Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
`
` "Yez; what's the dream?" said the Swiss. `
` `
` "Well, pardieu!" said Aramis, "it was only this: I had a `
` dream, and I related it to her." `
` `
` "Yez, yez," said the Swiss; "it's simple enough to dell a `
` dream, but I neffer dream." `
` `
` "You are very fortunate," said Athos, rising; "I wish I `
` could say as much!" `
` `
` "Neffer," replied the Swiss, enchanted that a man like Athos `
` could envy him anything. "Neffer, neffer!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, seeing Athos rise, did likewise, took his arm, `
` and went out. `
` `
` Porthos and Aramis remained behind to encounter the jokes of `
` the dragoon and the Swiss. `
` `
` As to Bazin, he went and lay down on a truss of straw; and `
` as he had more imagination than the Swiss, he dreamed that `
` Aramis, having become pope, adorned his head with a `
` cardinal's hat. `
` `
` But, as we have said, Bazin had not, by his fortunate `
` return, removed more than a part of the uneasiness which `
` weighed upon the four friends. The days of expectation are `
` long, and d'Artagnan, in particular, would have wagered that `
` the days were forty-four hours. He forgot the necessary `
` slowness of navigation; he exaggerated to himself the power `
` of Milady. He credited this woman, who appeared to him the `
` equal of a demon, with agents as supernatural as herself; at `
` the least noise, he imagined himself about to be arrested, `
` and that Planchet was being brought back to be confronted `
` with himself and his friends. Still further, his confidence `
` in the worthy Picard, at one time so great, diminished day `
` by day. This anxiety became so great that it even extended `
` to Aramis and Porthos. Athos alone remained unmoved, as if `
` no danger hovered over him, and as if he breathed his `
` customary atmosphere. `
` `
` On the sixteenth day, in particular, these signs were so `
` strong in d'Artagnan and his two friends that they could not `
` remain quiet in one place, and wandered about like ghosts on `
` the road by which Planchet was expected. `
` `
` "Really," said Athos to them, "you are not men but children, `
` to let a woman terrify you so! And what does it amount to, `
` after all? To be imprisoned. Well, but we should be taken `
` out of prison; Madame Bonacieux was released. To be `
` decapitated? Why, every day in the trenches we go `
` cheerfully to expose ourselves to worse than that--for a `
` bullet may break a leg, and I am convinced a surgeon would `
` give us more pain in cutting off a thigh than an executioner `
` in cutting off a head. Wait quietly, then; in two hours, in `
` four, in six hours at latest, Planchet will be here. He `
` promised to be here, and I have very great faith in `
` Planchet, who appears to me to be a very good lad." `
` `
` "But if he does not come?" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Well, if he does not come, it will be because he has been `
` delayed, that's all. He may have fallen from his horse, he `
` may have cut a caper from the deck; he may have traveled so `
` fast against the wind as to have brought on a violent `
` catarrh. Eh, gentlemen, let us reckon upon accidents! Life `
` is a chaplet of little miseries which the philosopher counts `
` with a smile. Be philosophers, as I am, gentlemen; sit down `
` at the table and let us drink. Nothing makes the future `
` look so bright as surveying it through a glass of `
` chambertin." `
` `
` "That's all very well," replied d'Artagnan; "but I am tired `
` of fearing when I open a fresh bottle that the wine may come `
` from the cellar of Milady." `
` `
` "You are very fastidious," said Athos; "such a beautiful `
` woman!" `
` `
` "A woman of mark!" said Porthos, with his loud laugh. `
` `
` Athos started, passed his hand over his brow to remove the `
` drops of perspiration that burst forth, and rose in his turn `
` with a nervous movement he could not repress. `
` `
` The day, however, passed away; and the evening came on `
` slowly, but finally it came. The bars were filled with `
` drinkers. Athos, who had pocketed his share of the diamond, `
` seldom quit the Parpaillot. He had found in M. de Busigny, `
` who, by the by, had given them a magnificent dinner, a `
` partner worthy of his company. They were playing together, `
` as usual, when seven o'clock sounded; the patrol was heard `
` passing to double the posts. At half past seven the retreat `
` was sounded. `
` `
` "We are lost," said d'Artagnan, in the ear of Athos. `
` `
` "You mean to say we have lost," said Athos, quietly, drawing `
` four pistoles from his pocket and throwing them upon the `
` table. "Come, gentlemen," said he, "they are beating the `
` tattoo. Let us to bed!" `
` `
` And Athos went out of the Parpaillot, followed by `
` d'Artagnan. Aramis came behind, giving his arm to Porthos. `
` Aramis mumbled verses to himself, and Porthos from time to `
` time pulled a hair or two from his mustache, in sign of `
` despair. `
` `
` But all at once a shadow appeared in the darkness the `
` outline of which was familiar to d'Artagnan, and a well- `
` known voice said, "Monsieur, I have brought your cloak; it `
` is chilly this evening." `
` `
` "Planchet!" cried d'Artagnan, beside himself with joy. `
` `
` "Planchet!" repeated Aramis and Porthos. `
` `
` "Well, yes, Planchet, to be sure," said Athos, "what is `
` there so astonishing in that? He promised to be back by `
` eight o'clock, and eight is striking. Bravo, Planchet, you `
` are a lad of your word, and if ever you leave your master, I `
` will promise you a place in my service." `
` `
` "Oh, no, never," said Planchet, "I will never leave Monsieur `
` d'Artagnan." `
` `
` At the same time d'Artagnan felt that Planchet slipped a `
` note into his hand. `
` `
` D'Artagnan felt a strong inclination to embrace Planchet as `
` he had embraced him on his departure; but he feared lest `
` this mark of affection, bestowed upon his lackey in the open `
` street, might appear extraordinary to passers-by, and he `
` restrained himself. `
` `
` "I have the note," said he to Athos and to his friends. `
` `
` "That's well," said Athos, "let us go home and read it." `
` `
` The note burned the hand of d'Artagnan. He wished to hasten `
` their steps; but Athos took his arm and passed it under his `
` own, and the young man was forced to regulate his pace by `
` that of his friend. `
` `
` At length they reached the tent, lit a lamp, and while `
` Planchet stood at the entrance that the four friends might `
` not be surprised, d'Artagnan, with a trembling hand, broke `
` the seal and opened the so anxiously expected letter. `
` `
` It contained half a line, in a hand perfectly British, and `
` with a conciseness as perfectly Spartan: `
` `
` `
` Thank you; be easy. `
` `
` `
` d'Artagnan translated this for the others. `
` `
` Athos took the letter from the hands of d'Artagnan, `
` approached the lamp, set fire to the paper, and did not let `
` go till it was reduced to a cinder. `
` `
` Then, calling Planchet, he said, "Now, my lad, you may claim `
` your seven hundred livres, but you did not run much risk `
` with such a note as that." `
` `
` "I am not to blame for having tried every means to compress `
` it," said Planchet. `
` `
` "Well!" cried d'Artagnan, "tell us all about it." `
` `
` "Dame, that's a long job, monsieur." `
` `
` "You are right, Planchet," said Athos; "besides, the tattoo `
` has been sounded, and we should be observed if we kept a `
` light burning much longer than the others." `
` `
` "So be it," said d'Artagnan. "Go to bed, Planchet, and `
` sleep soundly." `
` `
` "My faith, monsieur! that will be the first time I have done `
` so for sixteen days." `
` `
` "And me, too!" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "And me, too!" said Porthos. `
` `
` "And me, too!" said Aramis. `
` `
` "Well, if you will have the truth, and me, too!" said Athos. `
` `
` `
` `
` 49 FATALITY `
` `
` Meantime Milady, drunk with passion, roaring on the deck like a `
` lioness that has been embarked, had been tempted to throw herself `
` into the sea that she might regain the coast, for she could not `
` get rid of the thought that she had been insulted by d'Artagnan, `
`
` "Yez; what's the dream?" said the Swiss. `
` `
` "Well, pardieu!" said Aramis, "it was only this: I had a `
` dream, and I related it to her." `
` `
` "Yez, yez," said the Swiss; "it's simple enough to dell a `
` dream, but I neffer dream." `
` `
` "You are very fortunate," said Athos, rising; "I wish I `
` could say as much!" `
` `
` "Neffer," replied the Swiss, enchanted that a man like Athos `
` could envy him anything. "Neffer, neffer!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan, seeing Athos rise, did likewise, took his arm, `
` and went out. `
` `
` Porthos and Aramis remained behind to encounter the jokes of `
` the dragoon and the Swiss. `
` `
` As to Bazin, he went and lay down on a truss of straw; and `
` as he had more imagination than the Swiss, he dreamed that `
` Aramis, having become pope, adorned his head with a `
` cardinal's hat. `
` `
` But, as we have said, Bazin had not, by his fortunate `
` return, removed more than a part of the uneasiness which `
` weighed upon the four friends. The days of expectation are `
` long, and d'Artagnan, in particular, would have wagered that `
` the days were forty-four hours. He forgot the necessary `
` slowness of navigation; he exaggerated to himself the power `
` of Milady. He credited this woman, who appeared to him the `
` equal of a demon, with agents as supernatural as herself; at `
` the least noise, he imagined himself about to be arrested, `
` and that Planchet was being brought back to be confronted `
` with himself and his friends. Still further, his confidence `
` in the worthy Picard, at one time so great, diminished day `
` by day. This anxiety became so great that it even extended `
` to Aramis and Porthos. Athos alone remained unmoved, as if `
` no danger hovered over him, and as if he breathed his `
` customary atmosphere. `
` `
` On the sixteenth day, in particular, these signs were so `
` strong in d'Artagnan and his two friends that they could not `
` remain quiet in one place, and wandered about like ghosts on `
` the road by which Planchet was expected. `
` `
` "Really," said Athos to them, "you are not men but children, `
` to let a woman terrify you so! And what does it amount to, `
` after all? To be imprisoned. Well, but we should be taken `
` out of prison; Madame Bonacieux was released. To be `
` decapitated? Why, every day in the trenches we go `
` cheerfully to expose ourselves to worse than that--for a `
` bullet may break a leg, and I am convinced a surgeon would `
` give us more pain in cutting off a thigh than an executioner `
` in cutting off a head. Wait quietly, then; in two hours, in `
` four, in six hours at latest, Planchet will be here. He `
` promised to be here, and I have very great faith in `
` Planchet, who appears to me to be a very good lad." `
` `
` "But if he does not come?" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Well, if he does not come, it will be because he has been `
` delayed, that's all. He may have fallen from his horse, he `
` may have cut a caper from the deck; he may have traveled so `
` fast against the wind as to have brought on a violent `
` catarrh. Eh, gentlemen, let us reckon upon accidents! Life `
` is a chaplet of little miseries which the philosopher counts `
` with a smile. Be philosophers, as I am, gentlemen; sit down `
` at the table and let us drink. Nothing makes the future `
` look so bright as surveying it through a glass of `
` chambertin." `
` `
` "That's all very well," replied d'Artagnan; "but I am tired `
` of fearing when I open a fresh bottle that the wine may come `
` from the cellar of Milady." `
` `
` "You are very fastidious," said Athos; "such a beautiful `
` woman!" `
` `
` "A woman of mark!" said Porthos, with his loud laugh. `
` `
` Athos started, passed his hand over his brow to remove the `
` drops of perspiration that burst forth, and rose in his turn `
` with a nervous movement he could not repress. `
` `
` The day, however, passed away; and the evening came on `
` slowly, but finally it came. The bars were filled with `
` drinkers. Athos, who had pocketed his share of the diamond, `
` seldom quit the Parpaillot. He had found in M. de Busigny, `
` who, by the by, had given them a magnificent dinner, a `
` partner worthy of his company. They were playing together, `
` as usual, when seven o'clock sounded; the patrol was heard `
` passing to double the posts. At half past seven the retreat `
` was sounded. `
` `
` "We are lost," said d'Artagnan, in the ear of Athos. `
` `
` "You mean to say we have lost," said Athos, quietly, drawing `
` four pistoles from his pocket and throwing them upon the `
` table. "Come, gentlemen," said he, "they are beating the `
` tattoo. Let us to bed!" `
` `
` And Athos went out of the Parpaillot, followed by `
` d'Artagnan. Aramis came behind, giving his arm to Porthos. `
` Aramis mumbled verses to himself, and Porthos from time to `
` time pulled a hair or two from his mustache, in sign of `
` despair. `
` `
` But all at once a shadow appeared in the darkness the `
` outline of which was familiar to d'Artagnan, and a well- `
` known voice said, "Monsieur, I have brought your cloak; it `
` is chilly this evening." `
` `
` "Planchet!" cried d'Artagnan, beside himself with joy. `
` `
` "Planchet!" repeated Aramis and Porthos. `
` `
` "Well, yes, Planchet, to be sure," said Athos, "what is `
` there so astonishing in that? He promised to be back by `
` eight o'clock, and eight is striking. Bravo, Planchet, you `
` are a lad of your word, and if ever you leave your master, I `
` will promise you a place in my service." `
` `
` "Oh, no, never," said Planchet, "I will never leave Monsieur `
` d'Artagnan." `
` `
` At the same time d'Artagnan felt that Planchet slipped a `
` note into his hand. `
` `
` D'Artagnan felt a strong inclination to embrace Planchet as `
` he had embraced him on his departure; but he feared lest `
` this mark of affection, bestowed upon his lackey in the open `
` street, might appear extraordinary to passers-by, and he `
` restrained himself. `
` `
` "I have the note," said he to Athos and to his friends. `
` `
` "That's well," said Athos, "let us go home and read it." `
` `
` The note burned the hand of d'Artagnan. He wished to hasten `
` their steps; but Athos took his arm and passed it under his `
` own, and the young man was forced to regulate his pace by `
` that of his friend. `
` `
` At length they reached the tent, lit a lamp, and while `
` Planchet stood at the entrance that the four friends might `
` not be surprised, d'Artagnan, with a trembling hand, broke `
` the seal and opened the so anxiously expected letter. `
` `
` It contained half a line, in a hand perfectly British, and `
` with a conciseness as perfectly Spartan: `
` `
` `
` Thank you; be easy. `
` `
` `
` d'Artagnan translated this for the others. `
` `
` Athos took the letter from the hands of d'Artagnan, `
` approached the lamp, set fire to the paper, and did not let `
` go till it was reduced to a cinder. `
` `
` Then, calling Planchet, he said, "Now, my lad, you may claim `
` your seven hundred livres, but you did not run much risk `
` with such a note as that." `
` `
` "I am not to blame for having tried every means to compress `
` it," said Planchet. `
` `
` "Well!" cried d'Artagnan, "tell us all about it." `
` `
` "Dame, that's a long job, monsieur." `
` `
` "You are right, Planchet," said Athos; "besides, the tattoo `
` has been sounded, and we should be observed if we kept a `
` light burning much longer than the others." `
` `
` "So be it," said d'Artagnan. "Go to bed, Planchet, and `
` sleep soundly." `
` `
` "My faith, monsieur! that will be the first time I have done `
` so for sixteen days." `
` `
` "And me, too!" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "And me, too!" said Porthos. `
` `
` "And me, too!" said Aramis. `
` `
` "Well, if you will have the truth, and me, too!" said Athos. `
` `
` `
` `
` 49 FATALITY `
` `
` Meantime Milady, drunk with passion, roaring on the deck like a `
` lioness that has been embarked, had been tempted to throw herself `
` into the sea that she might regain the coast, for she could not `
` get rid of the thought that she had been insulted by d'Artagnan, `
`