Dear all,
Happy Saturday (I've got the day right! Knowing where I am in the week is proving a little problematic these days. By Tuesday, I thought I'd reached another weekend already, thought yesterday was Saturday and, when I opened my eyes this morning, I thought it was Friday. I do get myself sorted as the day - whichever it is - progresses!)
So, it's all kicking off now. Thanks for reading and leaving comments yesyerday.
CHAPTER 108
I
Menier, accompanied by four men, arrived shortly ahead of the nine o'clock meeting, his approach to the front of the lodge measured and unhurried. Grooms rushed from the direction of the stables to hold the horses' heads as the riders dismounted.
Slapping down his clothing to remove the dust from the road, Menier re-arranged his cloak around him and adjusted his hat, giving him time to survey the building. Apart from the few Musketeers guarding the entrance and positioned at regular intervals along the lodge's exterior- as he expected – another was sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree, hat pulled down low over his eyes.
Satisfied that all appeared normal, he and his companions entered through the main doors that were being held open for them by the two men on duty there.
As soon as the doors closed behind the newcomers, one of the Musketeers looked across at the man beneath the tree and nodded.
Aramis pushed his hat back and got to his feet with an easy grace, whistling a signal as he did so.
Porthos and d'Artagnan were the first to appear, leading their saddled mounts. Close after them were nearly thirty Musketeers, all fully armed, but they remained in the lee of the wing as the two Inseparables moved on to join their brother.
"All set?" d'Artagnan asked.
Aramis nodded towards the section of the lodge where their colleagues waited patiently. "Claude and I moved all our medical supplies across to that wing; we have been allocated three adjacent rooms. I hope and pray we will not be needing any more. The servants have been instructed to move palliasses in there and to find some bedding. What about you?"
"We're ready to ride to the allies as soon as Tréville gives us the word," Porthos answered.
"How long do you think it'll take you?" Aramis wanted to know.
"It's not too far as we found the other day and we'll be ridin' at full speed. The nobles'll be waitin' for news so I'm hopin' they're all together in one place, otherwise d'Artagnan and me'll split up an' go round as many as we can, leavin' 'em to pass the word to the rest. We should be back within the hour."
"By which time you'll probably be in position on the top floor," d'Artagnan added.
"And you two will be in the main body facing the rebels."
Porthos grinned. "Better bein' involved there than guardin' a door. Besides, I've been thinkin'. Out in the open, I might be able to see where Athos has put himself an' get as close as I can. That's if I can't see that Grenouille."
"Have either of you seen Athos this morning?" Aramis looked from one to the other of them.
D'Artagnan shook his head. "Serge saw him to speak to when he took food to the Red Guard. He said he looked pale and tired but was in good spirits."
"'E'll be in that meetin' now."
Aramis looked past them to the waiting Musketeers. "They're ready to go in and make the arrests?"
"Tréville wants to send a clear message to the nobles. That's three to four men for each arrest an' all the exits are guarded so no-one can escape."
"Some of the men positioned inside the lodge will take Menier," d'Artagnan added.
"We'd better be ready out here then," Aramis went on. "He's got four men with him, enough to cause trouble when things go against them."
II
Gaston and Allaire had settled themselves on an upholstered bench in the vast entrance hall. It was an ideal position for them for they could see the main doors and witnessed Menier's arrival, greeting him with slight dips of the head before the rebel leader was admitted to the room for an audience with the King.
"Now all we can do is wait," Gaston muttered, surveying the hall and noting where there were guards. "You have done what I said and prepared your horse to ride?"
"It's saddled and tethered out by the nearest exit. There was a lot of activity out at the stables," Allaire reported.
"What sort of activity?"
"A group of Musketeers were saddling all of their animals and leaving them ready."
"They are all set to pursue the rebels if need be," Gaston noted. "In that event, the malcontents will find themselves trapped between the King's regiment and my men." He smiled but it appeared as a cruel grimace. "I am convinced that our little change of plan is all for the best."
III
The meeting between the rebel leader and Louis of France was exceedingly brief.
The only sign of respect that Menier gave the King was a mere bend of the neck in acknowledgement rather than the deeper bow protocol demanded. His associates followed his example.
"Your Majesty, I have brought you a petition outlining the grievances of a number of your loyal nobles. We would ask that you read them and give assurances that you will consider our recommendations."
He held out the rolled document but was not invited to venture any closer to hand it directly to Louis. He looked at Richelieu for some guidance, but the First Minister did not move. Instead, Tréville stepped forward to take it and handed it to the Cardinal, who stared hard at Menier whilst making no attempt to pass it to the King.
It was an awkward silence.
"You and the other men with you would describe yourselves as loyal," Louis stated.
"We would, Your Majesty," Menier immediately responded.
"And yet you come before us to deliver a list of – how did you put it? – grievances?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And you would have us review these petitions and expect us to act upon them?"
Menier straightened his back, an edge creeping into his voice at the monarch's apparent procrastination. "That is the idea, Your Majesty."
"And yet you did not think your petition important enough to bring it to the palace in Paris."
Menier ran his tongue over his lips to moisten them in the first indication of his unease. He stood in silence.
"Instead, you have interrupted a private gathering here at Versailles and to what end, I wonder? Could it possibly be that you anticipated that we would not be so well guarded here?"
"Your Majesty …" Menier began.
"You do not interrupt the King," Richelieu hissed at him.
Louis waved an airy hand as if the breach of protocol were insignificant which, in the scheme of things, it was.
"You must have been anticipating that your petition would not be well received, otherwise you would not have gathered an army about you. Do not think of denying it."
"Your Majesty," Menier began again, but Louis abruptly rose to his feet.
"Even had I the mind to consider your proposal, I would not do so when you feel it necessary to arm yourself against your King. In case you are living under some kind of misapprehension, permit me to enlighten you; the King of France will not be threatened into giving in to the demands of the nobles."
Menier gave up all pretence of obeisance at that moment. "Your brother, the Duc d'Orleans, is involved with us."
If he had thought to make a dramatic revelation, he was mistaken.
Louis dared to laugh. "I know that. It was my brother who came to tell me about the plot."
"I should have guessed that he was the one who betrayed us," Menier spat out. "But did he tell you that he was the first to proffer men in support of us?"
The King lost his humour, his expression cold as he suppressed his fury. "He refrained from informing us of that fact but, fortunately, we had other ways of gathering our information," and he sank back down onto his chair, perching on its very edge. "Captain!"
Tréville and Athos had positioned themselves off to one side and both knew that Menier had not really taken any notice of their presence. Now the Musketeer Captain touched the elbow of his counterpart in the Red Guard and gestured to him to move forward.
Menier's head turned to study the new individual and his eyes widened in recognition. "You!" he gasped.
"Meet the Musketeer Athos," Richelieu introduced him, unable to mask his delight at the shock on Menier's face. "He infiltrated your meeting but only because we already had intelligence of the impending gathering at Troyes. Let me give you a piece of free advice, Menier. Be more circumspect in the company you keep and the ones you would trust. Now, Tréville."
The Captain signalled to his men guarding the doors which they threw open and Musketeers flooded in, weapons at the ready, to surround the five rebels.
"Arrest them all!" Louis demanded. "The charge is treason."