Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

; ' | Di, ty, aE Se * ; . a c a. & ‘ : : f. 7 =? ga -3 ae = ax | ‘ THE THRHE GUARUSMEN, Ma. ee ee — it Re ’ J ™s 4 t i ee “Tecan conceive,” said Athos, “that the spy might be deceived by the figure; but the countenance? ”’ “JT had a large hat,” replied Aramis. “Good heavens!’ exclaimed Porthos, “ what extraor- dinary precautions for studying theology!" ‘“ Gentlemen,” said d’Artagnan, “do not let us lose our time in badinage; let us rather search about, and discover the mercer’s wife, who might prove a key to the intrigue.” “ What! a woman of such an inferior condition! Do you think it likely, d’Artagnan ?” asked Porthos, pout- ing his lips in derision. * Have [not told you, gentlemen,” said d’Artagnan, “that she is the god-daughter of La Porte, who is the confidential servant of the queen. Perhaps itis her majesty’s policy to seek assistance from a source 80 humble. Lofty heads are visible at a distance, and the cardinal has a good eye. “ Well, then,” said Porthos, ‘make a bargain with the mercer immediately, and let it be a good one,” “It is unnecessary,” said d’Artagnan ; “if he should not pay us, we shall be well enongh paid from another quarter.” At this moment a noise of hasty steps was heard upon the stairs : the door opened with a crash, and the un- happy mercer rushed into the room in which this coun- cil had been held, “ Oh, gentlemen,'’ he exclaimed, “ save me, save me! in the name of heaven, save me! There are four men fiere who are come to arrest me!" Porthos and Aramis arose. “One moment,’’ cried d'Artagnan, making them a sign to sheath their swords, which they had halfdrawn— ‘wait one moment; it is not courage, but prudence, that is necessary here!"’ “ Nevertheless,”’ said Porthos, “ we will not per- mit oF ae. “ You will let d’Artagnan act,”’ said Athos ; ‘‘ he is the cleverest of the party, and, for my part, I declare that I will obey him. Do what you .ike, d’Artagnan.” As this speech was uttered the four guards appeared at the door of the ante-room, but seeing four musket- eers standing there, with swords at their sides, they hesitated to advance any further. “ Enter, gentlemen, enter,"’ said d’Artagnan; “ you are in my house; and we are all the faithful subjects of the king and cardinal.’ * Then, gentlemen, you will not oppose any obstacle to the execution of our orders ?’’ demanded he who ap- peared to be the leader of the party. ‘On the contrary, we would assist you, were it necessary.”’ “What is he saying?” inquired Porthos, “You are a ninny!"’ said Athos, ‘* Silence!” “But you promised to assist me!"’ whispered the poor mercer. “We can only assist you by remaining free,”’ hast- ily replied d’'Artagnan, in an undertone; “and if we appear to defend you, we shall be arrested also.’ ** It seems to me, however,’’— said the poor man, **Come, gentlemen, come,” said d’Artagnan aloud. **T have no motive for defending this person; I saw him to-day for the first time, and on what occasion he will himself tell you. He came'to demand his rent—did you not, M. Bonancieux? Answer.” * It is the plain truth,’ cried the mercer; ** but the gentleman does not tell you——"’ ** Silence about me; silence about my friends; si- lence, more especially, about the queen!’ whispered d’Artagnan, ‘or you willdestroy us all, without sav- ing yourself, ‘Go-go, gentlemen; take away this aman!" So saying, d’Artagnan pushed the poor, bewildered raercer into the hands of the guards, at the same time exclaiming: * You area rascally fine fellow! You come to de- mand money of me, a musketeer! To prison with you! Gentlemen, {i say again, take him to prison; and keep him under lock and key as long as you van; that will give me time to pay.”’ The officers overwhelmed him with thanks, and earried off their prey. As they were leaving, d’Artagnan clapped the Jleader on the shoulder. “Shall we not drink to each other's health?" said he, filling two glasses with the Beaugency, for which he was indebted to the liberality of M. Bonancieux. "It will be a great honor to me,” replied the leader po ee guards; ‘and | accept the offer with grati- uce, * Here's to you, then, M.—what’s your name?” ** Boisrenard, "’ ‘* M. Boisrenard!" “] drink to you, sir; but, in return, what is your name, if you please?” *D'Artagnan,”’ ‘ Your health, d’Artagnan!”’ “And above all,’ said d’Artagnan, as if carried away by his enthusiasin, “to the health of the king and the cardinal!” The officer might have doubted d’Artagnan’s sin- cerity had the wine been bad; butit was excellent, 4nd he was satisfied. “But what devil's own villany have you done mow?” exclaimed Porthos, when the officer had join- ‘ed his companions, and the four friends found them- selves alone. *“Forshame! Four musketeers allow an unhappy creature, who implored their assistance, to be arrested in the midst of them, and, more than that, a gentleman to tipple with a bailiff.” * Porthos,” said Aramis, ** Athos has already told ‘ou that you are a ninny; and I am of his opinion. Artagnan, you are a good man, and when you are in M. de Treville’s situation,I beg your interest to procure me an abbey.” * Ah! lam quite in the dark!"'said Porthos. ‘Do you, too, approve of what d'Artagnan has done?” **Most assuredly!’’ said Athos. prove of it, but I congratulate him.”’ ‘** And now, gentlemen,” said d’Artagnan, without giving himself the trouble to explain himself to Porthos, ** All for one—one for all! thisis our motto, is it not?” ‘** Nevertheless—”’ said Porthos. | “Stretch out your hand, and swear,” cried Athos and Aramis atthe same time. Conquered by the example, but muttering in a low tone, Porthos stretched out his hand, and the four friends repeated with one voice the form of words dictated by d’Artagnan: ** All for one; and one for all)” “That is right. Now retire to your homes,” said d’Artagnan, as if he had never been accustomed to anything but to command others. ‘* But,”’ he added, ‘be watchful; for remember that from this moment, we are at issue with the cardinal!’’ “*“ITnot only ap- CHAPTER X. A MOUSETRAP OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. THE mousetrapis not a modern invention. As soon as societies had, by establishing themselves, in- stituted some kind of police, that police inits turn invented mousetraps. As our readers are perhaps not familiar with the slang of the Rue de Jerusalem, and as it is, although we have been writers for fifteen a the first time that we have used the word in this signification, let us explain to them what a mousetrap is. When an individual has been arrested, in any house whatever, on suspicion of some crime, the arrest is kept secret; four or five men are placed in ambush in the front room of this house; all who knock are admitted, and also locked in and detained; and, in this manner, at the end of three or four days, they hold in custody all the frequenters of the establish- ment, This, reader, is a mousetrap, andinto such a one was M, Bonancieux’s apartment transformed. Who- ever applied there was seized and examined by the cardinal’s people, But, as there was a private court leading to the first floor which d‘Artagnan occupied, his visitors were all exempt from this detention. The three musketeers, however, were, in fact, the only visitors he had; and each of these had, by this time, commenced a separate search, but had discovered nothi Athos had even gone so far asto question M. de Treville-—a circumstance which, considering his habitual taciturnity, had greatly surprised his captain, But M, de Treville knew nothing about it, excepting that the last time he had seen either the king, the queen, and the cardinal, the cardinal was very morose, the king very uneasy, andthe queen's eyes were red from watching or weeping. But this last circumstance had not attracted much of his no- tice, as the queen had, since her marriage, both wept and watched frequently. Furthermore, M. de Treville strongly advised Athos to be active inthe king's service, and more particu- larly in the queen's, and requested him to lay the same injunction on his companions. As to d’Artagnan, nedid not stir out of his lodg- ings. He had converted his room into an observatory. From his own windows he saw everybody who came into the trap; and as he had taken up some squares from the floor, and dug up the intermediate s * so that nothing but a ceiling separated him from the room below, where the examinations were made he heard all that passed between the inquisitors and the accused. The interrogatories, which were pre- ceded by a strictsearch, were almost always in these terms: “Has Madame Bonancieux sent anything by you for her husband or any other person ?”’ * Has M. Bonancieux entrusted you with anything for his wife, or any one else?" * Has either of them coufided any verbal communi- cation to your’ “If they knew anything, they would not put such questions as these,”’ said d’Artagnan to himself. ** But what are they trying to find out? Whether the Duke of Buckingham is in Paris at present; and if he has not had, or is not about to have an interview with the queen?” D’Artaguan stopped at this idea, which, after all that he had heard, was not without its, probability. in the meantime, however, both the mousetrap and the se rome of d’Artagnan reinained in operation. As it was striking nine on the evening of the day after r Bonancieux’s arrest, and just as Athos had left d Artagnan to go to M. de Treville’s, while Plan- chet, who bad not made the bed, was about to do so there was a knocking at the street door, which was im- diately opened and shut again; it Was some new prey caught in the trap. D'Artaguan rushed towards the unpaved part of his room, and laid himself down to listen. In a short time cries were heard, and then groans which they endeay- ored to stifle. There was no thought of examination, “The devil!’ said d’Artagnan to himself; ‘ix seems to be a woman; they are searching her, and she resists; the wretches are using violence!”’ In spite of his prudence d’Artagnan had some trouble to restrain himself from interfering in the scene enacting underneath. I tell you, gentlemen, that I am the mistress of the house; Iam Madame Bonancieux. I tell you that Il am a servant of the queen’s!"’ exclaimed the unfor- tunate woman, ‘Madame Bonancieux!”? murmured d’Artagnan; “I shall be so fortunate as to have found her whom every bocy is looking for?’ ‘You are the very person we were waiting for,” replied the officers. ity e voice became more and more stifled. Violent struggling made the wainscot rattle. The victim was offering all the resistance that one woman could offer against four men, we “Forgive me, gentlemen, by——’’ murmured the voice, which now uttered only inarticulate sounds, “They are gagging her! hey are going to a her away,”’ ejaculated d’Artagnan, deren himsel up witha bound. ‘‘My sword!—Right! itis by my side!—Planchet!”’ “ Run, and seek Athos, Porthos, and Aramis; one of the three must be at home; perhaps all ma have returned, Tell them to arm themselves, and hasten here. Ah, now I remember, Athos is with M. de Treville,”’ ‘* But where are you going, sir?~—where are you go- ing?’ “IT shall get down through the window,” said d’Ar- tagnan, ** that Il may be there sooner. Do youreplace the squares, sweep the floor, go out by the door, and hasten whither I have told you,” ‘Oh! sir, you will kill yourseif!” cried Planchet. — your on nF [* oe one ne d’ - an. 1en, grasping the window-sill, he dro the first story, which was fortunately not high, with- out giving himself even a scratch, mediately and knocked at the door, muttering: ‘Lam going in my turn to be caught in the mouse- trap; but woe betide the cats who shall deal with such a mouse!” . Scarecely had the knocker sounded beneath the young inan’s hand, ere the tumult ceased, and foot- steps approached. The door was opened, and d’Art- agnan, armed with his naked sword, sprang into the apartment of M. Bonancieux, the door of w tage moved by a spring, shut of itseif be 1im, . e then went im- | Then might those who yet inhabited the unfortun- — ate house of M. Bonancieux, and the nearest » - bors, hear loud outcries, stampings, and the of swords and the continual crash of furniture, After a moment more, those who had looked from their windows to learn the cause of this surprising noise, might see the door open, and four men clothed in black, not merely go out but fly like frightened crows, leaving on the ground and at the corners of the house their feathers and wings, that is to say, the rags of their coacs and the scraps of their cloaks, _ )’Artagnan had come off victorious, without much difficulty, it must be confessed; for only one of the aspoers was armed, and he had defended If only or ap three had endeavored to knock down the young man with chairs, stools, and crockery, but two or three scratches from the Gascon’s swor them. Ten minutes had sufficed for their defeat, and d’Ar- tagnan had remained master of the field of battle. The neighbors, who had opened their windows with the indifference habitual to the inhabitants of Paris arance sake. It is quite true that the other at that season of perpetual disturbances and riots, closed them again when they saw the four men es- cape; their instinct told them that all was over for the time. Besides, it was per late;) hen, as well as now, poe went to bed early in the neighbor- hood of the Luxembourg, When d’Artagnan was left alone with Madame © Bonancieux, he turned towards her. The poor wo- man was lying in an easy chair, almost senseless. D'Artagnan examined her with a rapid glance. She was a charmin twenty-six years of age; with blue eyes, a nose slightly turned up, beautiful teeth, and a complexion of intermingied rose and opal. Here, however, end- ed the charms which might have confounded her witha lady of high birth. Her hands were white, but not delicately formed; and her feet did not indi- cate a woman of quality. Fortunately, d’Artagnan had not yet come to observe these particulars. Whilst d'Artagnan was examining Madame Bonan- cieux, and had got, as we have said, to her feet, he saw on the ground a fine cambric handker ‘ which, according to his old habit, he picked up; and, at the corner of it, he discovered the same cipher that he had seen on the handkerchief which had al- woman, about twenty-five or most cost him a cut throat from Aramis. Sincethat — time d’Artagnan had mistrusted all coronetted hand- kerchiefs; and he now put that which he had picked up into Madame Bonancieux’s pocket, without say- ings word, . t that moment Madame Bonancieux recovered her senses. She opened her eyes, looked around her in affright,and saw that the room was qnipey, and thatshe was alone with her deliverer. She imme- diately held out her hands to trim, with a smile; and Madame Bonancieux had the most charming smile in the world. ‘Ah! sir,” saidshe, “Itis you who have saved me; Tn _ to thank you.” ae P ** Madame,’ replied d’ , *Lhave only done what every gentleman meecs ce tion. You owe me tio thanks.’ Yes—yes, sir, 1 do; and IT hope to prove to you that you have not served one wheds ungrateful, But what did \.ese amen, Whont Ll at first took for rob- spiny Want with mef arid why isnot M. Bonancieux ** Madame, these men are far more dangerous than any robbers would have been, for they are agents of the cardinal; and as fer your husband, M. Bonan- cieux, he is not here, because he was taken yesterday to the Bastile.” | ‘‘My husband in the Bastile!” cried Madame Bo- nancieux; “oh, my God! what has he been doing, poor dear man? Why, he is innocence itself.” | And something like a smile glanced across the yet frightened countenance of the young woman. ‘As to what he has been Omg madame," said. — eGolim would have done in my situa... i 4 Ebooks com a