Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

ee —- , nm, ws And how 80? ’ demanded the musketeer. *Tisten. M. Coquenard is going this evening to the |. Duke de Chau!nes, who has sent for him. It ‘Is toa | _ consultation which willlast at least two hours, ‘ _~W then; we shall be alone, and arrange the business.”’ 1 ae That is something.” And you willforgive me? “We shall see,”’ replied Porthos, majestically. ea They parted from each other, both repeating—‘ till ee >. this evening!” |. *Pfaith!” thought Porthos, as he went his way, * I |. geemnow to be making some approaches towards M, _ Coquenard’s strong-box.” ie ' CHAPTER XXXV. Rev ALL CATS ARE ALIKE GRAY IN THE DARK. _ The evening so impatiently expected by d’Artagnan, Ps abl arrived, |. At about nine o'clock he went, as usual, to her lady- | \ _ was reccived more graciou.ly than ever. ir Gascon “ie «BAW, at the first glance, that the pretended note of the Count de Wardes had been delivered by Kitty to her ) as st s, and thatit was producing its effect. _ ‘ook : came in withsome sweetmeats. Her mistress gracious emile; but the poor girl was so concerned at the présence of d’Artagnan with her ladyship, that she _ -Wasinsensible to the latter's good-will. * -D'Artagnan looked by turns at these two women, and could not but confess that natare had committed + amistakein their formation: to the great lady she had ay) given avenal and perfidious soul; and, to the waiting- maid, a loving and devoted heart. At ten o’clock her ladyship began to appear uneasy, > Vand a’. an soon guessed the meaning of hir (ees) trouble. . looked at the time-piece, got up, sat _ down again, and smiled at d’Artagnan, with a look which ed to say—‘‘you are very amiable, no - doubt, but you would be charming if you would go.” ‘D’Artagnan arose, and took his hat, and then her - ladyship gave him her hand to kiss, The young man _- Was sensible of a gentle pressure, which he attributed, } not to coquetry, but to gratitude on account of his de- “She Joves him madly!’ muttered he, as he went att Marvetiaseadion Kitty was not awaiting him, either in the antechamber,in the corridor, or at the gate; and ei arenes bad to find out, alone, the staircase and the iit hag pis eet. ie a 5 tting with her face between her hands, : . She heard d'Artagnan enter, but did not lift up her head. The young man went to her and took her hands. and then she burst out in sobs, . As ‘d’Artagnan had suspected, her ladyship, on re- | _ ceiving the letter which she regarded as the Count de _ Wardes* reply, had, in the delirium of her joy, made her waiting-maid acquainted with the whole; and then, ast recompense forthe manner in which her mission av. d een executed, had given her a purse of gold. Kits ys on seturping to her room, had thrown the purse a corner, where it was lying open, disgorging __ three or four golden coins upon the carpet. When at last the poor girl, at d‘Artagnan’s entreaty, ma sed her head, he was struck with alarm at the expres- ion of her face. She clasped her hands together witha _ Bupplicating air, but without venturing to speak a word. ) . Little sensible as was d’Artagnan’s heart, he was yet affected by this silent grief, But he was too positive tn all}: a pee and especially in this one, to deviate at all from his ordained arrangement. He would, not give _ to Kitty the least hope of hindering the rash enterprise of eau Be had resolved; but he represented it to her as what it really was—that is, as an act of simple ven- -geance against her ladyship's coquetry; and asthe only st mee ns W ch he possessed of obtaining, from her dread _ of the scandal of exposure, the information that he wanted in respect to Madame Bonancieux. The plan became, also, the more easy inits execution, = ae er ladyship having, from some inexplicable mo- .| tive, to which she appeared to attach extreme impor- i tance commanded Kitty to ag Ey, all the lights in 4) er a igail’s own chamber, her. ‘tment, as well asin the A An instant afterwards her ladyship was heard return- Ingto herchamber. D'Artagnan immediately hurried _ within his press. Scarcely was he blockaded init before the bell rung, So ap eee to her mistress, and did not leave the door / , “open, he partition was so thin that the conversa- tion of the two women was almost wholly audible. ~~ Tey Jadyship seemed to be intoxicated with joy. She mad « Kitty repeat to her the most trifling details of her | prete interview with de Wardes, and tell her how he had received her letter, and how he answered it; what was the expression of his face, and whether he , med much enamored; and to all these questions poor Kitty, who was compelled to keep a good coun- nance, answered in a stifled voice, of which her mis- al * a ¢ ess, so egotistical is happiness, did not even observe thi ae tone. ax AS thé hour of her interview with the connt ap- -) proached, her ladyship had all the lights in her own | _ roo he fara extinguished, and commanded Kitty to | return to her chamber, and to introduce de Wardes as _ §oon as he arrived. ‘¢ Kitty had not long to wait. _ Seon . through the keyhole of his press, that the whole a par ment was in darkness, before he sprang from his }. dungeon, at the very moment that Kitty closed the ae. : communicating door. ae ake t is that noise?" inquired My Lady. ae Bt ad Whisepered d’Artagnan—‘ I, the Count de COWarces, ~ ~* Oh, my Godt my God!" groaned Kitty, “he could ae Mgt even Wait for the hour himself had fixed.” s\rell said the lady, in a trembling voice, “why - Hardly had d’Artagnan wm? a) - ——————————— bd LO TT —— DN eee ——— - - ——————s ——— —- + oe ee ee - SS ' at her kindly, and smiled on her with her most | re sini... ee ooo mm mm mmm | | THE THREE GUARDSMEN. ce - a — — Ey A does he not come in? Count, count,’’ added she, ‘‘ you | conyersation. Did you not come to ask my advice; did know that I am waiting for you.”’ Ac this appeal d’ Artagnan put Kitty gently aside, and | But stop, Ict me look at that sapphire again? Come, | sprang into her ladysh: p's room, ; you not say that you were in a difficulty what to d.? The one I mentioned had one of its suifaces scratched by an If rage and grief can ever torture the soul, it must be | accide: ft.” that of a lover who receives, under a name that is not his own, protestations of affection which address them- selves to his favored rival. D'Artagnan was ina situation of which he had not calculated the suffering: jealousy was gnawing at his heart, and he had to endure almost as much as poor | Kitty, who was at the same time weeping in the adjoin- ing chamber. “Yes, count,”’ said her ladyship, in her sweetest tones, as she tenderly pressed one of hi her own: “yes, I am happy in the love which your | | s hands between | looks and words have expressed wherever we met. And | I, too, return your love. Ah! to-morrow you must let mime have some keepsake which will prove you think of me; and, as you might forget me, count, keep this.” And she Dlsved a ring from her own finger on to that ship’s, and, as he found her in a Chaemaag humor, he | of d’Artagnan. 1 It was a magniffcient sapphire, encircled by diamonds. The first emotion of d’Artagnan prompted him to re- turn it; but her ladyship added: ‘*No, no; keep this ring for love of me. Besides,” added she, in a voice of much emotion, ** you really do ine a far greater service by accepting it than you can possibly Imagine, “This woman is full of mystery,”’ thought d’Artag- nen, He felt himself at this moment ready to confess every- thing. He had, in fact, already opened his mouth to tell her ladyship who he was, and with what desire of ven- geance he had come, when she added: ‘* Poor angel! whom that monster of a Gascon almost killed.”’ That monster was he himself, ‘‘Oh!’? continued her ladyship, ‘‘do you still suffer from your wounds?”’ ‘Yes, greatly,’’ answered d’ Artagnan, who was some- what at a loss what to say. ‘Depend upon it,’’ muttered her ladyship, in a tone which gave but little comfort to her hearer, *‘ that I will take a cruel vengeance on him for your sufferings.”’ ‘* Egnd!’’ said d’Artagnan to himself, ‘‘ the time for my confession is scarcely come yet.” t required soine little time for d’Artagnan to recover himself from this little d:alogue, All the ideas of ven- geance Which he had brought with him had completely vanished. This woman exercised an inconceivable power over him: he hated and adored her at the same time. Never had he believed that two sentiments so in- consistent could exist togetherin,the same heart, or cre- ate, by commingling, a strange, and, in some respects, a diabolical love. But the clock had struck one, and it was time for them to separate. At the moment of quitting her lady- ship d@’Artagnan was only sensible of a deep regret at being parted from her; and in the passionate adieu which they reciprocally addressed to one another, a new meeting wes ayreed upon in the ensuing week. Poor Kitty ee <d to have an gees o of saying a few words to d’Artagnan as he passed through her chamber, but her mistress led him out herself in the darkness, and only left him when they reached the staircase, ' In the ta htip : of the next day, d’Artagnan hastened to Athos; for, being engaged in such a singular ad- venture, he wished for his advice. He told him every- thing; and Athos’s brow was often knitted during the narration. ‘Your lady,” said he, ‘‘appearsto me to be an infa- mous creature; but you are not, on tuat account, the less weane in thus deceiving her. You may now be sure that, inone way or another, you will have a bitter enemy to deal with,” Whilst still speaking, Athos looked earnestly at the sapphire, encircled with diamonds, which d’Artagnan now wore in the place of the queen’s ring, which was carefully depositedin a case. *You are looking at this ring?’ said the Gascon, proud of displaying before his friends such a splendid rift. ae. replied Athos; ‘‘it reminds me of a family ewel,”’ ‘*Ttis beautiful, is it not?’ said d’Artagnan, “Magnificent!” rejoined Athos; ‘‘ I did not believe that there were two sapphires of so fineawater. Did you exchange your diamond for it?” “No,” replied d’Artagnan; it is a present from my beautiful Englishwoman, or, rather, my beautiful Frenchwoman-—for, although { have not asked her, I am sure she was born in France.”’ * And this ring was g‘ven to you by her ladyship,” said Athos, in a voice in which it was easy to perceive extreme emotion, ‘* Yea, by herself: she gave it to me last night.”’ ** Let me look at this ring,” said Athos, ‘Here it is,’ said d’Artagnan, drawing it from his finger. Athos examined it, and became very pale; he then tried it on the ring-finger of his left hand, and it fitted as if it had been made for him, A shade of anger and revenge passed across the gen- erally calm forehead of the gentleman. ‘*Itis impossible thatitcan be the same,’’ said he. ‘‘ How could this ring come into the hands of that lady? And yet it is very strange that two jewels should be so singularly alike.’’ Do you know that ring?’ asked d’Artagnan, ‘**T thought I recognized it,” said Athos, *‘ but I dare my am deceived,”’ s , e then returned the ring to d’Artagnan, without, | however, ceasing to fix his gaze upon it. ‘* Let me entreat you,” said he, an instant afterwards, ‘either to take that ee from your finger, or toturn the stone inside: it recalla to mesuch painful remem- brances, that I should not be collected enough for any ae again drew off the ring, and handed it to thos. Athos tremb'ed, * Yos; and at once, too,” replied d’Artagnan. ‘You are quite right, my dear d’Artagnan,” said Athos, pressing his hand with an affection almost pa- ternal; *‘and God grant that this woman, who oe scarcely been apart of your existence, may leave no pestilential trace upon it!” And Athos bowed his head, like a man who would not be sorry to be left to his own thoughts, On reaching home, d’Artagnan found Kitty awaiting him. A mouth of feverwould not have made a greater change in the poor girlthan had been produced by an hour of jealousy and grief. , She had been sent by her mistress to the Count de Wardes. Her mistress was mad with love—intoxicated with joy: she wanted to know when the Count would accord her a second interview. The pale and trembling Kitty waited there for d’Ar- tagnan’s reply. Athos had considerable influence over the young man. The counsels of his friend, co-operating with the senti- ments of his own heart, and with the memory of Madame Bonancieux, which was but rarely absent from him, had made him resolve, now that his pride was saved, to see her ladyship no more. As his only answer, he took a en and wrote the following letter, which he sent, as he ad done the proceeding one, unsigned :— ** Do not reckon aor moreon me, madame. Now that Tam becoming convalescent, I have so many interviews of the same kind to grant, that I must put them into some regularorder, When your turn comes round, I shall have the honor to inform you. I kiss your hands.” - Not a word said about the sapphire; the Gascon wished to keep it for the present, as a weapon against her ae It would be wrong to judge of the actions of one by the habits of another, The conduct which would now be regarded as adisgrace to a gallant man, was, at that time, quite simple and natural. D’Artagnan handed the open letter to Kitty, who read it at first without understanding it, and who very nearly went mad when she read it a second time. Kitty scarcely conld believe such happiness; and d’Artagnah was obliged to repeat to her verbally, the assurance which the letter gave in writing. Whatever might be the danger which, on account of the passion- ate character of her mistress, the poor girl incurred in delivering such a note to her ladyslip, she did not the less run back, as fast as her legs could carry her, to the Place Royale. ‘Theheart of the kindest woman is pitiless towards i: rival's pains, Her ladvship opened the letter with an eagerness equal to tt.at which the Abigail had broughtit; byt at the first words that she read, she became actually vid: then, she crushed the letter in her hand, and turned, with lightning in her eyes, to Kitty. ‘What is this letter?’ said she. “Tt is the answer to your ladyship’s,”’ said the trem- bling Kitty. ‘* Impossible!’ exclaimed the lady; “impossible, that . gent man should have written such a letter to a ady!’’ Then, suddenly, she cried: ‘* My God, could he know—" She checked herself, shuddering. She ground her teeth—her face was of an ashy color. \ She endeavored to take a step towards the window for air, but she could only stretch out her arms: her strength failed her, and she sunk back into an easy chair. Kitty, thinking she was fainting, rushed forward to open her ome But raising herself up suddenly, she excinime “What do you want? why do you touch me?’ ‘*] thought your ladyship was ill, and I wished to as- sist you,’ replied the poor damsel, frightened at the ter- rible expression which the countenance of her mistress had assumed. ‘7 unwell! Do you take me for a weak woman? When I hm insulted I do not feel ill—I avenge myself! Do you hear?” And she motioned Kitty to leave the room. CHAPTER XXXVI. THE DREAM OF VENGEANCE. Tn the evening, her ladyship gave orders that M. d'Ar- tagnan should be admitted as usual, as soon as he came, But he came not. On the next morning Kitty went again to see d’Artag- nan, and told him ailthat had occurred on the previous day. D°’Apsagnan smiled. This jealous anger of her ladyship \ his revenge. The patience of the indignant lady had increased by night. She renewed her orders relative to the young Gascon; but, as on the preceding evening, her expecta tions were in vain. ; On the next morning Kitty visited d’Artagnan. She was, however, no longer joyous and alert, as on the pre» vious days, but, on the contrary, OveTcome wih grief. D'Artagnan inquired of the poor girl what ailed her; but the latter, as bet sole reply , drew from her pocket a letter, which she handed to him, — This letter was in her ladyship’s handwriting; only, on this occasion, it was really destined for d’Artagnan, and not for M. de Wardes. He opened it, and read as follows: ‘‘ Dear M. d'Artagnan, “Itis wrong thus to neglect your friends, especially when about to part for so long atime. Iandmybrotber looked for you in vain, both yesterday and the day be Me er ee ee Seki elena 4 7 ‘ — yr’ Ae & ¥