Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.41-67
`
` "If he persists--" His Eminence made a pause, and resumed: `
` "If he persists--well, then I shall hope for one of those `
` events which change the destinies of states." `
` `
` "If your Eminence would quote to me some one of these events `
` in history," said Milady, "perhaps I should partake of your `
` confidence as to the future." `
` `
` "Well, here, for example," said Richelieu: "when, in 1610, `
` for a cause similar to that which moves the duke, King Henry `
` IV, of glorious memory, was about, at the same time, to `
` invade Flanders and Italy, in order to attack Austria on `
` both sides. Well, did there not happen an event which saved `
` Austria? Why should not the king of France have the same `
` chance as the emperor?" `
` `
` "Your Eminence means, I presume, the knife stab in the Rue `
` de la Feronnerie?" `
` `
` "Precisely," said the cardinal. `
` `
` "Does not your Eminence fear that the punishment inflicted `
` upon Ravaillac may deter anyone who might entertain the idea `
` of imitating him?" `
` `
` "There will be, in all times and in all countries, `
` particularly if religious divisions exist in those `
` countries, fanatics who ask nothing better than to become `
` martyrs. Ay, and observe--it just occurs to me that the `
` Puritans are furious against Buckingham, and their preachers `
` designate him as the Antichrist." `
` `
` "Well?" said Milady. `
` `
` "Well," continued the cardinal, in an indifferent tone, "the `
` only thing to be sought for at this moment is some woman, `
` handsome, young, and clever, who has cause of quarrel with `
` the duke. The duke has had many affairs of gallantry; and `
` if he has fostered his amours by promises of eternal `
` constancy, he must likewise have sown the seeds of hatred by `
` his eternal infidelities." `
` `
` "No doubt," said Milady, coolly, "such a woman may be `
` found." `
` `
` "Well, such a woman, who would place the knife of Jacques `
` Clement or of Ravaillac in the hands of a fanatic, would `
` save France." `
` `
` "Yes; but she would then be the accomplice of an `
` assassination." `
` `
` "Were the accomplices of Ravaillac or of Jacques Clement `
` ever known?" `
` `
` "No; for perhaps they were too high-placed for anyone to `
` dare look for them where they were. The Palace of Justice `
` would not be burned down for everybody, monseigneur." `
` `
` "You think, then, that the fire at the Palace of Justice was `
` not caused by chance?" asked Richelieu, in the tone with `
` which he would have put a question of no importance. `
` `
` "I, monseigneur?" replied Milady. "I think nothing; I quote `
` a fact, that is all. Only I say that if I were named Madame `
` de Montpensier, or the Queen Marie de Medicis, I should use `
` less precautions than I take, being simply called Milady `
` Clarik." `
` `
` "That is just," said Richelieu. "What do you require, `
` then?" `
` `
` "I require an order which would ratify beforehand all that I `
` should think proper to do for the greatest good of France." `
` `
` "But in the first place, this woman I have described must be `
` found who is desirous of avenging herself upon the duke." `
` `
` "She is found," said Milady. `
` `
` "Then the miserable fanatic must be found who will serve as `
` an instrument of God's justice." `
` `
` "He will be found." `
` `
` "Well," said the cardinal, "then it will be time to claim `
` the order which you just now required." `
` `
` "Your Eminence is right," replied Milady; "and I have been `
` wrong in seeing in the mission with which you honor me `
` anything but that which it really is--that is, to announce `
` to his Grace, on the part of your Eminence, that you are `
` acquainted with the different disguises by means of which he `
` succeeded in approaching the queen during the fete given by `
` Madame the Constable; that you have proofs of the interview `
` granted at the Louvre by the queen to a certain Italian `
` astrologer who was no other than the Duke of Buckingham; `
` that you have ordered a little romance of a satirical nature `
` to be written upon the adventures of Amiens, with a plan of `
` the gardens in which those adventures took place, and `
` portraits of the actors who figured in them; that Montague `
` is in the Bastille, and that the torture may make him say `
` things he remembers, and even things he has forgotten; that `
` you possess a certain letter from Madame de Chevreuse, found `
` in his Grace's lodging, which singularly compromises not `
` only her who wrote it, but her in whose name it was written. `
` Then, if he persists, notwithstanding all this--as that is, `
` as I have said, the limit of my mission--I shall have `
` nothing to do but to pray God to work a miracle for the `
` salvation of France. That is it, is it not, monseigneur, `
` and I shall have nothing else to do?" `
` `
` "That is it," replied the cardinal, dryly. `
` `
` "And now," said Milady, without appearing to remark the `
` change of the duke's tone toward her--"now that I have `
` received the instructions of your Eminence as concerns your `
` enemies, Monseigneur will permit me to say a few words to `
` him of mine?" `
` `
` "Have you enemies, then?" asked Richelieu. `
` `
` "Yes, monseigneur, enemies against whom you owe me all your `
` support, for I made them by serving your Eminence." `
` `
` "Who are they?" replied the duke. `
` `
` "In the first place, there is a little intrigante named `
` Bonacieux." `
` `
` "She is in the prison of Nantes." `
` `
` "That is to say, she was there," replied Milady; "but the `
` queen has obtained an order from the king by means of which `
` she has been conveyed to a convent." `
` `
` "To a convent?" said the duke. `
` `
` "Yes, to a convent." `
` `
` "And to which?" `
` `
` "I don't know; the secret has been well kept." `
` `
` "But I will know!" `
` `
` "And your Eminence will tell me in what convent that woman `
` is?" `
` `
` "I can see nothing inconvenient in that," said the cardinal. `
` `
` "Well, now I have an enemy much more to be dreaded by me `
` than this little Madame Bonacieux." `
` `
` "Who is that?" `
` `
` "Her lover." `
` `
` "What is his name?" `
` `
` "Oh, your Eminence knows him well," cried Milady, carried `
` away by her anger. "He is the evil genius of both of us. `
` It is he who in an encounter with your Eminence's Guards `
` decided the victory in favor of the king's Musketeers; it is `
` he who gave three desperate wounds to de Wardes, your `
` emissary, and who caused the affair of the diamond studs to `
` fail; it is he who, knowing it was I who had Madame `
` Bonacieux carried off, has sworn my death." `
` `
` "Ah, ah!" said the cardinal, "I know of whom you speak." `
` `
` "I mean that miserable d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "He is a bold fellow," said the cardinal. `
` `
` "And it is exactly because he is a bold fellow that he is `
` the more to be feared." `
` `
` "I must have," said the duke, "a proof of his connection `
` with Buckingham." `
` `
` "A proof?" cried Milady; "I will have ten." `
` `
` "Well, then, it becomes the simplest thing in the world; get `
` me that proof, and I will send him to the Bastille." `
` `
` "So far good, monseigneur; but afterwards?" `
` `
` "When once in the Bastille, there is no afterward!" said the `
` cardinal, in a low voice. "Ah, pardieu!" continued he, "if `
` it were as easy for me to get rid of my enemy as it is easy `
` to get rid of yours, and if it were against such people you `
` require impunity--" `
` `
` "Monseigneur," replied Milady, "a fair exchange. Life for `
` life, man for man; give me one, I will give you the other." `
` `
` "I don't know what you mean, nor do I even desire to know `
` what you mean," replied the cardinal; "but I wish to please `
` you, and see nothing out of the way in giving you what you `
`
` "If he persists--" His Eminence made a pause, and resumed: `
` "If he persists--well, then I shall hope for one of those `
` events which change the destinies of states." `
` `
` "If your Eminence would quote to me some one of these events `
` in history," said Milady, "perhaps I should partake of your `
` confidence as to the future." `
` `
` "Well, here, for example," said Richelieu: "when, in 1610, `
` for a cause similar to that which moves the duke, King Henry `
` IV, of glorious memory, was about, at the same time, to `
` invade Flanders and Italy, in order to attack Austria on `
` both sides. Well, did there not happen an event which saved `
` Austria? Why should not the king of France have the same `
` chance as the emperor?" `
` `
` "Your Eminence means, I presume, the knife stab in the Rue `
` de la Feronnerie?" `
` `
` "Precisely," said the cardinal. `
` `
` "Does not your Eminence fear that the punishment inflicted `
` upon Ravaillac may deter anyone who might entertain the idea `
` of imitating him?" `
` `
` "There will be, in all times and in all countries, `
` particularly if religious divisions exist in those `
` countries, fanatics who ask nothing better than to become `
` martyrs. Ay, and observe--it just occurs to me that the `
` Puritans are furious against Buckingham, and their preachers `
` designate him as the Antichrist." `
` `
` "Well?" said Milady. `
` `
` "Well," continued the cardinal, in an indifferent tone, "the `
` only thing to be sought for at this moment is some woman, `
` handsome, young, and clever, who has cause of quarrel with `
` the duke. The duke has had many affairs of gallantry; and `
` if he has fostered his amours by promises of eternal `
` constancy, he must likewise have sown the seeds of hatred by `
` his eternal infidelities." `
` `
` "No doubt," said Milady, coolly, "such a woman may be `
` found." `
` `
` "Well, such a woman, who would place the knife of Jacques `
` Clement or of Ravaillac in the hands of a fanatic, would `
` save France." `
` `
` "Yes; but she would then be the accomplice of an `
` assassination." `
` `
` "Were the accomplices of Ravaillac or of Jacques Clement `
` ever known?" `
` `
` "No; for perhaps they were too high-placed for anyone to `
` dare look for them where they were. The Palace of Justice `
` would not be burned down for everybody, monseigneur." `
` `
` "You think, then, that the fire at the Palace of Justice was `
` not caused by chance?" asked Richelieu, in the tone with `
` which he would have put a question of no importance. `
` `
` "I, monseigneur?" replied Milady. "I think nothing; I quote `
` a fact, that is all. Only I say that if I were named Madame `
` de Montpensier, or the Queen Marie de Medicis, I should use `
` less precautions than I take, being simply called Milady `
` Clarik." `
` `
` "That is just," said Richelieu. "What do you require, `
` then?" `
` `
` "I require an order which would ratify beforehand all that I `
` should think proper to do for the greatest good of France." `
` `
` "But in the first place, this woman I have described must be `
` found who is desirous of avenging herself upon the duke." `
` `
` "She is found," said Milady. `
` `
` "Then the miserable fanatic must be found who will serve as `
` an instrument of God's justice." `
` `
` "He will be found." `
` `
` "Well," said the cardinal, "then it will be time to claim `
` the order which you just now required." `
` `
` "Your Eminence is right," replied Milady; "and I have been `
` wrong in seeing in the mission with which you honor me `
` anything but that which it really is--that is, to announce `
` to his Grace, on the part of your Eminence, that you are `
` acquainted with the different disguises by means of which he `
` succeeded in approaching the queen during the fete given by `
` Madame the Constable; that you have proofs of the interview `
` granted at the Louvre by the queen to a certain Italian `
` astrologer who was no other than the Duke of Buckingham; `
` that you have ordered a little romance of a satirical nature `
` to be written upon the adventures of Amiens, with a plan of `
` the gardens in which those adventures took place, and `
` portraits of the actors who figured in them; that Montague `
` is in the Bastille, and that the torture may make him say `
` things he remembers, and even things he has forgotten; that `
` you possess a certain letter from Madame de Chevreuse, found `
` in his Grace's lodging, which singularly compromises not `
` only her who wrote it, but her in whose name it was written. `
` Then, if he persists, notwithstanding all this--as that is, `
` as I have said, the limit of my mission--I shall have `
` nothing to do but to pray God to work a miracle for the `
` salvation of France. That is it, is it not, monseigneur, `
` and I shall have nothing else to do?" `
` `
` "That is it," replied the cardinal, dryly. `
` `
` "And now," said Milady, without appearing to remark the `
` change of the duke's tone toward her--"now that I have `
` received the instructions of your Eminence as concerns your `
` enemies, Monseigneur will permit me to say a few words to `
` him of mine?" `
` `
` "Have you enemies, then?" asked Richelieu. `
` `
` "Yes, monseigneur, enemies against whom you owe me all your `
` support, for I made them by serving your Eminence." `
` `
` "Who are they?" replied the duke. `
` `
` "In the first place, there is a little intrigante named `
` Bonacieux." `
` `
` "She is in the prison of Nantes." `
` `
` "That is to say, she was there," replied Milady; "but the `
` queen has obtained an order from the king by means of which `
` she has been conveyed to a convent." `
` `
` "To a convent?" said the duke. `
` `
` "Yes, to a convent." `
` `
` "And to which?" `
` `
` "I don't know; the secret has been well kept." `
` `
` "But I will know!" `
` `
` "And your Eminence will tell me in what convent that woman `
` is?" `
` `
` "I can see nothing inconvenient in that," said the cardinal. `
` `
` "Well, now I have an enemy much more to be dreaded by me `
` than this little Madame Bonacieux." `
` `
` "Who is that?" `
` `
` "Her lover." `
` `
` "What is his name?" `
` `
` "Oh, your Eminence knows him well," cried Milady, carried `
` away by her anger. "He is the evil genius of both of us. `
` It is he who in an encounter with your Eminence's Guards `
` decided the victory in favor of the king's Musketeers; it is `
` he who gave three desperate wounds to de Wardes, your `
` emissary, and who caused the affair of the diamond studs to `
` fail; it is he who, knowing it was I who had Madame `
` Bonacieux carried off, has sworn my death." `
` `
` "Ah, ah!" said the cardinal, "I know of whom you speak." `
` `
` "I mean that miserable d'Artagnan." `
` `
` "He is a bold fellow," said the cardinal. `
` `
` "And it is exactly because he is a bold fellow that he is `
` the more to be feared." `
` `
` "I must have," said the duke, "a proof of his connection `
` with Buckingham." `
` `
` "A proof?" cried Milady; "I will have ten." `
` `
` "Well, then, it becomes the simplest thing in the world; get `
` me that proof, and I will send him to the Bastille." `
` `
` "So far good, monseigneur; but afterwards?" `
` `
` "When once in the Bastille, there is no afterward!" said the `
` cardinal, in a low voice. "Ah, pardieu!" continued he, "if `
` it were as easy for me to get rid of my enemy as it is easy `
` to get rid of yours, and if it were against such people you `
` require impunity--" `
` `
` "Monseigneur," replied Milady, "a fair exchange. Life for `
` life, man for man; give me one, I will give you the other." `
` `
` "I don't know what you mean, nor do I even desire to know `
` what you mean," replied the cardinal; "but I wish to please `
` you, and see nothing out of the way in giving you what you `
`