Free TW02 The Timekeeper Conspiracy NEW by Simon Hawke

inadvertent collision with you earlier this day has not overly aggravated your condition."
    "Well, you hurt me devilishly, but I'll survive. Thank you for your concern."
    "If I may, Monsieur," D'Artagnan said, "my mother has given me a wondrous balsam with miraculous healing properties. I am certain that, in three days time, it would effect a cure upon your wound and then, when you are less inconvenienced, I would still be honored to cross swords with you."
    "Well, that is a generous offer, indeed," said the musketeer, "not that I would accept it for a moment, but it savors of a gentleman a league off. It seems that you are not at all the ill-mannered lout I took you for. I'm almost sorry that I'm going to have to kill you.
Merde.
Where
are
those two?"
    Listening to this exchange of courtesies, Andre was pleased to note that chivalry still seemed alive in the 17th century. She decided to linger and watch the outcome of this meeting.
    "If you are in haste, Monsieur, and anxious to dispatch me at once," D'Artagnan said, "pray do not inconvenience yourself. I stand ready."
    "Well spoken once again," said the musketeer. "I'm rather beginning to like you, young man. No, I think we'll wait for my seconds to arrive, if you don't mind. It would be the proper thing to do. Ah, here comes one of them right now."
    Andre saw a stout, swarthy-looking man dressed flamboyantly in a cerulean blue doublet, crimson velvet cloak and gold-worked baldrick strut into the courtyard. The young man seemed quite surprised at his appearance.
    "What? Is your second Monsieur Porthos?" he asked the musketeer.
    "Yes," said the musketeer. "Why, is that not acceptable to you?"
    "Oh, no, not at all," D'Artagnan said. "I'm perfectly agreeable."
    "And here comes—"
    "Monsieur Aramis," D'Artagnan finished for him. A tall, handsome, slim man approached. He was dressed more simply, in dark hues, and he had a somewhat pale look about him. He wore a delicate, thin moustache and he moved with an air of graceful nonchalance.
    "You know Aramis?" said Athos.
    "Only in a manner of speaking," said D'Artagnan, weakly.
    "What, Athos!" Porthos said. "Don't tell me
this
is the man you're going to fight?"
    "Yes," said Athos, "he—"
    "But he is the man
I
am to fight, as well!"
    "But not until one o'clock," said D'Artagnan, somewhat sheepishly.
    "But
I
am to fight him, also!" said Aramis.
    D'Artagnan cleared his throat uneasily. "Ah, yes, at
two
o'clock, Monsieur."
    Andre, watching from concealment, suppressed a chuckle.
    Athos raised his eyebrows. "It seems you've had quite a busy morning, my friend," he said to D'Artagnan. "And to think, you've only just arrived in Paris."
    "Well, now that you three gentlemen are here together," said D'Artagnan, "permit me to offer you my excuses."
    Athos frowned. "See here, young man," he said, "this is a most serious matter. If you—"
    "Oh, no, you misunderstand me," said D'Artagnan. "I only meant to offer my excuses in the event that I am killed before I can give all of you your satisfaction, for Monsieur Athos has the right to kill me first, you see, and then Monsieur Porthos would come second and you, Monsieur Aramis, would be the third.
    I merely wish to apologize in advance in case I do not last out the afternoon."
    "Very nicely said," said Porthos. "See here, Athos, what is your quarrel with this lad?"
    "To tell the truth, I'm not sure I recall," said Athos. "He hurt my shoulder, I think; it arose somehow out of that."
    "And what is your quarrel with him?" Aramis asked Porthos.
    "Why, it's ... it's ... Damn me, I've forgotten! But it is of no matter, whatever it was, we'll settle it between ourselves. And what of you?"
    "Ah, well, it was a matter of some delicacy—"
    "Come, come, gentlemen," said Athos, "we're wasting time. For all we know, this youngster has other appointments to keep, at three, four and five o'clock, no doubt."
    "On the contrary, Monsieur," D'Artagnan said, with some slight embarrassment. "I am at your disposal for