"In that case it would be quite another thing. Come! let's be merciful to every sinner! Besides, you are right in another respect, which is in thinking that if we were to meddle in politics there could not be a better time than the present."
"How can you know that? You who never interest yourself in politics?"
"Ah! without caring about them myself, I live among those who are much occupied in them. Poet as I am, I am intimate with Sarazin, who is devoted to the Prince de Conti, and with Monsieur de Bois-Robert, who, since the death of Cardinal Richelieu, is of all parties or any party; so that political discussions have not altogether been uninteresting to me."
"I have no doubt of it," said D'Artagnan.
"Now, my dear friend, look upon all I tell you as merely the statement of a monk -- of a man who resembles an echo -- repeating simply what he hears. I understand that Mazarin is at this very moment extremely uneasy as to the state of affairs; that his orders are not respected like those of our former bugbear, the deceased cardinal, whose portrait as you see hangs yonder -- for whatever may be thought of him, it must be allowed that Richelieu was great."
"I will not contradict you there," said D'Artagnan.
"My first impressions were favorable to the minister; I said to myself that a minister is never loved, but that with the genius this one was said to have he would eventually triumph over his enemies and would make himself feared, which in my opinion is much more to be desired than to be loved ---- "
D'Artagnan made a sign with his head which indicated that he entirely approved that doubtful maxim.
"This, then," continued Aramis, "was my first opinion; but as I am very ignorant in matters of this kind and as the humility which I profess obliges me not to rest on my own judgment, but to ask the opinion of others, I have inquired -- Eh! -- my friend ---- "
Aramis paused.
"Well? what?" asked his friend.
"Well, I must mortify myself. I must confess that I was mistaken. Monsieur de Mazarin is not a man of genius, as I thought, he is a man of no origin -- once a servant of Cardinal Bentivoglio, and he got on by intrigue. He is an upstart, a man of no name, who will only be the tool of a party in France. He will amass wealth, he will injure the king's revenue and pay to himself the pensions which Richelieu paid to others. He is neither a gentleman in manner nor in feeling, but a sort of buffoon, a punchinello, a pantaloon. Do you know him? I do not."
"Hem!" said D'Artagnan, "there is some truth in what you say."
"Ah! it fills me with pride to find that, thanks to a common sort of penetration with which I am endowed, I am approved by a man like you, fresh from the court."
"But you speak of him, not of his party, his resources."
"It is true -- the queen is for him."
"Something in his favor."
"But he will never have the king."
"A mere child."
"A child who will be of age in four years. Then he has neither the parliament nor the people with him -- they represent the wealth of the country; nor the nobles nor the princes, who are the military power of France."
D'Artagnan scratched his ear. He was forced to confess to himself that this reasoning was not only comprehensive, but just.
"You see, my poor friend, that I am sometimes bereft of my ordinary thoughtfulness; perhaps I am wrong in speaking thus to you, who have evidently a leaning to Mazarin."
"I!" cried D'Artagnan, "not in the least."
"You spoke of a mission."
"Did I? I was wrong then, no, I said what you say -- there is a crisis at hand. Well! let's fly the feather before the wind; let us join with that side to which the wind will carry it and resume our adventurous life. We were once four valiant knights -- four hearts fondly united; let us unite again, not our hearts, which have never been severed, but our courage and our fortunes. Here's a good opportunity for getting something better than a diamond."
"You are right, D'Artagnan; I held a similar project, but as I had not nor ever shall have your fruitful, vigorous imagination, the idea was suggested to me. Every one nowadays wants auxiliaries; propositions have been made to me and I confess to you frankly that the coadjutor has made me speak out."
"Monsieur de Gondy! the cardinal's enemy?"
"No; the king's friend," said Aramis; "the king's friend, you understand. Well, it is a question of serving the king, the gentleman's duty."
"But the king is with Mazarin."
"He is, but not willingly; in appearance, not heart; and that is exactly the snare the king's enemies are preparing for the poor child."
"Ah! but this is, indeed, civil war which you propose to me, dear Aramis."
"War for the king."
"Yet the king will be at the head of the army on Mazarin's side."
"But his heart will be in the army commanded by the Duc de Beaufort."
"Monsieur de Beaufort? He is at Vincennes."
"Did I say Monsieur de Beaufort? Monsieur de Beaufort or another. Monsieur de Beaufort or Monsieur le Prince."
"But Monsieur le Prince is to set out for the army; he is entirely devoted to the cardinal."
"Oh oh!" said Aramis, "there are questions between them at this very moment. And besides, if it is not the prince, then Monsieur de Gondy ---- "
"But Monsieur de Gondy is to be made a cardinal; they are soliciting the hat for him."
"And are there no cardinals that can fight? Come now, recall the four cardinals that at the head of armies have equalled Monsieur de Guebriant and Monsieur de Gassion."
"But a humpbacked general!
"Under the cuirass the hump will not be seen. Besides, remember that Alexander was lame and Hannibal had but one eye."
"Do you see any great advantage in adhering to this party?" asked D'Artagnan.
"I foresee in it the aid of powerful princes."
"With the enmity of the government."
"Counteracted by parliament and insurrections."
"That may be done if they can separate the king from his mother."
"That may be done," said Aramis.
