Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
`
` "It is the uniform of the cardinal's Guards. Not an instant to be lost! `
` Fly, fly!" `
` `
` "Yes, yes, let us fly!" repeated Mme. Bonacieux, but without being able `
` to make a step, glued as she was to the spot by terror. `
` `
` They heard the horsemen pass under the windows. `
` `
` "Come, then, come, then!" cried Milady, trying to drag the young woman `
` along by the arm. "Thanks to the garden, we yet can flee; I have the `
` key, but make haste! in five minutes it will be too late!" `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux tried to walk, made two steps, and sank upon her knees. `
` Milady tried to raise and carry her, but could not do it. `
` `
` At this moment they heard the rolling of the carriage, which at the `
` approach of the Musketeers set off at a gallop. Then three or four `
` shots were fired. `
` `
` "For the last time, will you come?" cried Milady. `
` `
` "Oh, my God, my God! you see my strength fails me; you see plainly I `
` cannot walk. Flee alone!" `
` `
` "Flee alone, and leave you here? No, no, never!" cried Milady. `
` `
` All at once she paused, a livid flash darted from her eyes; she ran to `
` the table, emptied into Mme. Bonacieux's glass the contents of a ring `
` which she opened with singular quickness. It was a grain of a reddish `
` color, which dissolved immediately. `
` `
` Then, taking the glass with a firm hand, she said, "Drink. This wine `
` will give you strength, drink!" And she put the glass to the lips of `
` the young woman, who drank mechanically. `
` `
` "This is not the way that I wished to avenge myself," said Milady, `
` replacing the glass upon the table, with an infernal smile, "but, my `
` faith! we do what we can!" And she rushed out of the room. `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux saw her go without being able to follow her; she was like `
` people who dream they are pursued, and who in vain try to walk. `
` `
` A few moments passed; a great noise was heard at the gate. Every `
` instant Mme. Bonacieux expected to see Milady, but she did not return. `
` Several times, with terror, no doubt, the cold sweat burst from her `
` burning brow. `
` `
` At length she heard the grating of the hinges of the opening gates; the `
` noise of boots and spurs resounded on the stairs. There was a great `
` murmur of voices which continued to draw near, amid which she seemed to `
` hear her own name pronounced. `
` `
` All at once she uttered a loud cry of joy, and darted toward the door; `
` she had recognized the voice of d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan! D'Artagnan!" cried she, "is it you? This way! this `
` way!" `
` `
` "Constance? Constance?" replied the young man, "where are you? where `
` are you? My God!" `
` `
` At the same moment the door of the cell yielded to a shock, rather than `
` opened; several men rushed into the chamber. Mme. Bonacieux had sunk `
` into an armchair, without the power of moving. `
` `
` D'Artagnan threw down a yet-smoking pistol which he held in his hand, `
` and fell on his knees before his mistress. Athos replaced his in his `
` belt; Porthos and Aramis, who held their drawn swords in their hands, `
` returned them to their scabbards. `
` `
` "Oh, d'Artagnan, my beloved d'Artagnan! You have come, then, at last! `
` You have not deceived me! It is indeed thee!" `
` `
` "Yes, yes, Constance. Reunited!" `
` `
` "Oh, it was in vain she told me you would not come! I hoped in silence. `
` I was not willing to fly. Oh, I have done well! How happy I am!" `
` `
` At this word SHE, Athos, who had seated himself quietly, started up. `
` `
` "SHE! What she?" asked d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Why, my companion. She who out of friendship for me wished to take me `
` from my persecutors. She who, mistaking you for the cardinal's Guards, `
` has just fled away." `
` `
` "Your companion!" cried d'Artagnan, becoming more pale than the white `
` veil of his mistress. "Of what companion are you speaking, dear `
` Constance?" `
` `
` "Of her whose carriage was at the gate; of a woman who calls herself `
` your friend; of a woman to whom you have told everything." `
` `
` "Her name, her name!" cried d'Artagnan. "My God, can you not remember `
` her name?" `
` `
` "Yes, it was pronounced in my hearing once. Stop--but--it is very `
` strange--oh, my God, my head swims! I cannot see!" `
` `
` "Help, help, my friends! her hands are icy cold," cried d'Artagnan. `
` "She is ill! Great God, she is losing her senses!" `
` `
` While Porthos was calling for help with all the power of his strong `
` voice, Aramis ran to the table to get a glass of water; but he stopped `
` at seeing the horrible alteration that had taken place in the `
` countenance of Athos, who, standing before the table, his hair rising `
` from his head, his eyes fixed in stupor, was looking at one of the `
` glasses, and appeared a prey to the most horrible doubt. `
` `
` "Oh!" said Athos, "oh, no, it is impossible! God would not permit such `
` a crime!" `
` `
` "Water, water!" cried d'Artagnan. "Water!" `
` `
` "Oh, poor woman, poor woman!" murmured Athos, in a broken voice. `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux opened her eyes under the kisses of d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "She revives!" cried the young man. "Oh, my God, my God, I thank `
` thee!" `
` `
` "Madame!" said Athos, "madame, in the name of heaven, whose empty glass `
` is this?" `
` `
` "Mine, monsieur," said the young woman, in a dying voice. `
` `
` "But who poured the wine for you that was in this glass?" `
` `
` "She." `
` `
` "But who is SHE?" `
` `
` "Oh, I remember!" said Mme. Bonacieux, "the Comtesse de Winter." `
` `
` The four friends uttered one and the same cry, but that of Athos `
` dominated all the rest. `
` `
` At that moment the countenance of Mme. Bonacieux became livid; a fearful `
` agony pervaded her frame, and she sank panting into the arms of Porthos `
` and Aramis. `
` `
` D'Artagnan seized the hands of Athos with an anguish difficult to be `
` described. `
` `
` "And what do you believe?' His voice was stifled by sobs. `
` `
` "I believe everything," said Athos biting his lips till the blood sprang `
` to avoid sighing. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, "where art thou? Do `
` not leave me! You see I am dying!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan released the hands of Athos which he still held clasped in `
` both his own, and hastened to her. Her beautiful face was distorted `
` with agony; her glassy eyes had no longer their sight; a convulsive `
` shuddering shook her whole body; the sweat rolled from her brow. `
` `
` "In the name of heaven, run, call! Aramis! Porthos! Call for help!" `
` `
` "Useless!" said Athos, "useless! For the poison which SHE pours there `
` is no antidote." `
` `
` `
` "Yes, yes! Help, help!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux; "help!" `
` `
` Then, collecting all her strength, she took the head of the young man `
` between her hands, looked at him for an instant as if her whole soul `
` passed into that look, and with a sobbing cry pressed her lips to his. `
` `
` "Constance, Constance!" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` A sigh escaped from the mouth of Mme. Bonacieux, and dwelt for an `
` instant on the lips of d'Artagnan. That sigh was the soul, so chaste `
` and so loving, which reascended to heaven. `
` `
` D'Artagnan pressed nothing but a corpse in his arms. The young man `
` uttered a cry, and fell by the side of his mistress as pale and as icy `
` as herself. `
` `
` Porthos wept; Aramis pointed toward heaven; Athos made the sign of the `
` cross. `
` `
` At that moment a man appeared in the doorway, almost as pale as those in `
` the chamber. He looked around him and saw Mme. Bonacieux dead, and `
` d'Artagnan in a swoon. He appeared just at that moment of stupor which `
` follows great catastrophes. `
` `
` "I was not deceived," said he; "here is Monsieur d'Artagnan; and you are `
` his friends, Messieurs Athos, Porthos, and Aramis." `
` `
` The persons whose names were thus pronounced looked at the stranger with `
` astonishment. It seemed to all three that they knew him. `
` `
` "Gentlemen," resumed the newcomer, "you are, as I am, in search of a `
` woman who," added he, with a terrible smile, "must have passed this way, `
` for I see a corpse." `
` `
` The three friends remained mute--for although the voice as well as the `
` countenance reminded them of someone they had seen, they could not `
` remember under what circumstances. `
`
` "It is the uniform of the cardinal's Guards. Not an instant to be lost! `
` Fly, fly!" `
` `
` "Yes, yes, let us fly!" repeated Mme. Bonacieux, but without being able `
` to make a step, glued as she was to the spot by terror. `
` `
` They heard the horsemen pass under the windows. `
` `
` "Come, then, come, then!" cried Milady, trying to drag the young woman `
` along by the arm. "Thanks to the garden, we yet can flee; I have the `
` key, but make haste! in five minutes it will be too late!" `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux tried to walk, made two steps, and sank upon her knees. `
` Milady tried to raise and carry her, but could not do it. `
` `
` At this moment they heard the rolling of the carriage, which at the `
` approach of the Musketeers set off at a gallop. Then three or four `
` shots were fired. `
` `
` "For the last time, will you come?" cried Milady. `
` `
` "Oh, my God, my God! you see my strength fails me; you see plainly I `
` cannot walk. Flee alone!" `
` `
` "Flee alone, and leave you here? No, no, never!" cried Milady. `
` `
` All at once she paused, a livid flash darted from her eyes; she ran to `
` the table, emptied into Mme. Bonacieux's glass the contents of a ring `
` which she opened with singular quickness. It was a grain of a reddish `
` color, which dissolved immediately. `
` `
` Then, taking the glass with a firm hand, she said, "Drink. This wine `
` will give you strength, drink!" And she put the glass to the lips of `
` the young woman, who drank mechanically. `
` `
` "This is not the way that I wished to avenge myself," said Milady, `
` replacing the glass upon the table, with an infernal smile, "but, my `
` faith! we do what we can!" And she rushed out of the room. `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux saw her go without being able to follow her; she was like `
` people who dream they are pursued, and who in vain try to walk. `
` `
` A few moments passed; a great noise was heard at the gate. Every `
` instant Mme. Bonacieux expected to see Milady, but she did not return. `
` Several times, with terror, no doubt, the cold sweat burst from her `
` burning brow. `
` `
` At length she heard the grating of the hinges of the opening gates; the `
` noise of boots and spurs resounded on the stairs. There was a great `
` murmur of voices which continued to draw near, amid which she seemed to `
` hear her own name pronounced. `
` `
` All at once she uttered a loud cry of joy, and darted toward the door; `
` she had recognized the voice of d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan! D'Artagnan!" cried she, "is it you? This way! this `
` way!" `
` `
` "Constance? Constance?" replied the young man, "where are you? where `
` are you? My God!" `
` `
` At the same moment the door of the cell yielded to a shock, rather than `
` opened; several men rushed into the chamber. Mme. Bonacieux had sunk `
` into an armchair, without the power of moving. `
` `
` D'Artagnan threw down a yet-smoking pistol which he held in his hand, `
` and fell on his knees before his mistress. Athos replaced his in his `
` belt; Porthos and Aramis, who held their drawn swords in their hands, `
` returned them to their scabbards. `
` `
` "Oh, d'Artagnan, my beloved d'Artagnan! You have come, then, at last! `
` You have not deceived me! It is indeed thee!" `
` `
` "Yes, yes, Constance. Reunited!" `
` `
` "Oh, it was in vain she told me you would not come! I hoped in silence. `
` I was not willing to fly. Oh, I have done well! How happy I am!" `
` `
` At this word SHE, Athos, who had seated himself quietly, started up. `
` `
` "SHE! What she?" asked d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Why, my companion. She who out of friendship for me wished to take me `
` from my persecutors. She who, mistaking you for the cardinal's Guards, `
` has just fled away." `
` `
` "Your companion!" cried d'Artagnan, becoming more pale than the white `
` veil of his mistress. "Of what companion are you speaking, dear `
` Constance?" `
` `
` "Of her whose carriage was at the gate; of a woman who calls herself `
` your friend; of a woman to whom you have told everything." `
` `
` "Her name, her name!" cried d'Artagnan. "My God, can you not remember `
` her name?" `
` `
` "Yes, it was pronounced in my hearing once. Stop--but--it is very `
` strange--oh, my God, my head swims! I cannot see!" `
` `
` "Help, help, my friends! her hands are icy cold," cried d'Artagnan. `
` "She is ill! Great God, she is losing her senses!" `
` `
` While Porthos was calling for help with all the power of his strong `
` voice, Aramis ran to the table to get a glass of water; but he stopped `
` at seeing the horrible alteration that had taken place in the `
` countenance of Athos, who, standing before the table, his hair rising `
` from his head, his eyes fixed in stupor, was looking at one of the `
` glasses, and appeared a prey to the most horrible doubt. `
` `
` "Oh!" said Athos, "oh, no, it is impossible! God would not permit such `
` a crime!" `
` `
` "Water, water!" cried d'Artagnan. "Water!" `
` `
` "Oh, poor woman, poor woman!" murmured Athos, in a broken voice. `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux opened her eyes under the kisses of d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "She revives!" cried the young man. "Oh, my God, my God, I thank `
` thee!" `
` `
` "Madame!" said Athos, "madame, in the name of heaven, whose empty glass `
` is this?" `
` `
` "Mine, monsieur," said the young woman, in a dying voice. `
` `
` "But who poured the wine for you that was in this glass?" `
` `
` "She." `
` `
` "But who is SHE?" `
` `
` "Oh, I remember!" said Mme. Bonacieux, "the Comtesse de Winter." `
` `
` The four friends uttered one and the same cry, but that of Athos `
` dominated all the rest. `
` `
` At that moment the countenance of Mme. Bonacieux became livid; a fearful `
` agony pervaded her frame, and she sank panting into the arms of Porthos `
` and Aramis. `
` `
` D'Artagnan seized the hands of Athos with an anguish difficult to be `
` described. `
` `
` "And what do you believe?' His voice was stifled by sobs. `
` `
` "I believe everything," said Athos biting his lips till the blood sprang `
` to avoid sighing. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, "where art thou? Do `
` not leave me! You see I am dying!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan released the hands of Athos which he still held clasped in `
` both his own, and hastened to her. Her beautiful face was distorted `
` with agony; her glassy eyes had no longer their sight; a convulsive `
` shuddering shook her whole body; the sweat rolled from her brow. `
` `
` "In the name of heaven, run, call! Aramis! Porthos! Call for help!" `
` `
` "Useless!" said Athos, "useless! For the poison which SHE pours there `
` is no antidote." `
` `
` `
` "Yes, yes! Help, help!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux; "help!" `
` `
` Then, collecting all her strength, she took the head of the young man `
` between her hands, looked at him for an instant as if her whole soul `
` passed into that look, and with a sobbing cry pressed her lips to his. `
` `
` "Constance, Constance!" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` A sigh escaped from the mouth of Mme. Bonacieux, and dwelt for an `
` instant on the lips of d'Artagnan. That sigh was the soul, so chaste `
` and so loving, which reascended to heaven. `
` `
` D'Artagnan pressed nothing but a corpse in his arms. The young man `
` uttered a cry, and fell by the side of his mistress as pale and as icy `
` as herself. `
` `
` Porthos wept; Aramis pointed toward heaven; Athos made the sign of the `
` cross. `
` `
` At that moment a man appeared in the doorway, almost as pale as those in `
` the chamber. He looked around him and saw Mme. Bonacieux dead, and `
` d'Artagnan in a swoon. He appeared just at that moment of stupor which `
` follows great catastrophes. `
` `
` "I was not deceived," said he; "here is Monsieur d'Artagnan; and you are `
` his friends, Messieurs Athos, Porthos, and Aramis." `
` `
` The persons whose names were thus pronounced looked at the stranger with `
` astonishment. It seemed to all three that they knew him. `
` `
` "Gentlemen," resumed the newcomer, "you are, as I am, in search of a `
` woman who," added he, with a terrible smile, "must have passed this way, `
` for I see a corpse." `
` `
` The three friends remained mute--for although the voice as well as the `
` countenance reminded them of someone they had seen, they could not `
` remember under what circumstances. `
`