Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
of an acknowledged and intelligent enemy. `
` `
` "Yes, let us chat, brother," said she, with a kind of `
` cheerfulness, decided as she was to draw from the conversation, `
` in spite of all the dissimulation Lord de Winter could bring, the `
` revelations of which she stood in need to regulate her future `
` conduct. `
` `
` "You have, then, decided to come to England again," said Lord de `
` Winter, "in spite of the resolutions you so often expressed in `
` Paris never to set your feet on British ground?" `
` `
` Milady replied to this question by another question. "To begin `
` with, tell me," said she, "how have you watched me so closely as `
` to be aware beforehand not only of my arrival, but even of the `
` day, the hour, and the port at which I should arrive?" `
` `
` Lord de Winter adopted the same tactics as Milady, thinking that `
` as his sister-in-law employed them they must be the best. `
` `
` "But tell me, my dear sister," replied he, "what makes you come `
` to England?" `
` `
` "I come to see you," replied Milady, without knowing how much she `
` aggravated by this reply the suspicions to which d'Artagnan's `
` letter had given birth in the mind of her brother-in-law, and `
` only desiring to gain the good will of her auditor by a `
` falsehood. `
` `
` "Ah, to see me?" said de Winter, cunningly. `
` `
` "To be sure, to see you. What is there astonishing in that?" `
` `
` "And you had no other object in coming to England but to see me?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "So it was for me alone you have taken the trouble to cross the `
` Channel?" `
` `
` "For you alone." `
` `
` "The deuce! What tenderness, my sister!" `
` `
` "But am I not your nearest relative?" demanded Milady, with a `
` tone of the most touching ingenuousness. `
` `
` "And my only heir, are you not?" said Lord de Winter in his turn, `
` fixing his eyes on those of Milady. `
` `
` Whatever command she had over herself, Milady could not help `
` starting; and as in pronouncing the last words Lord de Winter `
` placed his hand upon the arm of his sister, this start did not `
` escape him. `
` `
` In fact, the blow was direct and severe. The first idea that `
` occurred to Milady's mind was that she had been betrayed by `
` Kitty, and that she had recounted to the baron the selfish `
` aversion toward himself of which she had imprudently allowed some `
` marks to escape before her servant. She also recollected the `
` furious and imprudent attack she had made upon d'Artagnan when he `
` spared the life of her brother. `
` `
` "I do not understand, my Lord," said she, in order to gain time `
` and make her adversary speak out. "What do you mean to say? Is `
` there any secret meaning concealed beneath your words?" `
` `
` "Oh, my God, no!" said Lord de Winter, with apparent good nature. `
` "You wish to see me, and you come to England. I learn this `
` desire, or rather I suspect that you feel it; and in order to `
` spare you all the annoyances of a nocturnal arrival in a port and `
` all the fatigues of landing, I send one of my officers to meet `
` you, I place a carriage at his orders, and he brings you hither `
` to this castle, of which I am governor, whither I come every day, `
` and where, in order to satisfy our mutual desire of seeing each `
` other, I have prepared you a chamber. What is there more `
` astonishing in all that I have said to you than in what you have `
` told me?" `
` `
` "No; what I think astonishing is that you should expect my `
` coming." `
` `
` "And yet that is the most simple thing in the world, my dear `
` sister. Have you not observed that the captain of your little `
` vessel, on entering the roadstead, sent forward, in order to `
` obtain permission to enter the port, a little boat bearing his `
` logbook and the register of his voyagers? I am commandant of the `
` port. They brought me that book. I recognized your name in it. `
` My heart told me what your mouth has just confirmed--that is to `
` say, with what view you have exposed yourself to the dangers of a `
` sea so perilous, or at least so troublesome at this moment--and I `
` sent my cutter to meet you. You know the rest." `
` `
` Milady knew that Lord de Winter lied, and she was the more `
` alarmed. `
` `
` "My brother," continued she, "was not that my Lord Buckingham `
` whom I saw on the jetty this evening as we arrived?" `
` `
` "Himself. Ah, I can understand how the sight of him struck you," `
` replied Lord de Winter. "You came from a country where he must `
` be very much talked of, and I know that his armaments against `
` France greatly engage the attention of your friend the cardinal." `
` `
` "My friend the cardinal!" cried Milady, seeing that on this point `
` as on the other Lord de Winter seemed well instructed. `
` `
` "Is he not your friend?" replied the baron, negligently. "Ah, `
` pardon! I thought so; but we will return to my Lord Duke `
` presently. Let us not depart from the sentimental turn our `
` conversation had taken. You came, you say, to see me?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Well, I reply that you shall be served to the height of your `
` wishes, and that we shall see each other every day." `
` `
` "Am I, then, to remain here eternally?" demanded Milady, with a `
` certain terror. `
` `
` "Do you find yourself badly lodged, sister? Demand anything you `
` want, and I will hasten to have you furnished with it." `
` `
` "But I have neither my women nor my servants." `
` `
` "You shall have all, madame. Tell me on what footing your `
` household was established by your first husband, and although I `
` am only your brother-in-law, I will arrange one similar." `
` `
` "My first husband!" cried Milady, looking at Lord de Winter with `
` eyes almost starting from their sockets. `
` `
` "Yes, your French husband. I don't speak of my brother. If you `
` have forgotten, as he is still living, I can write to him and he `
` will send me information on the subject." `
` `
` A cold sweat burst from the brow of Milady. `
` `
` "You jest!" said she, in a hollow voice. `
` `
` "Do I look so?" asked the baron, rising and going a step `
` backward. `
` `
` "Or rather you insult me," continued she, pressing with her `
` stiffened hands the two arms of her easy chair, and raising `
` herself upon her wrists. `
` `
` "I insult you!" said Lord de Winter, with contempt. "In truth, `
` madame, do you think that can be possible?" `
` `
` "Indeed, sir," said Milady, "you must be either drunk or mad. `
` Leave the room, and send me a woman." `
` `
` "Women are very indiscreet, my sister. Cannot I serve you as a `
` waiting maid? By that means all our secrets will remain in the `
` family." `
` `
` "Insolent!" cried Milady; and as if acted upon by a spring, she `
` bounded toward the baron, who awaited her attack with his arms `
` crossed, but nevertheless with one hand on the hilt of his sword. `
` `
` "Come!" said he. "I know you are accustomed to assassinate `
` people; but I warn you I shall defend myself, even against you." `
` `
` "You are right," said Milady. "You have all the appearance of `
` being cowardly enough to lift your hand against a woman." `
` `
` "Perhaps so; and I have an excuse, for mine would not be the `
` first hand of a man that has been placed upon you, I imagine." `
` `
` And the baron pointed, with a slow and accusing gesture, to the `
` left shoulder of Milady, which he almost touched with his finger. `
` `
` Milady uttered a deep, inward shriek, and retreated to a corner `
` of the room like a panther which crouches for a spring. `
` `
` "Oh, growl as much as you please," cried Lord de Winter, "but `
` don't try to bite, for I warn you that it would be to your `
` disadvantage. There are here no procurators who regulate `
` successions beforehand. There is no knight-errant to come and `
` seek a quarrel with me on account of the fair lady I detain a `
` prisoner; but I have judges quite ready who will quickly dispose `
` of a woman so shameless as to glide, a bigamist, into the bed of `
` Lord de Winter, my brother. And these judges, I warn you, will `
` soon send you to an executioner who will make both your shoulders `
` alike." `
` `
` The eyes of Milady darted such flashes that although he was a man `
` and armed before an unarmed woman, he felt the chill of fear `
` glide through his whole frame. However, he continued all the `
` same, but with increasing warmth: "Yes, I can very well `
` understand that after having inherited the fortune of my brother `
` it would be very agreeable to you to be my heir likewise; but `
` know beforehand, if you kill me or cause me to be killed, my `
` precautions are taken. Not a penny of what I possess will pass `
` into your hands. Were you not already rich enough--you who `
` possess nearly a million? And could you not stop your fatal `
` career, if you did not do evil for the infinite and supreme joy `
` of doing it? Oh, be assured, if the memory of my brother were `
` not sacred to me, you should rot in a state dungeon or satisfy `
` the curiosity of sailors at Tyburn. I will be silent, but you `
`
` `
` "Yes, let us chat, brother," said she, with a kind of `
` cheerfulness, decided as she was to draw from the conversation, `
` in spite of all the dissimulation Lord de Winter could bring, the `
` revelations of which she stood in need to regulate her future `
` conduct. `
` `
` "You have, then, decided to come to England again," said Lord de `
` Winter, "in spite of the resolutions you so often expressed in `
` Paris never to set your feet on British ground?" `
` `
` Milady replied to this question by another question. "To begin `
` with, tell me," said she, "how have you watched me so closely as `
` to be aware beforehand not only of my arrival, but even of the `
` day, the hour, and the port at which I should arrive?" `
` `
` Lord de Winter adopted the same tactics as Milady, thinking that `
` as his sister-in-law employed them they must be the best. `
` `
` "But tell me, my dear sister," replied he, "what makes you come `
` to England?" `
` `
` "I come to see you," replied Milady, without knowing how much she `
` aggravated by this reply the suspicions to which d'Artagnan's `
` letter had given birth in the mind of her brother-in-law, and `
` only desiring to gain the good will of her auditor by a `
` falsehood. `
` `
` "Ah, to see me?" said de Winter, cunningly. `
` `
` "To be sure, to see you. What is there astonishing in that?" `
` `
` "And you had no other object in coming to England but to see me?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "So it was for me alone you have taken the trouble to cross the `
` Channel?" `
` `
` "For you alone." `
` `
` "The deuce! What tenderness, my sister!" `
` `
` "But am I not your nearest relative?" demanded Milady, with a `
` tone of the most touching ingenuousness. `
` `
` "And my only heir, are you not?" said Lord de Winter in his turn, `
` fixing his eyes on those of Milady. `
` `
` Whatever command she had over herself, Milady could not help `
` starting; and as in pronouncing the last words Lord de Winter `
` placed his hand upon the arm of his sister, this start did not `
` escape him. `
` `
` In fact, the blow was direct and severe. The first idea that `
` occurred to Milady's mind was that she had been betrayed by `
` Kitty, and that she had recounted to the baron the selfish `
` aversion toward himself of which she had imprudently allowed some `
` marks to escape before her servant. She also recollected the `
` furious and imprudent attack she had made upon d'Artagnan when he `
` spared the life of her brother. `
` `
` "I do not understand, my Lord," said she, in order to gain time `
` and make her adversary speak out. "What do you mean to say? Is `
` there any secret meaning concealed beneath your words?" `
` `
` "Oh, my God, no!" said Lord de Winter, with apparent good nature. `
` "You wish to see me, and you come to England. I learn this `
` desire, or rather I suspect that you feel it; and in order to `
` spare you all the annoyances of a nocturnal arrival in a port and `
` all the fatigues of landing, I send one of my officers to meet `
` you, I place a carriage at his orders, and he brings you hither `
` to this castle, of which I am governor, whither I come every day, `
` and where, in order to satisfy our mutual desire of seeing each `
` other, I have prepared you a chamber. What is there more `
` astonishing in all that I have said to you than in what you have `
` told me?" `
` `
` "No; what I think astonishing is that you should expect my `
` coming." `
` `
` "And yet that is the most simple thing in the world, my dear `
` sister. Have you not observed that the captain of your little `
` vessel, on entering the roadstead, sent forward, in order to `
` obtain permission to enter the port, a little boat bearing his `
` logbook and the register of his voyagers? I am commandant of the `
` port. They brought me that book. I recognized your name in it. `
` My heart told me what your mouth has just confirmed--that is to `
` say, with what view you have exposed yourself to the dangers of a `
` sea so perilous, or at least so troublesome at this moment--and I `
` sent my cutter to meet you. You know the rest." `
` `
` Milady knew that Lord de Winter lied, and she was the more `
` alarmed. `
` `
` "My brother," continued she, "was not that my Lord Buckingham `
` whom I saw on the jetty this evening as we arrived?" `
` `
` "Himself. Ah, I can understand how the sight of him struck you," `
` replied Lord de Winter. "You came from a country where he must `
` be very much talked of, and I know that his armaments against `
` France greatly engage the attention of your friend the cardinal." `
` `
` "My friend the cardinal!" cried Milady, seeing that on this point `
` as on the other Lord de Winter seemed well instructed. `
` `
` "Is he not your friend?" replied the baron, negligently. "Ah, `
` pardon! I thought so; but we will return to my Lord Duke `
` presently. Let us not depart from the sentimental turn our `
` conversation had taken. You came, you say, to see me?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Well, I reply that you shall be served to the height of your `
` wishes, and that we shall see each other every day." `
` `
` "Am I, then, to remain here eternally?" demanded Milady, with a `
` certain terror. `
` `
` "Do you find yourself badly lodged, sister? Demand anything you `
` want, and I will hasten to have you furnished with it." `
` `
` "But I have neither my women nor my servants." `
` `
` "You shall have all, madame. Tell me on what footing your `
` household was established by your first husband, and although I `
` am only your brother-in-law, I will arrange one similar." `
` `
` "My first husband!" cried Milady, looking at Lord de Winter with `
` eyes almost starting from their sockets. `
` `
` "Yes, your French husband. I don't speak of my brother. If you `
` have forgotten, as he is still living, I can write to him and he `
` will send me information on the subject." `
` `
` A cold sweat burst from the brow of Milady. `
` `
` "You jest!" said she, in a hollow voice. `
` `
` "Do I look so?" asked the baron, rising and going a step `
` backward. `
` `
` "Or rather you insult me," continued she, pressing with her `
` stiffened hands the two arms of her easy chair, and raising `
` herself upon her wrists. `
` `
` "I insult you!" said Lord de Winter, with contempt. "In truth, `
` madame, do you think that can be possible?" `
` `
` "Indeed, sir," said Milady, "you must be either drunk or mad. `
` Leave the room, and send me a woman." `
` `
` "Women are very indiscreet, my sister. Cannot I serve you as a `
` waiting maid? By that means all our secrets will remain in the `
` family." `
` `
` "Insolent!" cried Milady; and as if acted upon by a spring, she `
` bounded toward the baron, who awaited her attack with his arms `
` crossed, but nevertheless with one hand on the hilt of his sword. `
` `
` "Come!" said he. "I know you are accustomed to assassinate `
` people; but I warn you I shall defend myself, even against you." `
` `
` "You are right," said Milady. "You have all the appearance of `
` being cowardly enough to lift your hand against a woman." `
` `
` "Perhaps so; and I have an excuse, for mine would not be the `
` first hand of a man that has been placed upon you, I imagine." `
` `
` And the baron pointed, with a slow and accusing gesture, to the `
` left shoulder of Milady, which he almost touched with his finger. `
` `
` Milady uttered a deep, inward shriek, and retreated to a corner `
` of the room like a panther which crouches for a spring. `
` `
` "Oh, growl as much as you please," cried Lord de Winter, "but `
` don't try to bite, for I warn you that it would be to your `
` disadvantage. There are here no procurators who regulate `
` successions beforehand. There is no knight-errant to come and `
` seek a quarrel with me on account of the fair lady I detain a `
` prisoner; but I have judges quite ready who will quickly dispose `
` of a woman so shameless as to glide, a bigamist, into the bed of `
` Lord de Winter, my brother. And these judges, I warn you, will `
` soon send you to an executioner who will make both your shoulders `
` alike." `
` `
` The eyes of Milady darted such flashes that although he was a man `
` and armed before an unarmed woman, he felt the chill of fear `
` glide through his whole frame. However, he continued all the `
` same, but with increasing warmth: "Yes, I can very well `
` understand that after having inherited the fortune of my brother `
` it would be very agreeable to you to be my heir likewise; but `
` know beforehand, if you kill me or cause me to be killed, my `
` precautions are taken. Not a penny of what I possess will pass `
` into your hands. Were you not already rich enough--you who `
` possess nearly a million? And could you not stop your fatal `
` career, if you did not do evil for the infinite and supreme joy `
` of doing it? Oh, be assured, if the memory of my brother were `
` not sacred to me, you should rot in a state dungeon or satisfy `
` the curiosity of sailors at Tyburn. I will be silent, but you `
`