Good evening from Branson, Missouri, and what a beautiful, hot day it has been. Thank you to all the reviews and readers for chapter 10.
Here it is then - or at least the start of it.
As much as he would like, Treville cannot avoid the moment any longer ... The boys are back!
CHAPTER 11
Tréville was genuinely absorbed in paperwork when his concentration was broken by the sound of many booted feet on the wooden stairs leading to the balcony that ran outside his office. Turning his head to see the angle of the sun through the window, he judged it to be late afternoon and breathed a soft sigh. He was fortunate to have been granted as much time as he had. The early duty at the Palace had concluded some time ago, which meant that the Inseparables had been conducting a search for their fourth and now, probably having exhausted a number of possibilities, they were coming to find out what, if anything, he knew.
They were not going to be happy. He could be certain of that!
The boots halted outside his door and he awaited their knock for its volume and duration would give him some indication of their pervading mood.
Silence.
He knew they were there for the footsteps had approached and not receded again; nor could they have walked past for the balcony did not lead anywhere else.
He waited for there was not even any shuffling or whispering What game were they playing now?
Eventually, curiosity got the better of him and he crossed to the door, throwing it open. If he had hoped to catch them off guard, he failed miserably.
Porthos and Aramis were lounging against the balustrade as if they did not have a care in the world. It was only d'Artagnan, the would-be Musketeer, who snapped to attention as Tréville appeared, obviously not wanting to disadvantage his chances of joining the ranks of the élite regiment. He was not yet confident enough to engage in pushing the limits of insubordination as often displayed by the other Inseparables but if he remained in their company – and it seemed that they had, surprisingly, adopted the Gascon – it would not be too long before he learned their habits, the good and the bad.
"I told you it would work," Aramis said lightly, but his tone was at odds with his serious expression.
"What would work?" Tréville asked, stepping back hastily as the trio, led by Porthos, filed past him, unbidden, into the inner sanctuary that was his.
They stood before his desk and waited for him to resume his seat before answering.
"We thought you might be avoidin' us," Porthos scowled. "If we knocked on the door, you'd say you were busy an' tell us to come back later. Serge already told us plenty of times that you weren't to be disturbed by anyone but we got the feelin' that you meant us especially."
"So we didn't disturb you," continued Aramis, his manner still deceptively light and, not for the first time, Tréville saw and understood why these men were so effective in their tasks. Effective and dangerous. Not that he believed himself to be under any threat, but he recognised one of their many instinctive tactics. Big men physically, their sheer presence and demeanour in any small space could be intimidating and that was disregarding the impressive array of weapons they carried.
Suddenly, Tréville's room felt very small.
"We knew you were in here and that you could not stay in here for ever, so we decided to wait for you to come out," Aramis continued.
"And out you came," Porthos' grin was bordering on the feral.
"And here we are," Aramis added, spreading his arms to indicate the four of them within the walls.
"But somethin's missin'," Porthos growled.
Aramis turned to him, mildly put out. "Someone, Porthos. Someone," he corrected. "You can hardly refer to him as a 'something'."
"Sorry. Someone is missin'. Where is 'e?" His question was directed at Tréville whilst they all knew the reference was to Athos.
"We searched all his usual drinking haunts, but he wasn't there." At last d'Artagnan spoke up.
"'E left the Wren last night in a good mood an' sober," Porthos added.
"And we can presume that he made his way back here safely and you were aware of that fact because you did not ask his whereabouts at this morning's muster," Aramis went on.
"Nor did you give him anythin' else to do."
The 'Porthos and Aramis double act' of quick ripostes then moved smoothly into action, leaving d'Artagnan to glance from one to the other in undisguised awe.
"'E's not sick or injured in the infirmary."
"Because we checked."
"An' he's not in the Mess room eatin' Serge out of 'ouse an' 'ome."
Aramis' laugh rang out. "That's good, very good. The idea of Athos eating any prodigious amount is both amusing and utterly ridiculous."
"An' Serge was actin' very strange, more so than usual."
"He would not look us in the eye, Captain, and endeavoured to distract Porthos with an extra helping of food without him even asking."
"Yeah, very strange an' that tells me 'e knows' somethin' an' he's lyin'."
"And why would he do that, Porthos?"
"Because he's been ordered to, Aramis."
"And who would give such an order?" Aramis fixed Tréville with a stare.
The Captain returned that stare with ease and sat back in his chair, steepling his fingertips. He would let them play out this little scene for he knew the underlying anger he detected in the pair emanated solely from their concern.
"The Captain's the one who gives the orders round here."
"You forget, Porthos, that our relatively new lieutenant also has that authority."
"You mean they're in on it together?"
"In on what? That's what I would like to know for Athos is not here, is he?"
He was addressing Porthos who shook his head.
"No he's not, an' neither is his 'orse."
"Nor, interestingly enough, is the stable boy. He was there when we approached the block, for I saw him but something made him run and he has not been seen since."
"Why d'you think 'e ran?
"I'm not sure, Porthos. Either the sight of you frightened him or he didn't want to talk to us."
"Or maybe both. An' why would that be, Aramis?"
"Because, like Serge and most unlike us, he also knows what's going on."
"I don't like not knowin' what's goin' on, Aramis."
"Ah, brother, I totally agree with you on that point. Come now, Captain," and here Aramis laid a hand on his heart as he spoke, "we know that you are of a very generous disposition, but we cannot think of a justifiable reason as to why you should give our dear friend a day off from his duties."
"So I'm askin' again," said Porthos. "Where's Athos?"