Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
`
` "Place this man in the care of his guards again, and let him wait `
` till I send for him." `
` `
` "No, monseigneur, no, it is not he!" cried Bonacieux; "no, I was `
` deceived. This is quite another man, and does not resemble him `
` at all. Monsieur is, I am sure, an honest man." `
` `
` "Take away that fool!" said the cardinal. `
` `
` The officer took Bonacieux by the arm, and led him into the `
` antechamber, where he found his two guards. `
` `
` The newly introduced personage followed Bonacieux impatiently `
` with his eyes till he had gone out; and the moment the door `
` closed, "They have seen each other;" said he, approaching the `
` cardinal eagerly. `
` `
` "Who?" asked his Eminence. `
` `
` "He and she." `
` `
` "The queen and the duke?" cried Richelieu. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Where?" `
` `
` "At the Louvre." `
` `
` "Are you sure of it?" `
` `
` "Perfectly sure." `
` `
` "Who told you of it?" `
` `
` "Madame de Lannoy, who is devoted to your Eminence, as you know." `
` `
` "Why did she not let me know sooner?" `
` `
` "Whether by chance or mistrust, the queen made Madame de Surgis `
` sleep in her chamber, and detained her all day." `
` `
` "Well, we are beaten! Now let us try to take our revenge." `
` `
` "I will assist you with all my heart, monseigneur; be assured of `
` that." `
` `
` "How did it come about?" `
` `
` "At half past twelve the queen was with her women--" `
` `
` "Where?" `
` `
` "In her bedchamber--" `
` `
` "Go on." `
` `
` "When someone came and brought her a handkerchief from her `
` laundress." `
` `
` "And then?" `
` `
` "The queen immediately exhibited strong emotion; and despite the `
` rouge with which her face was covered evidently turned pale--" `
` `
` "And then, and then?" `
` `
` "She then arose, and with altered voice, 'Ladies,' said she, `
` 'wait for me ten minutes, I shall soon return.' She then opened `
` the door of her alcove, and went out." `
` `
` "Why did not Madame de Lannoy come and inform you instantly?" `
` `
` "Nothing was certain; besides, her Majesty had said, 'Ladies, `
` wait for me,' and she did not dare to disobey the queen." `
` `
` "How long did the queen remain out of the chamber?" `
` `
` "Three-quarters of an hour." `
` `
` "None of her women accompanied her?" `
` `
` "Only Donna Estafania." `
` `
` "Did she afterward return?" `
` `
` "Yes; but only to take a little rosewood casket, with her cipher `
` upon it, and went out again immediately." `
` `
` "And when she finally returned, did she bring that casket with `
` her?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Does Madame de Lannoy know what was in that casket?" `
` `
` "Yes; the diamond studs which his Majesty gave the queen." `
` `
` "And she came back without this casket?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Madame de Lannoy, then, is of opinion that she gave them to `
` Buckingham?" `
` `
` "She is sure of it." `
` `
` "How can she be so?" `
` `
` "In the course of the day Madame de Lannoy, in her quality of `
` tire-woman of the queen, looked for this casket, appeared uneasy `
` at not finding it, and at length asked information of the queen." `
` `
` "And then the queen?" `
` `
` "The queen became exceedingly red, and replied that having in the `
` evening broken one of those studs, she had sent it to her `
` goldsmith to be repaired." `
` `
` "He must be called upon, and so ascertain if the thing be true or `
` not." `
` `
` "I have just been with him." `
` `
` "And the goldsmith?" `
` `
` "The goldsmith has heard nothing of it." `
` `
` "Well, well! Rochefort, all is not lost; and perhaps--perhaps `
` everything is for the best." `
` `
` "The fact is that I do not doubt your Eminence's genius--" `
` `
` "Will repair the blunders of his agent--is that it?" `
` `
` "That is exactly what I was going to say, if your Eminence had `
` let me finish my sentence." `
` `
` "Meanwhile, do you know where the Duchesse de Chevreuse and the `
` Duke of Buckingham are now concealed?" `
` `
` "No, monseigneur; my people could tell me nothing on that head." `
` `
` "But I know." `
` `
` "You, monseigneur?" `
` `
` "Yes; or at least I guess. They were, one in the Rue de `
` Vaugirard, No. 25; the other in the Rue de la Harpe, No. 75." `
` `
` "Does your Eminence command that they both be instantly `
` arrested?" `
` `
` "It will be too late; they will be gone." `
` `
` "But still, we can make sure that they are so." `
` `
` "Take ten men of my Guardsmen, and search the two houses `
` thoroughly." `
` `
` "Instantly, monseigneur." And Rochefort went hastily out of the `
` apartment. `
` `
` The cardinal being left alone, reflected for an instant and then `
` rang the bell a third time. The same officer appeared. `
` `
` "Bring the prisoner in again," said the cardinal. `
` `
` M. Bonacieux was introduced afresh, and upon a sign from the `
` cardinal, the officer retired. `
` `
` "You have deceived me!" said the cardinal, sternly. `
` `
` "I," cried Bonacieux, "I deceive your Eminence!" `
` `
` "Your wife, in going to Rue de Vaugirard and Rue de la Harpe, did `
` not go to find linen drapers." `
` `
` "Then why did she go, just God?" `
` `
` "She went to meet the Duchesse de Chevreuse and the Duke of Buckingham." `
` `
` "Yes," cried Bonacieux, recalling all his remembrances of the `
` circumstances, "yes, that's it. Your Eminence is right. I told `
` my wife several times that it was surprising that linen drapers `
` should live in such houses as those, in houses that had no signs; `
` but she always laughed at me. Ah, monseigneur!" continued `
` Bonacieux, throwing himself at his Eminence's feet, "ah, how `
` truly you are the cardinal, the great cardinal, the man of genius `
` whom all the world reveres!" `
` `
` The cardinal, however contemptible might be the triumph gained `
` over so vulgar a being as Bonacieux, did not the less enjoy it `
` for an instant; then, almost immediately, as if a fresh thought `
` has occurred, a smile played upon his lips, and he said, offering `
` his hand to the mercer, "Rise, my friend, you are a worthy man." `
` `
` "The cardinal has touched me with his hand! I have touched the `
` hand of the great man!" cried Bonacieux. "The great man has `
` called me his friend!" `
`
` "Place this man in the care of his guards again, and let him wait `
` till I send for him." `
` `
` "No, monseigneur, no, it is not he!" cried Bonacieux; "no, I was `
` deceived. This is quite another man, and does not resemble him `
` at all. Monsieur is, I am sure, an honest man." `
` `
` "Take away that fool!" said the cardinal. `
` `
` The officer took Bonacieux by the arm, and led him into the `
` antechamber, where he found his two guards. `
` `
` The newly introduced personage followed Bonacieux impatiently `
` with his eyes till he had gone out; and the moment the door `
` closed, "They have seen each other;" said he, approaching the `
` cardinal eagerly. `
` `
` "Who?" asked his Eminence. `
` `
` "He and she." `
` `
` "The queen and the duke?" cried Richelieu. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Where?" `
` `
` "At the Louvre." `
` `
` "Are you sure of it?" `
` `
` "Perfectly sure." `
` `
` "Who told you of it?" `
` `
` "Madame de Lannoy, who is devoted to your Eminence, as you know." `
` `
` "Why did she not let me know sooner?" `
` `
` "Whether by chance or mistrust, the queen made Madame de Surgis `
` sleep in her chamber, and detained her all day." `
` `
` "Well, we are beaten! Now let us try to take our revenge." `
` `
` "I will assist you with all my heart, monseigneur; be assured of `
` that." `
` `
` "How did it come about?" `
` `
` "At half past twelve the queen was with her women--" `
` `
` "Where?" `
` `
` "In her bedchamber--" `
` `
` "Go on." `
` `
` "When someone came and brought her a handkerchief from her `
` laundress." `
` `
` "And then?" `
` `
` "The queen immediately exhibited strong emotion; and despite the `
` rouge with which her face was covered evidently turned pale--" `
` `
` "And then, and then?" `
` `
` "She then arose, and with altered voice, 'Ladies,' said she, `
` 'wait for me ten minutes, I shall soon return.' She then opened `
` the door of her alcove, and went out." `
` `
` "Why did not Madame de Lannoy come and inform you instantly?" `
` `
` "Nothing was certain; besides, her Majesty had said, 'Ladies, `
` wait for me,' and she did not dare to disobey the queen." `
` `
` "How long did the queen remain out of the chamber?" `
` `
` "Three-quarters of an hour." `
` `
` "None of her women accompanied her?" `
` `
` "Only Donna Estafania." `
` `
` "Did she afterward return?" `
` `
` "Yes; but only to take a little rosewood casket, with her cipher `
` upon it, and went out again immediately." `
` `
` "And when she finally returned, did she bring that casket with `
` her?" `
` `
` "No." `
` `
` "Does Madame de Lannoy know what was in that casket?" `
` `
` "Yes; the diamond studs which his Majesty gave the queen." `
` `
` "And she came back without this casket?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Madame de Lannoy, then, is of opinion that she gave them to `
` Buckingham?" `
` `
` "She is sure of it." `
` `
` "How can she be so?" `
` `
` "In the course of the day Madame de Lannoy, in her quality of `
` tire-woman of the queen, looked for this casket, appeared uneasy `
` at not finding it, and at length asked information of the queen." `
` `
` "And then the queen?" `
` `
` "The queen became exceedingly red, and replied that having in the `
` evening broken one of those studs, she had sent it to her `
` goldsmith to be repaired." `
` `
` "He must be called upon, and so ascertain if the thing be true or `
` not." `
` `
` "I have just been with him." `
` `
` "And the goldsmith?" `
` `
` "The goldsmith has heard nothing of it." `
` `
` "Well, well! Rochefort, all is not lost; and perhaps--perhaps `
` everything is for the best." `
` `
` "The fact is that I do not doubt your Eminence's genius--" `
` `
` "Will repair the blunders of his agent--is that it?" `
` `
` "That is exactly what I was going to say, if your Eminence had `
` let me finish my sentence." `
` `
` "Meanwhile, do you know where the Duchesse de Chevreuse and the `
` Duke of Buckingham are now concealed?" `
` `
` "No, monseigneur; my people could tell me nothing on that head." `
` `
` "But I know." `
` `
` "You, monseigneur?" `
` `
` "Yes; or at least I guess. They were, one in the Rue de `
` Vaugirard, No. 25; the other in the Rue de la Harpe, No. 75." `
` `
` "Does your Eminence command that they both be instantly `
` arrested?" `
` `
` "It will be too late; they will be gone." `
` `
` "But still, we can make sure that they are so." `
` `
` "Take ten men of my Guardsmen, and search the two houses `
` thoroughly." `
` `
` "Instantly, monseigneur." And Rochefort went hastily out of the `
` apartment. `
` `
` The cardinal being left alone, reflected for an instant and then `
` rang the bell a third time. The same officer appeared. `
` `
` "Bring the prisoner in again," said the cardinal. `
` `
` M. Bonacieux was introduced afresh, and upon a sign from the `
` cardinal, the officer retired. `
` `
` "You have deceived me!" said the cardinal, sternly. `
` `
` "I," cried Bonacieux, "I deceive your Eminence!" `
` `
` "Your wife, in going to Rue de Vaugirard and Rue de la Harpe, did `
` not go to find linen drapers." `
` `
` "Then why did she go, just God?" `
` `
` "She went to meet the Duchesse de Chevreuse and the Duke of Buckingham." `
` `
` "Yes," cried Bonacieux, recalling all his remembrances of the `
` circumstances, "yes, that's it. Your Eminence is right. I told `
` my wife several times that it was surprising that linen drapers `
` should live in such houses as those, in houses that had no signs; `
` but she always laughed at me. Ah, monseigneur!" continued `
` Bonacieux, throwing himself at his Eminence's feet, "ah, how `
` truly you are the cardinal, the great cardinal, the man of genius `
` whom all the world reveres!" `
` `
` The cardinal, however contemptible might be the triumph gained `
` over so vulgar a being as Bonacieux, did not the less enjoy it `
` for an instant; then, almost immediately, as if a fresh thought `
` has occurred, a smile played upon his lips, and he said, offering `
` his hand to the mercer, "Rise, my friend, you are a worthy man." `
` `
` "The cardinal has touched me with his hand! I have touched the `
` hand of the great man!" cried Bonacieux. "The great man has `
` called me his friend!" `
`