Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

ee eee * 7 “a J a : Pom, i 1? - i a 4 ee T serve you asa waiting-maid? And thus all our secrets will remain in the family.” ‘‘Insolent fellow?” exclaimed her ladyship. Then, as if moved by a spring, she bounded towards the Baron, who awaited her with calmness, yet with a hand upon the hilt of his sword. “ Ah, ah!’ said he, * I know that you have a habit of assassinating people; but I will defend myself, I warn you, even see Tom, ‘* Ah! you are right,"’ said the awit to me like one who is coward enough t against a woman!”’ ** And if that were to eon gow I should have one ex- euse. Besides, mine would not be the first man’s hand that had been laid upon yon, I imagine."’ ‘ And the baron, by a slow accusing gesture, pointed to the lady's left shoulder, which he almost vouched with his TG Her ladyship uttered a hoarse cry, and retteated to the further corner of the room, like a panther drawing before its spring. ‘*Oh, roar as much as you please!’’ exclaimed Lord de Winter, “only do not try to bite; for, 1 warn you, that would only prove the worse for you, There are no lawyers here, who regulate succession beforehand; there is no kni At-errant, who will pick a quarrel with me for the sake of the fair lady whom I keepimpris- oned; but I have here judges, who will dispose of a woman, who, aoog | already married, was shameless enough to intrude herself into the family of my elder brother, Lord de Winter; and these judges will hand you over to an executioner, who will make your two shoulders alike.”’ Her Jadyship listened witn an attention that ex- panded the pupils of her rome eyes, - “¥Yes,"’ continued Lord de Winter, ‘‘ but at present you will continue in this castle; the walls are thick, the doors are strong, the bars are solid; and, besides, your window looks directly down into the sea, M ship’s company, who are devoted to me fin life an death, keep guard around this chamber, and command every e that conducts into the court-yard; and, even re, you would find three iron-grated doors to ass which, the watch-word is requisite; hence, there- *“and you look o raise his hand UHE THREE GUARDSMEN. or — a ee ee a make your peace with God, for you have been judged by men.’ Her ladyship let her head droop, as if she felt herself actually crushed by this sentence. Lord de Winter left the room, making a sign to Felton, who followed him, and closed the door. Directly afterwards was heard in the passage the heavy tread of a marine, who was rag me guard, with his axe at his belt, and his musket in his hand. Her ladyship remained for a few minutesin the same ition, for she fancied that they might be watching er through the key-hole. Then, she slowly raised her head, which had resumed a formidable e ssion of menace and deflance; ran to the door and listened; looked out of the window; and returned to bury herself in animmense easy-chair, and abandon herself to anx- ious thought. CHAPTER XLIX. THE OFFICER. In the meantime, the cardinal was expecting news from England; but as no news arrived, excepting such as were vexatious and alarming He resolved, therefore, to carry on the war alone, an to expect foreign aid only as one may expect the coin- cidence of a fortunate chance. He continued the con- struction of that famous embankment, which was to carry famine into la Rochelle; and in the meantime, he cast his eyes over that popes city, which contained 60 much fo) age misery, and so many heroic virtues, recalling to his mind the expression of Louis XI. who had been his own political predecessor, as he was the predecessor of Robespierre, and adopting this maxim of the companion of Tristan—‘* Divide to govern.” When Henry IV. besieged Paris, he had thrown over the walls bread and other edibles, The cardinal threw over brief addresses, in which he represented to the Rochellois how un j ust, and self-willed, and barbarous had been the concuct of their chiefs, who possessed abundance of wheat, yet did not distribute it; and who adopted as a maxim—for they also had their maxims— that the death of women, of old men, and of children, was a thing of littlemoment, so that the men who were — ee a — | The cardinal, as we have said, was in a gleomy mood: and, when he was in this state of mind, novhing so much increased his sullenness, as the goer of others. He had, besi the singular habit of always sup- posing that the circumstances which caused his sad- ness, were those which excited the gaiety of strangers. making a ~_" to Cahusac and la Houdiniere to halt, he ot off his horse, and mpproscnes these suspicious ughers; hoping, by the of the which dead- ened the sound of his steps, and of the hedge, which concealed his person, that he might hear some words of a conversation which appeared so interesting. At ten paces from the menge he recognized the Gascon dialect of d’Artagnan; and, as he had already seen that these men were musketeers, he did not doubt that the three others were those who were called the inseparables— thatis to say, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, It may be imagined that this discovery increased hie desire of hearing the conversation. His eyes assumed astrange expression, and, with the stealthy pace of a tiger-cat, he approached the hedge; but he had been only able tocatch afew vague syllables, having no defi- nite meaning, when ao sonorous and short exclamation — him start, and attracted the attention of the muse- teers. ‘* Officer!” called out Grumand. ‘** You are speaking, I think, rascal,’’ said Athos, rais- ing himself on one elbow and fascinating Grimaud with his sparkling eye, Grimanud, therefore, did not add one word, contenting himself with aoe with his finger towards the hedge, and indicating by this gesture the cardinal anf his escort. With one bound the four musketeers were on their feet, and bowed respectfully, The cardinal appea:ed furious, *‘It seems that the gentlemen of the musketeers have themselves !* said he. ‘Is it because the ard English come betead, ordo the musketeers consider themselves as superior officers?” ‘* My lord,” replied Athos—for, in the midst of the general confusion, he alone had preserved that coolness and that calmness of the nobleman which never failed him—‘‘ my lord, the musketeers, when their duty is ore, astep, a motion, or aword, which bears the sem- ended, or when they are not on duty, play and drink, blance of an intention to escape, will draw their fire and are very superior officers to their own servants.” —_— << ae in ae —— « 0)’ ip “ ‘ “ « , 4 4 . to defend the walls continued vigorous and well. Un- til then, either from devotedness or from inability to ary upon you. If you should be killed, English justice | contend against it, this maxim had, without being gene- “Their servants!"’ growled the cardinal: ** servants Ns ought I think, to be grateful to me for having spared | rally adopted, passed from theory into practice; but who have a watchword to warn their masters when any ~ her some trouble. ! your features have assumed | these addresses successfully assailed it. The reminded | one approaches, They are not servants—they are sen- tinels. ‘Your eminence may, however, ive that had we not taken this precaution, we should have run the haz- ard of permitting you to pass without paying our re- spects, and without offering our thanks to you for unit- ing d’Artagnan and us,’’ continued Athos. “ You, d’Artagnan, who were but now wishing for an opportnu- nity of expressing your gratitude to his eminence, here is one given to you: take ee 9 of it.” hy, These words were uttered with that imperturbable ’ coolness which distinguished Athos in times of danger, and with that excessive politeness which made him, on certain occasions, a king more dignified than kings by walls of thanke, srhich aplsity shad omacioieneee 8 0 whic c ed awa fore the severe looks of the cantina. “ if “It does not signify, gentlemen,” continued the car- dinal, without eppearing in the slightest degree turned from his first intention by the incidents which Athos 4 had suggested; ‘it does notsignify. Ido not like that ; their calmness, and your countenance regains its confidence. ‘Ten days or a fortnight,’ you sa to yourself—‘ Bah! by that time, some idea will a suggest itself to my inventive mind I have any infernal disposition, and shall find some victim. Within afortnight from this time, I shall have escaped from here.’—Try your fortune!” Finding her thoughts thus plainly read, her ladyship Te dug her nails into her flesh, that she might deprive her Ps 5: face of every expression but that of agony. ; de Winter continued— n ** Astothe officer who holds the command here in my absence, you have seen him; therefore you already know him. You are aware that he can keep to his in- . structions; for you did not travel from Portsmouth _ “ without trying to make him talk. What think you of him? Could a marble statue be more passionless or mute? You have already tried the power of your seduc- tions over many men, and, unfortunately you have always succeeded; but try them now on this man, and, by Jove! if you succeed, I shall believe you to be the the men, that these women, children, and old men, who were allowed to die of hunger, were their wives, their offspring, and their sires; and that it would be more just ifall were alike subjected tothe common wretched- ness, 80 that a similarity of position might give occasion for unanimity of resolution. But, at the very moment that his eminence saw his measure beginning to bear fruit, and was applauding himself for having adopted it, an inhabitant of Ro- chelle, who had arrived from Portsmouth, managed to pass through the royal lines God knows how—so com- lete was the triple watchfulness of Bassompierre, of chomberg, and the Duke of Angouleme, themselves overlooked by the cardinal, and announced that he had seen asplendid fleet, ready to set sail before another week. Buckingham, moreover, declared to the mayor, that the great league against France was at last about to be proclaimed, and that the kingdom would be pre y invaded, at the same time by the armies of ingland, Spain, and the empire. This letter was pub- licly read in all parts of the town, copies of it were | - >; - * se » _ . e ad Pp ‘ — | tf fiend himeelf."’ pres at the corners of the streets, and those even who | simple, soldiers, because they have the advantage of < oe e went towards the door, and opened it suddenly. ad attempted to commence negotiations, interrupted | serving in a privileged ment, should thus play the es “ Call Mr. Felton,” said he. ‘‘Waita moment, mad- | them, with a resolution to wait for the succor which | greatmen. Discipline is the same for all.” pill am, and I will recommend you to his care."’ was 80 800n to reach them. Athos allowed the cardinal to finish hie sentence, and ad During the strangesilence which wasthen maintained | This unexpected circumstance renewed all the original | bowing assent thus replied: between them, the sound of a slow and re art nw was | anxieties of Richelieu, and compelled him to turn his| “ Discipline, my lord, has been, I hope, in no degree proaching. In the shadow of the corridor a heard eyes once more across the sea, fonts by us. We are not on duty; and we believe gee human form was soon apparent, and the young lieuten- During all this time, the royal army, free from the in- | that, not being on duty, we ht dispose of our time = ant, with whom we have already made acquaintance, ——— of its only true commander, led & most joyous peony as we pleased. If it should fortunately hap- . stood at the door, in waiting for the baron’s orders. life, for provisions were not scarce in the camp, nor | pen that your eminence has some special orders to give se ‘*Come in my dear Jo n,” said Lord de Winter, | money either. The regiments were all at rivalty in | us, we are ready to obey them. Your lordship per- = .“¢ome in and shut the door.’ 0 take spies and to hang them, | ceives,”’ continued Athos, frowning, for this species of ang 2 an audacity, The young officer entered the room. undertake daring expeditions on the embank- ‘a: ** Now, said the baron, “look at this woman. She is | ment or the sea, to imagine follies and to exe- VE —_ and beautiful; she has every earthly attraction; | cute them calmly; such were the pastimes which made ‘3 ut she is a monster, who at twenty-five years of age, | those roe days seem short to the urmy; not only for , has committed as many crimes as you could read of in | the Rochellois, who were worried by famine and anxie- a year in the archives of our tribunals, Her voice pos- | ties, but for the cardinal, who blockaded them so vigor- sesses you in her favor; her beauty fascinates her vic- | ously. interrogatory began to irritate him, “that, to be read at the east alarm, we have brought with us al] ron, arms.’ He pointed with his r to the four muskets piled ether near the drum which bore the cards and dice. ‘Your eminence may believe,’’ added d’Artagnan . ‘*that we should have come to meet you if we could have apres that it was you who approached us with B08 a retinue.” The cardinal bit his moustaches, and even his lips. **Do you know what you look like—always together as you now are, armed as you are, and guarded by your valets?’’ said the cardinal. ‘‘ You look like four con- spirators.”’ 2 “*Oh! as for that, my lord,” said Athos, ‘it is true; i him as one of our four companions, he trans- | and we do casepare, as your eminence might have seen ferred to other objects his penetrating glance and his | the other morning—only it is against the lois.” capacious thoughts, ‘Ah! gentlemen politicians,” replied the cardinal, ne day, when consumed by a mortal lassitude of adenen fo his turn, ‘ the secret of many things might mind, without hopes of treating with the Rochellois, | be found in your brains, if one could read in them, as and without intelligence from England, the cardinal | you were reading in that letter which you concealed the ' went forth, with no other aim but that of going out, | moment that you saw me coming.” | and only accompanied by Cahusac and la Houdiniere,| The color flew into the face of Athos, and he made ; wandering along the sands, and minglingthe immensity | one step towards his eminence, Her ladyship received this look Iikea resigned vic- | of his own dreams with the immensity of the ocean, | ‘It might be thought that yon really do suspect us, tim. It was im le to see & softer or more submis-) he came ata gentle oe to asmall hill, from the top of | my lord, and that we are undergoing areal examination. sive expression than that which then nae over her, which he perceived behind a hedge, reclining on the | If that be the case, would your eminence deign to ex- beantiful face. wicage ort Lord de Winter himself | grass, and protected from the sun by a group of trees, | plain yourself, and we should at least know what weare | recognize the ope which he had the instant before | seven men, surrounded by empty bottles, Four of these | to expect.” om almost fight. men were our musketeers, getting ready to listen tothe |“ And if it was an examination,” replied the cardinal, : She must never leave this room—do von reading of a letter which one of them had just’ re-| “others besides you have been subjected to it, M. hear, John!" continued the baron; ‘‘she must have no ceived. This Jetter was so important, that it had made | Athos, and have answered.” / communication ‘*and therefore, my lord, haveI said, that your emi- with any one; she must speak to no them forsake some cards and dice which they had left | - one fs Fda nence has only to question and that we are ready to re- I , if, indeed, you will do her the honor to | upon a drum, MTs quiteenongh, my lord—I have sworn!" nd were ni that moment engaged in opening am enor | "© What letter was th uding, M. ' aNr | —I have and were at moment engag n opening an enor- : at letter was that which 1 were re | madam,” said Te Aramis, and whicl you concesled?” ** And now, the baron, “endeavor to ' mous demijohn of Collioure wine. eee : . Sometimes, when the cardinal, who was always ridin about like the humblest soldier of the army, direc his thoughtfal eyes over the works which advanced 80 ‘| you remember on what occasion; I am not oy your | slowly in comparison to his desires, although construct- | obeys ea but your friend—not only your benefactor, | ed by engineers whom he had collected from the re- ut your father. This woman has come to England to | motest corners of France, if he met with a musketeer plot against my life. I have got the serpent into my | of M, de Treville’s company, he approached him, and | . Well, I call you here, and I say to you—‘ My | looked at him in a singular way; and then, not recog- ob pnt nah my son—defend me, and gaare yourself especially from this woman. Swear that you will serve her for the punishment she deserves! John ae, Oe to your word—John Felton, I con- fide in your honor.’” “My Jord,” answere’ the young offcer, exhibiting on his open face all the hatred he could find in his heart, se swear to you that everything!shall be done as you tims. She will attempt to seduce you—perhaps to kill . Lhave rescued you from misery, Felton; I have you made lieutenant; I have once saved your life— ————e <a 4 - 3 J . mae * ? — arse” sy ' 4 _ =a + : . > ‘ . 2 > a —_— * ~~ - ~~ . *_ es = —— —— eee ~. U - ~ ae a SE: pt. 4 “4. £ , ‘ - “- * > - ¢ * , ~< . ~ - ae ee oF ed - * > . (E cae aS eS comicbooks.com >