affirmative sign to his minister. Colbert then broke in on the conversation suddenly, and said to Aramis:</p>
<p>"Monsieur l'ambassadeur, shall we talk about business?"</p>
<p>D'Artagnan immediately withdrew, from politeness. He directed his steps
towards the fireplace, within hearing of what the king was about to say to
Monsieur, who, evidently uneasy, had gone to him. The face of the king was
animated. Upon his brow was stamped a strength of will, the expression of
which already met no further contradiction in France, and was soon to meet
no more in Europe.</p>
<p>"Monsieur," said the king to his brother, "I am not pleased with M. le
Chevalier de Lorraine. You, who do him the honor to protect him, must
advise him to travel for a few months."</p>
<p>These words fell with the crush of an avalanche upon Monsieur, who adored
his favorite, and concentrated all his affections in him.</p>
<p>"In what has the chevalier been inconsiderate enough to displease your
majesty?" cried he, darting a furious look at Madame.</p>
<p>"I will tell you that when he is gone," said the king, suavely. "And also
when Madame, here, shall have crossed over into England."</p>
<p>"Madame! in England!" murmured Monsieur, in amazement.</p>
<p>"In a week, brother," continued the king, "whilst we will go whither I
will shortly tell you." And the king turned on his heel, smiling in his
brother's face, to sweeten, as it were, the bitter draught he had given
him.</p>
<p>During this time Colbert was talking with the Duc d'Almeda.</p>
<p>"Monsieur," said Colbert to Aramis, "this is the moment for us to come to
an understanding. I have made your peace with the king, and I owed that
clearly to a man of so much merit; but as you have often expressed
friendship for me, an opportunity presents itself for giving me a proof of
it. You are, besides, more a Frenchman than a Spaniard. Shall we secure—answer
me frankly—the neutrality of Spain, if we undertake anything against
the United Provinces?"</p>
<p>"Monsieur," replied Aramis, "the interest of Spain is clear. To embroil
Europe with the Provinces would doubtless be our policy, but the king of
France is an ally of the United Provinces. You are not ignorant, besides,
that it would infer a maritime war, and that France is in no state to
undertake this with advantage."</p>
<p>Colbert, turning round at this moment, saw D'Artagnan who was seeking some
interlocutor, during this "aside" of the king and Monsieur. He called him,
at the same time saying in a low voice to Aramis, "We may talk openly with
D'Artagnan, I suppose?"</p>
<p>"Oh! certainly," replied the ambassador.</p>
<p>"We were saying, M. d'Almeda and I," said Colbert, "that a conflict with
the United Provinces would mean a maritime war."</p>
<p>"That's evident enough," replied the musketeer.</p>
<p>"And what do you think of it, Monsieur d'Artagnan?"</p>
<p>"I think that to carry on such a war successfully, you must have very
large land forces."</p>
<p>"What did you say?" said Colbert, thinking he had ill understood him.</p>
<p>"Why such a large land army?" said Aramis.</p>
<p>"Because the king will be beaten by sea if he has not the English with
him, and that when beaten by sea, he will soon be invaded, either by the
Dutch in his ports, or by the Spaniards by land."</p>
<p>"And Spain neutral?" asked Aramis.</p>
<p>"Neutral as long as the king shall prove stronger," rejoined D'Artagnan.</p>
<p>Colbert admired that sagacity which never touched a question without
enlightening it thoroughly. Aramis smiled, as he had long known that in
diplomacy D'Artagnan acknowledged no superior. Colbert, who, like all
proud men, dwelt upon his fantasy with a certainty of success, resumed the
subject, "Who told you, M. d'Artagnan, that the king had no navy?"</p>
<p>"Oh! I take no heed of these details," replied the captain. "I am but an
indifferent sailor. Like all nervous people, I hate the sea; and yet I
have an idea that, with ships, France being a seaport with two hundred
exits, we might have sailors."</p>
<p>Colbert drew from his pocket a little oblong book divided into two
columns. On the first were the names of vessels, on the other the figures
recapitulating the number of cannon and men requisite to equip these
ships. "I have had the same idea as you," said he to D'Artagnan, "and I
have had an account drawn up of the vessels we have altogether—thirty-five
ships."</p>
<p>"Thirty-five ships! impossible!" cried D'Artagnan.</p>
<p>"Something like two thousand pieces of cannon," said Colbert. "That is
what the king possesses at this moment. Of five and thirty vessels we can
make three squadrons, but I must have five."</p>
<p>"Five!" cried Aramis.</p>
<p>"They will be afloat before the end of the year, gentlemen; the king will
have fifty ship of the line. We may venture on a contest with them, may we
not?"</p>
<p>"To build vessels," said D'Artagnan, "is difficult, but possible. As to
arming them, how is that to be done? In France there are neither foundries
nor military docks."</p>
<p>"Bah!" replied Colbert, in a bantering tone, "I have planned all that this
year and a half past, did you not know it? Do you know M. d'Imfreville?"</p>
<p>"D'Imfreville?" replied D'Artagnan; "no."</p>
<p>"He is a man I have discovered; he has a specialty; he is a man of genius—he
knows how to set men to work. It is he who has cast cannon and cut the
woods of Bourgogne. And then, monsieur l'ambassadeur, you may not believe
what I am going to tell you, but I have a still further idea."</p>
<p>"Oh, monsieur!" said Aramis, civilly, "I always believe you."</p>
<p>"Calculating upon the character of the Dutch, our allies, I said to
myself, 'They are merchants, they are friendly with the king; they will be
happy to sell to the king what they fabricate for themselves; then the
more we buy'—Ah! I must add this: I have Forant—do you know
Forant, D'Artagnan?"</p>
<p>Colbert, in his warmth, forgot himself; he called the captain simply <i>D'Artagnan</i>,
as the king did. But the captain only smiled at it.</p>
<p>"No," replied he, "I do not know him."</p>
<p>"That is another man I have discovered, with a genius for buying. This
Forant has purchased for me 350,000 pounds of iron in balls, 200,000
pounds of powder, twelve cargoes of Northern timber, matches, grenades,
pitch, tar—I know not what! with a saving of seven per cent upon
what all those articles would cost me fabricated in France."</p>
<p>"That is a capital and quaint idea," replied D'Artagnan, "to have Dutch
cannon-balls cast which will return to the Dutch."</p>
<p>"Is it not, with loss, too?" And Colbert laughed aloud. He was delighted
with his own joke.</p>
<p>"Still further," added he, "these same Dutch are building for the king, at
this moment, six vessels after the model of the best of their name.
Destouches—Ah! perhaps you don't know Destouches?"</p>
<p>"No, monsieur."</p>
<p>"He is a man who has a sure glance to discern, when a ship is launched,
what are the defects and qualities of that ship—that is valuable,
observe! Nature is truly whimsical. Well, this Destouches appeared to me
to be a man likely to prove useful in marine affairs, and he is
superintending the construction of six vessels of seventy-eight guns,
which the Provinces are building for his majesty. It results from this, my
dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, that the king, if he wished to quarrel with the
Provinces, would have a very pretty fleet. Now, you know better than
anybody else if the land army is efficient."</p>
<p>D'Artagnan and Aramis looked at each other, wondering at the mysterious
labors this man had undertaken in so short a time. Colbert understood
them, and was touched by this best of flatteries.</p>
<p>"If we, in France, were ignorant of what was going on," said D'Artagnan,
"out of France still less must be known."</p>
<p>"That is why I told monsieur l'ambassadeur," said Colbert, "that, Spain
promising its neutrality, England helping us—"</p>
<p>"If England assists you," said Aramis, "I promise the neutrality of
Spain."</p>
<p>"I take you at your word," Colbert hastened to reply with his blunt <i>bonhomie</i>.
"And, <i>a propos</i> of Spain, you have not the 'Golden Fleece,' Monsieur
d'Almeda. I heard the king say the other day that he should like to see
you wear the <i>grand cordon</i> of St. Michael."</p>
<p>Aramis bowed. "Oh!" thought D'Artagnan, "and Porthos is no longer here!
What ells of ribbons would there be for him in these <i>largesses!</i>
Dear Porthos!"</p>
<p>"Monsieur d'Artagnan," resumed Colbert, "between us two, you will have, I
wager, an inclination to lead your musketeers into Holland. Can you swim?"
And he laughed like a man in high good humor.</p>
<p>"Like an eel," replied D'Artagnan.</p>
<p>"Ah! but there are some bitter passages of canals and marshes yonder,
Monsieur d'Artagnan, and the best swimmers are sometimes drowned there."</p>
<p>"It is my profession to die for his majesty," said the musketeer. "Only,
as it is seldom in war that much water is met with without a little fire,
I declare to you beforehand, that I will do my best to choose fire. I am
getting old; water freezes me—but fire warms, Monsieur Colbert."</p>
<p>And D'Artagnan looked so handsome still in quasi-juvenile strength as he
pronounced these words, that Colbert, in his turn, could not help admiring
him. D'Artagnan perceived the effect he had produced. He remembered that
the best tradesman is he who fixes a high price upon his goods, when they
are valuable. He prepared his price in advance.</p>
<p>"So, then," said Colbert, "we go into Holland?"</p>
<p>"Yes," replied D'Artagnan; "only—"</p>
<p>"Only?" said M. Colbert.</p>
<p>"Only," repeated D'Artagnan, "there lurks in everything the question of
interest, the question of self-love. It is a very fine title, that of
captain of the musketeers; but observe this: we have now the king's guards
and the military household of the king. A captain of musketeers ought to
command all that, and then he would absorb a hundred thousand livres a
year for expenses."</p>
<p>"Well! but do you suppose the king would haggle with you?" said Colbert.</p>
<p>"Eh! monsieur, you have not understood me," replied D'Artagnan, sure of
carrying his point. "I was telling you that I, an old captain, formerly
chief of the king's guard, having precedence of the <i>marechaux</i> of
France—I saw myself one day in the trenches with two other equals,
the captain of the guards and the colonel commanding the Swiss. Now, at no
price will I suffer that. I have old habits, and I will stand or fall by
them."</p>
<p>Colbert felt this blow, but he was prepared for it.</p>
<p>"I have been thinking of what you said just now," replied he.</p>
<p>"About what, monsieur?"</p>
<p>"We were speaking of canals and marshes in which people are drowned."</p>
<p>"Well!"</p>
<p>"Well! if they are drowned, it is for want of a boat, a plank, or a
stick."</p>
<p>"Of a stick, however short it may be," said D'Artagnan.</p>
<p>"Exactly," said Colbert. "And, therefore, I never heard of an instance of
a <i>marechal</i> of France being drowned."</p>
<p>D'Artagnan became very pale with joy, and in a not very firm voice,
"People would be very proud of me in my country," said he, "if I were a <i>marechal</i>
of France; but a man must have commanded an expedition in chief to obtain
the <i>baton</i>."</p>
<p>"Monsieur!" said Colbert, "here is in this pocket-book which you will
study, a plan of campaign you will have to lead a body of troops to carry
out in the next spring." <SPAN href="#linknote-12" name="linknoteref-12" id="linknoteref-12"><small>12</small></SPAN></p>
<p>D'Artagnan took the book, tremblingly, and his fingers meeting those of
Colbert, the minister pressed the hand of the musketeer loyally.</p>
<p>"Monsieur," said he, "we had both a revenge to take, one over the other. I
have begun; it is now your turn!"</p>
<p>"I will do you justice, monsieur," replied D'Artagnan, "and implore you to
tell the king that the first opportunity that shall offer, he may depend
upon a victory, or to behold me dead—<i>or both</i>."</p>
<p>"Then I will have the <i>fleurs-de-lis</i> for your <i>marechal's baton</i>
prepared immediately," said Colbert.</p>
<p>On the morrow, Aramis, who was setting out for Madrid, to negotiate the
neutrality of Spain, came to embrace D'Artagnan at his hotel.</p>
<p>"Let us love each other for four," said D'Artagnan. "We are now but two."</p>
<p>"And you will, perhaps, never see me again, dear D'Artagnan," said Aramis;
"if you knew how I have loved you! I am old, I am extinct—ah, I am
almost dead."</p>
<p>"My friend," said D'Artagnan, "you will live longer than I shall:
diplomacy commands you to live; but, for my part, honor condemns me to
die."</p>
<p>"Bah! such men as we are, monsieur le marechal," said Aramis, "only die
satisfied with joy in glory."</p>
<p>"Ah!" replied D'Artagnan, with a melancholy smile, "I assure you, monsieur
le duc, I feel very little appetite for either."</p>
<p>They once more embraced, and, two hours after, separated—forever.</p>
<p>The Death of D'Artagnan.</p>
<p>Contrary to that which generally happens, whether in politics or morals,
each kept his promises, and did honor to his engagements.</p>
<p>The king recalled M. de Guiche, and banished M. le Chevalier de Lorraine;
so that Monsieur became ill in consequence. Madame set out for London,
where she applied herself so earnestly to make her brother, Charles II.,
acquire a taste for the political counsels of Mademoiselle de Keroualle,
that the alliance between England and France was signed, and the English
vessels, ballasted by a few millions of French gold, made a terrible
campaign against the fleets of the United Provinces. Charles II. had
promised Mademoiselle de Keroualle a little gratitude for her good
counsels; he made her Duchess of Portsmouth. Colbert had promised the king
vessels, munitions, victories. He kept his word, as is well known. At
length Aramis, upon whose promises there was least dependence to be
placed, wrote Colbert the following letter, on the subject of the
negotiations which he had undertaken at Madrid:</p>
<p>"MONSIEUR COLBERT,—I have the honor to expedite to you the R. P.
Oliva, general <i>ad interim</i> of the Society of Jesus, my provisional
successor. The reverend father will explain to you, Monsieur Colbert, that
I preserve to myself the direction of all the affairs of the order which
concern France and Spain; but that I am not willing to retain the title of
general, which would throw too high a side-light on the progress of the
negotiations with which His Catholic Majesty wishes to intrust me. I shall
resume that title by the command of his majesty, when the labors I have
undertaken in concert with you, for the great glory of God and His Church,
shall be brought to a good end. The R. P. Oliva will inform you likewise,
monsieur, of the consent His Catholic Majesty gives to the signature of a
treaty which assures the neutrality of Spain in the event of a war between
France and the United Provinces. This consent will be valid even if
England, instead of being active, should satisfy herself with remaining
neutral. As for Portugal, of which you and I have spoken, monsieur, I can
assure you it will contribute with all its resources to assist the Most
Christian King in his war. I beg you, Monsieur Colbert, to preserve your
friendship and also to believe in my profound attachment, and to lay my
respect at the feet of His Most Christian Majesty. Signed,</p>
<p>"LE DUC D'ALMEDA." <SPAN href="#linknote-13" name="linknoteref-13" id="linknoteref-13"><small>13</small></SPAN></p>
<p>Aramis had performed more than he had promised; it remained to be seen how
the king, M. Colbert, and D'Artagnan would be faithful to each other. In
the spring, as Colbert had predicted, the land army entered on its
campaign. It preceded, in magnificent order, the court of Louis XIV., who,
setting out on horseback, surrounded by carriages filled with ladies and
courtiers, conducted the <i>elite</i> of his kingdom to this sanguinary <i>fete</i>.
The officers of the army, it is true, had no other music save the
artillery of the Dutch forts; but it was enough for a great number, who
found in this war honor, advancement, fortune—or death.</p>
<p>M. d'Artagnan set out commanding a body of twelve thousand men, cavalry,
and infantry, with which he was ordered to take the different places which
form knots of that strategic network called La Frise. Never was an army
conducted more gallantly to an expedition. The officers knew that their
leader, prudent and skillful as he was brave, would not sacrifice a single
man, nor yield an inch of ground without necessity. He had the old habits
of war, to live upon the country, keeping his soldiers singing and the
enemy weeping. The captain of the king's musketeers well knew his
business. Never were opportunities better chosen, <i>coups-de-main</i>
better supported, errors of the besieged more quickly taken advantage of.</p>
<p>The army commanded by D'Artagnan took twelve small places within a month.
He was engaged in besieging the thirteenth, which had held out five days.
D'Artagnan caused the trenches to be opened without appearing to suppose
that these people would ever allow themselves to be taken. The pioneers
and laborers were, in the army of this man, a body full of ideas and zeal,
because their commander treated them like soldiers, knew how to render
their work glorious, and never allowed them to be killed if he could help
it. It should have been seen with what eagerness the marshy glebes of
Holland were turned over. Those turf-heaps, mounds of potter's clay,
melted at the word of the soldiers like butter in the frying-pans of
Friesland housewives.</p>
<p>M. d'Artagnan dispatched a courier to the king to give him an account of
the last success, which redoubled the good humor of his majesty and his
inclination to amuse the ladies. These victories of M. d'Artagnan gave so
much majesty to the prince, that Madame de Montespan no longer called him
anything but Louis the Invincible. So that Mademoiselle de la Valliere,
who only called the king Louis the Victorious, lost much of his majesty's
favor. Besides, her eyes were frequently red, and to an Invincible nothing
is more disagreeable than a mistress who weeps while everything is smiling
round her. The star of Mademoiselle de la Valliere was being drowned in
clouds and tears. But the gayety of Madame de Montespan redoubled with the
successes of the king, and consoled him for every other unpleasant
circumstance. It was to D'Artagnan the king owed this; and his majesty was
anxious to acknowledge these services; he wrote to M. Colbert:</p>
<p>"MONSIEUR COLBERT,—We have a promise to fulfil with M. d'Artagnan,
who so well keeps his. This is to inform you that the time is come for
performing it. All provisions for this purpose you shall be furnished with
in due time. LOUIS."</p>
<p>In consequence of this, Colbert, detaining D'Artagnan's envoy, placed in
the hands of that messenger a letter from himself, and a small coffer of
ebony inlaid with gold, not very important in appearance, but which,
without doubt, was very heavy, as a guard of five men was given to the
messenger, to assist him in carrying it. These people arrived before the
place which D'Artagnan was besieging towards daybreak, and presented
themselves at the lodgings of the general. They were told that M.
d'Artagnan, annoyed by a sortie which the governor, an artful man, had
made the evening before, and in which the works had been destroyed and
seventy-seven men killed, and the reparation of the breaches commenced,
had just gone with twenty companies of grenadiers to reconstruct the
works.</p>
<p>M. Colbert's envoy had orders to go and seek M. d'Artagnan, wherever he
might be, or at whatever hour of the day or night. He directed his course,
therefore, towards the trenches, followed by his escort, all on horseback.
They perceived M. d'Artagnan in the open plain, with his gold-laced hat,
his long cane, and gilt cuffs. He was biting his white mustache, and
wiping off, with his left hand, the dust which the passing balls threw up
from the ground they plowed so near him. They also saw, amidst this
terrible fire, which filled the air with whistling hisses, officers
handling the shovel, soldiers rolling barrows, and vast fascines, rising
by being either carried or dragged by from ten to twenty men, cover the
front of the trench reopened to the center by this extraordinary effort of
the general. In three hours, all was reinstated. D'Artagnan began to speak
more mildly; and he became quite calm when the captain of the pioneers
approached him, hat in hand, to tell him that the trench was again in
proper order. This man had scarcely finished speaking, when a ball took
off one of his legs, and he fell into the arms of D'Artagnan. The latter
lifted up his soldier, and quietly, with soothing words, carried him into
the trench, amidst the enthusiastic applause of the regiments. From that
time it was no longer a question of valor—the army was delirious;
two companies stole away to the advanced posts, which they instantly
destroyed.</p>
<p>When their comrades, restrained with great difficulty by D'Artagnan, saw
them lodged upon the bastions, they rushed forward likewise; and soon a
furious assault was made upon the counterscarp, upon which depended the
safety of the place. D'Artagnan perceived there was only one means left of
checking his army—to take the place. He directed all his force to
the two breaches, where the besieged were busy in repairing. The shock was
terrible; eighteen companies took part in it, and D'Artagnan went with the
rest, within half cannon-shot of the place, to support the attack by <i>echelons</i>.
The cries of the Dutch, who were being poniarded upon their guns by
D'Artagnan's grenadiers, were distinctly audible. The struggle grew
fiercer with the despair of the governor, who disputed his position foot
by foot. D'Artagnan, to put an end to the affair, and to silence the fire,
which was unceasing, sent a fresh column, which penetrated like a very
wedge; and he soon perceived upon the ramparts, through the fire, the
terrified flight of the besieged, pursued by the besiegers.</p>
<p>At this moment the general, breathing feely and full of joy, heard a voice
behind him, saying, "Monsieur, if you please, from M. Colbert."</p>
<p>He broke the seal of the letter, which contained these words:</p>
<p>"MONSIEUR D'ARTAGNAN:—The king commands me to inform you that he has
nominated you marechal of France, as a reward for your magnificent
services, and the honor you do to his arms. The king is highly pleased,
monsieur, with the captures you have made; he commands you, in particular,
to finish the siege you have commenced, with good fortune to you, and
success for him."</p>
<p>D'Artagnan was standing with a radiant countenance and sparkling eye. He
looked up to watch the progress of his troops upon the walls, still
enveloped in red and black volumes of smoke. "I have finished," replied he
to the messenger; "the city will have surrendered in a quarter of an
hour." He then resumed his reading:</p>
<p>"The <i>coffret</i>, Monsieur d'Artagnan, is my own present. You will not
be sorry to see that, whilst you warriors are drawing the sword to defend
the king, I am moving the pacific arts to ornament a present worthy of
you. I commend myself to your friendship, monsieur le marechal, and beg
you to believe in mine. COLBERT"</p>
<p>D'Artagnan, intoxicated with joy, made a sign to the messenger, who
approached, with his <i>coffret</i> in his hands. But at the moment the <i>marechal</i>
was going to look at it, a loud explosion resounded from the ramparts, and
called his attention towards the city. "It is strange," said D'Artagnan,
"that I don't yet see the king's flag on the walls, or hear the drums beat
the <i>chamade</i>." He launched three hundred fresh men, under a
high-spirited officer, and ordered another breach to be made. Then, more
tranquilly, he turned towards the <i>coffret</i>, which Colbert's envoy
held out to him.—It was his treasure—he had won it.</p>
<p>D'Artagnan was holding out his hand to open the <i>coffret</i>, when a
ball from the city crushed the <i>coffret</i> in the arms of the officer,
struck D'Artagnan full in the chest, and knocked him down upon a sloping
heap of earth, whilst the <i>fleur-de-lised baton</i>, escaping from the
broken box, came rolling under the powerless hand of the <i>marechal</i>.
D'Artagnan endeavored to raise himself. It was thought he had been knocked
down without being wounded. A terrible cry broke from the group of
terrified officers; the <i>marechal</i> was covered with blood; the pallor
of death ascended slowly to his noble countenance. Leaning upon the arms
held out on all sides to receive him, he was able once more to turn his
eyes towards the place, and to distinguish the white flag at the crest of
the principal bastion; his ears, already deaf to the sounds of life,
caught feebly the rolling of the drum which announced the victory. Then,
clasping in his nerveless hand the <i>baton</i>, ornamented with its <i>fleurs-de-lis</i>,
he cast on it his eyes, which had no longer the power of looking upwards
towards Heaven, and fell back, murmuring strange words, which appeared to
the soldiers cabalistic—words which had formerly represented so many
things on earth, and which none but the dying man any longer comprehended:</p>
<p>"Athos—Porthos, farewell till we meet again! Aramis, adieu forever!"</p>
<p>Of the four valiant men whose history we have related, there now remained
but one. Heaven had taken to itself three noble souls. <SPAN href="#linknote-14" name="linknoteref-14" id="linknoteref-14"><small>14</small></SPAN></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>End of The Man in the Iron Mask. This is the last text in the series.</p>
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