Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
pocket of Mme. Bonacieux the one he had just picked up. `
` `
` At that moment Mme. Bonacieux recovered her senses. She opened `
` her eyes, looked around her with terror, saw that the apartment `
` was empty and that she was alone with her liberator. She `
` extended her hands to him with a smile. Mme. Bonacieux had the `
` sweetest smile in the world. `
` `
` "Ah, monsieur!" said she, "you have saved me; permit me to thank `
` you." `
` `
` "Madame," said d'Artagnan, "I have only done what every gentleman `
` would have done in my place; you owe me no thanks." `
` `
` "Oh, yes, monsieur, oh, yes; and I hope to prove to you that you `
` have not served an ingrate. But what could these men, whom I at `
` first took for robbers, want with me, and why is Monsieur `
` Bonacieux not here?" `
` `
` "Madame, those men were more dangerous than any robbers could `
` have been, for they are the agents of the cardinal; and as to `
` your husband, Monsieur Bonacieux, he is not here because he was `
` yesterday evening conducted to the Bastille." `
` `
` "My husband in the Bastille!" cried Mme. Bonacieux. "Oh, my God! `
` What has he done? Poor dear man, he is innocence itself!" `
` `
` And something like a faint smile lighted the still-terrified `
` features of the young woman. `
` `
` "What has he done, madame?" said d'Artagnan. "I believe that his `
` only crime is to have at the same time the good fortune and the `
` misfortune to be your husband." `
` `
` "But, monsieur, you know then--" `
` `
` "I know that you have been abducted, madame." `
` `
` "And by whom? Do you know him? Oh, if you know him, tell me!" `
` `
` "By a man of from forty to forty-five years, with black hair, a `
` dark complexion, and a scar on his left temple." `
` `
` "That is he, that is he; but his name?" `
` `
` "Ah, his name? I do not know that." `
` `
` "And did my husband know I had been carried off?" `
` `
` "He was informed of it by a letter, written to him by the `
` abductor himself." `
` `
` "And does he suspect," said Mme. Bonacieux, with some `
` embarrassment, "the cause of this event?" `
` `
` "He attributed it, I believe, to a political cause." `
` `
` "I doubted from the first; and now I think entirely as he does. `
` Then my dear Monsieur Bonacieux has not suspected me a single `
` instant?" `
` `
` "So far from it, madame, he was too proud of your prudence, and `
` above all, of your love." `
` `
` A second smile, almost imperceptible, stole over the rosy lips of `
` the pretty young woman. `
` `
` "But," continued d'Artagnan, "how did you escape?" `
` `
` "I took advantage of a moment when they left me alone; and as I `
` had known since morning the reason of my abduction, with the help `
` of the sheets I let myself down from the window. Then, as I `
` believed my husband would be at home, I hastened hither." `
` `
` "To place yourself under his protection?" `
` `
` "Oh, no, poor dear man! I knew very well that he was incapable `
` of defending me; but as he could serve us in other ways, I wished `
` to inform him." `
` `
` "Of what?" `
` `
` "Oh, that is not my secret; I must not, therefore, tell you." `
` `
` "Besides," said d'Artagnan, "pardon me, madame, if, guardsman as `
` I am, I remind you of prudence--besides, I believe we are not `
` here in a very proper place for imparting confidences. The men I `
` have put to flight will return reinforced; if they find us here, `
` we are lost. I have sent for three of my friends, but who knows `
` whether they were at home?" `
` `
` "Yes, yes! You are right," cried the affrighted Mme. Bonacieux; `
` "let us fly! Let us save ourselves." `
` `
` At these words she passed her arm under that of d'Artagnan, and `
` urged him forward eagerly. `
` `
` "But whither shall we fly--whither escape?" `
` `
` "Let us first withdraw from this house; afterward we shall see." `
` `
` The young woman and the young man, without taking the trouble to `
` shut the door after them, descended the Rue des Fossoyeurs `
` rapidly, turned into the Rue des Fosses-Monsieur-le-Prince, and `
` did not stop till they came to the Place St. Sulpice. `
` `
` "And now what are we to do, and where do you wish me to conduct `
` you?" asked d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I am at quite a loss how to answer you, I admit," said Mme. `
` Bonacieux. "My intention was to inform Monsieur Laporte, through `
` my husband, in order that Monsieur Laporte might tell us `
` precisely what had taken place at the Louvre in the last three `
` days, and whether there is any danger in presenting myself `
` there." `
` `
` "But I," said d'Artagnan, "can go and inform Monsieur Laporte." `
` `
` "No doubt you could, only there is one misfortune, and that is `
` that Monsieur Bonacieux is known at the Louvre, and would be `
` allowed to pass; whereas you are not known there, and the gate `
` would be closed against you." `
` `
` "Ah, bah!" said d'Artagnan; "you have at some wicket of the `
` Louvre a CONCIERGE who is devoted to you, and who, thanks to a `
` password, would--" `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux looked earnestly at the young man. `
` `
` "And if I give you this password," said she, "would you forget it `
` as soon as you used it?" `
` `
` "By my honor, by the faith of a gentleman!" said d'Artagnan, with `
` an accent so truthful that no one could mistake it. `
` `
` "Then I believe you. You appear to be a brave young man; `
` besides, your fortune may perhaps be the result of your `
` devotedness." `
` `
` `
` "I will do, without a promise and voluntarily, all that I can do `
` to serve the king and be agreeable to the queen. Dispose of me, `
` then, as a friend." `
` `
` "But I--where shall I go meanwhile?" `
` `
` "Is there nobody from whose house Monsieur Laporte can come and `
` fetch you?" `
` `
` "No, I can trust nobody." `
` `
` "Stop," said d'Artagnan; "we are near Athos's door. Yes, here it `
` is." `
` `
` "Who is this Athos?" `
` `
` "One of my friends." `
` `
` "But if he should be at home and see me?" `
` `
` "He is not at home, and I will carry away the key, after having `
` placed you in his apartment." `
` `
` "But if he should return?" `
` `
` "Oh, he won't return; and if he should, he will be told that I `
` have brought a woman with me, and that woman is in his `
` apartment." `
` `
` "But that will compromise me sadly, you know." `
` `
` "Of what consequence? Nobody knows you. Besides, we are in a `
` situation to overlook ceremony." `
` `
` "Come, then, let us go to your friend's house. Where does he `
` live?" `
` `
` "Rue Ferou, two steps from here." `
` `
` "Let us go!" `
` `
` Both resumed their way. As d'Artagnan had foreseen, Athos was `
` not within. He took the key, which was customarily given him as `
` one of the family, ascended the stairs, and introduced Mme. `
` Bonacieux into the little apartment of which we have given a `
` description. `
` `
` "You are at home," said he. "Remain here, fasten the door `
` inside, and open it to nobody unless you hear three taps like `
` this;" and he tapped thrice--two taps close together and pretty `
` hard, the other after an interval, and lighter. `
` `
` "That is well," said Mme. Bonacieux. "Now, in my turn, let me `
` give you my instructions." `
` `
` "I am all attention." `
` `
` "Present yourself at the wicket of the Louvre, on the side of the `
` Rue de l'Echelle, and ask for Germain." `
` `
` "Well, and then?" `
`
` `
` At that moment Mme. Bonacieux recovered her senses. She opened `
` her eyes, looked around her with terror, saw that the apartment `
` was empty and that she was alone with her liberator. She `
` extended her hands to him with a smile. Mme. Bonacieux had the `
` sweetest smile in the world. `
` `
` "Ah, monsieur!" said she, "you have saved me; permit me to thank `
` you." `
` `
` "Madame," said d'Artagnan, "I have only done what every gentleman `
` would have done in my place; you owe me no thanks." `
` `
` "Oh, yes, monsieur, oh, yes; and I hope to prove to you that you `
` have not served an ingrate. But what could these men, whom I at `
` first took for robbers, want with me, and why is Monsieur `
` Bonacieux not here?" `
` `
` "Madame, those men were more dangerous than any robbers could `
` have been, for they are the agents of the cardinal; and as to `
` your husband, Monsieur Bonacieux, he is not here because he was `
` yesterday evening conducted to the Bastille." `
` `
` "My husband in the Bastille!" cried Mme. Bonacieux. "Oh, my God! `
` What has he done? Poor dear man, he is innocence itself!" `
` `
` And something like a faint smile lighted the still-terrified `
` features of the young woman. `
` `
` "What has he done, madame?" said d'Artagnan. "I believe that his `
` only crime is to have at the same time the good fortune and the `
` misfortune to be your husband." `
` `
` "But, monsieur, you know then--" `
` `
` "I know that you have been abducted, madame." `
` `
` "And by whom? Do you know him? Oh, if you know him, tell me!" `
` `
` "By a man of from forty to forty-five years, with black hair, a `
` dark complexion, and a scar on his left temple." `
` `
` "That is he, that is he; but his name?" `
` `
` "Ah, his name? I do not know that." `
` `
` "And did my husband know I had been carried off?" `
` `
` "He was informed of it by a letter, written to him by the `
` abductor himself." `
` `
` "And does he suspect," said Mme. Bonacieux, with some `
` embarrassment, "the cause of this event?" `
` `
` "He attributed it, I believe, to a political cause." `
` `
` "I doubted from the first; and now I think entirely as he does. `
` Then my dear Monsieur Bonacieux has not suspected me a single `
` instant?" `
` `
` "So far from it, madame, he was too proud of your prudence, and `
` above all, of your love." `
` `
` A second smile, almost imperceptible, stole over the rosy lips of `
` the pretty young woman. `
` `
` "But," continued d'Artagnan, "how did you escape?" `
` `
` "I took advantage of a moment when they left me alone; and as I `
` had known since morning the reason of my abduction, with the help `
` of the sheets I let myself down from the window. Then, as I `
` believed my husband would be at home, I hastened hither." `
` `
` "To place yourself under his protection?" `
` `
` "Oh, no, poor dear man! I knew very well that he was incapable `
` of defending me; but as he could serve us in other ways, I wished `
` to inform him." `
` `
` "Of what?" `
` `
` "Oh, that is not my secret; I must not, therefore, tell you." `
` `
` "Besides," said d'Artagnan, "pardon me, madame, if, guardsman as `
` I am, I remind you of prudence--besides, I believe we are not `
` here in a very proper place for imparting confidences. The men I `
` have put to flight will return reinforced; if they find us here, `
` we are lost. I have sent for three of my friends, but who knows `
` whether they were at home?" `
` `
` "Yes, yes! You are right," cried the affrighted Mme. Bonacieux; `
` "let us fly! Let us save ourselves." `
` `
` At these words she passed her arm under that of d'Artagnan, and `
` urged him forward eagerly. `
` `
` "But whither shall we fly--whither escape?" `
` `
` "Let us first withdraw from this house; afterward we shall see." `
` `
` The young woman and the young man, without taking the trouble to `
` shut the door after them, descended the Rue des Fossoyeurs `
` rapidly, turned into the Rue des Fosses-Monsieur-le-Prince, and `
` did not stop till they came to the Place St. Sulpice. `
` `
` "And now what are we to do, and where do you wish me to conduct `
` you?" asked d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "I am at quite a loss how to answer you, I admit," said Mme. `
` Bonacieux. "My intention was to inform Monsieur Laporte, through `
` my husband, in order that Monsieur Laporte might tell us `
` precisely what had taken place at the Louvre in the last three `
` days, and whether there is any danger in presenting myself `
` there." `
` `
` "But I," said d'Artagnan, "can go and inform Monsieur Laporte." `
` `
` "No doubt you could, only there is one misfortune, and that is `
` that Monsieur Bonacieux is known at the Louvre, and would be `
` allowed to pass; whereas you are not known there, and the gate `
` would be closed against you." `
` `
` "Ah, bah!" said d'Artagnan; "you have at some wicket of the `
` Louvre a CONCIERGE who is devoted to you, and who, thanks to a `
` password, would--" `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux looked earnestly at the young man. `
` `
` "And if I give you this password," said she, "would you forget it `
` as soon as you used it?" `
` `
` "By my honor, by the faith of a gentleman!" said d'Artagnan, with `
` an accent so truthful that no one could mistake it. `
` `
` "Then I believe you. You appear to be a brave young man; `
` besides, your fortune may perhaps be the result of your `
` devotedness." `
` `
` `
` "I will do, without a promise and voluntarily, all that I can do `
` to serve the king and be agreeable to the queen. Dispose of me, `
` then, as a friend." `
` `
` "But I--where shall I go meanwhile?" `
` `
` "Is there nobody from whose house Monsieur Laporte can come and `
` fetch you?" `
` `
` "No, I can trust nobody." `
` `
` "Stop," said d'Artagnan; "we are near Athos's door. Yes, here it `
` is." `
` `
` "Who is this Athos?" `
` `
` "One of my friends." `
` `
` "But if he should be at home and see me?" `
` `
` "He is not at home, and I will carry away the key, after having `
` placed you in his apartment." `
` `
` "But if he should return?" `
` `
` "Oh, he won't return; and if he should, he will be told that I `
` have brought a woman with me, and that woman is in his `
` apartment." `
` `
` "But that will compromise me sadly, you know." `
` `
` "Of what consequence? Nobody knows you. Besides, we are in a `
` situation to overlook ceremony." `
` `
` "Come, then, let us go to your friend's house. Where does he `
` live?" `
` `
` "Rue Ferou, two steps from here." `
` `
` "Let us go!" `
` `
` Both resumed their way. As d'Artagnan had foreseen, Athos was `
` not within. He took the key, which was customarily given him as `
` one of the family, ascended the stairs, and introduced Mme. `
` Bonacieux into the little apartment of which we have given a `
` description. `
` `
` "You are at home," said he. "Remain here, fasten the door `
` inside, and open it to nobody unless you hear three taps like `
` this;" and he tapped thrice--two taps close together and pretty `
` hard, the other after an interval, and lighter. `
` `
` "That is well," said Mme. Bonacieux. "Now, in my turn, let me `
` give you my instructions." `
` `
` "I am all attention." `
` `
` "Present yourself at the wicket of the Louvre, on the side of the `
` Rue de l'Echelle, and ask for Germain." `
` `
` "Well, and then?" `
`