Greetings, hope this finds you all well. Thank you for reading and leaving conmments.
So, Gaston is about to change sides, is he?
CHAPTER 107
I
"What are you talking about?" Allaire could not hide his horror.
"I have been thinking. With L'Hernault's behaviour and the existence of this annoying Musketeer spy, my dear brother is probably fully aware of my men waiting outside Versailles. That is enough to earn me – us - the charge of treason."
"Us?" Allaire's colour drained away.
"But of course. You have been my messenger throughout all this. You said yourself that you had a Musketeer shadow whilst in Paris so you must already be under suspicion and last night's incarceration will have done you no favours. Let me assure you that if I were to be brought down at the end of this, I will make sure that I take you down with me," Gaston threatened. He poured himself a drink and smiled as he carried on.
"But I have thought of a way around this problem. It is well that I divulged the plan to the King in the first place. It indicates good intentions, does it not? It was an unfortunate oversight on my part that I omitted to inform him that I had also brought armed men to support him against the nobles. I will apologise profusely, of course."
"And you expect him to believe you?" Allaire was incredulous at the weak reasoning.
"But of course! How can he do otherwise when my men visibly fight on the side of the royal cause? How can he prove treachery?"
Still dubious, Allaire concentrated upon drinking his wine.
"The meeting between my brother and Menier will not go well and events will be set in motion. I anticipate that an attack will follow swiftly on the conclusion of that encounter, so you are going to have to ride hard. I suggest that you have your horse saddled in readiness before that meeting ends. You will inform the men that they are to fight on the side of the King.
"Instruct them to hang back. Let the nobles and their men lead the assault and then come in behind them. They will have nowhere to go."
II
Athos had just left the camp and was returning to the lodge when he saw Tréville waiting for him, so he quickened his pace, chewing on the bread and meat as he walked.
He swallowed his mouthful and wiped his lips with the back of his hand when he reached the Captain. "I thought we were meeting at the Cardinal's office."
"We were, but I had concluded briefing the Musketeers and was on my way back when I saw you. How did it go with the Red Guard?"
"It went well," Athos replied. "They were punctual for the muster; uniforms and weapons were as they should be, and they were all given their orders without a hitch."
"And the little surprises you arranged for them?"
"If they were impressed with the additional shot and powder, they bordered on ecstatic with Serge's food."
Tréville chuckled at the strange mental image the description evoked.
Athos went on, "They seemed relieved, thankful even, to have some order. Things have been somewhat shambolic for them of late. They are certainly unused to being inspected so thoroughly. Most of them appreciated it though." He was remembering Tirel's negativity.
"All the Musketeers know what they are doing. I am sending d'Artagnan and Porthos to rally the allies. Before he takes up position on the top floor, I've got Aramis moving medical supplies inside the lodge on the ground floor. It will be better for any wounded and avoids the problem of supplies being destroyed in the attack. Do the Red Guard have anything with them?"
Athos was mortified. "I did not think to ask. My apologies. It was remiss of me. There is time before Menier arrives; I could go back and ask Grenouille."
"No, no, no. There is time for that after the meeting. Don't admonish yourself too much. You have managed to think of plenty so far. I have overlooked things myself on more than one occasion."
"I find that difficult to believe," Athos said, and he meant it.
Tréville's eyes widened. "I am touched by your faith in me, but I assure you that I am far from perfect." He gave a wry smile. "Why do you think I made you my lieutenant."
Now it was Athos' turn to smile. "I like to think that we complement each other in our approach to things."
"Indeed we do. Now, we have some time before Menier arrives. What say you to upsetting the Cardinal by letting him see Planque's journal?"
III
The two officers stood at ease side by side and refrained from making any eye contact with each other as they watched the Cardinal's reaction change with each turn of the page.
Initially, he had refused to look at the book until Tréville pressed him and added one or two cryptic comments regarding the contents in order to tempt the churchman.
They waited in silence as he read on, his face initially blanching as he first saw the man's dalliance with treachery. For several minutes, the Cardinal was devoid of any colour save for his black clothing and iron grey hair. Then his face took on an astonishingly red hue; it can only have been when he realised the potentially catastrophic decision that he had made in his appointment of Planque as Captain. He was rapidly apoplectic when the journal gave up the full extent of the man's betrayal.
"My men go hungry and are ill-prepared to fight," he ground out. "The King is endangered because of my ill-placed trust."
At this point, Athos and Tréville glanced at each other; the Musketeer Captain nodded at the younger man to speak.
"There is no cause for alarm, Your Eminence," Athos began, his tone one of calm reassurance. "The men have been given additional ammunition and fed well this morning. Captain Tréville and I have addressed the issue."
"Credit where credit's due," Tréville insisted. "It was all the idea of Athos here. I just facilitated it."
It was some time before Richelieu would look at either of them and then he cleared his throat.
"It seems that I am indebted to you both and you in particular, Captain Athos. I will, of course, make full reparation to the Musketeer regiment on our return to Paris, Tréville."
It was a grudging acknowledgement of what had been done for his men and his mouth was set in a strange expression, as if he had just sucked upon a half lemon.
Tréville's head dipped. "I thank you, Cardinal."
Athos risked glancing at the officer and saw the twitch of the moustache, the amused glint in blue eyes. Tréville was savouring every second of the Cardinal's humiliation but was too much of a gentleman to openly gloat at the powerful man's discomfort by making caustic comment.
A knock at the door saved Richelieu.
"Come!" he ordered.
A servant entered and bowed.
"His Majesty is ready, Cardinal."
Richelieu looked towards the ornate clock on the mantel over the fire and pulled out his personal time piece to double check the findings.
"It is nearly the appointed hour, gentlemen. I suggest we wait upon the King."