Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
We shall find her still in the despairing attitude in which we `
` left her, plunged in an abyss of dismal reflection--a dark hell `
` at the gate of which she has almost left hope behind, because for `
` the first time she doubts, for the first time she fears. `
` `
` On two occasions her fortune has failed her, on two occasions she `
` has found herself discovered and betrayed; and on these two `
` occasions it was to one fatal genius, sent doubtlessly by the `
` Lord to combat her, that she has succumbed. D'Artagnan has `
` conquered her--her, that invincible power of evil. `
` `
` He has deceived her in her love, humbled her in her pride, `
` thwarted her in her ambition; and now he ruins her fortune, `
` deprives her of liberty, and even threatens her life. Still `
` more, he has lifted the corner of her mask--that shield with `
` which she covered herself and which rendered her so strong. `
` `
` D'Artagnan has turned aside from Buckingham, whom she hates as `
` she hates everyone she has loved, the tempest with which `
` Richelieu threatened him in the person of the queen. D'Artagnan `
` had passed himself upon her as de Wardes, for whom she had `
` conceived one of those tigerlike fancies common to women of her `
` character. D'Artagnan knows that terrible secret which she has `
` sworn no one shall know without dying. In short, at the moment `
` in which she has just obtained from Richelieu a carte blanche by `
` the means of which she is about to take vengeance on her enemy, `
` this precious paper is torn from her hands, and it is d'Artagnan `
` who holds her prisoner and is about to send her to some filthy `
` Botany Bay, some infamous Tyburn of the Indian Ocean. `
` `
` All this she owes to d'Artagnan, without doubt. From whom can `
` come so many disgraces heaped upon her head, if not from him? He `
` alone could have transmitted to Lord de Winter all these `
` frightful secrets which he has discovered, one after another, by `
` a train of fatalities. He knows her brother-in-law. He must `
` have written to him. `
` `
` What hatred she distills! Motionless, with her burning and fixed `
` glances, in her solitary apartment, how well the outbursts of `
` passion which at times escape from the depths of her chest with `
` her respiration, accompany the sound of the surf which rises, `
` growls, roars, and breaks itself like an eternal and powerless `
` despair against the rocks on which is built this dark and lofty `
` castle! How many magnificent projects of vengeance she conceives `
` by the light of the flashes which her tempestuous passion casts `
` over her mind against Mme. Bonacieux, against Buckingham, but `
` above all against d'Artagnan--projects lost in the distance of `
` the future. `
` `
` Yes; but in order to avenge herself she must be free. And to be `
` free, a prisoner has to pierce a wall, detach bars, cut through a `
` floor--all undertakings which a patient and strong man may `
` accomplish, but before which the feverish irritations of a woman `
` must give way. Besides, to do all this, time is necessary-- `
` months, years; and she has ten or twelve days, as Lord de Winter, `
` her fraternal and terrible jailer, has told her. `
` `
` And yet, if she were a man she would attempt all this, and `
` perhaps might succeed; why, then, did heaven make the mistake of `
` placing that manlike soul in that frail and delicate body? `
` `
` The first moments of her captivity were terrible; a few `
` convulsions of rage which she could not suppress paid her debt of `
` feminine weakness to nature. But by degrees she overcame the `
` outbursts of her mad passion; and nervous tremblings which `
` agitated her frame disappeared, and she remained folded within `
` herself like a fatigued serpent in repose. `
` `
` "Go to, go to! I must have been mad to allow myself to be `
` carried away so," says she, gazing into the glass, which reflects `
` back to her eyes the burning glance by which she appears to `
` interrogate herself. "No violence; violence is the proof of `
` weakness. In the first place, I have never succeeded by that `
` means. Perhaps if I employed my strength against women I might `
` perchance find them weaker than myself, and consequently conquer `
` them; but it is with men that I struggle, and I am but a woman to `
` them. Let me fight like a woman, then; my strength is in my `
` weakness." `
` `
` Then, as if to render an account to herself of the changes she `
` could place upon her countenance, so mobile and so expressive, `
` she made it take all expressions from that of passionate anger, `
` which convulsed her features, to that of the most sweet, most `
` affectionate, and most seducing smile. Then her hair assumed `
` successively, under her skillful hands, all the undulations she `
` thought might assist the charms of her face. At length she `
` murmured, satisfied with herself, "Come, nothing is lost; I am `
` still beautiful." `
` `
` It was then nearly eight o'clock in the evening. Milady `
` perceived a bed; she calculated that the repose of a few hours `
` would not only refresh her head and her ideas, but still further, `
` her complexion. A better idea, however, came into her mind `
` before going to bed. She had heard something said about supper. `
` She had already been an hour in this apartment; they could not `
` long delay bringing her a repast. The prisoner did not wish to `
` lose time; and she resolved to make that very evening some `
` attempts to ascertain the nature of the ground she had to work `
` upon, by studying the characters of the men to whose guardianship `
` she was committed. `
` `
` A light appeared under the door; this light announced the `
` reappearance of her jailers. Milady, who had arisen, threw `
` herself quickly into the armchair, her head thrown back, her `
` beautiful hair unbound and disheveled, her bosom half bare `
` beneath her crumpled lace, one hand on her heart, and the other `
` hanging down. `
` `
` The bolts were drawn; the door groaned upon its hinges. Steps `
` sounded in the chamber, and drew near. `
` `
` "Place that table there," said a voice which the prisoner `
` recognized as that of Felton. `
` `
` The order was executed. `
` `
` "You will bring lights, and relieve the sentinel," continued `
` Felton. `
` `
` And this double order which the young lieutenant gave to the same `
` individuals proved to Milady that her servants were the same men `
` as her guards; that is to say, soldiers. `
` `
` Felton's orders were, for the rest, executed with a silent `
` rapidity that gave a good idea of the way in which he maintained `
` discipline. `
` `
` At length Felton, who had not yet looked at Milady, turned toward `
` her. `
` `
` "Ah, ah!" said he, "she is asleep; that's well. When she wakes `
` she can sup." And he made some steps toward the door. `
` `
` "But, my lieutenant," said a soldier, less stoical than his `
` chief, and who had approached Milady, "this woman is not asleep." `
` `
` "What, not asleep!" said Felton; "what is she doing, then?" `
` `
` "She has fainted. Her face is very pale, and I have listened in `
` vain; I do not hear her breathe." `
` `
` "You are right," said Felton, after having looked at Milady from `
` the spot on which he stood without moving a step toward her. "Go `
` and tell Lord de Winter that his prisoner has fainted--for this `
` event not having been foreseen, I don't know what to do." `
` `
` The soldier went out to obey the orders of his officer. Felton `
` sat down upon an armchair which happened to be near the door, and `
` waited without speaking a word, without making a gesture. Milady `
` possessed that great art, so much studied by women, of looking `
` through her long eyelashes without appearing to open the lids. `
` She perceived Felton, who sat with his back toward her. She `
` continued to look at him for nearly ten minutes, and in these ten `
` minutes the immovable guardian never turned round once. `
` `
` She then thought that Lord de Winter would come, and by his `
` presence give fresh strength to her jailer. Her first trial was `
` lost; she acted like a woman who reckons up her resources. As a `
` result she raised her head, opened her eyes, and sighed deeply. `
` `
` At this sigh Felton turned round. `
` `
` "Ah, you are awake, madame," he said; "then I have nothing more `
` to do here. If you want anything you can ring." `
` `
` "Oh, my God, my God! how I have suffered!" said Milady, in that `
` harmonious voice which, like that of the ancient enchantresses, `
` charmed all whom she wished to destroy. `
` `
` And she assumed, upon sitting up in the armchair, a still more `
` graceful and abandoned position than when she reclined. `
` `
` Felton arose. `
` `
` "You will be served, thus, madame, three times a day," said he. `
` "In the morning at nine o'clock, in the day at one o'clock, and `
` in the evening at eight. If that does not suit you, you can `
` point out what other hours you prefer, and in this respect your `
` wishes will be complied with." `
` `
` "But am I to remain always alone in this vast and dismal `
` chamber?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "A woman of the neighbourhood has been sent for, who will be `
` tomorrow at the castle, and will return as often as you desire `
` her presence." `
` `
` "I thank you, sir," replied the prisoner, humbly. `
` `
` Felton made a slight bow, and directed his steps toward the door. `
` At the moment he was about to go out, Lord de Winter appeared in `
` the corridor, followed by the soldier who had been sent to inform `
` him of the swoon of Milady. He held a vial of salts in his hand. `
` `
` "Well, what is it--what is going on here?" said he, in a jeering `
` voice, on seeing the prisoner sitting up and Felton about to go `
` out. "Is this corpse come to life already? Felton, my lad, did `
` you not perceive that you were taken for a novice, and that the `
` first act was being performed of a comedy of which we shall `
` doubtless have the pleasure of following out all the `
` developments?" `
`
` left her, plunged in an abyss of dismal reflection--a dark hell `
` at the gate of which she has almost left hope behind, because for `
` the first time she doubts, for the first time she fears. `
` `
` On two occasions her fortune has failed her, on two occasions she `
` has found herself discovered and betrayed; and on these two `
` occasions it was to one fatal genius, sent doubtlessly by the `
` Lord to combat her, that she has succumbed. D'Artagnan has `
` conquered her--her, that invincible power of evil. `
` `
` He has deceived her in her love, humbled her in her pride, `
` thwarted her in her ambition; and now he ruins her fortune, `
` deprives her of liberty, and even threatens her life. Still `
` more, he has lifted the corner of her mask--that shield with `
` which she covered herself and which rendered her so strong. `
` `
` D'Artagnan has turned aside from Buckingham, whom she hates as `
` she hates everyone she has loved, the tempest with which `
` Richelieu threatened him in the person of the queen. D'Artagnan `
` had passed himself upon her as de Wardes, for whom she had `
` conceived one of those tigerlike fancies common to women of her `
` character. D'Artagnan knows that terrible secret which she has `
` sworn no one shall know without dying. In short, at the moment `
` in which she has just obtained from Richelieu a carte blanche by `
` the means of which she is about to take vengeance on her enemy, `
` this precious paper is torn from her hands, and it is d'Artagnan `
` who holds her prisoner and is about to send her to some filthy `
` Botany Bay, some infamous Tyburn of the Indian Ocean. `
` `
` All this she owes to d'Artagnan, without doubt. From whom can `
` come so many disgraces heaped upon her head, if not from him? He `
` alone could have transmitted to Lord de Winter all these `
` frightful secrets which he has discovered, one after another, by `
` a train of fatalities. He knows her brother-in-law. He must `
` have written to him. `
` `
` What hatred she distills! Motionless, with her burning and fixed `
` glances, in her solitary apartment, how well the outbursts of `
` passion which at times escape from the depths of her chest with `
` her respiration, accompany the sound of the surf which rises, `
` growls, roars, and breaks itself like an eternal and powerless `
` despair against the rocks on which is built this dark and lofty `
` castle! How many magnificent projects of vengeance she conceives `
` by the light of the flashes which her tempestuous passion casts `
` over her mind against Mme. Bonacieux, against Buckingham, but `
` above all against d'Artagnan--projects lost in the distance of `
` the future. `
` `
` Yes; but in order to avenge herself she must be free. And to be `
` free, a prisoner has to pierce a wall, detach bars, cut through a `
` floor--all undertakings which a patient and strong man may `
` accomplish, but before which the feverish irritations of a woman `
` must give way. Besides, to do all this, time is necessary-- `
` months, years; and she has ten or twelve days, as Lord de Winter, `
` her fraternal and terrible jailer, has told her. `
` `
` And yet, if she were a man she would attempt all this, and `
` perhaps might succeed; why, then, did heaven make the mistake of `
` placing that manlike soul in that frail and delicate body? `
` `
` The first moments of her captivity were terrible; a few `
` convulsions of rage which she could not suppress paid her debt of `
` feminine weakness to nature. But by degrees she overcame the `
` outbursts of her mad passion; and nervous tremblings which `
` agitated her frame disappeared, and she remained folded within `
` herself like a fatigued serpent in repose. `
` `
` "Go to, go to! I must have been mad to allow myself to be `
` carried away so," says she, gazing into the glass, which reflects `
` back to her eyes the burning glance by which she appears to `
` interrogate herself. "No violence; violence is the proof of `
` weakness. In the first place, I have never succeeded by that `
` means. Perhaps if I employed my strength against women I might `
` perchance find them weaker than myself, and consequently conquer `
` them; but it is with men that I struggle, and I am but a woman to `
` them. Let me fight like a woman, then; my strength is in my `
` weakness." `
` `
` Then, as if to render an account to herself of the changes she `
` could place upon her countenance, so mobile and so expressive, `
` she made it take all expressions from that of passionate anger, `
` which convulsed her features, to that of the most sweet, most `
` affectionate, and most seducing smile. Then her hair assumed `
` successively, under her skillful hands, all the undulations she `
` thought might assist the charms of her face. At length she `
` murmured, satisfied with herself, "Come, nothing is lost; I am `
` still beautiful." `
` `
` It was then nearly eight o'clock in the evening. Milady `
` perceived a bed; she calculated that the repose of a few hours `
` would not only refresh her head and her ideas, but still further, `
` her complexion. A better idea, however, came into her mind `
` before going to bed. She had heard something said about supper. `
` She had already been an hour in this apartment; they could not `
` long delay bringing her a repast. The prisoner did not wish to `
` lose time; and she resolved to make that very evening some `
` attempts to ascertain the nature of the ground she had to work `
` upon, by studying the characters of the men to whose guardianship `
` she was committed. `
` `
` A light appeared under the door; this light announced the `
` reappearance of her jailers. Milady, who had arisen, threw `
` herself quickly into the armchair, her head thrown back, her `
` beautiful hair unbound and disheveled, her bosom half bare `
` beneath her crumpled lace, one hand on her heart, and the other `
` hanging down. `
` `
` The bolts were drawn; the door groaned upon its hinges. Steps `
` sounded in the chamber, and drew near. `
` `
` "Place that table there," said a voice which the prisoner `
` recognized as that of Felton. `
` `
` The order was executed. `
` `
` "You will bring lights, and relieve the sentinel," continued `
` Felton. `
` `
` And this double order which the young lieutenant gave to the same `
` individuals proved to Milady that her servants were the same men `
` as her guards; that is to say, soldiers. `
` `
` Felton's orders were, for the rest, executed with a silent `
` rapidity that gave a good idea of the way in which he maintained `
` discipline. `
` `
` At length Felton, who had not yet looked at Milady, turned toward `
` her. `
` `
` "Ah, ah!" said he, "she is asleep; that's well. When she wakes `
` she can sup." And he made some steps toward the door. `
` `
` "But, my lieutenant," said a soldier, less stoical than his `
` chief, and who had approached Milady, "this woman is not asleep." `
` `
` "What, not asleep!" said Felton; "what is she doing, then?" `
` `
` "She has fainted. Her face is very pale, and I have listened in `
` vain; I do not hear her breathe." `
` `
` "You are right," said Felton, after having looked at Milady from `
` the spot on which he stood without moving a step toward her. "Go `
` and tell Lord de Winter that his prisoner has fainted--for this `
` event not having been foreseen, I don't know what to do." `
` `
` The soldier went out to obey the orders of his officer. Felton `
` sat down upon an armchair which happened to be near the door, and `
` waited without speaking a word, without making a gesture. Milady `
` possessed that great art, so much studied by women, of looking `
` through her long eyelashes without appearing to open the lids. `
` She perceived Felton, who sat with his back toward her. She `
` continued to look at him for nearly ten minutes, and in these ten `
` minutes the immovable guardian never turned round once. `
` `
` She then thought that Lord de Winter would come, and by his `
` presence give fresh strength to her jailer. Her first trial was `
` lost; she acted like a woman who reckons up her resources. As a `
` result she raised her head, opened her eyes, and sighed deeply. `
` `
` At this sigh Felton turned round. `
` `
` "Ah, you are awake, madame," he said; "then I have nothing more `
` to do here. If you want anything you can ring." `
` `
` "Oh, my God, my God! how I have suffered!" said Milady, in that `
` harmonious voice which, like that of the ancient enchantresses, `
` charmed all whom she wished to destroy. `
` `
` And she assumed, upon sitting up in the armchair, a still more `
` graceful and abandoned position than when she reclined. `
` `
` Felton arose. `
` `
` "You will be served, thus, madame, three times a day," said he. `
` "In the morning at nine o'clock, in the day at one o'clock, and `
` in the evening at eight. If that does not suit you, you can `
` point out what other hours you prefer, and in this respect your `
` wishes will be complied with." `
` `
` "But am I to remain always alone in this vast and dismal `
` chamber?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "A woman of the neighbourhood has been sent for, who will be `
` tomorrow at the castle, and will return as often as you desire `
` her presence." `
` `
` "I thank you, sir," replied the prisoner, humbly. `
` `
` Felton made a slight bow, and directed his steps toward the door. `
` At the moment he was about to go out, Lord de Winter appeared in `
` the corridor, followed by the soldier who had been sent to inform `
` him of the swoon of Milady. He held a vial of salts in his hand. `
` `
` "Well, what is it--what is going on here?" said he, in a jeering `
` voice, on seeing the prisoner sitting up and Felton about to go `
` out. "Is this corpse come to life already? Felton, my lad, did `
` you not perceive that you were taken for a novice, and that the `
` first act was being performed of a comedy of which we shall `
` doubtless have the pleasure of following out all the `
` developments?" `
`