Honestly, I could get a complex from the number of you who are convinced that I have 'done' something to Athos! What on earth gives you that idea? đŸ™‚

We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

If there are any errors, I apologise. Sitting at the desk in the hotel room and trying to get this uploaded whilst I can

CHAPTER 32

The deception and lies abounding at the Palace might have been amusing under other circumstances but the situation was far too serious for that and most of the burden for smoothing the way fell squarely onto the shoulders of Richelieu and Tréville.

At least, mused the Captain, the Cardinal was looking as jaded as he himself felt.

Gaston was at his sycophantic best, aiming on being pleasant with all, not just his brother, and Tréville had seen Richelieu wince more than once at the Duc's pointed efforts to strike up a conversation with him.

For his part, Louis was doing very well. The first few hours after he had learned of his brother's treachery were worrying in that he was trying too hard, resulting in excessive ebullience, but that had tempered as the days passed and now an onlooker who was none the wiser to events would not suspect anything.

The Queen was admirable. She engaged Gaston in easy conversation and daily was seen walking with him in the gardens, a hand on his arm in a conciliatory manner as they negotiated the colourful flower beds a string of ladies in attendance following at a respectful distance.

D'Artagnan maintained a surveillance on Allaire and found no problem in following him. With Porthos and Aramis absent from court as they were kept busy at the garrison, Allaire had grown somewhat careless. Perhaps d'Artagnan's lack of a pauldron meant that he was without authority, was not worthy of consideration as one of the Musketeer body. Whatever the reason, Allaire was oblivious to his new shadow and d'Artagnan was able to observe the latest meeting with the contact, a short, thickset individual with bulbous eyes.

It was this person whom d'Artagnan then followed to an address not too far removed from the garrison.

So it was that two hours later, as Pierre Folger left his lodgings, mind set on a venison stew accompanied by a fine claret, that he was surrounded by a large group of armed Musketeers and promptly arrested. Under the supervision of Captain Tréville, the man was led away, loudly protesting his innocence, and handed over to a small group of the Cardinal's men who awaited his arrival at the chatelet. Tréville gave a curt nod to the person leading the group, turned on his heels and walked away for he had recognised the man immediately. Although it was not publicly known, he was Richelieu's chief inquisitor.

As he left the confines of the prison behind him, Tréville took a deep breath of fresh air and felt a twinge of sympathy for the man he had delivered up to an agonising interrogation. He really did not want to know how Richelieu extracted some of his information.

That had been the day before and now Tréville sat in Richelieu's office as the latter bemoaned the fact that there was nothing to report from the chatelet.

A knock on the door announced the arrival of the Captain of the Red Guard who stood stiffly to attention before the Cardinal's desk and was not in invited to sit. He scowled down at the Musketeer officer, an expression that steadily intensified as Richelieu made his pronouncement.

"I have perused the names of the sixty names of the men you have selected and have made some adjustments. Before you object, I have my reasons. Once we leave for Versailles you and the Red Guard come under the leadership of Captain Tréville who is co-ordinating everything to do with His Majesty's safety. You are to follow his instructions to the letter, do you hear me?"

The man mumbled a reluctant response.

"You will be given additional information as soon as we reach Versailles and not before. Security is essential and no," Richelieu interrupted the man before he could protest, "I am not suggesting you would divulge anything of importance but the same applies to the Musketeer regiment too."

He pushed a piece of paper over the desk.

"There are the details of your encampment and its relationship to the Musketeer camp. There is to be no mixing between the men, you keep them apart. You will be assigned different details so your paths should not cross. You must have realised with the extent of preparations that we anticipate some trouble but there must be none between the Red Guard and Musketeers. It is imperative that, when the time comes, you work together. Any misdemeanour, no matter how small, will be dealt with by a court martial. I am relying upon you to make that point clear with the men who accompany you."

"The same message will be given to my men," Tréville reassured him.

With nothing more to be said, the Red Guard Captain was dismissed.

"Why did you make alterations to the list?" Tréville asked when they were alone once more.

"There were only three of four but I knew them to be related to some of those on the list and I thought it better to avoid additional problems."

"A wise decision," Treville said diplomatically.

Richelieu's grin was almost feral. "But of course."

Later, in the Palace Yard, the Captain nodded his thanks to a stable boy who brought his mount to him. He placed a couple of coins in the boy's hand for the horse had been well looked after and then made to swing tiredly into the saddle. He was readjusting his seat and taking up the reins as a lathered mount was ridden hard into the yard. Its rider slid from the saddle just as the boy hurried over to the exhausted animal.

A servant ran down the steps to the newcomer and said something beyond Treville's hearing but the response was audible enough and brusque.

"No, my message is not for the King. I need to see the Duc d'Orleans immediately. Take care of my horse; we have both had a hard ride from Troyes."

The man was already heading to the entrance, hitting his hat against his thigh to dislodge some of the dust from his journey. The servant broke into a run to overtake and lead the way.

When the quiet had descended once more upon the yard, Treville was left alone with mixed feelings. This had to be the 'insider' Gaston had spoken of when he first arrived and the Captain wondered what that news might include. However, if he had arrived in Paris, then Athos might already be back at the garrison with the much-needed information.

With a heart full of anticipation, Treville spurred his own mount into moving and rode back to the garrison as quickly as he dared.

The feeling was short-lived however.

As soon as he rode through the archway, the first people he saw were Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan seated at their usual table at the bottom of the stairs leading to his office. He saw the momentary flicker of hope in their eyes as their heads turned as one in his direction the instant they heard hooves and then he saw the disappointment weigh them down again.

Dismounting and handing the reins to a Musketeer who met him, he strode over to the unhappy group.

"Gaston's man has just arrived from Troyes so Athos might not be far behind. There is time yet for him to appear."

He knew his words brought little encouragement and he sighed. "But I think it best you prepare for the journey. You have my permission – and blessing – to leave at first light."