Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
developments?" `
` `
` "I thought so, my lord," said Felton; "but as the prisoner is a `
` woman, after all, I wish to pay her the attention that every man `
` of gentle birth owes to a woman, if not on her account, at least `
` on my own." `
` `
` Milady shuddered through her whole system. These words of `
` Felton's passed like ice through her veins. `
` `
` "So," replied de Winter, laughing, "that beautiful hair so `
` skillfully disheveled, that white skin, and that languishing `
` look, have not yet seduced you, you heart of stone?" `
` `
` "No, my Lord," replied the impassive young man; "your Lordship `
` may be assured that it requires more than the tricks and coquetry `
` of a woman to corrupt me." `
` `
` "In that case, my brave lieutenant, let us leave Milady to find `
` out something else, and go to supper; but be easy! She has a `
` fruitful imagination, and the second act of the comedy will not `
` delay its steps after the first." `
` `
` And at these words Lord de Winter passed his arm through that of `
` Felton, and led him out, laughing. `
` `
` "Oh, I will be a match for you!" murmured Milady, between her `
` teeth; "be assured of that, you poor spoiled monk, you poor `
` converted soldier, who has cut his uniform out of a monk's `
` frock!" `
` `
` "By the way," resumed de Winter, stopping at the threshold of the `
` door, "you must not, Milady, let this check take away your `
` appetite. Taste that fowl and those fish. On my honor, they are `
` not poisoned. I have a very good cook, and he is not to be my `
` heir; I have full and perfect confidence in him. Do as I do. `
` Adieu, dear sister, till your next swoon!" `
` `
` This was all that Milady could endure. Her hands clutched her `
` armchair; she ground her teeth inwardly; her eyes followed the `
` motion of the door as it closed behind Lord de Winter and Felton, `
` and the moment she was alone a fresh fit of despair seized her. `
` She cast her eyes upon the table, saw the glittering of a knife, `
` rushed toward it and clutched it; but her disappointment was `
` cruel. The blade was round, and of flexible silver. `
` `
` A burst of laughter resounded from the other side of the ill- `
` closed door, and the door reopened. `
` `
` "Ha, ha!" cried Lord de Winter; "ha, ha! Don't you see, my brave `
` Felton; don't you see what I told you? That knife was for you, `
` my lad; she would have killed you. Observe, this is one of her `
` peculiarities, to get rid thus, after one fashion or another, of `
` all the people who bother her. If I had listened to you, the `
` knife would have been pointed and of steel. Then no more of `
` Felton; she would have cut your throat, and after that everybody `
` else's. See, John, see how well she knows how to handle a `
` knife." `
` `
` In fact, Milady still held the harmless weapon in her clenched `
` hand; but these last words, this supreme insult, relaxed her `
` hands, her strength, and even her will. The knife fell to the `
` ground. `
` `
` "You were right, my Lord," said Felton, with a tone of profound `
` disgust which sounded to the very bottom of the heart of Milady, `
` "you were right, my Lord, and I was wrong." `
` `
` And both again left the room. `
` `
` But this time Milady lent a more attentive ear than the first, `
` and she heard their steps die away in the distance of the `
` corridor. `
` `
` "I am lost," murmured she; "I am lost! I am in the power of men `
` upon whom I can have no more influence than upon statues of `
` bronze or granite; they know me by heart, and are steeled against `
` all my weapons. It is, however, impossible that this should end `
` as they have decreed!" `
` `
` In fact, as this last reflection indicated--this instinctive `
` return to hope--sentiments of weakness or fear did not dwell long `
` in her ardent spirit. Milady sat down to table, ate from several `
` dishes, drank a little Spanish wine, and felt all her resolution `
` return. `
` `
` Before she went to bed she had pondered, analyzed, turned on all `
` sides, examined on all points, the words, the steps, the `
` gestures, the signs, and even the silence of her interlocutors; `
` and of this profound, skillful, and anxious study the result was `
` that Felton, everything considered, appeared the more vulnerable `
` of her two persecutors. `
` `
` One expression above all recurred to the mind of the prisoner: `
` "If I had listened to you," Lord de Winter had said to Felton. `
` `
` Felton, then, had spoken in her favor, since Lord de Winter had `
` not been willing to listen to him. `
` `
` "Weak or strong," repeated Milady, "that man has, then, a spark `
` of pity in his soul; of that spark I will make a flame that shall `
` devour him. As to the other, he knows me, he fears me, and knows `
` what he has to expect of me if ever I escape from his hands. It `
` is useless, then, to attempt anything with him. But Felton-- `
` that's another thing. He is a young, ingenuous, pure man who `
` seems virtuous; him there are means of destroying." `
` `
` And Milady went to bed and fell asleep with a smile upon her `
` lips. Anyone who had seen her sleeping might have said she was a `
` young girl dreaming of the crown of flowers she was to wear on `
` her brow at the next festival. `
` `
` `
` `
` 53 CAPTIVITY: THE SECOND DAY `
` `
` Milady dreamed that she at length had d'Artagnan in her power, `
` that she was present at his execution; and it was the sight of `
` his odious blood, flowing beneath the ax of the headsman, which `
` spread that charming smile upon her lips. `
` `
` She slept as a prisoner sleeps, rocked by his first hope. `
` `
` In the morning, when they entered her chamber she was still in `
` bed. Felton remained in the corridor. He brought with him the `
` woman of whom he had spoken the evening before, and who had just `
` arrived; this woman entered, and approaching Milady's bed, `
` offered her services. `
` `
` Milady was habitually pale; her complexion might therefore `
` deceive a person who saw her for the first time. `
` `
` "I am in a fever," said she; "I have not slept a single instant `
` during all this long night. I suffer horribly. Are you likely `
` to be more humane to me than others were yesterday? All I ask is `
` permission to remain abed." `
` `
` "Would you like to have a physician called?" said the woman. `
` `
` Felton listened to this dialogue without speaking a word. `
` `
` Milady reflected that the more people she had around her the more `
` she would have to work upon, and Lord de Winter would redouble `
` his watch. Besides, the physician might declare the ailment `
` feigned; and Milady, after having lost the first trick, was not `
` willing to lose the second. `
` `
` "Go and fetch a physician?" said she. "What could be the good of `
` that? These gentlemen declared yesterday that my illness was a `
` comedy; it would be just the same today, no doubt--for since `
` yesterday evening they have had plenty of time to send for a `
` doctor." `
` `
` "Then," said Felton, who became impatient, "say yourself, madame, `
` what treatment you wish followed." `
` `
` "Eh, how can I tell? My God! I know that I suffer, that's all. `
` Give me anything you like, it is of little consequence." `
` `
` "Go and fetch Lord de Winter," said Felton, tired of these `
` eternal complaints. `
` `
` "Oh, no, no!" cried Milady; "no, sir, do not call him, I conjure `
` you. I am well, I want nothing; do not call him." `
` `
` She gave so much vehemence, such magnetic eloquence to this `
` exclamation, that Felton in spite of himself advanced some steps `
` into the room. `
` `
` "He has come!" thought Milady. `
` `
` "Meanwhile, madame, if you really suffer," said Felton, "a `
` physician shall be sent for; and if you deceive us--well, it will `
` be the worse for you. But at least we shall not have to reproach `
` ourselves with anything." `
` `
` Milady made no reply, but turning her beautiful head round upon `
` her pillow, she burst into tears, and uttered heartbreaking sobs. `
` `
` Felton surveyed her for an instant with his usual impassiveness; `
` then, seeing that the crisis threatened to be prolonged, he went `
` out. The woman followed him, and Lord de Winter did not appear. `
` `
` "I fancy I begin to see my way," murmured Milady, with a savage `
` joy, burying herself under the clothes to conceal from anybody `
` who might be watching her this burst of inward satisfaction. `
` `
` Two hours passed away. `
` `
` "Now it is time that the malady should be over," said she; "let `
` me rise, and obtain some success this very day. I have but ten `
` days, and this evening two of them will be gone." `
` `
` In the morning, when they entered Milady's chamber they had `
` brought her breakfast. Now, she thought, they could not long `
` delay coming to clear the table, and that Felton would then `
` reappear. `
` `
` Milady was not deceived. Felton reappeared, and without `
` observing whether Milady had or had not touched her repast, made `
` a sign that the table should be carried out of the room, it `
`
` `
` "I thought so, my lord," said Felton; "but as the prisoner is a `
` woman, after all, I wish to pay her the attention that every man `
` of gentle birth owes to a woman, if not on her account, at least `
` on my own." `
` `
` Milady shuddered through her whole system. These words of `
` Felton's passed like ice through her veins. `
` `
` "So," replied de Winter, laughing, "that beautiful hair so `
` skillfully disheveled, that white skin, and that languishing `
` look, have not yet seduced you, you heart of stone?" `
` `
` "No, my Lord," replied the impassive young man; "your Lordship `
` may be assured that it requires more than the tricks and coquetry `
` of a woman to corrupt me." `
` `
` "In that case, my brave lieutenant, let us leave Milady to find `
` out something else, and go to supper; but be easy! She has a `
` fruitful imagination, and the second act of the comedy will not `
` delay its steps after the first." `
` `
` And at these words Lord de Winter passed his arm through that of `
` Felton, and led him out, laughing. `
` `
` "Oh, I will be a match for you!" murmured Milady, between her `
` teeth; "be assured of that, you poor spoiled monk, you poor `
` converted soldier, who has cut his uniform out of a monk's `
` frock!" `
` `
` "By the way," resumed de Winter, stopping at the threshold of the `
` door, "you must not, Milady, let this check take away your `
` appetite. Taste that fowl and those fish. On my honor, they are `
` not poisoned. I have a very good cook, and he is not to be my `
` heir; I have full and perfect confidence in him. Do as I do. `
` Adieu, dear sister, till your next swoon!" `
` `
` This was all that Milady could endure. Her hands clutched her `
` armchair; she ground her teeth inwardly; her eyes followed the `
` motion of the door as it closed behind Lord de Winter and Felton, `
` and the moment she was alone a fresh fit of despair seized her. `
` She cast her eyes upon the table, saw the glittering of a knife, `
` rushed toward it and clutched it; but her disappointment was `
` cruel. The blade was round, and of flexible silver. `
` `
` A burst of laughter resounded from the other side of the ill- `
` closed door, and the door reopened. `
` `
` "Ha, ha!" cried Lord de Winter; "ha, ha! Don't you see, my brave `
` Felton; don't you see what I told you? That knife was for you, `
` my lad; she would have killed you. Observe, this is one of her `
` peculiarities, to get rid thus, after one fashion or another, of `
` all the people who bother her. If I had listened to you, the `
` knife would have been pointed and of steel. Then no more of `
` Felton; she would have cut your throat, and after that everybody `
` else's. See, John, see how well she knows how to handle a `
` knife." `
` `
` In fact, Milady still held the harmless weapon in her clenched `
` hand; but these last words, this supreme insult, relaxed her `
` hands, her strength, and even her will. The knife fell to the `
` ground. `
` `
` "You were right, my Lord," said Felton, with a tone of profound `
` disgust which sounded to the very bottom of the heart of Milady, `
` "you were right, my Lord, and I was wrong." `
` `
` And both again left the room. `
` `
` But this time Milady lent a more attentive ear than the first, `
` and she heard their steps die away in the distance of the `
` corridor. `
` `
` "I am lost," murmured she; "I am lost! I am in the power of men `
` upon whom I can have no more influence than upon statues of `
` bronze or granite; they know me by heart, and are steeled against `
` all my weapons. It is, however, impossible that this should end `
` as they have decreed!" `
` `
` In fact, as this last reflection indicated--this instinctive `
` return to hope--sentiments of weakness or fear did not dwell long `
` in her ardent spirit. Milady sat down to table, ate from several `
` dishes, drank a little Spanish wine, and felt all her resolution `
` return. `
` `
` Before she went to bed she had pondered, analyzed, turned on all `
` sides, examined on all points, the words, the steps, the `
` gestures, the signs, and even the silence of her interlocutors; `
` and of this profound, skillful, and anxious study the result was `
` that Felton, everything considered, appeared the more vulnerable `
` of her two persecutors. `
` `
` One expression above all recurred to the mind of the prisoner: `
` "If I had listened to you," Lord de Winter had said to Felton. `
` `
` Felton, then, had spoken in her favor, since Lord de Winter had `
` not been willing to listen to him. `
` `
` "Weak or strong," repeated Milady, "that man has, then, a spark `
` of pity in his soul; of that spark I will make a flame that shall `
` devour him. As to the other, he knows me, he fears me, and knows `
` what he has to expect of me if ever I escape from his hands. It `
` is useless, then, to attempt anything with him. But Felton-- `
` that's another thing. He is a young, ingenuous, pure man who `
` seems virtuous; him there are means of destroying." `
` `
` And Milady went to bed and fell asleep with a smile upon her `
` lips. Anyone who had seen her sleeping might have said she was a `
` young girl dreaming of the crown of flowers she was to wear on `
` her brow at the next festival. `
` `
` `
` `
` 53 CAPTIVITY: THE SECOND DAY `
` `
` Milady dreamed that she at length had d'Artagnan in her power, `
` that she was present at his execution; and it was the sight of `
` his odious blood, flowing beneath the ax of the headsman, which `
` spread that charming smile upon her lips. `
` `
` She slept as a prisoner sleeps, rocked by his first hope. `
` `
` In the morning, when they entered her chamber she was still in `
` bed. Felton remained in the corridor. He brought with him the `
` woman of whom he had spoken the evening before, and who had just `
` arrived; this woman entered, and approaching Milady's bed, `
` offered her services. `
` `
` Milady was habitually pale; her complexion might therefore `
` deceive a person who saw her for the first time. `
` `
` "I am in a fever," said she; "I have not slept a single instant `
` during all this long night. I suffer horribly. Are you likely `
` to be more humane to me than others were yesterday? All I ask is `
` permission to remain abed." `
` `
` "Would you like to have a physician called?" said the woman. `
` `
` Felton listened to this dialogue without speaking a word. `
` `
` Milady reflected that the more people she had around her the more `
` she would have to work upon, and Lord de Winter would redouble `
` his watch. Besides, the physician might declare the ailment `
` feigned; and Milady, after having lost the first trick, was not `
` willing to lose the second. `
` `
` "Go and fetch a physician?" said she. "What could be the good of `
` that? These gentlemen declared yesterday that my illness was a `
` comedy; it would be just the same today, no doubt--for since `
` yesterday evening they have had plenty of time to send for a `
` doctor." `
` `
` "Then," said Felton, who became impatient, "say yourself, madame, `
` what treatment you wish followed." `
` `
` "Eh, how can I tell? My God! I know that I suffer, that's all. `
` Give me anything you like, it is of little consequence." `
` `
` "Go and fetch Lord de Winter," said Felton, tired of these `
` eternal complaints. `
` `
` "Oh, no, no!" cried Milady; "no, sir, do not call him, I conjure `
` you. I am well, I want nothing; do not call him." `
` `
` She gave so much vehemence, such magnetic eloquence to this `
` exclamation, that Felton in spite of himself advanced some steps `
` into the room. `
` `
` "He has come!" thought Milady. `
` `
` "Meanwhile, madame, if you really suffer," said Felton, "a `
` physician shall be sent for; and if you deceive us--well, it will `
` be the worse for you. But at least we shall not have to reproach `
` ourselves with anything." `
` `
` Milady made no reply, but turning her beautiful head round upon `
` her pillow, she burst into tears, and uttered heartbreaking sobs. `
` `
` Felton surveyed her for an instant with his usual impassiveness; `
` then, seeing that the crisis threatened to be prolonged, he went `
` out. The woman followed him, and Lord de Winter did not appear. `
` `
` "I fancy I begin to see my way," murmured Milady, with a savage `
` joy, burying herself under the clothes to conceal from anybody `
` who might be watching her this burst of inward satisfaction. `
` `
` Two hours passed away. `
` `
` "Now it is time that the malady should be over," said she; "let `
` me rise, and obtain some success this very day. I have but ten `
` days, and this evening two of them will be gone." `
` `
` In the morning, when they entered Milady's chamber they had `
` brought her breakfast. Now, she thought, they could not long `
` delay coming to clear the table, and that Felton would then `
` reappear. `
` `
` Milady was not deceived. Felton reappeared, and without `
` observing whether Milady had or had not touched her repast, made `
` a sign that the table should be carried out of the room, it `
`