Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
"If I should happen to be any distance from you when the carriage comes `
` for you--at dinner or supper, for instance?" `
` `
` "Do one thing." `
` `
` "What is that?" `
` `
` "Tell your good superior that in order that we may be as much together `
` as possible, you ask her permission to share my repast." `
` `
` "Will she permit it?" `
` `
` "What inconvenience can it be?" `
` `
` "Oh, delightful! In this way we shall not be separated for an instant." `
` `
` "Well, go down to her, then, to make your request. I feel my head a `
` little confused; I will take a turn in the garden." `
` `
` "Go and where shall I find you?" `
` `
` "Here, in an hour." `
` `
` "Here, in an hour. Oh, you are so kind, and I am so grateful!" `
` `
` "How can I avoid interesting myself for one who is so beautiful and so `
` amiable? Are you not the beloved of one of my best friends?" `
` `
` "Dear d'Artagnan! Oh, how he will thank you!" `
` `
` "I hope so. Now, then, all is agreed; let us go down." `
` `
` "You are going into the garden?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Go along this corridor, down a little staircase, and you are in it." `
` `
` "Excellent; thank you!" `
` `
` And the two women parted, exchanging charming smiles. `
` `
` Milady had told the truth--her head was confused, for her ill-arranged `
` plans clashed one another like chaos. She required to be alone that `
` she might put her thoughts a little into order. She saw vaguely the `
` future; but she stood in need of a little silence and quiet to give all `
` her ideas, as yet confused, a distinct form and a regular plan. `
` `
` What was most pressing was to get Mme. Bonacieux away, and convey her to `
` a place of safety, and there, if matters required, make her a hostage. `
` Milady began to have doubts of the issue of this terrible duel, in which `
` her enemies showed as much perseverance as she did animosity. `
` `
` Besides, she felt as we feel when a storm is coming on--that this issue `
` was near, and could not fail to be terrible. `
` `
` The principal thing for her, then, was, as we have said, to keep Mme. `
` Bonacieux in her power. Mme. Bonacieux was the very life of d'Artagnan. `
` This was more than his life, the life of the woman he loved; this was, `
` in case of ill fortune, a means of temporizing and obtaining good `
` conditions. `
` `
` Now, this point was settled; Mme. Bonacieux, without any suspicion, `
` accompanied her. Once concealed with her at Armentieres, it would be `
` easy to make her believe that d'Artagnan had not come to Bethune. In `
` fifteen days at most, Rochefort would be back; besides, during that `
` fifteen days she would have time to think how she could best avenge `
` herself on the four friends. She would not be weary, thank God! for `
` she should enjoy the sweetest pastime such events could accord a woman `
` of her character--perfecting a beautiful vengeance. `
` `
` Revolving all this in her mind, she cast her eyes around her, and `
` arranged the topography of the garden in her head. Milady was like a `
` good general who contemplates at the same time victory and defeat, and `
` who is quite prepared, according to the chances of the battle, to march `
` forward or to beat a retreat. `
` `
` At the end of an hour she heard a soft voice calling her; it was Mme. `
` Bonacieux's. The good abbess had naturally consented to her request; `
` and as a commencement, they were to sup together. `
` `
` On reaching the courtyard, they heard the noise of a carriage which `
` stopped at the gate. `
` `
` Milady listened. `
` `
` "Do you hear anything?" said she. `
` `
` "Yes, the rolling of a carriage." `
` `
` "It is the one my brother sends for us." `
` `
` "Oh, my God!" `
` `
` "Come, come! courage!" `
` `
` The bell of the convent gate was sounded; Milady was not mistaken. `
` `
` "Go to your chamber," said she to Mme. Bonacieux; "you have perhaps some `
` jewels you would like to take." `
` `
` "I have his letters," said she. `
` `
` "Well, go and fetch them, and come to my apartment. We will snatch some `
` supper; we shall perhaps travel part of the night, and must keep our `
` strength up." `
` `
` "Great God!" said Mme. Bonacieux, placing her hand upon her bosom, "my `
` heart beats so I cannot walk." `
` `
` "Courage, courage! remember that in a quarter of an hour you will be `
` safe; and think that what you are about to do is for HIS sake." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, everything for him. You have restored my courage by a single `
` word; go, I will rejoin you." `
` `
` Milady ran up to her apartment quickly; she there found Rochefort's `
` lackey, and gave him his instructions. `
` `
` He was to wait at the gate; if by chance the Musketeers should appear, `
` the carriage was to set off as fast as possible, pass around the `
` convent, and go and wait for Milady at a little village which was `
` situated at the other side of the wood. In this case Milady would cross `
` the garden and gain the village on foot. As we have already said, `
` Milady was admirably acquainted with this part of France. `
` `
` If the Musketeers did not appear, things were to go on as had been `
` agreed; Mme. Bonacieux was to get into the carriage as if to bid her `
` adieu, and she was to take away Mme. Bonacieux. `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux came in; and to remove all suspicion, if she had any, `
` Milady repeated to the lackey, before her, the latter part of her `
` instructions. `
` `
` Milady asked some questions about the carriage. It was a chaise drawn `
` by three horses, driven by a postillion; Rochefort's lackey would `
` precede it, as courier. `
` `
` Milady was wrong in fearing that Mme. Bonacieux would have any `
` suspicion. The poor young woman was too pure to suppose that any female `
` could be guilty of such perfidy; besides, the name of the Comtesse de `
` Winter, which she had heard the abbess pronounce, was wholly unknown to `
` her, and she was even ignorant that a woman had had so great and so `
` fatal a share in the misfortune of her life. `
` `
` "You see," said she, when the lackey had gone out, "everything is ready. `
` The abbess suspects nothing, and believes that I am taken by order of `
` the cardinal. This man goes to give his last orders; take the least `
` thing, drink a finger of wine, and let us be gone." `
` `
` "Yes," said Mme. Bonacieux, mechanically, "yes, let us be gone." `
` `
` Milady made her a sign to sit down opposite, poured her a small glass of `
` Spanish wine, and helped her to the wing of a chicken. `
` `
` "See," said she, "if everything does not second us! Here is night `
` coming on; by daybreak we shall have reached our retreat, and nobody can `
` guess where we are. Come, courage! take something." `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux ate a few mouthfuls mechanically, and just touched the `
` glass with her lips. `
` `
` "Come, come!" said Milady, lifting hers to her mouth, "do as I do." `
` `
` But at the moment the glass touched her lips, her hand remained `
` suspended; she heard something on the road which sounded like the `
` rattling of a distant gallop. Then it grew nearer, and it seemed to `
` her, almost at the same time, that she heard the neighing of horses. `
` `
` This noise acted upon her joy like the storm which awakens the sleeper `
` in the midst of a happy dream; she grew pale and ran to the window, `
` while Mme. Bonacieux, rising all in a tremble, supported herself upon `
` her chair to avoid falling. Nothing was yet to be seen, only they heard `
` the galloping draw nearer. `
` `
` "Oh, my God!" said Mme. Bonacieux, "what is that noise?" `
` `
` "That of either our friends or our enemies," said Milady, with her `
` terrible coolness. "Stay where you are, I will tell you." `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux remained standing, mute, motionless, and pale as a `
` statue. `
` `
` The noise became louder; the horses could not be more than a hundred and `
` fifty paces distant. If they were not yet to be seen, it was because `
` the road made an elbow. The noise became so distinct that the horses `
` might be counted by the rattle of their hoofs. `
` `
` Milady gazed with all the power of her attention; it was just light `
` enough for her to see who was coming. `
` `
` All at once, at the turning of the road she saw the glitter of laced `
` hats and the waving of feathers; she counted two, then five, then eight `
` horsemen. One of them preceded the rest by double the length of his `
` horse. `
` `
` Milady uttered a stifled groan. In the first horseman she recognized `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Oh, my God, my God," cried Mme. Bonacieux, "what is it?" `
` `
`
` for you--at dinner or supper, for instance?" `
` `
` "Do one thing." `
` `
` "What is that?" `
` `
` "Tell your good superior that in order that we may be as much together `
` as possible, you ask her permission to share my repast." `
` `
` "Will she permit it?" `
` `
` "What inconvenience can it be?" `
` `
` "Oh, delightful! In this way we shall not be separated for an instant." `
` `
` "Well, go down to her, then, to make your request. I feel my head a `
` little confused; I will take a turn in the garden." `
` `
` "Go and where shall I find you?" `
` `
` "Here, in an hour." `
` `
` "Here, in an hour. Oh, you are so kind, and I am so grateful!" `
` `
` "How can I avoid interesting myself for one who is so beautiful and so `
` amiable? Are you not the beloved of one of my best friends?" `
` `
` "Dear d'Artagnan! Oh, how he will thank you!" `
` `
` "I hope so. Now, then, all is agreed; let us go down." `
` `
` "You are going into the garden?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Go along this corridor, down a little staircase, and you are in it." `
` `
` "Excellent; thank you!" `
` `
` And the two women parted, exchanging charming smiles. `
` `
` Milady had told the truth--her head was confused, for her ill-arranged `
` plans clashed one another like chaos. She required to be alone that `
` she might put her thoughts a little into order. She saw vaguely the `
` future; but she stood in need of a little silence and quiet to give all `
` her ideas, as yet confused, a distinct form and a regular plan. `
` `
` What was most pressing was to get Mme. Bonacieux away, and convey her to `
` a place of safety, and there, if matters required, make her a hostage. `
` Milady began to have doubts of the issue of this terrible duel, in which `
` her enemies showed as much perseverance as she did animosity. `
` `
` Besides, she felt as we feel when a storm is coming on--that this issue `
` was near, and could not fail to be terrible. `
` `
` The principal thing for her, then, was, as we have said, to keep Mme. `
` Bonacieux in her power. Mme. Bonacieux was the very life of d'Artagnan. `
` This was more than his life, the life of the woman he loved; this was, `
` in case of ill fortune, a means of temporizing and obtaining good `
` conditions. `
` `
` Now, this point was settled; Mme. Bonacieux, without any suspicion, `
` accompanied her. Once concealed with her at Armentieres, it would be `
` easy to make her believe that d'Artagnan had not come to Bethune. In `
` fifteen days at most, Rochefort would be back; besides, during that `
` fifteen days she would have time to think how she could best avenge `
` herself on the four friends. She would not be weary, thank God! for `
` she should enjoy the sweetest pastime such events could accord a woman `
` of her character--perfecting a beautiful vengeance. `
` `
` Revolving all this in her mind, she cast her eyes around her, and `
` arranged the topography of the garden in her head. Milady was like a `
` good general who contemplates at the same time victory and defeat, and `
` who is quite prepared, according to the chances of the battle, to march `
` forward or to beat a retreat. `
` `
` At the end of an hour she heard a soft voice calling her; it was Mme. `
` Bonacieux's. The good abbess had naturally consented to her request; `
` and as a commencement, they were to sup together. `
` `
` On reaching the courtyard, they heard the noise of a carriage which `
` stopped at the gate. `
` `
` Milady listened. `
` `
` "Do you hear anything?" said she. `
` `
` "Yes, the rolling of a carriage." `
` `
` "It is the one my brother sends for us." `
` `
` "Oh, my God!" `
` `
` "Come, come! courage!" `
` `
` The bell of the convent gate was sounded; Milady was not mistaken. `
` `
` "Go to your chamber," said she to Mme. Bonacieux; "you have perhaps some `
` jewels you would like to take." `
` `
` "I have his letters," said she. `
` `
` "Well, go and fetch them, and come to my apartment. We will snatch some `
` supper; we shall perhaps travel part of the night, and must keep our `
` strength up." `
` `
` "Great God!" said Mme. Bonacieux, placing her hand upon her bosom, "my `
` heart beats so I cannot walk." `
` `
` "Courage, courage! remember that in a quarter of an hour you will be `
` safe; and think that what you are about to do is for HIS sake." `
` `
` "Yes, yes, everything for him. You have restored my courage by a single `
` word; go, I will rejoin you." `
` `
` Milady ran up to her apartment quickly; she there found Rochefort's `
` lackey, and gave him his instructions. `
` `
` He was to wait at the gate; if by chance the Musketeers should appear, `
` the carriage was to set off as fast as possible, pass around the `
` convent, and go and wait for Milady at a little village which was `
` situated at the other side of the wood. In this case Milady would cross `
` the garden and gain the village on foot. As we have already said, `
` Milady was admirably acquainted with this part of France. `
` `
` If the Musketeers did not appear, things were to go on as had been `
` agreed; Mme. Bonacieux was to get into the carriage as if to bid her `
` adieu, and she was to take away Mme. Bonacieux. `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux came in; and to remove all suspicion, if she had any, `
` Milady repeated to the lackey, before her, the latter part of her `
` instructions. `
` `
` Milady asked some questions about the carriage. It was a chaise drawn `
` by three horses, driven by a postillion; Rochefort's lackey would `
` precede it, as courier. `
` `
` Milady was wrong in fearing that Mme. Bonacieux would have any `
` suspicion. The poor young woman was too pure to suppose that any female `
` could be guilty of such perfidy; besides, the name of the Comtesse de `
` Winter, which she had heard the abbess pronounce, was wholly unknown to `
` her, and she was even ignorant that a woman had had so great and so `
` fatal a share in the misfortune of her life. `
` `
` "You see," said she, when the lackey had gone out, "everything is ready. `
` The abbess suspects nothing, and believes that I am taken by order of `
` the cardinal. This man goes to give his last orders; take the least `
` thing, drink a finger of wine, and let us be gone." `
` `
` "Yes," said Mme. Bonacieux, mechanically, "yes, let us be gone." `
` `
` Milady made her a sign to sit down opposite, poured her a small glass of `
` Spanish wine, and helped her to the wing of a chicken. `
` `
` "See," said she, "if everything does not second us! Here is night `
` coming on; by daybreak we shall have reached our retreat, and nobody can `
` guess where we are. Come, courage! take something." `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux ate a few mouthfuls mechanically, and just touched the `
` glass with her lips. `
` `
` "Come, come!" said Milady, lifting hers to her mouth, "do as I do." `
` `
` But at the moment the glass touched her lips, her hand remained `
` suspended; she heard something on the road which sounded like the `
` rattling of a distant gallop. Then it grew nearer, and it seemed to `
` her, almost at the same time, that she heard the neighing of horses. `
` `
` This noise acted upon her joy like the storm which awakens the sleeper `
` in the midst of a happy dream; she grew pale and ran to the window, `
` while Mme. Bonacieux, rising all in a tremble, supported herself upon `
` her chair to avoid falling. Nothing was yet to be seen, only they heard `
` the galloping draw nearer. `
` `
` "Oh, my God!" said Mme. Bonacieux, "what is that noise?" `
` `
` "That of either our friends or our enemies," said Milady, with her `
` terrible coolness. "Stay where you are, I will tell you." `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux remained standing, mute, motionless, and pale as a `
` statue. `
` `
` The noise became louder; the horses could not be more than a hundred and `
` fifty paces distant. If they were not yet to be seen, it was because `
` the road made an elbow. The noise became so distinct that the horses `
` might be counted by the rattle of their hoofs. `
` `
` Milady gazed with all the power of her attention; it was just light `
` enough for her to see who was coming. `
` `
` All at once, at the turning of the road she saw the glitter of laced `
` hats and the waving of feathers; she counted two, then five, then eight `
` horsemen. One of them preceded the rest by double the length of his `
` horse. `
` `
` Milady uttered a stifled groan. In the first horseman she recognized `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Oh, my God, my God," cried Mme. Bonacieux, "what is it?" `
` `
`