Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/143

Rh "Ah! then it appears there will be an opposition, and the enterprise will be disputed?"

"Oh, yes, Planchet, yes."

"I burn to know the details, monsieur."

"They are these, Planchet—close all the doors firmly."

"Yes, monsieur." And Planchet double^.ocked them.

"That is well; now draw near."

Planchet obeyed.

"And open the window, because the noise of the passers-by and the carts will deafen all who might hear us. Planchet opened the window as desired, and the puff of tumult which filled the chamber with cries, wheels, barkings, and [steps deafened D'Artagnan himself, as he had wished. He then swallowed a glass of white wine, and commenced in these terms: "Planchet, I have an idea."

"Ah, monsieur! I recognize you so well in that!" replied Planchet, panting with emotion.

an instant of silence, in which D'Artagnan appeared to be collecting, not one idea, but all his ideas: "It cannot be, my dear Planchet," said he, "that you have not leard speak of His Majesty Charles I. of England?" "Alas! yes, monsieur, since you left France in order to carry him assistance, and that, in spite of that assistance, he fell, and was near dragging you down in his fall."

"Exactly so; I see you have a good memory, Planchet."

"Peste! the astonishing thing would be if I could have lost that memory, however bad it might have been. When one has heard Grimaud, who, you know, is not given to talking, relate how the head of King Charles fell, how you sailed the half of a night in a scuttled vessel, and saw rise up upon the water that Monsieur Mordaunt with a certain gold-hafted poniard sticking in his breast, one is not very likely to forget such things."

"And yet there are people who forget them, Planchet."

"Yes, such as have not seen them, or have not heard Grimaud relate them."

"Well, it is all the better that you recollect all that; I