Happy Monday!
Thank you for reading and leaving comments. Thanks especially to the Guest who is keen for Allaire to meet a nasty end like L'Hernault! You are, it seems, not alone in wanting Grenouille to survive.
CHAPTER 110
I
As Athos neared the Red Guard camp, he could see the giant that was Grenouille supervising the work. He was gesticulating wildly, pointing at things and Athos could hear the deep booming timbre of the man as he shouted instructions, although his words remained indistinct. It was both pleasing and reassuring to see the hive of activity that responded to the directives.
Athos frowned, at once chastising himself. Given the long-standing rivalry between the two regiments that often resulted in brawls, it was an easy but dangerous mistake to label all the men of the Red Guard as ignorant, beer-swilling, fight-loving reprobates. Yes, some may have been failed applicants to the Musketeers and subsequently embittered, but their number also included the younger sons of nobles, just as there were amongst Tréville's men. They were, when all was said and done, trained soldiers, although it was widely accepted their instruction did not shape them to the same skilled extent as the King's élite group of chosen men.
The Cardinal might not have a direct involvement with the day-to-day running of the Guard and he may only have created his own regiment to have men duty-bound to do his bidding, but he had made some unfortunate choices in those promoted to positions of authority within his man-power. Athos could not bring himself to accept that Richelieu, the First Minister and adviser to the King, condoned some of the worst excesses of Red Guard behaviour.
Then he remembered his own recent and brief sojourn at the Châtelet awaiting execution on fabricated charges brought about by the actions of a rogue group of Red Guard. Had they really been acting on the orders of the Cardinal? He knew Tréville was convinced of it, that it was all part of a greater plan to bring the Musketeers into disrepute but why had he, Athos, been singled out for such attention?
If Richelieu were behind it, then Athos must have simply been a means to an end rather than the Cardinal acting upon some personal vendetta. Richelieu could not help but know him by name; he and his brothers had been identified on many an occasion for their altercations with members of the Red Guard and not always as a direct result of Porthos' cheating at cards with them. Tréville himself had warned them countless times – the most recent being a few weeks before the Versailles visit – that he was unwilling and unable to protect them if they persisted in baiting the Cardinal's men. The Inseparables were not always guilty of initiating trouble though.
Richelieu could not think of him as being all bad though; not after his exploits on the Île de Ré*, his loyal service to the King and recent events at Troyes. In fact, the Cardinal had insisted that he was the best suited to go and infiltrate the group. Athos felt a stab of unease - not for the first time - as he wondered if the Cardinal knew who he really was, had learned somehow of his aristocratic family and title. Why had he chosen Athos to command the Red Guard at this time? It was an agreed temporary position, but supposing Richelieu had other ideas! Supposing he would find some alternative way of keeping Athos in his service, of using him somehow, some way in the future? Richelieu was not one to do anything unless he thought it benefitted him in some way.
For the first time, Athos experienced a spasm of fear that had nothing whatsoever to do with the impending battle.
Grenouille spotted him and was even now coming over to him.
"Athos!"
He recognised Aramis' shout and the note of urgency. He spun around and was disconcerted to see his friend running towards him as fast as he could.
"What's the matter?" Athos asked, perplexed.
Aramis held him by the arm as if the gesture were enough to provide protection. He twisted his head to scan the area.
"Aramis, tell me!" Athos insisted.
"L'Hernault has escaped."
"Escaped! But how?"
Now Athos also looked around him nervously as he absorbed Aramis' concern.
"I didn't hang around to find out; I thought it more important to warn you."
Grenouille reached the pair, his open smile fading as he detected their mood.
"What's 'appened? Anythin' I can 'elp with?"
They told him the little they knew.
"An' 'e's the one who killed the Captain an' wants you dead," he said, seeking clarification from Athos who nodded by way of reply. "You'd best not be standin' out in the open then until 'e's found. You'll be safer inside."
Athos was about to protest but Aramis stalled him.
"Grenouille is correct. There are so many people milling about now that once the word is out, he will be quickly apprehended again."
"But I have things to do," Athos protested. "I have to check on the men and then I …"
"No need, Captain. Everythin' is sorted an' the men are ready an' waitin' for you to give the word," Grenouille reported.
"And I was on my way to say the attack will come close to noon, so the men need to get into position," Athos explained.
"Then I can pass that on. I'll also tell 'em to keep an eye out for someone lurkin' about an' behavin' a little odd."
"Thank you, Grenouille. I will be back as soon as I can and definitely to lead the men," Athos assured him.
"Come on," Aramis pulled on his arm. "Let's get you out of the open."
II
"Tell me how he escaped," Tréville demanded, his face grim as he stood in the middle of the room looking down at the injured Musketeer sitting on a chair that had been provided for him.
Clement was ashen, a bloodied cloth held at his temple.
He was about to start his tale when the door opened to admit Athos and Aramis.
"You've heard," the Captain stated, and the two friends nodded.
Aramis stepped forward to inspect the Musketeer's injury.
"You are here in time to hear from Clement what happened," Tréville said.
"We had just locked up the first group of nobles," Clement began, wincing as Aramis gingerly touched the lump that had rapidly formed on the man's head.
"Menier and his four friends," Tréville clarified for Athos.
"Anyway, the others left and I was on my own until the next lot arrived. Then this man suddenly started walking down the corridor towards me and I told him he wasn't allowed down there and that it didn't lead anywhere."
"Did he say anything?" Athos asked.
"Just that he was sorry, and he'd made a mistake. I thought he was turning to go but he lunged at me, took me completely by surprise and cracked me over the head. Next thing I know, I'm coming round in the room where L'Hernault was locked up. He was gone and I'm the one locked in with a massive headache."
"We were bringing down the prisoner you sent us to collect and heard Clement banging on the door and shouting," a Musketeer called Linville took up the story. "There were several keys thrown on the floor and it took us a bit of time to find the right one."
"Can you remember what the man looked like?" Athos wanted to know.
Clement paused for a moment, carefully organising his thoughts before giving a fairly detailed description of his assailant.
"Allaire," Athos said to Tréville.
"What was he hoping to achieve?" Aramis was puzzled.
"To create a distraction," Athos answered.
"As if we haven't got enough to think about at this time," Tréville added.
"Exactly. He's hoping that L'Hernault will come after me to finish what he started, that we'll waste time sending men out searching for him."
"It's hardly a waste," Aramis objected. "The man is loose and dangerous."
"We have more pressing things to think about at present," Athos insisted. "Grenouille will have alerted the Red Guard by now"
"And I will do likewise with the Musketeers, although I will send a few to conduct a more structured search. I can allow them an hour and no more. If he is still around the lodge, he will be found. Linville, go to the stables and ask if anyone has ridden out of here in the last half an hour."
"I will take Clement and dress this head wound," Aramis stated as he helped the injured man to his feet.
Tréville and Athos were left looking at each other and then the Captain sighed, pulled his pistol from his belt and set about priming it as the younger man watched.
"It seems that you are staying here with me for a while."
"But I have things to supervise and check," Athos insisted.
"Then those things must wait. You could send word to Grenouille or we hope that he has the common sense and experience to see things done without your presence. You may be Captain of the Red Guard, but I have the ultimate authority, remember? You are to stay here, and it is not open to any negotiation; it is a direct order."