Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.19-40
"His name; his name!" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Read the address." `
` `
` "Monsieur El Comte de Wardes." `
` `
` The remembrance of the scene at St. Germain presented itself `
` to the mind of the presumptuous Gascon. As quick as `
` thought, he tore open the letter, in spite of the cry which `
` Kitty uttered on seeing what he was going to do, or rather, `
` what he was doing. `
` `
` "Oh, good Lord, Monsieur Chevalier," said she, "what are you `
` doing?" `
` `
` "I?" said d'Artagnan; "nothing," and he read, `
` `
` `
` "You have not answered my first note. Are you indisposed, `
` or have you forgotten the glances you favored me with at the `
` ball of Mme. de Guise? You have an opportunity now, Count; `
` do not allow it to escape." `
` `
` `
` d'Artagnan became very pale; he was wounded in his SELF- `
` love: he thought that it was in his LOVE. `
` `
` "Poor dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Kitty, in a voice full `
` of compassion, and pressing anew the young man's hand. `
` `
` "You pity me, little one?" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Oh, yes, and with all my heart; for I know what it is to be `
` in love." `
` `
` "You know what it is to be in love?" said d'Artagnan, `
` looking at her for the first time with much attention. `
` `
` "Alas, yes." `
` `
` "Well, then, instead of pitying me, you would do much better `
` to assist me in avenging myself on your mistress." `
` `
` "And what sort of revenge would you take?" `
` `
` "I would triumph over her, and supplant my rival." `
` `
` "I will never help you in that, Monsieur Chevalier," said `
` Kitty, warmly. `
` `
` "And why not?" demanded d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "For two reasons." `
` `
` "What ones?" `
` `
` "The first is that my mistress will never love you." `
` `
` "How do you know that?" `
` `
` "You have cut her to the heart." `
` `
` "I? In what can I have offended her--I who ever since I have `
` known her have lived at her feet like a slave? Speak, I beg `
` you!" `
` `
` "I will never confess that but to the man--who should read to `
` the bottom of my soul!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan looked at Kitty for the second time. The young `
` girl had freshness and beauty which many duchesses would `
` have purchased with their coronets. `
` `
` "Kitty," said he, "I will read to the bottom of your soul `
` when-ever you like; don't let that disturb you." And he gave `
` her a kiss at which the poor girl became as red as a cherry. `
` `
` "Oh, no," said Kitty, "it is not me you love! It is my `
` mistress you love; you told me so just now." `
` `
` "And does that hinder you from letting me know the second `
` reason?" `
` `
` "The second reason, Monsieur the Chevalier," replied Kitty, `
` emboldened by the kiss in the first place, and still further `
` by the expression of the eyes of the young man, "is that in `
` love, everyone for herself!" `
` `
` Then only d'Artagnan remembered the languishing glances of `
` Kitty, her constantly meeting him in the antechamber, the `
` corridor, or on the stairs, those touches of the hand every `
` time she met him, and her deep sighs; but absorbed by his `
` desire to please the great lady, he had disdained the `
` soubrette. He whose game is the eagle takes no heed of the `
` sparrow. `
` `
` But this time our Gascon saw at a glance all the advantage `
` to be derived from the love which Kitty had just confessed `
` so innocently, or so boldly: the interception of letters `
` addressed to the Comte de Wardes, news on the spot, entrance `
` at all hours into Kitty's chamber, which was contiguous to `
` her mistress's. The perfidious deceiver was, as may plainly `
` be perceived, already sacrificing, in intention, the poor `
` girl in order to obtain Milady, willy-nilly. `
` `
` "Well," said he to the young girl, "are you willing, my dear `
` Kitty, that I should give you a proof of that love which you `
` doubt?" `
` `
` "What love?" asked the young girl. `
` `
` "Of that which I am ready to feel toward you." `
` `
` "And what is that proof?" `
` `
` "Are you willing that I should this evening pass with you `
` the time I generally spend with your mistress?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes," said Kitty, clapping her hands, "very willing." `
` `
` "Well, then, come here, my dear," said d'Artagnan, `
` establishing himself in an easy chair; "come, and let me `
` tell you that you are the prettiest SOUBRETTE I ever saw!" `
` `
` And he did tell her so much, and so well, that the poor `
` girl, who asked nothing better than to believe him, did `
` believe him. Nevertheless, to d'Artagnan's great `
` astonishment, the pretty Kitty defended herself resolutely. `
` `
` Time passes quickly when it is passed in attacks and `
` defenses. Midnight sounded, and almost at the same time the `
` bell was rung in Milady's chamber. `
` `
` "Good God," cried Kitty, "there is my mistress calling me! `
` Go; go directly!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan rose, took his hat, as if it had been his `
` intention to obey, then, opening quickly the door of a large `
` closet instead of that leading to the staircase, he buried `
` himself amid the robes and dressing gowns of Milady. `
` `
` "What are you doing?" cried Kitty. `
` `
` D'Artagnan, who had secured the key, shut himself up in the `
` closet without reply. `
` `
` "Well," cried Milady, in a sharp voice. "Are you asleep, `
` that you don't answer when I ring?" `
` `
` And d'Artagnan heard the door of communication opened `
` violently. `
` `
` "Here am I, Milady, here am I!" cried Kitty, springing `
` forward to meet her mistress. `
` `
` Both went into the bedroom, and as the door of communication `
` remained open, d'Artagnan could hear Milady for some time `
` scolding her maid. She was at length appeased, and the `
` conversation turned upon him while Kitty was assisting her `
` mistress. `
` `
` "Well," said Milady, "I have not seen our Gascon this `
` evening." `
` `
` "What, Milady! has he not come?" said Kitty. "Can he be `
` inconstant before being happy?" `
` `
` "Oh, no; he must have been prevented by Monsieur de Treville `
` or Monsieur Dessessart. I understand my game, Kitty; I have `
` this one safe." `
` `
` "What will you do with him, madame?" `
` `
` "What will I do with him? Be easy, Kitty, there is `
` something between that man and me that he is quite ignorant `
` of: he nearly made me lose my credit with his Eminence. Oh, `
` I will be revenged!" `
` `
` "I believed that Madame loved him." `
` `
` "I love him? I detest him! An idiot, who held the life of `
` Lord de Winter in his hands and did not kill him, by which I `
` missed three hundred thousand livres' income." `
` `
` "That's true," said Kitty; "your son was the only heir of `
` his uncle, and until his majority you would have had the `
` enjoyment of his fortune." `
` `
` D'Artagnan shuddered to the marrow at hearing this suave `
` creature reproach him, with that sharp voice which she took `
` such pains to conceal in conversation, for not having killed `
` a man whom he had seen load her with kindnesses. `
` `
` "For all this," continued Milady, "I should long ago have `
` revenged myself on him if, and I don't know why, the `
` cardinal had not requested me to conciliate him." `
` `
` "Oh, yes; but Madame has not conciliated that little woman `
` he was so fond of." `
` `
` "What, the mercer's wife of the Rue des Fossoyeurs? Has he `
`
` `
` "Read the address." `
` `
` "Monsieur El Comte de Wardes." `
` `
` The remembrance of the scene at St. Germain presented itself `
` to the mind of the presumptuous Gascon. As quick as `
` thought, he tore open the letter, in spite of the cry which `
` Kitty uttered on seeing what he was going to do, or rather, `
` what he was doing. `
` `
` "Oh, good Lord, Monsieur Chevalier," said she, "what are you `
` doing?" `
` `
` "I?" said d'Artagnan; "nothing," and he read, `
` `
` `
` "You have not answered my first note. Are you indisposed, `
` or have you forgotten the glances you favored me with at the `
` ball of Mme. de Guise? You have an opportunity now, Count; `
` do not allow it to escape." `
` `
` `
` d'Artagnan became very pale; he was wounded in his SELF- `
` love: he thought that it was in his LOVE. `
` `
` "Poor dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Kitty, in a voice full `
` of compassion, and pressing anew the young man's hand. `
` `
` "You pity me, little one?" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Oh, yes, and with all my heart; for I know what it is to be `
` in love." `
` `
` "You know what it is to be in love?" said d'Artagnan, `
` looking at her for the first time with much attention. `
` `
` "Alas, yes." `
` `
` "Well, then, instead of pitying me, you would do much better `
` to assist me in avenging myself on your mistress." `
` `
` "And what sort of revenge would you take?" `
` `
` "I would triumph over her, and supplant my rival." `
` `
` "I will never help you in that, Monsieur Chevalier," said `
` Kitty, warmly. `
` `
` "And why not?" demanded d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "For two reasons." `
` `
` "What ones?" `
` `
` "The first is that my mistress will never love you." `
` `
` "How do you know that?" `
` `
` "You have cut her to the heart." `
` `
` "I? In what can I have offended her--I who ever since I have `
` known her have lived at her feet like a slave? Speak, I beg `
` you!" `
` `
` "I will never confess that but to the man--who should read to `
` the bottom of my soul!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan looked at Kitty for the second time. The young `
` girl had freshness and beauty which many duchesses would `
` have purchased with their coronets. `
` `
` "Kitty," said he, "I will read to the bottom of your soul `
` when-ever you like; don't let that disturb you." And he gave `
` her a kiss at which the poor girl became as red as a cherry. `
` `
` "Oh, no," said Kitty, "it is not me you love! It is my `
` mistress you love; you told me so just now." `
` `
` "And does that hinder you from letting me know the second `
` reason?" `
` `
` "The second reason, Monsieur the Chevalier," replied Kitty, `
` emboldened by the kiss in the first place, and still further `
` by the expression of the eyes of the young man, "is that in `
` love, everyone for herself!" `
` `
` Then only d'Artagnan remembered the languishing glances of `
` Kitty, her constantly meeting him in the antechamber, the `
` corridor, or on the stairs, those touches of the hand every `
` time she met him, and her deep sighs; but absorbed by his `
` desire to please the great lady, he had disdained the `
` soubrette. He whose game is the eagle takes no heed of the `
` sparrow. `
` `
` But this time our Gascon saw at a glance all the advantage `
` to be derived from the love which Kitty had just confessed `
` so innocently, or so boldly: the interception of letters `
` addressed to the Comte de Wardes, news on the spot, entrance `
` at all hours into Kitty's chamber, which was contiguous to `
` her mistress's. The perfidious deceiver was, as may plainly `
` be perceived, already sacrificing, in intention, the poor `
` girl in order to obtain Milady, willy-nilly. `
` `
` "Well," said he to the young girl, "are you willing, my dear `
` Kitty, that I should give you a proof of that love which you `
` doubt?" `
` `
` "What love?" asked the young girl. `
` `
` "Of that which I am ready to feel toward you." `
` `
` "And what is that proof?" `
` `
` "Are you willing that I should this evening pass with you `
` the time I generally spend with your mistress?" `
` `
` "Oh, yes," said Kitty, clapping her hands, "very willing." `
` `
` "Well, then, come here, my dear," said d'Artagnan, `
` establishing himself in an easy chair; "come, and let me `
` tell you that you are the prettiest SOUBRETTE I ever saw!" `
` `
` And he did tell her so much, and so well, that the poor `
` girl, who asked nothing better than to believe him, did `
` believe him. Nevertheless, to d'Artagnan's great `
` astonishment, the pretty Kitty defended herself resolutely. `
` `
` Time passes quickly when it is passed in attacks and `
` defenses. Midnight sounded, and almost at the same time the `
` bell was rung in Milady's chamber. `
` `
` "Good God," cried Kitty, "there is my mistress calling me! `
` Go; go directly!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan rose, took his hat, as if it had been his `
` intention to obey, then, opening quickly the door of a large `
` closet instead of that leading to the staircase, he buried `
` himself amid the robes and dressing gowns of Milady. `
` `
` "What are you doing?" cried Kitty. `
` `
` D'Artagnan, who had secured the key, shut himself up in the `
` closet without reply. `
` `
` "Well," cried Milady, in a sharp voice. "Are you asleep, `
` that you don't answer when I ring?" `
` `
` And d'Artagnan heard the door of communication opened `
` violently. `
` `
` "Here am I, Milady, here am I!" cried Kitty, springing `
` forward to meet her mistress. `
` `
` Both went into the bedroom, and as the door of communication `
` remained open, d'Artagnan could hear Milady for some time `
` scolding her maid. She was at length appeased, and the `
` conversation turned upon him while Kitty was assisting her `
` mistress. `
` `
` "Well," said Milady, "I have not seen our Gascon this `
` evening." `
` `
` "What, Milady! has he not come?" said Kitty. "Can he be `
` inconstant before being happy?" `
` `
` "Oh, no; he must have been prevented by Monsieur de Treville `
` or Monsieur Dessessart. I understand my game, Kitty; I have `
` this one safe." `
` `
` "What will you do with him, madame?" `
` `
` "What will I do with him? Be easy, Kitty, there is `
` something between that man and me that he is quite ignorant `
` of: he nearly made me lose my credit with his Eminence. Oh, `
` I will be revenged!" `
` `
` "I believed that Madame loved him." `
` `
` "I love him? I detest him! An idiot, who held the life of `
` Lord de Winter in his hands and did not kill him, by which I `
` missed three hundred thousand livres' income." `
` `
` "That's true," said Kitty; "your son was the only heir of `
` his uncle, and until his majority you would have had the `
` enjoyment of his fortune." `
` `
` D'Artagnan shuddered to the marrow at hearing this suave `
` creature reproach him, with that sharp voice which she took `
` such pains to conceal in conversation, for not having killed `
` a man whom he had seen load her with kindnesses. `
` `
` "For all this," continued Milady, "I should long ago have `
` revenged myself on him if, and I don't know why, the `
` cardinal had not requested me to conciliate him." `
` `
` "Oh, yes; but Madame has not conciliated that little woman `
` he was so fond of." `
` `
` "What, the mercer's wife of the Rue des Fossoyeurs? Has he `
`