TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
Chapter Five.
Rue Las Huchette Mews
Paris.
Come! continued the hoarse voice as Athos hesitated, the swordsman slowly turned the handle and entered.
The chamber was grey and dim, just the shafts of daylight lit the room enabling Athos to notice an elderly man as he sat in a chair looking out of the window, the musketeer noticed the wooden wheels that had been fixed to the chair enabling the man to turn without a struggle. His wrinkled elderly features looking up at the swordsman as he stood there.
Athos slowly scanned the rest of the chamber, the man was alone.
"I was beginning to wonder when the kings musketeers would make an apprearance." came the rough voice.
Athos felt slightly uneasy at the statement as he eyed the man.
"Why is that Monsieur." asked the perplexed swordsman.
Suddenly a voice interrupted the mans response as the elderly lady had paused in the doorway with Aramis quirking a brow behind her.
"So you have met my husband then." she murmered as she entered and placed a tray down on a table in front of the old man.
Aramis and Athos met each others glance and shrugged slightly.
The man looked up at his wife and smiled slightly.
"If you could leave us mon cher Estelle...I would indeed like to speak with the musketeers."
The elderly woman looked from one to the other.
"Looking for lodgings you say...well I do not believe you musketeers." she hissed.
"We did not mean to mislead you madame, that was never our intention." murmered Aramis placing his hat over his chest gallantly. "We are worried for a friend."
Estelle nodded as she wiped her hands on her apron.
"Then I shall leave you be gentlemen, but I ask you not to tire my husband with questions."
Aramis smiled with a slight bow of his head as she turned and left the chamber.
Athos stirred as he watched the old man begin to eat his stew.
"She fusses rather too much at times." he murmered between mouthfuls.
"Pardon me monsieur...you said you were expecting us...may I ask you why? asked the swordsman curiously.
The old man scooped up his vegatables before he placed down his spoon and looked at both musketeers.
"I take it you are here to find out what happened to one of your own." he asked.
Athos' averted his eyes to Aramis who had also met his friends bemused features.
The swordsman wandered to the window slowly and looked down onto the street below, he could see Porthos still watching the house, people coming and going about their business. He turned and eyed the elderly man carefully.
"Our comrade has been used as a pawn in someones elses misdeed. If you know something monsieur...now would be the time to tell us what that may be."
The old man grinned slightly and ate more stew before pouring out wine into a cup and swigging it back.
The two musketeers swapped glances of intrigue.
"We would indeed despair at having to arrest you monsieur...we have a short time to clear our friends name." murmered Aramis removing his hat and sitting opposite the old man.
The man looked from one musketeer to the other and drank from his cup.
"I sit up here day in day out, my legs are now useless. I see everything that goes on, those that lodge here think me an imbecile a dolt, they think because I am old and incapable that I have no eyes and ears, I know damn well what goes on in these here chambers, but they pay rent on time, and Estelle is happy with that."
Athos and Aramis swapped curious glances as the old man spoke.
The man pushed his food bowl aside and sniffed.
"You two young men will not know me, but I was once a red guard within the palace."
Athos was in awe as he pulled up a chair and sat. Both himsefl and Aramis catching each others eye.
The man continued.
"My name is Artus Bernas, I was a captain under the present kings father Henry lV...I resigned my commission when I was badly injured twenty years ago."
"So the red guard huh." commented Aramis. "You do know they hate the musketeer regiment."
Artus nodded.
"That is now...the regiment I was assigned to were men of courage and honour, the ones you men know are scoundrels and rogues."
Athos nodded slightly.
"Well I certainly will not disagree with that Monsieur Bernas." he murmered sardonically.
The swordsman leaned forward and looked into the older mans eyes.
"Can you prey tell us what you know of our comrade?
Aramis waited for the response as he watched the mans features. He looked towards the window.
"I heard loud voices...I happened to look down and seen your man having words with two men, there was a woman there with them, he suddenly collapsed into the mens arms and was carried into the house, I heeded a commotion on the stairs and the door being slammed shut."
"Did your wife happen to see any of this monsieur? asked Aramis suddenly.
Artus shook his head.
"Estelle had gone to market, she was not here."
"Do you know the two men? inquired Athos.
"Never seen them before, I have seen the woman many times she resides in one of the rooms below me, she is a whore."
"Seems she earns a good sum if she can afford your rooms." queried Aramis with a slight frown.
Artus paused as he wiped his mouth with a rag and swigged more wine. He placed his cup on the table in front of himself and eyed both musketeers.
"She has other earnings, she used to work for Cardinal Richelieu, I now believe she is working for Cardinal Durand."
Both Athos and Aramis shot each other an intriguing and surprising glance.
"How did you come by this knowledge Monsieur? asked Athos suddenly.
Artus sniffed aloud.
"There is nothing wrong with my ears young man, the floors and walls are indeed very thin. "Like I said, they think me a feeble old imbecile, I have observed red guard coming and going and handing her missives."
Athos' mind raced as he thought of his wife. He knew Aramis was thinking the same thought.
Dear God, please not her, cannot be surlely. She would not inflict such a misdeed upon d'A rtagnan.
Athos suddenly stirred from his musing.
"This woman Monsieur Bernas...what does she look like? he asked.
The old man eyed the swordsman.
"Quite a large framed woman, golden hair, I think they call her Evette." he replied.
Athos felt the relief leave his shoulders as he caught Aramis eye. The marksman quirked a brow, both men in silent converse across the room.
"May I ask Monsieur as to which room she occupies? inquired Aramis.
The old mans wrinkled features had set into deep ridges. He swigged from his cup.
"It be directly below my room, she will not be there, she goes out early and returns at dusk."
The two musketeers stood suddenly.
"You have been most helpful Monsieur Bernas...we shall take our leave." said Athos replacing his hat onto his head.
Bernas snorted.
"Musketeers! I beg you do not involve my wife in this."
Aramis and Athos had paused in their booted tracks, they both turned to the older man.
"My middle name is discreet Monsieur, do not fret." murmered Aramis with a grin.
Athos frowned at his friend and rolled his eyes as the two musketeers left the room.
The swordsman suddenly pausing in the doorway turned to face the old man.
"I also ask you not to mention this to a sole Monsieur...not even your good wife. But we may have to return."
The old red guard nodded as he eyed the swordsman.
"You have my word gentlemen." he murmered.
Athos nodded before turning and following Aramis from the chamber.
ooOoo
TBC...
Hi Guys,
Hope you are enjoying the ride so far, would love to know what you all think.
As the story flows, things will become indeed very tense for the boys.
Speak soon.
Pippa xxxx
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