Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
ballet was danced, the evening had scarcely begun. Supper was to `
` be served at three, and the clock of St. Jean had struck three `
` quarters past two. `
` `
` The sound of voices diminished by degrees in the adjoining `
` chamber. The company was then heard departing; then the door of `
` the closet in which d'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 pushed `
` d'Artagnan out of the room. D'Artagnan obeyed like a child, `
` without the least 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 in the morning and he had some of the worst quarters of `
` Paris to traverse, he met with no misadventure. Everyone knows `
` that drunkards and lovers have a protecting deity. `
` `
` He found the door of his passage open, sprang up the stairs and `
` knocked softly in a manner agreed upon between him and his `
` lackey. Planchet*, whom he had sent home two hours before from `
` the Hotel de Ville, telling him to sit up for him, opened the `
` door for him. `
` `
` *The reader may ask, "How came Planchet here?" when he was left `
` "stiff as a rush" in London. In the intervening time Buckingham `
` perhaps sent him 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 has come of itself." `
` `
` "What do you mean, blockhead?" `
` `
` "I mean to say that when I came in, although I had the key of `
` your apartment in my pocket, and that key had never quit me, I `
` found a letter on 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 `
` letters to enter people's houses in this manner. If the window `
` had been open or even ajar, I should think nothing of it; but, `
` no--all was hermetically sealed. Beware, monsieur; there is `
` certainly some magic underneath." `
` `
` Meanwhile, the young man had darted in to his chamber, and opened `
` the letter. It was from Mme. Bonacieux, and was expressed in `
` these terms: `
` `
` "There are many thanks to be offered to you, and to be `
` transmitted to you. Be this evening about ten o'clock at St. `
` Cloud, in front of the pavilion which stands at the corner of the `
` house of M. d'Estrees.--C.B." `
` `
` While reading this letter, d'Artagnan felt his heart dilated and `
` compressed by that delicious spasm which tortures and caresses `
` the hearts of lovers. `
` `
` It was the first billet he had received; it was the first `
` rendezvous that had been granted him. His heart, swelled by the `
` intoxication of joy, felt ready to dissolve away at the very gate `
` of that terrestrial paradise called Love! `
` `
` "Well, monsieur," said Planchet, who had observed his master grow `
` red and pale successively, "did I not guess truly? Is it not `
` some bad affair?" `
` `
` "You are mistaken, Planchet," replied d'Artagnan; "and as a `
` proof, there is a crown to drink my health." `
` `
` "I am much obliged to Monsieur for the crown he had given me, and `
` I promise him to follow his instructions exactly; but it is not `
` the less true 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 less true that that letter--" `
` `
` And Planchet retired, shaking his head with an air of doubt, `
` which the liberality of d'Artagnan had not entirely effaced. `
` `
` Left alone, d'Artagnan read and reread his billet. Then he `
` kissed and rekissed twenty times the lines traced by the hand of `
` his beautiful mistress. 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 the second summons opened the door, his countenance not yet `
` quite freed from the anxiety of the preceding night. `
` `
` "Planchet," said d'Artagnan, "I am going out for all day, `
` perhaps. You are, therefore, your own master till seven o'clock `
` in the evening; but at seven o'clock you must hold yourself in `
` readiness with two horses." `
` `
` "There!" said Planchet. "We are going again, it appears, to have `
` our hides 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--the cursed letter!" `
` `
` "Don't be afraid, you idiot; there is nothing in hand but a party `
` of pleasure." `
` `
` "Ah, like the charming journey the other day, when it rained `
` bullets and produced 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 companion who entertains the least fear." `
` `
` "Monsieur does me wrong," said Planchet; "I thought he had seen `
` me at work." `
` `
` "Yes, but I thought perhaps you had worn out all your courage the `
` first time." `
` `
` "Monsieur shall see that upon occasion I have some left; only I `
` beg Monsieur 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 `
` this evening?" `
` `
` "I hope so, monsieur." `
` `
` "Well, then, I count on you." `
` `
` "At the appointed hour I shall be ready; only I believed that `
` Monsieur had but one horse in the Guard stables." `
` `
` "Perhaps there is but one at this moment; but by this evening `
` there will be 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 `
` out without speaking to the worthy mercer; but the latter made so `
` polite and friendly 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 a husband whose pretty wife has appointed a meeting with `
` you that same evening at St. Cloud, opposite D'Estrees's `
` pavilion? D'Artagnan approached him with the most amiable air he `
` could assume. `
` `
` The conversation naturally fell upon the incarceration of the `
` poor man. M. Bonacieux, who was ignorant that d'Artagnan had `
` overheard his conversation with the stranger of Meung, related to `
` his young tenant the persecutions of that monster, M. de `
` Laffemas, whom he never ceased to designate, during his account, `
` by the title of the "cardinal's executioner," and expatiated at `
` great length upon the Bastille, the bolts, the wickets, the `
` dungeons, the gratings, the instruments of torture. `
` `
` D'Artagnan listened to him with exemplary complaisance, and when `
` he had finished said, "And Madame Bonacieux, do you know who `
` carried her off?--For I do not forget that I owe to that `
` unpleasant circumstance the good fortune of having made your `
` acquaintance." `
` `
` "Ah!" said Bonacieux, "they took good care not to tell me that; `
` and my wife, on her part, has sworn to me by all that's sacred `
` that she does not know. But you," continued M. Bonacieux, in a `
` tine of perfect good fellowship, "what has become of you all `
` these days? I have not seen you nor your friends, and I don't `
` think you could gather all that dust that I saw Planchet brush `
` off your boots yesterday from the pavement of Paris." `
`
` be served at three, and the clock of St. Jean had struck three `
` quarters past two. `
` `
` The sound of voices diminished by degrees in the adjoining `
` chamber. The company was then heard departing; then the door of `
` the closet in which d'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 pushed `
` d'Artagnan out of the room. D'Artagnan obeyed like a child, `
` without the least 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 in the morning and he had some of the worst quarters of `
` Paris to traverse, he met with no misadventure. Everyone knows `
` that drunkards and lovers have a protecting deity. `
` `
` He found the door of his passage open, sprang up the stairs and `
` knocked softly in a manner agreed upon between him and his `
` lackey. Planchet*, whom he had sent home two hours before from `
` the Hotel de Ville, telling him to sit up for him, opened the `
` door for him. `
` `
` *The reader may ask, "How came Planchet here?" when he was left `
` "stiff as a rush" in London. In the intervening time Buckingham `
` perhaps sent him 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 has come of itself." `
` `
` "What do you mean, blockhead?" `
` `
` "I mean to say that when I came in, although I had the key of `
` your apartment in my pocket, and that key had never quit me, I `
` found a letter on 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 `
` letters to enter people's houses in this manner. If the window `
` had been open or even ajar, I should think nothing of it; but, `
` no--all was hermetically sealed. Beware, monsieur; there is `
` certainly some magic underneath." `
` `
` Meanwhile, the young man had darted in to his chamber, and opened `
` the letter. It was from Mme. Bonacieux, and was expressed in `
` these terms: `
` `
` "There are many thanks to be offered to you, and to be `
` transmitted to you. Be this evening about ten o'clock at St. `
` Cloud, in front of the pavilion which stands at the corner of the `
` house of M. d'Estrees.--C.B." `
` `
` While reading this letter, d'Artagnan felt his heart dilated and `
` compressed by that delicious spasm which tortures and caresses `
` the hearts of lovers. `
` `
` It was the first billet he had received; it was the first `
` rendezvous that had been granted him. His heart, swelled by the `
` intoxication of joy, felt ready to dissolve away at the very gate `
` of that terrestrial paradise called Love! `
` `
` "Well, monsieur," said Planchet, who had observed his master grow `
` red and pale successively, "did I not guess truly? Is it not `
` some bad affair?" `
` `
` "You are mistaken, Planchet," replied d'Artagnan; "and as a `
` proof, there is a crown to drink my health." `
` `
` "I am much obliged to Monsieur for the crown he had given me, and `
` I promise him to follow his instructions exactly; but it is not `
` the less true 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 less true that that letter--" `
` `
` And Planchet retired, shaking his head with an air of doubt, `
` which the liberality of d'Artagnan had not entirely effaced. `
` `
` Left alone, d'Artagnan read and reread his billet. Then he `
` kissed and rekissed twenty times the lines traced by the hand of `
` his beautiful mistress. 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 the second summons opened the door, his countenance not yet `
` quite freed from the anxiety of the preceding night. `
` `
` "Planchet," said d'Artagnan, "I am going out for all day, `
` perhaps. You are, therefore, your own master till seven o'clock `
` in the evening; but at seven o'clock you must hold yourself in `
` readiness with two horses." `
` `
` "There!" said Planchet. "We are going again, it appears, to have `
` our hides 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--the cursed letter!" `
` `
` "Don't be afraid, you idiot; there is nothing in hand but a party `
` of pleasure." `
` `
` "Ah, like the charming journey the other day, when it rained `
` bullets and produced 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 companion who entertains the least fear." `
` `
` "Monsieur does me wrong," said Planchet; "I thought he had seen `
` me at work." `
` `
` "Yes, but I thought perhaps you had worn out all your courage the `
` first time." `
` `
` "Monsieur shall see that upon occasion I have some left; only I `
` beg Monsieur 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 `
` this evening?" `
` `
` "I hope so, monsieur." `
` `
` "Well, then, I count on you." `
` `
` "At the appointed hour I shall be ready; only I believed that `
` Monsieur had but one horse in the Guard stables." `
` `
` "Perhaps there is but one at this moment; but by this evening `
` there will be 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 `
` out without speaking to the worthy mercer; but the latter made so `
` polite and friendly 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 a husband whose pretty wife has appointed a meeting with `
` you that same evening at St. Cloud, opposite D'Estrees's `
` pavilion? D'Artagnan approached him with the most amiable air he `
` could assume. `
` `
` The conversation naturally fell upon the incarceration of the `
` poor man. M. Bonacieux, who was ignorant that d'Artagnan had `
` overheard his conversation with the stranger of Meung, related to `
` his young tenant the persecutions of that monster, M. de `
` Laffemas, whom he never ceased to designate, during his account, `
` by the title of the "cardinal's executioner," and expatiated at `
` great length upon the Bastille, the bolts, the wickets, the `
` dungeons, the gratings, the instruments of torture. `
` `
` D'Artagnan listened to him with exemplary complaisance, and when `
` he had finished said, "And Madame Bonacieux, do you know who `
` carried her off?--For I do not forget that I owe to that `
` unpleasant circumstance the good fortune of having made your `
` acquaintance." `
` `
` "Ah!" said Bonacieux, "they took good care not to tell me that; `
` and my wife, on her part, has sworn to me by all that's sacred `
` that she does not know. But you," continued M. Bonacieux, in a `
` tine of perfect good fellowship, "what has become of you all `
` these days? I have not seen you nor your friends, and I don't `
` think you could gather all that dust that I saw Planchet brush `
` off your boots yesterday from the pavement of Paris." `
`