The Man In The Iron Mask E-Book

Dumas Alexandre

• Herausgeber: Dumas Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

The Man in the Iron Mask is a name given to a prisoner arrested as Eustache Dauger in 1669 or 1670, and held in a number of jails, including the Bastille and the Fortress of Pignerol (today Pinerolo). He was held in the custody of the same jailer, Bénigne Dauvergne de Saint-Mars, for a period of 34 years. He died on 19 November 1703 under the name of Marchioly, during the reign of Louis XIV of France (1643–1715). The possible identity of this man has been thoroughly discussed and has been the subject of many books, because no one ever saw his face, which was hidden by a mask of black velvet cloth.In the second edition of his Questions sur l' Encyclopédie (French for "Questions on the Encyclopedia"), published in 1771, the writer and philosopher Voltaireclaimed that the prisoner wore an iron mask and was the older, illegitimate brother of Louis XIV. In the late 1840s, the writer Alexandre Dumas elaborated on the theme in the final instalment of his Three Musketeers saga: here the prisoner is forced to wear an iron mask and is Louis XIV's twin brother. What facts are known about this prisoner are based mainly on correspondence between his jailer and his superiors in Paris.Dumas constructs the plot around the notion that the Man in the Iron Mask is the twin brother of Louis XIV, Philippe, who had been concealed and imprisoned from birth by his father, Louis XIII, and his mother, Anne of Austria, "for the good of France". Only a very few people living at the start of the novel know of Philippe's existence; these include his mother, Anne, and her former confidante, the Duchesse de Chevreuse. Chevreuse has let the secret slip to Aramis, the Bishop of Vanne and a former lover of Chevreuse.

Leseprobe

Alexandre Dumas

The Man In The Iron Mask

Table of contents

About The Man with the Iron Mask

Chapter I. The Prisoner.

Chapter II. How Mouston Had Become Fatter without Giving Porthos Notice Thereof, and of the Troubles Which Consequently Befell that Worthy Gentleman.

Chapter III. Who Messire Jean Percerin Was.

Chapter IV. The Patterns.

Chapter V. Where, Probably, Moliere Obtained His First Idea of the Bourgeois Gentilhomme.

Chapter VI. The Bee-Hive, the Bees, and the Honey.

Chapter VII. Another Supper at the Bastile.

Chapter VIII. The General of the Order.

Chapter IX. The Tempter.

Chapter X. Crown and Tiara.

Chapter XI. The Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte.

Chapter XII. The Wine of Melun.

Chapter XIII. Nectar and Ambrosia.

Chapter XIV. A Gascon, and a Gascon and a Half.

Chapter XV. Colbert.

Chapter XVI. Jealousy.

Chapter XVII. High Treason.

Chapter XVIII. A Night at the Bastile.

Chapter XIX. The Shadow of M. Fouquet.

Chapter XX. The Morning.

Chapter XXI. The King's Friend.

Chapter XXII. Showing How the Countersign Was Respected at the Bastile.

Chapter XXIII. The King's Gratitude.

Chapter XXIV. The False King.

Chapter XXV. In Which Porthos Thinks He Is Pursuing a Duchy.

Chapter XXVI. The Last Adieux.

Chapter XXVII. Monsieur de Beaufort.

Chapter XXVIII. Preparations for Departure.

Chapter XXIX. Planchet's Inventory.

Chapter XXX. The Inventory of M. de Beaufort.

Chapter XXXI. The Silver Dish.

Chapter XXXII. Captive and Jailers.

Chapter XXXIII. Promises.

Chapter XXXIV. Among Women.

Chapter XXXV. The Last Supper.

Chapter XXXVI. In M. Colbert's Carriage.

Chapter XXXVII. The Two Lighters.

Chapter XXXVIII. Friendly Advice.

Chapter XXXIX. How the King, Louis XIV., Played His Little Part.

Chapter XL: The White Horse and the Black.

Chapter XLI. In Which the Squirrel Falls,—the Adder Flies.

Chapter XLII. Belle-Ile-en-Mer.

Chapter XLIII. Explanations by Aramis.

Chapter XLIV. Result of the Ideas of the King, and the Ideas of D'Artagnan.

Chapter XLV. The Ancestors of Porthos.

Chapter XLVI. The Son of Biscarrat.

Chapter XLVII. The Grotto of Locmaria.

Chapter XLVIII. The Grotto.

Chapter XLIX. An Homeric Song.

Chapter L: The Death of a Titan.

Chapter LI. Porthos's Epitaph.

Chapter LII. M. de Gesvres's Round.

Chapter LIII. King Louis XIV.

Chapter LIV. M. Fouquet's Friends.

Chapter LV. Porthos's Will.

Chapter LVI. The Old Age of Athos.

Chapter LVII. Athos's Vision.

Chapter LVIII. The Angel of Death.

Chapter LIX. The Bulletin.

Chapter LX. The Last Canto of the Poem.

Footnotes

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

Alexandre Dumas

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About The Man with the Iron Mask

In the months of March-July in 1844, in the magazine Le Siecle, the first portion of a story appeared, penned by the celebrated playwright Alexandre Dumas. It was based, he claimed, on some manuscripts he had found a year earlier in the Bibliotheque Nationale while researching a history he planned to write on Louis XIV. They chronicled the adventures of a young man named D'Artagnan who, upon entering Paris, became almost immediately embroiled in court intrigues, international politics, and ill-fated affairs between royal lovers. Over the next six years, readers would enjoy the adventures of this youth and his three famous friends, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis, as their exploits unraveled behind the scenes of some of the most momentous events in French and even English history.

Eventually these serialized adventures were published in novel form, and became the three D'Artagnan Romances known today. Here is a brief summary of the first two novels:

The Three Musketeers (serialized March—July, 1844): The year is 1625. The young D'Artagnan arrives in Paris at the tender age of 18, and almost immediately offends three musketeers, Porthos, Aramis, and Athos. Instead of dueling, the four are attacked by five of the Cardinal's guards, and the courage of the youth is made apparent during the battle. The four become fast friends, and, when asked by D'Artagnan's landlord to find his missing wife, embark upon an adventure that takes them across both France and England in order to thwart the plans of the Cardinal Richelieu. Along the way, they encounter a beautiful young spy, named simply Milady, who will stop at nothing to disgrace Queen Anne of Austria before her husband, Louis XIII, and take her revenge upon the four friends.

Twenty Years After (serialized January—August, 1845): The year is now 1648, twenty years since the close of the last story. Louis XIII has died, as has Cardinal Richelieu, and while the crown of France may sit upon the head of Anne of Austria as Regent for the young Louis XIV, the real power resides with the Cardinal Mazarin, her secret husband. D'Artagnan is now a lieutenant of musketeers, and his three friends have retired to private life. Athos turned out to be a nobleman, the Comte de la Fere, and has retired to his home with his son, Raoul de Bragelonne. Aramis, whose real name is D'Herblay, has followed his intention of shedding the musketeer's cassock for the priest's robes, and Porthos has married a wealthy woman, who left him her fortune upon her death. But trouble is stirring in both France and England. Cromwell menaces the institution of royalty itself while marching against Charles I, and at home the Fronde is threatening to tear France apart. D'Artagnan brings his friends out of retirement to save the threatened English monarch, but Mordaunt, the son of Milady, who seeks to avenge his mother's death at the musketeers' hands, thwarts their valiant efforts. Undaunted, our heroes return to France just in time to help save the young Louis XIV, quiet the Fronde, and tweak the nose of Cardinal Mazarin.

The third novel, The Vicomte de Bragelonne (serialized October, 1847—January, 1850), has enjoyed a strange history in its English translation. It has been split into three, four, or five volumes at various points in its history. The five-volume edition generally does not give titles to the smaller portions, but the others do. In the three-volume edition, the novels are entitled The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere, and The Man in the Iron Mask.

The last section of the novel is famous, in part, for building its plot around Dumas' hypothesis that theMan in the Iron Maskwas Philippe, a twin brother to Louis XIV. Aramis plots a coup d’état to replace Louis with Philippe, whom he would obviously have some influence over (and hoping that Philippe in turn will assist in Aramis's own ambitions, to be a Cardinal and perhaps even Pope). Aramis entangles the trusting strongmanPorthosin his scheme, although Porthos knows nothing beyond that he is taking orders from Aramis. Through subterfuge, he manages to switch the release orders for an innocuous prisoner for that of Philippe, and having gotten him out of the Bastille begins training him on how to act once he has exchanged places with the king.

A few days later, Fouquet, France's Superintendent of Finance, throws a lavish party for Louis at his chateau in Vaux, Colbert becomes jealous. After showing evidence proving Fouquet had financed the extravagant estate by embezzling money from the state coffers, as well as the incriminating letter he tried to send to Mlle. de La Vallière, Colbert manages to turn the king against Fouquet for good, and he orders d'Artagnan to arrest the Superintendent that night, even though he is a guest in the Superintendent's home.

Just when all seems lost for Fouquet, Aramis places the second half of his audacious plan into action. He kidnaps Louis XIV, imprisoning him in the Bastille in Philippe's place, leaning on his authority as general of the Jesuits to convince Baisemeaux (himself associated with the Society), to obey without asking further questions, and replaces the king with Philippe. Aramis reveals to Fouquet that he has replaced the king with his twin, expecting an ally, but to his amazement, Fouquet is angered by the plot and goes to rescue Louis from the Bastille (much to the confusion of Baisemeaux). He gives Aramis and Porthos time to escape to Belle Isle, giving them sanctuary there from the king's vengeance. Louis returns, exposes Philippe, and regains the throne with d'Artagnan's help, ending Philippe's brief reign. Louis banishes Philippe, ordering that "he will cover his face with an iron visor, which the prisoner cannot raise without peril of his life." D'Artagnan is tasked with conducting Philippe to prison.

Meanwhile, Athos and Raoul meet at La Fére the fleeing Aramis and Porthos, who hint at the affair they were involved in and its disastrous end before being given horses to continue on their way to Belle Isle. They are soon followed by theDuc de Beaufort, on his way toAlgiersfor anexpeditionagainst theBarbary corsairs. Raoul, devastated by the king's love affair with Louise, volunteers to join the Duc in his expedition, and is named his aide-de-camp. Athos accompanies him to the port ofToulonwhere the Duc's expedition is to begin, and on the way they encounter the Man in the Iron Mask just as d'Artagnan is bringing him to the prison atSainte-Marguerite, who throws to them a silver dish on which he inscribed the words: "I am the brother of the king of France—a prisoner to-day—a madman to-morrow. French gentlemen and Christians, pray to God for the soul and the reason of the son of your old rulers." Nothing comes of this however, as Raoul is off to war in Africa, and Athos is retired from politics. At Toulon, father and son are parted forever.

Despite Fouquet's rescue, Louis ultimately orders d'Artagnan to arrest Fouquet after a meeting at Nantes - from which Fouquet escapes, but d'Artagnan overtakes him and arrests him. Subsequently, Louis gives d'Artagnan the order to arrest and execute Porthos and Aramis. D'Artagnan feigns carrying out the king's orders while secretly giving his friends Aramis and Porthos every chance to escape from their hideaway on Belle Isle - despite knowing they are plainly guilty, he would rather see them flee to exile where they might live long enough to receive a pardon. However, Colbert anticipates d'Artagnan's motives and outmaneuvers him with orders circumventing his efforts. The last straw is the order that any prisoners are to be shot immediately, not taken for trial, even if they surrender: upon learning this, d'Artagnan resigns. But even his resignation (and subsequent temporary arrest) fails to throw the King's army into confusion, since a replacement leader was already appointed: the newly-fortified Belle-Isle has not enough defenders, and must fall, without more than cursory resistance as even Aramis advises the populace that resistance is futile.

Trying to escape from Belle Isle, Porthos becomes the first of the four musketeers to die, when he is crushed by boulders as a sudden loss of strength in his legs prevents his escape. Porthos' father and grandfather died as a result of a similar loss of strength. As a result of Porthos's efforts, though, Aramis and a few friends slaughter over a hundred of their pursuers and are able to escape to sea. Even then they are nearly captured, but once again Aramis's Jesuit connections allow him to make an escape, when the captain of the ship that captures Aramis also turns out to be a Jesuit: and the ship is last seen heading for Spain.

In the meantime, Athos has returned to his estates, and sinks into a deep depression, rapidly becoming old and feeble. Just before news arrives that Raoul has been killed in a rash action atGigelli, Athos succumbs to his grief and dies of a broken heart. Meanwhile, the arrested d'Artagnan has a long conversation with King Louis, as a result of which he is freed and reinstated, with some compromise on both sides. He learns of Porthos's death and Aramis's escape, and also learns to better understand Colbert's ambitions for France, having previously only seen him as a power-seeking social climber. Colbert has replaced Fouquet as minister of finance now: and the author, for the sake of historical accuracy perhaps, mentions in a dialogue Colbert's future achievements - building granaries, edifices, cities, and ports; creating a marine and equipping navies; constructing libraries and academies; and making France the wealthiest country of the period. All of these being things that Fouquet would not have even attempted, preferring to spend on show and splendour, and spend for many years ahead of the actual revenue. While d'Artagnan (and, one suspects, Dumas as well) found Fouquet a far more likeable character to be around, one gets the impression that in the end both were glad it was Colbert to whom the task of reorganising France's finances fell.

Aramis finds his way to Spain and turns up as the Spanish ambassador to France, working to ensure the neutrality of Spain in France's campaign against theUnited Provincesin 1667 (about 5 years after the deaths of Porthos and Athos). Louise de la Vallière has by this time found herself superseded in the king's affections byMadame de Montespan, and passes the remainder of her days in abject misery. In the final chapter, Louis has become a wise and powerful king, and Colbert assists him in masterminding France's return to power via the military campaign against the United Provinces, with d'Artagnan in charge of the attack. During the war, d'Artagnan, almost 60 by then, is killed by a carronade moments after reading the letter declaring himMarshal of France, his lifelong ambition, uttering the final words, "Athos, Porthos, au revoir! Aramis, adieu for ever!"

Chapter I. The Prisoner.

Since Aramis's singular transformation into a confessor of the order, Baisemeaux was no longer the same man. Up to that period, the place which Aramis had held in the worthy governor's estimation was that of a prelate whom he respected and a friend to whom he owed a debt of gratitude; but now he felt himself an inferior, and that Aramis was his master. He himself lighted a lantern, summoned a turnkey, and said, returning to Aramis, "I am at your orders, monseigneur." Aramis merely nodded his head, as much as to say, "Very good"; and signed to him with his hand to lead the way. Baisemeaux advanced, and Aramis followed him. It was a calm and lovely starlit night; the steps of three men resounded on the flags of the terraces, and the clinking of the keys hanging from the jailer's girdle made itself heard up to the stories of the towers, as if to remind the prisoners that the liberty of earth was a luxury beyond their reach. It might have been said that the alteration effected in Baisemeaux extended even to the prisoners. The turnkey, the same who, on Aramis's first arrival had shown himself so inquisitive and curious, was now not only silent, but impassible. He held his head down, and seemed afraid to keep his ears open. In this wise they reached the basement of the Bertaudiere, the two first stories of which were mounted silently and somewhat slowly; for Baisemeaux, though far from disobeying, was far from exhibiting any eagerness to obey. On arriving at the door, Baisemeaux showed a disposition to enter the prisoner's chamber; but Aramis, stopping him on the threshold, said, "The rules do not allow the governor to hear the prisoner's confession."

Baisemeaux bowed, and made way for Aramis, who took the lantern and entered; and then signed to them to close the door behind him. For an instant he remained standing, listening whether Baisemeaux and the turnkey had retired; but as soon as he was assured by the sound of their descending footsteps that they had left the tower, he put the lantern on the table and gazed around. On a bed of green serge, similar in all respect to the other beds in the Bastile, save that it was newer, and under curtains half-drawn, reposed a young man, to whom we have already once before introduced Aramis. According to custom, the prisoner was without a light. At the hour of curfew, he was bound to extinguish his lamp, and we perceive how much he was favored, in being allowed to keep it burning even till then. Near the bed a large leathern armchair, with twisted legs, sustained his clothes. A little table—without pens, books, paper, or ink—stood neglected in sadness near the window; while several plates, still unemptied, showed that the prisoner had scarcely touched his evening meal. Aramis saw that the young man was stretched upon his bed, his face half concealed by his arms. The arrival of a visitor did not caused any change of position; either he was waiting in expectation, or was asleep. Aramis lighted the candle from the lantern, pushed back the armchair, and approached the bed with an evident mixture of interest and respect. The young man raised his head. "What is it?" said he.

"You desired a confessor?" replied Aramis.

"Yes."

"Because you were ill?"

"Yes."

"Very ill?"

The young man gave Aramis a piercing glance, and answered, "I thank you." After a moment's silence, "I have seen you before," he continued. Aramis bowed.

Doubtless the scrutiny the prisoner had just made of the cold, crafty, and imperious character stamped upon the features of the bishop of Vannes was little reassuring to one in his situation, for he added, "I am better."

"And so?" said Aramis.

"Why, then—being better, I have no longer the same need of a confessor, I think."

"Not even of the hair-cloth, which the note you found in your bread informed you of?"

The young man started; but before he had either assented or denied, Aramis continued, "Not even of the ecclesiastic from whom you were to hear an important revelation?"

"If it be so," said the young man, sinking again on his pillow, "it is different; I am listening."

Aramis then looked at him more closely, and was struck with the easy majesty of his mien, one which can never be acquired unless Heaven has implanted it in the blood or heart. "Sit down, monsieur," said the prisoner.

Aramis bowed and obeyed. "How does the Bastile agree with you?" asked the bishop.

"Very well."

"You do not suffer?"

"No."

"You have nothing to regret?"

"Nothing."

"Not even your liberty?"

"What do you call liberty, monsieur?" asked the prisoner, with the tone of a man who is preparing for a struggle.

"I call liberty, the flowers, the air, light, the stars, the happiness of going whithersoever the sinewy limbs of one-and-twenty chance to wish to carry you."

The young man smiled, whether in resignation or contempt, it was difficult to tell. "Look," said he, "I have in that Japanese vase two roses gathered yesterday evening in the bud from the governor's garden; this morning they have blown and spread their vermilion chalice beneath my gaze; with every opening petal they unfold the treasures of their perfumes, filling my chamber with a fragrance that embalms it. Look now on these two roses; even among roses these are beautiful, and the rose is the most beautiful of flowers. Why, then, do you bid me desire other flowers when I possess the loveliest of all?"