Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

THE THREE GUARDSMEN. al \ \ eee yet see this unhappy cross, but he felt it, as it were, come before him. When he was only about ei re paces from it, be heard a noise, and the eden 3 stopped. This was more than poor Bonancieux cou bear: already crushed by the successive emotions he had experienced, he-uttered a feeble cry, or rather groan, which zht have been taken for the last sigh of a dy4ng man, and fain CHAPTER XIV, THE MAN OF MEUNG. THE assemblage that stopped the way was pro- duced, not by the expectation of seeing & man hanged, but by the contemplation of a man who was hanging. After a moment’s hindrance, the carriage procee ed si its wa went along the rue t. rue des Bons Enfants, stopped at a low gate. When the door opened two guards received Bonan- cieux in their arms, assisted by the sergeant, and pushed him into a court; they then made him ascend a staircase, and placed him in an ante-chamber, He remained without movement on the bench w"th his back resting against the wall, and hisarms ha g- assed through the crowd, onore, and turning at the ing down, on the very spot where bis guards | ul lo d.’ ith d ‘ Yes.’’ ‘* Vea,’’ de la P unged | man.’ him, And yet, as in looking around him he saw nothing threatening, as nothing indicated any real danger, as the bench was comfortably stuffed, as the wall was covered with beautiful cordovan leather, and as long curtains of red damask, held by gilt brackets, hung hefore the windows, he became by degrees aware that his fears were exaggerated, and began to move his head from right to left, and from below upwards. At this motion, which no one opposed, he resumed a little courage, ventured to draw up one leg, and then the other; and at last, supporting hi:nself upon his hands, he raised himself on the bench, and found himself on his feet. At this moment an officer of respectable appear- anceopened a door, exchanged a few words with sunt oe rson in the next room, and then turning to- wards the prisoner, said: ‘Ts it you who are called Bonancieux?”’ s Yes, . een the mercer, more dead than alive: at your service ** Enter!’ It was a large cabinet, the walls of which were fur- nished with offensive and defensive weapons—a close and suffocating room, in which there was already a fire, although it was scarcely yet the end of Septem- ber uare table loaded with books and papers, on cahiaaia bier’ was unrolled an immense plan of the town of Rochelle, eae te the middle of the apart- ment. In front of the chimney, there stood a man of middle hight, with a proud and haught air, piercing eyes, a large forehead, and emaciated countenance, which was yet further elongated by an imperial, sur- mounted by a pair of mustaches. Although this man was sca seven years old, vere? im rialand mustaches were oeginning to grow grey is appearance, except that he wore no sword, dicated the soldier; and his buff leather boots, where were yet covered wi ust, pee out that he had been on horseback during the bar individual was Armand-Jean Duplessis, Cardi- nal de Richelieu; not as he is represented—broken thirty-six or thirty down as an old man, suffe like a me gh his body shattered, his voice extin hed, buried in an enor- mous easy chair, no longer living but by the power enius, and only supporting the struggle ainst Europe by the eternal e nergy of his extraor- dinary mind—but such as he ly was at this pe- riod; that is, a skillful and gallant cavalier, mp feeble in body, but upheld by that moral force whic made him one of the most unparalleled of mankind, and now preparing himself, after sustaining the Due de Nevers in his duchy of Mantua, and taking Nisnies, Castres, and Elzes, to drive the English from the na of Rhe, and to undertake the siege of la Ko- chelle. At first sight, nothing denoted that it was the car- dinal, and it was im acquainted with h ence they were. The r mercer remained standing at the door, while the eyes of the person we have been describing fixed themselves upon him asif they would penetrate his most secret thoughts. ‘*Is that <P Bonancieux*’ he demanded, after a ment’s silence, ues Yes, my lord!” replied the officer. “Very wel!;, give me those papers, and ieave us.”’ The office: took the papers which were pointed out, gave them (o him who asked for them, bowed to the of his ble for those who were un- person to guess in whose pres- v d. and left the room. yi Eitiees pa . rs Bonancieux recognised his examin- Faby atthe paste, From time to time thejmaa at the chimne lifted his eyes from the papers, and them, like two poniards, into the very ‘heart of the r mercer. At the end of ten minutes’ reading,and ten seconds’ mgt yt ns Bonancieux, the cardinal had made ap his min “That head has mower conspired,’ murmured he; “but never us see, nevertheless. You are accused of high treason,’ said the cardinal, slowly. That is what they have piseedy told me, my lord!” said Bonancieux, wae Ss rthe same the i ve him; t he bh “but I ae hop oath that i i knew nothing abo ut it.” The mare’ suppressed a smil “You have conspired with pera wife, with Mad- ame de Chevreuse, and with my Lord Duke of Buck- inghaim." ““In fact, my lord,’’ replied the mercer, ‘‘ I have heard ali those names mentioned by her.”’ **And on what occasion?" “She said the Cardinal de Richelieu had enticed the Duke of Buckingham to Paris, to destroy him and the queen.” “She said that, did she?’ cried the cardinal, with great violence. “Yes, my lord; but I told her that she was wrong in sa ing such a thing, and that his eminence was in- capable——”’ “Hold your tongue, you are a fool!’ replied the cardinal. aaa is exactly what my wife said to me, my **Do you know who carried off your wife?” “No, my lord.” But you had some suspicion ?”’ ** Yes, my lord, but these suspicions appeared to displease the commissary, and therefore Ll have them no longer.” ‘Your wife has escaped; did you know that?’ “No, my lord; I learned it. since I have been in prison, from the commissary, who is a most anriable man." The cardinal suppressed another smile. ‘*Then you do not know what has become of your wife since her escape ?"’ ** Positively not, my lord; but she has probably re- turned to the Louvre, y *Atoneo ‘clock this morning she had not yet re- turned there.’ 7 “Ah! good God! but what can have become of er?’ ‘*Make yourself easy, it will soon be known; noth- ing escapes the cardinal; the cardinal knows every- thing. ‘In that case, my lord, do you believe that the cardinal will tell me what has become of my wife?" * Perhaps so, but it is necessary, first, that you should fell uae 6 all you know in relation to the con- nection of your wife with Madame de Chevreuse.”’ * But, my lord, I know nothing about it; I never saw her,” ** When oe went to fetch your wife from the Lourve, did she return directly to your house?” ° Scarcely ever. Shie had business to transact with the queen's drapers, to whom I conducted her.”’ ‘**And how many linen drapers were there?"’ “Two, my lord. ** Where do they live?’ * One in rue Vaugirard, and the other in the rue de la ye ‘* Did you go into those houses§with your wife?’ o Never, my lord. Lalways waited for her at the door. “And what excuse did she make for entering alone?"’ **She did not make any; she told me to wait, and I waited.” *You are a most SCOTADOOROS husband, my dear M. Bonancieux,”’ said the cardina * He has called me ‘my dear sir,’ ”’ said the mercer to himself ! **Pon my faith, things are taking a good turn.” * Should you know those doors again?’ “ **Do you know the numbers?”’ ** What are they?’ Png 2s 25 in the rue Vaugirard, and No. 75in the rue A ‘Good Pai the cardinal; and taking a silver bell, e ran dy omy fp ’ said he in a low voice, to the officer who en- tered, 4 go and find Rochefort, and tell him to come here directly, if he is within,” ** The count is here,’’ said the officer, * and requests an immediate audience of your eminence.” “Your eminence!’’ muttered Bonancieux, who knew that such was the title ordinarily given to the cardinal; ** your eminence!” “Let him come in, then, let him come in,” said Richelieu, eagerly. The officer turned out of the room with that ra a ity with which the cardinal was generally obey his followers. ‘Your eminence!”’ again muttered Bonancieux, with his eyes rolling in astonishment. Twoseconds had scarcely elapsed from the officer's leaving the room, befere the door opened again, and another person entered. ‘It is he!" exclaimed Bonancieux. ** Who is he?’ demanded the cardinal. ‘He who ran away with my wife,”’ The — rang a second time, and the officer re- a re Put this man into the hands of the two guards, and let him wait till I send for him.” * No, my. lord, no, it is not him!"’ exclaimed Bo- nancieux; ‘no, I was mistaken; itis another person, not at all like him. “Takeaway that simpleton!” said the cardinal. The officer took him by the arm and led him to the an ber, where he was met by the two guards. The person who had last entered, impatiently fol- lowed Bonancieux with his eyes till he was gone,and, when the door was closed behind him — “They have met,” said he, eagerly, approaching Who?” demanded the cardinal. ‘* Those two 6 se queen ‘and the duke?” cried the cardinal. “ And where?’ **At the Louvre!” “* Are you sure?” ** Perfectly so!” ‘* Who told you of it?” The gentleman is an honest ‘Madame de Lannoy, who is entirely devoted to your eminence, as you well know!’’ ‘* Why did she not tellit sooner?’ “Either by chance or by mistrust, the queen. made Madame de Surgis sleep in her room, and kept it / throughout the day.”’ “Very well; we have been beaten, let us try to have our revenge.’ ‘* Be asctred that I will assist your eminence with all my soul.” ** How did this happen?”’ “At half-past twelve the queen was with her wo- men,” * Where?” ee ‘In her bed-chamber, where a pocket nandkerchief was brought her from her seamstress. ** Well?” * Tie queen iminediately showed. great emotion; and grew pale, in spite of her rouge.’ ° * Well! what then?” a Nevertheless, she arose; and, in an agitated. voice said, ‘iadies. wait ten minutes for me, and I will re- ar turn.’ Then opening the door of the aicove, she went out.’ *“ Why did not Madame de Lannoy come and tell you directly ? “There was no certainty about it, besides, the queen had said, * ladies, waitfor me.’ And she dared not disobey her majesty. ‘And how long did the queen remain absent from her room?’ ‘ Three-quarters of an hour.” ‘Did none of her women accompany her?"’ ‘Only Donna Estefana.”’ , ‘* And she came back afterwards?” “ Yes, but only to take a small rosewood casket, “‘ poems Be her initials, with which she went out again XN directly. a ‘‘ And when she came back, at Jast, did she bring ~ the casket with her?’ Ta “ oe Madame de Lannoy knew what the casket a contained?” “tq ‘Yes! the diamond studs which his majesty pre- sentec Lo the queen. | pees she came back without the casket!”’ sy a) es.’ ' 4 “Then the opinion of Madame de Lannoy is, that | she ave this casket to Buckingham ?"’ a he is sure of it.’ ‘ a ‘“ How so?” a * During the day, Madame de Lannoy, in her office - of tire-woman to the queen, looked for this casket, appeared uneasy at not finding it, and ended by in- - * quiring for it of the queen. “ And then the queen——”’ Bg een blushed deeply, and answered, that, ae having the ev ening before broken one a the studs, ty she had sent it to her jeweler’s to be re r. ‘You must go there andj ascertain whether that is ale he. true or not,’ se ‘I have been there,”’ , . * Well, and the goldsm&h ae ‘*The goldsmith has heard nothing aboutit.” _ i . ‘Good—good! Rochefort, all is not lost, and per- ; haps—perhaps all is for the best.” " ae “The ges is, that I haveno doubt but what. the : genius of your eminence——"’ he ** May re pepe: the follies of my agent! Is that' what Es you mean ! Se “It was just what I was about to say, if your . emi- nence had permitted me to finish the sentence,” * Now, do youknow Where the shea ds de Chev- | — and the Duke of Buckingham have concealed a themselves?” Sig! ‘No, my lord; my people have no positive infor- wee mation upon that poin m. ie “T know it, though, my self,” : an * You, my lord? \ “Yes, or at least I have no doubt of it. They lived, the one in the rue Vaugirard, at No. 25, and the other mo in the rue de la Harpe, No. 75.” eee i ae your eminence wish me to arrest them Lae oth?” | * Itis too late; they will be gone,” . “Never mind, we can make sure of that.” ok “Take ten of my guards, and ransack the two an 10uUSes, * . ‘* It shall be done, my lord!" So saying, Rochefort rushed from the room. "an When the cardinal was left alone, he remained a | moment in thought, and then ranga third time. The same officer appea ared. ‘ Bring in the prisoner,” said the cardinal, | Master Bonancieux was again Broehe So, in,and,at@ | sign from the cardinal, the officer wit ‘You havé deceived me,” said the cardinal, with Ls great pete : I," cried Bonancieux, “I deceive your eminence!” a en your wife went to the rue Vaugirard and re the rue de la = , She did not go to knoe” aX “She wen sib uchess @ Chey val the Dake of Buckingham,” re dete ae * said Bonancieux, recalling alt hia’ ones " es, exactly so; your eminence is often told my wife that it was astonishing drapers should live in such houses—in ho } . had no signs: and every time I said so my wife began Le oh Mey to laugh. my lord,” continued nancieux, 4) throwing himself at the feet of his eminence, “ it is og that poe are the cardinal, the reat - cardinal— “ he man of genius, whom all the LS The cardinal, smailas the had acnievea over a being so SONAL cieux, did not the less enjoy it fora moment. her as if a new idea struck nj, a smile crossed his face é and stretching out his han nd’ to he mercer— “Rise, my friend,” said he; “you are’ a Worthy Sree fellow.’ a3 <eom (G| 0/0 )0) GO!