Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

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Now ~ | Ing to my gate, when I saw some people trying to get yill go home: Iam going to make Planchet brushmy = Seat | re no fear of bei bed. wires psp 1 when he has finished them, I willsend him, , n. Aslam poor, and have no fear o ing roobed, I ts, and when he has finishe em, I willsendhim, |, | % went to open the gate, and s.w three men a few paces InsTEAD of returning directly home, d’Artagnan dis-.| if you like, to brush your shoes,” a from .ne. In the shade was a carriage, with horses har- | mounted at M. de Treville's door, and ra idly ascende 1 Te left the meicer quite stupefied by this singular ee ressed to it, and aleo some led horses, These led } thestaircase. [le was determined to tell im, this time, | adieu, and wondering whether he had not run his own , horses evidently belonged to the three men; who were | all that had occurred. Donbtlessly he would give him | neck into anoose. +? aressed for riding. good advice in this affair; and, as M. de Treville saw At the top of the stairs he found Planchet, frightened . “* Ah, my good sirs,’ I cried, * what do you want?’ the queen almost daily, he might draw some information | out of his wits. — P ' *** You must have a ladder,’ said one, who appeared jesty concerning the poor woman, who was “Ah, sir,’ cried the lackey, as soon as he saw his a this mute despair had more effect than wou! Pa pe ite to be the leader of the party. “* Yes, sir, that with wh:ch I gather my fruit." “*Give it to us, and go back into your house; and here is acrown for the trouble we give you. tut’ re- raember, if you say one word of what you see or hear— for, however we may threaten you, I am sure you will both acar and see all that we do—yonu are alost man.’ ‘* At these words he threw me a crown, which I picked up, and he took my ladder. In fact, having fastened the gate of the hedge after them, I pretended to enter my house; but I went out again by the back door, and, gliding in the shade, I came to those alder bushes, from the shelter of which I could see everything, without being seen myself. ‘The three men had brought up the carriage without any noise; they pulled out of it a fat, short, gray little man, shabbily dressed in a sad-colored doublet, who carefully mounted the ladder, looked sulkily into the window, came down with a wolf's steps, and muttered in a low voice—‘ It is she!’ “He who had spoken to me immediately went to the door of the pavilion, which he opened with a key which he had about him, and then shut the door again, and mis Peers “The other two men mounted the ladder at the same time. The litile old man remained at the carriage door the coachman took care of his horses, and a lackey of the led ones, Suddenly great outcries resounded from the pivilion, and a woman ran to the window, and . opened it as if to throw herself out. But as soon as she saw the two men, she threw herself back, and the two men rushed after her into the chamber. ‘Then | saw nothing more; but I heard the noise of breaking furniture. The woman screaiwed and cried for an - help; but hcr cries were soon stifled. The three men f returned to the window, carrying the woman in their arms: and two of them came down theladder, and bore her to the carriage, into which the little old man entered | with her, Mewho had remained in the pavilion shut e. the windww, came out at the door directly after, and satisfied h mself that the woman was in the carriage; his two companions were already on their horses wait- ing for him; he sprang into his saddle, and the lackey took his place beside the coachman, the carriage, es- corted by the three horsemen, departed at a gallop and all was over, From that moment until your arrival I have neither seen nor heard anything.”’ D’Artagnan, overwhelmed ay these terrible tidings, remained motionless and speechless, whilst the demous ef jealousy and anger raged in his heart. \ ** But, my gentleman,*’ said the old man, on whom . d have been u “onary by cries and tears, ‘‘do not despond; they ave not killed her; that is the chief thing.” “Do you know, atall,”’ said d’Artapnan, “ who is the 7 man who conducted this infernal expedition?” **I do not know him.” “* But, as he spake to you, yeu could see him.” “ Ah! it is his appearance that you want to know!" a Yes.”* “A tall, lean, brown man, with black mooustaches, a dark eye, and the look of a gentleman,”’ “ That’s it,’’ cried d'Artagnan; ‘‘him again. The same Inan—always the same! It is my demon, appa- ) rently, And the other!” “Which?” ‘The little one.” “ Oh, that man was not agentleman, I answer for it. Besides, he did not carry a sword, and the others treat- ed him with no sort of respect.” “Some servant,’’ muttered d'Artagnan. ‘Ah, poor woman! poor woman! what have they done with herr” ‘* You promised me to be secret,’ said the old man. “And I renew my promise. Be satisfied! Iam a wentleman: a gentleman has only his ward, I have giv- en you mine.’ aga, returned towatds the ferry, almost heart- broken, Sometimeshe could not beliéve that it was Madame Bonancieux, and hoped to find her the next day at the Louvre, Sometimes he fancied that she had an intrigue with another, and had been discovered and earied off by some one who was jealous of him. He doubted, sorrowed, and despaired. \ “Oh! cried he, “if I had but my friends here! 1 should at any rate have some hopes of finding her; but who knows what is become of them also?” 1 It was then nearly midnight, and he must at once find Planchet. D’Artagnan searched successive] y every wine shop where he perceived alittle light, but nowhere | could he find his servant. ie zt length, after examining half-a dozen, he began to reflect that the search was rather hazardous. He had himself appointed six o'clock in the morning: there- fore, wherever Planchet was, he was fully justiiied, ” About six o'clock in the morning, d’Artagnan awoke, | with that feeling of discontent which generally comes with the break of day, after an uneasy night. His toilet did not occupy him jong; and, having searched himself | to see that no one had taken advantage of his sleep to rob him, and found his diamond on his finger, his purse in his pocket, and his pistols in his belt, he paid for his | wine, and sallied forth to try whether he should be more fortunate in seeking for his seryunt in the morning than at night. And the first thing that he perceived, through the damp gray fog, was honest Planchet, who, with the two horses, was whiting for him at the door of f a miserable little wine-shop, before which d'Artagnan % had passed without even suspecting its existence. - 7 . ! ma f te . ’ : ra" a bls cae ‘ Sik te be om % , e | | & gravity which from her ma) unquestionably being punished mistress. M. de Trevie listened to the young man's recital with dint that he saw something more in or her devotion to her this adventure t tagnan had finished, * Tluml” said he; “ this savors of his eminence a mile off.”’ ‘* But what am [ to do?’ said d'Artagnan, ‘Nothing, absolutely nothing, just now; but leave Paris, as I have told you, as soon as possible. I will see the queen, will tell her the details of the disappearance of this poor woman, of which she is, doubtless, igro- rant, and these details will guide her, on her side; and, at your return, I may possibly have some good news to give you. Trust to me,” Determined instantancously to put M. de Treville’s advice into execution, d’Artagnan hastened towards the ruc des Fossoyeurs, to look to the packing of his portmanteau. On approaching No. 11 he per ceived M. Bonancieux, in his morning costume, standing at his door, Everything “what the pra- dent Planchet had said the evenins before. about the sinister character of the landlord, now recurred to his mind, and he looked at him more attentively than he had ever done before, In fact, besides that yellow sick- ly paleness, which indicates the infiltration of the bile into the blood, and which might be only accidental, dA: tagnan remarked something surlily perfidious in the wrinkles of his face. A rascal does not laugh in the same manner as an hcnest man; a hypocrite does not weep with the same kind of tears as a man who is sin- cere, All imposture is a mask; and, however well the mask may be made, it may always be, with a little atten- tion, distinguished from the true face. Now, it seemed to d'Artagnan, that M. Bonancieux wore # mask, and that this mask was a most disayreeable one, Ile was going, therefore, from his repugnance to the man, to pass by him without speaking; when M. Bonan- cieux, as on the previous day, addressed him, ‘Well, young man,” said he, ‘it seems that we are rather late of nights. Seven o'clock in the morning! Plague! It appears that you reverse customs, and re- turn home when others go out.” ‘No one could throw that in your teeth, M. Bonan- cieux,”’ said the young man; “ you are the ‘model of reg. ularity. Itis true, that when one has a young and pret- ty wife, one need not run after happiness; happiness comes home to seek us, doesit not, M. Bonancieux?”’ Bonancieux became pale as death, and grinned a hor- rible smile. : “‘Ah, ah! you are apleasant fellow. But wherethe plague have you been running this night, my young master? It appears asif the by-lanes were ratherdirty.’ D'Artagnan lowered his eyes to his own boots, which were covered with mud; butin doing this, he happened to look at the shoes and stockings of the mercer; one would have said that they had been dipped in the same slough, for both were stuined with spots of exactly the same ap- pearance. , A sudden idea came across d'Artagnan’s mind. That little, fat, grey, short man, like a lackey, cluthed in a sad-colored suit, aud treated with no sort of respect b the swordsmen of the escort, was Bonancieux himeelf. The husband had assisted in the abduction of his wife. lan an affair of love; and, when a@'Ar- | master; ‘* here, indeed,is somethin to me a long time returning.” | ‘** What is the matternow?"’ demanded d’A ‘“Ah! I will give you leave to gu. ss a hundred, nay,a | thonsand times, before you find out the visitor I have | received for you, during your absence.”’ ‘When was that?” ‘ ‘* About half an hour ago, whilst you were with M. de, Treville.” ‘‘And who has been here? Come speak!” *“*M. de Cavois.”’ ‘““M. de Cavois?” ‘Yes, in person.” ' ‘The captain of his eminence’s guards?” ‘Yes, himself.” ‘* He came to arrest me?” ¥. “I suspected 80, sir, in spite of his wheedling way.” “ He had a wheedling way, do you say?” Py ‘That is to say, he was all honey, sir.” * Really !"” “ Hesaid he came from his eminence, who had th greatest kindness towards you, to beg you to follow him to the Palais Royal,” a" ‘** And you answered him?” ; “ Ns . ‘That the thing was impossible, seeing that you) © ~ were from home, as he might perceive.” 5a] “ And what did he say then?” . : ‘That you must not fail to go there some time during} the day; and then he added, in a whisper: ‘tell your| master that his eminence is perfectly well disposed, towards him, and that his fortune probably depends upon this interview.’”’ | “a ‘The snare is unskilful enough for the cardinal,”] said the young man, smiling. ; 9 Be ‘* And, asI discovered the snare, I told him that you) 3 sal would be quite in despair on your return.” PS ee ‘* Where has he gone?’ demanded M. de Cayois. ‘To Troyes, in Champagne,’ I answered. ‘ did he go?’ ‘ Yesterday evening.’ ” ‘* Planchet, my friend,” intcrrupted d°Artagnan, “you a are truly a valuable man,”’ {ov a ‘You understand, sir, I thought that it would be) time enough, if you wished to see M, de Cavois, to give’ «- Ee gnew,andyoaseemed,, — | an. B23) ‘ 4 ’ r st rr s 1%" “ ~*> 74 — : | aw w & ~s Wins, MJ nt ‘ [se -< :_, A. ” me the lie, by saying that you had not gone. .. -yould Sie e. then be me who had_ told the lie; and, as I am nota WI). gentleman, I may tell lies, you know,” Rie. ‘* Be easy, Planchet, you shall preserve your repnta-) Di ho tation as a man of truth: in one quarter of ak hourwe will be off.”’ of ee ‘It was just the advice I was got to offer you, sir, + And where are we going now, if it is not being eo. curious?” - FO ee ‘* Egad! exactly the opposite way to that which you m Te > | said | was gone. Besides, have you not as much; anxiety to know what has become of Grimand Mous-) queton, and Bazin, as 1 have to hear of Athos, Porthos, | — and Aramis?’ Aas. s- . * Yes, indeed, sir,” said Planchet, ‘and Iwill setoff ~~ as s00n as youplease. The air of the country, I a will suit us both better than the air of Paris, just now.) Therefore—”’ "ae ‘‘ Therefore, prepare the baggage, Ilanchet, and let us ~ be off. 1 will march off first, with my hands in my — pockets, that there may be no suspicion, You will joim > — me atthe Hotel des Gardes, Apropos, Planchet I be-, | lieve that > pt are right regarding our landlord, and that, hye a « A xe e-- ~ sant y A strong desire seized d'Artagnan to fly atthe mercer’s | he is decidedly a most horribie rascal.” 44 }oam throat, and strangle him; but we have said that he wasa ‘‘Ah! believe me, sir, when I tell you anything; Iam! a”) prudent youth, and he restrained nimself. Nevertheless, a Poreesenley a the change of his countenance was so Visible, that Bon- ‘Artagnan descended first, as was agreed; and, that’ __ ancieux was frightened, and endeavored to retreat astep | he might have nothing to reproach himself with, hewent ortwo; but he was exactly before the half of the door that was closed, and the material obstacle which he thus encountered, compelled him to ets 3 the same place, “Ah!” said d’Artagnan, ‘you who joke in this man- ner, my brave felow—it appears to me, that if my boots need a rub of the sponge, your shoes also want a brush. And have you been rambling, too, Master Bonancieux? sy my fate it would be quite unpardonable in a man of your age and, who moreover, has got a wife so pretty as yours Is.”” ‘Oh! my God, no,” said Bonancieux; ‘ but yesterday I went to St. Maude, to gain seme information concern- ing a servant, whom I cannot do without; and, as the roads were dirty, I have coilected all this mud, which | have not yet had time to get rid of."’ The place which Bonancieux had mentioned, as the end of his journey, was anew proof in confirmation to the suspicions that d’Artagnan had formed. Bonancieux had said St. Maude, because St. Maude was in an exuact- ly opposite direction to St. Cloud, This probability was the first consolation he had found. If Bonancieux knew where his wife was, it would always be possible, by using extreme measures, to force the mer- cer to unclose his teeth, and let out his secret. The main point was, to change this probability into certainty. ‘Pardon me, my dear M. Bonancieux,”’ said d’Artag- nan, *‘if I treat you without epee, but nothing makes me so thirsty as want of sleep; he furious thirst. Allow me to beg a glass of water of you, you know you cannot refuse such a thing to a neighbor.” And without waiting for the permission of land- lord, d’Artagnan entered the house, and cast a hast y glance atthe bed. The bed was undisturbed: Bonan- cieux had not slept in it. He had, therefore, on! turned an hour or two before having accompanied his | wife to the place where they had conducted her, or, at | any rate, the first stage, “Thank you, M. Bonancieux,” said d’Artagnan, EEE nce, I have a re- | again to the lodgings of his three friends, but no intell-e gence of them had been received—only a perfumed letter,! _ most elegantly written, had arrived for Aramis, D’Ar- _ tugnan took charge of it. Ten minutes afterwards, —_ Planchet rejoined him at the stables, D’A an, thaB >_> we time might be lost, had already sad his o NS orse. ‘* That will do,” said he to Planchet, when he had fas— tened on his portmanteau. ‘* Now saddle the other three, and let us be off.” _ * ‘*Do you believe we shall travel faster with two! horses a-piece?”’ asked Planchet, with his sharp look.) “No, Mister Jester,” replied d’Artagnan; “ but, "ees our four horses, we may bring our three friends back— that is, if we can find them.” 2 “aan ‘Which would be a great chance,” replied Planchets ME ‘but we must not distrust the mercy of God. aes 5 ‘‘Amen!” said d’Artagnan, bestriding bis horse. _ ae | The left the Hote! des Gardes by the opposite ends of — the strect, as the one was to quit Paria by redtcng Lda La Villette, the other by the barrier of Montmarte, to © rejoim each other at St. Denis—a stratagetic manwvre, — - id t : - wp i~ & 44 * v » - . il wluch, being punctually execut was crowned with > oe the most fortune results, Thus, @’Artagnan and Play. chet entered Pierrefitte together. ; ar The landlord, seeing a young man, followed by a ser. vant and two led horses, advanced respectfully to hig door, Now, as he had already traveled eleven ey. d’Artagnan judged that he had better stop here,whether © Porthos was at the hotel ornot. Bat it might not be orudent, at first, tomake any inquiries about the mus eteer, The result of these reflections was, that d'Art~. “ » agnan, Without asking any information from anybody, __ dismounted, recommended the horses to his servant’ care, and entering a small room, reserved for those who wished to be alone, called for a bottle of the best wine, —. «nd as good a breakfast as the landlord could supply. : x (E