Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
the country. They came nobody knew whence; but when seeing her `
` so lovely and her brother so pious, nobody thought of asking `
` whence they came. They were said, however, to be of good `
` extraction. My friend, who was seigneur of the country, might `
` have seduced her, or taken her by force, at his will--for he was `
` master. Who would have come to the assistance of two strangers, `
` two unknown persons? Unfortunately he was an 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 `
` the first lady in the province; and in justice it must be allowed `
` that she supported 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 horse and fainted. The count flew to her to help, and as she `
` appeared to be oppressed by her clothes, he ripped them open with `
` his ponaird, and in so doing laid bare her shoulder. `
` d'Artagnan," said Athos, with a maniacal 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 stolen the sacred vessels from a church." `
` `
` "And what did the count do?" `
` `
` "The count was of the highest nobility. He had on his estates `
` the rights of 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 his mouth, and emptied it at a single draught, as he `
` would have emptied an ordinary glass. `
` `
` Then he let his head sink upon his two hands, while d'Artagnan `
` stood before him, stupefied. `
` `
` "That has cured me of beautiful, poetical, and loving women," `
` said Athos, after a considerable pause, raising his head, and `
` forgetting to continue the fiction of the count. "God grant you `
` as much! Let us drink." `
` `
` "Then she is dead?" stammered d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "PARBLEU!" said Athos. "But hold out your glass. Some ham, my `
` boy, or we can'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; but he 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. A worthy man, who had pretended to be a curate for the `
` purpose of getting his mistress married, and securing her a `
` position. He has been hanged and quartered, I hope." `
` `
` "My God, my God!" cried d'Artagnan, quite stunned by the relation `
` of this 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 could have drunk fifty bottles more." `
` `
` D'Artagnan could no longer endure this conversation, which had `
` made him bewildered. Allowing his head to sink upon his two `
` hands, he pretended to sleep. `
` `
` "These young fellows can none of them drink," said Athos, looking `
` at him with pity, "and yet this is one of the best!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 28 THE RETURN `
` `
` D'Artagnan was astounded by the terrible confidence of Athos; yet `
` many things appeared very obscure to him in this half revelation. `
` In the first place it had been made by a man quite drunk to one `
` who was half drunk; and yet, in spite of the incertainty which `
` the vapor of three or four bottles of Burgundy carries with it to `
` the brain, d'Artagnan, when awaking on the following morning, had `
` all the words of Athos as present to his memory as if they then `
` fell from his mouth--they had been so impressed upon his mind. `
` All this doubt only gave rise to a more lively desire of arriving `
` at a certainty, and he went into his friend's chamber with a `
` fixed determination of renewing the conversation of the preceding `
` evening; but he found Athos quite himself again--that is to say, `
` the most shrewd and impenetrable of men. Besides which, the `
` Musketeer, after having exchanged a hearty shake of the hand with `
` him, broached the matter first. `
` `
` "I was pretty drunk yesterday, d'Artagnan," said he, "I can tell `
` that by my tongue, which was swollen and hot this morning, and by `
` my pulse, which was very tremulous. I wager that I uttered a `
` thousand extravagances." `
` `
` While saying this he looked at his friend with an earnestness `
` that embarrassed him. `
` `
` "No," replied d'Artagnan, "if I recollect well what you said, it `
` was nothing 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 his heart. `
` `
` "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 `
` failed to remark, my dear friend, that everyone has his `
` particular kind of drunkenness, sad or gay. My drunkenness is `
` always sad, and when I am thoroughly drunk my mania is to relate `
` all the lugubrious stories which my foolish nurse inculcated into `
` my brain. That is my failing--a capital failing, I admit; but `
` with that exception, I am a good drinker." `
` `
` Athos spoke this in so natural a manner that d'Artagnan was `
` shaken in his conviction. `
` `
` "It is that, then," replied the young man, anxious to find out `
` the truth, "it is that, then, I remember as we remember a dream. `
` We were speaking of hanging." `
` `
` "Ah, you see how it is," said Athos, becoming still paler, but `
` yet attempting to laugh; "I was sure it was so--the hanging of `
` people is my nightmare." `
` `
` "Yes, yes," replied d'Artagnan. "I remember now; yes, it was `
` about--stop a minute--yes, it was about a woman." `
` `
` "That's it," replied Athos, becoming almost livid; "that is my `
` grand story 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," `
` continued d'Artagnan, looking intently at Athos. `
` `
` "Well, you see how a man may compromise himself when he does not `
` know what he says," replied Athos, shrugging his shoulders as if `
` he thought himself 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 at once, 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 `
` hour and a half, and he appeared no more distressed than if he `
` had only made the 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. You were still fast asleep, and I did not know what to `
` do with myself; I was still stupid from our yesterday's debauch. `
` As I came into the public room, 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 he was bidding a `
` hundred pistoles for a chestnut nag. 'PARDIEU,' said I, 'my good `
`
` so lovely and her brother so pious, nobody thought of asking `
` whence they came. They were said, however, to be of good `
` extraction. My friend, who was seigneur of the country, might `
` have seduced her, or taken her by force, at his will--for he was `
` master. Who would have come to the assistance of two strangers, `
` two unknown persons? Unfortunately he was an 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 `
` the first lady in the province; and in justice it must be allowed `
` that she supported 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 horse and fainted. The count flew to her to help, and as she `
` appeared to be oppressed by her clothes, he ripped them open with `
` his ponaird, and in so doing laid bare her shoulder. `
` d'Artagnan," said Athos, with a maniacal 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 stolen the sacred vessels from a church." `
` `
` "And what did the count do?" `
` `
` "The count was of the highest nobility. He had on his estates `
` the rights of 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 his mouth, and emptied it at a single draught, as he `
` would have emptied an ordinary glass. `
` `
` Then he let his head sink upon his two hands, while d'Artagnan `
` stood before him, stupefied. `
` `
` "That has cured me of beautiful, poetical, and loving women," `
` said Athos, after a considerable pause, raising his head, and `
` forgetting to continue the fiction of the count. "God grant you `
` as much! Let us drink." `
` `
` "Then she is dead?" stammered d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "PARBLEU!" said Athos. "But hold out your glass. Some ham, my `
` boy, or we can'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; but he 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. A worthy man, who had pretended to be a curate for the `
` purpose of getting his mistress married, and securing her a `
` position. He has been hanged and quartered, I hope." `
` `
` "My God, my God!" cried d'Artagnan, quite stunned by the relation `
` of this 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 could have drunk fifty bottles more." `
` `
` D'Artagnan could no longer endure this conversation, which had `
` made him bewildered. Allowing his head to sink upon his two `
` hands, he pretended to sleep. `
` `
` "These young fellows can none of them drink," said Athos, looking `
` at him with pity, "and yet this is one of the best!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 28 THE RETURN `
` `
` D'Artagnan was astounded by the terrible confidence of Athos; yet `
` many things appeared very obscure to him in this half revelation. `
` In the first place it had been made by a man quite drunk to one `
` who was half drunk; and yet, in spite of the incertainty which `
` the vapor of three or four bottles of Burgundy carries with it to `
` the brain, d'Artagnan, when awaking on the following morning, had `
` all the words of Athos as present to his memory as if they then `
` fell from his mouth--they had been so impressed upon his mind. `
` All this doubt only gave rise to a more lively desire of arriving `
` at a certainty, and he went into his friend's chamber with a `
` fixed determination of renewing the conversation of the preceding `
` evening; but he found Athos quite himself again--that is to say, `
` the most shrewd and impenetrable of men. Besides which, the `
` Musketeer, after having exchanged a hearty shake of the hand with `
` him, broached the matter first. `
` `
` "I was pretty drunk yesterday, d'Artagnan," said he, "I can tell `
` that by my tongue, which was swollen and hot this morning, and by `
` my pulse, which was very tremulous. I wager that I uttered a `
` thousand extravagances." `
` `
` While saying this he looked at his friend with an earnestness `
` that embarrassed him. `
` `
` "No," replied d'Artagnan, "if I recollect well what you said, it `
` was nothing 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 his heart. `
` `
` "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 `
` failed to remark, my dear friend, that everyone has his `
` particular kind of drunkenness, sad or gay. My drunkenness is `
` always sad, and when I am thoroughly drunk my mania is to relate `
` all the lugubrious stories which my foolish nurse inculcated into `
` my brain. That is my failing--a capital failing, I admit; but `
` with that exception, I am a good drinker." `
` `
` Athos spoke this in so natural a manner that d'Artagnan was `
` shaken in his conviction. `
` `
` "It is that, then," replied the young man, anxious to find out `
` the truth, "it is that, then, I remember as we remember a dream. `
` We were speaking of hanging." `
` `
` "Ah, you see how it is," said Athos, becoming still paler, but `
` yet attempting to laugh; "I was sure it was so--the hanging of `
` people is my nightmare." `
` `
` "Yes, yes," replied d'Artagnan. "I remember now; yes, it was `
` about--stop a minute--yes, it was about a woman." `
` `
` "That's it," replied Athos, becoming almost livid; "that is my `
` grand story 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," `
` continued d'Artagnan, looking intently at Athos. `
` `
` "Well, you see how a man may compromise himself when he does not `
` know what he says," replied Athos, shrugging his shoulders as if `
` he thought himself 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 at once, 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 `
` hour and a half, and he appeared no more distressed than if he `
` had only made the 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. You were still fast asleep, and I did not know what to `
` do with myself; I was still stupid from our yesterday's debauch. `
` As I came into the public room, 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 he was bidding a `
` hundred pistoles for a chestnut nag. 'PARDIEU,' said I, 'my good `
`