The Battle of Charenton.
As Athos and Aramis proceeded, and passed different companies on the road, they became aware that they were arriving near the field of battle.
"Ah! my friend!" cried Athos, suddenly, "where have you brought us? I fancy I perceive around us faces of different officers in the royal army; is not that the Duc de Chatillon himself coming toward us with his brigadiers?"
"Good-day, sirs," said the duke, advancing; "you are puzzled by what you see here, but one word will explain everything.
There is now a truce and a conference. The prince, Monsieur de Retz, the Duc de Beaufort, the Duc de Bouillon, are talking over public affairs. Now one of two things must happen: either matters will not be arranged, or they will be arranged, in which last case I shall be relieved of my command and we shall still meet again."
"Sir," said Aramis, "you speak to the point. Allow me to ask you a question: Where are the plenipotentiaries?"
"At Charenton, in the second house on the right on entering from the direction of Paris."
"And was this conference arranged beforehand?"
"No, gentlemen, it seems to be the result of certain propositions which Mazarin made last night to the Parisians."
Athos and Aramis exchanged smiles; for they well knew what those propositions were, to whom they had been made and who had made them.
"And that house in which the plenipotentiaries are," asked Athos, "belongs to ---- "
"To Monsieur de Chanleu, who commands your troops at Charenton. I say your troops, for I presume that you gentlemen are Frondeurs?"
"Yes, almost," said Aramis.
"We are for the king and the princes," added Athos.
"We must understand each other," said the duke. "The king is with us and his generals are the Duke of Orleans and the Prince de Conde, although I must add 'tis almost impossible now to know to which party any one belongs."
"Yes," answered Athos, "but his right place is in our ranks, with the Prince de Conti, De Beaufort, D'Elbeuf, and De Bouillon; but, sir, supposing that the conference is broken off -- are you going to try to take Charenton?"
"Such are my orders."
"Sir, since you command the cavalry ---- "
"Pardon me, I am commander-in-chief."
"So much the better. You must know all your officers -- I mean those more distinguished."
"Why, yes, very nearly."
"Will you then kindly tell me if you have in your command the Chevalier d'Artagnan, lieutenant in the musketeers?"
"No, sir, he is not with us; he left Paris more than six weeks ago and is believed to have gone on a mission to England."
"I knew that, but I supposed he had returned."
"No, sir; no one has seen him. I can answer positively on that point, for the musketeers belong to our forces and Monsieur de Cambon, the substitute for Monsieur d'Artagnan, still holds his place."
The two friends looked at each other.
"You see," said Athos.
"It is strange," said Aramis.
"It is absolutely certain that some misfortune has happened to them on the way."
"If we have no news of them this evening, to-morrow we must start."
Athos nodded affirmatively, then turning:
"And Monsieur de Bragelonne, a young man fifteen years of age, attached to the Prince de Conde -- has he the honor of being known to you?" diffident in allowing the sarcastic Aramis to perceive how strong were his paternal feelings.
"Yes, surely, he came with the prince; a charming young man; he is one of your friends then, monsieur le comte?"
"Yes, sir," answered Athos, agitated; "so much so that I wish to see him if possible."
"Quite possible, sir; do me the favor to accompany me and I will conduct you to headquarters."
"Halloo, there!" cried Aramis, turning around; "what a noise behind us!"
"A body of cavaliers is coming toward us," said Chatillon.
"I recognize the coadjutor by his Frondist hat."
"And I the Duc de Beaufort by his white plume of ostrich feathers."
"They are coming, full gallop; the prince is with them -- ah! he is leaving them!"
"They are beating the rappel!" cried Chatillon; "we must discover what is going on."
In fact, they saw the soldiers running to their arms; the trumpets sounded; the drums beat; the Duc de Beaufort drew his sword. On his side the prince sounded a rappel and all the officers of the royalist army, mingling momentarily with the Parisian troops, ran to him.
"Gentlemen," cried Chatillon, "the truce is broken, that is evident; they are going to fight; go, then, into Charenton, for I shall begin in a short time -- there's a signal from the prince!"
The cornet of a troop had in fact just raised the standard of the prince.
"Farewell, till the next time we meet," cried Chatillon, and he set off, full gallop.
Athos and Aramis turned also and went to salute the coadjutor and the Duc de Beaufort. As to the Duc de Bouillon, he had such a fit of gout as obliged him to return to Paris in a litter; but his place was well filled by the Duc d'Elbeuf and his four sons, ranged around him like a staff. Meantime, between Charenton and the royal army was left a space which looked ready to serve as a last resting place for the dead.
"Gentlemen," cried the coadjutor, tightening his sash, which he wore, after the fashion of the ancient military prelates, over his archiepiscopal simar, "there's the enemy approaching. Let us save them half of their journey."
And without caring whether he were followed or not he set off; his regiment, which bore the name of the regiment of Corinth, from the name of his archbishopric, darted after him and began the fight. Monsieur de Beaufort sent his cavalry, toward Etampes and Monsieur de Chanleu, who defended the place, was ready to resist an assault, or if the enemy were repulsed, to attempt a sortie.
The battle soon became general and the coadjutor performed miracles of valor. His proper vocation had always been the sword and he was delighted whenever he could draw it from the scabbard, no matter for whom or against whom.
