Page:The Vicomte de Bragelonne 2.djvu/204

Rh 192 THE VICOMTE i)E BRAGELONNE. grandeur and solemnity, that the three officers were almost convinced. Nevertheless, one of the colonels made a last attempt. "Monsieur," said he, "although we may be now persuaded of the truth of what you say, there is yet a strange mystery in all this. The general is too prudent a man to have thus abandoned his army on the eve of a battle, without having at least given to one of us a notice of it. As for myself, I cannot believe but that some strange event has been the cause of this disappearance. Yesterday some foreign fish- ermen came to sell their fish here; they were lodged yonder among the Scots; that is to say, on the road the general took with this gentleman to go to the abbey, and to return from it. It was one of those fishermen that accompanied the general with a light. And this morning, bark and fish- ermen have all disappeared, carried away by the night's tide." "For my part," said the lieutenant, "I see nothing in that that is not quite natural, for these people were not prisoners." "No; but I repeat it was one of them who lighted the general and this gentleman to the abbey, and Digby assures us that the general had strong suspicions concerning those people. Now, who can say whether these people were not connected with this gentleman; and that, the blow being struck, the gentleman, who is evidently brave, did not re- main to reassure us by his presence, and to prevent our researches being made in a right direction?" This speech made an impression upon the other two officers. "Monsieur," said Athos, "permit me to tell you, that your reasoning, though specious in appearance, nevertheless wants consistency, as regards me. I have remained, yoi say, to divert suspicion. Well! on the contrary, suspicion arise in me as well as in you; and I say, it is impossible, geptlemen, that the general, on the eve of a battle, should leave his army without saying anything to, at least, one of his officers. Yes, there is some strange event connected with this; yet, instead of being idle and waiting, you must display all the activity and all the vigilance possible. I am your prisoner, gentlemen, upon parole or otherwise. My honor is concerned in the ascertaining of what is become 01 General Monk, and to such a point, that if you were to say to me, 'Departs I should reply: 'No, I will remain!' And if you were to ask my opinion. I should add: "Yes, the