Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
them, they fired upon him, and he fell, struck by a ball `
` which broke his shoulder. `
` `
` Meantime d'Artagnan had thrown himself upon the other `
` soldier, attacking him with his sword. The conflict was not `
` long; the wretch had nothing to defend himself with but his `
` discharged arquebus. The sword of the Guardsman slipped `
` along the barrel of the now-useless weapon, and passed `
` through the thigh of the assassin, who fell. `
` `
` D'Artagnan immediately placed the point of his sword at his `
` throat. `
` `
` "Oh, do not kill me!" cried the bandit. "Pardon, pardon, my `
` officer, and I will tell you all." `
` `
` "Is your secret of enough importance to me to spare your `
` life for it?" asked the young man, withholding his arm. `
` `
` "Yes; if you think existence worth anything to a man of `
` twenty, as you are, and who may hope for everything, being `
` handsome and brave, as you are." `
` `
` "Wretch," cried d'Artagnan, "speak quickly! Who employed `
` you to assassinate me?" `
` `
` "A woman whom I don't know, but who is called Milady." `
` `
` "But if you don't know this woman, how do you know her `
` name?" `
` `
` "My comrade knows her, and called her so. It was with him `
` she agreed, and not with me; he even has in his pocket a `
` letter from that person, who attaches great importance to `
` you, as I have heard him say." `
` `
` "But how did you become concerned in this villainous `
` affair?" `
` `
` "He proposed to me to undertake it with him, and I agreed." `
` `
` "And how much did she give you for this fine enterprise?" `
` `
` "A hundred louis." `
` `
` "Well, come!" said the young man, laughing, "she thinks I am `
` worth something. A hundred louis? Well, that was a `
` temptation for two wretches like you. I understand why you `
` accepted it, and I grant you my pardon; but upon one `
` condition." `
` `
` "What is that?" said the soldier, uneasy at perceiving that `
` all was not over. `
` `
` "That you will go and fetch me the letter your comrade has `
` in his pocket." `
` `
` "But," cried the bandit, "that is only another way of `
` killing me. How can I go and fetch that letter under the `
` fire of the bastion?" `
` `
` "You must nevertheless make up your mind to go and get it, `
` or I swear you shall die by my hand." `
` `
` "Pardon, monsieur; pity! In the name of that young lady you `
` love, and whom you perhaps believe dead but who is not!" `
` cried the bandit, throwing himself upon his knees and `
` leaning upon his hand--for he began to lose his strength `
` with his blood. `
` `
` "And how do you know there is a young woman whom I love, and `
` that I believed that woman dead?" asked d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "By that letter which my comrade has in his pocket." `
` `
` "You see, then," said d'Artagnan, "that I must have that `
` letter. So no more delay, no more hesitation; or else `
` whatever may be my repugnance to soiling my sword a second `
` time with the blood of a wretch like you, I swear by my `
` faith as an honest man--" and at these words d'Artagnan made `
` so fierce a gesture that the wounded man sprang up. `
` `
` "Stop, stop!" cried he, regaining strength by force of `
` terror. "I will go--I will go!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan took the soldier's arquebus, made him go on `
` before him, and urged him toward his companion by pricking `
` him behind with his sword. `
` `
` It was a frightful thing to see this wretch, leaving a long `
` track of blood on the ground he passed over, pale with `
` approaching death, trying to drag himself along without `
` being seen to the body of his accomplice, which lay twenty `
` paces from him. `
` `
` Terror was so strongly painted on his face, covered with a `
` cold sweat, that d'Artagnan took pity on him, and casting `
` upon him a look of contempt, "Stop," said he, "I will show `
` you the difference between a man of courage and such a `
` coward as you. Stay where you are; I will go myself." `
` `
` And with a light step, an eye on the watch, observing the `
` movements of the enemy and taking advantage of the accidents `
` of the ground, d'Artagnan succeeded in reaching the second `
` soldier. `
` `
` There were two means of gaining his object--to search him on `
` the spot, or to carry him away, making a buckler of his `
` body, and search him in the trench. `
` `
` D'Artagnan preferred the second means, and lifted the `
` assassin onto his shoulders at the moment the enemy fired. `
` `
` A slight shock, the dull noise of three balls which `
` penetrated the flesh, a last cry, a convulsion of agony, `
` proved to d'Artagnan that the would-be assassin had saved `
` his life. `
` `
` D'Artagnan regained the trench, and threw the corpse beside `
` the wounded man, who was as pale as death. `
` `
` Then he began to search. A leather pocketbook, a purse, in `
` which was evidently a part of the sum which the bandit had `
` received, with a dice box and dice, completed the `
` possessions of the dead man. `
` `
` He left the box and dice where they fell, threw the purse to `
` the wounded man, and eagerly opened the pocketbook. `
` `
` Among some unimportant papers he found the following letter, `
` that which he had sought at the risk of his life: `
` `
` `
` "Since you have lost sight of that woman and she is now in `
` safety in the convent, which you should never have allowed `
` her to reach, try, at least, not to miss the man. If you `
` do, you know that my hand stretches far, and that you shall `
` pay very dearly for the hundred louis you have from me." `
` `
` `
` No signature. Nevertheless it was plain the letter came `
` from Milady. He consequently kept it as a piece of `
` evidence, and being in safety behind the angle of the `
` trench, he began to interrogate the wounded man. He `
` confessed that he had undertaken with his comrade--the same `
` who was killed--to carry off a young woman who was to leave `
` Paris by the Barriere de La Villette; but having stopped to `
` drink at a cabaret, they had missed the carriage by ten `
` minutes. `
` `
` "But what were you to do with that woman?" asked d'Artagnan, `
` with anguish. `
` `
` "We were to have conveyed her to a hotel in the Place `
` Royale," said the wounded man. `
` `
` "Yes, yes!" murmured d'Artagnan; "that's the place--Milady's `
` own residence!" `
` `
` Then the young man tremblingly comprehended what a terrible `
` thirst for vengeance urged this woman on to destroy him, as `
` well as all who loved him, and how well she must be `
` acquainted with the affairs of the court, since she had `
` discovered all. There could be no doubt she owed this `
` information to the cardinal. `
` `
` But amid all this he perceived, with a feeling of real joy, `
` that the queen must have discovered the prison in which poor `
` Mme. Bonacieux was explaining her devotion, and that she had `
` freed her from that prison; and the letter he had received `
` from the young woman, and her passage along the road of `
` Chaillot like an apparition, were now explained. `
` `
` Then also, as Athos had predicted, it became possible to `
` find Mme. Bonacieux, and a convent was not impregnable. `
` `
` This idea completely restored clemency to his heart. He `
` turned toward the wounded man, who had watched with intense `
` anxiety all the various expressions of his countenance, and `
` holding out his arm to him, said, "Come, I will not abandon `
` you thus. Lean upon me, and let us return to the camp." `
` `
` "Yes," said the man, who could scarcely believe in such `
` magnanimity, "but is it not to have me hanged?" `
` `
` "You have my word," said he; "for the second time I give you `
` your life." `
` `
` The wounded man sank upon his knees, to again kiss the feet `
` of his preserver; but d'Artagnan, who had no longer a motive `
` for staying so near the enemy, abridged the testimonials of `
` his gratitude. `
` `
` The Guardsman who had returned at the first discharge `
` announced the death of his four companions. They were `
` therefore much astonished and delighted in the regiment when `
` they saw the young man come back safe and sound. `
` `
` D'Artagnan explained the sword wound of his companion by a `
` sortie which he improvised. He described the death of the `
` other soldier, and the perils they had encountered. This `
`
` which broke his shoulder. `
` `
` Meantime d'Artagnan had thrown himself upon the other `
` soldier, attacking him with his sword. The conflict was not `
` long; the wretch had nothing to defend himself with but his `
` discharged arquebus. The sword of the Guardsman slipped `
` along the barrel of the now-useless weapon, and passed `
` through the thigh of the assassin, who fell. `
` `
` D'Artagnan immediately placed the point of his sword at his `
` throat. `
` `
` "Oh, do not kill me!" cried the bandit. "Pardon, pardon, my `
` officer, and I will tell you all." `
` `
` "Is your secret of enough importance to me to spare your `
` life for it?" asked the young man, withholding his arm. `
` `
` "Yes; if you think existence worth anything to a man of `
` twenty, as you are, and who may hope for everything, being `
` handsome and brave, as you are." `
` `
` "Wretch," cried d'Artagnan, "speak quickly! Who employed `
` you to assassinate me?" `
` `
` "A woman whom I don't know, but who is called Milady." `
` `
` "But if you don't know this woman, how do you know her `
` name?" `
` `
` "My comrade knows her, and called her so. It was with him `
` she agreed, and not with me; he even has in his pocket a `
` letter from that person, who attaches great importance to `
` you, as I have heard him say." `
` `
` "But how did you become concerned in this villainous `
` affair?" `
` `
` "He proposed to me to undertake it with him, and I agreed." `
` `
` "And how much did she give you for this fine enterprise?" `
` `
` "A hundred louis." `
` `
` "Well, come!" said the young man, laughing, "she thinks I am `
` worth something. A hundred louis? Well, that was a `
` temptation for two wretches like you. I understand why you `
` accepted it, and I grant you my pardon; but upon one `
` condition." `
` `
` "What is that?" said the soldier, uneasy at perceiving that `
` all was not over. `
` `
` "That you will go and fetch me the letter your comrade has `
` in his pocket." `
` `
` "But," cried the bandit, "that is only another way of `
` killing me. How can I go and fetch that letter under the `
` fire of the bastion?" `
` `
` "You must nevertheless make up your mind to go and get it, `
` or I swear you shall die by my hand." `
` `
` "Pardon, monsieur; pity! In the name of that young lady you `
` love, and whom you perhaps believe dead but who is not!" `
` cried the bandit, throwing himself upon his knees and `
` leaning upon his hand--for he began to lose his strength `
` with his blood. `
` `
` "And how do you know there is a young woman whom I love, and `
` that I believed that woman dead?" asked d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "By that letter which my comrade has in his pocket." `
` `
` "You see, then," said d'Artagnan, "that I must have that `
` letter. So no more delay, no more hesitation; or else `
` whatever may be my repugnance to soiling my sword a second `
` time with the blood of a wretch like you, I swear by my `
` faith as an honest man--" and at these words d'Artagnan made `
` so fierce a gesture that the wounded man sprang up. `
` `
` "Stop, stop!" cried he, regaining strength by force of `
` terror. "I will go--I will go!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan took the soldier's arquebus, made him go on `
` before him, and urged him toward his companion by pricking `
` him behind with his sword. `
` `
` It was a frightful thing to see this wretch, leaving a long `
` track of blood on the ground he passed over, pale with `
` approaching death, trying to drag himself along without `
` being seen to the body of his accomplice, which lay twenty `
` paces from him. `
` `
` Terror was so strongly painted on his face, covered with a `
` cold sweat, that d'Artagnan took pity on him, and casting `
` upon him a look of contempt, "Stop," said he, "I will show `
` you the difference between a man of courage and such a `
` coward as you. Stay where you are; I will go myself." `
` `
` And with a light step, an eye on the watch, observing the `
` movements of the enemy and taking advantage of the accidents `
` of the ground, d'Artagnan succeeded in reaching the second `
` soldier. `
` `
` There were two means of gaining his object--to search him on `
` the spot, or to carry him away, making a buckler of his `
` body, and search him in the trench. `
` `
` D'Artagnan preferred the second means, and lifted the `
` assassin onto his shoulders at the moment the enemy fired. `
` `
` A slight shock, the dull noise of three balls which `
` penetrated the flesh, a last cry, a convulsion of agony, `
` proved to d'Artagnan that the would-be assassin had saved `
` his life. `
` `
` D'Artagnan regained the trench, and threw the corpse beside `
` the wounded man, who was as pale as death. `
` `
` Then he began to search. A leather pocketbook, a purse, in `
` which was evidently a part of the sum which the bandit had `
` received, with a dice box and dice, completed the `
` possessions of the dead man. `
` `
` He left the box and dice where they fell, threw the purse to `
` the wounded man, and eagerly opened the pocketbook. `
` `
` Among some unimportant papers he found the following letter, `
` that which he had sought at the risk of his life: `
` `
` `
` "Since you have lost sight of that woman and she is now in `
` safety in the convent, which you should never have allowed `
` her to reach, try, at least, not to miss the man. If you `
` do, you know that my hand stretches far, and that you shall `
` pay very dearly for the hundred louis you have from me." `
` `
` `
` No signature. Nevertheless it was plain the letter came `
` from Milady. He consequently kept it as a piece of `
` evidence, and being in safety behind the angle of the `
` trench, he began to interrogate the wounded man. He `
` confessed that he had undertaken with his comrade--the same `
` who was killed--to carry off a young woman who was to leave `
` Paris by the Barriere de La Villette; but having stopped to `
` drink at a cabaret, they had missed the carriage by ten `
` minutes. `
` `
` "But what were you to do with that woman?" asked d'Artagnan, `
` with anguish. `
` `
` "We were to have conveyed her to a hotel in the Place `
` Royale," said the wounded man. `
` `
` "Yes, yes!" murmured d'Artagnan; "that's the place--Milady's `
` own residence!" `
` `
` Then the young man tremblingly comprehended what a terrible `
` thirst for vengeance urged this woman on to destroy him, as `
` well as all who loved him, and how well she must be `
` acquainted with the affairs of the court, since she had `
` discovered all. There could be no doubt she owed this `
` information to the cardinal. `
` `
` But amid all this he perceived, with a feeling of real joy, `
` that the queen must have discovered the prison in which poor `
` Mme. Bonacieux was explaining her devotion, and that she had `
` freed her from that prison; and the letter he had received `
` from the young woman, and her passage along the road of `
` Chaillot like an apparition, were now explained. `
` `
` Then also, as Athos had predicted, it became possible to `
` find Mme. Bonacieux, and a convent was not impregnable. `
` `
` This idea completely restored clemency to his heart. He `
` turned toward the wounded man, who had watched with intense `
` anxiety all the various expressions of his countenance, and `
` holding out his arm to him, said, "Come, I will not abandon `
` you thus. Lean upon me, and let us return to the camp." `
` `
` "Yes," said the man, who could scarcely believe in such `
` magnanimity, "but is it not to have me hanged?" `
` `
` "You have my word," said he; "for the second time I give you `
` your life." `
` `
` The wounded man sank upon his knees, to again kiss the feet `
` of his preserver; but d'Artagnan, who had no longer a motive `
` for staying so near the enemy, abridged the testimonials of `
` his gratitude. `
` `
` The Guardsman who had returned at the first discharge `
` announced the death of his four companions. They were `
` therefore much astonished and delighted in the regiment when `
` they saw the young man come back safe and sound. `
` `
` D'Artagnan explained the sword wound of his companion by a `
` sortie which he improvised. He described the death of the `
` other soldier, and the perils they had encountered. This `
`