Thank you so much to all readers and those who left comments on the last chapter, especially the 'Guest', whom I cannot message separately. The last chapter saw the Captain and Porthos successfully working as a double act and now, whilst we have a sleepy Athos, it is Aramis' turn to 'chat' with Treville. Pieces continue to fall into place!

Apologies for the errors that crept through last time (like an apparently unfinished sentence!) and that have probably sneaked through here.

CHAPTER 49

Captain Tréville collected the prisoner's meagre belongings and took them to his office where he laid them out on his desk to examine them. The cloak was just that and he folded it carefully before setting it to one side. A study of the boots came next and he allowed himself the luxury of a wry grin. Espinar might be an assassin but he did not have any weapon in his footwear, unlike Tréville's Inseparables, who were not averse to carrying a small dagger in a boot in a concealed sheath that had been sewn into the inside of the soft leather. Nor was there a hidden space for a tightly folded document, either within the boot or in the heel.

Apart from the dagger taken from his person when Porthos caught him, the only other thing of not was a small, black pouch that was heavy with coin. Tipping the contents into the palm of his hand, Tréville counted them; they were all Spanish and there was a considerable amount there. He turned his attention to the pouch itself. It was worn but of good quality, its drawstring made of fine plaited silk. Around its top, an exquisitely intricate pattern had been worked into the black leather. There was also something on its side, but someone had taken pains to scratch out whatever was there in an attempt to obliterate it. Holding it close to his face and angling it to vary the light that fell upon it, Tréville tried to see what it was. He turned the pouch almost inside out to see if there were a reverse pattern left by the deep etching before running his fingers lightly over the damaged exterior, trying to trace the shape that had been carved there. He wondered if he were imagining the straight lines and curves. A monogram, he was sure of it.

A knock at the door distracted him.

"Come," he ordered, before moving around the desk and sinking into his chair.

Aramis entered, trying to stifle a yawn.

"You need to get some rest," Tréville observed.

"I'll put a palette down next to Athos later," Aramis answered. "Porthos is sitting with him now. I left instructions that he ought to be roused in about an hour."

"Are you worried about concussion?"

"It's a risk but his eyes were more focused when he woke the second time. His confusion worries me a little but that could just as swiftly pass in time," Aramis said, pulling up the chair that the Captain indicated and sitting down with obvious relief.

"I wonder what it is that he is trying to remember; it could be very important," Tréville sighed. "Is his head injury bad?"

"Bad enough. Something flying has caught him a hefty blow and left a deep gash. I had to put several stitches in it but when I felt his skull, I could not determine any depressions."

"That's a relief," Tréville said and meant it, for he had unfinished business with the injured man. A fractured skull might bring a premature end to his career as a Musketeer.

"And his hair will grow back," Aramis added, his face a picture of innocence. Tréville raised an eyebrow. "It's not a massive patch and the rest of his hair is long enough to cover it. With careful brushing and a hat, no-one would be any the wiser."

The Captain's lips twitched at the thought, although the former comte would probably not be too bothered by the loss of hair; he was far too pragmatic and would recognise the necessity. Now if it had happened to Aramis ….

"Does this belong to the prisoner?" Aramis asked, indicating the items on the desk.

Tréville nodded and handed him the pouch, pointing to the scratches. "Your eyes are younger and better than mine. See what you can make of this." He refrained from saying what he thought might be there for he did not want to put ideas into the other man's head.

Aramis inspected the pouch closely in much the same way as the Captain had done.

"I think it's lettering," he announced eventually. "Capitals." He resumed his study. "The first one could be a D or B or H; it's very ornate."

"I thought there was at least one straight line. What about any other letters?"

"Definitely curling. Perhaps a C or G, O or even a Q," Aramis said. "What did you make of it?"

"Like you, I thought it was lettering. The leather is old but of good quality, as is the engraving on it; not the sort of purse I would expect the likes of Espinar to be carrying. There has been a hasty and awkward attempt to remove the letters so I'm thinking they are initials."

"Significant ones? He might have tried to obliterate them after he stole it," Aramis suggested.

"Or removed by the owner before handing it over. There's a lot of Spanish gold there; a hefty payment for a major task," Tréville said decisively.

Aramis nodded. "The purse Athos witnessed changing hands between Gallegos and Espinar."

"I'm certain of it but I doubt Athos could identify it even if he remembered it. He was in a crowded, poorly lit tavern at the time. I am encouraged by the possible lettering though, especially when you mentioned two in particular."

Aramis tried to recall what he had said. "D and C? de Calatrava? His initials seem to be cropping up all over place."

He was thinking of the ones the dying Mendez had written in his own blood on the floor of his carriage.

Tréville shook his head. "I was thinking of something else. H and G." When Aramis looked a little puzzled, the Captain explained. "Hector Gallegos."

Aramis let out a low whistle. "Do you think he's that careless?"

"I wouldn't say careless but not as clever as he probably likes to think he is. We have Athos' evidence that he saw him meet with the bomber and Espinar gave a detailed description of the man he met more than the once. It fitted Gallegos, although he went by a false name. He was calling himself Hernan Gamez."

"So the scratched-out initials on the purse would be plausible then," Aramis noted, "and it makes it look as if he attempted to hide his name."

"Indeed," Tréville agreed.

"But how did Gallegos find the likes of Espinar in the first place?"

"Oh it's an interesting tale. Porthos has already told you that once Espinar started talking, he didn't stop. He even admitted that the two men brawling in the street outside a tavern were his men placed there to disrupt the procession. Unfortunately, they escaped when the bomb exploded but it is enough that he admitted giving them the orders."

"I had wondered why the procession slowed to a halt at that point," Aramis said. "We could see none of what was going on back where we were, but it made us more alert, especially Athos and where he was standing. What else did Espinar tell you that was relevant?"

Tréville went on with his account. "He said he was a captain in the Spanish army until injured in battle; the facial scarring is what we see but there was the mental scarring as well. It put an end to a promising career apparently. He was 'invited' to leave on account of his erratic and questionable behaviour after he recovered, and he was deemed unfit by his superiors to lead anymore."

Aramis shook his head sadly. "It's a story we have heard all too often."

"Yes," Tréville concurred, his face grim. "He, however, was not willing to accept that. He did not go quietly, it seems, and vociferously claimed he was prepared to do whatever was needed to show that he remained competent. Gallegos heard this about the time that negotiations for the Treaty were being started, informed de Calatrava and obviously squirrelled away the information for later use. He explained this in some way to Espinar when he eventually approached him and offered him some work. To me, Gallegos has demonstrated just what a scheming, manipulative, nasty individual he really is."

Aramis raised a quizzical eyebrow at the Captain's uncharacteristic outburst. "Are you feeling sorry for Espinar?"

"Not for what he has done, no. He made that choice, but it is how Gallegos used him initially that galls me. He played on the man's crushing disappointment, said how awfully he had been treated when he had demonstrated that he had been such a dedicated soldier. He explained that he had a way that Espinar could continue to serve his country, prove that he was more than capable to carry out his duties and be restored to his military life."

"It was all a downright lie."

"Naturally, but with Espinar's state of mind and his desperation to regain the life he loved, he was willing to undertake anything, and Gallegos spun him such a yarn. It did not take much to convince him that the very future of the country he had served and loved hung in the balance, and it involved those who had been party to his dismissal. Gallegos reckoned that it had nothing to do with his injuries and was all in the 'grand scheme'. There were those in power, including Mendez, who saw him as a 'problem' because of his loyalty and commitment to Spain."

"But why would Mendez, an Ambassador, be bothered by him, a captain? It doesn't make sense," Aramis was puzzled.

"Of course it doesn't, not to you and me. I realised that as soon as Espinar started talking. The man is still convinced that Gallegos told him the truth and that Mendez was the traitor in all this, that the Treaty with France is a betrayal of Spain."

Aramis puffed out his cheeks. "He is one seriously deluded man." It did not take much thought to see the next connection. "So he led the attack on Mendez and his escort."

"He admitted it." Tréville hesitated. "And it gets worse."

"How can it possibly be worse? With that attack and the bombing, he has left a trail of dead and wounded."

"When I inspected the scene where Mendez was murdered, the one thing that puzzled me was that none of the escort appeared to put up any resistance to the attack," the Captain reminded him.

"You thought the attackers either had far superior numbers or were able to get so close unchallenged because they were known to the escort," Aramis said. Realisation dawned and he could not hide his shock. "Wait! Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Tréville nodded. "Espinar trained and then served with both Lorenzo de Calatrava and Alvaro Brondate. He counted both of them as his friends."

"A strange kind of friend who can blithely slay one and attempt to blow up the other," Aramis was disgusted.

"Who knows what is going on in his head now? Gallegos has successfully twisted his reasoning to the point that he no doubt perceived them both as traitors."

"Did you put him straight?" Aramis almost spat out the words, such was his revulsion.

"Not yet," Tréville replied, "and I had good reason. As he confessed, I could see him unravelling before my eyes. I think there is enough of the rational left in him to start questioning his own involvement and, when he comprehends what he has done, I believe it will push him over the edge of sanity."

"If he comprehends," Aramis pointed out, his bitterness still evident for he could not fathom how a man could turn against his brothers to such an extent.

"And when this matter is sorted, the error of his judgement will be explained to him, but I am not going to do that now for his testimony in a more formal setting might be needed and I cannot risk him totally losing his mind just yet. I need to build this case against de Calatrava."

"But you and Porthos were witnesses to his confession," Aramis objected. "Surely that stands for something?"

"Not when there is nothing in writing or signed, especially when it is the word of a Spanish prisoner against two Frenchmen. I will write up what he told us tonight, read it to him in the morning and ask him to sign it but even then, de Calatrava and Gallegos could object to it and claim that we coerced him."

"Is he hurt in any way? Does he bear any fresh bruises or cuts?"

"Some bruises that he sustained when Porthos apprehended him but not many and there are no cuts. We did not harm him in any way," Tréville explained.

"Then they will have great difficulty in claiming coercion," Aramis reasoned. "A man will not bear his soul for a few bruises."

Tréville suddenly snorted his amusement. "No, but he will when Porthos is standing there and spinning ever fanciful tales of Richelieu's interrogation techniques."

Aramis was incredulous. "And that's what got him to talk?"

Both men laughed at the prospect.

"That and a few choice comments I threw into the mix," Tréville admitted. "I think his surprising readiness to name 'Hernan Gamez' is an indication of how he is becoming unhinged and irrational. I need to get back to the palace and see Richelieu. He will not be too happy given the hour but circumstances demand attention. We must expedite matters whilst Espinar still has reason to give his evidence. I know he is just one piece in the case we are building against de Calatrava, but he is vital. Our accusations must have credence."

"And do you think you have enough now?" Aramis asked worriedly.

"I hope so, but some of it is hearsay and supposition. It is only when it is all out together that it begins to carry any weight. There is what Lorenzo de Calatrava heard in the conversation between his uncle and father over opposition to the treaty; the disturbed documents relating to the escort on Lorenzo's desk when his uncle coincidentally made a surprise visit to his garrison; the fact that the attack on Mendez had to be a breach of security - we suspected that it came from Spain and now we have the possible incident; Mendez' own suspicions regarding de Calatrava that he gave to Richelieu; Espinar's confession; his information about Hernan Gamez, whom we know is Hector Gallegos; their meeting, the exchange of payment and the money purse itself – all witnessed by Athos – and the fact that we have that pouch in our possession; the Ambassador's delaying tactics suggesting that he is in no hurry for the treaty to be signed …." His voice trailed off and he sighed. "I just hope Athos recovers his memory soon and that it is worth the wait."

"He will," Aramis was adamant. Then he brightened. "I've just had an idea. Why don't you ask if Ferdinand is prepared to come here to witness Espinar hearing and signing his confession? So far, Gallegos and the Ambassador are unaware that we have him in custody and after what happened to Loret, we have to keep him safe. They can hardly discount his confession because Ferdinand would testify that he was unharmed when he signed it. To criticise its veracity would be a great insult to Ferdinand and, by association, the King of Spain, our Queen and, through her, Louis. De Calatrava would not dare, surely?"

"That is a splendid suggestion, Aramis. Well done! I shall put the idea to Richelieu immediately."

He put the money purse in the top drawer of his desk, locked it and pocketed the key before rising and picking up his hat. Aramis moved his chair back against the wall and crossed to the door, opening it for the officer.

Tréville paused as he went to pass the younger soldier and patted him on the shoulder. "I appreciate all you have done today, Aramis. Go back to your patient and get some rest. I shall stop by the Infirmary when I return from seeing the Cardinal. It is time we put a halt to this chaos and its repercussions."