The Vicomte de Bragelonne - Alexandre Dumas

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himself in the place or stead of La Valliere's protector, it was because that protector was himself of too exalted a position to undertake her defense."

      These words were more than transparent; they made the king blush, but this time with pleasure. He struck Manicamp gently on the shoulder.

      "Well, well, Monsieur de Manicamp, you are not only a ready, witty fellow, but a brave gentleman besides, and your friend De Guiche is a paladin quite after my own heart; you will express that to him from me."

      "Your majesty forgives me, then?"

      "Completely."

      "And I am free?"

      The king smiled and held out his hand to Manicamp, which he took and kissed respectfully. "And then," added the king, "you relate stories so charmingly."

      "I, sire!"

      "You told me in the most admirable manner the particulars of the accident which happened to Guiche. I can see the wild boar rushing out of the wood—I can see the horse fall down, and the boar rush from the horse to the rider. You do not simply relate a story well, but you positively paint its incidents."

      "Sire, I think your majesty deigns to laugh at my expense."

      "On the contrary," said Louis, seriously, "I have so little intention of laughing, Monsieur de Manicamp, that I wish you to relate this adventure to every one."

      "The adventure of the hunt?"

      "Yes; in the same manner you told it to me, without changing a single word—you understand."

      "Perfectly, sire."

      "And you will relate it, then?"

      "Without losing a minute."

      "Very well! and now summon M. d'Artagnan: I hope you are no longer afraid of him."

      "Oh! sire, from the very moment I am sure of your majesty's kind dispositions, I no longer fear anything!"

      "Call him, then," said the king.

      Manicamp opened the door, and said, "Gentlemen, the king wishes you to return." D'Artagnan, Saint-Aignan and Valot entered.

      "Gentlemen," said the king, "I summoned you for the purpose of saying that Monsieur de Manicamp's explanation has entirely satisfied me."

      D'Artagnan glanced at Valot and Saint-Aignan, as much as to say, "Well! did I not tell you so?"

      The king led Manicamp to the door, and then in a low tone of voice, said, "See that M. de Guiche takes good care of himself, and, particularly that he recovers as soon as possible; I am very desirous of thanking him in the name of every lady, but let him take special care that he does not begin again."

      "Were he to die a hundred times, sire, he would begin again if your majesty's honor were in any way called in question."

      This remark was direct enough. But we have already said that the incense of flattery was very pleasing to the king, and, provided he received it, he was not very particular as to its quality.

      "Very well, very well," he said, as he dismissed Manicamp, "I will see De Guiche myself, and make him listen to reason." And as Manicamp left the apartment, the king turned round toward the three spectators of this scene, and said, "Tell me, Monsieur d'Artagnan, how does it happen that your sight is so imperfect?—you, whose eyes are generally so very good."

      "My sight bad, sire?"

      "Certainly."

      "It must be the case, since your majesty says so; but in what respect, may I ask?"

      "Why, with regard to what occurred in the Bois-Rochin."

      "Ah! ah!"

      "Certainly. You pretend to have seen the tracks of two horses, to have detected the foot-prints of two men; and have described the particulars of an engagement, which you assert took place. Nothing of the sort occurred; pure illusion on your part."

      "Ah! ah!" said D'Artagnan.

      "Exactly the same thing with the galloping to and fro of the horses, and the other indications of a struggle. It was the struggle of De Guiche against the wild boar, and absolutely nothing else; only the struggle was a long and a terrible one, it seems."

      "Ah! ah!" continued D'Artagnan.

      "And when I think that I almost believed it for a moment; but, then, you speak with such confidence."

      "I admit, sire, that I must have been very short-sighted," said D'Artagnan, with a readiness of humor which delighted the king.

      "You do admit, then?"

      "Admit it, sire, most assuredly I do."

      "So that now you see the thing—"

      "In quite a different light to what I saw it half an hour ago."

      "And to what, then, do you attribute this difference in your opinion?"

      "Oh! a very simple thing, sire; half an hour ago I returned from the Bois-Rochin, where I had nothing to light me but a stupid stable lantern—"

      "While now?"

      "While now, I have all the wax-lights of your cabinet, and more than that, your majesty's own eyes, which illuminate everything, like the blazing sun at noon-day."

      The king began to laugh, and Saint-Aignan broke out into convulsions of merriment.

      "It is precisely like M. Valot," said D'Artagnan, resuming the conversation where the king had left off; "he has been imagining all along, that, not only was M. de Guiche wounded by a bullet, but still more, that he extracted it even from his chest."

      "Upon my word," said Valot, "I assure you—"

      "Now, did you not believe that?" continued D'Artagnan.

      "Yes," said Valot, "not only did I believe it, but at this very moment I would swear it."

      "Well, my dear doctor, you have dreamed it."

      "I have dreamed it!"

      "M. de Guiche's wound—a mere dream; the bullet a dream. So take my advice, and say no more about it."

      "Well said," returned the king; "M. d'Artagnan's advice is very good. Do not speak of your dream to any one, M. Valot, and upon the word of a gentleman, you will have no occasion to repent it. Good evening, gentlemen; a very sad affair indeed is a wild-boar hunt!"

      "A very serious thing indeed," repeated D'Artagnan, in a loud voice, "is a wild-boar hunt!" and he repeated it in every room through which he passed, and left the chateau, taking Valot with him.

      "And now we are alone," said the king to Saint-Aignan, "what is the name of De Guiche's adversary?" Saint-Aignan looked at the king.

      "Oh! do not hesitate," said the king: "you know that I must forgive."

      "De Wardes," said Saint-Aignan.

      "Very good," said Louis XIV.; and then hastily retiring to his own room, added to himself, "To forgive is not to forget."

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      Manicamp quitted the king's apartment delighted at having succeeded so well, when, just as he reached the bottom of the staircase, and was about passing before a doorway, he felt that some one suddenly pulled him by the sleeve. He turned round and recognized Montalais, who was waiting for him in the passage, and who, in a very mysterious manner, with her body

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