Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
"but I have been taught my mistake." `
` `
` "You have some!" cried the procurator's wife, in a transport that `
` surprised even herself. "Come to our house tomorrow. You are `
` the son of my aunt, consequently my cousin; you come from Noyon, `
` in Picardy; you have several lawsuits and no attorney. Can you `
` recollect all that?" `
` `
` "Perfectly, madame." `
` `
` "Come at dinnertime." `
` `
` "Very well." `
` `
` "And be upon your guard before my husband, who is rather shrewd, `
` notwithstanding his seventy-six years." `
` `
` "Seventy-six years! PESTE! That's a fine age!" replied Porthos. `
` `
` "A great age, you mean, Monsieur Porthos. Yes, the poor man may `
` be expected to leave me a widow, any hour," continued she, `
` throwing a significant glance at Porthos. "Fortunately, by our `
` marriage contract, the survivor takes everything." `
` `
` "All?" `
` `
` "Yes, all." `
` `
` "You are a woman of precaution, I see, my dear Madame Coquenard," `
` said Porthos, squeezing the hand of the procurator's wife `
` tenderly. `
` `
` "We are then reconciled, dear Monsieur Porthos?" said she, `
` simpering. `
` `
` "For life," replied Porthos, in the same manner. `
` `
` "Till we meet again, then, dear traitor!" `
` `
` "Till we meet again, my forgetful charmer!" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, my angel!" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, flame of my life!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` 30 D'ARTAGNAN AND THE ENGLISHMAN `
` `
` D'Artagnan followed Milady without being perceived by her. `
` He saw her get into her carriage, and heard her order the `
` coachman to drive to St. Germain. `
` `
` It was useless to try to keep pace on foot with a carriage `
` drawn by two powerful horses. d'Artagnan therefore returned `
` to the Rue Ferou. `
` `
` In the Rue de Seine he met Planchet, who had stopped before `
` the house of a pastry cook, and was contemplating with `
` ecstasy a cake of the most appetizing appearance. `
` `
` He ordered him to go and saddle two horses in M. de `
` Treville's stables--one for himself, d'Artagnan, and one for `
` Planchet--and bring them to Athens's place. Once for all, `
` Treville had placed his stable at d'Artagnan's service. `
` `
` Planchet proceeded toward the Rue du Colombier, and `
` d'Artagnan toward the Rue Ferou. Athos was at home, `
` emptying sadly a bottle of the famous Spanish wine he had `
` brought back with him from his journey into Picardy. He `
` made a sign for Grimaud to bring a glass for d'Artagnan, and `
` Grimaud obeyed as usual. `
` `
` D'Artagnan related to Athos all that had passed at the `
` church between Porthos and the procurator's wife, and how `
` their comrade was probably by that time in a fair way to be `
` equipped. `
` `
` "As for me," replied Athos to this recital, "I am quite at `
` my ease; it will not be women that will defray the expense `
` of my outfit." `
` `
` "Handsome, well-bred, noble lord as you are, my dear Athos, `
` neither princesses nor queens would be secure from your `
` amorous solicitations." `
` `
` "How young this d'Artagnan is!" said Athos, shrugging his `
` shoulders; and he made a sign to Grimaud to bring another `
` bottle. `
` `
` At that moment Planchet put his head modestly in at the `
` half-open door, and told his master that the horses were `
` ready. `
` `
` "What horses?" asked Athos. `
` `
` "Two horses that Monsieur de Treville lends me at my `
` pleasure, and with which I am now going to take a ride to `
` St. Germain." `
` `
` "Well, and what are you going to do at St. Germain?" then `
` demanded Athos. `
` `
` Then d'Artagnan described the meeting which he had at the `
` church, and how he had found that lady who, with the `
` seigneur in the black cloak and with the scar near his `
` temple, filled his mind constantly. `
` `
` "That is to say, you are in love with this lady as you were `
` with Madame Bonacieux," said Athos, shrugging his shoulders `
` contemptuously, as if he pitied human weakness. `
` `
` "I? not at all!" said d'Artagnan. "I am only curious to `
` unravel the mystery to which she is attached. I do not know `
` why, but I imagine that this woman, wholly unknown to me as `
` she is, and wholly unknown to her as I am, has an influence `
` over my life." `
` `
` "Well, perhaps you are right," said Athos. "I do not know a `
` woman that is worth the trouble of being sought for when she `
` is once lost. Madame Bonacieux is lost; so much the worse `
` for her if she is found." `
` `
` "No, Athos, no, you are mistaken," said d'Artagnan; "I love `
` my poor Constance more than ever, and if I knew the place in `
` which she is, were it at the end of the world, I would go to `
` free her from the hands of her enemies; but I am ignorant. `
` All my researches have been useless. What is to be said? I `
` must divert my attention!" `
` `
` "Amuse yourself with Milady, my dear d'Artagnan; I wish you `
` may with all my heart, if that will amuse you." `
` `
` "Hear me, Athos," said d'Artagnan. "Instead of shutting `
` yourself up here as if you were under arrest, get on `
` horseback and come and take a ride with me to St. Germain." `
` `
` "My dear fellow," said Athos, "I ride horses when I have `
` any; when I have none, I go afoot." `
` `
` "Well," said d'Artagnan, smiling at the misanthropy of `
` Athos, which from any other person would have offended him, `
` "I ride what I can get; I am not so proud as you. So AU `
` REVOIR, dear Athos." `
` `
` "AU REVOIR," said the Musketeer, making a sign to Grimaud to `
` uncork the bottle he had just brought. `
` `
` D'Artagnan and Planchet mounted, and took the road to St. `
` Germain. `
` `
` All along the road, what Athos had said respecting Mme. `
` Bonacieux recurred to the mind of the young man. Although `
` d'Artagnan was not of a very sentimental character, the `
` mercer's pretty wife had made a real impression upon his `
` heart. As he said, he was ready to go to the end of the `
` world to seek her; but the world, being round, has many `
` ends, so that he did not know which way to turn. Meantime, `
` he was going to try to find out Milady. Milady had spoken `
` to the man in the black cloak; therefore she knew him. Now, `
` in the opinion of d'Artagnan, it was certainly the man in `
` the black cloak who had carried off Mme. Bonacieux the `
` second time, as he had carried her off the first. `
` d'Artagnan then only half-lied, which is lying but little, `
` when he said that by going in search of Milady he at the `
` same time went in search of Constance. `
` `
` Thinking of all this, and from time to time giving a touch `
` of the spur to his horse, d'Artagnan completed his short `
` journey, and arrived at St. Germain. He had just passed by `
` the pavilion in which ten years later Louis XIV was born. `
` He rode up a very quiet street, looking to the right and the `
` left to see if he could catch any vestige of his beautiful `
` Englishwoman, when from the ground floor of a pretty house, `
` which, according to the fashion of the time, had no window `
` toward the street, he saw a face peep out with which he `
` thought he was acquainted. This person walked along the `
` terrace, which was ornamented with flowers. Planchet `
` recognized him first. `
` `
` "Eh, monsieur!" said he, addressing d'Artagnan, "don't you `
` remember that face which is blinking yonder?" `
` `
` "No," said d'Artagnan, "and yet I am certain it is not the `
` first time I have seen that visage." `
` `
` "PARBLEU, I believe it is not," said Planchet. "Why, it is `
` poor Lubin, the lackey of the Comte de Wardes--he whom you `
` took such good care of a month ago at Calais, on the road to `
` the governor's country house!" `
` `
` "So it is!" said d'Artagnan; "I know him now. Do you think `
` he would recollect you?" `
` `
` "My faith, monsieur, he was in such trouble that I doubt if `
` he can have retained a very clear recollection of me." `
` `
` "Well, go and talk with the boy," said d'Artagnan, "and make `
` out if you can from his conversation whether his master is `
` dead." `
`
` `
` "You have some!" cried the procurator's wife, in a transport that `
` surprised even herself. "Come to our house tomorrow. You are `
` the son of my aunt, consequently my cousin; you come from Noyon, `
` in Picardy; you have several lawsuits and no attorney. Can you `
` recollect all that?" `
` `
` "Perfectly, madame." `
` `
` "Come at dinnertime." `
` `
` "Very well." `
` `
` "And be upon your guard before my husband, who is rather shrewd, `
` notwithstanding his seventy-six years." `
` `
` "Seventy-six years! PESTE! That's a fine age!" replied Porthos. `
` `
` "A great age, you mean, Monsieur Porthos. Yes, the poor man may `
` be expected to leave me a widow, any hour," continued she, `
` throwing a significant glance at Porthos. "Fortunately, by our `
` marriage contract, the survivor takes everything." `
` `
` "All?" `
` `
` "Yes, all." `
` `
` "You are a woman of precaution, I see, my dear Madame Coquenard," `
` said Porthos, squeezing the hand of the procurator's wife `
` tenderly. `
` `
` "We are then reconciled, dear Monsieur Porthos?" said she, `
` simpering. `
` `
` "For life," replied Porthos, in the same manner. `
` `
` "Till we meet again, then, dear traitor!" `
` `
` "Till we meet again, my forgetful charmer!" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, my angel!" `
` `
` "Tomorrow, flame of my life!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` 30 D'ARTAGNAN AND THE ENGLISHMAN `
` `
` D'Artagnan followed Milady without being perceived by her. `
` He saw her get into her carriage, and heard her order the `
` coachman to drive to St. Germain. `
` `
` It was useless to try to keep pace on foot with a carriage `
` drawn by two powerful horses. d'Artagnan therefore returned `
` to the Rue Ferou. `
` `
` In the Rue de Seine he met Planchet, who had stopped before `
` the house of a pastry cook, and was contemplating with `
` ecstasy a cake of the most appetizing appearance. `
` `
` He ordered him to go and saddle two horses in M. de `
` Treville's stables--one for himself, d'Artagnan, and one for `
` Planchet--and bring them to Athens's place. Once for all, `
` Treville had placed his stable at d'Artagnan's service. `
` `
` Planchet proceeded toward the Rue du Colombier, and `
` d'Artagnan toward the Rue Ferou. Athos was at home, `
` emptying sadly a bottle of the famous Spanish wine he had `
` brought back with him from his journey into Picardy. He `
` made a sign for Grimaud to bring a glass for d'Artagnan, and `
` Grimaud obeyed as usual. `
` `
` D'Artagnan related to Athos all that had passed at the `
` church between Porthos and the procurator's wife, and how `
` their comrade was probably by that time in a fair way to be `
` equipped. `
` `
` "As for me," replied Athos to this recital, "I am quite at `
` my ease; it will not be women that will defray the expense `
` of my outfit." `
` `
` "Handsome, well-bred, noble lord as you are, my dear Athos, `
` neither princesses nor queens would be secure from your `
` amorous solicitations." `
` `
` "How young this d'Artagnan is!" said Athos, shrugging his `
` shoulders; and he made a sign to Grimaud to bring another `
` bottle. `
` `
` At that moment Planchet put his head modestly in at the `
` half-open door, and told his master that the horses were `
` ready. `
` `
` "What horses?" asked Athos. `
` `
` "Two horses that Monsieur de Treville lends me at my `
` pleasure, and with which I am now going to take a ride to `
` St. Germain." `
` `
` "Well, and what are you going to do at St. Germain?" then `
` demanded Athos. `
` `
` Then d'Artagnan described the meeting which he had at the `
` church, and how he had found that lady who, with the `
` seigneur in the black cloak and with the scar near his `
` temple, filled his mind constantly. `
` `
` "That is to say, you are in love with this lady as you were `
` with Madame Bonacieux," said Athos, shrugging his shoulders `
` contemptuously, as if he pitied human weakness. `
` `
` "I? not at all!" said d'Artagnan. "I am only curious to `
` unravel the mystery to which she is attached. I do not know `
` why, but I imagine that this woman, wholly unknown to me as `
` she is, and wholly unknown to her as I am, has an influence `
` over my life." `
` `
` "Well, perhaps you are right," said Athos. "I do not know a `
` woman that is worth the trouble of being sought for when she `
` is once lost. Madame Bonacieux is lost; so much the worse `
` for her if she is found." `
` `
` "No, Athos, no, you are mistaken," said d'Artagnan; "I love `
` my poor Constance more than ever, and if I knew the place in `
` which she is, were it at the end of the world, I would go to `
` free her from the hands of her enemies; but I am ignorant. `
` All my researches have been useless. What is to be said? I `
` must divert my attention!" `
` `
` "Amuse yourself with Milady, my dear d'Artagnan; I wish you `
` may with all my heart, if that will amuse you." `
` `
` "Hear me, Athos," said d'Artagnan. "Instead of shutting `
` yourself up here as if you were under arrest, get on `
` horseback and come and take a ride with me to St. Germain." `
` `
` "My dear fellow," said Athos, "I ride horses when I have `
` any; when I have none, I go afoot." `
` `
` "Well," said d'Artagnan, smiling at the misanthropy of `
` Athos, which from any other person would have offended him, `
` "I ride what I can get; I am not so proud as you. So AU `
` REVOIR, dear Athos." `
` `
` "AU REVOIR," said the Musketeer, making a sign to Grimaud to `
` uncork the bottle he had just brought. `
` `
` D'Artagnan and Planchet mounted, and took the road to St. `
` Germain. `
` `
` All along the road, what Athos had said respecting Mme. `
` Bonacieux recurred to the mind of the young man. Although `
` d'Artagnan was not of a very sentimental character, the `
` mercer's pretty wife had made a real impression upon his `
` heart. As he said, he was ready to go to the end of the `
` world to seek her; but the world, being round, has many `
` ends, so that he did not know which way to turn. Meantime, `
` he was going to try to find out Milady. Milady had spoken `
` to the man in the black cloak; therefore she knew him. Now, `
` in the opinion of d'Artagnan, it was certainly the man in `
` the black cloak who had carried off Mme. Bonacieux the `
` second time, as he had carried her off the first. `
` d'Artagnan then only half-lied, which is lying but little, `
` when he said that by going in search of Milady he at the `
` same time went in search of Constance. `
` `
` Thinking of all this, and from time to time giving a touch `
` of the spur to his horse, d'Artagnan completed his short `
` journey, and arrived at St. Germain. He had just passed by `
` the pavilion in which ten years later Louis XIV was born. `
` He rode up a very quiet street, looking to the right and the `
` left to see if he could catch any vestige of his beautiful `
` Englishwoman, when from the ground floor of a pretty house, `
` which, according to the fashion of the time, had no window `
` toward the street, he saw a face peep out with which he `
` thought he was acquainted. This person walked along the `
` terrace, which was ornamented with flowers. Planchet `
` recognized him first. `
` `
` "Eh, monsieur!" said he, addressing d'Artagnan, "don't you `
` remember that face which is blinking yonder?" `
` `
` "No," said d'Artagnan, "and yet I am certain it is not the `
` first time I have seen that visage." `
` `
` "PARBLEU, I believe it is not," said Planchet. "Why, it is `
` poor Lubin, the lackey of the Comte de Wardes--he whom you `
` took such good care of a month ago at Calais, on the road to `
` the governor's country house!" `
` `
` "So it is!" said d'Artagnan; "I know him now. Do you think `
` he would recollect you?" `
` `
` "My faith, monsieur, he was in such trouble that I doubt if `
` he can have retained a very clear recollection of me." `
` `
` "Well, go and talk with the boy," said d'Artagnan, "and make `
` out if you can from his conversation whether his master is `
` dead." `
`