then told the Cardinal of howMilady had poisoned Constance Bonacieux, of the trial and the execution.

“So," began the Cardinal, “you acted as judges. You forget thatthose who kill without being a real judge are murderers.

"We are not, sir," repliedd'Artagnan quietly, “since I have a letter of permission in my pocket."

“ Permission? Signed by whom? By theKing?" Great anger came across the Cardinal's face.

“No,” replied d'Artagnan, “signed byyou."

"Me! Young man, you are crazy!"

"Sir, you will certainly recognizeyour own writing?” D’Artagnan then took a letter from his pocket paper, whichthe Cardinal read aloud:

October 13tht 1626.

It is by my permission and for the good ofFrance that the man holding this letter has killed who he has killed.

RICHELIEU

The Cardinal sat thinking for a long time.He read the paper again and again. Then he slowly tore it in small pieces.

“Now I am in great trouble!” thought d’Artagnan.

The Cardinal picked up a pen, wrote a fewlines on a piece of paper, and signed his name on it.

“ I will certainly go to prison, at least.” thought d'Artagnan sadly.

“ Take this,” the Cardinal said suddenly, handing d'Artagnan the pieceof paper. "I have taken your paper and changed it with this one. The nameon the letter is still missing —I will let you write it in."

D'Artagnan read the piece of paper andcould not believe what he saw. The letter was a promotion to become a captainin the Musketeers. He dropped down onto one knee. “ Sir,” he began, “I shouldnot receive this letter. I have three friends, they are also Musketeers, andthey are better than I --- "

“You are a man of great courage, Mister d'Artagnan," theCardinal said, smiling at how quickly he had changed his enemy into a friend. “Iadmire strong and brave men. You may do anything you wish with this letter ofpromotion. Just remember that I have given this letter to you to make thechoice."

"I will never forget your kindness/replied d'Artagnan.

The Cardinal turned to the door and called,"Rochefort!" Rochefort entered immediately.

“Rochefort,” the Cardinal began, “Mister d'Artagnan is now my goodfriend. Do not fight with one another; shake hands and become friends, if youvalue living!”

The two men shook hands, greeted each otherpolitely and smiled to the Cardinal. They then left the room together.

"We will have the opportunity to meetagain, shall we not, Mister d'Artagnan?" said Rochefort, as soon as thedoor was closed.

"Soon." answered d'Artagnan.

“I will be ready." said Rochefort.

“Did I hear you two talking?" said the Cardinal, opening thedoor.

Again the two men shook hands, smiled ateach other and bowed to the Cardinal.

D'Artagnan ran quickly to Athos' rooms. Hetold Athos everything that had happened when he saw the Cardinal. Afterfinishing his story he held out the promotion letter, and said, "This, ofcourse, should be yours.

Athos smiled at d*Artagnan and shook hishead. "No, my friend,” he said, "this job is too much for Athos andtoo little for the Comte de la F^re. You should keep it — it has cost youenough!”

D’Artagnan bowed and left Athos. Next hewent to see Porthos. Porthos greeted him dressed in a wonderful and fancy suitof clothes, looking happily at himself in a mirror.

"Well,” Porthos asked, “do you like mynew clothes?”

“They are very wonderful,” d'Artagnanreplied, “but I have come here to offer you a suit clothes that will look evenbetter on you — the clothes of a captain of the Musketeers!” d'Artagnan thenshowed Porthos the promotion letter.

"My dear friend/* said Porthos,"this letter is of no use to me. While we were away in Bethune, a beautifuland rich lady who I know has lost her husband. In a year, when enough time haspassed, I will be married to her. You should write your own name on the letter,for I am finished with fighting/,

D’Artagnan then went to see Aramis. Hefound him sitting alone and praying. D’Artagnan told his story once again andoffered the promotion to Aramis. Aramis shook his head.

"D'Artagnan," he said, “ourrecent adventures have changed me. I have become unhappy with the life of thefighter. I have decided to become a religious man and work for the church. Youkeep this letter. You will make a brave captain/*

D’Artagnan again went to see Athos, whom hefound sitting quietly and staring into a glass of wine.

“I see," said Athos, with a smile, “that Porthos and Aramis havealso refused your letter/*

He reached for a pen and wrote d'Artagnan'sname on the paper and returned it to him.

“ I will now become a captain/ d'Artagnan said with a sad voice," but it seems that I will not often see my good friends any more. I willbe left with only bad memories.”

"You are still young,” replied Athos,“and all your bad memories will be changed into sweet ones one day."

Epilogue

D'Artagnan became a captain of theMusketeers. Porthos married the rich woman and lived richly and happily. Aramisleft Paris and became a monk in the countryside. Athos remained a Musketeer fora few more years, when he retired and moved to a small house in the country.

D'Artagnan fought Rochefort three times,and wounded him three times.

“The next time I shall probably kill you," he said, as he helpedRochefort stand up.

“ Then it is better for me that we stopfighting/” replied Rochefort, "and let us become friends instead.”