Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

i ee = -_* E : at oy : . » ‘ the port. ‘ pacsitiy one of them, side by side, d’A -— Ce ees eee ahha alike, that Buckingham himself could not distin- ish the new one from the old. Even the most skilful such matters would have been deceived as he was. He immediately summoned d’Artagnan. ** Here,”’ said he, “are the diamond studs which you have come to fetch; and witness for me that I have pra everything which human power could accom- 8 " ‘*Rest assured, my lord, that I will truly represent what I have seen. But your grace gives me the studs without the casket."’ , “The casket would only inconvenience you. Besides, the box isthe more precious to me, now that I have nothing else. You will say that I preserve it."’ THE THREE GUARDSMEN. —---< - pre nT ee eee ee oe ™ — —— ee ees ee ma immediately went to the appointed wine | of the queen, and a smile of terrible joy passed across shop, which he recognized by the outcries from within. | his lips. The queen was there without her diamond The war between France and England was spoken of as | studs, certain, and the joyous sailors were making merry. Her majesty remained for a short time, receiving the D’Artagnan pushed through the crowd. appease | compliments of the city gentlemen, and answering the the host, and pronounced the word forward. he host | salutations of the ladies. ; immediately made him a sign to follow him, went out | Suddenly the king appeared with the cardinal, at one by a door Which led into the court-yard, conducted him | of the doors of the saloon. The cardinal spoke to him to the stables, where there stood a horse, ready saddled, | in a low voice, and the king was very pale. | and then asked him whether he needed anything else. e king broke throu i the crowd, and without a “T want to know the road I am to take,’’ said | mask, and with the ribands of his doublet scarcely tied, d’Artagnan. | | approached the queen, and, in an agitated voice, said— **Go from this place to Blangy, and from Biangy to | Madame, wherefore, I pray you, have you not on Neufchatel. At Neufchatel, go to the tavern of Zhe | your diamand studs, when you Soir that I wished to — perform your commission, my lord, word for | Golden en heed, give the watchward to the innkeeper, | see them?”’ word,” **And now," said Buckingham, looking earnestly at the young man, ‘how cau I ever repay my debt to you D’A an blushed, ever, to the whites of his eyes. He saw that the duke wanted to find some means of making him a present; and the idea that his own blood, ate ofl his tm gta should on for in Eng- . was strangely repugnant to him. Pet us wade er es | one nether, my lord,’’ said d’Artagnan, ‘“‘and state the case fairly, that there may be no misconception. I am in the service of the kin and queen of France, and belong to the guards of M, es , who, as well as M. de Treville, is more par- ticularly attached to their- majesties. ~ em ern that * have done has therefore been for the queen, and noth- ing for your grace. And more than that, perhaps I should not have taken a single step in the affair, if it had not been to please some one, who is as dear to me as the queen is to you." **Yes,’’ said the duke, ‘‘and I believe that I know who that person——”’ ® ere lord, Ihave not named her,”’ said d’Artagnan, c ; ‘It is true,” replied the duke. “I must therefore be grateful to that person for your devotion.” “Just so, my lord; for, now that we are about to go to war, I confess that I see nothing in your grace but an Englishman, and, consequently, an enemy, whom I should be still more de gut to meet on the field of battle, than in the park at Windsor, or in the galleries of the Louvre. This, however, will not prevent me from executing every particular of my mission, and wel- coming death, if need be, to accomplish it; but I repeat to your , that you have nothing more to thank me for, in this second interview, than for what I have al- _-yeady done for you in the first.” ‘“*We say, in our country, ‘ proud a8 a Scotchman,’”’ | muttered Buckingham. ‘‘ And we,’ answered d’Artagnan, ‘‘say, ‘proud as a Gascon.’ The Gascons are the Scotchmen of France.”’ fed bowed to the duke, and was about to go. “We said the duke, ‘tare you going in that man- ner? But What course will you take? How will you get off ?” nett goa! you Frenchmen doubt nothing. _ ocean that England is an island, and that your is its king.”’ ~~“ Goto the port, ask for the brig Sund, and give this setter to the captain. He will take you to a small har- bor, where you will certainly not be expected, and where few but fishing-boats go.” *“ And the name of this harbor is——"’ “St. Valery. But listen:—when you are landed there, yon will Bi toa wretched wine-shop, without either or , me. a true sailor's “place: you cannot ary for there is but one.” 7 9 then? ou eer for the host, and you will say to him, orward. ** What does that mean?” ‘It is the watchword, which commands him to assist - you on your way. He wil eve you a horse ready sad- ro dled, and show you the that you should take; and you. in this manner, find four relays upon your road, ou please, at. each of them, to give your ad- dress at Paris, the four horses will follow you there; you already know two of them, and appear to have estimated them as an amateur, They are those which we rode, and you may trust me that the others are not inferior. These four horses are equipped for the fleld. Proud as you are, you will not refuse to accept one, and to present the three others to your companions. Be- sides, they are to help you in fighting against us, The end jus es the means, as you French say—do you no ** Yes, my lord, I accept your presents,’ said d'Artag- nan; “and, God willing, we will make good use of _. “Now give me your hand, young man. Perhaps we | " May soon meet on the field of battle; but, in the mean time, I hope we friends.”’ . “¥es,my lord, but with the hope of soon becoming | enemies.”’ ** Be contented: I give you my promisé.”’ **T depend on your grace’s word.”’ D'Artagnan bo captain, who got it countersigned by the governor of the rt, and then prepared to sail immediately. y vessels were Waiting in readiness to gail. On e saw the woman of Meung—the same which the un- -known gentleman had called my lady, and whom he thought so beautiful; but, thanks to the | eurrentand the favorable breeze, his vessel glided on ms yore thatina few minutes it had left the others The next morning, about niuc o'clock, he anded at ‘ #1. Valery. | His mnayeety in full dress, was accompanied by his / royal highness the king's brother, the Count de Bois- Roche ane , Count de C _and unhappy. mations resounded: these announced the arrival of the thought | aml pm will find, as here, a horse ready saddled."’ | ‘The queen looked around her, and saw, behind the “Have I anything to pay?”’ asked d’ Artagnan. _ king, the cardinal, smiling with a satanic smile, ** Everything is paid,” said the host, * and most liber- | ““Sire,”’ replied the queen, in an agitated voice, ‘‘ be- ally. Gothen, and God protect you.” | cause, amidst this great crowd, I feared some accident | ‘* Amen!” said the young man, as he galloped off. might befal them.” | In four hours he was at Neufchatel. ‘‘ And you were wrong, madame. I made you this Strictly following his instructions at Neufchatel, as at | present, in order that you might adorn yourself with it, St. Valery, he found a saddled horse awaiting him; and | | tell you that you were wrong!”’ when he was about to transfer the pistols fromthe one| The voice of the king trembled with anger. Ever saddle to the other, he perceived that the holsters were | one looked and listened with astonishment, not at all already duly furnished. understanding this extraordinary scene. ** Your ress at Paris?”’ **Sire,”’ said the queen, “‘ I can send for them from **D’ Artagnan—Hotel des Gardes, company des FEs-| the Louvre, where they are; and thus the wishes of sarts.” your marenty will be accomplished.” ‘* Very well,”’ answered the innkeeper. ‘* Do it, madame, and that immediately; for in one ‘* What road am I to take?’’ demanded d’Artagnan. hour the ballet will begin.” “That of Rouen; but you will leave the town to your The queen bowed submissively, and followed the right. At the little village of Ecouis you will halt. | ladies, whoconducted her to her closet. There is but onetavern. Zhe French Crown. Do not| The king also retired to his. judge of it from its looks, for it will have in its stables | The cardinal approached the king and gave him a box, & horse of equal value with this.” in which his majesty found two diamond studs, “ The same watchword ?"" ‘* What does this mean?” demanded the king. “ Exactly.” ‘* Nothing,’’ answered the cardinal, ‘‘only, if the “ Adieu, master." queen has the studs, which I much doubt, count them, “A good journey, sir. sire, and if you only find ten, ask her majesty who can else ?"’ have robbed her of these two.”’ D’Artagnan said no, by a shake of his head, and went; The king looked inquisitively at the cardinal, but he off again at fullspeed. At Ecouis, the same scene was | had not time to ask him any farther questions An ex- repeated. He founda host. equally well prepared, a/ clamation of admiration burst from every lip. If the horse fresh and ready. He left his address as before, | king appeared to be the first gentleman of fis realm, and departed in the same way for Pontoise. At Pon-| the queen was indisputably the most beautiful woman toise he changed his horse for the last time; and at | in France. nine o'clock, he entered the court-yard of M. de Tre-| Itistrue that her costume of a huntress fitted her ville’s hotel, at full galop. most charmingly. She wore a beaver hat with blue He had got over nearly sixty leagues in twelve hours. feathers, a robe of pearl gray velvet, fastened with dia- M. de Treville received him — as though he had n | mond clasps, and a skirt of blue satin, embroidered seen him the same morning, o y pressing his hand a| with silver. Over her left shoulder glittered the stud, little more warmly than usual. einformed him that suspended by a knot of the same color as the feathers the ee of M. des Essarts was on guard at the and the skirt. | Louvre, and that he might return to his post. Ee Do you require anything ssl sts The king trembled with joy, and the cardinal witr Ta anger. Yet distant as they were from the queen, they could not count the studs; and although the queen had CHAPTER XXII. wey heey question Mat ~ an or twelve? e is moment the violin sounded the announcement Ree ne feet eeeed isan: Gast ys of the ballet. The king advanced with the president's | ha keth tik thatuateanen cert Co ate tb bee tard lady, with whom he was to dance; and his royal high- and queen, and in which their majesties were to dance Seieeberian Tr bsbhaneaeele hain earning iy the femons.bene oF: he Merlaison, which was the fa-| he king figured opposite the queen; and as often as ie aoee toe rr es Sa ste ea he passed near her, he looked eagerly at the studs, e company beg ’ were | which he could not manage to count. A cold moisture at once conducted to the seats prepared for them in the | py), upon the cardinal's brow. grand saloon. 4 : there w The lady of the first president arrived at nine o'clock, | aoe pe 7 Read em one ot plane om fig. As she was, next to the queen, the most distinguished | individual of the entertainment, she was received by the Le poe ra ing preted oe a peg Hye | repay of the city, and condicted to a box opposite | his partner where she was pes advanced quickly to- | the queen, | . | Atten o'clock a collation of sweetmeats was prepared pe pen erm es gaid he. “for the deference | for the king—in the small room on the side of the | you have paid to my wishes; but I believe that you have _ church of St. Jean—before the city’s sideboard of silver, font two studs, and I bring them to you.” | which was guarded by four archers, in oe At midnight, loud cries and multitudinous acclama- sincval teen tlie ertteg ma 8 ne ag tions resounded through the streets, It was the king, | -: What, sire,” cried the queen, enjoying his surprise who was proceeding from the Louvre to the Hotel de | « do you give me two more: why that will make me . ite, Sreugn ve ig illuminated in their whole | pave fourteen.” ; ength by colored lamps, F act, th he magistrates, clothed in their robes of cioth, and rue lg mines keene agg wahcce ry receded by the sergeants, each holding atorch in his| ‘The king rE mart the cardinal and, hastened to receive the king, whom they met} «+ Well, what does all this mean, cardinal?” demanded apes the ptenes. hans, the le of the pages the king, in a severe tone complimen m with a welcoming; to which his-/ «Jt means, sire,” answered the cardinal, “that remgnce d replied by excuses for the lateness of his arrival, | her majesty to accept these two studs; but aoe aaron for which he blamed the cardinal, who had detained | myself to ‘make her the offer, I have adopted this him till eleven o'clock, discoursing on affairs of state. | method.” . P “And I am the more grateful to yonr eminence,” re- sons, the Grand Prior, the Duke de Longueville, the | plied the queen, with asmile that’ proved she was not Duke d’Elbeuf, the Count d'Harcourt, the Count de la | the dupe of this ingenious gallantry, ‘‘as I am certain op, M. de Liancourt, M. de Baradas, the | ane these ete egy ate cost you more than the other ramail, aud the Chevalier de Souveray. | twelve cost your majest v."; ivery : he king looked thoughtful | . Then, having courtesied to the king and the cardinal] UE O-PUERREEAG, ANGE ANS. IRG SEN . | the —. took wed ie J to the chamber where she had A closet had’been prepared Yor the king, anda second | OW to change her dress. one for his royal brother. In each of these closets were | The attention which we have been obli to bestow — laid masquerade dresses, A similar preparation had | Upon the illustrious personages introduced at the com- a —— | been made for the a ag a for the president's lady, , mencement of this chapter, has diverted us for 9 time |The lords and ladies in ; : wed to the duke, and hastened towards | dntee themselves, two by two, in apartments set aside | the unprecedented triumph which she had just gained ' for that purpose , te the Tower of London he found the vessel to | Which liethed been’ diveated,: art . heir majesties’ suite were to | from him to whom Anne of Austria was indebted for , over the cardinal, and who, confounded, unknown, and Before he entered his closet, the king desired to be | lost amidst the crowd at one of the doors, contemplated ve his letter to the | apprised of the-cardinal's arrival as soon as it had taken | from that station a scene which was incomprehensible place. | to all but four persons—the king, the queen, the cardinal Half an hour after the arrival of the king, fresh accla- | #24 himself. | The queen had returned to her 2partment, and d’Ar ueen, ‘The magistrates went through the same form. | tagnan was going to retire, when some one lightly alities as before, and pencoced by their sergeants, ad-| touched him on his shoulder. He turned and saw 2% vanced to meet their illustrious guest. yeny woman, Who made a sign that he should follow The queen entered the room: and it was remarked | her, This young woman wore a black velvet mask; but that, like the king, she looked sad, and also weary. in spite of that precaution, which, after all, was taken The moment that she entered, the curtain of a small | more against others than himeelf, he gr omen 2 re- pulpi’, which had till then been closed, was opened, cognized his ordinary cuidy, the licht and clever Mad- mg the palc face of the cardinal appeared, clothed as a | ame Bonancieux. Spanish cavalier. His yes fixed themselves on those | D’Artagnan remained moment motionless, and wan- Nan ey earns ce comicbhoo +