Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
see she knows me!" `
` `
` "The executioner of Lille, the executioner of Lille!" cried Milady, a `
` prey to insensate terror, and clinging with her hands to the wall to `
` avoid falling. `
` `
` Every one drew back, and the man in the red cloak remained standing `
` alone in the middle of the room. `
` `
` "Oh, grace, grace, pardon!" cried the wretch, falling on her knees. `
` `
` The unknown waited for silence, and then resumed, "I told you well that `
` she would know me. Yes, I am the executioner of Lille, and this is my `
` history." `
` `
` All eyes were fixed upon this man, whose words were listened to with `
` anxious attention. `
` `
` "That woman was once a young girl, as beautiful as she is today. She `
` was a nun in the convent of the Benedictines of Templemar. A young `
` priest, with a simple and trustful heart, performed the duties of the `
` church of that convent. She undertook his seduction, and succeeded; she `
` would have seduced a saint. `
` `
` "Their vows were sacred and irrevocable. Their connection could not `
` last long without ruining both. She prevailed upon him to leave the `
` country; but to leave the country, to fly together, to reach another `
` part of France, where they might live at ease because unknown, money was `
` necessary. Neither had any. The priest stole the sacred vases, and `
` sold them; but as they were preparing to escape together, they were both `
` arrested. `
` `
` "Eight days later she had seduced the son of the jailer, and escaped. `
` The young priest was condemned to ten years of imprisonment, and to be `
` branded. I was executioner of the city of Lille, as this woman has `
` said. I was obliged to brand the guilty one; and he, gentlemen, was my `
` brother! `
` `
` "I then swore that this woman who had ruined him, who was more than his `
` accomplice, since she had urged him to the crime, should at least share `
` his punishment. I suspected where she was concealed. I followed her, I `
` caught her, I bound her; and I imprinted the same disgraceful mark upon `
` her that I had imprinted upon my poor brother. `
` `
` "The day after my return to Lille, my brother in his turn succeeded in `
` making his escape; I was accused of complicity, and was condemned to `
` remain in his place till he should be again a prisoner. My poor brother `
` was ignorant of this sentence. He rejoined this woman; they fled `
` together into Berry, and there he obtained a little curacy. This woman `
` passed for his sister. `
` `
` "The Lord of the estate on which the chapel of the curacy was situated `
` saw this pretend sister, and became enamoured of her--amorous to such a `
` degree that he proposed to marry her. Then she quitted him she had `
` ruined for him she was destined to ruin, and became the Comtesse de la `
` Fere--" `
` `
` All eyes were turned towards Athos, whose real name that was, and who `
` made a sign with his head that all was true which the executioner had `
` said. `
` `
` "Then," resumed he, "mad, desperate, determined to get rid of an `
` existence from which she had stolen everything, honor and happiness, my `
` poor brother returned to Lille, and learning the sentence which had `
` condemned me in his place, surrendered himself, and hanged himself that `
` same night from the iron bar of the loophole of his prison. `
` `
` "To do justice to them who had condemned me, they kept their word. As `
` soon as the identity of my brother was proved, I was set at liberty. `
` `
` "That is the crime of which I accuse her; that is the cause for which `
` she was branded." `
` `
` "Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Athos, "what is the penalty you demand `
` against this woman?" `
` `
` "The punishment of death," replied d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "My Lord de Winter," continued Athos, "what is the penalty you demand `
` against this woman?" `
` `
` "The punishment of death," replied Lord de Winter. `
` `
` "Messieurs Porthos and Aramis," repeated Athos, "you who are her judges, `
` what is the sentence you pronounce upon this woman?" `
` `
` "The punishment of death," replied the Musketeers, in a hollow voice. `
` `
` Milady uttered a frightful shriek, and dragged herself along several `
` paces upon her knees toward her judges. `
` `
` Athos stretched out his hand toward her. `
` `
` "Charlotte Backson, Comtesse de la Fere, Milady de Winter," said he, `
` "your crimes have wearied men on earth and God in heaven. If you know a `
` prayer, say it--for you are condemned, and you shall die." `
` `
` At these words, which left no hope, Milady raised herself in all her `
` pride, and wished to speak; but her strength failed her. She felt that `
` a powerful and implacable hand seized her by the hair, and dragged her `
` away as irrevocably as fatality drags humanity. She did not, therefore, `
` even attempt the least resistance, and went out of the cottage. `
` `
` Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, went out close `
` behind her. The lackeys followed their masters, and the chamber was `
` left solitary, with its broken window, its open door, and its smoky lamp `
` burning sadly on the table. `
` `
` `
` `
` 66 EXECUTION `
` `
` It was near midnight; the moon, lessened by its decline, and reddened by `
` the last traces of the storm, arose behind the little town of `
` Armentieres, which showed against its pale light the dark outline of its `
` houses, and the skeleton of its high belfry. In front of them the Lys `
` rolled its waters like a river of molten tin; while on the other side `
` was a black mass of trees, profiled on a stormy sky, invaded by large `
` coppery clouds which created a sort of twilight amid the night. On the `
` left was an old abandoned mill, with its motionless wings, from the `
` ruins of which an owl threw out its shrill, periodical, and monotonous `
` cry. On the right and on the left of the road, which the dismal `
` procession pursued, appeared a few low, stunted trees, which looked like `
` deformed dwarfs crouching down to watch men traveling at this sinister `
` hour. `
` `
` From time to time a broad sheet of lightning opened the horizon in its `
` whole width, darted like a serpent over the black mass of trees, and `
` like a terrible scimitar divided the heavens and the waters into two `
` parts. Not a breath of wind now disturbed the heavy atmosphere. A `
` deathlike silence oppressed all nature. The soil was humid and `
` glittering with the rain which had recently fallen, and the refreshed `
` herbs sent forth their perfume with additional energy. `
` `
` Two lackeys dragged Milady, whom each held by one arm. The executioner `
` walked behind them, and Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Porthos, and Aramis `
` walked behind the executioner. Planchet and Bazin came last. `
` `
` The two lackeys conducted Milady to the bank of the river. Her mouth `
` was mute; but her eyes spoke with their inexpressible eloquence, `
` supplicating by turns each of those on whom she looked. `
` `
` Being a few paces in advance she whispered to the lackeys, "A thousand `
` pistoles to each of you, if you will assist my escape; but if you `
` deliver me up to your masters, I have near at hand avengers who will `
` make you pay dearly for my death." `
` `
` Grimaud hesitated. Mousqueton trembled in all his members. `
` `
` Athos, who heard Milady's voice, came sharply up. Lord de Winter did `
` the same. `
` `
` "Change these lackeys," said he; "she has spoken to them. They are no `
` longer sure." `
` `
` Planchet and Bazin were called, and took the places of Grimaud and `
` Mousqueton. `
` `
` On the bank of the river the executioner approached Milady, and bound `
` her hands and feet. `
` `
` Then she broke the silence to cry out, "You are cowards, miserable `
` assassins--ten men combined to murder one woman. Beware! If I am not `
` saved I shall be avenged." `
` `
` "You are not a woman," said Athos, coldly and sternly. "You do not `
` belong to the human species; you are a demon escaped from hell, whither `
` we send you back again." `
` `
` "Ah, you virtuous men!" said Milady; "please to remember that he who `
` shall touch a hair of my head is himself an assassin." `
` `
` "The executioner may kill, without being on that account an assassin," `
` said the man in the red cloak, rapping upon his immense sword. "This is `
` the last judge; that is all. NACHRICHTER, as say our neighbors, the `
` Germans." `
` `
` And as he bound her while saying these words, Milady uttered two or `
` three savage cries, which produced a strange and melancholy effect in `
` flying away into the night, and losing themselves in the depths of the `
` woods. `
` `
` "If I am guilty, if I have committed the crimes you accuse me of," `
` shrieked Milady, "take me before a tribunal. You are not judges! You `
` cannot condemn me!" `
` `
` "I offered you Tyburn," said Lord de Winter. "Why did you not accept `
` it?" `
` `
` "Because I am not willing to die!" cried Milady, struggling. "Because `
` I am too young to die!" `
` `
` "The woman you poisoned at Bethune was still younger than you, madame, `
` and yet she is dead," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I will enter a cloister; I will become a nun," said Milady. `
` `
` "You were in a cloister," said the executioner, "and you left it to ruin `
` my brother." `
` `
` Milady uttered a cry of terror and sank upon her knees. The executioner `
`
` `
` "The executioner of Lille, the executioner of Lille!" cried Milady, a `
` prey to insensate terror, and clinging with her hands to the wall to `
` avoid falling. `
` `
` Every one drew back, and the man in the red cloak remained standing `
` alone in the middle of the room. `
` `
` "Oh, grace, grace, pardon!" cried the wretch, falling on her knees. `
` `
` The unknown waited for silence, and then resumed, "I told you well that `
` she would know me. Yes, I am the executioner of Lille, and this is my `
` history." `
` `
` All eyes were fixed upon this man, whose words were listened to with `
` anxious attention. `
` `
` "That woman was once a young girl, as beautiful as she is today. She `
` was a nun in the convent of the Benedictines of Templemar. A young `
` priest, with a simple and trustful heart, performed the duties of the `
` church of that convent. She undertook his seduction, and succeeded; she `
` would have seduced a saint. `
` `
` "Their vows were sacred and irrevocable. Their connection could not `
` last long without ruining both. She prevailed upon him to leave the `
` country; but to leave the country, to fly together, to reach another `
` part of France, where they might live at ease because unknown, money was `
` necessary. Neither had any. The priest stole the sacred vases, and `
` sold them; but as they were preparing to escape together, they were both `
` arrested. `
` `
` "Eight days later she had seduced the son of the jailer, and escaped. `
` The young priest was condemned to ten years of imprisonment, and to be `
` branded. I was executioner of the city of Lille, as this woman has `
` said. I was obliged to brand the guilty one; and he, gentlemen, was my `
` brother! `
` `
` "I then swore that this woman who had ruined him, who was more than his `
` accomplice, since she had urged him to the crime, should at least share `
` his punishment. I suspected where she was concealed. I followed her, I `
` caught her, I bound her; and I imprinted the same disgraceful mark upon `
` her that I had imprinted upon my poor brother. `
` `
` "The day after my return to Lille, my brother in his turn succeeded in `
` making his escape; I was accused of complicity, and was condemned to `
` remain in his place till he should be again a prisoner. My poor brother `
` was ignorant of this sentence. He rejoined this woman; they fled `
` together into Berry, and there he obtained a little curacy. This woman `
` passed for his sister. `
` `
` "The Lord of the estate on which the chapel of the curacy was situated `
` saw this pretend sister, and became enamoured of her--amorous to such a `
` degree that he proposed to marry her. Then she quitted him she had `
` ruined for him she was destined to ruin, and became the Comtesse de la `
` Fere--" `
` `
` All eyes were turned towards Athos, whose real name that was, and who `
` made a sign with his head that all was true which the executioner had `
` said. `
` `
` "Then," resumed he, "mad, desperate, determined to get rid of an `
` existence from which she had stolen everything, honor and happiness, my `
` poor brother returned to Lille, and learning the sentence which had `
` condemned me in his place, surrendered himself, and hanged himself that `
` same night from the iron bar of the loophole of his prison. `
` `
` "To do justice to them who had condemned me, they kept their word. As `
` soon as the identity of my brother was proved, I was set at liberty. `
` `
` "That is the crime of which I accuse her; that is the cause for which `
` she was branded." `
` `
` "Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Athos, "what is the penalty you demand `
` against this woman?" `
` `
` "The punishment of death," replied d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "My Lord de Winter," continued Athos, "what is the penalty you demand `
` against this woman?" `
` `
` "The punishment of death," replied Lord de Winter. `
` `
` "Messieurs Porthos and Aramis," repeated Athos, "you who are her judges, `
` what is the sentence you pronounce upon this woman?" `
` `
` "The punishment of death," replied the Musketeers, in a hollow voice. `
` `
` Milady uttered a frightful shriek, and dragged herself along several `
` paces upon her knees toward her judges. `
` `
` Athos stretched out his hand toward her. `
` `
` "Charlotte Backson, Comtesse de la Fere, Milady de Winter," said he, `
` "your crimes have wearied men on earth and God in heaven. If you know a `
` prayer, say it--for you are condemned, and you shall die." `
` `
` At these words, which left no hope, Milady raised herself in all her `
` pride, and wished to speak; but her strength failed her. She felt that `
` a powerful and implacable hand seized her by the hair, and dragged her `
` away as irrevocably as fatality drags humanity. She did not, therefore, `
` even attempt the least resistance, and went out of the cottage. `
` `
` Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, went out close `
` behind her. The lackeys followed their masters, and the chamber was `
` left solitary, with its broken window, its open door, and its smoky lamp `
` burning sadly on the table. `
` `
` `
` `
` 66 EXECUTION `
` `
` It was near midnight; the moon, lessened by its decline, and reddened by `
` the last traces of the storm, arose behind the little town of `
` Armentieres, which showed against its pale light the dark outline of its `
` houses, and the skeleton of its high belfry. In front of them the Lys `
` rolled its waters like a river of molten tin; while on the other side `
` was a black mass of trees, profiled on a stormy sky, invaded by large `
` coppery clouds which created a sort of twilight amid the night. On the `
` left was an old abandoned mill, with its motionless wings, from the `
` ruins of which an owl threw out its shrill, periodical, and monotonous `
` cry. On the right and on the left of the road, which the dismal `
` procession pursued, appeared a few low, stunted trees, which looked like `
` deformed dwarfs crouching down to watch men traveling at this sinister `
` hour. `
` `
` From time to time a broad sheet of lightning opened the horizon in its `
` whole width, darted like a serpent over the black mass of trees, and `
` like a terrible scimitar divided the heavens and the waters into two `
` parts. Not a breath of wind now disturbed the heavy atmosphere. A `
` deathlike silence oppressed all nature. The soil was humid and `
` glittering with the rain which had recently fallen, and the refreshed `
` herbs sent forth their perfume with additional energy. `
` `
` Two lackeys dragged Milady, whom each held by one arm. The executioner `
` walked behind them, and Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Porthos, and Aramis `
` walked behind the executioner. Planchet and Bazin came last. `
` `
` The two lackeys conducted Milady to the bank of the river. Her mouth `
` was mute; but her eyes spoke with their inexpressible eloquence, `
` supplicating by turns each of those on whom she looked. `
` `
` Being a few paces in advance she whispered to the lackeys, "A thousand `
` pistoles to each of you, if you will assist my escape; but if you `
` deliver me up to your masters, I have near at hand avengers who will `
` make you pay dearly for my death." `
` `
` Grimaud hesitated. Mousqueton trembled in all his members. `
` `
` Athos, who heard Milady's voice, came sharply up. Lord de Winter did `
` the same. `
` `
` "Change these lackeys," said he; "she has spoken to them. They are no `
` longer sure." `
` `
` Planchet and Bazin were called, and took the places of Grimaud and `
` Mousqueton. `
` `
` On the bank of the river the executioner approached Milady, and bound `
` her hands and feet. `
` `
` Then she broke the silence to cry out, "You are cowards, miserable `
` assassins--ten men combined to murder one woman. Beware! If I am not `
` saved I shall be avenged." `
` `
` "You are not a woman," said Athos, coldly and sternly. "You do not `
` belong to the human species; you are a demon escaped from hell, whither `
` we send you back again." `
` `
` "Ah, you virtuous men!" said Milady; "please to remember that he who `
` shall touch a hair of my head is himself an assassin." `
` `
` "The executioner may kill, without being on that account an assassin," `
` said the man in the red cloak, rapping upon his immense sword. "This is `
` the last judge; that is all. NACHRICHTER, as say our neighbors, the `
` Germans." `
` `
` And as he bound her while saying these words, Milady uttered two or `
` three savage cries, which produced a strange and melancholy effect in `
` flying away into the night, and losing themselves in the depths of the `
` woods. `
` `
` "If I am guilty, if I have committed the crimes you accuse me of," `
` shrieked Milady, "take me before a tribunal. You are not judges! You `
` cannot condemn me!" `
` `
` "I offered you Tyburn," said Lord de Winter. "Why did you not accept `
` it?" `
` `
` "Because I am not willing to die!" cried Milady, struggling. "Because `
` I am too young to die!" `
` `
` "The woman you poisoned at Bethune was still younger than you, madame, `
` and yet she is dead," said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I will enter a cloister; I will become a nun," said Milady. `
` `
` "You were in a cloister," said the executioner, "and you left it to ruin `
` my brother." `
` `
` Milady uttered a cry of terror and sank upon her knees. The executioner `
`