Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
commanded by the terrace where he was. With the eagle glance of a `
` sailor he had recognized there, where another would have seen only a `
` gull hovering over the waves, the sail of a sloop which was directed `
` toward the cost of France. `
` `
` He grew deadly pale, placed his hand upon his heart, which was breaking, `
` and at once perceived all the treachery. `
` `
` "One last favor, my Lord!" said he to the baron. `
` `
` "What?" asked his Lordship. `
` `
` "What o'clock is it?" `
` `
` The baron drew out his watch. "It wants ten minutes to nine," said he. `
` `
` Milady had hastened her departure by an hour and a half. As soon as she `
` heard the cannon which announced the fatal event, she had ordered the `
` anchor to be weighed. The vessel was making way under a blue sky, at `
` great distance from the coast. `
` `
` "God has so willed it!" said he, with the resignation of a fanatic; but `
` without, however, being able to take his eyes from that ship, on board `
` of which he doubtless fancied he could distinguish the white outline of `
` her to whom he had sacrificed his life. `
` `
` De Winter followed his look, observed his feelings, and guessed all. `
` `
` "Be punished ALONE, for the first, miserable man!" said Lord de Winter `
` to Felton, who was being dragged away with his eyes turned toward the `
` sea; "but I swear to you by the memory of my brother whom I have loved `
` so much that your accomplice is not saved." `
` `
` Felton lowered his head without pronouncing a syllable. `
` `
` As to Lord de Winter, he descended the stairs rapidly, and went straight `
` to the port. `
` `
` `
` `
` 60 IN FRANCE `
` `
` The first fear of the King of England, Charles I, on learning of the `
` death of the duke, was that such terrible news might discourage the `
` Rochellais; he tried, says Richelieu in his Memoirs, to conceal it from `
` them as long as possible, closing all the ports of his kingdom, and `
` carefully keeping watch that no vessel should sail until the army which `
` Buckingham was getting together had gone, taking upon himself, in `
` default of Buckingham, to superintend the departure. `
` `
` He carried the strictness of this order so far as to detain in England `
` the ambassadors of Denmark, who had taken their leave, and the regular `
` ambassador of Holland, who was to take back to the port of Flushing the `
` Indian merchantmen of which Charles I had made restitution to the United `
` Provinces. `
` `
` But as he did not think of giving this order till five hours after the `
` event--that is to say, till two o'clock in the afternoon--two vessels `
` had already left the port, the one bearing, as we know, Milady, who, `
` already anticipating the event, was further confirmed in that belief by `
` seeing the black flag flying at the masthead of the admiral's ship. `
` `
` As to the second vessel, we will tell hereafter whom it carried, and how `
` it set sail. `
` `
` During this time nothing new occurred in the camp at La Rochelle; only `
` the king, who was bored, as always, but perhaps a little more so in camp `
` than elsewhere, resolved to go incognito and spend the festival of St. `
` Louis at St. Germain, and asked the cardinal to order him an escort of `
` only twenty Musketeers. The cardinal, who sometimes became weary of the `
` king, granted this leave of absence with great pleasure to his royal `
` lieutenant, who promised to return about the fifteenth of September. `
` `
` M. de Treville, being informed of this by his Eminence, packed his `
` portmanteau; and as without knowing the cause he knew the great desire `
` and even imperative need which his friends had of returning to Paris, it `
` goes without saying that he fixed upon them to form part of the escort. `
` `
` The four young men heard the news a quarter of an hour after M. de `
` Treville, for they were the first to whom he communicated it. It was `
` then that d'Artagnan appreciated the favor the cardinal had conferred `
` upon him in making him at last enter the Musketeers--for without that `
` circumstance he would have been forced to remain in the camp while his `
` companions left it. `
` `
` It goes without saying that this impatience to return toward Paris had `
` for a cause the danger which Mme. Bonacieux would run of meeting at the `
` convent of Bethune with Milady, her mortal enemy. Aramis therefore had `
` written immediately to Marie Michon, the seamstress at Tours who had `
` such fine acquaintances, to obtain from the queen authority for Mme. `
` Bonacieux to leave the convent, and to retire either into Lorraine or `
` Belgium. They had not long to wait for an answer. Eight or ten days `
` afterward Aramis received the following letter: `
` `
` `
` My Dear Cousin, Here is the authorization from my sister to withdraw `
` our little servant from the convent of Bethune, the air of which you `
` think is bad for her. My sister sends you this authorization with great `
` pleasure, for she is very partial to the little girl, to whom she `
` intends to be more serviceable hereafter. `
` `
` I salute you, `
` `
` MARIE MICHON `
` `
` `
` To this letter was added an order, conceived in these terms: `
` `
` `
` At the Louvre, August 10, 1628 `
` The superior of the convent of Bethune will place in the hands of the `
` person who shall present this note to her the novice who entered the `
` convent upon my recommendation and under my patronage. `
` `
` ANNE `
` `
` `
` It may be easily imagined how the relationship between Aramis and a `
` seamstress who called the queen her sister amused the young men; but `
` Aramis, after having blushed two or three times up to the whites of his `
` eyes at the gross pleasantry of Porthos, begged his friends not to `
` revert to the subject again, declaring that if a single word more was `
` said to him about it, he would never again implore his cousins to `
` interfere in such affairs. `
` `
` There was no further question, therefore, about Marie Michon among the `
` four Musketeers, who besides had what they wanted: that was, the order `
` to withdraw Mme. Bonacieux from the convent of the Carmelites of `
` Bethune. It was true that this order would not be of great use to them `
` while they were in camp at La Rochelle; that is to say, at the other end `
` of France. Therefore d'Artagnan was going to ask leave of absence of M. `
` de Treville, confiding to him candidly the importance of his departure, `
` when the news was transmitted to him as well as to his three friends `
` that the king was about to set out for Paris with an escort of twenty `
` Musketeers, and that they formed part of the escort. `
` `
` Their joy was great. The lackeys were sent on before with the baggage, `
` and they set out on the morning of the sixteenth. `
` `
` The cardinal accompanied his Majesty from Surgeres to Mauzes; and there `
` the king and his minister took leave of each other with great `
` demonstrations of friendship. `
` `
` The king, however, who sought distraction, while traveling as fast as `
` possible--for he was anxious to be in Paris by the twenty-third--stopped `
` from time to time to fly the magpie, a pastime for which the taste had `
` been formerly inspired in him by de Luynes, and for which he had always `
` preserved a great predilection. Out of the twenty Musketeers sixteen, `
` when this took place, rejoiced greatly at this relaxation; but the other `
` four cursed it heartily. D'Artagnan, in particular, had a perpetual `
` buzzing in his ears, which Porthos explained thus: "A very great lady `
` has told me that this means that somebody is talking of you somewhere." `
` `
` At length the escort passed through Paris on the twenty-third, in the `
` night. The king thanked M. de Treville, and permitted him to distribute `
` furloughs for four days, on condition that the favored parties should `
` not appear in any public place, under penalty of the Bastille. `
` `
` The first four furloughs granted, as may be imagined, were to our four `
` friends. Still further, Athos obtained of M. de Treville six days `
` instead of four, and introduced into these six days two more nights--for `
` they set out on the twenty-fourth at five o'clock in the evening, and as `
` a further kindness M. de Treville post-dated the leave to the morning of `
` the twenty-fifth. `
` `
` "Good Lord!" said d'Artagnan, who, as we have often said, never stumbled `
` at anything. "It appears to me that we are making a great trouble of a `
` very simple thing. In two days, and by using up two or three horses `
` (that's nothing; I have plenty of money), I am at Bethune. I present my `
` letter from the queen to the superior, and I bring back the dear `
` treasure I go to seek--not into Lorraine, not into Belgium, but to `
` Paris, where she will be much better concealed, particularly while the `
` cardinal is at La Rochelle. Well, once returned from the country, half `
` by the protection of her cousin, half through what we have personally `
` done for her, we shall obtain from the queen what we desire. Remain, `
` then, where you are, and do not exhaust yourselves with useless fatigue. `
` Myself and Planchet are all that such a simple expedition requires." `
` `
` To this Athos replied quietly: "We also have money left--for I have not `
` yet drunk all my share of the diamond, and Porthos and Aramis have not `
` eaten all theirs. We can therefore use up four horses as well as one. `
` But consider, d'Artagnan," added he, in a tone so solemn that it made `
` the young man shudder, "consider that Bethune is a city where the `
` cardinal has given rendezvous to a woman who, wherever she goes, brings `
` misery with her. If you had only to deal with four men, d'Artagnan, I `
` would allow you to go alone. You have to do with that woman! We four `
` will go; and I hope to God that with our four lackeys we may be in `
` sufficient number." `
` `
` "You terrify me, Athos!" cried d'Artagnan. "My God! what do you `
` fear?" `
` `
` "Everything!" replied Athos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan examined the countenances of his companions, which, like that `
` of Athos, wore an impression of deep anxiety; and they continued their `
` route as fast as their horses could carry them, but without adding `
` another word. `
` `
` On the evening of the twenty-fifth, as they were entering Arras, and as `
` d'Artagnan was dismounting at the inn of the Golden Harrow to drink a `
`
` sailor he had recognized there, where another would have seen only a `
` gull hovering over the waves, the sail of a sloop which was directed `
` toward the cost of France. `
` `
` He grew deadly pale, placed his hand upon his heart, which was breaking, `
` and at once perceived all the treachery. `
` `
` "One last favor, my Lord!" said he to the baron. `
` `
` "What?" asked his Lordship. `
` `
` "What o'clock is it?" `
` `
` The baron drew out his watch. "It wants ten minutes to nine," said he. `
` `
` Milady had hastened her departure by an hour and a half. As soon as she `
` heard the cannon which announced the fatal event, she had ordered the `
` anchor to be weighed. The vessel was making way under a blue sky, at `
` great distance from the coast. `
` `
` "God has so willed it!" said he, with the resignation of a fanatic; but `
` without, however, being able to take his eyes from that ship, on board `
` of which he doubtless fancied he could distinguish the white outline of `
` her to whom he had sacrificed his life. `
` `
` De Winter followed his look, observed his feelings, and guessed all. `
` `
` "Be punished ALONE, for the first, miserable man!" said Lord de Winter `
` to Felton, who was being dragged away with his eyes turned toward the `
` sea; "but I swear to you by the memory of my brother whom I have loved `
` so much that your accomplice is not saved." `
` `
` Felton lowered his head without pronouncing a syllable. `
` `
` As to Lord de Winter, he descended the stairs rapidly, and went straight `
` to the port. `
` `
` `
` `
` 60 IN FRANCE `
` `
` The first fear of the King of England, Charles I, on learning of the `
` death of the duke, was that such terrible news might discourage the `
` Rochellais; he tried, says Richelieu in his Memoirs, to conceal it from `
` them as long as possible, closing all the ports of his kingdom, and `
` carefully keeping watch that no vessel should sail until the army which `
` Buckingham was getting together had gone, taking upon himself, in `
` default of Buckingham, to superintend the departure. `
` `
` He carried the strictness of this order so far as to detain in England `
` the ambassadors of Denmark, who had taken their leave, and the regular `
` ambassador of Holland, who was to take back to the port of Flushing the `
` Indian merchantmen of which Charles I had made restitution to the United `
` Provinces. `
` `
` But as he did not think of giving this order till five hours after the `
` event--that is to say, till two o'clock in the afternoon--two vessels `
` had already left the port, the one bearing, as we know, Milady, who, `
` already anticipating the event, was further confirmed in that belief by `
` seeing the black flag flying at the masthead of the admiral's ship. `
` `
` As to the second vessel, we will tell hereafter whom it carried, and how `
` it set sail. `
` `
` During this time nothing new occurred in the camp at La Rochelle; only `
` the king, who was bored, as always, but perhaps a little more so in camp `
` than elsewhere, resolved to go incognito and spend the festival of St. `
` Louis at St. Germain, and asked the cardinal to order him an escort of `
` only twenty Musketeers. The cardinal, who sometimes became weary of the `
` king, granted this leave of absence with great pleasure to his royal `
` lieutenant, who promised to return about the fifteenth of September. `
` `
` M. de Treville, being informed of this by his Eminence, packed his `
` portmanteau; and as without knowing the cause he knew the great desire `
` and even imperative need which his friends had of returning to Paris, it `
` goes without saying that he fixed upon them to form part of the escort. `
` `
` The four young men heard the news a quarter of an hour after M. de `
` Treville, for they were the first to whom he communicated it. It was `
` then that d'Artagnan appreciated the favor the cardinal had conferred `
` upon him in making him at last enter the Musketeers--for without that `
` circumstance he would have been forced to remain in the camp while his `
` companions left it. `
` `
` It goes without saying that this impatience to return toward Paris had `
` for a cause the danger which Mme. Bonacieux would run of meeting at the `
` convent of Bethune with Milady, her mortal enemy. Aramis therefore had `
` written immediately to Marie Michon, the seamstress at Tours who had `
` such fine acquaintances, to obtain from the queen authority for Mme. `
` Bonacieux to leave the convent, and to retire either into Lorraine or `
` Belgium. They had not long to wait for an answer. Eight or ten days `
` afterward Aramis received the following letter: `
` `
` `
` My Dear Cousin, Here is the authorization from my sister to withdraw `
` our little servant from the convent of Bethune, the air of which you `
` think is bad for her. My sister sends you this authorization with great `
` pleasure, for she is very partial to the little girl, to whom she `
` intends to be more serviceable hereafter. `
` `
` I salute you, `
` `
` MARIE MICHON `
` `
` `
` To this letter was added an order, conceived in these terms: `
` `
` `
` At the Louvre, August 10, 1628 `
` The superior of the convent of Bethune will place in the hands of the `
` person who shall present this note to her the novice who entered the `
` convent upon my recommendation and under my patronage. `
` `
` ANNE `
` `
` `
` It may be easily imagined how the relationship between Aramis and a `
` seamstress who called the queen her sister amused the young men; but `
` Aramis, after having blushed two or three times up to the whites of his `
` eyes at the gross pleasantry of Porthos, begged his friends not to `
` revert to the subject again, declaring that if a single word more was `
` said to him about it, he would never again implore his cousins to `
` interfere in such affairs. `
` `
` There was no further question, therefore, about Marie Michon among the `
` four Musketeers, who besides had what they wanted: that was, the order `
` to withdraw Mme. Bonacieux from the convent of the Carmelites of `
` Bethune. It was true that this order would not be of great use to them `
` while they were in camp at La Rochelle; that is to say, at the other end `
` of France. Therefore d'Artagnan was going to ask leave of absence of M. `
` de Treville, confiding to him candidly the importance of his departure, `
` when the news was transmitted to him as well as to his three friends `
` that the king was about to set out for Paris with an escort of twenty `
` Musketeers, and that they formed part of the escort. `
` `
` Their joy was great. The lackeys were sent on before with the baggage, `
` and they set out on the morning of the sixteenth. `
` `
` The cardinal accompanied his Majesty from Surgeres to Mauzes; and there `
` the king and his minister took leave of each other with great `
` demonstrations of friendship. `
` `
` The king, however, who sought distraction, while traveling as fast as `
` possible--for he was anxious to be in Paris by the twenty-third--stopped `
` from time to time to fly the magpie, a pastime for which the taste had `
` been formerly inspired in him by de Luynes, and for which he had always `
` preserved a great predilection. Out of the twenty Musketeers sixteen, `
` when this took place, rejoiced greatly at this relaxation; but the other `
` four cursed it heartily. D'Artagnan, in particular, had a perpetual `
` buzzing in his ears, which Porthos explained thus: "A very great lady `
` has told me that this means that somebody is talking of you somewhere." `
` `
` At length the escort passed through Paris on the twenty-third, in the `
` night. The king thanked M. de Treville, and permitted him to distribute `
` furloughs for four days, on condition that the favored parties should `
` not appear in any public place, under penalty of the Bastille. `
` `
` The first four furloughs granted, as may be imagined, were to our four `
` friends. Still further, Athos obtained of M. de Treville six days `
` instead of four, and introduced into these six days two more nights--for `
` they set out on the twenty-fourth at five o'clock in the evening, and as `
` a further kindness M. de Treville post-dated the leave to the morning of `
` the twenty-fifth. `
` `
` "Good Lord!" said d'Artagnan, who, as we have often said, never stumbled `
` at anything. "It appears to me that we are making a great trouble of a `
` very simple thing. In two days, and by using up two or three horses `
` (that's nothing; I have plenty of money), I am at Bethune. I present my `
` letter from the queen to the superior, and I bring back the dear `
` treasure I go to seek--not into Lorraine, not into Belgium, but to `
` Paris, where she will be much better concealed, particularly while the `
` cardinal is at La Rochelle. Well, once returned from the country, half `
` by the protection of her cousin, half through what we have personally `
` done for her, we shall obtain from the queen what we desire. Remain, `
` then, where you are, and do not exhaust yourselves with useless fatigue. `
` Myself and Planchet are all that such a simple expedition requires." `
` `
` To this Athos replied quietly: "We also have money left--for I have not `
` yet drunk all my share of the diamond, and Porthos and Aramis have not `
` eaten all theirs. We can therefore use up four horses as well as one. `
` But consider, d'Artagnan," added he, in a tone so solemn that it made `
` the young man shudder, "consider that Bethune is a city where the `
` cardinal has given rendezvous to a woman who, wherever she goes, brings `
` misery with her. If you had only to deal with four men, d'Artagnan, I `
` would allow you to go alone. You have to do with that woman! We four `
` will go; and I hope to God that with our four lackeys we may be in `
` sufficient number." `
` `
` "You terrify me, Athos!" cried d'Artagnan. "My God! what do you `
` fear?" `
` `
` "Everything!" replied Athos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan examined the countenances of his companions, which, like that `
` of Athos, wore an impression of deep anxiety; and they continued their `
` route as fast as their horses could carry them, but without adding `
` another word. `
` `
` On the evening of the twenty-fifth, as they were entering Arras, and as `
` d'Artagnan was dismounting at the inn of the Golden Harrow to drink a `
`