Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
Majesty commands I shall do." `
` `
` "Well, it is true!" said Anne of Austria; "and the spies of the `
` cardinal have served him faithfully. I have written a letter `
` today; that letter is not yet gone. The letter is here." And `
` the queen laid her beautiful hand on her bosom. `
` `
` "Then give me that letter, madame," said the chancellor. `
` `
` "I will give it to none but the king monsieur," said Anne. `
` `
` "If the king had desired that the letter should be given to him, `
` madame, he would have demanded it of you himself. But I repeat `
` to you, I am charged with reclaiming it; and if you do not give `
` it up--" `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "He has, then, charged me to take it from you." `
` `
` "How! What do you say?" `
` `
` "That my orders go far, madame; and that I am authorized to seek `
` for the suspected paper, even on the person of your Majesty." `
` `
` "What horror!" cried the queen. `
` `
` "Be kind enough, then, madame, to act more compliantly." `
` `
` "The conduct is infamously violent! Do you know that, monsieur?" `
` `
` "The king commands it, madame; excuse me." `
` `
` "I will not suffer it! No, no, I would rather die!" cried the `
` queen, in whom the imperious blood of Spain and Austria began to `
` rise. `
` `
` The chancellor made a profound reverence. Then, with the `
` intention quite patent of not drawing back a foot from the `
` accomplishment of the commission with which he was charged, and `
` as the attendant of an executioner might have done in the chamber `
` of torture, he approached Anne of Austria, for whose eyes at the `
` same instant sprang tears of rage. `
` `
` The queen was, as we have said, of great beauty. The commission `
` might well be called delicate; and the king had reached, in his `
` jealousy of Buckingham, the point of not being jealous of anyone `
` else. `
` `
` Without doubt the chancellor, Seguier looked about at that moment `
` for the rope of the famous bell; but not finding it he summoned `
` his resolution, and stretched forth his hands toward the place `
` where the queen had acknowledged the paper was to be found. `
` `
` Anne of Austria took one step backward, became so pale that it `
` might be said she was dying, and leaning with her left hand upon `
` a table behind her to keep herself from falling, she with her `
` right hand drew the paper from her bosom and held it out to the `
` keeper of the seals. `
` `
` "There, monsieur, there is that letter!" cried the queen, with a `
` broken and trembling voice; "take it, and deliver me from your `
` odious presence." `
` `
` The chancellor, who, on his part, trembled with an emotion easily `
` to be conceived, took the letter, bowed to the ground, and `
` retired. The door was scarcely closed upon him, when the queen `
` sank, half fainting, into the arms of her women. `
` `
` The chancellor carried the letter to the king without having read `
` a single word of it. The king took it with a trembling hand, `
` looked for the address, which was wanting, became very pale, `
` opened it slowly, then seeing by the first words that it was `
` addressed to the King of Spain, he read it rapidly. `
` `
` It was nothing but a plan of attack against the cardinal. The `
` queen pressed her brother and the Emperor of Austria to appear to `
` be wounded, as they really were, by the policy of Richelieu--the `
` eternal object of which was the abasement of the house of `
` Austria--to declare war against France, and as a condition of `
` peace, to insist upon the dismissal of the cardinal; but as to `
` love, there was not a single word about it in all the letter. `
` `
` The king, quite delighted, inquired if the cardinal was still at `
` the Louvre; he was told that his Eminence awaited the orders of `
` his Majesty in the business cabinet. `
` `
` The king went straight to him. `
` `
` "There, Duke," said he, "you were right and I was wrong. The `
` whole intrigue is political, and there is not the least question `
` of love in this letter; but, on the other hand, there is abundant `
` question of you." `
` `
` The cardinal took the letter, and read it with the greatest `
` attention; then, when he had arrived at the end of it, he read it `
` a second time. "Well, your Majesty," said he, "you see how far `
` my enemies go; they menace you with two wars if you do not `
` dismiss me. In your place, in truth, sire, I should yield to `
` such powerful instance; and on my part, it would be a real `
` happiness to withdraw from public affairs." `
` `
` "What say you, Duke?" `
` `
` "I say, sire, that my health is sinking under these excessive `
` struggles and these never-ending labors. I say that according to `
` all probability I shall not be able to undergo the fatigues of `
` the siege of La Rochelle, and that it would be far better that `
` you should appoint there either Monsieur de Conde, Monsieur de `
` Bassopierre, or some valiant gentleman whose business is war, and `
` not me, who am a churchman, and who am constantly turned aside `
` for my real vocation to look after matters for which I have no `
` aptitude. You would be the happier for it at home, sire, and I `
` do not doubt you would be the greater for it abroad." `
` `
` "Monsieur Duke," said the king, "I understand you. Be satisfied, `
` all who are named in that letter shall be punished as they `
` deserve, even the queen herself." `
` `
` "What do you say, sire? God forbid that the queen should suffer `
` the least inconvenience or uneasiness on my account! She has `
` always believed me, sire, to be her enemy; although your Majesty `
` can bear witness that I have always taken her part warmly, even `
` against you. Oh, if she betrayed your Majesty on the side of `
` your honor, it would be quite another thing, and I should be the `
` first to say, 'No grace, sire--no grace for the guilty!' `
` Happily, there is nothing of the kind, and your Majesty has just `
` acquired a new proof of it." `
` `
` "That is true, Monsieur Cardinal," said the king, "and you were `
` right, as you always are; but the queen, not the less, deserves `
` all my anger." `
` `
` "It is you, sire, who have now incurred hers. And even if she `
` were to be seriously offended, I could well understand it; your `
` Majesty has treated her with a severity--" `
` `
` "It is thus I will always treat my enemies and yours, Duke, `
` however high they may be placed, and whatever peril I may incur `
` in acting severely toward them." `
` `
` "The queen is my enemy, but is not yours, sire; on the contrary, `
` she is a devoted, submissive, and irreproachable wife. Allow me, `
` then, sire, to intercede for her with your Majesty." `
` `
` "Let her humble herself, then, and come to me first." `
` `
` "On the contrary, sire, set the example. You have committed the `
` first wrong, since it was you who suspected the queen." `
` `
` "What! I make the first advances?" said the king. "Never!" `
` `
` "Sire, I entreat you to do so." `
` `
` "Besides, in what manner can I make advances first?" `
` `
` "By doing a thing which you know will be agreeable to her." `
` `
` "What is that?" `
` `
` "Give a ball; you know how much the queen loves dancing. I will `
` answer for it, her resentment will not hold out against such an `
` attention." `
` `
` "Monsieur Cardinal, you know that I do not like worldly `
` pleasures." `
` `
` "The queen will only be the more grateful to you, as she knows `
` your antipathy for that amusement; besides, it will be an `
` opportunity for her to wear those beautiful diamonds which you `
` gave her recently on her birthday and with which she has since `
` had no occasion to adorn herself." `
` `
` "We shall see, Monsieur Cardinal, we shall see," said the king, `
` who, in his joy at finding the queen guilty of a crime which he `
` cared little about, and innocent of a fault of which he had great `
` dread, was ready to make up all differences with her, "we shall `
` see, but upon my honor, you are too indulgent toward her." `
` `
` "Sire," said the cardinal, "leave severity to your ministers. `
` Clemency is a royal virtue; employ it, and you will find that you `
` derive advantage therein." `
` `
` Thereupon the cardinal, hearing the clock strike eleven, bowed `
` low, asking permission of the king to retire, and supplicating `
` him to come to a good understanding with the queen. `
` `
` Anne of Austria, who, in consequence of the seizure of her `
` letter, expected reproaches, was much astonished the next day to `
` see the king make some attempts at reconciliation with her. Her `
` first movement was repellent. Her womanly pride and her queenly `
` dignity had both been so cruelly offended that she could not come `
` round at the first advance; but, overpersuaded by the advice of `
` her women, she at last had the appearance of beginning to forget. `
` The king took advantage of this favorable moment to tell her that `
` her had the intention of shortly giving a fete. `
` `
` A fete was so rare a thing for poor Anne of Austria that at this `
` announcement, as the cardinal had predicted, the last trace of `
` her resentment disappeared, if not from her heart at least from `
` her countenance. She asked upon what day this fete would take `
`
` `
` "Well, it is true!" said Anne of Austria; "and the spies of the `
` cardinal have served him faithfully. I have written a letter `
` today; that letter is not yet gone. The letter is here." And `
` the queen laid her beautiful hand on her bosom. `
` `
` "Then give me that letter, madame," said the chancellor. `
` `
` "I will give it to none but the king monsieur," said Anne. `
` `
` "If the king had desired that the letter should be given to him, `
` madame, he would have demanded it of you himself. But I repeat `
` to you, I am charged with reclaiming it; and if you do not give `
` it up--" `
` `
` "Well?" `
` `
` "He has, then, charged me to take it from you." `
` `
` "How! What do you say?" `
` `
` "That my orders go far, madame; and that I am authorized to seek `
` for the suspected paper, even on the person of your Majesty." `
` `
` "What horror!" cried the queen. `
` `
` "Be kind enough, then, madame, to act more compliantly." `
` `
` "The conduct is infamously violent! Do you know that, monsieur?" `
` `
` "The king commands it, madame; excuse me." `
` `
` "I will not suffer it! No, no, I would rather die!" cried the `
` queen, in whom the imperious blood of Spain and Austria began to `
` rise. `
` `
` The chancellor made a profound reverence. Then, with the `
` intention quite patent of not drawing back a foot from the `
` accomplishment of the commission with which he was charged, and `
` as the attendant of an executioner might have done in the chamber `
` of torture, he approached Anne of Austria, for whose eyes at the `
` same instant sprang tears of rage. `
` `
` The queen was, as we have said, of great beauty. The commission `
` might well be called delicate; and the king had reached, in his `
` jealousy of Buckingham, the point of not being jealous of anyone `
` else. `
` `
` Without doubt the chancellor, Seguier looked about at that moment `
` for the rope of the famous bell; but not finding it he summoned `
` his resolution, and stretched forth his hands toward the place `
` where the queen had acknowledged the paper was to be found. `
` `
` Anne of Austria took one step backward, became so pale that it `
` might be said she was dying, and leaning with her left hand upon `
` a table behind her to keep herself from falling, she with her `
` right hand drew the paper from her bosom and held it out to the `
` keeper of the seals. `
` `
` "There, monsieur, there is that letter!" cried the queen, with a `
` broken and trembling voice; "take it, and deliver me from your `
` odious presence." `
` `
` The chancellor, who, on his part, trembled with an emotion easily `
` to be conceived, took the letter, bowed to the ground, and `
` retired. The door was scarcely closed upon him, when the queen `
` sank, half fainting, into the arms of her women. `
` `
` The chancellor carried the letter to the king without having read `
` a single word of it. The king took it with a trembling hand, `
` looked for the address, which was wanting, became very pale, `
` opened it slowly, then seeing by the first words that it was `
` addressed to the King of Spain, he read it rapidly. `
` `
` It was nothing but a plan of attack against the cardinal. The `
` queen pressed her brother and the Emperor of Austria to appear to `
` be wounded, as they really were, by the policy of Richelieu--the `
` eternal object of which was the abasement of the house of `
` Austria--to declare war against France, and as a condition of `
` peace, to insist upon the dismissal of the cardinal; but as to `
` love, there was not a single word about it in all the letter. `
` `
` The king, quite delighted, inquired if the cardinal was still at `
` the Louvre; he was told that his Eminence awaited the orders of `
` his Majesty in the business cabinet. `
` `
` The king went straight to him. `
` `
` "There, Duke," said he, "you were right and I was wrong. The `
` whole intrigue is political, and there is not the least question `
` of love in this letter; but, on the other hand, there is abundant `
` question of you." `
` `
` The cardinal took the letter, and read it with the greatest `
` attention; then, when he had arrived at the end of it, he read it `
` a second time. "Well, your Majesty," said he, "you see how far `
` my enemies go; they menace you with two wars if you do not `
` dismiss me. In your place, in truth, sire, I should yield to `
` such powerful instance; and on my part, it would be a real `
` happiness to withdraw from public affairs." `
` `
` "What say you, Duke?" `
` `
` "I say, sire, that my health is sinking under these excessive `
` struggles and these never-ending labors. I say that according to `
` all probability I shall not be able to undergo the fatigues of `
` the siege of La Rochelle, and that it would be far better that `
` you should appoint there either Monsieur de Conde, Monsieur de `
` Bassopierre, or some valiant gentleman whose business is war, and `
` not me, who am a churchman, and who am constantly turned aside `
` for my real vocation to look after matters for which I have no `
` aptitude. You would be the happier for it at home, sire, and I `
` do not doubt you would be the greater for it abroad." `
` `
` "Monsieur Duke," said the king, "I understand you. Be satisfied, `
` all who are named in that letter shall be punished as they `
` deserve, even the queen herself." `
` `
` "What do you say, sire? God forbid that the queen should suffer `
` the least inconvenience or uneasiness on my account! She has `
` always believed me, sire, to be her enemy; although your Majesty `
` can bear witness that I have always taken her part warmly, even `
` against you. Oh, if she betrayed your Majesty on the side of `
` your honor, it would be quite another thing, and I should be the `
` first to say, 'No grace, sire--no grace for the guilty!' `
` Happily, there is nothing of the kind, and your Majesty has just `
` acquired a new proof of it." `
` `
` "That is true, Monsieur Cardinal," said the king, "and you were `
` right, as you always are; but the queen, not the less, deserves `
` all my anger." `
` `
` "It is you, sire, who have now incurred hers. And even if she `
` were to be seriously offended, I could well understand it; your `
` Majesty has treated her with a severity--" `
` `
` "It is thus I will always treat my enemies and yours, Duke, `
` however high they may be placed, and whatever peril I may incur `
` in acting severely toward them." `
` `
` "The queen is my enemy, but is not yours, sire; on the contrary, `
` she is a devoted, submissive, and irreproachable wife. Allow me, `
` then, sire, to intercede for her with your Majesty." `
` `
` "Let her humble herself, then, and come to me first." `
` `
` "On the contrary, sire, set the example. You have committed the `
` first wrong, since it was you who suspected the queen." `
` `
` "What! I make the first advances?" said the king. "Never!" `
` `
` "Sire, I entreat you to do so." `
` `
` "Besides, in what manner can I make advances first?" `
` `
` "By doing a thing which you know will be agreeable to her." `
` `
` "What is that?" `
` `
` "Give a ball; you know how much the queen loves dancing. I will `
` answer for it, her resentment will not hold out against such an `
` attention." `
` `
` "Monsieur Cardinal, you know that I do not like worldly `
` pleasures." `
` `
` "The queen will only be the more grateful to you, as she knows `
` your antipathy for that amusement; besides, it will be an `
` opportunity for her to wear those beautiful diamonds which you `
` gave her recently on her birthday and with which she has since `
` had no occasion to adorn herself." `
` `
` "We shall see, Monsieur Cardinal, we shall see," said the king, `
` who, in his joy at finding the queen guilty of a crime which he `
` cared little about, and innocent of a fault of which he had great `
` dread, was ready to make up all differences with her, "we shall `
` see, but upon my honor, you are too indulgent toward her." `
` `
` "Sire," said the cardinal, "leave severity to your ministers. `
` Clemency is a royal virtue; employ it, and you will find that you `
` derive advantage therein." `
` `
` Thereupon the cardinal, hearing the clock strike eleven, bowed `
` low, asking permission of the king to retire, and supplicating `
` him to come to a good understanding with the queen. `
` `
` Anne of Austria, who, in consequence of the seizure of her `
` letter, expected reproaches, was much astonished the next day to `
` see the king make some attempts at reconciliation with her. Her `
` first movement was repellent. Her womanly pride and her queenly `
` dignity had both been so cruelly offended that she could not come `
` round at the first advance; but, overpersuaded by the advice of `
` her women, she at last had the appearance of beginning to forget. `
` The king took advantage of this favorable moment to tell her that `
` her had the intention of shortly giving a fete. `
` `
` A fete was so rare a thing for poor Anne of Austria that at this `
` announcement, as the cardinal had predicted, the last trace of `
` her resentment disappeared, if not from her heart at least from `
` her countenance. She asked upon what day this fete would take `
`