Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
the three Musketeers fastened the horses to the shutters. `
` `
` The host stood at the door. For him, the cardinal was only `
` an officer coming to visit a lady. `
` `
` "Have you any chamber on the ground floor where these `
` gentlemen can wait near a good fire?" said the cardinal. `
` `
` The host opened the door of a large room, in which an old `
` stove had just been replaced by a large and excellent `
` chimney. `
` `
` "I have this," said he. `
` `
` "That will do," replied the cardinal. "Enter, gentlemen, `
` and be kind enough to wait for me; I shall not be more than `
` half an hour." `
` `
` And while the three Musketeers entered the ground floor `
` room, the cardinal, without asking further information, `
` ascended the staircase like a man who has no need of having `
` his road pointed out to him. `
` `
` `
` `
` 44 THE UTILITY OF STOVEPIPES `
` `
` It was evident that without suspecting it, and actuated `
` solely by their chivalrous and adventurous character, our `
` three friends had just rendered a service to someone the `
` cardinal honored with his special protection. `
` `
` Now, who was that someone? That was the question the three `
` Musketeers put to one another. Then, seeing that none of `
` their replies could throw any light on the subject, Porthos `
` called the host and asked for dice. `
` `
` Porthos and Aramis placed themselves at the table and began `
` to play. Athos walked about in a contemplative mood. `
` `
` While thinking and walking, Athos passed and repassed before `
` the pipe of the stove, broken in halves, the other extremity `
` passing into the chamber above; and every time he passed and `
` repassed he heard a murmur of words, which at length fixed `
` his attention. Athos went close to it, and distinguished `
` some words that appeared to merit so great an interest that `
` he made a sign to his friends to be silent, remaining `
` himself bent with his ear directed to the opening of the `
` lower orifice. `
` `
` "Listen, Milady," said the cardinal, "the affair is `
` important. Sit down, and let us talk it over." `
` `
` "Milady!" murmured Athos. `
` `
` "I listen to your Eminence with greatest attention," replied `
` a female voice which made the Musketeer start. `
` `
` "A small vessel with an English crew, whose captain is on my `
` side, awaits you at the mouth of Charente, at fort of the `
` Point. He will set sail tomorrow morning." `
` `
` "I must go thither tonight?" `
` `
` "Instantly! That is to say, when you have received my `
` instructions. Two men, whom you will find at the door on `
` going out, will serve you as escort. You will allow me to `
` leave first; then, after half an hour, you can go away in `
` your turn." `
` `
` "Yes, monseigneur. Now let us return to the mission with `
` which you wish to charge me; and as I desire to continue to `
` merit the confidence of your Eminence, deign to unfold it to `
` me in terms clear and precise, that I may not commit an `
` error." `
` `
` There was an instant of profound silence between the two `
` interlocutors. It was evident that the cardinal was `
` weighing beforehand the terms in which he was about to `
` speak, and that Milady was collecting all her intellectual `
` faculties to comprehend the things he was about to say, and `
` to engrave them in her memory when they should be spoken. `
` `
` Athos took advantage of this moment to tell his two `
` companions to fasten the door inside, and to make them a `
` sign to come and listen with him. `
` `
` The two Musketeers, who loved their ease, brought a chair `
` for each of themselves and one for Athos. All three then `
` sat down with their heads together and their ears on the `
` alert. `
` `
` "You will go to London," continued the cardinal. "Arrived `
` in London, you will seek Buckingham." `
` `
` "I must beg your Eminence to observe," said Milady, "that `
` since the affair of the diamond studs, about which the duke `
` always suspected me, his Grace distrusts me." `
` `
` "Well, this time," said the cardinal, "it is not necessary `
` to steal his confidence, but to present yourself frankly and `
` loyally as a negotiator." `
` `
` "Frankly and loyally," repeated Milady, with an unspeakable `
` expression of duplicity. `
` `
` "Yes, frankly and loyally," replied the cardinal, in the `
` same tone. "All this negotiation must be carried on `
` openly." `
` `
` "I will follow your Eminence's instructions to the letter. `
` I only wait till you give them." `
` `
` "You will go to Buckingham in my behalf, and you will tell `
` him I am acquainted with all the preparations he has made; `
` but that they give me no uneasiness, since at the first step `
` he takes I will ruin the queen." `
` `
` "Will he believe that your Eminence is in a position to `
` accomplish the threat thus made?" `
` `
` "Yes; for I have the proofs." `
` `
` "I must be able to present these proofs for his `
` appreciation." `
` `
` "Without doubt. And you will tell him I will publish the `
` report of Bois-Robert and the Marquis de Beautru, upon the `
` interview which the duke had at the residence of Madame the `
` Constable with the queen on the evening Madame the Constable `
` gave a masquerade. You will tell him, in order that he may `
` not doubt, that he came there in the costume of the Great `
` Mogul, which the Chevalier de Guise was to have worn, and `
` that he purchased this exchange for the sum of three `
` thousand pistoles." `
` `
` "Well, monseigneur?" `
` `
` "All the details of his coming into and going out of the `
` palace--on the night when he introduced himself in the `
` character of an Italian fortune teller--you will tell him, `
` that he may not doubt the correctness of my information; `
` that he had under his cloak a large white robe dotted with `
` black tears, death's heads, and crossbones--for in case of a `
` surprise, he was to pass for the phantom of the White Lady `
` who, as all the world knows, appears at the Louvre every `
` time any great event is impending." `
` `
` "Is that all, monseigneur?" `
` `
` "Tell him also that I am acquainted with all the details of `
` the adventure at Amiens; that I will have a little romance `
` made of it, wittily turned, with a plan of the garden and `
` portraits of the principal actors in that nocturnal `
` romance." `
` `
` "I will tell him that." `
` `
` "Tell him further that I hold Montague in my power; that `
` Montague is in the Bastille; that no letters were found upon `
` him, it is true, but that torture may make him tell much of `
` what he knows, and even what he does not know." `
` `
` "Exactly." `
` `
` "Then add that his Grace has, in the precipitation with `
` which he quit the Isle of Re, forgotten and left behind him `
` in his lodging a certain letter from Madame de Chevreuse `
` which singularly compromises the queen, inasmuch as it `
` proves not only that her Majesty can love the enemies of the `
` king but that she can conspire with the enemies of France. `
` You recollect perfectly all I have told you, do you not?" `
` `
` "Your Eminence will judge: the ball of Madame the Constable; `
` the night at the Louvre; the evening at Amiens; the arrest `
` of Montague; the letter of Madame de Chevreuse." `
` `
` "That's it," said the cardinal, "that's it. You have an `
` excellent memory, Milady." `
` `
` "But," resumed she to whom the cardinal addressed this `
` flattering compliment, "if, in spite of all these reasons, `
` the duke does not give way and continues to menace France?" `
` `
` "The duke is in love to madness, or rather to folly," `
` replied Richelieu, with great bitterness. "Like the ancient `
` paladins, he has only undertaken this war to obtain a look `
` from his lady love. If he becomes certain that this war `
` will cost the honor, and perhaps the liberty, of the lady of `
` his thoughts, as he says, I will answer for it he will look `
` twice." `
` `
` "And yet," said Milady, with a persistence that proved she `
` wished to see clearly to the end of the mission with which `
` she was about to be charged, "if he persists?" `
` `
` "If he persists?" said the cardinal. "That is not `
` probable." `
` `
` "It is possible," said Milady. `
` `
`
` `
` The host stood at the door. For him, the cardinal was only `
` an officer coming to visit a lady. `
` `
` "Have you any chamber on the ground floor where these `
` gentlemen can wait near a good fire?" said the cardinal. `
` `
` The host opened the door of a large room, in which an old `
` stove had just been replaced by a large and excellent `
` chimney. `
` `
` "I have this," said he. `
` `
` "That will do," replied the cardinal. "Enter, gentlemen, `
` and be kind enough to wait for me; I shall not be more than `
` half an hour." `
` `
` And while the three Musketeers entered the ground floor `
` room, the cardinal, without asking further information, `
` ascended the staircase like a man who has no need of having `
` his road pointed out to him. `
` `
` `
` `
` 44 THE UTILITY OF STOVEPIPES `
` `
` It was evident that without suspecting it, and actuated `
` solely by their chivalrous and adventurous character, our `
` three friends had just rendered a service to someone the `
` cardinal honored with his special protection. `
` `
` Now, who was that someone? That was the question the three `
` Musketeers put to one another. Then, seeing that none of `
` their replies could throw any light on the subject, Porthos `
` called the host and asked for dice. `
` `
` Porthos and Aramis placed themselves at the table and began `
` to play. Athos walked about in a contemplative mood. `
` `
` While thinking and walking, Athos passed and repassed before `
` the pipe of the stove, broken in halves, the other extremity `
` passing into the chamber above; and every time he passed and `
` repassed he heard a murmur of words, which at length fixed `
` his attention. Athos went close to it, and distinguished `
` some words that appeared to merit so great an interest that `
` he made a sign to his friends to be silent, remaining `
` himself bent with his ear directed to the opening of the `
` lower orifice. `
` `
` "Listen, Milady," said the cardinal, "the affair is `
` important. Sit down, and let us talk it over." `
` `
` "Milady!" murmured Athos. `
` `
` "I listen to your Eminence with greatest attention," replied `
` a female voice which made the Musketeer start. `
` `
` "A small vessel with an English crew, whose captain is on my `
` side, awaits you at the mouth of Charente, at fort of the `
` Point. He will set sail tomorrow morning." `
` `
` "I must go thither tonight?" `
` `
` "Instantly! That is to say, when you have received my `
` instructions. Two men, whom you will find at the door on `
` going out, will serve you as escort. You will allow me to `
` leave first; then, after half an hour, you can go away in `
` your turn." `
` `
` "Yes, monseigneur. Now let us return to the mission with `
` which you wish to charge me; and as I desire to continue to `
` merit the confidence of your Eminence, deign to unfold it to `
` me in terms clear and precise, that I may not commit an `
` error." `
` `
` There was an instant of profound silence between the two `
` interlocutors. It was evident that the cardinal was `
` weighing beforehand the terms in which he was about to `
` speak, and that Milady was collecting all her intellectual `
` faculties to comprehend the things he was about to say, and `
` to engrave them in her memory when they should be spoken. `
` `
` Athos took advantage of this moment to tell his two `
` companions to fasten the door inside, and to make them a `
` sign to come and listen with him. `
` `
` The two Musketeers, who loved their ease, brought a chair `
` for each of themselves and one for Athos. All three then `
` sat down with their heads together and their ears on the `
` alert. `
` `
` "You will go to London," continued the cardinal. "Arrived `
` in London, you will seek Buckingham." `
` `
` "I must beg your Eminence to observe," said Milady, "that `
` since the affair of the diamond studs, about which the duke `
` always suspected me, his Grace distrusts me." `
` `
` "Well, this time," said the cardinal, "it is not necessary `
` to steal his confidence, but to present yourself frankly and `
` loyally as a negotiator." `
` `
` "Frankly and loyally," repeated Milady, with an unspeakable `
` expression of duplicity. `
` `
` "Yes, frankly and loyally," replied the cardinal, in the `
` same tone. "All this negotiation must be carried on `
` openly." `
` `
` "I will follow your Eminence's instructions to the letter. `
` I only wait till you give them." `
` `
` "You will go to Buckingham in my behalf, and you will tell `
` him I am acquainted with all the preparations he has made; `
` but that they give me no uneasiness, since at the first step `
` he takes I will ruin the queen." `
` `
` "Will he believe that your Eminence is in a position to `
` accomplish the threat thus made?" `
` `
` "Yes; for I have the proofs." `
` `
` "I must be able to present these proofs for his `
` appreciation." `
` `
` "Without doubt. And you will tell him I will publish the `
` report of Bois-Robert and the Marquis de Beautru, upon the `
` interview which the duke had at the residence of Madame the `
` Constable with the queen on the evening Madame the Constable `
` gave a masquerade. You will tell him, in order that he may `
` not doubt, that he came there in the costume of the Great `
` Mogul, which the Chevalier de Guise was to have worn, and `
` that he purchased this exchange for the sum of three `
` thousand pistoles." `
` `
` "Well, monseigneur?" `
` `
` "All the details of his coming into and going out of the `
` palace--on the night when he introduced himself in the `
` character of an Italian fortune teller--you will tell him, `
` that he may not doubt the correctness of my information; `
` that he had under his cloak a large white robe dotted with `
` black tears, death's heads, and crossbones--for in case of a `
` surprise, he was to pass for the phantom of the White Lady `
` who, as all the world knows, appears at the Louvre every `
` time any great event is impending." `
` `
` "Is that all, monseigneur?" `
` `
` "Tell him also that I am acquainted with all the details of `
` the adventure at Amiens; that I will have a little romance `
` made of it, wittily turned, with a plan of the garden and `
` portraits of the principal actors in that nocturnal `
` romance." `
` `
` "I will tell him that." `
` `
` "Tell him further that I hold Montague in my power; that `
` Montague is in the Bastille; that no letters were found upon `
` him, it is true, but that torture may make him tell much of `
` what he knows, and even what he does not know." `
` `
` "Exactly." `
` `
` "Then add that his Grace has, in the precipitation with `
` which he quit the Isle of Re, forgotten and left behind him `
` in his lodging a certain letter from Madame de Chevreuse `
` which singularly compromises the queen, inasmuch as it `
` proves not only that her Majesty can love the enemies of the `
` king but that she can conspire with the enemies of France. `
` You recollect perfectly all I have told you, do you not?" `
` `
` "Your Eminence will judge: the ball of Madame the Constable; `
` the night at the Louvre; the evening at Amiens; the arrest `
` of Montague; the letter of Madame de Chevreuse." `
` `
` "That's it," said the cardinal, "that's it. You have an `
` excellent memory, Milady." `
` `
` "But," resumed she to whom the cardinal addressed this `
` flattering compliment, "if, in spite of all these reasons, `
` the duke does not give way and continues to menace France?" `
` `
` "The duke is in love to madness, or rather to folly," `
` replied Richelieu, with great bitterness. "Like the ancient `
` paladins, he has only undertaken this war to obtain a look `
` from his lady love. If he becomes certain that this war `
` will cost the honor, and perhaps the liberty, of the lady of `
` his thoughts, as he says, I will answer for it he will look `
` twice." `
` `
` "And yet," said Milady, with a persistence that proved she `
` wished to see clearly to the end of the mission with which `
` she was about to be charged, "if he persists?" `
` `
` "If he persists?" said the cardinal. "That is not `
` probable." `
` `
` "It is possible," said Milady. `
` `
`