Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
"It is a thing of the highest interest, and upon which our future `
` fortune perhaps depends." `
` `
` "The complexion of our fortune has changed very much since I saw `
` you, Madam Bonacieux, and I should not be astonished if in the `
` course of a few months it were to excite the envy of many folks." `
` `
` "Yes, particularly if you follow the instructions I am about to `
` give you." `
` `
` "Me?" `
` `
` "Yes, you. There is good and holy action to be performed, `
` monsieur, and much money to be gained at the same time." `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux knew that in talking of money to her husband, she `
` took him on his weak side. But a man, were he even a mercer, `
` when he had talked for ten minutes with Cardinal Richelieu, is no `
` longer the same man. `
` `
` "Much money to be gained?" said Bonacieux, protruding his lip. `
` `
` "Yes, much." `
` `
` "About how much?" `
` `
` "A thousand pistoles, perhaps." `
` `
` "What you demand of me is serious, then?" `
` `
` "It is indeed." `
` `
` "What must be done?" `
` `
` "You must go away immediately. I will give you a paper which you `
` must not part with on any account, and which you will deliver `
` into the proper hands." `
` `
` "And whither am I to go?" `
` `
` "To London." `
` `
` "I go to London? Go to! You jest! I have no business in `
` London." `
` `
` "But others wish that you should go there." `
` `
` "But who are those others? I warn you that I will never again `
` work in the dark, and that I will know not only to what I expose `
` myself, but for whom I expose myself." `
` `
` "An illustrious person sends you; an illustrious person awaits `
` you. The recompense will exceed your expectations; that is all I `
` promise you." `
` `
` "More intrigues! Nothing but intrigues! Thank you, madame, I am `
` aware of them now; Monsieur Cardinal has enlightened me on that `
` head." `
` `
` "The cardinal?" cried Mme. Bonacieux. "Have you seen the `
` cardinal?" `
` `
` "He sent for me," answered the mercer, proudly. `
` `
` "And you responded to his bidding, you imprudent man?" `
` `
` "Well, I can't say I had much choice of going or not going, for I `
` was taken to him between two guards. It is true also, that as I `
` did not then know his Eminence, if I had been able to dispense `
` with the visit, I should have been enchanted." `
` `
` "He ill-treated you, then; he threatened you?" `
` `
` "He gave me his hand, and called me his friend. His friend! Do `
` you hear that, madame? I am the friend of the great cardinal!" `
` `
` "Of the great cardinal!" `
` `
` "Perhaps you would contest his right to that title, madame?" `
` `
` "I would contest nothing; but I tell you that the favor of a `
` minister is ephemeral, and that a man must be mad to attach `
` himself to a minister. There are powers above his which do not `
` depend upon a man or the issue of an event; it is to these powers `
` we should rally." `
` `
` "I am sorry for it, madame, but I acknowledge not her power but `
` that of the great man whom I have the honor to serve." `
` `
` "You serve the cardinal?" `
` `
` "Yes, madame; and as his servant, I will not allow you to be `
` concerned in plots against the safety of the state, or to serve `
` the intrigues of a woman who is not French and who has a Spanish `
` heart. Fortunately we have the great cardinal; his vigilant eye `
` watches over and penetrates to the bottom of the heart." `
` `
` Bonacieux was repeating, word for word, a sentence which he had `
` heard from the Comte de Rochefort; but the poor wife, who had `
` reckoned on her husband, and who, in that hope, had answered for `
` him to the queen, did not tremble the less, both at the danger `
` into which she had nearly cast herself and at the helpless state `
` to which she was reduced. Nevertheless, knowing the weakness of `
` her husband, and more particularly his cupidity, she did not `
` despair of bringing him round to her purpose. `
` `
` "Ah, you are a cardinalist, then, monsieur, are you?" cried she; `
` "and you serve the party of those who maltreat your wife and `
` insult your queen?" `
` `
` "Private interests are as nothing before the interests of all. I `
` am for those who save the state," said Bonacieux, emphatically. `
` `
` "And what do you know about the state you talk of?" said Mme. `
` Bonacieux, shrugging her shoulders. "Be satisfied with being a `
` plain, straightforward citizen, and turn to that side which `
` offers the most advantages." `
` `
` "Eh, eh!" said Bonacieux, slapping a plump, round bag, which `
` returned a sound a money; "what do you think of this, Madame `
` Preacher?" `
` `
` "Whence comes that money?" `
` `
` "You do not guess?" `
` `
` "From the cardinal?" `
` `
` "From him, and from my friend the Comte de Rochefort." `
` `
` "The Comte de Rochefort! Why it was he who carried me off!" `
` `
` "That may be, madame!" `
` `
` "And you receive silver from that man?" `
` `
` "Have you not said that that abduction was entirely political?" `
` `
` "Yes; but that abduction had for its object the betrayal of my `
` mistress, to draw from me by torture confessions that might `
` compromise the honor, and perhaps the life, of my august `
` mistress." `
` `
` "Madame," replied Bonacieux, "your august mistress is a `
` perfidious Spaniard, and what the cardinal does is well done." `
` `
` "Monsieur," said the young woman, "I know you to be cowardly, `
` avaricious, and foolish, but I never till now believed you `
` infamous!" `
` `
` "Madame," said Bonacieux, who had never seen his wife in a `
` passion, and who recoiled before this conjugal anger, "madame, `
` what do you say?" `
` `
` "I say you are a miserable creature!" continued Mme. Bonacieux, `
` who saw she was regaining some little influence over her husband. `
` "You meddle with politics, do you--and still more, with `
` cardinalist politics? Why, you sell yourself, body and soul, to `
` the demon, the devil, for money!" `
` `
` "No, to the cardinal." `
` `
` "It's the same thing," cried the young woman. "Who calls `
` Richelieu calls Satan." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue, hold your tongue, madame! You may be `
` overheard." `
` `
` "Yes, you are right; I should be ashamed for anyone to know your `
` baseness." `
` `
` "But what do you require of me, then? Let us see." `
` `
` "I have told you. You must depart instantly, monsieur. You must `
` accomplish loyally the commission with which I deign to charge `
` you, and on that condition I pardon everything, I forget `
` everything; and what is more," and she held out her hand to him, `
` "I restore my love." `
` `
` Bonacieux was cowardly and avaricious, but he loved his wife. He `
` was softened. A man of fifty cannot long bear malice with a wife `
` of twenty-three. Mme. Bonacieux saw that he hesitated. `
` `
` "Come! Have you decided?" said she. `
` `
` "But, my dear love, reflect a little upon what you require of me. `
` London is far from Paris, very far, and perhaps the commission `
` with which you charge me is not without dangers?" `
` `
` "What matters it, if you avoid them?" `
` `
` "Hold, Madame Bonacieux," said the mercer, "hold! I positively `
` refuse; intrigues terrify me. I have seen the Bastille. My! `
` Whew! That's a frightful place, that Bastille! Only to think of `
` it makes my flesh crawl. They threatened me with torture. Do `
` you know what torture is? Wooden points that they stick in `
` between your legs till your bones stick out! No, positively I `
` will not go. And, MORBLEU, why do you not go yourself? For in `
` truth, I think I have hitherto been deceived in you. I really `
` believe you are a man, and a violent one, too." `
` `
`
` fortune perhaps depends." `
` `
` "The complexion of our fortune has changed very much since I saw `
` you, Madam Bonacieux, and I should not be astonished if in the `
` course of a few months it were to excite the envy of many folks." `
` `
` "Yes, particularly if you follow the instructions I am about to `
` give you." `
` `
` "Me?" `
` `
` "Yes, you. There is good and holy action to be performed, `
` monsieur, and much money to be gained at the same time." `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux knew that in talking of money to her husband, she `
` took him on his weak side. But a man, were he even a mercer, `
` when he had talked for ten minutes with Cardinal Richelieu, is no `
` longer the same man. `
` `
` "Much money to be gained?" said Bonacieux, protruding his lip. `
` `
` "Yes, much." `
` `
` "About how much?" `
` `
` "A thousand pistoles, perhaps." `
` `
` "What you demand of me is serious, then?" `
` `
` "It is indeed." `
` `
` "What must be done?" `
` `
` "You must go away immediately. I will give you a paper which you `
` must not part with on any account, and which you will deliver `
` into the proper hands." `
` `
` "And whither am I to go?" `
` `
` "To London." `
` `
` "I go to London? Go to! You jest! I have no business in `
` London." `
` `
` "But others wish that you should go there." `
` `
` "But who are those others? I warn you that I will never again `
` work in the dark, and that I will know not only to what I expose `
` myself, but for whom I expose myself." `
` `
` "An illustrious person sends you; an illustrious person awaits `
` you. The recompense will exceed your expectations; that is all I `
` promise you." `
` `
` "More intrigues! Nothing but intrigues! Thank you, madame, I am `
` aware of them now; Monsieur Cardinal has enlightened me on that `
` head." `
` `
` "The cardinal?" cried Mme. Bonacieux. "Have you seen the `
` cardinal?" `
` `
` "He sent for me," answered the mercer, proudly. `
` `
` "And you responded to his bidding, you imprudent man?" `
` `
` "Well, I can't say I had much choice of going or not going, for I `
` was taken to him between two guards. It is true also, that as I `
` did not then know his Eminence, if I had been able to dispense `
` with the visit, I should have been enchanted." `
` `
` "He ill-treated you, then; he threatened you?" `
` `
` "He gave me his hand, and called me his friend. His friend! Do `
` you hear that, madame? I am the friend of the great cardinal!" `
` `
` "Of the great cardinal!" `
` `
` "Perhaps you would contest his right to that title, madame?" `
` `
` "I would contest nothing; but I tell you that the favor of a `
` minister is ephemeral, and that a man must be mad to attach `
` himself to a minister. There are powers above his which do not `
` depend upon a man or the issue of an event; it is to these powers `
` we should rally." `
` `
` "I am sorry for it, madame, but I acknowledge not her power but `
` that of the great man whom I have the honor to serve." `
` `
` "You serve the cardinal?" `
` `
` "Yes, madame; and as his servant, I will not allow you to be `
` concerned in plots against the safety of the state, or to serve `
` the intrigues of a woman who is not French and who has a Spanish `
` heart. Fortunately we have the great cardinal; his vigilant eye `
` watches over and penetrates to the bottom of the heart." `
` `
` Bonacieux was repeating, word for word, a sentence which he had `
` heard from the Comte de Rochefort; but the poor wife, who had `
` reckoned on her husband, and who, in that hope, had answered for `
` him to the queen, did not tremble the less, both at the danger `
` into which she had nearly cast herself and at the helpless state `
` to which she was reduced. Nevertheless, knowing the weakness of `
` her husband, and more particularly his cupidity, she did not `
` despair of bringing him round to her purpose. `
` `
` "Ah, you are a cardinalist, then, monsieur, are you?" cried she; `
` "and you serve the party of those who maltreat your wife and `
` insult your queen?" `
` `
` "Private interests are as nothing before the interests of all. I `
` am for those who save the state," said Bonacieux, emphatically. `
` `
` "And what do you know about the state you talk of?" said Mme. `
` Bonacieux, shrugging her shoulders. "Be satisfied with being a `
` plain, straightforward citizen, and turn to that side which `
` offers the most advantages." `
` `
` "Eh, eh!" said Bonacieux, slapping a plump, round bag, which `
` returned a sound a money; "what do you think of this, Madame `
` Preacher?" `
` `
` "Whence comes that money?" `
` `
` "You do not guess?" `
` `
` "From the cardinal?" `
` `
` "From him, and from my friend the Comte de Rochefort." `
` `
` "The Comte de Rochefort! Why it was he who carried me off!" `
` `
` "That may be, madame!" `
` `
` "And you receive silver from that man?" `
` `
` "Have you not said that that abduction was entirely political?" `
` `
` "Yes; but that abduction had for its object the betrayal of my `
` mistress, to draw from me by torture confessions that might `
` compromise the honor, and perhaps the life, of my august `
` mistress." `
` `
` "Madame," replied Bonacieux, "your august mistress is a `
` perfidious Spaniard, and what the cardinal does is well done." `
` `
` "Monsieur," said the young woman, "I know you to be cowardly, `
` avaricious, and foolish, but I never till now believed you `
` infamous!" `
` `
` "Madame," said Bonacieux, who had never seen his wife in a `
` passion, and who recoiled before this conjugal anger, "madame, `
` what do you say?" `
` `
` "I say you are a miserable creature!" continued Mme. Bonacieux, `
` who saw she was regaining some little influence over her husband. `
` "You meddle with politics, do you--and still more, with `
` cardinalist politics? Why, you sell yourself, body and soul, to `
` the demon, the devil, for money!" `
` `
` "No, to the cardinal." `
` `
` "It's the same thing," cried the young woman. "Who calls `
` Richelieu calls Satan." `
` `
` "Hold your tongue, hold your tongue, madame! You may be `
` overheard." `
` `
` "Yes, you are right; I should be ashamed for anyone to know your `
` baseness." `
` `
` "But what do you require of me, then? Let us see." `
` `
` "I have told you. You must depart instantly, monsieur. You must `
` accomplish loyally the commission with which I deign to charge `
` you, and on that condition I pardon everything, I forget `
` everything; and what is more," and she held out her hand to him, `
` "I restore my love." `
` `
` Bonacieux was cowardly and avaricious, but he loved his wife. He `
` was softened. A man of fifty cannot long bear malice with a wife `
` of twenty-three. Mme. Bonacieux saw that he hesitated. `
` `
` "Come! Have you decided?" said she. `
` `
` "But, my dear love, reflect a little upon what you require of me. `
` London is far from Paris, very far, and perhaps the commission `
` with which you charge me is not without dangers?" `
` `
` "What matters it, if you avoid them?" `
` `
` "Hold, Madame Bonacieux," said the mercer, "hold! I positively `
` refuse; intrigues terrify me. I have seen the Bastille. My! `
` Whew! That's a frightful place, that Bastille! Only to think of `
` it makes my flesh crawl. They threatened me with torture. Do `
` you know what torture is? Wooden points that they stick in `
` between your legs till your bones stick out! No, positively I `
` will not go. And, MORBLEU, why do you not go yourself? For in `
` truth, I think I have hitherto been deceived in you. I really `
` believe you are a man, and a violent one, too." `
` `
`