Page:Ten Years Later 2.djvu/12

scene entered into the mind of D'Artagnan, by the eyes and ears, at once. The first word of Louis to his musketeer, as if he wished it to be in opposition to what he was saying at the moment, was a kind "good-day." The second was to send away Colbert. The latter left the king's cabinet, livid and tottering, while D'Artagnan twisted up the ends of his mustache.
"I love to see one of my servants in this disorder," said the king, admiring the martial stains upon the clothes of his envoy.
"I thought, sire, my presence at the Louvre was sufficiently urgent to excuse my presenting myself thus before you."
"You bring me great news, then, monsieur?"
"Sire, the thing is this, in two words; Belle Isle is fortified, admirably fortified. Belle Isle has a double enceinte, a citadel, two detached forts; its ports contain three corsairs, and the side batteries only wait for their cannon."
"I know all that, monsieur," replied the king.
"What! your majesty knows all that?" replied the musketeer, stupefied.
"I have the plan of the fortifications of Belle Isle," said the king.
"Your majesty has the plan?"
"Here it is."
"It is really it, sire; and I saw a similar one on the spot."
The brow of D'Artagnan became clouded. "Ah! I understand all. Your majesty has not trusted to me alone, but has sent some other person," said he, in a reproachful tone.
"Of what importance is the manner, monsieur, in which I have learned what I know, so that I do know it?"
"Sire, sire," said the musketeer, without seeking even to conceal his dissatisfaction; "but I must be permitted to say to your majesty that it is not worth while to make me use such speed, to risk twenty times the breaking of my neck, to salute me on my arrival with such intelligence. Sire, when people are not trusted, or are deemed insufficient, they should not be employed." And D'Artagnan, with a movement perfectly military, stamped with his foot, and left upon the floor dust stained with blood. The king looked at him, inwardly enjoying his first triumph.
"Monsieur," said he, at the expiration of a minute, "not only is Belle Isle known to me, but, still further, Belle Isle is mine."