Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
`
` "And you have reason, for she is much to be pitied. Imprisonment, `
` menaces, ill treatment-she has suffered everything. But after all," `
` resumed the abbess, "Monsieur Cardinal has perhaps plausible motives for `
` acting thus; and though she has the look of an angel, we must not always `
` judge people by the appearance." `
` `
` "Good!" said Milady to herself; "who knows! I am about, perhaps, to `
` discover something here; I am in the vein." `
` `
` She tried to give her countenance an appearance of perfect candor. `
` `
` "Alas," said Milady, "I know it is so. It is said that we must not `
` trust to the face; but in what, then, shall we place confidence, if not `
` in the most beautiful work of the Lord? As for me, I shall be deceived `
` all my life perhaps, but I shall always have faith in a person whose `
` countenance inspires me with sympathy." `
` `
` "You would, then, be tempted to believe," said the abbess, "that this `
` young person is innocent?" `
` `
` "The cardinal pursues not only crimes," said she: "there are certain `
` virtues which he pursues more severely than certain offenses." `
` `
` "Permit me, madame, to express my surprise," said the abbess. `
` `
` "At what?" said Milady, with the utmost ingenuousness. `
` `
` "At the language you use." `
` `
` "What do you find so astonishing in that language?" said Milady, `
` smiling. `
` `
` "You are the friend of the cardinal, for he sends you hither, and yet--" `
` `
` "And yet I speak ill of him," replied Milady, finishing the thought of `
` the superior. `
` `
` "At least you don't speak well of him." `
` `
` "That is because I am not his friend," said she, sighing, "but his `
` victim!" `
` `
` "But this letter in which he recommends you to me?" `
` `
` "Is an order for me to confine myself to a sort of prison, from which he `
` will release me by one of his satellites." `
` `
` "But why have you not fled?" `
` `
` "Whither should I go? Do you believe there is a spot on the earth which `
` the cardinal cannot reach if he takes the trouble to stretch forth his `
` hand? If I were a man, that would barely be possible; but what can a `
` woman do? This young boarder of yours, has she tried to fly?" `
` `
` "No, that is true; but she--that is another thing; I believe she is `
` detained in France by some love affair." `
` `
` "Ah," said Milady, with a sigh, "if she loves she is not altogether `
` wretched." `
` `
` "Then," said the abbess, looking at Milady with increasing interest, "I `
` behold another poor victim?" `
` `
` "Alas, yes," said Milady. `
` `
` The abbess looked at her for an instant with uneasiness, as if a fresh `
` thought suggested itself to her mind. `
` `
` "You are not an enemy of our holy faith?" said she, hesitatingly. `
` `
` "Who--I?" cried Milady; "I a Protestant? Oh, no! I call to witness `
` the God who hears us, that on the contrary I am a fervent Catholic!" `
` `
` "Then, madame," said the abbess, smiling, "be reassured; the house in `
` which you are shall not be a very hard prison, and we will do all in our `
` power to make you cherish your captivity. You will find here, moreover, `
` the young woman of whom I spoke, who is persecuted, no doubt, in `
` consequence of some court intrigue. She is amiable and well-behaved." `
` `
` "What is her name?" `
` `
` "She was sent to me by someone of high rank, under the name of Kitty. I `
` have not tried to discover her other name." `
` `
` "Kitty!" cried Milady. "What? Are you sure?" `
` `
` "That she is called so? Yes, madame. Do you know her?" `
` `
` Milady smiled to herself at the idea which had occurred to her that this `
` might be her old chambermaid. There was connected with the remembrance `
` of this girl a remembrance of anger; and a desire of vengeance `
` disordered the features of Milady, which, however, immediately recovered `
` the calm and benevolent expression which this woman of a hundred faces `
` had for a moment allowed them to lose. `
` `
` "And when can I see this young lady, for whom I already feel so great a `
` sympathy?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "Why, this evening," said the abbess; "today even. But you have been `
` traveling these four days, as you told me yourself. This morning you `
` rose at five o'clock; you must stand in need of repose. Go to bed and `
` sleep; at dinnertime we will rouse you." `
` `
` Although Milady would very willingly have gone without sleep, sustained `
` as she was by all the excitements which a new adventure awakened in her `
` heart, ever thirsting for intrigues, she nevertheless accepted the offer `
` of the superior. During the last fifteen days she had experienced so `
` many and such various emotions that if her frame of iron was still `
` capable of supporting fatigue, her mind required repose. `
` `
` She therefore took leave of the abbess, and went to bed, softly rocked `
` by the ideas of vengeance which the name of Kitty had naturally brought `
` to her thoughts. She remembered that almost unlimited promise which the `
` cardinal had given her if she succeeded in her enterprise. She had `
` succeeded; d'Artagnan was then in her power! `
` `
` One thing alone frightened her; that was the remembrance of her husband, `
` the Comte de la Fere, whom she had believed dead, or at least `
` expatriated, and whom she found again in Athos-the best friend of `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` But alas, if he was the friend of d'Artagnan, he must have lent him his `
` assistance in all the proceedings by whose aid the queen had defeated `
` the project of his Eminence; if he was the friend of d'Artagnan, he was `
` the enemy of the cardinal; and she doubtless would succeed in involving `
` him in the vengeance by which she hoped to destroy the young Musketeer. `
` `
` All these hopes were so many sweet thoughts for Milady; so, rocked by `
` them, she soon fell asleep. `
` `
` She was awakened by a soft voice which sounded at the foot of her bed. `
` She opened her eyes, and saw the abbess, accompanied by a young woman `
` with light hair and delicate complexion, who fixed upon her a look full `
` of benevolent curiosity. `
` `
` The face of the young woman was entirely unknown to her. Each examined `
` the other with great attention, while exchanging the customary `
` compliments; both were very handsome, but of quite different styles of `
` beauty. Milady, however, smiled in observing that she excelled the `
` young woman by far in her high air and aristocratic bearing. It is true `
` that the habit of a novice, which the young woman wore, was not very `
` advantageous in a contest of this kind. `
` `
` The abbess introduced them to each other. When this formality was `
` ended, as her duties called her to chapel, she left the two young women `
` alone. `
` `
` The novice, seeing Milady in bed, was about to follow the example of `
` the superior; but Milady stopped her. `
` `
` "How, madame," said she, "I have scarcely seen you, and you already `
` wish to deprive me of your company, upon which I had counted a little, I `
` must confess, for the time I have to pass here?" `
` `
` "No, madame," replied the novice, "only I thought I had chosen my time `
` ill; you were asleep, you are fatigued." `
` `
` "Well," said Milady, "what can those who sleep wish for--a happy `
` awakening? This awakening you have given me; allow me, then, to enjoy `
` it at my ease," and taking her hand, she drew her toward the armchair by `
` the bedside. `
` `
` The novice sat down. `
` `
` "How unfortunate I am!" said she; "I have been here six months without `
` the shadow of recreation. You arrive, and your presence was likely to `
` afford me delightful company; yet I expect, in all probability, to quit `
` the convent at any moment." `
` `
` "How, you are going soon?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "At least I hope so," said the novice, with an expression of joy which `
` she made no effort to disguise. `
` `
` "I think I learned you had suffered persecutions from the cardinal," `
` continued Milady; "that would have been another motive for sympathy `
` between us." `
` `
` "What I have heard, then, from our good mother is true; you have `
` likewise been a victim of that wicked priest." `
` `
` "Hush!" said Milady; "let us not, even here, speak thus of him. All my `
` misfortunes arise from my having said nearly what you have said before a `
` woman whom I thought my friend, and who betrayed me. Are you also the `
` victim of a treachery?" `
` `
` "No," said the novice, "but of my devotion--of a devotion to a woman I `
` loved, for whom I would have laid down my life, for whom I would give it `
` still." `
` `
` "And who has abandoned you--is that it?" `
` `
` "I have been sufficiently unjust to believe so; but during the last two `
` or three days I have obtained proof to the contrary, for which I thank `
` God--for it would have cost me very dear to think she had forgotten me. `
` But you, madame, you appear to be free," continued the novice; "and if `
` you were inclined to fly it only rests with yourself to do so." `
` `
` "Whither would you have me go, without friends, without money, in a part `
` of France with which I am unacquainted, and where I have never been `
`
` "And you have reason, for she is much to be pitied. Imprisonment, `
` menaces, ill treatment-she has suffered everything. But after all," `
` resumed the abbess, "Monsieur Cardinal has perhaps plausible motives for `
` acting thus; and though she has the look of an angel, we must not always `
` judge people by the appearance." `
` `
` "Good!" said Milady to herself; "who knows! I am about, perhaps, to `
` discover something here; I am in the vein." `
` `
` She tried to give her countenance an appearance of perfect candor. `
` `
` "Alas," said Milady, "I know it is so. It is said that we must not `
` trust to the face; but in what, then, shall we place confidence, if not `
` in the most beautiful work of the Lord? As for me, I shall be deceived `
` all my life perhaps, but I shall always have faith in a person whose `
` countenance inspires me with sympathy." `
` `
` "You would, then, be tempted to believe," said the abbess, "that this `
` young person is innocent?" `
` `
` "The cardinal pursues not only crimes," said she: "there are certain `
` virtues which he pursues more severely than certain offenses." `
` `
` "Permit me, madame, to express my surprise," said the abbess. `
` `
` "At what?" said Milady, with the utmost ingenuousness. `
` `
` "At the language you use." `
` `
` "What do you find so astonishing in that language?" said Milady, `
` smiling. `
` `
` "You are the friend of the cardinal, for he sends you hither, and yet--" `
` `
` "And yet I speak ill of him," replied Milady, finishing the thought of `
` the superior. `
` `
` "At least you don't speak well of him." `
` `
` "That is because I am not his friend," said she, sighing, "but his `
` victim!" `
` `
` "But this letter in which he recommends you to me?" `
` `
` "Is an order for me to confine myself to a sort of prison, from which he `
` will release me by one of his satellites." `
` `
` "But why have you not fled?" `
` `
` "Whither should I go? Do you believe there is a spot on the earth which `
` the cardinal cannot reach if he takes the trouble to stretch forth his `
` hand? If I were a man, that would barely be possible; but what can a `
` woman do? This young boarder of yours, has she tried to fly?" `
` `
` "No, that is true; but she--that is another thing; I believe she is `
` detained in France by some love affair." `
` `
` "Ah," said Milady, with a sigh, "if she loves she is not altogether `
` wretched." `
` `
` "Then," said the abbess, looking at Milady with increasing interest, "I `
` behold another poor victim?" `
` `
` "Alas, yes," said Milady. `
` `
` The abbess looked at her for an instant with uneasiness, as if a fresh `
` thought suggested itself to her mind. `
` `
` "You are not an enemy of our holy faith?" said she, hesitatingly. `
` `
` "Who--I?" cried Milady; "I a Protestant? Oh, no! I call to witness `
` the God who hears us, that on the contrary I am a fervent Catholic!" `
` `
` "Then, madame," said the abbess, smiling, "be reassured; the house in `
` which you are shall not be a very hard prison, and we will do all in our `
` power to make you cherish your captivity. You will find here, moreover, `
` the young woman of whom I spoke, who is persecuted, no doubt, in `
` consequence of some court intrigue. She is amiable and well-behaved." `
` `
` "What is her name?" `
` `
` "She was sent to me by someone of high rank, under the name of Kitty. I `
` have not tried to discover her other name." `
` `
` "Kitty!" cried Milady. "What? Are you sure?" `
` `
` "That she is called so? Yes, madame. Do you know her?" `
` `
` Milady smiled to herself at the idea which had occurred to her that this `
` might be her old chambermaid. There was connected with the remembrance `
` of this girl a remembrance of anger; and a desire of vengeance `
` disordered the features of Milady, which, however, immediately recovered `
` the calm and benevolent expression which this woman of a hundred faces `
` had for a moment allowed them to lose. `
` `
` "And when can I see this young lady, for whom I already feel so great a `
` sympathy?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "Why, this evening," said the abbess; "today even. But you have been `
` traveling these four days, as you told me yourself. This morning you `
` rose at five o'clock; you must stand in need of repose. Go to bed and `
` sleep; at dinnertime we will rouse you." `
` `
` Although Milady would very willingly have gone without sleep, sustained `
` as she was by all the excitements which a new adventure awakened in her `
` heart, ever thirsting for intrigues, she nevertheless accepted the offer `
` of the superior. During the last fifteen days she had experienced so `
` many and such various emotions that if her frame of iron was still `
` capable of supporting fatigue, her mind required repose. `
` `
` She therefore took leave of the abbess, and went to bed, softly rocked `
` by the ideas of vengeance which the name of Kitty had naturally brought `
` to her thoughts. She remembered that almost unlimited promise which the `
` cardinal had given her if she succeeded in her enterprise. She had `
` succeeded; d'Artagnan was then in her power! `
` `
` One thing alone frightened her; that was the remembrance of her husband, `
` the Comte de la Fere, whom she had believed dead, or at least `
` expatriated, and whom she found again in Athos-the best friend of `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` But alas, if he was the friend of d'Artagnan, he must have lent him his `
` assistance in all the proceedings by whose aid the queen had defeated `
` the project of his Eminence; if he was the friend of d'Artagnan, he was `
` the enemy of the cardinal; and she doubtless would succeed in involving `
` him in the vengeance by which she hoped to destroy the young Musketeer. `
` `
` All these hopes were so many sweet thoughts for Milady; so, rocked by `
` them, she soon fell asleep. `
` `
` She was awakened by a soft voice which sounded at the foot of her bed. `
` She opened her eyes, and saw the abbess, accompanied by a young woman `
` with light hair and delicate complexion, who fixed upon her a look full `
` of benevolent curiosity. `
` `
` The face of the young woman was entirely unknown to her. Each examined `
` the other with great attention, while exchanging the customary `
` compliments; both were very handsome, but of quite different styles of `
` beauty. Milady, however, smiled in observing that she excelled the `
` young woman by far in her high air and aristocratic bearing. It is true `
` that the habit of a novice, which the young woman wore, was not very `
` advantageous in a contest of this kind. `
` `
` The abbess introduced them to each other. When this formality was `
` ended, as her duties called her to chapel, she left the two young women `
` alone. `
` `
` The novice, seeing Milady in bed, was about to follow the example of `
` the superior; but Milady stopped her. `
` `
` "How, madame," said she, "I have scarcely seen you, and you already `
` wish to deprive me of your company, upon which I had counted a little, I `
` must confess, for the time I have to pass here?" `
` `
` "No, madame," replied the novice, "only I thought I had chosen my time `
` ill; you were asleep, you are fatigued." `
` `
` "Well," said Milady, "what can those who sleep wish for--a happy `
` awakening? This awakening you have given me; allow me, then, to enjoy `
` it at my ease," and taking her hand, she drew her toward the armchair by `
` the bedside. `
` `
` The novice sat down. `
` `
` "How unfortunate I am!" said she; "I have been here six months without `
` the shadow of recreation. You arrive, and your presence was likely to `
` afford me delightful company; yet I expect, in all probability, to quit `
` the convent at any moment." `
` `
` "How, you are going soon?" asked Milady. `
` `
` "At least I hope so," said the novice, with an expression of joy which `
` she made no effort to disguise. `
` `
` "I think I learned you had suffered persecutions from the cardinal," `
` continued Milady; "that would have been another motive for sympathy `
` between us." `
` `
` "What I have heard, then, from our good mother is true; you have `
` likewise been a victim of that wicked priest." `
` `
` "Hush!" said Milady; "let us not, even here, speak thus of him. All my `
` misfortunes arise from my having said nearly what you have said before a `
` woman whom I thought my friend, and who betrayed me. Are you also the `
` victim of a treachery?" `
` `
` "No," said the novice, "but of my devotion--of a devotion to a woman I `
` loved, for whom I would have laid down my life, for whom I would give it `
` still." `
` `
` "And who has abandoned you--is that it?" `
` `
` "I have been sufficiently unjust to believe so; but during the last two `
` or three days I have obtained proof to the contrary, for which I thank `
` God--for it would have cost me very dear to think she had forgotten me. `
` But you, madame, you appear to be free," continued the novice; "and if `
` you were inclined to fly it only rests with yourself to do so." `
` `
` "Whither would you have me go, without friends, without money, in a part `
` of France with which I am unacquainted, and where I have never been `
`