Reading Help The Three Musketeers Ch.1-18

`
` "Then the cardinal will be pleased with me?" `
` `
` "I have no doubt of it." `
` `
` "The great cardinal!" `
` `
` "Are you sure, in her conversation with you, that your wife `
` mentioned no names?" `
` `
` "I think not." `
` `
` "She did not name Madame de Chevreuse, the Duke of Buckingham, or `
` Madame de Vernet?" `
` `
` "No; she only told me she wished to send me to London to serve `
` the interests of an illustrious personage." `
` `
` "The traitor!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux. `
` `
` "Silence!" said d'Artagnan, taking her hand, which, without `
` thinking of it, she abandoned to him. `
` `
` "Never mind," continued the man in the cloak; "you were a fool `
` not to have pretended to accept the mission. You would then be `
` in present possession of the letter. The state, which is now `
` threatened, would be safe, and you--" `
` `
` "And I?" `
` `
` "Well you--the cardinal would have given you letters of `
` nobility." `
` `
` "Did he tell you so?" `
` `
` "Yes, I know that he meant to afford you that agreeable `
` surprise." `
` `
` "Be satisfied," replied Bonacieux; "my wife adores me, and there `
` is yet time." `
` `
` "The ninny!" murmured Mme. Bonacieux. `
` `
` "Silence!" said d'Artagnan, pressing her hand more closely. `
` `
` "How is there still time?" asked the man in the cloak. `
` `
` "I go to the Louvre; I ask for Mme. Bonacieux; I say that I have `
` reflected; I renew the affair; I obtain the letter, and I run `
` directly to the cardinal." `
` `
` "Well, go quickly! I will return soon to learn the result of `
` your trip." `
` `
` The stranger went out. `
` `
` "Infamous!" said Mme. Bonacieux, addressing this epithet to her `
` husband. `
` `
` "Silence!" said d'Artagnan, pressing her hand still more warmly. `
` `
` A terrible howling interrupted these reflections of d'Artagnan `
` and Mme. Bonacieux. It was her husband, who had discovered the `
` disappearance of the moneybag, and was crying "Thieves!" `
` `
` "Oh, my God!" cried Mme. Bonacieux, "he will rouse the whole `
` quarter." `
` `
` Bonacieux called a long time; but as such cries, on account of `
` their frequency, brought nobody in the Rue des Fossoyeurs, and as `
` lately the mercer's house had a bad name, finding that nobody `
` came, he went out continuing to call, his voice being heard `
` fainter and fainter as he went in the direction of the Rue du `
` Bac. `
` `
` "Now he is gone, it is your turn to get out," said Mme. `
` Bonacieux. "Courage, my friend, but above all, prudence, and `
` think what you owe to the queen." `
` `
` "To her and to you!" cried d'Artagnan. "Be satisfied, beautiful `
` Constance. I shall become worthy of her gratitude; but shall I `
` likewise return worthy of your love?" `
` `
` The young woman only replied by the beautiful glow which mounted `
` to her cheeks. A few seconds afterward d'Artagnan also went out `
` enveloped in a large cloak, which ill-concealed the sheath of a `
` long sword. `
` `
` Mme. Bonacieux followed him with her eyes, with that long, fond `
` look with which he had turned the angle of the street, she fell `
` on her knees, and clasping her hands, "Oh, my God," cried she, `
` "protect the queen, protect me!" `
`