Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
get rid of the thought that she had been insulted by d'Artagnan, `
` threatened by Athos, and that she had quit France without being `
` revenged on them. This idea soon became so insupportable to her `
` that at the risk of whatever terrible consequences might result `
` to herself from it, she implored the captain to put her on shore; `
` but the captain, eager to escape from his false position--placed `
` between French and English cruisers, like the bat between the `
` mice and the birds--was in great haste to regain England, and `
` positively refused to obey what he took for a woman's caprice, `
` promising his passenger, who had been particularly recommended to `
` him by the cardinal, to land her, if the sea and the French `
` permitted him, at one of the ports of Brittany, either at Lorient `
` or Brest. But the wind was contrary, the sea bad; they tacked `
` and kept offshore. Nine days after leaving the Charente, pale `
` with fatigue and vexation, Milady saw only the blue coasts of `
` Finisterre appear. `
` `
` She calculated that to cross this corner of France and return to `
` the cardinal it would take her at least three days. Add another `
` day for landing, and that would make four. Add these four to the `
` nine others, that would be thirteen days lost--thirteen days, `
` during which so many important events might pass in London. She `
` reflected likewise that the cardinal would be furious at her `
` return, and consequently would be more disposed to listen to the `
` complaints brought against her than to the accusations she `
` brought against others. `
` `
` She allowed the vessel to pass Lorient and Brest without `
` repeating her request to the captain, who, on his part, took care `
` not to remind her of it. Milady therefore continued her voyage, `
` and on the very day that Planchet embarked at Portsmouth for `
` France, the messenger of his Eminence entered the port in `
` triumph. `
` `
` All the city was agitated by an extraordinary movement. Four `
` large vessels, recently built, had just been launched. At the `
` end of the jetty, his clothes richly laced with gold, glittering, `
` as was customary with him, with diamonds and precious stones, his `
` hat ornamented with a white feather which drooped upon his `
` shoulder, Buckingham was seen surrounded by a staff almost as `
` brilliant as himself. `
` `
` It was one of those rare and beautiful days in winter when `
` England remembers that there is a sun. The star of day, pale but `
` nevertheless still splendid, was setting in the horizon, `
` glorifying at once the heavens and the sea with bands of fire, `
` and casting upon the towers and the old houses of the city a last `
` ray of gold which made the windows sparkle like the reflection of `
` a conflagration. Breathing that sea breeze, so much more `
` invigorating and balsamic as the land is approached, `
` contemplating all the power of those preparations she was `
` commissioned to destroy, all the power of that army which she was `
` to combat alone--she, a woman with a few bags of gold--Milady `
` compared herself mentally to Judith, the terrible Jewess, when `
` she penetrated the camp of the Assyrians and beheld the enormous `
` mass of chariots, horses, men, and arms, which a gesture of her `
` hand was to dissipate like a cloud of smoke. `
` `
` They entered the roadstead; but as they drew near in order to `
` cast anchor, a little cutter, looking like a coastguard `
` formidably armed, approached the merchant vessel and dropped into `
` the sea a boat which directed its course to the ladder. This `
` boat contained an officer, a mate, and eight rowers. The officer `
` alone went on board, where he was received with all the deference `
` inspired by the uniform. `
` `
` The officer conversed a few instants with the captain, gave him `
` several papers, of which he was the bearer, to read, and upon the `
` order of the merchant captain the whole crew of the vessel, both `
` passengers and sailors, were called upon deck. `
` `
` When this species of summons was made the officer inquired aloud `
` the point of the brig's departure, its route, its landings; and `
` to all these questions the captain replied without difficulty and `
` without hesitation. Then the officer began to pass in review all `
` the people, one after the other, and stopping when he came to `
` Milady, surveyed her very closely, but without addressing a `
` single word to her. `
` `
` He then returned to the captain, said a few words to him, and as `
` if from that moment the vessel was under his command, he ordered `
` a maneuver which the crew executed immediately. Then the vessel `
` resumed its course, still escorted by the little cutter, which `
` sailed side by side with it, menacing it with the mouths of its `
` six cannon. The boat followed in the wake of the ship, a speck `
` near the enormous mass. `
` `
` During the examination of Milady by the officer, as may well be `
` imagined, Milady on her part was not less scrutinizing in her `
` glances. But however great was the power of this woman with eyes `
` of flame in reading the hearts of those whose secrets she wished `
` to divine, she met this time with a countenance of such `
` impassivity that no discovery followed her investigation. The `
` officer who had stopped in front of her and studied her with so `
` much care might have been twenty-five or twenty-six years of age. `
` He was of pale complexion, with clear blue eyes, rather deeply `
` set; his mouth, fine and well cut, remained motionless in its `
` correct lines; his chin, strongly marked, denoted that strength `
` of will which in the ordinary Britannic type denotes mostly `
` nothing but obstinacy; a brow a little receding, as is proper for `
` poets, enthusiasts, and soldiers, was scarcely shaded by short `
` thin hair which, like the beard which covered the lower part of `
` his face, was of a beautiful deep chestnut color. `
` `
` When they entered the port, it was already night. The fog `
` increased the darkness, and formed round the sternlights and `
` lanterns of the jetty a circle like that which surrounds the moon `
` when the weather threatens to become rainy. The air they `
` breathed was heavy, damp, and cold. `
` `
` Milady, that woman so courageous and firm, shivered in spite of `
` herself. `
` `
` The officer desired to have Milady's packages pointed out to him, `
` and ordered them to be placed in the boat. When this operation `
` was complete, he invited her to descend by offering her his hand. `
` `
` Milady looked at this man, and hesitated. "Who are you, sir," `
` asked she, "who has the kindness to trouble yourself so `
` particularly on my account?" `
` `
` "You may perceive, madame, by my uniform, that I am an officer in `
` the English navy," replied the young man. `
` `
` "But is it the custom for the officers in the English navy to `
` place themselves at the service of their female compatriots when `
` they land in a port of Great Britain, and carry their gallantry `
` so far as to conduct them ashore?" `
` `
` "Yes, madame, it is the custom, not from gallantry but prudence, `
` that in time of war foreigners should be conducted to particular `
` hotels, in order that they may remain under the eye of the `
` government until full information can be obtained about them." `
` `
` These words were pronounced with the most exact politeness and `
` the most perfect calmness. Nevertheless, they had not the power `
` of convincing Milady. `
` `
` "But I am not a foreigner, sir," said she, with an accent as pure `
` as ever was heard between Portsmouth and Manchester; "my name is `
` Lady Clarik, and this measure--" `
` `
` "This measure is general, madame; and you will seek in vain to `
` evade it." `
` `
` "I will follow you, then, sir." `
` `
` Accepting the hand of the officer, she began the descent of the `
` ladder, at the foot of which the boat waited. The officer `
` followed her. A large cloak was spread at the stern; the officer `
` requested her to sit down upon this cloak, and placed himself `
` beside her. `
` `
` "Row!" said he to the sailors. `
` `
` The eight oars fell at once into the sea, making but a single `
` sound, giving but a single stroke, and the boat seemed to fly `
` over the surface of the water. `
` `
` In five minutes they gained the land. `
` `
` The officer leaped to the pier, and offered his hand to Milady. `
` A carriage was in waiting. `
` `
` "Is this carriage for us?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "Yes, madame," replied the officer. `
` `
` "The hotel, then, is far away?" `
` `
` "At the other end of the town." `
` `
` "Very well," said Milady; and she resolutely entered the `
` carriage. `
` `
` The officer saw that the baggage was fastened carefully behind `
` the carriage; and this operation ended, he took his place beside `
` Milady, and shut the door. `
` `
` Immediately, without any order being given or his place of `
` destination indicated, the coachman set off at a rapid pace, and `
` plunged into the streets of the city. `
` `
` So strange a reception naturally gave Milady ample matter for `
` reflection; so seeing that the young officer did not seem at all `
` disposed for conversation, she reclined in her corner of the `
` carriage, and one after the other passed in review all the `
` surmises which presented themselves to her mind. `
` `
` At the end of a quarter of an hour, however, surprised at the `
` length of the journey, she leaned forward toward the door to see `
` whither she was being conducted. Houses were no longer to be `
` seen; trees appeared in the darkness like great black phantoms `
` chasing one another. Milady shuddered. `
` `
` "But we are no longer in the city, sir," said she. `
` `
` The young officer preserved silence. `
` `
` "I beg you to understand, sir, I will go no farther unless you `
` tell me whither you are taking me." `
`
` threatened by Athos, and that she had quit France without being `
` revenged on them. This idea soon became so insupportable to her `
` that at the risk of whatever terrible consequences might result `
` to herself from it, she implored the captain to put her on shore; `
` but the captain, eager to escape from his false position--placed `
` between French and English cruisers, like the bat between the `
` mice and the birds--was in great haste to regain England, and `
` positively refused to obey what he took for a woman's caprice, `
` promising his passenger, who had been particularly recommended to `
` him by the cardinal, to land her, if the sea and the French `
` permitted him, at one of the ports of Brittany, either at Lorient `
` or Brest. But the wind was contrary, the sea bad; they tacked `
` and kept offshore. Nine days after leaving the Charente, pale `
` with fatigue and vexation, Milady saw only the blue coasts of `
` Finisterre appear. `
` `
` She calculated that to cross this corner of France and return to `
` the cardinal it would take her at least three days. Add another `
` day for landing, and that would make four. Add these four to the `
` nine others, that would be thirteen days lost--thirteen days, `
` during which so many important events might pass in London. She `
` reflected likewise that the cardinal would be furious at her `
` return, and consequently would be more disposed to listen to the `
` complaints brought against her than to the accusations she `
` brought against others. `
` `
` She allowed the vessel to pass Lorient and Brest without `
` repeating her request to the captain, who, on his part, took care `
` not to remind her of it. Milady therefore continued her voyage, `
` and on the very day that Planchet embarked at Portsmouth for `
` France, the messenger of his Eminence entered the port in `
` triumph. `
` `
` All the city was agitated by an extraordinary movement. Four `
` large vessels, recently built, had just been launched. At the `
` end of the jetty, his clothes richly laced with gold, glittering, `
` as was customary with him, with diamonds and precious stones, his `
` hat ornamented with a white feather which drooped upon his `
` shoulder, Buckingham was seen surrounded by a staff almost as `
` brilliant as himself. `
` `
` It was one of those rare and beautiful days in winter when `
` England remembers that there is a sun. The star of day, pale but `
` nevertheless still splendid, was setting in the horizon, `
` glorifying at once the heavens and the sea with bands of fire, `
` and casting upon the towers and the old houses of the city a last `
` ray of gold which made the windows sparkle like the reflection of `
` a conflagration. Breathing that sea breeze, so much more `
` invigorating and balsamic as the land is approached, `
` contemplating all the power of those preparations she was `
` commissioned to destroy, all the power of that army which she was `
` to combat alone--she, a woman with a few bags of gold--Milady `
` compared herself mentally to Judith, the terrible Jewess, when `
` she penetrated the camp of the Assyrians and beheld the enormous `
` mass of chariots, horses, men, and arms, which a gesture of her `
` hand was to dissipate like a cloud of smoke. `
` `
` They entered the roadstead; but as they drew near in order to `
` cast anchor, a little cutter, looking like a coastguard `
` formidably armed, approached the merchant vessel and dropped into `
` the sea a boat which directed its course to the ladder. This `
` boat contained an officer, a mate, and eight rowers. The officer `
` alone went on board, where he was received with all the deference `
` inspired by the uniform. `
` `
` The officer conversed a few instants with the captain, gave him `
` several papers, of which he was the bearer, to read, and upon the `
` order of the merchant captain the whole crew of the vessel, both `
` passengers and sailors, were called upon deck. `
` `
` When this species of summons was made the officer inquired aloud `
` the point of the brig's departure, its route, its landings; and `
` to all these questions the captain replied without difficulty and `
` without hesitation. Then the officer began to pass in review all `
` the people, one after the other, and stopping when he came to `
` Milady, surveyed her very closely, but without addressing a `
` single word to her. `
` `
` He then returned to the captain, said a few words to him, and as `
` if from that moment the vessel was under his command, he ordered `
` a maneuver which the crew executed immediately. Then the vessel `
` resumed its course, still escorted by the little cutter, which `
` sailed side by side with it, menacing it with the mouths of its `
` six cannon. The boat followed in the wake of the ship, a speck `
` near the enormous mass. `
` `
` During the examination of Milady by the officer, as may well be `
` imagined, Milady on her part was not less scrutinizing in her `
` glances. But however great was the power of this woman with eyes `
` of flame in reading the hearts of those whose secrets she wished `
` to divine, she met this time with a countenance of such `
` impassivity that no discovery followed her investigation. The `
` officer who had stopped in front of her and studied her with so `
` much care might have been twenty-five or twenty-six years of age. `
` He was of pale complexion, with clear blue eyes, rather deeply `
` set; his mouth, fine and well cut, remained motionless in its `
` correct lines; his chin, strongly marked, denoted that strength `
` of will which in the ordinary Britannic type denotes mostly `
` nothing but obstinacy; a brow a little receding, as is proper for `
` poets, enthusiasts, and soldiers, was scarcely shaded by short `
` thin hair which, like the beard which covered the lower part of `
` his face, was of a beautiful deep chestnut color. `
` `
` When they entered the port, it was already night. The fog `
` increased the darkness, and formed round the sternlights and `
` lanterns of the jetty a circle like that which surrounds the moon `
` when the weather threatens to become rainy. The air they `
` breathed was heavy, damp, and cold. `
` `
` Milady, that woman so courageous and firm, shivered in spite of `
` herself. `
` `
` The officer desired to have Milady's packages pointed out to him, `
` and ordered them to be placed in the boat. When this operation `
` was complete, he invited her to descend by offering her his hand. `
` `
` Milady looked at this man, and hesitated. "Who are you, sir," `
` asked she, "who has the kindness to trouble yourself so `
` particularly on my account?" `
` `
` "You may perceive, madame, by my uniform, that I am an officer in `
` the English navy," replied the young man. `
` `
` "But is it the custom for the officers in the English navy to `
` place themselves at the service of their female compatriots when `
` they land in a port of Great Britain, and carry their gallantry `
` so far as to conduct them ashore?" `
` `
` "Yes, madame, it is the custom, not from gallantry but prudence, `
` that in time of war foreigners should be conducted to particular `
` hotels, in order that they may remain under the eye of the `
` government until full information can be obtained about them." `
` `
` These words were pronounced with the most exact politeness and `
` the most perfect calmness. Nevertheless, they had not the power `
` of convincing Milady. `
` `
` "But I am not a foreigner, sir," said she, with an accent as pure `
` as ever was heard between Portsmouth and Manchester; "my name is `
` Lady Clarik, and this measure--" `
` `
` "This measure is general, madame; and you will seek in vain to `
` evade it." `
` `
` "I will follow you, then, sir." `
` `
` Accepting the hand of the officer, she began the descent of the `
` ladder, at the foot of which the boat waited. The officer `
` followed her. A large cloak was spread at the stern; the officer `
` requested her to sit down upon this cloak, and placed himself `
` beside her. `
` `
` "Row!" said he to the sailors. `
` `
` The eight oars fell at once into the sea, making but a single `
` sound, giving but a single stroke, and the boat seemed to fly `
` over the surface of the water. `
` `
` In five minutes they gained the land. `
` `
` The officer leaped to the pier, and offered his hand to Milady. `
` A carriage was in waiting. `
` `
` "Is this carriage for us?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "Yes, madame," replied the officer. `
` `
` "The hotel, then, is far away?" `
` `
` "At the other end of the town." `
` `
` "Very well," said Milady; and she resolutely entered the `
` carriage. `
` `
` The officer saw that the baggage was fastened carefully behind `
` the carriage; and this operation ended, he took his place beside `
` Milady, and shut the door. `
` `
` Immediately, without any order being given or his place of `
` destination indicated, the coachman set off at a rapid pace, and `
` plunged into the streets of the city. `
` `
` So strange a reception naturally gave Milady ample matter for `
` reflection; so seeing that the young officer did not seem at all `
` disposed for conversation, she reclined in her corner of the `
` carriage, and one after the other passed in review all the `
` surmises which presented themselves to her mind. `
` `
` At the end of a quarter of an hour, however, surprised at the `
` length of the journey, she leaned forward toward the door to see `
` whither she was being conducted. Houses were no longer to be `
` seen; trees appeared in the darkness like great black phantoms `
` chasing one another. Milady shuddered. `
` `
` "But we are no longer in the city, sir," said she. `
` `
` The young officer preserved silence. `
` `
` "I beg you to understand, sir, I will go no farther unless you `
` tell me whither you are taking me." `
`