Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
Milady uttered a cry of terror and sank upon her knees. The executioner `
` took her up in his arms and was carrying her toward the boat. `
` `
` "Oh, my God!" cried she, "my God! are you going to drown me?" `
` `
` These cries had something so heartrending in them that M. d'Artagnan, `
` who had been at first the most eager in pursuit of Milady, sat down on `
` the stump of a tree and hung his head, covering his ears with the palms `
` of his hands; and yet, notwithstanding, he could still hear her cry and `
` threaten. `
` `
` D'Artagnan was the youngest of all these men. His heart failed him. `
` `
` "Oh, I cannot behold this frightful spectacle!" said he. "I cannot `
` consent that this woman should die thus!" `
` `
` Milady heard these few words and caught at a shadow of hope. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan!" cried she; "remember that I loved you!" `
` `
` The young man rose and took a step toward her. `
` `
` But Athos rose likewise, drew his sword, and placed himself in the way. `
` `
` "If you take one step farther, d'Artagnan," said he, "we shall cross `
` swords together." `
` `
` D'Artagnan sank on his knees and prayed. `
` `
` "Come," continued Athos, "executioner, do your duty." `
` `
` "Willingly, monseigneur," said the executioner; "for as I am a good `
` Catholic, I firmly believe I am acting justly in performing my functions `
` on this woman." `
` `
` "That's well." `
` `
` Athos made a step toward Milady. `
` `
` "I pardon you," said he, "the ill you have done me. I pardon you for my `
` blasted future, my lost honor, my defiled love, and my salvation forever `
` compromised by the despair into which you have cast me. Die in peace!" `
` `
` Lord de Winter advanced in his turn. `
` `
` "I pardon you," said he, "for the poisoning of my brother, and the `
` assassination of his Grace, Lord Buckingham. I pardon you for the death `
` of poor Felton; I pardon you for the attempts upon my own person. Die `
` in peace!" `
` `
` "And I," said M. d'Artagnan. "Pardon me, madame, for having by a trick `
` unworthy of a gentleman provoked your anger; and I, in exchange, pardon `
` you the murder of my poor love and your cruel vengeance against me. I `
` pardon you, and I weep for you. Die in peace!" `
` `
` "I am lost!" murmured Milady in English. "I must die!" `
` `
` Then she arose of herself, and cast around her one of those piercing `
` looks which seemed to dart from an eye of flame. `
` `
` She saw nothing; she listened, and she heard nothing. `
` `
` "Where am I to die?" said she. `
` `
` "On the other bank," replied the executioner. `
` `
` Then he placed her in the boat, and as he was going to set foot in it `
` himself, Athos handed him a sum of silver. `
` `
` "Here," said he, "is the price of the execution, that it may be plain we `
` act as judges." `
` `
` "That is correct," said the executioner; "and now in her turn, let this `
` woman see that I am not fulfilling my trade, but my debt." `
` `
` And he threw the money into the river. `
` `
` The boat moved off toward the left-hand shore of the Lys, bearing the `
` guilty woman and the executioner; all the others remained on the right- `
` hand bank, where they fell on their knees. `
` `
` The boat glided along the ferry rope under the shadow of a pale cloud `
` which hung over the water at that moment. `
` `
` The troop of friends saw it gain the opposite bank; the figures were `
` defined like black shadows on the red-tinted horizon. `
` `
` Milady, during the passage had contrived to untie the cord which `
` fastened her feet. On coming near the bank, she jumped lightly on shore `
` and took to flight. But the soil was moist; on reaching the top of the `
` bank, she slipped and fell upon her knees. `
` `
` She was struck, no doubt, with a superstitious idea; she conceived that `
` heaven denied its aid, and she remained in the attitude in which she had `
` fallen, her head drooping and her hands clasped. `
` `
` Then they saw from the other bank the executioner raise both his arms `
` slowly; a moonbeam fell upon the blade of the large sword. The two `
` arms fell with a sudden force; they heard the hissing of the scimitar `
` and the cry of the victim, then a truncated mass sank beneath the blow. `
` `
` The executioner then took off his red cloak, spread it upon the ground, `
` laid the body in it, threw in the head, tied all up by the four corners, `
` lifted it on his back, and entered the boat again. `
` `
` In the middle of the stream he stopped the boat, and suspending his `
` burden over the water cried in a loud voice, "Let the justice of God be `
` done!" and he let the corpse drop into the depths of the waters, which `
` closed over it. `
` `
` Three days afterward the four Musketeers were in Paris; they had not `
` exceeded their leave of absence, and that same evening they went to pay `
` their customary visit to M. de Treville. `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen," said the brave captain, "I hope you have been well `
` amused during your excursion." `
` `
` "Prodigiously," replied Athos in the name of himself and his comrades. `
` `
` `
` `
` 67 CONCLUSION `
` `
` On the sixth of the following month the king, in compliance with the `
` promise he had made the cardinal to return to La Rochelle, left his `
` capital still in amazement at the news which began to spread itself of `
` Buckingham's assassination. `
` `
` Although warned that the man she had loved so much was in great danger, `
` the queen, when his death was announced to her, would not believe the `
` fact, and even imprudently exclaimed, "it is false; he has just written `
` to me!" `
` `
` But the next day she was obliged to believe this fatal intelligence; `
` Laporte, detained in England, as everyone else had been, by the orders `
` of Charles I, arrived, and was the bearer of the duke's dying gift to `
` the queen. `
` `
` The joy of the king was lively. He did not even give himself the `
` trouble to dissemble, and displayed it with affectation before the `
` queen. Louis XIII, like every weak mind, was wanting in generosity. `
` `
` But the king soon again became dull and indisposed; his brow was not one `
` of those that long remain clear. He felt that in returning to camp he `
` should re-enter slavery; nevertheless, he did return. `
` `
` The cardinal was for him the fascinating serpent, and himself the bird `
` which flies from branch to branch without power to escape. `
` `
` The return to La Rochelle, therefore, was profoundly dull. Our four `
` friends, in particular, astonished their comrades; they traveled `
` together, side by side, with sad eyes and heads lowered. Athos alone `
` from time to time raised his expansive brow; a flash kindled in his `
` eyes, and a bitter smile passed over his lips, then, like his comrades, `
` he sank again into reverie. `
` `
` As soon as the escort arrived in a city, when they had conducted the `
` king to his quarters the four friends either retired to their own or to `
` some secluded cabaret, where they neither drank nor played; they only `
` conversed in a low voice, looking around attentively to see that no one `
` overheard them. `
` `
` One day, when the king had halted to fly the magpie, and the four `
` friends, according to their custom, instead of following the sport had `
` stopped at a cabaret on the high road, a man coming from la Rochelle on `
` horseback pulled up at the door to drink a glass of wine, and darted a `
` searching glance into the room where the four Musketeers were sitting. `
` `
` "Holloa, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said he, "is not that you whom I see `
` yonder?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan raised his head and uttered a cry of joy. It was the man he `
` called his phantom; it was his stranger of Meung, of the Rue des `
` Fossoyeurs and of Arras. `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew his sword, and sprang toward the door. `
` `
` But this time, instead of avoiding him the stranger jumped from his `
` horse, and advanced to meet d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Ah, monsieur!" said the young man, "I meet you, then, at last! This `
` time you shall not escape me!" `
` `
` "Neither is it my intention, monsieur, for this time I was seeking you; `
` in the name of the king, I arrest you." `
` `
` "How! what do you say?" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I say that you must surrender your sword to me, monsieur, and that `
` without resistance. This concerns your head, I warn you." `
` `
` "Who are you, then?" demanded d'Artagnan, lowering the point of his `
` sword, but without yet surrendering it. `
` `
` "I am the Chevalier de Rochefort," answered the other, "the equerry of `
` Monsieur le Cardinal Richelieu, and I have orders to conduct you to his `
` Eminence." `
` `
` "We are returning to his Eminence, monsieur the Chevalier," said Athos, `
` advancing; "and you will please to accept the word of Monsieur `
` d'Artagnan that he will go straight to La Rochelle." `
`
` took her up in his arms and was carrying her toward the boat. `
` `
` "Oh, my God!" cried she, "my God! are you going to drown me?" `
` `
` These cries had something so heartrending in them that M. d'Artagnan, `
` who had been at first the most eager in pursuit of Milady, sat down on `
` the stump of a tree and hung his head, covering his ears with the palms `
` of his hands; and yet, notwithstanding, he could still hear her cry and `
` threaten. `
` `
` D'Artagnan was the youngest of all these men. His heart failed him. `
` `
` "Oh, I cannot behold this frightful spectacle!" said he. "I cannot `
` consent that this woman should die thus!" `
` `
` Milady heard these few words and caught at a shadow of hope. `
` `
` "d'Artagnan, d'Artagnan!" cried she; "remember that I loved you!" `
` `
` The young man rose and took a step toward her. `
` `
` But Athos rose likewise, drew his sword, and placed himself in the way. `
` `
` "If you take one step farther, d'Artagnan," said he, "we shall cross `
` swords together." `
` `
` D'Artagnan sank on his knees and prayed. `
` `
` "Come," continued Athos, "executioner, do your duty." `
` `
` "Willingly, monseigneur," said the executioner; "for as I am a good `
` Catholic, I firmly believe I am acting justly in performing my functions `
` on this woman." `
` `
` "That's well." `
` `
` Athos made a step toward Milady. `
` `
` "I pardon you," said he, "the ill you have done me. I pardon you for my `
` blasted future, my lost honor, my defiled love, and my salvation forever `
` compromised by the despair into which you have cast me. Die in peace!" `
` `
` Lord de Winter advanced in his turn. `
` `
` "I pardon you," said he, "for the poisoning of my brother, and the `
` assassination of his Grace, Lord Buckingham. I pardon you for the death `
` of poor Felton; I pardon you for the attempts upon my own person. Die `
` in peace!" `
` `
` "And I," said M. d'Artagnan. "Pardon me, madame, for having by a trick `
` unworthy of a gentleman provoked your anger; and I, in exchange, pardon `
` you the murder of my poor love and your cruel vengeance against me. I `
` pardon you, and I weep for you. Die in peace!" `
` `
` "I am lost!" murmured Milady in English. "I must die!" `
` `
` Then she arose of herself, and cast around her one of those piercing `
` looks which seemed to dart from an eye of flame. `
` `
` She saw nothing; she listened, and she heard nothing. `
` `
` "Where am I to die?" said she. `
` `
` "On the other bank," replied the executioner. `
` `
` Then he placed her in the boat, and as he was going to set foot in it `
` himself, Athos handed him a sum of silver. `
` `
` "Here," said he, "is the price of the execution, that it may be plain we `
` act as judges." `
` `
` "That is correct," said the executioner; "and now in her turn, let this `
` woman see that I am not fulfilling my trade, but my debt." `
` `
` And he threw the money into the river. `
` `
` The boat moved off toward the left-hand shore of the Lys, bearing the `
` guilty woman and the executioner; all the others remained on the right- `
` hand bank, where they fell on their knees. `
` `
` The boat glided along the ferry rope under the shadow of a pale cloud `
` which hung over the water at that moment. `
` `
` The troop of friends saw it gain the opposite bank; the figures were `
` defined like black shadows on the red-tinted horizon. `
` `
` Milady, during the passage had contrived to untie the cord which `
` fastened her feet. On coming near the bank, she jumped lightly on shore `
` and took to flight. But the soil was moist; on reaching the top of the `
` bank, she slipped and fell upon her knees. `
` `
` She was struck, no doubt, with a superstitious idea; she conceived that `
` heaven denied its aid, and she remained in the attitude in which she had `
` fallen, her head drooping and her hands clasped. `
` `
` Then they saw from the other bank the executioner raise both his arms `
` slowly; a moonbeam fell upon the blade of the large sword. The two `
` arms fell with a sudden force; they heard the hissing of the scimitar `
` and the cry of the victim, then a truncated mass sank beneath the blow. `
` `
` The executioner then took off his red cloak, spread it upon the ground, `
` laid the body in it, threw in the head, tied all up by the four corners, `
` lifted it on his back, and entered the boat again. `
` `
` In the middle of the stream he stopped the boat, and suspending his `
` burden over the water cried in a loud voice, "Let the justice of God be `
` done!" and he let the corpse drop into the depths of the waters, which `
` closed over it. `
` `
` Three days afterward the four Musketeers were in Paris; they had not `
` exceeded their leave of absence, and that same evening they went to pay `
` their customary visit to M. de Treville. `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen," said the brave captain, "I hope you have been well `
` amused during your excursion." `
` `
` "Prodigiously," replied Athos in the name of himself and his comrades. `
` `
` `
` `
` 67 CONCLUSION `
` `
` On the sixth of the following month the king, in compliance with the `
` promise he had made the cardinal to return to La Rochelle, left his `
` capital still in amazement at the news which began to spread itself of `
` Buckingham's assassination. `
` `
` Although warned that the man she had loved so much was in great danger, `
` the queen, when his death was announced to her, would not believe the `
` fact, and even imprudently exclaimed, "it is false; he has just written `
` to me!" `
` `
` But the next day she was obliged to believe this fatal intelligence; `
` Laporte, detained in England, as everyone else had been, by the orders `
` of Charles I, arrived, and was the bearer of the duke's dying gift to `
` the queen. `
` `
` The joy of the king was lively. He did not even give himself the `
` trouble to dissemble, and displayed it with affectation before the `
` queen. Louis XIII, like every weak mind, was wanting in generosity. `
` `
` But the king soon again became dull and indisposed; his brow was not one `
` of those that long remain clear. He felt that in returning to camp he `
` should re-enter slavery; nevertheless, he did return. `
` `
` The cardinal was for him the fascinating serpent, and himself the bird `
` which flies from branch to branch without power to escape. `
` `
` The return to La Rochelle, therefore, was profoundly dull. Our four `
` friends, in particular, astonished their comrades; they traveled `
` together, side by side, with sad eyes and heads lowered. Athos alone `
` from time to time raised his expansive brow; a flash kindled in his `
` eyes, and a bitter smile passed over his lips, then, like his comrades, `
` he sank again into reverie. `
` `
` As soon as the escort arrived in a city, when they had conducted the `
` king to his quarters the four friends either retired to their own or to `
` some secluded cabaret, where they neither drank nor played; they only `
` conversed in a low voice, looking around attentively to see that no one `
` overheard them. `
` `
` One day, when the king had halted to fly the magpie, and the four `
` friends, according to their custom, instead of following the sport had `
` stopped at a cabaret on the high road, a man coming from la Rochelle on `
` horseback pulled up at the door to drink a glass of wine, and darted a `
` searching glance into the room where the four Musketeers were sitting. `
` `
` "Holloa, Monsieur d'Artagnan!" said he, "is not that you whom I see `
` yonder?" `
` `
` D'Artagnan raised his head and uttered a cry of joy. It was the man he `
` called his phantom; it was his stranger of Meung, of the Rue des `
` Fossoyeurs and of Arras. `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew his sword, and sprang toward the door. `
` `
` But this time, instead of avoiding him the stranger jumped from his `
` horse, and advanced to meet d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Ah, monsieur!" said the young man, "I meet you, then, at last! This `
` time you shall not escape me!" `
` `
` "Neither is it my intention, monsieur, for this time I was seeking you; `
` in the name of the king, I arrest you." `
` `
` "How! what do you say?" cried d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I say that you must surrender your sword to me, monsieur, and that `
` without resistance. This concerns your head, I warn you." `
` `
` "Who are you, then?" demanded d'Artagnan, lowering the point of his `
` sword, but without yet surrendering it. `
` `
` "I am the Chevalier de Rochefort," answered the other, "the equerry of `
` Monsieur le Cardinal Richelieu, and I have orders to conduct you to his `
` Eminence." `
` `
` "We are returning to his Eminence, monsieur the Chevalier," said Athos, `
` advancing; "and you will please to accept the word of Monsieur `
` d'Artagnan that he will go straight to La Rochelle." `
`