Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
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 the post." `
` `
` "Let him be sent for instantly." `
` `
` "He is most likely at my hotel. I requested him to call, and `
` when I came to 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 her myself." `
` `
` "Your Majesty will not forget that I have done everything in my `
` power to prevent a rupture." `
` `
` "Yes, Duke, yes, I know you are very indulgent toward the queen, `
` too indulgent, perhaps; we shall have occasion, I warn you, at `
` some future period to speak of that." `
` `
` "Whenever it shall please your Majesty; but I shall be always `
` happy and proud, sire, to sacrifice myself to the harmony which I `
` desire to see reign between you and the Queen of France." `
` `
` "Very well, Cardinal, very well; but, meantime, send for Monsieur `
` the Keeper of the Seals. I will go to the queen." `
` `
` And Louis XIII, opening the door of communication, passed into `
` the corridor 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 Spanish companion, Donna Estafania, who had followed her from `
` Madrid. Mme. Guemene was reading aloud, and everybody was `
` listening to her with attention with the exception of the queen, `
` who had, on the contrary, desired this reading in order that she `
` might be able, while feigning to listen, to pursue the thread of `
` her own thoughts. `
` `
` These thoughts, gilded as they were by a last reflection of love, `
` were not the less sad. Anne of Austria, deprived of the `
` confidence of her husband, pursued by the hatred of the cardinal, `
` who could not pardon her for having repulsed a more tender `
` feeling, having before her eyes the example of the queen-mother `
` whom that hatred had tormented all her life--though Marie de `
` Medicis, if the memoirs of the time are to be believed, had begun `
` by according to the cardinal that sentiment which Anne of Austria `
` always refused him--Anne of Austria had seen her most devoted `
` servants fall around her, her most intimate confidants, her `
` dearest favorites. Like those unfortunate persons endowed with a `
` fatal gift, she brought misfortune upon everything she touched. `
` Her friendship was a fatal sign which called down persecution. `
` Mme. de Chevreuse and Mme. de Bernet were exiled, and Laporte did `
` not conceal from his mistress that he expected to be arrested `
` every instant. `
` `
` It was at the moment when she was plunged in the deepest and `
` darkest of these reflections that the door of the chamber opened, `
` and the king entered. `
` `
` The reader hushed herself instantly. All the ladies rose, and `
` there was a profound silence. As to the king, he made no `
` demonstration of politeness, only stopping before the queen. `
` "Madame," said he, "you are about to receive a visit from the `
` chancellor, who will communicate certain 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 not refrain from saying, "But why this visit, sire? What `
` can the chancellor have to say to me that your Majesty could not `
` say yourself?" `
` `
` The king turned upon his heel without reply, and almost at the `
` same instant the captain of the Guards, M. de Guitant, announced `
` the visit of the chancellor. `
` `
` When the chancellor appeared, the king had already gone out by `
` another door. `
` `
` The chancellor entered, half smiling, half blushing. As we shall `
` probably meet with him again in the course of our history, it may `
` be well for our readers to be made at once acquainted with him. `
` `
` This chancellor was a pleasant man. He was Des Roches le Masle, `
` canon of Notre Dame, who had formerly been valet of a bishop, who `
` introduced him to his Eminence as a perfectly devout man. The `
` cardinal trusted him, and therein found his advantage. `
` `
` There are many stories related of him, and among them this. `
` After a wild youth, he had retired into a convent, there to `
` expiate, at least for some time, the follies of adolescence. On `
` entering this holy place, the poor penitent was unable to shut `
` the door so close as to prevent the passions he fled from `
` entering with him. He was incessantly attacked by them, and the `
` superior, to whom he had confided this misfortune, wishing as `
` much as in him lay to free him from them, had advised him, in `
` order to conjure away the tempting demon, to have recourse to the `
` bell rope, and ring with all his might. At the denunciating `
` sound, the monks would be rendered aware that temptation was `
` besieging a brother, and all the community would go to prayers. `
` `
` This advice appeared good to the future chancellor. He conjured `
` the evil spirit with abundance of prayers offered up by the `
` monks. But the devil does not suffer himself to be easily `
` dispossessed from a place in which he has fixed his garrison. In `
` proportion as they redoubled the exorcisms he redoubled the `
` temptations; so that day and night the bell was ringing full `
` swing, announcing the extreme desire for mortification which the `
` penitent experienced. `
` `
` The monks had no longer an instant of repose. By day they did `
` nothing but ascend and descend the steps which led to the chapel; `
` at night, in addition to complines and matins, they were further `
` obliged to leap twenty times out of their beds and prostrate `
` themselves on the floor of their cells. `
` `
` It is not known whether it was the devil who gave way, or the `
` monks who grew tired; but within three months the penitent `
` reappeared in the world with the reputation of being the most `
` terrible POSSESSED that ever existed. `
` `
` On leaving the convent he entered into the magistracy, became `
` president on the place of his uncle, embraced the cardinal's `
` party, which did not prove want of sagacity, became chancellor, `
` served his Eminence with zeal in his hatred against the queen- `
` mother and his vengeance against Anne of Austria, stimulated the `
` judges in the affair of Calais, encouraged the attempts of M. de `
` Laffemas, chief gamekeeper of France; then, at length, invested `
` with the entire confidence of the cardinal--a confidence which he `
` had so well earned--he received the singular commission for the `
` execution of which he presented himself in the queen's `
` apartments. `
` `
` The queen was still standing when he entered; but scarcely had `
` she perceived him then she reseated herself in her armchair, and `
` made a sign to her women to resume their cushions and stools, and `
` with an air of supreme hauteur, said, "What do you desire, `
` monsieur, and with what object do you present yourself here?" `
` `
` "To make, madame, in the name of the king, and without prejudice `
` to the respect which I have the honor to owe to your Majesty a `
` close examination into all your papers." `
` `
` "How, monsieur, an investigation of my papers--mine! Truly, this `
` is an indignity!" `
` `
` "Be kind enough to pardon me, madame; but in this circumstance I `
` am but the instrument which the king employs. Has not his `
` Majesty just left you, and has he not himself asked you to `
` prepare for this visit?" `
` `
` "Search, then, monsieur! I am a criminal, as it appears. `
` Estafania, give up the keys of my drawers and my desks." `
` `
` For form's sake the chancellor paid a visit to the pieces of `
` furniture named; but he well knew that it was not in a piece of `
` furniture that the queen would place the important letter she had `
` written that day. `
` `
` When the chancellor had opened and shut twenty times the drawers `
` of the secretaries, it became necessary, whatever hesitation he `
` might experience--it became necessary, I say, to come to the `
` conclusion of the affair; that is to say, to search the queen `
` herself. The chancellor advanced, therefore, toward Anne of `
` Austria, and said with a very perplexed and embarrassed air, "And `
` now it remains for me to make the principal examination." `
` `
` "What is that?" asked the queen, who did not understand, or `
` rather was not willing to understand. `
` `
` "His majesty is certain that a letter has been written by you `
` during the day; he knows that it has not yet been sent to its `
` address. This letter is not in your table nor in your secretary; `
` and yet this letter must be somewhere." `
` `
` "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 the chancellor with an expression almost threatening. `
` `
` "I am a faithful subject of the king, madame, and all that his `
` Majesty commands I shall do." `
`
` `
` "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 the post." `
` `
` "Let him be sent for instantly." `
` `
` "He is most likely at my hotel. I requested him to call, and `
` when I came to 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 her myself." `
` `
` "Your Majesty will not forget that I have done everything in my `
` power to prevent a rupture." `
` `
` "Yes, Duke, yes, I know you are very indulgent toward the queen, `
` too indulgent, perhaps; we shall have occasion, I warn you, at `
` some future period to speak of that." `
` `
` "Whenever it shall please your Majesty; but I shall be always `
` happy and proud, sire, to sacrifice myself to the harmony which I `
` desire to see reign between you and the Queen of France." `
` `
` "Very well, Cardinal, very well; but, meantime, send for Monsieur `
` the Keeper of the Seals. I will go to the queen." `
` `
` And Louis XIII, opening the door of communication, passed into `
` the corridor 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 Spanish companion, Donna Estafania, who had followed her from `
` Madrid. Mme. Guemene was reading aloud, and everybody was `
` listening to her with attention with the exception of the queen, `
` who had, on the contrary, desired this reading in order that she `
` might be able, while feigning to listen, to pursue the thread of `
` her own thoughts. `
` `
` These thoughts, gilded as they were by a last reflection of love, `
` were not the less sad. Anne of Austria, deprived of the `
` confidence of her husband, pursued by the hatred of the cardinal, `
` who could not pardon her for having repulsed a more tender `
` feeling, having before her eyes the example of the queen-mother `
` whom that hatred had tormented all her life--though Marie de `
` Medicis, if the memoirs of the time are to be believed, had begun `
` by according to the cardinal that sentiment which Anne of Austria `
` always refused him--Anne of Austria had seen her most devoted `
` servants fall around her, her most intimate confidants, her `
` dearest favorites. Like those unfortunate persons endowed with a `
` fatal gift, she brought misfortune upon everything she touched. `
` Her friendship was a fatal sign which called down persecution. `
` Mme. de Chevreuse and Mme. de Bernet were exiled, and Laporte did `
` not conceal from his mistress that he expected to be arrested `
` every instant. `
` `
` It was at the moment when she was plunged in the deepest and `
` darkest of these reflections that the door of the chamber opened, `
` and the king entered. `
` `
` The reader hushed herself instantly. All the ladies rose, and `
` there was a profound silence. As to the king, he made no `
` demonstration of politeness, only stopping before the queen. `
` "Madame," said he, "you are about to receive a visit from the `
` chancellor, who will communicate certain 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 not refrain from saying, "But why this visit, sire? What `
` can the chancellor have to say to me that your Majesty could not `
` say yourself?" `
` `
` The king turned upon his heel without reply, and almost at the `
` same instant the captain of the Guards, M. de Guitant, announced `
` the visit of the chancellor. `
` `
` When the chancellor appeared, the king had already gone out by `
` another door. `
` `
` The chancellor entered, half smiling, half blushing. As we shall `
` probably meet with him again in the course of our history, it may `
` be well for our readers to be made at once acquainted with him. `
` `
` This chancellor was a pleasant man. He was Des Roches le Masle, `
` canon of Notre Dame, who had formerly been valet of a bishop, who `
` introduced him to his Eminence as a perfectly devout man. The `
` cardinal trusted him, and therein found his advantage. `
` `
` There are many stories related of him, and among them this. `
` After a wild youth, he had retired into a convent, there to `
` expiate, at least for some time, the follies of adolescence. On `
` entering this holy place, the poor penitent was unable to shut `
` the door so close as to prevent the passions he fled from `
` entering with him. He was incessantly attacked by them, and the `
` superior, to whom he had confided this misfortune, wishing as `
` much as in him lay to free him from them, had advised him, in `
` order to conjure away the tempting demon, to have recourse to the `
` bell rope, and ring with all his might. At the denunciating `
` sound, the monks would be rendered aware that temptation was `
` besieging a brother, and all the community would go to prayers. `
` `
` This advice appeared good to the future chancellor. He conjured `
` the evil spirit with abundance of prayers offered up by the `
` monks. But the devil does not suffer himself to be easily `
` dispossessed from a place in which he has fixed his garrison. In `
` proportion as they redoubled the exorcisms he redoubled the `
` temptations; so that day and night the bell was ringing full `
` swing, announcing the extreme desire for mortification which the `
` penitent experienced. `
` `
` The monks had no longer an instant of repose. By day they did `
` nothing but ascend and descend the steps which led to the chapel; `
` at night, in addition to complines and matins, they were further `
` obliged to leap twenty times out of their beds and prostrate `
` themselves on the floor of their cells. `
` `
` It is not known whether it was the devil who gave way, or the `
` monks who grew tired; but within three months the penitent `
` reappeared in the world with the reputation of being the most `
` terrible POSSESSED that ever existed. `
` `
` On leaving the convent he entered into the magistracy, became `
` president on the place of his uncle, embraced the cardinal's `
` party, which did not prove want of sagacity, became chancellor, `
` served his Eminence with zeal in his hatred against the queen- `
` mother and his vengeance against Anne of Austria, stimulated the `
` judges in the affair of Calais, encouraged the attempts of M. de `
` Laffemas, chief gamekeeper of France; then, at length, invested `
` with the entire confidence of the cardinal--a confidence which he `
` had so well earned--he received the singular commission for the `
` execution of which he presented himself in the queen's `
` apartments. `
` `
` The queen was still standing when he entered; but scarcely had `
` she perceived him then she reseated herself in her armchair, and `
` made a sign to her women to resume their cushions and stools, and `
` with an air of supreme hauteur, said, "What do you desire, `
` monsieur, and with what object do you present yourself here?" `
` `
` "To make, madame, in the name of the king, and without prejudice `
` to the respect which I have the honor to owe to your Majesty a `
` close examination into all your papers." `
` `
` "How, monsieur, an investigation of my papers--mine! Truly, this `
` is an indignity!" `
` `
` "Be kind enough to pardon me, madame; but in this circumstance I `
` am but the instrument which the king employs. Has not his `
` Majesty just left you, and has he not himself asked you to `
` prepare for this visit?" `
` `
` "Search, then, monsieur! I am a criminal, as it appears. `
` Estafania, give up the keys of my drawers and my desks." `
` `
` For form's sake the chancellor paid a visit to the pieces of `
` furniture named; but he well knew that it was not in a piece of `
` furniture that the queen would place the important letter she had `
` written that day. `
` `
` When the chancellor had opened and shut twenty times the drawers `
` of the secretaries, it became necessary, whatever hesitation he `
` might experience--it became necessary, I say, to come to the `
` conclusion of the affair; that is to say, to search the queen `
` herself. The chancellor advanced, therefore, toward Anne of `
` Austria, and said with a very perplexed and embarrassed air, "And `
` now it remains for me to make the principal examination." `
` `
` "What is that?" asked the queen, who did not understand, or `
` rather was not willing to understand. `
` `
` "His majesty is certain that a letter has been written by you `
` during the day; he knows that it has not yet been sent to its `
` address. This letter is not in your table nor in your secretary; `
` and yet this letter must be somewhere." `
` `
` "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 the chancellor with an expression almost threatening. `
` `
` "I am a faithful subject of the king, madame, and all that his `
` Majesty commands I shall do." `
`