Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
`
` "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, of which 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 `
` audibly expressed reflections, "that we perhaps owe our lives to `
` him. Do you remember how he cried, 'On, d'Artagnan, on, I am `
` taken'? And when he had discharged his two pistols, what a `
` terrible noise he made with his sword! 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 rapid pace. About eleven o'clock in the morning `
` they perceived Ameins, and at half past eleven they were at the `
` door of the cursed inn. `
` `
` D'Artagnan had often meditated against the perfidious host one of `
` those hearty vengeances which offer consolation while they are `
` hoped for. He entered the hostelry with his hat pulled over his `
` eyes, his left hand on the 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 `
` eyes dazzled 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 that gentleman against whom you had the audacity, about `
` twelve days ago, to make an accusation of passing false money?" `
` `
` The host became as pale as death; for d'Artagnan had assumed a `
` threatening attitude, and Planchet modeled himself after his `
` master. `
` `
` "Ah, monseigneur, do not mention it!" cried the host, in the most `
` pitiable voice imaginable. "Ah, monseigneur, how dearly have I `
` paid for that 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, `
` in mercy!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, mute with anger and anxiety, took a seat in the `
` threatening attitude of a judge. Planchet glared fiercely over `
` the back of his armchair. `
` `
` "Here is the story, monseigneur," resumed the trembling host; `
` "for I now recollect you. It was you who rode off at the moment `
` I had that unfortunate difference with the gentleman you speak `
` of." `
` `
` "Yes, it was I; so you may plainly perceive that you have no `
` mercy to expect 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 of `
` bad money would arrive at my inn, with several of his companions, `
` all disguised as Guards or Musketeers. Monseigneur, I was `
` furnished with a description of your horses, your lackeys, your `
` countenances--nothing was omitted." `
` `
` "Go on, go on!" said d'Artagnan, who quickly understood whence `
` such an exact description had come. `
` `
` "I took then, in conformity with the orders of the authorities, `
` who sent me a reinforcement of six men, such measures as I `
` thought necessary to get possession of the persons of the `
` pretended coiners." `
` `
` "Again!" said d'Artagnan, whose ears chafed terribly under the `
` repetition of this word COINERs. `
` `
` "Pardon me, monseigneur, for saying such things, but they form my `
` excuse. The authorities had terrified me, and you know that an `
` innkeeper must keep on good terms with the authorities." `
` `
` "But once again, that gentleman--where is he? What has become of `
` him? Is he dead? Is he living?" `
` `
` "Patience, monseigneur, we are coming to it. There happened then `
` that which you know, and of which your precipitate departure," `
` added the host, with an acuteness that did not escape d'Artagnan, `
` "appeared to authorize the issue. That gentleman, your friend, `
` defended himself desperately. His lackey, who, by an unforeseen `
` piece of ill luck, had quarreled 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 you all." `
` `
` "Alas, monseigneur, we were not in the plot, as you will soon `
` see. Monsieur your friend (pardon for not calling him by the `
` honorable name which no doubt he bears, but we do not know that `
` name), Monsieur your friend, having disabled two men with his `
` pistols, retreated fighting with his sword, with which he disabled `
` one of my men, and stunned me with a blow of the flat side of `
` it." `
` `
` "You villain, will you finish?" cried d'Artagnan, "Athos--what has `
` become of Athos?" `
` `
` "While fighting and retreating, as I have told Monseigneur, he `
` found the door of the cellar stairs behind him, and as the door `
` was open, he took out the key, and barricaded himself inside. As `
` we were sure of finding him there, we left him alone." `
` `
` "Yes," said d'Artagnan, "you did not really wish to kill; you `
` only wished to imprison him." `
` `
` "Good God! To imprison him, monseigneur? Why, he imprisoned `
` himself, I swear 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, and I have heard nothing of either `
` of them since. As for myself, as soon as I recovered my senses I `
` went to Monsieur the Governor, to whom I related all that had `
` passed, and asked, what I should do with my prisoner. Monsieur `
` the Governor was all astonishment. He told me he knew nothing `
` about 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 in this disturbance he would have me hanged. It `
` appears that I had made a mistake, monsieur, that I had arrested `
` the wrong person, and that he whom I ought to have arrested had `
` escaped." `
` `
` "But Athos!" cried d'Artagnan, whose impatience was increased by `
` the disregard of the authorities, "Athos, where is he?" `
` `
` "As I was anxious to repair the wrongs I had done the prisoner," `
` resumed the innkeeper, "I took my way straight to the cellar in `
` order to set him at liberty. Ah, monsieur, he was no longer a `
` man, he was a devil! To my offer of liberty, he replied that it `
` was nothing but a snare, and that before he came out he intended `
` to impose his own conditions. I told him very humbly--for I could `
` not conceal from myself the scrape I had got into by laying hands `
` on one of his Majesty's Musketeers--I told him I was 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 to understand, monsieur, we were disposed to do everything `
` your friend could desire. Monsieur Grimaud (he told us his name, `
` although he does not talk much)--Monsieur Grimaud, then, went down `
` to the cellar, wounded as he was; then his master, having `
` admitted him, barricaded the door afresh, 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 not know what he is about in the cellar. Ah! If you could `
` but persuade him to 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. We every day pass through the air hole some bread at the `
` end of a fork, and some meat when he asks for it; but alas! It `
` is not of bread and meat of which he makes the greatest `
` consumption. I once endeavored to go down with two of my `
` servants; but he flew into terrible rage. I heard the noise he `
` made in loading his pistols, and his servant in loading his `
` musketoon. Then, when we asked them what were their intentions, `
` the master replied that he had forty charges to fire, and that he `
` and his lackey would fire to the last one before he would allow a `
` single soul of us to set foot in the cellar. Upon this I went `
` and complained to the governor, who replied that I only had what `
` I deserved, and that it would teach me to insult honorable `
` gentlemen who took up their abode in my house." `
` `
` "So that since that time--" replied d'Artagnan, totally unable to `
` refrain from laughing at the pitiable face of the host. `
` `
` "So from that time, monsieur," continued the latter, "we have led `
` the most miserable life imaginable; for you must know, monsieur, `
` that all our provisions are in the cellar. There is our wine in `
` bottles, and our wine in casks; the beer, the oil, and the `
` spices, the bacon, and sausages. And as we are prevented from `
` going down there, we are forced to refuse food and drink to the `
`
` "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, of which 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 `
` audibly expressed reflections, "that we perhaps owe our lives to `
` him. Do you remember how he cried, 'On, d'Artagnan, on, I am `
` taken'? And when he had discharged his two pistols, what a `
` terrible noise he made with his sword! 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 rapid pace. About eleven o'clock in the morning `
` they perceived Ameins, and at half past eleven they were at the `
` door of the cursed inn. `
` `
` D'Artagnan had often meditated against the perfidious host one of `
` those hearty vengeances which offer consolation while they are `
` hoped for. He entered the hostelry with his hat pulled over his `
` eyes, his left hand on the 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 `
` eyes dazzled 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 that gentleman against whom you had the audacity, about `
` twelve days ago, to make an accusation of passing false money?" `
` `
` The host became as pale as death; for d'Artagnan had assumed a `
` threatening attitude, and Planchet modeled himself after his `
` master. `
` `
` "Ah, monseigneur, do not mention it!" cried the host, in the most `
` pitiable voice imaginable. "Ah, monseigneur, how dearly have I `
` paid for that 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, `
` in mercy!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, mute with anger and anxiety, took a seat in the `
` threatening attitude of a judge. Planchet glared fiercely over `
` the back of his armchair. `
` `
` "Here is the story, monseigneur," resumed the trembling host; `
` "for I now recollect you. It was you who rode off at the moment `
` I had that unfortunate difference with the gentleman you speak `
` of." `
` `
` "Yes, it was I; so you may plainly perceive that you have no `
` mercy to expect 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 of `
` bad money would arrive at my inn, with several of his companions, `
` all disguised as Guards or Musketeers. Monseigneur, I was `
` furnished with a description of your horses, your lackeys, your `
` countenances--nothing was omitted." `
` `
` "Go on, go on!" said d'Artagnan, who quickly understood whence `
` such an exact description had come. `
` `
` "I took then, in conformity with the orders of the authorities, `
` who sent me a reinforcement of six men, such measures as I `
` thought necessary to get possession of the persons of the `
` pretended coiners." `
` `
` "Again!" said d'Artagnan, whose ears chafed terribly under the `
` repetition of this word COINERs. `
` `
` "Pardon me, monseigneur, for saying such things, but they form my `
` excuse. The authorities had terrified me, and you know that an `
` innkeeper must keep on good terms with the authorities." `
` `
` "But once again, that gentleman--where is he? What has become of `
` him? Is he dead? Is he living?" `
` `
` "Patience, monseigneur, we are coming to it. There happened then `
` that which you know, and of which your precipitate departure," `
` added the host, with an acuteness that did not escape d'Artagnan, `
` "appeared to authorize the issue. That gentleman, your friend, `
` defended himself desperately. His lackey, who, by an unforeseen `
` piece of ill luck, had quarreled 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 you all." `
` `
` "Alas, monseigneur, we were not in the plot, as you will soon `
` see. Monsieur your friend (pardon for not calling him by the `
` honorable name which no doubt he bears, but we do not know that `
` name), Monsieur your friend, having disabled two men with his `
` pistols, retreated fighting with his sword, with which he disabled `
` one of my men, and stunned me with a blow of the flat side of `
` it." `
` `
` "You villain, will you finish?" cried d'Artagnan, "Athos--what has `
` become of Athos?" `
` `
` "While fighting and retreating, as I have told Monseigneur, he `
` found the door of the cellar stairs behind him, and as the door `
` was open, he took out the key, and barricaded himself inside. As `
` we were sure of finding him there, we left him alone." `
` `
` "Yes," said d'Artagnan, "you did not really wish to kill; you `
` only wished to imprison him." `
` `
` "Good God! To imprison him, monseigneur? Why, he imprisoned `
` himself, I swear 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, and I have heard nothing of either `
` of them since. As for myself, as soon as I recovered my senses I `
` went to Monsieur the Governor, to whom I related all that had `
` passed, and asked, what I should do with my prisoner. Monsieur `
` the Governor was all astonishment. He told me he knew nothing `
` about 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 in this disturbance he would have me hanged. It `
` appears that I had made a mistake, monsieur, that I had arrested `
` the wrong person, and that he whom I ought to have arrested had `
` escaped." `
` `
` "But Athos!" cried d'Artagnan, whose impatience was increased by `
` the disregard of the authorities, "Athos, where is he?" `
` `
` "As I was anxious to repair the wrongs I had done the prisoner," `
` resumed the innkeeper, "I took my way straight to the cellar in `
` order to set him at liberty. Ah, monsieur, he was no longer a `
` man, he was a devil! To my offer of liberty, he replied that it `
` was nothing but a snare, and that before he came out he intended `
` to impose his own conditions. I told him very humbly--for I could `
` not conceal from myself the scrape I had got into by laying hands `
` on one of his Majesty's Musketeers--I told him I was 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 to understand, monsieur, we were disposed to do everything `
` your friend could desire. Monsieur Grimaud (he told us his name, `
` although he does not talk much)--Monsieur Grimaud, then, went down `
` to the cellar, wounded as he was; then his master, having `
` admitted him, barricaded the door afresh, 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 not know what he is about in the cellar. Ah! If you could `
` but persuade him to 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. We every day pass through the air hole some bread at the `
` end of a fork, and some meat when he asks for it; but alas! It `
` is not of bread and meat of which he makes the greatest `
` consumption. I once endeavored to go down with two of my `
` servants; but he flew into terrible rage. I heard the noise he `
` made in loading his pistols, and his servant in loading his `
` musketoon. Then, when we asked them what were their intentions, `
` the master replied that he had forty charges to fire, and that he `
` and his lackey would fire to the last one before he would allow a `
` single soul of us to set foot in the cellar. Upon this I went `
` and complained to the governor, who replied that I only had what `
` I deserved, and that it would teach me to insult honorable `
` gentlemen who took up their abode in my house." `
` `
` "So that since that time--" replied d'Artagnan, totally unable to `
` refrain from laughing at the pitiable face of the host. `
` `
` "So from that time, monsieur," continued the latter, "we have led `
` the most miserable life imaginable; for you must know, monsieur, `
` that all our provisions are in the cellar. There is our wine in `
` bottles, and our wine in casks; the beer, the oil, and the `
` spices, the bacon, and sausages. And as we are prevented from `
` going down there, we are forced to refuse food and drink to the `
`