Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18
your assurances. But I swear to you, before God who hears us, `
` that if you betray me, and my enemies pardon me, I will kill `
` myself, while accusing you of my death." `
` `
` "And I--I swear to you before God, madame," said d'Artagnan. `
` "that if I am taken while accomplishing the orders you give me, I `
` will die sooner than do anything that may compromise anyone." `
` `
` Then the young woman confided in him the terrible secret of which `
` chance had already communicated to him a part in front of the `
` Samaritaine. This was their mutual declaration of love. `
` `
` D'Artagnan was radiant with joy and pride. This secret which he `
` possessed, this woman whom he loved! Confidence and love made him `
` a giant. `
` `
` "I go," said he; "I go at once." `
` `
` "How, you will go!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "and your regiment, your `
` captain?" `
` `
` "By my soul, you had made me forget all that, dear Constance! `
` Yes, you are right; a furlough is needful." `
` `
` "Still another obstacle," murmured Mme. Bonacieux, sorrowfully. `
` `
` "As to that," cried d'Artagnan, after a moment of reflection, "I `
` shall surmount it, be assured." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "I will go this very evening to Treville, whom I will request to `
` ask this favor for me of his brother-in-law, Monsieur `
` Dessessart." `
` `
` "But another thing." `
` `
` "What?" asked d'Artagnan, seeing that Mme. Bonacieux hesitated to `
` continue. `
` `
` "You have, perhaps, no money?" `
` `
` "PERHAPS is too much," said d'Artagnan, smiling. `
` `
` "Then," replied Mme. Bonacieux, opening a cupboard and taking `
` from it the very bag which a half hour before her husband had `
` caressed so affectionately, "take this bag." `
` `
` "The cardinal's?" cried d'Artagnan, breaking into a loud laugh, `
` he having heard, as may be remembered, thanks to the broken `
` boards, every syllable of the conversation between the mercer and `
` his wife. `
` `
` "The cardinal's," replied Mme. Bonacieux. "You see it makes a `
` very respectable appearance." `
` `
` "PARDIEU," cried d'Artagnan, "it will be a double amusing affair `
` to save the queen with the cardinal's money!" `
` `
` "You are an amiable and charming young man," said Mme. Bonacieux. `
` "Be assured you will not find her Majesty ungrateful." `
` `
` "Oh, I am already grandly recompensed!" cried d'Artagnan. "I `
` love you; you permit me to tell you that I do--that is already `
` more happiness than I dared to hope." `
` `
` "Silence!" said Mme. Bonacieux, starting. `
` `
` "What!" `
` `
` "Someone is talking in the street." `
` `
` "It is the voice of--" `
` `
` "Of my husband! Yes, I recognize it!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan ran to the door and pushed the bolt. `
` `
` "He shall not come in before I am gone," said he; "and when I am `
` gone, you can open to him." `
` `
` "But I ought to be gone, too. And the disappearance of his `
` money; how am I to justify it if I am here?" `
` `
` "You are right; we must go out." `
` `
` "Go out? How? He will see us if we go out." `
` `
` "Then you must come up into my room." `
` `
` "Ah," said Mme. Bonacieux, "you speak that in a tone that `
` frightens me!" `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux pronounced these words with tears in her eyes. `
` d'Artagnan saw those tears, and much disturbed, softened, he `
` threw himself at her feet. `
` `
` "With me you will be as safe as in a temple; I give you my word `
` of a gentleman." `
` `
` "Let us go," said she, "I place full confidence in you, my `
` friend!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew back the bolt with precaution, and both, light as `
` shadows, glided through the interior door into the passage, `
` ascended the stairs as quietly as possible, and entered `
` d'Artagnan's chambers. `
` `
` Once there, for greater security, the young man barricaded the `
` door. They both approached the window, and through a slit in the `
` shutter they saw Bonacieux talking with a man in a cloak. `
` `
` At sight of this man, d'Artagnan started, and half drawing his `
` sword, sprang toward the door. `
` `
` It was the man of Meung. `
` `
` "What are you going to do?" cried Mme. Bonacieux; "you will ruin `
` us all!" `
` `
` "But I have sworn to kill that man!" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Your life is devoted from this moment, and does not belong to `
` you. In the name of the queen I forbid you to throw yourself `
` into any peril which is foreign to that of your journey." `
` `
` "And do you command nothing in your own name?" `
` `
` "In my name," said Mme. Bonacieux, with great emotion, "in my `
` name I beg you! But listen; they appear to be speaking of me." `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew near the window, and lent his ear. `
` `
` M. Bonacieux had opened his door, and seeing the apartment, had `
` returned to the man in the cloak, whom he had left alone for an `
` instant. `
` `
` "She is gone," said he; "she must have returned to the Louvre." `
` `
` "You are sure," replied the stranger, "that she did not suspect `
` the intentions with which you went out?" `
` `
` "No," replied Bonacieux, with a self-sufficient air, "she is too `
` superficial a woman." `
` `
` "Is the young Guardsman at home?" `
` `
` "I do not think he is; as you see, his shutter is closed, and you `
` can see no light shine through the chinks of the shutters." `
` `
` "All the same, it is well to be certain." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "By knocking at his door. Go." `
` `
` "I will ask his servant." `
` `
` Bonacieux re-entered the house, passed through the same door that `
` had afforded a passage for the two fugitives, went up to `
` d'Artagnan's door, and knocked. `
` `
` No one answered. Porthos, in order to make a greater display, `
` had that evening borrowed Planchet. As to d'Artagnan, he took `
` care not to give the least sign of existence. `
` `
` The moment the hand of Bonacieux sounded on the door, the two `
` young people felt their hearts bound within them. `
` `
` "There is nobody within," said Bonacieux. `
` `
` "Never mind. Let us return to your apartment. We shall be safer `
` there than in the doorway." `
` `
` "Ah, my God!" whispered Mme. Bonacieux, "we shall hear no more." `
` `
` "On the contrary," said d'Artagnan, "we shall hear better." `
` `
` D'Artagnan raised the three or four boards which made his chamber `
` another ear of Dionysius, spread a carpet on the floor, went upon `
` his knees, and made a sign to Mme. Bonacieux to stoop as he did `
` toward the opening. `
` `
` "You are sure there is nobody there?" said the stranger. `
` `
` "I will answer for it," said Bonacieux. `
` `
` "And you think that your wife--" `
` `
` "Has returned to the Louvre." `
` `
` "Without speaking to anyone but yourself?" `
` `
` "I am sure of it." `
` `
` "That is an important point, do you understand?" `
` `
` "Then the news I brought you is of value?" `
` `
` "The greatest, my dear Bonacieux; I don't conceal this from you." `
` `
`
` that if you betray me, and my enemies pardon me, I will kill `
` myself, while accusing you of my death." `
` `
` "And I--I swear to you before God, madame," said d'Artagnan. `
` "that if I am taken while accomplishing the orders you give me, I `
` will die sooner than do anything that may compromise anyone." `
` `
` Then the young woman confided in him the terrible secret of which `
` chance had already communicated to him a part in front of the `
` Samaritaine. This was their mutual declaration of love. `
` `
` D'Artagnan was radiant with joy and pride. This secret which he `
` possessed, this woman whom he loved! Confidence and love made him `
` a giant. `
` `
` "I go," said he; "I go at once." `
` `
` "How, you will go!" said Mme. Bonacieux; "and your regiment, your `
` captain?" `
` `
` "By my soul, you had made me forget all that, dear Constance! `
` Yes, you are right; a furlough is needful." `
` `
` "Still another obstacle," murmured Mme. Bonacieux, sorrowfully. `
` `
` "As to that," cried d'Artagnan, after a moment of reflection, "I `
` shall surmount it, be assured." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "I will go this very evening to Treville, whom I will request to `
` ask this favor for me of his brother-in-law, Monsieur `
` Dessessart." `
` `
` "But another thing." `
` `
` "What?" asked d'Artagnan, seeing that Mme. Bonacieux hesitated to `
` continue. `
` `
` "You have, perhaps, no money?" `
` `
` "PERHAPS is too much," said d'Artagnan, smiling. `
` `
` "Then," replied Mme. Bonacieux, opening a cupboard and taking `
` from it the very bag which a half hour before her husband had `
` caressed so affectionately, "take this bag." `
` `
` "The cardinal's?" cried d'Artagnan, breaking into a loud laugh, `
` he having heard, as may be remembered, thanks to the broken `
` boards, every syllable of the conversation between the mercer and `
` his wife. `
` `
` "The cardinal's," replied Mme. Bonacieux. "You see it makes a `
` very respectable appearance." `
` `
` "PARDIEU," cried d'Artagnan, "it will be a double amusing affair `
` to save the queen with the cardinal's money!" `
` `
` "You are an amiable and charming young man," said Mme. Bonacieux. `
` "Be assured you will not find her Majesty ungrateful." `
` `
` "Oh, I am already grandly recompensed!" cried d'Artagnan. "I `
` love you; you permit me to tell you that I do--that is already `
` more happiness than I dared to hope." `
` `
` "Silence!" said Mme. Bonacieux, starting. `
` `
` "What!" `
` `
` "Someone is talking in the street." `
` `
` "It is the voice of--" `
` `
` "Of my husband! Yes, I recognize it!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan ran to the door and pushed the bolt. `
` `
` "He shall not come in before I am gone," said he; "and when I am `
` gone, you can open to him." `
` `
` "But I ought to be gone, too. And the disappearance of his `
` money; how am I to justify it if I am here?" `
` `
` "You are right; we must go out." `
` `
` "Go out? How? He will see us if we go out." `
` `
` "Then you must come up into my room." `
` `
` "Ah," said Mme. Bonacieux, "you speak that in a tone that `
` frightens me!" `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux pronounced these words with tears in her eyes. `
` d'Artagnan saw those tears, and much disturbed, softened, he `
` threw himself at her feet. `
` `
` "With me you will be as safe as in a temple; I give you my word `
` of a gentleman." `
` `
` "Let us go," said she, "I place full confidence in you, my `
` friend!" `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew back the bolt with precaution, and both, light as `
` shadows, glided through the interior door into the passage, `
` ascended the stairs as quietly as possible, and entered `
` d'Artagnan's chambers. `
` `
` Once there, for greater security, the young man barricaded the `
` door. They both approached the window, and through a slit in the `
` shutter they saw Bonacieux talking with a man in a cloak. `
` `
` At sight of this man, d'Artagnan started, and half drawing his `
` sword, sprang toward the door. `
` `
` It was the man of Meung. `
` `
` "What are you going to do?" cried Mme. Bonacieux; "you will ruin `
` us all!" `
` `
` "But I have sworn to kill that man!" said d'Artagnan. `
` `
` "Your life is devoted from this moment, and does not belong to `
` you. In the name of the queen I forbid you to throw yourself `
` into any peril which is foreign to that of your journey." `
` `
` "And do you command nothing in your own name?" `
` `
` "In my name," said Mme. Bonacieux, with great emotion, "in my `
` name I beg you! But listen; they appear to be speaking of me." `
` `
` D'Artagnan drew near the window, and lent his ear. `
` `
` M. Bonacieux had opened his door, and seeing the apartment, had `
` returned to the man in the cloak, whom he had left alone for an `
` instant. `
` `
` "She is gone," said he; "she must have returned to the Louvre." `
` `
` "You are sure," replied the stranger, "that she did not suspect `
` the intentions with which you went out?" `
` `
` "No," replied Bonacieux, with a self-sufficient air, "she is too `
` superficial a woman." `
` `
` "Is the young Guardsman at home?" `
` `
` "I do not think he is; as you see, his shutter is closed, and you `
` can see no light shine through the chinks of the shutters." `
` `
` "All the same, it is well to be certain." `
` `
` "How so?" `
` `
` "By knocking at his door. Go." `
` `
` "I will ask his servant." `
` `
` Bonacieux re-entered the house, passed through the same door that `
` had afforded a passage for the two fugitives, went up to `
` d'Artagnan's door, and knocked. `
` `
` No one answered. Porthos, in order to make a greater display, `
` had that evening borrowed Planchet. As to d'Artagnan, he took `
` care not to give the least sign of existence. `
` `
` The moment the hand of Bonacieux sounded on the door, the two `
` young people felt their hearts bound within them. `
` `
` "There is nobody within," said Bonacieux. `
` `
` "Never mind. Let us return to your apartment. We shall be safer `
` there than in the doorway." `
` `
` "Ah, my God!" whispered Mme. Bonacieux, "we shall hear no more." `
` `
` "On the contrary," said d'Artagnan, "we shall hear better." `
` `
` D'Artagnan raised the three or four boards which made his chamber `
` another ear of Dionysius, spread a carpet on the floor, went upon `
` his knees, and made a sign to Mme. Bonacieux to stoop as he did `
` toward the opening. `
` `
` "You are sure there is nobody there?" said the stranger. `
` `
` "I will answer for it," said Bonacieux. `
` `
` "And you think that your wife--" `
` `
` "Has returned to the Louvre." `
` `
` "Without speaking to anyone but yourself?" `
` `
` "I am sure of it." `
` `
` "That is an important point, do you understand?" `
` `
` "Then the news I brought you is of value?" `
` `
` "The greatest, my dear Bonacieux; I don't conceal this from you." `
` `
`