Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67

remember under what circumstances. `
` `
` "Gentlemen," continued the stranger, "since you do not recognize a man `
` who probably owes his life to you twice, I must name myself. I am Lord `
` de Winter, brother-in-law of THAT WOMAN." `
` `
` The three friends uttered a cry of surprise. `
` `
` Athos rose, and offering him his hand, "Be welcome, my Lord," said he, `
` "you are one of us." `
` `
` "I set out five hours after her from Portsmouth," said Lord de Winter. `
` "I arrived three hours after her at Boulogne. I missed her by twenty `
` minutes at St. Omer. Finally, at Lilliers I lost all trace of her. I `
` was going about at random, inquiring of everybody, when I saw you `
` gallop past. I recognized Monsieur d'Artagnan. I called to you, but `
` you did not answer me; I wished to follow you, but my horse was too much `
` fatigued to go at the same pace with yours. And yet it appears, in `
` spite of all your diligence, you have arrived too late." `
` `
` "You see!" said Athos, pointing to Mme. Bonacieux dead, and to `
` d'Artagnan, whom Porthos and Aramis were trying to recall to life. `
` `
` "Are they both dead?" asked Lord de Winter, sternly. `
` `
` "No," replied Athos, "fortunately Monsieur d'Artagnan has only fainted." `
` `
` "Ah, indeed, so much the better!" said Lord de Winter. `
` `
` At that moment d'Artagnan opened his eyes. He tore himself from the `
` arms of Porthos and Aramis, and threw himself like a madman on the `
` corpse of his mistress. `
` `
` Athos rose, walked toward his friend with a slow and solemn step, `
` embraced him tenderly, and as he burst into violent sobs, he said to him `
` with his noble and persuasive voice, "Friend, be a man! Women weep for `
` the dead; men avenge them!" `
` `
` "Oh, yes!" cried d'Artagnan, "yes! If it be to avenge her, I am ready `
` to follow you." `
` `
` Athos profited by this moment of strength which the hope of vengeance `
` restored to his unfortunate friend to make a sign to Porthos and Aramis `
` to go and fetch the superior. `
` `
` The two friends met her in the corridor, greatly troubled and much upset `
` by such strange events; she called some of the nuns, who against all `
` monastic custom found themselves in the presence of five men. `
` `
` "Madame," said Athos, passing his arm under that of d'Artagnan, "we `
` abandon to your pious care the body of that unfortunate woman. She was `
` an angel on earth before being an angel in heaven. Treat her as one of `
` your sisters. We will return someday to pray over her grave." `
` `
` D'Artagnan concealed his face in the bosom of Athos, and sobbed aloud. `
` `
` "Weep," said Athos, "weep, heart full of love, youth, and life! Alas, `
` would I could weep like you!" `
` `
` And he drew away his friend, as affectionate as a father, as consoling `
` as a priest, noble as a man who has suffered much. `
` `
` All five, followed by their lackeys leading their horses, took their way `
` to the town of Bethune, whose outskirts they perceived, and stopped `
` before the first inn they came to. `
` `
` "But," said d'Artagnan, "shall we not pursue that woman?" `
` `
` "Later," said Athos. "I have measures to take." `
` `
` "She will escape us," replied the young man; "she will escape us, and it `
` will be your fault, Athos." `
` `
` "I will be accountable for her," said Athos. `
` `
` D'Artagnan had so much confidence in the word of his friend that he `
` lowered his head, and entered the inn without reply. `
` `
` Porthos and Aramis regarded each other, not understanding this assurance `
` of Athos. `
` `
` Lord de Winter believed he spoke in this manner to soothe the grief of `
` d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Now, gentlemen," said Athos, when he had ascertained there were five `
` chambers free in the hotel, "let everyone retire to his own apartment. `
` d'Artagnan needs to be alone, to weep and to sleep. I take charge of `
` everything; be easy." `
` `
` "It appears, however," said Lord de Winter, "if there are any measures `
` to take against the countess, it concerns me; she is my sister-in-law." `
` `
` "And me," said Athos, "--she is my wife!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan smiled--for he understood that Athos was sure of his `
` vengeance when he revealed such a secret. Porthos and Aramis looked at `
` each other, and grew pale. Lord de Winter thought Athos was mad. `
` `
` "Now, retire to your chambers," said Athos, "and leave me to act. You `
` must perceive that in my quality of a husband this concerns me. Only, `
` d'Artagnan, if you have not lost it, give me the paper which fell from `
` that man's hat, upon which is written the name of the village of--" `
` `
` "Ah," said d'Artagnan, "I comprehend! that name written in her hand." `
` `
` "You see, then," said Athos, "there is a god in heaven still!" `
` `
` `
` `
` 64 THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK `
` `
` The despair of Athos had given place to a concentrated grief which only `
` rendered more lucid the brilliant mental faculties of that extraordinary `
` man. `
` `
` Possessed by one single thought--that of the promise he had made, and of `
` the responsibility he had taken--he retired last to his chamber, begged `
` the host to procure him a map of the province, bent over it, examined `
` every line traced upon it, perceived that there were four different `
` roads from Bethune to Armentieres, and summoned the lackeys. `
` `
` Planchet, Grimaud, Bazin, and Mousqueton presented themselves, and `
` received clear, positive, and serious orders from Athos. `
` `
` They must set out the next morning at daybreak, and go to Armentieres-- `
` each by a different route. Planchet, the most intelligent of the four, `
` was to follow that by which the carriage had gone upon which the four `
` friends had fired, and which was accompanied, as may be remembered, by `
` Rochefort's servant. `
` `
` Athos set the lackeys to work first because, since these men had been in `
` the service of himself and his friends he had discovered in each of them `
` different and essential qualities. Then, lackeys who ask questions `
` inspire less mistrust than masters, and meet with more sympathy among `
` those to whom they address themselves. Besides, Milady knew the `
` masters, and did not know the lackeys; on the contrary, the lackeys knew `
` Milady perfectly. `
` `
` All four were to meet the next day at eleven o'clock. If they had `
` discovered Milady's retreat, three were to remain on guard; the fourth `
` was to return to Bethune in order to inform Athos and serve as a guide `
` to the four friends. These arrangements made, the lackeys retired. `
` `
` Athos then arose from his chair, girded on his sword, enveloped himself `
` in his cloak, and left the hotel. It was nearly ten o'clock. At ten `
` o'clock in the evening, it is well known, the streets in provincial `
` towns are very little frequented. Athos nevertheless was visibly `
` anxious to find someone of whom he could ask a question. At length he `
` met a belated passenger, went up to him, and spoke a few words to him. `
` The man he addressed recoiled with terror, and only answered the few `
` words of the Musketeer by pointing. Athos offered the man half a `
` pistole to accompany him, but the man refused. `
` `
` Athos then plunged into the street the man had indicated with his `
` finger; but arriving at four crossroads, he stopped again, visibly `
` embarrassed. Nevertheless, as the crossroads offered him a better `
` chance than any other place of meeting somebody, he stood still. In a `
` few minutes a night watch passed. Athos repeated to him the same `
` question he had asked the first person he met. The night watch evinced `
` the same terror, refused, in his turn, to accompany Athos, and only `
` pointed with his hand to the road he was to take. `
` `
` Athos walked in the direction indicated, and reached the suburb situated `
` at the opposite extremity of the city from that by which he and his `
` friends had entered it. There he again appeared uneasy and embarrassed, `
` and stopped for the third time. `
` `
` Fortunately, a mendicant passed, who, coming up to Athos to ask charity, `
` Athos offered him half a crown to accompany him where he was going. The `
` mendicant hesitated at first, but at the sight of the piece of silver `
` which shone in the darkness he consented, and walked on before Athos. `
` `
` Arrived at the angle of a street, he pointed to a small house, isolated, `
` solitary, and dismal. Athos went toward the house, while the mendicant, `
` who had received his reward, left as fast as his legs could carry him. `
` `
` Athos went round the house before he could distinguish the door, amid `
` the red color in which the house was painted. No light appeared through `
` the chinks of the shutters; no noise gave reason to believe that it was `
` inhabited. It was dark and silent as the tomb. `
` `
` Three times Athos knocked without receiving an answer. At the third `
` knock, however, steps were heard inside. The door at length was opened, `
` and a man appeared, of high stature, pale complexion, and black hair and `
` beard. `
` `
` Athos and he exchanged some words in a low voice, then the tall man made `
` a sign to the Musketeer that he might come in. Athos immediately `
` profited by the permission, and the door was closed behind him. `
` `
` The man whom Athos had come so far to seek, and whom he had found with `
` so much trouble, introduced him into his laboratory, where he was `
` engaged in fastening together with iron wire the dry bones of a `
` skeleton. All the frame was adjusted except the head, which lay on the `
` table. `
` `
` All the rest of the furniture indicated that the dweller in this house `
` occupied himself with the study of natural science. There were large `
` bottles filled with serpents, ticketed according to their species; dried `
` lizards shone like emeralds set in great squares of black wood, and `
` bunches of wild odoriferous herbs, doubtless possessed of virtues `
`