Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
dead." `
` `
` Planchet dismounted and went straight up to Lubin, who did `
` not at all remember him, and the two lackeys began to chat `
` with the best understanding possible; while d'Artagnan `
` turned the two horses into a lane, went round the house, and `
` came back to watch the conference from behind a hedge of `
` filberts. `
` `
` At the end of an instant's observation he heard the noise of `
` a vehicle, and saw Milady's carriage stop opposite to him. `
` He could not be mistaken; Milady was in it. D'Artagnan `
` leaned upon the neck of his horse, in order that he might `
` see without being seen. `
` `
` Milady put her charming blond head out at the window, and `
` gave her orders to her maid. `
` `
` The latter--a pretty girl of about twenty or twenty-two `
` years, active and lively, the true SOUBRETTE of a great `
` lady--jumped from the step upon which, according to the `
` custom of the time, she was seated, and took her way toward `
` the terrace upon which d'Artagnan had perceived Lubin. `
` `
` D'Artagnan followed the soubrette with his eyes, and saw her `
` go toward the terrace; but it happened that someone in the `
` house called Lubin, so that Planchet remained alone, looking `
` in all directions for the road where d'Artagnan had disappeared. `
` `
` The maid approached Planchet, whom she took for Lubin, and `
` holding out a little billet to him said, "For your master." `
` `
` "For my master?" replied Planchet, astonished. `
` `
` "Yes, and important. Take it quickly." `
` `
` Thereupon she ran toward the carriage, which had turned `
` round toward the way it came, jumped upon the step, and the `
` carriage drove off. `
` `
` Planchet turned and returned the billet. Then, accustomed `
` to passive obedience, he jumped down from the terrace, ran `
` toward the lane, and at the end of twenty paces met `
` d'Artagnan, who, having seen all, was coming to him. `
` `
` "For you, monsieur," said Planchet, presenting the billet to `
` the young man. `
` `
` "For me?" said d'Artagnan; "are you sure of that?" `
` `
` "PARDIEU, monsieur, I can't be more sure. The SOUBRETTE said, `
` 'For your master.' I have no other master but you; so-- `
` a pretty little lass, my faith, is that SOUBRETTE!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan opened the letter, and read these words: `
` `
` `
` "A person who takes more interest in you than she is willing `
` to confess wishes to know on what day it will suit you to `
` walk in the forest? Tomorrow, at the Hotel Field of the `
` Cloth of Gold, a lackey in black and red will wait for your `
` reply." `
` `
` `
` "Oh!" said d'Artagnan, "this is rather warm; it appears that `
` Milady and I are anxious about the health of the same `
` person. Well, Planchet, how is the good Monsieur de Wardes? `
` He is not dead, then?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur, he is as well as a man can be with four sword `
` wounds in his body; for you, without question, inflicted `
` four upon the dear gentleman, and he is still very weak, `
` having lost almost all his blood. As I said, monsieur, `
` Lubin did not know me, and told me our adventure from one `
` end to the other." `
` `
` "Well done, Planchet! you are the king of lackeys. Now jump `
` onto your horse, and let us overtake the carriage." `
` `
` This did not take long. At the end of five minutes they `
` perceived the carriage drawn up by the roadside; a cavalier, `
` richly dressed, was close to the door. `
` `
` The conversation between Milady and the cavalier was so `
` animated that d'Artagnan stopped on the other side of the `
` carriage without anyone but the pretty SOUBRETTE perceiving `
` his presence. `
` `
` The conversation took place in English--a language which `
` d'Artagnan could not understand; but by the accent the young `
` man plainly saw that the beautiful Englishwoman was in a `
` great rage. She terminated it by an action which left no `
` doubt as to the nature of this conversation; this was a blow `
` with her fan, applied with such force that the little `
` feminine weapon flew into a thousand pieces. `
` `
` The cavalier laughed aloud, which appeared to exasperate `
` Milady still more. `
` `
` D'Artagnan thought this was the moment to interfere. He `
` approached the other door, and taking off his hat `
` respectfully, said, "Madame, will you permit me to offer you `
` my services? It appears to me that this cavalier has made `
` you very angry. Speak one word, madame, and I take upon `
` myself to punish him for his want of courtesy." `
` `
` At the first word Milady turned, looking at the young man `
` with astonishment; and when he had finished, she said in `
` very good French, "Monsieur, I should with great confidence `
` place myself under your protection if the person with whom I `
` quarrel were not my brother." `
` `
` "Ah, excuse me, then," said d'Artagnan. "You must be aware `
` that I was ignorant of that, madame." `
` `
` "What is that stupid fellow troubling himself about?" cried `
` the cavalier whom Milady had designated as her brother, `
` stooping down to the height of the coach window. "Why does `
` not he go about his business?" `
` `
` "Stupid fellow yourself!" said d'Artagnan, stooping in his `
` turn on the neck of his horse, and answering on his side `
` through the carriage window. "I do not go on because it `
` pleases me to stop here." `
` `
` The cavalier addressed some words in English to his sister. `
` `
` "I speak to you in French," said d'Artagnan; "be kind `
` enough, then, to reply to me in the same language. You are `
` Madame's brother, I learn--be it so; but fortunately you are `
` not mine." `
` `
` It might be thought that Milady, timid as women are in `
` general, would have interposed in this commencement of `
` mutual provocations in order to prevent the quarrel from `
` going too far; but on the contrary, she threw herself back `
` in her carriage, and called out coolly to the coachman, `
` "Go on--home!" `
` `
` The pretty SOUBRETTE cast an anxious glance at d'Artagnan, `
` whose good looks seemed to have made an impression on her. `
` `
` The carriage went on, and left the two men facing each `
` other; no material obstacle separated them. `
` `
` The cavalier made a movement as if to follow the carriage; `
` but d'Artagnan, whose anger, already excited, was much `
` increased by recognizing in him the Englishman of Amiens who `
` had won his horse and had been very near winning his diamond `
` of Athos, caught at his bridle and stopped him. `
` `
` "Well, monsieur," said he, "you appear to be more stupid `
` than I am, for you forget there is a little quarrel to `
` arrange between us two." `
` `
` "Ah," said the Englishman, "is it you, my master? It seems `
` you must always be playing some game or other." `
` `
` "Yes; and that reminds me that I have a revenge to take. We `
` will see, my dear monsieur, if you can handle a sword as `
` skillfully as you can a dice box." `
` `
` "You see plainly that I have no sword," said the Englishman. `
` "Do you wish to play the braggart with an unarmed man?" `
` `
` "I hope you have a sword at home; but at all events, I have `
` two, and if you like, I will throw with you for one of `
` them." `
` `
` "Needless," said the Englishman; "I am well furnished with `
` such playthings." `
` `
` "Very well, my worthy gentleman," replied d'Artagnan, "pick `
` out the longest, and come and show it to me this evening." `
` `
` "Where, if you please?" `
` `
` "Behind the Luxembourg; that's a charming spot for such `
` amusements as the one I propose to you." `
` `
` "That will do; I will be there." `
` `
` "Your hour?" `
` `
` "Six o'clock." `
` `
` "A PROPOS, you have probably one or two friends?" `
` `
` "I have three, who would be honored by joining in the sport `
` with me." `
` `
` "Three? Marvelous! That falls out oddly! Three is just my `
` number!" `
` `
` "Now, then, who are you?" asked the Englishman. `
` `
` "I am Monsieur d'Artagnan, a Gascon gentleman, serving in `
` the king's Musketeers. And you?" `
` `
` "I am Lord de Winter, Baron Sheffield." `
` `
`
` `
` Planchet dismounted and went straight up to Lubin, who did `
` not at all remember him, and the two lackeys began to chat `
` with the best understanding possible; while d'Artagnan `
` turned the two horses into a lane, went round the house, and `
` came back to watch the conference from behind a hedge of `
` filberts. `
` `
` At the end of an instant's observation he heard the noise of `
` a vehicle, and saw Milady's carriage stop opposite to him. `
` He could not be mistaken; Milady was in it. D'Artagnan `
` leaned upon the neck of his horse, in order that he might `
` see without being seen. `
` `
` Milady put her charming blond head out at the window, and `
` gave her orders to her maid. `
` `
` The latter--a pretty girl of about twenty or twenty-two `
` years, active and lively, the true SOUBRETTE of a great `
` lady--jumped from the step upon which, according to the `
` custom of the time, she was seated, and took her way toward `
` the terrace upon which d'Artagnan had perceived Lubin. `
` `
` D'Artagnan followed the soubrette with his eyes, and saw her `
` go toward the terrace; but it happened that someone in the `
` house called Lubin, so that Planchet remained alone, looking `
` in all directions for the road where d'Artagnan had disappeared. `
` `
` The maid approached Planchet, whom she took for Lubin, and `
` holding out a little billet to him said, "For your master." `
` `
` "For my master?" replied Planchet, astonished. `
` `
` "Yes, and important. Take it quickly." `
` `
` Thereupon she ran toward the carriage, which had turned `
` round toward the way it came, jumped upon the step, and the `
` carriage drove off. `
` `
` Planchet turned and returned the billet. Then, accustomed `
` to passive obedience, he jumped down from the terrace, ran `
` toward the lane, and at the end of twenty paces met `
` d'Artagnan, who, having seen all, was coming to him. `
` `
` "For you, monsieur," said Planchet, presenting the billet to `
` the young man. `
` `
` "For me?" said d'Artagnan; "are you sure of that?" `
` `
` "PARDIEU, monsieur, I can't be more sure. The SOUBRETTE said, `
` 'For your master.' I have no other master but you; so-- `
` a pretty little lass, my faith, is that SOUBRETTE!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan opened the letter, and read these words: `
` `
` `
` "A person who takes more interest in you than she is willing `
` to confess wishes to know on what day it will suit you to `
` walk in the forest? Tomorrow, at the Hotel Field of the `
` Cloth of Gold, a lackey in black and red will wait for your `
` reply." `
` `
` `
` "Oh!" said d'Artagnan, "this is rather warm; it appears that `
` Milady and I are anxious about the health of the same `
` person. Well, Planchet, how is the good Monsieur de Wardes? `
` He is not dead, then?" `
` `
` "No, monsieur, he is as well as a man can be with four sword `
` wounds in his body; for you, without question, inflicted `
` four upon the dear gentleman, and he is still very weak, `
` having lost almost all his blood. As I said, monsieur, `
` Lubin did not know me, and told me our adventure from one `
` end to the other." `
` `
` "Well done, Planchet! you are the king of lackeys. Now jump `
` onto your horse, and let us overtake the carriage." `
` `
` This did not take long. At the end of five minutes they `
` perceived the carriage drawn up by the roadside; a cavalier, `
` richly dressed, was close to the door. `
` `
` The conversation between Milady and the cavalier was so `
` animated that d'Artagnan stopped on the other side of the `
` carriage without anyone but the pretty SOUBRETTE perceiving `
` his presence. `
` `
` The conversation took place in English--a language which `
` d'Artagnan could not understand; but by the accent the young `
` man plainly saw that the beautiful Englishwoman was in a `
` great rage. She terminated it by an action which left no `
` doubt as to the nature of this conversation; this was a blow `
` with her fan, applied with such force that the little `
` feminine weapon flew into a thousand pieces. `
` `
` The cavalier laughed aloud, which appeared to exasperate `
` Milady still more. `
` `
` D'Artagnan thought this was the moment to interfere. He `
` approached the other door, and taking off his hat `
` respectfully, said, "Madame, will you permit me to offer you `
` my services? It appears to me that this cavalier has made `
` you very angry. Speak one word, madame, and I take upon `
` myself to punish him for his want of courtesy." `
` `
` At the first word Milady turned, looking at the young man `
` with astonishment; and when he had finished, she said in `
` very good French, "Monsieur, I should with great confidence `
` place myself under your protection if the person with whom I `
` quarrel were not my brother." `
` `
` "Ah, excuse me, then," said d'Artagnan. "You must be aware `
` that I was ignorant of that, madame." `
` `
` "What is that stupid fellow troubling himself about?" cried `
` the cavalier whom Milady had designated as her brother, `
` stooping down to the height of the coach window. "Why does `
` not he go about his business?" `
` `
` "Stupid fellow yourself!" said d'Artagnan, stooping in his `
` turn on the neck of his horse, and answering on his side `
` through the carriage window. "I do not go on because it `
` pleases me to stop here." `
` `
` The cavalier addressed some words in English to his sister. `
` `
` "I speak to you in French," said d'Artagnan; "be kind `
` enough, then, to reply to me in the same language. You are `
` Madame's brother, I learn--be it so; but fortunately you are `
` not mine." `
` `
` It might be thought that Milady, timid as women are in `
` general, would have interposed in this commencement of `
` mutual provocations in order to prevent the quarrel from `
` going too far; but on the contrary, she threw herself back `
` in her carriage, and called out coolly to the coachman, `
` "Go on--home!" `
` `
` The pretty SOUBRETTE cast an anxious glance at d'Artagnan, `
` whose good looks seemed to have made an impression on her. `
` `
` The carriage went on, and left the two men facing each `
` other; no material obstacle separated them. `
` `
` The cavalier made a movement as if to follow the carriage; `
` but d'Artagnan, whose anger, already excited, was much `
` increased by recognizing in him the Englishman of Amiens who `
` had won his horse and had been very near winning his diamond `
` of Athos, caught at his bridle and stopped him. `
` `
` "Well, monsieur," said he, "you appear to be more stupid `
` than I am, for you forget there is a little quarrel to `
` arrange between us two." `
` `
` "Ah," said the Englishman, "is it you, my master? It seems `
` you must always be playing some game or other." `
` `
` "Yes; and that reminds me that I have a revenge to take. We `
` will see, my dear monsieur, if you can handle a sword as `
` skillfully as you can a dice box." `
` `
` "You see plainly that I have no sword," said the Englishman. `
` "Do you wish to play the braggart with an unarmed man?" `
` `
` "I hope you have a sword at home; but at all events, I have `
` two, and if you like, I will throw with you for one of `
` them." `
` `
` "Needless," said the Englishman; "I am well furnished with `
` such playthings." `
` `
` "Very well, my worthy gentleman," replied d'Artagnan, "pick `
` out the longest, and come and show it to me this evening." `
` `
` "Where, if you please?" `
` `
` "Behind the Luxembourg; that's a charming spot for such `
` amusements as the one I propose to you." `
` `
` "That will do; I will be there." `
` `
` "Your hour?" `
` `
` "Six o'clock." `
` `
` "A PROPOS, you have probably one or two friends?" `
` `
` "I have three, who would be honored by joining in the sport `
` with me." `
` `
` "Three? Marvelous! That falls out oddly! Three is just my `
` number!" `
` `
` "Now, then, who are you?" asked the Englishman. `
` `
` "I am Monsieur d'Artagnan, a Gascon gentleman, serving in `
` the king's Musketeers. And you?" `
` `
` "I am Lord de Winter, Baron Sheffield." `
` `
`