Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

ta Whe ¢ é \ i i oh =z | ne) Vu ; 4 vi m | met, this evening, and t “* All this will be cleared up by and by,” murmured "the ypune woman; “and now, sir, be silent.” “Tf you could see into my heart.”’ said d’Artagnan, ““*you would discover so much curiosity, that you would have pity on me; and so much love, that you ‘would directly satisfy my curiosity. You ought not to distrust those who love you!” “You speak very quickly of love, sir,’’ said the young woman, shaking her head. “Tt is because love has come quickly on me, and for the first time: and I am not yet twenty years of A — be young woman stole a glance at him. * Listen,’’ continued d’Artagnan; *“ lam already.on the track; three months ago I was near fighting a duel with Aramis on account of a handkerchief like that which you showed the lady who was at his house; it was on account of a handkerchief marked in the same manner, I am positive.” “Sir,” said the young woman, ‘‘you really annoy me, I declare, with these questions.” “But you, madame, prudent as you are, suppose ‘you were arrested with this handkerchief upon you, and the handkerchief was seized, would you not be compromised?” ‘*How so? Are not the initials my own—C. B.— Constance Bonancieux?” **Or, Camille de Bois-Tracy.”’ * Silence, sir! Again I say, silence! Oh! since the angersI run do not deter you, think of those you — incur.” “ ‘9 “ Yes, pa Thereis the danger of imprisonment and death in knowing me.” “Then I will never leave you!” “Sir,” said the young woman, in atone of suppli- cation, clasping her hands as she spoke, “in the name of heaven, by the hovor of a soldier, by the courtesy of a gentleman, |implore you to leave me. See! it is now striking twelve, the very hour at which I am expected. **Madame,”’ said the young man, bowing. ‘I can refuse nothing solicited in those terms. Be contented; Ileave you.” **But you will not follow—will not watch me?”’ **No. I shall return home immediately.” *““Ah! I was convinced that you were an honorable man!”’ exclaimed Madame Bonancieux, offering one of her hands to him, asshe placed the other on the knocker of a small door, which was well nigh hidden in the wall. D'Artagnan seized the hand which was offered to him, and kissed it eagerly. ** Alas!’ exclaimed d’Artagnan, with that unpol- ished simplicity which women sometimes prefer to the delicacies of politeness, because it eh to light the depths of thought, and proves that feeling is more powerful than reason, ‘I wish I had never seen “ Well,” sald Madame Bonancieux, in a tone almost - affectionate, and pressing the hand which held hers— “well, I will not say the same as you do. That which is lost to-day may be lost forever. Who knows whether, when Iam freed from my present embar- Yrassments, I may not satisfy your curiosity?”’ * And do you make the same promise to my love?" asked the overjoyed d’Artagnan. “Oh! Idare give no promises in that t. It must depend upon the sentiments with which you may inspire me.” ‘But, at present, madame?” “At present, sir, 1 have not got beyond grati- tude.”’ ‘*Alas! you are too charming, and only take ad- vantage of my love.”’ **No, 1 make use of your generosity, that's all. But, believe me, with some people nothing can be wholly lest.” ‘You make me the ee reer of men. Oh, do not is promise!"’ assured I will remember everything at the right time and term But new go, in Heaven's name! I was expected at midnight, and am behind my time.”’ * By five minutes,” ‘* But under certain circumstances, five minutes are - five ages.”’ * Yes! when one loves.” “Well, who hastold you that I have not to deal with one in love?" ; “It is a man who expects you!” cried d’Artagnan; *“* 9, man!”’ “There, now, the discussion is about to be renew- ed,” cried Madame Bonancieux, with a half smile, which was not altogether exempt from impatience. ‘*No! Lam going. I believe you; | wish tohave all the merit of my devotion, even if lam a fool for it! ‘Adieu! madame, adieu.” Then, asthough he felt himself too weak to relin- quish the fair hand he held but by a shock. he hastily ran off, whilst Madame Bonancieux rapped three times at the door, slowly and regularly, as she had before done at the window-shutter, At the corner of the street he turned, but the door had been opened and closed again, and the mercer’s pretty wife had dis- appeared. t : ‘Artagnan proceeded on his way. He had prom- ised Madame Bonancieux not to watch her; and, had his life depended on a knowledge of the place that was going to, or the person who went with her, he would still have gone home, as he had given his word todo. In five minutes he-was in the rue des ossoyeurs, ‘Poor Athos,” said he, “he will not understand this. He will have fallen asleep vem for me, or he will have returned home, and will have learned that there has been a womanthere. A woman at his house! After all,” continued d’Artagnan, “there certainly was one at Aramis’s. All this is very THE THREE GUARDSMEN. ee e, “ I shall be extremely curious to know how t will end.” * Badly, sir, badly,” replied a voice, which the young man recognized as that of Planchet, for in soliloquizing aloud, in the manner of persons who are deeply occu ied, he had entered the passage, at the bottom of which was his own stair-case. “How, badly! what are you saying, you fool?” said d’Artagnan, **and what has happened?’’ ‘** All sorts of misfortunes.”’ “What are they?’ ‘*In the first place, M. Athos is arrested.” “Arrested! Athos arrested! and what for?” ** He was found in your lodgings, and they mistook him for you.” ‘* And by whom has he been arrested?” ‘By the guard which was brought by the black fellows whom you put to flight.” “Why did he not give his name? Why not say that he knew nothing about this affair?’’ ‘He was very careful not to do that, sir; on the contrary, he came near me, and said: ‘Thy master wants his liberty just now, and I do not, since he knows all, and I know nothing. They will believe him to be in custody, and that will give him time; in three days I will declare who I am, and they will be obliged to let me go.’ ” “Brave Athos! noble heart!’’ muttered d’Artagnan, ‘*T recognize him wellin that! And what did the of- ficers do?” “Four of them took him either to the Bastile or to Fort l'Eveque; and two remained with the black men, rummaging everywhere, and carrying away all your a5 ge The other two mounted guard at the door while all this was doing; and at last they went away, leaving the house empty and the door open,”’ * And Porthos and Aramis?” ‘I could not find them; they have not been.” ‘* But they may come at any moment, for you left word that 1 was waiting for them.” —2en, Oe, ** Well, then, do not stir from here, come, tell them what has happened, and that they must wait for me atthe ney 45 40 avern, There might be some dangér here; the house may be watch- ed. I will run to M. de Treville’s, to tell him all this, and then will rejoin them there.”’ ‘Very well, sir,’ said Planchet. ‘But you will remain? you will not be afraid?” said D’Artagnan, turning back a step to encourage his lackey. ‘Be easy, sir,’’ siid Planchet; “ you do not know me yet, am brave when I please to set about it, the great thing is to get mein the right mind. Be- sides, | come from Pieardy.”’ * Then it is all settled,” said d’Artagnan; “ you will rather die than desert your post?” * Yes, sir; and there is nothing that I will not du to prove my attachment to you.” _ ,’ said d’A~tagnan to himself; ‘it is plain that the method I have followed with this lad is de- cidedly a proper one. Iwill adopt it henceforth on every occasion.”’ And as fastas his legs, which were already some- what see could carry him, he ran towards the rue du Colombier. M. de Treville was not at home. His company was on guard at the Louvre; and he was at the Louvre with it, It was necessary, however, to see M. de Treville. It was important that he should know what had hap- pened, D’Artagnan determined, therefore, to en- deavor to obtain an entrance atthe Uouvre. His uni- form, as one of M. des Essarts’ guards, ought to be a passport for admission. He therefore went down to the rue des Petiis-Au- gustins, and along the Quai to reach the Pont-Neuf, ile had half a mind to cross the ferry; but on reach- ing the side of the river he mechanically put his hand into his pocket, and found that he had not enough to pay the ferryman, When he reached the top of the rue Guenegaud, he saw two persons, whose appearance struck him, com- ing out of the rue Dauphine. There wasa man and awoman, The woman was of a figure like that of Madame Bonanciceux; and the man so much resem- bled Aramis that he might be mistaken for him. Be- sides, the woman had on the black mantle which d’- Artagnan still seemed to see delineated on the shut- ter in the rue Vaugirard, and on the doorin the rue dela Harpe, Moreover, the man wore the uniform of the musketeers. The hood of the woman was lowered, and the man held his handkerchief before his/face. This double precaution showed that they were both anxious to escape recognition. They went over the bridge, and this was also d’Ar- tagnan’s road, as he was going to the Louvre; he therefore followed them. Scarcely, however, had he taken twenty steps, be- fore he was convinced that the woman was Madame Bonancieux, andthe man Aramis. At the very instant he felt all the suspicious tor- ments of jealousy fermenting in his heart, He was doubly betrayed; betrayed both by his friend, and by her whom he had already loved asa mistress. Madame Bonancieux had sworn to him that she did not know Aramis; and a quarter of an hour after she had made this oath he found her hanging on Aramis’s arm, D’Artagnan did not reflect that he had only known the mercer’s pretty wife during the last three hours; that she only owed him a little gratitude for having delivered her from the men in black, who wished to carry her away; and that she had made him no romise. He looked — himself as an outraged over; as deceived, and laughed at; and the flush of anger rushed into his face, as he resolved to ascer- tain the truth. If they should The young couple perceived that they were fol- lowed, and they increased their haste. ‘Artagnan, however, had made his determination; be by them, and then returned towards them just as they were Opposite “the Samaritan,’ which was lighted bya — that threw its brightness over all that part of the bridge. , D’Artagnan stopped in front of them, and the ——— also. “What do you want, sir?’ asked the musketeer, recoiling a step, and in a foreign accent, which roved to d’Artagnan that he had at least deceived imself in one of his conjectures, **It is not Aramis!’ he exclaimed. “ No, sir, it is not Aramis: and as I find by your ex- clamation that you mistook me for another, I excuse yon.” ‘You excuse me,”’ said d’A an, ‘*Yes,”’ replied the unknown; “ now let me on, since it is not with me that you have any thing to “You are right, sir,” said d’Artagnan; “ it is not win you that I have anything to settle, it is with the y. With the lady! You do not even know her,” ex- claimed the stranger. ** You are mistaken, sir. I do know her.” “Ah!” said Madame Bonancieux, in a reproachful poe di had har word of poahe as a soldier, your promise as a gentleman, an 10ped I m trusted to them.” te reer “And me,” said d’Artagnan, in confusion, Pees me.”” “Take my arm, madame,” said the st “and let us proceed.” Typ tre But d'Artagnan—stunned, overwhelmed, annihilat- ed 4 all that had happened—remained standing, with his arms crossed, before the musketeer and Ma- dame Bonancieux, The former came forward two paces, and put d’Ar- tagnan aside with his hand. D'Artagnan made one bound backwards and drew his sword. _At the same moment, and with the quickness of mn the stranger’s also was unsheathed. “In God’s name, my lord!’ said Madame Bonan- cieux, throwing herself between the the combatants, and seizing their swords with both her hands — ‘My lord!” eried d’Artignan, enlightened by a sud. den thought; ** my lord, sir, but can you be —" “My Lord Duke of Buckingham, * said Madame Bonancieux in @ very low voice, * and now you may destroy us all.” “MoM rd—madame—pardon me; a thousand par- dons; but, my lord, I loved her, and was jealous. You know, my lord, what it is to love! Pardon me, and tell me how I may die in your crace’s cause.”’ ‘You are a brave youth,”’ said Buckingham, offer. ing his hand, which d'Artignan pressed respectfully. “You offer me your services, and I accept them. Follow us at the distance of twent to the Louvre, and if any one watches us, kill him!’ D’Artagnan put his naked sword under his arm: let the duke and Madame Bonancieux go forward about twenty steps, and then followed them, ready to exe- cute to the letter the instructions of the elegant and noble minister of Charles I, But, unfortunately, the young volunteer had no opportunity of affording this proof of his devotion to the duke; and the young woman and the handsome musketeerentered the Louvre, bythe wicket in “the rue dl’Echelle, without encountering any interrup- tiun, As for d‘Artagnan, he went immediately to the Pine-apple, where he found Porthos and Aramis wait- ing for him. ut, without giving them any further explanation of the trouble he had caused them, he told them that he had concluded by himself the business for which he at first thought he should have wanted their as- sistance. And now, carried on as we have been by our histo- ry, let us leave our three friends to return each to his own home, while we follow, amid the windi of the Louvre, the Duke of Buckingham and h guide. | CHAPTER XII, GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. Madame Bonancieux and the Duke entered the Louvre without any difficulty; Madame Bonancieux was known to belong to the queen; and the duke wore the uniform of the musketeers of M.de Tre- ville, who, as we have said, were on guard that even- ing. Beside, Germain was devoted to the queen, and, if anything happened tothe queen, Madame Bonan- cieux would bave been accused of having introduced her lover into the Louvre—that was all! She took the blame upon herself; her reputation was lost, it is true; but of what value in the world was the repu- tation of a mercer’s little wife’ When they were once inside the court, the duke and the young woman kept by the side of the wall for about twenty paces; t the endof which, Ma- dame Bonancieux tried a small private door, which was usually open during the day, but closed at night. The door opened, and t vey both entered, and found themselves in total dar ness; but Madame Bon- ancieux was well acquainted with all the turnings and twistings of this part of the Louvre. which was appropriated to the persons of the royal suite. She shut all the doors behind her, took the duke by the ‘hand, and going some steps en tiptoe, seized hold of a baluster, pul afoot upou the staircase, and began to ascend the stairs. The duke had already counted two flights, when she turned to the left, went through a long corridor, descended another stage, walked a few steps forward, introduceda key into a look, IO'O <€oim ’