Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
to contend with the primitive feelings we have just enumerated. `
` Bonacieux indeed reflected on what had just been said to him. `
` `
` "But, Monsieur Commissary," said he, calmly, "believe that I know `
` and appreciate, more than anybody, the merit of the incomparable `
` eminence by whom we have the honor to be governed." `
` `
` "Indeed?" asked the commissary, with an air of doubt. "If that `
` is really so, how came you in the Bastille?" `
` `
` "How I came there, or rather why I am there," replied Bonacieux, `
` "that is entirely impossible for me to tell you, because I don't `
` know myself; but to a certainty it is not for having, knowingly `
` at least, disobliged Monsieur the Cardinal." `
` `
` "You must, nevertheless, have committed a crime, since you are `
` here and are accused of high treason." `
` `
` "Of high treason!" cried Bonacieux, terrified; "of high treason! `
` How is it possible for a poor mercer, who detests Huguenots and `
` who abhors Spaniards, to be accused of high treason? Consider, `
` monsieur, the thing is absolutely impossible." `
` `
` "Monsieur Bonacieux," said the commissary, looking at the accused `
` as if his little eyes had the faculty of reading to the very `
` depths of hearts, "you have a wife?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur," replied the mercer, in a tremble, feeling that `
` it was at this point affairs were likely to become perplexing; `
` "that is to say, I HAD one." `
` `
` "What, you 'had one'? What have you done with her, then, if you `
` have her no longer?" `
` `
` "They have abducted her, monsieur." `
` `
` "They have abducted her? Ah!" `
` `
` Bonacieux inferred from this "Ah" that the affair grew more and `
` more intricate. `
` `
` "They have abducted her," added the commissary; "and do you know `
` the man who has committed this deed?" `
` `
` "I think I know him." `
` `
` "Who is he?" `
` `
` "Remember that I affirm nothing, Monsieur the Commissary, and `
` that I only suspect." `
` `
` "Whom do you suspect? Come, answer freely." `
` `
` M. Bonacieux was in the greatest perplexity possible. Had he `
` better deny everything or tell everything? By denying all, it `
` might be suspected that he must know too much to avow; by `
` confessing all he might prove his good will. He decided, then, `
` to tell all. `
` `
` "I suspect," said he, "a tall, dark man, of lofty carriage, who `
` has the air of a great lord. He has followed us several times, `
` as I think, when I have waited for my wife at the wicket of the `
` Louvre to escort her home." `
` `
` The commissary now appeared to experience a little uneasiness. `
` `
` "And his name?" said he. `
` `
` "Oh, as to his name, I know nothing about it; but if I were ever `
` to meet him, I should recognize him in an instant, I will answer `
` for it, were he among a thousand persons." `
` `
` The face of the commissary grew still darker. `
` `
` "You should recognize him among a thousand, say you?" continued `
` he. `
` `
` "That is to say," cried Bonacieux, who saw he had taken a false `
` step, "that is to say--" `
` `
` "You have answered that you should recognize him," said the `
` commissary. "That is all very well, and enough for today; before `
` we proceed further, someone must be informed that you know the `
` ravisher of your wife." `
` `
` "But I have not told you that I know him!" cried Bonacieux, in `
` despair. "I told you, on the contrary--" `
` `
` "Take away the prisoner," said the commissary to the two guards. `
` `
` "Where must we place him?" demanded the chief. `
` `
` "In a dungeon." `
` `
` "Which?" `
` `
` "Good Lord! In the first one handy, provided it is safe," said `
` the commissary, with an indifference which penetrated poor `
` Bonacieux with horror. `
` `
` "Alas, alas!" said he to himself, "misfortune is over my head; my `
` wife must have committed some frightful crime. They believe me `
` her accomplice, and will punish me with her. She must have `
` spoken; she must have confessed everything--a woman is so weak! `
` A dungeon! The first he comes to! That's it! A night is soon `
` passed; and tomorrow to the wheel, to the gallows! Oh, my God, `
` my God, have pity on me!" `
` `
` Without listening the least in the world to the lamentations of `
` M. Bonacieux--lamentations to which, besides, they must have been `
` pretty well accustomed--the two guards took the prisoner each by `
` an arm, and led him away, while the commissary wrote a letter in `
` haste and dispatched it by an officer in waiting. `
` `
` Bonacieux could not close his eyes; not because his dungeon was `
` so very disagreeable, but because his uneasiness was so great. `
` He sat all night on his stool, starting at the least noise; and `
` when the first rays of the sun penetrated into his chamber, the `
` dawn itself appeared to him to have taken funereal tints. `
` `
` All at once he heard his bolts drawn, and made a terrified bound. `
` He believed they were come to conduct him to the scaffold; so `
` that when he saw merely and simply, instead of the executioner he `
` expected, only his commissary of the preceding evening, attended `
` by his clerk, he was ready to embrace them both. `
` `
` "Your affair has become more complicated since yesterday evening, `
` my good man, and I advise you to tell the whole truth; for your `
` repentance alone can remove the anger of the cardinal." `
` `
` "Why, I am ready to tell everything," cried Bonacieux, "at least, `
` all that I know. Interrogate me, I entreat you!" `
` `
` "Where is your wife, in the first place?" `
` `
` "Why, did not I tell you she had been stolen from me?" `
` `
` "Yes, but yesterday at five o'clock in the afternoon, thanks to `
` you, she escaped." `
` `
` "My wife escaped!" cried Bonacieux. "Oh, unfortunate creature! `
` Monsieur, if she has escaped, it is not my fault, I swear." `
` `
` "What business had you, then, to go into the chamber of Monsieur `
` d'Artagnan, your neighbor, with whom you had a long conference `
` during the day?" `
` `
` "Ah, yes, Monsieur Commissary; yes, that is true, and I confess `
` that I was in the wrong. I did go to Monsieur d'Artagnan's." `
` `
` "What was the aim of that visit?" `
` `
` "To beg him to assist me in finding my wife. I believed I had a `
` right to endeavor to find her. I was deceived, as it appears, `
` and I ask your pardon." `
` `
` "And what did Monsieur d'Artagnan reply?" `
` `
` "Monsieur d'Artagnan promised me his assistance; but I soon found `
` out that he was betraying me." `
` `
` "You impose upon justice. Monsieur d'Artagnan made a compact `
` with you; and in virtue of that compact put to flight the police `
` who had arrested your wife, and has placed her beyond reach." `
` `
` "Fortunately, Monsieur d'Artagnan is in our hands, and you shall `
` be confronted with him." `
` `
` "By my faith, I ask no better," cried Bonacieux; "I shall not be `
` sorry to see the face of an acquaintance." `
` `
` "Bring in the Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the commissary to the `
` guards. The two guards led in Athos. `
` `
` "Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the commissary, addressing Athos, `
` "declare all that passed yesterday between you and Monsieur." `
` `
` "But," cried Bonacieux, "this is not Monsieur d'Artagnan whom you `
` show me." `
` `
` "What! Not Monsieur d'Artagnan?" exclaimed the commissary. `
` `
` "Not the least in the world," replied Bonacieux. `
` `
` "What is this gentleman's name?" asked the commissary. `
` `
` "I cannot tell you; I don't know him." `
` `
` "How! You don't know him?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Did you never see him?" `
` `
` "Yes, I have seen him, but I don't know what he calls himself." `
` `
` "Your name?" replied the commissary. `
` `
` "Athos," replied the Musketeer. `
` `
` "But that is not a man's name; that is the name of a mountain," `
`
` Bonacieux indeed reflected on what had just been said to him. `
` `
` "But, Monsieur Commissary," said he, calmly, "believe that I know `
` and appreciate, more than anybody, the merit of the incomparable `
` eminence by whom we have the honor to be governed." `
` `
` "Indeed?" asked the commissary, with an air of doubt. "If that `
` is really so, how came you in the Bastille?" `
` `
` "How I came there, or rather why I am there," replied Bonacieux, `
` "that is entirely impossible for me to tell you, because I don't `
` know myself; but to a certainty it is not for having, knowingly `
` at least, disobliged Monsieur the Cardinal." `
` `
` "You must, nevertheless, have committed a crime, since you are `
` here and are accused of high treason." `
` `
` "Of high treason!" cried Bonacieux, terrified; "of high treason! `
` How is it possible for a poor mercer, who detests Huguenots and `
` who abhors Spaniards, to be accused of high treason? Consider, `
` monsieur, the thing is absolutely impossible." `
` `
` "Monsieur Bonacieux," said the commissary, looking at the accused `
` as if his little eyes had the faculty of reading to the very `
` depths of hearts, "you have a wife?" `
` `
` "Yes, monsieur," replied the mercer, in a tremble, feeling that `
` it was at this point affairs were likely to become perplexing; `
` "that is to say, I HAD one." `
` `
` "What, you 'had one'? What have you done with her, then, if you `
` have her no longer?" `
` `
` "They have abducted her, monsieur." `
` `
` "They have abducted her? Ah!" `
` `
` Bonacieux inferred from this "Ah" that the affair grew more and `
` more intricate. `
` `
` "They have abducted her," added the commissary; "and do you know `
` the man who has committed this deed?" `
` `
` "I think I know him." `
` `
` "Who is he?" `
` `
` "Remember that I affirm nothing, Monsieur the Commissary, and `
` that I only suspect." `
` `
` "Whom do you suspect? Come, answer freely." `
` `
` M. Bonacieux was in the greatest perplexity possible. Had he `
` better deny everything or tell everything? By denying all, it `
` might be suspected that he must know too much to avow; by `
` confessing all he might prove his good will. He decided, then, `
` to tell all. `
` `
` "I suspect," said he, "a tall, dark man, of lofty carriage, who `
` has the air of a great lord. He has followed us several times, `
` as I think, when I have waited for my wife at the wicket of the `
` Louvre to escort her home." `
` `
` The commissary now appeared to experience a little uneasiness. `
` `
` "And his name?" said he. `
` `
` "Oh, as to his name, I know nothing about it; but if I were ever `
` to meet him, I should recognize him in an instant, I will answer `
` for it, were he among a thousand persons." `
` `
` The face of the commissary grew still darker. `
` `
` "You should recognize him among a thousand, say you?" continued `
` he. `
` `
` "That is to say," cried Bonacieux, who saw he had taken a false `
` step, "that is to say--" `
` `
` "You have answered that you should recognize him," said the `
` commissary. "That is all very well, and enough for today; before `
` we proceed further, someone must be informed that you know the `
` ravisher of your wife." `
` `
` "But I have not told you that I know him!" cried Bonacieux, in `
` despair. "I told you, on the contrary--" `
` `
` "Take away the prisoner," said the commissary to the two guards. `
` `
` "Where must we place him?" demanded the chief. `
` `
` "In a dungeon." `
` `
` "Which?" `
` `
` "Good Lord! In the first one handy, provided it is safe," said `
` the commissary, with an indifference which penetrated poor `
` Bonacieux with horror. `
` `
` "Alas, alas!" said he to himself, "misfortune is over my head; my `
` wife must have committed some frightful crime. They believe me `
` her accomplice, and will punish me with her. She must have `
` spoken; she must have confessed everything--a woman is so weak! `
` A dungeon! The first he comes to! That's it! A night is soon `
` passed; and tomorrow to the wheel, to the gallows! Oh, my God, `
` my God, have pity on me!" `
` `
` Without listening the least in the world to the lamentations of `
` M. Bonacieux--lamentations to which, besides, they must have been `
` pretty well accustomed--the two guards took the prisoner each by `
` an arm, and led him away, while the commissary wrote a letter in `
` haste and dispatched it by an officer in waiting. `
` `
` Bonacieux could not close his eyes; not because his dungeon was `
` so very disagreeable, but because his uneasiness was so great. `
` He sat all night on his stool, starting at the least noise; and `
` when the first rays of the sun penetrated into his chamber, the `
` dawn itself appeared to him to have taken funereal tints. `
` `
` All at once he heard his bolts drawn, and made a terrified bound. `
` He believed they were come to conduct him to the scaffold; so `
` that when he saw merely and simply, instead of the executioner he `
` expected, only his commissary of the preceding evening, attended `
` by his clerk, he was ready to embrace them both. `
` `
` "Your affair has become more complicated since yesterday evening, `
` my good man, and I advise you to tell the whole truth; for your `
` repentance alone can remove the anger of the cardinal." `
` `
` "Why, I am ready to tell everything," cried Bonacieux, "at least, `
` all that I know. Interrogate me, I entreat you!" `
` `
` "Where is your wife, in the first place?" `
` `
` "Why, did not I tell you she had been stolen from me?" `
` `
` "Yes, but yesterday at five o'clock in the afternoon, thanks to `
` you, she escaped." `
` `
` "My wife escaped!" cried Bonacieux. "Oh, unfortunate creature! `
` Monsieur, if she has escaped, it is not my fault, I swear." `
` `
` "What business had you, then, to go into the chamber of Monsieur `
` d'Artagnan, your neighbor, with whom you had a long conference `
` during the day?" `
` `
` "Ah, yes, Monsieur Commissary; yes, that is true, and I confess `
` that I was in the wrong. I did go to Monsieur d'Artagnan's." `
` `
` "What was the aim of that visit?" `
` `
` "To beg him to assist me in finding my wife. I believed I had a `
` right to endeavor to find her. I was deceived, as it appears, `
` and I ask your pardon." `
` `
` "And what did Monsieur d'Artagnan reply?" `
` `
` "Monsieur d'Artagnan promised me his assistance; but I soon found `
` out that he was betraying me." `
` `
` "You impose upon justice. Monsieur d'Artagnan made a compact `
` with you; and in virtue of that compact put to flight the police `
` who had arrested your wife, and has placed her beyond reach." `
` `
` "Fortunately, Monsieur d'Artagnan is in our hands, and you shall `
` be confronted with him." `
` `
` "By my faith, I ask no better," cried Bonacieux; "I shall not be `
` sorry to see the face of an acquaintance." `
` `
` "Bring in the Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the commissary to the `
` guards. The two guards led in Athos. `
` `
` "Monsieur d'Artagnan," said the commissary, addressing Athos, `
` "declare all that passed yesterday between you and Monsieur." `
` `
` "But," cried Bonacieux, "this is not Monsieur d'Artagnan whom you `
` show me." `
` `
` "What! Not Monsieur d'Artagnan?" exclaimed the commissary. `
` `
` "Not the least in the world," replied Bonacieux. `
` `
` "What is this gentleman's name?" asked the commissary. `
` `
` "I cannot tell you; I don't know him." `
` `
` "How! You don't know him?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Did you never see him?" `
` `
` "Yes, I have seen him, but I don't know what he calls himself." `
` `
` "Your name?" replied the commissary. `
` `
` "Athos," replied the Musketeer. `
` `
` "But that is not a man's name; that is the name of a mountain," `
`