Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
was going astray, "now your thesis would please the ladies; it `
` would have the 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 a loud voice, ALTISIMMA VOCE. You follow the world, my `
` young friend, and I tremble 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 about the continuation of it, and tomorrow I hope you will be `
` satisfied with the corrections I shall have made in consequence `
` of your advice." `
` `
` "Work slowly," said the curate; "we leave you in an excellent `
` tone of mind." `
` `
` "Yes, the ground is all sown," said the Jesuit, "and we have not `
` to fear that one portion of the seed may have fallen upon stone, `
` another upon the highway, or that the birds of heaven have eaten `
` the rest, AVES COELI COMEDERUNT ILLAM." `
` `
` "Plague stifle you and your Latin!" said d'Artagnan, who began to `
` feel all his patience exhausted. `
` `
` "Farewell, my son," said the curate, "till tomorrow." `
` `
` "Till tomorrow, rash youth," said the Jesuit. "You promise to `
` become one of the lights of the Church. Heaven grant that this `
` light prove not a devouring fire!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, who for an hour past had been gnawing his nails with `
` impatience, was beginning to attack the quick. `
` `
` The two men in black rose, bowed to Aramis and d'Artagnan, and `
` advanced toward the door. Bazin, who had been standing listening `
` to all this controversy with a pious jubilation, sprang toward `
` them, took the breviary of the curate and the missal of the `
` Jesuit, and walked respectfully before them to clear their way. `
` `
` Aramis conducted them to the foot of the stairs, and then `
` immediately came up again to d'Artagnan, whose senses were still `
` in a state of confusion. `
` `
` 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 as d'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 `
` just now." `
` `
` "Oh, these plans of retreat have been formed for a long time. `
` You have often 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 to perdition or to salvation." `
` `
` "Granted; but if you please, let us not theologize, Aramis. You `
` must have had enough for today. As for me, I have almost `
` forgotten the little Latin I have ever known. Then I confess to `
` you that I have eaten nothing since ten o'clock this morning, and `
` I am devilish hungry." `
` `
` "We will dine directly, my friend; only you must please to `
` remember that this is Friday. Now, on such a day I can neither `
` eat flesh nor see it eaten. If you can be satisfied with my `
` dinner-it consists of cooked tetragones and fruits." `
` `
` "What do you mean by tetragones?" asked d'Artagnan, uneasily. `
` `
` "I mean spinach," replied Aramis; "but on your account I will add `
` some eggs, 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 it for the sake of remaining with you." `
` `
` "I am grateful to you for the sacrifice," said Aramis; "but if `
` your body be not greatly benefited by it, be assured your soul `
` will." `
` `
` "And so, Aramis, you are decidedly going into the Church? What `
` will our two friends say? What will Monsieur de Treville say? `
` They will treat you as a deserter, I warn you." `
` `
` "I do not enter the Church; I re-enter it. I deserted the Church `
` for the world, 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, 'Confess `
` yourselves to one another,' and I confess to you, d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "And I give you absolution beforehand. You see I am a good sort `
` of a man." `
` `
` "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 `
` should have 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 frequented with much pleasure: when one is young, `
` what can be expected?--one is weak. An officer who saw me, with `
` a jealous eye, reading the LIVES OF THE SAINTS to the mistress of `
` the house, entered suddenly and without being announced. That `
` evening I had translated an episode of Judith, and had just `
` communicated my verses to the lady, who gave me all sorts of `
` compliments, and leaning on my shoulder, was reading them a `
` second time with me. Her pose, which I must admit was rather `
` free, wounded this officer. He said nothing; but when I went out `
` he followed, and quickly came up with me. 'Monsieur the Abbe,' `
` said he, 'do you like blows with a cane?' 'I cannot say, `
` monsieur,' answered I; 'no one has ever dared to give me any.' `
` 'Well, listen to me, then, Monsieur the Abbe! If you venture `
` again into the house in which I have met you this evening, I will `
` dare it myself.' I really think I must have been frightened. I `
` became very pale; I felt my legs fail me; I sought for a reply, `
` but could find none-I was silent. The officer waited for his `
` reply, and seeing 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 the rest 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 prepared for 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 with him to `
` take a lesson every day, and every day for a year I took that `
` lesson. Then, on the anniversary of the day on which I had been `
` insulted, 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 knew my man was invited. It was in the Rue des `
` France-Bourgeois, close to La Force. As I expected, my officer `
` was there. I went up to him as he was singing a love ditty and `
` looking tenderly at a lady, and interrupted him exactly in the `
` middle of the second couplet. 'Monsieur,' said I, 'does it still `
` displease you that I should frequent a certain house of La Rue `
` Payenne? And would you still cane me if I took it into my head `
` to disobey 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 translates Judith into verse.' 'Ah, ah! I `
` recollect now,' said the officer, in a jeering tone; 'well, what `
` do you want with me?' 'I want you to spare time to take a walk `
` with me.' 'Tomorrow morning, if you like, with the greatest `
` pleasure.' 'No, not tomorrow morning, if you please, but `
` immediately.' 'If you absolutely insist.' 'I do insist upon `
` it.' 'Come, then. Ladies,' said the officer, 'do not disturb `
` yourselves; allow me time just to kill this gentleman, and I will `
` return and finish the last couplet.' `
` `
` "We went out. I took him to the Rue Payenne, to exactly the same `
` spot where, a year before, at the very same hour, he had paid me `
` the compliment I have related to you. It was a superb moonlight `
` night. We immediately 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 `
` come back, and as he was found in the Rue Payenne with a great `
` sword wound through his body, it was supposed that I had `
` accommodated him thus; and the matter created some scandal which `
` obliged me to renounce the cassock for a time. Athos, whose `
` acquaintance I made about that period, and Porthos, who had in `
` addition to my lessons taught me some effective tricks of fence, `
` prevailed upon me to solicit the uniform of a Musketeer. The `
` king entertained great regard for my father, who had fallen at `
` the siege of Arras, and the uniform was granted. You may understand `
` that the moment has come for me to re-enter the bosom of the `
` Church." `
` `
` "And why today, rather than yesterday or tomorrow? What has `
` happened to you today, to raise all these melancholy ideas?" `
` `
` "This wound, my dear d'Artagnan, has been a warning to me from `
`
` would have the 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 a loud voice, ALTISIMMA VOCE. You follow the world, my `
` young friend, and I tremble 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 about the continuation of it, and tomorrow I hope you will be `
` satisfied with the corrections I shall have made in consequence `
` of your advice." `
` `
` "Work slowly," said the curate; "we leave you in an excellent `
` tone of mind." `
` `
` "Yes, the ground is all sown," said the Jesuit, "and we have not `
` to fear that one portion of the seed may have fallen upon stone, `
` another upon the highway, or that the birds of heaven have eaten `
` the rest, AVES COELI COMEDERUNT ILLAM." `
` `
` "Plague stifle you and your Latin!" said d'Artagnan, who began to `
` feel all his patience exhausted. `
` `
` "Farewell, my son," said the curate, "till tomorrow." `
` `
` "Till tomorrow, rash youth," said the Jesuit. "You promise to `
` become one of the lights of the Church. Heaven grant that this `
` light prove not a devouring fire!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, who for an hour past had been gnawing his nails with `
` impatience, was beginning to attack the quick. `
` `
` The two men in black rose, bowed to Aramis and d'Artagnan, and `
` advanced toward the door. Bazin, who had been standing listening `
` to all this controversy with a pious jubilation, sprang toward `
` them, took the breviary of the curate and the missal of the `
` Jesuit, and walked respectfully before them to clear their way. `
` `
` Aramis conducted them to the foot of the stairs, and then `
` immediately came up again to d'Artagnan, whose senses were still `
` in a state of confusion. `
` `
` 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 as d'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 `
` just now." `
` `
` "Oh, these plans of retreat have been formed for a long time. `
` You have often 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 to perdition or to salvation." `
` `
` "Granted; but if you please, let us not theologize, Aramis. You `
` must have had enough for today. As for me, I have almost `
` forgotten the little Latin I have ever known. Then I confess to `
` you that I have eaten nothing since ten o'clock this morning, and `
` I am devilish hungry." `
` `
` "We will dine directly, my friend; only you must please to `
` remember that this is Friday. Now, on such a day I can neither `
` eat flesh nor see it eaten. If you can be satisfied with my `
` dinner-it consists of cooked tetragones and fruits." `
` `
` "What do you mean by tetragones?" asked d'Artagnan, uneasily. `
` `
` "I mean spinach," replied Aramis; "but on your account I will add `
` some eggs, 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 it for the sake of remaining with you." `
` `
` "I am grateful to you for the sacrifice," said Aramis; "but if `
` your body be not greatly benefited by it, be assured your soul `
` will." `
` `
` "And so, Aramis, you are decidedly going into the Church? What `
` will our two friends say? What will Monsieur de Treville say? `
` They will treat you as a deserter, I warn you." `
` `
` "I do not enter the Church; I re-enter it. I deserted the Church `
` for the world, 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, 'Confess `
` yourselves to one another,' and I confess to you, d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "And I give you absolution beforehand. You see I am a good sort `
` of a man." `
` `
` "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 `
` should have 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 frequented with much pleasure: when one is young, `
` what can be expected?--one is weak. An officer who saw me, with `
` a jealous eye, reading the LIVES OF THE SAINTS to the mistress of `
` the house, entered suddenly and without being announced. That `
` evening I had translated an episode of Judith, and had just `
` communicated my verses to the lady, who gave me all sorts of `
` compliments, and leaning on my shoulder, was reading them a `
` second time with me. Her pose, which I must admit was rather `
` free, wounded this officer. He said nothing; but when I went out `
` he followed, and quickly came up with me. 'Monsieur the Abbe,' `
` said he, 'do you like blows with a cane?' 'I cannot say, `
` monsieur,' answered I; 'no one has ever dared to give me any.' `
` 'Well, listen to me, then, Monsieur the Abbe! If you venture `
` again into the house in which I have met you this evening, I will `
` dare it myself.' I really think I must have been frightened. I `
` became very pale; I felt my legs fail me; I sought for a reply, `
` but could find none-I was silent. The officer waited for his `
` reply, and seeing 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 the rest 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 prepared for 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 with him to `
` take a lesson every day, and every day for a year I took that `
` lesson. Then, on the anniversary of the day on which I had been `
` insulted, 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 knew my man was invited. It was in the Rue des `
` France-Bourgeois, close to La Force. As I expected, my officer `
` was there. I went up to him as he was singing a love ditty and `
` looking tenderly at a lady, and interrupted him exactly in the `
` middle of the second couplet. 'Monsieur,' said I, 'does it still `
` displease you that I should frequent a certain house of La Rue `
` Payenne? And would you still cane me if I took it into my head `
` to disobey 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 translates Judith into verse.' 'Ah, ah! I `
` recollect now,' said the officer, in a jeering tone; 'well, what `
` do you want with me?' 'I want you to spare time to take a walk `
` with me.' 'Tomorrow morning, if you like, with the greatest `
` pleasure.' 'No, not tomorrow morning, if you please, but `
` immediately.' 'If you absolutely insist.' 'I do insist upon `
` it.' 'Come, then. Ladies,' said the officer, 'do not disturb `
` yourselves; allow me time just to kill this gentleman, and I will `
` return and finish the last couplet.' `
` `
` "We went out. I took him to the Rue Payenne, to exactly the same `
` spot where, a year before, at the very same hour, he had paid me `
` the compliment I have related to you. It was a superb moonlight `
` night. We immediately 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 `
` come back, and as he was found in the Rue Payenne with a great `
` sword wound through his body, it was supposed that I had `
` accommodated him thus; and the matter created some scandal which `
` obliged me to renounce the cassock for a time. Athos, whose `
` acquaintance I made about that period, and Porthos, who had in `
` addition to my lessons taught me some effective tricks of fence, `
` prevailed upon me to solicit the uniform of a Musketeer. The `
` king entertained great regard for my father, who had fallen at `
` the siege of Arras, and the uniform was granted. You may understand `
` that the moment has come for me to re-enter the bosom of the `
` Church." `
` `
` "And why today, rather than yesterday or tomorrow? What has `
` happened to you today, to raise all these melancholy ideas?" `
` `
` "This wound, my dear d'Artagnan, has been a warning to me from `
`