Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
`
` "Alone?" asked Athos. `
` `
` Grimaud made the sign yes. `
` `
` "Gentlemen," said Athos, "she is alone within half a league of us, in `
` the direction of the river." `
` `
` "That's well," said d'Artagnan. "Lead us, Grimaud." `
` `
` Grimaud took his course across the country, and acted as guide to the `
` cavalcade. `
` `
` At the end of five hundred paces, more or less, they came to a rivulet, `
` which they forded. `
` `
` By the aid of the lightning they perceived the village of Erquinheim. `
` `
` "Is she there, Grimaud?" asked Athos. `
` `
` Grimaud shook his head negatively. `
` `
` "Silence, then!" cried Athos. `
` `
` And the troop continued their route. `
` `
` Another flash illuminated all around them. Grimaud extended his arm, `
` and by the bluish splendor of the fiery serpent they distinguished a `
` little isolated house on the banks of the river, within a hundred paces `
` of a ferry. `
` `
` One window was lighted. `
` `
` "Here we are!" said Athos. `
` `
` At this moment a man who had been crouching in a ditch jumped up and `
` came towards them. It was Mousqueton. He pointed his finger to the `
` lighted window. `
` `
` "She is there," said he. `
` `
` "And Bazin?" asked Athos. `
` `
` "While I watched the window, he guarded the door." `
` `
` "Good!" said Athos. "You are good and faithful servants." `
` `
` Athos sprang from his horse, gave the bridle to Grimaud, and advanced `
` toward the window, after having made a sign to the rest of the troop to `
` go toward the door. `
` `
` The little house was surrounded by a low, quickset hedge, two or three `
` feet high. Athos sprang over the hedge and went up to the window, which `
` was without shutters, but had the half-curtains closely drawn. `
` `
` He mounted the skirting stone that his eyes might look over the curtain. `
` `
` By the light of a lamp he saw a woman, wrapped in a dark mantle, seated `
` upon a stool near a dying fire. Her elbows were placed upon a mean `
` table, and she leaned her head upon her two hands, which were white as `
` ivory. `
` `
` He could not distinguish her countenance, but a sinister smile passed `
` over the lips of Athos. He was not deceived; it was she whom he sought. `
` `
` At this moment a horse neighed. Milady raised her head, saw close to `
` the panes the pale face of Athos, and screamed. `
` `
` Athos, perceiving that she knew him, pushed the window with his knee and `
` hand. The window yielded. The squares were broken to shivers; and `
` Athos, like the spectre of vengeance, leaped into the room. `
` `
` Milady rushed to the door and opened it. More pale and menacing than `
` Athos, d'Artagnan stood on the threshold. `
` `
` Milady recoiled, uttering a cry. D'Artagnan, believing she might have `
` means of flight and fearing she should escape, drew a pistol from his `
` belt; but Athos raised his hand. `
` `
` "Put back that weapon, d'Artagnan!" said he; "this woman must be tried, `
` not assassinated. Wait an instant, my friend, and you shall be `
` satisfied. Come in, gentlemen." `
` `
` D'Artagnan obeyed; for Athos had the solemn voice and the powerful `
` gesture of a judge sent by the Lord himself. Behind d'Artagnan entered `
` Porthos, Aramis, Lord de Winter, and the man in the red cloak. `
` `
` The four lackeys guarded the door and the window. `
` `
` Milady had sunk into a chair, with her hands extended, as if to conjure `
` this terrible apparition. Perceiving her brother-in-law, she uttered a `
` terrible cry. `
` `
` "What do you want?" screamed Milady. `
` `
` "We want," said Athos, "Charlotte Backson, who first was called Comtesse `
` de la Fere, and afterwards Milady de Winter, Baroness of Sheffield." `
` `
` "That is I! that is I!" murmured Milady, in extreme terror; "what do `
` you want?" `
` `
` "We wish to judge you according to your crime," said Athos; "you shall `
` be free to defend yourself. Justify yourself if you can. M. `
` d'Artagnan, it is for you to accuse her first." `
` `
` D'Artagnan advanced. `
` `
` "Before God and before men," said he, "I accuse this woman of having `
` poisoned Constance Bonacieux, who died yesterday evening." `
` `
` He turned towards Porthos and Aramis. `
` `
` "We bear witness to this," said the two Musketeers, with one voice. `
` `
` D'Artagnan continued: "Before God and before men, I accuse this woman `
` of having attempted to poison me, in wine which she sent me from `
` Villeroy, with a forged letter, as if that wine came from my friends. `
` God preserved me, but a man named Brisemont died in my place." `
` `
` "We bear witness to this," said Porthos and Aramis, in the `
` same manner as before. `
` `
` "Before God and before men, I accuse this woman of having urged me to `
` the murder of the Baron de Wardes; but as no one else can attest the `
` truth of this accusation, I attest it myself. I have done." And `
` d'Artagnan passed to the other side of the room with Porthos and Aramis. `
` `
` "Your turn, my Lord," said Athos. `
` `
` The baron came forward. `
` `
` "Before God and before men," said he, "I accuse this woman of having `
` caused the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham." `
` `
` "The Duke of Buckingham assassinated!" cried all present, with one `
` voice. `
` `
` "Yes," said the baron, "assassinated. On receiving the warning letter `
` you wrote to me, I had this woman arrested, and gave her in charge to a `
` loyal servant. She corrupted this man; she placed the poniard in his `
` hand; she made him kill the duke. And at this moment, perhaps, Felton `
` is paying with his head for the crime of this fury!" `
` `
` A shudder crept through the judges at the revelation of these unknown `
` crimes. `
` `
` "That is not all," resumed Lord de Winter. "My brother, who made you `
` his heir, died in three hours of a strange disorder which left livid `
` traces all over the body. My sister, how did your husband die?" `
` `
` "Horror!" cried Porthos and Aramis. `
` `
` "Assassin of Buckingham, assassin of Felton, assassin of my brother, I `
` demand justice upon you, and I swear that if it be not granted to me, I `
` will execute it myself." `
` `
` And Lord de Winter ranged himself by the side of d'Artagnan, leaving the `
` place free for another accuser. `
` `
` Milady let her head sink between her two hands, and tried to recall her `
` ideas, whirling in a mortal vertigo. `
` `
` "My turn," said Athos, himself trembling as the lion trembles at the `
` sight of the serpent--"my turn. I married that woman when she was a `
` young girl; I married her in opposition to the wishes of all my family; `
` I gave her my wealth, I gave her my name; and one day I discovered that `
` this woman was branded--this woman was marked with a FLEUR-DE-LIS on her `
` left shoulder." `
` `
` "Oh," said Milady, raising herself, "I defy you to find any tribunal `
` which pronounced that infamous sentence against me. I defy you to find `
` him who executed it." `
` `
` "Silence!" said a hollow voice. "It is for me to reply to that!" And `
` the man in the red cloak came forward in his turn. `
` `
` "What man is that? What man is that?" cried Milady, suffocated by `
` terror, her hair loosening itself, and rising above her livid `
` countenance as if alive. `
` `
` All eyes were turned towards this man--for to all except Athos he was `
` unknown. `
` `
` Even Athos looked at him with as much stupefaction as the others, for he `
` knew not how he could in any way find himself mixed up with the horrible `
` drama then unfolded. `
` `
` After approaching Milady with a slow and solemn step, so that the table `
` alone separated them, the unknown took off his mask. `
` `
` Milady for some time examined with increasing terror that pale face, `
` framed with black hair and whiskers, the only expression of which was `
` icy impassibility. Then she suddenly cried, "Oh, no, no!" rising and `
` retreating to the very wall. "No, no! it is an infernal apparition! `
` It is not he! Help, help!" screamed she, turning towards the wall, as `
` if she would tear an opening with her hands. `
` `
` "Who are you, then?" cried all the witnesses of this scene. `
` `
` "Ask that woman," said the man in the red cloak, "for you may plainly `
` see she knows me!" `
`
` "Alone?" asked Athos. `
` `
` Grimaud made the sign yes. `
` `
` "Gentlemen," said Athos, "she is alone within half a league of us, in `
` the direction of the river." `
` `
` "That's well," said d'Artagnan. "Lead us, Grimaud." `
` `
` Grimaud took his course across the country, and acted as guide to the `
` cavalcade. `
` `
` At the end of five hundred paces, more or less, they came to a rivulet, `
` which they forded. `
` `
` By the aid of the lightning they perceived the village of Erquinheim. `
` `
` "Is she there, Grimaud?" asked Athos. `
` `
` Grimaud shook his head negatively. `
` `
` "Silence, then!" cried Athos. `
` `
` And the troop continued their route. `
` `
` Another flash illuminated all around them. Grimaud extended his arm, `
` and by the bluish splendor of the fiery serpent they distinguished a `
` little isolated house on the banks of the river, within a hundred paces `
` of a ferry. `
` `
` One window was lighted. `
` `
` "Here we are!" said Athos. `
` `
` At this moment a man who had been crouching in a ditch jumped up and `
` came towards them. It was Mousqueton. He pointed his finger to the `
` lighted window. `
` `
` "She is there," said he. `
` `
` "And Bazin?" asked Athos. `
` `
` "While I watched the window, he guarded the door." `
` `
` "Good!" said Athos. "You are good and faithful servants." `
` `
` Athos sprang from his horse, gave the bridle to Grimaud, and advanced `
` toward the window, after having made a sign to the rest of the troop to `
` go toward the door. `
` `
` The little house was surrounded by a low, quickset hedge, two or three `
` feet high. Athos sprang over the hedge and went up to the window, which `
` was without shutters, but had the half-curtains closely drawn. `
` `
` He mounted the skirting stone that his eyes might look over the curtain. `
` `
` By the light of a lamp he saw a woman, wrapped in a dark mantle, seated `
` upon a stool near a dying fire. Her elbows were placed upon a mean `
` table, and she leaned her head upon her two hands, which were white as `
` ivory. `
` `
` He could not distinguish her countenance, but a sinister smile passed `
` over the lips of Athos. He was not deceived; it was she whom he sought. `
` `
` At this moment a horse neighed. Milady raised her head, saw close to `
` the panes the pale face of Athos, and screamed. `
` `
` Athos, perceiving that she knew him, pushed the window with his knee and `
` hand. The window yielded. The squares were broken to shivers; and `
` Athos, like the spectre of vengeance, leaped into the room. `
` `
` Milady rushed to the door and opened it. More pale and menacing than `
` Athos, d'Artagnan stood on the threshold. `
` `
` Milady recoiled, uttering a cry. D'Artagnan, believing she might have `
` means of flight and fearing she should escape, drew a pistol from his `
` belt; but Athos raised his hand. `
` `
` "Put back that weapon, d'Artagnan!" said he; "this woman must be tried, `
` not assassinated. Wait an instant, my friend, and you shall be `
` satisfied. Come in, gentlemen." `
` `
` D'Artagnan obeyed; for Athos had the solemn voice and the powerful `
` gesture of a judge sent by the Lord himself. Behind d'Artagnan entered `
` Porthos, Aramis, Lord de Winter, and the man in the red cloak. `
` `
` The four lackeys guarded the door and the window. `
` `
` Milady had sunk into a chair, with her hands extended, as if to conjure `
` this terrible apparition. Perceiving her brother-in-law, she uttered a `
` terrible cry. `
` `
` "What do you want?" screamed Milady. `
` `
` "We want," said Athos, "Charlotte Backson, who first was called Comtesse `
` de la Fere, and afterwards Milady de Winter, Baroness of Sheffield." `
` `
` "That is I! that is I!" murmured Milady, in extreme terror; "what do `
` you want?" `
` `
` "We wish to judge you according to your crime," said Athos; "you shall `
` be free to defend yourself. Justify yourself if you can. M. `
` d'Artagnan, it is for you to accuse her first." `
` `
` D'Artagnan advanced. `
` `
` "Before God and before men," said he, "I accuse this woman of having `
` poisoned Constance Bonacieux, who died yesterday evening." `
` `
` He turned towards Porthos and Aramis. `
` `
` "We bear witness to this," said the two Musketeers, with one voice. `
` `
` D'Artagnan continued: "Before God and before men, I accuse this woman `
` of having attempted to poison me, in wine which she sent me from `
` Villeroy, with a forged letter, as if that wine came from my friends. `
` God preserved me, but a man named Brisemont died in my place." `
` `
` "We bear witness to this," said Porthos and Aramis, in the `
` same manner as before. `
` `
` "Before God and before men, I accuse this woman of having urged me to `
` the murder of the Baron de Wardes; but as no one else can attest the `
` truth of this accusation, I attest it myself. I have done." And `
` d'Artagnan passed to the other side of the room with Porthos and Aramis. `
` `
` "Your turn, my Lord," said Athos. `
` `
` The baron came forward. `
` `
` "Before God and before men," said he, "I accuse this woman of having `
` caused the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham." `
` `
` "The Duke of Buckingham assassinated!" cried all present, with one `
` voice. `
` `
` "Yes," said the baron, "assassinated. On receiving the warning letter `
` you wrote to me, I had this woman arrested, and gave her in charge to a `
` loyal servant. She corrupted this man; she placed the poniard in his `
` hand; she made him kill the duke. And at this moment, perhaps, Felton `
` is paying with his head for the crime of this fury!" `
` `
` A shudder crept through the judges at the revelation of these unknown `
` crimes. `
` `
` "That is not all," resumed Lord de Winter. "My brother, who made you `
` his heir, died in three hours of a strange disorder which left livid `
` traces all over the body. My sister, how did your husband die?" `
` `
` "Horror!" cried Porthos and Aramis. `
` `
` "Assassin of Buckingham, assassin of Felton, assassin of my brother, I `
` demand justice upon you, and I swear that if it be not granted to me, I `
` will execute it myself." `
` `
` And Lord de Winter ranged himself by the side of d'Artagnan, leaving the `
` place free for another accuser. `
` `
` Milady let her head sink between her two hands, and tried to recall her `
` ideas, whirling in a mortal vertigo. `
` `
` "My turn," said Athos, himself trembling as the lion trembles at the `
` sight of the serpent--"my turn. I married that woman when she was a `
` young girl; I married her in opposition to the wishes of all my family; `
` I gave her my wealth, I gave her my name; and one day I discovered that `
` this woman was branded--this woman was marked with a FLEUR-DE-LIS on her `
` left shoulder." `
` `
` "Oh," said Milady, raising herself, "I defy you to find any tribunal `
` which pronounced that infamous sentence against me. I defy you to find `
` him who executed it." `
` `
` "Silence!" said a hollow voice. "It is for me to reply to that!" And `
` the man in the red cloak came forward in his turn. `
` `
` "What man is that? What man is that?" cried Milady, suffocated by `
` terror, her hair loosening itself, and rising above her livid `
` countenance as if alive. `
` `
` All eyes were turned towards this man--for to all except Athos he was `
` unknown. `
` `
` Even Athos looked at him with as much stupefaction as the others, for he `
` knew not how he could in any way find himself mixed up with the horrible `
` drama then unfolded. `
` `
` After approaching Milady with a slow and solemn step, so that the table `
` alone separated them, the unknown took off his mask. `
` `
` Milady for some time examined with increasing terror that pale face, `
` framed with black hair and whiskers, the only expression of which was `
` icy impassibility. Then she suddenly cried, "Oh, no, no!" rising and `
` retreating to the very wall. "No, no! it is an infernal apparition! `
` It is not he! Help, help!" screamed she, turning towards the wall, as `
` if she would tear an opening with her hands. `
` `
` "Who are you, then?" cried all the witnesses of this scene. `
` `
` "Ask that woman," said the man in the red cloak, "for you may plainly `
` see she knows me!" `
`