Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
tell me whither you are taking me." `
` `
` This threat brought no reply. `
` `
` "Oh, this is too much," cried Milady. "Help! help!" `
` `
` No voice replied to hers; the carriage continued to roll on with `
` rapidity; the officer seemed a statue. `
` `
` Milady looked at the officer with one of those terrible `
` expressions peculiar to her countenance, and which so rarely `
` failed of their effect; anger made her eyes flash in the `
` darkness. `
` `
` The young man remained immovable. `
` `
` Milady tried to open the door in order to throw herself out. `
` `
` "Take care, madame," said the young man, coolly, "you will kill `
` yourself in jumping." `
` `
` Milady reseated herself, foaming. The officer leaned forward, `
` looked at her in his turn, and appeared surprised to see that `
` face, just before so beautiful, distorted with passion and almost `
` hideous. The artful creature at once comprehended that she was `
` injuring herself by allowing him thus to read her soul; she `
` collected her features, and in a complaining voice said: "In the `
` name of heaven, sir, tell me if it is to you, if it is to your `
` government, if it is to an enemy I am to attribute the violence `
` that is done me?" `
` `
` "No violence will be offered to you, madame, and what happens to `
` you is the result of a very simple measure which we are obliged `
` to adopt with all who land in England." `
` `
` "Then you don't know me, sir?" `
` `
` "It is the first time I have had the honor of seeing you." `
` `
` "And on your honor, you have no cause of hatred against me?" `
` `
` "None, I swear to you." `
` `
` There was so much serenity, coolness, mildness even, in the voice `
` of the young man, that Milady felt reassured. `
` `
` At length after a journey of nearly an hour, the carriage stopped `
` before an iron gate, which closed an avenue leading to a castle `
` severe in form, massive, and isolated. Then, as the wheels `
` rolled over a fine gravel, Milady could hear a vast roaring, `
` which she at once recognized as the noise of the sea dashing `
` against some steep cliff. `
` `
` The carriage passed under two arched gateways, and at length `
` stopped in a court large, dark, and square. Almost immediately `
` the door of the carriage was opened, the young man sprang lightly `
` out and presented his hand to Milady, who leaned upon it, and in `
` her turn alighted with tolerable calmness. `
` `
` "Still, then, I am a prisoner," said Milady, looking around her, `
` and bringing back her eyes with a most gracious smile to the `
` young officer; "but I feel assured it will not be for long," `
` added she. "My own conscience and your politeness, sir, are the `
` guarantees of that." `
` `
` However flattering this compliment, the officer made no reply; `
` but drawing from his belt a little silver whistle, such as `
` boatswains use in ships of war, he whistled three times, with `
` three different modulations. Immediately several men appeared, `
` who unharnessed the smoking horses, and put the carriage into a `
` coach house. `
` `
` Then the officer, with the same calm politeness, invited his `
` prisoner to enter the house. She, with a still-smiling `
` countenance, took his arm, and passed with him under a low arched `
` door, which by a vaulted passage, lighted only at the farther `
` end, led to a stone staircase around an angle of stone. They `
` then came to a massive door, which after the introduction into `
` the lock of a key which the young man carried with him, turned `
` heavily upon its hinges, and disclosed the chamber destined for `
` Milady. `
` `
` With a single glance the prisoner took in the apartment in its `
` minutest details. It was a chamber whose furniture was at once `
` appropriate for a prisoner or a free man; and yet bars at the `
` windows and outside bolts at the door decided the question in `
` favor of the prison. `
` `
` In an instant all the strength of mind of this creature, though `
` drawn from the most vigorous sources, abandoned her; she sank `
` into a large easy chair, with her arms crossed, her head lowered, `
` and expecting every instant to see a judge enter to interrogate `
` her. `
` `
` But no one entered except two or three marines, who brought her `
` trunks and packages, deposited them in a corner, and retired `
` without speaking. `
` `
` The officer superintended all these details with the same `
` calmness Milady had constantly seen in him, never pronouncing a `
` word himself, and making himself obeyed by a gesture of his hand `
` or a sound of his whistle. `
` `
` It might have been said that between this man and his inferiors `
` spoken language did not exist, or had become useless. `
` `
` At length Milady could hold out no longer; she broke the silence. `
` "In the name of heaven, sir," cried she, "what means all that is `
` passing? Put an end to my doubts; I have courage enough for any `
` danger I can foresee, for every misfortune which I understand. `
` Where am I, and why am I here? If I am free, why these bars and `
` these doors? If I am a prisoner, what crime have I committed?" `
` `
` "You are here in the apartment destined for you, madame. I `
` received orders to go and take charge of you on the sea, and to `
` conduct you to this castle. This order I believe I have `
` accomplished with all the exactness of a soldier, but also with `
` the courtesy of a gentleman. There terminates, at least to the `
` present moment, the duty I had to fulfill toward you; the rest `
` concerns another person." `
` `
` "And who is that other person?" asked Milady, warmly. "Can you `
` not tell me his name?" `
` `
` At the moment a great jingling of spurs was heard on the stairs. `
` Some voices passed and faded away, and the sound of a single `
` footstep approached the door. `
` `
` "That person is here, madame," said the officer, leaving the `
` entrance open, and drawing himself up in an attitude of respect. `
` `
` At the same time the door opened; a man appeared on the `
` threshold. He was without a hat, carried a sword, and flourished `
` a handkerchief in his hand. `
` `
` Milady thought she recognized this shadow in the gloom; she `
` supported herself with one hand upon the arm of the chair, and `
` advanced her head as if to meet a certainty. `
` `
` The stranger advanced slowly, and as he advanced, after entering `
` into the circle of light projected by the lamp, Milady `
` involuntarily drew back. `
` `
` Then when she had no longer any doubt, she cried, in a state of `
` stupor, "What, my brother, is it you?" `
` `
` "Yes, fair lady!" replied Lord de Winter, making a bow, half `
` courteous, half ironical; "it is I, myself." `
` `
` "But this castle, then?" `
` `
` "Is mine." `
` `
` "This chamber?" `
` `
` "Is yours." `
` `
` "I am, then, your prisoner?" `
` `
` "Nearly so." `
` `
` "But this is a frightful abuse of power!" `
` `
` "No high-sounding words! Let us sit down and chat quietly, as `
` brother and sister ought to do." `
` `
` Then, turning toward the door, and seeing that the young officer `
` was waiting for his last orders, he said. "All is well, I thank `
` you; now leave us alone, Mr. Felton." `
` `
` `
` `
` 50 CHAT BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER `
` `
` During the time which Lord de Winter took to shut the door, close `
` a shutter, and draw a chair near to his sister-in-law's fauteuil, `
` Milady, anxiously thoughtful, plunged her glance into the depths `
` of possibility, and discovered all the plan, of which she could `
` not even obtain a glance as long as she was ignorant into whose `
` hands she had fallen. She knew her brother-in-law to be a worthy `
` gentleman, a bold hunter, an intrepid player, enterprising with `
` women, but by no means remarkable for his skill in intrigues. `
` How had he discovered her arrival, and caused her to be seized? `
` Why did he detain her? `
` `
` Athos had dropped some words which proved that the conversation `
` she had with the cardinal had fallen into outside ears; but she `
` could not suppose that he had dug a countermine so promptly and `
` so boldly. She rather feared that her preceding operations in `
` England might have been discovered. Buckingham might have `
` guessed that it was she who had cut off the two studs, and avenge `
` himself for that little treachery; but Buckingham was incapable `
` of going to any excess against a woman, particularly if that `
` woman was supposed to have acted from a feeling of jealousy. `
` `
` This supposition appeared to her most reasonable. It seemed to `
` her that they wanted to revenge the past, and not to anticipate `
` the future. At all events, she congratulated herself upon having `
` fallen into the hands of her brother-in-law, with whom she `
` reckoned she could deal very easily, rather than into the hands `
` of an acknowledged and intelligent enemy. `
`
` `
` This threat brought no reply. `
` `
` "Oh, this is too much," cried Milady. "Help! help!" `
` `
` No voice replied to hers; the carriage continued to roll on with `
` rapidity; the officer seemed a statue. `
` `
` Milady looked at the officer with one of those terrible `
` expressions peculiar to her countenance, and which so rarely `
` failed of their effect; anger made her eyes flash in the `
` darkness. `
` `
` The young man remained immovable. `
` `
` Milady tried to open the door in order to throw herself out. `
` `
` "Take care, madame," said the young man, coolly, "you will kill `
` yourself in jumping." `
` `
` Milady reseated herself, foaming. The officer leaned forward, `
` looked at her in his turn, and appeared surprised to see that `
` face, just before so beautiful, distorted with passion and almost `
` hideous. The artful creature at once comprehended that she was `
` injuring herself by allowing him thus to read her soul; she `
` collected her features, and in a complaining voice said: "In the `
` name of heaven, sir, tell me if it is to you, if it is to your `
` government, if it is to an enemy I am to attribute the violence `
` that is done me?" `
` `
` "No violence will be offered to you, madame, and what happens to `
` you is the result of a very simple measure which we are obliged `
` to adopt with all who land in England." `
` `
` "Then you don't know me, sir?" `
` `
` "It is the first time I have had the honor of seeing you." `
` `
` "And on your honor, you have no cause of hatred against me?" `
` `
` "None, I swear to you." `
` `
` There was so much serenity, coolness, mildness even, in the voice `
` of the young man, that Milady felt reassured. `
` `
` At length after a journey of nearly an hour, the carriage stopped `
` before an iron gate, which closed an avenue leading to a castle `
` severe in form, massive, and isolated. Then, as the wheels `
` rolled over a fine gravel, Milady could hear a vast roaring, `
` which she at once recognized as the noise of the sea dashing `
` against some steep cliff. `
` `
` The carriage passed under two arched gateways, and at length `
` stopped in a court large, dark, and square. Almost immediately `
` the door of the carriage was opened, the young man sprang lightly `
` out and presented his hand to Milady, who leaned upon it, and in `
` her turn alighted with tolerable calmness. `
` `
` "Still, then, I am a prisoner," said Milady, looking around her, `
` and bringing back her eyes with a most gracious smile to the `
` young officer; "but I feel assured it will not be for long," `
` added she. "My own conscience and your politeness, sir, are the `
` guarantees of that." `
` `
` However flattering this compliment, the officer made no reply; `
` but drawing from his belt a little silver whistle, such as `
` boatswains use in ships of war, he whistled three times, with `
` three different modulations. Immediately several men appeared, `
` who unharnessed the smoking horses, and put the carriage into a `
` coach house. `
` `
` Then the officer, with the same calm politeness, invited his `
` prisoner to enter the house. She, with a still-smiling `
` countenance, took his arm, and passed with him under a low arched `
` door, which by a vaulted passage, lighted only at the farther `
` end, led to a stone staircase around an angle of stone. They `
` then came to a massive door, which after the introduction into `
` the lock of a key which the young man carried with him, turned `
` heavily upon its hinges, and disclosed the chamber destined for `
` Milady. `
` `
` With a single glance the prisoner took in the apartment in its `
` minutest details. It was a chamber whose furniture was at once `
` appropriate for a prisoner or a free man; and yet bars at the `
` windows and outside bolts at the door decided the question in `
` favor of the prison. `
` `
` In an instant all the strength of mind of this creature, though `
` drawn from the most vigorous sources, abandoned her; she sank `
` into a large easy chair, with her arms crossed, her head lowered, `
` and expecting every instant to see a judge enter to interrogate `
` her. `
` `
` But no one entered except two or three marines, who brought her `
` trunks and packages, deposited them in a corner, and retired `
` without speaking. `
` `
` The officer superintended all these details with the same `
` calmness Milady had constantly seen in him, never pronouncing a `
` word himself, and making himself obeyed by a gesture of his hand `
` or a sound of his whistle. `
` `
` It might have been said that between this man and his inferiors `
` spoken language did not exist, or had become useless. `
` `
` At length Milady could hold out no longer; she broke the silence. `
` "In the name of heaven, sir," cried she, "what means all that is `
` passing? Put an end to my doubts; I have courage enough for any `
` danger I can foresee, for every misfortune which I understand. `
` Where am I, and why am I here? If I am free, why these bars and `
` these doors? If I am a prisoner, what crime have I committed?" `
` `
` "You are here in the apartment destined for you, madame. I `
` received orders to go and take charge of you on the sea, and to `
` conduct you to this castle. This order I believe I have `
` accomplished with all the exactness of a soldier, but also with `
` the courtesy of a gentleman. There terminates, at least to the `
` present moment, the duty I had to fulfill toward you; the rest `
` concerns another person." `
` `
` "And who is that other person?" asked Milady, warmly. "Can you `
` not tell me his name?" `
` `
` At the moment a great jingling of spurs was heard on the stairs. `
` Some voices passed and faded away, and the sound of a single `
` footstep approached the door. `
` `
` "That person is here, madame," said the officer, leaving the `
` entrance open, and drawing himself up in an attitude of respect. `
` `
` At the same time the door opened; a man appeared on the `
` threshold. He was without a hat, carried a sword, and flourished `
` a handkerchief in his hand. `
` `
` Milady thought she recognized this shadow in the gloom; she `
` supported herself with one hand upon the arm of the chair, and `
` advanced her head as if to meet a certainty. `
` `
` The stranger advanced slowly, and as he advanced, after entering `
` into the circle of light projected by the lamp, Milady `
` involuntarily drew back. `
` `
` Then when she had no longer any doubt, she cried, in a state of `
` stupor, "What, my brother, is it you?" `
` `
` "Yes, fair lady!" replied Lord de Winter, making a bow, half `
` courteous, half ironical; "it is I, myself." `
` `
` "But this castle, then?" `
` `
` "Is mine." `
` `
` "This chamber?" `
` `
` "Is yours." `
` `
` "I am, then, your prisoner?" `
` `
` "Nearly so." `
` `
` "But this is a frightful abuse of power!" `
` `
` "No high-sounding words! Let us sit down and chat quietly, as `
` brother and sister ought to do." `
` `
` Then, turning toward the door, and seeing that the young officer `
` was waiting for his last orders, he said. "All is well, I thank `
` you; now leave us alone, Mr. Felton." `
` `
` `
` `
` 50 CHAT BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER `
` `
` During the time which Lord de Winter took to shut the door, close `
` a shutter, and draw a chair near to his sister-in-law's fauteuil, `
` Milady, anxiously thoughtful, plunged her glance into the depths `
` of possibility, and discovered all the plan, of which she could `
` not even obtain a glance as long as she was ignorant into whose `
` hands she had fallen. She knew her brother-in-law to be a worthy `
` gentleman, a bold hunter, an intrepid player, enterprising with `
` women, but by no means remarkable for his skill in intrigues. `
` How had he discovered her arrival, and caused her to be seized? `
` Why did he detain her? `
` `
` Athos had dropped some words which proved that the conversation `
` she had with the cardinal had fallen into outside ears; but she `
` could not suppose that he had dug a countermine so promptly and `
` so boldly. She rather feared that her preceding operations in `
` England might have been discovered. Buckingham might have `
` guessed that it was she who had cut off the two studs, and avenge `
` himself for that little treachery; but Buckingham was incapable `
` of going to any excess against a woman, particularly if that `
` woman was supposed to have acted from a feeling of jealousy. `
` `
` This supposition appeared to her most reasonable. It seemed to `
` her that they wanted to revenge the past, and not to anticipate `
` the future. At all events, she congratulated herself upon having `
` fallen into the hands of her brother-in-law, with whom she `
` reckoned she could deal very easily, rather than into the hands `
` of an acknowledged and intelligent enemy. `
`