THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Alexandre Dumas

Contents

 Author's Preface

 1. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D'ARTAGNAN THE ELDER 2. THE ANTECHAMBER OF M. DE TREVILLE 3. THE AUDIENCE 4. THE SHOULDER OF ATHOS, THE BALDRIC OF PORTHOS AND THE HANDKERCHIEF OF ARAMIS 5. THE KING'S MUSKETEERS AND THE CARDINAL'S GUARDS 6. HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS XIII 7. THE INTERIOR OF "THE MUSKETEERS" 8. CONCERNING A COURT INTRIGUE 9. D'ARTAGNAN SHOWS HIMSELF 10. A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 11. IN WHICH THE PLOT THICKENS 12. GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM 13. MONSIEUR BONACIEUX 14. THE MAN OF MEUNG 15. MEN OF THE ROBE AND MEN OF THE SWORD 16. M. SEGUIER, KEEPER OF THE SEALS, LOOKS MORE THAN ONCE FOR THE BELL, IN ORDER TO RING IT, AS HE DID BEFORE 17. BONACIEUX AT HOME 18. LOVER AND HUSBAND 19. PLAN OF CAMPAIGN 20. THE JOURNEY 21. THE COUNTESS DE WINTER 22. THE BALLET OF LA MERLAISON 23. THE RENDEZVOUS 24. THE PAVILION 25. PORTHOS 26. ARAMIS AND HIS THESIS 27. THE WIFE OF ATHOS 28. THE RETURN 29. HUNTING FOR THE EQUIPMENTS 30. D'ARTAGNAN AND THE ENGLISHMAN 31. ENGLISH AND FRENCH 32. A PROCURATOR'S DINNER 33. SOUBRETTE AND MISTRESS 34. IN WHICH THE EQUIPMENT OF ARAMIS AND PORTHOS IS TREATED OF 35. A GASCON A MATCH FOR CUPID 36. DREAM OF VENGEANCE 37. MILADY'S SECRET 38. HOW, WITHOUT INCOMMODING HIMSELF, ATHOS PROCURED HIS EQUIPMENT 39. A VISION 40. A TERRIBLE VISION 41. THE SEIGE OF LA ROCHELLE 42. THE ANJOU WINE 43. THE SIGN OF THE RED DOVECOT 44. THE UTILITY OF STOVEPIPES 45. A CONJUGAL SCENE 46. THE BASTION SAINT-GERVAIS 47. THE COUNCIL OF THE MUSKETEERS 48. A FAMILY AFFAIR 49. FATALITY 50. CHAT BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER 51. OFFICER 52. CAPTIVITY: THE FIRST DAY 53. CAPTIVITY: THE SECOND DAY 54. CAPTIVITY: THE THIRD DAY 55. CAPTIVITY: THE FOURTH DAY 56. CAPTIVITY: THE FIFTH DAY 57. MEANS FOR CLASSICAL TRAGEDY 58. ESCAPE 59. WHAT TOOK PLACE AT PORTSMOUTH 60. IN FRANCE 61. THE CARMELITE CONVENT AT BETHUNE 62. TWO VARIETIES OF DEMONS 63. THE DROP OF WATER 64. THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK 65. TRIAL 66. EXECUTION 67. CONCLUSION

 EPILOGUE

THE THREE MUSKETEERS

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

In which it is proved that, notwithstanding their names' ending in OSand IS, the heroes of the story which we are about to have the honor torelate to our readers have nothing mythological about them. 

A short time ago, while making researches in the Royal Library formy History of Louis XIV, I stumbled by chance upon the Memoirs of M. D'Artagnan, printed--as were most of the works of that period, in whichauthors could not tell the truth without the risk of a residence, moreor less long, in the Bastille--at Amsterdam, by Pierre Rouge. The titleattracted me; I took them home with me, with the permission of theguardian, and devoured them. 

It is not my intention here to enter into an analysis of this curiouswork; and I shall satisfy myself with referring such of my readers asappreciate the pictures of the period to its pages. They will thereinfind portraits penciled by the hand of a master; and although thesesquibs may be, for the most part, traced upon the doors of barracks andthe walls of cabarets, they will not find the likenesses of Louis XIII, Anne of Austria, Richelieu, Mazarin, and the courtiers of the period, less faithful than in the history of M. Anquetil. 

But, it is well known, what strikes the capricious mind of the poet isnot always what affects the mass of readers. Now, while admiring, asothers doubtless will admire, the details we have to relate, our mainpreoccupation concerned a matter to which no one before ourselves hadgiven a thought. 

D'Artagnan relates that on his first visit to M. De Treville, captainof the king's Musketeers, he met in the antechamber three young men, serving in the illustrious corps into which he was soliciting the honorof being received, bearing the names of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. 

We must confess these three strange names struck us; and it immediatelyoccurred to us that they were but pseudonyms, under which d'Artagnan haddisguised names perhaps illustrious, or else that the bearers of theseborrowed names had themselves chosen them on the day in which, fromcaprice, discontent, or want of fortune, they had donned the simpleMusketeer's uniform. 

From the moment we had no rest till we could find some trace incontemporary works of these extraordinary names which had so stronglyawakened our curiosity. 

The catalogue alone of the books we read with this object would filla whole chapter, which, although it might be very instructive, wouldcertainly afford our readers but little amusement. It will suffice, then, to tell them that at the moment at which, discouraged by so manyfruitless investigations, we were about to abandon our search, we atlength found, guided by the counsels of our illustrious friend PaulinParis, a manuscript in folio, endorsed 4772 or 4773, we do not recollectwhich, having for title, "Memoirs of the Comte de la Fere, Touching SomeEvents Which Passed in France Toward the End of the Reign of King LouisXIII and the Commencement of the Reign of King Louis XIV. "

It may be easily imagined how great was our joy when, in turning overthis manuscript, our last hope, we found at the twentieth page thename of Athos, at the twenty-seventh the name of Porthos, and at thethirty-first the name of Aramis. 

The discovery of a completely unknown manuscript at a period in whichhistorical science is carried to such a high degree appeared almostmiraculous. We hastened, therefore, to obtain permission to print it, with the view of presenting ourselves someday with the pack of othersat the doors of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, ifwe should not succeed--a very probable thing, by the by--in gainingadmission to the Academie Francaise with our own proper pack. Thispermission, we feel bound to say, was graciously granted; which compelsus here to give a public contradiction to the slanderers who pretendthat we live under a government but moderately indulgent to men ofletters. 

Now, this is the first part of this precious manuscript which we offerto our readers, restoring it to the title which belongs to it, andentering into an engagement that if (of which we have no doubt) thisfirst part should obtain the success it merits, we will publish thesecond immediately. 

In the meanwhile, as the godfather is a second father, we beg the readerto lay to our account, and not to that of the Comte de la Fere, thepleasure or the ENNUI he may experience. 

This being understood, let us proceed with our history. 

1 THE THREE PRESENTS OF D'ARTAGNAN THE ELDER

On the first Monday of the month of April, 1625, the market town ofMeung, in which the author of ROMANCE OF THE ROSE was born, appeared tobe in as perfect a state of revolution as if the Huguenots had justmade a second La Rochelle of it. Many citizens, seeing the women flyingtoward the High Street, leaving their children crying at the open doors, hastened to don the cuirass, and supporting their somewhat uncertaincourage with a musket or a partisan, directed their steps toward thehostelry of the Jolly Miller, before which was gathered, increasingevery minute, a compact group, vociferous and full of curiosity. 

In those times panics were common, and few days passed without some cityor other registering in its archives an event of this kind. There werenobles, who made war against each other; there was the king, who madewar against the cardinal; there was Spain, which made war against theking. Then, in addition to these concealed or public, secret or openwars, there were robbers, mendicants, Huguenots, wolves, and scoundrels, who made war upon everybody. The citizens always took up arms readilyagainst thieves, wolves or scoundrels, often against nobles orHuguenots, sometimes against the king, but never against cardinal orSpain. It resulted, then, from this habit that on the said first Mondayof April, 1625, the citizens, on hearing the clamor, and seeing neitherthe red-and-yellow standard nor the livery of the Duc de Richelieu, rushed toward the hostel of the Jolly Miller. When arrived there, thecause of the hubbub was apparent to all. 

A young man--we can sketch his portrait at a dash. Imagine to yourself aDon Quixote of eighteen; a Don Quixote without his corselet, withouthis coat of mail, without his cuisses; a Don Quixote clothed in a woolendoublet, the blue color of which had faded into a nameless shade betweenlees of wine and a heavenly azure; face long and brown; high cheekbones, a sign of sagacity; the maxillary muscles enormously developed, an infallible sign by which a Gascon may always be detected, evenwithout his cap--and our young man wore a cap set off with a sort offeather; the eye open and intelligent; the nose hooked, but finelychiseled. Too big for a youth, too small for a grown man, an experiencedeye might have taken him for a farmer's son upon a journey had it notbeen for the long sword which, dangling from a leather baldric, hitagainst the calves of its owner as he walked, and against the rough sideof his steed when he was on horseback. 

For our young man had a steed which was the observed of all observers. It was a Bearn pony, from twelve to fourteen years old, yellow in hishide, without a hair in his tail, but not without windgalls on his legs, which, though going with his head lower than his knees, rendering amartingale quite unnecessary, contrived nevertheless to perform hiseight leagues a day. Unfortunately, the qualities of this horse wereso well concealed under his strange-colored hide and his unaccountablegait, that at a time when everybody was a connoisseur in horseflesh, theappearance of the aforesaid pony at Meung--which place he had enteredabout a quarter of an hour before, by the gate of Beaugency--produced anunfavorable feeling, which extended to his rider. 

And this feeling had been more painfully perceived by youngd'Artagnan--for so was the Don Quixote of this second Rosinantenamed--from his not being able to conceal from himself the ridiculousappearance that such a steed gave him, good horseman as he was. He hadsighed deeply, therefore, when accepting the gift of the pony from M. D'Artagnan the elder. He was not ignorant that such a beast was worthat least twenty livres; and the words which had accompanied the presentwere above all price. 

"My son, " said the old Gascon gentleman, in that pure Bearn PATOIS ofwhich Henry IV could never rid himself, "this horse was born in thehouse of your father about thirteen years ago, and has remained in itever since, which ought to make you love it. Never sell it; allow it todie tranquilly and honorably of old age, and if you make a campaign withit, take as much care of it as you would of an old servant. At court, provided you have ever the honor to go there, " continued M. D'Artagnanthe elder, "--an honor to which, remember, your ancient nobility givesyou the right--sustain worthily your name of gentleman, which has beenworthily borne by your ancestors for five hundred years, both for yourown sake and the sake of those who belong to you. By the latter I meanyour relatives and friends. Endure nothing from anyone except Monsieurthe Cardinal and the king. It is by his courage, please observe, byhis courage alone, that a gentleman can make his way nowadays. Whoeverhesitates for a second perhaps allows the bait to escape which duringthat exact second fortune held out to him. You are young. You ought tobe brave for two reasons: the first is that you are a Gascon, and thesecond is that you are my son. Never fear quarrels, but seek adventures. I have taught you how to handle a sword; you have thews of iron, awrist of steel. Fight on all occasions. Fight the more for duelsbeing forbidden, since consequently there is twice as much courage infighting. I have nothing to give you, my son, but fifteen crowns, myhorse, and the counsels you have just heard. Your mother will add tothem a recipe for a certain balsam, which she had from a Bohemian andwhich has the miraculous virtue of curing all wounds that do not reachthe heart. Take advantage of all, and live happily and long. I have butone word to add, and that is to propose an example to you--not mine, for I myself have never appeared at court, and have only taken part inreligious wars as a volunteer; I speak of Monsieur de Treville, whowas formerly my neighbor, and who had the honor to be, as a child, theplay-fellow of our king, Louis XIII, whom God preserve! Sometimes theirplay degenerated into battles, and in these battles the king was notalways the stronger. The blows which he received increased greatly hisesteem and friendship for Monsieur de Treville. Afterward, Monsieur deTreville fought with others: in his first journey to Paris, five times;from the death of the late king till the young one came of age, withoutreckoning wars and sieges, seven times; and from that date up to thepresent day, a hundred times, perhaps! So that in spite of edicts, ordinances, and decrees, there he is, captain of the Musketeers; thatis to say, chief of a legion of Caesars, whom the king holds in greatesteem and whom the cardinal dreads--he who dreads nothing, as it issaid. Still further, Monsieur de Treville gains ten thousand crowns ayear; he is therefore a great noble. He began as you begin. Go to himwith this letter, and make him your model in order that you may do as hehas done. "

Upon which M. D'Artagnan the elder girded his own sword round his son, kissed him tenderly on both cheeks, and gave him his benediction. 

On leaving the paternal chamber, the young man found his mother, whowas waiting for him with the famous recipe of which the counsels we havejust repeated would necessitate frequent employment. The adieux were onthis side longer and more tender than they had been on the other--notthat M. D'Artagnan did not love his son, who was his only offspring, butM. D'Artagnan was a man, and he would have considered it unworthy of aman to give way to his feelings; whereas Mme. D'Artagnan was a woman, and still more, a mother. She wept abundantly; and--let us speak it tothe praise of M. D'Artagnan the younger--notwithstanding the efforts hemade to remain firm, as a future Musketeer ought, nature prevailed, and he shed many tears, of which he succeeded with great difficulty inconcealing the half. 

The same day the young man set forward on his journey, furnished withthe three paternal gifts, which consisted, as we have said, of fifteencrowns, the horse, and the letter for M. De Treville--the counsels beingthrown into the bargain. 

With such a VADE MECUM d'Artagnan was morally and physically an exactcopy of the hero of Cervantes, to whom we so happily compared him whenour duty of an historian placed us under the necessity of sketching hisportrait. Don Quixote took windmills for giants, and sheep forarmies; d'Artagnan took every smile for an insult, and every look as aprovocation--whence it resulted that from Tarbes to Meung his fist wasconstantly doubled, or his hand on the hilt of his sword; and yet thefist did not descend upon any jaw, nor did the sword issue from itsscabbard. It was not that the sight of the wretched pony did not excitenumerous smiles on the countenances of passers-by; but as against theside of this pony rattled a sword of respectable length, and asover this sword gleamed an eye rather ferocious than haughty, thesepassers-by repressed their hilarity, or if hilarity prevailed overprudence, they endeavored to laugh only on one side, like the masksof the ancients. D'Artagnan, then, remained majestic and intact in hissusceptibility, till he came to this unlucky city of Meung. 

But there, as he was alighting from his horse at the gate of the JollyMiller, without anyone--host, waiter, or hostler--coming to hold hisstirrup or take his horse, d'Artagnan spied, though an open window onthe ground floor, a gentleman, well-made and of good carriage, althoughof rather a stern countenance, talking with two persons who appearedto listen to him with respect. D'Artagnan fancied quite naturally, according to his custom, that he must be the object of theirconversation, and listened. This time d'Artagnan was only in partmistaken; he himself was not in question, but his horse was. Thegentleman appeared to be enumerating all his qualities to his auditors;and, as I have said, the auditors seeming to have great deference forthe narrator, they every moment burst into fits of laughter. Now, as ahalf-smile was sufficient to awaken the irascibility of the young man, the effect produced upon him by this vociferous mirth may be easilyimagined. 

Nevertheless, d'Artagnan was desirous of examining the appearance ofthis impertinent personage who ridiculed him. He fixed his haughty eyeupon the stranger, and perceived a man of from forty to forty-five yearsof age, with black and piercing eyes, pale complexion, a strongly markednose, and a black and well-shaped mustache. He was dressed in a doubletand hose of a violet color, with aiguillettes of the same color, withoutany other ornaments than the customary slashes, through which theshirt appeared. This doublet and hose, though new, were creased, liketraveling clothes for a long time packed in a portmanteau. D'Artagnanmade all these remarks with the rapidity of a most minute observer, anddoubtless from an instinctive feeling that this stranger was destined tohave a great influence over his future life. 

Now, as at the moment in which d'Artagnan fixed his eyes upon thegentleman in the violet doublet, the gentleman made one of his mostknowing and profound remarks respecting the Bearnese pony, his twoauditors laughed even louder than before, and he himself, thoughcontrary to his custom, allowed a pale smile (if I may allowed to usesuch an expression) to stray over his countenance. This time therecould be no doubt; d'Artagnan was really insulted. Full, then, of thisconviction, he pulled his cap down over his eyes, and endeavoring tocopy some of the court airs he had picked up in Gascony among youngtraveling nobles, he advanced with one hand on the hilt of his sword andthe other resting on his hip. Unfortunately, as he advanced, his angerincreased at every step; and instead of the proper and lofty speech hehad prepared as a prelude to his challenge, he found nothing at thetip of his tongue but a gross personality, which he accompanied with afurious gesture. 

"I say, sir, you sir, who are hiding yourself behind that shutter--yes, you, sir, tell me what you are laughing at, and we will laugh together!"

The gentleman raised his eyes slowly from the nag to his cavalier, as ifhe required some time to ascertain whether it could be to him that suchstrange reproaches were addressed; then, when he could not possiblyentertain any doubt of the matter, his eyebrows slightly bent, and withan accent of irony and insolence impossible to be described, he repliedto d'Artagnan, "I was not speaking to you, sir. "

"But I am speaking to you!" replied the young man, additionallyexasperated with this mixture of insolence and good manners, ofpoliteness and scorn. 

The stranger looked at him again with a slight smile, and retiringfrom the window, came out of the hostelry with a slow step, and placedhimself before the horse, within two paces of d'Artagnan. His quietmanner and the ironical expression of his countenance redoubled themirth of the persons with whom he had been talking, and who stillremained at the window. 

D'Artagnan, seeing him approach, drew his sword a foot out of thescabbard. 

"This horse is decidedly, or rather has been in his youth, a buttercup, "resumed the stranger, continuing the remarks he had begun, andaddressing himself to his auditors at the window, without paying theleast attention to the exasperation of d'Artagnan, who, however placedhimself between him and them. "It is a color very well known in botany, but till the present time very rare among horses. "

"There are people who laugh at the horse that would not dare to laugh atthe master, " cried the young emulator of the furious Treville. 

"I do not often laugh, sir, " replied the stranger, "as you may perceiveby the expression of my countenance; but nevertheless I retain theprivilege of laughing when I please. "

"And I, " cried d'Artagnan, "will allow no man to laugh when itdispleases me!"

"Indeed, sir, " continued the stranger, more calm than ever; "well, thatis perfectly right!" and turning on his heel, was about to re-enter thehostelry by the front gate, beneath which d'Artagnan on arriving hadobserved a saddled horse. 

But, d'Artagnan was not of a character to allow a man to escape him thuswho had the insolence to ridicule him. He drew his sword entirely fromthe scabbard, and followed him, crying, "Turn, turn, Master Joker, lestI strike you behind!"

"Strike me!" said the other, turning on his heels, and surveying theyoung man with as much astonishment as contempt. "Why, my good fellow, you must be mad!" Then, in a suppressed tone, as if speaking to himself, "This is annoying, " continued he. "What a godsend this would be for hisMajesty, who is seeking everywhere for brave fellows to recruit for hisMusketeers!"

He had scarcely finished, when d'Artagnan made such a furious lunge athim that if he had not sprung nimbly backward, it is probable he wouldhave jested for the last time. The stranger, then perceiving that thematter went beyond raillery, drew his sword, saluted his adversary, and seriously placed himself on guard. But at the same moment, his twoauditors, accompanied by the host, fell upon d'Artagnan with sticks, shovels and tongs. This caused so rapid and complete a diversion fromthe attack that d'Artagnan's adversary, while the latter turned round toface this shower of blows, sheathed his sword with the same precision, and instead of an actor, which he had nearly been, became a spectatorof the fight--a part in which he acquitted himself with his usualimpassiveness, muttering, nevertheless, "A plague upon these Gascons!Replace him on his orange horse, and let him begone!"

"Not before I have killed you, poltroon!" cried d'Artagnan, makingthe best face possible, and never retreating one step before his threeassailants, who continued to shower blows upon him. 

"Another gasconade!" murmured the gentleman. "By my honor, these Gasconsare incorrigible! Keep up the dance, then, since he will have it so. When he is tired, he will perhaps tell us that he has had enough of it. "

But the stranger knew not the headstrong personage he had to do with;d'Artagnan was not the man ever to cry for quarter. The fight wastherefore prolonged for some seconds; but at length d'Artagnan droppedhis sword, which was broken in two pieces by the blow of a stick. Another blow full upon his forehead at the same moment brought him tothe ground, covered with blood and almost fainting. 

It was at this moment that people came flocking to the scene of actionfrom all sides. The host, fearful of consequences, with the help of hisservants carried the wounded man into the kitchen, where some triflingattentions were bestowed upon him. 

As to the gentleman, he resumed his place at the window, and surveyedthe crowd with a certain impatience, evidently annoyed by theirremaining undispersed. 

"Well, how is it with this madman?" exclaimed he, turning round as thenoise of the door announced the entrance of the host, who came in toinquire if he was unhurt. 

"Your excellency is safe and sound?" asked the host. 

"Oh, yes! Perfectly safe and sound, my good host; and I wish to knowwhat has become of our young man. "

"He is better, " said the host, "he fainted quite away. "

"Indeed!" said the gentleman. 

"But before he fainted, he collected all his strength to challenge you, and to defy you while challenging you. "

"Why, this fellow must be the devil in person!" cried the stranger. 

"Oh, no, your Excellency, he is not the devil, " replied the host, witha grin of contempt; "for during his fainting we rummaged his valise andfound nothing but a clean shirt and eleven crowns--which however, didnot prevent his saying, as he was fainting, that if such a thing hadhappened in Paris, you should have cause to repent of it at a laterperiod. "

"Then, " said the stranger coolly, "he must be some prince in disguise. "

"I have told you this, good sir, " resumed the host, "in order that youmay be on your guard. "

"Did he name no one in his passion?"

"Yes; he struck his pocket and said, 'We shall see what Monsieur deTreville will think of this insult offered to his protege. '"

"Monsieur de Treville?" said the stranger, becoming attentive, "heput his hand upon his pocket while pronouncing the name of Monsieur deTreville? Now, my dear host, while your young man was insensible, youdid not fail, I am quite sure, to ascertain what that pocket contained. What was there in it?"

"A letter addressed to Monsieur de Treville, captain of the Musketeers. "

"Indeed!"

"Exactly as I have the honor to tell your Excellency. "

The host, who was not endowed with great perspicacity, did not observethe expression which his words had given to the physiognomy of thestranger. The latter rose from the front of the window, upon the sillof which he had leaned with his elbow, and knitted his brow like a mandisquieted. 

"The devil!" murmured he, between his teeth. "Can Treville have set thisGascon upon me? He is very young; but a sword thrust is a sword thrust, whatever be the age of him who gives it, and a youth is less to besuspected than an older man, " and the stranger fell into a reveriewhich lasted some minutes. "A weak obstacle is sometimes sufficient tooverthrow a great design. 

"Host, " said he, "could you not contrive to get rid of this frantic boyfor me? In conscience, I cannot kill him; and yet, " added he, with acoldly menacing expression, "he annoys me. Where is he?"

"In my wife's chamber, on the first flight, where they are dressing hiswounds. "

"His things and his bag are with him? Has he taken off his doublet?"

"On the contrary, everything is in the kitchen. But if he annoys you, this young fool--"

"To be sure he does. He causes a disturbance in your hostelry, whichrespectable people cannot put up with. Go; make out my bill and notifymy servant. "

"What, monsieur, will you leave us so soon?"

"You know that very well, as I gave my order to saddle my horse. Havethey not obeyed me?"

"It is done; as your Excellency may have observed, your horse is in thegreat gateway, ready saddled for your departure. "

"That is well; do as I have directed you, then. "

"What the devil!" said the host to himself. "Can he be afraid of thisboy?" But an imperious glance from the stranger stopped him short; hebowed humbly and retired. 

"It is not necessary for Milady* to be seen by this fellow, " continuedthe stranger. "She will soon pass; she is already late. I had better geton horseback, and go and meet her. I should like, however, to know whatthis letter addressed to Treville contains. "

*We are well aware that this term, milady, is only properly used whenfollowed by a family name. But we find it thus in the manuscript, and wedo not choose to take upon ourselves to alter it. 

And the stranger, muttering to himself, directed his steps toward thekitchen. 

In the meantime, the host, who entertained no doubt that it was thepresence of the young man that drove the stranger from his hostelry, re-ascended to his wife's chamber, and found d'Artagnan just recoveringhis senses. Giving him to understand that the police would deal with himpretty severely for having sought a quarrel with a great lord--for theopinion of the host the stranger could be nothing less than a greatlord--he insisted that notwithstanding his weakness d'Artagnan shouldget up and depart as quickly as possible. D'Artagnan, half stupefied, without his doublet, and with his head bound up in a linen cloth, arose then, and urged by the host, began to descend the stairs; buton arriving at the kitchen, the first thing he saw was his antagonisttalking calmly at the step of a heavy carriage, drawn by two largeNorman horses. 

His interlocutor, whose head appeared through the carriage window, wasa woman of from twenty to two-and-twenty years. We have already observedwith what rapidity d'Artagnan seized the expression of a countenance. He perceived then, at a glance, that this woman was young and beautiful;and her style of beauty struck him more forcibly from its being totallydifferent from that of the southern countries in which d'Artagnan hadhitherto resided. She was pale and fair, with long curls falling inprofusion over her shoulders, had large, blue, languishing eyes, rosylips, and hands of alabaster. She was talking with great animation withthe stranger. 

"His Eminence, then, orders me--" said the lady. 

"To return instantly to England, and to inform him as soon as the dukeleaves London. "

"And as to my other instructions?" asked the fair traveler. 

"They are contained in this box, which you will not open until you areon the other side of the Channel. "

"Very well; and you--what will you do?"

"I--I return to Paris. "

"What, without chastising this insolent boy?" asked the lady. 

The stranger was about to reply; but at the moment he opened his mouth, d'Artagnan, who had heard all, precipitated himself over the thresholdof the door. 

"This insolent boy chastises others, " cried he; "and I hope that thistime he whom he ought to chastise will not escape him as before. "

"Will not escape him?" replied the stranger, knitting his brow. 

"No; before a woman you would dare not fly, I presume?"

"Remember, " said Milady, seeing the stranger lay his hand on his sword, "the least delay may ruin everything. "

"You are right, " cried the gentleman; "begone then, on your part, and Iwill depart as quickly on mine. " And bowing to the lady, sprang into hissaddle, while her coachman applied his whip vigorously to his horses. The two interlocutors thus separated, taking opposite directions, atfull gallop. 

"Pay him, booby!" cried the stranger to his servant, without checkingthe speed of his horse; and the man, after throwing two or three silverpieces at the foot of mine host, galloped after his master. 

"Base coward! false gentleman!" cried d'Artagnan, springing forward, inhis turn, after the servant. But his wound had rendered him too weak tosupport such an exertion. Scarcely had he gone ten steps when his earsbegan to tingle, a faintness seized him, a cloud of blood passedover his eyes, and he fell in the middle of the street, crying still, "Coward! coward! coward!"

"He is a coward, indeed, " grumbled the host, drawing near to d'Artagnan, and endeavoring by this little flattery to make up matters with theyoung man, as the heron of the fable did with the snail he had despisedthe evening before. 

"Yes, a base coward, " murmured d'Artagnan; "but she--she was verybeautiful. "

"What she?" demanded the host. 

"Milady, " faltered d'Artagnan, and fainted a second time. 

"Ah, it's all one, " said the host; "I have lost two customers, but thisone remains, of whom I am pretty certain for some days to come. Therewill be eleven crowns gained. "

It is to be remembered that eleven crowns was just the sum that remainedin d'Artagnan's purse. 

The host had reckoned upon eleven days of confinement at a crown a day, but he had reckoned without his guest. On the following morning at fiveo'clock d'Artagnan arose, and descending to the kitchen without help, asked, among other ingredients the list of which has not come down tous, for some oil, some wine, and some rosemary, and with his mother'srecipe in his hand composed a balsam, with which he anointed hisnumerous wounds, replacing his bandages himself, and positively refusingthe assistance of any doctor, d'Artagnan walked about that same evening, and was almost cured by the morrow. 

But when the time came to pay for his rosemary, this oil, and the wine, the only expense the master had incurred, as he had preserved a strictabstinence--while on the contrary, the yellow horse, by the account ofthe hostler at least, had eaten three times as much as a horse of hissize could reasonably supposed to have done--d'Artagnan found nothingin his pocket but his little old velvet purse with the eleven crownsit contained; for as to the letter addressed to M. De Treville, it haddisappeared. 

The young man commenced his search for the letter with the greatestpatience, turning out his pockets of all kinds over and over again, rummaging and rerummaging in his valise, and opening and reopening hispurse; but when he found that he had come to the conviction that theletter was not to be found, he flew, for the third time, into sucha rage as was near costing him a fresh consumption of wine, oil, androsemary--for upon seeing this hot-headed youth become exasperated andthreaten to destroy everything in the establishment if his letter werenot found, the host seized a spit, his wife a broom handle, and theservants the same sticks they had used the day before. 

"My letter of recommendation!" cried d'Artagnan, "my letter ofrecommendation! or, the holy blood, I will spit you all like ortolans!"

Unfortunately, there was one circumstance which created a powerfulobstacle to the accomplishment of this threat; which was, as we haverelated, that his sword had been in his first conflict broken in two, and which he had entirely forgotten. Hence, it resulted when d'Artagnanproceeded to draw his sword in earnest, he found himself purely andsimply armed with a stump of a sword about eight or ten inches inlength, which the host had carefully placed in the scabbard. As to therest of the blade, the master had slyly put that on one side to makehimself a larding pin. 

But this deception would probably not have stopped our fiery young manif the host had not reflected that the reclamation which his guest madewas perfectly just. 

"But, after all, " said he, lowering the point of his spit, "where isthis letter?"

"Yes, where is this letter?" cried d'Artagnan. "In the first place, Iwarn you that that letter is for Monsieur de Treville, and it must befound, he will know how to find it. "

His threat completed the intimidation of the host. After the king andthe cardinal, M. De Treville was the man whose name was perhaps mostfrequently repeated by the military, and even by citizens. There was, to be sure, Father Joseph, but his name was never pronounced but with asubdued voice, such was the terror inspired by his Gray Eminence, as thecardinal's familiar was called. 

Throwing down his spit, and ordering his wife to do the same with herbroom handle, and the servants with their sticks, he set the firstexample of commencing an earnest search for the lost letter. 

"Does the letter contain anything valuable?" demanded the host, after afew minutes of useless investigation. 

"Zounds! I think it does indeed!" cried the Gascon, who reckoned uponthis letter for making his way at court. "It contained my fortune!"

"Bills upon Spain?" asked the disturbed host. 

"Bills upon his Majesty's private treasury, " answered d'Artagnan, who, reckoning upon entering into the king's service in consequence of thisrecommendation, believed he could make this somewhat hazardous replywithout telling of a falsehood. 

"The devil!" cried the host, at his wit's end. 

"But it's of no importance, " continued d'Artagnan, with naturalassurance; "it's of no importance. The money is nothing; that letter waseverything. I would rather have lost a thousand pistoles than have lostit. " He would not have risked more if he had said twenty thousand; but acertain juvenile modesty restrained him. 

A ray of light all at once broke upon the mind of the host as he wasgiving himself to the devil upon finding nothing. 

"That letter is not lost!" cried he. 

"What!" cried d'Artagnan. 

"No, it has been stolen from you. "

"Stolen? By whom?"

"By the gentleman who was here yesterday. He came down into the kitchen, where your doublet was. He remained there some time alone. I would lay awager he has stolen it. "

"Do you think so?" answered d'Artagnan, but little convinced, as he knewbetter than anyone else how entirely personal the value of this letterwas, and was nothing in it likely to tempt cupidity. The fact was thatnone of his servants, none of the travelers present, could have gainedanything by being possessed of this paper. 

"Do you say, " resumed d'Artagnan, "that you suspect that impertinentgentleman?"

"I tell you I am sure of it, " continued the host. "When I informed himthat your lordship was the protege of Monsieur de Treville, and that youeven had a letter for that illustrious gentleman, he appeared to be verymuch disturbed, and asked me where that letter was, and immediately camedown into the kitchen, where he knew your doublet was. "

"Then that's my thief, " replied d'Artagnan. "I will complain to Monsieurde Treville, and Monsieur de Treville will complain to the king. " Hethen drew two crowns majestically from his purse and gave them to thehost, who accompanied him, cap in hand, to the gate, and remounted hisyellow horse, which bore him without any further accident to the gate ofSt. Antoine at Paris, where his owner sold him for three crowns, whichwas a very good price, considering that d'Artagnan had ridden him hardduring the last stage. Thus the dealer to whom d'Artagnan sold him forthe nine livres did not conceal from the young man that he only gavethat enormous sum for him on the account of the originality of hiscolor. 

Thus d'Artagnan entered Paris on foot, carrying his little packet underhis arm, and walked about till he found an apartment to be let onterms suited to the scantiness of his means. This chamber was a sort ofgarret, situated in the Rue des Fossoyeurs, near the Luxembourg. 

As soon as the earnest money was paid, d'Artagnan took possession of hislodging, and passed the remainder of the day in sewing onto his doubletand hose some ornamental braiding which his mother had taken off analmost-new doublet of the elder M. D'Artagnan, and which she had givenher son secretly. Next he went to the Quai de Feraille to have a newblade put to his sword, and then returned toward the Louvre, inquiringof the first Musketeer he met for the situation of the hotel of M. DeTreville, which proved to be in the Rue du Vieux-Colombier; that is tosay, in the immediate vicinity of the chamber hired by d'Artagnan--acircumstance which appeared to furnish a happy augury for the success ofhis journey. 

After this, satisfied with the way in which he had conducted himself atMeung, without remorse for the past, confident in the present, and fullof hope for the future, he retired to bed and slept the sleep of thebrave. 

This sleep, provincial as it was, brought him to nine o'clock in themorning; at which hour he rose, in order to repair to the residenceof M. De Treville, the third personage in the kingdom, in the paternalestimation. 

2 THE ANTECHAMBER OF M. DE TREVILLE

M. De Troisville, as his family was still called in Gascony, or M. De Treville, as he has ended by styling himself in Paris, had reallycommenced life as d'Artagnan now did; that is to say, without a sou inhis pocket, but with a fund of audacity, shrewdness, and intelligencewhich makes the poorest Gascon gentleman often derive more in his hopefrom the paternal inheritance than the richest Perigordian or Berrichangentleman derives in reality from his. His insolent bravery, his stillmore insolent success at a time when blows poured down like hail, hadborne him to the top of that difficult ladder called Court Favor, whichhe had climbed four steps at a time. 

He was the friend of the king, who honored highly, as everyone knows, the memory of his father, Henry IV. The father of M. De Treville hadserved him so faithfully in his wars against the league that in defaultof money--a thing to which the Bearnais was accustomed all his life, andwho constantly paid his debts with that of which he never stood in needof borrowing, that is to say, with ready wit--in default of money, werepeat, he authorized him, after the reduction of Paris, to assume forhis arms a golden lion passant upon gules, with the motto FIDELIS ETFORTIS. This was a great matter in the way of honor, but very little inthe way of wealth; so that when the illustrious companion of the greatHenry died, the only inheritance he was able to leave his son was hissword and his motto. Thanks to this double gift and the spotless namethat accompanied it, M. De Treville was admitted into the household ofthe young prince where he made such good use of his sword, and was sofaithful to his motto, that Louis XIII, one of the good blades of hiskingdom, was accustomed to say that if he had a friend who was aboutto fight, he would advise him to choose as a second, himself first, andTreville next--or even, perhaps, before himself. 

Thus Louis XIII had a real liking for Treville--a royal liking, aself-interested liking, it is true, but still a liking. At that unhappyperiod it was an important consideration to be surrounded by such menas Treville. Many might take for their device the epithet STRONG, whichformed the second part of his motto, but very few gentlemen could layclaim to the FAITHFUL, which constituted the first. Treville was one ofthese latter. His was one of those rare organizations, endowed with anobedient intelligence like that of the dog; with a blind valor, a quickeye, and a prompt hand; to whom sight appeared only to be given to seeif the king were dissatisfied with anyone, and the hand to strike thisdispleasing personage, whether a Besme, a Maurevers, a Poltiot de Mere, or a Vitry. In short, up to this period nothing had been wanting toTreville but opportunity; but he was ever on the watch for it, and hefaithfully promised himself that he would not fail to seize it by itsthree hairs whenever it came within reach of his hand. At last LouisXIII made Treville the captain of his Musketeers, who were to Louis XIIIin devotedness, or rather in fanaticism, what his Ordinaries had been toHenry III, and his Scotch Guard to Louis XI. 

On his part, the cardinal was not behind the king in this respect. When he saw the formidable and chosen body with which Louis XIII hadsurrounded himself, this second, or rather this first king of France, became desirous that he, too, should have his guard. He had hisMusketeers therefore, as Louis XIII had his, and these two powerfulrivals vied with each other in procuring, not only from all theprovinces of France, but even from all foreign states, the mostcelebrated swordsmen. It was not uncommon for Richelieu and Louis XIIIto dispute over their evening game of chess upon the merits of theirservants. Each boasted the bearing and the courage of his own people. While exclaiming loudly against duels and brawls, they excited themsecretly to quarrel, deriving an immoderate satisfaction or genuineregret from the success or defeat of their own combatants. We learn thisfrom the memoirs of a man who was concerned in some few of these defeatsand in many of these victories. 

Treville had grasped the weak side of his master; and it was to thisaddress that he owed the long and constant favor of a king who hasnot left the reputation behind him of being very faithful in hisfriendships. He paraded his Musketeers before the Cardinal ArmandDuplessis with an insolent air which made the gray moustache of hisEminence curl with ire. Treville understood admirably the war method ofthat period, in which he who could not live at the expense of the enemymust live at the expense of his compatriots. His soldiers formed alegion of devil-may-care fellows, perfectly undisciplined toward all buthimself. 

Loose, half-drunk, imposing, the king's Musketeers, or rather M. DeTreville's, spread themselves about in the cabarets, in the publicwalks, and the public sports, shouting, twisting their mustaches, clanking their swords, and taking great pleasure in annoying the Guardsof the cardinal whenever they could fall in with them; then drawingin the open streets, as if it were the best of all possible sports;sometimes killed, but sure in that case to be both wept and avenged;often killing others, but then certain of not rotting in prison, M. DeTreville being there to claim them. Thus M. De Treville was praised tothe highest note by these men, who adored him, and who, ruffians as theywere, trembled before him like scholars before their master, obedientto his least word, and ready to sacrifice themselves to wash out thesmallest insult. 

M. De Treville employed this powerful weapon for the king, in the firstplace, and the friends of the king--and then for himself and his ownfriends. For the rest, in the memoirs of this period, which has left somany memoirs, one does not find this worthy gentleman blamed even by hisenemies; and he had many such among men of the pen as well as amongmen of the sword. In no instance, let us say, was this worthy gentlemanaccused of deriving personal advantage from the cooperation of hisminions. Endowed with a rare genius for intrigue which rendered himthe equal of the ablest intriguers, he remained an honest man. Stillfurther, in spite of sword thrusts which weaken, and painful exerciseswhich fatigue, he had become one of the most gallant frequenters ofrevels, one of the most insinuating lady's men, one of the softestwhisperers of interesting nothings of his day; the BONNES FORTUNES of deTreville were talked of as those of M. De Bassompierre had been talkedof twenty years before, and that was not saying a little. The captainof the Musketeers was therefore admired, feared, and loved; and thisconstitutes the zenith of human fortune. 

Louis XIV absorbed all the smaller stars of his court in his own vastradiance; but his father, a sun PLURIBUS IMPAR, left his personalsplendor to each of his favorites, his individual value to each of hiscourtiers. In addition to the leeves of the king and the cardinal, theremight be reckoned in Paris at that time more than two hundred smallerbut still noteworthy leeves. Among these two hundred leeves, that ofTreville was one of the most sought. 

The court of his hotel, situated in the Rue du Vieux-Colombier, resembled a camp from by six o'clock in the morning in summer and eighto'clock in winter. From fifty to sixty Musketeers, who appeared toreplace one another in order always to present an imposing number, paraded constantly, armed to the teeth and ready for anything. On oneof those immense staircases, upon whose space modern civilization wouldbuild a whole house, ascended and descended the office seekers of Paris, who ran after any sort of favor--gentlemen from the provinces anxiousto be enrolled, and servants in all sorts of liveries, bringing andcarrying messages between their masters and M. De Treville. In theantechamber, upon long circular benches, reposed the elect; that isto say, those who were called. In this apartment a continued buzzingprevailed from morning till night, while M. De Treville, in his officecontiguous to this antechamber, received visits, listened to complaints, gave his orders, and like the king in his balcony at the Louvre, hadonly to place himself at the window to review both his men and arms. 

The day on which d'Artagnan presented himself the assemblage wasimposing, particularly for a provincial just arriving from his province. It is true that this provincial was a Gascon; and that, particularlyat this period, the compatriots of d'Artagnan had the reputation ofnot being easily intimidated. When he had once passed the massive doorcovered with long square-headed nails, he fell into the midst of a troopof swordsmen, who crossed one another in their passage, calling out, quarreling, and playing tricks one with another. In order to make one'sway amid these turbulent and conflicting waves, it was necessary to bean officer, a great noble, or a pretty woman. 

It was, then, into the midst of this tumult and disorder that our youngman advanced with a beating heat, ranging his long rapier up his lankyleg, and keeping one hand on the edge of his cap, with that half-smileof the embarrassed a provincial who wishes to put on a good face. Whenhe had passed one group he began to breathe more freely; but he couldnot help observing that they turned round to look at him, and for thefirst time in his life d'Artagnan, who had till that day entertained avery good opinion of himself, felt ridiculous. 

Arrived at the staircase, it was still worse. There were four Musketeerson the bottom steps, amusing themselves with the following exercise, while ten or twelve of their comrades waited upon the landing place totake their turn in the sport. 

One of them, stationed upon the top stair, naked sword in hand, prevented, or at least endeavored to prevent, the three others fromascending. 

These three others fenced against him with their agile swords. 

D'Artagnan at first took these weapons for foils, and believed themto be buttoned; but he soon perceived by certain scratches that everyweapon was pointed and sharpened, and that at each of these scratchesnot only the spectators, but even the actors themselves, laughed like somany madmen. 

He who at the moment occupied the upper step kept his adversariesmarvelously in check. A circle was formed around them. The conditionsrequired that at every hit the man touched should quit the game, yielding his turn for the benefit of the adversary who had hit him. Infive minutes three were slightly wounded, one on the hand, another onthe ear, by the defender of the stair, who himself remained intact--apiece of skill which was worth to him, according to the rules agreedupon, three turns of favor. 

However difficult it might be, or rather as he pretended it was, toastonish our young traveler, this pastime really astonished him. Hehad seen in his province--that land in which heads become so easilyheated--a few of the preliminaries of duels; but the daring of thesefour fencers appeared to him the strongest he had ever heard of evenin Gascony. He believed himself transported into that famous country ofgiants into which Gulliver afterward went and was so frightened; and yethe had not gained the goal, for there were still the landing place andthe antechamber. 

On the landing they were no longer fighting, but amused themselves withstories about women, and in the antechamber, with stories aboutthe court. On the landing d'Artagnan blushed; in the antechamber hetrembled. His warm and fickle imagination, which in Gascony had renderedformidable to young chambermaids, and even sometimes their mistresses, had never dreamed, even in moments of delirium, of half the amorouswonders or a quarter of the feats of gallantry which were here setforth in connection with names the best known and with details the leastconcealed. But if his morals were shocked on the landing, his respectfor the cardinal was scandalized in the antechamber. There, to his greatastonishment, d'Artagnan heard the policy which made all Europetremble criticized aloud and openly, as well as the private life of thecardinal, which so many great nobles had been punished for trying to pryinto. That great man who was so revered by d'Artagnan the elder servedas an object of ridicule to the Musketeers of Treville, who crackedtheir jokes upon his bandy legs and his crooked back. Some sang balladsabout Mme. D'Aguillon, his mistress, and Mme. Cambalet, his niece; whileothers formed parties and plans to annoy the pages and guards ofthe cardinal duke--all things which appeared to d'Artagnan monstrousimpossibilities. 

Nevertheless, when the name of the king was now and then utteredunthinkingly amid all these cardinal jests, a sort of gag seemed toclose for a moment on all these jeering mouths. They looked hesitatinglyaround them, and appeared to doubt the thickness of the partitionbetween them and the office of M. De Treville; but a fresh allusion soonbrought back the conversation to his Eminence, and then the laughterrecovered its loudness and the light was not withheld from any of hisactions. 

"Certes, these fellows will all either be imprisoned or hanged, " thoughtthe terrified d'Artagnan, "and I, no doubt, with them; for from themoment I have either listened to or heard them, I shall be held as anaccomplice. What would my good father say, who so strongly pointed outto me the respect due to the cardinal, if he knew I was in the societyof such pagans?"

We have no need, therefore, to say that d'Artagnan dared not join in theconversation, only he looked with all his eyes and listened with all hisears, stretching his five senses so as to lose nothing; and despite hisconfidence on the paternal admonitions, he felt himself carried byhis tastes and led by his instincts to praise rather than to blame theunheard-of things which were taking place. 

Although he was a perfect stranger in the court of M. De Treville'scourtiers, and this his first appearance in that place, he was at lengthnoticed, and somebody came and asked him what he wanted. At thisdemand d'Artagnan gave his name very modestly, emphasized the title ofcompatriot, and begged the servant who had put the question to himto request a moment's audience of M. De Treville--a request which theother, with an air of protection, promised to transmit in due season. 

D'Artagnan, a little recovered from his first surprise, had now leisureto study costumes and physiognomy. 

The center of the most animated group was a Musketeer of great heightand haughty countenance, dressed in a costume so peculiar as to attractgeneral attention. He did not wear the uniform cloak--which was notobligatory at that epoch of less liberty but more independence--buta cerulean-blue doublet, a little faded and worn, and over this amagnificent baldric, worked in gold, which shone like water ripples inthe sun. A long cloak of crimson velvet fell in graceful folds fromhis shoulders, disclosing in front the splendid baldric, from which wassuspended a gigantic rapier. This Musketeer had just come off guard, complained of having a cold, and coughed from time to time affectedly. It was for this reason, as he said to those around him, that he hadput on his cloak; and while he spoke with a lofty air and twistedhis mustache disdainfully, all admired his embroidered baldric, andd'Artagnan more than anyone. 

"What would you have?" said the Musketeer. "This fashion is coming in. It is a folly, I admit, but still it is the fashion. Besides, one mustlay out one's inheritance somehow. "

"Ah, Porthos!" cried one of his companions, "don't try to make usbelieve you obtained that baldric by paternal generosity. It was givento you by that veiled lady I met you with the other Sunday, near thegate St. Honor. "

"No, upon honor and by the faith of a gentleman, I bought it with thecontents of my own purse, " answered he whom they designated by the namePorthos. 

"Yes; about in the same manner, " said another Musketeer, "that I boughtthis new purse with what my mistress put into the old one. "

"It's true, though, " said Porthos; "and the proof is that I paid twelvepistoles for it. "

The wonder was increased, though the doubt continued to exist. 

"Is it not true, Aramis?" said Porthos, turning toward anotherMusketeer. 

This other Musketeer formed a perfect contrast to his interrogator, whohad just designated him by the name of Aramis. He was a stout man, ofabout two- or three-and-twenty, with an open, ingenuous countenance, a black, mild eye, and cheeks rosy and downy as an autumn peach. Hisdelicate mustache marked a perfectly straight line upon his upper lip;he appeared to dread to lower his hands lest their veins should swell, and he pinched the tips of his ears from time to time to preserve theirdelicate pink transparency. Habitually he spoke little and slowly, bowedfrequently, laughed without noise, showing his teeth, which were fineand of which, as the rest of his person, he appeared to take great care. He answered the appeal of his friend by an affirmative nod of the head. 

This affirmation appeared to dispel all doubts with regard to thebaldric. They continued to admire it, but said no more about it; andwith a rapid change of thought, the conversation passed suddenly toanother subject. 

"What do you think of the story Chalais's esquire relates?" askedanother Musketeer, without addressing anyone in particular, but on thecontrary speaking to everybody. 

"And what does he say?" asked Porthos, in a self-sufficient tone. 

"He relates that he met at Brussels Rochefort, the AME DAMNEE of thecardinal disguised as a Capuchin, and that this cursed Rochefort, thanksto his disguise, had tricked Monsieur de Laigues, like a ninny as heis. "

"A ninny, indeed!" said Porthos; "but is the matter certain?"

"I had it from Aramis, " replied the Musketeer. 

"Indeed?"

"Why, you knew it, Porthos, " said Aramis. "I told you of it yesterday. Let us say no more about it. "

"Say no more about it? That's YOUR opinion!" replied Porthos. 

"Say no more about it! PESTE! You come to your conclusions quickly. What! The cardinal sets a spy upon a gentleman, has his letters stolenfrom him by means of a traitor, a brigand, a rascal-has, with the helpof this spy and thanks to this correspondence, Chalais's throat cut, under the stupid pretext that he wanted to kill the king and marryMonsieur to the queen! Nobody knew a word of this enigma. You unraveledit yesterday to the great satisfaction of all; and while we are stillgaping with wonder at the news, you come and tell us today, 'Let us sayno more about it. '"

"Well, then, let us talk about it, since you desire it, " replied Aramis, patiently. 

"This Rochefort, " cried Porthos, "if I were the esquire of poor Chalais, should pass a minute or two very uncomfortably with me. "

"And you--you would pass rather a sad quarter-hour with the Red Duke, "replied Aramis. 

"Oh, the Red Duke! Bravo! Bravo! The Red Duke!" cried Porthos, clappinghis hands and nodding his head. "The Red Duke is capital. I'll circulatethat saying, be assured, my dear fellow. Who says this Aramis is nota wit? What a misfortune it is you did not follow your first vocation;what a delicious abbe you would have made!"

"Oh, it's only a temporary postponement, " replied Aramis; "I shallbe one someday. You very well know, Porthos, that I continue to studytheology for that purpose. "

"He will be one, as he says, " cried Porthos; "he will be one, sooner orlater. "

"Sooner. " said Aramis. 

"He only waits for one thing to determine him to resume his cassock, which hangs behind his uniform, " said another Musketeer. 

"What is he waiting for?" asked another. 

"Only till the queen has given an heir to the crown of France. "

"No jesting upon that subject, gentlemen, " said Porthos; "thank God thequeen is still of an age to give one!"

"They say that Monsieur de Buckingham is in France, " replied Aramis, with a significant smile which gave to this sentence, apparently sosimple, a tolerably scandalous meaning. 

"Aramis, my good friend, this time you are wrong, " interrupted Porthos. "Your wit is always leading you beyond bounds; if Monsieur de Trevilleheard you, you would repent of speaking thus. "

"Are you going to give me a lesson, Porthos?" cried Aramis, from whoseusually mild eye a flash passed like lightning. 

"My dear fellow, be a Musketeer or an abbe. Be one or the other, but notboth, " replied Porthos. "You know what Athos told you the other day; youeat at everybody's mess. Ah, don't be angry, I beg of you, that would beuseless; you know what is agreed upon between you, Athos and me. You goto Madame d'Aguillon's, and you pay your court to her; you go to Madamede Bois-Tracy's, the cousin of Madame de Chevreuse, and you pass forbeing far advanced in the good graces of that lady. Oh, good Lord!Don't trouble yourself to reveal your good luck; no one asks for yoursecret-all the world knows your discretion. But since you possess thatvirtue, why the devil don't you make use of it with respect to herMajesty? Let whoever likes talk of the king and the cardinal, and how helikes; but the queen is sacred, and if anyone speaks of her, let it berespectfully. "

"Porthos, you are as vain as Narcissus; I plainly tell you so, " repliedAramis. "You know I hate moralizing, except when it is done by Athos. As to you, good sir, you wear too magnificent a baldric to be strongon that head. I will be an abbe if it suits me. In the meanwhile I ama Musketeer; in that quality I say what I please, and at this moment itpleases me to say that you weary me. "

"Aramis!"

"Porthos!"

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" cried the surrounding group. 

"Monsieur de Treville awaits Monsieur d'Artagnan, " cried a servant, throwing open the door of the cabinet. 

At this announcement, during which the door remained open, everyonebecame mute, and amid the general silence the young man crossed part ofthe length of the antechamber, and entered the apartment of the captainof the Musketeers, congratulating himself with all his heart at havingso narrowly escaped the end of this strange quarrel. 

3 THE AUDIENCE

M. De Treville was at the moment in rather ill-humor, nevertheless hesaluted the young man politely, who bowed to the very ground; and hesmiled on receiving d'Artagnan's response, the Bearnese accent of whichrecalled to him at the same time his youth and his country--a doubleremembrance which makes a man smile at all ages; but stepping toward theantechamber and making a sign to d'Artagnan with his hand, as if to askhis permission to finish with others before he began with him, he calledthree times, with a louder voice at each time, so that he ran throughthe intervening tones between the imperative accent and the angryaccent. 

"Athos! Porthos! Aramis!"

The two Musketeers with whom we have already made acquaintance, and whoanswered to the last of these three names, immediately quitted the groupof which they had formed a part, and advanced toward the cabinet, thedoor of which closed after them as soon as they had entered. Theirappearance, although it was not quite at ease, excited by itscarelessness, at once full of dignity and submission, the admiration ofd'Artagnan, who beheld in these two men demigods, and in their leader anOlympian Jupiter, armed with all his thunders. 

When the two Musketeers had entered; when the door was closed behindthem; when the buzzing murmur of the antechamber, to which the summonswhich had been made had doubtless furnished fresh food, had recommenced;when M. De Treville had three or four times paced in silence, and with afrowning brow, the whole length of his cabinet, passing each time beforePorthos and Aramis, who were as upright and silent as if on parade--hestopped all at once full in front of them, and covering them from headto foot with an angry look, "Do you know what the king said to me, "cried he, "and that no longer ago than yesterday evening--do you know, gentlemen?"

"No, " replied the two Musketeers, after a moment's silence, "no, sir, wedo not. "

"But I hope that you will do us the honor to tell us, " added Aramis, inhis politest tone and with his most graceful bow. 

"He told me that he should henceforth recruit his Musketeers from amongthe Guards of Monsieur the Cardinal. "

"The Guards of the cardinal! And why so?" asked Porthos, warmly. 

"Because he plainly perceives that his piquette* stands in need of beingenlivened by a mixture of good wine. "

*A watered liquor, made from the second pressing of the grape. 

The two Musketeers reddened to the whites of their eyes. D'Artagnan didnot know where he was, and wished himself a hundred feet underground. 

"Yes, yes, " continued M. De Treville, growing warmer as he spoke, "and his majesty was right; for, upon my honor, it is true that theMusketeers make but a miserable figure at court. The cardinal relatedyesterday while playing with the king, with an air of condolencevery displeasing to me, that the day before yesterday those DAMNEDMUSKETEERS, those DAREDEVILS--he dwelt upon those words with an ironicaltone still more displeasing to me--those BRAGGARTS, added he, glancingat me with his tiger-cat's eye, had made a riot in the Rue Ferou in acabaret, and that a party of his Guards (I thought he was going to laughin my face) had been forced to arrest the rioters! MORBLEU! You mustknow something about it. Arrest Musketeers! You were among them--youwere! Don't deny it; you were recognized, and the cardinal named you. But it's all my fault; yes, it's all my fault, because it is myself whoselects my men. You, Aramis, why the devil did you ask me for a uniformwhen you would have been so much better in a cassock? And you, Porthos, do you only wear such a fine golden baldric to suspend a sword of strawfrom it? And Athos--I don't see Athos. Where is he?"

"Ill--"

"Very ill, say you? And of what malady?"

"It is feared that it may be the smallpox, sir, " replied Porthos, desirous of taking his turn in the conversation; "and what is serious isthat it will certainly spoil his face. "

"The smallpox! That's a great story to tell me, Porthos! Sick of thesmallpox at his age! No, no; but wounded without doubt, killed, perhaps. Ah, if I knew! S'blood! Messieurs Musketeers, I will not have thishaunting of bad places, this quarreling in the streets, this swordplayat the crossways; and above all, I will not have occasion given forthe cardinal's Guards, who are brave, quiet, skillful men who never putthemselves in a position to be arrested, and who, besides, never allowthemselves to be arrested, to laugh at you! I am sure of it--they wouldprefer dying on the spot to being arrested or taking back a step. Tosave yourselves, to scamper away, to flee--that is good for the king'sMusketeers!"

Porthos and Aramis trembled with rage. They could willingly havestrangled M. De Treville, if, at the bottom of all this, they had notfelt it was the great love he bore them which made him speak thus. Theystamped upon the carpet with their feet; they bit their lips till theblood came, and grasped the hilts of their swords with all their might. All without had heard, as we have said, Athos, Porthos, and Aramiscalled, and had guessed, from M. De Treville's tone of voice, that hewas very angry about something. Ten curious heads were glued to thetapestry and became pale with fury; for their ears, closely applied tothe door, did not lose a syllable of what he said, while their mouthsrepeated as he went on, the insulting expressions of the captain toall the people in the antechamber. In an instant, from the door of thecabinet to the street gate, the whole hotel was boiling. 

"Ah! The king's Musketeers are arrested by the Guards of the cardinal, are they?" continued M. De Treville, as furious at heart as hissoldiers, but emphasizing his words and plunging them, one by one, so tosay, like so many blows of a stiletto, into the bosoms of his auditors. "What! Six of his Eminence's Guards arrest six of his Majesty'sMusketeers! MORBLEU! My part is taken! I will go straight to the louvre;I will give in my resignation as captain of the king's Musketeers totake a lieutenancy in the cardinal's Guards, and if he refuses me, MORBLEU! I will turn abbe. "

At these words, the murmur without became an explosion; nothing was tobe heard but oaths and blasphemies. The MORBLEUS, the SANG DIEUS, theMORTS TOUTS LES DIABLES, crossed one another in the air. D'Artagnanlooked for some tapestry behind which he might hide himself, and felt animmense inclination to crawl under the table. 

"Well, my Captain, " said Porthos, quite beside himself, "the truth isthat we were six against six. But we were not captured by fair means;and before we had time to draw our swords, two of our party were dead, and Athos, grievously wounded, was very little better. For you knowAthos. Well, Captain, he endeavored twice to get up, and fell againtwice. And we did not surrender--no! They dragged us away by force. Onthe way we escaped. As for Athos, they believed him to be dead, and lefthim very quiet on the field of battle, not thinking it worth the troubleto carry him away. That's the whole story. What the devil, Captain, onecannot win all one's battles! The great Pompey lost that of Pharsalia;and Francis the First, who was, as I have heard say, as good as otherfolks, nevertheless lost the Battle of Pavia. "

"And I have the honor of assuring you that I killed one of them with hisown sword, " said Aramis; "for mine was broken at the first parry. Killedhim, or poniarded him, sir, as is most agreeable to you. "

"I did not know that, " replied M. De Treville, in a somewhat softenedtone. "The cardinal exaggerated, as I perceive. "

"But pray, sir, " continued Aramis, who, seeing his captain becomeappeased, ventured to risk a prayer, "do not say that Athos is wounded. He would be in despair if that should come to the ears of the king; andas the wound is very serious, seeing that after crossing the shoulder itpenetrates into the chest, it is to be feared--"

At this instant the tapestry was raised and a noble and handsome head, but frightfully pale, appeared under the fringe. 

"Athos!" cried the two Musketeers. 

"Athos!" repeated M. De Treville himself. 

"You have sent for me, sir, " said Athos to M. De Treville, in a feebleyet perfectly calm voice, "you have sent for me, as my comrades informme, and I have hastened to receive your orders. I am here; what do youwant with me?"

And at these words, the Musketeer, in irreproachable costume, belted asusual, with a tolerably firm step, entered the cabinet. M. De Treville, moved to the bottom of his heart by this proof of courage, sprang towardhim. 

"I was about to say to these gentlemen, " added he, "that I forbid myMusketeers to expose their lives needlessly; for brave men are very dearto the king, and the king knows that his Musketeers are the bravest onthe earth. Your hand, Athos!"

And without waiting for the answer of the newcomer to this proof ofaffection, M. De Treville seized his right hand and pressed it withall his might, without perceiving that Athos, whatever might be hisself-command, allowed a slight murmur of pain to escape him, and ifpossible, grew paler than he was before. 

The door had remained open, so strong was the excitement produced bythe arrival of Athos, whose wound, though kept as a secret, was known toall. A burst of satisfaction hailed the last words of the captain;and two or three heads, carried away by the enthusiasm of the moment, appeared through the openings of the tapestry. M. De Treville was aboutto reprehend this breach of the rules of etiquette, when he felt thehand of Athos, who had rallied all his energies to contend against pain, at length overcome by it, fell upon the floor as if he were dead. 

"A surgeon!" cried M. De Treville, "mine! The king's! The best! Asurgeon! Or, s'blood, my brave Athos will die!"

At the cries of M. De Treville, the whole assemblage rushed into thecabinet, he not thinking to shut the door against anyone, and allcrowded round the wounded man. But all this eager attention might havebeen useless if the doctor so loudly called for had not chanced to bein the hotel. He pushed through the crowd, approached Athos, stillinsensible, and as all this noise and commotion inconvenienced himgreatly, he required, as the first and most urgent thing, that theMusketeer should be carried into an adjoining chamber. Immediately M. De Treville opened and pointed the way to Porthos and Aramis, who boretheir comrade in their arms. Behind this group walked the surgeon; andbehind the surgeon the door closed. 

The cabinet of M. De Treville, generally held so sacred, became in aninstant the annex of the antechamber. Everyone spoke, harangued, andvociferated, swearing, cursing, and consigning the cardinal and hisGuards to all the devils. 

An instant after, Porthos and Aramis re-entered, the surgeon and M. DeTreville alone remaining with the wounded. 

At length, M. De Treville himself returned. The injured man hadrecovered his senses. The surgeon declared that the situation of theMusketeer had nothing in it to render his friends uneasy, his weaknesshaving been purely and simply caused by loss of blood. 

Then M. De Treville made a sign with his hand, and all retired exceptd'Artagnan, who did not forget that he had an audience, and with thetenacity of a Gascon remained in his place. 

When all had gone out and the door was closed, M. De Treville, onturning round, found himself alone with the young man. The event whichhad occurred had in some degree broken the thread of his ideas. Heinquired what was the will of his persevering visitor. D'Artagnan thenrepeated his name, and in an instant recovering all his remembrances ofthe present and the past, M. De Treville grasped the situation. 

"Pardon me, " said he, smiling, "pardon me my dear compatriot, but Ihad wholly forgotten you. But what help is there for it! A captainis nothing but a father of a family, charged with even a greaterresponsibility than the father of an ordinary family. Soldiers arebig children; but as I maintain that the orders of the king, and moreparticularly the orders of the cardinal, should be executed--"

D'Artagnan could not restrain a smile. By this smile M. De Trevillejudged that he had not to deal with a fool, and changing theconversation, came straight to the point. 

"I respected your father very much, " said he. "What can I do for theson? Tell me quickly; my time is not my own. "

"Monsieur, " said d'Artagnan, "on quitting Tarbes and coming hither, itwas my intention to request of you, in remembrance of the friendshipwhich you have not forgotten, the uniform of a Musketeer; but after allthat I have seen during the last two hours, I comprehend that such afavor is enormous, and tremble lest I should not merit it. "

"It is indeed a favor, young man, " replied M. De Treville, "but it maynot be so far beyond your hopes as you believe, or rather as you appearto believe. But his majesty's decision is always necessary; and I informyou with regret that no one becomes a Musketeer without the preliminaryordeal of several campaigns, certain brilliant actions, or a service oftwo years in some other regiment less favored than ours. "

D'Artagnan bowed without replying, feeling his desire to don theMusketeer's uniform vastly increased by the great difficulties whichpreceded the attainment of it. 

"But, " continued M. De Treville, fixing upon his compatriot a look sopiercing that it might be said he wished to read the thoughts of hisheart, "on account of my old companion, your father, as I have said, Iwill do something for you, young man. Our recruits from Bearn are notgenerally very rich, and I have no reason to think matters have muchchanged in this respect since I left the province. I dare say you havenot brought too large a stock of money with you?"

D'Artagnan drew himself up with a proud air which plainly said, "I askalms of no man. "

"Oh, that's very well, young man, " continued M. De Treville, "that's allvery well. I know these airs; I myself came to Paris with four crowns inmy purse, and would have fought with anyone who dared to tell me I wasnot in a condition to purchase the Louvre. "

D'Artagnan's bearing became still more imposing. Thanks to the saleof his horse, he commenced his career with four more crowns than M. DeTreville possessed at the commencement of his. 

"You ought, I say, then, to husband the means you have, however largethe sum may be; but you ought also to endeavor to perfect yourself inthe exercises becoming a gentleman. I will write a letter today to theDirector of the Royal Academy, and tomorrow he will admit you withoutany expense to yourself. Do not refuse this little service. Ourbest-born and richest gentlemen sometimes solicit it without being ableto obtain it. You will learn horsemanship, swordsmanship in all itsbranches, and dancing. You will make some desirable acquaintances; andfrom time to time you can call upon me, just to tell me how you aregetting on, and to say whether I can be of further service to you. "

D'Artagnan, stranger as he was to all the manners of a court, could notbut perceive a little coldness in this reception. 

"Alas, sir, " said he, "I cannot but perceive how sadly I miss the letterof introduction which my father gave me to present to you. "

"I certainly am surprised, " replied M. De Treville, "that you shouldundertake so long a journey without that necessary passport, the soleresource of us poor Bearnese. "

"I had one, sir, and, thank God, such as I could wish, " criedd'Artagnan; "but it was perfidiously stolen from me. "

He then related the adventure of Meung, described the unknown gentlemanwith the greatest minuteness, and all with a warmth and truthfulnessthat delighted M. De Treville. 

"This is all very strange, " said M. De Treville, after meditating aminute; "you mentioned my name, then, aloud?"

"Yes, sir, I certainly committed that imprudence; but why should I havedone otherwise? A name like yours must be as a buckler to me on my way. Judge if I should not put myself under its protection. "

Flattery was at that period very current, and M. De Treville lovedincense as well as a king, or even a cardinal. He could not refrain froma smile of visible satisfaction; but this smile soon disappeared, andreturning to the adventure of Meung, "Tell me, " continued he, "had notthis gentlemen a slight scar on his cheek?"

"Yes, such a one as would be made by the grazing of a ball. "

"Was he not a fine-looking man?"

"Yes. "

"Of lofty stature. "

"Yes. "

"Of complexion and brown hair?"

"Yes, yes, that is he; how is it, sir, that you are acquainted with thisman? If I ever find him again--and I will find him, I swear, were it inhell!"

"He was waiting for a woman, " continued Treville. 

"He departed immediately after having conversed for a minute with herwhom he awaited. "

"You know not the subject of their conversation?"

"He gave her a box, told her not to open it except in London. "

"Was this woman English?"

"He called her Milady. "

"It is he; it must be he!" murmured Treville. "I believed him still atBrussels. "

"Oh, sir, if you know who this man is, " cried d'Artagnan, "tell mewho he is, and whence he is. I will then release you from all yourpromises--even that of procuring my admission into the Musketeers; forbefore everything, I wish to avenge myself. "

"Beware, young man!" cried Treville. "If you see him coming on one sideof the street, pass by on the other. Do not cast yourself against such arock; he would break you like glass. "

"That will not prevent me, " replied d'Artagnan, "if ever I find him. "

"In the meantime, " said Treville, "seek him not--if I have a right toadvise you. "

All at once the captain stopped, as if struck by a sudden suspicion. This great hatred which the young traveler manifested so loudly for thisman, who--a rather improbable thing--had stolen his father's letter fromhim--was there not some perfidy concealed under this hatred? Might notthis young man be sent by his Eminence? Might he not have come for thepurpose of laying a snare for him? This pretended d'Artagnan--was he notan emissary of the cardinal, whom the cardinal sought to introduceinto Treville's house, to place near him, to win his confidence, andafterward to ruin him as had been done in a thousand other instances? Hefixed his eyes upon d'Artagnan even more earnestly than before. He wasmoderately reassured however, by the aspect of that countenance, fullof astute intelligence and affected humility. "I know he is a Gascon, "reflected he, "but he may be one for the cardinal as well as for me. Letus try him. "

"My friend, " said he, slowly, "I wish, as the son of an ancientfriend--for I consider this story of the lost letter perfectly true--Iwish, I say, in order to repair the coldness you may have remarked in myreception of you, to discover to you the secrets of our policy. The kingand the cardinal are the best of friends; their apparent bickeringsare only feints to deceive fools. I am not willing that a compatriot, a handsome cavalier, a brave youth, quite fit to make his way, shouldbecome the dupe of all these artifices and fall into the snare after theexample of so many others who have been ruined by it. Be assured thatI am devoted to both these all-powerful masters, and that my earnestendeavors have no other aim than the service of the king, and also thecardinal--one of the most illustrious geniuses that France has everproduced. 

"Now, young man, regulate your conduct accordingly; and if youentertain, whether from your family, your relations, or even from yourinstincts, any of these enmities which we see constantly breaking outagainst the cardinal, bid me adieu and let us separate. I will aid youin many ways, but without attaching you to my person. I hope that myfrankness at least will make you my friend; for you are the only youngman to whom I have hitherto spoken as I have done to you. "

Treville said to himself: "If the cardinal has set this young fox uponme, he will certainly not have failed--he, who knows how bitterly Iexecrate him--to tell his spy that the best means of making his court tome is to rail at him. Therefore, in spite of all my protestations, ifit be as I suspect, my cunning gossip will assure me that he holds hisEminence in horror. "

It, however, proved otherwise. D'Artagnan answered, with the greatestsimplicity: "I came to Paris with exactly such intentions. Myfather advised me to stoop to nobody but the king, the cardinal, andyourself--whom he considered the first three personages in France. "

D'Artagnan added M. De Treville to the others, as may be perceived; buthe thought this addition would do no harm. 

"I have the greatest veneration for the cardinal, " continued he, "andthe most profound respect for his actions. So much the better for me, sir, if you speak to me, as you say, with frankness--for then you willdo me the honor to esteem the resemblance of our opinions; but if youhave entertained any doubt, as naturally you may, I feel that I amruining myself by speaking the truth. But I still trust you will notesteem me the less for it, and that is my object beyond all others. "

M. De Treville was surprised to the greatest degree. So muchpenetration, so much frankness, created admiration, but did not entirelyremove his suspicions. The more this young man was superior to others, the more he was to be dreaded if he meant to deceive him; "You are anhonest youth; but at the present moment I can only do for you that whichI just now offered. My hotel will be always open to you. Hereafter, being able to ask for me at all hours, and consequently to takeadvantage of all opportunities, you will probably obtain that which youdesire. "

"That is to say, " replied d'Artagnan, "that you will wait until Ihave proved myself worthy of it. Well, be assured, " added he, with thefamiliarity of a Gascon, "you shall not wait long. " And he bowed inorder to retire, and as if he considered the future in his own hands. 

"But wait a minute, " said M. De Treville, stopping him. "I promised youa letter for the director of the Academy. Are you too proud to acceptit, young gentleman?"

"No, sir, " said d'Artagnan; "and I will guard it so carefully that Iwill be sworn it shall arrive at its address, and woe be to him whoshall attempt to take it from me!"

M. De Treville smiled at this flourish; and leaving his young mancompatriot in the embrasure of the window, where they had talkedtogether, he seated himself at a table in order to write the promisedletter of recommendation. While he was doing this, d'Artagnan, having nobetter employment, amused himself with beating a march upon the windowand with looking at the Musketeers, who went away, one after another, following them with his eyes until they disappeared. 

M. De Treville, after having written the letter, sealed it, and rising, approached the young man in order to give it to him. But at the verymoment when d'Artagnan stretched out his hand to receive it, M. DeTreville was highly astonished to see his protege make a sudden spring, become crimson with passion, and rush from the cabinet crying, "S'blood, he shall not escape me this time!"

"And who?" asked M. De Treville. 

"He, my thief!" replied d'Artagnan. "Ah, the traitor!" and hedisappeared. 

"The devil take the madman!" murmured M. De Treville, "unless, " addedhe, "this is a cunning mode of escaping, seeing that he had failed inhis purpose!"

4 THE SHOULDER OF ATHOS, THE BALDRIC OF PORTHOS AND THE HANDKERCHIEF OFARAMIS

D'Artagnan, in a state of fury, crossed the antechamber at three bounds, and was darting toward the stairs, which he reckoned upon descendingfour at a time, when, in his heedless course, he ran head foremostagainst a Musketeer who was coming out of one of M. De Treville'sprivate rooms, and striking his shoulder violently, made him utter acry, or rather a howl. 

"Excuse me, " said d'Artagnan, endeavoring to resume his course, "excuseme, but I am in a hurry. "

Scarcely had he descended the first stair, when a hand of iron seizedhim by the belt and stopped him. 

"You are in a hurry?" said the Musketeer, as pale as a sheet. "Underthat pretense you run against me! You say. 'Excuse me, ' and you believethat is sufficient? Not at all my young man. Do you fancy because youhave heard Monsieur de Treville speak to us a little cavalierlytoday that other people are to treat us as he speaks to us? Undeceiveyourself, comrade, you are not Monsieur de Treville. "

"My faith!" replied d'Artagnan, recognizing Athos, who, after thedressing performed by the doctor, was returning to his own apartment. "I did not do it intentionally, and not doing it intentionally, I said'Excuse me. ' It appears to me that this is quite enough. I repeat toyou, however, and this time on my word of honor--I think perhaps toooften--that I am in haste, great haste. Leave your hold, then, I beg ofyou, and let me go where my business calls me. "

"Monsieur, " said Athos, letting him go, "you are not polite; it is easyto perceive that you come from a distance. "

D'Artagnan had already strode down three or four stairs, but at Athos'slast remark he stopped short. 

"MORBLEU, monsieur!" said he, "however far I may come, it is not you whocan give me a lesson in good manners, I warn you. "

"Perhaps, " said Athos. 

"Ah! If I were not in such haste, and if I were not running aftersomeone, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Monsieur Man-in-a-hurry, you can find me without running--ME, youunderstand?"

"And where, I pray you?"

"Near the Carmes-Deschaux. "

"At what hour?"

"About noon. "

"About noon? That will do; I will be there. "

"Endeavor not to make me wait; for at quarter past twelve I will cut offyour ears as you run. "

"Good!" cried d'Artagnan, "I will be there ten minutes before twelve. "And he set off running as if the devil possessed him, hoping that hemight yet find the stranger, whose slow pace could not have carried himfar. 

But at the street gate, Porthos was talking with the soldier on guard. Between the two talkers there was just enough room for a man to pass. D'Artagnan thought it would suffice for him, and he sprang forward likea dart between them. But d'Artagnan had reckoned without the wind. Ashe was about to pass, the wind blew out Porthos's long cloak, andd'Artagnan rushed straight into the middle of it. Without doubt, Porthoshad reasons for not abandoning this part of his vestments, for insteadof quitting his hold on the flap in his hand, he pulled it toward him, so that d'Artagnan rolled himself up in the velvet by a movement ofrotation explained by the persistency of Porthos. 

D'Artagnan, hearing the Musketeer swear, wished to escape from thecloak, which blinded him, and sought to find his way from under thefolds of it. He was particularly anxious to avoid marring the freshnessof the magnificent baldric we are acquainted with; but on timidlyopening his eyes, he found himself with his nose fixed between the twoshoulders of Porthos--that is to say, exactly upon the baldric. 

Alas, like most things in this world which have nothing in their favorbut appearances, the baldric was glittering with gold in the front, but was nothing but simple buff behind. Vainglorious as he was, Porthoscould not afford to have a baldric wholly of gold, but had at leasthalf. One could comprehend the necessity of the cold and the urgency ofthe cloak. 

"Bless me!" cried Porthos, making strong efforts to disembarrass himselfof d'Artagnan, who was wriggling about his back; "you must be mad to runagainst people in this manner. "

"Excuse me, " said d'Artagnan, reappearing under the shoulder of thegiant, "but I am in such haste--I was running after someone and--"

"And do you always forget your eyes when you run?" asked Porthos. 

"No, " replied d'Artagnan, piqued, "and thanks to my eyes, I can see whatother people cannot see. "

Whether Porthos understood him or did not understand him, giving way tohis anger, "Monsieur, " said he, "you stand a chance of getting chastisedif you rub Musketeers in this fashion. "

"Chastised, Monsieur!" said d'Artagnan, "the expression is strong. "

"It is one that becomes a man accustomed to look his enemies in theface. "

"Ah, PARDIEU! I know full well that you don't turn your back to yours. "

And the young man, delighted with his joke, went away laughing loudly. 

Porthos foamed with rage, and made a movement to rush after d'Artagnan. 

"Presently, presently, " cried the latter, "when you haven't your cloakon. "

"At one o'clock, then, behind the Luxembourg. "

"Very well, at one o'clock, then, " replied d'Artagnan, turning the angleof the street. 

But neither in the street he had passed through, nor in the one whichhis eager glance pervaded, could he see anyone; however slowly thestranger had walked, he was gone on his way, or perhaps had entered somehouse. D'Artagnan inquired of everyone he met with, went down tothe ferry, came up again by the Rue de Seine, and the Red Cross; butnothing, absolutely nothing! This chase was, however, advantageous tohim in one sense, for in proportion as the perspiration broke from hisforehead, his heart began to cool. 

He began to reflect upon the events that had passed; they were numerousand inauspicious. It was scarcely eleven o'clock in the morning, and yetthis morning had already brought him into disgrace with M. De Treville, who could not fail to think the manner in which d'Artagnan had left hima little cavalier. 

Besides this, he had drawn upon himself two good duels with two men, each capable of killing three d'Artagnans--with two Musketeers, inshort, with two of those beings whom he esteemed so greatly that heplaced them in his mind and heart above all other men. 

The outlook was sad. Sure of being killed by Athos, it may easily beunderstood that the young man was not very uneasy about Porthos. Ashope, however, is the last thing extinguished in the heart of man, hefinished by hoping that he might survive, even though with terriblewounds, in both these duels; and in case of surviving, he made thefollowing reprehensions upon his own conduct:

"What a madcap I was, and what a stupid fellow I am! That brave andunfortunate Athos was wounded on that very shoulder against which I mustrun head foremost, like a ram. The only thing that astonishes me is thathe did not strike me dead at once. He had good cause to do so; the painI gave him must have been atrocious. As to Porthos--oh, as to Porthos, faith, that's a droll affair!"

And in spite of himself, the young man began to laugh aloud, lookinground carefully, however, to see that his solitary laugh, without acause in the eyes of passers-by, offended no one. 

"As to Porthos, that is certainly droll; but I am not the less a giddyfool. Are people to be run against without warning? No! And have I anyright to go and peep under their cloaks to see what is not there? Hewould have pardoned me, he would certainly have pardoned me, if I hadnot said anything to him about that cursed baldric--in ambiguous words, it is true, but rather drolly ambiguous. Ah, cursed Gascon that I am, I get from one hobble into another. Friend d'Artagnan, " continued he, speaking to himself with all the amenity that he thought due himself, "if you escape, of which there is not much chance, I would advise youto practice perfect politeness for the future. You must henceforth beadmired and quoted as a model of it. To be obliging and polite does notnecessarily make a man a coward. Look at Aramis, now; Aramis is mildnessand grace personified. Well, did anybody ever dream of calling Aramis acoward? No, certainly not, and from this moment I will endeavor to modelmyself after him. Ah! That's strange! Here he is!"

D'Artagnan, walking and soliloquizing, had arrived within a few stepsof the hotel d'Arguillon and in front of that hotel perceived Aramis, chatting gaily with three gentlemen; but as he had not forgotten that itwas in presence of this young man that M. De Treville had been soangry in the morning, and as a witness of the rebuke the Musketeers hadreceived was not likely to be at all agreeable, he pretended not tosee him. D'Artagnan, on the contrary, quite full of his plans ofconciliation and courtesy, approached the young men with a profound bow, accompanied by a most gracious smile. All four, besides, immediatelybroke off their conversation. 

D'Artagnan was not so dull as not to perceive that he was one too many;but he was not sufficiently broken into the fashions of the gay world toknow how to extricate himself gallantly from a false position, like thatof a man who begins to mingle with people he is scarcely acquainted withand in a conversation that does not concern him. He was seeking in hismind, then, for the least awkward means of retreat, when he remarkedthat Aramis had let his handkerchief fall, and by mistake, no doubt, hadplaced his foot upon it. This appeared to be a favorable opportunityto repair his intrusion. He stooped, and with the most gracious air hecould assume, drew the handkerchief from under the foot of the Musketeerin spite of the efforts the latter made to detain it, and holding itout to him, said, "I believe, monsieur, that this is a handkerchief youwould be sorry to lose?"

The handkerchief was indeed richly embroidered, and had a coronet andarms at one of its corners. Aramis blushed excessively, and snatchedrather than took the handkerchief from the hand of the Gascon. 

"Ah, ah!" cried one of the Guards, "will you persist in saying, most discreet Aramis, that you are not on good terms with Madame deBois-Tracy, when that gracious lady has the kindness to lend you one ofher handkerchiefs?"

Aramis darted at d'Artagnan one of those looks which inform a man thathe has acquired a mortal enemy. Then, resuming his mild air, "You aredeceived, gentlemen, " said he, "this handkerchief is not mine, and Icannot fancy why Monsieur has taken it into his head to offer it to merather than to one of you; and as a proof of what I say, here is mine inmy pocket. "

So saying, he pulled out his own handkerchief, likewise a very eleganthandkerchief, and of fine cambric--though cambric was dear at theperiod--but a handkerchief without embroidery and without arms, onlyornamented with a single cipher, that of its proprietor. 

This time d'Artagnan was not hasty. He perceived his mistake; but thefriends of Aramis were not at all convinced by his denial, and one ofthem addressed the young Musketeer with affected seriousness. "Ifit were as you pretend it is, " said he, "I should be forced, my dearAramis, to reclaim it myself; for, as you very well know, Bois-Tracy isan intimate friend of mine, and I cannot allow the property of his wifeto be sported as a trophy. "

"You make the demand badly, " replied Aramis; "and while acknowledgingthe justice of your reclamation, I refuse it on account of the form. "

"The fact is, " hazarded d'Artagnan, timidly, "I did not see thehandkerchief fall from the pocket of Monsieur Aramis. He had his footupon it, that is all; and I thought from having his foot upon it thehandkerchief was his. "

"And you were deceived, my dear sir, " replied Aramis, coldly, verylittle sensible to the reparation. Then turning toward that one of theguards who had declared himself the friend of Bois-Tracy, "Besides, "continued he, "I have reflected, my dear intimate of Bois-Tracy, thatI am not less tenderly his friend than you can possibly be; so thatdecidedly this handkerchief is as likely to have fallen from your pocketas mine. "

"No, upon my honor!" cried his Majesty's Guardsman. 

"You are about to swear upon your honor and I upon my word, and thenit will be pretty evident that one of us will have lied. Now, here, Montaran, we will do better than that--let each take a half. "

"Of the handkerchief?"

"Yes. "

"Perfectly just, " cried the other two Guardsmen, "the judgment of KingSolomon! Aramis, you certainly are full of wisdom!"

The young men burst into a laugh, and as may be supposed, the affairhad no other sequel. In a moment or two the conversation ceased, and thethree Guardsmen and the Musketeer, after having cordially shaken hands, separated, the Guardsmen going one way and Aramis another. 

"Now is my time to make peace with this gallant man, " said d'Artagnan tohimself, having stood on one side during the whole of the latter part ofthe conversation; and with this good feeling drawing near to Aramis, whowas departing without paying any attention to him, "Monsieur, " said he, "you will excuse me, I hope. "

"Ah, monsieur, " interrupted Aramis, "permit me to observe to you thatyou have not acted in this affair as a gallant man ought. "

"What, monsieur!" cried d'Artagnan, "and do you suppose--"

"I suppose, monsieur that you are not a fool, and that you knew verywell, although coming from Gascony, that people do not tread uponhandkerchiefs without a reason. What the devil! Paris is not paved withcambric!"

"Monsieur, you act wrongly in endeavoring to mortify me, " saidd'Artagnan, in whom the natural quarrelsome spirit began to speak moreloudly than his pacific resolutions. "I am from Gascony, it is true; andsince you know it, there is no occasion to tell you that Gascons are notvery patient, so that when they have begged to be excused once, wereit even for a folly, they are convinced that they have done already atleast as much again as they ought to have done. "

"Monsieur, what I say to you about the matter, " said Aramis, "is not forthe sake of seeking a quarrel. Thank God, I am not a bravo! And beinga Musketeer but for a time, I only fight when I am forced to do so, andalways with great repugnance; but this time the affair is serious, forhere is a lady compromised by you. "

"By US, you mean!" cried d'Artagnan. 

"Why did you so maladroitly restore me the handkerchief?"

"Why did you so awkwardly let it fall?"

"I have said, monsieur, and I repeat, that the handkerchief did not fallfrom my pocket. "

"And thereby you have lied twice, monsieur, for I saw it fall. "

"Ah, you take it with that tone, do you, Master Gascon? Well, I willteach you how to behave yourself. "

"And I will send you back to your Mass book, Master Abbe. Draw, if youplease, and instantly--"

"Not so, if you please, my good friend--not here, at least. Do you notperceive that we are opposite the Hotel d'Arguillon, which is full ofthe cardinal's creatures? How do I know that this is not his Eminencewho has honored you with the commission to procure my head? Now, Ientertain a ridiculous partiality for my head, it seems to suit myshoulders so correctly. I wish to kill you, be at rest as to that, butto kill you quietly in a snug, remote place, where you will not be ableto boast of your death to anybody. "

"I agree, monsieur; but do not be too confident. Take your handkerchief;whether it belongs to you or another, you may perhaps stand in need ofit. "

"Monsieur is a Gascon?" asked Aramis. 

"Yes. Monsieur does not postpone an interview through prudence?"

"Prudence, monsieur, is a virtue sufficiently useless to Musketeers, I know, but indispensable to churchmen; and as I am only a Musketeerprovisionally, I hold it good to be prudent. At two o'clock I shall havethe honor of expecting you at the hotel of Monsieur de Treville. There Iwill indicate to you the best place and time. "

The two young men bowed and separated, Aramis ascending the street whichled to the Luxembourg, while d'Artagnan, perceiving the appointedhour was approaching, took the road to the Carmes-Deschaux, saying tohimself, "Decidedly I can't draw back; but at least, if I am killed, Ishall be killed by a Musketeer. "

5 THE KING'S MUSKETEERS AND THE CARDINAL'S GUARDS

D'Artagnan was acquainted with nobody in Paris. He went therefore to hisappointment with Athos without a second, determined to be satisfied withthose his adversary should choose. Besides, his intention was formed tomake the brave Musketeer all suitable apologies, but without meannessor weakness, fearing that might result from this duel which generallyresults from an affair of this kind, when a young and vigorous manfights with an adversary who is wounded and weakened--if conquered, hedoubles the triumph of his antagonist; if a conqueror, he is accused offoul play and want of courage. 

Now, we must have badly painted the character of our adventure seeker, or our readers must have already perceived that d'Artagnan was not anordinary man; therefore, while repeating to himself that his death wasinevitable, he did not make up his mind to die quietly, as one lesscourageous and less restrained might have done in his place. Hereflected upon the different characters of men he had to fight with, andbegan to view his situation more clearly. He hoped, by means of loyalexcuses, to make a friend of Athos, whose lordly air and austere bearingpleased him much. He flattered himself he should be able to frightenPorthos with the adventure of the baldric, which he might, if not killedupon the spot, relate to everybody a recital which, well managed, would cover Porthos with ridicule. As to the astute Aramis, he did notentertain much dread of him; and supposing he should be able to get sofar, he determined to dispatch him in good style or at least, by hittinghim in the face, as Caesar recommended his soldiers do to those ofPompey, to damage forever the beauty of which he was so proud. 

In addition to this, d'Artagnan possessed that invincible stock ofresolution which the counsels of his father had implanted in his heart:"Endure nothing from anyone but the king, the cardinal, and Monsieur deTreville. " He flew, then, rather than walked, toward the convent of theCarmes Dechausses, or rather Deschaux, as it was called at that period, a sort of building without a window, surrounded by barren fields--anaccessory to the Preaux-Clercs, and which was generally employed as theplace for the duels of men who had no time to lose. 

When d'Artagnan arrived in sight of the bare spot of ground whichextended along the foot of the monastery, Athos had been waiting aboutfive minutes, and twelve o'clock was striking. He was, then, as punctualas the Samaritan woman, and the most rigorous casuist with regard toduels could have nothing to say. 

Athos, who still suffered grievously from his wound, though it hadbeen dressed anew by M. De Treville's surgeon, was seated on a post andwaiting for his adversary with hat in hand, his feather even touchingthe ground. 

"Monsieur, " said Athos, "I have engaged two of my friends as seconds;but these two friends are not yet come, at which I am astonished, as itis not at all their custom. "

"I have no seconds on my part, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan; "for havingonly arrived yesterday in Paris, I as yet know no one but Monsieur deTreville, to whom I was recommended by my father, who has the honor tobe, in some degree, one of his friends. "

Athos reflected for an instant. "You know no one but Monsieur deTreville?" he asked. 

"Yes, monsieur, I know only him. "

"Well, but then, " continued Athos, speaking half to himself, "if I killyou, I shall have the air of a boy-slayer. "

"Not too much so, " replied d'Artagnan, with a bow that was not deficientin dignity, "since you do me the honor to draw a sword with me whilesuffering from a wound which is very inconvenient. "

"Very inconvenient, upon my word; and you hurt me devilishly, I cantell you. But I will take the left hand--it is my custom in suchcircumstances. Do not fancy that I do you a favor; I use either handeasily. And it will be even a disadvantage to you; a left-handed man isvery troublesome to people who are not prepared for it. I regret I didnot inform you sooner of this circumstance. "

"You have truly, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan, bowing again, "a courtesy, for which, I assure you, I am very grateful. "

"You confuse me, " replied Athos, with his gentlemanly air; "let us talkof something else, if you please. Ah, s'blood, how you have hurt me! Myshoulder quite burns. "

"If you would permit me--" said d'Artagnan, with timidity. 

"What, monsieur?"

"I have a miraculous balsam for wounds--a balsam given to me by mymother and of which I have made a trial upon myself. "

"Well?"

"Well, I am sure that in less than three days this balsam would cureyou; and at the end of three days, when you would be cured--well, sir, it would still do me a great honor to be your man. "

D'Artagnan spoke these words with a simplicity that did honor to hiscourtesy, without throwing the least doubt upon his courage. 

"PARDIEU, monsieur!" said Athos, "that's a proposition that pleases me;not that I can accept it, but a league off it savors of the gentleman. Thus spoke and acted the gallant knights of the time of Charlemagne, inwhom every cavalier ought to seek his model. Unfortunately, we do notlive in the times of the great emperor, we live in the times of thecardinal; and three days hence, however well the secret might beguarded, it would be known, I say, that we were to fight, and our combatwould be prevented. I think these fellows will never come. "

"If you are in haste, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan, with the samesimplicity with which a moment before he had proposed to him to put offthe duel for three days, "and if it be your will to dispatch me at once, do not inconvenience yourself, I pray you. "

"There is another word which pleases me, " cried Athos, with a graciousnod to d'Artagnan. "That did not come from a man without a heart. Monsieur, I love men of your kidney; and I foresee plainly that if wedon't kill each other, I shall hereafter have much pleasure in yourconversation. We will wait for these gentlemen, so please you; I haveplenty of time, and it will be more correct. Ah, here is one of them, Ibelieve. "

In fact, at the end of the Rue Vaugirard the gigantic Porthos appeared. 

"What!" cried d'Artagnan, "is your first witness Monsieur Porthos?"

"Yes, that disturbs you?"

"By no means. "

"And here is the second. "

D'Artagnan turned in the direction pointed to by Athos, and perceivedAramis. 

"What!" cried he, in an accent of greater astonishment than before, "your second witness is Monsieur Aramis?"

"Doubtless! Are you not aware that we are never seen one without theothers, and that we are called among the Musketeers and the Guards, at court and in the city, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, or the ThreeInseparables? And yet, as you come from Dax or Pau--"

"From Tarbes, " said d'Artagnan. 

"It is probable you are ignorant of this little fact, " said Athos. 

"My faith!" replied d'Artagnan, "you are well named, gentlemen; and myadventure, if it should make any noise, will prove at least that yourunion is not founded upon contrasts. "

In the meantime, Porthos had come up, waved his hand to Athos, and thenturning toward d'Artagnan, stood quite astonished. 

Let us say in passing that he had changed his baldric and relinquishedhis cloak. 

"Ah, ah!" said he, "what does this mean?"

"This is the gentleman I am going to fight with, " said Athos, pointingto d'Artagnan with his hand and saluting him with the same gesture. 

"Why, it is with him I am also going to fight, " said Porthos. 

"But not before one o'clock, " replied d'Artagnan. 

"And I also am to fight with this gentleman, " said Aramis, coming in histurn onto the place. 

"But not until two o'clock, " said d'Artagnan, with the same calmness. 

"But what are you going to fight about, Athos?" asked Aramis. 

"Faith! I don't very well know. He hurt my shoulder. And you, Porthos?"

"Faith! I am going to fight--because I am going to fight, " answeredPorthos, reddening. 

Athos, whose keen eye lost nothing, perceived a faintly sly smilepass over the lips of the young Gascon as he replied, "We had a shortdiscussion upon dress. "

"And you, Aramis?" asked Athos. 

"Oh, ours is a theological quarrel, " replied Aramis, making a sign tod'Artagnan to keep secret the cause of their duel. 

Athos indeed saw a second smile on the lips of d'Artagnan. 

"Indeed?" said Athos. 

"Yes; a passage of St. Augustine, upon which we could not agree, " saidthe Gascon. 

"Decidedly, this is a clever fellow, " murmured Athos. 

"And now you are assembled, gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, "permit me tooffer you my apologies. "

At this word APOLOGIES, a cloud passed over the brow of Athos, a haughtysmile curled the lip of Porthos, and a negative sign was the reply ofAramis. 

"You do not understand me, gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, throwing up hishead, the sharp and bold lines of which were at the moment gilded by abright ray of the sun. "I asked to be excused in case I should not beable to discharge my debt to all three; for Monsieur Athos has the rightto kill me first, which must much diminish the face-value of your bill, Monsieur Porthos, and render yours almost null, Monsieur Aramis. Andnow, gentlemen, I repeat, excuse me, but on that account only, and--onguard!"

At these words, with the most gallant air possible, d'Artagnan drew hissword. 

The blood had mounted to the head of d'Artagnan, and at that moment hewould have drawn his sword against all the Musketeers in the kingdom aswillingly as he now did against Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. 

It was a quarter past midday. The sun was in its zenith, and the spotchosen for the scene of the duel was exposed to its full ardor. 

"It is very hot, " said Athos, drawing his sword in its turn, "and yet Icannot take off my doublet; for I just now felt my wound begin to bleedagain, and I should not like to annoy Monsieur with the sight of bloodwhich he has not drawn from me himself. "

"That is true, Monsieur, " replied d'Artagnan, "and whether drawn bymyself or another, I assure you I shall always view with regret theblood of so brave a gentleman. I will therefore fight in my doublet, like yourself. "

"Come, come, enough of such compliments!" cried Porthos. "Remember, weare waiting for our turns. "

"Speak for yourself when you are inclined to utter such incongruities, "interrupted Aramis. "For my part, I think what they say is very wellsaid, and quite worthy of two gentlemen. "

"When you please, monsieur, " said Athos, putting himself on guard. 

"I waited your orders, " said d'Artagnan, crossing swords. 

But scarcely had the two rapiers clashed, when a company of the Guardsof his Eminence, commanded by M. De Jussac, turned the corner of theconvent. 

"The cardinal's Guards!" cried Aramis and Porthos at the same time. "Sheathe your swords, gentlemen, sheathe your swords!"

But it was too late. The two combatants had been seen in a positionwhich left no doubt of their intentions. 

"Halloo!" cried Jussac, advancing toward them and making a sign to hismen to do so likewise, "halloo, Musketeers? Fighting here, are you? Andthe edicts? What is become of them?"

"You are very generous, gentlemen of the Guards, " said Athos, full ofrancor, for Jussac was one of the aggressors of the preceding day. "Ifwe were to see you fighting, I can assure you that we would make noeffort to prevent you. Leave us alone, then, and you will enjoy a littleamusement without cost to yourselves. "

"Gentlemen, " said Jussac, "it is with great regret that I pronounce thething impossible. Duty before everything. Sheathe, then, if you please, and follow us. "

"Monsieur, " said Aramis, parodying Jussac, "it would afford us greatpleasure to obey your polite invitation if it depended upon ourselves;but unfortunately the thing is impossible--Monsieur de Treville hasforbidden it. Pass on your way, then; it is the best thing to do. "

This raillery exasperated Jussac. "We will charge upon you, then, " saidhe, "if you disobey. "

"There are five of them, " said Athos, half aloud, "and we are but three;we shall be beaten again, and must die on the spot, for, on my part, I declare I will never appear again before the captain as a conqueredman. "

Athos, Porthos, and Aramis instantly drew near one another, while Jussacdrew up his soldiers. 

This short interval was sufficient to determine d'Artagnan on the parthe was to take. It was one of those events which decide the life of aman; it was a choice between the king and the cardinal--the choice made, it must be persisted in. To fight, that was to disobey the law, that wasto risk his head, that was to make at one blow an enemy of a ministermore powerful than the king himself. All this young man perceived, andyet, to his praise we speak it, he did not hesitate a second. Turningtowards Athos and his friends, "Gentlemen, " said he, "allow me tocorrect your words, if you please. You said you were but three, but itappears to me we are four. "

"But you are not one of us, " said Porthos. 

"That's true, " replied d'Artagnan; "I have not the uniform, but I havethe spirit. My heart is that of a Musketeer; I feel it, monsieur, andthat impels me on. "

"Withdraw, young man, " cried Jussac, who doubtless, by his gestures andthe expression of his countenance, had guessed d'Artagnan's design. "Youmay retire; we consent to that. Save your skin; begone quickly. "

D'Artagnan did not budge. 

"Decidedly, you are a brave fellow, " said Athos, pressing the youngman's hand. 

"Come, come, choose your part, " replied Jussac. 

"Well, " said Porthos to Aramis, "we must do something. "

"Monsieur is full of generosity, " said Athos. 

But all three reflected upon the youth of d'Artagnan, and dreaded hisinexperience. 

"We should only be three, one of whom is wounded, with the addition of aboy, " resumed Athos; "and yet it will not be the less said we were fourmen. "

"Yes, but to yield!" said Porthos. 

"That IS difficult, " replied Athos. 

D'Artagnan comprehended their irresolution. 

"Try me, gentlemen, " said he, "and I swear to you by my honor that Iwill not go hence if we are conquered. "

"What is your name, my brave fellow?" said Athos. 

"d'Artagnan, monsieur. "

"Well, then, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan, forward!" criedAthos. 

"Come, gentlemen, have you decided?" cried Jussac for the third time. 

"It is done, gentlemen, " said Athos. 

"And what is your choice?" asked Jussac. 

"We are about to have the honor of charging you, " replied Aramis, lifting his hat with one hand and drawing his sword with the other. 

"Ah! You resist, do you?" cried Jussac. 

"S'blood; does that astonish you?"

And the nine combatants rushed upon each other with a fury which howeverdid not exclude a certain degree of method. 

Athos fixed upon a certain Cahusac, a favorite of the cardinal's. Porthos had Bicarat, and Aramis found himself opposed to twoadversaries. As to d'Artagnan, he sprang toward Jussac himself. 

The heart of the young Gascon beat as if it would burst through hisside--not from fear, God be thanked, he had not the shade of it, butwith emulation; he fought like a furious tiger, turning ten times roundhis adversary, and changing his ground and his guard twenty times. Jussac was, as was then said, a fine blade, and had had much practice;nevertheless it required all his skill to defend himself againstan adversary who, active and energetic, departed every instant fromreceived rules, attacking him on all sides at once, and yet parryinglike a man who had the greatest respect for his own epidermis. 

This contest at length exhausted Jussac's patience. Furious at beingheld in check by one whom he had considered a boy, he became warm andbegan to make mistakes. D'Artagnan, who though wanting in practice hada sound theory, redoubled his agility. Jussac, anxious to put an end tothis, springing forward, aimed a terrible thrust at his adversary, butthe latter parried it; and while Jussac was recovering himself, glidedlike a serpent beneath his blade, and passed his sword through his body. Jussac fell like a dead mass. 

D'Artagnan then cast an anxious and rapid glance over the field ofbattle. 

Aramis had killed one of his adversaries, but the other pressed himwarmly. Nevertheless, Aramis was in a good situation, and able to defendhimself. 

Bicarat and Porthos had just made counterhits. Porthos had received athrust through his arm, and Bicarat one through his thigh. But neitherof these two wounds was serious, and they only fought more earnestly. 

Athos, wounded anew by Cahusac, became evidently paler, but did not giveway a foot. He only changed his sword hand, and fought with his lefthand. 

According to the laws of dueling at that period, d'Artagnan was atliberty to assist whom he pleased. While he was endeavoring to find outwhich of his companions stood in greatest need, he caught a glance fromAthos. The glance was of sublime eloquence. Athos would have diedrather than appeal for help; but he could look, and with that look askassistance. D'Artagnan interpreted it; with a terrible bound he sprangto the side of Cahusac, crying, "To me, Monsieur Guardsman; I will slayyou!"

Cahusac turned. It was time; for Athos, whose great courage alonesupported him, sank upon his knee. 

"S'blood!" cried he to d'Artagnan, "do not kill him, young man, I beg ofyou. I have an old affair to settle with him when I am cured and soundagain. Disarm him only--make sure of his sword. That's it! Very welldone!"

The exclamation was drawn from Athos by seeing the sword of Cahusac flytwenty paces from him. D'Artagnan and Cahusac sprang forward at thesame instant, the one to recover, the other to obtain, the sword; butd'Artagnan, being the more active, reached it first and placed his footupon it. 

Cahusac immediately ran to the Guardsman whom Aramis had killed, seizedhis rapier, and returned toward d'Artagnan; but on his way he met Athos, who during his relief which d'Artagnan had procured him had recoveredhis breath, and who, for fear that d'Artagnan would kill his enemy, wished to resume the fight. 

D'Artagnan perceived that it would be disobliging Athos not to leave himalone; and in a few minutes Cahusac fell, with a sword thrust throughhis throat. 

At the same instant Aramis placed his sword point on the breast of hisfallen enemy, and forced him to ask for mercy. 

There only then remained Porthos and Bicarat. Porthos made a thousandflourishes, asking Bicarat what o'clock it could be, and offering himhis compliments upon his brother's having just obtained a company in theregiment of Navarre; but, jest as he might, he gained nothing. Bicaratwas one of those iron men who never fell dead. 

Nevertheless, it was necessary to finish. The watch might come up andtake all the combatants, wounded or not, royalists or cardinalists. Athos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan surrounded Bicarat, and required himto surrender. Though alone against all and with a wound in his thigh, Bicarat wished to hold out; but Jussac, who had risen upon his elbow, cried out to him to yield. Bicarat was a Gascon, as d'Artagnan was; heturned a deaf ear, and contented himself with laughing, and between twoparries finding time to point to a spot of earth with his sword, "Here, "cried he, parodying a verse of the Bible, "here will Bicarat die; for Ionly am left, and they seek my life. "

"But there are four against you; leave off, I command you. "

"Ah, if you command me, that's another thing, " said Bicarat. "As you aremy commander, it is my duty to obey. " And springing backward, he brokehis sword across his knee to avoid the necessity of surrendering it, threw the pieces over the convent wall, and crossed him arms, whistlinga cardinalist air. 

Bravery is always respected, even in an enemy. The Musketeers salutedBicarat with their swords, and returned them to their sheaths. D'Artagnan did the same. Then, assisted by Bicarat, the only one leftstanding, he bore Jussac, Cahusac, and one of Aramis's adversaries whowas only wounded, under the porch of the convent. The fourth, as we havesaid, was dead. They then rang the bell, and carrying away four swordsout of five, they took their road, intoxicated with joy, toward thehotel of M. De Treville. 

They walked arm in arm, occupying the whole width of the street andtaking in every Musketeer they met, so that in the end it became atriumphal march. The heart of d'Artagnan swam in delirium; he marchedbetween Athos and Porthos, pressing them tenderly. 

"If I am not yet a Musketeer, " said he to his new friends, as he passedthrough the gateway of M. De Treville's hotel, "at least I have enteredupon my apprenticeship, haven't I?"

6 HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS XIII

This affair made a great noise. M. De Treville scolded his Musketeers inpublic, and congratulated them in private; but as no time was to be lostin gaining the king, M. De Treville hastened to report himself atthe Louvre. It was already too late. The king was closeted with thecardinal, and M. De Treville was informed that the king was busy andcould not receive him at that moment. In the evening M. De Trevilleattended the king's gaming table. The king was winning; and as he wasvery avaricious, he was in an excellent humor. Perceiving M. De Trevilleat a distance--

"Come here, Monsieur Captain, " said he, "come here, that I may growlat you. Do you know that his Eminence has been making fresh complaintsagainst your Musketeers, and that with so much emotion, that thisevening his Eminence is indisposed? Ah, these Musketeers of yours arevery devils--fellows to be hanged. "

"No, sire, " replied Treville, who saw at the first glance how thingswould go, "on the contrary, they are good creatures, as meek as lambs, and have but one desire, I'll be their warranty. And that is that theirswords may never leave their scabbards but in your majesty's service. But what are they to do? The Guards of Monsieur the Cardinal are foreverseeking quarrels with them, and for the honor of the corps even, thepoor young men are obliged to defend themselves. "

"Listen to Monsieur de Treville, " said the king; "listen to him! Wouldnot one say he was speaking of a religious community? In truth, my dearCaptain, I have a great mind to take away your commission and give it toMademoiselle de Chemerault, to whom I promised an abbey. But don't fancythat I am going to take you on your bare word. I am called Louis theJust, Monsieur de Treville, and by and by, by and by we will see. "

"Ah, sire; it is because I confide in that justice that I shall waitpatiently and quietly the good pleasure of your Majesty. "

"Wait, then, monsieur, wait, " said the king; "I will not detain youlong. "

In fact, fortune changed; and as the king began to lose what he had won, he was not sorry to find an excuse for playing Charlemagne--if we mayuse a gaming phrase of whose origin we confess our ignorance. The kingtherefore arose a minute after, and putting the money which lay beforehim into his pocket, the major part of which arose from his winnings, "La Vieuville, " said he, "take my place; I must speak to Monsieur deTreville on an affair of importance. Ah, I had eighty louis before me;put down the same sum, so that they who have lost may have nothing tocomplain of. Justice before everything. "

Then turning toward M. De Treville and walking with him toward theembrasure of a window, "Well, monsieur, " continued he, "you say it ishis Eminence's Guards who have sought a quarrel with your Musketeers?"

"Yes, sire, as they always do. "

"And how did the thing happen? Let us see, for you know, my dearCaptain, a judge must hear both sides. "

"Good Lord! In the most simple and natural manner possible. Three of mybest soldiers, whom your Majesty knows by name, and whose devotednessyou have more than once appreciated, and who have, I dare affirm tothe king, his service much at heart--three of my best soldiers, I say, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, had made a party of pleasure with a youngfellow from Gascony, whom I had introduced to them the same morning. The party was to take place at St. Germain, I believe, and they hadappointed to meet at the Carmes-Deschaux, when they were disturbed by deJussac, Cahusac, Bicarat, and two other Guardsmen, who certainly did notgo there in such a numerous company without some ill intention againstthe edicts. "

"Ah, ah! You incline me to think so, " said the king. "There is no doubtthey went thither to fight themselves. "

"I do not accuse them, sire; but I leave your Majesty to judge what fivearmed men could possibly be going to do in such a deserted place as theneighborhood of the Convent des Carmes. "

"Yes, you are right, Treville, you are right!"

"Then, upon seeing my Musketeers they changed their minds, and forgottheir private hatred for partisan hatred; for your Majesty cannot beignorant that the Musketeers, who belong to the king and nobody butthe king, are the natural enemies of the Guardsmen, who belong to thecardinal. "

"Yes, Treville, yes, " said the king, in a melancholy tone; "and it isvery sad, believe me, to see thus two parties in France, two heads toroyalty. But all this will come to an end, Treville, will come toan end. You say, then, that the Guardsmen sought a quarrel with theMusketeers?"

"I say that it is probable that things have fallen out so, but I willnot swear to it, sire. You know how difficult it is to discover thetruth; and unless a man be endowed with that admirable instinct whichcauses Louis XIII to be named the Just--"

"You are right, Treville; but they were not alone, your Musketeers. Theyhad a youth with them?"

"Yes, sire, and one wounded man; so that three of the king'sMusketeers--one of whom was wounded--and a youth not only maintainedtheir ground against five of the most terrible of the cardinal'sGuardsmen, but absolutely brought four of them to earth. "

"Why, this is a victory!" cried the king, all radiant, "a completevictory!"

"Yes, sire; as complete as that of the Bridge of Ce. "

"Four men, one of them wounded, and a youth, say you?"

"One hardly a young man; but who, however, behaved himself so admirablyon this occasion that I will take the liberty of recommending him toyour Majesty. "

"How does he call himself?"

"d'Artagnan, sire; he is the son of one of my oldest friends--the son ofa man who served under the king your father, of glorious memory, in thecivil war. "

"And you say this young man behaved himself well? Tell me how, Treville--you know how I delight in accounts of war and fighting. "

And Louis XIII twisted his mustache proudly, placing his hand upon hiship. 

"Sire, " resumed Treville, "as I told you, Monsieur d'Artagnan is littlemore than a boy; and as he has not the honor of being a Musketeer, hewas dressed as a citizen. The Guards of the cardinal, perceiving hisyouth and that he did not belong to the corps, invited him to retirebefore they attacked. "

"So you may plainly see, Treville, " interrupted the king, "it was theywho attacked?"

"That is true, sire; there can be no more doubt on that head. Theycalled upon him then to retire; but he answered that he was a Musketeerat heart, entirely devoted to your Majesty, and that therefore he wouldremain with Messieurs the Musketeers. "

"Brave young man!" murmured the king. 

"Well, he did remain with them; and your Majesty has in him so firm achampion that it was he who gave Jussac the terrible sword thrust whichhas made the cardinal so angry. "

"He who wounded Jussac!" cried the king, "he, a boy! Treville, that'simpossible!"

"It is as I have the honor to relate it to your Majesty. "

"Jussac, one of the first swordsmen in the kingdom?"

"Well, sire, for once he found his master. "

"I will see this young man, Treville--I will see him; and if anythingcan be done--well, we will make it our business. "

"When will your Majesty deign to receive him?"

"Tomorrow, at midday, Treville. "

"Shall I bring him alone?"

"No, bring me all four together. I wish to thank them all at once. Devoted men are so rare, Treville, by the back staircase. It is uselessto let the cardinal know. "

"Yes, sire. "

"You understand, Treville--an edict is still an edict, it is forbiddento fight, after all. "

"But this encounter, sire, is quite out of the ordinary conditions ofa duel. It is a brawl; and the proof is that there were five ofthe cardinal's Guardsmen against my three Musketeers and Monsieurd'Artagnan. "

"That is true, " said the king; "but never mind, Treville, come still bythe back staircase. "

Treville smiled; but as it was indeed something to have prevailedupon this child to rebel against his master, he saluted the kingrespectfully, and with this agreement, took leave of him. 

That evening the three Musketeers were informed of the honor accordedthem. As they had long been acquainted with the king, they were notmuch excited; but d'Artagnan, with his Gascon imagination, saw in it hisfuture fortune, and passed the night in golden dreams. By eight o'clockin the morning he was at the apartment of Athos. 

D'Artagnan found the Musketeer dressed and ready to go out. As the hourto wait upon the king was not till twelve, he had made a party withPorthos and Aramis to play a game at tennis in a tennis court situatednear the stables of the Luxembourg. Athos invited d'Artagnan to followthem; and although ignorant of the game, which he had never played, heaccepted, not knowing what to do with his time from nine o'clock in themorning, as it then scarcely was, till twelve. 

The two Musketeers were already there, and were playing together. Athos, who was very expert in all bodily exercises, passed with d'Artagnan tothe opposite side and challenged them; but at the first effort he made, although he played with his left hand, he found that his wound was yettoo recent to allow of such exertion. D'Artagnan remained, therefore, alone; and as he declared he was too ignorant of the game to playit regularly they only continued giving balls to one another withoutcounting. But one of these balls, launched by Porthos' herculean hand, passed so close to d'Artagnan's face that he thought that if, insteadof passing near, it had hit him, his audience would have been probablylost, as it would have been impossible for him to present himselfbefore the king. Now, as upon this audience, in his Gascon imagination, depended his future life, he saluted Aramis and Porthos politely, declaring that he would not resume the game until he should be preparedto play with them on more equal terms, and went and took his place nearthe cord and in the gallery. 

Unfortunately for d'Artagnan, among the spectators was one of hisEminence's Guardsmen, who, still irritated by the defeat of hiscompanions, which had happened only the day before, had promisedhimself to seize the first opportunity of avenging it. He believedthis opportunity was now come and addressed his neighbor: "It is notastonishing that that young man should be afraid of a ball, for he isdoubtless a Musketeer apprentice. "

D'Artagnan turned round as if a serpent had stung him, and fixed hiseyes intensely upon the Guardsman who had just made this insolentspeech. 

"PARDIEU, " resumed the latter, twisting his mustache, "look at me aslong as you like, my little gentleman! I have said what I have said. "

"And as since that which you have said is too clear to require anyexplanation, " replied d'Artagnan, in a low voice, "I beg you to followme. "

"And when?" asked the Guardsman, with the same jeering air. 

"At once, if you please. "

"And you know who I am, without doubt?"

"I? I am completely ignorant; nor does it much disquiet me. "

"You're in the wrong there; for if you knew my name, perhaps you wouldnot be so pressing. "

"What is your name?"

"Bernajoux, at your service. "

"Well, then, Monsieur Bernajoux, " said d'Artagnan, tranquilly, "I willwait for you at the door. "

"Go, monsieur, I will follow you. "

"Do not hurry yourself, monsieur, lest it be observed that we go outtogether. You must be aware that for our undertaking, company would bein the way. "

"That's true, " said the Guardsman, astonished that his name had notproduced more effect upon the young man. 

Indeed, the name of Bernajoux was known to all the world, d'Artagnanalone excepted, perhaps; for it was one of those which figured mostfrequently in the daily brawls which all the edicts of the cardinalcould not repress. 

Porthos and Aramis were so engaged with their game, and Athos waswatching them with so much attention, that they did not even perceivetheir young companion go out, who, as he had told the Guardsman of hisEminence, stopped outside the door. An instant after, the Guardsmandescended in his turn. As d'Artagnan had no time to lose, on account ofthe audience of the king, which was fixed for midday, he cast his eyesaround, and seeing that the street was empty, said to his adversary, "Myfaith! It is fortunate for you, although your name is Bernajoux, to haveonly to deal with an apprentice Musketeer. Never mind; be content, Iwill do my best. On guard!"

"But, " said he whom d'Artagnan thus provoked, "it appears to me thatthis place is badly chosen, and that we should be better behind theAbbey St. Germain or in the Pre-aux-Clercs. "

"What you say is full of sense, " replied d'Artagnan; "but unfortunatelyI have very little time to spare, having an appointment at twelveprecisely. On guard, then, monsieur, on guard!"

Bernajoux was not a man to have such a compliment paid to him twice. In an instant his sword glittered in his hand, and he sprang uponhis adversary, whom, thanks to his great youthfulness, he hoped tointimidate. 

But d'Artagnan had on the preceding day served his apprenticeship. Freshsharpened by his victory, full of hopes of future favor, he was resolvednot to recoil a step. So the two swords were crossed close to thehilts, and as d'Artagnan stood firm, it was his adversary who made theretreating step; but d'Artagnan seized the moment at which, in thismovement, the sword of Bernajoux deviated from the line. He freedhis weapon, made a lunge, and touched his adversary on the shoulder. D'Artagnan immediately made a step backward and raised his sword; butBernajoux cried out that it was nothing, and rushing blindly upon him, absolutely spitted himself upon d'Artagnan's sword. As, however, he didnot fall, as he did not declare himself conquered, but only broke awaytoward the hotel of M. De la Tremouille, in whose service he had arelative, d'Artagnan was ignorant of the seriousness of the last woundhis adversary had received, and pressing him warmly, without doubt wouldsoon have completed his work with a third blow, when the noise whicharose from the street being heard in the tennis court, two of thefriends of the Guardsman, who had seen him go out after exchanging somewords with d'Artagnan, rushed, sword in hand, from the court, and fellupon the conqueror. But Athos, Porthos, and Aramis quickly appearedin their turn, and the moment the two Guardsmen attacked their youngcompanion, drove them back. Bernajoux now fell, and as the Guardsmenwere only two against four, they began to cry, "To the rescue! The Hotelde la Tremouille!" At these cries, all who were in the hotel rushed outand fell upon the four companions, who on their side cried aloud, "Tothe rescue, Musketeers!"

This cry was generally heeded; for the Musketeers were known to beenemies of the cardinal, and were beloved on account of the hatred theybore to his Eminence. Thus the soldiers of other companies than thosewhich belonged to the Red Duke, as Aramis had called him, often tookpart with the king's Musketeers in these quarrels. Of three Guardsmenof the company of M. Dessessart who were passing, two came to theassistance of the four companions, while the other ran toward the hotelof M. De Treville, crying, "To the rescue, Musketeers! To the rescue!"As usual, this hotel was full of soldiers of this company, who hastenedto the succor of their comrades. The MELEE became general, but strengthwas on the side of the Musketeers. The cardinal's Guards and M. De laTremouille's people retreated into the hotel, the doors of which theyclosed just in time to prevent their enemies from entering with them. Asto the wounded man, he had been taken in at once, and, as we have said, in a very bad state. 

Excitement was at its height among the Musketeers and their allies, andthey even began to deliberate whether they should not set fire to thehotel to punish the insolence of M. De la Tremouille's domestics indaring to make a SORTIE upon the king's Musketeers. The proposition hadbeen made, and received with enthusiasm, when fortunately eleven o'clockstruck. D'Artagnan and his companions remembered their audience, and asthey would very much have regretted that such an opportunity should belost, they succeeded in calming their friends, who contented themselveswith hurling some paving stones against the gates; but the gates weretoo strong. They soon tired of the sport. Besides, those who must beconsidered the leaders of the enterprise had quit the group and weremaking their way toward the hotel of M. De Treville, who was waiting forthem, already informed of this fresh disturbance. 

"Quick to the Louvre, " said he, "to the Louvre without losing aninstant, and let us endeavor to see the king before he is prejudiced bythe cardinal. We will describe the thing to him as a consequence of theaffair of yesterday, and the two will pass off together. "

M. De Treville, accompanied by the four young fellows, directed hiscourse toward the Louvre; but to the great astonishment of the captainof the Musketeers, he was informed that the king had gone stag huntingin the forest of St. Germain. M. De Treville required this intelligenceto be repeated to him twice, and each time his companions saw his browbecome darker. 

"Had his Majesty, " asked he, "any intention of holding this huntingparty yesterday?"

"No, your Excellency, " replied the valet de chambre, "the Master of theHounds came this morning to inform him that he had marked down a stag. At first the king answered that he would not go; but he could not resisthis love of sport, and set out after dinner. "

"And the king has seen the cardinal?" asked M. De Treville. 

"In all probability he has, " replied the valet, "for I saw the horsesharnessed to his Eminence's carriage this morning, and when I askedwhere he was going, they told me, 'To St. Germain. '"

"He is beforehand with us, " said M. De Treville. "Gentlemen, I will seethe king this evening; but as to you, I do not advise you to risk doingso. "

This advice was too reasonable, and moreover came from a man who knewthe king too well, to allow the four young men to dispute it. M. DeTreville recommended everyone to return home and wait for news. 

On entering his hotel, M. De Treville thought it best to be first inmaking the complaint. He sent one of his servants to M. De la Tremouillewith a letter in which he begged of him to eject the cardinal'sGuardsmen from his house, and to reprimand his people for theiraudacity in making SORTIE against the king's Musketeers. But M. De laTremouille--already prejudiced by his esquire, whose relative, as wealready know, Bernajoux was--replied that it was neither for M. DeTreville nor the Musketeers to complain, but, on the contrary, forhim, whose people the Musketeers had assaulted and whose hotel they hadendeavored to burn. Now, as the debate between these two nobles mightlast a long time, each becoming, naturally, more firm in his ownopinion, M. De Treville thought of an expedient which might terminate itquietly. This was to go himself to M. De la Tremouille. 

He repaired, therefore, immediately to his hotel, and caused himself tobe announced. 

The two nobles saluted each other politely, for if no friendship existedbetween them, there was at least esteem. Both were men of courage andhonor; and as M. De la Tremouille--a Protestant, and seeing the kingseldom--was of no party, he did not, in general, carry any bias into hissocial relations. This time, however, his address, although polite, wascooler than usual. 

"Monsieur, " said M. De Treville, "we fancy that we have each causeto complain of the other, and I am come to endeavor to clear up thisaffair. "

"I have no objection, " replied M. De la Tremouille, "but I warn you thatI am well informed, and all the fault is with your Musketeers. "

"You are too just and reasonable a man, monsieur!" said Treville, "notto accept the proposal I am about to make to you. "

"Make it, monsieur, I listen. "

"How is Monsieur Bernajoux, your esquire's relative?"

"Why, monsieur, very ill indeed! In addition to the sword thrust in hisarm, which is not dangerous, he has received another right through hislungs, of which the doctor says bad things. "

"But has the wounded man retained his senses?"

"Perfectly. "

"Does he talk?"

"With difficulty, but he can speak. "

"Well, monsieur, let us go to him. Let us adjure him, in the name of theGod before whom he must perhaps appear, to speak the truth. I will takehim for judge in his own cause, monsieur, and will believe what he willsay. "

M. De la Tremouille reflected for an instant; then as it was difficultto suggest a more reasonable proposal, he agreed to it. 

Both descended to the chamber in which the wounded man lay. The latter, on seeing these two noble lords who came to visit him, endeavored toraise himself up in his bed; but he was too weak, and exhausted by theeffort, he fell back again almost senseless. 

M. De la Tremouille approached him, and made him inhale some salts, which recalled him to life. Then M. De Treville, unwilling that itshould be thought that he had influenced the wounded man, requested M. De la Tremouille to interrogate him himself. 

That happened which M. De Treville had foreseen. Placed between life anddeath, as Bernajoux was, he had no idea for a moment of concealing thetruth; and he described to the two nobles the affair exactly as it hadpassed. 

This was all that M. De Treville wanted. He wished Bernajoux a speedyconvalescence, took leave of M. De la Tremouille, returned to his hotel, and immediately sent word to the four friends that he awaited theircompany at dinner. 

M. De Treville entertained good company, wholly anticardinalist, though. It may easily be understood, therefore, that the conversation during thewhole of dinner turned upon the two checks that his Eminence's Guardsmenhad received. Now, as d'Artagnan had been the hero of these two fights, it was upon him that all the felicitations fell, which Athos, Porthos, and Aramis abandoned to him, not only as good comrades, but as men whohad so often had their turn that could very well afford him his. 

Toward six o'clock M. De Treville announced that it was time to go tothe Louvre; but as the hour of audience granted by his Majesty was past, instead of claiming the ENTREE by the back stairs, he placed himselfwith the four young men in the antechamber. The king had not yetreturned from hunting. Our young men had been waiting about half anhour, amid a crowd of courtiers, when all the doors were thrown open, and his Majesty was announced. 

At his announcement d'Artagnan felt himself tremble to the very marrowof his bones. The coming instant would in all probability decide therest of his life. His eyes therefore were fixed in a sort of agony uponthe door through which the king must enter. 

Louis XIII appeared, walking fast. He was in hunting costume coveredwith dust, wearing large boots, and holding a whip in his hand. At thefirst glance, d'Artagnan judged that the mind of the king was stormy. 

This disposition, visible as it was in his Majesty, did not preventthe courtiers from ranging themselves along his pathway. In royalantechambers it is worth more to be viewed with an angry eye than not tobe seen at all. The three Musketeers therefore did not hesitate to makea step forward. D'Artagnan on the contrary remained concealed behindthem; but although the king knew Athos, Porthos, and Aramis personally, he passed before them without speaking or looking--indeed, as if he hadnever seen them before. As for M. De Treville, when the eyes of the kingfell upon him, he sustained the look with so much firmness that itwas the king who dropped his eyes; after which his Majesty, grumbling, entered his apartment. 

"Matters go but badly, " said Athos, smiling; "and we shall not be madeChevaliers of the Order this time. "

"Wait here ten minutes, " said M. De Treville; "and if at the expirationof ten minutes you do not see me come out, return to my hotel, for itwill be useless for you to wait for me longer. "

The four young men waited ten minutes, a quarter of an hour, twentyminutes; and seeing that M. De Treville did not return, went away veryuneasy as to what was going to happen. 

M. De Treville entered the king's cabinet boldly, and found his Majestyin a very ill humor, seated on an armchair, beating his boot with thehandle of his whip. This, however, did not prevent his asking, with thegreatest coolness, after his Majesty's health. 

"Bad, monsieur, bad!" replied the king; "I am bored. "

This was, in fact, the worst complaint of Louis XIII, who wouldsometimes take one of his courtiers to a window and say, "MonsieurSo-and-so, let us weary ourselves together. "

"How! Your Majesty is bored? Have you not enjoyed the pleasures of thechase today?"

"A fine pleasure, indeed, monsieur! Upon my soul, everythingdegenerates; and I don't know whether it is the game which leavesno scent, or the dogs that have no noses. We started a stag of tenbranches. We chased him for six hours, and when he was near beingtaken--when St. -Simon was already putting his horn to his mouth to soundthe mort--crack, all the pack takes the wrong scent and sets off aftera two-year-older. I shall be obliged to give up hunting, as I have givenup hawking. Ah, I am an unfortunate king, Monsieur de Treville! I hadbut one gerfalcon, and he died day before yesterday. "

"Indeed, sire, I wholly comprehend your disappointment. The misfortuneis great; but I think you have still a good number of falcons, sparrowhawks, and tiercets. "

"And not a man to instruct them. Falconers are declining. I know no onebut myself who is acquainted with the noble art of venery. After me itwill all be over, and people will hunt with gins, snares, and traps. IfI had but the time to train pupils! But there is the cardinal alwaysat hand, who does not leave me a moment's repose; who talks to me aboutSpain, who talks to me about Austria, who talks to me about England! Ah!A PROPOS of the cardinal, Monsieur de Treville, I am vexed with you!"

This was the chance at which M. De Treville waited for the king. Heknew the king of old, and he knew that all these complaints were but apreface--a sort of excitation to encourage himself--and that he had nowcome to his point at last. 

"And in what have I been so unfortunate as to displease your Majesty?"asked M. De Treville, feigning the most profound astonishment. 

"Is it thus you perform your charge, monsieur?" continued the king, without directly replying to de Treville's question. "Is it for this Iname you captain of my Musketeers, that they should assassinate a man, disturb a whole quarter, and endeavor to set fire to Paris, withoutyour saying a word? But yet, " continued the king, "undoubtedly my hasteaccuses you wrongfully; without doubt the rioters are in prison, and youcome to tell me justice is done. "

"Sire, " replied M. De Treville, calmly, "on the contrary, I come todemand it of you. "

"And against whom?" cried the king. 

"Against calumniators, " said M. De Treville. 

"Ah! This is something new, " replied the king. "Will you tell me thatyour three damned Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and youryoungster from Bearn, have not fallen, like so many furies, upon poorBernajoux, and have not maltreated him in such a fashion that probablyby this time he is dead? Will you tell me that they did not lay siege tothe hotel of the Duc de la Tremouille, and that they did not endeavor toburn it?--which would not, perhaps, have been a great misfortune in timeof war, seeing that it is nothing but a nest of Huguenots, but which is, in time of peace, a frightful example. Tell me, now, can you deny allthis?"

"And who told you this fine story, sire?" asked Treville, quietly. 

"Who has told me this fine story, monsieur? Who should it be but he whowatches while I sleep, who labors while I amuse myself, who conductseverything at home and abroad--in France as in Europe?"

"Your Majesty probably refers to God, " said M. De Treville; "for I knowno one except God who can be so far above your Majesty. "

"No, monsieur; I speak of the prop of the state, of my only servant, ofmy only friend--of the cardinal. "

"His Eminence is not his holiness, sire. "

"What do you mean by that, monsieur?"

"That it is only the Pope who is infallible, and that this infallibilitydoes not extend to cardinals. "

"You mean to say that he deceives me; you mean to say that he betraysme? You accuse him, then? Come, speak; avow freely that you accuse him!"

"No, sire, but I say that he deceives himself. I say that he isill-informed. I say that he has hastily accused your Majesty'sMusketeers, toward whom he is unjust, and that he has not obtained hisinformation from good sources. "

"The accusation comes from Monsieur de la Tremouille, from the dukehimself. What do you say to that?"

"I might answer, sire, that he is too deeply interested in the questionto be a very impartial witness; but so far from that, sire, I know theduke to be a royal gentleman, and I refer the matter to him--but uponone condition, sire. "

"What?"

"It is that your Majesty will make him come here, will interrogate himyourself, TETE-A-TETE, without witnesses, and that I shall see yourMajesty as soon as you have seen the duke. "

"What, then! You will bind yourself, " cried the king, "by what Monsieurde la Tremouille shall say?"

"Yes, sire. "

"You will accept his judgment?"

"Undoubtedly. "

"Any you will submit to the reparation he may require?"

"Certainly. "

"La Chesnaye, " said the king. "La Chesnaye!"

Louis XIII's confidential valet, who never left the door, entered inreply to the call. 

"La Chesnaye, " said the king, "let someone go instantly and findMonsieur de la Tremouille; I wish to speak with him this evening. "

"Your Majesty gives me your word that you will not see anyone betweenMonsieur de la Tremouille and myself?"

"Nobody, by the faith of a gentleman. "

"Tomorrow, then, sire?"

"Tomorrow, monsieur. "

"At what o'clock, please your Majesty?"

"At any hour you will. "

"But in coming too early I should be afraid of awakening your Majesty. "

"Awaken me! Do you think I ever sleep, then? I sleep no longer, monsieur. I sometimes dream, that's all. Come, then, as early as youlike--at seven o'clock; but beware, if you and your Musketeers areguilty. "

"If my Musketeers are guilty, sire, the guilty shall be placed in yourMajesty's hands, who will dispose of them at your good pleasure. Doesyour Majesty require anything further? Speak, I am ready to obey. "

"No, monsieur, no; I am not called Louis the Just without reason. Tomorrow, then, monsieur--tomorrow. "

"Till then, God preserve your Majesty!"

However ill the king might sleep, M. De Treville slept still worse. Hehad ordered his three Musketeers and their companion to be with him athalf past six in the morning. He took them with him, without encouragingthem or promising them anything, and without concealing from them thattheir luck, and even his own, depended upon the cast of the dice. 

Arrived at the foot of the back stairs, he desired them to wait. If theking was still irritated against them, they would depart without beingseen; if the king consented to see them, they would only have to becalled. 

On arriving at the king's private antechamber, M. De Treville found LaChesnaye, who informed him that they had not been able to find M. De laTremouille on the preceding evening at his hotel, that he returned toolate to present himself at the Louvre, that he had only that momentarrived and that he was at that very hour with the king. 

This circumstance pleased M. De Treville much, as he thus became certainthat no foreign suggestion could insinuate itself between M. De laTremouille's testimony and himself. 

In fact, ten minutes had scarcely passed away when the door of theking's closet opened, and M. De Treville saw M. De la Tremouille comeout. The duke came straight up to him, and said: "Monsieur de Treville, his Majesty has just sent for me in order to inquire respecting thecircumstances which took place yesterday at my hotel. I have told himthe truth; that is to say, that the fault lay with my people, and that Iwas ready to offer you my excuses. Since I have the good fortune to meetyou, I beg you to receive them, and to hold me always as one of yourfriends. "

"Monsieur the Duke, " said M. De Treville, "I was so confident of yourloyalty that I required no other defender before his Majesty thanyourself. I find that I have not been mistaken, and I thank youthat there is still one man in France of whom may be said, withoutdisappointment, what I have said of you. "

"That's well said, " cried the king, who had heard all these complimentsthrough the open door; "only tell him, Treville, since he wishes tobe considered your friend, that I also wish to be one of his, but heneglects me; that it is nearly three years since I have seen him, andthat I never do see him unless I send for him. Tell him all this for me, for these are things which a king cannot say for himself. "

"Thanks, sire, thanks, " said the duke; "but your Majesty may be assuredthat it is not those--I do not speak of Monsieur de Treville--whom yourMajesty sees at all hours of the day that are most devoted to you. "

"Ah! You have heard what I said? So much the better, Duke, so muchthe better, " said the king, advancing toward the door. "Ah! It is you, Treville. Where are your Musketeers? I told you the day before yesterdayto bring them with you; why have you not done so?"

"They are below, sire, and with your permission La Chesnaye will bidthem come up. "

"Yes, yes, let them come up immediately. It is nearly eight o'clock, andat nine I expect a visit. Go, Monsieur Duke, and return often. Come in, Treville. "

The Duke saluted and retired. At the moment he opened the door, thethree Musketeers and d'Artagnan, conducted by La Chesnaye, appeared atthe top of the staircase. 

"Come in, my braves, " said the king, "come in; I am going to scold you. "

The Musketeers advanced, bowing, d'Artagnan following closely behindthem. 

"What the devil!" continued the king. "Seven of his Eminence's Guardsplaced HORS DE COMBAT by you four in two days! That's too many, gentlemen, too many! If you go on so, his Eminence will be forced torenew his company in three weeks, and I to put the edicts in force inall their rigor. One now and then I don't say much about; but seven intwo days, I repeat, it is too many, it is far too many!"

"Therefore, sire, your Majesty sees that they are come, quite contriteand repentant, to offer you their excuses. "

"Quite contrite and repentant! Hem!" said the king. "I place noconfidence in their hypocritical faces. In particular, there is oneyonder of a Gascon look. Come hither, monsieur. "

D'Artagnan, who understood that it was to him this compliment wasaddressed, approached, assuming a most deprecating air. 

"Why you told me he was a young man? This is a boy, Treville, a mereboy! Do you mean to say that it was he who bestowed that severe thrustat Jussac?"

"And those two equally fine thrusts at Bernajoux. "

"Truly!"

"Without reckoning, " said Athos, "that if he had not rescued me fromthe hands of Cahusac, I should not now have the honor of making my veryhumble reverence to your Majesty. "

"Why he is a very devil, this Bearnais! VENTRE-SAINT-GRIS, Monsieur deTreville, as the king my father would have said. But at this sort ofwork, many doublets must be slashed and many swords broken. Now, Gasconsare always poor, are they not?"

"Sire, I can assert that they have hitherto discovered no gold mines intheir mountains; though the Lord owes them this miracle in recompensefor the manner in which they supported the pretensions of the king yourfather. "

"Which is to say that the Gascons made a king of me, myself, seeing thatI am my father's son, is it not, Treville? Well, happily, I don't saynay to it. La Chesnaye, go and see if by rummaging all my pockets youcan find forty pistoles; and if you can find them, bring them to me. Andnow let us see, young man, with your hand upon your conscience, how didall this come to pass?"

D'Artagnan related the adventure of the preceding day in all itsdetails; how, not having been able to sleep for the joy he felt in theexpectation of seeing his Majesty, he had gone to his three friendsthree hours before the hour of audience; how they had gone togetherto the tennis court, and how, upon the fear he had manifested lest hereceive a ball in the face, he had been jeered at by Bernajoux who hadnearly paid for his jeer with his life and M. De la Tremouille, who hadnothing to do with the matter, with the loss of his hotel. 

"This is all very well, " murmured the king, "yes, this is just theaccount the duke gave me of the affair. Poor cardinal! Seven men in twodays, and those of his very best! But that's quite enough, gentlemen;please to understand, that's enough. You have taken your revenge for theRue Ferou, and even exceeded it; you ought to be satisfied. "

"If your Majesty is so, " said Treville, "we are. "

"Oh, yes; I am, " added the king, taking a handful of gold from LaChesnaye, and putting it into the hand of d'Artagnan. "Here, " said he, "is a proof of my satisfaction. "

At this epoch, the ideas of pride which are in fashion in our days didnot prevail. A gentleman received, from hand to hand, money from theking, and was not the least in the world humiliated. D'Artagnan put hisforty pistoles into his pocket without any scruple--on the contrary, thanking his Majesty greatly. 

"There, " said the king, looking at a clock, "there, now, as it is halfpast eight, you may retire; for as I told you, I expect someone at nine. Thanks for your devotedness, gentlemen. I may continue to rely upon it, may I not?"

"Oh, sire!" cried the four companions, with one voice, "we would allowourselves to be cut to pieces in your Majesty's service. "

"Well, well, but keep whole; that will be better, and you will be moreuseful to me. Treville, " added the king, in a low voice, as the otherswere retiring, "as you have no room in the Musketeers, and as we havebesides decided that a novitiate is necessary before entering thatcorps, place this young man in the company of the Guards of MonsieurDessessart, your brother-in-law. Ah, PARDIEU, Treville! I enjoybeforehand the face the cardinal will make. He will be furious; but Idon't care. I am doing what is right. "

The king waved his hand to Treville, who left him and rejoined theMusketeers, whom he found sharing the forty pistoles with d'Artagnan. 

The cardinal, as his Majesty had said, was really furious, so furiousthat during eight days he absented himself from the king's gamingtable. This did not prevent the king from being as complacent to him aspossible whenever he met him, or from asking in the kindest tone, "Well, Monsieur Cardinal, how fares it with that poor Jussac and that poorBernajoux of yours?"

7 THE INTERIOR OF "THE MUSKETEERS"

When d'Artagnan was out of the Louvre, and consulted his friends uponthe use he had best make of his share of the forty pistoles, Athosadvised him to order a good repast at the Pomme-de-Pin, Porthos toengage a lackey, and Aramis to provide himself with a suitable mistress. 

The repast was carried into effect that very day, and the lackey waitedat table. The repast had been ordered by Athos, and the lackey furnishedby Porthos. He was a Picard, whom the glorious Musketeer had picked upon the Bridge Tournelle, making rings and plashing in the water. 

Porthos pretended that this occupation was proof of a reflective andcontemplative organization, and he had brought him away without anyother recommendation. The noble carriage of this gentleman, for whom hebelieved himself to be engaged, had won Planchet--that was the name ofthe Picard. He felt a slight disappointment, however, when he saw thatthis place was already taken by a compeer named Mousqueton, and whenPorthos signified to him that the state of his household, though great, would not support two servants, and that he must enter into the serviceof d'Artagnan. Nevertheless, when he waited at the dinner given byhis master, and saw him take out a handful of gold to pay for it, hebelieved his fortune made, and returned thanks to heaven for havingthrown him into the service of such a Croesus. He preserved this opinioneven after the feast, with the remnants of which he repaired his ownlong abstinence; but when in the evening he made his master's bed, the chimeras of Planchet faded away. The bed was the only one in theapartment, which consisted of an antechamber and a bedroom. Planchetslept in the antechamber upon a coverlet taken from the bed ofd'Artagnan, and which d'Artagnan from that time made shift to dowithout. 

Athos, on his part, had a valet whom he had trained in his service ina thoroughly peculiar fashion, and who was named Grimaud. He was verytaciturn, this worthy signor. Be it understood we are speaking of Athos. During the five or six years that he had lived in the strictest intimacywith his companions, Porthos and Aramis, they could remember havingoften seen him smile, but had never heard him laugh. His words werebrief and expressive, conveying all that was meant, and no more; noembellishments, no embroidery, no arabesques. His conversation a matterof fact, without a single romance. 

Although Athos was scarcely thirty years old, and was of great personalbeauty and intelligence of mind, no one knew whether he had ever had amistress. He never spoke of women. He certainly did not prevent othersfrom speaking of them before him, although it was easy to perceive thatthis kind of conversation, in which he only mingled by bitter words andmisanthropic remarks, was very disagreeable to him. His reserve, hisroughness, and his silence made almost an old man of him. He had, then, in order not to disturb his habits, accustomed Grimaud to obey him upona simple gesture or upon a simple movement of his lips. He never spoketo him, except under the most extraordinary occasions. 

Sometimes, Grimaud, who feared his master as he did fire, whileentertaining a strong attachment to his person and a great venerationfor his talents, believed he perfectly understood what he wanted, flewto execute the order received, and did precisely the contrary. Athosthen shrugged his shoulders, and, without putting himself in a passion, thrashed Grimaud. On these days he spoke a little. 

Porthos, as we have seen, had a character exactly opposite to that ofAthos. He not only talked much, but he talked loudly, little caring, wemust render him that justice, whether anybody listened to him or not. He talked for the pleasure of talking and for the pleasure of hearinghimself talk. He spoke upon all subjects except the sciences, allegingin this respect the inveterate hatred he had borne to scholars from hischildhood. He had not so noble an air as Athos, and the commencement oftheir intimacy often rendered him unjust toward that gentleman, whomhe endeavored to eclipse by his splendid dress. But with his simpleMusketeer's uniform and nothing but the manner in which he threw backhis head and advanced his foot, Athos instantly took the place whichwas his due and consigned the ostentatious Porthos to the second rank. Porthos consoled himself by filling the antechamber of M. De Trevilleand the guardroom of the Louvre with the accounts of his love scrapes, after having passed from professional ladies to military ladies, fromthe lawyer's dame to the baroness, there was question of nothing lesswith Porthos than a foreign princess, who was enormously fond of him. 

An old proverb says, "Like master, like man. " Let us pass, then, fromthe valet of Athos to the valet of Porthos, from Grimaud to Mousqueton. 

Mousqueton was a Norman, whose pacific name of Boniface his master hadchanged into the infinitely more sonorous name of Mousqueton. He hadentered the service of Porthos upon condition that he should only beclothed and lodged, though in a handsome manner; but he claimed twohours a day to himself, consecrated to an employment which would providefor his other wants. Porthos agreed to the bargain; the thing suitedhim wonderfully well. He had doublets cut out of his old clothes andcast-off cloaks for Mousqueton, and thanks to a very intelligent tailor, who made his clothes look as good as new by turning them, and whose wifewas suspected of wishing to make Porthos descend from his aristocratichabits, Mousqueton made a very good figure when attending on his master. 

As for Aramis, of whom we believe we have sufficiently explained thecharacter--a character which, like that of his lackey was called Bazin. Thanks to the hopes which his master entertained of someday enteringinto orders, he was always clothed in black, as became the servant ofa churchman. He was a Berrichon, thirty-five or forty years old, mild, peaceable, sleek, employing the leisure his master left him in theperusal of pious works, providing rigorously for two a dinner of fewdishes, but excellent. For the rest, he was dumb, blind, and deaf, andof unimpeachable fidelity. 

And now that we are acquainted, superficially at least, with the mastersand the valets, let us pass on to the dwellings occupied by each ofthem. 

Athos dwelt in the Rue Ferou, within two steps of the Luxembourg. Hisapartment consisted of two small chambers, very nicely fitted up, ina furnished house, the hostess of which, still young and still reallyhandsome, cast tender glances uselessly at him. Some fragments of pastsplendor appeared here and there upon the walls of this modest lodging;a sword, for example, richly embossed, which belonged by its make tothe times of Francis I, the hilt of which alone, encrusted with preciousstones, might be worth two hundred pistoles, and which, nevertheless, inhis moments of greatest distress Athos had never pledged or offered forsale. It had long been an object of ambition for Porthos. Porthos wouldhave given ten years of his life to possess this sword. 

One day, when he had an appointment with a duchess, he endeavored evento borrow it of Athos. Athos, without saying anything, emptied hispockets, got together all his jewels, purses, aiguillettes, and goldchains, and offered them all to Porthos; but as to the sword, he said itwas sealed to its place and should never quit it until its mastershould himself quit his lodgings. In addition to the sword, there was aportrait representing a nobleman of the time of Henry III, dressed withthe greatest elegance, and who wore the Order of the Holy Ghost; andthis portrait had certain resemblances of lines with Athos, certainfamily likenesses which indicated that this great noble, a knight of theOrder of the King, was his ancestor. 

Besides these, a casket of magnificent goldwork, with the same arms asthe sword and the portrait, formed a middle ornament to the mantelpiece, and assorted badly with the rest of the furniture. Athos always carriedthe key of this coffer about him; but he one day opened it beforePorthos, and Porthos was convinced that this coffer contained nothingbut letters and papers--love letters and family papers, no doubt. 

Porthos lived in an apartment, large in size and of very sumptuousappearance, in the Rue du Vieux-Colombier. Every time he passed witha friend before his windows, at one of which Mousqueton was sure to beplaced in full livery, Porthos raised his head and his hand, and said, "That is my abode!" But he was never to be found at home; he neverinvited anybody to go up with him, and no one could form an idea of whathis sumptuous apartment contained in the shape of real riches. 

As to Aramis, he dwelt in a little lodging composed of a boudoir, aneating room, and a bedroom, which room, situated, as the others were, onthe ground floor, looked out upon a little fresh green garden, shady andimpenetrable to the eyes of his neighbors. 

With regard to d'Artagnan, we know how he was lodged, and we havealready made acquaintance with his lackey, Master Planchet. 

D'Artagnan, who was by nature very curious--as people generally are whopossess the genius of intrigue--did all he could to make out who Athos, Porthos, and Aramis really were (for under these pseudonyms each ofthese young men concealed his family name)--Athos in particular, who, aleague away, savored of nobility. He addressed himself then to Porthosto gain information respecting Athos and Aramis, and to Aramis in orderto learn something of Porthos. 

Unfortunately Porthos knew nothing of the life of his silent companionbut what revealed itself. It was said Athos had met with great crossesin love, and that a frightful treachery had forever poisoned the lifeof this gallant man. What could this treachery be? All the world wasignorant of it. 

As to Porthos, except his real name (as was the case with those of histwo comrades), his life was very easily known. Vain and indiscreet, itwas as easy to see through him as through a crystal. The only thing tomislead the investigator would have been belief in all the good thingshe said of himself. 

With respect to Aramis, though having the air of having nothing secretabout him, he was a young fellow made up of mysteries, answering littleto questions put to him about others, and having learned from him thereport which prevailed concerning the success of the Musketeer with aprincess, wished to gain a little insight into the amorous adventures ofhis interlocutor. "And you, my dear companion, " said he, "you speak ofthe baronesses, countesses, and princesses of others?"

"PARDIEU! I spoke of them because Porthos talked of them himself, because he had paraded all these fine things before me. But be assured, my dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, that if I had obtained them from any othersource, or if they had been confided to me, there exists no confessormore discreet than myself. "

"Oh, I don't doubt that, " replied d'Artagnan; "but it seems to me thatyou are tolerably familiar with coats of arms--a certain embroideredhandkerchief, for instance, to which I owe the honor of youracquaintance?"

This time Aramis was not angry, but assumed the most modest air andreplied in a friendly tone, "My dear friend, do not forget that I wishto belong to the Church, and that I avoid all mundane opportunities. Thehandkerchief you saw had not been given to me, but it had been forgottenand left at my house by one of my friends. I was obliged to pick it upin order not to compromise him and the lady he loves. As for myself, Ineither have, nor desire to have, a mistress, following in that respectthe very judicious example of Athos, who has none any more than I have. "

"But what the devil! You are not a priest, you are a Musketeer!"

"A Musketeer for a time, my friend, as the cardinal says, a Musketeeragainst my will, but a churchman at heart, believe me. Athos andPorthos dragged me into this to occupy me. I had, at the moment of beingordained, a little difficulty with--But that would not interest you, andI am taking up your valuable time. "

"Not at all; it interests me very much, " cried d'Artagnan; "and at thismoment I have absolutely nothing to do. "

"Yes, but I have my breviary to repeat, " answered Aramis; "then someverses to compose, which Madame d'Aiguillon begged of me. Then I mustgo to the Rue St. Honore in order to purchase some rouge for Madame deChevreuse. So you see, my dear friend, that if you are not in a hurry, Iam very much in a hurry. "

Aramis held out his hand in a cordial manner to his young companion, andtook leave of him. 

Notwithstanding all the pains he took, d'Artagnan was unable to learnany more concerning his three new-made friends. He formed, therefore, the resolution of believing for the present all that was said of theirpast, hoping for more certain and extended revelations in the future. Inthe meanwhile, he looked upon Athos as an Achilles, Porthos as an Ajax, and Aramis as a Joseph. 

As to the rest, the life of the four young friends was joyous enough. Athos played, and that as a rule unfortunately. Nevertheless, he neverborrowed a sou of his companions, although his purse was ever at theirservice; and when he had played upon honor, he always awakened hiscreditor by six o'clock the next morning to pay the debt of thepreceding evening. 

Porthos had his fits. On the days when he won he was insolent andostentatious; if he lost, he disappeared completely for several days, after which he reappeared with a pale face and thinner person, but withmoney in his purse. 

As to Aramis, he never played. He was the worst Musketeer and the mostunconvivial companion imaginable. He had always something or otherto do. Sometimes in the midst of dinner, when everyone, under theattraction of wine and in the warmth of conversation, believed they hadtwo or three hours longer to enjoy themselves at table, Aramis looked athis watch, arose with a bland smile, and took leave of the company, togo, as he said, to consult a casuist with whom he had an appointment. Atother times he would return home to write a treatise, and requested hisfriends not to disturb him. 

At this Athos would smile, with his charming, melancholy smile, whichso became his noble countenance, and Porthos would drink, swearing thatAramis would never be anything but a village CURE. 

Planchet, d'Artagnan's valet, supported his good fortune nobly. Hereceived thirty sous per day, and for a month he returned to hislodgings gay as a chaffinch, and affable toward his master. When thewind of adversity began to blow upon the housekeeping of the Rue desFossoyeurs--that is to say, when the forty pistoles of King Louis XIIIwere consumed or nearly so--he commenced complaints which Athos thoughtnauseous, Porthos indecent, and Aramis ridiculous. Athos counseledd'Artagnan to dismiss the fellow; Porthos was of opinion that he shouldgive him a good thrashing first; and Aramis contended that a mastershould never attend to anything but the civilities paid to him. 

"This is all very easy for you to say, " replied d'Artagnan, "for you, Athos, who live like a dumb man with Grimaud, who forbid him to speak, and consequently never exchange ill words with him; for you, Porthos, who carry matters in such a magnificent style, and are a god to yourvalet, Mousqueton; and for you, Aramis, who, always abstracted by yourtheological studies, inspire your servant, Bazin, a mild, religious man, with a profound respect; but for me, who am without any settled meansand without resources--for me, who am neither a Musketeer nor even aGuardsman, what I am to do to inspire either the affection, the terror, or the respect in Planchet?"

"This is serious, " answered the three friends; "it is a family affair. It is with valets as with wives, they must be placed at once upon thefooting in which you wish them to remain. Reflect upon it. "

D'Artagnan did reflect, and resolved to thrash Planchet provisionally;which he did with the conscientiousness that d'Artagnan carried intoeverything. After having well beaten him, he forbade him to leave hisservice without his permission. "For, " added he, "the future cannot failto mend; I inevitably look for better times. Your fortune is thereforemade if you remain with me, and I am too good a master to allow you tomiss such a chance by granting you the dismissal you require. "

This manner of acting roused much respect for d'Artagnan's policy amongthe Musketeers. Planchet was equally seized with admiration, and said nomore about going away. 

The life of the four young men had become fraternal. D'Artagnan, whohad no settled habits of his own, as he came from his province into themidst of his world quite new to him, fell easily into the habits of hisfriends. 

They rose about eight o'clock in the winter, about six in summer, and went to take the countersign and see how things went on at M. DeTreville's. D'Artagnan, although he was not a Musketeer, performed theduty of one with remarkable punctuality. He went on guard because healways kept company with whoever of his friends was on duty. He was wellknown at the Hotel of the Musketeers, where everyone considered hima good comrade. M. De Treville, who had appreciated him at the firstglance and who bore him a real affection, never ceased recommending himto the king. 

On their side, the three Musketeers were much attached to their youngcomrade. The friendship which united these four men, and the need theyfelt of seeing another three or four times a day, whether for dueling, business, or pleasure, caused them to be continually running after oneanother like shadows; and the Inseparables were constantly to be metwith seeking one another, from the Luxembourg to the Place St. Sulpice, or from the Rue du Vieux-Colombier to the Luxembourg. 

In the meanwhile the promises of M. De Treville went on prosperously. One fine morning the king commanded M. De Chevalier Dessessart to admitd'Artagnan as a cadet in his company of Guards. D'Artagnan, with asigh, donned his uniform, which he would have exchanged for that ofa Musketeer at the expense of ten years of his existence. But M. DeTreville promised this favor after a novitiate of two years--a novitiatewhich might besides be abridged if an opportunity should present itselffor d'Artagnan to render the king any signal service, or to distinguishhimself by some brilliant action. Upon this promise d'Artagnan withdrew, and the next day he began service. 

Then it became the turn of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis to mount guardwith d'Artagnan when he was on duty. The company of M. Le ChevalierDessessart thus received four instead of one when it admittedd'Artagnan. 

8 CONCERNING A COURT INTRIGUE

In the meantime, the forty pistoles of King Louis XIII, like all otherthings of this world, after having had a beginning had an end, and afterthis end our four companions began to be somewhat embarrassed. At first, Athos supported the association for a time with his own means. 

Porthos succeeded him; and thanks to one of those disappearances towhich he was accustomed, he was able to provide for the wants of all fora fortnight. At last it became Aramis's turn, who performed it with agood grace and who succeeded--as he said, by selling some theologicalbooks--in procuring a few pistoles. 

Then, as they had been accustomed to do, they had recourse to M. DeTreville, who made some advances on their pay; but these advances couldnot go far with three Musketeers who were already much in arrears and aGuardsman who as yet had no pay at all. 

At length when they found they were likely to be really in want, theygot together, as a last effort, eight or ten pistoles, with whichPorthos went to the gaming table. Unfortunately he was in a bad vein; helost all, together with twenty-five pistoles for which he had given hisword. 

Then the inconvenience became distress. The hungry friends, followed bytheir lackeys, were seen haunting the quays and Guard rooms, pickingup among their friends abroad all the dinners they could meet with; foraccording to the advice of Aramis, it was prudent to sow repasts rightand left in prosperity, in order to reap a few in time of need. 

Athos was invited four times, and each time took his friends and theirlackeys with him. Porthos had six occasions, and contrived in the samemanner that his friends should partake of them; Aramis had eight ofthem. He was a man, as must have been already perceived, who made butlittle noise, and yet was much sought after. 

As to d'Artagnan, who as yet knew nobody in the capital, he only foundone chocolate breakfast at the house of a priest of his own province, and one dinner at the house of a cornet of the Guards. He took his armyto the priest's, where they devoured as much provision as would havelasted him for two months, and to the cornet's, who performed wonders;but as Planchet said, "People do not eat at once for all time, even whenthey eat a good deal. "

D'Artagnan thus felt himself humiliated in having only procured one mealand a half for his companions--as the breakfast at the priest's couldonly be counted as half a repast--in return for the feasts which Athos, Porthos, and Aramis had procured him. He fancied himself a burden to thesociety, forgetting in his perfectly juvenile good faith that he hadfed this society for a month; and he set his mind actively to work. Hereflected that this coalition of four young, brave, enterprising, and active men ought to have some other object than swaggering walks, fencing lessons, and practical jokes, more or less witty. 

In fact, four men such as they were--four men devoted to one another, from their purses to their lives; four men always supporting oneanother, never yielding, executing singly or together the resolutionsformed in common; four arms threatening the four cardinal points, orturning toward a single point--must inevitably, either subterraneously, in open day, by mining, in the trench, by cunning, or by force, openthemselves a way toward the object they wished to attain, however wellit might be defended, or however distant it may seem. The only thingthat astonished d'Artagnan was that his friends had never thought ofthis. 

He was thinking by himself, and even seriously racking his brain to finda direction for this single force four times multiplied, with whichhe did not doubt, as with the lever for which Archimedes sought, theyshould succeed in moving the world, when someone tapped gently at hisdoor. D'Artagnan awakened Planchet and ordered him to open it. 

From this phrase, "d'Artagnan awakened Planchet, " the reader must notsuppose it was night, or that day was hardly come. No, it had juststruck four. Planchet, two hours before, had asked his master forsome dinner, and he had answered him with the proverb, "He who sleeps, dines. " And Planchet dined by sleeping. 

A man was introduced of simple mien, who had the appearance of atradesman. Planchet, by way of dessert, would have liked to hear theconversation; but the citizen declared to d'Artagnan that what he had tosay being important and confidential, he desired to be left alone withhim. 

D'Artagnan dismissed Planchet, and requested his visitor to be seated. There was a moment of silence, during which the two men looked at eachother, as if to make a preliminary acquaintance, after which d'Artagnanbowed, as a sign that he listened. 

"I have heard Monsieur d'Artagnan spoken of as a very brave youngman, " said the citizen; "and this reputation which he justly enjoys haddecided me to confide a secret to him. "

"Speak, monsieur, speak, " said d'Artagnan, who instinctively scentedsomething advantageous. 

The citizen made a fresh pause and continued, "I have a wife who isseamstress to the queen, monsieur, and who is not deficient in eithervirtue or beauty. I was induced to marry her about three years ago, although she had but very little dowry, because Monsieur Laporte, thequeen's cloak bearer, is her godfather, and befriends her. "

"Well, monsieur?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Well!" resumed the citizen, "well, monsieur, my wife was abductedyesterday morning, as she was coming out of her workroom. "

"And by whom was your wife abducted?"

"I know nothing surely, monsieur, but I suspect someone. "

"And who is the person whom you suspect?"

"A man who has pursued her a long time. "

"The devil!"

"But allow me to tell you, monsieur, " continued the citizen, "that I amconvinced that there is less love than politics in all this. "

"Less love than politics, " replied d'Artagnan, with a reflective air;"and what do you suspect?"

"I do not know whether I ought to tell you what I suspect. "

"Monsieur, I beg you to observe that I ask you absolutely nothing. Itis you who have come to me. It is you who have told me that you had asecret to confide in me. Act, then, as you think proper; there is stilltime to withdraw. "

"No, monsieur, no; you appear to be an honest young man, and I will haveconfidence in you. I believe, then, that it is not on account of anyintrigues of her own that my wife has been arrested, but because ofthose of a lady much greater than herself. "

"Ah, ah! Can it be on account of the amours of Madame de Bois-Tracy?"said d'Artagnan, wishing to have the air, in the eyes of the citizen, ofbeing posted as to court affairs. 

"Higher, monsieur, higher. "

"Of Madame d'Aiguillon?"

"Still higher. "

"Of Madame de Chevreuse?"

"Of the--" d'Artagnan checked himself. 

"Yes, monsieur, " replied the terrified citizen, in a tone so low that hewas scarcely audible. 

"And with whom?"

"With whom can it be, if not the Duke of--"

"The Duke of--"

"Yes, monsieur, " replied the citizen, giving a still fainter intonationto his voice. 

"But how do you know all this?"

"How do I know it?"

"Yes, how do you know it? No half-confidence, or--you understand!"

"I know it from my wife, monsieur--from my wife herself. "

"Who learns it from whom?"

"From Monsieur Laporte. Did I not tell you that she was the goddaughterof Monsieur Laporte, the confidential man of the queen? Well, MonsieurLaporte placed her near her Majesty in order that our poor queen mightat least have someone in whom she could place confidence, abandoned asshe is by the king, watched as she is by the cardinal, betrayed as sheis by everybody. "

"Ah, ah! It begins to develop itself, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Now, my wife came home four days ago, monsieur. One of her conditionswas that she should come and see me twice a week; for, as I had thehonor to tell you, my wife loves me dearly--my wife, then, came andconfided to me that the queen at that very moment entertained greatfears. "

"Truly!"

"Yes. The cardinal, as it appears, pursues he and persecutes her morethan ever. He cannot pardon her the history of the Saraband. You knowthe history of the Saraband?"

"PARDIEU! Know it!" replied d'Artagnan, who knew nothing about it, butwho wished to appear to know everything that was going on. 

"So that now it is no longer hatred, but vengeance. "

"Indeed!"

"And the queen believes--"

"Well, what does the queen believe?"

"She believes that someone has written to the Duke of Buckingham in hername. "

"In the queen's name?"

"Yes, to make him come to Paris; and when once come to Paris, to drawhim into some snare. "

"The devil! But your wife, monsieur, what has she to do with all this?"

"Her devotion to the queen is known; and they wish either to removeher from her mistress, or to intimidate her, in order to obtain herMajesty's secrets, or to seduce her and make use of her as a spy. "

"That is likely, " said d'Artagnan; "but the man who has abducted her--doyou know him?"

"I have told you that I believe I know him. "

"His name?"

"I do not know that; what I do know is that he is a creature of thecardinal, his evil genius. "

"But you have seen him?"

"Yes, my wife pointed him out to me one day. "

"Has he anything remarkable about him by which one may recognize him?"

"Oh, certainly; he is a noble of very lofty carriage, black hair, swarthy complexion, piercing eye, white teeth, and has a scar on histemple. "

"A scar on his temple!" cried d'Artagnan; "and with that, white teeth, a piercing eye, dark complexion, black hair, and haughty carriage--why, that's my man of Meung. "

"He is your man, do you say?"

"Yes, yes; but that has nothing to do with it. No, I am wrong. On thecontrary, that simplifies the matter greatly. If your man is mine, withone blow I shall obtain two revenges, that's all; but where to find thisman?"

"I know not. "

"Have you no information as to his abiding place?"

"None. One day, as I was conveying my wife back to the Louvre, he wascoming out as she was going in, and she showed him to me. "

"The devil! The devil!" murmured d'Artagnan; "all this is vague enough. From whom have you learned of the abduction of your wife?"

"From Monsieur Laporte. "

"Did he give you any details?"

"He knew none himself. "

"And you have learned nothing from any other quarter?"

"Yes, I have received--"

"What?"

"I fear I am committing a great imprudence. "

"You always come back to that; but I must make you see this time that itis too late to retreat. "

"I do not retreat, MORDIEU!" cried the citizen, swearing in order torouse his courage. "Besides, by the faith of Bonacieux--"

"You call yourself Bonacieux?" interrupted d'Artagnan. 

"Yes, that is my name. "

"You said, then, by the word of Bonacieux. Pardon me for interruptingyou, but it appears to me that that name is familiar to me. "

"Possibly, monsieur. I am your landlord. "

"Ah, ah!" said d'Artagnan, half rising and bowing; "you are mylandlord?"

"Yes, monsieur, yes. And as it is three months since you have been here, and though, distracted as you must be in your important occupations, youhave forgotten to pay me my rent--as, I say, I have not tormented you asingle instant, I thought you would appreciate my delicacy. "

"How can it be otherwise, my dear Bonacieux?" replied d'Artagnan; "trustme, I am fully grateful for such unparalleled conduct, and if, as I toldyou, I can be of any service to you--"

"I believe you, monsieur, I believe you; and as I was about to say, bythe word of Bonacieux, I have confidence in you. "

"Finish, then, what you were about to say. "

The citizen took a paper from his pocket, and presented it tod'Artagnan. 

"A letter?" said the young man. 

"Which I received this morning. "

D'Artagnan opened it, and as the day was beginning to decline, heapproached the window to read it. The citizen followed him. 

"'Do not seek your wife, '" read d'Artagnan; "'she will be restored toyou when there is no longer occasion for her. If you make a single stepto find her you are lost. '

"That's pretty positive, " continued d'Artagnan; "but after all, it isbut a menace. "

"Yes; but that menace terrifies me. I am not a fighting man at all, monsieur, and I am afraid of the Bastille. "

"Hum!" said d'Artagnan. "I have no greater regard for the Bastille thanyou. If it were nothing but a sword thrust, why then--"

"I have counted upon you on this occasion, monsieur. "

"Yes?"

"Seeing you constantly surrounded by Musketeers of a very superbappearance, and knowing that these Musketeers belong to Monsieur deTreville, and were consequently enemies of the cardinal, I thought thatyou and your friends, while rendering justice to your poor queen, wouldbe pleased to play his Eminence an ill turn. "

"Without doubt. "

"And then I have thought that considering three months' lodging, aboutwhich I have said nothing--"

"Yes, yes; you have already given me that reason, and I find itexcellent. "

"Reckoning still further, that as long as you do me the honor to remainin my house I shall never speak to you about rent--"

"Very kind!"

"And adding to this, if there be need of it, meaning to offer youfifty pistoles, if, against all probability, you should be short at thepresent moment. "

"Admirable! You are rich then, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux?"

"I am comfortably off, monsieur, that's all; I have scraped togethersome such thing as an income of two or three thousand crown in thehaberdashery business, but more particularly in venturing some fundsin the last voyage of the celebrated navigator Jean Moquet; so that youunderstand, monsieur--But--" cried the citizen. 

"What!" demanded d'Artagnan. 

"Whom do I see yonder?"

"Where?"

"In the street, facing your window, in the embrasure of that door--a manwrapped in a cloak. "

"It is he!" cried d'Artagnan and the citizen at the same time, eachhaving recognized his man. 

"Ah, this time, " cried d'Artagnan, springing to his sword, "this time hewill not escape me!"

Drawing his sword from its scabbard, he rushed out of the apartment. Onthe staircase he met Athos and Porthos, who were coming to see him. Theyseparated, and d'Artagnan rushed between them like a dart. 

"Pah! Where are you going?" cried the two Musketeers in a breath. 

"The man of Meung!" replied d'Artagnan, and disappeared. 

D'Artagnan had more than once related to his friends his adventure withthe stranger, as well as the apparition of the beautiful foreigner, towhom this man had confided some important missive. 

The opinion of Athos was that d'Artagnan had lost his letter in theskirmish. A gentleman, in his opinion--and according to d'Artagnan'sportrait of him, the stranger must be a gentleman--would be incapable ofthe baseness of stealing a letter. 

Porthos saw nothing in all this but a love meeting, given by a lady toa cavalier, or by a cavalier to a lady, which had been disturbed by thepresence of d'Artagnan and his yellow horse. 

Aramis said that as these sorts of affairs were mysterious, it wasbetter not to fathom them. 

They understood, then, from the few words which escaped from d'Artagnan, what affair was in hand, and as they thought that overtaking his man, orlosing sight of him, d'Artagnan would return to his rooms, they kept ontheir way. 

When they entered d'Artagnan's chamber, it was empty; the landlord, dreading the consequences of the encounter which was doubtless about totake place between the young man and the stranger, had, consistent withthe character he had given himself, judged it prudent to decamp. 

9 D'ARTAGNAN SHOWS HIMSELF

As Athos and Porthos had foreseen, at the expiration of a half hour, d'Artagnan returned. He had again missed his man, who had disappearedas if by enchantment. D'Artagnan had run, sword in hand, through all theneighboring streets, but had found nobody resembling the man he soughtfor. Then he came back to the point where, perhaps, he ought to havebegun, and that was to knock at the door against which the stranger hadleaned; but this proved useless--for though he knocked ten or twelvetimes in succession, no one answered, and some of the neighbors, who puttheir noses out of their windows or were brought to their doors by thenoise, had assured him that that house, all the openings of which weretightly closed, had not been inhabited for six months. 

While d'Artagnan was running through the streets and knocking at doors, Aramis had joined his companions; so that on returning home d'Artagnanfound the reunion complete. 

"Well!" cried the three Musketeers all together, on seeing d'Artagnanenter with his brow covered with perspiration and his countenance upsetwith anger. 

"Well!" cried he, throwing his sword upon the bed, "this man must be thedevil in person; he has disappeared like a phantom, like a shade, like aspecter. "

"Do you believe in apparitions?" asked Athos of Porthos. 

"I never believe in anything I have not seen, and as I never have seenapparitions, I don't believe in them. "

"The Bible, " said Aramis, "make our belief in them a law; the ghost ofSamuel appeared to Saul, and it is an article of faith that I should bevery sorry to see any doubt thrown upon, Porthos. "

"At all events, man or devil, body or shadow, illusion or reality, thisman is born for my damnation; for his flight has caused us to miss aglorious affair, gentlemen--an affair by which there were a hundredpistoles, and perhaps more, to be gained. "

"How is that?" cried Porthos and Aramis in a breath. 

As to Athos, faithful to his system of reticence, he contented himselfwith interrogating d'Artagnan by a look. 

"Planchet, " said d'Artagnan to his domestic, who just then insinuatedhis head through the half-open door in order to catch some fragments ofthe conversation, "go down to my landlord, Monsieur Bonacieux, and askhim to send me half a dozen bottles of Beaugency wine; I prefer that. "

"Ah, ah! You have credit with your landlord, then?" asked Porthos. 

"Yes, " replied d'Artagnan, "from this very day; and mind, if the wine isbad, we will send him to find better. "

"We must use, and not abuse, " said Aramis, sententiously. 

"I always said that d'Artagnan had the longest head of the four, " saidAthos, who, having uttered his opinion, to which d'Artagnan replied witha bow, immediately resumed his accustomed silence. 

"But come, what is this about?" asked Porthos. 

"Yes, " said Aramis, "impart it to us, my dear friend, unless the honorof any lady be hazarded by this confidence; in that case you would dobetter to keep it to yourself. "

"Be satisfied, " replied d'Artagnan; "the honor of no one will have causeto complain of what I have to tell. "

He then related to his friends, word for word, all that had passedbetween him and his host, and how the man who had abducted the wife ofhis worthy landlord was the same with whom he had had the difference atthe hostelry of the Jolly Miller. 

"Your affair is not bad, " said Athos, after having tasted like aconnoisseur and indicated by a nod of his head that he thought the winegood; "and one may draw fifty or sixty pistoles from this good man. Thenthere only remains to ascertain whether these fifty or sixty pistolesare worth the risk of four heads. "

"But observe, " cried d'Artagnan, "that there is a woman in the affair--awoman carried off, a woman who is doubtless threatened, torturedperhaps, and all because she is faithful to her mistress. "

"Beware, d'Artagnan, beware, " said Aramis. "You grow a little too warm, in my opinion, about the fate of Madame Bonacieux. Woman was created forour destruction, and it is from her we inherit all our miseries. "

At this speech of Aramis, the brow of Athos became clouded and he bithis lips. 

"It is not Madame Bonacieux about whom I am anxious, " cried d'Artagnan, "but the queen, whom the king abandons, whom the cardinal persecutes, and who sees the heads of all her friends fall, one after the other. "

"Why does she love what we hate most in the world, the Spaniards and theEnglish?"

"Spain is her country, " replied d'Artagnan; "and it is very natural thatshe should love the Spanish, who are the children of the same soil asherself. As to the second reproach, I have heard it said that she doesnot love the English, but an Englishman. "

"Well, and by my faith, " said Athos, "it must be acknowledged that thisEnglishman is worthy of being loved. I never saw a man with a nobler airthan his. "

"Without reckoning that he dresses as nobody else can, " said Porthos. "Iwas at the Louvre on the day when he scattered his pearls; and, PARDIEU, I picked up two that I sold for ten pistoles each. Do you know him, Aramis?"

"As well as you do, gentlemen; for I was among those who seized him inthe garden at Amiens, into which Monsieur Putange, the queen's equerry, introduced me. I was at school at the time, and the adventure appearedto me to be cruel for the king. "

"Which would not prevent me, " said d'Artagnan, "if I knew where the Dukeof Buckingham was, from taking him by the hand and conducting him to thequeen, were it only to enrage the cardinal, and if we could find meansto play him a sharp turn, I vow that I would voluntarily risk my head indoing it. "

"And did the mercer*, " rejoined Athos, "tell you, d'Artagnan, that thequeen thought that Buckingham had been brought over by a forged letter?"

*Haberdasher

"She is afraid so. "

"Wait a minute, then, " said Aramis. 

"What for?" demanded Porthos. 

"Go on, while I endeavor to recall circumstances. "

"And now I am convinced, " said d'Artagnan, "that this abduction of thequeen's woman is connected with the events of which we are speaking, andperhaps with the presence of Buckingham in Paris. "

"The Gascon is full of ideas, " said Porthos, with admiration. 

"I like to hear him talk, " said Athos; "his dialect amuses me. "

"Gentlemen, " cried Aramis, "listen to this. "

"Listen to Aramis, " said his three friends. 

"Yesterday I was at the house of a doctor of theology, whom I sometimesconsult about my studies. "

Athos smiled. 

"He resides in a quiet quarter, " continued Aramis; "his tastes and hisprofession require it. Now, at the moment when I left his house--"

Here Aramis paused. 

"Well, " cried his auditors; "at the moment you left his house?"

Aramis appeared to make a strong inward effort, like a man who, in thefull relation of a falsehood, finds himself stopped by some unforeseenobstacle; but the eyes of his three companions were fixed upon him, their ears were wide open, and there were no means of retreat. 

"This doctor has a niece, " continued Aramis. 

"Ah, he has a niece!" interrupted Porthos. 

"A very respectable lady, " said Aramis. 

The three friends burst into laughter. 

"Ah, if you laugh, if you doubt me, " replied Aramis, "you shall knownothing. "

"We believe like Mohammedans, and are as mute as tombstones, " saidAthos. 

"I will continue, then, " resumed Aramis. "This niece comes sometimes tosee her uncle; and by chance was there yesterday at the same time that Iwas, and it was my duty to offer to conduct her to her carriage. "

"Ah! She has a carriage, then, this niece of the doctor?" interruptedPorthos, one of whose faults was a great looseness of tongue. "A niceacquaintance, my friend!"

"Porthos, " replied Aramis, "I have had the occasion to observe to youmore than once that you are very indiscreet; and that is injurious toyou among the women. "

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, " cried d'Artagnan, who began to get a glimpse ofthe result of the adventure, "the thing is serious. Let us try not tojest, if we can. Go on Aramis, go on. "

"All at once, a tall, dark gentleman--just like yours, d'Artagnan. "

"The same, perhaps, " said he. 

"Possibly, " continued Aramis, "came toward me, accompanied by five orsix men who followed about ten paces behind him; and in the politesttone, 'Monsieur Duke, ' said he to me, 'and you madame, ' continued he, addressing the lady on my arm--"

"The doctor's niece?"

"Hold your tongue, Porthos, " said Athos; "you are insupportable. "

"'--will you enter this carriage, and that without offering the leastresistance, without making the least noise?'"

"He took you for Buckingham!" cried d'Artagnan. 

"I believe so, " replied Aramis. 

"But the lady?" asked Porthos. 

"He took her for the queen!" said d'Artagnan. 

"Just so, " replied Aramis. 

"The Gascon is the devil!" cried Athos; "nothing escapes him. "

"The fact is, " said Porthos, "Aramis is of the same height, andsomething of the shape of the duke; but it nevertheless appears to methat the dress of a Musketeer--"

"I wore an enormous cloak, " said Aramis. 

"In the month of July? The devil!" said Porthos. "Is the doctor afraidthat you may be recognized?"

"I can comprehend that the spy may have been deceived by the person; butthe face--"

"I had a large hat, " said Aramis. 

"Oh, good lord, " cried Porthos, "what precautions for the study oftheology!"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, "do not let us lose our time injesting. Let us separate, and let us seek the mercer's wife--that is thekey of the intrigue. "

"A woman of such inferior condition! Can you believe so?" said Porthos, protruding his lips with contempt. 

"She is goddaughter to Laporte, the confidential valet of the queen. Have I not told you so, gentlemen? Besides, it has perhaps been herMajesty's calculation to seek on this occasion for support solowly. High heads expose themselves from afar, and the cardinal islongsighted. "

"Well, " said Porthos, "in the first place make a bargain with themercer, and a good bargain. "

"That's useless, " said d'Artagnan; "for I believe if he does not pay us, we shall be well enough paid by another party. "

At this moment a sudden noise of footsteps was heard upon the stairs;the door was thrown violently open, and the unfortunate mercer rushedinto the chamber in which the council was held. 

"Save me, gentlemen, for the love of heaven, save me!" cried he. "Thereare four men come to arrest me. Save me! Save me!"

Porthos and Aramis arose. 

"A moment, " cried d'Artagnan, making them a sign to replace in thescabbard their half-drawn swords. "It is not courage that is needed; itis prudence. "

"And yet, " cried Porthos, "we will not leave--"

"You will leave d'Artagnan to act as he thinks proper, " said Athos. "Hehas, I repeat, the longest head of the four, and for my part I declarethat I will obey him. Do as you think best, d'Artagnan. "

At this moment the four Guards appeared at the door of the antechamber, but seeing four Musketeers standing, and their swords by their sides, they hesitated about going farther. 

"Come in, gentlemen, come in, " called d'Artagnan; "you are here in myapartment, and we are all faithful servants of the king and cardinal. "

"Then, gentlemen, you will not oppose our executing the orders we havereceived?" asked one who appeared to be the leader of the party. 

"On the contrary, gentlemen, we would assist you if it were necessary. "

"What does he say?" grumbled Porthos. 

"You are a simpleton, " said Athos. "Silence!"

"But you promised me--" whispered the poor mercer. 

"We can only save you by being free ourselves, " replied d'Artagnan, ina rapid, low tone; "and if we appear inclined to defend you, they willarrest us with you. "

"It seems, nevertheless--"

"Come, gentlemen, come!" said d'Artagnan, aloud; "I have no motive fordefending Monsieur. I saw him today for the first time, and he can tellyou on what occasion; he came to demand the rent of my lodging. Is thatnot true, Monsieur Bonacieux? Answer!"

"That is the very truth, " cried the mercer; "but Monsieur does not tellyou--"

"Silence, with respect to me, silence, with respect to my friends;silence about the queen, above all, or you will ruin everybody withoutsaving yourself! Come, come, gentlemen, remove the fellow. " Andd'Artagnan pushed the half-stupefied mercer among the Guards, saying tohim, "You are a shabby old fellow, my dear. You come to demand money ofme--of a Musketeer! To prison with him! Gentlemen, once more, take himto prison, and keep him under key as long as possible; that will give metime to pay him. "

The officers were full of thanks, and took away their prey. As they weregoing down d'Artagnan laid his hand on the shoulder of their leader. 

"May I not drink to your health, and you to mine?" said d'Artagnan, filling two glasses with the Beaugency wine which he had obtained fromthe liberality of M. Bonacieux. 

"That will do me great honor, " said the leader of the posse, "and Iaccept thankfully. "

"Then to yours, monsieur--what is your name?"

"Boisrenard. "

"Monsieur Boisrenard. "

"To yours, my gentlemen! What is your name, in your turn, if youplease?"

"d'Artagnan. "

"To yours, monsieur. "

"And above all others, " cried d'Artagnan, as if carried away by hisenthusiasm, "to that of the king and the cardinal. "

The leader of the posse would perhaps have doubted the sincerity ofd'Artagnan if the wine had been bad; but the wine was good, and he wasconvinced. 

"What diabolical villainy you have performed here, " said Porthos, whenthe officer had rejoined his companions and the four friends foundthemselves alone. "Shame, shame, for four Musketeers to allow anunfortunate fellow who cried for help to be arrested in their midst! Anda gentleman to hobnob with a bailiff!"

"Porthos, " said Aramis, "Athos has already told you that you are asimpleton, and I am quite of his opinion. D'Artagnan, you are a greatman; and when you occupy Monsieur de Treville's place, I will come andask your influence to secure me an abbey. "

"Well, I am in a maze, " said Porthos; "do YOU approve of what d'Artagnanhas done?"

"PARBLEU! Indeed I do, " said Athos; "I not only approve of what he hasdone, but I congratulate him upon it. "

"And now, gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, without stopping to explain hisconduct to Porthos, "All for one, one for all--that is our motto, is itnot?"

"And yet--" said Porthos. 

"Hold out your hand and swear!" cried Athos and Aramis at once. 

Overcome by example, grumbling to himself, nevertheless, Porthosstretched out his hand, and the four friends repeated with one voice theformula dictated by d'Artagnan:

"All for one, one for all. "

"That's well! Now let us everyone retire to his own home, " saidd'Artagnan, as if he had done nothing but command all his life; "andattention! For from this moment we are at feud with the cardinal. "

10 A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

The invention of the mousetrap does not date from our days; as soonas societies, in forming, had invented any kind of police, that policeinvented mousetraps. 

As perhaps our readers are not familiar with the slang of the Rue deJerusalem, and as it is fifteen years since we applied this word forthe first time to this thing, allow us to explain to them what is amousetrap. 

When in a house, of whatever kind it may be, an individual suspected ofany crime is arrested, the arrest is held secret. Four or five men areplaced in ambuscade in the first room. The door is opened to all whoknock. It is closed after them, and they are arrested; so that atthe end of two or three days they have in their power almost all theHABITUES of the establishment. And that is a mousetrap. 

The apartment of M. Bonacieux, then, became a mousetrap; and whoeverappeared there was taken and interrogated by the cardinal's people. Itmust be observed that as a separate passage led to the first floor, inwhich d'Artagnan lodged, those who called on him were exempted from thisdetention. 

Besides, nobody came thither but the three Musketeers; they had all beenengaged in earnest search and inquiries, but had discovered nothing. Athos had even gone so far as to question M. De Treville--a thing which, considering the habitual reticence of the worthy Musketeer, had verymuch astonished his captain. But M. De Treville knew nothing, exceptthat the last time he had seen the cardinal, the king, and the queen, the cardinal looked very thoughtful, the king uneasy, and the rednessof the queen's eyes donated that she had been sleepless or tearful. Butthis last circumstance was not striking, as the queen since her marriagehad slept badly and wept much. 

M. De Treville requested Athos, whatever might happen, to be observantof his duty to the king, but particularly to the queen, begging him toconvey his desires to his comrades. 

As to d'Artagnan, he did not budge from his apartment. He converted hischamber into an observatory. From his windows he saw all the visitorswho were caught. Then, having removed a plank from his floor, andnothing remaining but a simple ceiling between him and the room beneath, in which the interrogatories were made, he heard all that passed betweenthe inquisitors and the accused. 

The interrogatories, preceded by a minute search operated upon thepersons arrested, were almost always framed thus: "Has Madame Bonacieuxsent anything to you for her husband, or any other person? Has MonsieurBonacieux sent anything to you for his wife, or for any other person?Has either of them confided anything to you by word of mouth?"

"If they knew anything, they would not question people in this manner, "said d'Artagnan to himself. "Now, what is it they want to know? Why, they want to know if the Duke of Buckingham is in Paris, and if he hashad, or is likely to have, an interview with the queen. "

D'Artagnan held onto this idea, which, from what he had heard, was notwanting in probability. 

In the meantime, the mousetrap continued in operation, and likewised'Artagnan's vigilance. 

On the evening of the day after the arrest of poor Bonacieux, as Athoshad just left d'Artagnan to report at M. De Treville's, as nine o'clockhad just struck, and as Planchet, who had not yet made the bed, wasbeginning his task, a knocking was heard at the street door. The doorwas instantly opened and shut; someone was taken in the mousetrap. 

D'Artagnan flew to his hole, laid himself down on the floor at fulllength, and listened. 

Cries were soon heard, and then moans, which someone appeared to beendeavoring to stifle. There were no questions. 

"The devil!" said d'Artagnan to himself. "It seems like a woman! Theysearch her; she resists; they use force--the scoundrels!"

In spite of his prudence, d'Artagnan restrained himself with greatdifficulty from taking a part in the scene that was going on below. 

"But I tell you that I am the mistress of the house, gentlemen! I tellyou I am Madame Bonacieux; I tell you I belong to the queen!" cried theunfortunate woman. 

"Madame Bonacieux!" murmured d'Artagnan. "Can I be so lucky as to findwhat everybody is seeking for?"

The voice became more and more indistinct; a tumultuous movement shookthe partition. The victim resisted as much as a woman could resist fourmen. 

"Pardon, gentlemen--par--" murmured the voice, which could now only beheard in inarticulate sounds. 

"They are binding her; they are going to drag her away, " criedd'Artagnan to himself, springing up from the floor. "My sword! Good, itis by my side! Planchet!"

"Monsieur. "

"Run and seek Athos, Porthos and Aramis. One of the three will certainlybe at home, perhaps all three. Tell them to take arms, to come here, andto run! Ah, I remember, Athos is at Monsieur de Treville's. "

"But where are you going, monsieur, where are you going?"

"I am going down by the window, in order to be there the sooner, " criedd'Artagnan. "You put back the boards, sweep the floor, go out at thedoor, and run as I told you. "

"Oh, monsieur! Monsieur! You will kill yourself, " cried Planchet. 

"Hold your tongue, stupid fellow, " said d'Artagnan; and laying hold ofthe casement, he let himself gently down from the first story, whichfortunately was not very elevated, without doing himself the slightestinjury. 

He then went straight to the door and knocked, murmuring, "I will gomyself and be caught in the mousetrap, but woe be to the cats that shallpounce upon such a mouse!"

The knocker had scarcely sounded under the hand of the young manbefore the tumult ceased, steps approached, the door was opened, andd'Artagnan, sword in hand, rushed into the rooms of M. Bonacieux, thedoor of which doubtless acted upon by a spring, closed after him. 

Then those who dwelt in Bonacieux's unfortunate house, together withthe nearest neighbors, heard loud cries, stamping of feet, clashing ofswords, and breaking of furniture. A moment after, those who, surprisedby this tumult, had gone to their windows to learn the cause of it, sawthe door open, and four men, clothed in black, not COME out of it, butFLY, like so many frightened crows, leaving on the ground and on thecorners of the furniture, feathers from their wings; that is to say, patches of their clothes and fragments of their cloaks. 

D'Artagnan was conqueror--without much effort, it must be confessed, for only one of the officers was armed, and even he defended himself forform's sake. It is true that the three others had endeavored to knockthe young man down with chairs, stools, and crockery; but two orthree scratches made by the Gascon's blade terrified them. Ten minutessufficed for their defeat, and d'Artagnan remained master of the fieldof battle. 

The neighbors who had opened their windows, with the coolness peculiarto the inhabitants of Paris in these times of perpetual riots anddisturbances, closed them again as soon as they saw the four men inblack flee--their instinct telling them that for the time all was over. Besides, it began to grow late, and then, as today, people went to bedearly in the quarter of the Luxembourg. 

On being left alone with Mme. Bonacieux, d'Artagnan turned toward her;the poor woman reclined where she had been left, half-fainting upon anarmchair. D'Artagnan examined her with a rapid glance. 

She was a charming woman of twenty-five or twenty-six years, with darkhair, blue eyes, and a nose slightly turned up, admirable teeth, and acomplexion marbled with rose and opal. There, however, ended the signswhich might have confounded her with a lady of rank. The hands werewhite, but without delicacy; the feet did not bespeak the woman ofquality. Happily, d'Artagnan was not yet acquainted with such niceties. 

While d'Artagnan was examining Mme. Bonacieux, and was, as we have said, close to her, he saw on the ground a fine cambric handkerchief, whichhe picked up, as was his habit, and at the corner of which he recognizedthe same cipher he had seen on the handkerchief which had nearly causedhim and Aramis to cut each other's throat. 

From that time, d'Artagnan had been cautious with respect tohandkerchiefs with arms on them, and he therefore placed in the pocketof Mme. Bonacieux the one he had just picked up. 

At that moment Mme. Bonacieux recovered her senses. She opened her eyes, looked around her with terror, saw that the apartment was empty and thatshe was alone with her liberator. She extended her hands to him with asmile. Mme. Bonacieux had the sweetest smile in the world. 

"Ah, monsieur!" said she, "you have saved me; permit me to thank you. "

"Madame, " said d'Artagnan, "I have only done what every gentleman wouldhave done in my place; you owe me no thanks. "

"Oh, yes, monsieur, oh, yes; and I hope to prove to you that you havenot served an ingrate. But what could these men, whom I at first tookfor robbers, want with me, and why is Monsieur Bonacieux not here?"

"Madame, those men were more dangerous than any robbers could havebeen, for they are the agents of the cardinal; and as to your husband, Monsieur Bonacieux, he is not here because he was yesterday eveningconducted to the Bastille. "

"My husband in the Bastille!" cried Mme. Bonacieux. "Oh, my God! Whathas he done? Poor dear man, he is innocence itself!"

And something like a faint smile lighted the still-terrified features ofthe young woman. 

"What has he done, madame?" said d'Artagnan. "I believe that his onlycrime is to have at the same time the good fortune and the misfortune tobe your husband. "

"But, monsieur, you know then--"

"I know that you have been abducted, madame. "

"And by whom? Do you know him? Oh, if you know him, tell me!"

"By a man of from forty to forty-five years, with black hair, a darkcomplexion, and a scar on his left temple. "

"That is he, that is he; but his name?"

"Ah, his name? I do not know that. "

"And did my husband know I had been carried off?"

"He was informed of it by a letter, written to him by the abductorhimself. "

"And does he suspect, " said Mme. Bonacieux, with some embarrassment, "the cause of this event?"

"He attributed it, I believe, to a political cause. "

"I doubted from the first; and now I think entirely as he does. Then mydear Monsieur Bonacieux has not suspected me a single instant?"

"So far from it, madame, he was too proud of your prudence, and aboveall, of your love. "

A second smile, almost imperceptible, stole over the rosy lips of thepretty young woman. 

"But, " continued d'Artagnan, "how did you escape?"

"I took advantage of a moment when they left me alone; and as I hadknown since morning the reason of my abduction, with the help of thesheets I let myself down from the window. Then, as I believed my husbandwould be at home, I hastened hither. "

"To place yourself under his protection?"

"Oh, no, poor dear man! I knew very well that he was incapable ofdefending me; but as he could serve us in other ways, I wished to informhim. "

"Of what?"

"Oh, that is not my secret; I must not, therefore, tell you. "

"Besides, " said d'Artagnan, "pardon me, madame, if, guardsman as I am, I remind you of prudence--besides, I believe we are not here in a veryproper place for imparting confidences. The men I have put to flightwill return reinforced; if they find us here, we are lost. I have sentfor three of my friends, but who knows whether they were at home?"

"Yes, yes! You are right, " cried the affrighted Mme. Bonacieux; "let usfly! Let us save ourselves. "

At these words she passed her arm under that of d'Artagnan, and urgedhim forward eagerly. 

"But whither shall we fly--whither escape?"

"Let us first withdraw from this house; afterward we shall see. "

The young woman and the young man, without taking the trouble to shutthe door after them, descended the Rue des Fossoyeurs rapidly, turnedinto the Rue des Fosses-Monsieur-le-Prince, and did not stop till theycame to the Place St. Sulpice. 

"And now what are we to do, and where do you wish me to conduct you?"asked d'Artagnan. 

"I am at quite a loss how to answer you, I admit, " said Mme. Bonacieux. "My intention was to inform Monsieur Laporte, through my husband, inorder that Monsieur Laporte might tell us precisely what had taken placeat the Louvre in the last three days, and whether there is any danger inpresenting myself there. "

"But I, " said d'Artagnan, "can go and inform Monsieur Laporte. "

"No doubt you could, only there is one misfortune, and that is thatMonsieur Bonacieux is known at the Louvre, and would be allowed to pass;whereas you are not known there, and the gate would be closed againstyou. "

"Ah, bah!" said d'Artagnan; "you have at some wicket of the Louvre aCONCIERGE who is devoted to you, and who, thanks to a password, would--"

Mme. Bonacieux looked earnestly at the young man. 

"And if I give you this password, " said she, "would you forget it assoon as you used it?"

"By my honor, by the faith of a gentleman!" said d'Artagnan, with anaccent so truthful that no one could mistake it. 

"Then I believe you. You appear to be a brave young man; besides, yourfortune may perhaps be the result of your devotedness. "

"I will do, without a promise and voluntarily, all that I can do toserve the king and be agreeable to the queen. Dispose of me, then, as afriend. "

"But I--where shall I go meanwhile?"

"Is there nobody from whose house Monsieur Laporte can come and fetchyou?"

"No, I can trust nobody. "

"Stop, " said d'Artagnan; "we are near Athos's door. Yes, here it is. "

"Who is this Athos?"

"One of my friends. "

"But if he should be at home and see me?"

"He is not at home, and I will carry away the key, after having placedyou in his apartment. "

"But if he should return?"

"Oh, he won't return; and if he should, he will be told that I havebrought a woman with me, and that woman is in his apartment. "

"But that will compromise me sadly, you know. "

"Of what consequence? Nobody knows you. Besides, we are in a situationto overlook ceremony. "

"Come, then, let us go to your friend's house. Where does he live?"

"Rue Ferou, two steps from here. "

"Let us go!"

Both resumed their way. As d'Artagnan had foreseen, Athos was notwithin. He took the key, which was customarily given him as one of thefamily, ascended the stairs, and introduced Mme. Bonacieux into thelittle apartment of which we have given a description. 

"You are at home, " said he. "Remain here, fasten the door inside, andopen it to nobody unless you hear three taps like this;" and he tappedthrice--two taps close together and pretty hard, the other after aninterval, and lighter. 

"That is well, " said Mme. Bonacieux. "Now, in my turn, let me give youmy instructions. "

"I am all attention. "

"Present yourself at the wicket of the Louvre, on the side of the Rue del'Echelle, and ask for Germain. "

"Well, and then?"

"He will ask you what you want, and you will answer by these two words, 'Tours' and 'Bruxelles. ' He will at once put himself at your orders. "

"And what shall I command him?"

"To go and fetch Monsieur Laporte, the queen's VALET DE CHAMBRE. "

"And when he shall have informed him, and Monsieur Laporte is come?"

"You will send him to me. "

"That is well; but where and how shall I see you again?"

"Do you wish to see me again?"

"Certainly. "

"Well, let that care be mine, and be at ease. "

"I depend upon your word. "

"You may. "

D'Artagnan bowed to Mme. Bonacieux, darting at her the most lovingglance that he could possibly concentrate upon her charming littleperson; and while he descended the stairs, he heard the door closed anddouble-locked. In two bounds he was at the Louvre; as he enteredthe wicket of L'Echelle, ten o'clock struck. All the events we havedescribed had taken place within a half hour. 

Everything fell out as Mme. Bonacieux prophesied. On hearing thepassword, Germain bowed. In a few minutes, Laporte was at the lodge;in two words d'Artagnan informed him where Mme. Bonacieux was. Laporteassured himself, by having it twice repeated, of the accurate address, and set off at a run. Hardly, however, had he taken ten steps before hereturned. 

"Young man, " said he to d'Artagnan, "a suggestion. "

"What?"

"You may get into trouble by what has taken place. "

"You believe so?"

"Yes. Have you any friend whose clock is too slow?"

"Well?"

"Go and call upon him, in order that he may give evidence of your havingbeen with him at half past nine. In a court of justice that is called analibi. "

D'Artagnan found his advice prudent. He took to his heels, and was soonat M. De Treville's; but instead of going into the saloon with the restof the crowd, he asked to be introduced to M. De Treville's office. Asd'Artagnan so constantly frequented the hotel, no difficulty was made incomplying with his request, and a servant went to inform M. De Trevillethat his young compatriot, having something important to communicate, solicited a private audience. Five minutes after, M. De Treville wasasking d'Artagnan what he could do to serve him, and what caused hisvisit at so late an hour. 

"Pardon me, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan, who had profited by the momenthe had been left alone to put back M. De Treville's clock three-quartersof an hour, "but I thought, as it was yet only twenty-five minutes pastnine, it was not too late to wait upon you. "

"Twenty-five minutes past nine!" cried M. De Treville, looking at theclock; "why, that's impossible!"

"Look, rather, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan, "the clock shows it. "

"That's true, " said M. De Treville; "I believed it later. But what can Ido for you?"

Then d'Artagnan told M. De Treville a long history about the queen. Heexpressed to him the fears he entertained with respect to her Majesty;he related to him what he had heard of the projects of the cardinal withregard to Buckingham, and all with a tranquillity and candor of which M. De Treville was the more the dupe, from having himself, as we have said, observed something fresh between the cardinal, the king, and the queen. 

As ten o'clock was striking, d'Artagnan left M. De Treville, who thankedhim for his information, recommended him to have the service of the kingand queen always at heart, and returned to the saloon; but at the footof the stairs, d'Artagnan remembered he had forgotten his cane. Heconsequently sprang up again, re-entered the office, with a turn of hisfinger set the clock right again, that it might not be perceived thenext day that it had been put wrong, and certain from that time thathe had a witness to prove his alibi, he ran downstairs and soon foundhimself in the street. 

11 IN WHICH THE PLOT THICKENS

His visit to M. De Treville being paid, the pensive d'Artagnan took thelongest way homeward. 

On what was d'Artagnan thinking, that he strayed thus from his path, gazing at the stars of heaven, and sometimes sighing, sometimes smiling?

He was thinking of Mme. Bonacieux. For an apprentice Musketeer the youngwoman was almost an ideal of love. Pretty, mysterious, initiated inalmost all the secrets of the court, which reflected such a charminggravity over her pleasing features, it might be surmised that she wasnot wholly unmoved; and this is an irresistible charm to novices inlove. Moreover, d'Artagnan had delivered her from the hands of thedemons who wished to search and ill treat her; and this importantservice had established between them one of those sentiments ofgratitude which so easily assume a more tender character. 

D'Artagnan already fancied himself, so rapid is the flight of our dreamsupon the wings of imagination, accosted by a messenger from the youngwoman, who brought him some billet appointing a meeting, a gold chain, or a diamond. We have observed that young cavaliers received presentsfrom their king without shame. Let us add that in these times of laxmorality they had no more delicacy with respect to the mistresses;and that the latter almost always left them valuable and durableremembrances, as if they essayed to conquer the fragility of theirsentiments by the solidity of their gifts. 

Without a blush, men made their way in the world by the means of womenblushing. Such as were only beautiful gave their beauty, whence, withoutdoubt, comes the proverb, "The most beautiful girl in the world can onlygive what she has. " Such as were rich gave in addition a part of theirmoney; and a vast number of heroes of that gallant period may be citedwho would neither have won their spurs in the first place, nor theirbattles afterward, without the purse, more or less furnished, whichtheir mistress fastened to the saddle bow. 

D'Artagnan owned nothing. Provincial diffidence, that slight varnish, the ephemeral flower, that down of the peach, had evaporated to thewinds through the little orthodox counsels which the three Musketeersgave their friend. D'Artagnan, following the strange custom of thetimes, considered himself at Paris as on a campaign, neither more norless than if he had been in Flanders--Spain yonder, woman here. In eachthere was an enemy to contend with, and contributions to be levied. 

But, we must say, at the present moment d'Artagnan was ruled by afeeling much more noble and disinterested. The mercer had said that hewas rich; the young man might easily guess that with so weak a man as M. Bonacieux; and interest was almost foreign to this commencement of love, which had been the consequence of it. We say ALMOST, for the idea thata young, handsome, kind, and witty woman is at the same time rich takesnothing from the beginning of love, but on the contrary strengthens it. 

There are in affluence a crowd of aristocratic cares and caprices whichare highly becoming to beauty. A fine and white stocking, a silken robe, a lace kerchief, a pretty slipper on the foot, a tasty ribbon on thehead do not make an ugly woman pretty, but they make a pretty womanbeautiful, without reckoning the hands, which gain by all this; thehands, among women particularly, to be beautiful must be idle. 

Then d'Artagnan, as the reader, from whom we have not concealed thestate of his fortune, very well knows--d'Artagnan was not a millionaire;he hoped to become one someday, but the time which in his own mindhe fixed upon for this happy change was still far distant. In themeanwhile, how disheartening to see the woman one loves long for thosethousands of nothings which constitute a woman's happiness, and beunable to give her those thousands of nothings. At least, when the womanis rich and the lover is not, that which he cannot offer she offers toherself; and although it is generally with her husband's money that sheprocures herself this indulgence, the gratitude for it seldom reverts tohim. 

Then d'Artagnan, disposed to become the most tender of lovers, wasat the same time a very devoted friend, In the midst of his amorousprojects for the mercer's wife, he did not forget his friends. Thepretty Mme. Bonacieux was just the woman to walk with in the Plain St. Denis or in the fair of St. Germain, in company with Athos, Porthos, andAramis, to whom d'Artagnan had often remarked this. Then one could enjoycharming little dinners, where one touches on one side the hand of afriend, and on the other the foot of a mistress. Besides, on pressingoccasions, in extreme difficulties, d'Artagnan would become thepreserver of his friends. 

And M. Bonacieux? whom d'Artagnan had pushed into the hands of theofficers, denying him aloud although he had promised in a whisper tosave him. We are compelled to admit to our readers that d'Artagnanthought nothing about him in any way; or that if he did think of him, itwas only to say to himself that he was very well where he was, whereverit might be. Love is the most selfish of all the passions. 

Let our readers reassure themselves. IF d'Artagnan forgets his host, orappears to forget him, under the pretense of not knowing where he hasbeen carried, we will not forget him, and we know where he is. But forthe moment, let us do as did the amorous Gascon; we will see after theworthy mercer later. 

D'Artagnan, reflecting on his future amours, addressing himself tothe beautiful night, and smiling at the stars, ascended the RueCherish-Midi, or Chase-Midi, as it was then called. As he found himselfin the quarter in which Aramis lived, he took it into his head to payhis friend a visit in order to explain the motives which had led himto send Planchet with a request that he would come instantly to themousetrap. Now, if Aramis had been at home when Planchet came to hisabode, he had doubtless hastened to the Rue des Fossoyeurs, and findingnobody there but his other two companions perhaps, they would notbe able to conceive what all this meant. This mystery required anexplanation; at least, so d'Artagnan declared to himself. 

He likewise thought this was an opportunity for talking about prettylittle Mme. Bonacieux, of whom his head, if not his heart, was alreadyfull. We must never look for discretion in first love. First love isaccompanied by such excessive joy that unless the joy be allowed tooverflow, it will stifle you. 

Paris for two hours past had been dark, and seemed a desert. Eleveno'clock sounded from all the clocks of the Faubourg St. Germain. Itwas delightful weather. D'Artagnan was passing along a lane on the spotwhere the Rue d'Assas is now situated, breathing the balmy emanationswhich were borne upon the wind from the Rue de Vaugirard, and whicharose from the gardens refreshed by the dews of evening and thebreeze of night. From a distance resounded, deadened, however, by goodshutters, the songs of the tipplers, enjoying themselves in the cabaretsscattered along the plain. Arrived at the end of the lane, d'Artagnanturned to the left. The house in which Aramis dwelt was situated betweenthe Rue Cassette and the Rue Servandoni. 

D'Artagnan had just passed the Rue Cassette, and already perceived thedoor of his friend's house, shaded by a mass of sycamores and clematiswhich formed a vast arch opposite the front of it, when he perceivedsomething like a shadow issuing from the Rue Servandoni. This somethingwas enveloped in a cloak, and d'Artagnan at first believed it was a man;but by the smallness of the form, the hesitation of the walk, and theindecision of the step, he soon discovered that it was a woman. Further, this woman, as if not certain of the house she was seeking, lifted upher eyes to look around her, stopped, went backward, and then returnedagain. D'Artagnan was perplexed. 

"Shall I go and offer her my services?" thought he. "By her step shemust be young; perhaps she is pretty. Oh, yes! But a woman who wandersin the streets at this hour only ventures out to meet her lover. IfI should disturb a rendezvous, that would not be the best means ofcommencing an acquaintance. "

Meantime the young woman continued to advance, counting the housesand windows. This was neither long nor difficult. There were but threehotels in this part of the street; and only two windows looking towardthe road, one of which was in a pavilion parallel to that which Aramisoccupied, the other belonging to Aramis himself. 

"PARIDIEU!" said d'Artagnan to himself, to whose mind the niece of thetheologian reverted, "PARDIEU, it would be droll if this belated doveshould be in search of our friend's house. But on my soul, it looks so. Ah, my dear Aramis, this time I shall find you out. " And d'Artagnan, making himself as small as he could, concealed himself in the darkestside of the street near a stone bench placed at the back of a niche. 

The young woman continued to advance; and in addition to the lightnessof her step, which had betrayed her, she emitted a little cough whichdenoted a sweet voice. D'Artagnan believed this cough to be a signal. 

Nevertheless, whether the cough had been answered by a similar signalwhich had fixed the irresolution of the nocturnal seeker, or whetherwithout this aid she saw that she had arrived at the end of her journey, she resolutely drew near to Aramis's shutter, and tapped, at three equalintervals, with her bent finger. 

"This is all very fine, dear Aramis, " murmured d'Artagnan. "Ah, MonsieurHypocrite, I understand how you study theology. "

The three blows were scarcely struck, when the inside blind was openedand a light appeared through the panes of the outside shutter. 

"Ah, ah!" said the listener, "not through doors, but through windows!Ah, this visit was expected. We shall see the windows open, and the ladyenter by escalade. Very pretty!"

But to the great astonishment of d'Artagnan, the shutter remainedclosed. Still more, the light which had shone for an instantdisappeared, and all was again in obscurity. 

D'Artagnan thought this could not last long, and continued to look withall his eyes and listen with all his ears. 

He was right; at the end of some seconds two sharp taps were heardinside. The young woman in the street replied by a single tap, and theshutter was opened a little way. 

It may be judged whether d'Artagnan looked or listened with avidity. Unfortunately the light had been removed into another chamber; but theeyes of the young man were accustomed to the night. Besides, the eyes ofthe Gascons have, as it is asserted, like those of cats, the faculty ofseeing in the dark. 

D'Artagnan then saw that the young woman took from her pocket a whiteobject, which she unfolded quickly, and which took the form of ahandkerchief. She made her interlocutor observe the corner of thisunfolded object. 

This immediately recalled to d'Artagnan's mind the handkerchief which hehad found at the feet of Mme. Bonacieux, which had reminded him of thatwhich he had dragged from under the feet of Aramis. 

"What the devil could that handkerchief signify?"

Placed where he was, d'Artagnan could not perceive the face of Aramis. We say Aramis, because the young man entertained no doubt that it washis friend who held this dialogue from the interior with the lady ofthe exterior. Curiosity prevailed over prudence; and profiting by thepreoccupation into which the sight of the handkerchief appeared to haveplunged the two personages now on the scene, he stole from his hidingplace, and quick as lightning, but stepping with utmost caution, he ranand placed himself close to the angle of the wall, from which his eyecould pierce the interior of Aramis's room. 

Upon gaining this advantage d'Artagnan was near uttering a cry ofsurprise; it was not Aramis who was conversing with the nocturnalvisitor, it was a woman! D'Artagnan, however, could only see enoughto recognize the form of her vestments, not enough to distinguish herfeatures. 

At the same instant the woman inside drew a second handkerchief from herpocket, and exchanged it for that which had just been shown to her. Thensome words were spoken by the two women. At length the shutter closed. The woman who was outside the window turned round, and passed withinfour steps of d'Artagnan, pulling down the hood of her mantle; butthe precaution was too late, d'Artagnan had already recognized Mme. Bonacieux. 

Mme. Bonacieux! The suspicion that it was she had crossed the mind ofd'Artagnan when she drew the handkerchief from her pocket; but whatprobability was there that Mme. Bonacieux, who had sent for M. Laportein order to be reconducted to the Louvre, should be running about thestreets of Paris at half past eleven at night, at the risk of beingabducted a second time?

This must be, then, an affair of importance; and what is the mostimportant affair to a woman of twenty-five! Love. 

But was it on her own account, or on account of another, that sheexposed herself to such hazards? This was a question the young manasked himself, whom the demon of jealousy already gnawed, being in heartneither more nor less than an accepted lover. 

There was a very simple means of satisfying himself whither Mme. Bonacieux was going; that was to follow her. This method was so simplethat d'Artagnan employed it quite naturally and instinctively. 

But at the sight of the young man, who detached himself from the walllike a statue walking from its niche, and at the noise of the stepswhich she heard resound behind her, Mme. Bonacieux uttered a little cryand fled. 

D'Artagnan ran after her. It was not difficult for him to overtake awoman embarrassed with her cloak. He came up with her before she hadtraversed a third of the street. The unfortunate woman was exhausted, not by fatigue, but by terror, and when d'Artagnan placed his hand uponher shoulder, she sank upon one knee, crying in a choking voice, "Killme, if you please, you shall know nothing!"

D'Artagnan raised her by passing his arm round her waist; but as hefelt by her weight she was on the point of fainting, he made haste toreassure her by protestations of devotedness. These protestations werenothing for Mme. Bonacieux, for such protestations may be made with theworst intentions in the world; but the voice was all. Mme. Bonacieuxthought she recognized the sound of that voice; she reopened her eyes, cast a quick glance upon the man who had terrified her so, and at onceperceiving it was d'Artagnan, she uttered a cry of joy, "Oh, it is you, it is you! Thank God, thank God!"

"Yes, it is I, " said d'Artagnan, "it is I, whom God has sent to watchover you. "

"Was it with that intention you followed me?" asked the young woman, with a coquettish smile, whose somewhat bantering character resumed itsinfluence, and with whom all fear had disappeared from the moment inwhich she recognized a friend in one she had taken for an enemy. 

"No, " said d'Artagnan; "no, I confess it. It was chance that threw me inyour way; I saw a woman knocking at the window of one of my friends. "

"One of your friends?" interrupted Mme. Bonacieux. 

"Without doubt; Aramis is one of my best friends. "

"Aramis! Who is he?"

"Come, come, you won't tell me you don't know Aramis?"

"This is the first time I ever heard his name pronounced. "

"It is the first time, then, that you ever went to that house?"

"Undoubtedly. "

"And you did not know that it was inhabited by a young man?"

"No. "

"By a Musketeer?"

"No, indeed!"

"It was not he, then, you came to seek?"

"Not the least in the world. Besides, you must have seen that the personto whom I spoke was a woman. "

"That is true; but this woman is a friend of Aramis--"

"I know nothing of that. "

"--since she lodges with him. "

"That does not concern me. "

"But who is she?"

"Oh, that is not my secret. "

"My dear Madame Bonacieux, you are charming; but at the same time youare one of the most mysterious women. "

"Do I lose by that?"

"No; you are, on the contrary, adorable. "

"Give me your arm, then. "

"Most willingly. And now?"

"Now escort me. "

"Where?"

"Where I am going. "

"But where are you going?"

"You will see, because you will leave me at the door. "

"Shall I wait for you?"

"That will be useless. "

"You will return alone, then?"

"Perhaps yes, perhaps no. "

"But will the person who shall accompany you afterward be a man or awoman?"

"I don't know yet. "

"But I will know it!"

"How so?"

"I will wait until you come out. "

"In that case, adieu. "

"Why so?"

"I do not want you. "

"But you have claimed--"

"The aid of a gentleman, not the watchfulness of a spy. "

"The word is rather hard. "

"How are they called who follow others in spite of them?"

"They are indiscreet. "

"The word is too mild. "

"Well, madame, I perceive I must do as you wish. "

"Why did you deprive yourself of the merit of doing so at once?"

"Is there no merit in repentance?"

"And do you really repent?"

"I know nothing about it myself. But what I know is that I promise to doall you wish if you allow me to accompany you where you are going. "

"And you will leave me then?"

"Yes. "

"Without waiting for my coming out again?"

"Yes. "

"Word of honor?"

"By the faith of a gentleman. Take my arm, and let us go. "

D'Artagnan offered his arm to Mme. Bonacieux, who willingly took it, half laughing, half trembling, and both gained the top of Rue de laHarpe. Arriving there, the young woman seemed to hesitate, as she hadbefore done in the Rue Vaugirard. She seemed, however, by certain signs, to recognize a door, and approaching that door, "And now, monsieur, "said she, "it is here I have business; a thousand thanks for yourhonorable company, which has saved me from all the dangers to which, alone I was exposed. But the moment is come to keep your word; I havereached my destination. "

"And you will have nothing to fear on your return?"

"I shall have nothing to fear but robbers. "

"And that is nothing?"

"What could they take from me? I have not a penny about me. "

"You forget that beautiful handkerchief with the coat of arms. "

"Which?"

"That which I found at your feet, and replaced in your pocket. "

"Hold your tongue, imprudent man! Do you wish to destroy me?"

"You see very plainly that there is still danger for you, since a singleword makes you tremble; and you confess that if that word were heardyou would be ruined. Come, come, madame!" cried d'Artagnan, seizing herhands, and surveying her with an ardent glance, "come, be more generous. Confide in me. Have you not read in my eyes that there is nothing butdevotion and sympathy in my heart?"

"Yes, " replied Mme. Bonacieux; "therefore, ask my own secrets, and Iwill reveal them to you; but those of others--that is quite anotherthing. "

"Very well, " said d'Artagnan, "I shall discover them; as these secretsmay have an influence over your life, these secrets must become mine. "

"Beware of what you do!" cried the young woman, in a manner so seriousas to make d'Artagnan start in spite of himself. "Oh, meddle innothing which concerns me. Do not seek to assist me in that which I amaccomplishing. This I ask of you in the name of the interest with whichI inspire you, in the name of the service you have rendered me and whichI never shall forget while I have life. Rather, place faith in what Itell you. Have no more concern about me; I exist no longer for you, anymore than if you had never seen me. "

"Must Aramis do as much as I, madame?" said d'Artagnan, deeply piqued. 

"This is the second or third time, monsieur, that you have repeated thatname, and yet I have told you that I do not know him. "

"You do not know the man at whose shutter you have just knocked? Indeed, madame, you believe me too credulous!"

"Confess that it is for the sake of making me talk that you invent thisstory and create this personage. "

"I invent nothing, madame; I create nothing. I only speak that exacttruth. "

"And you say that one of your friends lives in that house?"

"I say so, and I repeat it for the third time; that house is oneinhabited by my friend, and that friend is Aramis. "

"All this will be cleared up at a later period, " murmured the youngwoman; "no, monsieur, be silent. "

"If you could see my heart, " said d'Artagnan, "you would there read somuch curiosity that you would pity me and so much love that you wouldinstantly satisfy my curiosity. We have nothing to fear from those wholove us. "

"You speak very suddenly of love, monsieur, " said the young woman, shaking her head. 

"That is because love has come suddenly upon me, and for the first time;and because I am only twenty. "

The young woman looked at him furtively. 

"Listen; I am already upon the scent, " resumed d'Artagnan. "Aboutthree months ago I was near having a duel with Aramis concerninga handkerchief resembling the one you showed to the woman in hishouse--for a handkerchief marked in the same manner, I am sure. "

"Monsieur, " said the young woman, "you weary me very much, I assure you, with your questions. "

"But you, madame, prudent as you are, think, if you were to be arrestedwith that handkerchief, and that handkerchief were to be seized, wouldyou not be compromised?"

"In what way? The initials are only mine--C. B. , Constance Bonacieux. "

"Or Camille de Bois-Tracy. "

"Silence, monsieur! Once again, silence! Ah, since the dangers I incuron my own account cannot stop you, think of those you may yourself run!"

"Me?"

"Yes; there is peril of imprisonment, risk of life in knowing me. "

"Then I will not leave you. "

"Monsieur!" said the young woman, supplicating him and clasping herhands together, "monsieur, in the name of heaven, by the honor of asoldier, by the courtesy of a gentleman, depart! There, there midnightsounds! That is the hour when I am expected. "

"Madame, " said the young man, bowing; "I can refuse nothing asked of methus. Be content; I will depart. "

"But you will not follow me; you will not watch me?"

"I will return home instantly. "

"Ah, I was quite sure you were a good and brave young man, " said Mme. Bonacieux, holding out her hand to him, and placing the other upon theknocker of a little door almost hidden in the wall. 

D'Artagnan seized the hand held out to him, and kissed it ardently. 

"Ah! I wish I had never seen you!" cried d'Artagnan, with that ingenuousroughness which women often prefer to the affectations of politeness, because it betrays the depths of the thought and proves that feelingprevails over reason. 

"Well!" resumed Mme. Bonacieux, in a voice almost caressing, andpressing the hand of d'Artagnan, who had not relinquished hers, "well:I will not say as much as you do; what is lost for today may not be lostforever. Who knows, when I shall be at liberty, that I may not satisfyyour curiosity?"

"And will you make the same promise to my love?" cried d'Artagnan, beside himself with joy. 

"Oh, as to that, I do not engage myself. That depends upon thesentiments with which you may inspire me. "

"Then today, madame--"

"Oh, today, I am no further than gratitude. "

"Ah! You are too charming, " said d'Artagnan, sorrowfully; "and you abusemy love. "

"No, I use your generosity, that's all. But be of good cheer; withcertain people, everything comes round. "

"Oh, you render me the happiest of men! Do not forget this evening--donot forget that promise. "

"Be satisfied. In the proper time and place I will remember everything. Now then, go, go, in the name of heaven! I was expected at sharpmidnight, and I am late. "

"By five minutes. "

"Yes; but in certain circumstances five minutes are five ages. "

"When one loves. "

"Well! And who told you I had no affair with a lover?"

"It is a man, then, who expects you?" cried d'Artagnan. "A man!"

"The discussion is going to begin again!" said Mme. Bonacieux, with ahalf-smile which was not exempt from a tinge of impatience. 

"No, no; I go, I depart! I believe in you, and I would have all themerit of my devotion, even if that devotion were stupidity. Adieu, madame, adieu!"

And as if he only felt strength to detach himself by a violent effortfrom the hand he held, he sprang away, running, while Mme. Bonacieuxknocked, as at the shutter, three light and regular taps. When he hadgained the angle of the street, he turned. The door had been opened, andshut again; the mercer's pretty wife had disappeared. 

D'Artagnan pursued his way. He had given his word not to watch Mme. Bonacieux, and if his life had depended upon the spot to which she wasgoing or upon the person who should accompany her, d'Artagnan would havereturned home, since he had so promised. Five minutes later he was inthe Rue des Fossoyeurs. 

"Poor Athos!" said he; "he will never guess what all this means. He willhave fallen asleep waiting for me, or else he will have returned home, where he will have learned that a woman had been there. A woman withAthos! After all, " continued d'Artagnan, "there was certainly one withAramis. All this is very strange; and I am curious to know how it willend. "

"Badly, monsieur, badly!" replied a voice which the young man recognizedas that of Planchet; for, soliloquizing aloud, as very preoccupiedpeople do, he had entered the alley, at the end of which were the stairswhich led to his chamber. 

"How badly? What do you mean by that, you idiot?" asked d'Artagnan. "What has happened?"

"All sorts of misfortunes. "

"What?"

"In the first place, Monsieur Athos is arrested. "

"Arrested! Athos arrested! What for?"

"He was found in your lodging; they took him for you. "

"And by whom was he arrested?"

"By Guards brought by the men in black whom you put to flight. "

"Why did he not tell them his name? Why did he not tell them he knewnothing about this affair?"

"He took care not to do so, monsieur; on the contrary, he came up to meand said, 'It is your master that needs his liberty at this moment andnot I, since he knows everything and I know nothing. They will believehe is arrested, and that will give him time; in three days I will tellthem who I am, and they cannot fail to let me go. '"

"Bravo, Athos! Noble heart!" murmured d'Artagnan. "I know him wellthere! And what did the officers do?"

"Four conveyed him away, I don't know where--to the Bastille or Fortl'Eveque. Two remained with the men in black, who rummaged every placeand took all the papers. The last two mounted guard at the door duringthis examination; then, when all was over, they went away, leaving thehouse empty and exposed. "

"And Porthos and Aramis?"

"I could not find them; they did not come. "

"But they may come any moment, for you left word that I awaited them?"

"Yes, monsieur. "

"Well, don't budge, then; if they come, tell them what has happened. Letthem wait for me at the Pomme-de-Pin. Here it would be dangerous; thehouse may be watched. I will run to Monsieur de Treville to tell themall this, and will meet them there. "

"Very well, monsieur, " said Planchet. 

"But you will remain; you are not afraid?" said d'Artagnan, coming backto recommend courage to his lackey. 

"Be easy, monsieur, " said Planchet; "you do not know me yet. I am bravewhen I set about it. It is all in beginning. Besides, I am a Picard. "

"Then it is understood, " said d'Artagnan; "you would rather be killedthan desert your post?"

"Yes, monsieur; and there is nothing I would not do to prove to Monsieurthat I am attached to him. "

"Good!" said d'Artagnan to himself. "It appears that the method I haveadopted with this boy is decidedly the best. I shall use it again uponoccasion. "

And with all the swiftness of his legs, already a little fatiguedhowever, with the perambulations of the day, d'Artagnan directed hiscourse toward M. De Treville's. 

M. De Treville was not at his hotel. His company was on guard at theLouvre; he was at the Louvre with his company. 

It was necessary to reach M. De Treville; it was important that heshould be informed of what was passing. D'Artagnan resolved to tryand enter the Louvre. His costume of Guardsman in the company of M. Dessessart ought to be his passport. 

He therefore went down the Rue des Petits Augustins, and came up tothe quay, in order to take the New Bridge. He had at first an idea ofcrossing by the ferry; but on gaining the riverside, he had mechanicallyput his hand into his pocket, and perceived that he had not wherewithalto pay his passage. 

As he gained the top of the Rue Guenegaud, he saw two persons coming outof the Rue Dauphine whose appearance very much struck him. Of the twopersons who composed this group, one was a man and the other a woman. The woman had the outline of Mme. Bonacieux; the man resembled Aramis somuch as to be mistaken for him. 

Besides, the woman wore that black mantle which d'Artagnan could stillsee outlined on the shutter of the Rue de Vaugirard and on the doorof the Rue de la Harpe; still further, the man wore the uniform of aMusketeer. 

The woman's hood was pulled down, and the man held a handkerchief to hisface. Both, as this double precaution indicated, had an interest in notbeing recognized. 

They took the bridge. That was d'Artagnan's road, as he was going to theLouvre. D'Artagnan followed them. 

He had not gone twenty steps before he became convinced that the womanwas really Mme. Bonacieux and that the man was Aramis. 

He felt at that instant all the suspicions of jealousy agitating hisheart. He felt himself doubly betrayed, by his friend and by her whomhe already loved like a mistress. Mme. Bonacieux had declared to him, by all the gods, that she did not know Aramis; and a quarter of an hourafter having made this assertion, he found her hanging on the arm ofAramis. 

D'Artagnan did not reflect that he had only known the mercer's prettywife for three hours; that she owed him nothing but a little gratitudefor having delivered her from the men in black, who wished to carry heroff, and that she had promised him nothing. He considered himself anoutraged, betrayed, and ridiculed lover. Blood and anger mounted to hisface; he was resolved to unravel the mystery. 

The young man and young woman perceived they were watched, and redoubledtheir speed. D'Artagnan determined upon his course. He passed them, thenreturned so as to meet them exactly before the Samaritaine. Which wasilluminated by a lamp which threw its light over all that part of thebridge. 

D'Artagnan stopped before them, and they stopped before him. 

"What do you want, monsieur?" demanded the Musketeer, recoiling astep, and with a foreign accent, which proved to d'Artagnan that he wasdeceived in one of his conjectures. 

"It is not Aramis!" cried he. 

"No, monsieur, it is not Aramis; and by your exclamation I perceive youhave mistaken me for another, and pardon you. "

"You pardon me?" cried d'Artagnan. 

"Yes, " replied the stranger. "Allow me, then, to pass on, since it isnot with me you have anything to do. "

"You are right, monsieur, it is not with you that I have anything to do;it is with Madame. "

"With Madame! You do not know her, " replied the stranger. 

"You are deceived, monsieur; I know her very well. "

"Ah, " said Mme. Bonacieux; in a tone of reproach, "ah, monsieur, I hadyour promise as a soldier and your word as a gentleman. I hoped to beable to rely upon that. "

"And I, madame!" said d'Artagnan, embarrassed; "you promised me--"

"Take my arm, madame, " said the stranger, "and let us continue our way. "

D'Artagnan, however, stupefied, cast down, annihilated by all thathappened, stood, with crossed arms, before the Musketeer and Mme. Bonacieux. 

The Musketeer advanced two steps, and pushed d'Artagnan aside with hishand. D'Artagnan made a spring backward and drew his sword. At the sametime, and with the rapidity of lightning, the stranger drew his. 

"In the name of heaven, my Lord!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, throwing herselfbetween the combatants and seizing the swords with her hands. 

"My Lord!" cried d'Artagnan, enlightened by a sudden idea, "my Lord!Pardon me, monsieur, but you are not--"

"My Lord the Duke of Buckingham, " said Mme. Bonacieux, in an undertone;"and now you may ruin us all. "

"My Lord, Madame, I ask a hundred pardons! But I love her, my Lord, andwas jealous. You know what it is to love, my Lord. Pardon me, and thentell me how I can risk my life to serve your Grace?"

"You are a brave young man, " said Buckingham, holding out his hand tod'Artagnan, who pressed it respectfully. "You offer me your services;with the same frankness I accept them. Follow us at a distance of twentypaces, as far as the Louvre, and if anyone watches us, slay him!"

D'Artagnan placed his naked sword under his arm, allowed the duke andMme. Bonacieux to take twenty steps ahead, and then followed them, readyto execute the instructions of the noble and elegant minister of CharlesI. 

Fortunately, he had no opportunity to give the duke this proof of hisdevotion, and the young woman and the handsome Musketeer entered theLouvre by the wicket of the Echelle without any interference. 

As for d'Artagnan, he immediately repaired to the cabaret of thePomme-de-Pin, where he found Porthos and Aramis awaiting him. Withoutgiving them any explanation of the alarm and inconvenience he had causedthem, he told them that he had terminated the affair alone in which hehad for a moment believed he should need their assistance. 

Meanwhile, carried away as we are by our narrative, we must leave ourthree friends to themselves, and follow the Duke of Buckingham and hisguide through the labyrinths of the Louvre. 

12 GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

Mme. Bonacieux and the duke entered the Louvre without difficulty. Mme. Bonacieux was known to belong to the queen; the duke wore the uniformof the Musketeers of M. De Treville, who, as we have said, were thatevening on guard. Besides, Germain was in the interests of the queen;and if anything should happen, Mme. Bonacieux would be accused of havingintroduced her lover into the Louvre, that was all. She took the riskupon herself. Her reputation would be lost, it is true; but of whatvalue in the world was the reputation of the little wife of a mercer?

Once within the interior of the court, the duke and the young womanfollowed the wall for the space of about twenty-five steps. This spacepassed, Mme. Bonacieux pushed a little servants' door, open by day butgenerally closed at night. The door yielded. Both entered, and foundthemselves in darkness; but Mme. Bonacieux was acquainted with all theturnings and windings of this part of the Louvre, appropriated for thepeople of the household. She closed the door after her, took the duke bythe hand, and after a few experimental steps, grasped a balustrade, puther foot upon the bottom step, and began to ascend the staircase. Theduke counted two stories. She then turned to the right, followed thecourse of a long corridor, descended a flight, went a few steps farther, introduced a key into a lock, opened a door, and pushed the duke intoan apartment lighted only by a lamp, saying, "Remain here, my LordDuke; someone will come. " She then went out by the same door, which shelocked, so that the duke found himself literally a prisoner. 

Nevertheless, isolated as he was, we must say that the Duke ofBuckingham did not experience an instant of fear. One of the salientpoints of his character was the search for adventures and a love ofromance. Brave, rash, and enterprising, this was not the first time hehad risked his life in such attempts. He had learned that the pretendedmessage from Anne of Austria, upon the faith of which he had come toParis, was a snare; but instead of regaining England, he had, abusingthe position in which he had been placed, declared to the queen that hewould not depart without seeing her. The queen had at first positivelyrefused; but at length became afraid that the duke, if exasperated, would commit some folly. She had already decided upon seeing him andurging his immediate departure, when, on the very evening of coming tothis decision, Mme. Bonacieux, who was charged with going to fetch theduke and conducting him to the Louvre, was abducted. For two days no oneknew what had become of her, and everything remained in suspense; butonce free, and placed in communication with Laporte, matters resumedtheir course, and she accomplished the perilous enterprise which, butfor her arrest, would have been executed three days earlier. 

Buckingham, left alone, walked toward a mirror. His Musketeer's uniformbecame him marvelously. 

At thirty-five, which was then his age, he passed, with just title, for the handsomest gentleman and the most elegant cavalier of France orEngland. 

The favorite of two kings, immensely rich, all-powerful in a kingdomwhich he disordered at his fancy and calmed again at his caprice, GeorgeVilliers, Duke of Buckingham, had lived one of those fabulous existenceswhich survive, in the course of centuries, to astonish posterity. 

Sure of himself, convinced of his own power, certain that the laws whichrule other men could not reach him, he went straight to the object heaimed at, even were this object were so elevated and so dazzling that itwould have been madness for any other even to have contemplated it. Itwas thus he had succeeded in approaching several times the beautiful andproud Anne of Austria, and in making himself loved by dazzling her. 

George Villiers placed himself before the glass, as we have said, restored the undulations to his beautiful hair, which the weight of hishat had disordered, twisted his mustache, and, his heart swelling withjoy, happy and proud at being near the moment he had so long sighed for, he smiled upon himself with pride and hope. 

At this moment a door concealed in the tapestry opened, and a womanappeared. Buckingham saw this apparition in the glass; he uttered a cry. It was the queen!

Anne of Austria was then twenty-six or twenty-seven years of age; thatis to say, she was in the full splendor of her beauty. 

Her carriage was that of a queen or a goddess; her eyes, which cast thebrilliancy of emeralds, were perfectly beautiful, and yet were at thesame time full of sweetness and majesty. 

Her mouth was small and rosy; and although her underlip, like thatof all princes of the House of Austria, protruded slightly beyondthe other, it was eminently lovely in its smile, but as profoundlydisdainful in its contempt. 

Her skin was admired for its velvety softness; her hands and armswere of surpassing beauty, all the poets of the time singing them asincomparable. 

Lastly, her hair, which, from being light in her youth, had becomechestnut, and which she wore curled very plainly, and with much powder, admirably set off her face, in which the most rigid critic could onlyhave desired a little less rouge, and the most fastidious sculptor alittle more fineness in the nose. 

Buckingham remained for a moment dazzled. Never had Anne of Austriaappeared to him so beautiful, amid balls, fetes, or carousals, as sheappeared to him at this moment, dressed in a simple robe of white satin, and accompanied by Donna Estafania--the only one of her Spanish womenwho had not been driven from her by the jealousy of the king or by thepersecutions of Richelieu. 

Anne of Austria took two steps forward. Buckingham threw himself ather feet, and before the queen could prevent him, kissed the hem of herrobe. 

"Duke, you already know that it is not I who caused you to be writtento. "

"Yes, yes, madame! Yes, your Majesty!" cried the duke. "I know thatI must have been mad, senseless, to believe that snow would becomeanimated or marble warm; but what then! They who love believe easily inlove. Besides, I have lost nothing by this journey because I see you. "

"Yes, " replied Anne, "but you know why and how I see you; because, insensible to all my sufferings, you persist in remaining in a citywhere, by remaining, you run the risk of your life, and make me runthe risk of my honor. I see you to tell you that everything separatesus--the depths of the sea, the enmity of kingdoms, the sanctity of vows. It is sacrilege to struggle against so many things, my Lord. In short, Isee you to tell you that we must never see each other again. "

"Speak on, madame, speak on, Queen, " said Buckingham; "the sweetness ofyour voice covers the harshness of your words. You talk of sacrilege!Why, the sacrilege is the separation of two hearts formed by God foreach other. "

"My Lord, " cried the queen, "you forget that I have never said that Ilove you. "

"But you have never told me that you did not love me; and truly, tospeak such words to me would be, on the part of your Majesty, too greatan ingratitude. For tell me, where can you find a love like mine--alove which neither time, nor absence, nor despair can extinguish, alove which contents itself with a lost ribbon, a stray look, or a chanceword? It is now three years, madame, since I saw you for the first time, and during those three years I have loved you thus. Shall I tell youeach ornament of your toilet? Mark! I see you now. You were seatedupon cushions in the Spanish fashion; you wore a robe of green satinembroidered with gold and silver, hanging sleeves knotted upon yourbeautiful arms--those lovely arms--with large diamonds. You wore a closeruff, a small cap upon your head of the same color as your robe, and inthat cap a heron's feather. Hold! Hold! I shut my eyes, and I can seeyou as you then were; I open them again, and I see what you are now--ahundred time more beautiful!"

"What folly, " murmured Anne of Austria, who had not the courage to findfault with the duke for having so well preserved her portrait in hisheart, "what folly to feed a useless passion with such remembrances!"

"And upon what then must I live? I have nothing but memory. It is myhappiness, my treasure, my hope. Every time I see you is a fresh diamondwhich I enclose in the casket of my heart. This is the fourth which youhave let fall and I have picked up; for in three years, madame, I haveonly seen you four times--the first, which I have described to you; thesecond, at the mansion of Madame de Chevreuse; the third, in the gardensof Amiens. "

"Duke, " said the queen, blushing, "never speak of that evening. "

"Oh, let us speak of it; on the contrary, let us speak of it! That isthe most happy and brilliant evening of my life! You remember what abeautiful night it was? How soft and perfumed was the air; how lovelythe blue heavens and star-enameled sky! Ah, then, madame, I was ablefor one instant to be alone with you. Then you were about to tell meall--the isolation of your life, the griefs of your heart. You leanedupon my arm--upon this, madame! I felt, in bending my head toward you, your beautiful hair touch my cheek; and every time that it touched meI trembled from head to foot. Oh, Queen! Queen! You do not know whatfelicity from heaven, what joys from paradise, are comprised in a momentlike that. Take my wealth, my fortune, my glory, all the days I haveto live, for such an instant, for a night like that. For that night, madame, that night you loved me, I will swear it. "

"My Lord, yes; it is possible that the influence of the place, the charmof the beautiful evening, the fascination of your look--the thousandcircumstances, in short, which sometimes unite to destroy a woman--weregrouped around me on that fatal evening; but, my Lord, you saw the queencome to the aid of the woman who faltered. At the first word you daredto utter, at the first freedom to which I had to reply, I called forhelp. "

"Yes, yes, that is true. And any other love but mine would have sunkbeneath this ordeal; but my love came out from it more ardent and moreeternal. You believed that you would fly from me by returning to Paris;you believed that I would not dare to quit the treasure over which mymaster had charged me to watch. What to me were all the treasures inthe world, or all the kings of the earth! Eight days after, I was backagain, madame. That time you had nothing to say to me; I had risked mylife and favor to see you but for a second. I did not even touch yourhand, and you pardoned me on seeing me so submissive and so repentant. "

"Yes, but calumny seized upon all those follies in which I took no part, as you well know, my Lord. The king, excited by the cardinal, madea terrible clamor. Madame de Vernet was driven from me, Putange wasexiled, Madame de Chevreuse fell into disgrace, and when you wishedto come back as ambassador to France, the king himself--remember, mylord--the king himself opposed to it. "

"Yes, and France is about to pay for her king's refusal with a war. I amnot allowed to see you, madame, but you shall every day hear of me. Whatobject, think you, have this expedition to Re and this league with theProtestants of La Rochelle which I am projecting? The pleasure of seeingyou. I have no hope of penetrating, sword in hand, to Paris, I know thatwell. But this war may bring round a peace; this peace will require anegotiator; that negotiator will be me. They will not dare to refuse methen; and I will return to Paris, and will see you again, and will behappy for an instant. Thousands of men, it is true, will have to pay formy happiness with their lives; but what is that to me, provided I seeyou again! All this is perhaps folly--perhaps insanity; but tell me whatwoman has a lover more truly in love; what queen a servant more ardent?"

"My Lord, my Lord, you invoke in your defense things which accuse youmore strongly. All these proofs of love which you would give me arealmost crimes. "

"Because you do not love me, madame! If you loved me, you would view allthis otherwise. If you loved me, oh, if you loved me, that would be toogreat happiness, and I should run mad. Ah, Madame de Chevreuse was lesscruel than you. Holland loved her, and she responded to his love. "

"Madame de Chevreuse was not queen, " murmured Anne of Austria, overcome, in spite of herself, by the expression of so profound a passion. 

"You would love me, then, if you were not queen! Madame, say that youwould love me then! I can believe that it is the dignity of your rankalone which makes you cruel to me; I can believe that you had beenMadame de Chevreuse, poor Buckingham might have hoped. Thanks for thosesweet words! Oh, my beautiful sovereign, a hundred times, thanks!"

"Oh, my Lord! You have ill understood, wrongly interpreted; I did notmean to say--"

"Silence, silence!" cried the duke. "If I am happy in an error, do nothave the cruelty to lift me from it. You have told me yourself, madame, that I have been drawn into a snare; I, perhaps, may leave my lifein it--for, although it may be strange, I have for some time had apresentiment that I should shortly die. " And the duke smiled, with asmile at once sad and charming. 

"Oh, my God!" cried Anne of Austria, with an accent of terror whichproved how much greater an interest she took in the duke than sheventured to tell. 

"I do not tell you this, madame, to terrify you; no, it is evenridiculous for me to name it to you, and, believe me, I take no heedof such dreams. But the words you have just spoken, the hope you havealmost given me, will have richly paid all--were it my life. "

"Oh, but I, " said Anne, "I also, duke, have had presentiments; I alsohave had dreams. I dreamed that I saw you lying bleeding, wounded. "

"In the left side, was it not, and with a knife?" interruptedBuckingham. 

"Yes, it was so, my Lord, it was so--in the left side, and with a knife. Who can possibly have told you I had had that dream? I have imparted itto no one but my God, and that in my prayers. "

"I ask for no more. You love me, madame; it is enough. "

"I love you, I?"

"Yes, yes. Would God send the same dreams to you as to me if you did notlove me? Should we have the same presentiments if our existences did nottouch at the heart? You love me, my beautiful queen, and you will weepfor me?"

"Oh, my God, my God!" cried Anne of Austria, "this is more than I canbear. In the name of heaven, Duke, leave me, go! I do not know whetherI love you or love you not; but what I know is that I will not beperjured. Take pity on me, then, and go! Oh, if you are struck inFrance, if you die in France, if I could imagine that your love for mewas the cause of your death, I could not console myself; I should runmad. Depart then, depart, I implore you!"

"Oh, how beautiful you are thus! Oh, how I love you!" said Buckingham. 

"Go, go, I implore you, and return hereafter! Come back as ambassador, come back as minister, come back surrounded with guards who will defendyou, with servants who will watch over you, and then I shall no longerfear for your days, and I shall be happy in seeing you. "

"Oh, is this true what you say?"

"Yes. "

"Oh, then, some pledge of your indulgence, some object which came fromyou, and may remind me that I have not been dreaming; something you haveworn, and that I may wear in my turn--a ring, a necklace, a chain. "

"Will you depart--will you depart, if I give you that you demand?"

"Yes. "

"This very instant?"

"Yes. "

"You will leave France, you will return to England?"

"I will, I swear to you. "

"Wait, then, wait. "

Anne of Austria re-entered her apartment, and came out again almostimmediately, holding a rosewood casket in her hand, with her cipherencrusted with gold. 

"Here, my Lord, here, " said she, "keep this in memory of me. "

Buckingham took the casket, and fell a second time on his knees. 

"You have promised me to go, " said the queen. 

"And I keep my word. Your hand, madame, your hand, and I depart!"

Anne of Austria stretched forth her hand, closing her eyes, and leaningwith the other upon Estafania, for she felt that her strength was aboutto fail her. 

Buckingham pressed his lips passionately to that beautiful hand, andthen rising, said, "Within six months, if I am not dead, I shall haveseen you again, madame--even if I have to overturn the world. " Andfaithful to the promise he had made, he rushed out of the apartment. 

In the corridor he met Mme. Bonacieux, who waited for him, and who, withthe same precautions and the same good luck, conducted him out of theLouvre. 

13 MONSIEUR BONACIEUX

There was in all this, as may have been observed, one personageconcerned, of whom, notwithstanding his precarious position, wehave appeared to take but very little notice. This personage was M. Bonacieux, the respectable martyr of the political and amorous intrigueswhich entangled themselves so nicely together at this gallant andchivalric period. 

Fortunately, the reader may remember, or may not remember--fortunatelywe have promised not to lose sight of him. 

The officers who arrested him conducted him straight to the Bastille, where he passed trembling before a party of soldiers who were loadingtheir muskets. Thence, introduced into a half-subterranean gallery, he became, on the part of those who had brought him, the object of thegrossest insults and the harshest treatment. The officers perceived thatthey had not to deal with a gentleman, and they treated him like a verypeasant. 

At the end of half an hour or thereabouts, a clerk came to put an end tohis tortures, but not to his anxiety, by giving the order to conductM. Bonacieux to the Chamber of Examination. Ordinarily, prisoners wereinterrogated in their cells; but they did not do so with M. Bonacieux. 

Two guards attended the mercer who made him traverse a court and entera corridor in which were three sentinels, opened a door and pushed himunceremoniously into a low room, where the only furniture was a table, achair, and a commissary. The commissary was seated in the chair, and waswriting at the table. 

The two guards led the prisoner toward the table, and upon a sign fromthe commissary drew back so far as to be unable to hear anything. 

The commissary, who had till this time held his head down over hispapers, looked up to see what sort of person he had to do with. Thiscommissary was a man of very repulsive mien, with a pointed nose, with yellow and salient cheek bones, with eyes small but keen andpenetrating, and an expression of countenance resembling at once thepolecat and the fox. His head, supported by a long and flexible neck, issued from his large black robe, balancing itself with a motion verymuch like that of the tortoise thrusting his head out of his shell. Hebegan by asking M. Bonacieux his name, age, condition, and abode. 

The accused replied that his name was Jacques Michel Bonacieux, that hewas fifty-one years old, a retired mercer, and lived Rue des Fossoyeurs, No. 14. 

The commissary then, instead of continuing to interrogate him, made hima long speech upon the danger there is for an obscure citizen to meddlewith public matters. He complicated this exordium by an expositionin which he painted the power and the deeds of the cardinal, thatincomparable minister, that conqueror of past ministers, that examplefor ministers to come--deeds and power which none could thwart withimpunity. 

After this second part of his discourse, fixing his hawk's eye upon poorBonacieux, he bade him reflect upon the gravity of his situation. 

The reflections of the mercer were already made; he cursed the instantwhen M. Laporte formed the idea of marrying him to his goddaughter, andparticularly the moment when that goddaughter had been received as Ladyof the Linen to her Majesty. 

At bottom the character of M. Bonacieux was one of profound selfishnessmixed with sordid avarice, the whole seasoned with extreme cowardice. The love with which his young wife had inspired him was a secondarysentiment, and was not strong enough to contend with the primitivefeelings we have just enumerated. Bonacieux indeed reflected on what hadjust been said to him. 

"But, Monsieur Commissary, " said he, calmly, "believe that I know andappreciate, more than anybody, the merit of the incomparable eminence bywhom we have the honor to be governed. "

"Indeed?" asked the commissary, with an air of doubt. "If that is reallyso, how came you in the Bastille?"

"How I came there, or rather why I am there, " replied Bonacieux, "thatis entirely impossible for me to tell you, because I don't know myself;but to a certainty it is not for having, knowingly at least, disobligedMonsieur the Cardinal. "

"You must, nevertheless, have committed a crime, since you are here andare accused of high treason. "

"Of high treason!" cried Bonacieux, terrified; "of high treason! Howis it possible for a poor mercer, who detests Huguenots and who abhorsSpaniards, to be accused of high treason? Consider, monsieur, the thingis absolutely impossible. "

"Monsieur Bonacieux, " said the commissary, looking at the accused as ifhis little eyes had the faculty of reading to the very depths of hearts, "you have a wife?"

"Yes, monsieur, " replied the mercer, in a tremble, feeling that it wasat this point affairs were likely to become perplexing; "that is to say, I HAD one. "

"What, you 'had one'? What have you done with her, then, if you have herno longer?"

"They have abducted her, monsieur. "

"They have abducted her? Ah!"

Bonacieux inferred from this "Ah" that the affair grew more and moreintricate. 

"They have abducted her, " added the commissary; "and do you know the manwho has committed this deed?"

"I think I know him. "

"Who is he?"

"Remember that I affirm nothing, Monsieur the Commissary, and that Ionly suspect. "

"Whom do you suspect? Come, answer freely. "

M. Bonacieux was in the greatest perplexity possible. Had he better denyeverything or tell everything? By denying all, it might be suspectedthat he must know too much to avow; by confessing all he might prove hisgood will. He decided, then, to tell all. 

"I suspect, " said he, "a tall, dark man, of lofty carriage, who has theair of a great lord. He has followed us several times, as I think, whenI have waited for my wife at the wicket of the Louvre to escort herhome. "

The commissary now appeared to experience a little uneasiness. 

"And his name?" said he. 

"Oh, as to his name, I know nothing about it; but if I were ever to meethim, I should recognize him in an instant, I will answer for it, were heamong a thousand persons. "

The face of the commissary grew still darker. 

"You should recognize him among a thousand, say you?" continued he. 

"That is to say, " cried Bonacieux, who saw he had taken a false step, "that is to say--"

"You have answered that you should recognize him, " said the commissary. "That is all very well, and enough for today; before we proceed further, someone must be informed that you know the ravisher of your wife. "

"But I have not told you that I know him!" cried Bonacieux, in despair. "I told you, on the contrary--"

"Take away the prisoner, " said the commissary to the two guards. 

"Where must we place him?" demanded the chief. 

"In a dungeon. "

"Which?"

"Good Lord! In the first one handy, provided it is safe, " said thecommissary, with an indifference which penetrated poor Bonacieux withhorror. 

"Alas, alas!" said he to himself, "misfortune is over my head; mywife must have committed some frightful crime. They believe me heraccomplice, and will punish me with her. She must have spoken; she musthave confessed everything--a woman is so weak! A dungeon! The first hecomes to! That's it! A night is soon passed; and tomorrow to the wheel, to the gallows! Oh, my God, my God, have pity on me!"

Without listening the least in the world to the lamentations of M. Bonacieux--lamentations to which, besides, they must have been prettywell accustomed--the two guards took the prisoner each by an arm, and led him away, while the commissary wrote a letter in haste anddispatched it by an officer in waiting. 

Bonacieux could not close his eyes; not because his dungeon was so verydisagreeable, but because his uneasiness was so great. He sat all nighton his stool, starting at the least noise; and when the first rays ofthe sun penetrated into his chamber, the dawn itself appeared to him tohave taken funereal tints. 

All at once he heard his bolts drawn, and made a terrified bound. Hebelieved they were come to conduct him to the scaffold; so that when hesaw merely and simply, instead of the executioner he expected, only hiscommissary of the preceding evening, attended by his clerk, he was readyto embrace them both. 

"Your affair has become more complicated since yesterday evening, mygood man, and I advise you to tell the whole truth; for your repentancealone can remove the anger of the cardinal. "

"Why, I am ready to tell everything, " cried Bonacieux, "at least, allthat I know. Interrogate me, I entreat you!"

"Where is your wife, in the first place?"

"Why, did not I tell you she had been stolen from me?"

"Yes, but yesterday at five o'clock in the afternoon, thanks to you, sheescaped. "

"My wife escaped!" cried Bonacieux. "Oh, unfortunate creature! Monsieur, if she has escaped, it is not my fault, I swear. "

"What business had you, then, to go into the chamber of Monsieurd'Artagnan, your neighbor, with whom you had a long conference duringthe day?"

"Ah, yes, Monsieur Commissary; yes, that is true, and I confess that Iwas in the wrong. I did go to Monsieur d'Artagnan's. "

"What was the aim of that visit?"

"To beg him to assist me in finding my wife. I believed I had a rightto endeavor to find her. I was deceived, as it appears, and I ask yourpardon. "

"And what did Monsieur d'Artagnan reply?"

"Monsieur d'Artagnan promised me his assistance; but I soon found outthat he was betraying me. "

"You impose upon justice. Monsieur d'Artagnan made a compact with you;and in virtue of that compact put to flight the police who had arrestedyour wife, and has placed her beyond reach. "

"Fortunately, Monsieur d'Artagnan is in our hands, and you shall beconfronted with him. "

"By my faith, I ask no better, " cried Bonacieux; "I shall not be sorryto see the face of an acquaintance. "

"Bring in the Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said the commissary to the guards. The two guards led in Athos. 

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said the commissary, addressing Athos, "declareall that passed yesterday between you and Monsieur. "

"But, " cried Bonacieux, "this is not Monsieur d'Artagnan whom you showme. "

"What! Not Monsieur d'Artagnan?" exclaimed the commissary. 

"Not the least in the world, " replied Bonacieux. 

"What is this gentleman's name?" asked the commissary. 

"I cannot tell you; I don't know him. "

"How! You don't know him?"

"No. "

"Did you never see him?"

"Yes, I have seen him, but I don't know what he calls himself. "

"Your name?" replied the commissary. 

"Athos, " replied the Musketeer. 

"But that is not a man's name; that is the name of a mountain, " criedthe poor questioner, who began to lose his head. 

"That is my name, " said Athos, quietly. 

"But you said that your name was d'Artagnan. "

"Who, I?"

"Yes, you. "

"Somebody said to me, 'You are Monsieur d'Artagnan?' I answered, 'Youthink so?' My guards exclaimed that they were sure of it. I did not wishto contradict them; besides, I might be deceived. "

"Monsieur, you insult the majesty of justice. "

"Not at all, " said Athos, calmly. 

"You are Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

"You see, monsieur, that you say it again. "

"But I tell you, Monsieur Commissary, " cried Bonacieux, in his turn, "there is not the least doubt about the matter. Monsieur d'Artagnan ismy tenant, although he does not pay me my rent--and even better onthat account ought I to know him. Monsieur d'Artagnan is a young man, scarcely nineteen or twenty, and this gentleman must be thirty atleast. Monsieur d'Artagnan is in Monsieur Dessessart's Guards, and thisgentleman is in the company of Monsieur de Treville's Musketeers. Lookat his uniform, Monsieur Commissary, look at his uniform!"

"That's true, " murmured the commissary; "PARDIEU, that's true. "

At this moment the door was opened quickly, and a messenger, introducedby one of the gatekeepers of the Bastille, gave a letter to thecommissary. 

"Oh, unhappy woman!" cried the commissary. 

"How? What do you say? Of whom do you speak? It is not of my wife, Ihope!"

"On the contrary, it is of her. Yours is a pretty business. "

"But, " said the agitated mercer, "do me the pleasure, monsieur, to tellme how my own proper affair can become worse by anything my wife doeswhile I am in prison?"

"Because that which she does is part of a plan concerted between you--ofan infernal plan. "

"I swear to you, Monsieur Commissary, that you are in the profoundesterror, that I know nothing in the world about what my wife had to do, that I am entirely a stranger to what she has done; and that if she hascommitted any follies, I renounce her, I abjure her, I curse her!"

"Bah!" said Athos to the commissary, "if you have no more need of me, send me somewhere. Your Monsieur Bonacieux is very tiresome. "

The commissary designated by the same gesture Athos and Bonacieux, "Letthem be guarded more closely than ever. "

"And yet, " said Athos, with his habitual calmness, "if it be Monsieurd'Artagnan who is concerned in this matter, I do not perceive how I cantake his place. "

"Do as I bade you, " cried the commissary, "and preserve absolutesecrecy. You understand!"

Athos shrugged his shoulders, and followed his guards silently, while M. Bonacieux uttered lamentations enough to break the heart of a tiger. 

They locked the mercer in the same dungeon where he had passed thenight, and left him to himself during the day. Bonacieux wept all day, like a true mercer, not being at all a military man, as he himselfinformed us. In the evening, about nine o'clock, at the moment he hadmade up his mind to go to bed, he heard steps in his corridor. Thesesteps drew near to his dungeon, the door was thrown open, and the guardsappeared. 

"Follow me, " said an officer, who came up behind the guards. 

"Follow you!" cried Bonacieux, "follow you at this hour! Where, my God?"

"Where we have orders to lead you. "

"But that is not an answer. "

"It is, nevertheless, the only one we can give. "

"Ah, my God, my God!" murmured the poor mercer, "now, indeed, I amlost!" And he followed the guards who came for him, mechanically andwithout resistance. 

He passed along the same corridor as before, crossed one court, then asecond side of a building; at length, at the gate of the entrance courthe found a carriage surrounded by four guards on horseback. They madehim enter this carriage, the officer placed himself by his side, thedoor was locked, and they were left in a rolling prison. The carriagewas put in motion as slowly as a funeral car. Through the closelyfastened windows the prisoner could perceive the houses and thepavement, that was all; but, true Parisian as he was, Bonacieux couldrecognize every street by the milestones, the signs, and the lamps. At the moment of arriving at St. Paul--the spot where such as werecondemned at the Bastille were executed--he was near fainting andcrossed himself twice. He thought the carriage was about to stop there. The carriage, however, passed on. 

Farther on, a still greater terror seized him on passing by the cemeteryof St. Jean, where state criminals were buried. One thing, however, reassured him; he remembered that before they were buried their headswere generally cut off, and he felt that his head was still on hisshoulders. But when he saw the carriage take the way to La Greve, whenhe perceived the pointed roof of the Hotel de Ville, and the carriagepassed under the arcade, he believed it was over with him. He wishedto confess to the officer, and upon his refusal, uttered such pitiablecries that the officer told him that if he continued to deafen him thus, he should put a gag in his mouth. 

This measure somewhat reassured Bonacieux. If they meant to execute himat La Greve, it could scarcely be worth while to gag him, as they hadnearly reached the place of execution. Indeed, the carriage crossed thefatal spot without stopping. There remained, then, no other place tofear but the Traitor's Cross; the carriage was taking the direct road toit. 

This time there was no longer any doubt; it was at the Traitor's Crossthat lesser criminals were executed. Bonacieux had flattered himself inbelieving himself worthy of St. Paul or of the Place de Greve; it was atthe Traitor's Cross that his journey and his destiny were about to end!He could not yet see that dreadful cross, but he felt somehow as if itwere coming to meet him. When he was within twenty paces of it, he hearda noise of people and the carriage stopped. This was more than poorBonacieux could endure, depressed as he was by the successive emotionswhich he had experienced; he uttered a feeble groan which night havebeen taken for the last sigh of a dying man, and fainted. 

14 THE MAN OF MEUNG

The crowd was caused, not by the expectation of a man to be hanged, butby the contemplation of a man who was hanged. 

The carriage, which had been stopped for a minute, resumed its way, passed through the crowd, threaded the Rue St. Honore, turned into theRue des Bons Enfants, and stopped before a low door. 

The door opened; two guards received Bonacieux in their arms from theofficer who supported him. They carried him through an alley, up aflight of stairs, and deposited him in an antechamber. 

All these movements had been effected mechanically, as far as he wasconcerned. He had walked as one walks in a dream; he had a glimpseof objects as through a fog. His ears had perceived sounds withoutcomprehending them; he might have been executed at that moment withouthis making a single gesture in his own defense or uttering a cry toimplore mercy. 

He remained on the bench, with his back leaning against the wall and hishands hanging down, exactly on the spot where the guards placed him. 

On looking around him, however, as he could perceive no threateningobject, as nothing indicated that he ran any real danger, as the benchwas comfortably covered with a well-stuffed cushion, as the wall wasornamented with a beautiful Cordova leather, and as large red damaskcurtains, fastened back by gold clasps, floated before the window, heperceived by degrees that his fear was exaggerated, and he began to turnhis head to the right and the left, upward and downward. 

At this movement, which nobody opposed, he resumed a little courage, andventured to draw up one leg and then the other. At length, with the helpof his two hands he lifted himself from the bench, and found himself onhis feet. 

At this moment an officer with a pleasant face opened a door, continuedto exchange some words with a person in the next chamber and then cameup to the prisoner. "Is your name Bonacieux?" said he. 

"Yes, Monsieur Officer, " stammered the mercer, more dead than alive, "atyour service. "

"Come in, " said the officer. 

And he moved out of the way to let the mercer pass. The latter obeyedwithout reply, and entered the chamber, where he appeared to beexpected. 

It was a large cabinet, close and stifling, with the walls furnishedwith arms offensive and defensive, and in which there was already afire, although it was scarcely the end of the month of September. Asquare table, covered with books and papers, upon which was unrolledan immense plan of the city of La Rochelle, occupied the center of theroom. 

Standing before the chimney was a man of middle height, of a haughty, proud mien; with piercing eyes, a large brow, and a thin face, whichwas made still longer by a ROYAL (or IMPERIAL, as it is now called), surmounted by a pair of mustaches. Although this man was scarcelythirty-six or thirty-seven years of age, hair, mustaches, and royal, allbegan to be gray. This man, except a sword, had all the appearance of asoldier; and his buff boots still slightly covered with dust, indicatedthat he had been on horseback in the course of the day. 

This man was Armand Jean Duplessis, Cardinal de Richelieu; not such ashe is now represented--broken down like an old man, suffering like amartyr, his body bent, his voice failing, buried in a large armchairas in an anticipated tomb; no longer living but by the strength of hisgenius, and no longer maintaining the struggle with Europe but by theeternal application of his thoughts--but such as he really was at thisperiod; that is to say, an active and gallant cavalier, already weakof body, but sustained by that moral power which made of him one ofthe most extraordinary men that ever lived, preparing, after havingsupported the Duc de Nevers in his duchy of Mantua, after having takenNimes, Castres, and Uzes, to drive the English from the Isle of Re andlay siege to La Rochelle. 

At first sight, nothing denoted the cardinal; and it was impossible forthose who did not know his face to guess in whose presence they were. 

The poor mercer remained standing at the door, while the eyes of thepersonage we have just described were fixed upon him, and appeared towish to penetrate even into the depths of the past. 

"Is this that Bonacieux?" asked he, after a moment of silence. 

"Yes, monseigneur, " replied the officer. 

"That's well. Give me those papers, and leave us. "

The officer took from the table the papers pointed out, gave them to himwho asked for them, bowed to the ground, and retired. 

Bonacieux recognized in these papers his interrogatories of theBastille. From time to time the man by the chimney raised his eyes fromthe writings, and plunged them like poniards into the heart of the poormercer. 

At the end of ten minutes of reading and ten seconds of examination, thecardinal was satisfied. 

"That head has never conspired, " murmured he, "but it matters not; wewill see. "

"You are accused of high treason, " said the cardinal, slowly. 

"So I have been told already, monseigneur, " cried Bonacieux, giving hisinterrogator the title he had heard the officer give him, "but I swearto you that I know nothing about it. "

The cardinal repressed a smile. 

"You have conspired with your wife, with Madame de Chevreuse, and withmy Lord Duke of Buckingham. "

"Indeed, monseigneur, " responded the mercer, "I have heard her pronounceall those names. "

"And on what occasion?"

"She said that the Cardinal de Richelieu had drawn the Duke ofBuckingham to Paris to ruin him and to ruin the queen. "

"She said that?" cried the cardinal, with violence. 

"Yes, monseigneur, but I told her she was wrong to talk about suchthings; and that his Eminence was incapable--"

"Hold your tongue! You are stupid, " replied the cardinal. 

"That's exactly what my wife said, monseigneur. "

"Do you know who carried off your wife?"

"No, monseigneur. "

"You have suspicions, nevertheless?"

"Yes, monseigneur; but these suspicions appeared to be disagreeable toMonsieur the Commissary, and I no longer have them. "

"Your wife has escaped. Did you know that?"

"No, monseigneur. I learned it since I have been in prison, and thatfrom the conversation of Monsieur the Commissary--an amiable man. "

The cardinal repressed another smile. 

"Then you are ignorant of what has become of your wife since herflight. "

"Absolutely, monseigneur; but she has most likely returned to theLouvre. "

"At one o'clock this morning she had not returned. "

"My God! What can have become of her, then?"

"We shall know, be assured. Nothing is concealed from the cardinal; thecardinal knows everything. "

"In that case, monseigneur, do you believe the cardinal will be so kindas to tell me what has become of my wife?"

"Perhaps he may; but you must, in the first place, reveal to thecardinal all you know of your wife's relations with Madame deChevreuse. "

"But, monseigneur, I know nothing about them; I have never seen her. "

"When you went to fetch your wife from the Louvre, did you always returndirectly home?"

"Scarcely ever; she had business to transact with linen drapers, towhose houses I conducted her. "

"And how many were there of these linen drapers?"

"Two, monseigneur. "

"And where did they live?"

"One in Rue de Vaugirard, the other Rue de la Harpe. "

"Did you go into these houses with her?"

"Never, monseigneur; I waited at the door. "

"And what excuse did she give you for entering all alone?"

"She gave me none; she told me to wait, and I waited. "

"You are a very complacent husband, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, " saidthe cardinal. 

"He calls me his dear Monsieur, " said the mercer to himself. "PESTE!Matters are going all right. "

"Should you know those doors again?"

"Yes. "

"Do you know the numbers?"

"Yes. "

"What are they?"

"No. 25 in the Rue de Vaugirard; 75 in the Rue de la Harpe. "

"That's well, " said the cardinal. 

At these words he took up a silver bell, and rang it; the officerentered. 

"Go, " said he, in a subdued voice, "and find Rochefort. Tell him to cometo me immediately, if he has returned. "

"The count is here, " said the officer, "and requests to speak with yourEminence instantly. "

"Let him come in, then!" said the cardinal, quickly. 

The officer sprang out of the apartment with that alacrity which all theservants of the cardinal displayed in obeying him. 

"To your Eminence!" murmured Bonacieux, rolling his eyes round inastonishment. 

Five seconds has scarcely elapsed after the disappearance of theofficer, when the door opened, and a new personage entered. 

"It is he!" cried Bonacieux. 

"He! What he?" asked the cardinal. 

"The man who abducted my wife. "

The cardinal rang a second time. The officer reappeared. 

"Place this man in the care of his guards again, and let him wait till Isend for him. "

"No, monseigneur, no, it is not he!" cried Bonacieux; "no, I wasdeceived. This is quite another man, and does not resemble him at all. Monsieur is, I am sure, an honest man. "

"Take away that fool!" said the cardinal. 

The officer took Bonacieux by the arm, and led him into the antechamber, where he found his two guards. 

The newly introduced personage followed Bonacieux impatiently with hiseyes till he had gone out; and the moment the door closed, "They haveseen each other;" said he, approaching the cardinal eagerly. 

"Who?" asked his Eminence. 

"He and she. "

"The queen and the duke?" cried Richelieu. 

"Yes. "

"Where?"

"At the Louvre. "

"Are you sure of it?"

"Perfectly sure. "

"Who told you of it?"

"Madame de Lannoy, who is devoted to your Eminence, as you know. "

"Why did she not let me know sooner?"

"Whether by chance or mistrust, the queen made Madame de Surgis sleep inher chamber, and detained her all day. "

"Well, we are beaten! Now let us try to take our revenge. "

"I will assist you with all my heart, monseigneur; be assured of that. "

"How did it come about?"

"At half past twelve the queen was with her women--"

"Where?"

"In her bedchamber--"

"Go on. "

"When someone came and brought her a handkerchief from her laundress. "

"And then?"

"The queen immediately exhibited strong emotion; and despite the rougewith which her face was covered evidently turned pale--"

"And then, and then?"

"She then arose, and with altered voice, 'Ladies, ' said she, 'wait forme ten minutes, I shall soon return. ' She then opened the door of heralcove, and went out. "

"Why did not Madame de Lannoy come and inform you instantly?"

"Nothing was certain; besides, her Majesty had said, 'Ladies, wait forme, ' and she did not dare to disobey the queen. "

"How long did the queen remain out of the chamber?"

"Three-quarters of an hour. "

"None of her women accompanied her?"

"Only Donna Estafania. "

"Did she afterward return?"

"Yes; but only to take a little rosewood casket, with her cipher uponit, and went out again immediately. "

"And when she finally returned, did she bring that casket with her?"

"No. "

"Does Madame de Lannoy know what was in that casket?"

"Yes; the diamond studs which his Majesty gave the queen. "

"And she came back without this casket?"

"Yes. "

"Madame de Lannoy, then, is of opinion that she gave them toBuckingham?"

"She is sure of it. "

"How can she be so?"

"In the course of the day Madame de Lannoy, in her quality of tire-womanof the queen, looked for this casket, appeared uneasy at not finding it, and at length asked information of the queen. "

"And then the queen?"

"The queen became exceedingly red, and replied that having in theevening broken one of those studs, she had sent it to her goldsmith tobe repaired. "

"He must be called upon, and so ascertain if the thing be true or not. "

"I have just been with him. "

"And the goldsmith?"

"The goldsmith has heard nothing of it. "

"Well, well! Rochefort, all is not lost; and perhaps--perhaps everythingis for the best. "

"The fact is that I do not doubt your Eminence's genius--"

"Will repair the blunders of his agent--is that it?"

"That is exactly what I was going to say, if your Eminence had let mefinish my sentence. "

"Meanwhile, do you know where the Duchesse de Chevreuse and the Duke ofBuckingham are now concealed?"

"No, monseigneur; my people could tell me nothing on that head. "

"But I know. "

"You, monseigneur?"

"Yes; or at least I guess. They were, one in the Rue de Vaugirard, No. 25; the other in the Rue de la Harpe, No. 75. "

"Does your Eminence command that they both be instantly arrested?"

"It will be too late; they will be gone. "

"But still, we can make sure that they are so. "

"Take ten men of my Guardsmen, and search the two houses thoroughly. "

"Instantly, monseigneur. " And Rochefort went hastily out of theapartment. 

The cardinal being left alone, reflected for an instant and then rangthe bell a third time. The same officer appeared. 

"Bring the prisoner in again, " said the cardinal. 

M. Bonacieux was introduced afresh, and upon a sign from the cardinal, the officer retired. 

"You have deceived me!" said the cardinal, sternly. 

"I, " cried Bonacieux, "I deceive your Eminence!"

"Your wife, in going to Rue de Vaugirard and Rue de la Harpe, did not goto find linen drapers. "

"Then why did she go, just God?"

"She went to meet the Duchesse de Chevreuse and the Duke of Buckingham. "

"Yes, " cried Bonacieux, recalling all his remembrances of thecircumstances, "yes, that's it. Your Eminence is right. I told my wifeseveral times that it was surprising that linen drapers should livein such houses as those, in houses that had no signs; but she alwayslaughed at me. Ah, monseigneur!" continued Bonacieux, throwing himselfat his Eminence's feet, "ah, how truly you are the cardinal, the greatcardinal, the man of genius whom all the world reveres!"

The cardinal, however contemptible might be the triumph gained over sovulgar a being as Bonacieux, did not the less enjoy it for an instant;then, almost immediately, as if a fresh thought has occurred, a smileplayed upon his lips, and he said, offering his hand to the mercer, "Rise, my friend, you are a worthy man. "

"The cardinal has touched me with his hand! I have touched the handof the great man!" cried Bonacieux. "The great man has called me hisfriend!"

"Yes, my friend, yes, " said the cardinal, with that paternal tone whichhe sometimes knew how to assume, but which deceived none who knew him;"and as you have been unjustly suspected, well, you must be indemnified. Here, take this purse of a hundred pistoles, and pardon me. "

"I pardon you, monseigneur!" said Bonacieux, hesitating to takethe purse, fearing, doubtless, that this pretended gift was but apleasantry. "But you are able to have me arrested, you are able to haveme tortured, you are able to have me hanged; you are the master, andI could not have the least word to say. Pardon you, monseigneur! Youcannot mean that!"

"Ah, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, you are generous in this matter. I seeit and I thank you for it. Thus, then, you will take this bag, and youwill go away without being too malcontent. "

"I go away enchanted. "

"Farewell, then, or rather, AU REVOIR!"

And the cardinal made him a sign with his hand, to which Bonacieuxreplied by bowing to the ground. He then went out backward, and when hewas in the antechamber the cardinal heard him, in his enthusiasm, cryingaloud, "Long life to the Monseigneur! Long life to his Eminence! Longlife to the great cardinal!" The cardinal listened with a smile to thisvociferous manifestation of the feelings of M. Bonacieux; and then, whenBonacieux's cries were no longer audible, "Good!" said he, "that manwould henceforward lay down his life for me. " And the cardinal began toexamine with the greatest attention the map of La Rochelle, which, as wehave said, lay open on the desk, tracing with a pencil the line in whichthe famous dyke was to pass which, eighteen months later, shut up theport of the besieged city. As he was in the deepest of his strategicmeditations, the door opened, and Rochefort returned. 

"Well?" said the cardinal, eagerly, rising with a promptitude whichproved the degree of importance he attached to the commission with whichhe had charged the count. 

"Well, " said the latter, "a young woman of about twenty-six ortwenty-eight years of age, and a man of from thirty-five to forty, haveindeed lodged at the two houses pointed out by your Eminence; but thewoman left last night, and the man this morning. "

"It was they!" cried the cardinal, looking at the clock; "and now it istoo late to have them pursued. The duchess is at Tours, and the duke atBoulogne. It is in London they must be found. "

"What are your Eminence's orders?"

"Not a word of what has passed. Let the queen remain in perfectsecurity; let her be ignorant that we know her secret. Let her believethat we are in search of some conspiracy or other. Send me the keeper ofthe seals, Seguier. "

"And that man, what has your Eminence done with him?"

"What man?" asked the cardinal. 

"That Bonacieux. "

"I have done with him all that could be done. I have made him a spy uponhis wife. "

The Comte de Rochefort bowed like a man who acknowledges the superiorityof the master as great, and retired. 

Left alone, the cardinal seated himself again and wrote a letter, whichhe secured with his special seal. Then he rang. The officer entered forthe fourth time. 

"Tell Vitray to come to me, " said he, "and tell him to get ready for ajourney. "

An instant after, the man he asked for was before him, booted andspurred. 

"Vitray, " said he, "you will go with all speed to London. You must notstop an instant on the way. You will deliver this letter to Milady. Hereis an order for two hundred pistoles; call upon my treasurer and get themoney. You shall have as much again if you are back within six days, andhave executed your commission well. "

The messenger, without replying a single word, bowed, took the letter, with the order for the two hundred pistoles, and retired. 

Here is what the letter contained:

MILADY, Be at the first ball at which the Duke of Buckingham shall bepresent. He will wear on his doublet twelve diamond studs; get as nearto him as you can, and cut off two. 

As soon as these studs shall be in your possession, inform me. 

15 MEN OF THE ROBE AND MEN OF THE SWORD

On the day after these events had taken place, Athos not havingreappeared, M. De Treville was informed by d'Artagnan and Porthos of thecircumstance. As to Aramis, he had asked for leave of absence for fivedays, and was gone, it was said, to Rouen on family business. 

M. De Treville was the father of his soldiers. The lowest or the leastknown of them, as soon as he assumed the uniform of the company, was assure of his aid and support as if he had been his own brother. 

He repaired, then, instantly to the office of the LIEUTENANT-CRIMINEL. The officer who commanded the post of the Red Cross was sent for, and bysuccessive inquiries they learned that Athos was then lodged in the Fortl'Eveque. 

Athos had passed through all the examinations we have seen Bonacieuxundergo. 

We were present at the scene in which the two captives were confrontedwith each other. Athos, who had till that time said nothing for fearthat d'Artagnan, interrupted in his turn, should not have the timenecessary, from this moment declared that his name was Athos, and notd'Artagnan. He added that he did not know either M. Or Mme. Bonacieux;that he had never spoken to the one or the other; that he had come, at about ten o'clock in the evening, to pay a visit to his friend M. D'Artagnan, but that till that hour he had been at M. De Treville's, where he had dined. "Twenty witnesses, " added he, "could attest thefact"; and he named several distinguished gentlemen, and among them wasM. Le Duc de la Tremouille. 

The second commissary was as much bewildered as the first had beenby the simple and firm declaration of the Musketeer, upon whom he wasanxious to take the revenge which men of the robe like at all times togain over men of the sword; but the name of M. De Treville, and that ofM. De la Tremouille, commanded a little reflection. 

Athos was then sent to the cardinal; but unfortunately the cardinal wasat the Louvre with the king. 

It was precisely at this moment that M. De Treville, on leaving theresidence of the LIEUTENANT-CRIMINEL and the governor of the Fortl'Eveque without being able to find Athos, arrived at the palace. 

As captain of the Musketeers, M. De Treville had the right of entry atall times. 

It is well known how violent the king's prejudices were against thequeen, and how carefully these prejudices were kept up by the cardinal, who in affairs of intrigue mistrusted women infinitely more than men. One of the grand causes of this prejudice was the friendship of Anne ofAustria for Mme. De Chevreuse. These two women gave him more uneasinessthan the war with Spain, the quarrel with England, or the embarrassmentof the finances. In his eyes and to his conviction, Mme. De Chevreusenot only served the queen in her political intrigues, but, whattormented him still more, in her amorous intrigues. 

At the first word the cardinal spoke of Mme. De Chevreuse--who, thoughexiled to Tours and believed to be in that city, had come to Paris, remained there five days, and outwitted the police--the king flew into afurious passion. Capricious and unfaithful, the king wished to be calledLouis the Just and Louis the Chaste. Posterity will find a difficulty inunderstanding this character, which history explains only by facts andnever by reason. 

But when the cardinal added that not only Mme. De Chevreuse had beenin Paris, but still further, that the queen had renewed with her one ofthose mysterious correspondences which at that time was named a CABAL;when he affirmed that he, the cardinal, was about to unravel the mostclosely twisted thread of this intrigue; that at the moment of arrestingin the very act, with all the proofs about her, the queen's emissaryto the exiled duchess, a Musketeer had dared to interrupt the course ofjustice violently, by falling sword in hand upon the honest men of thelaw, charged with investigating impartially the whole affair in orderto place it before the eyes of the king--Louis XIII could not containhimself, and he made a step toward the queen's apartment with that paleand mute indignation which, when in broke out, led this prince to thecommission of the most pitiless cruelty. And yet, in all this, thecardinal had not yet said a word about the Duke of Buckingham. 

At this instant M. De Treville entered, cool, polite, and inirreproachable costume. 

Informed of what had passed by the presence of the cardinal and thealteration in the king's countenance, M. De Treville felt himselfsomething like Samson before the Philistines. 

Louis XIII had already placed his hand on the knob of the door; at thenoise of M. De Treville's entrance he turned round. "You arrive in goodtime, monsieur, " said the king, who, when his passions were raised toa certain point, could not dissemble; "I have learned some fine thingsconcerning your Musketeers. "

"And I, " said Treville, coldly, "I have some pretty things to tell yourMajesty concerning these gownsmen. "

"What?" said the king, with hauteur. 

"I have the honor to inform your Majesty, " continued M. De Treville, inthe same tone, "that a party of PROCUREURS, commissaries, and men ofthe police--very estimable people, but very inveterate, as it appears, against the uniform--have taken upon themselves to arrest in a house, tolead away through the open street, and throw into the Fort l'Eveque, allupon an order which they have refused to show me, one of my, orrather your Musketeers, sire, of irreproachable conduct, of an almostillustrious reputation, and whom your Majesty knows favorably, MonsieurAthos. "

"Athos, " said the king, mechanically; "yes, certainly I know that name. "

"Let your Majesty remember, " said Treville, "that Monsieur Athos is theMusketeer who, in the annoying duel which you are acquainted with, hadthe misfortune to wound Monsieur de Cahusac so seriously. A PROPOS, monseigneur, " continued Treville. Addressing the cardinal, "Monsieur deCahusac is quite recovered, is he not?"

"Thank you, " said the cardinal, biting his lips with anger. 

"Athos, then, went to pay a visit to one of his friends absent atthe time, " continued Treville, "to a young Bearnais, a cadet in hisMajesty's Guards, the company of Monsieur Dessessart, but scarcelyhad he arrived at his friend's and taken up a book, while waiting hisreturn, when a mixed crowd of bailiffs and soldiers came and laid siegeto the house, broke open several doors--"

The cardinal made the king a sign, which signified, "That was on accountof the affair about which I spoke to you. "

"We all know that, " interrupted the king; "for all that was done for ourservice. "

"Then, " said Treville, "it was also for your Majesty's service that oneof my Musketeers, who was innocent, has been seized, that he has beenplaced between two guards like a malefactor, and that this gallant man, who has ten times shed his blood in your Majesty's service and is readyto shed it again, has been paraded through the midst of an insolentpopulace?"

"Bah!" said the king, who began to be shaken, "was it so managed?"

"Monsieur de Treville, " said the cardinal, with the greatest phlegm, "does not tell your Majesty that this innocent Musketeer, this gallantman, had only an hour before attacked, sword in hand, four commissariesof inquiry, who were delegated by myself to examine into an affair ofthe highest importance. "

"I defy your Eminence to prove it, " cried Treville, with his Gasconfreedom and military frankness; "for one hour before, Monsieur Athos, who, I will confide it to your Majesty, is really a man of the highestquality, did me the honor after having dined with me to be conversing inthe saloon of my hotel, with the Duc de la Tremouille and the Comte deChalus, who happened to be there. "

The king looked at the cardinal. 

"A written examination attests it, " said the cardinal, replying aloud tothe mute interrogation of his Majesty; "and the ill-treated peoplehave drawn up the following, which I have the honor to present to yourMajesty. "

"And is the written report of the gownsmen to be placed in comparisonwith the word of honor of a swordsman?" replied Treville haughtily. 

"Come, come, Treville, hold your tongue, " said the king. 

"If his Eminence entertains any suspicion against one of my Musketeers, "said Treville, "the justice of Monsieur the Cardinal is so well knownthat I demand an inquiry. "

"In the house in which the judicial inquiry was made, " continued theimpassive cardinal, "there lodges, I believe, a young Bearnais, a friendof the Musketeer. "

"Your Eminence means Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

"I mean a young man whom you patronize, Monsieur de Treville. "

"Yes, your Eminence, it is the same. "

"Do you not suspect this young man of having given bad counsel?"

"To Athos, to a man double his age?" interrupted Treville. "No, monseigneur. Besides, d'Artagnan passed the evening with me. "

"Well, " said the cardinal, "everybody seems to have passed the eveningwith you. "

"Does your Eminence doubt my word?" said Treville, with a brow flushedwith anger. 

"No, God forbid, " said the cardinal; "only, at what hour was he withyou?"

"Oh, as to that I can speak positively, your Eminence; for as he came inI remarked that it was but half past nine by the clock, although I hadbelieved it to be later. "

"At what hour did he leave your hotel?"

"At half past ten--an hour after the event. "

"Well, " replied the cardinal, who could not for an instant suspect theloyalty of Treville, and who felt that the victory was escaping him, "well, but Athos WAS taken in the house in the Rue des Fossoyeurs. "

"Is one friend forbidden to visit another, or a Musketeer of my companyto fraternize with a Guard of Dessessart's company?"

"Yes, when the house where he fraternizes is suspected. "

"That house is suspected, Treville, " said the king; "perhaps you did notknow it?"

"Indeed, sire, I did not. The house may be suspected; but I deny thatit is so in the part of it inhabited my Monsieur d'Artagnan, for I canaffirm, sire, if I can believe what he says, that there does not exista more devoted servant of your Majesty, or a more profound admirer ofMonsieur the Cardinal. "

"Was it not this d'Artagnan who wounded Jussac one day, in thatunfortunate encounter which took place near the Convent of theCarmes-Dechausses?" asked the king, looking at the cardinal, who coloredwith vexation. 

"And the next day, Bernajoux. Yes, sire, yes, it is the same; and yourMajesty has a good memory. "

"Come, how shall we decide?" said the king. 

"That concerns your Majesty more than me, " said the cardinal. "I shouldaffirm the culpability. "

"And I deny it, " said Treville. "But his Majesty has judges, and thesejudges will decide. "

"That is best, " said the king. "Send the case before the judges; it istheir business to judge, and they shall judge. "

"Only, " replied Treville, "it is a sad thing that in the unfortunatetimes in which we live, the purest life, the most incontestable virtue, cannot exempt a man from infamy and persecution. The army, I willanswer for it, will be but little pleased at being exposed to rigoroustreatment on account of police affairs. "

The expression was imprudent; but M. De Treville launched it withknowledge of his cause. He was desirous of an explosion, because in thatcase the mine throws forth fire, and fire enlightens. 

"Police affairs!" cried the king, taking up Treville's words, "policeaffairs! And what do you know about them, Monsieur? Meddle with yourMusketeers, and do not annoy me in this way. It appears, according toyour account, that if by mischance a Musketeer is arrested, France isin danger. What a noise about a Musketeer! I would arrest ten of them, VENTREBLEU, a hundred, even, all the company, and I would not allow awhisper. "

"From the moment they are suspected by your Majesty, " said Treville, "the Musketeers are guilty; therefore, you see me prepared to surrendermy sword--for after having accused my soldiers, there can be no doubtthat Monsieur the Cardinal will end by accusing me. It is best toconstitute myself at once a prisoner with Athos, who is alreadyarrested, and with d'Artagnan, who most probably will be. "

"Gascon-headed man, will you have done?" said the king. 

"Sire, " replied Treville, without lowering his voice in the least, "either order my Musketeer to be restored to me, or let him be tried. "

"He shall be tried, " said the cardinal. 

"Well, so much the better; for in that case I shall demand of hisMajesty permission to plead for him. "

The king feared an outbreak. 

"If his Eminence, " said he, "did not have personal motives--"

The cardinal saw what the king was about to say and interrupted him:

"Pardon me, " said he; "but the instant your Majesty considers me aprejudiced judge, I withdraw. "

"Come, " said the king, "will you swear, by my father, that Athos was atyour residence during the event and that he took no part in it?"

"By your glorious father, and by yourself, whom I love and venerateabove all the world, I swear it. "

"Be so kind as to reflect, sire, " said the cardinal. "If we release theprisoner thus, we shall never know the truth. "

"Athos may always be found, " replied Treville, "ready to answer, whenit shall please the gownsmen to interrogate him. He will not desert, Monsieur the Cardinal, be assured of that; I will answer for him. "

"No, he will not desert, " said the king; "he can always be found, asTreville says. Besides, " added he, lowering his voice and looking with asuppliant air at the cardinal, "let us give them apparent security; thatis policy. "

This policy of Louis XIII made Richelieu smile. 

"Order it as you please, sire; you possess the right of pardon. "

"The right of pardoning only applies to the guilty, " said Treville, whowas determined to have the last word, "and my Musketeer is innocent. Itis not mercy, then, that you are about to accord, sire, it is justice. "

"And he is in the Fort l'Eveque?" said the king. 

"Yes, sire, in solitary confinement, in a dungeon, like the lowestcriminal. "

"The devil!" murmured the king; "what must be done?"

"Sign an order for his release, and all will be said, " replied thecardinal. "I believe with your Majesty that Monsieur de Treville'sguarantee is more than sufficient. "

Treville bowed very respectfully, with a joy that was not unmixed withfear; he would have preferred an obstinate resistance on the part of thecardinal to this sudden yielding. 

The king signed the order for release, and Treville carried it awaywithout delay. As he was about to leave the presence, the cardinal gavehim a friendly smile, and said, "A perfect harmony reigns, sire, between the leaders and the soldiers of your Musketeers, which must beprofitable for the service and honorable to all. "

"He will play me some dog's trick or other, and that immediately, " saidTreville. "One has never the last word with such a man. But let us bequick--the king may change his mind in an hour; and at all events it ismore difficult to replace a man in the Fort l'Eveque or the Bastille whohas got out, than to keep a prisoner there who is in. "

M. De Treville made his entrance triumphantly into the Fort l'Eveque, whence he delivered the Musketeer, whose peaceful indifference had notfor a moment abandoned him. 

The first time he saw d'Artagnan, "You have come off well, " said he tohim; "there is your Jussac thrust paid for. There still remains that ofBernajoux, but you must not be too confident. "

As to the rest, M. De Treville had good reason to mistrust the cardinaland to think that all was not over, for scarcely had the captain ofthe Musketeers closed the door after him, than his Eminence said to theking, "Now that we are at length by ourselves, we will, if your Majestypleases, converse seriously. Sire, Buckingham has been in Paris fivedays, and only left this morning. "

16 IN WHICH M. SEGUIER, KEEPER OF THE SEALS, LOOKS MORE THAN ONCE FORTHE BELL, IN ORDER TO RING IT, AS HE DID BEFORE

It is impossible to form an idea of the impression these few words madeupon Louis XIII. He grew pale and red alternately; and the cardinal sawat once that he had recovered by a single blow all the ground he hadlost. 

"Buckingham in Paris!" cried he, "and why does he come?"

"To conspire, no doubt, with your enemies, the Huguenots and theSpaniards. "

"No, PARDIEU, no! To conspire against my honor with Madame de Chevreuse, Madame de Longueville, and the Condes. "

"Oh, sire, what an idea! The queen is too virtuous; and besides, lovesyour Majesty too well. "

"Woman is weak, Monsieur Cardinal, " said the king; "and as to loving memuch, I have my own opinion as to that love. "

"I not the less maintain, " said the cardinal, "that the Duke ofBuckingham came to Paris for a project wholly political. "

"And I am sure that he came for quite another purpose, MonsieurCardinal; but if the queen be guilty, let her tremble!"

"Indeed, " said the cardinal, "whatever repugnance I may have todirecting my mind to such a treason, your Majesty compels me to think ofit. Madame de Lannoy, whom, according to your Majesty's command, I havefrequently interrogated, told me this morning that the night before lasther Majesty sat up very late, that this morning she wept much, and thatshe was writing all day. "

"That's it!" cried the king; "to him, no doubt. Cardinal, I must havethe queen's papers. "

"But how to take them, sire? It seems to me that it is neither yourMajesty nor myself who can charge himself with such a mission. "

"How did they act with regard to the Marechale d'Ancre?" cried theking, in the highest state of choler; "first her closets were thoroughlysearched, and then she herself. "

"The Marechale d'Ancre was no more than the Marechale d'Ancre. AFlorentine adventurer, sire, and that was all; while the august spouseof your Majesty is Anne of Austria, Queen of France--that is to say, oneof the greatest princesses in the world. "

"She is not the less guilty, Monsieur Duke! The more she has forgottenthe high position in which she was placed, the more degrading is herfall. Besides, I long ago determined to put an end to all these pettyintrigues of policy and love. She has near her a certain Laporte. "

"Who, I believe, is the mainspring of all this, I confess, " said thecardinal. 

"You think then, as I do, that she deceives me?" said the king. 

"I believe, and I repeat it to your Majesty, that the queen conspiresagainst the power of the king, but I have not said against his honor. "

"And I--I tell you against both. I tell you the queen does not loveme; I tell you she loves another; I tell you she loves that infamousBuckingham! Why did you not have him arrested while in Paris?"

"Arrest the Duke! Arrest the prime minister of King Charles I! Think ofit, sire! What a scandal! And if the suspicions of your Majesty, whichI still continue to doubt, should prove to have any foundation, what aterrible disclosure, what a fearful scandal!"

"But as he exposed himself like a vagabond or a thief, he should havebeen--"

Louis XIII stopped, terrified at what he was about to say, whileRichelieu, stretching out his neck, waited uselessly for the word whichhad died on the lips of the king. 

"He should have been--?"

"Nothing, " said the king, "nothing. But all the time he was in Paris, you, of course, did not lose sight of him?"

"No, sire. "

"Where did he lodge?"

"Rue de la Harpe. No. 75. "

"Where is that?"

"By the side of the Luxembourg. "

"And you are certain that the queen and he did not see each other?"

"I believe the queen to have too high a sense of her duty, sire. "

"But they have corresponded; it is to him that the queen has beenwriting all the day. Monsieur Duke, I must have those letters!"

"Sire, notwithstanding--"

"Monsieur Duke, at whatever price it may be, I will have them. "

"I would, however, beg your Majesty to observe--"

"Do you, then, also join in betraying me, Monsieur Cardinal, by thusalways opposing my will? Are you also in accord with Spain and England, with Madame de Chevreuse and the queen?"

"Sire, " replied the cardinal, sighing, "I believed myself secure fromsuch a suspicion. "

"Monsieur Cardinal, you have heard me; I will have those letters. "

"There is but one way. "

"What is that?"

"That would be to charge Monsieur de Seguier, the keeper of the seals, with this mission. The matter enters completely into the duties of thepost. "

"Let him be sent for instantly. "

"He is most likely at my hotel. I requested him to call, and when I cameto the Louvre I left orders if he came, to desire him to wait. "

"Let him be sent for instantly. "

"Your Majesty's orders shall be executed; but--"

"But what?"

"But the queen will perhaps refuse to obey. "

"My orders?"

"Yes, if she is ignorant that these orders come from the king. "

"Well, that she may have no doubt on that head, I will go and inform hermyself. "

"Your Majesty will not forget that I have done everything in my power toprevent a rupture. "

"Yes, Duke, yes, I know you are very indulgent toward the queen, tooindulgent, perhaps; we shall have occasion, I warn you, at some futureperiod to speak of that. "

"Whenever it shall please your Majesty; but I shall be always happy andproud, sire, to sacrifice myself to the harmony which I desire to seereign between you and the Queen of France. "

"Very well, Cardinal, very well; but, meantime, send for Monsieur theKeeper of the Seals. I will go to the queen. "

And Louis XIII, opening the door of communication, passed into thecorridor which led from his apartments to those of Anne of Austria. 

The queen was in the midst of her women--Mme. De Guitaut, Mme. De Sable, Mme. De Montbazon, and Mme. De Guemene. In a corner was the Spanishcompanion, Donna Estafania, who had followed her from Madrid. Mme. Guemene was reading aloud, and everybody was listening to her withattention with the exception of the queen, who had, on the contrary, desired this reading in order that she might be able, while feigning tolisten, to pursue the thread of her own thoughts. 

These thoughts, gilded as they were by a last reflection of love, werenot the less sad. Anne of Austria, deprived of the confidence of herhusband, pursued by the hatred of the cardinal, who could not pardon herfor having repulsed a more tender feeling, having before her eyes theexample of the queen-mother whom that hatred had tormented all herlife--though Marie de Medicis, if the memoirs of the time are to bebelieved, had begun by according to the cardinal that sentiment whichAnne of Austria always refused him--Anne of Austria had seen her mostdevoted servants fall around her, her most intimate confidants, herdearest favorites. Like those unfortunate persons endowed with a fatalgift, she brought misfortune upon everything she touched. Her friendshipwas a fatal sign which called down persecution. Mme. De Chevreuseand Mme. De Bernet were exiled, and Laporte did not conceal from hismistress that he expected to be arrested every instant. 

It was at the moment when she was plunged in the deepest and darkestof these reflections that the door of the chamber opened, and the kingentered. 

The reader hushed herself instantly. All the ladies rose, and therewas a profound silence. As to the king, he made no demonstration ofpoliteness, only stopping before the queen. "Madame, " said he, "youare about to receive a visit from the chancellor, who will communicatecertain matters to you with which I have charged him. "

The unfortunate queen, who was constantly threatened with divorce, exile, and trial even, turned pale under her rouge, and could notrefrain from saying, "But why this visit, sire? What can the chancellorhave to say to me that your Majesty could not say yourself?"

The king turned upon his heel without reply, and almost at the sameinstant the captain of the Guards, M. De Guitant, announced the visit ofthe chancellor. 

When the chancellor appeared, the king had already gone out by anotherdoor. 

The chancellor entered, half smiling, half blushing. As we shallprobably meet with him again in the course of our history, it may bewell for our readers to be made at once acquainted with him. 

This chancellor was a pleasant man. He was Des Roches le Masle, canon ofNotre Dame, who had formerly been valet of a bishop, who introduced himto his Eminence as a perfectly devout man. The cardinal trusted him, andtherein found his advantage. 

There are many stories related of him, and among them this. After a wildyouth, he had retired into a convent, there to expiate, at least forsome time, the follies of adolescence. On entering this holy place, thepoor penitent was unable to shut the door so close as to prevent thepassions he fled from entering with him. He was incessantly attacked bythem, and the superior, to whom he had confided this misfortune, wishingas much as in him lay to free him from them, had advised him, in orderto conjure away the tempting demon, to have recourse to the bell rope, and ring with all his might. At the denunciating sound, the monks wouldbe rendered aware that temptation was besieging a brother, and all thecommunity would go to prayers. 

This advice appeared good to the future chancellor. He conjured the evilspirit with abundance of prayers offered up by the monks. But the devildoes not suffer himself to be easily dispossessed from a place in whichhe has fixed his garrison. In proportion as they redoubled the exorcismshe redoubled the temptations; so that day and night the bell was ringingfull swing, announcing the extreme desire for mortification which thepenitent experienced. 

The monks had no longer an instant of repose. By day they did nothingbut ascend and descend the steps which led to the chapel; at night, in addition to complines and matins, they were further obliged to leaptwenty times out of their beds and prostrate themselves on the floor oftheir cells. 

It is not known whether it was the devil who gave way, or the monks whogrew tired; but within three months the penitent reappeared in theworld with the reputation of being the most terrible POSSESSED that everexisted. 

On leaving the convent he entered into the magistracy, became presidenton the place of his uncle, embraced the cardinal's party, which did notprove want of sagacity, became chancellor, served his Eminence with zealin his hatred against the queen-mother and his vengeance against Anne ofAustria, stimulated the judges in the affair of Calais, encouraged theattempts of M. De Laffemas, chief gamekeeper of France; then, at length, invested with the entire confidence of the cardinal--a confidence whichhe had so well earned--he received the singular commission for theexecution of which he presented himself in the queen's apartments. 

The queen was still standing when he entered; but scarcely had sheperceived him then she reseated herself in her armchair, and made a signto her women to resume their cushions and stools, and with an air ofsupreme hauteur, said, "What do you desire, monsieur, and with whatobject do you present yourself here?"

"To make, madame, in the name of the king, and without prejudice tothe respect which I have the honor to owe to your Majesty a closeexamination into all your papers. "

"How, monsieur, an investigation of my papers--mine! Truly, this is anindignity!"

"Be kind enough to pardon me, madame; but in this circumstance I am butthe instrument which the king employs. Has not his Majesty just leftyou, and has he not himself asked you to prepare for this visit?"

"Search, then, monsieur! I am a criminal, as it appears. Estafania, giveup the keys of my drawers and my desks. "

For form's sake the chancellor paid a visit to the pieces of furniturenamed; but he well knew that it was not in a piece of furniture that thequeen would place the important letter she had written that day. 

When the chancellor had opened and shut twenty times the drawers ofthe secretaries, it became necessary, whatever hesitation he mightexperience--it became necessary, I say, to come to the conclusion ofthe affair; that is to say, to search the queen herself. The chancelloradvanced, therefore, toward Anne of Austria, and said with a veryperplexed and embarrassed air, "And now it remains for me to make theprincipal examination. "

"What is that?" asked the queen, who did not understand, or rather wasnot willing to understand. 

"His majesty is certain that a letter has been written by you during theday; he knows that it has not yet been sent to its address. This letteris not in your table nor in your secretary; and yet this letter must besomewhere. "

"Would you dare to lift your hand to your queen?" said Anne of Austria, drawing herself up to her full height, and fixing her eyes upon thechancellor with an expression almost threatening. 

"I am a faithful subject of the king, madame, and all that his Majestycommands I shall do. "

"Well, it is true!" said Anne of Austria; "and the spies of the cardinalhave served him faithfully. I have written a letter today; that letteris not yet gone. The letter is here. " And the queen laid her beautifulhand on her bosom. 

"Then give me that letter, madame, " said the chancellor. 

"I will give it to none but the king monsieur, " said Anne. 

"If the king had desired that the letter should be given to him, madame, he would have demanded it of you himself. But I repeat to you, I amcharged with reclaiming it; and if you do not give it up--"

"Well?"

"He has, then, charged me to take it from you. "

"How! What do you say?"

"That my orders go far, madame; and that I am authorized to seek for thesuspected paper, even on the person of your Majesty. "

"What horror!" cried the queen. 

"Be kind enough, then, madame, to act more compliantly. "

"The conduct is infamously violent! Do you know that, monsieur?"

"The king commands it, madame; excuse me. "

"I will not suffer it! No, no, I would rather die!" cried the queen, inwhom the imperious blood of Spain and Austria began to rise. 

The chancellor made a profound reverence. Then, with the intentionquite patent of not drawing back a foot from the accomplishment ofthe commission with which he was charged, and as the attendant of anexecutioner might have done in the chamber of torture, he approachedAnne of Austria, for whose eyes at the same instant sprang tears ofrage. 

The queen was, as we have said, of great beauty. The commission mightwell be called delicate; and the king had reached, in his jealousy ofBuckingham, the point of not being jealous of anyone else. 

Without doubt the chancellor, Seguier looked about at that momentfor the rope of the famous bell; but not finding it he summoned hisresolution, and stretched forth his hands toward the place where thequeen had acknowledged the paper was to be found. 

Anne of Austria took one step backward, became so pale that it might besaid she was dying, and leaning with her left hand upon a table behindher to keep herself from falling, she with her right hand drew the paperfrom her bosom and held it out to the keeper of the seals. 

"There, monsieur, there is that letter!" cried the queen, with abroken and trembling voice; "take it, and deliver me from your odiouspresence. "

The chancellor, who, on his part, trembled with an emotion easily to beconceived, took the letter, bowed to the ground, and retired. The doorwas scarcely closed upon him, when the queen sank, half fainting, intothe arms of her women. 

The chancellor carried the letter to the king without having read asingle word of it. The king took it with a trembling hand, looked forthe address, which was wanting, became very pale, opened it slowly, thenseeing by the first words that it was addressed to the King of Spain, heread it rapidly. 

It was nothing but a plan of attack against the cardinal. The queenpressed her brother and the Emperor of Austria to appear to be wounded, as they really were, by the policy of Richelieu--the eternal object ofwhich was the abasement of the house of Austria--to declare war againstFrance, and as a condition of peace, to insist upon the dismissal of thecardinal; but as to love, there was not a single word about it in allthe letter. 

The king, quite delighted, inquired if the cardinal was still at theLouvre; he was told that his Eminence awaited the orders of his Majestyin the business cabinet. 

The king went straight to him. 

"There, Duke, " said he, "you were right and I was wrong. The wholeintrigue is political, and there is not the least question of love inthis letter; but, on the other hand, there is abundant question of you. "

The cardinal took the letter, and read it with the greatest attention;then, when he had arrived at the end of it, he read it a second time. "Well, your Majesty, " said he, "you see how far my enemies go; theymenace you with two wars if you do not dismiss me. In your place, intruth, sire, I should yield to such powerful instance; and on my part, it would be a real happiness to withdraw from public affairs. "

"What say you, Duke?"

"I say, sire, that my health is sinking under these excessive strugglesand these never-ending labors. I say that according to all probabilityI shall not be able to undergo the fatigues of the siege of La Rochelle, and that it would be far better that you should appoint there eitherMonsieur de Conde, Monsieur de Bassopierre, or some valiant gentlemanwhose business is war, and not me, who am a churchman, and who amconstantly turned aside for my real vocation to look after matters forwhich I have no aptitude. You would be the happier for it at home, sire, and I do not doubt you would be the greater for it abroad. "

"Monsieur Duke, " said the king, "I understand you. Be satisfied, allwho are named in that letter shall be punished as they deserve, even thequeen herself. "

"What do you say, sire? God forbid that the queen should suffer theleast inconvenience or uneasiness on my account! She has always believedme, sire, to be her enemy; although your Majesty can bear witness that Ihave always taken her part warmly, even against you. Oh, if she betrayedyour Majesty on the side of your honor, it would be quite another thing, and I should be the first to say, 'No grace, sire--no grace for theguilty!' Happily, there is nothing of the kind, and your Majesty hasjust acquired a new proof of it. "

"That is true, Monsieur Cardinal, " said the king, "and you were right, as you always are; but the queen, not the less, deserves all my anger. "

"It is you, sire, who have now incurred hers. And even if she were to beseriously offended, I could well understand it; your Majesty has treatedher with a severity--"

"It is thus I will always treat my enemies and yours, Duke, however highthey may be placed, and whatever peril I may incur in acting severelytoward them. "

"The queen is my enemy, but is not yours, sire; on the contrary, she isa devoted, submissive, and irreproachable wife. Allow me, then, sire, tointercede for her with your Majesty. "

"Let her humble herself, then, and come to me first. "

"On the contrary, sire, set the example. You have committed the firstwrong, since it was you who suspected the queen. "

"What! I make the first advances?" said the king. "Never!"

"Sire, I entreat you to do so. "

"Besides, in what manner can I make advances first?"

"By doing a thing which you know will be agreeable to her. "

"What is that?"

"Give a ball; you know how much the queen loves dancing. I will answerfor it, her resentment will not hold out against such an attention. "

"Monsieur Cardinal, you know that I do not like worldly pleasures. "

"The queen will only be the more grateful to you, as she knows yourantipathy for that amusement; besides, it will be an opportunity forher to wear those beautiful diamonds which you gave her recently on herbirthday and with which she has since had no occasion to adorn herself. "

"We shall see, Monsieur Cardinal, we shall see, " said the king, who, in his joy at finding the queen guilty of a crime which he cared littleabout, and innocent of a fault of which he had great dread, was ready tomake up all differences with her, "we shall see, but upon my honor, youare too indulgent toward her. "

"Sire, " said the cardinal, "leave severity to your ministers. Clemencyis a royal virtue; employ it, and you will find that you deriveadvantage therein. "

Thereupon the cardinal, hearing the clock strike eleven, bowed low, asking permission of the king to retire, and supplicating him to come toa good understanding with the queen. 

Anne of Austria, who, in consequence of the seizure of her letter, expected reproaches, was much astonished the next day to see the kingmake some attempts at reconciliation with her. Her first movement wasrepellent. Her womanly pride and her queenly dignity had both been socruelly offended that she could not come round at the first advance;but, overpersuaded by the advice of her women, she at last had theappearance of beginning to forget. The king took advantage of thisfavorable moment to tell her that her had the intention of shortlygiving a fete. 

A fete was so rare a thing for poor Anne of Austria that at thisannouncement, as the cardinal had predicted, the last trace of herresentment disappeared, if not from her heart at least from hercountenance. She asked upon what day this fete would take place, but theking replied that he must consult the cardinal upon that head. 

Indeed, every day the king asked the cardinal when this fete should takeplace; and every day the cardinal, under some pretext, deferred fixingit. Ten days passed away thus. 

On the eighth day after the scene we have described, the cardinalreceived a letter with the London stamp which only contained theselines: "I have them; but I am unable to leave London for want of money. Send me five hundred pistoles, and four or five days after I havereceived them I shall be in Paris. "

On the same day the cardinal received this letter the king put hiscustomary question to him. 

Richelieu counted on his fingers, and said to himself, "She will arrive, she says, four or five days after having received the money. It willrequire four or five days for the transmission of the money, four orfive days for her to return; that makes ten days. Now, allowing forcontrary winds, accidents, and a woman's weakness, there are twelvedays. "

"Well, Monsieur Duke, " said the king, "have you made your calculations?"

"Yes, sire. Today is the twentieth of September. The aldermen of thecity give a fete on the third of October. That will fall in wonderfullywell; you will not appear to have gone out of your way to please thequeen. "

Then the cardinal added, "A PROPOS, sire, do not forget to tell herMajesty the evening before the fete that you should like to see how herdiamond studs become her. "

17 BONACIEUX AT HOME

It was the second time the cardinal had mentioned these diamond studs tothe king. Louis XIII was struck with this insistence, and began to fancythat this recommendation concealed some mystery. 

More than once the king had been humiliated by the cardinal, whosepolice, without having yet attained the perfection of the modern police, were excellent, being better informed than himself, even upon what wasgoing on in his own household. He hoped, then, in a conversation withAnne of Austria, to obtain some information from that conversation, andafterward to come upon his Eminence with some secret which the cardinaleither knew or did not know, but which, in either case, would raise himinfinitely in the eyes of his minister. 

He went then to the queen, and according to custom accosted her withfresh menaces against those who surrounded her. Anne of Austria loweredher head, allowed the torrent to flow on without replying, hoping thatit would cease of itself; but this was not what Louis XIII meant. LouisXIII wanted a discussion from which some light or other might break, convinced as he was that the cardinal had some afterthought and waspreparing for him one of those terrible surprises which his Eminence wasso skillful in getting up. He arrived at this end by his persistence inaccusation. 

"But, " cried Anne of Austria, tired of these vague attacks, "but, sire, you do not tell me all that you have in your heart. What have I done, then? Let me know what crime I have committed. It is impossiblethat your Majesty can make all this ado about a letter written to mybrother. "

The king, attacked in a manner so direct, did not know what to answer;and he thought that this was the moment for expressing the desire whichhe was not going to have made until the evening before the fete. 

"Madame, " said he, with dignity, "there will shortly be a ball at theHotel de Ville. I wish, in order to honor our worthy aldermen, youshould appear in ceremonial costume, and above all, ornamented with thediamond studs which I gave you on your birthday. That is my answer. "

The answer was terrible. Anne of Austria believed that Louis XIIIknew all, and that the cardinal had persuaded him to employ thislong dissimulation of seven or eight days, which, likewise, wascharacteristic. She became excessively pale, leaned her beautiful handupon a CONSOLE, which hand appeared then like one of wax, and lookingat the king with terror in her eyes, she was unable to reply by a singlesyllable. 

"You hear, madame, " said the king, who enjoyed the embarrassment to itsfull extent, but without guessing the cause. "You hear, madame?"

"Yes, sire, I hear, " stammered the queen. 

"You will appear at this ball?"

"Yes. "

"With those studs?"

"Yes. "

The queen's paleness, if possible, increased; the king perceived it, andenjoyed it with that cold cruelty which was one of the worst sides ofhis character. 

"Then that is agreed, " said the king, "and that is all I had to say toyou. "

"But on what day will this ball take place?" asked Anne of Austria. 

Louis XIII felt instinctively that he ought not to reply to thisquestion, the queen having put it in an almost dying voice. 

"Oh, very shortly, madame, " said he; "but I do not precisely recollectthe date of the day. I will ask the cardinal. "

"It was the cardinal, then, who informed you of this fete?"

"Yes, madame, " replied the astonished king; "but why do you ask that?"

"It was he who told you to invite me to appear with these studs?"

"That is to say, madame--"

"It was he, sire, it was he!"

"Well, and what does it signify whether it was he or I? Is there anycrime in this request?"

"No, sire. "

"Then you will appear?"

"Yes, sire. "

"That is well, " said the king, retiring, "that is well; I count uponit. "

The queen made a curtsy, less from etiquette than because her knees weresinking under her. The king went away enchanted. 

"I am lost, " murmured the queen, "lost!--for the cardinal knows all, andit is he who urges on the king, who as yet knows nothing but will soonknow everything. I am lost! My God, my God, my God!"

She knelt upon a cushion and prayed, with her head buried between herpalpitating arms. 

In fact, her position was terrible. Buckingham had returned to London;Mme. Chevreuse was at Tours. More closely watched than ever, the queenfelt certain, without knowing how to tell which, that one of her womenhad betrayed her. Laporte could not leave the Louvre; she had not a soulin the world in whom she could confide. Thus, while contemplating themisfortune which threatened her and the abandonment in which she wasleft, she broke out into sobs and tears. 

"Can I be of service to your Majesty?" said all at once a voice full ofsweetness and pity. 

The queen turned sharply round, for there could be no deception in theexpression of that voice; it was a friend who spoke thus. 

In fact, at one of the doors which opened into the queen's apartmentappeared the pretty Mme. Bonacieux. She had been engaged in arrangingthe dresses and linen in a closet when the king entered; she could notget out and had heard all. 

The queen uttered a piercing cry at finding herself surprised--for inher trouble she did not at first recognize the young woman who had beengiven to her by Laporte. 

"Oh, fear nothing, madame!" said the young woman, clasping her hands andweeping herself at the queen's sorrows; "I am your Majesty's, body andsoul, and however far I may be from you, however inferior may be myposition, I believe I have discovered a means of extricating yourMajesty from your trouble. "

"You, oh, heaven, you!" cried the queen; "but look me in the face. I ambetrayed on all sides. Can I trust in you?"

"Oh, madame!" cried the young woman, falling on her knees; "upon mysoul, I am ready to die for your Majesty!"

This expression sprang from the very bottom of the heart, and, like thefirst, there was no mistaking it. 

"Yes, " continued Mme. Bonacieux, "yes, there are traitors here; but bythe holy name of the Virgin, I swear that no one is more devoted to yourMajesty than I am. Those studs which the king speaks of, you gave themto the Duke of Buckingham, did you not? Those studs were enclosed in alittle rosewood box which he held under his arm? Am I deceived? Is itnot so, madame?"

"Oh, my God, my God!" murmured the queen, whose teeth chattered withfright. 

"Well, those studs, " continued Mme. Bonacieux, "we must have them backagain. "

"Yes, without doubt, it is necessary, " cried the queen; "but how am I toact? How can it be effected?"

"Someone must be sent to the duke. "

"But who, who? In whom can I trust?"

"Place confidence in me, madame; do me that honor, my queen, and I willfind a messenger. "

"But I must write. "

"Oh, yes; that is indispensable. Two words from the hand of your Majestyand your private seal. "

"But these two words would bring about my condemnation, divorce, exile!"

"Yes, if they fell into infamous hands. But I will answer for these twowords being delivered to their address. "

"Oh, my God! I must then place my life, my honor, my reputation, in yourhands?"

"Yes, yes, madame, you must; and I will save them all. "

"But how? Tell me at least the means. "

"My husband had been at liberty these two or three days. I have not yethad time to see him again. He is a worthy, honest man who entertainsneither love nor hatred for anybody. He will do anything I wish. Hewill set out upon receiving an order from me, without knowing what hecarries, and he will carry your Majesty's letter, without even knowingit is from your Majesty, to the address which is on it. "

The queen took the two hands of the young woman with a burst of emotion, gazed at her as if to read her very heart, and seeing nothing butsincerity in her beautiful eyes, embraced her tenderly. 

"Do that, " cried she, "and you will have saved my life, you will havesaved my honor!"

"Do not exaggerate the service I have the happiness to render yourMajesty. I have nothing to save for your Majesty; you are only thevictim of perfidious plots. "

"That is true, that is true, my child, " said the queen, "you are right. "

"Give me then, that letter, madame; time presses. "

The queen ran to a little table, on which were ink, paper, and pens. Shewrote two lines, sealed the letter with her private seal, and gave it toMme. Bonacieux. 

"And now, " said the queen, "we are forgetting one very necessary thing. "

"What is that, madame?"

"Money. "

Mme. Bonacieux blushed. 

"Yes, that is true, " said she, "and I will confess to your Majesty thatmy husband--"

"Your husband has none. Is that what you would say?"

"He has some, but he is very avaricious; that is his fault. Nevertheless, let not your Majesty be uneasy, we will find means. "

"And I have none, either, " said the queen. Those who have read theMEMOIRS of Mme. De Motteville will not be astonished at this reply. "Butwait a minute. "

Anne of Austria ran to her jewel case. 

"Here, " said she, "here is a ring of great value, as I have beenassured. It came from my brother, the King of Spain. It is mine, and Iam at liberty to dispose of it. Take this ring; raise money with it, andlet your husband set out. "

"In an hour you shall be obeyed. "

"You see the address, " said the queen, speaking so low that Mme. Bonacieux could hardly hear what she said, "To my Lord Duke ofBuckingham, London. "

"The letter shall be given to himself. "

"Generous girl!" cried Anne of Austria. 

Mme. Bonacieux kissed the hands of the queen, concealed the paper in thebosom of her dress, and disappeared with the lightness of a bird. 

Ten minutes afterward she was at home. As she told the queen, she hadnot seen her husband since his liberation; she was ignorant of thechange that had taken place in him with respect to the cardinal--achange which had since been strengthened by two or three visits from theComte de Rochefort, who had become the best friend of Bonacieux, and hadpersuaded him, without much trouble, was putting his house in order, the furniture of which he had found mostly broken and his closets nearlyempty--justice not being one of the three things which King Solomonnames as leaving no traces of their passage. As to the servant, she hadrun away at the moment of her master's arrest. Terror had had such aneffect upon the poor girl that she had never ceased walking from Paristill she reached Burgundy, her native place. 

The worthy mercer had, immediately upon re-entering his house, informedhis wife of his happy return, and his wife had replied by congratulatinghim, and telling him that the first moment she could steal from herduties should be devoted to paying him a visit. 

This first moment had been delayed five days, which, under any othercircumstances, might have appeared rather long to M. Bonacieux; buthe had, in the visit he had made to the cardinal and in the visitsRochefort had made him, ample subjects for reflection, and as everybodyknows, nothing makes time pass more quickly than reflection. 

This was the more so because Bonacieux's reflections were allrose-colored. Rochefort called him his friend, his dear Bonacieux, andnever ceased telling him that the cardinal had a great respect forhim. The mercer fancied himself already on the high road to honors andfortune. 

On her side Mme. Bonacieux had also reflected; but, it must be admitted, upon something widely different from ambition. In spite of herself herthoughts constantly reverted to that handsome young man who was so braveand appeared to be so much in love. Married at eighteen to M. Bonacieux, having always lived among her husband's friends--people little capableof inspiring any sentiment whatever in a young woman whose heart wasabove her position--Mme. Bonacieux had remained insensible to vulgarseductions; but at this period the title of gentleman had greatinfluence with the citizen class, and d'Artagnan was a gentleman. Besides, he wore the uniform of the Guards, which next to that of theMusketeers was most admired by the ladies. He was, we repeat, handsome, young, and bold; he spoke of love like a man who did love and wasanxious to be loved in return. There was certainly enough in all thisto turn a head only twenty-three years old, and Mme. Bonacieux had justattained that happy period of life. 

The couple, then, although they had not seen each other for eight days, and during that time serious events had taken place in which bothwere concerned, accosted each other with a degree of preoccupation. Nevertheless, Bonacieux manifested real joy, and advanced toward hiswife with open arms. Madame Bonacieux presented her cheek to him. 

"Let us talk a little, " said she. 

"How!" said Bonacieux, astonished. 

"Yes, I have something of the highest importance to tell you. "

"True, " said he, "and I have some questions sufficiently serious to putto you. Describe to me your abduction, I pray you. "

"Oh, that's of no consequence just now, " said Mme. Bonacieux. 

"And what does it concern, then--my captivity?"

"I heard of it the day it happened; but as you were not guilty of anycrime, as you were not guilty of any intrigue, as you, in short, knewnothing that could compromise yourself or anybody else, I attached nomore importance to that event than it merited. "

"You speak very much at your ease, madame, " said Bonacieux, hurt at thelittle interest his wife showed in him. "Do you know that I was plungedduring a day and night in a dungeon of the Bastille?"

"Oh, a day and night soon pass away. Let us return to the object thatbrings me here. "

"What, that which brings you home to me? Is it not the desire of seeinga husband again from whom you have been separated for a week?" asked themercer, piqued to the quick. 

"Yes, that first, and other things afterward. "

"Speak. "

"It is a thing of the highest interest, and upon which our futurefortune perhaps depends. "

"The complexion of our fortune has changed very much since I saw you, Madam Bonacieux, and I should not be astonished if in the course of afew months it were to excite the envy of many folks. "

"Yes, particularly if you follow the instructions I am about to giveyou. "

"Me?"

"Yes, you. There is good and holy action to be performed, monsieur, andmuch money to be gained at the same time. "

Mme. Bonacieux knew that in talking of money to her husband, she tookhim on his weak side. But a man, were he even a mercer, when he hadtalked for ten minutes with Cardinal Richelieu, is no longer the sameman. 

"Much money to be gained?" said Bonacieux, protruding his lip. 

"Yes, much. "

"About how much?"

"A thousand pistoles, perhaps. "

"What you demand of me is serious, then?"

"It is indeed. "

"What must be done?"

"You must go away immediately. I will give you a paper which you mustnot part with on any account, and which you will deliver into the properhands. "

"And whither am I to go?"

"To London. "

"I go to London? Go to! You jest! I have no business in London. "

"But others wish that you should go there. "

"But who are those others? I warn you that I will never again work inthe dark, and that I will know not only to what I expose myself, but forwhom I expose myself. "

"An illustrious person sends you; an illustrious person awaits you. Therecompense will exceed your expectations; that is all I promise you. "

"More intrigues! Nothing but intrigues! Thank you, madame, I am aware ofthem now; Monsieur Cardinal has enlightened me on that head. "

"The cardinal?" cried Mme. Bonacieux. "Have you seen the cardinal?"

"He sent for me, " answered the mercer, proudly. 

"And you responded to his bidding, you imprudent man?"

"Well, I can't say I had much choice of going or not going, for I wastaken to him between two guards. It is true also, that as I did notthen know his Eminence, if I had been able to dispense with the visit, Ishould have been enchanted. "

"He ill-treated you, then; he threatened you?"

"He gave me his hand, and called me his friend. His friend! Do you hearthat, madame? I am the friend of the great cardinal!"

"Of the great cardinal!"

"Perhaps you would contest his right to that title, madame?"

"I would contest nothing; but I tell you that the favor of a minister isephemeral, and that a man must be mad to attach himself to a minister. There are powers above his which do not depend upon a man or the issueof an event; it is to these powers we should rally. "

"I am sorry for it, madame, but I acknowledge not her power but that ofthe great man whom I have the honor to serve. "

"You serve the cardinal?"

"Yes, madame; and as his servant, I will not allow you to be concernedin plots against the safety of the state, or to serve the intrigues of awoman who is not French and who has a Spanish heart. Fortunately we havethe great cardinal; his vigilant eye watches over and penetrates to thebottom of the heart. "

Bonacieux was repeating, word for word, a sentence which he had heardfrom the Comte de Rochefort; but the poor wife, who had reckoned on herhusband, and who, in that hope, had answered for him to the queen, didnot tremble the less, both at the danger into which she had nearlycast herself and at the helpless state to which she was reduced. Nevertheless, knowing the weakness of her husband, and more particularlyhis cupidity, she did not despair of bringing him round to her purpose. 

"Ah, you are a cardinalist, then, monsieur, are you?" cried she; "andyou serve the party of those who maltreat your wife and insult yourqueen?"

"Private interests are as nothing before the interests of all. I am forthose who save the state, " said Bonacieux, emphatically. 

"And what do you know about the state you talk of?" said Mme. Bonacieux, shrugging her shoulders. "Be satisfied with being a plain, straightforward citizen, and turn to that side which offers the mostadvantages. "

"Eh, eh!" said Bonacieux, slapping a plump, round bag, which returned asound a money; "what do you think of this, Madame Preacher?"

"Whence comes that money?"

"You do not guess?"

"From the cardinal?"

"From him, and from my friend the Comte de Rochefort. "

"The Comte de Rochefort! Why it was he who carried me off!"

"That may be, madame!"

"And you receive silver from that man?"

"Have you not said that that abduction was entirely political?"

"Yes; but that abduction had for its object the betrayal of my mistress, to draw from me by torture confessions that might compromise the honor, and perhaps the life, of my august mistress. "

"Madame, " replied Bonacieux, "your august mistress is a perfidiousSpaniard, and what the cardinal does is well done. "

"Monsieur, " said the young woman, "I know you to be cowardly, avaricious, and foolish, but I never till now believed you infamous!"

"Madame, " said Bonacieux, who had never seen his wife in a passion, andwho recoiled before this conjugal anger, "madame, what do you say?"

"I say you are a miserable creature!" continued Mme. Bonacieux, who sawshe was regaining some little influence over her husband. "You meddlewith politics, do you--and still more, with cardinalist politics? Why, you sell yourself, body and soul, to the demon, the devil, for money!"

"No, to the cardinal. "

"It's the same thing, " cried the young woman. "Who calls Richelieu callsSatan. "

"Hold your tongue, hold your tongue, madame! You may be overheard. "

"Yes, you are right; I should be ashamed for anyone to know yourbaseness. "

"But what do you require of me, then? Let us see. "

"I have told you. You must depart instantly, monsieur. You mustaccomplish loyally the commission with which I deign to charge you, andon that condition I pardon everything, I forget everything; and what ismore, " and she held out her hand to him, "I restore my love. "

Bonacieux was cowardly and avaricious, but he loved his wife. Hewas softened. A man of fifty cannot long bear malice with a wife oftwenty-three. Mme. Bonacieux saw that he hesitated. 

"Come! Have you decided?" said she. 

"But, my dear love, reflect a little upon what you require of me. Londonis far from Paris, very far, and perhaps the commission with which youcharge me is not without dangers?"

"What matters it, if you avoid them?"

"Hold, Madame Bonacieux, " said the mercer, "hold! I positively refuse;intrigues terrify me. I have seen the Bastille. My! Whew! That's afrightful place, that Bastille! Only to think of it makes my fleshcrawl. They threatened me with torture. Do you know what torture is?Wooden points that they stick in between your legs till your bonesstick out! No, positively I will not go. And, MORBLEU, why do you not goyourself? For in truth, I think I have hitherto been deceived in you. Ireally believe you are a man, and a violent one, too. "

"And you, you are a woman--a miserable woman, stupid and brutal. You areafraid, are you? Well, if you do not go this very instant, I will haveyou arrested by the queen's orders, and I will have you placed in theBastille which you dread so much. "

Bonacieux fell into a profound reflection. He weighed the two angersin his brain--that of the cardinal and that of the queen; that of thecardinal predominated enormously. 

"Have me arrested on the part of the queen, " said he, "and I--I willappeal to his Eminence. "

At once Mme. Bonacieux saw that she had gone too far, and she wasterrified at having communicated so much. She for a moment contemplatedwith fright that stupid countenance, impressed with the invincibleresolution of a fool that is overcome by fear. 

"Well, be it so!" said she. "Perhaps, when all is considered, you areright. In the long run, a man knows more about politics than a woman, particularly such as, like you, Monsieur Bonacieux, have conversed withthe cardinal. And yet it is very hard, " added she, "that a man uponwhose affection I thought I might depend, treats me thus unkindly andwill not comply with any of my fancies. "

"That is because your fancies go too far, " replied the triumphantBonacieux, "and I mistrust them. "

"Well, I will give it up, then, " said the young woman, sighing. "It iswell as it is; say no more about it. "

"At least you should tell me what I should have to do in London, "replied Bonacieux, who remembered a little too late that Rochefort haddesired him to endeavor to obtain his wife's secrets. 

"It is of no use for you to know anything about it, " said the youngwoman, whom an instinctive mistrust now impelled to draw back. "It wasabout one of those purchases that interest women--a purchase by whichmuch might have been gained. "

But the more the young woman excused herself, the more importantBonacieux thought the secret which she declined to confide to him. Heresolved then to hasten immediately to the residence of the Comte deRochefort, and tell him that the queen was seeking for a messenger tosend to London. 

"Pardon me for quitting you, my dear Madame Bonacieux, " said he; "but, not knowing you would come to see me, I had made an engagement with afriend. I shall soon return; and if you will wait only a few minutes forme, as soon as I have concluded my business with that friend, as it isgrowing late, I will come back and reconduct you to the Louvre. "

"Thank you, monsieur, you are not brave enough to be of any use to mewhatever, " replied Mme. Bonacieux. "I shall return very safely to theLouvre all alone. "

"As you please, Madame Bonacieux, " said the ex-mercer. "Shall I see youagain soon?"

"Next week I hope my duties will afford me a little liberty, and I willtake advantage of it to come and put things in order here, as they mustnecessarily be much deranged. "

"Very well; I shall expect you. You are not angry with me?"

"Not the least in the world. "

"Till then, then?"

"Till then. "

Bonacieux kissed his wife's hand, and set off at a quick pace. 

"Well, " said Mme. Bonacieux, when her husband had shut the street doorand she found herself alone; "that imbecile lacked but one thing tobecome a cardinalist. And I, who have answered for him to the queen--I, who have promised my poor mistress--ah, my God, my God! She will take mefor one of those wretches with whom the palace swarms and who are placedabout her as spies! Ah, Monsieur Bonacieux, I never did love you much, but now it is worse than ever. I hate you, and on my word you shall payfor this!"

At the moment she spoke these words a rap on the ceiling made her raiseher head, and a voice which reached her through the ceiling cried, "DearMadame Bonacieux, open for me the little door on the alley, and I willcome down to you. "

18 LOVER AND HUSBAND

"Ah, Madame, " said d'Artagnan, entering by the door which the youngwoman opened for him, "allow me to tell you that you have a bad sort ofa husband. "

"You have, then, overheard our conversation?" asked Mme. Bonacieux, eagerly, and looking at d'Artagnan with disquiet. 

"The whole. "

"But how, my God?"

"By a mode of proceeding known to myself, and by which I likewiseoverheard the more animated conversation which he had with thecardinal's police. "

"And what did you understand by what we said?"

"A thousand things. In the first place, that, unfortunately, yourhusband is a simpleton and a fool; in the next place, you are introuble, of which I am very glad, as it gives me a opportunity ofplacing myself at your service, and God knows I am ready to throwmyself into the fire for you; finally, that the queen wants a brave, intelligent, devoted man to make a journey to London for her. I have atleast two of the three qualities you stand in need of, and here I am. "

Mme. Bonacieux made no reply; but her heart beat with joy and secrethope shone in her eyes. 

"And what guarantee will you give me, " asked she, "if I consent toconfide this message to you?"

"My love for you. Speak! Command! What is to be done?"

"My God, my God!" murmured the young woman, "ought I to confide such asecret to you, monsieur? You are almost a boy. "

"I see that you require someone to answer for me?"

"I admit that would reassure me greatly. "

"Do you know Athos?"

"No. "

"Porthos?"

"No. "

"Aramis?"

"No. Who are these gentleman?"

"Three of the king's Musketeers. Do you know Monsieur de Treville, theircaptain?"

"Oh, yes, him! I know him; not personally, but from having heard thequeen speak of him more than once as a brave and loyal gentleman. "

"You do not fear lest he should betray you to the cardinal?"

"Oh, no, certainly not!"

"Well, reveal your secret to him, and ask him whether, howeverimportant, however valuable, however terrible it may be, you may notconfide it to me. "

"But this secret is not mine, and I cannot reveal it in this manner. "

"You were about to confide it to Monsieur Bonacieux, " said d'Artagnan, with chagrin. 

"As one confides a letter to the hollow of a tree, to the wing of apigeon, to the collar of a dog. "

"And yet, me--you see plainly that I love you. "

"You say so. "

"I am an honorable man. "

"You say so. "

"I am a gallant fellow. "

"I believe it. "

"I am brave. "

"Oh, I am sure of that!"

"Then, put me to the proof. "

Mme. Bonacieux looked at the young man, restrained for a minute bya last hesitation; but there was such an ardor in his eyes, suchpersuasion in his voice, that she felt herself constrained to confide inhim. Besides, she found herself in circumstances where everything mustbe risked for the sake of everything. The queen might be as much injuredby too much reticence as by too much confidence; and--let us admitit--the involuntary sentiment which she felt for her young protectordecided her to speak. 

"Listen, " said she; "I yield to your protestations, I yield to yourassurances. But I swear to you, before God who hears us, that if youbetray me, and my enemies pardon me, I will kill myself, while accusingyou of my death. "

"And I--I swear to you before God, madame, " said d'Artagnan, "that if Iam taken while accomplishing the orders you give me, I will die soonerthan do anything that may compromise anyone. "

Then the young woman confided in him the terrible secret of which chancehad already communicated to him a part in front of the Samaritaine. Thiswas their mutual declaration of love. 

D'Artagnan was radiant with joy and pride. This secret which hepossessed, this woman whom he loved! Confidence and love made him agiant. 

"I go, " said he; "I go at once. "

"How, you will go!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "and your regiment, yourcaptain?"

"By my soul, you had made me forget all that, dear Constance! Yes, youare right; a furlough is needful. "

"Still another obstacle, " murmured Mme. Bonacieux, sorrowfully. 

"As to that, " cried d'Artagnan, after a moment of reflection, "I shallsurmount it, be assured. "

"How so?"

"I will go this very evening to Treville, whom I will request to askthis favor for me of his brother-in-law, Monsieur Dessessart. "

"But another thing. "

"What?" asked d'Artagnan, seeing that Mme. Bonacieux hesitated tocontinue. 

"You have, perhaps, no money?"

"PERHAPS is too much, " said d'Artagnan, smiling. 

"Then, " replied Mme. Bonacieux, opening a cupboard and taking fromit the very bag which a half hour before her husband had caressed soaffectionately, "take this bag. "

"The cardinal's?" cried d'Artagnan, breaking into a loud laugh, hehaving heard, as may be remembered, thanks to the broken boards, everysyllable of the conversation between the mercer and his wife. 

"The cardinal's, " replied Mme. Bonacieux. "You see it makes a veryrespectable appearance. "

"PARDIEU, " cried d'Artagnan, "it will be a double amusing affair to savethe queen with the cardinal's money!"

"You are an amiable and charming young man, " said Mme. Bonacieux. "Beassured you will not find her Majesty ungrateful. "

"Oh, I am already grandly recompensed!" cried d'Artagnan. "I love you;you permit me to tell you that I do--that is already more happiness thanI dared to hope. "

"Silence!" said Mme. Bonacieux, starting. 

"What!"

"Someone is talking in the street. "

"It is the voice of--"

"Of my husband! Yes, I recognize it!"

D'Artagnan ran to the door and pushed the bolt. 

"He shall not come in before I am gone, " said he; "and when I am gone, you can open to him. "

"But I ought to be gone, too. And the disappearance of his money; how amI to justify it if I am here?"

"You are right; we must go out. "

"Go out? How? He will see us if we go out. "

"Then you must come up into my room. "

"Ah, " said Mme. Bonacieux, "you speak that in a tone that frightens me!"

Mme. Bonacieux pronounced these words with tears in her eyes. D'Artagnansaw those tears, and much disturbed, softened, he threw himself at herfeet. 

"With me you will be as safe as in a temple; I give you my word of agentleman. "

"Let us go, " said she, "I place full confidence in you, my friend!"

D'Artagnan drew back the bolt with precaution, and both, light asshadows, glided through the interior door into the passage, ascended thestairs as quietly as possible, and entered d'Artagnan's chambers. 

Once there, for greater security, the young man barricaded the door. They both approached the window, and through a slit in the shutter theysaw Bonacieux talking with a man in a cloak. 

At sight of this man, d'Artagnan started, and half drawing his sword, sprang toward the door. 

It was the man of Meung. 

"What are you going to do?" cried Mme. Bonacieux; "you will ruin usall!"

"But I have sworn to kill that man!" said d'Artagnan. 

"Your life is devoted from this moment, and does not belong to you. In the name of the queen I forbid you to throw yourself into any perilwhich is foreign to that of your journey. "

"And do you command nothing in your own name?"

"In my name, " said Mme. Bonacieux, with great emotion, "in my name I begyou! But listen; they appear to be speaking of me. "

D'Artagnan drew near the window, and lent his ear. 

M. Bonacieux had opened his door, and seeing the apartment, had returnedto the man in the cloak, whom he had left alone for an instant. 

"She is gone, " said he; "she must have returned to the Louvre. "

"You are sure, " replied the stranger, "that she did not suspect theintentions with which you went out?"

"No, " replied Bonacieux, with a self-sufficient air, "she is toosuperficial a woman. "

"Is the young Guardsman at home?"

"I do not think he is; as you see, his shutter is closed, and you cansee no light shine through the chinks of the shutters. "

"All the same, it is well to be certain. "

"How so?"

"By knocking at his door. Go. "

"I will ask his servant. "

Bonacieux re-entered the house, passed through the same door that hadafforded a passage for the two fugitives, went up to d'Artagnan's door, and knocked. 

No one answered. Porthos, in order to make a greater display, had thatevening borrowed Planchet. As to d'Artagnan, he took care not to givethe least sign of existence. 

The moment the hand of Bonacieux sounded on the door, the two youngpeople felt their hearts bound within them. 

"There is nobody within, " said Bonacieux. 

"Never mind. Let us return to your apartment. We shall be safer therethan in the doorway. "

"Ah, my God!" whispered Mme. Bonacieux, "we shall hear no more. "

"On the contrary, " said d'Artagnan, "we shall hear better. "

D'Artagnan raised the three or four boards which made his chamberanother ear of Dionysius, spread a carpet on the floor, went upon hisknees, and made a sign to Mme. Bonacieux to stoop as he did toward theopening. 

"You are sure there is nobody there?" said the stranger. 

"I will answer for it, " said Bonacieux. 

"And you think that your wife--"

"Has returned to the Louvre. "

"Without speaking to anyone but yourself?"

"I am sure of it. "

"That is an important point, do you understand?"

"Then the news I brought you is of value?"

"The greatest, my dear Bonacieux; I don't conceal this from you. "

"Then the cardinal will be pleased with me?"

"I have no doubt of it. "

"The great cardinal!"

"Are you sure, in her conversation with you, that your wife mentioned nonames?"

"I think not. "

"She did not name Madame de Chevreuse, the Duke of Buckingham, or Madamede Vernet?"

"No; she only told me she wished to send me to London to serve theinterests of an illustrious personage. "

"The traitor!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux. 

"Silence!" said d'Artagnan, taking her hand, which, without thinking ofit, she abandoned to him. 

"Never mind, " continued the man in the cloak; "you were a fool notto have pretended to accept the mission. You would then be in presentpossession of the letter. The state, which is now threatened, would besafe, and you--"

"And I?"

"Well you--the cardinal would have given you letters of nobility. "

"Did he tell you so?"

"Yes, I know that he meant to afford you that agreeable surprise. "

"Be satisfied, " replied Bonacieux; "my wife adores me, and there is yettime. "

"The ninny!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux. 

"Silence!" said d'Artagnan, pressing her hand more closely. 

"How is there still time?" asked the man in the cloak. 

"I go to the Louvre; I ask for Mme. Bonacieux; I say that I havereflected; I renew the affair; I obtain the letter, and I run directlyto the cardinal. "

"Well, go quickly! I will return soon to learn the result of your trip. "

The stranger went out. 

"Infamous!" said Mme. Bonacieux, addressing this epithet to her husband. 

"Silence!" said d'Artagnan, pressing her hand still more warmly. 

A terrible howling interrupted these reflections of d'Artagnan and Mme. Bonacieux. It was her husband, who had discovered the disappearance ofthe moneybag, and was crying "Thieves!"

"Oh, my God!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, "he will rouse the whole quarter. "

Bonacieux called a long time; but as such cries, on account of theirfrequency, brought nobody in the Rue des Fossoyeurs, and as lately themercer's house had a bad name, finding that nobody came, he went outcontinuing to call, his voice being heard fainter and fainter as he wentin the direction of the Rue du Bac. 

"Now he is gone, it is your turn to get out, " said Mme. Bonacieux. "Courage, my friend, but above all, prudence, and think what you owe tothe queen. "

"To her and to you!" cried d'Artagnan. "Be satisfied, beautifulConstance. I shall become worthy of her gratitude; but shall I likewisereturn worthy of your love?"

The young woman only replied by the beautiful glow which mounted to hercheeks. A few seconds afterward d'Artagnan also went out enveloped in alarge cloak, which ill-concealed the sheath of a long sword. 

Mme. Bonacieux followed him with her eyes, with that long, fond lookwith which he had turned the angle of the street, she fell on her knees, and clasping her hands, "Oh, my God, " cried she, "protect the queen, protect me!"

19 PLAN OF CAMPAIGN

D'Artagnan went straight to M. De Treville's. He had reflected that ina few minutes the cardinal would be warned by this cursed stranger, who appeared to be his agent, and he judged, with reason, he had not amoment to lose. 

The heart of the young man overflowed with joy. An opportunity presenteditself to him in which there would be at the same time glory to beacquired, and money to be gained; and as a far higher encouragement, itbrought him into close intimacy with a woman he adored. This chancedid, then, for him at once more than he would have dared to ask ofProvidence. 

M. De Treville was in his saloon with his habitual court of gentlemen. D'Artagnan, who was known as a familiar of the house, went straightto his office, and sent word that he wished to see him on something ofimportance. 

D'Artagnan had been there scarcely five minutes when M. De Trevilleentered. At the first glance, and by the joy which was painted on hiscountenance, the worthy captain plainly perceived that something new wason foot. 

All the way along d'Artagnan had been consulting with himself whether heshould place confidence in M. De Treville, or whether he should only askhim to give him CARTE BLANCHE for some secret affair. But M. De Trevillehad always been so thoroughly his friend, had always been so devoted tothe king and queen, and hated the cardinal so cordially, that the youngman resolved to tell him everything. 

"Did you ask for me, my good friend?" said M. De Treville. 

"Yes, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan, lowering his voice, "and you willpardon me, I hope, for having disturbed you when you know the importanceof my business. "

"Speak, then, I am all attention. "

"It concerns nothing less, " said d'Artagnan, "than the honor, perhapsthe life of the queen. "

"What did you say?" asked M. De Treville, glancing round to see if theywere surely alone, and then fixing his questioning look upon d'Artagnan. 

"I say, monsieur, that chance has rendered me master of a secret--"

"Which you will guard, I hope, young man, as your life. "

"But which I must impart to you, monsieur, for you alone can assist mein the mission I have just received from her Majesty. "

"Is this secret your own?"

"No, monsieur; it is her Majesty's. "

"Are you authorized by her Majesty to communicate it to me?"

"No, monsieur, for, on the contrary, I am desired to preserve theprofoundest mystery. "

"Why, then, are you about to betray it to me?"

"Because, as I said, without you I can do nothing; and I am afraid youwill refuse me the favor I come to ask if you do not know to what end Iask it. "

"Keep your secret, young man, and tell me what you wish. "

"I wish you to obtain for me, from Monsieur Dessessart, leave of absencefor fifteen days. "

"When?"

"This very night. "

"You leave Paris?"

"I am going on a mission. "

"May you tell me whither?"

"To London. "

"Has anyone an interest in preventing your arrival there?"

"The cardinal, I believe, would give the world to prevent my success. "

"And you are going alone?"

"I am going alone. "

"In that case you will not get beyond Bondy. I tell you so, by the faithof de Treville. "

"How so?"

"You will be assassinated. "

"And I shall die in the performance of my duty. "

"But your mission will not be accomplished. "

"That is true, " replied d'Artagnan. 

"Believe me, " continued Treville, "in enterprises of this kind, in orderthat one may arrive, four must set out. "

"Ah, you are right, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan; "but you know Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, and you know if I can dispose of them. "

"Without confiding to them the secret which I am not willing to know?"

"We are sworn, once for all, to implicit confidence and devotednessagainst all proof. Besides, you can tell them that you have fullconfidence in me, and they will not be more incredulous than you. "

"I can send to each of them leave of absence for fifteen days, that isall--to Athos, whose wound still makes him suffer, to go to the watersof Forges; to Porthos and Aramis to accompany their friend, whom theyare not willing to abandon in such a painful condition. Sending theirleave of absence will be proof enough that I authorize their journey. "

"Thanks, monsieur. You are a hundred times too good. "

"Begone, then, find them instantly, and let all be done tonight! Ha! Butfirst write your request to Dessessart. Perhaps you had a spy at yourheels; and your visit, if it should ever be known to the cardinal, willthus seem legitimate. "

D'Artagnan drew up his request, and M. De Treville, on receiving it, assured him that by two o'clock in the morning the four leaves ofabsence should be at the respective domiciles of the travelers. 

"Have the goodness to send mine to Athos's residence. I should dreadsome disagreeable encounter if I were to go home. "

"Be easy. Adieu, and a prosperous voyage. A PROPOS, " said M. DeTreville, calling him back. 

D'Artagnan returned. 

"Have you any money?"

D'Artagnan tapped the bag he had in his pocket. 

"Enough?" asked M. De Treville. 

"Three hundred pistoles. "

"Oh, plenty! That would carry you to the end of the world. Begone, then!"

D'Artagnan saluted M. De Treville, who held out his hand to him;d'Artagnan pressed it with a respect mixed with gratitude. Since hisfirst arrival at Paris, he had had constant occasion to honor thisexcellent man, whom he had always found worthy, loyal, and great. 

His first visit was to Aramis, at whose residence he had not beensince the famous evening on which he had followed Mme. Bonacieux. Stillfurther, he had seldom seen the young Musketeer; but every time he hadseen him, he had remarked a deep sadness imprinted on his countenance. 

This evening, especially, Aramis was melancholy and thoughtful. D'Artagnan asked some questions about this prolonged melancholy. Aramispleaded as his excuse a commentary upon the eighteenth chapter of St. Augustine, which he was forced to write in Latin for the following week, and which preoccupied him a good deal. 

After the two friends had been chatting a few moments, a servant from M. De Treville entered, bringing a sealed packet. 

"What is that?" asked Aramis. 

"The leave of absence Monsieur has asked for, " replied the lackey. 

"For me! I have asked for no leave of absence. "

"Hold your tongue and take it!" said d'Artagnan. "And you, my friend, there is a demipistole for your trouble; you will tell Monsieur deTreville that Monsieur Aramis is very much obliged to him. Go. "

The lackey bowed to the ground and departed. 

"What does all this mean?" asked Aramis. 

"Pack up all you want for a journey of a fortnight, and follow me. "

"But I cannot leave Paris just now without knowing--"

Aramis stopped. 

"What is become of her? I suppose you mean--" continued d'Artagnan. 

"Become of whom?" replied Aramis. 

"The woman who was here--the woman with the embroidered handkerchief. "

"Who told you there was a woman here?" replied Aramis, becoming as paleas death. 

"I saw her. "

"And you know who she is?"

"I believe I can guess, at least. "

"Listen!" said Aramis. "Since you appear to know so many things, can youtell me what is become of that woman?"

"I presume that she has returned to Tours. "

"To Tours? Yes, that may be. You evidently know her. But why did shereturn to Tours without telling me anything?"

"Because she was in fear of being arrested. "

"Why has she not written to me, then?"

"Because she was afraid of compromising you. "

"d'Artagnan, you restore me to life!" cried Aramis. "I fancied myselfdespised, betrayed. I was so delighted to see her again! I could nothave believed she would risk her liberty for me, and yet for what othercause could she have returned to Paris?"

"For the cause which today takes us to England. "

"And what is this cause?" demanded Aramis. 

"Oh, you'll know it someday, Aramis; but at present I must imitate thediscretion of 'the doctor's niece. '"

Aramis smiled, as he remembered the tale he had told his friends on acertain evening. "Well, then, since she has left Paris, and you are sureof it, d'Artagnan, nothing prevents me, and I am ready to follow you. You say we are going--"

"To see Athos now, and if you will come thither, I beg you to makehaste, for we have lost much time already. A PROPOS, inform Bazin. "

"Will Bazin go with us?" asked Aramis. 

"Perhaps so. At all events, it is best that he should follow us toAthos's. "

Aramis called Bazin, and, after having ordered him to join them atAthos's residence, said "Let us go then, " at the same time taking hiscloak, sword, and three pistols, opening uselessly two or three drawersto see if he could not find stray coin. When well assured this searchwas superfluous, he followed d'Artagnan, wondering to himself how thisyoung Guardsman should know so well who the lady was to whom he hadgiven hospitality, and that he should know better than himself what hadbecome of her. 

Only as they went out Aramis placed his hand upon the arm of d'Artagnan, and looking at him earnestly, "You have not spoken of this lady?" saidhe. 

"To nobody in the world. "

"Not even to Athos or Porthos?"

"I have not breathed a syllable to them. "

"Good enough!"

Tranquil on this important point, Aramis continued his way withd'Artagnan, and both soon arrived at Athos's dwelling. They found himholding his leave of absence in one hand, and M. De Treville's note inthe other. 

"Can you explain to me what signify this leave of absence and thisletter, which I have just received?" said the astonished Athos. 

My dear Athos, I wish, as your health absolutely requires it, that you should rest fora fortnight. Go, then, and take the waters of Forges, or any that may bemore agreeable to you, and recuperate yourself as quickly as possible. 

Yours affectionate, de Treville

"Well, this leave of absence and that letter mean that you must followme, Athos. "

"To the waters of Forges?"

"There or elsewhere. "

"In the king's service?"

"Either the king's or the queen's. Are we not their Majesties'servants?"

At that moment Porthos entered. "PARDIEU!" said he, "here is a strangething! Since when, I wonder, in the Musketeers, did they grant men leaveof absence without their asking for it?"

"Since, " said d'Artagnan, "they have friends who ask it for them. "

"Ah, ah!" said Porthos, "it appears there's something fresh here. "

"Yes, we are going--" said Aramis. 

"To what country?" demanded Porthos. 

"My faith! I don't know much about it, " said Athos. "Ask d'Artagnan. "

"To London, gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan. 

"To London!" cried Porthos; "and what the devil are we going to do inLondon?"

"That is what I am not at liberty to tell you, gentlemen; you must trustto me. "

"But in order to go to London, " added Porthos, "money is needed, and Ihave none. "

"Nor I, " said Aramis. 

"Nor I, " said Athos. 

"I have, " replied d'Artagnan, pulling out his treasure from his pocket, and placing it on the table. "There are in this bag three hundredpistoles. Let each take seventy-five; that is enough to take us toLondon and back. Besides, make yourselves easy; we shall not all arriveat London. "

"Why so?"

"Because, in all probability, some one of us will be left on the road. "

"Is this, then, a campaign upon which we are now entering?"

"One of a most dangerous kind, I give you notice. "

"Ah! But if we do risk being killed, " said Porthos, "at least I shouldlike to know what for. "

"You would be all the wiser, " said Athos. 

"And yet, " said Aramis, "I am somewhat of Porthos's opinion. "

"Is the king accustomed to give you such reasons? No. He says to youjauntily, 'Gentlemen, there is fighting going on in Gascony or inFlanders; go and fight, ' and you go there. Why? You need give yourselvesno more uneasiness about this. "

"d'Artagnan is right, " said Athos; "here are our three leaves ofabsence which came from Monsieur de Treville, and here are three hundredpistoles which came from I don't know where. So let us go and get killedwhere we are told to go. Is life worth the trouble of so many questions?D'Artagnan, I am ready to follow you. "

"And I also, " said Porthos. 

"And I also, " said Aramis. "And, indeed, I am not sorry to quit Paris; Ihad need of distraction. "

"Well, you will have distractions enough, gentlemen, be assured, " saidd'Artagnan. 

"And, now, when are we to go?" asked Athos. 

"Immediately, " replied d'Artagnan; "we have not a minute to lose. "

"Hello, Grimaud! Planchet! Mousqueton! Bazin!" cried the four young men, calling their lackeys, "clean my boots, and fetch the horses from thehotel. "

Each Musketeer was accustomed to leave at the general hotel, as ata barrack, his own horse and that of his lackey. Planchet, Grimaud, Mousqueton, and Bazin set off at full speed. 

"Now let us lay down the plan of campaign, " said Porthos. "Where do wego first?"

"To Calais, " said d'Artagnan; "that is the most direct line to London. "

"Well, " said Porthos, "this is my advice--"

"Speak!"

"Four men traveling together would be suspected. D'Artagnan will giveeach of us his instructions. I will go by the way of Boulogne to clearthe way; Athos will set out two hours after, by that of Amiens; Aramiswill follow us by that of Noyon; as to d'Artagnan, he will go by whatroute he thinks is best, in Planchet's clothes, while Planchet willfollow us like d'Artagnan, in the uniform of the Guards. "

"Gentlemen, " said Athos, "my opinion is that it is not proper to allowlackeys to have anything to do in such an affair. A secret may, bychance, be betrayed by gentlemen; but it is almost always sold bylackeys. "

"Porthos's plan appears to me to be impracticable, " said d'Artagnan, "inasmuch as I am myself ignorant of what instructions I can give you. I am the bearer of a letter, that is all. I have not, and I cannot makethree copies of that letter, because it is sealed. We must, then, as itappears to me, travel in company. This letter is here, in this pocket, "and he pointed to the pocket which contained the letter. "If I shouldbe killed, one of you must take it, and continue the route; if he bekilled, it will be another's turn, and so on--provided a single onearrives, that is all that is required. "

"Bravo, d'Artagnan, your opinion is mine, " cried Athos, "Besides, wemust be consistent; I am going to take the waters, you will accompanyme. Instead of taking the waters of Forges, I go and take sea waters; Iam free to do so. If anyone wishes to stop us, I will show Monsieur deTreville's letter, and you will show your leaves of absence. If we areattacked, we will defend ourselves; if we are tried, we will stoutlymaintain that we were only anxious to dip ourselves a certain number oftimes in the sea. They would have an easy bargain of four isolated men;whereas four men together make a troop. We will arm our four lackeyswith pistols and musketoons; if they send an army out against us, wewill give battle, and the survivor, as d'Artagnan says, will carry theletter. "

"Well said, " cried Aramis; "you don't often speak, Athos, but when youdo speak, it is like St. John of the Golden Mouth. I agree to Athos'splan. And you, Porthos?"

"I agree to it, too, " said Porthos, "if d'Artagnan approves of it. D'Artagnan, being the bearer of the letter, is naturally the head of theenterprise; let him decide, and we will execute. "

"Well, " said d'Artagnan, "I decide that we should adopt Athos's plan, and that we set off in half an hour. "

"Agreed!" shouted the three Musketeers in chorus. 

Each one, stretching out his hand to the bag, took his seventy-fivepistoles, and made his preparations to set out at the time appointed. 

20 THE JOURNEY

At two o'clock in the morning, our four adventurers left Paris by theBarriere St. Denis. As long as it was dark they remained silent; inspite of themselves they submitted to the influence of the obscurity, and apprehended ambushes on every side. 

With the first rays of day their tongues were loosened; with the sungaiety revived. It was like the eve of a battle; the heart beat, theeyes laughed, and they felt that the life they were perhaps going tolose, was, after all, a good thing. 

Besides, the appearance of the caravan was formidable. The black horsesof the Musketeers, their martial carriage, with the regimental stepof these noble companions of the soldier, would have betrayed the moststrict incognito. The lackeys followed, armed to the teeth. 

All went well till they arrived at Chantilly, which they reached abouteight o'clock in the morning. They needed breakfast, and alighted at thedoor of an AUBERGE, recommended by a sign representing St. Martin givinghalf his cloak to a poor man. They ordered the lackeys not to unsaddlethe horses, and to hold themselves in readiness to set off againimmediately. 

They entered the common hall, and placed themselves at table. Agentleman, who had just arrived by the route of Dammartin, was seated atthe same table, and was breakfasting. He opened the conversation aboutrain and fine weather; the travelers replied. He drank to their goodhealth, and the travelers returned his politeness. 

But at the moment Mousqueton came to announce that the horses wereready, and they were arising from table, the stranger proposed toPorthos to drink the health of the cardinal. Porthos replied that heasked no better if the stranger, in his turn, would drink the health ofthe king. The stranger cried that he acknowledged no other king but hisEminence. Porthos called him drunk, and the stranger drew his sword. 

"You have committed a piece of folly, " said Athos, "but it can't behelped; there is no drawing back. Kill the fellow, and rejoin us as soonas you can. "

All three remounted their horses, and set out at a good pace, whilePorthos was promising his adversary to perforate him with all thethrusts known in the fencing schools. 

"There goes one!" cried Athos, at the end of five hundred paces. 

"But why did that man attack Porthos rather than any other one of us?"asked Aramis. 

"Because, as Porthos was talking louder than the rest of us, he took himfor the chief, " said d'Artagnan. 

"I always said that this cadet from Gascony was a well of wisdom, "murmured Athos; and the travelers continued their route. 

At Beauvais they stopped two hours, as well to breathe their horses alittle as to wait for Porthos. At the end of two hours, as Porthos didnot come, not any news of him, they resumed their journey. 

At a league from Beauvais, where the road was confined between two highbanks, they fell in with eight or ten men who, taking advantage of theroad being unpaved in this spot, appeared to be employed in diggingholes and filling up the ruts with mud. 

Aramis, not liking to soil his boots with this artificial mortar, apostrophized them rather sharply. Athos wished to restrain him, butit was too late. The laborers began to jeer the travelers and by theirinsolence disturbed the equanimity even of the cool Athos, who urged onhis horse against one of them. 

Then each of these men retreated as far as the ditch, from which eachtook a concealed musket; the result was that our seven travelers wereoutnumbered in weapons. Aramis received a ball which passed through hisshoulder, and Mousqueton another ball which lodged in the fleshy partwhich prolongs the lower portion of the loins. Therefore Mousquetonalone fell from his horse, not because he was severely wounded, but notbeing able to see the wound, he judged it to be more serious than itreally was. 

"It was an ambuscade!" shouted d'Artagnan. "Don't waste a charge!Forward!"

Aramis, wounded as he was, seized the mane of his horse, which carriedhim on with the others. Mousqueton's horse rejoined them, and gallopedby the side of his companions. 

"That will serve us for a relay, " said Athos. 

"I would rather have had a hat, " said d'Artagnan. "Mine was carried awayby a ball. By my faith, it is very fortunate that the letter was not init. "

"They'll kill poor Porthos when he comes up, " said Aramis. 

"If Porthos were on his legs, he would have rejoined us by this time, "said Athos. "My opinion is that on the ground the drunken man was notintoxicated. "

They continued at their best speed for two hours, although the horseswere so fatigued that it was to be feared they would soon refuseservice. 

The travelers had chosen crossroads in the hope that they might meetwith less interruption; but at Crevecoeur, Aramis declared he couldproceed no farther. In fact, it required all the courage which heconcealed beneath his elegant form and polished manners to bear him sofar. He grew more pale every minute, and they were obliged to supporthim on his horse. They lifted him off at the door of a cabaret, leftBazin with him, who, besides, in a skirmish was more embarrassing thanuseful, and set forward again in the hope of sleeping at Amiens. 

"MORBLEU, " said Athos, as soon as they were again in motion, "reduced totwo masters and Grimaud and Planchet! MORBLEU! I won't be their dupe, I will answer for it. I will neither open my mouth nor draw my swordbetween this and Calais. I swear by--"

"Don't waste time in swearing, " said d'Artagnan; "let us gallop, if ourhorses will consent. "

And the travelers buried their rowels in their horses' flanks, who thusvigorously stimulated recovered their energies. They arrived at Amiensat midnight, and alighted at the AUBERGE of the Golden Lily. 

The host had the appearance of as honest a man as any on earth. Hereceived the travelers with his candlestick in one hand and his cottonnightcap in the other. He wished to lodge the two travelers each in acharming chamber; but unfortunately these charming chambers were at theopposite extremities of the hotel. D'Artagnan and Athos refused them. The host replied that he had no other worthy of their Excellencies; butthe travelers declared they would sleep in the common chamber, each ona mattress which might be thrown upon the ground. The host insisted; butthe travelers were firm, and he was obliged to do as they wished. 

They had just prepared their beds and barricaded their door within, whensomeone knocked at the yard shutter; they demanded who was there, andrecognizing the voices of their lackeys, opened the shutter. It wasindeed Planchet and Grimaud. 

"Grimaud can take care of the horses, " said Planchet. "If you arewilling, gentlemen, I will sleep across your doorway, and you will thenbe certain that nobody can reach you. "

"And on what will you sleep?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Here is my bed, " replied Planchet, producing a bundle of straw. 

"Come, then, " said d'Artagnan, "you are right. Mine host's face does notplease me at all; it is too gracious. "

"Nor me either, " said Athos. 

Planchet mounted by the window and installed himself across the doorway, while Grimaud went and shut himself up in the stable, undertaking thatby five o'clock in the morning he and the four horses should be ready. 

The night was quiet enough. Toward two o'clock in the morning somebodyendeavored to open the door; but as Planchet awoke in an instant andcried, "Who goes there?" somebody replied that he was mistaken, and wentaway. 

At four o'clock in the morning they heard a terrible riot in thestables. Grimaud had tried to waken the stable boys, and the stable boyshad beaten him. When they opened the window, they saw the poor lad lyingsenseless, with his head split by a blow with a pitchfork. 

Planchet went down into the yard, and wished to saddle the horses; butthe horses were all used up. Mousqueton's horse which had traveled forfive or six hours without a rider the day before, might have been ableto pursue the journey; but by an inconceivable error the veterinarysurgeon, who had been sent for, as it appeared, to bleed one of thehost's horses, had bled Mousqueton's. 

This began to be annoying. All these successive accidents were perhapsthe result of chance; but they might be the fruits of a plot. Athos andd'Artagnan went out, while Planchet was sent to inquire if there werenot three horses for sale in the neighborhood. At the door stood twohorses, fresh, strong, and fully equipped. These would just have suitedthem. He asked where their masters were, and was informed that they hadpassed the night in the inn, and were then settling their bill with thehost. 

Athos went down to pay the reckoning, while d'Artagnan and Planchetstood at the street door. The host was in a lower and back room, towhich Athos was requested to go. 

Athos entered without the least mistrust, and took out two pistoles topay the bill. The host was alone, seated before his desk, one of thedrawers of which was partly open. He took the money which Athos offeredto him, and after turning and turning it over and over in his hands, suddenly cried out that it was bad, and that he would have him and hiscompanions arrested as forgers. 

"You blackguard!" cried Athos, going toward him, "I'll cut your earsoff!"

At the same instant, four men, armed to the teeth, entered by sidedoors, and rushed upon Athos. 

"I am taken!" shouted Athos, with all the power of his lungs. "Go on, d'Artagnan! Spur, spur!" and he fired two pistols. 

D'Artagnan and Planchet did not require twice bidding; they unfastenedthe two horses that were waiting at the door, leaped upon them, buriedtheir spurs in their sides, and set off at full gallop. 

"Do you know what has become of Athos?" asked d'Artagnan of Planchet, asthey galloped on. 

"Ah, monsieur, " said Planchet, "I saw one fall at each of his two shots, and he appeared to me, through the glass door, to be fighting with hissword with the others. "

"Brave Athos!" murmured d'Artagnan, "and to think that we are compelledto leave him; maybe the same fate awaits us two paces hence. Forward, Planchet, forward! You are a brave fellow. "

"As I told you, monsieur, " replied Planchet, "Picards are found out bybeing used. Besides, I am here in my own country, and that excites me. "

And both, with free use of the spur, arrived at St. Omer without drawingbit. At St. Omer they breathed their horses with the bridles passedunder their arms for fear of accident, and ate a morsel from their handson the stones of the street, after they departed again. 

At a hundred paces from the gates of Calais, d'Artagnan's horse gaveout, and could not by any means be made to get up again, the bloodflowing from his eyes and his nose. There still remained Planchet'shorse; but he stopped short, and could not be made to move a step. 

Fortunately, as we have said, they were within a hundred paces of thecity; they left their two nags upon the high road, and ran toward thequay. Planchet called his master's attention to a gentleman who had justarrived with his lackey, and only preceded them by about fifty paces. They made all speed to come up to this gentleman, who appeared to bein great haste. His boots were covered with dust, and he inquired if hecould not instantly cross over to England. 

"Nothing would be more easy, " said the captain of a vessel ready toset sail, "but this morning came an order to let no one leave withoutexpress permission from the cardinal. "

"I have that permission, " said the gentleman, drawing the paper from hispocket; "here it is. "

"Have it examined by the governor of the port, " said the shipmaster, "and give me the preference. "

"Where shall I find the governor?"

"At his country house. "

"And that is situated?"

"At a quarter of a league from the city. Look, you may see it fromhere--at the foot of that little hill, that slated roof. "

"Very well, " said the gentleman. And, with his lackey, he took the roadto the governor's country house. 

D'Artagnan and Planchet followed the gentleman at a distance of fivehundred paces. Once outside the city, d'Artagnan overtook the gentlemanas he was entering a little wood. 

"Monsieur, you appear to be in great haste?"

"No one can be more so, monsieur. "

"I am sorry for that, " said d'Artagnan; "for as I am in great hastelikewise, I wish to beg you to render me a service. "

"What?"

"To let me sail first. "

"That's impossible, " said the gentleman; "I have traveled sixty leaguesin forty hours, and by tomorrow at midday I must be in London. "

"I have performed that same distance in forty hours, and by ten o'clockin the morning I must be in London. "

"Very sorry, monsieur; but I was here first, and will not sail second. "

"I am sorry, too, monsieur; but I arrived second, and must sail first. "

"The king's service!" said the gentleman. 

"My own service!" said d'Artagnan. 

"But this is a needless quarrel you seek with me, as it seems to me. "

"PARBLEU! What do you desire it to be?"

"What do you want?"

"Would you like to know?"

"Certainly. "

"Well, then, I wish that order of which you are bearer, seeing that Ihave not one of my own and must have one. "

"You jest, I presume. "

"I never jest. "

"Let me pass!"

"You shall not pass. "

"My brave young man, I will blow out your brains. HOLA, Lubin, mypistols!"

"Planchet, " called out d'Artagnan, "take care of the lackey; I willmanage the master. "

Planchet, emboldened by the first exploit, sprang upon Lubin; and beingstrong and vigorous, he soon got him on the broad of his back, andplaced his knee upon his breast. 

"Go on with your affair, monsieur, " cried Planchet; "I have finishedmine. "

Seeing this, the gentleman drew his sword, and sprang upon d'Artagnan;but he had too strong an adversary. In three seconds d'Artagnan hadwounded him three times, exclaiming at each thrust, "One for Athos, onefor Porthos; and one for Aramis!"

At the third hit the gentleman fell like a log. D'Artagnan believed himto be dead, or at least insensible, and went toward him for the purposeof taking the order; but the moment he extended his hand to search forit, the wounded man, who had not dropped his sword, plunged the pointinto d'Artagnan's breast, crying, "One for you!"

"And one for me--the best for last!" cried d'Artagnan, furious, nailinghim to the earth with a fourth thrust through his body. 

This time the gentleman closed his eyes and fainted. D'Artagnan searchedhis pockets, and took from one of them the order for the passage. It wasin the name of Comte de Wardes. 

Then, casting a glance on the handsome young man, who was scarcelytwenty-five years of age, and whom he was leaving in his gore, deprivedof sense and perhaps dead, he gave a sigh for that unaccountable destinywhich leads men to destroy each other for the interests of people whoare strangers to them and who often do not even know that they exist. But he was soon aroused from these reflections by Lubin, who utteredloud cries and screamed for help with all his might. 

Planchet grasped him by the throat, and pressed as hard as he could. "Monsieur, " said he, "as long as I hold him in this manner, he can'tcry, I'll be bound; but as soon as I let go he will howl again. I knowhim for a Norman, and Normans are obstinate. "

In fact, tightly held as he was, Lubin endeavored still to cry out. 

"Stay!" said d'Artagnan; and taking out his handkerchief, he gagged him. 

"Now, " said Planchet, "let us bind him to a tree. "

This being properly done, they drew the Comte de Wardes close to hisservant; and as night was approaching, and as the wounded man and thebound man were at some little distance within the wood, it was evidentthey were likely to remain there till the next day. 

"And now, " said d'Artagnan, "to the Governor's. "

"But you are wounded, it seems, " said Planchet. 

"Oh, that's nothing! Let us attend to what is more pressing first, and then we will attend to my wound; besides, it does not seem verydangerous. "

And they both set forward as fast as they could toward the country houseof the worthy functionary. 

The Comte de Wardes was announced, and d'Artagnan was introduced. 

"You have an order signed by the cardinal?" said the governor. 

"Yes, monsieur, " replied d'Artagnan; "here it is. "

"Ah, ah! It is quite regular and explicit, " said the governor. 

"Most likely, " said d'Artagnan; "I am one of his most faithfulservants. "

"It appears that his Eminence is anxious to prevent someone fromcrossing to England?"

"Yes; a certain d'Artagnan, a Bearnese gentleman who left Paris incompany with three of his friends, with the intention of going toLondon. "

"Do you know him personally?" asked the governor. 

"Whom?"

"This d'Artagnan. "

"Perfectly well. "

"Describe him to me, then. "

"Nothing more easy. "

And d'Artagnan gave, feature for feature, a description of the Comte deWardes. 

"Is he accompanied?"

"Yes; by a lackey named Lubin. "

"We will keep a sharp lookout for them; and if we lay hands on them hisEminence may be assured they will be reconducted to Paris under a goodescort. "

"And by doing so, Monsieur the Governor, " said d'Artagnan, "you willdeserve well of the cardinal. "

"Shall you see him on your return, Monsieur Count?"

"Without a doubt. "

"Tell him, I beg you, that I am his humble servant. "

"I will not fail. "

Delighted with this assurance the governor countersigned the passportand delivered it to d'Artagnan. D'Artagnan lost no time in uselesscompliments. He thanked the governor, bowed, and departed. Once outside, he and Planchet set off as fast as they could; and by making a longdetour avoided the wood and reentered the city by another gate. 

The vessel was quite ready to sail, and the captain was waiting on thewharf. "Well?" said he, on perceiving d'Artagnan. 

"Here is my pass countersigned, " said the latter. 

"And that other gentleman?

"He will not go today, " said d'Artagnan; "but here, I'll pay you for ustwo. "

"In that case let us go, " said the shipmaster. 

"Let us go, " repeated d'Artagnan. 

He leaped with Planchet into the boat, and five minutes after they wereon board. It was time; for they had scarcely sailed half a league, whend'Artagnan saw a flash and heard a detonation. It was the cannon whichannounced the closing of the port. 

He had now leisure to look to his wound. Fortunately, as d'Artagnan hadthought, it was not dangerous. The point of the sword had touched a rib, and glanced along the bone. Still further, his shirt had stuck to thewound, and he had lost only a few drops of blood. 

D'Artagnan was worn out with fatigue. A mattress was laid upon the deckfor him. He threw himself upon it, and fell asleep. 

On the morrow, at break of day, they were still three or four leaguesfrom the coast of England. The breeze had been so light all night, theyhad made but little progress. At ten o'clock the vessel cast anchor inthe harbor of Dover, and at half past ten d'Artagnan placed his foot onEnglish land, crying, "Here I am at last!"

But that was not all; they must get to London. In England the postwas well served. D'Artagnan and Planchet took each a post horse, and apostillion rode before them. In a few hours they were in the capital. 

D'Artagnan did not know London; he did not know a word of English;but he wrote the name of Buckingham on a piece of paper, and everyonepointed out to him the way to the duke's hotel. 

The duke was at Windsor hunting with the king. D'Artagnan inquired forthe confidential valet of the duke, who, having accompanied him in allhis voyages, spoke French perfectly well; he told him that he came fromParis on an affair of life and death, and that he must speak with hismaster instantly. 

The confidence with which d'Artagnan spoke convinced Patrick, which wasthe name of this minister of the minister. He ordered two horses tobe saddled, and himself went as guide to the young Guardsman. As forPlanchet, he had been lifted from his horse as stiff as a rush; the poorlad's strength was almost exhausted. D'Artagnan seemed iron. 

On their arrival at the castle they learned that Buckingham and the kingwere hawking in the marshes two or three leagues away. In twenty minutesthey were on the spot named. Patrick soon caught the sound of hismaster's voice calling his falcon. 

"Whom must I announce to my Lord Duke?" asked Patrick. 

"The young man who one evening sought a quarrel with him on the PontNeuf, opposite the Samaritaine. "

"A singular introduction!"

"You will find that it is as good as another. "

Patrick galloped off, reached the duke, and announced to him in theterms directed that a messenger awaited him. 

Buckingham at once remembered the circumstance, and suspecting thatsomething was going on in France of which it was necessary he should beinformed, he only took the time to inquire where the messenger was, andrecognizing from afar the uniform of the Guards, he put his horse intoa gallop, and rode straight up to d'Artagnan. Patrick discreetly kept inthe background. 

"No misfortune has happened to the queen?" cried Buckingham, the instanthe came up, throwing all his fear and love into the question. 

"I believe not; nevertheless I believe she runs some great peril fromwhich your Grace alone can extricate her. "

"I!" cried Buckingham. "What is it? I should be too happy to be of anyservice to her. Speak, speak!"

"Take this letter, " said d'Artagnan. 

"This letter! From whom comes this letter?"

"From her Majesty, as I think. "

"From her Majesty!" said Buckingham, becoming so pale that d'Artagnanfeared he would faint as he broke the seal. 

"What is this rent?" said he, showing d'Artagnan a place where it hadbeen pierced through. 

"Ah, " said d'Artagnan, "I did not see that; it was the sword of theComte de Wardes which made that hole, when he gave me a good thrust inthe breast. "

"You are wounded?" asked Buckingham, as he opened the letter. 

"Oh, nothing but a scratch, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Just heaven, what have I read?" cried the duke. "Patrick, remain here, or rather join the king, wherever he may be, and tell his Majesty thatI humbly beg him to excuse me, but an affair of the greatest importancerecalls me to London. Come, monsieur, come!" and both set off towardsthe capital at full gallop. 

21 THE COUNTESS DE WINTER

As they rode along, the duke endeavored to draw from d'Artagnan, not allthat had happened, but what d'Artagnan himself knew. By adding all thathe heard from the mouth of the young man to his own remembrances, he wasenabled to form a pretty exact idea of a position of the seriousness ofwhich, for the rest, the queen's letter, short but explicit, gave himthe clue. But that which astonished him most was that the cardinal, sodeeply interested in preventing this young man from setting his foot inEngland, had not succeeded in arresting him on the road. It was then, upon the manifestation of this astonishment, that d'Artagnan related tohim the precaution taken, and how, thanks to the devotion of his threefriends, whom he had left scattered and bleeding on the road, he hadsucceeded in coming off with a single sword thrust, which had piercedthe queen's letter and for which he had repaid M. De Wardes with suchterrible coin. While he was listening to this recital, delivered withthe greatest simplicity, the duke looked from time to time at theyoung man with astonishment, as if he could not comprehend how so muchprudence, courage, and devotedness could be allied with a countenancewhich indicated not more than twenty years. 

The horses went like the wind, and in a few minutes they were at thegates of London. D'Artagnan imagined that on arriving in town the dukewould slacken his pace, but it was not so. He kept on his way at thesame rate, heedless about upsetting those whom he met on the road. Infact, in crossing the city two or three accidents of this kind happened;but Buckingham did not even turn his head to see what became of thosehe had knocked down. D'Artagnan followed him amid cries which stronglyresembled curses. 

On entering the court of his hotel, Buckingham sprang from his horse, and without thinking what became of the animal, threw the bridle on hisneck, and sprang toward the vestibule. D'Artagnan did the same, with alittle more concern, however, for the noble creatures, whose merits hefully appreciated; but he had the satisfaction of seeing three or fourgrooms run from the kitchens and the stables, and busy themselves withthe steeds. 

The duke walked so fast that d'Artagnan had some trouble in keeping upwith him. He passed through several apartments, of an elegance of whicheven the greatest nobles of France had not even an idea, and arrivedat length in a bedchamber which was at once a miracle of taste and ofrichness. In the alcove of this chamber was a door concealed in thetapestry which the duke opened with a little gold key which he woresuspended from his neck by a chain of the same metal. With discretiond'Artagnan remained behind; but at the moment when Buckingham crossedthe threshold, he turned round, and seeing the hesitation of the youngman, "Come in!" cried he, "and if you have the good fortune to beadmitted to her Majesty's presence, tell her what you have seen. "

Encouraged by this invitation, d'Artagnan followed the duke, who closedthe door after them. The two found themselves in a small chapel coveredwith a tapestry of Persian silk worked with gold, and brilliantlylighted with a vast number of candles. Over a species of altar, andbeneath a canopy of blue velvet, surmounted by white and red plumes, wasa full-length portrait of Anne of Austria, so perfect in its resemblancethat d'Artagnan uttered a cry of surprise on beholding it. One mightbelieve the queen was about to speak. On the altar, and beneath theportrait, was the casket containing the diamond studs. 

The duke approached the altar, knelt as a priest might have done beforea crucifix, and opened the casket. "There, " said he, drawing from thecasket a large bow of blue ribbon all sparkling with diamonds, "thereare the precious studs which I have taken an oath should be buried withme. The queen gave them to me, the queen requires them again. Her willbe done, like that of God, in all things. "

Then, he began to kiss, one after the other, those dear studs with whichhe was about to part. All at once he uttered a terrible cry. 

"What is the matter?" exclaimed d'Artagnan, anxiously; "what hashappened to you, my Lord?"

"All is lost!" cried Buckingham, becoming as pale as a corpse; "two ofthe studs are wanting, there are only ten. "

"Can you have lost them, my Lord, or do you think they have beenstolen?"

"They have been stolen, " replied the duke, "and it is the cardinal whohas dealt this blow. Hold; see! The ribbons which held them have beencut with scissors. "

"If my Lord suspects they have been stolen, perhaps the person who stolethem still has them in his hands. "

"Wait, wait!" said the duke. "The only time I have worn these studs wasat a ball given by the king eight days ago at Windsor. The Comtesse deWinter, with whom I had quarreled, became reconciled to me at that ball. That reconciliation was nothing but the vengeance of a jealous woman. I have never seen her from that day. The woman is an agent of thecardinal. "

"He has agents, then, throughout the world?" cried d'Artagnan. 

"Oh, yes, " said Buckingham, grating his teeth with rage. "Yes, he is aterrible antagonist. But when is this ball to take place?"

"Monday next. "

"Monday next! Still five days before us. That's more time than we want. Patrick!" cried the duke, opening the door of the chapel, "Patrick!" Hisconfidential valet appeared. 

"My jeweler and my secretary. "

The valet went out with a mute promptitude which showed him accustomedto obey blindly and without reply. 

But although the jeweler had been mentioned first, it was the secretarywho first made his appearance. This was simply because he lived in thehotel. He found Buckingham seated at a table in his bedchamber, writingorders with his own hand. 

"Mr. Jackson, " said he, "go instantly to the Lord Chancellor, and tellhim that I charge him with the execution of these orders. I wish them tobe promulgated immediately. "

"But, my Lord, if the Lord Chancellor interrogates me upon the motiveswhich may have led your Grace to adopt such an extraordinary measure, what shall I reply?"

"That such is my pleasure, and that I answer for my will to no man. "

"Will that be the answer, " replied the secretary, smiling, "which hemust transmit to his Majesty if, by chance, his Majesty should have thecuriosity to know why no vessel is to leave any of the ports of GreatBritain?"

"You are right, Mr. Jackson, " replied Buckingham. "He will say, in thatcase, to the king that I am determined on war, and that this measure ismy first act of hostility against France. "

The secretary bowed and retired. 

"We are safe on that side, " said Buckingham, turning toward d'Artagnan. "If the studs are not yet gone to Paris, they will not arrive till afteryou. "

"How so?"

"I have just placed an embargo on all vessels at present in hisMajesty's ports, and without particular permission, not one dare lift ananchor. "

D'Artagnan looked with stupefaction at a man who thus employed theunlimited power with which he was clothed by the confidence of a kingin the prosecution of his intrigues. Buckingham saw by the expression ofthe young man's face what was passing in his mind, and he smiled. 

"Yes, " said he, "yes, Anne of Austria is my true queen. Upon a word fromher, I would betray my country, I would betray my king, I would betraymy God. She asked me not to send the Protestants of La Rochelle theassistance I promised them; I have not done so. I broke my word, it istrue; but what signifies that? I obeyed my love; and have I not beenrichly paid for that obedience? It was to that obedience I owe herportrait. "

D'Artagnan was amazed to note by what fragile and unknown threads thedestinies of nations and the lives of men are suspended. He was lost inthese reflections when the goldsmith entered. He was an Irishman--one ofthe most skillful of his craft, and who himself confessed that he gaineda hundred thousand livres a year by the Duke of Buckingham. 

"Mr. O'Reilly, " said the duke, leading him into the chapel, "look atthese diamond studs, and tell me what they are worth apiece. "

The goldsmith cast a glance at the elegant manner in which they wereset, calculated, one with another, what the diamonds were worth, andwithout hesitation said, "Fifteen hundred pistoles each, my Lord. "

"How many days would it require to make two studs exactly like them? Yousee there are two wanting. "

"Eight days, my Lord. "

"I will give you three thousand pistoles apiece if I can have them bythe day after tomorrow. "

"My Lord, they shall be yours. "

"You are a jewel of a man, Mr. O'Reilly; but that is not all. Thesestuds cannot be trusted to anybody; it must be done in the palace. "

"Impossible, my Lord! There is no one but myself can so execute themthat one cannot tell the new from the old. "

"Therefore, my dear Mr. O'Reilly, you are my prisoner. And if you wishever to leave my palace, you cannot; so make the best of it. Name tome such of your workmen as you need, and point out the tools they mustbring. "

The goldsmith knew the duke. He knew all objection would be useless, andinstantly determined how to act. 

"May I be permitted to inform my wife?" said he. 

"Oh, you may even see her if you like, my dear Mr. O'Reilly. Yourcaptivity shall be mild, be assured; and as every inconvenience deservesits indemnification, here is, in addition to the price of the studs, anorder for a thousand pistoles, to make you forget the annoyance I causeyou. "

D'Artagnan could not get over the surprise created in him by thisminister, who thus open-handed, sported with men and millions. 

As to the goldsmith, he wrote to his wife, sending her the order for thethousand pistoles, and charging her to send him, in exchange, his mostskillful apprentice, an assortment of diamonds, of which he gave thenames and the weight, and the necessary tools. 

Buckingham conducted the goldsmith to the chamber destined for him, andwhich, at the end of half an hour, was transformed into a workshop. Thenhe placed a sentinel at each door, with an order to admit nobody uponany pretense but his VALET DE CHAMBRE, Patrick. We need not add that thegoldsmith, O'Reilly, and his assistant, were prohibited from going outunder any pretext. This point, settled, the duke turned to d'Artagnan. "Now, my young friend, " said he, "England is all our own. What do youwish for? What do you desire?"

"A bed, my Lord, " replied d'Artagnan. "At present, I confess, that isthe thing I stand most in need of. "

Buckingham gave d'Artagnan a chamber adjoining his own. He wished tohave the young man at hand--not that he at all mistrusted him, butfor the sake of having someone to whom he could constantly talk of thequeen. 

In one hour after, the ordinance was published in London that no vesselbound for France should leave port, not even the packet boat withletters. In the eyes of everybody this was a declaration of war betweenthe two kingdoms. 

On the day after the morrow, by eleven o'clock, the two diamond studswere finished, and they were so completely imitated, so perfectly alike, that Buckingham could not tell the new ones from the old ones, and experts in such matters would have been deceived as he was. Heimmediately called d'Artagnan. "Here, " said he to him, "are the diamondstuds that you came to bring; and be my witness that I have done allthat human power could do. "

"Be satisfied, my Lord, I will tell all that I have seen. But does yourGrace mean to give me the studs without the casket?"

"The casket would encumber you. Besides, the casket is the more preciousfrom being all that is left to me. You will say that I keep it. "

"I will perform your commission, word for word, my Lord. "

"And now, " resumed Buckingham, looking earnestly at the young man, "howshall I ever acquit myself of the debt I owe you?"

D'Artagnan blushed up to the whites of his eyes. He saw that the dukewas searching for a means of making him accept something and the ideathat the blood of his friends and himself was about to be paid for withEnglish gold was strangely repugnant to him. 

"Let us understand each other, my Lord, " replied d'Artagnan, "and let usmake things clear beforehand in order that there may be no mistake. Iam in the service of the King and Queen of France, and form part ofthe company of Monsieur Dessessart, who, as well as his brother-in-law, Monsieur de Treville, is particularly attached to their Majesties. What I have done, then, has been for the queen, and not at all for yourGrace. And still further, it is very probable I should not have doneanything of this, if it had not been to make myself agreeable to someonewho is my lady, as the queen is yours. "

"Yes, " said the duke, smiling, "and I even believe that I know thatother person; it is--"

"My Lord, I have not named her!" interrupted the young man, warmly. 

"That is true, " said the duke; "and it is to this person I am bound todischarge my debt of gratitude. "

"You have said, my Lord; for truly, at this moment when there isquestion of war, I confess to you that I see nothing in your Grace butan Englishman, and consequently an enemy whom I should have much greaterpleasure in meeting on the field of battle than in the park at Windsoror the corridors of the Louvre--all which, however, will not prevent mefrom executing to the very point my commission or from laying down mylife, if there be need of it, to accomplish it; but I repeat it to yourGrace, without your having personally on that account more to thank mefor in this second interview than for what I did for you in the first. "

"We say, 'Proud as a Scotsman, '" murmured the Duke of Buckingham. 

"And we say, 'Proud as a Gascon, '" replied d'Artagnan. "The Gascons arethe Scots of France. "

D'Artagnan bowed to the duke, and was retiring. 

"Well, are you going away in that manner? Where, and how?"

"That's true!"

"Fore Gad, these Frenchmen have no consideration!"

"I had forgotten that England was an island, and that you were the kingof it. "

"Go to the riverside, ask for the brig SUND, and give this letter to thecaptain; he will convey you to a little port, where certainly you arenot expected, and which is ordinarily only frequented by fishermen. "

"The name of that port?"

"St. Valery; but listen. When you have arrived there you will go to amean tavern, without a name and without a sign--a mere fisherman's hut. You cannot be mistaken; there is but one. "

"Afterward?"

"You will ask for the host, and will repeat to him the word 'Forward!'"

"Which means?"

"In French, EN AVANT. It is the password. He will give you a horse allsaddled, and will point out to you the road you ought to take. You willfind, in the same way, four relays on your route. If you will give ateach of these relays your address in Paris, the four horses willfollow you thither. You already know two of them, and you appeared toappreciate them like a judge. They were those we rode on; and you mayrely upon me for the others not being inferior to them. These horses areequipped for the field. However proud you may be, you will not refuse toaccept one of them, and to request your three companions to acceptthe others--that is, in order to make war against us. Besides, the endjustified the means, as you Frenchmen say, does it not?"

"Yes, my Lord, I accept them, " said d'Artagnan; "and if it please God, we will make a good use of your presents. "

"Well, now, your hand, young man. Perhaps we shall soon meet on thefield of battle; but in the meantime we shall part good friends, Ihope. "

"Yes, my Lord; but with the hope of soon becoming enemies. "

"Be satisfied; I promise you that. "

"I depend upon your word, my Lord. "

D'Artagnan bowed to the duke, and made his way as quickly as possible tothe riverside. Opposite the Tower of London he found the vessel that hadbeen named to him, delivered his letter to the captain, who after havingit examined by the governor of the port made immediate preparations tosail. 

Fifty vessels were waiting to set out. Passing alongside one of them, d'Artagnan fancied he perceived on board it the woman of Meung--the samewhom the unknown gentleman had called Milady, and whom d'Artagnan hadthought so handsome; but thanks to the current of the stream and afair wind, his vessel passed so quickly that he had little more than aglimpse of her. 

The next day about nine o'clock in the morning, he landed at St. Valery. D'Artagnan went instantly in search of the inn, and easily discoveredit by the riotous noise which resounded from it. War between Englandand France was talked of as near and certain, and the jolly sailors werehaving a carousal. 

D'Artagnan made his way through the crowd, advanced toward the host, and pronounced the word "Forward!" The host instantly made him a sign tofollow, went out with him by a door which opened into a yard, led him tothe stable, where a saddled horse awaited him, and asked him if he stoodin need of anything else. 

"I want to know the route I am to follow, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Go from hence to Blangy, and from Blangy to Neufchatel. At Neufchatel, go to the tavern of the Golden Harrow, give the password to thelandlord, and you will find, as you have here, a horse ready saddled. "

"Have I anything to pay?" demanded d'Artagnan. 

"Everything is paid, " replied the host, "and liberally. Begone, and mayGod guide you!"

"Amen!" cried the young man, and set off at full gallop. 

Four hours later he was in Neufchatel. He strictly followed theinstructions he had received. At Neufchatel, as at St. Valery, he founda horse quite ready and awaiting him. He was about to remove the pistolsfrom the saddle he had quit to the one he was about to fill, but hefound the holsters furnished with similar pistols. 

"Your address at Paris?"

"Hotel of the Guards, company of Dessessart. "

"Enough, " replied the questioner. 

"Which route must I take?" demanded d'Artagnan, in his turn. 

"That of Rouen; but you will leave the city on your right. You must stopat the little village of Eccuis, in which there is but one tavern--theShield of France. Don't condemn it from appearances; you will find ahorse in the stables quite as good as this. "

"The same password?"

"Exactly. "

"Adieu, master!"

"A good journey, gentlemen! Do you want anything?"

D'Artagnan shook his head, and set off at full speed. At Eccuis, thesame scene was repeated. He found as provident a host and a fresh horse. He left his address as he had done before, and set off again at the samepace for Pontoise. At Pontoise he changed his horse for the last time, and at nine o'clock galloped into the yard of Treville's hotel. He hadmade nearly sixty leagues in little more than twelve hours. 

M. De Treville received him as if he had seen him that same morning;only, when pressing his hand a little more warmly than usual, heinformed him that the company of Dessessart was on duty at the Louvre, and that he might repair at once to his post. 

22 THE BALLET OF LA MERLAISON

On the morrow, nothing was talked of in Paris but the ball which thealdermen of the city were to give to the king and queen, and in whichtheir Majesties were to dance the famous La Merlaison--the favoriteballet of the king. 

Eight days had been occupied in preparations at the Hotel de Ville forthis important evening. The city carpenters had erected scaffoldsupon which the invited ladies were to be placed; the city grocer hadornamented the chambers with two hundred FLAMBEAUX of white wax, a pieceof luxury unheard of at that period; and twenty violins were ordered, and the price for them fixed at double the usual rate, upon condition, said the report, that they should be played all night. 

At ten o'clock in the morning the Sieur de la Coste, ensign in theking's Guards, followed by two officers and several archers of thatbody, came to the city registrar, named Clement, and demanded of him allthe keys of the rooms and offices of the hotel. These keys were givenup to him instantly. Each of them had ticket attached to it, by whichit might be recognized; and from that moment the Sieur de la Coste wascharged with the care of all the doors and all the avenues. 

At eleven o'clock came in his turn Duhallier, captain of the Guards, bringing with him fifty archers, who were distributed immediatelythrough the Hotel de Ville, at the doors assigned them. 

At three o'clock came two companies of the Guards, one French, theother Swiss. The company of French guards was composed of half of M. Duhallier's men and half of M. Dessessart's men. 

At six in the evening the guests began to come. As fast as they entered, they were placed in the grand saloon, on the platforms prepared forthem. 

At nine o'clock Madame la Premiere Presidente arrived. As next to thequeen, she was the most considerable personage of the fete, she wasreceived by the city officials, and placed in a box opposite to thatwhich the queen was to occupy. 

At ten o'clock, the king's collation, consisting of preserves and otherdelicacies, was prepared in the little room on the side of the church ofSt. Jean, in front of the silver buffet of the city, which was guardedby four archers. 

At midnight great cries and loud acclamations were heard. It was theking, who was passing through the streets which led from the Louvreto the Hotel de Ville, and which were all illuminated with coloredlanterns. 

Immediately the aldermen, clothed in their cloth robes and preceded bysix sergeants, each holding a FLAMBEAU in his hand, went to attend uponthe king, whom they met on the steps, where the provost of the merchantsmade him the speech of welcome--a compliment to which his Majestyreplied with an apology for coming so late, laying the blame upon thecardinal, who had detained him till eleven o'clock, talking of affairsof state. 

His Majesty, in full dress, was accompanied by his royal Highness, M. LeComte de Soissons, by the Grand Prior, by the Duc de Longueville, by theDuc d'Euboeuf, by the Comte d'Harcourt, by the Comte de la Roche-Guyon, by M. De Liancourt, by M. De Baradas, by the Comte de Cramail, and bythe Chevalier de Souveray. Everybody noticed that the king looked dulland preoccupied. 

A private room had been prepared for the king and another for Monsieur. In each of these closets were placed masquerade dresses. The same hadbeen done for the queen and Madame the President. The nobles and ladiesof their Majesties' suites were to dress, two by two, in chambersprepared for the purpose. Before entering his closet the king desired tobe informed the moment the cardinal arrived. 

Half an hour after the entrance of the king, fresh acclamations wereheard; these announced the arrival of the queen. The aldermen did asthey had done before, and preceded by their sergeants, advanced toreceive their illustrious guest. The queen entered the great hall; andit was remarked that, like the king, she looked dull and even weary. 

At the moment she entered, the curtain of a small gallery which tothat time had been closed, was drawn, and the pale face of the cardinalappeared, he being dressed as a Spanish cavalier. His eyes were fixedupon those of the queen, and a smile of terrible joy passed over hislips; the queen did not wear her diamond studs. 

The queen remained for a short time to receive the compliments of thecity dignitaries and to reply to the salutations of the ladies. Allat once the king appeared with the cardinal at one of the doors of thehall. The cardinal was speaking to him in a low voice, and the king wasvery pale. 

The king made his way through the crowd without a mask, and the ribbonsof his doublet scarcely tied. He went straight to the queen, and in analtered voice said, "Why, madame, have you not thought proper towear your diamond studs, when you know it would give me so muchgratification?"

The queen cast a glance around her, and saw the cardinal behind, with adiabolical smile on his countenance. 

"Sire, " replied the queen, with a faltering voice, "because, in themidst of such a crowd as this, I feared some accident might happen tothem. "

"And you were wrong, madame. If I made you that present it was that youmight adorn yourself therewith. I tell you that you were wrong. "

The voice of the king was tremulous with anger. Everybody looked andlistened with astonishment, comprehending nothing of what passed. 

"Sire, " said the queen, "I can send for them to the Louvre, where theyare, and thus your Majesty's wishes will be complied with. "

"Do so, madame, do so, and that at once; for within an hour the balletwill commence. "

The queen bent in token of submission, and followed the ladies whowere to conduct her to her room. On his part the king returned to hisapartment. 

There was a moment of trouble and confusion in the assembly. Everybodyhad remarked that something had passed between the king and queen; butboth of them had spoken so low that everybody, out of respect, withdrewseveral steps, so that nobody had heard anything. The violins began tosound with all their might, but nobody listened to them. 

The king came out first from his room. He was in a most elegant huntingcostume; and Monsieur and the other nobles were dressed like him. This was the costume that best became the king. So dressed, he reallyappeared the first gentleman of his kingdom. 

The cardinal drew near to the king, and placed in his hand a smallcasket. The king opened it, and found in it two diamond studs. 

"What does this mean?" demanded he of the cardinal. 

"Nothing, " replied the latter; "only, if the queen has the studs, whichI very much doubt, count them, sire, and if you only find ten, ask herMajesty who can have stolen from her the two studs that are here. "

The king looked at the cardinal as if to interrogate him; but he hadnot time to address any question to him--a cry of admiration burstfrom every mouth. If the king appeared to be the first gentleman of hiskingdom, the queen was without doubt the most beautiful woman in France. 

It is true that the habit of a huntress became her admirably. She wore abeaver hat with blue feathers, a surtout of gray-pearl velvet, fastenedwith diamond clasps, and a petticoat of blue satin, embroidered withsilver. On her left shoulder sparkled the diamond studs, on a bow of thesame color as the plumes and the petticoat. 

The king trembled with joy and the cardinal with vexation; although, distant as they were from the queen, they could not count the studs. Thequeen had them. The only question was, had she ten or twelve?

At that moment the violins sounded the signal for the ballet. The kingadvanced toward Madame the President, with whom he was to dance, and hisHighness Monsieur with the queen. They took their places, and the balletbegan. 

The king danced facing the queen, and every time he passed by her, hedevoured with his eyes those studs of which he could not ascertain thenumber. A cold sweat covered the brow of the cardinal. 

The ballet lasted an hour, and had sixteen ENTREES. The ballet endedamid the applause of the whole assemblage, and everyone reconducted hislady to her place; but the king took advantage of the privilege he hadof leaving his lady, to advance eagerly toward the queen. 

"I thank you, madame, " said he, "for the deference you have shown to mywishes, but I think you want two of the studs, and I bring them back toyou. "

With these words he held out to the queen the two studs the cardinal hadgiven him. 

"How, sire?" cried the young queen, affecting surprise, "you are givingme, then, two more: I shall have fourteen. "

In fact the king counted them, and the twelve studs were all on herMajesty's shoulder. 

The king called the cardinal. 

"What does this mean, Monsieur Cardinal?" asked the king in a severetone. 

"This means, sire, " replied the cardinal, "that I was desirous ofpresenting her Majesty with these two studs, and that not daring tooffer them myself, I adopted this means of inducing her to accept them. "

"And I am the more grateful to your Eminence, " replied Anne of Austria, with a smile that proved she was not the dupe of this ingeniousgallantry, "from being certain that these two studs alone have cost youas much as all the others cost his Majesty. "

Then saluting the king and the cardinal, the queen resumed her way tothe chamber in which she had dressed, and where she was to take off hercostume. 

The attention which we have been obliged to give, during thecommencement of the chapter, to the illustrious personages we haveintroduced into it, has diverted us for an instant from him to whomAnne of Austria owed the extraordinary triumph she had obtained over thecardinal; and who, confounded, unknown, lost in the crowd gathered atone of the doors, looked on at this scene, comprehensible only to fourpersons--the king, the queen, his Eminence, and himself. 

The queen had just regained her chamber, and d'Artagnan was about toretire, when he felt his shoulder lightly touched. He turned and saw ayoung woman, who made him a sign to follow her. The face of this youngwoman was covered with a black velvet mask; but notwithstanding thisprecaution, which was in fact taken rather against others than againsthim, he at once recognized his usual guide, the light and intelligentMme. Bonacieux. 

On the evening before, they had scarcely seen each other for a moment atthe apartment of the Swiss guard, Germain, whither d'Artagnan had sentfor her. The haste which the young woman was in to convey to the queenthe excellent news of the happy return of her messenger prevented thetwo lovers from exchanging more than a few words. D'Artagnan thereforefollowed Mme. Bonacieux moved by a double sentiment--love and curiosity. All the way, and in proportion as the corridors became more deserted, d'Artagnan wished to stop the young woman, seize her and gaze upon her, were it only for a minute; but quick as a bird she glided between hishands, and when he wished to speak to her, her finger placed upon hermouth, with a little imperative gesture full of grace, reminded himthat he was under the command of a power which he must blindly obey, andwhich forbade him even to make the slightest complaint. At length, afterwinding about for a minute or two, Mme. Bonacieux opened the door of acloset, which was entirely dark, and led d'Artagnan into it. There shemade a fresh sign of silence, and opened a second door concealed bytapestry. The opening of this door disclosed a brilliant light, and shedisappeared. 

D'Artagnan remained for a moment motionless, asking himself where hecould be; but soon a ray of light which penetrated through the chamber, together with the warm and perfumed air which reached him from the sameaperture, the conversation of two of three ladies in language at oncerespectful and refined, and the word "Majesty" several times repeated, indicated clearly that he was in a closet attached to the queen'sapartment. The young man waited in comparative darkness and listened. 

The queen appeared cheerful and happy, which seemed to astonish thepersons who surrounded her and who were accustomed to see her almostalways sad and full of care. The queen attributed this joyous feelingto the beauty of the fete, to the pleasure she had experienced in theballet; and as it is not permissible to contradict a queen, whether shesmile or weep, everybody expatiated on the gallantry of the aldermen ofthe city of Paris. 

Although d'Artagnan did not at all know the queen, he soon distinguishedher voice from the others, at first by a slightly foreign accent, andnext by that tone of domination naturally impressed upon all royalwords. He heard her approach and withdraw from the partially open door;and twice or three times he even saw the shadow of a person interceptthe light. 

At length a hand and an arm, surpassingly beautiful in their form andwhiteness, glided through the tapestry. D'Artagnan at once comprehendedthat this was his recompense. He cast himself on his knees, seizedthe hand, and touched it respectfully with his lips. Then the hand waswithdrawn, leaving in his an object which he perceived to be a ring. Thedoor immediately closed, and d'Artagnan found himself again in completeobscurity. 

D'Artagnan placed the ring on his finger, and again waited; it wasevident that all was not yet over. After the reward of his devotion, that of his love was to come. Besides, although the ballet was danced, the evening had scarcely begun. Supper was to be served at three, andthe clock of St. Jean had struck three quarters past two. 

The sound of voices diminished by degrees in the adjoining chamber. Thecompany was then heard departing; then the door of the closet in whichd'Artagnan was, was opened, and Mme. Bonacieux entered. 

"You at last?" cried d'Artagnan. 

"Silence!" said the young woman, placing her hand upon his lips;"silence, and go the same way you came!"

"But where and when shall I see you again?" cried d'Artagnan. 

"A note which you will find at home will tell you. Begone, begone!"

At these words she opened the door of the corridor, and pushedd'Artagnan out of the room. D'Artagnan obeyed like a child, without theleast resistance or objection, which proved that he was really in love. 

23 THE RENDEZVOUS

D'Artagnan ran home immediately, and although it was three o'clock inthe morning and he had some of the worst quarters of Paris to traverse, he met with no misadventure. Everyone knows that drunkards and lovershave a protecting deity. 

He found the door of his passage open, sprang up the stairs and knockedsoftly in a manner agreed upon between him and his lackey. Planchet*, whom he had sent home two hours before from the Hotel de Ville, tellinghim to sit up for him, opened the door for him. 

*The reader may ask, "How came Planchet here?" when he was left "stiffas a rush" in London. In the intervening time Buckingham perhaps senthim to Paris, as he did the horses. 

"Has anyone brought a letter for me?" asked d'Artagnan, eagerly. 

"No one has BROUGHT a letter, monsieur, " replied Planchet; "but one hascome of itself. "

"What do you mean, blockhead?"

"I mean to say that when I came in, although I had the key of yourapartment in my pocket, and that key had never quit me, I found a letteron the green table cover in your bedroom. "

"And where is that letter?"

"I left it where I found it, monsieur. It is not natural for lettersto enter people's houses in this manner. If the window had been open oreven ajar, I should think nothing of it; but, no--all was hermeticallysealed. Beware, monsieur; there is certainly some magic underneath. "

Meanwhile, the young man had darted in to his chamber, and opened theletter. It was from Mme. Bonacieux, and was expressed in these terms:

"There are many thanks to be offered to you, and to be transmitted toyou. Be this evening about ten o'clock at St. Cloud, in front of thepavilion which stands at the corner of the house of M. D'Estrees. --C. B. "

While reading this letter, d'Artagnan felt his heart dilated andcompressed by that delicious spasm which tortures and caresses thehearts of lovers. 

It was the first billet he had received; it was the first rendezvousthat had been granted him. His heart, swelled by the intoxication ofjoy, felt ready to dissolve away at the very gate of that terrestrialparadise called Love!

"Well, monsieur, " said Planchet, who had observed his master growred and pale successively, "did I not guess truly? Is it not some badaffair?"

"You are mistaken, Planchet, " replied d'Artagnan; "and as a proof, thereis a crown to drink my health. "

"I am much obliged to Monsieur for the crown he had given me, and Ipromise him to follow his instructions exactly; but it is not the lesstrue that letters which come in this way into shut-up houses--"

"Fall from heaven, my friend, fall from heaven. "

"Then Monsieur is satisfied?" asked Planchet. 

"My dear Planchet, I am the happiest of men!"

"And I may profit by Monsieur's happiness, and go to bed?"

"Yes, go. "

"May the blessings of heaven fall upon Monsieur! But it is not the lesstrue that that letter--"

And Planchet retired, shaking his head with an air of doubt, which theliberality of d'Artagnan had not entirely effaced. 

Left alone, d'Artagnan read and reread his billet. Then he kissed andrekissed twenty times the lines traced by the hand of his beautifulmistress. At length he went to bed, fell asleep, and had golden dreams. 

At seven o'clock in the morning he arose and called Planchet, who at thesecond summons opened the door, his countenance not yet quite freed fromthe anxiety of the preceding night. 

"Planchet, " said d'Artagnan, "I am going out for all day, perhaps. Youare, therefore, your own master till seven o'clock in the evening; butat seven o'clock you must hold yourself in readiness with two horses. "

"There!" said Planchet. "We are going again, it appears, to have ourhides pierced in all sorts of ways. "

"You will take your musketoon and your pistols. "

"There, now! Didn't I say so?" cried Planchet. "I was sure of it--thecursed letter!"

"Don't be afraid, you idiot; there is nothing in hand but a party ofpleasure. "

"Ah, like the charming journey the other day, when it rained bullets andproduced a crop of steel traps!"

"Well, if you are really afraid, Monsieur Planchet, " resumed d'Artagnan, "I will go without you. I prefer traveling alone to having a companionwho entertains the least fear. "

"Monsieur does me wrong, " said Planchet; "I thought he had seen me atwork. "

"Yes, but I thought perhaps you had worn out all your courage the firsttime. "

"Monsieur shall see that upon occasion I have some left; only I begMonsieur not to be too prodigal of it if he wishes it to last long. "

"Do you believe you have still a certain amount of it to expend thisevening?"

"I hope so, monsieur. "

"Well, then, I count on you. "

"At the appointed hour I shall be ready; only I believed that Monsieurhad but one horse in the Guard stables. "

"Perhaps there is but one at this moment; but by this evening there willbe four. "

"It appears that our journey was a remounting journey, then?"

"Exactly so, " said d'Artagnan; and nodding to Planchet, he went out. 

M. Bonacieux was at his door. D'Artagnan's intention was to go outwithout speaking to the worthy mercer; but the latter made so polite andfriendly a salutation that his tenant felt obliged, not only to stop, but to enter into conversation with him. 

Besides, how is it possible to avoid a little condescension toward ahusband whose pretty wife has appointed a meeting with you thatsame evening at St. Cloud, opposite D'Estrees's pavilion? D'Artagnanapproached him with the most amiable air he could assume. 

The conversation naturally fell upon the incarceration of the poorman. M. Bonacieux, who was ignorant that d'Artagnan had overheard hisconversation with the stranger of Meung, related to his young tenant thepersecutions of that monster, M. De Laffemas, whom he never ceasedto designate, during his account, by the title of the "cardinal'sexecutioner, " and expatiated at great length upon the Bastille, thebolts, the wickets, the dungeons, the gratings, the instruments oftorture. 

D'Artagnan listened to him with exemplary complaisance, and when hehad finished said, "And Madame Bonacieux, do you know who carried heroff?--For I do not forget that I owe to that unpleasant circumstance thegood fortune of having made your acquaintance. "

"Ah!" said Bonacieux, "they took good care not to tell me that; and mywife, on her part, has sworn to me by all that's sacred that she doesnot know. But you, " continued M. Bonacieux, in a tine of perfect goodfellowship, "what has become of you all these days? I have not seen younor your friends, and I don't think you could gather all that dustthat I saw Planchet brush off your boots yesterday from the pavement ofParis. "

"You are right, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, my friends and I have beenon a little journey. "

"Far from here?"

"Oh, Lord, no! About forty leagues only. We went to take Monsieur Athosto the waters of Forges, where my friends still remain. "

"And you have returned, have you not?" replied M. Bonacieux, giving tohis countenance a most sly air. "A handsome young fellow like youdoes not obtain long leaves of absence from his mistress; and we wereimpatiently waited for at Paris, were we not?"

"My faith!" said the young man, laughing, "I confess it, and so muchmore the readily, my dear Bonacieux, as I see there is no concealinganything from you. Yes, I was expected, and very impatiently, Iacknowledge. "

A slight shade passed over the brow of Bonacieux, but so slight thatd'Artagnan did not perceive it. 

"And we are going to be recompensed for our diligence?" continued themercer, with a trifling alteration in his voice--so trifling, indeed, that d'Artagnan did not perceive it any more than he had the momentaryshade which, an instant before, had darkened the countenance of theworthy man. 

"Ah, may you be a true prophet!" said d'Artagnan, laughing. 

"No; what I say, " replied Bonacieux, "is only that I may know whether Iam delaying you. "

"Why that question, my dear host?" asked d'Artagnan. "Do you intend tosit up for me?"

"No; but since my arrest and the robbery that was committed in my house, I am alarmed every time I hear a door open, particularly in the night. What the deuce can you expect? I am no swordsman. "

"Well, don't be alarmed if I return at one, two or three o'clock in themorning; indeed, do not be alarmed if I do not come at all. "

This time Bonacieux became so pale that d'Artagnan could not helpperceiving it, and asked him what was the matter. 

"Nothing, " replied Bonacieux, "nothing. Since my misfortunes I have beensubject to faintnesses, which seize me all at once, and I have justfelt a cold shiver. Pay no attention to it; you have nothing to occupyyourself with but being happy. "

"Then I have full occupation, for I am so. "

"Not yet; wait a little! This evening, you said. "

"Well, this evening will come, thank God! And perhaps you look for itwith as much impatience as I do; perhaps this evening Madame Bonacieuxwill visit the conjugal domicile. "

"Madame Bonacieux is not at liberty this evening, " replied the husband, seriously; "she is detained at the Louvre this evening by her duties. "

"So much the worse for you, my dear host, so much the worse! When Iam happy, I wish all the world to be so; but it appears that is notpossible. "

The young man departed, laughing at the joke, which he thought he alonecould comprehend. 

"Amuse yourself well!" replied Bonacieux, in a sepulchral tone. 

But d'Artagnan was too far off to hear him; and if he had heard him inthe disposition of mind he then enjoyed, he certainly would not haveremarked it. 

He took his way toward the hotel of M. De Treville; his visit of theday before, it is to be remembered, had been very short and very littleexplicative. 

He found Treville in a joyful mood. He had thought the king and queencharming at the ball. It is true the cardinal had been particularlyill-tempered. He had retired at one o'clock under the pretense of beingindisposed. As to their Majesties, they did not return to the Louvretill six o'clock in the morning. 

"Now, " said Treville, lowering his voice, and looking into every cornerof the apartment to see if they were alone, "now let us talk aboutyourself, my young friend; for it is evident that your happy return hassomething to do with the joy of the king, the triumph of the queen, andthe humiliation of his Eminence. You must look out for yourself. "

"What have I to fear, " replied d'Artagnan, "as long as I shall have theluck to enjoy the favor of their Majesties?"

"Everything, believe me. The cardinal is not the man to forget amystification until he has settled account with the mystifier; and themystifier appears to me to have the air of being a certain young Gasconof my acquaintance. "

"Do you believe that the cardinal is as well posted as yourself, andknows that I have been to London?"

"The devil! You have been to London! Was it from London you broughtthat beautiful diamond that glitters on your finger? Beware, my deard'Artagnan! A present from an enemy is not a good thing. Are there notsome Latin verses upon that subject? Stop!"

"Yes, doubtless, " replied d'Artagnan, who had never been able to cramthe first rudiments of that language into his head, and who had by hisignorance driven his master to despair, "yes, doubtless there is one. "

"There certainly is one, " said M. De Treville, who had a tincture ofliterature, "and Monsieur de Benserade was quoting it to me the otherday. Stop a minute--ah, this is it: 'Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes, 'which means, 'Beware of the enemy who makes you presents. "

"This diamond does not come from an enemy, monsieur, " repliedd'Artagnan, "it comes from the queen. "

"From the queen! Oh, oh!" said M. De Treville. "Why, it is indeed a trueroyal jewel, which is worth a thousand pistoles if it is worth a denier. By whom did the queen send you this jewel?"

"She gave it to me herself. "

"Where?"

"In the room adjoining the chamber in which she changed her toilet. "

"How?"

"Giving me her hand to kiss. "

"You have kissed the queen's hand?" said M. De Treville, lookingearnestly at d'Artagnan. 

"Her Majesty did me the honor to grant me that favor. "

"And that in the presence of witnesses! Imprudent, thrice imprudent!"

"No, monsieur, be satisfied; nobody saw her, " replied d'Artagnan, and herelated to M. De Treville how the affair came to pass. 

"Oh, the women, the women!" cried the old soldier. "I know them by theirromantic imagination. Everything that savors of mystery charms them. Soyou have seen the arm, that was all. You would meet the queen, and shewould not know who you are?"

"No; but thanks to this diamond, " replied the young man. 

"Listen, " said M. De Treville; "shall I give you counsel, good counsel, the counsel of a friend?"

"You will do me honor, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Well, then, off to the nearest goldsmith's, and sell that diamond forthe highest price you can get from him. However much of a Jew he may be, he will give you at least eight hundred pistoles. Pistoles have no name, young man, and that ring has a terrible one, which may betray him whowears it. "

"Sell this ring, a ring which comes from my sovereign? Never!" saidd'Artagnan. 

"Then, at least turn the gem inside, you silly fellow; for everybodymust be aware that a cadet from Gascony does not find such stones in hismother's jewel case. "

"You think, then, I have something to dread?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"I mean to say, young man, that he who sleeps over a mine the match ofwhich is already lighted, may consider himself in safety in comparisonwith you. "

"The devil!" said d'Artagnan, whom the positive tone of M. De Trevillebegan to disquiet, "the devil! What must I do?"

"Above all things be always on your guard. The cardinal has a tenaciousmemory and a long arm; you may depend upon it, he will repay you by someill turn. "

"But of what sort?"

"Eh! How can I tell? Has he not all the tricks of a demon at hiscommand? The least that can be expected is that you will be arrested. "

"What! Will they dare to arrest a man in his Majesty's service?"

"PARDIEU! They did not scruple much in the case of Athos. At all events, young man, rely upon one who has been thirty years at court. Do not lullyourself in security, or you will be lost; but, on the contrary--andit is I who say it--see enemies in all directions. If anyone seeks aquarrel with you, shun it, were it with a child of ten years old. If youare attacked by day or by night, fight, but retreat, without shame;if you cross a bridge, feel every plank of it with your foot, lest oneshould give way beneath you; if you pass before a house which is beingbuilt, look up, for fear a stone should fall upon your head; if youstay out late, be always followed by your lackey, and let your lackeybe armed--if, by the by, you can be sure of your lackey. Mistrusteverybody, your friend, your brother, your mistress--your mistress aboveall. "

D'Artagnan blushed. 

"My mistress above all, " repeated he, mechanically; "and why her ratherthan another?"

"Because a mistress is one of the cardinal's favorite means; he has notone that is more expeditious. A woman will sell you for ten pistoles, witness Delilah. You are acquainted with the Scriptures?"

D'Artagnan thought of the appointment Mme. Bonacieux had made with himfor that very evening; but we are bound to say, to the credit of ourhero, that the bad opinion entertained by M. De Treville of women ingeneral, did not inspire him with the least suspicion of his prettyhostess. 

"But, A PROPOS, " resumed M. De Treville, "what has become of your threecompanions?"

"I was about to ask you if you had heard any news of them?"

"None, monsieur. "

"Well, I left them on my road--Porthos at Chantilly, with a duel on hishands; Aramis at Crevecoeur, with a ball in his shoulder; and Athos atAmiens, detained by an accusation of coining. "

"See there, now!" said M. De Treville; "and how the devil did youescape?"

"By a miracle, monsieur, I must acknowledge, with a sword thrust in mybreast, and by nailing the Comte de Wardes on the byroad to Calais, likea butterfly on a tapestry. "

"There again! De Wardes, one of the cardinal's men, a cousin ofRochefort! Stop, my friend, I have an idea. "

"Speak, monsieur. "

"In your place, I would do one thing. "

"What?"

"While his Eminence was seeking for me in Paris, I would take, withoutsound of drum or trumpet, the road to Picardy, and would go and makesome inquiries concerning my three companions. What the devil! Theymerit richly that piece of attention on your part. "

"The advice is good, monsieur, and tomorrow I will set out. "

"Tomorrow! Any why not this evening?"

"This evening, monsieur, I am detained in Paris by indispensablebusiness. "

"Ah, young man, young man, some flirtation or other. Take care, I repeatto you, take care. It is woman who has ruined us, still ruins us, andwill ruin us, as long as the world stands. Take my advice and set outthis evening. "

"Impossible, monsieur. "

"You have given your word, then?"

"Yes, monsieur. "

"Ah, that's quite another thing; but promise me, if you should not bekilled tonight, that you will go tomorrow. "

"I promise it. "

"Do you need money?"

"I have still fifty pistoles. That, I think, is as much as I shallwant. "

"But your companions?"

"I don't think they can be in need of any. We left Paris, each withseventy-five pistoles in his pocket. "

"Shall I see you again before your departure?"

"I think not, monsieur, unless something new should happen. "

"Well, a pleasant journey. "

"Thanks, monsieur. "

D'Artagnan left M. De Treville, touched more than ever by his paternalsolicitude for his Musketeers. 

He called successively at the abodes of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Neither of them had returned. Their lackeys likewise were absent, andnothing had been heard of either the one or the other. He would haveinquired after them of their mistresses, but he was neither acquaintedwith Porthos's nor Aramis's, and as to Athos, he had none. 

As he passed the Hotel des Gardes, he took a glance in to thestables. Three of the four horses had already arrived. Planchet, allastonishment, was busy grooming them, and had already finished two. 

"Ah, monsieur, " said Planchet, on perceiving d'Artagnan, "how glad I amto see you. "

"Why so, Planchet?" asked the young man. 

"Do you place confidence in our landlord--Monsieur Bonacieux?"

"I? Not the least in the world. "

"Oh, you do quite right, monsieur. "

"But why this question?"

"Because, while you were talking with him, I watched you withoutlistening to you; and, monsieur, his countenance changed color two orthree times!"

"Bah!"

"Preoccupied as Monsieur was with the letter he had received, he did notobserve that; but I, whom the strange fashion in which that letter cameinto the house had placed on my guard--I did not lose a movement of hisfeatures. "

"And you found it?"

"Traitorous, monsieur. "

"Indeed!"

"Still more; as soon as Monsieur had left and disappeared round thecorner of the street, Monsieur Bonacieux took his hat, shut his door, and set off at a quick pace in an opposite direction. "

"It seems you are right, Planchet; all this appears to be a littlemysterious; and be assured that we will not pay him our rent until thematter shall be categorically explained to us. "

"Monsieur jests, but Monsieur will see. "

"What would you have, Planchet? What must come is written. "

"Monsieur does not then renounce his excursion for this evening?"

"Quite the contrary, Planchet; the more ill will I have toward MonsieurBonacieux, the more punctual I shall be in keeping the appointment madeby that letter which makes you so uneasy. "

"Then that is Monsieur's determination?"

"Undeniably, my friend. At nine o'clock, then, be ready here at thehotel, I will come and take you. "

Planchet seeing there was no longer any hope of making his masterrenounce his project, heaved a profound sigh and set to work to groomthe third horse. 

As to d'Artagnan, being at bottom a prudent youth, instead of returninghome, went and dined with the Gascon priest, who, at the time of thedistress of the four friends, had given them a breakfast of chocolate. 

24 THE PAVILION

At nine o'clock d'Artagnan was at the Hotel des Gardes; he foundPlanchet all ready. The fourth horse had arrived. 

Planchet was armed with his musketoon and a pistol. D'Artagnan had hissword and placed two pistols in his belt; then both mounted and departedquietly. It was quite dark, and no one saw them go out. Planchet tookplace behind his master, and kept at a distance of ten paces from him. 

D'Artagnan crossed the quays, went out by the gate of La Conference andfollowed the road, much more beautiful then than it is now, which leadsto St. Cloud. 

As long as he was in the city, Planchet kept at the respectful distancehe had imposed upon himself; but as soon as the road began to be morelonely and dark, he drew softly nearer, so that when they entered theBois de Boulogne he found himself riding quite naturally side by sidewith his master. In fact, we must not dissemble that the oscillation ofthe tall trees and the reflection of the moon in the dark underwoodgave him serious uneasiness. D'Artagnan could not help perceiving thatsomething more than usual was passing in the mind of his lackey andsaid, "Well, Monsieur Planchet, what is the matter with us now?"

"Don't you think, monsieur, that woods are like churches?"

"How so, Planchet?"

"Because we dare not speak aloud in one or the other. "

"But why did you not dare to speak aloud, Planchet--because you areafraid?"

"Afraid of being heard? Yes, monsieur. "

"Afraid of being heard! Why, there is nothing improper in ourconversation, my dear Planchet, and no one could find fault with it. "

"Ah, monsieur!" replied Planchet, recurring to his besetting idea, "thatMonsieur Bonacieux has something vicious in his eyebrows, and somethingvery unpleasant in the play of his lips. "

"What the devil makes you think of Bonacieux?"

"Monsieur, we think of what we can, and not of what we will. "

"Because you are a coward, Planchet. "

"Monsieur, we must not confound prudence with cowardice; prudence is avirtue. "

"And you are very virtuous, are you not, Planchet?"

"Monsieur, is not that the barrel of a musket which glitters yonder? Hadwe not better lower our heads?"

"In truth, " murmured d'Artagnan, to whom M. De Treville's recommendationrecurred, "this animal will end by making me afraid. " And he put hishorse into a trot. 

Planchet followed the movements of his master as if he had been hisshadow, and was soon trotting by his side. 

"Are we going to continue this pace all night?" asked Planchet. 

"No; you are at your journey's end. "

"How, monsieur! And you?"

"I am going a few steps farther. "

"And Monsieur leaves me here alone?"

"You are afraid, Planchet?"

"No; I only beg leave to observe to Monsieur that the night will be verycold, that chills bring on rheumatism, and that a lackey who has therheumatism makes but a poor servant, particularly to a master as activeas Monsieur. "

"Well, if you are cold, Planchet, you can go into one of those cabaretsthat you see yonder, and be in waiting for me at the door by six o'clockin the morning. "

"Monsieur, I have eaten and drunk respectfully the crown you gave methis morning, so that I have not a sou left in case I should be cold. "

"Here's half a pistole. Tomorrow morning. "

D'Artagnan sprang from his horse, threw the bridle to Planchet, anddeparted at a quick pace, folding his cloak around him. 

"Good Lord, how cold I am!" cried Planchet, as soon as he had lost sightof his master; and in such haste was he to warm himself that he wentstraight to a house set out with all the attributes of a suburbantavern, and knocked at the door. 

In the meantime d'Artagnan, who had plunged into a bypath, continued hisroute and reached St. Cloud; but instead of following the main streethe turned behind the chateau, reached a sort of retired lane, and foundhimself soon in front of the pavilion named. It was situated in a veryprivate spot. A high wall, at the angle of which was the pavilion, ran along one side of this lane, and on the other was a little gardenconnected with a poor cottage which was protected by a hedge frompassers-by. 

He gained the place appointed, and as no signal had been given him bywhich to announce his presence, he waited. 

Not the least noise was to be heard; it might be imagined that he wasa hundred miles from the capital. D'Artagnan leaned against the hedge, after having cast a glance behind it. Beyond that hedge, that garden, and that cottage, a dark mist enveloped with its folds that immensitywhere Paris slept--a vast void from which glittered a few luminouspoints, the funeral stars of that hell!

But for d'Artagnan all aspects were clothed happily, all ideas worea smile, all shades were diaphanous. The appointed hour was about tostrike. In fact, at the end of a few minutes the belfry of St. Cloudlet fall slowly ten strokes from its sonorous jaws. There was somethingmelancholy in this brazen voice pouring out its lamentations in themiddle of the night; but each of those strokes, which made up theexpected hour, vibrated harmoniously to the heart of the young man. 

His eyes were fixed upon the little pavilion situated at the angle ofthe wall, of which all the windows were closed with shutters, exceptone on the first story. Through this window shone a mild light whichsilvered the foliage of two or three linden trees which formed a groupoutside the park. There could be no doubt that behind this littlewindow, which threw forth such friendly beams, the pretty Mme. Bonacieuxexpected him. 

Wrapped in this sweet idea, d'Artagnan waited half an hour without theleast impatience, his eyes fixed upon that charming little abode ofwhich he could perceive a part of the ceiling with its gilded moldings, attesting the elegance of the rest of the apartment. 

The belfry of St. Cloud sounded half past ten. 

This time, without knowing why, d'Artagnan felt a cold shiver runthrough his veins. Perhaps the cold began to affect him, and he took aperfectly physical sensation for a moral impression. 

Then the idea seized him that he had read incorrectly, and that theappointment was for eleven o'clock. He drew near to the window, andplacing himself so that a ray of light should fall upon the letter ashe held it, he drew it from his pocket and read it again; but he had notbeen mistaken, the appointment was for ten o'clock. He went and resumedhis post, beginning to be rather uneasy at this silence and thissolitude. 

Eleven o'clock sounded. 

D'Artagnan began now really to fear that something had happened to Mme. Bonacieux. He clapped his hands three times--the ordinary signal oflovers; but nobody replied to him, not even an echo. 

He then thought, with a touch of vexation, that perhaps the young womanhad fallen asleep while waiting for him. He approached the wall, and tried to climb it; but the wall had been recently pointed, andd'Artagnan could get no hold. 

At that moment he thought of the trees, upon whose leaves the lightstill shone; and as one of them drooped over the road, he thoughtthat from its branches he might get a glimpse of the interior of thepavilion. 

The tree was easy to climb. Besides, d'Artagnan was but twenty yearsold, and consequently had not yet forgotten his schoolboy habits. In aninstant he was among the branches, and his keen eyes plunged through thetransparent panes into the interior of the pavilion. 

It was a strange thing, and one which made d'Artagnan tremble from thesole of his foot to the roots of his hair, to find that this soft light, this calm lamp, enlightened a scene of fearful disorder. One of thewindows was broken, the door of the chamber had been beaten in and hung, split in two, on its hinges. A table, which had been covered with anelegant supper, was overturned. The decanters broken in pieces, andthe fruits crushed, strewed the floor. Everything in the apartment gaveevidence of a violent and desperate struggle. D'Artagnan even fancied hecould recognize amid this strange disorder, fragments of garments, andsome bloody spots staining the cloth and the curtains. He hastenedto descend into the street, with a frightful beating at his heart; hewished to see if he could find other traces of violence. 

The little soft light shone on in the calmness of the night. D'Artagnanthen perceived a thing that he had not before remarked--for nothinghad led him to the examination--that the ground, trampled here andhoofmarked there, presented confused traces of men and horses. Besides, the wheels of a carriage, which appeared to have come from Paris, hadmade a deep impression in the soft earth, which did not extend beyondthe pavilion, but turned again toward Paris. 

At length d'Artagnan, in pursuing his researches, found near the walla woman's torn glove. This glove, wherever it had not touched the muddyground, was of irreproachable odor. It was one of those perfumed glovesthat lovers like to snatch from a pretty hand. 

As d'Artagnan pursued his investigations, a more abundant and more icysweat rolled in large drops from his forehead; his heart was oppressedby a horrible anguish; his respiration was broken and short. And yethe said, to reassure himself, that this pavilion perhaps had nothing incommon with Mme. Bonacieux; that the young woman had made an appointmentwith him before the pavilion, and not in the pavilion; that she mighthave been detained in Paris by her duties, or perhaps by the jealousy ofher husband. 

But all these reasons were combated, destroyed, overthrown, by thatfeeling of intimate pain which, on certain occasions, takes possessionof our being, and cries to us so as to be understood unmistakably thatsome great misfortune is hanging over us. 

Then d'Artagnan became almost wild. He ran along the high road, tookthe path he had before taken, and reaching the ferry, interrogated theboatman. 

About seven o'clock in the evening, the boatman had taken over a youngwoman, wrapped in a black mantle, who appeared to be very anxious not tobe recognized; but entirely on account of her precautions, the boatmanhad paid more attention to her and discovered that she was young andpretty. 

There were then, as now, a crowd of young and pretty women who came toSt. Cloud, and who had reasons for not being seen, and yet d'Artagnandid not for an instant doubt that it was Mme. Bonacieux whom the boatmanhad noticed. 

D'Artagnan took advantage of the lamp which burned in the cabin of theferryman to read the billet of Mme. Bonacieux once again, and satisfyhimself that he had not been mistaken, that the appointment was at St. Cloud and not elsewhere, before the D'Estrees's pavilion and not inanother street. Everything conspired to prove to d'Artagnan that hispresentiments had not deceived him, and that a great misfortune hadhappened. 

He again ran back to the chateau. It appeared to him that somethingmight have happened at the pavilion in his absence, and that freshinformation awaited him. The lane was still deserted, and the same calmsoft light shone through the window. 

D'Artagnan then thought of that cottage, silent and obscure, which hadno doubt seen all, and could tell its tale. The gate of the enclosurewas shut; but he leaped over the hedge, and in spite of the barking of achained-up dog, went up to the cabin. 

No one answered to his first knocking. A silence of death reigned inthe cabin as in the pavilion; but as the cabin was his last resource, heknocked again. 

It soon appeared to him that he heard a slight noise within--a timidnoise which seemed to tremble lest it should be heard. 

Then d'Artagnan ceased knocking, and prayed with an accent so fullof anxiety and promises, terror and cajolery, that his voice was ofa nature to reassure the most fearful. At length an old, worm-eatenshutter was opened, or rather pushed ajar, but closed again as soon asthe light from a miserable lamp which burned in the corner had shoneupon the baldric, sword belt, and pistol pommels of d'Artagnan. Nevertheless, rapid as the movement had been, d'Artagnan had had time toget a glimpse of the head of an old man. 

"In the name of heaven!" cried he, "listen to me; I have been waitingfor someone who has not come. I am dying with anxiety. Has anythingparticular happened in the neighborhood? Speak!"

The window was again opened slowly, and the same face appeared, only itwas now still more pale than before. 

D'Artagnan related his story simply, with the omission of names. He toldhow he had a rendezvous with a young woman before that pavilion, andhow, not seeing her come, he had climbed the linden tree, and by thelight of the lamp had seen the disorder of the chamber. 

The old man listened attentively, making a sign only that it was all so;and then, when d'Artagnan had ended, he shook his head with an air thatannounced nothing good. 

"What do you mean?" cried d'Artagnan. "In the name of heaven, explainyourself!"

"Oh! Monsieur, " said the old man, "ask me nothing; for if I dared tellyou what I have seen, certainly no good would befall me. "

"You have, then, seen something?" replied d'Artagnan. "In that case, inthe name of heaven, " continued he, throwing him a pistole, "tell me whatyou have seen, and I will pledge you the word of a gentleman that notone of your words shall escape from my heart. "

The old man read so much truth and so much grief in the face of theyoung man that he made him a sign to listen, and repeated in a lowvoice: "It was scarcely nine o'clock when I heard a noise in the street, and was wondering what it could be, when on coming to my door, I foundthat somebody was endeavoring to open it. As I am very poor and am notafraid of being robbed, I went and opened the gate and saw three men ata few paces from it. In the shadow was a carriage with two horses, andsome saddlehorses. These horses evidently belonged to the three men, whowere dressed as cavaliers. 'Ah, my worthy gentlemen, ' cried I, 'whatdo you want?' 'You must have a ladder?' said he who appeared to be theleader of the party. 'Yes, monsieur, the one with which I gather myfruit. ' 'Lend it to us, and go into your house again; there is a crownfor the annoyance we have caused you. Only remember this--if you speak aword of what you may see or what you may hear (for you will look andyou will listen, I am quite sure, however we may threaten you), you arelost. ' At these words he threw me a crown, which I picked up, and hetook the ladder. After shutting the gate behind them, I pretendedto return to the house, but I immediately went out a back door, andstealing along in the shade of the hedge, I gained yonder clump ofelder, from which I could hear and see everything. The three men broughtthe carriage up quietly, and took out of it a little man, stout, short, elderly, and commonly dressed in clothes of a dark color, who ascendedthe ladder very carefully, looked suspiciously in at the window of thepavilion, came down as quietly as he had gone up, and whispered, 'It isshe!' Immediately, he who had spoken to me approached the door of thepavilion, opened it with a key he had in his hand, closed the doorand disappeared, while at the same time the other two men ascended theladder. The little old man remained at the coach door; the coachman tookcare of his horses, the lackey held the saddlehorses. All at once greatcries resounded in the pavilion, and a woman came to the window, and opened it, as if to throw herself out of it; but as soon as sheperceived the other two men, she fell back and they went into thechamber. Then I saw no more; but I heard the noise of breakingfurniture. The woman screamed, and cried for help; but her cries weresoon stifled. Two of the men appeared, bearing the woman in their arms, and carried her to the carriage, into which the little old man got afterher. The leader closed the window, came out an instant after by thedoor, and satisfied himself that the woman was in the carriage. His twocompanions were already on horseback. He sprang into his saddle; thelackey took his place by the coachman; the carriage went off at a quickpace, escorted by the three horsemen, and all was over. From that momentI have neither seen nor heard anything. "

D'Artagnan, entirely overcome by this terrible story, remainedmotionless and mute, while all the demons of anger and jealousy werehowling in his heart. 

"But, my good gentleman, " resumed the old man, upon whom this mutedespair certainly produced a greater effect than cries and tears wouldhave done, "do not take on so; they did not kill her, and that's acomfort. "

"Can you guess, " said d'Artagnan, "who was the man who headed thisinfernal expedition?"

"I don't know him. "

"But as you spoke to him you must have seen him. "

"Oh, it's a description you want?"

"Exactly so. "

"A tall, dark man, with black mustaches, dark eyes, and the air of agentleman. "

"That's the man!" cried d'Artagnan, "again he, forever he! He is mydemon, apparently. And the other?"

"Which?"

"The short one. "

"Oh, he was not a gentleman, I'll answer for it; besides, he did notwear a sword, and the others treated him with small consideration. "

"Some lackey, " murmured d'Artagnan. "Poor woman, poor woman, what havethey done with you?"

"You have promised to be secret, my good monsieur?" said the old man. 

"And I renew my promise. Be easy, I am a gentleman. A gentleman has buthis word, and I have given you mine. "

With a heavy heart, d'Artagnan again bent his way toward the ferry. Sometimes he hoped it could not be Mme. Bonacieux, and that he shouldfind her next day at the Louvre; sometimes he feared she had had anintrigue with another, who, in a jealous fit, had surprised her andcarried her off. His mind was torn by doubt, grief, and despair. 

"Oh, if I had my three friends here, " cried he, "I should have, atleast, some hopes of finding her; but who knows what has become ofthem?"

It was past midnight; the next thing was to find Planchet. D'Artagnanwent successively into all the cabarets in which there was a light, butcould not find Planchet in any of them. 

At the sixth he began to reflect that the search was rather dubious. D'Artagnan had appointed six o'clock in the morning for his lackey, andwherever he might be, he was right. 

Besides, it came into the young man's mind that by remaining in theenvirons of the spot on which this sad event had passed, he would, perhaps, have some light thrown upon the mysterious affair. At the sixthcabaret, then, as we said, d'Artagnan stopped, asked for a bottle ofwine of the best quality, and placing himself in the darkest corner ofthe room, determined thus to wait till daylight; but this time again hishopes were disappointed, and although he listened with all his ears, he heard nothing, amid the oaths, coarse jokes, and abuse which passedbetween the laborers, servants, and carters who comprised the honorablesociety of which he formed a part, which could put him upon the leasttrack of her who had been stolen from him. He was compelled, then, afterhaving swallowed the contents of his bottle, to pass the time as well asto evade suspicion, to fall into the easiest position in his corner andto sleep, whether well or ill. D'Artagnan, be it remembered, was onlytwenty years old, and at that age sleep has its imprescriptible rightswhich it imperiously insists upon, even with the saddest hearts. 

Toward six o'clock d'Artagnan awoke with that uncomfortable feelingwhich generally accompanies the break of day after a bad night. He wasnot long in making his toilet. He examined himself to see if advantagehad been taken of his sleep, and having found his diamond ring on hisfinger, his purse in his pocket, and his pistols in his belt, he rose, paid for his bottle, and went out to try if he could have any betterluck in his search after his lackey than he had had the night before. The first thing he perceived through the damp gray mist was honestPlanchet, who, with the two horses in hand, awaited him at the door of alittle blind cabaret, before which d'Artagnan had passed without even asuspicion of its existence. 

25 PORTHOS

Instead of returning directly home, d'Artagnan alighted at the door ofM. De Treville, and ran quickly up the stairs. This time he had decidedto relate all that had passed. M. De Treville would doubtless give himgood advice as to the whole affair. Besides, as M. De Treville sawthe queen almost daily, he might be able to draw from her Majesty someintelligence of the poor young woman, whom they were doubtless makingpay very dearly for her devotedness to her mistress. 

M. De Treville listened to the young man's account with a seriousnesswhich proved that he saw something else in this adventure besides a loveaffair. When d'Artagnan had finished, he said, "Hum! All this savors ofhis Eminence, a league off. "

"But what is to be done?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Nothing, absolutely nothing, at present, but quitting Paris, as I toldyou, as soon as possible. I will see the queen; I will relate to herthe details of the disappearance of this poor woman, of which she is nodoubt ignorant. These details will guide her on her part, and on yourreturn, I shall perhaps have some good news to tell you. Rely on me. "

D'Artagnan knew that, although a Gascon, M. De Treville was not in thehabit of making promises, and that when by chance he did promise, hemore than kept his word. He bowed to him, then, full of gratitude forthe past and for the future; and the worthy captain, who on his sidefelt a lively interest in this young man, so brave and so resolute, pressed his hand kindly, wishing him a pleasant journey. 

Determined to put the advice of M. De Treville in practice instantly, d'Artagnan directed his course toward the Rue des Fossoyeurs, in orderto superintend the packing of his valise. On approaching the house, heperceived M. Bonacieux in morning costume, standing at his threshold. All that the prudent Planchet had said to him the preceding eveningabout the sinister character of the old man recurred to the mind ofd'Artagnan, who looked at him with more attention than he had donebefore. In fact, in addition to that yellow, sickly paleness whichindicates the insinuation of the bile in the blood, and which might, besides, be accidental, d'Artagnan remarked something perfidiouslysignificant in the play of the wrinkled features of his countenance. A rogue does not laugh in the same way that an honest man does; ahypocrite does not shed the tears of a man of good faith. All falsehoodis a mask; and however well made the mask may be, with a littleattention we may always succeed in distinguishing it from the true face. 

It appeared, then, to d'Artagnan that M. Bonacieux wore a mask, and likewise that that mask was most disagreeable to look upon. Inconsequence of this feeling of repugnance, he was about to pass withoutspeaking to him, but, as he had done the day before, M. Bonacieuxaccosted him. 

"Well, young man, " said he, "we appear to pass rather gay nights! Seveno'clock in the morning! PESTE! You seem to reverse ordinary customs, andcome home at the hour when other people are going out. "

"No one can reproach you for anything of the kind, Monsieur Bonacieux, "said the young man; "you are a model for regular people. It is true thatwhen a man possesses a young and pretty wife, he has no need to seekhappiness elsewhere. Happiness comes to meet him, does it not, MonsieurBonacieux?"

Bonacieux became as pale as death, and grinned a ghastly smile. 

"Ah, ah!" said Bonacieux, "you are a jocular companion! But where thedevil were you gladding last night, my young master? It does not appearto be very clean in the crossroads. "

D'Artagnan glanced down at his boots, all covered with mud; but thatsame glance fell upon the shoes and stockings of the mercer, and itmight have been said they had been dipped in the same mud heap. Bothwere stained with splashes of mud of the same appearance. 

Then a sudden idea crossed the mind of d'Artagnan. That little stoutman, short and elderly, that sort of lackey, dressed in dark clothes, treated without ceremony by the men wearing swords who composed theescort, was Bonacieux himself. The husband had presided at the abductionof his wife. 

A terrible inclination seized d'Artagnan to grasp the mercer by thethroat and strangle him; but, as we have said, he was a very prudentyouth, and he restrained himself. However, the revolution which appearedupon his countenance was so visible that Bonacieux was terrified at it, and he endeavored to draw back a step or two; but as he was standingbefore the half of the door which was shut, the obstacle compelled himto keep his place. 

"Ah, but you are joking, my worthy man!" said d'Artagnan. "It appearsto me that if my boots need a sponge, your stockings and shoes stand inequal need of a brush. May you not have been philandering a little also, Monsieur Bonacieux? Oh, the devil! That's unpardonable in a man of yourage, and who besides, has such a pretty wife as yours. "

"Oh, Lord! no, " said Bonacieux, "but yesterday I went to St. Mande tomake some inquiries after a servant, as I cannot possibly do withoutone; and the roads were so bad that I brought back all this mud, which Ihave not yet had time to remove. "

The place named by Bonacieux as that which had been the object of hisjourney was a fresh proof in support of the suspicions d'Artagnan hadconceived. Bonacieux had named Mande because Mande was in an exactlyopposite direction from St. Cloud. This probability afforded him hisfirst consolation. If Bonacieux knew where his wife was, one might, byextreme means, force the mercer to open his teeth and let his secretescape. The question, then, was how to change this probability into acertainty. 

"Pardon, my dear Monsieur Bonacieux, if I don't stand upon ceremony, "said d'Artagnan, "but nothing makes one so thirsty as want of sleep. I am parched with thirst. Allow me to take a glass of water in yourapartment; you know that is never refused among neighbors. "

Without waiting for the permission of his host, d'Artagnan went quicklyinto the house, and cast a rapid glance at the bed. It had not beenused. Bonacieux had not been abed. He had only been back an hour or two;he had accompanied his wife to the place of her confinement, or else atleast to the first relay. 

"Thanks, Monsieur Bonacieux, " said d'Artagnan, emptying his glass, "thatis all I wanted of you. I will now go up into my apartment. I will makePlanchet brush my boots; and when he has done, I will, if you like, sendhim to you to brush your shoes. "

He left the mercer quite astonished at his singular farewell, and askinghimself if he had not been a little inconsiderate. 

At the top of the stairs he found Planchet in a great fright. 

"Ah, monsieur!" cried Planchet, as soon as he perceived his master, "here is more trouble. I thought you would never come in. "

"What's the matter now, Planchet?" demanded d'Artagnan. 

"Oh! I give you a hundred, I give you a thousand times to guess, monsieur, the visit I received in your absence. "

"When?"

"About half an hour ago, while you were at Monsieur de Treville's. "

"Who has been here? Come, speak. "

"Monsieur de Cavois. "

"Monsieur de Cavois?"

"In person. "

"The captain of the cardinal's Guards?"

"Himself. "

"Did he come to arrest me?"

"I have no doubt that he did, monsieur, for all his wheedling manner. "

"Was he so sweet, then?"

"Indeed, he was all honey, monsieur. "

"Indeed!"

"He came, he said, on the part of his Eminence, who wished you well, andto beg you to follow him to the Palais-Royal. " [*]

 *It was called the Palais-Cardinal before Richelieu gave it to the King. 

"What did you answer him?"

"That the thing was impossible, seeing that you were not at home, as hecould see. "

"Well, what did he say then?"

"That you must not fail to call upon him in the course of the day; andthen he added in a low voice, 'Tell your master that his Eminence isvery well disposed toward him, and that his fortune perhaps depends uponthis interview. '"

"The snare is rather MALADROIT for the cardinal, " replied the young man, smiling. 

"Oh, I saw the snare, and I answered you would be quite in despair onyour return. 

"'Where has he gone?' asked Monsieur de Cavois. 

"'To Troyes, in Champagne, ' I answered. 

"'And when did he set out?'

"'Yesterday evening. '"

"Planchet, my friend, " interrupted d'Artagnan, "you are really aprecious fellow. "

"You will understand, monsieur, I thought there would be still time, ifyou wish, to see Monsieur de Cavois to contradict me by saying you werenot yet gone. The falsehood would then lie at my door, and as I am not agentleman, I may be allowed to lie. "

"Be of good heart, Planchet, you shall preserve your reputation as averacious man. In a quarter of an hour we set off. "

"That's the advice I was about to give Monsieur; and where are we going, may I ask, without being too curious?"

"PARDIEU! In the opposite direction to that which you said I was gone. Besides, are you not as anxious to learn news of Grimaud, Mousqueton, and Bazin as I am to know what has become of Athos, Porthos, andAramis?"

"Yes, monsieur, " said Planchet, "and I will go as soon as you please. Indeed, I think provincial air will suit us much better just now thanthe air of Paris. So then--"

"So then, pack up our luggage, Planchet, and let us be off. On mypart, I will go out with my hands in my pockets, that nothing maybe suspected. You may join me at the Hotel des Gardes. By the way, Planchet, I think you are right with respect to our host, and that he isdecidedly a frightfully low wretch. "

"Ah, monsieur, you may take my word when I tell you anything. I am aphysiognomist, I assure you. "

D'Artagnan went out first, as had been agreed upon. Then, in order thathe might have nothing to reproach himself with, he directed his steps, for the last time, toward the residences of his three friends. No newshad been received of them; only a letter, all perfumed and of an elegantwriting in small characters, had come for Aramis. D'Artagnan took chargeof it. Ten minutes afterward Planchet joined him at the stables of theHotel des Gardes. D'Artagnan, in order that there might be no time lost, had saddled his horse himself. 

"That's well, " said he to Planchet, when the latter added theportmanteau to the equipment. "Now saddle the other three horses. "

"Do you think, then, monsieur, that we shall travel faster with twohorses apiece?" said Planchet, with his shrewd air. 

"No, Monsieur Jester, " replied d'Artagnan; "but with our four horses wemay bring back our three friends, if we should have the good fortune tofind them living. "

"Which is a great chance, " replied Planchet, "but we must not despair ofthe mercy of God. "

"Amen!" said d'Artagnan, getting into his saddle. 

As they went from the Hotel des Gardes, they separated, leaving thestreet at opposite ends, one having to quit Paris by the Barriere de laVillette and the other by the Barriere Montmartre, to meet again beyondSt. Denis--a strategic maneuver which, having been executed with equalpunctuality, was crowned with the most fortunate results. D'Artagnan andPlanchet entered Pierrefitte together. 

Planchet was more courageous, it must be admitted, by day than by night. His natural prudence, however, never forsook him for a single instant. He had forgotten not one of the incidents of the first journey, and helooked upon everybody he met on the road as an enemy. It followedthat his hat was forever in his hand, which procured him some severereprimands from d'Artagnan, who feared that his excess of politenesswould lead people to think he was the lackey of a man of no consequence. 

Nevertheless, whether the passengers were really touched by the urbanityof Planchet or whether this time nobody was posted on the young man'sroad, our two travelers arrived at Chantilly without any accident, andalighted at the tavern of Great St. Martin, the same at which they hadstopped on their first journey. 

The host, on seeing a young man followed by a lackey with two extrahorses, advanced respectfully to the door. Now, as they had alreadytraveled eleven leagues, d'Artagnan thought it time to stop, whetherPorthos were or were not in the inn. Perhaps it would not be prudentto ask at once what had become of the Musketeer. The result of thesereflections was that d'Artagnan, without asking information of any kind, alighted, commended the horses to the care of his lackey, entered asmall room destined to receive those who wished to be alone, and desiredthe host to bring him a bottle of his best wine and as good a breakfastas possible--a desire which further corroborated the high opinion theinnkeeper had formed of the traveler at first sight. 

D'Artagnan was therefore served with miraculous celerity. The regimentof the Guards was recruited among the first gentlemen of the kingdom;and d'Artagnan, followed by a lackey, and traveling with fourmagnificent horses, despite the simplicity of his uniform, could notfail to make a sensation. The host desired himself to serve him; whichd'Artagnan perceiving, ordered two glasses to be brought, and commencedthe following conversation. 

"My faith, my good host, " said d'Artagnan, filling the two glasses, "Iasked for a bottle of your best wine, and if you have deceived me, you will be punished in what you have sinned; for seeing that I hatedrinking my myself, you shall drink with me. Take your glass, then, andlet us drink. But what shall we drink to, so as to avoid wounding anysusceptibility? Let us drink to the prosperity of your establishment. "

"Your Lordship does me much honor, " said the host, "and I thank yousincerely for your kind wish. "

"But don't mistake, " said d'Artagnan, "there is more selfishness inmy toast than perhaps you may think--for it is only in prosperousestablishments that one is well received. In hotels that do notflourish, everything is in confusion, and the traveler is a victim tothe embarrassments of his host. Now, I travel a great deal, particularlyon this road, and I wish to see all innkeepers making a fortune. "

"It seems to me, " said the host, "that this is not the first time I havehad the honor of seeing Monsieur. "

"Bah, I have passed perhaps ten times through Chantilly, and out of theten times I have stopped three or four times at your house at least. WhyI was here only ten or twelve days ago. I was conducting some friends, Musketeers, one of whom, by the by, had a dispute with a stranger--a manwho sought a quarrel with him, for I don't know what. "

"Exactly so, " said the host; "I remember it perfectly. It is notMonsieur Porthos that your Lordship means?"

"Yes, that is my companion's name. My God, my dear host, tell me ifanything has happened to him?"

"Your Lordship must have observed that he could not continue hisjourney. "

"Why, to be sure, he promised to rejoin us, and we have seen nothing ofhim. "

"He has done us the honor to remain here. "

"What, he had done you the honor to remain here?"

"Yes, monsieur, in this house; and we are even a little uneasy--"

"On what account?"

"Of certain expenses he has contracted. "

"Well, but whatever expenses he may have incurred, I am sure he is in acondition to pay them. "

"Ah, monsieur, you infuse genuine balm into my blood. We have madeconsiderable advances; and this very morning the surgeon declared thatif Monsieur Porthos did not pay him, he should look to me, as it was Iwho had sent for him. "

"Porthos is wounded, then?"

"I cannot tell you, monsieur. "

"What! You cannot tell me? Surely you ought to be able to tell me betterthan any other person. "

"Yes; but in our situation we must not say all we know--particularly aswe have been warned that our ears should answer for our tongues. "

"Well, can I see Porthos?"

"Certainly, monsieur. Take the stairs on your right; go up the firstflight and knock at Number One. Only warn him that it is you. "

"Why should I do that?"

"Because, monsieur, some mischief might happen to you. "

"Of what kind, in the name of wonder?"

"Monsieur Porthos may imagine you belong to the house, and in a fit ofpassion might run his sword through you or blow out your brains. "

"What have you done to him, then?"

"We have asked him for money. "

"The devil! Ah, I can understand that. It is a demand that Porthos takesvery ill when he is not in funds; but I know he must be so at present. "

"We thought so, too, monsieur. As our house is carried on veryregularly, and we make out our bills every week, at the end of eightdays we presented our account; but it appeared we had chosen an unluckymoment, for at the first word on the subject, he sent us to all thedevils. It is true he had been playing the day before. "

"Playing the day before! And with whom?"

"Lord, who can say, monsieur? With some gentleman who was traveling thisway, to whom he proposed a game of LANSQUENET. "

"That's it, then, and the foolish fellow lost all he had?"

"Even to his horse, monsieur; for when the gentleman was about to setout, we perceived that his lackey was saddling Monsieur Porthos's horse, as well as his master's. When we observed this to him, he told us all totrouble ourselves about our own business, as this horse belonged to him. We also informed Monsieur Porthos of what was going on; but he told uswe were scoundrels to doubt a gentleman's word, and that as he had saidthe horse was his, it must be so. "

"That's Porthos all over, " murmured d'Artagnan. 

"Then, " continued the host, "I replied that as from the moment we seemednot likely to come to a good understanding with respect to payment, Ihoped that he would have at least the kindness to grant the favor ofhis custom to my brother host of the Golden Eagle; but Monsieur Porthosreplied that, my house being the best, he should remain where he was. This reply was too flattering to allow me to insist on his departure. Iconfined myself then to begging him to give up his chamber, which is thehandsomest in the hotel, and to be satisfied with a pretty little roomon the third floor; but to this Monsieur Porthos replied that as heevery moment expected his mistress, who was one of the greatest ladiesin the court, I might easily comprehend that the chamber he did me thehonor to occupy in my house was itself very mean for the visit of such apersonage. Nevertheless, while acknowledging the truth of what he said, I thought proper to insist; but without even giving himself the troubleto enter into any discussion with me, he took one of his pistols, laidit on his table, day and night, and said that at the first word thatshould be spoken to him about removing, either within the house orout of it, he would blow out the brains of the person who should be soimprudent as to meddle with a matter which only concerned himself. Sincethat time, monsieur, nobody entered his chamber but his servant. "

"What! Mousqueton is here, then?"

"Oh, yes, monsieur. Five days after your departure, he came back, andin a very bad condition, too. It appears that he had met withdisagreeableness, likewise, on his journey. Unfortunately, he is morenimble than his master; so that for the sake of his master, he puts usall under his feet, and as he thinks we might refuse what he asked for, he takes all he wants without asking at all. "

"The fact is, " said d'Artagnan, "I have always observed a great degreeof intelligence and devotedness in Mousqueton. "

"That is possible, monsieur; but suppose I should happen to bebrought in contact, even four times a year, with such intelligence anddevotedness--why, I should be a ruined man!"

"No, for Porthos will pay you. "

"Hum!" said the host, in a doubtful tone. 

"The favorite of a great lady will not be allowed to be inconveniencedfor such a paltry sum as he owes you. "

"If I durst say what I believe on that head--"

"What you believe?"

"I ought rather to say, what I know. "

"What you know?"

"And even what I am sure of. "

"And of what are you so sure?"

"I would say that I know this great lady. "

"You?"

"Yes; I. "

"And how do you know her?"

"Oh, monsieur, if I could believe I might trust in your discretion. "

"Speak! By the word of a gentleman, you shall have no cause to repent ofyour confidence. "

"Well, monsieur, you understand that uneasiness makes us do manythings. "

"What have you done?"

"Oh, nothing which was not right in the character of a creditor. "

"Well?"

"Monsieur Porthos gave us a note for his duchess, ordering us to put itin the post. This was before his servant came. As he could not leave hischamber, it was necessary to charge us with this commission. "

"And then?"

"Instead of putting the letter in the post, which is never safe, I tookadvantage of the journey of one of my lads to Paris, and ordered himto convey the letter to this duchess himself. This was fulfilling theintentions of Monsieur Porthos, who had desired us to be so careful ofthis letter, was it not?"

"Nearly so. "

"Well, monsieur, do you know who this great lady is?"

"No; I have heard Porthos speak of her, that's all. "

"Do you know who this pretended duchess is?

"I repeat to you, I don't know her. "

"Why, she is the old wife of a procurator* of the Chatelet, monsieur, named Madame Coquenard, who, although she is at least fifty, still givesherself jealous airs. It struck me as very odd that a princess shouldlive in the Rue aux Ours. "

*Attorney

"But how do you know all this?"

"Because she flew into a great passion on receiving the letter, sayingthat Monsieur Porthos was a weathercock, and that she was sure it wasfor some woman he had received this wound. "

"Has he been wounded, then?"

"Oh, good Lord! What have I said?"

"You said that Porthos had received a sword cut. "

"Yes, but he has forbidden me so strictly to say so. "

"And why so. "

"Zounds, monsieur! Because he had boasted that he would perforate thestranger with whom you left him in dispute; whereas the stranger, onthe contrary, in spite of all his rodomontades quickly threw him on hisback. As Monsieur Porthos is a very boastful man, he insists thatnobody shall know he has received this wound except the duchess, whom heendeavored to interest by an account of his adventure. "

"It is a wound that confines him to his bed?"

"Ah, and a master stroke, too, I assure you. Your friend's soul muststick tight to his body. "

"Were you there, then?"

"Monsieur, I followed them from curiosity, so that I saw the combatwithout the combatants seeing me. "

"And what took place?"

"Oh! The affair was not long, I assure you. They placed themselves onguard; the stranger made a feint and a lunge, and that so rapidly thatwhen Monsieur Porthos came to the PARADE, he had already three inches ofsteel in his breast. He immediately fell backward. The stranger placedthe point of his sword at his throat; and Monsieur Porthos, findinghimself at the mercy of his adversary, acknowledged himself conquered. Upon which the stranger asked his name, and learning that it wasPorthos, and not d'Artagnan, he assisted him to rise, brought him backto the hotel, mounted his horse, and disappeared. "

"So it was with Monsieur d'Artagnan this stranger meant to quarrel?"

"It appears so. "

"And do you know what has become of him?"

"No, I never saw him until that moment, and have not seen him since. "

"Very well; I know all that I wish to know. Porthos's chamber is, yousay, on the first story, Number One?"

"Yes, monsieur, the handsomest in the inn--a chamber that I could havelet ten times over. "

"Bah! Be satisfied, " said d'Artagnan, laughing, "Porthos will pay youwith the money of the Duchess Coquenard. "

"Oh, monsieur, procurator's wife or duchess, if she will but loosen herpursestrings, it will be all the same; but she positively answered thatshe was tired of the exigencies and infidelities of Monsieur Porthos, and that she would not send him a denier. "

"And did you convey this answer to your guest?"

"We took good care not to do that; he would have found in what fashionwe had executed his commission. "

"So that he still expects his money?"

"Oh, Lord, yes, monsieur! Yesterday he wrote again; but it was hisservant who this time put the letter in the post. "

"Do you say the procurator's wife is old and ugly?"

"Fifty at least, monsieur, and not at all handsome, according toPathaud's account. "

"In that case, you may be quite at ease; she will soon be softened. Besides, Porthos cannot owe you much. "

"How, not much! Twenty good pistoles, already, without reckoning thedoctor. He denies himself nothing; it may easily be seen he has beenaccustomed to live well. "

"Never mind; if his mistress abandons him, he will find friends, I willanswer for it. So, my dear host, be not uneasy, and continue to take allthe care of him that his situation requires. "

"Monsieur has promised me not to open his mouth about the procurator'swife, and not to say a word of the wound?"

"That's agreed; you have my word. "

"Oh, he would kill me!"

"Don't be afraid; he is not so much of a devil as he appears. "

Saying these words, d'Artagnan went upstairs, leaving his host a littlebetter satisfied with respect to two things in which he appeared to bevery much interested--his debt and his life. 

At the top of the stairs, upon the most conspicuous door of thecorridor, was traced in black ink a gigantic number "1. " d'Artagnanknocked, and upon the bidding to come in which came from inside, heentered the chamber. 

Porthos was in bed, and was playing a game at LANSQUENET withMousqueton, to keep his hand in; while a spit loaded with partridges wasturning before the fire, and on each side of a large chimneypiece, overtwo chafing dishes, were boiling two stewpans, from which exhaleda double odor of rabbit and fish stews, rejoicing to the smell. Inaddition to this he perceived that the top of a wardrobe and the marbleof a commode were covered with empty bottles. 

At the sight of his friend, Porthos uttered a loud cry of joy; andMousqueton, rising respectfully, yielded his place to him, and wentto give an eye to the two stewpans, of which he appeared to have theparticular inspection. 

"Ah, PARDIEU! Is that you?" said Porthos to d'Artagnan. "You are rightwelcome. Excuse my not coming to meet you; but, " added he, lookingat d'Artagnan with a certain degree of uneasiness, "you know what hashappened to me?"

"No. "

"Has the host told you nothing, then?"

"I asked after you, and came up as soon as I could. "

Porthos seemed to breathe more freely. 

"And what has happened to you, my dear Porthos?" continued d'Artagnan. 

"Why, on making a thrust at my adversary, whom I had already hit threetimes, and whom I meant to finish with the fourth, I put my foot on astone, slipped, and strained my knee. "

"Truly?"

"Honor! Luckily for the rascal, for I should have left him dead on thespot, I assure you. "

"And what has became of him?"

"Oh, I don't know; he had enough, and set off without waiting for therest. But you, my dear d'Artagnan, what has happened to you?"

"So that this strain of the knee, " continued d'Artagnan, "my dearPorthos, keeps you in bed?"

"My God, that's all. I shall be about again in a few days. "

"Why did you not have yourself conveyed to Paris? You must be cruellybored here. "

"That was my intention; but, my dear friend, I have one thing to confessto you. "

"What's that?"

"It is that as I was cruelly bored, as you say, and as I had theseventy-five pistoles in my pocket which you had distributed to me, inorder to amuse myself I invited a gentleman who was traveling this wayto walk up, and proposed a cast of dice. He accepted my challenge, and, my faith, my seventy-five pistoles passed from my pocket to his, withoutreckoning my horse, which he won into the bargain. But you, my deard'Artagnan?"

"What can you expect, my dear Porthos; a man is not privileged in allways, " said d'Artagnan. "You know the proverb 'Unlucky at play, luckyin love. ' You are too fortunate in your love for play not to take itsrevenge. What consequence can the reverses of fortune be to you? Haveyou not, happy rogue that you are--have you not your duchess, who cannotfail to come to your aid?"

"Well, you see, my dear d'Artagnan, with what ill luck I play, " repliedPorthos, with the most careless air in the world. "I wrote to herto send me fifty louis or so, of which I stood absolutely in need onaccount of my accident. "

"Well?"

"Well, she must be at her country seat, for she has not answered me. "

"Truly?"

"No; so I yesterday addressed another epistle to her, still morepressing than the first. But you are here, my dear fellow, let us speakof you. I confess I began to be very uneasy on your account. "

"But your host behaves very well toward you, as it appears, my dearPorthos, " said d'Artagnan, directing the sick man's attention to thefull stewpans and the empty bottles. 

"So, so, " replied Porthos. "Only three or four days ago the impertinentjackanapes gave me his bill, and I was forced to turn both him and hisbill out of the door; so that I am here something in the fashion of aconqueror, holding my position, as it were, my conquest. So you see, being in constant fear of being forced from that position, I am armed tothe teeth. "

"And yet, " said d'Artagnan, laughing, "it appears to me that from timeto time you must make SORTIES. " And he again pointed to the bottles andthe stewpans. 

"Not I, unfortunately!" said Porthos. "This miserable strain confinesme to my bed; but Mousqueton forages, and brings in provisions. FriendMousqueton, you see that we have a reinforcement, and we must have anincrease of supplies. "

"Mousqueton, " said d'Artagnan, "you must render me a service. "

"What, monsieur?"

"You must give your recipe to Planchet. I may be besieged in my turn, and I shall not be sorry for him to be able to let me enjoy the sameadvantages with which you gratify your master. "

"Lord, monsieur! There is nothing more easy, " said Mousqueton, with amodest air. "One only needs to be sharp, that's all. I was brought upin the country, and my father in his leisure time was something of apoacher. "

"And what did he do the rest of his time?"

"Monsieur, he carried on a trade which I have always thoughtsatisfactory. "

"Which?"

"As it was a time of war between the Catholics and the Huguenots, andas he saw the Catholics exterminate the Huguenots and the Huguenotsexterminate the Catholics--all in the name of religion--he adopted amixed belief which permitted him to be sometimes Catholic, sometimes aHuguenot. Now, he was accustomed to walk with his fowling piece on hisshoulder, behind the hedges which border the roads, and when he saw aCatholic coming alone, the Protestant religion immediately prevailedin his mind. He lowered his gun in the direction of the traveler; then, when he was within ten paces of him, he commenced a conversation whichalmost always ended by the traveler's abandoning his purse to save hislife. It goes without saying that when he saw a Huguenot coming, hefelt himself filled with such ardent Catholic zeal that he could notunderstand how, a quarter of an hour before, he had been able to haveany doubts upon the superiority of our holy religion. For my part, monsieur, I am Catholic--my father, faithful to his principles, havingmade my elder brother a Huguenot. "

"And what was the end of this worthy man?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Oh, of the most unfortunate kind, monsieur. One day he was surprisedin a lonely road between a Huguenot and a Catholic, with both of whomhe had before had business, and who both knew him again; so they unitedagainst him and hanged him on a tree. Then they came and boasted oftheir fine exploit in the cabaret of the next village, where my brotherand I were drinking. "

"And what did you do?" said d'Artagnan. 

"We let them tell their story out, " replied Mousqueton. "Then, as inleaving the cabaret they took different directions, my brother went andhid himself on the road of the Catholic, and I on that of the Huguenot. Two hours after, all was over; we had done the business of both, admiring the foresight of our poor father, who had taken the precautionto bring each of us up in a different religion. "

"Well, I must allow, as you say, your father was a very intelligentfellow. And you say in his leisure moments the worthy man was apoacher?"

"Yes, monsieur, and it was he who taught me to lay a snare and ground aline. The consequence is that when I saw our laborers, which did not atall suit two such delicate stomachs as ours, I had recourse to a littleof my old trade. While walking near the wood of Monsieur le Prince, Ilaid a few snare in the runs; and while reclining on the banks of hisHighness's pieces of water, I slipped a few lines into his fish ponds. So that now, thanks be to God, we do not want, as Monsieur can testify, for partridges, rabbits, carp or eels--all light, wholesome food, suitable for the sick. "

"But the wine, " said d'Artagnan, "who furnishes the wine? Your host?"

"That is to say, yes and no. "

"How yes and no?"

"He furnishes it, it is true, but he does not know that he has thathonor. "

"Explain yourself, Mousqueton; your conversation is full of instructivethings. "

"That is it, monsieur. It has so chanced that I met with a Spaniard inmy peregrinations who had seen many countries, and among them the NewWorld. "

"What connection can the New World have with the bottles which are onthe commode and the wardrobe?"

"Patience, monsieur, everything will come in its turn. "

"This Spaniard had in his service a lackey who had accompanied him inhis voyage to Mexico. This lackey was my compatriot; and we became themore intimate from there being many resemblances of character betweenus. We loved sporting of all kinds better than anything; so that herelated to me how in the plains of the Pampas the natives hunt thetiger and the wild bull with simple running nooses which they throw toa distance of twenty or thirty paces the end of a cord with such nicety;but in face of the proof I was obliged to acknowledge the truth of therecital. My friend placed a bottle at the distance of thirty paces, andat each cast he caught the neck of the bottle in his running noose. I practiced this exercise, and as nature has endowed me with somefaculties, at this day I can throw the lasso with any man in the world. Well, do you understand, monsieur? Our host has a well-furnished cellarthe key of which never leaves him; only this cellar has a ventilatinghole. Now through this ventilating hole I throw my lasso, and as I nowknow in which part of the cellar is the best wine, that's my point forsport. You see, monsieur, what the New World has to do with the bottleswhich are on the commode and the wardrobe. Now, will you taste our wine, and without prejudice say what you think of it?"

"Thank you, my friend, thank you; unfortunately, I have justbreakfasted. "

"Well, " said Porthos, "arrange the table, Mousqueton, and while webreakfast, d'Artagnan will relate to us what has happened to him duringthe ten days since he left us. "

"Willingly, " said d'Artagnan. 

While Porthos and Mousqueton were breakfasting, with the appetites ofconvalescents and with that brotherly cordiality which unites men inmisfortune, d'Artagnan related how Aramis, being wounded, was obliged tostop at Crevecoeur, how he had left Athos fighting at Amiens with fourmen who accused him of being a coiner, and how he, d'Artagnan, had beenforced to run the Comtes de Wardes through the body in order to reachEngland. 

But there the confidence of d'Artagnan stopped. He only added thaton his return from Great Britain he had brought back four magnificenthorses--one for himself, and one for each of his companions; then heinformed Porthos that the one intended for him was already installed inthe stable of the tavern. 

At this moment Planchet entered, to inform his master that the horseswere sufficiently refreshed and that it would be possible to sleep atClermont. 

As d'Artagnan was tolerably reassured with regard to Porthos, and ashe was anxious to obtain news of his two other friends, he held out hishand to the wounded man, and told him he was about to resume his routein order to continue his researches. For the rest, as he reckoned uponreturning by the same route in seven or eight days, if Porthos werestill at the Great St. Martin, he would call for him on his way. 

Porthos replied that in all probability his sprain would not permithim to depart yet awhile. Besides, it was necessary he should stay atChantilly to wait for the answer from his duchess. 

D'Artagnan wished that answer might be prompt and favorable; and havingagain recommended Porthos to the care of Mousqueton, and paid his billto the host, he resumed his route with Planchet, already relieved of oneof his led horses. 

26 ARAMIS AND HIS THESIS

D'Artagnan had said nothing to Porthos of his wound or of hisprocurator's wife. Our Bearnais was a prudent lad, however younghe might be. Consequently he had appeared to believe all that thevainglorious Musketeer had told him, convinced that no friendship willhold out against a surprised secret. Besides, we feel always a sortof mental superiority over those whose lives we know better than theysuppose. In his projects of intrigue for the future, and determinedas he was to make his three friends the instruments of his fortune, d'Artagnan was not sorry at getting into his grasp beforehand theinvisible strings by which he reckoned upon moving them. 

And yet, as he journeyed along, a profound sadness weighed upon hisheart. He thought of that young and pretty Mme. Bonacieux who was tohave paid him the price of his devotedness; but let us hasten to saythat this sadness possessed the young man less from the regret of thehappiness he had missed, than from the fear he entertained that someserious misfortune had befallen the poor woman. For himself, he had nodoubt she was a victim of the cardinal's vengeance; and, and as waswell known, the vengeance of his Eminence was terrible. How he had foundgrace in the eyes of the minister, he did not know; but without doubt M. De Cavois would have revealed this to him if the captain of the Guardshad found him at home. 

Nothing makes time pass more quickly or more shortens a journey than athought which absorbs in itself all the faculties of the organization ofhim who thinks. External existence then resembles a sleep of which thisthought is the dream. By its influence, time has no longer measure, space has no longer distance. We depart from one place, and arrive atanother, that is all. Of the interval passed, nothing remains in thememory but a vague mist in which a thousand confused images oftrees, mountains, and landscapes are lost. It was as a prey to thishallucination that d'Artagnan traveled, at whatever pace his horsepleased, the six or eight leagues that separated Chantilly fromCrevecoeur, without his being able to remember on his arrival in thevillage any of the things he had passed or met with on the road. 

There only his memory returned to him. He shook his head, perceived thecabaret at which he had left Aramis, and putting his horse to the trot, he shortly pulled up at the door. 

This time it was not a host but a hostess who received him. D'Artagnanwas a physiognomist. His eye took in at a glance the plump, cheerfulcountenance of the mistress of the place, and he at once perceived therewas no occasion for dissembling with her, or of fearing anything fromone blessed with such a joyous physiognomy. 

"My good dame, " asked d'Artagnan, "can you tell me what has become ofone of my friends, whom we were obliged to leave here about a dozen daysago?"

"A handsome young man, three- or four-and-twenty years old, mild, amiable, and well made?"

"That is he--wounded in the shoulder. "

"Just so. Well, monsieur, he is still here. "

"Ah, PARDIEU! My dear dame, " said d'Artagnan, springing from his horse, and throwing the bridle to Planchet, "you restore me to life; where isthis dear Aramis? Let me embrace him, I am in a hurry to see him again. "

"Pardon, monsieur, but I doubt whether he can see you at this moment. "

"Why so? Has he a lady with him?"

"Jesus! What do you mean by that? Poor lad! No, monsieur, he has not alady with him. "

"With whom is he, then?"

"With the curate of Montdidier and the superior of the Jesuits ofAmiens. "

"Good heavens!" cried d'Artagnan, "is the poor fellow worse, then?"

"No, monsieur, quite the contrary; but after his illness grace touchedhim, and he determined to take orders. "

"That's it!" said d'Artagnan, "I had forgotten that he was only aMusketeer for a time. "

"Monsieur still insists upon seeing him?"

"More than ever. "

"Well, monsieur has only to take the right-hand staircase in thecourtyard, and knock at Number Five on the second floor. "

D'Artagnan walked quickly in the direction indicated, and found one ofthose exterior staircases that are still to be seen in the yards of ourold-fashioned taverns. But there was no getting at the place of sojournof the future abbe; the defiles of the chamber of Aramis were as wellguarded as the gardens of Armida. Bazin was stationed in the corridor, and barred his passage with the more intrepidity that, after many yearsof trial, Bazin found himself near a result of which he had ever beenambitious. 

In fact, the dream of poor Bazin had always been to serve a churchman;and he awaited with impatience the moment, always in the future, when Aramis would throw aside the uniform and assume the cassock. Thedaily-renewed promise of the young man that the moment would not long bedelayed, had alone kept him in the service of a Musketeer--a service inwhich, he said, his soul was in constant jeopardy. 

Bazin was then at the height of joy. In all probability, this timehis master would not retract. The union of physical pain with moraluneasiness had produced the effect so long desired. Aramis, sufferingat once in body and mind, had at length fixed his eyes and his thoughtsupon religion, and he had considered as a warning from heaven thedouble accident which had happened to him; that is to say, the suddendisappearance of his mistress and the wound in his shoulder. 

It may be easily understood that in the present disposition of hismaster nothing could be more disagreeable to Bazin than the arrival ofd'Artagnan, which might cast his master back again into that vortex ofmundane affairs which had so long carried him away. He resolved, then, to defend the door bravely; and as, betrayed by the mistress of the inn, he could not say that Aramis was absent, he endeavored to prove to thenewcomer that it would be the height of indiscretion to disturb hismaster in his pious conference, which had commenced with the morning andwould not, as Bazin said, terminate before night. 

But d'Artagnan took very little heed of the eloquent discourse of M. Bazin; and as he had no desire to support a polemic discussion with hisfriend's valet, he simply moved him out of the way with one hand, andwith the other turned the handle of the door of Number Five. The dooropened, and d'Artagnan went into the chamber. 

Aramis, in a black gown, his head enveloped in a sort of round flat cap, not much unlike a CALOTTE, was seated before an oblong table, coveredwith rolls of paper and enormous volumes in folio. At his right handwas placed the superior of the Jesuits, and on his left the curateof Montdidier. The curtains were half drawn, and only admitted themysterious light calculated for beatific reveries. All the mundaneobjects that generally strike the eye on entering the room of a youngman, particularly when that young man is a Musketeer, had disappeared asif by enchantment; and for fear, no doubt, that the sight of them mightbring his master back to ideas of this world, Bazin had laid his handsupon sword, pistols, plumed hat, and embroideries and laces of all kindsand sorts. In their stead d'Artagnan thought he perceived in an obscurecorner a discipline cord suspended from a nail in the wall. 

At the noise made by d'Artagnan in entering, Aramis lifted up his head, and beheld his friend; but to the great astonishment of the young man, the sight of him did not produce much effect upon the Musketeer, socompletely was his mind detached from the things of this world. 

"Good day, dear d'Artagnan, " said Aramis; "believe me, I am glad to seeyou. "

"So am I delighted to see you, " said d'Artagnan, "although I am not yetsure that it is Aramis I am speaking to. "

"To himself, my friend, to himself! But what makes you doubt it?"

"I was afraid I had made a mistake in the chamber, and that I had foundmy way into the apartment of some churchman. Then another error seizedme on seeing you in company with these gentlemen--I was afraid you weredangerously ill. "

The two men in black, who guessed d'Artagnan's meaning, darted at him aglance which might have been thought threatening; but d'Artagnan took noheed of it. 

"I disturb you, perhaps, my dear Aramis, " continued d'Artagnan, "forby what I see, I am led to believe that you are confessing to thesegentlemen. "

Aramis colored imperceptibly. "You disturb me? Oh, quite the contrary, dear friend, I swear; and as a proof of what I say, permit me to declareI am rejoiced to see you safe and sound. "

"Ah, he'll come round, " thought d'Artagnan; "that's not bad!"

"This gentleman, who is my friend, has just escaped from a seriousdanger, " continued Aramis, with unction, pointing to d'Artagnan with hishand, and addressing the two ecclesiastics. 

"Praise God, monsieur, " replied they, bowing together. 

"I have not failed to do so, your Reverences, " replied the young man, returning their salutation. 

"You arrive in good time, dear d'Artagnan, " said Aramis, "and by takingpart in our discussion may assist us with your intelligence. Monsieurthe Principal of Amiens, Monsieur the Curate of Montdidier, and Iare arguing certain theological questions in which we have been muchinterested; I shall be delighted to have your opinion. "

"The opinion of a swordsman can have very little weight, " repliedd'Artagnan, who began to be uneasy at the turn things were taking, "andyou had better be satisfied, believe me, with the knowledge of thesegentlemen. "

The two men in black bowed in their turn. 

"On the contrary, " replied Aramis, "your opinion will be very valuable. The question is this: Monsieur the Principal thinks that my thesis oughtto be dogmatic and didactic. "

"Your thesis! Are you then making a thesis?"

"Without doubt, " replied the Jesuit. "In the examination which precedesordination, a thesis is always a requisite. "

"Ordination!" cried d'Artagnan, who could not believe what the hostessand Bazin had successively told him; and he gazed, half stupefied, uponthe three persons before him. 

"Now, " continued Aramis, taking the same graceful position in his easychair that he would have assumed in bed, and complacently examining hishand, which was as white and plump as that of a woman, and which heheld in the air to cause the blood to descend, "now, as you have heard, d'Artagnan, Monsieur the Principal is desirous that my thesis should bedogmatic, while I, for my part, would rather it should be ideal. This isthe reason why Monsieur the Principal has proposed to me the followingsubject, which has not yet been treated upon, and in which I perceivethere is matter for magnificent elaboration-'UTRAQUE MANUS INBENEDICENDO CLERICIS INFERIORIBUS NECESSARIA EST. '"

D'Artagnan, whose erudition we are well acquainted with, evinced no moreinterest on hearing this quotation than he had at that of M. De Trevillein allusion to the gifts he pretended that d'Artagnan had received fromthe Duke of Buckingham. 

"Which means, " resumed Aramis, that he might perfectly understand, "'Thetwo hands are indispensable for priests of the inferior orders, whenthey bestow the benediction. '"

"An admirable subject!" cried the Jesuit. 

"Admirable and dogmatic!" repeated the curate, who, about as strong asd'Artagnan with respect to Latin, carefully watched the Jesuit in orderto keep step with him, and repeated his words like an echo. 

As to d'Artagnan, he remained perfectly insensible to the enthusiasm ofthe two men in black. 

"Yes, admirable! PRORSUS ADMIRABILE!" continued Aramis; "but whichrequires a profound study of both the Scriptures and the Fathers. Now, Ihave confessed to these learned ecclesiastics, and that in all humility, that the duties of mounting guard and the service of the king havecaused me to neglect study a little. I should find myself, therefore, more at my ease, FACILUS NATANS, in a subject of my own choice, which would be to these hard theological questions what morals are tometaphysics in philosophy. "

D'Artagnan began to be tired, and so did the curate. 

"See what an exordium!" cried the Jesuit. 

"Exordium, " repeated the curate, for the sake of saying something. "QUEMADMODUM INTER COELORUM IMMENSITATEM. "

Aramis cast a glance upon d'Artagnan to see what effect all thisproduced, and found his friend gaping enough to split his jaws. 

"Let us speak French, my father, " said he to the Jesuit; "Monsieurd'Artagnan will enjoy our conversation better. "

"Yes, " replied d'Artagnan; "I am fatigued with reading, and all thisLatin confuses me. "

"Certainly, " replied the Jesuit, a little put out, while the curate, greatly delighted, turned upon d'Artagnan a look full of gratitude. "Well, let us see what is to be derived from this gloss. Moses, theservant of God-he was but a servant, please to understand-Moses blessedwith the hands; he held out both his arms while the Hebrews beat theirenemies, and then he blessed them with his two hands. Besides, what doesthe Gospel say? IMPONITE MANUS, and not MANUM-place the HANDS, not theHAND. "

"Place the HANDS, " repeated the curate, with a gesture. 

"St. Peter, on the contrary, of whom the Popes are the successors, "continued the Jesuit; "PORRIGE DIGITOS-present the fingers. Are youthere, now?"

"CERTES, " replied Aramis, in a pleased tone, "but the thing is subtle. "

"The FINGERS, " resumed the Jesuit, "St. Peter blessed with the FINGERS. The Pope, therefore blesses with the fingers. And with how many fingersdoes he bless? With THREE fingers, to be sure-one for the Father, onefor the Son, and one for the Holy Ghost. "

All crossed themselves. D'Artagnan thought it was proper to follow thisexample. 

"The Pope is the successor of St. Peter, and represents the three divinepowers; the rest-ORDINES INFERIORES-of the ecclesiastical hierarchybless in the name of the holy archangels and angels. The most humbleclerks such as our deacons and sacristans, bless with holy watersprinklers, which resemble an infinite number of blessing fingers. Thereis the subject simplified. ARGUMENTUM OMNI DENUDATUM ORNAMENTO. Icould make of that subject two volumes the size of this, " continued theJesuit; and in his enthusiasm he struck a St. Chrysostom in folio, whichmade the table bend beneath its weight. 

D'Artagnan trembled. 

"CERTES, " said Aramis, "I do justice to the beauties of this thesis;but at the same time I perceive it would be overwhelming for me. Ihad chosen this text-tell me, dear d'Artagnan, if it is not to yourtaste-'NON INUTILE EST DESIDERIUM IN OBLATIONE'; that is, 'A littleregret is not unsuitable in an offering to the Lord. '"

"Stop there!" cried the Jesuit, "for that thesis touches closely uponheresy. There is a proposition almost like it in the AUGUSTINUS of theheresiarch Jansenius, whose book will sooner or later be burned by thehands of the executioner. Take care, my young friend. You are incliningtoward false doctrines, my young friend; you will be lost. "

"You will be lost, " said the curate, shaking his head sorrowfully. 

"You approach that famous point of free will which is a mortal rock. Youface the insinuations of the Pelagians and the semi-Pelagians. "

"But, my Reverend-" replied Aramis, a little amazed by the shower ofarguments that poured upon his head. 

"How will you prove, " continued the Jesuit, without allowing him timeto speak, "that we ought to regret the world when we offer ourselves toGod? Listen to this dilemma: God is God, and the world is the devil. Toregret the world is to regret the devil; that is my conclusion. "

"And that is mine also, " said the curate. 

"But, for heaven's sake-" resumed Aramis. 

"DESIDERAS DIABOLUM, unhappy man!" cried the Jesuit. 

"He regrets the devil! Ah, my young friend, " added the curate, groaning, "do not regret the devil, I implore you!"

D'Artagnan felt himself bewildered. It seemed to him as though he werein a madhouse, and was becoming as mad as those he saw. He was, however, forced to hold his tongue from not comprehending half the language theyemployed. 

"But listen to me, then, " resumed Aramis with politeness mingled witha little impatience. "I do not say I regret; no, I will never pronouncethat sentence, which would not be orthodox. "

The Jesuit raised his hands toward heaven, and the curate did the same. 

"No; but pray grant me that it is acting with an ill grace to offerto the Lord only that with which we are perfectly disgusted! Don't youthink so, d'Artagnan?"

"I think so, indeed, " cried he. 

The Jesuit and the curate quite started from their chairs. 

"This is the point of departure; it is a syllogism. The world is notwanting in attractions. I quit the world; then I make a sacrifice. Now, the Scripture says positively, 'Make a sacrifice unto the Lord. '"

"That is true, " said his antagonists. 

"And then, " said Aramis, pinching his ear to make it red, as he rubbedhis hands to make them white, "and then I made a certain RONDEAU upon itlast year, which I showed to Monsieur Voiture, and that great man paidme a thousand compliments. "

"A RONDEAU!" said the Jesuit, disdainfully. 

"A RONDEAU!" said the curate, mechanically. 

"Repeat it! Repeat it!" cried d'Artagnan; "it will make a littlechange. "

"Not so, for it is religious, " replied Aramis; "it is theology inverse. "

"The devil!" said d'Artagnan. 

"Here it is, " said Aramis, with a little look of diffidence, which, however, was not exempt from a shade of hypocrisy:

"Vous qui pleurez un passe plein de charmes, Et qui trainez des joursinfortunes, Tous vos malheurs se verront termines, Quand a Dieu seulvous offrirez vos larmes, Vous qui pleurez!"

"You who weep for pleasures fled, While dragging on a life of care, All your woes will melt in air, If to God your tears are shed, You whoweep!"

d'Artagnan and the curate appeared pleased. The Jesuit persisted in hisopinion. "Beware of a profane taste in your theological style. What saysAugustine on this subject: 'SEVERUS SIT CLERICORUM VERBO. '"

"Yes, let the sermon be clear, " said the curate. 

"Now, " hastily interrupted the Jesuit, on seeing that his acolyte wasgoing astray, "now your thesis would please the ladies; it would havethe success of one of Monsieur Patru's pleadings. "

"Please God!" cried Aramis, transported. 

"There it is, " cried the Jesuit; "the world still speaks within you in aloud voice, ALTISIMMA VOCE. You follow the world, my young friend, and Itremble lest grace prove not efficacious. "

"Be satisfied, my reverend father, I can answer for myself. "

"Mundane presumption!"

"I know myself, Father; my resolution is irrevocable. "

"Then you persist in continuing that thesis?"

"I feel myself called upon to treat that, and no other. I will see aboutthe continuation of it, and tomorrow I hope you will be satisfied withthe corrections I shall have made in consequence of your advice. "

"Work slowly, " said the curate; "we leave you in an excellent tone ofmind. "

"Yes, the ground is all sown, " said the Jesuit, "and we have not to fearthat one portion of the seed may have fallen upon stone, another uponthe highway, or that the birds of heaven have eaten the rest, AVES COELICOMEDERUNT ILLAM. "

"Plague stifle you and your Latin!" said d'Artagnan, who began to feelall his patience exhausted. 

"Farewell, my son, " said the curate, "till tomorrow. "

"Till tomorrow, rash youth, " said the Jesuit. "You promise to become oneof the lights of the Church. Heaven grant that this light prove not adevouring fire!"

D'Artagnan, who for an hour past had been gnawing his nails withimpatience, was beginning to attack the quick. 

The two men in black rose, bowed to Aramis and d'Artagnan, and advancedtoward the door. Bazin, who had been standing listening to all thiscontroversy with a pious jubilation, sprang toward them, took thebreviary of the curate and the missal of the Jesuit, and walkedrespectfully before them to clear their way. 

Aramis conducted them to the foot of the stairs, and then immediatelycame up again to d'Artagnan, whose senses were still in a state ofconfusion. 

When left alone, the two friends at first kept an embarrassed silence. It however became necessary for one of them to break it first, and asd'Artagnan appeared determined to leave that honor to his companion, Aramis said, "you see that I am returned to my fundamental ideas. "

"Yes, efficacious grace has touched you, as that gentleman said justnow. "

"Oh, these plans of retreat have been formed for a long time. You haveoften heard me speak of them, have you not, my friend?"

"Yes; but I confess I always thought you jested. "

"With such things! Oh, d'Artagnan!"

"The devil! Why, people jest with death. "

"And people are wrong, d'Artagnan; for death is the door which leads toperdition or to salvation. "

"Granted; but if you please, let us not theologize, Aramis. You musthave had enough for today. As for me, I have almost forgotten the littleLatin I have ever known. Then I confess to you that I have eaten nothingsince ten o'clock this morning, and I am devilish hungry. "

"We will dine directly, my friend; only you must please to remember thatthis is Friday. Now, on such a day I can neither eat flesh nor see iteaten. If you can be satisfied with my dinner-it consists of cookedtetragones and fruits. "

"What do you mean by tetragones?" asked d'Artagnan, uneasily. 

"I mean spinach, " replied Aramis; "but on your account I will add someeggs, and that is a serious infraction of the rule-for eggs are meat, since they engender chickens. "

"This feast is not very succulent; but never mind, I will put up with itfor the sake of remaining with you. "

"I am grateful to you for the sacrifice, " said Aramis; "but if your bodybe not greatly benefited by it, be assured your soul will. "

"And so, Aramis, you are decidedly going into the Church? What will ourtwo friends say? What will Monsieur de Treville say? They will treat youas a deserter, I warn you. "

"I do not enter the Church; I re-enter it. I deserted the Church for theworld, for you know that I forced myself when I became a Musketeer. "

"I? I know nothing about it. "

"You don't know I quit the seminary?"

"Not at all. "

"This is my story, then. Besides, the Scriptures say, 'Confessyourselves to one another, ' and I confess to you, d'Artagnan. "

"And I give you absolution beforehand. You see I am a good sort of aman. "

"Do not jest about holy things, my friend. "

"Go on, then, I listen. "

"I had been at the seminary from nine years old; in three days I shouldhave been twenty. I was about to become an abbe, and all was arranged. One evening I went, according to custom, to a house which I frequentedwith much pleasure: when one is young, what can be expected?--one isweak. An officer who saw me, with a jealous eye, reading the LIVES OFTHE SAINTS to the mistress of the house, entered suddenly and withoutbeing announced. That evening I had translated an episode of Judith, andhad just communicated my verses to the lady, who gave me all sorts ofcompliments, and leaning on my shoulder, was reading them a second timewith me. Her pose, which I must admit was rather free, wounded thisofficer. He said nothing; but when I went out he followed, and quicklycame up with me. 'Monsieur the Abbe, ' said he, 'do you like blows witha cane?' 'I cannot say, monsieur, ' answered I; 'no one has ever daredto give me any. ' 'Well, listen to me, then, Monsieur the Abbe! If youventure again into the house in which I have met you this evening, Iwill dare it myself. ' I really think I must have been frightened. Ibecame very pale; I felt my legs fail me; I sought for a reply, butcould find none-I was silent. The officer waited for his reply, andseeing it so long coming, he burst into a laugh, turned upon his heel, and re-entered the house. I returned to the seminary. 

"I am a gentleman born, and my blood is warm, as you may have remarked, my dear d'Artagnan. The insult was terrible, and although unknown to therest of the world, I felt it live and fester at the bottom of my heart. I informed my superiors that I did not feel myself sufficiently preparedfor ordination, and at my request the ceremony was postponed for a year. I sought out the best fencing master in Paris, I made an agreement withhim to take a lesson every day, and every day for a year I tookthat lesson. Then, on the anniversary of the day on which I had beeninsulted, I hung my cassock on a peg, assumed the costume of a cavalier, and went to a ball given by a lady friend of mine and to which I knewmy man was invited. It was in the Rue des France-Bourgeois, close to LaForce. As I expected, my officer was there. I went up to him as he wassinging a love ditty and looking tenderly at a lady, and interrupted himexactly in the middle of the second couplet. 'Monsieur, ' said I, 'doesit still displease you that I should frequent a certain house of LaRue Payenne? And would you still cane me if I took it into my head todisobey you? The officer looked at me with astonishment, and then said, 'What is your business with me, monsieur? I do not know you. ' 'I am, 'said I, 'the little abbe who reads LIVES OF THE SAINTS, and translatesJudith into verse. ' 'Ah, ah! I recollect now, ' said the officer, in ajeering tone; 'well, what do you want with me?' 'I want you to sparetime to take a walk with me. ' 'Tomorrow morning, if you like, withthe greatest pleasure. ' 'No, not tomorrow morning, if you please, butimmediately. ' 'If you absolutely insist. ' 'I do insist upon it. ' 'Come, then. Ladies, ' said the officer, 'do not disturb yourselves; allow metime just to kill this gentleman, and I will return and finish the lastcouplet. '

"We went out. I took him to the Rue Payenne, to exactly the samespot where, a year before, at the very same hour, he had paid me thecompliment I have related to you. It was a superb moonlight night. Weimmediately drew, and at the first pass I laid him stark dead. "

"The devil!" cried d'Artagnan. 

"Now, " continued Aramis, "as the ladies did not see the singer comeback, and as he was found in the Rue Payenne with a great sword woundthrough his body, it was supposed that I had accommodated him thus; andthe matter created some scandal which obliged me to renounce the cassockfor a time. Athos, whose acquaintance I made about that period, andPorthos, who had in addition to my lessons taught me some effectivetricks of fence, prevailed upon me to solicit the uniform of aMusketeer. The king entertained great regard for my father, who hadfallen at the siege of Arras, and the uniform was granted. You mayunderstand that the moment has come for me to re-enter the bosom of theChurch. "

"And why today, rather than yesterday or tomorrow? What has happened toyou today, to raise all these melancholy ideas?"

"This wound, my dear d'Artagnan, has been a warning to me from heaven. "

"This wound? Bah, it is now nearly healed, and I am sure it is not thatwhich gives you the most pain. "

"What, then?" said Aramis, blushing. 

"You have one at heart, Aramis, one deeper and more painful--a woundmade by a woman. "

The eye of Aramis kindled in spite of himself. 

"Ah, " said he, dissembling his emotion under a feigned carelessness, "do not talk of such things, and suffer love pains? VANITAS VANITATUM!According to your idea, then, my brain is turned. And for whom-for someGRISETTE, some chambermaid with whom I have trifled in some garrison?Fie!"

"Pardon, my dear Aramis, but I thought you carried your eyes higher. "

"Higher? And who am I, to nourish such ambition? A poor Musketeer, abeggar, an unknown-who hates slavery, and finds himself ill-placed inthe world. "

"Aramis, Aramis!" cried d'Artagnan, looking at his friend with an air ofdoubt. 

"Dust I am, and to dust I return. Life is full of humiliations andsorrows, " continued he, becoming still more melancholy; "all the tieswhich attach him to life break in the hand of man, particularly thegolden ties. Oh, my dear d'Artagnan, " resumed Aramis, giving to hisvoice a slight tone of bitterness, "trust me! Conceal your wounds whenyou have any; silence is the last joy of the unhappy. Beware of givinganyone the clue to your griefs; the curious suck our tears as flies suckthe blood of a wounded hart. "

"Alas, my dear Aramis, " said d'Artagnan, in his turn heaving a profoundsigh, "that is my story you are relating!"

"How?"

"Yes; a woman whom I love, whom I adore, has just been torn from me byforce. I do not know where she is or whither they have conducted her. She is perhaps a prisoner; she is perhaps dead!"

"Yes, but you have at least this consolation, that you can say toyourself she has not quit you voluntarily, that if you learn no news ofher, it is because all communication with you is interdicted; while I--"

"Well?"

"Nothing, " replied Aramis, "nothing. "

"So you renounce the world, then, forever; that is a settled thing--aresolution registered!"

"Forever! You are my friend today; tomorrow you will be no more to methan a shadow, or rather, even, you will no longer exist. As for theworld, it is a sepulcher and nothing else. "

"The devil! All this is very sad which you tell me. "

"What will you? My vocation commands me; it carries me away. "

D'Artagnan smiled, but made no answer. 

Aramis continued, "And yet, while I do belong to the earth, I wish tospeak of you--of our friends. "

"And on my part, " said d'Artagnan, "I wished to speak of you, but Ifind you so completely detached from everything! To love you cry, 'Fie!Friends are shadows! The world is a sepulcher!'"

"Alas, you will find it so yourself, " said Aramis, with a sigh. 

"Well, then, let us say no more about it, " said d'Artagnan; "and letus burn this letter, which, no doubt, announces to you some freshinfidelity of your GRISETTE or your chambermaid. "

"What letter?" cried Aramis, eagerly. 

"A letter which was sent to your abode in your absence, and which wasgiven to me for you. "

"But from whom is that letter?"

"Oh, from some heartbroken waiting woman, some desponding GRISETTE; fromMadame de Chevreuse's chambermaid, perhaps, who was obliged to returnto Tours with her mistress, and who, in order to appear smart andattractive, stole some perfumed paper, and sealed her letter with aduchess's coronet. "

"What do you say?"

"Hold! I must have lost it, " said the young man maliciously, pretendingto search for it. "But fortunately the world is a sepulcher; the men, and consequently the women, are but shadows, and love is a sentiment towhich you cry, 'Fie! Fie!'"

"d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan, " cried Aramis, "you are killing me!"

"Well, here it is at last!" said d'Artagnan, as he drew the letter fromhis pocket. 

Aramis made a bound, seized the letter, read it, or rather devoured it, his countenance radiant. 

"This same waiting maid seems to have an agreeable style, " said themessenger, carelessly. 

"Thanks, d'Artagnan, thanks!" cried Aramis, almost in a state ofdelirium. "She was forced to return to Tours; she is not faithless; shestill loves me! Come, my friend, come, let me embrace you. Happinessalmost stifles me!"

The two friends began to dance around the venerable St. Chrysostom, kicking about famously the sheets of the thesis, which had fallen on thefloor. 

At that moment Bazin entered with the spinach and the omelet. 

"Be off, you wretch!" cried Aramis, throwing his skullcap in his face. "Return whence you came; take back those horrible vegetables, and thatpoor kickshaw! Order a larded hare, a fat capon, mutton leg dressed withgarlic, and four bottles of old Burgundy. "

Bazin, who looked at his master, without comprehending the cause ofthis change, in a melancholy manner, allowed the omelet to slip into thespinach, and the spinach onto the floor. 

"Now this is the moment to consecrate your existence to the King ofkings, " said d'Artagnan, "if you persist in offering him a civility. NONINUTILE DESIDERIUM OBLATIONE. "

"Go to the devil with your Latin. Let us drink, my dear d'Artagnan, MORBLEU! Let us drink while the wine is fresh! Let us drink heartily, and while we do so, tell me a little of what is going on in the worldyonder. "

27 THE WIFE OF ATHOS

"We have now to search for Athos, " said d'Artagnan to the vivaciousAramis, when he had informed him of all that had passed since theirdeparture from the capital, and an excellent dinner had made one of themforget his thesis and the other his fatigue. 

"Do you think, then, that any harm can have happened to him?"asked Aramis. "Athos is so cool, so brave, and handles his sword soskillfully. "

"No doubt. Nobody has a higher opinion of the courage and skill of Athosthan I have; but I like better to hear my sword clang against lancesthan against staves. I fear lest Athos should have been beaten down byserving men. Those fellows strike hard, and don't leave off in a hurry. This is why I wish to set out again as soon as possible. "

"I will try to accompany you, " said Aramis, "though I scarcely feel ina condition to mount on horseback. Yesterday I undertook to employthat cord which you see hanging against the wall, but pain prevented mycontinuing the pious exercise. "

"That's the first time I ever heard of anybody trying to cure gunshotwounds with cat-o'-nine-tails; but you were ill, and illness renders thehead weak, therefore you may be excused. "

"When do you mean to set out?"

"Tomorrow at daybreak. Sleep as soundly as you can tonight, andtomorrow, if you can, we will take our departure together. "

"Till tomorrow, then, " said Aramis; "for iron-nerved as you are, youmust need repose. "

The next morning, when d'Artagnan entered Aramis's chamber, he found himat the window. 

"What are you looking at?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"My faith! I am admiring three magnificent horses which the stable boysare leading about. It would be a pleasure worthy of a prince to travelupon such horses. "

"Well, my dear Aramis, you may enjoy that pleasure, for one of thosethree horses is yours. "

"Ah, bah! Which?"

"Whichever of the three you like, I have no preference. "

"And the rich caparison, is that mine, too?"

"Without doubt. "

"You laugh, d'Artagnan. "

"No, I have left off laughing, now that you speak French. "

"What, those rich holsters, that velvet housing, that saddle studdedwith silver-are they all for me?"

"For you and nobody else, as the horse which paws the ground is mine, and the other horse, which is caracoling, belongs to Athos. "

"PESTE! They are three superb animals!"

"I am glad they please you. "

"Why, it must have been the king who made you such a present. "

"Certainly it was not the cardinal; but don't trouble yourself whencethey come, think only that one of the three is your property. "

"I choose that which the red-headed boy is leading. "

"It is yours!"

"Good heaven! That is enough to drive away all my pains; I could mounthim with thirty balls in my body. On my soul, handsome stirrups! HOLA, Bazin, come here this minute. "

Bazin appeared on the threshold, dull and spiritless. 

"That last order is useless, " interrupted d'Artagnan; "there are loadedpistols in your holsters. "

Bazin sighed. 

"Come, Monsieur Bazin, make yourself easy, " said d'Artagnan; "people ofall conditions gain the kingdom of heaven. "

"Monsieur was already such a good theologian, " said Bazin, almostweeping; "he might have become a bishop, and perhaps a cardinal. "

"Well, but my poor Bazin, reflect a little. Of what use is it to be achurchman, pray? You do not avoid going to war by that means; yousee, the cardinal is about to make the next campaign, helm on head andpartisan in hand. And Monsieur de Nogaret de la Valette, what do you sayof him? He is a cardinal likewise. Ask his lackey how often he has hadto prepare lint of him. "

"Alas!" sighed Bazin. "I know it, monsieur; everything is turnedtopsy-turvy in the world nowadays. "

While this dialogue was going on, the two young men and the poor lackeydescended. 

"Hold my stirrup, Bazin, " cried Aramis; and Aramis sprang into thesaddle with his usual grace and agility, but after a few vaultsand curvets of the noble animal his rider felt his pains come on soinsupportably that he turned pale and became unsteady in his seat. D'Artagnan, who, foreseeing such an event, had kept his eye on him, sprang toward him, caught him in his arms, and assisted him to hischamber. 

"That's all right, my dear Aramis, take care of yourself, " said he; "Iwill go alone in search of Athos. "

"You are a man of brass, " replied Aramis. 

"No, I have good luck, that is all. But how do you mean to pass yourtime till I come back? No more theses, no more glosses upon the fingersor upon benedictions, hey?"

Aramis smiled. "I will make verses, " said he. 

"Yes, I dare say; verses perfumed with the odor of the billet from theattendant of Madame de Chevreuse. Teach Bazin prosody; that willconsole him. As to the horse, ride him a little every day, and that willaccustom you to his maneuvers. "

"Oh, make yourself easy on that head, " replied Aramis. "You will find meready to follow you. "

They took leave of each other, and in ten minutes, after havingcommended his friend to the cares of the hostess and Bazin, d'Artagnanwas trotting along in the direction of Amiens. 

How was he going to find Athos? Should he find him at all? The positionin which he had left him was critical. He probably had succumbed. Thisidea, while darkening his brow, drew several sighs from him, and causedhim to formulate to himself a few vows of vengeance. Of all his friends, Athos was the eldest, and the least resembling him in appearance, in histastes and sympathies. 

Yet he entertained a marked preference for this gentleman. The noble anddistinguished air of Athos, those flashes of greatness which from timeto time broke out from the shade in which he voluntarily kept himself, that unalterable equality of temper which made him the most pleasantcompanion in the world, that forced and cynical gaiety, that braverywhich might have been termed blind if it had not been the result of therarest coolness--such qualities attracted more than the esteem, morethan the friendship of d'Artagnan; they attracted his admiration. 

Indeed, when placed beside M. De Treville, the elegant and noblecourtier, Athos in his most cheerful days might advantageously sustaina comparison. He was of middle height; but his person was so admirablyshaped and so well proportioned that more than once in his struggleswith Porthos he had overcome the giant whose physical strength wasproverbial among the Musketeers. His head, with piercing eyes, astraight nose, a chin cut like that of Brutus, had altogether anindefinable character of grandeur and grace. His hands, of which he tooklittle care, were the despair of Aramis, who cultivated his with almondpaste and perfumed oil. The sound of his voice was at once penetratingand melodious; and then, that which was inconceivable in Athos, who wasalways retiring, was that delicate knowledge of the world and of theusages of the most brilliant society--those manners of a high degreewhich appeared, as if unconsciously to himself, in his least actions. 

If a repast were on foot, Athos presided over it better than any other, placing every guest exactly in the rank which his ancestors had earnedfor him or that he had made for himself. If a question in heraldrywere started, Athos knew all the noble families of the kingdom, theirgenealogy, their alliances, their coats of arms, and the origin of them. Etiquette had no minutiae unknown to him. He knew what were the rightsof the great land owners. He was profoundly versed in hunting andfalconry, and had one day when conversing on this great art astonishedeven Louis XIII himself, who took a pride in being considered a pastmaster therein. 

Like all the great nobles of that period, Athos rode and fencedto perfection. But still further, his education had been so littleneglected, even with respect to scholastic studies, so rare at thistime among gentlemen, that he smiled at the scraps of Latin which Aramissported and which Porthos pretended to understand. Two or three times, even, to the great astonishment of his friends, he had, when Aramisallowed some rudimental error to escape him, replaced a verb inits right tense and a noun in its case. Besides, his probity wasirreproachable, in an age in which soldiers compromised so easily withtheir religion and their consciences, lovers with the rigorous delicacyof our era, and the poor with God's Seventh Commandment. This Athos, then, was a very extraordinary man. 

And yet this nature so distinguished, this creature so beautiful, thisessence so fine, was seen to turn insensibly toward material life, asold men turn toward physical and moral imbecility. Athos, in his hoursof gloom--and these hours were frequent--was extinguished as to thewhole of the luminous portion of him, and his brilliant side disappearedas into profound darkness. 

Then the demigod vanished; he remained scarcely a man. His head hangingdown, his eye dull, his speech slow and painful, Athos would look forhours together at his bottle, his glass, or at Grimaud, who, accustomedto obey him by signs, read in the faint glance of his master his leastdesire, and satisfied it immediately. If the four friends were assembledat one of these moments, a word, thrown forth occasionally with aviolent effort, was the share Athos furnished to the conversation. In exchange for his silence Athos drank enough for four, and withoutappearing to be otherwise affected by wine than by a more markedconstriction of the brow and by a deeper sadness. 

D'Artagnan, whose inquiring disposition we are acquainted with, hadnot--whatever interest he had in satisfying his curiosity on thissubject--been able to assign any cause for these fits of for the periodsof their recurrence. Athos never received any letters; Athos never hadconcerns which all his friends did not know. 

It could not be said that it was wine which produced this sadness; forin truth he only drank to combat this sadness, which wine however, as wehave said, rendered still darker. This excess of bilious humor couldnot be attributed to play; for unlike Porthos, who accompanied thevariations of chance with songs or oaths, Athos when he won remainedas unmoved as when he lost. He had been known, in the circle of theMusketeers, to win in one night three thousand pistoles; to lose themeven to the gold-embroidered belt for gala days, win all this again withthe addition of a hundred louis, without his beautiful eyebrow beingheightened or lowered half a line, without his hands losing their pearlyhue, without his conversation, which was cheerful that evening, ceasingto be calm and agreeable. 

Neither was it, as with our neighbors, the English, an atmosphericinfluence which darkened his countenance; for the sadness generallybecame more intense toward the fine season of the year. June and Julywere the terrible months with Athos. 

For the present he had no anxiety. He shrugged his shoulders when peoplespoke of the future. His secret, then, was in the past, as had oftenbeen vaguely said to d'Artagnan. 

This mysterious shade, spread over his whole person, rendered stillmore interesting the man whose eyes or mouth, even in the most completeintoxication, had never revealed anything, however skillfully questionshad been put to him. 

"Well, " thought d'Artagnan, "poor Athos is perhaps at this moment dead, and dead by my fault--for it was I who dragged him into this affair, ofwhich he did not know the origin, of which he is ignorant of the result, and from which he can derive no advantage. "

"Without reckoning, monsieur, " added Planchet to his master's audiblyexpressed reflections, "that we perhaps owe our lives to him. Do youremember how he cried, 'On, d'Artagnan, on, I am taken'? And when hehad discharged his two pistols, what a terrible noise he made with hissword! One might have said that twenty men, or rather twenty mad devils, were fighting. "

These words redoubled the eagerness of d'Artagnan, who urged his horse, though he stood in need of no incitement, and they proceeded at a rapidpace. About eleven o'clock in the morning they perceived Ameins, and athalf past eleven they were at the door of the cursed inn. 

D'Artagnan had often meditated against the perfidious host one of thosehearty vengeances which offer consolation while they are hoped for. Heentered the hostelry with his hat pulled over his eyes, his left hand onthe pommel of the sword, and cracking his whip with his right hand. 

"Do you remember me?" said he to the host, who advanced to greet him. 

"I have not that honor, monseigneur, " replied the latter, his eyesdazzled by the brilliant style in which d'Artagnan traveled. 

"What, you don't know me?"

"No, monseigneur. "

"Well, two words will refresh your memory. What have you done with thatgentleman against whom you had the audacity, about twelve days ago, tomake an accusation of passing false money?"

The host became as pale as death; for d'Artagnan had assumed athreatening attitude, and Planchet modeled himself after his master. 

"Ah, monseigneur, do not mention it!" cried the host, in the mostpitiable voice imaginable. "Ah, monseigneur, how dearly have I paid forthat fault, unhappy wretch as I am!"

"That gentleman, I say, what has become of him?"

"Deign to listen to me, monseigneur, and be merciful! Sit down, inmercy!"

D'Artagnan, mute with anger and anxiety, took a seat in the threateningattitude of a judge. Planchet glared fiercely over the back of hisarmchair. 

"Here is the story, monseigneur, " resumed the trembling host; "for Inow recollect you. It was you who rode off at the moment I had thatunfortunate difference with the gentleman you speak of. "

"Yes, it was I; so you may plainly perceive that you have no mercy toexpect if you do not tell me the whole truth. "

"Condescend to listen to me, and you shall know all. "

"I listen. "

"I had been warned by the authorities that a celebrated coiner ofbad money would arrive at my inn, with several of his companions, alldisguised as Guards or Musketeers. Monseigneur, I was furnished with adescription of your horses, your lackeys, your countenances--nothing wasomitted. "

"Go on, go on!" said d'Artagnan, who quickly understood whence such anexact description had come. 

"I took then, in conformity with the orders of the authorities, who sentme a reinforcement of six men, such measures as I thought necessary toget possession of the persons of the pretended coiners. "

"Again!" said d'Artagnan, whose ears chafed terribly under therepetition of this word COINERs. 

"Pardon me, monseigneur, for saying such things, but they form myexcuse. The authorities had terrified me, and you know that an innkeepermust keep on good terms with the authorities. "

"But once again, that gentleman--where is he? What has become of him? Ishe dead? Is he living?"

"Patience, monseigneur, we are coming to it. There happened then thatwhich you know, and of which your precipitate departure, " added thehost, with an acuteness that did not escape d'Artagnan, "appeared toauthorize the issue. That gentleman, your friend, defended himselfdesperately. His lackey, who, by an unforeseen piece of ill luck, hadquarreled with the officers, disguised as stable lads--"

"Miserable scoundrel!" cried d'Artagnan, "you were all in the plot, then! And I really don't know what prevents me from exterminating youall. "

"Alas, monseigneur, we were not in the plot, as you will soon see. Monsieur your friend (pardon for not calling him by the honorable namewhich no doubt he bears, but we do not know that name), Monsieur yourfriend, having disabled two men with his pistols, retreated fightingwith his sword, with which he disabled one of my men, and stunned mewith a blow of the flat side of it. "

"You villain, will you finish?" cried d'Artagnan, "Athos--what hasbecome of Athos?"

"While fighting and retreating, as I have told Monseigneur, he found thedoor of the cellar stairs behind him, and as the door was open, he tookout the key, and barricaded himself inside. As we were sure of findinghim there, we left him alone. "

"Yes, " said d'Artagnan, "you did not really wish to kill; you onlywished to imprison him. "

"Good God! To imprison him, monseigneur? Why, he imprisoned himself, Iswear to you he did. In the first place he had made rough work of it;one man was killed on the spot, and two others were severely wounded. The dead man and the two wounded were carried off by their comrades, andI have heard nothing of either of them since. As for myself, as soon asI recovered my senses I went to Monsieur the Governor, to whom I relatedall that had passed, and asked, what I should do with my prisoner. Monsieur the Governor was all astonishment. He told me he knew nothingabout the matter, that the orders I had received did not come from him, and that if I had the audacity to mention his name as being concerned inthis disturbance he would have me hanged. It appears that I had madea mistake, monsieur, that I had arrested the wrong person, and that hewhom I ought to have arrested had escaped. "

"But Athos!" cried d'Artagnan, whose impatience was increased by thedisregard of the authorities, "Athos, where is he?"

"As I was anxious to repair the wrongs I had done the prisoner, " resumedthe innkeeper, "I took my way straight to the cellar in order to set himat liberty. Ah, monsieur, he was no longer a man, he was a devil! To myoffer of liberty, he replied that it was nothing but a snare, and thatbefore he came out he intended to impose his own conditions. I told himvery humbly--for I could not conceal from myself the scrape I had gotinto by laying hands on one of his Majesty's Musketeers--I told him Iwas quite ready to submit to his conditions. 

"'In the first place, ' said he, 'I wish my lackey placed with me, fully armed. ' We hastened to obey this order; for you will please tounderstand, monsieur, we were disposed to do everything your friendcould desire. Monsieur Grimaud (he told us his name, although he doesnot talk much)--Monsieur Grimaud, then, went down to the cellar, woundedas he was; then his master, having admitted him, barricaded the doorafresh, and ordered us to remain quietly in our own bar. "

"But where is Athos now?" cried d'Artagnan. "Where is Athos?"

"In the cellar, monsieur. "

"What, you scoundrel! Have you kept him in the cellar all this time?"

"Merciful heaven! No, monsieur! We keep him in the cellar! You do notknow what he is about in the cellar. Ah! If you could but persuade himto come out, monsieur, I should owe you the gratitude of my whole life;I should adore you as my patron saint!"

"Then he is there? I shall find him there?"

"Without doubt you will, monsieur; he persists in remaining there. Weevery day pass through the air hole some bread at the end of a fork, andsome meat when he asks for it; but alas! It is not of bread and meat ofwhich he makes the greatest consumption. I once endeavored to go downwith two of my servants; but he flew into terrible rage. I heard thenoise he made in loading his pistols, and his servant in loading hismusketoon. Then, when we asked them what were their intentions, themaster replied that he had forty charges to fire, and that he and hislackey would fire to the last one before he would allow a single soulof us to set foot in the cellar. Upon this I went and complained to thegovernor, who replied that I only had what I deserved, and that it wouldteach me to insult honorable gentlemen who took up their abode in myhouse. "

"So that since that time--" replied d'Artagnan, totally unable torefrain from laughing at the pitiable face of the host. 

"So from that time, monsieur, " continued the latter, "we have led themost miserable life imaginable; for you must know, monsieur, that allour provisions are in the cellar. There is our wine in bottles, andour wine in casks; the beer, the oil, and the spices, the bacon, andsausages. And as we are prevented from going down there, we are forcedto refuse food and drink to the travelers who come to the house; so thatour hostelry is daily going to ruin. If your friend remains another weekin my cellar I shall be a ruined man. "

"And not more than justice, either, you ass! Could you not perceive byour appearance that we were people of quality, and not coiners--say?"

"Yes, monsieur, you are right, " said the host. "But, hark, hark! Therehe is!"

"Somebody has disturbed him, without doubt, " said d'Artagnan. 

"But he must be disturbed, " cried the host; "Here are two Englishgentlemen just arrived. "

"Well?"

"Well, the English like good wine, as you may know, monsieur; these haveasked for the best. My wife has perhaps requested permission of MonsieurAthos to go into the cellar to satisfy these gentlemen; and he, asusual, has refused. Ah, good heaven! There is the hullabaloo louder thanever!"

D'Artagnan, in fact, heard a great noise on the side next the cellar. He rose, and preceded by the host wringing his hands, and followed byPlanchet with his musketoon ready for use, he approached the scene ofaction. 

The two gentlemen were exasperated; they had had a long ride, and weredying with hunger and thirst. 

"But this is tyranny!" cried one of them, in very good French, thoughwith a foreign accent, "that this madman will not allow these goodpeople access to their own wine! Nonsense, let us break open the door, and if he is too far gone in his madness, well, we will kill him!"

"Softly, gentlemen!" said d'Artagnan, drawing his pistols from his belt, "you will kill nobody, if you please!"

"Good, good!" cried the calm voice of Athos, from the other side of thedoor, "let them just come in, these devourers of little children, and weshall see!"

Brave as they appeared to be, the two English gentlemen looked at eachother hesitatingly. One might have thought there was in that cellar oneof those famished ogres--the gigantic heroes of popular legends, intowhose cavern nobody could force their way with impunity. 

There was a moment of silence; but at length the two Englishmen feltashamed to draw back, and the angrier one descended the five or sixsteps which led to the cellar, and gave a kick against the door enoughto split a wall. 

"Planchet, " said d'Artagnan, cocking his pistols, "I will take charge ofthe one at the top; you look to the one below. Ah, gentlemen, you wantbattle; and you shall have it. "

"Good God!" cried the hollow voice of Athos, "I can hear d'Artagnan, Ithink. "

"Yes, " cried d'Artagnan, raising his voice in turn, "I am here, myfriend. "

"Ah, good, then, " replied Athos, "we will teach them, these doorbreakers!"

The gentlemen had drawn their swords, but they found themselves takenbetween two fires. They still hesitated an instant; but, as before, pride prevailed, and a second kick split the door from bottom to top. 

"Stand on one side, d'Artagnan, stand on one side, " cried Athos. "I amgoing to fire!"

"Gentlemen, " exclaimed d'Artagnan, whom reflection never abandoned, "gentlemen, think of what you are about. Patience, Athos! You arerunning your heads into a very silly affair; you will be riddled. Mylackey and I will have three shots at you, and you will get as many fromthe cellar. You will then have our swords, with which, I can assure you, my friend and I can play tolerably well. Let me conduct your businessand my own. You shall soon have something to drink; I give you my word. "

"If there is any left, " grumbled the jeering voice of Athos. 

The host felt a cold sweat creep down his back. 

"How! 'If there is any left!'" murmured he. 

"What the devil! There must be plenty left, " replied d'Artagnan. "Be satisfied of that; these two cannot have drunk all the cellar. Gentlemen, return your swords to their scabbards. "

"Well, provided you replace your pistols in your belt. "

"Willingly. "

And d'Artagnan set the example. Then, turning toward Planchet, he madehim a sign to uncock his musketoon. 

The Englishmen, convinced of these peaceful proceedings, sheathed theirswords grumblingly. The history of Athos's imprisonment was then relatedto them; and as they were really gentlemen, they pronounced the host inthe wrong. 

"Now, gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, "go up to your room again; and in tenminutes, I will answer for it, you shall have all you desire. "

The Englishmen bowed and went upstairs. 

"Now I am alone, my dear Athos, " said d'Artagnan; "open the door, I begof you. "

"Instantly, " said Athos. 

Then was heard a great noise of fagots being removed and of the groaningof posts; these were the counterscarps and bastions of Athos, which thebesieged himself demolished. 

An instant after, the broken door was removed, and the pale faceof Athos appeared, who with a rapid glance took a survey of thesurroundings. 

D'Artagnan threw himself on his neck and embraced him tenderly. He thentried to draw him from his moist abode, but to his surprise he perceivedthat Athos staggered. 

"You are wounded, " said he. 

"I! Not at all. I am dead drunk, that's all, and never did a man morestrongly set about getting so. By the Lord, my good host! I must atleast have drunk for my part a hundred and fifty bottles. "

"Mercy!" cried the host, "if the lackey has drunk only half as much asthe master, I am a ruined man. "

"Grimaud is a well-bred lackey. He would never think of faring in thesame manner as his master; he only drank from the cask. Hark! I don'tthink he put the faucet in again. Do you hear it? It is running now. "

D'Artagnan burst into a laugh which changed the shiver of the host intoa burning fever. 

In the meantime, Grimaud appeared in his turn behind his master, withthe musketoon on his shoulder, and his head shaking. Like one of thosedrunken satyrs in the pictures of Rubens. He was moistened before andbehind with a greasy liquid which the host recognized as his best oliveoil. 

The four crossed the public room and proceeded to take possession of thebest apartment in the house, which d'Artagnan occupied with authority. 

In the meantime the host and his wife hurried down with lamps into thecellar, which had so long been interdicted to them and where a frightfulspectacle awaited them. 

Beyond the fortifications through which Athos had made a breach in orderto get out, and which were composed of fagots, planks, and empty casks, heaped up according to all the rules of the strategic art, they found, swimming in puddles of oil and wine, the bones and fragments of all thehams they had eaten; while a heap of broken bottles filled the wholeleft-hand corner of the cellar, and a tun, the cock of which was leftrunning, was yielding, by this means, the last drop of its blood. "Theimage of devastation and death, " as the ancient poet says, "reigned asover a field of battle. "

Of fifty large sausages, suspended from the joists, scarcely tenremained. 

Then the lamentations of the host and hostess pierced the vault of thecellar. D'Artagnan himself was moved by them. Athos did not even turnhis head. 

To grief succeeded rage. The host armed himself with a spit, and rushedinto the chamber occupied by the two friends. 

"Some wine!" said Athos, on perceiving the host. 

"Some wine!" cried the stupefied host, "some wine? Why you havedrunk more than a hundred pistoles' worth! I am a ruined man, lost, destroyed!"

"Bah, " said Athos, "we were always dry. "

"If you had been contented with drinking, well and good; but you havebroken all the bottles. "

"You pushed me upon a heap which rolled down. That was your fault. "

"All my oil is lost!"

"Oil is a sovereign balm for wounds; and my poor Grimaud here wasobliged to dress those you had inflicted on him. "

"All my sausages are gnawed!"

"There is an enormous quantity of rats in that cellar. "

"You shall pay me for all this, " cried the exasperated host. 

"Triple ass!" said Athos, rising; but he sank down again immediately. Hehad tried his strength to the utmost. D'Artagnan came to his relief withhis whip in his hand. 

The host drew back and burst into tears. 

"This will teach you, " said d'Artagnan, "to treat the guests God sendsyou in a more courteous fashion. "

"God? Say the devil!"

"My dear friend, " said d'Artagnan, "if you annoy us in this manner wewill all four go and shut ourselves up in your cellar, and we will seeif the mischief is as great as you say. "

"Oh, gentlemen, " said the host, "I have been wrong. I confess it, butpardon to every sin! You are gentlemen, and I am a poor innkeeper. Youwill have pity on me. "

"Ah, if you speak in that way, " said Athos, "you will break my heart, and the tears will flow from my eyes as the wine flowed from the cask. We are not such devils as we appear to be. Come hither, and let ustalk. "

The host approached with hesitation. 

"Come hither, I say, and don't be afraid, " continued Athos. "At the verymoment when I was about to pay you, I had placed my purse on the table. "

"Yes, monsieur. "

"That purse contained sixty pistoles; where is it?"

"Deposited with the justice; they said it was bad money. "

"Very well; get me my purse back and keep the sixty pistoles. "

"But Monseigneur knows very well that justice never lets go that whichit once lays hold of. If it were bad money, there might be some hopes;but unfortunately, those were all good pieces. "

"Manage the matter as well as you can, my good man; it does not concernme, the more so as I have not a livre left. "

"Come, " said d'Artagnan, "let us inquire further. Athos's horse, whereis that?"

"In the stable. "

"How much is it worth?"

"Fifty pistoles at most. "

"It's worth eighty. Take it, and there ends the matter. "

"What, " cried Athos, "are you selling my horse--my Bajazet? And prayupon what shall I make my campaign; upon Grimaud?"

"I have brought you another, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Another?"

"And a magnificent one!" cried the host. 

"Well, since there is another finer and younger, why, you may take theold one; and let us drink. "

"What?" asked the host, quite cheerful again. 

"Some of that at the bottom, near the laths. There are twenty-fivebottles of it left; all the rest were broken by my fall. Bring six ofthem. "

"Why, this man is a cask!" said the host, aside. "If he only remainshere a fortnight, and pays for what he drinks, I shall soon re-establishmy business. "

"And don't forget, " said d'Artagnan, "to bring up four bottles of thesame sort for the two English gentlemen. "

"And now, " said Athos, "while they bring the wine, tell me, d'Artagnan, what has become of the others, come!"

D'Artagnan related how he had found Porthos in bed with a strained knee, and Aramis at a table between two theologians. As he finished, the hostentered with the wine ordered and a ham which, fortunately for him, hadbeen left out of the cellar. 

"That's well!" said Athos, filling his glass and that of his friend;"here's to Porthos and Aramis! But you, d'Artagnan, what is the matterwith you, and what has happened to you personally? You have a sad air. "

"Alas, " said d'Artagnan, "it is because I am the most unfortunate. "

"Tell me. "

"Presently, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Presently! And why presently? Because you think I am drunk? d'Artagnan, remember this! My ideas are never so clear as when I have had plenty ofwine. Speak, then, I am all ears. "

D'Artagnan related his adventure with Mme. Bonacieux. Athos listenedto him without a frown; and when he had finished, said, "Trifles, onlytrifles!" That was his favorite word. 

"You always say TRIFLES, my dear Athos!" said d'Artagnan, "and that comevery ill from you, who have never loved. "

The drink-deadened eye of Athos flashed out, but only for a moment; itbecame as dull and vacant as before. 

"That's true, " said he, quietly, "for my part I have never loved. "

"Acknowledge, then, you stony heart, " said d'Artagnan, "that you arewrong to be so hard upon us tender hearts. "

"Tender hearts! Pierced hearts!" said Athos. 

"What do you say?"

"I say that love is a lottery in which he who wins, wins death! You arevery fortunate to have lost, believe me, my dear d'Artagnan. And if Ihave any counsel to give, it is, always lose!"

"She seemed to love me so!"

"She SEEMED, did she?"

"Oh, she DID love me!"

"You child, why, there is not a man who has not believed, as you do, that his mistress loved him, and there lives not a man who has not beendeceived by his mistress. "

"Except you, Athos, who never had one. "

"That's true, " said Athos, after a moment's silence, "that's true! Inever had one! Let us drink!"

"But then, philosopher that you are, " said d'Artagnan, "instruct me, support me. I stand in need of being taught and consoled. "

"Consoled for what?"

"For my misfortune. "

"Your misfortune is laughable, " said Athos, shrugging his shoulders; "Ishould like to know what you would say if I were to relate to you a realtale of love!"

"Which has happened to you?"

"Or one of my friends, what matters?"

"Tell it, Athos, tell it. "

"Better if I drink. "

"Drink and relate, then. "

"Not a bad idea!" said Athos, emptying and refilling his glass. "The twothings agree marvelously well. "

"I am all attention, " said d'Artagnan. 

Athos collected himself, and in proportion as he did so, d'Artagnansaw that he became pale. He was at that period of intoxication in whichvulgar drinkers fall on the floor and go to sleep. He kept himselfupright and dreamed, without sleeping. This somnambulism of drunkennesshad something frightful in it. 

"You particularly wish it?" asked he. 

"I pray for it, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Be it then as you desire. One of my friends--one of my friends, please to observe, not myself, " said Athos, interrupting himself with amelancholy smile, "one of the counts of my province--that is to say, ofBerry--noble as a Dandolo or a Montmorency, at twenty-five years ofage fell in love with a girl of sixteen, beautiful as fancy can paint. Through the ingenuousness of her age beamed an ardent mind, not of thewoman, but of the poet. She did not please; she intoxicated. She livedin a small town with her brother, who was a curate. Both had recentlycome into the country. They came nobody knew whence; but when seeing herso lovely and her brother so pious, nobody thought of asking whence theycame. They were said, however, to be of good extraction. My friend, whowas seigneur of the country, might have seduced her, or taken herby force, at his will--for he was master. Who would have come to theassistance of two strangers, two unknown persons? Unfortunately he wasan honorable man; he married her. The fool! The ass! The idiot!"

"How so, if he love her?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Wait, " said Athos. "He took her to his chateau, and made her thefirst lady in the province; and in justice it must be allowed that shesupported her rank becomingly. "

"Well?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Well, one day when she was hunting with her husband, " continued Athos, in a low voice, and speaking very quickly, "she fell from her horseand fainted. The count flew to her to help, and as she appeared to beoppressed by her clothes, he ripped them open with his ponaird, andin so doing laid bare her shoulder. D'Artagnan, " said Athos, with amaniacal burst of laughter, "guess what she had on her shoulder. "

"How can I tell?" said d'Artagnan. 

"A FLEUR-DE-LIS, " said Athos. "She was branded. "

Athos emptied at a single draught the glass he held in his hand. 

"Horror!" cried d'Artagnan. "What do you tell me?"

"Truth, my friend. The angel was a demon; the poor young girl had stolenthe sacred vessels from a church. "

"And what did the count do?"

"The count was of the highest nobility. He had on his estates the rightsof high and low tribunals. He tore the dress of the countess to pieces;he tied her hands behind her, and hanged her on a tree. "

"Heavens, Athos, a murder?" cried d'Artagnan. 

"No less, " said Athos, as pale as a corpse. "But methinks I need wine!"and he seized by the neck the last bottle that was left, put it to hismouth, and emptied it at a single draught, as he would have emptied anordinary glass. 

Then he let his head sink upon his two hands, while d'Artagnan stoodbefore him, stupefied. 

"That has cured me of beautiful, poetical, and loving women, " saidAthos, after a considerable pause, raising his head, and forgettingto continue the fiction of the count. "God grant you as much! Let usdrink. "

"Then she is dead?" stammered d'Artagnan. 

"PARBLEU!" said Athos. "But hold out your glass. Some ham, my boy, or wecan't drink. "

"And her brother?" added d'Artagnan, timidly. 

"Her brother?" replied Athos. 

"Yes, the priest. "

"Oh, I inquired after him for the purpose of hanging him likewise; buthe was beforehand with me, he had quit the curacy the night before. "

"Was it ever known who this miserable fellow was?"

"He was doubtless the first lover and accomplice of the fair lady. Aworthy man, who had pretended to be a curate for the purpose of gettinghis mistress married, and securing her a position. He has been hangedand quartered, I hope. "

"My God, my God!" cried d'Artagnan, quite stunned by the relation ofthis horrible adventure. 

"Taste some of this ham, d'Artagnan; it is exquisite, " said Athos, cutting a slice, which he placed on the young man's plate. 

"What a pity it is there were only four like this in the cellar. I couldhave drunk fifty bottles more. "

D'Artagnan could no longer endure this conversation, which had made himbewildered. Allowing his head to sink upon his two hands, he pretendedto sleep. 

"These young fellows can none of them drink, " said Athos, looking at himwith pity, "and yet this is one of the best!"

28 THE RETURN

D'Artagnan was astounded by the terrible confidence of Athos; yet manythings appeared very obscure to him in this half revelation. In thefirst place it had been made by a man quite drunk to one who was halfdrunk; and yet, in spite of the incertainty which the vapor of three orfour bottles of Burgundy carries with it to the brain, d'Artagnan, whenawaking on the following morning, had all the words of Athos as presentto his memory as if they then fell from his mouth--they had been soimpressed upon his mind. All this doubt only gave rise to a more livelydesire of arriving at a certainty, and he went into his friend's chamberwith a fixed determination of renewing the conversation of the precedingevening; but he found Athos quite himself again--that is to say, themost shrewd and impenetrable of men. Besides which, the Musketeer, after having exchanged a hearty shake of the hand with him, broached thematter first. 

"I was pretty drunk yesterday, d'Artagnan, " said he, "I can tell thatby my tongue, which was swollen and hot this morning, and by mypulse, which was very tremulous. I wager that I uttered a thousandextravagances. "

While saying this he looked at his friend with an earnestness thatembarrassed him. 

"No, " replied d'Artagnan, "if I recollect well what you said, it wasnothing out of the common way. "

"Ah, you surprise me. I thought I had told you a most lamentable story. "And he looked at the young man as if he would read the bottom of hisheart. 

"My faith, " said d'Artagnan, "it appears that I was more drunk than you, since I remember nothing of the kind. "

Athos did not trust this reply, and he resumed; "you cannot have failedto remark, my dear friend, that everyone has his particular kind ofdrunkenness, sad or gay. My drunkenness is always sad, and when I amthoroughly drunk my mania is to relate all the lugubrious stories whichmy foolish nurse inculcated into my brain. That is my failing--a capitalfailing, I admit; but with that exception, I am a good drinker. "

Athos spoke this in so natural a manner that d'Artagnan was shaken inhis conviction. 

"It is that, then, " replied the young man, anxious to find out thetruth, "it is that, then, I remember as we remember a dream. We werespeaking of hanging. "

"Ah, you see how it is, " said Athos, becoming still paler, but yetattempting to laugh; "I was sure it was so--the hanging of people is mynightmare. "

"Yes, yes, " replied d'Artagnan. "I remember now; yes, it was about--stopa minute--yes, it was about a woman. "

"That's it, " replied Athos, becoming almost livid; "that is my grandstory of the fair lady, and when I relate that, I must be very drunk. "

"Yes, that was it, " said d'Artagnan, "the story of a tall, fair lady, with blue eyes. "

"Yes, who was hanged. "

"By her husband, who was a nobleman of your acquaintance, " continuedd'Artagnan, looking intently at Athos. 

"Well, you see how a man may compromise himself when he does not knowwhat he says, " replied Athos, shrugging his shoulders as if he thoughthimself an object of pity. "I certainly never will get drunk again, d'Artagnan; it is too bad a habit. "

D'Artagnan remained silent; and then changing the conversation all atonce, Athos said:

"By the by, I thank you for the horse you have brought me. "

"Is it to your mind?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Yes; but it is not a horse for hard work. "

"You are mistaken; I rode him nearly ten leagues in less than an hourand a half, and he appeared no more distressed than if he had only madethe tour of the Place St. Sulpice. "

"Ah, you begin to awaken my regret. "

"Regret?"

"Yes; I have parted with him. "

"How?"

"Why, here is the simple fact. This morning I awoke at six o'clock. Youwere still fast asleep, and I did not know what to do with myself; Iwas still stupid from our yesterday's debauch. As I came into the publicroom, I saw one of our Englishman bargaining with a dealer for a horse, his own having died yesterday from bleeding. I drew near, and found hewas bidding a hundred pistoles for a chestnut nag. 'PARDIEU, ' said I, 'my good gentleman, I have a horse to sell, too. ' 'Ay, and a very fineone! I saw him yesterday; your friend's lackey was leading him. ' 'Do youthink he is worth a hundred pistoles?' 'Yes! Will you sell him to me forthat sum?' 'No; but I will play for him. ' 'What?' 'At dice. ' No soonersaid than done, and I lost the horse. Ah, ah! But please to observe Iwon back the equipage, " cried Athos. 

D'Artagnan looked much disconcerted. 

"This vexes you?" said Athos. 

"Well, I must confess it does, " replied d'Artagnan. "That horse was tohave identified us in the day of battle. It was a pledge, a remembrance. Athos, you have done wrong. "

"But, my dear friend, put yourself in my place, " replied the Musketeer. "I was hipped to death; and still further, upon my honor, I don't likeEnglish horses. If it is only to be recognized, why the saddle willsuffice for that; it is quite remarkable enough. As to the horse, we caneasily find some excuse for its disappearance. Why the devil! A horse ismortal; suppose mine had had the glanders or the farcy?"

D'Artagnan did not smile. 

"It vexes me greatly, " continued Athos, "that you attach so muchimportance to these animals, for I am not yet at the end of my story. "

"What else have you done. "

"After having lost my own horse, nine against ten--see how near--Iformed an idea of staking yours. "

"Yes; but you stopped at the idea, I hope?"

"No; for I put it in execution that very minute. "

"And the consequence?" said d'Artagnan, in great anxiety. 

"I threw, and I lost. "

"What, my horse?"

"Your horse, seven against eight; a point short--you know the proverb. "

"Athos, you are not in your right senses, I swear. "

"My dear lad, that was yesterday, when I was telling you silly stories, it was proper to tell me that, and not this morning. I lost him then, with all his appointments and furniture. "

"Really, this is frightful. "

"Stop a minute; you don't know all yet. I should make an excellentgambler if I were not too hot-headed; but I was hot-headed, just as if Ihad been drinking. Well, I was not hot-headed then--"

"Well, but what else could you play for? You had nothing left?"

"Oh, yes, my friend; there was still that diamond left which sparkles onyour finger, and which I had observed yesterday. "

"This diamond!" said d'Artagnan, placing his hand eagerly on his ring. 

"And as I am a connoisseur in such things, having had a few of my ownonce, I estimated it at a thousand pistoles. "

"I hope, " said d'Artagnan, half dead with fright, "you made no mentionof my diamond?"

"On the contrary, my dear friend, this diamond became our only resource;with it I might regain our horses and their harnesses, and even money topay our expenses on the road. "

"Athos, you make me tremble!" cried d'Artagnan. 

"I mentioned your diamond then to my adversary, who had likewiseremarked it. What the devil, my dear, do you think you can wear a starfrom heaven on your finger, and nobody observe it? Impossible!"

"Go on, go on, my dear fellow!" said d'Artagnan; "for upon my honor, youwill kill me with your indifference. "

"We divided, then, this diamond into ten parts of a hundred pistoleseach. "

"You are laughing at me, and want to try me!" said d'Artagnan, whomanger began to take by the hair, as Minerva takes Achilles, in theILLIAD. 

"No, I do not jest, MORDIEU! I should like to have seen you in my place!I had been fifteen days without seeing a human face, and had been leftto brutalize myself in the company of bottles. "

"That was no reason for staking my diamond!" replied d'Artagnan, closinghis hand with a nervous spasm. 

"Hear the end. Ten parts of a hundred pistoles each, in ten throws, without revenge; in thirteen throws I had lost all--in thirteen throws. The number thirteen was always fatal to me; it was on the thirteenth ofJuly that--"

"VENTREBLEU!" cried d'Artagnan, rising from the table, the story of thepresent day making him forget that of the preceding one. 

"Patience!" said Athos; "I had a plan. The Englishman was an original; Ihad seen him conversing that morning with Grimaud, and Grimaud had toldme that he had made him proposals to enter into his service. I stakedGrimaud, the silent Grimaud, divided into ten portions. "

"Well, what next?" said d'Artagnan, laughing in spite of himself. 

"Grimaud himself, understand; and with the ten parts of Grimaud, whichare not worth a ducatoon, I regained the diamond. Tell me, now, ifpersistence is not a virtue?"

"My faith! But this is droll, " cried d'Artagnan, consoled, and holdinghis sides with laughter. 

"You may guess, finding the luck turned, that I again staked thediamond. "

"The devil!" said d'Artagnan, becoming angry again. 

"I won back your harness, then your horse, then my harness, then myhorse, and then I lost again. In brief, I regained your harness andthen mine. That's where we are. That was a superb throw, so I left offthere. "

D'Artagnan breathed as if the whole hostelry had been removed from hisbreast. 

"Then the diamond is safe?" said he, timidly. 

"Intact, my dear friend; besides the harness of your Bucephalus andmine. "

"But what is the use of harnesses without horses?"

"I have an idea about them. "

"Athos, you make me shudder. "

"Listen to me. You have not played for a long time, d'Artagnan. "

"And I have no inclination to play. "

"Swear to nothing. You have not played for a long time, I said; youought, then, to have a good hand. "

"Well, what then?"

"Well; the Englishman and his companion are still here. I remarked thathe regretted the horse furniture very much. You appear to think muchof your horse. In your place I would stake the furniture against thehorse. "

"But he will not wish for only one harness. "

"Stake both, PARDIEU! I am not selfish, as you are. "

"You would do so?" said d'Artagnan, undecided, so strongly did theconfidence of Athos begin to prevail, in spite of himself. 

"On my honor, in one single throw. "

"But having lost the horses, I am particularly anxious to preserve theharnesses. "

"Stake your diamond, then. "

"This? That's another matter. Never, never!"

"The devil!" said Athos. "I would propose to you to stake Planchet, butas that has already been done, the Englishman would not, perhaps, bewilling. "

"Decidedly, my dear Athos, " said d'Artagnan, "I should like better notto risk anything. "

"That's a pity, " said Athos, coolly. "The Englishman is overflowing withpistoles. Good Lord, try one throw! One throw is soon made!"

"And if I lose?"

"You will win. "

"But if I lose?"

"Well, you will surrender the harnesses. "

"Have with you for one throw!" said d'Artagnan. 

Athos went in quest of the Englishman, whom he found in the stable, examining the harnesses with a greedy eye. The opportunity was good. Heproposed the conditions--the two harnesses, either against one horse ora hundred pistoles. The Englishman calculated fast; the two harnesseswere worth three hundred pistoles. He consented. 

D'Artagnan threw the dice with a trembling hand, and turned up thenumber three; his paleness terrified Athos, who, however, consentedhimself with saying, "That's a sad throw, comrade; you will have thehorses fully equipped, monsieur. "

The Englishman, quite triumphant, did not even give himself the troubleto shake the dice. He threw them on the table without looking at them, so sure was he of victory; d'Artagnan turned aside to conceal his illhumor. 

"Hold, hold, hold!" said Athos, wit his quiet tone; "that throw of thedice is extraordinary. I have not seen such a one four times in my life. Two aces!"

The Englishman looked, and was seized with astonishment. D'Artagnanlooked, and was seized with pleasure. 

"Yes, " continued Athos, "four times only; once at the house of MonsieurCrequy; another time at my own house in the country, in my chateauat--when I had a chateau; a third time at Monsieur de Treville's whereit surprised us all; and the fourth time at a cabaret, where it fell tomy lot, and where I lost a hundred louis and a supper on it. "

"Then Monsieur takes his horse back again, " said the Englishman. 

"Certainly, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Then there is no revenge?"

"Our conditions said, 'No revenge, ' you will please to recollect. "

"That is true; the horse shall be restored to your lackey, monsieur. "

"A moment, " said Athos; "with your permission, monsieur, I wish to speaka word with my friend. "

"Say on. "

Athos drew d'Artagnan aside. 

"Well, Tempter, what more do you want with me?" said d'Artagnan. "Youwant me to throw again, do you not?"

"No, I would wish you to reflect. "

"On what?"

"You mean to take your horse?"

"Without doubt. "

"You are wrong, then. I would take the hundred pistoles. You know youhave staked the harnesses against the horse or a hundred pistoles, atyour choice. "

"Yes. "

"Well, then, I repeat, you are wrong. What is the use of one horse forus two? I could not ride behind. We should look like the two sons ofAnmon, who had lost their brother. You cannot think of humiliating meby prancing along by my side on that magnificent charger. For my part, I should not hesitate a moment; I should take the hundred pistoles. Wewant money for our return to Paris. "

"I am much attached to that horse, Athos. "

"And there again you are wrong. A horse slips and injures a joint; ahorse stumbles and breaks his knees to the bone; a horse eats out of amanger in which a glandered horse has eaten. There is a horse, while onthe contrary, the hundred pistoles feed their master. "

"But how shall we get back?"

"Upon our lackey's horses, PARDIEU. Anybody may see by our bearing thatwe are people of condition. "

"Pretty figures we shall cut on ponies while Aramis and Porthos caracoleon their steeds. "

"Aramis! Porthos!" cried Athos, and laughed aloud. 

"What is it?" asked d'Artagnan, who did not at all comprehend thehilarity of his friend. 

"Nothing, nothing! Go on!"

"Your advice, then?"

"To take the hundred pistoles, d'Artagnan. With the hundred pistoles wecan live well to the end of the month. We have undergone a great deal offatigue, remember, and a little rest will do no harm. "

"I rest? Oh, no, Athos. Once in Paris, I shall prosecute my search forthat unfortunate woman!"

"Well, you may be assured that your horse will not be half soserviceable to you for that purpose as good golden louis. Take thehundred pistoles, my friend; take the hundred pistoles!"

D'Artagnan only required one reason to be satisfied. This last reasonappeared convincing. Besides, he feared that by resisting longer heshould appear selfish in the eyes of Athos. He acquiesced, therefore, and chose the hundred pistoles, which the Englishman paid down on thespot. 

They then determined to depart. Peace with the landlord, in addition toAthos's old horse, cost six pistoles. D'Artagnan and Athos took the nagsof Planchet and Grimaud, and the two lackeys started on foot, carryingthe saddles on their heads. 

However ill our two friends were mounted, they were soon far in advanceof their servants, and arrived at Creveccoeur. From a distance theyperceived Aramis, seated in a melancholy manner at his window, lookingout, like Sister Anne, at the dust in the horizon. 

"HOLA, Aramis! What the devil are you doing there?" cried the twofriends. 

"Ah, is that you, d'Artagnan, and you, Athos?" said the young man. "Iwas reflecting upon the rapidity with which the blessings of this worldleave us. My English horse, which has just disappeared amid a cloudof dust, has furnished me with a living image of the fragility of thethings of the earth. Life itself may be resolved into three words: ERAT, EST, FUIT. "

"Which means--" said d'Artagnan, who began to suspect the truth. 

"Which means that I have just been duped-sixty louis for a horse whichby the manner of his gait can do at least five leagues an hour. "

D'Artagnan and Athos laughed aloud. 

"My dear d'Artagnan, " said Aramis, "don't be too angry with me, Ibeg. Necessity has no law; besides, I am the person punished, as thatrascally horsedealer has robbed me of fifty louis, at least. Ah, youfellows are good managers! You ride on our lackey's horses, and haveyour own gallant steeds led along carefully by hand, at short stages. "

At the same instant a market cart, which some minutes before hadappeared upon the Amiens road, pulled up at the inn, and Planchet andGrimaud came out of it with the saddles on their heads. The cart wasreturning empty to Paris, and the two lackeys had agreed, for theirtransport, to slake the wagoner's thirst along the route. 

"What is this?" said Aramis, on seeing them arrive. "Nothing butsaddles?"

"Now do you understand?" said Athos. 

"My friends, that's exactly like me! I retained my harness by instinct. HOLA, Bazin! Bring my new saddle and carry it along with those of thesegentlemen. "

"And what have you done with your ecclesiastics?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"My dear fellow, I invited them to a dinner the next day, " repliedAramis. "They have some capital wine here--please to observe that inpassing. I did my best to make them drunk. Then the curate forbade meto quit my uniform, and the Jesuit entreated me to get him made aMusketeer. "

"Without a thesis?" cried d'Artagnan, "without a thesis? I demand thesuppression of the thesis. "

"Since then, " continued Aramis, "I have lived very agreeably. I havebegun a poem in verses of one syllable. That is rather difficult, but the merit in all things consists in the difficulty. The matter isgallant. I will read you the first canto. It has four hundred lines, andlasts a minute. "

"My faith, my dear Aramis, " said d'Artagnan, who detested verses almostas much as he did Latin, "add to the merit of the difficulty that of thebrevity, and you are sure that your poem will at least have two merits. "

"You will see, " continued Aramis, "that it breathes irreproachablepassion. And so, my friends, we return to Paris? Bravo! I am ready. Weare going to rejoin that good fellow, Porthos. So much the better. Youcan't think how I have missed him, the great simpleton. To see him soself-satisfied reconciles me with myself. He would not sell his horse;not for a kingdom! I think I can see him now, mounted upon his superbanimal and seated in his handsome saddle. I am sure he will look likethe Great Mogul!"

They made a halt for an hour to refresh their horses. Aramis dischargedhis bill, placed Bazin in the cart with his comrades, and they setforward to join Porthos. 

They found him up, less pale than when d'Artagnan left him after hisfirst visit, and seated at a table on which, though he was alone, wasspread enough for four persons. This dinner consisted of meats nicelydressed, choice wines, and superb fruit. 

"Ah, PARDIEU!" said he, rising, "you come in the nick of time, gentlemen. I was just beginning the soup, and you will dine with me. "

"Oh, oh!" said d'Artagnan, "Mousqueton has not caught these bottles withhis lasso. Besides, here is a piquant FRICANDEAU and a fillet of beef. "

"I am recruiting myself, " said Porthos, "I am recruiting myself. Nothingweakens a man more than these devilish strains. Did you ever suffer froma strain, Athos?"

"Never! Though I remember, in our affair of the Rue Ferou, I receiveda sword wound which at the end of fifteen or eighteen days produced thesame effect. "

"But this dinner was not intended for you alone, Porthos?" said Aramis. 

"No, " said Porthos, "I expected some gentlemen of the neighborhood, whohave just sent me word they could not come. You will take their placesand I shall not lose by the exchange. HOLA, Mousqueton, seats, and orderdouble the bottles!"

"Do you know what we are eating here?" said Athos, at the end of tenminutes. 

"PARDIEU!" replied d'Artagnan, "for my part, I am eating veal garnishedwith shrimps and vegetables. "

"And I some lamb chops, " said Porthos. 

"And I a plain chicken, " said Aramis. 

"You are all mistaken, gentlemen, " answered Athos, gravely; "you areeating horse. "

"Eating what?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Horse!" said Aramis, with a grimace of disgust. 

Porthos alone made no reply. 

"Yes, horse. Are we not eating a horse, Porthos? And perhaps his saddle, therewith. "

"No, gentlemen, I have kept the harness, " said Porthos. 

"My faith, " said Aramis, "we are all alike. One would think we hadtipped the wink. "

"What could I do?" said Porthos. "This horse made my visitors ashamed oftheirs, and I don't like to humiliate people. "

"Then your duchess is still at the waters?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Still, " replied Porthos. "And, my faith, the governor of theprovince--one of the gentlemen I expected today--seemed to have such awish for him, that I gave him to him. "

"Gave him?" cried d'Artagnan. 

"My God, yes, GAVE, that is the word, " said Porthos; "for the animal wasworth at least a hundred and fifty louis, and the stingy fellow wouldonly give me eighty. "

"Without the saddle?" said Aramis. 

"Yes, without the saddle. "

"You will observe, gentlemen, " said Athos, "that Porthos has made thebest bargain of any of us. "

And then commenced a roar of laughter in which they all joined, to theastonishment of poor Porthos; but when he was informed of the cause oftheir hilarity, he shared it vociferously according to his custom. 

"There is one comfort, we are all in cash, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Well, for my part, " said Athos, "I found Aramis's Spanish wine so goodthat I sent on a hamper of sixty bottles of it in the wagon with thelackeys. That has weakened my purse. "

"And I, " said Aramis, "imagined that I had given almost my last sou tothe church of Montdidier and the Jesuits of Amiens, with whom I hadmade engagements which I ought to have kept. I have ordered Masses formyself, and for you, gentlemen, which will be said, gentlemen, for whichI have not the least doubt you will be marvelously benefited. "

"And I, " said Porthos, "do you think my strain cost me nothing?--withoutreckoning Mousqueton's wound, for which I had to have the surgeon twicea day, and who charged me double on account of that foolish Mousquetonhaving allowed himself a ball in a part which people generally only showto an apothecary; so I advised him to try never to get wounded there anymore. "

"Ay, ay!" said Athos, exchanging a smile with d'Artagnan and Aramis, "itis very clear you acted nobly with regard to the poor lad; that is likea good master. "

"In short, " said Porthos, "when all my expenses are paid, I shall have, at most, thirty crowns left. "

"And I about ten pistoles, " said Aramis. 

"Well, then it appears that we are the Croesuses of the society. Howmuch have you left of your hundred pistoles, d'Artagnan?"

"Of my hundred pistoles? Why, in the first place I gave you fifty. "

"You think so?"

"PARDIEU!"

"Ah, that is true. I recollect. "

"Then I paid the host six. "

"What a brute of a host! Why did you give him six pistoles?"

"You told me to give them to him. "

"It is true; I am too good-natured. In brief, how much remains?"

"Twenty-five pistoles, " said d'Artagnan. 

"And I, " said Athos, taking some small change from his pocket, "I--"

"You? Nothing!"

"My faith! So little that it is not worth reckoning with the generalstock. "

"Now, then, let us calculate how much we posses in all. "

"Porthos?"

"Thirty crowns. "

"Aramis?"

"Ten pistoles. "

"And you, d'Artagnan?"

"Twenty-five. "

"That makes in all?" said Athos. 

"Four hundred and seventy-five livres, " said d'Artagnan, who reckonedlike Archimedes. 

"On our arrival in Paris, we shall still have four hundred, besides theharnesses, " said Porthos. 

"But our troop horses?" said Aramis. 

"Well, of the four horses of our lackeys we will make two for themasters, for which we will draw lots. With the four hundred livres wewill make the half of one for one of the unmounted, and then we willgive the turnings out of our pockets to d'Artagnan, who has a steadyhand, and will go and play in the first gaming house we come to. There!"

"Let us dine, then, " said Porthos; "it is getting cold. "

The friends, at ease with regard to the future, did honor to the repast, the remains of which were abandoned to Mousqueton, Bazin, Planchet, andGrimaud. 

On arriving in Paris, d'Artagnan found a letter from M. De Treville, which informed him that, at his request, the king had promised that heshould enter the company of the Musketeers. 

As this was the height of d'Artagnan's worldly ambition--apart, be itwell understood, from his desire of finding Mme. Bonacieux--he ran, fullof joy, to seek his comrades, whom he had left only half an hour before, but whom he found very sad and deeply preoccupied. They were assembledin council at the residence of Athos, which always indicated an event ofsome gravity. M. De Treville had intimated to them his Majesty's fixedintention to open the campaign on the first of May, and they mustimmediately prepare their outfits. 

The four philosophers looked at one another in a state of bewilderment. M. De Treville never jested in matters relating to discipline. 

"And what do you reckon your outfit will cost?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Oh, we can scarcely say. We have made our calculations with Spartaneconomy, and we each require fifteen hundred livres. "

"Four times fifteen makes sixty--six thousand livres, " said Athos. 

"It seems to me, " said d'Artagnan, "with a thousand livres each--I donot speak as a Spartan, but as a procurator--"

This word PROCURATOR roused Porthos. "Stop, " said he, "I have an idea. "

"Well, that's something, for I have not the shadow of one, " said Athoscoolly; "but as to d'Artagnan, gentlemen, the idea of belonging to OURShas driven him out of his senses. A thousand livres! For my part, Ideclare I want two thousand. "

"Four times two makes eight, " then said Aramis; "it is eight thousandthat we want to complete our outfits, toward which, it is true, we havealready the saddles. "

"Besides, " said Athos, waiting till d'Artagnan, who went to thankMonsieur de Treville, had shut the door, "besides, there is thatbeautiful ring which beams from the finger of our friend. What thedevil! D'Artagnan is too good a comrade to leave his brothers inembarrassment while he wears the ransom of a king on his finger. "

29 HUNTING FOR THE EQUIPMENTS

The most preoccupied of the four friends was certainly d'Artagnan, although he, in his quality of Guardsman, would be much more easilyequipped than Messieurs the Musketeers, who were all of high rank; butour Gascon cadet was, as may have been observed, of a provident andalmost avaricious character, and with that (explain the contradiction)so vain as almost to rival Porthos. To this preoccupation of his vanity, d'Artagnan at this moment joined an uneasiness much less selfish. Notwithstanding all his inquiries respecting Mme. Bonacieux, he couldobtain no intelligence of her. M. De Treville had spoken of her to thequeen. The queen was ignorant where the mercer's young wife was, but hadpromised to have her sought for; but this promise was very vague and didnot at all reassure d'Artagnan. 

Athos did not leave his chamber; he made up his mind not to take asingle step to equip himself. 

"We have still fifteen days before us, " said he to his friends, "well, if at the end of a fortnight I have found nothing, or rather if nothinghas come to find me, as I, too good a Catholic to kill myself with apistol bullet, I will seek a good quarrel with four of his Eminence'sGuards or with eight Englishmen, and I will fight until one of them haskilled me, which, considering the number, cannot fail to happen. Itwill then be said of me that I died for the king; so that I shall haveperformed my duty without the expense of an outfit. "

Porthos continued to walk about with his hands behind him, tossing hishead and repeating, "I shall follow up on my idea. "

Aramis, anxious and negligently dressed, said nothing. 

It may be seen by these disastrous details that desolation reigned inthe community. 

The lackeys on their part, like the coursers of Hippolytus, shared thesadness of their masters. Mousqueton collected a store of crusts; Bazin, who had always been inclined to devotion, never quit the churches;Planchet watched the flight of flies; and Grimaud, whom the generaldistress could not induce to break the silence imposed by his master, heaved sighs enough to soften the stones. 

The three friends--for, as we have said, Athos had sworn not to stir afoot to equip himself--went out early in the morning, and returned lateat night. They wandered about the streets, looking at the pavement asif to see whether the passengers had not left a purse behind them. Theymight have been supposed to be following tracks, so observant were theywherever they went. When they met they looked desolately at one another, as much as to say, "Have you found anything?"

However, as Porthos had first found an idea, and had thought of itearnestly afterward, he was the first to act. He was a man of execution, this worthy Porthos. D'Artagnan perceived him one day walking towardthe church of St. Leu, and followed him instinctively. He entered, afterhaving twisted his mustache and elongated his imperial, which alwaysannounced on his part the most triumphant resolutions. As d'Artagnantook some precautions to conceal himself, Porthos believed he hadnot been seen. D'Artagnan entered behind him. Porthos went and leanedagainst the side of a pillar. D'Artagnan, still unperceived, supportedhimself against the other side. 

There happened to be a sermon, which made the church very full ofpeople. Porthos took advantage of this circumstance to ogle the women. Thanks to the cares of Mousqueton, the exterior was far from announcingthe distress of the interior. His hat was a little napless, his featherwas a little faded, his gold lace was a little tarnished, his laces werea trifle frayed; but in the obscurity of the church these things werenot seen, and Porthos was still the handsome Porthos. 

D'Artagnan observed, on the bench nearest to the pillar against whichPorthos leaned, a sort of ripe beauty, rather yellow and rather dry, but erect and haughty under her black hood. The eyes of Porthos werefurtively cast upon this lady, and then roved about at large over thenave. 

On her side the lady, who from time to time blushed, darted with therapidity of lightning a glance toward the inconstant Porthos; and thenimmediately the eyes of Porthos wandered anxiously. It was plain thatthis mode of proceeding piqued the lady in the black hood, for she bither lips till they bled, scratched the end of her nose, and could notsit still in her seat. 

Porthos, seeing this, retwisted his mustache, elongated his imperial asecond time, and began to make signals to a beautiful lady who was nearthe choir, and who not only was a beautiful lady, but still further, nodoubt, a great lady--for she had behind her a Negro boy who had broughtthe cushion on which she knelt, and a female servant who held theemblazoned bag in which was placed the book from which she read theMass. 

The lady with the black hood followed through all their wanderings thelooks of Porthos, and perceived that they rested upon the lady with thevelvet cushion, the little Negro, and the maid-servant. 

During this time Porthos played close. It was almost imperceptiblemotions of his eyes, fingers placed upon the lips, little assassinatingsmiles, which really did assassinate the disdained beauty. 

Then she cried, "Ahem!" under cover of the MEA CULPA, striking herbreast so vigorously that everybody, even the lady with the red cushion, turned round toward her. Porthos paid no attention. Nevertheless, heunderstood it all, but was deaf. 

The lady with the red cushion produced a great effect--for she wasvery handsome--upon the lady with he black hood, who saw in her a rivalreally to be dreaded; a great effect upon Porthos, who thought hermuch prettier than the lady with the black hood; a great effect upond'Artagnan, who recognized in her the lady of Meung, of Calais, and ofDover, whom his persecutor, the man with the scar, had saluted by thename of Milady. 

D'Artagnan, without losing sight of the lady of the red cushion, continued to watch the proceedings of Porthos, which amused him greatly. He guessed that the lady of the black hood was the procurator's wife ofthe Rue aux Ours, which was the more probable from the church of St. Leubeing not far from that locality. 

He guessed, likewise, by induction, that Porthos was taking his revengefor the defeat of Chantilly, when the procurator's wife had proved sorefractory with respect to her purse. 

Amid all this, d'Artagnan remarked also that not one countenanceresponded to the gallantries of Porthos. There were only chimeras andillusions; but for real love, for true jealousy, is there any realityexcept illusions and chimeras?

The sermon over, the procurator's wife advanced toward the holy font. Porthos went before her, and instead of a finger, dipped his whole handin. The procurator's wife smiled, thinking that it was for her Porthoshad put himself to this trouble; but she was cruelly and promptlyundeceived. When she was only about three steps from him, he turnedhis head round, fixing his eyes steadfastly upon the lady with the redcushion, who had risen and was approaching, followed by her black boyand her woman. 

When the lady of the red cushion came close to Porthos, Porthos drew hisdripping hand from the font. The fair worshipper touched the greathand of Porthos with her delicate fingers, smiled, made the sign of thecross, and left the church. 

This was too much for the procurator's wife; she doubted not there wasan intrigue between this lady and Porthos. If she had been a great ladyshe would have fainted; but as she was only a procurator's wife, shecontented herself saying to the Musketeer with concentrated fury, "Eh, Monsieur Porthos, you don't offer me any holy water?"

Porthos, at the sound of that voice, started like a man awakened from asleep of a hundred years. 

"Ma-madame!" cried he; "is that you? How is your husband, our dearMonsieur Coquenard? Is he still as stingy as ever? Where can my eyeshave been not to have seen you during the two hours of the sermon?"

"I was within two paces of you, monsieur, " replied the procurator'swife; "but you did not perceive me because you had no eyes but for thepretty lady to whom you just now gave the holy water. "

Porthos pretended to be confused. "Ah, " said he, "you have remarked--"

"I must have been blind not to have seen. "

"Yes, " said Porthos, "that is a duchess of my acquaintance whom I havegreat trouble to meet on account of the jealousy of her husband, and whosent me word that she should come today to this poor church, buried inthis vile quarter, solely for the sake of seeing me. "

"Monsieur Porthos, " said the procurator's wife, "will you have thekindness to offer me your arm for five minutes? I have something to sayto you. "

"Certainly, madame, " said Porthos, winking to himself, as a gambler doeswho laughs at the dupe he is about to pluck. 

At that moment d'Artagnan passed in pursuit of Milady; he cast a passingglance at Porthos, and beheld this triumphant look. 

"Eh, eh!" said he, reasoning to himself according to the strangely easymorality of that gallant period, "there is one who will be equipped ingood time!"

Porthos, yielding to the pressure of the arm of the procurator's wife, as a bark yields to the rudder, arrived at the cloister St. Magloire--alittle-frequented passage, enclosed with a turnstile at each end. In thedaytime nobody was seen there but mendicants devouring their crusts, andchildren at play. 

"Ah, Monsieur Porthos, " cried the procurator's wife, when she wasassured that no one who was a stranger to the population of the localitycould either see or hear her, "ah, Monsieur Porthos, you are a greatconqueror, as it appears!"

"I, madame?" said Porthos, drawing himself up proudly; "how so?"

"The signs just now, and the holy water! But that must be a princess, atleast--that lady with her Negro boy and her maid!"

"My God! Madame, you are deceived, " said Porthos; "she is simply aduchess. "

"And that running footman who waited at the door, and that carriage witha coachman in grand livery who sat waiting on his seat?"

Porthos had seen neither the footman nor the carriage, but with the eyeof a jealous woman, Mme. Coquenard had seen everything. 

Porthos regretted that he had not at once made the lady of the redcushion a princess. 

"Ah, you are quite the pet of the ladies, Monsieur Porthos!" resumed theprocurator's wife, with a sigh. 

"Well, " responded Porthos, "you may imagine, with the physique withwhich nature has endowed me, I am not in want of good luck. "

"Good Lord, how quickly men forget!" cried the procurator's wife, raising her eyes toward heaven. 

"Less quickly than the women, it seems to me, " replied Porthos; "forI, madame, I may say I was your victim, when wounded, dying, I wasabandoned by the surgeons. I, the offspring of a noble family, whoplaced reliance upon your friendship--I was near dying of my wounds atfirst, and of hunger afterward, in a beggarly inn at Chantilly, withoutyou ever deigning once to reply to the burning letters I addressed toyou. "

"But, Monsieur Porthos, " murmured the procurator's wife, who began tofeel that, to judge by the conduct of the great ladies of the time, shewas wrong. 

"I, who had sacrificed for you the Baronne de--"

"I know it well. "

"The Comtesse de--"

"Monsieur Porthos, be generous!"

"You are right, madame, and I will not finish. "

"But it was my husband who would not hear of lending. "

"Madame Coquenard, " said Porthos, "remember the first letter you wroteme, and which I preserve engraved in my memory. "

The procurator's wife uttered a groan. 

"Besides, " said she, "the sum you required me to borrow was ratherlarge. "

"Madame Coquenard, I gave you the preference. I had but to write tothe Duchesse--but I won't repeat her name, for I am incapable ofcompromising a woman; but this I know, that I had but to write to herand she would have sent me fifteen hundred. "

The procurator's wife shed a tear. 

"Monsieur Porthos, " said she, "I can assure you that you have severelypunished me; and if in the time to come you should find yourself in asimilar situation, you have but to apply to me. "

"Fie, madame, fie!" said Porthos, as if disgusted. "Let us not talkabout money, if you please; it is humiliating. "

"Then you no longer love me!" said the procurator's wife, slowly andsadly. 

Porthos maintained a majestic silence. 

"And that is the only reply you make? Alas, I understand. "

"Think of the offense you have committed toward me, madame! It remainsHERE!" said Porthos, placing his hand on his heart, and pressing itstrongly. 

"I will repair it, indeed I will, my dear Porthos. "

"Besides, what did I ask of you?" resumed Porthos, with a movement ofthe shoulders full of good fellowship. "A loan, nothing more! After all, I am not an unreasonable man. I know you are not rich, Madame Coquenard, and that your husband is obliged to bleed his poor clients to squeeze afew paltry crowns from them. Oh! If you were a duchess, a marchioness, or a countess, it would be quite a different thing; it would beunpardonable. "

The procurator's wife was piqued. 

"Please to know, Monsieur Porthos, " said she, "that my strongbox, thestrongbox of a procurator's wife though it may be, is better filled thanthose of your affected minxes. "

"The doubles the offense, " said Porthos, disengaging his arm from thatof the procurator's wife; "for if you are rich, Madame Coquenard, thenthere is no excuse for your refusal. "

"When I said rich, " replied the procurator's wife, who saw that she hadgone too far, "you must not take the word literally. I am not preciselyrich, though I am pretty well off. "

"Hold, madame, " said Porthos, "let us say no more upon the subject, Ibeg of you. You have misunderstood me, all sympathy is extinct betweenus. "

"Ingrate that you are!"

"Ah! I advise you to complain!" said Porthos. 

"Begone, then, to your beautiful duchess; I will detain you no longer. "

"And she is not to be despised, in my opinion. "

"Now, Monsieur Porthos, once more, and this is the last! Do you love mestill?"

"Ah, madame, " said Porthos, in the most melancholy tone he could assume, "when we are about to enter upon a campaign--a campaign, in which mypresentiments tell me I shall be killed--"

"Oh, don't talk of such things!" cried the procurator's wife, burstinginto tears. 

"Something whispers me so, " continued Porthos, becoming more and moremelancholy. 

"Rather say that you have a new love. "

"Not so; I speak frankly to you. No object affects me; and I even feelhere, at the bottom of my heart, something which speaks for you. But infifteen days, as you know, or as you do not know, this fatal campaignis to open. I shall be fearfully preoccupied with my outfit. Then Imust make a journey to see my family, in the lower part of Brittany, toobtain the sum necessary for my departure. "

Porthos observed a last struggle between love and avarice. 

"And as, " continued he, "the duchess whom you saw at the churchhas estates near to those of my family, we mean to make the journeytogether. Journeys, you know, appear much shorter when we travel two incompany. "

"Have you no friends in Paris, then, Monsieur Porthos?" said theprocurator's wife. 

"I thought I had, " said Porthos, resuming his melancholy air; "but Ihave been taught my mistake. "

"You have some!" cried the procurator's wife, in a transport thatsurprised even herself. "Come to our house tomorrow. You are the son ofmy aunt, consequently my cousin; you come from Noyon, in Picardy; youhave several lawsuits and no attorney. Can you recollect all that?"

"Perfectly, madame. "

"Come at dinnertime. "

"Very well. "

"And be upon your guard before my husband, who is rather shrewd, notwithstanding his seventy-six years. "

"Seventy-six years! PESTE! That's a fine age!" replied Porthos. 

"A great age, you mean, Monsieur Porthos. Yes, the poor man may beexpected to leave me a widow, any hour, " continued she, throwing asignificant glance at Porthos. "Fortunately, by our marriage contract, the survivor takes everything. "

"All?"

"Yes, all. "

"You are a woman of precaution, I see, my dear Madame Coquenard, " saidPorthos, squeezing the hand of the procurator's wife tenderly. 

"We are then reconciled, dear Monsieur Porthos?" said she, simpering. 

"For life, " replied Porthos, in the same manner. 

"Till we meet again, then, dear traitor!"

"Till we meet again, my forgetful charmer!"

"Tomorrow, my angel!"

"Tomorrow, flame of my life!"

30 D'ARTAGNAN AND THE ENGLISHMAN

D'Artagnan followed Milady without being perceived by her. He saw herget into her carriage, and heard her order the coachman to drive to St. Germain. 

It was useless to try to keep pace on foot with a carriage drawn by twopowerful horses. D'Artagnan therefore returned to the Rue Ferou. 

In the Rue de Seine he met Planchet, who had stopped before the houseof a pastry cook, and was contemplating with ecstasy a cake of the mostappetizing appearance. 

He ordered him to go and saddle two horses in M. De Treville'sstables--one for himself, d'Artagnan, and one for Planchet--and bringthem to Athens's place. Once for all, Treville had placed his stable atd'Artagnan's service. 

Planchet proceeded toward the Rue du Colombier, and d'Artagnan towardthe Rue Ferou. Athos was at home, emptying sadly a bottle of the famousSpanish wine he had brought back with him from his journey into Picardy. He made a sign for Grimaud to bring a glass for d'Artagnan, and Grimaudobeyed as usual. 

D'Artagnan related to Athos all that had passed at the church betweenPorthos and the procurator's wife, and how their comrade was probably bythat time in a fair way to be equipped. 

"As for me, " replied Athos to this recital, "I am quite at my ease; itwill not be women that will defray the expense of my outfit. "

"Handsome, well-bred, noble lord as you are, my dear Athos, neitherprincesses nor queens would be secure from your amorous solicitations. "

"How young this d'Artagnan is!" said Athos, shrugging his shoulders; andhe made a sign to Grimaud to bring another bottle. 

At that moment Planchet put his head modestly in at the half-open door, and told his master that the horses were ready. 

"What horses?" asked Athos. 

"Two horses that Monsieur de Treville lends me at my pleasure, and withwhich I am now going to take a ride to St. Germain. "

"Well, and what are you going to do at St. Germain?" then demandedAthos. 

Then d'Artagnan described the meeting which he had at the church, andhow he had found that lady who, with the seigneur in the black cloak andwith the scar near his temple, filled his mind constantly. 

"That is to say, you are in love with this lady as you were with MadameBonacieux, " said Athos, shrugging his shoulders contemptuously, as if hepitied human weakness. 

"I? not at all!" said d'Artagnan. "I am only curious to unravel themystery to which she is attached. I do not know why, but I imagine thatthis woman, wholly unknown to me as she is, and wholly unknown to her asI am, has an influence over my life. "

"Well, perhaps you are right, " said Athos. "I do not know a woman thatis worth the trouble of being sought for when she is once lost. MadameBonacieux is lost; so much the worse for her if she is found. "

"No, Athos, no, you are mistaken, " said d'Artagnan; "I love my poorConstance more than ever, and if I knew the place in which she is, wereit at the end of the world, I would go to free her from the hands of herenemies; but I am ignorant. All my researches have been useless. What isto be said? I must divert my attention!"

"Amuse yourself with Milady, my dear d'Artagnan; I wish you may with allmy heart, if that will amuse you. "

"Hear me, Athos, " said d'Artagnan. "Instead of shutting yourself up hereas if you were under arrest, get on horseback and come and take a ridewith me to St. Germain. "

"My dear fellow, " said Athos, "I ride horses when I have any; when Ihave none, I go afoot. "

"Well, " said d'Artagnan, smiling at the misanthropy of Athos, which fromany other person would have offended him, "I ride what I can get; I amnot so proud as you. So AU REVOIR, dear Athos. "

"AU REVOIR, " said the Musketeer, making a sign to Grimaud to uncork thebottle he had just brought. 

D'Artagnan and Planchet mounted, and took the road to St. Germain. 

All along the road, what Athos had said respecting Mme. Bonacieuxrecurred to the mind of the young man. Although d'Artagnan was not ofa very sentimental character, the mercer's pretty wife had made a realimpression upon his heart. As he said, he was ready to go to the endof the world to seek her; but the world, being round, has many ends, sothat he did not know which way to turn. Meantime, he was going to tryto find out Milady. Milady had spoken to the man in the black cloak;therefore she knew him. Now, in the opinion of d'Artagnan, it wascertainly the man in the black cloak who had carried off Mme. Bonacieuxthe second time, as he had carried her off the first. D'Artagnan thenonly half-lied, which is lying but little, when he said that by going insearch of Milady he at the same time went in search of Constance. 

Thinking of all this, and from time to time giving a touch of the spurto his horse, d'Artagnan completed his short journey, and arrived atSt. Germain. He had just passed by the pavilion in which ten years laterLouis XIV was born. He rode up a very quiet street, looking to theright and the left to see if he could catch any vestige of his beautifulEnglishwoman, when from the ground floor of a pretty house, which, according to the fashion of the time, had no window toward the street, he saw a face peep out with which he thought he was acquainted. Thisperson walked along the terrace, which was ornamented with flowers. Planchet recognized him first. 

"Eh, monsieur!" said he, addressing d'Artagnan, "don't you remember thatface which is blinking yonder?"

"No, " said d'Artagnan, "and yet I am certain it is not the first time Ihave seen that visage. "

"PARBLEU, I believe it is not, " said Planchet. "Why, it is poor Lubin, the lackey of the Comte de Wardes--he whom you took such good care of amonth ago at Calais, on the road to the governor's country house!"

"So it is!" said d'Artagnan; "I know him now. Do you think he wouldrecollect you?"

"My faith, monsieur, he was in such trouble that I doubt if he can haveretained a very clear recollection of me. "

"Well, go and talk with the boy, " said d'Artagnan, "and make out if youcan from his conversation whether his master is dead. "

Planchet dismounted and went straight up to Lubin, who did not atall remember him, and the two lackeys began to chat with the bestunderstanding possible; while d'Artagnan turned the two horses into alane, went round the house, and came back to watch the conference frombehind a hedge of filberts. 

At the end of an instant's observation he heard the noise of a vehicle, and saw Milady's carriage stop opposite to him. He could not bemistaken; Milady was in it. D'Artagnan leaned upon the neck of hishorse, in order that he might see without being seen. 

Milady put her charming blond head out at the window, and gave herorders to her maid. 

The latter--a pretty girl of about twenty or twenty-two years, activeand lively, the true SOUBRETTE of a great lady--jumped from the stepupon which, according to the custom of the time, she was seated, andtook her way toward the terrace upon which d'Artagnan had perceivedLubin. 

D'Artagnan followed the soubrette with his eyes, and saw her go towardthe terrace; but it happened that someone in the house called Lubin, so that Planchet remained alone, looking in all directions for the roadwhere d'Artagnan had disappeared. 

The maid approached Planchet, whom she took for Lubin, and holding out alittle billet to him said, "For your master. "

"For my master?" replied Planchet, astonished. 

"Yes, and important. Take it quickly. "

Thereupon she ran toward the carriage, which had turned round toward theway it came, jumped upon the step, and the carriage drove off. 

Planchet turned and returned the billet. Then, accustomed to passiveobedience, he jumped down from the terrace, ran toward the lane, and atthe end of twenty paces met d'Artagnan, who, having seen all, was comingto him. 

"For you, monsieur, " said Planchet, presenting the billet to the youngman. 

"For me?" said d'Artagnan; "are you sure of that?"

"PARDIEU, monsieur, I can't be more sure. The SOUBRETTE said, 'For yourmaster. ' I have no other master but you; so--a pretty little lass, myfaith, is that SOUBRETTE!"

D'Artagnan opened the letter, and read these words:

"A person who takes more interest in you than she is willing to confesswishes to know on what day it will suit you to walk in the forest?Tomorrow, at the Hotel Field of the Cloth of Gold, a lackey in black andred will wait for your reply. "

"Oh!" said d'Artagnan, "this is rather warm; it appears that Milady andI are anxious about the health of the same person. Well, Planchet, howis the good Monsieur de Wardes? He is not dead, then?"

"No, monsieur, he is as well as a man can be with four sword woundsin his body; for you, without question, inflicted four upon the deargentleman, and he is still very weak, having lost almost all his blood. As I said, monsieur, Lubin did not know me, and told me our adventurefrom one end to the other. "

"Well done, Planchet! you are the king of lackeys. Now jump onto yourhorse, and let us overtake the carriage. "

This did not take long. At the end of five minutes they perceived thecarriage drawn up by the roadside; a cavalier, richly dressed, was closeto the door. 

The conversation between Milady and the cavalier was so animated thatd'Artagnan stopped on the other side of the carriage without anyone butthe pretty SOUBRETTE perceiving his presence. 

The conversation took place in English--a language which d'Artagnancould not understand; but by the accent the young man plainly saw thatthe beautiful Englishwoman was in a great rage. She terminated it by anaction which left no doubt as to the nature of this conversation;this was a blow with her fan, applied with such force that the littlefeminine weapon flew into a thousand pieces. 

The cavalier laughed aloud, which appeared to exasperate Milady stillmore. 

D'Artagnan thought this was the moment to interfere. He approached theother door, and taking off his hat respectfully, said, "Madame, will youpermit me to offer you my services? It appears to me that this cavalierhas made you very angry. Speak one word, madame, and I take upon myselfto punish him for his want of courtesy. "

At the first word Milady turned, looking at the young man withastonishment; and when he had finished, she said in very good French, "Monsieur, I should with great confidence place myself under yourprotection if the person with whom I quarrel were not my brother. "

"Ah, excuse me, then, " said d'Artagnan. "You must be aware that I wasignorant of that, madame. "

"What is that stupid fellow troubling himself about?" cried the cavalierwhom Milady had designated as her brother, stooping down to the heightof the coach window. "Why does not he go about his business?"

"Stupid fellow yourself!" said d'Artagnan, stooping in his turn onthe neck of his horse, and answering on his side through the carriagewindow. "I do not go on because it pleases me to stop here. "

The cavalier addressed some words in English to his sister. 

"I speak to you in French, " said d'Artagnan; "be kind enough, then, toreply to me in the same language. You are Madame's brother, I learn--beit so; but fortunately you are not mine. "

It might be thought that Milady, timid as women are in general, wouldhave interposed in this commencement of mutual provocations in order toprevent the quarrel from going too far; but on the contrary, she threwherself back in her carriage, and called out coolly to the coachman, "Goon--home!"

The pretty SOUBRETTE cast an anxious glance at d'Artagnan, whose goodlooks seemed to have made an impression on her. 

The carriage went on, and left the two men facing each other; nomaterial obstacle separated them. 

The cavalier made a movement as if to follow the carriage; butd'Artagnan, whose anger, already excited, was much increased byrecognizing in him the Englishman of Amiens who had won his horse andhad been very near winning his diamond of Athos, caught at his bridleand stopped him. 

"Well, monsieur, " said he, "you appear to be more stupid than I am, foryou forget there is a little quarrel to arrange between us two. "

"Ah, " said the Englishman, "is it you, my master? It seems you mustalways be playing some game or other. "

"Yes; and that reminds me that I have a revenge to take. We will see, mydear monsieur, if you can handle a sword as skillfully as you can a dicebox. "

"You see plainly that I have no sword, " said the Englishman. "Do youwish to play the braggart with an unarmed man?"

"I hope you have a sword at home; but at all events, I have two, and ifyou like, I will throw with you for one of them. "

"Needless, " said the Englishman; "I am well furnished with suchplaythings. "

"Very well, my worthy gentleman, " replied d'Artagnan, "pick out thelongest, and come and show it to me this evening. "

"Where, if you please?"

"Behind the Luxembourg; that's a charming spot for such amusements asthe one I propose to you. "

"That will do; I will be there. "

"Your hour?"

"Six o'clock. "

"A PROPOS, you have probably one or two friends?"

"I have three, who would be honored by joining in the sport with me. "

"Three? Marvelous! That falls out oddly! Three is just my number!"

"Now, then, who are you?" asked the Englishman. 

"I am Monsieur d'Artagnan, a Gascon gentleman, serving in the king'sMusketeers. And you?"

"I am Lord de Winter, Baron Sheffield. "

"Well, then, I am your servant, Monsieur Baron, " said d'Artagnan, "though you have names rather difficult to recollect. " And touching hishorse with the spur, he cantered back to Paris. As he was accustomedto do in all cases of any consequence, d'Artagnan went straight to theresidence of Athos. 

He found Athos reclining upon a large sofa, where he was waiting, as hesaid, for his outfit to come and find him. He related to Athos all thathad passed, except the letter to M. De Wardes. 

Athos was delighted to find he was going to fight an Englishman. Wemight say that was his dream. 

They immediately sent their lackeys for Porthos and Aramis, and on theirarrival made them acquainted with the situation. 

Porthos drew his sword from the scabbard, and made passes at the wall, springing back from time to time, and making contortions like a dancer. 

Aramis, who was constantly at work at his poem, shut himself up inAthos's closet, and begged not to be disturbed before the moment ofdrawing swords. 

Athos, by signs, desired Grimaud to bring another bottle of wine. 

D'Artagnan employed himself in arranging a little plan, of which weshall hereafter see the execution, and which promised him some agreeableadventure, as might be seen by the smiles which from time to time passedover his countenance, whose thoughtfulness they animated. 

31 ENGLISH AND FRENCH

The hour having come, they went with their four lackeys to a spot behindthe Luxembourg given up to the feeding of goats. Athos threw a piece ofmoney to the goatkeeper to withdraw. The lackeys were ordered to act assentinels. 

A silent party soon drew near to the same enclosure, entered, and joinedthe Musketeers. Then, according to foreign custom, the presentationstook place. 

The Englishmen were all men of rank; consequently the odd names oftheir adversaries were for them not only a matter of surprise, but ofannoyance. 

"But after all, " said Lord de Winter, when the three friends had beennamed, "we do not know who you are. We cannot fight with such names;they are names of shepherds. "

"Therefore your lordship may suppose they are only assumed names, " saidAthos. 

"Which only gives us a greater desire to know the real ones, " repliedthe Englishman. 

"You played very willingly with us without knowing our names, " saidAthos, "by the same token that you won our horses. "

"That is true, but we then only risked our pistoles; this time we riskour blood. One plays with anybody; but one fights only with equals. "

"And that is but just, " said Athos, and he took aside the one of thefour Englishmen with whom he was to fight, and communicated his name ina low voice. 

Porthos and Aramis did the same. 

"Does that satisfy you?" said Athos to his adversary. "Do you find me ofsufficient rank to do me the honor of crossing swords with me?"

"Yes, monsieur, " said the Englishman, bowing. 

"Well! now shall I tell you something?" added Athos, coolly. 

"What?" replied the Englishman. 

"Why, that is that you would have acted much more wisely if you had notrequired me to make myself known. "

"Why so?"

"Because I am believed to be dead, and have reasons for wishing nobodyto know I am living; so that I shall be obliged to kill you to preventmy secret from roaming over the fields. "

The Englishman looked at Athos, believing that he jested, but Athos didnot jest the least in the world. 

"Gentlemen, " said Athos, addressing at the same time his companions andtheir adversaries, "are we ready?"

"Yes!" answered the Englishmen and the Frenchmen, as with one voice. 

"On guard, then!" cried Athos. 

Immediately eight swords glittered in the rays of the setting sun, and the combat began with an animosity very natural between men twiceenemies. 

Athos fenced with as much calmness and method as if he had beenpracticing in a fencing school. 

Porthos, abated, no doubt, of his too-great confidence by his adventureof Chantilly, played with skill and prudence. Aramis, who had the thirdcanto of his poem to finish, behaved like a man in haste. 

Athos killed his adversary first. He hit him but once, but as he hadforetold, that hit was a mortal one; the sword pierced his heart. 

Second, Porthos stretched his upon the grass with a wound through histhigh, As the Englishman, without making any further resistance, thensurrendered his sword, Porthos took him up in his arms and bore him tohis carriage. 

Aramis pushed his so vigorously that after going back fifty paces, the man ended by fairly taking to his heels, and disappeared amid thehooting of the lackeys. 

As to d'Artagnan, he fought purely and simply on the defensive; and whenhe saw his adversary pretty well fatigued, with a vigorous side thrustsent his sword flying. The baron, finding himself disarmed, took twoor three steps back, but in this movement his foot slipped and he fellbackward. 

D'Artagnan was over him at a bound, and said to the Englishman, pointinghis sword to his throat, "I could kill you, my Lord, you are completelyin my hands; but I spare your life for the sake of your sister. "

D'Artagnan was at the height of joy; he had realized the plan he hadimagined beforehand, whose picturing had produced the smiles we notedupon his face. 

The Englishman, delighted at having to do with a gentleman of such akind disposition, pressed d'Artagnan in his arms, and paid a thousandcompliments to the three Musketeers, and as Porthos's adversary wasalready installed in the carriage, and as Aramis's had taken to hisheels, they had nothing to think about but the dead. 

As Porthos and Aramis were undressing him, in the hope of finding hiswound not mortal, a large purse dropped from his clothes. D'Artagnanpicked it up and offered it to Lord de Winter. 

"What the devil would you have me do with that?" said the Englishman. 

"You can restore it to his family, " said d'Artagnan. 

"His family will care much about such a trifle as that! His family willinherit fifteen thousand louis a year from him. Keep the purse for yourlackeys. "

D'Artagnan put the purse into his pocket. 

"And now, my young friend, for you will permit me, I hope, to give youthat name, " said Lord de Winter, "on this very evening, if agreeable toyou, I will present you to my sister, Milady Clarik, for I am desirousthat she should take you into her good graces; and as she is not in badodor at court, she may perhaps on some future day speak a word that willnot prove useless to you. "

D'Artagnan blushed with pleasure, and bowed a sign of assent. 

At this time Athos came up to d'Artagnan. 

"What do you mean to do with that purse?" whispered he. 

"Why, I meant to pass it over to you, my dear Athos. "

"Me! why to me?"

"Why, you killed him! They are the spoils of victory. "

"I, the heir of an enemy!" said Athos; "for whom, then, do you take me?"

"It is the custom in war, " said d'Artagnan, "why should it not be thecustom in a duel?"

"Even on the field of battle, I have never done that. "

Porthos shrugged his shoulders; Aramis by a movement of his lipsendorsed Athos. 

"Then, " said d'Artagnan, "let us give the money to the lackeys, as Lordde Winter desired us to do. "

"Yes, " said Athos; "let us give the money to the lackeys--not to ourlackeys, but to the lackeys of the Englishmen. "

Athos took the purse, and threw it into the hand of the coachman. "Foryou and your comrades. "

This greatness of spirit in a man who was quite destitute struck evenPorthos; and this French generosity, repeated by Lord de Winter and hisfriend, was highly applauded, except by MM. Grimaud, Bazin, Mousquetonand Planchet. 

Lord de Winter, on quitting d'Artagnan, gave him his sister's address. She lived in the Place Royale--then the fashionable quarter--at Number6, and he undertook to call and take d'Artagnan with him in order tointroduce him. D'Artagnan appointed eight o'clock at Athos's residence. 

This introduction to Milady Clarik occupied the head of our Gascongreatly. He remembered in what a strange manner this woman had hithertobeen mixed up in his destiny. According to his conviction, she wassome creature of the cardinal, and yet he felt himself invincibly drawntoward her by one of those sentiments for which we cannot account. Hisonly fear was that Milady would recognize in him the man of Meung and ofDover. Then she knew that he was one of the friends of M. De Treville, and consequently, that he belonged body and soul to the king; whichwould make him lose a part of his advantage, since when known toMilady as he knew her, he played only an equal game with her. As tothe commencement of an intrigue between her and M. De Wardes, ourpresumptuous hero gave but little heed to that, although the marquis wasyoung, handsome, rich, and high in the cardinal's favor. It is notfor nothing we are but twenty years old, above all if we were born atTarbes. 

D'Artagnan began by making his most splendid toilet, then returnedto Athos's, and according to custom, related everything to him. Athoslistened to his projects, then shook his head, and recommended prudenceto him with a shade of bitterness. 

"What!" said he, "you have just lost one woman, whom you call good, charming, perfect; and here you are, running headlong after another. "

D'Artagnan felt the truth of this reproach. 

"I loved Madame Bonacieux with my heart, while I only love Milady withmy head, " said he. "In getting introduced to her, my principal object isto ascertain what part she plays at court. "

"The part she plays, PARDIEU! It is not difficult to divine that, afterall you have told me. She is some emissary of the cardinal; a woman whowill draw you into a snare in which you will leave your head. "

"The devil! my dear Athos, you view things on the dark side, methinks. "

"My dear fellow, I mistrust women. Can it be otherwise? I bought myexperience dearly--particularly fair women. Milady is fair, you say?"

"She has the most beautiful light hair imaginable!"

"Ah, my poor d'Artagnan!" said Athos. 

"Listen to me! I want to be enlightened on a subject; then, when I shallhave learned what I desire to know, I will withdraw. "

"Be enlightened!" said Athos, phlegmatically. 

Lord de Winter arrived at the appointed time; but Athos, being warned ofhis coming, went into the other chamber. He therefore found d'Artagnanalone, and as it was nearly eight o'clock he took the young man withhim. 

An elegant carriage waited below, and as it was drawn by two excellenthorses, they were soon at the Place Royale. 

Milady Clarik received d'Artagnan ceremoniously. Her hotel wasremarkably sumptuous, and while the most part of the English had quit, or were about to quit, France on account of the war, Milady had justbeen laying out much money upon her residence; which proved that thegeneral measure which drove the English from France did not affect her. 

"You see, " said Lord de Winter, presenting d'Artagnan to his sister, "a young gentleman who has held my life in his hands, and who has notabused his advantage, although we have been twice enemies, althoughit was I who insulted him, and although I am an Englishman. Thank him, then, madame, if you have any affection for me. "

Milady frowned slightly; a scarcely visible cloud passed over her brow, and so peculiar a smile appeared upon her lips that the young man, whosaw and observed this triple shade, almost shuddered at it. 

The brother did not perceive this; he had turned round to play withMilady's favorite monkey, which had pulled him by the doublet. 

"You are welcome, monsieur, " said Milady, in a voice whose singularsweetness contrasted with the symptoms of ill-humor which d'Artagnan hadjust remarked; "you have today acquired eternal rights to my gratitude. "

The Englishman then turned round and described the combat withoutomitting a single detail. Milady listened with the greatest attention, and yet it was easily to be perceived, whatever effort she made toconceal her impressions, that this recital was not agreeable to her. The blood rose to her head, and her little foot worked with impatiencebeneath her robe. 

Lord de Winter perceived nothing of this. When he had finished, he wentto a table upon which was a salver with Spanish wine and glasses. Hefilled two glasses, and by a sign invited d'Artagnan to drink. 

D'Artagnan knew it was considered disobliging by an Englishman to refuseto pledge him. He therefore drew near to the table and took the secondglass. He did not, however, lose sight of Milady, and in a mirror heperceived the change that came over her face. Now that she believedherself to be no longer observed, a sentiment resembling ferocityanimated her countenance. She bit her handkerchief with her beautifulteeth. 

That pretty little SOUBRETTE whom d'Artagnan had already observedthen came in. She spoke some words to Lord de Winter in English, whothereupon requested d'Artagnan's permission to retire, excusing himselfon account of the urgency of the business that had called him away, andcharging his sister to obtain his pardon. 

D'Artagnan exchanged a shake of the hand with Lord de Winter, and thenreturned to Milady. Her countenance, with surprising mobility, hadrecovered its gracious expression; but some little red spots on herhandkerchief indicated that she had bitten her lips till the blood came. Those lips were magnificent; they might be said to be of coral. 

The conversation took a cheerful turn. Milady appeared to haveentirely recovered. She told d'Artagnan that Lord de Winter was herbrother-in-law, and not her brother. She had married a younger brotherof the family, who had left her a widow with one child. This child wasthe only heir to Lord de Winter, if Lord de Winter did not marry. Allthis showed d'Artagnan that there was a veil which concealed something;but he could not yet see under this veil. 

In addition to this, after a half hour's conversation d'Artagnan wasconvinced that Milady was his compatriot; she spoke French with anelegance and a purity that left no doubt on that head. 

D'Artagnan was profuse in gallant speeches and protestations ofdevotion. To all the simple things which escaped our Gascon, Miladyreplied with a smile of kindness. The hour came for him to retire. D'Artagnan took leave of Milady, and left the saloon the happiest ofmen. 

On the staircase he met the pretty SOUBRETTE, who brushed gently againsthim as she passed, and then, blushing to the eyes, asked his pardonfor having touched him in a voice so sweet that the pardon was grantedinstantly. 

D'Artagnan came again on the morrow, and was still better received thanon the evening before. Lord de Winter was not at home; and it was Miladywho this time did all the honors of the evening. She appeared to take agreat interest in him, asked him whence he came, who were his friends, and whether he had not sometimes thought of attaching himself to thecardinal. 

D'Artagnan, who, as we have said, was exceedingly prudent for a youngman of twenty, then remembered his suspicions regarding Milady. Helaunched into a eulogy of his Eminence, and said that he should not havefailed to enter into the Guards of the cardinal instead of the king'sGuards if he had happened to know M. De Cavois instead of M. DeTreville. 

Milady changed the conversation without any appearance of affectation, and asked d'Artagnan in the most careless manner possible if he had everbeen in England. 

D'Artagnan replied that he had been sent thither by M. De Trevilleto treat for a supply of horses, and that he had brought back four asspecimens. 

Milady in the course of the conversation twice or thrice bit her lips;she had to deal with a Gascon who played close. 

At the same hour as on the preceding evening, d'Artagnan retired. Inthe corridor he again met the pretty Kitty; that was the name of theSOUBRETTE. She looked at him with an expression of kindness which it wasimpossible to mistake; but d'Artagnan was so preoccupied by the mistressthat he noticed absolutely nothing but her. 

D'Artagnan came again on the morrow and the day after that, and each dayMilady gave him a more gracious reception. 

Every evening, either in the antechamber, the corridor, or on thestairs, he met the pretty SOUBRETTE. But, as we have said, d'Artagnanpaid no attention to this persistence of poor Kitty. 

32 A PROCURATOR'S DINNER

However brilliant had been the part played by Porthos in the duel, ithad not made him forget the dinner of the procurator's wife. 

On the morrow he received the last touches of Mousqueton's brush for anhour, and took his way toward the Rue aux Ours with the steps of a manwho was doubly in favor with fortune. 

His heart beat, but not like d'Artagnan's with a young and impatientlove. No; a more material interest stirred his blood. He was about atlast to pass that mysterious threshold, to climb those unknown stairs bywhich, one by one, the old crowns of M. Coquenard had ascended. He wasabout to see in reality a certain coffer of which he had twenty timesbeheld the image in his dreams--a coffer long and deep, locked, bolted, fastened in the wall; a coffer of which he had so often heard, andwhich the hands--a little wrinkled, it is true, but still not withoutelegance--of the procurator's wife were about to open to his admiringlooks. 

And then he--a wanderer on the earth, a man without fortune, a manwithout family, a soldier accustomed to inns, cabarets, taverns, andrestaurants, a lover of wine forced to depend upon chance treats--wasabout to partake of family meals, to enjoy the pleasures of acomfortable establishment, and to give himself up to those littleattentions which "the harder one is, the more they please, " as oldsoldiers say. 

To come in the capacity of a cousin, and seat himself every day at agood table; to smooth the yellow, wrinkled brow of the old procurator;to pluck the clerks a little by teaching them BASSETTE, PASSE-DIX, andLANSQUENET, in their utmost nicety, and winning from them, by way offee for the lesson he would give them in an hour, their savings of amonth--all this was enormously delightful to Porthos. 

The Musketeer could not forget the evil reports which then prevailed, and which indeed have survived them, of the procurators of theperiod--meanness, stinginess, fasts; but as, after all, excepting somefew acts of economy which Porthos had always found very unseasonable, the procurator's wife had been tolerably liberal--that is, be itunderstood, for a procurator's wife--he hoped to see a household of ahighly comfortable kind. 

And yet, at the very door the Musketeer began to entertain some doubts. The approach was not such as to prepossess people--an ill-smelling, darkpassage, a staircase half-lighted by bars through which stole a glimmerfrom a neighboring yard; on the first floor a low door studded withenormous nails, like the principal gate of the Grand Chatelet. 

Porthos knocked with his hand. A tall, pale clerk, his face shaded by aforest of virgin hair, opened the door, and bowed with the air of aman forced at once to respect in another lofty stature, which indicatedstrength, the military dress, which indicated rank, and a ruddycountenance, which indicated familiarity with good living. 

A shorter clerk came behind the first, a taller clerk behind the second, a stripling of a dozen years rising behind the third. In all, threeclerks and a half, which, for the time, argued a very extensiveclientage. 

Although the Musketeer was not expected before one o'clock, theprocurator's wife had been on the watch ever since midday, reckoningthat the heart, or perhaps the stomach, of her lover would bring himbefore his time. 

Mme. Coquenard therefore entered the office from the house at the samemoment her guest entered from the stairs, and the appearance of theworthy lady relieved him from an awkward embarrassment. The clerkssurveyed him with great curiosity, and he, not knowing well what to sayto this ascending and descending scale, remained tongue-tied. 

"It is my cousin!" cried the procurator's wife. "Come in, come in, Monsieur Porthos!"

The name of Porthos produced its effect upon the clerks, who began tolaugh; but Porthos turned sharply round, and every countenance quicklyrecovered its gravity. 

They reached the office of the procurator after having passed throughthe antechamber in which the clerks were, and the study in whichthey ought to have been. This last apartment was a sort of dark room, littered with papers. On quitting the study they left the kitchen on theright, and entered the reception room. 

All these rooms, which communicated with one another, did not inspirePorthos favorably. Words might be heard at a distance through all theseopen doors. Then, while passing, he had cast a rapid, investigatingglance into the kitchen; and he was obliged to confess to himself, tothe shame of the procurator's wife and his own regret, that he did notsee that fire, that animation, that bustle, which when a good repast ison foot prevails generally in that sanctuary of good living. 

The procurator had without doubt been warned of his visit, as heexpressed no surprise at the sight of Porthos, who advanced toward himwith a sufficiently easy air, and saluted him courteously. 

"We are cousins, it appears, Monsieur Porthos?" said the procurator, rising, yet supporting his weight upon the arms of his cane chair. 

The old man, wrapped in a large black doublet, in which the whole ofhis slender body was concealed, was brisk and dry. His little gray eyesshone like carbuncles, and appeared, with his grinning mouth, to be theonly part of his face in which life survived. Unfortunately the legsbegan to refuse their service to this bony machine. During the last fiveor six months that this weakness had been felt, the worthy procuratorhad nearly become the slave of his wife. 

The cousin was received with resignation, that was all. M. Coquenard, firm upon his legs, would have declined all relationship with M. Porthos. 

"Yes, monsieur, we are cousins, " said Porthos, without beingdisconcerted, as he had never reckoned upon being receivedenthusiastically by the husband. 

"By the female side, I believe?" said the procurator, maliciously. 

Porthos did not feel the ridicule of this, and took it for a piece ofsimplicity, at which he laughed in his large mustache. Mme. Coquenard, who knew that a simple-minded procurator was a very rare variety in thespecies, smiled a little, and colored a great deal. 

M. Coquenard had, since the arrival of Porthos, frequently cast hiseyes with great uneasiness upon a large chest placed in front of hisoak desk. Porthos comprehended that this chest, although it did notcorrespond in shape with that which he had seen in his dreams, must bethe blessed coffer, and he congratulated himself that the reality wasseveral feet higher than the dream. 

M. Coquenard did not carry his genealogical investigations any further;but withdrawing his anxious look from the chest and fixing it uponPorthos, he contented himself with saying, "Monsieur our cousin willdo us the favor of dining with us once before his departure for thecampaign, will he not, Madame Coquenard?"

This time Porthos received the blow right in his stomach, and felt it. It appeared likewise that Mme. Coquenard was not less affected by it onher part, for she added, "My cousin will not return if he finds that wedo not treat him kindly; but otherwise he has so little time to pass inParis, and consequently to spare to us, that we must entreat him to giveus every instant he can call his own previous to his departure. "

"Oh, my legs, my poor legs! where are you?" murmured Coquenard, and hetried to smile. 

This succor, which came to Porthos at the moment in which he wasattacked in his gastronomic hopes, inspired much gratitude in theMusketeer toward the procurator's wife. 

The hour of dinner soon arrived. They passed into the eating room--alarge dark room situated opposite the kitchen. 

The clerks, who, as it appeared, had smelled unusual perfumes in thehouse, were of military punctuality, and held their stools in handquite ready to sit down. Their jaws moved preliminarily with fearfulthreatenings. 

"Indeed!" thought Porthos, casting a glance at the three hungryclerks--for the errand boy, as might be expected, was not admitted tothe honors of the magisterial table, "in my cousin's place, I would notkeep such gourmands! They look like shipwrecked sailors who have noteaten for six weeks. "

M. Coquenard entered, pushed along upon his armchair with casters byMme. Coquenard, whom Porthos assisted in rolling her husband up to thetable. He had scarcely entered when he began to agitate his nose and hisjaws after the example of his clerks. 

"Oh, oh!" said he; "here is a soup which is rather inviting. "

"What the devil can they smell so extraordinary in this soup?" saidPorthos, at the sight of a pale liquid, abundant but entirely free frommeat, on the surface of which a few crusts swam about as rare as theislands of an archipelago. 

Mme. Coquenard smiled, and upon a sign from her everyone eagerly tookhis seat. 

M. Coquenard was served first, then Porthos. Afterward Mme. Coquenardfilled her own plate, and distributed the crusts without soup to theimpatient clerks. At this moment the door of the dining room unclosedwith a creak, and Porthos perceived through the half-open flap thelittle clerk who, not being allowed to take part in the feast, ate hisdry bread in the passage with the double odor of the dining room andkitchen. 

After the soup the maid brought a boiled fowl--a piece of magnificencewhich caused the eyes of the diners to dilate in such a manner that theyseemed ready to burst. 

"One may see that you love your family, Madame Coquenard, " said theprocurator, with a smile that was almost tragic. "You are certainlytreating your cousin very handsomely!"

The poor fowl was thin, and covered with one of those thick, bristlyskins through which the teeth cannot penetrate with all their efforts. The fowl must have been sought for a long time on the perch, to which ithad retired to die of old age. 

"The devil!" thought Porthos, "this is poor work. I respect old age, butI don't much like it boiled or roasted. "

And he looked round to see if anybody partook of his opinion; but onthe contrary, he saw nothing but eager eyes which were devouring, inanticipation, that sublime fowl which was the object of his contempt. 

Mme. Coquenard drew the dish toward her, skillfully detached the twogreat black feet, which she placed upon her husband's plate, cut off theneck, which with the head she put on one side for herself, raised thewing for Porthos, and then returned the bird otherwise intact to theservant who had brought it in, who disappeared with it before theMusketeer had time to examine the variations which disappointmentproduces upon faces, according to the characters and temperaments ofthose who experience it. 

In the place of the fowl a dish of haricot beans made its appearance--anenormous dish in which some bones of mutton that at first sightone might have believed to have some meat on them pretended to showthemselves. 

But the clerks were not the dupes of this deceit, and their lugubriouslooks settled down into resigned countenances. 

Mme. Coquenard distributed this dish to the young men with themoderation of a good housewife. 

The time for wine came. M. Coquenard poured from a very small stonebottle the third of a glass for each of the young men, served himselfin about the same proportion, and passed the bottle to Porthos and Mme. Coquenard. 

The young men filled up their third of a glass with water; then, whenthey had drunk half the glass, they filled it up again, and continuedto do so. This brought them, by the end of the repast, to swallowinga drink which from the color of the ruby had passed to that of a paletopaz. 

Porthos ate his wing of the fowl timidly, and shuddered when he felt theknee of the procurator's wife under the table, as it came in search ofhis. He also drank half a glass of this sparingly served wine, and foundit to be nothing but that horrible Montreuil--the terror of all expertpalates. 

M. Coquenard saw him swallowing this wine undiluted, and sighed deeply. 

"Will you eat any of these beans, Cousin Porthos?" said Mme. Coquenard, in that tone which says, "Take my advice, don't touch them. "

"Devil take me if I taste one of them!" murmured Porthos to himself, andthen said aloud, "Thank you, my cousin, I am no longer hungry. "

There was silence. Porthos could hardly keep his countenance. 

The procurator repeated several times, "Ah, Madame Coquenard! Accept mycompliments; your dinner has been a real feast. Lord, how I have eaten!"

M. Coquenard had eaten his soup, the black feet of the fowl, and theonly mutton bone on which there was the least appearance of meat. 

Porthos fancied they were mystifying him, and began to curl his mustacheand knit his eyebrows; but the knee of Mme. Coquenard gently advised himto be patient. 

This silence and this interruption in serving, which were unintelligibleto Porthos, had, on the contrary, a terrible meaning for the clerks. Upon a look from the procurator, accompanied by a smile from Mme. Coquenard, they arose slowly from the table, folded their napkins moreslowly still, bowed, and retired. 

"Go, young men! go and promote digestion by working, " said theprocurator, gravely. 

The clerks gone, Mme. Coquenard rose and took from a buffet a piece ofcheese, some preserved quinces, and a cake which she had herself made ofalmonds and honey. 

M. Coquenard knit his eyebrows because there were too many good things. Porthos bit his lips because he saw not the wherewithal to dine. Helooked to see if the dish of beans was still there; the dish of beanshad disappeared. 

"A positive feast!" cried M. Coquenard, turning about in his chair, "areal feast, EPULCE EPULORUM. Lucullus dines with Lucullus. "

Porthos looked at the bottle, which was near him, and hoped that withwine, bread, and cheese, he might make a dinner; but wine was wanting, the bottle was empty. M. And Mme. Coquenard did not seem to observe it. 

"This is fine!" said Porthos to himself; "I am prettily caught!"

He passed his tongue over a spoonful of preserves, and stuck his teethinto the sticky pastry of Mme. Coquenard. 

"Now, " said he, "the sacrifice is consummated! Ah! if I had not the hopeof peeping with Madame Coquenard into her husband's chest!"

M. Coquenard, after the luxuries of such a repast, which he called anexcess, felt the want of a siesta. Porthos began to hope that the thingwould take place at the present sitting, and in that same locality; butthe procurator would listen to nothing, he would be taken to his room, and was not satisfied till he was close to his chest, upon the edge ofwhich, for still greater precaution, he placed his feet. 

The procurator's wife took Porthos into an adjoining room, and theybegan to lay the basis of a reconciliation. 

"You can come and dine three times a week, " said Mme. Coquenard. 

"Thanks, madame!" said Porthos, "but I don't like to abuse yourkindness; besides, I must think of my outfit!"

"That's true, " said the procurator's wife, groaning, "that unfortunateoutfit!"

"Alas, yes, " said Porthos, "it is so. "

"But of what, then, does the equipment of your company consist, MonsieurPorthos?"

"Oh, of many things!" said Porthos. "The Musketeers are, as you know, picked soldiers, and they require many things useless to the Guardsmenor the Swiss. "

"But yet, detail them to me. "

"Why, they may amount to--", said Porthos, who preferred discussing thetotal to taking them one by one. 

The procurator's wife waited tremblingly. 

"To how much?" said she. "I hope it does not exceed--" She stopped;speech failed her. 

"Oh, no, " said Porthos, "it does not exceed two thousand five hundredlivres! I even think that with economy I could manage it with twothousand livres. "

"Good God!" cried she, "two thousand livres! Why, that is a fortune!"

Porthos made a most significant grimace; Mme. Coquenard understood it. 

"I wished to know the detail, " said she, "because, having many relativesin business, I was almost sure of obtaining things at a hundred per centless than you would pay yourself. "

"Ah, ah!" said Porthos, "that is what you meant to say!"

"Yes, dear Monsieur Porthos. Thus, for instance, don't you in the firstplace want a horse?"

"Yes, a horse. "

"Well, then! I can just suit you. "

"Ah!" said Porthos, brightening, "that's well as regards my horse; butI must have the appointments complete, as they include objects whicha Musketeer alone can purchase, and which will not amount, besides, tomore than three hundred livres. "

"Three hundred livres? Then put down three hundred livres, " said theprocurator's wife, with a sigh. 

Porthos smiled. It may be remembered that he had the saddle which camefrom Buckingham. These three hundred livres he reckoned upon puttingsnugly into his pocket. 

"Then, " continued he, "there is a horse for my lackey, and my valise. Asto my arms, it is useless to trouble you about them; I have them. "

"A horse for your lackey?" resumed the procurator's wife, hesitatingly;"but that is doing things in lordly style, my friend. "

"Ah, madame!" said Porthos, haughtily; "do you take me for a beggar?"

"No; I only thought that a pretty mule makes sometimes as good anappearance as a horse, and it seemed to me that by getting a pretty mulefor Mousqueton--"

"Well, agreed for a pretty mule, " said Porthos; "you are right, I haveseen very great Spanish nobles whose whole suite were mounted on mules. But then you understand, Madame Coquenard, a mule with feathers andbells. "

"Be satisfied, " said the procurator's wife. 

"There remains the valise, " added Porthos. 

"Oh, don't let that disturb you, " cried Mme. Coquenard. "My husbandhas five or six valises; you shall choose the best. There is one inparticular which he prefers in his journeys, large enough to hold allthe world. "

"Your valise is then empty?" asked Porthos, with simplicity. 

"Certainly it is empty, " replied the procurator's wife, in realinnocence. 

"Ah, but the valise I want, " cried Porthos, "is a well-filled one, mydear. "

Madame uttered fresh sighs. Moliere had not written his scene in"L'Avare" then. Mme. Coquenard was in the dilemma of Harpagan. 

Finally, the rest of the equipment was successively debated in the samemanner; and the result of the sitting was that the procurator's wifeshould give eight hundred livres in money, and should furnish thehorse and the mule which should have the honor of carrying Porthos andMousqueton to glory. 

These conditions being agreed to, Porthos took leave of Mme. Coquenard. The latter wished to detain him by darting certain tender glances;but Porthos urged the commands of duty, and the procurator's wife wasobliged to give place to the king. 

The Musketeer returned home hungry and in bad humor. 

33 SOUBRETTE AND MISTRESS

Meantime, as we have said, despite the cries of his conscience andthe wise counsels of Athos, d'Artagnan became hourly more in love withMilady. Thus he never failed to pay his diurnal court to her; and theself-satisfied Gascon was convinced that sooner or later she could notfail to respond. 

One day, when he arrived with his head in the air, and as light at heartas a man who awaits a shower of gold, he found the SOUBRETTE under thegateway of the hotel; but this time the pretty Kitty was not contentedwith touching him as he passed, she took him gently by the hand. 

"Good!" thought d'Artagnan, "She is charged with some message for mefrom her mistress; she is about to appoint some rendezvous of which shehad not courage to speak. " And he looked down at the pretty girl withthe most triumphant air imaginable. 

"I wish to say three words to you, Monsieur Chevalier, " stammered theSOUBRETTE. 

"Speak, my child, speak, " said d'Artagnan; "I listen. "

"Here? Impossible! That which I have to say is too long, and above all, too secret. "

"Well, what is to be done?"

"If Monsieur Chevalier would follow me?" said Kitty, timidly. 

"Where you please, my dear child. "

"Come, then. "

And Kitty, who had not let go the hand of d'Artagnan, led him up alittle dark, winding staircase, and after ascending about fifteen steps, opened a door. 

"Come in here, Monsieur Chevalier, " said she; "here we shall be alone, and can talk. "

"And whose room is this, my dear child?"

"It is mine, Monsieur Chevalier; it communicates with my mistress's bythat door. But you need not fear. She will not hear what we say; shenever goes to bed before midnight. "

D'Artagnan cast a glance around him. The little apartment was charmingfor its taste and neatness; but in spite of himself, his eyes weredirected to that door which Kitty said led to Milady's chamber. 

Kitty guessed what was passing in the mind of the young man, and heaveda deep sigh. 

"You love my mistress, then, very dearly, Monsieur Chevalier?" said she. 

"Oh, more than I can say, Kitty! I am mad for her!"

Kitty breathed a second sigh. 

"Alas, monsieur, " said she, "that is too bad. "

"What the devil do you see so bad in it?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Because, monsieur, " replied Kitty, "my mistress loves you not at all. "

"HEIN!" said d'Artagnan, "can she have charged you to tell me so?"

"Oh, no, monsieur; but out of the regard I have for you, I have takenthe resolution to tell you so. "

"Much obliged, my dear Kitty; but for the intention only--for theinformation, you must agree, is not likely to be at all agreeable. "

"That is to say, you don't believe what I have told you; is it not so?"

"We have always some difficulty in believing such things, my prettydear, were it only from self-love. "

"Then you don't believe me?"

"I confess that unless you deign to give me some proof of what youadvance--"

"What do you think of this?"

Kitty drew a little note from her bosom. 

"For me?" said d'Artagnan, seizing the letter. 

"No; for another. "

"For another?"

"Yes. "

"His name; his name!" cried d'Artagnan. 

"Read the address. "

"Monsieur El Comte de Wardes. "

The remembrance of the scene at St. Germain presented itself to themind of the presumptuous Gascon. As quick as thought, he tore open theletter, in spite of the cry which Kitty uttered on seeing what he wasgoing to do, or rather, what he was doing. 

"Oh, good Lord, Monsieur Chevalier, " said she, "what are you doing?"

"I?" said d'Artagnan; "nothing, " and he read, "You have not answered my first note. Are you indisposed, or have youforgotten the glances you favored me with at the ball of Mme. De Guise?You have an opportunity now, Count; do not allow it to escape. "

d'Artagnan became very pale; he was wounded in his SELF-love: he thoughtthat it was in his LOVE. 

"Poor dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said Kitty, in a voice full ofcompassion, and pressing anew the young man's hand. 

"You pity me, little one?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Oh, yes, and with all my heart; for I know what it is to be in love. "

"You know what it is to be in love?" said d'Artagnan, looking at her forthe first time with much attention. 

"Alas, yes. "

"Well, then, instead of pitying me, you would do much better to assistme in avenging myself on your mistress. "

"And what sort of revenge would you take?"

"I would triumph over her, and supplant my rival. "

"I will never help you in that, Monsieur Chevalier, " said Kitty, warmly. 

"And why not?" demanded d'Artagnan. 

"For two reasons. "

"What ones?"

"The first is that my mistress will never love you. "

"How do you know that?"

"You have cut her to the heart. "

"I? In what can I have offended her--I who ever since I have known herhave lived at her feet like a slave? Speak, I beg you!"

"I will never confess that but to the man--who should read to the bottomof my soul!"

D'Artagnan looked at Kitty for the second time. The young girl hadfreshness and beauty which many duchesses would have purchased withtheir coronets. 

"Kitty, " said he, "I will read to the bottom of your soul when-ever youlike; don't let that disturb you. " And he gave her a kiss at which thepoor girl became as red as a cherry. 

"Oh, no, " said Kitty, "it is not me you love! It is my mistress youlove; you told me so just now. "

"And does that hinder you from letting me know the second reason?"

"The second reason, Monsieur the Chevalier, " replied Kitty, emboldenedby the kiss in the first place, and still further by the expression ofthe eyes of the young man, "is that in love, everyone for herself!"

Then only d'Artagnan remembered the languishing glances of Kitty, herconstantly meeting him in the antechamber, the corridor, or on thestairs, those touches of the hand every time she met him, and her deepsighs; but absorbed by his desire to please the great lady, he haddisdained the soubrette. He whose game is the eagle takes no heed of thesparrow. 

But this time our Gascon saw at a glance all the advantage to be derivedfrom the love which Kitty had just confessed so innocently, or soboldly: the interception of letters addressed to the Comte de Wardes, news on the spot, entrance at all hours into Kitty's chamber, whichwas contiguous to her mistress's. The perfidious deceiver was, as mayplainly be perceived, already sacrificing, in intention, the poor girlin order to obtain Milady, willy-nilly. 

"Well, " said he to the young girl, "are you willing, my dear Kitty, thatI should give you a proof of that love which you doubt?"

"What love?" asked the young girl. 

"Of that which I am ready to feel toward you. "

"And what is that proof?"

"Are you willing that I should this evening pass with you the time Igenerally spend with your mistress?"

"Oh, yes, " said Kitty, clapping her hands, "very willing. "

"Well, then, come here, my dear, " said d'Artagnan, establishing himselfin an easy chair; "come, and let me tell you that you are the prettiestSOUBRETTE I ever saw!"

And he did tell her so much, and so well, that the poor girl, who askednothing better than to believe him, did believe him. Nevertheless, to d'Artagnan's great astonishment, the pretty Kitty defended herselfresolutely. 

Time passes quickly when it is passed in attacks and defenses. Midnightsounded, and almost at the same time the bell was rung in Milady'schamber. 

"Good God, " cried Kitty, "there is my mistress calling me! Go; godirectly!"

D'Artagnan rose, took his hat, as if it had been his intention to obey, then, opening quickly the door of a large closet instead of that leadingto the staircase, he buried himself amid the robes and dressing gowns ofMilady. 

"What are you doing?" cried Kitty. 

D'Artagnan, who had secured the key, shut himself up in the closetwithout reply. 

"Well, " cried Milady, in a sharp voice. "Are you asleep, that you don'tanswer when I ring?"

And d'Artagnan heard the door of communication opened violently. 

"Here am I, Milady, here am I!" cried Kitty, springing forward to meether mistress. 

Both went into the bedroom, and as the door of communication remainedopen, d'Artagnan could hear Milady for some time scolding her maid. Shewas at length appeased, and the conversation turned upon him while Kittywas assisting her mistress. 

"Well, " said Milady, "I have not seen our Gascon this evening. "

"What, Milady! has he not come?" said Kitty. "Can he be inconstantbefore being happy?"

"Oh, no; he must have been prevented by Monsieur de Treville or MonsieurDessessart. I understand my game, Kitty; I have this one safe. "

"What will you do with him, madame?"

"What will I do with him? Be easy, Kitty, there is something betweenthat man and me that he is quite ignorant of: he nearly made me lose mycredit with his Eminence. Oh, I will be revenged!"

"I believed that Madame loved him. "

"I love him? I detest him! An idiot, who held the life of Lord de Winterin his hands and did not kill him, by which I missed three hundredthousand livres' income. "

"That's true, " said Kitty; "your son was the only heir of his uncle, anduntil his majority you would have had the enjoyment of his fortune. "

D'Artagnan shuddered to the marrow at hearing this suave creaturereproach him, with that sharp voice which she took such pains to concealin conversation, for not having killed a man whom he had seen load herwith kindnesses. 

"For all this, " continued Milady, "I should long ago have revengedmyself on him if, and I don't know why, the cardinal had not requestedme to conciliate him. "

"Oh, yes; but Madame has not conciliated that little woman he was sofond of. "

"What, the mercer's wife of the Rue des Fossoyeurs? Has he not alreadyforgotten she ever existed? Fine vengeance that, on my faith!"

A cold sweat broke from d'Artagnan's brow. Why, this woman was amonster! He resumed his listening, but unfortunately the toilet wasfinished. 

"That will do, " said Milady; "go into your own room, and tomorrowendeavor again to get me an answer to the letter I gave you. "

"For Monsieur de Wardes?" said Kitty. 

"To be sure; for Monsieur de Wardes. "

"Now, there is one, " said Kitty, "who appears to me quite a differentsort of a man from that poor Monsieur d'Artagnan. "

"Go to bed, mademoiselle, " said Milady; "I don't like comments. "

D'Artagnan heard the door close; then the noise of two bolts by whichMilady fastened herself in. On her side, but as softly as possible, Kitty turned the key of the lock, and then d'Artagnan opened the closetdoor. 

"Oh, good Lord!" said Kitty, in a low voice, "what is the matter withyou? How pale you are!"

"The abominable creature, " murmured d'Artagnan. 

"Silence, silence, begone!" said Kitty. "There is nothing but a wainscotbetween my chamber and Milady's; every word that is uttered in one canbe heard in the other. "

"That's exactly the reason I won't go, " said d'Artagnan. 

"What!" said Kitty, blushing. 

"Or, at least, I will go--later. "

He drew Kitty to him. She had the less motive to resist, resistancewould make so much noise. Therefore Kitty surrendered. 

It was a movement of vengeance upon Milady. D'Artagnan believed it rightto say that vengeance is the pleasure of the gods. With a little moreheart, he might have been contented with this new conquest; but theprincipal features of his character were ambition and pride. It must, however, be confessed in his justification that the first use he made ofhis influence over Kitty was to try and find out what had become of Mme. Bonacieux; but the poor girl swore upon the crucifix to d'Artagnan thatshe was entirely ignorant on that head, her mistress never admitting herinto half her secrets--only she believed she could say she was not dead. 

As to the cause which was near making Milady lose her credit with thecardinal, Kitty knew nothing about it; but this time d'Artagnan wasbetter informed than she was. As he had seen Milady on board a vesselat the moment he was leaving England, he suspected that it was, almostwithout a doubt, on account of the diamond studs. 

But what was clearest in all this was that the true hatred, the profoundhatred, the inveterate hatred of Milady, was increased by his not havingkilled her brother-in-law. 

D'Artagnan came the next day to Milady's, and finding her in a veryill-humor, had no doubt that it was lack of an answer from M. De Wardesthat provoked her thus. Kitty came in, but Milady was very cross withher. The poor girl ventured a glance at d'Artagnan which said, "See howI suffer on your account!"

Toward the end of the evening, however, the beautiful lioness becamemilder; she smilingly listened to the soft speeches of d'Artagnan, andeven gave him her hand to kiss. 

D'Artagnan departed, scarcely knowing what to think, but as he was ayouth who did not easily lose his head, while continuing to pay hiscourt to Milady, he had framed a little plan in his mind. 

He found Kitty at the gate, and, as on the preceding evening, went up toher chamber. Kitty had been accused of negligence and severely scolded. Milady could not at all comprehend the silence of the Comte de Wardes, and she ordered Kitty to come at nine o'clock in the morning to take athird letter. 

D'Artagnan made Kitty promise to bring him that letter on the followingmorning. The poor girl promised all her lover desired; she was mad. 

Things passed as on the night before. D'Artagnan concealed himself inhis closet; Milady called, undressed, sent away Kitty, and shut thedoor. As the night before, d'Artagnan did not return home till fiveo'clock in the morning. 

At eleven o'clock Kitty came to him. She held in her hand a fresh billetfrom Milady. This time the poor girl did not even argue with d'Artagnan;she gave it to him at once. She belonged body and soul to her handsomesoldier. 

D'Artagnan opened the letter and read as follows:

This is the third time I have written to you to tell you that I loveyou. Beware that I do not write to you a fourth time to tell you that Idetest you. 

If you repent of the manner in which you have acted toward me, the younggirl who brings you this will tell you how a man of spirit may obtainhis pardon. 

d'Artagnan colored and grew pale several times in reading this billet. 

"Oh, you love her still, " said Kitty, who had not taken her eyes off theyoung man's countenance for an instant. 

"No, Kitty, you are mistaken. I do not love her, but I will avengemyself for her contempt. "

"Oh, yes, I know what sort of vengeance! You told me that!"

"What matters it to you, Kitty? You know it is you alone whom I love. "

"How can I know that?"

"By the scorn I will throw upon her. "

D'Artagnan took a pen and wrote:

Madame, Until the present moment I could not believe that it was to meyour first two letters were addressed, so unworthy did I feel myself ofsuch an honor; besides, I was so seriously indisposed that I could notin any case have replied to them. 

But now I am forced to believe in the excess of your kindness, sincenot only your letter but your servant assures me that I have the goodfortune to be beloved by you. 

She has no occasion to teach me the way in which a man of spirit mayobtain his pardon. I will come and ask mine at eleven o'clock thisevening. 

To delay it a single day would be in my eyes now to commit a freshoffense. 

From him whom you have rendered the happiest of men, Comte de Wardes

This note was in the first place a forgery; it was likewise anindelicacy. It was even, according to our present manners, somethinglike an infamous action; but at that period people did not manageaffairs as they do today. Besides, d'Artagnan from her own admissionknew Milady culpable of treachery in matters more important, and couldentertain no respect for her. And yet, notwithstanding this want ofrespect, he felt an uncontrollable passion for this woman boiling in hisveins--passion drunk with contempt; but passion or thirst, as the readerpleases. 

D'Artagnan's plan was very simple. By Kitty's chamber he could gainthat of her mistress. He would take advantage of the first moment ofsurprise, shame, and terror, to triumph over her. He might fail, butsomething must be left to chance. In eight days the campaign would open, and he would be compelled to leave Paris; d'Artagnan had no time for aprolonged love siege. 

"There, " said the young man, handing Kitty the letter sealed; "give thatto Milady. It is the count's reply. "

Poor Kitty became as pale as death; she suspected what the lettercontained. 

"Listen, my dear girl, " said d'Artagnan; "you cannot but perceive thatall this must end, some way or other. Milady may discover that you gavethe first billet to my lackey instead of to the count's; that it is Iwho have opened the others which ought to have been opened by de Wardes. Milady will then turn you out of doors, and you know she is not thewoman to limit her vengeance. "

"Alas!" said Kitty, "for whom have I exposed myself to all that?"

"For me, I well know, my sweet girl, " said d'Artagnan. "But I amgrateful, I swear to you. "

"But what does this note contain?"

"Milady will tell you. "

"Ah, you do not love me!" cried Kitty, "and I am very wretched. "

To this reproach there is always one response which deludes women. D'Artagnan replied in such a manner that Kitty remained in her greatdelusion. Although she cried freely before deciding to transmit theletter to her mistress, she did at last so decide, which was alld'Artagnan wished. Finally he promised that he would leave hermistress's presence at an early hour that evening, and that when he leftthe mistress he would ascend with the maid. This promise completed poorKitty's consolation. 

34 IN WHICH THE EQUIPMENT OF ARAMIS AND PORTHOS IS TREATED OF

Since the four friends had been each in search of his equipments, there had been no fixed meeting between them. They dined apart from oneanother, wherever they might happen to be, or rather where they could. Duty likewise on its part took a portion of that precious time which wasgliding away so rapidly--only they had agreed to meet once a week, aboutone o'clock, at the residence of Athos, seeing that he, in agreementwith the vow he had formed, did not pass over the threshold of his door. 

This day of reunion was the same day as that on which Kitty came to findd'Artagnan. Soon as Kitty left him, d'Artagnan directed his steps towardthe Rue Ferou. 

He found Athos and Aramis philosophizing. Aramis had some slightinclination to resume the cassock. Athos, according to his system, neither encouraged nor dissuaded him. Athos believed that everyoneshould be left to his own free will. He never gave advice but when itwas asked, and even then he required to be asked twice. 

"People, in general, " he said, "only ask advice not to follow it; orif they do follow it, it is for the sake of having someone to blame forhaving given it. "

Porthos arrived a minute after d'Artagnan. The four friends werereunited. 

The four countenances expressed four different feelings: that ofPorthos, tranquillity; that of d'Artagnan, hope; that of Aramis, uneasiness; that of Athos, carelessness. 

At the end of a moment's conversation, in which Porthos hinted thata lady of elevated rank had condescended to relieve him from hisembarrassment, Mousqueton entered. He came to request his master toreturn to his lodgings, where his presence was urgent, as he piteouslysaid. 

"Is it my equipment?"

"Yes and no, " replied Mousqueton. 

"Well, but can't you speak?"

"Come, monsieur. "

Porthos rose, saluted his friends, and followed Mousqueton. An instantafter, Bazin made his appearance at the door. 

"What do you want with me, my friend?" said Aramis, with that mildnessof language which was observable in him every time that his ideas weredirected toward the Church. 

"A man wishes to see Monsieur at home, " replied Bazin. 

"A man! What man?"

"A mendicant. "

"Give him alms, Bazin, and bid him pray for a poor sinner. "

"This mendicant insists upon speaking to you, and pretends that you willbe very glad to see him. "

"Has he sent no particular message for me?"

"Yes. If Monsieur Aramis hesitates to come, " he said, "tell him I amfrom Tours. "

"From Tours!" cried Aramis. "A thousand pardons, gentlemen; but no doubtthis man brings me the news I expected. " And rising also, he went off ata quick pace. There remained Athos and d'Artagnan. 

"I believe these fellows have managed their business. What do you think, d'Artagnan?" said Athos. 

"I know that Porthos was in a fair way, " replied d'Artagnan; "and as toAramis to tell you the truth, I have never been seriously uneasy on hisaccount. But you, my dear Athos--you, who so generously distributed theEnglishman's pistoles, which were our legitimate property--what do youmean to do?"

"I am satisfied with having killed that fellow, my boy, seeing thatit is blessed bread to kill an Englishman; but if I had pocketed hispistoles, they would have weighed me down like a remorse. 

"Go to, my dear Athos; you have truly inconceivable ideas. "

"Let it pass. What do you think of Monsieur de Treville telling me, whenhe did me the honor to call upon me yesterday, that you associated withthe suspected English, whom the cardinal protects?"

"That is to say, I visit an Englishwoman--the one I named. "

"Oh, ay! the fair woman on whose account I gave you advice, whichnaturally you took care not to adopt. "

"I gave you my reasons. "

"Yes; you look there for your outfit, I think you said. "

"Not at all. I have acquired certain knowledge that that woman wasconcerned in the abduction of Madame Bonacieux. "

"Yes, I understand now: to find one woman, you court another. It is thelongest road, but certainly the most amusing. "

D'Artagnan was on the point of telling Athos all; but one considerationrestrained him. Athos was a gentleman, punctilious in points of honor;and there were in the plan which our lover had devised for Milady, he was sure, certain things that would not obtain the assent of thisPuritan. He was therefore silent; and as Athos was the least inquisitiveof any man on earth, d'Artagnan's confidence stopped there. We willtherefore leave the two friends, who had nothing important to say toeach other, and follow Aramis. 

Upon being informed that the person who wanted to speak to him came fromTours, we have seen with what rapidity the young man followed, or ratherwent before, Bazin; he ran without stopping from the Rue Ferou tothe Rue de Vaugirard. On entering he found a man of short stature andintelligent eyes, but covered with rags. 

"You have asked for me?" said the Musketeer. 

"I wish to speak with Monsieur Aramis. Is that your name, monsieur?"

"My very own. You have brought me something?"

"Yes, if you show me a certain embroidered handkerchief. "

"Here it is, " said Aramis, taking a small key from his breast andopening a little ebony box inlaid with mother of pearl, "here it is. Look. "

"That is right, " replied the mendicant; "dismiss your lackey. "

In fact, Bazin, curious to know what the mendicant could want with hismaster, kept pace with him as well as he could, and arrived almost atthe same time he did; but his quickness was not of much use to him. Atthe hint from the mendicant his master made him a sign to retire, and hewas obliged to obey. 

Bazin gone, the mendicant cast a rapid glance around him in order to besure that nobody could either see or hear him, and opening his raggedvest, badly held together by a leather strap, he began to rip the upperpart of his doublet, from which he drew a letter. 

Aramis uttered a cry of joy at the sight of the seal, kissed thesuperscription with an almost religious respect, and opened the epistle, which contained what follows:

"My Friend, it is the will of fate that we should be still for some timeseparated; but the delightful days of youth are not lost beyond return. Perform your duty in camp; I will do mine elsewhere. Accept that whichthe bearer brings you; make the campaign like a handsome true gentleman, and think of me, who kisses tenderly your black eyes. 

"Adieu; or rather, AU REVOIR. "

The mendicant continued to rip his garments; and drew from amid his ragsa hundred and fifty Spanish double pistoles, which he laid down on thetable; then he opened the door, bowed, and went out before the youngman, stupefied by his letter, had ventured to address a word to him. 

Aramis then reperused the letter, and perceived a postscript:

P. S. You may behave politely to the bearer, who is a count and a grandeeof Spain!

"Golden dreams!" cried Aramis. "Oh, beautiful life! Yes, we are young;yes, we shall yet have happy days! My love, my blood, my life! all, all, all, are thine, my adored mistress!"

And he kissed the letter with passion, without even vouchsafing a lookat the gold which sparkled on the table. 

Bazin scratched at the door, and as Aramis had no longer any reason toexclude him, he bade him come in. 

Bazin was stupefied at the sight of the gold, and forgot that he cameto announce d'Artagnan, who, curious to know who the mendicant could be, came to Aramis on leaving Athos. 

Now, as d'Artagnan used no ceremony with Aramis, seeing that Bazinforgot to announce him, he announced himself. 

"The devil! my dear Aramis, " said d'Artagnan, "if these are the prunesthat are sent to you from Tours, I beg you will make my compliments tothe gardener who gathers them. "

"You are mistaken, friend d'Artagnan, " said Aramis, always on his guard;"this is from my publisher, who has just sent me the price of that poemin one-syllable verse which I began yonder. "

"Ah, indeed, " said d'Artagnan. "Well, your publisher is very generous, my dear Aramis, that's all I can say. "

"How, monsieur?" cried Bazin, "a poem sell so dear as that! It isincredible! Oh, monsieur, you can write as much as you like; you maybecome equal to Monsieur de Voiture and Monsieur de Benserade. I likethat. A poet is as good as an abbe. Ah! Monsieur Aramis, become a poet, I beg of you. "

"Bazin, my friend, " said Aramis, "I believe you meddle with myconversation. "

Bazin perceived he was wrong; he bowed and went out. 

"Ah!" said d'Artagnan with a smile, "you sell your productions at theirweight in gold. You are very fortunate, my friend; but take care or youwill lose that letter which is peeping from your doublet, and which alsocomes, no doubt, from your publisher. "

Aramis blushed to the eyes, crammed in the letter, and re-buttoned hisdoublet. 

"My dear d'Artagnan, " said he, "if you please, we will join our friends;as I am rich, we will today begin to dine together again, expecting thatyou will be rich in your turn. "

"My faith!" said d'Artagnan, with great pleasure. "It is long since wehave had a good dinner; and I, for my part, have a somewhat hazardousexpedition for this evening, and shall not be sorry, I confess, tofortify myself with a few glasses of good old Burgundy. "

"Agreed, as to the old Burgundy; I have no objection to that, " saidAramis, from whom the letter and the gold had removed, as by magic, hisideas of conversion. 

And having put three or four double pistoles into his pocket to answerthe needs of the moment, he placed the others in the ebony box, inlaidwith mother of pearl, in which was the famous handkerchief which servedhim as a talisman. 

The two friends repaired to Athos's, and he, faithful to his vow of notgoing out, took upon him to order dinner to be brought to them. As hewas perfectly acquainted with the details of gastronomy, d'Artagnan andAramis made no objection to abandoning this important care to him. 

They went to find Porthos, and at the corner of the Rue Bac metMousqueton, who, with a most pitiable air, was driving before him a muleand a horse. 

D'Artagnan uttered a cry of surprise, which was not quite free from joy. 

"Ah, my yellow horse, " cried he. "Aramis, look at that horse!"

"Oh, the frightful brute!" said Aramis. 

"Ah, my dear, " replied d'Artagnan, "upon that very horse I came toParis. "

"What, does Monsieur know this horse?" said Mousqueton. 

"It is of an original color, " said Aramis; "I never saw one with such ahide in my life. "

"I can well believe it, " replied d'Artagnan, "and that was why I gotthree crowns for him. It must have been for his hide, for, CERTES, thecarcass is not worth eighteen livres. But how did this horse come intoyour bands, Mousqueton?"

"Pray, " said the lackey, "say nothing about it, monsieur; it is afrightful trick of the husband of our duchess!"

"How is that, Mousqueton?"

"Why, we are looked upon with a rather favorable eye by a lady ofquality, the Duchesse de--but, your pardon; my master has commandedme to be discreet. She had forced us to accept a little souvenir, amagnificent Spanish GENET and an Andalusian mule, which were beautifulto look upon. The husband heard of the affair; on their way heconfiscated the two magnificent beasts which were being sent to us, andsubstituted these horrible animals. "

"Which you are taking back to him?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Exactly!" replied Mousqueton. "You may well believe that we willnot accept such steeds as these in exchange for those which had beenpromised to us. "

"No, PARDIEU; though I should like to have seen Porthos on my yellowhorse. That would give me an idea of how I looked when I arrived inParis. But don't let us hinder you, Mousqueton; go and perform yourmaster's orders. Is he at home?"

"Yes, monsieur, " said Mousqueton, "but in a very ill humor. Get up!"

He continued his way toward the Quai des Grands Augustins, while the twofriends went to ring at the bell of the unfortunate Porthos. He, havingseen them crossing the yard, took care not to answer, and they rang invain. 

Meanwhile Mousqueton continued on his way, and crossing the Pont Neuf, still driving the two sorry animals before him, he reached the Rue auxOurs. Arrived there, he fastened, according to the orders of his master, both horse and mule to the knocker of the procurator's door; then, without taking any thought for their future, he returned to Porthos, andtold him that his commission was completed. 

In a short time the two unfortunate beasts, who had not eaten anythingsince the morning, made such a noise in raising and letting fall theknocker that the procurator ordered his errand boy to go and inquire inthe neighborhood to whom this horse and mule belonged. 

Mme. Coquenard recognized her present, and could not at first comprehendthis restitution; but the visit of Porthos soon enlightened her. Theanger which fired the eyes of the Musketeer, in spite of his efforts tosuppress it, terrified his sensitive inamorata. In fact, Mousqueton hadnot concealed from his master that he had met d'Artagnan and Aramis, and that d'Artagnan in the yellow horse had recognized the Bearnese ponyupon which he had come to Paris, and which he had sold for three crowns. 

Porthos went away after having appointed a meeting with the procurator'swife in the cloister of St. Magloire. The procurator, seeing he wasgoing, invited him to dinner--an invitation which the Musketeer refusedwith a majestic air. 

Mme. Coquenard repaired trembling to the cloister of St. Magloire, for she guessed the reproaches that awaited her there; but she wasfascinated by the lofty airs of Porthos. 

All that which a man wounded in his self-love could let fall in theshape of imprecations and reproaches upon the head of a woman Porthoslet fall upon the bowed head of the procurator's wife. 

"Alas, " said she, "I did all for the best! One of our clients is ahorsedealer; he owes money to the office, and is backward in his pay. Itook the mule and the horse for what he owed us; he assured me that theywere two noble steeds. "

"Well, madame, " said Porthos, "if he owed you more than five crowns, your horsedealer is a thief. "

"There is no harm in trying to buy things cheap, Monsieur Porthos, " saidthe procurator's wife, seeking to excuse herself. 

"No, madame; but they who so assiduously try to buy things cheap oughtto permit others to seek more generous friends. " And Porthos, turning onhis heel, made a step to retire. 

"Monsieur Porthos! Monsieur Porthos!" cried the procurator's wife. "Ihave been wrong; I see it. I ought not to have driven a bargain when itwas to equip a cavalier like you. "

Porthos, without reply, retreated a second step. The procurator's wifefancied she saw him in a brilliant cloud, all surrounded by duchessesand marchionesses, who cast bags of money at his feet. 

"Stop, in the name of heaven, Monsieur Porthos!" cried she. "Stop, andlet us talk. "

"Talking with you brings me misfortune, " said Porthos. 

"But, tell me, what do you ask?"

"Nothing; for that amounts to the same thing as if I asked you forsomething. "

The procurator's wife hung upon the arm of Porthos, and in the violenceof her grief she cried out, "Monsieur Porthos, I am ignorant of all suchmatters! How should I know what a horse is? How should I know what horsefurniture is?"

"You should have left it to me, then, madame, who know what they are;but you wished to be frugal, and consequently to lend at usury. "

"It was wrong, Monsieur Porthos; but I will repair that wrong, upon myword of honor. "

"How so?" asked the Musketeer. 

"Listen. This evening M. Coquenard is going to the house of the Due deChaulnes, who has sent for him. It is for a consultation, which willlast three hours at least. Come! We shall be alone, and can make up ouraccounts. "

"In good time. Now you talk, my dear. "

"You pardon me?"

"We shall see, " said Porthos, majestically; and the two separatedsaying, "Till this evening. "

"The devil!" thought Porthos, as he walked away, "it appears I amgetting nearer to Monsieur Coquenard's strongbox at last. "

35 A GASCON A MATCH FOR CUPID

The evening so impatiently waited for by Porthos and by d'Artagnan atlast arrived. 

As was his custom, d'Artagnan presented himself at Milady's at aboutnine o'clock. He found her in a charming humor. Never had he been sowell received. Our Gascon knew, by the first glance of his eye, that hisbillet had been delivered, and that this billet had had its effect. 

Kitty entered to bring some sherbet. Her mistress put on a charmingface, and smiled on her graciously; but alas! the poor girl was so sadthat she did not even notice Milady's condescension. 

D'Artagnan looked at the two women, one after the other, and was forcedto acknowledge that in his opinion Dame Nature had made a mistake intheir formation. To the great lady she had given a heart vile and venal;to the SOUBRETTE she had given the heart of a duchess. 

At ten o'clock Milady began to appear restless. D'Artagnan knew whatshe wanted. She looked at the clock, rose, reseated herself, smiled atd'Artagnan with an air which said, "You are very amiable, no doubt, butyou would be charming if you would only depart. "

D'Artagnan rose and took his hat; Milady gave him her hand to kiss. The young man felt her press his hand, and comprehended that this was asentiment, not of coquetry, but of gratitude because of his departure. 

"She loves him devilishly, " he murmured. Then he went out. 

This time Kitty was nowhere waiting for him; neither in the antechamber, nor in the corridor, nor beneath the great door. It was necessary thatd'Artagnan should find alone the staircase and the little chamber. Sheheard him enter, but she did not raise her head. The young man went toher and took her hands; then she sobbed aloud. 

As d'Artagnan had presumed, on receiving his letter, Milady ina delirium of joy had told her servant everything; and by way ofrecompense for the manner in which she had this time executed thecommission, she had given Kitty a purse. 

Returning to her own room, Kitty had thrown the purse into a corner, where it lay open, disgorging three or four gold pieces on the carpet. The poor girl, under the caresses of d'Artagnan, lifted her head. D'Artagnan himself was frightened by the change in her countenance. Shejoined her hands with a suppliant air, but without venturing to speak aword. As little sensitive as was the heart of d'Artagnan, he was touchedby this mute sorrow; but he held too tenaciously to his projects, aboveall to this one, to change the program which he had laid out in advance. He did not therefore allow her any hope that he would flinch; only herepresented his action as one of simple vengeance. 

For the rest this vengeance was very easy; for Milady, doubtless toconceal her blushes from her lover, had ordered Kitty to extinguishall the lights in the apartment, and even in the little chamberitself. Before daybreak M. De Wardes must take his departure, still inobscurity. 

Presently they heard Milady retire to her room. D'Artagnan slipped intothe wardrobe. Hardly was he concealed when the little bell sounded. Kitty went to her mistress, and did not leave the door open; but thepartition was so thin that one could hear nearly all that passed betweenthe two women. 

Milady seemed overcome with joy, and made Kitty repeat the smallestdetails of the pretended interview of the soubrette with de Wardes whenhe received the letter; how he had responded; what was the expressionof his face; if he seemed very amorous. And to all these questions poorKitty, forced to put on a pleasant face, responded in a stifled voicewhose dolorous accent her mistress did not however remark, solelybecause happiness is egotistical. 

Finally, as the hour for her interview with the count approached, Miladyhad everything about her darkened, and ordered Kitty to return to herown chamber, and introduce de Wardes whenever he presented himself. 

Kitty's detention was not long. Hardly had d'Artagnan seen, through acrevice in his closet, that the whole apartment was in obscurity, than he slipped out of his concealment, at the very moment when Kittyreclosed the door of communication. 

"What is that noise?" demanded Milady. 

"It is I, " said d'Artagnan in a subdued voice, "I, the Comte de Wardes. "

"Oh, my God, my God!" murmured Kitty, "he has not even waited for thehour he himself named!"

"Well, " said Milady, in a trembling voice, "why do you not enter? Count, Count, " added she, "you know that I wait for you. "

At this appeal d'Artagnan drew Kitty quietly away, and slipped into thechamber. 

If rage or sorrow ever torture the heart, it is when a lover receivesunder a name which is not his own protestations of love addressed tohis happy rival. D'Artagnan was in a dolorous situation which he had notforeseen. Jealousy gnawed his heart; and he suffered almost as much aspoor Kitty, who at that very moment was crying in the next chamber. 

"Yes, Count, " said Milady, in her softest voice, and pressing his handin her own, "I am happy in the love which your looks and your wordshave expressed to me every time we have met. I also--I love you. Oh, tomorrow, tomorrow, I must have some pledge from you which will provethat you think of me; and that you may not forget me, take this!"and she slipped a ring from her finger onto d'Artagnan's. D'Artagnanremembered having seen this ring on the finger of Milady; it was amagnificent sapphire, encircled with brilliants. 

The first movement of d'Artagnan was to return it, but Milady added, "No, no! Keep that ring for love of me. Besides, in accepting it, " sheadded, in a voice full of emotion, "you render me a much greater servicethan you imagine. "

"This woman is full of mysteries, " murmured d'Artagnan to himself. Atthat instant he felt himself ready to reveal all. He even opened hismouth to tell Milady who he was, and with what a revengeful purposehe had come; but she added, "Poor angel, whom that monster of a Gasconbarely failed to kill. "

The monster was himself. 

"Oh, " continued Milady, "do your wounds still make you suffer?"

"Yes, much, " said d'Artagnan, who did not well know how to answer. 

"Be tranquil, " murmured Milady; "I will avenge you--and cruelly!"

"PESTE!" said d'Artagnan to himself, "the moment for confidences has notyet come. "

It took some time for d'Artagnan to resume this little dialogue; butthen all the ideas of vengeance which he had brought with him hadcompletely vanished. This woman exercised over him an unaccountablepower; he hated and adored her at the same time. He would not havebelieved that two sentiments so opposite could dwell in the same heart, and by their union constitute a passion so strange, and as it were, diabolical. 

Presently it sounded one o'clock. It was necessary to separate. D'Artagnan at the moment of quitting Milady felt only the liveliestregret at the parting; and as they addressed each other in areciprocally passionate adieu, another interview was arranged for thefollowing week. 

Poor Kitty hoped to speak a few words to d'Artagnan when he passedthrough her chamber; but Milady herself reconducted him through thedarkness, and only quit him at the staircase. 

The next morning d'Artagnan ran to find Athos. He was engaged in anadventure so singular that he wished for counsel. He therefore told himall. 

"Your Milady, " said he, "appears to be an infamous creature, but not theless you have done wrong to deceive her. In one fashion or another youhave a terrible enemy on your hands. "

While thus speaking Athos regarded with attention the sapphire setwith diamonds which had taken, on d'Artagnan's finger, the place of thequeen's ring, carefully kept in a casket. 

"You notice my ring?" said the Gascon, proud to display so rich a giftin the eyes of his friends. 

"Yes, " said Athos, "it reminds me of a family jewel. "

"It is beautiful, is it not?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Yes, " said Athos, "magnificent. I did not think two sapphires of such afine water existed. Have you traded it for your diamond?"

"No. It is a gift from my beautiful Englishwoman, or ratherFrenchwoman--for I am convinced she was born in France, though I havenot questioned her. "

"That ring comes from Milady?" cried Athos, with a voice in which it waseasy to detect strong emotion. 

"Her very self; she gave it me last night. Here it is, " repliedd'Artagnan, taking it from his finger. 

Athos examined it and became very pale. He tried it on his left hand; itfit his finger as if made for it. 

A shade of anger and vengeance passed across the usually calm brow ofthis gentleman. 

"It is impossible it can be she, " said be. "How could this ring comeinto the hands of Milady Clarik? And yet it is difficult to suppose sucha resemblance should exist between two jewels. "

"Do you know this ring?" said d'Artagnan. 

"I thought I did, " replied Athos; "but no doubt I was mistaken. " And hereturned d'Artagnan the ring without, however, ceasing to look at it. 

"Pray, d'Artagnan, " said Athos, after a minute, "either take off thatring or turn the mounting inside; it recalls such cruel recollectionsthat I shall have no head to converse with you. Don't ask me forcounsel; don't tell me you are perplexed what to do. But stop! let melook at that sapphire again; the one I mentioned to you had one of itsfaces scratched by accident. "

D'Artagnan took off the ring, giving it again to Athos. 

Athos started. "Look, " said he, "is it not strange?" and he pointed outto d'Artagnan the scratch he had remembered. 

"But from whom did this ring come to you, Athos?"

"From my mother, who inherited it from her mother. As I told you, it isan old family jewel. "

"And you--sold it?" asked d'Artagnan, hesitatingly. 

"No, " replied Athos, with a singular smile. "I gave it away in a nightof love, as it has been given to you. "

D'Artagnan became pensive in his turn; it appeared as if there wereabysses in Milady's soul whose depths were dark and unknown. He tookback the ring, but put it in his pocket and not on his finger. 

"d'Artagnan, " said Athos, taking his hand, "you know I love you; if Ihad a son I could not love him better. Take my advice, renounce thiswoman. I do not know her, but a sort of intuition tells me she is a lostcreature, and that there is something fatal about her. "

"You are right, " said d'Artagnan; "I will have done with her. I own thatthis woman terrifies me. "

"Shall you have the courage?" said Athos. 

"I shall, " replied d'Artagnan, "and instantly. "

"In truth, my young friend, you will act rightly, " said the gentleman, pressing the Gascon's hand with an affection almost paternal; "and Godgrant that this woman, who has scarcely entered into your life, may notleave a terrible trace in it!" And Athos bowed to d'Artagnan like a manwho wishes it understood that he would not be sorry to be left alonewith his thoughts. 

On reaching home d'Artagnan found Kitty waiting for him. A monthof fever could not have changed her more than this one night ofsleeplessness and sorrow. 

She was sent by her mistress to the false de Wardes. Her mistress wasmad with love, intoxicated with joy. She wished to know when her loverwould meet her a second night; and poor Kitty, pale and trembling, awaited d'Artagnan's reply. The counsels of his friend, joined to thecries of his own heart, made him determine, now his pride was saved andhis vengeance satisfied, not to see Milady again. As a reply, he wrotethe following letter:

Do not depend upon me, madame, for the next meeting. Since myconvalescence I have so many affairs of this kind on my hands that I amforced to regulate them a little. When your turn comes, I shall have thehonor to inform you of it. I kiss your hands. 

Comte de Wardes

Not a word about the sapphire. Was the Gascon determined to keep it as aweapon against Milady, or else, let us be frank, did he not reserve thesapphire as a last resource for his outfit? It would be wrong to judgethe actions of one period from the point of view of another. That whichwould now be considered as disgraceful to a gentleman was at that timequite a simple and natural affair, and the younger sons of the bestfamilies were frequently supported by their mistresses. D'Artagnan gavethe open letter to Kitty, who at first was unable to comprehend it, butwho became almost wild with joy on reading it a second time. She couldscarcely believe in her happiness; and d'Artagnan was forced to renewwith the living voice the assurances which he had written. And whatevermight be--considering the violent character of Milady--the danger whichthe poor girl incurred in giving this billet to her mistress, she ranback to the Place Royale as fast as her legs could carry her. 

The heart of the best woman is pitiless toward the sorrows of a rival. 

Milady opened the letter with eagerness equal to Kitty's in bringing it;but at the first words she read she became livid. She crushed the paperin her hand, and turning with flashing eyes upon Kitty, she cried, "Whatis this letter?"

"The answer to Madame's, " replied Kitty, all in a tremble. 

"Impossible!" cried Milady. "It is impossible a gentleman could havewritten such a letter to a woman. " Then all at once, starting, shecried, "My God! can he have--" and she stopped. She ground her teeth;she was of the color of ashes. She tried to go toward the window forair, but she could only stretch forth her arms; her legs failed her, andshe sank into an armchair. Kitty, fearing she was ill, hastened towardher and was beginning to open her dress; but Milady started up, pushingher away. "What do you want with me?" said she, "and why do you placeyour hand on me?"

"I thought that Madame was ill, and I wished to bring her help, "responded the maid, frightened at the terrible expression which had comeover her mistress's face. 

"I faint? I? I? Do you take me for half a woman? When I am insulted I donot faint; I avenge myself!"

And she made a sign for Kitty to leave the room. 

36 DREAM OF VENGEANCE

That evening Milady gave orders that when M. D'Artagnan came as usual, he should be immediately admitted; but he did not come. 

The next day Kitty went to see the young man again, and related to himall that had passed on the preceding evening. D'Artagnan smiled; thisjealous anger of Milady was his revenge. 

That evening Milady was still more impatient than on the precedingevening. She renewed the order relative to the Gascon; but as before sheexpected him in vain. 

The next morning, when Kitty presented herself at d'Artagnan's, shewas no longer joyous and alert as on the two preceding days; but on thecontrary sad as death. 

D'Artagnan asked the poor girl what was the matter with her; but she, asher only reply, drew a letter from her pocket and gave it to him. 

This letter was in Milady's handwriting; only this time it was addressedto M. D'Artagnan, and not to M. De Wardes. 

He opened it and read as follows:

Dear M. D'Artagnan, It is wrong thus to neglect your friends, particularly at the moment you are about to leave them for so long atime. My brother-in-law and myself expected you yesterday and the daybefore, but in vain. Will it be the same this evening?

Your very grateful, Milady Clarik

"That's all very simple, " said d'Artagnan; "I expected this letter. Mycredit rises by the fall of that of the Comte de Wardes. "

"And will you go?" asked Kitty. 

"Listen to me, my dear girl, " said the Gascon, who sought for an excusein his own eyes for breaking the promise he had made Athos; "youmust understand it would be impolitic not to accept such a positiveinvitation. Milady, not seeing me come again, would not be able tounderstand what could cause the interruption of my visits, and mightsuspect something; who could say how far the vengeance of such a womanwould go?"

"Oh, my God!" said Kitty, "you know how to represent things in sucha way that you are always in the right. You are going now to pay yourcourt to her again, and if this time you succeed in pleasing her in yourown name and with your own face, it will be much worse than before. "

Instinct made poor Kitty guess a part of what was to happen. D'Artagnanreassured her as well as he could, and promised to remain insensible tothe seductions of Milady. 

He desired Kitty to tell her mistress that he could not be more gratefulfor her kindnesses than he was, and that he would be obedient to herorders. He did not dare to write for fear of not being able--tosuch experienced eyes as those of Milady--to disguise his writingsufficiently. 

As nine o'clock sounded, d'Artagnan was at the Place Royale. It wasevident that the servants who waited in the antechamber were warned, foras soon as d'Artagnan appeared, before even he had asked if Milady werevisible, one of them ran to announce him. 

"Show him in, " said Milady, in a quick tone, but so piercing thatd'Artagnan heard her in the antechamber. 

He was introduced. 

"I am at home to nobody, " said Milady; "observe, to nobody. " The servantwent out. 

D'Artagnan cast an inquiring glance at Milady. She was pale, and lookedfatigued, either from tears or want of sleep. The number of lights hadbeen intentionally diminished, but the young woman could not conceal thetraces of the fever which had devoured her for two days. 

D'Artagnan approached her with his usual gallantry. She then made anextraordinary effort to receive him, but never did a more distressedcountenance give the lie to a more amiable smile. 

To the questions which d'Artagnan put concerning her health, shereplied, "Bad, very bad. "

"Then, " replied he, "my visit is ill-timed; you, no doubt, stand in needof repose, and I will withdraw. "

"No, no!" said Milady. "On the contrary, stay, Monsieur d'Artagnan; youragreeable company will divert me. "

"Oh, oh!" thought d'Artagnan. "She has never been so kind before. Onguard!"

Milady assumed the most agreeable air possible, and conversed with morethan her usual brilliancy. At the same time the fever, which for aninstant abandoned her, returned to give luster to her eyes, color to hercheeks, and vermillion to her lips. D'Artagnan was again in the presenceof the Circe who had before surrounded him with her enchantments. Hislove, which he believed to be extinct but which was only asleep, awokeagain in his heart. Milady smiled, and d'Artagnan felt that he coulddamn himself for that smile. There was a moment at which he feltsomething like remorse. 

By degrees, Milady became more communicative. She asked d'Artagnan if hehad a mistress. 

"Alas!" said d'Artagnan, with the most sentimental air he could assume, "can you be cruel enough to put such a question to me--to me, who, fromthe moment I saw you, have only breathed and sighed through you and foryou?"

Milady smiled with a strange smile. 

"Then you love me?" said she. 

"Have I any need to tell you so? Have you not perceived it?"

"It may be; but you know the more hearts are worth the capture, the moredifficult they are to be won. "

"Oh, difficulties do not affright me, " said d'Artagnan. "I shrink beforenothing but impossibilities. "

"Nothing is impossible, " replied Milady, "to true love. "

"Nothing, madame?"

"Nothing, " replied Milady. 

"The devil!" thought d'Artagnan. "The note is changed. Is she going tofall in love with me, by chance, this fair inconstant; and will she bedisposed to give me myself another sapphire like that which she gave mefor de Wardes?"

D'Artagnan rapidly drew his seat nearer to Milady's. 

"Well, now, " she said, "let us see what you would do to prove this loveof which you speak. "

"All that could be required of me. Order; I am ready. "

"For everything?"

"For everything, " cried d'Artagnan, who knew beforehand that he had notmuch to risk in engaging himself thus. 

"Well, now let us talk a little seriously, " said Milady, in her turndrawing her armchair nearer to d'Artagnan's chair. 

"I am all attention, madame, " said he. 

Milady remained thoughtful and undecided for a moment; then, as ifappearing to have formed a resolution, she said, "I have an enemy. "

"You, madame!" said d'Artagnan, affecting surprise; "is that possible, my God?--good and beautiful as you are!"

"A mortal enemy. "

"Indeed!"

"An enemy who has insulted me so cruelly that between him and me it iswar to the death. May I reckon on you as an auxiliary?"

D'Artagnan at once perceived the ground which the vindictive creaturewished to reach. 

"You may, madame, " said he, with emphasis. "My arm and my life belong toyou, like my love. "

"Then, " said Milady, "since you are as generous as you are loving--"

She stopped. 

"Well?" demanded d'Artagnan. 

"Well, " replied Milady, after a moment of silence, "from the presenttime, cease to talk of impossibilities. "

"Do not overwhelm me with happiness, " cried d'Artagnan, throwing himselfon his knees, and covering with kisses the hands abandoned to him. 

"Avenge me of that infamous de Wardes, " said Milady, between her teeth, "and I shall soon know how to get rid of you--you double idiot, youanimated sword blade!"

"Fall voluntarily into my arms, hypocritical and dangerous woman, "said d'Artagnan, likewise to himself, "after having abused me with sucheffrontery, and afterward I will laugh at you with him whom you wish meto kill. "

D'Artagnan lifted up his head. 

"I am ready, " said he. 

"You have understood me, then, dear Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said Milady. 

"I could interpret one of your looks. "

"Then you would employ for me your arm which has already acquired somuch renown?"

"Instantly!"

"But on my part, " said Milady, "how should I repay such a service? Iknow these lovers. They are men who do nothing for nothing. "

"You know the only reply that I desire, " said d'Artagnan, "the only oneworthy of you and of me!"

And he drew nearer to her. 

She scarcely resisted. 

"Interested man!" cried she, smiling. 

"Ah, " cried d'Artagnan, really carried away by the passion this womanhad the power to kindle in his heart, "ah, that is because my happinessappears so impossible to me; and I have such fear that it should flyaway from me like a dream that I pant to make a reality of it. "

"Well, merit this pretended happiness, then!"

"I am at your orders, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Quite certain?" said Milady, with a last doubt. 

"Only name to me the base man that has brought tears into your beautifuleyes!"

"Who told you that I had been weeping?" said she. 

"It appeared to me--"

"Such women as I never weep, " said Milady. 

"So much the better! Come, tell me his name!"

"Remember that his name is all my secret. "

"Yet I must know his name. "

"Yes, you must; see what confidence I have in you!"

"You overwhelm me with joy. What is his name?"

"You know him. "

"Indeed. "

"Yes. "

"It is surely not one of my friends?" replied d'Artagnan, affectinghesitation in order to make her believe him ignorant. 

"If it were one of your friends you would hesitate, then?" cried Milady;and a threatening glance darted from her eyes. 

"Not if it were my own brother!" cried d'Artagnan, as if carried away byhis enthusiasm. 

Our Gascon promised this without risk, for he knew all that was meant. 

"I love your devotedness, " said Milady. 

"Alas, do you love nothing else in me?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"I love you also, YOU!" said she, taking his hand. 

The warm pressure made d'Artagnan tremble, as if by the touch that feverwhich consumed Milady attacked himself. 

"You love me, you!" cried he. "Oh, if that were so, I should lose myreason!"

And he folded her in his arms. She made no effort to remove her lipsfrom his kisses; only she did not respond to them. Her lips were cold;it appeared to d'Artagnan that he had embraced a statue. 

He was not the less intoxicated with joy, electrified by love. He almostbelieved in the tenderness of Milady; he almost believed in the crime ofde Wardes. If de Wardes had at that moment been under his hand, he wouldhave killed him. 

Milady seized the occasion. 

"His name is--" said she, in her turn. 

"De Wardes; I know it, " cried d'Artagnan. 

"And how do you know it?" asked Milady, seizing both his hands, andendeavoring to read with her eyes to the bottom of his heart. 

D'Artagnan felt he had allowed himself to be carried away, and that hehad committed an error. 

"Tell me, tell me, tell me, I say, " repeated Milady, "how do you knowit?"

"How do I know it?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Yes. "

"I know it because yesterday Monsieur de Wardes, in a saloon where Iwas, showed a ring which he said he had received from you. "

"Wretch!" cried Milady. 

The epithet, as may be easily understood, resounded to the very bottomof d'Artagnan's heart. 

"Well?" continued she. 

"Well, I will avenge you of this wretch, " replied d'Artagnan, givinghimself the airs of Don Japhet of Armenia. 

"Thanks, my brave friend!" cried Milady; "and when shall I be avenged?"

"Tomorrow--immediately--when you please!"

Milady was about to cry out, "Immediately, " but she reflected that suchprecipitation would not be very gracious toward d'Artagnan. 

Besides, she had a thousand precautions to take, a thousand counsels togive to her defender, in order that he might avoid explanations withthe count before witnesses. All this was answered by an expression ofd'Artagnan's. "Tomorrow, " said he, "you will be avenged, or I shall bedead. "

"No, " said she, "you will avenge me; but you will not be dead. He is acoward. "

"With women, perhaps; but not with men. I know something of him. "

"But it seems you had not much reason to complain of your fortune inyour contest with him. "

"Fortune is a courtesan; favorable yesterday, she may turn her backtomorrow. "

"Which means that you now hesitate?"

"No, I do not hesitate; God forbid! But would it be just to allow me togo to a possible death without having given me at least something morethan hope?"

Milady answered by a glance which said, "Is that all?--speak, then. " Andthen accompanying the glance with explanatory words, "That is but toojust, " said she, tenderly. 

"Oh, you are an angel!" exclaimed the young man. 

"Then all is agreed?" said she. 

"Except that which I ask of you, dear love. "

"But when I assure you that you may rely on my tenderness?"

"I cannot wait till tomorrow. "

"Silence! I hear my brother. It will be useless for him to find youhere. "

She rang the bell and Kitty appeared. 

"Go out this way, " said she, opening a small private door, "and comeback at eleven o'clock; we will then terminate this conversation. Kittywill conduct you to my chamber. "

The poor girl almost fainted at hearing these words. 

"Well, mademoiselle, what are you thinking about, standing there likea statue? Do as I bid you: show the chevalier out; and this evening ateleven o'clock--you have heard what I said. "

"It appears that these appointments are all made for eleven o'clock, "thought d'Artagnan; "that's a settled custom. "

Milady held out her hand to him, which he kissed tenderly. 

"But, " said he, as he retired as quickly as possible from the reproachesof Kitty, "I must not play the fool. This woman is certainly a greatliar. I must take care. "

37 MILADY'S SECRET

D'Artagnan left the hotel instead of going up at once to Kitty'schamber, as she endeavored to persuade him to do--and that for tworeasons: the first, because by this means he should escape reproaches, recriminations, and prayers; the second, because he was not sorry tohave an opportunity of reading his own thoughts and endeavoring, ifpossible, to fathom those of this woman. 

What was most clear in the matter was that d'Artagnan loved Milady likea madman, and that she did not love him at all. In an instant d'Artagnanperceived that the best way in which he could act would be to go homeand write Milady a long letter, in which he would confess to her thathe and de Wardes were, up to the present moment absolutely the same, andthat consequently he could not undertake, without committing suicide, to kill the Comte de Wardes. But he also was spurred on by a ferociousdesire of vengeance. He wished to subdue this woman in his own name; andas this vengeance appeared to him to have a certain sweetness in it, hecould not make up his mind to renounce it. 

He walked six or seven times round the Place Royale, turning at everyten steps to look at the light in Milady's apartment, which was to beseen through the blinds. It was evident that this time the young womanwas not in such haste to retire to her apartment as she had been thefirst. 

At length the light disappeared. With this light was extinguished thelast irresolution in the heart of d'Artagnan. He recalled to his mindthe details of the first night, and with a beating heart and a brain onfire he re-entered the hotel and flew toward Kitty's chamber. 

The poor girl, pale as death and trembling in all her limbs, wished todelay her lover; but Milady, with her ear on the watch, had heard thenoise d'Artagnan had made, and opening the door, said, "Come in. "

All this was of such incredible immodesty, of such monstrous effrontery, that d'Artagnan could scarcely believe what he saw or what he heard. Heimagined himself to be drawn into one of those fantastic intrigues onemeets in dreams. He, however, darted not the less quickly toward Milady, yielding to that magnetic attraction which the loadstone exercises overiron. 

As the door closed after them Kitty rushed toward it. Jealousy, fury, offended pride, all the passions in short that dispute the heart ofan outraged woman in love, urged her to make a revelation; but shereflected that she would be totally lost if she confessed havingassisted in such a machination, and above all, that d'Artagnan wouldalso be lost to her forever. This last thought of love counseled her tomake this last sacrifice. 

D'Artagnan, on his part, had gained the summit of all his wishes. Itwas no longer a rival who was beloved; it was himself who was apparentlybeloved. A secret voice whispered to him, at the bottom of his heart, that he was but an instrument of vengeance, that he was only caressedtill he had given death; but pride, but self-love, but madness silencedthis voice and stifled its murmurs. And then our Gascon, with that largequantity of conceit which we know he possessed, compared himself with deWardes, and asked himself why, after all, he should not be beloved forhimself?

He was absorbed entirely by the sensations of the moment. Milady wasno longer for him that woman of fatal intentions who had for a momentterrified him; she was an ardent, passionate mistress, abandoningherself to love which she also seemed to feel. Two hours thus glidedaway. When the transports of the two lovers were calmer, Milady, whohad not the same motives for forgetfulness that d'Artagnan had, was thefirst to return to reality, and asked the young man if the means whichwere on the morrow to bring on the encounter between him and de Wardeswere already arranged in his mind. 

But d'Artagnan, whose ideas had taken quite another course, forgothimself like a fool, and answered gallantly that it was too late tothink about duels and sword thrusts. 

This coldness toward the only interests that occupied her mind terrifiedMilady, whose questions became more pressing. 

Then d'Artagnan, who had never seriously thought of this impossibleduel, endeavored to turn the conversation; but he could not succeed. Milady kept him within the limits she had traced beforehand with herirresistible spirit and her iron will. 

D'Artagnan fancied himself very cunning when advising Milady torenounce, by pardoning de Wardes, the furious projects she had formed. 

But at the first word the young woman started, and exclaimed in asharp, bantering tone, which sounded strangely in the darkness, "Are youafraid, dear Monsieur d'Artagnan?"

"You cannot think so, dear love!" replied d'Artagnan; "but now, supposethis poor Comte de Wardes were less guilty than you think him?"

"At all events, " said Milady, seriously, "he has deceived me, and fromthe moment he deceived me, he merited death. "

"He shall die, then, since you condemn him!" said d'Artagnan, in so firma tone that it appeared to Milady an undoubted proof of devotion. Thisreassured her. 

We cannot say how long the night seemed to Milady, but d'Artagnanbelieved it to be hardly two hours before the daylight peeped throughthe window blinds, and invaded the chamber with its paleness. Seeingd'Artagnan about to leave her, Milady recalled his promise to avenge heron the Comte de Wardes. 

"I am quite ready, " said d'Artagnan; "but in the first place I shouldlike to be certain of one thing. "

"And what is that?" asked Milady. 

"That is, whether you really love me?"

"I have given you proof of that, it seems to me. "

"And I am yours, body and soul!"

"Thanks, my brave lover; but as you are satisfied of my love, you must, in your turn, satisfy me of yours. Is it not so?"

"Certainly; but if you love me as much as you say, " replied d'Artagnan, "do you not entertain a little fear on my account?"

"What have I to fear?"

"Why, that I may be dangerously wounded--killed even. "

"Impossible!" cried Milady, "you are such a valiant man, and such anexpert swordsman. "

"You would not, then, prefer a method, " resumed d'Artagnan, "which wouldequally avenge you while rendering the combat useless?"

Milady looked at her lover in silence. The pale light of the first raysof day gave to her clear eyes a strangely frightful expression. 

"Really, " said she, "I believe you now begin to hesitate. "

"No, I do not hesitate; but I really pity this poor Comte de Wardes, since you have ceased to love him. I think that a man must be soseverely punished by the loss of your love that he stands in need of noother chastisement. "

"Who told you that I loved him?" asked Milady, sharply. 

"At least, I am now at liberty to believe, without too much fatuity, that you love another, " said the young man, in a caressing tone, "and Irepeat that I am really interested for the count. "

"You?" asked Milady. 

"Yes, I. "

"And why YOU?"

"Because I alone know--"

"What?"

"That he is far from being, or rather having been, so guilty toward youas he appears. "

"Indeed!" said Milady, in an anxious tone; "explain yourself, for Ireally cannot tell what you mean. "

And she looked at d'Artagnan, who embraced her tenderly, with eyes whichseemed to burn themselves away. 

"Yes; I am a man of honor, " said d'Artagnan, determined to come to anend, "and since your love is mine, and I am satisfied I possess it--forI do possess it, do I not?"

"Entirely; go on. "

"Well, I feel as if transformed--a confession weighs on my mind. "

"A confession!"

"If I had the least doubt of your love I would not make it, but you loveme, my beautiful mistress, do you not?"

"Without doubt. "

"Then if through excess of love I have rendered myself culpable towardyou, you will pardon me?"

"Perhaps. "

D'Artagnan tried with his sweetest smile to touch his lips to Milady's, but she evaded him. 

"This confession, " said she, growing paler, "what is this confession?"

"You gave de Wardes a meeting on Thursday last in this very room, didyou not?"

"No, no! It is not true, " said Milady, in a tone of voice so firm, andwith a countenance so unchanged, that if d'Artagnan had not been in suchperfect possession of the fact, he would have doubted. 

"Do not lie, my angel, " said d'Artagnan, smiling; "that would beuseless. "

"What do you mean? Speak! you kill me. "

"Be satisfied; you are not guilty toward me, and I have already pardonedyou. "

"What next? what next?"

"De Wardes cannot boast of anything. "

"How is that? You told me yourself that that ring--"

"That ring I have! The Comte de Wardes of Thursday and the d'Artagnan oftoday are the same person. "

The imprudent young man expected a surprise, mixed with shame--a slightstorm which would resolve itself into tears; but he was strangelydeceived, and his error was not of long duration. 

Pale and trembling, Milady repulsed d'Artagnan's attempted embrace by aviolent blow on the chest, as she sprang out of bed. 

It was almost broad daylight. 

D'Artagnan detained her by her night dress of fine India linen, toimplore her pardon; but she, with a strong movement, tried to escape. Then the cambric was torn from her beautiful shoulders; and on one ofthose lovely shoulders, round and white, d'Artagnan recognized, withinexpressible astonishment, the FLEUR-DE-LIS--that indelible mark whichthe hand of the infamous executioner had imprinted. 

"Great God!" cried d'Artagnan, loosing his hold of her dress, andremaining mute, motionless, and frozen. 

But Milady felt herself denounced even by his terror. He had doubtlessseen all. The young man now knew her secret, her terrible secret--thesecret she concealed even from her maid with such care, the secret ofwhich all the world was ignorant, except himself. 

She turned upon him, no longer like a furious woman, but like a woundedpanther. 

"Ah, wretch!" cried she, "you have basely betrayed me, and still more, you have my secret! You shall die. "

And she flew to a little inlaid casket which stood upon the dressingtable, opened it with a feverish and trembling band, drew from it asmall poniard, with a golden haft and a sharp thin blade, and then threwherself with a bound upon d'Artagnan. 

Although the young man was brave, as we know, he was terrified at thatwild countenance, those terribly dilated pupils, those pale cheeks, andthose bleeding lips. He recoiled to the other side of the room as hewould have done from a serpent which was crawling toward him, andhis sword coming in contact with his nervous hand, he drew it almostunconsciously from the scabbard. But without taking any heed of thesword, Milady endeavored to get near enough to him to stab him, and didnot stop till she felt the sharp point at her throat. 

She then tried to seize the sword with her hands; but d'Artagnan keptit free from her grasp, and presenting the point, sometimes at her eyes, sometimes at her breast, compelled her to glide behind the bedstead, while he aimed at making his retreat by the door which led to Kitty'sapartment. 

Milady during this time continued to strike at him with horrible fury, screaming in a formidable way. 

As all this, however, bore some resemblance to a duel, d'Artagnan beganto recover himself little by little. 

"Well, beautiful lady, very well, " said he; "but, PARDIEU, if you don'tcalm yourself, I will design a second FLEUR-DE-LIS upon one of thosepretty cheeks!"

"Scoundrel, infamous scoundrel!" howled Milady. 

But d'Artagnan, still keeping on the defensive, drew near to Kitty'sdoor. At the noise they made, she in overturning the furniture in herefforts to get at him, he in screening himself behind the furnitureto keep out of her reach, Kitty opened the door. D'Artagnan, who hadunceasingly maneuvered to gain this point, was not at more than threepaces from it. With one spring he flew from the chamber of Milady intothat of the maid, and quick as lightning, he slammed to the door, andplaced all his weight against it, while Kitty pushed the bolts. 

Then Milady attempted to tear down the doorcase, with a strengthapparently above that of a woman; but finding she could not accomplishthis, she in her fury stabbed at the door with her poniard, the point ofwhich repeatedly glittered through the wood. Every blow was accompaniedwith terrible imprecations. 

"Quick, Kitty, quick!" said d'Artagnan, in a low voice, as soon as thebolts were fast, "let me get out of the hotel; for if we leave her timeto turn round, she will have me killed by the servants. "

"But you can't go out so, " said Kitty; "you are naked. "

"That's true, " said d'Artagnan, then first thinking of the costume hefound himself in, "that's true. But dress me as well as you are able, only make haste; think, my dear girl, it's life and death!"

Kitty was but too well aware of that. In a turn of the hand she muffledhim up in a flowered robe, a large hood, and a cloak. She gave him someslippers, in which he placed his naked feet, and then conducted him downthe stairs. It was time. Milady had already rung her bell, and rousedthe whole hotel. The porter was drawing the cord at the moment Miladycried from her window, "Don't open!"

The young man fled while she was still threatening him with an impotentgesture. The moment she lost sight of him, Milady tumbled fainting intoher chamber. 

38 HOW, WITHOUT INCOMMODING HIMSELF, ATHOS PROCURES HIS EQUIPMENT

D'Artagnan was so completely bewildered that without taking any heed ofwhat might become of Kitty he ran at full speed across half Paris, anddid not stop till he came to Athos's door. The confusion of his mind, the terror which spurred him on, the cries of some of the patrolwho started in pursuit of him, and the hooting of the people who, notwithstanding the early hour, were going to their work, only made himprecipitate his course. 

He crossed the court, ran up the two flights to Athos's apartment, andknocked at the door enough to break it down. 

Grimaud came, rubbing his half-open eyes, to answer this noisy summons, and d'Artagnan sprang with such violence into the room as nearly tooverturn the astonished lackey. 

In spite of his habitual silence, the poor lad this time found hisspeech. 

"Holloa, there!" cried he; "what do you want, you strumpet? What's yourbusiness here, you hussy?"

D'Artagnan threw off his hood, and disengaged his hands from the foldsof the cloak. At sight of the mustaches and the naked sword, the poordevil perceived he had to deal with a man. He then concluded it must bean assassin. 

"Help! murder! help!" cried he. 

"Hold your tongue, you stupid fellow!" said the young man; "I amd'Artagnan; don't you know me? Where is your master?"

"You, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" cried Grimaud, "impossible. "

"Grimaud, " said Athos, coming out of his apartment in a dressing gown, "Grimaud, I thought I heard you permitting yourself to speak?"

"Ah, monsieur, it is--"

"Silence!"

Grimaud contented himself with pointing d'Artagnan out to his masterwith his finger. 

Athos recognized his comrade, and phlegmatic as he was, he burst intoa laugh which was quite excused by the strange masquerade beforehis eyes--petticoats falling over his shoes, sleeves tucked up, andmustaches stiff with agitation. 

"Don't laugh, my friend!" cried d'Artagnan; "for heaven's sake, don'tlaugh, for upon my soul, it's no laughing matter!"

And he pronounced these words with such a solemn air and with such areal appearance of terror, that Athos eagerly seized his hand, crying, "Are you wounded, my friend? How pale you are!"

"No, but I have just met with a terrible adventure! Are you alone, Athos?"

"PARBLEU! whom do you expect to find with me at this hour?"

"Well, well!" and d'Artagnan rushed into Athos's chamber. 

"Come, speak!" said the latter, closing the door and bolting it, thatthey might not be disturbed. "Is the king dead? Have you killed thecardinal? You are quite upset! Come, come, tell me; I am dying withcuriosity and uneasiness!"

"Athos, " said d'Artagnan, getting rid of his female garments, andappearing in his shirt, "prepare yourself to hear an incredible, anunheard-of story. "

"Well, but put on this dressing gown first, " said the Musketeer to hisfriend. 

D'Artagnan donned the robe as quickly as he could, mistaking one sleevefor the other, so greatly was he still agitated. 

"Well?" said Athos. 

"Well, " replied d'Artagnan, bending his mouth to Athos's ear, andlowering his voice, "Milady is marked with a FLEUR-DE-LIS upon hershoulder!"

"Ah!" cried the Musketeer, as if he had received a ball in his heart. 

"Let us see, " said d'Artagnan. "Are you SURE that the OTHER is dead?"

"THE OTHER?" said Athos, in so stifled a voice that d'Artagnan scarcelyheard him. 

"Yes, she of whom you told me one day at Amiens. "

Athos uttered a groan, and let his head sink on his hands. 

"This is a woman of twenty-six or twenty-eight years. "

"Fair, " said Athos, "is she not?"

"Very. "

"Blue and clear eyes, of a strange brilliancy, with black eyelids andeyebrows?"

"Yes. "

"Tall, well-made? She has lost a tooth, next to the eyetooth on theleft?"

"Yes. "

"The FLEUR-DE-LIS is small, rosy in color, and looks as if efforts hadbeen made to efface it by the application of poultices?"

"Yes. "

"But you say she is English?"

"She is called Milady, but she may be French. Lord de Winter is only herbrother-in-law. "

"I will see her, d'Artagnan!"

"Beware, Athos, beware. You tried to kill her; she is a woman to returnyou the like, and not to fail. "

"She will not dare to say anything; that would be to denounce herself. "

"She is capable of anything or everything. Did you ever see herfurious?"

"No, " said Athos. 

"A tigress, a panther! Ah, my dear Athos, I am greatly afraid I havedrawn a terrible vengeance on both of us!"

D'Artagnan then related all--the mad passion of Milady and her menacesof death. 

"You are right; and upon my soul, I would give my life for a hair, " saidAthos. "Fortunately, the day after tomorrow we leave Paris. We are goingaccording to all probability to La Rochelle, and once gone--"

"She will follow you to the end of the world, Athos, if she recognizesyou. Let her, then, exhaust her vengeance on me alone!"

"My dear friend, of what consequence is it if she kills me?" said Athos. "Do you, perchance, think I set any great store by life?"

"There is something horribly mysterious under all this, Athos; thiswoman is one of the cardinal's spies, I am sure of that. "

"In that case, take care! If the cardinal does not hold you in highadmiration for the affair of London, he entertains a great hatred foryou; but as, considering everything, he cannot accuse you openly, andas hatred must be satisfied, particularly when it's a cardinal's hatred, take care of yourself. If you go out, do not go out alone; when youeat, use every precaution. Mistrust everything, in short, even your ownshadow. "

"Fortunately, " said d'Artagnan, "all this will be only necessary tillafter tomorrow evening, for when once with the army, we shall have, Ihope, only men to dread. "

"In the meantime, " said Athos, "I renounce my plan of seclusion, andwherever you go, I will go with you. You must return to the Rue desFossoyeurs; I will accompany you. "

"But however near it may be, " replied d'Artagnan, "I cannot go thitherin this guise. "

"That's true, " said Athos, and he rang the bell. 

Grimaud entered. 

Athos made him a sign to go to d'Artagnan's residence, and bringback some clothes. Grimaud replied by another sign that he understoodperfectly, and set off. 

"All this will not advance your outfit, " said Athos; "for if I am notmistaken, you have left the best of your apparel with Milady, and shewill certainly not have the politeness to return it to you. Fortunately, you have the sapphire. "

"The jewel is yours, my dear Athos! Did you not tell me it was a familyjewel?"

"Yes, my grandfather gave two thousand crowns for it, as he once toldme. It formed part of the nuptial present he made his wife, and it ismagnificent. My mother gave it to me, and I, fool as I was, instead ofkeeping the ring as a holy relic, gave it to this wretch. "

"Then, my friend, take back this ring, to which I see you attach muchvalue. "

"I take back the ring, after it has passed through the hands of thatinfamous creature? Never; that ring is defiled, d'Artagnan. "

"Sell it, then. "

"Sell a jewel which came from my mother! I vow I should consider it aprofanation. "

"Pledge it, then; you can borrow at least a thousand crowns on it. Withthat sum you can extricate yourself from your present difficulties; andwhen you are full of money again, you can redeem it, and take it backcleansed from its ancient stains, as it will have passed through thehands of usurers. "

Athos smiled. 

"You are a capital companion, d'Artagnan, " said be; "your never-failingcheerfulness raises poor souls in affliction. Well, let us pledge thering, but upon one condition. "

"What?"

"That there shall be five hundred crowns for you, and five hundredcrowns for me. "

"Don't dream it, Athos. I don't need the quarter of such a sum--I who amstill only in the Guards--and by selling my saddles, I shall procure it. What do I want? A horse for Planchet, that's all. Besides, you forgetthat I have a ring likewise. "

"To which you attach more value, it seems, than I do to mine; at least, I have thought so. "

"Yes, for in any extreme circumstance it might not only extricate usfrom some great embarrassment, but even a great danger. It is not only avaluable diamond, but it is an enchanted talisman. "

"I don't at all understand you, but I believe all you say to be true. Let us return to my ring, or rather to yours. You shall take half thesum that will be advanced upon it, or I will throw it into the Seine;and I doubt, as was the case with Polycrates, whether any fish will besufficiently complaisant to bring it back to us. "

"Well, I will take it, then, " said d'Artagnan. 

At this moment Grimaud returned, accompanied by Planchet; the latter, anxious about his master and curious to know what had happened to him, had taken advantage of the opportunity and brought the garments himself. 

d'Artagnan dressed himself, and Athos did the same. When the two wereready to go out, the latter made Grimaud the sign of a man taking aim, and the lackey immediately took down his musketoon, and prepared tofollow his master. 

They arrived without accident at the Rue des Fossoyeurs. Bonacieux wasstanding at the door, and looked at d'Artagnan hatefully. 

"Make haste, dear lodger, " said he; "there is a very pretty girl waitingfor you upstairs; and you know women don't like to be kept waiting. "

"That's Kitty!" said d'Artagnan to himself, and darted into the passage. 

Sure enough! Upon the landing leading to the chamber, and crouchingagainst the door, he found the poor girl, all in a tremble. As soon asshe perceived him, she cried, "You have promised your protection; youhave promised to save me from her anger. Remember, it is you who haveruined me!"

"Yes, yes, to be sure, Kitty, " said d'Artagnan; "be at ease, my girl. But what happened after my departure?"

"How can I tell!" said Kitty. "The lackeys were brought by the cries shemade. She was mad with passion. There exist no imprecations she did notpour out against you. Then I thought she would remember it was throughmy chamber you had penetrated hers, and that then she would suppose Iwas your accomplice; so I took what little money I had and the best ofmy things, and I got away. 

"Poor dear girl! But what can I do with you? I am going away the dayafter tomorrow. "

"Do what you please, Monsieur Chevalier. Help me out of Paris; help meout of France!"

"I cannot take you, however, to the siege of La Rochelle, " aidd'Artagnan. 

"No; but you can place me in one of the provinces with some lady of youracquaintance--in your own country, for instance. "

"My dear little love! In my country the ladies do without chambermaids. But stop! I can manage your business for you. Planchet, go and findAramis. Request him to come here directly. We have something veryimportant to say to him. "

"I understand, " said Athos; "but why not Porthos? I should have thoughtthat his duchess--"

"Oh, Porthos's duchess is dressed by her husband's clerks, " saidd'Artagnan, laughing. "Besides, Kitty would not like to live in the Rueaux Ours. Isn't it so, Kitty?"

"I do not care where I live, " said Kitty, "provided I am well concealed, and nobody knows where I am. "

"Meanwhile, Kitty, when we are about to separate, and you are no longerjealous of me--"

"Monsieur Chevalier, far off or near, " said Kitty, "I shall always loveyou. "

"Where the devil will constancy niche itself next?" murmured Athos. 

"And I, also, " said d'Artagnan, "I also. I shall always love you;be sure of that. But now answer me. I attach great importance to thequestion I am about to put to you. Did you never hear talk of a youngwoman who was carried off one night?"

"There, now! Oh, Monsieur Chevalier, do you love that woman still?"

"No, no; it is one of my friends who loves her--Monsieur Athos, thisgentleman here. "

"I?" cried Athos, with an accent like that of a man who perceives he isabout to tread upon an adder. 

"You, to be sure!" said d'Artagnan, pressing Athos's hand. "You knowthe interest we both take in this poor little Madame Bonacieux. Besides, Kitty will tell nothing; will you, Kitty? You understand, my dear girl, "continued d'Artagnan, "she is the wife of that frightful baboon you sawat the door as you came in. "

"Oh, my God! You remind me of my fright! If he should have known meagain!"

"How? know you again? Did you ever see that man before?"

"He came twice to Milady's. "

"That's it. About what time?"

"Why, about fifteen or eighteen days ago. "

"Exactly so. "

"And yesterday evening he came again. "

"Yesterday evening?"

"Yes, just before you came. "

"My dear Athos, we are enveloped in a network of spies. And do youbelieve he knew you again, Kitty?"

"I pulled down my hood as soon as I saw him, but perhaps it was toolate. "

"Go down, Athos--he mistrusts you less than me--and see if he be stillat his door. "

Athos went down and returned immediately. 

"He has gone, " said he, "and the house door is shut. "

"He has gone to make his report, and to say that all the pigeons are atthis moment in the dovecot. "

"Well, then, let us all fly, " said Athos, "and leave nobody here butPlanchet to bring us news. "

"A minute. Aramis, whom we have sent for!"

"That's true, " said Athos; "we must wait for Aramis. "

At that moment Aramis entered. 

The matter was all explained to him, and the friends gave him tounderstand that among all his high connections he must find a place forKitty. 

Aramis reflected for a minute, and then said, coloring, "Will it bereally rendering you a service, d'Artagnan?"

"I shall be grateful to you all my life. "

"Very well. Madame de Bois-Tracy asked me, for one of her friends whoresides in the provinces, I believe, for a trustworthy maid. If you can, my dear d'Artagnan, answer for Mademoiselle-"

"Oh, monsieur, be assured that I shall be entirely devoted to the personwho will give me the means of quitting Paris. "

"Then, " said Aramis, "this falls out very well. "

He placed himself at the table and wrote a little note which he sealedwith a ring, and gave the billet to Kitty. 

"And now, my dear girl, " said d'Artagnan, "you know that it is not goodfor any of us to be here. Therefore let us separate. We shall meet againin better days. "

"And whenever we find each other, in whatever place it may be, " saidKitty, "you will find me loving you as I love you today. "

"Dicers' oaths!" said Athos, while d'Artagnan went to conduct Kittydownstairs. 

An instant afterward the three young men separated, agreeing to meetagain at four o'clock with Athos, and leaving Planchet to guard thehouse. 

Aramis returned home, and Athos and d'Artagnan busied themselves aboutpledging the sapphire. 

As the Gascon had foreseen, they easily obtained three hundred pistoleson the ring. Still further, the Jew told them that if they would sellit to him, as it would make a magnificent pendant for earrings, he wouldgive five hundred pistoles for it. 

Athos and d'Artagnan, with the activity of two soldiers and theknowledge of two connoisseurs, hardly required three hours to purchasethe entire equipment of the Musketeer. Besides, Athos was very easy, anda noble to his fingers' ends. When a thing suited him he paid the pricedemanded, without thinking to ask for any abatement. D'Artagnan wouldhave remonstrated at this; but Athos put his hand upon his shoulder, with a smile, and d'Artagnan understood that it was all very well forsuch a little Gascon gentleman as himself to drive a bargain, but notfor a man who had the bearing of a prince. The Musketeer met with asuperb Andalusian horse, black as jet, nostrils of fire, legs cleanand elegant, rising six years. He examined him, and found him sound andwithout blemish. They asked a thousand livres for him. 

He might perhaps have been bought for less; but while d'Artagnan wasdiscussing the price with the dealer, Athos was counting out the moneyon the table. 

Grimaud had a stout, short Picard cob, which cost three hundred livres. 

But when the saddle and arms for Grimaud were purchased, Athos had nota sou left of his hundred and fifty pistoles. D'Artagnan offered hisfriend a part of his share which he should return when convenient. 

But Athos only replied to this proposal by shrugging his shoulders. 

"How much did the Jew say he would give for the sapphire if be purchasedit?" said Athos. 

"Five hundred pistoles. "

"That is to say, two hundred more--a hundred pistoles for you and ahundred pistoles for me. Well, now, that would be a real fortune to us, my friend; let us go back to the Jew's again. "

"What! will you--"

"This ring would certainly only recall very bitter remembrances; then weshall never be masters of three hundred pistoles to redeem it, so thatwe really should lose two hundred pistoles by the bargain. Go and tellhim the ring is his, d'Artagnan, and bring back the two hundred pistoleswith you. "

"Reflect, Athos!"

"Ready money is needful for the present time, and we must learn how tomake sacrifices. Go, d'Artagnan, go; Grimaud will accompany you with hismusketoon. "

A half hour afterward, d'Artagnan returned with the two thousand livres, and without having met with any accident. 

It was thus Athos found at home resources which he did not expect. 

39 A VISION

At four o'clock the four friends were all assembled with Athos. Theiranxiety about their outfits had all disappeared, and each countenanceonly preserved the expression of its own secret disquiet--for behind allpresent happiness is concealed a fear for the future. 

Suddenly Planchet entered, bringing two letters for d'Artagnan. 

The one was a little billet, genteelly folded, with a pretty seal ingreen wax on which was impressed a dove bearing a green branch. 

The other was a large square epistle, resplendent with the terrible armsof his Eminence the cardinal duke. 

At the sight of the little letter the heart of d'Artagnan bounded, forhe believed he recognized the handwriting, and although he had seen thatwriting but once, the memory of it remained at the bottom of his heart. 

He therefore seized the little epistle, and opened it eagerly. 

"Be, " said the letter, "on Thursday next, at from six to seven o'clockin the evening, on the road to Chaillot, and look carefully into thecarriages that pass; but if you have any consideration for your own lifeor that of those who love you, do not speak a single word, do not makea movement which may lead anyone to believe you have recognized herwho exposes herself to everything for the sake of seeing you but for aninstant. "

No signature. 

"That's a snare, " said Athos; "don't go, d'Artagnan. "

"And yet, " replied d'Artagnan, "I think I recognize the writing. "

"It may be counterfeit, " said Athos. "Between six and seven o'clock theroad of Chaillot is quite deserted; you might as well go and ride in theforest of Bondy. "

"But suppose we all go, " said d'Artagnan; "what the devil! They won'tdevour us all four, four lackeys, horses, arms, and all!"

"And besides, it will be a chance for displaying our new equipments, "said Porthos. 

"But if it is a woman who writes, " said Aramis, "and that woman desiresnot to be seen, remember, you compromise her, d'Artagnan; which is notthe part of a gentleman. "

"We will remain in the background, " said Porthos, "and he will advancealone. "

"Yes; but a pistol shot is easily fired from a carriage which goes at agallop. "

"Bah!" said d'Artagnan, "they will miss me; if they fire we will rideafter the carriage, and exterminate those who may be in it. They must beenemies. "

"He is right, " said Porthos; "battle. Besides, we must try our ownarms. "

"Bah, let us enjoy that pleasure, " said Aramis, with his mild andcareless manner. 

"As you please, " said Athos. 

"Gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, "it is half past four, and we havescarcely time to be on the road of Chaillot by six. "

"Besides, if we go out too late, nobody will see us, " said Porthos, "andthat will be a pity. Let us get ready, gentlemen. "

"But this second letter, " said Athos, "you forget that; it appears tome, however, that the seal denotes that it deserves to be opened. Formy part, I declare, d'Artagnan, I think it of much more consequence thanthe little piece of waste paper you have so cunningly slipped into yourbosom. "

D'Artagnan blushed. 

"Well, " said he, "let us see, gentlemen, what are his Eminence'scommands, " and d'Artagnan unsealed the letter and read, "M. D'Artagnan, of the king's Guards, company Dessessart, is expected atthe Palais-Cardinal this evening, at eight o'clock. 

"La Houdiniere, CAPTAIN OF THE GUARDS"

"The devil!" said Athos; "here's a rendezvous much more serious than theother. "

"I will go to the second after attending the first, " said d'Artagnan. "One is for seven o'clock, and the other for eight; there will be timefor both. "

"Hum! I would not go at all, " said Aramis. "A gallant knight cannotdecline a rendezvous with a lady; but a prudent gentleman may excusehimself from not waiting on his Eminence, particularly when he hasreason to believe he is not invited to make his compliments. "

"I am of Aramis's opinion, " said Porthos. 

"Gentlemen, " replied d'Artagnan, "I have already received by Monsieurde Cavois a similar invitation from his Eminence. I neglected it, and onthe morrow a serious misfortune happened to me--Constance disappeared. Whatever may ensue, I will go. "

"If you are determined, " said Athos, "do so. "

"But the Bastille?" said Aramis. 

"Bah! you will get me out if they put me there, " said d'Artagnan. 

"To be sure we will, " replied Aramis and Porthos, with admirablepromptness and decision, as if that were the simplest thing in theworld, "to be sure we will get you out; but meantime, as we are to setoff the day after tomorrow, you would do much better not to risk thisBastille. "

"Let us do better than that, " said Athos; "do not let us leave himduring the whole evening. Let each of us wait at a gate of the palacewith three Musketeers behind him; if we see a close carriage, at allsuspicious in appearance, come out, let us fall upon it. It is a longtime since we have had a skirmish with the Guards of Monsieur theCardinal; Monsieur de Treville must think us dead. "

"To a certainty, Athos, " said Aramis, "you were meant to be a general ofthe army! What do you think of the plan, gentlemen?"

"Admirable!" replied the young men in chorus. 

"Well, " said Porthos, "I will run to the hotel, and engage our comradesto hold themselves in readiness by eight o'clock; the rendezvous, thePlace du Palais-Cardinal. Meantime, you see that the lackeys saddle thehorses. "

"I have no horse, " said d'Artagnan; "but that is of no consequence, Ican take one of Monsieur de Treville's. "

"That is not worth while, " said Aramis, "you can have one of mine. "

"One of yours! how many have you, then?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Three, " replied Aramis, smiling. 

"Certes, " cried Athos, "you are the best-mounted poet of France orNavarre. "

"Well, my dear Aramis, you don't want three horses? I cannot comprehendwhat induced you to buy three!"

"Therefore I only purchased two, " said Aramis. 

"The third, then, fell from the clouds, I suppose?"

"No, the third was brought to me this very morning by a groom out oflivery, who would not tell me in whose service he was, and who said hehad received orders from his master. "

"Or his mistress, " interrupted d'Artagnan. 

"That makes no difference, " said Aramis, coloring; "and who affirmed, asI said, that he had received orders from his master or mistress to placethe horse in my stable, without informing me whence it came. "

"It is only to poets that such things happen, " said Athos, gravely. 

"Well, in that case, we can manage famously, " said d'Artagnan; "which ofthe two horses will you ride--that which you bought or the one that wasgiven to you?"

"That which was given to me, assuredly. You cannot for a moment imagine, d'Artagnan, that I would commit such an offense toward--"

"The unknown giver, " interrupted d'Artagnan. 

"Or the mysterious benefactress, " said Athos. 

"The one you bought will then become useless to you?"

"Nearly so. "

"And you selected it yourself?"

"With the greatest care. The safety of the horseman, you know, dependsalmost always upon the goodness of his horse. "

"Well, transfer it to me at the price it cost you?"

"I was going to make you the offer, my dear d'Artagnan, giving you allthe time necessary for repaying me such a trifle. "

"How much did it cost you?"

"Eight hundred livres. "

"Here are forty double pistoles, my dear friend, " said d'Artagnan, taking the sum from his pocket; "I know that is the coin in which youwere paid for your poems. "

"You are rich, then?" said Aramis. 

"Rich? Richest, my dear fellow!"

And d'Artagnan chinked the remainder of his pistoles in his pocket. 

"Send your saddle, then, to the hotel of the Musketeers, and your horsecan be brought back with ours. "

"Very well; but it is already five o'clock, so make haste. "

A quarter of an hour afterward Porthos appeared at the end of the RueFerou on a very handsome genet. Mousqueton followed him upon an Auvergnehorse, small but very handsome. Porthos was resplendent with joy andpride. 

At the same time, Aramis made his appearance at the other end of thestreet upon a superb English charger. Bazin followed him upon a roan, holding by the halter a vigorous Mecklenburg horse; this was d'Artagnanmount. 

The two Musketeers met at the gate. Athos and d'Artagnan watched theirapproach from the window. 

"The devil!" cried Aramis, "you have a magnificent horse there, Porthos. "

"Yes, " replied Porthos, "it is the one that ought to have been sent tome at first. A bad joke of the husband's substituted the other; but thehusband has been punished since, and I have obtained full satisfaction. "

Planchet and Grimaud appeared in their turn, leading their masters'steeds. D'Artagnan and Athos put themselves into saddle with theircompanions, and all four set forward; Athos upon a horse he owed to awoman, Aramis on a horse he owed to his mistress, Porthos on a horse heowed to his procurator's wife, and d'Artagnan on a horse he owed to hisgood fortune--the best mistress possible. 

The lackeys followed. 

As Porthos had foreseen, the cavalcade produced a good effect; and ifMme. Coquenard had met Porthos and seen what a superb appearance hemade upon his handsome Spanish genet, she would not have regretted thebleeding she had inflicted upon the strongbox of her husband. 

Near the Louvre the four friends met with M. De Treville, who wasreturning from St. Germain; he stopped them to offer his complimentsupon their appointments, which in an instant drew round them a hundredgapers. 

D'Artagnan profited by the circumstance to speak to M. De Treville ofthe letter with the great red seal and the cardinal's arms. It is wellunderstood that he did not breathe a word about the other. 

M. De Treville approved of the resolution he had adopted, and assuredhim that if on the morrow he did not appear, he himself would undertaketo find him, let him be where he might. 

At this moment the clock of La Samaritaine struck six; the four friendspleaded an engagement, and took leave of M. De Treville. 

A short gallop brought them to the road of Chaillot; the day began todecline, carriages were passing and repassing. D'Artagnan, keeping atsome distance from his friends, darted a scrutinizing glance into everycarriage that appeared, but saw no face with which he was acquainted. 

At length, after waiting a quarter of an hour and just as twilight wasbeginning to thicken, a carriage appeared, coming at a quick pace onthe road of Sevres. A presentiment instantly told d'Artagnan that thiscarriage contained the person who had appointed the rendezvous; theyoung man was himself astonished to find his heart beat so violently. Almost instantly a female head was put out at the window, with twofingers placed upon her mouth, either to enjoin silence or to send him akiss. D'Artagnan uttered a slight cry of joy; this woman, or rather thisapparition--for the carriage passed with the rapidity of a vision--wasMme. Bonacieux. 

By an involuntary movement and in spite of the injunction given, d'Artagnan put his horse into a gallop, and in a few strides overtookthe carriage; but the window was hermetically closed, the vision haddisappeared. 

D'Artagnan then remembered the injunction: "If you value your own lifeor that of those who love you, remain motionless, and as if you had seennothing. "

He stopped, therefore, trembling not for himself but for the poor womanwho had evidently exposed herself to great danger by appointing thisrendezvous. 

The carriage pursued its way, still going at a great pace, till itdashed into Paris, and disappeared. 

D'Artagnan remained fixed to the spot, astounded and not knowing what tothink. If it was Mme. Bonacieux and if she was returning to Paris, whythis fugitive rendezvous, why this simple exchange of a glance, why thislost kiss? If, on the other side, it was not she--which was stillquite possible--for the little light that remained rendered a mistakeeasy--might it not be the commencement of some plot against him throughthe allurement of this woman, for whom his love was known?

His three companions joined him. All had plainly seen a woman'shead appear at the window, but none of them, except Athos, knew Mme. Bonacieux. The opinion of Athos was that it was indeed she; but lesspreoccupied by that pretty face than d'Artagnan, he had fancied he saw asecond head, a man's head, inside the carriage. 

"If that be the case, " said d'Artagnan, "they are doubtless transportingher from one prison to another. But what can they intend to do with thepoor creature, and how shall I ever meet her again?"

"Friend, " said Athos, gravely, "remember that it is the dead alone withwhom we are not likely to meet again on this earth. You know somethingof that, as well as I do, I think. Now, if your mistress is not dead, if it is she we have just seen, you will meet with her again some day orother. And perhaps, my God!" added he, with that misanthropic tone whichwas peculiar to him, "perhaps sooner than you wish. "

Half past seven had sounded. The carriage had been twenty minutes behindthe time appointed. D'Artagnan's friends reminded him that he had avisit to pay, but at the same time bade him observe that there was yettime to retract. 

But d'Artagnan was at the same time impetuous and curious. He had madeup his mind that he would go to the Palais-Cardinal, and that he wouldlearn what his Eminence had to say to him. Nothing could turn him fromhis purpose. 

They reached the Rue St. Honore, and in the Place du Palais-Cardinalthey found the twelve invited Musketeers, walking about in expectationof their comrades. There only they explained to them the matter in hand. 

D'Artagnan was well known among the honorable corps of the king'sMusketeers, in which it was known he would one day take his place;he was considered beforehand as a comrade. It resulted from theseantecedents that everyone entered heartily into the purpose for whichthey met; besides, it would not be unlikely that they would have anopportunity of playing either the cardinal or his people an ill turn, and for such expeditions these worthy gentlemen were always ready. 

Athos divided them into three groups, assumed the command of one, gavethe second to Aramis, and the third to Porthos; and then each group wentand took their watch near an entrance. 

D'Artagnan, on his part, entered boldly at the principal gate. 

Although he felt himself ably supported, the young man was not without alittle uneasiness as he ascended the great staircase, step by step. Hisconduct toward Milady bore a strong resemblance to treachery, and he wasvery suspicious of the political relations which existed between thatwoman and the cardinal. Still further, de Wardes, whom he had treatedso ill, was one of the tools of his Eminence; and d'Artagnan knew thatwhile his Eminence was terrible to his enemies, he was strongly attachedto his friends. 

"If de Wardes has related all our affair to the cardinal, which isnot to be doubted, and if he has recognized me, as is probable, I mayconsider myself almost as a condemned man, " said d'Artagnan, shaking hishead. "But why has he waited till now? That's all plain enough. Miladyhas laid her complaints against me with that hypocritical grief whichrenders her so interesting, and this last offense has made the cupoverflow. "

"Fortunately, " added he, "my good friends are down yonder, and theywill not allow me to be carried away without a struggle. Nevertheless, Monsieur de Treville's company of Musketeers alone cannot maintain awar against the cardinal, who disposes of the forces of all France, and before whom the queen is without power and the king withoutwill. D'Artagnan, my friend, you are brave, you are prudent, you haveexcellent qualities; but the women will ruin you!"

He came to this melancholy conclusion as he entered the antechamber. Heplaced his letter in the hands of the usher on duty, who led him intothe waiting room and passed on into the interior of the palace. 

In this waiting room were five or six of the cardinals Guards, whorecognized d'Artagnan, and knowing that it was he who had woundedJussac, they looked upon him with a smile of singular meaning. 

This smile appeared to d'Artagnan to be of bad augury. Only, as ourGascon was not easily intimidated--or rather, thanks to a great pridenatural to the men of his country, he did not allow one easily tosee what was passing in his mind when that which was passing at allresembled fear--he placed himself haughtily in front of Messieurs theGuards, and waited with his hand on his hip, in an attitude by no meansdeficient in majesty. 

The usher returned and made a sign to d'Artagnan to follow him. Itappeared to the young man that the Guards, on seeing him depart, chuckled among themselves. 

He traversed a corridor, crossed a grand saloon, entered a library, andfound himself in the presence of a man seated at a desk and writing. 

The usher introduced him, and retired without speaking a word. D'Artagnan remained standing and examined this man. 

D'Artagnan at first believed that he had to do with some judge examininghis papers; but he perceived that the man at the desk wrote, or rathercorrected, lines of unequal length, scanning the words on his fingers. He saw then that he was with a poet. At the end of an instant the poetclosed his manuscript, upon the cover of which was written "Mirame, aTragedy in Five Acts, " and raised his head. 

D'Artagnan recognized the cardinal. 

40 A TERRIBLE VISION

The cardinal leaned his elbow on his manuscript, his cheek upon hishand, and looked intently at the young man for a moment. No one had amore searching eye than the Cardinal de Richelieu, and d'Artagnan feltthis glance run through his veins like a fever. 

He however kept a good countenance, holding his hat in his hand andawaiting the good pleasure of his Eminence, without too much assurance, but also without too much humility. 

"Monsieur, " said the cardinal, "are you a d'Artagnan from Bearn?"

"Yes, monseigneur, " replied the young man. 

"There are several branches of the d'Artagnans at Tarbes and in itsenvirons, " said the cardinal; "to which do you belong?"

"I am the son of him who served in the Religious Wars under the greatKing Henry, the father of his gracious Majesty. "

"That is well. It is you who set out seven or eight months ago from yourcountry to seek your fortune in the capital?"

"Yes, monseigneur. "

"You came through Meung, where something befell you. I don't very wellknow what, but still something. "

"Monseigneur, " said d'Artagnan, "this was what happened to me--"

"Never mind, never mind!" resumed the cardinal, with a smile whichindicated that he knew the story as well as he who wished to relate it. "You were recommended to Monsieur de Treville, were you not?"

"Yes, monseigneur; but in that unfortunate affair at Meung--"

"The letter was lost, " replied his Eminence; "yes, I know that. ButMonsieur de Treville is a skilled physiognomist, who knows men at firstsight; and he placed you in the company of his brother-in-law, MonsieurDessessart, leaving you to hope that one day or other you should enterthe Musketeers. "

"Monseigneur is correctly informed, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Since that time many things have happened to you. You were walking oneday behind the Chartreux, when it would have been better if you had beenelsewhere. Then you took with your friends a journey to the waters ofForges; they stopped on the road, but you continued yours. That is allvery simple: you had business in England. "

"Monseigneur, " said d'Artagnan, quite confused, "I went--"

"Hunting at Windsor, or elsewhere--that concerns nobody. I know, becauseit is my office to know everything. On your return you were received byan august personage, and I perceive with pleasure that you preserve thesouvenir she gave you. "

D'Artagnan placed his hand upon the queen's diamond, which he wore, andquickly turned the stone inward; but it was too late. 

"The day after that, you received a visit from Cavois, " resumed thecardinal. "He went to desire you to come to the palace. You have notreturned that visit, and you were wrong. "

"Monseigneur, I feared I had incurred disgrace with your Eminence. "

"How could that be, monsieur? Could you incur my displeasure by havingfollowed the orders of your superiors with more intelligence and couragethan another would have done? It is the people who do not obey that Ipunish, and not those who, like you, obey--but too well. As a proof, remember the date of the day on which I had you bidden to come to me, and seek in your memory for what happened to you that very night. "

That was the very evening when the abduction of Mme. Bonacieux tookplace. D'Artagnan trembled; and he likewise recollected that during thepast half hour the poor woman had passed close to him, without doubtcarried away by the same power that had caused her disappearance. 

"In short, " continued the cardinal, "as I have heard nothing of you forsome time past, I wished to know what you were doing. Besides, you oweme some thanks. You must yourself have remarked how much you have beenconsidered in all the circumstances. "

D'Artagnan bowed with respect. 

"That, " continued the cardinal, "arose not only from a feeling ofnatural equity, but likewise from a plan I have marked out with respectto you. "

D'Artagnan became more and more astonished. 

"I wished to explain this plan to you on the day you received my firstinvitation; but you did not come. Fortunately, nothing is lost by thisdelay, and you are now about to hear it. Sit down there, before me, d'Artagnan; you are gentleman enough not to listen standing. " And thecardinal pointed with his finger to a chair for the young man, who wasso astonished at what was passing that he awaited a second sign from hisinterlocutor before he obeyed. 

"You are brave, Monsieur d'Artagnan, " continued his Eminence; "you areprudent, which is still better. I like men of head and heart. Don't beafraid, " said he, smiling. "By men of heart I mean men of courage. But young as you are, and scarcely entering into the world, you havepowerful enemies; if you do not take great heed, they will destroy you. "

"Alas, monseigneur!" replied the young man, "very easily, no doubt, forthey are strong and well supported, while I am alone. "

"Yes, that's true; but alone as you are, you have done much already, andwill do still more, I don't doubt. Yet you have need, I believe, to beguided in the adventurous career you have undertaken; for, if I mistakenot, you came to Paris with the ambitious idea of making your fortune. "

"I am at the age of extravagant hopes, monseigneur, " said d'Artagnan. 

"There are no extravagant hopes but for fools, monsieur, and you are aman of understanding. Now, what would you say to an ensign's commissionin my Guards, and a company after the campaign?"

"Ah, monseigneur. "

"You accept it, do you not?"

"Monseigneur, " replied d'Artagnan, with an embarrassed air. 

"How? You refuse?" cried the cardinal, with astonishment. 

"I am in his Majesty's Guards, monseigneur, and I have no reason to bedissatisfied. "

"But it appears to me that my Guards--mine--are also his Majesty'sGuards; and whoever serves in a French corps serves the king. "

"Monseigneur, your Eminence has ill understood my words. "

"You want a pretext, do you not? I comprehend. Well, you have thisexcuse: advancement, the opening campaign, the opportunity which I offeryou--so much for the world. As regards yourself, the need of protection;for it is fit you should know, Monsieur d'Artagnan, that I have receivedheavy and serious complaints against you. You do not consecrate yourdays and nights wholly to the king's service. "

D'Artagnan colored. 

"In fact, " said the cardinal, placing his hand upon a bundle of papers, "I have here a whole pile which concerns you. I know you to be a man ofresolution; and your services, well directed, instead of leading you toill, might be very advantageous to you. Come; reflect, and decide. "

"Your goodness confounds me, monseigneur, " replied d'Artagnan, "and I amconscious of a greatness of soul in your Eminence that makes me mean asan earthworm; but since Monseigneur permits me to speak freely--"

D'Artagnan paused. 

"Yes; speak. "

"Then, I will presume to say that all my friends are in the king'sMusketeers and Guards, and that by an inconceivable fatality my enemiesare in the service of your Eminence; I should, therefore, be illreceived here and ill regarded there if I accepted what Monseigneuroffers me. "

"Do you happen to entertain the haughty idea that I have not yet madeyou an offer equal to your value?" asked the cardinal, with a smile ofdisdain. 

"Monseigneur, your Eminence is a hundred times too kind to me; and onthe contrary, I think I have not proved myself worthy of your goodness. The siege of La Rochelle is about to be resumed, monseigneur. I shallserve under the eye of your Eminence, and if I have the good fortune toconduct myself at the siege in such a manner as merits your attention, then I shall at least leave behind me some brilliant action to justifythe protection with which you honor me. Everything is best in itstime, monseigneur. Hereafter, perhaps, I shall have the right of givingmyself; at present I shall appear to sell myself. "

"That is to say, you refuse to serve me, monsieur, " said the cardinal, with a tone of vexation, through which, however, might be seen a sort ofesteem; "remain free, then, and guard your hatreds and your sympathies. "

"Monseigneur--"

"Well, well, " said the cardinal, "I don't wish you any ill; but you mustbe aware that it is quite trouble enough to defend and recompense ourfriends. We owe nothing to our enemies; and let me give you a piece ofadvice; take care of yourself, Monsieur d'Artagnan, for from the momentI withdraw my hand from behind you, I would not give an obolus for yourlife. "

"I will try to do so, monseigneur, " replied the Gascon, with a nobleconfidence. 

"Remember at a later period and at a certain moment, if any mischanceshould happen to you, " said Richelieu, significantly, "that it was Iwho came to seek you, and that I did all in my power to prevent thismisfortune befalling you. "

"I shall entertain, whatever may happen, " said d'Artagnan, placinghis hand upon his breast and bowing, "an eternal gratitude toward yourEminence for that which you now do for me. "

"Well, let it be, then, as you have said, Monsieur d'Artagnan; we shallsee each other again after the campaign. I will have my eye upon you, for I shall be there, " replied the cardinal, pointing with his finger toa magnificent suit of armor he was to wear, "and on our return, well--wewill settle our account!"

"Young man, " said Richelieu, "if I shall be able to say to you atanother time what I have said to you today, I promise you to do so. "

This last expression of Richelieu's conveyed a terrible doubt; italarmed d'Artagnan more than a menace would have done, for it was awarning. The cardinal, then, was seeking to preserve him from somemisfortune which threatened him. He opened his mouth to reply, but witha haughty gesture the cardinal dismissed him. 

D'Artagnan went out, but at the door his heart almost failed him, and hefelt inclined to return. Then the noble and severe countenance of Athoscrossed his mind; if he made the compact with the cardinal which herequired, Athos would no more give him his hand--Athos would renouncehim. 

It was this fear that restrained him, so powerful is the influence of atruly great character on all that surrounds it. 

D'Artagnan descended by the staircase at which he had entered, and foundAthos and the four Musketeers waiting his appearance, and beginning togrow uneasy. With a word, d'Artagnan reassured them; and Planchet ran toinform the other sentinels that it was useless to keep guard longer, ashis master had come out safe from the Palais-Cardinal. 

Returned home with Athos, Aramis and Porthos inquired eagerly the causeof the strange interview; but d'Artagnan confined himself to tellingthem that M. De Richelieu had sent for him to propose to him to enterinto his guards with the rank of ensign, and that he had refused. 

"And you were right, " cried Aramis and Porthos, with one voice. 

Athos fell into a profound reverie and answered nothing. But when theywere alone he said, "You have done that which you ought to have done, d'Artagnan; but perhaps you have been wrong. "

D'Artagnan sighed deeply, for this voice responded to a secret voice ofhis soul, which told him that great misfortunes awaited him. 

The whole of the next day was spent in preparations for departure. D'Artagnan went to take leave of M. De Treville. At that time it wasbelieved that the separation of the Musketeers and the Guards wouldbe but momentary, the king holding his Parliament that very day andproposing to set out the day after. M. De Treville contented himselfwith asking d'Artagnan if he could do anything for him, but d'Artagnananswered that he was supplied with all he wanted. 

That night brought together all those comrades of the Guards of M. Dessessart and the company of Musketeers of M. De Treville who had beenaccustomed to associate together. They were parting to meet again whenit pleased God, and if it pleased God. That night, then, was somewhatriotous, as may be imagined. In such cases extreme preoccupation is onlyto be combated by extreme carelessness. 

At the first sound of the morning trumpet the friends separated; theMusketeers hastening to the hotel of M. De Treville, the Guards tothat of M. Dessessart. Each of the captains then led his company to theLouvre, where the king held his review. 

The king was dull and appeared ill, which detracted a little from hisusual lofty bearing. In fact, the evening before, a fever had seized himin the midst of the Parliament, while he was holding his Bed of Justice. He had, not the less, decided upon setting out that same evening; and inspite of the remonstrances that had been offered to him, he persistedin having the review, hoping by setting it at defiance to conquer thedisease which began to lay hold upon him. 

The review over, the Guards set forward alone on their march, theMusketeers waiting for the king, which allowed Porthos time to go andtake a turn in his superb equipment in the Rue aux Ours. 

The procurator's wife saw him pass in his new uniform and on his finehorse. She loved Porthos too dearly to allow him to part thus; she madehim a sign to dismount and come to her. Porthos was magnificent; hisspurs jingled, his cuirass glittered, his sword knocked proudly againsthis ample limbs. This time the clerks evinced no inclination to laugh, such a real ear clipper did Porthos appear. 

The Musketeer was introduced to M. Coquenard, whose little gray eyessparkled with anger at seeing his cousin all blazing new. Nevertheless, one thing afforded him inward consolation; it was expected by everybodythat the campaign would be a severe one. He whispered a hope to himselfthat this beloved relative might be killed in the field. 

Porthos paid his compliments to M. Coquenard and bade him farewell. M. Coquenard wished him all sorts of prosperities. As to Mme. Coquenard, she could not restrain her tears; but no evil impressions were takenfrom her grief as she was known to be very much attached to herrelatives, about whom she was constantly having serious disputes withher husband. 

But the real adieux were made in Mme. Coquenard's chamber; they wereheartrending. 

As long as the procurator's wife could follow him with her eyes, shewaved her handkerchief to him, leaning so far out of the window asto lead people to believe she wished to precipitate herself. Porthos received all these attentions like a man accustomed to suchdemonstrations, only on turning the corner of the street he lifted hishat gracefully, and waved it to her as a sign of adieu. 

On his part Aramis wrote a long letter. To whom? Nobody knew. Kitty, whowas to set out that evening for Tours, was waiting in the next chamber. 

Athos sipped the last bottle of his Spanish wine. 

In the meantime d'Artagnan was defiling with his company. Arriving atthe Faubourg St. Antoine, he turned round to look gaily at the Bastille;but as it was the Bastille alone he looked at, he did not observeMilady, who, mounted upon a light chestnut horse, designated him withher finger to two ill-looking men who came close up to the ranks totake notice of him. To a look of interrogation which they made, Miladyreplied by a sign that it was he. Then, certain that there could beno mistake in the execution of her orders, she started her horse anddisappeared. 

The two men followed the company, and on leaving the Faubourg St. Antoine, mounted two horses properly equipped, which a servant withoutlivery had waiting for them. 

41 THE SEIGE OF LA ROCHELLE

The Siege of La Rochelle was one of the great political events of thereign of Louis XIII, and one of the great military enterprises of thecardinal. It is, then, interesting and even necessary that we shouldsay a few words about it, particularly as many details of this siege areconnected in too important a manner with the story we have undertaken torelate to allow us to pass it over in silence. 

The political plans of the cardinal when he undertook this siege wereextensive. Let us unfold them first, and then pass on to the privateplans which perhaps had not less influence upon his Eminence than theothers. 

Of the important cities given up by Henry IV to the Huguenots asplaces of safety, there only remained La Rochelle. It became necessary, therefore, to destroy this last bulwark of Calvinism--a dangerous leavenwith which the ferments of civil revolt and foreign war were constantlymingling. 

Spaniards, Englishmen, and Italian malcontents, adventurers of allnations, and soldiers of fortune of every sect, flocked at the firstsummons under the standard of the Protestants, and organized themselveslike a vast association, whose branches diverged freely over all partsof Europe. 

La Rochelle, which had derived a new importance from the ruin ofthe other Calvinist cities, was, then, the focus of dissensions andambition. Moreover, its port was the last in the kingdom of France opento the English, and by closing it against England, our eternal enemy, the cardinal completed the work of Joan of Arc and the Duc de Guise. 

Thus Bassompierre, who was at once Protestant and Catholic--Protestantby conviction and Catholic as commander of the order of the Holy Ghost;Bassompierre, who was a German by birth and a Frenchman at heart--inshort, Bassompierre, who had a distinguished command at the siege ofLa Rochelle, said, in charging at the head of several other Protestantnobles like himself, "You will see, gentlemen, that we shall be foolsenough to take La Rochelle. "

And Bassompierre was right. The cannonade of the Isle of Re presaged tohim the dragonnades of the Cevennes; the taking of La Rochelle was thepreface to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. 

We have hinted that by the side of these views of the leveling andsimplifying minister, which belong to history, the chronicler is forcedto recognize the lesser motives of the amorous man and jealous rival. 

Richelieu, as everyone knows, had loved the queen. Was this love asimple political affair, or was it naturally one of those profoundpassions which Anne of Austria inspired in those who approached her?That we are not able to say; but at all events, we have seen, by theanterior developments of this story, that Buckingham had the advantageover him, and in two or three circumstances, particularly that of thediamond studs, had, thanks to the devotedness of the three Musketeersand the courage and conduct of d'Artagnan, cruelly mystified him. 

It was, then, Richelieu's object, not only to get rid of an enemy ofFrance, but to avenge himself on a rival; but this vengeance must begrand and striking and worthy in every way of a man who held in hishand, as his weapon for combat, the forces of a kingdom. 

Richelieu knew that in combating England he combated Buckingham; that intriumphing over England he triumphed over Buckingham--in short, that inhumiliating England in the eyes of Europe he humiliated Buckingham inthe eyes of the queen. 

On his side Buckingham, in pretending to maintain the honor of England, was moved by interests exactly like those of the cardinal. Buckinghamalso was pursuing a private vengeance. Buckingham could not under anypretense be admitted into France as an ambassador; he wished to enter itas a conqueror. 

It resulted from this that the real stake in this game, which two mostpowerful kingdoms played for the good pleasure of two amorous men, wassimply a kind look from Anne of Austria. 

The first advantage had been gained by Buckingham. Arriving unexpectedlyin sight of the Isle of Re with ninety vessels and nearly twentythousand men, he had surprised the Comte de Toiras, who commanded forthe king in the Isle, and he had, after a bloody conflict, effected hislanding. 

Allow us to observe in passing that in this fight perished the Baron deChantal; that the Baron de Chantal left a little orphan girl eighteenmonths old, and that this little girl was afterward Mme. De Sevigne. 

The Comte de Toiras retired into the citadel St. Martin with hisgarrison, and threw a hundred men into a little fort called the fort ofLa Pree. 

This event had hastened the resolutions of the cardinal; and till theking and he could take the command of the siege of La Rochelle, whichwas determined, he had sent Monsieur to direct the first operations, and had ordered all the troops he could dispose of to march toward thetheater of war. It was of this detachment, sent as a vanguard, that ourfriend d'Artagnan formed a part. 

The king, as we have said, was to follow as soon as his Bed ofJustice had been held; but on rising from his Bed of Justice on thetwenty-eighth of June, he felt himself attacked by fever. He was, notwithstanding, anxious to set out; but his illness becoming moreserious, he was forced to stop at Villeroy. 

Now, whenever the king halted, the Musketeers halted. It followedthat d'Artagnan, who was as yet purely and simply in the Guards, foundhimself, for the time at least, separated from his good friends--Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. This separation, which was no more than anunpleasant circumstance, would have certainly become a cause of seriousuneasiness if he had been able to guess by what unknown dangers he wassurrounded. 

He, however, arrived without accident in the camp established before LaRochelle, of the tenth of the month of September of the year 1627. 

Everything was in the same state. The Duke of Buckingham and hisEnglish, masters of the Isle of Re, continued to besiege, but withoutsuccess, the citadel St. Martin and the fort of La Pree; and hostilitieswith La Rochelle had commenced, two or three days before, about a fortwhich the Duc d'Angouleme had caused to be constructed near the city. 

The Guards, under the command of M. Dessessart, took up their quartersat the Minimes; but, as we know, d'Artagnan, possessed with ambition toenter the Musketeers, had formed but few friendships among his comrades, and he felt himself isolated and given up to his own reflections. 

His reflections were not very cheerful. From the time of his arrivalin Paris, he had been mixed up with public affairs; but his own privateaffairs had made no great progress, either in love or fortune. As tolove, the only woman he could have loved was Mme. Bonacieux; and Mme. Bonacieux had disappeared, without his being able to discover what hadbecome of her. As to fortune, he had made--he, humble as he was--anenemy of the cardinal; that is to say, of a man before whom trembled thegreatest men of the kingdom, beginning with the king. 

That man had the power to crush him, and yet he had not done so. For amind so perspicuous as that of d'Artagnan, this indulgence was a lightby which he caught a glimpse of a better future. 

Then he had made himself another enemy, less to be feared, he thought;but nevertheless, he instinctively felt, not to be despised. This enemywas Milady. 

In exchange for all this, he had acquired the protection and good willof the queen; but the favor of the queen was at the present time anadditional cause of persecution, and her protection, as it was known, protected badly--as witness Chalais and Mme. Bonacieux. 

What he had clearly gained in all this was the diamond, worth fiveor six thousand livres, which he wore on his finger; and even thisdiamond--supposing that d'Artagnan, in his projects of ambition, wished to keep it, to make it someday a pledge for the gratitude of thequeen--had not in the meanwhile, since he could not part with it, morevalue than the gravel he trod under his feet. 

We say the gravel he trod under his feet, for d'Artagnan made thesereflections while walking solitarily along a pretty little road whichled from the camp to the village of Angoutin. Now, these reflections hadled him further than he intended, and the day was beginning to declinewhen, by the last ray of the setting sun, he thought he saw the barrelof a musket glitter from behind a hedge. 

D'Artagnan had a quick eye and a prompt understanding. He comprehendedthat the musket had not come there of itself, and that he who bore ithad not concealed himself behind a hedge with any friendly intentions. He determined, therefore, to direct his course as clear from it as hecould when, on the opposite side of the road, from behind a rock, heperceived the extremity of another musket. 

This was evidently an ambuscade. 

The young man cast a glance at the first musket and saw, with a certaindegree of inquietude, that it was leveled in his direction; but as soonas he perceived that the orifice of the barrel was motionless, he threwhimself upon the ground. At the same instant the gun was fired, and heheard the whistling of a ball pass over his head. 

No time was to be lost. D'Artagnan sprang up with a bound, and at thesame instant the ball from the other musket tore up the gravel on thevery spot on the road where he had thrown himself with his face to theground. 

D'Artagnan was not one of those foolhardy men who seek a ridiculousdeath in order that it may be said of them that they did not retreat asingle step. Besides, courage was out of the question here; d'Artagnanhad fallen into an ambush. 

"If there is a third shot, " said he to himself, "I am a lost man. "

He immediately, therefore, took to his heels and ran toward the camp, with the swiftness of the young men of his country, so renowned fortheir agility; but whatever might be his speed, the first who fired, having had time to reload, fired a second shot, and this time so wellaimed that it struck his hat, and carried it ten paces from him. 

As he, however, had no other hat, he picked up this as he ran, andarrived at his quarters very pale and quite out of breath. He sat downwithout saying a word to anybody, and began to reflect. 

This event might have three causes:

The first and the most natural was that it might be an ambuscade of theRochellais, who might not be sorry to kill one of his Majesty's Guards, because it would be an enemy the less, and this enemy might have awell-furnished purse in his pocket. 

D'Artagnan took his hat, examined the hole made by the ball, and shookhis head. The ball was not a musket ball--it was an arquebus ball. Theaccuracy of the aim had first given him the idea that a special weaponhad been employed. This could not, then, be a military ambuscade, as theball was not of the regular caliber. 

This might be a kind remembrance of Monsieur the Cardinal. It may beobserved that at the very moment when, thanks to the ray of the sun, he perceived the gun barrel, he was thinking with astonishment on theforbearance of his Eminence with respect to him. 

But d'Artagnan again shook his head. For people toward whom he had butto put forth his hand, his Eminence had rarely recourse to such means. 

It might be a vengeance of Milady; that was most probable. 

He tried in vain to remember the faces or dress of the assassins; he hadescaped so rapidly that he had not had leisure to notice anything. 

"Ah, my poor friends!" murmured d'Artagnan; "where are you? And that youshould fail me!"

D'Artagnan passed a very bad night. Three or four times he started up, imagining that a man was approaching his bed for the purpose of stabbinghim. Nevertheless, day dawned without darkness having brought anyaccident. 

But d'Artagnan well suspected that that which was deferred was notrelinquished. 

D'Artagnan remained all day in his quarters, assigning as a reason tohimself that the weather was bad. 

At nine o'clock the next morning, the drums beat to arms. The Ducd'Orleans visited the posts. The guards were under arms, and d'Artagnantook his place in the midst of his comrades. 

Monsieur passed along the front of the line; then all the superiorofficers approached him to pay their compliments, M. Dessessart, captainof the Guards, as well as the others. 

At the expiration of a minute or two, it appeared to d'Artagnan that M. Dessessart made him a sign to approach. He waited for a fresh gestureon the part of his superior, for fear he might be mistaken; but thisgesture being repeated, he left the ranks, and advanced to receiveorders. 

"Monsieur is about to ask for some men of good will for a dangerousmission, but one which will do honor to those who shall accomplishit; and I made you a sign in order that you might hold yourself inreadiness. "

"Thanks, my captain!" replied d'Artagnan, who wished for nothingbetter than an opportunity to distinguish himself under the eye of thelieutenant general. 

In fact the Rochellais had made a sortie during the night, and hadretaken a bastion of which the royal army had gained possession two daysbefore. The matter was to ascertain, by reconnoitering, how the enemyguarded this bastion. 

At the end of a few minutes Monsieur raised his voice, and said, "Iwant for this mission three or four volunteers, led by a man who can bedepended upon. "

"As to the man to be depended upon, I have him under my hand, monsieur, "said M. Dessessart, pointing to d'Artagnan; "and as to the four or fivevolunteers, Monsieur has but to make his intentions known, and the menwill not be wanting. "

"Four men of good will who will risk being killed with me!" saidd'Artagnan, raising his sword. 

Two of his comrades of the Guards immediately sprang forward, and twoother soldiers having joined them, the number was deemed sufficient. D'Artagnan declined all others, being unwilling to take the first chancefrom those who had the priority. 

It was not known whether, after the taking of the bastion, theRochellais had evacuated it or left a garrison in it; the object thenwas to examine the place near enough to verify the reports. 

D'Artagnan set out with his four companions, and followed the trench;the two Guards marched abreast with him, and the two soldiers followedbehind. 

They arrived thus, screened by the lining of the trench, till theycame within a hundred paces of the bastion. There, on turning round, d'Artagnan perceived that the two soldiers had disappeared. 

He thought that, beginning to be afraid, they had stayed behind, and hecontinued to advance. 

At the turning of the counterscarp they found themselves within aboutsixty paces of the bastion. They saw no one, and the bastion seemedabandoned. 

The three composing our forlorn hope were deliberating whether theyshould proceed any further, when all at once a circle of smoke envelopedthe giant of stone, and a dozen balls came whistling around d'Artagnanand his companions. 

They knew all they wished to know; the bastion was guarded. A longerstay in this dangerous spot would have been useless imprudence. D'Artagnan and his two companions turned their backs, and commenced aretreat which resembled a flight. 

On arriving at the angle of the trench which was to serve them asa rampart, one of the Guardsmen fell. A ball had passed through hisbreast. The other, who was safe and sound, continued his way toward thecamp. 

D'Artagnan was not willing to abandon his companion thus, and stooped toraise him and assist him in regaining the lines; but at this moment twoshots were fired. One ball struck the head of the already-wounded guard, and the other flattened itself against a rock, after having passedwithin two inches of d'Artagnan. 

The young man turned quickly round, for this attack could not have comefrom the bastion, which was hidden by the angle of the trench. The ideaof the two soldiers who had abandoned him occurred to his mind, and withthem he remembered the assassins of two evenings before. He resolvedthis time to know with whom he had to deal, and fell upon the body ofhis comrade as if he were dead. 

He quickly saw two heads appear above an abandoned work within thirtypaces of him; they were the heads of the two soldiers. D'Artagnan hadnot been deceived; these two men had only followed for the purpose ofassassinating him, hoping that the young man's death would be placed tothe account of the enemy. 

As he might be only wounded and might denounce their crime, they cameup to him with the purpose of making sure. Fortunately, deceived byd'Artagnan's trick, they neglected to reload their guns. 

When they were within ten paces of him, d'Artagnan, who in falling hadtaken care not to let go his sword, sprang up close to them. 

The assassins comprehended that if they fled toward the camp withouthaving killed their man, they should be accused by him; thereforetheir first idea was to join the enemy. One of them took his gun bythe barrel, and used it as he would a club. He aimed a terrible blowat d'Artagnan, who avoided it by springing to one side; but by thismovement he left a passage free to the bandit, who darted off toward thebastion. As the Rochellais who guarded the bastion were ignorant of theintentions of the man they saw coming toward them, they fired upon him, and he fell, struck by a ball which broke his shoulder. 

Meantime d'Artagnan had thrown himself upon the other soldier, attackinghim with his sword. The conflict was not long; the wretch had nothingto defend himself with but his discharged arquebus. The sword of theGuardsman slipped along the barrel of the now-useless weapon, and passedthrough the thigh of the assassin, who fell. 

D'Artagnan immediately placed the point of his sword at his throat. 

"Oh, do not kill me!" cried the bandit. "Pardon, pardon, my officer, andI will tell you all. "

"Is your secret of enough importance to me to spare your life for it?"asked the young man, withholding his arm. 

"Yes; if you think existence worth anything to a man of twenty, as youare, and who may hope for everything, being handsome and brave, as youare. "

"Wretch, " cried d'Artagnan, "speak quickly! Who employed you toassassinate me?"

"A woman whom I don't know, but who is called Milady. "

"But if you don't know this woman, how do you know her name?"

"My comrade knows her, and called her so. It was with him she agreed, and not with me; he even has in his pocket a letter from that person, who attaches great importance to you, as I have heard him say. "

"But how did you become concerned in this villainous affair?"

"He proposed to me to undertake it with him, and I agreed. "

"And how much did she give you for this fine enterprise?"

"A hundred louis. "

"Well, come!" said the young man, laughing, "she thinks I am worthsomething. A hundred louis? Well, that was a temptation for two wretcheslike you. I understand why you accepted it, and I grant you my pardon;but upon one condition. "

"What is that?" said the soldier, uneasy at perceiving that all was notover. 

"That you will go and fetch me the letter your comrade has in hispocket. "

"But, " cried the bandit, "that is only another way of killing me. Howcan I go and fetch that letter under the fire of the bastion?"

"You must nevertheless make up your mind to go and get it, or I swearyou shall die by my hand. "

"Pardon, monsieur; pity! In the name of that young lady you love, and whom you perhaps believe dead but who is not!" cried the bandit, throwing himself upon his knees and leaning upon his hand--for he beganto lose his strength with his blood. 

"And how do you know there is a young woman whom I love, and that Ibelieved that woman dead?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"By that letter which my comrade has in his pocket. "

"You see, then, " said d'Artagnan, "that I must have that letter. So nomore delay, no more hesitation; or else whatever may be my repugnanceto soiling my sword a second time with the blood of a wretch like you, Iswear by my faith as an honest man--" and at these words d'Artagnan madeso fierce a gesture that the wounded man sprang up. 

"Stop, stop!" cried he, regaining strength by force of terror. "I willgo--I will go!"

D'Artagnan took the soldier's arquebus, made him go on before him, andurged him toward his companion by pricking him behind with his sword. 

It was a frightful thing to see this wretch, leaving a long track ofblood on the ground he passed over, pale with approaching death, tryingto drag himself along without being seen to the body of his accomplice, which lay twenty paces from him. 

Terror was so strongly painted on his face, covered with a cold sweat, that d'Artagnan took pity on him, and casting upon him a look ofcontempt, "Stop, " said he, "I will show you the difference between aman of courage and such a coward as you. Stay where you are; I will gomyself. "

And with a light step, an eye on the watch, observing the movementsof the enemy and taking advantage of the accidents of the ground, d'Artagnan succeeded in reaching the second soldier. 

There were two means of gaining his object--to search him on the spot, or to carry him away, making a buckler of his body, and search him inthe trench. 

D'Artagnan preferred the second means, and lifted the assassin onto hisshoulders at the moment the enemy fired. 

A slight shock, the dull noise of three balls which penetrated theflesh, a last cry, a convulsion of agony, proved to d'Artagnan that thewould-be assassin had saved his life. 

D'Artagnan regained the trench, and threw the corpse beside the woundedman, who was as pale as death. 

Then he began to search. A leather pocketbook, a purse, in which wasevidently a part of the sum which the bandit had received, with a dicebox and dice, completed the possessions of the dead man. 

He left the box and dice where they fell, threw the purse to the woundedman, and eagerly opened the pocketbook. 

Among some unimportant papers he found the following letter, that whichhe had sought at the risk of his life:

"Since you have lost sight of that woman and she is now in safety inthe convent, which you should never have allowed her to reach, try, atleast, not to miss the man. If you do, you know that my hand stretchesfar, and that you shall pay very dearly for the hundred louis you havefrom me. "

No signature. Nevertheless it was plain the letter came from Milady. Heconsequently kept it as a piece of evidence, and being in safety behindthe angle of the trench, he began to interrogate the wounded man. Heconfessed that he had undertaken with his comrade--the same who waskilled--to carry off a young woman who was to leave Paris by theBarriere de La Villette; but having stopped to drink at a cabaret, theyhad missed the carriage by ten minutes. 

"But what were you to do with that woman?" asked d'Artagnan, withanguish. 

"We were to have conveyed her to a hotel in the Place Royale, " said thewounded man. 

"Yes, yes!" murmured d'Artagnan; "that's the place--Milady's ownresidence!"

Then the young man tremblingly comprehended what a terrible thirst forvengeance urged this woman on to destroy him, as well as all who lovedhim, and how well she must be acquainted with the affairs of the court, since she had discovered all. There could be no doubt she owed thisinformation to the cardinal. 

But amid all this he perceived, with a feeling of real joy, that thequeen must have discovered the prison in which poor Mme. Bonacieux wasexplaining her devotion, and that she had freed her from that prison;and the letter he had received from the young woman, and her passagealong the road of Chaillot like an apparition, were now explained. 

Then also, as Athos had predicted, it became possible to find Mme. Bonacieux, and a convent was not impregnable. 

This idea completely restored clemency to his heart. He turned towardthe wounded man, who had watched with intense anxiety all the variousexpressions of his countenance, and holding out his arm to him, said, "Come, I will not abandon you thus. Lean upon me, and let us return tothe camp. "

"Yes, " said the man, who could scarcely believe in such magnanimity, "but is it not to have me hanged?"

"You have my word, " said he; "for the second time I give you your life. "

The wounded man sank upon his knees, to again kiss the feet of hispreserver; but d'Artagnan, who had no longer a motive for staying sonear the enemy, abridged the testimonials of his gratitude. 

The Guardsman who had returned at the first discharge announced thedeath of his four companions. They were therefore much astonished anddelighted in the regiment when they saw the young man come back safe andsound. 

D'Artagnan explained the sword wound of his companion by a sortie whichhe improvised. He described the death of the other soldier, and theperils they had encountered. This recital was for him the occasion ofveritable triumph. The whole army talked of this expedition for a day, and Monsieur paid him his compliments upon it. Besides this, asevery great action bears its recompense with it, the brave exploit ofd'Artagnan resulted in the restoration of the tranquility he had lost. In fact, d'Artagnan believed that he might be tranquil, as one of histwo enemies was killed and the other devoted to his interests. 

This tranquillity proved one thing--that d'Artagnan did not yet knowMilady. 

42 THE ANJOU WINE

After the most disheartening news of the king's health, a report of hisconvalescence began to prevail in the camp; and as he was very anxiousto be in person at the siege, it was said that as soon as he could mounta horse he would set forward. 

Meantime, Monsieur, who knew that from one day to the other he mightexpect to be removed from his command by the Duc d'Angouleme, byBassompierre, or by Schomberg, who were all eager for his post, did butlittle, lost his days in wavering, and did not dare to attempt any greatenterprise to drive the English from the Isle of Re, where they stillbesieged the citadel St. Martin and the fort of La Pree, as on theirside the French were besieging La Rochelle. 

D'Artagnan, as we have said, had become more tranquil, as alwayshappens after a past danger, particularly when the danger seems to havevanished. He only felt one uneasiness, and that was at not hearing anytidings from his friends. 

But one morning at the commencement of the month of November everythingwas explained to him by this letter, dated from Villeroy:

M. D'Artagnan, MM. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, after having had an entertainment at myhouse and enjoying themselves very much, created such a disturbance thatthe provost of the castle, a rigid man, has ordered them to be confinedfor some days; but I accomplish the order they have given me byforwarding to you a dozen bottles of my Anjou wine, with which they aremuch pleased. They are desirous that you should drink to their healthin their favorite wine. I have done this, and am, monsieur, with greatrespect, Your very humble and obedient servant, Godeau, Purveyor of the Musketeers

"That's all well!" cried d'Artagnan. "They think of me in theirpleasures, as I thought of them in my troubles. Well, I will certainlydrink to their health with all my heart, but I will not drink alone. "

And d'Artagnan went among those Guardsmen with whom he had formedgreater intimacy than with the others, to invite them to enjoy withhim this present of delicious Anjou wine which had been sent him fromVilleroy. 

One of the two Guardsmen was engaged that evening, and another the next, so the meeting was fixed for the day after that. 

D'Artagnan, on his return, sent the twelve bottles of wine to therefreshment room of the Guards, with strict orders that great careshould be taken of it; and then, on the day appointed, as the dinnerwas fixed for midday d'Artagnan sent Planchet at nine in the morning toassist in preparing everything for the entertainment. 

Planchet, very proud of being raised to the dignity of landlord, thoughthe would make all ready, like an intelligent man; and with this viewcalled in the assistance of the lackey of one of his master's guests, named Fourreau, and the false soldier who had tried to kill d'Artagnanand who, belonging to no corps, had entered into the service ofd'Artagnan, or rather of Planchet, after d'Artagnan had saved his life. 

The hour of the banquet being come, the two guards arrived, took theirplaces, and the dishes were arranged on the table. Planchet waited, towel on arm; Fourreau uncorked the bottles; and Brisemont, which wasthe name of the convalescent, poured the wine, which was a little shakenby its journey, carefully into decanters. Of this wine, the first bottlebeing a little thick at the bottom, Brisemont poured the lees into aglass, and d'Artagnan desired him to drink it, for the poor devil hadnot yet recovered his strength. 

The guests having eaten the soup, were about to lift the first glass ofwine to their lips, when all at once the cannon sounded from FortLouis and Fort Neuf. The Guardsmen, imagining this to be caused by someunexpected attack, either of the besieged or the English, sprang totheir swords. D'Artagnan, not less forward than they, did likewise, andall ran out, in order to repair to their posts. 

But scarcely were they out of the room before they were made aware ofthe cause of this noise. Cries of "Live the king! Live the cardinal!"resounded on every side, and the drums were beaten in all directions. 

In short, the king, impatient, as has been said, had come by forcedmarches, and had that moment arrived with all his household and areinforcement of ten thousand troops. His Musketeers proceeded andfollowed him. D'Artagnan, placed in line with his company, saluted withan expressive gesture his three friends, whose eyes soon discovered him, and M. De Treville, who detected him at once. 

The ceremony of reception over, the four friends were soon in oneanother's arms. 

"Pardieu!" cried d'Artagnan, "you could not have arrived in better time;the dinner cannot have had time to get cold! Can it, gentlemen?" addedthe young man, turning to the two Guards, whom he introduced to hisfriends. 

"Ah, ah!" said Porthos, "it appears we are feasting!"

"I hope, " said Aramis, "there are no women at your dinner. "

"Is there any drinkable wine in your tavern?" asked Athos. 

"Well, pardieu! there is yours, my dear friend, " replied d'Artagnan. 

"Our wine!" said Athos, astonished. 

"Yes, that you sent me. "

"We sent you wine?"

"You know very well--the wine from the hills of Anjou. "

"Yes, I know what brand you are talking about. "

"The wine you prefer. "

"Well, in the absence of champagne and chambertin, you must contentyourselves with that. "

"And so, connoisseurs in wine as we are, we have sent you some Anjouwine?" said Porthos. 

"Not exactly, it is the wine that was sent by your order. "

"On our account?" said the three Musketeers. 

"Did you send this wine, Aramis?" said Athos. 

"No; and you, Porthos?"

"No; and you, Athos?"

"No!"

"If it was not you, it was your purveyor, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Our purveyor!"

"Yes, your purveyor, Godeau--the purveyor of the Musketeers. "

"My faith! never mind where it comes from, " said Porthos, "let us tasteit, and if it is good, let us drink it. "

"No, " said Athos; "don't let us drink wine which comes from an unknownsource. "

"You are right, Athos, " said d'Artagnan. "Did none of you charge yourpurveyor, Godeau, to send me some wine?"

"No! And yet you say he has sent you some as from us?"

"Here is his letter, " said d'Artagnan, and he presented the note to hiscomrades. 

"This is not his writing!" said Athos. "I am acquainted with it; beforewe left Villeroy I settled the accounts of the regiment. "

"A false letter altogether, " said Porthos, "we have not beendisciplined. "

"d'Artagnan, " said Aramis, in a reproachful tone, "how could you believethat we had made a disturbance?"

D'Artagnan grew pale, and a convulsive trembling shook all his limbs. 

"Thou alarmest me!" said Athos, who never used thee and thou but uponvery particular occasions, "what has happened?"

"Look you, my friends!" cried d'Artagnan, "a horrible suspicion crossesmy mind! Can this be another vengeance of that woman?"

It was now Athos who turned pale. 

D'Artagnan rushed toward the refreshment room, the three Musketeers andthe two Guards following him. 

The first object that met the eyes of d'Artagnan on entering theroom was Brisemont, stretched upon the ground and rolling in horribleconvulsions. 

Planchet and Fourreau, as pale as death, were trying to give him succor;but it was plain that all assistance was useless--all the features ofthe dying man were distorted with agony. 

"Ah!" cried he, on perceiving d'Artagnan, "ah! this is frightful! Youpretend to pardon me, and you poison me!"

"I!" cried d'Artagnan. "I, wretch? What do you say?"

"I say that it was you who gave me the wine; I say that it was you whodesired me to drink it. I say you wished to avenge yourself on me, and Isay that it is horrible!"

"Do not think so, Brisemont, " said d'Artagnan; "do not think so. I swearto you, I protest--"

"Oh, but God is above! God will punish you! My God, grant that he mayone day suffer what I suffer!"

"Upon the Gospel, " said d'Artagnan, throwing himself down by the dyingman, "I swear to you that the wine was poisoned and that I was going todrink of it as you did. "

"I do not believe you, " cried the soldier, and he expired amid horribletortures. 

"Frightful! frightful!" murmured Athos, while Porthos broke the bottlesand Aramis gave orders, a little too late, that a confessor should besent for. 

"Oh, my friends, " said d'Artagnan, "you come once more to save my life, not only mine but that of these gentlemen. Gentlemen, " continued he, addressing the Guardsmen, "I request you will be silent with regard tothis adventure. Great personages may have had a hand in what you haveseen, and if talked about, the evil would only recoil upon us. "

"Ah, monsieur!" stammered Planchet, more dead than alive, "ah, monsieur, what an escape I have had!"

"How, sirrah! you were going to drink my wine?"

"To the health of the king, monsieur; I was going to drink a small glassof it if Fourreau had not told me I was called. "

"Alas!" said Fourreau, whose teeth chattered with terror, "I wanted toget him out of the way that I might drink myself. "

"Gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, addressing the Guardsmen, "you may easilycomprehend that such a feast can only be very dull after what has takenplace; so accept my excuses, and put off the party till another day, Ibeg of you. "

The two Guardsmen courteously accepted d'Artagnan's excuses, andperceiving that the four friends desired to be alone, retired. 

When the young Guardsman and the three Musketeers were withoutwitnesses, they looked at one another with an air which plainlyexpressed that each of them perceived the gravity of their situation. 

"In the first place, " said Athos, "let us leave this chamber; the deadare not agreeable company, particularly when they have died a violentdeath. "

"Planchet, " said d'Artagnan, "I commit the corpse of this poor devil toyour care. Let him be interred in holy ground. He committed a crime, itis true; but he repented of it. "

And the four friends quit the room, leaving to Planchet and Fourreau theduty of paying mortuary honors to Brisemont. 

The host gave them another chamber, and served them with fresh eggs andsome water, which Athos went himself to draw at the fountain. In a fewwords, Porthos and Aramis were posted as to the situation. 

"Well, " said d'Artagnan to Athos, "you see, my dear friend, that this iswar to the death. "

Athos shook his head. 

"Yes, yes, " replied he, "I perceive that plainly; but do you reallybelieve it is she?"

"I am sure of it. "

"Nevertheless, I confess I still doubt. "

"But the fleur-de-lis on her shoulder?"

"She is some Englishwoman who has committed a crime in France, and hasbeen branded in consequence. "

"Athos, she is your wife, I tell you, " repeated d'Artagnan; "onlyreflect how much the two descriptions resemble each other. "

"Yes; but I should think the other must be dead, I hanged her soeffectually. "

It was d'Artagnan who now shook his head in his turn. 

"But in either case, what is to be done?" said the young man. 

"The fact is, one cannot remain thus, with a sword hanging eternallyover his head, " said Athos. "We must extricate ourselves from thisposition. "

"But how?"

"Listen! You must try to see her, and have an explanation with her. Sayto her: 'Peace or war! My word as a gentleman never to say anything ofyou, never to do anything against you; on your side, a solemn oathto remain neutral with respect to me. If not, I will apply to thechancellor, I will apply to the king, I will apply to the hangman, Iwill move the courts against you, I will denounce you as branded, I willbring you to trial; and if you are acquitted, well, by the faith of agentleman, I will kill you at the corner of some wall, as I would a maddog. '"

"I like the means well enough, " said d'Artagnan, "but where and how tomeet with her?"

"Time, dear friend, time brings round opportunity; opportunity is themartingale of man. The more we have ventured the more we gain, when weknow how to wait. "

"Yes; but to wait surrounded by assassins and poisoners. "

"Bah!" said Athos. "God has preserved us hitherto, God will preserve usstill. "

"Yes, we. Besides, we are men; and everything considered, it is our lotto risk our lives; but she, " asked he, in an undertone. 

"What she?" asked Athos. 

"Constance. "

"Madame Bonacieux! Ah, that's true!" said Athos. "My poor friend, I hadforgotten you were in love. "

"Well, but, " said Aramis, "have you not learned by the letter youfound on the wretched corpse that she is in a convent? One may be verycomfortable in a convent; and as soon as the siege of La Rochelle isterminated, I promise you on my part--"

"Good, " cried Athos, "good! Yes, my dear Aramis, we all know that yourviews have a religious tendency. "

"I am only temporarily a Musketeer, " said Aramis, humbly. 

"It is some time since we heard from his mistress, " said Athos, in a lowvoice. "But take no notice; we know all about that. "

"Well, " said Porthos, "it appears to me that the means are very simple. "

"What?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"You say she is in a convent?" replied Porthos. 

"Yes. "

"Very well. As soon as the siege is over, we'll carry her off from thatconvent. "

"But we must first learn what convent she is in. "

"That's true, " said Porthos. 

"But I think I have it, " said Athos. "Don't you say, dear d'Artagnan, that it is the queen who has made choice of the convent for her?"

"I believe so, at least. "

"In that case Porthos will assist us. "

"And how so, if you please?"

"Why, by your marchioness, your duchess, your princess. She must have along arm. "

"Hush!" said Porthos, placing a finger on his lips. "I believe her to bea cardinalist; she must know nothing of the matter. "

"Then, " said Aramis, "I take upon myself to obtain intelligence of her. "

"You, Aramis?" cried the three friends. "You! And how?"

"By the queen's almoner, to whom I am very intimately allied, " saidAramis, coloring. 

And on this assurance, the four friends, who had finished their modestrepast, separated, with the promise of meeting again that evening. D'Artagnan returned to less important affairs, and the three Musketeersrepaired to the king's quarters, where they had to prepare theirlodging. 

43 THE SIGN OF THE RED DOVECOT

Meanwhile the king, who, with more reason than the cardinal, showed hishatred for Buckingham, although scarcely arrived was in such a haste tomeet the enemy that he commanded every disposition to be made to drivethe English from the Isle of Re, and afterward to press the siege of LaRochelle; but notwithstanding his earnest wish, he was delayed by thedissensions which broke out between MM. Bassompierre and Schomberg, against the Duc d'Angouleme. 

MM. Bassompierre and Schomberg were marshals of France, and claimedtheir right of commanding the army under the orders of the king; but thecardinal, who feared that Bassompierre, a Huguenot at heart, mightpress but feebly the English and Rochellais, his brothers in religion, supported the Duc d'Angouleme, whom the king, at his instigation, had named lieutenant general. The result was that to prevent MM. Bassompierre and Schomberg from deserting the army, a separate commandhad to be given to each. Bassompierre took up his quarters on the northof the city, between Leu and Dompierre; the Duc d'Angouleme on theeast, from Dompierre to Perigny; and M. De Schomberg on the south, fromPerigny to Angoutin. 

The quarters of Monsieur were at Dompierre; the quarters of the kingwere sometimes at Estree, sometimes at Jarrie; the cardinal's quarterswere upon the downs, at the bridge of La Pierre, in a simple housewithout any entrenchment. So that Monsieur watched Bassompierre; theking, the Duc d'Angouleme; and the cardinal, M. De Schomberg. 

As soon as this organization was established, they set about driving theEnglish from the Isle. 

The juncture was favorable. The English, who require, above everything, good living in order to be good soldiers, only eating salt meat and badbiscuit, had many invalids in their camp. Still further, the sea, veryrough at this period of the year all along the sea coast, destroyedevery day some little vessel; and the shore, from the point ofl'Aiguillon to the trenches, was at every tide literally covered withthe wrecks of pinnacles, roberges, and feluccas. The result was thateven if the king's troops remained quietly in their camp, it was evidentthat some day or other, Buckingham, who only continued in the Isle fromobstinacy, would be obliged to raise the siege. 

But as M. De Toiras gave information that everything was preparing inthe enemy's camp for a fresh assault, the king judged that it would bebest to put an end to the affair, and gave the necessary orders for adecisive action. 

As it is not our intention to give a journal of the siege, but on thecontrary only to describe such of the events of it as are connected withthe story we are relating, we will content ourselves with saying in twowords that the expedition succeeded, to the great astonishment of theking and the great glory of the cardinal. The English, repulsed foot byfoot, beaten in all encounters, and defeated in the passage of the Isleof Loie, were obliged to re-embark, leaving on the field of battle twothousand men, among whom were five colonels, three lieutenant colonels, two hundred and fifty captains, twenty gentlemen of rank, four piecesof cannon, and sixty flags, which were taken to Paris by Claude de St. Simon, and suspended with great pomp in the arches of Notre Dame. 

Te Deums were chanted in camp, and afterward throughout France. 

The cardinal was left free to carry on the siege, without having, atleast at the present, anything to fear on the part of the English. 

But it must be acknowledged, this response was but momentary. An envoyof the Duke of Buckingham, named Montague, was taken, and proof wasobtained of a league between the German Empire, Spain, England, andLorraine. This league was directed against France. 

Still further, in Buckingham's lodging, which he had been forced toabandon more precipitately than he expected, papers were found whichconfirmed this alliance and which, as the cardinal asserts in hismemoirs, strongly compromised Mme. De Chevreuse and consequently thequeen. 

It was upon the cardinal that all the responsibility fell, for one isnot a despotic minister without responsibility. All, therefore, of thevast resources of his genius were at work night and day, engaged inlistening to the least report heard in any of the great kingdoms ofEurope. 

The cardinal was acquainted with the activity, and more particularly thehatred, of Buckingham. If the league which threatened France triumphed, all his influence would be lost. Spanish policy and Austrian policywould have their representatives in the cabinet of the Louvre, wherethey had as yet but partisans; and he, Richelieu--the French minister, the national minister--would be ruined. The king, even while obeying himlike a child, hated him as a child hates his master, and would abandonhim to the personal vengeance of Monsieur and the queen. He wouldthen be lost, and France, perhaps, with him. All this must be preparedagainst. 

Courtiers, becoming every instant more numerous, succeeded one another, day and night, in the little house of the bridge of La Pierre, in whichthe cardinal had established his residence. 

There were monks who wore the frock with such an ill grace that it waseasy to perceive they belonged to the church militant; women a littleinconvenienced by their costume as pages and whose large trousers couldnot entirely conceal their rounded forms; and peasants with blackenedhands but with fine limbs, savoring of the man of quality a league off. 

There were also less agreeable visits--for two or three times reportswere spread that the cardinal had nearly been assassinated. 

It is true that the enemies of the cardinal said that it was he himselfwho set these bungling assassins to work, in order to have, if wanted, the right of using reprisals; but we must not believe everythingministers say, nor everything their enemies say. 

These attempts did not prevent the cardinal, to whom his most inveteratedetractors have never denied personal bravery, from making nocturnalexcursions, sometimes to communicate to the Duc d'Angouleme importantorders, sometimes to confer with the king, and sometimes to have aninterview with a messenger whom he did not wish to see at home. 

On their part the Musketeers, who had not much to do with the siege, were not under very strict orders and led a joyous life. The was themore easy for our three companions in particular; for being friends ofM. De Treville, they obtained from him special permission to be absentafter the closing of the camp. 

Now, one evening when d'Artagnan, who was in the trenches, was not ableto accompany them, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, mounted on their battlesteeds, enveloped in their war cloaks, with their hands upon theirpistol butts, were returning from a drinking place called the RedDovecot, which Athos had discovered two days before upon the route toJarrie, following the road which led to the camp and quite on theirguard, as we have stated, for fear of an ambuscade, when, about aquarter of a league from the village of Boisnau, they fancied they heardthe sound of horses approaching them. They immediately all three halted, closed in, and waited, occupying the middle of the road. In an instant, and as the moon broke from behind a cloud, they saw at a turning ofthe road two horsemen who, on perceiving them, stopped in their turn, appearing to deliberate whether they should continue their route or goback. The hesitation created some suspicion in the three friends, andAthos, advancing a few paces in front of the others, cried in a firmvoice, "Who goes there?"

"Who goes there, yourselves?" replied one of the horsemen. 

"That is not an answer, " replied Athos. "Who goes there? Answer, or wecharge. "

"Beware of what you are about, gentlemen!" said a clear voice whichseemed accustomed to command. 

"It is some superior officer making his night rounds, " said Athos. "Whatdo you wish, gentlemen?"

"Who are you?" said the same voice, in the same commanding tone. "Answerin your turn, or you may repent of your disobedience. "

"King's Musketeers, " said Athos, more and more convinced that he whointerrogated them had the right to do so. 

"What company?"

"Company of Treville. "

"Advance, and give an account of what you are doing here at this hour. "

The three companions advanced rather humbly--for all were now convincedthat they had to do with someone more powerful than themselves--leavingAthos the post of speaker. 

One of the two riders, he who had spoken second, was ten paces in frontof his companion. Athos made a sign to Porthos and Aramis also to remainin the rear, and advanced alone. 

"Your pardon, my officer, " said Athos; "but we were ignorant with whomwe had to do, and you may see that we were good guard. "

"Your name?" said the officer, who covered a part of his face with hiscloak. 

"But yourself, monsieur, " said Athos, who began to be annoyed by thisinquisition, "give me, I beg you, the proof that you have the right toquestion me. "

"Your name?" repeated the cavalier a second time, letting his cloakfall, and leaving his face uncovered. 

"Monsieur the Cardinal!" cried the stupefied Musketeer. 

"Your name?" cried his Eminence, for the third time. 

"Athos, " said the Musketeer. 

The cardinal made a sign to his attendant, who drew near. "These threeMusketeers shall follow us, " said he, in an undertone. "I am not willingit should be known I have left the camp; and if they follow us we shallbe certain they will tell nobody. "

"We are gentlemen, monseigneur, " said Athos; "require our parole, andgive yourself no uneasiness. Thank God, we can keep a secret. "

The cardinal fixed his piercing eyes on this courageous speaker. 

"You have a quick ear, Monsieur Athos, " said the cardinal; "but nowlisten to this. It is not from mistrust that I request you to follow me, but for my security. Your companions are no doubt Messieurs Porthos andAramis. "

"Yes, your Eminence, " said Athos, while the two Musketeers who hadremained behind advanced hat in hand. 

"I know you, gentlemen, " said the cardinal, "I know you. I know you arenot quite my friends, and I am sorry you are not so; but I know you arebrave and loyal gentlemen, and that confidence may be placed in you. Monsieur Athos, do me, then, the honor to accompany me; you and your twofriends, and then I shall have an escort to excite envy in his Majesty, if we should meet him. "

The three Musketeers bowed to the necks of their horses. 

"Well, upon my honor, " said Athos, "your Eminence is right in takingus with you; we have seen several ill-looking faces on the road, and wehave even had a quarrel at the Red Dovecot with four of those faces. "

"A quarrel, and what for, gentlemen?" said the cardinal; "you know Idon't like quarrelers. "

"And that is the reason why I have the honor to inform your Eminence ofwhat has happened; for you might learn it from others, and upon a falseaccount believe us to be in fault. "

"What have been the results of your quarrel?" said the cardinal, knitting his brow. 

"My friend, Aramis, here, has received a slight sword wound in the arm, but not enough to prevent him, as your Eminence may see, from mountingto the assault tomorrow, if your Eminence orders an escalade. "

"But you are not the men to allow sword wounds to be inflicted upon youthus, " said the cardinal. "Come, be frank, gentlemen, you have settledaccounts with somebody! Confess; you know I have the right of givingabsolution. "

"I, monseigneur?" said Athos. "I did not even draw my sword, but I tookhim who offended me round the body, and threw him out of the window. It appears that in falling, " continued Athos, with some hesitation, "hebroke his thigh. "

"Ah, ah!" said the cardinal; "and you, Monsieur Porthos?"

"I, monseigneur, knowing that dueling is prohibited--I seized a bench, and gave one of those brigands such a blow that I believe his shoulderis broken. "

"Very well, " said the cardinal; "and you, Monsieur Aramis?"

"Monseigneur, being of a very mild disposition, and being, likewise, ofwhich Monseigneur perhaps is not aware, about to enter into orders, Iendeavored to appease my comrades, when one of these wretches gave me awound with a sword, treacherously, across my left arm. Then I admit mypatience failed me; I drew my sword in my turn, and as he came back tothe charge, I fancied I felt that in throwing himself upon me, he let itpass through his body. I only know for a certainty that he fell; and itseemed to me that he was borne away with his two companions. "

"The devil, gentlemen!" said the cardinal, "three men placed hors decombat in a cabaret squabble! You don't do your work by halves. And praywhat was this quarrel about?"

"These fellows were drunk, " said Athos, "and knowing there was a ladywho had arrived at the cabaret this evening, they wanted to force herdoor. "

"Force her door!" said the cardinal, "and for what purpose?"

"To do her violence, without doubt, " said Athos. "I have had the honorof informing your Eminence that these men were drunk. "

"And was this lady young and handsome?" asked the cardinal, with acertain degree of anxiety. 

"We did not see her, monseigneur, " said Athos. 

"You did not see her? Ah, very well, " replied the cardinal, quickly. "You did well to defend the honor of a woman; and as I am going to theRed Dovecot myself, I shall know if you have told me the truth. "

"Monseigneur, " said Athos, haughtily, "we are gentlemen, and to save ourheads we would not be guilty of a falsehood. "

"Therefore I do not doubt what you say, Monsieur Athos, I do not doubtit for a single instant; but, " added he, "to change the conversation, was this lady alone?"

"The lady had a cavalier shut up with her, " said Athos, "but asnotwithstanding the noise, this cavalier did not show himself, it is tobe presumed that he is a coward. "

"'Judge not rashly', says the Gospel, " replied the cardinal. 

Athos bowed. 

"And now, gentlemen, that's well, " continued the cardinal. "I know whatI wish to know; follow me. "

The three Musketeers passed behind his Eminence, who again enveloped hisface in his cloak, and put his horse in motion, keeping from eight toten paces in advance of his four companions. 

They soon arrived at the silent, solitary inn. No doubt the hostknew what illustrious visitor was expected, and had consequently sentintruders out of the way. 

Ten paces from the door the cardinal made a sign to his esquire and thethree Musketeers to halt. A saddled horse was fastened to the windowshutter. The cardinal knocked three times, and in a peculiar manner. 

A man, enveloped in a cloak, came out immediately, and exchanged somerapid words with the cardinal; after which he mounted his horse, and setoff in the direction of Surgeres, which was likewise the way to Paris. 

"Advance, gentlemen, " said the cardinal. 

"You have told me the truth, my gentlemen, " said he, addressing theMusketeers, "and it will not be my fault if our encounter this eveningbe not advantageous to you. In the meantime, follow me. "

The cardinal alighted; the three Musketeers did likewise. The cardinalthrew the bridle of his horse to his esquire; the three Musketeersfastened the horses to the shutters. 

The host stood at the door. For him, the cardinal was only an officercoming to visit a lady. 

"Have you any chamber on the ground floor where these gentlemen can waitnear a good fire?" said the cardinal. 

The host opened the door of a large room, in which an old stove had justbeen replaced by a large and excellent chimney. 

"I have this, " said he. 

"That will do, " replied the cardinal. "Enter, gentlemen, and be kindenough to wait for me; I shall not be more than half an hour. "

And while the three Musketeers entered the ground floor room, thecardinal, without asking further information, ascended the staircaselike a man who has no need of having his road pointed out to him. 

44 THE UTILITY OF STOVEPIPES

It was evident that without suspecting it, and actuated solely bytheir chivalrous and adventurous character, our three friends had justrendered a service to someone the cardinal honored with his specialprotection. 

Now, who was that someone? That was the question the three Musketeersput to one another. Then, seeing that none of their replies could throwany light on the subject, Porthos called the host and asked for dice. 

Porthos and Aramis placed themselves at the table and began to play. Athos walked about in a contemplative mood. 

While thinking and walking, Athos passed and repassed before the pipeof the stove, broken in halves, the other extremity passing into thechamber above; and every time he passed and repassed he heard a murmurof words, which at length fixed his attention. Athos went close to it, and distinguished some words that appeared to merit so great an interestthat he made a sign to his friends to be silent, remaining himself bentwith his ear directed to the opening of the lower orifice. 

"Listen, Milady, " said the cardinal, "the affair is important. Sit down, and let us talk it over. "

"Milady!" murmured Athos. 

"I listen to your Eminence with greatest attention, " replied a femalevoice which made the Musketeer start. 

"A small vessel with an English crew, whose captain is on my side, awaits you at the mouth of Charente, at fort of the Point. He will setsail tomorrow morning. "

"I must go thither tonight?"

"Instantly! That is to say, when you have received my instructions. Two men, whom you will find at the door on going out, will serve you asescort. You will allow me to leave first; then, after half an hour, youcan go away in your turn. "

"Yes, monseigneur. Now let us return to the mission with which you wishto charge me; and as I desire to continue to merit the confidence ofyour Eminence, deign to unfold it to me in terms clear and precise, thatI may not commit an error. "

There was an instant of profound silence between the two interlocutors. It was evident that the cardinal was weighing beforehand the terms inwhich he was about to speak, and that Milady was collecting all herintellectual faculties to comprehend the things he was about to say, andto engrave them in her memory when they should be spoken. 

Athos took advantage of this moment to tell his two companions to fastenthe door inside, and to make them a sign to come and listen with him. 

The two Musketeers, who loved their ease, brought a chair for each ofthemselves and one for Athos. All three then sat down with their headstogether and their ears on the alert. 

"You will go to London, " continued the cardinal. "Arrived in London, youwill seek Buckingham. "

"I must beg your Eminence to observe, " said Milady, "that since theaffair of the diamond studs, about which the duke always suspected me, his Grace distrusts me. "

"Well, this time, " said the cardinal, "it is not necessary to stealhis confidence, but to present yourself frankly and loyally as anegotiator. "

"Frankly and loyally, " repeated Milady, with an unspeakable expressionof duplicity. 

"Yes, frankly and loyally, " replied the cardinal, in the same tone. "Allthis negotiation must be carried on openly. "

"I will follow your Eminence's instructions to the letter. I only waittill you give them. "

"You will go to Buckingham in my behalf, and you will tell him I amacquainted with all the preparations he has made; but that they give meno uneasiness, since at the first step he takes I will ruin the queen. "

"Will he believe that your Eminence is in a position to accomplish thethreat thus made?"

"Yes; for I have the proofs. "

"I must be able to present these proofs for his appreciation. "

"Without doubt. And you will tell him I will publish the report ofBois-Robert and the Marquis de Beautru, upon the interview which theduke had at the residence of Madame the Constable with the queen on theevening Madame the Constable gave a masquerade. You will tell him, inorder that he may not doubt, that he came there in the costume of theGreat Mogul, which the Chevalier de Guise was to have worn, and that hepurchased this exchange for the sum of three thousand pistoles. "

"Well, monseigneur?"

"All the details of his coming into and going out of the palace--on thenight when he introduced himself in the character of an Italian fortuneteller--you will tell him, that he may not doubt the correctness of myinformation; that he had under his cloak a large white robe dotted withblack tears, death's heads, and crossbones--for in case of a surprise, he was to pass for the phantom of the White Lady who, as all the worldknows, appears at the Louvre every time any great event is impending. "

"Is that all, monseigneur?"

"Tell him also that I am acquainted with all the details of theadventure at Amiens; that I will have a little romance made of it, wittily turned, with a plan of the garden and portraits of the principalactors in that nocturnal romance. "

"I will tell him that. "

"Tell him further that I hold Montague in my power; that Montague is inthe Bastille; that no letters were found upon him, it is true, but thattorture may make him tell much of what he knows, and even what he doesnot know. "

"Exactly. "

"Then add that his Grace has, in the precipitation with which he quitthe Isle of Re, forgotten and left behind him in his lodging a certainletter from Madame de Chevreuse which singularly compromises the queen, inasmuch as it proves not only that her Majesty can love the enemiesof the king but that she can conspire with the enemies of France. Yourecollect perfectly all I have told you, do you not?"

"Your Eminence will judge: the ball of Madame the Constable; the nightat the Louvre; the evening at Amiens; the arrest of Montague; the letterof Madame de Chevreuse. "

"That's it, " said the cardinal, "that's it. You have an excellentmemory, Milady. "

"But, " resumed she to whom the cardinal addressed this flatteringcompliment, "if, in spite of all these reasons, the duke does not giveway and continues to menace France?"

"The duke is in love to madness, or rather to folly, " replied Richelieu, with great bitterness. "Like the ancient paladins, he has onlyundertaken this war to obtain a look from his lady love. If he becomescertain that this war will cost the honor, and perhaps the liberty, ofthe lady of his thoughts, as he says, I will answer for it he will looktwice. "

"And yet, " said Milady, with a persistence that proved she wished tosee clearly to the end of the mission with which she was about to becharged, "if he persists?"

"If he persists?" said the cardinal. "That is not probable. "

"It is possible, " said Milady. 

"If he persists--" His Eminence made a pause, and resumed: "If hepersists--well, then I shall hope for one of those events which changethe destinies of states. "

"If your Eminence would quote to me some one of these events inhistory, " said Milady, "perhaps I should partake of your confidence asto the future. "

"Well, here, for example, " said Richelieu: "when, in 1610, for a causesimilar to that which moves the duke, King Henry IV, of glorious memory, was about, at the same time, to invade Flanders and Italy, in order toattack Austria on both sides. Well, did there not happen an event whichsaved Austria? Why should not the king of France have the same chance asthe emperor?"

"Your Eminence means, I presume, the knife stab in the Rue de laFeronnerie?"

"Precisely, " said the cardinal. 

"Does not your Eminence fear that the punishment inflicted uponRavaillac may deter anyone who might entertain the idea of imitatinghim?"

"There will be, in all times and in all countries, particularly ifreligious divisions exist in those countries, fanatics who ask nothingbetter than to become martyrs. Ay, and observe--it just occurs to methat the Puritans are furious against Buckingham, and their preachersdesignate him as the Antichrist. "

"Well?" said Milady. 

"Well, " continued the cardinal, in an indifferent tone, "the only thingto be sought for at this moment is some woman, handsome, young, andclever, who has cause of quarrel with the duke. The duke has had manyaffairs of gallantry; and if he has fostered his amours by promises ofeternal constancy, he must likewise have sown the seeds of hatred by hiseternal infidelities. "

"No doubt, " said Milady, coolly, "such a woman may be found. "

"Well, such a woman, who would place the knife of Jacques Clement or ofRavaillac in the hands of a fanatic, would save France. "

"Yes; but she would then be the accomplice of an assassination. "

"Were the accomplices of Ravaillac or of Jacques Clement ever known?"

"No; for perhaps they were too high-placed for anyone to dare look forthem where they were. The Palace of Justice would not be burned down foreverybody, monseigneur. "

"You think, then, that the fire at the Palace of Justice was not causedby chance?" asked Richelieu, in the tone with which he would have put aquestion of no importance. 

"I, monseigneur?" replied Milady. "I think nothing; I quote a fact, thatis all. Only I say that if I were named Madame de Montpensier, or theQueen Marie de Medicis, I should use less precautions than I take, beingsimply called Milady Clarik. "

"That is just, " said Richelieu. "What do you require, then?"

"I require an order which would ratify beforehand all that I shouldthink proper to do for the greatest good of France. "

"But in the first place, this woman I have described must be found whois desirous of avenging herself upon the duke. "

"She is found, " said Milady. 

"Then the miserable fanatic must be found who will serve as aninstrument of God's justice. "

"He will be found. "

"Well, " said the cardinal, "then it will be time to claim the orderwhich you just now required. "

"Your Eminence is right, " replied Milady; "and I have been wrong inseeing in the mission with which you honor me anything but that whichit really is--that is, to announce to his Grace, on the part of yourEminence, that you are acquainted with the different disguises by meansof which he succeeded in approaching the queen during the fete given byMadame the Constable; that you have proofs of the interview granted atthe Louvre by the queen to a certain Italian astrologer who was no otherthan the Duke of Buckingham; that you have ordered a little romance ofa satirical nature to be written upon the adventures of Amiens, with aplan of the gardens in which those adventures took place, and portraitsof the actors who figured in them; that Montague is in the Bastille, andthat the torture may make him say things he remembers, and even thingshe has forgotten; that you possess a certain letter from Madame deChevreuse, found in his Grace's lodging, which singularly compromisesnot only her who wrote it, but her in whose name it was written. Then, if he persists, notwithstanding all this--as that is, as I have said, the limit of my mission--I shall have nothing to do but to pray Godto work a miracle for the salvation of France. That is it, is it not, monseigneur, and I shall have nothing else to do?"

"That is it, " replied the cardinal, dryly. 

"And now, " said Milady, without appearing to remark the change of theduke's tone toward her--"now that I have received the instructions ofyour Eminence as concerns your enemies, Monseigneur will permit me tosay a few words to him of mine?"

"Have you enemies, then?" asked Richelieu. 

"Yes, monseigneur, enemies against whom you owe me all your support, forI made them by serving your Eminence. "

"Who are they?" replied the duke. 

"In the first place, there is a little intrigante named Bonacieux. "

"She is in the prison of Nantes. "

"That is to say, she was there, " replied Milady; "but the queen hasobtained an order from the king by means of which she has been conveyedto a convent. "

"To a convent?" said the duke. 

"Yes, to a convent. "

"And to which?"

"I don't know; the secret has been well kept. "

"But I will know!"

"And your Eminence will tell me in what convent that woman is?"

"I can see nothing inconvenient in that, " said the cardinal. 

"Well, now I have an enemy much more to be dreaded by me than thislittle Madame Bonacieux. "

"Who is that?"

"Her lover. "

"What is his name?"

"Oh, your Eminence knows him well, " cried Milady, carried away byher anger. "He is the evil genius of both of us. It is he who in anencounter with your Eminence's Guards decided the victory in favor ofthe king's Musketeers; it is he who gave three desperate wounds to deWardes, your emissary, and who caused the affair of the diamond studsto fail; it is he who, knowing it was I who had Madame Bonacieux carriedoff, has sworn my death. "

"Ah, ah!" said the cardinal, "I know of whom you speak. "

"I mean that miserable d'Artagnan. "

"He is a bold fellow, " said the cardinal. 

"And it is exactly because he is a bold fellow that he is the more to befeared. "

"I must have, " said the duke, "a proof of his connection withBuckingham. "

"A proof?" cried Milady; "I will have ten. "

"Well, then, it becomes the simplest thing in the world; get me thatproof, and I will send him to the Bastille. "

"So far good, monseigneur; but afterwards?"

"When once in the Bastille, there is no afterward!" said the cardinal, in a low voice. "Ah, pardieu!" continued he, "if it were as easy for meto get rid of my enemy as it is easy to get rid of yours, and if it wereagainst such people you require impunity--"

"Monseigneur, " replied Milady, "a fair exchange. Life for life, man forman; give me one, I will give you the other. "

"I don't know what you mean, nor do I even desire to know what youmean, " replied the cardinal; "but I wish to please you, and see nothingout of the way in giving you what you demand with respect to so infamousa creature--the more so as you tell me this d'Artagnan is a libertine, aduelist, and a traitor. "

"An infamous scoundrel, monseigneur, a scoundrel!"

"Give me paper, a quill, and some ink, then, " said the cardinal. 

"Here they are, monseigneur. "

There was a moment of silence, which proved that the cardinal wasemployed in seeking the terms in which he should write the note, or elsein writing it. Athos, who had not lost a word of the conversation, tookhis two companions by the hand, and led them to the other end of theroom. 

"Well, " said Porthos, "what do you want, and why do you not let uslisten to the end of the conversation?"

"Hush!" said Athos, speaking in a low voice. "We have heard all it wasnecessary we should hear; besides, I don't prevent you from listening, but I must be gone. "

"You must be gone!" said Porthos; "and if the cardinal asks for you, what answer can we make?"

"You will not wait till he asks; you will speak first, and tell him thatI am gone on the lookout, because certain expressions of our host havegiven me reason to think the road is not safe. I will say two wordsabout it to the cardinal's esquire likewise. The rest concerns myself;don't be uneasy about that. "

"Be prudent, Athos, " said Aramis. 

"Be easy on that head, " replied Athos; "you know I am cool enough. "

Porthos and Aramis resumed their places by the stovepipe. 

As to Athos, he went out without any mystery, took his horse, which wastied with those of his friends to the fastenings of the shutters, infour words convinced the attendant of the necessity of a vanguard fortheir return, carefully examined the priming of his pistols, drew hissword, and took, like a forlorn hope, the road to the camp. 

45 A CONJUGAL SCENE

As Athos had foreseen, it was not long before the cardinal came down. He opened the door of the room in which the Musketeers were, and foundPorthos playing an earnest game of dice with Aramis. He cast a rapidglance around the room, and perceived that one of his men was missing. 

"What has become of Monseigneur Athos?" asked he. 

"Monseigneur, " replied Porthos, "he has gone as a scout, on account ofsome words of our host, which made him believe the road was not safe. "

"And you, what have you done, Monsieur Porthos?"

"I have won five pistoles of Aramis. "

"Well; now will you return with me?"

"We are at your Eminence's orders. "

"To horse, then, gentlemen; for it is getting late. "

The attendant was at the door, holding the cardinal's horse by thebridle. At a short distance a group of two men and three horses appearedin the shade. These were the two men who were to conduct Milady to thefort of the Point, and superintend her embarkation. 

The attendant confirmed to the cardinal what the two Musketeers hadalready said with respect to Athos. The cardinal made an approvinggesture, and retraced his route with the same precautions he had usedincoming. 

Let us leave him to follow the road to the camp protected by his esquireand the two Musketeers, and return to Athos. 

For a hundred paces he maintained the speed at which he started; butwhen out of sight he turned his horse to the right, made a circuit, andcame back within twenty paces of a high hedge to watch the passage ofthe little troop. Having recognized the laced hats of his companions andthe golden fringe of the cardinal's cloak, he waited till the horsemenhad turned the angle of the road, and having lost sight of them, he returned at a gallop to the inn, which was opened to him withouthesitation. 

The host recognized him. 

"My officer, " said Athos, "has forgotten to give a piece of veryimportant information to the lady, and has sent me back to repair hisforgetfulness. "

"Go up, " said the host; "she is still in her chamber. "

Athos availed himself of the permission, ascended the stairs with hislightest step, gained the landing, and through the open door perceivedMilady putting on her hat. 

He entered the chamber and closed the door behind him. At the noise hemade in pushing the bolt, Milady turned round. 

Athos was standing before the door, enveloped in his cloak, with his hatpulled down over his eyes. On seeing this figure, mute and immovable asa statue, Milady was frightened. 

"Who are you, and what do you want?" cried she. 

"Humph, " murmured Athos, "it is certainly she!"

And letting fall his cloak and raising his hat, he advanced towardMilady. 

"Do you know me, madame?" said he. 

Milady made one step forward, and then drew back as if she had seen aserpent. 

"So far, well, " said Athos, "I perceive you know me. "

"The Comte de la Fere!" murmured Milady, becoming exceedingly pale, anddrawing back till the wall prevented her from going any farther. 

"Yes, Milady, " replied Athos; "the Comte de la Fere in person, who comesexpressly from the other world to have the pleasure of paying you avisit. Sit down, madame, and let us talk, as the cardinal said. "

Milady, under the influence of inexpressible terror, sat down withoututtering a word. 

"You certainly are a demon sent upon the earth!" said Athos. "Your poweris great, I know; but you also know that with the help of God men haveoften conquered the most terrible demons. You have once before thrownyourself in my path. I thought I had crushed you, madame; but either Iwas deceived or hell has resuscitated you!"

Milady at these words, which recalled frightful remembrances, hung downher head with a suppressed groan. 

"Yes, hell has resuscitated you, " continued Athos. "Hell has made yourich, hell has given you another name, hell has almost made you anotherface; but it has neither effaced the stains from your soul nor the brandfrom your body. "

Milady arose as if moved by a powerful spring, and her eyes flashedlightning. Athos remained sitting. 

"You believed me to be dead, did you not, as I believed you to be? Andthe name of Athos as well concealed the Comte de la Fere, as the nameMilady Clarik concealed Anne de Breuil. Was it not so you were calledwhen your honored brother married us? Our position is truly a strangeone, " continued Athos, laughing. "We have only lived up to the presenttime because we believed each other dead, and because a remembranceis less oppressive than a living creature, though a remembrance issometimes devouring. "

"But, " said Milady, in a hollow, faint voice, "what brings you back tome, and what do you want with me?"

"I wish to tell you that though remaining invisible to your eyes, I havenot lost sight of you. "

"You know what I have done?"

"I can relate to you, day by day, your actions from your entrance to theservice of the cardinal to this evening. "

A smile of incredulity passed over the pale lips of Milady. 

"Listen! It was you who cut off the two diamond studs from the shoulderof the Duke of Buckingham; it was you had the Madame Bonacieux carriedoff; it was you who, in love with de Wardes and thinking to pass thenight with him, opened the door to Monsieur d'Artagnan; it was you who, believing that de Wardes had deceived you, wished to have him killed byhis rival; it was you who, when this rival had discovered your infamoussecret, wished to have him killed in his turn by two assassins, whomyou sent in pursuit of him; it was you who, finding the balls had missedtheir mark, sent poisoned wine with a forged letter, to make your victimbelieve that the wine came from his friends. In short, it was you whohave but now in this chamber, seated in this chair I now fill, made anengagement with Cardinal Richelieu to cause the Duke of Buckingham to beassassinated, in exchange for the promise he has made you to allow youto assassinate d'Artagnan. "

Milady was livid. 

"You must be Satan!" cried she. 

"Perhaps, " said Athos; "But at all events listen well to this. Assassinate the Duke of Buckingham, or cause him to be assassinated--Icare very little about that! I don't know him. Besides, he is anEnglishman. But do not touch with the tip of your finger a single hairof d'Artagnan, who is a faithful friend whom I love and defend, or Iswear to you by the head of my father the crime which you shall haveendeavored to commit, or shall have committed, shall be the last. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan has cruelly insulted me, " said Milady, in a hollowtone; "Monsieur d'Artagnan shall die!"

"Indeed! Is it possible to insult you, madame?" said Athos, laughing;"he has insulted you, and he shall die!"

"He shall die!" replied Milady; "she first, and he afterward. "

Athos was seized with a kind of vertigo. The sight of this creature, who had nothing of the woman about her, recalled awful remembrances. Hethought how one day, in a less dangerous situation than the one in whichhe was now placed, he had already endeavored to sacrifice her to hishonor. His desire for blood returned, burning his brain and pervadinghis frame like a raging fever; he arose in his turn, reached his hand tohis belt, drew forth a pistol, and cocked it. 

Milady, pale as a corpse, endeavored to cry out; but her swollen tonguecould utter no more than a hoarse sound which had nothing human in itand resembled the rattle of a wild beast. Motionless against the darktapestry, with her hair in disorder, she appeared like a horrid image ofterror. 

Athos slowly raised his pistol, stretched out his arm so that the weaponalmost touched Milady's forehead, and then, in a voice the more terriblefrom having the supreme calmness of a fixed resolution, "Madame, " saidhe, "you will this instant deliver to me the paper the cardinal signed;or upon my soul, I will blow your brains out. "

With another man, Milady might have preserved some doubt; but she knewAthos. Nevertheless, she remained motionless. 

"You have one second to decide, " said he. 

Milady saw by the contraction of his countenance that the trigger wasabout to be pulled; she reached her hand quickly to her bosom, drew outa paper, and held it toward Athos. 

"Take it, " said she, "and be accursed!"

Athos took the paper, returned the pistol to his belt, approached thelamp to be assured that it was the paper, unfolded it, and read:

Dec. 3, 1627

It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of thishas done what he has done. 

Richelieu

"And now, " said Athos, resuming his cloak and putting on his hat, "nowthat I have drawn your teeth, viper, bite if you can. "

And he left the chamber without once looking behind him. 

At the door he found the two men and the spare horse which they held. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, "Monseigneur's order is, you know, to conduct thatwoman, without losing time, to the fort of the Point, and never to leaveher till she is on board. "

As these words agreed wholly with the order they had received, theybowed their heads in sign of assent. 

With regard to Athos, he leaped lightly into the saddle and set outat full gallop; only instead of following the road, he went across thefields, urging his horse to the utmost and stopping occasionally tolisten. 

In one of those halts he heard the steps of several horses on the road. He had no doubt it was the cardinal and his escort. He immediately madea new point in advance, rubbed his horse down with some heath and leavesof trees, and placed himself across the road, about two hundred pacesfrom the camp. 

"Who goes there?" cried he, as soon as he perceived the horsemen. 

"That is our brave Musketeer, I think, " said the cardinal. 

"Yes, monseigneur, " said Porthos, "it is he. "

"Monsieur Athos, " said Richelieu, "receive my thanks for the good guardyou have kept. Gentlemen, we are arrived; take the gate on the left. Thewatchword is, 'King and Re. '"

Saying these words, the cardinal saluted the three friends with aninclination of his head, and took the right hand, followed by hisattendant--for that night he himself slept in the camp. 

"Well!" said Porthos and Aramis together, as soon as the cardinal wasout of hearing, "well, he signed the paper she required!"

"I know it, " said Athos, coolly, "since here it is. "

And the three friends did not exchange another word till they reachedtheir quarters, except to give the watchword to the sentinels. Onlythey sent Mousqueton to tell Planchet that his master was requested, the instant that he left the trenches, to come to the quarters of theMusketeers. 

Milady, as Athos had foreseen, on finding the two men that awaited her, made no difficulty in following them. She had had for an instant aninclination to be reconducted to the cardinal, and relate everything tohim; but a revelation on her part would bring about a revelation on thepart of Athos. She might say that Athos had hanged her; but then Athoswould tell that she was branded. She thought it was best to preservesilence, to discreetly set off to accomplish her difficult missionwith her usual skill; and then, all things being accomplished to thesatisfaction of the cardinal, to come to him and claim her vengeance. 

In consequence, after having traveled all night, at seven o'clock shewas at the fort of the Point; at eight o'clock she had embarked; andat nine, the vessel, which with letters of marque from the cardinalwas supposed to be sailing for Bayonne, raised anchor, and steered itscourse toward England. 

46 THE BASTION SAINT-GERVAIS

On arriving at the lodgings of his three friends, d'Artagnan foundthem assembled in the same chamber. Athos was meditating; Porthos wastwisting his mustache; Aramis was saying his prayers in a charminglittle Book of Hours, bound in blue velvet. 

"Pardieu, gentlemen, " said he. "I hope what you have to tell me is worththe trouble, or else, I warn you, I will not pardon you for making mecome here instead of getting a little rest after a night spent in takingand dismantling a bastion. Ah, why were you not there, gentlemen? It waswarm work. "

"We were in a place where it was not very cold, " replied Porthos, givinghis mustache a twist which was peculiar to him. 

"Hush!" said Athos. 

"Oh, oh!" said d'Artagnan, comprehending the slight frown of theMusketeer. "It appears there is something fresh aboard. "

"Aramis, " said Athos, "you went to breakfast the day before yesterday atthe inn of the Parpaillot, I believe?"

"Yes. "

"How did you fare?"

"For my part, I ate but little. The day before yesterday was a fish day, and they had nothing but meat. "

"What, " said Athos, "no fish at a seaport?"

"They say, " said Aramis, resuming his pious reading, "that the dykewhich the cardinal is making drives them all out into the open sea. "

"But that is not quite what I mean to ask you, Aramis, " replied Athos. "I want to know if you were left alone, and nobody interrupted you. "

"Why, I think there were not many intruders. Yes, Athos, I know what youmean: we shall do very well at the Parpaillot. "

"Let us go to the Parpaillot, then, for here the walls are like sheetsof paper. "

D'Artagnan, who was accustomed to his friend's manner of acting, and whoperceived immediately, by a word, a gesture, or a sign from him, thatthe circumstances were serious, took Athos's arm, and went out withoutsaying anything. Porthos followed, chatting with Aramis. 

On their way they met Grimaud. Athos made him a sign to come with them. Grimaud, according to custom, obeyed in silence; the poor lad had nearlycome to the pass of forgetting how to speak. 

They arrived at the drinking room of the Parpaillot. It was seveno'clock in the morning, and daylight began to appear. The three friendsordered breakfast, and went into a room in which the host said theywould not be disturbed. 

Unfortunately, the hour was badly chosen for a private conference. Themorning drum had just been beaten; everyone shook off the drowsiness ofnight, and to dispel the humid morning air, came to take a drop at theinn. Dragoons, Swiss, Guardsmen, Musketeers, light-horsemen, succeededone another with a rapidity which might answer the purpose of the hostvery well, but agreed badly with the views of the four friends. Thusthey applied very curtly to the salutations, healths, and jokes of theircompanions. 

"I see how it will be, " said Athos: "we shall get into some prettyquarrel or other, and we have no need of one just now. D'Artagnan, tell us what sort of a night you have had, and we will describe oursafterward. "

"Ah, yes, " said a light-horseman, with a glass of brandy in his hand, which he sipped slowly. "I hear you gentlemen of the Guards have beenin the trenches tonight, and that you did not get much the best of theRochellais. "

D'Artagnan looked at Athos to know if he ought to reply to this intruderwho thus mixed unasked in their conversation. 

"Well, " said Athos, "don't you hear Monsieur de Busigny, who does youthe honor to ask you a question? Relate what has passed during thenight, since these gentlemen desire to know it. "

"Have you not taken a bastion?" said a Swiss, who was drinking rum outof beer glass. 

"Yes, monsieur, " said d'Artagnan, bowing, "we have had that honor. Weeven have, as you may have heard, introduced a barrel of powder underone of the angles, which in blowing up made a very pretty breach. Without reckoning that as the bastion was not built yesterday all therest of the building was badly shaken. "

"And what bastion is it?" asked a dragoon, with his saber run through agoose which he was taking to be cooked. 

"The bastion St. Gervais, " replied d'Artagnan, "from behind which theRochellais annoyed our workmen. "

"Was that affair hot?"

"Yes, moderately so. We lost five men, and the Rochellais eight or ten. "

"Balzempleu!" said the Swiss, who, notwithstanding the admirablecollection of oaths possessed by the German language, had acquired ahabit of swearing in French. 

"But it is probable, " said the light-horseman, "that they will sendpioneers this morning to repair the bastion. "

"Yes, that's probable, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Gentlemen, " said Athos, "a wager!"

"Ah, wooi, a vager!" cried the Swiss. 

"What is it?" said the light-horseman. 

"Stop a bit, " said the dragoon, placing his saber like a spit upon thetwo large iron dogs which held the firebrands in the chimney, "stop abit, I am in it. You cursed host! a dripping pan immediately, that I maynot lose a drop of the fat of this estimable bird. "

"You was right, " said the Swiss; "goose grease is kood with basdry. "

"There!" said the dragoon. "Now for the wager! We listen, MonsieurAthos. "

"Yes, the wager!" said the light-horseman. 

"Well, Monsieur de Busigny, I will bet you, " said Athos, "that my threecompanions, Messieurs Porthos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan, and myself, willgo and breakfast in the bastion St. Gervais, and we will remain there anhour, by the watch, whatever the enemy may do to dislodge us. "

Porthos and Aramis looked at each other; they began to comprehend. 

"But, " said d'Artagnan, in the ear of Athos, "you are going to get usall killed without mercy. "

"We are much more likely to be killed, " said Athos, "if we do not go. "

"My faith, gentlemen, " said Porthos, turning round upon his chair andtwisting his mustache, "that's a fair bet, I hope. "

"I take it, " said M. De Busigny; "so let us fix the stake. "

"You are four gentlemen, " said Athos, "and we are four; an unlimiteddinner for eight. Will that do?"

"Capitally, " replied M. De Busigny. 

"Perfectly, " said the dragoon. 

"That shoots me, " said the Swiss. 

The fourth auditor, who during all this conversation had played amute part, made a sign of the head in proof that he acquiesced in theproposition. 

"The breakfast for these gentlemen is ready, " said the host. 

"Well, bring it, " said Athos. 

The host obeyed. Athos called Grimaud, pointed to a large basket whichlay in a corner, and made a sign to him to wrap the viands up in thenapkins. 

Grimaud understood that it was to be a breakfast on the grass, tookthe basket, packed up the viands, added the bottles, and then took thebasket on his arm. 

"But where are you going to eat my breakfast?" asked the host. 

"What matter, if you are paid for it?" said Athos, and he threw twopistoles majestically on the table. 

"Shall I give you the change, my officer?" said the host. 

"No, only add two bottles of champagne, and the difference will be forthe napkins. "

The host had not quite so good a bargain as he at first hoped for, buthe made amends by slipping in two bottles of Anjou wine instead of twobottles of champagne. 

"Monsieur de Busigny, " said Athos, "will you be so kind as to set yourwatch with mine, or permit me to regulate mine by yours?"

"Which you please, monsieur!" said the light-horseman, drawing from hisfob a very handsome watch, studded with diamonds; "half past seven. "

"Thirty-five minutes after seven, " said Athos, "by which you perceive Iam five minutes faster than you. "

And bowing to all the astonished persons present, the young men took theroad to the bastion St. Gervais, followed by Grimaud, who carried thebasket, ignorant of where he was going but in the passive obediencewhich Athos had taught him not even thinking of asking. 

As long as they were within the circle of the camp, the four friends didnot exchange one word; besides, they were followed by the curious, who, hearing of the wager, were anxious to know how they would come out ofit. But when once they passed the line of circumvallation and foundthemselves in the open plain, d'Artagnan, who was completely ignorant ofwhat was going forward, thought it was time to demand an explanation. 

"And now, my dear Athos, " said he, "do me the kindness to tell me wherewe are going?"

"Why, you see plainly enough we are going to the bastion. "

"But what are we going to do there?"

"You know well that we go to breakfast there. "

"But why did we not breakfast at the Parpaillot?"

"Because we have very important matters to communicate to one another, and it was impossible to talk five minutes in that inn without beingannoyed by all those importunate fellows, who keep coming in, salutingyou, and addressing you. Here at least, " said Athos, pointing to thebastion, "they will not come and disturb us. "

"It appears to me, " said d'Artagnan, with that prudence which allieditself in him so naturally with excessive bravery, "that we could havefound some retired place on the downs or the seashore. "

"Where we should have been seen all four conferring together, so that atthe end of a quarter of an hour the cardinal would have been informed byhis spies that we were holding a council. "

"Yes, " said Aramis, "Athos is right: ANIMADVERTUNTUR IN DESERTIS. "

"A desert would not have been amiss, " said Porthos; "but it behooved usto find it. "

"There is no desert where a bird cannot pass over one's head, where afish cannot leap out of the water, where a rabbit cannot come out of itsburrow, and I believe that bird, fish, and rabbit each becomes a spy ofthe cardinal. Better, then, pursue our enterprise; from which, besides, we cannot retreat without shame. We have made a wager--a wager whichcould not have been foreseen, and of which I defy anyone to divine thetrue cause. We are going, in order to win it, to remain an hour in thebastion. Either we shall be attacked, or not. If we are not, we shallhave all the time to talk, and nobody will hear us--for I guaranteethe walls of the bastion have no ears; if we are, we will talk of ouraffairs just the same. Moreover, in defending ourselves, we shall coverourselves with glory. You see that everything is to our advantage. "

"Yes, " said d'Artagnan; "but we shall indubitably attract a ball. "

"Well, my dear, " replied Athos, "you know well that the balls most to bedreaded are not from the enemy. "

"But for such an expedition we surely ought to have brought ourmuskets. "

"You are stupid, friend Porthos. Why should we load ourselves with auseless burden?"

"I don't find a good musket, twelve cartridges, and a powder flask veryuseless in the face of an enemy. "

"Well, " replied Athos, "have you not heard what d'Artagnan said?"

"What did he say?" demanded Porthos. 

"d'Artagnan said that in the attack of last night eight or ten Frenchmenwere killed, and as many Rochellais. "

"What then?"

"The bodies were not plundered, were they? It appears the conquerors hadsomething else to do. "

"Well?"

"Well, we shall find their muskets, their cartridges, and their flasks;and instead of four musketoons and twelve balls, we shall have fifteenguns and a hundred charges to fire. "

"Oh, Athos!" said Aramis, "truly you are a great man. "

Porthos nodded in sign of agreement. D'Artagnan alone did not seemconvinced. 

Grimaud no doubt shared the misgivings of the young man, for seeing thatthey continued to advance toward the bastion--something he had till thendoubted--he pulled his master by the skirt of his coat. 

"Where are we going?" asked he, by a gesture. 

Athos pointed to the bastion. 

"But, " said Grimaud, in the same silent dialect, "we shall leave ourskins there. "

Athos raised his eyes and his finger toward heaven. 

Grimaud put his basket on the ground and sat down with a shake of thehead. 

Athos took a pistol from his belt, looked to see if it was properlyprimed, cocked it, and placed the muzzle close to Grimaud's ear. 

Grimaud was on his legs again as if by a spring. Athos then made hima sign to take up his basket and to walk on first. Grimaud obeyed. Allthat Grimaud gained by this momentary pantomime was to pass from therear guard to the vanguard. 

Arrived at the bastion, the four friends turned round. 

More than three hundred soldiers of all kinds were assembled at thegate of the camp; and in a separate group might be distinguished M. DeBusigny, the dragoon, the Swiss, and the fourth bettor. 

Athos took off his hat, placed it on the end of his sword, and waved itin the air. 

All the spectators returned him his salute, accompanying this courtesywith a loud hurrah which was audible to the four; after which all fourdisappeared in the bastion, whither Grimaud had preceded them. 

47 THE COUNCIL OF THE MUSKETEERS

As Athos had foreseen, the bastion was only occupied by a dozen corpses, French and Rochellais. 

"Gentlemen, " said Athos, who had assumed the command of the expedition, "while Grimaud spreads the table, let us begin by collecting the gunsand cartridges together. We can talk while performing that necessarytask. These gentlemen, " added he, pointing to the bodies, "cannot hearus. "

"But we could throw them into the ditch, " said Porthos, "after havingassured ourselves they have nothing in their pockets. "

"Yes, " said Athos, "that's Grimaud's business. "

"Well, then, " cried d'Artagnan, "pray let Grimaud search them and throwthem over the walls. "

"Heaven forfend!" said Athos; "they may serve us. "

"These bodies serve us?" said Porthos. "You are mad, dear friend. "

"Judge not rashly, say the gospel and the cardinal, " replied Athos. "Howmany guns, gentlemen?"

"Twelve, " replied Aramis. 

"How many shots?"

"A hundred. "

"That's quite as many as we shall want. Let us load the guns. "

The four Musketeers went to work; and as they were loading the lastmusket Grimaud announced that the breakfast was ready. 

Athos replied, always by gestures, that that was well, and indicated toGrimaud, by pointing to a turret that resembled a pepper caster, thathe was to stand as sentinel. Only, to alleviate the tediousness of theduty, Athos allowed him to take a loaf, two cutlets, and a bottle ofwine. 

"And now to table, " said Athos. 

The four friends seated themselves on the ground with their legs crossedlike Turks, or even tailors. 

"And now, " said d'Artagnan, "as there is no longer any fear of beingoverheard, I hope you are going to let me into your secret. "

"I hope at the same time to procure you amusement and glory, gentlemen, "said Athos. "I have induced you to take a charming promenade; here is adelicious breakfast; and yonder are five hundred persons, as you may seethrough the loopholes, taking us for heroes or madmen--two classes ofimbeciles greatly resembling each other. "

"But the secret!" said d'Artagnan. 

"The secret is, " said Athos, "that I saw Milady last night. "

D'Artagnan was lifting a glass to his lips; but at the name of Milady, his hand trembled so, that he was obliged to put the glass on the groundagain for fear of spilling the contents. "

"You saw your wi--"

"Hush!" interrupted Athos. "You forget, my dear, you forget that thesegentlemen are not initiated into my family affairs like yourself. I haveseen Milady. "

"Where?" demanded d'Artagnan. 

"Within two leagues of this place, at the inn of the Red Dovecot. "

"In that case I am lost, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Not so bad yet, " replied Athos; "for by this time she must have quitthe shores of France. "

D'Artagnan breathed again. 

"But after all, " asked Porthos, "who is Milady?"

"A charming woman!" said Athos, sipping a glass of sparkling wine. "Villainous host!" cried he, "he has given us Anjou wine insteadof champagne, and fancies we know no better! Yes, " continued he, "acharming woman, who entertained kind views toward our friend d'Artagnan, who, on his part, has given her some offense for which she tried torevenge herself a month ago by having him killed by two musket shots, aweek ago by trying to poison him, and yesterday by demanding his head ofthe cardinal. "

"What! by demanding my head of the cardinal?" cried d'Artagnan, palewith terror. 

"Yes, that is true as the Gospel, " said Porthos; "I heard her with myown ears. "

"I also, " said Aramis. 

"Then, " said d'Artagnan, letting his arm fall with discouragement, "itis useless to struggle longer. I may as well blow my brains out, and allwill be over. "

"That's the last folly to be committed, " said Athos, "seeing it is theonly one for which there is no remedy. "

"But I can never escape, " said d'Artagnan, "with such enemies. First, my stranger of Meung; then de Wardes, to whom I have given three swordwounds; next Milady, whose secret I have discovered; finally, thecardinal, whose vengeance I have balked. "

"Well, " said Athos, "that only makes four; and we are four--one for one. Pardieu! if we may believe the signs Grimaud is making, we are about tohave to do with a very different number of people. What is it, Grimaud?Considering the gravity of the occasion, I permit you to speak, myfriend; but be laconic, I beg. What do you see?"

"A troop. "

"Of how many persons?"

"Twenty men. "

"What sort of men?"

"Sixteen pioneers, four soldiers. "

"How far distant?"

"Five hundred paces. "

"Good! We have just time to finish this fowl and to drink one glass ofwine to your health, d'Artagnan. "

"To your health!" repeated Porthos and Aramis. 

"Well, then, to my health! although I am very much afraid that your goodwishes will not be of great service to me. "

"Bah!" said Athos, "God is great, as say the followers of Mohammed, andthe future is in his hands. "

Then, swallowing the contents of his glass, which he put down close tohim, Athos arose carelessly, took the musket next to him, and drew nearto one of the loopholes. 

Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan followed his example. As to Grimaud, hereceived orders to place himself behind the four friends in order toreload their weapons. 

"Pardieu!" said Athos, "it was hardly worth while to distributeourselves for twenty fellows armed with pickaxes, mattocks, and shovels. Grimaud had only to make them a sign to go away, and I am convinced theywould have left us in peace. "

"I doubt that, " replied d'Artagnan, "for they are advancing veryresolutely. Besides, in addition to the pioneers, there are foursoldiers and a brigadier, armed with muskets. "

"That's because they don't see us, " said Athos. 

"My faith, " said Aramis, "I must confess I feel a great repugnance tofire on these poor devils of civilians. "

"He is a bad priest, " said Porthos, "who has pity for heretics. "

"In truth, " said Athos, "Aramis is right. I will warn them. "

"What the devil are you going to do?" cried d'Artagnan, "you will beshot. "

But Athos heeded not his advice. Mounting on the breach, with his musketin one hand and his hat in the other, he said, bowing courteouslyand addressing the soldiers and the pioneers, who, astonished at thisapparition, stopped fifty paces from the bastion: "Gentlemen, a fewfriends and myself are about to breakfast in this bastion. Now, youknow nothing is more disagreeable than being disturbed when one is atbreakfast. We request you, then, if you really have business here, towait till we have finished or repast, or to come again a short timehence, unless; unless, which would be far better, you form the salutaryresolution to quit the side of the rebels, and come and drink with us tothe health of the King of France. "

"Take care, Athos!" cried d'Artagnan; "don't you see they are aiming?"

"Yes, yes, " said Athos; "but they are only civilians--very bad marksmen, who will be sure not to hit me. "

In fact, at the same instant four shots were fired, and the balls wereflattened against the wall around Athos, but not one touched him. 

Four shots replied to them almost instantaneously, but much better aimedthan those of the aggressors; three soldiers fell dead, and one of thepioneers was wounded. 

"Grimaud, " said Athos, still on the breach, "another musket!"

Grimaud immediately obeyed. On their part, the three friends hadreloaded their arms; a second discharge followed the first. Thebrigadier and two pioneers fell dead; the rest of the troop took toflight. 

"Now, gentlemen, a sortie!" cried Athos. 

And the four friends rushed out of the fort, gained the field of battle, picked up the four muskets of the privates and the half-pike of thebrigadier, and convinced that the fugitives would not stop till theyreached the city, turned again toward the bastion, bearing with them thetrophies of their victory. 

"Reload the muskets, Grimaud, " said Athos, "and we, gentlemen, will goon with our breakfast, and resume our conversation. Where were we?"

"I recollect you were saying, " said d'Artagnan, "that after havingdemanded my head of the cardinal, Milady had quit the shores of France. Whither goes she?" added he, strongly interested in the route Miladyfollowed. 

"She goes into England, " said Athos. 

"With what view?"

"With the view of assassinating, or causing to be assassinated, the Dukeof Buckingham. "

D'Artagnan uttered an exclamation of surprise and indignation. 

"But this is infamous!" cried he. 

"As to that, " said Athos, "I beg you to believe that I care very littleabout it. Now you have done, Grimaud, take our brigadier's half-pike, tie a napkin to it, and plant it on top of our bastion, that theserebels of Rochellais may see that they have to deal with brave and loyalsoldiers of the king. "

Grimaud obeyed without replying. An instant afterward, the white flagwas floating over the heads of the four friends. A thunder of applausesaluted its appearance; half the camp was at the barrier. 

"How?" replied d'Artagnan, "you care little if she kills Buckingham orcauses him to be killed? But the duke is our friend. "

"The duke is English; the duke fights against us. Let her do what shelikes with the duke; I care no more about him than an empty bottle. "And Athos threw fifteen paces from him an empty bottle from which he hadpoured the last drop into his glass. 

"A moment, " said d'Artagnan. "I will not abandon Buckingham thus. Hegave us some very fine horses. "

"And moreover, very handsome saddles, " said Porthos, who at the momentwore on his cloak the lace of his own. 

"Besides, " said Aramis, "God desires the conversion and not the death ofa sinner. "

"Amen!" said Athos, "and we will return to that subject later, if suchbe your pleasure; but what for the moment engaged my attention mostearnestly, and I am sure you will understand me, d'Artagnan, was thegetting from this woman a kind of carte blanche which she had extortedfrom the cardinal, and by means of which she could with impunity get ridof you and perhaps of us. "

"But this creature must be a demon!" said Porthos, holding out his plateto Aramis, who was cutting up a fowl. 

"And this carte blanche, " said d'Artagnan, "this carte blanche, does itremain in her hands?"

"No, it passed into mine; I will not say without trouble, for if I did Ishould tell a lie. "

"My dear Athos, I shall no longer count the number of times I amindebted to you for my life. "

"Then it was to go to her that you left us?" said Aramis. 

"Exactly. "

"And you have that letter of the cardinal?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Here it is, " said Athos; and he took the invaluable paper from thepocket of his uniform. D'Artagnan unfolded it with one hand, whosetrembling he did not even attempt to conceal, to read:

Dec. 3, 1627

It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of thishas done what he has done. 

"Richelieu"

"In fact, " said Aramis, "it is an absolution according to rule. "

"That paper must be torn to pieces, " said d'Artagnan, who fancied heread in it his sentence of death. 

"On the contrary, " said Athos, "it must be preserved carefully. I wouldnot give up this paper if covered with as many gold pieces. "

"And what will she do now?" asked the young man. 

"Why, " replied Athos, carelessly, "she is probably going to write tothe cardinal that a damned Musketeer, named Athos, has taken hersafe-conduct from her by force; she will advise him in the same letterto get rid of his two friends, Aramis and Porthos, at the same time. The cardinal will remember that these are the same men who have oftencrossed his path; and then some fine morning he will arrest d'Artagnan, and for fear he should feel lonely, he will send us to keep him companyin the Bastille. "

"Go to! It appears to me you make dull jokes, my dear, " said Porthos. 

"I do not jest, " said Athos. 

"Do you know, " said Porthos, "that to twist that damned Milady's neckwould be a smaller sin than to twist those of these poor devils ofHuguenots, who have committed no other crime than singing in French thepsalms we sing in Latin?"

"What says the abbe?" asked Athos, quietly. 

"I say I am entirely of Porthos's opinion, " replied Aramis. 

"And I, too, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Fortunately, she is far off, " said Porthos, "for I confess she wouldworry me if she were here. "

"She worries me in England as well as in France, " said Athos. 

"She worries me everywhere, " said d'Artagnan. 

"But when you held her in your power, why did you not drown her, strangle her, hang her?" said Porthos. "It is only the dead who do notreturn. "

"You think so, Porthos?" replied the Musketeer, with a sad smile whichd'Artagnan alone understood. 

"I have an idea, " said d'Artagnan. 

"What is it?" said the Musketeers. 

"To arms!" cried Grimaud. 

The young men sprang up, and seized their muskets. 

This time a small troop advanced, consisting of from twenty totwenty-five men; but they were not pioneers, they were soldiers of thegarrison. 

"Shall we return to the camp?" said Porthos. "I don't think the sidesare equal. "

"Impossible, for three reasons, " replied Athos. "The first, that wehave not finished breakfast; the second, that we still have some veryimportant things to say; and the third, that it yet wants ten minutesbefore the lapse of the hour. "

"Well, then, " said Aramis, "we must form a plan of battle. "

"That's very simple, " replied Athos. "As soon as the enemy are withinmusket shot, we must fire upon them. If they continue to advance, wemust fire again. We must fire as long as we have loaded guns. If thosewho remain of the troop persist in coming to the assault, we will allowthe besiegers to get as far as the ditch, and then we will push downupon their heads that strip of wall which keeps its perpendicular by amiracle. "

"Bravo!" cried Porthos. "Decidedly, Athos, you were born to be ageneral, and the cardinal, who fancies himself a great soldier, isnothing beside you. "

"Gentlemen, " said Athos, "no divided attention, I beg; let each one pickout his man. "

"I cover mine, " said d'Artagnan. 

"And I mine, " said Porthos. 

"And I mine, " said Aramis. 

"Fire, then, " said Athos. 

The four muskets made but one report, but four men fell. 

The drum immediately beat, and the little troop advanced at chargingpace. 

Then the shots were repeated without regularity, but always aimedwith the same accuracy. Nevertheless, as if they had been aware of thenumerical weakness of the friends, the Rochellais continued to advancein quick time. 

With every three shots at least two men fell; but the march of those whoremained was not slackened. 

Arrived at the foot of the bastion, there were still more than a dozenof the enemy. A last discharge welcomed them, but did not stop them;they jumped into the ditch, and prepared to scale the breach. 

"Now, my friends, " said Athos, "finish them at a blow. To the wall; tothe wall!"

And the four friends, seconded by Grimaud, pushed with the barrels oftheir muskets an enormous sheet of the wall, which bent as if pushed bythe wind, and detaching itself from its base, fell with a horrible crashinto the ditch. Then a fearful crash was heard; a cloud of dust mountedtoward the sky--and all was over!

"Can we have destroyed them all, from the first to the last?" saidAthos. 

"My faith, it appears so!" said d'Artagnan. 

"No, " cried Porthos; "there go three or four, limping away. "

In fact, three or four of these unfortunate men, covered with dirt andblood, fled along the hollow way, and at length regained the city. Thesewere all who were left of the little troop. 

Athos looked at his watch. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, "we have been here an hour, and our wager is won;but we will be fair players. Besides, d'Artagnan has not told us hisidea yet. "

And the Musketeer, with his usual coolness, reseated himself before theremains of the breakfast. 

"My idea?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Yes; you said you had an idea, " said Athos. 

"Oh, I remember, " said d'Artagnan. "Well, I will go to England a secondtime; I will go and find Buckingham. "

"You shall not do that, d'Artagnan, " said Athos, coolly. 

"And why not? Have I not been there once?"

"Yes; but at that period we were not at war. At that period Buckinghamwas an ally, and not an enemy. What you would now do amounts totreason. "

D'Artagnan perceived the force of this reasoning, and was silent. 

"But, " said Porthos, "I think I have an idea, in my turn. "

"Silence for Monsieur Porthos's idea!" said Aramis. 

"I will ask leave of absence of Monsieur de Treville, on some pretextor other which you must invent; I am not very clever at pretexts. Miladydoes not know me; I will get access to her without her suspecting me, and when I catch my beauty, I will strangle her. "

"Well, " replied Athos, "I am not far from approving the idea of MonsieurPorthos. "

"For shame!" said Aramis. "Kill a woman? No, listen to me; I have thetrue idea. "

"Let us see your idea, Aramis, " said Athos, who felt much deference forthe young Musketeer. 

"We must inform the queen. "

"Ah, my faith, yes!" said Porthos and d'Artagnan, at the same time; "weare coming nearer to it now. "

"Inform the queen!" said Athos; "and how? Have we relations with thecourt? Could we send anyone to Paris without its being known in thecamp? From here to Paris it is a hundred and forty leagues; before ourletter was at Angers we should be in a dungeon. "

"As to remitting a letter with safety to her Majesty, " said Aramis, coloring, "I will take that upon myself. I know a clever person atTours--"

Aramis stopped on seeing Athos smile. 

"Well, do you not adopt this means, Athos?" said d'Artagnan. 

"I do not reject it altogether, " said Athos; "but I wish to remindAramis that he cannot quit the camp, and that nobody but one ofourselves is trustworthy; that two hours after the messenger has setout, all the Capuchins, all the police, all the black caps of thecardinal, will know your letter by heart, and you and your clever personwill be arrested. "

"Without reckoning, " objected Porthos, "that the queen would saveMonsieur de Buckingham, but would take no heed of us. "

"Gentlemen, " said d'Artagnan, "what Porthos says is full of sense. "

"Ah, ah! but what's going on in the city yonder?" said Athos. 

"They are beating the general alarm. "

The four friends listened, and the sound of the drum plainly reachedthem. 

"You see, they are going to send a whole regiment against us, " saidAthos. 

"You don't think of holding out against a whole regiment, do you?" saidPorthos. 

"Why not?" said Musketeer. "I feel myself quite in a humor for it; and Iwould hold out before an army if we had taken the precaution to bring adozen more bottles of wine. "

"Upon my word, the drum draws near, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Let it come, " said Athos. "It is a quarter of an hour's journey fromhere to the city, consequently a quarter of an hour's journey from thecity to hither. That is more than time enough for us to devise a plan. If we go from this place we shall never find another so suitable. Ah, stop! I have it, gentlemen; the right idea has just occurred to me. "

"Tell us. "

"Allow me to give Grimaud some indispensable orders. "

Athos made a sign for his lackey to approach. 

"Grimaud, " said Athos, pointing to the bodies which lay under the wallof the bastion, "take those gentlemen, set them up against the wall, puttheir hats upon their heads, and their guns in their hands. "

"Oh, the great man!" cried d'Artagnan. "I comprehend now. "

"You comprehend?" said Porthos. 

"And do you comprehend, Grimaud?" said Aramis. 

Grimaud made a sign in the affirmative. 

"That's all that is necessary, " said Athos; "now for my idea. "

"I should like, however, to comprehend, " said Porthos. 

"That is useless. "

"Yes, yes! Athos's idea!" cried Aramis and d'Artagnan, at the same time. 

"This Milady, this woman, this creature, this demon, has abrother-in-law, as I think you told me, d'Artagnan?"

"Yes, I know him very well; and I also believe that he has not a verywarm affection for his sister-in-law. "

"There is no harm in that. If he detested her, it would be all thebetter, " replied Athos. 

"In that case we are as well off as we wish. "

"And yet, " said Porthos, "I would like to know what Grimaud is about. "

"Silence, Porthos!" said Aramis. 

"What is her brother-in-law's name?"

"Lord de Winter. "

"Where is he now?"

"He returned to London at the first sound of war. "

"Well, there's just the man we want, " said Athos. "It is he whom we mustwarn. We will have him informed that his sister-in-law is on the pointof having someone assassinated, and beg him not to lose sight ofher. There is in London, I hope, some establishment like that of theMagdalens, or of the Repentant Daughters. He must place his sister inone of these, and we shall be in peace. "

"Yes, " said d'Artagnan, "till she comes out. "

"Ah, my faith!" said Athos, "you require too much, d'Artagnan. I havegiven you all I have, and I beg leave to tell you that this is thebottom of my sack. "

"But I think it would be still better, " said Aramis, "to inform thequeen and Lord de Winter at the same time. "

"Yes; but who is to carry the letter to Tours, and who to London?"

"I answer for Bazin, " said Aramis. 

"And I for Planchet, " said d'Artagnan. 

"Ay, " said Porthos, "if we cannot leave the camp, our lackeys may. "

"To be sure they may; and this very day we will write the letters, " saidAramis. "Give the lackeys money, and they will start. "

"We will give them money?" replied Athos. "Have you any money?"

The four friends looked at one another, and a cloud came over the browswhich but lately had been so cheerful. 

"Look out!" cried d'Artagnan, "I see black points and red points movingyonder. Why did you talk of a regiment, Athos? It is a veritable army!"

"My faith, yes, " said Athos; "there they are. See the sneaks come, without drum or trumpet. Ah, ah! have you finished, Grimaud?"

Grimaud made a sign in the affirmative, and pointed to a dozen bodieswhich he had set up in the most picturesque attitudes. Some carriedarms, others seemed to be taking aim, and the remainder appeared merelyto be sword in hand. 

"Bravo!" said Athos; "that does honor to your imagination. "

"All very well, " said Porthos, "but I should like to understand. "

"Let us decamp first, and you will understand afterward. "

"A moment, gentlemen, a moment; give Grimaud time to clear away thebreakfast. "

"Ah, ah!" said Aramis, "the black points and the red points are visiblyenlarging. I am of d'Artagnan's opinion; we have no time to lose inregaining our camp. "

"My faith, " said Athos, "I have nothing to say against a retreat. Webet upon one hour, and we have stayed an hour and a half. Nothing can besaid; let us be off, gentlemen, let us be off!"

Grimaud was already ahead, with the basket and the dessert. The fourfriends followed, ten paces behind him. 

"What the devil shall we do now, gentlemen?" cried Athos. 

"Have you forgotten anything?" said Aramis. 

"The white flag, morbleu! We must not leave a flag in the hands of theenemy, even if that flag be but a napkin. "

And Athos ran back to the bastion, mounted the platform, and bore offthe flag; but as the Rochellais had arrived within musket range, theyopened a terrible fire upon this man, who appeared to expose himself forpleasure's sake. 

But Athos might be said to bear a charmed life. The balls passed andwhistled all around him; not one struck him. 

Athos waved his flag, turning his back on the guards of the city, andsaluting those of the camp. On both sides loud cries arose--on the oneside cries of anger, on the other cries of enthusiasm. 

A second discharge followed the first, and three balls, by passingthrough it, made the napkin really a flag. Cries were heard from thecamp, "Come down! come down!"

Athos came down; his friends, who anxiously awaited him, saw himreturned with joy. 

"Come along, Athos, come along!" cried d'Artagnan; "now we have foundeverything except money, it would be stupid to be killed. "

But Athos continued to march majestically, whatever remarks hiscompanions made; and they, finding their remarks useless, regulatedtheir pace by his. 

Grimaud and his basket were far in advance, out of the range of theballs. 

At the end of an instant they heard a furious fusillade. 

"What's that?" asked Porthos, "what are they firing at now? I hear noballs whistle, and I see nobody!"

"They are firing at the corpses, " replied Athos. 

"But the dead cannot return their fire. "

"Certainly not! They will then fancy it is an ambuscade, they willdeliberate; and by the time they have found out the pleasantry, we shallbe out of the range of their balls. That renders it useless to get apleurisy by too much haste. "

"Oh, I comprehend now, " said the astonished Porthos. 

"That's lucky, " said Athos, shrugging his shoulders. 

On their part, the French, on seeing the four friends return at such astep, uttered cries of enthusiasm. 

At length a fresh discharge was heard, and this time the balls camerattling among the stones around the four friends, and whistling sharplyin their ears. The Rochellais had at last taken possession of thebastion. 

"These Rochellais are bungling fellows, " said Athos; "how many have wekilled of them--a dozen?"

"Or fifteen. "

"How many did we crush under the wall?"

"Eight or ten. "

"And in exchange for all that not even a scratch! Ah, but what is thematter with your hand, d'Artagnan? It bleeds, seemingly. "

"Oh, it's nothing, " said d'Artagnan. 

"A spent ball?"

"Not even that. "

"What is it, then?"

We have said that Athos loved d'Artagnan like a child, and this somberand inflexible personage felt the anxiety of a parent for the young man. 

"Only grazed a little, " replied d'Artagnan; "my fingers were caughtbetween two stones--that of the wall and that of my ring--and the skinwas broken. "

"That comes of wearing diamonds, my master, " said Athos, disdainfully. 

"Ah, to be sure, " cried Porthos, "there is a diamond. Why the devil, then, do we plague ourselves about money, when there is a diamond?"

"Stop a bit!" said Aramis. 

"Well thought of, Porthos; this time you have an idea. "

"Undoubtedly, " said Porthos, drawing himself up at Athos's compliment;"as there is a diamond, let us sell it. "

"But, " said d'Artagnan, "it is the queen's diamond. "

"The stronger reason why it should be sold, " replied Athos. The queensaving Monsieur de Buckingham, her lover; nothing more just. The queensaving us, her friends; nothing more moral. Let us sell the diamond. What says Monsieur the Abbe? I don't ask Porthos; his opinion has beengiven. "

"Why, I think, " said Aramis, blushing as usual, "that his ring notcoming from a mistress, and consequently not being a love token, d'Artagnan may sell it. "

"My dear Aramis, you speak like theology personified. Your advice, then, is--"

"To sell the diamond, " replied Aramis. 

"Well, then, " said d'Artagnan, gaily, "let us sell the diamond, and sayno more about it. "

The fusillade continued; but the four friends were out of reach, and theRochellais only fired to appease their consciences. 

"My faith, it was time that idea came into Porthos's head. Here we areat the camp; therefore, gentlemen, not a word more of this affair. We are observed; they are coming to meet us. We shall be carried intriumph. "

In fact, as we have said, the whole camp was in motion. More than twothousand persons had assisted, as at a spectacle, in this fortunate butwild undertaking of the four friends--an undertaking of which they werefar from suspecting the real motive. Nothing was heard but cries of"Live the Musketeers! Live the Guards!" M. De Busigny was the first tocome and shake Athos by the hand, and acknowledge that the wager waslost. The dragoon and the Swiss followed him, and all their comradesfollowed the dragoon and the Swiss. There was nothing but felicitations, pressures of the hand, and embraces; there was no end to theinextinguishable laughter at the Rochellais. The tumult at length becameso great that the cardinal fancied there must be some riot, and sent LaHoudiniere, his captain of the Guards, to inquire what was going on. 

The affair was described to the messenger with all the effervescence ofenthusiasm. 

"Well?" asked the cardinal, on seeing La Houdiniere return. 

"Well, monseigneur, " replied the latter, "three Musketeers and aGuardsman laid a wager with Monsieur de Busigny that they would go andbreakfast in the bastion St. Gervais; and while breakfasting they heldit for two hours against the enemy, and have killed I don't know howmany Rochellais. "

"Did you inquire the names of those three Musketeers?"

"Yes, monseigneur. "

"What are their names?"

"Messieurs Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. "

"Still my three brave fellows!" murmured the cardinal. "And theGuardsman?"

"d'Artagnan. "

"Still my young scapegrace. Positively, these four men must be on myside. "

The same evening the cardinal spoke to M. De Treville of the exploit ofthe morning, which was the talk of the whole camp. M. De Treville, whohad received the account of the adventure from the mouths of the heroesof it, related it in all its details to his Eminence, not forgetting theepisode of the napkin. 

"That's well, Monsieur de Treville, " said the cardinal; "pray let thatnapkin be sent to me. I will have three fleur-de-lis embroidered on itin gold, and will give it to your company as a standard. "

"Monseigneur, " said M. De Treville, "that will be unjust to theGuardsmen. Monsieur d'Artagnan is not with me; he serves under MonsieurDessessart. "

"Well, then, take him, " said the cardinal; "when four men are so muchattached to one another, it is only fair that they should serve in thesame company. "

That same evening M. De Treville announced this good news to the threeMusketeers and d'Artagnan, inviting all four to breakfast with him nextmorning. 

D'Artagnan was beside himself with joy. We know that the dream of hislife had been to become a Musketeer. The three friends were likewisegreatly delighted. 

"My faith, " said d'Artagnan to Athos, "you had a triumphant idea! Asyou said, we have acquired glory, and were enabled to carry on aconversation of the highest importance. "

"Which we can resume now without anybody suspecting us, for, with thehelp of God, we shall henceforth pass for cardinalists. "

That evening d'Artagnan went to present his respects to M. Dessessart, and inform him of his promotion. 

M. Dessessart, who esteemed d'Artagnan, made him offers of help, as thischange would entail expenses for equipment. 

D'Artagnan refused; but thinking the opportunity a good one, he beggedhim to have the diamond he put into his hand valued, as he wished toturn it into money. 

The next day, M. Dessessart's valet came to d'Artagnan's lodging, andgave him a bag containing seven thousand livres. 

This was the price of the queen's diamond. 

48 A FAMILY AFFAIR

Athos had invented the phrase, family affair. A family affair was notsubject to the investigation of the cardinal; a family affair concernednobody. People might employ themselves in a family affair before all theworld. Therefore Athos had invented the phrase, family affair. 

Aramis had discovered the idea, the lackeys. 

Porthos had discovered the means, the diamond. 

D'Artagnan alone had discovered nothing--he, ordinarily the mostinventive of the four; but it must be also said that the very name ofMilady paralyzed him. 

Ah! no, we were mistaken; he had discovered a purchaser for his diamond. 

The breakfast at M. De Treville's was as gay and cheerful as possible. D'Artagnan already wore his uniform--for being nearly of the same sizeas Aramis, and as Aramis was so liberally paid by the publisher whopurchased his poem as to allow him to buy everything double, he sold hisfriend a complete outfit. 

D'Artagnan would have been at the height of his wishes if he had notconstantly seen Milady like a dark cloud hovering in the horizon. 

After breakfast, it was agreed that they should meet again in theevening at Athos's lodging, and there finish their plans. 

D'Artagnan passed the day in exhibiting his Musketeer's uniform in everystreet of the camp. 

In the evening, at the appointed hour, the four friends met. There onlyremained three things to decide--what they should write to Milady'sbrother; what they should write to the clever person at Tours; and whichshould be the lackeys to carry the letters. 

Everyone offered his own. Athos talked of the discretion of Grimaud, who never spoke a word but when his master unlocked his mouth. Porthosboasted of the strength of Mousqueton, who was big enough to thrash fourmen of ordinary size. Aramis, confiding in the address of Bazin, made apompous eulogium on his candidate. Finally, d'Artagnan had entire faithin the bravery of Planchet, and reminded them of the manner in which hehad conducted himself in the ticklish affair of Boulogne. 

These four virtues disputed the prize for a length of time, and gavebirth to magnificent speeches which we do not repeat here for fear theyshould be deemed too long. 

"Unfortunately, " said Athos, "he whom we send must possess in himselfalone the four qualities united. "

"But where is such a lackey to be found?"

"Not to be found!" cried Athos. "I know it well, so take Grimaud. "

"Take Mousqueton. "

"Take Bazin. "

"Take Planchet. Planchet is brave and shrewd; they are two qualities outof the four. "

"Gentlemen, " said Aramis, "the principal question is not to know whichof our four lackeys is the most discreet, the most strong, the mostclever, or the most brave; the principal thing is to know which lovesmoney the best. "

"What Aramis says is very sensible, " replied Athos; "we must speculateupon the faults of people, and not upon their virtues. Monsieur Abbe, you are a great moralist. "

"Doubtless, " said Aramis, "for we not only require to be well servedin order to succeed, but moreover, not to fail; for in case of failure, heads are in question, not for our lackeys--"

"Speak lower, Aramis, " said Athos. 

"That's wise--not for the lackeys, " resumed Aramis, "but for themaster--for the masters, we may say. Are our lackeys sufficientlydevoted to us to risk their lives for us? No. "

"My faith, " said d'Artagnan. "I would almost answer for Planchet. "

"Well, my dear friend, add to his natural devotedness a good sum ofmoney, and then, instead of answering for him once, answer for himtwice. "

"Why, good God! you will be deceived just the same, " said Athos, who wasan optimist when things were concerned, and a pessimist when men were inquestion. "They will promise everything for the sake of the money, andon the road fear will prevent them from acting. Once taken, they will bepressed; when pressed, they will confess everything. What the devil!we are not children. To reach England"--Athos lowered his voice--"allFrance, covered with spies and creatures of the cardinal, must becrossed. A passport for embarkation must be obtained; and the party mustbe acquainted with English in order to ask the way to London. Really, Ithink the thing very difficult. "

"Not at all, " cried d'Artagnan, who was anxious the matter should beaccomplished; "on the contrary, I think it very easy. It would be, nodoubt, parbleu, if we write to Lord de Winter about affairs of vastimportance, of the horrors of the cardinal--"

"Speak lower!" said Athos. 

"--of intrigues and secrets of state, " continued d'Artagnan, complyingwith the recommendation. "There can be no doubt we would all be brokenon the wheel; but for God's sake, do not forget, as you yourself said, Athos, that we only write to him concerning a family affair; that weonly write to him to entreat that as soon as Milady arrives in Londonhe will put it out of her power to injure us. I will write to him, then, nearly in these terms. "

"Let us see, " said Athos, assuming in advance a critical look. 

"Monsieur and dear friend--"

"Ah, yes! Dear friend to an Englishman, " interrupted Athos; "wellcommenced! Bravo, d'Artagnan! Only with that word you would be quarteredinstead of being broken on the wheel. "

"Well, perhaps. I will say, then, Monsieur, quite short. "

"You may even say, My Lord, " replied Athos, who stickled for propriety. 

"My Lord, do you remember the little goat pasture of the Luxembourg?"

"Good, the Luxembourg! One might believe this is an allusion to thequeen-mother! That's ingenious, " said Athos. 

"Well, then, we will put simply, My Lord, do you remember a certainlittle enclosure where your life was spared?"

"My dear d'Artagnan, you will never make anything but a very badsecretary. Where your life was spared! For shame! that's unworthy. A manof spirit is not to be reminded of such services. A benefit reproachedis an offense committed. "

"The devil!" said d'Artagnan, "you are insupportable. If the letter mustbe written under your censure, my faith, I renounce the task. "

"And you will do right. Handle the musket and the sword, my dear fellow. You will come off splendidly at those two exercises; but pass the penover to Monsieur Abbe. That's his province. "

"Ay, ay!" said Porthos; "pass the pen to Aramis, who writes theses inLatin. "

"Well, so be it, " said d'Artagnan. "Draw up this note for us, Aramis;but by our Holy Father the Pope, cut it short, for I shall prune you inmy turn, I warn you. "

"I ask no better, " said Aramis, with that ingenious air of confidencewhich every poet has in himself; "but let me be properly acquainted withthe subject. I have heard here and there that this sister-in-law was ahussy. I have obtained proof of it by listening to her conversation withthe cardinal. "

"Lower! SACRE BLEU!" said Athos. 

"But, " continued Aramis, "the details escape me. "

"And me also, " said Porthos. 

D'Artagnan and Athos looked at each other for some time in silence. At length Athos, after serious reflection and becoming more pale thanusual, made a sign of assent to d'Artagnan, who by it understood he wasat liberty to speak. 

"Well, this is what you have to say, " said d'Artagnan: "My Lord, yoursister-in-law is an infamous woman, who wished to have you killed thatshe might inherit your wealth; but she could not marry your brother, being already married in France, and having been--" d'Artagnan stopped, as if seeking for the word, and looked at Athos. 

"Repudiated by her husband, " said Athos. 

"Because she had been branded, " continued d'Artagnan. 

"Bah!" cried Porthos. "Impossible! What do you say--that she wanted tohave her brother-in-law killed?"

"Yes. "

"She was married?" asked Aramis. 

"Yes. "

"And her husband found out that she had a fleur-de-lis on her shoulder?"cried Porthos. 

"Yes. "

These three yeses had been pronounced by Athos, each with a sadderintonation. 

"And who has seen this fleur-de-lis?" inquired Aramis. 

"d'Artagnan and I. Or rather, to observe the chronological order, I andd'Artagnan, " replied Athos. 

"And does the husband of this frightful creature still live?" saidAramis. 

"He still lives. "

"Are you quite sure of it?"

"I am he. "

There was a moment of cold silence, during which everyone was affectedaccording to his nature. 

"This time, " said Athos, first breaking the silence, "d'Artagnan hasgiven us an excellent program, and the letter must be written at once. "

"The devil! You are right, Athos, " said Aramis; "and it is a ratherdifficult matter. The chancellor himself would be puzzled how to writesuch a letter, and yet the chancellor draws up an official report veryreadily. Never mind! Be silent, I will write. "

Aramis accordingly took the quill, reflected for a few moments, wroteeight or ten lines in a charming little female hand, and then with avoice soft and slow, as if each word had been scrupulously weighed, heread the following:

"My Lord, The person who writes these few lines had the honor ofcrossing swords with you in the little enclosure of the Rue d'Enfer. As you have several times since declared yourself the friend of thatperson, he thinks it his duty to respond to that friendship by sendingyou important information. Twice you have nearly been the victim of anear relative, whom you believe to be your heir because you are ignorantthat before she contracted a marriage in England she was already marriedin France. But the third time, which is the present, you may succumb. Your relative left La Rochelle for England during the night. Watch herarrival, for she has great and terrible projects. If you require to knowpositively what she is capable of, read her past history on her leftshoulder. "

"Well, now that will do wonderfully well, " said Athos. "My dear Aramis, you have the pen of a secretary of state. Lord de Winter will now beupon his guard if the letter should reach him; and even if it shouldfall into the hands of the cardinal, we shall not be compromised. Butas the lackey who goes may make us believe he has been to London and maystop at Chatellerault, let us give him only half the sum promised him, with the letter, with an agreement that he shall have the other half inexchange for the reply. Have you the diamond?" continued Athos. 

"I have what is still better. I have the price;" and d'Artagnan threwthe bag upon the table. At the sound of the gold Aramis raised his eyesand Porthos started. As to Athos, he remained unmoved. 

"How much in that little bag?"

"Seven thousand livres, in louis of twelve francs. "

"Seven thousand livres!" cried Porthos. "That poor little diamond wasworth seven thousand livres?"

"It appears so, " said Athos, "since here they are. I don't suppose thatour friend d'Artagnan has added any of his own to the amount. "

"But, gentlemen, in all this, " said d'Artagnan, "we do not think of thequeen. Let us take some heed of the welfare of her dear Buckingham. Thatis the least we owe her. "

"That's true, " said Athos; "but that concerns Aramis. "

"Well, " replied the latter, blushing, "what must I say?"

"Oh, that's simple enough!" replied Athos. "Write a second letter forthat clever personage who lives at Tours. "

Aramis resumed his pen, reflected a little, and wrote the followinglines, which he immediately submitted to the approbation of his friends. 

"My dear cousin. "

"Ah, ah!" said Athos. "This clever person is your relative, then?"

"Cousin-german. "

"Go on, to your cousin, then!"

Aramis continued:

"My dear Cousin, His Eminence, the cardinal, whom God preserve for thehappiness of France and the confusion of the enemies of the kingdom, ison the point of putting an end to the hectic rebellion of La Rochelle. It is probable that the succor of the English fleet will never evenarrive in sight of the place. I will even venture to say that I amcertain M. De Buckingham will be prevented from setting out by somegreat event. His Eminence is the most illustrious politician oftimes past, of times present, and probably of times to come. He wouldextinguish the sun if the sun incommoded him. Give these happy tidingsto your sister, my dear cousin. I have dreamed that the unluckyEnglishman was dead. I cannot recollect whether it was by steel or bypoison; only of this I am sure, I have dreamed he was dead, and you knowmy dreams never deceive me. Be assured, then, of seeing me soon return. "

"Capital!" cried Athos; "you are the king of poets, my dear Aramis. Youspeak like the Apocalypse, and you are as true as the Gospel. There isnothing now to do but to put the address to this letter. "

"That is easily done, " said Aramis. 

He folded the letter fancifully, and took up his pen and wrote:

"To Mlle. Michon, seamstress, Tours. "

The three friends looked at one another and laughed; they were caught. 

"Now, " said Aramis, "you will please to understand, gentlemen, thatBazin alone can carry this letter to Tours. My cousin knows nobody butBazin, and places confidence in nobody but him; any other person wouldfail. Besides, Bazin is ambitious and learned; Bazin has read history, gentlemen, he knows that Sixtus the Fifth became Pope after having keptpigs. Well, as he means to enter the Church at the same time asmyself, he does not despair of becoming Pope in his turn, or at leasta cardinal. You can understand that a man who has such views will neverallow himself to be taken, or if taken, will undergo martyrdom ratherthan speak. "

"Very well, " said d'Artagnan, "I consent to Bazin with all my heart, but grant me Planchet. Milady had him one day turned out of doors, withsundry blows of a good stick to accelerate his motions. Now, Planchethas an excellent memory; and I will be bound that sooner than relinquishany possible means of vengeance, he will allow himself to be beatento death. If your arrangements at Tours are your arrangements, Aramis, those of London are mine. I request, then, that Planchet may be chosen, more particularly as he has already been to London with me, and knowshow to speak correctly: London, sir, if you please, and my master, Lordd'Artagnan. With that you may be satisfied he can make his way, bothgoing and returning. "

"In that case, " said Athos, "Planchet must receive seven hundred livresfor going, and seven hundred livres for coming back; and Bazin, threehundred livres for going, and three hundred livres for returning--thatwill reduce the sum to five thousand livres. We will each take athousand livres to be employed as seems good, and we will leave a fundof a thousand livres under the guardianship of Monsieur Abbe here, forextraordinary occasions or common wants. Will that do?"

"My dear Athos, " said Aramis, "you speak like Nestor, who was, aseveryone knows, the wisest among the Greeks. "

"Well, then, " said Athos, "it is agreed. Planchet and Bazin shallgo. Everything considered, I am not sorry to retain Grimaud; he isaccustomed to my ways, and I am particular. Yesterday's affair must haveshaken him a little; his voyage would upset him quite. "

Planchet was sent for, and instructions were given him. The matter hadbeen named to him by d'Artagnan, who in the first place pointed out themoney to him, then the glory, and then the danger. 

"I will carry the letter in the lining of my coat, " said Planchet; "andif I am taken I will swallow it. "

"Well, but then you will not be able to fulfill your commission, " saidd'Artagnan. 

"You will give me a copy this evening, which I shall know by hearttomorrow. "

D'Artagnan looked at his friends, as if to say, "Well, what did I tellyou?"

"Now, " continued he, addressing Planchet, "you have eight days to getan interview with Lord de Winter; you have eight days to return--in allsixteen days. If, on the sixteenth day after your departure, at eighto'clock in the evening you are not here, no money--even if it be butfive minutes past eight. "

"Then, monsieur, " said Planchet, "you must buy me a watch. "

"Take this, " said Athos, with his usual careless generosity, giving himhis own, "and be a good lad. Remember, if you talk, if you babble, ifyou get drunk, you risk your master's head, who has so much confidencein your fidelity, and who answers for you. But remember, also, that ifby your fault any evil happens to d'Artagnan, I will find you, whereveryou may be, for the purpose of ripping up your belly. "

"Oh, monsieur!" said Planchet, humiliated by the suspicion, andmoreover, terrified at the calm air of the Musketeer. 

"And I, " said Porthos, rolling his large eyes, "remember, I will skinyou alive. "

"Ah, monsieur!"

"And I, " said Aramis, with his soft, melodius voice, "remember that Iwill roast you at a slow fire, like a savage. "

"Ah, monsieur!"

Planchet began to weep. We will not venture to say whether it was fromterror created by the threats or from tenderness at seeing four friendsso closely united. 

D'Artagnan took his hand. "See, Planchet, " said he, "these gentlemenonly say this out of affection for me, but at bottom they all like you. "

"Ah, monsieur, " said Planchet, "I will succeed or I will consent to becut in quarters; and if they do cut me in quarters, be assured that nota morsel of me will speak. "

It was decided that Planchet should set out the next day, at eighto'clock in the morning, in order, as he had said, that he might duringthe night learn the letter by heart. He gained just twelve hours by thisengagement; he was to be back on the sixteenth day, by eight o'clock inthe evening. 

In the morning, as he was mounting his horse, d'Artagnan, who felt atthe bottom of his heart a partiality for the duke, took Planchet aside. 

"Listen, " said he to him. "When you have given the letter to Lord deWinter and he has read it, you will further say to him: Watch overhis Grace Lord Buckingham, for they wish to assassinate him. But this, Planchet, is so serious and important that I have not informed myfriends that I would entrust this secret to you; and for a captain'scommission I would not write it. "

"Be satisfied, monsieur, " said Planchet, "you shall see if confidencecan be placed in me. "

Mounted on an excellent horse, which he was to leave at the end oftwenty leagues in order to take the post, Planchet set off at a gallop, his spirits a little depressed by the triple promise made him by theMusketeers, but otherwise as light-hearted as possible. 

Bazin set out the next day for Tours, and was allowed eight days forperforming his commission. 

The four friends, during the period of these two absences, had, as maywell be supposed, the eye on the watch, the nose to the wind, and theear on the hark. Their days were passed in endeavoring to catch all thatwas said, in observing the proceeding of the cardinal, and in lookingout for all the couriers who arrived. More than once an involuntarytrembling seized them when called upon for some unexpected service. Theyhad, besides, to look constantly to their own proper safety; Milady wasa phantom which, when it had once appeared to people, did not allow themto sleep very quietly. 

On the morning of the eighth day, Bazin, fresh as ever, and smiling, according to custom, entered the cabaret of the Parpaillot as the fourfriends were sitting down to breakfast, saying, as had been agreed upon:"Monsieur Aramis, the answer from your cousin. "

The four friends exchanged a joyful glance; half of the work was done. It is true, however, that it was the shorter and easier part. 

Aramis, blushing in spite of himself, took the letter, which was in alarge, coarse hand and not particular for its orthography. 

"Good God!" cried he, laughing, "I quite despair of my poor Michon; shewill never write like Monsieur de Voiture. "

"What does you mean by boor Michon?" said the Swiss, who was chattingwith the four friends when the letter came. 

"Oh, pardieu, less than nothing, " said Aramis; "a charming littleseamstress, whom I love dearly and from whose hand I requested a fewlines as a sort of keepsake. "

"The duvil!" said the Swiss, "if she is as great a lady as her writingis large, you are a lucky fellow, gomrade!"

Aramis read the letter, and passed it to Athos. 

"See what she writes to me, Athos, " said he. 

Athos cast a glance over the epistle, and to disperse all the suspicionsthat might have been created, read aloud:

"My cousin, My sister and I are skillful in interpreting dreams, andeven entertain great fear of them; but of yours it may be said, I hope, every dream is an illusion. Adieu! Take care of yourself, and act sothat we may from time to time hear you spoken of. 

"Marie Michon"

"And what dream does she mean?" asked the dragoon, who had approachedduring the reading. 

"Yez; what's the dream?" said the Swiss. 

"Well, pardieu!" said Aramis, "it was only this: I had a dream, and Irelated it to her. "

"Yez, yez, " said the Swiss; "it's simple enough to dell a dream, but Ineffer dream. "

"You are very fortunate, " said Athos, rising; "I wish I could say asmuch!"

"Neffer, " replied the Swiss, enchanted that a man like Athos could envyhim anything. "Neffer, neffer!"

D'Artagnan, seeing Athos rise, did likewise, took his arm, and went out. 

Porthos and Aramis remained behind to encounter the jokes of the dragoonand the Swiss. 

As to Bazin, he went and lay down on a truss of straw; and as he hadmore imagination than the Swiss, he dreamed that Aramis, having becomepope, adorned his head with a cardinal's hat. 

But, as we have said, Bazin had not, by his fortunate return, removedmore than a part of the uneasiness which weighed upon the four friends. The days of expectation are long, and d'Artagnan, in particular, would have wagered that the days were forty-four hours. He forgot thenecessary slowness of navigation; he exaggerated to himself the powerof Milady. He credited this woman, who appeared to him the equal of ademon, with agents as supernatural as herself; at the least noise, he imagined himself about to be arrested, and that Planchet was beingbrought back to be confronted with himself and his friends. Stillfurther, his confidence in the worthy Picard, at one time so great, diminished day by day. This anxiety became so great that it evenextended to Aramis and Porthos. Athos alone remained unmoved, as if nodanger hovered over him, and as if he breathed his customary atmosphere. 

On the sixteenth day, in particular, these signs were so strong ind'Artagnan and his two friends that they could not remain quiet in oneplace, and wandered about like ghosts on the road by which Planchet wasexpected. 

"Really, " said Athos to them, "you are not men but children, to leta woman terrify you so! And what does it amount to, after all? To beimprisoned. Well, but we should be taken out of prison; Madame Bonacieuxwas released. To be decapitated? Why, every day in the trenches we gocheerfully to expose ourselves to worse than that--for a bullet maybreak a leg, and I am convinced a surgeon would give us more pain incutting off a thigh than an executioner in cutting off a head. Waitquietly, then; in two hours, in four, in six hours at latest, Planchetwill be here. He promised to be here, and I have very great faith inPlanchet, who appears to me to be a very good lad. "

"But if he does not come?" said d'Artagnan. 

"Well, if he does not come, it will be because he has been delayed, that's all. He may have fallen from his horse, he may have cut a caperfrom the deck; he may have traveled so fast against the wind as tohave brought on a violent catarrh. Eh, gentlemen, let us reckon uponaccidents! Life is a chaplet of little miseries which the philosophercounts with a smile. Be philosophers, as I am, gentlemen; sit down atthe table and let us drink. Nothing makes the future look so bright assurveying it through a glass of chambertin. "

"That's all very well, " replied d'Artagnan; "but I am tired of fearingwhen I open a fresh bottle that the wine may come from the cellar ofMilady. "

"You are very fastidious, " said Athos; "such a beautiful woman!"

"A woman of mark!" said Porthos, with his loud laugh. 

Athos started, passed his hand over his brow to remove the drops ofperspiration that burst forth, and rose in his turn with a nervousmovement he could not repress. 

The day, however, passed away; and the evening came on slowly, butfinally it came. The bars were filled with drinkers. Athos, who hadpocketed his share of the diamond, seldom quit the Parpaillot. He hadfound in M. De Busigny, who, by the by, had given them a magnificentdinner, a partner worthy of his company. They were playing together, as usual, when seven o'clock sounded; the patrol was heard passing todouble the posts. At half past seven the retreat was sounded. 

"We are lost, " said d'Artagnan, in the ear of Athos. 

"You mean to say we have lost, " said Athos, quietly, drawing fourpistoles from his pocket and throwing them upon the table. "Come, gentlemen, " said he, "they are beating the tattoo. Let us to bed!"

And Athos went out of the Parpaillot, followed by d'Artagnan. Aramiscame behind, giving his arm to Porthos. Aramis mumbled verses tohimself, and Porthos from time to time pulled a hair or two from hismustache, in sign of despair. 

But all at once a shadow appeared in the darkness the outline of whichwas familiar to d'Artagnan, and a well-known voice said, "Monsieur, Ihave brought your cloak; it is chilly this evening. "

"Planchet!" cried d'Artagnan, beside himself with joy. 

"Planchet!" repeated Aramis and Porthos. 

"Well, yes, Planchet, to be sure, " said Athos, "what is there soastonishing in that? He promised to be back by eight o'clock, and eightis striking. Bravo, Planchet, you are a lad of your word, and if everyou leave your master, I will promise you a place in my service. "

"Oh, no, never, " said Planchet, "I will never leave Monsieurd'Artagnan. "

At the same time d'Artagnan felt that Planchet slipped a note into hishand. 

D'Artagnan felt a strong inclination to embrace Planchet as hehad embraced him on his departure; but he feared lest this mark ofaffection, bestowed upon his lackey in the open street, might appearextraordinary to passers-by, and he restrained himself. 

"I have the note, " said he to Athos and to his friends. 

"That's well, " said Athos, "let us go home and read it. "

The note burned the hand of d'Artagnan. He wished to hasten their steps;but Athos took his arm and passed it under his own, and the young manwas forced to regulate his pace by that of his friend. 

At length they reached the tent, lit a lamp, and while Planchet stood atthe entrance that the four friends might not be surprised, d'Artagnan, with a trembling hand, broke the seal and opened the so anxiouslyexpected letter. 

It contained half a line, in a hand perfectly British, and with aconciseness as perfectly Spartan:

Thank you; be easy. 

d'Artagnan translated this for the others. 

Athos took the letter from the hands of d'Artagnan, approached thelamp, set fire to the paper, and did not let go till it was reduced to acinder. 

Then, calling Planchet, he said, "Now, my lad, you may claim your sevenhundred livres, but you did not run much risk with such a note as that. "

"I am not to blame for having tried every means to compress it, " saidPlanchet. 

"Well!" cried d'Artagnan, "tell us all about it. "

"Dame, that's a long job, monsieur. "

"You are right, Planchet, " said Athos; "besides, the tattoo has beensounded, and we should be observed if we kept a light burning muchlonger than the others. "

"So be it, " said d'Artagnan. "Go to bed, Planchet, and sleep soundly. "

"My faith, monsieur! that will be the first time I have done so forsixteen days. "

"And me, too!" said d'Artagnan. 

"And me, too!" said Porthos. 

"And me, too!" said Aramis. 

"Well, if you will have the truth, and me, too!" said Athos. 

49 FATALITY

Meantime Milady, drunk with passion, roaring on the deck like a lionessthat has been embarked, had been tempted to throw herself into thesea that she might regain the coast, for she could not get rid of thethought that she had been insulted by d'Artagnan, threatened by Athos, and that she had quit France without being revenged on them. Thisidea soon became so insupportable to her that at the risk of whateverterrible consequences might result to herself from it, she implored thecaptain to put her on shore; but the captain, eager to escape from hisfalse position--placed between French and English cruisers, like the batbetween the mice and the birds--was in great haste to regain England, and positively refused to obey what he took for a woman's caprice, promising his passenger, who had been particularly recommended to him bythe cardinal, to land her, if the sea and the French permitted him, atone of the ports of Brittany, either at Lorient or Brest. But the windwas contrary, the sea bad; they tacked and kept offshore. Nine daysafter leaving the Charente, pale with fatigue and vexation, Milady sawonly the blue coasts of Finisterre appear. 

She calculated that to cross this corner of France and return to thecardinal it would take her at least three days. Add another day forlanding, and that would make four. Add these four to the nine others, that would be thirteen days lost--thirteen days, during which so manyimportant events might pass in London. She reflected likewise that thecardinal would be furious at her return, and consequently would be moredisposed to listen to the complaints brought against her than to theaccusations she brought against others. 

She allowed the vessel to pass Lorient and Brest without repeating herrequest to the captain, who, on his part, took care not to remind herof it. Milady therefore continued her voyage, and on the very daythat Planchet embarked at Portsmouth for France, the messenger of hisEminence entered the port in triumph. 

All the city was agitated by an extraordinary movement. Four largevessels, recently built, had just been launched. At the end of thejetty, his clothes richly laced with gold, glittering, as was customarywith him, with diamonds and precious stones, his hat ornamented witha white feather which drooped upon his shoulder, Buckingham was seensurrounded by a staff almost as brilliant as himself. 

It was one of those rare and beautiful days in winter when Englandremembers that there is a sun. The star of day, pale but neverthelessstill splendid, was setting in the horizon, glorifying at once theheavens and the sea with bands of fire, and casting upon the towers andthe old houses of the city a last ray of gold which made the windowssparkle like the reflection of a conflagration. Breathing thatsea breeze, so much more invigorating and balsamic as the land isapproached, contemplating all the power of those preparations she wascommissioned to destroy, all the power of that army which she was tocombat alone--she, a woman with a few bags of gold--Milady comparedherself mentally to Judith, the terrible Jewess, when she penetrated thecamp of the Assyrians and beheld the enormous mass of chariots, horses, men, and arms, which a gesture of her hand was to dissipate like a cloudof smoke. 

They entered the roadstead; but as they drew near in order to castanchor, a little cutter, looking like a coastguard formidably armed, approached the merchant vessel and dropped into the sea a boat whichdirected its course to the ladder. This boat contained an officer, amate, and eight rowers. The officer alone went on board, where he wasreceived with all the deference inspired by the uniform. 

The officer conversed a few instants with the captain, gave him severalpapers, of which he was the bearer, to read, and upon the order ofthe merchant captain the whole crew of the vessel, both passengers andsailors, were called upon deck. 

When this species of summons was made the officer inquired aloud thepoint of the brig's departure, its route, its landings; and to all thesequestions the captain replied without difficulty and without hesitation. Then the officer began to pass in review all the people, one after theother, and stopping when he came to Milady, surveyed her very closely, but without addressing a single word to her. 

He then returned to the captain, said a few words to him, and as iffrom that moment the vessel was under his command, he ordered a maneuverwhich the crew executed immediately. Then the vessel resumed its course, still escorted by the little cutter, which sailed side by side with it, menacing it with the mouths of its six cannon. The boat followed in thewake of the ship, a speck near the enormous mass. 

During the examination of Milady by the officer, as may well beimagined, Milady on her part was not less scrutinizing in her glances. But however great was the power of this woman with eyes of flame inreading the hearts of those whose secrets she wished to divine, shemet this time with a countenance of such impassivity that no discoveryfollowed her investigation. The officer who had stopped in front ofher and studied her with so much care might have been twenty-five ortwenty-six years of age. He was of pale complexion, with clear blueeyes, rather deeply set; his mouth, fine and well cut, remainedmotionless in its correct lines; his chin, strongly marked, denoted thatstrength of will which in the ordinary Britannic type denotes mostlynothing but obstinacy; a brow a little receding, as is proper for poets, enthusiasts, and soldiers, was scarcely shaded by short thin hairwhich, like the beard which covered the lower part of his face, was of abeautiful deep chestnut color. 

When they entered the port, it was already night. The fog increased thedarkness, and formed round the sternlights and lanterns of the jetty acircle like that which surrounds the moon when the weather threatens tobecome rainy. The air they breathed was heavy, damp, and cold. 

Milady, that woman so courageous and firm, shivered in spite of herself. 

The officer desired to have Milady's packages pointed out to him, andordered them to be placed in the boat. When this operation was complete, he invited her to descend by offering her his hand. 

Milady looked at this man, and hesitated. "Who are you, sir, " askedshe, "who has the kindness to trouble yourself so particularly on myaccount?"

"You may perceive, madame, by my uniform, that I am an officer in theEnglish navy, " replied the young man. 

"But is it the custom for the officers in the English navy to placethemselves at the service of their female compatriots when they land ina port of Great Britain, and carry their gallantry so far as to conductthem ashore?"

"Yes, madame, it is the custom, not from gallantry but prudence, thatin time of war foreigners should be conducted to particular hotels, inorder that they may remain under the eye of the government until fullinformation can be obtained about them. "

These words were pronounced with the most exact politeness and the mostperfect calmness. Nevertheless, they had not the power of convincingMilady. 

"But I am not a foreigner, sir, " said she, with an accent as pure asever was heard between Portsmouth and Manchester; "my name is LadyClarik, and this measure--"

"This measure is general, madame; and you will seek in vain to evadeit. "

"I will follow you, then, sir. "

Accepting the hand of the officer, she began the descent of the ladder, at the foot of which the boat waited. The officer followed her. A largecloak was spread at the stern; the officer requested her to sit downupon this cloak, and placed himself beside her. 

"Row!" said he to the sailors. 

The eight oars fell at once into the sea, making but a single sound, giving but a single stroke, and the boat seemed to fly over the surfaceof the water. 

In five minutes they gained the land. 

The officer leaped to the pier, and offered his hand to Milady. Acarriage was in waiting. 

"Is this carriage for us?" asked Milady. 

"Yes, madame, " replied the officer. 

"The hotel, then, is far away?"

"At the other end of the town. "

"Very well, " said Milady; and she resolutely entered the carriage. 

The officer saw that the baggage was fastened carefully behind thecarriage; and this operation ended, he took his place beside Milady, andshut the door. 

Immediately, without any order being given or his place of destinationindicated, the coachman set off at a rapid pace, and plunged into thestreets of the city. 

So strange a reception naturally gave Milady ample matter forreflection; so seeing that the young officer did not seem at alldisposed for conversation, she reclined in her corner of the carriage, and one after the other passed in review all the surmises whichpresented themselves to her mind. 

At the end of a quarter of an hour, however, surprised at the length ofthe journey, she leaned forward toward the door to see whither she wasbeing conducted. Houses were no longer to be seen; trees appeared inthe darkness like great black phantoms chasing one another. Miladyshuddered. 

"But we are no longer in the city, sir, " said she. 

The young officer preserved silence. 

"I beg you to understand, sir, I will go no farther unless you tell mewhither you are taking me. "

This threat brought no reply. 

"Oh, this is too much, " cried Milady. "Help! help!"

No voice replied to hers; the carriage continued to roll on withrapidity; the officer seemed a statue. 

Milady looked at the officer with one of those terrible expressionspeculiar to her countenance, and which so rarely failed of their effect;anger made her eyes flash in the darkness. 

The young man remained immovable. 

Milady tried to open the door in order to throw herself out. 

"Take care, madame, " said the young man, coolly, "you will kill yourselfin jumping. "

Milady reseated herself, foaming. The officer leaned forward, looked ather in his turn, and appeared surprised to see that face, just beforeso beautiful, distorted with passion and almost hideous. The artfulcreature at once comprehended that she was injuring herself by allowinghim thus to read her soul; she collected her features, and in acomplaining voice said: "In the name of heaven, sir, tell me if it is toyou, if it is to your government, if it is to an enemy I am to attributethe violence that is done me?"

"No violence will be offered to you, madame, and what happens to you isthe result of a very simple measure which we are obliged to adopt withall who land in England. "

"Then you don't know me, sir?"

"It is the first time I have had the honor of seeing you. "

"And on your honor, you have no cause of hatred against me?"

"None, I swear to you. "

There was so much serenity, coolness, mildness even, in the voice of theyoung man, that Milady felt reassured. 

At length after a journey of nearly an hour, the carriage stopped beforean iron gate, which closed an avenue leading to a castle severe in form, massive, and isolated. Then, as the wheels rolled over a fine gravel, Milady could hear a vast roaring, which she at once recognized as thenoise of the sea dashing against some steep cliff. 

The carriage passed under two arched gateways, and at length stoppedin a court large, dark, and square. Almost immediately the door of thecarriage was opened, the young man sprang lightly out and presentedhis hand to Milady, who leaned upon it, and in her turn alighted withtolerable calmness. 

"Still, then, I am a prisoner, " said Milady, looking around her, andbringing back her eyes with a most gracious smile to the young officer;"but I feel assured it will not be for long, " added she. "My ownconscience and your politeness, sir, are the guarantees of that. "

However flattering this compliment, the officer made no reply; butdrawing from his belt a little silver whistle, such as boatswains use inships of war, he whistled three times, with three different modulations. Immediately several men appeared, who unharnessed the smoking horses, and put the carriage into a coach house. 

Then the officer, with the same calm politeness, invited his prisonerto enter the house. She, with a still-smiling countenance, took his arm, and passed with him under a low arched door, which by a vaulted passage, lighted only at the farther end, led to a stone staircase around anangle of stone. They then came to a massive door, which after theintroduction into the lock of a key which the young man carried withhim, turned heavily upon its hinges, and disclosed the chamber destinedfor Milady. 

With a single glance the prisoner took in the apartment in its minutestdetails. It was a chamber whose furniture was at once appropriate for aprisoner or a free man; and yet bars at the windows and outside bolts atthe door decided the question in favor of the prison. 

In an instant all the strength of mind of this creature, though drawnfrom the most vigorous sources, abandoned her; she sank into a largeeasy chair, with her arms crossed, her head lowered, and expecting everyinstant to see a judge enter to interrogate her. 

But no one entered except two or three marines, who brought her trunksand packages, deposited them in a corner, and retired without speaking. 

The officer superintended all these details with the same calmnessMilady had constantly seen in him, never pronouncing a word himself, and making himself obeyed by a gesture of his hand or a sound of hiswhistle. 

It might have been said that between this man and his inferiors spokenlanguage did not exist, or had become useless. 

At length Milady could hold out no longer; she broke the silence. "Inthe name of heaven, sir, " cried she, "what means all that is passing?Put an end to my doubts; I have courage enough for any danger I canforesee, for every misfortune which I understand. Where am I, and whyam I here? If I am free, why these bars and these doors? If I am aprisoner, what crime have I committed?"

"You are here in the apartment destined for you, madame. I receivedorders to go and take charge of you on the sea, and to conduct youto this castle. This order I believe I have accomplished with all theexactness of a soldier, but also with the courtesy of a gentleman. Thereterminates, at least to the present moment, the duty I had to fulfilltoward you; the rest concerns another person. "

"And who is that other person?" asked Milady, warmly. "Can you not tellme his name?"

At the moment a great jingling of spurs was heard on the stairs. Some voices passed and faded away, and the sound of a single footstepapproached the door. 

"That person is here, madame, " said the officer, leaving the entranceopen, and drawing himself up in an attitude of respect. 

At the same time the door opened; a man appeared on the threshold. Hewas without a hat, carried a sword, and flourished a handkerchief in hishand. 

Milady thought she recognized this shadow in the gloom; she supportedherself with one hand upon the arm of the chair, and advanced her headas if to meet a certainty. 

The stranger advanced slowly, and as he advanced, after entering intothe circle of light projected by the lamp, Milady involuntarily drewback. 

Then when she had no longer any doubt, she cried, in a state of stupor, "What, my brother, is it you?"

"Yes, fair lady!" replied Lord de Winter, making a bow, half courteous, half ironical; "it is I, myself. "

"But this castle, then?"

"Is mine. "

"This chamber?"

"Is yours. "

"I am, then, your prisoner?"

"Nearly so. "

"But this is a frightful abuse of power!"

"No high-sounding words! Let us sit down and chat quietly, as brotherand sister ought to do. "

Then, turning toward the door, and seeing that the young officer waswaiting for his last orders, he said. "All is well, I thank you; nowleave us alone, Mr. Felton. "

50 CHAT BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER

During the time which Lord de Winter took to shut the door, close ashutter, and draw a chair near to his sister-in-law's fauteuil, Milady, anxiously thoughtful, plunged her glance into the depths of possibility, and discovered all the plan, of which she could not even obtain a glanceas long as she was ignorant into whose hands she had fallen. She knewher brother-in-law to be a worthy gentleman, a bold hunter, an intrepidplayer, enterprising with women, but by no means remarkable for hisskill in intrigues. How had he discovered her arrival, and caused her tobe seized? Why did he detain her?

Athos had dropped some words which proved that the conversation shehad with the cardinal had fallen into outside ears; but she could notsuppose that he had dug a countermine so promptly and so boldly. Sherather feared that her preceding operations in England might have beendiscovered. Buckingham might have guessed that it was she who had cutoff the two studs, and avenge himself for that little treachery;but Buckingham was incapable of going to any excess against a woman, particularly if that woman was supposed to have acted from a feeling ofjealousy. 

This supposition appeared to her most reasonable. It seemed to her thatthey wanted to revenge the past, and not to anticipate the future. Atall events, she congratulated herself upon having fallen into thehands of her brother-in-law, with whom she reckoned she could deal veryeasily, rather than into the hands of an acknowledged and intelligentenemy. 

"Yes, let us chat, brother, " said she, with a kind of cheerfulness, decided as she was to draw from the conversation, in spite of all thedissimulation Lord de Winter could bring, the revelations of which shestood in need to regulate her future conduct. 

"You have, then, decided to come to England again, " said Lord de Winter, "in spite of the resolutions you so often expressed in Paris never toset your feet on British ground?"

Milady replied to this question by another question. "To begin with, tell me, " said she, "how have you watched me so closely as to be awarebeforehand not only of my arrival, but even of the day, the hour, andthe port at which I should arrive?"

Lord de Winter adopted the same tactics as Milady, thinking that as hissister-in-law employed them they must be the best. 

"But tell me, my dear sister, " replied he, "what makes you come toEngland?"

"I come to see you, " replied Milady, without knowing how much sheaggravated by this reply the suspicions to which d'Artagnan's letter hadgiven birth in the mind of her brother-in-law, and only desiring to gainthe good will of her auditor by a falsehood. 

"Ah, to see me?" said de Winter, cunningly. 

"To be sure, to see you. What is there astonishing in that?"

"And you had no other object in coming to England but to see me?"

"No. "

"So it was for me alone you have taken the trouble to cross theChannel?"

"For you alone. "

"The deuce! What tenderness, my sister!"

"But am I not your nearest relative?" demanded Milady, with a tone ofthe most touching ingenuousness. 

"And my only heir, are you not?" said Lord de Winter in his turn, fixinghis eyes on those of Milady. 

Whatever command she had over herself, Milady could not help starting;and as in pronouncing the last words Lord de Winter placed his hand uponthe arm of his sister, this start did not escape him. 

In fact, the blow was direct and severe. The first idea that occurred toMilady's mind was that she had been betrayed by Kitty, and that she hadrecounted to the baron the selfish aversion toward himself of which shehad imprudently allowed some marks to escape before her servant. Shealso recollected the furious and imprudent attack she had made upond'Artagnan when he spared the life of her brother. 

"I do not understand, my Lord, " said she, in order to gain time and makeher adversary speak out. "What do you mean to say? Is there any secretmeaning concealed beneath your words?"

"Oh, my God, no!" said Lord de Winter, with apparent good nature. "Youwish to see me, and you come to England. I learn this desire, or ratherI suspect that you feel it; and in order to spare you all the annoyancesof a nocturnal arrival in a port and all the fatigues of landing, I sendone of my officers to meet you, I place a carriage at his orders, and hebrings you hither to this castle, of which I am governor, whither I comeevery day, and where, in order to satisfy our mutual desire ofseeing each other, I have prepared you a chamber. What is there moreastonishing in all that I have said to you than in what you have toldme?"

"No; what I think astonishing is that you should expect my coming. "

"And yet that is the most simple thing in the world, my dear sister. Have you not observed that the captain of your little vessel, onentering the roadstead, sent forward, in order to obtain permission toenter the port, a little boat bearing his logbook and the register ofhis voyagers? I am commandant of the port. They brought me that book. I recognized your name in it. My heart told me what your mouth has justconfirmed--that is to say, with what view you have exposed yourself tothe dangers of a sea so perilous, or at least so troublesome at thismoment--and I sent my cutter to meet you. You know the rest. "

Milady knew that Lord de Winter lied, and she was the more alarmed. 

"My brother, " continued she, "was not that my Lord Buckingham whom I sawon the jetty this evening as we arrived?"

"Himself. Ah, I can understand how the sight of him struck you, " repliedLord de Winter. "You came from a country where he must be very muchtalked of, and I know that his armaments against France greatly engagethe attention of your friend the cardinal. "

"My friend the cardinal!" cried Milady, seeing that on this point as onthe other Lord de Winter seemed well instructed. 

"Is he not your friend?" replied the baron, negligently. "Ah, pardon!I thought so; but we will return to my Lord Duke presently. Let us notdepart from the sentimental turn our conversation had taken. You came, you say, to see me?"

"Yes. "

"Well, I reply that you shall be served to the height of your wishes, and that we shall see each other every day. "

"Am I, then, to remain here eternally?" demanded Milady, with a certainterror. 

"Do you find yourself badly lodged, sister? Demand anything you want, and I will hasten to have you furnished with it. "

"But I have neither my women nor my servants. "

"You shall have all, madame. Tell me on what footing your householdwas established by your first husband, and although I am only yourbrother-in-law, I will arrange one similar. "

"My first husband!" cried Milady, looking at Lord de Winter with eyesalmost starting from their sockets. 

"Yes, your French husband. I don't speak of my brother. If you haveforgotten, as he is still living, I can write to him and he will send meinformation on the subject. "

A cold sweat burst from the brow of Milady. 

"You jest!" said she, in a hollow voice. 

"Do I look so?" asked the baron, rising and going a step backward. 

"Or rather you insult me, " continued she, pressing with her stiffenedhands the two arms of her easy chair, and raising herself upon herwrists. 

"I insult you!" said Lord de Winter, with contempt. "In truth, madame, do you think that can be possible?"

"Indeed, sir, " said Milady, "you must be either drunk or mad. Leave theroom, and send me a woman. "

"Women are very indiscreet, my sister. Cannot I serve you as a waitingmaid? By that means all our secrets will remain in the family. "

"Insolent!" cried Milady; and as if acted upon by a spring, she boundedtoward the baron, who awaited her attack with his arms crossed, butnevertheless with one hand on the hilt of his sword. 

"Come!" said he. "I know you are accustomed to assassinate people; but Iwarn you I shall defend myself, even against you. "

"You are right, " said Milady. "You have all the appearance of beingcowardly enough to lift your hand against a woman. "

"Perhaps so; and I have an excuse, for mine would not be the first handof a man that has been placed upon you, I imagine. "

And the baron pointed, with a slow and accusing gesture, to the leftshoulder of Milady, which he almost touched with his finger. 

Milady uttered a deep, inward shriek, and retreated to a corner of theroom like a panther which crouches for a spring. 

"Oh, growl as much as you please, " cried Lord de Winter, "but don't tryto bite, for I warn you that it would be to your disadvantage. Thereare here no procurators who regulate successions beforehand. There is noknight-errant to come and seek a quarrel with me on account of the fairlady I detain a prisoner; but I have judges quite ready who will quicklydispose of a woman so shameless as to glide, a bigamist, into the bed ofLord de Winter, my brother. And these judges, I warn you, will soon sendyou to an executioner who will make both your shoulders alike. "

The eyes of Milady darted such flashes that although he was a man andarmed before an unarmed woman, he felt the chill of fear glide throughhis whole frame. However, he continued all the same, but with increasingwarmth: "Yes, I can very well understand that after having inherited thefortune of my brother it would be very agreeable to you to be my heirlikewise; but know beforehand, if you kill me or cause me to be killed, my precautions are taken. Not a penny of what I possess will pass intoyour hands. Were you not already rich enough--you who possess nearlya million? And could you not stop your fatal career, if you did not doevil for the infinite and supreme joy of doing it? Oh, be assured, ifthe memory of my brother were not sacred to me, you should rot in astate dungeon or satisfy the curiosity of sailors at Tyburn. I will besilent, but you must endure your captivity quietly. In fifteen or twentydays I shall set out for La Rochelle with the army; but on the eve ofmy departure a vessel which I shall see depart will take you hence andconvey you to our colonies in the south. And be assured that you shallbe accompanied by one who will blow your brains out at the first attemptyou make to return to England or the Continent. "

Milady listened with an attention that dilated her inflamed eyes. 

"Yes, at present, " continued Lord de Winter, "you will remain in thiscastle. The walls are thick, the doors strong, and the bars solid;besides, your window opens immediately over the sea. The men of mycrew, who are devoted to me for life and death, mount guard around thisapartment, and watch all the passages that lead to the courtyard. Evenif you gained the yard, there would still be three iron gates for youto pass. The order is positive. A step, a gesture, a word, on your part, denoting an effort to escape, and you are to be fired upon. If they killyou, English justice will be under an obligation to me for havingsaved it trouble. Ah! I see your features regain their calmness, yourcountenance recovers its assurance. You are saying to yourself: 'Fifteendays, twenty days? Bah! I have an inventive mind; before that is expiredsome idea will occur to me. I have an infernal spirit. I shall meet witha victim. Before fifteen days are gone by I shall be away from here. 'Ah, try it!"

Milady, finding her thoughts betrayed, dug her nails into her flesh tosubdue every emotion that might give to her face any expression exceptagony. 

Lord de Winter continued: "The officer who commands here in my absenceyou have already seen, and therefore know him. He knows how, as you musthave observed, to obey an order--for you did not, I am sure, come fromPortsmouth hither without endeavoring to make him speak. What do you sayof him? Could a statue of marble have been more impassive and more mute?You have already tried the power of your seductions upon many men, andunfortunately you have always succeeded; but I give you leave to trythem upon this one. PARDIEU! if you succeed with him, I pronounce youthe demon himself. "

He went toward the door and opened it hastily. 

"Call Mr. Felton, " said he. "Wait a minute longer, and I will introducehim to you. "

There followed between these two personages a strange silence, duringwhich the sound of a slow and regular step was heard approaching. Shortly a human form appeared in the shade of the corridor, and theyoung lieutenant, with whom we are already acquainted, stopped at thethreshold to receive the orders of the baron. 

"Come in, my dear John, " said Lord de Winter, "come in, and shut thedoor. "

The young officer entered. 

"Now, " said the baron, "look at this woman. She is young; she isbeautiful; she possesses all earthly seductions. Well, she is a monster, who, at twenty-five years of age, has been guilty of as many crimes asyou could read of in a year in the archives of our tribunals. Her voiceprejudices her hearers in her favor; her beauty serves as a bait toher victims; her body even pays what she promises--I must do her thatjustice. She will try to seduce you, perhaps she will try to kill you. I have extricated you from misery, Felton; I have caused you to be namedlieutenant; I once saved your life, you know on what occasion. I am foryou not only a protector, but a friend; not only a benefactor, but afather. This woman has come back again into England for the purpose ofconspiring against my life. I hold this serpent in my hands. Well, Icall you, and say to you: Friend Felton, John, my child, guard me, andmore particularly guard yourself, against this woman. Swear, by yourhopes of salvation, to keep her safely for the chastisement she hasmerited. John Felton, I trust your word! John Felton, I put faith inyour loyalty!"

"My Lord, " said the young officer, summoning to his mild countenance allthe hatred he could find in his heart, "my Lord, I swear all shall bedone as you desire. "

Milady received this look like a resigned victim; it was impossibleto imagine a more submissive or a more mild expression than that whichprevailed on her beautiful countenance. Lord de Winter himself couldscarcely recognize the tigress who, a minute before, prepared apparentlyfor a fight. 

"She is not to leave this chamber, understand, John, " continued thebaron. "She is to correspond with nobody; she is to speak to no one butyou--if you will do her the honor to address a word to her. "

"That is sufficient, my Lord! I have sworn. "

"And now, madame, try to make your peace with God, for you are judged bymen!"

Milady let her head sink, as if crushed by this sentence. Lord de Winterwent out, making a sign to Felton, who followed him, shutting the doorafter him. 

One instant after, the heavy step of a marine who served as sentinelwas heard in the corridor--his ax in his girdle and his musket on hisshoulder. 

Milady remained for some minutes in the same position, for she thoughtthey might perhaps be examining her through the keyhole; she then slowlyraised her head, which had resumed its formidable expression of menaceand defiance, ran to the door to listen, looked out of her window, andreturning to bury herself again in her large armchair, she reflected. 

51 OFFICER

Meanwhile, the cardinal looked anxiously for news from England; but nonews arrived that was not annoying and threatening. 

Although La Rochelle was invested, however certain success mightappear--thanks to the precautions taken, and above all to the dyke, which prevented the entrance of any vessel into the besieged city--theblockade might last a long time yet. This was a great affront to theking's army, and a great inconvenience to the cardinal, who had nolonger, it is true, to embroil Louis XIII with Anne of Austria--for thataffair was over--but he had to adjust matters for M. De Bassompierre, who was embroiled with the Duc d'Angouleme. 

As to Monsieur, who had begun the siege, he left to the cardinal thetask of finishing it. 

The city, notwithstanding the incredible perseverance of its mayor, hadattempted a sort of mutiny for a surrender; the mayor had hanged themutineers. This execution quieted the ill-disposed, who resolved toallow themselves to die of hunger--this death always appearing to themmore slow and less sure than strangulation. 

On their side, from time to time, the besiegers took the messengerswhich the Rochellais sent to Buckingham, or the spies which Buckinghamsent to the Rochellais. In one case or the other, the trial was soonover. The cardinal pronounced the single word, "Hanged!" The king wasinvited to come and see the hanging. He came languidly, placing himselfin a good situation to see all the details. This amused him sometimesa little, and made him endure the siege with patience; but it did notprevent his getting very tired, or from talking at every moment ofreturning to Paris--so that if the messengers and the spies had failed, his Eminence, notwithstanding all his inventiveness, would have foundhimself much embarrassed. 

Nevertheless, time passed on, and the Rochellais did not surrender. Thelast spy that was taken was the bearer of a letter. This letter toldBuckingham that the city was at an extremity; but instead of adding, "Ifyour succor does not arrive within fifteen days, we will surrender, " itadded, quite simply, "If your succor comes not within fifteen days, weshall all be dead with hunger when it comes. "

The Rochellais, then, had no hope but in Buckingham. Buckingham wastheir Messiah. It was evident that if they one day learned positivelythat they must not count on Buckingham, their courage would fail withtheir hope. 

The cardinal looked, then, with great impatience for the news fromEngland which would announce to him that Buckingham would not come. 

The question of carrying the city by assault, though often debated inthe council of the king, had been always rejected. In the first place, La Rochelle appeared impregnable. Then the cardinal, whatever he said, very well knew that the horror of bloodshed in this encounter, in whichFrenchman would combat against Frenchman, was a retrograde movementof sixty years impressed upon his policy; and the cardinal was at thatperiod what we now call a man of progress. In fact, the sack of LaRochelle, and the assassination of three of four thousand Huguenots whoallowed themselves to be killed, would resemble too closely, in 1628, the massacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572; and then, above all this, this extreme measure, which was not at all repugnant to the king, goodCatholic as he was, always fell before this argument of the besieginggenerals--La Rochelle is impregnable except to famine. 

The cardinal could not drive from his mind the fear he entertained ofhis terrible emissary--for he comprehended the strange qualities of thiswoman, sometimes a serpent, sometimes a lion. Had she betrayed him? Wasshe dead? He knew her well enough in all cases to know that, whetheracting for or against him, as a friend or an enemy, she would not remainmotionless without great impediments; but whence did these impedimentsarise? That was what he could not know. 

And yet he reckoned, and with reason, on Milady. He had divined in thepast of this woman terrible things which his red mantle alone couldcover; and he felt, from one cause or another, that this woman was hisown, as she could look to no other but himself for a support superior tothe danger which threatened her. 

He resolved, then, to carry on the war alone, and to look for no successforeign to himself, but as we look for a fortunate chance. He continuedto press the raising of the famous dyke which was to starve La Rochelle. Meanwhile, he cast his eyes over that unfortunate city, which containedso much deep misery and so many heroic virtues, and recalling thesaying of Louis XI, his political predecessor, as he himself was thepredecessor of Robespierre, he repeated this maxim of Tristan's gossip:"Divide in order to reign. "

Henry IV, when besieging Paris, had loaves and provisions thrownover the walls. The cardinal had little notes thrown over in which herepresented to the Rochellais how unjust, selfish, and barbarous was theconduct of their leaders. These leaders had corn in abundance, and wouldnot let them partake of it; they adopted as a maxim--for they, too, hadmaxims--that it was of very little consequence that women, children, and old men should die, so long as the men who were to defend the wallsremained strong and healthy. Up to that time, whether from devotednessor from want of power to act against it, this maxim, without beinggenerally adopted, nevertheless passed from theory into practice; butthe notes did it injury. The notes reminded the men that the children, women, and old men whom they allowed to die were their sons, theirwives, and their fathers, and that it would be more just for everyone tobe reduced to the common misery, in order that equal conditions shouldgive birth to unanimous resolutions. 

These notes had all the effect that he who wrote them could expect, in that they induced a great number of the inhabitants to open privatenegotiations with the royal army. 

But at the moment when the cardinal saw his means already bearing fruit, and applauded himself for having put it in action, an inhabitant of LaRochelle who had contrived to pass the royal lines--God knows how, such was the watchfulness of Bassompierre, Schomberg, and the Ducd'Angouleme, themselves watched over by the cardinal--an inhabitantof La Rochelle, we say, entered the city, coming from Portsmouth, andsaying that he had seen a magnificent fleet ready to sail within eightdays. Still further, Buckingham announced to the mayor that at lengththe great league was about to declare itself against France, and thatthe kingdom would be at once invaded by the English, Imperial, andSpanish armies. This letter was read publicly in all parts of the city. Copies were put up at the corners of the streets; and even they who hadbegun to open negotiations interrupted them, being resolved to await thesuccor so pompously announced. 

This unexpected circumstance brought back Richelieu's former anxiety, and forced him in spite of himself once more to turn his eyes to theother side of the sea. 

During this time, exempt from the anxiety of its only and true chief, the royal army led a joyous life, neither provisions nor money beingwanting in the camp. All the corps rivaled one another in audacity andgaiety. To take spies and hang them, to make hazardous expeditionsupon the dyke or the sea, to imagine wild plans, and to execute themcoolly--such were the pastimes which made the army find these days shortwhich were not only so long to the Rochellais, a prey to famine andanxiety, but even to the cardinal, who blockaded them so closely. 

Sometimes when the cardinal, always on horseback, like the lowestGENDARME of the army, cast a pensive glance over those works, so slowlykeeping pace with his wishes, which the engineers, brought from allthe corners of France, were executing under his orders, if he met aMusketeer of the company of Treville, he drew near and looked at himin a peculiar manner, and not recognizing in him one of our fourcompanions, he turned his penetrating look and profound thoughts inanother direction. 

One day when oppressed with a mortal weariness of mind, without hope inthe negotiations with the city, without news from England, the cardinalwent out, without any other aim than to be out of doors, and accompaniedonly by Cahusac and La Houdiniere, strolled along the beach. Minglingthe immensity of his dreams with the immensity of the ocean, he came, his horse going at a foot's pace, to a hill from the top of which heperceived behind a hedge, reclining on the sand and catching in itspassage one of those rays of the sun so rare at this period of theyear, seven men surrounded by empty bottles. Four of these men wereour Musketeers, preparing to listen to a letter one of them had justreceived. This letter was so important that it made them forsake theircards and their dice on the drumhead. 

The other three were occupied in opening an enormous flagon of Collicurewine; these were the lackeys of these gentlemen. 

The cardinal was, as we have said, in very low spirits; and nothing whenhe was in that state of mind increased his depression so much as gaietyin others. Besides, he had another strange fancy, which was always tobelieve that the causes of his sadness created the gaiety of others. Making a sign to La Houdiniere and Cahusac to stop, he alighted fromhis horse, and went toward these suspected merry companions, hoping, bymeans of the sand which deadened the sound of his steps and of the hedgewhich concealed his approach, to catch some words of this conversationwhich appeared so interesting. At ten paces from the hedge he recognizedthe talkative Gascon; and as he had already perceived that these menwere Musketeers, he did not doubt that the three others were thosecalled the Inseparables; that is to say, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. 

It may be supposed that his desire to hear the conversation wasaugmented by this discovery. His eyes took a strange expression, andwith the step of a tiger-cat he advanced toward the hedge; but he hadnot been able to catch more than a few vague syllables without anypositive sense, when a sonorous and short cry made him start, andattracted the attention of the Musketeers. 

"Officer!" cried Grimaud. 

"You are speaking, you scoundrel!" said Athos, rising upon his elbow, and transfixing Grimaud with his flaming look. 

Grimaud therefore added nothing to his speech, but contented himselfwith pointing his index finger in the direction of the hedge, announcingby this gesture the cardinal and his escort. 

With a single bound the Musketeers were on their feet, and saluted withrespect. 

The cardinal seemed furious. 

"It appears that Messieurs the Musketeers keep guard, " said he. "Arethe English expected by land, or do the Musketeers consider themselvessuperior officers?"

"Monseigneur, " replied Athos, for amid the general fright he alonehad preserved the noble calmness and coolness that never forsook him, "Monseigneur, the Musketeers, when they are not on duty, or when theirduty is over, drink and play at dice, and they are certainly superiorofficers to their lackeys. "

"Lackeys?" grumbled the cardinal. "Lackeys who have the order to warntheir masters when anyone passes are not lackeys, they are sentinels. "

"Your Eminence may perceive that if we had not taken this precaution, weshould have been exposed to allowing you to pass without presenting youour respects or offering you our thanks for the favor you have done usin uniting us. D'Artagnan, " continued Athos, "you, who but lately wereso anxious for such an opportunity for expressing your gratitude toMonseigneur, here it is; avail yourself of it. "

These words were pronounced with that imperturbable phlegm whichdistinguished Athos in the hour of danger, and with that excessivepoliteness which made of him at certain moments a king more majesticthan kings by birth. 

D'Artagnan came forward and stammered out a few words of gratitude whichsoon expired under the gloomy looks of the cardinal. 

"It does not signify, gentlemen, " continued the cardinal, withoutappearing to be in the least swerved from his first intention by thediversion which Athos had started, "it does not signify, gentlemen. Ido not like to have simple soldiers, because they have the advantage ofserving in a privileged corps, thus to play the great lords; disciplineis the same for them as for everybody else. "

Athos allowed the cardinal to finish his sentence completely, andbowed in sign of assent. Then he resumed in his turn: "Discipline, Monseigneur, has, I hope, in no way been forgotten by us. We are noton duty, and we believed that not being on duty we were at liberty todispose of our time as we pleased. If we are so fortunate as to havesome particular duty to perform for your Eminence, we are ready to obeyyou. Your Eminence may perceive, " continued Athos, knitting his brow, for this sort of investigation began to annoy him, "that we have notcome out without our arms. "

And he showed the cardinal, with his finger, the four muskets piled nearthe drum, on which were the cards and dice. 

"Your Eminence may believe, " added d'Artagnan, "that we would have cometo meet you, if we could have supposed it was Monseigneur coming towardus with so few attendants. "

The cardinal bit his mustache, and even his lips a little. 

"Do you know what you look like, all together, as you are armed andguarded by your lackeys?" said the cardinal. "You look like fourconspirators. "

"Oh, as to that, Monseigneur, it is true, " said Athos; "we do conspire, as your Eminence might have seen the other morning. Only we conspireagainst the Rochellais. "

"Ah, you gentlemen of policy!" replied the cardinal, knitting his browin his turn, "the secret of many unknown things might perhaps be foundin your brains, if we could read them as you read that letter which youconcealed as soon as you saw me coming. "

The color mounted to the face of Athos, and he made a step toward hisEminence. 

"One might think you really suspected us, monseigneur, and we wereundergoing a real interrogatory. If it be so, we trust your Eminencewill deign to explain yourself, and we should then at least beacquainted with our real position. "

"And if it were an interrogatory!" replied the cardinal. "Others besidesyou have undergone such, Monsieur Athos, and have replied thereto. "

"Thus I have told your Eminence that you had but to question us, and weare ready to reply. "

"What was that letter you were about to read, Monsieur Aramis, and whichyou so promptly concealed?"

"A woman's letter, monseigneur. "

"Ah, yes, I see, " said the cardinal; "we must be discreet with this sortof letters; but nevertheless, we may show them to a confessor, and youknow I have taken orders. "

"Monseigneur, " said Athos, with a calmness the more terrible because herisked his head in making this reply, "the letter is a woman's letter, but it is neither signed Marion de Lorme, nor Madame d'Aiguillon. "

The cardinal became as pale as death; lightning darted from his eyes. Heturned round as if to give an order to Cahusac and Houdiniere. Athos sawthe movement; he made a step toward the muskets, upon which the otherthree friends had fixed their eyes, like men ill-disposed to allowthemselves to be taken. The cardinalists were three; the Musketeers, lackeys included, were seven. He judged that the match would be so muchthe less equal, if Athos and his companions were really plotting; and byone of those rapid turns which he always had at command, all his angerfaded away into a smile. 

"Well, well!" said he, "you are brave young men, proud in daylight, faithful in darkness. We can find no fault with you for watching overyourselves, when you watch so carefully over others. Gentlemen, I havenot forgotten the night in which you served me as an escort to the RedDovecot. If there were any danger to be apprehended on the road I amgoing, I would request you to accompany me; but as there is none, remainwhere you are, finish your bottles, your game, and your letter. Adieu, gentlemen!"

And remounting his horse, which Cahusac led to him, he saluted them withhis hand, and rode away. 

The four young men, standing and motionless, followed him with theireyes without speaking a single word until he had disappeared. Then theylooked at one another. 

The countenances of all gave evidence of terror, for notwithstanding thefriendly adieu of his Eminence, they plainly perceived that the cardinalwent away with rage in his heart. 

Athos alone smiled, with a self-possessed, disdainful smile. 

When the cardinal was out of hearing and sight, "That Grimaud kept badwatch!" cried Porthos, who had a great inclination to vent his ill-humoron somebody. 

Grimaud was about to reply to excuse himself. Athos lifted his finger, and Grimaud was silent. 

"Would you have given up the letter, Aramis?" said d'Artagnan. 

"I, " said Aramis, in his most flutelike tone, "I had made up my mind. If he had insisted upon the letter being given up to him, I would havepresented the letter to him with one hand, and with the other I wouldhave run my sword through his body. "

"I expected as much, " said Athos; "and that was why I threw myselfbetween you and him. Indeed, this man is very much to blame for talkingthus to other men; one would say he had never had to do with any butwomen and children. "

"My dear Athos, I admire you, but nevertheless we were in the wrong, after all. "

"How, in the wrong?" said Athos. "Whose, then, is the air we breathe?Whose is the ocean upon which we look? Whose is the sand upon which wewere reclining? Whose is that letter of your mistress? Do these belongto the cardinal? Upon my honor, this man fancies the world belongs tohim. There you stood, stammering, stupefied, annihilated. One might havesupposed the Bastille appeared before you, and that the gigantic Medusahad converted you into stone. Is being in love conspiring? You are inlove with a woman whom the cardinal has caused to be shut up, and youwish to get her out of the hands of the cardinal. That's a match youare playing with his Eminence; this letter is your game. Why should youexpose your game to your adversary? That is never done. Let him find itout if he can! We can find out his!"

"Well, that's all very sensible, Athos, " said d'Artagnan. 

"In that case, let there be no more question of what's past, and letAramis resume the letter from his cousin where the cardinal interruptedhim. "

Aramis drew the letter from his pocket; the three friends surroundedhim, and the three lackeys grouped themselves again near the wine jar. 

"You had only read a line or two, " said d'Artagnan; "read the letteragain from the commencement. "

"Willingly, " said Aramis. 

"My dear Cousin, I think I shall make up my mind to set out for Bethune, where my sister has placed our little servant in the convent of theCarmelites; this poor child is quite resigned, as she knows she cannotlive elsewhere without the salvation of her soul being in danger. Nevertheless, if the affairs of our family are arranged, as we hopethey will be, I believe she will run the risk of being damned, and willreturn to those she regrets, particularly as she knows they are alwaysthinking of her. Meanwhile, she is not very wretched; what she mostdesires is a letter from her intended. I know that such viands pass withdifficulty through convent gratings; but after all, as I have given youproofs, my dear cousin, I am not unskilled in such affairs, and I willtake charge of the commission. My sister thanks you for your good andeternal remembrance. She has experienced much anxiety; but she is now atlength a little reassured, having sent her secretary away in order thatnothing may happen unexpectedly. 

"Adieu, my dear cousin. Tell us news of yourself as often as you can;that is to say, as often as you can with safety. I embrace you. 

"Marie Michon. "

"Oh, what do I not owe you, Aramis?" said d'Artagnan. "Dear Constance!I have at length, then, intelligence of you. She lives; she is in safetyin a convent; she is at Bethune! Where is Bethune, Athos?"

"Why, upon the frontiers of Artois and of Flanders. The siege once over, we shall be able to make a tour in that direction. "

"And that will not be long, it is to be hoped, " said Porthos; "for theyhave this morning hanged a spy who confessed that the Rochellais werereduced to the leather of their shoes. Supposing that after having eatenthe leather they eat the soles, I cannot see much that is left unlessthey eat one another. "

"Poor fools!" said Athos, emptying a glass of excellent Bordeaux winewhich, without having at that period the reputation it now enjoys, merited it no less, "poor fools! As if the Catholic religion was notthe most advantageous and the most agreeable of all religions! All thesame, " resumed he, after having clicked his tongue against his palate, "they are brave fellows! But what the devil are you about, Aramis?"continued Athos. "Why, you are squeezing that letter into your pocket!"

"Yes, " said d'Artagnan, "Athos is right, it must be burned. And yetif we burn it, who knows whether Monsieur Cardinal has not a secret tointerrogate ashes?"

"He must have one, " said Athos. 

"What will you do with the letter, then?" asked Porthos. 

"Come here, Grimaud, " said Athos. Grimaud rose and obeyed. "As apunishment for having spoken without permission, my friend, you willplease to eat this piece of paper; then to recompense you for theservice you will have rendered us, you shall afterward drink this glassof wine. First, here is the letter. Eat heartily. "

Grimaud smiled; and with his eyes fixed upon the glass which Athosheld in his hand, he ground the paper well between his teeth and thenswallowed it. 

"Bravo, Monsieur Grimaud!" said Athos; "and now take this. That's well. We dispense with your saying grace. "

Grimaud silently swallowed the glass of Bordeaux wine; but his eyes, raised toward heaven during this delicious occupation, spoke a languagewhich, though mute, was not the less expressive. 

"And now, " said Athos, "unless Monsieur Cardinal should form theingenious idea of ripping up Grimaud, I think we may be pretty much atour ease respecting the letter. "

Meantime, his Eminence continued his melancholy ride, murmuring betweenhis mustaches, "These four men must positively be mine. "

52 CAPTIVITY: THE FIRST DAY

Let us return to Milady, whom a glance thrown upon the coast of Francehas made us lose sight of for an instant. 

We shall find her still in the despairing attitude in which we left her, plunged in an abyss of dismal reflection--a dark hell at the gate ofwhich she has almost left hope behind, because for the first time shedoubts, for the first time she fears. 

On two occasions her fortune has failed her, on two occasions she hasfound herself discovered and betrayed; and on these two occasions it wasto one fatal genius, sent doubtlessly by the Lord to combat her, thatshe has succumbed. D'Artagnan has conquered her--her, that invinciblepower of evil. 

He has deceived her in her love, humbled her in her pride, thwarted herin her ambition; and now he ruins her fortune, deprives her of liberty, and even threatens her life. Still more, he has lifted the corner of hermask--that shield with which she covered herself and which rendered herso strong. 

D'Artagnan has turned aside from Buckingham, whom she hates as she hateseveryone she has loved, the tempest with which Richelieu threatened himin the person of the queen. D'Artagnan had passed himself upon her as deWardes, for whom she had conceived one of those tigerlike fancies commonto women of her character. D'Artagnan knows that terrible secret whichshe has sworn no one shall know without dying. In short, at the momentin which she has just obtained from Richelieu a carte blanche bythe means of which she is about to take vengeance on her enemy, thisprecious paper is torn from her hands, and it is d'Artagnan who holdsher prisoner and is about to send her to some filthy Botany Bay, someinfamous Tyburn of the Indian Ocean. 

All this she owes to d'Artagnan, without doubt. From whom can come somany disgraces heaped upon her head, if not from him? He alone couldhave transmitted to Lord de Winter all these frightful secrets which hehas discovered, one after another, by a train of fatalities. He knowsher brother-in-law. He must have written to him. 

What hatred she distills! Motionless, with her burning and fixedglances, in her solitary apartment, how well the outbursts of passionwhich at times escape from the depths of her chest with her respiration, accompany the sound of the surf which rises, growls, roars, and breaksitself like an eternal and powerless despair against the rocks on whichis built this dark and lofty castle! How many magnificent projectsof vengeance she conceives by the light of the flashes which hertempestuous passion casts over her mind against Mme. Bonacieux, againstBuckingham, but above all against d'Artagnan--projects lost in thedistance of the future. 

Yes; but in order to avenge herself she must be free. And to be free, a prisoner has to pierce a wall, detach bars, cut through a floor--allundertakings which a patient and strong man may accomplish, but beforewhich the feverish irritations of a woman must give way. Besides, to doall this, time is necessary--months, years; and she has ten or twelvedays, as Lord de Winter, her fraternal and terrible jailer, has toldher. 

And yet, if she were a man she would attempt all this, and perhaps mightsucceed; why, then, did heaven make the mistake of placing that manlikesoul in that frail and delicate body?

The first moments of her captivity were terrible; a few convulsions ofrage which she could not suppress paid her debt of feminine weakness tonature. But by degrees she overcame the outbursts of her mad passion;and nervous tremblings which agitated her frame disappeared, and sheremained folded within herself like a fatigued serpent in repose. 

"Go to, go to! I must have been mad to allow myself to be carried awayso, " says she, gazing into the glass, which reflects back to her eyesthe burning glance by which she appears to interrogate herself. "Noviolence; violence is the proof of weakness. In the first place, I havenever succeeded by that means. Perhaps if I employed my strength againstwomen I might perchance find them weaker than myself, and consequentlyconquer them; but it is with men that I struggle, and I am but awoman to them. Let me fight like a woman, then; my strength is in myweakness. "

Then, as if to render an account to herself of the changes she couldplace upon her countenance, so mobile and so expressive, she made ittake all expressions from that of passionate anger, which convulsedher features, to that of the most sweet, most affectionate, and mostseducing smile. Then her hair assumed successively, under her skillfulhands, all the undulations she thought might assist the charms of herface. At length she murmured, satisfied with herself, "Come, nothing islost; I am still beautiful. "

It was then nearly eight o'clock in the evening. Milady perceived a bed;she calculated that the repose of a few hours would not only refresh herhead and her ideas, but still further, her complexion. A better idea, however, came into her mind before going to bed. She had heard somethingsaid about supper. She had already been an hour in this apartment; theycould not long delay bringing her a repast. The prisoner did not wish tolose time; and she resolved to make that very evening some attempts toascertain the nature of the ground she had to work upon, by studying thecharacters of the men to whose guardianship she was committed. 

A light appeared under the door; this light announced the reappearanceof her jailers. Milady, who had arisen, threw herself quickly intothe armchair, her head thrown back, her beautiful hair unbound anddisheveled, her bosom half bare beneath her crumpled lace, one hand onher heart, and the other hanging down. 

The bolts were drawn; the door groaned upon its hinges. Steps sounded inthe chamber, and drew near. 

"Place that table there, " said a voice which the prisoner recognized asthat of Felton. 

The order was executed. 

"You will bring lights, and relieve the sentinel, " continued Felton. 

And this double order which the young lieutenant gave to the sameindividuals proved to Milady that her servants were the same men as herguards; that is to say, soldiers. 

Felton's orders were, for the rest, executed with a silent rapidity thatgave a good idea of the way in which he maintained discipline. 

At length Felton, who had not yet looked at Milady, turned toward her. 

"Ah, ah!" said he, "she is asleep; that's well. When she wakes she cansup. " And he made some steps toward the door. 

"But, my lieutenant, " said a soldier, less stoical than his chief, andwho had approached Milady, "this woman is not asleep. "

"What, not asleep!" said Felton; "what is she doing, then?"

"She has fainted. Her face is very pale, and I have listened in vain; Ido not hear her breathe. "

"You are right, " said Felton, after having looked at Milady from thespot on which he stood without moving a step toward her. "Go and tellLord de Winter that his prisoner has fainted--for this event not havingbeen foreseen, I don't know what to do. "

The soldier went out to obey the orders of his officer. Felton sat downupon an armchair which happened to be near the door, and waited withoutspeaking a word, without making a gesture. Milady possessed that greatart, so much studied by women, of looking through her long eyelasheswithout appearing to open the lids. She perceived Felton, who satwith his back toward her. She continued to look at him for nearly tenminutes, and in these ten minutes the immovable guardian never turnedround once. 

She then thought that Lord de Winter would come, and by his presencegive fresh strength to her jailer. Her first trial was lost; she actedlike a woman who reckons up her resources. As a result she raised herhead, opened her eyes, and sighed deeply. 

At this sigh Felton turned round. 

"Ah, you are awake, madame, " he said; "then I have nothing more to dohere. If you want anything you can ring. "

"Oh, my God, my God! how I have suffered!" said Milady, in thatharmonious voice which, like that of the ancient enchantresses, charmedall whom she wished to destroy. 

And she assumed, upon sitting up in the armchair, a still more gracefuland abandoned position than when she reclined. 

Felton arose. 

"You will be served, thus, madame, three times a day, " said he. "In themorning at nine o'clock, in the day at one o'clock, and in the eveningat eight. If that does not suit you, you can point out what other hoursyou prefer, and in this respect your wishes will be complied with. "

"But am I to remain always alone in this vast and dismal chamber?" askedMilady. 

"A woman of the neighbourhood has been sent for, who will be tomorrow atthe castle, and will return as often as you desire her presence. "

"I thank you, sir, " replied the prisoner, humbly. 

Felton made a slight bow, and directed his steps toward the door. At themoment he was about to go out, Lord de Winter appeared in the corridor, followed by the soldier who had been sent to inform him of the swoon ofMilady. He held a vial of salts in his hand. 

"Well, what is it--what is going on here?" said he, in a jeering voice, on seeing the prisoner sitting up and Felton about to go out. "Is thiscorpse come to life already? Felton, my lad, did you not perceive thatyou were taken for a novice, and that the first act was being performedof a comedy of which we shall doubtless have the pleasure of followingout all the developments?"

"I thought so, my lord, " said Felton; "but as the prisoner is a woman, after all, I wish to pay her the attention that every man of gentlebirth owes to a woman, if not on her account, at least on my own. "

Milady shuddered through her whole system. These words of Felton'spassed like ice through her veins. 

"So, " replied de Winter, laughing, "that beautiful hair so skillfullydisheveled, that white skin, and that languishing look, have not yetseduced you, you heart of stone?"

"No, my Lord, " replied the impassive young man; "your Lordship may beassured that it requires more than the tricks and coquetry of a woman tocorrupt me. "

"In that case, my brave lieutenant, let us leave Milady to find outsomething else, and go to supper; but be easy! She has a fruitfulimagination, and the second act of the comedy will not delay its stepsafter the first. "

And at these words Lord de Winter passed his arm through that of Felton, and led him out, laughing. 

"Oh, I will be a match for you!" murmured Milady, between her teeth; "beassured of that, you poor spoiled monk, you poor converted soldier, whohas cut his uniform out of a monk's frock!"

"By the way, " resumed de Winter, stopping at the threshold of the door, "you must not, Milady, let this check take away your appetite. Tastethat fowl and those fish. On my honor, they are not poisoned. I havea very good cook, and he is not to be my heir; I have full and perfectconfidence in him. Do as I do. Adieu, dear sister, till your nextswoon!"

This was all that Milady could endure. Her hands clutched her armchair;she ground her teeth inwardly; her eyes followed the motion of the dooras it closed behind Lord de Winter and Felton, and the moment she wasalone a fresh fit of despair seized her. She cast her eyes upon thetable, saw the glittering of a knife, rushed toward it and clutched it;but her disappointment was cruel. The blade was round, and of flexiblesilver. 

A burst of laughter resounded from the other side of the ill-closeddoor, and the door reopened. 

"Ha, ha!" cried Lord de Winter; "ha, ha! Don't you see, my brave Felton;don't you see what I told you? That knife was for you, my lad; she wouldhave killed you. Observe, this is one of her peculiarities, to get ridthus, after one fashion or another, of all the people who bother her. IfI had listened to you, the knife would have been pointed and of steel. Then no more of Felton; she would have cut your throat, and after thateverybody else's. See, John, see how well she knows how to handle aknife. "

In fact, Milady still held the harmless weapon in her clenched hand; butthese last words, this supreme insult, relaxed her hands, her strength, and even her will. The knife fell to the ground. 

"You were right, my Lord, " said Felton, with a tone of profound disgustwhich sounded to the very bottom of the heart of Milady, "you wereright, my Lord, and I was wrong. "

And both again left the room. 

But this time Milady lent a more attentive ear than the first, and sheheard their steps die away in the distance of the corridor. 

"I am lost, " murmured she; "I am lost! I am in the power of men uponwhom I can have no more influence than upon statues of bronze orgranite; they know me by heart, and are steeled against all my weapons. It is, however, impossible that this should end as they have decreed!"

In fact, as this last reflection indicated--this instinctive return tohope--sentiments of weakness or fear did not dwell long in her ardentspirit. Milady sat down to table, ate from several dishes, drank alittle Spanish wine, and felt all her resolution return. 

Before she went to bed she had pondered, analyzed, turned on all sides, examined on all points, the words, the steps, the gestures, the signs, and even the silence of her interlocutors; and of this profound, skillful, and anxious study the result was that Felton, everythingconsidered, appeared the more vulnerable of her two persecutors. 

One expression above all recurred to the mind of the prisoner: "If I hadlistened to you, " Lord de Winter had said to Felton. 

Felton, then, had spoken in her favor, since Lord de Winter had not beenwilling to listen to him. 

"Weak or strong, " repeated Milady, "that man has, then, a spark of pityin his soul; of that spark I will make a flame that shall devour him. Asto the other, he knows me, he fears me, and knows what he has to expectof me if ever I escape from his hands. It is useless, then, to attemptanything with him. But Felton--that's another thing. He is a young, ingenuous, pure man who seems virtuous; him there are means ofdestroying. "

And Milady went to bed and fell asleep with a smile upon her lips. Anyone who had seen her sleeping might have said she was a young girldreaming of the crown of flowers she was to wear on her brow at the nextfestival. 

53 CAPTIVITY: THE SECOND DAY

Milady dreamed that she at length had d'Artagnan in her power, that shewas present at his execution; and it was the sight of his odious blood, flowing beneath the ax of the headsman, which spread that charming smileupon her lips. 

She slept as a prisoner sleeps, rocked by his first hope. 

In the morning, when they entered her chamber she was still in bed. Felton remained in the corridor. He brought with him the woman of whomhe had spoken the evening before, and who had just arrived; this womanentered, and approaching Milady's bed, offered her services. 

Milady was habitually pale; her complexion might therefore deceive aperson who saw her for the first time. 

"I am in a fever, " said she; "I have not slept a single instant duringall this long night. I suffer horribly. Are you likely to be more humaneto me than others were yesterday? All I ask is permission to remainabed. "

"Would you like to have a physician called?" said the woman. 

Felton listened to this dialogue without speaking a word. 

Milady reflected that the more people she had around her the more shewould have to work upon, and Lord de Winter would redouble his watch. Besides, the physician might declare the ailment feigned; and Milady, after having lost the first trick, was not willing to lose the second. 

"Go and fetch a physician?" said she. "What could be the good of that?These gentlemen declared yesterday that my illness was a comedy; itwould be just the same today, no doubt--for since yesterday evening theyhave had plenty of time to send for a doctor. "

"Then, " said Felton, who became impatient, "say yourself, madame, whattreatment you wish followed. "

"Eh, how can I tell? My God! I know that I suffer, that's all. Give meanything you like, it is of little consequence. "

"Go and fetch Lord de Winter, " said Felton, tired of these eternalcomplaints. 

"Oh, no, no!" cried Milady; "no, sir, do not call him, I conjure you. Iam well, I want nothing; do not call him. "

She gave so much vehemence, such magnetic eloquence to this exclamation, that Felton in spite of himself advanced some steps into the room. 

"He has come!" thought Milady. 

"Meanwhile, madame, if you really suffer, " said Felton, "a physicianshall be sent for; and if you deceive us--well, it will be the worsefor you. But at least we shall not have to reproach ourselves withanything. "

Milady made no reply, but turning her beautiful head round upon herpillow, she burst into tears, and uttered heartbreaking sobs. 

Felton surveyed her for an instant with his usual impassiveness; then, seeing that the crisis threatened to be prolonged, he went out. Thewoman followed him, and Lord de Winter did not appear. 

"I fancy I begin to see my way, " murmured Milady, with a savage joy, burying herself under the clothes to conceal from anybody who might bewatching her this burst of inward satisfaction. 

Two hours passed away. 

"Now it is time that the malady should be over, " said she; "let me rise, and obtain some success this very day. I have but ten days, and thisevening two of them will be gone. "

In the morning, when they entered Milady's chamber they had brought herbreakfast. Now, she thought, they could not long delay coming to clearthe table, and that Felton would then reappear. 

Milady was not deceived. Felton reappeared, and without observingwhether Milady had or had not touched her repast, made a sign that thetable should be carried out of the room, it having been brought in readyspread. 

Felton remained behind; he held a book in his hand. 

Milady, reclining in an armchair near the chimney, beautiful, pale, andresigned, looked like a holy virgin awaiting martyrdom. 

Felton approached her, and said, "Lord de Winter, who is a Catholic, like yourself, madame, thinking that the deprivation of the rites andceremonies of your church might be painful to you, has consented thatyou should read every day the ordinary of your Mass; and here is a bookwhich contains the ritual. "

At the manner in which Felton laid the book upon the little table nearwhich Milady was sitting, at the tone in which he pronounced the twowords, YOUR MASS, at the disdainful smile with which he accompaniedthem, Milady raised her head, and looked more attentively at theofficer. 

By that plain arrangement of the hair, by that costume of extremesimplicity, by the brow polished like marble and as hard andimpenetrable, she recognized one of those gloomy Puritans she had sooften met, not only in the court of King James, but in that of the Kingof France, where, in spite of the remembrance of the St. Bartholomew, they sometimes came to seek refuge. 

She then had one of those sudden inspirations which only people ofgenius receive in great crises, in supreme moments which are to decidetheir fortunes or their lives. 

Those two words, YOUR MASS, and a simple glance cast upon Felton, revealed to her all the importance of the reply she was about to make;but with that rapidity of intelligence which was peculiar to her, thisreply, ready arranged, presented itself to her lips:

"I?" said she, with an accent of disdain in unison with that which shehad remarked in the voice of the young officer, "I, sir? MY MASS? Lordde Winter, the corrupted Catholic, knows very well that I am not of hisreligion, and this is a snare he wishes to lay for me!"

"And of what religion are you, then, madame?" asked Felton, with anastonishment which in spite of the empire he held over himself he couldnot entirely conceal. 

"I will tell it, " cried Milady, with a feigned exultation, "on the daywhen I shall have suffered sufficiently for my faith. "

The look of Felton revealed to Milady the full extent of the space shehad opened for herself by this single word. 

The young officer, however, remained mute and motionless; his look alonehad spoken. 

"I am in the hands of my enemies, " continued she, with that tone ofenthusiasm which she knew was familiar to the Puritans. "Well, let myGod save me, or let me perish for my God! That is the reply I beg you tomake to Lord de Winter. And as to this book, " added she, pointing tothe manual with her finger but without touching it, as if she must becontaminated by it, "you may carry it back and make use of it yourself, for doubtless you are doubly the accomplice of Lord de Winter--theaccomplice in his persecutions, the accomplice in his heresies. "

Felton made no reply, took the book with the same appearance ofrepugnance which he had before manifested, and retired pensively. 

Lord de Winter came toward five o'clock in the evening. Milady had hadtime, during the whole day, to trace her plan of conduct. She receivedhim like a woman who had already recovered all her advantages. 

"It appears, " said the baron, seating himself in the armchair oppositethat occupied by Milady, and stretching out his legs carelessly upon thehearth, "it appears we have made a little apostasy!"

"What do you mean, sir!"

"I mean to say that since we last met you have changed your religion. You have not by chance married a Protestant for a third husband, haveyou?"

"Explain yourself, my Lord, " replied the prisoner, with majesty; "forthough I hear your words, I declare I do not understand them. "

"Then you have no religion at all; I like that best, " replied Lord deWinter, laughing. 

"Certainly that is most in accord with your own principles, " repliedMilady, frigidly. 

"Oh, I confess it is all the same to me. "

"Oh, you need not avow this religious indifference, my Lord; yourdebaucheries and crimes would vouch for it. "

"What, you talk of debaucheries, Madame Messalina, Lady Macbeth! EitherI misunderstand you or you are very shameless!"

"You only speak thus because you are overheard, " coolly replied Milady;"and you wish to interest your jailers and your hangmen against me. "

"My jailers and my hangmen! Heyday, madame! you are taking a poeticaltone, and the comedy of yesterday turns to a tragedy this evening. As tothe rest, in eight days you will be where you ought to be, and my taskwill be completed. "

"Infamous task! impious task!" cried Milady, with the exultation of avictim who provokes his judge. 

"My word, " said de Winter, rising, "I think the hussy is going mad!Come, come, calm yourself, Madame Puritan, or I'll remove you to adungeon. It's my Spanish wine that has got into your head, is it not?But never mind; that sort of intoxication is not dangerous, and willhave no bad effects. "

And Lord de Winter retired swearing, which at that period was a veryknightly habit. 

Felton was indeed behind the door, and had not lost one word of thisscene. Milady had guessed aright. 

"Yes, go, go!" said she to her brother; "the effects ARE drawing near, on the contrary; but you, weak fool, will not see them until it is toolate to shun them. "

Silence was re-established. Two hours passed away. Milady's supperwas brought in, and she was found deeply engaged in saying her prayersaloud--prayers which she had learned of an old servant of her secondhusband, a most austere Puritan. She appeared to be in ecstasy, and didnot pay the least attention to what was going on around her. Felton madea sign that she should not be disturbed; and when all was arranged, hewent out quietly with the soldiers. 

Milady knew she might be watched, so she continued her prayers to theend; and it appeared to her that the soldier who was on duty at her doordid not march with the same step, and seemed to listen. For the momentshe wished nothing better. She arose, came to the table, ate but little, and drank only water. 

An hour after, her table was cleared; but Milady remarked that this timeFelton did not accompany the soldiers. He feared, then, to see her toooften. 

She turned toward the wall to smile--for there was in this smile such anexpression of triumph that this smile alone would have betrayed her. 

She allowed, therefore, half an hour to pass away; and as at that momentall was silence in the old castle, as nothing was heard but the eternalmurmur of the waves--that immense breaking of the ocean--with her pure, harmonious, and powerful voice, she began the first couplet of the psalmthen in great favor with the Puritans:

"Thou leavest thy servants, Lord, To see if they be strong; But soonthou dost afford Thy hand to lead them on. "

These verses were not excellent--very far from it; but as it is wellknown, the Puritans did not pique themselves upon their poetry. 

While singing, Milady listened. The soldier on guard at her doorstopped, as if he had been changed into stone. Milady was then able tojudge of the effect she had produced. 

Then she continued her singing with inexpressible fervor and feeling. Itappeared to her that the sounds spread to a distance beneath the vaultedroofs, and carried with them a magic charm to soften the hearts ofher jailers. It however likewise appeared that the soldier on duty--azealous Catholic, no doubt--shook off the charm, for through the doorhe called: "Hold your tongue, madame! Your song is as dismal as a 'Deprofundis'; and if besides the pleasure of being in garrison here, wemust hear such things as these, no mortal can hold out. "

"Silence!" then exclaimed another stern voice which Milady recognized asthat of Felton. "What are you meddling with, stupid? Did anybody orderyou to prevent that woman from singing? No. You were told to guardher--to fire at her if she attempted to fly. Guard her! If she flies, kill her; but don't exceed your orders. "

An expression of unspeakable joy lightened the countenance of Milady;but this expression was fleeting as the reflection of lightning. Withoutappearing to have heard the dialogue, of which she had not lost a word, she began again, giving to her voice all the charm, all the power, allthe seduction the demon had bestowed upon it:

 "For all my tears, my cares, My exile, and my chains, I have my youth, my prayers, And God, who counts my pains. "

Her voice, of immense power and sublime expression, gave to the rude, unpolished poetry of these psalms a magic and an effect which the mostexalted Puritans rarely found in the songs of their brethren, andwhich they were forced to ornament with all the resources of theirimagination. Felton believed he heard the singing of the angel whoconsoled the three Hebrews in the furnace. 

Milady continued:

"One day our doors will ope, With God come our desire; And if betraysthat hope, To death we can aspire. "

This verse, into which the terrible enchantress threw her whole soul, completed the trouble which had seized the heart of the young officer. He opened the door quickly; and Milady saw him appear, pale as usual, but with his eye inflamed and almost wild. 

"Why do you sing thus, and with such a voice?" said he. 

"Your pardon, sir, " said Milady, with mildness. "I forgot that my songsare out of place in this castle. I have perhaps offended you in yourcreed; but it was without wishing to do so, I swear. Pardon me, then, afault which is perhaps great, but which certainly was involuntary. "

Milady was so beautiful at this moment, the religious ecstasy in whichshe appeared to be plunged gave such an expression to her countenance, that Felton was so dazzled that he fancied he beheld the angel whom hehad only just before heard. 

"Yes, yes, " said he; "you disturb, you agitate the people who live inthe castle. "

The poor, senseless young man was not aware of the incoherence of hiswords, while Milady was reading with her lynx's eyes the very depths ofhis heart. 

"I will be silent, then, " said Milady, casting down her eyes with allthe sweetness she could give to her voice, with all the resignation shecould impress upon her manner. 

"No, no, madame, " said Felton, "only do not sing so loud, particularlyat night. "

And at these words Felton, feeling that he could not long maintain hisseverity toward his prisoner, rushed out of the room. 

"You have done right, Lieutenant, " said the soldier. "Such songsdisturb the mind; and yet we become accustomed to them, her voice is sobeautiful. "

54 CAPTIVITY: THE THIRD DAY

Felton had fallen; but there was still another step to be taken. Hemust be retained, or rather he must be left quite alone; and Milady butobscurely perceived the means which could lead to this result. 

Still more must be done. He must be made to speak, in order thathe might be spoken to--for Milady very well knew that her greatestseduction was in her voice, which so skillfully ran over the whole gamutof tones from human speech to language celestial. 

Yet in spite of all this seduction Milady might fail--for Felton wasforewarned, and that against the least chance. From that moment shewatched all his actions, all his words, from the simplest glance of hiseyes to his gestures--even to a breath that could be interpreted as asigh. In short, she studied everything, as a skillful comedian doesto whom a new part has been assigned in a line to which he is notaccustomed. 

Face to face with Lord de Winter her plan of conduct was more easy. Shehad laid that down the preceding evening. To remain silent and dignifiedin his presence; from time to time to irritate him by affected disdain, by a contemptuous word; to provoke him to threats and violence whichwould produce a contrast with her own resignation--such was her plan. Felton would see all; perhaps he would say nothing, but he would see. 

In the morning, Felton came as usual; but Milady allowed him to presideover all the preparations for breakfast without addressing a word tohim. At the moment when he was about to retire, she was cheered with aray of hope, for she thought he was about to speak; but his lips movedwithout any sound leaving his mouth, and making a powerful effort tocontrol himself, he sent back to his heart the words that were aboutto escape from his lips, and went out. Toward midday, Lord de Winterentered. 

It was a tolerably fine winter's day, and a ray of that pale English sunwhich lights but does not warm came through the bars of her prison. 

Milady was looking out at the window, and pretended not to hear the dooras it opened. 

"Ah, ah!" said Lord de Winter, "after having played comedy, after havingplayed tragedy, we are now playing melancholy?"

The prisoner made no reply. 

"Yes, yes, " continued Lord de Winter, "I understand. You would like verywell to be at liberty on that beach! You would like very well to be ina good ship dancing upon the waves of that emerald-green sea; you wouldlike very well, either on land or on the ocean, to lay for me one ofthose nice little ambuscades you are so skillful in planning. Patience, patience! In four days' time the shore will be beneath your feet, thesea will be open to you--more open than will perhaps be agreeable toyou, for in four days England will be relieved of you. "

Milady folded her hands, and raising her fine eyes toward heaven, "Lord, Lord, " said she, with an angelic meekness of gesture and tone, "pardonthis man, as I myself pardon him. "

"Yes, pray, accursed woman!" cried the baron; "your prayer is so muchthe more generous from your being, I swear to you, in the power of a manwho will never pardon you!" and he went out. 

At the moment he went out a piercing glance darted through the openingof the nearly closed door, and she perceived Felton, who drew quickly toone side to prevent being seen by her. 

Then she threw herself upon her knees, and began to pray. 

"My God, my God!" said she, "thou knowest in what holy cause I suffer;give me, then, strength to suffer. "

The door opened gently; the beautiful supplicant pretended not to hearthe noise, and in a voice broken by tears, she continued:

"God of vengeance! God of goodness! wilt thou allow the frightfulprojects of this man to be accomplished?"

Then only she pretended to hear the sound of Felton's steps, and risingquick as thought, she blushed, as if ashamed of being surprised on herknees. 

"I do not like to disturb those who pray, madame, " said Felton, seriously; "do not disturb yourself on my account, I beseech you. "

"How do you know I was praying, sir?" said Milady, in a voice broken bysobs. "You were deceived, sir; I was not praying. "

"Do you think, then, madame, " replied Felton, in the same serious voice, but with a milder tone, "do you think I assume the right of preventinga creature from prostrating herself before her Creator? God forbid!Besides, repentance becomes the guilty; whatever crimes they may havecommitted, for me the guilty are sacred at the feet of God!"

"Guilty? I?" said Milady, with a smile which might have disarmed theangel of the last judgment. "Guilty? Oh, my God, thou knowest whetherI am guilty! Say I am condemned, sir, if you please; but you know thatGod, who loves martyrs, sometimes permits the innocent to be condemned. "

"Were you condemned, were you innocent, were you a martyr, " repliedFelton, "the greater would be the necessity for prayer; and I myselfwould aid you with my prayers. "

"Oh, you are a just man!" cried Milady, throwing herself at his feet. "Ican hold out no longer, for I fear I shall be wanting in strength at themoment when I shall be forced to undergo the struggle, and confess myfaith. Listen, then, to the supplication of a despairing woman. You areabused, sir; but that is not the question. I only ask you one favor; andif you grant it me, I will bless you in this world and in the next. "

"Speak to the master, madame, " said Felton; "happily I am neithercharged with the power of pardoning nor punishing. It is upon one higherplaced than I am that God has laid this responsibility. "

"To you--no, to you alone! Listen to me, rather than add to mydestruction, rather than add to my ignominy!"

"If you have merited this shame, madame, if you have incurred thisignominy, you must submit to it as an offering to God. "

"What do you say? Oh, you do not understand me! When I speak ofignominy, you think I speak of some chastisement, of imprisonment ordeath. Would to heaven! Of what consequence to me is imprisonment ordeath?"

"It is I who no longer understand you, madame, " said Felton. 

"Or, rather, who pretend not to understand me, sir!" replied theprisoner, with a smile of incredulity. 

"No, madame, on the honor of a soldier, on the faith of a Christian. "

"What, you are ignorant of Lord de Winter's designs upon me?"

"I am. "

"Impossible; you are his confidant!"

"I never lie, madame. "

"Oh, he conceals them too little for you not to divine them. "

"I seek to divine nothing, madame; I wait till I am confided in, andapart from that which Lord de Winter has said to me before you, he hasconfided nothing to me. "

"Why, then, " cried Milady, with an incredible tone of truthfulness, "you are not his accomplice; you do not know that he destines me to adisgrace which all the punishments of the world cannot equal in horror?"

"You are deceived, madame, " said Felton, blushing; "Lord de Winter isnot capable of such a crime. "

"Good, " said Milady to herself; "without thinking what it is, he callsit a crime!" Then aloud, "The friend of THAT WRETCH is capable ofeverything. "

"Whom do you call 'that wretch'?" asked Felton. 

"Are there, then, in England two men to whom such an epithet can beapplied?"

"You mean George Villiers?" asked Felton, whose looks became excited. 

"Whom Pagans and unbelieving Gentiles call Duke of Buckingham, " repliedMilady. "I could not have thought that there was an Englishman in allEngland who would have required so long an explanation to make himunderstand of whom I was speaking. "

"The hand of the Lord is stretched over him, " said Felton; "he will notescape the chastisement he deserves. "

Felton only expressed, with regard to the duke, the feeling ofexecration which all the English had declared toward him whom theCatholics themselves called the extortioner, the pillager, thedebauchee, and whom the Puritans styled simply Satan. 

"Oh, my God, my God!" cried Milady; "when I supplicate thee to pour uponthis man the chastisement which is his due, thou knowest it is not myown vengeance I pursue, but the deliverance of a whole nation that Iimplore!"

"Do you know him, then?" asked Felton. 

"At length he interrogates me!" said Milady to herself, at the heightof joy at having obtained so quickly such a great result. "Oh, knowhim? Yes, yes! to my misfortune, to my eternal misfortune!" and Miladytwisted her arms as if in a paroxysm of grief. 

Felton no doubt felt within himself that his strength was abandoninghim, and he made several steps toward the door; but the prisoner, whoseeye never left him, sprang in pursuit of him and stopped him. 

"Sir, " cried she, "be kind, be clement, listen to my prayer! That knife, which the fatal prudence of the baron deprived me of, because he knowsthe use I would make of it! Oh, hear me to the end! that knife, give itto me for a minute only, for mercy's, for pity's sake! I willembrace your knees! You shall shut the door that you may be certain Icontemplate no injury to you! My God! to you--the only just, good, andcompassionate being I have met with! To you--my preserver, perhaps! Oneminute that knife, one minute, a single minute, and I will restore itto you through the grating of the door. Only one minute, Mr. Felton, andyou will have saved my honor!"

"To kill yourself?" cried Felton, with terror, forgetting to withdrawhis hands from the hands of the prisoner, "to kill yourself?"

"I have told, sir, " murmured Milady, lowering her voice, and allowingherself to sink overpowered to the ground; "I have told my secret! Heknows all! My God, I am lost!"

Felton remained standing, motionless and undecided. 

"He still doubts, " thought Milady; "I have not been earnest enough. "

Someone was heard in the corridor; Milady recognized the step of Lord deWinter. 

Felton recognized it also, and made a step toward the door. 

Milady sprang toward him. "Oh, not a word, " said she in a concentratedvoice, "not a word of all that I have said to you to this man, or I amlost, and it would be you--you--"

Then as the steps drew near, she became silent for fear of being heard, applying, with a gesture of infinite terror, her beautiful hand toFelton's mouth. 

Felton gently repulsed Milady, and she sank into a chair. 

Lord de Winter passed before the door without stopping, and they heardthe noise of his footsteps soon die away. 

Felton, as pale as death, remained some instants with his ear bent andlistening; then, when the sound was quite extinct, he breathed like aman awaking from a dream, and rushed out of the apartment. 

"Ah!" said Milady, listening in her turn to the noise of Felton's steps, which withdrew in a direction opposite to those of Lord de Winter; "atlength you are mine!"

Then her brow darkened. "If he tells the baron, " said she, "I amlost--for the baron, who knows very well that I shall not kill myself, will place me before him with a knife in my hand, and he will discoverthat all this despair is but acted. "

She placed herself before the glass, and regarded herself attentively;never had she appeared more beautiful. 

"Oh, yes, " said she, smiling, "but we won't tell him!"

In the evening Lord de Winter accompanied the supper. 

"Sir, " said Milady, "is your presence an indispensable accessory of mycaptivity? Could you not spare me the increase of torture which yourvisits cause me?"

"How, dear sister!" said Lord de Winter. "Did not you sentimentallyinform me with that pretty mouth of yours, so cruel to me today, thatyou came to England solely for the pleasure of seeing me at your ease, an enjoyment of which you told me you so sensibly felt the deprivationthat you had risked everything for it--seasickness, tempest, captivity?Well, here I am; be satisfied. Besides, this time, my visit has amotive. "

Milady trembled; she thought Felton had told all. Perhaps never in herlife had this woman, who had experienced so many opposite and powerfulemotions, felt her heart beat so violently. 

She was seated. Lord de Winter took a chair, drew it toward her, andsat down close beside her. Then taking a paper out of his pocket, heunfolded it slowly. 

"Here, " said he, "I want to show you the kind of passport which I havedrawn up, and which will serve you henceforward as the rule of order inthe life I consent to leave you. "

Then turning his eyes from Milady to the paper, he read: "'Order toconduct--' The name is blank, " interrupted Lord de Winter. "If you haveany preference you can point it out to me; and if it be not within athousand leagues of London, attention will be paid to your wishes. Iwill begin again, then:

"'Order to conduct to--the person named Charlotte Backson, branded bythe justice of the kingdom of France, but liberated after chastisement. She is to dwell in this place without ever going more than three leaguesfrom it. In case of any attempt to escape, the penalty of death is to beapplied. She will receive five shillings per day for lodging and food'". 

"That order does not concern me, " replied Milady, coldly, "since itbears another name than mine. "

"A name? Have you a name, then?"

"I bear that of your brother. "

"Ay, but you are mistaken. My brother is only your second husband; andyour first is still living. Tell me his name, and I will put it inthe place of the name of Charlotte Backson. No? You will not? You aresilent? Well, then you must be registered as Charlotte Backson. "

Milady remained silent; only this time it was no longer fromaffectation, but from terror. She believed the order ready forexecution. She thought that Lord de Winter had hastened her departure;she thought she was condemned to set off that very evening. Everythingin her mind was lost for an instant; when all at once she perceivedthat no signature was attached to the order. The joy she felt at thisdiscovery was so great she could not conceal it. 

"Yes, yes, " said Lord de Winter, who perceived what was passing in hermind; "yes, you look for the signature, and you say to yourself: 'Allis not lost, for that order is not signed. It is only shown to me toterrify me, that's all. ' You are mistaken. Tomorrow this order will besent to the Duke of Buckingham. The day after tomorrow it will returnsigned by his hand and marked with his seal; and four-and-twenty hoursafterward I will answer for its being carried into execution. Adieu, madame. That is all I had to say to you. "

"And I reply to you, sir, that this abuse of power, this exile under afictitious name, are infamous!"

"Would you like better to be hanged in your true name, Milady? You knowthat the English laws are inexorable on the abuse of marriage. Speakfreely. Although my name, or rather that of my brother, would be mixedup with the affair, I will risk the scandal of a public trial to makemyself certain of getting rid of you. "

Milady made no reply, but became as pale as a corpse. 

"Oh, I see you prefer peregrination. That's well madame; and there is anold proverb that says, 'Traveling trains youth. ' My faith! you are notwrong after all, and life is sweet. That's the reason why I take suchcare you shall not deprive me of mine. There only remains, then, thequestion of the five shillings to be settled. You think me ratherparsimonious, don't you? That's because I don't care to leave you themeans of corrupting your jailers. Besides, you will always have yourcharms left to seduce them with. Employ them, if your check with regardto Felton has not disgusted you with attempts of that kind. "

"Felton has not told him, " said Milady to herself. "Nothing is lost, then. "

"And now, madame, till I see you again! Tomorrow I will come andannounce to you the departure of my messenger. "

Lord de Winter rose, saluted her ironically, and went out. 

Milady breathed again. She had still four days before her. Four dayswould quite suffice to complete the seduction of Felton. 

A terrible idea, however, rushed into her mind. She thought that Lord deWinter would perhaps send Felton himself to get the order signed by theDuke of Buckingham. In that case Felton would escape her--for in orderto secure success, the magic of a continuous seduction was necessary. Nevertheless, as we have said, one circumstance reassured her. Feltonhad not spoken. 

As she would not appear to be agitated by the threats of Lord de Winter, she placed herself at the table and ate. 

Then, as she had done the evening before, she fell on her knees andrepeated her prayers aloud. As on the evening before, the soldierstopped his march to listen to her. 

Soon after she heard lighter steps than those of the sentinel, whichcame from the end of the corridor and stopped before her door. 

"It is he, " said she. And she began the same religious chant which hadso strongly excited Felton the evening before. 

But although her voice--sweet, full, and sonorous--vibrated asharmoniously and as affectingly as ever, the door remained shut. Itappeared however to Milady that in one of the furtive glances she dartedfrom time to time at the grating of the door she thought she saw theardent eyes of the young man through the narrow opening. But whetherthis was reality or vision, he had this time sufficient self-command notto enter. 

However, a few instants after she had finished her religious song, Milady thought she heard a profound sigh. Then the same steps she hadheard approach slowly withdrew, as if with regret. 

55 CAPTIVITY: THE FOURTH DAY

The next day, when Felton entered Milady's apartment he found herstanding, mounted upon a chair, holding in her hands a cord made bymeans of torn cambric handkerchiefs, twisted into a kind of ropeone with another, and tied at the ends. At the noise Felton made inentering, Milady leaped lightly to the ground, and tried to concealbehind her the improvised cord she held in her hand. 

The young man was more pale than usual, and his eyes, reddened by wantof sleep, denoted that he had passed a feverish night. Nevertheless, hisbrow was armed with a severity more austere than ever. 

He advanced slowly toward Milady, who had seated herself, and taking anend of the murderous rope which by neglect, or perhaps by design, sheallowed to be seen, "What is this, madame?" he asked coldly. 

"That? Nothing, " said Milady, smiling with that painful expression whichshe knew so well how to give to her smile. "Ennui is the mortal enemy ofprisoners; I had ennui, and I amused myself with twisting that rope. "

Felton turned his eyes toward the part of the wall of the apartmentbefore which he had found Milady standing in the armchair in which shewas now seated, and over her head he perceived a gilt-headed screw, fixed in the wall for the purpose of hanging up clothes or weapons. 

He started, and the prisoner saw that start--for though her eyes werecast down, nothing escaped her. 

"What were you doing on that armchair?" asked he. 

"Of what consequence?" replied Milady. 

"But, " replied Felton, "I wish to know. "

"Do not question me, " said the prisoner; "you know that we who are trueChristians are forbidden to lie. "

"Well, then, " said Felton, "I will tell you what you were doing, orrather what you meant to do; you were going to complete the fatalproject you cherish in your mind. Remember, madame, if our God forbidsfalsehood, he much more severely condemns suicide. "

"When God sees one of his creatures persecuted unjustly, placed betweensuicide and dishonor, believe me, sir, " replied Milady, in a toneof deep conviction, "God pardons suicide, for then suicide becomesmartyrdom. "

"You say either too much or too little; speak, madame. In the name ofheaven, explain yourself. "

"That I may relate my misfortunes for you to treat them as fables;that I may tell you my projects for you to go and betray them to mypersecutor? No, sir. Besides, of what importance to you is the life ordeath of a condemned wretch? You are only responsible for my body, isit not so? And provided you produce a carcass that may be recognized asmine, they will require no more of you; nay, perhaps you will even havea double reward. "

"I, madame, I?" cried Felton. "You suppose that I would ever accept theprice of your life? Oh, you cannot believe what you say!"

"Let me act as I please, Felton, let me act as I please, " said Milady, elated. "Every soldier must be ambitious, must he not? You are alieutenant? Well, you will follow me to the grave with the rank ofcaptain. "

"What have I, then, done to you, " said Felton, much agitated, "that youshould load me with such a responsibility before God and before men?In a few days you will be away from this place; your life, madame, willthen no longer be under my care, and, " added he, with a sigh, "then youcan do what you will with it. "

"So, " cried Milady, as if she could not resist giving utterance to aholy indignation, "you, a pious man, you who are called a just man, youask but one thing--and that is that you may not be inculpated, annoyed, by my death!"

"It is my duty to watch over your life, madame, and I will watch. "

"But do you understand the mission you are fulfilling? Cruel enough, ifI am guilty; but what name can you give it, what name will the Lord giveit, if I am innocent?"

"I am a soldier, madame, and fulfill the orders I have received. "

"Do you believe, then, that at the day of the Last Judgment God willseparate blind executioners from iniquitous judges? You are not willingthat I should kill my body, and you make yourself the agent of him whowould kill my soul. "

"But I repeat it again to you, " replied Felton, in great emotion, "nodanger threatens you; I will answer for Lord de Winter as for myself. "

"Dunce, " cried Milady, "dunce! who dares to answer for another man, whenthe wisest, when those most after God's own heart, hesitate to answerfor themselves, and who ranges himself on the side of the strongest andthe most fortunate, to crush the weakest and the most unfortunate. "

"Impossible, madame, impossible, " murmured Felton, who felt to thebottom of his heart the justness of this argument. "A prisoner, you willnot recover your liberty through me; living, you will not lose your lifethrough me. "

"Yes, " cried Milady, "but I shall lose that which is much dearer to methan life, I shall lose my honor, Felton; and it is you, you whom I makeresponsible, before God and before men, for my shame and my infamy. "

This time Felton, immovable as he was, or appeared to be, could notresist the secret influence which had already taken possession of him. To see this woman, so beautiful, fair as the brightest vision, to seeher by turns overcome with grief and threatening; to resist at once theascendancy of grief and beauty--it was too much for a visionary; it wastoo much for a brain weakened by the ardent dreams of an ecstatic faith;it was too much for a heart furrowed by the love of heaven that burns, by the hatred of men that devours. 

Milady saw the trouble. She felt by intuition the flame of the opposingpassions which burned with the blood in the veins of the young fanatic. As a skillful general, seeing the enemy ready to surrender, marchestoward him with a cry of victory, she rose, beautiful as an antiquepriestess, inspired like a Christian virgin, her arms extended, herthroat uncovered, her hair disheveled, holding with one hand her robemodestly drawn over her breast, her look illumined by that fire whichhad already created such disorder in the veins of the young Puritan, andwent toward him, crying out with a vehement air, and in her melodiousvoice, to which on this occasion she communicated a terrible energy:

"Let this victim to Baal be sent, To the lions the martyr be thrown!Thy God shall teach thee to repent! From th' abyss he'll give ear to mymoan. "

Felton stood before this strange apparition like one petrified. 

"Who art thou? Who art thou?" cried he, clasping his hands. "Art thou amessenger from God; art thou a minister from hell; art thou an angel ora demon; callest thou thyself Eloa or Astarte?"

"Do you not know me, Felton? I am neither an angel nor a demon; I am adaughter of earth, I am a sister of thy faith, that is all. "

"Yes, yes!" said Felton, "I doubted, but now I believe. "

"You believe, and still you are an accomplice of that child of Belialwho is called Lord de Winter! You believe, and yet you leave me in thehands of mine enemies, of the enemy of England, of the enemy of God!You believe, and yet you deliver me up to him who fills and defiles theworld with his heresies and debaucheries--to that infamous Sardanapaluswhom the blind call the Duke of Buckingham, and whom believers nameAntichrist!"

"I deliver you up to Buckingham? I? what mean you by that?"

"They have eyes, " cried Milady, "but they see not; ears have they, butthey hear not. "

"Yes, yes!" said Felton, passing his hands over his brow, covered withsweat, as if to remove his last doubt. "Yes, I recognize the voice whichspeaks to me in my dreams; yes, I recognize the features of the angelwho appears to me every night, crying to my soul, which cannot sleep:'Strike, save England, save thyself--for thou wilt die without havingappeased God!' Speak, speak!" cried Felton, "I can understand you now. "

A flash of terrible joy, but rapid as thought, gleamed from the eyes ofMilady. 

However fugitive this homicide flash, Felton saw it, and started as ifits light had revealed the abysses of this woman's heart. He recalled, all at once, the warnings of Lord de Winter, the seductions of Milady, her first attempts after her arrival. He drew back a step, and hung downhis head, without, however, ceasing to look at her, as if, fascinated bythis strange creature, he could not detach his eyes from her eyes. 

Milady was not a woman to misunderstand the meaning of this hesitation. Under her apparent emotions her icy coolness never abandoned her. Before Felton replied, and before she should be forced to resume thisconversation, so difficult to be sustained in the same exalted tone, shelet her hands fall; and as if the weakness of the woman overpowered theenthusiasm of the inspired fanatic, she said: "But no, it is not for meto be the Judith to deliver Bethulia from this Holofernes. The sword ofthe eternal is too heavy for my arm. Allow me, then, to avoid dishonorby death; let me take refuge in martyrdom. I do not ask you for liberty, as a guilty one would, nor for vengeance, as would a pagan. Let me die;that is all. I supplicate you, I implore you on my knees--let me die, and my last sigh shall be a blessing for my preserver. "

Hearing that voice, so sweet and suppliant, seeing that look, so timidand downcast, Felton reproached himself. By degrees the enchantress hadclothed herself with that magic adornment which she assumed and threwaside at will; that is to say, beauty, meekness, and tears--and aboveall, the irresistible attraction of mystical voluptuousness, the mostdevouring of all voluptuousness. 

"Alas!" said Felton, "I can do but one thing, which is to pity youif you prove to me you are a victim! But Lord de Winter makes cruelaccusations against you. You are a Christian; you are my sister inreligion. I feel myself drawn toward you--I, who have never loved anyonebut my benefactor--I who have met with nothing but traitors andimpious men. But you, madame, so beautiful in reality, you, so pure inappearance, must have committed great iniquities for Lord de Winter topursue you thus. "

"They have eyes, " repeated Milady, with an accent of indescribablegrief, "but they see not; ears have they, but they hear not. "

"But, " cried the young officer, "speak, then, speak!"

"Confide my shame to you, " cried Milady, with the blush of modestyupon her countenance, "for often the crime of one becomes the shame ofanother--confide my shame to you, a man, and I a woman? Oh, " continuedshe, placing her hand modestly over her beautiful eyes, "never!never!--I could not!"

"To me, to a brother?" said Felton. 

Milady looked at him for some time with an expression which the youngman took for doubt, but which, however, was nothing but observation, orrather the wish to fascinate. 

Felton, in his turn a suppliant, clasped his hands. 

"Well, then, " said Milady, "I confide in my brother; I will dare to--"

At this moment the steps of Lord de Winter were heard; but this timethe terrible brother-in-law of Milady did not content himself, as onthe preceding day, with passing before the door and going away again. Hepaused, exchanged two words with the sentinel; then the door opened, andhe appeared. 

During the exchange of these two words Felton drew back quickly, andwhen Lord de Winter entered, he was several paces from the prisoner. 

The baron entered slowly, sending a scrutinizing glance from Milady tothe young officer. 

"You have been here a very long time, John, " said he. "Has this womanbeen relating her crimes to you? In that case I can comprehend thelength of the conversation. "

Felton started; and Milady felt she was lost if she did not come to theassistance of the disconcerted Puritan. 

"Ah, you fear your prisoner should escape!" said she. "Well, ask yourworthy jailer what favor I this instant solicited of him. "

"You demanded a favor?" said the baron, suspiciously. 

"Yes, my Lord, " replied the young man, confused. 

"And what favor, pray?" asked Lord de Winter. 

"A knife, which she would return to me through the grating of the door aminute after she had received it, " replied Felton. 

"There is someone, then, concealed here whose throat this amiable ladyis desirous of cutting, " said de Winter, in an ironical, contemptuoustone. 

"There is myself, " replied Milady. 

"I have given you the choice between America and Tyburn, " replied Lordde Winter. "Choose Tyburn, madame. Believe me, the cord is more certainthan the knife. "

Felton grew pale, and made a step forward, remembering that at themoment he entered Milady had a rope in her hand. 

"You are right, " said she, "I have often thought of it. " Then she addedin a low voice, "And I will think of it again. "

Felton felt a shudder run to the marrow of his bones; probably Lord deWinter perceived this emotion. 

"Mistrust yourself, John, " said he. "I have placed reliance upon you, my friend. Beware! I have warned you! But be of good courage, my lad; inthree days we shall be delivered from this creature, and where I shallsend her she can harm nobody. "

"You hear him!" cried Milady, with vehemence, so that the baron mightbelieve she was addressing heaven, and that Felton might understand shewas addressing him. 

Felton lowered his head and reflected. 

The baron took the young officer by the arm, and turned his head overhis shoulder, so as not to lose sight of Milady till he was gone out. 

"Well, " said the prisoner, when the door was shut, "I am not so faradvanced as I believed. De Winter has changed his usual stupidity into astrange prudence. It is the desire of vengeance, and how desire moldsa man! As to Felton, he hesitates. Ah, he is not a man like thatcursed d'Artagnan. A Puritan only adores virgins, and he adores themby clasping his hands. A Musketeer loves women, and he loves them byclasping his arms round them. "

Milady waited, then, with much impatience, for she feared the day wouldpass away without her seeing Felton again. At last, in an hour after thescene we have just described, she heard someone speaking in a low voiceat the door. Presently the door opened, and she perceived Felton. 

The young man advanced rapidly into the chamber, leaving the door openbehind him, and making a sign to Milady to be silent; his face was muchagitated. 

"What do you want with me?" said she. 

"Listen, " replied Felton, in a low voice. "I have just sent away thesentinel that I might remain here without anybody knowing it, in orderto speak to you without being overheard. The baron has just related afrightful story to me. "

Milady assumed her smile of a resigned victim, and shook her head. 

"Either you are a demon, " continued Felton, "or the baron--mybenefactor, my father--is a monster. I have known you four days; Ihave loved him four years. I therefore may hesitate between you. Be notalarmed at what I say; I want to be convinced. Tonight, after twelve, Iwill come and see you, and you shall convince me. "

"No, Felton, no, my brother, " said she; "the sacrifice is too great, andI feel what it must cost you. No, I am lost; do not be lost with me. Mydeath will be much more eloquent than my life, and the silence of thecorpse will convince you much better than the words of the prisoner. "

"Be silent, madame, " cried Felton, "and do not speak to me thus; I cameto entreat you to promise me upon your honor, to swear to me by what youhold most sacred, that you will make no attempt upon your life. "

"I will not promise, " said Milady, "for no one has more respect for apromise or an oath than I have; and if I make a promise I must keep it. "

"Well, " said Felton, "only promise till you have seen me again. If, whenyou have seen me again, you still persist--well, then you shall be free, and I myself will give you the weapon you desire. "

"Well, " said Milady, "for you I will wait. "

"Swear. "

"I swear it, by our God. Are you satisfied?"

"Well, " said Felton, "till tonight. "

And he darted out of the room, shut the door, and waited in thecorridor, the soldier's half-pike in his hand, and as if he had mountedguard in his place. 

The soldier returned, and Felton gave him back his weapon. 

Then, through the grating to which she had drawn near, Milady saw theyoung man make a sign with delirious fervor, and depart in an apparenttransport of joy. 

As for her, she returned to her place with a smile of savage contemptupon her lips, and repeated, blaspheming, that terrible name of God, bywhom she had just sworn without ever having learned to know Him. 

"My God, " said she, "what a senseless fanatic! My God, it is I--I--andthis fellow who will help me to avenge myself. "

56 CAPTIVITY: THE FIFTH DAY

Milady had however achieved a half-triumph, and success doubled herforces. 

It was not difficult to conquer, as she had hitherto done, men prompt tolet themselves be seduced, and whom the gallant education of a courtled quickly into her net. Milady was handsome enough not to find muchresistance on the part of the flesh, and she was sufficiently skillfulto prevail over all the obstacles of the mind. 

But this time she had to contend with an unpolished nature, concentratedand insensible by force of austerity. Religion and its observances hadmade Felton a man inaccessible to ordinary seductions. There fermentedin that sublimated brain plans so vast, projects so tumultuous, thatthere remained no room for any capricious or material love--thatsentiment which is fed by leisure and grows with corruption. Milady had, then, made a breach by her false virtue in the opinion of a man horriblyprejudiced against her, and by her beauty in the heart of a man hithertochaste and pure. In short, she had taken the measure of motiveshitherto unknown to herself, through this experiment, made upon the mostrebellious subject that nature and religion could submit to her study. 

Many a time, nevertheless, during the evening she despaired of fate andof herself. She did not invoke God, we very well know, but she had faithin the genius of evil--that immense sovereignty which reigns in all thedetails of human life, and by which, as in the Arabian fable, a singlepomegranate seed is sufficient to reconstruct a ruined world. 

Milady, being well prepared for the reception of Felton, was able toerect her batteries for the next day. She knew she had only two daysleft; that when once the order was signed by Buckingham--and Buckinghamwould sign it the more readily from its bearing a false name, and hecould not, therefore, recognize the woman in question--once this orderwas signed, we say, the baron would make her embark immediately, andshe knew very well that women condemned to exile employ arms much lesspowerful in their seductions than the pretendedly virtuous woman whosebeauty is lighted by the sun of the world, whose style the voice offashion lauds, and whom a halo of aristocracy gilds with enchantingsplendors. To be a woman condemned to a painful and disgracefulpunishment is no impediment to beauty, but it is an obstacle to therecovery of power. Like all persons of real genius, Milady knewwhat suited her nature and her means. Poverty was repugnant to her;degradation took away two-thirds of her greatness. Milady was only aqueen while among queens. The pleasure of satisfied pride was necessaryto her domination. To command inferior beings was rather a humiliationthan a pleasure for her. 

She should certainly return from her exile--she did not doubt thata single instant; but how long might this exile last? For an active, ambitious nature, like that of Milady, days not spent in climbing areinauspicious days. What word, then, can be found to describe the dayswhich they occupy in descending? To lose a year, two years, three years, is to talk of an eternity; to return after the death or disgrace of thecardinal, perhaps; to return when d'Artagnan and his friends, happy andtriumphant, should have received from the queen the reward they had wellacquired by the services they had rendered her--these were devouringideas that a woman like Milady could not endure. For the rest, the stormwhich raged within her doubled her strength, and she would have burstthe walls of her prison if her body had been able to take for a singleinstant the proportions of her mind. 

Then that which spurred her on additionally in the midst of all this wasthe remembrance of the cardinal. What must the mistrustful, restless, suspicious cardinal think of her silence--the cardinal, not merely heronly support, her only prop, her only protector at present, but stillfurther, the principal instrument of her future fortune and vengeance?She knew him; she knew that at her return from a fruitless journey itwould be in vain to tell him of her imprisonment, in vain to enlargeupon the sufferings she had undergone. The cardinal would reply, withthe sarcastic calmness of the skeptic, strong at once by power andgenius, "You should not have allowed yourself to be taken. "

Then Milady collected all her energies, murmuring in the depths of hersoul the name of Felton--the only beam of light that penetrated to herin the hell into which she had fallen; and like a serpent which foldsand unfolds its rings to ascertain its strength, she enveloped Feltonbeforehand in the thousand meshes of her inventive imagination. 

Time, however, passed away; the hours, one after another, seemed toawaken the clock as they passed, and every blow of the brass hammerresounded upon the heart of the prisoner. At nine o'clock, Lord deWinter made his customary visit, examined the window and the bars, sounded the floor and the walls, looked to the chimney and thedoors, without, during this long and minute examination, he or Miladypronouncing a single word. 

Doubtless both of them understood that the situation had become tooserious to lose time in useless words and aimless wrath. 

"Well, " said the baron, on leaving her "you will not escape tonight!"

At ten o'clock Felton came and placed the sentinel. Milady recognizedhis step. She was as well acquainted with it now as a mistress is withthat of the lover of her heart; and yet Milady at the same time detestedand despised this weak fanatic. 

That was not the appointed hour. Felton did not enter. 

Two hours after, as midnight sounded, the sentinel was relieved. This time it WAS the hour, and from this moment Milady waited withimpatience. The new sentinel commenced his walk in the corridor. At theexpiration of ten minutes Felton came. 

Milady was all attention. 

"Listen, " said the young man to the sentinel. "On no pretense leave thedoor, for you know that last night my Lord punished a soldier for havingquit his post for an instant, although I, during his absence, watched inhis place. "

"Yes, I know it, " said the soldier. 

"I recommend you therefore to keep the strictest watch. For my part Iam going to pay a second visit to this woman, who I fear entertainssinister intentions upon her own life, and I have received orders towatch her. "

"Good!" murmured Milady; "the austere Puritan lies. "

As to the soldier, he only smiled. 

"Zounds, Lieutenant!" said he; "you are not unlucky in being chargedwith such commissions, particularly if my Lord has authorized you tolook into her bed. "

Felton blushed. Under any other circumstances he would have reprimandedthe soldier for indulging in such pleasantry, but his consciencemurmured too loud for his mouth to dare speak. 

"If I call, come, " said he. "If anyone comes, call me. "

"I will, Lieutenant, " said the soldier. 

Felton entered Milady's apartment. Milady arose. 

"You are here!" said she. 

"I promised to come, " said Felton, "and I have come. "

"You promised me something else. "

"What, my God!" said the young man, who in spite of his self-commandfelt his knees tremble and the sweat start from his brow. 

"You promised to bring a knife, and to leave it with me after ourinterview. "

"Say no more of that, madame, " said Felton. "There is no situation, however terrible it may be, which can authorize a creature of God toinflict death upon himself. I have reflected, and I cannot, must not beguilty of such a sin. "

"Ah, you have reflected!" said the prisoner, sitting down in herarmchair, with a smile of disdain; "and I also have reflected. "

"Upon what?"

"That I can have nothing to say to a man who does not keep his word. "

"Oh, my God!" murmured Felton. 

"You may retire, " said Milady. "I will not talk. "

"Here is the knife, " said Felton, drawing from his pocket the weaponwhich he had brought, according to his promise, but which he hesitatedto give to his prisoner. 

"Let me see it, " said Milady. 

"For what purpose?"

"Upon my honor, I will instantly return it to you. You shall place it onthat table, and you may remain between it and me. "

Felton offered the weapon to Milady, who examined the temper of itattentively, and who tried the point on the tip of her finger. 

"Well, " said she, returning the knife to the young officer, "this isfine and good steel. You are a faithful friend, Felton. "

Felton took back the weapon, and laid it upon the table, as he hadagreed with the prisoner. 

Milady followed him with her eyes, and made a gesture of satisfaction. 

"Now, " said she, "listen to me. "

The request was needless. The young officer stood upright before her, awaiting her words as if to devour them. 

"Felton, " said Milady, with a solemnity full of melancholy, "imaginethat your sister, the daughter of your father, speaks to you. While yetyoung, unfortunately handsome, I was dragged into a snare. I resisted. Ambushes and violences multiplied around me, but I resisted. Thereligion I serve, the God I adore, were blasphemed because I called uponthat religion and that God, but still I resisted. Then outrages wereheaped upon me, and as my soul was not subdued they wished to defile mybody forever. Finally--"

Milady stopped, and a bitter smile passed over her lips. 

"Finally, " said Felton, "finally, what did they do?"

"At length, one evening my enemy resolved to paralyze the resistancehe could not conquer. One evening he mixed a powerful narcotic with mywater. Scarcely had I finished my repast, when I felt myself sink bydegrees into a strange torpor. Although I was without mistrust, a vaguefear seized me, and I tried to struggle against sleepiness. I arose. Iwished to run to the window and call for help, but my legs refused theiroffice. It appeared as if the ceiling sank upon my head and crushed mewith its weight. I stretched out my arms. I tried to speak. I could onlyutter inarticulate sounds, and irresistible faintness came over me. Isupported myself by a chair, feeling that I was about to fall, but thissupport was soon insufficient on account of my weak arms. I fell uponone knee, then upon both. I tried to pray, but my tongue was frozen. Goddoubtless neither heard nor saw me, and I sank upon the floor a prey toa slumber which resembled death. 

"Of all that passed in that sleep, or the time which glided away whileit lasted, I have no remembrance. The only thing I recollect is that Iawoke in bed in a round chamber, the furniture of which was sumptuous, and into which light only penetrated by an opening in the ceiling. Nodoor gave entrance to the room. It might be called a magnificent prison. 

"It was a long time before I was able to make out what place I was in, or to take account of the details I describe. My mind appeared to strivein vain to shake off the heavy darkness of the sleep from which I couldnot rouse myself. I had vague perceptions of space traversed, of therolling of a carriage, of a horrible dream in which my strength hadbecome exhausted; but all this was so dark and so indistinct in my mindthat these events seemed to belong to another life than mine, and yetmixed with mine in fantastic duality. 

"At times the state into which I had fallen appeared so strange that Ibelieved myself dreaming. I arose trembling. My clothes were near me ona chair; I neither remembered having undressed myself nor going to bed. Then by degrees the reality broke upon me, full of chaste terrors. I wasno longer in the house where I had dwelt. As well as I could judge bythe light of the sun, the day was already two-thirds gone. It was theevening before when I had fallen asleep; my sleep, then, must havelasted twenty-four hours! What had taken place during this long sleep?

"I dressed myself as quickly as possible; my slow and stiff motionsall attested that the effects of the narcotic were not yet entirelydissipated. The chamber was evidently furnished for the reception of awoman; and the most finished coquette could not have formed a wish, buton casting her eyes about the apartment, she would have found that wishaccomplished. 

"Certainly I was not the first captive that had been shut up in thissplendid prison; but you may easily comprehend, Felton, that the moresuperb the prison, the greater was my terror. 

"Yes, it was a prison, for I tried in vain to get out of it. I soundedall the walls, in the hopes of discovering a door, but everywhere thewalls returned a full and flat sound. 

"I made the tour of the room at least twenty times, in search of anoutlet of some kind; but there was none. I sank exhausted with fatigueand terror into an armchair. 

"Meantime, night came on rapidly, and with night my terrors increased. I did not know but I had better remain where I was seated. It appearedthat I was surrounded with unknown dangers into which I was about tofall at every instant. Although I had eaten nothing since the eveningbefore, my fears prevented my feeling hunger. 

"No noise from without by which I could measure the time reached me; Ionly supposed it must be seven or eight o'clock in the evening, for itwas in the month of October and it was quite dark. 

"All at once the noise of a door, turning on its hinges, made me start. A globe of fire appeared above the glazed opening of the ceiling, casting a strong light into my chamber; and I perceived with terror thata man was standing within a few paces of me. 

"A table, with two covers, bearing a supper ready prepared, stood, as ifby magic, in the middle of the apartment. 

"That man was he who had pursued me during a whole year, who had vowedmy dishonor, and who, by the first words that issued from his mouth, gave me to understand he had accomplished it the preceding night. "

"Scoundrel!" murmured Felton. 

"Oh, yes, scoundrel!" cried Milady, seeing the interest which the youngofficer, whose soul seemed to hang on her lips, took in this strangerecital. "Oh, yes, scoundrel! He believed, having triumphed over me inmy sleep, that all was completed. He came, hoping that I would acceptmy shame, as my shame was consummated; he came to offer his fortune inexchange for my love. 

"All that the heart of a woman could contain of haughty contemptand disdainful words, I poured out upon this man. Doubtless he wasaccustomed to such reproaches, for he listened to me calm and smiling, with his arms crossed over his breast. Then, when he thought I had saidall, he advanced toward me; I sprang toward the table, I seized a knife, I placed it to my breast. 

"Take one step more, " said I, "and in addition to my dishonor, you shallhave my death to reproach yourself with. "

"There was, no doubt, in my look, my voice, my whole person, thatsincerity of gesture, of attitude, of accent, which carries convictionto the most perverse minds, for he paused. 

"'Your death?' said he; 'oh, no, you are too charming a mistress toallow me to consent to lose you thus, after I have had the happiness topossess you only a single time. Adieu, my charmer; I will wait to payyou my next visit till you are in a better humor. '

"At these words he blew a whistle; the globe of fire which lightedthe room reascended and disappeared. I found myself again in completedarkness. The same noise of a door opening and shutting was repeatedthe instant afterward; the flaming globe descended afresh, and I wascompletely alone. 

"This moment was frightful; if I had any doubts as to my misfortune, these doubts had vanished in an overwhelming reality. I was in the powerof a man whom I not only detested, but despised--of a man capable ofanything, and who had already given me a fatal proof of what he was ableto do. "

"But who, then was this man?" asked Felton. 

"I passed the night on a chair, starting at the least noise, for towardmidnight the lamp went out, and I was again in darkness. But the nightpassed away without any fresh attempt on the part of my persecutor. Daycame; the table had disappeared, only I had still the knife in my hand. 

"This knife was my only hope. 

"I was worn out with fatigue. Sleeplessness inflamed my eyes; I had notdared to sleep a single instant. The light of day reassured me; I wentand threw myself on the bed, without parting with the emancipatingknife, which I concealed under my pillow. 

"When I awoke, a fresh meal was served. 

"This time, in spite of my terrors, in spite of my agony, I began tofeel a devouring hunger. It was forty-eight hours since I had takenany nourishment. I ate some bread and some fruit; then, remembering thenarcotic mixed with the water I had drunk, I would not touch that whichwas placed on the table, but filled my glass at a marble fountain fixedin the wall over my dressing table. 

"And yet, notwithstanding these precautions, I remained for some time ina terrible agitation of mind. But my fears were this time ill-founded; Ipassed the day without experiencing anything of the kind I dreaded. 

"I took the precaution to half empty the carafe, in order that mysuspicions might not be noticed. 

"The evening came on, and with it darkness; but however profound wasthis darkness, my eyes began to accustom themselves to it. I saw, amidthe shadows, the table sink through the floor; a quarter of an hourlater it reappeared, bearing my supper. In an instant, thanks to thelamp, my chamber was once more lighted. 

"I was determined to eat only such things as could not possibly haveanything soporific introduced into them. Two eggs and some fruitcomposed my repast; then I drew another glass of water from myprotecting fountain, and drank it. 

"At the first swallow, it appeared to me not to have the same tasteas in the morning. Suspicion instantly seized me. I paused, but I hadalready drunk half a glass. 

"I threw the rest away with horror, and waited, with the dew of fearupon my brow. 

"No doubt some invisible witness had seen me draw the water from thatfountain, and had taken advantage of my confidence in it, the better toassure my ruin, so coolly resolved upon, so cruelly pursued. 

"Half an hour had not passed when the same symptoms began to appear; butas I had only drunk half a glass of the water, I contended longer, andinstead of falling entirely asleep, I sank into a state of drowsinesswhich left me a perception of what was passing around me, whiledepriving me of the strength either to defend myself or to fly. 

"I dragged myself toward the bed, to seek the only defense I hadleft--my saving knife; but I could not reach the bolster. I sank on myknees, my hands clasped round one of the bedposts; then I felt that Iwas lost. "

Felton became frightfully pale, and a convulsive tremor crept throughhis whole body. 

"And what was most frightful, " continued Milady, her voice altered, asif she still experienced the same agony as at that awful minute, "was that at this time I retained a consciousness of the danger thatthreatened me; was that my soul, if I may say so, waked in my sleepingbody; was that I saw, that I heard. It is true that all was like adream, but it was not the less frightful. 

"I saw the lamp ascend, and leave me in darkness; then I heard thewell-known creaking of the door although I had heard that door open buttwice. 

"I felt instinctively that someone approached me; it is said that thedoomed wretch in the deserts of America thus feels the approach of theserpent. 

"I wished to make an effort; I attempted to cry out. By an incredibleeffort of will I even raised myself up, but only to sink down againimmediately, and to fall into the arms of my persecutor. "

"Tell me who this man was!" cried the young officer. 

Milady saw at a single glance all the painful feelings she inspired inFelton by dwelling on every detail of her recital; but she would notspare him a single pang. The more profoundly she wounded his heart, themore certainly he would avenge her. She continued, then, as if she hadnot heard his exclamation, or as if she thought the moment was not yetcome to reply to it. 

"Only this time it was no longer an inert body, without feeling, thatthe villain had to deal with. I have told you that without being able toregain the complete exercise of my faculties, I retained the sense of mydanger. I struggled, then, with all my strength, and doubtless opposed, weak as I was, a long resistance, for I heard him cry out, 'Thesemiserable Puritans! I knew very well that they tired out theirexecutioners, but I did not believe them so strong against theirlovers!'

"Alas! this desperate resistance could not last long. I felt my strengthfail, and this time it was not my sleep that enabled the coward toprevail, but my swoon. "

Felton listened without uttering any word or sound, except an inwardexpression of agony. The sweat streamed down his marble forehead, andhis hand, under his coat, tore his breast. 

"My first impulse, on coming to myself, was to feel under my pillow forthe knife I had not been able to reach; if it had not been useful fordefense, it might at least serve for expiation. 

"But on taking this knife, Felton, a terrible idea occurred to me. Ihave sworn to tell you all, and I will tell you all. I have promised youthe truth; I will tell it, were it to destroy me. "

"The idea came into your mind to avenge yourself on this man, did itnot?" cried Felton. 

"Yes, " said Milady. "The idea was not that of a Christian, I knew;but without doubt, that eternal enemy of our souls, that lion roaringconstantly around us, breathed it into my mind. In short, what shall Isay to you, Felton?" continued Milady, in the tone of a woman accusingherself of a crime. "This idea occurred to me, and did not leave me; itis of this homicidal thought that I now bear the punishment. "

"Continue, continue!" said Felton; "I am eager to see you attain yourvengeance!"

"Oh, I resolved that it should take place as soon as possible. I had nodoubt he would return the following night. During the day I had nothingto fear. 

"When the hour of breakfast came, therefore, I did not hesitate to eatand drink. I had determined to make believe sup, but to eat nothing. Iwas forced, then, to combat the fast of the evening with the nourishmentof the morning. 

"Only I concealed a glass of water, which remained after my breakfast, thirst having been the chief of my sufferings when I remainedforty-eight hours without eating or drinking. 

"The day passed away without having any other influence on me than tostrengthen the resolution I had formed; only I took care that my faceshould not betray the thoughts of my heart, for I had no doubt I waswatched. Several times, even, I felt a smile on my lips. Felton, I darenot tell you at what idea I smiled; you would hold me in horror--"

"Go on! go on!" said Felton; "you see plainly that I listen, and that Iam anxious to know the end. "

"Evening came; the ordinary events took place. During the darkness, asbefore, my supper was brought. Then the lamp was lighted, and I sat downto table. I only ate some fruit. I pretended to pour out water fromthe jug, but I only drank that which I had saved in my glass. Thesubstitution was made so carefully that my spies, if I had any, couldhave no suspicion of it. 

"After supper I exhibited the same marks of languor as on the precedingevening; but this time, as I yielded to fatigue, or as if I had becomefamiliarized with danger, I dragged myself toward my bed, let my robefall, and lay down. 

"I found my knife where I had placed it, under my pillow, and whilefeigning to sleep, my hand grasped the handle of it convulsively. 

"Two hours passed away without anything fresh happening. Oh, my God! whocould have said so the evening before? I began to fear that he would notcome. 

"At length I saw the lamp rise softly, and disappear in the depths ofthe ceiling; my chamber was filled with darkness and obscurity, but Imade a strong effort to penetrate this darkness and obscurity. 

"Nearly ten minutes passed; I heard no other noise but the beating of myown heart. I implored heaven that he might come. 

"At length I heard the well-known noise of the door, which opened andshut; I heard, notwithstanding the thickness of the carpet, a step whichmade the floor creak; I saw, notwithstanding the darkness, a shadowwhich approached my bed. "

"Haste! haste!" said Felton; "do you not see that each of your wordsburns me like molten lead?"

"Then, " continued Milady, "then I collected all my strength; I recalledto my mind that the moment of vengeance, or rather, of justice, hadstruck. I looked upon myself as another Judith; I gathered myself up, myknife in my hand, and when I saw him near me, stretching out his arms tofind his victim, then, with the last cry of agony and despair, I struckhim in the middle of his breast. 

"The miserable villain! He had foreseen all. His breast was covered witha coat-of-mail; the knife was bent against it. 

"'Ah, ah!' cried he, seizing my arm, and wresting from me the weaponthat had so badly served me, 'you want to take my life, do you, mypretty Puritan? But that's more than dislike, that's ingratitude! Come, come, calm yourself, my sweet girl! I thought you had softened. I am notone of those tyrants who detain women by force. You don't love me. Withmy usual fatuity I doubted it; now I am convinced. Tomorrow you shall befree. '

"I had but one wish; that was that he should kill me. 

"'Beware!' said I, 'for my liberty is your dishonor. '

"'Explain yourself, my pretty sibyl!'

"'Yes; for as soon as I leave this place I will tell everything. Iwill proclaim the violence you have used toward me. I will describe mycaptivity. I will denounce this place of infamy. You are placed on high, my Lord, but tremble! Above you there is the king; above the king thereis God!'

"However perfect master he was over himself, my persecutor allowed amovement of anger to escape him. I could not see the expression of hiscountenance, but I felt the arm tremble upon which my hand was placed. 

"'Then you shall not leave this place, ' said he. 

"'Very well, ' cried I, 'then the place of my punishment will be that ofmy tomb. I will die here, and you will see if a phantom that accuses isnot more terrible than a living being that threatens!'

"'You shall have no weapon left in your power. '

"'There is a weapon which despair has placed within the reach of everycreature who has the courage to use it. I will allow myself to die withhunger. '

"'Come, ' said the wretch, 'is not peace much better than such a war asthat? I will restore you to liberty this moment; I will proclaim you apiece of immaculate virtue; I will name you the Lucretia of England. '

"'And I will say that you are the Sextus. I will denounce you beforemen, as I have denounced you before God; and if it be necessary that, like Lucretia, I should sign my accusation with my blood, I will signit. '

"'Ah!' said my enemy, in a jeering tone, 'that's quite another thing. Myfaith! everything considered, you are very well off here. You shall wantfor nothing, and if you let yourself die of hunger that will be your ownfault. '

"At these words he retired. I heard the door open and shut, and Iremained overwhelmed, less, I confess it, by my grief than by themortification of not having avenged myself. 

"He kept his word. All the day, all the next night passed away withoutmy seeing him again. But I also kept my word with him, and I neither atenor drank. I was, as I told him, resolved to die of hunger. 

"I passed the day and the night in prayer, for I hoped that God wouldpardon me my suicide. 

"The second night the door opened; I was lying on the floor, for mystrength began to abandon me. 

"At the noise I raised myself up on one hand. 

"'Well, ' said a voice which vibrated in too terrible a manner in my earnot to be recognized, 'well! Are we softened a little? Will we not payfor our liberty with a single promise of silence? Come, I am a goodsort of a prince, ' added he, 'and although I like not Puritans I do themjustice; and it is the same with Puritanesses, when they are pretty. Come, take a little oath for me on the cross; I won't ask anything moreof you. '

"'On the cross, ' cried I, rising, for at that abhorred voice I hadrecovered all my strength, 'on the cross I swear that no promise, nomenace, no force, no torture, shall close my mouth! On the cross I swearto denounce you everywhere as a murderer, as a thief of honor, as a basecoward! On the cross I swear, if I ever leave this place, to call downvengeance upon you from the whole human race!'

"'Beware!' said the voice, in a threatening accent that I had never yetheard. 'I have an extraordinary means which I will not employ but in thelast extremity to close your mouth, or at least to prevent anyone frombelieving a word you may utter. '

"I mustered all my strength to reply to him with a burst of laughter. 

"He saw that it was a merciless war between us--a war to the death. 

"'Listen!' said he. 'I give you the rest of tonight and all daytomorrow. Reflect: promise to be silent, and riches, consideration, evenhonor, shall surround you; threaten to speak, and I will condemn you toinfamy. '

"'You?' cried I. 'You?'

"'To interminable, ineffaceable infamy!'

"'You?' repeated I. Oh, I declare to you, Felton, I thought him mad!

"'Yes, yes, I!' replied he. 

"'Oh, leave me!' said I. 'Begone, if you do not desire to see me dash myhead against that wall before your eyes!'

"'Very well, it is your own doing. Till tomorrow evening, then!'

"'Till tomorrow evening, then!' replied I, allowing myself to fall, andbiting the carpet with rage. "

Felton leaned for support upon a piece of furniture; and Milady saw, with the joy of a demon, that his strength would fail him perhaps beforethe end of her recital. 

57 MEANS FOR CLASSICAL TRAGEDY

After a moment of silence employed by Milady in observing the young manwho listened to her, Milady continued her recital. 

"It was nearly three days since I had eaten or drunk anything. Isuffered frightful torments. At times there passed before me cloudswhich pressed my brow, which veiled my eyes; this was delirium. 

"When the evening came I was so weak that every time I fainted I thankedGod, for I thought I was about to die. 

"In the midst of one of these swoons I heard the door open. Terrorrecalled me to myself. 

"He entered the apartment followed by a man in a mask. He was maskedlikewise; but I knew his step, I knew his voice, I knew him by thatimposing bearing which hell has bestowed upon his person for the curseof humanity. 

"'Well, ' said he to me, 'have you made your mind up to take the oath Irequested of you?'

"'You have said Puritans have but one word. Mine you have heard, andthat is to pursue you--on earth to the tribunal of men, in heaven to thetribunal of God. '

"'You persist, then?'

"'I swear it before the God who hears me. I will take the whole world asa witness of your crime, and that until I have found an avenger. '

"'You are a prostitute, ' said he, in a voice of thunder, 'and you shallundergo the punishment of prostitutes! Branded in the eyes of the worldyou invoke, try to prove to that world that you are neither guilty normad!'

"Then, addressing the man who accompanied him, 'Executioner, ' said he, 'do your duty. '"

"Oh, his name, his name!" cried Felton. "His name, tell it me!"

"Then in spite of my cries, in spite of my resistance--for I began tocomprehend that there was a question of something worse than death--theexecutioner seized me, threw me on the floor, fastened me with hisbonds, and suffocated by sobs, almost without sense, invoking God, whodid not listen to me, I uttered all at once a frightful cry of pain andshame. A burning fire, a red-hot iron, the iron of the executioner, wasimprinted on my shoulder. "

Felton uttered a groan. 

"Here, " said Milady, rising with the majesty of a queen, "here, Felton, behold the new martyrdom invented for a pure young girl, the victimof the brutality of a villain. Learn to know the heart of men, andhenceforth make yourself less easily the instrument of their unjustvengeance. "

Milady, with a rapid gesture, opened her robe, tore the cambric thatcovered her bosom, and red with feigned anger and simulated shame, showed the young man the ineffaceable impression which dishonored thatbeautiful shoulder. 

"But, " cried Felton, "that is a FLEUR-DE-LIS which I see there. "

"And therein consisted the infamy, " replied Milady. "The brand ofEngland!--it would be necessary to prove what tribunal had imposed iton me, and I could have made a public appeal to all the tribunals of thekingdom; but the brand of France!--oh, by that, by THAT I was brandedindeed!"

This was too much for Felton. 

Pale, motionless, overwhelmed by this frightful revelation, dazzled bythe superhuman beauty of this woman who unveiled herself before him withan immodesty which appeared to him sublime, he ended by falling on hisknees before her as the early Christians did before those pure and holymartyrs whom the persecution of the emperors gave up in the circus tothe sanguinary sensuality of the populace. The brand disappeared; thebeauty alone remained. 

"Pardon! Pardon!" cried Felton, "oh, pardon!"

Milady read in his eyes LOVE! LOVE!

"Pardon for what?" asked she. 

"Pardon me for having joined with your persecutors. "

Milady held out her hand to him. 

"So beautiful! so young!" cried Felton, covering that hand with hiskisses. 

Milady let one of those looks fall upon him which make a slave of aking. 

Felton was a Puritan; he abandoned the hand of this woman to kiss herfeet. 

He no longer loved her; he adored her. 

When this crisis was past, when Milady appeared to have resumed herself-possession, which she had never lost; when Felton had seen herrecover with the veil of chastity those treasures of love which wereonly concealed from him to make him desire them the more ardently, hesaid, "Ah, now! I have only one thing to ask of you; that is, the nameof your true executioner. For to me there is but one; the other was aninstrument, that was all. "

"What, brother!" cried Milady, "must I name him again? Have you not yetdivined who he is?"

"What?" cried Felton, "he--again he--always he? What--the truly guilty?"

"The truly guilty, " said Milady, "is the ravager of England, thepersecutor of true believers, the base ravisher of the honor of so manywomen--he who, to satisfy a caprice of his corrupt heart, is about tomake England shed so much blood, who protects the Protestants today andwill betray them tomorrow--"

"Buckingham! It is, then, Buckingham!" cried Felton, in a high state ofexcitement. 

Milady concealed her face in her hands, as if she could not endure theshame which this name recalled to her. 

"Buckingham, the executioner of this angelic creature!" cried Felton. "And thou hast not hurled thy thunder at him, my God! And thou hast lefthim noble, honored, powerful, for the ruin of us all!"

"God abandons him who abandons himself, " said Milady. 

"But he will draw upon his head the punishment reserved for the damned!"said Felton, with increasing exultation. "He wills that human vengeanceshould precede celestial justice. "

"Men fear him and spare him. "

"I, " said Felton, "I do not fear him, nor will I spare him. "

The soul of Milady was bathed in an infernal joy. 

"But how can Lord de Winter, my protector, my father, " asked Felton, "possibly be mixed up with all this?"

"Listen, Felton, " resumed Milady, "for by the side of base andcontemptible men there are often found great and generous natures. I hadan affianced husband, a man whom I loved, and who loved me--a heart likeyours, Felton, a man like you. I went to him and told him all; he knewme, that man did, and did not doubt an instant. He was a nobleman, a manequal to Buckingham in every respect. He said nothing; he only girded onhis sword, wrapped himself in his cloak, and went straight to BuckinghamPalace. 

"Yes, yes, " said Felton; "I understand how he would act. But with suchmen it is not the sword that should be employed; it is the poniard. "

"Buckingham had left England the day before, sent as ambassador toSpain, to demand the hand of the Infanta for King Charles I, who wasthen only Prince of Wales. My affianced husband returned. 

"'Hear me, ' said he; 'this man has gone, and for the moment hasconsequently escaped my vengeance; but let us be united, as we were tohave been, and then leave it to Lord de Winter to maintain his own honorand that of his wife. '"

"Lord de Winter!" cried Felton. 

"Yes, " said Milady, "Lord de Winter; and now you can understand it all, can you not? Buckingham remained nearly a year absent. A week before hisreturn Lord de Winter died, leaving me his sole heir. Whence came theblow? God who knows all, knows without doubt; but as for me, I accusenobody. "

"Oh, what an abyss; what an abyss!" cried Felton. 

"Lord de Winter died without revealing anything to his brother. Theterrible secret was to be concealed till it burst, like a clap ofthunder, over the head of the guilty. Your protector had seen withpain this marriage of his elder brother with a portionless girl. I wassensible that I could look for no support from a man disappointed inhis hopes of an inheritance. I went to France, with a determination toremain there for the rest of my life. But all my fortune is in England. Communication being closed by the war, I was in want of everything. I was then obliged to come back again. Six days ago, I landed atPortsmouth. "

"Well?" said Felton. 

"Well; Buckingham heard by some means, no doubt, of my return. He spokeof me to Lord de Winter, already prejudiced against me, and told himthat his sister-in-law was a prostitute, a branded woman. The noble andpure voice of my husband was no longer here to defend me. Lord de Winterbelieved all that was told him with so much the more ease that itwas his interest to believe it. He caused me to be arrested, had meconducted hither, and placed me under your guard. You know the rest. The day after tomorrow he banishes me, he transports me; the day aftertomorrow he exiles me among the infamous. Oh, the train is well laid;the plot is clever. My honor will not survive it! You see, then, Felton, I can do nothing but die. Felton, give me that knife!"

And at these words, as if all her strength was exhausted, Miladysank, weak and languishing, into the arms of the young officer, who, intoxicated with love, anger, and voluptuous sensations hithertounknown, received her with transport, pressed her against his heart, all trembling at the breath from that charming mouth, bewildered by thecontact with that palpitating bosom. 

"No, no, " said he. "No, you shall live honored and pure; you shall liveto triumph over your enemies. "

Milady put him from her slowly with her hand, while drawing him nearerwith her look; but Felton, in his turn, embraced her more closely, imploring her like a divinity. 

"Oh, death, death!" said she, lowering her voice and her eyelids, "oh, death, rather than shame! Felton, my brother, my friend, I conjure you!"

"No, " cried Felton, "no; you shall live and you shall be avenged. "

"Felton, I bring misfortune to all who surround me! Felton, abandon me!Felton, let me die!"

"Well, then, we will live and die together!" cried he, pressing his lipsto those of the prisoner. 

Several strokes resounded on the door; this time Milady really pushedhim away from her. 

"Hark, " said she, "we have been overheard! Someone is coming! All isover! We are lost!"

"No, " said Felton; it is only the sentinel warning me that they areabout to change the guard. "

"Then run to the door, and open it yourself. "

Felton obeyed; this woman was now his whole thought, his whole soul. 

He found himself face to face with a sergeant commanding a watch-patrol. 

"Well, what is the matter?" asked the young lieutenant. 

"You told me to open the door if I heard anyone cry out, " said thesoldier; "but you forgot to leave me the key. I heard you cry out, without understanding what you said. I tried to open the door, but itwas locked inside; then I called the sergeant. "

"And here I am, " said the sergeant. 

Felton, quite bewildered, almost mad, stood speechless. 

Milady plainly perceived that it was now her turn to take part in thescene. She ran to the table, and seizing the knife which Felton had laiddown, exclaimed, "And by what right will you prevent me from dying?"

"Great God!" exclaimed Felton, on seeing the knife glitter in her hand. 

At that moment a burst of ironical laughter resounded through thecorridor. The baron, attracted by the noise, in his chamber gown, hissword under his arm, stood in the doorway. 

"Ah, " said he, "here we are, at the last act of the tragedy. You see, Felton, the drama has gone through all the phases I named; but be easy, no blood will flow. "

Milady perceived that all was lost unless she gave Felton an immediateand terrible proof of her courage. 

"You are mistaken, my Lord, blood will flow; and may that blood fallback on those who cause it to flow!"

Felton uttered a cry, and rushed toward her. He was too late; Milady hadstabbed herself. 

But the knife had fortunately, we ought to say skillfully, come incontact with the steel busk, which at that period, like a cuirass, defended the chests of women. It had glided down it, tearing the robe, and had penetrated slantingly between the flesh and the ribs. Milady'srobe was not the less stained with blood in a second. 

Milady fell down, and seemed to be in a swoon. 

Felton snatched away the knife. 

"See, my Lord, " said he, in a deep, gloomy tone, "here is a woman whowas under my guard, and who has killed herself!"

"Be at ease, Felton, " said Lord de Winter. "She is not dead; demons donot die so easily. Be tranquil, and go wait for me in my chamber. "

"But, my Lord--"

"Go, sir, I command you!"

At this injunction from his superior, Felton obeyed; but in going out, he put the knife into his bosom. 

As to Lord de Winter, he contented himself with calling the woman whowaited on Milady, and when she was come, he recommended the prisoner, who was still fainting, to her care, and left them alone. 

Meanwhile, all things considered and notwithstanding his suspicions, as the wound might be serious, he immediately sent off a mounted man tofind a physician. 

58 ESCAPE

As Lord de Winter had thought, Milady's wound was not dangerous. So soonas she was left alone with the woman whom the baron had summoned to herassistance she opened her eyes. 

It was, however, necessary to affect weakness and pain--not a verydifficult task for so finished an actress as Milady. Thus the poorwoman was completely the dupe of the prisoner, whom, notwithstanding herhints, she persisted in watching all night. 

But the presence of this woman did not prevent Milady from thinking. 

There was no longer a doubt that Felton was convinced; Felton was hers. If an angel appeared to that young man as an accuser of Milady, he wouldtake him, in the mental disposition in which he now found himself, for amessenger sent by the devil. 

Milady smiled at this thought, for Felton was now her only hope--heronly means of safety. 

But Lord de Winter might suspect him; Felton himself might now bewatched!

Toward four o'clock in the morning the doctor arrived; but since thetime Milady stabbed herself, however short, the wound had closed. Thedoctor could therefore measure neither the direction nor the depth ofit; he only satisfied himself by Milady's pulse that the case was notserious. 

In the morning Milady, under the pretext that she had not slept well inthe night and wanted rest, sent away the woman who attended her. 

She had one hope, which was that Felton would appear at the breakfasthour; but Felton did not come. 

Were her fears realized? Was Felton, suspected by the baron, about tofail her at the decisive moment? She had only one day left. Lord deWinter had announced her embarkation for the twenty-third, and it wasnow the morning of the twenty-second. 

Nevertheless she still waited patiently till the hour for dinner. 

Although she had eaten nothing in the morning, the dinner was brought inat its usual time. Milady then perceived, with terror, that the uniformof the soldiers who guarded her was changed. 

Then she ventured to ask what had become of Felton. 

She was told that he had left the castle an hour before on horseback. She inquired if the baron was still at the castle. The soldier repliedthat he was, and that he had given orders to be informed if the prisonerwished to speak to him. 

Milady replied that she was too weak at present, and that her onlydesire was to be left alone. 

The soldier went out, leaving the dinner served. 

Felton was sent away. The marines were removed. Felton was thenmistrusted. 

This was the last blow to the prisoner. 

Left alone, she arose. The bed, which she had kept from prudence andthat they might believe her seriously wounded, burned her like a bed offire. She cast a glance at the door; the baron had had a plank nailedover the grating. He no doubt feared that by this opening she mightstill by some diabolical means corrupt her guards. 

Milady smiled with joy. She was free now to give way to her transportswithout being observed. She traversed her chamber with the excitement ofa furious maniac or of a tigress shut up in an iron cage. CERTES, ifthe knife had been left in her power, she would now have thought, not ofkilling herself, but of killing the baron. 

At six o'clock Lord de Winter came in. He was armed at all points. This man, in whom Milady till that time had only seen a very simplegentleman, had become an admirable jailer. He appeared to foresee all, to divine all, to anticipate all. 

A single look at Milady apprised him of all that was passing in hermind. 

"Ay!" said he, "I see; but you shall not kill me today. You have nolonger a weapon; and besides, I am on my guard. You had begun to pervertmy poor Felton. He was yielding to your infernal influence; but I willsave him. He will never see you again; all is over. Get your clothestogether. Tomorrow you will go. I had fixed the embarkation for thetwenty-fourth; but I have reflected that the more promptly the affairtakes place the more sure it will be. Tomorrow, by twelve o'clock, Ishall have the order for your exile, signed, BUCKINGHAM. If you speaka single word to anyone before going aboard ship, my sergeant will blowyour brains out. He has orders to do so. If when on the ship you speaka single word to anyone before the captain permits you, the captain willhave you thrown into the sea. That is agreed upon. 

"AU REVOIR; then; that is all I have to say today. Tomorrow I willsee you again, to take my leave. " With these words the baron went out. Milady had listened to all this menacing tirade with a smile of disdainon her lips, but rage in her heart. 

Supper was served. Milady felt that she stood in need of all herstrength. She did not know what might take place during this night whichapproached so menacingly--for large masses of cloud rolled over the faceof the sky, and distant lightning announced a storm. 

The storm broke about ten o'clock. Milady felt a consolation in seeingnature partake of the disorder of her heart. The thunder growled in theair like the passion and anger in her thoughts. It appeared to herthat the blast as it swept along disheveled her brow, as it bowed thebranches of the trees and bore away their leaves. She howled as thehurricane howled; and her voice was lost in the great voice of nature, which also seemed to groan with despair. 

All at once she heard a tap at her window, and by the help of a flash oflightning she saw the face of a man appear behind the bars. 

She ran to the window and opened it. 

"Felton!" cried she. "I am saved. "

"Yes, " said Felton; "but silence, silence! I must have time to filethrough these bars. Only take care that I am not seen through thewicket. "

"Oh, it is a proof that the Lord is on our side, Felton, " repliedMilady. "They have closed up the grating with a board. "

"That is well; God has made them senseless, " said Felton. 

"But what must I do?" asked Milady. 

"Nothing, nothing, only shut the window. Go to bed, or at least lie downin your clothes. As soon as I have done I will knock on one of the panesof glass. But will you be able to follow me?"

"Oh, yes!"

"Your wound?"

"Gives me pain, but will not prevent my walking. "

"Be ready, then, at the first signal. "

Milady shut the window, extinguished the lamp, and went, as Felton haddesired her, to lie down on the bed. Amid the moaning of the storm sheheard the grinding of the file upon the bars, and by the light of everyflash she perceived the shadow of Felton through the panes. 

She passed an hour without breathing, panting, with a cold sweat uponher brow, and her heart oppressed by frightful agony at every movementshe heard in the corridor. 

There are hours which last a year. 

At the expiration of an hour, Felton tapped again. 

Milady sprang out of bed and opened the window. Two bars removed formedan opening for a man to pass through. 

"Are you ready?" asked Felton. 

"Yes. Must I take anything with me?"

"Money, if you have any. "

"Yes; fortunately they have left me all I had. "

"So much the better, for I have expended all mine in chartering avessel. "

"Here!" said Milady, placing a bag full of louis in Felton's hands. 

Felton took the bag and threw it to the foot of the wall. 

"Now, " said he, "will you come?"

"I am ready. "

Milady mounted upon a chair and passed the upper part of her bodythrough the window. She saw the young officer suspended over the abyssby a ladder of ropes. For the first time an emotion of terror remindedher that she was a woman. 

The dark space frightened her. 

"I expected this, " said Felton. 

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" said Milady. "I will descend with my eyesshut. "

"Have you confidence in me?" said Felton. 

"You ask that?"

"Put your two hands together. Cross them; that's right!"

Felton tied her two wrists together with his handkerchief, and then witha cord over the handkerchief. 

"What are you doing?" asked Milady, with surprise. 

"Pass your arms around my neck, and fear nothing. "

"But I shall make you lose your balance, and we shall both be dashed topieces. "

"Don't be afraid. I am a sailor. "

Not a second was to be lost. Milady passed her two arms round Felton'sneck, and let herself slip out of the window. Felton began to descendthe ladder slowly, step by step. Despite the weight of two bodies, theblast of the hurricane shook them in the air. 

All at once Felton stopped. 

"What is the matter?" asked Milady. 

"Silence, " said Felton, "I hear footsteps. "

"We are discovered!"

There was a silence of several seconds. 

"No, " said Felton, "it is nothing. "

"But what, then, is the noise?"

"That of the patrol going their rounds. "

"Where is their road?"

"Just under us. "

"They will discover us!"

"No, if it does not lighten. "

"But they will run against the bottom of the ladder. "

"Fortunately it is too short by six feet. "

"Here they are! My God!"

"Silence!"

Both remained suspended, motionless and breathless, within twentypaces of the ground, while the patrol passed beneath them laughing andtalking. This was a terrible moment for the fugitives. 

The patrol passed. The noise of their retreating footsteps and themurmur of their voices soon died away. 

"Now, " said Felton, "we are safe. "

Milady breathed a deep sigh and fainted. 

Felton continued to descend. Near the bottom of the ladder, when hefound no more support for his feet, he clung with his hands; at length, arrived at the last step, he let himself hang by the strength of hiswrists, and touched the ground. He stooped down, picked up the bag ofmoney, and placed it between his teeth. Then he took Milady in his arms, and set off briskly in the direction opposite to that which the patrolhad taken. He soon left the pathway of the patrol, descended across therocks, and when arrived on the edge of the sea, whistled. 

A similar signal replied to him; and five minutes after, a boatappeared, rowed by four men. 

The boat approached as near as it could to the shore; but there was notdepth enough of water for it to touch land. Felton walked into thesea up to his middle, being unwilling to trust his precious burden toanybody. 

Fortunately the storm began to subside, but still the sea was disturbed. The little boat bounded over the waves like a nut-shell. 

"To the sloop, " said Felton, "and row quickly. "

The four men bent to their oars, but the sea was too high to let themget much hold of it. 

However, they left the castle behind; that was the principal thing. Thenight was extremely dark. It was almost impossible to see the shore fromthe boat; they would therefore be less likely to see the boat from theshore. 

A black point floated on the sea. That was the sloop. While the boatwas advancing with all the speed its four rowers could give it, Feltonuntied the cord and then the handkerchief which bound Milady's handstogether. When her hands were loosed he took some sea water andsprinkled it over her face. 

Milady breathed a sigh, and opened her eyes. 

"Where am I?" said she. 

"Saved!" replied the young officer. 

"Oh, saved, saved!" cried she. "Yes, there is the sky; here is the sea!The air I breathe is the air of liberty! Ah, thanks, Felton, thanks!"

The young man pressed her to his heart. 

"But what is the matter with my hands!" asked Milady; "it seems as if mywrists had been crushed in a vice. "

Milady held out her arms; her wrists were bruised. 

"Alas!" said Felton, looking at those beautiful hands, and shaking hishead sorrowfully. 

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing!" cried Milady. "I remember now. "

Milady looked around her, as if in search of something. 

"It is there, " said Felton, touching the bag of money with his foot. 

They drew near to the sloop. A sailor on watch hailed the boat; the boatreplied. 

"What vessel is that?" asked Milady. 

"The one I have hired for you. "

"Where will it take me?"

"Where you please, after you have put me on shore at Portsmouth. "

"What are you going to do at Portsmouth?" asked Milady. 

"Accomplish the orders of Lord de Winter, " said Felton, with a gloomysmile. 

"What orders?" asked Milady. 

"You do not understand?" asked Felton. 

"No; explain yourself, I beg. "

"As he mistrusted me, he determined to guard you himself, and sent me inhis place to get Buckingham to sign the order for your transportation. "

"But if he mistrusted you, how could he confide such an order to you?"

"How could I know what I was the bearer of?"

"That's true! And you are going to Portsmouth?"

"I have no time to lose. Tomorrow is the twenty-third, and Buckinghamsets sail tomorrow with his fleet. "

"He sets sail tomorrow! Where for?"

"For La Rochelle. "

"He need not sail!" cried Milady, forgetting her usual presence of mind. 

"Be satisfied, " replied Felton; "he will not sail. "

Milady started with joy. She could read to the depths of the heartof this young man; the death of Buckingham was written there at fulllength. 

"Felton, " cried she, "you are as great as Judas Maccabeus! If you die, Iwill die with you; that is all I can say to you. "

"Silence!" cried Felton; "we are here. "

In fact, they touched the sloop. 

Felton mounted the ladder first, and gave his hand to Milady, while thesailors supported her, for the sea was still much agitated. 

An instant after they were on the deck. 

"Captain, " said Felton, "this is person of whom I spoke to you, and whomyou must convey safe and sound to France. "

"For a thousand pistoles, " said the captain. 

"I have paid you five hundred of them. "

"That's correct, " said the captain. 

"And here are the other five hundred, " replied Milady, placing her handupon the bag of gold. 

"No, " said the captain, "I make but one bargain; and I have agreed withthis young man that the other five hundred shall not be due to me tillwe arrive at Boulogne. "

"And shall we arrive there?"

"Safe and sound, as true as my name's Jack Butler. "

"Well, " said Milady, "if you keep your word, instead of five hundred, Iwill give you a thousand pistoles. "

"Hurrah for you, then, my beautiful lady, " cried the captain; "and mayGod often send me such passengers as your Ladyship!"

"Meanwhile, " said Felton, "convey me to the little bay of--; you know itwas agreed you should put in there. "

The captain replied by ordering the necessary maneuvers, and towardseven o'clock in the morning the little vessel cast anchor in the baythat had been named. 

During this passage, Felton related everything to Milady--how, insteadof going to London, he had chartered the little vessel; how he hadreturned; how he had scaled the wall by fastening cramps in theinterstices of the stones, as he ascended, to give him foothold; andhow, when he had reached the bars, he fastened his ladder. Milady knewthe rest. 

On her side, Milady tried to encourage Felton in his project; but at thefirst words which issued from her mouth, she plainly saw that the youngfanatic stood more in need of being moderated than urged. 

It was agreed that Milady should wait for Felton till ten o'clock; if hedid not return by ten o'clock she was to sail. 

In that case, and supposing he was at liberty, he was to rejoin her inFrance, at the convent of the Carmelites at Bethune. 

59 WHAT TOOK PLACE AT PORTSMOUTH AUGUST 23, 1628

Felton took leave of Milady as a brother about to go for a mere walktakes leave of his sister, kissing her hand. 

His whole body appeared in its ordinary state of calmness, only anunusual fire beamed from his eyes, like the effects of a fever; his browwas more pale than it generally was; his teeth were clenched, and hisspeech had a short dry accent which indicated that something dark was atwork within him. 

As long as he remained in the boat which conveyed him to land, he kepthis face toward Milady, who, standing on the deck, followed him withher eyes. Both were free from the fear of pursuit; nobody ever came intoMilady's apartment before nine o'clock, and it would require three hoursto go from the castle to London. 

Felton jumped onshore, climbed the little ascent which led to the topof the cliff, saluted Milady a last time, and took his course toward thecity. 

At the end of a hundred paces, the ground began to decline, and he couldonly see the mast of the sloop. 

He immediately ran in the direction of Portsmouth, which he saw atnearly half a league before him, standing out in the haze of themorning, with its houses and towers. 

Beyond Portsmouth the sea was covered with vessels whose masts, like aforest of poplars despoiled by the winter, bent with each breath of thewind. 

Felton, in his rapid walk, reviewed in his mind all the accusationsagainst the favorite of James I and Charles I, furnished by two years ofpremature meditation and a long sojourn among the Puritans. 

When he compared the public crimes of this minister--startling crimes, European crimes, if so we may say--with the private and unknown crimeswith which Milady had charged him, Felton found that the more culpableof the two men which formed the character of Buckingham was the oneof whom the public knew not the life. This was because his love, sostrange, so new, and so ardent, made him view the infamous and imaginaryaccusations of Milady de Winter as, through a magnifying glass, oneviews as frightful monsters atoms in reality imperceptible by the sideof an ant. 

The rapidity of his walk heated his blood still more; the idea that heleft behind him, exposed to a frightful vengeance, the woman he loved, or rather whom he adored as a saint, the emotion he had experienced, present fatigue--all together exalted his mind above human feeling. 

He entered Portsmouth about eight o'clock in the morning. The wholepopulation was on foot; drums were beating in the streets and in theport; the troops about to embark were marching toward the sea. 

Felton arrived at the palace of the Admiralty, covered with dust, andstreaming with perspiration. His countenance, usually so pale, waspurple with heat and passion. The sentinel wanted to repulse him; butFelton called to the officer of the post, and drawing from his pocketthe letter of which he was the bearer, he said, "A pressing message fromLord de Winter. "

At the name of Lord de Winter, who was known to be one of his Grace'smost intimate friends, the officer of the post gave orders to let Feltonpass, who, besides, wore the uniform of a naval officer. 

Felton darted into the palace. 

At the moment he entered the vestibule, another man was enteringlikewise, dusty, out of breath, leaving at the gate a post horse, which, on reaching the palace, tumbled on his foreknees. 

Felton and he addressed Patrick, the duke's confidential lackey, at thesame moment. Felton named Lord de Winter; the unknown would not nameanybody, and pretended that it was to the duke alone he would makehimself known. Each was anxious to gain admission before the other. 

Patrick, who knew Lord de Winter was in affairs of the service, and inrelations of friendship with the duke, gave the preference to the onewho came in his name. The other was forced to wait, and it was easily tobe seen how he cursed the delay. 

The valet led Felton through a large hall in which waited the deputiesfrom La Rochelle, headed by the Prince de Soubise, and introduced himinto a closet where Buckingham, just out of the bath, was finishinghis toilet, upon which, as at all times, he bestowed extraordinaryattention. 

"Lieutenant Felton, from Lord de Winter, " said Patrick. 

"From Lord de Winter!" repeated Buckingham; "let him come in. "

Felton entered. At that moment Buckingham was throwing upon a couch arich toilet robe, worked with gold, in order to put on a blue velvetdoublet embroidered with pearls. 

"Why didn't the baron come himself?" demanded Buckingham. "I expectedhim this morning. "

"He desired me to tell your Grace, " replied Felton, "that he very muchregretted not having that honor, but that he was prevented by the guardhe is obliged to keep at the castle. "

"Yes, I know that, " said Buckingham; "he has a prisoner. "

"It is of that prisoner that I wish to speak to your Grace, " repliedFelton. 

"Well, then, speak!"

"That which I have to say of her can only be heard by yourself, myLord!"

"Leave us, Patrick, " said Buckingham; "but remain within sound of thebell. I shall call you presently. "

Patrick went out. 

"We are alone, sir, " said Buckingham; "speak!"

"My Lord, " said Felton, "the Baron de Winter wrote to you the other dayto request you to sign an order of embarkation relative to a young womannamed Charlotte Backson. "

"Yes, sir; and I answered him, to bring or send me that order and Iwould sign it. "

"Here it is, my Lord. "

"Give it to me, " said the duke. 

And taking it from Felton, he cast a rapid glance over the paper, andperceiving that it was the one that had been mentioned to him, he placedit on the table, took a pen, and prepared to sign it. 

"Pardon, my Lord, " said Felton, stopping the duke; "but does your Graceknow that the name of Charlotte Backson is not the true name of thisyoung woman?"

"Yes, sir, I know it, " replied the duke, dipping the quill in the ink. 

"Then your Grace knows her real name?" asked Felton, in a sharp tone. 

"I know it"; and the duke put the quill to the paper. Felton grew pale. 

"And knowing that real name, my Lord, " replied Felton, "will you sign itall the same?"

"Doubtless, " said Buckingham, "and rather twice than once. "

"I cannot believe, " continued Felton, in a voice that became more sharpand rough, "that your Grace knows that it is to Milady de Winter thisrelates. "

"I know it perfectly, although I am astonished that you know it. "

"And will your Grace sign that order without remorse?"

Buckingham looked at the young man haughtily. 

"Do you know, sir, that you are asking me very strange questions, andthat I am very foolish to answer them?"

"Reply to them, my Lord, " said Felton; "the circumstances are moreserious than you perhaps believe. "

Buckingham reflected that the young man, coming from Lord de Winter, undoubtedly spoke in his name, and softened. 

"Without remorse, " said he. "The baron knows, as well as myself, thatMilady de Winter is a very guilty woman, and it is treating her veryfavorably to commute her punishment to transportation. " The duke put hispen to the paper. 

"You will not sign that order, my Lord!" said Felton, making a steptoward the duke. 

"I will not sign this order! And why not?"

"Because you will look into yourself, and you will do justice to thelady. "

"I should do her justice by sending her to Tyburn, " said Buckingham. "This lady is infamous. "

"My Lord, Milady de Winter is an angel; you know that she is, and Idemand her liberty of you. "

"Bah! Are you mad, to talk to me thus?" said Buckingham. 

"My Lord, excuse me! I speak as I can; I restrain myself. But, my Lord, think of what you're about to do, and beware of going too far!"

"What do you say? God pardon me!" cried Buckingham, "I really think hethreatens me!"

"No, my Lord, I still plead. And I say to you: one drop of watersuffices to make the full vase overflow; one slight fault may draw downpunishment upon the head spared, despite many crimes. "

"Mr. Felton, " said Buckingham, "you will withdraw, and place yourself atonce under arrest. "

"You will hear me to the end, my Lord. You have seduced this young girl;you have outraged, defiled her. Repair your crimes toward her; let hergo free, and I will exact nothing else from you. "

"You will exact!" said Buckingham, looking at Felton with astonishment, and dwelling upon each syllable of the three words as he pronouncedthem. 

"My Lord, " continued Felton, becoming more excited as he spoke, "myLord, beware! All England is tired of your iniquities; my Lord, you haveabused the royal power, which you have almost usurped; my Lord, you areheld in horror by God and men. God will punish you hereafter, but I willpunish you here!"

"Ah, this is too much!" cried Buckingham, making a step toward the door. 

Felton barred his passage. 

"I ask it humbly of you, my Lord, " said he; "sign the order for theliberation of Milady de Winter. Remember that she is a woman whom youhave dishonored. "

"Withdraw, sir, " said Buckingham, "or I will call my attendant, and haveyou placed in irons. "

"You shall not call, " said Felton, throwing himself between the duke andthe bell placed on a stand encrusted with silver. "Beware, my Lord, youare in the hands of God!"

"In the hands of the devil, you mean!" cried Buckingham, raising hisvoice so as to attract the notice of his people, without absolutelyshouting. 

"Sign, my Lord; sign the liberation of Milady de Winter, " said Felton, holding out a paper to the duke. 

"By force? You are joking! Holloa, Patrick!"

"Sign, my Lord!"

"Never. "

"Never?"

"Help!" shouted the duke; and at the same time he sprang toward hissword. 

But Felton did not give him time to draw it. He held the knife withwhich Milady had stabbed herself, open in his bosom; at one bound he wasupon the duke. 

At that moment Patrick entered the room, crying, "A letter from France, my Lord. "

"From France!" cried Buckingham, forgetting everything in thinking fromwhom that letter came. 

Felton took advantage of this moment, and plunged the knife into hisside up to the handle. 

"Ah, traitor, " cried Buckingham, "you have killed me!"

"Murder!" screamed Patrick. 

Felton cast his eyes round for means of escape, and seeing the doorfree, he rushed into the next chamber, in which, as we have said, the deputies from La Rochelle were waiting, crossed it as quickly aspossible, and rushed toward the staircase; but upon the first step hemet Lord de Winter, who, seeing him pale, confused, livid, and stainedwith blood both on his hands and face, seized him by the throat, crying, "I knew it! I guessed it! But too late by a minute, unfortunate, unfortunate that I am!"

Felton made no resistance. Lord de Winter placed him in the hands of theguards, who led him, while awaiting further orders, to a little terracecommanding the sea; and then the baron hastened to the duke's chamber. 

At the cry uttered by the duke and the scream of Patrick, the man whomFelton had met in the antechamber rushed into the chamber. 

He found the duke reclining upon a sofa, with his hand pressed upon thewound. 

"Laporte, " said the duke, in a dying voice, "Laporte, do you come fromher?"

"Yes, monseigneur, " replied the faithful cloak bearer of Anne ofAustria, "but too late, perhaps. "

"Silence, Laporte, you may be overheard. Patrick, let no one enter. Oh, I cannot tell what she says to me! My God, I am dying!"

And the duke swooned. 

Meanwhile, Lord de Winter, the deputies, the leaders of the expedition, the officers of Buckingham's household, had all made their way into thechamber. Cries of despair resounded on all sides. The news, which filledthe palace with tears and groans, soon became known, and spread itselfthroughout the city. 

The report of a cannon announced that something new and unexpected hadtaken place. 

Lord de Winter tore his hair. 

"Too late by a minute!" cried he, "too late by a minute! Oh, my God, myGod! what a misfortune!"

He had been informed at seven o'clock in the morning that a rope ladderfloated from one of the windows of the castle; he had hastened toMilady's chamber, had found it empty, the window open, and the barsfiled, had remembered the verbal caution d'Artagnan had transmittedto him by his messenger, had trembled for the duke, and running to thestable without taking time to have a horse saddled, had jumped upon thefirst he found, had galloped off like the wind, had alighted below inthe courtyard, had ascended the stairs precipitately, and on the topstep, as we have said, had encountered Felton. 

The duke, however, was not dead. He recovered a little, reopened hiseyes, and hope revived in all hearts. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, "leave me alone with Patrick and Laporte--ah, isthat you, de Winter? You sent me a strange madman this morning! See thestate in which he has put me. "

"Oh, my Lord!" cried the baron, "I shall never console myself. "

"And you would be quite wrong, my dear de Winter, " said Buckingham, holding out his hand to him. "I do not know the man who deserves beingregretted during the whole life of another man; but leave us, I prayyou. "

The baron went out sobbing. 

There only remained in the closet of the wounded duke Laporte andPatrick. A physician was sought for, but none was yet found. 

"You will live, my Lord, you will live!" repeated the faithful servantof Anne of Austria, on his knees before the duke's sofa. 

"What has she written to me?" said Buckingham, feebly, streaming withblood, and suppressing his agony to speak of her he loved, "what has shewritten to me? Read me her letter. "

"Oh, my Lord!" said Laporte. 

"Obey, Laporte, do you not see I have no time to lose?"

Laporte broke the seal, and placed the paper before the eyes of theduke; but Buckingham in vain tried to make out the writing. 

"Read!" said he, "read! I cannot see. Read, then! For soon, perhaps, Ishall not hear, and I shall die without knowing what she has written tome. "

Laporte made no further objection, and read:

"My Lord, By that which, since I have known you, have suffered by youand for you, I conjure you, if you have any care for my repose, tocountermand those great armaments which you are preparing againstFrance, to put an end to a war of which it is publicly said religion isthe ostensible cause, and of which, it is generally whispered, yourlove for me is the concealed cause. This war may not only bring greatcatastrophes upon England and France, but misfortune upon you, my Lord, for which I should never console myself. 

"Be careful of your life, which is menaced, and which will be dear to mefrom the moment I am not obliged to see an enemy in you. 

"Your affectionate

"ANNE"

Buckingham collected all his remaining strength to listen to the readingof the letter; then, when it was ended, as if he had met with a bitterdisappointment, he asked, "Have you nothing else to say to me by theliving voice, Laporte?"

"The queen charged me to tell you to watch over yourself, for she hadadvice that your assassination would be attempted. "

"And is that all--is that all?" replied Buckingham, impatiently. 

"She likewise charged me to tell you that she still loved you. "

"Ah, " said Buckingham, "God be praised! My death, then, will not be toher as the death of a stranger!"

Laporte burst into tears. 

"Patrick, " said the due, "bring me the casket in which the diamond studswere kept. "

Patrick brought the object desired, which Laporte recognized as havingbelonged to the queen. 

"Now the scent bag of white satin, on which her cipher is embroidered inpearls. "

Patrick again obeyed. 

"Here, Laporte, " said Buckingham, "these are the only tokens I everreceived from her--this silver casket and these two letters. You willrestore them to her Majesty; and as a last memorial"--he looked roundfor some valuable object--"you will add--"

He still sought; but his eyes, darkened by death, encountered only theknife which had fallen from the hand of Felton, still smoking with theblood spread over its blade. 

"And you will add to them this knife, " said the duke, pressing the handof Laporte. He had just strength enough to place the scent bag at thebottom of the silver casket, and to let the knife fall into it, makinga sign to Laporte that he was no longer able to speak; than, in a lastconvulsion, which this time he had not the power to combat, he slippedfrom the sofa to the floor. 

Patrick uttered a loud cry. 

Buckingham tried to smile a last time; but death checked his thought, which remained engraved on his brow like a last kiss of love. 

At this moment the duke's surgeon arrived, quite terrified; he wasalready on board the admiral's ship, where they had been obliged to seekhim. 

He approached the duke, took his hand, held it for an instant in hisown, and letting it fall, "All is useless, " said he, "he is dead. "

"Dead, dead!" cried Patrick. 

At this cry all the crowd re-entered the apartment, and throughout thepalace and town there was nothing but consternation and tumult. 

As soon as Lord de Winter saw Buckingham was dead, he ran to Felton, whom the soldiers still guarded on the terrace of the palace. 

"Wretch!" said he to the young man, who since the death of Buckinghamhad regained that coolness and self-possession which never afterabandoned him, "wretch! what have you done?"

"I have avenged myself!" said he. 

"Avenged yourself, " said the baron. "Rather say that you have served asan instrument to that accursed woman; but I swear to you that this crimeshall be her last. "

"I don't know what you mean, " replied Felton, quietly, "and I amignorant of whom you are speaking, my Lord. I killed the Duke ofBuckingham because he twice refused you yourself to appoint me captain;I have punished him for his injustice, that is all. "

De Winter, stupefied, looked on while the soldiers bound Felton, andcould not tell what to think of such insensibility. 

One thing alone, however, threw a shade over the pallid brow of Felton. At every noise he heard, the simple Puritan fancied he recognized thestep and voice of Milady coming to throw herself into his arms, toaccuse herself, and die with him. 

All at once he started. His eyes became fixed upon a point of the sea, commanded by the terrace where he was. With the eagle glance of a sailorhe had recognized there, where another would have seen only a gullhovering over the waves, the sail of a sloop which was directed towardthe cost of France. 

He grew deadly pale, placed his hand upon his heart, which was breaking, and at once perceived all the treachery. 

"One last favor, my Lord!" said he to the baron. 

"What?" asked his Lordship. 

"What o'clock is it?"

The baron drew out his watch. "It wants ten minutes to nine, " said he. 

Milady had hastened her departure by an hour and a half. As soon as sheheard the cannon which announced the fatal event, she had ordered theanchor to be weighed. The vessel was making way under a blue sky, atgreat distance from the coast. 

"God has so willed it!" said he, with the resignation of a fanatic; butwithout, however, being able to take his eyes from that ship, on boardof which he doubtless fancied he could distinguish the white outline ofher to whom he had sacrificed his life. 

De Winter followed his look, observed his feelings, and guessed all. 

"Be punished ALONE, for the first, miserable man!" said Lord de Winterto Felton, who was being dragged away with his eyes turned toward thesea; "but I swear to you by the memory of my brother whom I have lovedso much that your accomplice is not saved. "

Felton lowered his head without pronouncing a syllable. 

As to Lord de Winter, he descended the stairs rapidly, and went straightto the port. 

60 IN FRANCE

The first fear of the King of England, Charles I, on learning of thedeath of the duke, was that such terrible news might discourage theRochellais; he tried, says Richelieu in his Memoirs, to conceal it fromthem as long as possible, closing all the ports of his kingdom, andcarefully keeping watch that no vessel should sail until the armywhich Buckingham was getting together had gone, taking upon himself, indefault of Buckingham, to superintend the departure. 

He carried the strictness of this order so far as to detain in Englandthe ambassadors of Denmark, who had taken their leave, and the regularambassador of Holland, who was to take back to the port of Flushing theIndian merchantmen of which Charles I had made restitution to the UnitedProvinces. 

But as he did not think of giving this order till five hours after theevent--that is to say, till two o'clock in the afternoon--two vesselshad already left the port, the one bearing, as we know, Milady, who, already anticipating the event, was further confirmed in that belief byseeing the black flag flying at the masthead of the admiral's ship. 

As to the second vessel, we will tell hereafter whom it carried, and howit set sail. 

During this time nothing new occurred in the camp at La Rochelle; onlythe king, who was bored, as always, but perhaps a little more so in campthan elsewhere, resolved to go incognito and spend the festival of St. Louis at St. Germain, and asked the cardinal to order him an escort ofonly twenty Musketeers. The cardinal, who sometimes became weary of theking, granted this leave of absence with great pleasure to his royallieutenant, who promised to return about the fifteenth of September. 

M. De Treville, being informed of this by his Eminence, packed hisportmanteau; and as without knowing the cause he knew the great desireand even imperative need which his friends had of returning to Paris, itgoes without saying that he fixed upon them to form part of the escort. 

The four young men heard the news a quarter of an hour after M. DeTreville, for they were the first to whom he communicated it. It wasthen that d'Artagnan appreciated the favor the cardinal had conferredupon him in making him at last enter the Musketeers--for without thatcircumstance he would have been forced to remain in the camp while hiscompanions left it. 

It goes without saying that this impatience to return toward Paris hadfor a cause the danger which Mme. Bonacieux would run of meeting at theconvent of Bethune with Milady, her mortal enemy. Aramis therefore hadwritten immediately to Marie Michon, the seamstress at Tours who hadsuch fine acquaintances, to obtain from the queen authority for Mme. Bonacieux to leave the convent, and to retire either into Lorraine orBelgium. They had not long to wait for an answer. Eight or ten daysafterward Aramis received the following letter:

My Dear Cousin, Here is the authorization from my sister to withdraw ourlittle servant from the convent of Bethune, the air of which you thinkis bad for her. My sister sends you this authorization with greatpleasure, for she is very partial to the little girl, to whom sheintends to be more serviceable hereafter. 

I salute you, MARIE MICHON

To this letter was added an order, conceived in these terms:

At the Louvre, August 10, 1628 The superior of the convent of Bethunewill place in the hands of the person who shall present this note to herthe novice who entered the convent upon my recommendation and under mypatronage. 

ANNE

It may be easily imagined how the relationship between Aramis and aseamstress who called the queen her sister amused the young men; butAramis, after having blushed two or three times up to the whites ofhis eyes at the gross pleasantry of Porthos, begged his friends not torevert to the subject again, declaring that if a single word morewas said to him about it, he would never again implore his cousins tointerfere in such affairs. 

There was no further question, therefore, about Marie Michon among thefour Musketeers, who besides had what they wanted: that was, theorder to withdraw Mme. Bonacieux from the convent of the Carmelites ofBethune. It was true that this order would not be of great use to themwhile they were in camp at La Rochelle; that is to say, at the other endof France. Therefore d'Artagnan was going to ask leave of absence of M. De Treville, confiding to him candidly the importance of his departure, when the news was transmitted to him as well as to his three friendsthat the king was about to set out for Paris with an escort of twentyMusketeers, and that they formed part of the escort. 

Their joy was great. The lackeys were sent on before with the baggage, and they set out on the morning of the sixteenth. 

The cardinal accompanied his Majesty from Surgeres to Mauzes; andthere the king and his minister took leave of each other with greatdemonstrations of friendship. 

The king, however, who sought distraction, while traveling as fast aspossible--for he was anxious to be in Paris by the twenty-third--stoppedfrom time to time to fly the magpie, a pastime for which the taste hadbeen formerly inspired in him by de Luynes, and for which he had alwayspreserved a great predilection. Out of the twenty Musketeers sixteen, when this took place, rejoiced greatly at this relaxation; but the otherfour cursed it heartily. D'Artagnan, in particular, had a perpetualbuzzing in his ears, which Porthos explained thus: "A very great ladyhas told me that this means that somebody is talking of you somewhere. "

At length the escort passed through Paris on the twenty-third, in thenight. The king thanked M. De Treville, and permitted him to distributefurloughs for four days, on condition that the favored parties shouldnot appear in any public place, under penalty of the Bastille. 

The first four furloughs granted, as may be imagined, were to ourfour friends. Still further, Athos obtained of M. De Treville six daysinstead of four, and introduced into these six days two more nights--forthey set out on the twenty-fourth at five o'clock in the evening, and asa further kindness M. De Treville post-dated the leave to the morning ofthe twenty-fifth. 

"Good Lord!" said d'Artagnan, who, as we have often said, never stumbledat anything. "It appears to me that we are making a great trouble ofa very simple thing. In two days, and by using up two or three horses(that's nothing; I have plenty of money), I am at Bethune. I presentmy letter from the queen to the superior, and I bring back the deartreasure I go to seek--not into Lorraine, not into Belgium, but toParis, where she will be much better concealed, particularly while thecardinal is at La Rochelle. Well, once returned from the country, halfby the protection of her cousin, half through what we have personallydone for her, we shall obtain from the queen what we desire. Remain, then, where you are, and do not exhaust yourselves with useless fatigue. Myself and Planchet are all that such a simple expedition requires. "

To this Athos replied quietly: "We also have money left--for I have notyet drunk all my share of the diamond, and Porthos and Aramis have noteaten all theirs. We can therefore use up four horses as well as one. But consider, d'Artagnan, " added he, in a tone so solemn that it madethe young man shudder, "consider that Bethune is a city where thecardinal has given rendezvous to a woman who, wherever she goes, bringsmisery with her. If you had only to deal with four men, d'Artagnan, Iwould allow you to go alone. You have to do with that woman! We fourwill go; and I hope to God that with our four lackeys we may be insufficient number. "

"You terrify me, Athos!" cried d'Artagnan. "My God! what do you fear?"

"Everything!" replied Athos. 

D'Artagnan examined the countenances of his companions, which, like thatof Athos, wore an impression of deep anxiety; and they continued theirroute as fast as their horses could carry them, but without addinganother word. 

On the evening of the twenty-fifth, as they were entering Arras, and asd'Artagnan was dismounting at the inn of the Golden Harrow to drink aglass of wine, a horseman came out of the post yard, where he had justhad a relay, started off at a gallop, and with a fresh horse took theroad to Paris. At the moment he passed through the gateway into thestreet, the wind blew open the cloak in which he was wrapped, althoughit was in the month of August, and lifted his hat, which the travelerseized with his hand the moment it had left his head, pulling it eagerlyover his eyes. 

D'Artagnan, who had his eyes fixed upon this man, became very pale, andlet his glass fall. 

"What is the matter, monsieur?" said Planchet. "Oh, come, gentlemen, mymaster is ill!"

The three friends hastened toward d'Artagnan, who, instead of being ill, ran toward his horse. They stopped him at the door. 

"Well, where the devil are you going now?" cried Athos. 

"It is he!" cried d'Artagnan, pale with anger, and with the sweat on hisbrow, "it is he! let me overtake him!"

"He? What he?" asked Athos. 

"He, that man!"

"What man?"

"That cursed man, my evil genius, whom I have always met with whenthreatened by some misfortune, he who accompanied that horrible womanwhen I met her for the first time, he whom I was seeking when I offendedour Athos, he whom I saw on the very morning Madame Bonacieux wasabducted. I have seen him; that is he! I recognized him when the windblew upon his cloak. "

"The devil!" said Athos, musingly. 

"To saddle, gentlemen! to saddle! Let us pursue him, and we shallovertake him!"

"My dear friend, " said Aramis, "remember that he goes in an oppositedirection from that in which we are going, that he has a fresh horse, and ours are fatigued, so that we shall disable our own horses withouteven a chance of overtaking him. Let the man go, d'Artagnan; let us savethe woman. "

"Monsieur, monsieur!" cried a hostler, running out and looking after thestranger, "monsieur, here is a paper which dropped out of your hat! Eh, monsieur, eh!"

"Friend, " said d'Artagnan, "a half-pistole for that paper!"

"My faith, monsieur, with great pleasure! Here it is!"

The hostler, enchanted with the good day's work he had done, returned tothe yard. D'Artagnan unfolded the paper. 

"Well?" eagerly demanded all his three friends. 

"Nothing but one word!" said d'Artagnan. 

"Yes, " said Aramis, "but that one word is the name of some town orvillage. "

"Armentieres, " read Porthos; "Armentieres? I don't know such a place. "

"And that name of a town or village is written in her hand!" criedAthos. 

"Come on, come on!" said d'Artagnan; "let us keep that paper carefully, perhaps I have not thrown away my half-pistole. To horse, my friends, tohorse!"

And the four friends flew at a gallop along the road to Bethune. 

61 THE CARMELITE CONVENT AT BETHUNE

Great criminals bear about them a kind of predestination which makesthem surmount all obstacles, which makes them escape all dangers, up tothe moment which a wearied Providence has marked as the rock of theirimpious fortunes. 

It was thus with Milady. She escaped the cruisers of both nations, andarrived at Boulogne without accident. 

When landing at Portsmouth, Milady was an Englishwoman whom thepersecutions of the French drove from La Rochelle; when landing atBoulogne, after a two days' passage, she passed for a Frenchwoman whomthe English persecuted at Portsmouth out of their hatred for France. 

Milady had, likewise, the best of passports--her beauty, her nobleappearance, and the liberality with which she distributed her pistoles. Freed from the usual formalities by the affable smile and gallantmanners of an old governor of the port, who kissed her hand, sheonly remained long enough at Boulogne to put into the post a letter, conceived in the following terms:

"To his Eminence Monseigneur the Cardinal Richelieu, in his camp beforeLa Rochelle. 

"Monseigneur, Let your Eminence be reassured. His Grace the Duke ofBuckingham WILL NOT SET OUT for France. 

"MILADY DE ----

"BOULOGNE, evening of the twenty-fifth. 

"P. S. --According to the desire of your Eminence, I report to the conventof the Carmelites at Bethune, where I will await your orders. "

Accordingly, that same evening Milady commenced her journey. Nightovertook her; she stopped, and slept at an inn. At five o'clock the nextmorning she again proceeded, and in three hours after entered Bethune. She inquired for the convent of the Carmelites, and went thitherimmediately. 

The superior met her; Milady showed her the cardinal's order. The abbessassigned her a chamber, and had breakfast served. 

All the past was effaced from the eyes of this woman; and her looks, fixed on the future, beheld nothing but the high fortunes reserved forher by the cardinal, whom she had so successfully served without hisname being in any way mixed up with the sanguinary affair. The ever-newpassions which consumed her gave to her life the appearance of thoseclouds which float in the heavens, reflecting sometimes azure, sometimesfire, sometimes the opaque blackness of the tempest, and which leave notraces upon the earth behind them but devastation and death. 

After breakfast, the abbess came to pay her a visit. There is verylittle amusement in the cloister, and the good superior was eager tomake the acquaintance of her new boarder. 

Milady wished to please the abbess. This was a very easy matter for awoman so really superior as she was. She tried to be agreeable, and shewas charming, winning the good superior by her varied conversation andby the graces of her whole personality. 

The abbess, who was the daughter of a noble house, took particulardelight in stories of the court, which so seldom travel to theextremities of the kingdom, and which, above all, have so muchdifficulty in penetrating the walls of convents, at whose threshold thenoise of the world dies away. 

Milady, on the contrary, was quite conversant with all aristocraticintrigues, amid which she had constantly lived for five or six years. She made it her business, therefore, to amuse the good abbess withthe worldly practices of the court of France, mixed with the eccentricpursuits of the king; she made for her the scandalous chronicle of thelords and ladies of the court, whom the abbess knew perfectly by name, touched lightly on the amours of the queen and the Duke of Buckingham, talking a great deal to induce her auditor to talk a little. 

But the abbess contented herself with listening and smiling withoutreplying a word. Milady, however, saw that this sort of narrative amusedher very much, and kept at it; only she now let her conversation drifttoward the cardinal. 

But she was greatly embarrassed. She did not know whether the abbess wasa royalist or a cardinalist; she therefore confined herself to a prudentmiddle course. But the abbess, on her part, maintained a reserve stillmore prudent, contenting herself with making a profound inclinationof the head every time the fair traveler pronounced the name of hisEminence. 

Milady began to think she should soon grow weary of a convent life; sheresolved, then, to risk something in order that she might know how toact afterward. Desirous of seeing how far the discretion of the goodabbess would go, she began to tell a story, obscure at first, but verycircumstantial afterward, about the cardinal, relating the amours of theminister with Mme. D'Aiguillon, Marion de Lorme, and several other gaywomen. 

The abbess listened more attentively, grew animated by degrees, andsmiled. 

"Good, " thought Milady; "she takes a pleasure in my conversation. If sheis a cardinalist, she has no fanaticism, at least. "

She then went on to describe the persecutions exercised by the cardinalupon his enemies. The abbess only crossed herself, without approving ordisapproving. 

This confirmed Milady in her opinion that the abbess was rather royalistthan cardinalist. Milady therefore continued, coloring her narrationsmore and more. 

"I am very ignorant of these matters, " said the abbess, at length;"but however distant from the court we may be, however remote from theinterests of the world we may be placed, we have very sad examples ofwhat you have related. And one of our boarders has suffered much fromthe vengeance and persecution of the cardinal!"

"One of your boarders?" said Milady; "oh, my God! Poor woman! I pityher, then. "

"And you have reason, for she is much to be pitied. Imprisonment, menaces, ill treatment-she has suffered everything. But after all, "resumed the abbess, "Monsieur Cardinal has perhaps plausible motives foracting thus; and though she has the look of an angel, we must not alwaysjudge people by the appearance. "

"Good!" said Milady to herself; "who knows! I am about, perhaps, todiscover something here; I am in the vein. "

She tried to give her countenance an appearance of perfect candor. 

"Alas, " said Milady, "I know it is so. It is said that we must not trustto the face; but in what, then, shall we place confidence, if not in themost beautiful work of the Lord? As for me, I shall be deceived allmy life perhaps, but I shall always have faith in a person whosecountenance inspires me with sympathy. "

"You would, then, be tempted to believe, " said the abbess, "that thisyoung person is innocent?"

"The cardinal pursues not only crimes, " said she: "there are certainvirtues which he pursues more severely than certain offenses. "

"Permit me, madame, to express my surprise, " said the abbess. 

"At what?" said Milady, with the utmost ingenuousness. 

"At the language you use. "

"What do you find so astonishing in that language?" said Milady, smiling. 

"You are the friend of the cardinal, for he sends you hither, and yet--"

"And yet I speak ill of him, " replied Milady, finishing the thought ofthe superior. 

"At least you don't speak well of him. "

"That is because I am not his friend, " said she, sighing, "but hisvictim!"

"But this letter in which he recommends you to me?"

"Is an order for me to confine myself to a sort of prison, from which hewill release me by one of his satellites. "

"But why have you not fled?"

"Whither should I go? Do you believe there is a spot on the earth whichthe cardinal cannot reach if he takes the trouble to stretch forth hishand? If I were a man, that would barely be possible; but what can awoman do? This young boarder of yours, has she tried to fly?"

"No, that is true; but she--that is another thing; I believe she isdetained in France by some love affair. "

"Ah, " said Milady, with a sigh, "if she loves she is not altogetherwretched. "

"Then, " said the abbess, looking at Milady with increasing interest, "Ibehold another poor victim?"

"Alas, yes, " said Milady. 

The abbess looked at her for an instant with uneasiness, as if a freshthought suggested itself to her mind. 

"You are not an enemy of our holy faith?" said she, hesitatingly. 

"Who--I?" cried Milady; "I a Protestant? Oh, no! I call to witness theGod who hears us, that on the contrary I am a fervent Catholic!"

"Then, madame, " said the abbess, smiling, "be reassured; the house inwhich you are shall not be a very hard prison, and we will do all in ourpower to make you cherish your captivity. You will find here, moreover, the young woman of whom I spoke, who is persecuted, no doubt, inconsequence of some court intrigue. She is amiable and well-behaved. "

"What is her name?"

"She was sent to me by someone of high rank, under the name of Kitty. Ihave not tried to discover her other name. "

"Kitty!" cried Milady. "What? Are you sure?"

"That she is called so? Yes, madame. Do you know her?"

Milady smiled to herself at the idea which had occurred to her that thismight be her old chambermaid. There was connected with the remembranceof this girl a remembrance of anger; and a desire of vengeancedisordered the features of Milady, which, however, immediately recoveredthe calm and benevolent expression which this woman of a hundred faceshad for a moment allowed them to lose. 

"And when can I see this young lady, for whom I already feel so great asympathy?" asked Milady. 

"Why, this evening, " said the abbess; "today even. But you have beentraveling these four days, as you told me yourself. This morning yourose at five o'clock; you must stand in need of repose. Go to bed andsleep; at dinnertime we will rouse you. "

Although Milady would very willingly have gone without sleep, sustainedas she was by all the excitements which a new adventure awakened in herheart, ever thirsting for intrigues, she nevertheless accepted the offerof the superior. During the last fifteen days she had experienced somany and such various emotions that if her frame of iron was stillcapable of supporting fatigue, her mind required repose. 

She therefore took leave of the abbess, and went to bed, softly rockedby the ideas of vengeance which the name of Kitty had naturally broughtto her thoughts. She remembered that almost unlimited promise whichthe cardinal had given her if she succeeded in her enterprise. She hadsucceeded; d'Artagnan was then in her power!

One thing alone frightened her; that was the remembrance of herhusband, the Comte de la Fere, whom she had believed dead, or at leastexpatriated, and whom she found again in Athos-the best friend ofd'Artagnan. 

But alas, if he was the friend of d'Artagnan, he must have lent him hisassistance in all the proceedings by whose aid the queen had defeatedthe project of his Eminence; if he was the friend of d'Artagnan, he wasthe enemy of the cardinal; and she doubtless would succeed in involvinghim in the vengeance by which she hoped to destroy the young Musketeer. 

All these hopes were so many sweet thoughts for Milady; so, rocked bythem, she soon fell asleep. 

She was awakened by a soft voice which sounded at the foot of her bed. She opened her eyes, and saw the abbess, accompanied by a young womanwith light hair and delicate complexion, who fixed upon her a look fullof benevolent curiosity. 

The face of the young woman was entirely unknown to her. Each examinedthe other with great attention, while exchanging the customarycompliments; both were very handsome, but of quite different styles ofbeauty. Milady, however, smiled in observing that she excelled the youngwoman by far in her high air and aristocratic bearing. It is truethat the habit of a novice, which the young woman wore, was not veryadvantageous in a contest of this kind. 

The abbess introduced them to each other. When this formality was ended, as her duties called her to chapel, she left the two young women alone. 

The novice, seeing Milady in bed, was about to follow the example of thesuperior; but Milady stopped her. 

"How, madame, " said she, "I have scarcely seen you, and you already wishto deprive me of your company, upon which I had counted a little, I mustconfess, for the time I have to pass here?"

"No, madame, " replied the novice, "only I thought I had chosen my timeill; you were asleep, you are fatigued. "

"Well, " said Milady, "what can those who sleep wish for--a happyawakening? This awakening you have given me; allow me, then, to enjoyit at my ease, " and taking her hand, she drew her toward the armchair bythe bedside. 

The novice sat down. 

"How unfortunate I am!" said she; "I have been here six months withoutthe shadow of recreation. You arrive, and your presence was likely toafford me delightful company; yet I expect, in all probability, to quitthe convent at any moment. "

"How, you are going soon?" asked Milady. 

"At least I hope so, " said the novice, with an expression of joy whichshe made no effort to disguise. 

"I think I learned you had suffered persecutions from the cardinal, "continued Milady; "that would have been another motive for sympathybetween us. "

"What I have heard, then, from our good mother is true; you havelikewise been a victim of that wicked priest. "

"Hush!" said Milady; "let us not, even here, speak thus of him. All mymisfortunes arise from my having said nearly what you have said beforea woman whom I thought my friend, and who betrayed me. Are you also thevictim of a treachery?"

"No, " said the novice, "but of my devotion--of a devotion to a woman Iloved, for whom I would have laid down my life, for whom I would give itstill. "

"And who has abandoned you--is that it?"

"I have been sufficiently unjust to believe so; but during the last twoor three days I have obtained proof to the contrary, for which I thankGod--for it would have cost me very dear to think she had forgotten me. But you, madame, you appear to be free, " continued the novice; "and ifyou were inclined to fly it only rests with yourself to do so. "

"Whither would you have me go, without friends, without money, in apart of France with which I am unacquainted, and where I have never beenbefore?"

"Oh, " cried the novice, "as to friends, you would have them wherever youwant, you appear so good and are so beautiful!"

"That does not prevent, " replied Milady, softening her smile so as togive it an angelic expression, "my being alone or being persecuted. "

"Hear me, " said the novice; "we must trust in heaven. There always comesa moment when the good you have done pleads your cause before God; andsee, perhaps it is a happiness for you, humble and powerless as Iam, that you have met with me, for if I leave this place, well-I havepowerful friends, who, after having exerted themselves on my account, may also exert themselves for you. "

"Oh, when I said I was alone, " said Milady, hoping to make the novicetalk by talking of herself, "it is not for want of friends in highplaces; but these friends themselves tremble before the cardinal. Thequeen herself does not dare to oppose the terrible minister. I haveproof that her Majesty, notwithstanding her excellent heart, has morethan once been obliged to abandon to the anger of his Eminence personswho had served her. "

"Trust me, madame; the queen may appear to have abandoned those persons, but we must not put faith in appearances. The more they are persecuted, the more she thinks of them; and often, when they least expect it, theyhave proof of a kind remembrance. "

"Alas!" said Milady, "I believe so; the queen is so good!"

"Oh, you know her, then, that lovely and noble queen, that you speak ofher thus!" cried the novice, with enthusiasm. 

"That is to say, " replied Milady, driven into her entrenchment, "that Ihave not the honor of knowing her personally; but I know a great numberof her most intimate friends. I am acquainted with Monsieur de Putange;I met Monsieur Dujart in England; I know Monsieur de Treville. "

"Monsieur de Treville!" exclaimed the novice, "do you know Monsieur deTreville?"

"Yes, perfectly well--intimately even. "

"The captain of the king's Musketeers?"

"The captain of the king's Musketeers. "

"Why, then, only see!" cried the novice; "we shall soon be wellacquainted, almost friends. If you know Monsieur de Treville, you musthave visited him?"

"Often!" said Milady, who, having entered this track, and perceivingthat falsehood succeeded, was determined to follow it to the end. 

"With him, then, you must have seen some of his Musketeers?"

"All those he is in the habit of receiving!" replied Milady, for whomthis conversation began to have a real interest. 

"Name a few of those whom you know, and you will see if they are myfriends. "

"Well!" said Milady, embarrassed, "I know Monsieur de Louvigny, Monsieurde Courtivron, Monsieur de Ferussac. "

The novice let her speak, then seeing that she paused, she said, "Don'tyou know a gentleman named Athos?"

Milady became as pale as the sheets in which she was lying, and mistressas she was of herself, could not help uttering a cry, seizing the handof the novice, and devouring her with looks. 

"What is the matter? Good God!" asked the poor woman, "have I saidanything that has wounded you?"

"No; but the name struck me, because I also have known that gentleman, and it appeared strange to me to meet with a person who appears to knowhim well. "

"Oh, yes, very well; not only him, but some of his friends, MessieursPorthos and Aramis!"

"Indeed! you know them likewise? I know them, " cried Milady, who beganto feel a chill penetrate her heart. 

"Well, if you know them, you know that they are good and freecompanions. Why do you not apply to them, if you stand in need of help?"

"That is to say, " stammered Milady, "I am not really very intimatewith any of them. I know them from having heard one of their friends, Monsieur d'Artagnan, say a great deal about them. "

"You know Monsieur d'Artagnan!" cried the novice, in her turn seizingthe hands of Milady and devouring her with her eyes. 

Then remarking the strange expression of Milady's countenance, she said, "Pardon me, madame; you know him by what title?"

"Why, " replied Milady, embarrassed, "why, by the title of friend. "

"You deceive me, madame, " said the novice; "you have been his mistress!"

"It is you who have been his mistress, madame!" cried Milady, in herturn. 

"I?" said the novice. 

"Yes, you! I know you now. You are Madame Bonacieux!"

The young woman drew back, filled with surprise and terror. 

"Oh, do not deny it! Answer!" continued Milady. 

"Well, yes, madame, " said the novice, "Are we rivals?"

The countenance of Milady was illumined by so savage a joy that underany other circumstances Mme. Bonacieux would have fled in terror; butshe was absorbed by jealousy. 

"Speak, madame!" resumed Mme. Bonacieux, with an energy of which shemight not have been believed capable. "Have you been, or are you, hismistress?"

"Oh, no!" cried Milady, with an accent that admitted no doubt of hertruth. "Never, never!"

"I believe you, " said Mme. Bonacieux; "but why, then, did you cry outso?"

"Do you not understand?" said Milady, who had already overcome heragitation and recovered all her presence of mind. 

"How can I understand? I know nothing. "

"Can you not understand that Monsieur d'Artagnan, being my friend, mighttake me into his confidence?"

"Truly?"

"Do you not perceive that I know all--your abduction from the littlehouse at St. Germain, his despair, that of his friends, and theiruseless inquiries up to this moment? How could I help being astonishedwhen, without having the least expectation of such a thing, I meet youface to face--you, of whom we have so often spoken together, you whom heloves with all his soul, you whom he had taught me to love before Ihad seen you! Ah, dear Constance, I have found you, then; I see you atlast!"

And Milady stretched out her arms to Mme. Bonacieux, who, convinced bywhat she had just said, saw nothing in this woman whom an instant beforeshe had believed her rival but a sincere and devoted friend. 

"Oh, pardon me, pardon me!" cried she, sinking upon the shoulders ofMilady. "Pardon me, I love him so much!"

These two women held each other for an instant in a close embrace. Certainly, if Milady's strength had been equal to her hatred, Mme. Bonacieux would never have left that embrace alive. But not being ableto stifle her, she smiled upon her. 

"Oh, you beautiful, good little creature!" said Milady. "How delighted Iam to have found you! Let me look at you!" and while saying these words, she absolutely devoured her by her looks. "Oh, yes it is you indeed!From what he has told me, I know you now. I recognize you perfectly. "

The poor young woman could not possibly suspect what frightful crueltywas behind the rampart of that pure brow, behind those brilliant eyes inwhich she read nothing but interest and compassion. 

"Then you know what I have suffered, " said Mme. Bonacieux, "since he hastold you what he has suffered; but to suffer for him is happiness. "

Milady replied mechanically, "Yes, that is happiness. " She was thinkingof something else. 

"And then, " continued Mme. Bonacieux, "my punishment is drawing to aclose. Tomorrow, this evening, perhaps, I shall see him again; and thenthe past will no longer exist. "

"This evening?" asked Milady, roused from her reverie by these words. "What do you mean? Do you expect news from him?"

"I expect himself. "

"Himself? D'Artagnan here?"

"Himself!"

"But that's impossible! He is at the siege of La Rochelle with thecardinal. He will not return till after the taking of the city. "

"Ah, you fancy so! But is there anything impossible for my d'Artagnan, the noble and loyal gentleman?"

"Oh, I cannot believe you!"

"Well, read, then!" said the unhappy young woman, in the excess of herpride and joy, presenting a letter to Milady. 

"The writing of Madame de Chevreuse!" said Milady to herself. "Ah, Ialways thought there was some secret understanding in that quarter!" Andshe greedily read the following few lines:

My Dear Child, Hold yourself ready. OUR FRIEND will see you soon, andhe will only see you to release you from that imprisonment in whichyour safety required you should be concealed. Prepare, then, for yourdeparture, and never despair of us. 

Our charming Gascon has just proved himself as brave and faithful asever. Tell him that certain parties are grateful for the warning he hasgiven. 

"Yes, yes, " said Milady; "the letter is precise. Do you know what thatwarning was?"

"No, I only suspect he has warned the queen against some freshmachinations of the cardinal. "

"Yes, that's it, no doubt!" said Milady, returning the letter to Mme. Bonacieux, and letting her head sink pensively upon her bosom. 

At that moment they heard the gallop of a horse. 

"Oh!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, darting to the window, "can it be he?"

Milady remained still in bed, petrified by surprise; so many unexpectedthings happened to her all at once that for the first time she was at aloss. 

"He, he!" murmured she; "can it be he?" And she remained in bed with hereyes fixed. 

"Alas, no!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "it is a man I don't know, although heseems to be coming here. Yes, he checks his pace; he stops at the gate;he rings. "

Milady sprang out of bed. 

"You are sure it is not he?" said she. 

"Yes, yes, very sure!"

"Perhaps you did not see well. "

"Oh, if I were to see the plume of his hat, the end of his cloak, Ishould know HIM!"

Milady was dressing herself all the time. 

"Yes, he has entered. "

"It is for you or me!"

"My God, how agitated you seem!"

"Yes, I admit it. I have not your confidence; I fear the cardinal. "

"Hush!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "somebody is coming. "

Immediately the door opened, and the superior entered. 

"Did you come from Boulogne?" demanded she of Milady. 

"Yes, " replied she, trying to recover her self-possession. "Who wantsme?"

"A man who will not tell his name, but who comes from the cardinal. "

"And who wishes to speak with me?"

"Who wishes to speak to a lady recently come from Boulogne. "

"Then let him come in, if you please. "

"Oh, my God, my God!" cried Mme. Bonacieux. "Can it be bad news?"

"I fear it. "

"I will leave you with this stranger; but as soon as he is gone, if youwill permit me, I will return. "

"PERMIT you? I BESEECH you. "

The superior and Mme. Bonacieux retired. 

Milady remained alone, with her eyes fixed upon the door. An instantlater, the jingling of spurs was heard upon the stairs, steps drew near, the door opened, and a man appeared. 

Milady uttered a cry of joy; this man was the Comte de Rochefort--thedemoniacal tool of his Eminence. 

62 TWO VARIETIES OF DEMONS

"Ah, " cried Milady and Rochefort together, "it is you!"

"Yes, it is I. "

"And you come?" asked Milady. 

"From La Rochelle; and you?"

"From England. "

"Buckingham?"

"Dead or desperately wounded, as I left without having been able to hearanything of him. A fanatic has just assassinated him. "

"Ah, " said Rochefort, with a smile; "this is a fortunate chance--onethat will delight his Eminence! Have you informed him of it?"

"I wrote to him from Boulogne. But what brings you here?"

"His Eminence was uneasy, and sent me to find you. "

"I only arrived yesterday. "

"And what have you been doing since yesterday?"

"I have not lost my time. "

"Oh, I don't doubt that. "

"Do you know whom I have encountered here?"

"No. "

"Guess. "

"How can I?"

"That young woman whom the queen took out of prison. "

"The mistress of that fellow d'Artagnan?"

"Yes; Madame Bonacieux, with whose retreat the cardinal wasunacquainted. "

"Well, well, " said Rochefort, "here is a chance which may pair off withthe other! Monsieur Cardinal is indeed a privileged man!"

"Imagine my astonishment, " continued Milady, "when I found myself faceto face with this woman!"

"Does she know you?"

"No. "

"Then she looks upon you as a stranger?"

Milady smiled. "I am her best friend. "

"Upon my honor, " said Rochefort, "it takes you, my dear countess, toperform such miracles!"

"And it is well I can, Chevalier, " said Milady, "for do you know what isgoing on here?"

"No. "

"They will come for her tomorrow or the day after, with an order fromthe queen. "

"Indeed! And who?"

"d'Artagnan and his friends. "

"Indeed, they will go so far that we shall be obliged to send them tothe Bastille. "

"Why is it not done already?"

"What would you? The cardinal has a weakness for these men which Icannot comprehend. "

"Indeed!"

"Yes. "

"Well, then, tell him this, Rochefort. Tell him that our conversationat the inn of the Red Dovecot was overheard by these four men; tell himthat after his departure one of them came up to me and took from me byviolence the safe-conduct which he had given me; tell him they warnedLord de Winter of my journey to England; that this time they nearlyfoiled my mission as they foiled the affair of the studs; tell him thatamong these four men two only are to be feared--d'Artagnan and Athos;tell him that the third, Aramis, is the lover of Madame de Chevreuse--hemay be left alone, we know his secret, and it may be useful; as to thefourth, Porthos, he is a fool, a simpleton, a blustering booby, notworth troubling himself about. "

"But these four men must be now at the siege of La Rochelle?"

"I thought so, too; but a letter which Madame Bonacieux has receivedfrom Madame the Constable, and which she has had the imprudence to showme, leads me to believe that these four men, on the contrary, are on theroad hither to take her away. "

"The devil! What's to be done?"

"What did the cardinal say about me?"

"I was to take your dispatches, written or verbal, and return by post;and when he shall know what you have done, he will advise what you haveto do. "

"I must, then, remain here?"

"Here, or in the neighborhood. "

"You cannot take me with you?"

"No, the order is imperative. Near the camp you might be recognized; andyour presence, you must be aware, would compromise the cardinal. "

"Then I must wait here, or in the neighborhood?"

"Only tell me beforehand where you will wait for intelligence from thecardinal; let me know always where to find you. "

"Observe, it is probable that I may not be able to remain here. "

"Why?"

"You forget that my enemies may arrive at any minute. "

"That's true; but is this little woman, then, to escape his Eminence?"

"Bah!" said Milady, with a smile that belonged only to herself; "youforget that I am her best friend. "

"Ah, that's true! I may then tell the cardinal, with respect to thislittle woman--"

"That he may be at ease. "

"Is that all?"

"He will know what that means. "

"He will guess, at least. Now, then, what had I better do?"

"Return instantly. It appears to me that the news you bear is worth thetrouble of a little diligence. "

"My chaise broke down coming into Lilliers. "

"Capital!"

"What, CAPITAL?"

"Yes, I want your chaise. "

"And how shall I travel, then?"

"On horseback. "

"You talk very comfortably, --a hundred and eighty leagues!"

"What's that?"

"One can do it! Afterward?"

"Afterward? Why, in passing through Lilliers you will send me yourchaise, with an order to your servant to place himself at my disposal. "

"Well. "

"You have, no doubt, some order from the cardinal about you?"

"I have my FULL POWER. "

"Show it to the abbess, and tell her that someone will come and fetchme, either today or tomorrow, and that I am to follow the person whopresents himself in your name. "

"Very well. "

"Don't forget to treat me harshly in speaking of me to the abbess. "

"To what purpose?"

"I am a victim of the cardinal. It is necessary to inspire confidence inthat poor little Madame Bonacieux. "

"That's true. Now, will you make me a report of all that has happened?"

"Why, I have related the events to you. You have a good memory; repeatwhat I have told you. A paper may be lost. "

"You are right; only let me know where to find you that I may not runneedlessly about the neighborhood. "

"That's correct; wait!"

"Do you want a map?"

"Oh, I know this country marvelously!"

"You? When were you here?"

"I was brought up here. "

"Truly?"

"It is worth something, you see, to have been brought up somewhere. "

"You will wait for me, then?"

"Let me reflect a little! Ay, that will do--at Armentieres. "

"Where is that Armentieres?"

"A little town on the Lys; I shall only have to cross the river, and Ishall be in a foreign country. "

"Capital! but it is understood you will only cross the river in case ofdanger. "

"That is well understood. "

"And in that case, how shall I know where you are?"

"You do not want your lackey?"

"Is he a sure man?"

"To the proof. "

"Give him to me. Nobody knows him. I will leave him at the place I quit, and he will conduct you to me. "

"And you say you will wait for me at Armentieres?"

"At Armentieres. "

"Write that name on a bit of paper, lest I should forget it. There isnothing compromising in the name of a town. Is it not so?"

"Eh, who knows? Never mind, " said Milady, writing the name on half asheet of paper; "I will compromise myself. "

"Well, " said Rochefort, taking the paper from Milady, folding it, andplacing it in the lining of his hat, "you may be easy. I will do aschildren do, for fear of losing the paper--repeat the name along theroute. Now, is that all?"

"I believe so. "

"Let us see: Buckingham dead or grievously wounded; your conversationwith the cardinal overheard by the four Musketeers; Lord de Winterwarned of your arrival at Portsmouth; d'Artagnan and Athos to theBastille; Aramis the lover of Madame de Chevreuse; Porthos an ass;Madame Bonacieux found again; to send you the chaise as soon aspossible; to place my lackey at your disposal; to make you out a victimof the cardinal in order that the abbess may entertain no suspicion;Armentieres, on the banks of the Lys. Is that all, then?"

"In truth, my dear Chevalier, you are a miracle of memory. A PROPOS, addone thing--"

"What?"

"I saw some very pretty woods which almost touch the convent garden. Saythat I am permitted to walk in those woods. Who knows? Perhaps I shallstand in need of a back door for retreat. "

"You think of everything. "

"And you forget one thing. "

"What?"

"To ask me if I want money. "

"That's true. How much do you want?"

"All you have in gold. "

"I have five hundred pistoles, or thereabouts. "

"I have as much. With a thousand pistoles one may face everything. Emptyyour pockets. "

"There. "

"Right. And you go--"

"In an hour--time to eat a morsel, during which I shall send for a posthorse. "

"Capital! Adieu, Chevalier. "

"Adieu, Countess. "

"Commend me to the cardinal. "

"Commend me to Satan. "

Milady and Rochefort exchanged a smile and separated. An hour afterwardRochefort set out at a grand gallop; five hours after that he passedthrough Arras. 

Our readers already know how he was recognized by d'Artagnan, and howthat recognition by inspiring fear in the four Musketeers had givenfresh activity to their journey. 

63 THE DROP OF WATER

Rochefort had scarcely departed when Mme. Bonacieux re-entered. Shefound Milady with a smiling countenance. 

"Well, " said the young woman, "what you dreaded has happened. Thisevening, or tomorrow, the cardinal will send someone to take you away. "

"Who told you that, my dear?" asked Milady. 

"I heard it from the mouth of the messenger himself. "

"Come and sit down close to me, " said Milady. 

"Here I am. "

"Wait till I assure myself that nobody hears us. "

"Why all these precautions?"

"You shall know. "

Milady arose, went to the door, opened it, looked in the corridor, andthen returned and seated herself close to Mme. Bonacieux. 

"Then, " said she, "he has well played his part. "

"Who has?"

"He who just now presented himself to the abbess as a messenger from thecardinal. "

"It was, then, a part he was playing?"

"Yes, my child. "

"That man, then, was not--"

"That man, " said Milady, lowering her voice, "is my brother. "

"Your brother!" cried Mme. Bonacieux. 

"No one must know this secret, my dear, but yourself. If you reveal itto anyone in the world, I shall be lost, and perhaps yourself likewise. "

"Oh, my God!"

"Listen. This is what has happened: My brother, who was coming to myassistance to take me away by force if it were necessary, met with theemissary of the cardinal, who was coming in search of me. He followedhim. At a solitary and retired part of the road he drew his sword, andrequired the messenger to deliver up to him the papers of which he wasthe bearer. The messenger resisted; my brother killed him. "

"Oh!" said Mme. Bonacieux, shuddering. 

"Remember, that was the only means. Then my brother determined tosubstitute cunning for force. He took the papers, and presented himselfhere as the emissary of the cardinal, and in an hour or two a carriagewill come to take me away by the orders of his Eminence. "

"I understand. It is your brother who sends this carriage. "

"Exactly; but that is not all. That letter you have received, and whichyou believe to be from Madame de Chevreuse--"

"Well?"

"It is a forgery. "

"How can that be?"

"Yes, a forgery; it is a snare to prevent your making any resistancewhen they come to fetch you. "

"But it is d'Artagnan that will come. "

"Do not deceive yourself. D'Artagnan and his friends are detained at thesiege of La Rochelle. "

"How do you know that?"

"My brother met some emissaries of the cardinal in the uniform ofMusketeers. You would have been summoned to the gate; you would havebelieved yourself about to meet friends; you would have been abducted, and conducted back to Paris. "

"Oh, my God! My senses fail me amid such a chaos of iniquities. Ifeel, if this continues, " said Mme. Bonacieux, raising her hands to herforehead, "I shall go mad!"

"Stop--"

"What?"

"I hear a horse's steps; it is my brother setting off again. I shouldlike to offer him a last salute. Come!"

Milady opened the window, and made a sign to Mme. Bonacieux to join her. The young woman complied. 

Rochefort passed at a gallop. 

"Adieu, brother!" cried Milady. 

The chevalier raised his head, saw the two young women, and withoutstopping, waved his hand in a friendly way to Milady. 

"The good George!" said she, closing the window with an expression ofcountenance full of affection and melancholy. And she resumed her seat, as if plunged in reflections entirely personal. 

"Dear lady, " said Mme. Bonacieux, "pardon me for interrupting you; butwhat do you advise me to do? Good heaven! You have more experience thanI have. Speak; I will listen. "

"In the first place, " said Milady, "it is possible I may be deceived, and that d'Artagnan and his friends may really come to your assistance. "

"Oh, that would be too much!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, "so much happinessis not in store for me!"

"Then you comprehend it would be only a question of time, a sort ofrace, which should arrive first. If your friends are the more speedy, you are to be saved; if the satellites of the cardinal, you are lost. "

"Oh, yes, yes; lost beyond redemption! What, then, to do? What to do?"

"There would be a very simple means, very natural--"

"Tell me what!"

"To wait, concealed in the neighborhood, and assure yourself who are themen who come to ask for you. "

"But where can I wait?"

"Oh, there is no difficulty in that. I shall stop and conceal myself afew leagues hence until my brother can rejoin me. Well, I take you withme; we conceal ourselves, and wait together. "

"But I shall not be allowed to go; I am almost a prisoner. "

"As they believe that I go in consequence of an order from the cardinal, no one will believe you anxious to follow me. "

"Well?"

"Well! The carriage is at the door; you bid me adieu; you mount the stepto embrace me a last time; my brother's servant, who comes to fetch me, is told how to proceed; he makes a sign to the postillion, and we setoff at a gallop. "

"But d'Artagnan! D'Artagnan! if he comes?"

"Shall we not know it?"

"How?"

"Nothing easier. We will send my brother's servant back to Bethune, whom, as I told you, we can trust. He shall assume a disguise, andplace himself in front of the convent. If the emissaries of the cardinalarrive, he will take no notice; if it is Monsieur d'Artagnan and hisfriends, he will bring them to us. "

"He knows them, then?"

"Doubtless. Has he not seen Monsieur d'Artagnan at my house?"

"Oh, yes, yes; you are right. Thus all may go well--all may be for thebest; but we do not go far from this place?"

"Seven or eight leagues at the most. We will keep on the frontiers, forinstance; and at the first alarm we can leave France. "

"And what can we do there?"

"Wait. "

"But if they come?"

"My brother's carriage will be here first. "

"If I should happen to be any distance from you when the carriage comesfor you--at dinner or supper, for instance?"

"Do one thing. "

"What is that?"

"Tell your good superior that in order that we may be as much togetheras possible, you ask her permission to share my repast. "

"Will she permit it?"

"What inconvenience can it be?"

"Oh, delightful! In this way we shall not be separated for an instant. "

"Well, go down to her, then, to make your request. I feel my head alittle confused; I will take a turn in the garden. "

"Go and where shall I find you?"

"Here, in an hour. "

"Here, in an hour. Oh, you are so kind, and I am so grateful!"

"How can I avoid interesting myself for one who is so beautiful and soamiable? Are you not the beloved of one of my best friends?"

"Dear d'Artagnan! Oh, how he will thank you!"

"I hope so. Now, then, all is agreed; let us go down. "

"You are going into the garden?"

"Yes. "

"Go along this corridor, down a little staircase, and you are in it. "

"Excellent; thank you!"

And the two women parted, exchanging charming smiles. 

Milady had told the truth--her head was confused, for her ill-arrangedplans clashed one another like chaos. She required to be alone that shemight put her thoughts a little into order. She saw vaguely the future;but she stood in need of a little silence and quiet to give all herideas, as yet confused, a distinct form and a regular plan. 

What was most pressing was to get Mme. Bonacieux away, and convey her toa place of safety, and there, if matters required, make her a hostage. Milady began to have doubts of the issue of this terrible duel, in whichher enemies showed as much perseverance as she did animosity. 

Besides, she felt as we feel when a storm is coming on--that this issuewas near, and could not fail to be terrible. 

The principal thing for her, then, was, as we have said, to keep Mme. Bonacieux in her power. Mme. Bonacieux was the very life of d'Artagnan. This was more than his life, the life of the woman he loved; thiswas, in case of ill fortune, a means of temporizing and obtaining goodconditions. 

Now, this point was settled; Mme. Bonacieux, without any suspicion, accompanied her. Once concealed with her at Armentieres, it would beeasy to make her believe that d'Artagnan had not come to Bethune. Infifteen days at most, Rochefort would be back; besides, during thatfifteen days she would have time to think how she could best avengeherself on the four friends. She would not be weary, thank God! for sheshould enjoy the sweetest pastime such events could accord a woman ofher character--perfecting a beautiful vengeance. 

Revolving all this in her mind, she cast her eyes around her, andarranged the topography of the garden in her head. Milady was like agood general who contemplates at the same time victory and defeat, andwho is quite prepared, according to the chances of the battle, to marchforward or to beat a retreat. 

At the end of an hour she heard a soft voice calling her; it was Mme. Bonacieux's. The good abbess had naturally consented to her request; andas a commencement, they were to sup together. 

On reaching the courtyard, they heard the noise of a carriage whichstopped at the gate. 

Milady listened. 

"Do you hear anything?" said she. 

"Yes, the rolling of a carriage. "

"It is the one my brother sends for us. "

"Oh, my God!"

"Come, come! courage!"

The bell of the convent gate was sounded; Milady was not mistaken. 

"Go to your chamber, " said she to Mme. Bonacieux; "you have perhaps somejewels you would like to take. "

"I have his letters, " said she. 

"Well, go and fetch them, and come to my apartment. We will snatch somesupper; we shall perhaps travel part of the night, and must keep ourstrength up. "

"Great God!" said Mme. Bonacieux, placing her hand upon her bosom, "myheart beats so I cannot walk. "

"Courage, courage! remember that in a quarter of an hour you will besafe; and think that what you are about to do is for HIS sake. "

"Yes, yes, everything for him. You have restored my courage by a singleword; go, I will rejoin you. "

Milady ran up to her apartment quickly; she there found Rochefort'slackey, and gave him his instructions. 

He was to wait at the gate; if by chance the Musketeers should appear, the carriage was to set off as fast as possible, pass around theconvent, and go and wait for Milady at a little village which wassituated at the other side of the wood. In this case Milady would crossthe garden and gain the village on foot. As we have already said, Miladywas admirably acquainted with this part of France. 

If the Musketeers did not appear, things were to go on as had beenagreed; Mme. Bonacieux was to get into the carriage as if to bid heradieu, and she was to take away Mme. Bonacieux. 

Mme. Bonacieux came in; and to remove all suspicion, if she had any, Milady repeated to the lackey, before her, the latter part of herinstructions. 

Milady asked some questions about the carriage. It was a chaise drawn bythree horses, driven by a postillion; Rochefort's lackey would precedeit, as courier. 

Milady was wrong in fearing that Mme. Bonacieux would have anysuspicion. The poor young woman was too pure to suppose that any femalecould be guilty of such perfidy; besides, the name of the Comtesse deWinter, which she had heard the abbess pronounce, was wholly unknownto her, and she was even ignorant that a woman had had so great and sofatal a share in the misfortune of her life. 

"You see, " said she, when the lackey had gone out, "everything is ready. The abbess suspects nothing, and believes that I am taken by order ofthe cardinal. This man goes to give his last orders; take the leastthing, drink a finger of wine, and let us be gone. "

"Yes, " said Mme. Bonacieux, mechanically, "yes, let us be gone. "

Milady made her a sign to sit down opposite, poured her a small glass ofSpanish wine, and helped her to the wing of a chicken. 

"See, " said she, "if everything does not second us! Here is night comingon; by daybreak we shall have reached our retreat, and nobody can guesswhere we are. Come, courage! take something. "

Mme. Bonacieux ate a few mouthfuls mechanically, and just touched theglass with her lips. 

"Come, come!" said Milady, lifting hers to her mouth, "do as I do. "

But at the moment the glass touched her lips, her hand remainedsuspended; she heard something on the road which sounded like therattling of a distant gallop. Then it grew nearer, and it seemed to her, almost at the same time, that she heard the neighing of horses. 

This noise acted upon her joy like the storm which awakens the sleeperin the midst of a happy dream; she grew pale and ran to the window, while Mme. Bonacieux, rising all in a tremble, supported herself uponher chair to avoid falling. Nothing was yet to be seen, only they heardthe galloping draw nearer. 

"Oh, my God!" said Mme. Bonacieux, "what is that noise?"

"That of either our friends or our enemies, " said Milady, with herterrible coolness. "Stay where you are, I will tell you. "

Mme. Bonacieux remained standing, mute, motionless, and pale as astatue. 

The noise became louder; the horses could not be more than a hundred andfifty paces distant. If they were not yet to be seen, it was because theroad made an elbow. The noise became so distinct that the horses mightbe counted by the rattle of their hoofs. 

Milady gazed with all the power of her attention; it was just lightenough for her to see who was coming. 

All at once, at the turning of the road she saw the glitter of lacedhats and the waving of feathers; she counted two, then five, then eighthorsemen. One of them preceded the rest by double the length of hishorse. 

Milady uttered a stifled groan. In the first horseman she recognizedd'Artagnan. 

"Oh, my God, my God, " cried Mme. Bonacieux, "what is it?"

"It is the uniform of the cardinal's Guards. Not an instant to be lost!Fly, fly!"

"Yes, yes, let us fly!" repeated Mme. Bonacieux, but without being ableto make a step, glued as she was to the spot by terror. 

They heard the horsemen pass under the windows. 

"Come, then, come, then!" cried Milady, trying to drag the young womanalong by the arm. "Thanks to the garden, we yet can flee; I have thekey, but make haste! in five minutes it will be too late!"

Mme. Bonacieux tried to walk, made two steps, and sank upon her knees. Milady tried to raise and carry her, but could not do it. 

At this moment they heard the rolling of the carriage, which at theapproach of the Musketeers set off at a gallop. Then three or four shotswere fired. 

"For the last time, will you come?" cried Milady. 

"Oh, my God, my God! you see my strength fails me; you see plainly Icannot walk. Flee alone!"

"Flee alone, and leave you here? No, no, never!" cried Milady. 

All at once she paused, a livid flash darted from her eyes; she ran tothe table, emptied into Mme. Bonacieux's glass the contents of a ringwhich she opened with singular quickness. It was a grain of a reddishcolor, which dissolved immediately. 

Then, taking the glass with a firm hand, she said, "Drink. This winewill give you strength, drink!" And she put the glass to the lips of theyoung woman, who drank mechanically. 

"This is not the way that I wished to avenge myself, " said Milady, replacing the glass upon the table, with an infernal smile, "but, myfaith! we do what we can!" And she rushed out of the room. 

Mme. Bonacieux saw her go without being able to follow her; she was likepeople who dream they are pursued, and who in vain try to walk. 

A few moments passed; a great noise was heard at the gate. Every instantMme. Bonacieux expected to see Milady, but she did not return. Severaltimes, with terror, no doubt, the cold sweat burst from her burningbrow. 

At length she heard the grating of the hinges of the opening gates;the noise of boots and spurs resounded on the stairs. There was a greatmurmur of voices which continued to draw near, amid which she seemed tohear her own name pronounced. 

All at once she uttered a loud cry of joy, and darted toward the door;she had recognized the voice of d'Artagnan. 

"d'Artagnan! D'Artagnan!" cried she, "is it you? This way! this way!"

"Constance? Constance?" replied the young man, "where are you? where areyou? My God!"

At the same moment the door of the cell yielded to a shock, rather thanopened; several men rushed into the chamber. Mme. Bonacieux had sunkinto an armchair, without the power of moving. 

D'Artagnan threw down a yet-smoking pistol which he held in his hand, and fell on his knees before his mistress. Athos replaced his in hisbelt; Porthos and Aramis, who held their drawn swords in their hands, returned them to their scabbards. 

"Oh, d'Artagnan, my beloved d'Artagnan! You have come, then, at last!You have not deceived me! It is indeed thee!"

"Yes, yes, Constance. Reunited!"

"Oh, it was in vain she told me you would not come! I hoped in silence. I was not willing to fly. Oh, I have done well! How happy I am!"

At this word SHE, Athos, who had seated himself quietly, started up. 

"SHE! What she?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"Why, my companion. She who out of friendship for me wished to take mefrom my persecutors. She who, mistaking you for the cardinal's Guards, has just fled away. "

"Your companion!" cried d'Artagnan, becoming more pale than thewhite veil of his mistress. "Of what companion are you speaking, dearConstance?"

"Of her whose carriage was at the gate; of a woman who calls herselfyour friend; of a woman to whom you have told everything. "

"Her name, her name!" cried d'Artagnan. "My God, can you not rememberher name?"

"Yes, it was pronounced in my hearing once. Stop--but--it is verystrange--oh, my God, my head swims! I cannot see!"

"Help, help, my friends! her hands are icy cold, " cried d'Artagnan. "Sheis ill! Great God, she is losing her senses!"

While Porthos was calling for help with all the power of his strongvoice, Aramis ran to the table to get a glass of water; but hestopped at seeing the horrible alteration that had taken place in thecountenance of Athos, who, standing before the table, his hair risingfrom his head, his eyes fixed in stupor, was looking at one of theglasses, and appeared a prey to the most horrible doubt. 

"Oh!" said Athos, "oh, no, it is impossible! God would not permit such acrime!"

"Water, water!" cried d'Artagnan. "Water!"

"Oh, poor woman, poor woman!" murmured Athos, in a broken voice. 

Mme. Bonacieux opened her eyes under the kisses of d'Artagnan. 

"She revives!" cried the young man. "Oh, my God, my God, I thank thee!"

"Madame!" said Athos, "madame, in the name of heaven, whose empty glassis this?"

"Mine, monsieur, " said the young woman, in a dying voice. 

"But who poured the wine for you that was in this glass?"

"She. "

"But who is SHE?"

"Oh, I remember!" said Mme. Bonacieux, "the Comtesse de Winter. "

The four friends uttered one and the same cry, but that of Athosdominated all the rest. 

At that moment the countenance of Mme. Bonacieux became livid; a fearfulagony pervaded her frame, and she sank panting into the arms of Porthosand Aramis. 

D'Artagnan seized the hands of Athos with an anguish difficult to bedescribed. 

"And what do you believe?' His voice was stifled by sobs. 

"I believe everything, " said Athos biting his lips till the blood sprangto avoid sighing. 

"d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, "where art thou? Do notleave me! You see I am dying!"

D'Artagnan released the hands of Athos which he still held clasped inboth his own, and hastened to her. Her beautiful face was distortedwith agony; her glassy eyes had no longer their sight; a convulsiveshuddering shook her whole body; the sweat rolled from her brow. 

"In the name of heaven, run, call! Aramis! Porthos! Call for help!"

"Useless!" said Athos, "useless! For the poison which SHE pours there isno antidote. "

"Yes, yes! Help, help!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux; "help!"

Then, collecting all her strength, she took the head of the young manbetween her hands, looked at him for an instant as if her whole soulpassed into that look, and with a sobbing cry pressed her lips to his. 

"Constance, Constance!" cried d'Artagnan. 

A sigh escaped from the mouth of Mme. Bonacieux, and dwelt for aninstant on the lips of d'Artagnan. That sigh was the soul, so chaste andso loving, which reascended to heaven. 

D'Artagnan pressed nothing but a corpse in his arms. The young manuttered a cry, and fell by the side of his mistress as pale and as icyas herself. 

Porthos wept; Aramis pointed toward heaven; Athos made the sign of thecross. 

At that moment a man appeared in the doorway, almost as pale as thosein the chamber. He looked around him and saw Mme. Bonacieux dead, andd'Artagnan in a swoon. He appeared just at that moment of stupor whichfollows great catastrophes. 

"I was not deceived, " said he; "here is Monsieur d'Artagnan; and you arehis friends, Messieurs Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. "

The persons whose names were thus pronounced looked at the stranger withastonishment. It seemed to all three that they knew him. 

"Gentlemen, " resumed the newcomer, "you are, as I am, in search of awoman who, " added he, with a terrible smile, "must have passed this way, for I see a corpse. "

The three friends remained mute--for although the voice as well asthe countenance reminded them of someone they had seen, they could notremember under what circumstances. 

"Gentlemen, " continued the stranger, "since you do not recognize a manwho probably owes his life to you twice, I must name myself. I am Lordde Winter, brother-in-law of THAT WOMAN. "

The three friends uttered a cry of surprise. 

Athos rose, and offering him his hand, "Be welcome, my Lord, " said he, "you are one of us. "

"I set out five hours after her from Portsmouth, " said Lord de Winter. "I arrived three hours after her at Boulogne. I missed her by twentyminutes at St. Omer. Finally, at Lilliers I lost all trace of her. Iwas going about at random, inquiring of everybody, when I saw you galloppast. I recognized Monsieur d'Artagnan. I called to you, but you did notanswer me; I wished to follow you, but my horse was too much fatigued togo at the same pace with yours. And yet it appears, in spite of all yourdiligence, you have arrived too late. "

"You see!" said Athos, pointing to Mme. Bonacieux dead, and tod'Artagnan, whom Porthos and Aramis were trying to recall to life. 

"Are they both dead?" asked Lord de Winter, sternly. 

"No, " replied Athos, "fortunately Monsieur d'Artagnan has only fainted. "

"Ah, indeed, so much the better!" said Lord de Winter. 

At that moment d'Artagnan opened his eyes. He tore himself from the armsof Porthos and Aramis, and threw himself like a madman on the corpse ofhis mistress. 

Athos rose, walked toward his friend with a slow and solemn step, embraced him tenderly, and as he burst into violent sobs, he said to himwith his noble and persuasive voice, "Friend, be a man! Women weep forthe dead; men avenge them!"

"Oh, yes!" cried d'Artagnan, "yes! If it be to avenge her, I am ready tofollow you. "

Athos profited by this moment of strength which the hope of vengeancerestored to his unfortunate friend to make a sign to Porthos and Aramisto go and fetch the superior. 

The two friends met her in the corridor, greatly troubled and much upsetby such strange events; she called some of the nuns, who against allmonastic custom found themselves in the presence of five men. 

"Madame, " said Athos, passing his arm under that of d'Artagnan, "weabandon to your pious care the body of that unfortunate woman. She wasan angel on earth before being an angel in heaven. Treat her as one ofyour sisters. We will return someday to pray over her grave. "

D'Artagnan concealed his face in the bosom of Athos, and sobbed aloud. 

"Weep, " said Athos, "weep, heart full of love, youth, and life! Alas, would I could weep like you!"

And he drew away his friend, as affectionate as a father, as consolingas a priest, noble as a man who has suffered much. 

All five, followed by their lackeys leading their horses, took theirway to the town of Bethune, whose outskirts they perceived, and stoppedbefore the first inn they came to. 

"But, " said d'Artagnan, "shall we not pursue that woman?"

"Later, " said Athos. "I have measures to take. "

"She will escape us, " replied the young man; "she will escape us, and itwill be your fault, Athos. "

"I will be accountable for her, " said Athos. 

D'Artagnan had so much confidence in the word of his friend that helowered his head, and entered the inn without reply. 

Porthos and Aramis regarded each other, not understanding this assuranceof Athos. 

Lord de Winter believed he spoke in this manner to soothe the grief ofd'Artagnan. 

"Now, gentlemen, " said Athos, when he had ascertained there were fivechambers free in the hotel, "let everyone retire to his own apartment. D'Artagnan needs to be alone, to weep and to sleep. I take charge ofeverything; be easy. "

"It appears, however, " said Lord de Winter, "if there are any measuresto take against the countess, it concerns me; she is my sister-in-law. "

"And me, " said Athos, "--she is my wife!"

D'Artagnan smiled--for he understood that Athos was sure of hisvengeance when he revealed such a secret. Porthos and Aramis looked ateach other, and grew pale. Lord de Winter thought Athos was mad. 

"Now, retire to your chambers, " said Athos, "and leave me to act. Youmust perceive that in my quality of a husband this concerns me. Only, d'Artagnan, if you have not lost it, give me the paper which fell fromthat man's hat, upon which is written the name of the village of--"

"Ah, " said d'Artagnan, "I comprehend! that name written in her hand. "

"You see, then, " said Athos, "there is a god in heaven still!"

64 THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK

The despair of Athos had given place to a concentrated grief which onlyrendered more lucid the brilliant mental faculties of that extraordinaryman. 

Possessed by one single thought--that of the promise he had made, and ofthe responsibility he had taken--he retired last to his chamber, beggedthe host to procure him a map of the province, bent over it, examinedevery line traced upon it, perceived that there were four differentroads from Bethune to Armentieres, and summoned the lackeys. 

Planchet, Grimaud, Bazin, and Mousqueton presented themselves, andreceived clear, positive, and serious orders from Athos. 

They must set out the next morning at daybreak, and go toArmentieres--each by a different route. Planchet, the most intelligentof the four, was to follow that by which the carriage had gone uponwhich the four friends had fired, and which was accompanied, as may beremembered, by Rochefort's servant. 

Athos set the lackeys to work first because, since these men had been inthe service of himself and his friends he had discovered in each ofthem different and essential qualities. Then, lackeys who ask questionsinspire less mistrust than masters, and meet with more sympathy amongthose to whom they address themselves. Besides, Milady knew the masters, and did not know the lackeys; on the contrary, the lackeys knew Miladyperfectly. 

All four were to meet the next day at eleven o'clock. If they haddiscovered Milady's retreat, three were to remain on guard; the fourthwas to return to Bethune in order to inform Athos and serve as a guideto the four friends. These arrangements made, the lackeys retired. 

Athos then arose from his chair, girded on his sword, enveloped himselfin his cloak, and left the hotel. It was nearly ten o'clock. At teno'clock in the evening, it is well known, the streets in provincialtowns are very little frequented. Athos nevertheless was visibly anxiousto find someone of whom he could ask a question. At length he met abelated passenger, went up to him, and spoke a few words to him. The manhe addressed recoiled with terror, and only answered the few wordsof the Musketeer by pointing. Athos offered the man half a pistole toaccompany him, but the man refused. 

Athos then plunged into the street the man had indicated with hisfinger; but arriving at four crossroads, he stopped again, visiblyembarrassed. Nevertheless, as the crossroads offered him a better chancethan any other place of meeting somebody, he stood still. In a fewminutes a night watch passed. Athos repeated to him the same questionhe had asked the first person he met. The night watch evinced the sameterror, refused, in his turn, to accompany Athos, and only pointed withhis hand to the road he was to take. 

Athos walked in the direction indicated, and reached the suburb situatedat the opposite extremity of the city from that by which he and hisfriends had entered it. There he again appeared uneasy and embarrassed, and stopped for the third time. 

Fortunately, a mendicant passed, who, coming up to Athos to ask charity, Athos offered him half a crown to accompany him where he was going. Themendicant hesitated at first, but at the sight of the piece of silverwhich shone in the darkness he consented, and walked on before Athos. 

Arrived at the angle of a street, he pointed to a small house, isolated, solitary, and dismal. Athos went toward the house, while the mendicant, who had received his reward, left as fast as his legs could carry him. 

Athos went round the house before he could distinguish the door, amidthe red color in which the house was painted. No light appeared throughthe chinks of the shutters; no noise gave reason to believe that it wasinhabited. It was dark and silent as the tomb. 

Three times Athos knocked without receiving an answer. At the thirdknock, however, steps were heard inside. The door at length was opened, and a man appeared, of high stature, pale complexion, and black hair andbeard. 

Athos and he exchanged some words in a low voice, then the tall manmade a sign to the Musketeer that he might come in. Athos immediatelyprofited by the permission, and the door was closed behind him. 

The man whom Athos had come so far to seek, and whom he had foundwith so much trouble, introduced him into his laboratory, where hewas engaged in fastening together with iron wire the dry bones of askeleton. All the frame was adjusted except the head, which lay on thetable. 

All the rest of the furniture indicated that the dweller in this houseoccupied himself with the study of natural science. There were largebottles filled with serpents, ticketed according to their species; driedlizards shone like emeralds set in great squares of black wood, andbunches of wild odoriferous herbs, doubtless possessed of virtuesunknown to common men, were fastened to the ceiling and hung down in thecorners of the apartment. There was no family, no servant; the tall manalone inhabited this house. 

Athos cast a cold and indifferent glance upon the objects we havedescribed, and at the invitation of him whom he came to seek sat downnear him. 

Then he explained to him the cause of his visit, and the service herequired of him. But scarcely had he expressed his request when theunknown, who remained standing before the Musketeer, drew back withsigns of terror, and refused. Then Athos took from his pocket a smallpaper, on which two lines were written, accompanied by a signature and aseal, and presented them to him who had made too prematurely these signsof repugnance. The tall man had scarcely read these lines, seen thesignature, and recognized the seal, when he bowed to denote that he hadno longer any objection to make, and that he was ready to obey. 

Athos required no more. He arose, bowed, went out, returned by the sameway he came, re-entered the hotel, and went to his apartment. 

At daybreak d'Artagnan entered the chamber, and demanded what was to bedone. 

"To wait, " replied Athos. 

Some minutes after, the superior of the convent sent to inform theMusketeers that the burial would take place at midday. As to thepoisoner, they had heard no tidings of her whatever, only that shemust have made her escape through the garden, on the sand of which herfootsteps could be traced, and the door of which had been found shut. Asto the key, it had disappeared. 

At the hour appointed, Lord de Winter and the four friends repaired tothe convent; the bells tolled, the chapel was open, the grating of thechoir was closed. In the middle of the choir the body of the victim, clothed in her novitiate dress, was exposed. On each side of the choirand behind the gratings opening into the convent was assembled the wholecommunity of the Carmelites, who listened to the divine service, andmingled their chant with the chant of the priests, without seeing theprofane, or being seen by them. 

At the door of the chapel d'Artagnan felt his courage fall anew, andreturned to look for Athos; but Athos had disappeared. 

Faithful to his mission of vengeance, Athos had requested to beconducted to the garden; and there upon the sand following the lightsteps of this woman, who left sharp tracks wherever she went, headvanced toward the gate which led into the wood, and causing it to beopened, he went out into the forest. 

Then all his suspicions were confirmed; the road by which the carriagehad disappeared encircled the forest. Athos followed the road for sometime, his eyes fixed upon the ground; slight stains of blood, which camefrom the wound inflicted upon the man who accompanied the carriage asa courier, or from one of the horses, dotted the road. At the end ofthree-quarters of a league, within fifty paces of Festubert, a largerbloodstain appeared; the ground was trampled by horses. Between theforest and this accursed spot, a little behind the trampled ground, wasthe same track of small feet as in the garden; the carriage had stoppedhere. At this spot Milady had come out of the wood, and entered thecarriage. 

Satisfied with this discovery which confirmed all his suspicions, Athosreturned to the hotel, and found Planchet impatiently waiting for him. 

Everything was as Athos had foreseen. 

Planchet had followed the road; like Athos, he had discovered the stainsof blood; like Athos, he had noted the spot where the horses had halted. But he had gone farther than Athos--for at the village of Festubert, while drinking at an inn, he had learned without needing to ask aquestion that the evening before, at half-past eight, a wounded man whoaccompanied a lady traveling in a post-chaise had been obliged tostop, unable to go further. The accident was set down to the account ofrobbers, who had stopped the chaise in the wood. The man remained in thevillage; the woman had had a relay of horses, and continued her journey. 

Planchet went in search of the postillion who had driven her, and foundhim. He had taken the lady as far as Fromelles; and from Fromelles shehad set out for Armentieres. Planchet took the crossroad, and by seveno'clock in the morning he was at Armentieres. 

There was but one tavern, the Post. Planchet went and presented himselfas a lackey out of a place, who was in search of a situation. He had notchatted ten minutes with the people of the tavern before he learned thata woman had come there alone about eleven o'clock the night before, hadengaged a chamber, had sent for the master of the hotel, and told himshe desired to remain some time in the neighborhood. 

Planchet had no need to learn more. He hastened to the rendezvous, foundthe lackeys at their posts, placed them as sentinels at all the outletsof the hotel, and came to find Athos, who had just received thisinformation when his friends returned. 

All their countenances were melancholy and gloomy, even the mildcountenance of Aramis. 

"What is to be done?" asked d'Artagnan. 

"To wait!" replied Athos. 

Each retired to his own apartment. 

At eight o'clock in the evening Athos ordered the horses to be saddled, and Lord de Winter and his friends notified that they must prepare forthe expedition. 

In an instant all five were ready. Each examined his arms, and putthem in order. Athos came down last, and found d'Artagnan already onhorseback, and growing impatient. 

"Patience!" cried Athos; "one of our party is still wanting. "

The four horsemen looked round them with astonishment, for they soughtvainly in their minds to know who this other person could be. 

At this moment Planchet brought out Athos's house; the Musketeer leapedlightly into the saddle. 

"Wait for me, " cried he, "I will soon be back, " and he set off at agallop. 

In a quarter of an hour he returned, accompanied by a tall man, masked, and wrapped in a large red cloak. 

Lord de Winter and the three Musketeers looked at one anotherinquiringly. Neither could give the others any information, for all wereignorant who this man could be; nevertheless, they felt convinced thatall was as it should be, as it was done by the order of Athos. 

At nine o'clock, guided by Planchet, the little cavalcade set out, taking the route the carriage had taken. 

It was a melancholy sight--that of these six men, traveling insilence, each plunged in his own thoughts, sad as despair, gloomy aschastisement. 

65 TRIAL

It was a stormy and dark night; vast clouds covered the heavens, concealing the stars; the moon would not rise till midnight. 

Occasionally, by the light of a flash of lightning which gleamed alongthe horizon, the road stretched itself before them, white and solitary;the flash extinct, all remained in darkness. 

Every minute Athos was forced to restrain d'Artagnan, constantly inadvance of the little troop, and to beg him to keep in the line, whichin an instant he again departed from. He had but one thought--to goforward; and he went. 

They passed in silence through the little village of Festubert, wherethe wounded servant was, and then skirted the wood of Richebourg. AtHerlier, Planchet, who led the column, turned to the left. 

Several times Lord de Winter, Porthos, or Aramis, tried to talk with theman in the red cloak; but to every interrogation which they put to himhe bowed, without response. The travelers then comprehended that theremust be some reason why the unknown preserved such a silence, and ceasedto address themselves to him. 

The storm increased, the flashes succeeded one another more rapidly, the thunder began to growl, and the wind, the precursor of a hurricane, whistled in the plumes and the hair of the horsemen. 

The cavalcade trotted on more sharply. 

A little before they came to Fromelles the storm burst. They spreadtheir cloaks. There remained three leagues to travel, and they did itamid torrents of rain. 

D'Artagnan took off his hat, and could not be persuaded to make useof his cloak. He found pleasure in feeling the water trickle over hisburning brow and over his body, agitated by feverish shudders. 

The moment the little troop passed Goskal and were approaching the Port, a man sheltered beneath a tree detached himself from the trunk withwhich he had been confounded in the darkness, and advanced into themiddle of the road, putting his finger on his lips. 

Athos recognized Grimaud. 

"What's the manner?" cried Athos. "Has she left Armentieres?"

Grimaud made a sign in the affirmative. D'Artagnan groaned his teeth. 

"Silence, d'Artagnan!" said Athos. "I have charged myself with thisaffair. It is for me, then, to interrogate Grimaud. "

"Where is she?" asked Athos. 

Grimaud extended his hands in the direction of the Lys. "Far from here?"asked Athos. 

Grimaud showed his master his forefinger bent. 

"Alone?" asked Athos. 

Grimaud made the sign yes. 

"Gentlemen, " said Athos, "she is alone within half a league of us, inthe direction of the river. "

"That's well, " said d'Artagnan. "Lead us, Grimaud. "

Grimaud took his course across the country, and acted as guide to thecavalcade. 

At the end of five hundred paces, more or less, they came to a rivulet, which they forded. 

By the aid of the lightning they perceived the village of Erquinheim. 

"Is she there, Grimaud?" asked Athos. 

Grimaud shook his head negatively. 

"Silence, then!" cried Athos. 

And the troop continued their route. 

Another flash illuminated all around them. Grimaud extended his arm, andby the bluish splendor of the fiery serpent they distinguished a littleisolated house on the banks of the river, within a hundred paces of aferry. 

One window was lighted. 

"Here we are!" said Athos. 

At this moment a man who had been crouching in a ditch jumped up andcame towards them. It was Mousqueton. He pointed his finger to thelighted window. 

"She is there, " said he. 

"And Bazin?" asked Athos. 

"While I watched the window, he guarded the door. "

"Good!" said Athos. "You are good and faithful servants. "

Athos sprang from his horse, gave the bridle to Grimaud, and advancedtoward the window, after having made a sign to the rest of the troop togo toward the door. 

The little house was surrounded by a low, quickset hedge, two or threefeet high. Athos sprang over the hedge and went up to the window, whichwas without shutters, but had the half-curtains closely drawn. 

He mounted the skirting stone that his eyes might look over the curtain. 

By the light of a lamp he saw a woman, wrapped in a dark mantle, seatedupon a stool near a dying fire. Her elbows were placed upon a meantable, and she leaned her head upon her two hands, which were white asivory. 

He could not distinguish her countenance, but a sinister smile passedover the lips of Athos. He was not deceived; it was she whom he sought. 

At this moment a horse neighed. Milady raised her head, saw close to thepanes the pale face of Athos, and screamed. 

Athos, perceiving that she knew him, pushed the window with his knee andhand. The window yielded. The squares were broken to shivers; and Athos, like the spectre of vengeance, leaped into the room. 

Milady rushed to the door and opened it. More pale and menacing thanAthos, d'Artagnan stood on the threshold. 

Milady recoiled, uttering a cry. D'Artagnan, believing she might havemeans of flight and fearing she should escape, drew a pistol from hisbelt; but Athos raised his hand. 

"Put back that weapon, d'Artagnan!" said he; "this woman must betried, not assassinated. Wait an instant, my friend, and you shall besatisfied. Come in, gentlemen. "

D'Artagnan obeyed; for Athos had the solemn voice and the powerfulgesture of a judge sent by the Lord himself. Behind d'Artagnan enteredPorthos, Aramis, Lord de Winter, and the man in the red cloak. 

The four lackeys guarded the door and the window. 

Milady had sunk into a chair, with her hands extended, as if to conjurethis terrible apparition. Perceiving her brother-in-law, she uttered aterrible cry. 

"What do you want?" screamed Milady. 

"We want, " said Athos, "Charlotte Backson, who first was called Comtessede la Fere, and afterwards Milady de Winter, Baroness of Sheffield. "

"That is I! that is I!" murmured Milady, in extreme terror; "what do youwant?"

"We wish to judge you according to your crime, " said Athos; "you shallbe free to defend yourself. Justify yourself if you can. M. D'Artagnan, it is for you to accuse her first. "

D'Artagnan advanced. 

"Before God and before men, " said he, "I accuse this woman of havingpoisoned Constance Bonacieux, who died yesterday evening. "

He turned towards Porthos and Aramis. 

"We bear witness to this, " said the two Musketeers, with one voice. 

D'Artagnan continued: "Before God and before men, I accuse this woman ofhaving attempted to poison me, in wine which she sent me from Villeroy, with a forged letter, as if that wine came from my friends. Godpreserved me, but a man named Brisemont died in my place. "

"We bear witness to this, " said Porthos and Aramis, in the same manneras before. 

"Before God and before men, I accuse this woman of having urged me tothe murder of the Baron de Wardes; but as no one else can attestthe truth of this accusation, I attest it myself. I have done. " Andd'Artagnan passed to the other side of the room with Porthos and Aramis. 

"Your turn, my Lord, " said Athos. 

The baron came forward. 

"Before God and before men, " said he, "I accuse this woman of havingcaused the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham. "

"The Duke of Buckingham assassinated!" cried all present, with onevoice. 

"Yes, " said the baron, "assassinated. On receiving the warning letteryou wrote to me, I had this woman arrested, and gave her in charge toa loyal servant. She corrupted this man; she placed the poniard in hishand; she made him kill the duke. And at this moment, perhaps, Felton ispaying with his head for the crime of this fury!"

A shudder crept through the judges at the revelation of these unknowncrimes. 

"That is not all, " resumed Lord de Winter. "My brother, who made you hisheir, died in three hours of a strange disorder which left livid tracesall over the body. My sister, how did your husband die?"

"Horror!" cried Porthos and Aramis. 

"Assassin of Buckingham, assassin of Felton, assassin of my brother, Idemand justice upon you, and I swear that if it be not granted to me, Iwill execute it myself. "

And Lord de Winter ranged himself by the side of d'Artagnan, leaving theplace free for another accuser. 

Milady let her head sink between her two hands, and tried to recall herideas, whirling in a mortal vertigo. 

"My turn, " said Athos, himself trembling as the lion trembles at thesight of the serpent--"my turn. I married that woman when she was ayoung girl; I married her in opposition to the wishes of all my family;I gave her my wealth, I gave her my name; and one day I discovered thatthis woman was branded--this woman was marked with a FLEUR-DE-LIS on herleft shoulder. "

"Oh, " said Milady, raising herself, "I defy you to find any tribunalwhich pronounced that infamous sentence against me. I defy you to findhim who executed it. "

"Silence!" said a hollow voice. "It is for me to reply to that!" And theman in the red cloak came forward in his turn. 

"What man is that? What man is that?" cried Milady, suffocatedby terror, her hair loosening itself, and rising above her lividcountenance as if alive. 

All eyes were turned towards this man--for to all except Athos he wasunknown. 

Even Athos looked at him with as much stupefaction as the others, for heknew not how he could in any way find himself mixed up with the horribledrama then unfolded. 

After approaching Milady with a slow and solemn step, so that the tablealone separated them, the unknown took off his mask. 

Milady for some time examined with increasing terror that pale face, framed with black hair and whiskers, the only expression of which wasicy impassibility. Then she suddenly cried, "Oh, no, no!" rising andretreating to the very wall. "No, no! it is an infernal apparition! Itis not he! Help, help!" screamed she, turning towards the wall, as ifshe would tear an opening with her hands. 

"Who are you, then?" cried all the witnesses of this scene. 

"Ask that woman, " said the man in the red cloak, "for you may plainlysee she knows me!"

"The executioner of Lille, the executioner of Lille!" cried Milady, aprey to insensate terror, and clinging with her hands to the wall toavoid falling. 

Every one drew back, and the man in the red cloak remained standingalone in the middle of the room. 

"Oh, grace, grace, pardon!" cried the wretch, falling on her knees. 

The unknown waited for silence, and then resumed, "I told you well thatshe would know me. Yes, I am the executioner of Lille, and this is myhistory. "

All eyes were fixed upon this man, whose words were listened to withanxious attention. 

"That woman was once a young girl, as beautiful as she is today. She wasa nun in the convent of the Benedictines of Templemar. A young priest, with a simple and trustful heart, performed the duties of the church ofthat convent. She undertook his seduction, and succeeded; she would haveseduced a saint. 

"Their vows were sacred and irrevocable. Their connection could not lastlong without ruining both. She prevailed upon him to leave the country;but to leave the country, to fly together, to reach another partof France, where they might live at ease because unknown, money wasnecessary. Neither had any. The priest stole the sacred vases, and soldthem; but as they were preparing to escape together, they were botharrested. 

"Eight days later she had seduced the son of the jailer, and escaped. The young priest was condemned to ten years of imprisonment, and to bebranded. I was executioner of the city of Lille, as this woman hassaid. I was obliged to brand the guilty one; and he, gentlemen, was mybrother!

"I then swore that this woman who had ruined him, who was more than hisaccomplice, since she had urged him to the crime, should at least sharehis punishment. I suspected where she was concealed. I followed her, Icaught her, I bound her; and I imprinted the same disgraceful mark uponher that I had imprinted upon my poor brother. 

"The day after my return to Lille, my brother in his turn succeeded inmaking his escape; I was accused of complicity, and was condemned toremain in his place till he should be again a prisoner. My poor brotherwas ignorant of this sentence. He rejoined this woman; they fledtogether into Berry, and there he obtained a little curacy. This womanpassed for his sister. 

"The Lord of the estate on which the chapel of the curacy was situatedsaw this pretend sister, and became enamoured of her--amorous to sucha degree that he proposed to marry her. Then she quitted him she hadruined for him she was destined to ruin, and became the Comtesse de laFere--"

All eyes were turned towards Athos, whose real name that was, and whomade a sign with his head that all was true which the executioner hadsaid. 

"Then, " resumed he, "mad, desperate, determined to get rid of anexistence from which she had stolen everything, honor and happiness, my poor brother returned to Lille, and learning the sentence which hadcondemned me in his place, surrendered himself, and hanged himself thatsame night from the iron bar of the loophole of his prison. 

"To do justice to them who had condemned me, they kept their word. Assoon as the identity of my brother was proved, I was set at liberty. 

"That is the crime of which I accuse her; that is the cause for whichshe was branded. "

"Monsieur d'Artagnan, " said Athos, "what is the penalty you demandagainst this woman?"

"The punishment of death, " replied d'Artagnan. 

"My Lord de Winter, " continued Athos, "what is the penalty you demandagainst this woman?"

"The punishment of death, " replied Lord de Winter. 

"Messieurs Porthos and Aramis, " repeated Athos, "you who are her judges, what is the sentence you pronounce upon this woman?"

"The punishment of death, " replied the Musketeers, in a hollow voice. 

Milady uttered a frightful shriek, and dragged herself along severalpaces upon her knees toward her judges. 

Athos stretched out his hand toward her. 

"Charlotte Backson, Comtesse de la Fere, Milady de Winter, " said he, "your crimes have wearied men on earth and God in heaven. If you know aprayer, say it--for you are condemned, and you shall die. "

At these words, which left no hope, Milady raised herself in all herpride, and wished to speak; but her strength failed her. She felt thata powerful and implacable hand seized her by the hair, and dragged heraway as irrevocably as fatality drags humanity. She did not, therefore, even attempt the least resistance, and went out of the cottage. 

Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, went out closebehind her. The lackeys followed their masters, and the chamber wasleft solitary, with its broken window, its open door, and its smoky lampburning sadly on the table. 

66 EXECUTION

It was near midnight; the moon, lessened by its decline, and reddenedby the last traces of the storm, arose behind the little town ofArmentieres, which showed against its pale light the dark outline of itshouses, and the skeleton of its high belfry. In front of them the Lysrolled its waters like a river of molten tin; while on the other sidewas a black mass of trees, profiled on a stormy sky, invaded by largecoppery clouds which created a sort of twilight amid the night. On theleft was an old abandoned mill, with its motionless wings, from theruins of which an owl threw out its shrill, periodical, and monotonouscry. On the right and on the left of the road, which the dismalprocession pursued, appeared a few low, stunted trees, which looked likedeformed dwarfs crouching down to watch men traveling at this sinisterhour. 

From time to time a broad sheet of lightning opened the horizon in itswhole width, darted like a serpent over the black mass of trees, andlike a terrible scimitar divided the heavens and the waters into twoparts. Not a breath of wind now disturbed the heavy atmosphere. A deathlike silence oppressed all nature. The soil was humid andglittering with the rain which had recently fallen, and the refreshedherbs sent forth their perfume with additional energy. 

Two lackeys dragged Milady, whom each held by one arm. The executionerwalked behind them, and Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Porthos, and Aramiswalked behind the executioner. Planchet and Bazin came last. 

The two lackeys conducted Milady to the bank of the river. Her mouthwas mute; but her eyes spoke with their inexpressible eloquence, supplicating by turns each of those on whom she looked. 

Being a few paces in advance she whispered to the lackeys, "A thousandpistoles to each of you, if you will assist my escape; but if youdeliver me up to your masters, I have near at hand avengers who willmake you pay dearly for my death. "

Grimaud hesitated. Mousqueton trembled in all his members. 

Athos, who heard Milady's voice, came sharply up. Lord de Winter did thesame. 

"Change these lackeys, " said he; "she has spoken to them. They are nolonger sure. "

Planchet and Bazin were called, and took the places of Grimaud andMousqueton. 

On the bank of the river the executioner approached Milady, and boundher hands and feet. 

Then she broke the silence to cry out, "You are cowards, miserableassassins--ten men combined to murder one woman. Beware! If I am notsaved I shall be avenged. "

"You are not a woman, " said Athos, coldly and sternly. "You do notbelong to the human species; you are a demon escaped from hell, whitherwe send you back again. "

"Ah, you virtuous men!" said Milady; "please to remember that he whoshall touch a hair of my head is himself an assassin. "

"The executioner may kill, without being on that account an assassin, "said the man in the red cloak, rapping upon his immense sword. "Thisis the last judge; that is all. NACHRICHTER, as say our neighbors, theGermans. "

And as he bound her while saying these words, Milady uttered two orthree savage cries, which produced a strange and melancholy effect inflying away into the night, and losing themselves in the depths of thewoods. 

"If I am guilty, if I have committed the crimes you accuse me of, "shrieked Milady, "take me before a tribunal. You are not judges! Youcannot condemn me!"

"I offered you Tyburn, " said Lord de Winter. "Why did you not acceptit?"

"Because I am not willing to die!" cried Milady, struggling. "Because Iam too young to die!"

"The woman you poisoned at Bethune was still younger than you, madame, and yet she is dead, " said d'Artagnan. 

"I will enter a cloister; I will become a nun, " said Milady. 

"You were in a cloister, " said the executioner, "and you left it to ruinmy brother. "

Milady uttered a cry of terror and sank upon her knees. The executionertook her up in his arms and was carrying her toward the boat. 

"Oh, my God!" cried she, "my God! are you going to drown me?"

These cries had something so heartrending in them that M. D'Artagnan, who had been at first the most eager in pursuit of Milady, sat down onthe stump of a tree and hung his head, covering his ears with the palmsof his hands; and yet, notwithstanding, he could still hear her cry andthreaten. 

D'Artagnan was the youngest of all these men. His heart failed him. 

"Oh, I cannot behold this frightful spectacle!" said he. "I cannotconsent that this woman should die thus!"

Milady heard these few words and caught at a shadow of hope. 

"d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan!" cried she; "remember that I loved you!"

The young man rose and took a step toward her. 

But Athos rose likewise, drew his sword, and placed himself in the way. 

"If you take one step farther, d'Artagnan, " said he, "we shall crossswords together. "

D'Artagnan sank on his knees and prayed. 

"Come, " continued Athos, "executioner, do your duty. "

"Willingly, monseigneur, " said the executioner; "for as I am a goodCatholic, I firmly believe I am acting justly in performing my functionson this woman. "

"That's well. "

Athos made a step toward Milady. 

"I pardon you, " said he, "the ill you have done me. I pardon you for myblasted future, my lost honor, my defiled love, and my salvation forevercompromised by the despair into which you have cast me. Die in peace!"

Lord de Winter advanced in his turn. 

"I pardon you, " said he, "for the poisoning of my brother, and theassassination of his Grace, Lord Buckingham. I pardon you for the deathof poor Felton; I pardon you for the attempts upon my own person. Die inpeace!"

"And I, " said M. D'Artagnan. "Pardon me, madame, for having by a trickunworthy of a gentleman provoked your anger; and I, in exchange, pardonyou the murder of my poor love and your cruel vengeance against me. Ipardon you, and I weep for you. Die in peace!"

"I am lost!" murmured Milady in English. "I must die!"

Then she arose of herself, and cast around her one of those piercinglooks which seemed to dart from an eye of flame. 

She saw nothing; she listened, and she heard nothing. 

"Where am I to die?" said she. 

"On the other bank, " replied the executioner. 

Then he placed her in the boat, and as he was going to set foot in ithimself, Athos handed him a sum of silver. 

"Here, " said he, "is the price of the execution, that it may be plain weact as judges. "

"That is correct, " said the executioner; "and now in her turn, let thiswoman see that I am not fulfilling my trade, but my debt. "

And he threw the money into the river. 

The boat moved off toward the left-hand shore of the Lys, bearingthe guilty woman and the executioner; all the others remained on theright-hand bank, where they fell on their knees. 

The boat glided along the ferry rope under the shadow of a pale cloudwhich hung over the water at that moment. 

The troop of friends saw it gain the opposite bank; the figures weredefined like black shadows on the red-tinted horizon. 

Milady, during the passage had contrived to untie the cord whichfastened her feet. On coming near the bank, she jumped lightly on shoreand took to flight. But the soil was moist; on reaching the top of thebank, she slipped and fell upon her knees. 

She was struck, no doubt, with a superstitious idea; she conceived thatheaven denied its aid, and she remained in the attitude in which she hadfallen, her head drooping and her hands clasped. 

Then they saw from the other bank the executioner raise both his armsslowly; a moonbeam fell upon the blade of the large sword. The two armsfell with a sudden force; they heard the hissing of the scimitar and thecry of the victim, then a truncated mass sank beneath the blow. 

The executioner then took off his red cloak, spread it upon the ground, laid the body in it, threw in the head, tied all up by the four corners, lifted it on his back, and entered the boat again. 

In the middle of the stream he stopped the boat, and suspending hisburden over the water cried in a loud voice, "Let the justice of God bedone!" and he let the corpse drop into the depths of the waters, whichclosed over it. 

Three days afterward the four Musketeers were in Paris; they had notexceeded their leave of absence, and that same evening they went to paytheir customary visit to M. De Treville. 

"Well, gentlemen, " said the brave captain, "I hope you have been wellamused during your excursion. "

"Prodigiously, " replied Athos in the name of himself and his comrades. 

67 CONCLUSION

On the sixth of the following month the king, in compliance with thepromise he had made the cardinal to return to La Rochelle, left hiscapital still in amazement at the news which began to spread itself ofBuckingham's assassination. 

Although warned that the man she had loved so much was in great danger, the queen, when his death was announced to her, would not believe thefact, and even imprudently exclaimed, "it is false; he has just writtento me!"

But the next day she was obliged to believe this fatal intelligence;Laporte, detained in England, as everyone else had been, by the ordersof Charles I, arrived, and was the bearer of the duke's dying gift tothe queen. 

The joy of the king was lively. He did not even give himself the troubleto dissemble, and displayed it with affectation before the queen. LouisXIII, like every weak mind, was wanting in generosity. 

But the king soon again became dull and indisposed; his brow was not oneof those that long remain clear. He felt that in returning to camp heshould re-enter slavery; nevertheless, he did return. 

The cardinal was for him the fascinating serpent, and himself the birdwhich flies from branch to branch without power to escape. 

The return to La Rochelle, therefore, was profoundly dull. Our fourfriends, in particular, astonished their comrades; they traveledtogether, side by side, with sad eyes and heads lowered. Athos alonefrom time to time raised his expansive brow; a flash kindled in hiseyes, and a bitter smile passed over his lips, then, like his comrades, he sank again into reverie. 

As soon as the escort arrived in a city, when they had conducted theking to his quarters the four friends either retired to their own or tosome secluded cabaret, where they neither drank nor played; they onlyconversed in a low voice, looking around attentively to see that no oneoverheard them. 

One day, when the king had halted to fly the magpie, and the fourfriends, according to their custom, instead of following the sport hadstopped at a cabaret on the high road, a man coming from la Rochelle onhorseback pulled up at the door to drink a glass of wine, and darted asearching glance into the room where the four Musketeers were sitting. 

"Holloa, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said he, "is not that you whom I seeyonder?"

D'Artagnan raised his head and uttered a cry of joy. It was the manhe called his phantom; it was his stranger of Meung, of the Rue desFossoyeurs and of Arras. 

D'Artagnan drew his sword, and sprang toward the door. 

But this time, instead of avoiding him the stranger jumped from hishorse, and advanced to meet d'Artagnan. 

"Ah, monsieur!" said the young man, "I meet you, then, at last! Thistime you shall not escape me!"

"Neither is it my intention, monsieur, for this time I was seeking you;in the name of the king, I arrest you. "

"How! what do you say?" cried d'Artagnan. 

"I say that you must surrender your sword to me, monsieur, and thatwithout resistance. This concerns your head, I warn you. "

"Who are you, then?" demanded d'Artagnan, lowering the point of hissword, but without yet surrendering it. 

"I am the Chevalier de Rochefort, " answered the other, "the equerry ofMonsieur le Cardinal Richelieu, and I have orders to conduct you to hisEminence. "

"We are returning to his Eminence, monsieur the Chevalier, " saidAthos, advancing; "and you will please to accept the word of Monsieurd'Artagnan that he will go straight to La Rochelle. "

"I must place him in the hands of guards who will take him into camp. "

"We will be his guards, monsieur, upon our word as gentlemen; butlikewise, upon our word as gentlemen, " added Athos, knitting his brow, "Monsieur d'Artagnan shall not leave us. "

The Chevalier de Rochefort cast a glance backward, and saw that Porthosand Aramis had placed themselves between him and the gate; he understoodthat he was completely at the mercy of these four men. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, "if Monsieur d'Artagnan will surrender his swordto me and join his word to yours, I shall be satisfied with yourpromise to convey Monsieur d'Artagnan to the quarters of Monseigneur theCardinal. "

"You have my word, monsieur, and here is my sword. "

"This suits me the better, " said Rochefort, "as I wish to continue myjourney. "

"If it is for the purpose of rejoining Milady, " said Athos, coolly, "itis useless; you will not find her. "

"What has become of her, then?" asked Rochefort, eagerly. 

"Return to camp and you shall know. "

Rochefort remained for a moment in thought; then, as they were only aday's journey from Surgeres, whither the cardinal was to come to meetthe king, he resolved to follow the advice of Athos and go with them. Besides, this return offered him the advantage of watching his prisoner. 

They resumed their route. 

On the morrow, at three o'clock in the afternoon, they arrived atSurgeres. The cardinal there awaited Louis XIII. The minister and theking exchanged numerous caresses, felicitating each other upon thefortunate chance which had freed France from the inveterate enemy whoset all Europe against her. After which, the cardinal, who had beeninformed that d'Artagnan was arrested and who was anxious to see him, took leave of the king, inviting him to come the next day to view thework already done upon the dyke. 

On returning in the evening to his quarters at the bridge of La Pierre, the cardinal found, standing before the house he occupied, d'Artagnan, without his sword, and the three Musketeers armed. 

This time, as he was well attended, he looked at them sternly, and madea sign with his eye and hand for d'Artagnan to follow him. 

D'Artagnan obeyed. 

"We shall wait for you, d'Artagnan, " said Athos, loud enough for thecardinal to hear him. 

His Eminence bent his brow, stopped for an instant, and then kept on hisway without uttering a single word. 

D'Artagnan entered after the cardinal, and behind d'Artagnan the doorwas guarded. 

His Eminence entered the chamber which served him as a study, and made asign to Rochefort to bring in the young Musketeer. 

Rochefort obeyed and retired. 

D'Artagnan remained alone in front of the cardinal; this was his secondinterview with Richelieu, and he afterward confessed that he felt wellassured it would be his last. 

Richelieu remained standing, leaning against the mantelpiece; a tablewas between him and d'Artagnan. 

"Monsieur, " said the cardinal, "you have been arrested by my orders. "

"So they tell me, monseigneur. "

"Do you know why?"

"No, monseigneur, for the only thing for which I could be arrested isstill unknown to your Eminence. "

Richelieu looked steadfastly at the young man. 

"Holloa!" said he, "what does that mean?"

"If Monseigneur will have the goodness to tell me, in the first place, what crimes are imputed to me, I will then tell him the deeds I havereally done. "

"Crimes are imputed to you which had brought down far loftier heads thanyours, monsieur, " said the cardinal. 

"What, monseigneur?" said d'Artagnan, with a calmness which astonishedthe cardinal himself. 

"You are charged with having corresponded with the enemies of thekingdom; you are charged with having surprised state secrets; you arecharged with having tried to thwart the plans of your general. "

"And who charges me with this, monseigneur?" said d'Artagnan, who had nodoubt the accusation came from Milady, "a woman branded by the justiceof the country; a woman who has espoused one man in France and anotherin England; a woman who poisoned her second husband and who attemptedboth to poison and assassinate me!"

"What do you say, monsieur?" cried the cardinal, astonished; "and ofwhat woman are you speaking thus?"

"Of Milady de Winter, " replied d'Artagnan, "yes, of Milady de Winter, ofwhose crimes your Eminence is doubtless ignorant, since you have honoredher with your confidence. "

"Monsieur, " said the cardinal, "if Milady de Winter has committed thecrimes you lay to her charge, she shall be punished. "

"She has been punished, monseigneur. "

"And who has punished her?"

"We. "

"She is in prison?"

"She is dead. "

"Dead!" repeated the cardinal, who could not believe what he heard, "dead! Did you not say she was dead?"

"Three times she attempted to kill me, and I pardoned her; but shemurdered the woman I loved. Then my friends and I took her, tried her, and condemned her. "

D'Artagnan then related the poisoning of Mme. Bonacieux in the conventof the Carmelites at Bethune, the trial in the isolated house, and theexecution on the banks of the Lys. 

A shudder crept through the body of the cardinal, who did not shudderreadily. 

But all at once, as if undergoing the influence of an unspoken thought, the countenance of the cardinal, till then gloomy, cleared up bydegrees, and recovered perfect serenity. 

"So, " said the cardinal, in a tone that contrasted strongly with theseverity of his words, "you have constituted yourselves judges, without remembering that they who punish without license to punish areassassins?"

"Monseigneur, I swear to you that I never for an instant had theintention of defending my head against you. I willingly submit to anypunishment your Eminence may please to inflict upon me. I do not holdlife dear enough to be afraid of death. "

"Yes, I know you are a man of a stout heart, monsieur, " said thecardinal, with a voice almost affectionate; "I can therefore tell youbeforehand you shall be tried, and even condemned. "

"Another might reply to your Eminence that he had his pardon in hispocket. I content myself with saying: Command, monseigneur; I am ready. "

"Your pardon?" said Richelieu, surprised. 

"Yes, monseigneur, " said d'Artagnan. 

"And signed by whom--by the king?" And the cardinal pronounced thesewords with a singular expression of contempt. 

"No, by your Eminence. "

"By me? You are insane, monsieur. "

"Monseigneur will doubtless recognize his own handwriting. "

And d'Artagnan presented to the cardinal the precious piece of paperwhich Athos had forced from Milady, and which he had given to d'Artagnanto serve him as a safeguard. 

His Eminence took the paper, and read in a slow voice, dwelling uponevery syllable:

"Dec. 3, 1627

"It is by my order and for the good of the state that the bearer of thishas done what he has done. 

"RICHELIEU"

The cardinal, after having read these two lines, sank into a profoundreverie; but he did not return the paper to d'Artagnan. 

"He is meditating by what sort of punishment he shall cause me todie, " said the Gascon to himself. "Well, my faith! he shall see how agentleman can die. "

The young Musketeer was in excellent disposition to die heroically. 

Richelieu still continued thinking, rolling and unrolling the paper inhis hands. 

At length he raised his head, fixed his eagle look upon that loyal, open, and intelligent countenance, read upon that face, furrowed withtears, all the sufferings its possessor had endured in the course of amonth, and reflected for the third or fourth time how much there wasin that youth of twenty-one years before him, and what resources hisactivity, his courage, and his shrewdness might offer to a good master. On the other side, the crimes, the power, and the infernal genius ofMilady had more than once terrified him. He felt something like a secretjoy at being forever relieved of this dangerous accomplice. 

Richelieu slowly tore the paper which d'Artagnan had generouslyrelinquished. 

"I am lost!" said d'Artagnan to himself. And he bowed profoundly beforethe cardinal, like a man who says, "Lord, Thy will be done!"

The cardinal approached the table, and without sitting down, wrote afew lines upon a parchment of which two-thirds were already filled, andaffixed his seal. 

"That is my condemnation, " thought d'Artagnan; "he will spare me theENNUI of the Bastille, or the tediousness of a trial. That's very kindof him. "

"Here, monsieur, " said the cardinal to the young man. "I have taken fromyou one CARTE BLANCHE to give you another. The name is wanting in thiscommission; you can write it yourself. "

D'Artagnan took the paper hesitatingly and cast his eyes over it; it wasa lieutenant's commission in the Musketeers. 

D'Artagnan fell at the feet of the cardinal. 

"Monseigneur, " said he, "my life is yours; henceforth dispose of it. Butthis favor which you bestow upon me I do not merit. I have three friendswho are more meritorious and more worthy--"

"You are a brave youth, d'Artagnan, " interrupted the cardinal, tappinghim familiarly on the shoulder, charmed at having vanquished thisrebellious nature. "Do with this commission what you will; onlyremember, though the name be blank, it is to you I give it. "

"I shall never forget it, " replied d'Artagnan. "Your Eminence may becertain of that. "

The cardinal turned and said in a loud voice, "Rochefort!" Thechevalier, who no doubt was near the door, entered immediately. 

"Rochefort, " said the cardinal, "you see Monsieur d'Artagnan. I receivehim among the number of my friends. Greet each other, then; and be wiseif you wish to preserve your heads. "

Rochefort and d'Artagnan coolly greeted each other with their lips; butthe cardinal was there, observing them with his vigilant eye. 

They left the chamber at the same time. 

"We shall meet again, shall we not, monsieur?"

"When you please, " said d'Artagnan. 

"An opportunity will come, " replied Rochefort. 

"Hey?" said the cardinal, opening the door. 

The two men smiled at each other, shook hands, and saluted his Eminence. 

"We were beginning to grow impatient, " said Athos. 

"Here I am, my friends, " replied d'Artagnan; "not only free, but infavor. "

"Tell us about it. "

"This evening; but for the moment, let us separate. "

Accordingly, that same evening d'Artagnan repaired to the quarters ofAthos, whom he found in a fair way to empty a bottle of Spanish wine--anoccupation which he religiously accomplished every night. 

D'Artagnan related what had taken place between the cardinal andhimself, and drawing the commission from his pocket, said, "Here, mydear Athos, this naturally belongs to you. "

Athos smiled with one of his sweet and expressive smiles. 

"Friend, " said he, "for Athos this is too much; for the Comte de laFere it is too little. Keep the commission; it is yours. Alas! you havepurchased it dearly enough. "

D'Artagnan left Athos's chamber and went to that of Porthos. He foundhim clothed in a magnificent dress covered with splendid embroidery, admiring himself before a glass. 

"Ah, ah! is that you, dear friend?" exclaimed Porthos. "How do you thinkthese garments fit me?"

"Wonderfully, " said d'Artagnan; "but I come to offer you a dress whichwill become you still better. "

"What?" asked Porthos. 

"That of a lieutenant of Musketeers. "

D'Artagnan related to Porthos the substance of his interview with thecardinal, and said, taking the commission from his pocket, "Here, myfriend, write your name upon it and become my chief. "

Porthos cast his eyes over the commission and returned it to d'Artagnan, to the great astonishment of the young man. 

"Yes, " said he, "yes, that would flatter me very much; but I shouldnot have time enough to enjoy the distinction. During our expedition toBethune the husband of my duchess died; so, my dear, the coffer of thedefunct holding out its arms to me, I shall marry the widow. Look here!I was trying on my wedding suit. Keep the lieutenancy, my dear, keepit. "

The young man then entered the apartment of Aramis. He found himkneeling before a PRIEDIEU with his head leaning on an open prayer book. 

He described to him his interview with the cardinal, and said, for thethird time drawing his commission from his pocket, "You, our friend, ourintelligence, our invisible protector, accept this commission. You havemerited it more than any of us by your wisdom and your counsels, alwaysfollowed by such happy results. "

"Alas, dear friend!" said Aramis, "our late adventures have disgustedme with military life. This time my determination is irrevocably taken. After the siege I shall enter the house of the Lazarists. Keep thecommission, d'Artagnan; the profession of arms suits you. You will be abrave and adventurous captain. "

D'Artagnan, his eye moist with gratitude though beaming with joy, wentback to Athos, whom he found still at table contemplating the charms ofhis last glass of Malaga by the light of his lamp. 

"Well, " said he, "they likewise have refused me. "

"That, dear friend, is because nobody is more worthy than yourself. "

He took a quill, wrote the name of d'Artagnan in the commission, andreturned it to him. 

"I shall then have no more friends, " said the young man. "Alas! nothingbut bitter recollections. "

And he let his head sink upon his hands, while two large tears rolleddown his cheeks. 

"You are young, " replied Athos; "and your bitter recollections have timeto change themselves into sweet remembrances. "

EPILOGUE

La Rochelle, deprived of the assistance of the English fleet and of thediversion promised by Buckingham, surrendered after a siege of a year. On the twenty-eighth of October, 1628, the capitulation was signed. 

The king made his entrance into Paris on the twenty-third of December ofthe same year. He was received in triumph, as if he came from conqueringan enemy and not Frenchmen. He entered by the Faubourg St. Jacques, under verdant arches. 

D'Artagnan took possession of his command. Porthos left the service, andin the course of the following year married Mme. Coquenard; the cofferso much coveted contained eight hundred thousand livres. 

Mousqueton had a magnificent livery, and enjoyed the satisfaction ofwhich he had been ambitious all his life--that of standing behind agilded carriage. 

Aramis, after a journey into Lorraine, disappeared all at once, andceased to write to his friends; they learned at a later period throughMme. De Chevreuse, who told it to two or three of her intimates, that, yielding to his vocation, he had retired into a convent--only intowhich, nobody knew. 

Bazin became a lay brother. 

Athos remained a Musketeer under the command of d'Artagnan till the year1633, at which period, after a journey he made to Touraine, he also quitthe service, under the pretext of having inherited a small property inRoussillon. 

Grimaud followed Athos. 

D'Artagnan fought three times with Rochefort, and wounded him threetimes. 

"I shall probably kill you the fourth, " said he to him, holding out hishand to assist him to rise. 

"It is much better both for you and for me to stop where we are, "answered the wounded man. "CORBLEU--I am more your friend than youthink--for after our very first encounter, I could by saying a word tothe cardinal have had your throat cut!"

They this time embraced heartily, and without retaining any malice. 

Planchet obtained from Rochefort the rank of sergeant in the Piedmontregiment. 

M. Bonacieux lived on very quietly, wholly ignorant of what had becomeof his wife, and caring very little about it. One day he had theimprudence to recall himself to the memory of the cardinal. The cardinalhad him informed that he would provide for him so that he should neverwant for anything in future. In fact, M. Bonacieux, having left hishouse at seven o'clock in the evening to go to the Louvre, neverappeared again in the Rue des Fossoyeurs; the opinion of those whoseemed to be best informed was that he was fed and lodged in some royalcastle, at the expense of his generous Eminence.