Chapter 12 Atos Meets His Old Love.
A few days later, the three musketeers were riding back from an inn where they had just eaten dinner.
The army was preparing for the battle at La Rochelle and the musketeers had a few days off before the fight.
As they rode, they suddenly heard horses approaching.
Atos called out, "'Who goes there?'
Who goes there yourselves? one of the riders replied.
We are the musketeers, Athos said, under the command of Monsieur d'Etreville.
Tell me your name.
The rider said sharply and rode forward a few steps into the light so the musketeers could see who was speaking to them.
Monsieur Cardinal, Athos said.
Your name, the cardinal commanded again.
Athos, I know you.
The cardinal said, ''You may not be my friend, but you are brave, loyal, and trustworthy.
I would like you and your friends to come on a mission with me tonight.
I know I will be safe with you.
My mission is secret, but it would be a great favor if you would guard me.
It would make the king happy, too.''
The musketeers bowed and agreed to guard the cardinal and his men.
They rode back to the inn where the cardinal went upstairs.
While the musketeers waited and wondered what the cardinal was up to, Athos drew his friends to an old stove.
The stovepipe went up the ceiling and into the room where the cardinal was having his meeting.
By listening to the pipe, the musketeers could hear what was happening in the room above.
You are to go to London tonight, the cardinal said.
Once there, you must go see the duke.
This is very important, my lady.
Heady, Othos whispered.
She began to speak, and Othos's friends noticed that he flinched at the sound of her voice.
What shall I tell him?
Milady asked.
You must convince the Duke to surrender at La Rochelle, the Cardinal said.
Tell him that I will ruin the Queen if he doesn't.
Tell him I have evidence against him and the Queen.
Tell him that I know everything.
What should I do if he refuses and continues to threaten friends? she asked.
He is in love with all the passion of a bad man, the cardinal said, or the passion of a fool.
If he believes the queen is in danger, he will think twice.
If he still doesn't change his mind, then perhaps you can see to it that he is injured and unable to continue his plans of attack.
I understand, milady said.
Now that I have your instructions about how to deal with your enemies, may I speak to you about mine?
Your enemies? the cardinal asked.
I have many milady said and I have made them all while working for you, but two of them are especially painful for me and I want your help in punishing them.
First, a woman named Constance Bonacieux.
I know her, the Cardinal said.
You have her held in a convent, do you not?
I know she is involved in this business with the Duke.
What will you do with her?
I will have her moved.
I want your men to send her to prison, said milady.
But it is my other enemy that I truly need your help with.
He is even worse than Madame Bonacieux.
He is the man who loves her, the scoundrel d'Artonion.
I know him well, the cardinal said.
He is a bold fellow.
He is a danger to us all, milady replied.
If you can give me proof of his involvement with the Duke, I will have him sent to prison.
Perfect, my lady said, although I was hoping for a bit more.
My plans... I don't know what you mean, the Cardinal interrupted, and I don't want to know.
I will write you a note that will allow you to seek your revenge on D'Artagnan.
With this, you won't need me.
Athos led his friends away from the stove.
I must go now, he said.
If the cardinal asks where I am, tell him I've gone ahead to be a lookout in case the road is unsafe.
Be careful, Eremus said.
Athos rode a short distance into the woods.
Then he turned and hid among the trees to watch the inn.
After a few minutes, he saw the cardinal leave with his men.
Eremes and Porthos followed behind them.
Athos waited a while longer.
Then he returned to the inn.
He went straight to the room where the cardinal had met with Milady.
She was still there.
Athos pulled his hat low so she couldn't see his face clearly.
Who are you? she cried when he entered the room.
It is you, after all, he said.
Athos stepped forward and lifted his hat so she could see him.
Do you recognize me, madame?
She stepped backward, terrified, as if she had seen a ghost.
So, you do recognize me.
Athos said.
You thought I was dead, didn't you?
I thought the same of you.
After so many years, we find ourselves in a strange position, don't we?
Tell me, she said in a faint voice.
Why are you here?
What do you want from me?
First, I want you to understand that I know everything you have been plotting with.
The Cardinal Athos said
I know of your plans to hurt my friend D'Artagnan and to hurt the Duke of Buckingham.
Arthus stepped closer and put his hand on the grip of his sword.
I swear to you, if D'Artagnan is harmed in any way, I will reveal your secrets to everyone.
Then I will come after you myself.
Does the Cardinal know you are an escaped thief?
What about the king?
I'm sure he would like to see you return to prison.
Athos demanded that Milady give him the letter the cardinal had just written for her.
He read it quickly.
The holder of this letter has been working for me and is to be excused of any crimes.
Cardinal Richelieu.
An official pardon, Otto said.
This is a very powerful letter indeed.
I will keep it.
I expect you to leave this country forever.
Goodbye, my old love.
I pray we never meet again.
