Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
her countenance. She asked upon what day this fete would take `
` place, but the king replied that he must consult the cardinal `
` upon that head. `
` `
` Indeed, every day the king asked the cardinal when this fete `
` should take place; and every day the cardinal, under some `
` pretext, deferred fixing it. Ten days passed away thus. `
` `
` On the eighth day after the scene we have described, the cardinal `
` received a letter with the London stamp which only contained `
` these lines: "I have them; but I am unable to leave London for `
` want of money. Send me five hundred pistoles, and four or five `
` days after I have received them I shall be in Paris." `
` `
` On the same day the cardinal received this letter the king put `
` his customary question to him. `
` `
` Richelieu counted on his fingers, and said to himself, "She will `
` arrive, she says, four or five days after having received the `
` money. It will require four or five days for the transmission of `
` the money, four or five days for her to return; that makes ten `
` days. Now, allowing for contrary winds, accidents, and a woman's `
` weakness, there are twelve days." `
` `
` "Well, Monsieur Duke," said the king, "have you made your `
` calculations?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire. Today is the twentieth of September. The aldermen `
` of the city give a fete on the third of October. That will fall `
` in wonderfully well; you will not appear to have gone out of your `
` way to please the queen." `
` `
` Then the cardinal added, "A PROPOS, sire, do not forget to tell `
` her Majesty the evening before the fete that you should like to `
` see how her diamond studs become her." `
` `
` `
` `
` 17 BONACIEUX AT HOME `
` `
` It was the second time the cardinal had mentioned these diamond `
` studs to the king. Louis XIII was struck with this insistence, `
` and began to fancy that this recommendation concealed some `
` mystery. `
` `
` More than once the king had been humiliated by the cardinal, `
` whose police, without having yet attained the perfection of the `
` modern police, were excellent, being better informed than `
` himself, even upon what was going on in his own household. He `
` hoped, then, in a conversation with Anne of Austria, to obtain `
` some information from that conversation, and afterward to come `
` upon his Eminence with some secret which the cardinal either knew `
` or did not know, but which, in either case, would raise him `
` infinitely in the eyes of his minister. `
` `
` He went then to the queen, and according to custom accosted her `
` with fresh menaces against those who surrounded her. Anne of `
` Austria lowered her head, allowed the torrent to flow on without `
` replying, hoping that it would cease of itself; but this was not `
` what Louis XIII meant. Louis XIII wanted a discussion from which `
` some light or other might break, convinced as he was that the `
` cardinal had some afterthought and was preparing for him one of `
` those terrible surprises which his Eminence was so skillful in `
` getting up. He arrived at this end by his persistence in `
` accusation. `
` `
` "But," cried Anne of Austria, tired of these vague attacks, "but, `
` sire, you do not tell me all that you have in your heart. What `
` have I done, then? Let me know what crime I have committed. It `
` is impossible that your Majesty can make all this ado about a `
` letter written to my brother." `
` `
` The king, attacked in a manner so direct, did not know what to `
` answer; and he thought that this was the moment for expressing `
` the desire which he was not going to have made until the evening `
` before the fete. `
` `
` "Madame," said he, with dignity, "there will shortly be a ball at `
` the Hotel de Ville. I wish, in order to honor our worthy `
` aldermen, you should appear in ceremonial costume, and above all, `
` ornamented with the diamond studs which I gave you on your `
` birthday. That is my answer." `
` `
` The answer was terrible. Anne of Austria believed that Louis `
` XIII knew all, and that the cardinal had persuaded him to employ `
` this long dissimulation of seven or eight days, which, likewise, `
` was characteristic. She became excessively pale, leaned her `
` beautiful hand upon a CONSOLE, which hand appeared then like one `
` of wax, and looking at the king with terror in her eyes, she was `
` unable to reply by a single syllable. `
` `
` "You hear, madame," said the king, who enjoyed the embarrassment `
` to its full extent, but without guessing the cause. "You hear, `
` madame?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire, I hear," stammered the queen. `
` `
` "You will appear at this ball?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "With those studs?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` The queen's paleness, if possible, increased; the king perceived `
` it, and enjoyed it with that cold cruelty which was one of the `
` worst sides of his character. `
` `
` "Then that is agreed," said the king, "and that is all I had to `
` say to you." `
` `
` "But on what day will this ball take place?" asked Anne of `
` Austria. `
` `
` Louis XIII felt instinctively that he ought not to reply to this `
` question, the queen having put it in an almost dying voice. `
` `
` "Oh, very shortly, madame," said he; "but I do not precisely `
` recollect the date of the day. I will ask the cardinal." `
` `
` "It was the cardinal, then, who informed you of this fete?" `
` `
` "Yes, madame," replied the astonished king; "but why do you ask `
` that?" `
` `
` "It was he who told you to invite me to appear with these studs?" `
` `
` "That is to say, madame--" `
` `
` "It was he, sire, it was he!" `
` `
` "Well, and what does it signify whether it was he or I? Is there `
` any crime in this request?" `
` `
` "No, sire." `
` `
` "Then you will appear?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "That is well," said the king, retiring, "that is well; I count `
` upon it." `
` `
` The queen made a curtsy, less from etiquette than because her `
` knees were sinking under her. The king went away enchanted. `
` `
` "I am lost," murmured the queen, "lost!--for the cardinal knows `
` all, and it is he who urges on the king, who as yet knows nothing `
` but will soon know everything. I am lost! My God, my God, my `
` God!" `
` `
` She knelt upon a cushion and prayed, with her head buried between `
` her palpitating arms. `
` `
` In fact, her position was terrible. Buckingham had returned to `
` London; Mme. Chevreuse was at Tours. More closely watched than `
` ever, the queen felt certain, without knowing how to tell which, `
` that one of her women had betrayed her. Laporte could not leave `
` the Louvre; she had not a soul in the world in whom she could `
` confide. Thus, while contemplating the misfortune which `
` threatened her and the abandonment in which she was left, she `
` broke out into sobs and tears. `
` `
` "Can I be of service to your Majesty?" said all at once a voice `
` full of sweetness and pity. `
` `
` The queen turned sharply round, for there could be no deception `
` in the expression of that voice; it was a friend who spoke thus. `
` `
` In fact, at one of the doors which opened into the queen's `
` apartment appeared the pretty Mme. Bonacieux. She had been `
` engaged in arranging the dresses and linen in a closet when the `
` king entered; she could not get out and had heard all. `
` `
` The queen uttered a piercing cry at finding herself surprised-- `
` for in her trouble she did not at first recognize the young woman `
` who had been given to her by Laporte. `
` `
` "Oh, fear nothing, madame!" said the young woman, clasping her `
` hands and weeping herself at the queen's sorrows; "I am your `
` Majesty's, body and soul, and however far I may be from you, `
` however inferior may be my position, I believe I have discovered `
` a means of extricating your Majesty from your trouble." `
` `
` "You, oh, heaven, you!" cried the queen; "but look me in the `
` face. I am betrayed on all sides. Can I trust in you?" `
` `
` "Oh, madame!" cried the young woman, falling on her knees; "upon `
` my soul, I am ready to die for your Majesty!" `
` `
` This expression sprang from the very bottom of the heart, and, `
` like the first, there was no mistaking it. `
` `
` "Yes," continued Mme. Bonacieux, "yes, there are traitors here; `
` but by the holy name of the Virgin, I swear that no one is more `
` devoted to your Majesty than I am. Those studs which the king `
` speaks of, you gave them to the Duke of Buckingham, did you not? `
` Those studs were enclosed in a little rosewood box which he held `
` under his arm? Am I deceived? Is it not so, madame?" `
` `
`
` place, but the king replied that he must consult the cardinal `
` upon that head. `
` `
` Indeed, every day the king asked the cardinal when this fete `
` should take place; and every day the cardinal, under some `
` pretext, deferred fixing it. Ten days passed away thus. `
` `
` On the eighth day after the scene we have described, the cardinal `
` received a letter with the London stamp which only contained `
` these lines: "I have them; but I am unable to leave London for `
` want of money. Send me five hundred pistoles, and four or five `
` days after I have received them I shall be in Paris." `
` `
` On the same day the cardinal received this letter the king put `
` his customary question to him. `
` `
` Richelieu counted on his fingers, and said to himself, "She will `
` arrive, she says, four or five days after having received the `
` money. It will require four or five days for the transmission of `
` the money, four or five days for her to return; that makes ten `
` days. Now, allowing for contrary winds, accidents, and a woman's `
` weakness, there are twelve days." `
` `
` "Well, Monsieur Duke," said the king, "have you made your `
` calculations?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire. Today is the twentieth of September. The aldermen `
` of the city give a fete on the third of October. That will fall `
` in wonderfully well; you will not appear to have gone out of your `
` way to please the queen." `
` `
` Then the cardinal added, "A PROPOS, sire, do not forget to tell `
` her Majesty the evening before the fete that you should like to `
` see how her diamond studs become her." `
` `
` `
` `
` 17 BONACIEUX AT HOME `
` `
` It was the second time the cardinal had mentioned these diamond `
` studs to the king. Louis XIII was struck with this insistence, `
` and began to fancy that this recommendation concealed some `
` mystery. `
` `
` More than once the king had been humiliated by the cardinal, `
` whose police, without having yet attained the perfection of the `
` modern police, were excellent, being better informed than `
` himself, even upon what was going on in his own household. He `
` hoped, then, in a conversation with Anne of Austria, to obtain `
` some information from that conversation, and afterward to come `
` upon his Eminence with some secret which the cardinal either knew `
` or did not know, but which, in either case, would raise him `
` infinitely in the eyes of his minister. `
` `
` He went then to the queen, and according to custom accosted her `
` with fresh menaces against those who surrounded her. Anne of `
` Austria lowered her head, allowed the torrent to flow on without `
` replying, hoping that it would cease of itself; but this was not `
` what Louis XIII meant. Louis XIII wanted a discussion from which `
` some light or other might break, convinced as he was that the `
` cardinal had some afterthought and was preparing for him one of `
` those terrible surprises which his Eminence was so skillful in `
` getting up. He arrived at this end by his persistence in `
` accusation. `
` `
` "But," cried Anne of Austria, tired of these vague attacks, "but, `
` sire, you do not tell me all that you have in your heart. What `
` have I done, then? Let me know what crime I have committed. It `
` is impossible that your Majesty can make all this ado about a `
` letter written to my brother." `
` `
` The king, attacked in a manner so direct, did not know what to `
` answer; and he thought that this was the moment for expressing `
` the desire which he was not going to have made until the evening `
` before the fete. `
` `
` "Madame," said he, with dignity, "there will shortly be a ball at `
` the Hotel de Ville. I wish, in order to honor our worthy `
` aldermen, you should appear in ceremonial costume, and above all, `
` ornamented with the diamond studs which I gave you on your `
` birthday. That is my answer." `
` `
` The answer was terrible. Anne of Austria believed that Louis `
` XIII knew all, and that the cardinal had persuaded him to employ `
` this long dissimulation of seven or eight days, which, likewise, `
` was characteristic. She became excessively pale, leaned her `
` beautiful hand upon a CONSOLE, which hand appeared then like one `
` of wax, and looking at the king with terror in her eyes, she was `
` unable to reply by a single syllable. `
` `
` "You hear, madame," said the king, who enjoyed the embarrassment `
` to its full extent, but without guessing the cause. "You hear, `
` madame?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire, I hear," stammered the queen. `
` `
` "You will appear at this ball?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "With those studs?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` The queen's paleness, if possible, increased; the king perceived `
` it, and enjoyed it with that cold cruelty which was one of the `
` worst sides of his character. `
` `
` "Then that is agreed," said the king, "and that is all I had to `
` say to you." `
` `
` "But on what day will this ball take place?" asked Anne of `
` Austria. `
` `
` Louis XIII felt instinctively that he ought not to reply to this `
` question, the queen having put it in an almost dying voice. `
` `
` "Oh, very shortly, madame," said he; "but I do not precisely `
` recollect the date of the day. I will ask the cardinal." `
` `
` "It was the cardinal, then, who informed you of this fete?" `
` `
` "Yes, madame," replied the astonished king; "but why do you ask `
` that?" `
` `
` "It was he who told you to invite me to appear with these studs?" `
` `
` "That is to say, madame--" `
` `
` "It was he, sire, it was he!" `
` `
` "Well, and what does it signify whether it was he or I? Is there `
` any crime in this request?" `
` `
` "No, sire." `
` `
` "Then you will appear?" `
` `
` "Yes, sire." `
` `
` "That is well," said the king, retiring, "that is well; I count `
` upon it." `
` `
` The queen made a curtsy, less from etiquette than because her `
` knees were sinking under her. The king went away enchanted. `
` `
` "I am lost," murmured the queen, "lost!--for the cardinal knows `
` all, and it is he who urges on the king, who as yet knows nothing `
` but will soon know everything. I am lost! My God, my God, my `
` God!" `
` `
` She knelt upon a cushion and prayed, with her head buried between `
` her palpitating arms. `
` `
` In fact, her position was terrible. Buckingham had returned to `
` London; Mme. Chevreuse was at Tours. More closely watched than `
` ever, the queen felt certain, without knowing how to tell which, `
` that one of her women had betrayed her. Laporte could not leave `
` the Louvre; she had not a soul in the world in whom she could `
` confide. Thus, while contemplating the misfortune which `
` threatened her and the abandonment in which she was left, she `
` broke out into sobs and tears. `
` `
` "Can I be of service to your Majesty?" said all at once a voice `
` full of sweetness and pity. `
` `
` The queen turned sharply round, for there could be no deception `
` in the expression of that voice; it was a friend who spoke thus. `
` `
` In fact, at one of the doors which opened into the queen's `
` apartment appeared the pretty Mme. Bonacieux. She had been `
` engaged in arranging the dresses and linen in a closet when the `
` king entered; she could not get out and had heard all. `
` `
` The queen uttered a piercing cry at finding herself surprised-- `
` for in her trouble she did not at first recognize the young woman `
` who had been given to her by Laporte. `
` `
` "Oh, fear nothing, madame!" said the young woman, clasping her `
` hands and weeping herself at the queen's sorrows; "I am your `
` Majesty's, body and soul, and however far I may be from you, `
` however inferior may be my position, I believe I have discovered `
` a means of extricating your Majesty from your trouble." `
` `
` "You, oh, heaven, you!" cried the queen; "but look me in the `
` face. I am betrayed on all sides. Can I trust in you?" `
` `
` "Oh, madame!" cried the young woman, falling on her knees; "upon `
` my soul, I am ready to die for your Majesty!" `
` `
` This expression sprang from the very bottom of the heart, and, `
` like the first, there was no mistaking it. `
` `
` "Yes," continued Mme. Bonacieux, "yes, there are traitors here; `
` but by the holy name of the Virgin, I swear that no one is more `
` devoted to your Majesty than I am. Those studs which the king `
` speaks of, you gave them to the Duke of Buckingham, did you not? `
` Those studs were enclosed in a little rosewood box which he held `
` under his arm? Am I deceived? Is it not so, madame?" `
` `
`