Aramis resumed his usual smile, the expression of which was so singular.
"Heaven never fails to hear me," he said.
"I abandon myself to your unreservedly," Fouquet murmured.
"No, no; I do not understand it in that manner. I am unreservedly devoted to you. Therefore, as you have the clearest, the most delicate, and the most ingenious mind of the two, you shall have entire control over the _fete_, even to the very smallest details. Only--"
"Only?" said Fouquet, as a man accustomed to understand and appreciate the value of a parenthesis.
"Well, then, leaving the entire invention of the details to you, I shall reserve to myself a general superintendence over the execution."
"In what way?"
"I mean, that you will make of me, on that day, a major-domo, a sort of inspector-general, or factotum--something between a captain of the guard and manager or steward. I will look after the people, and will keep the keys of the doors. You will give your orders, of course: but will give them to no one but me. They will pa.s.s through my lips, to reach those for whom they are intended--you understand?"
"No, I am very far from understanding."
"But you agree?"
"Of course, of course, my friend."
"That is all I care about, then. Thanks; and now go and prepare your list of invitations."
"Whom shall I invite?"
"Everybody you know."
Chapter L: In Which the Author Thinks It Is High Time to Return to the Vicomte de Bragelonne.
Our readers will have observed in this story, the adventures of the new and of the past generation being detailed, as it were, side by side. He will have noticed in the former, the reflection of the glory of earlier years, the experience of the bitter things of this world; in the former, also, that peace which takes possession of the heart, and that healing of the scars which were formerly deep and painful wounds. In the latter, the conflicts of love and vanity; bitter disappointments, ineffable delights; life instead of memory. If, therefore, any variety has been presented to the reader in the different episodes of this tale, it is to be attributed to the numerous shades of color which are presented on this double tablet, where two pictures are seen side by side, mingling and harmonizing their severe and pleasing tones. The repose of the emotions of one is found in harmonious contrast with the fiery sentiments of the other. After having talked reason with older heads, one loves to talk nonsense with youth. Therefore, if the threads of the story do not seem very intimately to connect the chapter we are now writing with the one we have just written, we do not intend to give ourselves any more thought or trouble about it than Ruysdael took in painting an autumn sky, after having finished a spring-time scene. We accordingly resume Raoul de Bragelonne"s story at the very place where our last sketch left him.
In a state of frenzy and dismay, or rather without power or will of his own,--hardly knowing what he was doing,--he fled swiftly, after the scene in La Valliere"s chamber, that strange exclusion, Louise"s grief, Montalais"s terror, the king"s wrath--all seemed to indicate some misfortune. But what? He had arrived from London because he had been told of the existence of a danger; and almost on his arrival this appearance of danger was manifest. Was not this sufficient for a lover?
Certainly it was, but it was insufficient for a pure and upright heart such as his. And yet Raoul did not seek for explanations in the very quarter where more jealous or less timid lovers would have done. He did not go straightaway to his mistress, and say, "Louise, is it true that you love me no longer? Is it true that you love another?" Full of courage, full of friendship as he was full of love; a religious observer of his word, and believing blindly the word of others, Raoul said within himself, "Guiche wrote to put me on my guard, Guiche knows something; I will go and ask Guiche what he knows, and tell him what I have seen."
The journey was not a long one. Guiche, who had been brought from Fontainebleau to Paris within the last two days, was beginning to recover from his wounds, and to walk about a little in his room. He uttered a cry of joy as he saw Raoul, with the eagerness of friendship, enter the apartment. Raoul was unable to refrain from a cry of grief, when he saw De Guiche, so pale, so thin, so melancholy. A very few words, and a simple gesture which De Guiche made to put aside Raoul"s arm, were sufficient to inform the latter of the truth.
"Ah! so it is," said Raoul, seating himself beside his friend; "one loves and dies."
"No, no, not dies," replied Guiche, smiling, "since I am now recovering, and since, too, I can press you in my arms."
"Ah! I understand."
"And I understand you, too. You fancy I am unhappy, Raoul?"
"Alas!"
"No; I am the happiest of men. My body suffers, but not my mind or my heart. If you only knew--Oh! I am, indeed, the very happiest of men."
"So much the better," said Raoul; "so much the better, provided it lasts."
"It is over. I have had enough happiness to last me to my dying day, Raoul."
"I have no doubt you have had; but she--"
"Listen; I love her, because--but you are not listening to me."
"I beg your pardon."
"Your mind is preoccupied."
"Yes, your health, in the first place--"
"It is not that, I know."
"My dear friend, you would be wrong. I think, to ask me any questions--_you_ of all persons in the world;" and he laid so much weight upon the "you," that he completely enlightened his friend upon the nature of the evil, and the difficulty of remedying it.
"You say that, Raoul, on account of what I wrote to you."
"Certainly. We will talk over that matter a little, when you have finished telling me of all your own pleasures and your pains."
"My dear friend, I am entirely at your service."
"Thank you; I have hurried, I have flown here; I came in half the time the government couriers usually take. Now, tell me, my dear friend, what did you want?"
"Nothing whatever, but to make you come."
"Well, then, I am here."
"All is quite right, then."
"There must have been something else, I suppose?"
"No, indeed."
"De Guiche!"
"Upon my honor!"
"You cannot possibly have crushed all my hopes so violently, or have exposed me to being disgraced by the king for my return, which is in disobedience of his orders--you cannot, I say, have planted jealousy in my heart, merely to say to me, "It is all right, be perfectly easy.""
"I do not say to you, Raoul, "Be perfectly easy;" but pray understand me; I never will, nor can I, indeed, tell you anything else."
"What sort of person do you take me for?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you know anything, why conceal it from me? If you do not know anything, why did you write so warningly?"