Greetings. Thank you for comments and for all the readers yesterday. Amazing!
So, Treville has to do something with the information Athos has given him. Will the Cardinal be grateful? Apologies in advance if any errors have slipped through.
CHAPTER 54
When Tréville arrived at the palace, he was advised that the King was indisposed and refusing to stir from his apartments.
"What ails the King?" he demanded as he was shown into Richelieu's office. The thought that the increased security had proved ineffective and someone had succeeded in adding an extra, undesirable ingredient to the monarch's food crossed his mind.
"A slight chill, nothing more," Richelieu said, devoid of all sympathy. "A few snuffles and he has taken to his bed, insisting that only his physician has access to him. He is afraid that a full cold will prevent him from going to Versailles." He waved towards a chair and Tréville accepted it as an invitation to sit. He could not help but wonder if the Cardinal were in possession of any of the finer social graces.
"I am glad to learn that it is not more serious," the Captain admitted with genuine relief.
Richelieu made a strange harrumphing sound, flicked out his robe behind him with well-practiced ease and sank into his own chair.
"I suspect he is using it as an excuse to avoid his brother. Perhaps it is for the best if he cannot bluff his way through the next few days. I would hate Gaston to be warned of what we know, which brings me to my next question. Do we, in fact, know any more from your Musketeer?"
"I have spent time with Athos this morning and he was very forthcoming with what I believe is extremely valuable information." Tréville repeated all that he had learned.
When he had finished, the Captain sat back in his chair and watched the Cardinal for his reaction.
Richelieu leaned his elbows on the surface of his desk and steepled his fingers. His eyes widened.
"Your man has done well," he said at last with grudging respect. His copy of the list lay on the desk before him. "At a quick glance, I would say that the conclusion he drew about these names being new nobility is correct."
"Do you think we should make changes to the way we proceed?" Tréville asked.
"In what way?" Richelieu said brusquely, his expression already indicating that whatever Tréville dared to suggest would be utterly preposterous.
"That we might apprehend some of them before we leave for Versailles in order to reduce their numbers and thereby their threat. I made a quick calculation based on Athos' marks and if all the nobles arrived with men and arms as indicated here, they would be supplying about two hundred. Add them to Gaston's small army and they would outnumber our combined force by nearly two to one. I do not like the odds," Tréville was insistent. "Remove some of the nobles now and their men would probably turn around and go home."
"And alert the others? Absolutely not. We have discussed this particular strategy at length and ruled it out."
Richelieu was dismissive but Tréville pressed on.
"I can confirm that a few of the people from that list have already arrived at court, bound for Versailles. Admittedly, their sudden disappearance might result in unwelcome questions, but we could wait for others and intercept them before they have a chance to contact their colleagues here at the palace."
Richelieu hesitated and the Captain fleetingly thought the Cardinal was going to agree with him but then the First Minister shook his head.
"No, we will continue as planned. We should have more men soon to swell our ranks."
Tréville raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"After our last meeting when you gave me your man's list, I sent out those letters I had prepared to a carefully selected few whom I can trust and whose lands lie within a two days' ride of Versailles from the north, east and south."
"Why not further?" the Captain wondered.
"I avoided the west as that is where Gaston's groups are encamped, and I do not want their reconnaissance – always assuming they have some – to notice any other movement in their direction. I have also avoided notifying those who are already here at the Louvre to minimise a leak of information.
"Time is short now. My messengers have to reach their destinations, await a reply and bring me back what I hope is good news. Those who will support us also need time to prepare and mobilise their men. They have to be in place when we arrive at Versailles."
He reached across the desk to a map that he had set aside earlier and positioned it where they could both see it. A bony finger tapped at a place and Tréville leaned closer to read the name.
"I have taken the liberty to instruct the nobles to assemble there with their men. Whichever routes they take must sweep wide of Versailles. They will be met and instructed by a small contingent of your Musketeers who will carry letters of authority bearing my seal."
Tréville frowned. "How many were you thinking? We've already agreed that an advanced party of my men would head for Versailles a few days before the King for a routine security check. I've decided to send more than usual anyway in the event of a possible skirmish with a group of Gaston's men should they decide to reconnoitre the hunting lodge as well. I do not want the King's escort pared too thinly."
"There is no risk of that. Remember that you will have sixty of my men too. I know you don't particularly trust them, Tréville, but you witnessed my orders to their Captain. They will accept your command in this enterprise; on that you have my word."
Tréville did not look convinced but dared not voice his disquiet for Richelieu started gathering documents together, a signal that their conference was at an end. The Musketeer Captain stood up.
"Oh, I nearly forgot." Richelieu's words stopped Tréville from departing. "Your men will need to be in position sooner rather than later; I anticipate those nobles nearer Versailles will arrive promptly. I have given thought as to whom you should send to meet our reinforcements."
He pushed a piece of paper across the desk towards the Captain who could see, even before he picked it up, the three names written there, and his heart sank. Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan.
"You would have me send them away now? After what they have been through in recent days?" he objected.
Richelieu's expression hardened. "Have they not sworn an oath to their King? I never can understand the sentimentality you have for those beneath you, Tréville, or that you so willingly foster it in them. We have discussed this before, and I will not revisit it. They are soldiers first and foremost. I have tolerated their concern over their … friend." Somehow, he managed to make the word sound distasteful. "But they found Athos and, according to your reports, he is no longer at death's door, so they are more than capable of resuming their duties, especially at this perilous time."
The Cardinal sighed heavily and tried to sound a little more conciliatory. "Besides, these three know everything there is to know about this plot against Louis. They have been involved with us almost from the beginning - at your insistence. You wanted me to trust them? Well, against my better judgement, this demonstrates that I do. I cannot think of any more suitable for the responsibility."
It made perfect sense. Tréville could not deny it and yet, as he rode back to the garrison, he was rehearsing in his mind what he was going to say to the three when he commanded them to leave their injured brother and ride out on another mission.