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The Man in the Iron Mask
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“Of the other king’s?” said Porthos, mysteriously.
“A snare, in fact! That’s what it is, my friend.”
“Very possibly; what is to be done, then? If D’Artagnan sends for us – ”
“Who assures you that D’Artagnan sends for us?”
“Well, but – but his writing – ”
“Writing is easily counterfeited. This looks counterfeited – unsteady – ”
“You are always right; but, in the meantime, we know nothing.”
Aramis was silent.
“It is true,” said the good Porthos, “we do not want to know anything.”
“What shall I do?” asked Jonathan.
“You will return on board this captain’s vessel.”
“Yes, monseigneur.”
“And will tell him that we beg he will himself come into the island.”
“Ah! I comprehend!” said Porthos.
“Yes, monseigneur,” replied Jonathan; “but if the captain should refuse to come to Belle-Isle?”
“If he refuses, as we have cannon, we will make use of them.”
“What! against D’Artagnan?”
“If it is D’Artagnan, Porthos, he will come. Go, Jonathan, go!”
“Ma foi! I no longer comprehend anything,” murmured Porthos.
“I will make you comprehend it all, my dear friend; the time for it has come; sit down upon this gun-carriage, open your ears, and listen well to me.”
“Oh! pardieu! I will listen, no fear of that.”
“May I depart, monseigneur?” cried Jonathan.
“Yes, begone, and bring back an answer. Allow the canoe to pass, you men there!” And the canoe pushed off to regain the fleet.
Aramis took Porthos by the hand, and commenced his explanations.
Chapter XLIII. Explanations by Aramis
“What I have to say to you, friend Porthos, will probably surprise you, but it may prove instructive.”
“I like to be surprised,” said Porthos, in a kindly tone; “do not spare me, therefore, I beg. I am hardened against emotions; don’t fear, speak out.”
“It is difficult, Porthos – difficult; for, in truth, I warn you a second time, I have very strange things, very extraordinary things, to tell you.”
“Oh! you speak so well, my friend, that I could listen to you for days together. Speak, then, I beg – and – stop, I have an idea: I will, to make your task more easy, I will, to assist you in telling me such things, question you.”
“I shall be pleased at your doing so.”
“What are we going to fight for, Aramis?”
“If you ask me many such questions as that – if you would render my task the easier by interrupting my revelations thus, Porthos, you will not help me at all. So far, on the contrary, that is the very Gordian knot. But, my friend, with a man like you, good, generous, and devoted, the confession must be bravely made. I have deceived you, my worthy friend.”
“You have deceived me!”
“Good Heavens! yes.”
“Was it for my good, Aramis?”
“I thought so, Porthos; I thought so sincerely, my friend.”
“Then,” said the honest seigneur of Bracieux, “you have rendered me a service, and I thank you for it; for if you had not deceived me, I might have deceived myself. In what, then, have you deceived me, tell me?”
“In that I was serving the usurper against whom Louis XIV., at this moment, is directing his efforts.”
“The usurper!” said Porthos, scratching his head. “That is – well, I do not quite clearly comprehend!”
“He is one of the two kings who are contending for the crown of France.”
“Very well! Then you were serving him who is not Louis XIV.?”
“You have hit the matter in one word.”
“It follows that – ”
“It follows that we are rebels, my poor friend.”
“The devil! the devil!” cried Porthos, much disappointed.
“Oh! but, dear Porthos, be calm, we shall still find means of getting out of the affair, trust me.”
“It is not that which makes me uneasy,” replied Porthos; “that which alone touches me is that ugly word rebels.”
“Ah! but – ”
“And so, according to this, the duchy that was promised me – ”
“It was the usurper that was to give it to you.”
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