TH E TH R E E ,

MU S KE T E E R S
AL E XAN DR E DUM A S
V O L 11
.

ILLU S T R ATED BY F C T1LN E Y

. .
 ”
i
fl
C ON T E N T S .

XXX . M Y L AD Y

XXX I . E N GL I S I
T A ND
E REN CH

XXX I I . AN A TT ORN E Y S NN R
’
DI E

M A ID ‘ AN D ‘
M I S R SS
T E

C ON C E RN I NG THE EQ U TP M E N T S OF AR A MI S AN D
PORT H O S 0

ALL
V
AL K A Y
C A TS A
A RE I E GR IN TH E D RK

THE A DRE V NG N M OF E EA CE

TH E L YS S R AD
’
EC ET I

HO W W O S RB NG MS LF A
I TH UT ‘D
I TU I HI E TH OS
OB N P N
, ,
TA I Q ED HI S E UI ME T

R NG V S ON
'

A CHA MI I I

XL . A .
’

TERR B L V S ON I E I I

XLI . THE S GE IERO LL OF LA CHE E

'

XLII . TH E WN A I E OF N J OU

XLI I I . TH E OV
RED V RN D E - C OT TA E

X LI V . TH E L Y S OV F NN LS
UT I IT OF T E U E

X LV . A A S N
C ON J UG L CE E

X LV I . TH E B AS O N G RVA S
TI OF ST . E I

X LVI I . TH E O N L C U SK RSCI OF TH E MU E TE E

XL V I I I . A A F MILY A A FF IR
 C O NT E N T S .

PA GE !

F AL Y
AT IT

A C HAT B E T WE E N A B RO TH E R AN D SS R I TE 201
‘

TH E O FF I C E R 2 09

F RS Y I TH E QI T DA OF M P R I S ON L E N T
' I

L S ON PR S N N
' ‘ ‘ '

III . TH E EC D DAY OF IM I O ME T

LI V R. TH E TH I D DAY OF
‘
pI M PR I S O N M E N T
l '

LV FO R . TH E PR S ON N U TH DA Y OF IM I ME T I
, “ 2 49
a

LV I FF THE PR S ON MENT
I TH DA Y OF IM I
'

LV II VN . AN L SS I L T
E E T T IN C A CA RAC E D

LV III S P. THE E CA E

LI X W PP N HAT P OR S MO HA E ED AT
“

T UT H
“

ON TH E
’ I

W N Y R A G S
.

T E 6 8 T -
THI D OF U U T, 1 2 l 3

FRAN IN CE

R L E ONV EN
TH E CA B N ME IT C T OF ETHU E

LX W K N S E ONS
‘
fx l l
'
II . T O I D OF D M

LX III
’
RO . W
A
'
D P OF ATE R

LX V
I . TH
TH E D MAN IN E RE
'
C LOA K

L XV H G N
. T E J UD ME T

L XV IX . ON
TH E E E C UT I

LXV II SS G FROA ME R NL A E M THE CA DI A

P LO G THE E I UE
 T h e Th re e M u Sk ét c é iS ‘
"
;

O
V LU M E II .
l

C H AP T E R X XXJ ;

'
MY L A Y D .

t 1

D A R T A GN AN h a
’
d follo wed the other lady fro m the C h urch ,

withou t being O bs erved b y h e r

. He s aw her e nter h e r .
'

carri age ; an d h e ard the O rder s given to h e r Co ach man to

'
'

driv e to St Ger m ain . It was u s ele s s to atte m pt to follo w

.
‘ ’
,

on foot a carri ag e Wt h was drawn by t wo vig orou s

.
‘

,
‘
' ‘

'

trotting ho rs e s ; an d d A rtag nan there fore returne d to the '

’

Rue F e ro u In the Rue dé S e ine he m et Pl anchet wh o ,

’
h ad s topped be fore a p as tr y cook s s hop , an d ap p e ared to
be i n per fect ecs tasy : at th e s ight o f a cake O f m o s t ,

te m pting for m D Art agn an ordered h im to go an d s addle ’

t wo hor s e s at M d e T reville s s table One fo r e ach o f the m

‘ ’
.
,

an d to co me t o h im at Ath o s s lod ging s

’
M d e T reville .

h ad given d A rtag nan a gener al per m i s s ion t o avail h i m s el f

’

o f h is s tab le Pl anchet took h is way to ward s the R u e

‘
‘

-
. .

d e jC O lu mbie r; and d A rtagnan to Rue Fe ro uz Atho s was

' ’ '
'
’

at ho me g oo m il y e m pt y ing one o f the bottle s O f th at fam ou s

l ,

S p ani s h wine which he h ad brought with h im fr o m Pic ard y .

H e g ave Gri maud a s ign to bring a glas s fo r d A rtag nan

’
,
.

and Gr i maud obe y ed w ith h is h abitu ai s ilence .

A rtag nam related to Atho s all th at h ad occ urred at

’

the church bet ween the attorne y s wi fe and Portho s

’ "
,

and h o w their co mp anion was alre ad y in a fai r way Of

Obt ainin g h is equip m ent s .

F o r m y p art s aid A t h o s ; in a n s we r t o thi s recital

“ ' l f
, ,

I am s ure enough th at it will not be wo m e n wh o wil l

‘
'
.

be at the expen s e o f m y outfit .

5
6 TH E TH R E E M S KE TE E R S U .

de ar Atho s h and s o m e and refined and

An d y e t , m y , , ,

noble as yo u are neith er prince s s e s nor queen s even are

i
, , ,

be y o nd wh at y ou m ight se ek tO win
' ’
I
.

At thi s m o ment Pl anchet m o destl y thru s t h is h ead

through the h al f open door an d announced th at the ,

ho rs e s were there 3 .

W h at hors e s ? as ked Atho s

“ ”
.

T wo which M de T reville lend s m e with which I am .

,

going to St Ger main . .

And wh at are yo u going to do at St Ger main ?

“
.

inquired Atho s .

D Artagn an then proceeded to in for m h im o f h is

’

h aving s een at th e lc h u rc h th at Ilad y wh o, inv c onjunC tiOn

'

, ,

wi th the g entle man lin the bl ack clo ak and wi t h th e

be
s car u p o n h is forehe ad had been h e S f: hi
t s
‘

u j ct
‘
u o ,
.

:I I
"
wh o.

3
' T h at is
, to s ay th at y o u a re in lov e iwith thi s
, one
no w as y ou were with M ad am e B o nan c ie ux e jacul ated
' i
, ,

Atho s Ishrug g ing h is s houlder s as if in conte mp t o f

,
.
,

hu man we akne ss l v 2 I
“

excl ai med d A: tag nan WI am o nl y

.

” ’
at all !
“

.
:

cu ri o u s ; to p enetrate the m ys tery with which sh e sur

,
' '

r ou nd s he rs el f I kno w no t wh y b u t I fanc y th at thi s

.
,
.

wo man unkno wn as s h e is t o Kme and I a m to her

‘
.

, , ,

h s h itherto exerci s ed s o me influen ce on

a m y
fllife .

”
Y ou are right i n fact am not
“
sa id Athos
'
, ,
.

acq u ainted with an y Wo man wh o is i W o rt h t h e t io u b lé

'
-
. I x

o f .be i
-
. n g s ought a ft e r w h e n : s h e fis once . .

B o nanc ie u x is lo s t : so mu ch the wo rs e fOr h er ; io t fl h er

"

’
get he r s e lf found again .

N O Athos , no ; y o u deceive y our s el f said d A rtagnan

” ’
.
, ,
‘
l
l love po or C on s tanc e m or e; fondl y th an: ever ; and if I
onl y, kne w th e p lace where s h e no w is, were it e ven at th e
.
’

extre m ity O f the wo rld I wo u ld se t out to drag her from

‘

.
. . - '
,
'

h er ene m ie s B u t I kno w it n o t ; and all m y efforts to ' '

'
.

di scover i t h ave be en in z v ain Wh at w ould you ex p e C t ? .

One mus t s eek s o m e divers ion

Divert y our s el f with m y lad y then my ? dear A ,
 “
MY L A DY .
"

I f “
7
d A rt ag nan I reco mm en d i t with all m y he art if th at
’ '
‘

will am u s e y ou .

I n ste ad o f k eep ing

‘
lB u t At h os s ai d d A rt agn an
’ ‘ ’

, , ,

y our s elf here s e clu ded li ke a s u s pect , g et upon a ho rs e ,

,
”
an d Tide wit h m e to S t Ge rm ain .

s
.

”
My frien d s aid A t ho s I ri de on h o ,
r eb ack if I ,

hav e a hors e if I h ave no t I walk on foo t

‘

.
,

i Well fo r m
”
d m
’
d A
‘

y p a rt ,,
s
'

ai r t ag n an s il in g at th at ,

mi s anthrop y i n Atho s , w vhich in anot h e r ; would ha ve

“

o ffended h im I am no t so p rou d as y ou are : I Tide

,
.
~

wh at ev er I c an fin d S O farewell : m y de ar .
,

F arewell s aid th e mu sk e t eer as he m ade a s ig n

, ,
.
'

to Grirnau d t o u nc o rk th e b ot t le he h ad brough t
'

D A rtag nan and Planch et got in t o t heir s ad dle s , and

’

t oo k th e ro ad to S t Ge rm ain ; .

A s t hey wen t alon g d A rt ag nan C o uld not help t h in k

‘ ’

ing rof all t h at At hos h ad s ai d t O I him abo u t Madam e .

B on an cieux Alt hough h e was not of a v ery s en t im ent al

.

n at ure yet th e p re t t y s e am s tre ss h ad m ade a real im~

,

pre s s io n ou h is he ar t I n th e me an tim e he t rie d to fi nd

'
.

ou t wh o t h i s lad y w as : S he h ad t alk e d to t he man in the .

th ere fore ; h e Was cer t ainly ac u ainted S q

wit h h im N ow th e m an with the d ar k C lo ak h ad in
.
,

d A rt ag nan s op in ion cert ainl y c arr ied off Mad am e

’ ’
.

B onancieu x th e s econ d t i me as Well as th e fi r s t d Art ag ~

’
.
,
'
nan therefore w as only t ell in g h alf a lie , wh ich I s no t
, ,

m u c h of one when he sa i d th at b y h is p u s uit Of t h i s

,

lady he was in a way to dis cover Con s t an ce T h u s m edi

r ,

.
,

t ating and t ouch in g his hor s e occ asion ally wit h the s p u r,
,

d A rt ag nan h ad g one over t he di s t ance and r eac h ed St

’
.
,

Germain He wen t s k ir ti ng th e p av ilion Wh ere t en y e ars

.
, ,

afterward s Lo uis X I V : w as bo rn ,
He was p assin g t hrough .

a v ery s olit ary s tree t ; loo k in g ri g h t and left t o se e if he

' -

could no t discover s o m e v es tige of his be au tif ul E ng h sh - f

wom an ; when on t h e g roun d fi o or of a p rett y h ou s e w h ich

'
‘
-
, , ,

ac co rding to the cu s to m o f th e t ime h ad no Windo w .

,

to wards the s t reet h e reco g ni se d a co u ntenan c e h e knew .

q
,

T h e pers on in ue s tion was walkin g on a Sor t o f terrac e

 8
C
TH E T H R E E MUS K E T E E R S .

orn am e nted with flo wer s

'

Pl anchet was ; the fir st to .

.

recogni s e h im i

do yo u no t re m e m ber t ha
.

”
E h s ir
“
s aid h e , , t face , .
,

w h ich I s n o w gaping at y o nder p l ant ?

NO s aid d Artagn an , e t I am convinced i t is
’’ ’
an d
,
y
not the firs t ti me t h at I h ave s een it .

”
Vive D ie u l I believe y o u s aid P l anchet is
'
H
,

th at poor Lu bin the valet o f the Cou nt de ward s

"

, ,

w ho m y o u s ettled s o tho ro ughl y a

m
'

o nt h ag o at C al ai s t
, ,
”
o n the way t o the go vernor 3 hou s e
’
n i
'

, . .

”
s aid d A rtag na I re m e m be r h im no w ’
Oh ! y es
“ “
n , , .

"
D O yo u beli e ve th at he wo u ld recogni s e y o u P Ii
I
1

Faith s ir h e wav i n s uch a Irig h tp t h at I dou bt

, ,
‘

[wh e th e r h e C o u ld h av e a ver y C le ar re c o llecti o n o f m e . .

’3

Well then s aid d A rtag n an g o an d C h at with h im

“ ”
, ,
’

,
“
,
”
an d as certain Whether h i s m as te r is de ad .

P lanchet di s m ou nte d an d Went u p to , .

'

re alit y did n o t re c o g n is e h im an dy th e t wo valet s began

,

to conver s e together w ith the ut mo s t good fello ws hip ; .

' ~

’
whil s t d A rtag n an b acked the h o rs e s d o wn a l ane and ,

turni ng b ehind a hou s e returned to as s is t at the c o nfe r ,

I

ence conce aled b y a hedge o f h azel bu s he s A fter a

’
’

. .
a
, .

m inute s Ob s erv ation fro m be hind the hedge h e he ard the

’

s ound o f wheel s , an d s aw the c arri ag e o f the unkno wn

l ad y s top i n front O f h im T here coul d z b e n o doubt

'

. . z

' ’
about it for the l ad y was in s ide D A rtag nan be nt do wn
'
.
,

over h is hor s e s n eck th at he m ight s e e ever yth ing W th O Ut

’

, .
,
i

being h ims el f s een fl h e l ad y p u t h e r ch ar m ing fair head

“

. .

o u t o f the door an d gave s o m e order s t o her maid ,

T hi s .

l atter a prett y girl o f fro m t went y to two and t we nty y ear s

, ,
' -
:

o f ag e a lert an d ani m ate d the fi t abigail c h a

, irwo man o f ,

fas hion j u m ped do wn the s tep s over whi ch s h e h ad been

, ,
.

sea ted according to t h e cu s to m o f the t im e , an d went

, .

t o ward s th e i t e rrac e where d A rtag n an h ad s een Lubin

’
'
i . .

D A rtag nan follo wed t h e waiting wo man w it h h is e y e s an d

’ '

s a w h e r g o in g to ward s t h e terr ace

'

'
B u t as it h appened .
, ,

an order fro m the hou s e h ad c al led away II u bin s o th at

“

P lanc h et r e mained al m e lOOk ing to s e e in wh at direction ,

 3 “
MY LAD Y ;
“

h is mast erconce ale d hi m sel f T h e waiti ng Wo man

h ad .

ap ro ach e d Pl an c h e t wh OIn s he m is to O k fo r Lubin , and

p ,

h anded h im a s mall n Ote :

F o r y ou r m
”
as ter s aid s h e , .

s hm e nt
'
F Or m y m a s ter ? s aid Pla nCh e t I n as t on i
“ ’
.

Yes arid I n gre at h as t e ; ta ke it quickl y then

'

, .

She theri h as t e ne d to war ds th e c arr iage Which h ad '

alre ad y turned I n th e directi o n whence it h ad C Ome an d

e vehicle m
,

i rn e d o n t he s tep s h O v e d away Pl n het

j p
i
'

t a c .

turned th é nbté Ove r and over again and th e n acc us to m ed

'
, ,

to as s ive O e dience he went along the lan e an d at t wenty

p b | l '
, , ,

p ace s di s t ance met h is m as te r who h aving s een all the

1

, ,

proceedings Was hurry ing to ward s h im

,
.

F o r yo u s ir s ai d PlanCh et h anding th e n ote to the

, ,
’
,

o ung m
‘

an
y .

F o r me ? s ai d d A rtag nan : are yo u quite s ure ?

” ’

J
V ive D ié u l I am quit e s ute o f I t fo r the m aid s a id
r y Ou r m
,

fO a s te t, a iO Other m ast er th an y o u ;
'
nd l h ave r
‘ ‘

,
l
SO A pr f a girl th at maiOI s toO
Wor d i
ett y s l p O ,
u p On m
y ,

D Artag an opened the lette r a d re a

n
’

n i I 50
t
,
O
bO
1
7
f a
o

A p e rs o h Wh o inte res ts h e rse l o u m ore th an sh e e man

“
ut
y .
,
.
’

te ll w o u ld be lad to k nOW o n yvh at da y o u will be ab le to

walk o ut in fo es t A v ale t in bl ack an
,
J
will be waiting
’ ‘
re d
‘

.
, ,

t rno rro w at Th e l h o t e l o f t h e F ie l d Of C l o th of Go ld fo r yo ur
'
‘
-
o ”
, ,

ré
p ly 1 '
.

”
Oh; oh 1 Sai d d A rtag n arI f t h i s is s Omewhat ardent
“ ’ ’ ’
.

It s e e ms th at my l ad y an d I are an x iOu s aDOu t t h e healt h

'
’ ‘

o f the s am e p ers oi i ell ! Planch et, h o w is t hi s g oOd W

W
.

”
M de arde s ? H e I s no t d e ad th e n ?
.
’ ’

“
No S ir h e is as Wel l as a m an c an be wi th four
s bo d yl—fo r y O u mad e fOu r in tha
"

s word wound s in h i t
’ ‘

d ear gentle an — and he is ye t Weak , h aving lo s t al m o st

m
” '
all his blood A S I told y ou , s ir, Lubin did nOt r ecogni s e
m
.

e , an d he r el ated to me th e Whole o f O u r advent ure

“
.

“
Wel l done, Pl anchet ! Y o u are the very king Of ’
’

valet s ; and no w ount your h Ors e again , and let us m

overtak e the Carri age ? d o
 to TH E T H R E E MU S KE T E E R S .

“
T hi d id not t ake the m a long ti me
s In about five .

mimite s t he y s aw the c arri ag e s tandin the r ad

g o ll ,

and a Ii c h ly dre s s ed c a
a

val ier waiting at Oor Th e .

conversation between the was s o .

ani mate
’
s i
d th at d
,d A rtag nan de of
the carriage without being ob s erve d by any
,
'
“

p re ttydw a it in
g m a id T h e
-
c o n
ye rs atiO n . w a s

which d A rtag nan did no t under s t an d ; bu t by the acce nt,

’
, .

the young man thoug ht he c oul d perceive that the beau ti;
w
,

fu l E ri i clutle d by
i

g li
s h om an w as v r
ey a ngr y She O o r .

ge s ture whic h le ft nO d Ou bt ab ou t the natu re, Of the Con

!

vers ation : it was a blO ww ith her fan ap p lied with s uc h

“ (

force th at th e little fe mi nin e to y fle w in to a th ousand p iec es .

b urs t ititO a roar o f l aughter which app eared ,

to ex as perate the l ady D Artag nan th ough t th at now was ’

the t im e to interp o s e : he th ere fore appro ac hed the Oth er

door an d tak ing h is h at Off I esp é Otfu lly s aid 4
,

M adame W1ll y o u per mit m e ,to Offer my s ervic es ? “

I t appe ar s to ,m e th at th i s g entle ni
,

an h as O fi e nd e d y o u
’

. ,
,

Say o n e word m ad am e a
l

,
nd I wi ll i m m edi ate ly pun i s h
,

h im fo r h is want o f courte s y .

At the fir s t w ord s the l ad y turned an d l ooked at the ,

y oung m a n with as t oni s h m ent ; an d when he h ad en d e d ,

I w
,

Sir s aid s h e 1h very go o d French o uld put mysel f

' ‘
“
, ,

under y our protection with the great est : pleas ure if the ,

per s on with who m I h ave qu arrelled were no t my brother "

.

excu s e m e the
’
s ai d d Artagn an I was n o t “

n
:
,
”
aware o f that m ad am e ,
.

“
What 1 5 th at p res u mp tuou s fello w interfermg about ?
excl ai med the gentle man who m the l ady h ad clai med as
h er rel ation lo wering h is h ead to th e top Of the door
w
, ,

h y does he not go o n abou t h is bu s in ess ?

O
;
’
Pres u mptuou s fello w y our s el f l
s a1 d
A rtag n an
, .
,

b endin g o n t h e neck o f h is h Ors e, and ans wering through

the O the r door I do not go becau s e I ch Oo se to
.
“
,
”
re main h er e 1

T h e gentle man s p ok e a fe w w or dsin Engli s h tOhis s i s ter

.

.
’

I s pe ak in French to y o u s ir said OArtag nan ; , ,

 '

1 I
"

1 rr

“
do m e the favour then I be s eech you, to r ans we r ln , .

the sam e l anguage You are t e l ad y s brother but ’

h
'

.
,
”
h ap p il y yo u are no t m in e i
e d th at th e : l
1 n 1 1 .
, .

It m ight hav e b een i magi n

.

ady tim id as , .

wo m en generall y are would interpos e at the co m m ence : ,

ment o f thi s qu arrel to p reven t its p rocee ing fu rth e ri: but
d
o n the contrar y sh e threw hers el f b ack in her carri
,

age and
,

, ,

cooll y o rde red the C oach man to d rive to the hotel T h e .

g
.

p re tt y wa it in g,m aid thre w a g l an ce

-
o f anxiet y at d A rta nan ,

who s e g oo d lo ok s s ee m e d not to have been lo s t upon her;

'
Th e carri age hurried o n an d le ft the t wo m e n face to face , t

No m ate rial ob stac le n ew interve ne d b e twee n th e m iT h e

'

.
, .

cavali er made as if to fo llo w t h e carri ag e

’ '
but d Art ag nan
‘

f
.

'

who se alread y boiling anger was s till furthe r incre as ed b y

-
.

recogni s ing in h im the E ng lis h m an wh o at A m ie n s had wo n , , ,

his h ors e and Was v e ry n e ar w inning his di am ond fro m Atho s

,

— se iz e d )h im by the hor se s bridle and st opped h im ’

,
.
.
’

AA h ,
‘
ap p earrt o b e ev en 1
'
a f m ore
e u mptuou s fello w th an I am ; fo r y ou pretend to for e t
pr s
that there 1 3 alread y a little quarrel be g u n bet we en! u s
g r “

1Ah ah !
‘
-cried the En g lis h man is it yo u m y m as ter?
,
f
,
‘
,
'
lh e n o ne m u s t always play one game o r other w ith yo u
‘
»
” '
1

e s ; an d that re mind s m e that I have a reven ge to '

take We w ills ee my dear s ir whether y ou are as s kil ful

. .
, ,

with the s word as with the d ice box

’
.
1

Yo u per c eive, s aid the Engli s h m an , th at I h av

’’ ‘
“ f
e no
‘

sword Woul d yo u s ho w o ff our co in g e again st

an u narm ed mah l 4
y 1
a
’
1
‘

I h 0p e rrthat yo u h av e g o t one at ho me said “

,

dArtag n an , if not I h a”ve two an d will p l ay yo u for one

’
, , .

un n ec es s ary : said the lE ng lish man I am

'
“
,
”
su fficientl y provided with t h at kind o f tool
'
1 .
.
1 1

We ll the n s ir replie d d A rtag nan cho se th e ’ “

o
r ’
, , ,

l argest, and co m e ands ho w i t m e thi s evening .

’
1

O h c ertainl y if yo u p l ease ” r 7 1
'
i
'

1
, ,
.

'
1
“
B eh irid t h e Luxe m bourg, there is a c ha r ming s po t 1

for pro m en ades o f t he sort to which I am invitin g yo u

’
a . u

Very well , I will be there

“ ”
m U< .
1
12 T H E T H R EE M S KE T E E R S .
U ’

'
11 i h our ?
“
1Y o u r 1 3 “ ( 0 - 1 1 1 .
f 1

iS ix o clock
’
-

”
Apropo s yo u h ave p robabl y o ne o r t wo frie nd s ? ,
'

I h ave three wh o w ill con s id er it an honour t o l

p ya ,

th e s am e gam e as my s e l f 11 11 1 1 1
1 -

T hree— c apit al !
.

H ow well it h ts i n is aid
‘

1 i
,
‘
’
d Artagn an It I S p reci s el y m y nu m ber .
1

1
And no w wh o are y ou de m anded th eEngli sh man
,
i
,

I em M -
Gas con gentle man s ervin g
.
,

in the Gu ard s in the c ompan y o fr M d e s E ss art s : arid

’ '
.

, .

”
pray wh o are y o u P ,
.
'

I am: Lord d e Wi nter B aron o f s h é ffi e ld

“
1
.
,
a
.

Wel l then I : am y our hu m ble Servant m y lord ls aid ”

dA rtag nan although yo u h ave n ame s wh ic h lare r ather

, , , ,
’ “
,
.

h ard to re m e m ber “

An d p ricking h is hor s e he put h im to the g a110p and

‘

, ,

took the ro ad to A s h e was accu s to m ed to do under

‘

'

s i m il ar c ircu m s tance s d uArtag nan we nt s t rai h t to A th o s s

’ ‘ ’

g ,

lod gi ng s H e found th e m u s k e te e r s tre t ch ed u p o n a large r

cou ch wh er e h e was waiting as he s aid )fo r h is equip m en t

’

, ,

to co m e t o h im ; H e tol d Atho s all th at h ad occurred

'

o m itting onl y th e letter to M de

’

. Atho s was . . .
1

'
.

quite e nc han te d wh en he h e ard h e was going to ifi g h t 1

an E ng lis h man u We h ave s aid t h at

h
h is .
v
‘

d re am T he y s ent their s erv an ts ins tan tly t o l ook fo r

.
‘

Aram i s and Porth o s an d to let the mkn ow wh at was i n the ,

Portho s d re w h is s word fro m the s c ab b ar d; and

‘

wind
-

; 1

beg an to lu nge at the wall drawing b ac k fro m tim e to ,

1
~

ti me and c ap e ring about like a d ancer ; Arami s , wh o was

,
'
. .

working h ard at h is poe m s hut hi ms el f up in A th o s s

‘
’

,
.

clo s et and begged th at h e m ight n o t be di s turbed again

,

until it was ti m e to draw h is s word by a s ign al t o .

Gri maud de man ded anot her bottl e D A rtag n an arran ged
,
. .
’

a little pl an i n h is o wn m ind o f which we s h alh h e rea ft e r

‘

1
,

s e e the execution ; an d which pro m i s ed h im ian agree abl e

adventure as m ig h t b e as e e n ; by t h e s m iles which , fro m

'

, . .

ti m e to - h is face an d lig h te d up it s ,

thought fulne s s .
 M U S K E T EE RS
"

T H E 1 11 1213 13
1 1
14 1 1
.

Yes, id the Engli s h m an bo w

sir, sa ing , .

Well then no w will y o u allo w m e to s ay o ne thing

, ,
'

to y o u P cooll y re s u m ed Atho s .

Wh at 15 th at ? s aid the Eng li s h man

”
.

I t is th at y o u would h ave done well not to re q uire

“
,

m e to make m y s el f kno wn I ‘
1 1 1
1

"
1
1
1 1

I am thought to be d ead I h ave re as on s

1

“
B ecau s e
‘
1
. .

for de s iring th at it be no t hk no wfi t h at > I ; am alive ; there

fore I s h all be obliged to kill yo u th at my s e cret m ay
'

1 1
, ,
”
riot be divulg ed .

T h e E ngli s h man looked at Atho s think ing 0

the l a tte r ,

was j e s ting B u t Atho s was no t je s ting at all

.
x

Gentle men s a1d h e addre s s ing h is co m p anio ns and

,
’

their adver sarie s are we all re ad y ? ,

“

”
Y es 1 replied with one v oice both Engl is h and ,
1
,

French .

“
Gu ard th en ! sa id A th os
,
1 .
1

And i m medi atel y eight s word s were glitte rin g in th e

, ,

r ay s o f the s etting s u n and the co mb at be gan with a ,

1

fur y which was n atur al enough bet we en me n wh o were

' ’
’

doubl y ene m ie s \ .
‘
1
1
1

Atho s fenced with a s m uch c al mne ss and m ethod as

if he h a d been in a fenci ng s ch ool .

Portho s no doubt cured o f h is over c onfi d enc e b y h is

,
-

adventure at Ch antill y pl ay ed a g am e full o f dexterit y

'

and p rudence .

Ar am i s wh o h ad the third c anto o f his poe m to fin is h

, ,

wo rked away like a man in a gre at hurr y Z .

1

Ath os was the fi rst to kill h is adver s ary He h ad onl y e .

given h im o ne wound but as h e h ad fore warn ed h im, th at , ,

one was m ort al fo r it p as s ed dire ctly through h is h e art

,
’
.

Portho s next s tretched h is opponent on the gr ass ;

1

ha vin g pierced his thigh T hen as the Engli s h man .

,
1

h ad g iven up h is s word Portho s took h im in h is ar ms ,

1

a d c arried h im t o his c arr i age

nArami s pre s s e d his s o vigorou s ly th at after h aving
‘

I .
. 1

driven h im b ack fi ft y p ace s h e ended by di s ablin g h im ,

-
 '

E N G LI S H AND F REN C H 15
1

- 1 1
-
.

d Artagn an he h ad s i mpl y and purel y pl ay ed a

for
’
,
.

de fen s ive g am e T hen when he s aw t h at h is advers ary

.
,
.

'

“w a s q uite w
. e a r y ; he h a d b y a vigorou s thru s t di s a r m ed , ,

him ;T he
, b a or n fi nding hi m s el f w i t
,
h o u t f a s o rd ,

retre ated t wo or three s tep s ; but h is foot s lipping as he

.
,
1

s tepped away , he fell upon h is b aé k l 11 1

1
1 1

With one bound Hd Artag nan was upon h im 1and point ’

ing h is s word at h is thro at s aid t o th e Engli s h man —

, ,
'
L '

. ,

I could kill y u s ir but I give y o u y our life from

o
. s
, ,

love to y our s i s te r
h e had
.

D Art agn an was over whel med with jo y

’
.
.

'
aC C Oa Iished the ; pl an he h ad de s igned , and th e 1 z x

develop m ent of which il lu m in ated his face as we h ave ,

u

s ai d with s mile s
;T h e Engli s h m
,

an e nch anted a
.

t h aving to deal with s o

,

comple te a ge ntleman pressed d A rtag nan in h is arm s ,

’
,

and c a re s s ed the three m u s keteer s a thou s an d ti m es .

’
And then as Po rt h o s s ltad ver s ary was alre ad y; in s talled
,

in , the c arri age and A ram i s s h ad fa irly run a way , the y

,
’

h ad only to att end to Atho s s victi m

"
1 .

A s z Po rth o s and A r ami s undre s s ed him , in the hope

.
.
'

that his wound was not mo rtal a h e a v y pur s e fe ll fro m

'
. .
, ,

h is belt D A rtag nan p icked it up , and p re s ented it to

’
, z

L ord d e Winter .

A b ! and wh at th e deuce am I to do with th at ? ” '

“
1

s aid th e Eng l i sh man '

Y o u will re s tore it to his famil y 1 s aid d A rta g nan

“ ’
.
.
, .

Much h is fam ily will c are about thi s trifle T he y

.
_ .

wil l inh erit an inco me of fi fteen thous and loui s Keep

.
.
.

”
thi s p ur s e fo r y our v alets . 1

Duri ng thi s s cen e Atho s c am e u p to d Arta gna n ’

.

”
Y es
“
s aid he let u s give thi s p u r s e not to our
“

w
,
.

, ,

o n but to the En gl i
”
, s h s erv ant s
. .
1

'
Atho s took the pur s e , and thre w it to the coach man 1 -
.
‘
1

For y o u and y o ur co mr ade s cried he

“ ”
, ,

T hi s lo ftine s s o f S pirit in a m an without a penn y

.

, ,

stru ck i even P o rtho s h 1m se lf a nd th i s French ge ner

osity , being told b y Lord de Winte r to h is friend s , h ad a
16 T H E T H REE . M U S KE T EE RS .

"

gre atne everffe c t

y where except upon Me s s rs Gri maud , .
,

Pl anch e t Mo u s queton an d B azin

” ,

And no w my y oung friend— forI hope t hat y o u will

.

,
”
per m it m e to c all y o u b y th at n ame s aid Lord de n
,

Winter I will if y o u wi s h pre s ent y o u thi s evening to

,
“
, ,

my s i s ter fo r I wi s h her l ad y s hip to ta ke y o u into h e r

,

fa vour an d as s h e is not entirel y without influence at

court perh ap s a w
.
,

,
ord fro m her may be us e ful to y o u
here after .

D Art agn an glo wed with deligh t; and g ave an

’ ‘

a s s enting b o w .

A s Lord de Winter le ft d A rtag nam he g a ve h im h is

’ ‘
'
,
’
s i s ter s addr e s s She lived at N o 6 in the Pl ace R oy ale
. .
, ,

which was a t th at ti m e the fas hion able p art o f the to wn ’

.

H e al s o eng aged to c a ll for h im in order to pre s ent h im ,

and d A rtag nan m ade a n appoint m ent , fo r eight o clock

’ ’

a t A th os s ch am ber s
’
.

T hi s pre s ent a tion to

.
“
M y L ad y occupied all th e
thoughts o f o u r y oun g G as con
. H e re c alled the
f .

s ingu l ar m anner in which thi s wo m an h ad be fore now

c ro s s ed h is p a th ; and although convinced th a t s h e was ,

but o ne o f the c ardin al s tool s h e yet felt hi m s el f 1t re ’

bly att ac hed to ward s her b y a s enti m

,

si sti ent t h at
inexplic able H is onl y fe ar was th at s h e m i g ht recogni s e
.

h im the m w ho m h h d een M g T hen

‘
i
'

a s a n s e a s a t e u n .

s h e would al s o kno w th at he was a frie n d of M de .

T reville and con s e quently was he art and s0u l devoted

, , ,

to the king ; and thi s would involve a lo s s o f s om e o f

h is adv ant age s over her s ince as s oon as s h e kne w h im
' '

, ,

as well a s he kne w her the g am e bet ween the m would ,

be e qu al A s for her inc ip ie nt intrig ue with M d e

‘
' '
a
u . .

Warde s ; o u r s elf co mpl acent gentle man t h o ught b u t -

little o f th at althoug h the co unt was y oung rich , , ,

h and s o me and high in favour with the c ardi nal It is

,
.

s o m eth ing to be t wenty y e ar s o f ag e and m o reover , , ,

a n ative o f T arbe s .

D A rtag nan beg an by dr es s ing hi ms el f o u t in a fl amin g

’

s t y le at ho m e and he th e n we n t to A th os, and accordin g

' ‘
,
 "

E N G LI S H BA N D F REN C H .
1
17

to his cu s to m, told ever y thing h im

Atho s l1ste ned
"

to h is proj ects, then s hook h is h ead and reco m m ended

'

{prudence 111 a ton e al m o st o f bitterne s s

Wh at ! s aid he y o u h ave j u s t lo s t a wo m an Wh o m
”
,

y o u though t g ood ch a r m i ng per f ect ,

and n o w y o u are ,
’
,
”
running after another .

D A rtag n an fel t the j u s tic e o f the repro a ch

’-
'

”
“
I love M ad am e Bo nanc ieu x s a id h e with m y “
’

1 , ,

he art but I love M y L ady with my he ad ; and b y ‘ ?

,

going to her hou se I hope to enlighten my s el f as t o

,

,
”
the ch aracter s h e pl ays at court ‘
.

Vive D ieu the ch aracter s h e pl ay s 1 5 n o t di fficult to

gue s s a terf a ll th t y o h ve old m e
,
a u a t l She is s o me
'
.

e m i s sar y o f the c ardin al s a wo m an wh o will dr aw yo u

’
,

into a tr ap where y o u will right e as il y le ave y our

,
”
he ad .

“
T h e plague ! M y de ar Atho s y ou s ee m to m e to ,
’

look at t hings o n the d ark s ide v

M y de ar fello w I di s tru s t wo m
.

e nL wh at W ould y o u
“ ! ' -
,

h ave i I h ave p aid fo r it and p articul a rl y fa ir wo men

’ -
.

”
T hi s l ad y 1 s fa ir did y o u not s ay ? ,

She has the fine s t light h air th at ?was ever s ee n .

“
Ah I m y p oor d Artag nan ’
s a id A tho s

Li s ten ! I wi s h to enlighten my s elf and th e n wh en

. .

I h ave learned what I want to kno w I will le av e her

, ,
”
,
‘
Enlighten y our s elf then s a id Atho s coldl y , . .

Lord de Winter arrived at th e appointed ti me bu t

'

Atho s wh o was warned be foreh and went into the inner

, ,

roo m H is lo rd s hip there fore fou nd d A rtagnan alone

.
, ,
v
’

,
’
and as it was ne a r eight 0 c 1ock the y s e t out at once
, , .

A n elega nt c arri age was in wait ing at the door and

"

, ,

as t wo ex c ellent hor s e s were h arne s s ed to it the y were ,

alm o s t i mm edi atel y at the Pl ace Ro yale

‘

Her lad y s hip received d A rtag nan gr aciou s l y ’ '

H er .

hou s e was fur ni s he d with remark able s plendour and ,

s h , as a r ule ; frighte ned aw

:
although the E ngli ay b y th e
"
fl

wa r we re i qu itting o r were about to qu it Fr ance s h e

,
1
,
~

prov ed b y rlth e n e w iou tlay S whic h sh e h ad j u s t made ' " ‘

’

, ,
I S T H E T H REE M U S K ET EE RS '
.

tha t the public m e as ure which dro ve away the nglis h

in gener al ha d no influence o n h er E .
.

You s ee s a id Lord de Winter as he pre se nted

,
.

d A
’
rta
g n a n to h is s i s ter a y oung g e n tle m a n i wh o h a d ,
“

my life 1n h is h and s but would not m i s u s e h is adv antage , ,

although we were doubl y ene m i es s ince it was 1 wh o , 1

in s ulted h im and s inc e I am al s o an E ng ls h rrlan

,
-
l , ,
1
L .

Th ank h im th ere fore mad ame on my beh al f; if y o u

, , “

h ave any g oo d wi ll for me , l

’ 1

T h e l ad y, s ligh tl y fro wn ed ah al m o s t imperceptible

'

cl oud p as s ed over h er br ow and then a sm ile s o s ingul ar ,

ap p eared up on her l ip s th at th e y ou ng man wh o s aw ,

i
,

thi s triple ch ang e ,almo s t s hudder ed ,

4
: 1 s 1 .
1
'

Her bro ther ob s erved non e o f it ; for he h ad turned

.

a
,

si de to pl ay with the l ad y s favourite mon ke y whi ch h ad ’

,

pulled h im b y th e doublet
W
.

l m h l dy 1n a voice th e s ingul a r
’
“
e co e s a id t e,
a , ,
1
‘

s o ftne s s o f which contr a s ted Strang e ly with the s y m ptom s 1

of i ll h u mo u r which d Art agn an h ad j u st f ob served 1 f o r

’ " ‘
s

o u h ave thi s d ay acquired an etern al cla i m upon my

y
gr at itud e .

T h e Engli sh man the n turned to ward s the m and rel ated ,

all the circu ms t ance s o f the co mb at Her lad y s hip ‘

. 1 ,

li s tened with the gre ate s t attention ; y et it was e asy to

’

‘ 1 .

s e e , in s pite o f ; h e r end ea vour s to concea l her e m oti on

’

1
,
.
,

th at the account was not agreeab le to her T h e b lood . . . i

m td her f e n d her littl e f m b l d bene th

’ '

o u n e t o ac ,
a -
o o t t re e a . .

her dr ess
.
.

Lord d e Winter perceiv ed nothing of thi s for, as s oon

1

‘ ,

as h e h a d end e d b e went t o a table o n Wh IC h there h as

‘
1
1 1
1
!
4 , . 1

a saly e r w i th a b ottle o f Sp ani s h wine upon it and

, ‘
1
-
,
. -

filling fltwo gl as s e s he invited d A rtag nan to drink

’
1

D A rtag nan k ne w t h at it was di s ple as ing to an

'
’
.
. .

Engli s h man to decline h is t o as t H e went t her efore to . . 1

, ,

the t able and took the s econd gl ass Bu t he h ad not

,
.

lo s t s ight of the l ad y and by th e a id o f a m irror he was , , ,

a witne s s to a ch ange wh ich took pl ace ln h er co u nt en ance .

N o w th at s h e t h o u g h t s h e wa s u nob se rv ed j h er featu re s
‘

i
 EN GLI S H AND F REN C H
’

'
. 19

as su m ed an expre ss ion wh ich , al m o s t 1 am ou nted to one of

.

h er h and k e rch ief with

‘

She tore . . to a piece s ’

her
teeth .
'1 l

1 T h e pret t y w aiting ma id wh o m d A rt ag nan h ad notice d

’ ' ‘

-
. 1 ,

th en entered 1 She s poke a fe w wo rd s in Engli s h to Lord

,
'
.

de Winter wh o i mm edi atel y begged d Artagn an s per

,
1
’ ’

m i s s ion to withdr aw, excu s ing hi m s el f o n a cc ount of the

urgency of the bu s ine ss th at calle d h im away and com '
‘

niiss io ning h is s i s ter to obta in h is p ardo n

'
.

D Art agn an s hook h and s with Lord de Winter and

’
,

return ed to wards her l ad y s hi p T h e coun ten ance iof thi s .

wo man h ad with a su rpri sing po wer o f ch ange res u ine d

' ' ’

, ,

its plea sing expre s s ion but s o m e red St a in s upon her

” “

,
.

h andkerchief proved th at s h e h ad bitt en her lip s u ntil

the y bled .

'
. T ho s e lip s f w ere i mag nifi c ent z th ey l oo k ed like
i '

T h e co nver sation now e cameani m ated Her l ad y s h i b

'
p
a
.

d i entirel r covered She e '

pl ain ed th at L ord
"

pp e a re y e ) x
de Winter was her brother 1n law, a nd not her broth er -

m m
.

She h ad arried a y o unger s on o f the fa ily , and as

’

w
left a wid ow, with a s on T hi s child was the s ole h eir ‘ ’
?

o f Lord de Winte , i r f h is lo rds hip did not m arry All

1
.

thi s exhibited to d A rtag nan a i v eil whic h C once al ed

1
"

s o m ethi ng, but he co uld not ye t d i s ti ngui s h an y thing " “

bene ath th at veil .

After h al f an h our s conver s ation d A rtag nan was quite

'
" ’
,

conv in ced th at h e r lady s hip was h is o wn country wo man

' '

She s poke French with a p u rity and ele gance t hat le ft

'

no roo m fo r doubt in that resp ect

D A rt ag nan uttered ab u nd arrt g all antrie s and pr ote s ta i
’
’
’ '

tion s o f devotion and , at all the s e fo olerie s th at esc aped

,

fro m h im the l ad y s m iled mo s t s wee tl y The hour fo r

'

de p arture came at l ast and d A rt ag nan took le ave o f ,

’

her l ad y s hip and q uitted h er drawmg ro om the h ap pie s t

,
’ ' '
’ -
,

of m en
met
.

O n the St airc as e he '

th é '

pr etty wa iti ng m a1d -

,
‘

wh o,
 '

20 THE T H REE M U S K E T EERS '

.

h aving touched h i m g entl y in p as s ing , blu s hed to the

,
t .
,

ver y e y e s and begged h is p ardon in a voice s o sweet

, , ,

th at the forgi v enes s was at once conferred

‘

’
D A rtag nan returned the next d ay and received a s till ,

m or e fav o u r able rece p tion Lord de W inter was no t

"

‘
.

pre s ent and 1t w as her la d y s hip hers el f, o n thi s occa s ion

, ,

who did the honour s o f the evening Sh e s ee med to . .

t ake a gre at intere s t in h im inquiring wh o he was and ,

.
,

wh o h is friend s w ere an d whether he h ad not s o m e ,

,

ti m e s though t o f a tta ching hi m s el f to the c ardin al s

'
’
.

s er v i ce .

’
D A rtag nan
. was very prudent fo r
,1 .

a y outh o f t went y th en r e m e mbered h is s u s p io io ns c o n

,
,
w '

cerning her l ad ys hip H e u tte re d a fi ne e u lo g ium on th e

'
'

. ,

d i l; i that he s hould not h a ve fa i le d t o enter '

c a r n a s a n
y g , ,
v

h is e m inence s gu ard s h ad he ch anced to kno w M a de

’
,

C avo is in ste ad ,
. T r eville 3 3 .
,

T h e l ad y ch anged t he conver s ation withou t the

s lighte s t affect a tion and with th e utm o s t ( a ppa rent , ,
a

indi fference o f m anner as ke d h im wh ether he h ad ever ,

.

been 1 11 Engl and .

He replied th at he had once been s ent over b y M de ,

'

T r eville to negoti ate fo r a s uppl y o f hor ses and h ad ev en

, ,

brought b a ck four a s a s am pl e I n the cour se o f thi s .

convers ation h e r l ad ys hi p h it her lips three or four ti m e s

s h e h ad to de al w ith a y outh wh o pl ay ed a pretty clo s e
,

g am e .

D A rtag nan withdre w at the s ame hour as on the

’

prev iou s v is it In th e corridor h e met once mo re the

.
,

pretty K itty for th at was the abig ail s n am e

,

’
T he
l atter looked at h im with an expre s s ion o f m y s teriou s
,

’
intere s t B u t d A rta g nan was s o en g ro ss ed b y the
mi s tr es s th at h e ob s erved nothing but wh at was con
.

n e c t e d with her .

H e retur ned t o her l ady s hip s o n th e next d ay and ’

, ,

the next ag ain and o n e ach occ as ion my l ad y g ave h im

'

, , ,

a rri ore fl attering welco m e

'

Every evening too either in the a ntech am ber, in th e , ,

.
22 T H E T H RE E M U S K E T EE RS .

'

fo r the le s s on he s hould g ive the m in an hour , allth a t t h e y

h ad s aved within a m onth — all thi s a ccorded well -w ith 1
.
‘

the s ingul ar m anner s of the ti me s , and p ro dig io usly . . 1

'

delighted Portho s .
1

And y e t the m u s keteer re m e mbered no w and then the

m an y b ad report s which were current concerning attorney s
their thri fts their p aring s and their f as t d ay s : but as
,
‘

,
1
-
,

after all with the exception o f s o m e fi ts o f econo my

, ,

wh i ch Portho s h ad al way s found ver y un s e as on able the ,

a ttorne y s w i fe h ad been ver y liber al — th at is

’
fo r an ,
'

attorne y s wi fe b e it u nders t oo d h e s till h op e d t0 m eet

'

’ '
1 - 1
, , ,

with an es tabli s h ment maint ained upo n a credit able s c ale . .

He beg an t o fee l s o m e doubt however at th e door

—
1
1
, _ , .

I ts appe ar ance wa s n ot inviting t he re was a d ark and

filthy p as sag e and a b adly lighted s ta1rc as e (to which a
'

s
u ,

gr ay i s h light penetr ated th ro u g h a g r ating fro m a ,

1 1

neighbo u ring court y ard On t he fi rs t fi oo r he foun d a .

,

lo w door s tudded
,
w ith enor m ou s n ail s like the p rincip al ,

g ate o f ,the pri s on o f the Gr and Ch atelet .

Portho s k nocked with h is knuckle s ; an d a t t all c lerk }

p ale and buried benea th a fore s t o f h ai r ope ned th e
, ,

door and bowed to h im with the m anner o f a m an”wh o

,

is co m pelled to re s pect in another th e s ize wh ic h den otes ,

s trength ,
the m ilit ary co s tu m e wh ich denote s s t ation 1
,

d the ver m ilion co m plexion w hich denote s a h abit '

a n -1

o f living well
1

T here was a nother clerk r ather s hort er behind the

‘

, ,

firs t another clerk rather t allerg b eh ind the s econd and

, ,
‘ r
,
—
'

a little s t um p in the gutter ; of t welve y e ar s old behind th e

- -
,

I n all, there were three clerk aha l f, wh ich , co iisider ~ s and ~

ing th e p eriod , indic ated a highl y pro s pe rou s b u s ih e ss l 011

Although the s oldier was not to arrive till o ne o clotz k " ‘

y et t h e atto rn ey s Wi fe h a d been ’

noon and r e ckon ed on the heart and p erh

, ,

s to 111 ach o f her adorer , m akin g h i m co m e a

‘

1 .
,
.

the ap p o intedrt ime ”

-
M ad ame z C o qu enard , app roaching b y the d eor o f th e ‘
 an, T
A TO R N EY S D I N NER? 23
’

l most at the moment th at he

es t a
e door a nd the appe ar ance of the
-
,

Portho s fro m a great e mbarr ass »

fo r t h e {enviou s
and he not well k no w ing wh at ,to s ay to thi s
, , .

as c ending and de s cending g am ut h ad rem a ined entirel y ,

mut e m M
1 1
1

It is my c ous m l excl ai med the a ttorne y s wi fe

. .

“
.
’
.

,,Co m
”
’
1

e 1n n ; o om a in M P o r th os

The n a m e o f Porth os was not with o ut its e ffec tupon

. ,
,
'
- 1
.

the clerk s wh o beg an to l aug h ; b u t Portho s turned and

, ,

all their co unten a nce s at once re s u m ed their g rav it y a .

They r ea ch ed the s anctu m o f the a tto rne y after h aving ,

p as s ed throug h an antech amber in which the clerk s

were and an o ffice in which the y ought to h ave b een
,
1
.

Th e l atter wa s a d ark roo m well furni s hed with x d u s ty

,
f

p ape rs On le avi ng the o ffi ce the y p as s ed the ki tchen

.
,

o n the righ t h a nd and ent ered the dr awing roo m

, .

A H the s e roo m s op ening into one another é did not

, ,

produ ce in Por thos v ery ple as ant id eas Every word

,

'
t
1

, . . 1. .

co uld be he ard afar off through all the s e ope n d oo rs ; ,

nd th en m p assi n g he h ad cas t a q u i ck inve s tig at ing

a , ,
.

into th h e cm rfe s s e d to him s e lf; to 1

a
n e

g le cedisg race o f a nd h i s o wn g re a t dre g ret ;

tha t: h e had not di s cov ered th at fire tha t animatio nn tha t
, , ,

nt meal
a c tiv y
it w h ich on the a pp r oa ch o f a n a b u nd a 1
, n 1 1

general l
, ,

y gr e 1 n s thro ughout th a t sa nctu ar y of g lutton y

’
.

T h e attorney had, undoubt edl y bee n in for m ed of this

“
ated v i s it ; lfor h e expre s s ed no . s urp ris e fl at th e
antic
ip . .

s igh t o f Porth o s wh o adv anced to ward s hi m in an e asy 1

man r and s aluted h im politel y 1h

e , . ,
”
“ e are qo u s ins it s ee m s M Bo rth os ? s ai d be
‘
1

r ais ing hi m
. l
, , ,

s el f b y m e an s o f h i
, s ar ms fro m hi s c ane W ork ,
/1

e as y ch air
-

T h e old m an, envelo p ed i n a larg e bl ac k doublet I n ?

’

wh ich h is we akly frame was los t was y ello w : and :

1 ,
H

w ither ed ; h is gray e y e s glitte r e d like c arb u nc le s l and ,

a
pp e ar
ed, w i th h i gr nni ng m outh to b e the onl p rt
s i a "
, , y
 R EE S KETEE RS
‘ l b

24 T H E TH MU .

of counten ance 1nwh 1c h l1fe re main ed Unfo rtunatt el y

his .
"
,

th e lleg s h ad be g un to re fu s e their s ervice s to all thi s

bon y m achine ; and fo r the l as t five or s ix m onth s duri ng ,

which th is we akne s s h ad be en felt the w or th y attorn y

h ad alm o s t beco m e a s l ave to his wi fe
e '
,

T h e cou s in was received with re sig nation — nothi ng

With good leg s M as ter C o qu enard ould h av e
m ore .

declined all rel ation s hip with M Porth o s

,
’ w
replied Portho s w
. .

“
Y e s s ir we are cou s in s
, , ithout , ,

being at all di s conc erte d ; fo r in fact he h ad never

’ ’

, ,
'
c alcul ated on being received by the hu s b and with
'

enthu s i as m
.

O n the di s t al? s 1d e I b elieve ?

.

s aid t h e attorne
“
, y
U
maliciou s l y .

Porth os d id not und erstand th e sn eer ; but m1s to ok it

.

for s i m plicity and l a ughed at it bene ath h is thick

,
"

m ou s ta che M ad ame C o qu enard , wh o k ne w th at a

'

' "

s i m ple attorne y would be a ra re v a riet y o f th e s p ecie s ,

s m iled a little and blu s hed a g ood de al

,
.

: M as ter C o u e nard h a d
q s ince Porth os s a rriv al cas t ,
’
,

man y a gl ance o f une as ine s s at a l arge pre s s pl aced

Oppo s ite h is o wno aken e s critoire Portho s co mp rehended
,

th at th i s pre s s , although i t did not re spond in fo rm to th at

whic h he h ad seen in h is dre am s m u st be th e b le s s ed ,

s trong box a nd
-
,
h e congr atul ated Hi m s el f on the fac t
th at the re ality was at le as t s ix feet t aller th an th e dr eam
"
.

M as ter C oque nard did not c arr y h is ge ne al ogi cal

inve s tig ation s any further ; b u t tr an sferri ng an une as y
‘

gl ance fro m the pre s s to Porthos he c onte nted h i ms el f

1

with s ay ing—
,
“ '
m
1
1

Your cou s in will favour u s w

1

“
ith h is co ’

d inner s o m e ti m e be for e he d ep arts fo r t h e '

”
will he not M ad am e C o qu enard P
,

T hi s ti m e Porth os received the blo w full in h is

'
_

s to m ach and felt it too ;

,
nor did M ad am e C o que nard
a p pe ar e ntirel y in s en s ible to it fo r s h e a dded
“

M y cou s in will not repe at h is vi s i t if h e fi nds th at

“

, 1 ,

we do no t trea t h im well but o n t h e oth er h and ; h e h as , ,

 A l\f A TT O RN EY S
‘
’
1

D I N N E Ri 25

too s hort to p as s in P ari s and con s equentl y to

a tim e , , ,

m al m o s t all the m o m ent s

”
s ee u s fo r u s 1 not to beg o f h i
,
” 1
th at he c an de v o te to u s before h is departu re 1
.
1

O h my leg s— m y poor de ar leg s !

”
,
m uttered M ,
1

C o qu e nard with an att em pt to s m il e

,
.

T hi s as s i s tance , which h ad re ac h e d f P o rth os at the

m o m en t When h is gas trono m ic hope s wer e as s ail ed
1

in s pired the mu s keteer with exceeding gr atitude to ward s

'
1
,

’
h is attorne y s wi fe 1 1 1 1 1

T h e hour o f dinner s hortl y s oun d

1
.

ed T he y entered the .

dining roo m, which Was a l arge d ark roo m situ ated

-
,

Oppo s ite the kitchen

T h e cl erk s, wh o as it s ee med h ad s nu ffed up s o m e
, ,

p er fu m e s unu s u al in th at hou s e c am e with m ilit ary ,

ex actne s s and held th e ir ts tools in their h and s ; in per fect

,

re adine s s fo r s itting do wn T he y m i g ht be s een m oving .

their J aws be foreh and with fe ar ful ant icip a tion s .

”
“
Lord ble s s u s ! thought Portho s c as t ing a look at ,

the s e three fam i s hed being s — fo r the s tu m p 1n the gu tter - -

was not a s we m ay s uppo s e ad m

,
itted to the honour s o f ,

the m as ter s t able Lord bles s u s ! In my cou s in s ’

pl ace I would not keep s uch gor mandi s ers O ne would

,
.

t ake the m fo r s hip wrecked people wh o h ad e aten nothin g ,

to 1 s ix week s .

M C o qu enard entered pu s hed for ward i n h is eas y

.

chair b y m ad am e who m Portho s in h is tu rn, as s is ted in

,
1
, ,

rolling her h u s b and to the t able .

Sc arcel y h ad he entered be fore he b eg an to mOv e h is ,

no s e and J aws aft e r the fas hion o f the clerk s r .

“
O h oh ! ,
”
s a id he here is ”s oup whi ch is quite
,
“ '

allurin g
“
Wh at rthe plag ue do the y s mell s o e x trao rd inary in
'

1 x
‘

this ; s oup ? thought Portho s on b eh old ing a tureen o f , .

plenti ful but p ale and perfectl y m e ag re b roth on th e top

, ,

of which a fe w st r a gglin g cru st s flo ated like the i s lands ,

in an archipel ago
M ad ame C o qu enard Sm iled ; and o n a s ign fro m her , ,

t h e y all e agerl y s e ated the m s elve s

, 1
1 1 1 1
‘
f
2 0 T HE CI H LR EE '
M U S K ET E ERS .

M C o quenard was s erve d fir s t and Portho s next

.
,
’

Madam e C o qu e na rd then filled her o wn p l ate a nd d is

, .
.

tributed the cru s t s without s oup, to 1t h e th re e im pa tie nt , .

clerk s .

At thi s m o ment the door o f the dining roo m open e d -

creak and bet wee n th e g ap ing n p ane ls Portho s

, ,

perceive the poor little wh o u nable t o ,

p articip ate in the fe as t its elf,( wa s e ating h is d r

y bre a d .
,

bet wixt the odour o f the kitchen and th at o f: th e ini ng

roo m J ”
'
l d
u
. 1

1 A,fter the soup the s er v a nt girl bro ght in a b o iled , .

fo wl— an extr av ag ance which e x p and e d z th e ey elid s of j

the r evellers until t h ey s ee med almo s t u ab o ut t o m

'

. .
, elt

ver y per cepti ble th at y Ou love y our fam il y,

It is .
'

Ma dam e ” C o qu e nard s a id the attor ne y , with a gr in

th at was al m os t tr gi c ,
a “
thi s is indeed a c om pli ment
”
whi ch y o u h ave p aid to y our cou s in ,
.

T he p oor fo w1 was awfull y th in, : and covered with th at

1 ,
~

b ri stled s kin wh ich the bone s c an neve r pierce in s pite o f

‘

, ,

all t h eir e ffort s : it m u s t h ave been p atiently s ought fo r ,

before it was detected on the roo s t to which it h ad with i

-
‘

dr awn to die o f old ag e ,

.

”
F aith 1 thought Portho s “
thi s is but a m el anchol y ,

pro s pect ; I re s pect old ag e ; b u t I do not much reli s h it

-
.
,

e ith e rob o ile d o r

He looked around to s e e if h is o wn opini on we re l th e
gener al one on the con tr ary he s aw nothing but
,
'
,
'

gl aring ey e s devouri ng b y a nt icipation th i s vener able

,

bird which h e s o1 m uch d e s pi sed

, 1 . .
1

Mad am e C o qu enard dre w the di s h towards h é r m

,

adroitl y deta ched the t wo g r eat bl ac k p aws wh ic h s h e

r
,

pl aced on her h us b and s pl ate cut off the ne ck wh ich ; ’

,

to g e th er with the he ad s h e laid as1de fo r her sel f ; took

.. ,

o ff a wing fo r Portho s ; a nd then return e d the ani m al

'

other wi s e untouched to the s erv ant wh o h ad bro ught i t

‘

i r1 : s o t h at it h ad com pl e tel y di s appe ared b efore th e .

mu s keteer h ad found ti me to note th e ch ang es whic h ' '

l
 AN :
'

ATT O RN EY S D I N N ER ; ’
27

disap p ointment j h ad wrought upon th e v ario u s v is ag e s .

,

a ccording to the re s pective ch ar acter s and di s po s ition s

o f thos e wh o ex p erienced it .

After the hen a di sh o f be ans m ade its appe arance

,
'

a n enor m o us d i s h in the m id s t o f w hich s undry m ut ton

,

bones whi ch migh t ?at fi rs t s ig h t h ave been s uppo s ed to

, ,
f
,

be acco mp anied by s o me m e a t d i s pl ay ed the ms elve s , . 1

s d ec e p t i
1 Bu t the cl erk s were no t th e du p e s o f t h i
" ‘

on '

, ,

and th e ir me1anc h o ly lo o k s no w s ettled into re s i g na tion

~
_ .
, ,

l M ad a me 1 C o u e nard w ith the m oder ation o f a thri ft

’

1 q , y
hou s e wi fe dis trib u ted th es e vi and s a mongs t the y oung
,
1 .

T h e ti m e for wine was co m e M as ter C oqu enard .

]

po ure d , fr om a s tone b o ttle o f v ery s lender pro p ort ion s ,

‘ '

th e th ir d o f a gl as s for e ach o f the clerk s , about an equ al .

qu antity fo r h i m s el f, and then p as s ed th e b ottle to the ~ “

sid e o f Porth os and mad ame .

” T h e y ou ng m e n 1 filled up their gl as s es w ith water ;

when the y had d ra nk h al f, the y a g ai n fill e d the m up with
water and, by repe ating th i s proce s s , the y h ad co m e , b y ?
the end o f the fe as t, to s wallo w a beve rage w hic h h ad - ‘

been tr an s m uted fr om the c olo u r of the rub y to th at of a

'
.

z
.

bu rn t top a
w
.

Port h o s 1 slo w1y mastic at e

d i h is fo
y ing : he als o l ’
s a

dr a nk h a l f a gl a s s o f thi s c heri s hed w ine w ich h e

h '
,
1 1

re co g ni se d ; as Mont reuil ; wh il s t , M as t er C o qu enard

:

s ighed as he s a w h i m s wallo w it ne at .

Wil l y ou eat any o f the s e bean s cou sin Porth os ?

.
,

inq ui red M ad ame C o qu e nard in a tone Which pl a inl y s a id ,

.

take my word fo r it y o u h ad bet ter not

'
‘

p
,

fI h ank yo u cou s in ; 11 9am no longer hungry ] ? r elied

.

“ v
’

'

T here was an 1 awful p aus e Po rtho s did no t kn ow

’ '
.

h o w to d e mea n h 1 ms elf, 1 fo r th e attorne y kept repe at ing « 1 “

- a .

“
Ah , M ad ame C o quen ard , co mplim ent y ou highly
”
I
y our din ne r wa s a p o s it iv e lb anqu e t l

g
.

Portho s s u s pected th at they were ui zzin h im, nand f q

'

beg an to curl h is m ou s ta che and kni t h is brow;

,
.
~
‘

.
'
 "
28 THE T H RE E M US K E T E E RS .

but a 1 lo okM ad am e C o qu e nard reco mm ende d

'
fro m
‘
-

forbe ar a nce .
' 1

At thi s m o m ent on a gl ance from the attOrney 1 th e , ,

clerk s s lo wl y a ro s e fro m the tabl e folded their n ap k in s

’
‘
t
,

m ore s lo wl y s till and then bo wed and dep a ,

rted I W .
"
1

”
oun m go an d aid dig es tion b l bour '

y g e n y a , ,

s a id the attorne y with gre at gr avit y

‘ 1
1 1

, .
.

T h e cl erk s being gone M ad am e C o qu e nard aro s e a nd , ,

'
dre w from ai cupb o ard a m ors el o f che es e s o m e c o n ,
l
fe c t io n o f quince s and a c ak e which s h e h ad h er s el f
,

m anu fa ctured with al m ond s and honey v .

1 1
I 1 1

M as ter C o qu enard fro wned bec au s e he s aw thi s m ore ,

am ple provi s ion .

1

“
A fe as t ! decidedl y a fe as t ! cried h e m oving
’

, 1

Ep u lz Ep u lm u m é —Lucullu s
‘

une as il y in h is ch air .
“ ‘ ’

”
dine s with L u cu llu s -
.

Portho s looked at the bottle wh ic h was n ear h im ' ‘

, ,

and hoped th at w i th wine bre ad and chee s e he m ight

, , , ,

y e t m a ke a dinner but the w ine w a s s oo n gone ,

the
1
,

bottle being e m ptied and neither M as ter n o r'M a d am e ,

C o qu e nard s ee m ed to ob s erv e it
Very well s aid Portho s to hi s el f he r
generalled
”
, e I am o u t
H e p as s ed h is tongue over a s m all s poon ful
.
.

m ,
“
,

o f the oOnfe ctio n and s tuck h is teeth together in M ad a m e

,
’
C o qu enard s glutinou s c ake
”
“
And no w th ought he , the s acrifice is c o ns u m
,
1 - l

”
mated .

A fter the deligh t s o f s uch a rep as t it was nec e s s ary fo 1 ,

M as ter C o qu enard to t ake his s ie s ta Po rth 05 1 h 0p e d th at .

the affair would be m anaged in the ver y l oc ality where

h e s at ; but the atto rne y would he ar o f no s uch th in g
'
’

it was nece s s ary to conduct h im to h is own roo m and he ,

wo uld not b e e as y till he was be fore h is pre s s on the edge ,

o f which a s a gre ater prec a ution h e depo s ited his

,
.
,

T h e l ad y led Portho s into an adj oining roo m .

1

”
You m ay co m e and d ine h ere thrice a week s a id -
1
,
“
.

M ad am e C o qu enard .

”
“
T h ank y o u s aid Portho s ; but I do no t wi s h
,
30 T H E T H R EE M U K ETE E . S RS ‘

an other fo r m y se rv ant «and fm y p ort m ante au A s to .

.
.
’

arms y o u need n o t trouble y our s el f ; I h ave got the m

,
”
“
A hor s e fo r y our s erv ant ?
1 re s u m ed : th e attor ne y s ’

wi fe he s ita ting ; but : th at is re all y bei ng very and

“

lgr
, ,
”
my friend
Eh m ad ame ! 1 sa id Portho s h au g h tilyhh do y o u
.
,

” “
,
”
h appen to t ake m e fo r a begg ar ? 1 l w 9 '
1

O h no I onl y m e an to say t h at a h and so m e m

,
.
,
'

o ften look s as well as a hors e ; a nd it s ee ms t o me that v

I
l ule
,

by pro cu ring a h and s o me m ule for M ou s queton l

“
Well as to a h and s o m e m ule s aid Portho s “ y ou
, , ,

are rig h t z I h a ve s een m an y g re at S p an is h noble m an ; all

‘

o f who s e foll ower s w ere m ounted upon m ule s B u t then .

,

a nd M ad am e C o qu enar
d
d
y ou un er s t it , ,

with plu mes and ball s m 1 1

B e qui te e as y o u th at s core s a
.

'
id the l ad y , .
1

”
a
'

T h ere onl y remain s the port m antea u the n d ded , ,

Po r tho s
t rle t t hat di s turb : y o u
.

“
,
O h d o no ,
r e plied M ad am e ,
.

Go q u e na rd ; r m y hu s b a nd h as fi v
;
e or si
“
x port m a n te a u s

and y o u s h all choos e the be s t T here is m n e in par

‘
. .
,

i
‘

f h
'

t ic u ar wh ich h e u s ed to pre er
l ,
o n s j ou ne y and
r s ’ '
,
”
which 1 5 l arge en o ugh to hold h al f the world .

”
th is po rt m ante au ? de m anded
'
“
B u t is it ,

cert ainl y it is e m pty replied the attor ne y s wi fe :

Ye s, , ,
’

Ah bu t th e portmante au I W
,
an g
”
excl ai me d éPo rth o s - ,
,
“
is a w ell furni s h ed one m y de
- a r -
,
.
1 1

M ad am e C o qu e na rd br eath ed fort h fre s h s igh s M oliere .

h ad not y et wr itten h is L A w n M ad am e C oqu e nard ’

.

there fo re anti cip a ted H arp ag on

At length the re mainder o f th e equip m
.

ent was h aggled

,

over in th e s am e m anner ; and the re s ult o f the s ettling

’
was th at the attorne y s w i fe s hould as k her h u sb and fo r
,

a l oan of eight hun dred fra n c s in h ard c as h an d s h ould

'

furni s h the hor s e and mule wh ich were t b h av e l th e

honour o f b e a ring Portho s and M ou s que ton up on lth e ir
'

way , to glor y m .
r
 ALM AI D . AN D
’

MIS T R E SS .
“ 1 3i
condition s h aving been arranged and the intere s t
T he s e ,

d ti m f m ent tipul ted Portho t o k le ve 1

of
"

an e.o p a
y s a : s o a ,

Mad ame C o qu e nard; and returned ho me h al f fam i s he d

-
,
-

and in a very i llh u mo u r

‘

» 1
. .

1 CH AP T E R X XX I I I .

b iL iUp '
v
‘ ‘

1 1 e

"
i M A ID '
AND
‘
M I ST R E S S J 1 '
1 1 “
. 1 1

N ow as wve ha ,
—
ve alre ad y s aid in s pit e of th e on e s o t ’ ‘

con s cience in s pite o f the s age coun s el s of A tho s and t h e l p '

,

d Art ag n a n
,

te dn e r m e m orie s o f M a d a m e B o n an c i
e u x L — 1
’

bec am e e ach hour m ore deeply en amoured of her l a d y

s hip ; no r d id he ever fai l to o ffer her a dail y ho m ag e ’ ‘

to which the pre s u m pt uou s Gas con’ was md nv rnc ed th at 1

s h e m u s t s ooner or l ater re s pond

A s he arrived one evening s centing the air like a m

.

'

an ,

wh o exp ects a s ho wer o f go ld he m e t lth e waiti ng m a id at ,

-

th e Carria g e g at e but, o n thi s o cc as ion; the p re tt y K it ty

”
was not contented with giving h im a p as s ing s mile
'

Sh é .

'
gentl y t ook h i3 1h and V .
1 1 1 1

Good ! th ought d A rt agn an ; s h e 15 entru s t ed ’

s o me m e s s age fo r me fro m her m i s tr es s — a n a ppoin t 1

fo r s o m e m eeting wh ich my l ad y wanted cour age to ,

h and he looked at thé 'c h armm g

’ '
a nnounce her s el f irl
,
:
g
with th e m os t conq uering look he could as sum eg ' i '

r I s h o uld 'be
‘
lad to say two word s " t o you 5 1r
g
a
, ,

s ta m m ered the waiting m aid -

.

“
Sp eak c hild S pe k ! ”
1 s aid d A rt a nan “
I am ’
'

a
1 J
”
, g . 1 . .

li s tening .

N ot eh re 5 1 r it 18 im p o S s
,
ib le l
1 h W h at I h av e to tell 1

en lp to o long a ti me a11 d r
' "
l
y o u w ould ta k i s b e s
d
i e s,
1
t o o 1
, ,

s ecret .

Well ! b u t wh at is to b e done then ?

I
1
1 1
,
1
j
I f y o u would ple as e to follo w me s ir
?
s a id K ltt
"

} , ,

ti midl y .
> 1 1

Wh er ever y o u p leas e m y prett y child ! ”

i
“ ”
t " f ' 1
‘

,
32 T H E T H RE E M U S K E T EERS .

"
I
T hen , co me 1 3 11. 1 3 1 1 1 1 .

By the h and w hich s he h ad c o n t inued t o t h old Kitt y ,

then led d A rtag nan to a s mall d ark w indin g s ta irca se ;

’
.
, ,

a nd a ,
fter h aving m ade h im a s cend s o me fifteen s tep s ,

s h e opened a door .

“
Enter s ir ; we s h all be alone and m ay conver s e here
, , .

And who s e roo m is thi s then m y pretty child ? ,

1
1
,

inquired d Artagn an ’
.

“
It is m ine s ir ; it co mm unic ate s with th at of m
,
y
mi s tre s s through thi s door
,
B u t y o u m ay rely upon it .

th a t s he will no t he a r wh atever we s ay for s h e nev er

‘
1 1
.
,

goe s to bed till m idnight 1 1 .

’
1
.
1
11 1 1
1 1

D Artagn an thre w a gl ance around h im

’
T h e littl e .
1

ro om was a ch ar m in g m odel o f cle anline s s and tas te ,

but h is e y es i nvoluntarily turned to ward s th e door whi ch 1

co mm unic ated, as K itty h ad told h im with her l ad y s h ip s ,

’

cham ber .

K itty gue s s ed what was p as s ing in the y oung ma n s ' ’

m ind and g ave a s igh

,
.

T hen y o u ” are ver y fOnd o f my m i s tre s s ; 5 1r ? ”

“ ’
1

s aid s h e
I do nt k no wwhether I am very fon d o f her ; but
.

“ ’

”
wh at I do kno w I S th at I am m ad fo r her , .

K it ty g ave a s econd s igh .

1

Al as ! s ir th at 15 a gre at pit y ! ,
”
And wh at the pl ague do y o u s e e to pity in it ?
.

“
B ec a u s e s ir m x m i s tre s s d rie s not love y o u a t all
, ,
1 1
.
1 1

Wh at ! excl ai med d A rtag nan ; d id s h e d es 1re

” ' ’ 1
’

o u to tell m e so P
y
O h ! no , s ir no ! B u t I fro m the iint e res t th at I
' ’
“
1
, ,

tak e in y o u h ave re s olved to tell y o u,

.

“
T h ank s m y good Kitty but onl fo r the intentio n
,
y , ,

for y o u m u s t o wn th at 1 the co m mu nic at ro n I s no t very 1

agree abl e
”
.
1 1

“
T h at is to s ay y ou do not b elie v e wh at I h at e
'

.
,

t o ld y o u 1

I s t hat y our m e aning ?

.
1

O ne I S al way s vexed to believe s uch th 1ng s, im y

”
ch ar m ing child ; if it were onl y o n account of s el f love
'

‘
1 -
.
 M AI D AND M I S T R E SS
' ’ 1

. .

“T h en y o u do not believe m e ? ,
“
I con fe s s th at until y o u conde s cend to gi ve me ,

s o m e proo f o f w h at y o u a ss ert
“
Wh at do y o s y to thi
u a s ? f ‘
1

K itty dre w fro m her bo s o m a s mall un addres s ed no te .

”
For m e ? excl a i med d Art agn an a s he h as til y ’
,
“

s eized the letter and b y a m ove m ent qu ick a s thought , , ,

tore o ff the envelope in s pite o f the c ry which K itt y ,

utter ed when s h e s aw wh at h e was about to do or

r ather w
,

h at he did ,
.

“
O h he a ven s s ir s aid h ave y ou do ne ? ”

I not make
, ,

Vive Dieu s aid

‘

my s el f a cqu ainted with wh a t is addre ss ed to

He re ad as follo ws :
Y o u h a ve s e nt n o an s w e r, t o m y fi rs t n o t e A re y o u , th en , .

in t o o m u c h s u ff e rin g , o r h a v e y o u in d e e d fo rg o t te n t h e g l
an c e s
th a t y 011 g ave m e at M a d a m e d e Gu is e s b a ll ? N o w is t h e
'
_
.
’

o p p o rt u n i
ty , c o u nt : d o no t le t it e s c ap e y o u .

1 ' 1 .

’
D A rtag n an gre w p ale : he was wou nded m his v ariity ,

but he believed it was in h is lov e

o

' 1
1 1
.

”
1
“
i
T hi s note s not fo r me l he excl ai edm i .

it is fo r s o mebod y el s e but y o u did ot g ive

m e time t o tell y o u s o
1 ” n . ,
1
,
1 11
,

For s o m ebod y el s e ! H is n am e— h is n am e ! e x ” '

cl ai m ed the furiou s d A rtag nan ’

.

f T h e Co u nt de
‘ 1 1

T h e re m e mbr ance o f the s cene at St G er mai n p re .

s ent ed it s el f at once to the mind o f the pre s um ptuou s

‘ 1

G as con and confir m ed wh at K itty h ad t h at mo m e nt

’

‘
f ‘

told h im .

f Poor dea r M s aid s he ,in a v o ice full

‘ " "
.
,

of co mp ass ion as s h e ag ain pre s s ed the y oung m a ns

’
,

h and .

Y o upity me kind c h ild i s a id d A rta gn

”
m
’ 1
,

Oh y e s with a ll m y he art , fo r I kno w w ell wh at

, ,
1

”
lov e 18 m y s el f .

“
Y o u kno w well w h at love is ? said
T M . .
—I I
‘
34 T H E T H REE "
. M U S K ET EERS .

looking at her for th e fi rs t t im so me p articul ar

‘
e ivfi t h
‘
e
'

atte ntion 1 1

1 . 1

Al as ! y e s
m
.

W ell in s te
,
a d o f it
p y gln i
e th e n y o u f wo u ld be ,
1
"
,
’ '

doing better b y as s i stin g m e to take reven ge u po n y o ur

.
1

”
m i stre s s .
1

wh at kind o venge an ce woul y

f d o u P “ "

;
.

”
“
I wo u ld s uppl ant my riv al
' 1

“
I Will never as s i s t yo u in th at 5 11 111111 Kitt y 11 1

quickl y 1
1

1 1 1 1
.

’
And why not ? i q red
i d A
r n u rt a n a n " m
g
1 1
.

Wh iclv are ? 1 1 1
’

fi rs t— th at m y m i s tre s s will never love you 3

“
T he .

”
H o w c an y o u kno w th at ? ' '
l
' i l r
Y ou h av e o ffended her too
'

In wh a t c an I h ave
m
'
h ave be eh acqu amte d with
'

a b er fee t
like a very s l ave ? Spe ak , be s eech y o u ! ”
I
I will; never ay o w, th a t bu t : to t h e man wh o can
.
‘
,

”
re ad to the dept 1 5 o f my s oul 1 1 1 1 1

T
.

D A rtag nan look ed at K itt y fo nt h e s econd ti me

’
he re .

wa s a bout the y oung g irl a fre s hne ss and a beauty whi ch

man y a duche s s. ould be gl ad to purch as e with her W
co ron et .
"
5 1] ! -1 1 I .
1 1

K i tty s aid he ,
“
I w ill rea d eve nth depth s,

o f y our s oul s o let not th at re s train yo u r chi ld

—do sp eak l
,
1

.
1 .

O h ! no excl ai med K itty , i1 y o u do no t love me

, ,

it 18 my m 1 s t e s s wh o m y o u love 3 yo u h ave th i s m oment

r 1
1

told me s o .
’
1 1
,
‘

And do e s j th at preven t y ou m ak ing known y our

'
’
- '
.

s econd reas on ? 1

“
T h e s econd re as on s a id K itty encour aged b y the , ,

expre s s ion o f the y oun g ma n s e y es rat in l l

bv e ’
15 , t l
“ ’
1
,
”
we s hould all help our s elves .
1
. 1

T hen did d A rtag nan fir s t rec all the l angui s hing

’

gl ance s the s mi es and s tifled s igh s o f K itty, whe never

,
 “
M AI D AN D M I ST RE SSJ l .
J
.
—

35
he ha d ch anced to m eet her ; whi lst in ib i s abs orbing ,

wi s h to pleas e the titled l ad y h e h ad neglec ted t h e abig ail , .

He wh o ch as e s th e e agle t ake s no heed of th e s p arrow

Bu t our G a s con s aw n o w at a s ing le z g lanc e all the , ,
1

adv ant ages whi ch h e mig h t be a ble to derive fro m thi s

-
1
1

i h i h K it h d : so u n afi ect e d l vo wed uch

’

p as s o n z w c ty a y a s . .
-

as the in terception Of all letter s to th e C o unt d e Wa rd es ' ’

, ,

intelligence o f every thi ng th at occurred and an entiance ,

at any hou r to th at ch amber which was contig uo us to

her lad y s hip s roo m In ide a; at le as t he wam alré ady
’
.
,

s acrificing the poor y oung ma iden to h e r noble m is tres s " .

M idnight at length s ou nde d and al m o s t at the sam e , ,

in s tant a bell was he ard fro m th e a djoining ch ambe r}

,
i , 1 11

Good God 1 ex claim ed K itty there rs my m i s tre s s ’

,

wa n ting me : go no w
.
g o d1 re c tly - 1

D A rtag nan aro s e and t oo k z h is h at as th ough he

’
,

i ntended to obe y ; then ; quickl y o p ening th e door o f a

l arge p res s i ns tead o f th at o f the s taircas e h e s quee zed
.

, ,

h ilns elf with in am i ds t the robe s and night clothe s *o f

,

h ef IadYShip l "

Wh ate v er are you a

j 1 1 1
. 1 , .

“
bout ?exclai med Kitty .

D A rtag nanf wh o h ad secur e d the k e be fore h and,

’

fas tened hi ms elf 1n h is p re ss without repl y y

,

1 .
1 1

5 Well
“
. e x claimed m y lad y i
1
n a s h arp a re .
,

o u a s leep then th at ou do not a n s wer the bell ? ”

y y, ,
1 1

D Artagnan he ard th e d our of co m m unic atio n open ed

-
’
.

V lo le ntly I 1
1 11 . it 1

H ere I am, my lad y here I am ! ex cla i med K itty

.

“
'
”
, ,

s pringing forward th at s h e mig ht m eet her : mi s tre ss

,
.

T he y returned together to the b e d ch amb er and as -

, ,
?

the door continued open; d A rtag nan could b ean her

.
’
.

l ad y s hip co m plaining fo r a ti m e : 1 At l as t h o we v er s he
,
,

, ,
1

be came ap p e ased ; and as iK itty : waited o m h é r m is treis s ,

'

their convers ation turned upon the li s tene r .

1

“
Well said my la dy I h ave not s ee n ou r G as con
”
,
“
,
.

”
her e th is eveni ng
Wh at mad am s aid K itty h as h eno t lb e en t? 1 c a
.
,
“ ” - “ '
n 1

e b etb re m
, , ,

he h ave proved fickl e h as b e en favour e d ?

36 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

h ave been : hindered le ith er b y mu s t ‘

,

M d e s E s s art s I h ave s ome .

1

.
1
.

”
e x p erie nc e K itty and L h o ld th at ma n s ecurel y ! 1
1

, , .

Wh at will y our l ady s h ip do with h im i ’”

Wh at will I do w ith h im ? D e p e nd u p o n it K i tty “

'

, ,

there is a s o m eth ing between th at m an and m e o f which

H e ver y n early d es tro y e d my credit
'

h e ilittle think s .
1

with h is e m i nence O h I I w ill h av e venge ance ! .

1

” '
I t h ough t tha t y o u r lad ys h ip loved h im ? 1 1

L ove h im ! I dete s t him T h e ninn y lie ld Lord de

Winter S life 1 n h is p ower and did not kill h im ! and
.

’
' 1 1 1

,
.

b y th at alone h e m ade me lo s e an inc o me o f three

‘
1 1 1
,
” l
'
h undred thou s and r anc s f i
'

t
1 1
1
1
.

It is K itty y our s on is h e s ole h eir o f

“

h is uncle and till he c am e of ag e y o u would h ave h ad

, , ,

t h e enj o y m ent o f h is fortune

D A rtag nan s huddered to 1 the ver y marro w o f h is
'
’ ' ‘ ' ‘

bone s at he aring thi s s weet cre ature cen su ring bi m in i -

,
1

th at v o ic e who s e s ha rpne s s s h e h ad s o much trouble

'

?
f

t o conce al in conver s ation fo r n o t h aving s l a in a m an on

'

who m he h ad s een h er h e ap ing dn d ic at i

’

o n s o f afi e c tio nt
‘
'

” 5
Ye s continue d her lad y s h ip l and I wo uld h a ve
“ “
1
, ,

t aken venge ance on h im b efore no w if fo r s om e re as on , ,

o r other th at I kno w not, the c ardin a l h ad not in s is ted

,

o n forbe ar ance

O h y es ; but y our l ad y s hip h ad no fo rbe ar a nc e with

5?
,

t hat little wo m an who m he loved

.

Wh at ! the m e r cer s wi fe of the Rue d es F o s s oye u rs 1

.

W
''
’

h y h as h e n o t alre ad y forgotten her exi s te nc e !

, . A1 1 1

fine venge ance th at was truly ! 11

'

i
,
1 1. 1 1 .

1 Cold drop s trickled o n the bro w o f d Ar t ag nan :

’
t} is '
1

wo ma n was a v ery m on ster

‘

1 Q 1 1
1 11 1
1

H e s e t : h i ms el f ag ain to li s ten bu t the toilet was

(
,
1
,

un fortun atel y end ed :1 : 1 1

'

s a id her l ad s hi p ;
.
,
”
1
“
T h at will do y 1 go t o your o wn
,

roo m no w an d try to m orro w to get m e an an s wer a t

, , ,
1

l as t to th at let te r which I have g iven y ou

r
.

For M de Warde s ? s aid K itty :

'

1 . “ . 1
38
1 .
T HE ; T H R EE M US K ET EE RS .

de Ward e s w h ic h t h u s p ro vo ke d h er Ki tty : ente r ed but ,

my lady tre at ed h er h ars h l y A

”
.
“
. glance w h ich th e
1

ihaid ga v e at d A rt ag nan” j se e me d to
,

s ee wh at I
’
r
say

s uffer u p o n yo ur a c c o unt

w
.

B u t as th e e v e nin g w o r e o n th e l o v e
'

,
ly li o n ess g ne ,
'

gentl e Sh 6 1 liste ne d! wit h a s mile to th e te nd e r comp li

.

m e nts of d A rta g nan and cond esc end e d e v e n t o give h im

.

’ ’

’ ’
,

her h and t o k iss . . eh-i

D Ar t ag nam le ft h er, s carce l y kn o win
’
w at t o t ink g h h
Bu t, as h e was a Gasc o n , who w as no t e as il y to be .

v h
d e ce i e d , he ad in his mind c o n tri e d a littl e plan v .

H e fo und Kitty at t h e d oo r ; and w e nt , as on t he

'
‘
.

v
e e nin g
b efo re , to h en room to t ollect ihformation a K itty
‘ ‘
. .
.

had bee n s adly o f n e li e nc e H er g g "

h
.

ladys ip c o uld not c o mpre h end th e s il en c e of th e C o unt de

Ward es , and h ad co mmande d her ma id to c om e to h er
’
for o rd e rs at nin e o cl o ck o n th e n e t m o rnin ” x g .
5

D A rtag nan mad e K itty pr o mise t o c o me to him 1 11 th e

‘

g
m o rnin ; to t e ll him1 wha1 mig t be th e natur e of t ese h h
ne w co mmands 1T h e po o r irl pr o mis ed “ all ( t at
.
1
g h
d A rtag nan d e sir e d x s h e was dri e n mad
’
v 1

er e
,
. .

’
v
1 > A t ele e n o cl o ck , h e saw K itty mak e h ap p a ran ce:
'

She ih ald in h er h and an ot h er n o te fr o m h e r la dy s i p

, . h
h g
.

O n t is o ccasi on, th e p o or irl did not ev em e nd eav ou r to

' ’

h
wi t h old it fr o m d A rtag na n ; s h e let h im d o as he c o s e
’
h
in body and in so u h sh e be l o ng e d to h e r h andso me so ldie r
’

. .

DZ Armg n an O pe n e ; 111 1s ( sec o nd n ote, w ic h ; lik e th e

.
'

d
'
h
h h
ot e r , 1bo r e 1 n e it er si n at u re n or addre s s, a nd read as g f

fo ll o ws
Th is is irdt
th e tli im e th e ha ve w i t e t t ll y r t n o e ou tha t l
v
lo e y o u : t ak e c
a re th t a l d o w i t a f u rth tim
r e o e, to t e ll
y
ou
t hat I h at e
y ou .
'
o m u
‘

1 s ev r l i
'

co
I

g
1 .

lo u r c ha n e d1 e a tm 1
s, 1 as he

“
Oh I; y o u l o e her v
said 1K itty , whos e e y es ha d 1=1

n ev
.

er o n ge r be e
M
n turne dmaway ; fro m t h e y o u n g mans
 1 M AI D , AND
"

MI S T R E S S .
39
N
f ,
1 11 o 1 K i‘
tty , y o u d e ce i e yo urs e lf 1 no l on er l o v . I g v e
he r, b ut I wa nt to a en e mys e lf for h e r c ontempt
”
v g .
1

g
.

1 K1 tty si h ed :
D A rta nan to o k
’
g up a pe n, a u d 1 wro te z —
i

‘
Mad amos w I h a v b
1!
in d ou bt w h th y ul
nt i n o e een e er o r
f m t s u ld a lly h a v b
,
i
u w th y
(

or e r no e i
co f m re e een rr e a n t or e, so n or
d i d I f l mys lf f u h h u bu t day I m u st at las
ee e o s c an o no r to t
b li ev i h s f y u k i d ss , ,

e n t ex ces 1 ly '
o o r n ne 8 1 0 00 1 11 0 ; on f
e e
y our
b u y u s va t al a ffi ms h a t I h a v h h p p i
.
.
,

l t
'
e t e r, t o r er n so, r t e t e a nes s
to b h bj t f y u l v
e t e o ec o o r o e .,

A l v ig h I h a ll om imp l y u f v ss
“
!
t e e en to n t, s c e to o re o r or 1 ene
d lay a h d y t p s w u ld b i my p m i
.

' '
T o e no t er a a re e n t , o e, n o On, t o
o ff y er a a ff ou new ro n t .
,
”
L
‘
1

h av d d th h a pp i t f ma k i d
1 1

H wh m y e o ou e re n ere e es o n n

Th is n t w t pr cis ely a f r g ry a s d A ta g a
’
o e as no e o e , r n n
t si g n it but it wa a v
,

d i
d no n ind l icacy , it w n s e : as ,w e e
acc rdi ng t th standar d of
.

o opr s nt m nn rs
e m o ur e e
.
a e ,
50 g

thi ng lik an t f in fam e

y b t t he pac
e pl f t ho s ,
u o e o o e
t i m s w r e l ss scrup ul ous t h an w
e e e now M ov r e a re ore e
kn w fr m h lady h ip s w a v ow
.
,

al t h a
’
’
dA t g r a n an e , t o er s o n
h h d b n g uilty f tr ac h ri s in t h m st imp rtant
,

s e a ee o e e e e o o
a ffairs and h i st m fp h r was s i ng ularly small H s e ee r e e
a w rd t r v g b oth h
, .

h d a ,
in o fi kl , t ward
o e en e er c e ne s s o
h ims lf a d h e c nduct t ward M a dam B a i
n er o o e o n n c e ux
v gh
, .

D A ta T h K
’

g
’
pl t rwas ry simpl
nan s r u oitty s e e . o
’

ch a mb r h w uld nt er th at f h mist ess ; h w uld

e e o e o er r e o

mi gh t e v en h app e n th a t h é mer ce r s '

’
1

pretty wife mlg h t b e a res

said th e y o ung s ealed mo te}
to Kit ty g iv”e th is l ette r to h
,
“
1p : i t is M de , .

Ward e s r eply
.

’
,

Poord Kitty b e ca m e as pal e as d ea t h : , s he susp e cte d

what th e no te cont ain ed
1E .

Liste n my d ear c h ild s rt

l
“
a
,
id d A a g na n ; 535911
u ,
1
’
1

und rstand t h at all t h is mu s t c oriie to an end in one

l

e I
.
 -

40 T H E T H REE M U S K E TEE RS .

way or a nother Y o ur m is t re s s may di s cover t h at y o u

‘

delivered the fir s t note to m y s erv ant in s te ad o f to the ,

Count s ; and th a t i t was I wh o un s e aled the other s

’
,

which s hould h ave b een u ns e aled b y M de Warde s . .

H er l ad y s hip will then di s m i s s y o u and y o u kno w th at ,

she i s not the kind o f wo man to be m oder a te in her ‘

reve ng e ”
.

Al as
“
sa id K itty wh y h ave I expo s ed my s el f to
.
,
“

”
all th at ?
For me I kno w m y be aut y Said the y o ung man
“
,
”
,

an d ver y gr ate ful a m I fo r it I s v

, ,
“ ’
ve ar ,
.

”
Bu t wh at doe s y our note cont ain ?
”
Her l ad y s hip will tell y o u .

Al as ! y o u do no t love m e ! excl ai m ed K itty and ,

“

I am v ery Wretched
K itty wept m u ch be fore sh e determ i ned to deliver t hi s
letter to her m i s tre s s bu t fro m devotedne s s to the y oun g
, ,

s oldier s h e did d eter m ine at l as t

, and th at was all th at ,
’
d Art agn an de s i red .

XXX I V
[

CH APT E R .

O N C ER NI N G EQ UI PM E T S N or
' '

C T HE A RA M I S A N D POR T H O S I

WH I IJST the four friend s we re all eng aged 1 nlooking o u t

fo r their equip ment, th er e h ad no longer been any re g ul a r
'

m eeting s bet ween the m T hey dined , without one another ,

.

wherever th ey ch anced to b e and as s e mbled W hen

'

the y c ould D uty al s o , o nits s ide , occupied a p art o f th at

preciou s ti m e which was so r apidl y p as s ing away ! B u t1
'
t h e y h ad agreed to meet once a we ek , about one o c Io ck ,
‘ ’

at A th os 5 C h am ber s as it was kn own th at he , a

’ "
l’
,
ccording .

to h is v o w, would never cro s s the thre s hold o f h is door .

T h e v er y d ay on which K itt y h ad vi s ited d A rtag nan

' ’

at h is o wn ho m e , wa s o ne o f th eir d ay s o f m eet ing and

s carcel y h ad the wa iting - m a id quitted d A rtag nan be fo

’
re
h e proce ed ed t o the Rue e rou F
 '

E Q U I PM EN T S o F A R AM I S ‘A NTD PO RT H O S .
4 1
'
1
‘

He found Atho s and Aram i s philo s ophi s in g Aram i s .

h ad s till s o m e s ecret inclin ation to return to the c as s ock ;

and A t h o s , a cc o rd ing to h is cu s to m n either di s s u ad ed
, ,

nor encouraged h im Atho s liked every one to exerc is e

‘ ’
'
'
.

h is o wn fre e will -
.

l
H e never gave h is advice be fore 1t was de mand ed ;
and even then it m u s t be de manded t wice
, ,
.

”
I n gener al people onl y as k fo r a dvice h e s aid “
th at
'
‘
1 t
, ,

they may not follow it , or if the y s hould follo w it , ,

th at the y m ay h ave s o m ebod y to bl ame fo r h aving

”
given it .

Portho s arri v ed an in s tant after d A rtag nan ; s o the “ ’

four friend s were all ass e m bled .

T h eir four counten ance s h ad four di ffer ent expre ss ion s

th at o f Portho s tranquillity o f d A rtag nan hope o f , ,
’

, ,

Ar am i s anxiet y and th at of Atho s perfect indi fference

'

, , .

1
After a m o ment s conver s ation in which Portho s ’
,

o bs cu rel y i nti m ated th at a l ady high in r ank h ad kindl y

'

t aken upo n hers el f to relieve h im fro m h is e mb arr as s m ent

'
,

Mou s queton entered .

He came to reque s t Portho s t o co m e to h is lodging

w
-
,

here — s o he s aid m a m os t mel a nchol y tone — h is pre s ence

was m o s t u rgentl y required .

Are my equip age s co m e ? de manded Portho s .

Y e s and no replied Mou s queton

“ ’
.

B u t wh at do y o u me an I ask y o u ?
,

,
”
“
Co m e and s e e s ir ! ,

Portho s aro s e bo wed to h is friend s and follo wed

‘

,
'
,
‘

M ou s queton » 1

A m m afte rward s B a zin appe ared u pon th e

'
e t t '
n ‘
o ,

thre s hold o f the door '

1
‘

Wh at do y o u want my friend ? in q ui red A ramis ;

.

“ ” " ‘
,

with th at s o ftnes s of tone which was a l way s ob s erv able 1n

h imwhen h is ide as inclined to ward s the church
'

A man is awaiting y ou s ir at y our roo ms , replied , ,

1
'
v 'r “
1 1
“
A m an ? Wh at “ '
s o rt df a m an P ”"
I r

A beggar .
42 1 . 1
‘

T H E TH R E E M USKE TE ER S . ,
f f
'

Giv e him s o m e thin g B z in n d t ll h im t

‘
r
a
a e o a ,
(
, p y
for a p oor s inner
a m
.

This b egg ar n in s i s s s -
o a s t on eeing y u nd p retend ,

to s ay th at y o u w ill be ver y gl ad to s ee him .

“
.

H as h e not an y th ing p ar t icu lar fo r m e ?

Yes I f M Ar amis he s i t ate s to co me to me s aid
‘ ’
-

he tell h im I h av e j u s t arrived from T our s l”

. . . .
_ ,
‘
.

Fro m T o urs 1 I will g o dir ec tly 1 ex cl aim ed A r

.

am i s .

Gen t lem en a th ou s an d p ar don s ; b u t undo u b

,
,

this man b ring s me th e int elli g e n c e t h at I .

An d g et t in g u p at once h e wen t o ff at a run , . .

T h ere now rem aine d on ly , A t ho s an d d A rt ag n an

’

I v erily b elieve t h at t ho s e fellows h av e se t t led ‘

t h ei r affair s
. s aid Atho s , Wh at ,th ink y ou abo u t it ,

d A rtagnan 9
’
.

I knew th a t Po r t h o s was in a fair way for it ; and as

for Ar am is to tell t he t r u t h I w as nev er v ery u ne as y
, ,

abo u t h im B u t y o u m y d e ar A t ho s wh o so gen erou sly

.
, ,

g a v e aw a y th e E n gl is h p i s to le s w h ich w ere y ou r le g iti ~

mat e p roper t y— w h at w ill y o u do

I am v ery g lad t h at I k illed t he ras
”
c al s aid A t ho s , ,

, s eeing t h at h e h ad th e s il ly cu rio s i t y t o kn o w m y real

n am e ; b u t if I h ad pocketed h is ip is t oles t he y ,

h av e we i g hed m e d own Wi t h remor s e '

.

Well m y de ar
,

, h av e an incon
,

ceiv able delic ac y s aid d Ac

“
’
rt ag nan , .

Let it p as s B u t w h at was M de Trev ille s ay ing .

,

wh en h e d id m e th e hono ur to c all and s ee m e y e s t erd ay .

—th at
y ou fr e q uen t t h e hou s e o f the s e s us p iciou s
E nglish peo p le w hom th e C ardin al pr o tec ts ? .

T h at is t o s ay t h at I fre q uen t t he hou se o

,

f an .

E nglis h wo m an—sh e of Who m I s poke to y ou

, .

’ ‘

I . .

Ah y es 1 th e fair woman ab ou t w hom I g av e y o u

, ,
g
,

s o m e adv ic e, wh ich nat u rally eno u g h y ou too k eSp e oia , l ,

care not to follo w .

I g ave y o u m y re as on s B u t I am n ow cer t ain t h at .

t h i s wo m an h ad s o m e t h in g to do with the d is ap p eara nce .

”
o f M ad am e B on anc ieux .
E Q U I PM EN T S gO F mu m s . AN D P O RT H O S .
43
“
Y es , co m prehend to find o ne wom an y o u make
I , ,

love to ano ther It is the long e s t way but : b y far the

.
,

m
”
o s t amu s i ng . w i l “ l

We will no w le av e th e two friend s wh o h ad nothi ng ver y‘

’

m
,

i por ta n t to s ay to one an h
o t e r a n d follo w A r a mis n :
,
1 1

O n entering h is roo m he found a little man

ey es but cover ed with r ag s ,
11 m
ith ,

. .
1 1 u
r
,
w
ou wh o wan t m e ? said th e mus kete er :
” r

I am in s e arch o f M Arami s : is th at the n ame by

'

wh ic h y ou are c alled
'

Yes
“
H a ve y o u an y thing for m e ?
.

if 1y o u can s h ow m e a certai n Le mb ro ide re d .

'

”
h andke rch i ef .

s ai d Ar am i s t ak ing a k e y fro m h is
'
H ere it is
“
, , .
,

boso m and Opening a s mall ebon y cask et i nl aid with

, ,
l

m other— of pe arl Here it is Look . .

T hat is right sa id th e beg g ar no w d i s m i s s your

“ “
,

s erv ant
ww
”
u
w F 1 “

F or in fac t; Ba zin curiou s to kno

r
, . hat the be g gar ,
’

th h is .m as ter h ad kept pace ) wrth ‘ th e \l atter

'
wanted wi
and a rrived al m
,

o s t at the s am e t im e B u t h is S peed was .

l

o f little be nefit to h i m i At the s ug ges tio n of t h e begg ar .

‘
,

h is mas ter made a s ign to h im to with d1 aw a d he h ad

‘

n
l
,

no a lternativ e but to obey

When Bazin was gone the b egga r g an c l
. .

'
ed r a pidl
y
’ ‘
,

around to be s ur e th at n ob od y could either see o r he a r

,
[

h im, and th en o p e ning his ragg ed v e s t which was badly r

,
,
held together b y a le thern b elt, a h e b a '
eg n t o unrip t h e

to p o f h is d ouble t fro m w h ic h h e dre w a ile t

,
t e r 1 s
.
, ,

-
Aramis ut tere d a cry o f j o y at s i g ht o f t h e s eal ki s s e d ‘

, .

the writ ing and with a re s pect al most reli g i o s o pe ned ”

,

th e letter which cont ai ned the follo win g 4

,
u .
.
.
,

M Y F RI E N —F a te
w ills h a w e be s e p ara t ed fo r a li le
D , t t . tt
t
long e r im e ; bu t t h e b r g h t d a s o f y o u th m re no t fo r" e st e r lo s
i ‘
t
y k
. .

'
D o y o u r d u y m th e c a m p t w ill d o , m ine e ls e w h ere Ta e
k k
“

w h a t t h e b e are r w ill g i e y o u ; m a e t e c a m p a ig n li e a 'g oo d

h v
a nd g rac e fu l g en le m a n ; and s ill r me mb e r m e
t - F a re
w e ll t
”
e “
.

3 D
u ntil w e mee t ag ai n .
.
 M U S K E T E ESKS L
‘
! ii "
‘ ‘
‘

44 T H E T H REE

T h e begg ar was y et e ng aged unripping : he dr ew fro m

h is dirt y clothe s , o n e b y one , a hund red and fi ft y double
Sp ani s h pi s tole s , which he pl aced in a ro w u pon the
table ; then he opened the door, bo wed , and was gone
be fore the as toni s hed y oung m an h ad d ared to a ddres s
a zwo rd 1t o h im
Ar am i s no w peru s ed the letter ag ain , and perceived
“

th at it h ad t h e follo wing po s t s cr ipt .

PS 1 —
'
Yo u
'

t
i

. . m a y w e lc o m e t h e b e a re r, w h o is a coun , a nd
ra n d e e o f S a in
a g p .

G olden dre ams excl ai m ed Ar am i s ; o h ! he avenl y !

” “

life ! y e s we are s till y oung ! y e s we s hall s till b as k

, ,
‘

in brighter d ay s ! O h ! thou art m y love m y li fe

. .
,

blood my being ! All in all art thou m y be auti ful

, , ,
”
beloved !
And he ki s s ed the letter p ass ion atel y without even .
,
'
‘

gl ancing at the gold which glittered o n the t able .

B azin was s cr atch ing at the door and Ar am i s as he , , ,

h ad n o w no re as on fo r keeping h im away per m itted h im ,

t o enter .

Ba zin was con founded at the s ight of s o much gold ‘

‘

and fo rg ot th at he ought to announce d A rt ag nan

’
‘ ,

curiou s to kno w wh at th i s begg ar man was h ad co m e on -

,

to Aram i s s when he le ft Atho s ’

.

B ut d Arta gn an never s tood on cere m on y with iA ramis ;

’

and there fore s eeing th at B azin h ad forgotten to announce

,

h im he announced hi m s el f
,
”
Ah the deuce ! m y d e ar Ar am i s
“
s a id he o n
’

, 1. .
, ,

entering L the s e are the plu m s they s end y o u fro m

,
“

T our s : y o u m u s t for ward m y congr a tul ation s on th e m

‘

”
to the gardener wh o g ather s the m .

You are m i s taken my de ar fello w s aid th e ever

“
, ,

di s creet Ar am i s ; it is my publi s her wh o h as j u s t s ent “

,

me the price o f my poe m in ver s e s o f one sy ll able wh ich ,

I began d own ln”the country

,
”

Well all I can s ay ,

.

’
Ah l re all y ? s aid d Artagn an
my de ar Arami s , 15 that y our publi sh er 1 3 very gen e rou s
,
‘ ’
, .
 T H RE E, ,
M U S K ET E ERS
no hes ita tion in c nfi d id
ng
'

m
to h i thi s
i
to Portho s ; but at the corn er o f the ,

me t Mou squeton
,

gh ors e before h im .

excl am a tion of s urpri s e , no t

iii j o )’

l
nf
1 11 2 . i
;
y ello w h o rs e ,
c r1 ed he A ramis , 1 lop k
’
at th is ”b CP
YSG I -t
(m . 1
é
1 1 ms “ .

ex c l a i m ed Ar ami s
,
. . .

O h , wha
”
“
t a frig tfu l be as t ! 1 1

my , d e ar boy , it is th e, ho rs e on wh ic h I c am e
‘

j gw u N i
kn
1 a o’ .

:
” '
51 1 3 do y ou ow the hors e ? 1 nqu ir
ed
M o u s queton 1
1 1

“
H e certa inl y 1 5 of a mo s t g o rig inal1 i co lo u r, said : .
1

Ar am i s I neve r} , s aw o n
“
e w with a hide lik e u th is . u
‘
i
”
before 1 ia - 1

rep li e
.

I c an well be li d d Artag nan ; a nd I

,

“
ey e “ ’

s old him fo r three cro wns gwh ich m u s t h ave b een fo r ,

1

the h ide for c e rtainl y th e ca rcas s is not worth eigh t een .

livre s B u t h o w do I find thi s hor s e in y our

,

nd s,
h
'

a
.

”
M ousqu e tor1 ? “ I h 1
.

“
Ah, s a id th e v alet do not s ay a n y th i ng a bo ut it
,
‘‘
,
’
I t is a h o rrible trick of o u r duche ss s hus b and ’

Hows o ?
.

Y es we are looked upon m o s t

, ,
by a .

w o m an of qu ality the d uc h e s s o f 1 4
'

, i

my , mas ter ha s e nj oi ned me to be di s cr eet "

Sh e ob lig ed '

u s to a ccept a s mall s ouvenir—a m a gnificen t S a

.
_

p' ni sh
charger ; a nd an A nd alu s ian mule which wer e mos t
, ,

marv ellou s to behold Bu t hth e h us b and found it o ut;

.

kid napped on their wa , y , t h

,
e t wo m ag nifi c e nt a ni ma l s ; v 1

”
and s ub s tituted t h es e frig h tfu l b e as tS fOr the m
’

'
'
.

”
And are y o u t aking the m b a ck to h im ?
s ir replied M ou s queton Yo u, .
“ ‘
,

know it is i mpo ss ible for u s to a ccept s uch fright s as

'

the se in s tead o f tho s e which h ad b e en pro mi s ed u s (

I s hould h ave enj oy ed s eeing

.
, ,

e g ad ! t h o u g h
, ,
 OFJ A R A M I S A N D PO RT H O S
' '

E Q U I P M EN T S . {4
7
o n rm y 1 lit /Wo u ld h ai e g iv e n me
’

Porthos y e llo w hor s e

-
.

s o me id e a o fy wh at I was my s el f w h e n ca
. e t o P ari s I m i . .

Bu t do no t r let u s iid etain

-
and
execute y our m as ter s commission : go I s h e 'at home
’ ‘
.

”
Ye s , s ir, 1 said M o us qu e ton, l but in la ufl v ery b ad
'

”
hu mo ur l N il . uo
' i
'
"
u

H e then conti nued on h is way to wards th e u ay of

’

q
“

the Grand s Augu s tin s , whilst t h e t wo friends went ito ri ng

-
.

B u t t he u latter h ad
’
at the u n fortun ate Portho s s door »

s een them crossing the court , and w a s c are fu l no t : to .

a dmit the m So their ringing was in vain l g : 1

"
“ “

In the m e anti m e , M ou s queton proceeded on , and,

cr ossing the Pont N eu f s till driving th e t wo s orr y
- ‘ — '
.

beas ts before h im— h e reached ; th e R u e au a

'
-
“

urs , '

where, f in ! a ccord ance with his master s order s , he

’ ‘
"
.

fast en ed th e hor s e and th e m ule t o the

' '

'

attorney s door ; and then , without ; dis tu rb ing h im se lf

’ ‘

a bout their f u
ut re ifa t e ; lie - returned .to I find Port h o s , "

and in for m I hi m th at h is c omm ission 1 h ad be en ex actl y .

fulfil led 1 .
"

s A ft ii s om e im e the tw unh pp bl t having

e , .o
t a y o e.as s

eaten nothing s ince the morning m ade so g re at a noi s e, ,

by i lifting u p and le tting f ail the k no ok er, 1 th at th e

'

» .

s s tum p in
atto rne y o rde red h i —t h eé g ut te r to in qu ire in
'
-

the neighbourhood to who m thi s hor s e and mu le 'be long e¢

M ad ame C oque na rd recog nis ed h erp re s ent ; a nd co u ld
not at firs t, at all co m prehend thi s re s titution B u ti a
, .

m
'l
visi t f r om Portho s Soon eniig h tened h er
'
T h e rag e
‘
'

which , in ls p ite o f th e c o ns tra int tha t he i o s ed upon

p i

hi ms e lf, s p arkled : in ala rmed h is

s u s ceptible ad m irer I n fact, M ons qu et o n t h at b lfrmt
’

conce aled fro m h is ma s ter 3 th atiih e 1had niet'd A rta

' ’

and Aramis ; and th at the for m er h ad re c o n i in

g
th e y e llow h rs e, the ver y) Beam es ev nag o n; wh ic h lh e
o
h ad arrived in P ari s , and w hi ch he : hed us o ld for three .

cro wn s .
‘
1 1 1 1

Portho s l eft ag ain as soon i as z ah e h ad made an

'
‘
.
,
'
appoint ment to m eet the attor n ey 5 wife in th e cloi s ter ’ '
48 . T H E {T H REE '
M U S K E T EE RS J
of St M agloire When her hu s b and s aw : th at Portho s .

Was re all y leav ing h e invited h im to di nne r — an invita ,

'

tion which the m u s keteer declined with an air o f

m aje s tic dignit y
M ad am e C o qu e nard tre mbled as s h e went to w
.

ard s the
‘
1

cloi s ter St M agloire for s h e anticip ated the repro a che s

.
,

th at awaited her there B ut s h e was fas cin ated h y the . . 1

lo fty manner s o f P orth os "

.
1 1

A ll the i mprec ation s and repro ache s th at a m an who s e

'

v anity is wounded c an p our upon a wo m an s hea d were , .

’
,

poured b y Portho s on the hu mble h ead o f the atto rne y s ' ’

”
Al as ! said s h e
1 1
I did it allffori th e be s t O ne ,
“ I "
.

o f our client s] i
1 s c a hor s e de aler : he o wed I u s m on ey -
,

fe s tl y reluct ant to p a y s o I to ok tliis

.

and was m an i .
r

'

m ule a n d hor s e in d i
s c h a rg e o f hi
s debt ’ B u t‘-h e h a d i .
‘

”
m se d me t wo ro y al ani m a ls
'

p ro i : . 1

Well mad ame s aid Portho s if his deb t was ‘mo re

”
, , ,
‘f '

”
th an five cro wn s ; y our hors e de aler is a s wi ndler -
.

I t is not forbidden one to look o u t for a good

“

”
barg ain M Portho s , s aid th e attorne y s w ife b y way
‘

.
, ,

o f excu s e 1 11 1

N o m adam e ; but tho s e wh o look ou t fo r good

“
,

b arga in s ought : to pe rmit others t o look Ou t for m ore

generou s friend s .

And , turning on h is heel Po rtho s m ad e a s tep to ward ,

m
retiring 1

M Porth o s ! M Po e xcla
.

’
rt h o s l i ed the attorne y s
“
. . ,

wi fe , I con fe s s th at i t was wrong I ought not to

“
. .

h ave th ought o f b arg aining abo ut the e q uip m ent o f a

gentlem an like y o u ’

w
t 1
1 1s .
1

With o ut repl y ing Po rtho s took a s e c o nd s tep to ard

.

x .
,
'
retiring . 1 1 1 . 1 1 .

T h e attorne y s wi fe fan ci e d th at s h e s aw h im in a
’
-

glitt ering he m i s ph ere en co mpas s ed by duche s s es and ,

m archiones s e s wh o s c attered b ag s o f gold be fore h is feet

,
.

Sta l in He a ven s n ame s tay , M Portho s !

“ « « ” ex
’
.
, .
,

claime s h e 5 f s t ay a n
d let u s t alk it
‘
41
,
.
 A LL CAT S G RAY 1N . T H E
‘

D ARK
‘

. . 1 .
.

49
T o ta lk with y o u b r ing s m e m i sfortune , ”said Po rt h os
”
B u t, tell me , wh a t : do y o u ré qu ire ?
f
“

Nothing ; fo r th at a ount s to t h e s am e thing as

.
’
. - g m .

t ho ugh I requi red So m ethin g o f y o u ;

'
1 1

T h e a ttorne y s wife z hung o u Po rth os is arm, and, 111

'
’ -

’
th e violence o f her g ri e f; ex cl ai m ed 1
M Porth os , ; I arric o mp le t e ly ig no rant ab o u t all
‘

.
. r

the s e thing s Wh at c an I kno w abo ut a hor s e ! Wh at

.
I

c an I kno w abo ut e ui pm ent s " q .

“
You s hould le ave i t to m e , then , wh o do kno w
about them, m ad am e 1 B u t y o u wanted to get thing s .

che ap th at y o u m ight lend at u s ur y

,
-

“
It was wrong M Portho s ; and I will give y o u ,
.
~

re p aration on my word o f h onour ,

. 1

o
A n d h o w so ?
. de m ande d the m u s keteer .

M : C o qu e nard I S going thi s evening to th e

”
Duk e de h as s ent fo r him : I t is to a r

c o ns u ltat io n cwhich w ill l as t at le as t t wo hour s Co m e ‘

.
.
,
”
we s h all be alone and can arr ange th e bu s ine s s
-
( , .

”
Good a T h at is something .
]
.

”
A nd y ou will pardon me ?
'

1 1

1
“
We s h all s e e replied Portho s m aj e s ti cally
”
,
1 .

T he y p arted fro m e ach other both repe ating— “ till ,

th i s e vening ! ”
“
I fai th i” t hought P o rtho s a
’
s he went h is way I , ,
“

s ee m no w to rh e m aking s o m e appro ach es to ward s

'

. !

M C oqu e nard s s trong box ”

.
’
- .

C H APT ER x x x v .

l l

ALL C A S T A RE '
A L I KE ‘
- GR AY ‘
1N T HE D AR K .

TH E e v e n mg , so im by d
’
p atientl y exp ected Artagn an ,
at
length arrived 1

A t ' about nine o clock h e went as u s u al to h er

’
1 1

, ,
’
la d y s hip s and, las he found her in a c h arming hu m our
,
. . .

he was received more grac iou s l y th an e v er : O u r G as con

,
“ ’
150 .
H HT H E WH R E E M US K ET EE R S E / 1

w; at
'

fir s t gl an é e; that the pretend ed note of the

th e
'

‘
. sa .

Count de Warde s h ad be e n d eli ve r ed b y z K itty to h e r

"
mi stress and t h at it was p rod u c nrg 1 ts efi e c t r air
,
1 1

K itt y c am e in w ith s han e ut onfiefl tioh sr1 nH e r mistres s ’

xlo ok ed at h e rj k ind ly fiand s m il e d on hé rwvi t b h erd nio s t

’ '
'
,

graciou s s m ile ; bu t the conc e rned that

d no t e v e n notice th e 1at te 11 s 1g o o d wi111 10 l
tsh e z d i .
’
. . .
-
‘ ‘

at t h es e. t wo
~

wo meng and
could not but confe s s th at m atu re 1 h ad h c o mm itte d a
‘
-

m i s t ake in th e iri for mation : to th e g re at ulady s h e h ad

’

'
agiven a venal and p e rfid i ar1d , rt o th e wa iting
'

o u s s oul
"
.

m aid ’, a loving and devote d heart 11 2 1 1 1 1

A t t n Id l ck f h er l ad y s hip b g a n to ap pe ar une as y ,
gi , e o o
e .

d A rtag nan s oon gue s s ed the m e ani ng 0151 11131

’
and 1 1
.

trouble She looked at th e : t i ep ie c emg o h u p , s at

. m
do wn ag in ; d m wit h
‘

s iled i look '

a a n -
»a .

which s ee med to v s ay
'

doubt , but y o u would b e c h arming if y ou rwou ld

'

'
D fA rt ag nan aro s e , and to o k ; h is h at, and th en h er
'
" ' ‘
. . 1

l ad y s hip g ave h im her h andf1t0 1 k is s l ”Th e y oun g man

‘

‘
.

was s en s ible o f a g e ntle p re s s ure, 1 wh ic h r h e> attributed ,

"

not to c o quetry , bu t to o f h is
’

" ' -
1 c

She love s h im m adl y m uttered he , as he we nt o ut :

.

On th is ld c ca s io n K itty was not aviaiting him; either in .

the ant e chamb erg in the gate .

d A rtag nan h ad to di s cover, th e

’

li ttle ch amber .

K itty was s itting with her face hid bet ween her h and s ,

cr y ing She he ard d Ai tag nafi renter but did not l i ft up

.
’ ‘
,

her he ad T h e y oung m an went to her and took her

.
,

h and s and t hen s h e b u rst out 1crying 1

,
x) r
'
'

, . .

A s d A rtag nan h ad s u s pected

’
her l ad y s h ip on , ,

re c e iv ing nth e lett r

e w hich S h e re g arde d as th e C ount
F j
s '

de Ward es s reply h ad in the deliriu m o f her j o y ma de

’
l '

—
,
.
, ,
'
ne r waiting m aid acqu ainted with the whole and t he n a s , ,
.
,

a re co rnp e ns e fo r the : m niwh c h s hem mis s io h h a d

'
i
'

anner i .

bee n ex ec ute d , g iv e n her a rp urs ez g f g o ld a ) ’

’

f -
1
1
. 1 .
 A LL? c ars DA R K
GR AY I N rrrH s z r . 5
51:

et urni ng to her own irob m, h ad

' "

Kdt ty , 1
on r : thr own the
it was lyirig lop en,
'

p ilrs e dis g o rging

three orgolden coin s upon the carpet e ro : 9 1 if
four 1 .
u .
»
1

a t ; las t the poor girl at d Afrtag nan s ei

i ’
rtre aty , ,

rais ed ; her : he ad , h e was Stru c k i wi t h rala1un ( a

1
t i th e 1

e xpre s s ion of h er fac e 1 She cla s ped her h ands? together

i “

with a s u p p licat ing air b ut without v e ntu ri ng to us p eak

s
,

a word 1 1 17 1

Little s ens mv e v as was d A rt ag nan s heart h e was w

.

’ ’
et
a
,

fie tte d b y thi s s i lent g rieh : B u t h e iwas to o po s itive in

all his p roj ect s a nd es peci ally in t hi s one; to devi ate at
,

all fro m h is ord ained arran ge m ent H e Wo uld not give .

f

to K itt y the le as t hope o f hindering the ra s h e nterp ri se

on which h e h ad re so lved ; b ut he repres ented it to h e r '

as an aet: of s i mple
J
as wh at it re all y was ~ th a t is
i - 1 '
.
» ~
.

venge ance ag ain s t her l ad ys hip s co q uetr y ; and as t h e ’

onl y means wh ich h e pos s es sed of ob tainih g y fro m her

J

n al
dre ad o f the sca d l of expo s ure the 1 n f o rrnat 1 o n th at he ’
,
1

wante d in res pect to M adame B onanc ieu x s

'
T h 1s p lan fiurth er be c ame th e m or e 3 e
~
, , x ec u 4

tion fro m her l ad y s hip hav ing fr om

, ,

mot i v e t o wh ich s h e ap pea r

,
'

ance co m m anded K itt y to

her ap art ment as well as in the abig a il s o w
,

n ch ambe r
’
, .

A n i nst ant aft erw a rd s ; her l ady s h ip was hear d retu rning
‘
1-

to her oh am be r D A rt ag nan i mmedi a tel y hu rried into

'
.
’ ‘

h s pre s s
i S c rcel y w
a . a s h e “
bl o c ad ed in it, before th e
k J ‘ 1 1
_

bell rang f " "

1

e
.

y w e n t to h e r
‘
i n i
s t re s s a nd d id h o t l ea v th e do o r
open but the p artiti on w
,
r
as so thin th at t h e c onver s atio n
'
,

lmos t wh oll
,

o f the two wo me n was a

‘
y a ir d i h le .

Her l ad y s hip s ee m ed to be intoxic ated w ith Joy She .

made Kitty rep eat to h er the ihost trifling det a il s o f h e r

' 1

p r ete nded '

i n terv iew W ith de W a rde s a n d tell h e r h o w
'

h e ,

h ad r ecei ve d her hovi r he

‘

it ; wh at
'

was the e x p re Ss io ri o f h is fa ce and W

'
heth er h e s ee med ,

much enamb ured : arid to all the s e ques tibhs poor ‘ ’ ‘

, ,

K itty wh o was co nip é lle d to ke ep a g ood hou ntenandé ;

,
‘ " (
52 3 1 1 . T HE
. . T H R EE M US K ET E E Rs s .

ans we re d
'
1
ir1
'
a
'

s ti fled V oice
'
,
of 1 wh ichher m i s tre s s s o
felic itT is
’

egoti s tical y did n o t , even ob s erve the d is

'
con s ol ate tone 11 .
1 1 1

A s t he hour o f her intervie w with the count a pp ro ached ,

her l ad y s hip h ad all the light s in rh er o wn room a ctu ally

extingui s hed , and co m m anded K itty to return to her ‘
.

ch am ber and to introduce de Wa rde s as s oon ta s h e

,
.

a rrived .

K itt y h a d n ot ? long t o wait H ard ly h ad d A rtagnan ’

'

~ c 1
.
.

s een through the k e y hole o f h i

,
s pre s s tha t th e wh ole -
,

a p a rtme nt wa s in d arkn es s b efore he s prang fro ml h is

c
,

dungeon at the ; v er y : mo ment th at Kitt y clo s ed : th e

,
1

c ommunicating door
‘
Wh at is tha t p o ise E 1nqu ire d m y l ad y . .

” ’
“
It is I wh i s pered d A rtag nan ,
I ; the Count de “

Warde s
m
.

‘
O h m y God !
, y G o d ! gro aned K i tt
y
‘
he could ,
‘
.

no t even wa it fo r th e hour h e hi ms el f h ad fixed .

1

Well ! s aid the l ad y in a tre mbling voice wh y

” ’

,
“

doe s he not co m e in ? Count count added s he y o u

kno wth at I am wa iting fo r y o u
,
, , ,
”
.

At this appe al d A rtag nan put K itty g ently as ide and

,
’
,
,

s pr ang int o her lady s hip s ch am ber

’
. 1

I f rage and grie f c an ever torture the s o ul, it m u s t

be tho s e o f the lover wh o ireceive s under a n am e th a t , ,

'

is not h is o wn prot es t at on s o f afi e c t ion wh ich are

1

a ddre ss ed to h is fa voured riv al

D A rtag nan was in a s itu ation o f which he h ad not

’

c alcul at ed the s u ffering : j ealou sy was ; gn awing at his

he art ; a nd he h ad to endure al m o s t as m uch as poor
,
. .
,

Kitty wh o was at the s am e time we e p ing in the adj oining

,
.

Y e s , count , i d her l ady s hip in her s weete s t tone s

sa , ,

as pre s s ed o ne o f h is h and s be tween her

s h e tenderl y

o wn y e s I am h app y in th e love which y our gl ance s

,

and word s h av e e x p re s s ed wh ene y e r we h a ve m e t

, A n d .

I too return y our love

, ,
A h ! to m orro w y o u m u s t le t .
,
e

me h ave s o m e s ouvenir wh ich will prove y o u thin k ,

34 A T H E T
c H R EE M USKET E ERS .
z

t he m to e
sp a r a te At t h e m o m ent o f q ui ttin g h er
l ad y s h ip d A rtag nanw
.

,
’
as onl
y s en s i b le o f a deep regret

at hav ing p ar t d fro m h e ; a nd in the pas s ionate ;f ad ie u

e .

wh ich the y rec ipro ca

n _

ll y addre s s e d to o ne a no ther , a ne w
meeting w s agreed u p on in the en s u ing we e h
a
Poo r Kitty h ope d to ha ve an o p p ortunity of say ing ,

a fe w word s to d A rta nan as he h

’
ed t ro u h her
g p as s
g
c h am ber b ut her m is tre ss led h i m ou t her s elf in the
w
, ,
.
, “

d d 1 l f h im h he ea h d h
'

ar kne ss ,ari o n y.
e t.
en t y fr z
r e t e x

s ta ircas e .

In the m orni ng of th e n e xt d ay d A rtag nan h astened ,

’

to A tho s ; for” b eing eng aged ing s u c h a s i n u lar g

v entu re he w is h ed for h is ad yice

, He told h im .
1

every th in g ) ; and Atho s s br o w was o fte n knitte d during ’

the
Your l ad y j s aid h e , a pp e ar s t 9 me mo be ah
,
.

,
.

i nfam ou s c reature b ut y o u are no r, , o n th at ac c ount

, 1 ,
.
,

t he le s s wrong in thu s d e c e 1 v ing her Y o u m ay n o w; . ”

be s ure th at in o n e way o r anoth er y ou w ill hav e a fl

w
, , , ,.

”
bitter ene my i th who m to deal , 11 w 1
1
1

Whil s t s till s pe aking ; Athos lo oked earne stly at the

1
-

, . .

s app hire en cir c led wi th di am on ds whi ch d A rtag nan

, ,
x
’

n o w wor e in the a ce o f the q uee n s

’

p l was
c are full y dep os i ted in a c as e
Gas co
r . .

“
Y o u are loo k ing at thi s . n,
pr oud o f di s play ing be fore his fri e nds such a s plendi d g i ft ,
”
Ye re p l
.i ed A t h o s it re m ind s m e of a fa m ily j e w
“
el .

s
It 15 be auti fu l is it s a i d ;d Arta gn an
’

ie v
.
,

I did no t b e l
”
M ag nifi cen t ! rej oi ne d A t ho s , e ,
“
.

th at th ere were t wo s a p p hire s ex is t en t o f , s o fin e a ; ,

water . D id y ou e x change y our d rarn o nd forgit P

”

“
N o rep lied d A rtag nan it is a pres ent h on»
”
,
’ “

m y b eau ti ful Engli s h wo m an , o r r ather , ,

French woman —for alth ou gh I hav e not as ke her I

a m s ure sh e was bo r n in Fr an ce
,
d ,

m
And thi s ring was give n to y o u by, her l ad shi p
a

y
1
. .

“ 1

s a id Atho s in a v oi , ce in wh ieh it was easy to

e x tre me e motio n .
c 1 1
 ALL ? C AT S GRAY IN ”
'
T H E D A RK '
.
55
Ye s , b y her s el f : s h e g a v e it to me l as t night
”
Let m e loo k a t it , s aid Atho s 1 1
1
1

Here 1t is , s a id d A rtag nan, dr a wing it fr o

’ ’ ’
m h is finger .

A t h o S e x am ine d it, and bec am e very p ale ; h e then

’ '
1 1
.
.

trie d it on th e ring fi ng e r: o f h is le ft h and iand it fi tt ed .

-
,
.

as if it h ad b e en mad e fo r h im:
1

a .

A s h ad e o f an g er and revenge p a s s e d acro s s i th e

'
1
1 1
- 1
. .
.

gene ra ll y c al m forehe ad o f the gentl eman . .

”
It is imp o s s ib le t h at j t c an be the s ame s aid b e ; i
,

H o w could thi s ring co me into the h and s o f th at

.

‘
. .

lad y ? ” A n d y e t it is very s tr ange th at t wo j e wels .

’
s hould be s o s ingul arl y alike '
1

Do y o u k new th at ring ? as ke d d A rtag nan ’

'

'
‘ 1 1
1
.

”
s I thought I re c ogni s ed it s a id Atho s but I d are
‘‘ “
, ,

s ay I am deceived
’
.

He then returned the ring to d A rtag nan without, ,

ho we ver lc e as mg to fix h is g aze upon it ,

Let m e entre at y ou s aid he , an ins tant after ward s

.

”
1
1
, ,

e ither to tak e t h at ring fro m y o u r fi ng e rp o r t o { tu rn

”
“ 1 ~
.

the Stone ins ide : fit s urrim o ns u p to m e s uch p ain ful

. .

re m e mb r an ces th at ' I s hould no t b e lc ollected enough ,

1 r

for any con ver sat ion a : Did y o u not co m e to as k m y l

1
.

advice did y o u no t s ay th at you were in a di f icult y;

'
as to wh at 1 t 01 d o P iIB t
.

s top , let m e lo ok a t Wh a t
f ‘ '

u
11 .

T h e o e I m entione d h a d One o f lts '

s apphire ag ain ? n .

”
s ur face s s cr atch ed b y a n a ccident 1 1

D Ar tag nan i ag ain dre w o ff the t g and nh ati

1
t .

’ "
d e d 1t ,
f
to A t h os 1 .
“ in 1 1
1
1 1 1 1
.
1 1 “
.

Atho s tre mbled f .

1
1

” '

11
1 Look l$ ald he
1
“
loo k l I s it not v And .
,
.

’
he pointed out to d A rtag nan t he re s c rat c h th at he
. .

re m e m bered s hould b e there 9m m 1 1

1

.
1 1

”
B u t whence c am e thi s s apphire; L A th o s P 1 1
1

It Was my : m other s iwho h ad rec eived it fro m her ,

'

m other A s I told y o u it is an an ci
. ent je wel which , ,

ought never to h ave1 gone out of the famil y l

'
’ ’

A : 1 11

And y o u —s old it ? de manded d Ar ta

.

”
with
’

g n an a ,

s o m e he s it a tion .
56 7 T H E T H REE M U S K ET EERS .
’

No , re plied A th oS , with 1 '

a s m g u lar s m ile } I g ave “

it away ,
during a m o ment of lo ve ,
even a s it was
"

’
given to y o u .

D A rtag nan
’
gre w pen s ive in h is turn 3 He th ough t .

'
th at he could di s cern in her l ad y s hip s li fe ab ys s e s ,
’
,

which were bl ack and terrible 1 n their depth s 1

H e put the ring not on his finger but into h is pocket

1
.

, , .

”
“
Li s ten s aid Atho s t aki ng the y oung m an s h and
, ,
’

You kno w h o w m uch I lo v e y ou d A rt ag n an H ad 1 1

,
’
.

I a s o n I could not love h im m ore d earl y Well ta ke

, .
,

m y advice— renounce thi s wo m an I do not kno w her ; .

1

'

but a kind o f intui tion tell s m e th at s h e is a lo s t 1

.
1

cre ature and th at th ere is s o mething fata l in her

,
”
,

d A rta g nan and wil w ill

’
“
You are right
. s a id . ;
“
, ,

renounce her I will con fe s s t h a t th is wom an frighten s

r
-
.

even me .

And will y o u h ave the re s ol ution ? as ked A tho s . .

”
Y e s and a t once t oo ,
replied d A rtag nan , ,
’
.

You are quite r ight m y s aid

‘

-
,
,

Athos pre s s ing h is h and w ith an affection al m o s t

,
?

p atern al a n d Go d gr ant th at thi s w o m an y wh o h as

“ '

s c arc e l y been a p art o f y our exi s tence m ay le ave no ,

”
pe s tile nti al trace upon it !
'
And Ath o s bo wed h is he ad like a m an wh o would
‘

r
.
,
.

ather be le ft to h is o wn thought s .

On re a ch ing ho m e d A rtag nan found K i tty awa iting

’
,

h im A month of fever w ould not have m ad e a gre ater

.

ch ange in the poor girl th an h ad been produced b y an

hour o f j e alou s y and grie f .

She h ad been s e nt b y h er m is t res s rto the Count de

'
‘ ’ '
1
.

Warde s H er m i s tre s s was m ad w ith love— intoxicated

.

wit h j o y : s h e wa nted to k no w w h e n the count would

'

a ccord her a s econd intervie w .

T h e p ale and t re m b ling K itty wa ited there fo r 1

. .
.

’
d A rt ag n an s ne p ly
’

Atho s h ad con s ider able influence over th e y oung mam

.

Th e coun s el s o f h is friend , c o oper ating w ith the fs e nti

‘
-

me rit s o f d A rtag nan s o wn he art, and with the m e m ory

’ ’
 ' H

A L E C A T S GR A Y T HE
'

57
'
IN D ARK .

o f M ad a m e B o nan c ie u x which was but r ar el y ab s ent ,

fro m h im h ad m ade h im re s olve no w th at h is pride ,

,
e As h is Only
was sav ed to s ee her l ad y s hip no m o r .

a n swer he took a pen and wrote the follo wing letter

, ,

which he s ent as he h ad done the preceding o ne , ,

un s igned :
k
D o n o t re c o n a ny m o re o n m e , m a d a m e N o w t h at I a m
I
.
,

b ec o m ing c o n v a le s c e n t , h av e s o m a ny int e rv ie w s o f t h e s a m e
k in d t o g ra n t , t h a t I
m u s t p u t t h e m int o s om e re g u la r o rd e r
I
.

Wh e n y o u r t u rn c o me s ro" u n d , s h all h ave t h e h o n o u r to info rm

y ou .I i
‘

k
s s y o u r h a nd s .

N ot a wo r d was s a id about the s a pphir e the Gas con

‘
'

wi s hed to keep it fo r th e p re se nt as a wea pon ag ain s t

’
‘
'

her l ad y s hip .

I t would be wrong to j udge o f the a ction s o f o ne ag e '

'

by th e h abits o f another T h e condu ct which would .

no w be r eg arded as a di s gra ce to a m an o f honour;

‘

was at th at ti me quit e s i m ple an d n atur al

’

, ,
.

’
D A rtag nan h anded the Open letter to Kitty wh o ,

read it at fir st without under s tanding it and wh o v ery

ne arl y went m
,

ad when s h e re ad it a s econd ti m e , .

Kitty s c arcel y could believe in s uch h a ppine ss ; and ‘

d A rtag w d
’
oblige o re p e at to her verb all y the
'
'
n a n a s t , ,

as s ur ance which the letter g a ve in writing Wh atever .

m ight be the d anger which o n a ccount o f the p as s iona te ,

'
ch ar acter o f her m i s tre s s the p oo r girl incurred in ,
'
l

delivering s uch a note to her l ady s hip s h e none the ,

le s s ran b ack as fas t as h e r leg s could c arry her to

'
“
i

, ,
th
e Pl ace Ro y ale .

T h e he a rt o f th e kinde s t wo m an is pitile s s to ward s

’
a riv al s p a in s .

Her l ad y s hip opened the letter wit h an e agerne s s

equ al to th at with which the abig ail h ad brought it ;
but at the firs t word s th at s h e re ad s he bec am e a ctu all y ,

livid : then s h e cru s hed th e letter in her h and , and1

i
,

turned w it l lightning her e y es t o Kitty

, 1 n 1
, .

Wh a t 1 5 thi s letter ? s aid s h e

”
 TUII H E LT H R E E M U SK ET EERS !
’

58 .

is the an s wer t o y o u r lad y s hip s , sai t h e itrembling

7?
It d
Ki tt .

1 Im po ss i b le ex cla i med th e flady ; im po ss ible th at

! .
,

a
l g e nt le m an s ho u ld h ave written s uch a lette r to a

f
1 1
, .

n
atly
T hen , sud denly sh e cried ,

M y God ! could h e kno w

11 11 8 11 13
checked hers el f s huddering ; 1 She gr ound her ,
—
tee th her face Was o f an a s h y c olo u r ’
ende avour ed ’ ‘ '

'

t o t ak e a s tep to ward s t h e wihd w fo r a r bu

j ;
‘

i t s h e could
‘

o .
,

on ly s tie tc h o u t he r ar m s : lier s tr en gth fa iled h er, an

’

d
s h e s a nk b a ck into a n e as ch a ir
y
-
.

w Kitty c ink ing s he wa s fainting ru s h ed c fo nward to , ,

‘

op en he r, c or s et But, ra i s ing her s el f gup 1 s udden ly s he ,

excl a i m ed
Wh at do y ou want i wh y do y o u to uch me P;
‘ > .

I thought yo u r la d y s hip was ill and I wi s he d t o

.
,

ass i st y o u , rep lied the poor d am sel {frig hte ned at the
”
.
_ ,

terrible expre s s ion which th e c o unte nance o f her mi s tre ss .

h ad a ss u m e d
un well ! D o y o u take me for a we ak wo man ?
When I am i ns ulted I do not feel un we ll —L av e nge
,

s
,

my s el f ! Doy o u he ar ?
A nd s h e motioned K itty to le av e th e room 1
1
.
1

1"
'
I
m so 1 1
XXXvI
, 1 1

s HA PT ER a,
1

T HE D R E AM OF V E N G AN C E
E 1 1

l
'
J . il
e vening he r l ad y s hip ; g ave o r
.

IN th e d ers th at M , , 1 .

D Art agn an s hould be ad m itted a s u s u al as s o n as he

’

s hould co me
o ,

Bu t h e cam e not . I 1 1
1 1

O m the rn e zgt m orning K itty w ent a g a in t

g O s e e ”

dArtagnan and t old h im all th at had occurr ed on the

_

p rev iou s da
y D A rt ag nan s m iled T hi s j
“
e a
.lou.s a nger ’
.

o f her l a d y s h ip was h is reveng e 1 1 m ”

T h e p at ience o f the i ndign ant l ady h ad incr eas e d b y
1
1 1
 TH E !
DR E A M V EN GEAN CE . 1
59
ni gh t .
1 1 Sh e irenewe d “ her
ders relat i v e t o th e young
or f

G as con ; but ,
as on the preceding e venin g, h er hopes
w ere in v ainu asi
norning K itty vi s i ted d A t ag iian:
' ’
O t h é ne x t r
n ’ '
r Sher

was , ho wever , no lo nger j o y ou s and al ert , as t o n th e

‘ ’

b b co m e with g rie f
‘

p rev i ou s da ys,
‘
u t,
o n the co ntra r y ,
v e r
'
.

D Artagn an inqu ired lof) the p o b r g irl vwliat aa iled ib e r

’

.
i '
bu t the la tter, a s ber s ole repl y, d re w fro her po cket 8 m '
.

ab ]

T his le tte r was in h er l ad ys hip s h and wri ting only ; oh

1
’
. .

’
thi s occ as ion , it was rea lly m e ant for d A rtag nan and not
”

fo r M “
de W a rde s 1 r" 1 f H 3 W ! 1 .
“ - 1
‘

1 .

1 2 . fi

"
.
D' A E z, 1
.
1
“
frie nd s , e s p e c ially w h e n
1
1
'
' '
m y b rh t her ldo k ed for
”
ab oat t o
"

in va in
b o t h y e s t e rd a y a n d d ay b e fo re f lwill it lb e lth e ‘
’

ou
y , .

m t h is c y e n g ? m " I
.

sa e I l' li bs ; '( l
'
1

Y
11
11
111

’
L, b “ T h is d A rta
l
g na n, and I “

expected thi s letter M y c red it rises as f

t hat o f t he Go unt
(16 Wa rde S falls i
K
‘

will yo u go i s as ked itt yi

‘ '
1
1 1
1 .
.

” t
.

“
Lis te n m y de ar { r epli e d th e G asc on
, wh o ,

eug ht: (to e x Cus e : liil 111 hi s own eyes fo r fa iling i n

h
1

is p romis e to fi th o w t Y ou m u s t as ee ttha t it wo uld be ‘

1

imprudent th i re tus e s o imp erativ e an inivit at io n Her

' '

1 . . . 1

ladys hrp o n s e e ing dt hat I kept a way would won d er at

’

, ,
.

the ce s s ax io n o f m y vi s its } and m ight perha ps s us pect . .

som ething 3 And 1: who s c an tell t h e l .

'
imits of rrs u ch a
'

”
wo m an s vengeance ?
’

O;h m“
o n D i eu ! e xc la im ed K it ty ;r“
y oai fk rihw h o w 1

to repres ent thing s in such a way th at y o u are hlw ay s

'
right Bu t y o u will go and p ay y our chart towh ei ag ain
. J

an d 1 f yo u s ho uld fh ap p e n to p lea s e h eh h o w with y 0u r

' '
1
1 1 1 1
,

OWn face and und er y o u rvtru e n a m e; it will b e: far 1 wors e 1

' ‘

” i m fu i iii a
t ha n before ! .
 T H E T H RE E M U S K E T EER S
"
.
60 .

Th e poor girl gues s ed , b y in s tin ct , s o meth ing of wh at

was about to occur i 1 . 1

D A rtag nan co m forted her as well as he was able ,

’
and
ro m i s ed her th at he w ould 1
re m a1n ins e ns i
b l
e t o her
p
1
.
.

’
l ady s hip s s eductions .

H e s ent word b y way o f an s wer th at he was , “

,

grateful as man ch u ld be for her lady s liip s kindn es s, and

,
‘
’

t h at he would not fail to wa it upon her a s s h e c 01n

.
-

mande d ; but he did not v entu re x to write to her le s t to , ,

her experienced e y es he s hould be un able to di s gu is e his , .

.

h and writing s u flic ientl

'

At nine o clock d A rtag nan w

’ ’
a s at the Pl ace : Ro ale
‘

1
y
It was obviou s th at the s erv ants wh o were waiting in .
,

the antech amber h ad alre ad y received their order s for

,

e h e h ad even inqi
,

re cl
,

a s s oon a s h e h d a ppe ared be fo r

a ii ,

if her lad { s h ip wa s to b e s een one o f the m h as ten e d to ,

announce h im . 1

Sho w h im in s aid my lad y m a voice s o pi erc ing

“
,
’

,
'
th at he heard it in the antech amber .

H e was at onc e ad mitted .

”
N ot at ho me to an y bod
“
said her l ad y s hip
“
do
he ar ? N ot to a n y bod y
”y ,

y o u .

D Artagn an ob s erved the lad y w ith gre a t curi os 1ty

’

'
.

She was t ale and her e ye s wer e h eav y e ither fro m

,
1 .

weeping or fro m want of s leep T h e cu s to mary light s 1 n .

"

th e roo m bad been d e s ig nedly d 1m1n1sh ed 1n nu mber ,

' u

a nd y e t the y oung wo man could not conce al the tr ace s

o f the fever which h ad been con s u ming her fo r t wo d ay s

D A rtag nan appro a ched her with his u s u al g all antr y
’
,

and s h e m a de a m ighty m e ffort to re ce iv e h im but nev er = .

did a m ore agitated face contr adi ct a m ore ench antin g

.
'

S m ile
‘
‘1
1 j 1 1

'
T o d Ar tag nan s qu e s t10ns ire s p e c t1 ng h e r h ea lth s h e
’ ’
1 1
,
" i F

B ad, ver y b ad
“

m
.

i
T he 1 , said d A rtag nan,
’
s c ree t 111 co
a m 1 nd i
'
ing s I 1

I
,
,

yo u are unque s tion abl y 1 n want o f a little p ea c e , £ a11 d

.

will i mm edi ately re tire .

62: J I H EJ T H REE
‘

me ; a nd d isp os e du to n g iv e um e a nother
[ ywilii s he u h e ‘ -

s ap p h i eg
re, e u al t o t h at s h e g ave me f rz d e
o ard e S P W '

‘
“
Co m e re s u m ed her l ad y s hip, let m e h ear wh at
“

y o u w ould d o to prov e nthe love th at y o u pro fe ss P -

.

Every thi ng th at y o u c an ask Co m mand 1 and I am .

mad tO ob e y P11
)
J l
'
" ‘
, , n
. . .

”
“
Ey e ry th ing P 1 1

l
1 1 1
1
1

”
e very th ing ! e x c ai me d d A rtag nan, wh o kne w
’

beforeh and th at he d id sn ot ri s k mu ch u by 1 s uc h an
‘ 30

Well let u s t alk a little a bo ut 1 t said sh e,

th enfi
dra
,

wing lh er ch a ir n earer d Art agn an

’
11 m . 1
”
I am all at tent io n mad ame s aid the latt er , , . .

Th e l ad y p au s ed fo r a m o ment though t ful a nd lu n ,

t a

decided t h e n ap p eari ng to for ni h er re s o lu tio ny 1 §h e

, , 1

s a id 1 1 ( ii 1 . 1 9

“
I h ave an ene my 1 Hi
. s
’
1
'

Y o u madam e l cri ed d Artagn an fe ig ning s u rp fi s e

’
-

, 1
,
.

Mo n D”ieu l be auti ful and go od as yo u are; is 1 it

, 1
( 1 1

po s s ible !
”
A mortal ene my l 3
“
Indeed ?
An ene my wh o h as s o cruel y
1

l in sulted me tha t th e re .

is war to the de ath bet ween u s C an I we c k b n upon y o u

. .

”
a s a n all y ?

D A rtag nan in s tantly p erceived a t wh at the v indictive

’

cre ature was a iming ,

.

“
You c an m ad a m e s a id he e m ph atic a ll y s
, My , . :
,

arm and my li fe h el ng t o y ou as well as my lo v e

p , .

Well then said h er lady sh ip s ince yo u are as

”
,
“
, , ,

genero u s as y o u are en amoured '

Sh e h e s ita te d 1 .

Well P d emand e d d A rtag nan

” ’ '

Well res u med h erila dys h ip after a

”
, ,

ce as e fro m thi s d ay to s pe ak o f i mpo s s ibilities ”

, ,

D o not over whel m m e with 1 my h appine ss ! .

excl ai m ed d A rtag nan th ro wing h im se lf o n lh is ik ne es

’
, b ,

and covering wi th ki s s e s the h ands whic h s h e aband One d i '

 T H E I D R E A M J OT VlE N GE A N C E . 63 1

“
Yes 1 t hough t t h e lady , m e oh th at wret ch ,
' "
1 i v e ng e
“

. 1

de Warde s ,
and I s h all eas il y get ri d 1511 y ou after wards
'
'

double fool living s word bl ade ! ”01 5 t 1 1 i -

.
'
1 1 1 ? 1 1

”
Ye s l thou g ht d A rt g nan al so 011 : h rs rs rcle
’
tell
a
1 1 l
, ,

me t hat y ou love me I aft e r 1 h av ing u s o m a u da c iou s ly

. 11

deceived m e and the i

,
.

l d angerou s and wh y p o critical ,

w o m an ! I will l augh at y o u in concert with h imilwh o m

”
‘

o u wi s h to puni s h b y m y h a nd
y .

”
Rai s ing h is h ead d A rtag nan s a1d I am re ad y J l ’ “
“ 1
, .

Y o u under s t and m e then cle ar d A rtag a an P s a1d i

“ ’
1
, ,

h er1 lady sh ip .
2
1 11 1 1
11 in !
“
'

I 1c an re ad y ou re v ery lo o 1 3 1 11 3
'

1 1

T hen y o u w ill fo r m e e m plo y th at arm wh i

1 1 1
.
1

ch h as 1
,

h
, ,

alre ad
y g a in ed s u c gre a t reno wn P ”
1 1 11 1 5 1 1
1
'
1
1

’
“
Y e s in s t antl y l c 1

And h o w s aid he r la d s hi p s h all I ev er rep ay a y

. 1
,
”
1
,
”
s ervice s o im port ant P

Your love 13 1111 13 only re c o m p e nse th at o I d e s ire 2

’
“ rf
-

th e o nly one th at would b e wo rth y either 1111 51111 301 me

1
1

’ '
rep lied d A rt ag n an 1
. 1 1 1 1 1 ll 1 1 1
.
- 1
1 1

In fatu ated cre ature ! s aid s h e s m 1 11ng , . 1 .

‘ f
Ah 1 z e x claim ed ; d wA rtag nan carrie draawa y r foo an ’

in s t an t b y th e : p as s ion w hich thi s W o man h ad 111 111 p ower 1

-

o f exciting in h i s he art ah ! y our love a ppe a rs ft o me ‘

i mp rob able and fe a rful o f s eeing it v anis h dsik e a dre am

'
r
.
, , ,

I 1am d mp atié nt to re oe iv e fro m i Ly ou r o wir li ps t11é

' '
1
1
. .
,
”
s s u ranc e o f its re a lit y

ad y m erit s uch an a v o wal P

'
“
5
, 1 Do
y ou a lre ,
1

I am at y o urfco m mand replied d A rtag n an 1

_
" ’
, .

Are y ou quite deter m ined P s ai d s h e wit h a

,

“ ” ’ ‘
1 .
,
.

ling e ringwd ou h t '

l 1
1 .

N am e the wretch wh o h as drawn te ars fro m y our

”
be auti ful e y e s 1
And wh o : h as told y ou th at 1 th ere h av e be en te ars P
'
-

excl ai m ed s h e . 1

I i m agined so I
“
Wo m en Of my ch ar acter never wee p , 1 1 re p li
ed 1 1 h er 1

l ad y s hip .
1
64 1 T H E T H R EE M U S KE T EE RS
'

l‘
. l
”
So much the be tter Bu t tell me hi s n ame ?
'
‘
. .

R e m e m ber t at his n
”
am e is al l y h
am s ecret
” 1
1 1

“
Y e t I mu s t k no w it l ei r
e
’

fl
. .

1
“
Y e s , y o u mu s tt Se e wh at con fide nce I pla ce 1n y ou ;
Y ou overpower m e with J oy 1 Wh at 1 5 h is n am e ?
”
”

know its 1

”
“
I nde ed l .
1
"

a
Yes
It is not one of my friend s ? s aid 1 .
‘
he , feigning
h es itation, as an e v 1d enc e o f h is
'

n
11

And if it were one o f y our friend s wo u ld

y
=
1
ou
he s it ate ? s aid her l ad y s hip whil s t a s thre aten ing
”
,
. fl ash
was s p arkling in her e y e s .

N ot if it were my brother ! e x claim ed d Artagn an

’ ’

a s though c a rried away b y enthu s i as m 3 1 m m 5: 1 1

. .

. O u r Gas c on fiad v anc e d witho ut d anger fo r h e k new

1
,
v

where he was going (ti

”
1 . 1

I love y our devotedne s s s aid th e l ad y , .

” ' '

Al as do y o u lo ve onl y th at in m e ? s aid d A rtag nan

.
1 ’

”
I will tell y o u th at a noth er ti m e replied s h e itak ing , ,
'

h is h and .

z A lld
’
thi s p ress ure made d Art agn an t re mble as .
’
n
,
1

though th e fev er wh ich her l ad y s h ip endur e d h ad a l s o

:
‘
I

You love me s o m e d ay— y o u ? e xcl ai med h e

'

wil l
"

.
1
'

O h ! if th at s h ould co m e to p as s the bli ss will i

'

.
,

deprive me o f re as on
D A rtag nan was i n fa ct in to x ic a t e d wit h j o y ; and
’
x
, ,

in h is te m porary deliriu m h e al m o s t believed fin the ,

'

tenderne s s of her l ad y s h ip and in the cri m e o f de ,

1 1 1

Warde s I f the l atter h ad been at th at m om ent nea1

.

h im he w ould h ave s l ain h im

, . .

T h e l ad y s eized the opportunity .

He is c alled s h e u t t ere d in her turn ; I : ' 1

1
1

De Warde s—I kno w it

1
,

interrupted d A rtag nan J ’

.
’

”
And h o w do y o u kno w it ? a s ked s h e s eizin g h i
'
s ,
'

t wo h and s and looking into h is eyes as if s trivin g to ,

‘
re ad h is very s oul .
1 . 1 .
1
T h e b ul le t s w h is t le d a ro u n d h im .
P ap a l ”
.
 D R EA M 0F V E N G E A IW
‘

6g
" T

T HE CE .

D A r ag nan felt th at he h a
'
d allo wed hi m s el f to b e
’

t
led into a fault .

“
T ell m e; tell me , tell me, then ,
’,
7
sh e excl ai m ed ,"

ho w do y o u know it ?
.
”

”
H o w do I kno w it ? repe a ted d A rtag nan
“ ’
.

”
“
Y es I
I kno w it, bec au s e y es terd ay, in a drawingLroom
where I was , de Wa rde s di s pl ay ed a ring, which he
“

s a id y o u g a ve h i m ’
.

”
T he w retch l excl ai m ed her l ad y s h ip .

I t will eas ily be unde rs tood th at thi s e p ithet re s oun ed

’
in the very depth s o f d A rtag nan 5 he art
’
.
d
Well ? continued s h e
”
.

Well, I will avenge y o u o n thi s wretch 1 s aid

— :

d A rtag nan, giving hi m s el f the a1 rs o f Don J ap h e t of

’ ’ ‘

Ar meni a .

”
T h ank s ; m y br ave frien d l excl a i m ed the l ad y
'

And when s h all I be a venged ?

“ —
T o m orro w i m m edi atel y — whenever y o u co mm and ! ”

Her l ad y s hip was a bout to excl ai m — i mm edi atel y I ” “

but s h e reflected th at s uch p re cipit ation would be but

little com pli m ent ar y to d A rt ag nan She h ad m oreover ’
.
, ,

a thou s and prec a ution s t o t ake and a thou s and coun s el s

'

to i m pre ss on her de fender th at he s hould avoid all ,

expl an ati on s with the count in the pre s ence o f witne s s e s

‘

“ —
T o m orr ow
”
re sum ed d A rtag nan; o u s h all be ’
y
1

re
,

v en ged or I s h a
'
”
ll no m ore exi s t
,
.

s a id sh e m
'

ill revenge e ; and ill '

w w
’
‘
“ “

y o u , y o u
”
not die 1 3 1 kn o w s o m ething in re fere nc e to th at
.
1
.
f

“
Wh at do you kno w ? ”

Wh y , it see m s to me th at in y our former conte s t

‘
=
,
-

with h im y o u h ad no re as on to
,

F ort u h e is a fickle j ade e ; she .

may betr ay m e to morro w

’
.

“
Does thi s m e an th at y o u n ow h e s itate P ”
,
’

N o I do no t hes itate God forbid ! Bu t

o
,

I h ear my b r th é r; it
l
”
“
Silence ! sh e interrupted 9 “ ’
‘
’

15 inexped ient t h a t lh e should find

y m ih e re i‘

—
.

T M II o . ~
 Go through thi s door, s a id s he to d A rtag nan, as ” ’
,

5h f
(

3 1 9 P3 9¢d a s m all s e cret , d oor , and re tu rr1 1 at 1e l

“
e v en 1

o clock when w
.
, 1 1 ” “
’
e c an end th i s
, W111
conduct y o u to me fi j 7 18 m , N H « 0 1! I U“ ”o ,
,
n .
’
,
1 .
1 1
1

A s the poor girl he ard the s e fe w word s , s h e afe lt a s

if sh e would g i nk i nto the e arth 1 a: 1 11 0 1

W
_ 11 . . 1
, 1

ell! wh at are y o u abou t ma

"
demqis elle, tha 1 1
, ,

s t and there as m otionle ss as a ifi qm e u s ho w .

thi s gentle m an o u t R em e mher at e lev en to nig h tz i

’
- -
, 1

It app ear s th a t all your appo intments are for ele v en

“
.

o clo c k thought d Artq

’ ”
,
a g nan : it is ,a con firm ed habit ” ’
.

T h e l ady g ave h im her hand , which he ki ss ed with

ten derne ss ( 1

thought he as 11 1111 111 1 awaywsc anc ely re

.

1 L Well , ”
“
0
1
pl y ing ,
1 1
1 .

to the repro a ch e s o f K itt y well I m u s t n o t m ake a fool , ,

o f my s el f : unque s tion a bl thi s w o m a n is an ab o m inable

y
w
.
. ,

retch : I m u s t be on my gu ard 1 . 1
1
. 1 1
-

J { B l
f ll d ) 1

1
1 11 1 1 11
-
1 1
11 1 1 1
:
1
1 1
1 1
1
1 1 1 .

M i or
d gone ou t; of thehot el ; instea
1
3 5 2 1
1
1 1
11 "
1

D A R T A GNAN h a
1 1 1 11 1

;d o f31 at
. 1

m
’
-

. 1 1 1
,

once as c ending to lKitty s roo there toq ait for the -

’

, 1

hour o f h is appoint m ent wi th her l ad y s hip { He h ad two , .

reas on s for ad o p ting t his cour s e : the , fi rs t was , , th at

. 1 1
1
.

b y th i s mean s b e a voided the recrimin ation s ” , and 1

entre aties o f the girl ; and 1111 s e co nd ,was th at he 1

1
1
,
'

wi s hed cooll y t o refi e c t o n the s ec ret thou g h t o f 1 th e

'

, . 1
, ,

lad y and if po ss ible to pe netrate it

, , ,
.

Wh at p s ee m e d to him m ost certai nwas : t hat he was , ,

1
,

expo s ing hi m s elf to love h er l ad y shi p like a mad man ;

whil s t s h e on the other h and did no t love h im . the
'

, ,

le as t in th e worl d a nd never would At one ti m e he , . 1

con s ider ed th a t the be s t thing to 1 do would be to return

ho me, and write a { l en g letter to her lady s h 1 p 11n ,wh1 ch 1
,
'

,
68 THE TH REE M U S K E T E ERS
,
.

Ci ;
pa s s ion s ,
in a rule the h e art of an
word , wh ich
ei iam o ure d wom an — i m p el led her to a con fe s sion B ut
'

s he would b e her se
’

l f ruine d if s h e c onfe s s ed her p articip a ,

i
t ioh ins u ch a m ach matio n and a bov e all d Artag nan , ,
’

wo uld be ver lo s t to her T hi s l as t thought o f lo ve

'

s til l ur ge d he r t o th e cro wn ing sa crifice .

D A rta
’
h i ide h d urren der ed i
l im Se lf
‘

g n an 11 p o n s s ,
a s ,

entirel y to th e in s pir a tio n o f v

l

It was not no w a
riv al wh o w as loved in h is it w as hi m s el f ,

a p p are i itly to who m the lo v e was give n

, A s ecret ,
.

V o ice from th e , of h is o wn he art trul y told him ,

th at h e was a pon which W a s c a re s s ed until it ,

ide , and s el f love and foll y

’

h ad i nflicted -

, ,

s v oice and s tifled th i s m ur m ur

'

s ile nced th i a nd be s id e s
, ,

nfidence w hich w
,

o u r G as con with the d egr ee o f c o e

W
,

k no w h im to p os s e ss ; co m p ared h i m s el f w ith de arde s ,

a nd inquired wh y takin g o ne c on s ider ation with a nother

he should not be loved fo r hi m

, ,

s el f alo ne

T h ank s to the influ e n é e o f the se t h oughts h er l ad ys hip

'

c eas ed to be a wo m an o f wicked di s po s ition s wh o h ad ,

for a mo m e n t terrified h im : s h e bec am e a ch arm i ng

being wh o pro m i s ed to exper ience her s el f the l ove th at
,

s h e excited .

N everthele s s the l ad y wh o h ad not t he s am e m o

, ,

a s d A rt ag na n fo r forgetfulne s s qui ckl y dre w h im fro m

’
,

h is conte m l a tion s and rec alled h im to the re ality of

p ,

their interv ie w She inquired wh ether the m e as ure s

'

which were to bring ab out a meeting With de Warde s ,

on the next d ay were all definitel y deter m i ned on , ,

beforeh and in h is o wn m ind ,

.

B u t d Art ag n an wh o s e ide as h ad t aken quite a no ther

’

cour s e forgot h i m s el f like a fool and g all antl y an s wered

, , , ,

that it was no t in her pre s ence when he was occupie d ,

with nothin g but the h ap pine ss o f s eeing and o f he ar i n g ’

h er th at he could th ink of duel s w ith the s word .

T h i s coldne s s 011 th e onl y s ubj ect wh ich inte r

,
e s te d
her al ar m ed her l ad y s hip and her que s tion s bec ame
, ,

m ore p re s s ing
 ; 1
r 1
T H E : L AD Y S S
’
E C RET 1 i
"
69

T hen d Art agn an wh o h ad never ; s eriou s ly thought o f

’
,

thi s i mpos s ible duel en deavoured to t urn the con v er s at ion , ,

but fo und hi ms el f un able l 1 c .

1 ’
o
.

H er l ad y s hip kept the c on ference with in ; the ; li mits

th at s h e had her s elf tr aced be foreh and with h e r irres is t , ‘
a
.

ible s pi rit and her iro n will ,

7
t i w 1 ”1: .
'
.
1
u

D Art agn an then thought hi mse l f fi ery : cle ver in

’

endeavouri ng t o p ers u ad e c h e r to re nounce by fo rg iving

'

i
,

d e Wardes the furiou s proj ects s he h ad for med : t J

,
'
“

v-
. B ut at th e fir s t word s th at he uttered her co unt en ance
,
.
,
'

as s u m ed a m o s t repuls ive expre s s ion .

Are y b u afraid de ar M d A rtag nan ? v c ried s h e in

H ’
'
“
i ,
.
,

a s h arp and m o c k ing w o ice th at s ounded s tr angel y in th e ,

y oun g m a n s e a r s 1
’
.

You cannot thi nk s o my adored replied d A rtag nan ; ’ '

’
, ,

but wh a t if thi s poor Count de Wardes was le s s culp able

'
’

th an y o u ima gine ?
'

”
“
In any c as e s a id her l ad y s h ip s eriou s l y “
he h as
, ,

de cei v ed me and fro m t h at m o m ent h as des erved , , ,

”
death
T hen h e s h all d ie S in
.

“
ce you conde mn h im, s a id ,

so firm th at it : a ppea red to her

‘
l ad y s hip the expre s s ion o f an unconquerable devot ion .

She s m iled upon h im once m ore .

”
9 ;Y es I am pre p a red , co nt i nued d A rtag n an with an
“ ’
- h
, ,

involunt ar y excitem ent ; but fir s t there is o ne thing of “

, ,
”
which I would fain b e s ure .

Wh at ? i inquired the lady

“ ’
_ .

”
T h a t y ou love m e 1
“
Your pre s ence here is a proo f o f tha t I think ”
,

replied s h e feigning s o me em barr as s m ent

o
,

I
.

Y A d m bod d oul Di p e of
'

e s ! n a y o u rs y an s s s .
,
. .
'

my arm 1
T h ank s , y br a ve de f ender ,
and , eve n a sm prov e I
m y love b y ad m itting y o u here , y o u will, 1n y our turn,
prove y our s — w ill y o u not ?
Certainl y Bu t, if y o u 'love m e , as y o u s ay , r e s u m ed
d Art agn an , do yo u not fe ar any thing on my account ?
’ '
 T H E LT E KE E c M US K ETE ERS
'

go .
.

"
to “
Wh at; can I fe ar ”3
. I
a
'

(1 d ? ! 7 01 1 .
‘

ls rlT
I z m ig h o be flang e rou sly wo u nded
'
illed ev emfi 1 1 e iJ J .
-
r k
l a
l

I m po s s ible , s aid the l ad y p mu lare rsd v a iiants a

l‘f
'

“
. f

maniland J s o eJ tp ert a s wordsm andi

'
'

t al l .

4 2 T h e n yb w1v
. vo uld l not
‘
.

m ethod which would equ all y W elt re v eng e ' f

' '

o fet i end er
y ; y r
u

the co mb at mm e cessanyr? M p o d ? R an i) irs u g s n h ( l .

1 1 m
’

l a d i l ok d : at ah e v i il fz e he r
“
'
3 1 1 1 1
3 1
y o e y o u n g d z a n t n s s en ce
cle ar e y es h ad m ex press iom s ing uiarlyrnialev o lent u W b
5

m
.

s z
‘f
fR e a a
”
lly , said s h e; i‘ s v eri ly b elieve
”
'

a a a ra flo w . .
m '

falterin g ag a in . 5 7 121 14 9 1 1 3 01 1 r he r w ere

1
1

N o , flih a veino ; he s itation gllbu t thi si p oo rud e Wa rde s

‘

1 ?“
‘
1 a
aur a k ens) my ic o
'
p a s s io m ow
s ri m f

h im and it a ppe ar s to m e th at

; l 1 111 03 1 1 or ai m11 1 13
“
And wh o h as told you th at e v e r lov edlh isni Pfii ask e d
“

I '
'

he n q i m f
u j r ' 1 1 1l b i e 21 11
v a n u I " ‘
l
‘

m
1

be f A t le as e d may be lie uwlwith o dt ah y ng re an fa

‘
i liar
‘
f

”
y o u love another , replied the y oung m an
g alla h t ly;
am gint eré s te d iin th e c onntfl nl l
' '
‘
i

11
Yo u P
d ema nded th e lady x m And rwhy
'

”
fl
. 1 .
"

B ecau s e I aj o ne k no W m m ’ id av b b l
‘
M z 1 o n u r rq a t ? q
Wh at ? ”
U IO I I I f
f i ) tr
i
1 l iu l ma 3 11 8
.
i
'
'
'
'
.

f ar les s c u lpab le ; to ward s lyo u th an

i

1 r T h at
1“ r ’

. .

63 3 1 3 113 L ie u !
J u l I n j sr m li i
j a
'
v -

'
the lad yp with an une as y d ock : } f
'

“
Re all y ? s aid
"
'

_
n n

“
Expl a in y our s el f ; for, u p eh f iiny word , fI J canh ot dilfi d er
f

”
s t and wh a t y o u m e a n t 5111 1 no ; s e rl F
‘

m
'
s e o ok e d a t t
h l i
l
x
. r ta g n a awitlr eye s iwh ich fwere
i -

r adu all y lighted up b y a sniore b a le ftgl f ame; m L Iis iq rr

l
' '

g ,

am a
”

‘
h onou rfi fl said l d A rt ag nan,
r

' ’ ’
so .
.

deter m ined n o w to fini s h wh at he h d b e g u ng fi nch m

’
a l t

s ince j y b u h ve c o n e s s ef d ’ h l v e for m e , s lncé I am

'
a s
y ou r o c

qu it e s u ret of p cms e s s ing it for l «L— ” h

'

poss es s it, ( 16 1 not ? U

'

'
r 1

i
Entirel y ! B u t ‘
i
30 1 1 w ii 3 1 c 1 11 “
k
’

u . 11 fin d m s e l
;
'
y f ;
q u i t é t ra n s f o rjn e c hn a n d a ,

nfess io n forces fitse lflfrom m e J o n no t o b 5

'
"
c ci
'

.
 1
71
mm? d i l mi
'
'
h r f A c onfessid n PI i ed
’
ln mm
'
‘ '
E 7

If I
doubted y our love I would no t rv en ture » o m 1t 1 ,

but y ou do lev e mw d e iy o u no t R Z lw e I k m" 1 1 1 0

‘
’ ’ ‘
1 1 1
"
-

“ Und o u b ted l l ix 1 ha s m ir o i 0 111 3 1 1 11 ae ru s me n an

’ '
y t .

“T he n i f th r u h ex c e s o f l ve to u 1 I h a d c om
, o g s o yo . :
'
tted a fault ; y o u w ou ld fo rg ii e m e i ’ f’u t
i J e rro d us e f
1

to “B et ha p s so a: Bu t th 1s confe s s i on s aid s h e, b eco ming

'
’
. 1 ,
3

p ale wh at is t his a t ! ’ 21 is 1
“

1 1 t Yo u h ad an inte rvie w w
‘
. > ath d e ' Warde s las t T h u rsday ,
1
,

1 11 thi s ver ch a m ber h ad y o u n ot P b ! 1 1 ; m : e 1 13 1 d '

y ,

1 1 3 1 11 10 1 it is not true é 1 s aid th e ladwin a tone s o

’ f
'
1 »
1 . .

fim r ‘
a nd W ith,
1 a co u n te n an ce s o T im p as s iy e t h at h ad 1
'

, ,

d A rtag nan not po s s es s ed s uch perfe ct J c e rtamt y he } mu s t

’
,

( m fiD o lie my j beau te o us iange l; s aid

wn
bt , ,
.
r

ende a vouring 1 0 5 111 1151 i s qui te u s e l

e s
sg ”h ll s m 1
'

What d d y o u mean P S p eak no w for y o u tk ill me 1!

. 1
‘
.
,
'

,
‘ '

'

O h be at e ase y o u a re no t : cu lp ah le nto ward é in e ; .

”
1 1 0 1 1al.
and llh av e alread y rfo rg iv e n y o u
11
11 11 1 1 1 1 3
—
.

“
, W ”
h at n ex tr wha tm e x t P 1r 11 ' 1 1
,
5 .
'
1

'

H ow ? A ! 1111 51 111111
1 th at t h is ring 1
m e ly o u rs e lf ‘
-fl u?
’
1 “

T h e d e Wa1> de s f l of
.

"
rrfififilh at e ri l dh av é
’

ng p I w fl
‘
nry s e 1
' '
1
.

{I h u rs d ajz yxand 11113 1 d A aag nh n 11 11 1 1 01 11111 é rt h e 8 5m

'
‘ ’
.
1

pers on ’
.d ine d » ft ii d m e A» e

i » T h e imp ru dent y ou ng m an e x p e ct e wa s u r ri s e , miii

p ed
f f
,

—
with r bash fi rlnes s 4 a lit tle s torm fl wh ioh iwou ld Tdiss o lvh
-1 1 i f ' 1
‘
.

i11 1 11ea 1 btu t h e stra n g ely adec e iv ed him s el f; and h is

)

error was quickl pp rent c i « 1 4 1 11 1 51 5 - 1

y a a 1 1
} . . 1 1

Pale and 1 terrible , h er la dys hi p taise d h erse lf u gfand

p
s

was n
r nea '
w h 6 11, h yp e
violent b lo w o u rt he c h e s t , s ought to h as te n fro m!
f

D Azrta g nain res trained h er b y h er re be g rins orde r t o

’ f
‘

im p lo re rh ei Zp ardonu l Bt wit1h altp bwerful aarid z resolut e

‘
' ‘
‘

v
,

e ffort s h e ende avoured to e s c ape

,
In thi s e fi o rtgt h en .
’

rob e g av e im vay m a a th e eo rse t t and r

r fi l hen e n e o f her
" ‘
,

b ea ut iful s hou lders th e ing unc o v eredg d A rta g nah ic with

i ’

inexpre s s ible horror , p erceived upon it the fi e u r de lrs — +a » =

 T H E T H REE
'

M U S K E T EE RS
‘

72 .

th at i ndelible mark i m pre s s ed b y th e degr ading hand

o f the executioner
‘
.

”
Gre at God 1 excl ai med he letting fall the robe and , ,

he re mained m ute , motionles s and rooted to h is pl ace , .

B u t the l ady «felt her s elf denounced e v en b d A rtag

’

y ,

n an s ho rror Doubtle s s he h ad s een every th in g

’
. .

m k
'

oung a n n o w n e w her s ecret - th a t terribl e s e cret o f

y ,

which the whole world was i g n or ant except him ! ,

1

S he turned no longer like a m ere furiou s wo man ,

,

but like a wounded p anther .

1 1 1

”
“
Ah wr etch ! ,
s aid s h e
“
y o u h a ve be trya ed m e ,

like a co ward and m oreover, y o u h ave le arne d my , , .

1

”
s ecret ! You mu s t die !
And s h e ran to an inl aid c ab inet on her toilet table fi
.

o p ene d i t with a feveri s h tre m bling h and dre w fro ni

1 .
, ,
.

it a s mall d agger with a golden hilt and ,s h arp and

s le nd er ib lad e and return ed wi th o ne b o u nd to th e s ide

'

' '

of d A rtag nan her ve s ture in piece s

’ ’

.
,

Although the y oung man s was as we k now br ave -

,
. 1
, ,

he was frightened at th at c onvul s ed cou nt e nance at ‘

,
‘

tho s e horribl y dil ated p u p ils at fth o s e p ale ch eek s} and .

,
‘

bleeding lips : h e arose and -

fro m the '
~

,
'

appro ach o f a s erpent th at h ad w rawle d to ward s h im

-
“

and ,
in stinctivel y putting h is p ers piri ng h and to h is '
.

s word , he dre w it fro m the s he a th .

B u t, without being at all di s may e d at the s ight o f

th e s word her l ad y ship s till adv anced to ward s him to
i, and o nly s topped when s h e felt th e s h arp
,

s trike h irr
’

point upon her bo s o m .

T hen s h e a tte m pted to s eize the s i

vs o rd in her h and s ;

bu t d A rtag nan al way s withheld it fro m her gr as p by

’
,
.

pointing it without touching her s om eti me s at her e y es

, , ,

and s om et i m es a t h er bre as t ; wh il s t he s till retre ated ,

en de avouring to find the doo r which opened into K itt y s

' ’
.

ro om 1

D uring all thi s ti me her alady sh rp was ru s hing at h im ,

in horrible tr an s port s o f r age and howling in a fea rful

‘

m anner: ! J
‘
 S EC RET
'

TH E
’
LAD Y S
'

N everthele ss as th is was ending in a s trong res e mbl ance

,

to a duel d A rtag nan gr adu all y recovered h is coolne ss

,
’
.

Well done ! beautiful l ady well done 1 said he ;

“ ”
,

but for God s sake be c al m or I will draw e s e con d

' '

’ ’
“ ‘

, , ,
”
fi e ur de lis on the oth er s houlder
- -
.

Wretch wretch l voci fer ated her l ady s hip

“ ”
.

Bu t d A rtag nan s till s eeking the doo r m aint ain ed

’
.
,

hi m se lf on th e defen s ive .

At the nois e th at the y m ade by overturning the

furniture—s h e to get at h im and he to g et behind it
o u t o f the way—K itt y Opened the door
, ,
’
D A rtag nan .
, '

wh o h ad never ceas ed man oeuvrin g to get ne ar thi s

'

door was onl y three p aces fro m it Wi th one bound

,
.
,

therefore he s prang out o f the lad s ch amber into th at

as quick as l i
,

o f her m aid and ghtning clo s ed the

'

, , ,

door agam and lean ed a arns t it with h is whole weight

i
, ,

whils t Kitt y faste n ed the olts 1

Her lad y s hip then ende avour ed with a force far ,

be y ond the s trength o f an ordin ar y wo m an to bre ak ,

'

do wn the barrier s which c onfin ed her in her o wn roo m ;

but finding th i s i m po ss ible sh e s tabbed th e door with
'

, ,

her d agg er s o met imes p enetra t ing the entire t hickne s s

,

o f th e pa nels E ach blo w was accom panied b y s o me

.

horrible i m precati on n w 9! .
1

Q d
’
“
uick quick ! K itt,y sa id A rt ag n an in a whi s p er , ,

when the bo lts were fas tened M ake h aS t e to let m e .

“

o u t nof the hotel or s h e w ill h ave m e kill ed by t h e la cke y s '

, .

Le t u s be quick do yo u h ear ? for it is a matter of '

,
”
li fe and de ath .

'

K itty too well unde rstood h irnJ S he dr ew h im do wn

' '

r '

the s tai rs in the darknes s And it was ti me Her

'

'
. .

l ad ys h ip had alr ead y rung and a rou s ed th e who le of

'
‘
-
,
.

her es tabli s hment T h e porter dre w the cord at K itt y s

’
' ' ’
.

c all at the ver y ins ta nt th at h is mi stress s cre am ed fro m

,
-

the window Do not open .

T h e y oung man fled whil s t s h e s till menaced h im ,

with an i mpotent ge s ture At the s ame m oment th at .

s h e lo s t s ight of h im sh e fell s ens eles s 1n her ch amber , .

751 T H E I II H R EE aM USIfi ErEE R s
‘

1
1 1 1 111 11 1 16 1
‘
1 11 1 “
1
1
. a 9 11 ( ee l 1 1
1

;
‘
11 l
1
l '
My ! 111 11 11 1 11 1 l ‘
1 :
1
I
A BA
. 1

1H Q W1 4 WI T HO UT 1 D I ST UR B I N G I H I M S E LF , ‘ T H OS O T I N ED

H I S EQ UI PM E N T ( 1 k . : 4
j
'

da 1 i1 15l 1 51i 3 iw
" '
1
1 1 1 1 1
1
1
1 1
1
1

D A RT A A
. .

e
.

co mple tel y; d
’
GN N 1 was
3 50 p o n fo u n d 1 111 211 , ,

without con s idering w h at would b ec ome of Kitty, 1 1513 a

1
1

through ha lf of iParis and did not s t op t ill he found

'

1
,

h ims elf lat Ath os s door Th e c onfusion ofi h is mind 11 . 1

t he terror wh ich 5 p urred h im o n the s h o utS wof fls o me ro b 1 .

,

th e watch t 0 h a d p ur s u ed him, o nl y made h im t h e?

_ ,
1

m ore , ex p editiou s l in h is progres s , He t rav ers e d w h en , .

“

co ur t, mo unt ed the; t wo flights of s tairs ; a11 d lend ek ed r .

1

as i f he woul d b reak do wn the do o rs .

Gri mau d ope ne d wit h h is e yes s wollen by sleep

'
1

t h e a rvt eclmmmr with s uc h

.

’
and d Artagn an ru s hed into '
vi o le nce as a l mos t to ov erth ro w him -as h e p as se d 1 , .

gfl his ti m e at any r ate in s pi te ; o £ h is 1 h abitu a1:

‘
'
1 v 1 1 1
, , .

t aciturnity Gri ma u d fio und ; 1h is tong ues he

‘
?
. 1
, .

cr ied “
what d o y ou w a nt, then :
d elo ak gi ven; [ h im11
,

rid h irnself uofi a ri

'

to es ca e 1 A: t h '
e s ig ht f o f d A ntag nan s
‘ ’ ’

p 1 1

n aked s word the poor fellow s aw t hat ih e s h ad ito d eal !

’

with a man—
,

fi mflnsome as sas s n p erhap s l iu p

' '
ts
.
,
”
murder ! ex clai med h e
'

ed 1 1 1 11 . 1. .
1 . 1 11 1

s i
l
Be g en p yq
t u lu nlu c k y cl og 1 117 said w h o «
y o t m g v
n m a n 1
p .
'

ami fA t g
a n ain q 1q gyo u - 1t ot p k npi111 im e ? Wh ere ] ,
‘

1 1
"

”
is y our ma s ter ?
’

1 11 1; s ti l 1

11
M ¢A rt a g n a n
J em la m
i e d r t h e : p a nic s tr i ck e n f -

'

11 3 13 s r l m i 3 111
'
11 1 11
‘ 111 11 1 11
1

ad G i
‘
r m a u d l
”
s a id A t h o s a sé h e qu y i
re ti l e m e r g e d i f ro ir t l o

his .c11 amber in h i8 1dres sing g o wn11! G rimau d , rlt be liev e i

’

. r
,

t hat y o u are p ermittmg uy ours e lf to s peak

’
1 9 1 3 11 1 so lir 9
Ah ! s ir, it is bec au s e v1 1 z b u iw all)
'

at ]
1 -
r
”
1
q
f
“i S ilefl g eils 111 l ik e 1 1 a
a
‘
l w b a it " 1 1 1 1 1 11 1
2 1
1 e d i .

th ej l u c o nt ented h ims elf with mp o mt ing 111111

. .

d A rtag inaa ith ih is fi ng e ms a ll at $ 1 12 , m r 10 M ai V o l orlz

'
’ i " »
 f HREE fi MUs KET EE Rs
’

Tfi E
‘

76 .

mo ms ? i a A th os i
'

sa
" 1 »
’

With blu e e y e s of an unco m mon b rightne ss

‘

"
clear
"
“
, ,

and with bl ack e y el as he s and eyebro ws ?

” 9 1 “
‘

Y es
1
“ 1 11

T all, and well made ? H as sh e "

l o lo s t
a s a tooth ,

ne ar the e
ye tor
h
ot ,
on the left s id e P
11
I
Y es
a
.

T h e fle u r d e lis is s mall , of a r e d colour , an

-
d as if
s o me wh at e fi ace d b y lay er s o f p as te a pplied to it ?
'

”
“
Yes
And ye t y o u gay that th is woman is Engli s h
! ’
P
S h e is c alled my ‘
s h e m a y y e t be a

F re nch w o mari Lord de Wi nter1s onl y h e r br ot her inwla

'
. w -
.

I
m u s t see her , d A rtag nan !
’

T a ke care , Atho s , ta ke c are Y u wis h ed to kill

'
o
W
.

her s h e 13 a o m an wh o would willingl y p ay y ou b ack ,

.

and 1 5 not likel y to fa i l

‘
.

She d ar e not s ay a word— it would be d e no u ncmg

”
h er s elf .

'

“
She is equ al to an y thin ! Did y o u e v er se e h er g ,
t ‘

“
N o,Atho s ”
g s aid .
1 iz ~
1 l 1 1 11 ml
A tigre s s ! a p anther ! i~Ah l my dear Atho s I fe ar
' '
“
,

th at I h ave dr awn do ivn u p on u s both a te rribl e

“
‘

venge ance .
1

D Artagn an then recou nted e v er h 1ng

’ ‘ ’
th e l ady s
maddened r age and her men a ces o f eath
Y o u are quite righ t ; and upon m
.
,
“
y soul I wo u ld ,
“

,
‘

” '
s ell m y li fe fo r a h a ir s aid Atho s H ap pi ly, h o wever
to morro w and sh all
.
, ,

we le ave P a ri s the da after

' ‘

-
,

prob abl y g o to L a R oc h e le Onc e o ff t

She will pur s ue y o u to the end o f the wo rld\ A th o s , ,

s hould s h e recogni s e y o u
'

Let her then y ent her .

, ,
”
h atred o n m e alone .

Ah my friend wh at doe s it s i gni fy th at s h e s h ould

“
’

, ,
”
kill m e ? s aid Atho s Do y o u fo r an ins ta nt s u p p o s e .
f

”
th at I am at all anxiou s to live ?
 AT H O S AN D H I S E Q U I P M EN T .
77
T here o m e horrible my s ter y under
15 s th i Atho s all s, 1
.

I am cert ain th at thi s wo m an is o ne o f the c ar din al s 1

’

s p ies
th at c as e t ake c are o f y our s e l
.

“
In f
,
I f 1the c ardi nal .
1
11

doe s not gre atl y ad mire y o u fo r th at Lo ndo n affair he v

,

h ate s y o u thoroughl y but as he h as all being con s idered , ,

nothing to bring for ward openl y a g a in s t y o u and y e t ,

mu s t gr atify h is revenge t ake c are o f yo urs elf I f y o u , .

go out do not go alone : if y o u e at u s e ever y prec aution

, ,
”
di s tru s t ever y thing even y our ow n s h ado w ,
.

H appil y s aid d A rtag na n we onl y n eed to m an age

,
’
,
“

till t o m orro w evening without accident ; for when once .

,
‘

with the ar my , I hope th at we s h all onl y h ave m e n to .

1 11 th e me antime , s aid
1
Atho s I renounc e my pl an ,
“

of s eclu s ion , and s h all go

,
every wh ere with yo u ? Yo u
mu s t ret urn t0 .
3 1 the Rue d es Fo s s o y eur s and I wil l ,
”
a cco m p an y y o u .

Be it de ar Atho s but fi rs t let me r e tu rn to

s o, my 1
,

y o u thi s ring w h ich I rec eived fro m th at wo man

, T hi
1 s .

s apph ire is y our s 1 D i d y o u not t ell m e th at it Was a

. .
'

”
fam il y j e wel P 1

Y e s m y father g av e t wo thou s and cro wns for it ; as

“

he for merl y told me ; it was a p art of the m arri age

pres ent th at he made m y mother It is magni ficent .
1
.

M y m other ga ve it to me and; ins tea d o f g u arding it

as a s a c red relic—mad man th at I was - I “
gave it to
that wretch
Well take b ack y our rmg for I under s tand th at y o u
.

“ '
.
,
”
t prize it .
-1

I t ake it after it has p as s ed through th at wr etch s

,
’

h and s ? N ever ! the ring is pol lute d , d A rtag nan ’

.

“
T hen s ell it, or pledge it : y ou can b orrow a thou sand
cro wn s o n it With th at s um y ou w ill be well off ; and
1 .

th e n with the firs t mone y y ou obt ain y o u can r ed eem

, ,

it c le an s ed of its anci ent s t ain s s inc e it will h av e p a s s e d

, ,

thro ugh the h and s of i 1

1

Atho s smil ed .
 1
7s . .

ch ar m ng fi c o nip a rrio n efl
i my d e
tag na m d 1h e g aiet ywev iv es
' Sbu lé
i’
1s aa ,
~
y . etern
rn al
ou r the '

of the af flicted . Well then let , , us pledge thi s rin

g
iof
m ine h Ut c o n d mon z ” i
’
On fi n e
‘
“
i
a t 1 an )
. M i
,

T hat y o m will h ave fi v e hundred : c rowns ( and I s h al l

'

ha ve five h u ndre di ; 1
’
l 11 £ 1 1 1 1 ' f
. . 11 1
, u .
1
.

B ut thin k 1 a m o m ent , 1 At1h o s l f I s h all not Wah t l éa

‘
‘
r 1 e

qu arte r of th at s u m l, w h o am onl y in t h e g uards , and;

.
.
1 1
1

b y s elling m y s a dd le s I ca n : e as ily p roe ure r t ! 4 Wh av d e

‘ '
» a

'
I re al ly 1wafnt P11 A hor s e fo nf Planc he t ih ncith ing ! ore
1
.
'

m .

B e s ides , y ou forget th at 1 I h a ve a ri ng “if .

le as t I think th at I h ave so ob s erved .

Ye s ; fo r, iti m ht re liev e ms, not lo nly

i t in ae x t rem itie s
“ 3
g f
1

fro m gre at emb arra s sm ent b u t e w en fr om g reat

1 ”
'
—
I t is no t o nly a s im p le 1 diam 0n d1 it is al so ame ne h ah ft ed
44
‘
!
'

”
t ali s m an . 0 11 1 1 1 110”
1
1 1

do no t unders tand y o u rry et/ I b elie ve what ly o dlsay

.
.

Bu t; to return t o m y ring , o r r a the r o ur s: you s hall tak e h alf

th e s um it may produce , 1 01: Iuwi lllthro w it linto t h e S eine ;
and I m uch doubt whether , a s in the c as e o f P o ly crates;
' '

a fish wq u ld be s o oblig in g as 1t o -res to re it ito u s 1

” "
.

Well, t he m , l ag re e to it,
’
3 s a id d i
1
A rt a g n a nu H I m l ‘

At I h $ m m m m h m; accomp a nied
il
1 o e nt G r i a ud c a e
y
m
, ,

l
P anc het , w h o W as u ne a s y a b o wt 1 h 15 1 a s te r1
’
a n d a nx i o g 1 ‘

to k now h at h d1 h ap p d 1 1 5
'

w to 1
'

a 1 e ne 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 .
1
.
»1

Atho s dre s s ed hi m s el f ; and , when he was ready ft o g d

Q uti madmthe g es t ure o fii a m a n t ak i
a n g airrr t O Grimaud a J .

T h e l atter i mm edi a tel y took do wn h is carbi ne; J and

a
' ‘r
D Artag nan and A bh é s , iat t en d e d nb y t he ir s er ntsg!
’
a
v
1 1

d d F f 1 1 M 1 Bo
r ag h l h
t R u e es os s oe e u rs n s a e ty 1 h a n
1 1
e e y
1 1 1
u

g
’ '

cieux w as { at h is do or , a n d : look e d a s d
ha /A rta nan with a
b ap terin g air 11 1 m or 1 fi lm 11 d ) e
1 { .

H ollow my wd e a u : lo dge r, a
”
.

h
T ere is a prett y y oung g irlrwa it ing £6111 7you ; an
'
d l tlre 1 1

wo m en , y o u kno w, do no t like to be kept W liimg o d1 1

’
ai 3 1
.
.
 A T H o s rA N n rH I S
'
EQ UI PM EN T .
1
79
1

1 ”
Ht 15 111 11131 1 excl ai med d A rtag man to h i ms elf; 515 11 11 ’ ’ ‘

i?
1

( H 1 1

it us h é d toward s t h e s tair s ) 1
1 e v i l 1 0 1 1 1/1 11 111 b lu e 1
.
’ 1
1

In fact , on the l anding pl ace be fore h is a -

'

c f o t rch in g ga a ir iSt Fh is 1111 01 1 h e

1
.

girl : A s s oon as s h e é a h im;

1 1 ,
1

w 1

m
.

p
"

i m s
'

h You m i d ur t o t n é -é
o u l r o i e d to ’

s e r e o t
p r o e o
1
p ro y u
y
save me fro m1 h er 1 ang er : 1 Ire me mber 1it is -yo u Wh o have
*
- 1 1
1

.
'
“
1 ruined 111 s ?
1 1 1 “ ( iii 35 1
‘

1 “
Y e s , cert ainl y , s aid d A rtag nan ;
’
L 11 5 ‘ na
J k e ~ ou rse lf
y
W H a ta flé r I
’

eas y abou t ¢l1 ag fi§itty B h d

"
t r> a ts ap p
- -
1 1 1 1 u i e
1
1

was gone P o '

llA bars imm . .

w c an ls carc elyltellfii repli ed LK itt y:

'

111 11 o utcrie s
'

171
1 .
.

m e Was fi fu rio ds
1
that s h e m ad e , t h e la ey s n to
: 1 k r a 1 h r { a Sh e J f
'

1 with 1 p a ss io n ig rWh at ev er c anI b e u tte r

1 ?
e d a m th e d ay J of
f ’

“
'

'
‘

'
w ‘

{ imp recationws h é wv o m ite d fo rth f ag ains t B y o u fi I

'
' '
-

‘
thought s h e would re m e mber th at it was th ro u gh ffirrfy
'

roo m o tzh at I y o u iih afd is é rfi e redi an d t

'
otuld fiak é m e
'
w
fo r y our a cco m plice s o I collected tlfe tlittle m oney th at
‘
’

I wha ld , an d my o in e stv p re c ious 11 1111 1 1 11 110 h i th e r r

for s afet y
”
8 x 1”! l
,

t ariff Bo d rf ohi ld l?) B ub wh alt 1111 1 11 1311 d with lyou P II am "

’
1
1

g o in gqo fi f
t h e d a y m a n e o 1
« i : 1 21 in -
mm “
11
- 1
1 1

“
An y thin g y ou like , s ir S end m e aw a fro m P aris}: .

y
'
'

1 1 1 Bust 11 c annb netak e iyo u th é 3 1s ié g e é ofill

t
1

3 .

a
g o h el
le fles aid diA rtag nanL i l l 100 ] 3 11 111 1 1 mz hi L “
‘
’
‘
a r
1

o 1
e 1

'
“
in t h e
'
iifié e o f T s o rh e
’
11 1 7
1 s e
r
llad yivo f y our admaintance w inj ry oiui11 dwrf i p lov in ce91
.
‘
'
1 1

1i n tanc ec 1 7ei c o b
f’
s 11 3 1 fi 1 ri
1 aq 13 3
f
s 1‘
1 1 1 1

m
“
Ah ! my child in my o wn province th e l adies 511 11 171: ,
1 1 1

no waning maid alBui wa itm l IX k r bvi

.
i
ll d o
wi
“

f wh a U I
"
'
t
’ ‘
- 1
. .

'
A rhhii dand I as k m ‘ ar
hinl tt o fcome
'

Planc h e g
'

h e er
‘

s to s
‘
rr
g o
‘ 1

We
' f

ha ve ma tterS 1 iof
' )
d irec ttyu z ?
‘
,

di s cu ss with h im ” i :i
1
.
1
.

I wh y nOt; P or th os ?
‘

” ‘
i
It ap p e afs 10 1111 11; aha ah is lm arc h iones se u
'

-
,

Portho s s m archione s s s Soner

“ ’
,
‘

maid would h ave her clothe s puti rsb hnd s

lh eri h il
“
’
,
 80 7 .T H E 1 {F H RE R M U S K E T EE RS
’ " ‘

” ’
cl erk s s aid d A rtag nan l aughing
,
«
Be s ide s K itty ,
.
,

would rather not live in the Rue au x O ur s I Would .

'

”
o u K itt y ?
y ,
“
1 will live where y o u ple as e
1 1 s a id K itty
“
provided , ,

I am conce aled and th at no body kno ws where I am ”

, .

( 1
B u t Kitt y no w th at we are going to be s ep ar ated
“
, ,
1
,

and th at y o u are there fore no longer j e alou s o f me

”
S ir interrupted K itty
“
,
far or n e ar , I s h all never ,
“

’
ce as e to love y o u .

Wh er e the pl ague doe s cons tancy rep air to ne s tle !

“

m uttered Atho s .
1

j A nd I al s o s aid d A rtag nan

’ ’

s h all al wa s
‘
.
, y ,

lo v e o u , y ou m ay be s ure B u t now an s wer me

'

T h is
’

y
1
.
.
, , .

'

f a m
que s tion is one o gre t i por nce ta — did y o u never he ar
'

a ny thing s aid about a y oung wo man wh o was abduct ed

Wait a '
minute .
1 .
Oh ! M on D ie u ! s ir l Do 1
y o u
'

s til
l
glove th at
1
1 .
,

one of my friends wh o loves her Y es — is .

> -
.
’ 1

”
it is Atho s there .

I l ”ex cl ai med FA th os ; in a t one pretty much like th at

' "

'

o f th e m an wh o s ee s h i m s e lf ab o u t to tread u p on an . . . .

Y es ,
’
to be s ure y o u ! s aid d A rtag nan, p ress ing ,

A t ho s s h and
‘ ’
You kno w the interes t th at we all take
. ,

in th at poor little M ad am e Bo nancieux Bes id es K i tty .

,

will no t tell— wi ll y o u K itty} You under s t and my »

,
. 1 .

,
”
ai med d A rtag nan
l a t s h e is the wi fe o f
d
’
c h il e c h “
x ,
t ,

th at u gl y ap e who m y o u s aw upon the doors tep as y ou ,

cam e in
m
’

d m
.

w t O h “
y G o ! ex
, cl a
i ed K it ty y o u re m ind m e ,

ho w frightened I was les t h e s ho uld h ave recogni s ed m e . .

H o w z ecog mwd / T hen y o u h ave s een th i5 1 man

'
“
, _

”
be fore ?
i

”
b m ice to my l ad y s
’
fl Y e c a e t w
‘

,
es , . . .

A s m ight be expected A b o u t wh at ti m e
*
.

About a fortnight a o
g
n .

”
5 1 ,
Ju s t
“
a bout the t im e u .
 AT H O S A ND HIS E Q U I PM EN T 8:
‘

”
fi A nd y es terd ay evening he cam e ag ainu
‘
, ,
”
Ye s terd ay even ing ?
“

Yes a minute befor e y ou c ame y our s elf .

M y de ar Athos we are envelop ed in a TWC I) of s pie s !

,
“
,
”
And do y o u believe th at h e recogni s ed y o u Kitt y ? ,

I drew do wn my h ood when I s aw h im— but perh ap s , .

”
it was too l ate 1 1 1
-
.

—
.

G1
o do
“
wn Atho s h e s u s pect s y o u le s s th an me
,
”
and s ee whether he 15 s till at t h e door . .
1
c 1

Athos went do wn and returne d i mmedi at el y ,

”
He 15 gone s aid he and the hou s e 1 5 clo s ed ,
’
,
.
1

He 15 gone to make h is re p ort an d to say th at all ,

the p igeon s are at thi s mo ment in the do vecot .

1

Well then let us be o

“
,
f
f s id Atho s
a “
,le aving onl y , ,
‘

”
Pl anche t h e re to b ring u s dnte llig enc e .

Wait one ins tant ! And wh at about Ar ami s who m

“
,

we h ave s ent fo r ? 1 1 1

T ru e , sa id A tho s let u s wait fo r Ar ami s

”
, , . .

A 11 in s tant aft e rwards x Ar am i s entered

1 .
T he y ex , . .

.
pl ained the affair to h im and told h im h ow urge nt it was ,

fo r him te fi nd among s t s o me o f h is hi gh c onnection s a

‘

., , ,

s itu atio n for K itt y

ll y be a s erv i ce to y ou d Artagn an ?
.

And will thi s re a , ,

’

”
I will be g rateful for it for ever
“

a
. 1

l J W e11 th e n , M ad ame de B oi s T rac y h s re q ues ted

‘ ‘
1 . ,

me to find a tru s t worth y waiting m aid fo r one of h er -

friend s who live s m the province s and if y o u my d ear

, , ,
‘

d Artagnan can an s wer fo r the y oung wo ma n

’

I s h all be entire
,
”
O h ! s ir
, e x clai med K itty “
, ly ,

devo ted be as s ur ed to the lad y wh o wil l give me the

, , ,
”
m eans of lea ving P ari s .

Then said Ar am i s
“
noth ing can be b e tter
, , . . 1
1
.
1

He s at hi ms el f do wn at the t able and wrote a s hort ,

note , whic h he s e aled with a ring and gave to K itty . , .

And no w my child s a id d A rtag nan y o u kno w

“
, ,
’
,
“

th at thi s pl ac e is n o s afer fo r u s th an fo r y o u S o let 1

'
.
1

u s s epar at e ; We s h all meet ag ain in happi er d ay s

,

A nd at wh atever ti m e o r pl a ce we m ay m eet a g a in
“
,
82 gym s I T HR E E I MUS K ET EE RS .
"
1

si id K itt if ‘ o ufl w l find t m
ilfi loving i yo u sti ll more
'

sa yl y ef
'

r,

th an no w J im rS
‘

”
‘
A g ames ters i v ow i
‘
0
’ '

'
f 1
s ai
d t1 ‘
Ath os iwh ilst l d A rtagh an
,
’

was iac co nip anying fKitt yfi d own t h at s tairsr ras h 1 1

'

T b ‘
'
‘

A lé W minu tes; afterwards; the three fri end s s e parate d ,

'
’
’

1 ' ‘

after maki n
'
1
g an I ap p oih tment fo r fbur 1 o e lock fl at lA th o s s
’ ’
1 r -

ch am ber s , and le aving Pl anchet to m ind the h ous e fl w J ‘

bu s ied t h
A s our
h und red pis toles wo n th e fri ng
)
“

d e cl ared ; th at; if Whe y! ( th os e t o

'
’ '

a s plendi d d rop ‘feu“

ear ri ng s, h e wo uldfi gfivfe - ~

“
,

fi ve a 0“
1

mwit h
.

Atho s a nd d A rfa
g na
’
f -
‘

the activity of
' f
M as oldielé ’
,

&t c onnbisse u rsfiscaaoel

é '
t thre e
.

and th e sc ie rr
ce 1
' 1 '
’

ri t
y p
s

hour s in p urc h as in th e equi p ment 09 1 11 11 m usk eteer 1 1

1
.

B e s ide s , A th os f h a the! ch ara cte rBa nd tmanhegs 1 61 a

" ’
‘
’

nob lema h ev en t o h is lfi ng érs e nds ramrsed yz an y thing

' '
" ’ " -
1- -
, 1 .

at'mnceg With ofit lrafg g lin t o

'
i ‘
s uit e d
’
'
-
g
redu ce the :
p r t
i
“

ani M
1
A rt ag nan W i “

sh ed
.
s t
‘

on i
n ak e g so me
' t f

obj ection s to thi s ; but Atho s l aid 111s H an d! 'o u t h is

’

sh o tfld eni s iniling gi ( and ivd mrt esg haiigund rséoodmhat it

‘ e '

was ver y well f or a little iGa on g e ntlemarfi likl 1 1 11 to ‘ f ‘

e 1 1
”
-

ba rg ain? b u t) 1111111 11611 6 rh ad s of

“

11 1

a firih c ej fl fi
a
'

1 . . l $ 31 1 m us t» ( d l '
n wraz m 1s 03
rs
“

b 11 A nd alusian ! 11 0111
s up er 1 1 1 1
nas afls h d fi nes and e leg amjlé g é, m
'

bl ack 1 1. 5111 1 11111 1fi -

11 1

rising He ex amined in ated iou i

F
fl X‘
id it fault l es s
' “
!
.

i f
He got e or t o a h usandt frazn
‘
esi ? ’

h d
a it fo r le s s but while d A rta i an W
gn f s bag id
i
s t ill
s sir
fig
r th e
’ ‘
‘

price wi th t he ? deal er, ’ Aches edh nted d bvm t lie ihtindie d

’
‘ ' ’

b ad) is h iiaem rl Le e «
H
'

pis t les o n t h e tab le fi ifi nr g

1 Ln}
m
.

t B ut wh n tt he s ad dle o f tlfis l atter h o rseh nd Gr

J ‘
f‘ e ai d s
’
l i
'

i
“ “

arms , were b ou g ht,

1
redfafmin bf
f fi ft i b D A rta nan th ete ore
g
’

y p
i
s t d lesfiu
84
, THE T H REE

delic atel y folded length wi s e with a p re t ty s e al o f green ,

o .

wax on w h ich was depicted a d o v e b e aring a gree nbough

'

, .

T h e other was a l arge s qu are envelope glittering with the

‘

terrible ar ms o f h is e minence th e c ardinal4d u k e , .

. 1

At s ight o f the little letter d A rtag nan s he art bounded ,

’ ’
,

for he believed th at he recogni s ed the ! writi ng and ,

though he h ad onl y s een th at writing once the me mory

'

o f it was engr aven in h i

’
s he art s core S o he t ook the
“

note and un s e aled it h as tily

,
.

Wa lk ou t s a id ]
“
ab o u t s ix or se ve n ’
o c oc lk on
We d ne s d ay e ve ning ne x t
C h a illo t ro a d , a n d lo o
, on the k
c a re fu lly in to t h e c a rria g e s a s t h e y p a s s B u t a s y o u v a lu e
'

k
.

o r o w n life , o r t h a t o f s o m e w h o lo v e y o u , d o n o t s p e a , d o
y u

k
n o t m a e o n e m o t io n w h ic h m a y s h o w t h a t y o u h a v e re c o g n is e d
h e r w h o e x p o s e s h e rs e lf t o e ve ry ill, o nly to s ee y o u for a n
“
ins tant .

T here was no s ign ature .

” ’
“
It is a s n are , s aid Ath o s “
do not go, d A rtag nan » .

“
A nd y et s a id
’
d A rtag n an, “
I think th at kno w I
the writing well .

“
B u t it m ay be feigne d, s aid Atho s “
At S I X or .

’
s e ven o clock , at th i s s e as on , y o u would be as s olit a ry on
the Ch aillot road as if y o u went to walk in the Fore st
of B o nd y .

’
Bu t wh at qif we s hould all go ? s aid d A rt a g nan
“
.

“
Surel y they could not e at u s all four, be s ide s the four
s erv ant s , the hor s e s , and o u r ar ms the act would .

”
certa inl y bring o n a fit of in dige s tion ,
.

“
B e s ides , it will be a fine Opportunity to di s pl ay our
q ”
e uip ments , s aid Portho s 11 .
'

B ut, if it is a wo m an wh o write s , s aid Aram i s , and “

this wo man doe s not wi s h to be s e en, con s id er th at you

co m pro m i s e her , d A rtag nan, wh ich 15 not beco ming in a
’
:

gentleman .
’
: i J 1 1

We will re m ain beh ind, s aid Portho s and h e z ca n ,

’
'

”
adv anc e alone
1 1
.

Y es but a pi s tol s hot is e as il y fired fro m a c ar

“
,
ri age
-

”
goin g at f ull s peed .
 '
C H A RMI N G V
HI S I ON l
'

i) A
. 85
”
Bah 1 said d A rtagman, it w o uld miss me iA nd we
’ ‘ ”
. il '

w ould th e n overt ake the c arri a ge ; and exter m in ate who .

ever m ight be m it It would be «s till s o man y e ne mie s . .

.

”
the fe wer .

'
"
H e is right , sa id Portho s ; let u s g ive b a ttle ! ’
.
'

B e s ide s , we need s m u s t try our: ar m s

Fa ith let u s give ours elves thi s tre at said Ar am i s; ,
’’

in h is s o ft and ca re le s s way . 1
v

”
1 “ Ju s t a s
y o u ple as e said At h o s ,
.

“
Gentle m en said d A rta g nan it is no w h alf p as t ’ “ ‘ ‘

-
, ,

four and we h ave but j us t tim e to get to t h e C h aillo t

‘

. n
,
”
ro ad by s ix 11
.

Bes 1d e s if we go out to o l ate no o ne will se e u s , ,

said Portho s ; a nd th a t would be a s ad p ity Let us

“
.

t re ad y gentle m en
g e ,

Bu t th is se co nd letter said Ath os , y ou forget th at

‘
,
.
.

?
A nd y et I fanc y the s e al indicat e s th at i t is worth,

opening A s ; fo r m e I con fe s s my de ar d A rtag nan

,
'
’
1

th at I think mu ch m ore o f it th an o f th at little g e w g aw

, , ,
.

”
which y o u s o rg ent ly be s to wed j u s t no w o ver y our he ar t , , .

1 D A rt a g nan gre w
’
1

s aid the y oung

i let u s n o w se e wh a t h is
em inence wants w ith m e .

’
D A rtag nan opened the letter a nd re ad ,

M d A rtag n a n, o f th e K ing s g u a rd s ,
’ ’
'
of M
'
“
d e s E s s a rt s
k
. .

c o mp a ny , is e x p e c t e d a t t h e c a rd in a l s p a la c e , g h t o c lo c
’
at e i
th is e v e nirig .

LA B O UD I N I E R E
f th e
‘ ’

C a p t ain o
g u ar ds .

v J

T h e devi l ! said A ho s , here is an appointment, t .

“

not a whit le s s di s quieting , in other re s pects th an

”
th e iirs t 1 r 1 1 W P
mh i
.
.

“
I will go to the s econd , on returni ng fro t e f r s t , ”

’
s a id r d A rt ag n an O n e 18 at s eve n , the other at eight
1 “ '
.

”
T h ere will be ti m e enough f o r both l
I
.

”'
“
H um ! would not go , s a1d “ ‘
A g all ant
gentle m an c annot decline an appo int en t mad e b y a?
m ‘ ‘
 RE E l MMS K E DE ER S
'

86 THE SI B
’
’ /
.

e tleman fim ay“ )
lad y ; abut s a: p m de nt ; g excu se ( hfi h Sl n
' '
'
a

{re m wait ing o n his e m inence , particularl y wh e n h e h as. .

som e reas on to t b e liev e : th at h e is no t s ent rfo r toili st e n t o

’

”
co m pli m ents .

m of m l h
’ ’
1 {fl a Ar a i s s Opini o n s a rt 1 Port o s 1 9 1 all
m
,
”
Gentle en , replied d A rtsag na n; ’
h ave alrea d y I
r eceiv ed 2 s milar .inv itatie m fro m h is e minenc e; th r6 u g h
3 i '
’

M de C av o is
. I
neglected it ; and t he 'ne itt d ayca gr ea t
.

m i s fortune h appened t o me A-e C ons ta nce o d is p p ared

' ’

a
f

e .

Wh ateve r may be th e res ult, I l ll gb ” r: arrue ifl ro i )

'
.

I ff o u are dete rmm e d rs a1d A th os w

.
fi y
t , ; u s e.

B u t the B as tile , s aid Ar a mi s

” L
w r i l .

iyBah lu y o w g will ag e t m e w o ut
' ‘ r

’
d A rtag nanw ' i “ illb '

1 9
‘
E l i 1 i "
" H l l '
.
f

“
Certa inl y , replied Ar am i s and u Pos th osg witlse t th e
’
.
,

gre atest 1 e oolne ss h and £ a S I if it z had lb e enwt he iis irnp les t f

th ing in } t he wo rld oe11tainly , we Wi lli pull yo u tou t

- “
v
,

ag ai B e m u t b o ff th e d f f o mm row,
’

n n u t a s na
v s e n a y ra t er t -

w
.
,
' ”*
u ld do b ette r n ot to ru n t he risk of
'
i g i l e ri
'

o u o e t t n zn 1
y 1 i g
L et 1 us o, be tterJ i s aid A th os j { le t g us no t lEav e
“ ’ ‘ c i
j . .

him thro ng out the e v e ning “ ) due t ea c h a

'

t of u s, Iaé c otn i

i d b hre m k t r w i g e : 5 h e ll
’

p a n e t e u s e e e s a t a t a at 0 t lp abe
a
'

y
;
. . . .

I f we s ee any clo s ed carriag é fl th at fi b ok s e s us pi cio us ?

co m ing out r we - «

s ince we h a ve h ad a cro w to pluck with the ca rdin a l s

’

M m
‘
u d n d d T re i lle fi t h i k d r l y !) 4
g a r s ; a e v u S n u s ea
m
.

“ De cide d l
y A t h o s
"" f
sa i d L
m a‘
a f
‘

W
, ,

out fo r the general o f an army”

‘

ht a ,do
y ou s
“

the pl an g ent le m m ? ,
v

S plendid l cried the y oung m en in choru s , .

”
j f glrh ave g o t z no ih o rsei sa id d A rtag nani i butu I can
‘ “ l ’ ' '
a
. ,

g e an
a d tak e o ne o fi M d é T re v i
l le l
s J il . J n . . “

”
T h at 1 5 unnece s s ar y
“
re m arked Aram i s ; y ou fx rarli ,
‘f

'
”
h ave 01516 Of rmlne iii M liri l; n 1 9 sari ) 0) 09 iN I i
‘
- n
"
9. u
’

H ow many h av e y o u , th e nPB i nquired d A rtagz i

. .

’
iariJ iaa
.

”
T hree replied Aram is s m ili n g 11 1 1 1 : m lliw s re dT
‘ '

, .
,

My de ar ello w i s y
’
f t a id Athos “
yd t i are ce rt ain l , the .
,
1.

best p aid ; po et 1 i n F rancel ; n nmv h ns

’’
J ii l 1 g i 1 .
 ‘

87
‘

m H
'

d i 2
a
’
£
1 1 O
“
, n i n N
,
a v a rr e , a
1 c i1 e r d A r
1 ta g n n o l .5 3 1
.
3 1 1 1

”
1
f‘
B t u li s t en, l m 1
y 1 d e a r n A n a m i s , s a id A th o s ; I “
y o u w i ll 1
‘

not k no w Wh at t o d o wi th thre e : hors e s ; w il l y en 9 MI d o

. .

not under s t and, indeed , wh y y o u h ave b o ught three 1 ’

q . .

”
“
N or did I , in fact, b u y m ore th an n lt wo, 1 ré p lied ? .

A ram1s 1 m 1 j 1
i 1 1
, 5
,
9 , 1 l 1
— Pad3 1 .
1 -
‘
1

“
D id the third co m e flio m x th e clo u d s nth e n 9f 1 g em ru b W1 1

1
{,E N o 5 t h e .t hi nd w1

a s b r o u g h t t 0 1 m .
e . t hi s i m o 1 r n in g .
, b y .

a s erv an t wi th out vliv ery, 1 wh o wo u ld lm o t : t ellf me from

' '

who mh e came , 1 and wh o m erely s a id , th a t 1 h e had been

1 1 '
.

ordered b y h is mas ter 1 121 1 1 . 1 1

1

01: h is mis t re s s, int e rp o s e d d A rtag nan

” ’
s . 1

”
“
T hat m ke s n di eren ,
a o f f c e a id Ara mis, c lou ring
‘
o
s
1
1 111111 whom erely s aid, th a t he 1 h ad be e n or ere d b y h is . a '
d
ma st e lj u m hi s miS OI C S S fl tO p u nlt his z h o rse t 1 n my 1 s tab le ,
u '

’ ’ '
1

wi thout telling me from who m 11 m 1 ”

1
1 M i n m .
1
.
‘

“ t
‘
I t . 1 s 10 n 1y to p o e t s t h a t s uch thing s h a pp ie ln
’
e g ra w e ly
re mae ed l k M A t h s a u 1: t ‘
o u 0 e 1 o .
s “

W «
.

‘
L e l l, t h en ,
1 11 th a t
1
{b a s e w e t a m ; d o ab et t e , n fi e s a id l '

lo f the two h ors e s will 1 yo u r1 d e d

’
t

m i
'

A r a i ? th a t w hic h b ght et t h a t w h i h i
v t as
i
s , y o o u , s : c x

g iv en 1d mm ; 1 1 l 1 3 w 1ls ng s h A b .
1

“Th a t whic h was g iy en z t o1 rrie, w1th ou t rd on ht 1 ' fiYo u

u nders tand , d Artagn an , th at c o u ld mot e oraffro nfi —
’
I a e ef h x

{ Th e my ste rio us db nor, ifad ded d A rtag nan

’ ’ '
‘

Q
“ r t h e
fi m y s te r i o tI s d on a t rix fi s a id rA th os 1 9 11 1 } 9 11 1 l .
1
1 .

vT hfin dt ha t w hich uy u nb ou g h t 1b eco m e s of 111 11 111111 1

o“
1

”
to y o n ? ”9 3 5 0 We ! 1 l
5 U 9 "
° ” fl
l
"
. u
-
. 1

C
1 1 1 1 1 24 5; b ; ad mi n j 1 1

° (1
2 1311 1 1 13 11 11 . 1 1 .
1

with n theu g reates t it care h 1 T he s afety of 111 6 1

‘
1

h
.

o s m , a yo
s e
h OI Se ”
an u kn o w, de p
1 e nd s a lm o sto a

Fl 1 !
l y s on “
hi s
3 3 11
.

w
a
(P { 5 14} bs l
'
“

iv.
.
S
1 4 1 J 1
1

W
.

h
u t eh, (l
T e me h av e h im at the
'

eu t f

e fi e h yo u o th ia o xtrifle, m y : d ear r

d A rtag nan, g iv in g y o u (y o u n o wn time tome a y tat

’

p
1

S
.

m
A nti o m mu ch did be c o s t you i
’
iino l : r H 3 1
_
11
'

.
1
1

Eight hundred fr anc s xam 3 1 51 . .1

88 T HE f T H R EE M US K ET EE RS .

H r
e e are fo rty d ear fri end s aid ”

I k nbw
,

d A rtag nan takin g tha t sum fr o m h is po ck e t ”

’
.
,

th at i t is th e sam e pi e ce in w h ic h y o u are paid for yo u r

'
'

poe ms .
1 h 1 1

“
You are ln cas h then ? ”
a 71 t
,
1

R ich— r ollin g in we alth 1 said d A rtag nan, rattlin g

” ’

th e r e st o f h is pisto l es 1n h is p o ck e t .

S e nd y ou r saddl e t h e n to t h e h o te l of the mu sk ete ers

, , ,

and y our ho rs e s h all b e br o u gh t h e re with o urs

'
f '
3 .

w ell B u t i t is alm o st fi v e o cl o ck ’
.

mak e h ast e
.

”
.

In ab o u t a quart e r of an h o ur aft e rwards P orth o s

‘
‘

app eare d a t th e end o f th e R u e Pero u on a ma gn i fi c e nt ,

S panish h o rse M o usqu e to n was fo llo win g h im, on a

.
“ ’

small but s tr o n g ho rs e fro m A u v e r gn e Port h o s was

radian t wit h j oy and prid e .

At the sam e t im e A ramis was s een , at the ot he r 1 e nd '

of th e str e e t m o unt e d o n a sup e rb E n g lis h st e e d

, Baz in .
'

foll o we d , on a r o an h o rse l e adin g a v i g o ro us M ec k len

‘
'

b u rg ian h o rse w h ic h no w b e l o n ged to d A rtag nan

’
.

, .

T h e two musk e te e rs met at th e d o or Ath o s and '

d A rta g nan we re l oo kin g at t h e m fr o m t h e w ind ow l

’
.
' ‘

“
B y my faith ! said ”
A ramis, y o u h a v e a grand
“ ”

h o r se t h e r e, my fri e nd
”

r ep li e d Po rt ho
.

Ye s
”
,
s “
it is th e o ne t ha t was to ,

h a ve b ee n s ent at fi rst A foolis h j o k e of th e h usband s .

’

substituted t h e o th e r : b u t th e h usband h as b ee n w e ll -

punis h e d sinc e and I h a v e o btain e d re parati o n

, .

Grimaud app e ar e d in h is turn l e adin g h is m aste r s ’

‘

D A rta g nan and A th os cam e d o wn g ot in to

’
h o rs e .
,

th e ir SaddleS b y the sid e o f t he ir co mpan i o ns ; and t hey

'
’

all fo ur pro c e ed e d to wards t he : qua yi L A th os o n th e

'

-
,

h o rse for w h ic h h e was ind ebted to h is wife , A ramis ,

o n t h e h o rs e for w h ic h h e was ind e bt e d to h i s mistress ;

‘

Po rth o s o n th e th ors e fo r w h ic h he was ind ebt ed t o t h e

,
.
7

att o rn ey s wife ; and d A rtag nan; on th e h o rs e fo r wh ic h

’ ’

h e was ind e bt e d o nly to h is o wn g oo d fortun e w h ic h is -

,

th e b e st o f all mistr e ss e s .
 '

3 I
A C H ARM I N G
‘

v rs rr .
89

'
Th e 'v alets fo ll o we d th e m .

A x
s Po rt h o s h ad e p ected , th e ca alcad e pr o duc e d a v
fine e ffe ct ; and , if M
ad am e C o qu enard ad b e e n in h
’
h
Po rt o s s pat h , and c o uld h a e s e e n h o w we ll h e l o ok ed
"
v ‘

h
upo n is fine Spanis s tee d , s h e h
g
re r e tt e d th e bl ee din o perati o n th a g ‘

’
h
up o n h er usband s stro n b o x g -
.

N ear th e Lo u r e , th e four fri e nds me t v de Tr e ill e , M . v

re turnin g
fr o m t Ge rmain s ’
S
H e s to p p ed th e m, t o
.
"

h
c o mplim e nt t em o n t e ir equipm e nt , w ich dre w ’
h h
ar o und th e m ; m an instant , a fe w undre d l o afe rs h .

D A rtag nan took ad anta e of th is ci rcumstan ce to

’
v g '

s p e ak ito r M . v
d e Tr e ill e ab o ut th e r e at l e tte r , W it h th e g '

g r e at red s eal and ducal arms I t will b e ima in e d t h at, . g

h
o f th e o t e r l e tt e r , h e did no t b re at e a syllabl e h .

M '
v
de T re i lle app r o e d o f th e re so luti on t ey ad v r
h h
o
.

f rm e d , and ass ure d h im, t at if h e s o uld not be s é en h h '

g x
a a in on th e n e t day, h e w o uld mana e to nd im o u t, g fi h
whe rev er h e mi t h e gh .
1

h
A t t at m o m e nt , th e cl o ck o f th e a maritan str uck S
si x .z T h e fo ur
h
fri e nds e cus ed th e ms e l e s, on ac co u nt x v
gg
_ .

of an e n a e m e n t, and s e t off .

A h g
s o rt all o p too k th e m to th e C aill o t ro ad T h e h .

g
day was b e innin t o d e clin e C arria es w e re passing . g g
backwards and fo rward
’
D A rtag nan, su pp ort ed b y h is .

friends at a litt l e distance , l oo k e d e a e rly in to e v e ry g

g
carria e; b u t saw no fac e h e kn e w .
’

- A t le n t gh
, afte r ab o u t a quart e r of a n
.
’
o ur s e p e cta h x
tion p a nd as th e twili h t t h icken e d ar ound, a carria e , g g
v
ad ancin g at th e utm o s t spe e d o f th e h o rs es ; was s een
.
“

u p o n th e e re s r o ad Sv pr es e ntim ent a nn o unc e d to

. A
h h
d A rta g nan t at t is carria e c on tain e d th e ihdiv id u al
’
g
wh o h ad mad e th e app o intment with h im T h e y o u ng .

m an was h im sel f ast o nis h ed at th e i ol ent be atin o f v g

h is h eart . A
lm o st at th e same 1ns ta nt, a w oman s e ad ’ ‘
' '
-
h
v
was isibl e at th e wind o w, with t wo n e rs o n th e lips , '
.
fi g
as if to e njo in sil e nc e, br to s end ! a kiss U A rtag nan ’

utt er e d a faint cry o f J o y T is woman , o r rath e r Lth is . h

9
.0 M USKET E ERS .

appariti o n , for th e carriag e passe d aw ay wit h the rap idity f

M
.

p f a yi si on was ad a m e B p na n c ie ux t 1 m 11 1
‘
11 1

, , ,

n i l n t m m t n d t i sp it f h
'

a n o u ar g o e en g a n t
n; ye
v
g y b
v e o e . r.

i h h d e his lh orse t o a
'

ea gu t n e a s t

i
.

g l op ah i (
h

a l c in a fe w 1b o un d s w a s { bes id e t h e c a r ri a=
g ;e r a

m
,
.

but the w indows was ermetica ly closedm réthd rv is ion was

l
.
r

no o g n er th r
e e .
x u
'
gw ; a bns d aud r ! 1 10 11 1 :
.
’
‘
1 3

h m m b d h w i
’
DA gp
“
n ta a a t an re e e re t e a r n h g e h If l y o u
o wn l1fe, 1 and t hat o f; t h o se who love y o
u
"

,
.

r e mam motionl ess, as if y ou had s een noth in g

- 11
5
; 1 1 1 1

tr emblin g not ( fo r: h imselfnh u t

.

He .

for the poorJ ,wo man wh o h ad, e v ide ntlyy e x p o sed r h e ri

, s e lf

1 1 01Itrifling pe r il by the a p p o intmé nt Sh e h ad c

T hefg arriag e pr oceede d o n its way fiah dss tilla d v ancin g

rap idly s oon e nte r e d Bar is; and jd ijs ap p earedi 19 1u 5 1 " to
'

,
.

B ona nc eux i
f im s h e w em and
r e rr re tn rn
; in gis t o
g v
y t h is fu iti e m e eting fi why nt h is 1 pa ss in g
qb g fg g lan ee s p W h y io t his r k is s m n oo m rn itt e d A t o

, P
If, o n h th e oth enrha ndu it fh ve rm not I reaHy
v
was in fact e ry p oss ible , fort e ins u ffi c re nCy
.

. h
o ffli
g h t n a l e
p t ger ron ea sw g m i h b M a t i s h t eb
e h e inn in h g g
of an ttacl g p nep ared by the iiattrao tion ro f a; wom an fo l
'
'
‘ r

m
a

Wbb l 11s, ,loy e lwas k no wn r d lm a 0 1 o ne b mwios d e

m
,

W Th e t h je p o p an ioh s g a th e r d a r o u n d
e
t e 11

h ad all dist inctly s ee n ra rwo mani s t he a d v a tt

I k t tB W iigMdd me
‘ ’

'

pretia { deep rh e 7
'

oneu at th e b ach o f the c arriag e rg e ra e d)

'
.
1
11 m
m
“

§u b fi1fl w f is t he caSe fi
’
z s saidI
d
é ’
dtrtag ha
e m i th ey rar

u ndo tedlyg co nv ey ing h em fro m o ne p ris o hh to anot h er

‘
t
But ywhat wan th ey want rto d p t th ft h é po or drea l '
t ure f
i
.

and, h o w [ h ll I w r j i 1? t i
‘

s a e er e o n; 1.1 1 1 1 t r o a i 1: 11 1

( E
‘‘
l pMe f d Q nd , S atd g fi t h b é ig ra v e bm i ‘
re m em b m 1 11
1 3 1 t he
9; T H E 1 T H R E E 1 M U S K ET E E RS .

H I S co nd u c t fl towards her lad y s h ip h ad s o m e s light re:

.

s e m bl ance to a tre a cher y , an d h e s u spected t h a t there

v
-
“ .

w ere p o litical rel ation s .betw een th i s w o,

m an , and the
c ar dina l M oreov er, de ward es , who m he ; h ad h an dled
.
’
.

s o roughl y , was a fa ith ful follo wer o f h is e m in e nce ; and

d A rt ag nan well kn ew, th at, w hile the cardin al as a w

’

terro r‘ to h is ene m ie s , he was als o con s t a nt in h is , att a ch .

m ent to h is friend s 1 7

a
.

I f de Warde s h as re lat ed ll our inte rw e w to his

,

“
1

e m inence , o f whic h there can be . no doubt , and if he h as

”
p
recogni s ed m e , which is ro b able , I may cons ider my se lf .

al m os t a conde mned m an, thought d A rtag nan, s h ak ing

’

h is hea d Bu t why s hould he h ave waited ti ll t o d ay ? -

m
.

It is clear enoug h her l ady s hip h as m ade co pl aint s

a g ain s t m e , with all th at hy pocritical s orro w which .

renders her s o interes ting ; and th i s l as t cri m e h as made ,

”
the v as e run over F ortun ately added he
. .
, ,

friend s are belo w and they w ill not let m e be c arried off
, .

without a c onflic t And y e t M de T reville 5 co m p any o f .

’

m u sketeer s alone cannot c arr y on a war ag a in s t the

, , _

c ardin al wh o di s po s e s o f the force s o f all Fr ance and

, ,

be fore wh om the queen h a s no po wer and the kin g no ,

will , D A rtag nan m y friend thou art bra ve t hou art

’
.
, , , ,

prudent thou h as t excellent qu alities b u t— wo m en will

, h

des tro y th ee l
x H e h ad co m e
to thi s sad conclu s ion ju s t as h e e n tered ,

the ante c h arnbe r H e g ave h is letter to the o fficer on

.

dut y wh o s ho wed h im in to the waiting roo m, and h i mse l f

,
-

proceeded into the interior of th e p ala ce .

In thi s r oo m there were five or s ix o f h is excellency s ’

1

gu ards wh o recogni s ing d Art ag nan and kno wing th at

, ,
’
,

o h ad wounded Ju s s a c look e
it was he
w h d ; a t h im with ,

a s in gul ar s m ile I .

T hi s s m ile s ee m ed to dA rtag nan a b ad

’

as our G as con was not e as il y inti m id ated or rather , , ,

th ank s to the abund ant pride n atural to me n of h is

prov ince did no t e as ily betr ay wh at was p as s ing in h is
m ind when wh at wa s pas s ing th ere re s e mbl e d fe ar s—h e
,

,
 . .
A T E R R I B LE -
i
V I S IO N .
3
'

93
s too d boldl y be fore the gentle me n o f the gu ard s and ,

wa i ted w ,
ith h is h an d upon h is hip in an attitude not ,

ungrace ful .

T h e o fficer returned and m ade a s ign to d A rtag nan

’
,
.

to follo w h im
It s e emed to the y oung man t hat as he le ft the roo m
.

, , ,

the gu ard s beg an to whi s per to e ach other .

H e went along a corridor pas s ed through a l a rge ,

s aloon entered a libr ary and found h i ms el f before a

, ,

m an wh o was s eated at a de s k w
,
riting ,
.

Th e o ffi cer ihtro d u c ed h im and retired wit hout uttering ,

t
a w ord

D A rtag nan re m a ined s tanding and ex amined thi s

’
,

man .

’
fir st d A rtag nan tho u
At ,
’
ght that he was in th e
pre s ence o f a judge wh o was ex amining h is p apers ; but
'

he s oon s aw th at the m an at the de s k was writing o r ,

r ather correcting line s o f an unequ al length and was

, ,

s ca nning t h e W ord s upon h is fingers : d A rtag nan foun d ’

that he was in th e pre s ence o f a poet At the expiration 1 .

o f a m in ut e the poet c lo s ed hi
,
s m anu s cript on th e b ack ,

o f wh ich was written T r aged y in fi ve a cts

, , .

H e r a i s ed h is he ad ; and d A rtag nan recogni s ed th e .

’

c ardi nal . 1

C HAP TE R XL .

B
A TE R RI L E v rs foN .

'i ’
R ié fi E L I Ei
i elbo w 011 h is manu s cript «and his
re s te d h is ,

cheek o n h is h and and l ooked at d A rtag nan fo r an ,

’

in s tant N 0 one h a d an e y e more p 1 o fo u nd ly penetr ati ng

th an the c ar din al ; an d the y oung m an felt thi s g a ze ,

running th ro ugh h is vein s like a fever .

N everthele s s he k ept a g o q d count enance h olding h is

, ,

h at in h is h a nd and waiting h is e m inence s ple as ure , ’

without too m
,

uch pride but at the s a me ti me without

to o m
,

uch hu m ility .
 T H E Tfi né E ii
K H fitsfi nfE fiR s
i
’
’

94 .

” i
rb )
Y e s , my lord
“
.

T here are s ev e nch l

és o f the d AP
'
ral Bra
‘
'
“
ta
’
T arbe s , and in its nei h bourhood to wh ic h of
b ’” 7 3 gB“ " M ” r

Yo u ‘
E IO t
am the I

W l
T h at is it : it h o s ét o u t f
t
’

yu ro
‘

18 o rr
'

Or e igh t
u
1 ‘
o nt h s ag o t
" B
s eek y our fortune
i
in the
D
”
1 11 13 : (1 5 1 1 3 1 3 1 !
fiJ r

my lord ; 5 19
'
i
Y es ‘f ,

Y o u c am e s o m et
yo u— I i
d cih o t

u ni
ie es s aryf
i
7‘ ’ ’
e
t
s mil e 41 41 1611 1r
’
idiC a ted
,

the stor y qu ite a s we ll as lie s ‘

'
’
,

“
Yo u were re c o mtne nded
“

”i lf

i
'

l j
‘

no t
: ( v 1 ' l
t

m IT
wa v e s wmy fh aé u nié c
'
"
but ‘
in at
1" s I “
M eung
0

”
“
T he int rodu qt
letter of
S lo s t re s u m ed his
e m inence “
Yes, k no w th t
.
h “
t M de T reville isI . .

a s kil ful ph s iogno m i s t, wh o kno ws m e n a t the fir s t s igh t,

y
and he h as pl a ced y é u in t h e co
’
p y
a n o f h is brother in m -

law, s om e
,1 1 1 5l 1

da ,

g J ni » o

j ourney i d t th e
t '
t
s o pp e
d) up on
j ou rney ? m at
in Engl and .
96 T H E T H R E E LM US K E T EE R S .

fro m a s enti ment o f natural ju s t ic e fib u t al s o fro m a pl an

I
th at h ad tra ced re s pecting y o u ’
.

1 D Art a gn a n was m ore and m ore a s ton i

’
s h ed .

”
“
It was my de s ire , co ntinued the c ardin al , “
to
e x pl a in th i s pl an to y o u on the day th at y o u re ceived
m y fir s t invit ation ; b u t y ou did not co me Fortun atel y , .

noth ing h as been lo s t b y the del ay ; and t o d ay y ou

S it do wn , then , be fore me ,
“

s h all he ar the expl an a tion .

M d A rtag nan : y ou are gentlem an enough not to be

.
’ '

k e p t ; s tan d ing whils t y o u li s ten

’
.
l 1
T h e c ardin al po inte d out a ch air to t h e y o ung man,
wh o was s o astoni s hed t wh at was t aking pl aice , th at
a ' ‘

he : waited , before he o b e y e d, fo r a s econd inti matio n ‘

.

fro m h is i nterlocu tor .

“
You are br ave , M d A rtag n an, ’
. re s u med h is
e minence ; “
and y o u are prudent which is far better .

” '
I love m en o f he ad and he art Do not be alar m ed , h e
o
.

m e n o f h eart, I m e an -cour ageo u s

'

added ,
‘

m en B u t, y oung a s y o u are , and onl y o n the thre s hold

.

o f the world , y our ene m ie s are ver y po wer ful I f yo u .

d o not take care , the y will de s tro y y ou .

”
“
Al as ! my lord , repli ed the y oung m an, the y w ill “

undoubtedl y a cco m pli s h it very eas il y ; for th ey are 1

l
s trong an d wel -s upported, whil s t : I s t and alone .

Y es , th a t is true : b u t, alo ne as y o u a re , y o u h av e
'
“ 1

alre a dy r done m uch , and wi ll , I doubt not , do ; s till

m ore h a ve , I believe , ne e d o f a guide m the
‘

.
y o u

a dventurou s c areer y o u h ave under ta ken ; t s inc e , t i f I

am not deceived , y o u h a ve co m e to P a ri s , wit h th e
’ ‘ '

”
a mbitiou s intention o f m aking a fortune .

”
“
I am at the ag e o f fooli s h hope s , my lord , s aid 1

l! 1 1
.
3

rh o eS a re fooli s h except fo r blockhea d s si

r;
p s
, ,

and y o u are a m an o f ability Co me wh at would y ou i .

,

s ay to a n en s ignc y in my gu ard s , and a co m p an at the

y
'

end o f the cam p aign ?

Ah my lord !
You accept it—do y o u not ?
,
1 ~
A nd by wh at ght w oul d y ou p re v e nt m y
ri
 M USK ET E E R S
'

983 T H E V T HR EE J ‘
.

inconc e iv able the s ervi ce of yo ur in

’
’
!
"
fat alit y , a re 1 ?

e m inence O n thi s a ccount

. I s hould be un w elco me ,

he wre a n d n
d es p is e d n th ere ; if I accept ed wh at your '

e m inence is good enough to

“
And can yo u alread y h ave the pro ud ide a th at
1
- 1

”
I do no t offer y o u as m uch as yo u de s erv e, s ir ?
'
'
ir1
'

qu ired the cardinal with a s mile o f s corn ,

’
'
.

M v lord you r e m inen ce is a hundr ed t u nes t oo

'

1 / 1 1 1
,

good to m e ; and , on the c o nt rar y I d o rio t think th at ' '‘ ‘ '

1

I hav e y e t don e enou gh to m erit y o ur kindne s s T h e

"
'‘
.

s iege o f L a Rochelle is about to co m m ence m y lord ‘

, .

'
I s h all s erve u nde r yo ur e m inen t e s o wn e ye s ; and if
" ’f ’
,

I s h all h av e the g ood fortune to condu ct my s el f 111 such

‘ “

al m anner fat the s ie g e, ias to m erit y o ur a pprob ation

' ‘

it will be W
,

e ll !
'
After th at I s h all at le as t h ave t o
' '
‘
‘
"

my l cre dit s ome acti on o f s u fficient b rilliancfy to j usti fy

r
'

th e prot ection with wh i ch y Ou r e m lne nce m ay c on de s ce nd ‘

to honou r me :
'
E very thin g s h ould be e ffe ct e d at an .

ap pro p ri at e
'
'
ti m e ( Perh ap s h ere after I may h ave
! .
1
, ,

the right to give my s el f a way— at pre s ent I s hould ,

”
be s uppo s ed to s ell m y s el f
T h at 1 s t0 s ay, y ou r efu s e to s erve m e sir
.

” '
s a id
‘
“ i ?
"
l
1 1
,

th e c ard in al in a t one o f ang er t h ro ugh wh ic h , ho wev er ]

Y
1 ’

em
, ,
'
h
'

rrii s entim ent df es tee m

‘
g t b e tr a
'1
ce d a
‘ “
R a ifi i .
I

’
s till pres erv e y o ur i hatreds and‘ ‘
'

Well “ ”
well , continued th e c ardi nal ; I 11 111 13 01 “ 1 1

o ffend ed with y ; b ut y oli

,
‘ m u s t under st and
‘

o li 1
.

quite e fi o tlg h
’
'

o ne o wes n oth in g to o ne s eh e m ies

' “ ' ’ ‘
.

pi e c f advi ce T ak e
’
r " ‘
y o u l o n e e t o
d -
.

d A rtag nan ; fo r fro m the m omen t th at

’ '
' ’

withdr awn my h and fro m y o u I would not ,

farthing fo r y our li fe .

” ( I willI ” '

lord re p h ed th e Gas co rr
'

with mod es t c onfi d e ric e f

‘

And here after at (th e mo ment th at any mi s fo r tune

"
-
"
,
 9
has be falle n you, re memb er —s aid Ri ch elieu , wit h some
m ' '
‘

"
fe eling it i s. I wh o Have s ought y o u , and th at
‘ ‘ T ‘

I ha v e d O e wh t a could tb aV e rt o m m
I f y ou t h at
J " 1 ‘
fl
‘

v 1 n r

mi sfortune
’
'
‘
1 1 1 1 1
.

Let wh at m ay h appen s a id d A rt ag n an bo wing ; ’ ’

“
, ,
'
with h i5 Han d upon his bre as t '
I s h all reta in a
'
'
1
“ 1

s enti m ent o f et e rn al gr a titude to y oi

,

r em inen ce fo r wh at
'

r ,

; are doin g fo r m e at the p res ent ti m e

“

y e t .

" “
Well then M d A rtag nah as you s ay we s h all
” ‘ ’

m
.
, , , ,

see e ch other f
gain a ter the c p ign I s h all keep
a “ ‘

a a
‘

a .

”
my 1 e y e s u p on y ou; for I s h all be there continu ed the
c ardin al po inting to a magnificent s u it o f arrh o u r w
,
hich
he was to We a r And 1o n our return we will d ecide
‘
‘ ” ‘

on o u r arr ange ment !

.
, ,
1 3
‘
1

”
“ t
A h ! m y lord ! excl ai med d A rtag nan, s pare m e “ ’
‘

the w eight o f y our di s pleas ure re m ain neiitral my lord

'

.
, ,
“ ‘
if y o u find th at I b eh ave g a ll antl y t .
1 1

“
Young m an said Richelieu “
if I c an once m or e
’

s ay to y o u wh at I h a ve s aid to d ay I prom i s e y o u th at -
,

I w z ll s ay it
’
'
.

T hi s l as t expre s s ion o f Richelieu in v olved a terribl e ’

doubt It al ar med d A rtag narimOre th an a th reat would

'
’ 1
.

h ave done ; fo r it was a warnin g ii i m p lied th at the ’ "

‘

1
.

cardin al was ende avouring to s hi eld h im fro m s o m e

H e O p ened h is lips to an s we r j b u t
'
i m pending evil ‘ ’ 1 1

with a h a u g hty ge st ure the Ca rdin al di s mis s ed h im

’
1

,
.

D A rta g nan le ft the ro o m ; but at the do or h is h é éif t

’ ’ '
, ,
_

al mo s t failed h im and lie vVas stron e te m pted to ré tu rn

'

, .

Yet the s eriou s and s evere counten ance o f Atho s aro s e 1

be fore h is m ind I f he a greed to w h at the c ardin al .

'

pro p o s ed Atho s would no lo nge r o ffer h im h is ha nd

,
‘

Atho s would di s o wn h im
'

It was thi s fe a r th at determined h im So p o werful 1s ’

the influ e nce o f a trul y nob le ch aract er o ver all th at ’

»

a ppro a che s it .

V D A rta nan went do wn b h m a c h

' ‘
’

g y t e s a e s t ir a s e t h at e
1 '

h ad a s cended ; and found be fore the door Atho s and 3 , ,

the four mu s keteer s wh o We re awaiting him an d Were

'
‘
,
100 THE T H R EE M US K ET E ERS .

beginning to be anxiou s abo ut h im With o ne word .

be re a s s ured the m ; and Pl anchet ran to the other po s ts

to announce th at any further gu ard wa s unnece s s ar y ,

a s h is m a s ter h ad returned safe a nd s ound out o f the , ,

c ardin al s p al ace’
.

When th ey were hou sed at A th os s Aram1s and ’

Portho s inquired about the object of thi s s ingul ar inter

,

vie w ; but d A rtag nan m erel y told the m th at Rich elie u

’

h ad s e n t for h im to o ffer him an en s ign s co mm i ss ion in

’

the gu ard s and th at he h ad re fu s ed it

, _
.

And y o u were excl ai med A ramls and

Po rtho s w ith o ne voice
, ,
.

“Ath o s fell into a pro found reverie and s aid not hing , .

’
Bu t w hen h e w as alone with d A rta g nan he s a 1d
, ,
“
Y o u h ave done as y o u ough t although perh a p s '
.
, , ,

y o u were im pr u dent
”
.

D A rtag nan s ighed ; fo r thi s voice re s ponded to a

’
.
,

s ecret wh i s per o f h i s o wn s oul wh ich a nnounced th a t ,

gre at m i s fortunes were prep aring fo r h im .

T h e next d ay was occupied in prep ar a tion s for

dep arture .

D A rtag nan went to t ake le ave o f M de T re ville :

’
.

At thi s it ime it was s till b e lieve d th at the s ep ara tion o f

,

the gu ard s and m u s keteer s would be but m o m entary

,

the king holding h is p arli am ent th at very d ay and pro

.

po s ing to s et o u t o n the next M de T rev ille there fore . .

only as ked d A rt ag nan wh e th e r h e wanted an y thing o f

’
,

h im but d A rtag nan replied th at he h ad all he s hould

’ '

need .

I n the evening all th e co mr ade s o f M de T re v i lle s

’
'

.
,

and M d e s E s s arts s co m p anie s wh o had beco m e

.
’
,

a tt a ched to o ne a nother m e t together T he y were , ,

.

a bout to pa rt, to m eet again when a nd if it s hould

.
, ,

ple as e Go d to let the m T h e night was there fore as . .

, ,

m ay be s uppo s ed a ver y boi s terou s o ne ; fo r o n s uch

, ,

occ as i o ns nothing but extre m e ple as ure c an drive away

,

e x tre m e c are .

,
T h e n ext d ay at th e fir s t s ound o f the tru m pet s th e
,
.

,
 T H E T H R EE M U SK E EE R S
‘

1 02 J ’I
.

a lways 11 ntientio ns wi th h er
h ad
1 1 11 bitteres t
‘

sh e the ac o

hus ban d :

-a Whils t h
t e atto rne y 3 wi fe was ableto follow h e r h hnd
’

s o m e cou s in w ith her e y e s, s he WaV e d a h andkerc hie f

'

and le a edn f m th e windo w as t h h

'

rO h o
x u g
"
s ei
w a s ab out
to pre cipit ate h erse lf i nto the st reet Perth os d e cei ve d .

ali th é se indi cation s of! t ende rne ss like a m an h ardened

l

to s u c h d e m o n stration s B u t as h e t urned the C orn er .

'

? in t oke n
of t h tr et h i ed h i h t d w v d it ‘

e s e , e r a s s a a n a e ,
»

l
-1 ffl ll(

Ar am i s oh h is part Wrote a i on g lett er v To ! wh om ?

,
' .
, .

None k ne wz In bh e n e xt ro om, K itt y; Wh o iwas to Set

'
f

o ff th at very evening for To tn s was wa iti ng fo r th i s

'

A thos
i d rank si by si th e la st bo ttl e of his Sp é nis h
’

.
.
, p p ,

I n the m ea nti m e d artag nan was ma rc h ing w ith h is

,
’

co mp an y I n p aSS ing th ro u gh t h e faubourg St A ntoine

'

' v
. 1 1 .
,

he tu rned and looke d gail y at t he B as ti le wh ic h h e h ad

,
'
,

at le as t a s y t e s ca p e d r z A s h e look ed o nl y at th e Bas til e

e
-
,

h e did n o b se e m y la dy wh o m ount e d on a d u nfl h o rs e
‘ ' ‘

-
, , ,

iw l m
'

p oint ed h im out ith her finger t o t wo il lookin g e n -

,

wh o lim med ia ely app ro a ch ed ( the rank s to recon noitre

'

t
'

'
‘
T o 1 an 1 1nterrog at 10n which th e y add res sed t o the
lady g b y a tlook s h e a n s we red ! b y a s ign th at 'it Was fre allyi
,

h er 1T he n c e rtairi th at: the re could be no m i stake in the

.
,

execut ion o f her orders s h e s purred h er hors e, and

' ’
,
:

o rnp a ny and , at t he end

of th e fau b od rg s u z Anto ine , th e y m ounted two ho rses; '
'

v u

w hich a 1 9e rv ant o nt of li v er ! was h oldi n

’
y
'
g n
i read i ness
for them .
 T HE s rue nao n L 11 1J R O C H E ILLE .

i i i
'
h “ "F '
I . i

g m 1 . 11 9 9 : 1 .

$ 11 11 5 1 113 011 1 011 1 L A R OC H E LLEA f r .

l ( '

T
,
1

HE iege o f La R o ch e lle iw as { one of1 th e [ g reate s t

s .

events o f the reign o f Lo uis I I I '

ad :o v 11 1
'
v
1

T h e politic al vie ws o f the cardinak iwh e n he underto ok

.

the s ieg e were exten s ive f O f the i m portant c it ies vswliic h

,
. . .

h ad b e en given b y H enr y I V to th e Huguenots as pl ac es .

,

o f s afet y ,
L a Roch elle alone re mained T h e cardin al
wi sh ed to de s troy thi s l as t bul wark o f C alvini s m
L a Rochelle which h ad :deriv ed a dd ition al i m
. . 1

, : portance '

fro m the ru in o f the other C alvini s tic to wn s was b eside s , , ,

the last p ort which re main ed o p e n to the E ng lis h d n t he

k in gd om o f F rance ; and by clo s ing it to En gl and—o u r
e ternal e nem —
,

ardin al W n d w k
'

y the c o uld e the o r 0 f . 1

of Ar n c ,
a d o f th e D uke o q is e i 1: b ir o . 1
1 . .
f

T h us it was th at B asS omp ierre W h oW as : a t the s am e

‘

—
, .
.
,

m
'

ti e; ibor th l P r ote s t ant an d C a th oli c Prot es t an t : fro m ,

co nvic tio n ; and C atholic as c ommand erlof the o rder : o f

'

,
—
the S aint E s prit B as s o mp ie rre wh o was a G e rm an h y -
,

birt b, | an d F h n
a1 an
-1a t h rene
e artr
- Bas s o m p ie rrav ac o ,

h ad a p artic u lan c o mmand fat th e s ieg e 0f La Ro d relle a

r o , .
1
u

s ai dr on cha g i ng at ith e he ad o f 1 m any othe r lPro test ant

r l
,

noble man lik e hi ms el f : Y o u willls e e , ge ntle men , : th at

’

”
we sh all be fools en o ugh to take L a Ro che lle v1 .
1
.

And Bas s o m p ie rre was ri g ht T h e canno nad les no f th e .

Isle o f R hé wer e a “prelude tohth e dirag o nnad e s o f the

'

. .

Cevennes the taking of La Rochelle was the pre fac e .

to
f
t h e e d ic t o N ante s 18 1
‘

f
5 1 ~
.

B u t, b y the s ide o f the s e gener al vie ws of the levell ing

a n d s i mplify ing mini ster, which belong ; to 1 h isto ny , the
c h romcl e r 1 8 1 01 n
) “ to
, d well u p on th e p tty obj ect s o f
r e .

th e lov e r and 1 the j ealou s r iv al

, r ale 1 1 .

m
.

Richelieu , as every one kno ws, h ad b een en a oured o h

tbe qu e en .H ad thi s love a purel y po liti cal aim fo r was
’ “

it ho me o f t ho s e pro fo und p as s ion s , w ith iwh ich aA nne é f r ,

'
 M U S K E T EERS
’

T H E T H RE E
'

,
04 .
.

Au s tri a in s pired tho s e wh o were around her ? T hi s is

wh at we c annot s ati s fac toril y decid e Yet at all event s .
,

i t h as been s een b y the circu ms t ances which h ave bee ri

,

det ailed in thi s h is to rV th at B uckingh am h ad g ained ,

a s uperiority over him 1 11 two or three po ints and th at , ,

e s p e ci ally 1n the affai r o f the d i amond s tud s—4 th ank s to

the devotion of the three m u s keteer s and th e cour age ,

o f d A rtag nan— h e h ad 1m o s t cruell y be fooled h i m

’
.

I t was Richeli eu s obj ect there fore not m erel y to rid

’
1 , ,

France o f an ene my but to revenge hi ms el f on a riv al

' '

, .

T h e revenge ought too to be gre at and s ign al and ‘

, , ,

co m pletely worth y of the man wh o h eld in h is h and as

a we apon the force s o f a whole re al m
,

,
? '

Richelieu kne w th at in fighting ag ain s t En g l and h e

, , ,

was fighting a g ain s t B uckingh am ; th at in triu m phing ,

over England he s hould triu m ph over B uck ingh am ; and

, ,

l as tl y th at m hu mili ating Engl and 1n the e y e s o f Europe

, ,

he s hould hu mili ate B ucki ngh am in the e y e s o f the queen .

On h is p art B uckingh am whil s t h e was putting the

, ,

honour o f Engl and pro m inentl y for ward as h is m otive ,

wa s i mpelled b y intere s t s ab s olutel y s i m il ar to tho s e of
t h e c ardin a l .
i '
1 1

B uckingh am al s o pur s ued a priv ate re ve nge Under .

no pre text h ad B uckingh am been able to enter Fr an ce

a s an amb as s ador and he wi s h ed th er efore to enter
, , ,
‘

it as a con q ueror I t follo ws fro m thi s th at the true

.
,

s t ake 111 thi s g am e which t wo p o

,
wer ful kingdo m s were
pl ay ing fo r the ple as ure o f t wo amorou s m e n was ,

nothing m ore th an a gl ance fro m the ey e o f An ne

o f Au s tri a
1

T h e Duke o f B uckingh am h ad g ained th e fir s t

adv antage Arriving unexpectedl y be fore the I s le of
.

Rhé with ninet y v es s el s and t wenty thou s and men he

, .
,

h ad s urpri s ed th e Count de T oir as wh o was the king s

’
,

co mmander in th at i s le and after a blood y c onte s t h ad , , , 1

a cc om pli s hed a di s e mb ark ation .

Let u s reco rd by the way th at th e B aron de Ch ant al

1
, ,

fel l in thi s c omb at, le avi n g an orph an d aughter a little ,

 f '
M U S K ET EE RS f f
'

1 T HE 1
'

I O6 T HR E E
'
1

'

Bu t w e kno 1
w
th at d A rtag nan , e ng ro szse d b y the '
1
’ '

a m bition o f beco m ing a m u s keteer , h ad for m ed but fe w

irit ima c ies with J h is 1 c om rad es , a nd he fo u nd hi s elf,

’
“
m
there fore , i s ol ated , and ab andoned to h is o wn re fi e Ctions
' '
.

And the se r efle cti o n s were not ch eer ful During the 1

e ar th at he h ad be en 11 1 Pa ri s , h e h ad e ng a e d hi m s el f
'
1

y' g
1 n publ ic affa ir s , a n d c o n s e u entl y h is o wn
p riv a te q
either o f lov e o ro f fort un e , h ad m ade no g ee s t ad vance s
’ ‘
t
. .

r wh om h e ’ h ad a s i n
'
1
1 A 51 to l ov e; the onl
'
y w o m a n f o cere
'

affection; awas h M ad ame B o nancie u x , f iand j M a d arn e 1 - l ‘

B o nan cieu x h ad di s a p pe red , no r c ould he y e t di s cover

a
’

wh at h ad b ec bm e fo f her r
'

1 1

-
11 A s ., to fort urie ,
h e 1 — a
'
m ere in s ect— h ad m ade an enemy .

o f the c ardin al ; th a t i s t o s ay , o f a m an be fore who m

' ' “
r
1 »

t h e nobl es o f ( th e kingdo m H enlb led , and eV e nf the ki ng

‘
1

man h ad po wer to cr u s h h im, and y e t he h ad

T h at 1 1

ab s ta i ned l 2 .
1 . 1

T o a m ind as cle a r s ighted a s th a

’
t o f d A rtag nan thi s ‘ ’

forbea r ance was a d awn wh ich g ave pro mise of a h appier

'

T h e n; he h ad made hims elf a nother ene y , le s s to be

'
'
m
d read ed as h e tho u ghh but one who m h e felt in s tinct ivel y
' ‘

wa s no t 1to be de s pi s ed T h at ene m y was her l ad y s hip 1 .

1 1 m ex c h a n
'
t fo r rall thi h h ad h prote on and
t
t
'

g e s ,
e e c i . 1

good will o f the quee n; 1 but h er maj e s ty s go od will w as ’

- 1

in the circu ms tance s o f the ti me s , only : an ad d itio nai

co ur s e o f p ers e cu t ion y and her protect ion , it is kno w n,
protected very b adly—witnes s Ch al ai s, and l Mad ame
'

S o th at. wh at h e ha d mo st . m ani fe s tly g ained , inf all

‘

this iwas ; the di am ond, worth fi v e o r s ix thou san d

, , 11

franc s which he wore u pon h is finger

,
an d ev en 7 t hi s < ,

dia mo nd s u p po sin g that h e m us t pre s erve 1 it to re m ind

, ,

t h e iqu e en at s om e futu re d ay o f h e r gr atitude , h a

n
d not ,
1

in the meanti me s ince he c ould not di s po s e o f it ; any

,
-

, ,

gr eater v alue than the pebbles th at he tram pled bene ath

h is feet We s ay the pebble s th at he tram pled beneath
.
 THE e
'
GE o r f R OC H ELL E . 1 117

his fe t fdr
e d ,
A rt g
a rian 'made th e s e refl ection s w
'
h il s t
he was walking alone in a pretty little path wh ich led
fro m th e camp to an adjoini ng v ill age
1
. B u t th e s e .

reflections h ad led h im fu rt her th an he intended and ,

th e day was beginning to dec line when b y t he l as t

’

, ,

f the s ett ing s u n he s ee m ed to per ceive th e b arr el

'
ra
y o ,
'N 11 ]
of a m us ket glitteri g behind h dg e 3 1
a
‘

n e
1

D A
’
h d quick nd re d lw t j aH
rt g
a n a n a a e ye a a a y r e ,
1

c om prehended th at the m u s ke t h a d ot co me th e re o f
I ‘
”

n
its e lf, and t h at he wh o held it was nOt cenc e aled behind
aJ 1 h edge wit h a ny v er y am ic a ble intention s? H e deter
m ined there fore to g a in the o p em country
'

th e o ther s id e of the r e ad beh ind a ro ck ; h e

,
‘
,

the muz z le o f a se c on d m us k e tJ
'
It was e v

T h e y oung man ga v e a gl anc e at h e fi rst ft ’

‘
'

a
, J
nd b ehe ld with s om e f anmet y thet It was faiming fl in
”
' ‘
'

'
h is direction ; b u t, as s oo e as h e saw t h e J o rifi ce To f th e
‘

l
b arrel m otionle ss ; he threw h imse lf j u p on h is
th at ins tant t h e s h ot was fi red , a nd h e , h ea rd ’ t h e
"
!
‘
t ‘
.. 1

' l
whi s tling o f a b al las it p as s e d abb v elh is h ead
h
( 9 'l 3 "

m
. .

T here was no tim e to los e D iA rtag nam ra is ed h i sel f

'

up with a ib ou nd , and , a t the same moment; t he bull et

‘

of the s econd mu s ket s c a ttered 1 th e s to n es ln the very ’

t hafo Wn il hi ms el f
part of th e p a th wher e h e ha d
'’ ‘

w
“

do n f 1
' ' 1
mu d ;
1
'

f
.

'
D A rt ag nan was not o ne of tho se oolis hl y brav e rife n
’
1

w h o s eek a ridic u lou s death in order to h av e it I E aid

'

1 1

o f 1 the m th a t 1 the y neV er retre ated 111 s te p Be s ide s , 1 .

'

c o urag e wro uld do not hing h ere : : he h ad f al l

i l '
en into 11 11 1 1

am bu s ca de 1
0
H
0 1 1 1 11 3 1
' 1
1 .
.

I f t h erm 1s a1 t h ird s hot, s id he t o hims el f, d a ” l

m
‘
‘

a
1

a d
e ad m an ”
I I 1 1 1 1 : 1 '

a
.

I m m e di t e a
ly s c m pe red to wards th e camp , Wit h
' ”

all; t h e s wi ftn e ss iob h is co untry meng wh o a r e s o ffamou s

'
'

for t th eir 11 9 11 1 1151 1 but , fas t as was h is co u rs e f ith e one

.
1 ' 1

«
'
"
a m
wh o ha d fire d fi rs t , havi ng h d ti e to d e ad h is g u nj f

m ade another s hot at h im, s o well directed th is t i e , h ‘

m
1 08 5 TH E T H R E E '
M U SK E TEE R S .

th at th e b all p as s ed
p ac es be fore h im .
h
t ro u g h h is h at ,
and dro ve it ten

A s d A rt ag n an h ad no other h at he p icked i t up as
’

h e ran ; an d reach ing h is lo dg ing p ale and ou t o f ,

bre at h he s at down wit hou t s pe ak ing to any one and

beg an to re fl ect
, , ,

T his even t m i g h t h av e t hre e c au s e s T h e fir s t an d .

,

m o s t n at ur al was t h at it m igh t be an am bu s cade fro m

L aR ochelle w ho s e ci tiz en s would no t h av e been s orry
, ,

to k ill one o f h is m aj e s t y s gu ard s as it w oul d m ake

,
’

one ene my the les s an d t h at ene m y mig h t h av e a well ,

filled ap u rs e m h is pocke t .

e x amined t he h o
’

1 D Art ag n an took h is h at
- le t h at ,

t he b all h ad m ade and s hook his he ad Th e b ullet

, , .

di d no t b elong to a m u s ket b u t to an ar q ueb u s s th e ,

reci s ion o f t h e aim h ad alre ad y m ad e h im th in k t h at

p
it w as fi red by a c i v ilian w eapon : s o i t was n o t a m il i
.

t ary am bu s c ade s ince th e b all w as no t o f t h at c alibre

, .

I t migh t be a k in d m em ori al o f th e c ar din al I t m ay .

be rem em bered t h at at th e v ery m o m en t w hen t h an k s , ,

to th e b le s sed b e am o f s u n s h ine h e h ad p erc eiv ed th e ,

'

g u n -
b a rrel h e w a s m
,
ar vell in g at th e leniency h is “

e minence h ad s ho w n toward s h im B u t d A rt ag n an
’
. .

s hook h is h ead wit h an air o f doub t T h e c ardi n al

1
. . .

se l do m h ad reco ur se to ~
toward s p eople
w ho m a m ovem en t o f h is h an d m igh t c ru s h .

I t might be h er lad y s h i p s revenge

’
.

T h i s con j ec t u re was m ore reas on able

“

H e tried in v ain t o recall either t he fe at u res or the

,

d re ss o f t he a ss ass in s ; b u t he h ad h u rried away t oo

r ap idly to h av e lei s ure to re m ark t hem .

”
Ah l; m y 1 poo r frien d s m u t t er ed d Art ag n an
’

w here are y o u P Alas l h ow m uch I m i s s y ou 1

, ,

D JArt ag nan p ass ed a v ery b ad nigh t T hree or fo u

r .

t i m e s he aw oke wit h a s t art fan cy in g th at a m ail ,

ap p ro ached h is bed to s t ab h im Yet t he d ay d awned .

,

w it ho u t any acciden t h av ing occu rred du rin g th e

.

d ar k n ess .
 '

11 1 0 f . T H E } T H R EE M U S K ET EE R S . 1

make j yo u ri Wi s hes k n own I .

,
. and
1
th e me n Will inot be .
1

”
wa nting
Fou r m en wh o mvill vo lunteer to co me and be killed
.

' '
“
e lo .
,
. .

with me 1 cried d i rtzaig na n

”
, r aising h is s word
’
‘ l
i . .

T wo o f h is co m p an ions in the gu ard s ru s hed to wa rd s

o

h im : ins t ant aneo u s l y 5 1 and : two o t h e r mso ld ie rs i h aving

. ;
1

j oin ed the m th e D Artag nan

’
, ,

the refore rejected all ot hers ito a v oid inj u s tice to g t ho s e

’

, ,

wh o h ad the prior cl ai m .
1
1 -1

L u I t wa s not k no wn wh eth er the R o c h ello is a fter ha ving ,

t ak en the b as tion h ad evac u ated it o r p lac ed a g arri s on

, ,

in it f It was the re for e n ece s sar y to ex am ine the S pot

u .

fro m a point s u fficientl y ne ar to a s c ert ain th is point

’

’
m D A rt a nan
g w ent o ff w ith h is 1 fo u r co m p a ni on s in t
. h e ,

h ne o frth e tr ench
‘
T h e t wo gu ards m arc he d iby h is s id e;
.
1
.
‘

a nd th e t wo s oldi e r s in th e rea n is w
’

1i
: 1: 1
1 1 1
1

Sheltering th ems elve s in thi s manner uby {the r am part ; .

the y arr ived w ith in a h u ndre d pa ce s of th e b as tibn } and

’

. .
,

on turn ing rf ou nd at th at m oment d A rtagnan p e r ceived ,

v
’

th at jth e two s oldie rs h ad :” d i s appeared B eli e ving 1the m

‘
,

t o h av e r e m ai ned beh i
nd f r o m f a r h co n tin u e d v to
e
1
, 1 e
'
adv ance
'

.
1 “
1

. 1

the; t urn of the counter s c arp the y fo u nd th emselves 1

about s ixt y y ard s fro m th e b as tion but th ey s aw no one ;

, 1

and the b as tio n s ee m ed ev acua t ed t

“
1 1

{I he three volunteers deliber ated Whether th ey sh o uld

‘

adva nc e : fa rth er when s uddenly a cir cle o f s mok e

1

,
: .

ppe red ;ad n d z en b ll w h i tled ound d ’ A t nan

a
a
g
a a o a a
r
s s r

and h i s c omp anion s 1 1

"

11 11
' 1

no w uwh at {t hey h ad: co m e to le a

,
1 - . .
1

rn : th e '

b as tion was gu arded a longer del ay there fore in so , , ,

dang erous a pl ace w ou ld h av e bee n onl y an u nn eces sary ,

i m prudence So d Artagn an and the t wo gu ards tu ned ' ’

r
.

their b ac ks and be g an a ra pid retre at

. .
1
1

.
" 1

On re a chi ng the angle of the trench w hich WOllld Serv e

'

1 s
,

as a lram p art to them o ne o f the gua rd s fell wi th a b a ll ,

th rough h is che s t wh ils t wh o was s afe and f

c am
, ,

s ou nd , m ade the be s t c f h i s wa to the p ; nu

y
 T HE .
S IE GE O F LA WROC H E LLE
‘ "
.

D A rtag nan would n ot thu s ab andon a companion,

'
’ ’ ‘

leaned over h im to lift h im u p, and aid h im to r eg ain

t s ‘

liiifi ; bu t,1 3 at th at very

’

one ball s h attered th e he ad of th e man wh o was alread y

’ ‘
.

wounde d ; and th e i oth er'1 1was flaftte ned ag ainst ia rock,

' .
'
1 1

after h aving p ass e d f

‘
nh in t wo inch es ? of d A rtag nan s ’ ’
w 1

[
i
i

bd L i 1
.

f ' ‘ ’
1 1
i

( f
'
o
1 . 1) 1 f ,

rmi I h e z yo u ng m a n t urned ver y qu ick lyr y for th iS I atta

‘
ck
‘ ‘
' ‘

bould not co m e fr om w s h d de n b y
a i f ‘
‘

the angle o f th e t rench fi h e re me m brance o f Tthé f t o w

'
' ’ ' ‘ '
‘

s oldi e rs wh o h ad aban d one d h im , ooc urre d to his mindl

‘ "
. 1

and s ugge s ted to h im h is

‘
as s as s in s o f the p re vi ous
H e res olved , ou thi s o ccasion , to fi nd 0
' '
'
e v é ning ut
'
1 ~ 1

W h at it m eant ; and fell , th é re o re , u p on fh e body o f his

f '
( '

c o mr ade , as t o g h u h he h a d b e e n d d He imm ediately

e a 1 1 ' '

.
'
1

s aw th a t t wo he ads we re ra i s ed ab o v e an abahd o ne d
‘
F
‘
"

1 r

m
_

b re aSt wo rk , 7 whi c h w
' '_ ' '

as abo ut thirt y y ard s f ro m 1‘h i :

1 i

w
ere th os e o f the t wo s oldie rs D A rtag n
'
’
th e p an w a
‘ '
.
, ,
s .

not mis taken ; th es e me n had re ma ined behind solel y

‘ ' ‘

for the purpo s e of as s ass in a ting h im , h 0ping t h at j th é

'
d eath of the y oung m an would 1 be i mp ute d to the -attack
.

o f the ene my .

:
1

ut
1

B h e m i g h t b e 1 011131 1 Wo unded
1
1
.

denounce their cri m e, the y dre w ne ar “

th eir w0rk
1 1 '
H app ily , L d ece iv ed b y
.
1
1

d A rtag nan s po s ition , the y negl ected

’ ’

m u s kets : Wh eh th ey were ab o u t th ree pac es fro

.
'

d A rt ag na , w
’
h o h d t k en , e s p e ci al c afre, t in
‘
q
n a a 1

not to relinqu i s h his s word, su dd enly h ro e , nd

a
f1

s J !
'
T h e as s as s in s were well awarefl w h at if lt hiey -fl'céd
“ ‘

; g -

t o wards th e camp
' '

fi
‘

l i h
wt o tu h av ing
f '
k ill 1 h
ed t e h1 1
tn an,
1

they s hould be accu s ed b y h im ; and th ere fore i th eip ' '

firs t imp u ls e z was to pas s ov e1 to th e iene1iny 1 l 01113 o f

'
' ' '
1 1 1 1
.

the m took h is g u n b y the b arrel, and m ade 1351 151 11 1 1 1

as a clu b t e Id ealt a te rrib le b lo w at d Art afg na1111§1 h 0

’
,
1 "

w
avoided it b y j u m ping as ide ; b y th i s m ove ment ; h o w

ever, d A rtag nan opened a p as s ag e to lth e b and it, h o

’
i
“

w
1 12 LT H E 5 T H R E E! MUS KE T E E R S .

ediately sp
r ang fo rth towards th e b as t ion B u t as .

th e R o ch ello is wh o gu ar ded i t w ere ig n or an t o f} h is

.

inte n tio ns in ad v an cin g th ey fire d u po n him and h e , ,

fell w i th his s ho ulder broken b y a b all

I n th e m e an tim e d A rt ag n an thre w him s elf onth e
, .

s e co nd s o ldier with his Th e s t rugg le whs no t

lon g This wre t ch h ad o nly h is dis ch ar g ed fusee to
.

de fen d him self with T h e s wor d o f th e g u a rd s rn an

“ .

a lon g th e b arrel o f th is u s ele s s we apon 'and ,

d h h A h d
’ '

p a ss e t rou g,
h th e ass ass in s th i g s s oon as h e a ; .

fallen d A rt ag nan ap p lied th e p o in t o f h is we apo n to

’
.
, .
,

Oh do no t k ill m e !
, ex claim ed th e b andit .

P ar don p ardon ! s ir and I will con fe s s every th in g !

.

, ,

f I s it wo rt h m y wh ile to g ran t y o u y our life for y o u r

‘
r

s e c re t deman ded th e y oung m an

'

Y es if y ou con s i der li fe o f any v alue to a

,
.
~
.

man o f twent y two y e ar s o f ag e wh o bein g as

t
-
.
, , ,

h an ds o me and as b r av e as y ou are m ay acco m p lis h

, ,
”
an y t h ing .

Wre tch crie d d Ar t ag n an com e s pe ak q u ickl y ’

.

Wh o en g ag ed y ou to as sas s in at e m e ?
.
, ,

A wo man w ho m I do not kn o w bu t wh o was ,

calle d my lad y
‘ ’
.

B u t if y o u do no t k no w th is wo m an h ow cam e y ou
, ,

to k no w h er name ?
My c o mrade knew her and c alled her s o it was ,
.

wit h him t h at sh e arrang ed th e a ffair —not with m e .

He , h as a let te r fro m t h i s p ers o n now in his p ocke t

wh ich wou ld be o f gr e at im po rt ance to y ou accor din g ,

to wh at I he ard h im s ay .

B u t h ow cam e y ou to be h is p ar tner in t h i s
“

a mbu s c ade
H e p rop o s e d to m e t o j oi n h im in it and I
“

An d ; h ow m uch h as s he x p aid y o u for t hi s p re ttv

ex pedi tion w

A h u ndred lou i s .

1 1 14
, 31
T H E TFI H REE MU SK E E ER S 1
‘ ’
’
. I .

h is c omp anio np h im in
'
by l i s lwit h
'
‘
pri cking the x o n l the
point o f h is 1-1 1

1; It was a fe ar ful s p e ct acle to witne s s thi s un happ y . .

lbein g l eaving a long tr ack o f blood u po n th e p ath he

took gro wing p ale f1 o m the ap p roac h o fn d eath ah d rye t
,
'

to dr ag hi ms el f With out b e fng s ee nj to the body

'

s trivin g ,
.
'
o f h is a cco m plice whic h was s tretc h ed ou t at a; di s tance
'

o f t wenty {p a c cS '

T error wa s s o d e picted on h is count enance whic h was 1

cove re d with an icy s we at th at d ilrtag nanab othmp it ie d ,

' ’
‘

”
a nd de s pi s ed h im 3 ” '
-

1 I
e
: 11 1
1
1 1

ll s h o
.

Co m e
'

s aid he 1I wi w y ou the 1d 1fi ere ne e

“ -
'
r
.
,

bet w een a man of cour age and a c oward like y o u ! lWait ,

where y o u are : I will ig e l 1 And with : an active s tep

” '
-
1
,
,

a nd h is e y e upon th e b a s tion ob s erving the proc eed ing s ,

o f the ene my and a v ailing h im s elf o fre v ery in equality of

‘

1 ,

g r ou nd ; he m a n a ged to adv ance a s f a r a s the s econd s o ldier .

1
T here were two m ethod s of a cco m pli s hi ng h is p urpo s e
11

e ither to se arch him whe re h e wa s ; 1or ito c arry h im away 1 ,

m aking a b u ckler o f his b o dy fi and then to s earch h im at

.

lei s ure 111 the trench .

D A rtag n an pre ferre d the s econd pl an and h a

'
d th ro wn
’
J 1 ,

the bod y o f the assas s in on h is s h oulders j u st a t the v er

m o m ent th a t the ene my fined 1 d 1 r y .
1 1 1

A s light tre mor a final cry a s h u dde r of agon y pr o v ed

’

, , ,

to d A rta g nan (th at h a who h ad s aug ht to as s as s in ate him

’
.
,

ha d n o w sav ed h is life
D A rtagna n re ached the trenc h and thre w the bod y b y
.

the s ide o f the W

,

o unded man; who was quite as p ale as

the de ad o ne .

H e then beg an to tak e an inventory T here was a .

leather p o ck e tf b o ok la pur s e y wh ich evide n tly co nt ained

; ,

a p art o f the s u m wh ic h th e banditti h ad recei v ed and a

. r
,
1

dice box and d ice ; and the s e Co mpo s e d the in herit ance
-

o f the de ad m an .

He le ft the dice b o x and dice Wher e the y h ad falle n

—
,

thre w the pur s e to th e wou nded m an and e agerly o pened ,

the pocket book -

.
 ms
'

THE r s I E GE BO F L A iJ R O C
' 1
H E LL E .
1

'

eve ral iinim p o rtant ) p apers b e 1 fo u nd lt h e

l A m ong s t :
"
s
' '

,
' ’

follo wing letter : nit was t h at 1fo r 1wh ich h e h ad gone ( to 1 '
1 1 .

s e arch a t the h az ard o f h is li fe ch 11

1 1 1 1 ; 1 1 1 1 11 1
'

ck hi
j
1
1

t hat‘ 1161 111

“
h ave lo s t t h e t ra
in th e c onve n t, w h ic h o u r i
‘
’ " ’ '

y ev er
k
re a c h t a e c are a t a n y rat e
o t h e rw is e , y o u k
n o w t h a t I h a v e a lo ng a rm , a n d z y o u s h a ll
d f dr e d louis mh iqh y o u h a ve h a d o f m ine
l h
a e a rl or t h n
p y y u
e
.

T here wa s n o s ign ature U (I '

h
1 11
“
1

f
.

N e Ve rth e le s s , 1it1 wa s e v id e nt it h at t e le tter was ro m

‘ ’

her l ad y s hip
! H e ke pt it t he re foie; as a te s ti on y
" ' '
m
a g a in s t her ,
i a
nd find ng hi m s el f in s afet y behi nd th e
‘

ang le o f th e trench , he b egan to qi1 e st io n1 the w ounded

‘ "
' 1
'

m an .T h e l atter con fe ss ed t h at? he h ad 1 be en eng ag ed

'
w 1th h 1 s co m rade , t h e s ar
t rie wh o had no w b ee n k 1 lled to
1
‘
1

c arr y o ff a young w o m an , wh o w as t o le av e Pa ris f b y ' th e

'
'

b arrier of L a Villette , but th at , h a vin g Sto ppe d drinki ng

’

~
'
1
“

a t a w ine— s hop , the y ha d bee n te i r mi n ut é S t oo lat e lfo r th e

'
1

With
- "
th is woman W .
’

in an ag ony cf ( 1
'

1, 1“ Wewer e to h av e k en h ho an h otel in th e Pl ace

ft a
'

e rl 1
'
7 ‘ '

Ro y ale , s a id the wo unded man

o

” 1 ‘1
1
’
1
1 1 1 1» 1
.

" ’
f
Y es , y e s , m u tte re d d A rta g na nf th at iS 1 t t o her
’ ' ' ‘ 1

”1
la d y s h ip hers el f 1 1
1 1 1 1 1

l T h e young man s hudd e red as h e ic o mp r h e nde d with e

h o w t e rrib le 1 a th irs t 1 fo r v eng eanc e thi s wom a n was
1

i m pelled to de s t roy hin1 , arld tho s e h o lo ved h im , and

‘

w '

”
q
h o w well s h e was ac u ainted with t h e s ec re ts o f the
court , s ince s h e h d detected e ven t hi s F o r t hiS e x ac t
a f i ” "
.
' ‘

in for matio n s h e Was i nd ebted to the ca rd ina lz " ‘

‘
11

'
, g
“B ut as s o m e de ree o f co m pen s a tio n
,
he as ce rt ained
with u nfei ned j o y t ha t the qu e en h ad at 1 l as t d isc ov ered
'
“

g
the pr is on to 1 wh ic h M ad ame B OnanCie u x 'h ad been s ent
t o ex i ate h er d evoti on , and h ad already re s cu ed h e i L '
"
’

i
p
fro m it T hu s the letter , which h e h ad rec eived fr om
’
‘ ‘ - J
.

the y oung wo m an , and her ap p e aianc e in t e ’ carriag e

h
'

o n t h e Ch a illot ro a d ; were ex
p la in ed fto h im i .
 6 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS ’
. I I '
.

T hence forth , as Atho s h ad p redicted , it was possible

'
~

to find M ad am e B onanc ieu x aga in , a nd a conven t was

not i m pregn able .

T hi s ide a di s po s ed h is he art to cle m enc y He turned .

to ward s the wound ed m an, wh o watched all the ch ange s

'

o f h is co un te nance with anxie ty , and s tretching o ut h is

arm to h im
”
Co m e , s ai d he , I {will not le a v e y o u here R e s t
'

“ “
.

”
o n m e , and let u s return to the c am p ,
.

”
Y es , s a id th e woun ded m an, wh o could h ardl y
credit s o m uch magn ani m ity ; “
but is i t not to h ave
,
'

”
m e h anged ?
h ave my word , replied he ; “
fo r the s econd
”

I
ti me , gr ant y ou y our li fe ”

T h e wounded man fell on h is knee s , : and ki s s ed the .

feet o f h is pre s erver ; but d A rtag nan, wh o h ad no

’
.

l onger any m otive fo r re m aining s o ne ar the ene my

hi ms el f, cu t s hort the s e di s pl ay s o f gr atitude .

T h e gu ard , wh o h ad return ed at the fir s t di s ch a rge

fro m th e b as tion , h ad a nnounced the d e ath o f h is four
co m p anion s T here was, there fore , both ~g reat a s t o nis h
.

m ent and gre at j o y in t h e regi m ent , when the y s a w the

y oung m an return ing s afe and s ound .

D A rtag nan expl ained the s wor d wound o f h is c o m

’

p anion b y a s ortie, which he invented H e recounted .

the de ath o f th e o ther s oldier, an d the eril s the y h ad

_ ,
p
run . T hi s a ccount was the occ as ion o f a verit able
triu m ph to h im . F o r one d ay the whole ar m y s poke
o f tt h 1 s expedition , and h is ro y a l highne s s hi m s el f s ent
to eom p lim e nt h im on h is conduct .

And , l as tl y , as every good a ction bring s its reco m pen s e

with ; it, th at o f-l d A rtag nan h ad the h a pp y re s u lt o f
’

e toring h im the tr a nquillit th t h h ad lo s t In'

r s t o ‘
.
y a e , .

fa ct , the y oun man thought th at he m ight ce a s e to

g
b e di s turbed , s ince , o f h is two ene m ie s , one was kill e
,
d,
a nd it h e other devoted to h i s intere s t s

T hi s tranquillity , ho wever , p 1 oved one thing — th at

.

'
lA rtag nan did not y et thorou g hly e s ti mate h er l ady s hip
’
.
118 T H E C TH REE J MU S KETEERS
I
.

Goo d ! e xcl ai m ed d A rtag nan ; the y think of me

” ’ “

am id s t their ple asures as I h av e th o ught o f the m ln m r

y
we arine s s Cert a inl y I will drink to the m and with all
.
,

my he art too ; b u t n o t a lo ne i r
’
1 .

And d A rtag nan h as tened to the qu a rter s o f two

, .

guards with wh o myh e hadu b ec ome more in ti m ate than

,
.

with any o f th e others tOr invi te th e m to co m e and d rink

, ,
‘

so m e o f aith e d eli ciou s wine o f Anj ou whi ch h ad j u s t ,

,
.
,

i ‘

l " I 21 ‘

o
1
'

O ne of the t wo gu ard s was t be o n ni d uty i m rbhc

eve ning and th e o the i o u ithe morro wq 18 0 the appoint
'
‘

.
, .

ment was m ade fo r the d ay after t : Mu m ad .

v
J
D A rtag nan s e nt h is t welv e b o ttles wo f wine rto the
- :

mes s r oo m o f t h e gu ard s des iring to ha ve it kept wit h

-
. ,

ears ; and on t he d ay o f th e entertain m ent as the dinner

. .
,

was fi xe d for t we l ve o c loc k he s ent Plan chet at nine t o

g t every th ing prep ar ed
e .

Planc h e t ie late d a t th is e x altatio n to Z the dig nit y o f

"
, .
v

butler det erm ined t o p e rfb rm h is dutie s like an intellige nt

,

man ”Tie efi ec t t his h e c alled in the aid o f th e v alet

'

,1
.
,

na m ed F ou rne a1 1 Of o ne of h i s m a s ter 5 gu e s ts and a l s o

’
,1 J ,

th at o f the p retended s oldier wh o h ad s ou ght t o slay o u r

hero and { Wh 0 belonging to no re gi ment, ha d s ince t h e
, ,. .
,
’ ’
G as con s p ared h is lifefl e nter d into d A rtag nan s s erv ic e ;
’

e
m
’
o r,1 rath er in to Pl anchet s
1
, . 5 . 1 c 1

T h e a ppointed dinn er hour being co e the t wo gu e sts -

,

a rrived and took th eir pl ace s and the di s he s were ,

a rr anged upon the table Pl anchet wai ted with a

nap k in on h is arm1 ; Fo u rneau uneo rked the b ottle s ;
.
,

em at w
'
as t e i nv a s n
'
a
“

and Br
I

m
?
’

is o nh j fo
ij th h lid e “

the Wine which see med t o ha ve b een s om ewh a t di

‘

, sturbed ,

b y the s h ak i ng o f t he s jo u rne y mT h e fir s t bo ttle be m g

a li ttle h
t ci k l t ow a rd s the ’ botto m Bris e m o nt po ure d t h e 1

l ee s in to a win e gl as s p eim
' ’
‘
itt ed ,
’ l

to dr ink 1t , for th e poor wretch vy as s t1il very

, ,

wea
Th e
gue s t s , 1 h aving fini s hed th eir s oup were j u s t ,

(E i
onv e yihg t e fir s t gl ss b
h a f wir
ile to their lip s when “ ‘
‘
l ‘ ‘

,
 w
1 11 11 A ware 013 1 511 1 11011 12 .
“
1 1 1;

s uddenl y t he c an non s o unded fro m F o rt Loui s 1and P ont

“ ' ‘

N eu f T h e gu ard s thinkin g th at there {w

. a s s o me u n ,
'

exp ected at t a ck e i ther fro m t he g arris ori l o r fro m the

, ,

En g li s h y m medi ately sei z e d th e ir s word s d Artag nan

' ’
- i ' I l
“

did the s am e and the th ree h as tened out t o ward s their

,

p os ts .
N

B u t s c a rcel y were the y ou t of the m é s e o om befo re “

“

,
,
th ey found the re as O of thi s g re at noi se Crie s o f
‘
"
’

n t
.

“
Lo ng live the king ! ”
Long live the c ardin al! ” “

ever y s ide; ah d dru ms wer e beat it all

'

re echoed on
1

5 ?
m
.

w
In fact, the king , in h i
s i
rhp at ié i
i ce ,
’
h ad ic h
ad e s i

forced m arche s th at he h ad at th at m o me nt a rrived ,

'
'

with a rein force m ent o f ten thou s and m e n H is .

mus ket eers pre ced ed an d

“

pl aced in line with h is co m p an y , with an ex p r es s iv e

W
.

ge s ture s aluted h is friend s and M de T revill e, hiom he

at once recognis ed li
e
.

moh y i n ded th
; four
T he ce re of rec e b eing ‘
l
p t n
‘
e
friend s were soon united .
“
f» J
e x
Eg ad A rtag nan excl ai med d
y o u could not h ave
’

me the dinner will nb t hav”e had e ven

.
,
'
a rriv ed in be tter t i
‘
‘
’

ti m e to get cold I s it no t s o g entle m en P added th e .

,
’

1 w m
‘
m i g w
h
y o u ng i an turn n to the t o gu ard s o he ’
,

pre s ent ed to 13 fr1ends

1

A h ah i s aid Port h o s it ap p é ars tha y o u were

”

t
’ u '
,
.

“
I h O p e, sa id Ar ami s, “
th at ther e ar e
“
no l adi es r
ai
’

’l i
ou r din ner
’

y
d
.

“
I s t h ere any wine tha t is rink ab le 1n t h i s p altry
’
’

p l a c e ? s a i
d A th é m
l ‘

Wh y , s ang D ieu ! there I S our own by c ear fri end, "

a n s wered d A rtagn an
h
' ’ y
'
.
“
l
O u r wih e P s aid A th o s, in ast onlsh i
n etit .
t
“
Y e s , th at which y o u s ent ine .

Wine th at we s ent you P

“
Y e s , y o u kn o w v ery wellf t h at vv1ne fro m the hill s
‘ ’ ' '

o f Anj ou .
(30 THE TH RE E M US K ET EERS . .

Y es , I kno w wh at wine y o u are talking o f ,

Yo ur favo urite wine

A y when I h ave neither ch am p agne nor ch am bertin
, .

Well in the a b s ence o f ch am p agne and ch am bertin

, ,

u m u s t be contented with thi s ”

'

y o .

And s o we g lutton s as we a , re h ave s ent y o u s o m e ,

”
wine h ave we ? s a id Porth
,
s

“
N o but it is the wine whi ch was s ent me by y our
,
”
0rde 1 s
By our order s ? echoed the m u s keteer s
D id y o u s end th ewine Ar am i s ? inquired Atho s ,

N o ; did y ou , Po rth os ? g l .’ ‘
v

. J 1
'

N o did y ou Atho s ?
1

No
I f it was not y ou , said d A rt ag nan,
’
then it was
y our h o s t ”
.

Ou rho s t ?
Y es y our ho s t— Gode an at V ille ro i
, ,
.

“
Fa ith let it co m e fro m who m it m ay no m atter !
, _ , ,

s a id Portho s Let u s tas te it and, if good let u s

.
“
, ,
”
drink it .

N 0 s aid Atho s let u s not drink any wine wit h out

,
“

kno wing wh ence i t co m e s .

’
s aid d A rtag nan
Y u are right Ath os D id none
“
o , , .

of y o u direct the ho s t Go de au to s end me th e wine ? ,

”
,
”
N o and y e t he s ent y o u s o m e in our n ame s ?
H e 1 e is the lett er s aid d Artagn a n and b e pre
,
’

, ,

s ented th e letter to h is co m p anion s .

“
It is no t h is writing s a id Atho s : I kno w h 1s h and
” “
, ,
”
for it was I wh o before we le ft s ettled ou r joint a ccount
, , .

A fal s e letter ! s a i d Portho s indign an tly

”
we h ave “

”
not been i m pri s oned 1 .
1
1

s aid Ar a m i s
1 .

D A rtag nan
’
in a t one of repro ach
, , .
,
”
“
h o w could y o u believe th at we h ad beco m e noi s y ?
D Art agn an gre ws uddenly p ale and a convul s ive
’
,

tre m bling s hook h is li m b s .

“
You frighten m e s aid At ho s ; “
wh at c an have
’

occurred P
E22 T H E -TH RE E) M U S K E T E ERS .

i mplic ated in {what y o u h ave ,

nQ W seen, and th e m1s ery of

”
Ah 1 s ir, 1s t ammere d out Planchet, m ore d e adnt han
1'

alive ah r, wh at1 a n arr ow e s c ape I h ave h ad 1

xs i
1

What, y ou ”r s cal I
1 “
a ’
d A rtag nan, we re y o u
going to dr
T o the si i d i k
11
1
n g o ng 1 t01 r n ione 1 .
c

h ad m
'

littl e gilas s, ot s a i d th at 1 so me «o ne : .

03 . 116 d 1 1
1
1 1
'

1
'1
)11 i -
i . 1 (' l l
N 1 1

Alas ! said Fou rne au , wh ose te eth were ch atterin g

“

wit h frigh t, I wanted to g e t , rid o f hi t hat I m ight

‘‘
m
drink s ome mys el f ”

Gentle m en s ai d d Arta e g
.

”
g n
,
a n a ddr es s ing t h u
’
a rd s , ,

m s t b e awar e th at o ur, e ntertai nm ent w ould be

“

m
y o u u
bu t a el anchol y affai rafterfiwhat has p as sed 1 1 bes e ech
o u , therefore to re e w e gm
.

c” y e x c use s an d let u s po s t pone

y , ,

it till s o m e other d a
y .
no r 1 f .

T h e t wo g uard s co u rte o u s ly acc e p te d the se a p ologie s u ,

and, u nders t anding th at the fo u q friend s wish e dd to u be ,

a lone the y took the ir dep ar t ure 1

W
.
,

hen .
t h e y oung gu a rd a n d the , three m u sk e t e ers : w ere ,

without w itne s s e s the y looked at o n e a nother { 9 1 51111

,
1
1

in st ant, in a way whi ch p ro v ed h ow well the y und erstood

the s eriou s ne ss o f their situ at ion .

Fi rs t s aid Ath o s “l t us q uit t hi s r oo m : a de ad

m
“

e
1
, ,

a n is but s orr y co m p an y
”
1

I r eco mmend y p u to
, 1 .
,

” ’
“ P lan che t, said d A t agg nan,
r “

look to th e bod y o f thi s poor devi l and; s e e th at Ill: is

m
,

bur ied in c on s ecr ated gro u nd ”H e ha d co m itt ed a .

cri m e it is true but h eh ad repe nted o f it ”

, , 1 3 :
1 11
1 .

Ha ving ,
en tru s ted the fun e r a l r i te s o f B
1
1
ris e m q nb to
Bl anchet an d F o u rne au t h e four
,

tted the m e nu
T h e ho s t g a ve the m a n oth er a nd furni s h ed ,

them with fre s h eggs whil s t Atho s hi ms el f fetched , ,

water th em fro m the ,well Aramis and Portho s

were , in a fe wwor ds infp rme d of a l t at ha
.
,

d occurred
W
. .
,
”
s aid d A rta g nan , t o Atho s, m
’

“I
ell ! y o u s e e , y de ar
“
.

friend , it is war to th a d e aa h!
”
1 1
111
.
 WVI N E O F UA NJ OUfiJ i m3
' p

2 ‘
TH E

Atho s sho ok h is h ead .

‘

h e, “
I s ee it
well enough ; but are y o u s u re th at it is she I [ 10 1 3
.

Pe rfe c tly t
”i 1 '
1
!
1 a 11 ev -i 7

d
.1 1 .

a
.

N everth eles s , confes s th { h av e s til ls o me ou b ts

” “
I t .

B u t th a t fleu r de lis upon the s houlder ?

‘ ' '
- 1 N J 6
- 1

I t is an Engli s h wo man , who h as «c om ut e d [ s om e m

ue n
”
e r 1m e in Fr ance , an d h as been br a nded m 0011 ce .

’
f
At ho s, it I S your 1 1111 1 11 tell yo u , r ep e ated d rt ag nan
’
.

u no t re m ember h o w the lt wo ma s a g ree?

”
5‘ D o
y o rk
“
And y e t I
hould h ave thought th a t the other Was
s
‘
h anged h er s d lt h orou g hly ! in ? "
It was d Artagn an wh o sh oo k b h is h ead th i s ti m e 1 PM
’

B u t after all w at is flat b e nd on e PWsaid N th e y ou ng

man .
1 1
“
,

J
,
h " b oa ( 1 .

“
th at git i imp
T h e fac t is , t re ma in 1n t l1 1s l- s os s i
bie ' o
'
' ‘

mann er with a s word ' y s s p e de over one s h ead

,
] a lwa u S <n d ’ 1
,

replie d A th os ; c 15 a rd 1yo u Irriu s t ”g et fre e d ifro rnfl such a

n
1

s itu at ion
” ii i L us t
f . 1 (1 11 ( U
'
lt;
“
‘
. s

Bu t h ow P
“‘
Li st en t try ltd find h e r; hnd f ito roo me it h a n u nd er
'

s tand i n g with h en: S ay -M o 111 111 1 1 pe ace On 1

t le an; I w
t h e h onom o f a g e n 1lb ne 1 e r 1saf 1011 e W
’
ord , m
“

1 >
1
y
or take one s tep to inj ure y o u O n y our p art f g iv e
e a l s oie 1nn oa th to m
, .

m n e ut r al with resp éé t to
,

rn
‘
1 ‘ r
.

me . I f not I w ill go to the ch ancel lor t o th e h ing I an d

, , ,

to th e ex ecuti oner : I v fwill e x cit e 1 1113 1 oo d rt hag ains t 1 1

“ ca
‘
y o u , a n d lw ill decl a re y o w b ra n d e d : I w ill u s e y o u v - f

’
to be tried ; and if y o u are ac quitted well t her , l, o n ,

the word of a g e ntle marimi; 11 1111 11 1111; y o u m self as I

1 1 1 11 1

I
lik e enth is p lan well
ou gh , aid d t ; but s ’
Ar ag nan’ 1 11

h o w am I to find her ? 0

l1 11
‘5
T ime my 1 d ear 1 frien d— ti me brin g s o p po rtun
"
it
o p po rtu i y
n t is m an
’
s ina ft ing aie p t he
.
°1
more " o ne a s g
s hipp e d, the m ore one g a in s when he kn o ws h ow t o
”
wait .
R 3

Y e s , “b ut to ! wa i t s u rro u n ed n by as s as sin s 1 and

d
‘
.

poi s oner s .
1 l1 1
.
1
1 2 4 T H E T H RE E . M U S K E T EE RS .

”
“
B ah ! id Atho s Go d h as pre s erved u s hitherto
sa ,
“
,

and God will pre s erve u s s till .

“
Ye s B e s ide s we are m e n and after all it is our
.
, , , ,

”
bu s ine s s to ri s k ou t li e s ; but s h e ? added d Art agn an
v
’
, ,

in a lo w voice .

”
“
And wh o 15 s h e ? as ked Atho s .

’
Con s tance .

M ad am e B o nanc ie u x ? T r ue ! I h ad forgotten a =
,

Poor fello w ! I forgot th at y o u were in

“
'
, ,

s aid Atho s
“
. .
.

love
Well s aid Aram i s but did y o u not s ee b y the
.

“
, , ,

ver y letter th at y o u fo u nd fo n the wretch wh o was killed ,

th at s h e was in a : c o nv e nt ? O ne ia u ite s afe in a

.
-
.

convent and as s oon as the s iege o f L a R o c h e lle is

,

ended I pro m i s e y o u o n m y o wn p art

m
, ,

Good s a id A th o s go od ! Y e s y de a r Ar a m is , ,
.
,
”
we k n0w th at y our v ie ws a ll tend t owa rd s religion
. ,
.

”
“
I am onl y a m u s keteer te m poraril y s aid A ram 1s ,

meekly .

I t would s ee m th at he h as no t he ard fro m h is

"

m 1s tre s s fo r a long s a id Atho s im a whi s per , ,

t o p d A rtag nan ;
’
bu t do n ot «m ake any re mark— we “
‘
‘
-

kno w it .

Well s ai d Portho s it s ee ms to m e th a t there is

m
“
, ,

a ver y s i ple m e an s .

A nd wh at 1 8 th at ? de m anded d Art agn an

‘ ’
.

She I S in a conven t y o u s ay ? continued Portho s

”
,
.

”
Y es 1 «
1

Well oon as th e s ie g e is r a
,
i s ed we will t ake her
as s ,

o u t o f thi s co nvent .

“
B u t fir s t we m u s t k no w w
,
h at convent s h e is
,
.

”
Ah th at 15 true s a id Portho s
, ,

m y de ar d A rt ag nan
’
“
B u t do ou not s ay s a id
y , ,

Atho s th at it is the queen wh o h as cho s en thi s convent

,
“

for h er ?
‘
Y es . I believe s o at le as t ,
.

We ll, then Portho s will help u s in th at c ase

,
. .
’

How s o pr a y?
,
a s ked Portho s .
 TMUS K ETE ERS
‘ '

T HE T H REE " l
1 26 .

at h is in s tig ati on al re ad y made lie uten ant g en e mlfl T h e

,
-
'

re s ult was th a t w ith the altern ative o f s eein g S c h om

'

, ,

and d e B as s o p erre d es e rt the a r m

l ‘
m i the er om
’
f
y y w e o ,

to g ive e ach a s e par ate c omm and

l
aS SOm p ie 1 re
ll d B
“

p e e '
.

took h is s tat ion at th e north o f the city from L alen t o ’

,
'

D o mpie rre ; the Duke of A n g oule m e t

e as t fro m Do m pierre to P erign y ; and
,

th e so uth fr om P erign y t o A ng o ulin

' ‘
‘
.
,

H is ro y al highne s s fixed h is qu arter s at D o m p ierré ;

:

h is maj es ty was s om eti me s at E s tr e an d s om et im e s at , “

J arrie ; an d the c ardi nal e s t abli s hed h i m s el f at a

hou s e without any entr enchment at Po rlt de la
,

u p on t he do wns
'

” T hu s h is ro yal hi gh ne s s o verlook ed Bas s om ie n’e :

.

'

, p
the king the Duke of Angoul eme and th e cardin al
,
!
’

M de Scho m ber g r " 7 1

range m ent h ad be e
. .

A s s oon a s thi s a r
'
n e s tab lilsh e d ,

the y h ad occupied the m s elves in driving the Engli s h

fro m t h e is le .

T h e conjuncture was favour able T h e Engli s h — wh o , .

above all thing s , req uire to b e Well - fed in order to prove

'
‘ ' ’

good s oldier s — e ating onl y s alted provi s ion s and b ad

b is cuits , h ad m an y inv alid s in th eir c am p } and , more
ov er , th e s e a— which ” as , at th at s e as on o f t h e ye ar , w '

5highl d nge rou s on a ll the wes t er

‘
n c o as t s — was ever
y a y'
d ay dis as trou s to s o m e s mall ve s s el o r o ther , and t h e
'
'

s ho re , fro in th e p o mt o f lA ig u illo n to th e trenches , was

' ’

l1te rally fs tre we d a t ev ery tide with t h e wr eck s o f pinn ace s ,

’

cutt e r s , and T h e reSu lt was, th at s ho uld the

'
‘

kin g s t roop s even keep within thei r c amp, Buckingh am

’
,

wh o re m ain ed in the I s le o f Rh é o nl y fro m obsti nac

‘

y ,

wo u ld so o ne r o r lat e r b e obliged to rais e the s iege r

’
‘
f f
.

B u t as M n d e T oir as announ ced t h at ever y thing

'
'
,
l’ ’
prep aring in the ene m y s aS s ault g th e
’

kin g concluded on ad o p ti
j '
and is s ued c
-'

'
t el ne c e s s ary order s fo r a
hO u r intention being not to make amj urnal of the
‘

o ,

s i eg e b ut m erel y to record th o s e e vent s in it which be ar

,
 T HE _ RE D I D O V E
’
-
C OT I T AV ERN . m7
'

upon the h iStory rwe are; rel ating we sh all 1be co nte n ted
’ ’

wth
'
i h i d d
'

i s t a t n g u t h a t wt e er
n t e r p r s e s u c ce e e to 1 the gre at

sati s faction of the 1 k i ng sa nd the gre a t g l o r y o f 3 the

“
' '
- .
, .
,

cardin al { Th e Engli sh ; ( be aten ; b ack fo ot r b y foot ,

. .
‘

co nqu er ed in every e ndo u nte r trodde n d o virn rin the ir

'
1 1
. ’

p a s s a ge f ro m '
th e i
s le , ( w ere co m p ellsed L t o n T e em b a rk ,

leav ing on t h e field o fi b at tle two th ou san d me n among St

, , ,
'
who m gwere fi v e i co lonels three lie u te nant c olone ls t t wo
‘

e w
, ,

a nd twenty g e ntle m en u df
’

h undred and fi fty

w
’

a l it a el l a fo r p ec e s o f wc anno n and six t fl a g s

q u y s, s u i y ,

which las t were conv ey e d to P ari s by (Cl aude de S t

’
- "
'
. . .
. .

S i m on and s u s pended with gre at po m p to the arch ed

,

ro of o f N tit re Da m e
"

-
.

'
Te D aw ns we re s ung in the cam g and s oon spre ad
'

the mselve s then ce thro u g h out th e whole of Fr ance ; .

'
1

T h e c ardin al was : th us at lib erty 110 c arry o u ' t he

’
1 '
.

s ieg e, with out h a ving , at lea s t for t h e ti m e an r eas on 1

y ,

to be apprehen s ive o f the Engli s h 1 1 . r .

1
.
1

B u t a8 we h av e j us t i s aid the s ecurity : was onl y

,
1
. 1 ,

mom entary z An envoy o f the D uke o f B ucki ng ha m o ne ,

wh s o e n a m e w a s M on ta g ue h a ving b e e i
i 's e iz ed t h ey , ,
1

foun d upon h im p ro o fs o f lea gue bet ween t h e Em pire

. . .
,

Sp a in E ng land; and L orr aine ; T h is leag u e was for m ed

'
r r :
.
,
.

ag a i n s t Fr a nce .

A nd ia t he qu arters o f B uckingh am : which h e h ad

1 i 1

b ee n forc e d ; to iab an don p re c ipitate ly, th ere h ad b een :

. . 1
'
q

found p apers c o n rm ing —as the cardin al de c l are s in h is

— fi ;

m em oirs A h a ex is tenc e of th is leag u e and eth np ro misfl

’
;
:

'
grea tl y Mad am e de iChe vreu s e and cons equen i
t
'
ing

y
l
, ,

the qu ee nmr ih u r 1; 1

inal tha
: 1

R awas upo n t h e x card

1 1 1 1

t all th eires p o ns ibli y

i
. -

'

t
re s ted ; fo r a man can never be an ab s olu te minis te r "

wi thout being 3 res p o ns ib le u ; O n 1t h is a c count; a ll 1 the '

‘
~
1 -

res ource s of his v as t g e

I I n i
u s lwe e e x erte d b y nig h t and r
r z
l
i
' .
'

day a nd oc c u p ie d rin lis t ening to th e { le ast b re ath th at 1

‘
r .
,

s tirre d in an y one of the gre at r ea l m s o fi E u rOp e

'
.

T h e c ardin al was fwe llu a ware ao f nthe a ctivity and I

.
1 N
, ,

ab o ve all o f th e h atred o f B uckingh a m I f th e f le ag u e

~ '
‘

, .
1 28 T H E T H REE
“

which thre atened France s ho uld triu m ph all h is influence ,

‘

would be lo s t T h e policie s o f Sp ain and Au s tri a would

. .

h ave e ach its repre s ent ative s in the c abinet at the ‘

L ou v re wh e re they h ad as y et onl y p arti s an s He '

'

, .
,
.

Richelieu , th e EF re n ch m ini s te r the m ini s ter e m ph atically ,

n ation al would be ruined ; and the king wh o even

, , ,

whil s t he was obe y ing him like a child h at ed h im as a ,

chi ld h ate s its mas ter s would ab andon h im to t h e co m ,

b ined ve nge ance o f h is ro y al h ighne s s and the queen .

He s houl d be ruined hi m s el f and perh ap s Fr ance with ,

h im ,
and thes e were di s as ter s th a t he was bound to
.

pre vent .

On thi s account courier s beco m ing m ore nu merou s ,

ever y in s t ant were s een s ucceeding e ach other by night

,

and b y d ay at th a t s m all hou s e at the Pont de la Pier re ;

‘
, ,

in which th e c ardin al h ad fixed h is ho me

.
‘
.

T here were m onk s wh o wore the m on as ti c h abit s o ,

ill th at i t was e as y to recogni se the m as belonging

to th e church m ilit ant ; wo m en a little a wk ward in
.
,
.

their p a ge s co s tu m e s the loo s en ess o f who s e dre s s e s

’
,
. -

would not entirel y c o nc e alu t h e ir rounded for m s ; and

.

countr y m en with bl ackened h and s but i fine li m b s

,
'
, ,
,

wh o m ight be kno wn fo r m e n of qu alit y at a le ague s ' ’

1

di s t ance .

O ther vi s it s too there were m ore di s agree able ; fo r it

, , ,

h ad been t wo or three ti m e s reported th at the c ardin al

had n arro wl y e s c aped as s as s in ation ,It is true th at the .

ene m ie s o f his e m inence decl ared tha t it was h e hi ms el f

'

wh o h ad e m p lo y e d th es e u ns k ilful as s as s ins s o th at he
~
"

m ight o n occ as ion h ave the right o f retali ation : but

, ,
“

we should b e lieve ne ith e r w h at m inis ters : s ay nor wh at ,

their ene m ie s s ay
Yet thi s did not prevent t h e cardin al wh o s e m os t
.

1
,

violent detr actor s never c alled in que s tion h is per s on al

cour age fro m making man y noctu rn al exped ition s ;
,

s o m eti m e s to c om m unic a te i m port ant order s to t h e .

1
.

Duke o f Angoul em e s o m etim es to enter into coun cil

1
-
,
1 . .

w ith t h e king and s o m eti m e s to C on fer with so m e

,
,
. .
' ‘
t3o HI EI R T H RE E IMU S K ET E E RS
-
.

o m e o ffic er of r ank wh o is m
'

1 “I t i is s aking h is nightl
y
”
round s s a id
,
Atho s turning to ward s His t c o mp anio ns ,
.
.

“
Wh at wi ll y ou do gentle m en? r 1 1 ”
,
9 1 3
2 11 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 11

Wli0 are s a id the s ame v o 1 c e

'

1
“ 1 1
in th e s ame . 1

c
,

o mman d ing tone Repl y or y ou t may fi rid y our s el ve s

.
,

in s o m e trouble fo r y o ur di s obedience s ‘
.
’ 1 1
1

”l
i1 K 1ng s mu s k etee rs !
“ 1
. an s wered Atho s, i m or e th an
ever convinced th at he wh o thu s q ue s tioned h im rh ad
‘
.
1 1
,

th e right to do s o {9 1 .
mm 1 h 11 1 1 1 1 1
. .
c 1
”

O f wh at c o m p any i A
'
‘ ‘i ’ 1
u

“
Co mp an y o f T re v ille z fi s qn £ m1 f 1 1 1
1
1 1 1

“ '
1 Adv an ce and g it e an acco unt ot wh atf you are
,
1
.
1 1 1 1 . 1

m 1 1 1; ?
' 1

doin g h e re cat thi s 11 11 111 3 1 1 '

1 ‘ 1 1 1 1
1
1
1 1 1 1
1
1 1
. . .

r Th e rth re e c o m pa nion s a d v anc e di wi fih t h eir t e ar s a

o 1 ' ’

l ittle d ro o p 1ng fo r th e y we re all no w

11
,
‘
n c on vince d th at
the y h ad to deal wi th one m ore p o werful th anthems elves
' ‘

T he y left Atho s to be their s p ok e s man

1 .
1 1 1

1 0ne o f the t wo hor s e m e n— h e wh 0 h ad s p ok e n the 1

s econd ti m e—was about ten p a ce s be fore h i s co m p ani o n

A t h o s mad e a s ign to Porth os and Arami s t o re main

.

‘
1

'
in th e s am e m anner in the re ar and adv anced alone
‘
1
"

, .

’
“ 1Excu s e u s s ir s aid Ath o s b u t lwe did no t kno w
”
, , ,
“ 1
1

w h o y ou were and y o u m ay s e e t ha t we [ kept a g ood

'

,
” ' 1m
look out 1
1

l 1 1 1 1 1

Your name B s a id I t h e o ffi ce r, w
.

“
h o cov ered p art s f ' '

h si f ce w ith h i c lo a k H 9 1 1
1
1 1 1
a s
Bu t yo u y our sel f S 1r s ai
.
.

”'
d A th o s , wh o
'
“ 1 1
, ,

b e indigna n t at th i s qu es tioning , g iv e m
,
M 1
‘
“ “

"
so m p h i h uth u s to i m
’
e roo f th a t y”o u h a ve t e r g t u e s t o n e i .
'
Your n am e ? s aid the c av alier a s econ ti me, letti n g
“ 1

h is clo ak fall s o th at h is counten ance mi g ht be s een

,
.

1 “
tT h e c a rdin a l ”
c r ie d th e a s tounded
. m 1
u s
1
keteer ! ’ 1

”
Your n am e ! repe ated h is e m inence a th 1rd t1me f “ f ' “
,

s a1 d he ’ H ill
1 4 f ! .
( i I " f
a
f
1 1

T he c rdin l m de ig i to h i t w h 1
'

a a a a s u s e q u e r
y o .
1
,
1 1

’
afl s l
a ppro a ched h 1m 1 1 1 a 1 1
1

m T hes e three mu s keteers will follo w u s s aid h e in

“
,
1 1

a lo w voice :
“
I do not w i s h i t to be k n o w n f t h a t i l
 T H E REb
' ' ’

Do v E
‘
I 1 5
1 ?

have le ft the camp and by mak ing th em follo w u s ,

“
,

we s h all b e ce rtain th at they will not tell any bne

1 f ” 1
.

We are gentle men my lord s aid Atho s :

“ ”
, ,

for 011r word s afnd d 0 m

'
t b e do bt labent 11 5 !
' ‘
1
n o u 1

GM we 1 0 5
,
' ” V
11 11 to k ee p a s ecret 1 V .
,
'

T h e cardin al fi xed h is p 1e rc1ng e ye s upon the d aring

—
> 1
“

sm el t er 51 V ? ” .
1 11 1 11 1 1 1
1

”
Y o u h ave a fine e arh M Ath o s
'
“
said th e cardinal .
,
1
,

b u t no w li st en tb th is 1t 18 no t th ro ugh d i str ust that I

“1 ‘
l
1 ’ '
'
1 '
.

to f oll ow the r it i f
m l
n s e c u rity
‘
“ i s o r y O w ’ ‘
.

tw o co mp an ion s are Me ssrs Portho s -

.

'
Ye s our e mi ne nee wh ils t th e two
‘
“ 1

y
~
, ,

mu sk eteers c ame forward 1

'
1 kn owy ou; ge ntle men , said the C ar
i

y o u I am aW are tha t 011

‘ "

and I am s orr
.

fo r it ; ut I kno w th at
y
and loyal g e nt e l m e n I and th at y o u may s a ,

M Atho s do me the honour there fore to acco mpany

, , ,
“

I
.

me 111 1 h f ” d h all hav e a n

‘
‘ 111, y u r t w o rie nd s an t hen s 1
,
”
e s cort wh ic h m g ht e cite th e e vy o
i x n f h'
is maj es t
'
y if we
m
,

s h o u ld 1
mee t h i .

three mu sket eer s bo wed to the very neck s

'
“T he of th eir
' '
h o rg é s f) In l
’
l

11 1 “ 1 Well, i my i h o no u r,
’
s ai d Athos ,
“ L
y oi
irt
m
,

a n
r ie e e t ke w ith y o u W e h a t/ e m et a us
’
.
i

so m e si nis ter fac es ou the ro ad ; and We h av e e ve n h ad a

' ’
1

de a rre l'
w vi th fo u r o f the m a t the Red D o ve C ot
‘

- .

A q u arrel ! And on wh at account, g e ntl emen ? sa id ? ”

t e C ardin al
'

I
h T h at 13 e x actl y wh y I h ave h ad the h o no h r te warn
do not like ru ffie rs yo u k no w
.
‘
'

,
‘
.

o
y ur e m in e nc e o f w h a t h as j us t h a p p e ne d ;
‘
fo r y o u m
1
ight
'

he ar it fro m other s and fro m a fal s e report be ind uced , , ,

I

to beli eve t h at we h ad been at fault

“
And wh at were the con s equence s o f thi s
‘

de m anded the c ard ina l fro wning WW W ”

'

1 1
.
,
“J
Wh y my friend Aram is there h as rec eiv ed a s ligh t
,
‘

wound in the a m
r , whic h , ho we v e r, as
'
y our e m inen ce
1 32 11 11 13 1

TH REE MUSKEI EE R S . .
1
1

m ay not h in der , h im fro m m ou n tin g to th e

, s ee ,
will .

ass ault to m or ro w if you r e minence co mm an ds t h e

-
, ,

Bu t y o u a re n o t th e k ind o f m en t o t ake ,woun ds

in th at wa
y s ai d t h e c ar di
,n a l 1 C oma be fr an k ,
“

e e e
. ,

g n t l m n ; y ou cert ai n ly g av e so me in re tu rn : 9 con .

fe s s y o ur s elve s ; y ou know t h at I h av e the r i g h t t o

pronounce ab s olu tion
I ; my lo rd s ai d Ath o s , 1 d id no t; ev en draw 1 m
, y ,

s w or d ; b u t I t ook h im w it h w ho m I w as en a
g g ed up , ,

in my ,arm s and th rew h im ou t o f th e win do w ; and

w
,

I
,

con t in u e d A t ho s i t h s o m e sligh t he sit at ion fa nc y

“

th at in fallin g he b rok e h is t hig

, ,
-1
.
, ,
”
Ah ah 1 s aid the c ar din al ; and y ou M Por thos?
“
“
. .
, ,

I my lo rd kno win g th at sword mp lay is fo rb idde n

, ,

s eiz ed a ben ch and g av e one of thes e b r i g a nds a blo w

I
,

wh ich th ink b rok e his sho ulder 1

1

and y o u 1 M
, , 1 1

V er y well s aid t he car din al , 1

,

A r am is ”
,’

aI
1

I m y lord s am nat ur ally v e ry g ent le and am

, ,
1
, ,

b esi de s as y ou r e minence p er h ap s d oes no t k no w o n .

I
, ,

th e poi n t o f t ak in g order s wan t ed to ,lead away m y ,

co m p an ion s w h en one o f t h e s e wret ches t re acher o u sl y

,

s t abbed m e t h rou g h th e le ft arm ; my p atience th en

failed m e I
drew my s wo rd1 in turn and as h e re t urned , ,

I I
,

to th e ch ar g e fanc y th at fel t, as h e t h rew him s elf

, .

me th at t he We apon p ass e d throu g h his b o d y I

,
. .

onl y k now t h at h e fel l and see med t o be arrie away

c d
, .

with h is t wo com p anio ns

d
.

T h e fien d g en tlemen 1 s ai th e r c ard inal three

“

men di s able d i n a t av ern q u arrel ! ou h av e rath e r Y

act iv e h and s B u t b y t he way wh at was the cause of , ,,
1

q
.

the u arrel ? . 11 1 1 1 1
'

T he s e wret che s wer e dr unk 1 s aid , .

know in g t h at a l ady h ad arr ived at , th e t av ern th at

,

e ve n i ng th e y wan te d to fo rce her

,

An d was th is wom an y oung and p ret t y dem an ded

th e c ar din al with som e an x iet y ,
 1 1 5 1 13
1 1 T HREE 1 MU S K ET E E RS
’

34
1

1 1

"

not turn ou t f t o 3 y our ad a v nt ag e In the m eant ime ,

’

1 1
.
,
.
: , ,

T he c ar din al di s mounted and the t hree mu sk eteer s

,
1
,
1

idid th e s ame ; Th e c a rdin al ca st the

arm o f h is equ e rry ; a nd the mus k eteer s faste ned their s
'
,

to the s hutter s T h e l andlord s tood o n the s te p of h is

.

door : to h im th e car din al was only ( an offi c er c o m ing

,
:

to v is it a lad y .
yo
1 1
11 ,
1
. u
'
1
'

T
56
Hav e y o u any ch amb er , o n th e g round fl oor where
1
.
,

th e se g e ntlemen may, w ait fo r m e by g od fi re ?

o
1
_ ,

inquired the cardin al f ; M y v

'
nr 1
1 1 1 1 1

T h e lan d lord pe ned th e door o f a la r g e roo m Wh e

. ; ,

o re 1
1

a s orr y clo s e d ir on s to v e lh a d dat al y be e n rep lao e d b

‘

, ,
y r

a l a rge an d excellent chi mne y f a 31 .

1 1 1 ,
”
“
I h av e th i s , rep lied h e d . 1,
1
1 1

a
.

T h at will do excellentl y s aid the c

”
rd 1 nal l§f1 En te r
-

, .
.
,

gentle m en and be ple as ed to wait fo r j me h e re : L sh all

,
'

not b e m ore th an h alf an h o u r r a v 1 11 ,

’’
f 1
1
.

And whil s t the th ree mu s k e te e rs e nte red 1the c h ambe r 1 1 1

on the grou nd floo r th e c ardin al , without re qu irin g any ,

d ire c t io n a sc e nd e d . the s tair s, like a m an : w o has no

r
h
1
,
1
n eed to be told the way 1 .
1

1 1
1
,
1
1.

x
5 4 11 5 I I”!

C H A PT E R X LI V
. 1 1 1 1

1 1
. 1:

T H E UT I L I T Y OF S OV
T E FU NN E LS .
1 11 ! 1 1

I eviden t that, u nco

.

T was ns c iou sly ; and 1mo v edi5 1111e b y

,
1

th eir chiv alrou s an d advent u r ou s ch aracter, rour three .

1
‘

friend s h ad r endered a s e rv ic e to ; s o me : one 1wh o m th e

, . 1 1 1

lcardina l h o noure d with h i s o wn esp eci al p rote ction 1 .

1 B u t wh o was th at is o m e one
1 1
q ues t i on
, .

which o u n three m u s keteer s firs t as k ed t h e ms elv es ; 1 th e n

'
1

,
.
,

finding th at none of th e re p lies whic h th e ir 1 intellj g e nce , . 1 1

s u g g e s te d were s ati sfa ct or y ; Portho s calle d ut h e rlarid lo rd

'

1
.
,

P orth os and Arami s p l a ced .

'
th em selv e s rat a t able land ,
 THE UT I L I T Y A OF ‘
VE
S T OT FU N N E LS .

and
'

p d o wn
'

b eg an 1to pl ay w h ilst : 1Atho s walk ed

,
u . .
the

. A s rh e walk ed and m e d it ate d, h e p ds s e d and rep as s ed

a y 1 - ‘

b efore the funnel of: the former

'

h ad bee n
'
'
,
.

h al fs broken o ft} and o f which the other went into

. . .

the ap art me nt ab ov e i E ach 1 ti me 1 th at h e ,passed he

‘ '
" ‘ -1 »
.

he ard the murmur o f s peech , which at l as t attracted

h d d d i i i h d v s om e
'

h is n oti c e A t h o s a pp ro ac“ e ,
an s t n g u s e l f

word s , which cert ainl y a e ared to de s e rve s o : m uch

pp
att en tion , th at he made s ign s to h is t wo i co m p anions 1

to be s ilent; and : re mained hi m s el f iWith h is e ar be nt

'
" f

do wn to the level of the lo wer c p e ning o f the fu nnel

' -
. 1

”
Li sten , my l ad y , s a id the c ardin al “
T h e bu s i ne s s .

is im port ant S it do wn , and let u s talk about it

. .

”
M y l ad y l m uttere d A tho s l 1

I
am li s te ning t0 u y o ur 1 ern
.
'
'
ir1e nce with the greate s t
attention , replied a v o ice, 1whic h made h im s t art d i ’

r A sm all v e s s el, with an Englis h c rew; W h o s e c apt ain

“
.

is devote d to m e, awaibs uy o u :at1 : th e n m outh o f the

' '

'
: f

Ch arente , at the Fort de la Pointe it will s ail to morro w .

”
m orn ing u
’
.1 n. l .

”
“
I m u s t go there to mg h t, then P .
-

D ire c tly 1; tha t 1 5 to s ay , as s o on as y o u h ave received

'

w
.

my ins tru ctio ns z Two me n, h om y ou will find : atithe ~

'

. .

d oorriwh e n y o u go 1 o ut, Will e s co rt y o u Y o u will let ma . .

y

d e p art fi rs t, and t h en ; h alf an hou r a ft r , y ou W1ll1 d ep a r t

e
f
.

our s el f
y .

11 5 Y e s , my
"
. return to t h e co mm i ss i on
lord . N o w, le t: us

with which y o u are ple as ed to ch arg e m e ; and as I am

. .

,
.

anxiou s to co ntinu e 1 t o m eri t c o nfi de nc e ! d e i n to

"

y o u r
g
u
,

explain 1 t; in cle arian d lpreci s e t e r ms, s o th at I iirnay not

» , .

”
m ake any error .

1 T here : was a m o ment o f profound s

'
.
ilence bet ween the
, . .

I t 1 was e v ident th at the ; cardin alWas

“

t wo -

We ig hing ib eftrreh and the ex p re ss io ns n h e was about to

'
'
'
'
: -. .

u s ey and tha t th e lad y w a s collectin

g a l
l her 1i ntelle c tu al r

'
faculti es to under s t and wh at h e was going to s ay ; and toi
engr ave it o n her m e mor y when it was s aid .
 6 5
T H E T H REE '
M U S K E T EE RS
'

13 .
.

.
Atho s took a dvantag e o f thi s m o ment to tell h is t wo
1
’
.

co m p anion s to fas ten the door in s ide and to b eckon

‘

1
, .

the m to co m e and li sten with h im T h e two m u s keteer s

1

.
,

wh o loved their e as e brought a ch air fo r e ach of the m

'

1
, ;

S elv es a nd o e for Atho s ; T h ey all three s e ate d

’

1
,

the m s elv es wit the ir he ad s clo s e together and their e ar s

“

, ,

wide open
You are going to Lon do n
.

“
” re s u m ed th e c ardin al; ,
”
“
on arriving there y o u will s eek out B uckingh am 1
,

I would ob s erve to y our em inence s ai d her l adys hi p

.

,
.

th at s ince th e affair o f the d iam o nd 1 s tu d s in which the : .

,
.

”
duke h as al ways s u s p ected m e hi s grace lm is tru sts m e ,
1
.

Bu t y o u h ave no occ as io n thi s it ime

’

”
s a id 5th e
"
,

c ardin al , to g ain h is c onfid e nce : yo u are 1 t o p res e nt

'

1 '
.

s el f fr ankl y and lo y all y , as an am b a s s adre s s

”

y our . .

”
and lo all ! t d the l d w ith
y y re p e a a an
1
e y
1

1 1
.
,
'

inde s crib able ac c e nt o fi d u p licity .

1

”
Y e s fr ankl y and lo y all y r eplied the c ardin al in the
‘5
, , ,

s am e tone ; all t h is b u s ine s s

~
m u s t be tr an s acted
'
1 1
1
~

”
Openl y .
1

I will follo w y our e m inence s in s truction s to th e v ery

’
’

letter and I wait for you to give t he m ”

,
. .
.

1
You will go to B uckingh am fro m me and y o u will
1
“
1
.
,

tell h im ! th at I am aware o f all the preparations he is

makin g ! but th a t I do not m uch di s turb m y s el f about
,

the m s e e 1ng th at at the fi rs t s tep o n which he venture s

‘

- 1
.
, ,

I will de s troy the queen

,
”
.

1 1 Will he believ e th at y our e m in e n ce i s in a conditi on ’ ’

”
to execute y our thre at s P 1

Y es fo r I am in po ss e s s ion o f proo fs
,
.
1 1 1

It will be nece s s ar y fo r m e z t 01be a ble to s ub m it t he se

'
“

”
proo fs to h is ex am in at ion
’

1 1 11 1

Cert ain ly and y o u M 111 s ay to h im fir s t th a t I s h all

.

1 , ,

u b lis h rt h e re p o rt o f B oi s Robert and o f the M a rqui s de

‘

1
p ,

B e au tru concerning the intervie w Which t h e d u loe h ad

,
1 '
1 1
'

With the queen at t h e house o f the high con s table s lady

’
’
-
.
, ,
.

on th e evening ; th at the f l atte n ga vé a mas ked b a ll 1 and 2

.
.

ou w ill ad d — in o rd e r to le a ve 11 i m no roo m fo r doubty

f

y
1
c .
 13 8 . 3 fg T'
H E J
T H R EE
e

, 3
“
T h at
~
1 s r1g
’
3 h
ht, my 3 lady ; t at is righ t ; y ou ~ h a ve an

addre ss ed thi s
Bu t,;
co m pli m , if,
res u
“
med ushe
h or th e C cardin al ; h ad; j ust
s pite o f al l the se
to
ent
wm
in
.

re as on s , the duke s hould not s urren der, a nd s houl d

continue to me n ace F rance a a 4 73 1 33 ”
331 3 131 13 3 3 3 3

“
T h e du k e is in love like a mad man , 3 or rath e r lik e
.

a ni nn y, re p li ed Richelieu ,
“
L ike the P al ad ins o f old ,
thi s war to obtain a gl ance
.
:
.

I f he kno ws th at the war will , 3

her honour, a nd per h aps her 1ib erty g) I! 3 warrant flyo u

’

3 3 3

”
th at h e wil l look t wice at it before h e de ci des 3 i r3 m . t
e

a
‘f
B ut y e t,
”
sa
H id t h e 3 3 la d y , w ith a p e r s ev e r a n ce {w hi ch
pr oved th at s he was deter min ed to un der stan d all th at
was included in th e m ion th t h wa ; ab ou t t o * '
‘

is s a s e s '

undert ake but y e t, if he s hould persi s t P.”3 3

”
“
I f h e p e rs is ts P
3
s aid the cardinal 3 “
B u t it is
, . 3 3

not prob able l

It 1 5 po s s ible i rej oin ed the lady
H is e m inence p au s ed and t hen
3 3
”—

—
I f h e per s i s ts ?
'
,

continued : I f h e per s is ts d well I 3 mu st p ut my hope

“
, ,

in o ne : o f tho s e eve nts 3 wh ic h j c h ang e the i fo rtu nes n é f

‘

-
: 3
,
3 3
,

e minence would cite to me s o m

I f y our e o f thos e f

hi s toric al events s aid her lady s hip I might po s”s ibl y ’

,

p articip ate in y our confid ence cenc erin ng th e f u tu re r .

Well look for

“
s aid Richelieu whe n, ,

for a caus e very s i m il ar to th at w hic h no w actu at es

'

the duke , 3 h is maj e s ty H enr y

3 3
gloriou s m e m ory;
went in sr 6 ro , to inv a de at th e s am e t ime rb oth Fl and er s
.
, .

and It al y in order th at he m igh t ras s ail Au s tri a - o n b ot h

'
'

»
,
.

s ide s ; did not an , event : oc c ur wh ich u s av e d Au s tri a ?

'
3
3

Wh y s hould the king o f F r ance r not {h av e th e s ame

good fortune as mm l
’
_3

3 .

“
3 Your e m inence a lludes to the ass ass in s kni fe in '
’

”
the R u e de la F é ro nniere ?
f
.
33 3 3 3 3 3

”
Preci s ely s o , s aid the c ard inaLmr 1 m i
‘
‘ ‘

.
 '

THE V E l F UN N ELS 23 9
'

- .

J ‘L is
y ou r
‘
em ine nc o t a fraid that : t he fa te
e I ofi
''
11 '

R aVaillao w ould d et e r tho se who m

.

l ‘
ight bé for an ins ta nt ‘

te p ted to imit ate h s

m i 4 M ! 1 u i " .
-
,

I n all t im e s and all c o u ntrie s espe cia ll y 1m tho s e ,

c oun tr ie s whic h iare d ivfikled with in by relig io u s u fa ith

‘
v

there are al ways fanatics wh o would be well co n t entedl

,
‘

to b e as ma rty rs And here at 'this very

‘
.
, ;

momen t it oc curs to me tha t the Pu rita ns are fmiou s

,
i

against the D uke of B uckingham and that their ,

”
p reacher s Sp eak o f h im as the anti C hrist -
.

”
Well ? in quired h é r la dyship i 1 in v
“
H

Well continued the l cardina l in a carele s

1

s tone
. " ,

s
,

5 it wou l
, ,
‘
d be only n ecessa ry fo r insta nce tO J find s o me
:
, ,
‘

young beau tiful and clever w oman wh o wanted t o

, , ,
'
take revenge upon the duke S uch a wo mam may be
’
.
.

found . Th e duke has be en a favoured laver ; and if he

r
'

has s own m u ch a ffe c tion iby his promises o f eternal

,

ta ney he has a s o so w m
n l
uch hatred by his con

m
,

tinu al in
'
fi d e lit i
es
i
y a k
.

“ U ncu es ti
l o n ab l fi re r ed h e r ladyship co ld ly, '

suc h a! woman ma y be fou nd ”

.

“
Well such a wo man would by puttin g t h e knife o f
,
1
,

C leme nt or of Rav a illac into the han ds o f an assassin

‘
,

acco m p li ce in
'

“
Y e s l b ut -
She
r
w ou ld a be an
z
as sa sa
'

M H av e'the a coorrip lic e s o 7 i R av aillac, or of J a cques

C leme nt, e v er bee n di sc o v ere d? ” i1 a

No , '
i rif statio n fo r

I t is no

d o y ou n ot b e lie ve , th en, t hat the b u rnin g

'

What ,

th e p alae e was an acciden t of c hance P as k edJ R ichelie u

t )
,

in the v e ry t one '

fl lwith whic h h e ifwou ld ha v e asked the '

m ost u n impo rtant ques tiOn l I v

'

h
t

l
I , my ord , replied h e rilady s ip ,“ I ha e no b e e f '
'
'

v '
li
a bou t it I I cite a fabt no th ing mo re
.
' r
Only , I l wo u ld
“ u
.
‘
1 4 01 f ii T H E : T H R E E M SKE TE E R S U .

s ay , th at i f I were c alled M ad m i elle de M n t pens ier e o s o

or t h queen M ari e d e Mé di i I sho l d t ake fewe
,
’

e c s, 1 u r
p recau t ions t h an I do n w t ha t I am simply na ed
m
‘

o
L ady de Win t er
,
”

s ai d tR
p
i h liu
.

Th a t is qu i t e f air wh a t i i t
‘
c e e s
th en t h at y requi re 7
, ,
’
ou
I re qu i re an order rat i fy in g beforeh and w h at ever I
.
,

- .

may t h in k i t necessary t o do for t he p r sp erit y f

,
'
. , o o

B t w m us t fi rs t fi nd t h e wom an I all d d t o
u e u e ,‘
wh craves reven g e upon t h e d u k e
, ,
”
o g . 1 , . 1 ,

Sh is foun d ! e sai d t h e l ad y 1 4

Th en w m us t fi nd ou t t he w retche d f ana ti c wh
.

e o
w il
,

lser ve t he ins t r umen t f Go d s j us tice

as . o
’
.
”

H h al l b foun d
e s -
e 1

We ll sai d th , di l t will t hen b e t im e eno g h

e c ar na i u
t o olici t t h e order t h a t you h av e j us t dem an ded
.
,

s
Y ou r em inence i rig h t res med her l a d ysh ip
” ‘‘
s and u ,
I w t o bl am e f seein g in t he m ission wit h wh ich you
,

as or ,
.

hono r m e any th i n g b eyon d wh a t i t in t r t h em b ra c es

u , u :
t ha t i — t o announce t o h i g race in yo r em inence
s s u
’
3
nam e t h a t you are aware f th differ n t d is g uises nder
,

o e e u
wh i lih e con t rive d t o a p proach th queen a t th ent er t ai n
,

c e e
m en t g i v en b y t he cons t able l a d y ; t h a t you h av e p r ofs
’
s o
o f t h e i nt er v iew which th que en g ran t d a t t h e L o v re e e u
t o a cer t ain I t al i an ast rolog er wh wa n o t her th an o s o
th e D u k e o f B c k in g h am; t ha t y h ave g iven dire c tions
,

u ou
for a sp iri t u al l i ttl e r o m ance oncerning t h e adv en t e a t c ur
A m iens w i th a p l an f t he g ar den m whic h it occ urred o
and p or t rai t s f t he ac t ors wh t o k p ar t in i t ; t h a t
, ,

o o o
Mon t ag u e is in t he B as t ille and th at t he t or t r e m y
.

u a
m ak e him t e ll all t h a t h rem em b ers an d e v en m ch t ha t
,

e , u
he does n t rem em b er ; an d finall y t h a t y
o a , ,
ou ss
cer t ain l e tt er f ro m Mad am de C h ev reuse w h wa
'

e ,
~ c t s
foun d n hi g race s q uar t ers and wh ich s t r an g e l y Om
, ,

’
i s , o
p rom ises n t only her wh wro t e i t b u t also h in
o o er

wh se nam e it ha b een w ri tt en B t i f h e p ersis t s in

, , .

o s u
sp i t e f t h ese ep resen t a t ions a th is t h e l im i t o f my
,

'
o r ,
s ( IS
 '
’
eminen ce s gu ard s , turned the victor y in fav o ur o f [ the
king s musket eers ; it is he wh o gave th re e s word wounds
’
.

to de Wardes your emine nce s e missa ry ,

' ’
,

the affair o f the diamond studs abortiv e his

,h e wh o k no wing th at 1t was 1 ”t had d eprived h im o f

‘
, ,

lM adam e B onaneie u x , has sworn my dea th ?

'

. b @ 1

”
aah n said i e c rd
t h a a in al “ I ; k now who o y o u
u
,

Y es, m ean t h at I at 1

H e is a bold
’
rs aid th e Car i nal: 1 U8 01 . d “

. !

“ '
l
A nd it is e x act y becau s e h e i s a b o d fe o w t h at .
t l ll
h eis th e more t o ub e feared
'

d h
.

m ( We o ught first sa i t e cardi nal , eo h ave so me

'
“ f ‘
,

”
proo f o f his association w ith the duke .

“ ”
A pro of 1 ex claim ed the ady ; Y 1 1 wil h ave ad OZ e n
" “
l ”

l .

Well , me h a t e th at zp roo f, an d -it lis the “

I
.

simplest thing in the world will send him t o th e .

”
B astile 1 1
1
z e
d’
t
.

V ery we ll,i my b u t then a f er wards lord ; 1

”

“
When a man is in the B astile , t h ere afterward s .

“
l
said the c ardina m a h o lo w voi c e u Ah , M ort D i eu 15l
’
l . . .

continued h e , “
if it was as easy fo r me t o get rid of
my enemy as it is st o rrd y ou t of ; yours and 1f 1t was
' '
c

against such people as these th at you as k ed nié fo r

'
“
.

impuni ty u on

M y lord
”
said th e s ia dy 1
, :
‘
é boo n for b oo n life fo r
“ ,
‘

li fe man fo r man : g ive me the o ne , and u I will g ive

’
.
,

I do not understand wh at y o u m e an 1 1re p lied th e ,

’’
r

cardinal n or do I w i s h t o do s o ; b u t i1 s h all b e ig lad

“
,
l
1
1
1

t m o b lig e 1 y o u and I s e e s nm ob j e ctimi to g wmg you

‘
f
s
,

t h e order you i d emand h as to us u c h aim ins ig i - fi c ant

; “
n ,

creature as this and the more w illingly ; as y ou tell

,

me th at this little d A rtag nan is a lib e rtiney a 1 i1 e11is t

’

d
r
,
'
and a traitor Se n i 15 l 1
1
a 11

{A wretch , my lor d—
.
.

4 a wret ch 51 1 11 1 1 1 1
’
ri .
1

“
1 T h e n g ive m e i a pen 1 ink ; l and 1 p aper s aid v hh é
‘

, .
,

c ard in al in d 1 1 '
v '
1 5
 U TI L I T Y oF i ST OV E I F UNN E LS
‘

THE
'
. 1 43
1

”
Here the y are my lord ,
.

”
Per fect ‘
.

There was a mo m ent s s ilence which proved th at

’
,

th e c ardin al was occu p ied in th inki ng o f the word s i n

wh i h the order s hould be written o r perh ap s in writing
c ,

A th o s " wh o h ad not lost o ne Word o f the conver sa

i
n L
,

ti on t ook a h and of e ach o f h is co mp anion s and led

’
, ,

the m to the other end of the roo m

‘

’ “ We ll s a id wh at do y o u want, and W hy
'

f ’
,
”
do you not let u s he a r the end of the conve rs atio n ? ” " L

s a id Ath o s in a whi s per we h av e he ard

‘ “
,
[ ’
all th at it wa
’
s nece s s ary fo r u s t o h e ar ; be s ide s I do
'
‘

\
,

not h ind er y ou fro m he aring t h e re s t ; b ut I m u s t g o

' ” '
.

”"
11“
You m u s t g o s a1d P ortho s : but if the c ardin al
1 “

”
s hould as k for y o u , wh at are we to s ay ?

Y ou willte
'
You will not wa it for h im to ask
“ '
ll ‘

h im beforeh and , th at I am gon e in adv ance ’ to c l ea r

‘
1

the way s ince fro m c ert ain word s o f o ur l andlo rd s I

'
’
, , ,

h ave b een led t olsup p o s e th at th e ro ad is not qui te s afe

“
.

I will dro p l a w wo rd o r t wo t o th e C ardin a l s e que rry

-
‘
’
.

T h e xré s t c o ncerns mys elfi 4 do not be une asy ab out it

'
“ ' ” ‘
- .

“ Be Atho s s aid Ar ami s )

”
,
” h
M ake y o ur sel f e as y g replied Atho s
“
“ ' “
y ou k n o w , ,

th at { am cool en ough .
”
.

Portho s and A ramis return ed to the ir pl ace s ne ar th e

' l

A s x for l A th o s ; he w ent out wi th out any di s gui s e , to ok

'

h is h or s e , wh ic h l was fa
'
'
s tened alon
g w ith tho s e o f h is
t wo frie nd s d t o th e wh u tte r, con vinced t h e
’ ’
b

four word s o f the nece s s ity o f an adv ance

ret u rn , < loo k ed lw
'
ith afi eCt e d c are at th e
'

of h is
'
'

pi s tol s , p ut h is s o rd be twee n h is té e th ,
’ ' '
‘ r

a forlor n hope on the ro ad th at led to wa rd s the c a

.
,
‘ f l ' f0
p ;
0 7 l I ‘
H
'l
m
 M US K E IiE ER S
’

11 44
r
.

C H A PT E R XLV .

“
P

As Atho s had fore s een the c ardin al was not l ong before
,
.

he de s cended H e Opened the door of the ro o m in

. .

which he h ad le ft the three m u s k eteer s , and fo und

Po rth os , and A r am i s eng aged in a m o s t e arne s t g ame o f
dice W ith a r apid gl ance he e x am in ed every com er
.
, ,

of the roo m and s aw th at one o f his m e n was m i s s ing

,

Wh at h as beco me of M Atho s P he .
1

”
M y lord replied , he is gone for ward on .

the look out as s o m e re mark s of our l andlord s led h im

,
’

to s u s pect t hat the ro ad was not s afe ”

And wh at h ave y o u been d oing M Por

.

”
thos P ,
.

I h ave wo n ifiv e pi s tole s ”

And can y ou no w return with m e ?
We are at y our e m inence s co mm an d ’

T o hor s e then gentle men for it is getting l

.

”
, , ate , . .
1

T h e eque r r y was at th e door holding the c ardin als

’
‘ ‘ ,

hor s e At a little di s tance t wo m e n ; and thr ee hors e s

.

s e m e n were the ind ividu al s

w e1 e v i s ible 1 n the s h ade the .
,

wh o were to conduct her l ad y s hip to the F ort i d e la :

Pointe and to superintend h e 1 emb ark at io m m
,

T h e equerr y confir m ed wh at the t wo m u s keteer s h ad :

alre ad y told the c ardin al concerni ng Atho s Ri ch elieu .

a ve a s ign o f a pp rob ati on a nd res u med dhis

g , j o urne yfl
ta king the s ame prec aut ion s in h is return as h e h ad done
in h is adv ance .

Let u s le ave him o nh is way to the camp protected -

I

by the equerry and th e t wo m u s ke teers and return to ;

, ,

A th OSib 1
1 n
ndr ed y ar ds h e h ad pre s erve d the
p 1 A!

F or a h u
‘ ”

e p ace s am .

Bu t once out o f V ie w h e h ad pu s hed h is hor s e to the

, ,

right h ad m ade a s mall circuit and h ad returned to

, ,

within t went y p ace s where conce aled in th e coppice

.
, , ,

h e awa ited the p as s age o f the little troop H aving .

 T HRE E MUS KET E E R S
'

1 46 THE A .

mp aled
i inex p re ss ib ie a érfsr?
by anj

d o Wn W 1 ‘ ith o ut utte ring av ordz f “ -

'
are a de mon let lo o se upon th e é aith t said
' w l ' ' ’ " ’ ’

Y o u r p o wer ls gre at
l f ’ i
know f b u t y o tt k no w,
‘ 1
I ‘

al s o , th at , w ith God s as si st anc e, men ha ve

’ " ‘

co m e the m o s t terri ble de mo n s .

’
cros s ed my pa th Pith o u g h t .

madame ; bu t; 1 erth e r de c eiv 1

I '
’
'

At the s e word s which rec alled m o s t fea ,

th e l ad y h eld do wn her h ead ah d g r oan

'
ed
‘ ‘
1
,

Y es hell h as given y o u n e w
,
11 11 1111 11“ made y o u riCh h ell h
1 "
,

name hell h as al mo s t e ndo wed J y

‘

b u t i t h as not e i
: t p u ng ed e i t he r t h e br and fro myo u
"
’

r
or th e s tains from you r sou l
' '

i ’ 7 V U 19 ‘ '
1
'
1 1
.

“
T he l d y atOs e , as i mo ved b a s pring and her
a f T ‘
,
’

d art e d lig h tning i A th os rerriain d s e ated 1

“ M W '
.

Yo u tho ught m e d ead d id y ou not ? he co ntihue d ,

'

a s I tho u gh t y o u de ad ; and t h e n ame o f A t h o s has

,
“ ’ " '
1 ‘

conce aled the Count de le F é re eve n aS th e name of

i ' ’ ‘

Lad y de W nter h a conc e led An ne de Bre uil ?

i i ‘ Wa s
'
’
i
'
s a '

th at not wh at y o u wel e c alled when y our honou red ,

brother married u s P O u r po s ition is t rul y str an ge con ”

'
l
,
J
tin ued A th os lau g h 1ng
“
we h ay e both o f u s onl y iiv e d
,

u s e e ach tho ugh t the oth e r d e ad ; and re: '

'

till no w bec a ,
‘

me m b rance iis l es s bu rde ns o me th an a re ality—

'
L alth ough
“
-

a re m
d
e m b ran
'

c e even i s s o m eti,
m e s a '
v o ra c io u s thing
,
'
'
.

s aid th e l lad y in a h dllo w

”
B u t after all
'
“ 1 d
, ,

wh a t bring s y oul here t 0 m e , an

1 d wh at want y o u " 1

”
with m e P l

I want to t ell yon th at, although I ”h ave be en

'
J 1 "
,
‘ ‘

f
s ight o y o u " 0 1 .
’

Y o u kno w wh at I h a ve done ?
.

9 " " l “

.i I ac an re7cite you r a ctio ns day by

‘
1
y our ,

entrance into the ca rdin al s s e rvice u nt il ' 11 1 '1

’ 11
,

; A sm i le lo f incredulity p as s ed acro s s 1 ‘

i
her l ad y s hi p s : c
,
‘
H 1
 , A GQ NJ UGA L; S CEN E
-
, .

4
_
“ Li s te m It i y o u wh on cu t the two di amo nd studs
's .

m r B u ck ing h am s s h o u l is you wh o stole away

d
’
. fi o z er ,
it
M ad ame ,Bonancie u x ; it; is y ou . wh o , e nam ou recl of de
‘ ‘

W
. .

at tl es, and think ing to recei v e h im, Open ed y our t door ,

to ,. M d A tagn ;
.
’
r a n n it 1is * i
y o u r
.w h o , be l iev ing a t h a tfl, de
Warde s deceived y ou , wi sh ed to h at e h im slain by h is r

ri y al it is ~y ou wh mawhen this riv al h ad dis covered ly Ou r

di s g racefu l s ecret, so u g h t g to «h ave h im 1 as s as sinated nih
, . .

b : m ur d w m d hi m
'

,h i s t u r n , y t w o
r er e rs , ho y o u s en t t o o g .

d
,

Flt is
y o u lw h o ,
w h en y o u fou n d bullet s f a il , s e nt p o is on e .

w ine , with a fo rged letter , to make yo u r v ictim fanc y .

th at git wasm h e pr esent ly f his friend s , and , lastl y , it iis

' r

w h — here in thi s ver y roo m , s e ated o n th e z tf er

’
-

y o u o y
o
r

ch air where I ; now

,
-
mo ment o mad e an -
.

e ng ag ement fiwith the C ardi nal R ichelieu .to g et t h e D uke .

o f B u ck i ngh am as s ass i nate d , in e x c h ang e for h i3 1 und er , ,

r

”
t aking to allo w y o u to as saSs inate M r d A rtag nan mf ’ ‘
.
r

H e rzlad y s hip was livid g 1 '

Y u m u t i d d be S t n i a i
d h
“

“
n l e
11 1 o . s ee a a s s s 1 v 10 1
n .

Perh ap s s o , repl 1ed Atho s , but at all events mark

” “ ' ;'

t hi s w ll as i n a te t h e Du k e o f B u ckingh am
'
, or caus e
e
s.a s s r

: of no ncons e uenc e to n n e q '

I w
kn o r h im not ; and he is , be s ides , 1 the r en emy 1 of: . .

F ranc e ; But t ou ch not o ne s ingle h a ir o f the head

" , ' .

o f d A rtag nan, wh o is m y faith ful friend , wh om I J lov e

’

and willip rotect or I

s we ar to yo u , b y my father s h ead ,
’ '

th ” hen
a t t er im eg w
o

hich iy ou h a ve : then co m itt e d ,

a or
,
m ’

at t empted ; to co mmitfi s h all be in deed y o u rnia str

”
.m
c eo i
”
M d A rtag nan h as cruelly in s ulted m e, s aid is he ,
.
’

and he mu st d 1e
”
. r! )fl b . if 9 715 1
f n
1 ‘z I deed l 1. A nd is it pos s ible th a t y o u can be i ns ulted ,
m adame P sa i d A tho s; laugh ing :e
”
he h as i n s ulted :i y o u;
and he m u t die ! Rm; 1 ; in
“

{
s 1 , s n 11 y o 1
. -.

H e s h all die ! repe at d h er l ad y s hip : s h e firs t

”
e “

i n b egi n to reel Tl eS ight o f thi s

i
Atho s felt his bra
‘ ’
.

cre atu re wh o h ad nothing o f the wo m an in her n ature

ed l
, ,

reca ll mo s t fe ar fu l recollections H e thou g h t ho w line .

 M US K ET EE RS
‘ '

1 48 T H E -T H RE E .

l ss peril us t h an t h at in w h ic h h e o
‘
e
u g h t to
'

n w s t od h h ad lre d y ifi h t s acr
1
o e a a so ce er
1

o ,
u
o

hi h n s1 H is murd us d esir t m b urnin g b ack

o ou r .
1 '
e ro e
'

a e
1

p
u n h m o lik a n in v adin
1
g f v r 1 H ar os in h is turn e e e . e e ,

and p t h i h nd t h is b lt fr m w h ic h h
1
u dr w a
s v a o ‘
e , o ’ e: e
.

p ist l w h i c h h e
o c ck d ’

,
o e .
'
1 f 1
1
,
“
1 1 1 33 f"

T h lady pal e as la c rp e nd a v ou d ( t r y ut ; o se, e e re o c o

but h n fr n t n g u c uld nly utt r a h ar s s und
,
.

’ '

1 o . oz e o e o o 1
e 1
o e o
wh ic h h ad r s mblanc t th e h uman v ic
,

but no e e e o
' ” o e,
ls m ed ath ith gr owl f s m sa vag e b a
ee r st Glu d er e
'
o o e . e
1 ‘
e

s mb r tap stry w
.

as it w ag ainst th it h h e
'

n e e 1
s e re e o , r

dis h v ll d h air : h lo k d lik th appall n g imag

e e e s e o e e e i e
—
,

fT
o e rro r-J
’

m 1
1

1 1 1

A t h s sl owly rais d th pist l s tr t h d f rth h is am

o e e o , e c e o
until the w ap n alm st t uc h ed th lad y s f r h ad nd
‘
e o : o o e
’
o e e , a
th é n m v ic th m r t rribl as it h ad all th *int ns
,
a
'
o e e o e e e,
'
e e e
calmn ss f an nfl bl l t 0n Q h ?
' '

e 1reso u 1 b n ‘
M 1
‘

o 1 ex 1 1
e J

M adam said h y must i mmed iat ly g i y m e,

”
e,
“
ou
‘
e e e
pap r w h ic h t h cardinal wr t j st n w r on my
“

th
' '

e e .
e : o e u o ,
1
o ,
“
s ul I will bl ow t y our b ain ? r
1
1

ou
1
o 1
1

1 Wit h any th e ni n th lady mi g h t h a v h ad s m o r1 a e e o e

d ub t ; bu t h kn w A th
o N th l s sh r s e e os .
1 1
ev er e e s,
(
e
l'
e
main d m ti nl l e o o es s .

l Yi “1 h av on s c nd in w h ic h
O ll '
ob e e e o n
timi d h e e:
1

t h lady saw fr m th c nt acti n f h i br w th at

e , o e o r o o s o ,

th s h t was c min g h e h e ha d t h er
' '

e o o : s r n u
o
b s m and dr w f rt h a w h ic h s h h anded t ”

l
o o , e o e o
l
H }

Tak e it said s h e and may y ou b e accurs ed , ,

”1“
” A t ho s t o o k th e
1 a
p p e r r e plac e d t h e pis t o l in h 1s lb elt
,

w e nt to th e lamp t o assur e h imself

pap e r, unfo ld e d i t and r e ad ,

)
It d d
I
“
is my or e r, a n d fo r t h e g o o of th e sta m
p t hat; t h
d i d th a t w i d
e
b e a re r o f
,

5 h c h h e h a s no w o ne .
)g j 1 P
r
p
7 d (6
R io
1
H E L I E u.
0 s
f l
.

i t ‘h I 5 3 1 1, Tm ’

f
“
A nd no w,
‘
'

said Ath o s , r esumi ng :

h is c lo ak , and
H
 T H E T H RE E IM USKETE E R S
‘

‘
1 50 .

I kn o w it sa id A th os q uietl y ; f o r h ere
”1 '

d
“
,
l l 1t‘1 5
'

T h e three friend s did not e x ch an ge another jwm be for e

th e y ré ac h e d their o wh qu art e r s e x c e p t ing t 0 giv e th e
i '
,
l

word to the s entinel s on gu ard .

'
Bu t the y s ent Mp u s qu eto n to tell Pla hch et th at h is
.
‘ ‘

master was req ues ted o n l eaving t he trenche s , to co m e

' '
1
,

i mm ed i ately to th e m u sk eteer s ro o m s
‘l
" U NV “ ’
.
"

t iOn t h e io th er ‘h and , as At ho s h ad fore s e en h e r l

'
-
ad y
s hip on finding th e two m e n at th e door follo w
,

, ed th e m ,

With out h e51 tat10n ( ”S h e h ad fo r an in s tant an idea o f

’

, ,

a nother int e rvie w with the c ardi n al and rel ating ’ ‘

to h im wh a t h ad p as s ed , but a revel ation o n he

would p r oduc e one o n t hat of A t h o s
; She rhig ht ’
.

say th a t : Ath o s h ad rui ned h er ; b r tt he wou ld s ta te

‘ '
' -

th at s h e was br anded : $ 0 s h e th ught rt b et te r to t

l' ‘ ’ l

s ilent
o
to de pa rt di sc ree tly to acco mpli s h w ith h er
, ,

accu sto m ed a bilit y the d i ’

flicu lt co mm is s ioh wh iéh h ad
been e ntrlis ted to h e r an d t hen when thes e thi ng s 3 '
' ’ ) 1

, ,
' '

r c ' h
we e e nd ed t o t e oa rd in als s ati s factio n t o retu rn and
-
" f
,

night Sh e Was at ,
‘

Fort la Pointe b y s ev e n in the morning ; at jeight sh é h ad

v
‘

e mb arked ; and at nine th e ve s s el weighed anch or, and '

1 N
mad e s ail fo r Engl and 1 11 1
1
1 .

J i"

C H APT ER X LVI .

r' '

h is f ri end s qu rters g d A rtag nan fou nd

’
ON arriving at
the m as s e m bled in o ne r oom a At h o s Was th 1nk rng ,
' "
.

' ' mi
g h is and A ra s was
'

r eading h is pr ayers in La litt l e b ook ; bo t1hd in

‘

blue velvet .

’i
a JB x m
“
y y s o ul ,
ge n tl em en , s a id
tha t w h t you h ave to tell me
a ? t
‘

other wi s e I s hould not fo rg

 T H E s B A ST I O NJ . GE R V AIS . 1 5!

di sman t le a b as tion e ntir el y : by my s el f Ah ! why we re ,

”
o u not there , ge ntle men It w a s hot wo rk 1
y .

We were” in another p lac e, where it wa s by no me a ns

cold either s aid Portho s
,
giving h is m o u s tac h e a turn ,
t
'

peculi ar to hi ms elf
'

J le l
‘
1 1 e 11
. 11 .
u 1 1 “
. 1 1
’
“H u s h l
s s aid Atho s 11 -
'
11 1 4 1'

said d A rtagna
. .

n, u nde rs tah d ing h the s li gh t

.

“ O h oh l ? ’ ’
,

fro wn of th e mu s k eteerp f it s eems th at there 18 s om ething ‘

. .

”
fres h a s tir .

Arami s
'

's aid Atho s

, at z-the ,
”
Parpa illot tavern the day be fore y e s terd ay, I believe ?
,

Y es . i1 U 1 . 1

H o w are thing s there ?

’

Wh y , I f red but
a b adl y r m y s e lf;
ti
t w a s a fas td a ;
y
”
and the y h a d nothin g but me at
n
.

Wh at, s aid Athos , m a s e a port, a d no fi sh ?

fl -

n T h ey s ay : t h at the m ound which the ; c ard inal u is

ff
t '

”
building drive s the fis hu ou t into the h o p en s e a, s a id ' '

Ar am i s ; r es u ming h is p i ou s re ading .

1 1h B u t th at i5 no tig wh at I wanted to k now; Aramis,

.
' 1
"

Were y o u ree, and did l no one

continu ed At ho s
f
“

”
di s t u rb y ou P 16
1
’
r 1 ~
.

Wh y , I think th at there wer e no t ma

”
n y idlers, repl ied
Arami s 1 Y es , i n fact, for wh at yo u want, Ath o s, I
'
“ .
’

think we s h all do well enou g h at the Pa rp aillot .

1

us
'
sa i d Atho s ,

for h ere tth e walls are lik e le av es rofi p aper .

D A rtag nan , wh o was accu s t omed to h is “ frie nd s

’ ‘ ’ - ‘
'

manner, and under s tood b y a word , a ge s ture , o r a look

'

fro m h im, t h a t circu m s tances c alled fo r s eri o u s ne ss , took

h is arm, and went ou t with whim, without utter ng a i
word Portho s follo wed t hem , in c nver s at ion with
’

o
“
. . . ,

A ram1 s
'
'H 1 "
( [ ] s 1

h
‘

1
1

. . r

On the ir rwa
'
y t e y m et Gr i m a u d ,
1 an iA t ho s b e
ckone d d
t o : h im to a t tend th e m zl Gri maud , according to cu st o m,
'

obe y ed in s ile nce : the poor fe llow h ad fini s hed b y a1mos t

'

'
.

forgetting h o w t o s pe ak ia l
’

11 r 11 .
1
1

Whe n : they o arriv ed at the Parp a ll ot, it waS s ev é rr in ”

' '

i ' “
'
. .
 M US K ET E E R S
'

l 7T H E H
‘

1 52 . .
T H REE .
1

the beginning to nd awnz d ay was ju s t

‘

T h e three friend s and ente re d a ! roo m ordered b reak fas t p

where the la ndlord as s ured the m th at the y wo uld not
,

be di s turbed
T h e hour wa s un fortun atel
y ill cho s e n fo r a co
, nference , .

T h e m orning dru m h ad j u s t been be aten ever y lo ne was ,

’

bu sy s h aking off th e s leepine s s of nig ht f and to drive

‘

d am pn ess o f f the morning air coming to

,

away the
‘
f “
,

ta ke a drop a t the t avern Dr agoon s S wi s s , gu ard s .

, ,

m u s k etee rs and light c av alr y s ucceeded one a nother

, ,
1

with a r apidit y ver y b enefici al to the bu s in es s of mine '

ho s t but very unfavourable to the de s ign s o f ou rt fo u r

'

friend s wh o replied but 5 11 1111 11 13 1 to t he s alutation s

' ‘

, , ,

t o as ts and je s ts o f their co m p anion s

'

1
. 1 1 .
1
,
”
Co m e
“
s a id Atho s we s h all bring s o me g oo d “
’

r
, ,

qu arrel on our h and s pres entl y and we do no t f want l

,
.

th at j u s t no w D A rta g n an tell u s a bout.

y our nigh t s
’
,
’

”
work : we will tell y o u about our s afterwa rd s f: .

”
“
In fact s aid one o f the light c av alr y ; wh o whil s t
,
-
,

rocking h i ms el f held in h is h and a gl ass o f brandy Wh ich

—
'
-
,

he s lo w1y s ip p e d fl in fact y o u W
,
1
ere in the trenche s , y o u ‘ ”
,

gentle m en o f the gu ard s and i t s ee ms to m et h at y o u h ad

‘

,
”
a s qu abble with the R o c h e llo i s .

'

D A rtag nan looked at Atho s to s e e whether h e 0u g ht

’
1
,
'
to an s wer th is intru der wh o intruded on th e co nv ers a t ion 1
'
' 1

Well s aid
” '

,d id y o u not he ar M de Bu s i g n y . 1
,
'

wh o d id y o u the honour to addr es s y o u P Tell u s wh at

’

to bk pl ace in the nig h t, as the s e gentle m en s ee m de s i r ou s

'
(
.

”
to he ar it
D id y ounot t ake a b as tion ? a s ked a : S wi ss , wh o
.

’
“

w
-

as drinking ru m m ixed {with a gl as s o f beer .

’ '
“
Y e s s ir replied d A rtag nan bo wing
1
, , we h ad th a t , ,
“

honour And al s o as y o u may h ave he ard we intr o

.
, ,

du ce d a b arr el of po wder under o ne o f the ang les wh ich

’
. 1
, ,
.

on e xplodi ng made a v ery p re tty bre ach , with o u t reck o n

'
' '
,

ing t h at; as the b asti on is very old all the re s t o f the ,

”
building is m uch s h aken .

1
. A nd wh a t b as tion 15 it ? as ked a dr agoon , wh o h eld,
.
{ 54
fait h, g entle men , s a id Porth o s ,
'
’

s mo u s t a
w
s el f b ack m h is ch air, and t irlin
g h i
is aEne wag er, I ho pe
" ‘ 9 "
.

And I ” '
ac cept it , s aid
‘

”
m u s t fix the s t ake s
m
.
'
1
é fodr, g n
‘
Y ou ari en ?
'

e tl id Ath os and we are

“ ‘ “ ‘
e sa ,
1 3‘
s uit y o u
Bu ig n i”; 1
f

( i i yai ) hr
i i
'
i
’
1 “ . 1 m
v i ss Th e
1
ed the
‘

uditor ; wh o h ad ile nt thro ug h out

'

a s
v ers atio n,b owed h is h ead as a sigh th at ,
"

’
l
1n the propo s ition
r

T h e dej euner o f the s e ge ntle m

.

en 1sfre ad y
”
b
“ ‘
roke ,
(w d n w r
) ‘

m the l andlord 1 . .
n t
r . e 1
.

“
Well then bring i t
, , said At ho s J
.

A tho s c alled Gr imaud s h o wed

? “
’
’ '
T h e landlord obey d
’ e
him a l ar ge b ask etg wh rch W1 ‘
l/as l yin
g in a c o ri i ”
e r an
’
d
' “
,
‘

made to wrap up irr the napki ns al

'
l the
'

e atables w h ic h h ad been bro u h t

~

g
‘ *
.

Gri m aud , comp rehendin g at once

”

'
‘
going to bre ak fas t on the g ras s t ook th ,

up th e p u t in th e b é t tl s and " ”

up in h is ar ms .
em u N Am
,

But Whe re are y ou g o ing to eat th i s break fast

' '
s a id
J ’

1" 1 211 1 1
the l andlord .
f . .

“
Wh at doe s 1t s ig mfy t o y o u
' l e

”
“ ’
provided y o u are p aid fo r it ? ‘ v
And b e th
‘ J ’

pis toles m aj e s t ic ailly on th e t able

‘ l
’

séiid r
”
.

1 “ “ ”
M us t I give y ou the ch ange s ir ? " W n
rririe
r
'
' '

,
l, “ ' w‘
hb s t f
"
J a , 1 . Q I . A)
q

N0 butcouple o f bott l
add a e s o f ch am p ag ne and ,
'

th e b aléfh oe will p ay fer th e n apkin s

' " ‘l' w l
'

‘
T h e l andlord h ad not m ade qu ite s u dh a g ood thi ng
o f i t as be at fir s t e x p ect ed ; b ut ‘h e rec omp en s ed h i msel f
4 '
'

fo r it b p al m i ng o fi o n h iS fo ur g ue sts two bm 1es o

l ’ f
'

l‘ “ ’ f
‘

y
~
1

Anj o u wi ne i nste ad of th e ’ two bottle s Of ch am p ag ne

‘ '
.

“
M de B u s ign y will y o u regul ate y our wat ch b y ,
‘
 T HE B A S T I ON O F 1 S T GE RV iA I S 55
“ '

, . r . 1

mine , p m orit h m e to r eg ul a t
ere m i ne b y in
U II Ed A th o s : g? h a wk “
q ”
s a id the l ig h t d r agoo n; dr awing
,
“
At
y our ple as ure ,
.
-

fro m h is fo b } a very beau ti fu l 'watc h encircl ed with

. .
,
.

m H
’
d i a ond s f a lf p a s t a dded ‘
h e -
.

F 1v e and th irty min ut e s after sev e n} sa id Ath o s ;

— - ?

th at I a
7
,

“
we s h all re m e mber m n fi v e q m inu tes m in ,

T hen , bo wing to the as toni s hed p arty the four y oung , .

m /e n t oo k th e 5roa d t o wa1 ds t he bastion o f G e rv ai s j ' ‘

g
, ,

follo wed b y . t he ; b as ke t, “ not

.

k nowing whe re h e was goi ng and from the ,p ass ive , ,

.

o bedience tha t was h ab itual to h im not even thinking ,

O f I nqu 1rlng My i ‘

n
“
.
1 ) 1
1 1 ( I
y o u r( 3 t i
Whil st they
‘

1 w ithi the p reci ncwere

ts , t h e c am p ,

th e four , fri end s did no t exch ang e a word : th e y wer e . ,

n
“ ‘

b e s i
d es , fo llo w r
e d b y h t h e c ur i
ou s ,w h o h avi g h ea rd o f , ,
.

the wager wi s hed to g k noyv h o w the y w o u ld qe x tricate

.
,
-
,

the ms elv es fro m th e affairm B u t w hen :o nce, th ey h ad . .

_

got b ey ond the line s o f circ u mvall ation and fou nd th em , ,

in t he fl ope n m u nt ry d A rtag nan wh o was

’
selves
'

, , ,

entirely ignor ant of wh at they were about thought it , , .

hig h t ime t o de mand so m e expl an atio n

m
. 1

A nd h em my
.

‘ t s a id he
. do e the ,
“

”
favour to te ll m e where we are going
,
.

‘f
Yo u fi an s ee well '
Ath os “
we a re
g o rn g to the b a s t 1 0n .
, M c

B w h w o do the re ?
“
Cg u t l at a
, r e e going t
You kno w ver y well— we are going to bre ak fas t ther e“
But wh y do we no t bre ak fas t at the Parp aillo t k fi
.

B ecaus e we h av e m o s t i m portan t t hing s to tell y o u

,
.
,

and it was i m po s s ible t o conver s e fo r five m inu te s in J

th at t av ern with all tho se troubles o me fello ws } wh o

,
+ .

same and . go , and 3 co ntinu ally accos t us , H ere : at , 1 ,

1
,

le as t continued Atho s po int ing to the b as tio n1 £ in0

'
’
, , ,

1011 61 1 11111 com e t o lmt e rru m us ,

~
7
o. 1
f
m 1 50
“
It ap p ears to m s ai
dw d A rtag nany z with, t hat
,

prudence wh ich wasg gs g , , h

t o gg y
roi hl 1 and
s o n at urall y
 "
T H E T H RE E M U S K ET E E R SZ
With
extre me Cou rage h is
i t ap p ears to me
' '

United
"

th at we could h ave found s o m e retired s pot} s o me wh ere

a mong the do wn s on the s ea s hore fi
‘

-
,
d ' Where We s h ould av been s een all fou r1n co uncil
“ '

together s o th at in ah queartei of an hour the c ardin al

, ,
'

wo uld h a ve been in for med b y h is s pie s th at we were

'

”
holding a con s ult at ion .

”
Y e s s aid Ar am i s Atho s 1 5 righ t : a m madw rifu mu r
’
“ ‘
,

A de s ert would not h ave be en a b ad p lac e re

‘ ' “ “

m ark ed Porth o s ; but the d i ffi culty 1 8 to find one “ “

‘

“ T here is no de s ert w h ere a bir d could no “ as

t p s
“

”
o v e r o ne s he a d o r a fi
’
s h j u m p f r om the
,
‘
wa ter " ’
; or a
rabbit run fro m her burro w ; and I believe th at bird ,
’
fi s h and r a bbit are all am ong s t th e cardin al s sp ie s It
' ’
.
,

is m uch better there for e to pur s ue o ur ente rpr is e s Be

, ,

s ide s we c annot n o w recede without d i

,
s grac e
I
We h ave .

ma e ad bet — a bet which could not h av e been fore s ee n

h ich I de fy any o ne to gue s s th e true motive
,

a nd o f W .

T o win it we mu s t re main ,
a n 'h o ur in th e b as tion .

Either we s h all o r s h all not be att acked I f we are

'
(
.
, ,

not we s h all h ave ti me to t alk and no o ne will he ar ,

t th at the W
,

u s ; fo r I will an s wer fo r i all s o f th at b ast i0n

"

h ave no e ar s I f we are att acked we will talk j u s t the

.
,

s am e and s h all m oreover b y de fending bu rs e lv es be

‘

, , , ,

covered with glor y S o y o u s e e th at e very thing 1 8

.

’
favour able to u s .
" f

”
Yes s a id d A rt ag n an but we s hall ind u b itab ly
’ “
’

“ ~
, ,

Well ,
rejoined Atho s but ,
“
y o u kno w ve ry well
th at the bullet s m o s t to be fe ar ed
are n ot tho s e o f the
”
ene my
“
Yet it s ee ms to m e s aid Portho s
1
th at fo r s uch ‘
,
‘
,
“
,

an expedition we s hould at le as t h ave br ough t o u r

' ‘
‘ ‘

'
f
,

m u s kets ” .

You are a s i m pleton frie nd Portho s ; wh y s ho uld

'
“
,

we encu mber our s elve s w ith a u s ele s s burd en P .

"
I do not find a ' good re g ul ation with a
'
‘
 MU S K ETEERS J
'

P T H E T H REE
' ‘
"

1 58 i

G ri maud obey ed : s o th at all th e p oor fé llow h ad

'
‘ ' ‘

g ained b y th i s m o m ent ary p anto m i m e was th at”he h ad

en tr ans for m ed fro m the re ar guard to the ad v ai
, ,
.

be
'

ic é d
'

’ '

g na rd .

H a v ing reache d t he b asti on th e four frieri

'
ds lo oked
‘
‘

,
'
b eh ind th em M ore th an three h undred s oldier s o f
“ ’

d as s em
.
,

ever y arm h a ’
bl ed at the ent rance of t th e
' '

c am p ; and in a s ep ar ate group th ey s aw M d e

,
" l '
,
‘
.
‘

'
B u s i p y the dra goon the S wi s s, and the fourth wag r r
,
ee'
, .

03 k off his h at ra i s ed it o d th e é n d of h is ,
’ ’ ‘

n
s wo rd and wa
"
v ed it in th e air Pi ' '
“
.

All the s pect ator s returned his s alut ation ,

ing thi s act o f politene s s with a loud h u

"W
re ach ed the e ar s o f th e p arty,
' 1
" “ J
“

this o ccu rre nce th '

W
héi '
ha e
y

C H AP T E R X LV II
' '
41 . 1

I ll "
‘

1 1 " 11 1
N H

hm
T H E c oUN c r MUS KEf fik R SW
“ “
"

i; 61? '

THE
‘

A s rAth o s h a
”
d fo fes
' '

the b ast idn 113 s

'

f ‘
’ 1
'

b y a b oiit a doze nde

‘

”
Gentle men 5a ,
"

co mm and of the ex
the t able let u s b ,
’
i
ar d ain mu nit
‘

are doin g it T he s e .

the de ad bod ie s ,
‘
do 5
i
”
But we
m ay , nevertheles s, th r
' 1
o w t h em
'

ditch es , s aid Portho s “having firs t s ati s fied

”

th at t h ey h av e 11 0111 1ng mth ei r p ocke ts l ’

'
au'd
t
” ‘
Y es , rep h ed A th o s, b ut th at 1s Gr1r ri
'
’

Well; then , s aid d A rtagnan 1et G rirnand

c
’ “ "

the m ,
and thro w the m over the f
’
u pon ~any acc ount, s aid Ath os
'
t ’
the may b e
'
‘ ' “

” a n t
of u s e to us.
 T H E C O UN C I L O F 1 T H E . M U S K ET EE RS .
.
1 59
T he s e de ad be o f ris e to u s e x cl ai med Po rt ho s -
" ‘ ’
.

u a re going cr az y ,m y d éa r fri en
'
“
. A h y no ns ense y o d '
"

3 judge r as hl y ,: s ay both the g os p e lland th e

'
‘

.
p

H ow m an y mu s k et s are
” '
c ardin al , replied Atho s I
'

.
‘

there , gentle m en ?

How 1

”
A hundred round s .

'
It is qu ite ras many as we need : let us ilo ad our
‘

' v

”
m u s kets
'

r .

T h e four co m panion s s et them selve s to work ; and j us t

' '

st m s ket ; Gri maud m ad é as i

'
as the
y h a d lo a ded the l a u g n
‘
'
t o th e 1i1 th at bre ak fas t wa s re ad y x
*
. . .

Ath os indic ated b y a g es ture t h at he ; Was conten ted

’

‘
’

with wh at was d One and then p o inte d o u t t o Gri maud

’ ‘ ‘ '
- " r
,
'
l ac e hi m s el f
'

a s ort o f .

as s entinel a B u t to tediu m f h is Wa tch

‘
'
‘
’
“

Atho s allowed h imto ta e with h m a oa two cutlets

, ,
’ '
k i l f
'
i '
,
.

and a b o ttle o f win

' '
1 e 1 .

”
s ai d Ath os
“
break fa s t
’

v ‘
.

T h e four fri end s s qu a tted upon th e g r o und, like T urk s

' ' ~

d A rt ag nan, a s y o u are n dj d ligé r ’

And no w, sa id “ ’

afr aid of b ein g f h e ard , I h o p e th a t y o u are g oing t o 1131 11 5

‘
fl ‘ ‘
'

”
kno w y our s ecret " F .
1

I
hb p e lth at
' ‘
I
provide y o u at the s ame timé b oth with
l
'
-
‘

m
' '

a m u s e m ent a nd glor y , gentle m en ? s aid A th o s I h av e

“
.

induced y o u t o take a ch ar min g he re is

a m
. o s t s u s ta i in g bre k t ;
1 n a f
. a s a nd f l
bel ow th e ré , §afe fi v e "
-
’

'

hundred person s , as y o u
bras ure s ; wh o tak e u s fo r mad men or heroes Le twoc lasse s
'
’

" " h
o f fool s wh o ver y m uch re s e m ble e ach “ W ‘

3
m ” N ”
1 1
‘
fiB ut L. th is l M f “ ’ “ - 1
‘
1 f

1 11 I s awh e r l ad y s h ip nig h t, said Ath os

'
l g
' ' "
‘ r Y . 1 1
'
. .

‘
D A rt ag nan was ju s t conve y ing h is gl a s s to his lip sf
’ f

b ut, at u th e a s ou nd ; of e she rl ladys h ip is

' ‘

-
.

trem bled s o 1 th at h e p lac ed h is g la ss u poh the ( g roim d;

’
v
'
’

" ' “ 3 ”
”
in o rder th anhe might not s pill its contents
- ? 3 1 ‘
a
‘
ago
f
.

11
h ave s een y our wi
Y ou 4 1
“

y ou forget , my
’

Hu s h then interrupted Atho s ; “

1
,

dea r fello w th at the s e gentle men are not like i y o u

'
, ,

ted in the priv aci e s o f my famil y affairs I h ave

,

initi a
‘

”
s een her l ad y s hip .

“
And where did th at h a ppen ? de m anded d Art agnan ’
.

About two le ague s fro m h ence at th e R ed Dove ,

fl '

c as e I am a lo s t m an, s aid d A rtag nan

I m th at ,
’
.

N ot j u s t y et replied Atho s ; fo r by thi s ti m e s h e ,

“
, ,

mus t h ave quitted the s hore s of France m 1 .

u

’
-
D Artagn an bre athed ag ain .

wh o15 this l a
”
B u t after all inquired Portho s
, , dy ? ,
”
A ch ar m ing wo man s aid Ath o s s ippi ng a gl as s o f , , ,

sp arkling wine
“
S cam p o f a l andlord ! excl ai m ed he
.
,
“
wh o give s u s Anj ou fo r ch am p agne and thi nk s we s h all ,
”
be d e c e iv ed b y the s ubterfuge ! Y e s c o nt inu e d h e a ,
'

,
“

c h armmg wh om our friend d A rtag nan h as

’
,

done s o m ething unp ardon able for which s h e : h as been

ende avouring to a ve nge her s el f—a m onth ag o b y try ing
.

t ;
o get him s hot ; a w eek ag o b y s ending h im ~
s o me ,

poi s on and y e s terd ay by de manding h is he ad of th e

, ,
”
c ardin al
Wha t ! de manding my he ad o f the cardin al ? cried
.

“ ” '

dArtagn an p ale with terror

’
,
.
1
1

Y
“
, e s
”
s a id P or th
,
os
“
it is true a s go s pel ; fo r I heard ,

her with my o wn ears .

’

”
And I al s o s aid Aram is
“
, , 1 1 n
'

. 1

“The n s aid d A rtag nan letting h is arm fa

” ’
ll in a ! .

de
, ,

s ponding manner it is u s ele s s to s truggle lo n e n z i

“
g
,

I may as w”ell blo w o ut my brain s at once and h ave

, ,

done with it
T h at is the l as t fo l l
.

to be perpetr ated s a1d A th o s

“ '

y ,
1
,
“
s eeing it i s the only one which will ad mit of no
, ,
"

r med y ’

e B u t with s uch enem i es; I s h all never e sc ape said f

.

i
, ,

c j A rtag nan Fir s t my unk no wn antagoni s t o f M eung ;

.
,

then (16 Wardes : on 1wh o m I inflict ed fou r wound s ; next,

, ,
'
1 62 T HE T H REE M U S K E T EE RS
’

I m
d oubt it s aid d A rtag nan for the y co me
uch ,
’
,
“

for ward with gre a t re s olution B e s ide s in addition to .

,

the wo rk me n ther e are four s old ie rs, a11 d a brig adier

a r m ed with rri
, ,
”
u s k e ts .

T h at is bec au s e the y h ave not s e en us

'
“
repli ed ,

Atho s
F ai t h s aid Ar ami s I con fe ss th at I am reluct ant
.

“ ” ’
“
, ,
' '

to fi re upon the s e po o r dev il s o f citiz en s

“ ‘

”
He is a b ad prie s t s aid Portho s “
wh o p itie s , ,
”
heretic s
Ar am i s is right I
.

Upon my word s aid Atho s

“ “
, , .

”
will give the m a notice
Wh a t the pl ague are y o u doin
.

g ? cr ie d d Artagn an ; ’
’

u w ill get y our s el f s hot m y de ar fello w 3

”
y o , .

B u t Atho s p a id no attention to thi s warmng ; and

m ounting on the bre a ch h is fu s ee in one h an d and his , ,

h at in th e other
G entle men s aid he bo wing courteou s ly and ad dre s s
”

ing h i m
, , ,

s el f to the s oldier s an d pioneer s wh o as toni s hed , ,

b y thi s a p parition h alted at ab out fi ft y p ac es fro m the

,

b as t 1 on gentle men w e are s o me o f m y frie n d s and ,

mys el f e n g aged in bre akfas ti ng in thi s bas tion N o w

,
.

o u kno w t hat noth ing 1 5 more di s agree abl e th a n to b e

y
di s turb ed at bre ak fas t s o we entre at o f y o u if y o u re all y , ,

h ave bu sine s s here to Wait till we h ave fini s hed o ur

rep as t or to come b ack in a little while ; unle s s indeed
,

, , ,

s a uta f f g
y o u e xperience the l r y de s ire o or s a kin the r ank s

o f re b ellion an d co ming to d rink with u s to the he alth o

,
f
”
the king o f Fr ance .

T ake c a re , Atho s s aid d Artag nan ; d on t y o u s ee ’

'

“
,

th at the y are ai m ing at y o u .

Y e s y es s a id Atho s , but the s e are ci vili an s wh o

” “
, , ,

ar e s ho cking b a d m ark s m en an d will t ak e c are not to

'

hit me .
’

I h fact a t t h at m oment four s hot s were fired an

~
, d the ,

b ullets whi stl ed around Atho s but without one tou ching ,

h im .

Four s h ot s were 1 ns tantaneo u s l fired in re tu rn, but

y
 C O U N CI L O F T H E M US K E I E E R S 6
' ‘

THE .
§ 3
far be tter aim th an that of th e ag g res so rs : th ree
'

wi th a
so ldiers fell de ad , and one of the pio neers was wounded
,
.

”
“
Gri maud, s aid Atho s, from the ibreac h, anoth er
”
m u s ket .
1

Grima ud obe y ed i mm edi ately . .

T h e three friends h ad als o re lo ad ed the ir arms ! WA!

,

s econd di s ch arge s oon follo wed the fir s t, and th e b ri g a d i

e r

and t wo pioneer s fell de ad T h e r es t of th e troo p t oo k

. ’

to flight .

Co me, gentle me n, a s orti e! s aid Athos .

T h e four fri end s ru s h ed o ut of the fort, re ached the

field of b attle, pi cked up the mu s kets o f the s oldi er s and ,

th e h alf pike o f the brig adier ; and

-
s ati s fied th at th e ,

fugitive s would never s t0p till the y re ached the city the y ,

ret u rne d to the b as tio n, he aring with the m the trophie s

o f their vic tor y .

”
“
Relo ad the m u s kets Gri maud, said Atho s ; ,
“
and
let us, gen tleme n continue o ur break fas t and conv ers ation
, .

Where we re we ? ”

”
I recollect, s a id d A rtag nan ; i
’
“ “
y o u were s a y ng ,

th at, after ha v ing de manded my he ad of the c ardin al ,

her l ad y s h ip h ad left the s hore s o f Fr ance A nd wh ere .

”
is s h e goin g ? a dd e d d A rtag nan who was p ainfully
’
,

anx i o us about the it inerar y o f the l ad y s j ourne y

’
.

”
“
She IS goi n to England, replied Athos
g
.

“
And wh y ?
T o as sas s in ate the Duke of B uckingh am or to get , ,
”
h im ass as s ina te d
am
.

D A rtag nan ut tered an exc l

’
ation o f s urpri s e ,and
horror .

It 15 infamou s excl ai med he

O h ! as to th a t sa id Atho s , I beg y o u to believe
,
“

th at I concern my s elf very little about it N o w th at y o u

.

h av e fi ni s hed Gri m aud continued he, t ake the h al f

, ,
“

pike of o ur brig adier fas ten a n apk in to it and fi x it o n

, ,

the end o f o ur b as tion th at tho s e rebelliou s R o ch ellois

,
»

may s e e th at the y are oppo s ed to br ave and loy al s ubj ects

”
o f the king .
1 64 THE T H RE E M S KETE E R S U .

1
Grim au d ob ey ed w i t hou t rep ly in s t ant after and an
war ds th e wh ite flag o at ed o v er th e he ad s o f the four fl
frien d s A cry o f jo y a th u nder o f ap p lau s e s alu ted
.
‘

,
'

its ap pe arance H alf the camp was at th e b arriers

.

Wh at 1 said d Art ag nan y ou concern yo urs elf

.

bu t little ab o u t h er as sass in atin g B uckin g h am or causing ,

”
to b e ass ass in ate d Th e du ke is our friend .

Th e d uk e is an E ng lish man ; th e duk e fi g h ts ag ain st

us let h er do th erefo re wh at sh e likes wit h th e d u ke .

”
as little abo u t him as ab o u t an empty bo t tle .

A s A th o s s aid this h e t h rew s o me fi fteen yard s

m
, ,

b e fore h im , a bot t le which h e held in his h and , and fro

j
which he h ad us t p o ure d th e las t dro int o h is o wn
“

p
'

'

Wait in s tan t s aid d Art ag nan

an I do not
,
” ’

ab an do n Bu ck ingh am in t h at m an ner h e g av e u s
s o me v ery fi ne ho rs es
And es peci ally so m e v ery b e au t i ful s ad dles added ,
'

Port ho s wh o was th en wearin g th e lace o f his u p o n

,

his clo ak .

B es id es s aid Aram is , ,
God wish es for th e con
v ersio n no t th e deat h o f a sinn er
, ,
.

Am en ! said Atho s and we wil l ret u rn to th at

'

by an d by , if su ch is y o ur p leasure b u t t h at W
,
'

h ich m o s t
en g ag ed my at t en t io n at th e tim e and 1 a m sure y o u ,

will u nd e rs t and wh y d Art ag nan was h ow to t ake fro m

’

, ,

t h is woman a cane blanch wh ich sh e h ad ex t o rt ed fro m

-
,

the cardin al and b y means o f w h ich sh e m i g h t g et rid

,
”
o f ou and p e rh ap s th e who le o f u s wit h im pu nity
‘

y This creat ure is a v er demo n l s aid Po rth o s

.
, ,

y ,

hold in g h is p late to Aram is wh o was cut t in g u ,

”
An d th ls d ocu m en t , did it
’
s aid d A rt ag nan ;
re mai n in h er h an ds ?
N
o it p asse d in t o mine I c annot s ay th at it was
,
.
‘
‘

wit hou t s o m e t rou ble ; for, if I s aid th at , I s hould

”
tel l a lie .

l
My de ar A th o s I m u s t no
'

s aid d A rt ag n an
'
’

, ,

lon g er coun t the ti me s I owe m y life to y ou . .

 T H E T HR E E
"
1 66 M U SK E TEERS
‘
~
.

Wh at d oe s the abbé s ay to t h at ? quietl y as ked

Atho s
I th a t I am quite o f Portho s s Opinion
.

“ ’
s ay .

” ’
A nd I al s o s a id d A rtag nan
‘
'
.

fo r I
,
”
H appil y s h e is far away added Porth o s
, ,
“

con fe s s th at s h e would anno y m e m uch her e .

“
S h e anno y s m e in Eng land as well as in Fr ance ,
t

s aid A th o s .

”
“
Sh e annoys m e every where s aid d A rtag nan ,
’
.

”
B u t when y o u h ad her m y our po wer s a id Portho s
, , ,

wh y did y o u not dro wn s tr a ngle or h ang her ? It 15 , ,

”
o nl y the de ad wh o never return .

Do y o u th ink s o Portho s ? r e plied Atho s with a , ,

'

d ark s mile which d A rt ag nan alone could u nder s tand ’

I h ave an ide a” s aid d Art ag nan

.
,
“ ” ’
.
,

Let u s he ar it cried the mu s keteer s - '

T o ar m s ! excl a i m ed Gri m
,
”
a ud
“
.

T b e y oung men aro s e h as til y and ra n to their m u s kets

'
1
,

T h i s ti m e there was a s mall b an d adv ancin g co m po s ed ,

o f twent y or o f fi v e and t wenty me n, no longe r pioneer s - -

,

b u t s old ie rs o f th e g arri s on
'
'
'
.

”
“
Suppo s e we no w return t 0 the c am p said Portho s ‘

,
”
it s ee ms to m e th at th e match is not equ al
‘

”
“
I m pos s ible fo r three reaso n s a n s wered
,
Atho s , .

T h e fir s t is becau s e we h a ve not fini s h ed o u r brea k f

,
-
'

fas t .T h e s econd be ca u s e we h av e s till s o m e i m portan t

,

affair s to talk a bout ; an d the third it wants y e t ten ,

m inu te s be fore th e ho u r is el ap s ed .

All th e same, s aid A r am i s , we mu s t a rr ange a

”
pl an of b attle .

”
It is v as tl y simp le replied Atho s A s s oon as the
‘

,
.

ene m y is w ithin m u s ket s hot, we mu s t fire if he continu es -

to adv ance we m u s t fire again ; in fact we mu s t bl aze

,
.
,

away as long as we h a ve guns lo aded I f th e re mn ant .

o f the b a nd s hould then wi s h to m ount t0 the ass ault we

‘

mu s t le t the be s ieger s de s cend as far as the ditch and then

'

we m u s t hea ve on their he ad s a l arge mass o f the wa ll ,

which onl y s t ay s up no w b y a m ir a cle o f e q uilibriu m

”
.
 THE C O U N C I L OF THE M US K E T EERS . 1 67

“
Br avo ! excl ai med Portho s Atho s y o u were un .
“
,

doubtedl y born to be a general ; and the c ardin al wh o ,

”
think s h i ms el f a gre at warrior is a m ere nothing to y o u ,
.

”
Gentle m en s a id Atho s
,
“
do not was te y our , ,

”
ammunition I be s eech , y o u : let e a ch pick out h is m a n .

”
I h ave got mine s aid d A rtag nan ,
’
.

”
And I mine s aid Portho s , .

”
And I the s am e s aid Aram i s ,
.

“
Fire ! cried Atho s .

T h e four gun s made but one rep o rt, and four men fell .

T h e dru m then beat, and the little b and adv anced to

the ch arge . 1 1

T h e s hots of the four friend s were then fired without

r eg ularity, but inv ari abl y with the s ame dea dl y effect .

Yet as though the y h ad kno wn th e nu meric al weaknes s

,

o f the i r oppo nents , the Ro c h e llo i s continu ed to adv a nce

at a quick p a ce .

At three oth er reports two men fell , y et the march of ,

tho s e wh o rema ine d un wound ed did not s l acken .

H av ing r eached th e foot of the b astion there were ,

s till t welve or fi fteen o f the ene m A las t d isch arge

y .

received but did not arre s t , them T h ey le aped in to the

, .

ditch ari d prep ared to s c ale the bre ach

, .

“
N o w my friends
,
”
s aid Athos , let u s fin ish th em at ,
“

”
one blo w T o th e wall! to the walll
.

A nd the four friends ass i s ted by Gri maud , set the m ,

s elve s t o topple over with the b arr els o f their mu sk et s

, ,

an enor mou s mas s o f wall which bo wed as though the ,

wind wa ved it and loo s ening its el f fro m its f ound ation
, , ,

fell with a tre mendou s cr as h into th e ditch A fearful .

[

c ry was then h ea rd a cloud of du s t ascended to ward the

,

and th at was all

m
s kie s ,
-
.

“
C an we h av e cru s h ed the m al l, fro the fi r s t to the
”
l as t ?
“
Fa like it r e plied d Artagn an ’

there are two or three o f th em

, .

e s c aping , q uite crippled

,

In fact three or four of the s e u n fortun ate b emg s

, ,
1 68 T H E T H RE E M S KE TE E R S U .

covered w i th m ire and b lood ay , fl ed along th e hollow w ,

an d reg ained t he to wn T hey were all th e sur v i vor s o f .

th e li t tle b and .

Atho s looked at h is wat ch .

Gen tlem en s ai d he we h ave been here an hour

, , ,

and now th e wag er is g ained : bu t we mu s t be good '

’

ay er s ; b e s ide s d Art ag n an h as no t y et t old u s h is

’

pl
'
,
”
1 ea
.

An d th e m u s keteer w i th h is h abit u al coolne s s s e ated

, ,

h i msel f be for e th e rem ain s o f th e bre ak fas t

Would y ou li ke to he ar my p l an P s ai d d Artag nan
.

to his t hree com p anion s when afte r th e al arm wh ich , ,

h ad h ad so fe arful a t er m in at ion for th e li ttle troop o f

‘

R o ch ellois th e q u art et te h ad re su m ed their pl ace s b e fore

,
'

the remnan t s o f t heir m e al .

”
Y es rep lied Atho s ;
, y o u s aid t h at y u h ad an
o
'

I h av e it e x c laimed d A rtag nan

”
I Will g o
’
Ah , .

to E n g lan d for th e s econ d ti m e will fin d h is g race o i

'

,
'

B uck ing h am and warn h im o f th e p lot wh ich h as b een

,
”
concoc t ed ag ain s t h is li fe .

You will do no s uch th in g d A rt ag n an

'
’
s aid , ,

Atho s coldly .

Wh y not D id I not g o b e fore ?

Yes bu t at t h at t i m e we were not at war at th at
D
,

t i m e th e u ke o f B uck in g h am w as an ally an d not an ,

enemy : Wh at y ounow s u g ge s t would am oun t to t re as on .

D A rt ag n an un der s tood the force o f t h i s re as onin g

‘ ’ ‘

an d was s ilen t
‘

I fan cy th at I in my t u rn ,
'
”
Bu t ; s aid Por tho s ,

h av e als o g o t an ide a
'
.

S i lence fo r M Por tho s s i de a c ried Ar am i s

’ ‘

. .
,

I wi ll ask le av e o f ab se nce of M de T rev ille on .

I
,

any p re t e x t wh at s oever th at y ou c an s u g ge s t : am
not very clev er at ex cu s e s m y s elf Th e lad y doe s not .

know m e : I will g e t ne ar her w i thou t ex citin her

“

alarm ; an d when h ave foun d th e be au ty I

wil l ,
’

I
s tran g le h er .
1 70 T H E T H REE M US HE TE ER S .

Th
“
e four f riend s li s ten ed , and the s ound of th e t attoo
re ach ed their e ars .

You will s e e Continu ed Atho s, th at th ey wi ll s end

“
'

an entire re g 1 m e nt ag ain s t u s .

Y ou do not expect to hold y our groun d ag amst an

“

”
entire regi ment ? s aid Porth o s .

Wh y not ? re plied the mu sketeer I feel mysel f m .

'

th e hu mour, and wo uld hold it ag a in s t an ar my if w e ,

h ad onl y h ad the prec aution to bring a dozen bottle s

'

m ore
’
.

U pon my word, the drum come s ne arer, said ”

d A rtag nan
’
.

“
Let it co me , repli ed Athos ; ther e rs a q u arter o f
” “

an hour s march bet ween the to wn and thi s pl ace

’
It 1 5 .

more ti me th an we s h all re q uire to arr ange ou r pl an s If .

'

we go away from her e we s h all never a g ain find s uch a ,

'

conven ient s pot And li s ten gentle m en ; the very ide a

.
,
”
h as co me into m mind
y ”
.

2 “
Let u s he ar it .

Atho s m ade a s ign for h is v alet to co me to h im .

Gri m aud s aid Atho s, pointin g to th e de a d b odie s

, ,

which lay 1n the bas tion , y ou will t ake the s e gentl emen ,

fix the m upright ag ain s t th e wall put their h at s on ,

”
th ei r he ad s, and pl ace their mu sket s m thei r h and s .

” ”
Oh , g r eat man I cried d Art ag nan I unders t and y o u
“ ’ “
,
.
.

”
Y o u u nder s tand h im ? s aid Portho s .

“
And you, Gri mau d , do y ou under s tand ? in q uired
.
”

Arami s
Gri maud ga v e a s ign in the affir mative
.

”
“
It is all th at is nece ss ary s aid Atho s ; now, let
“
,
”
u s return to my id ea .

”
.I s h ou ld lik e , ho wever, to under s t and as we ll, s aid
“

“
I t is
no u s e of .

”
Y e s , y es the ide a o f Atho s ! said d A rtag11 an and
’ '

Ar am i s at th e s am e ti m e .

l ad y, thi s wo man thi s cre atur e thi s de mon , , ,

h as a brother in law , I think y o u told

- -
m e?
”
 THE C O U N CI L o r THE M U S K E T E E RS . 1 71

Y es
,
I even kno w h im ,
a n d I believe th a t he h as n o

great s y m p ath y with h is s is ter in law -

.
’

”
T here is no h ar m there replied Atho s ; “
and i f he ,
”
dete s ted her even, it would be s o m uch the better
,
.

”
I n th at c as e we are fitted to a nicety
I s hould l
.
,
”
N everthele ss sa id Portho s ike to u nder1 , , ,
-

s ta nd wh at Gri maud i
’
s about . .

Sile nce , Portho s cried Arami s

w
.

What 15 the n ame of th i s broth er i n l a P ~ ~

“
Lord d e Winter ”
.

Where 15 he at pre s ent ?

H e returned to L ondon on the fir s t report o f the war .
’

Well th ere 1 5 exactly the m an we want s aid Atho s

, , .

I t is to h im th at we m u s t give in for matio n: we mus t

let h im kno w that h is s i s ter in la w1 5 going to ass ass in ate -

s o m e o ne an d entre at h im to keep h is e y e upon her

, .

T h ere m u s t be 1n London I s hould hope, s o me es tabli s h ,

nient like the M ade lo ne tte s or the M agda len h e mu s t , . .

pl ace h is s i s ter in law there, and we s h a ll then be a t

- -

”
pe ace
Y e s s aid d A rtag nan
,
un til s h e get s out again
’
,
”
Ah faith
,
s a id Atho s , y o u as k too m uch ,

I h ave given y o u all th a t I ha ve and I

’

d A rtag nan
’
.
, ,
”
tell y o u th at my budget is no w e m pty
”
.

I th ink it the be s t pl an we can devi s e o bse rved , .

Aramis ; we will in for m the quee n and Lord d e

Winter at the s ame ti me ”
.

Bu t b y who m s h all we co nvey the one letter to

L ondo n and the other to T ours P
,
”
I a n s wer for Bazin replied A ram1 s , .

And I fo r Pl anchet added d Art agn an ,

’
.

”
In fact, s a id Portho s if we c annot l eave th e camp , ,
~

our l acke y s can .

“
Cert a inl y a
”
dded A rarnis ; ,
s o we wi l l write the
lett er s th i s ver y d ay g ive the m s o m e m one y and s en d
.

, ,
”
the m o n the J ourne y
We wi ll give the m s o m e m one y ? s a
.

id Athos then
”
u h ave g o t m one h a ve y o u P
y o y ,
1 72 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

look ed at e ach o th er/ and a cloud

'
“

T h e four friend s
p as s ed over th e bro ws wh ich h ad been fo r an in s t ant
brightened .

“
Attention cried d A rt ag nan ;
,
I s ee bl ack a nd red ’ “

point s in motion belo w there Wh at we re y o u s ay ing

, .
'

about a regi m ent A t h O s P It is a regul ar ar my

'
’
.
,
”
Faith y es replied Atho s “
there the y are DO
‘

.
, , ,

o u s e e the cr aft y fello ws wh o a re a dv ancing without

y ,

dru m or tru mp et P Ah , ah ! H ave y ou fini s hed

'

Gri maud ?
Gri maud gave a s ign in the affi rm ative and pointed ,

to a doz en de ad bodie s which h e h ad pl aced in the ,

mo s t picture s que attitude s —s o m e c arr y in g ar m s, oth ers

s ee m ing to take a im other s s word 1n h and ,
.

”
Br avo ! cried Atho s th at doe s credit to y our ,
‘ “

i magin ation .

and y et I s ho u ld like
”
“
T h at may be s aid Portho s “
'
,
”
to unders t and it .

”
Let u s d e camp fi rs t s aid d A rtag nan ; W
'

1
’
“ “ '

y o u 1 1 ,
”
unders tand after ward s .

One mom e nt gentle men— wa it o ne m o ment ; let u s

‘

giv e Gri maud ti m e to t ake away the bre ak fas t th ing s

”
“
Ah ! said Ar am i s “
here are the bl ack and red ,

points beco ming vi s ibl y l arge r and I am o f d A rtag nan 5 ,

’ ’

Opinion I believe
. a we h ave no ti me to lo se in
”th t
reg aining the c amp .

“
F aith s aid Atho s
,
“
I h ave nothing more to s ay ,

a g a in s t a retre at : we betted for an hour and w e h ave ,

re mained an hour and a h al f T h ere is nothing m ore .

to co mm unic ate ; s o le t u s be Off gentle men , let u s ,

be Off
Gri m aud h ad alre ad y co mm
.

enced h is retre at with the ,

bas k et and th e frag m ents T h e four friend s follo wed

.

"
behind h im and h ad t aken about a dozen s tep s
, ,

when
“
Ah ! Wh at the pl agu e are we about gentle m en ? ,

excl ai med Atho s

ami s
.

H ave y o u forgotten an y th ing ? in quired A r .

17 4 T HE T H R EE M US K ET EE R S i
'

s h al l b e be y ond th e rea ch of their fire T hu s y o u see .

, ,

it is unnece s sary to give o ur selve s a fit of the pleuri s y by

’
o ver h as te!
.

“
Oh ! I under st and now ! s aid the as toni s hed ' ' ‘

Po rth o s
T h at s v ery fo r
' ”
tun ate; replied Atho s s hrugging h is ,

s h o u lder s W.
1

Th e Fr ench , on their s ide perceiv ing the 1r adventurou s ,

co m rade s returni ng uttered cries o f enthu si as m , .

At l engt h a fre s h volle y was he ard arid thi s ti me th e ,

bullets were a ctu all y fl attened on the stone s around the

fo ur frie nd s and whi s tled m ou rn full y ahent their e ar s
' ‘

-
, .

T h e R o c h ello is h ad at l as t t aken p o ss e s s ion Of the

b as t ion .

”
T he y are a set of awk ward fell ows; r emarke d Atho s
'

”
h o w m an y of the m h ave we s hot ? A dozen ?
”
Or fi ftee n .

H o w m a ny did we cru s h ?
”
“
Eight or ten .

And in exch ange fo r thi s we h ave not g o t a s cratch

'

, , .

Ah ! yes though ! Wh at is the matter with y our h and

,
”
there ; d A rtag nan P It bleed s I th ink ?
’
,
” ’
It rs nothing, replied d Art agn an .

Was it a s pent ball P

'

N
Wh a t then ?
We h ave s aid th at Athos lOv ed d A rtag nan as h is own
0
‘ ’

s o n ; and th ough o f a gloo my and inflexible ch a r acter

, ,

he someti m e s mani fes te d to ward s th e y o u ng man a

'

! ‘

s olicitude trul y p atern al .

Merely a s cratch rep lied d A rtag nan I c au g h t

’
‘

“ “
.
,

my finger s bet we en t wo s tone s — th a t o f the wa ll, and

th at of my rin g— and th e s kin I S broken .

”
S ee wh at it is to we ar di am ond s, my mas ter s a1d
“
,

Atho s conte mptuou sl y .

Ah ! excl ai m ed Portho s there is a d i a

“ ” “
m ond in , ,

fact ; and wh y the pl ague th e n as there I S a d iarno nd

'
, , ,

do we co mpl ain Of h aving no m one y ?

 THE C OUN C I L OF T HE , M U S K E T EE RS . 1 75
“
See there now
,
s ai d Ar ami s
, “

Well done Porth o s ; : th is ti me y ou really h ave g o t

,

an ide a
Cert ainl y Con tinued Portho s b ri dlin g up at A th os s
.

’
“
, ,

Co mpli ment ; a nd s in ce there is a di amond le t u s

“
,

s ell 1t

B u t s aid d A rtag nan

,
it is the q ueen s di amond
’
,
“ ’
.

”
All the m ore re as on s aid Atho s the queen s aving ,

the Duke Of Buckingh am h er lover : nothing can be ,

m ore j u s t— the queen s aving u s her friend s : nothing ,

.

can be more mor al Let u s s ell th e d iamo nd . Wh at ,

.
.

doe s the abbé s ay ? I do no t as k Portho s s opinion ’

th at is alread y given .

“
Wh y I think s aid A ram1s blus h 1ng th at as the
,
”
, , , ,
“
.

ring doe s not co m e fro m a mi s tres s and con s equentl y is , , ,

”
not a love token d Art agn an may s ell it
-
’

M y dear fello w, y o u s pe ak like theolog y per s onified

.
,
“

S o y our advice I S
T o s ell the di amond replied Ar ami s , .

Well s aid d A rtag nan g aily

”
,
let us s e ll the
’
,
“
.

”
di am ond and s ay no m ore about it
T h e fi
.
,

llad e s till cont inued but th e friend s were

rs i ,

bey ond its range , and the R o c h e llO is s ee med to be

firing onl y fo r the s ati sfaction O f their o wn con s cience s .

”
“
F aith s a id Atho s it was quite ti me for thi s ide a
, ,
“

’
of Portho s s to pre s ent its elf ; fo r h ere we are at the
c am p So no w gentle men no t another word about
.
, ,

thi s bu s ine ss We are Ob s er v ed T he y are co m ing

,

. .

”
to m eet u s and we s h all be borne ho m e in triu mph
, .

In fa ct as we h ave alre ad y s aid the whole cam p

, ,

was in co mm otion M ore th an two thou s and per s on s

.

h ad witne s s ed as at a the atr e the fortun ate br av ado

, ,

o f the fo u r friend s — a br av ado o f which the y h ad been , ,

far fro m s u s pecting the true m otive N othing could .

”
be heard but crie s o f long live the g u ard s !
“
lo ng “

”
live the m u s keteer s I M d e B us ig ny was the fir s t wh o
'

.
, .

”
c am e to pre ss the h and Of Atho s and to confe s s
.
‘

,
,
!

th at he h ad lo s t h is bet Th e dr a oon and t h e S wis s .

g .
 3
6 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EERS
' ‘

1 7 .

h ad follo wed h im ; and all their co mr ade s h ad follo wed

the dragoon and the S wi ss T here was no end to the .

congr atul ation s , s h aking Of h and s , e mbr ace s , and in

e x tingui s h able l aughter at the R och ellois ; and, at
l as t, the tu mult was s o gre at , th at the c ardin al s u p
po s ed there was a m utin y , and s ent L a H o u d inié re ,
the captain Of h is gu ard s , to as certain the c au s e o f t h e
d i s turb ance .

l h e circu ms tance was rel ated to h is m e s s e ng er with

’
'

all the war m th o f enthu s i as m .

Well ? de manded the c ardin al , when he s aw La

“ ”

H o u dinié re .

“
Well lord, my
replied the l atter i t is three
, ,
“

m u s keteers and a gu ard s m an wh o l aid a wag er with ,

‘

M de B u s ign y to go and bre akfas t in the b as tion o f

.
’

St Gervai s ; and wh o whil s t at bre akfas t maint ained

.
, ,

their ground for two hour s ag ain s t the R och ello is, and ‘

killed I kno w not h o w man y o f the ene my .

”
D id y o u le arn the n am e s o f the s e mu s keteers ?
”
Y e s my lord , .

Wh a t are they ?
M e s s ieur s Atho s Portho s , and Aram i s ,
.

”
Al way s m y three h av e fello ws ! m uttered the
”
c ardin al And the gu ard s man ?
.
“

’”
M d A rtag nan
“
. .

M y y oung madc ap ag ain ! D ecidedly th e s e four

'

”
m en m u s t be m ine .

O n the s am e evening ; the c ardin al s poke to M de .

Treville o f the exploit which form ed the s ubj ect of ,

conver s a tion throughout the whole c am p M de . .

T reville wh o h ad he ard th e recital Of th e adventure

,

fro m th e lip s o f tho s e wh o were it s heroe s recounted ,

it in all its p articul ars to h is e m inence without forgetting ,

the epi s ode o f the n apkin .

Very good M de T reville s aid th e c ardin al ; give

,
.
“
,
'

me th i s n apkin I beg Of y o u ,
I will get three fi e u rs .

de lis e m broidered on it in gold and will give it to y Ou ’ ‘

,
”
as a s t and a rd fo r
y our co m p a n y .
 C H A PT E R X L VII I .

A AM Y A A
F IL FF IR .

'
AT H O S h ad found the right expre s s ion “ I t was nece ss ar y
t o c all B uckingh am s 2 1 f amily af a z r / A fam ily affa i r
'
’
' ,
.

was n ot s ubj ect to th e inv e st ig atio n of the cardin al A

'
1
.

fam ily affa ir concerned no o ne : the y m i gh t occup y the m

s elv e s b e fore all the world with a fam il y affair . .

Ar ami s h ad found t h e id e a— the v alets

'

. .

Portho s ad found th e m e n
h a s — the di am ond
D A rtag nan alone , gener all y the mo st inv e ntiv e o f th
’
.

fo u r, h ad found noth ing ; but we m u s t alSo con fe s s th a

.

the ver y n am e o f h er l ad y s hip p aral y s ed h im Yet, w

—
.

are m i s t aken h e h ad found a purch as er Of the di amond

T h e bre ak fas t at M de T re v ille s was ch ar m ingl y g ay
’
.

D A rt ag nan h ad alre ad y got h is uni for m

’
A s he wa .

about the s ame s ize as Ar am i s , and as Ar am i s , being 8

’

h and s o m el y p a id , as m ay be re m e m bered , by the book

s e ller wh o h ad bought h i s poe m, h ad furni s hed hi m s el

with ever y thing in duplic ate , he h ad acco mm od ated hi

friend w ith a co m plete equip m ent .

D A rtag nan wo u ld h ave been co m pletel y h a pp y, h a

’ ’

he not s een her l ad y s hip like a d ark cloud on th

horizon
A fter the bre ak fa s t the y a
.

greed to m eet again in t h

,

evening a t A th os s qu arter s in o rder to ter min ate thei

’
,

arr ange ment s .

d ay in di s pl ay ing h i
’
D A rtag n an p as s ed the ; . . . .

m u s keteer s uni for m in ever y av enue tl1 ro u g h o u t th

’ ‘
»

c amp .

At th e appointed t1m e in the evening the four friend ,

ass e m bled T here were but three thing s le ft to decide

.

wh at the y s hould write to the l ad y s brother in law ; wh a

’
- -

they s hould write to the clever pers on at T our s ; anc

wh ich o f the v alet s s hould be the be arer o f the let ter s .

F o r the l a tter purpo s e e ach o ffered h is o wn

,
A th o .
 “

A FAM I LY AFF AI R .
fig
va unted the d i s cretion of Gri maud, Wh o onl y s pbk e when '

his m as ter perm itted h im to open his m outh ; Porth os '

,

boast ed of the st reng th O f M ou s qu et on wh o was big ’

,

enough to dru b four m en o f ordin ary di men s ion s ;

Arami s confident in the cunning of Bazin made a
, ,

po mpou s eulogiu m on h is c andid ate ; and l as tly _ , ,

’
d A rta g nan h ad e nti re dep endence in Pl anch et s br av ery
’
,

and rec alled to their m ind s h o w well h e h a d beh aved

'
'

in their mo s t h az ard Ous e nc ou nte r at C al ai s

'

'
’
.

'

T he s e four vi rtue s for a long ti m e C ontended for the

mas tery and g ave occ as ion for s o m e magnificent
'
’ 3
‘
' '

s peeche s which we s h all not repo rt le s t the y s hould b e

'

dee med t ire s om e .

“
U nh ap p ily s aid Ath os it is nece ss ary th at h e
” “

Wh am we s end s hould po s s e ss in h i m sel f all th e m

, ,
’
,

q u alities united ”
.

Bu t where can we fi n d s uch a s erv ant ?

”
“
It is i mp oss ible I kno w s aid , ,

Gri maud .

T ake M o u s qu etOn
“ ”
.

T ake B az in .

“
T ake Pl anchet : he I S fr ank a nd s kil ful : s o th ere a re
t wo q u alitie s o u t of the four
”
.

”
Gentle m en s aid Arami s the chie f t h iri no t to
kno w which of Ou r fOu r v alet s is the m
, , ,

o s t isc re et th e .

s tronge s t the m o st cunnin g o r the brave s t but td find

‘
‘

, , ,
”
out which o f the m 1 5 the m o s t fond of m oney .

Wh at Aram i s s ay s is full Of s en s e s aid Athos

“ ”
1t ,

is nece s sary to c alcul ate upon the de fects of man ind ,

a nd not upon their v irtue s M Abb é y o u are a great

'

. .
, ,

mo ralis t !
Un q ue s tion ably 5 0 s aid Ar ami s
“
for we need to
' ’

, .

be well s e rved not only to s ucce ed but not to fa il ;

, ,
'
s ince in c as e Of fa ilure
, it will end ang er the he ad not
, , ,

o f the v ale t

N ot s o loud Aram i s s aid Athos

“
, , .

Y o u ar e right : no t o f the v alet

”
re s u med Aramls , ,
“
but O f the m as ter o r ev en Of t h e mas ters Are o u r
“

, , , .
 80 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

v alets ci e n tly d e v o t e d to u s to h az ard th ei r live s

s u ffi .

”
for us ? No .

”
F a ith 1 s aid d A rtag nan, “
I would al mo s t an s wer
’

”
fo r Pl anchet ?
“
W, e ll then , m y d e ar fri end a d d to th a t devotion ,

a go od round s u m wh ich will s ecur e h im s o m e inde,

p e n d en ce an d , in
,
s te ad Of a n s w ering fo r h im once, y o u
”
may an swer twi ce
A h good God ! y ou will b e deceived j u s t as m uch
, ,

s a id Atho s wh o was an opti m i s t in re as oning on th ing s

, ,

and a pe s s i m i s t when re as oning on me n ; th ey ; will “

.

pro mi s e every thing to get mone y and when the occ a , ,

~

s ion co me s fe ar will preven t their a ctin g

, ,
O nce taken ,
,

they will be i mpri s oned ; and once i m pri s oned the y , ,

will con fes s every thing Wh at the pl ague ! we are not

.

”
children ! T o get to Engl and (Atho s lo wered h is

voice ) one mu s t p as s through the whole o f Fr ance

,
“
,

wh ich is th ickl y s o wn w ith th e s pie s and creature s o f the

c ardin al T hen a p as s port is neces s ary fo r e mb ark a
.
,

tion ; then , Engli s h mu s t be s poken , to find the way

”
to L ondOn Ah I s e e th at it is a very di ffi cult affa ir
.
, .

“
N ot at all s aid d A rtag nan wh o was ver y anx iou s
,
’
,

th a t the thing s h ould be a cco m pli s hed I c an s ee ,

“
.

th at it is e as y enough We kno w without being told .

, ,

vive D ien l th at if we wrote to Lord de Winter ,

lo udl y proclai m in g all manner o f enor m iti e s concerning

the cardin al
“
N ot so loud , s a id Atho s .

“
Or co mmunic ating s tate s ecrets and intrigue s c o n ,

tinned d A rtag nan profiting b y h is friend s warning

’
,
’
,
“
we kno w, without being tol d th a t we s hould all be ,
.

broken on th e wheel ; but fo r God s s ake do not ,

’

forget wh a t y ou h ave s aid y our s el f Atho s — th at we ,

'

onl y write ab out a fam il y affa ir— th at we write with

the s ole mOtiv e of getting thi s l ad y as s oon as s h e ,

arrive s in London pl aced in s uch a s itu ation th a t

,

s h e c annot injure u s I would therefore write h im a

.

letter m s o m ething like the s e term s .

1 82 T H E T H RE E
H
M U S K ET EE RS .

m ake me cqu ainted wi th all the c irc um s ta nces

a I .

have indeed he a rd no w an d then th at h is s i s ter in , ,

-

law is a m inx I h ave in fact g o t proo f of i t b y

.
, , ,

li s tening to h er conver s ation with the c a rdin al .

’
Z oun d s ! N o t s o loud then cried Atho s , , .

”
B ,
u t continu ed Ar a m i s ,
th e p a rticula r s I do not “

kno w .

N o r I ei th er s aid Portho s
“
,

D Ar tagn an and Atho s looked at one anO

, . .

’
th e r
s t Atho s h aving c O ec t ed hi m
'

t 1m e in s ilence
, ;A
t l a ll s el f, ,

beco me e v e n p aler tha n u s u al g ave a s ig n Of as s ent ; ,

and d A rt ag nan under s tood th at h e m ight s pea k

’
.

Well then here is wh at y ou m u s t write res u med

, , ,

d A rtag na n
’
.

“
M y lord Your S is ter 111 law is a wi ck ed
-

wh o wi s hed to h ave y o u k ill ed in order to o bta m ‘y o u r

i nherita nce B ut s h e could no t m arr y y our broth er
.
,

being alre a d y m arried in Fr ance and h a ving been ,

D A rtag na n s tO p p ed, as if he was s eeking for th e r1g h t

’
.

word and looked a t Athos

, .

Driven away b y ner hu s b and dict ated Ath o s , .

Bec a u s e s h e ha d bee nbra nde d OOntinu e d d A rtag nan ’

c ried Portho s ; i mpo ss ible ! and di d s he wi s h

, .

B ah “

”
to h ave he r brother ih law killed ? -

Yes .

And s he was re all y m arried ? de manded Ara m is .

y es
7)

h
nd us b and found ou t th a t h ad
A her s he a fi e u r de -

lis o n her s h oulder ? cried Porth o s . 1

“
Ye s .
”

ti mes h ad Athos uttered thi s yes e ach tim e

T hree “
,

I n a m ore
g loo m y t On e .

And wh o s aw thi s fleur de 1is ? de niandO d Aram i s -

.

D A rtag nan and mys elf o r r athe r to ob s erve the

’

, , ,

chronologic al order I and d Artagn an replied Athos

”
,
’
,
.

And th e hu s b and o f th i s horrible cre ature is y e t

ali v e ?
”
inq uired Ar am i s .

Yé s .
 ”
A
'
FAM I LY A F FAI R "
. 1 83

You are q uit e s ure of it

“
I am cert a in of it
T here was a moment of p ro fo un d s i lence durin g wh ich
.

e ach felt hi ms elf affected according to his d is p Os itiOn

’

T hi s ti m e s aid Atho s firs t bre aking s ilen ce

, , ,
'

d A rtag nan h as giv en u s a good s t art and it is th at

“ ’
,
”
which we m u s t write fir s t .

”
s aid Ar ami s h
“
“
T h e devil ! y o u a re ri g t Atho s , ,

and th e co m po s ition is di ffi cult T h e ch an cellor hi ms el f

would be at a lo s s to co m
.

po s e an epi s tle of thi s s ig nifi cancy ,

and y e t t h e ch ancellor dr aws up a c iiminal proc s s ver y

'

a gree bl
a y N ever m ind — b e quiet l I will writ e
”e --
.

Ar am i s took a p en reflected for a fe w moment s and

.

, ,

then wrote eight or ten line s I n a ch ar ming littl e fe m inin e

h and then in a s oft and s lo w voice as if every
, , ,

word h ad b een s crupul ou s ly weigh ed , he read wh at

' '

follo ws

MY L O R D,
T h e p e rs o n wh o w rit e s t h e s e fe w line s had th e h o no u r
Of c ro s s m g s w o rd s w ith y o u in a littl e e nc l o s u re 1 11 th e R u e de
1 E n fe r
’
. k
A s y o u h a ve b e e n in d e no u g h , s inc e , o ft e n t o d e c la re
o u rs e l f t h e frie nd of t h a t p e rs o n , h e i s b o u nd to re c ip ro c a t e
y
t h a t frie nd s h ip by an im p o rtant w a rn ing Y o u h ave t w ic e
. .

e s c a p e d b e ing t h e v ic t im o f a n e a r re la t io n , w h o m y o u c o n s id e r

y o u r h e i re s s , b e c a u s e y o u k
n o w n o t , t h a t , b e fo re c o n t ra c t in g
h e r m a rria g e in E ng l a n d , s h e h a d b e e n a l re a y a rrie d in
d m
F ra nce .B u t t h e th ird t ime , w h ic h is no w , y o u m i g t b e co m e
h
h e r v ic t im Y o u r re la t io n h a s left L a R o c h elle fo r E n g l a n d
. .

Wa tc h fo r h e r a rriva l, fo r s h e h a s g re a t a n d t e rrib le d e s ig n s
k
.
,

I f y o u w is h re a lly t o n o w o f w h a t s h e is ca ab le , rea d h e r
”
p
p a s t h is t o ry o n h e r le ft s h o u ld e r .
L

Well th a t ,
d m ir able s aid Atho s ;
is a a nd yO u ,
“

h ave the pen s ecret ar y o f s t ate my de ar Ar a m i s

of a , .

D e Winter will keep a good look ou t n o w provided he

’

receive s the letter ; and s hould it ever fall into the ,

h and s o f h is e m inence we could not be co m pro m i s ed , .

B u t as the'v alet who m we s end m ight ma ke u s believe

,

th at he h ad been to London whil st he onl y ste p p ed ,

at Ch atell er ault , gi v e h im onl y h al f the s um pr omis ing ,

1 84 T H E T H RE E . M U S K E T EE RS .

h im the other h al f on receipt o f the an s we r H ave y o u .

the di am o nd ? c ontinued Atho s .

”
“
I h ave better th an th at replie d d A rtag nan I ,
’
.

h ave got the money and he thre w the b ag upon the .

t able .

At th e s ound of the gold A ram1s li fted up his ey e s , ,

Portho s s tarted and as for Athos he re m ained un moved

, , .

”
H o w m uch 15 there I n thi s little b ag ? s aid he .

”
S even thou s and livre s I n t welve franc piece s ,
-
.

“
Seven thou s and livre s excl ai med Portho s “
Was . .

th at p altry lit tle di am ond worth s even thou s and livre s

“
S o it s ee ms s aid Atho s “
s ince there they are
, I , .

pre s u m e th at o ur friend d A rtag nan h as not pu t in any ’

”
on h is o wn account .

B u t gentle men
”
conti nued d A rtag rian
’

, we forget
, ,

the queen Le t u s t ake s o m e little c are o f the h e alth o f

.

”
her de ar B u ckingh am I t is the le as t th at we o we her . .

”
“
T h at is true s aid Ath o s ; “
but thi s concern s
,
”
Ar am i s .

“
Well in q u ired the l atter colouring
”
wh at mu s t , ,

“
Why replied Atho s
,
it is ver y s i
m pl e : j u s t com
,
“

po s e a s econd
'
letter to th at clever per s on wh o live s
’
at T ours .

Aram i s re s u me d the pen beg an to refl ect ag aI n a nd , ,

wrote the follo wing line s wh ich he s ub m i tted i mm edi atel y ,

to the approb ation o f h is friend s :

My d e a r C o u s in
”
Ah , h a ! said Atho s th i s clever p er s on is ,
“
y our
”
rel ation !
Cou s in german replied Arami s -
, .

”
Pr a cticall y co us in .

Ar ami s continued
MY DE AR C o m m ,

1 H is e mine nc e t h e c ard inal, wh o m may Go d p re s e rve

fo r t h e h ap p ine s s o f F ra nc e , a nd t h e c o n fu s io n o f t h e e ne m ie s o f
'

th e re alm , is a b o u t t o e x t e rm ina t e t h e re b e ll io u s h e re t ic s of L a
r8 6_ T H E T H RE E M US K E T EE RS .

af g o od me mor y I p romise y ou that , if he thought

and
revenge po s s ible , he wou ld allo w hi ms el f to be broken on
the ‘ wheel rath er th an not e ffect it I f the bu s ine s s at
"

T our s belon s peculi ar ly to y o u , th at in Lon don is

’

g
peculi arly mine So I entre at y ou to choo s e Pl anche t,
.

wh o h as , on h is p a rt , alre ad y been to Lo ndo n w ith me ,

‘
‘

and kn ows h o w to s y, ve ry corre ctl y London, s ir, if

y o u p le as e a nd ,
‘
M y m a s ter , Lord d
’
A rta
g na n
’
Y ou .

q
.

may be uite s ure that , with th i s kno wl edge, he wi ll find

”
h is way there and b a ck .

In th at c as e , s aid Atho s , Pl anchet m u s t receive

s ev e n hundred liv re s for e a ch h al f o f h is j ourney , and
z
B a in three hundred T h at will reduce th e s u m to five
.
’ “

th ou s and livr es We will each take a tho us a'n d livre s , to

.

s pend as we p le as e , and we will leave a fund of a

w
.

thou s and , o f hi ch th e abbé s h all take c are , fo r extra

ord in ary expen s e s and our co mm on wants Wh at do .

”
to th t P
‘

y o u s ay a
M y de ar Atho s , s aid Aram i s , y o u s pe ak like N e s tor,
”
wh o was , a s ever y bod y k no ws , th e wi s e s t o f the Greek s .
.

”
“
T he n it is s ettled , cont inued Atho s
'
Pl anchet arid
Bazin will s et o u t .A fter all, I am not s orry t o k eep
Gri maud : he is accu s to med to my way s, and I co uld
de p end upo n h im . Y
e s ter day s expedition mu s t h ave
’

rather s h aken h im alre ady and thi s voyage wo u ld u nd o

”
h im altogeth er .

Pl anchet was s ent for to rece i v e his in s tr u ction s He

h ad alre ad y r e ceived s o me intimatio nof th e J ourne y fr om
.

h is mas ter, wh o h ad i nstanced t o h im, firs t, the g lory ; ,

the n, the profit , and l as tl y , the danger .

”
“
I Will c arry the letter in the lining of my co at , s aid
Plan ch et, and will s wallo w it if am t aken
“
I .

Bu t then y o u wil l be un abl e to p er for m y o ux

m
co m i ss ion , s aid d A rtag nan
” ’

“
You will give m e a copy thi s eve ing, which s h all n I
kno w b y he art to— m orro w
D A rtag n
’
an look ed at his frie nds, as uch as to s ay , m
Well did I
.
”
, not tell y o u s o .
 A F AM I LY AF F AI R .
1 87
“
N o w, continued b e addre s s ing Pl anchet y o u h a ve ,
“

eigh t d ay s to re ach Lord de Wi nter and eight d ay s to

,

, .

return here , th a t is s ix teen d ays in all I f o n the

'

,
.
,

s ix teenth d a y fro m your dep arture y o u h a ve not a rrived

a t eig h t o clock in the evening not a farthing rrio re

’
,

m one y s h all y o u h ave though yo u were onl y later by

'

five m 1nu te s .
,

'
b u y m e a watc h
” 1

T hen s ir sa id Pl a nche t
' r
“
.
, , ,
”
Here t ake thi s s a id A tho s with he edl es s ge n
, ,
ero s it y ,
‘

giving h im h is o wn and b e a br av e lad ; Cons ider th at ,

“ ‘

if y o u t alk if y o u b abble y o u will s acrifice the he a d of

, ,

our m ter h h s o m uch c b n fid e n c e I n y our fidelit

'

y a s w o as y‘
th at he h a s an s wered fo r y o u to us B u t re mem ber al s o
,

,
.
,

th a t if b y any fault of y our s any s uc h c al amity s h ould

be fall d Art agn an I wil lhu n t y o u o ut wh ereve r y o u m
, , _

y
’ “
,
a
”
be and co m pletely perfor ate y o u .

Oh s ir !
”
cried Pl anchet hu mili ated at the Su s pici on ,
rly al ar m
, ,

a nd p articul a ed b y th e c al m ness o f the

‘

m u s keteer
sa
.

“
And I id Portho s rolli ng h is gre at e y e s
, , ,
“
re m e mber th at I will s kin y ou ali ve
,
.

“
A h s ir i ,
“
And I s aid Ar am i s wit h h is s o ft and m elod iou s
”
, , _

re m e mber th at I wil l ro ast y o u at a s lo w fi re

!
voice ,
“
, ,

as i f y o u were an u ntu t o re d s av age

“

”
“
Ah s ir l ,
'
And Pl anchet b eg an to c ry ; but we cann ot venture
to s ay whether it was fro m terror o n account o f the
thre at s he h ad he ard o r fro m being affected at s eeing ,

s o clo s e a union o f he a rt s between the four friend s .

’
D A rta g nan to ok h is h and You s e e Pl an ch et “
, ,

s a id he th at the s e gentle mens pe a k thu s fro m atfe c

,
“

tion to war d ; m e but no twith s t anding all thi s th e y

e s tee m yo u s
”
.
, ,

“
A h s ir ! ”
s a id Pl anchet I s h all either s ucc eed ,
“

or I s h all be q u ar tered and wer e I even qu artered

,

m
, , ,

m rel upon it th t one piec e f e wil l

‘

y o u a y y a n o t o
”
s pe a k .
1 88 THE .
T H RE E M U S K E T EE RS .

It deci ded th at Pl anchet s houl d s tart the next

was
d ay at eight in th e m orning in order th at a s he s a id
, , , ,

he m ight during the night h ave ti m e to le arn the letter

, ,

b y he a rt H e g ained ju s t t welve h our s b y thi s a rr ange

.

ment as he was to ret urn at eight o clock on the

’
,

evening o f the s ixteenth d ay

m
.

J u s t a s he w a s a bout t o ount h is hor s e in the

m orning d A rtag nan wh o felt h is he art incline to ward s
’
, ,

B uckingh am took Pl anchet a s ide ,

.

L is ten s aid he ; when y o u h ave delivered your

” “

letter to Lord de Winter and he h as re ad it s ay to , ,

h im ,
Watch over the D uke of B uckingh am fo r they
‘
,

are s eeki as s as s in ate h im B u t th i s do y o u s ee

’

n g to .
, ,

Pl anchet is a thing o f s uch m o mentou s I m port ance

, ,

th at I Would not even con fe s s to m y friend s th a t I h ave

confided the s ecret to y o u and even fo r a c apta in s , ,
’

co mm i s s ion I would not write it do wn

,
”
Be e as y s ir s a id Pl anch et ; , y o u s h
, a ll s e e wh e th e r
“
,

”
o u c an tru s t m e
y .

M ounted on an excellent hor s e which he was to ,

le ave at twenty le ague s fro m L a Rochelle to t ake the ,

po s t Pl anchet went o ff at a g allop ; h is he art was a

,

little s h a ken b y the thre ats o f the m u s keteer s but on , ,

the whole he was in a m o s t favour able s t ate o f m ind

,
.

B azin le ft the next m orning fo r T our s and h ad eight ,

d ay s allo wed h im for h is expedition .

T h e four friend s during the whole ti m e o f their ,

a b s ence h ad as may be well s uppo s ed their e y e s

, , ,

m ore th an ever on the watch their no s e s in th e ,

wind and their e ar s upon the alert

,
T h e d ay s were .

c on s u m ed in try ing to catch every rep ort to watch ,

the m ove m e nts o f the c ardin al and to s cent ou t th e ,

courier s wh o arrived M ore th an once an uncon q uer .

able a nxiety s eized the m o n being s ent for o n s o m e ,

unexpected s ervice T he y h ad al s o to be watch ful

.

of their o wn s afety : her l ad y s hip was a ph anto m ,

wh o h aving once a ppe a red to any one would never

, ,

m ore allo w h im to s leep I n tr a nqu illit y .

.z go T H E T H R EE
"
MU S K E T EE RS
'

dream ?
id the S wi ss sa

Oh l v iv e D ieu ! said Arami s it 15 plai n enough

“ ” “
,
”
abo u t a d re am o f m ine th a t I told the m .

“
Ah l sa id the S wi s s it is q ui te n atur al to -

,
“
,

tell one s dreams ’

for my p art I never dre am , .

a t z al
l .

“
Yo u ver y fortun ate , s aid Atho s ris mg , and
a re ,
“

I wi s h I could s ay the s am e thing .

Never, ” re p e ate d the S wis s , delighted t h at a éman l ike

’

Athos s hou ld e nv y h imin an y thing 4 ne v er, never 1 -

“

D Ar tag nan, see ing At ho s r is e , did the s ame, and

’
.

t ook h is arm and left the roo m .

Porthos and Ar am is re m ained behind, to face the

g o ss ip o f th e S w i s s and th e dr a goon .

A s fo r Bazin h e went to sleep upon a tru s s o f

,

s tr a w, and as h e h ad more imagina ti o n th an the

,

S wi s s dre am t th at M Arami s wh o h ad beco me p e pe ,

, , , ,

was pl acing on his he ad a c ardin al s h at

’
.

B u t as we have alre ad y s aid Ba zin h ad b y h is

, , , ,

fortu na te return re moved only a p art of the u ne as i

'
,
-

ne s s which tor m ented the four friend s ; T h e d ay s o f '

s u s pen se ; are a l wa y s long, and d A rt agnan, e s peci all y ’

,

sworn th at e ach of the s e 1day s was eight

. .
.

a nd fort y ho ur s long
-
“
H e forgot the un avoid able.
1
.

del ay s o f na v ig atio n ; he e x ag g erated f th e po wer o f .

her la d y s hip ; he g ave to thi s wo man wh o appeared ,

to him to re s e m b le a de mon a uxili aries as s upern atural ,

a s her s el f ; a nd he fancied at ever y noi s e th at the y , ,

were co m ing to a rre s t h im or were bringing Pl anchet ,

to be con fronted with hi ms el f and h is friends And , .

more th a n th at h is extraordin ary confidence in the

,

worth y Pic ard di m ini shed d ay by d ay T hi s s u s p e n s e

was s o po w
. .

er ful th at it infected Portho s and Arami s

Atho s alone re mained un m
.
,

oved as though no d anger ,

filled the a ir around h im and he bre athed in h is

h ab itu al a t m o s ph ere .

On the s ix teenth . the s e s igns o f

agit ation were s o perceptible I n d Art agn an and h is two
’
 FA M I L v AF F AI R
”
A
: l
.
1 9i
friend s , th at the y could not r emain in any '

n pl ace o e ,

a nd w andered about like s h ado ws on the ro ad by wh ich

‘ '

Pl anchet was expected to return .

Re ally s aid Atho s,

”
y o u are no t tn e n ; y o u a re
“

onl y c h ildr en to let a wo man frighten you s o m uch

,
.

And after all wh at 15 it th at y o u fe ar ? I mp n s onment ?

, ,

Well we s hould be rele as ed fro m pri s on as Madame

, ,

Bo nanc ieu x h as been Exec utio n? Wh y w e .

,

expo s e o ur s elve s, every d ay in the tr ench es to Wo rs e

t h an th at : fo r a bullet m ight bre ak a leg ; and I am
, ,

quite s ure th at a s urgeon put s one to more p ain in

am p u ta ting a t h ig h th an an executioner in cutt ing o ff
S o keep y our s elve s e asy in t w
,

a he ad .
, o four s 1x , ,

hour s at th e la te s t Pl anchet will be here He h as

‘

,
.
,

g iven u s h is pro m i s e ; and I fo r my p art h ave g r eat , , .

confidence in the pro m i s e s of Pl an ch et fo r h e s ee ms

w
,
”
to m e a very o rth y lad .

B u t wh at if he s ho uld not (so me ? s aid d Ar tag n an

’

Well and I f h e s houl d no t co m e h e h as bee ndelay e d

.

'
, ,

th at s all H e may have fallen fro m h is h ors e ; h e m ay

’
.

h ave made a s om er sault over a b rid g e ; h e In ay h a ve

brough t on a d is ease o f h is che s t b running too quickl

y y , .

Co m e gentle m en let u s allo w for accidents

, ,
Li fe is a .

l arge C h aplet of littl e m i serie s wh i ch the philo s oph er ,

s h a ke s w ith a l a ugh Be philo s opher s like me gentle

.
, ,

m e n : co me arou nd th e table and let u s drink N othing , .

m ake s the futu re of s o r os y a hue as to look at it thr ough

'

a gl as s o f ch a m
”
b ertin .

T h at is all ver d d Art a

’
well replie n an bu t I
y g ; ,

am we ar y o f i m ag in ing e ver y ti m e I dri nk th at th e wi ne

‘
, ,
”
may h ave co me fro m her lad ys hip s cell ar
’ 1
.
_
j
”
“
Y o u are ver y fas tidiou s ! Sa id Atho s “
S uch a "
.

”
be auti ful wo man !
“
A wo man with a br and ! s aid P orth os with his
”
,

hor s e l au gh
-
.

Atho s s tarte d p as s ed h is h and over h is foreh e ad to

, ,

wipe o ff the er s p ir at ion and ro s e ii i h is turn wit h a

’

p , ,

ner vou s agit at ion th at he was un able to re s train .

1 92 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

T h e d ay , ho wever, glided on , and the evening c am e

mo re s lo wl y ; but, at l ast , it arriv e d T he ta vern s were .

full o f cu s to m er s Ath os , wh o h ad pocketed h is s h are o f

.

the di am ond , no w s c arcely ever left th e P arp illot H e

a .

h ad found I n M de B u s ign y, wh o, m oreover, h ad given

.

the m a s uperb dinner, a p artner worth y o f hi ms el f T he y .

were pl ay ing togeth er , a ccording to cu s to m , when the

clock s truck s even , and the y he ard th e p atrol s p as s i ng to
ch ange the gu ard At h al f pas t s even the dru ms be at.
-

the l as t po s t .

We are lo s t, whi s pere d d Artagn an I n Atho s s e ar ’ ’

.

”
“
You me an to s ay th at we fi aw lo s t replied Atho s ,

with gre at tr an q ui llity dr awing at the s ame ti m e ten

,

pi s tols fro m h is pocket and thro wi ng the m u po n th e ,

”
t able “
Co me, gentle m en continu ed he, th at is the
“

las t drum; let u s go to bed

.
,

And Atho s left the P arp aillot followed by d Artag nan ,

’
.

Ar ami s c ame b eh ind , g iving h is arm to Portho s Arami s .

was m outhing ver s e s ; and Portho s fr om ti me t o ti m e

tore a fewh airs fro m h is m ou s t ach e I n token of de s p air
, ,

, .

Bu t behold s udde nly , in the o bs curity a s h ado w was

, ,

perceptible of a for m famili ar to d A rtag nan and a well

,
’
,

known vo ice s aid to h im

“
Sir I h ave brought y o u y our clo ak , for it is cold thi s
,

evening .

Pl anchet l excl ai m ed d A rtag nan i n

”
toxic ated with j oy ’
, .

”
Pl anchet l excl ai m ed Ar ami s and Portho s .

Well— yes Pl anchet s aid Athos ,

wh at is there ,
“

s urpr is ing in th at ? H e pro m i s ed to be b ack b y eight

o clock and it is no w j u s t s triking eight Br avo Pl anchet !
’
,
.
,

You are a lad o f y our word and if ever y o u le ave y our , ,

”
mas ter I wil l keep a pl a ce for y ou in my s ervice
,
.

”
“
O h no never ! s aid Pl anchet ;
, ,
“
I sh all never le ave
’
M d Artagn an
. .

And at the s ame m o ment d A rtag nan felt Planchet s lip ’

a s mall note into h is h and

D A rtag nan h ad a gre a t de s ire to e mbr a ce Pla nchet ;
’

but he w as afr aid s uch a m ark o f delight conferred upon ,

1 94 T H E T H R EE M U S K ET E ERS .

CH A PT E R X EI X .

F A A Y T LI T .

I N the me anti m e h er l ad y s hip — intoxic ated with rag e

an d r aging 011 th e v es se ls deck like an excited lione s s —
, ,
,
’
.
7

h ad been e Ve n te mpted t o yc as t her s e lf into the s e a ; fo r

s h e could not bring her s el f to brook the thought , th a t s h e
"

h ad b een in s ulted by d A rtag n an and thre a tened b y

’
, .

Atho s and was now q uitting Fr ance with o u t h av ing

, ,
‘

obtaine d revenge So ins u p p ortable h ad thi s ide a at l as t

.

beco m e th at at the ri s k o f the m o s t terrible c o ns e

, ,
.
'

u e nc e s to her s el f s h e h ad entre ated the c apta in to l and

q ,

her o n th e French co as t B u t the c ap tain anx io u s to .

,

e s c ape fro m h is fal s e po s ition— wh ere he was pl aced

,

bet ween the Engli s h and French crui s er s like a bat

'

,
—
be t ween the r at s an the bird s was in e x tre m e h as te
d
to arriv e in Engl and H e ob s tin ately re fu s ed there fore
.
, ,

to obe y wh at he reg arded as a wo m an s c aprice he ’

,

pro m i s ed ho wever to h is p as s enger , wh o h ad been

, ,

p articul arl y reco mm ended to h is c are by th e c ardin al .

t o l and her a t s o m e por t in B ritt an y either B re s t or

,
.
,

Lorient s hould the we ather and the French per m i t B u t

, .
,

in th e me a nti m e the wind was contrary and th e s ea

, ,

rough : t he y t a cked about continu ally ; and nine d ay s ,

after her dep a rture fro m Ch arente her l ad y s hip p a le with , ,

grie f and r age s aw onl y the blue s h o res o f F inis te rre

, .

She c alcul a ted th at to tra vers e th a t angle o f France

.
, .
,

and return to the c a rdin al would t ake her at le as t three ,

d ay s ; ad d o n e d ay for l anding and th at would make

_ ,
,

four. Add the s e four to the nine alre ad y el ap s ed , and

here we re th irte e n d ay s lo s t — th irte en d ay s during wh ic h ,

s o m an y i m port ant event s m 1g h t h av e occurred in London . .

She con s idered th at th e c ardin al would undoubtedly be

'

furiou s a t her return and, con s equen tl y would be d is

, ,

po s ed to li s ten m ore to any accu s ation s which were made

ag a in s t her, th an to tho s e which s h e m ight make a g ain s t
 FAT ALI T Y . 1 95

oth ers With ou t s olicit ation there fore s h e perm itted

.
, ,
‘
the c apt ain to c arr y her p as t Lorient and B re s t ; and he ,

o n h is p art was c are ful no t to re m ind her o f her wi s he s

'
.
,

Sh e th u s continued her vo y age ; and on the v ery d ay :

th at Pl anchet emb arked at Ports m outh to return to ,

Fr ance the m e ss enger of h is e minence ent e red the port

,

triu m ph antly 3
.

. T h e whole to wn was in a s t ate o f extr aordin ary

excite m ent Four l arge s h ip s recentl y built h ad j u s t
.
, ,

been l aunched into the s ea St anding on the j ett y .

,

covered with gold and glittering as u s u al with di am ond s

,
'

and preciou s s tone s , h is h at a dorned w ith a white pl u m e

'

which dropped upon h is s houlder B uckin gh am wa s ,

vi s ible s urrounded by a s taff al m o s t as gorgeou s as

,

hi ms el f .

It was one of tho s e few and fine s u mmer d ay s when ,

Engli s h m en re m e m ber th at there is a s un u T h e p ale

.

bu t s till s plendid lu m in ary was ju s t s etting on the

'

horizon e m purpling th e he aven s and th e s e a with b and s

,

o f fi re and c as ting a l as t g olden ra y on the to wer s and

'
.

th e o ld b u ild ing s o f the to wn which m ade the w indo ws ,

gleam aS with th e reflection o f a co nflag rat io n H er

'
~
‘

l ad y s hip—as s h e inh aled the s ea breeze wh ich is fre s her

.

-
,

and m ore b abny in the vicinity of l and and conte m pl ated ,

all tho s e might y prep ar ation s which s h e was ordered to

des tro y and all the m ight o f th at ar m am ent ag ain s t which
,

s h e h ad co m e to contend a lone— a wo m an with a fe w b ag s ,

o f gold — m entall y co m p ared her s el f to Judith the ter rible ,

Je we s s when s h e penetrat ed into the c am p of the

,

A ss y ri an s and s aw the enor mou s mas s of ch ariot s o f

, ,

hors es of m en and of arms which one m ove ment of her

”

h and was to d is s ip at e like a cloud o f s moke

, , ,

T hey entered the ro ad s but ju s t as the y were making , ,

re ady to ca s t anchor a s mall s trongl y ar m ed cutter , ,

-
,

pre s enting its el f as a co as t gu ard appro a ched the ,

m erch ant ves s el and put o ff its g ig which was s teered

-
,

to ward the m T h e gig cont a ined an o fficer a lieuten ant

.
, ,

a nd eigh t me n T h e o fficer alone c am e o n bo ard wher e

.
,
1 96 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

he was received with all the re s pect w h ich h is uni for m '

in s pired . r
'
1

T h e o ffi cer con ver s ed for a fe w m inute s with the

'

c a pt ai n and in s pected s o m e p aper s which the l atter

,
‘
'

brought with h im; and then o n the c ap t ain s r order all

.

’
, ,

the cre w and p as s enger s o f the ve s s el were m u s tered u pon

deck When th i s h ad been done the o ffi cer inquired
.
,

a loud as to where the brig h a d co m e fro m wh at h ad

'

, ,

been its cour s e and wh ere it h ad put in and to all the s e

,
'

que s tion s the c apt ain replied s ati s factoril y without he s it a ,

tion or di fficulty T h e o fficer then beg an to ex am ine

.

'

all the per s on s o n d e c k o ne after the other , and s t 0p i n

'

p g , ,

be fore her l ad y s hip h e looked at her ver y e arne s tl y but

, ,

w ith o u t u tte ring a s ingle word

~ .

H aving returned to the c apt ain and m ade s o m e ne w ,

co mm unic ation to h im th e o fficer as if he h ad no w t aken , ,

co mm and o f the ve s s el g av e an order which the cre w ,

i mm edi atel y executed By thi s me an s the ve s s el was .

~
.

ag ain in m otion ; but it wa s s till e s corted by the little

-

cutter which kept be s ide it m en acing its bro ad s ide

, ,

w ith the m outh s o f her c annon s ; the bo at follo wed ill

’
the ve ss el s wake an object s carcel y vi s ible behind th e
,

enor m ou s m as s .

Whil s t th e o ffi cer h ad been ex am ining h er l ad ys hip ,

s h e ; as m ay be well i magined h ad o n her s ide not , , ,

failed to s crutini ze h im m o s t intently B u t h o wever m uch

' ’

thi s wo man with her e y e o f fire was accu s to m ed to re ad

, ,

th e h e arts o f tho s e who s e s ecret s h e de s ired to di s cover

i
,

s h e h ad found at l as t a c ounten an ce s o perfectly - '

i m penetr able th at n o in s ight follo wed her inve s tig a tion .

T h e o fficer wh o s tood be fore her a nd s ile ntly s tu d ie d ,

'

her with s o m uch c are m ight be about t went y fi v e o r

'
-

t wenty s ix y e ars o f ag e H e h ad a ver y fair co m plexion

-
.
,

with blue e y e s rat h en d e ep ly s e t H is fine and well cut

,
'
.
-

m outh continued per fectl y m otionle s s in its c las s iC lines :

'

H is well developed chin denoted th a t s trength o f will

- .

which in the prev ailing Engli s h ch ar a cter is c om m onl y

, ,

11 0 better th an ob s tin ac y ; and h is s lightl y recedin g

1 98 T H E T H RE E M U S K E T EE RS .

wi ll follo w y o u , then ,
sir .

ccepting the o ffi c é r 5 h and she beg an to de s cend

d ,
a
’

at the bott o mo f wh ich the bo at was waiti ng .

o fficer follo we d her A large clo a k wa s s p re ad in

.

the s tern : the o fficer m ade her s e at her sel f 011 it and ,

pl ace d hi ms el f b y her s ide .

Give way I s a id he to t h e s ailo r

. s .

T h e eight oars all fell into the w ater a t the s ame

in s tant and the b oat see med t o fly al ong t he s u rfa ce o f
,

the h a rb our In five m i nute s the y r each e d the s hore .

T h e o fficer s pr ang u p on the qu ay an d g ave h is h and t o ,

her lad y s hip A c arri age was wa iti ng fo r the m

. .

”
I s thi s c a rri a ge fo i u s ? de m an ded th e l ad y .

Y e s m ad a m eplied the o ffic e r

r
.
, ,

I hen the hotel 1 3 a t s o m e di s tanc e P

‘

”
At the other end o f the to wn .

,
’’
Let u s go s aid her l ad y s h ip .

She then entered the c arr iage with a re s olute s tep .

H aving s uperintended the s afe con s ign m ent o f the

Bagg age the o fficer took h is pl ace be s ide her l ad y s hip
, ,

a n d clo s ed the ca rri a ge d o or “

T hen without any order s being given to him o r any

, ,

indic ation as to where h e was to go the co a ch ma n s e t ,

o ff at a gallop an d wa s s oon thre adin g the s tr eet s o f

,

the to wn
p
.

A reception s o s tr ange n atur a ll y s u pli e d her l ad ys hip

with abund ant m atter for reflection And se e mg th at .
,

the y oung o ffi Cer did no t a ppe ar at all i n clined to enter

into conver s ation s h e l eant b ack in o ne of the corners o f
, .

the c arri age and p as s ed in revie w o ne after the other

, , ,

all the s uppo s ition s which pres ented the m s e l ve s to her

‘

mind .

i
B u t in about a qu arter o f an hour s u rp r1 s e d a t t h e
, ,

length o f their j ourney s h e looked o u t o f the windo w to

,

ob s erve Wher ethey were going She could no lo ng er s ee .

any h o u s e s ; but tree s were v i s i bl e in the d arkne s s, like

'

V as t bl ack ph antom s ch as ing o ne another , .

‘
Her l ad y s hip s huddered .
 F A T A LI Tv . 1 99

”
“
Bu t we h ave le ft the to wn, s ir, s h e e marked
r .

T h e y oung o fficer re m ained s ilent .

I po s itivel y decl are , s ir, th at I will no fu rth er, it

o
g
y o u do not tell m e where y ou are convey ing me .
’

T hi s thre at produced no repl y .

Ah ! it is too much ! ”
e x c lalme d her lad y s h ip .

Help ! help !
N 0 voice res ponded to her crie s T h e c arri age continued .

its r apid cour s e T h e o fficer s ee m ed to be a s t atue

. .

H er l ad y s hip gazed o n h im with o ne of tho s e terrible

gl ance s which were peculi ar to her o wn face and which ,

s o r arel y fail ed o f their e ffect P as s ion m ade her e y e s .

po s itivel y s p arkle in the gloo m ; but the y oung m an

continued per fectl y i mm ov able .

She then atte mpted to Open the door and thro w

hers elf out .

“
T a ke c are mad am coldly ob s erv e d the o fficer ;
,
.

, .

”
u will k ill y our s el f if le p out
“
o y o u a
y .

T h e lad y res u m ed her s e at fo am ing with r age He , .

le ant for ward s looked at her in h is turn , and s ee m ed

,
'

s urpri s ed to find a counten ance be fore s o be auti ful , ,

no w s o c o nv u ls e d with r age as to h ave beco m e al m o s t ,

h ideou s T h e cr afty cre ature c o m prehending th at s h e

.
’

would s acrifice her o wn intere st s b y thu s betr ay ing her '

true n a ture at once co m po s ed her fe ature s and in a

, , ,

be s eeching voice s aid ,

For He aven s s ake s ir ! tel l m e if 11 be to y ours el f or

’
, ,

to y our govern m ent or to an ene my th at I am to i m pute , ,

thi s violence th at 15 inflicted o n m e ?

No violence 15 inflicted mad am ; and th at which h as ,

befallen y o u is the re s ult o f a ver y s i m ple m e as ure which

.

we are forc ed to p urs ue to ward s all tho s e wh o l and in

”
Engl and .

“
T hen y ou do no t kno w m e s ir ?
, ,
“
I t is the firs t ti me th at I h ave h ad the honour o f
,

”
s eeing y o u .

“
And upon y our h o no u r y o u h ave no c au s e o f
, , I

en mity ag ain s t m e P
 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EERS
'
=
.

None wh atever I s we ar .

T here was s o m uch c al m ne s s s o m uch s erenit y s o

'

, ,

m uch gentlene s s even in the young m an s voice th at h er ,

’

l ad y s hip was re as s ured .

’
At l as t after about an hour s driv e the c arri age
, ,

s to p ped at an ir o n g ate at the entr ance o f a n arro w ro ad

“

, ,

which led to a gloo my looking m as s ive and i sol ated c as tle -

, , .

And as the c arri age w heel s rolled over a s o ft gr a vel her

,
-
,

l ad y s hip he ard a m ighty ro aring w hich s h e recogni s ed ,

a s the s ound o f the s e a bre aking upon a rock co a s t

y .

. T h e c arri age p ass ed under t wo a rch es an d s topped ,

-

at l a s t in a s qu are an d gloo m court rd T h door '

y a e
, y .

was al m o s t i mm edi atel y opened the y oung o ffi cer leap t

'
,

lightl y o u t pre s ented h is arm to her l ad y s hip wh o le aned

,
-
,

upon it and got o u t , in her turn with gre at c al m ne s s

, , .

”
S o I am a pri s oner s aid s h e looking a ro und and
“
, , , ,

then fixing her e y e s o n the y oung m an with the m o s t ‘

'

gr aciou s s m ile i m agin able B u t I s h all no t be o ne ,

”
lo ng I am cert a in added s h e
,
M y o wn con s cience
,
.

”
and y our politene s s give m e t h at a s s ur a nce s i r ,
.

Fl attering a s the co m pli m ent m ight be the o fficer ,

"
“

made no repl y but dr aw ing fro m h is po cket a s m a ll

, ,
'

s ilver whi s tle like tho s e u s ed b y bo at s wa in s on bo ard o f

,

m en—o f war he s ounded it three ti m e s i n three di fferent

’

-
, ,

m odul ation s Sever al m e n i m medi atel y appe ared wh o

.
,

unh arne s s ed the hor s e s and took the c arri age into a ,

co a ch hou s e - .

' '

T h e o fficer s till pre s erving the s am e c al m politen e s s

’
'
, ,

invited h is pri s oner to enter the c as tle T h e l atter with

the s ame s m ile upon her counten ance took h is arm and
,
.

, ,

p as s ed with h im under a lo w arched doorway wh ich led ,

the m thro ugh a v ault lighted onl y at the end to a s tone

, ,
’

s t a irc as e w inding round an a ngle o f the s am e m a teri a l

,
.

T he y then s topped before a m as s ive door which upo n , ,

the applic ation o f a k ey th at the y oung m an c arried ,

s lo wl y s wung upon it s hinge s and g a ve a cce s s to the

' ‘

ap art m ent intended fo r her l ad y s hip

In one gl ance the pri s one r gr asped the m inute s t
.

'

,
2 o2 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

sh e
"

As poke th e cl ash ing o f s p ur s was he ard upon

s ,

the s t airc as e ; s o me v o ic es pa s s ed b y and were lo s t in

.
,

the di s t ance, and the s ound of a s olit ary s tep approached

th e door .

“
T h at per son is no w here, mad am sa id the o fi
f cer, ,

s t anding on o ne s ide, and as s u m ing an attitude o f

s u b m i s s io
n a nd re s pect
At the s ame in s tant th e door Opened and a man
.

appe a red upon the thre s hold He was without a h at, .

c arr ied a s word at h is s ide and was cru s h ing a ,

h andkerchie f bet ween h is fingers .

Her l ad y sh ip thought th at s h e reco gni s e d thi s s h ado w

in th e gloo m ; and s upporting h er s el f with one h and on
,

th e arm of the ch a ir s h e adv anced her he ad , in order, ,

as it were to m eet a cert ainty

,
.

T h e s tr anger s lo wl y a ppro ached and as he adv anced ,

and gr a du ally c ame w ith in r ange o f the r ay s e m itted b y

the l am p her lad y s hip involuntaril y recoiled And then ,
,
.

when s h e h ad no longer any doubt

“
Wh a t ! my brother s h e excl ai med , over whe lm ed with
”
,

as toni s h m ent 15 it y o u ?

d y replie d Lord de Winter, maki n

,

Y es fa ir l a
”
“
, , g h er ,

”
a b o w h al f courteou s and h al f ironic al,
, mys e lf .

B u t the thi s c as tle

,

I s m ine
n”
.
,

T hi s a p a tment
“
I s y our s
r .
’

T hen I am y our pri s oner ?

“
Or s o mething ver y like it .

B u t it is a frigh t ful abu s e of po wer .

“
N o h ard word s mad am : let u s s it do wn and h ave
,

s o m e quiet conver s ation , as i s s uitable bet ween brother

”
and s i s ter
T hen turning to war ds the door and perceiving th at
.

, ,

the y oung o fficer awaited h is fin al order s

“
It is all right s aid he, I t h ank y o u No
”
, w le av e “
.

u s Mr ; Felton
,
.
 B R OT H ER AN D
‘
‘

z og

C H AP T E R L .

A CH AT B E TWE E N A B R OT H E R
‘

AN D S I ST ER .

D UR I N G the ti me wh ich Lord de Winter oc cupied I n

s hutting an d b olti ng the door a n d bri n g ing a s e at be s ide
,

the e as y ch a ir o f h is S lst er I h law her l adys hip Was

- -
,

th oughtfull y directing her g la nce into the d ept h s of

po s s ibility and di s coverin g th e whole o f th at plot o f
, ,

wh ich s h e could for m no conception s o lo ng as sh e ,

continued ignor ant of the per s on int o who s e h and s sh e

h ad unh appil y fallen She kne w her b rother in law to be
.
-

a tru e gentle m an wh o was fond o f the ch as e pl ay ed

, ,

freel y and was g all ant I n reg a rd to w o m en but of po w

,
ers ,

belo w the aver age in re s pect to intrigue s H o w h ad he .

been able to kno w o f h e r arriv al and to h ave h er a rre s te d ;

and W
,

h y did h e de s ire to det a in her ?

1
Atho s h ad let fall a fe w word s which prov ed th a t her ,

convers ation with the c ardin al h ad been he ard b y other

e ar s but s h e could not i m agine th a t h e could s o pro m ptl y
’

and s o boldl y lay a counter m ine She r ather fe ared th at .

her form er proceeding s in Engl and h ad been di s covere d .

B uckingh am m ight h ave gue ss ed th at it was s h e wh o h ad

cut o ff h is di am ond s tud s and h ave s ought t o aven g e
,

hi m s el f fo r th at petty tre achery B u t B ucki ngh am was .

inc ap able o f any extre m itie s ag ain s t a wom an es p eci al ,

if th at w o m an were s uppo s ed to h ave been actu at ed b y

a s enti m e nt o f j e alou s y .

T hi s s uppo s ition a ppe ared the m ost pro b able : s h e

thought th at the y w i s hed to revenge the p as t and not
"

to anticip ate the future .

B u t at any r ate s h e congr atul ated h er s el f o n h aving

, ,

fa llen into th e h a nd s o f her brother —

I h la w with who m
s h e conte m pl ated little d i ffic u lty rath e r th a n into th os e , ,

o f a for m er ene m y .

Y e s brother let u s h ave s o me c h at s h e s aid With

“ ”
, , , ,

a s ort o f s prightline s s deter m ined a s s h e wa s to dra w

,
 204 T H E T H RE E
~
. M U S K E T EE RS .

fro m th i s co nver s a tion , in s pite o f all th e di ss i mul ation

'

'

which Lord de Winter m ight bring to it , s uch in for m a tion

a s s h e needed to guide her future conduct .

You h av e m ade up y our m ind then to return to

“
, , ,

Engl and s aid Lord de Winter in s pite o f the deter m in a

”
, ,
“

t ion yo u s o often expre s s ed to me in P ari s never ag a in to , ,

”
s e t y our foot up on the territory o f Gre at B rit a in ?
H er lad y s hip replied to this que s tion b y another .

Firs t tell me, s aid s h e

,
h o w y ou could m an age ,
“

t o h ave m e watched s o clos e ly as not onl y to kno w ,

be fore h and th at I was co m ing but al s o the d ay the , ,

”
h our and th e port at which I s hould arrive ?
,

Lord de Winter adopted th e s am e ta ctic s as her

l ad y s hip thinking th at as h is s is ter in law e m
, , lo
p y e d - -

t he m the y were undoubtedl y the be s t

,
.

B u t tell m e y our s el f my de ar s i s ter for what

“
, , .
,
”
purpo s e y ou are co m e to Engl and ?
Wh y I h ave co m e to s ee y ou repl ied the l ad y
“
, , ,

ignor a nt o f ho w m uch s h e a ggr av ated b y thi s a n s wer

the s u s pici on s wh ich d A rtag nan s letter h ad excited’ ’

in her brother in l a w s m ind and onl y wi s hing to

’
-
,

c a ptiv ate the kindne s s o f h er a udi tor b y a li

e .

O h ! to s e e m e I s aid Lord de Winter s neeringl y 1

“ ”
.

A s s uredl y to s ee y o u Wh a t is there s urpri s ing

,
.

”
I n t h at ?
An d y o u h ad no other m otive in co m ing to Eng l an
“
. d
”
th an to s e e m e ?
”
“
No .

T he n it is fo r m y s ake alone th at y o u h ave g i ven

y our s el f the trouble t o cros s the s tr a its ?
’
F o r y o u alone 1
I faith , y our tenderne ss I s exce s s ive , my d e ar s i ster
’

”
“
B u t a m I no t y our ne are s t rel a tion ? de m anded
th e l ad y , in a tone o f the m o s t touch ing s i m plicity .

“
And y o u a re al s o m y s ole heire s s , are y o u no t ?
s aid Lord de Winte r, in h is tu r n, fixing h is e ye s u ntm
tho s o f her l ady s h ip th at is t o s ay , through yo u r
so n
e .
”
2 06 T H E 3 T H R EE M U S K ET EE RS
‘

to me and I recogni s e d y o u r n ame: a M y heart told

“

.
, , .

m e wh at y our s p eech h as j u s t confir m ed th at is to ,

say our m otive f thu br v i

ng the d nger
'

of a
'

y ,
o r s a a s

s ea s o perilou s or at any rate s o fatiguing at th i s , , , , .

s e a s on and I s ent o u t m cutter to conve o Y

,
”
y y y u o u .

kno w wh at follo wed

’

Her l ad y s hip was s ati s fied th a

.

t h is lord s hip lied and ,

s h e was onl y the m ore al a r m ed .

wa s not th a
”
“
Bro t her s a id s h e t the Duke o f
'

, ,

B uckingh am who m I s aw o n the j etty as I di s e mb ark ed .

H 1 mse 1f re p lied Lord d e Winter Oh ! I ca n .

“

well i m agine th at the s ight o f h im would s trike y o u .

Y o u co m e fro m a countr y wh ere the y m u s t th ink a good

deal about h im and I kno w that h is ar m am ent s ag a in s t , ,

Fra nce m uch eng age the attention o f y our friend th e ,

”
c ar dinal ?
M y frie n
“
d the c ardin al ! excl ai m ed th e l ady per
”
, ,
~

c e iv ing th a t on thi s point a ls o a s o n the other L ord de

’ ’

, ,

Wi nter s ee m ed to be equ ally well in for med .

I s he not y our frie nd then ?

“
ca rele s s l y inq uired the ,

b aron O h ! p ardon me , I thought he was

.
“
B u t we . .

will di s cu s s h is gr a ce here after

.
Let u s no t aband o n the .

s enti m ent al turn which the conver s ation h a d t aken You .

”
c ame y o u s ay to s e e me P
, , ,

”
“
Y es .

We ll I h ave told ,
;
yo u th at y our wis h ll be sh a

tified a nd th at we s hall on e another ever y

'

r a se e
g ,
i,
( 121 y . f

M u s t I then re m a in here for

,
de manded the
l ad y , w ith s o m e degree o f dre a d .

“
D o y o u find yo ur s el f b a dl y lodged here my de ar ,
.

s i s ter A s k fo r wha t yo u wa nt,

. a nd I will h as t e n t o ~

”
p rovide it .

Bu t I h a
ve neither my o wn wome n n or m y s erv ants , .

”
with m e here .

“
You s h all h ave ever y t hi ng y o u want o f that kind .

O nl y tell me wh a t kind of e s t abli s h m ent y our fir s t

'

h us b and ke pt fo r y ou, and, althoug h I am but y our . 1

 B R OT H E R AN D S I S T E R 207
'
.

brother in law I will fix y our pre s ent ho m e upon a

- -
,
”
s i m ila r foo ting .

”
“
M y fir s t hu sb and ? excl ai med the l ady look ing at ,

Lord de Winter with wildne ss in her e y e s ,

.

Ye ys our French
,
hu s b a nd — I do not me an my o wn -v

brother Bu t, if y ou h ave forgotten it as he rs y e t alive ;

.
,

I can write t o h im and h e can s end m e the nece s s ar y ,

in form ation on the s ubject ” .

’
Cold drop s rolled do wn her lad y s hip s foreh e ad .

”
“
You are j es ting s aid s h e in a ho ars e voice
.
, , .

“
Do I look like it ? in q uired the b aron ri s ing , and
,
” '
,

ret re at ing a s tep .

“
Or r ather , y ou me an to in s ult me continued sh e '

, , ,

convul s ively gr as ping th e ar ms o f her c h air and r ai s ing ,

hers elf b y th at mé ans '

I in s ult y o u s aid Lord de Winter conte m ptuou s l

”
y ,

and do y o u re all y think th at po ss ible m ad am ?

“
,
”
“
Sir s aid her l ad y s hip
, y o u are either drunk o r ,
“

mad .Le ave me and s end me m y wo men ,

.

Wo men are v ery ind iscre e t m y de ar s i s te r C annot ~

, .
.

I s erve y ou as a waiting maid ? And thu s all our s ec ret s -

”
will re ma in in the fam ily .

“
In s olent fello w l excl ai m ed her l
”
ad y s h ip T hen as .
,

if m oved by a s pring s h e bounded to ward s the b aron , ,

wh o awa ited her with co mpo s ure y e t with a h and upon ,

the h ilt of h is s word .

”
Ah ah ? s aid h e I kno w th at y o u h ave a h abit o f
, ,

ass ass in ating people ; but I wil l defend my s el f I wa rn ,

y o u , even ag a in s t y o u .

Ah ! y o u are right s aid th e l ad y , and y ou look to ,

me lik e o ne wh o is co ward enough to r a i s e h is h and

ag a in s t a wo man
And if I did I s hould h ave an e x cu s e B e s ide s
'
“
, , .
,

m ine would not be the firs t man s h and th a t h ad been

’

”
laid upon y o u I i m agine , .

And the b aron b y a s low accu s ing ge s ture pointed to

,
‘

,
’
th e l ady s left s houlder wh ich he al m o s t touched with h is ,

finger .
208 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS
“ '
1

1 H er l ad y s hip uttered a ho ar s e c ry ; and retre ated to the

further corner o f the roo m like a p anther dra wing b ack ,

be fore its s pring .

Oh ro ar a s m uch a s y o u pleas e
,
excl ai med Lord de
Wi nter onl y do no t try to h im3 for I warn y o u th at
“
’

, , ,
'
wo uld onl y pro v e the wor s e fo r y o u f I h e re are no “
.
-
i

l awy er s here wh o regu l ate s ucce s s ion s b eforeh and there

,

is n o knight err ant w h o will pick a qu arrel w ith m e f o r

-

th e s ake o f th e fa ir l ad y wh o m I keep i m pri s oned ; but I

‘

h ave at h and judge s th at will di s po s e o f a wo m an wh o

, , , ,

being alre ad y m arried was s h am ele ss enough to intrude ,

her s el f into o u r fam il y ; a nd the s e j udge s will h and y o u

over to an execut ioner wh o will m ake y our two sh oulder s ,
”
alike .

T h e e y e s o f her l ad y s h i p s hot forth s uch lightning

gl ance s th at although he was an ar m ed m an before an
, , ,

un ar m ed wo m an he felt th e chill o f fe ar penetr ating h is

,
,

v ery s oul Neverthele s s he continued but with incre as

.
, ,

ing fury
Yes I under s t and
,
after h aving inherited my
brother s propert y y o u would like to inherit m ine al s o ;
’

but be as s ured in a dv ance th ough y o u m ay be able to

, ,

a s s a s s in a te m e o r to get m e as s as s in ated m y prec aution s

, ,

a lre a d ta ken — not o n e penn o f w h at I o

are y y p s s ess

s h all co m e either ; into y our h a nd s o r into tho s e o f y our

'

son . Are y o u no t alre ad y we alth y enough in the enjo y

''
m ent o f ne arl y h al f a m illio n ; 2a nd c an y o u not a rre s t . -

our s el f in y o u r fatal cour s e if y o u do not re a ll

y d o
y
'

,
. .

w ickedne s s fro m a li m itle ss and inten s e love o f it ! O h

'
,

doubt not if m y brother s me m or y h ad no t been s till

,
’

s acred to m e
. th at y o u s h o u ld b e s ent to rot in s o m e
,
.
'

dungeon o f the s tate o r to s ati ate the curio s ity o f the ,

.

m ob a t T y burn ! I s h all h o we v e r b e s ilent ; but y o u

‘
!
'

, ,

m u s t l earn to endure y our confine m ent with tr a nquillit y .

'

In a fortnight o r three week s I sh all s et o u t with th e “

arm fo r L a Rochelle ; but o n the evening be fore m y

y ,
.

d ep a rtur e y o u w ill
,
be s ent on bo ard a ve s s el w hich I ,

s h all watch s e t s a il a nd which will conve y y o u to o ne o f

,
 '

21 T H E T H REE M U S K E TEE RS .

try it no w o n thi s man and by if o u s rrc ce ed

'

I s h all believe yo u to be the very fie nd h i m s el f

y , ,

.
,

H e went t o ward s the door and Opened it s uddenl y ,

”
C all M r Felto n s aid h e Ahd ag a in Wait a
'

“
‘
“ “
:
,
.
,

mo ment m ad am and I will r eco m m end y o u to his c are

‘
‘

, , .

D uring the s trange s ilence which was th en m aint a ined

between the m the s ound o f a s lo w and regul ar s te p was
,

he ard appr oaching In th e s h ado w o f the co rridor a .

hu man form was s oon a pp arent and th e youn g lieu ,

ten ant , with who m we h ave alre ad y m ade ac q u aint ance ,

s too d at the door in waiting fo r the b aron 3 order s

’
, .

Co me in ; my de ar John s aid Lord de W inter, co me

.

” “
,
”
in , and s hut th e door
{ .

T h e y oung officer entered th e roo m .

”
N o w s aid the b aron
,
look at thi s woman She 18 ,
“
.

oung a nd be au ti ful sh e h as ever y worldl y attr act ion ;

y ,

b ut s h e 18 a mon s ter wh o at t wenty fi v e y e ars o f ag e h as , ,

-
,

co mmitted as man y cri m e s as y ou could re ad of in a y e ar

in th e archive s o f o u r tribun al s H er voice prepo s s e s s e s .

e r fav o u r1 3 1 h e r be aut y fas cin ate s her v icti ms

'

i h
‘

y o u n 1
.

S he will atte mp t to s educ e y ou perh ap s to kill y o u I - .

h ave r es c ued y o u frOm mi s ery Felton ; I h ave h ad y o u

’

made lieutenant ; I h ave once s aved y our li fe—yo u t e

,
'

me mber o n wh at occ as io n; I amnot onl y y our pro tector,

1

b u t y our fri end 4 11 m o nl y y our benefactor, but y our

-

father . T hi s wo m an h as co me to Engl and to plot 1

a g ain s t my li fe. I h av e got the s erpent into my po wer .

Well, I call y ou he re and I say to yo u M y de ar

Felton— John my s o n—de fe nd m e and : g u ard y ou rs el f
:
,
'
, ,

e s peci all y fro m th i s wo m an [

,
S wear th a t yo u will pre
s erve her fo r th e p uni s h ment th at s h e de s erve s ! John
Felton I tru s t to y our word John Felton I confide in
‘ '

-
, ,

y our honour .

M y lo rd an s wer ed th e y oung o ffi cer exhibiting on

.

'
“
, ,

h is Open face all the h atred fo r the lad y th at he could ,

1

find in h is he art I s we ar t o y ou th at ever y thin g s h all

,
“

”
be done as y o u de s ire 1

Her l ad y s h ip receive d thi s l

.

ook like a re s i g ned victi m .

 T H E : O FFICE R . 1

It was i m po s s ible to s ee a s o fter o r m ore s ub m i s s ive .

exp res s ion th an th at which then reigned : upon he r

be autifu l face Soarc e ly could Lord de Win te r: hi m s el f
.
'

recogni s e the tigre s s which he h ad the in s tant before

al m o s t prep ared to fight .
1

Sh e m u s t never le av e th is roo m—d o y o u h ear,

.

'
“ 1
~
1
,

Joh n ? conti nued the b aron ; s h e m u s t h ave no co m

” “

mu nic a t io n with any o ne ; s h e m u s t s pe ak to no one but

y our s el f i
,
f indeed y o u,
w ill do her the honou
, r to [ t al k _

”
with her .

It IS quite enough my lord I ha ve s worn !

“ — ,
1 1 1 1

”
1
A nd no w m ad am s a id the b a ron
,
endeavour to , ,
“

make y o ur pe a ce with Go d fo r y o u h ave bee n j udged ,

by me n
’

H e r l ad y s hip let her he a d droop, her s elf as if she fel

t
ac tu all y cru s hed b y thi s s entence
'
Lord de Winter le ft .

the roo m m aking a s ign to Felton wh o follo wed h im,

, ,

and clo s ed the door .

Directl y after wards was he ard in the p as s age the

h eav y tread of a m arine wh o was keeping guard with , ,

h is ax e at h is belt and h is mu s ket in h is ha nd

, .

H er lad y s h ip re ma in ed fo r a fe w m inutes in the same

po s it ion for s h e fa ncied th at th ey m i g ht be wa tch ing her
,

th ro ugh t he ke y hole T hen s h e s lo wly r a i s ed her he ad

.
, ,

wh ich g h ad re s u med a for m id able expre s s ion o f me na ce

ran to the door a nd lis tened looked o ut , .

o f the windo w and returned to bur her elf in

“

, y s an
i mm en s e e as y ch air and ab andon hers e lf to anxiou s
-

con s id era tion .

C H A PT ER LI .

T HE OF F I CER . 1

I N th e me anti me , the '

c ardinalz was expecting ne ws fro m
En gl an d ; but as n o ne ws arriv ed e x c e p ting s u c h as was ,
' v

vex atiou s a nd al ar m ing La R o chelle was for m ally in ,

1 ~

ve s ted . Ho wever ce rt ain s u cce s s ap p ea re d— th ank s to th e ’

21 2 T H E T H REE M U S K ET EERS .

'
prec auti on s which h ad been t aken and m ore e s peci all y ,

to the m ol e which no longer per m itted any ve s s el to

a ppro ach the be s ieged to wn —the block ade m ight y e t
,

continue a long ti m e ; and it was a gre at affront to the

ar ms o f th e king and a gre at anno y a nce to the cardin al
, ,

wh o h ad no longer it is true to e m broil Loui s X II I

1
, , .

w ith Anne o f A u s tria 1 fo r th at h ad b een ac co m pli s hed

, ,

b u t to reconcile M de Bas s o m p ie rre wh o h ad qu arrelled

.
,

with the D uke o f Angoul em e .

T h e to wn in s p ite o f th e incredible per s i s tance o f its

,

may or h ad atte m pted a s ort o f m utin y in order to

,

s urrender B u t the m ay or h ad s ent the mutineer s to be

.

hung T h i s execution s ubdued the m o s t unruly wh o

.
,

were thereb y deter m ined to s ub m it in pre ference to , ,

de ath from s t arvation as the l atter m ode o f d y ing ,

appe ared to the m le ss cert ain and more s lo w th an th at

o f s tr angu l ation
T h e be s ieger s on their s ide occ as ion al
.

, l y c aptured ,

s o m e of the me s s enger s who m the R o c h e llo i s de s p atched

to B uckingh am ; or th e s pie s who m B uckingh am h ad s ent

to the R o ch ello is In both c as e s the c aptive s were
.
,

s ubjected to a s u mm ary tri al T h e c ardin al pronounced

'
1
. .

”
H is m aj e sL
'

the s ingle word H ung ! ty was invited t o

the execution T h e king c a m e l anguidly and cho s e a
.
,

good pl ace for ob s erving all the deta il s of the operation

'
’

T hi s amu s ed h im for a ti m e and g ave h im a little ,

p atience with the s ie ge 3 but it did not prevent h im fro m '

bec om ing he artil y w eary or fro m t alki ng ince s s antly o f ,

returning to P ari s ; s o th at if the m e s s enger s or s pie s ,

h ad fallen s hort his e m inence in s pite o f all h is fertility

, ,

of i magin ation wo uld h a ve found hi ms el f in very

,
” '

con s ider able e m b arr as s m ent .

N everthele s s the ti m e p as s ed away and s till the

, ,

R oc h ello is did not s urrender T h e l as t s p y wh o h ad .

been c aptured was the be arer o f a letter wh ich in fo rm ed ,

B uckingh am th at th e to wn was a t the l as t extre m ity ;

, .

but in s te ad o f adding if y our as s i s t ance s hould not

a rrive be fore a fortn i g ht w e m u s t s urrender
”
it m
, erel y ,
.
2I 4 THE T H REE MU S K E T EE RS .

ob s truction s B u t wh e nce could th e s e ob s tructio n

. s ari s e ?
T hi s was wh a t he was un able t o divin e
'
.
‘

A fter all ho wever he h ad with o o d re as on m uc h

H e h ag su spe cted in her
, , , , ,

confidenc e in her l ad y s h ip .
,

p as t ca reer circu m s t ance s s o terrible th at h is o wn red

, ,

mantl e wa s r e quired to c once al th em ; and he felt th at ,

'
f1 o m s o m e c au s e or other, thi s wo m an was h is o wn ,

bec au se fr om h im alone c d u ld s h e obt ain s upp ort m ore

potent th an the d anger wh ich pur s ued her
"

T h e c ardin al re s olved there fore to condu ct the war

d to expect a id foreign to hi m
, ,

alone an ,
1
s el f on l y a s o ne

m ay exp ect th e c o incidence o f a fortun ate c h ance He ‘

.

continu ed the co n s truction o f th at fam ou s e mb ank m ent ,

wh ic h cwas t o c arr y fa m ine into L a Rochelle ; and in t h e

‘

m e anti m e he c as t h is e y e s over th at unh a

,
pp y city which ,

contained s o m uc h pr o found m i s ery and s o man y heroic ,

virtue s rec alling to h is m ind the expre s s ion o f Loui s X I

, ,

wh o h ad been h is o wn politic al predec ess or as he h i m s el f ,

was the predec es s or o f Robe s pierre an d adopting thi s ,

m axi m of the co mp anion o f T ri s tr am

' “
Di vide to '
,

gov ern .

When H en ry I V be s ieged P ari s h e h ad th ro wn over

.

the w
,

all s bre a d and other edible s T h e c ardin al thre w

‘

.
,

over brie f addre s s e s in wh ich he repre s en ted to the

'
,

R o c h ello is h o w unj u s t and s el f willed and b arb arou s

,
-
, ,

h ad been the conduct o f their chie fs wh o po s s e s s ed

’

a bund ance o f w he at y e t did not di s tribute it ; an d wh o

,

adopted as a m axi m — for the y a l s o h ad thei r m a xi m s

th a t the de ath o f wo m en of old m en and o f children , , ,

was a th ing o f little m o m ent s o th a t the m e n w h o W ,

ere
to de fend the wall s co ntinued vig orou s and well U ntil
'
.

'

th en ; either fro m devotion or fro m in ability to contend

g in s it t h i s m ax i m h ad w ith out bein g gener all y
t ” ’

a a , ,

ad o pted ; p as s ed fro m theor y into p 1 ac t ice ; b u t the s e ‘

-

addre s s e s s ucce s s full y as s a iled it T he y re m inded the

‘
.

m en th a t th e s e wo m en c h ildren and o ld m e n wh o w ere

, , , ,

a llo wed to die o f h unger w ere their w ive s thei r o ffs pring
, , ,

and thei r s ire s ; a nd th a t it w oul d be m ore ju s t if all w ere

.
 TH E O FF I CER .

a like ubj ected to the co m mon m i s ery s o tha t a s i m i

s ,

larity of po sition might give occ as ion fo r un ani m ity of :

re s olution .

B ut at th e v ery mo ment th at h is e m inence s aw h is :

,
.

m eas ure beginning to be a r fruit a nd was appl auding ,

hi ms el f fo r h aving adopted it an inh abitant o f Rochelle, ,

wh o h ad arrived fro m Ports m outh m anag e d to p as s .

1

through the ro y al line s , God kno ws h o w —s o co mplete

,
.

was the three fold watch fulne s s o f B as s o m p ie rre S c h o m ,

berg and the D uke of Angoule m e the m s elve s overlooked

, ,

b y the c ardin al— and announced th at he h ad s een a

s plendid fleet re ad y to s e t s ail b efo re another week ;
, _
~
.

B uckin g h am m oreover decl ared to the may or th at the

, , ,

grea t le ague a g ain s t Fr ance was at l as t about to be

procla i m ed and th at the kingdo m would be sp e edily f
,

inv aded at the s am e ti m e by the arm ie s o f England

, , ;
'
Spa in , and the e m pire T hi s letter was publicl y re ad
'
. .

in all p arts o f the to wn cop ies o f it were po s te d at the ,

corner s o f the streets and even thos e wh o h ad attempted

,

to co m m ence negoti ation s interrupted the m with a , ,

1

re s olution to w ait fo r the s uccour which was s o s oon to '

re ach the m .

T hi s unexpected circu ms ta nce rene wed a ll the or igin al

an xietie s o f Richelieu and co mpelled h im to turn h is ’

e y e s once m ore acro s s the s e a .

1

D uring all th i s ti me the ro yal ar my free from the , ,

.

inquietud e o f its onl y true co mmander led a m o s t j o y ou s ,

.

li fe for provi s ion s were not s c arce in the c am p or

, ,

m one y ; either T h e regi m ents were all at riv al ry in

.

g aiety and audacity T o t ake s pie s and to h ang the m

.
‘

.
,

to undert ake the d aring exped itions o n the mole zo r the .

s e a to i magine follie s and to execute the m c al m l y — s u ch

,

were the p as t ime s which m ade tho s e d ay s s ee m s hort

t o the ar my wh ile the y were lo ng no t : o nly fo r the
, ,
.
'
.
'

were worried b y fam ine and anxietie s - .

,
'

but fo r the c ardin al wh o block a ded th e m s o vigorou s l y

m
, . .

So m eti e s when the c ardin al wh o was al way s

, ,
'

riding about like the hu mble s t s oldier o f the ar my , 1

21 6 THE T H REE M U S K E T EERS .

directed h is thoughtfu l e y e s ov er the work s wh ich '

adv anced s lo wl i h c o m ari to h is de s i re s "

’ ’

so y n p s o n ,

a lthough con s tructed b y engineer s who m h e h ad -

‘

r ecruited fro m the re mote s t corners o f France if he ,

m e t with a m u s keteer o f M de T re v ille s co m pan y

’

he appro ach ed h im and looked at h im in a s ingul ar

. .
,

way ; and then not recogni s ing h im as one o f our

'

,
'
four co m p an ion s he tr an s ferred to other obj ect s h is
,

penetrating gl ance and h is v as t thought s .

One day when c on s u m ed by a m ort al l as s itude o f

, ,

mind without hope s Of tre ating with the R o c h ello is

, ,

and without intelligence fro m Engl and the c ardin al ,

went fo rth with no other aim but th at o f going out

, ,

and onl y a cco m p anied b y C a hu s a c and L a H o u dinié re ,

wandering along the s and s and m ingling th e i mm en s it y ,

o f h is o wn dre am s with the i mm en s ity o f the oce an ,

he cam e at a gentle pace to a s mall hill fro m the ,

top of which he perceived behind a hedge reclinin g ,

on the gr as s and prote cted fro m the s un b y a clu m p

,

o f tree s s even m e n, s urrounded b y e

,
mpt y bottle s Four .

o f the s e m e n were our m u s keteer s getting re ady to ,

li s ten to th e re ading o f a letter which o ne Of the m h ad

j u s t received T hi s letter was s o i m port ant th at it
.
'

h ad made them de s ert s o m e c ard s and dice wh ich

the y h ad le ft upon a dru m ‘
.
t 1

. T h e three other s were the v alet s o f the ; gentle me n

.
.

and were at the m o m ent eng aged in Openin g an ’

enor m ou s de mi j ohn of Collioure wine-

.

T h e c a rdin al as we h ave s aid was in a gloom y

, ,

mood ; and whe n he was in thi s s t ate o f m ind nothing

, ,

s o m uch incre as ed h is s ullenne s s as the g aiet y of other s ,

.

'
H e h ad be s ide s a s ingul ar h ab it o f al way s s uppo s ing
, ,

th at the circu m st ance s which c au s ed h is s adn e s s were ,

tho s e wh ich excited the g aiety o f s tr anger s M aking ‘

.

a s ign t o C ahu s a c and L a H o u d inié re to h alt h e g o t

‘
‘
'

, ,

o ff h is hor s e and a ppro ached the s e s u s piciou s l augher s ;

,

hopi ng by the aid o f the s and which de adened the

, ,

s o u nd o f h is s t ep s and o f the he d ge which conce aled

, ,
21 8 T H E T H REE M U S KE T EE R S .

one appro ach es T he y are not s erv ant s e th ey are

.
-

”
s entinel s .

“
Your e m inence may ho wever p erceive , th at h ad we , ,

not taken thi s pre caution we s hould h ave run th e h az ard

of per m
,

itting y o u to p as s without pay ing o u r res pe ct s .

and without o ffering our th ank s to y o u for uniting

d A rtag nan and our s elve s , continued Atho s You ,
’
.

d A rtag nan, wh o were but no w wi s hing for an Opport unity

’

o f ex re s s ing y our gr a titu de to h is e m inenc e , h er e 18 on e

p ”
given to y o u tak e adv ant age o f it
. .

T he s e word s were uttered with th at i mperturb able

coolne s s which di s tin g ui s hed Atho s in ti me s o f d anger
and w
,

ith th at exc es s ive politene s s whi ch m ade h im on ,

cert ain occas ion s a king more dignified th an king s by

,

b irth .

D A rtag nan c am e for ward , and s t ammered o ut s ome

’
.

word s o f th ank s wh ich qu ick ly d ied a way be for e the

,
1

se ve re g az e o f the c ardin a
,

l .

“
I t doe s not s igni fy ge n tle men continued the , , ,

c ardin al without appe aring in t he s lighte s t degree turned

,

fro m his fir s t intent ion b y the incident wh ich Atho s h ad

s ugg e sted ; it doe s not s igni fy I do not like s i m p le
“
.

s oldier s bec au s e the y h ave the a d v

,
ant a ge o f s erving in a

rivileged regi ment to pl ay the gre at man D i s cipline

p ”
, .

is the s am e fo r all .

Atho s allo wed the cardin al to fini sh his s enten c e, and

bo wing as s ent, t hu s repli ed
“
D i s cipline my lord h as been I h op e in no degree
, , , ,

forgotten by u s We are not on duty and we b elieved

.

th at not being o u duty we might di s po s e of our time

,
1
,

preci s el y as we ple as ed I f it s hould fortun atel y h appen :

th at y o u r j emine nce h as s o me s peci al order s to give u s .

,
”
we are r eady to ob ey the m Your lo rd s hip perceiv es .
,

continu ed Atho s fro wning ;fo r thi s s pecie s o f interroga

, ,

tory began to irr itate h im th at to be re ad y at the le as t

.
“
, ,

al ar m we h ave brought with u s a ll our ar ms

’
.
,

H e pointed with h is finger to th e four m u s kets s t acked ,

ne ar th e zdru m which bore the c ards and dice '

.
 T E, 01 1 1121 11
H
1
1 1
1
,
z xg

“
Your em inence m ay believe added d A rtag nan ,
’
,

th at we s hou ld h av e co m e to m eet y o u
.

we co u ld ,

h ave s uppo s ed th at it was y o u wh o app ro ac wi th

s o s m all a ret i n ue ”
.

T h e c a rdin a l bit h is m ou s ta ch e sa rid even h 1s lip , .

“
Do y o u kno w wh at y o u lo ok lik e— al w a y s to ether
g
a s y o u no w are a r m ed a s y u now a re and ua rded
” o
, g ,

y our v alet s ? s aid the c ard in a l Y o u look .

“

”
con s pir ator s
i d Athos i
i
.

”
011 ! a s to th at n y lord sa t is true ;
“ “
, ,

and we do c on sp lre as
y our e m m en c e m igh t h ave s een
,
—
the other m orning only it is ag ain s t the R o ch ellois ”
.
,
”
“
Ah ! gentle m e n politici an s re p l ied the c ardm al , ,

fro wning in h is turn th e s e cret of m an y th ing s m ight

“

mas
,

be found in y our br a i n s if o ne c ould re ad in th e , ,

y o u w ere re ading in th a t l etter w h ich y o u conce aled th e

m o m ent th at y o u sa w m e co ming
Th e colo ur fle winto the fa ce o f Athos and he m
.

a de ,

l l
l l l

m y lord , a nd th at W e are u h d e r o in g a
g a
re l ex a, in a tion
_
m .

I f th at be the c as e, would y our e m in en ce deign to ex pl ain

y our s el f,
a nd we s ho uld a t le as t k no w w h at w e a re to
ex pect .

And if it were an ex am in ation re p lied th e c a rdi na l , ,

“
other s be s ide s y o u h av e been s ubj ected to one, M .

”
Atho s and h ave an s wered
, .

“
And there fore my lord h ave ; ,I s aid th at y our
, , .

e minence h as o rily to q ue s tion and th at we are re ady to

,

,
'

I HPIY
What letter tha t whi ch were rea
was ding M
Ar ami s and w
.
.
,

hich y ou conce aled

,
“
A le tte rlfro m a wo man m y lo ,

Oh I uhders tand s a id t he card in a l di s cretion 18

’
“
, , .

nece s s ar y as to ep i s tle s o f th a t ki nd b u t neverth eles s

“

the y m ay b e s h own to a con fe s s or, and y o u k n owI am

,
g,
.

’
in order s
“
M y lord ”
s a id Atho s with a c a
, l mne s s th e m ore ,
22 0 T H E T H REE M U S K ET EE RS .

fea r ful , th at b e s ligh tl y m oved h is he a d whil s t m aking

my lord the l etter is fro m a wo man bu t
' ’ ’
thi s an s wer , ,

it is not s igned either by M arion de Lor m e, or by M ad am e

‘

”
de C o urbale t or M ad ame de Ch aulne s
T h e cardin al bec am
, .

e as p ale as d eath A s av age flas h .

was e mitted fro m h is e y e s H e turned about as if to give

‘

an order to C a hu s a c and L a H ou d iniere Atho s s aw the .

mov e ment and took a s tep to ward s the mu s ket s on which

, ,

the e yes of his three friend s we re fixed like th os e o f m e n ,

wh o were not inclined to allo wthe ms elve s t o be arre s ted .

T h e c ardi nal W as hi m s el f onl y the th ird ma n o f h is p arty .

T h e mus keteer s includi n g their v alets were s even H e

, ,
.

j udged als o, th at the game would be s till m ore une q u al

, ,

if Ath os and his friend s were re all y con s piring ; and b y ,

one o f th os e r apid ch ange s which he al way s h ad at

'

co m mand , all h is anger m elted into a s m ile

“
Co m e co me s aid h e y o u are brave y oung m
,
“
,
’’
en , ,

proud in the s un s hine but faith ful in the d ark ; and

'

th e r e is no gre at h arm in keeping a go o d watch over

y ou r se lve s when y o u w a tch s o well over other s G e ntle
men I h av e not forgotten the night When y ou s erved as
.
,

my e s cort in going to the Red Dove C o t I f there were -

.

any d anger to be fe ared on t h e ro ad I am about to t ake ,

I would b e g y ou to acco m p an y m e ; but as there is

no ne re main wh er e y o u are and fini s h y ur wine, y our
,

g ame and your l etter Adieu gentl em en

‘ o
”
,

.
,
.
,

And again mounting h is hors e which C ahu s ac h ad

brought him he s aluted the m with h is h and , and w
,

,
ent
h is way
’

T h e four y oung me n, erect and m otionle s s , follo we d

h im with their e y e s , b u t without utter ing a wo rd , until
' '

he was out of s ight T hen the y looked at e ach other . .

T h e counten ance o f all of th em indic a ted con s tern a

tion ; for, m s pite o f the am ic able adieu of h is em inence ,
they well kne w th at the c ardin al h ad gone away with
'
‘

rag e in h is he art .

Atho s alone s m iled , with a h aughty and di s d a in ful .

sm ile .
 T H E T H RE E M U S K E T E E RS
“

2 22 .

I n th at cas e let u s no t s ay ano th ef word abou t wh at

i “
,
'

h as ju s t occurred and let Ar am i s re s u m e h is cou s in s

,
’

”
letter where the c ardin al interrupted h im .

'
Ar am i s t e extract ed the letter fro m his pocket ; t h e
1 -

three friend s dre w ne ar h im ; and the three v ale t s ag ain

grouped the ms elv es a round the c ap aciou s de m i j ohn -
1

”
Y o u h ad onl read one or two line s s a1d d A rtag nan
’

y
l
,
”
“
begin over again at th e very beginning .

With p le as u re, replied Aram i s

”
.

“
MY D EAR C o us m,
I re a l ly b e lie v e t h at I s h a ll d e c id e o n g o ing t o e h u ne , Bt
w h e re m y s is t e r h a s m ad e o u r lit tle s e rva nt e n t e r int o a c o nv e nt
o f th e C a rm e lit e s T h a t p o o r c h il d is qu it e re s ig n e d she
k
. .

l
n o w s t h a t s h e c an n o t liv e a ny w h e re e l s e , w ith o u t e n d a ng e rin g
'

h e r s a lvat io n N e v e rt h e le s s , if o u r fa m ily a ffa irs s h o u ld b e

k
.

s e tt le d as w e w is h , I t h in t h a t s h e w ill ru n t h e da n g e r o f p e r .

d it io n , a n d w ill re t u rn t o t h os e w h o m s h e re g re t s ; m o re ar
k k
.

t ic u larly , a s s h e n o w s th a t t h e y a re a lw a s t h in in of
y g
I n t h e m e a nt im e , s h e is n o t v e ry u nh ap p y a ll t h at s h e n o w
‘ 1

k
.

d e s ire s is a le t t e r fro m h e r inte nd e d I no w v e ry w e ll t h a t

.

t h is s o rt o f a rt ic l e h a s s o m e d iffi c u lty in p a s s ing t h ro u g h t h e

ra t ing s , b u t a ft e r a ll, a s I h a v e p ro v e d t o y o u , m y d e a r c o u s in ,
g
k
I a m n o t v e ry u n s ilfu l, a n d I w ill u n d e rta e t h e c o m m is s io n k
k
.

M y s is t e r t h a n s y o u fo r y o u r g o o d a nd e nd u ring re m e m b ra n c e
s h e wa s fo r a s h o rt t im e in g re a t a nx ie ty , b u t s h e 1 3 a t p re s e nt
‘

m o r e c o m p o s e d h h a v ing s e nt h e r a g e nt d o w n th e re , t h a t no t h ing
m ay h a p p e n u n e x p e c t e d ly
. .

A d ie u , my d e a r c o u s in L et m e h e a r fro m
y o u a s o ft e n as
m
.

a n , th a t 1 8 t o s a a o ft e n a s o u c a n s a fe l I b ra c e
y c y s y y e
1 -
o u , .

y ne
o
“ M am a M I C H O N .

Oh , do I owe y ou A ram1s !
wh at excl ai m ed ,
’
d A rtag nan D e ar Con s tance ! At l as t I h ave intelli
.
“

gence o f her She lives —s h e i s in s afety in a convent

.
‘

”
s h e 15 at B ethune ! And where is B ethune Atho s ?
'

O n th e frontiers o f Artoi s and Fl anders wh e n once

“
.

th e s iege is r ai s ed we m ay m ake a tour there ,

.

And it will not be long it is to be hoped s a id

“
, ,

Portho s “
fo r thi s morning they b r
,
ing another s p y wh o
. ,

d e cl ared th at th e Ro c h e llo is were no w reduced to feed

 T H E O F F I CE R . 2 23

upon the upper s o f their s hoe s : S uppo s ing th at

.
, .
,

after h aving e aten th e u p er s

p th e y s hould con s um e ,

the s ole I do not ex actly s e e wh at can re main fo r ' '

the m after ward s , unle ss they s hould tak e tt o e ating t

”
o ne another

Poor fool s ! s aid Atho s e m pty ing a gl as s o f excellent

.

B orde aux wh ich without po s s e s s ing at th at ti m e the

, ,

reput ation th a t it no w enjoy s did no t the le s s de s erve ,

it poor fool s ! a s if the c atholic fa ith were not the

mo s t profit ab le and the m o s t a gree able o f all religion s
. , .

”
Ye t never m ind added he s m a cking h is tongue ag a in s t
, ,

his p al ate “
they are br ave fello ws B u t wh at the pl ag u e
,
.

”
are y o u doing Aram i s ? continued Atho s “
'

are o u
,
”
y
putting th at letter into y our pocket ?
”
T ru e, s aid d A rtag nan Atho s 15 right : it m u s t be
’ 1 ‘f

burned And wh o kno ws even then but th at the c ardinal

.

.
, ,

may h ave s o m e s ecre t for interrog ating ashe s ? 1

”
“
He m u s t h ave one said Atho s
B u t wh at will y o u do with the le tterP i n
.
,

qu ired ’
H .

Porthos .

“
Co me here Grim aud sa id Atho s ,
“
T o p un is h yo u,
.

h aving s poken without lea v e my fr iend y o u m u s t , , ,

.

thi s piece of p aper then to re ward y o u fo r the s ervice

.
,

ch y o u w i ll h ave rendered us y o u s h all after ward s ,

drink thi s gl as s of wine H ere is the letter fir s t : ch e w . . ,

it h ard .

Gri maud s m iled and wi th h is e y e s fixed on the gl as s

, ,

which Atho s filled to the ver br im, che wed away at th e

y
paper and fin all y s wallo wed it
, .

“
Bra vo M as ter Gri maud ! s a id Atho s ;
,
” “
and now
t ake thi s Good ! I will di spen s e with y our s ay i ng
.

t hank y o u .

Gri m au d s ilentl y s wallo wed the gl as s o f B orde aux ; but

during the whole t im e th at thi s ple as ant Operation l as ted ,

h is e y es which were fix e d upon the he avens s poke a

, ,

l angu ag e wh ich , though m u te , was not th ere fore the le s s

,

expre s s iv e .

“
And no w, s aid Atho s, fu nles s the c ardin al s hou ld
‘
,
1 24
.
T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

m n
'

for the ingeni ou s ide a o f o p e nin rim au d s s t o m a c h , I

’

believe th at we m ay be pretty e as y
‘

During thi s ti m e , h is e m inence pur s ued h is m el anchol y

1

way , m ur m uring under h is m ou s t ach e s

”
Decidedly, the s e four m e n m u s t belong to me 1

C H AP T E R LI I .

'
“
T HE F I R S T D A Y o r I M PR I S oNME NT .

L ET return to her l a d y s hip o f who m a glance

u s no w , , ,
'
given to the co as t of Fr ance h as m ade u s lo s e s ight ,

fo r an in s t ant
We s hall again find her in the s ame de sperate
.

po s ition in which we le ft her : digging for her s elf an

ab y s s o f d ark re flec tio n s — a gloo m y hell — at the g at e

o f which s h e h ad al m o s t le ft hope
'

beh ind her fo r , ,

for the fir s t ti m e s h e doubt s an d fo r the fir s t ti m e

, , , ,

s h e fe ar s .

T wice h as her fortune fa iled her ; t wice h as s h e s een

her s el f b etray ed ; and on both of the s e occ as ion s it
,
.

was ag ain s t th at fat al t alent s ent 11 0 dou bt b y Providence

'

,
'

o n purp os e to oppo s e her th at s h e h ad been wreck ed

,

D A rtag nan h ad con q uer ed her her wh o h ad been

’ ‘

-
, , ,

until then invincible 1n evil

He h ad abu s ed her in her love hu mili at e
.
,

d her ,

her prid e c heck ed her in h er ambition ; and , nOw

, ,

he was ruining her i n her fortune d eprivi ng her o f ,

her libert y and m en acing even her li fe B u t m ore

‘

.
, ,

th an all he h ad r a i s ed up a corner of her mas k

,

o f th at a egis wh ich h ad covered her and rendered her ,

s o potent .

D A rtag nan h ad averted fro m B uckingh am who m

’ ‘

s h e h ated — as sh e did ever y thing th at s h e h ad once

loved — th at ’ te m pe s t with which Richelieu thre atened
’
h im through the per s on o f the queen
,
D A rtag nan .

h ad per s on ated de Warde s fo r who m s h e h ad felt t h e ,

 ”
22 6 T H E T H REE M US K E T EE RS
"

. 1 .

to th edecl aration o f Lord de Winter, her fratern al

y e t m o s t fe ar ful go aler .
1 1

And y e t if s h e were a man s h e wo u l

.

d attemp t all ,
.

thi s and might perch ance Succeed Wh y, then h as

, .
,

H e aven co mm itted the m i s take o f e ns h rining a s oul .

s o s tro ng w ithin a for m so fr a i l and delic ate ?

, ,

T hu s were the fir s t mo m ent s o f her c aptivi t y terrible

. .

co nvul s ion s of ra ge which s h e was i m potent to re s train , ,

p aid t o n ature th e tribu t e o f her fe m inine weakness

v 1

.
.

B u t b y degree s s h e overc ame the s e eb ullitions of

, ,
.

di s te m pered a nger : the nervou s tre mbling s wh ich h ad .

a git a ted her fr am e s ub s ide d ; and s he at length fell ,

. .

b ack upon her o wn s trength , like a tired s erp ent tak ing i

its re p o s e .

Co me co m e I was a fool to be s o violent sa id s h e

, , , ,

as s h e looked at the reflection o f her burning gl ance s in

the gl as s in which s h e s ee m ed to interrogate her s elf . .

N o violence ! Violence is a proo f o f we akne s s Be s ide s 1

.
,

I h ave never s ucceeded b y th at m e an s Perh aps if I

1
.

us ed my s trength ag a i ns t wo m en , I m ight ch ance to find

,

th e m more feeble t han m y s el f and con s equently m ight

.
, , ,

v anqui s h the m ; but it is ag a in s t m en th at I s truggle

“

and I am onl y a wo m an to the m Let m e s tru g g le like . .

a wo man My s trength is in my we akne s s

. .
” .

T hen as if to s ati s fy her s elf o f the c h ang es to Which

' '

s h e could s ubj ec t h er mo s t fl exible and expre s s ive '

fe atu re s s h e made the m s ucce s s ivel y ass u m e all expre s

,

s io ns fro m th at o f ang er which contr a cted every mu s cle

, ,
1
,

to t hat o f th e s o ftes t m os t affection ate and m o s t s edu o

'
, ,

tive s m ile T hen un der her arti s tic h and s her h air was
.
, ,

made to adopt every undul ation which m ight ad d to the

v aried attr action s o f h er ch arming face At las t in s elf .
,

co mpla cency s h e mur m ured ,

“
Well there is nothing los t ! I am s till be autiful
,
,
’
.

It was n early eight o clock in the evening H er l ad y .

s hip perceived a bed and s h e thought th at a fe W h o u rs

'

.
,

o f re p ose would n o t onl y re fre s h her he ad but her co m ,

.

plexion al s o Yet, be fore s h e lay do wn , a s till better idea

.
,
1
 I M P RIS ONMEN T
'
FI R S T D AY OF
'

TH E 1

. 2 27

su gg es te d it s el f Sh e h ad he ar d s o m eth ing sai d ab ou t

.
‘

su pper Sh e h ad alr ead y been ab ov e an hou r in th e

‘

roo m : t h ey could not t arry lon g before th ey broug h t

h er m e al T h e p ri s oner did no t w i s h to lo s e any t i m e
m
.
,

an d res olv ed even t hi s v ery ev e nin g to

, ak e s ome ,

att e m p t t o feel h erway b y s tu d y in g th e ch aracters of

,

t ho s e t o who m her ward sh i h ad b een confid ed .

'
A li g h t ap p eared ben eat h t e d oor and this announce d ,

the ret urn o f h er g aoler s H er lady s h ip who h ad ri s en

'
'

.
,

u p t h rew h er s elf h as t ily in t o th e ch air with h er he ad

, ,

thro wn b ack h er be au t ifu l h air loo s e and di s he v elled

, ,

her t h ro at h alf naked un der th e ruffled lac e and one

-
,

h an d on h er he ar t and the o t her h angin g down

,
.

Th e bo lt s were d r awn ; th e doo r g r at ed o n its h ing es ;

'

s tep s w ere he ard in the ch amb er a nd ache d h er , .

Pl ace th e t ab le th
p r iso ner recogni se d a s t h at o f F elt on
Th e order was ob ey ed .

Y o u will b rin g li g h t s and ch ang e gu ard con tin ue d

”
, ,

Fel ton ; and t h i s d oub le order wh i ch th e y oung ,

lieuten an t g av e t o th e s am e i ndiv idu als pro v ed to the ,

lad y t h at her a t ten d an ts and h er gu ard s were th e sam e

m en, t h at is t o s ay s oldier s ,

T h e co mm and s o f Fel t on w ere ex ecu t ed with a s i len t

’

rap idity w h ich g av e a goo d ide a o f th e flour i

, s h in g s t ate
of dis ci p l ine th at he m ain t ained .

A t las t Felton wh o h ad no t y e t looked at her l adyshi p

‘

tu rned toward h er
s he w
.

Ah ! ah ! s ai d he leep s v ery well

, hen s .
,

sh e awakes sh e will su
p
And h e t ook a few s tep s t oward s th edoo r
.

s ai d a s oldier w
.

h o was le s s s toi c a
”
B u t lieu t en an t l
'

, , ,

th an h is offi cer wh o h ad ap p ro ached h er l ady s h ip

, ,

t h is w o manis not as le e
” ”

p
.

Wh at l no t asleep s aid F e lto n Wh at is sh e .

'

abou t t hen ?
H er face I S ver y p ale and I can
,

Sh e h as fainted .
,

s c arcel y he ar her re s p ir ation

’

.
228
1

T H E T H RE E . M U S K E T EE RS :
“
You are right, sa id Felton after h e h ad looked at ,

her lad y s hip fro m the pl ace where h e s tood with out
t aking a s ingle s t ep to ward s her : go and t ellLord de
,
“

Winter th at his p r is oner h as fainte d ; fo r I do not kno w ,

.

wh at to do the c ircu ms t ance being unexpected

,

T h e s oldier left the roo m to execute h is o fficer s c om

’

m and s { Fel ton s eat ed hi ms el f m a ch a ir which h appened

.
,

to be ne ar the door and waited without utt ering a word , ,

or m aking the leas t m ove m ent H er l ad y s hip wa s .

m i s tre s s o f th at gr e at art s o s tudied by wo m en o f seeing

, ,

every thing b y m e an s o f a m irror a reflection o r a , ,

s h ado w and s he perceived in the gl as s Felton wh o h ad

, ,

turned h is b ack to ward s h er She continued wat c h ing .

h im for about ten m i n ute s and during th e s e ten m inute s

,

he did not once look r ound .

It then occurred to her th a t Lord de Win ter would s oon

a rrive and b y his pre s ence
, ,
a dd po wer to her g aoler , . .

Her firs t experi m ent h ad fail ed ; and s h e bore it like a

wo m an wh o h ad confidence in her o wn re s ource s She .

th ere fo re raised h e r h ead Ope ned her ey e s , and s ighed ,

feebl y .

At thi s s igh F elton at length turned round

,
.

“
Ah ! y o u are awake at l as t m ad am s a ”
i d he s o I , , ,
“

h ave nothing more to do here I f y o u require an y th ing

w
.
,
”
y o u ill c all .

O h m y God ! m y God ! wh at I h av e s u f fer ed !

“ ”
,

m ur mured her l ad y s hip in th a t h ar m oniou s tone o f

vo ice W
,

, hich like th e tone s of the ench antre s s e s o f old

, ,

fas cin a te d all wh o m s h e de s ired to de s tro y .

On r ai s ing her s el f in her ch a ir s h e as s u m ed an attitude ,

m ore gr a ce ful and m ore alluring th an th at wh ich s h e h ad

as s u m ed during the ti m e s h e was reclining ,
.

Felton aro s e .

Y o u will be wa ited upon in thi s way m ad am three , ,

ln the m orning a t ni n
”
t imc s a d ay s a id he ; e o clock ; ’

, ,

in th e afternoon a t o ne o clock ; and in the ev ening

,
’

at eight I f thi s s hould be not agree able to y o u '

n appoint y our o w
.
,
.

n hour s in s te ad o f thos e
’

y o u c a ,
23 0
1

, .
T H E T H REE M U S K ET E ER S .

Oh , y o u m ay
. be quite eas y s h e has a Ver y ferti le i m agina
, .

tion , and the s econd act o f thi s co m ed y will s oon follo w

”
the firs t
A s h eutte red the s e word s Lord d eWinter to ok F elton
.

by the arm and led him away laughing , ,

.

O h I will s urel y be a m atch fo r y ou l m u ttered her

“

w
s

a
.
,

l d y s hip bet een h er t,eeth M a ke y ou rs el f e as y poor .

1

s poiled m onk poor converted s oldier who s e uni for m h as

, ,
”
been cut out of a church man 5 h abi t l ’

Apr opo s my lad y said Lord de Winter stopping

.

“
.
, , ,

on the thre s h old o f the door not allo w thi s failure ,

t o d i s turb y our a ppetite T as te th i s fo wl and th at fi s h .

, ,

which I give y o u m y honour I h ave not had pois oned

I amon good ter m s with my cook nd as h e 15 not to
.
, ,
'
a , ,

be m y heir I h ave gre at confidence 1n h im : D o as I do

, . .

F are we ll my d ear s is ter, till y our next fainting fi t

,
-

T h 1s was all th at h er l ady s h ip was able to end ure .

H er h an ds gras pe d the ar m s o f her sch a1 r convu ls ivel y ,

s h e ground h er teeth he avily her e y es follo wed the m ov e ,

ment o f the door as it clo s ed behind Lord d e Winte r and '

Felton ; and then a s s oon as s h e found her s e lf alone

a ne w p arox y s m o f de s p air inv a ded b e t —
, ,

her glance a

wand ered to th e tabl e : s h e saw a kni fe that glittered on

it and, rus h ing for ward s h e s n atched it up ; but dread ful
, ,

was h er di s appoint ment when s h e found th at t h e ed g e was

r ounded and the bl ade of flexible s ilver
,
.

A s hout of l aughter res ounded fro m behind th e half

c los e d d oor, and it was ag ain opened .

Ah ah ! exc lai m ed Lord de Winter do y o u see,

“ ”
,
“

Felto n ? It is exa ctly as I told y o u T h at k ni fe was .

y ou m y b o y : s h e w ould ,
h a v e k il led y o u .

I t 13 one o f her ec centric itie s thu s to get rid in one way , ,

or a nother o f tho s e wh o anno y her , I f I h ad a ttend e d .

to y o u the kni fe would h ave been o f s teel and s h arp ;

, ,

and th en— fare we l l F elton S he would h ave cut y our ,

throat fir s t and all our thro ats afterwards J u s t look

J ohn h o w w
, .
,

, ell s h e ho lds her kni fe

Her l ady s hip , 1n fact, s till held the ino ffens i ve wea po n
 THE FI RS T D A Y OF '
I M P RI S ON M EN T . 2 51

in h er convu ls ive grasp but the s e l ast word s thi s cro wn ,

ing in s ult unnerved her h and s her s trength , and even her
, ,

will and the kni fe fell upon the ground 1

.

You are quite right my lord s aid F el t on , 1 n a tone

,
“ ”
, , ,

o f deep di s gu s t wh ich penetr ated to the ver y rece s s e s o f

,

her l ad y s hip s he art You are righ t and I was inth e

’
.
“
,

And the y both once more left the room

Bu t on thi s occ as ion the l ad y lent a mo r
,
e attentive ,

e ar th an be ore and s h e he ard their s tep s be co m ing more

f ,

di s t ant until the s ound was los t in the d epth s o f the

,

corridor s .
1

”
“
I am undone ! s h e m uttered : I am in th e po wer
“
. .

o f pe ople over who m I s h all h ave no gre ater influence

th an o ver s t atue s o f bronze or o f granite T he y kno w .

me thoroughl y an d be ar breastpl ate s proo f ag ain s t m y

,
”
ar m s . And y et s h e continued a m o ment after it is , , ,
“

i m po ss ible th at every th ing s hould ter min ate as they h ave

willed it .

In fact a s th is las t re mark , and thi s i ns tinctive return

,

to hope i ndicated fear and all feeble s enti ment s could

-

, , ,

not long p red ominate in th at dee p thinking s oul H e r

.
-

l ad y s h ip s e ated h ers elf at t able ate o f v ariou s vi and s, , .

dr ank a s mall qu antity o f Sp ani s h wine , and felt th at all

her re s olution w as re s tored .

Be fore s h e retir ed to re s t s h e h ad alread y s tudied , , , ,

,

an al y s ed , co mm ented on and ex am ined ; in every

, , .

po ss ible way ; the word s , th e s tep s the ge s ture s the

, , , . ,

s ign s and e v en the s ilence of her g aoler s ; and fro m

, ,

thi s learned ; and pro found and s kil ful ex am in ation , it

, ,

re s ulted th at F elton was upon the whole to be held the , ,

le as t invulner able of the two

O ne word e s peci all y rec u rred to the pri s oner s m ind
’
, , .

s a id Lord de Winter
”
I f I h ad a ttended to y o u ,

to Felton
Felton then ha d s poken in her favour s ince Lord de
.

, , ,

Winter h ad re fu s ed to li s ten to h im We ak or s trong ”

.
“
,

re as oned her l ad y s hip thi s man h as a ray of pity in h is ,

“
 i T HE TH REE M U S K E T EERS
'
'
‘

23 2 .

s oul ; and o f thi s ra y I will m ake a fl a m e th at s h all con

’

'
-

s u m e h im A s to th e other o n e , he kno ws m e , he fear s

.

m e , and kno ws wh at he h as to expect fro m m e s hould I

e ver e s c ape fro m h is h and s : it is, there fore , per fectl y
u s ele s s to atte m pt an y thing with reg ard to h im B u t, .

with Felton , it is di fferent H e a ppe ar s to be a s i m ple , .

pure , and virtuou s y oung man T here are m e an s o f .

”
winning h im .

H e r l ad y ship l aid do wn, and s lept w ith a s m ile upon

her lip s A ny one wh o h ad s een her s leeping, would
.
‘

h ave t aken her fo r a y oung girl , dr eam ing o f the garl and
o f flo wer s which s h e was to br a id a round her forehe ad a t
an a ppro a ch ing b all .
‘
1

C H AP T E R LI I I .

THE S EC OND D AY or I M P RIS O N M ENT .

H E R l ad y s hip was dre am ing th at s h e h ad at l as t de fe ated

d A rtag nan, and was looking on the s pectacle o f h is de ath ,
’

and it was th e s ight o f h is abo m in ated blood , flo w i n g

o

b en eath th e execu tioner s ax e, which aro used the ch ar m

’ ’

ing s mile th at hovered on her lip s .

She s lept like a pri s oner lulled by d awning hope .

On the next m orning when the y entered the roo m s h e

”
'

, ,

was s till in bed Felto n re m ained in the corridor He

. .

h ad brough t with h im the wo m an o f who m he h ad s poken

o n the prev iou s evening and wh o h ad j u s t a rrived
’
I bi s ,
.

wo m an entered and appro a ched her l ad y s hi 5 bed

’

,
p ,

o fferi ng he r s ervice s .

H er l ad y s hip was n aturall y p al e and her co m plexion ,

would there fore e as ily deceive any one wh o s aw her for

, ,

th e firs t ti me .

I am feveri s h s h e s aid
“ “
I h ave not s lept a mo ment
, ,

throughout th e tediou s night I am in dre ad ful s u fle r

' '

ing : wil l y o u be m ore hu m ane th an they were y e s terd ay

evening ? All I as k 1s to be per m itted to re m ain in bed ,
.
g34
1
'

T H E T H REE M U S K ET EE RS .

Felton lo ok ed at h er fo r a mo ment with h is ordin ar y

'

r .

in s en s ibility ; but s eeing th at the cri s i s thre atened to

,

continu e he ileft ith e roo m

W
, .

T h e wo man follo wed h im , and Lord de inter did not

make h is a ppe ar ance .

I th ink I begin to s ee amethod m uttered the l ad y

“
, ,

with s av age delight as s h e buried her s elf u nd er the , i

b édf C lOth e S, to h id e fro m tho s e wh o m ight be watch in g

her thi s bur s t o f he artfelt s ati sfaction .

T wo hours p as s ed away
It is no w ti me for my m al a dy to end thought she
.

“
, .

L et me get up and g ain s o m e benefit to day I h ave

'

, .

but ten d ay s : and b y thi s e vening two of the m will h av e

,
1
”
alread y p a s s ed away .

Wh enL the s ervant s entered the lad y s ch amber 1n the

.
.
’

morning her bre ak fas t h ad been brought

,
S he concluded .

th at the y would s oon return to take it a way and th at s h e ,

s hould then s e e F elton ag a in .

, H er l d y ship was not deceived

. a ?
Felton re appe ared .
,

and , without noticing whether the l ad y h ad touched

a n thing o r not he ordered the attend ant s to re m o v e the
y ,

t ab le , wh ich was gener ally brought in with ever y th ing

l aid out upon it .

F eltOn, holding a b ook in h is h and s aw every other ,

pers on le ave th e roo m .

Reclining m an eas y ch air ne ar the fire pl ace be auti ful -

, ,

p ale and re s ign ed her l ad ys hip looked like a holy virgin

, ,
.

ex p e cting marty rdo m .

1

F elton approached her and s aid

Lord de Winter, wh o lik e y ours el f mad am is a
“
, i , ,

c atholic h as i magined th at the lo ss o f the rite s and

,

cere monie s o f your religion might be p ain ful to y ou : he

'

there fore per mit s y ou to re ad the d aily o ffice o f y our

” '

m as s ; and here 15 a book which cont ain s the ritu al .

Fro m the m anner with which F elton l aid the book on

the litt le t able n ear her l ad y s h ip fro m the tone in wh ich ,

he pronounced the word s y ou r mass and fro m the , ,

conte m ptuou s s mile with which he acco mp anied the m ,

 THE S EC O N D D AY OF I M PRI SO N M EN T . 23 5

her l ad y s hip r ai s ed her hea d and looked m ore attentiv elv r ,

at the o ffi cer .
1 1

— '
T hen by th at s ti ff m anner o f we aring t h e h air b y
. ,

th at dre s s of ex aggerated s i m plicit y b y th at for ehe ad , ,

’

as poli s hed as marble but equall y h ard and i m penetr a ble ,

of tho s e gloo my purita n s who m

'
-
s h e reco gni s ed o ne ,

s h e h ad s o o ften m e t with both at the court o f K ing ,

Ja mes and at th at o f the King of France where } in

,
-
.
'

,
;

s pite of the recollection s o f St B arth olo me w : the y .

,
.
.

s o m eti m e s c am e to s eek a re fuge .

She then experienced o ne o f tho s e s udden ins pir a ti on s

which are res erv e d fo r geniu s e s alone on tho s e great ,
'
e m ergencie s tho s e m o m entou s c ris es , wh ic h deci d e their
,
1 1

fortune s o r their live s .

T ho s e t wo word s —y ou r mass — and a s mg le gl anc e at

'

Felton h ad in fact reve aled to her all the pregn anc y o f

, , ,

the an s wer which s h e was about to mak e .

B u t with th at r apidity Of i nt e lligence wh ich 1 was

,

peculi ar to her th at a n s wer pre s ent ed itsel f as if r ead y

, ,

fr ame d u pon her lip s

’

.
,
”
I ? s aid s h e in an accent o f conte mpt equ al to that
, ,
'

which s h e h ad ob s erved in the vo ice o f the y oun g Offi cer

s 1r l—my mas s ? Lord de Winter the corrupted ,

c atholic well kno ws th at I am not o f h is religi on and it

, ,

is a s n are which he w i s he s to s pre a d fo r m e

’ 1

”
“
And of wh at religion are y ou then mad am ? ,

de manded Felton with an as toni s h m ent which in s pite ,

1
, ,
'

o f h is s el f co mm and he could n o t per fect l y co nc e

-
al , .

I will tell it excl a i med the l ad y with feigned

. ,
1

en thu s i as m when I s h all h av e s u ffe red s u fficientl y for

,
“ 1

”
m y fa ith
T h e look s of F elton di s pl ay ed to her lad y s
.

hip all th e
extent o f s p ace wh ich s h e h ad O p ened to her s el f by th i s
s ingle expre s s ion .

And y e t the y oung Oflic e r re mained m ute a nd m otion 3 -

less . H is counten ance alone h ad s poken .

“
I am in the h and s o f my en em ie s continued s h e in .
, ,

the enthu s i astic tone which s h e kne w was p Op u lar am ong s t '
23 6 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EERS
‘

.
.

the purit an s Well ! either may my God s ave m e or

.
“
,

m ay I peri s h for m y God ! T h at is the an s wer which I

beg y o u to convey to Lord de Winter ; and as to thi s
book continued sh e pointing to the ritu al with the tip o f
, ,

her fi nger but without touch ing it as though s h e would

, ,

h ave been cont am i nated by the cont act y o u m ay c arr y ”

it away a nd m ake u s e o f it y o ur s el f ; for y o u are nu

,

doubtedl y doubl y th e acco mplice o f Lord de Winter—an

,
’

a cco m plice in h is p er s ecution and an acco m plice in h i s ,

here s y .

F elton made no repl y ; but h e took the book with the

s am e repugn ance th at he h ad be fore m ani fe s ted a nd in , ,

a pen s ive m ood withdre w ,

.

Lord de Winter c am e at about five in th e evening .

During th e d ay her l ad y s hip h ad found ti me to tra ce a

,

pl an o f proc e dure and s h e received h im like a wo m an 1

wh o h ad alre ady rec o v ere d all h er adv anta ge s

”
It appe ars s aid the b aron s e ating hi m se l f o n a
'
“
, ,

ch air Oppo s ite the l ad y and s tretching h is feet c arele s s l y ,

to ward the he arth — it appe ar s th at we h ave m ade a “

”
s ligh t apo s t a cy .

Wh at do y o u m e an s ir ? ,

I m e an th at s ince the l as t ti m e we me t we h ave

, ,
1
,

ch anged our religion H ave y o u b y ch ance m arried a .

third hu sb and — a prote s tant ?

“
E xpl ain y our s el f m y lord replied the pri s oner , w ith , ,

gre at dignity ; fo r I h ear y our word s but I do not

“
.
,
-

under s tand the m .

T hen the truth m u s t b e th at y o u h ave no r eligion at

, ,

all. Well I like th at the better s aid L ord d e Winter

, ,
'

with a s neer .

'
“
It is certa inl y m ore in uni s on with y ou r o wn
principle s coldl y replied the l ad y
,
.

“
O h I con fe s s to y o u th a t it is qu ite a m atter o f
, ,
”
indi fference to m e .

You c an avo w no religiou s i ndi fference m y lord but , ,

wh at y our deb auchery and cri m e s s u flic ie ntly confir m .

Wh at ! and do y o u t alk o f deb auchery , M a d am e ,

 8 T H E T H R E E j M US K E T E E R S
'
23 .

and when every th ing was arranged , h e s o ftly le ft t he

, . r

room with the s old 1ers ; 1 I 1 r

T h e l ad y kne w th at s h e m ight be watched , and,

there fore , s he continued at her pr a y er s Until t h e end .

She fancied th at the s entinel at her door did riot m a in tain

h is u su al s tep but s ee med to li s ten to h er
, .

For th e pre s ent s h e de s ired nothing m ore She aro s e

, .
n
,

s e ated her s el f at the t able a t e a little and o nl y dr ank

s om e W
, ,

a ter «
In an hour afterw
. . 1

ard s the t able was re m oved but her

, ,

lad y s hip r em arked th at o n thi s Occ as ion Felton did not

, ,

a ccom an the oldie

p y s rs .

H e was afr a i d then o f seeing h er too often

, , .

S he turned h er he ad a s ide to s m ile fo r the r e was s o ,

m uch of triu m ph m tha t s m ile th a t it alone would h ave ,

betr ay ed her .

S h e allo wed h a lf an hour to ela p s e ; and as ever y thing

was the ne n t irely s ilent 1n th eO ld cas tle — as no s ound wa s
h e ard but the etern al mur m ur o f the s urge th at mighty ,

res pirati on o f the s ea— With her pure thrilling and , ,

h a r m oniou s voice s h e beg an the firs t s t anz a o f the p s al m

,

wh ich was then m gre at favour with the purit an s .

‘

Th o u le a v e s f u s , O h L Ord !
T o p ro v e if w e a re s t ro ng
1
B u t't h e n, t h o u d o s t a fford '

T h e m e e d tha t to e x e rt io n s h o u ld b e lo ng .

ver s e s were not excellent , they were indee d far

T he s e , ,

en ough fro m it , but as every o ne kno ws , the puritan s

,

did not p ride th em s elve s on poetry .

Even as sh e s ung her l ad y s hip li s te ne r] Th e s entinel

,

.
,

on duty at her door h ad s toppe d as lf tr an s for m ed to ,

r

s tone Her l ad y s h ip j udged by th at o f th e e ffect s h e h ad

.

'

p ro d uc e d
S he thenc ontinued her p s al m W
n ,

ith a fervour and ,

feeling w hich ar e inde scrib able I t s ee m ed to her as the

nd di ffu s ed it s elf afar Off benea
. .

s ou th the a rche s a nd w ent

like a m agic ch ar mto m elt th e he arts Of her Oppre s s or s
,

.
 THE SEC O N D DAY OF I M PRI S O N M EN T . 23 9

'
N everthele s s , it appe ared as if the s old ierfl o n gu ard ,
S
,

a z ealo u s C ath o li c , no doubt, h ook off th e ch ar m, for,

' ‘
' "
‘ '

through the grating which h e Op e ned , he e x cl ai med ,

'

“1

B e s ilent, mad am ! Yo ur s ong is as mel anchol y as

'

d 1f, be s ide s the

p f
’
a D e P ro
‘
f u fl d z s ,
a n le as ure O
L
b e 1 ng
shut up in th i s g arri s on , we m u s t be co m pelled al s o to
‘

” I
he ar the s e thing s , it will be perfectl y unbe ar a ble .

Silence there ! cried a s evere voice , W

”
h ich th e l ad y
recogni s ed as th at of Felton “
Wh at bu s ine s s is it Of .

our s , fello w ? D id any one ord er y o u to h inder th at

' ’
y
wo man fro m s ingi n g ? No You wer e told to gu ard
—
.

her to fire upon her if sh e atte mpted to e s c ape gu ard .

her, then ; s hoot her if s h e trie s to e s cape , but go not

”
b ey ond y our Orders .

An inexpre s s ible gle am of j oy illu m in ated th e l ad y s ’

counten ance ; but thi s gle am was tran s ient as the

li g htnin g s fl as h ; and with out ap pe aring to h ave he ard
’

the di alogue Of which s h e h ad not lo st a word , s h e re s u med

'

h er s ing ing giving to her voice all the ch ar m allthe p ower

, , ,

all the s eduction with whi ch S at a n h a d endo wed it

,

F o r a ll m y fe a rs a nd c a re s ,
F o r e x ile , a nd fo r c h a ins ,
I h a ve m y y o u t h , my p ra y e rs ,
k
A nd G o d , w h o e e p s a re c o rd o f my p ains
”
.

voice Of unco mm on po wer and O

T h at ,
f s ublrme
’

. ‘

p as s ion gave to the rude unpoli s hed poetry Of the s e

,

p s al ms a m agic and an expre s s ion th at the m o s t ex alted

,

puritan s rarel y detected in the s ongs Of their brethren ,

which the y were co m pelled to adorn with a ll th e a id s o f .

i magin ation Felton thought th at h e was li s tening to the

.

s ing ing o f the angel {wh o co mforted the thr ee I s raelite s !

in the fiery furn ace .

T h e l ady continued

B u t G o d , t h e j u s t a n d s t ro ng !
O u r m o m o f fre e d o m s e n d s
A nd s h o u ld o u r h o p e s b e w ro ng ,
S till m a rty rd o m , s t ill d e a t h , o u r t ria ls
"
en ds 1
3 40 T H E T H RE E M SKE T E E R S U .

T h i s las t couplet in to which th e t errible e nch an tre ss

.
'

h ad poured her w hole s o u l co m p leted t he di s order in ,

’
th e y o u n g o fiicer s h e ar t He Opened th e door s u dde nly .
,

and her l ad y s h ip s aw h is co u n ten ance as p ale as ev er , ,

fl
b u t wit h as h ing and alm o st delirio u s ey e s
W
.

”
h y do y ou s ing in th is m anner, s aid he , an d in
s u ch t one s 0

Pardon me s ir s aid h er lady s h ip s o ft ly

, , ,
I forgot
t h at m y s o ng s we re no t beco m ing i n th i s hou s e
,
I h ave .

no d ou b t wounded y o u r reli g io us feeling s b u t I as s ure ,

'

y ou th a t i t w a s u n in t en t ion ally P a r don t here f o re a .

, ,

fault w h ich m ay b e g re at , b u t wh ich w as cer t ai nly

.
‘ ‘

in v olu nt ary .

Her lad y s h ip looked so b e au t i ful at t h at m o m en t and ,

th e relig iou s en t h u s i as m wh ich sh e had ass um ed h ad

gi ven s uch an ex pre ss ion to h er coun t en ance t h at .

z
,

Felton , co m p letely d az led , fanci ed th at he now saw

,

th e an g el who m h e h ad b e fore only he ard .

Y es y es rep lied h e y es y o u v ex y o u a it a t e
, , g
, , ,

th e inh ab i t ants of the c as t le -

.

B u t th e p oo r m adm an did no t percei v e th e incoherence

o f h is own lan g u ag e Wh ils t h er l ad y s h ip plun g ed her
l
,

lynx ey e i n t o th e v ery dep th s o f h is h e ar t .

”
I willb e silen t s aid sh e, c as t in g do wn her ey e s w ith
, ,

all the s o ftn es s t h at sh e could g iv e to her voice and w i t h ,

allth e re s i g n at ion w h ich s h e co u ld i m p ar t to h er m anner .

”
N O no , m ad am , s i d Fe ton
,
a l o nl y
i
do not s ing ,

so lo u dly and es peci all y at nigh t

,
.

A fter th es e wor ds Felton feelin g t h at h e could no

'

, ,

lon g er p re s er v e h is u s u al s ever it y to ward s h is p ri s oner ,

ru s h ed o u t Of th e roo m .

Y ou are r i gh t lieu ten an t s aid th e s ol dier

“
,
tho s e
,

s on g s dis t urb th e s ou l ; an d y e t o n e beco m es i n t i m e

accu s to med to t he m
— t he voice is s o b e au ti fu l 1
242 «T H E T H R E E M U S K E T EE RS
-
.

h is lip s m oved , w ithou t any s ound i s s uing fro m the m,

and, controlling hi ms el f b y ane ffort he s uppre ss ed m h is
o wn bre a s t the word s which he h ad ne arl y uttered , and

with dre w .

About noon , Lord d Winter entered e

It was rath eia fine s u m mer 3 day , and a be am Of th at
.

’ '

p ale Engli s h s u n, wh ic h enlight en s , but doe s not warm ,

penetrated through the b ar s Of the pri s on 1 .
‘

Her l ad y s h ip looke d out Of the windo w and pre tended ,

not to h ave he ard the door Open .

s aid t L o rd de Winter “
a ft er h aving
repre s e nted co m ed y and tr aged y W e are no w d O ing ,

m elodr ama .
1 1

T h e p ris o nen d id n ot an s wer .

h is it
very well Y o u would gl adl y enough be free upon thi s
.

be ac h Y o u would gl adly e nOu g h in s o me go od s h ip

.
,
'
,

h d e 1through th e wave s Of th at s e a, wh i ch 18 as green as

g
an e mer ald You would gl adly en ough whether o n l and
.
,

o r o n the oc ean concoct again s t m e o ne Of tho s e prett

’
, y
little plots which y ou are s o dexterou s in contr iv ing .

P ati ence p atience ! In four d ay s y o u s h all be per mitted

,

to a ppro ach the be a ch and the s ea w ill be Open to y ou ,

— m ore Open perh ap s th an y o u w ould wi s h — for in

, ,
‘

fo u r d ay s Engl and will be rid O f y o u

,

'

Her l ad y s hip cl as pe d her h and s a nd rai s ed her e y es to

.

h eaven 1

excl ai m ed s he w ith a n angelic s weet

.

Lord ! Lord ,

ne s s Of ge s ture and Of intonation forgive thi s man as I ,

“
,
”
m y s el f forgive h im 1
.

“
Y e s pr ay accur s ed cre ature
,
excl ai med the b aro n
, , .

Yo u r z p ray er is the more generou s as y ou are in the '

,

po wer o f a m an wh o; I s wear will never p ardon y ou , ,

"
.

And h e left th e ; ro on1 1

.

"
A t th e v m e nt h e went out a pie rcing gl ance ~ 1

through the h al f Opened door en abled her to perce iv e

.

F e lto n wh o dre w hi m s el f quickl y b ack th at he m ight

,
1

'
no t b e s een .
1 1
'
1
1
 T H E T HI R D . DA Y 24 3

Sh e th en th rew her s el f upon h er knee s 1

and b eg an t o '

My God ! t hou kno we s t for wh at s acred 1 cau se I

'
'

1 1 .
~

s uffer giv e m e there fore s t rength to b e ar m y trials

, ,
.

Th e door Ope ned s o ftl y the b e au tifulr s up pli ant '

p retended n O t to h av e he ard i t an d ; w ith a v oi ce alm o s t ,

choked b y te ar s sh e continued ,

0 God t h e av eng er O Go d O f m erc y ! wilt thou

, .

permit the wicked de sig n s Of th i s m an to be : ae co m

p lis h ed P
onl y did s h e app e ar to he ar the s ou nd O
'
T hen f F elton s
'

foo tst ep s ; and ri s ing as q uickl y as t hough t s h e bl us hed , ,

as t houg h as h am e d at be in g se en u p o n h er knees .

”
I do not like to in te rru p t t ho s e wh o pr ay i l
” '

g av e y , ,

Ob s erved F elton s o do no t di st urb y our s el f on m y

,
”
accoun t I be s eech y ou m ad am
, , .

H ow do fy ou k n o w t h at I was p r ay in g s ir ? s aid
' ’ ’
1
,

h er l ad ys h ip in a voi ce s u ffocat ed b y s ob s
, y o u a re .

”
m i s t aken sir I was not p r ay ing
D o y ou th ink then madam
.
,

r eplied F eltoniin h is
, , ,
'

h abit u al g r av e voice bu t with a g entle r accent t ha t I, ,

ass u m e to my s elf th e rig h t o f p re v e n t i ng a fello w

cre at ure fro m th row ing h er s el f at th e foot Of h er Cre ator ?
Go d fOrbid ! B e s ides repent ance is be comin g in t he
“

g l t y Wh ateve r cri m e they m ay h ave co mm it ted ; and

u i ,

a c rim in al pro s trate be fore God is sacr e d ln m y e ye s

, , .

I gu ilt y ! replied t h e l ad y w i t h a s mile which

“

, ,

woul d h av e disarm ed t he an g el at th e day of ju dg fnen t .

Gu ilt y ! Oh m y God ! thou know es t w h at I am 1

“

S up po s e th at I am con dem ned s u —

,

e t y ou know th at
y
e
,

God wh o love s marty rs so m et imes per mit s th e inn ocen t

, ,

to be condem ned
Were y ou ”condem ned were yo u inno cen t , and were
.

y o u a m ar t y r replied Felton y ou
, w oul d 'h av e s t il l ,

m ore re as on t o p r ay and I woul d my sel f ass i s t ,

'

m y pr ay er s 1 .
1

Oh y ou are a j u s t m an ' e x cl aim ed her l adysh ip

' 3 }
.
, ,

t hro win g her s el f at h is feet I c an no lon g er re s tr ain .

 ‘ ’ "

244 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EERS

1
1

m y s elf, for I fe ar th at my s trength W111 fa il m e at the

m o m ent wherein I m u s t endure the tri al , and con fe s s m y
fa ith Li s ten , then , to the s u p plic ation Of a wo m an in
.

de s p air T he y deceive y o u , s ir B u t th at is not the

. .
‘
-
.

point : I o nly as k one favour of y ou , and , if y o u gr ant

it I w ill ble s s y o u both in thi s world and in th at which
,
”
is to co m e .

1
S pe a k to m y s uperior m ad am
“
s a id Felton , , .

“
Fortun atel y I h ave no co mm i s s ion either to p ardon
,

or to puni s h : it is to o ne higher th an m e th at GOd .

h as given thi s re s pon s ibility .

T o y o u — no to y ou alone
“
Li s ten to me r ath er
,
.
1
,
”
th an contribute to m y de s truction and m y s h ame
I f y ou h ave de s erved thi s di s gr a ce m ad am — if
.

“ 1
'
,

y o u h a ve incurred
'

thi s igno m in —
y y o u s h o uld b e ar it
‘

as a s acrifice to God . 1 1

Wh at m e an y our words ? Oh ! y ou do not under

“

s t and m e When I t alk Of igno m iny y o u think th at

.
,

I s pe ak Of s o me puni s h ment— O f i mpri s on m ent or of ,

execution Would to God it were s o ! Wh at c are I

.
1

fo r de ath or i m pri s on m ent P

It is I th at do not under s t and y ou now m ad am
“
,

s aid F elton
,

Or pretend th at y o u do not unders tand m e

"
,

replied the pri s oner with a s m ile O f doubt ,

.

N O mad am b y the honour O f a s oldier b y t h e

,
.

,
.

faith Of a Chri s ti an
Wh at ! do y o u not kno w the de s ign s which Lord
“
,

de winter h as ag ain s t me P
,
”
.

”
I do not kno w the m
“
.

I m po s s ible ! Y o u are his confid ant .

M ad am I never lie 1 ,

O h ! but he is too unre s erved fo r y o u to h ave faile d

to gue s s the m
M ad am I never atte m pt to gue s s an y thing : I
,

al way s wa it fo r confidence a nd except wh at Lord , ,

de Winter h as s a id in y our pre s ence h e h as told m e ,

”
nothing .
246 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .
P i

A nd her l ad y s h i p writhed her ar ms '

, a? 1f in a p arox y s m
Of g I IEf
' "
5 1:
‘
Felton no doubt felt th at his s trength w as giving
.

way : he made s o me s tep s toward s t he doo r , but the

'

p ri s oner , wh o did no t l os e s ight o f h im, b o u nde d after ~

h im , and s topped h is p ro g re s s .

be goo d— b e m erci fu l— h ear my

'

“
S ir , s aid s he , i “
.
'
r

pr ay er ! T h at kni fe of wh ich the f atal p ruden ce o f

’

the b aron deprived m e bec au s e h e kne w the us e th at ,

I s hould make o f it— i o h l h e ar m e to the end l— th at

,
-
‘

kni fe return it to m e onl y fo r one in s t ant fo r m ercy s

, ,
’

fo r pity s s ake ! I e mbrace y o u r k nee s ! S ee !

’ "

s ake
'
“

y ou m ay s hut th e do or I do no t want to inj u re

y o u ~ - a . .

O God H o w could I h ave any de s ign ag ains t y ou — y o u

.
,

the only j u s t and g ood and co m p as s ion ate being th at

, ,

I have met with ‘

y o u , perh a ps my pres erver ! One
-
'

m inu te th e k nife J—
,

é onl
y one'
m inute I will return it .

to y ou through the wicke t o f the door ! O nl y one

’
'
. ,

m inute w ill h v e ved m

‘ '

, y o u a s a y
h o no u n
T o kill y our s el f ! f exc la i m ed Felto n, 1 n great ter ror ,
“ ’
. .

a nd forgetting t o w ithdr a w h is h and s fro m the h and s o f

'

, ,

”
h is pri s oner to kill y our s el f !
'

“
, I h ave s aid it , s ir, m ur m ured the l ad y , dropping h e r
voice , and s inking exh au sted o n the floor : “
I have
divulged my s ecret ! H e kno ws all, and, O my God !
”
I am lo s t l 1 1
.

F
.

elton re maine d s ta nding , motio nl es s and irre s olute .

He still doubts thought the l ad y I h ave not

, ,
“

b een true enough to the ch aracter I a m acting

‘

,
,

S o m e one w as he ard in th e co rridor ; and her lady s hip ‘

recogni s ed the s lo w s tep o f Lord de Winter .

Felton al s o recognis ed it and approached the d oor , .

H er l adys hip ru s hed for ward s .

”
“
O h ! not o n e word s h e cried in a c on centra ted voice , , .

“
Tell no t to th at m an o n e word o f wh at I h ave s aid to
o u o r I am lo s t ; an d it is y o u —y o u
y ,

T hen as the s tep s dre w ne arer s h e wa s s ilent l es t her

, , ,
 T H E T H I RD D A Y o r I M BR I S O N M E NT . 247

voice s hould be he ard and m erel y pre s s ed her be au ti ful ,

h and on Felton s lip s with a ge s ture of infinite terror

’
,
.

Felton g entl y repul s ed her and s h e s ank upon a couch ,

.

Lord de Winter p as s ed b y the door without s topping ,

and h is dep arting s tep s were he ard in th e di s t ance . 1

Fe lton p ale as a corp s e s t o od fo r s o m e mo ment s ,

1nte nt1y li s tening then when the s ound h ad entirel y

, ,

c e as ed he bre athed like a man awakeni ng fro m a dr e am

, ,

and ru s hed out o f the roo m .

”
Ah ! said her l ad y ship as s h e li s tened in turn to ,
’
the s ound o f Felton 3 s tep s as he retre ated 111 the directio n ,

oppos ite to th at of Lord de Winter, at l as t , th en y ou are

'

,
”
m ine !
B u t in s t antl y her counten a nce gre w d ark .

I f he s hould s pe ak to th e b aron , s a id s h e “
I am ,
.

ruined fo r th e b aron wh o well kno ws th at I would not ,

des tro y my s elf will pl ace me b e fore h im with a kni fe in

.
,
.
-

my h and s and he will at once perceive th at all thi s gre at

,

de s p air is but a farce .

She went and s tood before a gl as s and g azed upon ,

her s el f Never h ad s h e been m ore be auti ful

. .

“ ”
Oh y es s h e s a id s miling but he will fl at tell h im 1 ” “
, , , ,

In the evening Lord de Winter c ame in when : the , ,

s upper was s erved .

”
“
Sir s aid her l ad y s hip to h im
,
is y our pre s ence to .
,

be a co mpul s or y aggrav ation o f my imp ris o nm ent a nd v

“

c annot y ou s p are me th at addition al torture which y our

”
vi s it s c au s e me .

“
Wh y my de ar s i s ter, s aid the h arm did y o u not
,
“
,

s enti mentall y announce to me , with th at pret ty m outh .

which is to d ay s o cruel th at y ou c ame to Engl and fo r the

‘
-
,

s ole purpo s e o f s eeing me w ithout re s tr a in t a p le as ure of s -

which y o u told m e y o u felt th e lo s s s o st rongl y tha t y o u

, , ,

h ad for it ri s ked s e a s ickn e ss s torms and c aptivit y

, ,
-
, , .

Well here L am and y o u o u g h t to b e s ati s fi ed Bu t,

, , .
~
.
.

be s ides , I h ave a p articul ar re as on for my vi s it th is ‘

,
'

”
ti m e .

Her l ad y s hi p s hudde red fo r s h e th o u g h t th at Felton ,

.
1
24 8 1 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EERS .

h ad s poken N ever p erh ap s , in her wh ole li fe h ad thi s

.
, ,

wo man , wh o h ad experienced s o m an y s trong and

oppo s ite e motion s felt s o v iolent a be ating o f her he art
, .

She was s itting do wn Lord de Winter took a ch air .

,

dre w it to her s ide and s e ated hi m s el f upon it ; and h e

,

produced a p aper fro m h is pocket which he s lo wly ,

unfolded .

“
Here s aid he I wi s hed to s ho w y ou th e s ort o f
, ,
“

p as s port wh ich I h ave m y s el f dr awn up and which will

s erve a s a kind o f warr ant in the li fe which I per m
,

it y o u,
”
to le ad .

’
T hen directing her l ad y s hip s e y e s to the p aper h e
, ,

re ad
O rder to conve y to
T h e n am e is le ft bl ank s a id the b ar on ; “
if y ou h ave ,

any pre ference y o u will let m e kno w and provided it be

, , ,

a thou s a nd le ague s fro m London y o u 1 reque s t s h all be ,

gr anted S o I re s u m e — O rder s o conve y to

. Ch arlotte
J

Back s on br anded b y the j u s tice o f the kingdo m o f Fr ance

, ,

but liberated after puni s h m ent She will re s ide in th at .

pl ace without ever going m ore th an three le ague s fro m

,

it In cas e o f any atte mpt at es c ape s h e is to be put to

’

.
,

de ath She will be allo wed five s hilling s a d ay fo r her

.

”
lodging and bo ard I
T hi s warr ant doe s not concern m e s aid her l ad y s hip
:
,

coldl y s ince a n am e is in s erted in it which is no t m ine

“
,
.

”
A n am e And h ave y o u o ne?
”
I h ave th at o f y our brother .

You m ake a m i s take : my brother was only y our

‘
-

s econd hu s b and and y our fir s t is s till alive

,
T ell m e h is .
1

n am e and I will in s ert it in s te ad o f Ch arlotte B ack s on

,
.

No, y o u will not— y o u are s ilent Very well y o u s h all .

,

be regi s tered under the n am e o f Ch arlotte B ac k s on .

Her l ad y s hip re ma ined s ilent : no t now fro m artifice ,

but fro m fe ar She believed th at the warr ant was to be

.

i mm edi atel y executed s h e tho ught th at Lord de Winter

h ad hurried for ward her dep a rture ; s h e s u s pected even
“

, ,

t h at s h e was to go th at very evening F o r an in st ant .

,
250 TH E T H R E E M S KE TE E R S
1
.
.
-
U . 1
1

”
F elton h as not s p oken s ai d her lady s h i p to herself ; ,
‘
r s o noth in
g is lo s t after
An d no w m ad am fare wel l ; to mo rro w I sh all com e
, ,
-

”
and ap pri se y ou o f t h e dep art ure o f my m e sse n g er .

Lord de Winter aro s e b o wed s arc as tic ally t o h er , .

lad y s h ip and le ft th e
, .

vH er lad ship b re at hed ag ai n Sh e h ad y e t fo ur d ay s

y
1
.

b e fore h er ; and fo ur d a s would s erv e h er t o co m plet e

th e s educ t ion o f Felto n
y
'
.

An d y e t a terrib1é ide a s u gge s te d its elf to her min d

'
'
1 :

Perh ap s Lord de winter m igh t s en d Felt on! h i m s el f t o

.

'
E
'
.

B uck in gh am wit h th e warr an t ; and th u s Fe lton wo u ld

es c ape h er for to en s ure h en s ucces s it was n ece s s ary
, ,

t h at th e m ag ic : ch ar m o f her s e d uct ion s houl d be

un dis t ur b ed
Y
et as we h av e s ai d one t h in g re ass ured her Felto n
, ,

h ad not s poken .

Sh e did no t wis h to appe ar dis he ar t ened b y th e t h reat s .

o f L ord de Win ter : sh e t here fore p l aced her s el f at t able ,

'

T h en as s h e h ad done th e ni g h t be fore s h e
'

and at e , .

,
1
,

fell u pon h er knee s and rep e ated h er p r ay er s alou d ,

.

An d as on th e p rev iou s e v ening th e s oldier ce as ed h is

, ,

be at and s too d to li s ten

,
.

B u t s h e s oo n he ar d s t e p s ligh ter t h an t ho se o f th e ,

s entinel appro ach ing fro m t he end o f t he corri dor an d

, ,

wh ich c eas ed b e fore h er door

1
.

I t is h e sh e s ai d An d sh e b eg an t he s ame .

rel i g iou s s tr ain s wh ich h ad so v io len tl y ex ci ted Felton

on th e p rev iou s ev enin g :
Bu t alt ho ug h her s o ft full s o n
,
o rou s v oic e now t hr illed , ,

m ore touch in g l y and m o re h arm oniou sly th an e v e r th e

“

door con t in ued clos ed : I t did in deed ap pe ar t o h er lady

s h ip in o ne o f t ho s e fu rt iv e g l ance s wh ich sh e dir ecte d
,

to t he lit tle w icket t h at sh e coul d percei v e t h rou g h t h e

, ,

clo s e g r ati n g ; th e ar den t ey e s o f t he y oun g m an ; b u t ,

w hether th i s w ere a re ali t y or a v i s ion he h ad at le as t ,

s u ffi cien t s el f co nt ro l o n t h i s occ as io n, t o keep h ims e lf

-
,
 T H E F OUR TH D AY OF 1

IMP R I SON ME NT .

,
Y et fe,w ma o m en t s i
a
s ong her lad y s h ip fan
,
cied t h a t sh e he ar d
an d t hen the s am e s tep s th at s h e h ad he ard
retired slo wl y , and, as it were , wit h relu c t an e
c .

.
11

T H E F O URTH DAY O F I MPR I SO N M E HT .

WH E N Fel ton entere d t he room th e .

h er lad y s h ip m oun te d
~
h er g r as p .

a cor d m ade o f s o m e t or n in to
s tr ip s t wis ted to g ether and fas ten e d end to end A t
, ,
.

the nois e Fel ton ma de 1n Opening th e door her lad y ship ,

lig h tly j u mp e d Off her ch air an d endeav o ured to conc eal

,

beh in d h er t he ex te m por aneou s cor d which sh e held m .

h er h and .

Th e y o un g m an was e ven m ore p a le th an us ual and ,

h is e y e s red fro m wan t o f sleep pro v ed t h at h e h ad

, ,
.

p ass e d th ro ug h a fev eri s h ni g h t An d y e t his fore he ad

bore a s eren it y m ore au s tere th an ever
h o had w
.

He slowl y adv anced towar ds h er l ady s hip

se
,

ated he r self he took ho ld o f the end o f t his m urd erou s

,

woo f wh ich in ad v ertent ly or p e rh ap s intentional

, ,
ly she ,

ha d le ft un c oncealed ”
Wh at is this m adam P he a
.

, sk e
Th at P N ot h in g l said

F elt on cas t h is ey e s u p to t h at p ar t of th e wall where

he h ad s een her l ad y s hip s t anding on the ch air .

sh e no w was s i tt in g o n and abov e her he ad he s aw a

, , , ,

gilded hook fas ten ed in the wall w h ich was pl aced

, ,

t here to s uppor t ei ther clothe s or ar m s .

He s t arted and the pri s oner s aw h im s t art

,
252
1
TH E T H R EE M U S K E T E ERS .

though her e y e s were cas t do wn nothing e s c aped her '

ob s ervation .

And wh y were y Ou s t anding on th i s ch air ? he as ked .

Wh at doe s it s igni fy to y ou P replied the l ady

”
.

” ”
Bu t in s i s ted Felton
,
I de s ire to kno w , .

“
Do not que s tion me s aid the pri s oner ; y ou kno w ,
”
t h a t to u s true Chri s ti an s it is forbidden to s pe ak fal s ehood
Well s aid Felton , I will tell yo u wh at y ou were
.

“ "
“
.

doing, or, rather, wh at y o u were about to do You were .

about to co mplete the fat al work which y o u m editated .

'
Re me mber, mad am if y our God h as forb idden y ou to ,

s pe ak fal s ehood H e h as m uch m ore e mph atica ll y forbidden

‘

,
”
o u t o co m mit s uicide
y .

When God s ee s one of H is cre ature s unj u s tly pers ecuted

—p 1aced as i t were between s uicide and di s h onour
, ,

believe me, s ir replied her l ad y s h ip m a tone o f pro found

,
’’
,

God Will p ardon s uicide for s uicide the n

.

conviction ,
“
,
”
beco m e s m arty rdo m .

Y ou either s ay too much o r too little Spe ak mad am

‘

.
, ,

inthe n am e o f H e aven expl a in y our s el f !

‘

Wh at ! s h all I rel ate my m i s fortune s to y o u th at y ou

“
,

may tre at the m as fable s — s h all I tell y o u my de s ign s !

,

th at y o u may di s clo s e the m to m y p e rs ecu tor l N o s ir ! ,

Be s ide s of wh at con s e q uence c an the li fe or the de ath

‘

o f an unh app y convic t be to y o u ? You are onl y re

s pon s ible fo r m y bod y are y o u n Ot P And prov ided ,

th at yo u prod uced a de ad bod y which could be recogni s ed ,

as m ine no m ore would be required o f y o u and perh a p s

, ,
”
o u m ight even receiv e a double reco m pen s e
y
I m ad am — I
“
excl ai m ed Felton T hen y ou
‘

.
,

s uppo s e th at I would ever receive a price fo r y our li fe ?

O h y ou do not think wh at y o u are ple as ed to s ay

Le ave m e to m y s el f Felton— le ave m e to m y s el f
'

, ,

s a id her l ady s hip with s o me excite m ent ; every s oldier

,

o ught to be ambitiou s ought he not ? Y o u are a ,

lieuten ant : well y o u wo u ld follo w at my funeral with ,

:
'

”
the r ank o f c apt a in .

B u t wh at h ave I d o ne to y o u then ?
"‘
s aid Felton , ,
 254 MU SK E T EE RS
‘

T H E T H REE .

is
’
i gh de ar er to
nu
r
me th
l ife — ‘

I s h all lo s e my h on our ,
an

5 a nd it is y ou w h om I w ill m a ke re s pon s ible ,

God and man , fo r my sh am e and in fam y !

thi s occas ion , F elton i m p ass ive as he was , o r as he
pretended to he, could no longer re sis t the s ec ret influence
which h ad a lre ad y ent hralled h im T o s ee thi s wom an , .

s o be a uti ful , fair as the brighte s t vi s ion — to he ar her b

y
m
turn s i p l orin g and thre atening—to s u ffer u nder the
' “

c o m b 1 ne d as c e nd ai 1 c y o f grie f and be a uty , was t o o much

‘ '

fo r a br ain who s e s trength wa s s ap p ed b y the ardent

"

dre ams of an ec s t atic fai th : it was to o m uch fo r a he art

corroded , at the s am e ti me , b y the love of he aven , which
burn s , and b y th e h atred of mankind , which de s tro y s .

H er l ad y s hip perceived his agit ation : s h e felt , as it

we re b y intu it ion , the co ntending p ass ion s wh ich burned
' '

’
w ith the blood 1n the y oung fan atic s vein s , and , like a
skil ful g ener al , wh o s e es the ene y prep aring to retre at, m
and then ru s he s upon h im with a s hout o f victor y , s h e
‘

ar o s e— be auti ful as a prie s te s s o f n tiq uit y— in s pired as

a
a Chri s a
ti n v irgin — w ith extended ar m s , and neck u m
co vered , and di s hevelled h air— and with a h and m ode s tl y
confi ning her dre s s upon h er b o s o m, and with a gl ance
'

illu m i nat ed b y th at fire wh ich h ad alre ad y c arri ed

'

di s ord er i nto th e s e ns es o f the y oun g puritan , s h e wa lked

to ward s h im , utteri ng , to an i m petuou s air, in th at s weet
voice to which s h e gave s o terrible an e m ph as i s
To B aa l h is vic t im s e nd
T o lio n s c as t t h e m a rt r
y
Y e t v e n e a nc e is Go d 5 c h a rt e r !
g
T o H im , m y c r1 e s a s c e nd .

Felton s tood like o ne petrifie d .

Wh o '
are y o u P
'

Wh at are y ou
”
P e xcl ai med h e ,
h is h and s ,
’

l ping
c as are y o u
“
an angel or a de m on ?
Are y o u Elo as o r A s tart e P
“
H ave y ou not recogni s ed m e , Felton ?
I am neith er
a ngel nor de m on : I am but a d a ughter o f the e arth a
'

s i s ter o f the fa ith —noth ing more " .

’
l
 THE F OU R T H D AY ‘

OE I MPR I SON ME N T . 1 2 55

Y es y es
, s aid Fel ton
, I s u s pec te d it at firs t , b u t
,

no w I am s ati s fied .

Y ou are con v inced I An d y e t y o u are the accom p lice

of th at ch ild o f B elial Wh o m m en c all Lord de Winter
, .

You are conv inced and y e t y o u le av e m e in th e h an ds o f

,

my enem ie s- o f the enem y o f E ngl and and o f the e nem y ,

o f Go d I You are conv in ced , and y e t y o u del iver m e u p

to him wh o fills and poll u te s the worl d wi th h is he res i es
and deb aucherie s — to th at i nfam ou s S ard an ap alu s whom ,

th e blin d c all B uckingh am and t he be lieve rs An tichri s t !

I deliv e r y ou up to B uck i ng h am ! I ! Wh at do
,

y ou m e an P
T hey h av e ey es, e x cl aim ed the l ad y “
and th e y
‘

will n o t s e e ; t h ey h ave e ar s and they will no t he ar , .

Y es y es s aid Felton dr aw in g h is h an d over h is

’

, ,

dam p forehe ad as if to d r ag away his las t remaining

"

doub t y e s I r eco
, g n is e the voi ce th a t s p ea k s to m e i n -

m y dre ams I i th f t f t h l
'

y es re co ,g n s e e e a u re s o e an g e J

w hich v i s i ts m e e ach nig h t cry ing to my s le ep less s o u l

'
, ,

-
s trike ! s av e E n g l an d ! sa ve th y s elf ! fo r thou wi lt .

”
die withou t h av ing ap pe as ed the L o rd S p eak c ried ,

F elton s pe ak ! I c an un d er s t an d y ou no w .

fl
,

A as h o f deli g h t fe arful b u t rap i d as th ou g h t

, , ,

m f m
’

g le a ed ro her l a d y s h ip 3 e y es .

was t his h omicid al gl ance F elton per ,

s t ar t e d as if it h ad thro wn l i
, g h t i nt o the
d ark ab y s s e s o f th at wom an s he ar t
’
.

H e s u ddenly recalled th e warning s o f Lord de Win ter ,

th e s eductio ns o f h er lad y s h ip an d h er fir s t a t te m p t s o n ,

h er arriv al he retre ated a s tep and drooped his he ad

'

.
, ,

b u t withou t ce as ing to reg ar d h er as if fas cin ated b y .

th i s s in g ul ar bein g he could not aver t his e y es

, .

Her l ad y s h ip was not th e wom an to m i s un de rs t an d

t he m e anin g o f th is hesit at ion I n the mid s t o f the s e .

app aren t e m ot ion s her icy coolne ss did no t le ave h er

'

B efore sh e w as obli
,

ged b y Felto n s an s wer to re s um e a

’

, ,

conver s at ion wh ich it would be s o diffi cul t to m ain tain in

the s am e e x alt ed t one sh e let h er ha nds fall as if th e
‘

, ,
 ‘

2 56
.
1
T H E T H REE M U S K E T EERS .

we akn ess the wo m an re s u m ed its ascen dancy over the

of
enthu s i asm of the in s pired s aint .

”
“
B u t no s aid s h e
, , it is not fo r m e to be the Judith
,
“

wh o w ill deliver B ethuli a fro m thi s H olo fern e s T he .

s word o f the Etern al O ne 1 5 too he av

y fo r m y a rm Let .

me then e s c ape di s honour b y de ath — let m e find a

, ,

re fuge in martyrdo m I neither as k for liberty like a .

,

cri m in al , nor for venge ance like a p ag an T o be ,

.

allo wed to die is all th at I de m and,

I entre at y o u I .
,

i m plore y o u on m y knee s — Je t m e die — and my l as t s igh

s h all bre athe forth a ble s s ing o n m pre s erver
y
B e fore thi s voice s o s o ft and s upplic ating—at th i s
.

look s o ti mid and s ub m i ss ive Felton adv anced to ward s

,

, ,

By degree s the ench antre s s h ad re s um ed th at magic

,

ch ar m wh ich sh e took up and l aid as id e a t ple as ure th at ,

is to s ay be auty s o ftne s s te ar s and above all the irre

, , , , , ,

s is tible attra ct ion o f th at m y s tic al voluptuou s ne s s whi ch 1 s

the mo s t irre s i s tible o f all kind s o f voluptu ou s ne s s .

s aid Felton I c an onl y pity y o u if y o u

-
'

, ,

prove to me th at y o u are a victi m B u t Lord de Winter .

'

m ake s m o s t s eriou s co m pl a ints a g ain s t y o u You are a .

C h ris t ian wom an— y o u are m y s i s ter in th e fa ith

'

I feel .

mys el f dr a w n to wa rd s o u — I w h o h ave never loved an

y y ,

o n e but m bene fa ctor — I w h o h ave onl y found tr aitor s

'

y , ,

and infi d els throughout m y li fe ,

B u t y o u m ad am— y o u .
, ,

s o re all y be auti ulf — u a p arentl y s o pure m u s t h ave c o m

y o
p , ,

m itte d m an y cri m e s for Lord de Winter t opur s ue y o u thu s .

T he y h ave e y e s
‘
re p e ated the l ad y wi th ind e s c rib
,
’
,

able s o ftne ss and the y wi ll not s e e they h ave e ar s

“ ‘
, ,
’
and the y will not he ar .

“
B u t then
”
excl ai med th e y oung o fficer, s pe ak—oh ,
,
“

”
s pe a k !
“
Wh a t to confide my s h am e to y o u ' excl ai m ed the
,
.
7’

l ad y , with th e blu s h o f m ode s ty upon her face fo r ,

“
,

o ften the cri m e o f one is the s h ame o f another T o

c o nfi d c my cri m e to y o u a m
.
,

an, and I a wo m an Oh
'

s h e continued m ode s tl y pl acing her h and be fore her e y e s

, ,
”
oh never , never could I d are I
 T H E T H REE M US K ET E ER S J
'

253 1

Y es , 1 am here I re p lie d her l ad y s h p

co nce aled i .

“
1
I g ave y ou you r choice between 1 A merica a nd 1

T y burn
”
replied Lord de Winter :
, choos e T yburn ,

m y J ady : the rope is believe m e s urer th an the kni fe ”

, , .

Felton gre w p ale and m ade o ne s tep forward ; fo r he ,

re me mb ered t h at, wh en h e c am e in, the 1 lad y 1h e ld a

'
' '
' 1 1
.

cord in her h and .

”
“
You are r1 g h t t s ald s h e “
and I h ad alre ad y
1

,
.

thought o f it T hen s h e a dded , in al lo wer voice

. I “

will think o f it ag ain

’

e
.

: Felton s huddered y en to the ve ry : marrow: o f his ,

1

bone s Lord de Wi nter prob a bl y ob s erved t h is i 1 for

.

'
1
1

he s aid at ?“
"
1
'
“
-
John my friend di s tr u s t y our s el f L h ave repo s ed
, , .

my confidence in y o u me wa tch ful 1 h ave warned ’

,
1

y o u B e
. s ide s be o f good ch eer m ,y b o y : in three d a
y s ,
1

we s h all ge t rid o f this cre ature and wh ere ll s end her , ,

s h e c an never a g a in inj ure any one

Y o u he ar h im ! cried her l ad y s hip ; with a bur s t o f

.

“ ”

indign ation wh ich the b aron thought was addre s s ed to

he a ven but which F elton c o m p te h e nde d was fo r h im
,

.
, .

F elton held do wn h is h e ad and m u s ed

1

1 .

T h e b aron too k the o ffi cer b y the arm lo o k ing o v e r

'

h is o wn s houlder s o a s not to lo s e s ight o f th e lad y ,

wh il s t he was in the roo m (

'

1 1

Co m e co me 1r e as oned th e pri s oner, wh enthe door

.

“ ’’ '

, ,

was s hut I am not so far adv anced as I beli eved my

,
,

s el f to be D e Winter h as ch anged his cu s to mar y

s tupidit y into unp a r alleled prudence T hi s is the de s ire .

o f venge ance ; : and thu s d oes th at de s ire fo rm a m an !

‘

A s to Felton he he s itate s Ah ! he is not a man o f

,
. ”

re s olution like th at cur s ed d A rtag nan 1

’ ’ 1 1

N everthele s s her l ady s hip re ine d in anxious ex

. _
,
.

m a ,
’

i h e though t th t the d w ould no t t p as s

'

c tat o n g s a a
y
1

p e . . .
.

awa y w ithou t her s eeing Felton ag ain _ At about .

an hour after the scen e th at we h ave j u s t n arr ated s h e ,

he ard s o m e wh i s pering at the door and s oon after ward s ,

it was opened , and s h e recogni s ed F el ton 1 1 1

 T H E F O URT H 1 1

D A Y OF I M PRI S O N M EN T . 1 259

T h e y oung m an c am e h as til y into the roo m le a ving ,

the d o or open behind h im and m aki ng a s ign t o her .

,

lad y s h ip t o be s ilent H is counten ance was [ fe ar full y

.

agit a ted .

“
Wh at do y o u want ? s a id s h e .

”
Li s te n ! replied Felton in a s lo w v oice ,
I h av e .

ju s t di s m i s s ed the s entinel th a t I m a
y re m a
,
in h ere w ith
o u t an y o ne k no w ing th at I h ave co m e and s pe ak to ,
-

"

w ithout n n o erb e ari n g w h at I s a T h e b a ron

y o u a y o e v y “

”
h as ju s t r el ated to m e a terrible t ale .

T h e l ady a s s u m ed her s m ile o f a re mg ne d vict im an

. d ,

s hook her he ad .

“
E 1ther y o u are a de m on continued Felton orthe “

m
1

b aron — y bene factor my m ore th an fath e i— is a

, ,

m on s ter I h a v e kno w n y o u fo u 1 d a
y s — I h a ve love d

h im ten y e a r s : t h e 1 e fo re I may w ell he s itate bet w

.

een
o t w o B e n o t a l a r m ed a t wh a t I s a : I want to be
y u .
y
con v inced l h is n ig h t a fte r m idnig ht I wil l co me to
'

fl ,
.

u m u s t conv ince m e
’
o u and o
y y .

N o F elton — n o my brother s aid s h e , the s acrifice

,
“
, , ,

is too gre at and I s e e wh at it will co s t y o u

,
N o I am .
,

lo s t— do not de s tro y y ou rs el f with m e M y de ath will be .

far m ore eloquent th an m y li fe and the s ilence o f the corp s e ,

”
will convince y o u better th an th e l iving pri s oner s word s
’
.

”
H us h mad am s a id Felton
, ,
a nd d o not s pe a k to ,
“

m e thu s I am co me th at y o u may pro m i s e me upon

.

—
,

y o u r honour A h a t y o u m a y s w e a r to m e b y th a t w hich ~

is m o s t s ac re d to y o u —th at y o u wi ll make no atte mpt

~

”
upo n y our li fe .

“
I will no t pro m i s e s aid her l ad y s h ip ; for no o ne ,
“

re s pect s an o ath m ore th an I do , and, if I pro m i s e I

,
1

,
”
m u s t keep m y word .

“
We ll s aid Felton, bind y ours elf only till I h ave
”
,
“

s een y o u once a g a in I f after we h ave m e t y o u s till

.
, ,

p er s is t , y o u ls h a ll then be f ree and I my s elf will provide ,

”
y o u w ith the w e a pon y o u h a ve a s ked for .

”
“
S o be it ! sa id her la dy s hip ; “
fo r y our sake I ,
”
s h all wa i t .
 T HE TH R EE M U S K E T EERS
’
260
’

S we ar it .

I '

it b y our God ! Are yo u s ati s fied ?

s we ar

Well said Felton th i s night

”
,
”
,
“
.

And he ru s hed out o f the a p art m ent s hut the door ,

ag a in and waited out s ide with the s oldier s h al f 1 k e in

’
, p ,

h is h and as if h e w ere m ounting gu ard

, .

T h e s oldier h aving returned Felton g a ve h im b ack ,

h is we apon .

T hen through the wicke t; wh ich s h e h ad a ppro ached

, ,

her l ad y s hip s aw the y oung m an cro s s hi m s el f with

deliriou s fervour and hurry along the cor ridor in a
,
'

tran s port o f delight .

A s fo r her s el f s h e returned to her s e a t w ith a s m ile

,

o f s a v age s corn upon her lip s and s h e bl as phe m ou s l y ,

‘

repe ated the fe ar ful n am e o f th at Go d b y who m s h e h ad

u s t s worn w it h out ever h aving le arne d t o kno w H i m
j ”
, .

“
M y Go d ! s aid s h e F an atic al fool God is
.
“

”
my s el f 3 and whoever will a s s i s t in m y revenge 1
‘

C H AP T E R LV I .

'
'

T HE F I FT H D AY OF I M PR I S ON M E N T .

H E R l ad y s h ip h ad , ho wever , ach ie v e d a h al f triu m ph ,

"

a n d the s ucc es s s h e h ad obt a ined rene wed her s trength .

T here w as n o di ffic ulty in v anqui s hing , a s s h e h ad

h itherto done , m e n re ad y to be led as tr ay , who m the
educ ation o f a g all ant cour t s wi ftl y dre w into her s n are s .

Her l ad y s hip was be auti ful enough to fas cin ate th e s en s e s ,

and s kil ful eno ugh to pr e v a il over all the ob s t acle s o f

the m ind .

B ut , on t hi s occ as ion , s h e h ad t o« s tr1 v e ag a in s t an

u ntutored n ature , concentr ated b y a u s terity Religion
‘

an d p e nit enc e h ad m ad e o f Felton a m an i m pen etr able

o

to all ordin ar y seduction s : S che m e s s o v as t , project s s o ‘

tu m ultuo us , were flo atin g 1n th at fervid br ain , th a t t here

‘

was no roo m fo r love — the s enti ment th a t feed s 1t s e lf o n

 R EE S RS
'

2 2 6 i n z f TH E T H :M U K E T EE

S e W
h Y
ou ld mos t as s u redl y re ti
irn fro m her b ani s h me nt

of th at s he h ad not th e s lighte s t doub t , but h o w long

' ’
.

would th t i b ani s h m ent co ntinue ? T o an ; ac t1v e u and

a '

a m bitiou s n at ure , li k e th a t of her l ad y s hip , the da s

y
'

S
wh ich are n ot pent ih sel f ele va tion are u nluck y one s
' '
'

Wh at th en ca we c ll the d y o f bi tter descent ? T o

n a a s '

lo s e one , t wo , three y e ars , th at is an act ual eter nit y '; to

‘

return , perh ap s , after the de ath o r the fall of the cardin al ,

to return wh en d A rtag nan and h is friend s , Happ y a nd
’

su c c ess ful, h ad r eceived from the queen th e reco m e n s e

.

p
th at the y s o ri chl y m erited fo r their s ervice s to her é - the s e -

w ere th e de s ol ating though t s which a w oma n like her

'

l ad y s h ip was altogether un able t o endure ”B e s id es, t h e

s t or m wh ich r aged in her bre as t was i ncre s ing ii i its
'

a
violence , and s h e would h ave burs t her pri s on wa l ls if her
bod y could h ave enjo y ed , fo r a s ingle inqtab t, t h e sa m e
‘

pr oportion s a s her -s oul

And then in the mid s to f all thi s s hé was go aded b y
.

, ,

the r e m e m br an ce o f th e C ardin al Wh a t would be

though t w h at would be s aid o f h e
.

'

,
r s ilence b y th at ,
.

'
c ardin al s o d is tru s tfu ly s o anx io u sg and so s u s piciou s 1
,
' -1

th at c ardin a l wh o wa s n o t f o nly her s ole s upport her s ole

,
' “

,
"
s tay, h e r s o le p ro te c t o r for the the
' '
'

principal in s tru m ent o f her future fortune s an d re v en g e P .

'

She k ne w h im well : s h e kne w th at o n h er return after ua ,

fruitles s expe d iti on s h e m ight t alk in v a in of her i mpri s on

.

,
'
ment s h e would 1 11 v ain ex aggera te her s u ffering s
-
T he .

'
c ardin al would ans iv er w ith the m ocking cahn ne s s o f t h e ,
»

s ceptic s trong a t once in po wer and m genius

,
t

Y ou s hould no t h a ve allo wed y ours el f to be entrap p e d .

Her l ad ys hip then concentra ted all h er e ne rgy g mu rm ur

ing forth in t h e int ric ac ies o f her th ought the n am e iof
'
' ’

, ,

Felton the s ole gle am o f 1ig h t wh ic h vi s ited her in the

,
.
.
,
"

depth s bf th at hell i nto wh ich s h e had fa llen fa nd like

r
, ,

a s e rp e nti c o iling and uncoiling its ring s to s ati s fy i t s el f

”
,

o f its o wn s trength s h e b y ant ici ation enveloped F e lve n

p , , ,

in the countle s s fold s o f her o wn inventive i m a g in atio n ' .

Yet ti m e r olled on T h e ? hour s o ne after the other .

,
’

,
 THE FI F T H D AY '

OF I M PRI SO N M EN T . 2 63

a ppe ared to arou s e the clock as the y p as s ed and e v ery , ,

’ ’
s troke vibr ated in the pri s oner s he a rt 2 At nine o clock
‘

.
,

L ord de Winter p aid h is c u s to mary v is it ; looked at t h e

. .

‘ '
’
.

windo ws and b ar s ; 1 s o unded the flooring and th e wall s

.
-

and e x a m i n e d th e c h imne d h do r ! during

'

.
’
y a n t e o s y e t ,

thi s long and m inute inve s tig ation not one wor d was ,
.

uttered either o n her p as t or o n his .

“
Co m e co me s aid the b aron as he le ft the roo m,
, , .
,
”
y o u w ill not e s c a pe t o night -
1 . 1
'

At ten o clock Felton c am e to relieve the s entin el at

’

the door Her l ad y s hip no w recogni s ed h is s tep as a

.
, .

m i s tre s s recogni s e s th at o f her lover and y et s h e b o th ,

h ated and des pi s ed thi s we ak fan atic .

It was not the appointed ti m e s o Felton did not e nte r

'

the room
w
.
1

T wo hou rs 1 afte r; j u s t on th e s troke of t elve the ,

s entinel was relieved .

A nd no w th e ti m e h ad co me and from thi s mo ment , ,

her l ad y ship waited with i m p atience .

T h e ne w s entinel beg an t o walk along the corridor f

.

In te n m inute s Felton c ame H er l ad y s h i p li s t ened . .

”
Ob s erve s a id the y oung m an to the s entinel ;
, o n no
account wha tever are y o u to le ave th i s door ; fo r -

y ou
kno w th at a s oldier was puni s hed fo r le aving h is po s t fo r
a m o m ent l as t night a lthou h it was I wh o kept gu ard
g ,
”
during h is s hort ab s ence
Y es I kno w th at s aid the s oldier
.

”
, ,

I advi s e y ou therefore to adopt the s trictes t vigil ance

.

, ,

For my p art I am going to in spect the roo m agai n and

.

to obs erve thi s wo man wh o h as I fear co nceived s o me

,

, , ,

viole n t de s ign s ag ain s t her s elf M y order s are to watch .

”
h e r clo s e ly .

”
G ood 1 murm ured her l ad y s hip “
T here is th e .

a u s tere p uritan tel l ing a lie :

, , 41 1
1

T h e s oldier s m iled .

Pl gue take it lieuten ant s aid b e

a ,
“
y o u a re not , ,

badly o ff 1 n getting s uch a : co mm i s s ion , es peci ally if y our

”
order s are not to go till s h e rs re ady fo r bed .
264 MU S K E TE E R S .

: F elt dn b lu s h ed Un der any o t her ci rcu m s t an ce s h e

.

would h ave rebu ked t the s ol dier wh o i n dulged h i m s el f

'

in s uch a j oke ; : bu t h is o wn con s cience w as no w crim i n

,

a ting h im to o lou dly to pe rm i t h is ton u e to s pe ak

g
I f I c all s ai d he
, com e in ; and al s o if any one
, ,

com e s c all m e
, .

”
Y e s s ir , s ai d the s oldier
, .

Felton en tered the room Her lad y s h ip

’

You are co m e s ai d s h e ,
.
1

I p ro m i s d to co m e repl ied F elton and I h av e

'

co m e e ,

You p ro mis ed m e s o m eth in g el s e t hough s ai d sh e

Wh at then o h m y Go d s ai d th e y oun g m an wh o
.
, ,

, , , ,

in s pi te o f all h is s el f co mm and felt h is knees tre m ble

'
, ,

and h is bro w g ro w d am p .

Y ou pro m i s ed t o b rin g m e a kni fe an d to le ave it

‘

,
”
wi th m e after our i nterv iew .

“
D o not sp eak o f th at m ad am s ai d Fel ton there
‘

, ,
’ ’

is no s i t u at ion ho w ever terrible i t m ay be th at c an

I
, ,

p er m i t one o f God s cre at ure s to

’
de s tro y h i m s el f .

h ave re fl ect ed th at I never ou gh t to ren der my s el f '

acce s s or y o f s uch a cri m e

Ah y o u h av e re fl ec t ed
.

s ai d th e pri s oner ag am ,

s e at ing her s el f in her ch a i r w it h a di s d ain ful s mile ,

An d I al s o h av e refi eé ted !
' ’

1
, ,

Abou t wh at
T h at I h ad noth i n g to s ay to a m an wh o did no t
keep h is word 1

mu rm ured F elton
.

Oh m y Go d !
I
,

You m ay le ave the s ai d her l a d ys h ip

’

s h all no t s pe ak .

Here is th e kni fe s ai d Fel t on t ak in g fro m h is

, ,

1
pocket the w e apon w h ich he h ad accordin g 115 1115 , ,

p ro m i s e b rough
,
t al t hou g h he he s it at ed to ent ru s t i t
,

to his p 1 is o ner .

Let me look at it s ai d th e l ad y ,
.

For w h at p u rpo s e s ai d Fel t on

I will ret u rn i t imm edi at el y u pon m y h ono ur Y ou ’

,
.
f
266 T H E T H R E E M U S K ET EE RS
'
'
.
.

to a ea ch the Windo w to c all fo r hel p ; but my limb s , .

,
1

re fu s ed to s upport m e ; it s ee med to m e as if th e ceiling

lo wered its el f o n my he ad and cru s hed m e with : it s
'

I s tretche d forth my arm s and ende avou red to

,

weight .
'

1 ,

s pe ak but could onl y utter in articul ate s ou n

,
d s an irre
s is t ible nu mb ne ss s tole trp o n m e and I c1ung to m y
1 ' 1
1
,

,
.

ch air fee ling th at I was about to fa11 ; bu t ; even thi s

,

'
-
, . . ,

s upport was s oon in s u fficient fo r my feeble ar ms I 1 fe ll 1

firs t on one knee then on both ; I s ought to p ray bu t

,

, , ,

my tongue was frozen God n e ither s aw nor heard me;

‘

and I s ank upon the floor s ubj ug ated by a s le e p r re

,

'

s e m bling de ath .

O f all the ti m e wh ich el ap s ed during thi s s leep I h ad .

no recollection wh atever T h e onl y th ing I c an ; re .

1 1 1

me mber is th at I a woke an d found m y s elf tran s ported

.
,

, , ,

into a circul ar ch amber m o s t s u m ptuo us ly furni s hed , ,

into which no light penetrated but through an o p e nmg in

the ceiling T here s ee m . ed to be no door to en ter by : it
looked like a magnificent pri s on .

“
It was a long ti m e b e fore I could ob s erve the pl ace
in which I was or rec all the circu ms tances which I no w
,

rel ate M y m ind a ppe ared to s truggle i n v ai n ag ain s t

.

the oppres s ive darkne s s o f tha t s leep f ro m wh ich I was

, .

'

un able to es c ape I h ad s o me v ague p e rce p tio ns o f a

. . .

s p ace p as s ed go v er and o f the rolling -o f a carriag e g

, ; but ,

a ll t h is was s o m is ty :and s o ind is tinc t t h at the s e e ve nt s

.
, ,
1

a ppe ared r ather to belong to th e life 0fg s o me other . . 1

,
f

per s on th an to m y o wn and y e t to be incorp o ra te d with ,

1

m ine b y s o m e fant as tic a l du a lit

y .

“
F o r s o m e ti m e the s t ate in wh ich I found mys el f
‘

1
.
,

a ppe ared s o s tr a nge th at I s uppo s ed it was a dre am,

By d e g re es 1 h owe v e n the fe ar ful reality forced itse lff u p o n

‘

, ,

me : I was no longer in the hou s e which I h ad inh abited .

A s we ll as I could j u dg e b y the lig h t o f the s u n t wo

' ‘ ‘

r~
, . ,

third s of the d ay were alre ady s pent I t was on the

1

eve ning o f the pr eviou s d ay th at I h ad fallen as leep : m y

s lu m ber h ad there fore ilas te d ne a rl y four and t wenty hour s
- -
.
, ,

What h ad h appened dur ing thi s protracted s leep ? .

 THE F F TH I D A Y OF I M PR I S ON M E N T . 2 67

I ro s e s t aggering All m y s lo w and t rp id rmo v e

a ,
.
1
r

m ent s s ho wed th at the influence of th e na rcotic h ad n o t

y e t ce a s ed I found
. th at m
y ch a m ber ha d b e en furnis hed
fo r th e rec e
. ptio n of a wo m an ; and the m o s t co m pl ete
co q u ette could not h ave f01 m e d a wis h that in look '

ing aro und th e ap art m ent s h e would not ha ve found ,

s ati s fi ed

A s s u re d
.

“
lyI wa s n o t th e fir s t ca p ti v e wh o had bee n ,

C onfined w ithin th at s plendid pri s on I3 u t y o u under . . 1

s t and ,Felto n
, th e m ore be a u ti fu l the pri s on the m ore
, ,
'

was I al ar m ed Y es it was a p ri s on ; fo r in [ v a i n I
'
'

ende avoured t o e s c ap ei I tried all the walls to find a

.
, ‘

'

1
.

door ; b u t e v e ny wh ere the wall s g ave b ack a d u ll a nd

1 1
-
1

he av y s o und I we nt ro u nd thi s roo m ;perh a p s twenty

, ,

. .
,

ti m e s s e eking s ome kind of out let and

I s ank upo n a c ha ir wo rn o ut fwith terror and fatigue
,
’

' 1
1

, .

In t he me an tim e, 1t he night a ppro ached r apidl y and ,,

w ith the night m y fe ar s incre a s ed I kn e w no t wh at to

do : it se e m ed a s if I w er e en co m p a ss e d by un k no wn
.
,

d angers am id s t which I m u s t plunge a t every s tep

,
-
. .

Although I h ad e aten nothing s ince th e evening before ,

1

m y fe a r s preve nted m e fro m feeling h u nger

m
1
. . 1

1 5 N o ex t ern a l noi s e b y w hich I co uld co pute the

‘
,

l a p s e o f ti m e h ad re a ched me b u t I pres u m ed th at; it

, ,

m u s t be about s even o r eight in the evening ; fo r we ,

_

w ere 1 n the m onth o f O ctober a nd it was q uite d ark ,

“
Su ddenl y the noi s e o f a door turning on its hinges
s tartled m e : a b all o f fire a ppe are d a b ove the w indo w ln
'

the ce iling ca s ting a brill ian t l ight into the roo m ; and
,

I perceived w ith horror t h at a m an wa s s t anding at a

, ,
.
‘

fe w p ace s fro m m e .

“
A tab le with two cover s w ith a s upper all p re p area
‘

, ,

was arrang e d ; as if b y m ag ic in the m iddle o f th e r o o m

.
r 1
, , .

And th isam an w as he wh o h ad p u rs ued m e fo r a y e ar -

,
,

w h o h a d s worn m y dis h o no u r, and wh o fro m th e fi rs t

c ,
,
-

words wh ic h fe ll fro m h is lip s le ft m e no ho p e of being

' '

,
”
at any future ti m e re s tored t o liberty .

”
In fam ou s 1 m u rm ured F elton .
 268 T H E T H REE M U S K ET EERS
‘

1
“
Oh, y e s !
“
the wretch excl a i med her l ad ys hip
'
,

s eeing the intere s t Which the y oung o fficer who s e s o n] ,

s ee m ed h anging o n her lip s took in thi s s tr ange tale , .

“
Oh y e s ! : the wretch ! H e thought th at it wa s quite
,

enough to h ave abducted m e in m y s leep he no w c am e ,

1

h O p ing th at I s ho uld y ield t o m y s h am e s ince th at s h am e ,

was con s u m m ated— h e c am e to o ffer m e h is fortu ne in

exch ang e fo r my love .

Every thing th at a wo m an s he art c an conceive o f

“ ’

h aughty s co rn and o f conte m ptuou s s peech I p o u re d

,
’

,
1

out upon th at m an Undoubtedl y he was h ab itu ated to.

s uch repro a che s fo r he li s tened t o sm e with a c a l m a nd

,
'

s m iling look and w ith h is ar ms folded on h i

,
s bre as t ; a nd

then when he though t th at I h ad nothing m ore to s ay

, ,

he a ppro ached to t ake m y h and — I ru s hed to wa rd s the '

t able s eized a kni fe and pl aced it to m y bo s o m

,
‘
, T ake 1 .

o ne s tep m ore I cried and be s ide s m y di s honour y o u

,
’
,
‘
, ,

s h all h ave to an s wer fo r m y de a th !

1
Doubtle ss there was in m y look m y voice m y whole , , ,

appe ar ance ; th a t ch a r a cter o f truth which c a rrie s convi o

tion into the m o s t wicked m ind s ; fo r h e p au s ed
“
Your de ath
‘
cried b e Oh no ! y o u are m uc h .
‘
,

too ch ar m ing a pri s oner fo r m e to con s ent to lo s e y o u s o .

Adieu be auti ful cre ature ! I will wa it until y o u are in a

,
’
better te m per be fore I p a y y o u anoth er vi s it
,
.

At the s e word s he whi s tled ; a nd the fl am ing globe

‘

which illu m in ated m y roo m as ce nd e d and di s appe ared

~

, .

I found m y s el f o nc é m o re in tot al d arknes s T h e s am e

1 1
.

noi s e o f a door Opening and s h u tting was an in s tant '

1
,

after ward s ag a in a udible,

th e g lo b e o f light de s cended
-
-

ane w and I was once m ore alone

T hi s m
.
,
“
o m ent was frightful H ad I been at all
'
.

uncert ain about m y m i s ery every doubt was no w dis ,

p e lle d b efore thi s fe ar ful re ality I wa s in the po wer o f

a m an who m I not onl y dete s ted b

.

u t de pi s ed
s — o f a m an ,
.

wh o h ad alre ad y given m e a fat al proo f o f wh at he d ared

”
to do .

”
“
B u t wh o was th at m an ? dem anded Felton 1 .
 «
TT H E TH REE M U S K ET EE R S !
' ‘

270 a?
1
"
.

it . At the fir s t m outh ful it a pp e a r ed to m e no long er

1

to h ave the s am e t as te as in the morning 1 ! A s udde n

,

s u s picion s eized me 1 s te p p ed but I i b a d a lre ad y '

.
1 1
,

s wallo wed h al f a gl ass ! I thre w the re m ain der ; away 1

with horror and waited with the my d ew o f te rrOr o n m y

, , z

brow So me inv i s ible witn es s h ad unque s tion abl y seen

me ta k e the water fro m: the fountain and h ad : ta ken
‘

the more ic e rtain ly to

,

adv ant age of my c onfi d e nc e

'
,

acco m pli s h my ruin ; s o coldl y : pl anned so crue ll y ,

‘

pur s ued !
H alf an h our h ad not p as sed O ver be fore the s am e
’

sy mpto ms beg an to re appear O nly as I t h ad n ow t aken .

,

no more th an h al f a glas s OfI waterp L s tru g g led longer

ag ain s t th e m and , in s te ad Of s leeping sound l I fell into
’

,
y ,

th at kind o f s lu mber which le ftr m e t h e p erception Of all .

1 rr

th at p assed arou nd me, whils t it q u ite d ep n v ed m a d '1

the po wer of re s i s tance Or de fence l I dragrg e d lmy se lf

‘ ’

.
1

to ward s my bed t o s eek the s ole bul wark wh ic h rem a ine d

,
‘

my gu ardi an k ni fe
- But I could no t re ach the pillo w . .

I fell upon my knee s gr as pi ng with my h and s one o f the ,

.

”
p os t s at th e foot o f the bed .

F elton bec am e fe arfull y p ale and a convuls iv es hudder ,

pe rvaded all his fr ame 1 .

1 1 1

”
“
A nd wh at was m ore horrible continued th e lad y ,
1
,

h e r v o ic e t remb ling as if s h e ye t felt the ang u is h £ of

'

1
1

th at terrible moment was th at on thi s occ as ion I was

’

1
, , , ,

con s ciou s of th e d anger which hung over me 4 M y s oul , .

if I m ay s o expre s s m y s el f was watchin g over m y s le eping ,

bod y I s aw— I he ard as in a dre am 1t '1s true ; but

1
,
-
,

my perception s were 011 th at account onl y th e m ore ,

1
,

terrific I s aw the l am p again as cen ding and was

.
‘ 1
,

gradu all y le ft 1n utter d arkne s s I then he ard t h e s ound .

o f th a t door s o well recognized ,

although it h ad been ,

Opened but t wice I felt in s tinctivel y th at s o m e o ne was

ap pr oac hing m e It is s aid th at the wretch ed b eing s
' 1
.

wh o are lo s t in the d e s ert s t o f 1A me rica th u s feel t h e

'
.

I wi s hed to m ake an e ffort :

'

ap pro a ch of the s erpent :

'

I ende avour ed to c ry o u t» By an incredible exertio n o f ' 1

 T HE F FTH I D AY OF I M PR IS O N M EN T . 271

m y w ill ,
even r a iIs ed m
”
y s el f up ,
b ut it was on ly to fall

d own a g ain i mmedi atel y .

B u t tell me , then , wh o was y our per s ecutor ?

‘

ex
cl me d the y oung o fficer .

er l ady ship s aw at a gl ance h ow deepl y s h e affected

e
F lto n, b y d welling on e ach det ail o f her n arr ative , b u t
she \ d 1 d not wi s h to s p are h im any torture T h e more .

dee pl y s h e wounded h is heart , the more s urel y would he

ave nge her So sh e once more proceeded , as if sh e h ad
.

no t he ar d h is ue s tion , or as if s h e thought th at the ti me

q
fo r ans wering it h ad not y et co m e 1 1 1

v
.

I he ard h im excl a i m, when he percei e d me, Oh,

1 “ ‘

the s e m i s erable purit an wo m en ! kne w th at they I

h ar as s ed their e x ecu tione rs , 1b u t believed the m to be
”
I
le s s e arne s t in re s i s ting their s educers .

F e lton li s tened without uttering aught but a s ort of

ro ar . T h e per s piration trickled do wn h is bro w ; and .
,

with a h an d hidd e n be ne ath h is dre ss he tore h is

’

-
,

fl es h
M y fir s t i mpul s e on return ing to my s el f continued
“ ”
, ,

her l ad y s hip was to look under m y pillo w for the kni fe

‘f
,

which I h ad been un able to re ach : if it h ad not serv ed

, ,

as a de fence it m i h t a t le as t b e u s e ful for an expi ation

1

g .

B u t on t ak ing th is kni fe F elton a terrible ide a s ugge s te d

, ,

, , ,

it s el f to me I h ave s worn to tell y o u every thing and

.
'
4 .
-

I wil ld o s o : I h ave pro m i s ed y ou the truth , and I will

,
. .

tell it though it s hould ruin m e

, .

T h e ide a s ug e sted it s el f to y o u to revenge y our se lf

g
o n th i s man did it no t ?
”
exc lai med Felton
, .

Well! y e s s aid her l ad y s hip it was as y o u h av e

”
,
“

gue s s ed T h at idea was not beco ming in a Chri s ti an I

,

.
,

kno w ( rUnd o u b te d ly the etern al ene my of our s oul s

.

hi m s elf b re athed it into m y mind In faot h ow s h all .

-

I con fes s it Felton ? continued her l ad y s hip in th e tone

”
, ,

o f a wo man accu s ing her s el f of a cri m e t h at ide a not

{
on ly c ame into my m ind but h as never le ft it s ince
, , .

And pe rhap s my pre s ent s u ffering s are but th e pu ni s hment

, ,
”
o f thi s ho micid al thought
. .
272
-
.
TH E T H R E E M U SK E T E E R S .

Go on — g o on s a o, ar o f t he
i d Fel ton I l n g to he
acco m pli s h m en t o f y ou r reven g e
Oh ! I deter mined th at i t s hould be as s hor t a t i me
.

I doubted no t t h at he woul d
.

as po s s ible del ay ed .

retu rn on t he follo w ing ni g h t D urin g the d ay I had .

noth in g to fe ar On t h i s acco u n t at bre ak fas t ti me I

.

I was res olv ed t o

, ,

did not he s i t ate to e at and d rink .

p retend t o s u p b u t to t a s te no th
,
ing I m u s t t here f ore .
, ,

by th e m orn in s nouris h m ent ar e m y s elf to

’

g p rep ,

s u s t ain th e ev en ing fas t I conce aled a g l ass of water .

fro m m y bre ak fas t as th ir s t h ad be en my s evere s t

"

s ufferin g w hen I re m ained fort y e ig h t hou r s w ithou t

,

e at ing or d rink in g .

Th e d ay p as s ed w i thou t p roducin g any other effec t

upon m e th ant o s tren g t hen t he re solu tion I h ad t aken
B u t I took c ar e th at m y face s hould not bet r ay the
.

t ho u g h t s o f m y he ar t ; for I doubted not th at I was

w atched Man y t i m e s i ndeed I even felt a sm ile up on
.

Fel ton I d are not t ell y ou the ide a at wh ich

, ,

m y lip s
I s m iled —y ou wo uld abo m in ate m e for i t !
.
,

Go o u — g o on s ai d F elt On ; y ou, s e e th a t I li s t en ‘

t o y o u an d I w an t to know the end

,
.

T h e e v enin g c am e con t inu e d h er l ady s h ip

’ "
an d '

t he u s u al c ircu m s t ance s took pl ace D u rin g the d ark

, ,

ne s s m y s up per was s er v ed as u s u al ; and then the lam p

,
'
was l i g h ted an d I pl ace d my s el f at t able
,
I ate o nl y .
'

s o m e fru i t an d p reten ded to pou r s o m e w ater fro m the

dec an ter b u t dr an k th at wh ich I h ad kep t in m y o vvn
,
'

w
,

g l as s : t h e s ub s t i t u t ion w a s ho ever s o a d 1 0 1 tly m a de

th at m y s p ie s if I h ad any could h av e no s u s picion o f
, , ,
'

, ,

th e t ru th A fter s up pe r I ex h ibi t ed all th e ap pe ar ance s

.
,

o f th e d ro ws i n ess t h at I h ad fel t t he evenin g be fore :

‘

bu t th i s t i m e as if over “ h elrn e d w i th fati g ue or as if I

w as famil iari s ed w i th d ang er I p retended to fall as leep
, ,

I h ad now foun d m y kni fe and wh il s t I fei g ned to

,
'

s leep m y h an d conv ul s i v el y g ra
,
s p ed the h an dle .

-
T w o ho ur s g lided aw ay w i thout an y t h ing ne w ,

c
o c u rrin g O n t h
. i s occ a s ion — o h m y G o d W h o w ou l d ,
'
'
 -
I REE M US K ET EE RS . .
1

Wh at m e an y ou , my be autifu l s i byl
1

'
.
’

'
Y e s , fo r a s s o o n as I am free , I w ill tell ever y th ing
I w ill u
p ro c la im '
; y our violence t o virard s e — I will ‘

m ‘ “

procl ai m m y c ap tiv ity — I will d e rio u 11 c e t h is p al ace o f

'

. . .

in famy You are gre atl y ex alted ; m y lord ; 1b u t tre m ble !

.
'
.

—
Above y o u is th e ki ng an d ab o v e the ki ng , is Go d
‘ ’ '

'

M as ter as h e appe ared to r be o f hi m s el f, m y per s e

'
“
. .

c u t o r allo wed a s ign o f a nger to e s c a pe h i n i 1 could not 1 1

.

s e e the expre s s ion o f h is counten ance , but I h ad fe lt t h e

'
'
‘

tre m bling of h is arm , on which my h and re s ted .

T h en y o u s h all neve r leav e t h is pl a ce ; s aid 'h e «f

.
'
.
, 1

Right I e k c la im e d :
1
‘
then th e s ite of my
puni s h m e n t s h all be al s o the s it e o f m y to m b i R ig h t ! .

I will die here , and y o u s h all s e e whether an a ccu s ing .

ph anto m z b e no t even m ore terrible th a n 1 th e living

ene m y wh o m en a ce s ’
.

B u t y o u s h all h ave n o we ap o n
'
"
“ ‘ 1 "
, u 1

T here is o ne ; wh ic h d e s p air h a s pl aced w ithin the

'

“ '
'
a .

re ach o f ever y cre ature wh o h as c our age to m ake u s e o f

it— I will d ie o f hunger L
’
'

'
.

f
Co m e , s aid t h e wre tc h , is no t pea ce o fi m o re value
’
w ‘ '

th an s uch a war ? I give y ou y o ur lib ert y t h is ins tant

‘
. .

I will procl a i m y our w ill c all y o u t h e Lu creti a

'

'

o f Engl a nd “ 3 .
‘

And I will procl aim y o u the S extu s : I will denounce

y o u be fore m e n, as I h a ve a lre ad y denounced y o u be fore

Go d ; and if it s h o u ld ib e nece s s a r y , th at , like Lucreti a , .

I s hould atte s t the accu s ation with my blood , I will .

atte s t it
’
.

Ah , ah fl s aid m y ene m y , in a tone o f m ockery , t h en “

'

it is quite a nother thing F a ith ; after

. . are ver y .

Well o ff her e You s h all wan t fo r nothing ; and, if y o u

‘

: r '
. .

allo w y our s el f to die o f hu n ger , it will be y our own fau lt n

’
. .

At the s e words ih e le ft the roo m I h ea rd the door

'

“
.

Open and s hut ; and re mained over wh el m ed

‘
no t s o -

m uch , I con fe s s , with grie f, as with the s h a m e o f h av g m

fa iled m my r evenge .

“
H e kept h is word T h e nex t d ay and night p as s ed .
 THE F I FT H . D A Y OF I M PRI S O N M EN T . 2 75

wi thout my eeing h im ; b ut I kept m ine al s o and

s
neither ate nor drank an y
, ,

thing I was re s olved as I .

1 1
,

h ad told h im to let m y s el f die o f hunger ,

I s pent the .

d ay and nigh t in pr ay er fo r I ho ed th a t God wou ld

p ,

forgiv e my s el f murder O n the s ec ond ni g ht the door

-
.
,

was o pe n ed I was ly ing on the fi be r fo r m y s trengt h

.
,

beg an to fail m e At the noi s e I ra i s e d mys elf upon .

,
‘

my h and .

Well s a id a voice which vibrated o n my e ar to o

’

terribl y to be m
,

i s taken Well h ave y o u beco m e a little ,

m ore co m pli ant and will y o u purch as e liberty b y a mere

'
1 .

promi s e of s ilence ? Co m e I am a good noble added ’

he and although I d o no t love the purit an s I do th em

, ,
‘
, ,

j u stice as well as to their wo men— u m

,
en the y are prett y ; L

Co m e give m e a little o ath upon the cro s s : I ask fo r

no t h i1i
,

m
’
g ore .

'

On the cro s s ! I e x c laimed rais ing m y s el f up fo r

“ ‘ ’
r
, , ,

a t th at dete s te d word I h a d recovered all m s trength

y .

Upon the cro s s I s we ar th at no pro m i s e no thre at no , , ,

torture s h all clo s e m y lip s ! Upon the cro s s I s we ar t o

,

de nou nce y ou e v er y wh ere as a murderer as a viol ator o f , ,

honour as a c oward ! O n the cro ss I s we ar if ever

,
'
‘ '

I acco m pli s h m y e s c ape to de m and ven g e ance ag a in s t ,

o u fro m the whole hu m an r a ce !

’ “
1
y ’
T a ke c are ! s aid th e voice in a t o ne o f m en ace th at ' r

I h ad no t y e t h e ard ;
a I h ave o ne e xpedient which I will ‘
,

onl y e mplo y at the l as t extre m ity to s top f y our mouth ; .

o r at le ast to prevent any o n e fro m believin a s ll able

g y
h at y oi
, ,

of w
’
1 ay
s .

I rall1e d a ll my s tre ngth to an s we rb y a laiig h o f s c b rn .

H e s aw th a t fro m thi s ti m e it was war to the de ath

‘

bet ween u s
’

s aid h e : I y et g 1v e y o u the re m ainder o f ‘ '

‘

thi s night an d to m orro w , Reflect ! Pro m i s e to h é .

‘

s il en t ; a nd we alth c on s ider ation h ono ur s e V e n s h all ‘

ind y o u T hre aten to s pe ak and I conde mn y o u ’

, ,

s u rro r ,

to in famy .

Y o u ? I excl ai med
’ ‘ ’
y o u I ,
2 76 THE
. T H RE E M U SK E T EERS .

To etern al ine fface able in famy

.
,

You ! I re p e at e d u O h ! I a s s ure y o u F e lto n I

’
, .
, .

believed th a t he was m ad .

’
Y es I l he replied
, .

Ah le ave me I cried ; le ave m e if y o u do not wi s h

, ,
’ ‘
,

m e to d as h out my br ain s ag ain s t the wall be fore y our ,

’
very e y e s .

Well ! s aid h e y o u de m a nd it ? I there fore leave

’
,
‘

y ou till to m orro w evening .

’
1

T ill to m orro w evening I replied s inking on the

“ ‘ ’
-
, ,

floor and biting th e c arpet in m y r age ’

F elton s upported hi ms elf with a c h air ; and h er l ady

,
.

s hip s aw w ith a de m oni ac al J o y th at the fortitude o f the

, ,

y oung o fficer w ould prob abl

y g ive wa
y be fore the end o f
her recital .

C H AP T ER LV I I .

AN E V ENT .
I N CL ASS A IC L TR AG Y ED .

A F T E R a m o m ent s s ilence which h er l ad y s h ip e m plo y ed

’
,

in ob s erving the y oung o fficer wh o was li s tening to her ,

s h e continued her recita l .

For ne arl y three d ay s I h ad neither e aten nor drunk , ,

s aid s h e and I was s u ffering dre a d ful torture s Som e

“
, ,
. .

ti m e s a feeling as o f p as s ing cloud s wh ich pre s s ed upon

, ,

m y bro w and di m m ed my s ight c am e over m e it , .

was deliriu m T h e evening arrived . I was s o we ak t hat ,

.

I fainted con s t antl y ; and e ach ti m e th at I fainted I ,

th anked Go d fo r I believed th a t I was d y ing Du ri ng

, .

o ne o f the s e fa inting fi ts I h e ard z th e door Open and ,

, ,

terror rec alled m e to m y s el f M y per s ecutor entered .

,

follo wed b y a m an in a m as k He was h i m s el f al s o

,
. .

m as ked ; but I recogni s ed h is s tep h is voice and th at , ,

co mm anding air w hich hell h as given to h is per s on fo r

‘ ,

the m i s fortune o f m ankind .

s aid he h ave y o u d e te rm m e d to ta ke the,

‘

’
o ath which I require o f y o u ?
2 78 I1l T IIE T H REE M U S K E T EERS
‘ ' -
1

, . 1 .

exp os ed to th e y oung m an th e ine ffa ceable mark which 1

di s honoured t h a t be a uti ful s houlder v .

1 1 1

excl ai med Felton it is a fle u r d e li s th a t I ,

“
.
-

Se e
A ri
“

“
d m th at con s i s t s the gre ater m fa m y replied : h e r ,

l ad y s hip T h e br and o f Engl an d woul d h a ve m ade

.
“

it nece ss ar y fo r h im t o p ro v e from wh at court the

.
.
1
, ,

s entence h ad been i s s ued ; an d I s h ould h a ve m a de a . 1

i

p u blic a ppe al to all the tribun al s o f the re alm : but the 1 '

bran d O f Fr a nce — Oh b y th at I was inde ed bra nded ! ” 1

—
It wa s mo re th at Felto n could endure
, .

le s s p etrified b y th i s fright ful revel a tion d a zzle d b y

,
.

the s uperhu m an loveline s s o f th at worr1 an wh o u nv e iled

'
1 1
, ,

her s el f be fore h im with an im mod es t y 1 wh ic h a ppe ared

'
~

to h im s u b lim e be fell up o n h is
,
as -
1 1

did the fir s t Chri s ti an s be fore th o se p 11re and h ol y , .

mart y r s wh o m the p er s ecution o f th e e m peror s delive red ,

in the Circ u s t o the sanguin ary viol ator s of th e m o b

, , . .

T h e m ark o f in fa m y di s a ppe ared — th e be a u t y alone

'

.
,

re m ained .

Forg ive m e fo rg iv e m e ! excl ai med F elton ; f o h

“
1
,
1
,
1
.
f
,

fo rg rv e me 1 1 1

1 H er l ad y s hip re ad in h is e y es — f Love ‘
lo ve '
1 1

Forgiv e y o u — fo r wh a t ? s h e inquired
“

Forgive me fo r uni ting m y s el f with y o u r oppres s ors 1

.

H er l ad ys hip hel d o u t her h and . .

”
So be auti ful s o y oung ! excl a i m ed Fel ton cove ring 1
,

th a t
H er l ad y s hip c as t u pon h im o ne o f t h o s e z g lanc es which
convert the s l ave into a m on arch
' '
1 1
1 1
.

-
Felton purit an as he was r e linq u i s hed her h and to
1
, ,

ki s s her feet H e h d b efore v io le nt ly slo v e d h e no w

a
m
.

ado red h er !
1

1
o 1

p
.

W he n thi s cri s i s h a d a s s ed Ov er s —when her l d

a h
ys pi
appe ared t o h ave re s u m ed th e cal m ne s s s h e h ad never 1 .

r eall y lo st ,
f 1 11 .
‘

sa id hé I h a v e now Only o ne thing m ore

.
,
. 1

t o as k o f y o u : it is the n am e O f y o u r true exe cut ione r é

‘
1 -
.
 AN EVEN T I N CLAS S I C A L '

T RA GEDY . 2 79

fo r, in my Opinion there was o nly one the other was

, .

an i n s tru m ent — nothing m ore .

’

B rother !
“
excl ai m ed her l ad y s h ip , c an it be “

nece s s ary fo r m e no w to tell h is n am e ? H av e y o u

no t a lrea d y gue s s ed it ?
Wh at ! res u m ed Felton
“
h im ; ag a in h im ! ,
“ -

Wh at the true cri minal ? ”

1 T h e true cri m in al s a id her lady s h 1p

, is the ,
“

plu nderer o f Engl and the per s ecutor o f all true believer s,
,

the co wa rdl y de s troy er o f w o m an s honour— he wh o ’

,

fo r a c aprice o f h is pollu ted he art , is about to s hed

m uch o f Engl and s blood — wh o protects the
’
so

Protes ta nt s to day and to m orro w will betr ay the m

-
,
-

B uckingh am !
“
It is indeed B uckingh am then ! ,

e x cl a im ed the ex as perated F elton

Her l ad y s hip hid her face in her h and s as if s h e was ,

un able to endure the s h am e which tha t n am e recalled .

B uckin gh am ! the vio lator o f thi s angelic crea ture !

e xcl ai m ed Fel ton And thou O Go d h as t not s m itten ,

h im ! T hou h as t left h im noble honoured po wer ful, , , ,

fo r the des truction o f u s all I

God ab andon s h im wh o ceas e s to be con s t ant to
“

hi ms el f, s a id her lad ys hip .

Bu t, s urely he m u s t wi s h to dr aw do wn upon h i ms e lf
”
the ch as t is e m ent re s erved fo r the a ccur s ed ! continued
Felton with increa s ing excite ment
,
Surely he m u s t .
“

wi sh th at hu man vengeance s hould anticip ate the

c h as t is e m e r t o f h eaven
i
Yet m e n fe ar and s p are h im
.

“
,
”
O h l excl a i m ed Felton
,
“
I fea r h im not neither, ,
”
w ill I s p are h im !
Her lady s hip felt her h eart b athed in a flood o f
:

in fern a l o
J y .

B u t ho w
“
continued Felton do e
,
s Lord de Wi n ter ,
“

my p
-
rotecto r m y fat h
,
er — co m e to be concerned in 1

”
thi s ?
Li s ten Felton re plied her l ady s hip
“
, , B y th eS lde .
“

o f t he co wa dl y a n d co nte m ptible the re a re al wa y s m e n

r ,
2 80 T H E T H REE '
M U S K E T EE RS .

of noble g e ne 1 o u s n ature s I wa s betrothed to a man

,
.

who m I loved and wh o loved m e ; a he art like y our s

, ,

Felton — a m an like y o u I we n t to h im and told h im .

,

wh a t h ad t aken pl ace H e kne w the duke well a nd

'

.
,

did not entert ain a m o m ent s doubt He was a noble ’

.

m an— a m an equ al in ever y re s pect to B uckingh am .

He s poke no t but he girded o n h is s word wrapped , ,

h is clo ak a round h im and proceeded to the p al ace o f

'

the duke .

' '

s a id Felton I under s t a nd : y et with “ ‘

, ,

s uch m e n it is n o t the s w ord t h at s h ould be u s ed but

, ,

the
B ucking ham h ad dep arted o n the previou s evening
’
“
,

o n an e m b as s y t o the court o f Sp a i n w here he W ent t o ,

d e m and the h and o f the In fan t a fo r K ing Ch arle s I .

,

then Prince o f Wale s M y lover returned . .

s a id he thi s m an is gone and con ‘

fo r the pre s ent he e s c ape s m y venge ance

, ,

s equentl y ,

B u t in the me a nti me let u s be united as we ought t o

.

'

, , ,

be ; and then depend 011 Lord de Winter to s upport h is

, ,

o wn honour and the honour o f h is

Lord de Winter ”
excl ai m ed Felton
'
“

Lor d de Winter ; And

.

Y es s aid her l ad y s h ip
“
, ,
‘
no w y o u under s t an d i t a ll do y o u not ? B ucking ,

h am re m ained absent ne arl y a y e ar : e ight d ay s be fore

h is retu rn Lord de Winter died s uddenl y le av ing m e hi s
'

Wh ence c ame thi s blo w ? Go d w h o s ee s

, ,
' '

s ole heire s s
‘
.
,

ever y thing doubtle s s kno ws : as fo r m e I ac cu s e

, ,
’
nob o dy f
”
O h , wh at an a by ss ! wh at an a by ss ! excl ai m ed
Felton .

“
Lord de Winter h ad died w ithout c o n fi ding in his
brother T h e terrible s ecret was to h ave been conce aled
.

fro m ever y o ne ; until it bur s t like thunder on the h ead

o f the guilty duke Your protector h ad s een with p ain .
, ,

thi s m arri age o f h is brother with a y oung an d do werle s s ,

girl ; and I perc eived th at I could expect no as s i s t ance

fro m a m an wh o was di s appointed in h is hope s of an
282 T H E T H RE E M U SK E T E E R S
'

S ev er al kn ock s s oun ded on th e d ooru .

“
1 1
'
Lis ten s aid : s h e Iw e h av e bee n o v erhe ar d :
“
-

The y co m e and it is all over

, We are un done !
.
1 .

No said Felton
,
it is th e s en tinel ; wh o m e rel y
,

let s m e know th at th e g u ar d IS abou t to b e ch an g ed .

”
H as ten then t o the door and Open i t y ou rs elf
, , , .

Fel ton obey ed her T h i s w o m an alre ad y wholl y .

g ro s se d his thou g h t s— s h e was alre ad y m i s tre s s o f all

his s o ul
On ope nin g the door he fo u d h im s el f co nfron ted b y n
.

a s erge an t wh o co mm an ded a p atro l o f the g u ard

'

Well; wh at : is th e m at t er ? dem an ded t he y ou n

.
,
'

g
Y ou told m e repl ied t he s e nt in el t o open t he “

I
, ,
'
door if he ar d y ou call for help , b u t y ou fo rg o t to le av e
m e th e k e y ' I
h e ar d y ou cry out withou t kn owin g
.

I
,

wh at y ou s ai d tried to open the door b u t it was

.

I
,

f s t ened in s i de ”
an d there fore c alle d t h e serg ean t
aAn d here I
. 1

am , sa i d the s erge an t .

Felton -
wanderin g ,
wild v er g in g u pon m adne s s -
,
1

1!
Her l ad y s h i p s aw at du de th at sh e m us t reliev e h im
fro m t his e m b arr as sm en t Sh e ran to the t ab le a d
n
“
.

z
s ei ed t he knife ; w h ich he h ad p l aced ther e .
1 1

An d by w h at rig h t wo u ld y ou p rev en t my deat h

said s h e
Gre at Go d e x cl aim ed Fel ton as he s aw th kni fe ,
'

e
g lit terin g in her h an d .

A t th is m o m en t a b ur s t o f ironic al lau g h t er re so un d ed
down th e co rridor .
4

T h e b aron at t r acted b y th e noi s e s t oo d in h is

n
, ,

w
,

dre ss in g — o d w ith h i w ord der h i s arm ; u pon

an
n
g s ,
s u
f
the th res ho ld o the door 1 01 5 .
1 1 1 1 1 .

Ah ah ! s ai d he
,
here we are at th e las t act of ,
“

th e t r ag ed y You see Fel ton t he dr am a h as p r es ent ed

.

I
, ,

indic ated B u t do nt concern

’

al l th e p h as e s th at
'

" 1 1
.

our s el f— no blood w ill be s p illed

y
1

Her lady s h i p felt th at sh e was m in e d u nl ess sh e g i

.

'
rv e ,
 E VE NT
'

AN I N C L A S SI C A L T R AGE DY . 2 83

to Felton an i mm edi at e an d terrible proo f o f her

cour ag e .

You decei ve y ou r s el f m y lor d ! B lood w ill be ,

s p i lled ; an d m ay t h at blood r etu rn o n tho s e w h o

c au s e i t t o flow !
Fel ton ut tered a cry and ru s h ed to ward s her ; b u t
‘

he was too l ate sh e h ad de alt th e blo w - 1 1

Th e k ni fe h ad ho w ever fortun at el y — we ou g ht t o s ay
.

, ,

s k il fu ll y — en coun tered the s teel b u s k , b y w h ich as b y ,

a c uir as s the ches t s o f wo m en were at th at period

,

de fende d an d g l ancin g as i de h ad to m the robe an d

penet rate d di ag on all y bet ween the fle s h and the ri b s Th e
, , , ,

l ad y s dre ss was g n ev e rt hele ss in s t an taneou s l y s t aine d

’ ’

wi t h blood an d s h e fell b ack app arentl y in s en s ibl e

, ,
.

Fel ton s n atched aw ay t he kni fe

s ai d he w i th a gl o om y lo ok ;
“
1
S ee m y lord , ,
t h is ,

Wo man wh o w as un der m y gu ar d ; h as s l ain her s elf l

” ‘

M ake y our s el f e as y Felton replied Lor d de Win ter ;

,

1
, ,

s h e 1 5 no t d ea d : de m on s do not die s o s i rnp l M a k e

y .

a
”
y our s e l f e as
y an d g o a n d w it
,
fo r m e in m y a p ar t m en t .

B u t m y lord
Go I co m man d y o u !
,

'
1

T h i s order fro m h is s u p e rio r F e

1

lt o n ob ey e d; b u t
,

, ,

as h e wen t o u t he pl aced th e kni fe ln h is bo s o m .

A s for Lord de Win t er he con ten ted h i m s el f wit h

,

sum moni ng th e wo man wh o wai ted u po n h er l a d ys h ip

an d w hen s h e c ame h av ing reco m m en ded the p ri so ner; ,

wh o was s t ill in s en s ible to her c are ; he 1eft them

"
1 1
,

t oge t her . 1

Never t hele s s as th e w oun d m i ,g h t after all in s p ite , ,

1

'
m
'
o f h is Su s ici on s
p be re all y
5s e r io us h e i
,
m edi at el y
'

,
1

de sp atched a man o n hor s eb ack for a s ur geon 1

.
 2 84 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

CH A RTER LV III .

THE E C SA PE .

As Lord de Wint er h ad s u s pected h er l ad y s h i p was not ,

very d angerou s ly wounded A s s oou there fore a s s h e .

, ,

found her s elf alone w ith the attend ant who m the b aron 1

h ad s u mm oned , and wh o h as tened to undre s s her s h e ,

opened h er ey e s I t was ho wever nece s s ar y to counter

.
, ,

feit w e akne s s and p a in ; and to an a c tre s s like her l ad y ,

s hip thi s was no di fficult m atter

,
S o co m pletel y indeed .
, ,

was th e p o o r wo m an th e dupe o f her pri s oner th at

. .
, ,

ag a i n s t her entre atie s s h e per s i s ted in watching over her

, ,

throughout the night ;

B u t the pre s ence o f thi s wo m an was no im p ed i m ent to
'
’
her l ad y s h ip s th ought s T here could be no longer a ny .

doubt th at F elton was converted — th at F elton was hers ,

and th at ,
h ad an angel a ppe ared t o the y oung m an to
a ccu s e her h e would certa inl y h ave t aken h im in h is
,
'

pre s ent s t ate o f m ind fo r an envo y o f the Evil O ne , .

Her l ad y s h ip s m iled at thi s ide a fo r Felto n was hence ,

forth her onl y h Op e h er s ole m e an s o f s afet y

, .

Yet Lord de Winter m ight h a ve s u s pected h im and

F elton m ight no w perh ap s h i ms el f be watched
,
.

About four o clock in the m orning the s urgeon arrived

’
,

but her l ad y s hip s wound h ad alre ad y clo s ed H e there

’
.

fore c o u ld d e termine neither its direction nor it s depth ;

'

but fro m the pul s e o f h is p atient he concluded th at the

, ,

c as e was not very s eriou s .

In th e m orn ing under the pret ence th at s h e h ad not

,

s lept during the night and h ad need o f repo s e her l ad y

, ,

s hip di s m i s s ed the wo m a n wh o h ad watched be s ide her

bed She entert ained a hope th at Felton would vi s it her

.

a t bre a k fast ti me B u t Felton c am e not

. H a d her s ecret .

fe ar s then been re ali s ed ?

, ,
H ad F elton beco m e s u s
p e c re d b y th e b a ron a nd w ould he f
,
a il her n o w a t th e , ,

deci s ive m o ment ? She h ad onl y o ne d ay re m a in ing .

28 6 T H E T H REE '

M U S K E T EERS .

h ad no w inexor able ; g aole r J H e s e e1n ed to

beco m e an . . ,

e ry th i ng , t o conjecture ever y th ing to a nt i

, c ip ate ,

ever y th ing A s ingle gl ance at her lady s hip told h im w hat

.

was p as s ing in her s oul .

So s aid he y o u will not kil lm e to d ay fo r y o u a re

”
, , ,

without a moreov er 1 am o n m y gu ard ,

1
.

You h ad begun to co rrupt my po or Fe lto n : h e ha s .

alre ad y felt y our i nfern al influ ence : but I wi s h ; to s ave ,

h im , and y o u s h all s e e h im no m ore I t is all ended .

n o w : y o u m ay p a ck y our clothe s
. fo r to m o rro w y o u , ,
-

, ,

w ill s e t ou t I h ad fixed the e m b ark ation fo r th e z 4 th ,

.
1
1

but I h ave reflected th at the s ooner it t ake s pl ace the

s urer it w ill be By t welv e o clock t o m orro w I s h all
.
’
,

receive the order fo r y our b ani s h m ent s igned b y B ucking ,

h am . I f y o u s ay o n e s ingle word to any one wh atever

,
, ,

be fore y o u are o n bo ard th e ve s s el my s erge ant will blo w , .

o u t y our br ain s : he h as received h i s order s to do s o If .

,

when o n bo ard y o u s pe ak to any o ne without t h e , .

ca pt a in s per m i s s ion the c a pt a in will h av e y o u c a s t into

’
,

the s ea T hi s 15 all deter mined on And ne w fa re well

. .
-
,

till o u r n e xt m eeting : I h ave nothing more to s ay to

y o u t o d a
y I s h a ll s e.e y o u a g ai n t o m orro w to t ake ,
”
leave of y ou
At the s e wo r d s , the b aron le ft the roo m
.

1 1 1
.

Her lady s hip h ad lis tened to th is thre atenin g tira, de ,

with a s m ile o f s co rn up on h er lip s bu t with fur y in he r ,

he a rt
Her l ady s hip felt th at
.

. T h e s upper was brought in .

s h e needed s trength for s h e kne w no t wh at m 1g h t be the ,

1

events o f th at night wh ich was no w ap p roa c hing g in ,

g l oo m Huge
. clo u d s w ere a lre a d y c a reering in the s kie s ,

and d i s
_

t ant fl as he s a nnounced a te m pes t About ten .

“"
_

o clock the s torm bur s t forth and h er lad y s hip found

’

n s ol ation in seeing N ature parta

.
, ,

s o me c o ke o f the c o m
.
,

m o t iOn in her o wn bre as t T h e th u nder bello wed in th e .

a ir li k e the a ngr y p a s s ion s in her s oul ; a n d it s ee m ed to

her as if th e pa s s ing gu s t s di s turbed her bro w as the y d id ,

t he tre es o f wh ich the y bent do wn the br anche s a nd

‘

.
,
 "
2 87
‘
1
THE E S CAP E .

sw ept o ff the le av es Sh e howled like the te mpe s t but.

,

her v oice was u nhe ard am id s t the v as t voic e o f N atur e ,

which al s o appe ared to be her s el f gro ani ng in de s p air u .

. .

Fro m ti m e to ti me s h e looked at a r ing wh ich s h e

w ore upon her finger T h e bezel o f thi s ri ng cont ained
.

a s ubtle a nd violent poi s on —thi s was her l as t re s ource

’

S uddenl y s h e he ard s o m eth ing s trike ag ain s t the

windo w ; and b y the light o f the gle am ing fflas l1 s h e s aw
' '

, ,

the counten a nce o f a m an appe ar behind its b ar s Sh e .

ran to the w indo w and Op ened it .

F elton
”
s h e excl a i m ed I am s a ved 1 ”
,
“

Ye s s a id
,
Felton but s ilence ! s ilenc e ! I m u s t
'

,
“ ‘

h ave ti m e to fi le y our b ar s : onl y be c are ful th at we are

.

n o t perceived throug h the wicket .

“
O h ! it is a token th a t the Lord is o n o u r 5 1 de 1

Felton replied her l ad y s hip

,
’’
the y h ave clo se d up the ,
“

wicket with a bo ard

Go od 1 s aid F elton
”
O u r God h as deprived the m ?.
“

o f their s en s e s I
“
B u t wh a t mu s t I do P inqui red her l ad y s hip
‘

N o th ing J —nothing ! onl y s hut y our windo w Go t o

bed 01 a t le as t lie do w
.

'
,
1 n with y our clothe s o n a nd
wh e i
, , , ,

1 I h ave fini s hed I w ill tap upon the gl as s B u t “

.
,
”
will y o u be able to a cco m p an y m e ? 1 1

”
Oh , y es !
B u t y our wound ?
It p a in s m e , but doe s not prevent me walking l’
.

B e re ad y , then at the fir s t ign al S 1

'

Her l ad y s hi p cl os ed the w indo w; put out ? her l am p as

F elton h ad advi s ed , and thre w he rs el f upon the bed ‘
.
.

A m id s t the r agi ng o f the s tor m , s h e he ard the gr ating of

th e file ag ains t th e b ars , and b y the light o f ev er y fl as h
' '

s h e beheld the for m Of elton behind th e g l a ss F .

She p as s ed an hour , in al m o s t bre athl es s s u s pen s e ; icy 1

drop s s tood upon her bro w ; and at ever y s ound th at

i s s ued fro m the corridor , 1 her he art wa s co nvul s ed with
. 1

frightful ag on y T her e are hour s which s ee m p ro lo ng d i

e
1

F
.

into y e a r s At the expir ation o f thi s ti me , elton ag a in

.
28 8 T H E T H RE E M U SK E T EE RS .

tapped Her l ad y s hip bounded fro m her bed and

.
,

opened th e windo w the re m ov al o f two b ar s h ad for med

.

a n openi n g l arge enough to ad m it a m an .

“
Are y o u re ad y ? de m anded Felton
”
.

Y es M u s t I c arr y an y thing away with m e ?

.

M one y— if y o u h av e any ”
.

“
Fortun atel y the y h ave le ft me wh at I h ad
, .

S o m uch the better fo r I h ave u s ed all m ine m,

”
c hartering a ve ss el .

H ere ! s aid her l adys hip pl acing 1 11 F elton 5 h and a

” '

b ag o f gold
’

F elton took the b ag and thre w it to the foot o f the

,

wall .

“
N o w said h e will y o u co m e ?
,
“
,

Here I am .

Her l ad y s hip m ounte d on a c h alr and p as s ed the ,

1

upper p art o f h er bod y through the Windo w She s aw .

th e y oung o fficer s u s pended over the ab y s s b y a l adder

o f rope s F o r the fir s t ti m e a s enti m ent o f fe a r re m inded
.
,

h er th at s h e was a wo m an T h e void t e rrifi e d h e r .

I wa s afr a id y o u would be terrified s aid F elton

. .

“ ”
, .

“
It I S nothing— it I S noth ing excl ai m ed her l ad y s hi p ’ '

,
”
I will de s cend wi th my e y e s s hut .

”
H ave y o u confidence m me ? s aid Felton
N eed y ou as k me
T hen put y our t wo h and s together and cro s s the m , .

’ ”
T h at s righ t .

Felton fas tened th e t wo wri s ts with h is h andkerch ie f ,

and then bound a cord above the h andkerch ie f .

Wh at are y ou doing ? de manded h e r lady s h 1p ln

”
,

s urpri s e .

”
“
Pl ace y our ar m s round my neck and do not be afr aid , .

“
B u t I s h all m ake y o u lo s e y our b al ance a nd we s h all ,
”
both be d as hed to piece s .
1

Do no t al ar m y our s el f ; I am a s ailor .

T here was not a m o m ent to be lo s t H er l ad y s hip .

p a s s ed her ar ms around F elton s neck and allo wed her ’

s el f to g lide through the windo w .

290 TH E T H R E E M 1
U S KE T E E R S .

do wn am i d s t t he rock s an d When he h ad re ached th e

'

s e as hor e he w h i s tl ed H is s ig nal w as rep lie d t o in a

'

.
1
l
,

s i m il ar m anner an d in five m in ute s afte rw ar d s a bo at

, ,
1

ap pe ared m anned b y four m en

, .

'

T h a b o at ap p r oached t he s hore
’ ’

bu t th ere w as t o o
"
1

re t a dept h f w ter f i t to be rou nded Fel ton

'

g a o a or g
'

wad ed into the se a up to h is w ai s t not wis h ing to ent ru s t ,

h is preciou s b urden to any other h an ds F ort un atel y the .

tem pe s t w as b eg inning to ab ate althou g h th e s ea was ,

s till v iolen t Th e l i t tle bo at boun ded on t he w ave s like

.

a nu t s hell .

an d p ull q ui ckl y
”
T o th e s loop s ai d Fe lton , .

Th e four m en ben t the m s elve s to t heir work ; bu t the

se a w as too he av y fo r their ! o a r s to m ake m i lch wa
y .

Neverthele s s the y began to le av e t he c as tle beh in d

,

t hem ; an d th at : w as the p rincipal p o in t Th e ni g h t .

was pro fo undl y d ark an d it w as alre ad y al mo s t

i m po s s ible for them to p ercei ve t he s hore m uch le s s
.
,

'

could any o n e u pon t he s hor e b e able t o percei v e

their bo at A bl ack s peck w as rocking on the s ea I t
Was t he s loop
. .

Wh ils t th e bo at was adv ancin g towar ds it With all the

forc e o f it s four roW e rs Felton u nboun d th e cord an d ,

the ha ndkerch ief wh ich confin e d her l ad y s h ip 5 h a

’
n ds .

T hen w h en t he s e were once m ore at liber ty he too k 1

,
.
,

s o m e s e a wa ter an d s p rin kled it upon her fac

-
e H er .

l ad y s h ip heaved a s i g h an d Op ened h ere yes .

’

Where ”am I
,
”
s ai d s h e 1 .

'

S aved , repl ied t he fyo u ng offi cer 1 1 .

1 1

Oh l } s ave d sa v ed e x cl aim ed s he l Y es I se e .

the h eav en s and th e oce an ! T h i s air Which I bre at he is

,
“ ’
1
1

li
th at of b r t ye ! Ah ! —Th a nk s “Felton th an k s !
A
,

Th e y oung m an p ress ed her t o h is he art .

B u t w h at is the m at ter Wit h m y h an d s ? as k ed

her l ad yship m wr is t s feel as t hou g h they h ad
‘

y
1

been crus hed in a v ice

’
.
'

Sh e li fted u p her arm s : her wri s ts were indee d

'
1

h o rribly lacerat e d .
1 . 1
 T HE ES C A PE . 2 91

Al as ! ,
id Felton looking at thos e bea utiful h and s,
sa ,

with a m e a nchol y s h ake o f the he ad

l .

O h I it is n o thing it is no thing ! -
ex c lai med h er
l ad y s hip . I re m e mber no w .
’

Her lad ys hip loo ked around h er forso m ething .

It is there, s aid F e lton pointing to the bag o f gold

”
,
.

T he y ne ared the s loop T h e s eam en on watch h ailed

.
,

the boa t from which an ans we r was re t u rne d

, .

Wha t v ess el is this ? de manded h er lady sh i p

”
.

T h a t which I h av e cha rtere d for y ou

.

And whither will it take me ?

Wheres oe v er y ou p l eas e, after you hav e la nd ed me
”
at Ports m outh .

“
Wh at h ave you to d o at Ports mou th ? d emanded ”

her l ad y s hip .

T o ex ecu te th e o rders o f Lo rd de Winte r, said F elton , ,

with a gloo my s mile .

“
Wh at orders ? inqu 1red her lady s hip
replied F elton
.

Do y o u not unders tand then , r

N O ; expl ai n y our se lf I beg of on l ,

A s he dis tru st ed me e te rm i
m
he ,
n ed to g u ard
hi s e lf ; d h s s ent m e i h i t d t
'

y o u an a n s s ea o ,p ro ,

cure B uck i ngham s s igna ture to th e order fo r y our

’
.

tran s port at ion

m
.

B u t if b e s u s pected y o u , h o w ca e he t o i ntru s t y ou
,
”
with thi s order ?
“
H e s uppos ed me ignor ant o f its purport as h e h ad ,
,
'

told me nothing res pect ing it I had ho wever, received .

,
”
my inform ation fro m y o u .

T ru e ! And y o u a re going to Ports mouth

I hav e no ti m e to lo se to m orro w is the t we nt y third -
:

and B uckingh am dep a rt s on t ha t d a te with the fleet .

De pa rts to— morro w Where is he

”
T o La Roch elle
He m u s t not go ! ex cl ai med her l ad ys h ip forge t t i
.

ng ,

her h abitu al pres ence o

,

f m ind .

”
“
M ake y ours el f eas y , ans wered Felton he ,will ,

not go i
 T H E T H R EE M U S K E T EE RS
’
292 .

H er l ad y s h iptre mbled with delight " She h ad ju s t .

penetrated th e m o s t Secret depth s o f the o ung m an s ’

he art and h ad there s een the de ath o f B uckingh am

y ’

ine fi ace ab ly regi s tered .

“
Felton wh i s pered s h e y o u are as gre at as Jud as
, ,
“

M acc abeu s Should y o u die I s h all die with y o u I c an

.
,

say n o m ore
'

J“
‘

”
H u s h s aid F elton we h ave re ac hed the ve s s el
, ,
“
.

T he y were in fact be s ide the 5 100p ,

F e 1to n as cended ,
.

th e l adder and g ave h is h and to her l ad y s hip whil s t th e

, ,

s a ilor s s upported her fo r the s ea was st ill agit ated In a ,

.

m o ment after ward s the y were u pon the deck , .

”
“
C apt ain s aid Felton here is the l ad y o f who m I
, ,
“

s poke to y o u Y o u must t ake h er s afe and s ou nd to

.
, ,

Fr ance .

F or a thou s and pi s t o le s replied the capt ain , .

I h ave alre ad y p aid y ou five hundred o f the m .

”
Right s aid the c apt ain
,
.

And h ere are the other five hundred added her

‘

l ady s hip putting her h and to the b ag o f gold

,
.

”
N o s aid the c apt ain
,
I h ave but one word and ,
“
,

th at I g ave to thi s y oung m an T h e ot her five hundred .

pi s tole s are not m y due until we m ake B oulogn e .

And s h all we m ake it ?

”
S afe and s ound replied the c aptain as s ure as m
'
“
, y ,

n am e is J a ck B utler .

“
Well s aid her l ady s h ip if yo u k e ep y our word
.
,
“
,

in s te ad o f five hundred I will g ive y o u a thou s and ,

”
pi s tole s .

“
Hurr ah fo r y o u then my prett y l ady ! ex cl ai med
, , ,

the c apt ain and m ay fortune o ften s end m e Such

“
,

p as s enger s as y our
“
In the m e anti m e s aid Felton run into Chiche s ter , ,
“

B ay j u s t b y Port s m outh
,
You re m e m ber th at it was .

agreed y o u s hould t ake u s th ere fir s t ?

T h e c apt ain replied b y 1 s s u ing order s fo r th e nece s s ar y
evolution s and to ward s s even o clock in the m orning
, ,
' ’
,

the little ve s s el hove to in the a ppointed b ay -

.
 1 TH E T H R EE M U S K E T E E RS
'

2 94
“

f . .
.

purs u ed H er l ad y s hi p s ap art m ent was n ever entered

.
’

b efore nine o clock 1 11 th e m orn in g and it took s o m e hour s

’

to tr avel fro m the c as tle to London

,

Felton S et h is foot o n s h ore cli m bed the ri s ing ground

W
,

hic h le d to the to p of the cli ff, s a luted her l ad y s hip fo r

the l as t ti m e and took h is way to ward s the to wn A fter
, .

a h undr e d s tep s a s the p ath de s cen d ed a

, s it proceeded ,

he could no lo n ger s e e m ore th an the m a s t o f the ve s s el .

He h as tened as fas t as p o ss ihle in the direction o f

P orts mouth which thro ugh the m orning m i s t he cou ld
, , ,

di s cer n in the di s tance B ey on d the to wn the s e a was

.
,

covered w ith innu m erable s hip s who s e m as ts like a fore s t , ,

of popl ar s s tripped o f their le a ve s by w inter were ben ding , ,

be fore the breath o f the wind .

During thi s ra pid walk F elton re s olved 1 n h 1s m ind all ,

the a ccu s a tion s whether true o r fal s e wi th which ten

, ,

ea r s o f a s c etic m edita t io n a nd a lo ng int e rc o u rse w ith

y , c

the purit an s h ad furni shed h im ag ain s t the roy al fa vourite

, .

When h e co m p ared th e public cri m e s o f thi s m ini s ter

cri m e s wh ich were notori ou s and in a m anner Europe a n , , ,
—with tho s e priv ate and unkno wn vice s o f which her
l a dy s hip h ad accu s ed h im Felton found th at the m o s t ,

culp able o f the t wo b ein g s who m B uck ingh am, u n1ted 1n

h i m s el f was the o ne who s e l i fe was hi dden fro m the world
, .

H is o wn love s o s ingul a r and fre s h and a rdent made

, , , ,

h im s ee th e in fam ou s a nd i m a gin ar y a cc us ation s o f h er

l ady s hip as one s ee s thr ough a micros cope th e form o f
, , ,

fr ight ful m on s ter s a t oms o f ins ects, other w is e i m perceptible

, .

T h e ra pidit y o f h is p rogre s s a l s o in flam ed his blood , , .

Th e id ea th at he left b eh i nd h im e x pos ed 10 a dreadful

venge an ce the wo m an wh omhe loved or rat h er adored
,

, , , ,

as a sa int— h i s a s t e m otions a nd h i s p re s ent : fatigue

p ,

all tended to e x c ite and elev a te h i s s oul a bove the eeling s

f
o f h uma nity
e fo und the W
.

Po rts mo dth h hole population

,

u ms were b e ting in th e s treets and m t he

a
m
a
h arbour and th e tr00ps about to be e b ar
, were
de s cending to wards the s ea Felton arr iv
. at the .
 WH A T H AP PE N E D AT P O RT S M O U T H . 2 95

Ad m ir alt y hou s e covered with du s t and We t with

-
, ,
' " -

pers pir ation H is u s u all y p ale fac e was purple with he at

.
-
' '

a nd anger T h e s entinel wi s hed to s top h im ; but Felton

.

c alled fo r th e o fficer on gu ard and dre w fro m h is pocket ,

the letter w hich he c a rried .

An expre s s fro m Lord d e Winter s a id he ,

.

At the n am e o f Lord de Winter wh o was kno wn to be ,

one o f B uckingh am s m o s t inti m ate friend s , the O fficer’

,

gav e an order for the ad m i ss ion o f F elton wh o m ore

, , ,

over wore the uni for m o f a n a v al o ffi cer hi ms el f

,
.

Felton ru s hed into the hou s e but the m o m ent he , ,

re a ched the h all another man al s o entered covered w ith

, ,

du s t and out o f bre ath ; h aving le ft at the doo r a po s t

,
.

hor s e which on 1 re aching it h ad fallen on it s knee s

, ,
‘

, ,
.
.

’
B oth individu al s addre s s ed P a trick the duke s confidenti al ,

v alet at the s am e m o m ent F e lton ma m e d the Baron de

,
.

Winter T h e s tranger re fu s ed to m ention any name and

.
,

decl ared th at he could make hi ms el f kno wn to no one '

but the duke B oth in s i s ted o n being allo wed priority Of

. .

ad m i s s ion P atr ick wh o kne w th at Lord de Winter was

.
,

connected both b y profe s s ion and friend s hip with h is ;

, ,
:

gra ce g ave the preference to h im who c am e in h is n am e

,
.

T h e other was o bliged to wait and it was e as y enough ,

.

to s e e h o w he artil y he cur s ed the delay

m
.

T h e v a let conducted Felton throug h a l ar ge roo in ,

wh ich were waiting the dep u tie s fro m L a Rochelle hea d e d ,

b y the Prince de Soubi s e ; and introd uced him into a

c abin et W here B ucking ham h avi n
,
g j u s t le ft the b ath , , ,

was fini s hing h is toilet to which no w as ever he , , ,

'
, .

a ccorded ex tre m e a tten tion .

Lieuten an t F s a id P atrick fro m Lord de “

Winter
, ,

”
.

Fro m Lord de Wi nter ? repe ated B uckingh am .

Sho w him in .
’

Fel ton entered At thi s m o m ent B ucking ham thre w

.

upon a s o fa a rich dre s s in g go wn broc aded w ith gold , ,

and put on a doublet o f blue velvet entirel

y e m broidere d ,

with pe arl s .
296 T H E T H R E E MU S KE T E E R S .

Wh y di d the b aron no t co m e h i m s el f P de m an ded

B uckin g h am I ex pected h im th i s m
.

”
o rning .

He de s ired m e to in form y ou r g r ace replied Fel ton ,

th at he v ery m uch reg ret ted no t h av ing t h at honour ;

bu t th at h e was p revented b y t he wat ch wh ich h e is
obli g ed to keep at th e c as t le .

Oh y es
, s ai d B uck in h am ;
, g I kno w a bou t t h at -

he h as a l ad y p ri s oner there ’

I t is in fact abou t t h at p ri s oner th at I w i s h to

.

, ,

e
’ ’
s pe ak to ou r r ac repl ied Fel ton
y g
Well p roceed
.
,

Wh at I h ave to s ay to y ou m y lord m u s t be h e ard

.
,

, ,

by y ou r s el f alone .

Le ave u s Patrick s ai d B uck in g h am ;

“
bu t keep
I will c all y ou p res entl y
, ,
”
w i thin e ar s hot .

P at rick le ft t he r oom
We are alone s ir s ai d B uck in g h am
.

S pe ak .

the B aron de Winter

.
, ,

My lord repl ied Fel ton

l atel y wrote to y our g r ace re q ue s t i ng y o u t o s i g n an
, ,

order fo r the t r an s port at ion O f a y oung wo m an n am ed ,

Ch arlot te B ack so n
Y e s s ir ; an d I repl ied th at he s houl d either b rin g
.

o r s end m e t h e order an d I woul d s i g n i t

, ,
”
.
,

Here i t is m y ,

Gi ve i t m e s aid the duke , .

T ak in g th e p aper fro m Felton s h an d s h is gr ace c as t

’ '

a r api d g l ance over its con tent s T h en p ercei v ing i t .

,

w as re all y t h at wh ich h ad been re ferred t o h e l ai d i t ,

o n t h e t able took a p en an d pre ared to s ign i t

, p ,
.

Pardon m e m y lor d s ai d Fel to n inte rr up t ing th e

, , ,

duke ,
b u t is y ou r g r ace aware th at Ch arl ot t e B ack s o n
,

is no t the re al n am e O f t h i s fe m ale ?
Y es s ir I kno w th at
”
, ,
repl ied the duke dipp in g h is , ,

p e n in to t h e in k
T h e n y our g r ace is ac q u ainted w i th her re al n am e
.

de m an ded Fel ton in an abr up t tone

I d o know i t
.
,
”
.

Fel ton b e c am e p ale

‘

Th e duke p u t th e pen t o t h e p ap e r . .
a98 T H E T H RE E M U S K ET E E R S .
v

my s elf Yet my lord think o f wh at y o u are about to do

.
, ,

be ware le s t the cup s hould overflo w

“
Wh a t doe s he m e an P— God forgi ve me, ie x c lai e d
”
. m
B uckingh am “
I veril y believe h e thre aten s m e l l
N o my lord — I im plore yo u s till and I warn y ou
.
'

, ,

one drop o f water is s u fficient to m a ke the fu ll v as e over

flo w—
,

r a s li h t fa u lt is s u fficient to dr a w do wn venge ance

g , , ,

u p o n th e he a d which h as bee n s p a red to thi s d ay , i

_ ,
.
n ;5 p it e
”
o f s o m an y cri m e s .

”
f‘
M r F elton .s aid B uckingh am “
y o u w
,
ill le a ve ,

thi s roo m ; and i mm edi ate l y pl a ce y ou rs elf under

,
”
a rre s t . 1

And y o u my lor d will h ear m e to the end Yo u h ave

, ,
.

s ed u ced thi s y oung girl y o u h ave viol ate d and polluted ,

her —rep a ir y our cri m e s to ward s her, let her depa rt

freel y and I will ex a ct nothing m ore o f y ou
,
.

“
You will ex act noth ing m ore ! cried B uckingha
”
m
lo oking at Felton with as toni s h m ent and d w
,

elling o u ea ch , _

s y ll able o f the word s wh ich he h ad j u s t pronounced .

”
M y lord continued Felton beco m ing m ore e x c ited
, ,
-

as he s poke— my lord be c are ful : the whole o f Engl and

f‘
, '

is we a ried b y y our iniq uitie s 5 m y lord , y o u h ave a bu s ed

the ro y al po wer which y ou h av e al m o s t u s urped ; m y ,

lord y o u are an abo m in a tion to God and m an God .

wi ll puni s h y o u in et ernity and I will puni s h y o u no w

,
”
, .

Ah 1 T hi s is r a ther too m uch 1 excl ai med .

B uckingh am m aking a s t e p to ward s the door , .

Felton oppo s ed h is p rog re : s .

”
I hu m bl y entre at y o u s aid he to s ign an order , ,
“

fo r the liber ation o f L ad y de Winter

.

Reflect th at it is .

”
the wo m an wh o m y o u h ave di s honoured .

Le ave the roo m, s ir ! s aid B ucki ngh am or I will

.

” “
.

c all m y s erv ant s to eject y o u I

Y o u will not c all the m replied F elton thro wing
h im
, ,

s l f bet ween the duke a nd the bell wh ich wa s pl a ced

e

upo n a s t and inl aid with s ilver take c are my lor d fo r “

, ,

u a re n o w in God s hand s
’

y o
“
In t th e d e vil s h and s, y o u m ea n ! p e x claime d ’
 WH A T H APPE N E D AT .
PO RT S M O U T H . 2 99

B uckin gh am , elev ating h is voice s o a s to attr act the

attention o f tho s e w ithout, w ithout ex a ctl y c alling the m .

Sign , m y lord — s ign the liberation of L ad y de

’

“ '

.
.

Wint er s a id Felton pu s hing a p aper to ward s the d uke

‘

, , .

“
Under c o m pul s ion ? Y o u are m aking a fool of , .

”
y our s e lf ! H ollo there
,
! P atrick !
,
“
Sign m y lord
,
”
N ever !
“
N ever ?
.Help cried the duke at the s am e ti m e le ap ing
,
.

t owa rd s h is s word
. .

B u t Felton did n o t giv e h im ti me t o dr a w it : the Open

kni fe w ith which her l ad y s hip h ad w oun d ed her s e l f was
conce aled under h is doublet and in o ne bou nd he was ,

u p on t h e d u ke .

At th at s a m e m o ment P a tri ck en ter e d the r o o m ,

exc la i m ing
M y lord a letter fro m Fr ance
7’
, .

”
“
Fro m Fr a nce ! c rie d z B u c k ing ha m forgetting ev e ry ,

thing as h e i ma gin e d fro m who m th a t letter c a m e

’

Felton took adv ant age o f the m om ent an d bu ried the ,

kni fe up to its h andle i n t h e duk e s s id e ’

.

“
Ah , tr a itor l ” excl ai m ed B u ckingh am
. t hou h as t
“
,
”
s l a in m e 1
”
Murder ! s houted P atrick .

Felton c a s t h is e y es a ro u nd and , s e ein g th e d oor ( fr ee

, ,

he ru s hed into the a dj oining ro o m where as fwe h ave

'

, ,

said the deputie s fro m La R o chelle were wa iting p as s ed

, ,

through it s t i ll running an d h u rried ;to w ,a rd s the s ta ir ‘

B u t upon the fi rs t s t ep h e m e t Lord de Winter

'

ca s e .
,
.
,
"
,

wh o — o u s eeing h im wild lo o k ing and livid ; and w it h

'
. f
,

blood upo n h is h an d s and face — ru s hed upon h im and b

,
.

I it— I fores a w it !
kne w On e : m inute too l at e !
”
Alas , alas ! h ow un fortuna te is m y lot !
Felton did no t atte m pt to res ist , and 1 Lord de Wi nt e r a

h anded h im over to the gu ard s , who , in the m e anti me ,

conducted h im to a little te rrace Ov erlooking th e s ea '

.
 ’

3 00 T H E T H REE -
M U S K E T E E RS .

H is lord s hip h i m s el f h as tened into B ucki ngh am s ’

c abinet .

O n h e a ring the duke s c ry and Patrick s s h o u t the

’ ’ '

, ,

man w ho m Felton h ad m e t in the antech am ber ru s hed

into h is gr a ce s roo m He found the duke reclining 011
’
.

a s o fa pre s s ing the wou nd with h is convul s ed h and

,
.

”
“
L a Porte s a id the duke in a d y ing voice
, La
Porte do y o u co m e fro m her ?
,
”
“
Y e s y our gr ace replied the fa ith ful s erv ant o f Anne ,

i a but I fe ar I co m e t o o l ate
,

”
o f Au s t r
“
, , ,
.

“
H u s h L a Porte — y o u m ight be overhe ard P atrick
Oh I s h all not kno w wh a t s h e s ay s t o
.
,

le t no o n e enter .

M y Go d ! I am d y ing !
,
”
me .

T h e duke fa inted .

N everthele s s Lord de Winter the deputie s the chie fs

, , ,

o f the expedition an d the o fficer s o f B uckingh a m s hou s e

’
,

h old h a d alre ad y forced their way into th e roo m

,
Crie s ,

o f de s p a ir re s ounded o n ever y s ide T h e tiding s whi ch .

h ad filled th e hou s e w ith l am ent a tion a nd gro an s s oon ,

s pre a d a nd bec a m e gener a ll y

,
kno wn throughout the
to wn ; whil s t the report o f a c annon announced th at
s o m ething ne w a nd unexpected h ad occurred .

Lord de Winter tore h is h air O n e m inute t o o l a te .

“

excl a i med he O ne m inute t o o l ate ! O h m y Go d !

.
“
,

m y Go d wh at a m i s fortune
He h ad in fa ct at s even o clock in the m orning
, ,
’
,

received in for mation th at a rope l adder h ad been found -

s u s pended fro m one o f the windo ws o f the c a s tle ; an d

i ns tantl y h as tening to her l ady s hip s ch am ber h e h ad ’

found it e m pt y the w indo w open and the b ar s filed

'

, .
,

through Re m e m bering then the verb al warning wh ich

.
, ,

d A rtag n an h ad s ent to h im b y h is me s s enger he h ad

’

,
.

tre mbled fo r the duke ; and without a m o m ent s del ay ,

’
,

he h ad m ounted the fir s t hor s e a v ail able and g alloped ,

at fu ll s peed to Port s m outh di s m ounted in the court y ard , ,

and h a s til y as cended the s t a irc as e where a s we h ave ,

alre a d y s a id he encou ntered Felton o n the top m o s t s tep

, .

. B ut the D uke was no t y e t de ad H e r e covered h is .

 M U S K ET EE RS
'

3 0g . I T T H E T H REE .
1

y ou are m a ing k a g a ins t F ra nc e , and t o

wa r, o f relinqu is h a
w h ic h , it is o p e n ly s a id , re lig io n is t h e a v o w e d , a n d y o u r lo ve
o f m e t h e s e c re t , c a u s e T h at w a r m a y n o t o nly b rin g g re a t
.

c a la m it ie s o n F ra n c e a nd E ng la n d , b u t e v e n u p o n y o u rs e lf, m y
lo rd —m is fo rt u ne s fo r w h ic h I c Ou ld n e ve r b e co n s o le d Be .

ca re ful o f y o u r o w n life , w h ic h 1 3 t h re a
”
t e n e d , a n d w h ic h w ill b e
'

d e a r t o m e , fro m t h e m o m e nt w h e n I s h a ll no lo ng er b e o blig e d
to c o i e y
n s d r o u a n e n e m y
— Y o u rs a ff e c tio na t e l ,
y .

‘
. v

B uck ingh am rou s ed all h is fas t faili ng energie s to li s ten

'

'

to thi s lette r ; I and when it was ended as n if he h ad

‘
.
, ,

experienced a bitter di s appointm ent v z 1

“
And h ave y ou nothing m ore to t ell me no verb al -

”
me s s a ge L a Porte ? de m anded he
,
.

“
.Ye s m y lord ; the qu e en ic h arg e d m e to bid y o u be
,
f

upon y our gu ard fo r s h e h ad been warned th at y o u were

'
.
,
”
to be as s as s in ated !
“
And is th at all? I s th at all? re s u m ed B uckin gh am
i mp atientl y .

r “ S he ch arged m e al s o to tell y o u th a t s h e alwa s

y
ldv e d y o u . 1

Ah ! 3 s ai d Bucki ngh am
“ ’
God be pra i s ed ! M y “
'

11 .

de ath then will not be to her as the de ath o f a

'

, ,
”
s tr a nger !
P atrick c o ntinu ed the duke bring me the c as ket
“
,
.
,
“

which cont a ined the di am ond s tud s .

Patrick b ro ug h t the object h e de m and ed wh ic h L a

'
'
'
’

Porte re co g nis e d aS h av mg bel onged to the queen ‘

.

N O W the white s atin b ag o u fwhich her init ials are

“
, ,
'

e m b ro id ere d in p e arl s
’
'

a 1
.

rPa t rick a g a in obe ed l

y .

1
H ere La Porte s a i d B ucki ngh am; here are the
“ ”
,
“

onl y token s wh ich I h ave received fro m h e r th is s ilver

,

cas ket and th es e t wo letter s You W

,
ill re s tor e th em .
‘

”
to her m aje s ty ; and fo r a l as t s o u ven 1 t —h e look ed ,

around h im fo r s o m e preciou s obj ect o u will d d

y a
the m
1 H e s till s trove to find s o m e gi ft , bu t h is e y e s di mme d ,

by de ath encountered nothing but the kni fe wh ich h ad

,
 WH AT H APPEN ED A T P ORT S M O U T H .
3 03
fallen fro m Felton s h and with the cri ms on blood s till
’
,
'

reeki ng o n its bl ade .

And y o u w ill a d d to the m thi s kni fe s aid the d uke , ,

’
p re s s ing L a Porte 5 h and

He was s till able to pl ace the s atin b ag in the c as ket

.

and to drop th e kni fe up on it as he m ade a s ig n to

'
‘

,
. .

L a Porte th a t he could no longer s pe ak

,
T hen in a .
-
,
'

l a s t c onvu ls ion ag ain s t wh ich he wa s no longer able to

,
'

contend he glided fro m the s ofa to the flo o r

,
11 .
1

P atrick uttered a loud c ry .

B uckingh am ende avoured to s m ile once m ore , but

'
‘ “

death arre s ted the thought which re m ained engraven on ,

h is forehe ad an d lip s like a -1as t fare well o f love n . 1

'

At thi s m o ment the duke s s urgeon arrived co mp let el y ’

,

be wildered He h ad alre a dy b e en o u bo ard the ad m ir al s

.
' ’

s hip whence he h ad bee n s o h as til y s u m m oned

,
He .

a ppro a ched the d u ke , t ook h is h and, held it fo r a m o ment

in h is o wn and then let it fall ag ain

,
”
“
It is all in v ain s a id h e he is de ad 1
,
”
“
D e ad ! d e ad l e c h oed Patric k '

At thi s cry the whole cro wd re entered the ap artm ent -

,

an d there was nothing to be s een but con s tern atio n and

confu s ion .

A s s oon as Lord de Winter kne w th at B uckingh am

h ad expired he ran to Felton who m the s oldier s s till
, ,

gu arded on the terr ace .

Wretch s a id he to the
y o ung "
m an w h o , s ince ,

B uckingh am s de ath h ad reco ver ed tha t tr anquillit y and

’
,

coolne ss whi ch were never m ore to abandon h im f ‘ ~

”
wretch wh a t h ave y ou done ?
”
“
I ha v e avenged m y s e lf ! he replied
. .

”
“
Yours elf ! cried the b aron ; s ay r ather , th at y ou

ha v e been the in s tru ment o f th at curs ed wo man ; but I

,

,
”
s we ar to o u t h at it s h all be h er l as t cri m e
y,
,

I do not kno w wh at y o u m e an ; replied Felton c al ml y

.

“ ’’
,

and I am quite ignor a nt o f wh at wo man

“
y o u are
sp e a king my lord , I h ave killed the D uke o f B ucking
.

h am, becau s e he t wi c e refu s ed to make me a c apt ai n at

 0
3 4 T H E T H REE M U S K ET EERS .

ave pu ni s hed h imfer h is 1 nj u s ti

-
~

y our re que s t I h . c e fo r -

no other re a s on
D e Winter look ed in h is as tbnis h m e nt at the m e n wh o
, ,

were binding Felton and kne w n o t Wh at t o th i n k o f s uch

,

in s en s ibility .

One s ingle ide a h o wever s till le ft a cloud upon Felton s

’
, ,

bro w At every s tep th at he he ard the s i m ple puritan

.
,

thought b e recogni s ed the s tep and voice o f her l ad y s hip ,

wh o h ad co m e to thro w her s el f into h is ar ms to a ccu s e ,

her s el f and to peri s h with h im

,
.
1

S uddenly he s tarted H is gl ance was fixed upon a .

point o n th e s e a wh 1ch the terr ace where he s tood

,
.
“

.
’

co m pletel y overlooked With the e agle e y e o f a s ailor ,

.

he h ad di s covered there Whe re another could onl y h ave ,

s een a s peck upon the oce an the s ail o f a s loop which

-
‘

, ,

was be aring on to ward s th e s hore s o f Fran ce H e gre w . .

p ale pre s s ed h is h and u p on h is he art which was b u r s t

, ,

ing and a t once co m prehended the wh o le e x te nt o f the

,

tre a cher y .

Grant m e o ne l as t favour ? s a id he to the b aron .

Wh at is it ? de manded the l atter

”
.

Wh at ti m e is it ? ”

T h e b aron dre w o u t his watch I t want s ten m inute s .

to nine s a id he , .

H er l ad y s hip then h ad anticip at e d the ti m e o f her

, ,
-

dep arture b y an hour and a h al f A s s oon as s h e heard .

the c annon which announc ed the fat al ev ent s h e h ad !

ordered the anchor to be weighed .

T h e bo at w as n o w vi s ible under a blue s k y at a gre at , ,

di s t ance fro m th e s hore .

“
It wa s God s will s aid Felton w ith the re s i n ation
’

g ,

o f a fat ali s t but s till un able t o te ar h is e y e s fro m th a t

'

b a rque o n bo ard o f which h e doubtle s s believed th at he

,

could di s tingui s h th e fa ir vi s ion o f her fo r who m he was

about t o s acrifi ce h is li fe .

De Winter follo wed h is gl ance s s crutini s ed h is e m otion s , ,

a nd co m prehended a ll t h a t h a d occurred .

“
B e p uni s hed alone w retch in th e fir s t pl a ce !
, s a id ,
 6 T H E T H R EE M U S KE T EE RS
'

3 0 . .

c am
'
p th an els e wh ere res o lv e d to go incog n ito to enj o y , .

—
t h e fete s o S int Loui s at S aint Germ ain a nd reque s ted
'

f a -
,

the cardin al to p ro v id e 1 fo r h im an e s cort o f : t wenty

'
'

1
_

mu s keteer s T h e c ardin al wh O s o m e time s was we aried

’

'

.
,

b y t h e gloo m ine s s -o f t h e king w ill ingl y g ave th is lle av e

’ ' ‘

.
,
.

o f ab s ence to h is r oy al lieuten ant wh o pro m i s ed to return ,

b y the t wel fth o f S epte m ber .

When M de T reville was inform ed o f thi s journey by

.

h is e m inence he prep ared h is b agg a ge an d as without

, , ,

kno wing the c a u s e h e was full y? aware o f the e arne s t ,

de s ire o r r ather the i m periou s nece s s it y th at the four

, ,

friend s h ad fo r vi s iting P a ri s he m arked the m o u t as '

p art o f th e e s cort T h e four y ou n g m e n received the .

i ntell ige nce a q uarter o f an hour after M de T reville as

’

.
, ,

the y were the v er y firs t pers o ns to-who m he com m unic ated

.
.

’
it ; and 1th en it was th at d A rtag nan fully appreci ated th e
’
‘
.
1

fav our -wh ich th e c ardin al h ad con ferred u p o n s h im in -

‘
.
'

pro m oting h im to the m u s keteers ; s ince b u t fo r th a t

'

1
, , .

circu ms t ance , h e would h av e been c o m p elle d t o re main .

at the c am p whil s t h is co m p anion s dep a rted

- 1
.
,
.

s een here after , th at th i s anxi et y to aret u rn

, _

to P ari s was occ as ione d b y th e d ang e r wh ioh M ad am e

,
? . 1

Bo nanc ie u x was likel y to incur fro m encountering her

.
-

mo rtaL ene m y L ad y de Winter a t th e c o nv e nt o f B ethune

, , .

T h u s , as we h ave s a id Ar am i s h ad written imm edia tel y

'

" '
, ,

to - M a rie M i chon — th at s e am s tre ss o f T our s Wh o had s uch

ex alted acquain tance s —t h at s h e m ight s olicit fro m the .

queen an ord er e m po wering M ad ame B on anc ie u x to

,
,
'

le ave th e convent and to t ake re fuge either in Lorraine ,

oriBe lg iu m T h e a n s wer was not long d el ay ed fo r in

. .
,

eight or te n d ay s Aram i s h ad received this letter

'

I
,
M y d e a r C o u s in ,
i

L l l .
1 . 1

I s e n d t h e u o rd e r e m p o w e ring o u r little s e rva nt to

“

m th d ra w fro m t he c o nv e nt o fI e t h u n e , w h e re y o u t h in t h a t t h e B k
a ir d o e s n o t ag re e w ith h e r M y s is te r s e n d s y o u t h is o rd e r
’
h g rea t p le a s u re , e 1 3 m u c h a tt a c h e d t o t h is litt le
‘
fo r s h g irl,
wh o m s h e h op e s t o b e n e fi t 1 n t h e e n d I e m b ra c e y o u . 1 !1 ,

AR
. . .

l 1 1 M IE M I OH O N . "
r
 T ”
1
’
-
IN 5
3 07
To thi s letter wa
ppended an orde rm the s e terms :
s a

T h e s u p e r o r o f th e c o nv e n t o f Be t h u n e w ill d e livdr in t o t h e
’
1

h a n d s o f t h e b e a re r o f t h is n o t e t h e no v ic e w h o e n te red h ef
'
c
,

c o nv e nt u nd e r m y rec o m m enda t io n a nd 'p at ro na g e .

l '

A t t h e L o u v re , A u g us t 1 0, 1 628 .

It m ay be well i m ag ined h o w m ucli thi s re lat1o ns h ip

'
‘

'

bet ween Ar am i s and a s eams tre s s at T our s wh o Call ed ,

the qu e e ri her s i s ter e nli v ened the young m en ; b u t

,
'

Ar am i s after h avi ng t wo o r three ti m e s bl us hed up to

’

l
,

th e white s o f h is ey e s at the co ar s e jok es O f Portho s h ad

‘
‘
,

begged his friend s not to re ver t to th e s ubj ect decl a ring ' '

th at if another W
,
'
ord were s aid ab ou t it he would no t ,
‘ '

a g a in e m plo y h is cou s in as an agent in a ffai rs o f the

kind
So n othing m ore about M a
.

ri e Mich o n was s a id bet w ee n

‘

'
'
th e four m us keteer s wh o had m ore over obt ained wh at
, , ,
‘

the y Wanted — the order to w ithdra w M ad am e Bo nanc ie ux

fro m the conv ent o f B ethune It is true th a t this ord er.

would be o f no gre a t a dv an t age to the m wh il s t the y ,

c o ntinued 1 n the c a mp at L a Rochelle th a t I S to s ay at

“

, ,

the other ex tre m ity of Fr ance D A rtag nan was abo u t .

’

to ask le ave o f ab s ence fro m M de T reville pl ainl y .

,
’

c o nfi d i ng to h im h o w i m port ant it wa s th a t h e s hould

dep art ; when the int e ll igenc e re a ch e d h im as w ell as h is
'

three co m p anion s t h at the king was about to proceed to

,

P ari s with a n e s cort o f t went y m u s k eteer s o f which the y ,

were t o for m a p a rt Gre at was their jo y T hei r

'
. .

s erv a nt s were s ent for ward with the b agg a ge and the y ,

the m s elve s s e t o u t i n t h e m orn ing o f the s ixteenth .

T h e c ardin al atten d ed t h e kin fro m Su r gere s to

g
M au z e s where the king an d h is mim s te r t ook le ave of
,

e a ch other with gre at pro fe s sion s o f frie nd s hip Ne v er .

th e le s s the ki n g although he tr avelled ver y fas t s inc e

'

, , ,

he wi s hed to re ach P ari s b y the t we nty third was s o

'
-

an xiou s fo r a m u s e m ent th at he h alted fro m ti m e to ti m

,

, e
to h unt the m agpie — a p as ti m e fo r which he h ad a cquired
a t as te fro m de Lu y ne s the fir s t hu s b and o f M ad am e de
,
 3 08 T H E T H REE M US K E T EER S .

Chevreu s e and fo r wh ich he h ad al way s pr es erved a

,

great liking S ixteen of the t went y m u s keteer s m uch

.

enj oy ed thi s S port when it occurred ; but four o f the m

cur s ed it m o s t he artil y D Artagn an m ore e s peci all y .
’

h ad a perpetu al hu mm ing in h is e ar s ; wh ich Portho s

“

thu s expl ained

A z wo man of th e h ig h é st rank as s ured m e th a t it is
a s ign th at s o m e one is talking ab o u t y o u s o m e where , .

On the night o f the t wenty th ird the e s cort at length

,
-
,

pas se d through P ari s T h e king th anked M de T reville . .

,

and allo we d h im to g rant four d ay s le a ve o f ab s ence to

‘
’

h is me n on condition th at not o ne o f the favoured

. ,
.
'

individu al s s hould appe ar at any public p lac e u nd e r , ,

p a in of th e Bas tile .

T h e fir s t four le a ve swere gr anted as m ay be i m agined , ,

to our four friend s ; and, m ore th an th at Atho s per s u aded

M de T reville to e x te ri
,

.
.
d it to s ix d ay s in s te ad o f four ,

and m an aged to cr am t wo m ore night s into the s e s i x da s

y ’
fo r the y s et o ff 011 the t wenty fourth at five o clock i n -
,

the evening and M de T reville h ad the co m pl ai sance

, ,
.

to p os t d ate the le ave to the m ornin g of the t wenty fifth

- -
.

”
O h Mon D ieu 1 s a id d A rtag nan wh o as we are
“ ’

, , ,

w ell aware never fore s aw di ffi culty ; ,

it appe ar s to m e “

th at we a1 e m aking a g 1 e at di s turb ance about a very

s i m ple m atter I n t wo d ay s by foundering two o r three
.
,
.

hor s es which I s hould not c are about s ince I h ave

, ,

plent y o f money I could be at B ethune I s h ould then

, .

deliver the q ueen s letter to the abbe s s and could bring

’
.
,

b a ck the de ar tre as ure wh ich I am s eeking— not to ,

Lorr aine not to B elgiu m b u t to P ari s where s h e m ight

, , ,

be m uch m ore s ecurel y conce aled p articul arl y whil s t

,
'
.

the c ardin al re m ain s at L a Rochelle T hen when the .

.
,

c am p a 1g n 1 5 once ended p artly fro m the protection o f ,

her cou s in and p artl y fro m wh at we h ave our s elve s ,

per s on all y done fo r her w e s h all obtai n fro m the queen

.

wh atever we de s ire Re m ain there fore here : do not .

, ,

fatig u e y our s elve s u s ele s s ly I and Pl anchet s h all be .

”
quite s u fficient fo r s o s i m ple an expedition .
31 0 “ THE T H REE M US K E T EE RS .

T h e three friend s h a s tene d in ,

wh o , in s te ad o f b eing ill , was running to h is h or s e T he y .

s topp e d h im o n t h e rth res h old o f th e door . 1 1

wh e re 1 rt h e pla gu e a re y o u going in th i s
- -

”
ma nner ? cri ed Ath o s
A
.

”
1 “
It 15 h e l 1 e x cl ai m e d , d rtag nan, p ale 1 with p ass i on ,
1 ,
’

a nd wit h th e per s pir a tion in b e a d s on h is bro w—fl it is .

”
he ! let me g e t : at h im 1 11 1 51 1; 11 1
1 1

B u t wh o do y o u m e a n l d em and e d Athos
“ ” 1
. . ,

He ! 1 1 1 1
1
.
1 1
1 1 1

W
.

”
h at rm an P
'
1
. 1 1
1 T ha t cur s ed m an, m y evil gen iu s , who m I h ave ,
.

al ways s ee n when I w a s ' th re atene d wi t h n s o me m is _

fortu ne h e wh o acco m p a nied th at horrible w o ma n,

-

w hen I m e t
,
her the fi r.
s t ti m e
'
h e who m I was se eking
.
-
.

when I affronted o u r friend A th o s —h é who m I s a w the 1

ver y m orning o f the d ay when M ad am e B o nanc ie uX was ’

abduct ed —th e M a n of M eung , in fa c t ! I s a w h i rn — it is

”
he 1 I rec ogni s e d h im when the w ind opened h is clo ak .

Th e dev il ! sa id Athos , m u s ing

”
.

“
T h or e gentle m en to hor s e Let u s ur s u e h im
p
o s ,
- w

—we m u s t c atch h im
”
M y de a r fel lo w, s aid Ar a m i s , c o ns i er th a t he d
is go ing ex actl y th e op p o s ite ro ad to our s ; t ha t he h a s a . .

fre s h ho rs e whil s t o ur h or s e s are done ; an d th a t , co ns e

quentl y , we s hould k n o ck u p o u r hor s es w ithout even a
ch ance o f overtaking h im .

”
1
,
H ollo , s ir ! cried out a s t able b o y , running a fter the -

s tr anger H ollo, s ir here is a p a per which fell o u t 1 o f

our h at H ollo s ir H ollo
y .

S
, . .

M y fri end , a id d A 1 tag nan, t ,h alf a pi s tole fo r th a t

“ ’ ‘

Pap e r?
F a ith s ir with the gre ate s t ple as ure here it is j
, , . .

’
T h e s table b o y delighted w ith the good d ay s w ork he
,

h ad m ade o f it return ed i nto th e y a rd of th e hotel and

, ,

d A rt agn an u nfO ld e d th e p ape r

’
. 1

Well N ? in quir ed h is friend s lis t e nlng

0

.
,

O n l y o n e w ord I s a id d Art a gn an
’
.
 CA RM ELI T E C ONV E N T or BET H U N E .
311
“
Y es , s a id Ar ami s, but th at word is th e name of
’ “

”
a to wn .

A m m tz é fl s, re ad Portho s~ A rmentié re s ? I do not

kno w the pl a ce .

”
And thi s n am e o f a to wn is written in her h and , s a id
Atho s
ie, co me, let tak e gre at c ar e o f thi s p aper ,
.

C orr
”
us .

s a i d d A rtag nan ;
’ “
perh ap s I s h all not h ave thro wn
a wa m h l f pi tole T hor e m frie d — to hor se
y y a s o s y .

n s ,
.

T h e four co mp ani on s went o ff at a g allop on th e ro ad ,

to B eth une .

C H A PT E R L XI ;

”T im
C A R M E LI T E CON V E NT ‘

OF
'

G R E AT cri min als areendowed w ith ak ind of pr ed estin at ion

which en ab le s the m to s ur mount e ver y ob st acl e and ,

to e s cap e ev er y d anger g , until the m o m ent on w h ich a

we aried pr ovi denc e h as fi x ed fo r the ship w reck of the ir

unhal lo we d fortune s .

T hu s Was it with her lady s h ip Sh e p assed b et we en .

the cru i s er s of two n at io ns and landed at Boul ogne

r ,

with out mi s h ap
Wh en s h e di s emb ark ed at Portsmo uth , h er lady s hi1p
.

'

h ad b een an E ng li s h woman driv en fro m Ro ch ell e by ,

the p ers e cution s of Fr anc e Whe n she c ame o n shore

’

at Boul ogne after av o ag e of two da s s h e r e r e s ented

' '
‘
, y y p ,

h er s el f as a F rench wo man Whom the E ng li s h anno y ed,

at Port s m outh o n ac count of t h e h atred wh ich they

,

entertained for Fr anc e .

H er lad y s h ip h ad m oreover th e be St O, f p as sp ort s ,

be auty a id ed by th e li b er alit y Wit h whic h s h e s t atte 1 ed

-
'

her pi s tole s Fre ed fro m the c tls tomary for m aliti es b y

the affable smil e and al lant manners of an old governor
,

o f the port wh o k is s e
,
h er h and s s h e onl y r ema ined at ,
'
Boulogn e a su ffi cient ti me to p ut i nto the po st a letter
'

writt e n in the s e t e r m s
 T H E T H REE M U S K E T E ERS
‘

3 12 1
. ; .

'

To h is E m in en ce th e L o rd C a rd in a l c k e lz e u , at h is ca m
p
befi w e L a R o c/z elle .

My l o rd y o u r e m ine nc e m ay b e a s s u re d tha t h is g ra c e th e
k f B k i g h m w ill
,

Du e o uc n a no t s e t o u t fo r F ra nc e
Y
.

LA D D E
B log n A g t 5th
ou e, u us 2 L -
E v e ning .

P S —A c c o rd ing t o y o u r e m in e nc e s d e s ire , I am
’

p ro c e e d ing
B
. .

t o t h e C a rm e lit e c o nve n t , a t e th u n e , w h e re I s h a ll a w a it
"

y o u r o rd e rs .

In fact her l ad y s h ip beg an her j ourne y 011 the s am e

,

night D arkne s s Overtook her and s h e s topp ed and

.
, ,
’
s lept at a t avern o n th e ro a d ; at five o clock th e next

m orning s h e re s u med her j ourney and in three hour s

, ,

re a ched B ethune She inquir ed her way t o the convent

'

o f the C a r m elite s and i m medi atel y entered it The , .

a bbe s s c am e to m eet her and when her l ad y s h ip s ho wed ,

the c ardin al s order a ch am ber was i mm edi atel y p 1 e p ared

’
,

fo r her and bre a k fas t s erved

,
.

T h e s cene s o f the p as t h ad all faded fro m thi s

wo man s s ight an d with her e y e s fixed upon the future
’
, , ,

s h e onl y s aw the high fortune which wa s re s erved fo r her

b y th at c a rdin al who m s h e h ad s o well s erved without ,

h is n am e being at all co m pro m i s ed b y the blood y deed .

T h e ev er ch anging p as s ion s which co ns u m ed her g ave to

-
,

her life the appe ar ance o f the cloud s whic h as cend into
th e s k y , refl ecting s o in e times the a zure tint s o meti me s the ,

lurid and s o m et im e s the bl ackne s s o f the s tor m y e t

.

, ,

le a vin g no tr a ce s but th o s e o f dev ast ation and o f d eath .

A fter bre ak fast th e abb es s c am e t o p ay her a vi s it ,

T here are but fe w amus e ment s in the cloi s t er a nd the

.

good s uperior was in h as te to s trike up a cqu a inta nce

with her n e w bo arder .

Her l ad y s hip wi s hed to ple as e the abbe s s and thi s was ,

a very e as y t as k fo r a wo m a n s o trul y s u p e 1 io r : s h e

en de avoured to b e am i able and bec ame ch arm ing s o , _ ,

th at h e r entertainer was s educed b y her v aried c o n

vers ation as well as by th e g r ace s wh ich a ppe a red in a ll
,

her p er s on .
3 4
1
l .
‘
,
T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

thought h er l ad y s hip s h e b egin s to reli sh

. ,
“

myico nv ers atio n I f s h e is a ca rdin a lis t s h e is at any

.
, ,
”
rate no ver y fanatica l o ne
, .

then : d welt upon the per s ec tio n which the

u
-

cardin al cond ucted ag ain s t h is ene m ie s T h e abbe s s .

merely cro s s ed her s el f w ithout a pproving o r bl am ing , . .

T hi s co nfir m ed her l ad y s hip in th e b elie f th at the g oo d

s uperior was m ore o f a roya li s t th a n a ca rdin ali s t so ,

s h e contin ued her beco ming m ore and more

s eve re .

“
I am very ignorant o u all s uch m atter s s aid th e '
,

a b b es s i at l as t ; b u t re m ote as we are fro m the court

“
,

s ec luded as we find our s elves fr om inte rcour s e with th e

world , we h ave mo s t mel ancholy proofs of th e truth o f
,

wh at y o u h av e b een j u s t relating and Pone o f : our , .

‘

bo arders h as s u ffered s ever el y fro m th e v enge ance and

”
per s ecution s o f the c a rdin al .

O ne o f y our bo arde rs ? s a id he r l a d s hip O h “

“
!
p oor cre ature —h o w I pity her l
.
y .

Arid y o u a re righ t fo r s h e 15 m uch to be pitied

“

Im m
, .

pri s o n ent, th re ats 1ll tre at m ent— all t he s e s he h as

, ,

endur ed B u t , after all contin ued the abbe s s

.
'
, , ,the ,
“

c ardi nal h ad p erh ap s plau s ible re as ons fo r acting thu s

a nd a lthough s h e h a s the a s pec t o f an a ngel we m u s t
, ,

no t al way s j udge o f people b y the i r as pects .

Goo d l s ai d h erdlad y s h ip to her s el f : wh o kno ws

“ ”

m
.

I
.

i m ay perh ap s a ke s o m e di s covery here am j us t in .

”
t h e hu m our fo r it .

She then s e t her s elf toco m munic ate toher counten ance
an expre s s ion o f the m o s t perfect c an dour .

Al as I s a id s h e I kn ow th at : the y tell u s th a
”
,
t we
m us t n ot tru s t to ph y s iogno m ie s B ut wh at can we tru s t .

to if not to the m o s t be auti ful o f the Lord s works ?

’
As
fo r m e I sh all prob abl y be deceived through o ut my
,

wh ole life fo r I al way s confide in th at per s on whos e face

,

,,

in s pire s m e with s y m p ath y .

You would be induced then to believe th a

“
t thi s , , ,

y o u n g w o m a n w as innocent ?
”
s aid the abb ess .
 CARM ELI T E C o N V E N T g o r BET H U N E .

T hec ardin al doe s no t m erel y puni s h cri mes replied ,

h er lad y s hip ; there are certa in virtue s which h e vi s its

"
“ -

m ore s everel y th a n s in s .

“
You w ill a llo w m e m ad am to expres s m y s urpri s e , , ,

s a id the a bbe s s .

”
At wh at ? a s ked h er l ad y s hip with app arent
m
“
,

si plicity . 1

At the l angu age wh ich y o u u s e .

A n d wh a t do y o u find a s to nis h in g i n th a t l angu age l

de manded her lad y s hip with a s m il e ,
.

Yo u a re the card in al s friend s ince h e h as s ent y o u

’
“
,

here ; and y et
“
And y e t I s p ea k ill of h im replied her l ad y s hip .
,
’
expres s i ng the ab be s s s thought . 1

“
At le as t y o u do no t s pe a k m uch good o f h im “

It is bec au s e I a m no t h is friend but h is v ic ti m

,
“
, ,

sa i d her l a d y s h i
p s ighing ,
.

“
And ye t th at letter b y wh ich he h as reco m m ended ,

y o u to me 1

I s an ord er to me to keep m y s el f in a s ort o f pri s on ,

fr om which he w ill re m ove m e through s o m e o f his
”
sa te llite s . 1
B u t wh y did y o u e s c ape ? not 1

Wh er e s hould I go ? D o y ou beli eve th at there is .

'

a s p ot upo n the e a rth wh ich the ca rdin al ca nnot re a ch ,

if he p le as e s to t ak e the trouble t o s tretch o u t h is h and ?

I f I were a m an ; it m ight perch ance be po ss ible ; but
, , ,

being a wo m a n — wh a t wo u ld qy o u h ave a woman d o ?

T hi s y oung b oa rder o f y our s —h as s h e atte mp ted t o
.
.

”
es ca pe ?
No trul y : but her c as e 1 5 di fferent I fanc y th at s he
, .
'

”
x
lS kept ln Fr ance b y s o m e love affa ir .

”
T hen s a id her la d ys hip with a s igh
, loving ; s h e , ,
“

is not altoget her 1

So s a id the abbe s s look ing with 1nc re as m g intere s t

, ,

a t her la d y s hip
“
it is a noth er poor per secuted crea ture
th at I s e e ?
,
”
1

A las ly e s
’
s aid her l a d s hip
y
1 1
, .
 T H E T H R E E M U SKET EER S
i
'
'

T he abbe s s looked at her l ad y s hip fo r an in s t ant with

' '

Som e inqu ietude , a s if a ne w thought w ere j u s t a ri s ing in

her m ind .

" ‘
Y o u are no t an e ne m y o f our m o s t hol y fa ith ? s aid
’ ’

s h e , s t a m m ering .

“
I cried her l ad y s hip a P rote s t an t ? O h , no ! . I
I c all the God wh o n o w he ar s u s to w itne s s th at I a m ,
ind eed a ze alou s C atholi c
, .
”

”
“
T h en m ad am replied th e abbe s s , s m iling
, , be o f ,
“

good cheer the hou s e in wh ich y o u are s h all not be a very

s eve r e pri s on to y o u and we will d o all we can t o s o ften ,

y our c a ptiv it
y Moreover y o u s h all s e e th at y oung
.
,

wo m an wh o , doubt per se cuted o n a ccount of s o m e ,

court intrigue s h e is s o ami able and s o gr aci ou s th at

.
, ,
”
s h e is s ure t o ple a s e y o u .

“
Wh at is h er n am e ? ”

She h as been reco mm ended to m e under th e n am e -

,
'

o f K itt y , b y a per s on of the highe s t r a nk ‘

I h a ve n o t .

ende avoured t o find o u t h er s econd n am e .

”
“
K itt y ! excl a i med her l ad y s hip a re y o u quite ,
“ '

“
Y e s , m a d am ; a t le a s t s h e so c all s h er s el f . Do y o u
”
s u ppo s e y o u kno w her ?

H e r l a dy s hip s m iled as the ide a s ugge s ted it s el f to

m
h e r th at thi s fe ale m ight
'

po s s ibl y be her for m er

a ttend ant With her recollection o f the y oung w o man
.
,

there was as s oci ated a s enti m ent o f anger and a de s ir e ,

fo r revenge w h ich s o m e wh at di s turbed the s erenit y o f

,

her ! l ady s hip s fe ature s ; but the y s oon re s u m ed th at

’

expre s s ion o f c al m ne s s and benevolence wh ich th i s

wo m an with a hundred face s fo r the ti m e
r

h ad
adopted .

“
B u t when m ay I s ee th is y o u ng l ad y fo r w ho m I ,
”
alre ad y feel gre at a s y mp ath y ? de ma nded her
“

so

lad y s hip .

'
“
:T h is evening replied the a bbe s s ; nay even to
"
,
‘
,

d ay .B u t as y o u s ay y o u h a ve been tr avelli ng fo r four

d ay s and aros e thi s m ornin g at five o cl ock y b u niu s t
,
’

,
 31? T H RE E M U SK E T E ER S .

quite u nlik e e ach o th ercin their kind s o f be aut y ; and

’ .
1

her l ad y s hip s m iled o n ob s ervi ng th a t s h e h ad her s el f ~

mu ch m ore o f a high b red 1air and ari s tocra tic manner s

1 -
.

It is true th at the dr es s o f a inov ice which the y o ung ,

'

wo m an wore was not , to s ucces s in a .

c o m p etition o f the sort .

T h e abbe ss p res ented fi h e m to one anoth e r; and th en ,

,

a s her o wn duties de manded h e r a tt e nda nc ed n th e ch a pel,

“

s h e : left the m alone to gether : T h e m ov ic e .s e ein

g h er .
,

lad y s hip in bed would h ave follo wed th e abbe ss ; b ut

.
, , 1

her l ad y s hip detained h er

’
1

What madam s aid s he I h ave s c arcely s een y o u

” “

a
, , , ,

nd y o u alre a d y wi s h to d eprive me o f y our co m p an y ,

w hich I h av e hoped to enj o y during th e ti me th at I m ay
re main h er e ?
“
N o mad a ”re p l ie d th e no v ice m
b ut as y o u are
, u

fatigued I fe ared th at m y V i s it h ad been b adly ti m ed

, ,
”
,

s id h 'lady s h ip s ho uld tho s e wh o

'

a e r ,

s leep de s ire ? A pleas ant a wakeni ng T h at is j us t wh at .

1

o u h ave given m e ; 1 5 0 le t m e enj o y it at my e as e 1

”
y
And t aking her h an d s h e d re w her to m ch air ne ar
“

-
, , .

1 ’
1 i) 1 l ‘

id th e no vice s e ating hers elf, h o w

.

“
M on D ieu !
'
“
sa ,
.

un fort un ate I a m H e r e h ave I been in thi s hou s e fo r

'

. 1
_

th o u t e v e n th e s h a do w o f an am u s e m ent
’

s ix m o nth s w i ,
1 1 . . .

You arrive : y our -pre s e nce would prov ide me with m ost
'
'

1
_

ch ar ming co mp any a nd no w a cc ordin g to all prob ability

’

, ,

I s h all i mm” edi ately ; leave the c onve nt ”

v .
1
1 1 1

Wh at , s aid her la dy s h ip f are yo u g o ing away ,

‘

”
s oon ?
“
At le as t 51 hope s o replied the novi ce with an ,
. .
,

expre s s ion o f J oy wh ich s h e did not 1n the le as t atte m pt

to di s gui s e
1 th ink I he ard th at y o u h ad s u ffer e d fro m th
.

“ f
1 e
e rs ecution s o f the cardin al s a id h e n l ad y s h ip T ha t “

p ,

is another bond o f sy m p a t h y bet ween u s

1

Wh at :o u r go od m other h as told m e is true then and

. .

'

,
”
h al s V icti ms ?
’

y o u are also o ne 1
o f t e c ardi n . .
 C A R M EL I T E C O N V EN T O F ‘
. BET H U N E .
3 19
e v en h e re d o not let
'

Hu s h ! s aid lier l ad y s h ip “
‘
“
.
,

u s S pe ak thu s of h im All m y m i s fortune s h ave ari s en

- ‘

fro m h aving s poken s c arcel y m o re th an y o u h av e j u s t

1

s a id before a wo m an wh om I thought m y friend and

'

, ,

wh o betray ed m e ; And are y o u , al s o the v i cti m of ,

‘

tre achery ?
“
No ” s a id the novice 1
but o f m y d e v ot io n to a
“ ’

1
1

wo m an who m I loved , fo r who m I would h av e d ie d

, ,
'
1

a nd fo r w ho m 11 w
’
ould die no w .
1

And wh o de s erted y o u in y our di s tres s ? I kno w

”
s h e did !
“
I was unj u s t enough to bel ieve s o ; but with in th e a

l as t t wo o r three d ay s I h ave h ad proo f to the co nt r ary . .

an d I th a nk Go d for it : I s hould h a v e deepl y griev e d

,
-

at the conviction th a t s h e h ad forgotten m e ! B u t y o u .

,

ma d m — u s e e m t o be fr ee and to be able to e s c ape

' ‘

a y o , ,
”
if y o u s hould h ave any inclin ation to do s o
And where could I g o without friend s without m one y
.

in a p art o f Fr ance which I d o not k no w where

, , ,

,
”
“
O h ! as to friend s s a id the novice ,
“ o u w ill find
y ,

the m wherever y o u p le as e z y o u look s o good and y o u 1

are s o be a uti ful .

T h a t is no re as on s a id her l ad s h i p s o fte ning her

“
y , ,

s m ile s o as t o g i ve to it an angelic al e x pre s s i on “ w hy I

‘

,
”
s hould no t be for s a ken an d per s ecuted
"

1
1

”
Li s ten s aid the novice u m u s t tru s t in He aven
“
, y o

ther e al way s co m e s a mo m ent when the good th at “ we

h ave done ple ads fo r u s be fore God s throne Bes id es ’
.
,

it is perhap s a piece of good fortune fo r y o u th at 1

,

hu mble and po werle s s as I arn y o u s hould h ave m e t

'
1
1 - .

m e here for if I s hould get away I h ave s ome in fluenti al

, , ,

friends wh o h aving exerted the ms elves fo r m e may do

, , ,

the s am e fo r y o u .

'
“
Oh ! when I s ay th at I was s olit ar y and for s aken 1

sa
,

id her l ad y s hip h ap ing to make the novice s pe ak m ore

'
‘

pl ainl y b y s pe aking her s el f : it is not th at I h av e not “ ’

so m e lo ft y a cqu a int ance s al s o ; but the s e a cqu aint a nces

' ’

all tre m ble be ore the c ardin al

f '
T h e (N e w her s elf doe s .
 THE T H REE M US K E T EE RS
’
1
3 29 .

defend m e aga in s t this terrible m 1nis ter and I h ave

'

n ot
proo fs th at her m aj e s ty in S pite of h e r e x ce lle nt he art
'

1
, ,

h as been m ore th an once obliged to ab andon to h is

’ '

,
”
e m inence s r age per s on s wh o h ad faith full y s erved her
’
, .

B elieve m e m ad am it m ay h ave a ppe ared th a t the

“ '
1

.
, ,
“

queen for s ook her friend s ; but we m u s t n o t b elie v e the

'

a ppe ar ance : th e m ore the y are per s ecuted the m ore s h e ,

th ink s o f th em ; and o ften at the ver y m o m ent when ,

th ey s uppo s e h er the le as t m ind ful o f the m the y receive .

'

,
”
a n e v idence o f her kind re m e m br ance .

”
Al as ! s a id her l ad y s hip I believe it the queen is ,
“ 1
.

s o good !
1

Oh ! y o u kno w her then — thi s be auti fu land noble .

,

queen— s ince y o u s pe ak o f her th u s ! excl ai m ed the

”
.

nov ice enthu s i as tic all y .

T h a t is to s ay
“
replied her l ady sh ip r ather fo rced
, ,

b ack into her intrench m ents I h ave n o t the h onour o f ,

“

kno wing her per s on ally bu t I kno w m an y o f her m o s t ,

1

inti mate friend s I kno w M de Pu tang e ; I kne w M

’ '

1
. .

D ujart in Engl and ; and I kno w M de T reville

_ .

. .

”
M de T reville ! excl ai m ed the novi ce ;
“
. do you .
“

kno w M de T reville ? .

”
inti m atel y .

T he c apt ain o f the king s m u s keteer s ?

’
.

Y es the c apta in o f the king s m u s keteer s

’
,

Oh ! then y o u will s e e pre s entl y th a t w e m u s t be -

,

a cqu a int ance s — al m o s t friend s I f y o u kno w M de . . .

T reville y o u mu s t h a ve been at h is hou s e ?

,
”
Often
“
s aid her l ad y s hip wh o h aving entered on ,

thi s p ath and finding fal s ehood pro fitable deter m ined to
, ,

, ,

pur s ue it to the end .

At h is hou s e y o u m u s t h ave s een s o m e o f h is

“ 1
1

m u s keteer s ?
All o f the m who m h e is in th e h abit o f receiving
“ 1

replied her l ad y s hip wh o beg an to t ake a re a l intere s t in,

the conver s ation .

N a me s o m e o f tho s e th at y o u kno w s a id the novice , ,

”
an d y o u will s e e th at the y are am ong s t m y friend s
“
. .
 T H E T H RE E M U S K E T EE RS .

Yes , y o u
“ - I
kno w y o u no w — y o u are M ad am e
.
1

”
Bonanc ie u x .

T h e y oung wo man dre w her s el f b ack , ov e r whel m ed

with as toni s h m ent and terror .

O h ! do not den y it ; but pr ay an s wer, s a id her

lad y s hip
him
.

“
Well ! e
y ,s m ad am,
”
I love ,
1
sa id the n ovice .

Ar e we riv a ls ?
’
H er lad y s h ip s face was 1rrad iated b y a lig h t s o wild i
,

th at under any other circu m s t ance s M ad am e B o nan c ie u x

, ,

would h ave fled fro m her in terror b u t s h e was ; no t ,

1
.

entirel y ab s orbed b y j ealou sy

“
Co m e te ll me m ad am said M ad ame B o nanc ie u x
,
”
, , ,

with an energ y o f which s h e would h ave been thought .

i nc ap able h ave y o u been h is m i s tre s s P

,
“
O h no ! , excla i m ed her l ad y s hip in a tone which
.
,
=

prohibited any doubt o f her hone s t y never never “

”
1
“
I believe y o u s a id M ad am e Bo nanc ie u x
,
but wh y “

”
did y o u c ry ou t s o ?
“
Wha t, do y ou not unders tand ? s a id her lad y s hip
, ,

wh o h ad alre ad y recovered fro m her con fu s ion and h ad ,

re s u m ed all her pre s ence o f mind .

H o w s hould I under s ta nd ? I kno w nothing _

“
D o y o u not under s t and th at M d Artag nan being .
’

,
”
my friend m ade m e h is confid ante ?
,

Re ally
Do y o u no t under s t and th at I am a cqu ainte d with '

ever y thing th at h as taken pl ace : y our abductio n fro m

the little hou s e at St . th at o f h is
friend s and their re s e arche s ever s ince t h a t t ime I s it
'

s tr ange fo r m e to be a s toni s hed on finding m y s el f without ,

being aware o f it b y the side o f we h a ve s o

‘

o ften t alked together— of y ou who m he love s with all the ,

s trength o f h is s oul — of yo u who m he m ade m e love ,

be fore I beheld y o u Ah de ar Con s t ance I find y o u a t

,

, ,

l as t— at l as t I s e e y o u
Her l ad y s hip held o u t her ar m s to ward s M adam e
Bo n anc ie u x wh o convinced b y wh at s h e h ad j u s t he ard
, , ,
 '

OF B ET H U N E
‘

CARM E LI T E C O N VEN T .
3 23

no w s aw in t hi s wo m an wh o m s h e h ad an ins t ant b e fore

’

-
,

reg arded a s a riv al onl y a s incere and a devoted friend

,
.

”
“
O h p ardon m e p ardon m e !
, ,
s aid s h e allo win
g
1
,
1

her s el f to s ink upon her l ad y s hip s s houlder “

I love him ’
,

s o m uch

T he s e two w o m en held e a ch other for an in s t ant thu s

’
e m br aced Cert ainl y if her l ad y s hip s s trength h ad been
.
, ,

but equ al to her h tred M d e

a a a m B o n an c,
ie u x would not ?

h ave le ft her ar m s alive B u t not being able to s tifle .

1

her s h e s m iled
,
.

”
“
Oh de ar little pretty thing ! s a id her l a d s h ip
y
h o w delighted I am t o s ee y o u
, ,
“
Let m e look at y o u
And as s h e uttered the s e word s s h e did in fact devour
, ,
-

her with her look s Y e s it is cert a inl y y o u Ah ! ‘

1

. .
,

after wh at he told m e o f y o u I recogni s e y o u no w— I

'

, ,
”
recogni s e y o u perfectl y well .

T h e poor y oung wo m an could not s u s pect the horrid

cruelty th at was r aging behind the r am p arts o f th at
u nru flle d bro w o r behind tho s e e y e s i n which s h e onl
, y
re ad the intere s t o f co m p as s ion
T hen y o u kno w wh at I h a ve s u ffered
.

s aid Mad am e
”

m
,

Bo nanc ie u x s ince he h as told

,
“
y o u wh a t he hi s el f
”
'

endured B u t to s u ffe r fo r h im is a j o y
. .

Her l ad y s hip replied m ech anic all y Y e s , it is a j o y i

B u t s h e was thinking o f s o m ething el s e .

”
“
And then continued M ad am e B o nanc ie u x
,
'

my ,
“

puni s h m ent draws ne ar its end T o m orro w thi s very - -

evening perh ap s —
.

, 3 1 s h all s ee h im once m ore ; an d then

”
the p as t will be fo rg o tto n
p
.

“
T hi s ev ening ? T o m orro w ? excl ai m ed her l a d y s hip
-

arou s ed fro m her reverie b the e w ord w h t “

y s s a c an
”
y o u m e an ? Do y o u expect to he a r any thing of h im ?
I expect h im— hi m s elf ”
.

H i m s el f ? D A rt ag nan here ? ’

”
Y e s hi m s el f
,
.

“
B u t it is i m po s s ible ! He is at the s iege o f L a
Rochelle with the c ardin al ; he will not return to P ari s
,

until after the to wn is t aken .

3 24 1
1 T H E T H RE E M U S K E T E E RS
1
.

“Y o u th ink but is there an y th i ng i m po s s ible to

so ; .

”
my d A rtag nan th e noble and lo y a l gentle m a n ?
’
1

Oh I c annot believe y o u
.

,
.

Well then re ad ! s aid thi s un fortun ate y oung

, ,
’

wo m an in th e exce s s o f her pride and j o y s ho w ing a

, ,
'

letter to her l ad y s hip

, .

T h e writing o f M ad am e de Chevreu s e
“
s a id her ,

l ad y s hip to her s el f Ah ! I was quite s u 1 e th at there “

were s o me co m m uni c
”
ation s in th a t qu arter And s h e .

e agerl y re ad the s e line s

M y d e a r c h ild , b e re a dy .
O u r f rz e n a w ill s o o n s e e y o u , a nd
’

h e w ill o nly c o m e t o s n a t c h y o u fro m t h e p ris o n w h e re it w a s

n e c e s s a ry fo r y o u r o w n s a fe ty t o c o n c e a l y o u S o p re p a re fo r . .

o u r d e p a t t u re , a n d n e v e r d e S p a i1 o f u s O u r b ra v e G a s c o n h a s
‘

y
.

u s t s h o w n h im s e lf a s b ra v e a n d a s fa it h fu l a s e ve r : t e ll h im
j
t h a t t h e re is m u c h g ra t it u d e t o h im 1 0 a c e rt a in qh a rt e r fo r t h e
w arning w h ic h h e g a v e .

id her l ad y s hip
Y es , y e s , the letter is ver ysa ,
“

”
preci s e And d o y o u kno w wh at thi s wa rning was ?
N o : I onl y s u s pect th at he m u s t h ave warned the
.

”
queen o f s om e ne w m achin ation o f the c ardin a l
‘
.

”
.Y es th at is it be y ond a dou bt s a id her l ad y s h ip
“
, , ,
-

returning the letter and letting her he ad fall pen s ivel y ,

o n her bre as t
At th at m o ment the g a110p o f a hor s e w
.

as he ard .

”
Oh ! excl a i m ed M a d am e B o nanc ie u x r us hing to ,
”
the windo w c an th i s be he ? ,
“

H er l ad y s hip re m a ined in her bed petrified b y th e ,

s urpri s e S o m an y u nexpected th ing s h ad s udd enl y h ap

.

pened to her th a t fo r the fir s t ti m e her hea d failed her

, , ,
.

”
H e ! he ! m uttere d s h e and if i t s hould be ?
“ “
,

And s h e continued 1n bed w ith her e y e s fixed o n v a ca nc y ,

.

Al as ! no
“
s ai d M ad am e B o nanc ie u x It is a “

man wh o m I do n o t kno w
,

B u t he s ee m s t o be co m ing .

here Y es he is riding m ore s lo wl y ; he s top s at the

.
,

g ate ; h e ring s .

Her l ad y s hip s pr a ng o u t o f the bed Y o u are qu ite .

“
j

s ure th a t it is n o t he ?
 3 26 T H E T H RE E M US K ET EE RS .

CH APT E R L X I I .

T WO K I N D S O F D EM ONS .

excl ai m ed both Roche fort and h er lad y s h ip at

AH !
”

”
th e s am e in s tant it is y o u I ,
“

”
Y e s it is I , .

And y o u co m e fro m de m anded h er l ad y s hip .

Fro m La Rochelle And y o u ? .

”
Fro m Engl and .

And B uckingh am (

I s de ad or d angerou s l y wounded
,
A s I was .

le av ing without h aving obt ained a n y thing fro m h im

, ,
”
a fan atic h ad j u s t as s a s s in ated h im
1

.
.

”
Ah 1 s ai d Roche fort s m iling th a t was a ver y , ,

fortunate ch ance , which will ple as e h is e m ine n ce mu ch .

”
H ave y o u in form ed h im o f it P
I wrote to h im fro m Boulogne B u t wh at bring s
“
.
,
.

”
o u here ?
y
H is e m inence , being une as y h as s ent me to look ,

fo r y o u .

I
only arrived y es terd ay .

”
And wh a t h ave y o u been doing s ince ?
I h ave not been was ting m y ti m e ”
.

Oh ! I do not doubt y o u
”
.

Do y o u kno w who m I h ave m e t with h ere P ”

.

N0 .

Gue s s .

H o w c an I ?
T h a t y oung w o m an who m the queen too k fro m pri s on .

Wh at ! th e m i s tres s o f y o ung d Art agna n ? ”

1
’ 1
1

Ye s M a d a m e B o nan c ie u x who s e re fuge the ca rdinal

, ,

co uld not di s cover .

Well then s a1d Roc hefort th i s is a ch ance quite

”
, ,
“

{ it to p air with the other . Verily the c ardin al ris a .

,
.

fortun ate man .

F ancy my 1 as toni s h m ent continued her iladys h lp ,

“ ”
,
‘
 T WO K IN D S OF DEM O N S .
‘

3 27
when I found . my s el f fa ce .
to fac e with this
wo man .

Doe s s h e know yo u ?
N
T hen s h e look s upon y ou as a s tr anger ?
H er l ad y s hip s m iled
”
I am her de are s t friend
.
”
.

“
Upon m y honour s aid Roche fort my de ar co unte ss
, , ,
”
it is onl y y o u who can per for m thi s s o rt o f m iracle s
A nd well it is th at I can C hev alier
.

”
sa id h er , ,

l ad y s hip for do y o u kn ow wh at is about to h appen

,
“
.

N
T he y are co m ing fo r her to morro w or the next d ay .
-
, ,

with an order fro m the queen .

Re all y ! And wh o do y o u m e an b y the y ?

1

”
D A rtag nan and h is friend s
’
.

“
Veril y they will go s uch a length th at we s h all be
,
‘

”
obliged to put the m into the Bas tile .

And wh y h as it not been done alre ad y ?

H o w c an I tell ? Bec aus e the c ardin al e v 1 nc e s a
we akne s s to ward the s e m e n which I c a nnot co m prehend ”

Well then tell h im thi s Roche fort : tell

.

Re ally , , ,

h im th at o u r conver s ation at the Red Dove Cot was ov er -

he ard b y the s e four m e n— tell h im th at after h is dep arture , ,

‘

one o f the m c ame up and took fro m m e by force the

p as s port he h ad given m e tell him th at they g ave Lord - '

de Winter notice o f my voy age to Eng landé th at g th is

ti m e aga in they ne arl y prevented the s ucce s s o f my
,

undertaking as the y did in the affair o f the d iamond

,

s tud s — tell h i m th at amongs t the s e four men only t wo;

d A rtag nan and Athos —tell h im th at
,
’
are to be fe ared ,

the third Aram i s is the lover of M ad ame de Ch evreu s e

, ,

he m u s t be allo wed to live fo r h is s ecret is kno wn an d , ,

‘

he m ay be m ade u s e ful ; and as for the fo urth Portho s ,

, ,

he is a fool a fo p a ninn y not worth giving one s s el f

, , , ,
'
’

”
the s malle s t trouble about .

B u t the s e four m e n ought to be at thi s m o m ent at , ,

”
the s iege of L a Roche lle .

I thought s o too but a letter which M ad ame

 T H E T H REE M U S K ET EERS
“
.

Bonancie u x h as r rec e ived fro m M ad ame de Chevreu s e,

and wh ich s h e h ad the i m prudence to co mm unic ate to
m e, le ad s me to believe th at the s e four me n are no wo n
' '

their way to abduct her .

“
T h e devil ! ; Wh at m u s t we do ? 1 9

Wh at did th e cardinal s ay to y ou about me ? ” '

1
1
1

T h at I
was to take your de s p atche s , whether verb a l
or w ritten , and to return lb y po s t When he kno w s w h a t .

”
y o u h ave done, h e will give y o u further direction s .

I mu s t remain here then ? ”

,

H ere or in the neighbourhood

,
.

You c annot take m e w ith yo u P

N o the order is explicit I n th e environ s of the
,
.
“ .

c am p y ou m igh t be recogni s ed and y o u can u nder .

'

s t and th at y our pre s ence m ight co m pro m i s e h is e min ence ,

e s peci all y after wh at h as j u s t h appened in En g l and O nl y .

tell me be foreh and where y o u w ill awa it the C ardin al s ’

order s th at I m ay kno w where to find y o u

Li s ten , it is very prob able th at I c annot re main
.
,
1

here .

Wh y P
Y o u forget th at my ene m ie s m ay ar
1 rive at any
mo m ent .
1

“
T rue Bu t then thi s little wo m an w ill e s c ape h is
.
1

e minence .

“
B ah ! s aid her l ad y s hip with a s m ile peculi ar to
her s el f y o u forget th at I am her be s t friend
,
“

Ah ! there is s o m eth ing in th at T hen I m

.
,

ay tell
'
.

th e c ardin al with r eg ard to thi s wo man

,
”
T h at he m ay m ake hi m s el f e as y .

I s th at all? Will he kno w wh at th at m e an s P

He will gue s s it .

And now 1et u s s e e wh at ought I to do ?

,
'

,
“
You mu s t s e t o ff th i s in s t ant It appe ar s to me th at .

t h e ne ws y o u c arry is well worth the trouble of a little

”
h as t e .

”
“
M y c arri age broke do wn on entering L illiers .

”
Excellent .
330 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

Indeed ! 1

I t is s o m e adv anta ge y o u s e e to have been brought

“
, ,
i
u p s o m e where
”
.

You will wa it fo r m e then ,

fu '
L e t m e co ns i
d e r a m o m e nt— ah !
y e s at Ar m enti ere-
a
s , .

And where I S Ar m enti ere s ?

“
It is a little v ill age o n th é L ys I sh a
, ll onl y h ave 1

_
. .

”
to cro s s th e riv er and I s h all be in a noth er countr y
,
1

C apital but y o u m u s t re m em ber th a t yo u a re onl y

”
to cros s the rive r in c as e o f d anger .

"
T h at is under s tood .

And in th a t c as e h o w s h all I di s cover where y o u are

, ,
'

You do no t want y our s erv a nt ? I s he one o n

“
. . .

who m y o u c an depend ?
Ent irel y
Give h im to m e : no one kno ws h im I will le ave .
1
‘

”
h im at the pl ace I quit and he will conduct y o u to m e
, .

And y o u s ay th a t y o u will wait for m e at Ar m enti eres P

Y es At Ar m ent iere s !
.

Write the n am e fo r m e o n a s lip of paper le s t I '

,

s hould forge t it T h e n am e o f a v ill age will no t

.

”
co m pro m i s e any o ne will it ? ,

Ah ! wh o kno ws ? B u t never m i nd ” s a id her

“
,
1

la d y s hip writing the n am e o n a h alf s h eet o f p a per

I: will run” the h az ard
, ,
“ ”
.

Good s aid Roche fort taking fro m her l ad y s h ip s

“
, ,
’

h and s the p a per which he folded and s tu ff ed into the

, ,

lining o f h is h a t And I s h all bes ides do like the

.
“
, ,

ch ildren and as a s afegu ard ag ain s t t h e lo s s o f the

, , .
1

p aper I s h all repe at the n am e all the way I go N o w

, .
,
”
is th a t all?
I th ink s o
Let u s s ee : —B uckin gh am de ad o r grievou s l y
.

“
,

wounded — y our convers a t ion w it h the c ardin al over

he ard b y the m u s keteers — Lord de Winter warhed o f
,

our arriv al a t Port s m outh — d A rta g n a n and Atho s to

’ '

y
the B as tile— Ar am i s the lover o f M ad am e de Chevreu s e
—Portho s a fool— M ad am e Bo na 11 c ie u x d isc ov e red; to
.

-
,
 T WO '
K IN D S OF . D EM O N S .
331
s end y o u th e c arri age as s oon as po s s ible — to put my
l acke y under y our orders t o m ake y o u o u t a victi m o f -

the c ardin al th at the abbe s s m ay h ave no s u s pi cion

,
”
Ar m entiere s o n the b ank s o f the L y s is t h at right ?
,
.

Veril y m y de ar C hev alier y o u are a m ir acle of

, ,

m e m or y . B u t b y the way ad d o ne th i ng
, , .

”
And wh at 1 5 th at ?
“

I s aw s o m e very prett y wood s which m u s t p m the ,

g arden s of the convent Say th at I may be allo wed to .

walk in the s e w ood s Wh o kno ws —I m ay perh aps

.

be obliged to e s c ape b y s o m e b ack door .

”
Y o u think o f ever y thin g
“
.

And y o u forget one thing .

Wh at is th at ?
T o as k m e whether I want any m one y
“
.

”
Ex a ctl y h o w m uch will y o u h ave ?
All the gold y o u m ay h ave about y o u .

”
I h ave ne arly five hu ndred pi s tol es .

I h ave about as m an y With a thou sand pi s tole s , .

”
o ne m ay face an y th ing E m pty y our pockets . .

”
T here .

Exc e llent And when d o y o u s e t o ff ?

.

In o ne hour : j u s t ti m e enough to e at a m or s el , wh il t s

”
I s end t o fetch a po s t hor s e -
.

Excellent
“
Adieu count .
,
.

”
Adieu counte s s
,
.

M y co m pli m ent s to the c ardin al .

M y co m pli ment s to S atan

Her l ad y s hip and Roche fort exch anged s m ile s and
'

s ep a r ated .

I n an hour after ward s R o che fort s e t o u t at full s pe ed ;

,

and five hour s after ward s he p as s ed through Arr as , .

O u r re ader s alre ad y kno w h o w he was recogni s ed b y

d A rtag nan and h o w th at recognitio n b y e x c iting the
’
, ,

fe ar s o f o ur four m u s keteer s h ad given a ne w activ ity to

1
,

their jo urne y .
3 32 T H E T H REE I M U S K E T EERS .

C H A PT E R L X I I I .

A DRO P OF W A T ER .

S C A R C E LY h ad Roche fo rt le ft be fore M ad am e B onanc ie u x ,

returned She found her l ad y s hi p with a smiling

.

counten ance
Wel l s aid the youn g wo man wh at y o u fe ared h as
”
, ,
“

h appened T hi s even ing or to m orro w the c ardin al will

.
,
-

s end fo r y o u .

H o w do y ou kno w th at ? as ked her l ad y s hip .

I he ard it fro m the lip s o f the m e s s enger hi m s el f .

Co m e and s it do wn b y m e s aid h er l ad y s hi p but

’

“ 1

fir s t let m e b e s ure th at no one o v e rh e ars us .

And wh y a ll the s e prec aution s ?

”
You will s oon kno w .

H er l ad y s hip aro s e w en t to the door opened it looked

'

, , ,

along the corridor and th en cam e b a ck

“
and s e ated
'

, ,

h er s elf ag ain b y the s ide o f M ad a m e B o nanc ie u x .

“ ”
T hen s aid s h e ag ain
,
“
he pl ay ed h is p art Well , .

Wh o did ?
He wh o introduced : hi m s el f to the ab be s s as th e
‘

”
envo y o f the ca rdin al .

“
Was it then a p art th at h e was pl ay ing ?
, ,
”

”
Y e s m y ch ild
,
.

'
T hen th at m an is not
”
T h a t m an s aid her l ad y s hip
,
dropping h er v o ic e ,
'

i s my brother .

“
Your brother ? excl a i med M ad am e B o nanc ie ux .
1

N obod y but y o u kno ws thi s s ecret m y ch ild ; if y o u ,

s hould entru s t it to an y bod y in th e w e rld I s hould be

' '

,
.

”
ruined and y o u al s o pe rh ap s
,
.

”
“
O h m on D ieu !
,
“
Li s ten : thi s 18 wh at h as t ak en pl ace M y b roth e r
'
.

who wa s co m ing to my a id t o t ake m e a way fro m here

,
’

, ,

by force if nece s s ary m e t the c ardin al s e m i s s ar y wh o

’
, ,

was o n h is way t o fetch m e H e fC llo we d h im O n . .

334 T H E T H REE M U S K E T E ERS .

M adame I Bo nanc ie u x to j oin her T he y wo man

'

. o u ng
,

j oi
ne d h er Roche fort p
andas s e d b y a t a g allop
‘ '

“
Good b y e brother-
s aid her l a d y s hip
,
.

T h e C hev alier r a i s ed h is he ad s aw the t wo y oun g ,

wo m en a nd as he went r a pidl y p as t made a friendl

, ,
y ,

fa re well s alute with h is h and “

”
T h at kind George ! s a id s h e clo s ing the win
“
,

with an expre ss ion o f counten ance full o f affection

mel anchol y .

She then returned and sat do wn in her place as , ,

though plunged ln reflection s o f a per s on al kind

p a rdon me
.

De ar l ad y s a id M ad a m e B o nanc ie u x ,

fo rinterrupting y o u but wh at do y o u advi s e m e to do ?

You h ave m ore e x perience th an I h ave : s peak and I ,

will li s ten ” ,

'

“
I n the fir s t pl a ce s a id her l ad y s hip I m ight
, ,
“

po s s ibl y be deceived and d A rtag nan and h is friend s m ay

,
’

”
re all y be co m ing to y our as s i s tance .

“
O h ! th at would be too fortun a te s a id M ad am e ,

B o nanc ie u x and I fe ar th a t s o m uch h appine s s is n o

“
, t
”
re s erved fo r m e .

“
T hen do y o u s e e it would be m erel y a qu e s t io n o f
, ,
1

ti m e a kind o f r ace as to which would arrive firs t I f

,
'

, .
1

it s hould be y our friend s wh o m ade be s t h as te wh y , ,

then y o u w ould be s aved ; but if it were the ca rdin al s

, ,
’

”
s atellite s then y o u would be ruined
,
.

“
O h ! y e s y e s ! ruined wi thout m erc y
,
B u t wh at .

mu s t I do— wh a t m u s t I d o ?
”

T here is one very s i m ple and ver y nat u ral p lan

'

”
And wh at 1 5 th a t ? T ell m e ?
It would be to wait conce aled 1n the neighbourh o , od ;
and s o to m a ke y our s elf s ure wh o the m e n were wh o
c ame to s eek y o u
”
.

B u t where c an I wait ?
O h th a t 1 5 n o t a m atter o f di fficulty I m y s el f mu s t .
,
, ,

wait a nd conce al m y s el f at a fe w le ague s di s t ance fro m

’

here until m y broth er co m e s to m eet m e Well then I

— a
.
, , ,
”
I
w ill t ake y o u w ith m e we w ill hide a nd w it together .
 A
-
D R O P O F WAT ER . .
33 5
Bu t I
h all not be allo wed to le ave thi s pl ace I am
s
”
alm o s t reg arded as a pri s oner here .

“
A s it is s uppo s ed th a t I le ave on account o f an order
fro m the cardin al it will not be believed th at y o u are
,
!

”
v er a nxiou s to follo w m e
y .

“
Well ? ”

Ver y well T h e c arri age being at the door y ou will

.
,
!

bid me adieu and y o u will get upon the s tep s to e mbrace

, ,

me fo r the l as t ti m e M y brother s s erv ant wh o is ’

.
,

com ing to fetch me being fore warned will give a s ign al

, , .

”
to the po s tillion and we s h all s et o ff at fu ll g allop
,
.

B u t d A rtag nan— if he s hould co me ?

’

”
Sh all we not kno w it ?
”
H ow ?
N othing is more e as y We will s end thi s s erv ant o f .

my brother s in who m I h ave told y ou th at I h a ve the

’
,

g re ate s t confidence b ack to B ethune ; and he s h all

,

di s gui s e hi m s el f and find a lodging oppo s ite the convent

, .

I f it s hould be the c ardi nal s e mi s s arie s wh o co m e he

’

will not s t ir if it s hould be M d A rtag nan and h is friend s

’
.
,
”
he w ill le ad the m to where we are
”
H e kno ws the m then ? ,

Certainl y ; h as he not s een M d A rtag nan at my .

’
,

”
hou s e ?
“
Oh ! y e s y e s y o u are right
, ,
T hu s all will g o ou .
,
'

well . B u t do not let u s go t o o far away fro m here .

Seven o r eight le ag ue s at the m o s t We w ill keep .

upon the frontier s and upon the fir s t al ar m quit

, , ,

Fr ance ” .

“
Wh at mu s t w e do in the m e anti m e ?
Wa it ”
.

B u t if the y s hould co m e ?
M y brother s c arri age will arrive be fore the m
’

S uppo s e I s hould be away fro m y o u when it arrive s

.

”
at dinner or a t s upper fo r ex ample ?
, ,
“
T ell our good abbe s s th at in order th at we m ay be
'

, ,

as little ap art a s po s s ible y o u re q ue s t her to allo w o

y u ,

to t ake y our me al s with m e .

336 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EER S .

Will s h e per m it
Wh at objection there be to it ? Go do wn n ow
can
to her and m ake y our req ue s t
, I feel my hea d a littl
he av y and s o I s h all take a turn in the g arden
.

”
,

And where m ay I s e e y o u ag ain ?

.

H ere in o ne hour fro m thi s ti m e

, .

Here in one hour ! Oh ! y o u a re very kind and I

, .
,
”
th ank y o u
H ow sho
.

uld I avoid being intere s ted in y o u ? Eve n

if y o u h ad not been be a uti ful an d ch ar m ing are y o u not ,
”
t
h e frien d o f one o f m y be s t friend s ?
De ar d A rtag nan ’
O h h o w he will th ank y o u
I hope s o Co m e it is all arrang ed ; let u s g o do wn
,
”
,
.
.

Y o u are going to the g arden ? Proceed a long thi s

”
c o rrid o r i a little s t a ir ca s e le ad s y o u to it
i

Good T h ank y o u .

And the t wo l adie s s e p arated exch anging ch ar m in g ,

s m ile s .

Her l ad y s hip h ad s poken the truth ; her he ad was

h eav y for her proj ect s b adl y arr anged cl as h e d ag ain st
, , ,

e ach other as in ch ao s She h ad need to b e alone th at

.

s h e m ight put a little order into her ide a s She s aw .

di m l y into the future ; but it required s o m e m o m ent s o f

s ilence and tr anqu illit y to give to thi s con fu s ed as s e mbl age

of conc eption s a definite for m a nd a decid e d pl an Wh at , .

was no w m o s t urgent was to c ar r y o ff M ad am e B on an ,

cieux and put her in a pl ace o f s ecurity ; and then

, ,

s hould her g am e fa il to u s e h e r as a i h o s tag e H er

,
.
.

l ad y s hip beg an to dre ad the is s ue of thi s terrible duel ,

in w hi ch her e ne m ie s were quite as per s evering a s s h e .

h er s el f wa s unrelenting Be s ides s h e felt a s o ne feel s

.
, ,

the appro ach of a s tor m th at the i ss ue was ne ar and , ,

'

would not fa il to be fe a rful .

T h e princip al point fo r her was as we h ave s aid to , - ,

get po s s e s s ion o f M ad am e Bo nanc ie u x By thi s m e an s .

’
s h e w ould hold in her h and s the li fe o f d A rtag nan ; o r
m ore e ven th an h is li fe fo r s h e would hold th at o f the
, '

wo m an he loved In c as e o f unpro s pe rou s fortune it

.
,
 '

33 8 THE T H RE E M U S K E T EE RS .

h ave to tr avel a p art o f the night we m u s t recruit our ,

”
s trength .

Gre at God s aid M ad am e B o nanc i pl acing

“
. eu x ,

h and s upon her he art ; I am choking— I c annot wa

“
Cour age — co m e t ake cour age ! T hink th at in a
,

q u a rter o f an hour y o u will be s afe and think th at wh a t ,

o u are about to do 1 8 done fo r h i s s ake

y .

“
Oh y es — all all fo r h im ! You h ave re stored rri
, ,
.

y .

”
coura ge b y th at s ingle word Go I will rejoin y o u .
1 . .

H er l ad y s hip went h as til y up to her o wn roo m wh ere ,

found Roche fort s v alet and g ave h im h is ii

’
sh e i ,

s tru c t io ns H e was to wait fo r her at the g ate if

'

. .
,

b y ch ance the m u s keteer s s hould a rrive he was to g o

, ,

off at a g allop m ake the circui t of the convent and

, ,

wait fo r her at a little vill age wh ich was s itu ated on

.
,

th e other s ide o f the wood I n th at c as e her l ad y shi p .

,

Would walk through th e g arden and re ach the villag e ,

o n foot : we h ave alre ad y s aid th a t s h e was perfectl y

'

.
.

well a cqu a inted with thi s p art o f Fr ance I f th e .

m u s keteer s s hould not m ake their appea r ance every ,

th ing would be conducted as h ad b een previou sl y

.

arr anged M ad am e Bo nancieu x was to get into the

.

carri age on the pretext o f wi s hing her once m ore,

'

, ,

adieu and s h e would then e s c a pe with her

,
.

M ad ame B onancieu x c am e in ; and to re m ove all »

s u s picion if s h e h ad a ny her l ad ys hip repe ated to the v alet

, ,

in her pre s ence the l atter p art o f h is in s tru ction s Her

, .

l ad y s hip then made s o me inquirie s about the carr iage : it

was a ch a i s e dr awn b y three h ors e s and driv en " b y a '
‘

, ,

po s tillion T h e v alet was to precede it as a courier

. .

H er l ad y s h ip was altogether wrong in fe aring th at

s u s picion troubled M ad am e B o nanc ieu x T h e poor .
'

y oung w o m a n was to o hone s t her s elf to s u s pect a nother

o f s o bl ack a p e rfi dy B e s ide s the n am e o f L ad y de

.
,

Winter which s h e h ad he ard m entioned b y the abbe s s

, ,

was entirel y unkno wn to her and s h e had not i m agined

th at a wo m an h ad per for m ed s o l arge and fat al a p art in ,

bringing about the m i s fortune s of her li fe .

 A D R O P OF WAT E R .
339
“
You id her l ad y s hip when the v alet h ad
s e e, sa ,

le ft the roo m th a t ever y thing is re ad y T h e abbe s s

,
“
.

h as not the s lighte s t s u s picion and full y believe s th at ,

I a m s ent fo r b y the c ardin al T h e m an h as gone o u t .

to give h is fin a l order s : e at s o m ething ho wever little ; ,

”
drink a thi m ble ful o f wine and let u s be o ff .

“
Y e s s aid M ad am e B onanc ie u x mech anic ally
,
“
y e s , ,
”
let u s be o ff !

H er l ad y s hip m ade her a s ign to s it do wn— poured

out fo r her a s m all gl as s o f Sp ani s h wine and helped ,

her to a p ar t o f t he bre as t o f a chicken .

”
“
T here s a id s h e,
ever y thing is p rO p itio u s : here is
,
“

th e night appro a ching ; at d ay bre ak we s h all h ave

re ached h is retre at and no one will S u s pect where we , d

”
are . Co m e h a ve courag e and t ake s o m ething
, ,
.

M ad am e B onanc ie u x ate two o r three m outh ful s -

,

m ech anic all y and j u s t put her lip s t o the wine

, . .

”
“
Com e co m e s aid her l ad y s hip li fting her o wn
, , ,
'

”
gl as s to ward s her m outh d o as I do ,
“
.

B u t at the m o m ent s h e was about to drink her h and

, , .

wa s s uddenl y arre s ted Her e ar s c aught the di s t ant .

s ound o f a n a ppro aching g allop o n the ro ad ; a nd then ,

a l m o s t at the s am e in s t ant s h e s ee m ed to he ar the ,

neighing o f hor s e s T hi s s ound de s tro y ed her exultation

.
,

a s the upro ar o f a s tor m a waken s u s fro m a delightful

,

dre am She gre w p ale an d ran to the windo w ; whil s t

.
,

M ad am e B o nanc ie u x wh o h ad got up tre m bled s o as , ,

to be obliged to s upport her s el f with a ch air fo r fe ar

o f falling
. N othing h ad beco m e y et vi s ible but the
. .
,

g alloping wa s m ore di s tinctl y he ard .

”
Oh m Go d ! s a id M ad a m e B onanc ie u x
y , ,

c an th at no is e be ?
“
T h at o f o u r friend s o r o u r e n e m 1 es s a id her l ad
y ,

s hip with a terrible co m po s ure

, Re m a in where y o u .
“

”
a re an d I w ill g o a n d a s cert a in
,
.

M a da m e B o nan c ie u x re m a ined s tanding m ute m ot ion , ,

le s s and p ale as a s ta tue T h e s ound beca m e m ore

,
.

a udible T h e hor s e s could not be m ore th an a hundred

.
 '

3 40 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

"

fi fty y ard s o ff but were not y e t vi s ible o n acco unt

'

a nd
:

1
, , ,

o f a tu r n ing in the ro ad S till th e noi s e was no w s o

'

di s tinct th at the nu m ber o f the hor s e s might h ave b een

,

counted b y the cl attering o f their 1 ro n hoo fs .

Her l ad y s hi p g azed with the m o s t inten s e attention :

'

there was j u s t light enough to recogni s e tho s e wh o wer e

appro a ching Suddenl y at the turn o f th e ro ad s h e
.
, ,
’
s aw the glitter o f l a ced h at s an d the w aving o f plu m e s ; ,

s h e c o u nte d t wo then five

‘

then eight hor s e m en O ne

, , .

of t h e m was t wo length s in adv ance o f h is co mp ani on s

'

Her l ad y s hip g ave utterance to a ho wl In the fore m o s t .

’
rider s h e recogni s ed d A rt ag nan .

“
O h m o n Dieu ! m o n Dieu !
,
'

excl a i med M ad ame

Bo nanc ie u x wh at is the m atter ?
,
“

It is t h e uni form o f the c ardin al s gu ard s : there as

'
“ ’

not a m o ment to be lo s t excl ai m ed her l ad y sh ip ,

'

“
Let u s fly ! let u s fly
“
Y e s y e s let u s fly
,
repe ated M ad am e B o nanc ie u x
, , ,

but without the po wer o f m oving one s tep rooted as ,

s h e wa s t o her pl a ce b y terror .

T h e hor s e m en were he ard p as s ing under the w indo w .

”
Co m e along ! co m e along ! s aid her l ad y s hip
.

ende av ouring to d rag the y oung wo m an b y the arm

-
-
.

“
T h ank s to th e g a rden we m ay y e t e s c a pe fo r I h ave
‘

, ,

t the k e B u t let u s m a ke h as te : in le s s th an fi ve
g o y .
1
,

m inute s i t will b e t o o l ate f

M ad am e B onanc ie u x atte m pted to walk but after

-
, ‘ ,

t aking t wo s tep s fell upon her knee s ,

.

H er lad y s hip atte m pted t o li ft her up and c arry h e r ,

but s h e found her s el f un able At th is m o m e nt the y

'

he ard the wheel s o f th e c arri age wh ic h o n the appe arance , ,

o f the m u s keteer s went o ff at a g allop ; and then three ,

o r four s hot s re s ou n ded .

For the l as t ti m e w ill y o u co m e ? excl ai m ed her

“
,

l ad y s hip .

“
O h ! m y God ! m y Go d ! y o u s e e th a t m y s trength
‘

is all gone : y o u s e e th at I c annot walk ! F ly an d

. 1 .

s av e l y o u rs e lf .
3 42 T H E T H REE M U S K E T EE RS .

roo m . M ad am e B o nan c ie u x h ad fallen on a ch air

-

without the po wer o f m otion

’
D A rtag nan c as t a way .

a s till s m oking pi s to l which h e held in h is h and , an d ,

fell upon h is knee s be fore h is m i s tre s s

-
Atho s repl aced .
,

his pi s tol in h is belt ; and Porth o s and Ar am i s returned .

th e s word s which the y h ad dr awn into th eir s he ath s

, , .
1

O h d A rt ag n an m y b eloved d A rtag nan y o u co m e

“ ’ ’
,

at l a t
s ! Y o u d id n o t deceive m e it -is re all y y o u

Y e s y e s Con s ta nce we a re at las t united

’

'

, , , ,

Oh ! s iz e told m e in v a in th at y o u would never , ,

co m e I al way s s ecretl y exp e cted it j I d id gnot wi s h

. .

t o fly . O h h o w w i s el y I h a ve ch o s en ! h o w h app y
,
”
I am !
At thi s word s iz e Ath o s wh o h ad quietl y s at do wn,
-
, ,

s uddenl y aro s e .

S h e ? Wh o is siz e ? de m anded d A rtag n an

’ ‘

Wh y m y co m panion — s h e wh o t hrough affection

, ,
,

fo r m e w i s h ed to w ithdr aw m e fro m m y per s ecutor s L

,
.
-

’
s h e wh o t aking y o u fo r th e c ardi n al s gu ard s h as
, ,
”
j u s t fled .

“
Your co m p anion ! e xcla i m ed d A rtag nan be '
’
,

co m ing p aler th an the w hite veil o f h is m i s tre s s ; of

”
wh at co m p anion are y o u t alking ?
“
O f h er wh o s e c arri age was a t th e door— o f a wo m an
wh o c alled hers el f y our friend d A rtag nan— o f a wo man
.

to who m y o u confided all o u r s ecrets

’
.

“
Her n am e ? excl a i med d A rtag nan; do y o u not
” “ ’

kno w her n am e ?
“
Y es I do ; the y m e ntione d i t be fore m e
, Wait .
'

but it is ver y s tr ange—O h m y God my he ad b eco m e s

,

con fu s ed —I c anno t s e e an y th ing

,
,

-
z

Co m e here m y friend s co m e here —her h and s are

,

ic y ,
m
excl ai ed d A r ta g n an— s h e is
’
very ill Gre at “
.

”
Go d s h e is beco m ing uncon s ciou s .

. Wh ils t u Po rt h o s was calling for help with all the

po wer o f h is lung s Ar am i s ran for a gl as s o f water ; but
,
‘

he s topped on beholding the fe arful alter ation in th e

counten ance o f Atho s wh o w as s tand ing b e fo re t h e
'

r
,
 A D R O P O F WAT E R 3 43
'

.
.

ta ble with h is h air o n end and h is feature s frozen with

'

terror looking into one o f the gl as se s and s ee m ing to

, ,

be a pre y to the m o s t hor rible s u s p icion .

“
O h ! s a id Atho s oh no ! it is i m po s s ible ! Such ,
“
,

a cri m e would never be per m itted b y the Al m ight y ! .

”
“
Som e water ! s o m e water ! cried d A rtag nan ’

s o m e water f
’
,

Oh ! poor wo man ! poor wo man m ur mured

'

Atho s in a faltering voice .

M ad a m e B o nanc ie u x opened her e y e s once m ore at ,

the c are ss e s o f d A rtag nan ’

.

S he is reco v e ring her s en s e s ! e x cla1m ed the y oung

,

m an ; oh m y God m y Go d ,
I th ank thee , .

”
“
M ad am s aid Athos in the n am e of H ea ven to
, ,
“
,

who m doe s thi s e m pt y gl as s belong

”
T o m e s ir replied the y oung wo man in a fail i ng
, , ,

voice .

B u t wh o poured out the wine which it conta ined P

”
She did .

Bu t wh o is s iz e
Ah , I re m e m b e r
. no w, sa id M adam e B o n anc ie ux
L ad y de Winter .
”

T h e four friend s uttered o n e un ani m ou s cry ; but the !

voice o f Atho s overpo wered all the others At the s am e .

m o ment M ad am e B o nanc ie u x becam e livi d ; a de adly ,

s p as m a s s a iled her a nd s h e fell p anting into th e a r ms
,

o f Por tho s and Ar a m i s

D A rtag nan gr as ped the h and s o f Atho s in i n

.

’
de
”
s crib a ble angui s h Ah ! s aid he wh at do y o u ;
“ “
.
,

believe H is voice was choked by s ob s .

I believe the wor s t replied Atho s biting h is lip s

”
, ,

until the y bled .

’
D A rtag nan ! excl a i m ed M ad am e B o nanc le u x ,

w here are y o u ? Don t le a v e m e— y o u s ee tha t I am ’

ab out to die !

D A rtag nan l
’
e t go the h a nd s o f Atho s which he h ad ,

pre s s ed convul s ivel y and ran to her Her counten an c e, ,

.

be fore so b eauti ful , was no w e ntirel y di s torted ; her

“

,
3 44 T H E T H R EE M U S K E T EE RS .

gl as sy e y e s no longer s aw a convul s ive s huddering ,

a git ated her whole fr am e ; and my drop s w ere s tre a m ing

fro m her bro w .

1
In the n ame o f H e aven run— Ar am i s — Portho s
“
,

an d obt a in s o m e a s s i s t ance
'
All is us ele ss ! said Atho s ; all is u s ele s s ! T o
” “
‘

the poi s on which siz e pour s there 15 no an tidote , .

Yes“
y es — , help ! help !
”
m ur m ured M ad a m e
B o nanc ie u x T hen .collecting all her s trengt h s h e
,
. .

,
1

took the h and o f the y oung m an bet ween her t wo h and s ,

looked at h im fo r an in s t ant as t hough her whole s oul

were in th at l as t look and with a s obbing c ry s h e , , ,

pre s s ed her lip s u p on h is .

Con s t ance ! Con s t ance l excl ai m ed d Artag nan

“ -
’
.
‘

O ne s igh c am e fro m her lip s bre athing over tho s e o f ;

d A
’
d th t igh iw the p ge f her
'

rt a g n an ; a n a s as a s s a o
'

l oving s oul t o eternity .

D A rtag nan held onl y a li fele s s bod y i n h is ar m s

’ '

H e uttered a c ry and fell be s ide h is m i s tre ss as p ale

, ,

and m otionle s s a s her s el f

Po rt h o s wep t ; Ar am
.

o
i s r a i s ed h is h and to he aven ;
Atho s cro ss ed hi m s el f .

At t h at m o m ent a m an appe ared at the door al m o s t

‘ '

a s p ale a s t h o s e z wh o were in the ch am ber He looked .

and s a w M ad am e B o nanc ie u x de a d
'

a round h im ,
an d ,
’
d A rt ag nan uncon s ciou s H e entered j u s t at the .

m o m ent o f th at s tupor wh ich s ucceed s gre at c at as trophe s .

I was not m i s t aken ,

“
t s aid he th at is M , .

d A rtag nan ; and y o u are h is three friend s , M e s s ieur s

’

Atho s ?Portho s and Aram i s ”

, .

T he y who s e n ame s h ad been p ro no u nce d lo o k e d at '

,

the s tr anger with as toni s h m ent and all tho ugh t th at th e y ,

recog ni s ed h im .

s a id the ne wco m er like m el f “

ou s
y .

y , , ,
”
are s eeking a wo man wh o a dded b e with a terrible
, , ,

m u s t h ave been pre s ent here— fo r I s e e a de ad

'

s m ile
“ m
,
”
bo d y fi
n The three friend s re mained s peechle s s ; bu t ! the voice ,
~
3 46 THE T H RE E M U S K ET E E RS .

” ’
Oh , y es , y e s l cri ed d A rtag nan if i t be to avenge ’

,
“

her , I am re ad y to follo w y o u .
’

Atho s took a dv anta ge o f thi s m o m enta r y s trength ,

which the hope o f v enge ance h ad g iven t o h is nu

‘

fortun ate friend to make a s ign to Portho s and Ar am i s

,

to fetch the abbes s T he t wo friend s m e t h e r in the .

'

corridor alre ad y m uch con founded an d di s turbed b y s o

,

man y events She c alled s o m e O f the s i s ter s Wh o

.
, ,

contra ry to their conventu al h abits found the ms elve s in ,

1

the pre s ence o f five m e n

‘

”
“
M ad am e s aid Atho s putting h is arm un d er th at o f
, ,

we le a ve to y our piou s c are the b od y Of

’
d A rt ag nan “
,

thi s un fortun ate wo m an She was an angel upon e arth .

1
,
.

be fore s he bec am e a s a int in he aven T re at her as if 1

.

s h e h ad been o ne o f y our s i s ter s : we willire t u rn s o m e

”
d ay to pr ay fo r her s oul 1
1

D A rt ag nan hid h is face a g a in s t Atho s s l b re as t and

’ ’
1
,

s obbed violentl y .

s a id Ath o s we ep h e art ful l o f love an d “

, ,

outh a n d li fe Al as w o u ld t h at I could weep a s o u

y ,
. .

y
”
do ! And he led h is friend a way affection atel y a s a ‘

é -

fath er con s olingl y as a prie s t; and fir m l y as a m an who

, ,
1

h ad hi m s elf s u ffered m u ch .

All five follo wed b y their s erv ant s le ading their hor s e s
, ,

where the
'

th e n l we nt to ward s the to wn o f B ethune 1

s uburb s w ere within s ight ; a n d the y s topped at the fir s t

hotel t he y found .

” ’
B u t as ked d A rtag n an
,
a re we n o t going to follo w ,

th at w o m anP
i

B y an d b y
'

s a id Atho s but I h a ve s o m e prep ar a

,
“ '

”
tion s to m ake .

“
She will e s c ape s aid the young m am — s h e w ill “

es ca pe Atho s an d it W
,
’

,
ill be y ou r fault:
,
“
I will an s wer fo r her s aid A tho s ,
.

D A rt ag na n h ad s uch per fect confidence in his friend s

’ ’

pr om is e th at he bo wed h is he ad and enter ed the hotel

, ,

without m aking the le as t repl y Portho s and Aram i s .

looked at e a ch other at a lo s s t o under st and the m e aning ,

 THE M AN IN THE RED CL O AK .
3 47
of Athos Lord de Winter thought th at he s ought only
.

’
to s oothe the grie f of d A rtag nan .

“
N o w gentle m en
,
s aid Atho s when he h ad as c e r
, ,
.

ta in e d th at there were five unoccupied ch amber s in the

hotel let e ach o f u s retire to h is roo m D A rtag nan
,
“
.
’

Ought t o be alone to weep a nd 1 to s leep I t ake ,

. .

ch arge of every thing m ake y ours elve s per fectl y e as y .

’

“
It appe ar s t o m e h o wever s aid Lord de Winter
”
, , ,

th at if any m e a s ure s are to be t aken ag ain s t the

counte s s ; the concern is m ine s eeing th at s h e is my ,
”
s i s ter in—law
-
.

”
“
And s aid Atho s s h e is m y wi fe l
, ,
“

D A rtag nan s ta rted fo r h e wa s s a ti s fied th a t Atho s

’
,

was s ure o f h is revenge to reve al s uch a s ecret Portho s ,

.

and Ar a m i s looked a t one a nother in con s tern ation ;

and Lord de Winter though t th a t Atho s h ad gone m ad ,

.

”
Retire the n sa id Atho s a n d le av e me to a c t
“
.
.
, .
, ,

Y o u s e e th a t in m y c a p ac ity o f hu s b and thi s affair

,
1
,
1

belong s to m e O nl y ; d A rtag nan, if y o u h ave no t lo s t

’
.

it give m e th a t pa per which fell fro m the m an s h at and

,
’
,
”
on which the n am e o f a v illag e is w ritten 1
.
1

“
Ah cried d A rtag nan I u nders t and th at n ame
’
,
“ ‘
1
.

is writ ten by her h and

“ ”
You s ee, s aid Athos th at there is s till a Go d in ,
“

”
he ave n .

C H AP T E R L X I V .

T H E M AN
‘

IN .
THE RE D C LO AK .

T H E des p a1r Of Atho s h ad given pl ac e to a co ncentr ated :

rie f w hi c h m ad e the brilli a nt qu a li i f the m eve

'

t
'

g , e 5 o an n 1

m ore lucid Entirel y engro s s e d b y one thought—th at

'

o f the pro m i s e h e h ad m a de , and o f t h e re s p n s ibilit y

o
he h ad underta ken— h e was the l as t to retire into h is
ch am ber , where he reque s ted the l andlord to bring h im
a m a p o f the province ; and then he be nt hi m s el f over
“

i,
t ex a m ined the li ne s tr a ced o n it,
an d , a sc e rt a inin g
3 48 T H E T H REE
1
M U SK E T E ERS
h a t four di fferent ro a d s led fro m B ethune to Ar m enti ere s
t ,

he ordered th e v alet s to be c alled .

Pl anch et Gri m aud M ou s queton and B azin entered

, , ,
:

and received th e cle ar preci s e and s er iou s di rection s ,

'

,
.

o f A tho s At bre ak of day the next m orning the y

.
, ,

were to s e t o ff and proceed to Ar m enti ere s ; e a ch b y a

,
,

di fferent ro ad Pl anchet the m o s t intelligent o f the

.
,

four was to follo w th at which h ad been taken b y the

!
“

c arri age at which the three friend s h ad fired and which ,

was attended as m ay be re m e m bered b y the l acke y o f

, ,

Count Roche fort .

Atho s intru s ted the v alet s with thi s duty fir s t bec au s e “ ‘

, ,

s ince the s e me n h ad been in h is s ervice o r in th a t o f

‘

h is friend s he h ad perceived in ea ch o f th e m s o m e
‘
' 1

di fferent a nd u s e ful qu ality ; and next bec au s e s erv ant s , ,

a waken les s s u s picion th a n their m as ter s in the m ind s

o f the pe a s ant s , a nd excite m ore s y m p a th y in the m ind s

o f tho s e who m the y a ddres s A nd las tly her l ad y s hip .
,
1
,

kne w the m as ter s wh il s t s h e did nOt kno w th e s erv ant s

, ,

wh o on the other h and kne w her l ad y s hip well T he y

’

,
.
,

were all fo u r t o be at an appointed pla ce at eleven

'

o clock the next d ay I f the y h ad di s cov ered her l ad y

’
.

s hip s retre at three o f the four were to re m

’
a in t O wat c h
'

her and the fourth was to return to B ethune to in for m

, ,
.
,

Atho s and to guide the three friend s

,
.

T he s e arr ange m ent s being m ade the v alet s withdre w , .

Atho s then aro s e fro m h is s e at girded o n h is s word , ,

w r apped hi m s el f up in h is clo ak and le ft the hotel It , .

’
was abou t ten o clock ; and at te n at night in the :
,

province s the s treets are but little frequented N ever

, .

th e le s s Atho s evidentl y was looking out fo r s o m e one

, ,

o f who m h e could a s k a que s tion A t l as t he m et a . ,

,
r

l ate p as s enger went up to h im and s poke a fe w word s

,
, ,
'
.

T h e m an he addre s s ed s t arted b ack in fe ar ; but y e t he

an s wered the inquir y o f the m u s keteer b a s ign A tho
y s
1
.

o ffe re d t h e m an h al f a pi s tole tQ
. acco m p a n y h im 1 but '
,

h e re fu s ed it Atho s then proceeded do wn th e s treet

.

whi c h ; the m an h ad indic ated w ith h is fin ger ; b u t,

 M u s k ET E E R s
‘

3 50
1

THE T H REE .

into a lab o rato ry wh e re he was eng aged in j oining

'

,
‘

together with iron w ire s the cl attering bone s o f a

,
'
,

s keleton All th e bod y was alre ad y adj u s ted and the

.
,

h ead alone wa s l y ing on the t able All the furniture

'
“

ind icated th a t th e o wner o f the roo m in whic h the y ‘

were was eng aged in n atur al s cience T here were bottle s .

,

filled with s erpents , l abelled a cc o rd ing t o their kind s ; and ‘

dried liz ard s s hining like e m er ald s s e t in l arge fr ame s o f

, ,
.

bl ack wood And l as tl y ; boxe s of w ild s we e t s m elling

‘

' ’
1 -
, ,
. .

pl ant s g i fted u ndoubtedl y with virtue s unk no wn to m an

,

kind in g ener al were f as tened to the ceilin g and hung

, ,

do wn the corner s o f the roo m B u t there was no fa m il y . .

no s erv ant : the t all m an inh abited the hou s e alone f

1

Ath o s c as t a cold and indi fferent gl ance on the obj ect s . .

we h ave j u s t d e s crib e d and o n the invitation o f the ,

.
1

man who m h e h ad com e to s eek , s at do wn oppo s ite .

h im .He then expl ained the c au s e o f h is

the s ervi ce h e re qu ire d o f h im ; but s c arcel y had he
'

s ta ted h is de m and be fore the s tr anger w h o h ad re m a ined

, ,
'

s t a nding be fore the m u s keteer s t arted b a ck i m affright

‘

1
, ,

and re fu s ed Atho s then dre w fro m h is pocket a s m all

.
‘

p aper on which two line s and a s ign ature were written

, ,

a cco m p anied b y a s e al a nd pre s ented it to him wh o h ad ,

s ho wn the s e s ign s o f repugn ance s o pre m aturel y : T he !

tall man h ad s c arcel y read th e t wo line s and s ee n the

‘
‘
,

s ign ature an d recogni s ed the s e al be fore he bo wed h is

, ,

he ad a s a token th at he h ad no longer any objection

'

to m ake and th at he was prep ared to Obe y Atho s

,
.

de m anded noth ing m ore : he aro s e le ft th e hous e , ,

returned b y the ro ad he h ad co m e and t e entering -

th e h otel s hut hi ms el f up in h is o wn c li
, ,

,
amb er .

A t day bre ak d Arta gn an e ntered h is roo m and as ke d

’
, ,

h im wh at the y were to do .

“1
Wait replied Athos , .

A fe w m o m ent s after the s u p e rior Of the convent s ent

'
‘

to in for m the m u s keteer s th at the funer al would tak e '

pl ace at m idd ay A s fo r the m urdere s s no tidings o f

1
.
-
.

her h ad been he ard It was ho wever cle ar th at s h e .

, ,
 THE MA N =
IN T H E R ED CL O AK .
3 5:
m u s t h ave fled through the g arden , on gr avel who s e
'

p ath s the trace s o f her s tep s could be di s cerned a nd

.
,

who s e door h ad been found locked with the k e y m i s s ing ,

.

At the appointed hour Lord de Winter and th e four ,

friend s proceeded to the convent T h e bell s were s ound .

ing the ch apel was Open , and the gr ating o f the choir
,
.

alone was clo s ed In the m id s t o f th e choir the body o f

.

the victi m clothed in the dre s s of a novice la y expo s ed

,
.
,
.

On ever y s ide o f the choir and behind the gr ating le ading ,

to the convent the whole co mm unit y o f the C arm elite s

,

was as s e m bled li s tening to the s acred s ervice

,
and ,
1
1

m ingling th e ir s trains with the s o ng s o f the prie s ts with

.
,

out s eeing the la ity or bein g s een b y the m ,

.

At the door of the ch apel d A rtag nan felt his res olution ’

wavering a g ain and t u rned to look for Atho s ; but h e

, .
-

h ad di s appe ared Fa ith ful to his m i s s ion o f venge ance

.
,

Atho s h ad been s ho wn into the ga rden an d there o n the , ,

gr a vel follo wing the light s tep s o f th at wo m an wh o h ad

,

le ft a tr a ck o f blood wh e re v e r s h e h ad p as s ed h e p ro '

,
- 1
‘

ce e de d on wa rd s until h e re a ched th e door which opened

.
1

011 the wood H e h ad thi s door unclo s ed and he plunged

.
,

into the fore s t B u t there all h is s u s picion s were c o n

.
, ,

fir m ed T h e ro ad b y which th e ca rri a ge h ad di s ap p e ar ed
.

s kirted the w ood Atho s follo wed the ro ad fo r s o m e

.

di s t ance with h is ey e s fixed upon the ground Slight

,
.
.

which proceeded fro m a wound inflicted

'

s pot s o f blood ,
.

ei ther on th e courier or o n O o f the hor s e s were

’

n e
,

perceptible on the ro ad About three qu a rters o f a .

-

le ague o ff and fi ft y p aces fro m Fe s tubert a l arge s pot

, ,

o f blood was vi s ible and the ground was trodden b y ,

hors e s B et ween the wood and th is de nu nc iato ry s pot

.
‘

a nd r ather behind the tr am pled e arth tr a ce s o f the s a m

'

e ,

s m all s tep s as tho s e in the g arden were di s tingui s h ed .

T h e c arri age there fore h ad wa ited h ere ; and here her

, ,
.

l ad y s hip h ad le ft the wood and g o t into it ,

S ati s fied with thi s di s cover y which confir m ed all h is ,

conj ecture s Atho s returned to the hotel whe re h e ifo u nd

, ,

Planchet i m pa tientl y a waiting h im

~

Ever ything h a d .
3 52 T H E .T HR E E M U S K E T EE RS .

'
h a ppened ex a ctl y as Atho s h ad fore s een . Pl anchet h ad .

follo wed the p ath s h e h ad t aken h ad like Atho s Ob s erved , ,

th e m ark s o f blood ; like Atho s he t o o h ad d is c e rne d

'
'

.
, , ,

the s pot w here the c arri age s topped B ut he h ad gone o n .

farther th an Atho s ; s o th at in the v ill age o f Fe s tubert

’
1

, ,

whil s t drinking in a ta vern he h ad without the trouble , ,

o f inq uir y , le arned th a t at h al f p as t eight y es terd ay

“
,
-

evening a wounded m an wh o attended a l ad y t ravelli ng

, ,

in a po s t c arri age h ad been obliged to s top fro m

'

- ~
, ,

in ability to p ro c e e d farth e r T h e accident h ad b e e n .

1

.
' ~

i mputed to robber s wh o h ad s topped the c arri age in

.

,
.

the woo d T h e man h ad re main e d in th e vill age but

'

» ,

the wo man h ad exch anged hor se s and proceeded on her ,

journe y . 1

Pl anchet hunted o u t the po s tillion wh o h ad driven the

.

c arri age and found h im He h ad t aken the l ad y to

,
.
.

Fontenelle s and fro m F o nte ne lles s h e h ad gone o n to ward

,

Ar m enti ere s Pl anch et h ad t aken a cro s s ro ad and at

.
-
,

h al f p as t s even in th e m orning he was at Ar me nti ere s

-
.

T here was onl y one hotel there and Pl anchet pr es ented ,

h i m s el f at it as a s erv ant wh o was lo oking out fo r a

-

s itu ation H e h ad not t alked ten m inute s with the s erv ant s
.

o f the inn be fore b e as cert a ined th at a wo m a n h ad ar

,
rived
alone at t en o clock the night be fore h ad hired a roo m
’
, ,

h ad s ent fo r the l andlord , and h ad told h im th a t s h e -

wi s h ed to re m ain fo r s o m e ti m e in the neighbourhood .

Pl anchet wanted to kno w nothing m ore He h as ten e d .

.

t o the pl ace o f a ppoint m ent found the three other v alet s ,

at their po s t s pl aced the m a s s entinel s at all the ou tlets

,

fro m the hotel and returned to Atho s wh o h ad j u s t , ,

fini s hed receiving th i s i n for mation fro m Pl anchet when

h is friend s returned 1 1
'
1

A ll th e ir fa ce s were indic ative o f gloo m— even the

"
'

gentle counten ance o f Ar a m i s .

Wh at m u s t we do s a id d A rt a g nan
’
.

Wait replied Atho s

”
. .

E ac h re tire d to b i s Own ch a m ber

.
. .

At eight o cl ock in the evening Ath o s ordered th e

’
,
 T H E T H R E E 1 M US K E I E ER S
’ ‘

3 54 .

and olita r y before the m ; and then the fl as h e x

s , ,
‘

ting u is h e d every th ing ag ain was , gloo m A t eve ry

,
.
1

’
ins tant Atho s was obliged t o check d Art agn an wh o .
,

was al way s at th e h ea d o f the little tro op and to co mp e l ,

h im to take h is pl ace in th e r ank which a m o m ent , ,

1

after ward s he quitted ag ain H e h ad Onl y One th ou g ht

,
.

to go for ward— and he w ent 1 1 .

1 .

T he y p as s ed in s ilenc e through th e vi llag e

’

oi
1 1
" 1
1
1
. .

F e s tubert wh ere the wounded s erv ant ha d been left

'

1 1 1
1
, ,

and then the y s kirted the vill age of Riche bourg . .

H aving re ach ed H erlier, :Pl anchet wh o guided the ,

1
1
1

p arty turned to th ele ft

, .

O n s ever al occ as ion s either Lord de Win te r or , ,

Portho s or Ar am i s h ad ende avoured to addre ss s o me

’

, ,

re m ark to the man in the red clo ak ; b ut ; at each .

inter rog ation he h ad bo wed h is he a d w ithout r eply

,
1
.

T h e tr avellers h ad thu s co m prehended th a t there was

s o m e re a s on fo r the s tr anger s s ilence, and the y ha d
’

ce as ed to a ddre s s h im .
1 1

T h e s tor m to o bec ame m ore violent : flas h es r a pidl y

, ,
1 1

s ucce eded o ne another ; th e t h u nd erb e g an t o roll ; an d

the wind the precur s or o f the h u rric ane wh iStle d through
,
1

the p lu mes t and h air o f the h orsem e n T h e c a v alcad e . .

broke into a fas t trot i A little way b e yo nd F ro m elles

. . .
,

the s tor m bur s t forth T here we re s till three le ague s to

'

1
. .

tr avel and th ey rode the m am id s t torr ent s o f r ain

1 . .
1

D A rtag nan h ad taken o ff b i s h at and did not we ar

’
1
,

h is clo ak H e found s o m e ple as ure in letti ng the water

.
,

flo w over h is burning bro w and over h is bod y , agit a ted ,

b y the he at s o f fever .

At the m o m ent th at the little troop h ad p a s s ed be y ond

Go s k al an d was j u s t arr iving at the ch ange h ou s e a
,
.
-
,

man wh o in the d arkne s s h ad been con founded with

, ,
r
the trunk o f : a tree under whi ch he h ad s heltered
1 _

hi ms el f adv anced in to the m iddle o f the ro ad pl acing

,
:
,

h is finger o n h is lip s At ho s recogni s ed .

Wh at is the matter no w ? re x c la im e d d A rtag nan

” i
.

”
C an s h e h ave quitted Ar m enti ere s ? 1 1
1
 TH E J U D GM E NT
' "

3 55
1
1
. 1

Gri m aud gave an a ffir ma tive nod o f the he ad :

‘
1
. .
1

D A rtag nan ground h is t eeth

’ 1

Silence “
s a id : Atho s :
, I h av e t aken “

ch arge o f every th ing a nd it is m y b u s ines s th e re fOre, , ,

1

to que s tion Gri maud .

Where 15 s h e ? de m anded Atho s

”
.
1

Gri m aud s tretched forth h is h and in the dir e ction o f

th e L y s .

”
“
Is it far fro m
here ?
Gri maud pre s ented h is forefinger bent '
.

Alon e ? d em and e d A th o s .
1
1
1

Gri m aud made a s ign th at s h e was .

Gentle m en s aid Atho s

“
she
,
15 h al f a le a gu e
2 ' ‘

,
1
“

”
fro m thi s pl a ce in the dire ction o f the river .
,
-

Good s a id d A rta g na n le ad u s on Gri m aud ”

’ “
,

Gri maud took a cro s s ro ad and guided the cav alc ade ? '
-
,
'

At the end of / ab o u t five hundred y ard s they found '

'
a fs trea i n, which the y fo rded B y the light o f a flas h
’ ' ‘

1 .
,

th ey perceived the vill age o f E rqu inh e im .

”
I s it there ? d em anded d Art agn an
’
1 1 1
"
.

Gri maud s hook h is he ad neg ativel y .

”
Silence there ! s a id Atho s .

Another fl as h
'

T h e troop proceeded on its way .

r 1

bl azed forth ; and b y the blui s h gl are o f the s erpentine

,
‘

fl am e a s m all s Olitary hou s e was perc e ptibl e o n the

,
-
‘

b ank o f the rive r not far fro m a ferry T here was a ,

1
.

light at One wi ndo w .

We are there s aid Ath os

”
, .

At th a t m o m ent a m an wh o was ly mg do wn in a d itc h ‘

,
‘

a ro s e It was Mou s queto n H e pointed w ith h is finger

. .

to the windo w with the light She I s th ere s aid he .

‘

, .

”
And Bazin ? de manded Atho s 1 .

While I watch ed the windo w h e watch ed the door ”

,
'
.

” '

Good ! s aid Atho s ; y ou are all fa ith ful s erv ant s

Atho s le aped fro m h is hors e Of wh ich h e g ave ‘the ,
»
’

'
bridle into the h and s o f Grim au d and a dv anc ed in 1

t h e direction o f the w indo w; after h aving m

,

ade a s ign
to the re mainder o f the troop to proceed to ward s the
3 56 T H E T H RE E -
M U S K E T EERS .

T h e s m all hou s e was s urrounded b y a q uick

'

door .
’ '

.
-

s e t hedge o f t wo o r three feet in height Atho s s pr an g .

'

over the hedge and wé nt up to the windo w w hich

.
,
'

:
,

h ad no s hutter s o n the out s id e but who s e s hort curt a in s ,

w ere clo s el y dr awn H e cli m bed upon th e ledge o f .

the s tone th at h is e y e m ight b e ab o v e the level o f the

,
r

C urt ain s y the light o f a l am p, he : could perceive

3B .

a wo m an covered by a d ark coloured clo ak s e ated

, ,

o n a s tool be fore an expiring fire Her elbo ws were .

pl a ced upon a m e an table a nd s h e re s ted h er he a d ,

1
'

o n h and s w hich were as wh it e as ivor y H e r fa c e

'
' i
"
. .

wa s n o t vi s ible but an o m inou s s m ile aro s e upo n ,

.
.

th e lip s o f A t h o s H e was no t m i s t a ken He h ad

'

w »
. .

in truth fo u nd t h e wo m an th at h e s ought
'

.
,

At t h is m o me nt Ia hor s e neighed '

H er l ad y s h ip '

ra i s ed her he ad s aw the p ale face o f Atho s s t aring

.
,

through the windo w and s cre am e d alo u d ,

1 .

Perceiving th at he h ad been s een Atho s pu s hed the ,

.

windo w with h is h and and knee : I t g ave way ; the

'

.
.

p ane s w ere broken and Atho s like a : s pectre o f 7 '

, ,

venge a nce le aped into th e r oo m ,

Her l ad y s hip ran .
-
,

to the door a nd Opened it P aler and m o re thre atening .

,

th an even Atho s hi m s el f d A rtag na n was s tanding o m

‘

.
,
’
t

the s ill H er b a ck and s cr ea m ed , .

D A rtag nan i m agining th a t s h e h ad s o m e m e ans o f

’ '
r
,

flig h t and fe aring th at s h e m ig ht e s c a p e the m dre w

'

'
, . s ,

a pi s tol fro m h is belt B u t Atho s r a i s ed h is h an d . . .

Repl ace y our s a id it is

'
“

i mper a tive th at thi s wo man s hould be j udg ed and no t ,

as s as s in ated Wait a while d A rtag nan and y o u s h all

.
,
’

,
”
be s ati s fied Co me 1n gentle m en .
,
.

D A rt ag nan obe y ed fo r A tho s : h ad the s olem n voice

’
, .

a nd the au th o ri tat iv e a ir o f a j u dg e c o mm is s io ne d b y '

.

B ehind d A rtag nan there ca m e

’
t h e Deity '

Po rtho s Aram i s Lord de : Winter and the m an in the

, ‘
, , .

red clo ak I T h e fo u r v alet s watched at the d oor and

. 1
=
.
.

w indo w w H e r l ad y s h ip h a d s unk u p on her s e a t with

.
j .
'

, .

her hands s t retche d o u t as if to e x o rc is e thi s terrible ,

3 58 THE T H REE M U S K E T EERS .

warning letter ent m e I cau s ed thi s wo ma n

wh ich y o u s ,

to be a r1 e s t e d , a n d put
her unde 1 the cu s to d y o f a
fa ith ful depend ent She corrupt ed th at m an s h e pl aced
.

th e d agger in his ih and s h e m ade h im ki ll the duke ;

,

a nd at thi s m o ment p erh ap s } : Felton h as p a id w ith h is

' '
_ ,

m
”
he ad fo r the cr im e s o f thi s fur y .
4

A s hudder ran through the co p an y at the revel ation

o fthe s e hitherto un s u s pected cri m e s

W
.
4

”
“
T hi s is not all, re s u m ed Lord de inter My .

brother wh o had made y o u h is heires s died in three

, ,

hours o f a s tra nge mal ad y whi ch l eft livid s pots o n h is

' ' ’
‘

,
”
bod y S i s ter h o w did y o u rflh u sb and die P
.
,
”
“
O h h o rro r l 3 e x c la im e d Portho s and Ar am i s
,
.

As sa s s in o f B uckingh am— a ss a s s in o f Felton — a s s as

s m o f m y brother — I de m an d j u s tice on y o u ; a n d de
cl are th at if it be no t accorded to me I will execute i t
, ,
”

Winter
m y s e lf l f

Lord de ran ged h ims el f b y th e s ide of

d A rt ag nan lea v ing h is pl ace Ope n t o anothe ra ccu s er
’
,
.

H er l ad y s hip s he ad s ank u pon her h and s and s h e

’
,

ende avoured t o re c alln h e r th ought s wh ic h Wer e con ,

‘

fou nd e by a de ad ly vertig o
d
‘
r .
1

”
I t I S nbw my t u rn , s aid Atho s tre mb lm g as the lion ,
n

tre mblés at the as pect 'o f a s erpent — it is m y tu rn I

'
‘ “
.

m arried thi s wo m an when s h e was a y oung gi r l I

‘
-
.

married her a gai ns t the de s ire o f all my fam il y

'
I g ave
'
‘
.

her my prope rty ; I g ave her my n am e ; and one d ay

'

I di s covered th at thi s wo man was br anded —L this wotman

'
bore the m ark o f a fi e u r d e lis upon the le ft s houlder
' “
~ -

'
.

”
O h 1 s aid her l ady s hip ri s in g
1
I de fy y o u to find , ,
“

the tribun al wh ic h /p ro no u nc ed o n m e th at in fam ou s

s entence— L I de f
y y o u t o find the man w h o executed it .

S ilen c e 1 excl ai m ed a voice I t I S fo r me to an sw er .

that I ”
And th e m an in th e red clo ak c am e for ward
’

“
Wh o 18 th at m an ? Wh at is th a t m an ? cried out ”

her l ad y s hip s u ffo cated with terror and with her h a ir

, ,

ra i s ing it s el f up on her he a d as if it h ad b e en endo we d ,

wit h li fe .
 T H E ; j U D GM E N T
'

1
1 1
'
. .

3 59
Every e y e was t urn ed to wards t h at man for h e w as
. .
'

u nkno wn to rall except Atho s A nd e v en A th o s look e d i

s

a t h im with as mu ch a s toni s h m ent as th e others f o r he

- '

kne w not h o w he could be connected with the horribl e

drama wh ich w as at th at m o m ent enacting there After .

s 10l and s ole m nl y a ppro a ching h r lad y s h ip p ti ll t h e

e
tabl e alone s ep ar a ted the m the s tr anger took ! o ff his ,

mas k
Her l ad y s hi p looked for s o m e ti m e w
.

-
ith incre as ing -

terror on th at p ale counten ance fringed with bl ac k h air , ,

o f which the onl y expre s s ion was t h at of a s te m an d . .

frozen in s en s ibility : t hen ; s uddenl y ris in g and retre ating

'

, .

”
to ward s the wall O h no no exc la i m ed s h e
'

no , i t , , ,
“

”
is an in fern al a pp arition ! it l is not he ! Help ! help 1 ‘ ’
‘
. .

s h e s cre am ed o u t in a ho a r s e voice s till pre ss ing ag ain s t

, ,

th e wall as if s h e could open a p as s a ge through it with

,
-

h er h and s ~
. I

Bu t wh o ? excl ai m ed a ll t he witn e s s e s of
‘

“ -
are you . . 1

thi s s cene .

A s k thi s
“
wo man , sa id the man m y t h e
‘ .
v re d 1
lo ak;
c
“
fo r y o u see h as aec og n is e d m e 1
. we ll th at
'
sh e . .

Th e executioner of Li lle ! the executioner

“

cried her l ad y s hip , overco m e b y wild affright, and cling .

ing to the wa ll with her h and s for s upport . .

All p re s ent recoiled , and th e t all man s to o d alo ne 111 ~ ' '

the middle o f the roo m .

“
Oh , merc y ! merc y ! acrie d the mis erable w o m an, .
'

falling on her k nees 1

T h e s tr anger pau s ed for s ile n

.

ce “
I to ld ly o u trul y .

”
th at sh e h ad reco g ni s ed me , s aid he Yes , I am t h e
' '
“ w
‘

. .

executio ner of Lfile , and here 18 m y hi s to ry

' ”
.

All e y es were fixed upon thi s man who se word s were ,

li s tened to withft h e m o st anxiou s avidity

- r . .
'

T hi s wo man was formerl y a y oung g irl as bea uti ful

'

,
,

a s s h e is at pre s ent She wa s a nun in a Benedictine .

,

convent at T e mp le mar A y oung prie s t s i mple ! and . . ,

i ngenuou s imh is natu re p e rfo rme d s e rv ice in the c h u rc h ,

’

o f t he.
* -
convent : s he : atte mpted to s educe h im, and
'
,
'
 T H E T H REE M U S K E TE E RS
3 60 .

s ucceeded h ave s educed a s aint T h e vo ws

. She would .

wh ic h lth e y h ad both t aken were s acred and i r revoc able .

She per s u aded h im to quit the B u t to quit the ,

country to fly together to get to s o m e p art o f Fr anc e

, ,

where the y m ight live in pe a ce bec a u s e the y would be ,

u nkno wn the y required m one y Neither o f the m h ad

,
.

any .T h e pr ie s t s tole the s acred ve s s el s and s old the m ; ,

but j u s t as they were m aking re ad y to e s c ape the y were

both arr es ted In eight d ay s more s h e h ad corrup ted
, ,

’
the ga olers s on and s aved her s el f T h e y oung prie s t ,

was conde m ned to be br anded and to ten y e ar s o f the ,

g alley s I wa s the executioner o f Lille a s thi s wo man

.
,

s ay s I was obliged to br and the cri m in al and th at

.
,

crim n i a l iw a s m y o w n brother ! ' I then s wore th a t this

wo man wh o h ad ruined h im—
,
_ w h o was m ore th an his
acco m plice s ince s h e h ad urged h i m to the cri me
‘

s hould at any r ate p art a ke h is puni s h ment I s u s p ected .

where s h e was conce aled I fo llo we d an d d i s co v ered

‘ '
~
. .
,

her I bound her and i m printed the s am e brand o n her

.
,

th at I h ad s tamp ed upon my o wn brother

-
.

'
“
T h e next d ay on m y return to Lille m y brother , ,

I Was a ccu s ed as h is a c co m
'
als o managed to e s c a pe s

p lic e a nd was
,
conde m ned to re m a in in pri son in h is

pl a ce s o long as he s hould continu e at l arg e

,
My .

'
poor brother was not aware of thi s s entence he h ad .

rejoined th i s wo man ; and the y fled together into Berri ‘

,

where he obta ined a s mall cur ac y T hi s woman p as s ed .

for h is s i s ter T h e o wner o f the e s tate to which the

.

cur acy belonged s aw thi s pretend ed s i s ter and fell in ,

love with her H is p ass ion led h im to propo s e to marr y .

'

her She le ft the man who m s h e h ad des troy ed and

.
,

bec ame th e Counte s s de la F ere

All e y e s were tu rned to ward s Atho s who s e tru e n ame ,

th i s was and he made a s ign th at the ex ecution e r s t ale

,
’

”
“
T hen , continued the l atter, maddened by de “

s p air , 1 a nd re s o lv e d to t er min at e an exi s tenc e of which

‘

th e h a ppine s s and honour h ad bee n thu s d es tro y e d y

 ”M U
3 62 ,
THE TH REE SK ET EE RS .

C HAP T E R . v i .

It

I T was alm o st m idnig h t; -T h e waning m oo n, as red

'
.

as blo o d fro m th e lingering tr a ce s o f th e s to r

"

m, was
"

~ . . .

ris ing b e hind th e little vill ag e o f Ar menti eres , whic h

. .
'
.

exhibited , in th at p ale ligh t, the gloo m y outl ine of f its

hou s e s ; an d the s keleton o f its h igh Orn amen ted s teeple
'

In front , th e L y s ro lled alo ng its waters ilik e a riv er o f

'

1
,
'

mo lte n fi re ; whil s t; on its other ban k , a d ark mas s o f

' '
‘

.
r

tre es was s h arp ly ou tlined upo n a s tormy s k y , covered

'
»

'

by |large copper-colo ured cloud s , which created a s ort

'

o f t wilight in the m iddle of -the night;

'

T o th e ileft, .

'

aro s e an old of whic h th e s ails we re

-
t .

motionle ss , and fro m th e ruins o f which an o wl was '

uttering its s h arp , m onotonou s , recurring s creech Her e '

and there , in the pl ain , to the ri ght and le ft o f t h e p ath

' '

I
which the m el anchol y tr a in was pur s uing ; there a pp eared
a fe w s h o rt and s tunted tree s , which looked l ik e di s to rted ,

d war fs crouch ed do wn t o watch th e me n in tha t ill-1 ‘

o m en e d h Ou r
Fro m ti m e to ti me, a brilli ant flaSh O pen e d u p th e
horizon ! in its 'whole extent ; pl ay ing above the bl
mas s of tree s , and co m ing , like a frightful s ci m itar, ito
divid e the s k y and water into e u al p arts N ot a breath q .

n th e he av y a t m os p ere
o f air was s ti rrin g i
as of death we igh ed do wn all .nat u re
A s il e nce
T h e ea rth was .
h .

moi s t and s lippe ry fro m th e re cent r ain ; and re ani mated

plants s ent forth the ir perfum es With mOre vi gorou s energ y .

T wo o f th e se rv ants , ea ch hol d ing an arm, were leading

h
.

e r l a d y s hip along T h e executioner walk ed beh ind T he

m
. .

fou rm u s ke t eer s and Lord de Vlfinte r follo we h i int u rn

Planchet and Bazin brought u p the r ear d .

. T h e two v alets led her lad y s hi p tow ard the ban k of

'
the river H er m outh was m ut e, but her e ye s were
.

q
inexpre s s ibly elo uent, s upplicating b y turn s ea ch o f
 THE E X ECU T I O N .
3 63
tho s e on who m s h e looked Finding hers el f a fe w .

p ace s in a dv a nce s h e s aid to the v alets

,
“
A thou s and pi s tole s fo r e ach o f y o u if y o u w ill as s i s t ,

m e to e s c ape ; but if y o u give m e up to y our m as ter s I

, ,

h a ve s o m e a venger s ne a r wh o w ill m ake y o u p ay de arl y,

for m y de ath .

Gri maud he s it ated and Mou s queton tre m bled in every

,

li m b .

Atho s wh o h ad he ard her l ad y s hip s v o ic e c am e up

,
’
,

i mm edi atel y as did al s o L ord de Winter

,
.

”
“
Send away the s e v alets s a id he ; s h e h as s poken ,
“

to the m and the y are no longer to be tru s ted

,
.

T he y c alled Pl anchet and B a zin wh o took the pl a ce s ,

o f Gri m aud a nd Mou s queton .

H aving re ached the brink of the s tre am the executioner ,

c am e up and bound her l ad y s hip s h and s and feet

,
’
.

She then broke her s ilence to ex cl a im You a re

co wa rd s — y o u are m i s er able as s as s in s ! Y o u co m e ten ,

o f y o u to m urder a poor wo m a n
,
B u t be ware T hough
I am not as s i s ted I s h all be a venged
,
”
“
Y o u are not a wo m an replied Atho s coldl y ; y ou ,
“

do no t belong to the hu m an r ace : y ou are a de m on ,

e s c aped fro m hell and to hell we s h all s end y o u

,

b ac k f
’

“
Oh y o u s t a inle s s gentle m an ,
s a id -
her l ad y s hip ,

re m e m ber t h at he am ongs t y o u wh o touche s a h air o f

”
m y hea d is h i m s elf a m urderer .

T h e executioner can kill without being on th at

a ccount a m urderer , m ad a m , ”s a id the m an in the clo a k ,
s triking h is l a rge s word He is the l a s t j udge on e arth
.

th at is all N ae/trick ier, as our Ger man neighbours s ay

. .

And , as he was ind ing her wh il s t h e u ttere d the s e .

word s , her l ad y s h ip s ent forth t wo or three w ild s cre am s , .

which h ad a s t a rtling , m el anchol y e ffect , as the y were

' '

borne on the night , and lo s t the ms elve s a m id s t the depth s

of thewood s , like bird s .

B u t, if I am guilt y — if I h ave co m m itted the P cri mes

”
o f w hich y o u a ccu s e m e , ho wled o u t her l ad y s hip , t ake
3 64 T H E T H REE M U SK E T EERS .

—
’ '
me b e f01 e a re g u lai t rib u n al; You no t judge s
‘
‘
are o u
”
y
h ave no po wer to c Ond e mn m e l .

I did propo se T y burn an s wered Lord de Wifit e r ;

” ' ”

“ ' ‘

,
”
-
wh y did y o u not accept m y o ffer ?
_
”
B ec au s e I do no t wi s h to die ! excl aim ed her l ad y
'

”
s hip s truggling
,
bec au s e I am to o y ou n g to die !
T h e wo m an who m y o u poi s oned at B ethune was s t ill '

— ”
ounger th a n y o u are m ad a m a nd y e t s h e is de ad
y , ,

s aid d A rtag n an
’
.

”
I will enter a convent I w ill beco m e a nun ! cried
“ ‘

- ~

her l ad y s hip .

Y o u were in a convent s a id th e executi oner, and

'
“ “
,

m
’
u le ft it t o de s tro brother
y o y y .

Her l ad y s hip uttered a c ry o f terror a nd fell u p On ,

’

her knee s T h e executioner li ft ed her in h is ar m s and

.
-
,

prep ared to c arr y her t o the bo at .

”
O h m y God !
“
,
excl ai m ed s h e m y God ! are yo u ,
“

going to dro wn m e
T he s e crie s h ad s o m ething s o h e a rt rending in t h é lll -
,
’

th at d A rtag nan wh o was at fir s t th e m o s t unrelenting

’
,

in h is pur s uit o f her l a d y s hip s a nk do wn upon the s tu m p ,

o f a tree letting h is he a d fa ll o n h i
,
s bo s o m and s to p p ing ,

h is e ar s w i th the p al m s o f his h and s ; and y e t in s ite ;

p ,

of all thi s he s till he ard her m en ace s and cr 1 e s

,
.

D A rtag nan w as the y ounge s t o f all the s e me n and h is

’

he a rt fa iled h im .

”
Oh “
I c annot be ar th i s fright ful s pecta cle s a id he ,
”
I c annot con s ent th at t h is wo man s hould thu s die .

H er l ad y s hip hea rd the s e word s and the y g ave her ‘

, “

a n e w gl e a m O f h o p e
’ ’
D A rtag nan ! d A rtag n a n
’
.
“

excl ai m ed s h e re m e m ber th at L h a v e loved y o u

,

T h e y oung m an ro s e a nd m ade a s t ep to ward s her Bu t

,
"
.

Atho s dre w h is s word a nd pl aced hi m s el f in h is p ath ,

.

I f y o u t ake one s tep m ore d A rtag nan s aid he

” ’
we
'

, , ,

m us t cro s s our s word s together .

D A rtag nan fell o n h is knee s and pr ay ed

’
.
,
”
'

Co me continued Atho s
,
executioner do your , ,
”
duty !
 THE E X ECU T I O N .

3 65
Willingl y my
lord replied the executioner ;
,
'

fo r ,
“

a s trul y as good C atholic I firm l y believe th at I

I am a ,
”
a c t ju s tl y in exerci s i ng m y o ffice o n thi s wo m an .

”
T h a t is right Atho s took o ne s tep to ward s her
.
.

l ad y s hi p — I p ardon y o u s aid he the evil y o u h ave

”
“
, ,
“

done m e I forgive y o u fo r m y future cru s hed m y

.
'
,

honour lo s t m y love t ainted and m y s al v a tion fo r ever

, ,

perilled b y the de s p air into which y o u h a ve thro w

,
n me .

D ie in pe ace
Lord de Winter next c a m e for ward I p ardon y o u .
“‘
,

s a id he ,
the poi s o n ing o f m y brother the a ss as s in ation ,

Of the Duke o f B ucki ngh a m and the de a th o f poor

F elton I forgive y o u y our atte m pt s o n m y o wn pers on
,
'

Die in pe a ce !
A s f or m e s a id d A rtag na n p ardon m e m ad am
,
’
, , ,

fo r h av ing b y a deceit un worth y o f a gentle m an pro

‘

, ,

voked y our r a ge ; and in exch ange I p ardon y o u fo r

.

, ,

the m urder o f m y poor friend a nd y ou r cruel venge ance ,

”
o n m y s el f I p ardon and I pity y o u Die in pe ac e !
. .

“
I a m los t ! m ur m ured her lad y s h ip 1 n Engli s h — l ,
“

mus t d ie
She then aro s e un aided a nd thre w around h er o ne o f th o s e ,
‘

cle ar gl ance s wh ic h s e e m e d t o e m an ate fro m an e y e o f fire

,
i
.

B u t s h e could s e e nothing Sh e ? li s tened but s h e heard .

noth in g T here were none a ro u nd her but her ene m ie s

.
'

Where am I t o die ? de m anded s h e

” '

O n the other b ank o f the ri ver replied the "

,

executioner .

H e then pl aced her in the bo at ; an d as h e was s tep ,

ping in after her Atho s g ave h im a s u m o f m one y ,

.

”
“
H ere s aid he here is the price of the exec ution ;
, ,
“

”
th at i t m ay be s een th a t we are re all y j udge s .

”
“
It is well s aid the executioner ; but let thi s
,
“

wo m a n n o w kno w th at I a m n o t exec u ting m y bu s i ne s s ,

”
but m y duty A nd he thre w the m o n e y fro m h im into
.

the river .

M a rk s aid Atho s ,
th i s wo m an h as a child a nd ,
“
,
”
e t s h e h a s no t s aid o n e w o rd abo u t h im
y .
,
3 66 T H E T H RE E M U S K ET E E RS .

T h e b o at proceeded to ward s the le ft b ank Io f the L y s ,

.

c arry ing ia wa y the cri m in a l and the executioner

“

,
.
A ll the .

others C ontinued on the right b an k , wh e re th e y h ad s unk .

u p o n their knee s T h e bo at glided s lo wl y along the rO p e

.

o f the fe ri y , under the reflection o f a p ale m i s t, wh ich

s ki m m ed the water a t t h at m o me nt .

I t arrived a t the othe r b a nk , an d the t wo figure s s tood

.

out in bla ckne s s o n the red horizon .

p had m an aged to
.

During the p as s age her l ad y s h i ,

loo s en th e cord th at bound her feet and on re aching the , ,

b ank s h e le ap t lightl y on s hore and took to flig h t B u t

, , .
’

the ground was m o is t and at the top Of the s helving , ,

b ank s h e s lipped and fell upon h er knee s Probabl y a

, ,
.

s uper s titiou s ide a h ad s truck her S he under s tood th at . .

H eaven re fu s ed to aid her and re m ained in the attitude ,

in wh ic h ws h e h ad fallen — her he ad drooping and her

.
,

h and s cl as ped together T hen fro m the other s hore the y .

, ,

could s e e the executioner s lo wl y r ai s e h is t wo ar m s a ray .

o f th e m oon was reflected on the bl ade o f h i s l arge s word , ,

,

the two arm s de s cend ed the y he ard the whi s tling o f the ,

ci meter and the c ry O f the victi m ; and then a m ut il ated

m as s s ank do wn bene a th th e blo w T h e executioner .
(

took Off h is red clo ak s tretch e d it o u t on the ground

-
, .
,

laid the b od y o n it and thre w in the he ad tied it b y the

,
‘

four corner s s wung it upo n h is s houlder s and ag ain

'

- 1
, ,

entered the bo at H aving re ached the m iddle o f t h e

'

. .

L y s he s topped the bo at and holding h is burden over

, ,

the river
”
Let the j u s tice o f God h ave its cours e ! he ex
“

cl ai m ed in a loud voice And s o say ing he dropp ed

,
.
, ,

the de ad b od y into th e deepe s t p art o f the water s , which

‘

clo s ed above it .
3 68 T H R EE t M US
. 1 ; .T H E
HE T H RS ;
T he return to L a Rochelle was there fore profoundl y , ,
'
‘
mel anchol y O u r fo uf frierid s e s peci ally excited the
‘

y ,
.

as toni s h m ent o f their co m p a n ion s : the y tr avelled s ide b

y
s ide w ith he a v y e y es and h e ad s d epre s s ed
,
A tho s alone
. .

s o m eti m e s r a i s ed h is bro ad forehe a d a gl ance s hot fro m .

his e y e a bitter s mi le p as s ed acro s s h is lip s au d then

, , z
,

k h i m a g ai n into h i
l co de he nk s reverie s
i
e s ra s s a ,As .

s oon, a s the y; arrived in any to wn when t he y h ad c o n ,

ducted th e k ing to h is ap artm ent s the four friend s ,

with d re w i to their ; OWn lodgings ; or to ; s o me

, . .

s ecluded where th ey neither pl a y ed n or drank ,

. ,

b t k i l w voic together d look d tte ti l ‘

u s p o e n a o e r a n e a n v e y ,

th at none m ight he ar the m .

One g d ay -th at the king h ad h alted to hunt t h e m ag p i e .

.
,

and th e fo u r friend s a c c ording to th eir cu s tom in ste ad

. ,
. , ,

of j oining in the : s port h ad s topp e d at a ta ver n b y th e

,
, ,
«
.

ro ad s ide” a m an” wh o {1was co ming po s t h as te fro m La

-
, , .
-
.

Rochelle s topped at the d o or to drin k a gl as s o f wi ne

,
1 ~
,

and l ooked in to the ch amber where the four mu s k eteer s .

=

w ere s e ated a t a t able .

_

Ho llo M d A rtag nan s aid he is it y o u th at I s ee

’
1
1

, .
, ,
”
the re Pp i
D A rtag nan r ai s ed h is he ad , and uttere d an e x rolama-l
’

tion of j oy T h i s m an, wh o no w c alled h im was h lS

.
‘

ph anto m it was the s t ranger o f Meung , o f th e R u e de s

‘
‘
.
.

’
Fo s s oy eur s , and of Arr as D A tag r n
“
a n dre w h is s wo rd, l
.
1 1
, ,

and ru s h e d to ward th e door B u t o n thi s o c c as io m the

'

, .

s tr anger , in s te ad o f h as teni ng away , j u m ped o ff h is hor s e;

and ,a dv anced to m eet h im I ” 1

1 1 1

. i
‘

Ah ! s ir s aid the y oung man I meet y o u at l as t ;

, ,

Th i s t1me y o u s h all not e s c ape m e

~
.
’

I t is ; not m y intention either s in; for 'I am

“
. ,
-
1
, .
’

looking fo r y o u thi s ti me I n the kin gs n am e I

.
1 ' ’
1
’

,
”
arre s t gy o u fi 11 1

excla i me dd Art agn an

.

“
Wh at do y o u m e an ? ”
.
’

I s ay th at g ive up y our s word to me s ir

, y o u m ust , ,

and without re s i s tan ce t o o Your life d e p end s u p on itgr

'
1 ' 1
. .. .

r
l I a
 A M E SSA GE F RO M '
T HE CAR D I N AL .
3 69
Wh o are you then ? de manded ,
-
”
. d A rtag nan, lowerin g
’

his ord but not y et givi ng it up

sw ,
.

“
I am the C hev alier de Ro ch efort s aid th e s tranger, ,

the c ardina l de Richelieu s ma s ter o f the ho r s e and I

’
,
”
am co m manded to conduct yo u be fore h is emine nce .

“ We are n o w returning to h i
,

”
s e m inence s ir sa id Atho s , , ,

co m ing for ward m M

’ ’

y o u u s t t ake,
d A rta g n a n s _
.

w ord th at he will go direct to € L a 1 R o c h elle

’
.

I mu st : p lac e h im in the h ands of 1 the gu ards who

“
, .
'
,
”
w ill conduct h im b a ck to the c am p .

We will s erve as s uch s ir on our word s as gentle me n

'

, , ,
”
B u t on our word s a s g entle me n a l s o continued A tho s
, , , ,
’ ”
fro wning M d Artag nan s h all not b e t a ken fro rn us
,
.
1
.

De Roche fort thre w a gl ance behind h im and sa w '

th at Porth os and Ar amis h ad pl a ced the ms elve s bet wee n

h im and the door ; and he unders tood th at he was entir ely . ,

at the m erc y o f the s e four ; rrie n i f Gentle m en s a id he

‘
.
, ,

if M d Art agn an w ill deliver up h is s wo rd and ad d h is

“ ’
.
,

Word to M rs I will be conte nted with uyo ur pro mi s e of

,

co nd ucting h im to the qu arter s of his e mi ne nc e the .

c ardi nal .

“ Yo u h ave m wo rd S H and here is m y s wor d; s a i d

y , ,
1

’
d Artagn an .

T h at s uit s me s o m uch the better s ai d Roche fort

“
, ,

as I mu s t continue m y j ourn ey
“

I f it is to rej oin her la d y s hip s aid A thes c o o ll y

“
, ,

is u s ele s s y ou will not find her 1

And wh at h as beco me o f h e r ? a
.
,

s ked Roche fort .

anxiou s l y .

Return to the c am p and yo u will le arn !

Roche fort r em ained in th ought fo r an in s t an
,

t ; and 1

then as t h e y were onl y one d ay s j ourne y fro m S u rg é re stl

,
’

where the cardi nal was to meet the king he re s olved to 1

,

follo w Atho s s advice and to return with the m

’
B e s i d e s;
,
.

thi s pl an h ad th e further adv ant age o f en abling h im ,

per s on ally to watch the pri s oner T hu s they proceeded

,
.

on their j ourne y .

T h e next d ay at three in the afternoon the y re ached

, ,
87°

w
'
i i s
'

s
'

Sur é d l w i i T hel J for L e ui

XI I I
'
i
‘

g re t t e
'
na. a
1 s a ng eca
r 1
.

T h e m ini s ter and the kin g ex ch an g ed the ir care ss e s f reely ,

‘

and c on g r atul ated e ach other o n the h a p p y ch ance wh ich

1 1

'
had ‘fre ed F r ance“ from t he inv e te rate en emy wh o was
'
1 1 .

arm i ng E u rop e a g ain s t her After thi s , the cardinal ,

'
11 «
.

wh o h ad b ee n info rrh ed b y Roche fort th at d A rtag nari

’
1

h ad be en pl aced u nd e r arr es t and wh o was in ha s te to

‘ I

interrog a te h im took leav e 'of th 1e 1 k mg inviting his

”
,
-1
,

maje s ty to g o the next day to s ee the wo rk s at the

' '
1
' '

e m b ank m ent which were at l as t c omplete ,

.

On r e turning in the eve ning to h is q u a rter s ne a r the ,

Pont de lalPie rr fie the c ardin al found the three m u sk eteer s

all a rm ed , a nd d A rtag nan wh o was w ithout his s word
’ '

s tandin g be fore the door of the h ou s e w

, ,

hich h e in
h abited O n thi s occ as io n , as h e h ad all h is retinu e
”
.

abou t h im he looked s ternl y at th e m and m ad e a s i g n

‘
, ,

h is e y e and h and fo r d A rtag nan to follo w h im

’
w ith “ -
.

D Artag nan obe y ed

’
1 f .
= 11

I “
We will wait fo r y ou , d Artagn an , s aid Atho s l oud
' 1
”
1
'
’
,

enough for th e c ardin al to he ar: 1

H is e m inence knitted his bro w, s topped fo r an 1

in s t ant; 1 and the n wen t on , w ithout utte ring a s ingle

1
'

word .

D A rtagnan enter ed behind the c ardin al and Ro c

'

hefort
’
,

follo wed d Arta gn an : the d oor was g u arded H is e m inence

’

ent e red the ch am

.

b en which he m ade us e o f as a c ab inet,

a nd s igned to Roche fort to introdu c e the y oung m u s keteer

Roche fort obe yed a n d r etire d 1

n
.
1 1
,

D A rta g nan s tood alone be fore the c ardi al :

’
It was
h is s econd interv ie w w ith Richelieu ; and he afterward s
con fes s ed th at he felt quite convince d th a t it was to be '

h is l as t Richelieu re mained le aning upon th e ch i mne y:

.

piece , and there was a table s tanding bet ween h im and

”
S ir s aid the cardin al, y o u h ave be en
“
,
1 1 a rres ted by
”
my order s .

”
So I h ave been infor m ed my lord
“
,
.

”
Do y o u 1 kno w why ?
3 72 TH R EE M US K E T EERS .

T hree ti m e s s h e h ad ende avoured to kill m e and

three ti m e s I forg ave h er ; but s h e murd er ed the w oman
,
‘

I loved ; and then my friend s and I s eized her tried ,

her and c onde m ned her

,
.

D A rta g nan then rel a ted th e p oi s oning ’ o f M ad am e

’ ' "
“

B o n an c ie u x in th e Ca r m elite c onvent a t B eth une the

‘
,

tri al in the s olit ary hou s e and the ex e cution o n the

‘

b ank s o f the I y s J'

.

A s hudder ran through the fr am e o f the c ardin al ,

wh o was not m ade to s hudder e as il y B u t s uddenl y

‘

if fro m the influen ce o f s o m e sile 1it th o ught h is

,
'
'
‘

as ,

d ark counten ance bec am e gr adu all y cle arer a nd at l as t ,

a tt a ined p erfect s eren i ty .

“
So s aid he in a voice the gentlen es s o f which
”
, ,
.
,

c ontr as ted s tr an gel y with the s everit y o f ! h is w ord s

' '

,
“
y o u con s tituted y our s elve s the judge s w it h o ut con ,

s id e ri n g th a t tho s e wh o are not l eg a ll y a p po int ed a nd ,

p u n is h w it h ‘
o u t a uthorit y, a re a s s a s s m f s

“
M y lord I s we ar to y o u th at I h ave no t fo r one
,
.
_

in s t an t though t o f de fending m y he ad again s t y our-

e m inence? I w ill s ub m it t o wh at ever puni s h m ent y our

f

e m inence m ay p le as e t o in flict I d o not cling to li fe

v .

”
s u fficientl y t o fe ar de ath

Y e s I kno w it : y o u are a m an o f coura ge s ir

.

, , ,

s a id the c ardin al i n a voice al m o s t affe ction ate I

“ ’

1 .
,

m ay there fore tell yo u be fore hand th at y o u will be

’ '

,
”
tried and even conde m ned
,
.

“
Another m ight repl y t o y our e m inence th at he h ad ,

h is p ardon in h is pocket 11 content m y s el f with s a y ing

com m and my lord and I am re ad y
.

’
-
.
, ,
”
“
Your p ardon ! s aid Richelieu in s urpri s e ,
.
w '

”
Y e s m y lord re p h e d d A rtag h an
, ,
1 .

”
And s igned b y wh om ? By th e king ? T he
c ardin al pronounced the s e wor d s with a s ingul ar
inton ation o f conte m pt .

N o b y y our e m inence .

By m e ? You are m ad s i1 l
’ ‘

1 1
.

Your em inence will un doubtedl y reco g ni s e your o wn

“
 A M ES S AGE F R O M l T H E C A RD I N A L 3 73
'
.

w riting ?
”
And d A rtag nan pre s ented to the c ardin al ’
1

the prec iou s p aper which A th o s «h ad extorted fro m her

lad y s hip and which he h ad given to d A rtag nan to
’
1
,

s erve h im as a s afegu a rd .

T h e c ardin al took the p aper a nd re ad in a very s lo w .

,

voice and lingerin g over e ach s y ll able

,
1

“
I t s b y m y o d e r a nd for t h e g o o d o f t h e s ta t e t ha
r r , t th e ,

b e a e r of t h is h a s d o ne w h a t h e h as d o ne :
’

L
r

R I C HE I E U). 1 1

T he c a rdin al aft er h av ing re ad th e s e f t wo li ne s

, ,

fell into a pro found reverie but did no t return t h e ,

p aper t o d Art agn an ’

.

'
H e is deciding b y wh a t kind o f puni s h m ent I am
’

”
to d ie s a id the G a s con to hi m s el f
,
Well faith l he .
“‘
,
“

s h all
1
s ee h o w a g e ntle m an c an die T h e y ou ng
mu s keteer was in an excellent fram e of m ind for ending
.

h is c a1 e e r heroic all y .

Richelieu continu ed to me d itate ro lling and unrolling

'

1
,

the p aperin h is h and At l as t he ra i s ed h is he ad and .

,

fixed h is e agle e y e upon th a t lo y al o p en and intelligent ,

v

count en ance ; and re ad u pon th at fa ce 'all

o wed w
fur r ith ,

te ar s ‘ the s u ffering s wh ich d A rtag nan h ad endu red

,
’

w ithin a m onth and he then thought fo r the third o r

, ,

fourth ti m e wh at futurit y m ight h ave 1 11 s tore fo r s u ch a

,

o uth o f b arel y t wenty y e a r s o f ag e ; a nd wh a t r es o urce s

y ,

h is a ctivi ty cour ag e and intelligence m ight offer to

, , ,

a good m a s ter On the other s ide the crime s the

‘

.
, ,

po wer the al m os t infern al g eniu s o f her l ad y s hip h ad

,
’ :
,

m ore th an once al ar med him and he felt a s ecret j oy ,

a t bei ng fo r ever freed fro m s uch a d ang erou s a cco m plice

H e s lo wly tore up the p ap e e h ich d A rtag nan h ad s o

’
‘

generou s l y returned to him

I am los t s aid d A rtag nan ln h is o wn he art
.

”
'
’
I

, , .

T h e c ardin al a ppro a ched the table and w ithout , ,

r
s itting do wn wrote s o m e w ord s o u a p arch m ent o f
'
' '
, ,

which t wo third s were alre ady filled up -

an d then ,

affixed h is s e al .

”
T h at iS H m y cbn d é i
’
n nat i thought d A rtag nan
“ ’
‘
on ,
f
3 74 T H REE M U S K ET EE RS
‘

( .

he s p are s m e the m i s er y o f the Bas tile; and the del ay s

.

”
o f a tri al I t i s re ally v e ry kind o f h im
'

1 1 1

. . .

s aid the c rd i
a nal to the y oung m an ; ‘
I 1
f

took one can ? N am /w fro m y o u and I give y o u another , , .

T h e n am e is no t in s erted in the c omm is s io n : y o u will . . . . .

”
a dd i t y our s el f .

’
D A rtag nan took the p aper with he s ita tion and cas t ,

his e y e s upon it It was the co mm i ss ion o f a lieuten ant

.

in th e m u s ket eer s D A rtag nan fell at the c ardin al s feet .

’ ’
.

”
M y lord s a id he
“
m y life z is y our s m ake u s e of it
, ,
“ -

h e nce forth ; b u t thi s favour which y o u be s to w upon m e ,

I
,

is be y ond m merit s h ave three friend s wh o are m ore

y
.

”
worth y o f it
You are a br ave y outh d Artag nan
.

’
s aid the
1

ca
, ,

rdin al t appi ng ; h im fam ili arl y on the s houl der in his

, , ,

deligh t at hav ing conquered th at rebelliou s n atur e do _

wh a t y o u like with th i s co mm i s s ion a s it is b la nk ; onl y ,

re m e mber th at it is to y o u I g ive; 1 1
Y o u r e min enc e m ay re s t as s ur ed
“
, s a id d A rt ag r ian, ’

“
th at I will ne v er forget it ”
. 1
1

T h e ca rdin al turned and s aid a l o ud Roc he fort ! ,

T h e C hev ali er wh o had undoubtedl y been behind the ,

door i mm edi atel y enter ed

,

Roche fort s a id the c ardin al M “

m
'

, y o u s e e , 1
, .

d Arta gn an : I rece ive h i into the nu m ber o f m y

’ '
,

E mbra
.

friend s ce o ne :another and be wi s e if y o u w i s h

m
,
.

”
to ret a in y our he ad s
D A rtag nan : and rRoc h e f braced c o
.

’
o rt e ldly, b u t the
cardin al was watch in g the m With h is v igil ant ey e T hey .

le ft t h e ro o m at the s ame m o ment

’

1
. .

We s h all meet again ”the y bot h said , s hall we not ? ,

Whenever y o u ple as e s ai d d A rtag nan ,

’
.

T h e t ime w ill come replied Roche fort

” 1
’

1 .
,

H um l s aid Ri chelie u Opening th e door

’

T h e t wo m e n bo wed to h is e m inence s m iled a

.
, ,

nd .
, ,

pr e s s ed e a c h other 8 h and s ’

n
.

We beg an to be i m p atie t s a id Atho s ,

.

Here ,I am , m y ‘

d A rtag nan I
’
.
3 76
7 1 “ T HE T H RE E M U S KE T EE RS .
ff .

de funct is holding out it s ar ms to m e I marr y the ,

wido w You s ee I am fitting on my wedding g ar ment s

. .

lieuten anc y m y de ar fello w —keep it ” '

18 0 keep the
,
.

And h e returned it to d A rtag nan ’

.

T h e y oung m an then rep aired to Ar am i s H e fo u nd .

h im kneeling be fore an or ator y with h is forehe ad le a ning

‘
,

on an open boo k o f pr ay ers ‘

H e tol d h im al s o o f
'
.
1
‘
, ,

h is ih é rv ieW with the c ardin al , and tak mg the c o m

' ' '

1
,

mis s io n fr0m h is pocket fo r the th ird ti me s a id

1
'
,
1
Y ou , o u r friend ou r light our inv is ibl e protector ,
“
, ,

,a ccept thi s co mm i s s ion : y o u h a ve m e rit e d 1 it m ore

th an any body b y y our wi s do m and y our cou ns el s ,

al way s follo wed b y s uch fortun ate re s ult s 1 1

”
Al as ! de ar friend s a id Aram is our l ast a dvent ure s , ,

h ave entirel y di s gu s t ed m e iW ith the m ilit a r y li fe My

’ '
.

deci sion is thi s ti m e irrevocable

’
,
After the siege l ,
.
'
,
1

s h all enter the h az aris te s Keep the co m m i s s ion .

1

d A rta nan T h e pro fe s s ion o f a r m s s uit s y o u : y o u

’

g .

”
will b e a br ave and a dventurou s c ap t ain
'

‘
D A rt ag nan, with an e y e m o is t with gr atitude ; and
’

brilli ant with j oy re tu r11 e d to Atho s who m he foun d

,
1
,

a d m iring h is las t gl as s o f Mala a

’

s till s e ated at ta ble ,

g
by the ligh t of h is l am p
“

1 1 1
1

Well s aid he they h ave both re fu s ed it

”
, ,
“”
.

Ca u s e n o one is more w orth y

’
I t is de ar
“
,
1

o f it th a n w o ! 1 1

He took a pen wrote the n am e o f d A rt ag nan u p on,

' ’

it and g ave it b ack to h im ‘

.

I s h all no longer h av e m y friend s then said the

,
“ ”
, ,

y oung m a n! Al as ! ino th ing hence

“
forth ; but Ibitt e r
,

recollecti on s And he let h is he ad fall bet ween h is

.

h and s whil s t t wo te ar s rolled along h is cheek s

‘
"
1
.
,
”
You are yo ung s aid Atho s an d our i bitter
'
“
y , ,

recollection s h ave ti m e to ch ange the m s elve s to tender

" 1

”
re me mb ranc es .
1
- 1 1
 T H E E PI L OGUEJ
'

f
1
.

LA RO C H E LLE deprived o f t h e as s i s tance of the Engli s h

, . .

fleet and o f the s u c c o u n wh ich ih ad b ee n pro m i s ed b y

,
1

B ucki ng h am s u rre nde re d mfte r a y e ar s

’
, the
t went y eighth o f O ctober 1 6 2 8 the ca pitul ation was
-
,
, ,
1

s igned .

T h e ? king entered Pan s on the t wenty third of

’

~ -
.

Dece mber the s am e y e ar He received a tritim p h , as

,
.
-

though h e h ad conque red a n ene my in s te ad o f F re nc h

’
1

» a
. .

men . H e entered under verd ant a rch es thro ugh the , ,

s u b u rb o f SaintJ ac qu es .
1 1
, 1 .
1
1 ,
1 1

D A rtag nan to ok h is pro motion

’
Portho s quitted
‘

. . .

th e s ervice and married M ad ame C o qu enard in i th e

, ,
1
1 1

cours e o f! the T h e s trong box s o much ’ -

,

eight hundred thou s and livre s , 1 .

.
. 1

Mou s queton h ad a s uperb livery and enj oy ed h is li fe ,

long dre am o f riding behind a gilded c arri age .

Ar am i s after a j ourne y to Lorr aine s uddenl y d is

, ,

a ppe ared and ce as ed to wri te to h i

, s friend s T he y .

le arned after ward s through M ad am e de Chevreu s e , ,

th at he h ad as s u med the co wl in a mon as ter y a t

N anc y B azin bec am e a lay brother
.
-
.

Atho s re mained a m u s keteer under d A rtag n an s ,

’ ’

co m mand until 1 63 3 ; at which ti me after a j ourne y

, ,

to Rou s s illon he al so le ft the s ervice under pretext o f

, ,

h aving s ucceeded to a s mall p atri mon y in the B l ai s oi s .

Gri maud follo wed Atho s .

D A rtag nan fought three ti me s with Roche fort ; a nd

’

wounded h im three ti m e s .

“
I s h all prob abl y kill y ou th e fourth ti me s aid he ,

to R ochefort, as he s tret ched forth a h and to r ai s e .

h im up .

It would be better fo r both o f u s to s top where we

“

a re , replied the wounded m an “

Vive Dieu ! I h a ve .

bee n more y ou ri friend th an y ou th ink ; fo r after o u r

‘ "

- 1
,
3 78 T H E T H REEJ MUS K ET EE R S .

firs t me etin g I could h ave got y our he ad o ff by one

,

w ord to the cardin al .

T he y e m br a ced , b ut t h i s time it was in s incerity , and

'
’

without malice .

Pla nchet obtain ed throu h R o che fo rt , th e g rad e of ,

'
1

se rg ean t in the re g i ment of ied m o nt .

M B onanc ie u x lived in gre at tranqu i11it

.
11 entirely 1
,

ignor ant o f what h ad b eco m e o f h is wi fe an no t m uch ,

di s turbing h i m s elf about it O ne d ay he h ad the .

‘

i mprud ence to rec all h i m s el f to the card in a l s r e c oll ectio n ’

T h e c ardin a l told h im th at h e would s o pro vide fo r h im

.

th at h e should never want fo r any th ing in fu ture In

‘

1 1
.

fact the next d ay M Bo n an c ie u x ha vi ng le ft h o m

,
1
,
‘

’
s even o clock in th e evening to go t o th e ( Louvre , ,
11

ne v e r s een ag aiin in th e Ru e d es F o s s oy eurs 1 T h e

l
1
.
m a .
'

Opinio n bf t th o se wh o th ought the ms elves t h e b est ‘ ?

in for m ed was tha t he was b o arded and lod g ed in s o m e

l '
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1
,

roy al c as tle at the exp en s e o f h is genero us e m ine nce

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I I ” 1 12!
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 C o llins I llu s t ra t e d Po c k e t C la s s ics
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7 3 A O ur M u t u al rien — V o l I I
1 5 4 T h e Unco mmercial T rav eller
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1 8 The Wo man in Wh ite
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V ol I I .
. .

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1 3 2 C o u n t o f M o n t e C ris to V ol I -

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23 6 T w o Marriag es
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p Wate rloo
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7

L ON O N D AN D
'

GLA G O W S ; C OLL NS L AR Y P PR SS
I
’
C E - T E E .