Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
`
` At the moment he entered the vestibule, another man was entering `
` likewise, dusty, out of breath, leaving at the gate a post horse, which, `
` on reaching the palace, tumbled on his foreknees. `
` `
` Felton and he addressed Patrick, the duke's confidential lackey, at the `
` same moment. Felton named Lord de Winter; the unknown would not name `
` anybody, and pretended that it was to the duke alone he would make `
` himself known. Each was anxious to gain admission before the other. `
` `
` Patrick, who knew Lord de Winter was in affairs of the service, and in `
` relations of friendship with the duke, gave the preference to the one `
` who came in his name. The other was forced to wait, and it was easily `
` to be seen how he cursed the delay. `
` `
` The valet led Felton through a large hall in which waited the deputies `
` from La Rochelle, headed by the Prince de Soubise, and introduced him `
` into a closet where Buckingham, just out of the bath, was finishing his `
` toilet, upon which, as at all times, he bestowed extraordinary `
` attention. `
` `
` "Lieutenant Felton, from Lord de Winter," said Patrick. `
` `
` "From Lord de Winter!" repeated Buckingham; "let him come in." `
` `
` Felton entered. At that moment Buckingham was throwing upon a couch a `
` rich toilet robe, worked with gold, in order to put on a blue velvet `
` doublet embroidered with pearls. `
` `
` "Why didn't the baron come himself?" demanded Buckingham. "I expected `
` him this morning." `
` `
` "He desired me to tell your Grace," replied Felton, "that he very much `
` regretted not having that honor, but that he was prevented by the guard `
` he is obliged to keep at the castle." `
` `
` "Yes, I know that," said Buckingham; "he has a prisoner." `
` `
` "It is of that prisoner that I wish to speak to your Grace," replied `
` Felton. `
` `
` "Well, then, speak!" `
` `
` "That which I have to say of her can only be heard by yourself, my `
` Lord!" `
` `
` "Leave us, Patrick," said Buckingham; "but remain within sound of the `
` bell. I shall call you presently." `
` `
` Patrick went out. `
` `
` "We are alone, sir," said Buckingham; "speak!" `
` `
` "My Lord," said Felton, "the Baron de Winter wrote to you the other day `
` to request you to sign an order of embarkation relative to a young woman `
` named Charlotte Backson." `
` `
` "Yes, sir; and I answered him, to bring or send me that order and I `
` would sign it." `
` `
` "Here it is, my Lord." `
` `
` "Give it to me," said the duke. `
` `
` And taking it from Felton, he cast a rapid glance over the paper, and `
` perceiving that it was the one that had been mentioned to him, he placed `
` it on the table, took a pen, and prepared to sign it. `
` `
` "Pardon, my Lord," said Felton, stopping the duke; "but does your Grace `
` know that the name of Charlotte Backson is not the true name of this `
` young woman?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, I know it," replied the duke, dipping the quill in the ink. `
` `
` "Then your Grace knows her real name?" asked Felton, in a sharp tone. `
` `
` "I know it"; and the duke put the quill to the paper. Felton grew pale. `
` `
` "And knowing that real name, my Lord," replied Felton, "will you sign it `
` all the same?" `
` `
` "Doubtless," said Buckingham, "and rather twice than once." `
` `
` "I cannot believe," continued Felton, in a voice that became more sharp `
` and rough, "that your Grace knows that it is to Milady de Winter this `
` relates." `
` `
` "I know it perfectly, although I am astonished that you know it." `
` `
` "And will your Grace sign that order without remorse?" `
` `
` Buckingham looked at the young man haughtily. `
` `
` "Do you know, sir, that you are asking me very strange questions, and `
` that I am very foolish to answer them?" `
` `
` "Reply to them, my Lord," said Felton; "the circumstances are more `
` serious than you perhaps believe." `
` `
` Buckingham reflected that the young man, coming from Lord de Winter, `
` undoubtedly spoke in his name, and softened. `
` `
` "Without remorse," said he. "The baron knows, as well as myself, that `
` Milady de Winter is a very guilty woman, and it is treating her very `
` favorably to commute her punishment to transportation." `
` The duke put his pen to the paper. `
` `
` "You will not sign that order, my Lord!" said Felton, making a step `
` toward the duke. `
` `
` "I will not sign this order! And why not?" `
` `
` "Because you will look into yourself, and you will do justice to the `
` lady." `
` `
` "I should do her justice by sending her to Tyburn," said Buckingham. `
` "This lady is infamous." `
` `
` "My Lord, Milady de Winter is an angel; you know that she is, and I `
` demand her liberty of you." `
` `
` "Bah! Are you mad, to talk to me thus?" said Buckingham. `
` `
` "My Lord, excuse me! I speak as I can; I restrain myself. But, my `
` Lord, think of what you're about to do, and beware of going too far!" `
` `
` "What do you say? God pardon me!" cried Buckingham, "I really think he `
` threatens me!" `
` `
` "No, my Lord, I still plead. And I say to you: one drop of water `
` suffices to make the full vase overflow; one slight fault may draw down `
` punishment upon the head spared, despite many crimes." `
` `
` "Mr. Felton," said Buckingham, "you will withdraw, and place yourself at `
` once under arrest." `
` `
` "You will hear me to the end, my Lord. You have seduced this young `
` girl; you have outraged, defiled her. Repair your crimes toward her; `
` let her go free, and I will exact nothing else from you." `
` `
` "You will exact!" said Buckingham, looking at Felton with astonishment, `
` and dwelling upon each syllable of the three words as he pronounced `
` them. `
` `
` "My Lord," continued Felton, becoming more excited as he spoke, "my `
` Lord, beware! All England is tired of your iniquities; my Lord, you `
` have abused the royal power, which you have almost usurped; my Lord, you `
` are held in horror by God and men. God will punish you hereafter, but I `
` will punish you here!" `
` `
` "Ah, this is too much!" cried Buckingham, making a step toward the door. `
` `
` Felton barred his passage. `
` `
` "I ask it humbly of you, my Lord" said he; "sign the order for the `
` liberation of Milady de Winter. Remember that she is a woman whom you `
` have dishonored." `
` `
` "Withdraw, sir," said Buckingham, "or I will call my attendant, and have `
` you placed in irons." `
` `
` "You shall not call," said Felton, throwing himself between the duke and `
` the bell placed on a stand encrusted with silver. "Beware, my Lord, you `
` are in the hands of God!" `
` `
` "In the hands of the devil, you mean!" cried Buckingham, raising his `
` voice so as to attract the notice of his people, without absolutely `
` shouting. `
` `
` "Sign, my Lord; sign the liberation of Milady de Winter," said Felton, `
` holding out a paper to the duke. `
` `
` "By force? You are joking! Holloa, Patrick!" `
` `
` "Sign, my Lord!" `
` `
` "Never." `
` `
` "Never?" `
` `
` "Help!" shouted the duke; and at the same time he sprang toward his `
` sword. `
` `
` But Felton did not give him time to draw it. He held the knife with `
` which Milady had stabbed herself, open in his bosom; at one bound he was `
` upon the duke. `
` `
` At that moment Patrick entered the room, crying, "A letter from France, `
` my Lord." `
` `
` "From France!" cried Buckingham, forgetting everything in thinking from `
` whom that letter came. `
` `
` Felton took advantage of this moment, and plunged the knife into his `
` side up to the handle. `
` `
` "Ah, traitor," cried Buckingham, "you have killed me!" `
` `
` "Murder!" screamed Patrick. `
` `
` Felton cast his eyes round for means of escape, and seeing the door `
`
` At the moment he entered the vestibule, another man was entering `
` likewise, dusty, out of breath, leaving at the gate a post horse, which, `
` on reaching the palace, tumbled on his foreknees. `
` `
` Felton and he addressed Patrick, the duke's confidential lackey, at the `
` same moment. Felton named Lord de Winter; the unknown would not name `
` anybody, and pretended that it was to the duke alone he would make `
` himself known. Each was anxious to gain admission before the other. `
` `
` Patrick, who knew Lord de Winter was in affairs of the service, and in `
` relations of friendship with the duke, gave the preference to the one `
` who came in his name. The other was forced to wait, and it was easily `
` to be seen how he cursed the delay. `
` `
` The valet led Felton through a large hall in which waited the deputies `
` from La Rochelle, headed by the Prince de Soubise, and introduced him `
` into a closet where Buckingham, just out of the bath, was finishing his `
` toilet, upon which, as at all times, he bestowed extraordinary `
` attention. `
` `
` "Lieutenant Felton, from Lord de Winter," said Patrick. `
` `
` "From Lord de Winter!" repeated Buckingham; "let him come in." `
` `
` Felton entered. At that moment Buckingham was throwing upon a couch a `
` rich toilet robe, worked with gold, in order to put on a blue velvet `
` doublet embroidered with pearls. `
` `
` "Why didn't the baron come himself?" demanded Buckingham. "I expected `
` him this morning." `
` `
` "He desired me to tell your Grace," replied Felton, "that he very much `
` regretted not having that honor, but that he was prevented by the guard `
` he is obliged to keep at the castle." `
` `
` "Yes, I know that," said Buckingham; "he has a prisoner." `
` `
` "It is of that prisoner that I wish to speak to your Grace," replied `
` Felton. `
` `
` "Well, then, speak!" `
` `
` "That which I have to say of her can only be heard by yourself, my `
` Lord!" `
` `
` "Leave us, Patrick," said Buckingham; "but remain within sound of the `
` bell. I shall call you presently." `
` `
` Patrick went out. `
` `
` "We are alone, sir," said Buckingham; "speak!" `
` `
` "My Lord," said Felton, "the Baron de Winter wrote to you the other day `
` to request you to sign an order of embarkation relative to a young woman `
` named Charlotte Backson." `
` `
` "Yes, sir; and I answered him, to bring or send me that order and I `
` would sign it." `
` `
` "Here it is, my Lord." `
` `
` "Give it to me," said the duke. `
` `
` And taking it from Felton, he cast a rapid glance over the paper, and `
` perceiving that it was the one that had been mentioned to him, he placed `
` it on the table, took a pen, and prepared to sign it. `
` `
` "Pardon, my Lord," said Felton, stopping the duke; "but does your Grace `
` know that the name of Charlotte Backson is not the true name of this `
` young woman?" `
` `
` "Yes, sir, I know it," replied the duke, dipping the quill in the ink. `
` `
` "Then your Grace knows her real name?" asked Felton, in a sharp tone. `
` `
` "I know it"; and the duke put the quill to the paper. Felton grew pale. `
` `
` "And knowing that real name, my Lord," replied Felton, "will you sign it `
` all the same?" `
` `
` "Doubtless," said Buckingham, "and rather twice than once." `
` `
` "I cannot believe," continued Felton, in a voice that became more sharp `
` and rough, "that your Grace knows that it is to Milady de Winter this `
` relates." `
` `
` "I know it perfectly, although I am astonished that you know it." `
` `
` "And will your Grace sign that order without remorse?" `
` `
` Buckingham looked at the young man haughtily. `
` `
` "Do you know, sir, that you are asking me very strange questions, and `
` that I am very foolish to answer them?" `
` `
` "Reply to them, my Lord," said Felton; "the circumstances are more `
` serious than you perhaps believe." `
` `
` Buckingham reflected that the young man, coming from Lord de Winter, `
` undoubtedly spoke in his name, and softened. `
` `
` "Without remorse," said he. "The baron knows, as well as myself, that `
` Milady de Winter is a very guilty woman, and it is treating her very `
` favorably to commute her punishment to transportation." `
` The duke put his pen to the paper. `
` `
` "You will not sign that order, my Lord!" said Felton, making a step `
` toward the duke. `
` `
` "I will not sign this order! And why not?" `
` `
` "Because you will look into yourself, and you will do justice to the `
` lady." `
` `
` "I should do her justice by sending her to Tyburn," said Buckingham. `
` "This lady is infamous." `
` `
` "My Lord, Milady de Winter is an angel; you know that she is, and I `
` demand her liberty of you." `
` `
` "Bah! Are you mad, to talk to me thus?" said Buckingham. `
` `
` "My Lord, excuse me! I speak as I can; I restrain myself. But, my `
` Lord, think of what you're about to do, and beware of going too far!" `
` `
` "What do you say? God pardon me!" cried Buckingham, "I really think he `
` threatens me!" `
` `
` "No, my Lord, I still plead. And I say to you: one drop of water `
` suffices to make the full vase overflow; one slight fault may draw down `
` punishment upon the head spared, despite many crimes." `
` `
` "Mr. Felton," said Buckingham, "you will withdraw, and place yourself at `
` once under arrest." `
` `
` "You will hear me to the end, my Lord. You have seduced this young `
` girl; you have outraged, defiled her. Repair your crimes toward her; `
` let her go free, and I will exact nothing else from you." `
` `
` "You will exact!" said Buckingham, looking at Felton with astonishment, `
` and dwelling upon each syllable of the three words as he pronounced `
` them. `
` `
` "My Lord," continued Felton, becoming more excited as he spoke, "my `
` Lord, beware! All England is tired of your iniquities; my Lord, you `
` have abused the royal power, which you have almost usurped; my Lord, you `
` are held in horror by God and men. God will punish you hereafter, but I `
` will punish you here!" `
` `
` "Ah, this is too much!" cried Buckingham, making a step toward the door. `
` `
` Felton barred his passage. `
` `
` "I ask it humbly of you, my Lord" said he; "sign the order for the `
` liberation of Milady de Winter. Remember that she is a woman whom you `
` have dishonored." `
` `
` "Withdraw, sir," said Buckingham, "or I will call my attendant, and have `
` you placed in irons." `
` `
` "You shall not call," said Felton, throwing himself between the duke and `
` the bell placed on a stand encrusted with silver. "Beware, my Lord, you `
` are in the hands of God!" `
` `
` "In the hands of the devil, you mean!" cried Buckingham, raising his `
` voice so as to attract the notice of his people, without absolutely `
` shouting. `
` `
` "Sign, my Lord; sign the liberation of Milady de Winter," said Felton, `
` holding out a paper to the duke. `
` `
` "By force? You are joking! Holloa, Patrick!" `
` `
` "Sign, my Lord!" `
` `
` "Never." `
` `
` "Never?" `
` `
` "Help!" shouted the duke; and at the same time he sprang toward his `
` sword. `
` `
` But Felton did not give him time to draw it. He held the knife with `
` which Milady had stabbed herself, open in his bosom; at one bound he was `
` upon the duke. `
` `
` At that moment Patrick entered the room, crying, "A letter from France, `
` my Lord." `
` `
` "From France!" cried Buckingham, forgetting everything in thinking from `
` whom that letter came. `
` `
` Felton took advantage of this moment, and plunged the knife into his `
` side up to the handle. `
` `
` "Ah, traitor," cried Buckingham, "you have killed me!" `
` `
` "Murder!" screamed Patrick. `
` `
` Felton cast his eyes round for means of escape, and seeing the door `
`