Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

THE THREE GUARDSMEN, -_ —E — — ooo ae a RON PN In the prospect of the ruin which was hanging over | where he had found the furniture almost destroyed, and her, and the desolation which she experienced, the | the chests almost empty;—justice not being one of the queen gave way totears and sobs. ’ __ | three things which King Solomon points out as leaving ‘‘ Cannot I be of any service to your majesty?” said a | notraces of their course. As forthe servant girl, she voice, full of gentleness and pity. , had fled on the arrest of her master. Terror had taken The queen turned eagerly, for there could be no decep- | such hold of the poor girl, that tion in the expression of that voice; it was a friend who walking until she had reached her native place in Bur- thus spoke. : _ gundy. In fact, at one of those doors which opened into the | @ueen’s apartment, appeared the pretty Madame Bonan- cieux. she had been engaged arranging dresses and linen in a wardrobe when the king entered, and, being unable to get out, had heard the whole of the conversa- tion. The queen uttered a cry on seeing herself surprised: for, in her agitation, she did not recognize the young woman who had been recommended to her by la Porte. ‘‘Oh, do not be afraid,’ said Madame Bonancieux, joining her hands and crying herself, at the queen's agony. ‘I am your majesty’s slave, in body and in soul; and as far as I am below you, inferior as wt posi- tion is, I believe that I have found a way of relieving your majesty from your difficulty.” “ “You! oh, heaven! youy” exclaimed the queen. ‘‘But let me see you, let me look youin the face. I am betrayed on all sides: may I confide in you?”’ és fh! madame!” said the young woman, falling on On my soul, I am plied by congratulations, and an assurance that the first moment she could snatch from her duties, should be altogether devoted to a visit to him. This first moment had been five days in arriving, which, in other circumstances, might have appeared rather long to Master Bonancienx; but he had ample food for reflection in the visits he had paid the cardinal, and in those which he had received from Rochefort; and it is well known that nothing makes the time pass s0 well as reflection. And the reflections of Bonancieux were, besides, all of a rosy tint. Rochefort called him his good friend, his dear Bonancieux, and did not cease to tell him that the cardinal thought very highly of him. The mercer already saw himself on the high road to honors and fortune. On her part, Madame Bonancieux had reflected also: but, it must be confessed, on things quite different _from ambition. In spite of all she could do, her thoughts | would turn towards that handsome young man, who was so brave, and seemed to beso fullof love. Married _ateighteen, and having always lived in the midst of her husband's friends, who were but little calculated to ex- cite the affections of one whose sentiments were more elevated than her situation, Madame Bonancieux had remained insensible to all vulgar impressions. But, at that period more particularly, the. title of her knees; “‘oh! doubt me not. ready to die for your majesty.” This exclamation came from the very depths of the heart, and it was impossible to distrust it. ‘*Yes,’’ continued Madame Bonancieux, “ there are traitors here; but, by the blessed name of the Virgin, I | swear to you, that there isno one more devoted to your | majesty thanI am. Those diamond studs that the king has mentioned you gave to the Duke of Buckingham, did you not? They were within the little rosewood | casket which he carried under hisarm. AmI mistaken?! gentleman had great influence over the citizens; and Is it not as I have said?’”’ d’Artagnan was a gentleman, and, besides, wore the ‘Oh! my God, my God!” muttered the queen, her | uniform of the guards, which, next to that of the musk- teeth chattering with affright. _eteers, was the most highly appreciated by the fair sex. ‘Well, these studs,”’ said Madame Bonancieux, ‘‘ we He was, moreover, young, handsome, and adventurous; must get them back in.” and he talked of love like one who loved, and is eager to ‘* Yes, without doubt we must,”’ said the qneen, ‘‘but be loved again. All this was more than enough to turn how canit be done? How can we succeed?” /a@ heart of twenty-three years of age; and Madame ‘‘Some one must be sent to the duke.”’ Bonancieux had just arrived at that period of her life. ‘‘ But who? who? On whom canI depend?” The happy couple, although they had not met for ‘Have confidence in me, madame; do me this honor, | more than eight days, and during that time some grave gob oret. and I will find a messenger, evants had happened, addressed each other with certain ‘+ But it will be necessary to write! | pre-occupation of mind. Nevertheless, M. Bonancieux ‘“Oh, yes, that is indispensable. Two words from | manifested sincere Joy, and advanced towards his wife your majesty’s hand, and under your own private seal.”’ | with open arms, “ “But those two words! They will be my condemna-| Madame Bonancieux offered her forehead tion—divorce! exile!’ kissed. ‘Yes if they fall into the hands of wretches. ButI| ‘Let us have a little talk,” said she. will undertake that these words shall be delivered ac- | ‘*What!"’ said the astonished Bonancienx. cording to their address.”’ ‘“Yes, certainly. I have something of the greatest ‘Oh! my God! must I then entrust my life, my _ importance to tell you.” honor, my reputation, into your hands?’’ ‘Really! and have some serious questions to Yes! yes, madame, you must, and I will preserve | put to you. Explain to me your abduction, I beg of them all,’ rou.”* ‘“But how? Tell me that at least.”’ |_ “That is of no consequence just now,”’ said Madame ‘‘My husband has been set at liberty these two or} Bonancieux. ' three days. I have not yet had time tosee him. Heis/ ‘And what is this affair of consequence, then? aworthy, honest man, who neither hates nor loves any | about my imprisonment?” one. He will do what I wish: he will set outat myre-| ‘I heard of that on the very day; but, as you were uest, without knowing what he carries; and he will | guilty of no crime, as you were connected with no Liter your majesty’s letter, without even knowing it | intrigue, and as you knew nothing that could com- _ promise you, I only attached to that event the import- ance which it merited,”’ ‘You speak of it with abundant unconcern, madame,’ to be Is it is your majesty’s, to the address which it may bear.” The queen seized the young woman's hands with a passionate impulse, looked at her as if to read the depths of her heart, and then, seeing nothing but sin- | replied Bonancieux, hurt at the slight interest which his cerity in her beautiful eyes, embraced her tenderly. wife manifested in him. ‘Do you not know that I was ‘Do this,’’ exclaimed she, ‘‘and you will have sayed | incarcerated for one day and one night in a dungeon of me my life and my honor!”’ the Bastile’”’ ‘Oh! do not exaggerate the service which I have ‘‘A night and a day are soon passed, But let us have the honor to render you. I have nothing to save for | done with your captivity, and return to what has your majesty, who is only the victim of these treacher- | brought me here to you.”’ ous plots.’ ‘“What! that which brings you here tome! Then is ‘It is true, it is true, my child,’ said the queen; | it not the desire of seeing your husband, from whom “‘ you are right.”’ _ you have been separated for eight days?” demanded the ‘*Give me this letter, then, madame, for the time is | mercer, cut to the quick. short.” ‘Tt is that first, and something else afterwards.”’ The queen ran to a small table, on which there were ‘* Speak!” pens, ink and paper, and wrote two lines, which she| ‘An affair of the very greatest importance; on which, sealed with her own seal, and handed to Madame | perhaps, our future fortune may depend.” Bonancieux. ‘‘Our fortune has a very different look since I saw ‘* And now,”’ said the queen, “we forgot one thing, | you last, Madame Bonancieux; and I should not which is very necessary.’ wonder if, some months hence, it should excite the ‘* And what is that?” envy of many.” ‘* Money.”’ “Yes, particularly if you will follow the instructions Madame Bonancieux blushed. . ‘Yes, it is true,” said she; “and I will confess to your majesty that Py husband————_”’ ‘‘Your husband has none. Is that what you are about to say?’’ said the queen. ‘* Yes, he has got it, but he is very avaricious: that is his chief fault. Nevertheless, let not your majesty be uneasy; we will find means.”’ | “And I have got none either—” (those who have read the memoirs of Madame de Motteville will not be astonished at this reply)—‘* but stop! The queen ran to her jewel box. ‘‘Here,” said she; “here isa ring of great value, as I am assured. It was given me by my brother, the king of Spain; itis mine, and I may 4 spose of it. Take this ring, convert it into money, and let your husband which I am going to give you.” ‘To me?’ ‘Yes, to you. There isa good and sacred action to be peformed, sir, and much money to be gained at the same time.”’ ; Madame Bonancieux knew that, in speaking to her husband of money, she attacked his weak side. But & man, even a mercer, when he has conversed ten minutes with a Cardinal Richelieu, is no longer the same man, ‘‘Much money to be gained?’ said Bonancieux, pro- truding his lips. ‘* Yes, a great deal!” ** About how much?” ‘*A thousand pistoles, perhaps.’ ‘Then what you are going to ask of me is of a serious set out, consequence?” ‘* In one hour you shall be obeyed.” : a ‘You see the direction,” said the queen, speaking so| ‘‘ What must I do?” “You will set out immediately. I will give yona paper, which you will not let out of your own possession under any pretence whatever, and which you will deliver to the proper person,” ** And where am I to go?" ‘To London.” “T go to London! Come, now, you are joking. I have no business at London.” ‘‘ But others want you to go there.” low that she could scarcely be heard—‘* 7o my Lord Duke of Buckingham, London.”’ ‘*The letter shall be delivered to himself alone!”’ ‘Generous child,’’ exclaimed the queen. Madame Bonancieux kissed the queen's hand, con- cealed the letter in her bosom, and disappeared with the lightness of a bird. She found M. Bonancieux alone. The poor man was with great difficulty restoring some order to his house, ' ; i | | | BBL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL ta a ee eT en ‘Who are these others? I tell you, beforehand, T willdo nothing in the dark; and 1 wish to know, not only to what I expose myself, but also for whom I ex- pose myself.” ‘*An illustrious person sends you, and an illustrions she never ceased | person will receive you: the recompense will surpass your desires, and this is all that I can promise you. ‘Intrigues again! nothing but intrigues! Thank you, The worthy mercer had, as soon as he reached home, | [am now somewhat distrustful of them: the cardinal announced his happy return to his wife, and she had re- | has rather enlightened me on that subject.” ‘*The cardinal,’ cried Madam Bonancieux; ‘‘ have you seen the cardinal?” **He sent for me,’’ proudly answered the mercer “And were you imprudent enough to go at his in- vitation?”’ “J ought to say, that I had not the choice whether I would go or not, for I was between two guards. Itis true, also, that as I did not then know his eminence, if I could have avoided the visit, 1 should have been greatly delighted.” ‘* And he treated yon ill—he threatened you?’ ‘* He gave me his hand and called me his friend,” said Bonancieux: ‘‘his friend! do you hear madame, I am the friend of the great cardinal!” ‘* Of the great cardinal!’ ‘‘But perhaps you will not allow him that title, madame?’ ‘*I dispute nothing; but I tell you, that the favor of a minister is ephemeral; that he must be mad who at- taches himself to one. There are powers above his, which do not rest on the caprice of one man or the issue of one eveat; aad it is to these powers that one ought to cleave.”’ “IT am very sorry, madam, but I know no other wer than that of the great man whom I have the 10nor to serve.” ‘** You serve the cardinal?”’ ‘ “Yes, madam; and, as his servant, I will not permit you to engage in plots which compromise the safety of the state, or to assist the intrigues of a woman who ie not French, but Spanish in her soul. Happily, the great cardinal is there: his vigilant eye watches and penetrates the very depths of the heart.” Bonancieux was repeating, word for word, a sentence he had heard from the Count de Rochefort: but the poor woman, who had entirely relied upon her husband, and had, in this hope, answered for him to the queen, did not the less shudder, both at the danger into which she had just failed to throw herself, and the utter help- lesness of her present state. And yet, knowing the weakness, and above all, the avarice of her husband she did not despair of leading him into her measures, ‘“Ah! you are a cardinalist, sir!’ eried she; “ ah? you serve the party who ill-usss your wife and insults the queen!”’ / : “The interests of individuals are nothing in com- parison to theinterests of the public. I am for those who serve the state!" said Bonancieux, emphatically. This was another of Rochefort’s phrases which he “ retained, and now made use of at the first opportu- nity. ‘* And do you know what the state you speak of is?” asked Madame Bonancieux, shrugging ker shoulders. ‘* Be content at being an unscheming citizen, and cling to that side which offers you the greatest advantages.”’ ‘“‘Ah! ah!” said Bonancieux, striking a bag whose goodly paunch gave out a silvery sound; ‘‘ whatdo you say to this, Mistress Preacher!”’ ‘** Where did this money come from ?”’ ‘*Can’t you guess?” ** From the cardinal ?”’ , ‘* From him, and from my friend the Count de Roches — ort.” ‘The Count de Rochefort! Why that is the man who carried me off!” . ‘* May be so, madam!”’ ‘** And do you accept money from such a man?" ‘* Did you not tell me that this abduction was en- tirely political ?”’ ‘* Yes; but then it was designed to make me betray we mistress—to drag from me, by tortures, confessions which might compromise the honor, and perhaps the life, of my august mistress.”’ _ ‘* Madame, said Bonancieux, “ your august mistress — is a ed Spaniard; and the cardinal does only — what $ quite right.” : “Sir,” said the young woman, “I knew that you were cowardly, avaricious, and imbecile, but I did not know that yon were infamous.” ‘* Madame,”’ said Bonancieux, who had never before seen his wife angry, and who recoiled before this con- jugal rage; *‘ madame, what are you saying?” ‘I say that you are a wretch?’ continued Madame Bonancieux, who saw that she was recovering some in- fluence over her husband. ‘Ah! you are a politici and moreover, a cardinalist politician! Ah, you sel yourself, both body and soul, to the devil for gold!"’ ™ ay ed to the peg on gh suas s the same ng,”’ cried the young woma " 2 ae says oe says Satan.”’ bg: " ‘*Ho our tongue, madame, hold your tongue, yo might be heard!” of y cern he ** Yes, you are right, and I should be ashamed of you and your cowardice!” », But what do you require of me, then! Let me hear!” “ Thave told you that you should set off this instant for London, sir; and should loyally and truly perform the commission with which I condescend to entrust you. On thiscondition, I forget and forgive everything; and, what is more,”’ she added, holding out her hand. ‘* T restore to you my affection.” Bonancieux was a coward, and a miser; but he loved his wife, and was therefore subdued. A man of fifty cannot long be cross with a woman of three-and-twenty. Madame Bonancieux saw that he © hesitated. ‘*Come,” said she ‘‘ have you made up your mimd?”, ‘‘But, my dear woman, reflect a little on what you re- quire of me. London is along way from Paris—a very COMmiGcnee ‘cor