Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

oa? ~~ oe. een gee r-> * . —a = fI-—_————_---—_ ewe ee ee The eicht oars all fellinto the water at the same in- stant, and the boat seemed to fly along the surface of the sea, In five minutes they feached the shore. The offi- cer sprang upon the quay, and gave his hand to her gee A carriage was waiting for them. *' Is this carriage for us?’ demanded the lady. ‘* Yes, madam,” replied the officer. ‘Then the hotel is at some distance?" ‘* At the end of the town.” ‘* Let us go,”’ said her ladyship. She then entered the carriage with a resolute step. Having superintended the safe packing of the bag- gage, the officer took his place beside her ladyship, and closed the carriage door. Then without any order being given to him, or any in- dication where he was to go, the coachman set off ata gallop, and was soon threading the streets of the town. A reception so strange naturally supplied her lady- skip with abnndant matter for reflection. And, seeing that the young officer did not appear at all induced to enter into conversation, she leant backin one of the corners of the carriage, and passed in review, one after the other, all the suppositions which presented themselves to her mind. But, in about a quarter of an hour, surprised at the length of their journey, she looked out of the window to observe where they were going. She could no longer see any houses: but trees were visible in the darkness, like vast black phantoms, chasing one another. Her ladyship shuddered. ‘** But we have left the town, sir,"’ said she. The young officer remained silent, ‘* I positively declare, sir, that I will go no farther, if you do not tell me where you are conveying me.”’ This threat produced no reply. ‘Ah! it is too much!" exclaimed her ladyship. ** Help! help!’ No voice responded to her cries, The carriage con- tinued in its rapid course. The officer seemed to be a statue, Her ladyship gazed on the officer with one of those terrible glances which were ae to her own face, and which so rarely failed of theireffect. Passion made her eyes positively sparkle in the goon, but the young man continued perfectly immovable. oo then attempted to open the door and throw her- self ont, . ‘* Take care, madam,”’ coldly observed the young man; ** you will kill yourself if you leap out.”’ fhe ludy resumed her seat, foaming with aa The officer leant forward, looked at her in his turn, and seemed surprised to find a countenance, be- fore so beautiful, now so convulsed with rage as to have become almost hideous, The crafty creature, com- hc g that she should sacrifice her own interests »y thus betraying her true nature, at once composed her features, and, in a beseeching yoice, said— ‘“* For heaven's sake, sir! tell meif it be to yourself, or to your government, or to an enemy, that Lam to im- pute this violence that is inflicted on me?"’ ‘* No violence is inflicted, madam; and that which has be‘allen you is the result of a very simple measure, which we are forced to pursue towards all those who land in England."’ “ Then you do not know me, sir?” “It is the first time that I have had the honor of secing man # ‘And, upon your honor, you have no cause of enmity against me?"’ ‘*None whatever, I swear.”’ There was so much calmness, s0 much serenity, so much gentleness in the young man’s voice, that her lady- ship was reassured. At last, after about an hour's journey, the carriage tes ge at an iron gate, at the entrance of a narrow road, which led to a gloomy-looking massive and iso- lated castle. And, as the carriage-wheels rolled over a soft gravel, her pee. heard a voy | roaring, which she recognized as the sound of the sea breaking upon a rocky coast. The carriage passed under two arches, and stopped at last in a square and gloomy court yard. The door was almost immediately opened, the young oficer leaped ghtly out, presented his hand to her ladyship, who leaned upon it, and got out, in her turn, with great calmness, ‘So, I am a prisoner,"’ said she, looking around, and then fixing her eyes on the young man with the most gracious simile imaginable. ** But I shall not be long, I am certain,” added she. ‘‘Myown conscience and your politeness give me that assurance, sir.” Flattering as the compliment might be, the officer made no reply, but drawing froin his pocket a small sil- ver whistle, like those used by boatswain« on board of men of war, he sounded it three times, iu three differ- ent modulations. Several men immediately ap who unharnessed the horses and took the carriage into a coach-house. _ The ofiicer, still preserving the same calm politeness, invited his prisoner to enter the castle. The latter, with the same smile upon her countenance, took his arm, and passed with hia undet a low arched doorway, which led them, through a vaalt lighted only at the end, to a stone staircase, win round an angle of the same material. cage then stopped before a massive door, which, upon the application of a key that the young man carried, slowly swung upon its hinges, and opened into the apartmeht intended for her ladyship. In one glanoe, the prisoner embraced the minutest particulars of the room It was a chamber, of which ihe furniture was at the same time very suitable fora rison, and very severe for the habitation of the free, ut the bars of the window doors, decided the question in favor of the prison. For an instant, all the strength of mind of this creature, al- though hardened from the most vigorous sources, abandoned her. She sunk into a seat, folded her arms, drooped her head, and waited in momentary expectation af seeing a judge enter to interrogate her, and the locks outside the | THE THREE GUARDSMEN. ee But no ofhe came except two or three marines, who | brought in her baggage, and, having depos2ted itin a. corner, withdrew without uttering a word. The officer presided over all these details with the | same calmness which her bepyabip had invariably ob- | served, not speaking a syllabie, and enforcing obedience merely by a gesture of his hand, or a note from his whistiec. One would have said that between this man and his inferiors, vocal language either never had exist- | ed, or had become unnecessary. Her ladyship could at bestno longer restrain herself, | and she thus broke the silence: *- In heaven's name, sir,’’ she exclaimed, ‘‘ what does | alithismean? Resolve my perplexity: I have courage | to face any on which [ can see approaching, any misfortune which I comprehend. Where am I, and why am] here? Am I free? Wherefore these bars and | doors? Am I a prisoner? What crime have I com- | mitted?” ‘* You are here madam, in the apartment destined for you. I was ordered to go and arrest you at sea, and to conduct you to this castle. I have accomplished that order, I believe, with the rigid exactness of an officer, but, at the same time, with the courtesy of a gentleman. | There terminates, at least for the present, the c e | with which I have been entrusted concerning you. The | remainder devolves upon another person.” ‘*‘And this other person—who is he?'’ demanded her | ladyship: *‘ can you not tell me his name?” As she spoke the clashing of spurs was heard upon | the staircase; some voices passed by, and were lost in | firstidea in the lady's mind was, that Kitt the distance, and the sound of a solitary step ap-| proached the door. mission and respect. At the same instant the door opened, and a man ap- carried a sword at his side, and was rumpling a hand- herchief between his fingers. Her ladyship thought that she recognized this shadow | in the gloom; and supporting herself with one hand on the arm of the chair, she advanced her head, in order, as it were, to meet a certainty. The stranger slowly approached, and as ter!”’ } peared upon the threshold. He was without a hat, | he advanced | bo . ehip, thinking that, as his sister-in-law empleyed them, they were undoubtedly the best. ¥ , ‘But, tell me yourself, my dear sister, for what pur- pose you are come to England?”’ ‘‘Why, 1 have come to see you,"’ replied the lady, ig- norant how much she aggravated by this answer the suspicions which d’Artagnan’s letter had excited in her brother-in-law’s mind, and only, wishing to captivate the kindness of her anditor by a lie. ‘‘Oh! to see me!"’ said Lord de W inter sneeringly. ' ‘Assuredly, to see you. What is there surprising jn that?’ ‘And you had no other motive in coming to England but to see meY”’ ‘*Then ® is for my sake alone that you haye given yourself the trouble to cross the Straits?” boat 4 , ‘* For you alone.” T 7 ‘faith, your tenderness is excessive, my dear sis- ‘*But am I not your dearest relation?” demanded the lady, ina tone of the most touching simplicity. , ‘** And also my sole heiress, are you not?’ said Lord de Winter, in his turn, fixing his eyes upon those oy her ladyship—*‘ that is to say, through your son.” “hy Great as was her power of self-command, her lady- ship could not refrain from starting; and, as in uttering these last words, Lord de Winter had laid.his hand upon his sister's arm the start had not escaped him, In truth, the blow was both direct and deep. ae trayed her, and had disclosed to the baron. that inter- | estedaversion, of which she had imprudently permitted ‘* That person is now here, madam,”’ said the officer, standing on one side. and assuming an attitude of sub- | she also recollected the the manifestations to pecage her before her maid; and urious and impolite attack which she had made on d’'Artagnan, after he had saved her brother-in-law’s life. ‘*I do not understand what you mean, my lord,”’ said she, wishing to gain time, and to make her adversary talk = a there some concealed significance in your wor : “Oh! no,” said Lord de Winter, with apparent good humor; ‘‘ you wish to see me, and you come to Eng- land. I aminformed of this wish, or rather I suspect that you feel it, and, to spare you all the inconveni- and aarp came within range of the light emitted by | ence consequent ona nocturnal arrival in, the harbor, the lamp, her ladyship involuntarily recoiled. And then, when she had no longer any doubt— **\, het! my brother,’’ she exclaimed, overwhelmed with astonishment, “isit you?’ ‘* Yes, fair lady,’’ replied Lord de Winter, making her a bow, half courteous and half ironical, ‘‘ myself.”’ ‘* But, then, this castle-—” ‘** Is mine,”’ ‘* This apartment—”’ ** Is yours.”’ ‘““ Then lam your prisoner/I"’ ‘* Or something very like it.” “ Butitisa ave abuse of power.”’ ‘* No hard words, madam: let us sit down and have some quiet talk, as is suitable between brother and sister.’ Then, turning towards the door, and perceiving that the young officer awaited his final orders; ** It is all right,’’ said he, *“* 1 thank you. Now leave us, Mr, Fenton.”’ CHAPTER XLVIIL, A CHAT BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER. Derine the time which Lord de Winter occupied in shutting and bolting the door, and moving a seat beside the easy-chair of his sister-in-law, her yship was thoughtfully directing her glance into the depths oft ssi- bility and alscoverine the whole of that plot, ofwhich she could form no conception, so long as she continued ig- norant of the person into whose hands she had unhappily fallen. She knew her brother-in-law to be a true gen- tleman, who was fond of the chase, played freely, and was gallant in regard to women, but of powers below the average in respect to intrigues. How had he been able to know of her arrival, and to have her arrested: and why did he desire to retain her?”’ Athos had let fall a few words which proved that her conversation with the cardinal had been heard by other ears; but she could not imagine that he could so promptly and so boldly form a countermine. She rather found that her former proveeseae in England had been discovered. Buckin might have guessed that it was she who had cut off his diamond stuus, and have sought to avenge himself for that petty treachery. But Buckingham was incapable of any extremities against a woman, espe y_if that woman was sup- posed to have been actuated by a sentiment of jeal- ousy. This supposition appeared the most probable: she thought that they wished to revenge the past, and not to anticipate the future, But at any rate, she congratulated herself on having fallen into the hands of her brother-in-law, with whom she contemplated little difficulty, rather than into those of a direct enemy. ‘** Yes brother, let us have some chat,’’ she said, with a sort of aprightliness, determined as she was to draw from this conversation, in spite of all the dissimulation which Lord de Winter ugh bring to it, such informa- tion 28 she needed to regulate her future conduct. “You have made up your mind, then, to return to England,” said Lord de inter, ‘‘in spite of the deter- mination you so often expressed to me, in Paris, never cape, ba set your foot on the territory of Great Bri- jier ladyship replied to this question by another. ** First, tell me,” said sho, ‘‘how you could manage to have me watched so closely, as not only to know beforehand that I was coming, but also the day, the hour, and the port at which I should arrive?’’ Lord de Winter adopted the same tactics as her lady- and all the fatignes of landing, Isent one of my officers to meet you. I put a carriage at your command, and he brings you here to this castle, of which 1 am _ governor, where + come every day, and where, to satisfy ourmn- ~ tual desire of seeing each other, I have had an apart- ment prepared for your reception. What is there in all this more surprising than in what you have told me?” ‘No; but what surprises me, is, that you should have received previous intelligence of my arrival.” ‘And yet it is the simplest thing in the world, my dear sister. Did you not observe, that, on entering. the Roads, the capiain of your litule vessel sent forw log-book, and the register of his passengers and crew, that he might obtain permission to enter the pores I am the governor of the harbor; this book was brought to me, and I recognized your name. My heart told me. what your speech has just confirmed; that is to say, your motive for thus braving the dangers of a sea so perilous, or, at any rate, so fatiguing, at this season: and I sent out my cutter to escort you. Yeu know what followed.” Her ladyship was satisfied that his lordship lied, and she was Only the more alarmed. | ‘*Brother,” said she, ‘‘was not that the Duke of Buckingham whom I saw on the jetty as I landed.’ ‘‘ Himself,’ replied Lord de Winter, ‘‘ Ob! Ican well imagine that the sight of him would strike i agg ‘You come from acountry where they must think a great fan about him; and senowy kaeh ip ager gone: Fiona. rance much o e attention of your the cardinal! ‘My friend, the cardinal!’’ exclaimed the lady, per- ceiving that on this point, also, as on the other, Lord de Winter seemed to equally well-informed, ‘Is he not your friend, then?” carelessly inquired the baron. “Oh! pardon me; I thought he was, But we will talk of his grace hereafter, Let us not abandon the sentimental turn which the conversation had taken. You came, you say, to see me?"’ “Ten: ** Well, I have told you that your wish shall be graté- fied, and that we shall see each other every day.’ ‘* Must I, then, remain here forever?’ demanded the | lady, with some degree of dread. | ‘*Do you find yourself badly lodged, here my dear sister? Ask for what you want,and I will hasten to provide it.” * But I have neither my own women, nor my servants with me here.”’ ‘*You shall have everything you want of that kind. Only tell me what kind of establishment your first hus- band na for you, and although I am but your brother in-law, will fix your present home upon a similar ooting.” ‘* My first husband!"’ exclaimed the lady, looking at Lord r, With wildness in her eyes. Wins * Yes, your French husband—I do aot mean 4 orn brother. But, if you have forgotten it, as heis yet alive I can write to him, and he can send me the necessary information on the subject.”’ eal ; Cold drops rolled down her ladyship’s forehead. ‘* You are jesting,"’ said she in a hoarse voice. | ‘‘Do IL look like it?’ inquired the baron, rising and retreating one step. % ‘Or, rather, you, mean to insult me,’ continued she, convulsively grasping the arms of her chair, and raising herself by that means, ; ‘‘ Tinsult you!”’ said Lordde Winter, contemptnously : ‘and do you really think that possiole, madam?’ _ ‘ Sir,” said her ladyship, you are either drunk or mad. ve me, and send me My woman,” ‘* Women are very indiscreet, my dear sister, Cannot : (COMMING OOO) (E(@)